Who Killed the Heavyweight Division
December 22nd, 2009 | by Jesse Campbell
It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes and his friend and biographer, John Watson, to figure out that the heavyweight division is dead. Not only is it dead, but the cause of death was murder. Who or what caused the demise of what used to be the most prominent division in boxing?
Arriving at the crime scene, the view looked gruesome. Beyond the yellow tape and sea of reporters, I focused in on the white chalk outline and realized a couple of things:
1.) After analyzing the situation with my own Watson, I am still unclear as to when the division died. It thrived through the early 60’s into the 70’s, ultimately reaching its financial peak in the 90’s. The heavyweight champion used to be one of the most popular and recognizable athletes in the world (Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis come to mind).
2.) When there are too many chefs in the kitchen, not only does it take too long to cook the meal, but if something goes wrong, there are numerous people at which to point the finger. Boxing had far too many chefs in its proverbial kitchen over the past 20 years and, as a result, it is debatable as to who is actually responsible for it current state.
Since I’ve taken it upon myself to solve this crime, I, along with my Watson (My buddy Fred) narrowed down the list of potential suspects to a reasonable number and then took a look at the evidence mounted against each suspect.
The Reasonably Suspicious
a.) Roy Jones, Jr.-
Evidence: On March 1, 2003, Roy Jones, Jr, became the first fighter to start his career as a junior middleweight and win a heavyweight title. As gifted as Roy was, by defeating John Ruiz via a 12-round unanimous decision, exposed the inadequacy of the division with a rather large microscope. Because not only did a smaller man move up drastically in weight and decimate a heavyweight champion, the title meant so little to him that he immediately vacated the belt and moved back down to the light heavyweight division. Essentially, Roy Jones, Jr told the world that not only was John Ruiz a paper champion, but the heavyweight title was a paper belt.
Grand Jury: Not enough to indict Roy on these facts alone. As noted above, Ruiz was a paper champion whom Jones moved up in weight to expose. John would be just as much to blame as Roy for the fate of the division, since he was an adequate boxer miscast as a champion. As much as I’d love to compile evidence against Ruiz here for this crime, he went on to win the WBA title a second time, therefore he is really just guilty for continuing to milk an already dead heavyweight division. Ruiz isn’t our guy either.
b.) Lennox Lewis-
Evidence: Lewis is one of only six boxers in history to have won the heavyweight championship three times, and the self-proclaimed “Pugilist Specialist” was at the top of the heavyweight mountain after defeating Mike Tyson in 2002. In the highest grossing pay-per-view event in history at that time, Lewis decimated “Iron” Mike in just under eight rounds, crowing himself the biggest dog of them all. So what happened? Lewis fought Vitali Klitschko, showed up overweight and survived courtesy of Klitschko’s gruesome gash. Lewis’ shocking retirement left the division in a seemingly permanent state of flux.
Grand Jury: While it appeared Lewis ran out on a sport that made him both wealthy and recognizable, at his height of popularity, he really wasn’t that interesting to anyone. From his brief stint as the face of Right Guard’s “Uncivilized” campaign, to his position as commentator with HBO Boxing, Lewis’ career can be defined as the 6’5 elephant in the room. Yes, it’s there, yes we all see it, but no one is in the mood to discuss it. How can someone who’s gone unnoticed for most of his career be responsible for such a heinous crime? I just can’t see it.
Probable Cause
c.) George Foreman
Evidence: There have been two incarnations of George Foreman. There has been Foreman I, who was a brooding, anti-social, knockout ogre and Foreman II, the fun- loving grill pitchman. Foreman I will always be tied to the Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary fight with Muhammad Ali in 1974. Foreman II became the oldest man to gain the heavyweight championship at age 45. Is it possible that Foreman II did unrepreble harm to the division by becoming its champion? Could the public take a heavyweight division serious, when “your father’s father” was a champion?
