15.12.06 – Michael Cassell, “The Philadelphia Boxing Report” – In a division that is hemorrhaging fans faster, than Mel Gibson and Michael Richards combined, a small amount of excitement is better than nothing at all. Last year, the consensuses best Heavyweight in the world, was Hasim Rachman. After the better half of the Klitschko brothers retired, and while Chris Byrd was still in the mix, it only made sense to declare Rahman, the best of the bunch.. He was after all, the last man to put Lennox Lewis on his back, and although he looked sluggish in a few outings, there was just nobody else to latch onto.
As the Heavyweights seemed to get bigger and slower, and more uninspiring than ever, 37 year old Oleg Maskaev, seemed to be working harder and harder, at a chance to get back into the good graces of the division. When promoter Dennis Rappaport found Oleg a few years back, he was amazed that Maskaev was thinking of retiring, and moving on. Dennis is his biggest fan, as well as his biggest critic..
“I told him (Maskaev) , you have so much natural ability. You need to move around a bit more in the ring. If someone taught you that, you would be unstoppable. Oleg is a guy that can actually punch people numb. He hits so damn hard.” Dennis Rappaport
Within 3 years, Maskaev won ten bouts, eight of which were by knockout. When he faced Rahman earlier this year. Maskaev was living off his big night in 1999, when he knocked Rachman through the ropes and out for good. Rahman was living off his Lewis Knockout, but neither fighter had really done anything to solidify the foundation of their Heavyweight careers. Maskaev changed all that, when he scored a Technical Knockout of Rahman, and with a solid lead left hook, and right hand, took the WBC belt, from the Rock.
“I told you he would do it. This guy is a Cinderella story, he is the real deal. He changed his style, everything. The best part about it is, he is a great guy. He really deserves this victory, and he earned this belt” Dennis Rappaport
Meanwhile, the little brother of Vitaly Klitschko, Wladimir, decided he needed to make some changes, if anyone was ever going to take him seriously again. He hired the best trainer in boxing, Emmanuel Steward, and he learned to do something very creative. He learned that a “jab” is actually an important thing. He also learned how to move. The biggest misconception about Heavyweights, is when they are knocked out, they have a glass jaw. The reality is something a whole lot simpler.
Heavyweights are caught, when they are out of position. Klitschko was usually out of position and off balance when he missed with a punch. Steward taught him, as he taught Lewis, better ring positioning, and control of his shots. It was never more evident, then when he fought Sam Peter. Peter is a very hard puncher who caught Klitschko a few times, but Klitschko prevailed, and made Peter pay. Peter and James Toney fought earlier this year to decide who is the number one contender to fight Maskaev. The decision was deemed so bad by the WBC, that the WBC ordered a rematch. (Why not demand better judges?) There is only one problem. Whom does Maskaev get to fight in the meantime? His people have no one to negotiate with, all the While; Klitschko may be getting ready to fight Ray Austin. Yes, Ray Austin.
“Wladimir looks better than ever before. This guy trains hard everyday. He never takes off, and he is at the gym before I get there.” Emmanuel Steward
Does anybody really care who wins the match between Toney and Peter? Does anyone want to see Klitschko fight Ray Austin? I think it is a no brainier, that we would all like to see a unification bout, over anything. We need closure; we need the division to be more defined. A fat former middleweight, who lost his title do to steroid use, will not define the division. Sure, Toney plays a great bad guy, but he also fights in a very lackadaisical way. Sam Peter could be something special, but the guy just keeps growing and growing. How much bigger can he get before Shannon Briggs starts getting jealous?
Let us throw some gas on a fire, which is barely a smoking twig. Let us let the two big former soviets battle it out. They both have earned it. They both have made changes to get better, and the most important thing is, they are both winning their fights, without steroids, or whining. They are thoroughly beating the hell out of their opposition, and they both hold belts. I think this fight should be made for the spring, and it needs to be done right now!
It seems as of every fighter from the last 15 years, is trying to come back .With Evander (my heart feels great) Holyfield still fighting (badly), and Oliver (emotional breakdown) McCall just getting another victory, 2007 could be a very strange year. Maybe we can have a great, (Who gives a flying crap) tournament. We can pit Michael Moorer VS. Evander Holyfield, and Oliver McCall VS David Tua, and who ever wins, gets to fight Mike Tyson on PPV for four rounds.
The Philadelphia Boxing Report