Heavyweight Housecleaning

[Jim_Kidd]

I visit a variety of boxing boards and I've noticed one consistent theme over the past few months... and that's how BAD the heavyweight division has become. Before you throw in the towel and wait for the next Ali to emerge, consider the "friendly" Ivan Drago - Vitali Klitschko.

With size and power to spare (not to mention being an overall nice-guy), look for him to do what Lennox Lewis onced termed as "Getting rid of all misfits." He's not the pecking, probing with the jab, bear-hugging, out-of-shape, no-stranger-to-the-canvas type of fighter that populates the division today.

I believe he'll clean house over the next few years. I'd love to see him leave the Quiet Man - John Ruiz, slumbering nicely on the canvas. I could just picture him lying on the canvas - flat on his back, still concious, complaining to the ref about the clean shot that put him there.

James Toney's only chance would be to flurry, move, score points and win a decision. He just doesn't have the power at heavyweight. I think Vitali Klitschko would score a later round stoppage. He was dominating Chris Bryd before he quit with the shoulder injury. He's improved since that fight, while Bryd seems to be getting hit more and more.

Basically, what I'm saying is; it could be very entertaining watching Klitschko do his thing in the Heavyweight division. And in the months ahead, that may be enough to make things entertaining to watch in the heavyweight division.

Jim

[Bronx Bomber 15]

Hi Jim,
Klitschko could very well be the man who keeps the division afloat over the next year or two. I think it'll come down to him and James Toney. Although they have different styles, either one could easily clean out the division as it sits right now, and they're both marketable. If they face off I'd go with Toney, but don't etch that in stone just yet.
I'm still not ready to count out Roy Jones, regardless of his last two outings. If Toney wins it all, I think we'd see Toney / Jones 2, a fight Toney's been after for years. Won't even try to pick that one, I'd just like to see it.
There is a glimmer of silver lining on this cloud, depending on what angle you're viewing from.

[LeeSkye]

John Ruiz, slumbering nicely on the canvas. I could just picture him lying on the canvas - flat on his back, still concious, complaining to the ref about the clean shot that put him there.

Love that comment.

I agree that Klitschko could be the man to bring the spotlight back onto the HW division. He certainly picked up some fan sympathy with the Lewis fight.

The only problem I see is that, at times, he does not appear too comfortable in his size. At times he appears awkward in his stance. I'm not sure what to attribute it to but it is there from time to time. Maybe it comes with trying to fight "down" to shorter fighters. I remember Manny had said Lennox had to learn how to fight "down" to the shorter guys but I never felt that Lennox seemed awkward in doing it. Anyway, I could see a smart, tough cookie like Toney taking advantage of that and upsetting the big guy. Jones may be able to do it as well with his speed but he likes to sit on the outside to work and that would be a lonnnnng way to land his shots the way he likes to.

[Dave1877]

The Williams fight will tell us a lot of things about Klitschko. He won't know just how tough a job he has got on his hands until he is in the ring with Williams. Williams is no world-beater but a convincing win over the Englishman would set Vitali up nicely to take over the division. I just don't think it's a foregone conclusion in my mind that he will beat Williams. Maybe it's because I'm English myself, I don't know, but a little niggle in my mind is telling me Williams can pull this off. I think it would be best for boxing if Klitschko won because he genuinely has the talent and experience to topple all other champions.

[Bronx Bomber 15]

Originally Posted by LeeSkye

Love that comment.

The only problem I see is that, at times, he does not appear too comfortable in his size. At times he appears awkward in his stance. I'm not sure what to attribute it to but it is there from time to time. Maybe it comes with trying to fight "down" to shorter fighters. I remember Manny had said Lennox had to learn how to fight "down" to the shorter guys but I never felt that Lennox seemed awkward in doing it.

That's one of the reasons I can see Toney beating VK. Toney's a very slick fighter defensively. You rarely see him get hit solid. When he does, it's even more rare that he's hit more than once. I think he's actually gotten better the last year or two, and he's pretty solid, not the fat heavyweight we saw a few years ago.
On the other hand, Vitaly can hit and one solid shot from him may be all it takes to stop Toney. With any luck, we'll see it happen in 2005, if Toney doesn't get injured again.

As far as Danny Williams goes, I don't much about him outside the Tyson bout. From what I have read, he seems to be the Buster Douglas type of fighter. A guy who had the tools to be more than just a fringe contender, but doesn't have it all upstairs (nerves, or just plain old lack of discipline, what ever). I think we'll learn a lot about both of these guys when they meet up.
I think it will be entertaining either way

[Dave1877]

Yeah it will definitely be worth the PPV price, I'll be buying it for sure. My heart says I want Williams to win the fight but my head says Klitschko should win it. Imagine if Williams KO's Vitali! The heavyweight division will be a total farce!