Stirred even those about whom they forgot to remember. Thank God, this is not at least Foreman and Lewis, they are already 57 each. On the eve of defending the title Maskaev, Oliver McCall and Michael Murer entered the ring in Florida. At 41 and 39, respectively. Both won by knockout, after which Murer remarked: "I am not far from the fight for the title." Today, almost all heavyweights of the world think so. Suddenly, a former docker and Sydney Olympics champion Audley Harrison woke up in England. At 35. Not otherwise, awake, took and nailed to the ring Danny Williams. The same one who knocked out Tyson two years ago, and then - before falling into a knockout - survived more than 200 blows from Vitali Klitschko. Of course, Harrison also sang about the titles - promising to win one next year, and in 2008 - to combine them all in his strong British hands.
A quick look at the table of ranks suggests the impending reign of Wladimir Klitschko. Duty and unconditional. With all due respect to Maskaev, he is already 37. Not much younger than Harrison, Brewster, Ruiz, Bird, Thompson, Virchis, Rahman, McCline and others - most elite heavyweights are already well over 30. Valuev is 33, and it is his possible fight with Klitschko - the youngest excites the minds of European viewers. I don’t think that it will happen soon - Klitschko has other plans so far, and Valuev still needs to prove that he knows how to hold the blow. Not a jab or hug, but a blow. One that can cause, for example, New Zealander David Tua, also torn for the title, but almost no chance of it. Nevertheless, Valuev will not experiment immediately with Klitschko - even ill-wishers say that Vladimir has a glass jaw, with his hands he “knows his business”. Klitschko has already confirmed that he can get up from the floor, while Valuev has not been there yet. The risk is very high. Most likely, Valuev will soon have to fight Ruslan Chagaev, nicknamed "White Tyson." Tyson or not, but in the lovers of the legendary Felix Savon, Chagaev once hacked, so he is dangerous ...
Another young challenger is Samuel Peter. He has already received his from Klitschko, he won’t want a second time. But everyone else is ready to gobble up and not choke. Age is the trump card of the 26-year-old Nigerian, soon his potential rivals will begin to fall themselves, like ripe pears. By the way, promising Israeli Roman Grinberg (24 years old) and Ukrainians Taras Bidenko (26) and Alexander Dimitrenko (24) are waiting for the same. But they are still far from titles. Unlike Peter, whose target is Maskaev.
What can America offer? A set of 10-15 honored veterans. No more. Among them, by the way, is Evander Holyfield, who won both battles after returning and promises almost 20 million royalties to the champions. America has nothing more to cover. The crisis is primarily in its territory.
Heavyweight Champions
Wbc
Oleg Maskaev. Born March 2, 1969 in Dzhambul. Nickname: The Big O. Right handed. Trainer: Victor Valle. Career start: April 17, 1994. 40 fights: 35 wins (26 by KO), 5 defeats.
He played in the USSR national team - along with Konstantin Tszyu. Already in the second year of his career he was thrown by managers under Oliver McCall, lost by knockout in the first round. Lost by knockout fights for minor titles to David Tua and Lance Whitaker. Resumption of a career in 2003 - after a complete change of managers and coach. 12 wins in a row. He won the WBC champion title against Hasim Rahman on August 12, 2006, after Vitali Klitschko, who finished his career because of an injury, refused the championship belt. For the right time to challenge the Maskaev title for the second time on January 6, Samuel Peter and James Thoney box in Miami.
IBF
Vladimir Klichko. Born March 25, 1976 in Semipalatinsk. 1996 Olympic champion (Atlanta). Nickname: Doctor Steelhammer. Right handed. Trainer: Emmanuel Steward. Career start: November 16, 1996. 50 fights, 47 wins (42 by KO), 3 defeats.
Confidently went to the fights for the titles, but in 1998 he unexpectedly lost to Ross Purity by knockout in the 11th round. He became the WBO champion on October 14, 2000, defeating Chris Byrd on points. He defended the title five times, but in March 2003, lost to Korri Sanders in the second round. He tried to return the belt, but was knocked out by Lamon Brewster in the fifth round on April 10, 2004. Again defeated Byrd - now the IBF title and knockout (seventh round) in April 2006. He defended the title once by knocking out Calvin Brock (seventh round) on November 11th. The next opponent is unknown, but the battle is scheduled for March 10. IBF will impose Ray Austin, but Vladimir wants to combine the titles and box with someone from the Maskaev-Valuev-Briggs trio.
