06.12.06 – By Paul McCreath: In part 1, we looked at the belt holders and who they are likely to fight in the new year. We mentioned the Toney-Peter winner as being part of the mix, but what of the loser? Well, that depends on who it is. If Toney loses to Peter, you can essentially say that it’s pretty much over for him.
At his age, now 38-years old, and weight, (in the mid 230s in his last 4 fights) he would have a tough time coming back from yet another loss. Peter, on the other hand, is still young enough that with a couple of good wins, he would be right back in it and could challenge for another title.
Since I submitted Part 1, we have learned that Jameel McCline is next in line for Valuev on January 20. This is pretty much just a payday for both but you never know. Jameel, a fringe contender, has skills and if properly motivated, he could make it very interesting, particularly due to his excellent handspeed and huge size. This is not the mismatch it seems to some.
We have just learned also that Lamon Brewster is healthy and will be back soon. Clearly, he will need a tuneup or two before stepping it up against tough competion, but he definitely will figure in the title picture in 2007. A rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF heavyweight champion, would be a big draw.
Sergei Liahovich, who took Lamon’s WBO title, then lost it to Briggs, seems sure to get a shot. Perhaps a rematch with Brewster with the winner to face the Briggs-Ibragimov winner could happen.
Hasim Rahman will definaely be heard from again, likely very soon. While he may be a bit past his peak in terms of boxing ability, he is fit these days and would make a tough gatekeeper for the top 10 for a couple of years yet. Don’t forget Calvin Brock, either. He didn’t look any worse than most fighters against Wladimir, and is young enough to rebuild and try again. What Brock needs to do now is get a couple of fights against 2nd tier opponents and then try someone tough, like Rahman. A win there would put him right back in demand for another title shot against one of the other belt holders.
John Ruiz may be ready to call it a day, I hope. With no belt and little gate appeal, he is not exactly a highly sought after fighter.
Vladimir Virchis may be a dark horse in the heavyweight division. His only loss was to Chagaev and he KO’d Vidoz to take the European crown. He can punch hard, no doubt about it! He would draw well in Europe, against either Valuev or Klitschko. Luan Krasniqi, on the other hand, needs to completely rebuild his reputation. His loss to Brewster was not a bad showing but he has done nothing since, while the title has changed hands twice. Inactivity hurts all fighters, and the public forgets you fast.
Davarryl Williamson, Monte Barrett, and Larry Donald are three more names who have been reduced to gatekeeper status, likely on Don King undercards. In Europe, Timo Hoffman, Henry Akinwande, Sinan Samil Sam, and Paolo Vidoz fall into the same category. Britain has three, Matt Skelton, Danny Williams, and Audley Harrison, who are much the same type of fighters, good domestic attractions but only stepping stones on the international scene.
That brings us to David Tua and Chris Byrd. Chris intends to fight at cruiser, if at all. Tua is just plugging along, waiting for who knows what. He does not seem to be serious about his career, based on his slow progress during his comeback. Perhaps a big money offer would tempt him to try a real top fighter again.
In Part 3, I will look at the young guns who are likely to become name fighters in 2007.