By Gav Duthie: It feels like my entire boxing existence as a fan has been leading towards this showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. It took so long to happen we thought it never would. But what happens after? Whatever the result on May 2nd boxing will be in a new era which will not be lead by Mayweather or Pacquiao.
If we look a couple of years down the line with all the other potential fights that can happen what could our new p4p list be. Take a look at mine and share your own thoughts about who could be in this list. As for now its all just a guess.
5. Carl Frampton
In the number 5 spot I wanted to pick who I thought would take over Floyd’s mantle in the welterweight division. However I couldn’t make up my mind between Keith Thurman, Kell Brook, Amir Khan and wildcard Errol Spence Jnr. I chose Frampton because I think he is special. By 2017 Rigondeaux will be 36 and I feel he either won’t get the fights he wants or will lose due to his age or moving up in weight to challenge Mares, Gonzalez, Lomachenko or Walters. Frampton is superb, I think he beats Quigg easily and i’d back him against Santa Cruz also. This is probably the boldest shout of my pound for pound predictions. I just think he is that good.
4. Terence Crawford
Devon Alexander, Adrien Broner, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Andre Berto are among the many tipped to be the next Floyd Mayweather but for me Crawford is the one who will take on this mantle. The key to Mayweather success is adaptability, changing styles through fights depending on how things are going. The ability to travel through the weight divisions is vital as your power drops. I think Crawford can do all of this. When Floyd fought Jose Luis Castillo he was 27-0 (20). He had power at 130lbs knocking out Jesus Chavez, Diego Corrales, Angel Manfredy. As he has moved up to 147 and 154 that power is less as will Crawford’s be but he has the skills to win on points. Crawford can box orthodox or southpaw with ease. At 5″9 and with a 74″ reach he will have no problem boxing at welterweight. He showed against Gamboa if under pressure he can fire back but if a fight is easy he will just coast to a decision (e.g Prescott, Klimov, Beltran). I would bet on him to beat Broner right now. In 5 years I think Crawford could be number 1.
3. Andre Ward
Such a sad case. He isn’t fighting simply because nobody wants to face him. At the turn of the year I was excited to hear that he had inked with Jay-Z Roc Nation promotions but since then nothing. Not a whisper of a ring return, possible opponent, dates, training camps, or anything. The possibility of a Froch rematch is a non story because ‘The Cobra’ simply isn’t interested. Close friend Andre Dirrell has said he would consider the fight but other than that he needs to look at other divisions. Either Golovkin at Middleweight or up at light heavyweight against Stevenson or Kovalev. Unless he is willing to take a risk or his promoter is going to put some serious money down to tempt fighters he won’t be a p4p fighter. I am hopeful that he will get some fights and prove just how good he is.
2. Sergey Kovalev
Krusher’s task over the next two years is to get Adonis Stevenson in the ring who will be 38 by then. This will not be an easy task as ‘Superman’ actively moved from HBO to Showtime to avoid the fight in 2014. Whats great about Kovalev is that he doesn’t hang around waiting for fights. He will keep busy fighting his mandatory challengers and any other opportunities.
Stevenson isn’t the only fight out there. There is also WBA regular champion Jurgen Brahmer and inexperienced but impressive Artur Beterbiev who beat Kovalev as an amateur. I feel Kovalev beats them all he is just that good.
1. Wladimir Klitschko
The younger Klitschko brother Dr Steelhammer will be 40 years old by 2017 but that doesn’t seem to old in the current heavyweight scene. Both Klitsckho and Sergey Kovalev have the chance to make history becoming undisputed world champions if they get to fight Deontay Wilder and Adonis Stevenson respectively.
Although many consider this era of heavyweight boxing to be weak all the Ukrainian can do is fight what is out there. In my opinion he has beaten the #2 heavyweight in the division 5 times throughout his career. Sultan Ibragimov (WUD 12), Ruslan Chagaev (WTKO 9), David Haye (WUD 12), Alexander Povetkin (WUD 12) and Kubrat Pulev (WKO 5). It is certainly arguable that giant heavyweights Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder represent sterner tests and over the next 2 years if Klitsckho can get these fights and win he would be considered the world number 1 and one of the best heavyweights of all time.
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