The Heavyweight Exodus- Division Getting Even Crappier

Dear Friends,

The Heavyweight Division had been in trouble since LL left, with a crop that has failed to inspire casual fans in the manner or Tyson or Ali. However, many of the post Lennox generation inpired at least a certain fan base. Be they amatuer stars like Chagaev or Sultan, American hopes like Toney, or power punchers like Peter, they each had their defenders, and if the fights sucked, at least the debate was fun.

Now for a sobering thought- that generation may be all gone, without any young stars to replace them. Think of everyone we have lost in the last two years, or might be losing soon.

James Toney- Fat, 40, twice busted for steroids, and stinking it up agaisnt club fighters. Even if he comes back, who cares?

Chris Byrd- Last seen being licked by a lightheavyweight club fighter

Lamon Brewster- Love this guy, and desperately wish he would return to form, but can't seem to regain his old form afer his injuries.

Shannon Briggs- supposedly coming back soon- when last seen, was crying about asthma and throwing four punches a round. Just really feels as if he is from another era.

Sergei Lyackovich- Is he still alive? After his one good fight, came in fat, got badly licked, lost to Valuev, and has not been heard of since.

Vladimir Virchis- After being beat by Gomez, announced that he had not wanted to fight for a very long time. Apparently changed his mind, announced that he would fight again, and has not been heard of since. My guess is that he has given it up.

Sultan Ibragimov- Was talking about quitting since before he won his belt. Lost virtually every round to Wlad Klit, and has disappeared. Rumor is that he promised his family that he would never fight again.

Ruslan Chagaev- Hepititis B, possible blindness and numbness. Fans of his amatuer days say that he has not really shown his best in the professional ranks ever. Dropped and stopped by Wladdy, can't get a fight with Valuev (and probably a lot of other fighters) and it would probably be suicidal to fight Vitaly. Effectively done weather he knows it or not.

Nikolai Valuev- Like Chag, is done if he knows it or not. I was always one of the man's (few) supporters, but his skills have erroded to the point where even slow-motion Holyfield beat him. After the Chag fiasco, Wlad subsequent dominace of Chag, and the Holy fight, no one regards him as a champion.

Haseem Rachman- Wlad had to be his last fight. His punch resistance is nil.

Sam Peter- the latest to eat his way out of contention. Beaten by two of the three current champions and Eddie Chambers, is stuck in the wasteleand. ESB's own Big Cat say he is ready to start taking his career seriously, but A) it is very hard to name someone who has reversed a weight problem, and B) a lot of his problem may have been about being overrated in the first place.

Oleg MAskaev- Fights on, but lets be honest here: he is done and jsut does not know it.

The Brits- Audley, Sprott, Williams, Skelton- they might all fight on, but none can ever contend again.

And now, add to the list...

Alexander Dimentrenko. At 26 years old, could easily fight on, but from what posters on this board have said, has had one eye on a law career for some time. My guess is that after being dropped by a guy fifty pounds lighter, he is going to have to at least really think about if this is worth is to him.

Add to that, the ironic case of...

Vitaly Klitskcho- his heroic comeback has ironically put down two good contenders for Wladdy on Peter and Gomez, and jammed up the heavyweight division since he will not fight Wlad. Conversely, he is 38 years old, will not last forever, and will leave a void again when he hangs it up for good.

Tyson Fury, David Price, Tor Hammer, Deontay Wilder, Olander Solis, Chisora and Boytsov are not ready to take their places yet, and some fo these guys never will be. A couple of promising young contenders have just blown it, Stephen Kretchmen beign the one that comes to mind,a s well as the African figher who fights out of Britain.

Prognosis for the heavyweights: terminal.

 

I have a girlfriend and we plan to get married. Thanks for asking.

 

Michelle Obama is nice looking lady, and bright. I would change my signature, but I forgot how. I am a life long republican, but I feel that Obama deserves his chance for at least a year before I start campaigning for the good guys.

Peace.

 

These things are all true. What I am specifically addressing is the remarkable nubmers of these heavies who HAVE EXITED OR WILL SOON EXIT THE SPORT.

Let me be clear- I am not insulting Povetkin, or Haye or anyone else. It is jsut remarkable to be that a lot of these guys we might not see agian.