.16 Fights In 2009....

[THe TRiNiTY]

Yes, and the thing that bothers me is that people think he's fighting bums when he basically had no choice but to because he wasn't medically cleared to fight in the big money arenas in the us.

Nobody would touch him with a 10 foot pole. Now that he's getting licenses, more doors are opened for him.

We shall see if his massive punching power has an effect on the top of the division.

He's a decent fighter in terms of overall skills as well, it's just the bums he's faced haven't allowed or perhaps forced him to prove that. Once he starts fighting some ranked guys, he loses his 100% KO ratio, but I wouldn't doubt this guys power.

[Guest]

He's a decent fighter in terms of overall skills as well, it's just the bums he's faced haven't allowed or perhaps forced him to prove that. Once he starts fighting some ranked guys, he loses his 100% KO ratio, but I wouldn't doubt this guys power.

I just thought of John the Beast Mugabi when you said that or more recently Victor Oganov who was a 100% ko artist and got whipped on pretty bad on Showtime.

[THe TRiNiTY]

Yeah, not only did he get flattened, he had to be juuuuust tough enough to get his ass kicked for a good 9 rounds.

[Guest]

Yeah, not only did he get flattened, he had to be juuuuust tough enough to get his ass kicked for a good 9 rounds.

Punchers are like that though.

Always hopeful for the big eraser to set the fight in their favor.

Of course it comes at the expense of learning defensive skills.

That is one flaw I see in Valero.
When he was early in his career, he was mindful of defense in the gym.
He started getting all those first round ko's and fell in love with his power.

I always see huge punchers eat a lot of ****, if they don't develop.

[badboypeenoy]

Last year, I made a list of fights I personally wanted to see in 2008. 16 fights long, which included....

Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins, Junior Witter-Paul Malignaggi, Wladimir Klitschko-Samuel Peter II, Mikkel Kessler-Edison Miranda, Librado Andrande-Carl Froch, Sergio Mora-Arthur Abraham, Vernon Forrest-Cory Spinks, Alfonzo Gomez-Zab Judah, Edwin Valero-Jorge Barrios, Shane Mosley-Floyd Mayweather, Chris John-Jorge Linares, Ivan Calderon-Hugo Cazares II, Daniel Ponce De Leon-Gerry Penalosa, Oscar De La Hoya-Ricky Hatton.

Out of the list, I had 2 fights take place. Both fights being decent, but nothing spectacular. Yay for me.

Nonetheless, I'll try again. Here are the 16 fights I want to see in 2009, in no particular order.

1. Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley
I simply think this fight has an interesting back story, has two action fighters with good pop and great speed. Nothing to hate about this fight. Decent chance of it happy, too.

2. Ricky Hatton-Junior Witter
This fight makes sense to me, because it's still huge in the U.K. If Hatton were to lose against Pacquiao, which I assume he does, this fight makes total sense for him. Witter, on the other hand would need to fight to be taken seriously again. It'd be a TRUE title fight, as well.

3. Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito II
This rematch has a new element. Margarito doesn't look so indestructable anymore. If Cotto puts out a real beatdown on Jennings, then he looks to have more momentum. The odds would still most likely be in Margarito's favor, but it evens things out. Could be a total repeat, could be a whole new fight.

4. Mikkel Kessler-Lucian Bute
Both having dominated a common opponent for atleast 11 rounds each, it's an intruiging fight. Bute wouldn't be the favorite, and I wouldn't expect him to win, but NO ONE has a chin like Andrade, including Kessler. Exciting international fight. 168 would have a true world champion, as well.

5. Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye
This is the only fight outside of a fight involving Chris Arreola that excites me at all. Two huge punchers with weak chins, at heavyweight. What's not to like?

6. Chris John-Jorge Linares
That's right, for the second year in a row. I just want to watch both fighters more, why not watch them against eachother.

7. Humberto Soto-Edwin Valero
The puncher who CAN box against the boxer who CAN punch. I love the weight class, the fighters. It has all the makings of an explosive match. It'd also crown a champion at JR. Lightweight.

8. Joan Guzman-Timothy Bradley/Kendall Holt (winner)
I think Guzman is bound to move up. The weight is too hard for him to maintain, and I think he'd be able to keep his speed. His power could reasonably increse as well without being weight drained. The winner of that fight is the man at 140, underneath Hatton. It'd be an interesting fight between the two best fighters in the division.

9. Bernard Hopkins/Joe Calzaghe-Chad Dawson
Hopkins could easily be replaced by Joe Calzaghe, but I think Hopkins is more willing to make this fight happen. I could be wrong, I wouldn't mind the fight either way. Dawson may be the guy for the future to be able to overcome the old timers, which ever fighter it is. However, this isn't a situation where you just put the name on your record. It's a tough fight, either way.

10. Floyd Mayweather-Paul Williams
This fight is an interesting one for a lot of reasons. In many ways, this fight could make or break both fighters. Williams has pressure, a good beard, a reach advantage at HEAVYWEIGHT in most cases and a desire to win. Mayweather has the skill, speed and ability to neutralize all of that. I'd love to see this happen. It wont happen.

11. Juan Manuel Lopez-Israel Vazquez
Very interesting fight for several reasons. Experience versus youth. Speed and power against grit and body punching. Not to mention that neither fighter is lacking in the others strengths to begin with. Great fight to make at 122. It'd be for a true World title, as well.

12. Kelly Pavlik-Arthur Abraham
Aside from Abraham taking on Felix Sturm, this is BASICALLY the only fight at Middleweight that entices me. I like the match up of styles and I think both have a very good chance of winning. Heavy handed punchers, both with at least decent skills. Good fight for boxing fans, and a TRUE title fight.

13. Sergio Martinez-Vernon Forrest
I think Forrest is nearing the end of his career. So either he fights a fight like this and takes a big chance, or avoids Martinez. I wouldn't blame him. Martinez would be a fighter that could have always gave him trouble. Martinez also fights better the bigger the fight is. Very interesting scrap. To me, the winner rules the roost at 154.

14. Victor Ortiz-Ricardo Torres
Generally, when a fighter fails to make weight, a lot of fighters avoid you unless they NEED you or you move up. Ortiz doesn't NEED him, but it's a decne risk when it comes to the weight issue. Within the fight, it's a good match up on all accounts and has a great Boxing After Dark feel to it.

15. Vic Darchinyan-Fernando Montiel
Montiel is a SLIGHTLY less skilled fighter than Mijares in terms of slickness, but with a MUCH harder punch and a better chin. This fight has a lot of possibilities and who knows which Darchinyan shows up. However, I doubt this one goes the distance, regardless of who wins. It also crowns a TRUE champion at JR. Bantamweight.

16. Ivan Calderon-Ulises Solis
This is the fight I really want to see at 108 for Calderon. If he were at 105, it'd be Roman Gonzalez. Regardless, this fight makes a lot of sense. Both have a lot at stake and although I'd pick Calderon to win the decision, I wouldn't be totally surprised if the 'upset' took place. Calderon is getting up ther in age (in terms of for his weight class) and that can be most damaging to a reflex and defesive style like his. Tough fight, good fight, title fight. Gotta love it.

Those are my fights, which fights would you guys want to see?

Vote. Discuss.

Take out Guzman, Forrest and Mayweather and you have one hell of an EXCITING wishlist.

[Silencers]

Those are some really good fights that I would like to see.