I wanted my last article for 2007 to be something positive for the go-forward, yet at the same time, a look back of sorts at perhaps the best year we?ve had in boxing in quite some time. Perhaps the best way to do that would be to simply underline the many great moments and bouts we were treated to over the last twelve months by simply building upon them with a call for twelve bouts I?d like to see happen in 2008. Some of the match-ups on this wish list are being called for all around the globe by fans, whereas a few others are simply bouts that I feel would be very intriguing and competitive; in short, just plain fun.
So here they are. Let?s hope that at least half of them come to fruition before 2008 fades to dark.
Manny Pacquiao (WBC International Super Featherweight) vs. Edwin Valero (WBA Super Featherweight)
Sure, Valero, the WBA Super Featherweight Champion, isn?t presently licensed to fight in the United States, but there is a whole world out there capable of hosting such a bout. Personally, I think that Manila would easily produce a quarter of a million spectators, but hey, that?s me. I want to see Manny face another vicious and hungry gunslinger, somebody equally capable of discombobulating him or potentially of bringing out the best in him – and I want to see it while he still has vestiges of his prime left. No more reruns. Edwin Valero is a 23-0, 23KO?s dark horse that destroys his little known opposition. A match between these two has ?explosive? written all over it.
Floyd Mayweather JR. (WBC Welterweight) vs. Miguel Cotto (WBA Welterweight)
Who doesn?t want to see this one? It has potential classic written all over it, and besides, it would go a very long way to clearing-up any outstanding questions as to the welterweight division, and the greatness of both champions. Nobody wants to see Mayweather sit tight for a couple of years or experiment with the vastly overrated and inferior MMA. Besides, I?m all for today?s outstanding talent in and around the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions cut their own cloth as opposed to having them play footsy with remnants of Oscar De La Hoya.
Kermit Cintron (IBF Welterweight) vs. Paul Williams (WBO Welterweight)
As with my last choice this one needs to happen. Both are young, fast rising and hungry champions and both are presently locked out of the Floyd Mayweather, JR., sweepstakes. As opposed to seeing Kermit Cintron rematch with Antonio Margarito, a man that emphatically disassembled him three years ago, I?d rather see him unify his IBF Welterweight Title with the man that won the WBO Welterweight Title by edging Margarito last summer, Paul Williams. The winner will then be in a far better position for a Mayweather match ? or as a fun and very marketable consolation prize, a high-stakes Margarito rematch.
Ricky Hatton (IBO Light Welterweight) vs. Junior Witter (WBC Light Welterweight)
I love the atmosphere at big event British matches. I always manage to get a kick out of the passion, the boisterous crowd, the drunken bellowing of Amazing Grace, and the talking heads. It never fails to make me laugh. As I see it, a Ricky Hatton versus Junior Witter match would have all of that, and more. Consider; British fans have been claiming that Hatton has been avoiding the over hyped WBC Light Welterweight poser for years. Now, after Witter finally looking imposing, after his spectacular knockout of Vivian Harris and Hatton coming off of his first career loss, a knockout at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, JR., a hometown grudge match for a major world title makes lucrative sense. If Hatton is serious about packing it in after a couple of more fights, a Witter win would go a long way towards ensuring a big payday, underlining his hero status in England, not to mention shutting up all of the home-brewed naysayer?s once and for all.
Juan Diaz (WBA/WBO/IBF Lightweight) vs. David Diaz (WBC Lightweight)
Juan Diaz is on a roll and getting better with each outing. He?s amassed the WBA/WBO and IBF Lightweight Titles the old fashioned way ? by earning them. His last win, a stoppage of Julio Diaz for the IBF diadem was very impressive. He showed the stuff of many great lightweights from the past. In the case of the once defeated David Diaz, we have a gritty and willing dark horse coming off of a spirited title defense against former great Erik Morales. I liked the way he refused to be intimidated in that one despite the reputation Morales brought into the ring. For me, Diaz versus Diaz makes sense. It will unify the lightweight division and bring clarity as to who is the better Diaz. Besides, there?s no need for three or even two champions named Diaz when you can have just one.
Joe Calzaghe (WBA/WBC/WBO Super Middleweight) vs. Clinton Woods (IBF Light Heavyweight)
This one to me has ?must have? written all over it. Welshman Joe Calzaghe has completely underlined his greatness and dominance at super middleweight, while the Sheffield native, Clinton Woods, has quietly developed into an experienced and formidable champion with several hard fought defenses over some quality foes in the last three years. At this point, moving up seven pounds for a world championship in a second weight class makes nothing but sense for Calzaghe. It would potentially enhance his legacy while further lining his pockets. For Woods, it would be the opportunity for a win over one of today?s biggest stars, a huge payday and notoriety beyond anything he has ever enjoyed to date. Pick your venue. This one would draw a massive crowd in either Cardiff or London and the PPV would be off the scale.
