{"id":105581,"date":"2021-07-30T18:45:55","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T23:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=105581"},"modified":"2021-07-30T18:47:12","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T23:47:12","slug":"randys-ringside-on-ringside-report-the-changing-heavyweight-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=105581","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Randy&#8217;s Ringside&#8221; On Ringside Report: The Changing Heavyweight Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- RSR AD 1 --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1545664804358300\" data-ad-slot=\"7759247395\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=105581\" rel=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=105581\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-83463 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Randy-RSR-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Randy-RSR-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Randy-RSR-768x1237.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Randy-RSR-636x1024.jpg 636w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Randy-RSR.jpg 1030w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/a>By Randy &#8220;The Commish&#8221; Gordon<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs goes the heavyweight division, so goes boxing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Those words were said to m, e by legendary trainer\/cornerman Angelo Dundee. He said them to me at breakfast a few days before the rematch between Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks and Dundee\u2019s fighter\u2014Muhammad Ali\u2014in September 1978.<\/p>\n<p>Seven months earlier, Spinks had pulled off one of the greatest upsets in boxing history, when he took his 6-0-1 record into the ring in the Superdome in New Orleans and won a 15-round split decision against the 36-year-old Ali to capture the heavyweight crown.<\/p>\n<p>That morning of the rematch, at breakfast, Dundee was pointing out just how much the heavyweight crown meant to boxing.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s (the heavyweight championship) the biggest prize in sports. Nothing is bigger. Nothing is more important. Nothing is more revered or cherished. All eyes are going to be on this fight. This fight is going to change the heavyweight division. As goes the heavyweight division, so goes boxing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dundee\u2019s words about the fight changing the heavyweight were quite prophetic.<\/p>\n<p>They were prophetic for several reasons.<\/p>\n<p>First\u2014and foremost\u2014on the night of September 15, 1978, Muhammad Ali, before a crowd of 63,350 in the Superdome, took his title back with a convincing, one-sided 15-round decision.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, the victory over Spinks was the last victory of Ali\u2019s career. He retired months later, only to have an ill-fated comeback against Larry Holmes two years<br \/>\nlater.<\/p>\n<p>Dundee\u2019s words were also prophetic about boxing\u2019s direction with a strong heavyweight division as the WBC, then being against rematch clauses, took the title from Spinks after he signed to face Ali in a rematch, and bestowed it upon top contender Ken Norton. Norton promptly defended the title he didn\u2019t win in a ring against unbeaten 28-year-old Larry Holmes. The two fought in a heavyweight classic, with Holmes winning Norton\u2019s bestowed WBC title on a 15-round unanimous decision.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next 25 years, a parade of heavyweights, representing at least four sanctioning bodies, held pieces of the heavyweight title.<\/p>\n<p>The parade finally ended, when, in the early 2000\u2019s, a pair of hard-hitting brothers from the Ukraine\u2014Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko\u2014began gobbling up all the heavyweight belts. Between them, their control lasted until 2017, when Anthony Joshua won the IBF, WBA and WBO titles with an 11th-round TKO of younger brother Wladimir.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time Joshua\u2014the 2012 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist\u2014was rising through the heavyweight ranks, a U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist from the Games of four years earlier\u2014Deontay Wilder\u2014was making his presence known in the heavyweight division.<\/p>\n<p>In January 2015, Wilder, 29, became WBC Heavyweight Champion with a one-sided, unanimous decision against defending champ Bermane Stiverne. At the time Wilder was becoming champion, upping his record to 33-0 with 32 knockouts, Joshua was just two years into his pro career, with a record of 10-0. It would take Joshua five more fights over the next year before he was given a title shot against the poorly-prepared IBF Champion, Charles Martin. Joshua won the crown on a power-packed, second-round knockout.