Throughout boxing there have been many heavyweight fighters who were supposedly the future of the division.  They had the obvious skill, but there are many other factors which contribute to a great boxer.  Most of these “prospects” lacked either the desire and work ethic, or the ability to take a solid blow from the best in the division. Many prospects, have failed expectations since the beginning of this millennium. 

Since Lennox walked out of the sport as champion, many wondered who would be the next fighter that would be recognized as the best by the majority of fans and critics, and be deemed, well, unbeatable.  Lennox was by no means unbeatable, as shown in his first fight with Hasim Rahman, however he was considered to be the best of a mediocre group. In 2000, Lewis fought Michael “Big” Grant, a fighter who many believe could beat the champion.

To say Grant was huge was an understatement.  In the year 2000, there were very few fighters who were above 6’5.  The Klitschko’s and Valuev may have started their careers, but they were at the beginning of their days as a prizefighter and therefore did not have a great amount of recognition.  Lewis was one of, if not the biggest heavyweights in his prime.  He was 6’5 and usually weighed in around 250 pounds.  Grant was taller by two inches, had a bigger reach then Lennox and was also four years younger.

Grant certainly had tremendous power, and was undefeated at the time he fought Lewis.  However he did have a questionable chin.  Before his fight with Lewis, Grant was knocked down twice in the first round by Polish-American Andrew Golota.  Golota quit during the tenth round, and Grant could consider himself lucky that was not his first loss, since Golota was leading on all cards at the time of the stoppage.

However, he was not that lucky when he fought Lewis. 

The bout lasted less than six minutes and Grant was down four times during that span.  Grant had now been down six times in his last two fights and it did not get much better in his next fight.  Jameel McCline was another big heavyweight and he knocked down Grant with the first punch of the fight on his way to a first round TKO, since Grant quit because of an ankle problem.

Grant had one more big chance.  He fought an up and coming prospect, Dominick Guinn.  Guinn embarrassed Grant right from the bell, knocking him down a few times on his way to a 7^th round TKO.  Guinn appeared to be the heir to the throne.

Lewis last fight of his career, was only two weeks after Guinn stopped Grant, and at the beginning of 2004, Lennox called it a career.  Guinn was favoured to beat his next opponent, Monte Barrett.  Barrett was fresh off a tough outing against Joe Mesi, yet another prospect.  He gave Mesi the hardest fight of his career at that point.  Mesi was knocked down and forced to go ten rounds.  During Guinn’s fight with Barrett, Dominick was slower and was simply outclassed by Barrett and lost a close decision.

Two fights later Guinn would lose again by decision, to the future WBO champion Serguei Lyakhovich.  Less than a year later he would lose to James Toney.  Less than two years since that, he has lost twice including his most recent fight against Eddie Chambers.  The once 24-0 prospect now finds himself at 28-5-1.

Wladimir Klitschko was also once viewed as the key to the throne.  He had tremendous skill in both hands, particularly his left.  Disposing of competition with ease, he was seen as the most popular and likeable heavyweight.  However, all that changed with two rounds against Corrie Sanders.  Sanders, a part-time golfer, knocked down Klitschko four times within two rounds before the one-sided affair was stopped.

Wladimir started rebuilding his career, and a couple of fights later he would take on Lamon Brewster for the vacant WBO title, the same belt he had lost to Sanders.  Klitschko dominated the first three rounds and knocked down the iron-chinned Brewster as well.  However by round five, Klitschko was completely exhausted and could barley throw any punches. The fight was stopped, and Lamon Brewster was awarded the victory.

Klitschko had become, in Larry Merchants words, “the last big bust.”

However, Wladimir’s case is very different to the rest of these heavyweight prospects.  While his heart and chin are still questionable, he has improved on his flaws since his fight with Lamon.  After his fight against Brewster, Wladimir had a couple of uneventful fights against low-rated competition.  A few months later, Klitschko surprised many by taking a proposed bout between himself and up and coming powerhouse Samuel Peter.  The “Nigerian Nightmare” possesses extraordinary power.  This was clearly Wladimir’s last chance to make a statement.

Wladimir dominated nearly every round.  However, the rounds that he lost were dominated by Peter.  Klitschko went down twice in the fifth, the first a shot to the back of the head.  Klitschko went back to work in the sixth landing his right hand at will and busting up Peter’s face.  Then the tenth round arrived, where it was becoming clear that although Peter could take a punch, he would have to KO Wladimir to win.  A few right hands sent Wladimir to the canvas yet again, and it looked like Klitschko would be stopped for the third time in as many years.  Wladimir took the 11^th round by using his jab, and everyone knew, including Wladimir that Peter would need a twelfth round KO to win.  Peter came out storming trying to land something of significance.  Wladimir sensing the tone stepped back and landed a clear left hook that wobbled Peter.  Wladimir landed his right hand at will for the rest of the fight on his way to a unanimous decision.

Since then Wladimir has knocked out his last three opponents. The first was Chris Byrd in a rematch for the IBF heavyweight title, followed by highly touted Calvin Brock and then Ray Austin.

There is still not a definitive heavyweight champion.  Wladimir obviously has heart as indicated in his will to come back after his loss against Brewster while many believed he should retire; as well as the fight against Peter where he had to rise three times off the mat to win the toughest fight of his career.  However, his chin remains an issue.  He has not taken a serious punch in his last three fights.  As Emmanuel Steward (Klitschko’s trainer) pointed out, “you can’t teach a fighter to take a punch, but you can teach him to not get hit”.  Although he may not be the clear heir to the throne, he has the respect and recognition of most fans and critics in the boxing world, as the best heavyweight at this time. 

5-16--2007