Boxing Knockout Artists Who Should Fight Each Other in 2015

If Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson fight in 2015, it will be highly anticipated, due to the fact that it will yield a true, undisputed world champion at light heavyweight. But it might be even more highly anticipated, due to the fact that it will likely yield a highlight-reel knockout. 

Everybody loves to see two big punchers go to war. And this year, the pieces are in place for some great matchups between knockout artists. 

From the lowest weight classes to the big men, there is the potential to make major bouts between fighters who have knockout ratios above 70 percent. If most of the fights on this list get made, it will be a very exciting 2015. 

8. Chris Arreola vs. Lucas Browne

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After losing to Bermane Stiverne by Round 6 stoppage last year in a bid to win the vacant WBC heavyweight title, Chris Arreola may be done as a legitimate contender. But he's still one of the better heavyweights in the world and should be able to continue making decent money as a dangerous gatekeeper.

Arreola is a durable fighter who can crack. He's garnered 31 of his 35 victories by knockout. He has a fan-friendly fight style and engaging personality.

Lucas Browne would be a terrific up-and-coming opponent for Arreola. The big Aussie is a slugger who would look to trade with Arreola. The heavyweight division is hotter than it has been in years right now, and Browne needs to make a move to introduce himself to American crowds.

7. Nicholas Walters vs. Jhonny Gonzalez

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Nicholas Walters turned in two outstanding stoppages of multiple-division champions in 2014. In May, he stopped Vic Darchinyan in five rounds. In October, he savaged Nonito Donaire to win by Round 6 TKO and earn the WBA featherweight title.

Jhonny Gonzalez has long been a noted knockout artist. The veteran slugger had one of the top knockouts of 2013, when he stunned Abner Mares in the first round to reclaim the WBC featherweight belt.

This fight would have the classic young lion/old lion dynamic, featuring two of the hardest punchers on the planet below the lightweight division. Featherweight is one of the hottest weight classes in the sport entering 2015, and it's time to make some unification fights.  

6. Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux

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In an ideal world, Gennady Golovkin's next fight would be with Miguel Cotto. Cotto took the WBC and lineal middleweight title from Sergio Martinez by thrilling stoppage last June, but for the lineal title at 160 pounds to have much meaning at this point, it must be defended against GGG.

The undefeated WBA belt holder has knocked out 18 straight and 28 of 31 in his career. No fighter has been hotter over the past few years. 

Since he's unlikely to actually get a fight with Cotto, Golovkin will have to keep doing what he's been doing: knocking out whoever will dare to climb into the ring with him. He's steamrolled former world champions and top-five contenders. 

So long as Golovkin takes care of his business against Martin Murray in February, David Lemieux would make a good matchup. Lemieux has won 31 of 33 fights by knockout. 

Lemieux started his career with incredible momentum, winning 25 straight, with 24 by KO. He hit a speed bump in 2011, losing back-to-back fights, but he was only 21 at the time and has shown vast improvement since. 

In 2014, Lemieux stopped Fernando Guerrero and Gabriel Rosado. He's in line for a title shot. 

I'm not sure how close this fight would be. GGG is a much better all-around boxer. But it could be a real shootout while it lasted. 

5. Keith Thurman vs. Marcos Maidana

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Keith Thurman is already scheduled to face multiple-division world champion Robert Guerrero in February. Nobody should pencil that in as a sure win for One Time, but I do view him as the favorite.

Provided he handles himself well in that fight, Marcos Maidana would make an outstanding second fight for him in 2015. Maidana is a wild bull of a fighter, with his own dangerous power. The rugged veteran vs. the cerebral young knockout machine would make for a compelling matchup.

It would also be good for Thurman's resume to add a common opponent with Floyd Mayweather. Although he lacks Mayweather's experience and all-around skill, Thurman has much bigger power and more physical strength.

Fights with Guerrero and Maidana this year would give Thurman the chance to look very good in comparison to Mayweather. Of course, they could end with him crashing back to earth. But that's the risk a young knockout artist has to be willing to take.  

4. Roman Gonzalez vs. Naoya Inoue

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It's a true shame that boxing fans in the United States pay so little attention to the lowest weight classes. Because it means that one of 2015's most thrilling fights could end up getting short shrift in this country.

Roman Gonzalez is a pound-for-pound superstar. He's a three-division world champion and undefeated in 41 fights with 35 knockouts. But the WBC and lineal flyweight title has lacked for a truly compelling rival.

It looks like one might have emerged in Japan. Despite having just eight professional fights, 21-year-old Naoya Inoue is a burgeoning superstar in his own rights. Last year he knocked out two veteran champions to capture world titles at light and super flyweight.

Inoue and Gonzalez share a promoter in Japan. There is an outstanding chance this fight happens in 2015.

3. Lucas Matthysse vs. Ruslan Provodnikov

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Of all the fights on this list, Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Lucas Matthysse might be the biggest sure-thing thriller in the bunch. Matthysse is among the best offensive fighters in the sport. Provodnikov is as hard as a slab of granite and never takes a step back.

And there's good reason to hope that this fight will come off in 2015. On January 12, Boxing News 24's Dan Ambrose reported that both sides were close to agreement on a scrap for March or April.

Each man is at a pivotal point in his career and needs the kind of victory this fight would provide. So nothing would be left in the ring on the night of the fight.

If it happens, expect it to be one of the top contenders for Fight of the Year.

2. Deontay Wilder vs. Wladimir Klitschko

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Deontay Wilder started his career with 32 straight knockouts, one of the longest streaks in the sport's history. In his last fight, he finally went the distance, winning by unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne to capture the WBC heavyweight belt.

Wladimir Klitschko holds the rest of the belts at heavyweight and is fresh off from a terrific Round 5 KO of undefeated Kubrat Pulev last November. It was the 53rd stoppage of his career. He has dominated the heavyweight division for over a decade. 

I'm not ready to declare Wilder ready for an all-round boxer like Klitschko. I can't really fault Wilder's camp if they decide to have him fight a few easier defenses before having him make a bid for the true championship. 

At the same time, Wilder's power is legitimate, and Klitschko has been knocked out three times in his career. If this fight does happen this year, it will be a huge event. 

1. Sergey Kovalev vs. Adonis Stevenson

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In 2013, Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson both went 4-0 with four knockouts. They both captured championship belts at light heavyweight. They ended the year fighting on the same HBO card in Montreal and fans eagerly awaited their inevitable 2014 showdown.

Instead, Stevenson jumped to Showtime. He collected two more solid defenses in 2014 but has clearly faded back into Kovalev's shadow, as the Russian has emerged as one of the sport's hottest stars, in the wake of defeating Bernard Hopkins to unify three of the four major belts.

Kovalev is fighting in Stevenson's hometown this March, against former champion Jean Pascal. A big win for Kovalev in that fight will put major pressure on Stevenson to meet him for a unification bout.

I'd make Kovalev the definite favorite in that fight, but Stevenson's athleticism and explosive power cannot be discounted. As long as Kovalev gets by Pascal, there's no way 2015 should end without Kovalev-Stevenson taking place.