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Oleg Maskaev’s procession of machinelike punches removed not only measures of consciousness and dignity from Hasim Rahman, but also the final finger of America’s weakened grip on the heavyweight championship. Prone to such capitulations even when favored, Rahman was no standard bearer for a proud fighting nation. As ever he has, Rahman will attempt to rebuild himself; meanwhile, overrun by champions that call the former Soviet Union home, American heavyweight boxing is ill-at-ease with its fall from grace. Before the year is out, we will be witness to its first wave of retaliation.
Unsurprisingly, the banner under which this resurgence begins belongs to the man voted most likely to brandish Old Glory for impromptu displays of American patriotism. Conveniently enough though, Don King also controls two of the current Eastern European champions. Whether or not the Americans are ready to reclaim that which they feel is their own, the flag which King flies highest will be lined with dollar green.
A key to being indisputably the most successful and recognized boxing promoter of the last thirty years has been the ability to aggrandize the inadequate, illegitimate, and sometimes, the downright odd. As such, King proclaims Belarusian Sergei Lyakhovich as the world heavyweight champion, and conspires with his German counterparts to bring about the stateside championship debut of “Russian Giant,” Nicolai Valuev.
Promotional duties aside, one wonders where Lyakhovich and Valuev would rank on King’s priority list had he been able to secure himself the services of consensus heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine.
Despite being outgunned in the ring, American heavyweights can still claim a token victory: The battle of publicity fought in conference rooms and over international phone lines. The requisite environment of loose lips and stinging quips in which today’s fights are publicized seems an encumbrance to the current breed of champions. [details]
Unsurprisingly, the banner under which this resurgence begins belongs to the man voted most likely to brandish Old Glory for impromptu displays of American patriotism. Conveniently enough though, Don King also controls two of the current Eastern European champions. Whether or not the Americans are ready to reclaim that which they feel is their own, the flag which King flies highest will be lined with dollar green.
A key to being indisputably the most successful and recognized boxing promoter of the last thirty years has been the ability to aggrandize the inadequate, illegitimate, and sometimes, the downright odd. As such, King proclaims Belarusian Sergei Lyakhovich as the world heavyweight champion, and conspires with his German counterparts to bring about the stateside championship debut of “Russian Giant,” Nicolai Valuev.
Promotional duties aside, one wonders where Lyakhovich and Valuev would rank on King’s priority list had he been able to secure himself the services of consensus heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine.
Despite being outgunned in the ring, American heavyweights can still claim a token victory: The battle of publicity fought in conference rooms and over international phone lines. The requisite environment of loose lips and stinging quips in which today’s fights are publicized seems an encumbrance to the current breed of champions. [details]
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