While boxing was the comeback sport of 2007, the flagship heavyweight division is still in the doldrums. The four present world champions hail from the former Soviet Union and only Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF title-holder, would have any claim to being known beyond a narrow hardcore of fans. However, that is about to improve.

Next month in New York, Klitschko faces Sultan Ibragimov, the WBO champion, in the first heavyweight unification bout since Lennox Lewis met Evander Holyfield in 1999. Next week in Germany, the brightest unbeaten prospects to emerge in the past five years - Alexander Povetkin, of Russia, and Eddie Chambers, of the United States - face each other for the right to meet Klitschko, possibly later in the year.

But, if the division craves a figurehead, it is difficult to imagine how an ageing British brawler fits in. Tonight, at the Burg-Wächter Castello, a hulking handball arena on the outskirts of the city, Matt Skelton, a converted kick-boxer who, he claims, will be 40 in eight days’ time, will try to relieve Ruslan Chagaev of the WBA title, which, in the organisation’s previous guise as the NBA, was first contested by Jack Dempsey and has been held by nearly every great name since.

Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Ali, Tyson . . . Skelton - the thought of the former doorman from Bedford being proclaimed world heavyweight champion would send shivers down the spine of purists and provide ammunition to those who thought that the division could not sink lower.

Skelton, who weighed in yesterday at 18st 2lb, 26lb heavier than the champion, is aware that his style does not attract many admirers. “I never did any amateur boxing, so I can understand people thinking, ‘How can he make the grade, how can he box for a world title?’ ” he said. “Even if I win there are still going to be people out there saying, ‘He doesn’t deserve it.’ Well, who does deserve it? I’ve beaten all the top British heavyweights bar Audley Harrison and I beat the man who beat him.

“If the public don’t respect me because of my background, there’s not a lot I can do about it. I’m not making out I’m Muhammad Ali, I’m just me.”

It was watching too many boxers with styles such as Skelton’s that encouraged the Marquess of Queensberry to sponsor the rules that govern modern-day boxing. Observing Skelton, you can almost imagine that the past 200 years of the sport’s evolution never happened. He has no discernible jab; instead, he just moves forward and throws punches. Up close, he wrestles and mauls, landing blows whenever he has a free arm. He makes up for his lack of style with an overdose of determination.

Chagaev, 29, of Uzbekistan, is unlikely to be intimidated. He won two World Championships as an amateur and remained unbeaten as a professional without fanfare, until upsetting Nikolay Valuev to win the WBA title in Stuttgart in April last year.

Chagaev, who is nicknamed “White Tyson”, stole that bout, moving out of range while Valuev plodded after him. Skelton is banking on him boxing differently tonight, the more aggressive the better. “What’s good is he comes in and he likes to mix it,” Skelton said.

“He’s a bit rough-and-ready, so if they let it go with him, they will have to let it go with me.”

Kevin Sanders, Skelton’s trainer, said: “Chagaev has had only two 12-round fights and after the seventh he did tire very quickly. If Chagaev gets a little disheartened, that’s where you will see Matt come on. I believe Matt will win; he’s too big, too strong and too fit.”

Self-belief is no guarantee to success, though, as Ricky Hatton found in his failed attempt to upset Floyd Mayweather Jr last month. A more likely scenario would have Chagaev being too quick and accurate and winning inside seven rounds.

The days when pluck of the British was not enough:

Don Cockell lost to Rocky Marciano, rsc 9th: Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, May 16, 1955

Cockell, a blown-up light-heavyweight, showed amazing bravery but took a terrible beating from Marciano over nine one-sided rounds. He was knocked down twice in the eighth, finishing the round headfirst through the ropes and was knocked out in the ninth. “I don’t think I ever hit anyone more often or harder,” Marciano said.

Joe Bugner lost to Muhammad Ali, points: Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, July 1, 1975

Bugner was despised by the British public for ending the career of Henry Cooper, but, having put up decent efforts against Ali and Joe Frazier in nontitle bouts in 1973, his lack of effort was never forgiven. After “the most boring heavyweight title bout ever”, it was reported that Bugner was later seen sipping champagne in the hotel pool.

Richard Dunn lost to Ali, rsc 5th: Olympiahalle, Munich, May 25, 1976

Ali played with Dunn for five rounds, knocking him down five times in the last two rounds. The bout finished with Ali comically winding up his right hand for the bolo punch and beckoning the outclassed Yorkshireman towards him. This was the last knockout of Ali’s career and Dunn had a sports centre named after him in Bradford in honour of his brave performance.

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