Wba
Nikolay Valuev. Born on August 21, 1973 in St. Petersburg. Nickname: Beast From the East (Beast from the East). Right handed. Trainer: Manvel Gabrielyan. Career start: October 15, 1993. 45 fights, 45 wins (33 by knockout).
In the first fight, he defeated John Morton (11 wins, 36 losses) by knockout. Until 2002, only boxing experts saw Valuev, the rest only heard briefly something about a Russian boxer of enormous growth. After the victory over Taras, Bidenko began to quickly go to the top of the rating and on December 17, 2005 he won the title under the WBA version against John Ruiz (by points, by decision of two out of three judges). He defended twice - against Owen Beck (knockout, third round) and Monte Barrett (knockout, 11th round). Tries to avoid encounters with any dangerous rivals, never boxed against shock fighters. The next battle is on January 20 against Jamil McCline in Basel.
Wbo
Shannon Briggs. Born December 4, 1971 in New York. Nickname: The Cannon (Cannon). Right handed. Coach: Chuck McGregor. Career start: July 24, 1992. 53 fights, 48 wins (42 by KO), 4 losses, 1 draw.
He boxed for the title (WBC) already in 1998, lost by knockout in the fifth round to Lennox Lewis (three times during the fight having been knocked down). This was followed by defeat from Cedric Fields and Jameel McCline. It seemed that Briggs' career was put an end to. But since 2002, he has not lost a single fight and goes to fight for the title (the most insignificant - WBO) with the Belarusian Sergey Lyakhovich. Losing by points, in the 12th round he managed to repeat Maskaev’s feat - he threw Lyakhovich out of the rings of the ring. He showed up at Madison Square Garden, where Klitschko had a fight with Brock, and arranged a mime there for himself. Much more remarkable is the head, similar to a pineapple, than with its skills. Many are ready to take away his title - on February 17, Sultan Ibragimov will try to do it in Atlantic City.
Ratings of heavyweight boxers (over 90.7 kg)
WBC (World Boxing Council). On 11/27/2006
Champion - Oleg Maskaev (Russia)
1. Samuel Peter (Nigeria)
2. James Toney (USA)
3. Sinan Samil Sam (Turkey)
4. Hasim Rahman (USA)
5. Oliver McCall (USA)
6. Vladimir Virchis (Ukraine)
7. Tony Thompson (USA)
8. Peter Okello (Uganda)
9. Jameel McCline (USA)
10. Lamon Brewster (USA)
IBF (International Boxing Federation). On 11/29/2006
Champion - Vladimir Klichko (Ukraine)
1. Not assigned
2. Ray Austin (USA)
3. Calvin Brock (USA)
4. Sultan Ibragimov (Russia)
5. Chris Bird (USA)
6. Lamon Brewster (USA)
7. Davarill Williamson (USA)
8 Hasim Rahman (USA)
9. Luan Krasnitski (Germany)
10. Vladimir Virchis (Ukraine)
WBA (World Boxing Association). On November 1, 2006
Champion - Nikolay Valuev (Russia)
1. John Ruiz (USA)
2. Ruslan Chagaev (Uzbekistan)
3. Ray Austin (USA)
4. Sultan Ibragimov (Russia)
5. Sergey Lyakhovich (Belarus)
6. Davarill Williamson (USA)
7. Lamon Brewster (USA)
8. Larry Donald (USA)
9. Hasim Rahman (USA)
10. Mike Mollo (USA)
WBO (World Boxing Organization). December 1, 2006
Champion - Shannon Briggs (USA)
1. Sultan Ibragimov (Russia)
2. Samuel Peter (Nigeria)
3. Luan Krasnitski (Germany)
4. Alexander Dimitrenko (Ukraine)
5. Ruslan Chagaev (Uzbekistan)
6. Tony Thompson (USA)
7. Sergey Lyakhovich (Belarus)
8. Calvin Brock (USA)
9. Lamon Brewster (USA)
10. Hasim Rahman (USA)
Independent rating of www.fightnews.com . On 11/27/2006
1. Vladimir Klichko (Ukraine)
2. Nikolai Valuev (Russia)
3. Shannon Briggs (USA)
4. Oleg Maskaev (Russia)
5. Samuel Peter (Nigeria)
6. James Toney (USA)
7. Sergey Lyakhovich (Belarus)
8. Lamon Brewster (USA)
9. Ruslan Chagaev (Uzbekistan)
10. Calvin Brock (USA)
Alexey ANDRONOV