Quote Originally Posted by superheavyrhun View Post
Well, the turkey is digested, the beer has been cracked open, and it's time to look forward to a new year of boxing, unless you're one of the crazy Belgians who go to the annual Christmas Day boxing "extravaganza".

I was thinking about how things will change in 2012, and I've come up with five predictions regarding Britain's best and brightest.

#1 - Nathan Cleverly, now Britain's sole remaining holder of a world title belt sanctioned by one of the big four will have a comfortable defence in February. I think he'll have a summer unification with Beibut Shumenov, probably the most beatable of the other world champions, and probably one or two more fights against reasonable competition before closing out 2012 undefeated, with talks ongoing about an even bigger unification in 2013.

#2 - Amir Khan. Khan's team go back to the drawing board and come up with a serious plan, and win the rematch against Peterson. Splits start to open between Khan and Roach. Maybe a change of trainer. Easy defence in the summer, then Khan gets beat in the Autumn by Bradley, or goes up to welterweight and gets beaten there.

#3 - Carl Froch. I'm torn about Froch, as a part of me thinks he'll go to LH. However, he doesn't struggle with the weight so I reckon he continues to fight at SMW. Give him a few months to rest then a homecoming fight in Nottingham Forest's football stadium in May against a decent but beatable fighter. Then another away fight in September/October against Kessler or Stieglitz depending on who wins there. I don't think he'll retire, he's still got plenty to prove.

#4 - Ricky Burns. Only not a world title holder until he beats Guerrero and turns the interim into a full belt. And I do think he'll do that. He'll win his March fight against someone bordering on the world scene, before a summer fight against Kevin Mitchell. I think he'll just about scrape past Mitchell before an October/November fight against Guerrero, which he will win.

#5 - Tyson Fury - How on earth did he make the top 5? Well, I reckon he will finish the year as the top British heavyweight. Haye and Chisora will find themselves taken apart by a Klitchsko each, and this will leave Mick to manage Fury well through a few more fighters without much pop, before he gets a shot at Helenius. Thus, Fury talks the big talk in the lead up to a big fight in 2013 where he is liable to get sparked.

Anyone think any of those are likely?
Great Thread Superheavyrhun.

1. I agree if Cleverly can continue to improve he will handle Shumenov and win after his easier home fight in Feb.

2. If Khan gets a chance he beats Peterson in a rematch but I will still be surprised to see Bradley come and face him.I am so underwhelmed by Bradley that it would not surprise me if someone else exposes him before Khan has the chance.

3.Froch was light against Ward and clearly struggled but I do not think he can be a great LHW he will have a couple more fights at SMW and Bute seems to be where the money is.Unfortunately Bute may well knock him out. I hope not, but Carl has taken a lot of punishment and granite chins don't last forever. Either way I think the British SMW future champ is Groves he can adapt and will start to ramp up the opposition late 2012.

4.Ricky Burns is a great fighter and will confirm this in 2012. Against whom? is anyone's guess.

5. Your right how did Fury make the top 5? The sooner someone sparks him out the better. A fit Chisora beats him on points and Haye would just muller him, so whatever the formbook says I wouldn't personally rate him above Del Boy or Deron even if they are beaten by the Klits, and that is not a formality. Chisora on Points and Haye similarly would provide a fantastic all British 2013 unification. ( there really should be a zzz dreaming smiley)