Tweet
I was thinking about the heavyweight division and after I woke up, I thought about how it REALLY breaks down. Currently, here are the 5 guys with the most actual, realistic upside....
Wladimir Klitschko: 50-3-0 (44 KOs, 3 by KO)
Title(s): WBO, IBO, IBF
Defenses: 4 Straight.
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock, Sultan Ibragimov
Losses, Biggest Defeat: Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster
Ring Magazine Rating: #1
Last Fight: Sultan Ibragimov (UD 12)
Next Fight: N/A
Argument: Out of the five I'm mentioning here, he's the most accomplished. He's been in the most championship fights, and won the most title matches. He's also on a fairly respectable win-streak for a guy with 3 losses, all by KO. Since his last loss, he's 8-0-0, 5 by KO. He's fought the best opponents, and beat most of them. Strangely enough, his losses have come at the hands of his lesser known opponents, minus the Brewster debacle. Currently, he's the man with the most "major" titles. Very solid fighter, decent defense. Mainly due to his fear of being caught along with the teachings of Emmanuel Stewart.
Oleg Maskaev: 34-5-0 (26 KOs, 5 by KO)
Title(s): WBC
Defenses: 1 Straight. (Lol.)
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Hasim Rachman, Sinan Samil Sam, Hasim Rachman II
Losses, Biggest Defeat: Oliver McCall, David Tua, Corey Sanders
Ring Magazine Rating: #3
Last Fight: Peter Okhello (UD 12)
Next Fight: Samuel Peter, 03-08-2008
Argument: It's hard to make an argument for a guy who's best three opponents knocked him out. When you have a guy like Sinan Samil Sam as a notable win, you're in some trouble. He's facing one of his toughest opponents to date (again) in Sam Peter. However, he's gotten a BIT better, now that he's more focused. His problem is that he's not really good or GREAT at any one particular thing. Peter has been dropped, as has Wladimir, but he doesn't have devastating punches. If he beats Peter, and does it fairly impressively, he has a better claim. After his last loss, he's had a nice streak of 12-0-0, 9 by KO. Other than that, it's no the most impressive resume.
Samuel Peter: 29-1-0 (22 KOs, 1 by Decision)
Title(s): WBC Interim
Defenses: N/A
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Yanqui Diaz, James Toney II, Jameel McCline
Losses, Biggest Defeat: Wladimir Klitschko
Ring Magazine Rating: #2
Last Fight: Jameel McCline (UD 12)
Next Fight: Oleg Maskaev, 03-08-2008
Argument: You can choose to look at this in two different ways. In one way, he's had only one loss, about to challenge for a major title, and is considered the favorite by most. He's gotten passed almost every test and he didn't look like ****, in the test he failed. After his only loss, he's had a streak that's gone 5-0 (1KO). Or, you can choose to look at it like this. The best name he fought, beat him. This being AFTER he dropped Klitschko 3 times and couldn't finish him. The best win of his career is probably to James Toney, a blown up middleweight that he couldn't knock out. He's considered a puncher and has gone 5 fights with only one stoppage. In his last fight, HE almost got stopped, looking horrible against McCline. He's probably the number two guy in the division, but he could be considered on unstable ground.
Ruslan Chagaev: 24-0-1 (17 KOs)
Title(s): WBA
Defenses: 1 Straight.
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: John Ruiz, Nikolay Valuev, Matt Skelton
Losses, Biggest Defeat: N/A
Ring Magazine Rating: #4
Last Fight: Matt Skelton (UD 12)
Next Fight: N/A
Argument: He's actually an overlooked guy, in terms of his resume. When you look at the names, it's not OUTSTANDING. But other then the guys I'm mentioning here, who REALLY is that outstanding in the heavyweight division? Hell, include some of the guys I'm mentioning and you'll still have a hard time. Nonetheless, He beat a huge bastard in Valuev, giving him his first defeat, saving a great record. Helped further get rid of John Ruiz. Then he looked pretty decent in beating Skelton. He's undefeated and only has ONE draw. Good thing about the draw is that it shows he's improved. The same guy he drew with, Rob Calloway, he later defeated by KO in two rounds. He's a lot like Sultan, in the defensive style, except he's more active. That COULD pose as a threat to Wladimir. Or, it could be basically like the Klitschko/Ibragimov affair.
Alexander Povetkin: 50-3-0 (44 KOs)
Title(s): N/A
Defenses: N/A
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Larry Donald, Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers
Losses, Biggest Defeat: N/A
Ring Magazine Rating: #10
Last Fight: Eddie Chambers (UD 12)
Next Fight: N/A
Argument: He's the most unheralded fighter in my top 5, due to his short professional career. However, he looks good in the handful of fights I've seen him in. Ironically enough, the 5 fights I've seen make up a third of his entire career. He's beaten Byrd, sending him to the Cruiserweights, and got passed another heavyweight prospect in Eddie Chambers. Handing him his first defeat. He's got no upcoming fight but a fight with he and Ruslan would be a good test for both.
I guess, a couple of questions are/were raised. With these resumes, do you think that you can CLEARLY call ONE GUY the true champion? Also, who do you think has the best shot at TRULY unifying the division. Finally, would your list be a bit different and if so, how?
