LONDON (Reuters) - Ukrainian brothers Vitali and Vladimir Klitschko appear the best of an indifferent bunch of contenders for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) title after Lennox Lewis retired.
Vitali extended Lewis fully in the early rounds of the Briton's last title defence in June last year before the fight was stopped in the sixth round after a bad cut above the Ukrainian's left eye.
Vladimir, at 26 the younger of the pair, had looked the likelier prospect to win a world title before he was knocked out in the second round by South African Corrie Sanders in their World Boxing Organisation title bout last October.
At 38, the same age as Lewis, Sanders hardly has a glittering future before him and he has fought only three times in four years.
The WBC had given Lewis until March 1 to confirm he would take on Vitali Klitschko in a rematch.
"I know I had him on the ropes and almost beaten," Klitschko said on Friday. "My goal now is to win the WBC championship against whoever they want me to fight.
"The only other important thing is for me and my brother Vladimir to reach our goal of being heavyweight champion at the same time."
The two best-known boxers in the heavyweight division are Mike Tyson, now a parody of the fearsome fighter who terrorised his opponents in the 1980s, and Roy Jones Jnr.
Jones is widely regarded as the most technically skilled boxer in the world but he is fighting out of his natural division.
The 34-year-old American started his professional life as a middleweight and had to bulk up for his fight against John Ruiz for the World Boxing Association belt last year. Despite conceding nearly 10 kgs, Jones still won.
The fourth title, the International Boxing Federation belt, belongs to Chris Byrd, who defeated the fading Evander Holyfield.
Only two fighters, Gene Tunney in 1928 and Rocky Marciano in 1956, have retired while still world champion.
Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott to win the title and retired four years later after his sixth defence. A tough brawler with a ferocious punch, Marciano won all 49 of his professional fights, 43 by knockout.
After his retirement, in the days when only one title was at stake, Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore fought for the vacant title.
Moore, who was in his early 40s, had lost to Marciano in the previous year. He was knocked out in the fifth round by Patterson.
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Vitali extended Lewis fully in the early rounds of the Briton's last title defence in June last year before the fight was stopped in the sixth round after a bad cut above the Ukrainian's left eye.
Vladimir, at 26 the younger of the pair, had looked the likelier prospect to win a world title before he was knocked out in the second round by South African Corrie Sanders in their World Boxing Organisation title bout last October.
At 38, the same age as Lewis, Sanders hardly has a glittering future before him and he has fought only three times in four years.
The WBC had given Lewis until March 1 to confirm he would take on Vitali Klitschko in a rematch.
"I know I had him on the ropes and almost beaten," Klitschko said on Friday. "My goal now is to win the WBC championship against whoever they want me to fight.
"The only other important thing is for me and my brother Vladimir to reach our goal of being heavyweight champion at the same time."
The two best-known boxers in the heavyweight division are Mike Tyson, now a parody of the fearsome fighter who terrorised his opponents in the 1980s, and Roy Jones Jnr.
Jones is widely regarded as the most technically skilled boxer in the world but he is fighting out of his natural division.
The 34-year-old American started his professional life as a middleweight and had to bulk up for his fight against John Ruiz for the World Boxing Association belt last year. Despite conceding nearly 10 kgs, Jones still won.
The fourth title, the International Boxing Federation belt, belongs to Chris Byrd, who defeated the fading Evander Holyfield.
Only two fighters, Gene Tunney in 1928 and Rocky Marciano in 1956, have retired while still world champion.
Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott to win the title and retired four years later after his sixth defence. A tough brawler with a ferocious punch, Marciano won all 49 of his professional fights, 43 by knockout.
After his retirement, in the days when only one title was at stake, Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore fought for the vacant title.
Moore, who was in his early 40s, had lost to Marciano in the previous year. He was knocked out in the fifth round by Patterson.
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