Storylines That Will Have the Biggest Impact on Boxing in 2016
Floyd Mayweather Jr. might be officially retired, but expect to hear a lot of chatter about his potential comeback in 2016.
With Manny Pacquiao eyeing a possible retirement fight in April, we'll be hearing echoes of the endless Mayweather-Pacquiao speculation that dominated the first half of this decade.
But while there will be plenty of talk about the two long-time stars in 2016, the space will at last be opened up for other, compelling narratives. There's a lot more to focus on in boxing next year than Money and Pacman.
There are still big fights left on the calendar this year, but most of the major storylines for next year are set.
Is Vasyl Lomachenko Boxing's New Most-Avoided Fighter?
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Although he has had just six professional fights, WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko might be the best all-around technical boxer in the world.
The 27-year-old has exceptional footwork and an uncanny ability to control distance. He also displays a wide variety of punch selection, to both the body and head.
He's brilliant defensively and, although he's not exactly a monster puncher, his power is very good; and it is magnified by his timing and accuracy.
So it is a major disappointment for fans that the Ukrainian's two fights in 2015 came against the unheralded Gamalier Rodriguez and Romulo Koasicha. They both turned in game efforts against Lomachenko, but it's not unfair to say that neither of them belonged in the ring with him.
The featherweight division has the potential to be one of the hottest in the sport. But we were saying the same thing at the end of 2014, and yet very few of the potential big fights at that weight ended up taking place.
Let's all hope that changes in 2016. Leo Santa Cruz, Nicholas Walters and Guillermo Rigondeaux would all be great opponents for Lomachenko, if any of them are willing.
Little Big Man: Roman Gonzalez's Continued Stardom
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One of the major boxing stories of 2015 has been undefeated, three-division champion Roman Gonzalez finally gaining the recognition he deserves in the United States.
Expect that story to continue next year, because the 28-year-old Nicaraguan is a fighter who will rank among the best of all time among the lightest weight classes.
After Gonzalez's one-sided destruction of tough veteran Brian Viloria on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux, there's only one remotely interesting fight for him at 112 pounds. That would be against WBO and WBA flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada.
Gonzalez beat Estrada in 2012, but that fight was at 108 pounds, a tough cut for the Mexican. I'd be interested in seeing them rematch at 112, even though I'd favor Gonzalez again.
The fight the entire world would love to see is Gonzalez vs. Naoya Inoue, who holds the WBO super flyweight belt. The Japanese boxer has won world titles in two division in less than 10 professional fights.
If Gonzalez could handle a jump to 122 pounds, I'd be very intrigued by seeing him face the technical wizard Guillermo Rigondeaux, who has wanted for worthy opponents since handling Nonito Donaire in 2013.
Terence Crawford's Push Toward Pound-for-Pound Acclaim
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In 2014, Terence Crawford truly exploded onto the boxing scene. He captured the WBO lightweight title from Ricky Burns, knocked out previously undefeated Yuriorkis Gamboa and shut out tough veteran Raymundo Beltran.
Crawford, 28, was the Boxing Writers Association of America selection for Fighter of the Year, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.
His 2015 campaign has been less dazzling, but he has continued to demonstrate why some view him as the next great American boxing star.
In April, he knocked out Thomas Dulorme for the vacant WBO light-welterweight belt. Last month, he hammered tough Dierry Jean and stopped him in 10.
Jean and Dulorme might not be great fighters, but they are very good ones. Dulorme had legitimately earned his spot in that fight for a vacant belt, while Jean won as many as five rounds on one judges' card when he lost to Lamont Peterson in 2014.
During Crawford's fight with Jean, there was speculation among the HBO broadcast team that Crawford could be tapped as the opponent for Manny Pacquiao's return bout in April 2016. Pacquiao is definitely not the fighter he was five years ago, but he would still be the stiffest test of Crawford's career.
But it's exactly the kind of test a young fighter of his quality needs, in order to reach his true potential.
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How Will the Welterweight Division Shake Out?
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With Floyd Mayweather Jr. officially retired, the space is created for a new star to emerge in the talent-rich welterweight division. A roster of fighters waits at 147 pounds, anxious to fill the vacuum.
The big four in the division at this point are Kell Brook, Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan and Keith Thurman. In an ideal world, undefeated IBF champion Brook would face Khan in a battle of Britain, then take on the winner of WBO champion Bradley and the undefeated Thurman.
But a number of young talents figure to play a part in next year's developments at welterweight. Former IBF champion Shawn Porter is a bruiser, who has only lost to Brook. Danny Garcia is still undefeated, and a former lineal champion at 140 pounds.
One of the most exciting rising stars in the sport is 2012 Olympian Errol Spence Jr. The 25-year-old has yet to face a top contender, but he has been dominant against second-tier opposition. Undefeated Sadam Ali's knockout of Luis Abregu this year put him in the conversation, as well.
It's also probably just a matter of time before two-division champion Terence Crawford moves up to join the party.
Will the PBC Series Thrive?
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In 2015, the airwaves have been blanketed by professional boxing action, courtesy of the Premier Boxing Champions series. For the first time in a generation, the "sweet science" was featured on prime-time network television.
As the private empire of the controversial Al Haymon, the PBC has been a lightning rod for criticism. I've criticized the power-broker myself over the years, but I'm hardly going to fault him for putting more boxing on television.
Not every fight on the PBC has been a great one, but there's no way to ever guarantee great fights all the time.
In addition to highlighting some of the sport's top young talent, it featured such relevant, compelling match ups as Shawn Porter vs. Adrien Broner and James DeGale vs. Andre Dirrell. It delivered such unexpected thrillers as Ricky Burns vs. Omar Figueroa Jr. and Krzysztof Glowacki vs. Marco Huck.
