Shaun George stops Chris Byrd in 9

Well, it was worth a try. Chris Byrd's attempt at rejuvenating his career by dropping two weight classes met with failure Friday night in Las Vegas. Shaun George proved to be too steep a challenge for the former two-time heavyweight titlist. The 37 year-old Byrd had never been a natural heavyweight, and figured that by dropping closer to his natural bodyweight, he could turn back the clock. However, against George, he merely looked old and tired in being pounded to a ninth-round TKO loss.

Part of the idea of dropping to light heavy was that Byrd's new opponents wouldn't land with the same type of force that heavyweights like Tua, Klitschko, and Povetkin have. This may indeed be true. Shaun George obviously does not punch like Wladimir Klitschko or Ike Ibeabuchi. Having said that, Chris Byrd clearly didn't bring his heavyweight chin with him down to 175. Shaun George hit plenty hard enough to repeatedly rattle a surprisingly fragile Byrd.

Chris Byrd's legs seemed gone as early as the first round. George (17-2-2, 8KOs) was able to land the right cross several times in the opening minutes, as Byrd (40-5-1, 21KOs) leaned into the punches, magnifying the damage. Chris was eventually dropped after being visibly rocked by multiple counters. That rough first round set the stage for the rest of the fight. Byrd would find himself stalking George and repeatedly walking into counter right hands. Byrd seemed to struggle to let his hands go, as he appeared uncomfortable in the role of aggressor. Byrd was occasionally able to land a jab, but was unable to faze an increasingly confident Shaun George. The pattern of the fight continued in each round as George would calmly walk away from Byrd, then pivot and land hard rights as Byrd followed him. Byrd never seemed able to solve George's Jersey Joe Walcott impression.

The second was similar to the first, as Chris was tagged with multiple hard crosses and pawing jabs. Before the round, Byrd's father and trainer Joe Byrd implored his son to let his hands go more often. His attempts at carrying out those wishes were met with strong counters. Byrd was wobbled again, but managed to avoid the knockdown of the first.

In the first minute of round three, Chris threw a quick combo as Shaun did his walking-away routine, but didn't follow up while Mr. George retreated. As in the first two rounds, Byrd continued to follow the retreating George around the ring. He ate punches in return and none of his infrequent attacks caused George any problems.

Shaun George appeared to be amazingly relaxed as he forced Chris Byrd to fight exactly his fight. He frequently beat the formerly speedy ex-heavyweight to the punch. Chris did appear somewhat steadier in the third and fourth rounds, landing a few decent punches, but George never allowed a flurry to go unanswered.

Byrd upped his work rate in the 6th, and it could be argued that he deserved the round. Yet, even after an improved effort, he still leaned over the ropes after the round and informed ESPN commentators Brian Kenney and Shannon Briggs that he thought he "looked like crap." That after his best round of the fight!

Shaun took control once more in the 7th. He stuck and moved and forced Byrd back repeatedly. George's reactions and punches were clearly faster than Byrd and it showed as George continued the beating in the 8th. Byrd landed a few decent punches in the beginning of the 9th, including a low blow, but George quickly regained command. He connected with a huge left uppercut followed by a hard overhand right with 41 seconds left in the round to drop Byrd awkwardly on his side. Byrd rose on shaky legs, and was immediately pummeled to the ground in the corner by six rapid punches from George. Byrd stood up once more, but referee Jay Nady waved the fight off at 2:45 of round number nine. Chris appeared to hurt his shoulder during the first knockdown of the ninth.

Shaun George called out every fighter he could think of immediately following the stoppage, much to the amusement of the ringside commentators. Chris Byrd left the ring without comment, due to his shoulder injury. Now that Mr. Byrd has been soundly defeated by an ostensibly smaller man, he is left without many options as a fighter.

A few fighters have found success in their old age because they changed their styles to adapt to their diminishing speed and reflexes. George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins may be the best recent examples of this. Others, like Larry Holmes or Evander Holyfield, simply grew older and less effective. Chris Byrd appears to (mostly) fall into the latter category. His defensive-minded quasi-praying mantis style worked wonders as a slippery and nimble heavyweight. But at 37, with shaky legs and slower reflexes, Chris had no fallback plan. Toward the end of his reign as IBF heavyweight champ, Chris did somewhat alter his approach, if not his style, and became more aggressive. He still found some success, albeit diminishing with each subsequent fight.

After his 11th round TKO loss to up-and-coming heavyweight Alexander Povetkin, Chris figured that a change was needed. Fighting opponents his own size appeared to be what he needed to continue his career. The weight loss apparently came easy to him, and he claimed to be comfortable as a light heavyweight. Despite the changes, he was beaten in a far more dominating fashion by 175lb Shaun George than he had been by 226lb Alex Povetkin. It may just be that he had an off night, or that he grew old before out eyes. It could also very well be that Chris Byrd lost something more than just 37 pounds of flesh when he moved down from the heavyweight division.

Top Ten Heavyweights, 12/29/07

I haven't done a top ten list in a few months. However, not much has changed in the heavyweight division, especially in the top 5. Wlad is still number 1, but hasn't fought since July. Maskaev and Peter have yet to get it on. A lot of the new fighters seem to be in more by default than anything else. Liakhovich has dropped out of the rankings due to inactivity. Obviously, Brock, Byrd, and Brewster are out of the top ten, yet it was a chore to find heavies truly worthy of replacing them. Chambers, Virchis, Povetkin? Sure they're good, but when prospects have to fill out the top ten, that's a sign of a shallow talent pool. After the top half dozen or so heavies, the rest of the top 30 consists of prospects, retreads, glorified journeymen, and the ambling corpse of Evander Holyfield.

1.) Wladimir Klitschko - The best heavyweight in the world may finally begin to unify. A fight against WBO trinket-holder Sultan Ibragimov is one of the better fights that can be made in cementing division supremacy. However, the winner will have to deal with two separate mandatory challengers. If Wlad does win, the titles may not stay unified for long. (Ranked #1 on 07/18 list)

2.) Ruslan Chagaev - Chagaev leapfrogged Sam Peter based less on the strength of his recent competition (impressive as it has been) and more on Peter's poor showing against McCline. Indeed, Chagaev pulling out of a unification fight against Ibragimov was disappointing. Let's hope he doesn't pull a Maskaev and sit on his belt without fighting worthy competitors. Matt Skelton isn't a bad opponent, but hopefully if he wins, he can find something more meaningful. (Ranked #3 on 07/18 list)

3.) Samuel Peter - Mr. Peter took a hit in my ratings thanks to the surprisingly solid fists of Jameel McCline. While Sam deservedly won the decision, his reputation suffered thanks to three early-round knockdowns. The normally iron-chinned Nigerian was very close to being knocked out in the 3rd round by a fighter that would barely crack a top 30 list. Considering Mr. McCline once stood toe to toe with Chris Byrd and lost, this does not speak well for Mr. Peter. However, Oleg Maskaev should not get too overconfident. Sam Peter is still a threat, and may yet win the actual WBC trinket when (or if) they eventually meet. (Ranked #2 on 07/18 list)

4.) Sultan Ibragimov - Ibragimov boxed his way to a dull and fairly dominant decision against a nearly 45 year old Evander Holyfield. He looked reasonably quick and skilled, however, he did not show anything that should make Klitschko tremble with fear. Ibragimov will need to do more than move around and flick the jab, a tactic which tends to fail in a fistfight with Mr. Klitschko. (Ranked #5 on 07/18 list)

