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In no particular order. These are the fights that I PERSONALLY want to see most. They NEED to happen, for me to be happy. Lol. Some could happen this year, some could happen NEXT year. But, these are the fights.
1. Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton
INFORMATION : This fight the potential to do INCREDIBLE numbers. It's between the TRUE 140 champion, which is the division this fight would have to happen at. Against the multi-division champion. The American audience knows enough about both to want it. The Pinoy fans would enjoy it as well as the U.K. fans. This could even bring in the casual fans. If Hatton could beat Malignaggi impressively and maybe have another showcase fight, it'd help out. If Manny can get past David Diaz and fight a 'decent' name at 140 to showcase what he can do. This PPV COULD get near the 1 million mark, plus the world-wide views.
WHAT'S AT RISK : Ricky Hatton losing is second biggest fight (this one) and his first biggest fight, could really damage his legacy. Manny moving up that far from where he started his career wouldn't really damage him. It's win-win for Manny as long as he doesn't get blown out. Hatton has A LOT on the line.
2. Kelly Pavlik - Joe Calzaghe
INFORMATION : This could be a very big superfight. The only problem is Arum trying to milk Pavlik for all he's worth and Calzaghe possibly fighting Roy Jones later this year. But if Pavlik fought a (rumored) Mayorga fight and Calzaghe beat Jones, it would make the match HUGE for next year. The problem is that this fight needs to happen as soon as possible. Calzaghe is getting older and Pavlik needs to have that MEGA fight while the window is open to people who are discovering Pavlik. This could do VERY well, as long as both of there next fights are in America and are promoted well.[/b]
WHAT'S AT RISK : Pavlik is having a GREAT run. Amazing fights with Zertuche, Miranda, Taylor twice and now a good showcase fight with Lockett. Calzaghe has Lacy, Bika, Manfredo, Kessler and Hopkins all in a row. If both beat their next (possible) opponents, They'd have AN INCREDIBLE build-up to this fight. One would be reaching for his legacy while the other would be trying to cement it.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - David Haye
INFORMATION : Wladimir is essentially the 'star' of the division and the division is in need of some excitement and new blood. No one really cares about McCline, McCall, Barrett, Ibragimov, Chagaev (at this point), Valuev, Ruiz or Tua. Sam Peter is the only other name worth mentioning and he might be tied up to Vitali. So, if Haye gets into the division and beats another guy no one cares about in Hasim Rahman, he'd atleast show up and be a new face. He's had one loss when he gassed out earlier in his career and has sinse looked very impressive as a cruiserweight. Heavyweight is a whole new ballgame, but he's also a very skilled fighter when he keeps his hands up, which I assume he would at heavyweight. He's had one trip to the top, and he finished the bum in one round. Wlad has been SLOWLY cleaning up the division and this would be a GREAT fight for the middle portion of next year.[/b]
WHAT'S AT RISK : Honestly, if either loses, most would lose interest in the other. This, of course depends on how either lost. But, if you're Klitschko and he beats you by decision, then you can ask for a rematch, but that's about it. If you're Haye and lose by decision, it's pretty pointless at that juncture. If either loses by KO, it's over for that person. haye would be out of place in the heavyweight division and Klitschko would have been knocked out by a former cruiserweight. (This is how casual fans would look at it, not neccesarily me.)
4. Juan Manuel Lopez - Israel Vazquez
INFORMATION : Lopez came out of nowhere for a lot of people. Some even thinking he upstaged Kelly Pavlik on a mutual card, when Kelly had a dominating performance himself. Vazquez is getting up there but still has enough left to make this fight VERY interesting. Both can punch, though I think the power edge goes to Lopez. The overall skills might as well. However, the skills and footwork of Vazquez, added to the fact that he has a pretty sturdy beard and a will to go to war give him a different kind of advantage. He's also got experience on his side. Also shown with Gonzalez that no matter how 'out of it' he seems, he's always in a fight. Lopez, is untested in these areas.
WHAT'S AT RISK : Vazquez could benefit in a lot of ways, but obviously he has more to lose. If he was able to decisively beat the guy who just beat another bigger name in Ponce De Leon, then he'd have some clout. He'd also get major Mexican backing if he beat a highly-touted Puerto Rican prospect/star at this point. He'd have another notch to an already impressive legacy. It'd also clean out a division, basically and set up a fight at 126, hopefully against Linares (Lol.) With Lopez, he'd tumble down the 'look for' list if he lost this, but he'd also have plenty of time to rebuild. And if he won...... The sky would be the limit.
5. Margarito/Cotto - Oscar De La Hoya
INFORMATION : Is there really much to say about this at this point? I think De La Hoya would want this as his second to last fight. Perhaps to be able to leave with an easier fight, something he could bank on for his last fight being a victory. But this fight would do HUGE business. Margarito BEFORE Cotto doesn't do AS MUCH, but if he beats Cotto and clearly, it'd be HUGE. Cotto, now or ESPECIALLY after the fight COULD really do some numbers. The island of Puerto Rico has two huge stars, Mexican and American fans still embrace Oscar, and the casual fan would be interested. With Margarito, he still has an aura about him, and a pretty loyal following. Either fight would be huge.
WHAT'S AT RISK : For Oscar, it could really put the stamp on a legacy that shouldn't really need it at this point. He wins either way though, because if he lost, most would attribute it to his age. With Margarito, it'd be two bigs wins in a row, and alot of money in the process. Cotto, if he beat De La Hoya impressively would inch closer to Tito status and would really have some interesting fights on the horizon.
