Tag Archives: Tyson Fury

Fights to look forward to in 2024?

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1. Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua

Who’d have thought that sportswashing would’ve been the answer to every boxing fan’s prayers? #ThankAlalshikh

With Fury-Usyk at last signed, and Joshua-Ngannou too (for the real lineal world title, don’t forget), Saudi Arabian money might be the key to making Fury-Joshua down the line, whether Fury wins or loses a possible two fight series with Usyk. Between Fury’s apparent decline and Joshua to some degree now marrying his predilection to box more with a spiteful edge, the fight is more interesting than it’s been in years. 

 

2. Anthony Joshua-Filip Hrgovic

More likely first is a Joshua-Hrgovic fight for one of the heavyweight belts that will probably become vacant after February 17th. 

It would be the biggest test so far of where the post-Usyk AJ stands and whether or not the inconsistent Hrgovic left his best days in the amateur code. 

 

3. Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol

This is another fight that has been talked about for years but never realistically looked likely due to a combination of promotional/TV differences, neither man being a draw and simply not enough $$ being available to satisfy financial demands. Enter, Saudi Arabia…

With Beterbiev nearing 40 it’s now or never, and the fight is likely next if Beterbiev gets past Callum Smith next week. Reportedly, Bivol has already signed for the bout. I make the younger man a solid favourite and it’s as top notch a fight as can be made in 2024. 

 

4. Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez

In the words of Dan Rafael, if Canelo Alvarez is the undisputed champion at 168lbs., then David Benavidez is the undisputed number one contender. 

While David Morrell could be as good as anybody in the division, and something like Canelo-Jaime Munguia would be fun as well, there’s no excuse for this fight not to happen sometime in 2024, especially with both men for now under the same PBC banner. Benavidez looked quite spectacular smashing up Demetrius Andrade and he’s the toughest fight on paper for Canelo (minus Bivol at light heavyweight) since his fights with Golovkin.

 

5. Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford

Could this really happen? We’ve seen some left field opponents for Canelo over the years, think Amir Khan and even Jermell Charlo.

Crawford likely has just a few fights left in his career and will be looking to maximise his paydays. This would require a massive weight jump of the best part of three weight classes and Bud has expressed interest. I think it’s a realistic possibility and is the type of unusual super fight that gets my juices flowing.

 

6. Chris Eubank Jr.-Conor Benn

As I’ve written here before, a fight doesn’t have to mean anything to mean something. 

The negotiations and endless back and forth have become tiresome. Neither man is currently a serious factor at world level. The BBBofC/Benn saga and his failed drug tests will always leave a sour taste. All of that said, it’s a huge fight in Britain and likely an exciting one once the bell rings. Let’s get it on in 2024. 

 

7. Katie Taylor-Chantelle Cameron III

Taylor’s stirring revenge win over Cameron goes down as one of the top performances of 2023, and equal credit goes to Cameron for proving herself at elite level herself with victory in their first meeting. 

With Croke Park (or more likely another Irish stadium) the only logical (final?) chapter of Taylor’s career yet to come, the fight that makes by far the most sense is a rubber match between these two. 

Taylor vacating a couple of her lightweight titles in recent days also suggests this is the next fight. I hope to be there in person to experience it. 

 

8. Any combination of Teofimo Lopez/Devin Haney/Ryan Garcia/Gervonta Davis/Shakur Stevenson

There’s no need to be picky here. Any way you mix and match these five is sure to be mouthwatering. Davis-Garcia in 2023 was just a taste of what could be. There are the usual impediments in terms of differing weight classes and promotional ties, but Haney-Garcia is currently in negotiations at least.

I’m most curious to see what sort of opposition Tank Davis fights this year off a significant layoff. 

 

9. Shakur Stevenson-Vasyl Lomachenko

One fight that is probably more likely to be made than any of the above is Stevenson-Lomachenko. It would be a lightweight title unification provided Loma comes through George Kambosos. 

