By Bob Smith: Late last year, following the surprise defeat of Wladimir Klitschko at the hands of Tyson Fury, noted author Bob Smith wrote a prescient article on the importance of size to the outcome of a fight in the heavyweight division. It is worth a read if you have not looked at it before:
http://www.boxingnews24.com/2015/11/we-need-a-super-heavyweight-division/
I bring this up in particular because the author brought up a key point about the evolution of the heavyweight division. In references to the four fighters Klitschko, Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua, he wrote:
“What do these four heavyweights have in common? Well, for one their enormous height and reach. There is a minuscule difference of four pounds that separates some divisions, and in the mid-level weight classes it is 7 or 8 pounds. Yet within the one heavyweight division, there are individuals who are anywhere from 201 pounds to 250 pounds. While it would not make sense to have a height limit for the division, as would make the division different from all the other ones, with the Rise of the Giants, at some point there should be a division within heavyweights – such as at 225 pounds or 230 pounds – so that it is not the case that only Giants dominate the division.
The Olympics introduced a super heavyweight division of 200 pounds in 1984; there is no reason why boxing cannot introduce one between 2016 and 2020, if it is the case that all of the top four contenders are Giants and eliminate with ease anyone half a foot shorter and twenty pounds lighter than they are.”
Since that time, two new giants have emerged on the scene – Charles Martin and Luis Ortiz. Charles Martin devastated Vyacheslav Glazkov, and while yes, there was an injury which prematurely ended the fight, I disagree strongly with Dan Rafael, who said that the early KO win by Martin did not make him the better fighter. If you look at the fight even somewhat closely, Glazkov was intimidated not only by Martin’s size, but his speed and technique as well – he was for most of the fight one big hand away from being knocked down or out.
Luis Ortiz is another giant who again is very skilled and also is a southpaw. His recent defeat of an aging but still roughly contender-level Tony Thompson was as impressive as how Klitschko defeated him, and ironically, the same result, a 6th round KO. it was obvious after the first three rounds that Thompson had no chance, and I venture to say that even I hit harder than Thompson hit after the third round (with a few notable exceptions) – he was again overwhelmed by the speed and technique of Ortiz. I should add that Tony Thompson is quite big for the normal heavyweight division, at 6 foot 5, 263 pounds. But still Thompson was intimidated by him.
Of course, not all super heavyweights are totally dominant – witness the career of David Price. And not all heavyweights are inferior in boxing outcome, when they face someone from a higher division – Alexander Povetkin could under certain circumstances could beat some of the super heavyweights, just as David Haye became a heavyweight champion after being a cruiserweight champion, and even defeated Nikolay Valuev.
But the fact remains that the difference in weight and height can be significant and determine the outcome of the fight. In my view, the top 6 super heavyweights are as follows, in this order: Fury, Klitschko, Wilder, Martin, Anthony Joshua and Ortiz. Perhaps Bermane Stiverne can be considered in this division due to weight, but I can’t see him defeating Joshua or Martin. Of course a very elite mere heavyweight like Potevkin can be competitive, but that is true of very elite fighters in any division – they can beat the best or nearly the best in the division above them.
So, let us then have a super heavyweight super 6 tournament, similar to the super middleweight super 6 tournament held from 2009-2011 that largely determined the future of that division at the time and for years to come. What would be the results if each fought the others? Here are my speculations:
(1) Fury – 4-1. I see Fury out boxing Klitschko and using his skill to frustrate and eventually outpoint Wilder. Fury has better movement than Joshua and would impose his superior size against Ortiz. I see Martin as defeating him, however, for Martin has the size and speed and confidence and aggression that would frustrate Fury. If Cunningham could knock down Fury, I am absolutely positive that a powerful and quick southpaw like Martin could as well.
(2) Klitschko – 3-2. I don’t think that Klitschko can handle the speed and movement and mind games of Fury or the raw power and athleticism of Wilder. However, I do see him having the boxing skill and imposing size and technique and also, of course, experience, to defeat Joshua, Martin, and Ortiz.
(3) Wilder – 3-2. While I see Wilder losing to Fury and also to Joshua, merely due to Joshua’s ability to take a punch, and also of course give a punch, I do see him defeating Ortiz and Klitschko and Martin. However, if he cannot handle elite southpaws, he could well go 1-4 and be the big loser at the tournament. Another concern would be that both Ortiz and Martin have better builds for boxing than he does, are more skilled, and just as confident, and have speed that is not only as effective but also has the element of surprise and unorthodox angles.
(4) Joshua – 2-3. I don’t think that Joshua has the skill or depth to defeat a Klitschko or a Fury, at least at this point, if the Super 6 were held this year. However, he does have equal or better boxing experience as Wilder and his superior skill and natural build I believe would lead him to victory. However, I just don’t see him beating both southpaws, Let’s say that be defeats Martin and loses to Ortiz (or maybe the reverse).
(5) Martin 2-3. Martin is the wild card here. He has the potential to defeat all challengers with the exception of Klitschko and perhaps Wilder as well. I see him defeating Joshua and Fury, but if things go his way, he could well defeat Ortiz and maybe all of the rest as well.
(6) Ortiz – 1-4. He has superior skill to Martin and roughly equivalent size, so I do see him defeating Martin. In addition, he will not be nearly as surprised as the other fighters by the angles Martin uses. However, at least at this point, I view him more as a super heavyweight contender than a super heavyweight champion at this point. He is within the range of the others in boxing prowess however, so if his opponent as an off night, he could score another win.
In sum, the rise of Ortiz and Martin as top fighters illustrate the point of Bob Smith in creating a new division. How many top fighters have to be 6 foot 5 or more and 240 pounds or more for there to be declared a new division, in the interests of fairness? The heavyweight division starts at 200, what if the average entry weight of the top six fighters is 248 pounds and the average height is 6 foot 7? Certainly no cruiserweight has a chance against such fighters. nor do all but the very top elite of people who barely make the heavyweight division.
Let’s have a super heavyweight super 6 tournament this year to see who is the best of the established and rising Giants. And let’s have a super heavyweight division to make elite competition more fair and size-adjusted.
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