AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS – NO MORE
By Moncayo Blackbull Photo: ERIC VAN DYKE

INSIDEBOXING.COM (August 20, 2006) - Last week when Hasim Rahman stepped into the ring he was not only fighting to defend his WBC heavyweight championship of the world but also was fighting as the last American heavyweight champion period.

Rahman lost his crown to Oleg Maskaev thus leaving the Americans without a champion. Maskaev at the age of 37 dethroned the last American heavyweight champion.

The heavyweight invasion started on December 17, 2005 when Russian Nicolay Valuev beat John Ruiz for the WBA title. Then on April 22, 2006 Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine defeated IBF champion Chris Byrd.

That leaves the three major sanctioning bodies WBA, WBC and the IBF with heavyweight champions foreign to the United States of America. You might say what about the WBO, they  have become a sanctioning body to be reckoned with.

No Luck, the WBO strap belongs to Belarussian Serguei Lyakhovick, he defeated Lamon Brewster on April 1, 2006 for the crown.

The absents of an American heavyweight champion should not come as a surprise to boxing fans as the talent in the heavyweight division has dwindled in the United States over the past several years.

Back when Americans were a power force in the heavyweight division, you had fighters enter the ring in shape and they fought for pride. Let me ask you, how much of a chance would give Maskaev to defeat a Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier or Sunny Liston?

Today’s American heavyweights lack the will to win, they expect to win. No longer fighting for pride, money has become the driving factor. And fighters like Rahman who have the heart of a champion require skills and guidance.

Heavyweights outside of the United States still have a will to win and fight for the pride of being called a champion. I’m sure money is a big factor but honor prevails.

When you talk about American heavyweights ready to make a move and re-gain a world title, Calvin Brock has to be the front runner and maybe the only one at this particular time. How will Brock fair against the current champions? I believe Brock beats Maskaev, Maskaev at the age of 37 will have a hard time with the 31 year old Brock. Against any of the other champions, Brock will have his hands full in fights too tough to call.

Brock is undefeated in 29 fights and has some decent names on his resume, Clifford Etienne, Jameel McCline and just recently defeated Timor Ibragimov who himself was undefeated and making a run at a world championship.

Outside of Brock you have veterans Shannon Briggs, James Toney and McCline still in the picture. Upcoming fighters Tye Fields, Eddie Chambers, Malik Scott, Chris Arreola, and Alonzo Butler are all on the horizon but all need to be tested.

The key is which fighters will fight for pride and let the money follow?

In the mean time it would be nice to have the current champions in a box-off tournament leading to an undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

By the way, I just got home from playing a round of Golf, I shot a 97. I may not be a Tiger Woods but damn it felt good breaking a hundred!