Timothy Bradley Vs. Devon Alexander and The Ten Most Anticipated Fights of 2011
As the new year approaches, we think of what possible fights can, have, or are being made. I decided to look carefully at every weight division.
To build a proper list of the most anticipated fights of 2011, I built a criteria. I call my criteria LIE.
LIE stands for Likelihood, Importance, and Entertainment.
Likelihood is how likely a match can become a reality. Sometimes the money, importance, and entertaining possibilities of a match aren't enough to bring two fighters together.
Sometimes, two fighters hate each other too much. Other times, one just isn't ready to fight the other. Recent court cases or illnesses can prevent a fight from coming into fruition. There are countless reasons in today's boxing world for why a fight fans demand may never occur.
Importance is how important a match is to boxing. Some matches bear a historical necessity to them. This helps the likelihood of the match increase.
Fans demanding a fight between two fighters makes a fight grow in importance. If two fighters have cleared through a whole weight division except for each other, this naturally raises the importance of their bout. Many factors can effect the importance of a bout.
Entertainment is what brings the fans to a fight. Whatever the factor is that entertains the people, be it knockout power or powerful personalities, it raises other factors of the match.
Entertainment can lightly effect the importance. If a match makes money and makes sure to entertain the fans, the likelihood greatly increases.
I use each of these factors, rating each from one to five for each potential matchup I considered for this list.
From the smallest to the biggest, I applied my criteria. Check out the list I came up with using the right arrow key on your keyboard or clicking the "next" button with your mouse.
10. David Haye Vs. A Klitschko Brother
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Likelihood=2 out of 5
Importance=4.5 out of 5
Entertainment=4 out of 5
Total=10.5 out of 15
The heavyweight division hasn't had an era of big exciting talent in a long while.
The 1970's had Ken Norton, Muhammad Ali, Joe Fraizer, and George Foreman.
The 1980's brought us Larry Holmes, Michael Moorer, and Mike Tyson toward the end of the decade.
The 1990's brought us the rise of Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and the fall of Mike Tyson.
Now.
Lennox Lewis is retired.
Mike Tyson is retired.
And Evander Holyfield is just plain old.
The Klitschko brothers barely missed the last crop of legendary heavyweights and now languish in purgatory as the kings of an empty weight division.
Because of the lack of talent, they dominate the division. The brothers plan to unify every major world title in the heavyweight division.
They've collected four out of the the five major belts so far. Vitali has the WBC heavyweight belt. Wladimir has the IBF, WBO, and Ring heavyweight titles.
The final belt uncollected by the Klitschkos is the WBA heavyweight belt held by British superstar David Haye.
David Haye grew in fame by unifying the cruiserweight (200 lbs) world titles and now has moved up to the heavyweight division to repeat this feat. If David Haye can unify the heavyweight division as well, he will have become the first boxer in history to unify both of those weight divisions.
Likelihood=2 out of 5
David Haye Vs A Klitschko brother is not a new superfight. This fight has been delayed and called off before by injuries, disagreements, etc.
Even as a new deal is supposedly in the works now for David Haye to fight the younger brother named Wladimir, there are signs that this fight won't be easy to get made.
The Klitschkos going against David Haye is very unlikely if this antagonism between the ego-pumped heavyweight superstars continues.
Importance=4.5 out of 5
The health of boxing normally is determined by how healthy its heaviest division is. That is not the case now. The two biggest boxing stars on the planet are both Welterweights.
Many of the other stars of the Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound list are well below the heavyweight division in weight class.
The world of boxing is continuing to adjust to a life without a great heavyweight division, but a heavyweight superfight would still help momentarily breathe life back into boxing.
Entertainment=4 out of 5
This match will not be as entertaining as many other matches mostly because the Klitschkos are not the most entertaining bunch to watch. They plod along very slowly and methodically pick apart their competition.
Boxing geniuses...yes.
Action-packing thrill-seekers...no.
Despite the unentertaining styles, seeing David Haye or a Klitschko get KO'd will be wildly entertaining. These men have been dominant so long, have hated and called each other names for so long and have such high knockout percentages that two things can be almost guaranteed:
1. Someone will get knocked out.
2. Someone's reign of dominance is over.
The crowd loves to see a king get beheaded. If King Haye and one of he King Klitschkos oblige, the bloodthirsty crowd will get what it wants.
9. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Saul Alvarez
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Likelihood=2.5 out of 5
Importance=4 out of 5
Entertainment=4.5 out of 5
Total=11 out of 15
Saul Alvarez is a 20-year-old Mexican junior middleweight (154 lbs) boxing prospect picked up by Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya, who touts him as Mexico's next big star.
