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12 Rounds and 12 Fights. These are my top 12 fights that could potentially "save" boxing or "keep it going strong". Dream fights have always been a subject of great debate in boxing. Whether it was Louis-Schmleing, Ali-Frazier, Leonard-Hagler, or De La Hoya-Trinidad. Obvioulsy I left plenty of dream fights off that list, but these are my top 12 dream fights that could save boxing in the next few years.
12. Victor Ortiz vs. Brandon Rios
This could a possible bout in 2013 or maybe 2014. Rios will certainly move up in weight to 140 by the end of 2012, and could eventually move up to 147 by 2013 or 2014. This could even be at a 144 catchweight maybe. Victor Ortiz is a rising star, and if he pulls off the upset over Floyd (and he's got a good shot to do so), he would jump into the category of major boxing worldwide star. Not to mention the story behind this fight. The Garcia Brothers training both fighters, while Ortiz and Rios have a small rivalry of their own. A lot would depend on what Ortiz and Rios do in the next 2-3 years. Rios will most likely stay undefeated, unless he challenges Timothy Bradley. Ortiz will most likely lose to Floyd, but that doesn't mean Ortiz won't be able to bounce back and become a big fighter again. By 2013-2014, Mayweather and Pacquiao will most likely be gone, and boxing will have new faces. Ortiz and Rios being two big ones in America.
11. Bernard Hopkins vs. Andre Ward
This could be a potential bout in 2012, if Andre Ward fails to make a fight with Sergio Martinez. Ward will most likely beat Froch, and be the undisputed Super Middleweight Champ, while Hopkins is by far the best Light Heavweight in the world. Ward has hinted that he intends to move up to 175 soon, as he is having some trouble making 168. If Martinez won't fight Ward at a catchweight, as well as Ward beating Froch and Hopkins beating Dawson, this could be a mjor showdown if Ward decided to move up to 175. Hopkins is by no means an old man who is a bad fighter, he's one of the pound for pound best still, and Ward is in his prime and unbeaten. Imagine if Bernard Hopkins beat a prime Andre Ward. He's already an all-time great, but he'd be much greater if that were to happen.
10. Sergio Martinez vs. Saul Alvarez
This could a possible bout in late 2012 or early 2013, before Martinez starts to slow down. Some say Alvarez will be too young for this fight, but by that time he will be 22 years old. Ali beat Liston at 22. Alvarez will most likely stay unbeaten at 154, I don't see Martirosyan beating him in a million years, and Martinez wants big name fights. Alvarez will most likely move up in weight eventually anyway. Alvarez coming into his prime-undefeated and a Sergio Martinez who has never looked so good before, that would be a huge matchup in the boxing world.
9. Nonito Donaire vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa
Donaire will be moving up in weight next year, and this bout has already been mentioned as a fight for awhile now. Gamboa, who defected from Cuba, is unbeaten and in his prime. Donaire is the #3 P4P in the world, and seen as the next "Manny Pacquiao". This would be biggest matchup at Featherweight that I can think of in quite some time. Gamboa will most likely prevail over De Leon and still could face off with Lopez, who is still a good fighter. This would be ahuge matchup, Gamboa risking his titles and unbeaten record, and Doniare risking his #3 P4P spot.
8. Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Some say that Martinez will kill Chavez Jr. and you may very well be right. Still, this fight would be a huge matchup at Middleweight. Chavez Jr. already has a mandatory fight against Martinez by next spring, unless he wants to get stripped of his title. This would be huge in Mexico, as Chavez Jr. is a huge star there. And Martinez is the #2 P4P in the world. We would all get to see what Chavez Jr. is made of, and can you imagine if he pulled off the win over Martinez??? This would be a huge fight at 160.
7. Saul Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Both may turn out to be complete hype jobs, we don't know! But for now, they are undefeated and coming into their prime. Alvarez is a champ and Chavez Jr. is champ. Both unbeaten, can you imagine this fight??? It would have to take place in Mexico, otherwise there is no justice. This would be ahuge PPV fight, and many Chicanos and Mexicans in the USA would buy this as well. I live in Colorado, where every fourth person is of Mexican decent, and I KNOW we people in the Four Corners/Southwest would love this fight! The winner would elevate to super star status for sure, and get crazy big fights following this one.