What are your thoughts? Opinions? Agree or disagree with the list? Got your own list? Share.
Vote. Discuss.
1. Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton
INFORMATION : This fight the potential to do INCREDIBLE numbers. It's between the TRUE 140 champion, which is the division this fight would have to happen at. Against the multi-division champion. The American audience knows enough about both to want it. The Pinoy fans would enjoy it as well as the U.K. fans. This could even bring in the casual fans. If Hatton could beat Malignaggi impressively and maybe have another showcase fight, it'd help out. If Manny can get past David Diaz and fight a 'decent' name at 140 to showcase what he can do. This PPV COULD get near the 1 million mark, plus the world-wide views.
WHAT'S AT RISK : Ricky Hatton losing is second biggest fight (this one) and his first biggest fight, could really damage his legacy. Manny moving up that far from where he started his career wouldn't really damage him. It's win-win for Manny as long as he doesn't get blown out. Hatton has A LOT on the line.
2. Kelly Pavlik - Joe Calzaghe
INFORMATION : This could be a very big superfight. The only problem is Arum trying to milk Pavlik for all he's worth and Calzaghe possibly fighting Roy Jones later this year. But if Pavlik fought a (rumored) Mayorga fight and Calzaghe beat Jones, it would make the match HUGE for next year. The problem is that this fight needs to happen as soon as possible. Calzaghe is getting older and Pavlik needs to have that MEGA fight while the window is open to people who are discovering Pavlik. This could do VERY well, as long as both of there next fights are in America and are promoted well.[/b]
WHAT'S AT RISK : Pavlik is having a GREAT run. Amazing fights with Zertuche, Miranda, Taylor twice and now a good showcase fight with Lockett. Calzaghe has Lacy, Bika, Manfredo, Kessler and Hopkins all in a row. If both beat their next (possible) opponents, They'd have AN INCREDIBLE build-up to this fight. One would be reaching for his legacy while the other would be trying to cement it.
3. Wladimir Klitschko - David Haye
INFORMATION : Wladimir is essentially the 'star' of the division and the division is in need of some excitement and new blood. No one really cares about McCline, McCall, Barrett, Ibragimov, Chagaev (at this point), Valuev, Ruiz or Tua. Sam Peter is the only other name worth mentioning and he might be tied up to Vitali. So, if Haye gets into the division and beats another guy no one cares about in Hasim Rahman, he'd atleast show up and be a new face. He's had one loss when he gassed out earlier in his career and has sinse looked very impressive as a cruiserweight. Heavyweight is a whole new ballgame, but he's also a very skilled fighter when he keeps his hands up, which I assume he would at heavyweight. He's had one trip to the top, and he finished the bum in one round. Wlad has been SLOWLY cleaning up the division and this would be a GREAT fight for the middle portion of next year.[/b]
WHAT'S AT RISK : Honestly, if either loses, most would lose interest in the other. This, of course depends on how either lost. But, if you're Klitschko and he beats you by decision, then you can ask for a rematch, but that's about it. If you're Haye and lose by decision, it's pretty pointless at that juncture. If either loses by KO, it's over for that person. haye would be out of place in the heavyweight division and Klitschko would have been knocked out by a former cruiserweight. (This is how casual fans would look at it, not neccesarily me.)
4. Juan Manuel Lopez - Israel Vazquez
INFORMATION : Lopez came out of nowhere for a lot of people. Some even thinking he upstaged Kelly Pavlik on a mutual card, when Kelly had a dominating performance himself. Vazquez is getting up there but still has enough left to make this fight VERY interesting. Both can punch, though I think the power edge goes to Lopez. The overall skills might as well. However, the skills and footwork of Vazquez, added to the fact that he has a pretty sturdy beard and a will to go to war give him a different kind of advantage. He's also got experience on his side. Also shown with Gonzalez that no matter how 'out of it' he seems, he's always in a fight. Lopez, is untested in these areas.
WHAT'S AT RISK : Vazquez could benefit in a lot of ways, but obviously he has more to lose. If he was able to decisively beat the guy who just beat another bigger name in Ponce De Leon, then he'd have some clout. He'd also get major Mexican backing if he beat a highly-touted Puerto Rican prospect/star at this point. He'd have another notch to an already impressive legacy. It'd also clean out a division, basically and set up a fight at 126, hopefully against Linares (Lol.) With Lopez, he'd tumble down the 'look for' list if he lost this, but he'd also have plenty of time to rebuild. And if he won...... The sky would be the limit.
5. Margarito/Cotto - Oscar De La Hoya
INFORMATION : Is there really much to say about this at this point? I think De La Hoya would want this as his second to last fight. Perhaps to be able to leave with an easier fight, something he could bank on for his last fight being a victory. But this fight would do HUGE business. Margarito BEFORE Cotto doesn't do AS MUCH, but if he beats Cotto and clearly, it'd be HUGE. Cotto, now or ESPECIALLY after the fight COULD really do some numbers. The island of Puerto Rico has two huge stars, Mexican and American fans still embrace Oscar, and the casual fan would be interested. With Margarito, he still has an aura about him, and a pretty loyal following. Either fight would be huge.
WHAT'S AT RISK : For Oscar, it could really put the stamp on a legacy that shouldn't really need it at this point. He wins either way though, because if he lost, most would attribute it to his age. With Margarito, it'd be two bigs wins in a row, and alot of money in the process. Cotto, if he beat De La Hoya impressively would inch closer to Tito status and would really have some interesting fights on the horizon.
What are your thoughts? Opinions? Agree or disagree with the list? Got your own list? Share.
Vote. Discuss.
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