Julio Cesar Chavez Junior is the 24-year-old son of the legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez. Chavez Junior has been snatched up by Top Rank Promotions and Bob Arum.
Chavez Junior hopes to follow in his father's extraordinary path as a boxer. He competes as a junior middleweight and middleweight (160 lbs).
Both have extensive undefeated records for such young fighters.Alvarez has a record of 35 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw. Chavez Junior has a record of 41 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest.
Likelihood=2.5 out of 5
Both have made their claim to be Mexico's next big star, so many feel it would be a great bout. One of the problems with this bout is that many would feel it'd be a great bout later in their careers. This decreases the likelihood drastically.
Another big problem is that both fighters are promoted by rival promotional companies.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions have trouble making guaranteed multi-million dollar deals come into fruition with each other.
To have them even attempt to deal with each other again after the fiascoes they've had in 2010 would likely lead to more failed contracts than combat.
Importance=4 out of 5
This bout is important. The only problem is that these fighters are still growing into their bodies, into their skills, and into their audience .
They are still rising stars and have yet to effect their Mexican audience as deeply as their predecessors have.
When they achieve goals that bring them further comparison to the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, or Julio Cesar Chavez Senior, then their fight against each other will be the Mexican fight of the century.
For right now, everything about these fighters is still just potential.
Entertainment=4.5 out of 5
This is where this bout shines. Both fighters have decent skills. Both have heart and can find a way to win when the going gets tough.
Saul Alvarez has fought the slightly tougher competition with names like Carlos Baldomir and Jose Miguel Cotto under his belt.
Julio Cesar Chavez Junior's biggest win is against John Duddy. That's hardly as impressive as Alvarez right now. Chavez Junior's opposition may not be up to par, but his height and reach advantage will keep him in the game as well as the fact he's trained by four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach.
8. Lucian Bute Vs. Andre Ward
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Likelihood=3 out of 5
Important=4.5 out of 5
Entertainment=4.5 out of 5
Total=12 out of 15
The Super middleweight division (168 lbs) has essentially two undefeated stars.
Lucian Bute and Andre Ward.
Ivory meets Ebony.
Canadian Vs. American.
And if one of them begins to act like a jerk in interviews and starts pissing fans off, then this fight will easily turn into:
Good Vs. Evil.
Likelihood=3 out of 5
Lucian Bute is currently signed to Showtime cable network for a three fight deal. Andre Ward fights on Showtime, but is currently still locked in the Super Six Boxing Classic.
The Super Six is a tournament that has went through three long grueling stages and is set to end with the semi-finals and finals in 2011. That's two more matches before Andre Ward can be free enough to face Lucian Bute.
Most current champions only fight twice a year. If Andre Ward is trapped in two fights, will he be the exception to squeeze in a third big fight into 2011?
The Super Six has been delayed before because of injuries and dropou.
I'm not saying Lucian Bute versus Andre Ward is not going to happen. I'm just saying it may happen in 2012 rather than 2011.
Importance=4.5 out of 5
The importance of this bout is very high to Showtime. HBO has been a strong competitor, but a fight of this magnitude between two prime undefeated fighters can take the sting out of HBO's monopoly on boxing.
The only way this fight can grow in importance is if Andre Ward wins the Super Six. If he wins, this will be easily one of the most important fights of boxing's future.
Entertainment=4.5 out of 5
This can be a very entertaining fight. Lucian Bute is a knockout artist. Andre Ward wins by all means necessary but is still far more technical.
Casual fans tend to hate technical fighters.
In Ward's last fight, he got down and dirty against Sakio Bika in what was considered a wild fight. Ward's style has changed with each opponent. Maybe Bute can bring out the most exciting performance of Ward's blossoming career.
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7. Miguel Cotto Vs. Antonio Margarito
4 of 11Likelihood=3.5 out of 5
Importance=3.5 out of 5
Entertainment=5 out of 5
Total=12 out of 15
Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito fought once before to become Sports Illustrated "Fight of the Year" in 2008. Bob Arum's Top Rank promotes both men who have both recently suffered losses against one of the best in boxing.
The only thing left now is to fight each other.
Margarito was caught in January 2009 with plaster in his gloves before fighting Sugar Shane Mosley. The fight Margarito was in before that was his widely anticipated showdown with Miguel Cotto in June 2008.
Miguel Cotto fought his heart out and still couldn't bring Margarito down. Margarito's blows steady weakened Cotto.
