Boxing attracts dreamers both in and outside the ring, so it’s natural to fantasize about the fights we want to see. Unlike most dreams, however, boxing fantasies sometimes come true. Here then are five fights for 2016 that actually have a decent chance of becoming a reality and living up to expectations.
1.Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin
There’s virtually no matchup, including the others on this list, that would not elicit at least a few whiny complaints on social media. That’s just the way most boxing fans are, bless their persnickety little hearts, habitually unhappy about something or another.
Alvarez-Golovkin could very well be the exception to the rule. It is the hottest fight in the sport, a showdown between ostensibly the world’s two best middleweights, both pound-for-pound entrants at the peak of their powers. There are no guarantees in boxing, but this one is about as close as it gets.
A major selling point is that we can be reasonably certain there will be no pussyfooting around with these guys. Neither is going to play it safe or sit on an early lead and coast home. It’s not in their nature.
Golovkin takes gleeful pride in giving fans the “big drama show” they’ve come to expect from him, and Alvarez is a product of Mexico’s boxing culture and a code of combat that tolerates nothing less than maximum effort. Besides, there’s an awful lot at stake.
To start, the fight should help sort out the pay-per-view pecking order in the post-Floyd Mayweather landscape. Currently Alvarez (along with Manny Pacquiao) is the sport’s most reliable PPV attraction. His recent victory over Miguel Cotto purportedly sold approximately 900,000 PPV buys, but Cotto also had a lot to do with that number.
Golovkin, on the other hand, is a PPV neophyte. His debut, against David Lemieux, supposedly did about 150,000 buys, a decent start though it pales in comparison to the sort of numbers Canelo, Pacquiao and Cotto have generated. Nonetheless, if any of today’s fighters can gain a lot of ground quickly it is “Triple-G.” If, for instance, his mooted match with undefeated Billy Joe Saunders takes place during the lead-up to the Canelo bout and Golovkin prevails in good fashion, his PPV potential would be noticeably enhanced.
There’s also the matter of the middleweight championship to be settled. Alvarez is the genuine champion, having beaten lineal champ Cotto. But many of Golovkin’s supporters insist their man is the true champion, simply because they believe he’s a better fighter.
That’s fuzzy thinking. If the champion were always the best fighter in the division, the title would never change hands. This is an opportunity to end that nonsense by resolving the issue the proper way — in the ring.
What’s not to like?
2. Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward
No inane made-up name is needed for this fight. “The Krusher” vs. “Son of God” just about says it all. In one corner will be a profane destroyer of men and in the other boxing’s presiding Goody Two-shoes.
You would be hard pressed to find two fighters with more diverse styles and personalities than this pair of undefeated light heavyweights. It’s the sort of contrast that often produces a terrific fight, especially at this level. Moreover, it’s also prime fodder for the endless debate between fans who favor Ward’s exquisite craftsmanship and those who enjoy Kovalev’s heavy-handed approach.
Outside the ring Ward’s image is that of a church-going, clean-cut family man, which for many is welcome relief from the churlish behavior and trash talk we get from a lot of fighters, including Kovalev. Ward has never given an opponent the finger and is the last fighter whose name you expect to see on a police blotter.
Kovalev’s supporters, on the other hand, love his uncompromising style, goofy grin and crude “I will crush you” pronouncements. He has the sort of frightening punching power that attracts even casual fans, always a plus.
His shutout decision over Bernard Hopkins demonstrated the 32-year-old Russian could also box judiciously. Despite “B-Hop’s” advanced age, it was an eye-opening performance. Yes, “The Krusher” has skills.
Ward’s lengthy layoff is another thing to take into consideration. His only fight since winning a decision over Edwin Rodriguez in November 2013 was against badly overmatched Paul Smith in June 2015. At this point nobody can say for sure how much the hiatus and recent lack of viable competition will affect him.
After such an extended period of inactivity, Ward wants to make sure all the rust has been shed before facing Kovalev, and is penciled in for a Feb. 26 tune-up. But with so much at stake don’t expect the opponent to be very daunting. Kovalev also has the option to take another bout before the big-money fight and will probably do so.
Keep your fingers crossed. The marinating gambit has backfired before. Most of us wish they’d just get on with it.
3. Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder
Fury’s upset of Wladimir Klitschko to win the heavyweight championship was almost unwatchable. The combination of Fury’s Jerry Lewis-inspired gamboling and Klitschko’s dead-on impersonation of a petrified forest was enough to make your eyes bleed. It did, however, break the tedious Klitschko-monopolized logjam at the top of boxing’s so-called glamour division. And for that, we should be grateful.
The current heavyweight field isn’t exactly overrun with potential hall of famers, but now there’s at least the possibility of some entertaining title fights. Provided Fury retains the title in his contractually mandated rematch with Klitschko, a bout with Wilder would be an opportune way to kick-start the revival of the heavyweight division.
At least the 6-foot-7 “Bronze Bomber” looks like the genuine article and talks almost as good a game as Fury. But despite a 97 percent knockout ratio, there are still plenty of questions regarding the pride and joy of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Why has Wilder fought two obscure challengers in Eric Molina and Johann Duhaupas since winning the WBC strap from Bermane Stiverne? And why is he defending against Artur Szpilka on Jan. 16, a guy who was stopped by Bryant Jennings?
Forget that bunkum about some alphabet mandatory. It’s the Fury fight that matters. That’s for the real heavyweight championship, the only one that counts. It’s also time to stop underestimating Fury. The lad’s a strange one, but he can fight.
Wilder is more aggressive than Klitschko, so it’s doubtful it would turn into another game of ring-around-the-rosy (without anybody falling down). While you have to give Fury major props for his shrewd fight plan against “Dr. Steelhammer,” it’s unlikely the same approach would work against a hungry young lion like Wilder.
And if these two behemoths start trading bombs, somebody is going down. Maybe both.
4. Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez vs. Juan Francisco Estrada
Gonzalez just might be the best fighter in the world right now. Pound-for-pound rankings are strictly a matter of opinion, but there was nothing subjective about his three-knockdown annihilation of Brian Viloria.
The capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden, the majority of which came to see Golovkin-Lemieux, went bonkers over the 112-pound dynamo from Nicaragua. As a result “Chocolatito” suddenly zoomed from relative obscurity to the pinnacle of many pound-for-pound lists.
Flyweights are a hard sell in the U.S., but a rematch with Mexican rival Estrada just might be the sort of fight that would help change the dynamic. To start with, it’s a mistake to equate size with punching power. Gonzalez and Estrada have knockout ratios of 88 and 69 percent, respectively. These little guys can bang.
Estrada, an exceptional fighter in his own right, gave Gonzalez the toughest fight of his career back in November 2012 before losing a unanimous decision. Since then he has won seven straight and remains a serious threat.
A match between “Chocolatito” and “El Gallo” is for the purists who care more about the quality of the fighters than the weight at which they compete. With a little luck we should witness such a rare blend of exquisite craftsmanship and ferocity that even the most intransigent witness will forget what size they are.
5. Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter
The match, tentatively scheduled for early 2016, is the result of Premier Boxing Champion’s in-house policy and a meaningful test of PBC’s business model. If it turns out to be as good as expected, it will muzzle the critics, at least temporarily, and hopefully lead to more of the same.
Thurman’s “One Time” sobriquet is a bit of a misnomer. He’s a good puncher but not a true knockout artist, as was demonstrated in decision wins over Leonard Bundu and Robert Guerrero, both of whom he decked but couldn’t finish. It’s the sort of thing that happens to a lot of prospects when they graduate to better-quality opposition. Still, Thurman’s power, combined with above-average speed and sound boxing skills, makes him a dangerous contender with a substantial upside.
Overall Porter has fought marginally better opponents, including Kell Brook, who inflicted his lone defeat, via majority decision. He’s a relentless swarmer who gets stuck in and sets a busy pace. Blasting Paulie Malignaggi through the ropes and temporarily into retirement was impressive, as was Porter’s comprehensive decision over Devon Alexander.
Both Porter and Thurman have appeared vulnerable at times. Porter almost blew a fight he was winning handily when Adrian Broner floored him in the final round, while Thurman was rocked several times by Guerrero. Even so, vulnerability is not necessarily a bad thing. Talented but vulnerable fighters are frequently the most enjoyable to watch.
In the current ESPN.com welterweight ratings, Thurman is No. 3 behind Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, and Porter is No. 6 behind Brook and Amir Khan. Pacquiao is close to retirement, and should he beat Bradley again in their April 9 rubber match and call it quits to concentrate on his political career, the winner of Thurman-Porter would be well positioned to compete for the top spot at 147 pounds.
