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Now that 2013 is on it’s way out the door, let’s take a look at what 2014 may hold for the star-studded welterweight division.
Floyd Mayweather, 46-0 (26): the top man at both 147 and 154 pounds, “Money May” is, at age 36, winding down a career that has seen him win an amazing 22 world title bouts in five weight classes and will probably retire if he indeed breaks the mythical 50-0 barrier.
Who will he face in 2014? Probably the opponent who will make Mayweather the most amount of money and right now, that could be a fight against Amir Khan, 28-3 (19), in the UK.
The pairing could fill 75,000 seat Old Trafford stadium in Manchester and not in the least threaten Mayweather’s unbeaten record as he would toy with Khan.
After that, we could see a clash with Timothy Bradley before the long-anticipated battle with Manny Pacquiao. Both those fights are intriguing and represent at least some level of danger for Floyd but, let’s face it, he’d win both.
Timothy Bradley, 31-0 (12): having already defeated Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight with Mayweather seems to be a natural fit for Bradley but if that big time opportunity comes, it won’t be until later in the year.
Bradley will need a good, competitive scrap that he will likely win to help stoke interest in a Mayweather showdown and that could come against Robert Guerrero, 31-2-1 (18).
Guerrero seems to be a natural fit for Bradley, who would seek to top Mayweather’s points defeat of the hard-nosed southpaw earlier this year. For Guerrero, it would be a chance to jump right back into top level but he’d likely get outworked by the faster Bradley.
Juan Manuel Marquez, 55-7-1 (40): hard to believe the Mexico City counter-puncher is 40 years of age but there it is and he’ still pretty much on the top of his game.
Marquez could get a title shot against Marcos Maidana mid-year but will probably need a fight before then to stay sharp and that could mean a bout with either Paulie Malignaggi, 33-5 (7), or perhaps Guerrero, who would both lose against Marquez.
Manny Pacquiao, 55-5-2 (38): 2014 should be the year we finally get to see the Filipino face Mayweather and Pacquiao got at least halfway back to his former status with a win recently against Brandon Rios, 31-2-1 (23), but let’s face it, he’ll never be viewed again as the top man after the KO loss to Marquez in 2012.
Pacquiao is starting to lose a step at age 35 so he can’t be matched against someone truly dangerous leading up to the Mayweather bout but at the same time, he’ll probably need to bring a title belt to the table if he is to ever get that opportunity.
That means a fight with newly minted world champs Maidana or Shawn Porter, who would probably both lose to “Pac Man”.
Marcos Maidana, 35-3 (31): the Argentine slugger shot up the charts will his upset of Adrien Broner last weekend and “El Chino” will probably have six months to celebrate before making his first defense.
That could come against Marquez, which might be too risky this early in Maidana’s reign or perhaps heavy-handed upstart Keith Thurman, 22-0 (20), which would generate a lot of interest as one punch could end everything in the blink of an eye.
Shawn Porter, 23-0-1 (14): the Ohio man came out of nowhere to unseat Devon Alexander earlier this month and 2014 could hold either a rematch with Alexander or perhaps a bout with heavily hyped Englishman Kell Brook, 31-0 (21), which would be the more entertaining of the two possibilities.
The relatively inexperienced Porter could also be a target for Pacquiao, who needs a title belt to legitimize a Mayweather showdown. This would be a huge opportunity for Porter but also a fight he’s unlikely to win.
Devon Alexander, 25-2 (14): coming off a stunning upset loss to Porter, if Alexander doesn’t get a direct rematch, he’ll be heading into rebuilding mode.
That could mean a contest with Malignaggi, Guerrero or perhaps a rematch with Randall Bailey, 44-8 (37), all of which would be risky if Alexander has lost some confidence following the Porter loss.
Adrien Broner, 27-1 (22): the Icarus-like rise up from super featherweight to welter in less than a year took its toll on the brash 24 year old as he proved incapable of handling the power shots and will of Maidana.
2014 will definitely see Broner take a break before mounting a comeback, which could come against a selection of opponents on the fringes of contention including Leonard Bundu, 30-0-2 (11), Luis Carlos Abregu, 35-1 (28), Chris Van Heerden, 19-1-1 (10), or Jessie Vargas, 23-0 (9).
