No golden era for the heavyweight division

ONE of the most prominent eras in the heavyweight division was when the late Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and George Foreman decked it out along with a number of ferocious contenders.

aspects, with Ali being the technical boxer who had a deadly left jab and right cross, Frazier hook, and Foreman the large and powerful

All of them were also Olympic gold medalists in an era where professional sports have not yet watered down the status of the amateur athletes who proudly era of the Cold War and Western nations beating the hell out of their Eastern counterparts, and vice versa, was mostly awaited during the Olympics.

Ali and Frazier met thrice, with Ali winning two that was capped by his stopping Frazier in the 14th round in the epic Thrilla in Manila. Ali would also beat Foreman once via 8th round stoppage in the Rumble in the Jungle, and Foreman would beat Frazier twice by stoppage.

There are also ferocious contenders during the era of Ali, Frazier and Foreman. Among them was knockout artist Earnie Shavers, who contended twice for the title but lost. He was decisioned by Ali over 15

Then there’s Ron Lyle, an ex convict deck Foreman.

I could write a lot about how great the era of Ali, Frazier and Foreman was, but let me do that in another column. Instead, let me discuss how the present crop of heavyweights can create their own great era, if they are willing to do so.

Today’s heavyweights are larger, and more powerful and athletic, although we should admire the batch of Ali, Frazier rounds for a championship compared to the 12 rounds of today.

The largest among the three heavyweight greats was Foreman, who was 6’4” and about 220 pounds. He would later grow to a 6’6” and 240-pound fighter when he made comeback during the 1990s (goes to show you can still add height and size even if you are past 30 years old).

Today, the average height of the top heavyweights will make the batch of Ali, Frazier and Foreman look like a bunch of light-heavyweights or cruiserweights.

The top three heavyweights today who hold world titles are (in alphabetical order) are Tyson Fury (25-0 with 18 KOs); Anthony Joshua (20-0 with 20 KOs); and Deontay Wilder (38-0 with 37 KOs). All of them stand at least 6’6” and weigh between 240 to 250 pounds.

What’s keeping them from slugging it out

During the time of Ali, Frazier and not publicized as much as it is today. 10 times more than their counterparts decades back. So perhaps the managers just imagine if Fury got knocked out by Wilder; for sure, Fury could not get big cans and journeymen.

Or maybe the availability of world titles - division will have championships, which will help managers and promoters get enough but has a world title.

Let’s face it - boxing has become so commercialized that getting as many milliondollar paydays seem to be the norm than proving whose names get into the history books of the greatest in the sport.

So don’t count on Fury, Joshua and Wilder facing each other in the ring; they just don’t have the pride and huge egos of Ali, Frazier and Foreman.