5.) Oleg Maskaev - Yet another delay, this time due to injury. Oleg is apparently doing his best Vitali impersonation. Hopefully he will finally take on Samuel Peter as scheduled in March. Peter's surprisingly shaky performance against McCline may give Oleg additional confidence. However, he can't get cocky, because Sam has more than enough power to send Maskaev home on a stretcher. (Ranked #4 on 07/18 list)

6.) Nicolay Valuev - “The Russian Giant” is scheduled for a WBA title eliminator against Sergei Liakhovich. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to the winner of Chagaev - Skelton. Valuev's biggest advantage (other than tonnage) is that Liakhovich hasn't fought in over a year. The loser probably drops out of my top ten. (Ranked #6 on 07/18 list)

7.) Tony Thompson - Tony has moved up the list more because of the exits of other fighters than because of his accomplishments. Still, he has quietly built a solid resume (by current standards), and is a dangerous opponent for any current heavyweight. (Ranked #10 on 07/18 list)

8.) Alexander Povetkin - He impressively stopped Chris Byrd in the first round of the IBF elimination tournament. It's rare that a fighter jumps from prospect to contender this early in his career. (Unranked on 07/18 list)

9.) Vladimir Virchis - I hate to keep saying this, but here is another fighter in the top ten mostly by default. Best wins are against Paolo Vidoz and Michael Sprott. Was outboxed by the much smaller Chagaev in his only loss. Good puncher, but would be an underdog against most of the top ten. (Unranked on 07/18 list)

10.) Eddie Chambers - Outboxed Calvin Brock to set up a fight with Alexander Povetkin. Very quick and agile for a heavyweight, but, without much power. Eddie is also small for the division. The obvious style comparison would be to Chris Byrd. Chris managed to overcome his size and strength disadvantages to remain a top contender and belt-holder for a decade. Can Eddie manage to do the same? Beating (or at least fighting well against) Alex Povetkin would be a great first step. (Unranked on 07/18 list)


Not Quite Top Ten (In no particular order) -

John Ruiz - Ruiz looked pretty good against a no-hoper, but he has not beaten a top contender in years.

Sergei Liakhovich - Inactivity has forced "The White Wolf" off my list. A win over Valuev would get him back up.

Chris Arreola - This young buzz saw is making progress, but time will tell if he's the next Joe Frazier or the next Joe Grimm. David Tua would make a for a great test (and a fun fight).

Chris Byrd - Chris should move down to cruiser if he wants to continue. He showed grit against Povetkin, but was too small and too old.

Calvin Brock - Can Brock still be a factor? Maybe, but he clearly needs to avoid heavyweights faster than himself. Oliver McCall, anyone?

Lamon Brewster - Brewster may not have the desire to be a top contender anymore. However, he's proven the critics wrong before.

Alexander Dimintreko - Massive Ukrainian has the tools to be a top heavy. Having said that, he needs to be matched up against better fighters to prove it.

Hasim Rahman - Mr. Rahman certainly looked pretty bad against Zuri Lawrence. He still makes the same mistakes he always has. Probably done as a serious contender.

David Tua - I have always been a fan of Mr. Tua, but the Samoan slugger needs to step it up soon, if he wants to remain relevant.

Joe Mesi - At his best, Joe might have just barely cracked the bottom of the top ten. He's only gotten older and slower. Like Tua or Rahman, he also needs to fight someone relevant or hang it up.

Juan Carlos Gomez - The former cruiserweight recently beat a geriatric Oliver McCall. Like so many of the top 10-30 heavies, he's running out of time.

Jameel McCline - Poor Jameel. He came thisclose to beating a consensus top 5 heavy, but once again fell short. Still, he clearly has something left.

Matt Skelton - The top British heavyweight is getting a shot at Ruslan Chagaev. He'll be the underdog, but certainly a live one.

Andrew Golota - Wore down Kevin McBride in a fairly decent win. Now scheduled to face Mike Mollo. If he wins, he may get yet another shot at a belt or top contender. “The Foul Pole” has had more second chances than even Jameel McCline.

Kali Meehan - Knocked out DaVarryl Williamson in a mild upset. He'll probably never get a major belt, but will remain a dangerous opponent for anybody outside of the top ten.

Vitali Klitschko - Will he fight again? Can he even get out of bed without hurting himself? Should he hang 'em up for good? Who knows?

David Haye - "The Hayemaker" was headed for the heavyweight division, but he appears to be hanging around the cruisers for at least one more fight.

Odlanier Solis - Strong, heavy-handed, and tough. Also short and plodding. Needs to be in better shape. However, he still has huge potential. Sounds like the next Sam Peter.

Kevin Johnson - Good skills, good size, pillows for fists. Still a prospect at this point.

Top Ten Heavyweights as of 07/18/2007

Originally posted on Eastsideboxing.com - 07/18/07.

1.) Wladimir Klitschko - Four of his last five victories have been over Ring-ranked top ten opponents. His recent domination of Lamon Brewster added to this impressive streak. Wlad is clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the division. (Ranked #1 on 04/27 list)

2.) Samuel Peter - Sam has been idle since his victory over James Toney back in January. He has been left in limbo by the WBC while he waits for his shot against Maskaev. My suggestion is that he ditch the alphabet thieves and go after a much more worthwhile trophy. The winner of a rematch between Sam and Wlad Klitschko would crown a new Ring Heavyweight Champion, truly the only title that matters. (Ranked #2 on 04/27 list)

3.) Ruslan Chagaev - Ruslan has very quickly moved up into the heavyweight elite. Wins over Vladimir Virchis, John Ruiz, and Nicolay Valuev prove that he is for real. Now he's scheduled to take on another top-ten contender in Sultan Ibragimov. Ruslan is rare among recent heavyweights in that he has an actual interest in being the Man, and he has the talent to succeed in that quest. (Ranked #4 on 04/27 list)

4.) Oleg Maskaev - Oleg needs to make up his mind. Whether he fights Sam Peter, one of the Klitschko's, or just retires, I don't really care at this point. Oleg is holding up the division, and until he has a significant fight, he'll begin to slip down this list. (Ranked #3 on 04/27 list)

5.) Sultan Ibragimov - With his win over Shannon Briggs, Sultan finds himself among the major players of the heavyweight division. Even though the belts are fairly meaningless, Sultan still deserves major credit for taking on another top ten fighter in Chagaev. He did a gutsy thing in choosing not to sit on his belt and defend against 2nd-tier opponents. Clearly, he is on the way up. Now, if only Jim Lampley could get his name right. (Unranked on 04/27 list)

6.) Nicolay Valuev - Despite no longer possessing the WBA trinket, Big Nic is still clearly a top ten fighter. That may be more of an indictment of the general state of the division than a celebration of his achievments. However, his size, chin, and a decent skill set make him dangerous to any fighter in the division. (Ranked #6 on 04/27 list)

7.) Calvin Brock - There is discussion of a possible elimination bout bewteen Calvin and Chris Byrd. The winner would then be slated to fight Klitschko for the IBF bauble. Obviously, there is little point in Wlad facing either man again. Having said that, the fight could still be a decent measuring stick in determining if either man can still be considered an elite fighter. (Ranked #8 on 04/27 list)

8.) Sergei Liakhovich - Sergei is sitting in the top ten more because of his talent and potential than any actual accomplishments. His brutal win over Lamon Brewster last year counts for a lot, but a loss to Shannon Briggs, and nearly a year of inactivity hurt him. He needs to fight again soon. (Ranked #7 on 04/27 list)

9.) Chris Byrd - Chris posted a rare stoppage win over no-hoper Paul Marinaccio a couple months ago. He showed he still has at least some of the skills that made him one of the top heavies for many years. However, he's 36, and the clock is ticking fast. If he plans to stay at heavyweight, there are still fights to be made. The question is, does Chris have enough left in the tank to take on the heavyweight elite? (Unranked on 04/27 list)

10.) Tony Thompson - Tony snuck into my top ten thanks to his recent run of fairly impressive victories, culminating in a 5th round stoppage of Luan Krasniqi. Thompson is a late bloomer who appears to be hitting his stride at 35. He's positioning himself for a run at the top dogs, and could be a threat. (Unranked on 04/27 list)


Not Quite Top Ten (in no particular order):

Vladimir Virchis - He was in my top ten, but Thompson's recent victory edged him out.

Vitali Klitschko - Needs to show he can tie his shoe without injury, much less go through training camp. Let’s see what happens against McCline.

Lamon Brewster - Loss to Wlad dropped him from the top ten. Still good enough to get back in, if he still has the fire.

Oliver McCall - Always on the fringe, probably won't crack the top ten.

Evander Holyfield - Really seems improved. Still a shell of his former self. Sadly, he probably won’t realize his dream of another title.

Alexander Povetkin - Alex is close, and after just 13 fights. Kid is a beast.

Jameel McCline - Just a fringe contender now.

Hasim Rahman - Not getting any better. On the way down.

Eddie Chambers - Best American prospect has looked impressive as of late.

Ray Austin - Outclassed by Klitschko, he probably won't get another chance at the division elite.

Fres Oquendo - A smaller McCline, in that he’s a tentative former contender sliding into gatekeeper status.

David Tua - Frustrating. Could KO anybody, but doesn't seem that interested in getting any good fights. As of now, he’s just slowly declining.

Matt Skelton - Britain's best appears stuck in the perpetual Williams-Harrison-Sprott round robin.

DaVarryl Williamson - See McCline and Oquendo.

Michael Sprott - One hit wonder.

John Ruiz - Even if he still has something left, nobody wants to see The Quiet Man prove it.

James Toney - Amazing how a focused Sam Peter can age a man overnight. Well, that, and a lifetime of physical abuse in the ring and at the dinner table.

Chris Arreola - Gotta disagree with The Ring on this one. He hasn't earned a top ten spot just yet.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=11741&more=1

Top Ten Heavyweights as of 04/27/07

1.) Wladimir Klitschko (IBF Champion) - With none of the other titleholders available, Wlad decided to take the toughest possible fight in Lamon Brewster. Brewster may be rusty, but he's still relatively young (for a heavy), hits like he has bricks in his gloves, and has that all important "W" over Wlad. If Wlad beats Lamon, it would go a long way to solidifying his status as the best heavy since Lennox. In any event, he's showing guts. (Ranked #1 on 02/15 list)

2.) Samuel Peter - It looks like Sam is gonna get his shot at Maskaev after all. He should be a heavy favorite, and will probably win whether he decides to box (like he did against Toney) or slug. If he wins, he should face off against the winner of Klitschko-Brewster II. However, Sam should be careful not to look past Oleg. There have been many bigger upsets. (Ranked #2 on 02/15 list)

3.) Oleg Maskaev (WBC Champion) - This is the moment of truth for Oleg. He's going to face off against a man most people think he can't beat. Will he defy the odds? I find it unlikely, but should he win, he may do well to retire, because a fight with Vitali Klitschko would be looming on the horizon. And even that massive payday may not be enough to make it worth his health. (Ranked #3 on 02/15 list)

4.) Ruslan Chagaev (WBA Champion) - Ruslan's win over Valuev gives him a big boost in my rankings. Ruslan doesn't appear to have huge power, but he does have good hand speed, good stamina, a solid chin, and a great workrate for a heavyweight. Despite his lack of size, he is a threat to anyone in the division. Perhaps a match between the winner of Briggs - Ibragimov might help wake up the division. (Ranked #9 on 02/15 list)

5.) Shannon Briggs (WBO Champion) - Shannon's matchup against Sultan Ibragimov is slightly more than a month away. Hopefully Shannon can stay healthy so the fight can go forward this time. Briggs will have his hands full against Ibragimov, but a win would mean TWO straight victories over credible competition - uncharted waters for Shannon. (Ranked #5 on 02/15 list)

6.) Nicolay Valuev - Despite his loss to Chagaev, I find it hard to drop Big Nic any farther down the list than 6th. He is still a tough, awkward matchup for any heavyweight, and has done enough to remain in the mix. It wouldn't surprise me to see Don King drop Nic as he has done so often to fighters in the past. But, that might be a blessing in disguise for Valuev. He might actually get more meaningful fights if he is free from the King albatross that hung around his massive neck. Regardless of his promoter, I don't believe we have seen the last of Nicolay Valuev. (Ranked #4 on 02/15 list)

7.) Sergei Liakhovich - Sergei needs to fight again soon in order to stay in the top ten. At this point, he is mostly in the top ten by default, as I can't find 10 other heavyweights who are better than him. Nonetheless, some activity would be welcome, and hopefully against someone at least in the top 25. (Ranked #6 on 02/15 list)

8.) Calvin Brock - Calvin wiped the floor with a completely unqualified and overmatched opponent in his last fight. Hopefully, he can get to some meaningful fights soon. Maybe a fight with Liakhovich? That would be tough for both men, and the winner would be pretty much guaranteed some kind of title shot by early 2008. (Ranked #8 on 02/15 list)

9.) James Toney - I can't bring myself to drop James from the top ten quite yet, but he certainly is hanging on by a thread. If he wants to keep fighting, it might behoove him to avoid any bangers. Maybe Chris Byrd or a rematch with Holyfield (Did I actually suggest that?) would be ok for him. Like Evander, I'm actually hoping James retires. He has nothing more to prove, but he has a lot to lose if he keeps fighting. (Ranked #7 on 02/15 list)

10.) Lamon Brewster - I was prepared to drop Lamon from the top ten in favor of Sultan Ibragimov, but he decided to fight a rematch with Klitschko, so I'll keep him around for now. Lamon would probably be better off taking a tune-up fight before challenging the best heavyweight in the world. Thing is, this is an opportunity that is understandably impossible to turn down. He already has a win over Wlad, he knows Wlad wants this, it's perfect. Lamon just needs to realize that Wlad is not the same fighter that he beat in 2004. Wlad is not likely to gas out like he did last time. This is going to be dangerous for both men, and they should both be commended for agreeing to it. (Ranked #10 on 02/15 list)


Who didn't make the cut -

Sultan Ibragimov - Sultan sits just outside of my top ten. If he beats Briggs, then he becomes a major player in the division.

Chris Byrd - Guess he's still a heavyweight for now. A win over a meaningful opponent gets him back in the top ten.

Vitali Klitschko - If he's serious about this comeback, then he should look at a tune-up before taking on the Peter-Maskaev winner. Maybe a long-delayed fight against a faded but still dangerous Rahman?

Hasim Rahman - Scheduled to face Taurus Sykes. Not the direction he should be going if he wants to contend.

Evander Holyfield - Not done yet. Might get a title shot before the end of the year. Scary, but not surprising.

Matt Skelton - Set to face Michael Sprott. The best British heavyweight is barely in the top 20 worldwide. Probably won't crack the top ten, but stranger things have happened.

Michael Sprott - Despite his win over Audley Harrison, he is not going to be challenging for a major title anytime soon.

