2017: A Heavyweight Odyssey

By Boxing News - 10/21/2016 - Comments

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By Matt Plumridge: We all know what it feels like to look back and reminisce about the good ol’ days. Heavyweight boxing gets more than a fair share of pondering, whether it be Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson; all involved in the greatest era ever, depending on your age.

Much more difficult to smell the coffee that is right in front of you and know that one day you will be telling your kids about how it was the best you ever drank.

At the moment, the selection of Heavyweights on offer would put a Starbucks menu to shame. We have classic brews in Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin; Frothy coffee’s in the form of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder; and the new breed of large T’s in Joseph Parker and Luis Ortiz.

And it is not just the main menu that matters; turn the card over, and there could be on offer a concoction more powerful than any of the above. David Haye looks thick set and hurtful; Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne has heart and punch in equal measure; Bermane Stiverne exhibits class and power; while Andy Ruiz Junior remains unbeaten and largely unknown.

What about Hughie Fury? His trainer reckons he is as good as his other fighter, the yet to be mentioned, Tyson Fury. In the last tasting test, Tyson was considered the pick of the crop.
And albeit tainted, maybe we are yet to realize the full brew potential of the likes of Vyechalav Glazkov, Robert Helenius, David Price or Dillian Whyte.

The final ingredient is that of mixing. With all these names, it is the promoter’s and the fighter’s duty to ensure they all face off. Promising sounds are already being made; the reality is too many are at their peaks and cannot avoid each other with the many beans on offer.

So sit down and drink up what should be a 2017 vintage. Enjoy while it lasts – and in the words of the wise – better latte than never.