Sure, Denis Boytsov and Robert Helenius have fine and undefeated records, but who have they fought? Fighting against the likes of Vinny Maddalone, Robert Hawkins, Mike Sheppard, Attila Levin (!), and a shot and half-blind Lamon Brewster—not to mention the other usual suspects and unknowns—does little to console me that the division has much of a future. And one week before Solis is dispatched, another so-called “Cuban sensation” by the name of Glendy Hernandez fights in Florida. Puleeeezzzze.
But when all the hype and dust is cleared away, only three men (David Haye and the Klitschko brothers) really generate any excitement and really count in the current heavyweight scene. The rest are churning in a downward swirl (if not spiral). Names like Austin, Johnson, Solis, Povetkin, Chagaev, Thompson, David Rodriguez (with his dismal Lamar Clark record), Gomez, Chambers, Valuev, and Dimitrenko keep on popping up but when they are given their chance, they fail miserably. Too short David Tua is getting too long in the tooth to provide any meaningful competition and his 2010 draw with aging Monte Barrett does little to argue with that conclusion. Now Chisora will take his turn at getting savaged, but at least he offers some excitement with his unique brand of biting, butting, and kissing.And it does look like Povetkin has finally gotten up enough gumption to take on one of the big three. Look, these guys are simply not compelling. Maybe Arreola (if he is in better shape) and Adamek can ignite some competition, because both come to fight, but regrettably, it is what it is and it’s simply not very much to get excited about.
Yes, the heavyweight boxing scene is on life support.![]()
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