Regardless of how anybody feels about Haymon, the continued success of the PBC can only be good for the sport as a whole.
Will an Heir to the Klitschko Brothers Emerge?
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The Klitschko brothers have dominated the heavyweight division for this entire century. Older brother Vitali retired at the end of 2012, vacating his WBC belt. Younger brother Wladimir has continued to defend the rest of the belts, dispatching undefeated challengers with regularity.
But at 39, the end is likely approaching for Wladi, as well, although he's shown no signs of slowing down. He'll face the gigantic Tyson Fury later this month. It's not a challenge he can look past, but it's also not one I expect to see him lose.
When I participated in a media call with the long-time champion earlier this fall, he indicated that he didn't expect to retire any time in the immediate future. So I expect him to not only beat Fury, but also to defend his belts again next year. And I don't think there's anybody out there who would beat him.
But there is a roster of young heavyweights anxious to take his place when he eventually does move on. WBC champion Deontay Wilder is a natural candidate, along with fellow American Bryant Jennings, who looked better than expected when losing to Klitschko earlier this year.
Jennings fights undefeated Cuban Luis Ortiz in December, another, big, talented boxer with power. Of course, Fury has the chance to end all this speculation with an upset.
Meanwhile, the best young heavyweight in the sport just might be Fury's countryman, Anthony Joshua, who is 26.
A Possible Showdown Between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev
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Between 2009 and 2011, Andre Ward cleaned out the super-middleweight division, easily defeating a murderers' row of current and former champions. After he knocked out Chad Dawson in 2012, he moved to near the very top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
But since beating Dawson, the 31-year-old has been woefully inactive, fighting just twice. He was out of action for all of 2014. And during that time, light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev has risen to stardom. The Ring currently has Kovalev ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound, with Ward at No. 4.
There are no meaningful fights for Ward at 168 pounds, unless he wants to wait for Gennady Golovkin to move up from middleweight. But a move to light heavyweight would give Ward the opportunity to remind fans exactly how great he is.
It would also allow provide him a pay-per-view-worthy opponent in 32-year-old Kovalev.
The fight should happen. Last month, Dan Rafael of ESPN reported that the deal was in place between Kovalev's promoter, Main Events, and Ward's promoter, Roc Nation, which would allow HBO to build the two fighters to a pay-per-view showdown in 2016.
The Gennady Golovkin vs. Miguel Cotto/Saul Alvarez Soap Opera
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Later this month, Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez will fight for the WBC and lineal middleweight titles, which the former won from Sergio Martinez in June 2014.
Cotto is a four-division world champion and one of the greatest stars ever to emerge from boxing-rich Puerto Rico. Alvarez is the sport's biggest young star, and the pride of fans who share his Mexican heritage.
Puerto Rico vs. Mexico has always been a huge rivalry in boxing. So Cotto vs. Alvarez would be a major fight, no matter what.
But an element of extra intrigue hangs in the background of this one: Gennady Golovkin. The undefeated star from Kazakhstan holds the IBF and WBA middleweight titles. He's also been the most-avoided fighter of the past few years.
By rights, Golovkin should have received Cotto's shot at Martinez, or—at the very least—the first shot at Cotto.
A middleweight title not defended against GGG has little true value at this point, a fact recognized by the WBC, when they announced in October that the winner of Cotto vs. Alvarez must face Golovkin, per Miguel Rivera of Boxingscene.com.
But this is boxing, so life is unlikely to work out so simply. Whether it's Cotto or Alvarez who emerges, expect a lot of posturing about "A-side fighters" and proposed catchweights out of their camps.
Alvarez has already told Ben Thompson of Fighthype.com that he'll only fight Golovkin at a catchweight of 155 pounds.
If the winner of Alvarez and Cotto insists on clinging to the 155-pound catchweight, expect a major backlash from fans.
Manny Pacquiao's (Potential) Farewell Fight
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Manny Pacquiao has been one of history's great boxing stars. His remarkable championship climb from flyweight to a 150-pound catchweight title will always rank among the sport's biggest achievements.
Outside the ring, the 36-year-old has displayed a unique level of charisma. His journey from street kid to Filipino Congressman is a story that might make Hollywood blush.
At the end of October, Pacquiao's long-time promoter, Bob Arum, told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com that the star's return bout in April would be his last one. Pacquiao will be standing for a spot in the Senate in May.
The build-up to the final fight for a star of Pacquiao's magnitude will be enormous, whether it is against a rising talent like Terence Crawford or a third bout with previous rival Timothy Bradley.
But the conversation surrounding Pacquiao is unlikely to stop when that fight is over, especially if he looks good. Retirement in boxing is often a temporary state, and fans will not be anxious to say goodbye to Pacquiao.
Will Floyd Mayweather Go for 50?
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Retirement is rarely permanent for professional boxers. Whenever a Hall of Famer says he's hanging up the gloves, it's natural to wonder whether or not he'll actually return.
The speculation that Floyd Mayweather's retirement would only be temporary began prior to him even making the official announcement, during the build-up to his farewell fight against Andre Berto last September.
As of right now, the 38-year-old stands tied with heavyweight great Rocky Marciano at 49-0. It's hard to believe a fighter with his flair for the dramatic is going to want to pass up on a nice, even number like 50. Beyond that, it's hard to believe that the man known as "Money" will want to pass up another monster payday.
So expect to hear and read speculation about Mayweather's possible return all year long during 2016.
If it happens, I hope it's not a return match with Manny Pacquiao. I'd welcome Mayweather's comeback, but only if he is facing a true challenge like middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, or at least one of the hungry young lions at welterweight, like Keith Thurman or Kell Brook.
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