Loma deserves another shot at the top level after being unlucky not to get the nod versus Devin Haney, and beating Loma decisively would erase the toxic fart that was Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos. 

 

10. Emanuel Navarrete-O’Shaquie Foster

Both men engaged in fight of the year level wars in 2023 and Foster has now signed a deal with Top Rank. This paves the way for unification this year and it’s a bout that can only be the perfect combination for boxing fans: action plus significance. 

 

11. Luis Alberto Lopez/Rafael Espinoza-Naoya Inoue

After quickly conquering all to become undisputed champion at 122lbs., it’s unclear how long it will be before Inoue pushes himself and his body once more to try his hand at featherweight.

Waiting for him there could be two action fights in Lopez and newly minted titlist Espinoza. Either option towards the back end of the year would be one to savour. 

 

12. Juan Francisco Estrada-Jesse Rodriguez/Kazuto Ioka

Two options here for the super flyweight division that keeps on giving. Bam Rodriguez is likely to move back up to 115lbs. next and the logical fight for him to chase is a clash of the generations with veteran legend (and still lineal champion), Estrada.

Estrada-Ioka in a fight between future hall of famers was unsuccessfully negotiated for last month but it would be a damn shame if it didn’t happen someday. 

 

13. Seniesa Estrada-Yokasta Valle

Two of the best female boxers in the sport share all the gold at strawweight and a unification is a must to happen sooner than later. Valle has said she wants it in a Costa Rican stadium outdoors and what an occasion that would be. Pura Vida!

Fights to look forward to in 2023?

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1. Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk

I said one year ago: “Here we are again, and we’ll probably be back saying the same thing this time in 2023.

If common sense prevails, we should have an undisputed heavyweight champion this year but it’s doubtful.”

And so here we are again…

There’s talk of the fight in March and negotiations seem to be smooth so far. I’m hopeful it happens by the early summer. 

 

2. Deontay Wilder-Andy Ruiz

With Wilder back and Ruiz (unconvincingly) edging an ancient Luiz Ortiz, this is the PBC PPV endgame and is a really interesting fight. Wilder is probably the single most exciting fighter in the sport. 

It would also function to set up a strong number one contender for a Fury-Usyk winner, or else fill a title vacancy in a division that will probably soon be fractured. 

 

3. Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol

I’m unconvinced this bout happens due to the toxic combo of lack of demand and promotional battlelines. That said, it’s clearly one of the most compelling fights in the sport and a true pick ’em. The winner is a hall of famer for sure.

 

4. Dmitry Bivol-Canelo Alvarez II

Another possibility is Canelo looking to avenge his recent defeat to Bivol and have another go at light heavyweight. Canelo looks set to take an easier fight in the interim as he recovers from hand surgery, so this seems more likely for September or later. 

Might this fight even take place down at 168 lbs. for all of Canelo’s gold this time?

 

5. Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez

If Benavidez takes care of Caleb Plant to finally add a big win to his resume, then this is the only fight that really matters for Canelo in the current 168lbs. landscape. 

 

6. Natasha Jonas-Terri Harper II

God love women’s boxing for the ease at which the biggest fights get made and undisputed champions are crowned. 

The first Jonas-Harper fight down at super feather was terrific and ended even. A rematch for all the titles at 154lbs. is a natural fight and all that is standing in the way is Boxxer/Matchroom/Joe Gallagher ego. 

 

7. Errol Spence-Terence Crawford

Last year I wrote: “This is another fight that is at risk of going past its sell-by-date and there is absolutely no reason now that it should not happen in 2022 if Spence, and perhaps Crawford, win their fights in the first half of the year.”

Not a lot has changed save for an embarrassing and protracted failed negotiation, and another Spence injury sustained in a car accident (that threatens to keep him out until the summer). 

With Crawford aligned with upstart BLK Prime (we still don’t know the full story there) and Spence probably headed towards a Keith Thurman fight, I doubt we see this in 2023. 

