By Frank Warren
SO what can Britain look forward to in the new boxing year ahead?
Although we lost three world champions this year, we will start in a strong position with two quality world title holders in Nathan Cleverly and Ricky Burns.
And there is the possibility of Dereck Chisora joining them if he causes an upset and defeats WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.
Del Boy takes on the elder Klitschko in Munich on February 18.And if he is physically and mentally fit, as he was against Robert Helenius, the Londoner will be a real handful for the 40-year-old Ukrainian.
Undoubtedly it's going to be tough for Chisora but it would be a stunning feat if he could pull it off in Germany.
It wasn't that long ago we were marvelling about Joe Calzaghe's achievements but I'm really excited about WBO light-heavyweight champ Cleverly's career.
His thriller with Tony Bellew was one of the best world title fights I've seen for a long time. Many thought Bellew would be too strong for the unbeaten Welshman but Cleverly's speed and work-rate were the deciding factor — a rematch could happen in 2012.
Cleverly is in an exciting division with WBC champion Bernard Hopkins, WBA holder Beibut Shumenov and IBF ruler Tavoris Cloud.
He makes a hero's return to Wales on February 25 to defend his title in Cardiff and we will look to build up towards a big unification fight later next year.
I'm hoping to hear some good news soon that Juan Manuel Marquez has vacated the WBO world lightweight title so that Scotland's Burns, the interim champion, will be elevated to full world champion status.
Burns is happy to face Marquez — who gave Manny Pacquiao his closest brush with defeat recently — but it looks likely the Mexican warrior will move up to light-welter. So, for now, Burns will be back in action on March 10 in Glasgow.
Also in the frame for a showdown with the Scot is Londoner Kevin Mitchell, who beat John Murray.Mitchell has knuckled down and makes his return to the ring on February 10 against unbeaten Irishman Stephen Ormond.
Matthew Macklin looks like he's got another world title shot, this time against Sergio Martinez on March 17 at Madison Square Garden.
Martinez was stripped of his WBC world middleweight title and holds a WBC diamond belt, so Macklin's going to be up against it.
I'd like to see James DeGale and George Groves get their rematch on next year with the European, Commonwealth and British super-middleweight titles all on the line. Both will be in action early in 2012.
Amir Khan's next fight is outside the ring in January, when he will try to get the IBF and WBA to overturn the decision against Lamont Peterson that saw the Yank win both titles. Don't hold your breath for that one.
There is also talk of Carl Froch going back on the road again after losing his titles to Andre Ward in the Super Six final last week.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, has had a disastrous world title year with only one of his fighters, Froch, going the distance.
Anyone can get a boxer a world title fight, the real skill is getting it in the right place at the right time — when your boxer has the chance of actually winning and holding on to it.
