6. John Ruiz, 41-6-1-1 (28): Perhaps the least loved champ of the last 20 years, John Ruiz has become a poster child for this lackluster era of heavyweights. He first appeared on the scene in 1996, being blown out in 19 seconds by David Tua. Fighting in obscurity over the next four years, he somehow found himself the beneficiary of a title shot when the WBA's shady politics stripped Lennox Lewis of the belt. In a close fight, Evander Holyfield defeated Ruiz for the vacant title belt. After their first encounter, the WBA played masochist, ordering a rematch. In the second fight, Ruiz picked up the pace and out hustled the older Holyfield, knocking him down in the eleventh and winning a title belt. After drawing in a third fight with "The Real Deal", Ruiz sleepwalked through several title defenses before meeting Roy Jones Jr. Over twelve one-sided rounds, Jones outclassed and humiliated the larger Ruiz, becoming the second former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight title belt.

Thought to be finished as a heavyweight entity, the corrupt WBA once again awarded Ruiz a title shot against fellow undeserving challenger Hasim Rahman. In a terribly boring hug affair, Ruiz won a decision and regained the devalued WBA title belt. After two more snoozefest wins over Fres Oquendo and Andrew Golata, Ruiz once again played victim to a former middleweight champion, this time against James Toney. After being beaten and whipped by Toney, Ruiz was reinstated as champion when Toney tested positive for steroids. His fortune was not to last, as Nicolay Valuev unseated him by a close decision and ended the second title run of Ruiz.

John Ruiz's talent, in a word, is limited. He is not exactly the most gifted fighter athletically, lacking speed of hand and foot. His power, while not overly impressive, is underrated and has been instrumental to his success in recent fights. His style is unappealing, as Ruiz typically employs a jab and grab style that makes him very difficult to watch. While he has been knocked down several times in his career, he is a durable fighter.

Prognosis: Deserves a rematch with Valuev, and will likely get it.

7. Chris Byrd, 39-3-1 (20): Sometimes skill can compensate for a size disadvantage. Beginning his career as a super middleweight, Byrd packed on mounds of muscle to compete with the heavyweights, and has for the most part done well. In his first significant fight as a heavyweight, he was knocked out by Ike Ibeabuchi in five rounds. After putting together a win streak against pedestrian opposition, Byrd met Vitali Klitschko in Germany. After being dominated for nine rounds, Klitschko pulled out of the contest with a shoulder injury, awarding Byrd a win by stoppage. The issues he experienced against Vitali carried over into his next fight, as he was dropped twice in a one-sided loss to younger brother Wladimir. Two years and an upset of David Tua later, Byrd outboxed a faded Evander Holyfield and won the vacant IBF title.

In his first title defense, Fres Oquendo outworked Byrd, only to be dealt the short end of the stick by the judges. The disappointments continued as he could only salvage a draw against Andrew Golata. After climbing off the canvas to decision Jameel McCline, he won a sparring session against Davarryl Williamson. His title run came to a sudden and violent end when he renewed acquaintances with his former tormenter Wladimir Klitschko. Over seven brutal rounds, Byrd was dominated and knocked down twice, then mercifully rescued by the referee after a fight hand tore his face up.

Prognosis: With his advancing age and ring wear, retirement may be his next move.

8. Nicolay Valuev, 44-0 (32): Some undefeated records are a testimony to a fighter's greatness, while some shroud a fighter's identity and leave questions to be answered. Valuev's unblemished mark inspires the latter. Fighting out of Germany, the Russian native Valuev has been fighting hand-picked opposition in the safety of his home turf for the duration of his career. At a freakish 7'0 tall and weighing in at around 320 pounds, Valuev's height and weight advantage over his opponents is always sizeable. Since turning pro in 1993, Valuev turned back anonymous opposition before breaking out in 2005.

In that pivotal year, Valuev stopped both Attila Levin and Clifford Etienne in three rounds. In a close fight, Valuev received what many consider to be a gift decision over Larry Donald. Next up for Valuev was a controversial decision over WBA titlist . In his first defense, Valuev disposed of undeserving challenger Owen Beck in three rounds.

Prognosis: He will be managed carefully by Don King, and will make his Big Apple debut soon.

9. Calvin Brock, 28-0 (22): In this diverse new-look heavyweight division, Brock is seen as something of an American hope. "The Boxing Banker" is another heavyweight prospect who has been ordained out of convenience. A 2000 Olympian, upon turning pro he was met with relative indifference until all other logical prospects turned up busts. In his first big test, Brock climbed off the canvas to decision former title challenger Jameel McCline. In his first showcase on HBO Boxing After Dark, Brock failed to impress the public with his boring clinchathon against Timor Ibragimov.

Prognosis: One or two more buildup fights, followed by a title shot sometime next year.

10. Samuel Peter, 26-1 (22): Only a year ago, the dynamite fisted Peter was considered to be the future of the division. Well, after being outboxed by Wladimir Klitschko last September, it appears that he is the next David Tua. Out of the 2000 Olympics, Peter was outshined by Joe Mesi and Dominick Guinn as the leading lights of the next era of heavyweights. After Guinn and Mesi's disappointments in recent years, the public looked to Peter almost by default. After a frightening knockout of Jeremy Williams, he generated the attention of boxing fans and became a suddenly hot entity.

Following a pair of knockout wins over nondescript opponents, he faced off with the fragile Wladimir Klitschko. While he dropped Wladimir three times, he also was on the receiving end of a humbling boxing lesson, dropping a decision to the Ukranian giant.

After being exposed as a one-dimensional slugger, "The Nigerian Nightmare" went on his first trip to the comeback trail against pedestrian opponents. He is young and still learning, so he may still have his best stuff ahead of him.

Peter is very much a one-trick pony, with his violent left hook being his best attribute. He is wide open with regards to defense, and he is almost completely void of effective jabs. His lack of head movement makes him an easy target to hit, while also making it difficult for him to get inside on taller opponents. Peter needs to go to the body more, which is what would take his technique to the next level. He also possesses a very sturdy chin, and has never been off his feet in his career.

Prognosis: A possible showdown with James Toney in the fall will determine where he goes from there.

A rundown of the division reveals four former Olympians, three former titlists, a 7'0 foot giant, and a fat former middleweight champion. While I would love to lie and tell you that there is one sure-fire savior in the division, the truth is that if he exists, I have yet to detect him. With Lyakhovich, Klitschko, Peter and Valuev in the top ten, the division has ceased to be an American institution, but instead has evolved into a global scene. The heavyweights of today may be mediocre compared to the legends of yesteryear, but if the division can provide exciting fights like Brewster-Lyakhovich and Rahman-Toney, the public will remain attentive while the big guys figure themselves out. How long that will take remains to be seen.