SONAHR: Halifax, Nova Scotia – January 4, 2015 – So here we are, halfway into the second decade of the 21st century, and the ancient and beleaguered sport of pugilism keeps on keeping on. If at least some of the fights on this boxing wish list for 2015 come off, this will be a memorable year, indeed.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. In the late Charles Schultz?s Peanuts comic strip, Lucy Van Pelt would always hold a football for Charlie Brown to kick. And every time Charlie Brown?s foot swung, Lucy would snatch the football away at the last minute, and Charlie Brown would end up flat on his back. For the past five years, Pacquiao-Mayweather has been boxing?s version of Lucy and the football. Maybe, just maybe, this year Lucy won?t pull the ball away, and Charlie Brown will kick it right into the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. One can only hope.
Wladimir Klitschko vs. the winner of the Bermane Stiverne-Deontay Wilder WBC heavyweight title bout Later this month, Stiverne and Wilder will clash for the WBC title Stiverne won last year after champion Vitali Klitschko (Wladimir?s big brother) retired from boxing to go into politics. Whoever the winner is, he will pose a rare challenge to Wladimir. If Stiverne prevails, he will have proven that he can handle a Klitschko-sized opponent. If Wilder wins, he will ? theoretically at least ? be a match for Wladimir on both mass and punching power. Either man should give Wladimir more problems than Kubrat Pulev, Klitschko?s latest knockout victim, managed.
Sergey Kovalev vs. Adonis Stevenson This highly anticipated potential matchup is threatening to become the Pacquiao-Mayweather of the light-heavyweights. It was supposed to have taken place in 2014, but then both champions decided they?d prefer to take on Bernard Hopkins instead. Kovalev got the opportunity, and proceeded to take the old man to school. Stevenson was left on the outside looking in. This is really the only bout that matters among the 175-pounders. Here?s hoping the fighters? promoters can put it together. The contest would make a mint in Stevenson?s home base of Montreal.
Chris Algieri vs. Ruslan Provodnikov II Last year, Algieri scored a huge upset when he came off the floor to snatch the ever-dangerous Provodnikov?s WBO junior-welterweight title by decision. Algieri then moved up to challenge Manny Pacquiao for the WBO?s welterweight bauble ? and got his clock cleaned. However, Algieri still has his 140-pound belt. A rematch with Provodnikov ? who bitterly disputed the decision ? would help to determine whether or not Algieri?s win was a legitimate indication of his ability, or just a fluke.
Gennady Golovkin vs. any of the top middleweights (except Jermain Taylor) Golovkin, known as GGG, is well on his way to establishing himself as the next great 160-pounder. With his lethal blend of boxing skills and punching power, he has steamrolled his opposition. But he hasn?t yet faced a challenging opponent ? not because he?s avoiding them, but more likely because they?re avoiding him. Wins over WBC champion Miguel Cotto and/or recently stripped WBO title-holder Peter Quillin would help to define Golovkin?s legacy. But Jermain Taylor, despite his inspirational comeback victory over Sam Soliman for the IBF title, should ? for the sake of his health ? stay as far away from Golovkin as he can.
Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Vasyl Lomachenko Together, these two represent a singular incursion of storied amateurs into the professional ranks. Between them, Rigondeaux and Lomachenko have a total of fewer than 20 pro contests. Yet Lomachenko holds the WBO featherweight title, and Rigondeaux the WBA ?Super? and WBO junior-featherweight belts. Rigondeaux?s defensive style has turned fans off, but in his last fight, he came off the floor to score a knockout win. A showdown between Rigondeaux and Lomachenko would be like the Olympics elevated to a punch-for pay level. A guaranteed bore? Not anymore.
Andre Ward vs. TBA Ward, who won the super-middleweight Super Six tournament in 2011 and then defeated light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson the following year, had only one fight after that: a decision over the useful Edwin Rodriguez in 2013. Since then, he?s been sparring in the courts to get out of his contract with promoter Dan Goosen, who passed away late last year. It?s one thing to stand up for a principle, but Ward?s inactivity is putting his career at risk. It?s time for him to compromise, and return his once-in-a-generation skills to the squared circle.
Other potential dream duels for 2015 include: Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Nicholas Walters, Danny Garcia vs. Adrien Broner, Kell Brook vs. Keith Thurman, Carl Froch vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Canelo Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto, and Marcos Maidana vs. Lucas Matthysse. Here?s hoping the promoters and broadcasters step up and make these fights happen.
