By Gerardo Granados: So it’s January now, maybe the reader knows that this month was named after Janus, an ancient god of beginnings and transitions. It is curious that Janus would help Mars to bring to us the fight fans, a promising new era in the heavyweight division. But, to be fair, it all begin back in November 2015 when Tyson Fury slain the dragon that kept the heavyweight division hostage in the dark for almost an entire decade. And now we can see how on the boxing media the heavies are regaining attention from fight fans.
The IBF moved extremely fast to strip the heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury from their strap. Last weekend we all saw how, a new manufactured IBF heavyweight belt holder was created, in perhaps one of the worst ways possible. But don’t be a surprise to see other boxing organizations stripping Fury in the near future. Perhaps you heard what Danny Garcia´s father stated in an interview saying that “it is all about money and not about glory” and some people who run the boxing industry might agree with him.
David Haye is back they said, but I will wait and see how he performs against a top ten contender before rushing to say he is back. He is still an enigma for me, now he looks like a real heavyweight, kept his speed but now seems quite flat footed, showed great punching power versus an average fighter, but I wonder if he will be able to a carry all that new muscle mass onto the 12 round at a high pace if needed. Not the less, I consider Haye as a real threat to Deontay Wilder or Charles Martin.
Southpaw Prince Charles Martin won the vacant IBF strap. I have nothing against Charles, after all, it is not his fault if the IBF stripped Fury, but I don’t think he would have been able to defeat Fury to win the strap. Let’s wait and see how he develops, and hope he won’t avoid top contenders in order to hand pick opponents with the lame excuse of not been ready to fight foes like Joseph Parker.
Isn’t it amazing how Deontay Wilder is able to make average boxers look so damn good? I mean Artur Spilka is a brave son of boxing, but if you review his record, you won’t find many impressive wins and for sure you´ll notice he was rushed to the title. One thing is clear, the WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder has become an attraction for American fight fans, he is loud, has the size and athleticism edge over many heavyweights, has freakish one punch KO power, but his overall boxing skills don’t belong to the elite level of competition.
The heavyweight Champion of the World Gypsy King Tyson Fury is not only big in size, but also has elite level ring IQ and knows how to exploit his physical and boxing skills. He is the Champion and is the man to defeat.
Veteran Wladimir Klitschko will try to avenge his loss, some hurried to write him off, and even said he had grown old, but I don’t think so. Wladimir could regain the heavyweight championship and also still is able to compete against any of the rest of the belt holders or top ten contenders. If he still wants it, if he still is hungry he would keep on fighting after the Fury rematch, but it is possible he might as well decide to retire be it if he wins or lose.
Top ten contender Southpaw King Kong Luis Ortiz not only has the size, punching power and skills to defeat Fury or any of the belt holders, but also has a big motivation to keep him focus on the goal.
Top ten contender veteran Alexander Povetkin presents the first real challenge for the WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder but don’t be a surprise, if the fight never comes to fruition just as the Canelo Alvarez versus Gennady Golovkin bout.
Contender Anthony Joshua not only has an impressive physique and also might own the most devastating punching power in the division but, he still is a work in progress and must develop his overall boxing skills before taking a shot at Fury.
There are two prospects the readers might be interested in following, they are sons of the late WBO heavyweight titlist Tommy Morrison, Trey Lippe Morrison and Kenzie Morrison. As I said they are only prospects but they do inherit his father punching power.
The amazing Joseph Parker is a top ten contender, great punching power and killer instinct, also has developed his overall boxing skills and is a real challenge for other top ten contenders. He is scheduled to fight against journeyman Jason Bergman next Saturday 23.
It has been so long since I was truly excited for the heavyweight division that I can’t remember the last time I was anxious to see so many heavyweights back in the ring soon. I believe 2016 will be a great year for the heavyweight division. But, what about the readers, do you agree?
Comments are closed.