<\/p>\n<p>After Joshua\u2019s title winning fight, which he accomplished at the age of BLANK, he defended the title six times over the next six years.<\/p>\n<p>As he did so, all in the U.K.\u2014where he became a sports idol\u2014Wilder blasted through opponent after opponent, all in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>A mega-fight between the two of them became THE fight boxing fans most wanted to see.<\/p>\n<p>You saw what happened when a much-desired Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight was over-marinated for years before it finally took place in May 2015. By the time they climbed in the ring to face each other, it was an over-hyped, over-inflated, less-than-exciting fight.<\/p>\n<p>Worse happened to Joshua and Wilder. They talked and talked. They dissed each other. They built up a fight between the two of them as if it would be the greatest heavyweight battle ever. Unfortunately, greed got in the way. So did a draw for Wilder. Then, so did Andy Ruiz for Joshua.<\/p>\n<p>First, on December 1, 2018, Wilder\u2014who was coming off an exciting, come-from-behind victory over Luis Ortiz eight months earlier, was held to a draw by Tyson Fury.<\/p>\n<p>On June 1, 2019, Ruiz stopped Joshua in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden to claim Joshua\u2019s IBF, IBO, WBA &amp; WBO titles.<\/p>\n<p>Bye bye, Wilder-Joshua.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, Joshua wanted his title back. He wanted to face Ruiz in a rematch and then he wanted Wilder. Joshua did his part by convincingly beating Ruiz in the rematch.<\/p>\n<p>However, Wilder wanted to prove his draw against Fury was an abomination, and pushed for a rematch. On his way to the rematch, Wilder flattened Dominick Breazeale in the first round and Luis Ortiz in the seventh, in their rematch. Three months later came the Fury-Wilder rematch, followed by the pandemic, followed by shifting sands in the heavyweight division.<br \/>\nThere are at least two fights which will happen before the possibility of ever seeing a Wilder-Joshua fight.<\/p>\n<p>First, on September 25, Joshua will face former Olympic gold medalist and former Cruiserweight Champion, undefeated Oleksandr Usyk.<\/p>\n<p>Two weeks later, it\u2019ll be the trilogy of Fury-Wilder.<\/p>\n<p>After those two fights, after the sweat stops flying and the smoke clears, we\u2019ll know the updated status of the heavyweight division.<\/p>\n<p>Will these two fights give us Joshua v Fury? Or will they give us Joshua-Wilder? Or Wilder v Usyk? Or Fury v Usyk?<\/p>\n<p>As their individual fates are about to be decided, a slew of heavyweights, some far more gifted than the rest, are getting into position, set to step in an fight for one of boxing\u2019s far-too-many championship belts.<\/p>\n<p>Fury, Joshua, Wilder and Usyk will not remain at the top forever. It may not even be for very much longer. Both Usyk and Wilder are in their mid-30\u2019s. Devastating losses to either man may well be the last we\u2019ll see of them. It\u2019s unlikely that a loss by Joshua and Fury\u2014who are both 30\u2014will spell the end for them. However, Fury has hinted that he may not be involved for that much longer.<\/p>\n<p>In that case, who are the possible heavyweights we will see ascend the heavyweight throne? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>THE LONG SHOTS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Martin Bakole: Record: 16-1 (12)\u2026Age: 28\u2026HT: 6\u20196\u201d\u2026WT: 252\u2026Country: U.K\u2026Record in 2021: No fights\u2026Last bout: Dec. 2020, W 12 Sergei Kuzmin\u2026In his lone loss, was stopped in 10th round by Michael Hunter in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Cassius Chaney: Record: 20-0 (14)\u2026Age: 34\u2026HT: 6\u20196\u201d\u2026WT: 260\u2026Home: Connecticut, U.S\u2026Fights in 2021: None. Style: Standup boxer who likes to exchange.<br \/>\nIvan Dychko: Record: 10-0 (10)\u2026Age: 30\u2026HT: 6\u20199\u201d\u2026WT: 240\u2026Comes from Kazakhstan, resides in Kissimmee, FL\u2026Record in 2021: 1-0 (1)\u2026His last fight, on July 10, ended two years of inactivity.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>THE POSSIBLES<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Arslanbek Makhmudov: Record: 12-0 (12)\u2026Age: 32\u2026HT: 6\u20195\u00bd\u201d\u2026WT: 265\u2026Style: Pressure puncher. Possesses tremendous power in both fists\u2026Record in 2021: 1-0 (1)<br \/>\nVlad Sirenko: Record: 17-0 (14)\u2026Age: 29\u2026HT: 6\u20193\u00bd\u201d\u2026WT: 240\u2026Country: Germany, by way of the Ukraine. Surprisingly fast. Powerful puncher with both hands. Record in 2021: 2-0 (1)<br \/>\nFilip Hrgovic: Record: 12-0 (10)\u2026Age: 29\u2026HT: 6\u20196\u201d\u2026WT: 242\u2026Country: Croatia\u2026Record in 2021: No fights yet\u2026Slow afoot\u2026Excellent puncher.