For over the past 15 years, the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions have reigned king of the boxing world, however next year the true king division of boxing could possibly be on the return, and looking to reclaim its crown.
Right now if you are in your 50’s, when you hear the phrase “big Heavyweight fight”, you will instantly recall the 1970’s images of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Those a decade younger will recall the 1990’s matches involving Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, along with the early dominance of ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
Lastly those in the millennial generation can look back on a wild and pre fight dramatic night when the fading legend of Mike Tyson met the ascending one of Mr. Lennox Lewis, who took the claim of the Heavyweight king.
No matter what age group you fall into, what we all may agree on is that there is not been much to move the interest needle since about 2003.
While the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers were forces of modern-day physicality, neither Vitali or Wladimir engaged the sort of challenger who would guarantee the fight that captured the entire public eye.
However, now after more than a decade of a lack of attention and mediocrity in the Heavyweight division, there may finally be room for hope. Not only are there two young, strong, unbeaten Heavyweights capable of drawing big crowds, they also seem mildly interested in getting together at some point. Boxing fans and big Heavyweight fight lovers, I give you Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua!
The fight itself, most likely to take place next year, promises a clash of gargantuan proportions.
The fighters rivalry has generated some interesting back and forth dialog on social media, with Wilder stating on numerous occasions, “I see’s things to exploit in Joshua”, and that “Joshua will tire quickly in a fight with me”. Wilder even went as far as ‘declaring war’ on Joshua last week stating, “I’ve got a kingdom and I brought all the king’s horses and all the king’s men. “I’m knocking on your kingdom doors. I declare war. I am declaring war on Anthony Joshua”.
Joshua has dished out his own verbal jabs as well stating “It has to happen. It has to happen for sure,” he said of fighting Wilder, and stated “he has no fear in fighting Wilder”, and that “boxing needs this fight, and so do I”.
Wilder faces a rematch this weekend against Bermane Stiverne, and assuming he wins, this is the unification fight everyone wants to see. The WBC champ Wilder against the IBF and WBA king Joshua. Unbeaten vs unbeaten. Power and speed vs power and speed.
At 6-foot-7 and a humongous wingspan, Wilder has become the knockout poster boy of the division with 37 Knockouts in 38 fights since striking bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games. Joshua is no slouch himself at 6-foot-6, and none of his 20 opponents since the 2012 olympics, including the legend Wladimir Klitschko, have heard the final bell.
While we enjoy the big names in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions, there’s nothing like Heavyweight kings. For since the beginning of time, enjoying a fight between two Heavyweight warriors are what the core of boxing is, and always will be.
The next big Heavyweight showdown is on the horizon for this generation to remember, next year its time for the return of the king. It’s time for the true king to comeback and reclaim its crown!
