By Eric Thomas: Unbeaten heavyweight contender Denis Boytsov (30-0, 25 KO’s) will take a small step up class when he faces 36-year-old journeyman Dominick Guinn (33-8-1, 22 KO’s) on April 13th in a scheduled 10 round bout in Cologne, Germany.

Boytsov, 26, is being brought along incredibly slowly by his management in Germany for some reason. It could be that they’re waiting out the Klitschkos until both of them retire before having Boytsov make his move towards a world title. Ranked #3 WBO, #4 WBA, #4 WBC, #5 IBF, Boytsov is ranked high enough to get a title shot, but somehow he’s not being pushed into a title fight despite his high ranking. In Boytsov’s last six fights, he’s beaten Taras Bydenko, Jason Gavern, Mike Sheppard, Matthew Greer, Kevin Montiy and Darnell Wilson. Decent 2nd tier fighters but nothing like what Boytsov should be fighting at this stage in his eight-year pro career. If you compare the progress that Boytsov has made with his career to fighters like the Klitshkos when they were at the same stage, it’s pretty dramatic. Boytsov has really underachieved.

In 2003, Guinn was one of the most respected contenders in the heavyweight division. However, his career has gone downhill starting with a 10 round decision loss to Monte Barrett in April 2004. Since that defeat, Guinn has lost seven out of his last 17 fights, including his last two to Kubrat Pulev and Amir Mansour.

Boytsov has excellent power and he’s real good when throwing combinations. However, his limited size is going to be a problem for him at heavyweight. He’s good enough to beat most of the heavyweights but he’s still too small for the Klitschkos. He’ll likely continue to fight Guinn types for the next two or three years and stay away from facing the Klitschkos and wait until they retire. However, things aren’t going to get much better for Boytsov once the Klitschkos are gone because he’ll then have to deal with the towering heavyweights Tyson Fury, David Price and Robert Helenius.