I'm uninspired and frankly, I'm not even thrilled with what I'm pumping out and how much I'm doing it-BUT tonight is a different case because I am excited about this idea because it is exactly the type of post that I love to do!
Five fights in boxing between "top" fighters of various levels (as in one man's top five, may be another's top ten or even twenty) that I've considered and thought about.
A parameter or two before we begin.
None of these awful forced mandatories against non-entities (although mandatories against qualified contenders will be mentioned) count.
It may be a fight that could happen.
It may be a fight that has no chance of happening, but I think would be just painful to even think about either in the ring or out of the ring.
In that vein, Enjoy!
Or maybe not...
1) WBA-WBC Welterweight titles.
Keith Thurman vs Danny Garcia
This rematch of a fight that only the true Thurman/Garcia/Haymon believers were really excited about (I was mildly excited, but I like seeing belts get unified-sue me!), but without the title belts involved, I'm not sure there would have been half the interest the first time around and there will be damn sure be less than half of that half for the likely soon to be mandated rematch by the WBC.
"One Time" Thurman (The Nickname isn't for the number of knockouts scored against good competition per decade or times fought per year) has always been a target of TRS as mildly overrated as his hairline wins over Shawn Porter and Garcia have shown in his biggest victories to date, while Danny Garcia was an excellent champion at 140 in fighting top fighters and besting all opponents, but at 147 has been relatively inactive, uninspiring and reluctant to face good opponents ( in six bouts at 147, only Thurman and Lamont Peterson could be considered top notch competition)..
Considering that neither has fought since their first bout last March, each will be facing name fighters that are likely tune-ups for their returns (Jessie Vargas for Thurman will be a far tougher test for Thurman than the faded Zabbie winner Brandon Rios for Garcia) and despite the PBC hype, their first fight wasn't exactly Donald Curry vs Milton McCrory as two undefeated welterweight champions let alone Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns, so I really don't need to see this again at all, let alone this soon!!
2) WBC Featherweight title
Gary Russell vs Joseph Diaz
On paper, this looks like an intriguing fight.
Russell has lost only to Vasyl Lomachenko (and went the distance) and Diaz is undefeated.
I have always been a fan of Gary Russell's skills and on "Fightheads" I've been quoted many times as saying that I have more confidence in Gary Russell than it appears that his managers and promotional team does-I think he has/had that much potential.
However, his inactivity (three fights since Dec. 2014), only one win over a fighter any type of name at all (an aging and faded Jhonny Gonzalez) and that he turns 30 in June makes me wonder if someone might have already dropped the ball on what might have been a much better career.
As far as the undefeated former American Olympian Diaz goes, Golden Boy promotions has moved him along solidly, but without a real test against even top fifteen competition and his lack of pop bored me to death as the "Co-Feature" on GGG-Canelo night, I don't see Diaz being a match for Russell, assuming Russell signs for the fight.
I just see this as a dull fight with Russell being way too fast for the technically sound, but way too slow and not strong enough Diaz and giving fans another twelve rounds of snoozing...
3) WBA-IBF Heavyweight titles
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
This is a fight people think they want until they get it.
I understand why they want it as anytime the current heavyweight champion can meet the lineal champion it's a big deal especially when they are from the same country and the lineal champion didn't lose his titles.
But it's going to stink in the ring unless Anthony Joshua flattens Tyson Fury.
Because really fast- name your best Tyson Fury memory in the ring.
Really fast.
No singing, No quotes, No grabbing the mic or rushing a future opponent-In the ring action.
It's Steve Cunningham knocking him down.
Because his fighting style is pretty dull with lots of leaning, mauling and other than that Fury gives you a lot of what so many out there complained about for so long about the Klitschko brothers.
The buildup will be fun, there will be great quotes all over and the press conferences will be entertaining, but remember this- unless Joshua cleans out Fury, you are most likely to get this generation's version of John Ruiz-Nikolai Valuev because that is what Tyson Fury brings to the ring.
4) WBO Welterweight Title
Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford
This one is mandated by the WBO, but in a rarity- fiscal responsibility might help boxing fans as Horn has a chance to make more money by ditching his belt for a safer fight at home in Australia against countryman Anthony Mundine,
Now, normally I'm shouting from the rooftops about defending titles, not ducking opponents, doing the right things etc- but there are exceptions to every rule and this is the exception.
Jeff Horn needs to make as much money as he can while the iron is red hot off his win over Manny Pacquiao, Anthony Mundine would make a lot of money for Horn in Australia and Horn would likely be favored to win that fight.
In addition, Terence Crawford isn't going to come to Australia to fight Jeff Horn- especially after seeing the decision in the Pacquiao-Horn fight and let's get real, put the judges aside- no matter the locale, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Kookaburra's Ol' Rum Tree- Jeff Horn isn't beating Terence Crawford, so who really wants to see this fight anyway?
Bob Arum needs to sign some better challengers at welterweight for Crawford to fight and besides Horn can always fight Crawford down the road if someone really deems it necessary to watch a lopsided beating...
5) WBA/IBF Junior Middleweight Title Unification
Erislandy Lara vs Jarrett Hurd
Erislandy Lara might be the dullest fighter in the sport not named Rigondeaux and in his division (154), the problem is that the champions are reasonably strong (Lara, Jarrett Hurd, Jermell Charlo and Sadam Ali) but the challengers are comparatively weak.
The best ( as in fun and exciting) unification bout to be made would be IBF champ Hurd against WBC champ Charlo in what would be a can't miss action fight that could last one round or twelve and would leave you afraid to leave your seat!
And with both fighters being with Al Haymon/PBC/Showtime, a Hurd/Charlo fight should be very easy to make and have a fight of the year and/or knockout of the year possibilities, so what's not to like?
Well, it's boxing and it's PBC, so instead of a guaranteed thriller to unify two belts, we get two belts unified, but it's Hurd and the tedious Lara, which will almost surely be twelve rounds of stick and move as the slick Lara takes the promising, but still learning Hurd to school.
Leave it to the PBC to pass on fireworks to give you a half-burnt sparkler...
Hope you enjoyed this piece.
Boxing fans, look me and Ramon Malpica's podcast "Fightheads" up on the links page to the right and we do the show live on Monday nights at 8 EST,
If you are interested in booking me for your boxing show, drop me a line on Twitter, I'm sure we can work something out!
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