I wouldn’t go so far as to say that we’re in a new golden age for heavyweight boxing, I wouldn’t even call it a silver or bronze age, to be honest.
But there is some real weight and substance in the division that hasn’t been there in quite some time.
At the top of the big man food chain, of course, are IBF/WBA/WBO champ Anthony Joshua and WBC titlist Deontay Wilder. They SHOULD be getting ready to fight each other right about now, but they’re NOT and that is a rant better saved for its own article.
When the big title unification fight does take place, though, it’s probably going to be a “one-and-done” proposition. Given the style match-up and the physical attributes of both, it’s likely that the fight will end in a knockout, and maybe an early knockout. Unless it’s a Hearns-Hagler barnburner, the early KO probably means that it won’t likely merit a rematch. The winner will move on to other challenges and the loser will have to try and regroup and rebuild.
So, Joshua-Wilder may be big, but it’s probably going to be a single event situation and when it’s over, well, it’s over.
The real weight in the division, however, is right below the two top dogs.
There is extreme parity in the heavyweight class all through the rankings from no.3, downward to no.15 or so. Forget that many of the non-champions are failed challengers, there is value to be had here with proper matchmaking and, more importantly, proper promotion.
Former three-belt champ and (still) lineal champ Tyson Fury sits atop the list of contenders and, no matter what happens in his proposed bout with Wilder later on, he’ll remain an asset to the division as a shit-talking, troublemaking presence.
Alexander Povetkin is another high-end divisional presence who is about to get a shot at Joshua, but should remain a top heavyweight even after a loss.
Below Fury and Povetkin, there are a lot of good, solid heavyweights who may or may not be world champ material, but would definitely produce some entertaining battles if matched against one another. There’s Luis Ortiz, Dillian Whyte, Jarrell Miller, Bryant Jennings, Joseph Parker, Kubrat Pulev, Dereck Chisora, Adam Kownacki, Tony Bellew, Andy Ruiz Jr., Amir Mansour, Dominic Breazeale, Charles Martin, and Hughie Fury. That’s a pretty solid roll call of second tier talent. And while some of these guys have already fought each other or seem stuck on “wait” mode in hopes of a big money title shot, there’s a lot that can be done with this group.
The question is whether there will be enough money (and fan interest) to pit these guys against one another or whether most of them will simply fight lesser opposition and wait for their shots at Joshua and Wilder.
Promoters in general (and not just in reference to the heavyweights) have to stop pushing the “title fights are the only main events” philosophy and fans have to stop responding to this promotional ploy. A contender vs. contender clash can be every bit as compelling as a title bout and it would benefit the sport as a whole if the focus turned away from belts and to the actual fight.
Quick (S)hits:
-- Ray Beltran defends his WBO lightweight title this coming Saturday against Jose Pedraza in what should be an entertaining affair. But with the decent scrap and the always-earnest Beltran, comes that ridiculous immigration backstory that always gets pushed when Beltran fights. The story is that, somehow, Beltran’s immigration status as a Mexican national living in the US is tied to him winning his title and, now, to him keeping it. It sounds good and heartwarming, but when you start looking at it, it doesn’t make a damn bit of sense. Immigration law is not like an 80’s breakdancing movie where, if you win the dance-off, you get to keep the youth center. Nobody’s immigration status, ever, was decided on the applicant’s ability to win and keep a world title. Being a high-end professional fighter was enough to get Beltran his papers. The rest of that story is just “fake news.”
-- Speaking of fake news, Amir Khan is talking up a potential Manny Pacquiao stadium clash in the UK. He says this, of course, as he prepares himself for yet another softball match-up this September 8 against Samuel Vargas. Khan-Pacquiao ain’t happening and even Khan-Kell Brook is a longshot. It’s clear now that when Khan signed his three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn, the idea was to make three quick-cash scores against soft opposition while his name still could draw some attention in a booming UK market. I don’t see Khan moving towards any “real” fight and I don’t think it was ever his intent to get anywhere near something that could actually be competitive.
-- With just about a month to go before Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin return to the ring in their long-awaited rematch, betting odds are starting to tighten up. When the rematch was first signed, Golovkin opened as a nearly two-to-one betting favorite, but as of late last week, he is now just a -160 favorite. The feeling among professional gamblers is that this is an even match-up at this point and they have been stacking bets on Canelo as the fighter who can deliver the biggest return for a win. My take? Canelo wins, by decision, and bettors better get their bets in now while the “experts” also come to this realization and start turning this into an even-money betting affair.
Got something for Magno? Send it here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com