Many believe Margarito's first fight getting caught was likely not his first fight using plaster. This makes the case that Cotto might have suffered his first loss by way of plaster instead of legitimate knockout.
If so, that makes Cotto Vs Margarito II a very interesting match. Cotto was winning on the scorecards before having to be saved from Margarito's fist of stone.
Likelihood=3.5 out of 5
Margarito's gloves have been checked thoroughly before fights since then.
The legendary trainer Emanuel Steward now trains Miguel Cotto.
The possible rematch seems plausible. Bob Arum wants the match. He owns Top Rank and Top Tank promotes both fighters.
Both men have been recently suffered dramatic high profile losses. The public might not be interested in Cotto getting bloodied again like in the first match, but some hardcore boxing fans suspect Margarito will lose without his plaster. Bob Arum has a challenge marketing this fight to its full potential.
Importance=3.5 out of 5
This fight may be crucial to Margarito fans and Cotto fans, but not for all of boxing. Boxing can do without Margarito and Cotto fighting.
The fight only answers a few questions fans may have about Cotto and Margarito.
1. Did Margarito use plaster in the first fight?
2. Can Margarito still win without plaster in his gloves?
3. How much does Miguel Cotto have left?
Entertainment=5 out of 5
The first fight between the two sparked fireworks.
Margarito kept coming, punching.
Cotto kept defending, fighting back.
They traded blows as if they were already sworn enemies.
Now, they basically are. The two haven't been as successful as they were before they fought each other.
Whoever wins this fight, can hopefully find their redemption to at least attempt to claw their way back into the world of boxing elitism.
6. Joseph Agbeko Vs. Abner Mares
5 of 11Likelihood=5 out of 5
Importance=3.5 out of 5
Entertainment=4 out of 5
Total=12.5 out of 15
The original Super Six tournament is in parts disaster and miracle to boxing. Part of the disaster is the fact that matches were often delayed during the first three rounds of the tournament.
Injuries and dropouts occurred frequently.
Showtime's new Bantamweight Tournament cuts the three round opening rounds the Super Six Tournament had. This tournament pits four world-class bantamweight (118 lbs) fighters against each other in two semi-final matches.
Then the winners face off.
Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares are the winners and now Showtime plans on matching them together in spring 2011 in the finals. The winner is the Bantamweight Tournament champion.
Likelihood=5 out of 5
The Super Six is a journey no one could blame Showtime for giving up on during its hardest moments. Despite the dropouts, injuries, and setbacks, Showtime has continued through the tournament.
The Bantamweight Tournament has less competitors, less fights and virtually no problems. Showtime will make sure these men fight no matter how much money or how many delays it takes.
Importance=3.5 out of 5
This fight is not the definitive fight of the Bantamweight division. Nonito Donaire Vs Fernando Montiel is the Bantamweight superfight of 2011 that is sure to eclipse the finals.
Entertainment=4 out of 5
This tournament has not had the years of build up to gather anticipation like the Super Six has. The match will be thrilling though. Two tough competitors willing to go the extra mile always find a way to please the fans.
5. Super Six Finals
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Likelihood=4.5 out of 5
Importance=5 out of 5
Entertainment=4 out of 5
Total=13.5 out of 15
The Super Six Tournament currently has four fighters.
Glen Johnson: A last minute replacement for Mike Kessler now has shocked the world with an amazing knockout of Allan Green. Many will watch to see if he can continue to upset and shock by defeating Carl Froch in the Semi-Finals.
Arthur Abraham. His placement is in last. He has to defeat the tournament leader and undefeated phenom named Andre Ward in order to stay in the tournament.
The winners face each other sometime before the end of 2011.
Likelihood=4.5 out of 5
The tournament so far has managed roughly two rounds of combat last year and one round the previous year.
Showtime will push these fights along, but Andre Ward has been injured. His match is likely going to be pushed back from the proposed March 2011 date.
The fight will happen, but there's always that chance that the fights will get delayed so much that only the semi-final fights are fought in 2011. That would leave the Finals to be completed in early 2012 before the end of the world. Hopefully, this is not the case.
Importance=5 out of 5
There has never been anything like this. Showtime has truly innovated with this tournament. The tournament has been plagued with problems, but has actually made a star out of Andre Ward so far.
If Showtime can create the next big pay-per-view star with this tournament, then all of the headaches and hair pulled to move this tournament right along will be well worth it.
Entertainment=4 out of 5
The fights so far have not been the most exciting.
