Best Heavyweight Matchups Upcoming: Klitschkos, Povetkin, Haye, Helenius and Fury
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
When pressed for the best heavyweight division names out there, in America I would say Andy Ruiz Jr. Deontay Wilder, Vyacheslav Glaskov, Magomed Abdulsalamov and Bryant Jennings. Amir Mansour is there too, though prison has aged him. Kubrat Pulev, Artur Szpilka, Denis Boytsov and Mike Perez are rising internationally.
Alexander Povetkin versus Wladimir Klitschko will settle one issue in the heavyweight division shortly. Mainly, deciding which fighter is better than the other in a fair fight. That is a good question, the answer determined only by the fight.
However, the two main events the world wants are Vitali Klitschko versus David Haye, and Robert Helenius versus Tyson Fury. Given, Haye versus Tyson Fury fell through. Reality check translated means Haye versus Vitali is going to happen. Robert Helenius versus Tyson Fury would also be a terrific heavyweight bout, if it is held in Germany or some other neutral ground. David Haye will have to go Germany to fight Vitali if he wants the fight so badly, or he will have to take some tune up while he waits for the big fight.
Helenius versus Tyson Fury is a tossup. The win goes to the man who fights the better fight and who has the better night. Vitali will probably decision David Haye, but if Haye feels good and knocks out Vitali, who knows? It all depends which David Haye shows up for Vitali. Personally, I believe David Haye can beat Tyson Fury easily. It seems more a case of Fury being protected than the other way around. That, or Haye wants only to fight again for some serious moolah, and Tyson Fury represents only pocket chow change. It is true David Haye is the only fighter out there who could beat Vitali, given the correct preparations and fighting with the correct game plan. Vitali is doomed once Haye or any other fighter gets inside on him. It’s that simple.
Povetkin will definitely get inside on Wladimir in what will be Wladimir’s toughest fight since Corrie Sanders. Wladimir is getting old now at 237, and Povetkin is going to turn their fight into a hellish war. Povetkin should decision or stop Wladimir in the later rounds on October 5 in what some might regard as an upset, but which is really not since Povetkin honed his skills patiently and waited to catch Wladimir past his prime, where he is now. If Wladimir can keep Povetkin from getting inside, Wladimir will have a better chance of winning. Povetkin does not fit the category of the many Klitschko stiffs. Povetkin is the regular WBA World Heavyweight champion, and if he beats Wladimir, could then get Vitali. Overall the Haye versus Vitali bout seems the European blockbuster for pay-per-view and the bookies if comes to pass, and it appears it will happen soon.
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