6. Amir Khan vs. Timothy Bradley
Throw out the whole "Bradley is ducking Khan" and "Bradley is doing this or that" please. This fight would be a mega fight at 140, and even at a 144 catchweight, or even 147 where both will move up eventually. It would have to be in the year or two, to maintain that Bradley is still in his prime. Khan, who has one loss on his record, but has become the face of the 140 division. And, Bradley, unbeaten and claims he's the king at 140. This fight has been building up for well over 5-6 months now, and the anticipation has slowed slightly, only because of Bradley's legal issues. Once that is resolved, hopefully int he next couple months, Bradley will fight again, and we can start hoping for Khan-Bradley at some point.
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul Alvarez
Only if Floyd continues to show that he is still on top of his game, and still one fo the best out there. After Ortiz, Pacquiao, and Khan, what will be left for Floyd at 147??? Berto? Brook? Bradley? I could see Mayweather-Alvarez on Cinco De Mayo in 2013 at 154. Floyd moved up once against De La Hoya on May 5, 2007. This would be a mega mega mega PPV show! Alvarez and Mayweather, unbeaten. Mayweather fighting another prime fighter, and Alvarez trying to be the first to knock off Floyd. This would be one of the biggest PPV fights in the history, mark my words.
4. Sergio Martinez vs. Andre Ward
This would be another mega fight, possibly at a catchweight of 164 or 165. Ward is the king at Super Middleweight and Martinez is king at Middleweight. Martinez can go up 4 pounds, it won't kill him, especially if Ward would be going down 4 pounds already. This is by far the best fight to make around the Middleweight range, and would be great fight.
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Amir Khan
Mayweather and Khan is all but booked to happen in the fall of 2012. Kahn will most likely not lose, and Mayweather could still be unbeaten if he gets by Ortiz and maybe Pacquiao. This fight at Wembley in the UK would sell out easy, and this could sell well over 1.5 million PPV's, as Khan is becoming a big star in boxing. People will always pay to see Mayweather lose, and Khan in his prime would have a really solid chance at knocking off Mayweather. Mayweather-Khan would be a massive fight in 2012.
2. Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko
I know this won't happen. But, WHAT IF IT DID??? It would be biggest heavyweight fight since Tyson-Lewis or Tyson-Holyfield, easily. Both are the top Heavyweights in the world, and haven't lost in so many years. Both are far and beyond the best at their weight class, It would be a mega class, between two dominant heavyweight brothers.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao
Enough said.
12. Victor Ortiz vs. Brandon Rios
This could a possible bout in 2013 or maybe 2014. Rios will certainly move up in weight to 140 by the end of 2012, and could eventually move up to 147 by 2013 or 2014. This could even be at a 144 catchweight maybe. Victor Ortiz is a rising star, and if he pulls off the upset over Floyd (and he's got a good shot to do so), he would jump into the category of major boxing worldwide star. Not to mention the story behind this fight. The Garcia Brothers training both fighters, while Ortiz and Rios have a small rivalry of their own. A lot would depend on what Ortiz and Rios do in the next 2-3 years. Rios will most likely stay undefeated, unless he challenges Timothy Bradley. Ortiz will most likely lose to Floyd, but that doesn't mean Ortiz won't be able to bounce back and become a big fighter again. By 2013-2014, Mayweather and Pacquiao will most likely be gone, and boxing will have new faces. Ortiz and Rios being two big ones in America.
11. Bernard Hopkins vs. Andre Ward
This could be a potential bout in 2012, if Andre Ward fails to make a fight with Sergio Martinez. Ward will most likely beat Froch, and be the undisputed Super Middleweight Champ, while Hopkins is by far the best Light Heavweight in the world. Ward has hinted that he intends to move up to 175 soon, as he is having some trouble making 168. If Martinez won't fight Ward at a catchweight, as well as Ward beating Froch and Hopkins beating Dawson, this could be a mjor showdown if Ward decided to move up to 175. Hopkins is by no means an old man who is a bad fighter, he's one of the pound for pound best still, and Ward is in his prime and unbeaten. Imagine if Bernard Hopkins beat a prime Andre Ward. He's already an all-time great, but he'd be much greater if that were to happen.
