I’ve never been much on looking back, fondly or with disdain. So I’m not inclined to do a best of 2006 in boxing. I like to look forward. In that spirit here are some of the things that I’d like to see in boxing in 2007. These are in no particular order, and of course this is a fantasy list because most or all of it will never occur. I’d like to see someone get control of the heavyweight division in 2007. It could be a boxer, a promoter, a manager, a cable TV network. It doesn’t matter, but there should be a unification tournament so that there is one clear-cut champion. No one cares about the heavyweight champion because there are four of them. I have no rooting interest in who becomes “The Man.” I just want there to be one, and then have everybody get in line to knock him off.
It would be great to see Bernard Hopkins stop tip-toeing around the idea of coming back and just do it in 2007. I miss Hopkins. I miss his mastery in the ring and his wit and humor outside it. I know he made a vow to his dying mother that he wasn’t going to come back, but I think she would understand as long as he doesn’t get hurt. The idea of returning to fight as a heavyweight is intriguing but he should start smaller. He did just fine at light heavyweight, and Joe Calzaghe thinks he can shut down Hopkins. I’d love to see the clinic Hopkins would put on in that one.
Can we get Manny Pacquiao some stable management in 2007? He successfully sued promoter Murad Muhammad to get out of his promotional deal, and everyone thought it was justified. Now there is a tug of war between Bob Arum at Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions for the right to promote Pacquiao. The good thing for Pacquiao is that he doesn’t let business get in the way of his performance in the ring.
I’d like to see less of WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs and heavyweight contender James Toney. Not less of them in the ring, but less of them on the scales.
I’d like to see middleweight champ Jermain Taylor regain his form. He looked amateurish against Kassim Ouma in Little Rock last month. Maybe he had too many tough fights in a row. Maybe he needs more time with trainer Emanuel Steward. Maybe he needs another trainer all together.
Here are a few quick things I’d like to see in 2007: HBO execs tell promoters to take a hike when they bring them trash matches….Showtime to stop thinking that it’s No.2 and just keep doing what it does….Zab Judah to get his life in order and get back in the ring where he belongs….Less talk and more action from Antonio Margarito. He needs to beef up his resume and then think about Floyd Mayweather….Winky Wright to stop thinking he’s the best in the world and go back to proving it….Jeff Lacy to get his confidence back and channel his anger toward getting back on top….Promoter Gary Shaw to keep some of the talent he nurtures….Oscar De La Hoya to continue being the philanthropist that he has become, particularly in his East L.A. community….Lou DiBella to keep putting on shows at the Grand Ballroom. It’s the best monthly boxing convention in New York….Boxers all over the world to climb out of the ring as whole as they went in.
