One Man's Boxing Wish List For The Coming Year

By Michael Rosenthal

All boxing fans have their dream matchups. Here are 10 of mine for 2019.

ERROL SPENCE VS. TERENCE CRAWFORD

This is the best-possible matchup in boxing, in my opinion. Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) and Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) are undefeated (assuming Spence beats Mikey Garcia in March), supremely gifted all-around fighters in their primes and in the same division. How often is such a matchup even possible? They don’t have the star power of former welterweights Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns or Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad but it has that kind of feel. Can you imagine the intensity?

Who would win? I think Crawford is the better fighter – or at least the more proven one – but I think Spence’s size and strength advantages would be too difficult for Crawford to overcome.

Likelihood it will happen: Promotional affiliations would complicate negotiations. I can only say I hope they find a way to make it happen. It would be shame if it didn’t.

CANELO ALVAREZ VS. DANIEL JACOBS

Alvarez, arguably the biggest moneymaker in the sport, has many options. Jacobs is the best one. A third fight with Gennady Golovkin is warranted and would sell well but I, for one, would prefer a fresh matchup. Jacobs is a complete, experienced fighter who holds a title and would give Alvarez (51-1-2, 35 KOs) all he could handle. And Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) deserves the opportunity. So do the fans. A part of me would rather see Alvarez-Jermall Charlo but Jacobs is the more-proven commodity.

Who would win? I lean toward Alvarez, who is more dynamic than Jacobs. I can see Alvarez wearing down Jacobs with body shots and either scoring a late KO or winning a decision.

Likelihood it will happen: I think Alvarez’s handlers see what I see. This is a marketable fight that would make fans happy and everyone involved a lot of money. It’ll happen.

DEONTAY WILDER VS. TYSON FURY II

I have to be honest. I almost fell asleep by the middle rounds of Wilder-Fury I. And I wasn’t alone. A lack of action sucked the energy out of Staples Center through eight-plus rounds. Then came the knockdowns, which brought the fans back into the fight and saved Wilder (40-1, 39 KOs) from defeat. I want to see it again only because it feels as if there is unfinished business. Can Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) stay on his feet the second time around? Can Wilder finish the job? I want to know.

Who would win? Tough one. I lean toward Wilder because I feel he will have learned some lessons in the first fight. My guess is that he’ll hurt Fury earlier and find a way to end matters.

Likelihood it will happen: It probably will happen. The fighters want it. The fans seem to want it. And it would generate more money than the first edition.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. OLEKSANDR USYK

I’m not as enthusiastic as some people about Usyk’s chances of becoming a formidable heavyweight but I’m dying to see how he will do. I keep thinking of David Haye, a monster at 200 pounds who was just OK as a heavyweight because of inherent size disadvantages. Usyk might have a similar fate. He’s better than any active heavyweight – including Joshua – pound-for-pound but the transition will be difficult. He’s not another Evander Holyfield.

Who would win? Usyk’s superior ability would give Joshua trouble but I believe strongly that Joshua is good enough – and plenty strong enough – to catch and hurt Usyk. This isn’t Roy Jones Jr. vs. John Ruiz.

Likelihood it will happen: Joshua needs an intriguing opponent until he’s able to lure either Wilder or Fury into the ring. Usyk is that. I like the chances.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. THE WILDER-FURY II WINNER

Enough talking. The time for Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) to meet one of his rivals is either sometime in 2019 or early 2020. I don’t care who he ends up fighting, although a Joshua-Wilder matchup might be better for boxing. Fury is a good boxer but he will make any legitimate fight painfully boring because of his safety-first style. Joshua vs. Wilder would be fireworks waiting to happen. And a transatlantic matchup – Englishman vs. American – would add international flavor. I’d happily take either fight.

Who would win? I think Joshua would beat either rival. He’s not a great boxer but he’s better than Wilder. And I don’t see Fury avoiding his biggest shots for 12 rounds.

Likelihood it will happen: The principals understand the tremendous demand – which translates to huge money – for Joshua vs. Wilder or Fury. They’ll overcome sticking points to make it a reality.

