-Photo Credit: DPK-

With the newest of the recognized dues paying, heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev added to the mix, the question remains - "Will the real Heavyweight champion please stand up?"

Following some dissecting, in hopes of coming up with answers, albeit limiting my probing to the current successful quartet that now own equal shares of the pugilistic pie, what you see is what you get.

Nicolai Valuev (WBA) - age 32, undefeated after 44 kept appointments with 32 by KO. That’s the good news - haven’t as yet seen the "Beast from the East" in action - a giant at 7’ and could well enter his first defense at 300 pounds.
Conclusions: Trust me, only graduates of the Kellerman, Kenny, Tessitore schools of fite knowledge infamy could see this kind of size as an advantage. Simply put, there’s big, and there’s too big. Next up for Nicolai is Monte "Two-Guns" Barrett - wise decision as Monte’s no longer quick on the draw. I mean, five trips to the canvas in Wlad Klitschko mismatch is one thing, losing to a Joe Mesi is  whole different story.  

Wladimir Klitschko (IBF) - age 30 and big in size - we pretty much know what we need to about "Dr. Steelhammer" - his butchering of Byrd, along with the win over Sam Peter a good foundation to build on -  is now at 46-3, 41 KO’s and has November date with Shannon Briggs - tour of duty more matter of psyche than skill - currently appears leader of the pack.     

Sergei Lyakhovich (WBO) - age 30 with as little as 24 kept appointments - 23 wins and one loss with 14 scalps taken. A sleeper until the Lamon Brewster classic - the Belarusian banger had all bases covered in a surprising one sided win - displayed better western style skills than the collective compatriots combined.

Oleg Maskaev (WBC) - age 37-  the big punching Staten Island, N.Y. by way of Kazakhstan upset the Rahman apple cart with that final round finisher, and goes to 33-5, 26 KO’s. Likable type, but sun definitely setting - maybe gets by a Valuev, but beyond that a long shot at best.

Closing comments: Yankee Doodle Dandies need not apply - unless we’re still big on a Toney, Brewster, Brock - but hype aside, Calvin "connected" Brock with the unblemished resume` failed to glitter in decision win over hapless Timor Ibragimov. Toney simply not a heavyweight in size, and at age 37 the game reduced more to trickery than legitimacy - could become statistic if continuing the shtick.
Lamon Brewster? Lack of quickness to go with the clout hurts any realistic chances.

Feel the "real heavyweight champion" query remains as is among the respective sanctioning bodies - with nary a puzzle solver in sight for the present.

GEL -

8-16-06