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This is merely a hypothetical thread dealing with what ifs. 2010 is going to be an interesting year. We are going to have a couple of fighters at a cross-roads, especially in the first half of '10 that will dramatically alter the WW landscape, by far the most exciting division in a great long time. 2009-2010-2011 could be the golden years of the division if certain fights play out. Anyways, I'm going to try to put peoples predictions in some sort of order and kind of keep track of it. I really think 2010 is going to be a special year, especially with Cotto/Pac essentially pushing the division forward. Anyways, here's a roadmap of where I think things will lead with the little things that we know so far:
January 2010--Mosley/Berto
*I think this fight will be our first cross-roads fight, where we see the end of the line for Shane Mosley. I think Berto scores the upset (not an upset in my eyes) and becomes the unified champ. Interesting just thinking about it.
May 2010--Mayweather/Pacquaio (tentative)
*I think this is where the magic ride unfortunately ends for the Pac-Man. I'll be rooting for the Pacman. No matter that he beat Cotto, the guy just brings it. However, I just see too many openings for Mayweather to pick him apart. He brought Cotto out of his gameplan and his gunplay was too fast, Mayweather won't make that mistake.
Miguel Cotto
*I don't think Miguel will fight until the April/May timeframe. Split co-feature with Mayweather/Pac? Anyways, he will be a lion fed a puppy. I think Miguel's first two fights will be top 20/30 opposition. He needs the swagger back, the confidence back. His next major fight probably won't be until this time next year. Against who? We'll see.
Antonio Margarito
*Who's going to fight Margarito? It will certainly be one of the most interesting questions of 2010. His every wrap, his every interview will be monitored and scrutinized. Who will be the first person to step up to the plate to finish what Mosley started? I think he will be a gatekeeper of sorts fending off would be contenders until he earns a big fight at the tail end of 2010
Joshua Clottey
*I have a hard time figuring out his path, where does he go? I think we may have seen the last of CLottey in the division. I think he makes his way up to 154. I ponder what the effects of his huge body have on him. He gains like 20lbs the next day. He's a big strong dude, 154 may be in his future. If he stays in the WW division...he'll get a fight, against a former conquerer.
Juan Manuel Marquez
*JMM, in my eyes will remain in the mix. He's going to bide his time I think. Take an easy payday fight, get his body again accustomed to the weight, while waiting for the May 1st battle, then we'll hear from JMM again.
POTENTIAL FIGHTS leading up to 2011
*Berto over Mosley--Becomes *gulp* at least #3 ranked WW in the world
*Money over Pac--Becomes #1 WW in the world
*Cotto over potentials--Kell Brook? Jose Luis Castillo? Baldomir? Rodriguez? Juan Manuel Marquez?
*Margarito over random taxi cab driver
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*Cotto over Hlatshawyo--I think Arum wants his 2nd Lt to get a title, and fast. Getting the IBF title could be exactly what the doctor ordered in mid 2010
*Clottey over Margarito--I think Clottey should and will ask for this fight, I'm not sure Margarito has any options
*Pac over Mosley--After they both suffer losses, this fight almost seems like a given. This will be one of those fights, where I think Pacquaio finally closes out Mosleys career if Berto doesn't do it dominantly.
*Berto over ranked contender--Senchenko? Linares? Collazo? I think Berto takes a mandatory, setting up his first big time fight
**I think Floyd doesnt fight anymore in 2010, waiting for another big money fight, the last man standing in 2010 if you will.
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*Cotto/Berto--Big fight to close out 2010. I think the winner of this fight will land a shot with Floyd Mayweather for basically ALL THE MARBLES. WBO/WBA/WBC/IBF and Lineal could hypothetically be on the line
2011 could see some interesting things besides Cotto/Berto and Floyd. We can get:
Firepower II
The Battle II
May/Pac II
All those three fights could be big time fights all over again. If Cotto wins and shows he still got it, Pac and Cotto can be intriguing all over again. I've never seen Pac beat up like I did last Saturday and the same can be said for Cotto. Besides legitimacy. Pac/May will challenge the PPV record very closley. As long as Pac and or Mayweather aren't humiliated, it will most likely happen again, especially if the top fighters fade away (Cotto/Mosley)
And really...if Margarito is fighting, who doesn't want Cotto to fight him? If Cotto loses a fight in 2010, he has NO CHOICE but to fight Margarito. The money will be right.