Grand Jury: Foreman wanted to come back to boxing at age 55. Whether it was his body, his wife or HBO, he thought better of it. Had he returned during that time, not only would it have showed the ineptitude of the division, it would have been an intentional attempt to show-up the fighters. Coming back to win the title at 45 was bad enough but it was a gradual comeback that actually began at age 38. So taking that in consideration, Foreman isn’t our guy.
d.)/e.) Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko
Evidence: The Ukrainian heavyweight champions are the premier fighters in the division at this time. However, their relationship makes them something of boxing’s version of Tomax and Xamot. Tomax and Xamot were twin brothers in the G.I. Joe Universe and were able to finish each other’s sentences and feel each other’s pain. While the Klitschkos relationship might not be that intense, their bond prevents the biggest potential match-up in the heavyweight. A Klitschko v. Klitschko match up would place the spotlight back to the heavyweight division and an undisputed crown for the winner.
Grand Jury: As much as fans resent the brothers’ refusal to fight one another, there is some honor in choosing family over prestige and money. The brothers are placing a higher value on their relationship than the state of their division. However you view their state of mind, boxing seems to just be the collateral damage of their decision.
The Usual Suspects
f.) Evander Holyfield
Evidence: If Holyfield were indeed our killer, he would be something of a serial murderer because he just doesn’t know when enough is enough. He is 47 and is set to fight Francois Botha on January 16, 2010. His pursuit of another world title differs from George Foreman’s run, in that it continues despite an understanding from every relevant party involved that Holyfield should NOT be boxing. Not only does it illustrate the lack of talent in the division, it shows a lack of compassion from those in control.
Grand Jury: A closer look at this situation will show that Holyfield is indeed a serial killer but in reality, what he has been killing is own legacy.
G.) Riddick Bowe
Evidence: If it were a crime to fail to reach one’s potential, we would have locked Bowe up years ago, and he would not have had an opportunity to try to murder his own sport. Bowe, a former undisputed heavyweight champion, had a low for every milestone in his career. He defeated Evander Holyfield in 1992 to become the undisputed champion but would later throw one of the belts in a t trash-can during a press conference to avoid a mandatory match-up with Lewis. He has fought overweight, has been in the ring when “fan man” landed and his posse helped orchestrate a riot in Madison Square Garden. He quit boxing to join the Marine Core and would leave the Marines within a few days. With some bizarre personal drama sprinkled in, it is safe to say “Big Daddy” has seen it all.
Grand Jury: Bowe attempted to murder the division, but like everything else in his professional life, he just didn’t work hard enough to finish it off.
H.) Don King
Evidence: Maybe the most popular “non-boxer” in the sports history. Don King has been central to all that is wrong with the business side of boxing. Allegations against King include bribery, organized crime affiliation, breach of contract and fraud. King, once called a “wretched, slimy, reptilian mother-******” by Tyson, has indeed slimed his way through the sport.
Grand Jury: We don’t have anything hardcore that sticks on King. For the most part, allegations of his “evil” work will haunt his legacy, but he is also the same man responsible for “the Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Thrilla in Manilla”. He contributed to the downfall of the highest grossing heavyweight of all time, but there is someone with much more culpability.
I.) Mike Tyson
Evidence: Mike Tyson set the pay-per-view bar pretty high. For instance, Mike Tyson helped generate 1.55 million pay-per-view buys against Peter McNeeley in 1995. Tyson created a circus-like atmosphere within the division during the latter part of his career. After successive losses to Holyfield, it was clear to the general public that Mike was no longer on top of the boxing food chain. Still, people would regularly pay $49.95 for a Tyson pay-per-view as if he were the “bearded lady”.
As his antics continued, from biting ears to illegal blows to deranged post-fight interviews, people tuned in awaiting the next incident. When the most popular boxer becomes the biggest sideshow, there will be lasting consequences. Nobody could possibly live up the Tyson spectacle once he removed himself from the sport. He became larger than life, and in the process, dropped the very division he helped carry on its head.
To be fair, Mike destroyed his own legacy, finances, and marriages along the way, so maybe the state of the division meant very little to him. But if he is indeed the boxing historian that he claims to be, I’m sure at some point he’ll come to terms with his role in the heavyweight division’s demise.
Grand Jury: Indicted
Well, there we have it. I, along with Watson, have solved the biggest murder mystery in boxing. Mike Tyson is your culprit and should be taken into custody. Now, for those of you that may disagree, stick around for the follow-up column: the trial.
