Boxing News Boxing News
I am a down to earth kind of guy. As I kid I was never the one to ask Santa Claus for a pony or expect off-the-world career opportunities. Neither am I now in my list to “Uncle Bob” or “Golden Boy”.
I have high hopes for 2012 with quality fights on the market but these aren’t Pacquiao against Mayweather or an all-Klitschko showdown. Boxing is what it is and this list is carefully made to accommodate that.
Lucas Matthysse (32-2-0 30 KO’s) vs. Marcos Maidana (33-3-0 30 KO’s)
This fight has been proposed by both fighters and their shared promotional agency Golden Boy. These fighters are superstars in their native Argentina and popular in the United States also.
Seeing the money available from Argentinian fans making a big sell out and having HBO or Showtime cameras shipped down south for this one undoubtedly this is a strong possibility seeing recent victories by both men. I predict a Matthysse decision, but you never know with these warriors.
Denis Lebedev (25-1-0 19 KO’s) vs. Eddie Chambers (36-3-0 16 KO’s)
With Chambers move down to the Cruiserweight division this could be a reasonable fight between flexible promoters and fighters always willing the face the very best. Lebedev called out Eddie Chambers after a flattening knockout of Santander Silgado earlier this week and Chambers took the rant onto Twitter afterword.
Lebedev may be the biggest fighter in Vladimir Hyrunov’s promotional stable with his WBA title supremacy but make no mistake, Vladimir has tossed his men into big fights before in hostile territories. As with Khalib Allakhvierdev’s fight against Joan Guzman earlier this year, I think we will see this one come through.
A win for the Knockout artist Denis Lebedev or a decision for the skilled boxer Eddie Chambers wouldn’t shock me, but I prefer the latter.
Brian Viloria (32-3-0 19 KO’s) vs. Toshiyuki Igarashi (17-1-1 10 KO’s)
These are the two best fighters in a gutsy division. Fights actually happen at Flyweight. Viloria is the WBO/WBA champion and a Hawaiian superstar holding massive victories to Hernan “Tyson” Marquez, Giovanni Segura, Omar Nino and Julio Cesar Miranda, all of which I had ranked in the Top 10 at the time.
This would be the final step in unifying these title straps at Flyweight. Igarashi recently took his WBC/Ring Magazine straps from heavy-hitting lineal champion Sonny Boy Jaro.
Both usually defend titles at home but have proven to budge to fight these stiff tests as needed. It’s a somewhat long shot, but far from unlikely compared to most fights in the upper weight classes.
Erislandy Lara (17-1-2 11 KO’s) vs. Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-2-0 18 KO’s)
Angulo is on the comeback trail after a long year of drama including a thrilling stoppage loss to James Kirkland. This would be considered for the second half of 2013 after proposed collisions with Delvin Rodriguez and other fringe contenders. But both men are with Golden Boy Promotions and are at the top of their games. It’s a clear cut fight to make reasonably soon.
Anselmo Moreno (32-2-1 12 KO’s) Vs. Leo Santa Cruz (23-0-1 13 KO’s)
Moreno is a slick, speedy, southpaw fighter. I always compared him to Sweet Pea Pernell Whitaker until Abner Mares broke him down to a clear decision earlier this year. Santa Cruz is another tough Mexican warhorse on his way up the ranks with wins to lower level contenders.
Santa Cruz holds the IBF strap but still needs a solid test defense and Moreno needs to rebound making this fight ideal. I’ll watch this excellent stylistic clash any day and seeing the investment that Showtime TV network has with them over the years I could see this getting solid coverage. I pick Santa Cruz in a close collision.
Floyd Mayweather Jr (43-0-0 26 KO’s) Vs. Saul ” Canelo ” Alvarez (41-0-1 30 KO’s)
Drumroll please…this is the biggest fight that can be made in 2013. Canelo Alvarez has taken the world by storm in the last two years pummeling contenders Josesito Lopez, Kermit Cintron, Shane Mosley and more. He could use some larger opponents, but he has looked excellent against those he’s fought.
A WBC/WBA unification with America’s best fighter in Floyd Mayweather is a given for Golden Boy. Expect it on Cinco De Mayo 2013. And as a fan I believe you’ll be in for a treat between a savvy boxer and a relentless brawler.
Will the torch be passed or will “Pretty Boy” Floyd impress again? I cannot call it, but Mayweather, even coming off a 12 month layoff since his hard fought win over Miguel Cotto, should be the betting favorite.
Other fights I would love to see are Mike Alvarado (33-1-0 23 KO’s) against Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1-0 15 KO’s), two Top Rank promoted brawlers with heavy punching power. Arthur Abraham (36-3-0 28 KO’s) against Kelly Pavlik (40-2-0 34 KO’s), even if the Pavlik vs. Ward fight happens I think Pavlik may take another belt here.
Roman Gonzalez (34-0-0 28 KO’s) against Adrian Hernandez (25-2-1 16 KO’s) in a battle of Light Flyweights and to conclude Deontay Wilder (26-0-0 26 KO’s) against a lower level contender, possibly Tony Thompson, Ruslan Chagaev, Tony Grano, Johnathan Banks or anyone else not too risky.
