Can we just be brutally honest? The heavyweight division is beyond terrible. If this is boxing?s glamour division then let?s just wipe, flush, wash our hands, and be done with it. Even in the worst heavyweight era we didn?t see the dearth of competition that we do now. As far as I?m concerned anything above 200 or below 112 pounds simply doesn?t exist, there?s just no interest there. Boxing will never win new fans with bouts like McCline versus Peter as a way to spend a Saturday night. Current fans, writers, promoters, and the athletes themselves will opine about what is wrong with the sport. Each of them gives the lion?s share of blame to one another, but all of them agree on a core need. There has to be more important fights.
The only trouble is rather than recreating buzz with a much steadier stream of good matches such as Gatti vs Ward or Corrales vs Castillo the powers that be think that goals can only be reached by matching the more glamorous fighters with names you see in the newspapers, or perhaps on a show about ballroom dancing. So when I say ?The four fights that matter” I don?t mean to those non-boxing fans who only care if we drag Tyson out of cobwebs, or drag DeLaHoya out of?well, drag. I?m talking about fights of true interest to true boxing fans. It?s about time we concentrate on ourselves rather than expend all of our energy trying to explain the attraction to casual sports viewers who would never be visiting this site anyway. These fights are for boxing fans ? no promoter necessary.
Bernard Hopkins vs Chad Dawson
The young WBC light heavyweight champion has been clamoring for Antonio Tarver in what would be a matchup of tall southies with power. But for some reason I don?t care. Perhaps it?s because the Ring belt is sitting on the growing waist of the old man who kicked Tarver?s ass. Dawson has leapfrogged the spot where Tarver has been sitting and appears ready for more. A date between Dawson and Tarver would just get in the way of what could be a much more meaningful fight. Hopkins isn?t getting any younger ? the time for this fight is now.
Joe Calzaghe vs Mikkel Kessler
You know what I love about this fight? The fact that it?s happening.
The people who back Calzaghe are scared of this fight. And the people who back Kessler? They?re scared too. This is the kind of stomach churning event that American fight fans have been dreaming of. There?s just about no way that this fight isn?t fully charged from bell to bell, and it determines what happens in this division for the next several years. Speed against power, youth against experience, a combined record of 82-0 with 61 knockouts. Whatever you do, don?t make plans for November 3rd.
Floyd Mayweather vs Paul Williams
Picture yourself as Floyd Mayweather facing Ricky Hatton. You?ve got a little strong-armed but slow legged gnat trying to hold and whack you, but you may as well be in the matrix. He can?t touch you as you bounce fists off of his ever available giant skull. Boring. Flash forward, now you are moving across the ring towards Paul Williams, but before you can ready yourself he somehow grows four extra arms and starts to rain punches from everywhere. They don?t hurt, but you can?t get any closer ? or far enough away ? to do anything about it? what?s your plan? I can?t imagine anyone not loving the thought of this fight.
Joel Casamayor vs Juan Diaz
OK, so this one assumes a lot. The “Baby Bull” has his hands completely full this weekend with Julio Diaz, and Casamayor needs to get past Jose Armando Santa Cruz, but those aren?t the lightweight fight we?re dying to see. Even in a blowout victory we haven?t seen Diaz tested by the kind of toughness that only comes with the seasoning Casamayor possesses. To be fair to the youngster, though, we should also mention that Casamayor hasn?t always handled a steady stream of pressure with the same slick grace with which he handles most opponents. Just ask Kid Diamond of Jose Luis Castillo. This would provide a lot of answers about the futures of both men.
Gee, playing matchmaker is fun. Someone get me a Bluetooth for my cell phone and a really awful suit. I can do this. Watch the magic happen, here are the first three fights I?m going to make in my new venture:
Edwin Valero vs Jorge Linares
Valero has still got major underground buzz, fed in part by his perfect KO percentage, part by his rumored sparring prowess with the best fighters in the world, and part by his veiled career of fighting pretty much anywhere but in the US. Linares seemingly came out of nowhere to dominate the solid Oscar Larrios and fans are salivating at the thought of seeing him again. Both fighters have been spending big chunks of time in Japan, and who wouldn?t want to get up early on Saturday to watch a boxing match at 9:00am (10:00pm in Tokyo)?
Andre Berto vs Zab Judah
Berto is sitting on the doorstep of boxing fame, Judah is dangerously close to getting kicked out. Perfect crossroads fight in that Judah is still young enough and good enough to make major noise. This isn?t a fight for Zab to be put out to pasture, he?d be the *gulp* favorite coming in, with everything to lose. Both guys have speed to burn, and Berto looks just ever so slightly like a young Zab in the ring.
Paulie Malignaggi vs Junior Witter
Warning: If you have ever bought a UFC pay-per-view don?t attend this card. You will not receive a refund. Two of the best boxers, sitting directly in their primes, who can?t get anyone to fight them. Let me make the introduction: “Paulie, Junior”, “Junior, Paulie”. Guys, it?s OK to shake hands?stop circling each other. Am I a purist, or a masochist?
