By Vadim Pushkin
Russian promoter Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing predicts the new wave of heavyweights will create a lot of excitement for the division. There is already a major shift in the division with Vitali Klitschko retiring in 2014 and younger brother Wladimir Klitschko getting upset by Tyson Fury last November.
The new crop includes Fury with the IBO/WBA/WBO world titles, Deontay Wilder with the WBC title and the vacant IBF title will be up for grabs this coming Saturday when Czar Glazkov and Charles Martin battle for the vacant belt.
Ryabinsky promotes Olympic gold medal winner Alexander Povetkin, who is the mandatory challenger to Wilder. Also this Saturday, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Wilder will defend his title against Artur Szpilka. The Ryabinsky and Povetkin plan to site ringside.
Another heavyweight making noise is 2012 Olympic gold medal winner Anthony Joshua, who is 15-0, 15KOs and ranked very high by the WBC and IBF.
"First, there is the individual Vyacheslav Glazkov, who is likely to become the world champion under the version of the IBF. He's a good fighter and he will be a serious player in the division. Povetkin is going to fight with Deontay Wilder, which in itself is not a gift. There are guys that are interesting - Briton Anthony Joshua is a very promising guy who will create problems for everyone. The younger generation - there are very serious. In other words, it will be very interesting [in the division]," Ryabinsky told Championot.
Back in 2013, Povetkin was dominated and beaten by Klitschko. The fight seems to be a lot closer now based on their recent performances. Ryabinksy does not rule out a rematch between the two, if they both win their upcoming fights.
"Right now we do not need that fight, because we have the goal - to become world champion. Therefore, first we need to win the title, and then see if there is point in facing Klitschko because we don't know the outcome of the rematch [with Fury], so right now it is unknown who will be on top in this division," Ryabinsky said.