 

8. Regis Prograis-Teofimo Lopez

While Josh Taylor, for now, maintains a tenuous hold on the reigns of 140lbs., the belts have fractured and a lost-looking Lopez now sits as the mandatory for the belt held by Prograis.

This would be the perfect litmus test for where both men are right now: a chance for redemption for Lopez post-Kambosos, and, belatedly, another big fight for Prograis.

It doesn’t bode well that Lopez’s own promoter, Bob Arum, has been quoted as saying he doesn’t fancy his guy’s chances in this fight, however.

 

9. Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano II

It happened in 2022 and it was glorious, the biggest fight in women’s boxing history somehow also being perhaps the best. The signs are good so far that we’ll get the rematch in Croke Park and Katie will finally return home a conquering hero. 

 

10. Devin Haney-Vasyl Lomachenko

This is one fight that is tentatively set to take place in the first half of 2023. 

Again, it’s the classic high-stakes crossroads bout. Can Loma show that he’s not a busted flush at elite level and what of a Haney that has beaten Kambosos twice but not yet faced anyone like the box of tricks that is the Ukrainian maestro?

One wonders if Haney’s big edge in size could be the main difference. 

 

11. Haney/Lomachenko-Shakur Stevenson 

Speaking of size, Stevenson has outgrown 130lbs. and will debut at lightweight in 2023. In a perfect world, especially given they are all with the same promoter, Top Rank, he would face the winner of Haney-Lomachenko with little fuss.

It’s a fight that’s more likely for 2024, especially as Haney is probably headed to 140lbs. imminently, but I hold out some hope.

 

12. Murodjon Akhmadaliev-Naoya Inoue

Now the undisputed champion at bantamweight, Inoue has signalled his intention to move up to jr. featherweight.

Stephen Fulton-Inoue would be the better fight but that seems less likely given promotional divides and plans for Fulton to perhaps rematch Brandon Figueroa at featherweight. Akhmadaliev has a pair of belts and fewer options (although one overdue mandatory is looming). It would still be a mouthwatering matchup for hardcore fans especially. 

 

13. Juan Francisco Estrada-Kazuto Ioka/Joshua Franco/Roman Gonzalez 

The joyous Estrada-Gonzalez III bout had the feeling of the final chapter in the book of the hardcore four. But who would say no to a fourth?

Frankly, that’s my preference, but unifications with Ioka (another future hall of fame entrant) or Franco would also be most welcome. 

Pound4poundireland’s 2021 Fight, Knockout, Round, Prospect, Upset and Trainer of the Year

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Fight of the Year

1. Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III

2. Roman Gonzalez-Juan Francisco Estrada II

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7zxep0

3. Efetobor Apochi-Brandon Glanton

Knockout of the Year

1. Bishop Le’i ko1 Don McMillon

2. Wasim Chellan ko3 Yann Lenvo

3. Hyuga Gushiken ko2 Jungo Tominaga

 

Round of the Year

1. Gilberto Ramirez-Yunieski Gonzalez Round 4

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x86f7kw

2. Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III Round 4

3. Jong Seon Kang-Nam Jun Lee Round 11

 

Prospect of the Year

1. Conor Benn

2. Ginjiro Shigeoka

3. Jesus Ramos Jr.

 

Upset of the Year

1. George Kambosos SD12 Teofimo Lopez

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x85y8t4

2. Mauricio Lara ko9 Josh Warrington

3. Sandor Martin MD10 Mikey Garcia

 

Trainer of the Year

Eddy Reynoso – for his work with Canelo Alvarez, and, to a lesser degree, Frank Sanchez, Ryan Garcia, Oscar Valdez & Andy Ruiz

Fights to look forward to in 2022?

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  1. Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk/Anthony Joshua

Here we are again, and we’ll probably be back saying the same thing this time in 2023.

If common sense prevails, we should have an undisputed heavyweight champion this year but it’s doubtful.

 

2. Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte

Dillian Whyte has as many detractors as anyone in boxing.

