Predictions for the Biggest Boxing Fights in the Rest of 2015
The world of boxing has entered the home stretch for 2015. While the first half of the year gave fight fans the long-awaited showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the fights over the second half of the year should present some just as intriguing matchups between a few of the biggest stars in the sport.
Bleacher Report has compiled everything you need to get hyped about the packed upcoming boxing schedule, including predictions about all the major blockbusters for the rest of 2015.
Santa Cruz vs. Mares
1 of 8
What: Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares, 12 rounds, featherweights
Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles
When: August 29
Prediction: Mares will upset Santa Cruz in one of the better fights of the year. Look, Santa Cruz has fought almost nobody since defeating Victor Terrazas in 2013. The soft touches he’s faced since will have done nothing to help him defeat Mares, a seasoned former champion who has been in the ring with some of the very best.
Mosley vs. Mayorga 2
2 of 8
What: Shane Mosley vs. Ricardo Mayorga, junior middleweights
Where: The Forum in Inglewood
When: August 29
Prediction: Mosley will knock Mayorga out and look pretty sharp doing it. Mosley, age 43, is set to rematch Mayorga, age 41, almost seven years after he knocked Mayorga out back in 2007. While Mosley has stayed in shape over those seven years, the chain-smoking Mayorga has been in and out of boxing and doesn’t appear to be anything close to what he used to be as a fighter. It’ll be an easy night for Mosley in his first fight since 2013.
Mayweather vs Berto
3 of 8
What: Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto, for Mayweather’s lineal and WBC welterweight titles
Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
When: September 12
Prediction: Mayweather will defeat Berto by unanimous decision in just as boring and pointless of a fight as pretty much everyone thinks it is anyway. Mayweather is too good for Berto. He’s too skilled. He’s too accomplished. He’s too everything. But Mayweather won’t go in looking for the knockout. He won’t take the risk. He never does. So the end result will be akin to watching a bathtub fill up with water, except you'll have to purchase it on pay-per-view.
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Matthysse vs. Postol
4 of 8
What: Lucas Matthysse vs. Viktor Postol, 12 rounds, for vacant WBC junior welterweight title
Where: StubHub Center in Carson
When: October 3
Prediction: Matthysse will slip by Postol via close, controversial decision. Matthysse is one of the more popular junior welterweights in boxing. He has legitimate power in both hands and fights in an aggressive, crowd-pleasing style. But Postol is a sharp boxer in his own right, and he will make things tougher on Matthysse than many expect.
Golovkin vs. Lemieux
5 of 8
What: Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux, 12 rounds, WBA-IBF title unification
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York
When: October 17
Prediction: Golovkin vs. Lemieux won’t go past Round 6. Both fighters are hard-punching, offensive-minded destroyers, so it’s hard to envision this fight lasting very long. Golovkin will rightfully be the favorite heading into the bout, but Lemieux is a live underdog. His explosive punching will test Golovkin’s chin like no one has ever done before. This fight might be the Hagler-Hearns of a new generation.
Klitschko vs. Fury
6 of 8
What: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury, 12 rounds, for Klitschko’s lineal, IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight titles
Where: ESPRIT Arena in Dusseldorf (Germany)
When: October 24
Prediction: Klitschko will knock Fury out in less than five rounds. Fury is tailor-made for Klitschko. He’s big, slow and defensively inept. Klitschko is an exceptional athlete and one of the hardest punchers the heavyweight division has ever seen. While Fury will land his fair share of punches, he won’t land near the kind of clean, hard punches Klitschko will batter him with while he’s standing in firing range. It'll be short but fun.
Lee vs. Saunders
7 of 8
What: Andy Lee vs. B.J. Saunders, 12 rounds, for Lee’s WBO middleweight title
Where: Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick (Ireland)
When: September 19
Prediction: The atmosphere for Lee vs. Saunders will be electric. Lee is an Irish folk hero after knocking out Matt Korobov for the WBO middleweight title in 2014. His next bout was a draw with Peter Quillin in Brooklyn, so Lee vs. Saunders will be Lee’s big Irish homecoming celebration. The winner of the bout has much to gain, particularly Lee, who may find himself against the winner of Golovkin vs. Lemieux or Cotto vs. Canelo next year for a middleweight title unification bout. Expect Lee, a southpaw, to come out on top via his vaunted right hook.
Cotto vs. Canelo
8 of 8
What: Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez, 12 rounds, for Cotto’s lineal and WBC middleweight titles (close but not yet finalized per Lance Pugmire, LA Times.)
Where: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (as reported by ESPN’s Dan Rafael)
When: November 21 (as reported by ESPN’s Dan Rafael)
Prediction: Behold the 2015 fight of the year. Cotto vs. Alvarez will be a superfight that delivers everything such contests always promise but seldom make good on. Cotto will have his moments early in the bout before the younger, naturally larger Alvarez makes things interesting as the bout progresses. This one could feature multiple knockdowns and rip-roaring action through all 12 rounds of a middleweight contest that will be celebrated for years to come. In the end, Alvarez will have his hand raised as the victor.
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