Is the heavy-weight division dead?

[kayjay]

You also think that I'm saying this because of Nationality? You know me better than that.

No I'm not accusing you.

But honestly, footie is my #1 sport. I get chills when I see Ronnie or Messi play, more so than from any boxer. And in all the talk about them, all the press, their color is never an issue. It's like we all see only the sport. But in boxing, we don't see it that way. I don't either. Why? I don't know.

[Enayze]

Heavyweight boxing is a world sport now. It's beautiful. It's almost like footie. And when an elite footie player comes up, we don't talk about his race or country. No one cares that Kaka ans Messi are white, Ronnie is black. But boxing is behind.

Exactly, America loves being on top, and therefore they can't stand being the underdog, but the truth of the matter is that the sports of martial arts boxing, MMA, UFC, they're all going to get taken over by foreigners to even out the plane. Now it can become a nationality competition instead of a race competition. And thats what it was against Hatton and Mayweather. My friends couln't give two ****s that Mayweather was black, but he was American and that made all the difference to root for him.

[K-Nan]

No I'm not accusing you.

But honestly, footie is my #1 sport. I get chills when I see Ronnie or Messi play, more so than from any boxer. And in all the talk about them, all the press, their color is never an issue. It's like we all see only the sport. But in boxing, we don't see it that way. I don't either. Why? I don't know.

Boxing is more carnal. The pure fact that two men are fighting one-on-one.

From Louis-Schmelling all the way to Delahoya Trinidad, people use the boxing part as a weird way of asserting their superiority.

But I don't think it's fair for people (Welter) to wave me off by saying that I'm a Nationalist for criticizing the current HW division.

[kayjay]

Boxing is more carnal. The pure fact that two men are fighting one-on-one.

From Louis-Schmelling all the way to Delahoya Trinidad, people use the boxing part as a weird way of asserting their superiority.

But I don't think it's fair for people (Welter) to wave me off by saying that I'm a Nationalist for criticizing the current HW division.

That may play a role. But I think in footie everyone has come to accept that great players come from everywhere. You name an obscure country and I'll name a very good player from there. So the superiority issues are fairly moot. Though everyone accepts that Brazil produces the most stars. Argentina second.

Edit: it's not impossible that this becomes the case with boxing, in the future

[TheGreatA]

The HW division is getting better. 2008 could be a great year for the heavyweights. Remember a while ago we had Valuev, Briggs and Rahman as champions. Can't get any worse than that.

We still have Maskaev holding the belt hostage, the WBC situation is a mess with 3-4 boxers waiting for their title shots.
We also have our first unification in a long time this year although it's for minor belts and the match-up isn't all that, Wlad should take that one easily. That's improvement.

Hopefully it keeps getting better and better.

[K-Nan]

That may play a role. But I think in footie everyone has come to accept that great players come from everywhere. You name an obscure country and I'll name a very good player from there. So the superiority issues are fairly moot. Though everyone accepts that Brazil produces the most stars. Argentina second.

Edit: it's not impossible that this becomes the case with boxing, in the future

True. I watch Tennis and I think it's the same thing.

But let's face it- in both Soccer and Tennis, you're not trying to knock another man out.

[K-Nan]

The HW division is getting better. 2008 could be a great year for the heavyweights. Remember a while ago we had Valuev, Briggs and Rahman as champions.

We still have Maskaev holding the belt hostage, the WBC situation is a mess.
We also have our first unification in a long time this year although it's for minor belts and the match-up isn't all that, Wlad should take that one easily.

Hopefully it keeps getting better and better.

I'm excited to see how Povetkin emerges this year. I've never really been impressed with Chambers...

Haye won't be a real top force, IMO.

[Benny Leonard]

The heavyweight division is just fine if your Ukrainian, Russian, or any part of Europe more specifically Eastern Europe.

No one is complaining except for the Americans. To be honest I havent been this excited for heavyweights ever. Maybe because there wasnt a Ukrainian champion, but now that there are two, Wlad right now more specifically, then Im more excited then ever for the heavyweights.

Im excited to see Wlad fight and unify all the titles.

Really...so you would not prefer to see great talent fight, instead, it's cool just to have your own people in there...eh, not my flavor.

I couldn't imagine seeing players like Jason Stein, Alan Horowitz, Ismail Goldstein play basketball instead of seeing the likes of Jordan, Wilt, Magic, Nash, etc.


The Heavyweight division is not good, except for Wlad from what I can see at the moment. It has nothing to do where the fighter comes from, but the talent he displays. If Louis, Ali, Tyson, etc. came from Chooochoo land, I would watch, just like I watched Lennox, and continue to watch whoever else displays good talent to catch my eye and entertain me. Right now, I watch Wlad in the HW division, but the rest, I fall asleep.

[kayjay]

I see your point.

Manchine: 2008 will be an improvement. WBC will get cleared up, Wlad will become Ring champ and recognized as real lineal (though broken) champ.

[Welter_Skelter]

Boxing is more carnal. The pure fact that two men are fighting one-on-one.

From Louis-Schmelling all the way to Delahoya Trinidad, people use the boxing part as a weird way of asserting their superiority.

But I don't think it's fair for people (Welter) to wave me off by saying that I'm a Nationalist for criticizing the current HW division.

I didnt say YOU were... but you were defending those I was accusing...

next time dont get caught in the crossfire if you dont like getting hit by E-Bullets..