Call me Victor the Psychic: My 2012 boxing predictions

By Boxing News - 01/04/2012 - Comments

Image: Call me Victor the Psychic: My 2012 boxing predictionsBy Victor Salazar: With the start of the New Year, starts a fresh slate for boxing and its fans. There will be plenty of opportunities for people to make a name for themselves or elevate their already established names. Let me hit you with some predictions and wishes for the New Year:

Fighter of the year-Brandon Rios: Is there a fighter more exciting to watch than “Bam Bam”? He has the best promotional company in Top Rank, one of the best trainers in Robert Garcia, and a fan pleasing style. He was 3-0 in 2011 with 3 TKOS in the 135 lb division. Unfortunately it looks like he can’t make wait anymore so that proposed matchup with Yuriorkis Gamboa this year is likely out of the question but the possibilities at the 140lb division are endless. His options include Tim Bradley, Mike Alvarado, Lamont Peterson, and Juan Manuel Marquez with Top Rank. If Top Rank and Golden Boy ever decide to do business, he has even more options with the likes of Amir Khan, Lucas Matthysse, Marcos Maidana, Erik Morales, Robert Guererro and Danny Garcia. I’d favor Rios against anyone outside of Marquez and maybe Guerrero. Rios can take a shot and land an even bigger shot. Don’t be surprised if at the end of the year if Mayweather and Pacquiao don’t dance, Rios’ name pops up and is pitted in a main event against Manny Pacquiao.

Four other names that could easily be here are Yuriorkis Gamboa, Nonito Donaire, Robert Guerrero, and James Kirkland.
Breakout Fighter of the Year: Mikey Garcia– Mikey Garcia is in the stable of Robert Garcia who also trains Brandon Rios, Nonito Donaire, and Antonio Margarito. He has technique, power, and all around good boxing skills. He is also with Top Rank and in a very talented featherweight division. If he can get a fight against Gamboa, Orlando Salido, or Juan Manuel Lopez, he can make a strong name for himself.

Four other names that can easily be here are Thomas Dulorme, Gary Russell, Jr., Mercito Gesta, and Ismayl Sillakh.

Prospect of the Year-Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza– There has not been this much hype around a Puerto Rican fighter since the early days of the career of Miguel Cotto. Known as a technician with a lot of power in both hands, Pedraza along with Dulorme and Luis Del Valle could be the face of Puerto Rican boxing for years to come. He has recently fought weak opposition and taking care of his business with knock outs. That being said, this should be a year where he should take more 6 and 8 round fights and by 2013 he should be ready for big league competition.

Four other names that could easily be here are Deontay Wilder, Badou Jack, Yordenis Ugas, and Randy Cabellero.

Trainer of the Year-Robert Garcia: I think this will be an even bigger year for the fighters in Garcia’s stable. Nonito Donaire has a fight with Wilfredo Vasquez and if he wins an endless amount of possibilities. With a move to featherweight likely soon, the names of Juan Manuel Lopez, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Chris John on the radar, I see Nonito having a packed but eventful year. Brandon Rios is already on this list as fighter of the year and his limits go as far as his punch and chin take him. I also think he will have an amazing year. Mikey Garcia is on this list as well for breakout fighter of the year with the reasons already explained above. That being said, unless Freddie Roach and his stable have a great comeback, I think the award is there for the taking for Garcia.

Comeback Fighter of the Year- Andre Dirrell– For whatever his reason was for taking an extended period of time off from the sport and dropping out of the Super Six Tournament, I am glad Dirrell is back in the game. Fresh off his win on Shobox, Dirrell outclassed his opponent Steve Cunningham knocking him into a daze in two rounds. Still in a packed super middleweight division, I like his chances against anyone outside of Andre Ward (which he probably won’t ever fight any way). I see a title shot in 2012 and I think he will achieve that goal.

Four other guys that can easily be here are Jermain Taylor, Amir Khan, Steve Cunningham, and Daniel Jacobs.
Fight of the Year– With endless possibilities and many proposed fights out there, my pick in a long shot for fight of the year will go to Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Nonito Donaire. This is a fight that should happen by the end of this year or maybe even next year. Here’s hoping that it happens this year especially for the fact that Gamboa’s major fight partner was Rios at lightweight but all signs point to Rios moving up. With Chris John never leaving Indonesia for a fight, the only big fights at featherweight for Gamboa are against Juan Manuel Lopez and Mikey Garcia. Unless Gamboa moves up to the super featherweight division to face Adrian Broner, there really is no super fight for him at 130. Nonito is moving up to the 122 lb division and aside from Vasquez, or Jorge Arce, there really is no big name on the horizon in the division. I just see these 2 as being meant for each other and both are action fighters with speed and precision punching. Fights like this can lead to a rematch and possibly a trilogy. I know it is wishful thinking both this is just a prediction column, not much else.

Four other fights that are made or could be made that can land on this list are Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz 2, Brian Viloria vs. Hernan Marquez, Lucian Bute vs. Carl Froch, and Marcos Maidana vs. Lucas Mattysee.

Finally Top Ten fights that should happen but probably won’t in 2012:

1) Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
2) Miguel Cotto vs. Saul Alvarez
3) Amir Khan vs. Tim Bradley
4) Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Erik Morales
5) Sergio Martinez vs. James Kirkland
6) Andre Ward vs. Lucian Bute
7) Tavoris Cloud vs. Chad Dawson
8) Brandon Rios vs. Marcos Maidana
9) Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa
10) Nonito Donaire vs. Abner Mares

So that’s my predictions for the year in boxing. Hopefully I am right about most of the things mentioned in the column and wrong about the top ten fights that should and won’t happen. As always, if you want to talk boxing, follow me on twitter @Vicmatic_TKO or read my blog Vicmaticstko.blogspot.com.



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