For most fight fans, there is always one thing that Americans have always associated with boxing, from Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Cassius Clay, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, to Muhammad Ali (yes I know him and Cassius Clay are the same, but pay attention), moving on the Leon Spinks, and then Ali again, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and if I want to go even further James "Buster" Douglas and Hasim Racman. But what did all of these people have in common? All of these people have at one point held, and were reconized as the true, legitamate Heavyweight champion of the world.
Now, as we look at the weight class that most of us most identify with, we have looked at Lennox Lewis, Vitaly Klitschko, and Wladimir Klitschko, who just so happen to be the last three people that most people recognize as the Heavyweight Champion of the world. So what is so different from what is listed between the first group of fighters listed as compared to the last group?
Let's see, they are heavyweight. They are fighters. They are champions. However, the last three guys are not American. They are now part of a disturbing trend that most Americans did not think could ever happen. What do we supposed this is happening. Do some of think that the next wave of American Heavyweights are coming soon. Will we eventually see the American Heavyweight that can rise to the moment and bring back to America what many of us think is rightfully ours? Only time will reveal to us.
Don't get me wrong, there are some American Heavyweights out there, however, waiting on them to rise to the big stage is something that most American boxing fans don't feel like waiting on. I mean we celebrated when Racman brought the title back to America in 2001, only to lose in his next fight to Lennox Lewis. We were actually happy when he won the title again, however, he found a way to lose to Oleg Maskahev. There have been other Americans who have made attempts to regain the Heavyweight title, or at least a trinket of the title. But have been turned away. Lamon Brewster help a part of the title after beating Wladimir Klitschko, however he later lost the title to Serguei Lyakhovich. Shannon Briggs later took the title from Lyakhovich, beating the clock in the 12th round in their fight. However Briggs later lost the title in his very next fight to Sultan Ibragimov. Monte Barrett also had a shot at bringing a piece of the Heavyweight title back to America, however he was denied by Nikolay Valuev.
Which brings us to Wladimir Klitschko, who has easily disposed of the last three American challengers who have tried to claim the title back from the European dominance of the Heavyweight division. The first was Calvin Brock, whom many thought had the best chance of anybody to win the title, only to be jabbed into submission in the 7th round. The next victim was Ray Austin, who was blasted by Klitschko inside of two rounds. From there, Brewster got another shot at Klitschko, only to this time quit on his stool after six rounds.
Which brings up the next question, where is the next great American Heavyweight. Can it be any of the guys mentioned? The only problem is that for most of these guys, the window of opportuunity is closing slowly, Brewster and Rahman are both 34, John Riuz is 35, and Calvin Brock is at 32, the young man out of the American heavyweights, and him losing to Eddie Chambers over the weekend will not help his cause. I did mention Eddie Chambers, who is undefeated in his first 30 fights, and is only 25 years old. He will now eventually billed as the next American contender. Is he ready, only time will tell. For most of us Americans who are ready to see an American assume the title of Heavyweight Champion. However, after further consideration, and reviewing the situation, I honestly don't see that happening anytime soon. i really hope that I am wrong.
