WHEN visualising the glory years of boxing, which fighters do you think of?

Many might hark back to the wizardry of Sugar Ray Robinson, the brilliance of Henry Armstrong or the majesty of Roberto Duran.

Although smaller fighters have delivered some of the most brutal yet scintillating spectacles ever seenn in a boxing ring, they often fall just short the fight game's traditional kingpins.

The heavyweights of yesteryear were considered to be the greatest athletes to walk the face of the earth, bar none.

Boxing is synonymous with the immortal Muhammad Ali who became the only sportsman in history to become more famous than sport itself. Ali's iconic battles with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman in the 1960's and 70's brought him god-like glory.

The 20th Century's other heavyweight greats such as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Mike Tyson enjoyed similar adulation as champions of the world.

How things have changed in 2015.

The current heavyweight division is a stark contrast to that of the golden age. Since Lennox Lewis pulverised Mike Tyson over eight rounds in Memphis in 2002, heavyweight boxing in the United States has drifted further and further into obscurity.

When Lewis retired with his world titles a year later, boxing's most dominant brothers were lying in wait to share the throne.

Ukrainian overlords Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have swept up almost every world title worth fighting for since Lewis' departure, earning millions defending their straps in Europe and leaving America as a mere afterthought.

But things could be set to change this weekend when a world heavyweight title fight returns to the USA.

WBC champion Bermane Stiverne will catapult his name, and most importantly the division, back into the spotlight if he is able to defeat the hard-hitting but untested Deontay Wilder this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Wilder, nicknamed the "Bronze Bomber", has been touted by some as the saviour of the heavyweight division mainly due to his freakish punch power which has knocked out all of his 30 opponents.

But the 29-year-old giant from Tuscaloosa, Alabama has rightly faced questions about his chin and durability having never fought an opponent in the top 15 rankings or went more than four rounds.

Stiverne, 36, has proven to be a surprise package after knocking out American Chris Arreola to win the vacant title in May last year.

On paper, the Haiti-born Canadian champion is the smarter boxer of the two but also possesses power that would have no problem troubling a suspect chin such as Wilder's.

However, Wilder will be hoping that he can make history and become the first American to hold a world heavyweight title since Shannon Briggs in 2007.

But no matter who wins, the fact the fight is gaining so much build-up can only help inject some much-needed life into the division across the pond.

Interestingly, Wladimir Klitschko looks set to defend his heavyweight titles on American soil for the first time in seven years likely against unbeaten American Bryant Jennings. However, a fight with the ageing aforementioned Briggs cannot be ruled out.

"The Cannon" has developed an unhealthy obsession with the champion, relentlessly stalking him across the world in a bid to secure a world title fight.

Should Klitschko overcome his opponent in the first half of 2015, that could set up a big-money clash not seen since the days of Lewis-Tyson with either Wilder or Stiverne.

In the UK, the heavyweight division is beginning to look very healthy indeed. Olympic gold medallist and British boxing poster boy Anthony Joshua has become a firm favourite with fight fans thanks to his explosive punch power.

The 25-year-old prospect has demolished every opponent placed in front of him and promoter Eddie Hearn is eyeing up a Battle of Britain clash between Joshua and Britain's current leading heavy Tyson Fury.

Fury has bigger fish to fry for the time being having recently become mandatory challenger for Klitschko's WBO strap after battering fellow Brit Dereck Chisora last November.

But Fury's world title dream could be shattered should he slip up against Christian Hammer on February 28 in London.

Things could get even more interesting should former WBA champion David Haye opt to return to the squared circle in 2015. The "Hayemaker" hasn't fought since 2012 and previous comeback fights with German-based Manuel Charr and Fury were scrapped due to injury.

So things are looking up (literally) for boxing's big boys on both sides of the Atlantic, here's hoping the new breed can deliver on their potential.​