The golden age of WW. Top fighters fighting eachother...its amazing.
Thoughts?
January 2010--Mosley/Berto
*I think this fight will be our first cross-roads fight, where we see the end of the line for Shane Mosley. I think Berto scores the upset (not an upset in my eyes) and becomes the unified champ. Interesting just thinking about it.
May 2010--Mayweather/Pacquaio (tentative)
*I think this is where the magic ride unfortunately ends for the Pac-Man. I'll be rooting for the Pacman. No matter that he beat Cotto, the guy just brings it. However, I just see too many openings for Mayweather to pick him apart. He brought Cotto out of his gameplan and his gunplay was too fast, Mayweather won't make that mistake.
Miguel Cotto
*I don't think Miguel will fight until the April/May timeframe. Split co-feature with Mayweather/Pac? Anyways, he will be a lion fed a puppy. I think Miguel's first two fights will be top 20/30 opposition. He needs the swagger back, the confidence back. His next major fight probably won't be until this time next year. Against who? We'll see.
Antonio Margarito
*Who's going to fight Margarito? It will certainly be one of the most interesting questions of 2010. His every wrap, his every interview will be monitored and scrutinized. Who will be the first person to step up to the plate to finish what Mosley started? I think he will be a gatekeeper of sorts fending off would be contenders until he earns a big fight at the tail end of 2010
Joshua Clottey
*I have a hard time figuring out his path, where does he go? I think we may have seen the last of CLottey in the division. I think he makes his way up to 154. I ponder what the effects of his huge body have on him. He gains like 20lbs the next day. He's a big strong dude, 154 may be in his future. If he stays in the WW division...he'll get a fight, against a former conquerer.
Juan Manuel Marquez
*JMM, in my eyes will remain in the mix. He's going to bide his time I think. Take an easy payday fight, get his body again accustomed to the weight, while waiting for the May 1st battle, then we'll hear from JMM again.
POTENTIAL FIGHTS leading up to 2011
*Berto over Mosley--Becomes *gulp* at least #3 ranked WW in the world
*Money over Pac--Becomes #1 WW in the world
*Cotto over potentials--Kell Brook? Jose Luis Castillo? Baldomir? Rodriguez? Juan Manuel Marquez?
*Margarito over random taxi cab driver
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*Cotto over Hlatshawyo--I think Arum wants his 2nd Lt to get a title, and fast. Getting the IBF title could be exactly what the doctor ordered in mid 2010
*Clottey over Margarito--I think Clottey should and will ask for this fight, I'm not sure Margarito has any options
*Pac over Mosley--After they both suffer losses, this fight almost seems like a given. This will be one of those fights, where I think Pacquaio finally closes out Mosleys career if Berto doesn't do it dominantly.
*Berto over ranked contender--Senchenko? Linares? Collazo? I think Berto takes a mandatory, setting up his first big time fight
**I think Floyd doesnt fight anymore in 2010, waiting for another big money fight, the last man standing in 2010 if you will.
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*Cotto/Berto--Big fight to close out 2010. I think the winner of this fight will land a shot with Floyd Mayweather for basically ALL THE MARBLES. WBO/WBA/WBC/IBF and Lineal could hypothetically be on the line
2011 could see some interesting things besides Cotto/Berto and Floyd. We can get:
Firepower II
The Battle II
May/Pac II
All those three fights could be big time fights all over again. If Cotto wins and shows he still got it, Pac and Cotto can be intriguing all over again. I've never seen Pac beat up like I did last Saturday and the same can be said for Cotto. Besides legitimacy. Pac/May will challenge the PPV record very closley. As long as Pac and or Mayweather aren't humiliated, it will most likely happen again, especially if the top fighters fade away (Cotto/Mosley)
And really...if Margarito is fighting, who doesn't want Cotto to fight him? If Cotto loses a fight in 2010, he has NO CHOICE but to fight Margarito. The money will be right.
The golden age of WW. Top fighters fighting eachother...its amazing.
Thoughts?
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