HEAVIES DESERVE CREDIT
We are about half way through the boxing season and I would say I'm satisfied so far. We have already seen a few fight of the year canidates. (Brewster - Lyakhovich, Cintron - Estrada, Rivera - Garcia, Bell - Mormeck, and Barrera - Jaurez). We've seen a legend end his career with a masterpiece(Hopkins beating Tarver). And we've seen more relevant action in the heavyweight divivsion than we have in years. Of course it has had it's up and downs in the past six months, but remember we're talking about a division that was irrelevant this time last year.
The heavyweights started off with a possible fight of the year canidate. Lamon Brewster and Serguei Lyakhovich put on a see-saw battle for twelve rounds. Both fighters showed heart and some skills proving they belong in this division. Then came an absolute disaster. A draw between James Toney and Hasim Rahman. This fight was supposed to send one guy to the front of the pack and the other packing. Instead it left them both right where they were before, full of question marks. Finally, a front runner was spotted. Wlad Klitchsko put on an show when he trounced Chris Byrd in 7. Wlad showed the skills needed to be seen as the leader of the pack. Along the way we have seen a few contenders be eliminated as well. Dominic Guinn finally made people see that Audley Harrison just doesn't have the heart to compete with the rest of this division. Then Guinn himself was embarrassed by Tony Thompson ending his short lived comeback. We've realized that one prospect is not as exciting as once thought in Calvin Brock. And the best thing about the heavyweight division so far this year is we haven't heard much from John Ruiz.
It looks like the second half of the year could be shaping up quite nicely for the big dogs as well. Some interesting fights have been put together for the fall, and I for one am excited. I'll give my picks later right now let's just go over what's happening.
1. Hasim Rahman (41-5-2) vs. Oleg Maskaev (32-5) II August 12
Rahman will be dealing with some demons when he faces off against Maskaev on the 12th. The last time he met "The Big O" he was knocked out cold and almost crushed Jim Lamply on his way through the ropes. Rahman not only needs to win this fight, but he needs to look good doing it. In his last fight he gave a lackluster performance against a far overweight, smaller James Toney.
2. James Toney (69-4-2) vs. Samuel Peter (26-1) September 2
This is a very interesting matchup. These two guys couldn't be more different. Sam Peter is easily the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division, but is still very raw when it comes to his boxing skills. Toney is by far the most skilled boxer in the division, but lacks punching power and size. Both guys need a win here to get a title shot. If Toney should get knocked out people will say he was a middleweight who doesn't belong. If Peter loses people will say he doesn't have the boxing skills to keep up with the elite in the division.
3. Wladimir Klitschko (46-3) vs. Shannon Briggs (47-4-1) November 11
This could be the most exciting heavyweight fight in years. These two guys are knockout artists. Both have good boxing skills, and both have something to prove against each other. Wlad needs to show the world that his chin is sturdy. There were still some questions left unanswered from the Peter fight. If Peter wasn't such a reckless boxer could he have finished Wlad? Briggs needs to show the world this time around he's taking it seriously. He's been talking a lot since his comeback but has yet to step in the ring with a top level opponent. This fight is what the heavies need. Two guys getting in the ring with the sole purpose of knocking the other one out.
4. Chris Byrd (39-3-1) vs. O'neil Bell (26-1-1) TBD
This fight would be at cruiserweight, but I thought it deserved mentioning. The fight is still in the talks stage, but if it gets put together could be a fun one to watch. This would be the first time Byrd has fought under the heavyweight limit since 1994. Bell is the first unified cruiserweight champ since Evander Holyfield. I would love to see Chris Byrd go down to cruiserweight, it would give that division the boost it needs and I think after Bell there are a few more matchups that would be interesting to watch. I'm not saying Byrd would or wouldn't win, either way it's a fight I'd like to see get put together.
Some notables:
Unfotunatley Evander Holyfield is back. He has lost three of his last four, and is scheduled to fight Jeremy Bates. This guy has a record of 21-11, and years ago wouldn't have even been allowed to sit ringside for a Holyfield fight. Now, he probably has a good chance to beat him. I wish Evander would just hang em up. Axel Schulz is slated to make a comeback. That's all this division needs another guy closing in on forty getting into ring for a comeback, don't we have enough already. Speaking of comebacks, Tommy Morrison is talking about a comeback. If it isn't bad enough the man has AIDS, he hasn't fought in ten years. Last but not least Kevin McBride is getting a title shot against Serguei Lyakhovich, I don't think I need to say anything about this. I just hope after this fight we get to see a rematch with Lyakhovich and Brewster.
