Boxing Fights to Look Forward to this year.
Juan Manuel Marquez is lifted by his cornermen after KO’ing Manny Pacquiao Dec. 8. |
At the start of each year, sports writers and bloggers
come up with lists of fights they wish would happen. More often than not, these
fights don’t materialise because boxing, unlike most sports, does not have a
set calendar.
Despite the many inaccuracies of these lists, they
provide those remotely interested in boxing knowledge of which fighters they
should watch and avid sports fans topics to debate.
Here is our “wish-list” of fights to look forward to this
year:
Marquez – Pacquiao V:
Pacquiao and
Marquez’s four fights have produced what is arguably the greatest boxing
rivalry since the turn of the century. After each of their fights I thought
their performances against each other couldn’t get any better, I was proven wrong
each time. The two go at each other with one intention, to end the fight with a
knockout and this desire to win has kept both fighters getting back on their
feet when knocked down except on one occasion.
The first
bout ended in a draw with Marquez, seemingly on the brink of defeat, recovering
from three first round knockdowns to finish strongly. The second and third,
which had some people thinking Marquez won or at the very least drew, were
scored in favour of Pacquiao.
The fourth
fight was meant to settle the inconclusiveness of the rivalry. Many expected
Pacquiao to prove once and for all that he was the better of the two. Despite
been knocked down once, going into the sixth round it appeared that Pacquiao was
winning convincingly, outpunching Marquez and bloodying his face.
And then it
happened. Marquez connected a thunderous right that left Pacquiao unconscious
for over a minute. The punch so beautifully executed is possibly the reason the
bout was voted fight of the year by Ring Magazine.
Both
fighters have stated that
they want a fifth fight in September and their promoters, considering public
demand for a fifth fight, feel it makes economic sense to make Marquez Vs
Pacquiao V happen.
Floyd Mayweather Vs Eddie Guerrero:
Last year
Robert Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KOs) joined the
upper echelon of boxing when he defeated all his opponents in empathic fashion.
Now Guerrero is going to face his biggest challenge yet against Floyd
Mayweather. The fight has been tentatively set to take place on the 4th
of May.
Many pundits feel this will merely be a tune up bout
for Mayweather, who intends to fight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez later on in the
year. And that Mayweather will make mincemeat of Guerrero.
They have a point: Mayweather (43-0-0 26KOs) is undefeated, has
unparalleled technical skills, is more experienced and has a history of
adapting to styles of all the fighters he has faced. But I have a feeling
Mayweather could suffer his first defeat.
Consider this: As Guerrero rose to the Welterweight division from
Lightweight he showed that he was more than just a good technical
fighter, he can a brawl and take punches. He showed this when he faced
hard-hitting pugilists Kastidas and Andre Berto. Both fights were ferocious
with Guerrero out-brawling his rivals to win by a unanimous decision.
For me what Guerrero brings is the belief he can defeat anybody and this
self-confidence could propel him to victory come May 4th.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez Vs Austin Trout:
At only 22,
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s record of 42 fights, 41 victories and one draw have
made him a superstar in Mexico despite Canelo not having faced any proven opponents.
2013 is a
year he has stated he intends to face world class fighters with Floyd Maywether
top on his list.
Mayweather is
most definitely fighting Guerrero on May 4th, so Canelo’s only
credible opponent in the 154 (Jr. Middleweight) weight class is Austin Trout
(26-0-0 14KOs).
Trout just
came off a victory over highly rated Miguel Cotto. If the fight happens, it will
not only act as a unifier of the WBA (regular) and WBC belts but act as an
eliminator for a Maywether showdown in September.
With the kind
of money and credibility that follows a Maywether fight, both fighters will try
and win in style via a knockout or unanimous decision. This is a fight with
high stakes and one not to miss.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
Vs Floyd Mayweather:
If the two aren't upset in their first bouts of the year they will meet
in September.
Since both fighters are represented by Golden Boy promotions the fight
will be easy to arrange. And considering the fan base they both have, this
could be one of, if not, the highest grossing bouts in history of the sport.
Mayweather will be out to maintain his unbeaten run while Canelo will
know victory over Mayweather will make him the biggest boxer in the sport.
Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen Vs Carl Froch:
Tommy Gun (22-0-1 13 Kos), South
Africa’s undefeated IBO super Middleweight champion has always made it eminent
he aims to win the more superior IBF title held by Carl Froch. However, when IBF
provided the opportunity for Tommy to face Froch in November of last year Tommy
turned it down to face “more suitable opponents” that would build his profile in the USA.
This decision seems to have back fired,
Carl Froch appears to be uninterested in fighting Tommy and plans on facing
Kessler in a WBO and IBF unification bout.
The winner of the fight will be expected
to face IBF’s mandatory challenger, Adonis Stevenson. This reduces Tommy’s
chances of winning a major title.
However, with Froch fighting Kessler
Tommy may face Stevenson during the first quarter of the year increasing, a
Tommy win will make him IBF’s mandatory challenger and set up a bout with
either Kessler of Froch.
Donaire Vs Rigondeaux
:
Nonito
Donaire (32-1-0 20KOs) was the most talked about fighter of 2012 for two
reasons:
Donaire, Ring
Magazines’ fighter of the year, rose to fistic summits by convincingly winning
all his four fights. His best performance was in his last fight when he knocked
out veteran Jorge Arce while virtually fighting
the whole fight with one hand after injuring his left arm.
Secondly,
Donaire became the first and only professional boxer to agree to random blood
and urine testing with Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. In a year filled with
Performance Enhancing scandals, most notably the Lance Armstrong Saga, Doniare
said he made the move to prove to his fans that his achievements are a result
of skill and not chemical enhancement.
Who can beat this guy? Is the question bloggers and sports writers’
asked and the most common answer is no one. I disagree.
Enter Guillermo Rigondeaux
(11-0-0 8 Kos) of Cuba. At first glance,
Rigondeaux professional record looks unimpressive with only eleven fights to
his name. Don’t be fooled. Rigondeaux is arguably the greatest amateur boxer;
he is a double Olympic gold medallist and fought about 400 bouts losing only
12.
Having watched
both fighters’ matches last year, I am sure Rigondeaux will emerge victorious
when they meet.
I may be
wrong as to who is the better fighter between the two but I am positive it will
be a match not to miss.
Donaire Vs Abner Mares
If Donaire
aims at dominating the Super Bantamweight division before moving up to
featherweight he has to face WBC titlist, Abner Mares (25-0-1 13 KOs). This
fight is unlikely as the promoters of the two, Golden Boy and Top Rank, have
contracts with HBO and Showtime respectively. We can only wish their promoters reach
a consensus and give the fans what they want.
Kell Brook Vs Devon Alexander
British
boxing seems to be producing the most promising fighters in the world at the
moment; the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) finished top of the
medals table at the 2012 Olympics. Amongst the BABA alumni is Kell Brook
(29-0-0 19 KOs) who has represented England in 16 fights at amateur level.
It has being
well documented that Kell Brook has wanted to win the IBF title for a while.
This plan could come to fruition on the 23rd of February when he
faces titlist, Devon Alexander (25-1-0 13KOs).
This will be
Brook’s first top-class fight and winning will open the doors for fights
against the likes of Paquiao, Mayweather, Guererro and possibly a British Mega
fight against Amir Khan.