By Andreas Hale
Despite fight fans being denied the biggest fight that could be made between Gennady Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 2016 turned out to be a pretty damn good year for the sport.
Could a year that saw everything from the savage brutality of Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido, the application of the sweet science between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, young lions throwing hands in Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter and, of course, the marvelous showdown between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz get even better?
If the way 2017 is starting is any indication, the answer is yes. And it should silence the naysayers who continue to suggest that boxing is on life support.
2017 began with an excellent showdown between Badou Jack and James DeGale that exceeded just about everyone’s expectations while we also saw a potential future star born in Gervonta Davis.
But as surprised as we were about Jack and DeGale’s back and forth battle, there should be absolutely no surprises regarding the first big fight of 2017 when Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton meet again after their sensational featherweight battle last year.
It’s the first of several high profile fights that goes against the thought that the best fighters aren’t paired up with one another. A trend that was showcased all through 2016 with a few exceptions (Canelo-GGG) appears to be kicking into high gear in 2017.
Santa Cruz-Frampton, Garcia-Thurman, Klitschko-Joshua, and GGG-Jacobs are all scheduled for the first half of the year. Hell, there is some intrigue in the Canelo-Chavez Jr. fight although that intrigue will likely surround whether Chavez will make weight. Of course, there will be a dud or two tossed in (here’s looking at you Cotto-Kirkland) but, for the most part, boxing fans are being treated right in 2017.
Aside from the higher profile fights, fight fans will get to see Jorge Linares vs. Anthony Crolla as the winner will likely face Mikey Garcia, who will continue his return this weekend against Dejan Zlaticanin.
There will also appearances from the likes of Vasyl Lomachenko, Adonis Stevenson, Felix Verdejo, Robert Easter Jr., Adrien Broner, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Deontay Wilder, Manny Pacquiao and Demetrius Andrade, to name a few.
It’s going to be very difficult for boxing’s detractors to criticize the sport. However, they’ll find a way. If, for some reason, Golovkin and Canelo don’t fight in September, that will be the target of criticism. But, just like last year, it’s unfair to suggest that one fight ruins an entire sport.
Meanwhile, the UFC is going in the opposite direction as their biggest star (Conor McGregor) continues to lobby for a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather while their second biggest attraction (Ronda Rousey) may never fight again. But there appears to be a lot more people who have faith that MMA will be fine than there are who believe that boxing is in good shape.
It’s a strange dynamic between the sport and the mainstream but it is one that has followed boxing for years and years. Everyone is willing to write off the sport until they are proven wrong time and time again.
The sweet science no longer needs to be propped up by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Just like it didn’t need Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, etc. Smart boxing fans have allowed those two ships to sail into the sunset and have moved on to the next crop of rising stars. And, fortunately for us, there are a number of exciting fighters who can carry the torch.
Ultimately, 2017 could potentially be a pivotal year for the sport. A year that works out the kinks of PBC, Top Rank, Roc Nation, K1, Showtime, HBO, Golden Boy and, for the most part, they can all play in the same sandbox. It’s necessary that fight fans see the invisible barriers knocked down. And even more of a necessity that we get the best fights possible. We’re well on our way.
Buckle up, enjoy the ride and be prepared to tell the naysayers that boxing has never died.
