Heavyweight Boxing Spotlight TnS Boxing Podcast #42 – The heavyweight division in boxing continues to gather momentum and this weekend sees the biggest heavyweight title fight in at least a decade, as Anthony Joshua (18-0) faces Wladimir Klitschko (64-4) in London’s Wembley Stadium.
Joshua holds the IBF belt, which is at stake, and the WBA’s “Super World” title is also at stake between the two men when they meet. But the truth is, there is a lot more at stake for both men than just a pair of alphabet soup belts. The legacy of both men will forever be changed on Saturday night.
For Joshua, it is a chance to take the symbolic baton from the revered former champion. Klitschko lost to Tyson Fury in November of 2015 to give him his loss in more than 10 years, but Fury defeated Klitschko with a solid if boring game plan and then he quickly went to the dogs. When Klitschko announced he wanted to come back, it was a sign that he wanted to take back what was rightfully his so he signed for a rematch with Fury. Fury completed his collapse by being stripped of his titles for cocaine and Joshua won the vacant IBF title and that set up this showdown with Klitschko.
Klitschko could have easily retired. He is worth a ton of money and his resume will assure him a first ballot hall of fame entry once he has retired but he is still driven by a desire to be on top. The switch from Fury to Joshua didn’t seem to trouble the giant Ukrainian at all and he has come into this fight in the best shape he has been in for a long time.
The heavyweight division became wide open the last 18 months or so and it is exciting again. It is also noteworthy to see Klitschko returning after a layoff of nearly a year and a half and it may be a factor in his timing no matter how well conditioned he is.
Heavyweight Boxing Spotlight TnS Boxing Podcast #42
The heavyweight podcast continues with talk of some of the other important heavyweight matches going on right now. Last weekend saw the return of former IBF world heavyweight champion Charles Martin, the man who lost the belt to Anthony Joshua. Martin fought for the first time in a year, making short work of journeyman Byron Polley to go 24-1-1 overall. Martin’s return came with a low profile but he scored the win that his career needed. His arm showed no ill effects from having been shot during the year layoff, but beating Polley does not answer all the questions around Charles Martin.
Also in the news and facing questions is Britain’s Hughie Fury, who pulled out of his world heavyweight title fight with WBO champion Joseph Parker. The fight was scheduled for May 6th in Parker’s home country of New Zealand and the local promotion was left scrambling for a replacement. With less than two weeks before the fight, unsung Razvan Cojanu (16-2) stepped in to take the fight. Cojanu is the number 14 ranked heavyweight by the WBO and he now steps in as Parker makes the first defense of the belt he won last December with a UD win over american Andy Ruiz Jr.
Heavyweight Boxing Spotlight TnS Boxing Podcast #42 / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science, where the best boxing writers write.
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