Benny’s Punching Bag: Heavyweight explosion or heavyweight dud?
By Benny Henderson Jr. (November 10, 2004)  
Photo © HoganPhotos.com
With only two months left in 2004 there could possibly be a heavyweight explosion in boxing's flagship division with what little time is left in the year. It is possible that going into the New Year the division could have three belts change hands, but a newly crowned heavyweight champion is highly doubtful. November 13th will hold the biggest heavyweight card of its kind with Don King throwing five heavyweight bouts on one night. Two heavyweight title match-ups occur when IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, 37-2-1 (20), defends his title against the 6’6” mountain of a man Jameel McCline, 31-3-3 (19). Meanwhile WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz, 40-5-1 (28), puts his title on the line against Polish puncher Andrew Golota, 38-4-1 (31). The same card will hold heavyweight bouts between Hasim Rahman and Kali Meehan, Larry Donald and Evander Holyfield, and Owen Beck and Monte Barrett. The so-called 'Battle for Supremacy' card will feature some up-and-comers, some washed-ups, some has-beens and some maybe-again fighters, but hey, this is all we have.

In December lineal heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, 34-2 (33) will give Tyson conqueror Danny Williams, 32-3 (27), a shot at his WBC heavyweight title. Williams became a contender after his four round destruction of an old and beat down Mike Tyson. So far this year we have seen the downfall of Tyson, Riddick Bowe’s return, Vitali’s rise and Wladimir’s fall; along with Holyfield hanging on, Toney hanging out and a whole lot of accusations and close calls that we the people have come to know as the heavyweight division in its finest form.

This isn’t the division that had the fans reeling in the 70’s with Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes and Norton. Or the 80’s that had the birth of Tyson but undoubtedly belonged to the middleweight division, and don’t forget about the 90’s with Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis, Morrison, man the list goes on, but now, what do we have now? A new crop of fighters is sprouting out and trying to make a name for themselves in the tattered division, so who are the pretenders and who are the contenders? We know where it has been, but where is it going? Who will rule, who will leave, and who in the heck should not even try? It is up to you, the readers, to tell the tale of this division. I want you, the loyal Doghouse readers, to give me your take.

Will the Don King card be a heavyweight explosion or be a heavyweight dud?

Will Vitali reign as heavyweight champion or will Danny dish out another upset?

I want you, the reader, to make some predictions:

Chris Byrd vs. Jameel McCline
John Ruiz vs. Andrew Golota
Hasim Rahman vs. Kali Meehan
Owen Beck vs. Monte Barrett
Evander Holyfield vs. Larry Donald
Vitali Klitschko vs. Danny Williams

I want the winner, the round and the way it will end. You the readers know what you want, you know what you like and you know what the heavyweight division needs.

So, what does this division need?

Who is the heavyweight prospect that we should look out for?

What match-ups would help this division?

Who is the most overrated heavyweight at this time?

Who is the most underrated heavyweight at this time?

Who should hang it up?

Who should step up?

And who will make the biggest splash in 2005?

Hey guys, I leave it all up to you, send in your opinions and please leave a name you want to go by so I can use it on the results write-up. I thank you, keep reading, keep responding and keep on being the very opinionated readers that you have turned out to be, I enjoy the heck out of it!
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Benny at: CrazzedTrucker@aol.com
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