5 Key Storylines for British Boxing Heading into the 2nd Half of 2016
It may be hard to believe, but we're already over halfway through 2016.
In terms of British boxing, the first six months of the year have been very good for business. It turns out time really does fly when you're having fun.
David Haye has returned to the ring, Anthony Joshua has become an even bigger star and Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg finally settled their long-running feud in the ring.
Ricky Burns made history by becoming the first Scotsman to win world titles at three different weights. Tony Bellew, meanwhile, finally got his hands on one at the third attempt.
The good news is there may be even better times ahead.
Looking to the future, Bleacher Report has picked out some of the key storylines surrounding British boxing during the remainder of the year.
As ever, Bleacher Report welcomes the chance to read your opinions. Feel free to have your say via the comments section.
The Very Best of British
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These are heady days for British boxing. England, Scotland and Wales currently combine for a total of 13 world champions.
Northern Ireland did have one, but Carl Frampton has relinquished his super bantamweight titles to move up. He could, though, become a world champion at featherweight when he fights Leo Santa Cruz on July 30.
It seems unlikely the same lucky 13 will all retain their positions through to the end of the year, but there are plenty of other names on the cusp of success at the highest level.
Callum Smith sits in the mandatory position for the WBC title at super middleweight, a division that has also seen George Groves emerge as a rejuvenated fighter of late.
Scott Quigg lost his super bantamweight belt to Frampton in February, but he will be back as soon as the broken jaw he suffered in that fight has fully healed.
Luke Campbell, Gavin McDonnell, Khalid Yafai and Josh Warrington could all get world-title fights in the next six-to-12 months. Chris Eubank Jr., meanwhile, is locked in negotiations to face middleweight king Gennady Golovkin.
And what of those who have already reached the summit?
Liam Smith is the WBO super welterweight champion whose next defence just happens to be against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
James DeGale is lining up a unification fight against fellow super middleweight champion Badou Jack, with Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reporting that clash is likely to happen in November.
Anthony Crolla's fairytale continues when he takes on Jorge Linares in September, while featherweight Lee Selby is eyeing up the winner between Frampton and Santa Cruz.
These are heady times. Long may they continue.
Will We Finally See an End to the Fury-Klitschko Saga?
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The delay in the rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko is frustrating, and not just for the two fighters involved.
They were all set to meet for a second time on July 9 in Manchester, England, only for Fury to pull out with an ankle injury he picked up in training.
Their first meeting also had to be rescheduled—a calf problem forced Klitschko out of the initial date of October 24, 2015. Instead, they went on to meet on November 28.
Fury won that bout on points in Germany, taking the IBF (albeit only briefly, as that belt was stripped from him by the governing body), WBA and WBO titles from the Ukrainian.
Klitschko made use of a rematch clause in his contract, albeit it took an age for all concerned to decide exactly when and where the second bout would happen.
Now, due to Fury's bum ankle, we are back to playing the waiting game again.
Bernd Boente, Klitschko's manager, told Sport Bild (h/t Phil D Jay of World Boxing News) that October 29 looks the likely date for the rearranged second fight.
Whatever, Bernd. This saga has dragged on and on. At this rate, we might end up with more press conferences between the pair than actual rounds. Mind, at least the press conferences are entertaining...
With hungry world champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder waiting in the wings, Fury and Klitschko need to sort out this long-running saga and then the whole division can react accordingly.
What Next for Amir Khan?
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It remains to be seen what Amir Khan will do next in his boxing career.
The former light welterweight world champion was last seen on the wrong end of a huge right hand from Saul Alvarez.
The knockout loss to Canelo in May was hardly a surprise, considering Khan had taken a huge gamble in agreeing to fight at a catchweight of 155 pounds (he is normally a welterweight who campaigns at 147).
The boxer from Bolton, England, deserves some credit for taking on such a sizeable challenge, but where does he turn now?
At one stage, it seemed quite possible Khan could make an astonishing return to the Olympics.
Having won a silver medal representing Great Britain as a teenager in 2004, he hinted he could fight for Pakistan—the country where his parents were born—at the Rio Games 12 years later. However, that idea was later ditched.
He has still been busy, though. Khan is chairman of the Super Fight League, according to Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror, a mixed martial arts promotion popular in the subcontinent.
There's also been a brush with the law after he was caught speeding. Per Emma Glanfield's court report for MailOnline, he avoided a driving ban because he was being "somewhat harassed by a so-called fan."
Yet there's been no news of a return to the ring. No stories with quotes about potential opponents (and Khan is never afraid to talk about names), not even a suggestion of a potential comeback date.
At 29, Khan doesn't have to rush. Yet he has only fought four times since the start of 2014 and has not held a world title for nearly four years now.
It will be fascinating to see what his next move is.
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A Shift in Power
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While business is booming in Britain, boxing continues to have problems on the other side of the Atlantic.
According to Sports Media Watch, Premier Boxing Champions' ratings hit an all-time low in June for the NBC card that was headlined by Andrzej Fonfara and Joe Smith Jr.
Obviously, one result doesn't suggest a gloomy long-term forecast for North America.
June's welterweight clash between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter, for instance, averaged 3.1 million viewers on CBS.
However, the earning potential of appearing on pay-per-view cards could lead to British fans seeing stars in the future.
Gennady Golovkin is one of the biggest names in the sport right now. GGG's team are in (lengthy) talks to come to England to face Chris Eubank Jr., in either September or October.
He's not the only world champion being tempted to fight on the other side of the Atlantic.
IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook could have home advantage for a unification bout with American WBO holder Jessie Vargas later in the year.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told iFLTV (h/t Will Esco of Bad Left Hook—WARNING: Linked article contains language NSFW): "Vargas wants an absolute fortune to come to the UK to fight Kell Brook.."
It seems he might get it, too. Hearn revealed the travelling Vargas could earn "over two million dollars" for his short trip to England.
The fact Hearn—and his broadcasting partners, Sky—are willing to consider paying out such huge figures shows how the sport is flourishing in Britain right now.
Anthony Joshua's 2nd Title Defence
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Anthony Joshua is the biggest name in British boxing right now.
Yes, others have achieved more in their careers, but the heavyweight is a huge draw. How many other Brits have topped pay-per-view bills in just their 15th pro outing?
Joshua flattened the distinctly average Charles Martin in April to claim the IBF belt, then successfully defended it by overcoming the stubborn Dominic Breazeale last month.
Next up for the Olympic gold medalist? A lengthy break.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed after the win over Breazeale, per Declan Warrington of the Press Association (h/t the Daily Mail): "He [Joshua] needs a long rest. He needs to go and be a young boy, go and sit on the beach with his mates and mess around. It's been absolutely relentless."
He also stated that Joshua's next outing would likely be in November.
It could well be against fellow unbeaten heavyweight Joseph Parker, his mandatory challenger, yet there could be the opportunity to make a voluntary defence instead.
Barry Hearn, chairman of Matchroom, told Sky Sports (h/t James Dielhenn of SkySports.com):
"Parker may well be next but I suspect, probably, Joshua will have another defence prior.
There's a whole range of names out there—whether you're talking [Bermane] Stiverne, Eric Molina.
Stiverne is probably my No. 1 choice because of his credibility.
"
There would be nothing wrong with picking Stiverne, but it feels like we're on the cusp of seeing Joshua face a really notable name in a division that has been revived over the past 18 months or so.
Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury or David Haye—any of them would do.
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