10. Sergio Martinez vs. Saul Alvarez
This could a possible bout in late 2012 or early 2013, before Martinez starts to slow down. Some say Alvarez will be too young for this fight, but by that time he will be 22 years old. Ali beat Liston at 22. Alvarez will most likely stay unbeaten at 154, I don't see Martirosyan beating him in a million years, and Martinez wants big name fights. Alvarez will most likely move up in weight eventually anyway. Alvarez coming into his prime-undefeated and a Sergio Martinez who has never looked so good before, that would be a huge matchup in the boxing world.
9. Nonito Donaire vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa
Donaire will be moving up in weight next year, and this bout has already been mentioned as a fight for awhile now. Gamboa, who defected from Cuba, is unbeaten and in his prime. Donaire is the #3 P4P in the world, and seen as the next "Manny Pacquiao". This would be biggest matchup at Featherweight that I can think of in quite some time. Gamboa will most likely prevail over De Leon and still could face off with Lopez, who is still a good fighter. This would be ahuge matchup, Gamboa risking his titles and unbeaten record, and Doniare risking his #3 P4P spot.
8. Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Some say that Martinez will kill Chavez Jr. and you may very well be right. Still, this fight would be a huge matchup at Middleweight. Chavez Jr. already has a mandatory fight against Martinez by next spring, unless he wants to get stripped of his title. This would be huge in Mexico, as Chavez Jr. is a huge star there. And Martinez is the #2 P4P in the world. We would all get to see what Chavez Jr. is made of, and can you imagine if he pulled off the win over Martinez??? This would be a huge fight at 160.
7. Saul Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Both may turn out to be complete hype jobs, we don't know! But for now, they are undefeated and coming into their prime. Alvarez is a champ and Chavez Jr. is champ. Both unbeaten, can you imagine this fight??? It would have to take place in Mexico, otherwise there is no justice. This would be ahuge PPV fight, and many Chicanos and Mexicans in the USA would buy this as well. I live in Colorado, where every fourth person is of Mexican decent, and I KNOW we people in the Four Corners/Southwest would love this fight! The winner would elevate to super star status for sure, and get crazy big fights following this one.
6. Amir Khan vs. Timothy Bradley
Throw out the whole "Bradley is ducking Khan" and "Bradley is doing this or that" please. This fight would be a mega fight at 140, and even at a 144 catchweight, or even 147 where both will move up eventually. It would have to be in the year or two, to maintain that Bradley is still in his prime. Khan, who has one loss on his record, but has become the face of the 140 division. And, Bradley, unbeaten and claims he's the king at 140. This fight has been building up for well over 5-6 months now, and the anticipation has slowed slightly, only because of Bradley's legal issues. Once that is resolved, hopefully int he next couple months, Bradley will fight again, and we can start hoping for Khan-Bradley at some point.
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul Alvarez
Only if Floyd continues to show that he is still on top of his game, and still one fo the best out there. After Ortiz, Pacquiao, and Khan, what will be left for Floyd at 147??? Berto? Brook? Bradley? I could see Mayweather-Alvarez on Cinco De Mayo in 2013 at 154. Floyd moved up once against De La Hoya on May 5, 2007. This would be a mega mega mega PPV show! Alvarez and Mayweather, unbeaten. Mayweather fighting another prime fighter, and Alvarez trying to be the first to knock off Floyd. This would be one of the biggest PPV fights in the history, mark my words.
4. Sergio Martinez vs. Andre Ward
This would be another mega fight, possibly at a catchweight of 164 or 165. Ward is the king at Super Middleweight and Martinez is king at Middleweight. Martinez can go up 4 pounds, it won't kill him, especially if Ward would be going down 4 pounds already. This is by far the best fight to make around the Middleweight range, and would be great fight.
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Amir Khan
Mayweather and Khan is all but booked to happen in the fall of 2012. Kahn will most likely not lose, and Mayweather could still be unbeaten if he gets by Ortiz and maybe Pacquiao. This fight at Wembley in the UK would sell out easy, and this could sell well over 1.5 million PPV's, as Khan is becoming a big star in boxing. People will always pay to see Mayweather lose, and Khan in his prime would have a really solid chance at knocking off Mayweather. Mayweather-Khan would be a massive fight in 2012.
2. Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko
I know this won't happen. But, WHAT IF IT DID??? It would be biggest heavyweight fight since Tyson-Lewis or Tyson-Holyfield, easily. Both are the top Heavyweights in the world, and haven't lost in so many years. Both are far and beyond the best at their weight class, It would be a mega class, between two dominant heavyweight brothers.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao
Enough said.
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