It’s been a frustrating week for the heavyweight division. In lite of the revelations that challenger Luis Ortiz flunked a urine test, the highly anticipated fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder will likely be cancelled. His defense; high blood pressure. The ‘medication’ (chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide; known masking agents for PED’s) was prescribed purely to help keep it under control. A feasible narrative, but this is not the first time the Cuban has been caught with his pants down. Nor is it the second. It is in fact the third. He tested positive back in 2015 for the anabolic steroid nandrolone and was subsequently banned for 8 months and had a KO victory overturned to a no contest by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Despite the efforts, it would seem the consequences were far too lenient and have done nothing to discourage a known drugs cheat from getting his hands dirty a third time. But if the recent discovery can at least remind us that those indulging in banned substances are being caught, the punishments that follow are not deterring them from trying again. A major worry that underlines the division is that Luis Ortiz is not alone.

The heavyweight division’s filth boasts a growing list of high profile fighters failing tests. Dillian Whyte (10/12, methylhexaneamine) Lucas Browne (03/16, clenbuterol), Alexander Povetkin (05/16, meldonium), Bermane Stiverne (11/16, methylhexaneamine), Shannon Briggs (21/17, testosterone boosters); major players in the division all with one thing in common. Each of them have failed tests and have, or currently are, serving bans. Bans evidently not delivering a strong enough message to the fighters who shamelessly fail more than once.

The dominance of the Klitschko brothers over the past decade has masked a generation of competition engaged in banned substances, desperately trying to narrow the gaping hole in quality between champion and challenger. Now, in their absence, a weak crop of heavyweight fighters are in the hunt for titles that were simply too far out of reach during Wladimir’s reign, and the previous slap-on-the-wrist penalties have done nothing to bring about a desperate need for change in a post Klitschko era. Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder may have increased the heavyweights’ intrigue, but its’ resurgence is not attributed to its’ depth. In all honesty, the division is perhaps more bleak than ever before.

Joshua and Klitschko may have given us FOTY, no easy feat considering the very stiff competition, but 2 weeks ago was a concerning reminder of the lack of quality throughout the division. Hughie Fury challenged Joseph Parker for his WBO heavyweight crown at the Manchester Arena in a disastrous showing. The official decision may still be in dispute for those who somehow managed to endure the full 12 rounds, and if the result didn’t reveal a stand out winner (dependent on preference, personally had Parker win) it did reveal a more urgent matter. Are these men really championship material?

Hard to believe that just 2 years ago ‘Prince’ Charles Martin joined the ranks of heavyweight world champions past and present. Not surprisingly, the reign of the Prince was short lived. The man who ‘walks this earth like a god’ provided more entertainment as an internet meme than the IBF champion of the world when he was flattened by Joshua in the opening round of his first defense in 2015. Martin failed dismally to back up his claims as an all powerful being and didn’t represent the challenge that was credulously expected of him. What he did represent was a line of competition not fit to hold, or even challenge for world honors.

The unfortunate circumstances that have stolen opportunities from Deontay Wilder on multiple occasions should not be taken lightly and in an era that is seriously lacking in depth the last thing it needs is it’s competitors failing drugs tests. But with so many ignoring the current consequences, and with seemingly easier routes to a world championship than previous generations (Lewis, Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe and a host of others) it seems unlikely to change. Wilder and Joshua may have each other to look forward to, possibly as early as next year, but what comes next is nothing to get excited about. The exclusion of Tyson Fury only makes matters worse and whether or not he will return is anyone’s guess. We can only hope for a future that will turn out better than can be expected at this stage.