The Heavyweight Division Escaping Mediocrity

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Joe Harrison - It was only recently that Miguel Cotto successfully defended his WBA welterweight title over Shane Mosley by a unanimous decision. The victory solidified Cotto’s name among the biggest names in boxing over this past year. Some of the other big names for 2007 are Floyd Mayweather Jr, Juan Manuel Marquez, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, and Juan Diaz among many others. These boxers continue to impress their audiences by earning victories over the greatest challenges available for them. As we relish the year in which boxing has regained the attention of the public, something is missing from the picture. Where are the heavyweights? [details]

[!!Captain]

Dimitrenko and Virchis should become major players in the division in 2008. I really think Dimitrenko will create a splash until he meets Wlad or Chagaev.

[Derranged_]

I agree that the hw division is slowly, but surely, getting better but, there's one thing that's been missing in 2007:

Entertaining fights! Let's take a look at some of the significant fighs we've had so far...

Wlad-Austin- Total blowout with a world class fighter in Wladimir against an unmotivated journeyman...

Wlad-Brewster- Another blowout...

Chagaev-Valuev- As I recall, it was kinda boring with both fighters not taking too many chances and throwing less punches.

Ibragimov-Briggs/Holyfield- In 2007, we've seen Ibragimov adopt a 'mayweather-esche' style of picking shots and effective counter punching and using the speed and footwork to score punches while not taking too many chances and hurting oppponents.

Peter-Mccline- Probably the most entertaining(televised) fight on 2007. Still, dissappointed that Peter seldom hurt Mccline..

What else? I'm probably forgetting some important fights that happened but nothing as even remotely close to some of the welter, bantam, middle, super middle, and light weight fights that occurred in 2007..

Basically, my point is that the hw division can have all the talent in the world, but until we start seeing some entertaining and competitive fights there's gonna be little interest in it...

[Kball15]

I agree that the hw division is slowly, but surely, getting better but, there's one thing that's been missing in 2007:

Entertaining fights! Let's take a look at some of the significant fighs we've had so far...

Wlad-Austin- Total blowout with a world class fighter in Wladimir against an unmotivated journeyman...

Wlad-Brewster- Another blowout...

Chagaev-Valuev- As I recall, it was kinda boring with both fighters not taking too many chances and throwing less punches.

Ibragimov-Briggs/Holyfield- In 2007, we've seen Ibragimov adopt a 'mayweather-esche' style of picking shots and effective counter punching and using the speed and footwork to score punches while not taking too many chances and hurting oppponents.

Peter-Mccline- Probably the most entertaining(televised) fight on 2007. Still, dissappointed that Peter seldom hurt Mccline..

What else? I'm probably forgetting some important fights that happened but nothing as even remotely close to some of the welter, bantam, middle, super middle, and light weight fights that occurred in 2007..

Basically, my point is that the hw division can have all the talent in the world, but until we start seeing some entertaining and competitive fights there's gonna be little interest in it...

the bolded ones were decent. Chagaev-Valuev wasnt half bad.

The worst part of it all is that everytime i see a pretty exciting heavyweight fight ON PAPER, it turns into a BLOWOUT or a boring fight

[Derranged_]

I'm hoping Klitschko-Ibragimov turns out to be a good, competitve fight, not just a blowout like everyone's predicting. Maskaev-Peter might be good also...

[dmaclv]

Up-coming Heavyweight fights that will be good are: Povetkin-Chambers guaranteed will definitely be enertaining with both fighters havin lot to lose. Gomez-Virchis might be borin but I'm pretty sure it depends on Gomez since Virchis has been waitin awhile to get his WBC shot. Wlad-Ibragimov another questionable one, could be enertaining but also possible bore-fest. Peter-Maskaev will be good to watch, Peter definitely has a lot to prove since his last fight was a disaster. Lyakhovich-Valuev don't pay to watch this, this won't be worth it watch sopcast or whatever. A big thing in the division now is Haye movin up. I think this is great for a division that needs all the talent and spark it can get.

[dmaclv]

Not a lot of the fights previously posted will be televised in the US.

[AREALFIGHTER]

I'm hoping Klitschko-Ibragimov turns out to be a good, competitve fight, not just a blowout like everyone's predicting. Maskaev-Peter might be good also...

Honestly it should be a good fight. If brock could create some intresting rounds woth klit with sultans speed skill and solid power expect a decent fight before he surcomes to klits pressure. I think the sultan that fought austin was a fluke.

[Jim Jeffries]

I think blowouts are kind of fun to watch sometimes too, I mean people USED to watch heavyweights to see someone get knocked the %$#& out. Now they complain when they do?

[Gareth Ivanovic]

I have to admit Im excited about the HW division going into 2008.