Predictions for the Biggest Boxing Fights Remaining in 2014
In the words of Gennady Golovkin, these fights will hopefully all be a "big drama show."
It's what we as fight fans live for: the anticipation leading up to the big moment when the bell rings and a match we've waited for finally begins. Obviously, every bout doesn't live up to the hype—in fact most of them probably don't—but there's a good chance that at least one of these seven fights will go down as an instant classic.
Unfortunately, the 2014 boxing calendar has fallen well short of the amazing year the sport had in 2013, so these fights aren't quite on that level. However, like most hardcore boxing fans, I am eager to see Bernard Hopkins vs. Sergey Kovalev and of course any match involving GGG.
Note to the readers: These matches are not ranked in the order of how great I think they'll be or how much hype they've received. Instead, they're listed chronologically in the order in which they'll happen this year.
With that out of the way, let's get on to the breakdowns and predictions for these seven fights. I'm sure they'll be no room for disagreement on the comments section—he said with much sarcasm.
Sam Soliman vs. Jermain Taylor: October 8
1 of 7
Jermain Taylor has knocked out his last two opponents, but they had 27 losses combined at the time he faced them.
Given his recent competition, the long layoff, the injuries and the distraction of his legal issues, I just don't see a reason to trust Taylor's ability to put forth a great performance and pull off the upset. Let's face it: There's a reason why Sam Soliman took this fight on ESPN over an HBO main event against Gennady Golovkin.
Fighting Taylor is what his team seems to hope will be a showcase fight to make him some quick and easy money before landing a fight with a bigger name, on a bigger network and for even more money.
Soliman isn't close to being an elite fighter either, but he should have more than enough to beat this version of Taylor.
Prediction: Soliman by 12-round decision, 117-111
Nonito Donaire vs. Nicholas Walters: October 18
2 of 7
As I mentioned in a previous article, the Nonito Donaire of 2014 has seemingly lost a step and some of his aggressiveness in comparison to his form from 2012. Despite two victories since his loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux, the wins were unimpressive, and I don't like his odds in this match.
Credit to Donaire for taking a difficult fight, but I think he's going to lose to Nicholas Walters.
Looking at recent common opponents, Donaire came away with a victory over Vic Darchinyan thanks to a late TKO after a ninth-round knockdown, but he was actually down on two scorecards—and even on the third—at the time of the stoppage.
Walters knocked down Darchinyan twice early in their fight and then knocked him out cold in the fifth round.
Darchinyan is a solid fighter but not a top-10 featherweight. The 2012 version of Donaire would have beaten him quite easily. In his next fight against better competition, Donaire appeared to ask out of a tough fight when he knew he was most likely barely ahead on the scorecards after an accidental head-butt.
I would have been shocked to see that from the 2012 version of Donaire.
I'm not sure if it's age or if he's just lost his competitive edge or fire for fighting, but whatever it is, Walters will take advantage of that weakness.
Walters has a height, reach, age and power advantage in this matchup. Over his career Walters has knocked out 20 of his 24 opponents and has yet to lose a match (24-0). It won't be a blowout, but Walters will win comfortably.
Prediction: Walters by 12-round decision, 116-112
Gennady Golovkin vs. Marco Antonio Rubio: October 18
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Until someone proves they can crack the code with Gennady Golovkin, I'm going to continue to pick him, especially against just the 10th-ranked middleweight in Marco Antonio Rubio—per ESPN—who already has six career losses including three by knockout.
What makes Golovkin so dangerous besides his raw power is his technical skill and the way he delivers that power to the face and body of his opponents. He doesn't need to throw wide or looping shots to generate power; his power shots are short, compact and accurate.
That technical efficiency allows Golovkin to land a high percentage of power shots. In addition, without any wasted motion or having to throw more than 100 punches per round to make up for wildly missed shots, he's able to maintain his stamina and not tire out as easily as more wild punchers.
Daniel Geale—who was ranked as a top-five middleweight at the time of the match—had never been knocked out in 32 previous matches, but Golovkin stopped him inside three rounds. I on't see a reason why a guy who has already been knocked out three times won't meet a similar fate.
