The future of the heavyweight division

By Boxing News - 05/15/2012 - Comments

Image: The future of the heavyweight divisionBy Dallan O’ Donnell: For years now boxing fans have longed for a return to an era in boxing when it was dominates by the once great heavyweight division.

Down the years it is what made boxing so famous. Every past great before the 80s was a product of the heavyweight division. Although there were some great heavyweights in the 80s and part of the 90s, it was around this time when the lighter divisions invaded the limelight, once owned by the heavyweights.

The likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran captivated fans with their speed, power and endurance, two of which fans couldn’t see watching heavyweights.

Although still popular with fighters like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, heavyweight boxing still appealed to fans but it was clear that it would never reach the great heights of a time with legendary fighters such as Jack Johnson, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and many others down the years.

After the Tyson and Lewis era came to a stuttering end, two fighters from the Ukraine subsequently dominated the division to the point where the division has now become barren and diminished.
Fans have begun to cling to much lesser boxers in hope that the Klitschko era would end. That boxer was David Haye, he rattled the cages of both brothers outside the ring but failed to do so inside the ring.

Don’t get me wrong, the Klitschko’s are good boxers and future hall of famers because of their domination but from a fans viewpoint, it isn’t as exciting as it once was.

These days it is the welterweight and middleweight divisions that own the spotlight. There are so many superstars to mention, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao being the main stars.

The heavyweight division has now resorted to huge mismatches and downright terrible fights of late which got me thinking is there anyone out there who could be stars in the future and restore some pride to a battered and bruised heavyweight division.

And there is potential. Two up and coming American stars, Seth Mitchell, who knocked out 19 or his 25 opponents and is unbeaten and Deontay Wilder who has knocked out all his 21 opponents!
Granted they need to improve their level of competition but surely two for the future.

Then there are British prospects, Tyson Fury who is unbeaten and David Price who is also undefeated.

Fury, in my opinion is over-hyped and not as good as people make him out to be. Although his size should make him an ideal candidate to face the Klitschko’s, I don’t think he is good enough.

David Price on the other hand, is a giant. Although inexperienced he is a future star in the sport.

These four boxers somewhere in the future could make a name for themselves and be on a collision course for the Klitschkos’s and then each other.

We will have to wait and see if they have what it takes to reignite the passion in the heavyweight ranks.

Who else (apart from Olympic fighters) could be future stars? Tell me on Twitter @dallan09



Comments are closed.