I have a poll, obviously focusing on only ONE of these questions, so vote on that. Discuss.
Wladimir Klitschko: 50-3-0 (44 KOs, 3 by KO)
Title(s): WBO, IBO, IBF
Defenses: 4 Straight.
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock, Sultan Ibragimov
Losses, Biggest Defeat: Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster
Ring Magazine Rating: #1
Last Fight: Sultan Ibragimov (UD 12)
Next Fight: N/A
Argument: Out of the five I'm mentioning here, he's the most accomplished. He's been in the most championship fights, and won the most title matches. He's also on a fairly respectable win-streak for a guy with 3 losses, all by KO. Since his last loss, he's 8-0-0, 5 by KO. He's fought the best opponents, and beat most of them. Strangely enough, his losses have come at the hands of his lesser known opponents, minus the Brewster debacle. Currently, he's the man with the most "major" titles. Very solid fighter, decent defense. Mainly due to his fear of being caught along with the teachings of Emmanuel Stewart.
Oleg Maskaev: 34-5-0 (26 KOs, 5 by KO)
Title(s): WBC
Defenses: 1 Straight. (Lol.)
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Hasim Rachman, Sinan Samil Sam, Hasim Rachman II
Losses, Biggest Defeat: Oliver McCall, David Tua, Corey Sanders
Ring Magazine Rating: #3
Last Fight: Peter Okhello (UD 12)
Next Fight: Samuel Peter, 03-08-2008
Argument: It's hard to make an argument for a guy who's best three opponents knocked him out. When you have a guy like Sinan Samil Sam as a notable win, you're in some trouble. He's facing one of his toughest opponents to date (again) in Sam Peter. However, he's gotten a BIT better, now that he's more focused. His problem is that he's not really good or GREAT at any one particular thing. Peter has been dropped, as has Wladimir, but he doesn't have devastating punches. If he beats Peter, and does it fairly impressively, he has a better claim. After his last loss, he's had a nice streak of 12-0-0, 9 by KO. Other than that, it's no the most impressive resume.
Samuel Peter: 29-1-0 (22 KOs, 1 by Decision)
Title(s): WBC Interim
Defenses: N/A
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Yanqui Diaz, James Toney II, Jameel McCline
Losses, Biggest Defeat: Wladimir Klitschko
Ring Magazine Rating: #2
Last Fight: Jameel McCline (UD 12)
Next Fight: Oleg Maskaev, 03-08-2008
Argument: You can choose to look at this in two different ways. In one way, he's had only one loss, about to challenge for a major title, and is considered the favorite by most. He's gotten passed almost every test and he didn't look like ****, in the test he failed. After his only loss, he's had a streak that's gone 5-0 (1KO). Or, you can choose to look at it like this. The best name he fought, beat him. This being AFTER he dropped Klitschko 3 times and couldn't finish him. The best win of his career is probably to James Toney, a blown up middleweight that he couldn't knock out. He's considered a puncher and has gone 5 fights with only one stoppage. In his last fight, HE almost got stopped, looking horrible against McCline. He's probably the number two guy in the division, but he could be considered on unstable ground.
Ruslan Chagaev: 24-0-1 (17 KOs)
Title(s): WBA
Defenses: 1 Straight.
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: John Ruiz, Nikolay Valuev, Matt Skelton
Losses, Biggest Defeat: N/A
Ring Magazine Rating: #4
Last Fight: Matt Skelton (UD 12)
Next Fight: N/A
Argument: He's actually an overlooked guy, in terms of his resume. When you look at the names, it's not OUTSTANDING. But other then the guys I'm mentioning here, who REALLY is that outstanding in the heavyweight division? Hell, include some of the guys I'm mentioning and you'll still have a hard time. Nonetheless, He beat a huge bastard in Valuev, giving him his first defeat, saving a great record. Helped further get rid of John Ruiz. Then he looked pretty decent in beating Skelton. He's undefeated and only has ONE draw. Good thing about the draw is that it shows he's improved. The same guy he drew with, Rob Calloway, he later defeated by KO in two rounds. He's a lot like Sultan, in the defensive style, except he's more active. That COULD pose as a threat to Wladimir. Or, it could be basically like the Klitschko/Ibragimov affair.
Alexander Povetkin: 50-3-0 (44 KOs)
Title(s): N/A
Defenses: N/A
Notable Wins, Biggest Victory: Larry Donald, Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers
Losses, Biggest Defeat: N/A
Ring Magazine Rating: #10
Last Fight: Eddie Chambers (UD 12)
Next Fight: N/A
Argument: He's the most unheralded fighter in my top 5, due to his short professional career. However, he looks good in the handful of fights I've seen him in. Ironically enough, the 5 fights I've seen make up a third of his entire career. He's beaten Byrd, sending him to the Cruiserweights, and got passed another heavyweight prospect in Eddie Chambers. Handing him his first defeat. He's got no upcoming fight but a fight with he and Ruslan would be a good test for both.
I guess, a couple of questions are/were raised. With these resumes, do you think that you can CLEARLY call ONE GUY the true champion? Also, who do you think has the best shot at TRULY unifying the division. Finally, would your list be a bit different and if so, how?
I have a poll, obviously focusing on only ONE of these questions, so vote on that. Discuss.
Comment