Here are my top ten fights for 2007:
10. Joan Guzman vs Edwin Valero: I don't know why, but I've been dreaming about this matchup. The winner would be the heir apparent at super feather and would have the right to fight the big boys in the division, meaning PacMan, MAB, and EM.
9. Paul Williams vs Antonio Margarito: Nobody is scared of the Boogeyman. In fact, Williams has been calling out Tony for a while. Now Williams is the mandatory for Tony's belt. This should be an all out slugfest that will prove a ton of things about both guys. Williams looks like Hearns at 147, is he the real deal? Is Tony actually all that Arum has built him up to be? This is a fight that MUST and barring any setbacks, WILL happen.
8. Edison Miranda vs Arthur Abraham II: Everyone saw the first fight and I'll be honest, I still don't see how the hell Abraham won on points. Talk about a screwjob. The IBF saw what happened and still has Edison ranked as the #1 contender. Both fighters have a ton of heart and a genuine hatred for one another. The second fight will be more thrilling than the first, and that's saying a lot.
7. Joe Calzaghe vs Mikkel Kessler: This could be the biggest fight in the history of super middleweights. A bonafide unification. JoeCal should stop fucking around with Bernard Hopkins (who is almost 42), Roy Jones (who is THIS close to being washed up), and Jermain Taylor (who still has unfinished business at middleweight). Although this fight won't have the mainstream US appeal that a Hopkins-Calzaghe fight would have, this fight would define JoeCal's career and give Kessler the chance at making history.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Sugar Shane Mosley: Ever since Mosley stopped Vargas, I've been salivating for this fight. This would be a great fight and would pit the #1 P4P fighter in the sport versus against one of the true stars of the welterweight division in the past decade. It will also show us if Mosley actually still has gas left in the tank or if Vargas was just that bad. For Floyd, it could be a great setup for another fight to be mentioned later in the list and would only enhance his celebrity.
5. Ricky Hatton vs Jose Luis Castillo: This would be the greatest war in the past decade. Both fighters have a ton of heart and have a ton of skill as well. JLC wants to move up to 140 or 147, Hatton wants to move down to 140 again. What a great fight, Hatton hasn't really fought a worthy opponent since Tszyu. Collazo was worthy but I honestly believe Hatton doesn't belong at 147.
4. Miguel Cotto vs Diego Corrales: Corrales wants to come all the way up to 147 and Cotto is starting his campaign at 147. Both fighters have HUGE followings and the matchup is actually intriguing. Cotto has a pretty good skill set but ever since the Torres fight people have been wondering if his chin will end up being his Achillies heel. Cotto hasn't been in with a puncher since Torres. Corrales doesn't have to weight drain himself anymore and because of this, I believe he will be more healthy and explosive at 147. What a fight.
3. Wladimir Klitschko vs Samuel Peter II: I'm predicting that after Wlad gets rid of Brock and Peter gets rid of Toney, these two fighters need to hookup in what will be the biggest heavyweight fight in a long while. Yeah, some of you might be saying that the division needs to get unified first, but I'm saying that this fight will provide the universally recognized heavweight champion of the world. The first fight was exactly what we expected, Wlad would probably escape danger because of his skills. But I think that Peter is so determined and so hungry that a second fight is warranted in this situation.
2. Jermain Taylor vs Winky Wright II: I had the first fight scored 115-113 Taylor, but I definitely thought a draw was more than fair. Winky was crying like he won the fight without a doubt, but I don't think anyone watching that fight saw it as onesided. What everyone could agree on was the pure competiveness of the fight. It was probably one of the best technically and dramatic fights in the past couple of years and an example of a fight living up to the hype. The second fight will be more important and probably more exciting.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Oscar De La Hoya: You knew this one was coming. Unlike some of the crap that gets put on PPV (i.e. Tyson exhibitions), this is a fight no one will have a problem shelling out $50 for. The #1 P4P fighter in the sport, Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather, lifestyle flashy. Floyd has an amazing skill set and is the most technically sound boxer I've ever watched. Even though, he doesn't have a ton of pop at 147 and he's not a brawler, his technique always keeps you into the fight and watching what he is gonna do next. If he wins this fight, this will serve as a passing of the torch. Everyone keeps an eye on Floyd Mayweather. ODLH, the biggest non heavyweight star in the history of boxing, needs this fight to retire. While he is the biggest star in the sport, everyone knows that ODLH hasn't ever really beat anybody except Genaro Hernandez. He hasn't become the biggest star in the sport not with winning or skill but with his talent outside of the ring. He beat an old washed up Julio Cesar Chavez, he barely beat and drugged out and washed up Pernell Whitaker, in my eyes he got a gift Vegas decision against Quartey, he ran like a coward in the championship rounds against Felix and paid for it with a loss, he lost twice against Shane Mosley, he beat Vargas after Trinidad already demolished him, and he lost against a much bigger B-Hop. He hasn't truly won a big big fight in his career except against Genaro in his career. He knows this and it eats him up. This is why even though he's acting like he doesn't need the fight, he knows everyone questions his boxing legacy. This is why this fight WILL happen. Not to mention it will probably be the biggest PPV in history.
BTW, no PacMan on the list. But I wanna see him fight.
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