Boxing starting to provide the big fights; you just need to look for them
Boxing – it has been claimed – has failed to provide the big fights that the public want to see for a long time now.
This is largely true. Floyd Mayweather has still not fought Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan has not faced Timothy Bradley, and no one worthy has clashed with either of the Klitschko’s since Lennox Lewis.
It is this dearth of fights in the heavyweight division that boils blood amongst fans more than others, as it is the perceived “premier” weight division.
The big fights are starting to crop up, however, just not in the divisions fans first look at.
Super-middleweight provided a great evening’s entertainment with Froch v Bute in Nottingham, following on from the magnificent Super Six tournament where American Andre Ward beat Froch in the final.
The ‘Cobra’ is likely to either fight Bute again or chase a long-awaited rematch with the only other fight he has lost to: Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler.
Ward himself is now taking on ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson at super-middleweight – this coming after Dawson’s defeat of Bernard Hopkins in a rematch for the WBC light-heavyweight crown.
Dawson will drop down to the 168-pound division to fight for Ward’s WBC strap in Ward’s hometown of Oakland on 8th September.
In that same division the highly rated, undefeated Tavoris Cloud will take on former champion Jean Pascal in a true acid test for the IBF belt-holder.
At welterweight and light-welterweight, two British hopefuls will soon do battle; Kell Brook does battle against Carson Jones in a title eliminator that should see the winner fight new IBF champion, Randall Bailey.
This one may not seem like a big fight, but Kell Brook is a massive hope in England and will not want to suffer the setback of a loss here.
Meanwhile, Amir Khan attempts to avenge his defeat to Lamont Peterson – who has subsequently failed a drugs test in the run up to their rematch – by beating WBC champion, Danny Garcia on the 14th July.
Also at light-welterweight, Lucas Matthysse fights Humberto Soto this coming weekend in a battle that should see the heavy-handed Matthysse continue his rise to the top after having been robbed of a victory against Devon Alexander this time last year.
Tempers will flair in the British heavyweight fight that everyone is looking forward to, which is David Haye v Dereck Chisora at Upton Park on 14th July.
This is a fight that has more interest behind it than either Wladimir Klitschko or Alexander Povetkin’s upcoming defences versus Tony Thompson and Hasim Rahman, respectively.
True fans will also be eagerly awaiting the reappearance of superstar-in-the-making Adrian Broner – the 23-0 (19 KO’s) WBO super featherweight champion goes up against Vincente Escobedo.
Pound for pound star Nonito Donaire is fighting on 7th July against Jeffrey Mathebula in Carson City, California, which sees the return of the latest Filipino phenomenon.
So, all in all there are a lot of fights worth looking forward to, and a few more could soon be negotiated such as: Pacquiao – Bradley II, Alvarez – Ortiz, Martinez – Chavez, Froch – Bute/Kessler II.
And with Floyd Mayweather out of prison in ten week’s time, his next fight should be arranged shortly after, making it an exciting time to be a boxing fan if you follow the sport properly.
Adam Appleton
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