By Ben Dirs

Vitali Klitschko will have his sights set on heavyweight unification

While boxing continues to slide from the public consciousness in America and Britain, in other parts of the globe it remains in rude health.

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko demolished London's Danny Williams on 11 December and may seek unification fights in 2005.

The Ukrainian is the best of a mediocre crop of belt-holders but his future will depend on ring-master Don King, who controls the rest.

King is advocating a heavyweight tournament to decide the true linear champion, a proposal that could add a bit of colour to an ailing division.

In contrast, Vitali's little brother Wladimir, once thought to have the greater talent, could fall off the radar in 2005 if his chin continues to let him down.

At light heavyweight, Jamaica's Glen Johnson surprised Antonio Tarver in December to lay claim to the consensus crown and with few obvious alternatives, could finally fight Wales' Joe Calzaghe next year.

BIG FIGHTS TO HOPE FOR: Barrera v Morales Tszyu/Cotto/Gatti v Hatton Chi v Harrison Trinidad v Hopkins

The return of Felix Trinidad was cause for celebration in 2004 and the Puerto Rican could get the rematch with Bernard Hopkins he so craves in the coming months.

England's Howard Eastman is the WBC's mandatory challenger and "Tito" may have to smash through light middleweight king Winky Wright to get to "The Executioner".

If Wright does step up to fight Hopkins, colourful Ugandan Kassim Ouma could rise to the top of the light middleweight tree.

Much of boxing's cream is to be found in the lower weight divisions, with the light welterweight ranks full to the brim with talent.

Australia's Kostya Tszyu remains the man to beat, but WBO champion Miguel Cotto, another Puerto Rican, is being touted as his heir apparent.

If Manchester's Ricky Hatton cannot land either of the above, WBA titlist Vivian Harris (Guyana) or fringe champion Arturo Gatti (Canada), something is seriously amiss.

Those Mexican warriors Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales could rumble for a fourth time after Barrera's stunning WBC super featherweight win in November.

At featherweight, consensus champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines rematches with WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in February to decide who is the true king.

And tough Korean Injin Chi, the WBC title holder, is being tailed by Scotland's Scott Harrison, a proposition not for the faint-hearted.

Tough Ugandan Ouma outpointed Verno Phillips to win the vacant IBF crown in October and could be on the verge of big things.

A charismatic 26-year-old with an eventful past, Ouma immediately called out former welterweight world champion Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright.