By Hector Gonzalez:

1. Lamont Peterson:

Boxing promoters need to realize that after the Peterson/ Khan fight, Peterson now has a strong fan base. I would like promoters to know that Peterson demonstrated the will power of a true warrior and a dignified champion and many of us boxing fans want to see him for the long run. A great way to sell him to the mainstream boxing audience could be by pitching him as ‘Lamont Peterson, the 99% -er’ . In 2012, Peterson should fight with slight more confidence; he should take more risks when fighting and know that he has the people behind him. In 2012, Marcos Maidana, Brandon Rios, Robert Guerrero, Juan Manuel Marquez or a Timothy Bradley II match up would be interesting.

2.) Antonio De Marco:

First off if you haven’t heard about Antonio Demarco- then that’s exactly my point. You haven’t head of Antonio De Marco, that’s the problem. Antonio De Marco has an outstanding record. This guy was suppose to lose against another one of Golden Boy’s hype jobs in Jorge Linares (No disrespect- but Linares was over hyped), the outcome was actually a bloody mess in favor of the underdog. This guy possesses the tools to be a great Mexican champion of Hall of Fame stature. We want to see more from this guy in the 135lbs division for 2012. Katsidis vs De Marco- make it happen.

3.) Nonito Donaire:

I’m a fan of Nonito. With that said, I’m not a fan of Top Rank and therefore I’m seeing patterns in Nonito’s career that look a little distasteful—something like Bob Arum would be behind. First off, when watching Nonito, he looks like a giant in comparison to his opposition at 118lbs, for the record, during his last bout against Omar Narvaez, Nonito walked in at around 135lbs. Another distasteful pattern I’m seeing is the weak opposition, Nonito is scheduled to fight Vasquez Jr who recently lost to El Travieso Arce. There are also rumors that Bob Arum wants to set up a Donaire vs Arce fight. In 2012 Donaire should move up to the 126lbs division, weight shouldn’t be an issue. Salito, Lopez, Gamboa, and Ponce De Leon are all in that division and are all Top Rank. We’re yet to see if Nonito could handle that type of opposition, but either way him fighting in at 122 preferably in at 126 would be better for the sport of boxing.

4.) Toshiaki Nishioka:

Have you heard of this guy? Probably not, but this guy recently defeated Rafael Marquez in what was a very technical fight in which Marquez was not able to land anything but a jab here and there. Gradually as the fight develops, Nishioka slowly starts landing bombs on the future Hall of Famer, I instantly became a fan and mind you, I’m loyal to the Marquez brothers. Toshiaki Nishioka vs Nonito Donaire at 122lbs would be a GREAT fight in 2012.

5.) Things that Golden Boy should’ve learned:

I use to have this idea in my head that Golden Boy was suppose to be better then Top Rank. Maybe it’s because I grew up watching Oscar fight. But GBP is just as dirty! A lesson that Golden Boy should’ve learned is that they need to stop acting like they have the ultimate say and not the boxing fans, when clearly the fans do not agree with them . I will give credit to Golden Boy for setting up their fighters with tough opposition, I will not take that away from Golden Boy, especially because Top Rank doesn’t have the guts to do that. But damn- when Golden Boy fighters lose, just except defeat. For example, Jorge Linares lost to Antonio Demarco you then have Richard Schaefer from GBP trying to complain that it was an ‘early stoppage’. Now you have the Khan lost to Peterson, I’m not sure if Richard Schaefer knows this or not, but millions of people saw Khan being brutalized all night with body hay makers, right crosses and left counters. The fans are not stupid Schaefer!

Also, It appears to me that GBP has a hard time being able to truly pin point their talent. For example, the two main prospects fighting for GBP both lost in 2011, Linares and Khan. When in a lot of peoples eyes, including myself, their real talent is actually Maidana and Guerrero. Why would GBP have Maidana fight Guerrero and compromise either of them losing to each other, when a Guerrero vs Linares fight at 135 would have a been GREAT fight, Guerrero would have annihilated Linares- or have a Maidana vs Khan II. Or A Guerrero vs Khan. In either matches Maidana and Guerrero are the top dogs.

