By John Hively

In March, former cruiserweight titlist and current heavyweight contender Juan Carlos Gomez will show us if Vitali Klitschko has anything left after a four-year layoff. Sure, Sam Peter was supposed to show us if Vitali had anything remaining, but he was made to order for the elder Klitschko brother. Peter stood in front of Vitali for nine rounds, presenting an easy target, taking a lot of punches, punching back ineffectively, and then quitting when it became obvious that he didn’t stand a chance of winning.

 

Unlike the ponderous, slow, easy to hit Peter, Gomez uses the ring, and he knows how to duck. He’s not going to stand in front of the bigger Klitschko all night, except when he intends to throw punches.

In other words, Gomez will give us an idea just how much Vitali has left in terms of speed, stamina and skill - something Peter could never do. And that’s not meant to disparage the skills of the Nigerian. He was made to order for the Ukrainian like roasted salmon on a platter. A guy like Peter might still be able to land enough right hands to take out someone like Gomez, if he can catch him. Don’t count him out, Peter is still a force in the division.

 

In a sense, the Gomez contest represents Vitali’s first real comeback fight. The Peter bout being just a warm-up, literally a sparring session. And while I expect Klitschko to triumph, probably by stoppage in the later rounds, Gomez has a real shot at pulling the upset; and this is something David Haye is considerably less likely to do against the younger Klitschko.

The camps of David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko are negotiating for a bout between the two punchers to take place sometime in June. That’s too bad for Haye because he’s made to order for Wlad.

Haye has a puncher’s chance at the “Steel Hammer,” and he has enough speed to deliver the sleep inducing blows necessary to topple the world’s best heavyweight - but the gulf in skill between the two is gigantic. Not to mention the height difference, not to mention that everything about Haye suggests this is a real mismatch that won’t go too many rounds.

 

Last I heard, Haye was working out with Lennox Lewis, a man some think of as the last all-time great heavyweight. There’s no doubt about that here. It’s strange that Wladimir confessed recently that he is pondering his legacy, especially with Haye and Lewis conspiring against him. Flattening the unproven Haye will do nothing to enhance his legacy. Losing to him will wipe his legacy out.

Although it’s not quite there yet, Klitschko’s legacy is stacking up nicely against that of Lewis. Lennox was 16-2-1 in title fights and he scored eleven knockouts. Wlad is 13-2-0 with eleven knockouts. After the Steel Hammer knocks out Haye, his title record will be 14-2-0 with twelve kayos - only two wins shy of Lewis’s mark.

In those title fights, Lewis scored some terrific wins against really good opposition: Vitali Klitschko TKO 6, Evander Holyfield (D12, W12), Oliver McCall KO 5, Hasim Rahman KO 4, David Tua W12, Shannon Briggs KO 5, Henry Akinwande WDQ 5, Frank Bruno TKO 7 and Tony Tucker W 12.

Lewis easily defeated Holyfield in their first fight, although the judges called it a draw. Their second battle was closer, and to some pundits a little controversial, but Lennox won that bout, as well.

Lewis’s title record is also dotted with lesser fighters.

>>Mike Tyson was washed up when Lewis gave him a beat down in 2002; Mike was past his peak by more than a decade.

>>Michael Grant never won a major bout after Lewis hammered him in two rounds in 2000.

>>Lewis wiped the floor with Andrew Golota in 1997, but the “Foul Pole” never won a fight against a major heavyweight contender, and he was the only name boxer Michael Grant ever defeated.

>>Frans Botha was essentially a trial horse who never vanquished a major contender.

Phil Jackson was just another trial horse who was never as competitive against real contenders as was Botha.

>>Zeljko Mavrovic possessed an unbeaten record when he squared off against Lennox in 1998, but he’d never faced a top heavyweight. He retired after losing a lopsided decision against Lewis.

And we can’t forget that Lewis was flattened by McCall and cold-cocked by Rahman, both of which lower his standing among the all-time greats.

