By: Jim Amato

I recently learned that on December 10th in Moscow, WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev will ” defend ” his title against Peter Okhello. Born in Uganda, Okhello fights out of Japan. He has a record of 18-4 with 16 knockouts. He has been stopped once. In 1999 Kali Meehan halted him in three rounds. In 2005 he lost a twelve round decision to Sinan Samil Sam. Okhello is 34 years old.

I understand that Maskaev would like to defend his title against a ” safe ” opponent in front of the Moscow crowd. Still I can think of many more deserving challengers then Okhello. The heavyweight division is muddled enough. Fights like these just delay the bouts that should be made to restore order to the troubled and unexciting heavyweight division.

WBA champion Nickolai Valuev is now supposed to meet undefeated Ruslan Chagaev ( 21-0-1 ) in a mandatory defense. If new WBO titleholder Shannon Briggs is not forced meet former champion Sergei Liakhovich in a rematch, his mandatory defense will be against Sultan Ibragimov. Next up for IBF king Wladimir Klitschko should be Cleveland Ohio’s Ray Austin. We’ll see…

As far as I’m concerned the heavyweight division is in a sad, sad state. Maskaev -vs – Okhello will just make it worse.He Oleg if Okhello falls out as an opponent, maybe you can get ” The Lion Of Flanders ” Jean Pierre Coopman.

Lennox, Vitali…PLEASE come back !!!