Lyle sets the heavyweight division straight

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Boxing has slit its own throat in some respects. MMA has enjoyed its (re)surgence simply because boxing hasn't been what it could have for many of the reasons Lyle has mentioned. The powers that be are the main ones who are corrupt and they would never want a boxing league. That would require them to be transparent in many respects and be accountable for their actions. As it stands the alphabet titles can make anyone a #1 contender, hell, they can strip the champ and give the belt to anyone they feel like. Their rules aren't reinforced by law. You can sue them if they screw you, but even if you win, but they'll only screw you again by erasing you from the rankings if you ever lose the belt. A boxing league would mean a paycheck for everybody who was in it, but it would also spread out the fights. Think about weekly fights on ABC, NBC, Versus and the bigger fights bumping up to HBO. Sound nice? Never happen. It would require HBO and Showtime to swallow some fights they wouldn't want, regardless of them winding up being good fights.

The best idea I think would be to follow UFC's foot steps. A promoter created league on a channel just aching for programming. Sign some guys to exclusively fight for you in this league on this channel. As guys see these fighters get more exposure (partly because they fight more often) and have their PPV fights do actual numbers even more guys will jump on board. It could blow up in the promoter's face as most of these fighters would probably suck considering the good fighters don't need to hem themselves up, but if it worked the good fighters would come because they wouldn't have to pay a sanctioning body to eventually fight for a title. There could be rankings that made actual sense and was fair to everyone involved.

I would love to see an Emmanuel Steward trained Travis Walker. The guys got everything exciting about a fighter. Great power, physique and a crackable chin. If Steward could teach him to be somewhat of a chess player like Lewis he could go far.

To be fair with every one success steward has had ie:lewis he has gone on to have another 7-8 failures.

The training of heavyweight fighters is no different to every other division.

As ive already said boxing needs a resurgent of american heavyweights if the division is to make a rise from the ashes.

Hmm i only think they have to be American if you actually live in America. Like i live in the UK so to me it doesn't matter personally where a fighter is from...and the UFC idea won't really take off unless the fighters actually get into shape. It's been said before, nobody wants to see Arreola and his titties fighting a journeyman with even bigger titties. Even then you're basically running an extended version of the contender and these fighter will still get found out at the top by the eastern block fighters. It's a nice idea on paper to have a boxing league but we all know who would dominate - it would be the same fighters who dominate now. The guys who are the better schooled, take less risks and show up in much better shape.

I understand about capturing the publics attention but David Haye is quite capable of doing if he gets to fight in the states. He won't by the way because he won't get past both Clits. I'd be surprised if he gets past Wlad to be honest.

Point is so long as the fighter gets to show his skills and charisma on the biggest stage...wherever that may be, it doesn't matter what nationality he is. The thing is, it needs more than just one fighter. One dominant US heavyweight will not capture public attention if all his possible opponents are stiffs.

The heavyweight division might not appear to thriving outside of europe but i reckon if you asked a few eastern europeans they would struggle to say anything bad about it. With David Haye willing to travel across Europe and the Cubans signing wtih Arena (i think it is) we might just have to accept that if the heavyweight scene is going to thrive in the future, it will thrive in Europe...mainly Germany.