by Mark Hepplestall: I have been noticing that the Klitschko’s and David Haye have been getting some stick about fighting old boxers, well if you look at the heavyweight rankings the champions do not have much choice as there are 7 heavyweights out of the top 15 who are over the age of 30 not including the champions IBF/WBO title holder Wladimir Klitschko, 34, and WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, 39. Also taking out the top contenders and just looking at the hot prospects you can see Odlanier Solis, ranked 18th in the world and 30 years old with 16 fights. Solis is not ready for a world title shot and will not be for the foreseeable future as he doesn’t fight regularly. Timur Ibragimov, 35 years old, undefeated since 2007 and having four fights this year and also about to gate crash the top 15 which most likely makes him a future world title opponent. Lastly Alexander Ustinov, 33 years old and undefeated in 21 fights, also about to gate crash the top 15 and most likely out of the above to fight a Klitschko soon.

So who are the deadwood that are just taking up space in the world rankings and not ever likely to fight and win a world title in the foreseeable future?

1 Albert Sosnowski 31, the best of the polish heavyweight boxers yet nothing better the European level. Tried his hardest against Vitali but he was just not good enough like the rest of the contenders at this time period. Best option would be Alexander Dimitrenko, challenge for his old EBU title and try and gate crash a world title again.

2 Ray Austin 39, defeated by Wladimir Klitschko without using his right hand once in the 2 round fight. Austin has a lot of controversial decisions on his record including a draw with Sultan Ibragimov. He is currently 39 years old and surely only fighting for the pay checks. One more huge loss will surely be enough to make him retire.

3 Juan Carlos Gomez 37, lost recently to Vitali Klitschko and won his last four bouts against C level opposition. Maybe trying to get a fight against Wladimir Klitschko or David Haye which will cause the champions to be slated yet will be good for the sport as another huge loss for Gomez will surely force him to retire. Best option for Gomez would be a huge money fight against fellow Cuban Odlanier Solis and would surely either move the winner up the world rankings or get a title shot.

4 Samuel Peter 30, youngest of my deadwood but lost almost every match were he has fought against top level boxers, most notably Wladimir Klitschko twice, Vitali Klitschko once and Eddie Chambers. If he continues fighting he can only go for the WBA title against Haye, Peters best option is hard, i cannot see anybody in the top 20 that he would beat or i would like to see him fight, maybe Ray Austin or Alexander Ustinov would be a better fight

5 Audley Harrison 38, Olympic Gold medallist and recently held the EBU title, Audley is fighting Haye for the WBA in November in an all or nothing matchup. If Audley wins he will be set up against a Klitschko or anyone else in the top 15 and would lose miserably, if he loses he must retire and end his awful career that started with the sky as the limit yet found rock bottom a few times.

6 Shannon Briggs is 38 years old and currently 77th in the world, currently challenging Vitali Klitschko for the WBC World Heavyweight Title, must be challenging on name alone after winning 4 KO’s in the first round in a row however one was a No Contest due to Briggs testing positive for a banned substance. Best option for Briggs is to give his all in his fight against Vitali as it is defiantly his last chance.

7 Evander Holyfield is 47 years old and holds the WBF belt which is not a world recognised title but a title none the less, Evander is soon to be fighting Sherman Williams next and is trying to get a fight with either Vitali, Wladimir Klitschko or David Haye. Best option is to retire, Evander has been slurring his words for some time now and this is a direct cause of brain damage, let’s hope he retires soon so he doesn’t get hurt in the ring or become seriously brain damaged.

8 David Tua is 38 and may be fighting Wladimir Klitschko next due to Tua holding the current WBO pacific title and this has bumped him up the world rankings to number 1 or 2 by the WBO for the world title. Tua is very overweight, bordering obese and has lost speed, stamina, power and technical ability all of which was obvious when getting a draw against Monte Barrett, who many people thought had won. Best option is to take the Klitschko fight and retire straight after he loses, i say loses as Tua has four rounds to win and will then be gassed and a static target for Wladimir Klitschko just like he was against Monte Barrett.

The only good news that some of these deadwood fighters are getting title shots is that after they lose they will hopefully retire and free up space in the world rankings for the newer younger hot prospects such as Denis Boytsov, Robert Helenius, Oleh Platov, Francesco Pianeta, Odlanier Solis and Tyson Fury.