Boxing is definitely still the premiere fight sport in the planet and will be for quite some time regardless if MMA continues it’s progress. MMA may have momentum but boxing has too much history underneath it for it to just be unseated like that. Consider MMA the youngest sibling who wants to upstage his successful big brother. Kinda like Bobby Pacquiao when he won a WBC belt a few years back. And that’s not a ‘blo-blo’ on MMA, but just like we say it from where I’m from “MMA still has a lot of rice to eat before it gets to boxing’s level”. (Pardon me if I lost you there for a second, when I say ‘blo-blo’, I was referring to BobPac’s fight versus Hector Velasquez circa 2006. Google it!)
One thing the UFC– MMA’s biggest and most successful organization– has over boxing however is it’s ability to give fans the fights they want. Since most of the best fighters are under it’s umbrella, UFC president Dana White can just pit them against each other pretty much whenever he likes. There’s no promoter red tape, sanctioning body complications and fighters who cherry-pick their opponents. The best fight the best and fans get what they want. Take for example the match-ups UFC has lined up for the month of May alone. You got Machida-Rua 2; Rampage vs. Evans.
If boxing operated like the UFC and I were it’s Dana White, here are some match-ups I’m going to do in a heartbeat:
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko
The Kltischko brothers have dominated the heavyweight division for the past decade. Without anyone seriously threatening their reign, it’s time to let these two beat up on each other for a change. Let’s see who truly is the king of the heavyweight division.
Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa
This fight will happen eventually. This will definitely be an explosive match-up that probably won’t go past 8 rounds.
Timothy Bradley vs. Marcos Maidana
This fight was just recently canceled. Maidana backed out due to a nagging back injury. Hopefully a fight between these two will happen before the year’s end.
Paul Williams vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Would love to see this fight at 147. If Floyd beats Williams, he surpasses Pacquiao as #1 pound for pound in my opinion. Will Al Haymon let his two fighters fight though? Doubt it.
Andre Berto vs. Manny Pacquiao
This might be a more fan pleasing fight than Pacquiao-Mayweather in terms of what happens in the ring. Berto is young and tenacious. Pacquiao is a beast. Expect fireworks. Berto has his problems with angles though, but nonetheless, this is a fight any boxing fan would pay to see.
Victor Ortiz vs. Amir Khan
Two young up-and-comers. Let’s see who’s chin holds up longer and who truly is the real deal and the pretender.
Nonito Donaire Jr. vs. Vic Darchiynan
Rematch needs to happen. Too much have been said. It’s safe to say these two guys don’t like each other. Can’t say it would be a different fight from the first one though, but still, it would be interesting to see Darchinyan try and avenge his humiliating knockout loss in 2007.
David Haye vs. Tomasz Adamek
This will be an all-action match-up in the heavyweight division that badly needs some excitement.
Nonito Donaire Jr. vs. Fernando Montiel
Two superb fighters in the lower weight division. Would love to see this one in July or August.
Celestino Caballero vs. Jorge Linares
Writer RM Godley from Enscriber.com picked this and said, “I like this match-up because Linares is better than what he showed against Juan Carlos Salgado in his surprising TKO loss last October and would have his hands full against the ridiculously tall Caballero. Given his height, Caballero would have no problem moving up to Super-Feather. Caballero was very impressive in his last outing and I think a fight with Linares would be a great match-up.”
Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
You already know.
