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What I Want To See In 2010


2009 was my first year as a full-fledged boxing fanatic.  I got into it through my initial interest in MMA.  I would get big fights every now and then, but now I find myself using YouTube to look up old fights, DVRing fights on Showtime and HBO.  I used to think boixng was a dead sport, but its not.  The problem is sports elites like ESPN and the people who use them as their sole outlet for sports still think it is.  As Max Kellerman said during the Williams fight, "2009 was gooooood."  And it was, so here is my wishlist for 2010:

1.  Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather

Of course, this appears to be happening.  There is no real equivilent to this match up for someone my age (28).  I remember the hype for Tyson-Lewis, but that had less to do with real boxing skill and more to do with circus.  Both men are at the top of their game, the best boxers in the world in any division, and have styles to match perfectly.  Pacquiao is the punching machine, a tazmanian devil that tears through opponents.  Mayweather is the patient counter-puncher who uses quick reflexes, superior athleticism, and ring smarts to get out of the way fast and the attack even faster.  At first I had this as Pacquiao, but the more I think about it and the more I watch Floyd fights its going to be a lot closer than I thought and I have to say its close to being 50-50 now.

2.  A junior welterweight tournament as proposed by HBO

They have tour names, but to be honest you could do a round-robin similar to Showtime, or a full eight-man bracket tournament.  Right now the names are Devon Alexander, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana, and Victor Ortiz.  But there is Timothy Bradley, Nate Campbell, Juan Urango, Juan Manuel Marquez,Kendall Holt, Ricky Hatoon, Paulie Malignaggi.  But what is great about the Super Six, and why I'm not surprised to see HBO trying to copy Showtime, is that they guarantee top fighters fighting each other, and it makes for compelling fights.  Junior welterweight is stacked, just stacked and a four-man tourney is just a taste.  If HBO wants to match Showtime's grand planning, they need more.  Showtime got six of the top fighters in the world, broadcast fights from all over the world, and has spent a lot of money hyping this.  

3.  Kelly Pavlik moves to Super Middleweight

I hate to say it, and I hate to see the lone good fighter in the middleweight division leave because it is so weak, but I want to see Kelly Pavlik in big fights.  There is always Paul Williams, but as sad as it sounds even though HBO has made it their narrative, what is the upside of Pavlik fighting Williams?  He won't make any money and he might lose.  And then what after that?  Felix Strum?  Anthony Mundine?  Winky Wright?  There is nothing left for him.

But a move to super middleweight?  Suddenly there are big fights left and right beginning with Lucien Bute.  Business-wise, HBO looks to be pushing Bute as the true top super-mid in order to take some of the shine off of the Super Six.  The Andrade fight was great theater with the story behind their first fight, but Bute needs someone new to fight.  And while six of the top fighters are taken up, there is also Allen Green, Andrade, and Sakio Bika that could make for big Pavlik fights.

I'm a big Kelly Pavlik fan for many reasons and right now he is the most wasted champion in boxing.  Now divison is weaker, in my mind, than the middleweights.  He's getting heat for ducking Paul Williams, but I honestly can't blame him if he is because there is no upside for him win or lose.  A move to super middleweight, a huge HBO fight with Bute among others could be just what the doctor ordered.

4.  The Klitschko Brothers fight each other

This might come off as schtick or campy because they are brothers, but honestly they are the top two heavyweights in the world and I think we are owed to see who is the best of the big boys.  Many have thought the two might dance around each other, and I'm pretty sure this fight won't happen.  But while the heavyweight division has gotten better with the emergence of young talent like Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Kevin Johnson, David Haye, and Tomasz Adamek in the division, the Klitschko's are the dominate force and I think a fight to find out who the best heavyweight in the post-Lewis era is worth it.

5.  Chad Dawson vs. Bernard Hopkins

The cynic says because there is nothing else for Dawson.  And the cynic would be right.  A quick glace through the light heavies is a who's who of fighters that use to be great.  Jones, Tarver, and Johnson lead the list.  Underneath are good young fighters like Tavaris Cloud and Jean Pascal, but for Dawson whom HBO is looking to turn into a big star those names don't work.  Hopkins is NOT a fighter that use to be great, he still has it. He beat Pavlik, looked good against "white boy" Calzaghe, and took apart Enrique Onaleas.  Hopkins is the perfect match-up for Dawson to prove himself.  He's smart, elusive, knows how to fight inside and out, and most of all he knows better than perhaps any boxer still fighting how to impose his pace and style on a fight.  I don't think that Dawson has fought that yet.  Beating Tarver and Johnson twice has given Dawson his degree, but he only will get his doctorate by fighting Hopkins.  I know Bernard wants Roy Jones and he wants the heavyweight title, but this is a real fight I want to see and one that could make a huge star or a true legend.

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the klitschko's

will never fight each other, ur other points are valid though

by Sweet science on Dec 8, 2009 6:33 PM EST reply actions  

It'd be like Venus vs Serena

But with less grunting, and slightly more muscles

by FCF on Dec 18, 2009 9:16 AM EST up reply actions  

Pavlik might be one of those guys, like Ricky Hatton, who’s only good at one weight class. His whole game is about being taller and stronger than his opponents.

Also, I’d personally be interested in seeing Pavlik fight the best middleweights out there, including Sturm and co. I know those aren’t “big fights” but they’re not bad, and I like the idea of a guy trying to clean out his own division before moving to a new one.

by taco pal on Dec 9, 2009 11:16 AM EST reply actions  

3. Kelly Pavlik moves to Super Middleweight

I hate to say it, and I hate to see the lone good fighter in the middleweight division leave

There are a lot more good fighters at 160 than just Kelly Pavlik.

Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport

by Scott Christ on Dec 9, 2009 8:13 PM EST reply actions  

sorry

your right, I meant that fighters that Pavlik could have a superfight with

by mason_beer on Dec 9, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions  

I don’t think there’s anyone he can have a truly big fight with next year. Bute, I suppose. But that would have to be in Quebec, and who knows if Pavlik would do that. Other than that, who’s at 168 that would give him any bigger of a fight than Paul Williams? The guys in the Super Six, maybe, but they’re busy, and Abraham, Kessler, Froch and Dirrel are no more stars over here than Felix Sturm,

Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport

by Scott Christ on Dec 10, 2009 1:57 AM EST up reply actions  

great looking list, I want to see all of it too. Especially Pac-Floyd and a junior welter tourney. I also think Katsidis-Marquez would be an awesome fight, but I guess Marquez is looking for some big money with Hatton, for which I don’t blame him.

by BloodMeridian on Dec 11, 2009 9:13 PM EST reply actions  

I want to see ONE recognized champion per weight class and only 8-9 weight classes, then boxing will be where it needs to be…of course fixing judging also

by Reaser16 on Dec 16, 2009 8:15 PM EST reply actions  

Margo fight Martinez in a rematch and Martinez beating him up this time would be fine with me.

"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006

by The Midnight Rambler on Dec 18, 2009 3:54 PM EST reply actions  

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