There was a time when you had no need to think about who the best heavyweight in the world was, the answer came instantaneously, like Tuesday follows Monday… Muhammad Ali! George Foreman! Mike Tyson!  But in the present state of play such a question presents us with a long pause, and a choice that  sends a zillion names dashing through our opinionated minds.  

Since the departure of the last dominant Heavyweight King Lennox Lewis, we have been fed a diet of fights for leather and brass waist-wear that carry as much weight as a geriatric power-lifter.  The consensus of knowledgeable boxing folk would probably opt to side with the last man to gallantly challenge the now retired key holder… Vitali Klitschko, and in many ways he does fit the bill.  Klitschko senior is a very capable fighter, he has pedigree and guts, he withstood a barrage of punishment and had the substance to fire back and pose a few questions that I personally think pushed Lewis towards his eventual decision to hang his mitts up. The only negative that I can dwell on about Vitali's case is the way he doesn't walk and talk like a Champion should. He also boxed in very beholding manner in winning the WBC belt against Corrie Sanders,a man he should have handled concisely and dominantly. Klitschko may turn out to be a good Champion in time but he has to learn how to make the World stand up and respect his cause, i.e. fight more frequently, and defend against the supposed second best.

Those who don't like the Soviet option may prefer to take the nice guys selection, Chris Byrd. I love the man personally and he looks and sounds the complete package, but he may fall at the last hurdle, he fails to deliver conclusive victories every time out.

Chris was awarded a couple of giftee decisions in his last couple of Championship defenses (Fres Oquendo and Andrew Golota). Hardly the kind of showings that would solidify his cause in a future Champ audition. Chris can and may become a solid established gatekeeper in time but as for now the knee pads are still out. 

So who else do we turn to, Mister Ruiz? To the viewer John has a horrible, unbalanced style.  To opponents he has a just as horrible style to try to match. John Ruiz can be a very dangerous heavyweight at any given time, but can occasionally throw a joker onto the card table... The submissive Tua fight all those years ago, the submissive Jones Junior fight not so many years ago.

John can be hard to beat, which he proved when he pushed Kirk Johnson to the wall a couple of years back in a fight where he showed that against a fighter with massive physical capabilities, yet fragile mental capacity, he can overcome in a very brutal fashion.   Ruiz is too competitive for many that are in the running, but 'The Man' he is not.

Last but not least of the belt holders I bring you the weakest option, the universally recognized champion as far as the WBO is concerned,  Lamon Brewster.  Lamon has come a long way from his days as a heavy-handed co-feature on Top Rank cards through the nineties. He has served like a true seasoned apprentice, does this qualify him for a ticket to greatness? I don't think so, and that is not just a flippant opinion; losses to Cliff Ettiene and Charles Shufford and a get out of jail free card in the first and only defense of his valued Championship belt against little known Australian Kali Meehan adds substantial weight to the verdict against him being the next coming. Strong heavyweight with good resolve, yet can lose interest when fights don't go how he wants them to. The WBO may like him as far as lineage goes, sure he beat the last champ, but the last champ has since showed us how he responds when all goes wrong at sea...

Wladimir you don't make my cut either...

• THE SEARCH FOR HEAVYWEIGHT SUPREMACY CONTINUES: YOUNG GUNS AND O.P.'S
   

• THE SEARCH FOR HEAVYWEIGHT SUPREMACY CONTINUES: NEW ARRIVALS AND PROSPECTS

Questions? Comments? Write Stephen Jones

10-07-2004

 

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