by Don Colgan
In a span of less than eight weeks, the prospects for a continued heavyweight rebirth in the post Tyson-Lewis era took two brutal body blows with the abrupt retirement of Vitali Klitschko and the recent twelve round points triumph secured by the new WBA Heavyweight Champion, Nikolay Valuev over the two-time titleholder John Ruiz.
If it wasn't for bad luck the heavyweight division would have no luck at all. With the ascension of Valuev, the retired Klitschko looks like Larry Holmes. Ruiz, a pretender champion on his best night, was muscled around the ring by the Russian giant, seeing an early points advantage wither away.
The decision was suspect, yet the final removal of Ruiz is the one clear benefit gained from the developments of the past two months. With the exception of his success against a long past prime Holyfield, Ruiz was the worst claimant of a portion of the heavyweight championship in ring history. Bar none, Marvin Hart and Leon Pinks notwithstanding, Ruiz was so inept that he would have struggled to occupy a spot in the top twenty 1970 contenders. At least with his size coupled with the slight possibility of an improvement in his ring skills, Valuev may be able to make a successful defense or two before his inevitable defrocking.
With Vitali permanently sidelined, the prospects for the heavyweight division and the likelihood of an emergent dominant figure are non existent. Wladimir Klitschko may be well positioned to assume his brother's mantle yet any championship aspirations the “Other brother” has are periled by his weak chin. His points victory over Samuel Peter did demonstrate title toughness, not doubt. Three trips to the canvas did little to deter his overall domination of the contest. Yet Peter is not a polished fighter. He is a clubbing puncher at best and is not a finisher, certainly at this level.
We may be looking at a two or three year period where different versions of the heavyweight crown are recycled with the top six contenders engaged in permanent elimination. It is now reasonably to project that at one point Wladimir, James Toney, Chris Bryd, Brewster and even Peter may hold a piece of the championship. Can one of them emerge as the dominant heavyweight and true heir apparent to Lewis? The talent trail is much too thin. The heavyweight division is in tatters, a period comparable to the middle 1980's as Holmes began his decline .
Greg Page, Tim Witherspoon, Gerrie Coetzee, Mike Weaver and Pinklon Thomas all took turns as alphabet champions from 1983 to 1987. It wasn't until Tyson began to wreck the division did they diminish in stature. Yet the current heavyweight crop pales in comparison to Page, Coetzee, Weaver and company. All who would occupy, without a doubt, the leading position among the current heavyweight crop had they competed in 2006.
Ultimately it may be Klitschko and Bryd who emerge from the pack to give some definition to the heavyweights. Wladimer still possesses the tools, even at this relatively late date, to be a dominant heavyweight. His physical attributes cannot be dismissed. He has a formidable jab, has a stout heart, and can fight off of the canvas. He has the potential to be a 2006 version of Floyd Patterson, a superior yet flawed fighter who, by the merit of the thin talent field in the heavyweight class, could yet find his way to the top.
Rahman, because of his punch, cannot entirely be be dismissed. However, he remains in the Chuck Wepner category, a borderline contender at the bottom tier of the heavyweight heap.
Bryd, however, is another matter. He is perhaps the most accomplished of the contenders, with triumphs over Vitali Klitschko, David Tua and a points verdict over a faded yet durable Holyfield. Granted, Vitali's injury was the sole reason Bryd prevailed yet, in terms of overall ring generalship, stoutness of chin and ability he boasts superiority over his peers.
Brewster can punch and has proved to be a legitimate factor. He holds a knockout over Wladimir Klitschko, and if he fulfills is potential and averts disaster, he could emerge dominant. As far as Peter, his “not ready for prime time” flop against Klitschko shoves him to the rear of the class for now. A match against Toney would reveal a lot about Peter. James simply won't go away. He remains a blown up middleweight whose salad days are in the rear view mirror. Somehow, Toney has carved a niche in the weak heavyweight class. If he meets a first class puncher, he is going to be knocked out.
The heavyweight has drifted through similar episodes of malaise. In the years immediately preceding Joe Louis' stoppage of James J. Braddock in 1937, the heavyweight division drifted thorough a series of mediocre titleholders. During the late 1950's and early 1960's Patterson, Johansson and Liston held the crown prior to the emergence of Ali. Although one can hardly characterize Liston as mediocre, he fought great, he was not a great fighter.
At the beginning of 2006, the great Heavyweight division is in dire need of a Louis, Marciano, Ali or Dempsey. Although none is in sight, the next great champion is out there, flying under the radar of the fistic scene. He may, indeed, be a Louis or Ali, a titleholder for the ages.