December 22nd, 2009 | by Jesse Campbell
It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes and his friend and biographer, John Watson, to figure out that the heavyweight division is dead. Not only is it dead, but the cause of death was murder. Who or what caused the demise of what used to be the most prominent division in boxing?
Arriving at the crime scene, the view looked gruesome. Beyond the yellow tape and sea of reporters, I focused in on the white chalk outline and realized a couple of things:
1.) After analyzing the situation with my own Watson, I am still unclear as to when the division died. It thrived through the early 60’s into the 70’s, ultimately reaching its financial peak in the 90’s. The heavyweight champion used to be one of the most popular and recognizable athletes in the world (Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis come to mind).
2.) When there are too many chefs in the kitchen, not only does it take too long to cook the meal, but if something goes wrong, there are numerous people at which to point the finger. Boxing had far too many chefs in its proverbial kitchen over the past 20 years and, as a result, it is debatable as to who is actually responsible for it current state.
Since I’ve taken it upon myself to solve this crime, I, along with my Watson (My buddy Fred) narrowed down the list of potential suspects to a reasonable number and then took a look at the evidence mounted against each suspect.
The Reasonably Suspicious
a.) Roy Jones, Jr.-
Evidence: On March 1, 2003, Roy Jones, Jr, became the first fighter to start his career as a junior middleweight and win a heavyweight title. As gifted as Roy was, by defeating John Ruiz via a 12-round unanimous decision, exposed the inadequacy of the division with a rather large microscope. Because not only did a smaller man move up drastically in weight and decimate a heavyweight champion, the title meant so little to him that he immediately vacated the belt and moved back down to the light heavyweight division. Essentially, Roy Jones, Jr told the world that not only was John Ruiz a paper champion, but the heavyweight title was a paper belt.
Grand Jury: Not enough to indict Roy on these facts alone. As noted above, Ruiz was a paper champion whom Jones moved up in weight to expose. John would be just as much to blame as Roy for the fate of the division, since he was an adequate boxer miscast as a champion. As much as I’d love to compile evidence against Ruiz here for this crime, he went on to win the WBA title a second time, therefore he is really just guilty for continuing to milk an already dead heavyweight division. Ruiz isn’t our guy either.
b.) Lennox Lewis-
Evidence: Lewis is one of only six boxers in history to have won the heavyweight championship three times, and the self-proclaimed “Pugilist Specialist” was at the top of the heavyweight mountain after defeating Mike Tyson in 2002. In the highest grossing pay-per-view event in history at that time, Lewis decimated “Iron” Mike in just under eight rounds, crowing himself the biggest dog of them all. So what happened? Lewis fought Vitali Klitschko, showed up overweight and survived courtesy of Klitschko’s gruesome gash. Lewis’ shocking retirement left the division in a seemingly permanent state of flux.
Grand Jury: While it appeared Lewis ran out on a sport that made him both wealthy and recognizable, at his height of popularity, he really wasn’t that interesting to anyone. From his brief stint as the face of Right Guard’s “Uncivilized” campaign, to his position as commentator with HBO Boxing, Lewis’ career can be defined as the 6’5 elephant in the room. Yes, it’s there, yes we all see it, but no one is in the mood to discuss it. How can someone who’s gone unnoticed for most of his career be responsible for such a heinous crime? I just can’t see it.
Probable Cause
c.) George Foreman
Evidence: There have been two incarnations of George Foreman. There has been Foreman I, who was a brooding, anti-social, knockout ogre and Foreman II, the fun- loving grill pitchman. Foreman I will always be tied to the Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary fight with Muhammad Ali in 1974. Foreman II became the oldest man to gain the heavyweight championship at age 45. Is it possible that Foreman II did unrepreble harm to the division by becoming its champion? Could the public take a heavyweight division serious, when “your father’s father” was a champion?
Grand Jury: Foreman wanted to come back to boxing at age 55. Whether it was his body, his wife or HBO, he thought better of it. Had he returned during that time, not only would it have showed the ineptitude of the division, it would have been an intentional attempt to show-up the fighters. Coming back to win the title at 45 was bad enough but it was a gradual comeback that actually began at age 38. So taking that in consideration, Foreman isn’t our guy.
d.)/e.) Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko
Evidence: The Ukrainian heavyweight champions are the premier fighters in the division at this time. However, their relationship makes them something of boxing’s version of Tomax and Xamot. Tomax and Xamot were twin brothers in the G.I. Joe Universe and were able to finish each other’s sentences and feel each other’s pain. While the Klitschkos relationship might not be that intense, their bond prevents the biggest potential match-up in the heavyweight. A Klitschko v. Klitschko match up would place the spotlight back to the heavyweight division and an undisputed crown for the winner.
