by David P. Greisman

When the Brown Bomber soared highest, he took flight between three and seven times a year, defending the heavyweight championship against everyone from bums of the month to future Hall-of-Famers. Over an 11-year period – including an extended gap while he served his country during World War II – Joe Louis racked up a record 25 successful title defenses.

His successors haven’t exactly followed suit.

Last year, the four sanctioning body belts went up for grabs a combined six times: Wladimir Klitschko’s stoppages of mismatched opponents Ray Austin and Lamon Brewster; Nicolay Valuev’s injury-caused technical knockout win over Jameel McCline and subsequent title loss to Ruslan Chagaev; and Sultan Ibragimov’s dethroning of Shannon Briggs and subsequent defense against Evander Holyfield. Oleg Maskaev was on the shelf for the entire year.

With such inactivity, one tends to forget unification and settle for satisfaction. This year looks to bring both. And it’s already begun.

Earlier this month, Chagaev rang in this truly new year when he stepped into the ring with Matt Skelton. This past weekend, prospects Alexander Povetkin and Eddie Chambers went 12 rounds for the right to challenge Klitschko. February brings an intriguing elimination bout between Valuev and former beltholder Sergei Liakhovich, with the victor moving on to face Chagaev. Also that month, Klitschko and Ibragimov will take the first step toward unifying the division when they meet at Madison Square Garden in New York City. And in March, Oleg Maskaev returns from the sidelines for an expected slugfest with Samuel Peter.

The best fights and biggest events oft take place in the lower weight classes. But to the casual fan, the Sweet Science is defined by what takes place in boxing’s marquee division.

Chagaev-Skelton took place off American airwaves, and that turned out to be a good thing. It wasn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing, but the bout proved necessary for the eventual winner, Chagaev, to shake off nine months’ worth of ring rust. At 29, he is the youngest of the heavyweight claimants. And like Klitschko, Povetkin and Valuev, he is a native of a former Soviet country who has since built a following while fighting in Germany. The promise of a box-office blockbuster makes matchmaking much easier.

Povetkin and Chambers were the finalists in a four-person tournament for the top spot in the International Boxing Federation’s rankings. The other contestants, Calvin Brock and Chris Byrd, came up on the losing end of seventh-round stoppages against Klitschko in 2006. Had either earned another chance, fans would turn away from the mandatory mediocrity. Povetkin and Chambers, however, would be fresh faces, even if neither proved to be the future.

On Saturday, Povetkin simply outworked Chambers, lobbying more than 900 punches at the Philadelphia-based fighter. Chambers was far more effective, landing nearly half of his shots and more than 60 percent of his power punches, but Povetkin’s activity meant more than Chambers’ accuracy, especially down the stretch, when Chambers seemed unable to shift into a higher gear while Povetkin never took his foot off the gas.

That Povetkin moves on to face Klitschko is no guarantee – Ibragimov is a live underdog against the consensus top heavyweight. But, at the least, the White Lion and his pressuring style make him a more likely threat to Klitschko’s reign than the boxing and counterpunching of “Fast” Eddie Chambers. Klitschko has defeated boxers in the past, twice taking out the aforementioned Byrd with two stones – his left and right hands. Chambers is less elusive than Byrd, preferring instead to stand in front of his opponent, picking off punches and sending back shots. Povetkin might not threaten Klitschko as Lamon Brewster, Samuel Peter and Corrie Sanders thrice had, but he would make the proceedings entertaining.

Valuev and Liakhovich each have a chance to play the spoiler. Valuev, should he win Feb. 16 in Germany, forces a rematch with the man who took his title, Chagaev. While Ibragimov, Klitschko and the winner of Maskaev-Peter hold a majority of the attention in the heavyweight division, Chagaev will be held off due to sanctioning body requirements.

As for Liakhovich, he has returned from extended layoffs and past disappointments to surprise opponents who underestimated him. Liakhovich suffered his first loss in 2002, a ninth-round kayo at the hands of Maurice Harris. But he bounced back with six straight wins, including a decision over touted prospect Dominick Guinn. That victory would be Liakhovich’s last appearance for 16 months, but the White Wolf eventually came back in April 2006 with a thrilling 12-round decision against then-titlist Brewster. Liakhovich lost in lackluster fashion to Shannon Briggs seven months later, and he hasn’t fought since. Neither Valuev nor Chagaev should take him lightly.

Klitschko and Ibragimov will headline Feb. 23 at boxing’s Mecca, where both have fought in recent years. For Klitschko, Ibragimov could be an intense combatant, his toughest opponent after four straight early nights, a pressure fighter who tends to come forward, throwing both punches and the proverbial caution to the wind. Or Ibragimov could show up as ineffective as he was in a draw with Ray Austin, a man who Klitschko beat last year with one hand. A win for Ibragimov, meanwhile, would launch his career into a higher sphere, setting up bouts that would further build his stardom.

Two weeks later, Oleg Maskaev will finally return to the ring after more than a year of inactivity, defending against interim beltholder Samuel Peter. When the fight was first signed, Peter was the prohibitive favorite, a bomb-throwing beast who seemed likely to crush the chin of a Maskaev who was apparently looking to cash out against a returning Vitali Klitschko. But Peter’s aura of invincibility took a major hit late last year when he had to overcome from three early knockdowns to outpoint Jameel McCline. Maskaev’s remaining time in the sport may be limited, but he still has the power to turn out Peter’s lights.

Nothing draws the crowds in like a good slugfest between two big men. Fortunately for the fans, this year could bring five within a two-month period. In a weight class that has long been fractured instead of featured, this selection of action could be just what the division needed: a joltin’ cup of Joe.

The 10 Count will return next week.

David P. Greisman’s weekly column, “Fighting Words,” appears every Monday on BoxingScene.com. He may be reached for questions and comments at fightingwords1@gmail.com