Last week as I sat down to go through the Christmas wish list from my children, I began to ask myself what kind of wish list I’d submit for the sport of boxing for the year 2010. I could have easily come up with upwards of fifty bouts I’d like to see over the coming New Year, but instead opted to list a dozen key bouts that not only have the potential to entertain, but to greatly influence the direction of the sport, not to mention that in a few cases, there would be important historical ramifications. I’m hardcore in that not all of the matches on this list have pure cross-over appeal, but if they were to come off, they would regardless have to be considered positive for the sport.
Danny Green vs. Steve Cunningham
I know that Danny Green is jonesing for a lucrative bout with Bernard Hopkins following his recent one-round obliteration of the shadow of Roy Jones JR, but the truth of the matter is that we would be better served seeing a classic boxer versus puncher match-up between relevant cruiserweights. Former IBF Cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham lost a dramatic split decision to Tomasz Adamek just over a year ago. Inexplicably, none of the big networks were interested in the rematch, which from a fan perspective was a gimme. Since the loss of his title Cunningham vexed former WBC cruiser king Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite, looking none the worse for wear. Not averse to travelling afar to step into a ring, a high stakes bout Down Under with Danny Green would be a terrific contest, perhaps the best that could be made at cruiserweight today.
Jean Pascal vs. Chad Dawson
I applaud “Bad” Chad for going about his business in ridding the division of talented old men, but there comes a point where I want to see him sparkle against talent on his own level and of a similar peak quotient. Dawson should get a medal for taking bouts he didn’t want to take and for proving himself the better man in the rematches he was force-fed. Obviously Bernard Hopkins is still out there but truthfully, Dawson would be better served going about his own business against somebody all too willing to step-up, and with a title of his own to boot. Enter Canada’s Jean Pascal. Athletic, gifted and with two solid defenses under his plastic green belt, Pascal has demonstrated the ability and championship grit to turn negatives into positives, and he is all too willing to match his unique skill set with that of the current IBO champ, unfazed by the size advantage or southpaw stance the Connecticut resident brings to the occasion. I believe a unification match would do huge business and become a mega event of sorts if held in Montreal and broadcast on HBO. This is a bout that needs to happen.
Jean Pascal vs. Tavoris Cloud
It’s no secret that Cloud has been beating the war drum for a bout with IBO champ Chad Dawson, but with the specter of Bernard Hopkins looming over the light heavyweight division like an exhaust plume in a Bronx muffler shop, the potential for gridlock strongly exists. Dawson has eyes for “The Executioner” and the recently crowned IBF champion from Tallahassee, Florida has his eyes on “Bad” Chad’s ruby slippers. I say if Dawson has other ideas and Cloud is itching for action in the deep end of the pool, let’s see him matched with the current WBC champ as his consolation prize. Both Cloud and Jean Pascal are young, talented, orthodox fighters of similar height and reach. A high stakes unification match would do well in Montreal, and the winner would be a perfect foe for Chad Dawson later in the year.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Felix Sturm
Obviously many fans are still smarting over buying into the whole bit about Pavlik being made out to be this talented, go-forward superstar. I know I bought into it all at one time, but 2009 made things clear for me. Forget Jack Lowe’s spin or Pavlik’s claims, the current WBC/WBO Middleweight champion has a lot of ground to make up, and turning back alphabet-mandated challengers, while useful and justifiable on one level, just won’t cut it at this point. Pavlik needs to face a talented threat of similar championship stature, and with Arthur Abraham having left to take part in the Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament, that leaves only one man for consideration; WBA World Middleweight champion Felix Sturm. I suppose I could have mentioned Anthony Mundine, but I thought better of it when reviewing his track record and lack of willingness to step up. No, Sturm is the one man Pavlik needs to face now that Paul “The Punisher” Williams looks to have enough on his hands with a proposed rematch with Sergio Martinez looming. Let Pavlik and Sturm step it up on unification early in 2010 so the world can see who the best middleweight really is.
Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Chris John
With a compelling style and undefeated 16-0, 14 KO’s record, the powerful Cuban presents an interesting obstacle for the WBA Super World Featherweight champion. In my opinion, Chris John is without a doubt the best featherweight in the world today, but he is not impervious to power. Having demonstrated his grit and skill in his two recent bouts with Rocky Juarez the time is right to see him featured on one of the big cable networks facing a fan favorite. At 43-0-2, John deserves the exposure and the payday, and fans deserve a compelling match-up. Let’s hope these two meet sooner than later.
