We have: (in no particular order) Wladimir Klitschko Vitali Klitschko Chagaev (who is becoming active again soon) Valuev Arreola (not the heavyweight savior, but undeniable an exciting banger that adds to the mix) Haye (dito) Povetkin Peter (if he gets back in shape) Thompson (although he is 36, he looks and boxes like he's 20, and had few wars that make one age quicker.. look for him to decision Toney two weeks from now) Gomez (very skilled Cuban boxer) Dimitrenko (another big Ukranian, not as talented as the Klitschko's, but a good contender) Chambers (has very fast hands, great defence but lacks mobility.. just because he lost to Povetkin where the Russian threw 71 punches a round doesn't mean he's done) And then there's Ibragimov who can make some noise if he goes back to the agressive style with which he had exciting fights against Whitaker and Ahunanya. Plus upcoming prospects: Odlanier Solis (a bit uninspired and lacks power, but extremely skillful and well-schooled Cuban), Kevin Johnson, Denis Boyztsov (needs fire as well), and a few others that i have forgotten.
I don't think it's ever a question about the talent, I'd point out the talent 2-3 years ago was arguably just as good...it's a question of the fights being made. You kinda get the feeling that, godawful abberation like Valuev-Holyfield aside, there are the elements in place to get those good fights made. So in that way it does seem a bit better. If things go right, 2009 could be the best for the heavyweight division for years. If not, soft mandatories ahoy...
Valuev-Holyfield certainly is a shameful Don King attempt to make money over a geriatric warrior who still thinks he has "it". But after that, perhaps the clouds disappear. I think Chagaev will be WBA's mandatory early/mid 2009, and have a rematch with Valuev which is interesting considering Valuev really improved over his last two fights against Liakhovic and Ruiz II. Then there's Wlad vs Povetkin (assuming he dusts Rahman) coming up for the IBF mandatory, and since Arreola is the current #2 IBF after beating Walker, he might be a next fight for Wlad in 2009, another one that should be interesting. Vitali vs Gomez will be a technical one mostly, but the winner probably fights Haye, which will be a great fight. So, plenty of fights to look forward to, if, as you say, they're made.
Its slowly getting better and fighters like Haye will help make it more interesting and more exciting.
Well said... There are plenty of good fights to made at H.W. right now. But will it ever happen? Valuev/Holyfield??? That should be a real barnburner!:tired
No not really. It is better than 2 years ago, but it could hardly have been any worse. But Vitali and Wlad are the only 2 of any note. Haye is making it slightly interesting, but he is hugely vulnerable and the rest are sluggish, and often fat.
quite a bit better than a few years ago, arreola is a good fighter who showed great poise under fire figuring out his opponent last night. he held back, figured him out and then absolutely dusted him. look at arreolas eyes during the fight they never glassed over or looked hazy he never was in danger in there. then he unloaded on walker who is a decent fighter and put him out. id love to see him against one of the klitschkos. it wouldnt be the walkover that some people on here expect. then there is haye, dimentrenko, povetkin, valuev, thompson, gomez, and to a lesser extent j.d. chapman, and a bunch of eastern europeans coming up too