How weak is the heavyweight division really?

[JazMerkin]

I know we are told constantly what a pitiful division the heavyweight division is and how totally weak and ordinary it is.

But is it really as bad as people say?

Is Wladmir Klitshcko for example a worse champion than for example Kendall Holt, Steven Lueveno, Chad Dawson, Mikell Kessler, Tomasz Adamek, Nate Campbell etc?

What about Vitali Klitschko?

I actually think if these two were in any division other than the heavyweights people would rate them much higher, Wlad in particular would likely be on the p4p rankings for his continued dominance.

Then we have David Haye. Consider the fuss that was made about a no skills brawler like Michael Katsidis and how added to the lightweight divsion, is not Haye an exciting talent at heavyweight?

Then we have promising prospects like amatuer world champ Odlanier Solis, Alexander Povetkin and solid fighters like Ruslan Chagaev, Eddie Chambers etc.

Ok it's hardly stacked but I think the likes of both Klitschko's, Haye, Chagaev, Solis and Chambers would rise to the top of pretty much any weight class there were in.

All I'm saying is it's not nearly so bad as people claim.

Yes there is some awful dross in there, but there are 4 or 5 world class fighters in the division that certainly match up to the world champs in many of boxings lower divisions.

Your views?

The two I've highlighted are those who I think ARE better champs than Wlad, although there are others there who you could make an argument for.

Personally I don't think that it's that the Klitschkos themselves are shit, I think they are both incredibly talented, I think it's just that for the past five years roughly, there has not really been any credible challengers to them. Honestly, they've really fought some pretty ordinary and/or faded former contenders, and I think this stops them getting the credit they deserve.

However, there are starting to be some credible challengers & I think Haye & Arreola at least offer the HW division the chance to have some loud personalities back in it. Haye on his own has already generated a surge more interest by virtue of being the CW champ & his own brand of personality that I know you are so fond of Bilbo

[Boom Boom]

I think there is some talent, but it seems that the few talented fighters dont train properly or stay busy enough. Guys like Chagaev or Arreola could be better than they are. I look at a guy like Juan Carlos Gomez, and he has a lot of talent, probably the most in the division but he only fought once last year and hes 35. Just the fact that conteders and champions from the mid 90s even 80s are still highly ranked fighters I think speaks volumes. Also some of the undefeated "prospects" pad their records and never step up the competition. As far as dominance and consistency goes, Wlad is the only dominant heayweight right now. There are few heavyweights that I feel are fighting at their potential like Eddie Chambers, Alex Povetkin and I guess they deserve credit. As a whole though, yes it is a weak division.

[Hunter]

I dont think the heavyweight division is any weaker than it was when Lennox Lewis was Champion....Everyone likes to talk about how weak the division is and how bad the champs are now.....I remember everyone saying the same thing when Lennox was the champ and I hear people say Tyson was overrated because he never really faced a great figher...yadda...yadda..yadda.....So who actually was a hall of fame heavy weight in their prime facing other hall of fame heavyweights in their prime? (maybe Ali, Foreman was the last one)

Lennox wasnt recognized as a great fighter til he retired and 5 years down the road people will be talking about the good old days when the brothers Klitchskos were lining them up and knocking them out....

People always look for a reason to complain about something....We are seeing something that has never been done before, two brothers at the top of the division (and to top it off knocking people out), take some time and enjoy, trust me, they wont be there forever.....

[Spicoli]

So hitting backspace while reviewing a post deletes it Wasn't all that positive anyway.But I miss the mid 90's....now those were some "what if" match ups.

[TitoFan]

In comparison with the top divisions in boxing today, the heavyweights are weak. And if there really ARE good prospects out there, let's see some match-making to get some of these prospects to face each other.