By Gav Duthie: It was a fair conclusion that the heavyweight division was the most disappointing of all 17 weight classes in 2016. From failed drug tests to fight cancellations and titles without owners the year spectacularly failed to live up to expectations. The division still has a lot of promise with new champions and exciting talents but I feel 5 things need to happen for the big guys to fulfill their potential.
A buoyant heavyweight division keeps boxing at the top in terms of customer interest. When Tyson Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko it blew the division wide open. I expected fire works in 2016 and despite some brief flickering flames I was utterly disappointed.
Failed Drug tests
Last year 4 title fights were ruined due to failed drug testing. We thought Lucas Browne made history as the first Australian heavyweight champion with a 10th round stoppage over Ruslan Chagaev. A failed test was disclosed post fight and the belt was removed. Deontay Wilder’s opportunity to prove his greatness in a career defining fight was stolen when Russian Alexander Povetkin failed a test and did once again later in the year. Wladimir Klitschko v Tyson Fury was canned due to Fury’s depression where he also tested positive for the recreational drug cocaine. After battling and jostling Lucas Browne obtained the position to fight for the WBA regular title again against Shannon Briggs but failed another test. Already this year Andrej Warczyk was withdrawn from a shot at Deontay Wilder for failing a routine test.
Its great that these fighters are being exposed. Cheating should never prosper but it also makes the sport look bad. Hopefully with these examples and the WBC’s stay clean initiative for random testing will make fighters realize they will finally get caught. Clearly this was a major part of the sport and something is being done but in boxing big fights take lots of planning, negotiation and promotion. These failed tests are derailing the careers of the innocent.
Prospects to step up
In 2016 David Haye fought two opponents. Their respective records were 31-1-2 (Mark De Mori) and 29-0 (Arnold Gjerjaj). Despite these impressive numbers both men looked like Bambi on ice when they stepped in the ring with David Haye. The heavyweight division more than any other has too many prospects with padded records against journeyman fighters looking for a payday. I would like a lot of these fighters to step up quicker. Anthony Joshua won a title in his 16th fight but there are some fighters with double the amount of fights that are not even ranked.
In fairness, we did see some prospects step up in 2016. Joshua won and defended his IBF titles twice, Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz stepped up to face each other with both men gaining new fans. Erkan Teper lost his unbeaten record to Christian Hammer and Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora produced the heavyweight fight of the year. In 2017 I am glad to see that Gerald Washington has stepped up to face Deontay Wilder on February 25 and that Hughie Fury is likely to be the first defence for Joseph Parker and his WBO title. I would also love to see some big fights for Jarrell Miller, Luis Ortiz, Kubrat Pulev and although he’s not a prospect I’d love to see if Shannon Briggs is still any good or not. We need big fights from everyone in and around the top 20-30 not just the champions to make this division great again.
Unification’s
In other divisions we have started to see a willingness within the title organizations to sanction unification bouts. There was James DeGale v Badou Jack, Keith Thurman is away to face Danny Garcia, Vasyl Lomachenko is signed to fight Jason Sosa and Ricky Burns is squaring up to Julius Indongo. It would be great if we could see the same thing happening in the heavyweight division. Technically the Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko bout is a unification as AJ’s IBF title is up for grabs as well as the WBA super title. It would also be great to see Deontay Wilder face Joshua or Joseph Parker and Tyson Fury to return to face any of the champions in 2017.
All belts to have owners
The WBA had egg on their face last year as they finished the season with no heavyweight champions. As aforementioned the WBA regular title match-up between Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo was canned and no fight was scheduled for the super title after Fury gave them up. For the regular crown Briggs v Oquendo has been mentioned. This is relatively uninspiring with Oquendo having not fought since 2014 and being 42 years old to Briggs 44 but at least it would sort the situation out.
Return of Tyson Fury
Personally I’m not a huge fan but a division needs its champion. Fury’s return will be even more important if Wladimir Klitschko defeats Anthony Joshua. If the Ukrainian regains two of his belts it will feel like the true champion isn’t around until he defeats Fury. On the other hand if Joshua does a number of him then the British public will demand a Joshua v Fury fight. It would also be great for the Fury family if him and cousin Hughie can hold world titles simultaneously like the Klitschko’s did. Boxrec currently has Anthony Joshua but until one of these fighters takes Fury’s unbeaten record the question will always be there.