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Why don't we all rate the current heavyweights out there? I've given 'em a little scorecard, along with some opinions on what's there at the moment...
THE BELT HOLDERS:
Vitali Klitschko (35-2) WBC title holder, I firmly believe that Vitali is a lot better than he looks, and possibly the greatest active heavyweight on the planet today… which isn’t saying much. Undoubtably has skill to go with his size, but looked painfully amateurish in winning the belt and his performance against a jaded Lewis gives some indication of how he would have compared with the elite. 7/10.
Chris Byrd (38-2-1) The most skilful of the title holders, while watching a Byrd fight can appeal to those interested in the science of the sport, his status – a heavyweight without a punch – means he’ll probably always be box office junk. 7/10
Lamon Brewster (32-2) The potential saviour of the division, while he’s had his weak moments (allowing fringe contender Kali Meehan to take him the distance for one) his blowing out Andrew Golota suggests that the heavy-hitting Brewster could potentially be a man to sate the need for visceral spectacle. 8/10.
John Ruiz (45-5-1) With his last four fights including wins over Hasim Rahman, Fres Oquendo and Andrew Golota, Ruiz has the best record out of the current titlists. He also took a juiced-up James Toney the distance in a closer bout than was expected. Ruiz is ugly to watch, but gets the win, and his growing desire to please the crowd, and “unique” trainer (“Roy’s doing every ****ing thing!!”) could make him the straight man in a great double act. Lousy by most standards, Ruiz has enough boxing savvy to be a legitimate contender… providing he avoids all three of the other current belt holders. 6/10.
THE ELITE CONTENDERS:
James Toney (68-4-2-1) Although his speed seems to have slowed and he hasn’t carried all of his punching power into the division, Toney is still clearly the most skilled practitioner at the level and can be regarded as a “title-holder-in-waiting”. 9/10.
Hasim Rahman (40-5-1) Outrageously overrated, Rahman’s sucker-punch win over a unfocussed Lewis four-and-a-half years ago still carries his rep, despite the fact that since then the hard-hitting but limited boxer got his name changed to “Has been” Rahman in the rematch and was outhustled for a vacant title by John Ruiz. A loss to an aged Holyfield also occurred, though his recent record has been built up by four KOs over fringe contenders. 6/10.
Samuel Peter (24-0) Peter is apparently hard-hitting against lower tier opposition but is painfully slow and lacking in skill. Currently being hailed as the new name of the division, I expect him to be exposed extremely quickly. 5/10.
Monte Barrett (31-3) I have to confess I’ve not seen enough of Barrett to make a real opinion, though I wasn’t overly impressed. 5/10.
THE FRINGE CONTENDERS:
Wladimir Klitschko (44-3) Undeniably skilled, Klitschko has, unfortunately, built up a reputation for having a glass jaw. Whether this will hold to be the case or not remains to be seen – he was exhausted for two of the KOs, and getting bombed out by the likes of Corrie Sanders (for whom he was still getting up after four KDs) and Lamon Brewster is not so shameful. Stamina does seem to be an issue, but with a 44 (40 KO) record, Wlad’s time met yet still come. 7/10.
Calvin Brock (26-0) I confess… I haven’t got to see this guy on UK TV yet.
Matt Skelton (17-0) with an unbeaten streak of 17 wins, all but one inside the distance, British & Commonwealth champ Matt Skelton is being touted for a title shot, probably at Ruiz’s WBA belt. However, this ageing (38) and limited ex-K1 fighter has extremely little skill and relies on crude clubbing antics to get his wins. I don’t see Skelton getting any higher than European level, and he’ll be stopped at his first chance. 5/10.
David Tua (43-3-1) Though he’ll be forever beloved for his 19-second KO of John Ruiz back in March ’96, Tua’s last outing against Talmadge Griffis (26 seconds short of going the distance) showed how much he’d declined. If he’d just started out today then his prospects would have looked very bright in a depleted era, but Tua is sadly showing the signs of a man who’s had a 13-year professional career and no longer has what it takes to get to the very top. A never-was. 6/10.
Danny Williams (34-4) The ultimate psyche-job of the division, in the words of Danny’s own manager he can “look like a million dollars one night… a bag of **** the next.” Allowed himself to be beaten by supposed walk-over opponent Samil Sam, and threw away his British Commonwealth titles to Michael Sprott by showboating away rounds after he’d already KOed him twice before, Danny is haunted by “mental demons”. However, occasional flashes of brilliance – winning a bout with a dislocated right shoulder, KOing Mali Meehan in 32 seconds – along with the heart to get up from a continual pounding off Klitschko seem to indicate that he’s better than his record would attest. 7/10 (good night) 4/10 (bad night)
Juan Carlos Gomez (39-1) I saw this guy outbox Samil Sam, but know little else about him. Getting KOed in less than two minutes by Yanqui Diaz would seem to be troubling, though (??)
Audley Harrison (18-0). I’ve seen virtually all of this guy’s fights but still haven’t got a clue how good he is. He DOES have skill (and an Olympic gold medal) but could be a glass-chinned patsy for all I know. Never one to extend himself, Harrison is a 6’5, 86” reach joke of a man who constantly refers to himself in third person and claims to be the saviour of the division… but can’t find anyone who believes him (??)