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>THEY\u2019LL BE CONTENDERS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sergei Kuzmin: Record: 15-2 (11)\u2026Age: 34\u2026HT: 6\u20194\u201d\u2026WT: 260\u2026Resides in Russia\u2026Two losses have come against Michael Hunter and Martin Bakole, both by decision\u2026Won 227 of 250 amateur fights\u2026Record in 2021: No fights<\/p>\n<p>Mike Coffie: Record: 13-0 (10)\u2026Age: 35\u2026HT: 6\u20196\u201d\u2026Weight: 275\u2026Was the last New York Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion before the tournament ceased competition\u2026Can box as both a conventional fighter and as a southpaw. Has knockout power in both hands. Loves to work inside and to the body. Can be outboxed\u2026Record in 2021: 2-0 (2)\u2026Even with all his ability, eight of his 13 opponents have had losing or .500 records.<\/p>\n<p>Stephan Shaw: Record: 14-0 (10)\u2026Age: 28&#8230;HT: 6\u20194\u201d\u2026WT: 240\u2026Hometown: St. Louis, MO\u2026Fights in 2021: None\u2026Six of his 14 wins have come against opponents with losing or .500 records.<br \/>\nTrevor Bryan: Record: 21-0 (15)\u2026Age: 31\u2026HT: 6\u20194\u201d\u2026Bryan is the heavyweight champion nobody knows. He owns the trinket WBA title\u2026Promoted by Don King\u202612 of his 21 victories have come against opponents with losing or .500 records.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>THE FAVORITES<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jared Anderson: Record: 9-0 (9)\u2026Age: 21\u2026HT: 6\u20194\u201d\u2026WT: 245\u2026Boxes from both the conventional and soutrhpaw positions\u2026Quick &amp; powerful\u2026Has killer instinct. He is the division\u2019s \u201cCan\u2019t Miss\u201d prospect. Record in 2021: 2-0 (2)\u2026Next fight: October 9&#8242;<\/p>\n<p>Efe Ajagba: Record: 15-0 (12)\u2026Age: 27\u2026HT: 6\u20196\u201d\u2026WT: 240\u2026Hometown: Stafford, Texas, by way of Nigeria\u2026Tall, standup, patient boxer\/puncher with the most powerful right hand in the division next to Deontay Wilder\u2026Record in 2021: 1-0 (1)<\/p>\n<p>Tony Yoka: Record: 10-0 (8)\u2026Age: 29\u2026HT: 6\u20197\u201d\u2026WT: 245\u2026From Paris, France\u2026Won Olympic Gold Medal as a Super Heavyweight in the 2016 Olympics\u2026Powerful standup boxer\u2026Right-hander\u2026Has been brought along slowly as a professional\u2026To his credit, has faced only opponents.<\/p>\n<p>Joe Joyce: Record: 13-0 (12)\u2026Age: 35\u2026HT: 6\u20196\u201d\u2026WT: 263\u2026Strong, standup boxer\u2026Not extremely Record in 2021: 1-0 (1)<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Dubois: Record: 16-1 (15)\u2026Age\u202623\u2026HT: 6\u20195\u201d\u2026WT: 240\u2026Strong, standup boxer\/puncher\u2026Needs to work on defense, as he\u2019s too stiff\u2026Lone loss was to Joe Joyce in November 2020 via a 10th round TKO\u2026Re cord in 2021: 1-0 (1), stopping 20-2 Bogdan Dinu in the second round. His age, power and overall skillset make him among the top heavyweights to watch.<\/p>\n<p>The above heavyweights are, without much doubt, the names you will be hearing throughout the next two years.<\/p>\n<p>Gone from contention will be many of the same old names we\u2019ve been hearing for years. Let\u2019s face it: Luis Ortiz, Kubrat Pulev, Carlos Takam, Derek Chisora, Dominick Breazeale, Gerald Washington, Chris Arreola, Mariusz Wach, Erkan Teper, Alexander Ustinov, Bermane Stiverne, Lucas Browne and Fres Oquendo have more than had their moments in the spotlight. It\u2019s time for them to move on to other endeavors, and time for us to start paying attention to heavyweights listed earlier in this column.<\/p>\n<p>Those are the guys who have a real shot at picking up at least one of boxing\u2019s alphabet soup belts.<\/p>\n<p>[si-contact-form form=&#8217;2&#8242;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Randy &#8220;The Commish&#8221; Gordon \u201cAs goes the heavyweight division, so goes boxing.\u201d Those words were said to m, e by legendary trainer\/cornerman Angelo Dundee. He said them to me at breakfast a few days before the rematch between Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks and Dundee\u2019s fighter\u2014Muhammad Ali\u2014in September 1978. Seven months earlier, Spinks had pulled [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[27058],"class_list":["post-105581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-news","tag-randys-ringside-on-ringside-report-the-changing-heavyweight-landscape"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=105581"}],"version-history":[{"count":-2,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105581\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=105581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=105581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=105581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}