5 Most Compelling Boxing Fights To Be Made
By Bobby Burack
The second installment between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin has concluded, therefore, it begs the question amongst boxing fans: now what? Here are the five most compelling – realistic – fights that can be made going forward.
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao II
Yes. As much as you hated the first one, and will say you have no interest in a second one, this is still the fight that would draw the most attention from the most people. Even at 41-years-old, any fight Mayweather is a part of is a fight that has major intrigue. The perfect record is a storyline in and of itself, and Pacquiao is still a dangerous puncher. Part II is not going to break records like the first, but it is easily going to be more profitable than any other fight that is made for the foreseeable future.
Make no mistake about it, seeing two legends face off for perhaps the last time attempting to right the wrong of the first bout, is without question “compelling.” And it appears it is happening at some point soon.
4. Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Mikey Garcia
Surprisingly, this dream fight could take place in a year. Vasyl Lomachenko is the greatest boxer in the world and is on pace to be one of the greatest of all-time. His only knock is the lack of quality of opponents he has faced. Insert the 39-0 Mikey Garcia, that is no longer a subject. Garcia has become such an effective fighter that can end any opponent at any time, he is likely one of the few people alive that could actually bother Loma for more than one round.
3. Canelo Alvarez vs. GGG III
Boxing fans love trilogies and this is one that just has to be made. Even though the first two ended in bogus, unjustifiable, sport damaging decisions, they were exceedingly fun to watch. Outside of Mayweather, Canelo is the biggest draw in the sport and brings a level of buzz that is unmatched. There is no way this series can end after just two, and the third one should be the best one yet. At this point, GGG knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he must knock out Canelo in order to win. Factoring that in with Canelo’s excellent counterpunching, Part III would be nothing short of a middleweight brawl.
2. Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder
The fight deemed to redeem the heavyweight division should happen … someday … we think … hopefully soon. Anthony Joshua’s showdown with Wladimir Klitschko was the best fight of the decade and may have just been a teaser of what he could do across from Deontay Wilder. For the group that believes boxing has a chance to become huge again, this is the fight with the best chance to make it happen.
1. Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence
For every reason the world demanded Mayweather and Pacquiao to face off in their primes, applies to this matchup. This would be, in fact, a mega fight. Terence Crawford has looked nothing short of unbeatable while Errol Spence is the most electric puncher in the game today. What gives this fight the ultimate suspense is that it pairs a great fighter vs. an inevitably great fighter in the world’s most thrilling weight class. Styles make fights, right? Because these two styles would produce an art that has not been seen in the past 30 years.
Whether or not the two have the personalities to make this a fight that reaches the mainstream, it will be an instant classic inside the ring.