VASYL LOMACHENKO VS. MIKEY GARCIA

Lomachenko vs. Mikey Garcia is the best-possible matchup other than Spence-Crawford but can it happen? Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) is set to fight Spence at 147 pounds in March; Lomachenko (12-1, 9 KOs) has only two fights at 135. Garcia can go back down to lightweight, assuming he loses to Spence, but that’s a big drop. He and Lomachenko might have to agree to catch weight or fight at 140. If they can work it out, the fans would be in for a rare treat. If Garcia beats Spence? Forget a showdown with Lomachenko.

Who would win? That might depend on the weight at which they fight. I think a bigger, stronger Garcia who isn’t weight drained would be too much for Lomachenko.

Likelihood it will happen: Another possible obstacle: I’m not sure Garcia wants to work with his former promoter, Bob Arum, who handles Lomachenko. Add everything up and I’d be surprised if this fight happened.

LEO SANTA CRUZ VS. GARY RUSSELL JR.

This would be a fascinating title-unification matchup between a swarming, high-punch-volume veteran (Santa Cruz) vs. a slick, incredibly quick boxer who can also punch (Russell). Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs) has a better resume than Russell (29-1, 17 KOs) – with two victories over Abner Mares and one over Carl Frampton, who earlier handed him his only defeat – but many believe Russell is the more gifted of the two. We know what Santa Cruz brings. We’d learn more about Russell.

Who would win? I’m among those who believe Russell is more talented than Santa Cruz. That would be the deciding factor.

Likelihood it will happen: Santa Cruz wants this fight badly, Russell needs it badly and they fight for the same manager. I’d say the chances are pretty good they’ll meet at some point.

JERMELL CHARLO VS. JARRET HURD

These are two excellent, 28-year-old fighters on the cusp of stardom who would be risking their momentum if they were to meet in a title-unification bout. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Hurd (23-0, 16 KOs) is one of the most-interesting fighters in the world, a good boxer who seems to overwhelm his opponents with his unusual strength. Charlo (31-0, 15 KOs) is a complete, dynamic fighter who seems to be improving. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Who would win? Whew. This would a pick’em fight. I like Hurd’s physical strength and Charlo’s all-around ability. If I have to choose, I lean slightly toward Charlo.

Likelihood it will happen: The hype has already begun, as Charlo crashed the ring after Hurd’s last fight. And they both fight for PBC. It’ll happen.

GENNADY GOLOVKIN VS. JERMALL CHARLO

The WBC is pushing for a title-elimination bout between Golovkin and Charlo, assuming Charlo (27-0, 21 KOs) beats Matvey Korobov on Saturday in Brooklyn. I’m on board with that. I don’t think Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs) has to prove his worthy to face titleholder Canelo Alvarez a third time after arguably beating him twice but a victory over Charlo would be a dramatic way to say, “I’m still here.” Charlo has no defining victories. This would be his opportunity to say, “I’m here.”

Who would win? I hesitate to pick Charlo to win this fight because he has yet to prove he’s on Triple-G’s level but my gut tells me he’s a special fighter. Charlo by close decision.

Likelihood it will happen: Unless Alvarez agrees to fight Golovkin again immediately – which doesn’t seem likely – or Golovkin wants to face only another titleholder, Charlo is a good option. I won’t be surprised if it happens.

NAOYA INOUE VS. LUIS NERY

Inoue (17-0, 15 KOs) has justified the superlatives used to describe him by destroying one foe after another but he still needs a defining fight to reach stardom. One might be coming up. If (when?) Inoue beats Emmanuel Rodriguez in the semifinals of the WBSS bantamweight tournament, he’ll likely face talented Zolani Tete in an intriguing final. I think Inoue vs. Nery (28-0, 22 KOs) is even more fascinating. Their combined record: 45-0 (37 knockouts). Beast vs. beast.

Who would win? I can’t pick against Inoue, who has an overwhelming combination of ability and power. Nery, riding a streak of nine consecutive KOs, wouldn’t go easily, though.

Likelihood it will happen: I don’t see why not. Assuming Inoue wins the tournament, he’ll be seeking another challenge. It doesn’t get better than Nery.

Michael Rosenthal is the most recent winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award for excellence in boxing journalism. He has covered boxing in Los Angeles and beyond for almost three decades.