Celestino Caballero vs. Juan Manuel Lopez
A year ago this match was ripe. Today it is a must given talk of Caballero possibly moving up to the featherweight division and the recent close shave with disaster Lopez had with Rogers Mtgawa. Both have major world titles, both are compelling boxer-punchers and both match-up well from a sheer style perspective. Forget the proposed fourth match between Israel Vasquez and Rafael Marquez. Despite any fireworks and drama that might ensue between those two, both have to be considered as all but finished, and the likelihood is that their next tiff will effectively erase what little they have left in terms of championship ability. The best match that can be made today at super bantamweight is between “Pelenchin” Caballero and “Juanma” Lopez and it is all but guaranteed to be a classic crowd pleaser.
Sergio Martinez vs. Paul Williams II
This one is a no-brainer. I’m happy that Kelly Pavlik pulled out of his December 5th date with Williams. Why? Because now as of this writing, two fighters that had found it difficult to find opposition pitched a classic, battling fiercely in such an entertaining fashion and for producing such a controversial outcome that it absolutely demands a rematch. In doing so, both Martinez and Williams came down a notch on the “most avoided” fighters scale, looking decidedly vulnerable whilst underlying their exceptional drive and grit. This is the kind of stuff that sells tickets and pay per view. I’m tired of hearing about how great Paul Williams is while others avoided him. Now we get to see it, or not, against another oft-avoided foe who as it turns out, is on the very same level. Let these two do it again, at the light middleweight limit, for all of the marbles while the market-hyped middleweight champions sit back and take note.
Chris Arreola vs. Sam Peter
These two need to fight, if only to set the record straight. I don’t care if they show up fat or if they show up in shape. Let’s clear the air on the hype and see these two talented power-punching behemoths lay down the leather. It’ll draw fans and hopefully establish a compelling heavyweight figure – while ridding us of flotsam.
David Tua vs. Winner of Arreola/Peter
I’m no sadist. I’m actually very pragmatic. Before anybody quips, the winner of a Chris Arreola vs. Sam Peter bout needs to legitimize the win by facing a throwback acid test of the highest order given the styles and amount of TNT brought to the equation. Tua just notched a compelling comeback win over Shane Cameron, looking rejuvenated and years younger in the process. With stay-busy dates against Bruce Seldon and Friday Ahunanya slated for the first quarter of 2010, a high-stakes spring bout against one of these New Millennium sluggers would be an ideal way to see what he really has left while producing the sort of fireworks fans crave.
Floyd Mayweather, JR. vs. Manny Pacquiao
This fight needs to happen for the sake of history. It needs to happen for the sake of determining the best pound per pound fighter. It also needs to happen for the sake of the sport and it needs to happen for boxing fans all around the globe. But from my perspective it needs to happen mostly for the sake of boxing history. The bout will define both fighters and make it easier to see just where they fit in the context of boxing history. I won’t spin my wheels much more on this bout. The reasons are clear. Let’s see it happen – it NEEDS to happen. Floyd, are you listening?
Manny Pacquiao – Yuri Foreman
If Floyd Mayweather pulls out of the proposed March 13th date for a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao, for whatever contrived reason, I believe Pacquiao should move straight towards the current WBA World Light Middleweight champion for an 8th division world title – and he should do it at no more than 144-145lbs. This is about history and in Pacquiao we are watching a special fighter close out a career that ranks among the all-timers that came before him. Yuri Foreman is undefeated and rugged, but is he on the scale with a true all-time great? I believe a bout with Pacquiao would answer many questions while making history, one way or another.
Rodel Mayol vs. Ulises Solis
These two have some history. “Kid Rapido” recently blasted Edgar Sosa in two rounds, taking the WBC Light Flyweight title while serving notice he was looking to clean-up the division. In 2007, Ulises Solis hammered Mayol into an 8th-round TKO in defense of the IBF Light Flyweight title. In the two and a half years since, Mayol has created havoc for WBO champ Ivan Calderon on two occasions and won his first world title by blasting Sosa. If anything, the Filipino has managed to find his groove. Over that same period, Solis has stumbled losing the IBF Light Flyweight title to Brian Viloria, but has since managed to regroup and is now poised for another go at Mayol. The stakes are not limited the WBC Light Flyweight title, or the conclusion of some unfinished business. They go much higher. The winner will be in a position to face former champ Edgar Sosa in a lucrative match, or better yet, unification with Viloria with the winner in a position to command a lucrative date with the recently vanquished Sosa. Much rides on Mayol and Solis meeting once again.
