For many years, the dominant athlete in this division was Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia, a 1996 Olympic champion who also added four World titles to his credit. Saitiev lost to American Brandon Slay in the pool competition in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and did not place. He rebounded with a World title in 2001, but did not compete in the 2002 World meet. Saitiev is a technical master, who competes with a creative, fluid style that makes him exciting to watch and a true challenge to his opponents.    Last year, in the World Championships held in Iran, host Iran's Mehdi Hadjizadeh won the gold, with Magomed Isagadzhiev of Russia taking silver. It is possible that neither athlete may be in the field this year. Saitiev is reportedly training hard and motivated for another title. Reports from Iran seem to indicate that Hadi Habibi defeated Hadjizadeh for the spot on the Iranian team. Habibi will be a newcomer to the World Championships, a difficult challenge for his first major event on the Senior level. There could be a completely different finals this time around.    In Iran last year, Turkey's Ahmet Gulhan won the World bronze medal at this division. However, Gulhan was one of two World medalists from Turkey to fail their drug test at the event, and his medal was stripped. Turkey tried 2000 Olympio bronze medalist Adem Bereket at the European Championships this year, seeing him place only 15th. The Turkish roster lists veteran Yuksel Sanli or  developing Fahrettin Ozata as their entry here.     Moving up into the bronze medal after Gulhan was punished was Vladimir Sirotin of Ukraine, and the rest of the field also moved up one position after him. An indication of how difficult this division can be was Sirotin's 11th place finish at the European Championships this year. Ukraine also has veteran World medallist Zaza Zozirov available at this division, who had to move up in weight when the divisions were changed. He remains a talented and dangerous competitor who has the capability of being a medallist at this weight class.    Many believe that American Joe Williams is ready to claim his first World Championships gold medal. Williams is the only past medalist on the U.S. team, claiming a bronze medal in the 2001 World Championships. He lost in the semifinals to Russia's Saitiev in a very close match that could have gone his way. Along with his entire team, Williams was unable to go to Iran for last year's World meet, a title opportunity lost. Williams has won four straight World Cup titles, and has dominated his American competition. Against very difficult opponents, Williams' will at times go into a defensive mode with his wrestling attack. Winning the close matches by scoring the necessary points on these tough opponents will be the edge that Williams needs to reach his goal of becoming champion. Everybody is aware of his skill and experience, and nobody wants to see Joe Williams in their draw at this event.    2000 Olympic champion Daniel Igali of Canada has moved up to this division and was fifth in the world last year. Igali may be a little undersized against some of the other wrestlers competing here, as evidenced in some losses since his move up in weight. When FILA changed the weight divisions, they basically eliminated Igali's weight class. Igali has also battled some challenging injuries, but was recently on the mats with a win at the Canada Cup and is reportedly focused on doing well in New York.    Other medal hopefuls include, Gennadiy Laliyev of Kazakhstan, a Soviet veteran who placed fourth in the World Championships last year. He is one of three choices from the Kazakhstan lineup, and his fourth place finish at the Asian Championships could mean that one of the others is given a chance this season.    Georgia has had a World placewinner the last two years with Georgi Mechedlidze and Rezo Mindorashvili, but their roster has two other possibilities: Jemali Kiladze or Tarieli Melelashvili. Don't expect any help on figuring this out from the European Championships; another Georgian athlete Gela Sagirashvili was ninth at that competition. Obviously, Georgia has some good depth at this division.     1994 World Champion Alexander Leipold of Germany was peaking for another chance at Olympic glory. In 2000, he had his Olympic gold medal taken away after testing positive for doping at the Sydney Games. He has always claimed innocence, and after his penalty was dropped to a year, he has been focused on one more run for the title. His second place at the 2003 European Championships was a strong indication that he is ready. However, while training in Asia in August, Leipold suffered a series of strokes that placed him in a hospital and may have ended his competitive career. The worldwide wrestling community is unified in its support for Leipold's recovery. Without Leipold, Germany will choose from Dominik Zeh or Mario Wohlfahrt, neither who are serious medal contenders at this level.    Daniel Gonzales of Cuba placed eighth at the World Championships last year, and was a close second to Williams at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic. The Cuban team is hopeful that Gonzales has improved to the point that he can make the medal round at the World meet this year.     This weight is chock full of veteran athletes, many who can nail down a good performance and make a run for the medals. An example is Arpad Ritter of Hungary, who has paid his dues for many years and captured the gold medal at the 2003 European Championships. Another similar veteran who can win at this level is Radion Kertanti of Slovakia, whose most recent top showing was a fourth place at the 2001 World Championships.    The reigning Asian Champion is Yusup Abdusalomov of Tajikistan, who has yet to make a mark at the World Championships level. The Asian nations are expected to offer some talented contenders, to include Magomedali Gadjilavov of Uzbekistan, Sujeet Mann of India, Si Riguleng of China and Battuya Batchuluuu of Mongolia. It would not be a surprise if some athletes from this group of nations made a move up in the standings in New York City.    Great Britian will be represented by Nate Ackerman , who competed in college for Harvard Univ.    The first big challenge in New York will be winning in the pool competition, which will most likely put a few top contenders together in a "can't lose" situation. Based on the large number of entries here, the wrestlers who survive the pools with have to beat a talented wrestler just to qualify for the quarterfinals and a top 10 finish. Getting into the medal rounds will be an even more amazing feat. There will be no easy draws, just some that are even more difficult than others. This is a division that will offer tremendous bouts right from the start.    Wrestling fans look forward to seeing Russia's Saitiev back on the mats, should he be ready to return as is reported. American fans would love to see their gold-medal hopeful Joe Williams reach the finals for the first time, and excite the crowd with a victory. Canadian fans will come south to New York to support Olympic champion Igali, hoping that he has truly adjusted to the increase in weight. Athletes from such world powers as Iran, Ukraine, Georgia, Cuba and Kazakhstan will have opportunities to battle for medals. This weight class is loaded with studs, and the action will be spectacular, something that you can truly count on.    RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS    2002 World Championships results  163 - Gold - Mehdi Hadjizadeh Joybari (Iran) dec. Magomed Isagadzhiev (Russia), 4-0; Bronze - Vladimir Sirotin (Ukraine); 4th - Gennadiy Laliyev (Kazakhstan); 5th - Daniel Igali (Canada); 6th - Xu Xuanchong (China); 7th - Georgi Mechedlidze (Georgia); 8th - Daniel Gonzales (Cuba); 9th - Elshad Allahverdiev (Azerbaijan); 10th - Alexander Leipold (Germany)  Note: Ahmet Gulhan of Turkey, who won the bronze medal at the event, tested positive for doping and had his medal stripped. Sirotin of Ukraine was awarded the bronze medal and each placewinner after him moved up one position.    2001 World Championships results  76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold - Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia) de