Eddie Chambers - Maybe the best American prospect right now. I would love to see him face off against Chris Arreola in a battle of unbeaten prospects.

Alexander Povetkin - Crushed the normally durable David Bostice in 2. Might be ready for a top ten fight by 2008.

Ray Austin - His destruction at the hands of Klitschko merely cemented what we already knew. He's not a true top-ten fighter. But he will probably hang around the top 20 or 30 for a while longer.

John Ruiz - Will he retire? Probably should, but that doesn't mean much in the world of boxing.

Danny Williams - May not be done just yet, if he can stay in shape.

An Alternative to Unification: A Rematch Between Wladimir Klitschko & Sam Peter

Originally posted on Eastsideboxing.com - 03/15/07.

First of all, let me begin with an apology. I'm quite confident many boxing fans are getting tired of reading about Wladimir Klitschko. Thanks to his recent win over Ray Austin, his status as the number one heavyweight, and the current drama going on with his brother Vitali, he is getting a lot of attention. I imagine those who don't like Wlad are seething over all of the recent articles about him. Even those who like him might prefer to talk about the Marquez-Barrera fight, or Floyd Mayweather, or even what type of crane will be used to hoist Butterbean into the ring.

I understand all of this. But, alas, he is the best heavyweight in the world right now, and that carries significance. Significance not just to the boxing world, but to the casual fan as well. And there happens to be an issue with Wlad that I would like to discuss. So forgive me as I contribute to the bludgeoning of the dead horse and talk about Dr. Klitschko once more. Or at least talk about an issue that affects him directly. Don’t worry, this is a lot bigger than Wladimir.

Perhaps the biggest complaint that I routinely hear about the heavyweight division is the division of the titles. There are four men currently holding significant belts. Four different sanctioning bodies claim that the man holding their trinket is the best heavyweight. Obviously they can't all be right. Of the four title-holders, Wladimir Klitschko is generally agreed to be the best. He has faced the best opposition of the bunch, has the best tools, is the youngest, and seems to have the greatest upside.

However, most will agree that Wladimir can lay claim to a number-one ranking, but can't call himself a real champion until he has at least partially unified the titles. Even Wlad himself has said this. Klitschko, like most people, believes that collecting more baubles is the best way to claim legitimacy. But I would like to ask why? What makes the various alphabet soup belts so valuable? Doesn’t talk of unification just confer greater legitimacy to the biggest problem in boxing?

The alphabet-soup titles are what fighters tend to strive for. Most boxers want general recognition, but this is not usually enough. A belt is such a tempting thing. Even though the belts carry with them headaches, sanctioning fees, and unworthy mandatory challengers, they are still prized. What if we could cut things down to just one belt? It would be worth a great deal more than 4 “major” belts and countless minor ones. Of all the possible belts and titles, The Ring Magazine championships appear to have the most to offer. A long and distinguished history, (not the new policy, but The Ring itself) no sanctioning fees, no ulterior motives, no money changing hands, and now a much larger advisory panel that only improves its legitimacy.

The concept of beating the man who beat the man is a sensible one. Even if a particular fighter isn't that great, they can still upset a better fighter and win the title. And that person would deserve all the credit in the world for stepping up their game when it counts. Shannon Briggs and Oleg Maskaev are both great examples of this. They challenged better boxers, and pulled out wins. The thing is, all that really means is that the fighter in question had a good win. The belts themselves have little value if there is more than one to go around. What Briggs, Maskaev, Valuev, and Klitschko possess are diluted championships.

If one looks at the Ring Magazine heavyweight top-ten list, it’s true they would see all four title-holders on the list. IBF champ Wladimir Klitschko is the obvious number-one. Amazingly enough, the number-two man on the list isn't a trinket-holder at all. Samuel Peter is actually a great example of someone shafted by the corruption and incompetence of the sanctioningbodies. What if Wlad told the IBF to go screw themselves and their belt? What if he decided to fight the second best heavyweight in the world? A rematch between Klitschko and Peter would crown the Ring Heavyweight Champion. All without wasting time trying to unify. The only way any of the other title-holders could be recognized as the champion would be to fight the champion. Problem is, Briggs, Maskaev, and Valuev would have to be willing to give up their titles, or at least stop acknowledging that the titles are worth anything. They would be forced to go after the champ. This is not likely.

However, if Sam Peter and Wladimir Klitschko can go along with it, and if the boxing media cease acknowledging the sanctioning bodies, then the title-holders will be holding on to paper crowns. Klitschko fighting the third or fourth best heavyweights won’t confer the same legitimacy that fighting Sam Peter would. Sam beat James Toney twice (once legitimately), and like him or not, Toney was a top-ten heavyweight (maybe still is). Sam also had a good fight against Wlad back in 2005 that deserved a rematch. While Sam is waiting for the Maskaev - Vitali Klitschko mess to be resolved, he could fight for the only belt that matters right now. If one of the other trinket-holders believes that they are more worthy than Peter to fight for the Ring crown, then let them drop their toys, grow a pair, and go after the man in the division! Hiding behind promoters and mandatories proves nothing.

A lot of people don't like the fact that a part of the media is trying to influence the subject they report. This is an understandable concern. The thing is, who else is going to do it? No other organization in boxing has the track record that the Ring has. Nobody else has the collaboration of so many writers and contributors to the sport. The Ring has a very sensible system in place for determining rankings and champions. It isn't perfect, but it is a vast improvement over every other alternative. The Ring charges no sanctioning fees, and accepts no monetary compensation for ranking specific fighters. They go by the consensus of some of the best minds in the business. Not a bad system at all. Everyone complains about how the sanctioning bodies are ruining the sport. Now we have an alternative. If fighters stopped paying sanctioning fees and stopped caring about the belts, we might see real progress. The promoters could no longer bribe the bodies to rank undeserving fighters. Mandatory title defenses like the recent Klitschko - Austin debacle would become a thing of the past. Having only one title would force the best fighters in each division to gun for one man.

And, only the best would be champions or even contenders. Yes, it is possible that a few worthy fighters could be frozen out of the picture. It's sad, but it happens. However, this is preferable to 4 "champions" in each division, with various "interim" and "super" title-holders clogging up the picture and further alienating the casual fan. It might even motivate fighters to work harder and show up to fights in shape. Imagine that, heavyweights that can go three rounds without collapsing from exhaustion. What a concept.

So, what am I trying to say here? What have I been rambling about? There is no good reason for Wladimir Klitschko to try to unify the titles! The corrupt politics of the sanctioning bodies will keep him from successfully unifying, anyway. The absurdly greedy promoters want there to be as many title-holders as possible. They would only allow unification if it would give them control of fighters like Wlad. So, Wladimir, I say, do what’s right! Fight Sam Peter! If you can’t get him, fight a top contender like Ruslan Chagaev or Serguei Liakhovich, or some fighter not listed as a “champion” of one of the sanctioning bodies. Acknowledging their very existence only gives them power! I would love to see as many fighters as possible follow the lead of Carlos Baldomir, and simply refuse to pay sanctioning fees. Dump the belts in the garbage and fight the best. I know this is easier said than done. But, I wish more people would at least start talking about it. If we truly love this sport, then the fighters, the fans, the writers, and everyone else involved in it should be willing to turn our backs on the alphabet-soup gang and let them wither and die.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10267&more=1

Top Ten Heavyweights as of 02/15/07

1.) Wladimir Klitschko (IBF Champion) - Wlad has defeated three straight top-ten opponents, easily the longest such streak in the division. He is and probably always will be vulnerable, but for now he's number 1. He should handle Ray Austin fairly easily in March.

