By Tom Donelson
Photo © Ed Mulholland/FightWireImages.com
For the heavyweights, this year proved decisive as Wladmir Klitschko took command of the division.
Over his past three fights, Klitschko has defeated the unbeaten Calvin Brock, fomer champion Chris Byrd and the hard slugging Samuel Peter. While others have slipped and fell over the past year, the Ukrainian slugger kept on winning.
Sergei Liakhovich appeared ready to challenge Klitschko as the best of the division after beating Lamon Brewster, who previously conquered Klitschko. But in his last fight, Liakhovich dropped the ball with only 30 seconds remaining before concluding a successful defense. He should have won, but instead, Shannon Briggs stopped Liakhovich and ended his short reign as champion. And as a result his stock went crashing down as his body slipped through the ropes.
Hasim Rahman got clocked by Oleg Maskaev, who managed to avoid fighting Samuel Peter when the WBC decided that Peter had to fight Toney one more time in January. Meanwhile, Maskaev is schedule to defende his title against Peter Okhello in Moscow, and last time I checked, I don’t remember seeing Okhello's name in the top ten.
It is hard to figure out Nikolai Valuev’s place in the heavyweight division. On one hand, Valuev looks like he can fight but he hasn't fought an elite heavyweight. We know that he can defeat B-level heavyweights, but we really don’t know if he is a true champion that can actually defeat a leading heavyweight.
Say what you want about Klitschko, he is the currently the best heavyweight and has fought a much better assortment of fighters. His 2005 scrap with Peter was a big risk for a loss would have ended his career as a heavyweight contender, but he survived three knockdowns to outbox Peter over twelve. Then, in 2006 he dispatched IBF title holder Chris Byrd, who was recognized as the best around heavyweight by Ring Magazine, and then his last victory over Brock proved to be easy.
While other heavyweights have been rotating championship belts, Klitschko has been defending his. Right now, he is the most consistent heavyweight and that alone makes him the best.
The one thing that Klitschko has going for him is that Emanuel Steward is in his corner and Steward's experience in taking talented big heavyweights and turning them into champions. Steward made Lennox Lewis the best heavyweight of the 90’s and he is now turning Wladimir into the best heavyweight of this decade.
What now? Klitschko wants to unify the championship and the most logical fight would be Shannon Briggs. Briggs has the power to test the vaunted Klitschko’s glass chin and he is the token American champion. Another intriguing match would be the battle of giants as Klitschko steps up to the larger Valuev, but that is not a fight that looks possible. Until Valuev's handlers decide that the Russian giant is ready to fight a legitimate opponent, this fight is not going to happen.
The next big fight among heavyweights should be contested between Klitschko and Briggs. In the 90’s, Briggs was a young fighter with talent. He could box and he could punch. Against Lewis, he provided the British champ some anxious moments before Lewis ended the fight with three knockdowns. This defeat sent Briggs' career in a tail spin, but now he is back on top or as close to the top as he can get.
Against Liakhovich, Briggs' power saved him, but his weight slowed him down. Against Klitschko, he will need more than a bolt of lightening to prevail. He will need to hurt Klitschko early and he needs endurance to persevere. Klitschko's biggest vulnerability has been his chin. This is a fight where Klitshcko would be the favorite and on paper - he should win. But, what should happen in boxing is not always what ends up happening.
The bottom line is that a Klitschko victory over Briggs would only solidify that he is the best heavyweight today.