What they won’t tell you is that he has as many top 10-15 wins as any active heavyweight, and is one of the only interesting fights Fury could realistically take in the interim between now and fighting the divisional #2.

Add to that the fact that Whyte is Fury’s mandatory, and, barring a belt being vacated or some more sanctioning body shenanigans, we should see this next.

It’s a fight worth making, and one I’d really like to see.

 

3. Andy Ruiz-Luis Ortiz

Andy Ruiz has done little aside from sit on his ass (training with Eddy Reynoso notwithstanding), and get dropped on his ass by Chris Arreola, since he lost his titles in a desultory performance against Anthony Joshua. But the man has talent and it’s worth seeing if he can put it together again in a way that proves Joshua at MSG was not a once-off fluke.

Luis Ortiz is coming off an exciting shootout win at New Year’s over Charles Martin, and, while he may be (very) old, he is still technically proficient and powerful.

Pairing them off to see which one remains at the level of top contender, in what can only be an action fight, sounds fun.

 

4. Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Fight a real boxer, you say?

The funny thing is that Julio Jr. (a former middleweight titlist in the distant past, don’t forget) looked so incredibly bad in his loss to Anderson Silva last year that I would favour Paul to find a way to beat him.

Please let this happen, and please let it live up to the label of 2022’s biggest freakshow boxing event.

 

5. Canelo Alvarez-Dmitry Bivol/Joe Smith Jr./Artur Beterbiev

Canelo Alvarez is a man with options.

A mooted fight for a cruiserweight belt is intriguing, but personally I’d like to see him fight the best at 175 or 168lbs.

I wonder if he will find a way to squeeze 3 fights out of 2022.

At light heavyweight, the chances of Beterbiev in the immediate future seem remote, but Bivol and Smith Jr. fights would be legit challenges against larger men.

 

6. Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin III/Jermall Charlo/David Benavidez

Super middleweight is where, for me, the gold lies.

With every year that passes, the third Golovkin fight gets less interesting. Many fans have already given up on it. If it doesn’t happen this year, so will I. GGG has hardly done himself any favours with just one fight in 2 1/2 years, by the way.

Charlo is another middleweight who could move up and give Canelo a marketable mega fight opponent.

Benavidez is the clear number one contender to Canelo’s undisputed 168lb. status.

 

7. Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano II

A disputed draw in an exciting fight with every junior middleweight title at stake should lead to an immediate rematch, right?

Thankfully, this one is boxing made simple, and we are set to get Part II in the coming months.

 

8. Errol Spence-Terence Crawford

Maybe it will finally happen.

It remains to be seen what will become of Crawford’s newfound free agency, and Errol Spence will first have to win an intriguing unification with Yordenis Ugas.

This is another fight that is at risk of going past its sell-by-date and there is absolutely no reason now that it should not happen in 2022 if Spence, and perhaps Crawford, win their fights in the first half of the year.

 

9. Keith Thurman-Gervonta Davis

This is a wildcard pick, but there are a few clues that make me think this fight might be in the pipeline.

Thurman’s comeback fight next month will be against Mario Barrios, a recent Davis opponent, and a hard fight that Thurman is by no means guaranteed to come through.

There has been some trash talk sent Thurman’s way by Davis recently in the media, for no apparent reason.

Finally, we know that PBC/Mayweather promotions will keep Davis fighting in-house opponents, even if that means he won’t fight any of his peers at lightweight.

 

10. George Kambosos Jr.-Devin Haney/Vasyl Lomachenko/Ryan Garcia

How fun was it to see Kambosos Jr. punish Teofimo Lopez for his hubris and gatecrash the ‘light-wait’ scene?

With Lomachenko looming as a mandatory, Garcia an outside possibility for making the biggest money fight towards the end of the year, and Haney being dangled for a mega fight in Australia to crown an undisputed (no, really undisputed this time) champion, Kambosos is one of the most sought after men in the sport.

All of these options make me salivate.

