What happens to the heavyweight division when Wladimir Kiltschko retires?

[ShoulderRoll]

I was on WSHH recently and a guy was all like "we need a dominant champion and another 70s era". We already have a dominant champion. What you're wanting is an American as champion (which isn't a bad thing IMO but c'mon.. don't hide behind the dominant crap)

We have a dominant champion but not one that is doing it in an era like the 70s. That's why Wlad doesn't get the same respect as Ali, and he shouldn't. The guys he is beating don't compare to Frazier and Foreman etc.

I'd like to see an American HW champion again but even if we had one right now the same thing would apply to him. He wouldn't be as respected as some of the past greats because the division has been so bad.

[bojangles1987]

There are a lot of racists projecting their racism onto everyone else in this thread.

[bklynboy]

Well aside from Lennox Lewis, none of those fighters "dominated" though so what you're saying isn't true. Throughout the 90's period, Holyfield, Foreman, Bowe, Michael Moorer, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis were by far the most dominant fighters of the era. Even the second tier fighters were filled with Americans like Briggs and later on Michael Grant and tommy Morrison.

True. The top tier, aside from LL, were all American. The second tier was split evenly. But - in comparison with earlier times 1980s, 70s, 60s - it was not ruled top to bottom by Americans with the rare exception here and there such as Coetze and Berbick in the 80s or Oscar Bonavena and Karl Mildenberg in the 1960s.

[PACnPBFsuck]

One word, Excitement

[Black Barty]

There are a lot of racists projecting their racism onto everyone else in this thread.

I don't fully agree with those that say Americans bash the HW division because they aren't dominating it (because it's objectively not very good), but their argument has a hint of truth to it.

For proof, look at the cruiserweight division. It's basically the home of the in-shape small heavies and it has been giving us good, competitive fights for years. Yet I have seen American fans claiming it's one of the weakest divisions solely because the competition mostly takes place outside the US.

For some people, there's the US and then there's obscurity. Fighting in front of 500 paying fans in your hometown in the US is mainstream, selling out a soccer stadium in Europe is obscurity.

[D-MiZe]

America is the home of boxing, it's where all the money is. Thus, there isn't much money in foreign fighters. You'll see a big shift in the next decade though as more European fighters come through, capture more titles and fight outside of the US.

The real problem with the heavyweight division is no meaningful fights take place on US soil. It kinda shits on the notion of ze Yanks saying foreign fighters are 'staying at home'.

[FlatLine]

Wlad himself is partially responsible for ruining the heavyweight division with his safety-first style, especially being a fighter who is almost always bigger, stronger and often faster than his opponents.

When Wlad finally leaves, it might actually ressurect the HW division in a major way! There are so many good match ups that could be made. I think the question is, how soon will Wlad retire and is there a way to make it happen sooner?

[Black Barty]

Wlad himself is partially responsible for ruining the heavyweight division with his safety-first style, especially being a fighter who is almost always bigger, stronger and often faster than his opponents.

When Wlad finally leaves, it might actually ressurect the HW division in a major way! There are so many good match ups that could be made. I think the question is, how soon will Wlad retire and is there a way to make it happen sooner?

Don't worry. Like I said, a month is left of his title reign. The "wait" will soon be over. The new champ, Pulev, will excite the heck out of you.

[BOXEO _]

BOMB SQUAD!!!

[$tate of Mind]

You mean Lennox Lewis ******?

His last fight against Vitali in 2003, hence early 2000's. You're more than welcome to present evidence that the division hasn't deteriorated since then...