Kelly Pavlik (WBC/WBO Middleweight) vs. Arthur Abraham (IBF Middleweight)
Call me a purest, but I simply need to have a unified middleweight champion. I expect nothing less than total dominance from the middleweight king. Blame it on the era in which I cut my teeth, that of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The undefeated IBF Champion, Arthur Abraham, has been making waves for the better part of three years over in Europe. He?s turned-back the challenge of several no-names and one very tough Wildman in Edison Miranda. For his part, the newly minted WBC/WBO Middleweight Champion, Kelly Pavlik, was nothing more than a big question mark this time last year, but after having literally hammered both the aforementioned Miranda and the previously undefeated Jermain Taylor, he?s viewed as not only ?The Man? at one-sixty, he?s looked upon as a potential modern day break-out superstar. With limited name opposition on their resumes, there are a lot of questions surrounding both of these champions. Abraham and Pavlik have shown ?the stuff? during moments of extreme duress and both have displayed above average skill and power. I hope and pray that we get the answers to those questions in 2008, with a unification bout.
David Haye (WBA/WBC Cruiserweight) vs. O?Neil Bell
I love fragile, heavy-handed fighters with big ambition and the balls of a cat burglar. I like them even more when they choose to reside in their proper weight class and are poised, properly, for greater things. That?s why I?d like to see the recently crowned WBA/WBC Cruiserweight Champion, Englishman David Haye stick around at the double bill mark and engage in a shootout with the equally unpolished and heavy handed former WBA/WBC Cruiserweight Champion, O?Neil Bell. This is a ?don?t blink? type of match. They could, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, market it as ?The Hayemaker vs. The Hatchet?.
Israel Vazquez (WBC Super Bantamweight) vs. Rafael Marquez III
These two remarkable super bantamweights have split one win apiece thus far. Both have demonstrated a rare desire to challenge the very best, have given us their all in the two bouts against each other and have carried themselves with the utmost championship class. A rubber match is necessary and fortunately for us, signed for March. Expect another classic, and don?t be surprised if something controversial happens at some point in it, clearing the way for a fourth bout.
Wladimir Klitschko (IBF Heavyweight) vs. Sultan Ibragimov (WBO Heavyweight)
The heavyweight division is in dire need of some clear sense of direction. A bout between these two would be a first step in that direction. To date, Handsome Wlad has had many notable ups and downs. Over the last two years though, he has shown marked improvement and polish, thanks in part to Manny Steward and some careful matchmaking. In the case of Sultan Ibragimov, we have a deceptively seasoned boxer and a willing spirit where a desire for true competition is concerned. Forget the fact that Klitschko is far bigger and seemingly better equipped than Sultan, a man that bears a striking resemblance to Barney Rubble. Ibragimov has a strong, early chance to upset the Ukranian?s present win streak with the right type of early-round approach. There?s really no ?angles? in this one. They should sell it as Barney Rubble vs. Humpty Dumpty. I know I?d buy it.
Bernard Hopkins vs. the winner of Roy Jones JR/Felix Trinidad
Yes, I admit it. This one may not be the competitive bout that it could have been years ago. I also admit that I compared the pending Jones vs. Trinidad bout to a sickening car wreck in an article a few weeks ago, but a bout in which Old Man River challenges the winner at the light heavyweight limit or at a one-hundred and seventy pound catch weight could be intriguing ? and marketable. Hey, hand me some credit. This a good way for Hops to make some very good money whilst keeping the illusion alive as opposed to being exposed for the in the ring conman he has become against the likes of busy speedsters such as Joe Calzaghe and Chad Dawson.
David Tua vs. Sam Peter
I love this match-up. Tua deserves the opportunity if for no other reason then other fighters he has beaten have inched higher than him in the rankings, and in the case of Michael Moorer ? off of nothing. Let?s face it, Tua can be out boxed and outworked, but as of late, he has shown renewed dedication coming into his bouts below the two-hundred and forty pound median. He?s on the last leg of a long and at-times, very frustrating career for both him and his long suffering fans. As for Sam Peter, the last time we saw him he was underwhelming us with his inability to detonate, climbing off of the canvas to salvage his interim WBC Heavyweight Championship against opponent for hire, Jameel McCline. Let?s see if Peter really is the heavyweight savior as so many would have us believe. Forget Oleg Maskaev and that little, often on-hold piece of outstanding business he and Peter have. Let?s have Tua and Peter face each other in a crossroads bout between two limited but powerful clubbers. It won?t go a long way to clearing-up the present alphabet muddle, but it certainly has all the elements of an exciting and explosive encounter along the lines of Foreman/Lyle.
Hopefully 2008 will repeat what 2007 provided to the boxing fans.
