When it was announced that IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko would defend his titles against 39-year-old former cruiserweight champ Jean-Marc Mormeck, it sounded like a one-sided waste of everyone's time. In the ring, it was actually much worse than expected. Mormeck gave one of the weakest efforts in heavyweight title history ... as bad as any of the frightened opponents that froze up in front of Mike Tyson during Iron Mike's prime. Mormeck was dropped by a right hand in round two and finished off by a left-right combination in round four. Others have been stopped faster, but no one has ever done less than Mormeck while waiting to be knocked out. The Frenchman's punch stats by round were 0-2, 1-5, 2-8 and 0-4. That's right, a total of 19 punches thrown, with only three landing -- none of them the least bit effective. Klitschko, meanwhile, was landing 39 of 135 punches en route to the 50th KO of his professional career.
The Klitschkos have effectively cleaned out a pathetic heavyweight division and there are no worthwhile challengers on the horizon. Unfortunately for fight fans, it has reached the point that the only adversaries that are likely to test either brother are age, injury and boredom.
Comments
The only way I can see any possible fights in the heavyweight bdivision-is a elimination tounament- in the U.S.A.-and maybe a decent challanger can come out of it to to fight a manatory fight with one of the Kliskco Brothers! Showtime has seemed to come up wth a pretty decent progam with that theme!
Mr. Eisele, you left out a fourth possibility, they both could be like Bernard Hopkins & hold onto their titles well into their forties as I see neither one of them taking really any kind physical damage, so as long as they stayin shape(and don’t get bored), they can probably break every kind of heavyweight championship record!
The only heavyweight championship fight in my memory that was as bad as Klitschko-Mormeck was the 1966 “fight” between Muhammad Ali and Brian London. I think London threw one feeble punch on the break and than was blasted out with a three or four punch combination. I wonder why we never see that on Classic Boxing.
An elimination tournament in the USA? There isn’t one American who could draw a decent crowd and most American fans are not all that interested in foreign heavies. Yes the Klitschko’s will probably break all records given the lack of competition. I really cant see a likely American challenger and the Brits are maybe 2 years away. Most likely another Eastern European will emerge. One thing is certain, America’s 100 or so years dominance of the premier division, does not seem likely to re-emerge in the foreseeable future, and that is catastrophic for the long term financial well being of heavyweight boxing.
Hello Andrew:
I agree with you that the Wladimir Klitschko- Jean Marc Mormek
fight should not have happened.
Let one of the Klitschko brothers fight English Heavyweight
David Haye.
Regards.
Girish
The author of this article is wrong about the state of hw boxing. When one boxer are so dominent and stay champion this long he will eventual run out of oppenents, but there are some interesting boxers comming up. Just because americans are being dominated doesnt mean that the sport it self are in an awfull state.
Cheers.
@Girish– English heavyweight David Haye is an exboxer and not licensed. If he does wish to get his license back I’m sure he will have to explain his well documented provocation in the aftermath of the Klitscho fight. Should he get a license he should be made to fight some contenders to establish his right for a Championship contest. All this of course is the common sense approach which no doubt will be waived for the financial consideration.
we need to see some winner take all fights,that’ll make them fight their ass off and give the crowd their money’s worth!
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Povetkin, Pulev and Fury are all at least worthwhile challengers out there. There’s no reason to run down the quality of these guys at all. Fury has worked his a** off to become an improved and well-regarded contender. Pulev has done everything that’s asked of him and performed very well in doing so, and is many years in the making, off an excellent amateur career and moved along very quickly in his pro career, and Povetkin’s heavyweight resume is second only to the two real beltholders. These are good fighters. Perfectly “worthwhile”.