By Troy Ondrizek
I doubt that I’m the only person who was annoyed at how the Wladimir Klitschko/David Haye negotiations were going, and how they held most of the attention in the heavyweight division. It’s a good fight and I’m sure as the June event draws nearer my anticipation level will increase. I’ll be honest; I’m not sold on the fight and the circumstances surrounding it. It’s obvious that Wladimir Klitschko is the best heavyweight in the world, and David Haye can claim something that neither Klitschko brother can; that he was a linear champion (cruiserweight). It is an interesting fight, a champion from a lower weight class fighting the top contender in the next highest weight class. What’s not to like about that?
The childish manor of which both participants showed in negotiations made the process go on for far too long and how Klitschko has “captured” Haye for his next three fights (should he actually win) and taken the King’s share of the money, even though he is just the steward of the division, is a bit appalling. So were the tactics used by Haye to lure the giants in. This leads me to quote the US Merchant Marines, its time for “acta non verba.” So many top fighters are possibly held up by this bout and most likely we will still be left with no "overall" champion, which is not a good scenario for the division.
Therefore, since the two best heavyweights in the division are brothers and they refuse to fight one another, we can’t derive a champion from them, thus thrusting them into the stewardship between Lennox Lewis’ title reign and the next man to lay complete claim to the heavyweight throne.
The “underlings” are starting to jostle for position within the rankings. Some are ending their careers and others are the future, but there is unrest among the contenders and unlike the recent past - the cream is starting to rise to the top. Eddie Chambers’ (34-1 18KO) jab and counter clinic against once feared contender Samuel Peter (30-3 23KO) has given some momentum to this revolution. A days earlier, Vitali Klitschko (37-2 36KO) put away former cruiserweight titlist Juan Carlos Gomez (44-2 35Ko) to keep faith in the old guard, and this weekend gives us 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Alexander Povetkin (16-0 12KO) taking on the reinvigorated American Jason Estrada (15-1 3KO) in a bout of young challengers.
Eddie Chambers is one hopeful and he already showed great skill in the ring and has dominated EVERY foe he has faced - when he lets his hands go. Problem is, those hands while fast, move about as often as Haley’s comet passes by Earth. Chambers was controlling Povetkin with sharp counters and brilliant angles, and then his production dropped off like a Detroit automotive plant. Sasha pressed on like a lava-flow and he overtook Eddie late and earned a decision victory.
The aforementioned Povetkin is using Estrada as a tough test to keep him sharp (should he win) for his proposed bout with Wladimir Klitschko (should he beat Haye). Former world title contender Vitali is the elder and more dangerous of the Klitschko brothers and unfortunately like Haye, Wladimir, and Povetkin; his direct future is tied up in the upcoming June bout.
The young and unencumbered Cristobal Arreola has been talked about as the “American Savior” and was recently in talks with Wladimir should the fight with Haye not gone off. Luckily Cristobal’s future isn’t stuck in the mire that is the top of the division and he has time and opportunities to develop his game to being more than just being a banger who can throw combinations (but man is he fun to watch). The youth movement is arriving and Denis Boytsov, Povetkin, Chambers, and Arreola are key players, but one name, one man is needed to conquer them all. He stands 6’7” and I thought he was the greatest waste of height in the sporting world since Michael Olowakandi. Some call him Sascha; we’ll refer to him as Alexander Dimitrenko
Many scribes hate to be proven wrong. Truth is, I LOVE being wrong, sometimes. And this is one of those times that I was so gloriously wrong that it makes me proud. My first glimpse of Dimitrenko was his victory over Vaughn Bean. After that fight I had a couple nice things to say about him, and then I watched his fight with Fernely Feliz and decided to catch some of his old fights; like the one with Chris Koval. I immediately recanted anything positive and spewed forth “haterade” from my boxing soul. How dare a man this tall and supposedly this strong, with a great amateur background (which culminated in a heavyweight World Junior Boxing Championship back in 2000), fight so amateurish? His footwork looked like he had vertigo. He moved around in a sluggish manner and sat down on his punches like he was Zuri Lawrence. What a waste of height. Then something happened, he listened to not only his trainer (Fritz Sdunek) but the fans as well.
Athleticism starting showing through, as did some boxing nuances and signs of true boxing ability. Dimitrenko’s game was elevated with all of the little things going right, and his power came into effect. Alexander learned to fight and not just box. He has matured into a complete fighting package.
Following his poor performance against Koval, Dimitrenko has used his opponents to showcase his ever growing skill-set. Danny Batchelder told me that he had never been hit so hard in his life. Sascha proceeded to whip Malcolm Tann into submission and then fought a toe to toe war with a steroided Timo Hoffman, that Alexander brought to an end in the 12th in what was a wild and entertaining fight.
Former Boston College defensive end and young contender, Derric Rossy, made a valiant effort but in the end Dimitrenko was more impressive in victory over him than Eddie Chambers was. We haven’t seen Alexander since this past November, where he battled longtime top contender and German icon Luan Krasniqi. Luan had some success in the first two rounds but Dimitrenko started landing that jab in the second and working well off of it in the third when he put a beautiful left hook to Krasniqi’s ribs and Luan crumpled into a mass on the mat for the full count. It was Alexander’s best performance and Luan’s worst loss.
We are always looking for the next great champion in the heavyweight division and it’s been too long (6 years) since we’ve had one. Dimitrenko of late has showed all of the talent to be a top fighter - plus all of the fighting heart to be a champion. All he needs to be a superstar in the sport is the one thing we haven't seen from him - and that is an outgoing personality. There are few in the division that have the same upside as Sascha, but I believe that he is the best and not only the future, but soon to be a present force in the division.
Out of the black hole that the division has collapsed into, Dimitrenko is the most powerful energy emanating out. All he needs now is for Universum to show him to the world.
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