The Rise
and Fall of Heavyweight Boxing
By Gary
Alder
Heavyweight
boxing is very much in decline. A pretty bold statement you may feel, if we can
list some of the great heavyweights from past era’s maybe it can lead us to
what is missing today?
Lennox Lewis
Mike Tyson
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
Rocky Marciano
Floyd Patterson
Sonny Liston
Joe Louis
George Foreman
Ezzard Charles
Larry Holmes
Evander Holyfield
Riddick Bowe
Mike Tyson
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
Rocky Marciano
Floyd Patterson
Sonny Liston
Joe Louis
George Foreman
Ezzard Charles
Larry Holmes
Evander Holyfield
Riddick Bowe
All these
names recall moments in history, fights which have ‘where were you’ significance. From the ‘Rumble in the
Jungle’, the Tyson biting Holyfield’s ear incident, Thriller in Manila and many
more that roll off the tongue of any boxing fan.
The raging debate of the greats from each era and who would win in each scenario is a commonly debated point among the boxing fraternity. The reason I mention all of these great names and fights, is what do we have right now?
Now Vitali Klitschko was a very credible heavyweight boxer in his prime and some would argue to still be a current world champion shows he still has what it takes to remain and the top of the tree.
I disagree, I firmly believe the decline of the heavyweight scene has allowed the domination of the Klitschko brothers. Not for one instance I am saying it is their fault, but making the best of a bad situation springs to mind.
Do not get me wrong, I firmly think that the klitschko brothers are a force and would challenge in most eras for world honours. They are also respectable role models on how to train and be a professional athlete let alone boxer.
Yet If we look at Wladimir’s last 5 opponents, Thompson, Haye, Mormeck, Peter and Chambers could we honestly say any of those if not true heavyweights can even match him for physical prowess or even represent a true challenge at world level.
We were led to believe that David Haye was the key to the Heavyweight future and the dethroning of the Klitschkos only to be spectacularly let down. (I felt that it was more about Haye’s missed opportunity rather than Wladimirs dominance by the way).
The most recent ‘hard fought’ challenge was Vitali against Dereck Chisora. Now I in no way condone the way Chisora acted and conducted himself throughout the whole affair, even throughout his career, but it did add some much required drama to get heavyweight boxing back to the forefront of boxing news.
The raging debate of the greats from each era and who would win in each scenario is a commonly debated point among the boxing fraternity. The reason I mention all of these great names and fights, is what do we have right now?
Now Vitali Klitschko was a very credible heavyweight boxer in his prime and some would argue to still be a current world champion shows he still has what it takes to remain and the top of the tree.
I disagree, I firmly believe the decline of the heavyweight scene has allowed the domination of the Klitschko brothers. Not for one instance I am saying it is their fault, but making the best of a bad situation springs to mind.
Do not get me wrong, I firmly think that the klitschko brothers are a force and would challenge in most eras for world honours. They are also respectable role models on how to train and be a professional athlete let alone boxer.
Yet If we look at Wladimir’s last 5 opponents, Thompson, Haye, Mormeck, Peter and Chambers could we honestly say any of those if not true heavyweights can even match him for physical prowess or even represent a true challenge at world level.
We were led to believe that David Haye was the key to the Heavyweight future and the dethroning of the Klitschkos only to be spectacularly let down. (I felt that it was more about Haye’s missed opportunity rather than Wladimirs dominance by the way).
The most recent ‘hard fought’ challenge was Vitali against Dereck Chisora. Now I in no way condone the way Chisora acted and conducted himself throughout the whole affair, even throughout his career, but it did add some much required drama to get heavyweight boxing back to the forefront of boxing news.
Each Klitschko win is expected, the fight is covered and the result reported, without ever generating coverage or excitement.
This all changed at that press conference!
David Haye
no matter what you think of him is the kind of personality boxing needs, and
more importantly heavyweight boxing needs.
The mouth, the attitude and the knock outs to back it up. The media interest at all levels here in the United Kingdom and Europe for the Chisora fight got heavyweight boxing back where it needed to be.
Can someone remember a recent Klitschko fight (without Haye) that demonstrated this?
The heavyweight scene could do with having a look at the thriving super middleweight and welterweight divisions, each one of the divisions top 10 fighters a worthy world champion and many a superfight happening. The genious ‘Super Six’ tournament, something which couldn’t take place in the heavyweight division as finding 6 competitors to actually make a close tournament would be impossible (not to mention the 2 world champions refuse to fight each other for understandable reasons).
There are many factors into creating exciting fights in exciting eras, a promoter’s willingness to subject his fighter to it, a trainer’s ability to get his man spot on in camp, and the dedication of the fighter to use his talent to its full potential, a selling point, a feud, level of the opposition all are factors. Many fighters do this today but just aren’t world class.
To look ahead to the heavyweight boxing future with all this negativity in place. I think the future is bright, with the likes of Haye re-instating his place among the big men after his ‘retirement’. Chisora is improving fight on fight and having learned more in his 4 losses than all of his 15 wins. Tyson Fury working his way, all be it very slowly up to world level. David Price making his impact on the domestic scene seems to be drawing world interest. A good British crowd are making a lot of noise over these guys, but will they be loved like a Hatton, Bruno or a Cooper?
The mouth, the attitude and the knock outs to back it up. The media interest at all levels here in the United Kingdom and Europe for the Chisora fight got heavyweight boxing back where it needed to be.
Can someone remember a recent Klitschko fight (without Haye) that demonstrated this?
The heavyweight scene could do with having a look at the thriving super middleweight and welterweight divisions, each one of the divisions top 10 fighters a worthy world champion and many a superfight happening. The genious ‘Super Six’ tournament, something which couldn’t take place in the heavyweight division as finding 6 competitors to actually make a close tournament would be impossible (not to mention the 2 world champions refuse to fight each other for understandable reasons).
There are many factors into creating exciting fights in exciting eras, a promoter’s willingness to subject his fighter to it, a trainer’s ability to get his man spot on in camp, and the dedication of the fighter to use his talent to its full potential, a selling point, a feud, level of the opposition all are factors. Many fighters do this today but just aren’t world class.
To look ahead to the heavyweight boxing future with all this negativity in place. I think the future is bright, with the likes of Haye re-instating his place among the big men after his ‘retirement’. Chisora is improving fight on fight and having learned more in his 4 losses than all of his 15 wins. Tyson Fury working his way, all be it very slowly up to world level. David Price making his impact on the domestic scene seems to be drawing world interest. A good British crowd are making a lot of noise over these guys, but will they be loved like a Hatton, Bruno or a Cooper?
The Key may
be as long as we can avoid the Price v Fury match up in the near future and let
this escalate into a world title feud, there could be even a trilogy of great
fights between them.
America may hold the key to the future which is untold yet but the likes of Shannon Briggs needs to disappear into the beyond and let the future become the present.
America may hold the key to the future which is untold yet but the likes of Shannon Briggs needs to disappear into the beyond and let the future become the present.
Only time
will tell on how the Klitschko’s legacy is received. It will not be as fondly
remembered as the heavyweights of the 70’s, late 80’s and 90’s in my personal
opinion, but if America can throw some young, fast talking, hard punching
heavyweights back into the mix to face the British wave about to come then the
future is most definitely bright.
