The Heavyweight Division (Long)

The Heavyweight Scene May 2nd, 2005 There are four separate Heavyweight Champions of the world as we know today. All have respected titles in each division, but who truly is the Heavyweight champ? Vitali Kitsch (WBC)- Vitali won the WBC belt off an 8th round TKO of journey man heavyweight Corrie Sanders. This was one of the most poorly fought heavyweight championship fights in recent memory. While Vitali slammed a TKO in round 8, the fight was overall sloppy, lackluster and un appealing to the public. This wasn’t even a PPV fight for the so called “Man who beat Lennox Lewis”. Speaking of man who beat Lennox, that is one of the most untrue and ridiculous statements I always here from Vitali fans. I say explain why is Vitali a great heavyweight and is the champ of the world? They always answer “He beat Lennox Lewis!”. If I recall correctly Lennox Lewis won the fight in the 6th round due to a severe cut over Vitali’s eye. Also the scoring of the bout was 58-56 from all three judges in favor of Vitali. Which means that it was a round difference in the 6th round. That doesn’t appear like domination to me. Lennox was out of shape and un prepared for the fight and still managed to use his fantastic boxing skills to pick apart the weakness of Vitali and regain his Heavyweight championship of the world. So for that point its complete garbage. He never beat Lennox Lewis. As Don King said “You cant make winning losing and losing winning”. Klitschko also has a record of 35-2 (34 KO’s) which besides the KO’s is a very un accomplished record. Chris Byrd is 38-2 and James Toney is 69-4-2.both with better records than Vitali. The “weaker” brother Wladmir has a record of 44-3-0 and debuted the same year as Vitali 1996. Overall if he had some heart and a proven chin and maybe threw in some boxing skills to go along with his fantastic size, he would become a real threat for the Heavyweight crown. Boxing Skills-C Chin-C Power-A Heart-C Potential-B Overall-C- James “Lights Out” Toney (WBA)- Unlike a lot of Heavyweights now a days, James Toney is one of the best fighters out there. His ring skill and boxing technique is outstanding. He is a crafty veteran and former Middleweight champion coming in to save a horrible division. He has the next Undisputed Champion written all over him. He bring the fire to the ring which makes people watch, he runs his mouth and brings a Ali like verbal game to the ring. He is arguably the best fighter on the ropes in the history of boxing. Inside fighting he is a master of and completely dominates anyone who tries him. He has proved him self in every weight class he’s been in by beating the best or facing the best. Of that list he has fought Evander Holyfield as a heavyweight back in 2003. He fought Vassily Jirov who was undefeated at the time and recognized as a top Cruiserweight in the world. (Both of these men James knocked out.) He beat a very good and accomplished Mike Mcallum in 1997 and also in 1992. James might have taken losses to Roy Jones Jr. (who at the time was pound for pound the best boxer in the game) and Montell Griffin. Besides those losses James Toney has been one of the pound for pound best fighters around. He has proven how good of a boxer he is by taking down talented divisions one at a time. Even now at age 36 and the oldest of the heavyweight champs he can still become Undisputed and is the most talented heavyweight champ out there right now. He also rid us of John Ruiz which was a great accomplishment for boxing. Boxing Skills-A Chin-B Power-B+ Heart-B Overall-B+ Chris Byrd (IBF)-The southpaw style and the speed Chris Byrd brings to the division is unmatched. He has shown he is a real deal heavyweight by beating top name opponents and even though he has been struggling as of late, he still finds a way to win. Chris has proven he means business by beating heavyweight contenders such as Jameel McCline (SD), Evander Holyfield (UD), David Tua (UD),and the WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitsckho (TKO). Byrd might have a ton of skills and great speed, but his power is not great. His 20 KO’s of 38 wins is something different for a big time heavyweight now a days. His heart is considered to not be all there and he is also heading towards the end of his career some people think. Whether that be true or not Chris Byrd has a ton of skill and can also be the undisputed champ of the world with hard work and dedication. He is very talented but falls to second in talent to James Toney in the division. Byrd has all the tools for a serious title run, its just a matter of how he uses them. Boxing Skills-B+ Chin-C+ Power-C- Heart-C Overall-B- Lamon Brewster (WBO)- The most unaccomplished champion out of all the heavyweights right now. Lamon doesn’t have many good things going for him except a big heart. His skill is poor and his ring smarts lacks. He shocked many people but sticking around and beating Wladimir for the WBO title back in 2004. He has since then defended it once and won on a split decision to an unproven bum in Kali Meehan. Contender and former heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman fought Kali and took a major TKO in round 4 to finish Kali off for the year of 2004. Lamon is doubted by many people including myself to have any shot at winning the undisputed title. He is facing Andrew Golota later this year who has a very good chance of beating Lamon and taking his pride of the WBO title away from him. Lamon is a huge underdog in this all but who knows, maybe like he did with Wlad he will shock us all and win the title. Boxing Skills-C- Chin-C- Power-C Heart-A Overall-D