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By Cliff Rold - Heavyweight is interesting in 2015. Depth is developing that hasn’t been there in about a decade. More important, the entertainment level is up.
That’s been the real issue for a lot of years. Some point to the dominance of current champion Wladimir Klitschko, and his own varied entertainment value, as the anchor on the division. That’s not a fair answer.
There hasn’t been a genuine classic, a rip-roaring Fight of the Year caliber war at Heavyweight, since Sergei Lyakhovich-Lamon Brewster in 2006. There haven’t been enough big personalities to get fans chatting. Some of Klitschko’s fights have been ugly affairs, but who else was picking up the slack near the top of the class?
Things are looking up. There might not be anyone to threaten Klitschko just yet, but there are established contenders (Alexander Povetkin), guys with power (Deontay Wilder), guys with big mouths and some skill (Tyson Fury and the Klitschko-deposed Kubrat Pulev), blue-chip prospects (Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker), and gritty, blue collar Heavyweights who make good TV (Carlos Takam, Bryant Jennings, Steve Cunningham, Vyacheslav Glazkov).
It might not be the 70s or the 90s, but how many decades ever were?
It’s a fun field right now. That’s enough. Will we get some fun beginning this week with Boxcino (Friday, ESPN2, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST)? [Click Here To Read More]
That’s been the real issue for a lot of years. Some point to the dominance of current champion Wladimir Klitschko, and his own varied entertainment value, as the anchor on the division. That’s not a fair answer.
There hasn’t been a genuine classic, a rip-roaring Fight of the Year caliber war at Heavyweight, since Sergei Lyakhovich-Lamon Brewster in 2006. There haven’t been enough big personalities to get fans chatting. Some of Klitschko’s fights have been ugly affairs, but who else was picking up the slack near the top of the class?
Things are looking up. There might not be anyone to threaten Klitschko just yet, but there are established contenders (Alexander Povetkin), guys with power (Deontay Wilder), guys with big mouths and some skill (Tyson Fury and the Klitschko-deposed Kubrat Pulev), blue-chip prospects (Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker), and gritty, blue collar Heavyweights who make good TV (Carlos Takam, Bryant Jennings, Steve Cunningham, Vyacheslav Glazkov).
It might not be the 70s or the 90s, but how many decades ever were?
It’s a fun field right now. That’s enough. Will we get some fun beginning this week with Boxcino (Friday, ESPN2, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST)? [Click Here To Read More]
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