We are about half way through the boxing season and I would say I'm satisfied so far. We have already seen a few fight of the year canidates. (Brewster - Lyakhovich, Cintron - Estrada, Rivera - Garcia, Bell - Mormeck, and Barrera - Jaurez). We've seen a legend end his career with a masterpiece(Hopkins beating Tarver). And we've seen more relevant action in the heavyweight divivsion than we have in years. Of course it has had it's up and downs in the past six months, but remember we're talking about a division that was irrelevant this time last year.
The heavyweights started off with a possible fight of the year canidate. Lamon Brewster and Serguei Lyakhovich put on a see-saw battle for twelve rounds. Both fighters showed heart and some skills proving they belong in this division. Then came an absolute disaster. A draw between James Toney and Hasim Rahman. This fight was supposed to send one guy to the front of the pack and the other packing. Instead it left them both right where they were before, full of question marks. Finally, a front runner was spotted. Wlad Klitchsko put on an show when he trounced Chris Byrd in 7. Wlad showed the skills needed to be seen as the leader of the pack. Along the way we have seen a few contenders be eliminated as well. Dominic Guinn finally made people see that Audley Harrison just doesn't have the heart to compete with the rest of this division. Then Guinn himself was embarrassed by Tony Thompson ending his short lived comeback. We've realized that one prospect is not as exciting as once thought in Calvin Brock. And the best thing about the heavyweight division so far this year is we haven't heard much from John Ruiz.
It looks like the second half of the year could be shaping up quite nicely for the big dogs as well. Some interesting fights have been put together for the fall, and I for one am excited. I'll give my picks later right now let's just go over what's happening.
1. Hasim Rahman (41-5-2) vs. Oleg Maskaev (32-5) II August 12
Rahman will be dealing with some demons when he faces off against Maskaev on the 12th. The last time he met "The Big O" he was knocked out cold and almost crushed Jim Lamply on his way through the ropes. Rahman not only needs to win this fight, but he needs to look good doing it. In his last fight he gave a lackluster performance against a far overweight, smaller James Toney.
2. James Toney (69-4-2) vs. Samuel Peter (26-1) September 2
This is a very interesting matchup. These two guys couldn't be more different. Sam Peter is easily the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division, but is still very raw when it comes to his boxing skills. Toney is by far the most skilled boxer in the division, but lacks punching power and size. Both guys need a win here to get a title shot. If Toney should get knocked out people will say he was a middleweight who doesn't belong. If Peter loses people will say he doesn't have the boxing skills to keep up with the elite in the division.
3. Wladimir Klitschko (46-3) vs. Shannon Briggs (47-4-1) November 11
This could be the most exciting heavyweight fight in years. These two guys are knockout artists. Both have good boxing skills, and both have something to prove against each other. Wlad needs to show the world that his chin is sturdy. There were still some questions left unanswered from the Peter fight. If Peter wasn't such a reckless boxer could he have finished Wlad? Briggs needs to show the world this time around he's taking it seriously. He's been talking a lot since his comeback but has yet to step in the ring with a top level opponent. This fight is what the heavies need. Two guys getting in the ring with the sole purpose of knocking the other one out.
4. Chris Byrd (39-3-1) vs. O'neil Bell (26-1-1) TBD
This fight would be at cruiserweight, but I thought it deserved mentioning. The fight is still in the talks stage, but if it gets put together could be a fun one to watch. This would be the first time Byrd has fought under the heavyweight limit since 1994. Bell is the first unified cruiserweight champ since Evander Holyfield. I would love to see Chris Byrd go down to cruiserweight, it would give that division the boost it needs and I think after Bell there are a few more matchups that would be interesting to watch. I'm not saying Byrd would or wouldn't win, either way it's a fight I'd like to see get put together.
Some notables:
Unfotunatley Evander Holyfield is back. He has lost three of his last four, and is scheduled to fight Jeremy Bates. This guy has a record of 21-11, and years ago wouldn't have even been allowed to sit ringside for a Holyfield fight. Now, he probably has a good chance to beat him. I wish Evander would just hang em up. Axel Schulz is slated to make a comeback. That's all this division needs another guy closing in on forty getting into ring for a comeback, don't we have enough already. Speaking of comebacks, Tommy Morrison is talking about a comeback. If it isn't bad enough the man has AIDS, he hasn't fought in ten years. Last but not least Kevin McBride is getting a title shot against Serguei Lyakhovich, I don't think I need to say anything about this. I just hope after this fight we get to see a rematch with Lyakhovich and Brewster.
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