By Matthew Sanderson

 

What next for Virgil Hill?

 

That’s an odd question to ask of a 42-year-old veteran. Especially one who’s just emerged from a 20-month retirement, whose body has accrued the mileage of a 20-5 record in world title fights. But Virgil’s winning effort over Russian puncher Valery Brudov last Friday was something to get excited about.

 

Not in the “Clobberin’ Time” style of Manny Pacquiao. Maybe “renewed enthusiasm” is the correct term. Hill reminded us of the pleasure of seeing a highly capable old pull off the old moves with some zeal. The showing he put on against the undefeated Brudov begs reassessment for this undervalued fighter of Native American blood.

 

Overcoming some rough moments, including some brutal sixth and twelfth round attacks that should’ve put an ‘old man’ away, and a nasty gash that required 30 stitches, ‘Quicksilver’ didn’t embarrass himself, like so many end up doing.

 

He’s earned himself one more big fight. One more chance to make his mark.

 

That didn’t appear the way during the late 1990s, when a 34-year-old Hill was overwhelmed by the sheer strength of Dariusz Michalczewski and the speed of Roy Jones. Looking ever more old and tired, Hill must’ve been a shot fighter.

 

Mustn’t he?

 

The man with the record number of title defenses in the light heavyweight division (from 1987-1996) could’ve been forgiven for retiring. Maybe it was the criticism thrown at him for taking one too many easy fights in his home state. Maybe he needed the money.

 

He’d had a fine career, with wins over distinguished world-class fighters, like Leslie Stewart, Bobby Czyz, Fabrice Tiozzo and James Kinchen – that his detractors prefer to overlook.

The most disappointing night, of course, was the 1991 loss to Thomas Hearns, when Hill’s jab and circle style let him down. His finest moment was the 1996 visit to Germany against the highly regarded home fighter, Henry Maske. Boxing superbly against the huge southpaw, Hill became the Lineal Light Heavyweight Champion, the best of his generation.

 

All the more reason to call it a day, no?

 

After the Michalczewski and Jones losses (in 1997 and ’98 respectively), the solution was simple yet effective: the North Dakota resident moved up a weight division, and hit the road for big fights. The gamble was worthwhile: securing a shot at WBA cruiserweight champion Tiozzo, the huge underdog scored a shocking first round knockout in December 2000.

 

Hill looked stronger all round, and far sturdier against his old foe. He was a different fighter, as the renowned light hitter’s stoppage win proved.

 

Success was short-lived, when that other fantastic Frenchman, Jean Marc Mormeck appeared on the scene. After nine rounds, Hill was unable to continue due to a severe cut. This was Mormeck at his leanest and meanest, in 2002, but a couple of years later Hill, then 40, pushed him all the way, losing narrowly on points.

 

None of us wanted to see Virgil come back, and we sighed that ‘Over The Hill’ might fight struggling IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, back in 2004. After O’Neil Bell unified most of the cruiserweight titles last month, I was prepared to write that Hill’s matchup with Brudov was an insult to Bell’s gritty and honest efforts.

 

The win earned Virgil the ‘regular’ half of the WBA title that belongs to WBA, WBC and IBF champion Bell. One of the most punishing champions in the game, Bell might be unbeatable in a war. But against slick boxers, he looks less than stellar. Hill has to box with more economy these days, but he still has a lot of the old moves. As he showed against the young Brudov, Hill can still jab and move with consistency.

 

Could Hill ride the momentum of this unexpected win, and even outslick the rugged Bell?

 

While the outcome wouldn’t seem out of the question, the matchup looks unlikely. Not only has Hill earned one more big fight, he’s earned one more payday, and Bell isn’t name enough to guarantee that right now. As his manager Bill Sorensen put it, “At this point, Virgil isn't trying to prove too much to anybody. It's about what makes most sense.”

 

Three names have been mentioned, say the Bismarck Tribune, that Hill hopes will “make sense” – financially:

 

Johnny Nelson. Antonio Tarver. James Toney.

 

Long reigning WBO cruiserweight champion Nelson, 39, would make for an intriguing, if unexciting contest between two proven world-class veterans. Nelson, who has 13 title defenses behind him, is a master boxer without a defining win. No doubt he’d jump at such an opportunity, as Johnny has never been able to secure the big name (ranging from Chris Eubank and Mike Tyson to Dariusz Michalczewski), which Hill certainly is. But the defensive specialist from Sheffield, England isn’t a big draw. His promoter Frank Warren even hasn’t staged a Nelson fight since 2002.

 

After bulking up to play a heavyweight in the latest Rocky film, Tarver needs to get down to his fighting weight gradually. At 37, that won’t be easy, and rumours abound that the tall southpaw wants to stop briefly at cruiserweight. What better a matchup from a marketing perspective, between the outstanding light heavyweight champion of 1987-96 and today’s model? Remarkably, there’s only five years between the two Olympic medallists (a silver in 1984 for Hill, a bronze for Tarver in ’96!), both of whom made their jerky amateur styles work admirably well in the pro ranks.

 

A matchup with multi-weight champion Toney (IBF titles at 160, 168 and 190lbs) hinges in the success of ‘Lights Out’ in his upcoming fight with Hasim Rahman. What they fight for, the WBC heavyweight title is the most tempting piece of hardware for Hill, as well as the most lucrative payday. Toney, 37, fits into the age bracket of the elite that Hill is gunning for, and the matchup would pose a fascinating clash of personalities – the quietly spoken, humble Hill and the boisterous, often crudely funny Toney. It could also be interesting stylistically, with Hill’s movement against the subtle moves of the flat-footed craftsman.

Any of these matchups would be compelling.

They should make plenty of sense to fans who’ve been around for the last decade or two.