Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
As the heavyweight division goes, so goes the sport of boxing. And while Fury has a potential third fight with Deontay Wilder looming and Oleksandr Usyk is Joshua’s mandatory, there is nothing better for the sport than to have one undisputed, champion reign supreme. Fury and Joshua are arguably the top two boxers in the heavyweight division. Joshua holds the WBO, IBF and WBA titles that he won back in rematch vs Andy Ruiz Jr. and Fury holds the WBC title that he won in a rematch from Deontay Wilder. The heavyweight division hasn’t had a unified title holder since Lennox Lewis in 1999. There is one fight keeping us from having a king of the heavyweight division. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
Ryan Garcia vs Tank Davis
On the other end of the totem pole we have Ryan Garcia vs Tank Davis. This has the potential to be the biggest fight that can be made in boxing. Two huge stars, two huge fan bases, and two talented fighters. On its surface it seems like a huge KO waiting to happen, as Tank Davis is known for his devastating power and has 23 knockouts in 24 fights. But it could be more interesting than we think. Both Garcia and Davis have shown that they can be hit. Both have shown some defensive vulnerability. Both have knockout power. Neither have shown that they can take a big punch. Garcia showed that he has heart when he got up from a knockdown versus Luke Campbell and finished him off, but Campbell isn’t exactly a power puncher. Tanks wins at 135 come against Leo Santa Cruz who is very small for 135 and an over the hill Yuriorkis Gamboa. There are a ton of questions to be answered about Ryan Garcia and Tank Davis and this fight just may answer a few. Either way, the fans win, and the young fighters impress by putting their undefeated records on the line and facing the top guys in the weight class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w48I–tgcz4
Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter
At this point, it appears that Errol Spence Jr. vs Bud Crawford isn’t happening. Or at least it isn’t happening any time soon. So, although that would have been the obvious fight that we all want to see, another interesting matchup is Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter. For Terence Crawford, it would serve as an opportunity to have a win versus a strong opponent at 147. A win over Shawn Porter would confirm that he is a top dog at 147. Also, it would be his first meaningful win in a few years and put him back in unarguable current top 3 or 5 pound for pound discussions. For Shawn Porter, it’s a chance to regain a title. Shawn Porter is fearless. He fights anyone and everyone. Just check his resume. He’s fought Spence, Thurman, Danny Garcia, Kell Brook (before he was washed), Yordenis Ugas (very high risk, low reward). You name it, he’s faced them. Porter lost his WBC belt to ErrolSpence Jr. in a very close fight and has made it clear that he wants a rematch. Winning a title and asking for another unification would be a great way to get it. Also, it would be an interesting stylistic matchup. Porter imposes his will on everyone who gets in the ring with him. How would Crawford handle that? Would he play Porter’s game or outbox him? Only one way to find out.
Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez
Canelo Alvarez beat Callum Smith to win the WBA and vacant WBC super-middleweight titles. He has made it clear that it is in his short-term plan to become undisputed at 168. The other two titles are held by Billy Joe Saunders (WBO) and Caleb Plant (IBF). And while both of these are good fights, there is another name out there that begs a mention. David Benavidez. David Benavidez recently lost the WBC title on the scale after coming into his last overweight. Styles make fights and Benavidez is young, strong, big and relentless. Canelo vs Benavidez would be an action-packed, high intensity matchup with fight of the year potential.
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs the Winner of Roman Gonzales vs Juan Francisco Estrada
These three guys are about as talented as boxers get. They are also about as evenly matched as you get. Roman Chocolatito Gonzales is scheduled to fight Juan Francisco Estrada in March, which is sure to be an amazing bout. But to take it a step further, the winner needs to face Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Estrada has fought Sor Rungvisai twice and is 1-1 in those matchups. Estrada has a loss to Chocolatito. Chocolatito, has two losses to Sor Rungvisai. The only two losses of his career. Being the WBC mandatory, Sor Rungvisai had to step aside for the Gonzales versus Estrada fight to be made. He did so knowing that the winner would need to fight him or vacate the WBC title. This potential matchup could give us a king at 115.