Fantasy Matchmaker: 5 All-British Fights That Need to Happen in 2016

It is always fun to play fantasy matchmaker.

With no concerns about dates, no worries about television coverage and no need to make sure the sums add up so everyone gets paid, you can just come up with the big-name bouts you'd like to see happen.

In Britain, plenty of potential fights out there would attract attention, if they were to ever take place.

Kell Brook has pushed for a clash with Amir Khan, while there has long been an interest in a rematch between super middleweights George Groves and James DeGale.

However, the British boxing landscape has also changed in the early months of 2016.

Domestic rivals Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg have finally fought each other, Anthony Joshua has won a major title, and several world champions are plotting their next moves.

Bleacher Report has picked out five fights that we would like to see happen before the end of the year.

Jamie McDonnell vs. Scott Quigg

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Jamie McDonnell has suggested he could move up to super bantamweight.

Bantamweight Jamie McDonnell holds the WBA's regular title.

After defending the belt against Fernando Vargas on Saturday, the boxer from Doncaster, England, is set to face the WBA's super champion, Juan Carlos Payano next, per the Sheffield Star.

Yet McDonnell is also willing to move up to super bantam for a big fight against a domestic rival.

After beating Vargas at the O2 Arena in London, the 30-year-old said, according to David Anderson of the Mirror: "I don't mind moving up to [fight] the Quiggs and the Framptons. At the moment, I'm at bantamweight and we'll see what Eddie [Hearn] says."

Carl Frampton looks a non-starter. The Northern Irishman is not expected to stick around at the super bantam limit (more on him to come).

A clash with Scott Quigg, however, is a possibility.

As well as the disappointment of losing his WBA title to rival Frampton in February, Quigg also suffered a broken jaw.

A comeback against McDonnell would be a tall order, and not just because he stands at 5'10" tall. Quigg might require a warm-up fight, but a big domestic brawl could happen toward the end of the year.

Lee Selby vs. Carl Frampton

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Lee Selby had to climb off the canvas to defeat Eric Hunter.

After climbing off the canvas to beat Eric Hunter on Saturday, IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby is now chasing a big name.

The Welshman's trainer, Tony Borg, told David Williams of the South Wales Argus: "Lee will fight anybody, anywhere. He’s not a rough, tough guy off the street, he’s an educated and skilful boxer, and he’ll fight anywhere."

Carl Frampton's name has been mentioned in connection with Selby.

A unified champion at super bantamweight, Frampton's next fight is set to be against Leo Santa Cruz at featherweight.

Showtime included the bout on its schedule for the coming months (h/t George Gigney of Boxing News), although a deal has yet to be announced.

Selby could face the winner, with Dan Rafael of ESPN.com pointing out: "Making a fight between Selby and either of them would likely be relatively easy to do because all three are aligned with adviser Al Haymon."

Either Brit going up against Santa Cruz would be good to watch, but a clash between Selby and Frampton would really appeal to a domestic audience.

Terry Flanagan vs. Anthony Crolla

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Terry Flanagan defeated Derry Mathews in March to maintain his perfect record.

Terry Flanagan and Anthony Crolla would be an old-school tussle between dedicated world champions at lightweight.

Actually, it would be an old-school tussle between two Mancunians, as Flanagan explained to Nick Parkinson of ESPN.com:

"

Anthony and I are friends, we're from the same area, went to the same school and are world champions in the same weight division. It's unheard of.

I knew him at school, he was a few years ahead of me, and he's a nice kid. But we will put our friendship aside for the fight, boxing is a business after all, and after the fight we can be mates again.

"

Flanagan is the reigning WBO champion at 135 pounds. He is unbeaten in 30 pro fights and was last seen out-pointing another domestic foe, Derry Mathews, in March.

As for Crolla, he puts his WBA title on the line against the dangerous Ismael Barroso on May 7.

If Million Dollar Crolla retains his belt, could we then see a clash between the two local rivals later in the year? It would be a unification fight for local pride and two titles.

James DeGale vs. Callum Smith

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James DeGale has a mandatory challenger to deal with in Rogelio Medina.

Callum Smith impressed everyone with his first-round knockout win against Hadillah Mohoumadi on April 2.

Even James "Chunky" DeGale tipped his imaginary hat to the Liverpudlian, telling Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Michael Kelleher of SkySports.com): "He is a good fighter, a wicked fighter and he is going to get his chance."

The win moved Smith to the front of the queue to fight for the WBC title.

However, Badou Jack—the current champion—is already scheduled to defend his crown against Lucian Bute on April 30 in Washington, D.C.

The IBF champion DeGale fights on the same bill, as he faces his mandatory challenger in Rogelio Medina.

Per Boxing News, the plan is for the two winners on the night to face each other in a unification bout later in the year.

That's a great idea if Jack wins, but DeGale has already beaten Bute.

Rather than engaging in a rematch with the Canadian, Chunky would surely be better served coming home and facing fellow Englishman Smith.

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua

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Anthony Joshua became the IBF heavyweight champion in his 16th pro fight.

The heavyweight division in Britain is bursting at the seams right now.

David Haye is back in action, David Price is determined to return better than ever, and then there's also Dillian Whyte, a tough competitor who is preparing to make a comeback from a shoulder problem.

But, sitting at the top of the pile are two men who seem to be on a collision course.

Tyson Fury may be at the summit right now (he holds the IBO, WBA and WBO titles), but IBF champion Anthony Joshua is the new kid on the block who threatens Fury's place as the best of Britain.

Joshua had barely finished battering poor Charles Martin on Saturday when attention turned to a fight with Fury, whose rematch with Wladimir Klitschko takes place on July 9.

Talking to Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Peter Gilbert of SkySports.com), Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed he had already held talks with Fury's camp:

"

I've chatted to Peter Fury about it, we know how big the fight is and both guys, both camps, really fancy their chances in the fight. So I think that's a fight you will see sooner rather than later.

We're going to go in June or July, then Klitschko-Fury is on July 9 and if Tyson wins that fight he will be looking to go November time and so will we.

"

Joshua against Fury in November would be a welcome early Christmas present for everyone.

Are there any British fighters you want to see go toe-to-toe in 2016? Share your thoughts via the comments section.