Is it me or... (Heavyweight Division)

[Texanballer]

It seems almost all the American Heavyweights are just big guys who go in there, rely on a big ko punch, clinch, throw punches, then clinch for 12 rounds. I havent seen a pure heavyweight boxer who moves around and uses his skills, light on their feet

[abadger]

It seems almost all the American Heavyweights are just big guys who go in there, rely on a big ko punch, clinch, throw punches, then clinch for 12 rounds. I havent seen a pure heavyweight boxer who moves around and uses his skills, light on their feet

Its not just the American heavyweights! Maskaev, Ibragimov, Valuev most of their fights (with a few exceptions) are dull as ditchwater too.

Klitschko at least is a nice technical boxer, but he's too big to be the skilful boxer you describe.

David Haye could possibly be that fighter though. If (and its a big if) he is able to carry up his power, and if his chin proves up to it, he might make a pretty nice heavyweight indeed.

If you're looking for a reason why the division is the way it is, I think its the logical outcome of the modern trend towards supersize heavyweights. The bottom line is that in the absence of a truly excellent, dominant fighter, it is enough, simply, to be big and tough.

In the UK we have Matt Skelton, who has managed to reach the fringes of the world stage, despite having little pure technical ability. He is the epitome of the type of no-skill fighter you describe.

It worries me that there are no US heavyweights bucking this trend. It doesn't bode well for the future of the division.

If someone who is good comes along, he will have it ridiculously easy. Lets hope if that happens, it causes a new generation to raise their game.
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[Boogie Nights]

yo baller i dont know how heavy you are, but you should turn pro i know i will. shake this division up

[ben41193]

It seems almost all the American Heavyweights are just big guys who go in there, rely on a big ko punch, clinch, throw punches, then clinch for 12 rounds. I havent seen a pure heavyweight boxer who moves around and uses his skills, light on their feet

Chris byrd

[Boogie Nights]

Chris byrd

yeah but he chooses to box and it's something that is necessary for his style. if he decided to go on the offensive he wouldnt be succesfull because of the lack of punching power

[Allucard]

It seems almost all the American Heavyweights are just big guys who go in there, rely on a big ko punch, clinch, throw punches, then clinch for 12 rounds. I havent seen a pure heavyweight boxer who moves around and uses his skills, light on their feet

You are right. The problem is the average american heavyweight fighter doesn't have a good amateur background (if any). You can't really dominate if you can't box today. Also, rule of thumb: Bigger guy wins, even if the smaller one knows karate.

[ben41193]

yeah but he chooses to box and it's something that is necessary for his style. if he decided to go on the offensive he wouldnt be succesfull because of the lack of punching power

Well if anyone had just one punch ko power they would fight like that

[The Hammer]

It depends on the individual. Povetkin, Boystov, Ibragimov, Gomez, and Chagaev seem to move around very well.

Many of the heavyweights of the past would be cruiserweights now. Ali was under 200 when he fought Liston and Patterson, and Marciano was in the 180s for his title fights.

It's partly because big men usually can't move as quickly - it's physiological, the brain doesn't move a big body around as fast. Valuev, Briggs, Virchis just can't move very fast.

Yet, Tye Fields punches surprisingly fast for a big man. Wlad and Vitali move well for their sizes.

If some of the heavyweights were in excellent shape like Whitaker is tonight the division would be much more entertaining. I was disgusted when TJ Wilson came to fight Walker with a big pot belly, and when Chris Koval came 60 pounds overweight for his fight with Fields.

[Texanballer]

yo baller i dont know how heavy you are, but you should turn pro i know i will. shake this division up

yeah your right. I think i would be a cruiseweight though

[Boogie Nights]

Well if anyone had just one punch ko power they would fight like that

mike tyson, tommy morrison, old george foreman, lennox lewis, great boxer-punchers

not too many guys that are active now, but klitschko is a good example.

those are just heavyweights

plenty of dangerous one punch ko artists in lower weight classes who are good boxers