By Tom Donelson

The various Don King Heavyweight champions are now beginning their own version of a fight off. James Toney is fighting John Ruiz and Lamon Brewster is tackling Andrew Golota. While Chris Byrd and Vitali Klitschko watch from the sidelines, these four steps in the ring in what should further muddle the Heavyweight title further. When the smoke clears, there will still be four champions but then what else is new?

I like James Toney as a fighter for he is one of the best of this generation, but his fame as a Heavyweight is based on his victory over a long past his prime Holyfield. Since Holyfield, he has recovered from two serious injuries and found time to plaster Rydell Booker.

Toney is a slick fighter and accurate puncher but against John Ruiz, he is facing a stronger fighter. Ruiz major tactics consist of hugging and mugging his opponent. Forget skills, Ruiz just out wrestles his opponents. A Ruiz fights consist over three minute of actions and 33 minutes of sheer boredom. If nothing else, Ruiz has managed to drag most of his opponents to his level. The only one who succeeded in beating Ruiz over the past several years and actually box was Roy Jones.(Holyfield also beat Ruiz in their trilogy, which was 1-1-1 in three very close but rugged fights.) Jones’ speed and Referee Jay Nady insistence that Ruiz actually box led to Ruiz losing his title to Jones.

Toney is one of the best counter punchers in the game but he will fight within Ruiz’s range. Toney does not move but moves his shoulders to avoid punches. Ruiz will have his opportunity to mug and grab as Toney will stay in front of him. Toney needs to be accurate with the few opportunities granted him in between Ruiz grappling. Ruiz will attempt to overpower Toney since if this fight is fought in the center of the ring and turns into a boxing match; this favors Toney.

The key to Toney’s victory include:

  • Punch accurate and often like he did against Jirov.
  • Box and keep Ruiz from grabbing and grappling.
  • Hope that the referee allows Toney to box and keep Ruiz from grappling.

Ruiz key to victory include:

  • Turning this fight into a street brawl.
  • Use his natural heavyweight size and overpower Toney.

Toney will be the favorite among boxing fans as they hope for the superior boxer to end Ruiz’s championship reign. There is no fighter that irritates boxing fans and pundits more than Ruiz. Ruiz’s style is kryptonite to those who love the art of boxing since Ruiz is not an artist but a fighter who merely throws mud on the wall. But as Frank Lotierzo told me recently, Ruiz is one of those fighters who have moved beyond his potential and skills. Ruiz fights his fights and force others to follow suit.

Then there is Lamon Brewster, the human target. Brewster strategy consists of sticking his head in the way of his opponent’s punches. Brewster is not the most skilled fighter but he is blessed with one of boxing’s hardest heads. Golota is one of those fighters who have been blessed with skills but cursed with a brittle psyche. Golota has the superior skills and has shown in his last two fights that he can go the distance. In his comeback, Golota has managed to avoid being disqualified or panic in the ring but he drew with Byrd in a fight that he easily could have been declared the winner and lost a wrestling match with Ruiz. He has been close to a share of the title, but not quite there.

Brewster key to victory include:

  • Being able to withstand Golota early onslaught and hope for Golota to either tire out or panic.
  • Jab and take advantage of any Golota mistakes.

Golota key to victory include:

  • Keep his head and not do anything stupid.
  • Box and take advantage of his boxing skills.

Brewster will not hug, mug or grapple Golota and this will give Golota the space to jab and use his superior boxing skills. Maybe a third time will be a charm.

Before these fights happen, Jameel McCline tangles with Calvin Brock. McCline is one of those fighters who have yet to make the leap from good fighter to elite fighters. He had two opportunities to put his stamp on the heavyweight division but came up short.

McCline is a good boxer for a big man and he will have the height and weight advantage over Brock. Brock is not a one-punch knock out artist and he will be fighting one of Heavyweight bigger fighters. This is Brock’s big opportunity for he wins, he puts himself in position to challenge for one of those heavyweight titles.

McCline key to victory include:

  • Box and use his size to advantage. He can extend his arm and use his height to gain leverage.
  • Use his experience for this is Brock first big fight.

Brock key to the victory include:

  • Withstand McCline early onslaught. McCline nearly derailed Byrd in the second round before eventually tiring out.
  • Must be able to dominate the second half of the fight after surviving the early rounds. McCline tired out against the smaller Byrd and Byrd won a decision by dominating the second half of the fight.

After these fights, the heavyweight championship will still be muddle but some fighters will be eliminated from the heavyweight contention and the winners will either be holding championship belts or in position to challenge. These fights are key fights for all of the participants. For the loser, championship dreams end.