2.) Samuel Peter - One legitimate and one gift victory over the crafty and still capable James Toney put him into the number two spot. Hopefully he can get his shot at Maskaev, as the WBC has jerked Sam around long enough. However, what I really want to see is a rematch with Klitschko. The winner of that fight would be the Ring Champion, which is the only worthy title as far as I am concerned.

3.) Oleg Maskaev (WBC Champion) - Whether it's Sam Peter, Vitali Klitschko, or whomever, I'd like to see him face a worthy opponent soon. Fighting Peter Okhello did nothing for Oleg except pad his record. Having said that, if he does fight Sam Peter, don't be surprised at an upset. Maskaev is not the same fighter that lost to Lance Whitaker and Corey Sanders. He has showed a lot of improvement in recent fights.

4.) Nicolay Valuev (WBA Champion) - Big Nic ranks this high mostly by default. Jameel McCline was actually a decent test, but the way that the fight ended proved absolutely nothing. Valuev's resume is pretty thin, but that will change if he fights Chagaev next.

5.) Shannon Briggs (WBO Champion) - Shannon has precisely one legitimate win over a top-ten opponent. He has all the tools, but he has never managed to put it all together until he beat Liakhovich a few months back. Now that the fight with Ibragimov is off, we may have to wait a while longer to see if his win was just a fluke, or if Shannon is the real deal.

6.) Sergei Liakhovich - Sergei's loss to Shannon was not devastating to his career, as long as he gets back out there and starts fighting soon. He can still be a player in the division if he stays active and fights smart.

7.) James Toney - Yes, James lost a lopsided decision to Sam Peter. But his skill, experience, and incredibly hard head are still enough for him to beat most of the fighters in the division. Peter was too young and strong, as would be Klitschko or Valuev. However, Toney might have enough left in the tank to hang around a little longer if he stays away from some of the giants of the division.

8.) Calvin Brock - Calvin should rebound from the Klitschko loss. He showed in that fight that he has a tricky defense and plenty of heart. He will probably never be the undisputed champion, but he could get his hands on an alphabet trinket or two before all is said and done. Brock and Liakhovich are in much the same position right now. They both recently lost, but they both have the ability to recover.

9.) Ruslan Chagaev - Chagaev's win over Ruiz was more impressive than a lot of people will want to admit. John Ruiz's absurdly boring style has made him the least popular heavyweight titlist in recent memory, but he's not as bad as his detractors claim. Ruiz was tough, tenacious, and effective. He had decent power, a fairly solid chin (the Tua debacle nonwithstanding), and plenty of stamina. Yet Chagaev was just too much for him to handle. I give Chagaev a good chance at unseating WBA trinket holder Nicolay Valuev.

10.) Lamon Brewster - Brewster apparently plans to fight again soon, which is what kept him in the top ten. His loss to Liakhovich highlighted his weaknesses and strengths perfectly. He's not the most skilled boxer, but he is strong, hits hard, and has a granite chin. Those attributes alone will keep him competitive. And he has a win over the best fighter in the division. Unfortunately for Lamon, he is also amazingly inconsistent. Sometimes he looks like a world beater, other times he looks like a club fighter.

Who didn't make the cut (no particular order) -

Vitali Klitschko - Can't put him in the top ten yet, he needs to fight somebody first.

Chris Byrd - If Chris stays at heavyweight, then he's probably still in my top ten.

Hasim Rahman - On his way down.

Sultan Ibragimov - Might be good enough, needs to get in better shape.

Ray Austin - He has some skills, but will probably be destroyed by Klitschko.

John Ruiz - Boxing's most unappreciated fighter has made the most of his opportunities, but he's on the way down.

Alexander Povetkin - Not quite ready for prime-time.

Eddie Chambers - Same as Povetkin, needs to fight a top-20 or 30 caliber opponent first.

Davarryl Williamson - On the way down.

Audley Harrison - One good win over a declining and unprepared Danny Williams is not enough.

David Tua - Needs to start fighting decent competition, or at least look good against the tomato cans.

Vladimir Virchis - Needs more activity.

Jameel McCline - Blew what was probably his final chance against Valuev.

Evander Holyfield - I want to say he should retire, but I can't help wanting to root for him.

Is Vitali's Comeback bad for Wladimir?

Originally posted on Eastsideboxing.com - 01/25/07

The boxing world has just erupted with the news that former WBC and Ring heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko is planning to return. He is clearly interested in an immediate title shot, which will likely spark legal action from the WBC's top contender, Samuel Peter. Peter does have a legitimate claim that he has earned a shot at WBC titlist Oleg Maskaev. He has twice defeated a top ten fighter in James Toney, and has been repeatedly promised a chance to fight for the title.

Despite Peter's grievances, there is someone else with more to lose if Vitali does come back. Vitali's younger brother and current IBF champion, Wladimir, might benefit the most by having Vitali remain retired. Wladimir has stated that it is his goal to unify the alphabet soup titles. If Vitali manages to secure a title shot against Maskaev, he will most likely (but not definitely) emerge the winner of such a contest.

That would make unification impossible, as the Klitschko brothers have repeatedly stated they will never fight each other. The best Wlad could hope for is partial unification as long as Vitali holds a title. Also, if Sam Peter manages to get his shot against Maskaev and wins, then Vitali might take on Peter. Wladimir and Peter have unfinished business, and a Peter-Vitali match up will delay what could be a great rematch.

Having a brother in the limelight will likely prove to be quite distracting to Wladimir. He has improved a great deal in the past year, under the tutelage of Manny Steward. While I don't believe that Vitali could undermine Wlad's recent improvements, his presence could be a hindrance. Assuming Wlad successfully disposes of Ray Austin, he will have a lot of opportunities afterward. If Vitali is fighting for heavyweight belts, that will limit the number of fights and opportunities available to Wlad.

Wladimir is almost five years younger than Vitali and has a greater upside. Vitali had the potential to have a great run as champion, but injuries ruined it. Even if Vitali can stay healthy and win a title, he doesn't have a lot of time left. 3 or 4 more fights at a high level would be a best-case scenario. Conversely, Wladimir could have another 5 years at the top if he stays healthy. If Vitali performs poorly and doesn't win a title, that could negatively impact Wladimir's reputation. A lot of casual boxing fans can barely tell the difference between the bothers anyway. A bad loss or two by one brother may affect public perception of the other brother. And one would hope that the brothers don't achieve a 1-2 ranking by the Ring. That would guarantee no Ring heavyweight champion for as long as they both remain active and successful.

For some reason, the brothers Klitschko have not been able to perform well at the same time. After Wlad lost to Ross Purrity, many thought that Vitali would be the more successful brother. Then Vitali lost to Chris Byrd. Wladimir's subsequent domination of Byrd changed everyone's opinion once more. It became almost universally acknowledged that Wlad was the more talented brother. However, the tides of fortune would turn once more, as Wlad would lose to both Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster. At the same time, Vitali would surprise many with a spirited performance against Lennox Lewis, followed by dominating wins over Kirk Johnson, Corrie Sanders, (winning the WBC and Ring titles) and Danny Williams. Then Vitali was forced to retire due to chronic injuries, and Wladimir began clawing his way back up to the top of the division.

Since Vitali's retirement, Wladimir has stepped out of his brother's shadow, and has fought with increasing confidence. For Wladimir, this may be the worst possible time for Vitali to jump back into the spotlight. While Vitali certainly was a good fighter, and had the potential to be a very good champion, he is now likely past his prime. If he is successful in his comeback, his brother will no doubt be happy for him. However, that doesn't mean it will be good for Wladimir's career. And an unsuccessful comeback by Vitali may provide an equally unwelcome distraction for Wlad.

