23.05.06 – By Troy Ondrizek: Recently there have been some negative articles floating about the internet and paper publications bashing the heavyweight division. Quite frankly, this is doing a disservice to the division, but what is even more alarming is the damage these articles are doing to fans. Now I’m not the definitive source on the heavyweights or boxing period, but the more I see from seasoned writers and other respected individuals involved in the sport that carry the same views as mine, it makes me feel that some sense as crept into my little mind. I cringe every time I see another ill-informed piece done about how bad things are in the premier division of boxing.
The negative consequence of those articles could create dire results for boxing by misleading the uninformed public, and the casual fan. That is the reason why I have decided to set the records straight about the division and its fighters.
I have decided to step in and try to re-inform you with the truth. First I tried to get ESB writer J.E. Grant to do another piece about the division, but he had other obligations; J.E. does an admirable and accurate job in his descriptions regarding the division and in fact has a quality rant on his personal site that runs a similar course, but not so broad. So in substitute I take on the task of objectively setting the records straight.
First things first, the division does not lack high-profile exciting fighters. I have read on several occasions that the big boys can’t draw people in because there is no excitement. Whoever stated that is either blind or their Adrenal gland is absent from their body. Anyone who has watched any title fight involving Lamon Brewster knows the man delivers, and his opponents better as well deliver too or their night will be short and their remembrance of it, non-existent. Cases in point, Brewster’s beating by the hands of Wladimir Klitschko, only to wear the champion down and have him collapse after a resurgent effort from Brewster, who was floored by Klitschko for the first time in his career. I will concede that Brewster did blow in his bout against Meehan.
However, right after the Meehan fight, Brewster blew Golota out in less than a minute. Following that breakout performance, Brewster ventured into Germany and came from behind to level a tough Luan Krasniqi. Then even during a losing effort, Brewster, with a detached retina suffered during the first round, went on to force Sergei Liakhovich to take a knee and the two battered each other senseless for twelve full rounds. Now one fighter doesn’t make an entire division so I could give you the exciting bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Samuel Peter, or even Klitschko and Byrd, a nice KO is always welcomed. Even the foreign men are making exciting fights; Danny Williams is leading the charge, just check out his fight with Matt Skelton. Now I understand that John Ruiz and Chris Byrd were utterly incompetent in ways of delivering exciting fights, in fact both fighters delivered their most exciting bouts while being knocked out; for Byrd it was Klitschko and Ibeabuchi leveling him, and for Ruiz it was his beheading by the hands of David Tua that made us cheer.
I have also read recently that the division has levels of mediocrity, ranging from lowest of piss poor to the highest acclaim by these so-called “experts”, of just plain mediocre. Now I could give you a list and declare who I thought would be the best in the division and who would be overrated, but that’s been done and I will refer you to J.E. Grant and his monthly top 25 list that he post on ESB and his personal site, which is very close to my opinion and frankly it makes this piece shorter because he does the work for me. However, there isn’t a piss poor rated heavyweight in the top 25 like some would say, and there are some incredibly talented fighters in the division who are due their respect. As you should know not all the title holders are deserving of their top status. So basically Wladimir Klitschko deserves his respect as a top fighter as well as Sergei Liakhovich.
Nicolai Valuev has been handed a few decisions in Germany, most notably his gift decision against Larry Donald which set up his disputed but much more accepted decision victory over John Ruiz for the IBF crown. So as Nicolai is a solid fighter, especially for his size, he isn’t deserving of a champion’s status, as of yet. Samuel Peter is overrated as a total package, but can never be counted out due to his rare power, but Calvin Brock is touted as the future of the division and has looked the part against Clifford Etienne and Jameel McCline, but has looked like a novice versus David Bostice and Zuri Lawrence. Hasim Rahman is still in the best shape of his life, but is easy to hit, and Shannon Briggs is taking every step to becoming champion again, but he has yet to be tested. Owen Beck and Kevin McBride should NEVER be considered for a title fight, and Ruslan Chagaev and Sultan Ibragimov have proved that top competition is what they embody.
The division is in a great shape, it’s a little disorganized and one more boring champion needs to be removed before it can be totally reinstated to its glorious form. However, an open filed does create very exciting competition and some of the best of the division are come forward and trade type of fighters. In retrospect the division resembles something of the mid 80’s, when Holmes was robbed of his title and the names of talented but emotionally flawed fighters like Pinklon Thomas, Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tucker, and Greg Page ruled the landscape. Mike Tyson rose from the ashes of these proven men to become the champion that has captured our attention for nearly a quarter a century.
The division has a lot to offer, and if we don’t pay attention it will be our loss and not the fighters’. Too bad there are people who can’t seem to see that. It will be a cold day in hell before I will stand by a let an ill-informed individual lead astray several potential fight fans. Hell we need as many as we can get. For those of you, who are interested in joining in some knowledgeable banter about the sport and are willing to read some quality articles on it, then join several ESB writers and posters at www.jeboxing.blogspot.com