The first quarter of 2010 may clear up the heavyweight division although only temporarily.
The usual hindrances of mandatory No. 1 contenders threatening to sue if they don't get either a big enough step aside fee or God forbid the actual fight (see John "Quiet Man" Ruiz and his personal Automatic Teller Machine - the World Boxing Association) is being resolved.
New WBA champ David "Hayemaker" Haye would like to make a lucrative voluntary defense but he has to face Ruiz and a date in March or April is expected to be pinned down soon pending TV availability.
IBF / WBO Champion Wladimir Klitschko is expected to make the first of two mandatory defenses he has due against American "Fast" Eddie Chambers and the date of March 20th is being bandied about.
If that's the date, let's hope the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't suck all the money out of the entertainment market the week before.
Chambers saw his career sky-rocket to mandatory status after wins over Samuel Peter and undefeated Alexander Dimitrenko. Chambers has only a loss to Alexander Povetkin.
The younger Klitschko brother still owes a mandatory to the same Alexander Povetkin (now being trained by Teddy Atlas). Povetkin probably could have gotten this shot at Klitschko first but is instead taking his time studying under Atlas.
Vitali Klitschko just picked up some early and quick Christmas money against one Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson in defense of his World Boxing Council title. The elder Klitschko will face former WBA champ Nicolai "The Giant" Valuev in what should be an oddly interesting fight for a round or two anyway in April or May.
David Tua is back on the comeback trail and will face Friday "The 13th" Anhunya in March in New Zealand.
Respected former cruiserweight champ Jean Marc Mormeck is coming back after a two-year layoff as a heavyweight and faces American Vinny Maddalone Thursday in Paris.
I don't see the four titles or even two of them getting unified any time soon. It boils down to either Klitchko brother fighting WBA champ David Haye and as I see it there are too many lucrative fights out there for the three champions.
The Klitschko brothers have said for many years they would not fight each other. So that settles that.
I could see Vitali suddenly getting old and getting upset and that might create a situation for unification but not necessarily. Same with Haye. If either Vitali or Haye lose and the victor looks to make a quick buck and cash out, he might go the unification route.
Unless Wladimir gets sloppy like he did against Lamon Brewster or Corrie Sanders his two titles seem safe. I think he's too mature and past that stage of his career though.
Comments
I hope one day that the Klitschkos will truly get the respect they deserve. Seems like mainstream doesn't want to accept them. Vitali is awesome, and is a fighter that has never been outboxed. Wladmimir has a talent we have not seen in yrs. Also they are well spoken all around good guys and........................................have we ever seen a brother tandem dominate a heavyweight era like this ? Um NO!
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