From the hugfest of Carl Froch versus Andre Ward to the technical fighting style of Andre Ward that produced decision victories rather than knockouts, the Showtime audience is alive, but likely asleep.
Surprises have happened here and there. Glen Johnson's knockout of Allan Green, Arthur Abraham's knockout of Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward's win over initial tournament favorite Mikkel Kessler are just a few of the things that keep this tournament alive.
The final fight of the tournament will likely end in technical razzmatazz. A boxing clinic will be on display with spouts of violent action and maybe a knockout for dramatic effect, but there will be far more excitement over who wins rather than how they won.
4. Timothy Bradley Vs. Devon Alexander
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Likelihood=5 out of 5
Importance=4.5 out of 5
Entertainment=4 out of 5
Total=13.5 out of 15
January 29 2011 is the date of this fight. Just a month away from the Ring Magazine rated number one and number three rated junior welterweight competitors going toe to toe in slick technical combat.
This fight has been talked about for years and now it's in ink.
Likelihood=5 out of 5
The contract is signed and the fight is scheduled for the first month of the year. If an injury occurs, the fight will just be moved back a few months.
There is almost no chance of this fight happening in 2012 unless its a rematch.
Importance=4.5 out of 5
This fight is of great magnitude because of the lack of boxing superstars.
These two undefeated boxing prospects have claimed world titles and rose to the top of the most talented division of boxing today. Together, they have victories over the likes of Lamont Peterson, Juan Urango, Kendall Holt, Demarcus Corley, and Junior Witter.
This doesn't make them boxing royalty yet, but beating each other may very well lead to a boxing crown. The sport of boxing has had a long tradition of Black American boxing legends.
From Jack Johnson to Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson, to Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, to Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson, to Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, boxing's Black legends have dominated the sport. The winner of this match will be one step closer to joining the long tradition of the classic Black boxer.
Entertainment=4 out of 5
These fighters find any way to win possible, but they don't often produce knockouts.
As of today, Timothy Bradley's record stands at 26 wins and one no contest with only 11 of his wins coming by way of knockout. Devon Alexander's record stands at 21 wins with only 13 coming by way of knockout.
Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander will have a slick boxing technical feast. Some will want to watch and others will just want to see who wins.
This match isn't guaranteed to please the casual slugfest lovers, but it will be thrilling to see who wins. This is one of the few matchest in recent boxing history where the winner is nearly impossible to pick until the opening bell.
3. Amir Khan Vs Winner of Bradley/Alexander Fight
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Likelihood=4 out of 5
Importance=5 out of 5
Entertainment=5 out of 5
Total=14 out of 15
The junior welterweight division is the most talent-rich weight division in the sport right now.
Amir Khan is rated number two in the division by Ring Magazine. Devon Alexander is rated number two. Timothy Bradley is rated number one. Alexander and Bradley square off on January 29 2011.
Khan has stated he would like to unify his division before facing an opponent with a bigger name. The reason he might want to is that in defeating the best in his own division, his star would have no choice but to shine exceptionally brighter.
Likelihood=4 out of 5
Amir Khan wants the fight and even has his own prediction as to who would win. Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander say they want to be the best. It is likely the winner of Bradley Alexander will fight Khan, but Khan is free to fight whoever he wants.
They fighters are not contractually obligated to fight each other. If a more handsome offer approaches, they might just jump at it. Amir Khan has wanted to fight bigger names like Juan Marquez before. There's no obligation to stop him from chasing those fights.
Importance=5 out of 5
This fight needs to happen. Even if not in 2011, then in 2012. Being the most talented in the most talented division, means these men coming together would determine possibly the most talented boxer under 30 in the sport today.
That would pave the way for a new superstar to take over once the old men of yesteryear finally sit back and count money instead of medical bills.
Entertainment=5 out of 5
Amir Khan has a strong and fast punch, but a weak chin. He's scored 17knockouts in 24 wins and suffered one loss by way of first round knockout.
That weak chin gives Bradley or Alexander a better opportunity to build up their knockout percentage. Khan's strong punch is guaranteed to provide a challenge to either Bradley or Alexander with legendary trainer Freddie Roach's guidance.
This fight could go either way and has so much riding on it, that fans have no choice but to be excited over this match when it becomes a reality.
2. Juanma Lopez Vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa
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Likelihood=4.5 out of 5
Importance=5 out of 5
Entertainment=5 out of 5
Total=14.5 out of 15
Puerto Rico has waited for the second coming of their most popular fighter Felix Trinidad since his first retirement in 2002. Miguel Cotto was being primed to be that star, but something happened. He fell out of sync with two big losses on his record.
