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Every so often, the broadcasters at HBO put together an on-air roundtable discussion of the heavyweight division, seeking clarity in a weight class where having such is a rarity.
Hopes are raised momentarily, but promptly the mood switches to antipathetic hopelessness, or the in-between apathetic ho-hum.
It happened again last night, the pugilistic pondering between Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, scribe Dan Rafael and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, debating whom from the current crop of big men could be harvested as a hero.
Either out of desperateness or generosity, the names of Wladimir Klitschko, Chris Byrd, Lamon Brewster, Nicolay Valuev and Calvin Brock were brought to the forefront, joining the winner of that night’s Hasim Rahman-James Toney title bout.
But alas, by the time the night ended, the realization came that it was too early in the year to harvest. Rather, it is time for spring-cleaning, quite necessary with the considerable mess.
For when the scorecards were read, they reflected a lack of a mandate, of someone rising to the top and asserting dominance and control. Instead, Rahman and Toney fought a draw, and the draw won.
Perhaps it should have been expected based on the way the styles played out. Instead of Rahman’s power advantage leading to a knockout or Toney’s wizardry producing a counterpunching clinic, viewers saw boxing, albeit spirited, designed to create as many hard-to-score rounds as possible. [details]
Hopes are raised momentarily, but promptly the mood switches to antipathetic hopelessness, or the in-between apathetic ho-hum.
It happened again last night, the pugilistic pondering between Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, scribe Dan Rafael and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, debating whom from the current crop of big men could be harvested as a hero.
Either out of desperateness or generosity, the names of Wladimir Klitschko, Chris Byrd, Lamon Brewster, Nicolay Valuev and Calvin Brock were brought to the forefront, joining the winner of that night’s Hasim Rahman-James Toney title bout.
But alas, by the time the night ended, the realization came that it was too early in the year to harvest. Rather, it is time for spring-cleaning, quite necessary with the considerable mess.
For when the scorecards were read, they reflected a lack of a mandate, of someone rising to the top and asserting dominance and control. Instead, Rahman and Toney fought a draw, and the draw won.
Perhaps it should have been expected based on the way the styles played out. Instead of Rahman’s power advantage leading to a knockout or Toney’s wizardry producing a counterpunching clinic, viewers saw boxing, albeit spirited, designed to create as many hard-to-score rounds as possible. [details]
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