By Jake Donovan

Who is the best heavyweight in the world?

The question came up periodically over the past several years, perhaps due to the lack of a definitive ruler, even if a de facto leader existed in Wladimir Klitschko. But since his whitewash of previously unbeaten Ruslan Chagaev earlier this summer, his status as the king of boxing boys was merely accepted as everyone moved on.

While the win established heavyweight title lineage, it didn’t confirm without a doubt that the younger of the fighting Klitshcko brothers was in fact the best heavyweight in the world.

It didn’t even confirm that he was the best heavyweight in his family.

That’s not to say an argument cannot be made on behalf of the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist. It took a while, but dating back to his 2005 points win over Samuel Peter, there isn’t another heavyweight in the world who has enjoyed a better run.

Except perhaps his older brother.

It is with that nugget, that it stands to reason that while the lineal heavyweight champion (Wlad) continues to rehab his shoulder in preparation for a 2010 return, the best heavyweight in the world fights this weekend.

Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) makes the third defense of his alphabet title when he takes on his second straight undefeated challenger in Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO). The bout headlines a rare title fight in Switzerland, which airs this Saturday via same-day tape delay on HBO.

Surprisingly, the bout has managed to get lost in the shuffle in what is already a loaded boxing weekend. Both HBO and Showtime have a full night of action in store, with five bouts to air between the sport’s two premiere boxing networks.

Klitschko-Johnson is the only fight of the bunch which won’t air live in the states, though it – or the fact that it’s taking place well beyond the U.S. borders – is no reason for the bout to get buried in the headlines.

Especially when you can make a case that one of the combatants is the best heavyweight in the world today.

Sure, there are plenty of arguments to plead a case for younger brother Wladimir – 11 straight wins, including two alphabet titles and the lineal heavyweight championship, with the bulk of the work done while Vitali was on the sidelines for nearly four years due to rehabbing an assortment of injuries.

But all it took to remind people that the debate over the best boxing Klitschko is an unresolved one, was Vitali’s triumphant return to the sport last October.

The elder Klitschko had his way with Samuel Peter, forcing the Nigerian to quit on his stool after eight rounds. The same Samuel Peter that had younger brother Wladimir on the canvas three times in their September 2005 title eliminator couldn’t manage to win a single minute against a 37-year old heavyweight who hadn’t punched for pay in nearly four years.

From there, the game was afoot.

For the first time in their respective careers, the fighting Klitschkos enjoy simultaneously dominant runs. That spells bad news for the rest of the heavyweight division, and even worse news for those who don’t prefer a two-headed monster as their heavyweight king.

Both previously enjoyed their best moments at separate times, but never as the dominant heavyweight of their era until recently. It was during Vitali’s four-year hiatus that Wladimir put in the best run of his career, bumping off one top 10 heavyweight after another to earn worldwide acclaim as the best big man on the planet.

But it’s been Vitali’s recent run that has recently reshuffled the deck. Saturday will mark his fourth straight fight against a perennial Top 10 heavyweight, all within the last 14 months. 

Aiding his cause as he gains traction is the fact that Wladimir was only able to fight once in 2009. It was a big one, reestablishing lineage in the division as he topped Chagaev over nine one-sided (albeit, somewhat dull) rounds.

But is it enough to still regard him as the very best heavyweight in the world?

Not making things any easier are three other factors: Vitali’s age (38); that his run comes following such an extensive break from the ring; and that nearly everyone would pick older brother to wipe the ring with baby bro 10 times out of 10 if they ever fought.

The worst news for Wladimir is that there’s nothing he can do about it until the first quarter of 2010 at the very earliest. That’s when he’s expected to return, with mandatory title defenses on tap against Eddie Chambers and Alex Povetkin, both of whom are regarded by many to be the two best heavyweights not named Klitschko.

Wins against either will once and for all put considerable distance between Wladimir and the rest of the heavyweight division, his older brother included.

Until then, all he can do is sit back, nurse his injury, find his seat at ringside and join what everyone else will be doing, either in attendance in Berne, Switzerland or at home on TV:

Watching the best heavyweight in the world ply his trade this weekend.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .