By Simon Hirst:
Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all get along? Unfortunately, it seems as though this mega match will happen in the courts rather than the ring. I would love to think this is all part of a media stunt in promoting the bout, but I can’t see it myself. Worlds pound for pound best fighting each other. I don’t understand Floyd’s thinking. He’s saying he’d beat Pacquaio, so why all the fuss with wanting more than what is necessary in a drugs test. This could be a sign he is not 100% sure he can beat Pacquaio after Pacquiao flattened Hatton and walked through Cotto. On a personal note, I believe the match would be a close win for Pacquaio on the basis that he would catch Mayweather enough to score points. He took Cotto’s power punches and you could argue Cotto is a bigger puncher than Mayweather. Let’s hope this nonsense stops and we get the fight we deserve!
Ricky Hatton vs Juan Manuel Marquez
This fight intrigues me. Marquez has been in with some quality opposition in lower leagues, was stretched too far for Mayweather, but lasted. Hatton, a great body puncher, has beat a lot of good quality fighters. Juan Urango, Kostya Tszyu and Paulie Malignaggi spring to mind. People doubt the quality of Malignaggi, but look at his fight with Diaz, a stocky power puncher from Texas. He was unlucky to lose the decision in the first fight and proved it second fight, even hurting Diaz. He’s a good scalp to have in my opinion. This fight represents two things for me. It would tell me whether both fighters have been in one war too many and it would also determine on a world stage, how good Hatton is. He’s above Malignaggi, but below Pacquiao and Mayweather…a large gap, so this fight would tell me how good he really is.
Vitali Klitschko vs David Haye
This would be the biggest heavyweight fight since Vitali Klitschko vs Lennox Lewis in the heavyweight division. Vitali has had it fairly all his own way since returning, but if we are truthful, despite his basic, but masterful displays, I believe he is starting to show signs of aging. Enter David Haye. Now it seems other writers on here are judging him on his performance against Valuev. I admit, it was pretty, but it was effective and his bombs, albeit only a couple a round, looked much better than anything Valuev did. You cannot stand in the middle of the ring with someone like Valuev and trade constantly. Play to your strengths, Haye used movement speed and power, and had he not hurt his right hand, probably would have got Valuev out of there judging by the 12th round. Klitschko has size, experience and good boxing skills, Haye brings speed, movement and explosive power. I believe if Haye fought with the boxing brain, discipline and explosive power to jump in with a bomb, and out of range again, he would stop Klitschko and same with his brother. For all Vitali’s experience, it has been an awful long time since he faced a talent like Haye.
Amir Khan vs Timothy Bradley
You may guess I am British by some of these match ups, but again, two great world champions. Khan’s attraction now is that vunerable chin and can he keep a tight enough defence. Bradley has really impressed me at 140 and I’m a huge admirer. I first saw him against Witter and he easily won that fight, forget the split decision. He’s improved leaps and bounds, taking on some good fighters, Campbell and Peterson to name a few. He hasn’t looked in danger in these fights and is rightly regarded as the number one in the division. Let’s not count out other fighters, Ortiz, Maidana are hot on the heels of a title shot. I’d like a rematch between these two. I’m unsure about Maidana. Big puncher, but beaten by Kotelnik who was schooled by Khan. You could question why I’m not puzzled by Ortiz and that’s because he fought the wrong fight against Maidana. He should have boxed, and he is a very good boxer, but he likes to put a show on. I think he would give any champion a tough fight. But as it stand, Khan and Bradley are proven, they are champions, arguably the best two champions, and it would be a very tricky fight for either fighter. How would Khan handle Bradley’s right hand? How would Bradley handle the lightning quickness of Khan? Let’s hope we find out!
Paul Williams vs Kelly Pavlik
Pavlik hasn’t looked overly great since he won his titles, beating nobodies and getting schooled by ‘The Executioner’ Bernard Hopkins. He needs a name to boost himself in rankings and in the eyes of the boxing public. Williams is a tall fighter who certainly throws punches. I don’t see how Pavlik gets past the 1000 punches Williams throws. It is an intriguing fight and the best to be made at middleweight.
Paul Williams vs Floyd Mayweather
Maybe it is a little late for this one given Williams move up in weight, but I am intrigued to see how Mayweather would get to Williams given the larger size differences and how he would have to get in and out on him. I imagine it to be like a mini ‘Haye Valuev’ fight. No one could argue with Mayweather if he took this and the Pacquiao fight and won both of them. Well I guess there is Mosley…
Other fights
Juan Manuel Lopez vs Celestino Caballero
Chris John vs Yuriorkis Gamboa
Bernard Hopkins vs Chad Dawson
Wladimir Klitschko vs David Haye
Nonito Donaire vs Vic Darchinyan
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