Politics permitting, 2010 ought to prove another spectacular year for boxing, highlighted by the prospect of one of the biggest fights of all time between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Elsewhere, the road towards naming a single, undisputed world heavyweight champion ought to continue to clear as David Haye chases down either or both of the Klitschko brothers.
Domestically, the likes of Carl Froch and Amir Khan will continue to make big moves on the world stage. And as London 2012 draws ever closer, the country’s best amateurs will jostle for priceless Olympic slots.
FIGHTS WE WANT TO SEE IN 2010:
DOMESTIC
DAVID HAYE v VLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
Let’s be presumptuous and assume Haye sweeps aside John Ruiz. Next up ought to be the younger and chinnier of the Klitschkos. The clash between two such explosive yet vulnerable fighters is a sure-fire classic.
CHANCES: Very good.
OUTCOME: Haye, KO.
AMIR KHAN v TIMOTHY BRADLEY
Khan has any number of options but if he wants to clean up at 147lbs the only fight out there is Bradley, conqueror of Junior Witter and now established beyond doubt as the number one at the weight in the world.
CHANCES: Good.
OUTCOME: Khan, pts.
CARL FROCH v ARTHUR ABRAHAM
If Froch does the business over Mikkel Kessler in April – which is far from certain – his likely rival for the title of super-middleweight number one will come in the shape of the rugged, exciting German Arthur Abraham.
CHANCES: Possible.
OUTCOME: Abraham, pts.
MATTHEW MACKLIN v
DARREN BARKER
There can hardly be a more natural fight out there than one pitting European middleweight champion Macklin with British and Commonwealth champ Barker. Both are ready for the step up, and this is it.
CHANCES: Good.
OUTCOME: Barker, pts.
BRADLEY SAUNDERS v SCOTT CARDLE
Cardle dropped down to light-welter for the world championships and his run to the last eight has left GB amateur selectors with a headache. Long-time number one Bradley Saunders is now back from injury a showdown surely awaits.
CHANCES: Excellent
OUTCOME: Saunders, pts.
INTERNATIONAL
FLOYD MAYWEATHER v
MANNY PACQUIAO
Forget the recent drug-test farce this is a fight both men want and need to happen. It will shatter box-office records and draw notwithstanding – produce a pound-for-pound number one guaranteed to stand tall among the greats of history.
CHANCES: Excellent.
OUTCOME: Draw.
PAUL WILLIAMS v SERGIO MARTINEZ II
No title was on the line, but the way Williams and Martinez went at it in their middleweight brawl in December suggests a rematch is an even more exciting option than mooted clash between Williams and fading champ Kelly Pavlik.
CHANCES: Very good.
OUTCOME: Williams, pts.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ v YURIORKIS GAMBOA
The dazzlingly talented Lopez had to cling on to retain his super-bantam crown over Rogers Mtagwa but his status as one of the sport’s most exciting fighters is assured. Unbeaten Cuban Gamboa is being groomed to face Lopez in a major showdown.
CHANCES: Slim.
OUTCOME: Gamboa, KO.
VIC DARCHINYAN v
NONITO DONAIRE
Big-hitting big mouth Darchinyan was knocked cold by Donaire in 2007, and has avoided rematch calls since. Darchinyan is now world super-fly champion, and with Donaire interim champ, the time has come to make the fight.
CHANCES: Very good.
OUTCOME: Donaire, KO.
CHAD DAWSON v BERNARD HOPKINS
Anything to avoid the still-talked-about prospect of Hopkins dredging up the remains of Roy Jones. Dawson needs Hopkins to be able to call himself light-heavy number one. For Hopkins, it would be the chance to retire as a legitimate champ.
CHANCES: Fair.
OUTCOME: Dawson, pts.
