“Fighting Words” – Five Can’t-Miss Fights (and Four More You Can’t Ignore)

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

by David P. Greisman

In these August weeks when the Sweet Science is slow enough that truly desperate boxing fans consider dropping their standards and expectations and ordering a pay-per-view headlined by David Tua against a designated opponent, one cannot help but look to the future.

The coming months bring numerous noteworthy bouts and a nice change of pace from earlier in the year, when no matter what was coming soon most were choosing instead to talk about Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the fight that was seemingly supposed to save boxing.

By no means was De La Hoya-Mayweather a can’t-miss fight – though more than 2 million buyers felt otherwise. It was, however, a match-up that couldn’t be ignored, not when it garnered main****** attention and months’ worth of discussion.

Not everything coming up is must-see television. But there is indeed enough that, combined with the bouts that are more intriguing than important, will keep many boxing fans’ eyes glued to the screens. [details]

[adrsan84]

Hatton versus Mayweather is a can't miss that he missed big time, and Guzman Soto is a can't ignore that he ignored big time. Good fight coming up though.

[Mr. David]

Hatton versus Mayweather is a can't miss that he missed big time, and Guzman Soto is a can't ignore that he ignored big time. Good fight coming up though.

I respect Mayweather, I respect Hatton, I respect Guzman and I respect Soto. However, I get the frightening feeling that Mayweather-Hatton will not be aesthetically pleasing, nor do I see it as having a curiosity factor (which is what the can't ignore fights are). I will watch it -- it is a major fight -- but that does not mean it fit my criteria.

As for Guzman and Soto, I see a boxer against a boxer-puncher. I see a very good match-up that I do look forward to seeing. But again, it didn't fit my criteria.

These articles are entirely subjective, and not necessarily meant to include certain fights at the expense of others. It's just spotlighting nine fights, five of one kind and four of another.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the feedback.

[adrsan84]

I respect Mayweather, I respect Hatton, I respect Guzman and I respect Soto. However, I get the frightening feeling that Mayweather-Hatton will not be aesthetically pleasing, nor do I see it as having a curiosity factor (which is what the can't ignore fights are). I will watch it -- it is a major fight -- but that does not mean it fit my criteria.

As for Guzman and Soto, I see a boxer against a boxer-puncher. I see a very good match-up that I do look forward to seeing. But again, it didn't fit my criteria.

These articles are entirely subjective, and not necessarily meant to include certain fights at the expense of others. It's just spotlighting nine fights, five of one kind and four of another.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the feedback.

that's cool, what was it about those fights that didn't meet your criteria though (not being a smart ass, really just asking) ?
for me the Hatton Mayweather is the biggest fight for the rest of the year and the Soto Guzman fight is going to tell me which one of these guys is for real in what promises to be a great fight, so I wouldn't of left them off of any list

[SkillspayBills]

that's cool, what was it about those fights that didn't meet your criteria though (not being a smart ass, really just asking) ?
for me the Hatton Mayweather is the biggest fight for the rest of the year and the Soto Guzman fight is going to tell me which one of these guys is for real in what promises to be a great fight, so I wouldn't of left them off of any list

I have to concur I am not saying Mayweather/Hatton will be the best fight of the year, but it is without a doubt the most watched and publicized fight of the second half fights on your list.

[Mr. David]

that's cool, what was it about those fights that didn't meet your criteria though (not being a smart ass, really just asking) ?
for me the Hatton Mayweather is the biggest fight for the rest of the year and the Soto Guzman fight is going to tell me which one of these guys is for real in what promises to be a great fight, so I wouldn't of left them off of any list

The "Can't Ignore" fights are bouts that have little impact on the sport as a whole but are worth tuning in for because of the storylines. Hence Vargas-Mayorga (one guy retiring, one man a hand-picked opponent), Marquez-Juarez (Juarez could derail Marquez before he gets one of his much-desired rematches ... given, that's impact on the sport, but it's my list, I get to bend the rules), Ibragimov-Holyfield (WBO heavyweight titlist against a soon-to-be 45-year-old) and Jones-Trinidad (far too late in either man's career).

The "Can't Miss" fights are the five fights I'm most looking forward to, both for impact they'll have on the sport and for how good I expect those fights to be. It wasn't about exclusion -- I sat down, looked at the schedule and took my top picks. Adding even more would've taken a 3000-word column (it's usually 2000 words, including The 10 Count) and made it far too long.

Look, De La Hoya-Mayweather was exactly what we figured it would be in terms of action. It wasn't Can't-Miss (though it was a major, major event that more than 2 million felt was worth their money) in terms of action, and it's not like it was going to save boxing. Both De La Hoya and Mayweather are at the points in their careers where they pick and choose opponents and fight rarely.

Mayweather-Hatton is a major fight. But I just don't see it as being an aesthetically pleasing fight to watch unless Mayweather pulls a Gatti-like clinic. Mind you, I'll both watch and cover the fight.

Guzman-Soto, again, good fight, important for the division, just not in my top five. Like I said, subjective list, not meant to exclude as much as just look at five of one type and four of another.

I gotta crash. As always, folks, thanks for reading the column and taking the time to offer your opinions. I appreciate both.

[ml2niceguy]

lookin forward to these 3 fights

cotto mosley
mayweather hatton
jones jr trinidad

[kayjay]

Hatton versus Mayweather is a can't miss that he missed big time, and Guzman Soto is a can't ignore that he ignored big time. Good fight coming up though.

People who read his column on msn need to be warmed up for these other fights, not Mayweather-Hatton which will be stuffed down their throats

[dino]

i disagree with that whole list except, holyfrield ibramgiov, mosley/cotto and berto estrada

[mstavros22]

hatton mayweather

Ill tell you what. there are a lot of people, and writers saying this mayweather hatton fight is going to suck. I can't believe it's not on this list. The way this is being played down, in which nearly every boxing writer across the globe is saying rick hatton has no chance....boy....if he beats mayweather it could quite possibly be one of the biggest upsets ever. Remember nobody gave him the light of day against kostya tszyu, but ricky hatton was an absolute animal in that fight, and got blasted by kostya's bionic right hand, and still kept coming. I'm predicting a very tough and rough fight with floyd. Ricky hatton is going to surprise a lot of doubters out thats for certain. And before everyone starts criticizing me and calling me a limey, i'm a really big floyd fan as well.