Boxing 2012: Predicting the 5 Biggest Stories of the Coming Year

After a great year of boxing in 2011, a few big fights have gotten boxing back onto the general sporting public's mind, and the sport will only build off that and have an even bigger 2012.

From big name fighters taking each other on to young American fighters rising to the top of their respective weight classes to scandal, I think 2012 will have it all.

So sit back and read, as I take look into my crystal ball and predict the five biggest story lines of 2012—and, no, I won't charge you a quarter that money-grubbing Zoltar does.

Seth Mitchell Will Continue to Rise to the Top and End Klitchshko Dominance

The next hope for the United States in boxing's heavyweight division is the undefeated Seth Mitchell.

Mitchell (24-0-1, 18 KOs) is fresh of a TKO win over veteran fighter Timur Ibragimov and will continue to face stiffer competition, ultimately ending up with Mitchell facing off with one of the two Klitschko brothers in the latter part of 2012.

The Klitschko brothers have taken down any and all so-called next big American fighters, and one of the two will jump at the shot of adding Mitchell to the list of hyped-up Americans to their already lengthy list.

I feel this time will be different for Mitchell, as he has the best chance out of anyone in the heavyweight division to end the Klitschkos' longtime reign over boxing's most prestigious division, and he will.

Amir Khan Will Lose to Lamont Peterson Again

After the instant classic between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson ended in a controversial matter, at the hands of the referee, there will be a Khan-Peterson ll. And the same result will happen again; Peterson will win.

For the most part, Khan fought the way he liked, too; but Peterson proved to be a more than able to keep up with Khan and became the aggressor for the majority of the fight.

Peterson will end all doubt of he deserved the victory in his home area of Washington, D.C., as the fight should take place somewhere neutral—in Las Vegas most likely—and will win the fight even more convincingly the second time around.

Andre Ward Will Beat Kessler for a Second Time and Tame Bute

Andre Ward will continue his rise as on of boxing's biggest stars as he will take out Mikkel Kessler for a second time and also take out the currently unbeaten Lucian Bute in 2012. solidifying his place among boxing's elite.

After an an impressive showing against Carl Froch in the Super Six finals, it appears Ward (25-0, 13 KOs) is poised to become a worldwide star in the ring.

A rematch with Kessler (44-2, 33 KOs) will help end talk that the fight was close than it was scored and solidify his win over a great fighter.

A win over Bute (30-0, 24 KOs) would add the IBF title to his three other belts (Ring, WBC Super, WBA) solidify Ward as the best super middleweight in the world and solidfy him in the top five pound-for-pound rankings no doubt.

All in all, 2012 is set up to be a huge year for Ward, and I feel that he will not disappoint, giving us two great fights—with two big wins as the result.

A Top Fighter Will Test Positive for PEDs

With all the demand for Olympic-style drug testing, a top-tier boxer is bound to slip up and be exposed as a cheater.

No matter the sport, we have seen big-time names be outed as users of various PEDs, and it is only a matter of time before boxing has its unlucky day as well.

There are a few fighters who I have in mind, but for the sake of being fair, I won't point fingers. But don't be surprised if it's one of your favorite boxers who is exposed as a cheater among hard-working fighters.

The Mega-Fight Will Happen

It could be on May 5th, or it could be in September, but one the biggest prediction on my list will make fight fans happier then they have over the past decade, as welterweight greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will finally face each other in the ring.

In a fight that is sure to break live gate and pay-per-view numbers, the fight will be on for the ages, and will finally settle the debate over who would win between two of boxing's brightest stars of the past few years.

So 2012 will finally be the year the world gets the fight they have wanted all these years, which would be more of a sign the world may be coming to an end by the end of 2012 than the Mayan calender scare.

My official prediction for the fight: Mayweather in a dominating decision; 10 rounds to two.