The Cuban boxing community is grateful for Joel Casamayor, but likely want the 39-year-old competitor to sit down. Casamayor has done good enough to be considered a legendary warrior worthy of the hall of fame.
Both fighters fight in the talent-heavy Feathweight (126 lbs) division. Juanma Lopez is rated number one and Yuriorkis Gamboa is rated number two by Ring Magazine. Both fighters are creating sensational knockouts and carving out great followings from boxing's diminished audience.
Likelihood=4.5 out of 5
Bob Arum has stated that he wants these fighters to fight each other. He owns Top Rank. Top Rank promotes both fighters. What a coincidence.
Both fighters have shown a strong desire to fight the best in their weight division. They've been knocking out the top members of their division left and right. The only thing left is for them to knock out each other.
The only thing holding this fight up is that Bob Arum wants each of them to fight one more time before fighting each other. I doubt Bob Arum will put them in genuine harm's way before their highly anticipated showdown, but there's room for mistakes. In a world after Buster Douglas/Mike Tyson, anything can happen.
Importance=5 out of 5
This fight will establish the next big Hispanic superstar. Other fighters like Saul Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr have yet to face truly tough competition. These two have faced the likes of Orlando Salido and Rafael Marquez.
These two are primed to square off and possibly form a Barrera-Morales type of trilogy or maybe a Casamayor-Corrales type of trilogy. Today's boxing could use one of those.
Entertainment=5 out of 5
These men slug like tomorrow will never come unless they knock the other man clean out his mind. Lopez has a record of 30 wins with 27 coming by way of knockout. Gamboa has 19 wins with 15 coming by way of knockout.
Fireworks is an insult to the type of dramatic flair this match contains. Picture two young quick fighters going back and forth knocking each other down and only to continuously come back against each other.
Heart and power will be on constant display as two barely tested chins get furious pop quizzes. If the audience isn't entertained by this, almost nothing in boxing will.
1. Nonito Donaire Vs. Fernando Montiel
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Likelihood=5 out of 5
Importance=5 out of 5
Entertainment=5 out of 5
Total=15 out of 15
Nonito Donaire is a strong competitor who's fought and won world championships at flyweight (112 lbs) and Super Flyweight (115 lbs). He's recently moved up and whacked a top bantamweight (118 lbs) contender in order to get himself ready for Fernando Montiel, the number one ranked bantamweight fighter by Ring Magazine.
Fernando Montiel is a Mexican bantamweight world champion with a great year behind him. In 2010, he scored four knockout victories in a row.
None of his opposition lasted past the fourth round, including Hozumi Hasegawa. Hasegawa is a Japanese living legend who ended a bantamweight champions previous reign of 15 title defenses and went on his own reign of ten successful title defenses before being stopped by Montiel in the fourth round.
Likelihood=5 out of 5
This match has a date, February 19 2011.
Both men had interim fights before their showdown and won them in excellent fashion. Donaire stopped Sidorenko in four rounds on December 4 2010. Montiel stopped Jovanny Soto in the second round of their fight on December 12 2010.
They both fight under the same promotional umbrella, Top Rank. They both want to fight the best in their competition. Contracts are signed and this fight is in the bag.
Importance=5 out of 5
The heaviest division usually gets the most focus. The Welterweight division has been fortunate enough to get some love in absence of superstar quality fighters fighting above that division, but bantamweight fighters still get the proverbial snub.
Bantamweights provide fast-paced action-packed fights that no one watches. Donaire has recently become a young boxing star on the rise with eyes beginning to glue onto him. Montiel is getting a profound amount of respect lately for his long career.
This fight would be the superfight of the bantamweight division. If any fight ever had the chance to put an entire division on notice and create fans where never there were any, this fight is it.
Entertainment=5 out of 5
Montiel has a record of 44 wins with 34 coming by way of knockout. He also has two draws and two losses. His last four matches have ended in knockouts with no one surviving past the first four rounds. He's never been knocked out.
Nonito Donaire has a record of 24 wins with 16 by way of knockout. He knocked out his last three opponents in 2010. He's lost one time. Like Montiel, he's never been knocked out.
These fighters have given many fighters their first stoppage loss. They will be slugging and pressing to give each other a first stoppage loss.
Montiel is a Mexican warrior. Donaire is a Filipino multi-weight division conqueror. This means both boxing greats have historic traditions to live up to. The question is...can they? When HBO broadcasts this excellent pairing on February 19 2011.
If You Like The Author Of This Article...
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Here are some links to more articles created by boxing writer Justin David Tate.
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