In terms of marquee matchups, 2011 has gotten off to a good start so far. Last month, Timothy Bradley won a technical decision over Devon Alexander in a much-anticipated junior-welterweight unification bout. True, the way the fight ended was controversial. But the pairing was perfect: two young, undefeated warriors willing to meet in the ring rather than have their promoters squabble endlessly at the negotiating table.
This Saturday?s bantamweight clash between Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel is another super showdown. And on April 23, another pair of top bantamweights ? Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko ? will slug out their differences.
So far, so good. But there are plenty of other potentially great fights that could occur this year, provided that the stars, promoters and sanctioning bodies somehow find themselves in alignment. Here are some possibilities, not in any particular order. I?m sure readers can come up with a lot more.
MANNY PACQUIAO vs. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.
Why it should happen: Any time the two best pound-for-pound fighters are close to the same weight, it goes without saying that they should trade punches. When Pacquiao-Mayweather was announced late in 2009, the welterweight mega-fight made headlines in and out of the boxing world. Subsequent delays and derailments have led to disappointment. If the match isn?t made this year or next, its luster will dim to the point of disappearance. Chances it will happen: Very slim. Mayweather has serious legal matters to deal with that could keep him out of the ring for the rest of this year. Pacquiao should get past Shane Mosley in May. If Mayweather isn?t available, who?s left for the Pac-man? See below ?
MANNY PACQUIAO vs. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
Why it should happen: There is unfinished business between these two. They?ve fought each other twice in lower weight classes, with the first one ending in a draw and the second in a disputed decision for Pacquiao. Yes, Pacquiao is bigger than Marquez now, with Manny a legitimate welterweight and JMM at best a junior-welterweight. But Marquez could well be to Pacquiao what Ken Norton was to Muhammad Ali: a style nemesis who will always be difficult to beat decisively. Chances it will happen: Fair. If Mayweather won?t fight Pacquiao, Marquez is certainly willing to do so. A third fight would be a big money-maker, and add to the legacy of both future Hall-of-Famers.
WLADIMIR OR VITALI KLITSCHKO vs. DAVID HAYE
Why it should happen: This counts as two fights ? two fights Haye should already have had, since he was supposed to have met each of the Ukrainian heavyweight siblings a couple of years ago. The bouts fell through, and Haye has since been talking Klitschko while fighting the likes of Audley Harrison. Even though Haye holds one of the four major heavyweight belts, he needs to either take on one of the Klitschkos, or risk going down in history as a windbag unwilling to back up his bombast. Chances it will happen: Almost none. I?m not going to say ?never,? but based on the past, Haye will still be talking about fighting the Klitschkos long after all three heavyweights have hung up their gloves.
THE KLITSCHKOS vs. TOMASZ ADAMEK
Why it should happen: Again, a two-for-one deal. Like Haye, Adamek has made a successful climb from cruiserweight to heavyweight. Unlike Haye, Adamek is willing to turn talk into reality. Although he is much smaller than the Klitschkos, Adamek has the potential to out-busy either of them. And Vitali and Wladimir, of course, have the potential to turn Adamek?s lights out. Chances it will happen: Good. Provided that all three can get past their tune-up bouts, an encounter between Adamek and a Klitschko is very likely to occur in Germany or Poland this fall.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ vs. YURIORKIS GAMBOA
Why it should happen: These ultra-talented young featherweights have been on a collision course since the day they turned pro. They?re both undefeated, they?re both exciting to watch, and they each hold a piece of their division?s crown. This is a match that is practically begging to be made. And, unlike Smokey Robinson in his famous R&B song, fight fans are not ?choosy beggars.? Chances it will happen: Good, but maybe not this year. Promoters are priming the pump hard for a superfight between these two. The danger, of course, is that one or both of them may be defeated before they get a chance to meet. There?s not much more either of them can do to embellish their credentials, so this would be the ideal year for a Lopez-Gamboa showdown. If not this year, they?ll meet in 2012, barring upsets of their applecarts.
TAVORIS CLOUD vs. CHAD DAWSON
Why it should happen: With a rematch coming after their disputed draw, and a probable rubber match after that, light-heavyweights Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins will be tied up for the rest of this year. That leaves Cloud and Dawson on the outside looking in. So, Tavoris and Chad, why not fight each other? If Dawson wins, he will re-establish the credibility he lost when Pascal defeated him. If Cloud wins, he will be the undefeated young lion of the division. Chances it will happen: Fair. Beyond the Big Four ? Hopkins, Pascal, Cloud and Dawson ? the rest of the light-heavies are no great shakes. But the belt-less Dawson might want to win a separate piece of the title before tangling with Cloud. Or they both might decide to wait it out for Pascal or Hopkins.
ANDRE WARD vs. CARL FROCH
Why it should happen: These two are the standouts of the super-middleweight Super Six tournament. Beyond their excellent performances, they deserve credit for lasting this long, considering that three of the original contestants dropped out due to injuries sustained in battle. Froch and Ward are young, skilled and fearless. What more could you want? Chances it will happen: Very good. They?re in the Super Six semi-finals. Ward faces Arthur Abraham, and Froch meets Glen Johnson. If Froch and Ward win ? and they?re both favorites going into their fights ? they?ll meet in the final. And that could be the fight of the year.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY vs. AMIR KHAN
Why it should happen: These two stand at the top of the junior-welterweight division. And they?re both coming off ambiguous wins. Headbutts were a factor in Bradley?s technical decision over Alexander. Khan was almost knocked out by Marcos Maidana and had to hang on to win on the scorecards. Khan and Bradley have been calling each other out for quite a while. As Captain Picard of the Starship Enterprise would say: ?Make it so.? Chances it will happen: Good. If Khan gets past Paul McCloskey in April, the stage will be set for a Khan-Bradley bout in the fall. If held in England, this meeting would be a box-office blockbuster.
SERGIO MARTINEZ vs. LUCIAN BUTE
Why it should happen: Both fighters are being frozen out of lucrative contests. Bute?s best possible super-middleweight opponents are either fighting in the Super Six, or licking wounds sustained from bouts in that tournament. Martinez?s reward for cold-cocking Paul Williams is that he?s inherited Williams?s unofficial title as ?The Most Avoided Fighter in Boxing.? Martinez could do a lot worse than moving up a division to take on Bute. Chances it will happen: Slim. Even if Martinez wins his upcoming bout with Sergei Dzinziruk, he?d be giving weight away against Bute. Still, Martinez?s skill against Bute?s strength would make for a compelling contest.
So, Readers ? what fights would you like to see in 2011?
Charles R. Saunders is the author of several books including Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers in the Maritimes from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace, as well as the Imaro series of fantasy/adventure novels. Considered by many to be one of the leading authorities on boxing in Canada, he is the current Vice-President of Boxing for the Society of North American Sports Historians and Researchers.