 

11. Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano

This might be the biggest women’s fight in boxing history, and it looks close to being made for MSG in the Spring.

It’s a chance for Serrano to prove that her weight-hopping exploits over lesser boxers for vacant belts were not mere smoke and mirrors. Certainly, she can punch and is a highly talented boxer.

And it is a chance for Taylor to further cement her status as the pound for pound best, and silence some naysayers who are still there from the first Delfine Persoon fight (also at MSG).

 

12. Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire II

You’d have been forgiven for thinking, going into their first battle in 2019, that Donaire was heading into the final major fight of a hall of fame career.

But after Inoue came through a war with a broken eye socket and a unanimous decision, not only was Donaire’s rep somehow further bolstered, but he has gone on to, at age 39, score two knockouts in 2021 and win another bantamweight title.

A rematch now would be even bigger than their World Boxing Super Series final, and would likely crown a new lineal champion.

 

13. Juan Francisco Estrada-Roman Gonzalez III

Good things come in small packages.

The dream rematch fans had been clamouring for since 2012 finally happened last year, somehow living up to every expectation.

The result was disputed, most feeling Gonzalez had done enough to continue his Indian summer and move the rivalry to 2-0. Estrada won a razor thin decision. Personally, I scored a draw. There was no such thing as a loser that night.

The pair are set to fight again, probably for the final time, in March, however this has not yet been confirmed.

Estrada versus Gonzalez is as solid a lock as boxing can offer for war at the highest skill level. This is appointment television for any real boxing fan.

Fights to look forward to in 2021?

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  1. Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua

Simply put, this is the biggest fight in boxing and there is no excuse (not Covid-19; not Deontay Wilder arbitration to force a third Fury fight; not an Usyk sanctioning body mandatory) for this not to happen next.

Boxing has a history of over-marinating its biggest matchups. Let’s hope all those involved in negotiations see $ense when it comes to this one. After all, neither guy is unbeatable and one defeat could derail this gravy train permanently.

 

2. Deontay Wilder-Andy Ruiz

This is an intriguing crossroads heavyweight bout that I could see PBC putting on pay per view next year. Both are coming off big losses and need to rebound. A win here vaults one of these two back to prominence and, in a perfect world, makes them the #1 contender to the whomever emerges from Fury-Joshua.

 

3. Anthony Joshua-Oleksandr Usyk

Whether this is a consolation prize, or comes after Fury-Joshua, it could be a hell of a fight. Usyk is the spoiler supreme in the heavyweight kingmaker scenario, underestimated after going 12 with trialhorse Dereck Chisora, but capable due to his skills and speed of giving anyone in the division fits.

 

4. Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin III

Timing is everything in boxing. While Golovkin may not be the man he was 5 years ago, and with the likelihood in mind that this fight would take place up at 168lbs., this rivalry needs the closure of a third fight after the disputed outcomes of the first two. Anyone who scoffs needs to go back and watch those 24 rounds of brutal sweet science.

 

5. Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders/Caleb Plant

Canelo’s most immediate stated goal is to become undisputed champion at super middleweight. Saunders and Plant are the two guys he’d have to go through to accomplish that, and he may well do so in the next 12 (or 9) months. Both are worthy fights.

 

6. Errol Spence-Terence Crawford

Errol Spence is 30. Terence Crawford is 33. Now is the time to make this super fight while both guys are still unblemished and in their physical primes (Spence’s car accident notwithstanding). I have literally no interest in seeing either guy fight anybody else at this point, and less interest still in hearing public haggling about 60-40 splits either way.

 

7. Jessica McCaskill/Cecilia Braekhus-Katie Taylor

McCaskill and Braekhus are set for a rematch of their disputed first fight sometime in the first part of 2021. The winner would emerge with all the honours at welterweight, and a historic undisputed champion vs. undisputed champion bout against lightweight queen Taylor would surely be the biggest women’s fight of the new year.

