Despite what we wanted to believe, Alex Leapai never really stood a chance against the mighty Wladimir Klitschko. The Ukranian behemoth helped himself to his 53rd career knockout with a fifth round TKO Sunday morning. The Aussie fighter (born in NZ with Samoan heritage) got this shot after an upset win over Russia’s Denis Boytsov left him next in line when Klitschko became scheduled for a mandatory defence of his heavyweight titles. The planets aligned for Leapai to get this opportunity, but expecting anything more was simply too much.

From the opening bell Klitschko clearly had the edge, and by no small distance. Klitschko landed 67 jabs, which almost matched Leapai’s total of 69 attempted punches. The Ukranian landed 147 punches in all, including 80 of 172 attempted power punches, and kicked the Samoan/Australian down three times. Leapai landed 10 punches in total. Just 10. Not a single one in the fifth round either, where he found himself floored twice, including the decisive blow. Technical Knockout to Wladimir Klitschko – still the reigning heavyweight champion of the world.

Wladimir Klitschko on the attack (Frank Augstein/AP)

This isn’t to disparage Leapai, who fought bravely nonetheless. It’s not like anyone else had a shot to beat Klitschko that day if they’d been in his shoes. Wladimir is the WBA, IBF and WBO Heavyweight Champion, and the unofficial, but undisputed, Champion of the World. His career line reads 62-3, with 53 KOs, and this was his 16th consecutive defence in this title reign. In the history of heavyweight boxing, only Joe Louis (25 in a row) and Larry Holmes (20) have longer title reigns. He is the best in the world, hands down, and he continues to beat anyone put before him.

This is the state of heavyweight boxing today. You can look at it two ways:

1 – Wladimir Klitschko is one of the all-time greats and deserves everything he gets

2 – The standard of heavyweight boxing is so poor that there are no worthy challengers

To lesser degrees, both are true. It’s not Klitschko ‘s fault that nobody can touch him. He’s fought every fighter that seemed to stand a chance, short of his older, now-retired brother Vitali (for obvious reasons). But at the same time, world boxing is definitely lacking in the heavyweight stakes. All of the great eras of boxing were so not just because of the quality of the boxing but because of the rivalries and the personalities. Ali vs Frazier. Ali vs Forman. Tyson vs Holyfield. Those were fights that captured the imagination. The current state of things just can’t compete. David Haye talked the talk, and Klitschko put him down. Hasim Rahman? Seventh round TKO. During his 16 fight streak, only five men have even been able to last the duration. He hasn’t lost a fight in a decade. Who knows how he’d fare against the greats of bygone eras? We simply have to marvel at his dominance.

So what does the future hold for Wladimir? At 38 he seems as fit and (most importantly) motivated as ever. He called this fight the biggest of his career given the backdrop of civil unrest in his native Ukraine. This is an intensely patriotic man, and the uprisings have left him “tormented”. It was a nice touch for him to dedicate his win to the citizens of Ukraine. Vitali Klitschko has been a major figure in many of those protests, and we know all about his political visions. Wladimir doesn’t seem as politically charged as his brother, but has spoken at a few rallies. Maybe he chooses, like Vitali, to follow that path. If he should he decide to continue fighting, though, he could well box at a top level for at least another five years. Given what he’s been doing, that Joe Loius record may well be in trouble…

For his next fight, a few have already put their hands up. Who wouldn’t wanna fight the Champ? A no lose situation, with the greatest prize in the sport on offer if you can pull off the upset. The only risks are to your health and sanity. Hmm.

Deontay Wilder is the man who most would like to see fight him. The 28 year old American is about the hardest puncher in the business right now, and has won all of his 31 professional fights by knockout. The problem for him is that one: he’s young and unproven; and two: he’s just not in the right line. Wilder is the mandatory challenger for the WBC title (currently vacant, so in time he’ll probably get to fight the winner of the upcoming Bermane Stiverne - Chris Arreola fight May 10th), which is the title that Vitali held and has since rescinded with his retirement. Wilder is keen on either avenue to champion status, and could well hold the power to threaten Wladimir. Wilder was the primary sparring partner for Wlad before his win over Mariusz Wach in 2012, so the avenues of communication are there.

It’s unlikely that the Klitschko camp would take a risk like that against an untested fighter though. Especially a fighter who has never been taken the distance and could well be technically deficient behind all that power. So the most likely way that fight happens is if Wilder forgets about the immediate title shot and works at becoming a mandatory challenger for one of the three titles that Wladimir currently holds – the way Leapai got in line. Or, perhaps Wlad decides that without his brother in the way, he wants the WBC and offers a unifying title shot against Stiverne/Arreala (if he won, Wilder would likely be the first challenger)? Manuel Charr (who lost a challenge against Vitali two years back) has also called Wladimir out in the wake of the Leapai fight. In all likelihood, it’ll be a while before Wlad announces his plans. He’ll want to rest and recover after this truncated bout. Maybe fight the power in Ukraine a little. Plus he’s got a wedding to plan.