The strongest of the gatekeepers at present has to be Vitali Klitschko, the robust WBC champ who at least keeps reminding us that we do have a force of sorts in pole position even if his activity isn't. The other alphabet custodians don't fool the real die hard boxing sages amongst us. Lamon Brewster is a good example, I commend the Indianapolis fighter for making the most of a good thing; when opportunity came knocking against Wladimir he did what it took to arrest the slice of pie that was on offer and is still feasting on the crumbs. He has enough skill to maintain his position as an "on paper champ" but his selection of opponents is just that ... a selection, carefully chosen and cleverly marketed to keep Brewster’s millions rolling in.  

IBF & WBA strap holders Ruiz and Byrd are an on par couple, title holders of sorts, that will cause trouble for any challenger if he is not the true article. These two bring their own brand of heat to the table yet don't exactly make the perspiration jump from our brow at the mere mention of their names, I am respectful, yet skeptical, of the longevity of their reign. So, with the doors closing on one so called era, who can kick open the next, now that Tyson, Lewis et al have left the flickering torch behind to be carried. 

James Toney is a solid option for many, but I am focusing mainly on our current crop of brand new heavies. Who is head of the class?

The light at the end of the tunnel may be arriving in the shape of Nigerian Knockout artist Samuel Peter. The difference between Samuel and the rest of the rising stars is purely that he is regularly beating heavyweights that are not over the hill but live and on form, very often on winning streaks themselves.  

Samuel is also the youngest of the young guns and at 24 years of age and 23-0 with 20 KO's he is currently ranked 5th and 9th by the WBC and IBF respectively. At a press conference I attended three years ago, promoting the Ruiz v Johnston Championship bout, Dino Duva took to the podium randomly to make everyone present aware that Samuel had just been signed by Duva Boxing and that he would one day undoubtedly become Heavyweight champion of the world. Samuel sat a few feet away and had barely had his 10th pro outing, but those words did stay with me, It was a very bold statement, yet, may not have been far from the mark three years on. The Duva family have had a few good heavyweight champions and don't often waste time with none starters.  Samuel's last four fights have lasted a remarkable 12 rounds, but it is the quality of the last four opponents that carries most weight to his credibility.  

Jeremy Williams was out gunned frighteningly on Nation TV yet was coming off a great victory over highly touted Attila Levin.  Yanqui Diaz hadn't long since exposed Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez, who again was supposed to be a one-time threat to the division. A TKO over the usually stubborn Gilbert Martinez was followed most recently by a bout with Taurus Sykes, who promised to stand in front of Samuel and duly stood true to his words only to fall in front of the Nigerian after 2 rounds , dramatically hammered to his demise with relative ease.  

Samuel was a product of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney where he picked up a bronze medal. The gold medalist Audley Harrison is still wading his way through faded journeymen on the decline, last seen rolling over one time contender Robert ‘Desert Storm’ Davis last month in California to maintain his unbeaten status, light years away from the type of opposition Samuel is manhandling on a regular basis.