Stone's Slant

For as long as I have been following boxing, there have always been top ten lists for each division of fighters. Sometimes, these lists differ, sometimes they are almost identical. Since I am a free-spirited individual - a power granted to me in 1776 - and I do this crazy thing called thinking, and I don’t always agree with these experts. Their ratings seem planned, boring, based too much on quantity and not quality. So here I give you the first of Stone’s divisional ranking. We’ll start this week off with the big boys at 200+ (official Boxingtalk ratings listed in parentheses).  
 
1. Wladimir Klitschko (49-3 with 44 KOs) (IBF champion-Boxingtalk #1)... In the murky mess of heavyweights, Klitschko (for the time being) has proven himself to be the top dog in the division. He is the longest reigning champion of the current major title (WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO) holders and has not only fought, but defeated the highest level of opposition. There is currently no true heavyweight champion, but big Wlad is currently the most deserving. If his questionable chin and stamina hold up, a win against one of the other belt holders would solidify his position as the first true world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis. Next: TBA, but Wlad reportedly wants to unifyhis IBF belt with the WBO version against the winner of Sultan Ibragimov vs. Evander Holyfield.
 
2.  Samuel Peter (28-1 with 22 KOs) (WBC interim titlist - Boxingtalk #2)... Peter is the most developed young gun in the division right now. He has only one loss on his record, to big Wlad. Peter was still very green then, and still managed to floor Klitschko three times. Four wins later, including two back-to-back wins over the tricky James Toney, and Peter was in line to take the WBC title in devastating fashion until Oleg Maskaev got injured. Maskaev is not the best pugilist in the world, but he has stopped Hasim Rahman with one punch- twice. Maskaev-Peter could have been a barnburner, and still might be if it ever happens. I see only good things in the future of Sam Peter. Next: likely October 6 vs. late replacement Jameel McCline.
 
3. Ruslan Chagaev (23-0 with 17 KOs) (WBA champion- Boxingtalk #3)...  Not many fans over here in the US know much about this guy. It's a shame, because he appears to be the real deal. He recently pulled out of a fight with WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov that would have been the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999. He says he has a severe but undisclosed ailment, yet he is back in training just a month after
pulling out. The Ibragimov camp says he is scared, but that is doubtful. Chagaev has put together an impressive string of victories in the past years, including wins over then undefeated Vladimir Virchis, Michael Sprott, John Ruiz and most recently, dethroning the seven-foot "WBehemothA" champion Nikolay Valuev. Chagaev hopes to fight again before the end of the year and I hope he does too. Next: TBA.
 
4. Oleg Maskaev (34-5 with 26 KOs) (WBC champion -Boxingtalk #6)... Maskaev was leading on two of three scorecards before once again stopping Hasim Rahman. This time however, Maskaev picked up the WBC title in the process.  Maskaev immediately avoided his mandatory, Sam Peter, and made a voluntary defense against Peter Okhello which meant, well, nothing to be honest. After more time and effort spent trying to duck Peter, the fight was about to take place when Maskaev pulled out with an injury. Next: TBA, probably the Peter-McCline winner after a court case, but maybe Vitali Klitschko. 
 
5. Tony Thompson (30-1 with 18 KOs) (Boxingtalk #7)... The 35-year-old, American contender has been lurking quietly in the shadows, climbing the ranks of the WBO. He is the WBO #1 contender and is in line for a title shot against the Ibragimov-Holyfield winner, but it is unlikely the winner will want to face the dangerous Thompson. Instead of Ibragimov-Thompson, we get to watch Evander Holyfield go for a fifth world title. After years of little activity, Thompson has been stepping up his opposition lately, defeating Dominick Guinn, Timor Ibragimov and Luan Krasniqi, respectively, in his last three fights. Thompson will stay busy later in the month while awaiting his crack at the title. Next: September 27 vs. Cliff Couser.
 
6. Sultan Ibragimov (21-0 with 17 KOs) (WBO champion- Boxingtalk #5)... The Ibragimov camp is furious, or at least they claim to be, at Ruslan Chagaev. They claim that Chagaev faked his ailment to avoid the "premier heavyweight in the world". Excuse me? Did somebody in team Ibragimov bump their head? In case nobody remembers, the reason Ibragimov even got a shot at the WBO title was because he fought to a draw against Ray Austin in an IBF eliminator! The same Ray Austin that then got demolished by Wlad Klitschko. Decent? Yes. The best heavyweight in the world? Far from it. Ibragimov might not even get past the ancient Holyfield in his first defense next month. Next: October 13 vs. Evander Holyfield for Ibragimov's WBO title.
 
7. Nikolay Valuev (46-1 with 34 KOs) (Boxingtalk #4)... He's painfully slow, doesn't hit as hard as he should for his size, and the right game plan can take him out. However, he is also seven feet tall, and people will pay to see that. Thank God we don't have to hear about this guy breaking Rocky Marciano's unbeaten record of 49-0 anymore. Although he indeed lost his last bout, as well as his title, to Chagaev, he has beaten John Ruiz, Owen Beck, Monte Barrett, and Jameel McCline and deserves credit for those fights. Valuev will begin his hunt to once again be champion with a bout against undefeated but unheralded Jean-Francois Bergeron. Next: September 29 vs. Jean-Francois Bergeron.
 
8. Chris Byrd (40-3 with 21 KOs) (Boxingtalk #8)... Ahh, good old Chris Byrd. He is undersized, can't knock out a fly, and has a style that leaves fans running for the doors. He was less than entertaining in his early years, and was obliterated by Wladimir Klitschko last year. Byrd is also like a fly at a BBQ, he
 just won't go away. if he wins the IBF tournament he is entered in, he can put himself in a position for another beating from Klitschko. If rising Russian newcomer Alexander Povetkin puts him away, Byrd should do what he should have done years ago-- move down to cruiserweight. Next: October 27 vs. Alexander Povetkin, part of the four-man IBF elimination tournament.  
 
9. Calvin Brock (31-1 with 23 KOs) (Boxingtalk #11)...  Since being brutally knocked out by Wlad Klitschko (who hasn't been lately?), Brock has back-to-back wins against meaningless, C-class opposition. This won't help him prepare much for the other IBF semi-final, a bout with "Fast" Eddie Chambers. Brock is a good  fighter, but I don't see him beating Chambers. Who knows though, in this sport, anything can happen. Next: November 2 vs. Eddie Chambers, part of the four-man IBF elimination tournament.  
 
10. Eddie Chambers (29-0 with 16 KOs) (Boxingtalk #27)...
The undefeated, 25-year old American has put himself in a nice position. He hasn't beaten any true contenders, which makes a high ranking tough to justify, but he has amazing hand speed, good power for his weight, and all-around great technical boxing skills. Chambers has reeled off decent wins against Derrick Rossy and Dominick Guinn in his last two bouts. It won't be easy, but I think he has the skills to get past Calvin Brock, who is the slower of the two. Next: November 2 vs. Calvin Brock, part of the four-man IBF elimination tournament.  

Honorable Mentions: Hasim Rahman (Boxingtalk #9), Shannon Briggs (Boxingtalk #10),  Sergei Lyakhovich (Boxingtalk #12), John Ruiz (Boxingtalk #13), Evander Holyfield (Boxingtalk #16) and Jameel McCline (Boxingtalk #26).

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