By Jake Donovan
Photo © John Booz/FightWireImages.com

Records are made to be broken, but don't tell that to purists who refuse to lend credence to "out with the old."

There are plenty of records in boxing which many consider unbreakable, and some even regard them as off-limits to discussion. Among those, we have: Joe Louis' 25 consecutive successful title defenses and eleven years as world heavyweight champion; Henry Armstrong simultaneously reigning as world champion in three separate weight classes; Julio Cesar Chavez remaining unbeaten through 90 fights before his first career loss.

And of course, Rocky Marciano, retiring at 49-0 as boxing's only ever undefeated heavyweight champion.  

Armstrong's mark is one that is permanently secure, at least until the sanctioning bodies either collectively fold, or all change their rules across the board. As it stands, fighters are barely permitted to unify without immediate threat of being stripped. None are allowed to own titles in two separate weight classes.

Homicide Hank can rest easy knowing that nobody will ever match his feat.

Today's fighters are no longer active enough to compile 90 fights, never mind not losing any of them. Perhaps Julio Jr. is the one to dethrone his old man, already at 31 non-losses in just 42 months, with two more bouts already scheduled in the next ten weeks. Julio Sr. wouldn't mind passing the torch to his own flesh and blood, though it will take more creative matchmaking than what already exists in getting the kid to 50 straight without a loss, never mind 90.

It's been more 20 years since a heavyweight threatened Joe Louis' records. Larry Holmes managed 20 successful defenses in seven years before succumbing to Michael Spinks in 1985. Forget linear champs; no alphabet heavyweight titlist has since been able to manage an unbroken reign longer than four years; none have reached ten consecutive defenses.

The Easton Assassin also came closer than anyone else to surpassing the Rock, running his mark to 48-0 before the aforementioned first Spinks bout. Not since Mike Tyson's initial reign came to an end has any heavyweight champ come within sneezing distance of 40-0.

At least until now.

Fight fans across the globe, or at least outside of the Eastern Europe, shudder at the thought of 7'0" heavyweight beltholder Nikolai Valuev (46-0-0-1 NC, 34KO) surpassing The Rock. In less than two weeks, he has a chance to make it 47 wins without a loss (48 fights overall) when he faces undefeated mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev in Stuttgart, Germany.

A good starting point for the argument against rallying behind Valuev's chase is the fact that Chagaev (22-0-1, 17KO) is arguably his best opponent to date. Despite his credentials as a standout amateur (82-3 record, two Olympic appearances and two world amateur championships), Chagaev has no business ranking as the best opponent on any notable heavyweight's record. Considering the state of today's division, he's not even the best fighter out of the Eastern Bloc, perhaps not even one its best non-beltholders.

Chagaev earned his shot at Valuev's alphabet title by getting past former titlist John Ruiz last November in Germany. The official verdict was a split decision, though very few questioned the win.

What had come into question was how "The White Tyson" made his way to an elimination bout. A disputed points win over Vladimir Virchis is the closest he comes to a noteworthy achievement, though his stoppage win over Michael Sprott one fight later looks a little better in retrospect, with Sprott scoring a major upset over Audley Harrison last month.

But then, Valuev's road to the title was hardly paved with gold. Prior to facing Larry Donald in October 2005, the Russian Giant managed to run his ledger to 41-0 with guys like Gerald Nobles and Clifford Ettiene being the closest to anything remotely resembling a threat.

As the wins piled up and hardware found its way around his waist, fans began to complain of how he was unworthy of discussion, that his potentially breaking Marciano's record would further disgrace a heavyweight division already embroiled in mediocrity and lack of notoriety.

But what gets lost in the trips down memory lane is the fact that Rock's resume pales considerably in comparison to his record.

Any notable wins on Marciano's resume came once he became champ, all against fighters on the downside of their career. Jersey Joe Walcott was approaching 40 when he conceded the championship to the Brockton Blockbuster. Depending on which set of birth records are accurate, Archie Moore was either rounding 40 or already past it when he became the last ever fighter to face Marciano in the ring, in 1955.