In the end, Vitali will do what he feels is best for himself. He may indeed win a title or two and enhance his Hall of Fame chances. And his success shouldn't have to be bad for Wlad. Wladimir will support Vitali like he always has. The brothers have demonstrated remarkable loyalty to one another. I would just like to point out that it may be in Wladimir's best interest if Vitali makes this comeback short-lived.


http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=9654&more=1

George Foreman versus Lennox Lewis

Originally posted on Eastsideboxing.com - 01/11/07


Boxing fans love hypothetical matchups. What might have been is often just as interesting to boxing fans as some of the fights themselves. Boxing fans are like any sports fans in that they thrive on debate. For me, one of the most interesting ''what if'' scenarios is a very recent one. Less than ten years ago, George Foreman versus Lennox Lewis was a possibility.

November 22, 1997. On that date, then-48-year-old George Foreman fought Shannon Briggs for the linear heavyweight championship of the world. On that night, Foreman dominated Briggs. Foreman consistently backed Briggs up, landed harder and more frequent punches, and had Briggs hurt on more than one occasion. Shannon Briggs was known for his trademark ''swarm,'' a barrage of punches early on that was designed to obliterate the opposition in the 1st round. This rather reckless tactic was completely absent, however, as George set the pace for the fight. Briggs seemed to have a great deal of respect for Foreman's power, and he never pressed matters.

Despite the fact that Shannon was 23 years younger than George, he didn't take advantage of the physical advantages that his youth provided him. George's only physical edge - his enormous power - was the deciding factor in the fight. Not because he crushed Briggs with it, but because Briggs seemed in awe of what George could do.

After the fight, Briggs was more surprised than anyone when the verdict was announced in his favor. The decision seemed inexcusable, not just because Briggs received the nod, but because he won by such absurdly lopsided margins on two of the scorecards. Regardless, Foreman was gracious in defeat. He didn't make excuses or point fingers, and gave Briggs credit for not quitting. As the ''winner'' of the fight, Shannon was given a shot at the reigning WBC champion, Lennox Lewis.

Nobody expected Shannon Briggs to last long against Lennox, but to his credit, he treated the fight against Lewis seriously. Shannon rocked Lennox in the first and second rounds, and seemed to have Lennox on the verge of a shocking early KO. However, Lewis regrouped and administered a sound beating to his game but outmatched challenger. After the fight, the general consensus was that Briggs could have been on Lewis's level had he spent the past few years concentrating more on training than on the economic aspects of the sport. Lewis's fifth-round knockout of Briggs highlighted Briggs’ talent and potential, as well as a few weaknesses of Lewis'. Lennox's chin was still a question mark to many, as he had been defeated by second-round knockout four years earlier. His struggles in the first two rounds of his fight with Briggs seemed to confirm the shakiness of his chin. The fact that Lewis had such a difficult time with Briggs suggested to many that the champion was vulnerable to a strong puncher. And who was a stronger puncher than George Foreman?

This brings us to the big ''what if.'' What if justice had been served on November 22nd, and George had received the veridict? It is possible that George Foreman would have been given the shot at Lennox Lewis. Lennox was coming off an impressive one-round demolition of Andrew Golota, and was thought by many to be the best heavyweight in the world at the time. Lewis would have benefited greatly from a Foreman fight. From his perspective, it would have been a low-risk/high-reward scenario. George would have been 49 by the time of the fight, and much slower and easier to hit than Shannon Briggs. George would have been an easy target for Lennox's reasonably quick hands. It's possible that the fight wouldn't have happened. George had already shunned tougher fights in favor of more lucrative and easy to win matchups. He didn't need Lennox. He didn't need to get hurt for money or even glory. But there is the possibility George might have been willing to take one last chance. And that's where things get interesting.

March 28, 1998. George Foreman, 49 years old, 77-4(68) versus Lennox Lewis, 32 years old, 32-1(27) going in to the fight. Lennox enjoyed several appreciable advantages over George. He was an inch and a half taller, had a two-inch reach advantage, and was significantly quicker of both hand and foot. George's most significant advantage lay in his more resilient chin. He also may have been a slightly harder puncher, but that advantage would have been nullified by Lennox's superior hand speed. Regardless, Lennox would have to have been a substantial favorite.

Going into the fight, Lennox may very well have treated it lightly. He clearly wasn't in the best shape against 25-year-old Shannon Briggs, why would he get himself into any better shape against a 49-year-old? Despite his sizeable waistband, George was usually in deceptively good condition. He had the stamina to go 12 rounds, and had a pretty good work rate considering his size and age. If Lewis undertrained and didn't take the fight seriously, he might have been vulnerable to the defensive lapse that he occasionally was known for. Overconfidence is what led to his losses to McCall and Rahman, and his close calls against Briggs and Klitschko. It is unwise to not take seriously the challenge of perhaps the hardest puncher of all time.

I could see the fight happening in one of two ways. The most likely option is that Lennox would fight George like he did Tua. He would hang back, pump the jab, and keep his distance. Lennox's movement and speed would keep George from getting too close, and his jab and reach would allow him to safely pile up points. The most likely scenario sees Lennox winning a lopsided and somewhat boring decision. If Lennox doesn't push it, he wouldn't get the knockout. George was too tough to go down against a cautious Lewis. After losing a wide decision, George would collect his huge purse and retire to his grills.

Another scenario is possible, however. After winning a few early rounds by jabbing and moving, Lennox may decide that George is too easy and is ready to be knocked out. That's when trouble could strike. Lennox would start to open up his offense around the third or fourth round, bringing his right down on George. He would start throwing combinations, which would require him to get in close. George might take a beating for a round or two, but eventually, he would have the presence of mind to notice Lennox dropping his left after jabbing. As Lewis comes in, pawing with the jab, setting up a right cross, George counters over the left with a big cross of his own. The cross lands on the point of the overconfident Lewis's chin, and down he goes. At this point, if Lewis does get up, George would likely be battered and exhausted, and might not be able to follow up. If Lennox recovers, he still might box his way to victory. Either way, there is a possibility, however slight, that 49-year-old George Foreman could have knocked out the best heavyweight in the world.

A win over Lewis would very likely have caused chaos in the division. George would most likely have retired at that point, abandoning the WBC title. The top contenders in the WBC would have fought for the vacant title. It's still possible that Lennox could have recovered and won the title back. But the short-term consequences would have been interesting, to say the least.