Grand Jury: As much as fans resent the brothers’ refusal to fight one another, there is some honor in choosing family over prestige and money. The brothers are placing a higher value on their relationship than the state of their division. However you view their state of mind, boxing seems to just be the collateral damage of their decision.
The Usual Suspects
f.) Evander Holyfield
Evidence: If Holyfield were indeed our killer, he would be something of a serial murderer because he just doesn’t know when enough is enough. He is 47 and is set to fight Francois Botha on January 16, 2010. His pursuit of another world title differs from George Foreman’s run, in that it continues despite an understanding from every relevant party involved that Holyfield should NOT be boxing. Not only does it illustrate the lack of talent in the division, it shows a lack of compassion from those in control.
Grand Jury: A closer look at this situation will show that Holyfield is indeed a serial killer but in reality, what he has been killing is own legacy.
G.) Riddick Bowe
Evidence: If it were a crime to fail to reach one’s potential, we would have locked Bowe up years ago, and he would not have had an opportunity to try to murder his own sport. Bowe, a former undisputed heavyweight champion, had a low for every milestone in his career. He defeated Evander Holyfield in 1992 to become the undisputed champion but would later throw one of the belts in a t trash-can during a press conference to avoid a mandatory match-up with Lewis. He has fought overweight, has been in the ring when “fan man” landed and his posse helped orchestrate a riot in Madison Square Garden. He quit boxing to join the Marine Core and would leave the Marines within a few days. With some bizarre personal drama sprinkled in, it is safe to say “Big Daddy” has seen it all.
Grand Jury: Bowe attempted to murder the division, but like everything else in his professional life, he just didn’t work hard enough to finish it off.
H.) Don King
Evidence: Maybe the most popular “non-boxer” in the sports history. Don King has been central to all that is wrong with the business side of boxing. Allegations against King include bribery, organized crime affiliation, breach of contract and fraud. King, once called a “wretched, slimy, reptilian mother-******” by Tyson, has indeed slimed his way through the sport.
Grand Jury: We don’t have anything hardcore that sticks on King. For the most part, allegations of his “evil” work will haunt his legacy, but he is also the same man responsible for “the Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Thrilla in Manilla”. He contributed to the downfall of the highest grossing heavyweight of all time, but there is someone with much more culpability.
I.) Mike Tyson
Evidence: Mike Tyson set the pay-per-view bar pretty high. For instance, Mike Tyson helped generate 1.55 million pay-per-view buys against Peter McNeeley in 1995. Tyson created a circus-like atmosphere within the division during the latter part of his career. After successive losses to Holyfield, it was clear to the general public that Mike was no longer on top of the boxing food chain. Still, people would regularly pay $49.95 for a Tyson pay-per-view as if he were the “bearded lady”.
As his antics continued, from biting ears to illegal blows to deranged post-fight interviews, people tuned in awaiting the next incident. When the most popular boxer becomes the biggest sideshow, there will be lasting consequences. Nobody could possibly live up the Tyson spectacle once he removed himself from the sport. He became larger than life, and in the process, dropped the very division he helped carry on its head.
To be fair, Mike destroyed his own legacy, finances, and marriages along the way, so maybe the state of the division meant very little to him. But if he is indeed the boxing historian that he claims to be, I’m sure at some point he’ll come to terms with his role in the heavyweight division’s demise.
Grand Jury: Indicted
Well, there we have it. I, along with Watson, have solved the biggest murder mystery in boxing. Mike Tyson is your culprit and should be taken into custody. Now, for those of you that may disagree, stick around for the follow-up column: the trial.
The division would be sick and field the best of all time(these cats are bigger, faster and stronger than in the past).
... Jack Johhnson, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano are rolling in their graves. We need to go back to the days of one belt for each weight division even if they keep the current weight divisions.
