By Gari Jones: To follow up on my heavyweight articles. Let’s look at the top two heavyweights right now currently the most dominant pair of brothers ever to lace up their gloves and step into a boxing ring Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Having started their careers together on the same night in 1996, both brothers put together some very impressive records for themselves, Wladimir scoring 24 victories 22 of them by TKO before succumbing to Ross Puritty in December of 1998 and Vitali 27 wins all of them by stoppage, before having to retire because of a shoulder injury to Chris Byrd in April 2000.

By the time they both suffered their first loss both brother’s had established themselves and had tasted success both in the KO department and in silverware as well. With the heavyweight circuit at their feet and people like Holyfield, Lewis and Tyson nearing the twilight of their career’s by the 2001 came around the door was wide open for the Klitschko’s to take the division by the scruff and claim it for themselves. Long has the Heavyweight’s been a money earner and a crowd pleaser, the money being made with Holyfield v Tyson, Lewis v Tyson or Holyfield v Lewis was in the tens of millions.

Now with two young gun Ukrainian brothers who were just waiting for the big-time to welcome them in, you should imagine that the future of the sport would be big PPV’s with Vitali and Wladimir being contenders for the titles. In 2003 such a vision was being realised when Lennox Lewis fought Vitali Klitschko (who had amassed an impressive 32 KO’s from 33 fights and former WBO Champion) for the WBC Heavyweight title, Wladimir was making headway leading up to that as well, by capturing the WBO Heavyweight title from Chris Byrd which was formally held by Vitali only to lose the belt to Corrie Sanders three months earlier.

With the crowds of Los Angeles and millions watching around the world the stage was set for what many considered the toughest test of Lennox Lewis’s career. The fight was all Vitali’s as by the end of the fourth round Lennox was looking hurt, Vitali with his unusual but effective style was catching Lewis more than he expected, Lewis landing the occasional big shot was cutting Vitali badly on the face but the real crowd pleaser was seeing Lewis who had dominated for so long struggling against the Ironfist Dr. Depite wanthing to continue the cut was to be the his downfall as by the 6th round the fight was stopped by the ring doctor due to A CUT.

Many were disappointed by the decision as on the scorecards Vitali was ahead on points and Vitali himself said he could’ve have continued as he was still physically able to see. It was only the 2nd loss of his career but not due to a KO or point’s loss, despite losing the fight Vitali had caught a lot of people’s attention and while many called for a rematch, Lennox Lewis retired shortly after and Vitali and Wladimir had the Heavyweight Division all to themselves.

So where are we now? January 2011, nearly eight years on and the Klitschko’s are KINGS OF THE HILL. The Heavyweight division given it’s long tradition should be reeling in glory of huge crowd’s, great fight nights and money spinning PPV’s but we are not and why is that.