Realistically, George would most likely not have even fought Lennox. As I mentioned before, he didn't need to take that kind of risk. He had all the money he needed, and a Lewis fight wouldn't have made a huge difference. And even if he did fight Lewis, the end result would most likely have been a lopsided loss. However, Lennox was known for overlooking opponents he deemed to be non-threatening. And that would give George Foreman the chance to shock the world once again.




http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=9488&more=1

Wladimir Klitschko's Potential Matchups For 2007

Originally posted on Eastsideboxing.com - 12/16/06

Going into 2007, IBF titleholder Wladimir Klitschko is clearly the man to beat in the heavyweight division. He is on a hot streak, having won against three straight top-five contenders. Klitschko has a tremendous upside, being a relatively young 30, and having the best combination of speed, power, and skill in the division. Not to mention having one of the greatest trainers of this generation in his corner. However, no discussion of Wlad seems to be complete without the usual caveat regarding his chin. Klitschko is indeed vulnerable to a strong puncher, and always will be. He does seem to have improved in responding to pressure, and is obviously now better equipped to deal with tough situations. In any case, Wlad has the most options of any heavyweight right now. All roads lead to him. Every heavyweight in the top 50 seems to be calling him out these days. While we may laugh at Brian Minto or Audley Harrison's interest in taking him on, there are plenty of interesting matchups available for Klitschko. I have listed some of the more likely matchups for Klitschko this year, and a prediction for how each fight might turn out.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Ray Austin

This fight has ''mismatch'' written all over it. Ray Austin is a tough, reasonably skilled fighter who has enjoyed a certain amount of success fairly late in his career. He gave top 15 contender Sultan Ibragimov a tough fight and has made his way onto some top 20 lists. But, despite his size and decent skills, this fight will probably end up looking like Klitschko - McCline from a couple years back. Despite being about even in the size department, Klitschko enjoyed every measurable advantage over McCline. Power, speed, overall boxing ability, you name it. Ray Austin is no better than the 2003 version of Jameel McCline. Sad part is, this might be the most likely fight for Klitschko at this point. Ray can stay back for a while, try to use his size and box Wlad, while building up a deficit on the scorecards, or he can just take it to Wlad and hope to catch him early. A few years ago, that bombs-away style might have given Ray Austin a chance against Klitschko. But, these days, Wladimir adjusts much better to pressure, and would just tie Austin up if he gets too close. Ray Austin simply has nothing to beat Klitschko with, and would likely lose by late knockout.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Shannon Briggs

This could be an exciting fight. For a while, anyway. Both fighters have excellent power and fast hands. Both men have weak chins and stamina issues. The big difference is in fundamentals. Briggs is an okay boxer with decent counterpunching ability. Klitschko is a highly skilled boxer with a superb jab. In fact, he has a completely full repertoire of punches. Briggs has his trademark ''swarm.” Except for his fight against Lennox Lewis, he hasn't utilized that type of aggression against his better opponents. If he tries to stay back and counter, like he did against Liakhovich, he'll get picked apart easily. His only real chance is to take it to Klitschko and hope he can drop him in a round or two. Expect to see Klitschko survive the early onslaught and begin to find his rhythm as soon as Briggs starts tiring out. That will probably only take two, three rounds at the most. Shannon might rock Wladimir, but judicious clinching and a steady jab should get Klitschko past the danger zone. Then Klitschko breaks Briggs down with the jab. As soon as he realizes Briggs is too tired to be much of a threat, he'll start bringing the right cross into play. Expect the fight to end shortly after that. Five to eight rounds and the party's over. I guarantee, however, that Shannon will provide the better post-fight quotes. He’s always had the edge in mouth.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Oleg Maskaev

Oleg might like the payday involved, but he might not like the risk. Maskaev is like Briggs in that he has more than enough power to knock out Klitschko, he just doesn't have the tools to apply that power. It is conceivable that Maskaev could come out swinging and catch Klitschko unprepared. More likely though, is Klitschko completely outclassing his tough but limited opponent. The difference in hand speed will be apparent from the beginning. Maskaev will eat jab after jab from the first round on. He has a strong cross, and has recently added a decent hook to his arsenal, but if he can't get the punches off first, it won't matter. Plan on watching Klitschko dominate Maskaev a lot easier than anyone will want to admit. The referee will step in while a game Maskaev takes a bad beating on the ropes in the fourth.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Nicolay Valuev

This fight could be big. These two giants fighting might sell out any venue in the world. The fact that Don King controls Valuev makes this fight unlikely, but if enough money was involved, it could happen. Valuev is obviously limited in the skill department. He is slow of hand and foot, and has trouble putting much power into his punches, simply because of the awkward angles involved. Punching a target a foot lower isn't that easy. However, he appears to be willing to learn the trade. He has a grasp of the fundamentals, and while that doesn't sound like much, his sheer size makes it enough against most of the division. He also has amazingly good stamina, considering his size, and a solid chin. Valuev is not an all-time great, but he's a tough match for almost anyone. This is a hard fight for me to call. While Klitschko is unquestionably the superior fighter, he has never had to deal with an opponent THAT much bigger. Klitschko may take a few rounds just to try and figure out how to get inside and land. I can see this being a slow, awkward fight at first, until maybe the fifth or sixth round. Klitschko will start to land with increasing regularity, and the difference in hand speed will be apparent. Valuev will try and wear Klitschko down with frequent clinches, but Klitschko is a pretty strong guy, and should be able to handle it. Valuev has slow hands and Wlad will be able to see most of the punches coming. Valuev appears to have a pretty hard head, and his mass will make Wlad hesitant to go all out. So I wouldn't be surprised to see Valuev still standing at the final bell, but Klitschko will be the clear winner, maybe winning 10 or 11 rounds.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov

If Sultan Ibragimov gets past Shannon Briggs for the WBO trinket, then that might make things a little more interesting for the prospects of unification. Ibragimov only managed a draw against Ray Austin because of relatively poor conditioning and a tendency to fight in spurts, but he has undeniable talent. Ibragimov has power, quick hands, and a sturdy chin. However, somewhat like Calvin Brock, his fairly impressive physical tools are a step below Klitschko's. The only edge Ibragimov seems to have is his chin, but it is also easier to hit. The fight would most likely be a replay of Klitschko - Brock, with Ibragimov making things awkward in the early rounds. Eventually, though, Wlad will figure out his shorter, more limited opponent and begin landing those left jab-right cross combinations that finished off Brock. Klitschko should end matters by TKO before the tenth round.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. James Toney

Another opponent who can dominate Wlad in the sound-bite department. Should Toney get past Samuel Peter, he will be Oleg Maskaev's mandatory challenger. If Klitschko gets to Maskaev first and wins, then that opens up the possibility of Toney-Klitschko. And if Toney does get Maskaev first, and manages to win, then unification would still require a Toney-Klitschko match. Either way, this fight could happen in 2007. If it does, expect to see Klitschko retire James Toney. Toney's strength is infighting, but against a 6'6'' opponent with an excellent jab, quick hands, good movement, and huge power, getting inside will be a challenge. Toney is 5'9'' and will have a considerable reach disadvantage. I see Klitschko keeping Toney at arm’s length all night with stiff jabs. Toney's own impressive array of boxing skills and his hard head will most likely allow him to see the final bell. His defense is still excellent and he should be able to avoid many of Klitschko's punches. The problem for Toney is that he won't be able to land with any frequency. Expect a one-sided unanimous decision for the Ukrainian.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter II

Should Samuel Peter prevail against James Toney, then a Peter-Klitschko rematch could conceivably happen before the end of the year. This is the fight that might be the biggest danger for Wladimir. Peter is still a raw and somewhat undisciplined boxer. However, he also possesses enormous power and a granite chin. In their last meeting, Klitschko gave Peter a boxing lesson, keeping him at the end of his jab, and tying him up inside. Sam Peter did have some success, though, and managed to drop Klitschko three times. If Peter has improved his technique since their last encounter, then this would be a major challenge for Klitschko. Sam Peter is tough, determined, relentless, and more than willing to fight dirty. I could envision Sam being able to overwhelm Klitschko with a barrage of hooks, crosses, and his favorite weapon, rabbit punches. The problem is, Klitschko isn't that easy to overwhelm at this point. Should he remain composed, I can easily picture Wlad giving Sam another boxing lesson. Maybe even a late stoppage, considering how Klitschko was able to wobble Peter in the 12th round of their first fight.