THE "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME" CONTENDER:
Kevin McBride (33-4-1). Check my sig. I’ve got a 10 million bet on this guy to lose if they give him a shot against Ruiz. That’s a guaranteed 10 million, then. (4/10)
THE BELT HOLDERS:
Vitali Klitschko (35-2) WBC title holder, I firmly believe that Vitali is a lot better than he looks, and possibly the greatest active heavyweight on the planet today… which isn’t saying much. Undoubtably has skill to go with his size, but looked painfully amateurish in winning the belt and his performance against a jaded Lewis gives some indication of how he would have compared with the elite. 7/10.
Chris Byrd (38-2-1) The most skilful of the title holders, while watching a Byrd fight can appeal to those interested in the science of the sport, his status – a heavyweight without a punch – means he’ll probably always be box office junk. 7/10
Lamon Brewster (32-2) The potential saviour of the division, while he’s had his weak moments (allowing fringe contender Kali Meehan to take him the distance for one) his blowing out Andrew Golota suggests that the heavy-hitting Brewster could potentially be a man to sate the need for visceral spectacle. 8/10.
John Ruiz (45-5-1) With his last four fights including wins over Hasim Rahman, Fres Oquendo and Andrew Golota, Ruiz has the best record out of the current titlists. He also took a juiced-up James Toney the distance in a closer bout than was expected. Ruiz is ugly to watch, but gets the win, and his growing desire to please the crowd, and “unique” trainer (“Roy’s doing every ****ing thing!!”) could make him the straight man in a great double act. Lousy by most standards, Ruiz has enough boxing savvy to be a legitimate contender… providing he avoids all three of the other current belt holders. 6/10.
THE ELITE CONTENDERS:
James Toney (68-4-2-1) Although his speed seems to have slowed and he hasn’t carried all of his punching power into the division, Toney is still clearly the most skilled practitioner at the level and can be regarded as a “title-holder-in-waiting”. 9/10.
Hasim Rahman (40-5-1) Outrageously overrated, Rahman’s sucker-punch win over a unfocussed Lewis four-and-a-half years ago still carries his rep, despite the fact that since then the hard-hitting but limited boxer got his name changed to “Has been” Rahman in the rematch and was outhustled for a vacant title by John Ruiz. A loss to an aged Holyfield also occurred, though his recent record has been built up by four KOs over fringe contenders. 6/10.
Samuel Peter (24-0) Peter is apparently hard-hitting against lower tier opposition but is painfully slow and lacking in skill. Currently being hailed as the new name of the division, I expect him to be exposed extremely quickly. 5/10.
Monte Barrett (31-3) I have to confess I’ve not seen enough of Barrett to make a real opinion, though I wasn’t overly impressed. 5/10.
THE FRINGE CONTENDERS:
Wladimir Klitschko (44-3) Undeniably skilled, Klitschko has, unfortunately, built up a reputation for having a glass jaw. Whether this will hold to be the case or not remains to be seen – he was exhausted for two of the KOs, and getting bombed out by the likes of Corrie Sanders (for whom he was still getting up after four KDs) and Lamon Brewster is not so shameful. Stamina does seem to be an issue, but with a 44 (40 KO) record, Wlad’s time met yet still come. 7/10.
Calvin Brock (26-0) I confess… I haven’t got to see this guy on UK TV yet.
Matt Skelton (17-0) with an unbeaten streak of 17 wins, all but one inside the distance, British & Commonwealth champ Matt Skelton is being touted for a title shot, probably at Ruiz’s WBA belt. However, this ageing (38) and limited ex-K1 fighter has extremely little skill and relies on crude clubbing antics to get his wins. I don’t see Skelton getting any higher than European level, and he’ll be stopped at his first chance. 5/10.
David Tua (43-3-1) Though he’ll be forever beloved for his 19-second KO of John Ruiz back in March ’96, Tua’s last outing against Talmadge Griffis (26 seconds short of going the distance) showed how much he’d declined. If he’d just started out today then his prospects would have looked very bright in a depleted era, but Tua is sadly showing the signs of a man who’s had a 13-year professional career and no longer has what it takes to get to the very top. A never-was. 6/10.
Danny Williams (34-4) The ultimate psyche-job of the division, in the words of Danny’s own manager he can “look like a million dollars one night… a bag of **** the next.” Allowed himself to be beaten by supposed walk-over opponent Samil Sam, and threw away his British Commonwealth titles to Michael Sprott by showboating away rounds after he’d already KOed him twice before, Danny is haunted by “mental demons”. However, occasional flashes of brilliance – winning a bout with a dislocated right shoulder, KOing Mali Meehan in 32 seconds – along with the heart to get up from a continual pounding off Klitschko seem to indicate that he’s better than his record would attest. 7/10 (good night) 4/10 (bad night)
Juan Carlos Gomez (39-1) I saw this guy outbox Samil Sam, but know little else about him. Getting KOed in less than two minutes by Yanqui Diaz would seem to be troubling, though (??)
Audley Harrison (18-0). I’ve seen virtually all of this guy’s fights but still haven’t got a clue how good he is. He DOES have skill (and an Olympic gold medal) but could be a glass-chinned patsy for all I know. Never one to extend himself, Harrison is a 6’5, 86” reach joke of a man who constantly refers to himself in third person and claims to be the saviour of the division… but can’t find anyone who believes him (??)
THE "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME" CONTENDER:
Kevin McBride (33-4-1). Check my sig. I’ve got a 10 million bet on this guy to lose if they give him a shot against Ruiz. That’s a guaranteed 10 million, then. (4/10)
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