Five Boxing Matches I'd Still Like to See Made For 2010

A new year is upon us, and for boxing fans, there’s an undeniable feeling of anxious excitement as we wait for the sport to get cranked up again. Even news of Evander Holyfield-Francois Botha and James Toney begging for a UFC fight can’t dampen that enthusiasm.

I’ve already said my piece about bouts that have been made that I can’t wait to watch, and there’s the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao superfight that’s ever so close to becoming a reality. That should be enough to satisfy my love for the sweet science.

Still, I’ve always been a bit of a greedy sort when it comes to sports, and boxing in particular. My mind has already been wandering and asking, “What more could we see?”

In that spirit, here are five boxing matches I’d like to see made for the second half of 2010. Some are more feasible than others, and while it’s highly unlikely that more than maybe one of them comes to pass, there’s no reason any of them couldn’t be put together.

Without further ado...

Kelly Pavlik vs. Paul Williams

This fight was actually supposed to happen on two different dates in 2009, but it got torpedoed thanks to Pavlik’s stubborn staph infection and some ill will on both sides. Both men have seemingly moved on to other (not necessarily bigger and better) things.

I’d still enjoy seeing them drift back toward each other, though. Barring a return date with Sergio Martinez, Pavlik is the biggest challenge out there for Williams—and a completely different one at that.

Meanwhile, Kelly seems to have few credible challengers for his middleweight titles outside of Felix Sturm, who rarely ventures over to American soil. He needs to be pushed to see if he learned anything after his one-sided defeat at the hands of Bernard Hopkins.

In terms of styles, these guys seem made for each other. Neither would back down, and both men are just average enough defensively that plenty of punches would land. It would be a tough night for the combatants, but big fun for the fans.

Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson

I know B-Hop said he was done with younger fighters after he disposed of Pavlik, but he’s (finally) running out of time for more big fights in his illustrious career. If he’s looking to add an exclamation point to his legacy, this is the way to do it.

There are other contenders around Dawson’s age at light heavyweight, but none have Hopkins’ name value. Chad would have to consider this bout for the financial benefits, if nothing else.

As an extra treat, I’d love to see Jean Pascal in against Tavoris Cloud as the co-feature. The winner could get a shot at Dawson if he manages to beat Hopkins.


Timothy Bradley vs. Amir Khan

Promoters seem to avoid pitting two rising stars against each other if at all possible, because the risk outweighs the reward for both men. For the sake of boxing fans on both sides of the Atlantic, I hope they throw that logic out the window for this matchup.

Khan’s anointment as the Next Big Thing got pushed back a bit, thanks to his stunning 2008 loss to Breidis Prescott, but he’s won four in a row since then and looked great in the process. Bradley has been on a similar roll and seems to get better every time he steps in the ring.

A Bradley-Khan fight would showcase speed, power and energy, and British and American boxing nuts would dig it. Yes, the loser could get sidetracked a bit, but this is the kind of bout that could very well make both men look good.

Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Edwin Valero

There are very good reasons for this one not to happen. Valero is a phenom who may not be ready for such a big leap in competition, and an aging JMM could be excused for not wanting to expose himself to the possibility of ending up on the wrong end of a highlight-reel KO.

But seriously, the storylines for this bout write themselves. We’re talking about timeless themes like youth versus experience and consummate skill versus raw explosiveness.

This is probably the biggest stretch on this list, but one thing is certain: there’s no way I’d miss this fight.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley

These are my two favorite boxers, so this fight would actually get me even more excited than Mayweather-Pacquiao—and that’s saying something.

I don’t think it’s at all blasphemous to suggest that Pacquiao-Mosley would offer the prospect of a more exciting in-ring product. Mayweather’s defensive genius makes him a contrast to Pac Man, while in Sugar Shane’s case, it would be more like guys who are mirror images of each other, to a certain extent.

Just two years ago, I would have told you this was a pipe dream that would never come to pass. Now it’s not only possible, it may actually make sense if Mosley beats Andre Berto in a few weeks.

They could literally stage this bout anywhere on the planet and I’d make the necessary sacrifices to attend in person. I’d be torn on who to root for (though maybe my Filipino blood would push me in one direction), but for me, that would be part of the fun.

Don’t get me wrong. With Floyd-Manny, the next two stages of the Super Six and Vazquez-Marquez IV in store for us in 2010, I’ll be a happy camper even if none of these fights get made.

I just don’t think I’m asking for too much to hope for just a little bit more.

Nick Tylwalk is the editor and co-founder of BoxingWatchers.com . Follow his Twitter feed @Nick_Tylwalk .