I have heard Peter being called ''raw'' after every fight for the past couple years. If Sam Peter is still being called raw after having fought the likes of Klitschko and Toney, he may not ever get much better. For his sake I hope he does, but at this point, expect Klitschko to win a rematch.

It's obvious that Klitschko is in the driver's seat in the heavyweight division and has the most options. There are many other potential opponents for him. Lamon Brewster, Sergei Liakhovich, and Ruslan Chagaev all come to mind. However, the above list highlights the most likely options for Wladimir Klitschko in 2007. Based on all the evidence at hand, Klitschko should be able to win all of these fights. It would not be wise, however, to count out any of these potential opponents. Determination and a hard punch has been enough to defeat Klitschko before, and may still be enough once again.


http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=9251&more=1

Wladimir Klitschko's Historical Standing

Originally posted on Eastsideboxing.com - 11/14/06

On Saturday night, Wladimir Klitschko defended his IBF heavyweight title (And more importantly, his Ring Magazine number 1 rating) with an emphatic 7th round TKO of challenger Calvin Brock. After 4 relatively even rounds, Wladimir took over in the fifth, scoring at will with his jab, and eventually ended matters with a huge right hand in the 7th frame.

The win solidified his standing as the best heavyweight in the world. At this point, Klitschko has had 50 fights, and has fought against better opposition than any currently active heavyweight contender (can’t call Evander a true contender just yet).

At this point, I would argue that one can begin to take stock of Wladimir’s overall historical standing. Surely a record of 47-3(42) against some of the best the division has to offer over more than a decade is enough of a resume to rate a comparison against the best of the division historically. This would be an objective analysis, taking into account Wladimir’s accomplishments, his failures, his abilities, his quality of competition, and his potential.

First of all, we’ll cover the basics. Wladimir Klitschko is 6’6”, 245 lbs. He is a boxer/puncher with an excellent jab, a strong right hand, a solid left hook, and an underrated uppercut. He’s not much of a bodypuncher, partially owing to his height. Klitschko has good hand speed and huge power. His footwork is fairly good, and he is light on his feet, especially for someone of his size. Klitschko is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats when it comes to pure offensive performance. However, offense is only part of the game. For most of his career, Wlad’s defense has been his offense.

He uses his size, reach and offensive output to keep his opponents at bay and off-balance. But when an opponent punches back, especially with a great deal of aggression, he tends to lose focus and starts to panic. Klitschko reacted badly to adversity early on in his career. But adjustments made with trainer Emanuel Steward seem to have helped. Against determined and strong Samuel Peter, he did a good job adapting to Peter’s all-out aggression, and managed a win over maybe the strongest man in the division.

Wlad also seems to have a less-than solid chin. When hit cleanly by a strong puncher, he has tendency to go down. However, his defense has improved in the past year, and he has not taken too many clean shots against his last 4 opponents. Overall, his boxing talent and physical attributes are an imposing mix.

Klitschko’s resume is something of a mixed bag. He holds wins over 15th – 40th ranked opponents such as Axel Schulz, Monte Barrett, Francois Botha, a 42 year old Ray Mercer (not completely shot at the time), Derrick Jefferson, Charles Shufford, DaVarryl Williamson, and Eliseo Castillo. He also has victories over top 10 opponents in Chris Byrd (twice), Jameel McCline (top 10 when they fought), Samuel Peter, and Calvin Brock. His losses were to journeyman Ross Purrity (Klitschko punched himself out), Corrie Sanders, and Lamon Brewster (also punched himself out). Overall, a decent resume.

The losses hurt, especially considering he never avenged any of his them. He was only dominated once, against a very fast and powerful Corrie Sanders. The other two losses were mostly a result of bad pacing against tough guys who didn’t wilt when Wladimir bombarded them with an all-out assault. His roster of opponents has been solid for most of his career. He has generally fought decent opposition, especially in the past year, in which he has fought 3 top-five opponents in a row (Peter, Byrd, and Brock). But except for Byrd, none were title-holders.

Klitschko’s overall strength of competition has not been all that high. But he has fought the best available opponents for the most part. It is difficult to compare him to past eras. Obviously, his quality of competition pales in comparison to the seventies and the nineties. There have been a few worse eras (the late 20’s and early 30’s between Tunney and Louis come to mind), but not many. Based on his overall body of work (so far), one can began to compare Klitschko to the heavyweights throughout history.

My all-time top 20 may not be exactly the same as everybody else’s, but it does contain all the usual suspects in a reasonable order. Based on the achievements of this group, clearly Klitschko has not yet earned a place in this group.

Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Jack Johnson
Larry Holmes
George Foreman
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Lennox Lewis
Sonny Liston
Jack Dempsey
Evander Holyfield
Mike Tyson
Ezzard Charles
Gene Tunney
Sam Langford
Floyd Patterson
Jim Jeffries
Joe Walcott
Max Schmeling
Riddick Bowe

What about the next tier, though? Fighters like Max Baer, Riddick Bowe, Ingemar Johansson, Michael Moorer, Ron Lyle, Jerry Quarry, Michael Spinks, Jimmy Ellis, Jack Sharkey, and their ilk? Good fighters all, many of them champions at one point, but not quite good enough to make the elite group. All of those I listed undoubtedly deserve a place in the top 50. What about Klitschko? How does he compare to that group? We can look at several of the fighters that I just listed. Many of the fighters ranked from 21 to 50 held titles of one sort or another, and several were long time contenders during top eras (Earnie Shavers, Oscar Bonavena, Ron Lyle, Joe Bugner, Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Young, and several others from the 70’s come to mind).

The fact that Klitschko has won two separate titles plays a role in his ranking, but in this era of fractured championships, winning an alphabet trinket does not necessarily indicate fighting top competition. However, we have established that Klitschko fought some of the top competition that has been available to him, especially in the past year.

There are heavyweight greats such as Johansson who deserve a top 50 spot but faced less than stellar competition. Ingo faced Eddie Machen, Henry Cooper, and Floyd Patterson three times in a fairly short career. None of his other opponents were all that special. Not bad, but not really any more impressive than Wlad’s resume. Most of the non-title holders of the late sixties through the late seventies faced superior competition to Wlad, as did some of the top contenders of the nineties. But there are enough top 50 fighters that one can see ranked below Klitschko in terms of competitive quality.

Michael Spinks won the title from Larry Holmes in controversial fashion, beat a faded and distracted Gerry Cooney, and was blown away by Mike Tyson. Hardly the greatest resume, but still maybe good enough to crack the top 50, considering he was a linear champ, and did win the title after moving up from light heavy (an achievement in itself).

After all of this, it could be argued that Wladimir Klitschko does deserve a spot in the top 50 at this point in his career. He probably won’t rank much above 40, but with time, he may move higher up the list. At this point, I would even put him above his brother Vitali, who seemed to be on his way to having a fairly decent run as champ, but couldn’t stay healthy long enough to build an impressive resume. Boxing fans seem to be obsessed with lists and rankings. And in the next few years, we will probably start seeing Wlad’s inclusion in some all-time lists.

It seems that when one examines Klitschko’s record in a calm and objective manner, he appears to warrant inclusion in the pantheon of greats, albeit not at the highest tier. Admittedly, boxing is one of those sports that seems to excite people and stir the emotions, so calm and objective analysis is not always expected. But part of the fun is arguing and debating lists and rankings. In the end, Wladimir Klitschko’s true and deserved ranking will probably always be considered subjective and a matter of debate and opinion. Let the arguments began!


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