The Future of the Heavyweight Division

[Spicoli]

The topic has always stuck with me as a nuisance. The whole dismissal by some that have come up successfully as "blown up cruisers" as well as the insistnace that sheer mass and size equals division dominance. Back to when Max Kellerman would harp every week about the need for a "super" heavyweight division because guys are just naturally bigger. At the same time mentioning examples like Michael Grant, Mount Whitaker, Valuev, Jameel McCline and of course Wlad. Well, 1 out of 5 was not bad as being behemoths did nothing for the first. And even Wlad was sparked out by three fighters who barley weighed more than the 'bridgerweight' limit today. Vitali lost to Chris Byrd who made a career of dancing around giants and naturally larger fighters. All the size...literally the largest heavy to ever hold a title...did not equal dominance for Valuev who arguably lost three in a row to Ruiz, Holyfield and Haye. All three having turned pro as cruisers. Now that may be an extreme case because as we all recall how Valuev was pretty bad but yes absolutely massive. In a way, he was the flip side example of how size can be misleading and at no time the be all end all in a match up. Skills pay the bills! Not to say all smaller guys beating much larger are skilled to the top tier but as we've seen a decent skill set, guile, ice in the veins and fair beard will go a very long way. And Usyk again reaffirmed that crystal clear after being dismissed literally as a middleweight. Holyfield before him and blazing some of that path also . Those two specifically are two of the very best giant slayers to ever put the stereotypes to bed and define their eras.

It truly is all about skill set. The new era coming in is very much reasserting that more common frames and 230+ ish are more than formidable in the current and future division. Look around...where are the massive brutes set to take over. At 6'6 or 6'7 are the likes of Efe Ajagba, Filip Hrgovic, Zhilei Zhang, Joe Joyce, Frazer Clarke or Bakhodir Jalolov striking the fear of god into anyone? But we'll be watching that last fella. And where exactly is 6'7 Tony Yoka now . Skills baby. You gotta have the skill set and mental metal and clearly Opetaia has the ingredients to work with going forward.

[TIC]

i've got to put justis huni in here, his lack of power might be an issue

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Ruiz has ditched the gold digging leech who fed him 2 a m. Burrito meals and lost hella weight so I think we see Andy make a comeback

[Ivan Zhelezo]

I think my post were deleted

Mark Petrovsky is only 6′ 1″. He can still bring tough fights

If Muslim Gadzhimagomedov moves up he will be dangerous

Jakhongir Zokirov from Uzbekistan is only 21 & looks talented to my eye

[Spicoli]

I think my post were deleted

Mark Petrovsky is only 6′ 1″. He can still bring tough fights

If Muslim Gadzhimagomedov moves up he will be dangerous

Jakhongir Zokirov from Uzbekistan is only 21 & looks talented to my eye

Yeh bud original thread was corrupted. Zokirov a southpaw too and with Top rank? They're moving a few solid heavyweights in the mix. Another one to watch.

[Ivan Zhelezo]

I think my post were deleted

Mark Petrovsky is only 6′ 1″. He can still bring tough fights

If Muslim Gadzhimagomedov moves up he will be dangerous

Jakhongir Zokirov from Uzbekistan is only 21 & looks talented to my eye

Yeh bud original thread was corrupted. Zokirov a southpaw too and with Top rank? They're moving a few solid heavyweights in the mix. Another one to watch.

Zokirov is also listed as 6 foot 7 & won a 8Rd decision last month over experienced Agron Smakici, who is known for causing the cut that postpone Fury vs Usyk & recording a KD, could have been a knockout against Kabayel with the ropes keeping him up. The result is not recognized yet because of the ongoing dispute with the IBA

Zokirov vs Agron Smakici
https://night.iba.sport/video/6Ae9UOpgbvR6cG4A/

[Dark Lord Al]

According to Tyson Fury we have a middle weight Rabbit Sausage as HW Champion.

[Ivan Zhelezo]

If Muslim Gadzhimagomedov moves up he will be dangerous

Muslim Gadzhimagomedov will fight Zhaoxin Zhang on July 12th for the vacant WBA Bridgerweight Title. His move to heavyweight could be coming sooner than expected

[Memphis]

Ruiz has ditched the gold digging leech who fed him 2 a m. Burrito meals and lost hella weight so I think we see Andy make a comeback

Ruiz is a tub of lard because a woman enabled him?

He's got a fight scheduled against that piece of shit Miller no?

It's been 5 years since Ruiz won the belts. He's fought twice. He doesn't want it enough. He outboxed Parker with ease for half a fight. Didn't want it enough to get it over the line. He didn't want it enough to hold on to the belts after hitting the jackpot.

It amazes me that there are still people saying Andy this and Andy that. His commitment to boxing does not match their commitment to him.

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Ruiz has ditched the gold digging leech who fed him 2 a m. Burrito meals and lost hella weight so I think we see Andy make a comeback

Ruiz is a tub of lard because a woman enabled him?

He's got a fight scheduled against that piece of shit Miller no?

It's been 5 years since Ruiz won the belts. He's fought twice. He doesn't want it enough. He outboxed Parker with ease for half a fight. Didn't want it enough to get it over the line. He didn't want it enough to hold on to the belts after hitting the jackpot.

It amazes me that there are still people saying Andy this and Andy that. His commitment to boxing does not match their commitment to him.

I have zero commitment to Andy Ruiz but he looks like he got in good shape is all. We'll see

[TIC]

i've got to put justis huni in here, his lack of power might be an issue

justis has entered the ring top ten at heavyweight