Sunday 22 May 2016 14:33, UK
David Haye, Shannon Briggs and Joseph Parker have all moved closer to the huge fights they crave, so let's take stock...
In assessing David Haye's performance against Arnold Gjergjaj, it's important to first admit that the Kosovan visitor was completely out of his depth against the former world champion.
The gulf in class was the same as or mighty close to the one we witnessed when Haye made his comeback against Mark De Mori in January. However, regardless of his lowly opposition prior to this, Gjergjaj was unbeaten in 29 fights and had sparred Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury among others.
With his foe's shortcomings recorded, on to the praise for Haye. He looked bulky and strong, yet as fast as Lennox Lewis could have wished.
Haye claimed in the aftermath that the clubbing right that first felled Gjergjaj would have knocked out most other heavyweights and whether you believe him or not, the combination of Haye's natural speed and power make him look like he's still a truly world-class proposition.
What we saw after that first telling blow was the 35-year-old trying to take his time and put some rounds in the bank; whether for the benefit of the fans or for his own re-education. The fact he was unable to do so is testament to his own accuracy and also to Gjergjaj's lack of punch resistance.
The underdog left some onlookers baffled when he hit the canvas after an innocuous-looking Haye jab. However small the obstacle was, Haye hurdled it neatly.
We were expecting a mismatch for the effervescent Shannon Briggs. Emilio Zarate took the fight on four days' notice and arrived lacking anything like the conditioning of his 44-year-old opponent - but even cynics must credit the American for the purpose with which he executed whatever postage-stamp-sized gameplan had been concocted.
Briggs strode out in the opening seconds of his UK debut determined to let London know that he does exactly what he says on the tin.
For those that haven't heard, what he's written on his tin is that he's the man with the most first-round knockouts in heavyweight boxing history. Once he'd landed a searing left hook-cum-uppercut pretty much immediately, it wasn't hard to see why.
He claims he's pretty much born again. Reinvented, at least. Let's not forget; this is a former world heavyweight champion who has won 60 fights and took Vitali Klitschko the distance. It's not that hard to believe he's a significant obstacle on Haye's comeback trail. The insults and threats have already begun and September has been mooted. Whatever happens, it'll probably be great fun.
If and when Haye and Briggs clash, Haye is likely to hear the opening bell as a clear favourite. So if we put on our presumptuous hat on top of our time travel hat, we can assess what lies beyond the outspoken New Yorker for the 'Hayemaker'. Where can he go? Where does he want to go? Where does he need to go to earn some real credit?
The 'end game', you'd sense, is Anthony Joshua. If the stars align, it might even fill Wembley. But that's likely to be in around 12 months' time. By Haye's own admission: "That fight will probably make more financial sense for Anthony Joshua if it happens next year." In the meantime, Haye has to build something. All the signs show he can do it in the ring but now he must find a few credible opponents.
Perhaps one huge fight before challenging Joshua is needed. It won't be easy - Paul Smith made the point via social media: "I do feel for Haye. No top heavyweight will want to fight him unless they have to."
Certainly, his domestic rivals won't be queuing up around the block. Could he tempt Dillian Whyte, perhaps? That is dangerous. A Wladimir Klitschko rematch? That is unlikely and dangerous. Haye's got the star quality, the trainer and it seems he retains the ability. Now he needs the match-ups.
The pressure was on. Billed as New Zealand's answer to Anthony Joshua and a new, improved David Tua, Joseph Parker fought Carlos Takam in an IBF world heavyweight title eliminator. Manukau City was abuzz and All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg was in Parker's entourage for the ring walk. There was a sense of a national occasion while back in the UK, Sky Sports viewers - plus presumably Joshua himself - tuned in to assess the threat from Down Under.
One thing that was immediately apparent was that Parker is fast. In fact, all of the heavyweights we're discussing looked very fast - even the veteran Briggs. Parker's opponent was undoubtedly the most difficult any of the three victors faced, though, and the nature of his victory was unexpected. Most had tipped a sensational stoppage from the Kiwi, whose record is littered with early finishes.
By the middle rounds, it looked like Takam might spring a surprise. Parker looked exhausted and aghast that the Cameroonian was still plodding forward having been struck cleanly on several occasions. That he didn't panic and punch himself out in pursuit of an emergency stoppage - winning instead through economical punch selection and round-pinching - proves him wise beyond his years. In a way, that's more impressive than blasting Takam aside.
Haye has taken another step back up the ladder (if it can be considered the same ladder), Briggs kept alive his hopes of crowning the Indian summer of his career with an unlikely world title shot and Parker became mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua's IBF world heavyweight title. In five weeks' time, it's Joshua's turn to make his statement when he makes his first defence against Dominic Breazeale.
Two weeks after that, WBA Super and WBO world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury makes his first defence in a rematch with Klitschko. It doesn't come much bigger than that, either.
Can Joshua and Fury tighten Britain's stranglehold on boxing's marquee division? Or will the wheels come off?
On paper, Joshua's clash should be routine. With the bookmakers, Fury is an underdog. But boxing isn't fought on paper and bookmakers are often wrong.
So the chasing pack have closed. Dillian Whyte is also among them, having signed with Matchroom and confirmed his comeback on Joshua's undercard.
Now it's the turn of Joshua and Fury to move. Heavyweight boxing hasn't been so exciting for a long, long time and Saturday's triple-header was a mixed platter of a starter for the upcoming world title bout main courses.
