Everyone knows that money and marketability make the biggest fights. That’s what brought us the snore-fest between De La Hoya and Mayweather in 2007, and what will bring us the absurd matchup between De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao in 2008. (Come to think of it, Oscar De La Hoya’s pay per view appeal seems to provide the fuel for some of boxing’s duller matchups these days.) Anyway, we will likely see more of the same in 2009, with Bernard Hopkins possibly fighting the winner of Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones, and Floyd Mayweather coming out of retirement to fight whichever marquee name will make him the most coin. But throwing aside pay per view sales and the hype machines that continually bring us some of the worst mega-fights, here are five fights we’d like to see as soon as possible.
1. Chad Dawson versus Bernard Hopkins
Forget the hype over a rematch between Hopkins and Jones or Hopkins and Calzaghe, the best fight to be made in the light heavyweight division is between the rejuvinated Hopkins, coming off his destruction of Kelly Pavlik, and Chad Dawson, the clear future of the division (and arguably its present). Both Dawson and Hopkins are coming off dominating wins over quality opponents. Dawson’s hand speed, athleticism, and comfort with the 175 pound division make him the ideal opponent for Hopkins. Would Hopkins be able to find a way to break down Dawson and expose his weaknesses, as he did with Pavlik? Almost certainly not, but the fight would likely be a compelling–and close–one. It would also demonstrate–yet again–Hopkins’s willingness to tackle huge challenges at an age when most fighters have long since retired.
2. Antonio Margarito versus Paul Williams II
A dream rematch between the two best welterweights in the world today. Both Margarito and Williams are big for the welterweight division–tall and lanky fighters who make the most of every pound and beat their opponents into submission by throwing punches at all angles and with a heavy volume. Margarito’s chin is superior to Williams’s, but at this point in their careers Williams is probably the more accomplished boxer and a more dangerous puncher. Williams narrowly decisioned Margarito in July 2007, but since then both fighters have grown their reputations with brilliant performances. Now Margarito, who seemed to come on a little too late in his first matchup with Williams, would have the chance to truly establish himself as the best welterweight in the world (although Joshua Clottey will still be waiting in the wings for another crack at the Tijuana Tornado as well).
3. Juan Manuel Marquez versus Juan Diaz
Marquez is, in my eyes, the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, and the linear lightweight champion after his knockout of Joel Casamayor last month. Juan Diaz’s ascent to the top of the lightweight division hit a snag earlier this year when he suffered an upset loss to veteran Nate Campbell. Since then, however, he has registered a convincing, emphatic victory over contender Michael Katsidis, placing him once again squarely in the discussion for the best lightweight in the world today. Everyone wants to see a completion to the Manny Pacquaio-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy, but this fight would give a younger, lesser known talent the opportunity to break through in a big way against the best the fight game has to offer.
4. Ricky Hatton versus Zab Judah
Okay, a lot of people are tired of Zab Judah. Since becoming the undisputed welterweight champion in 2005, he’s lost to Carlos Baldomir, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, and Joshua Clottey. These results, especially the last one against Clottey, demonstrated that, aside from the general lack of focus that has plagued his entire career, Judah is simply too small for the 147-pound weight class. By the opening bell of his August tilt with Clottey, Judah weighed thirteen pounds less than his opponent. Very, very few fighters can overcome that kind of size and weight disadvantage. That’s why we think Judah would be a natural for the 140-pound division, where the field is less crowded (the class of the division basically consists of Hatton, Paulie Malignaggi, and Timothy Bradley), and where Judah’s size won’t be a disadvantage. In fact, I suspect that his power would be telling, and his hand speed would be more than adequate. Of course, his general demeanor, inattentiveness, and defensive sloppiness would continue to plague him, but that’s what would make him compelling to watch. You really wouldn’t know what would happen. If Hatton gets past Malignaggi next month, a matchup with Judah would be a box-office success.
5. Alfred Angulo versus James Kirkland
This matchup in the 154-pound division would feature two of the fight game’s rising stars, both knockout artists who have destroyed every opponent they’ve been matched up against thus far. We don’t really have any way yet of knowing how good these guys are until they face somebody who can match their power. This would be the perfect slugfest–ideal for the marquee event on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
2009 will be a good year if three of these five matches come off.
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