Imagine that they consult you to help them pair the boxers listed below for an all-heavyweight card headlined by Joshua/Ngannou. They have just one condition: all the fights must be new and not a rematch.
And it needs no saying that all five fights must be fan-friendly.
What would be your five fights?
No "OR", please.
Here are the fighters, in no particular order:
1. Filip Hrgovic.
2. Zhilei Zhang.
3. Martin Bakole.
4. Joseph Parker
5. Deontay Wilder.
6. Agit Kabayel
7. Andy Ruiz.
8. Joe Joyce.
9. Daniel Dubois.
10. Efe Ajagba
My Pairs:
1. Martin Bakole vs Deontay Wilder.
2. Filip Hrgovic vs Joe Joyce.
3. Zhilei Zhang vs Efe Ajagba.
4. Agit Kabayel vs Joseph Parker.
5. Andy Ruiz vs Daniel Dubois.
We may be getting Parker v Hrgovic which is a great "next best" match up. And the winner should get a title shot immediately in the next fight.
Well, let's hope Parker doesn't go radio silent now that Hrgovic has accepted the challenge. He once turned down an IBF final eliminator against Hrgovic, opting for Joyce instead even though the IBF was ahead of the WBO in the rotation order. Maybe it was because of more money.
More importantly, I hope the Saudis add it to the card, which will encourage other highly ranked fighters to agree to a fight in hopes the Saudis pick up theirs as well.
These two should fight regardless of the Saudis.
So many hopes.
I take this card.
Zhang vs Parker for the WBO belt.
Hrgovic vs Wilder for the IBF belt.
Kaybel vs Baloke for the #1 WBO / IBF spot.
Now all boxing need to do is wait for the WBO to strip Usky for not defending his WBO belt, IF he fights Fury next for the Lineal / WBC title.
I don't think any belts will be stripped before undisputed .After that I imagine the IBF and WBO will at some stage.
It's a bad look to have multiple champs especially as I highly doubt the winner of Usyk v Fury will want to fight those lesser names.
Zhang v Parker
Ruiz v Dubois
Hrgovic v Wilder
Joyce v Ajagba
Bakoli v Kabayel
I take this card.
Zhang vs Parker for the WBO belt.
Hrgovic vs Wilder for the IBF belt.
Kaybel vs Baloke for the #1 WBO / IBF spot.
Now all boxing need to do is wait for the WBO to strip Usky for not defending his WBO belt, IF he fights Fury next for the Lineal / WBC title.
The Saudis should know the market for British heavyweights is exposed and about up.
You can only match them vs so many frauds. Almost all of the names on the list is either exposed or has been's except for Hrgovic and Kaybel, now those two need to fight.
Parker beat the old and resume thin Wilder. He is solid, but lost three times already. But he is also in his prime and in shape.
So, in other words, you could only come up with one pair? Alright!
The Saudis should know the market for British heavyweights is exposed and about up.
You can only match them vs so many frauds. Almost all of the names on the list is either exposed or has been's except for Hrgovic and Kaybel, now those two need to fight.
Parker beat the old and resume thin Wilder. He is solid, but lost three times already. But he is also in his prime and in shape.