The Heavyweight Circle.

I am focusing my thoughts on the current arrangement of the heavyweight division that has emerged into a boxing fan’s worst nightmare. It seems as if we have entered into the everlasting obsession that bigger is better and it seems as if we lost translation of what it takes to be a legitimate boxer in today’s highest weight division. Yes, few huge heavyweights in the past such as Lennox Lewis were both mentally and physically in shape. However, in the latter movement of pay-per-view sales being the only objective, it has appeared that the bigger the paycheck, the cheaper the effort from the two boxers participating in the clash of fist exchanging. The latest Klitschko vs. Williams rumble was a joke in the low comedy arena. Do these guys really train? I mean throwback-training, running, eating properly, mentally study their opponents ways and habits. It’s about time that fight fans stand tall and demand some answers.

My awareness towards the business aspect is in complete harmony with making a profit. With that being part of the solution. What is up with the other half? Fighters actually being game and understanding that they have a chance to win. The heavyweight division has been deconstructed into “tiny champions” with hopes of having a tournament to achieve who will deserve the sole right of being called “the undisputed heavyweight champion.” Let’s place the following heavyweights that are in contention of earning such a so-called high honor. We have John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman, Chris Byrd, Vitali Klitschko, Lamon Brewster, James Toney and to an astounding applause, Mike Tyson, who, with the current crop of heavyweights listed and the ones who were not, still has a punchers chance in maintaining a solid mark within the heavyweight division. Do we need the presence of Mike Tyson to awaken a boxing division that seems to be adding more pounds and less fights to its agenda of making it a sport?

Even if Lennox Lewis returns to the boxing square, will it make a huge difference? Who will actually propose a threat within his style of fighting? This heavyweight division is falling to an all time low and nothing will change unless the forefront of wanting to box can be placed first beyond business. I guess its great motivation to receive multi millions and just show up with a semi-fighters look, throw a few combinations, a few wild punches and we can call it a night. Perhaps the refocusing of looking for heavyweights fighting in ballrooms not knowing where their next meal is coming from, on parole or fighting part time but it seems like they are full time when they enter the ring; these sort of fighters and fights should be publicized.

I can see HBO telecasting these fights, no need for the side cheerleaders called commentators, they do not know these boxers and they earned no kissing up. No huge promoters making more of a scene than their boxing clients do. I bet we will see fights that will make you sit up on the edge of your couch, refuse to answer the telephone and yell at the television screen as if you were in the front row. Only a dream in which all boxing fans hold deep inside their spectator’s heart and that is seeing a good fight without the good hype. If that were to happen, it would last a few rounds in the mind of a fan because the vultures will see the meat and attack our admiration for good fighters. The respect and hunger will turn into greed, money will be a grand taste, and all other situations will fall into second class, including winning.

Shaun Rico LaWhorn can be reached at filmmakers_revolution@msn.com