Ezzard Charles, perhaps the greatest light heavyweight of all time and a damn fine heavyweight in his own right, was on the slide when he twice fell to Marciano. The rematch with Roland LaStarza was less about the latter earning a shot at the title (which he didn't) than it was righting a past wrong. Much as many argue Valuev should've already been dealt losses against Larry Donald and John Ruiz, there were very few who believe Marciano deserved the split decision nod over the Bronx-based paisan in their first bout 3½ years prior.

This is not to say that Marciano's run of 49-0 was any less impressive than Valuev's stretch to date. Nikolai's best win – the title-winning effort over Ruiz – was regarded by many as highly-controversial. Title defenses against the undeserving trio of Owen Beck, Monte Barrett and Jameel McCline hardly warrant celebration, or lend any credibility to a heavyweight division long overdue for a fix.

Even in challenging Marciano's resume, there's still no getting around the fact that he's 6-0 over fellow Hall of Famers. Even if you want to throw away the win against a then-shot Joe Louis, wins over faded versions of Walcott, Charles and Moore still far surpass anything Valuev has accomplished, and perhaps will ever achieve when all is said and done.

If exposure is any indication, then stateside networks are even less impressed than most fans. This is Valuev's fifth title fight to date; only the Barrett fight was available to US audiences. The rest has been limited to live Internet feeds from abroad and YouTube postings. That won't change on April 14, a date HBO once upon a time had penciled in for a planned Jermain Taylor title defense. Instead, they will show nothing boxing-related. Boxing fans in need of a fix will have to tune into Top Rank's independently-distributed PPV, headlined by Manny Pacquiao.

Since the inception of television, nobody could ever possibly imagine living to see the era in which a network deems a heavyweight title fight unworthy of airtime. Not only that, but that they would rather air no boxing at all than pick up a feed for a fight between two unbeaten heavyweights.

No matter how spurious you believe Valuev's title to be, it's still the same belt that was owned by the far less watchable John Ruiz, who managed televised appearances in every bout dating back to his first fight with Evander Holyfield. Though against ordinary competition, each of Valuev's title defenses have at least proven to be entertaining, something Ruiz couldn't claim in any of his title fight wins, and even most of his losses.

Perhaps it's the network's way of saying, unless you're willing to step it up, we're tuning you out. But then, how do you explain HBO's decision to air Wladimir Klitschko's meaningless mandatory defense against Ray Austin last month? That bout took place about an hour from where Valuev will face Chagaev next Saturday; geography can't possibly be given as a reason.

The obvious answer is Klitschko's cozy relationship with the network, coupled with their reluctance to do business with Don King, who along with Sauerland Promotions claims promotional rights on Valuev.

But just because a reason is offered, doesn't make it a valid excuse. Much like calling Valuev's resume into question, when all he's doing is enjoying the same diet King urged Holmes to follow while on his quest for history.

Holmes eventually went against King's wishes, facing Michael Spinks rather than a typical heavyweight can of the day. He failed, but would still go on to claim that Rocky Marciano couldn't carry his jockstrap. Valuev isn't asking anyone to carry his jock, but is it too much to ask anyone to carry one of his fights? Valuev-Chagaev, on paper, is far superior to Klitschko-Austin and most heavyweight bouts we've been subjected to in recent memory.

Should he beat Chagaev, Valuev will be three wins from history. Wladimir will be the only other titlist with his mandatory out of the way. Translation: he's available for a unification match, and more importantly, a chance to preserve heavyweight history.

Samuel Peter and his handlers are threatening to take a boatload of people to court in order to receive a shot at the title. At last check, Peter and Valuev are both co-promoted by King. So, too, is James Toney who's seeking a fight with Sergei Liakhovich (another King fighter) in hopes of one last shot at the top. Lamon Brewster is planning a comeback, though it remains to be seen whether or not it will be under the DKP banner.

There are plenty of options for Valuev to pursue, and for the networks to entertain, in order to make this run relevant. The heavyweight division is in desperate need for attention, and for the right reasons. Putting together any of the aforementioned gives people something to talk about, which certainly can't hurt the sport, which the misguided mainstream insists is on its last legs.

All it takes to start is support from within. Even if it means, giving into your better instinct and instead embrace the chase.