 

8. Josh Taylor-Jose Ramirez

Thankfully, this one should be relatively simple to put together. Both men are under the umbrella of the same promoter and TV network, and are the clear top two in the 140lbs. class. In fact, this would crown an undisputed champion. This should be one of the crown jewel fights of 2021.

 

9. Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia

If Ryan Garcia beats Luke Campbell tomorrow, proving he’s a genuine contender, there appears to be a legitimate chance of seeing this fight next year. They are two of the featured fighters on DAZN and Garcia will be mandatory challenger for the belt held by Haney. There’s a history there too from the amateurs, where they fought six times and shared the spoils.

 

10. Miguel Berchelt-Oscar Valdez

This fight is in the works for the Spring, and figures to be guaranteed carnage. Will Berchelt’s size and power be enough to overcome the fresher Valdez, who has been trying to incorporate more boxing under the tutelage of Eddy Reynoso?

 

11. Naoya Inoue-John Riel Casimero/Nordine Oubaali

Inoue’s bid to become undisputed 118lbs. king was interrupted by the pandemic, but will hopefully resume in the new year. Inoue-Casimero has potential for FOTY-level action, and Oubaali comes with the built in storyline of defeating Inoue’s brother Takuma to win his portion of the title.

 

12. Roman Gonzalez-Juan Francisco Estrada II

This one has been craved by fight fans since they met in a light flyweight classic back in 2012, arguably one of the best fights of the decade. After circling around each other for years at flyweight and beyond, they are slated to finally meet in March. Gonzalez has looked resurgent in his last two fights, and Estrada, while impressive, showed vulnerabilities in his rematch win over Carlos Cuadras. In short, this bout remains as intriguing as it has ever been.

 

13. Gonzalez/Estrada winner-Srisaket Sor Rungvisai

It gets even better in the super flyweight class that just keeps on giving. Without even mentioning Kazuto Ioka, or Jerwin Ancajas (I think I saw his face on the back of a milk carton this morning), this weight has the most potential for meaningful and action packed fights than anywhere else in boxing. Sor Rungvisai is the mandatory for the winner of Gonzalez-Estrada II. He’s fought each man twice before, and either a rubber match versus Estrada or an attempt for a 3-0 whitewash of Chocolatito come filled with intrigue.

Pound4poundireland’s 2020 Fighter of the Year

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1. Teofimo Lopez

2. Tyson Fury

3. Joe Smith Jr.

 

It was a close call this year, mainly due to a smaller sample size of fights to choose from, but, more than anyone else, this feels like the year of Teofimo Lopez.

Lopez dared to be great, took on a challenge few thought he could overcome in a Vasyl Lomachenko with only 2 defeats in 400+ fights (amateur, semi-pro and pro combined), and emerged with all the gold.

Lopez has a claim to undisputed 135lb. supremacy (email titlist Devin Haney would disagree) but all that really matters is Lopez is the lineal champion and the man until he is beaten or moves up in weight.

With his combo of size, fundamentals and punching power, I forecast great things for Lopez at light welterweight and welterweight in the future, though it would be a shame to see him move up before fighting the likes of Haney, Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis.

Welcome to superstardom, kid. You are the fighter of 2020.

 

Tyson Fury comes in at a close second, daring to be great himself (I sense a risk/reward pattern here).

Fury’s rematch demolition job (both physically and mentally, it seems) of feared puncher Deontay Wilder has likely sealed his place in the Hall of Fame, and must rank among the best wins abroad for a British fighter of modern times.

Who could deny Fury first place on this list next year if he defeats Anthony Joshua to cement his status as literally the best boxer in the world?

Let’s hope we find out.

 

Third place honours go to Joe Smith Jr.

The no-frills Long Islander, previously best known for sending Bernard Hopkins through the ropes and out of boxing, resurrected his career at world level in 2020 with an impressive pair of wins over Jesse Hart and Eleider Alvarez.

He is set to box for a vacant 175lb. belt in the new year, but more notable than that is that he may be en route to an exciting unification with lineal champion Artur Beterbiev. Bombs away.