6.) Victor Ortiz:

I’m a big fan! But here is what Victor Ortiz needs to do. First and foremost, this guy is young and has had a hard life, we get it. But God damn! Get it together. Secondly, Ortiz tries to fight in a typical Mexican fighting style. Now let me explain something, I love Mexican fighters, it is actually my favorite style of fighting but not everyone can fight like that. Antonio De Marco, Marco Antonio Rubio and Margarito are good examples, they NEVER stop coming forward. They have ultra strong chins. These guys coming out of Los Monchis, Tijuana, and D.F. Mexico are from a different breed. Grew up on a lot of iron, eating beans and corn, and grew up around horses and farms, probably normal for them to get into street fights all the time. Victor Ortiz is NOT that guy! He needs to stop walking forward so much and pretending like he has a chin, that’s the sole reason why Ortiz lost to Maidana, he didn’t know when to stop coming forward. In 2012, Ortiz needs to remember to back up a little bit more, learn how to fight walking backwards, and he should do alright.

7.) Manny Pacquiao:

After the Marquez vs Pacquiao bout I think that the world was ready to except that Pacquiao, is in fact beatable. Especially if a 38 year old who’s gone through countless wars was able to do so well against him. I’m not interested in seeing Pacquiao loss, although I’m interested in seeing him fight the best possible opposition, something that I feel Top Rank has prevented in fear of having Pacquiao exposed. I think that’s its also pretty shameful that all the opposition that would give Pacquiao a good challenge is fighting with GBP. Ortiz vs Pacquiao would be to die for.. but since that isn’t happening. All we could hope for is that the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight does take place in 2012. Lamont Peterson vs Pacquaio should be interesting as well, I hear rumors that it might be a possibility.

8.) Juan Manuel Marquez:

Here is something that boxing should have learned in 2011. Never underestimate Juan Manuel Marquez. One thing that really annoys me about the current state of boxing is that Marquez never really got the respect he deserved in the general lime light of the sport. First off, this guys is Hall of Famer and three time world champion. He is already considered to be one of the best 25 best lightweights of all time, for sure probably the most complete fighter in the sport today, and yet he’s no where near the fame or wealth of some of his contemporaries. Something that I would like to see in 2012 for Juan Manuel Marquez is big fights with big money. Juan Manuel Marquez vs Amir Khan in 2012.

9.) Amir Khan:

What we learned about Amir Khan in 2011 is that he’s not what he was made out to be. I personally believe that he DOES NOT deserve a rematch against Peterson, and mostly because Amir Khan and GBP are still trying to dictate terms with Peterson as if the ball is still on their court.. Guess what, it’s not! The ball is in Peterson’s court now. I think that Amir Khan has been exposed of not only talent but also of dirty boxing tactics. In 2012 I would like to see Khan redeem himself against quality opponents, no softies like Zab Judah or McCloskey. Any of these fights would work for 2012, Khan vs Juan Manuel Marquez, Khan vs Guerrero or Khan vs Maidana II, any other fight should just be disregarded an assume that it’s just another hype job match up to make Khan look better then he actually is.

10.) Floyd Mayweather:

For sure Mayweather vs Pacquiao should happen in 2012. If not I would be interested in watching Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez or Mayweather vs Martinez. It goes without saying that the fight that people want to see is Mayweather vs Pacman. Something that boxing could’ve learned in 2011 is that watching a Mayweather fight is almost always a bad investment, always extremely boring fights, but it might be a good fight if the right opposition is put in front of him. There’s also rumors that Mayweather might take on Erik Morales or Robert Guerrero for Cinco De Mayo.

11.) Final thoughts:

Boxing needs to figure out solid marketing strategies for all the new raw talent coming up. It feels like most of these guys don’t even have a chance just because so much attention is given to Mayweather and Pacquiao. Some of these fighters include Andre Ward, Mikey Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Canelo Alvarez, Yuriokis Gamboa, Robert ‘the ghost’ Guerrero and Abner Mares to name a few—great talent, make sure that in 2012 these fighters shine.