For boxing to be big time again, it needs great heavyweights

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2004 | by Jon Saraceno

While wondering what happened to all the great heavyweights. . . .

They are playing in the NFL. Or the NBA. Smart dudes. If professional football and basketball players think their seasons are long and arduous, they should try negotiating with Don King .

Seriously, can you imagine looking across the ring and seeing linebacker Ray Lewis in the opposite corner? The guy would've made Rocky Marciano melt. Can you fathom how big a star Shaquille O'Neal could become if he could take a shot to the chops?

Boxing thrives on the health of its marquee division. That is partly why the sport remains in trouble -- there are no show-stopping heavyweights anymore. Why do you think Evander Holyfield hangs around? Instead, we get treated to Andrew Golota challenging Chris Byrd...