By Don Colgan

This past June, Mike Tyson was deposited on the canvas without the courtesy of a Kevin McBride punch and the final vestiges of the self proclaimed “Baddest Man" on the planet’s influence upon boxing began to fade as one could feel the first rays of the warm summer sun beginning to shine upon the recovery of boxing.  Note that I said recovery, not revival.  The noxious Tyson era relegated boxing to the status of a very sick patient. 

Yes, there were shining moments during this period.  The emergence of Lewis in the early 90’s and the mighty heart of Holyfield.  The brilliance of Roy Jones, Jr, the flash and confidence of Floyd Mayweather, Jr and the heart of Vinnie Pazienza and Arturo Gatti. However, the permanent cloud cast over the fight game by the disturbed Tyson, his intimidating entourage and the mythical sense of dominance he projected created an aura of fatalism around the sweet science. 

Yes, boxing endured. However, the sun never shined!

Historically, boxing has withstood many bleak periods.  Pervasive underworld control, ring fatalities, corrupt promoters and horrendous decisions.   Even during periods when boxing flourished, the roaring twenties, the proud reign of Joe Louis, the unstoppable Rocky Marciano and brilliant Sugar Ray Robinson, the shadow was always nearby and often the sporting public was conditioned to believe the worst, and prepared for it.

The demise of Tyson signals a rebirth for the sweet science and a powerful public renaissance in boxing.  Now Vitali Klitschko has an immense opportunity to preside over boxing's resurgence.  Klitschko has never been an exciting gladiator. On the other hand, he is the dominant heavyweight in the world, his hulking, uninspired style notwithstanding.  Astoundingly, he is poised to be at the forefront of an electrifying revival in boxing.  Even should his reign be relatively brief. 

Klitschko’s next championship defense has the potential to galvanize the boxing, and sporting world the likes of which have not been seen since the Lennox Lewis – Evander Holyfield clashes of the late 1990’s.  Not since Ingemar Johansson knocked out Floyd Patterson in the third round at Yankee Stadium in June, 1959 to win the undisputed world heavyweight championship has a European based heavyweight been in such a dominant position.

 

Klitschko’s ascent in the heavyweight division, and his credentials as the leading heavyweight in the world in 2005 are borderline undisputable.  The forthcoming Klitschko – Rahman title bout holds the promise of enormous anticipation and vigorous debate, the absolute necessary ingredients for boxing in the post Lewis era.  The towering Klitschko, who will tip the scales at either side of 250 lbs, is a powerful puncher.  From a physical standpoint the bout will become grueling and Rahman, not a youngster at 36, will need tremendous conditioning to survive and avoid Klitschko’s Firpo like right hand leads to have even an outside chance of dethroning the hard punching Ukrainian.

Unlike Johansson 46 years ago, the champion will be a strong favorite.  Klitschko is a champion near his prime, bowing to the age old axiom that heavyweights mature late.  He can punch with power, his jab is punishing and his durability is beyond question.  He remains vulnerable to facial cuts and that possibility is the single intangible that creates intrigue for this bout.  Rahman has the true punchers chance.  He brings far more power to the table than the shopworn Ruiz, Peter, Byrd or any top ten contender.  The titleholder is susceptible to the “off night”.  He will need to be as prepared for Rahman as he was for Lewis two years ago, otherwise he could meet the same fate the Briton did in his first encounter with the American. 

Klitschko at peak form should comfortably prevail yet to expect a knockout in the early rounds seems unrealistic.  The champion should slowly grind Rahman down over the first half dozen sessions and systematically batter the challenger into defeat, retaining the championship with a stoppage within ten rounds.  However, Vitali must bide his time and be cautious.  Rahman is dangerous and is a clear a threat to his championship.  The titleholder need review the films of Lewis-Rahman I.

This contest will produce excitement.  The distinction between a 1980’s Tyson title defense with the traditional “good cop/bad cop” buildup and the ever present expectation of a Tyson implosion and the-Klitschko – Rahman clash is subtle yet important.  The rage of Tyson, the anticipation of mayhem, was a representation of boxing at its worst.  This was felt subliminally by the sporting public.  Any Tyson contest generated hype and potent interest yet contributed nothing to boxing’s long term welfare.  There was an association with Tyson and lawlessness that became integrally linked in the public mindset.  Boxing always has had room for the Listons and Ayalas, yet not for 20 tiring years.

Klitschko – Rahman represents the cornerstone of a  thrilling 2005 for the sweet science. The dominance of Floyd Mayweather, Jr and the pending Jones-Tarver rubber match are a clear indication of boxing’s recovery.  There remain structural issues that need to be corrected for a full rebirth to be realized.  The alphabet divisions have to be eliminated and there needs to be undisputed titleholders in every weight class.  Undisputed champions achieve recognition and public awareness.  Diluted, fragmented weight classes with watered down champions are an institutional part of the problem.  Boxing can never fully recover until this is resolved. 

In the late 1950’s even the more casual sports fan knew Sugar Ray Robinson was the Middleweight Champion of the world and Archie Moore held that Light Heavyweight Crown. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s we all knew Bob Foster held the Light Heavy crown, Carlos Monzon the Middleweight title and Jose Napoles the Welterweight Crown.  These were great champions who amassed numerous successful championship defenses and earned a strong public awareness, something noticeably lacking among today’s world champions.

However, for the first time in well over a decade there is a sense of revival in the great sport and in 2005, with Tyson departed and the emergence of new talent in many weight classes there is viable hope for boxing to resume its rightful role as a powerful, popular American spectator sport.