Fighters from former Soviet block countries seem to be taking over the heavyweight division. Newly crowned WBO champion Liakhovich, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, by way of Belarus, joins WBA titlist Nicolay Valuev of Russia as the second Russian-speaking world heavyweight champion. There could soon be more to follow. Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine is expected to become the third current Russian-speaking heavyweight king when he faces Chris Byrd on April 22, and Oleg Maskaev of Uzbekistan hopes to make it a clean sweep when he tries to repeat a previous win over WBC champion Hasim Rahman later this year. Waiting in the wings are unbeaten contenders Sultan Ibragimov of Russia, his cousin Timur Ibragimov of Uzbekistan (who faces Calvin Brock on June 24) and "The White Tyson" Ruslan Chagaev also of Uzbekistan. Expected to join the mix in a year or two is 2004 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Alexander Povetkin of Russia, who is 6-0 with 5 KOs as a pro.
look who Don King now owns the rights to lol http://www.ufcfightnews.com/brewsterupset/images/brewster0731.jpg
Current title holder. Vitali has no belt anymore.
Make that 3 now.
IBF champion W. Klitschko
WBO champion Liakhovich
WBA champion Nicolay Valuev
When Vitali comes back and takes the WBC - all 4 belts will be held by ex-Soviets.
Which isn?t very surprising considering their amateur program is far more superior then the U.S.