Most champions with a fair degree of longevity usually face off against real contenders, as well as the not so serious. Muhammad Ali, as great as he was, defended his title against Brian London, Jean Pierre Coopman and several other undeserving fighters. So Lewis can’t be faulted here. The precedent was actually established long before Ali. Think Joe Louis, or Jack Johnson, or even Jim Jeffries when he smashed the totally unknown and unqualified Jack Finnegan in less than a round in 1900.

As for Klitschko, his level of title opposition stacks up a little less nicely against Lewis, but he has a few more years to add to his level of competition. His outstanding title wins have come against solid contenders Chris Byrd (W 12, TKO 7), Jameel McCline TKO 10, Calvin Brock TKO 7, Sultan Ibragimov W 12 and Lamon Brewster KO 6.

Like Lewis and Ali, Wlad has defended against guys who were fading or maybe undeserving of a title shot.

>>Hasim Rahman hadn’t won against a well known opponent in several years.

>>>Ray Austin has never beaten a major heavyweight contender, although he did battle to a legitimate draw with Sultan Ibragimov in the bout before Klitschko blasted him out in two rounds.

>>Ray Mercer was forty-one years old and while he’d won several bouts in a row heading into the title fight, he hadn’t beaten a major opponent in years, and still hasn’t.

>>Tony Thompson was a top ten contender, but his level of competition before fighting Wlad was decidedly weak.

>>>Frans Botha was essentially a trial horse who never vanquished a major contender.

Ditto Charles Shufford and Derrick Jefferson.

Like Lewis, Wlad has been splattered on the canvas, by Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster. But then again - Max Schmeling blasted out the peak Joe Louis, and washed up Jim Flynn wiped out Jack Dempsey in less than a round. Upsets occur.

Lennox Lewis clearly has an edge on fistic achievements over Dr. Steel Hammer, but Wladimir isn’t done yet. If he takes David Haye seriously, and they duke it out in June, figure him to kayo the former cruiserweight king fairly easy. And then the Ukrainian should take care of some real business for the next two years rather than mess around with the likes of Haye and Rahman since there are proven contenders out there.

Obviously, the champ will not face his brother, but if Gomez defeats or draws with the big guy - a bout between Wlad and Juan is a natural. However, the best contender for Klitschko is most likely the unbeaten Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev. White Tyson isn’t a big puncher, but he has a lot of skills and has bowled over Nicolay Valuev and John Ruiz. He is probably the guy most likely to give Wlad a real fight.

Don King has allegedly been hiding Valuev from the Klitschko brothers forever, and so a battle between the Value and Wladimir isn’t likely to occur. A bout between the two wouldn’t last five rounds and Wlad would be the winner.

Alexander Povetkin is a real contender, having smashed Chris Byrd and slipped by Eddie Chambers. Alexander isn’t ready, not yet anyway. Instead, the young man will get a little more seasoning when he faces off against Jason Estrada in April.

Wladimir should take the tough fights in order to establish a legacy similar to that of Lennox Lewis. Let’s hope he stops accepting bouts against guys that aren’t worthy of title fights and turns around and takes on the best.

As it stands, my all time top ten heavyweights follow, and it’s determined by how well they did in their day, rather than who would triumph over whom. And yes I know it’s subjective.

1. Muhammad Ali

2. Joe Louis

3. George Foreman

4. Jack Dempsey (tie)

5. Rocky Marciano (tie)

6. Joe Frazier (tie)

7. Larry Holmes (tie)

8. Lennox Lewis

9. Sonny Liston

10. Max Schmeling

I know people are wondering how I could possibly place Schmeling in the ten spot. It’s really simple. He arguably scored the greatest win in heavyweight (and possibly boxing) history when he flattened a peak Joe Louis. But he also kayoed five other proven contenders who’d never been stopped in their careers until they met him in the ring. When Max lost the heavyweight championship to Jack Sharkey, it was one of the worst decisions in the history of boxing. And finally, from 1928 to 1939, the German was one of the world’s foremost heavyweights. Give him credit for longevity at the top.