The new year is upon us, so here are a few of my boxing wishes for 2012:
? As usual, the long-awaited showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. We can hope, can’t we?
? For Mayweather to think long and hard about why he’s spending the first part of this year sitting in a jail cell and how to avoid going back after he’s released in the spring.
? The Super Six World Boxing Classic plus-one fight: Andre Ward against Lucian Bute for all the marbles at 168 pounds.
? Lasting and meaningful peace between Top Rank and Golden Boy, so that Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer will make the slew of fights together that should be made. I have a feeling this will be on next year’s list, too.
? For every fight freak to log on to YouTube and spend 40 minutes watching Akira Yaegashi-Pornsawan Porpramook, the epic 2011 fight of the year. You won’t be sorry.
? That Ken Hershman at HBO and Stephen Espinoza at Showtime thrive in their new positions, and that they buy the best fights for the fans, not push the agenda of a particular promoter or manager.
? For some alphabet outfit to make me a diamond emeritus super-duper interplanetary regular interim champion in recess — for a small sanctioning fee, of course.
? For Bernard Hopkins to get a fight that will allow him to bow out in style.
? For people outside Germany and Ukraine to appreciate just how good and dominant heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are.
? For the Victor Ortiz-Andre Berto rematch to be as good as their first fight.
? For fighters to stop touching gloves all the time. Do it at the start of the fight, maybe after a legitimate accidental foul and before the final round. That’s it.
? Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in the battle for Mexico (youth division).
