2007 Preview: Megafights everywhere!

As 2006 comes to a virtual close with the Dec. 2 fights on HBO and Showtime and the Taylor-Ouma fight the week after, let's peek ahead at what could be a banner year for boxing. First, here's a list of top fighters expected to be in action early in 2007: Jan. 6: Peter-Toney II (Showtime)* Jan. 20: Hatton-Urango and Castillo-Ngoudjo (HBO WCB)* Jan. 27: Valuev-Chagaev Jan./Feb.: Mora-Vargas (?) Feb. 24: Mosley-TBA (possibly Kermit Cintron) (HBO PPV?) Feb./March: Calzaghe-Manfredo (HBO, heavily rumored) Feb./March: Tarver-TBA March: Pacquiao-TBA (possibly Valero) (Top Rank) March/April: W.Klitschko-Maskaev, unification (HBO) April/May: Margarito-P.Williams (perhaps Showtime's April or May main event) April/May: Abraham-Miranda II (* confirmed) After that nice start to the year, we'll have this to look forward to: May 5, 2007: De La Hoya-Mayweather (HBO PPV)* late May/early June: Hatton-Castillo (HBO PPV) June-July: Calzaghe-Taylor (HBO PPV) July-August: Pacquaio-Barrera II (HBO PPV) September 2007: De La Hoya-TBA (Winky?) (HBO PPV) (* confirmed) That, folks, covers just HALF of the coming year! It already looks very, very nice for boxing, and for HBO PPV in particular. DLH-PBF will do 1 million plus, Hatton-Castillo would do incredible internationally because of England and Mexico (domestically, maybe 350k?), Calzaghe-Taylor (if both stay undefeated) could do 500k if promoted well enough, Pac-MAB II will do at least 400k and another DLH fight almost guarantees 800k plus buys. There are numerous other possibilities. What will Winky do after the Quartey fight? Taylor seems to be going up for the Calzaghe fight, leaving Winky to fight perhaps the Abraham-Miranda II winner, but surely he would have a fight before that. Wladdy and Oleg are talking unification, but where do Briggs and Valuev go from here? Valuev may or may not fight mandatory Chagaev in January, but after that, since Don King has control over both, they should fight each other in the summer of 2007, right? How great would it be to have just TWO champions left by August 2007, setting up a heavyweight megafight for winter 2007. Also, DLH says Mayweather won't be his last fight, so that means another DLH fight in 2007 (perhaps), on DLH's second favorite PPV date, Mexican Independence Day in September. Even if he loses to PBF, who wouldn't want to see DLH-Winky at 154? That solves Winky's problem for finding a megafight in 2007, and it makes sense because of Winky Promotions' alliance with Golden Boy and, by proxy, HBO. Other questions loom. Where will Corrales go from here? Is Morales done? Does Hopkins come out of a brief retirement? If Lacy looks impressive against Tyspko, will he get the Tarver fight or anything of significance? Are we going to hear from Mayorga? What prospect (Berto, Dawson, the Petersons, Julio, et al) will make the biggest leap? Will the Prince finally return?!? (just kidding). 2007 is going to be awesome. (What did I forget?)

Comments (16)

I'm most looking forward to DLH-PBF and Calzaghe-Taylor. I wish Winky-Taylor II could happen, but it just doesn't look like it will. I guess the only chance would be if the Calzaghe deal doesn't work out and Warren or DiBella pull out. Or of course if Manfredo can pull the upset. Ouma has no chance, we've already seen the way Jermain Taylor decisions go (you must win 9 rounds clearly, and with this fight in Little Rock, it may be 10), and Ouma can't hurt Taylor. I think Taylor bludgeons him anyway, Taylor TKO6.

19y ago

Derranged_

I'm a huge heavyweight fan but the fights I'm most looking forward to next year are the Calzaghe-Manfredo and DLH-PBF fights.

19y ago

The_Texican

I think Briggs is gonna fight Sultan Ibragimov. This could be the year we see the biggest little fight, Arce vs. Darchinyan. Also, look for Librado Andrade to fuck up the Supermiddle scene.

19y ago

cupcrazy01

Hopefully Top Rank makes Cotto-Margarito at the MSG on June. That would be tasty, but with Margarito's mandatory due vs. Williams, look for that fight to be spring 2007 and Cotto will have his mandatory vs. Urkal around then as well, but if they both win, a huge PPV in the fall/late summer is a possibility.

19y ago

_LegenD_

i think well see cotto vs. margarito before a hatton-castillo fight is made.....

19y ago

Rudyo

Yeah, all those big fights being PPV will be brutal on my wallet, out of those you listed i would probably order three. De La Hoya- Mayweather Calzaghe- Taylor Hatton- Castillo The Shane Mosley fight won't be worth a PPV, and Barrera- Pacquiao won't happen.

19y ago

dempseyfan

what would make all those fights even better? would be to make half of them not PPV for fucks sake.

19y ago

_Beowulf_

I also forgot to put JMM vs. Harrison on there for early-to-mid 2007, now that Harrison-Cook is a go (again, for now). Another solid fight. Cook has every chance of beating Harrison, so Harrison may well not be fighting JMM.

19y ago

cupcrazy01

I also forgot to put JMM vs. Harrison on there for early-to-mid 2007, now that Harrison-Cook is a go (again, for now). Another solid fight.

19y ago

Undefeated

I don't think Mosley Vs Tito will happen. As for Hatton Vs Castillo i have a feeling that fight won't even be made.

19y ago

Pinoy_Texan

wow.. Mr. TBA have 5 fights in a year ..with different weight divisions.. :) HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!

19y ago

Supreme84

looking forward to more Ricky Hatton fights. wasnt impressed with him last time but let's see how he does in 2007

19y ago

cupcrazy01

TBA always takes on all comers, just like the scale. Both are first-ballot hall of famers based on competition faced alone. Other fighters looking to breakout in 2007: Tomas Adamek, Chad Dawson, Mikel Kessler, Kelly Pavlik, John Duddy, and Allan Green. All these guys will probably fight in first quarter 2007 against decent (if not good) competition.

19y ago

xzworks

wow.. Mr. TBA have 5 fights in a year ..with different weight divisions.. :)

19y ago

cupcrazy01

I also neglected to mention the possibility of a Acelino Freitas-Joel Casamayor fight in early 2007, lightweight unification, either HBO or Showtime would like this fight, possibly live from Brazil, where Freitas is a living legend.

19y ago

cupcrazy01

mosley vs tito Yeah, how great would that be? I didn't put it because I just don't see Tito taking a fight at 157 on less than three months' notice, and we haven't even mentioned negotiations won't be easy, how will the Tito-Oscar II failed talks effect the Golden Boy-Don King relationship. Plus, Tito last week said he was very content in retirement and would only come out for Oscar. (Sept 2007, hello!).

19y ago