Prediction: Golovkin by fifth-round knockout
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Bernard Hopkins vs. Sergey Kovalev: November 8
4 of 7
I've gone back and forth on this one, and I may do so a few more times leading up to the fight even after publishing this article. My gut says to pick Sergey Kovalev for the obvious reasons, but I can't shake the feeling that Bernard Hopkins might ugly up the match and pull out a close victory.
To win this match, Hopkins obviously has to dominate the style and tempo; he'll get knocked out or at least knocked down several times if the match is a wide-open slugfest. Hopkins has to land the jab-straight right one-two and then clinch. He has to throw a few dirty shots, frustrate Kovalev and take him out of his rhythm.
This is by far the biggest match of Kovalev's career but is just one of more than a dozen huge fights on Hopkins' Hall of Fame resume. My concern for Kovalev is that the moment and nerves could cause him to be tentative early, and then he possibly might never find a rhythm due to Hopkins' style.
Hopkins knows what he has to do to win this match, but I'm not sure Kovalev does.
Despite that concern, Kovalev's power shots will carry low-output rounds in the judges' eyes, and he'll probably score a knockdown or two. He won't stop Hopkins, but if he lands cleanly often enough, he will at least momentarily hurt him.
Prediction: Kovalev by 12-round decision, 115-112 with one knockdown
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Kubrat Pulev: November 15
5 of 7
To put it simply, Kubrat Pulev doesn't have the size or power to hurt Wladimir Klitschko. Knowing that, I expect Klitschko to outbox Pulev in what will probably be a slow-paced and possibly boring match.
Like he did against Alex Leapai, it could end up being a match where Klitschko lands his jab, clinches and then occasionally lands a big power shot that drops his opponent. Since he has the size advantage in nearly every match, that strategy has proved to be very successful.
If Pulev isn't able to back Klitschko off with any power that the champion has to respect—he has 11 KOs in 20 fights—and/or is forced to fight on the outside, he has no chance. With Klitschko's physical size advantage, I have a hard time imagining Pulev getting inside very often. Without the power to hurt Klitschko, how can he win?
After 16 straight successful title defenses, I'm at the point where I'll only believe someone can beat the champ when someone actually does.
Prediction: Klitschko by 10th-round TKO
Manny Pacquiao vs. Chris Algieri: November 22
6 of 7
We can all agree that Chris Algieri didn't deserve to get this match against Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has a massive advantage with both his foot and hand speed, which will be the deciding factor, but he's also seemingly lost a little bit in terms of his power and ability to close the show.
My expectation is for Pacquiao to control the match by moving and throwing his punches at angles to get around Algieri's defense and to keep him from setting his feet to land his own offense. They're different fighters with different styles, but Pacquiao should dominate this fight as he did against Brandon Rios.
If Algieri does have an advantage, it's with his height and reach, but you can't hit what you can't catch. Pacquiao will land the one-two, land hooks and then circle and move out the way before Algieri can react.
Prediction: Pacquiao by 12-round decision, 118-110
Terence Crawford vs. Raymundo Beltran: November 29
7 of 7
Raymundo Beltran dominated Arash Usmanee in his last bout just one match after getting robbed in Scotland against Ricky Burns. His next opponent—Terence Crawford—also went to Scotland to face Burns, but Crawford walked away with a decision victory and the lightweight title earlier this year.
Like he did against Burns and later Yuriorkis Gamboa, Crawford will use his reach advantage and quick jab to control the distance, set up his power shots and keep Beltran from getting off his own offense.
Crawford is the better boxer in this match, and if he controls the style of the match, he'll win comfortably.
The WBO champion doesn't have crushing power but does have enough to end a match early. I expect Crawford to use his jab to set up his power punches and possibly catch Beltran lunging in with a counter like the big uppercut he landed against Gamboa.
It also won't hurt to have a large and vocal crowd in his favor in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
Prediction: Terence Crawford by 11th-round TKO
Follow me on Twitter for more boxing analysis and round-by-round scoring of big fights: @sackedbybmac
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