The current issue of the Ring magazine features its annual sate of the game report where it takes a look at each of the 17 divisions in boxing. Each division features a 'matchmakers dream' what the magazine considers to be the best or biggest match that could be made in the division. What would be your prediction in each of these dream fights: Heavyweight: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko Personally I think Vitali would win this as I think he has the power to rock Wladimirs iffy chin. Prediction- Vitali Cruiserweight: Steve Cunningham vs Marco Huck I don't see any reason why the result would be any different from the 1st fight. Cunningham wins. Prediction- Cunningham Light Heavyweight: Jean Pascal vs. Travoris Cloud I think Cloud is just a notch below Pascals level. If Pascal can beat Dawson he should be able to see off Cloud (especially as the fight would probably take place in Canada). Prediction- Pascal Super Middleweight: Andre Ward vs Lucian Bute I think Ward would win based on his boxing ability. Prediction- Ward. Middleweight: Sergio Martinez vs Manny Pacquiao My thoughts on this match, if it takes place at Welter- Pac Man. If it takes place at Junior Middle- 50/50. However at Middleweight....Prediction- Martinez Junior Middleweight: Miguel Cotto vs Alfredo Angulo Tough one to call but I'd go for Cotto because of his big fight experience, better defence and the fact Angulo lost to Cintron. Welterweight: Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather I'm saying Pacquiao. The reason is, I don't think Floyd has the power to knock Pacquiao out or seriously hurt him and Pacquiao will be more active earning the judges attention in the close rounds. (I hope this doesn't start an argument between Pacquiao lovers and Mayweather lovers) Prediction- Pacquiao Junior Welterweight: Tim Bradley vs Amir Khan Personally I don't see why Bradley is in a lot of p4p top 10s, he's good, just not that good. Khan wins this one. Prediction- Khan Lightweight: Juan Manual Marquez vs Brandon Rios I think Marquez is on the decline (dominated by Mayweather, struggled at times against Diaz and Katsidis). Personally I hope he makes enough money after his fight with Pacquiao to retire. I'd hate to see him go the Roy Jones route and become a gatekepper for fighters like Rios, Khan, Guerrero, Bradley etc. I think Rios would win at this stage. Prediction- Rios Junior Lightweight: Ricky Burns vs Roman Martinez I believe there was an element of flukeiness to the 1st fight. I'd go for Martinez in the rematch. Prediction- Martinez. Featherweight: Yuriokris Gamboa vs Nonito Donaire Interesting one. I would be suprised if 2-3 years from now these are p4p number 1 and 2. I'm leaning towards Donaire due to his power, better technique and Gamboa's suspect chin. Prediction- Donaire Junior Featherweight: Toshiaki Nishioka vs Akifumi Shimboda Don't know much about either fighter but looking at the records and who day have beat I'm gonna edge towards Nishioka. Prediction- Nishioka Bantamweight: Nonito Donaire vs Abner Mares Mares is good but nobody in or around this division beats Donaire. Prediction- Donaire Junior Bantamweight: Hugo Cazares- Tomas Rojas This is a week division where the top 2 guys have records akin to journeymen. I'll go with Cazares as Rojas has already been beat 12 times. Prediction- Cazares Flyweight: Hernan Marquez vs Luis Concepcion Again I don't see any different result in the rematch Marquez wins probably in another war. Prediction- Marquez Junior Flyweight: Giovani Segura vs Roman Gonzalez This is an interesting one as Segura apparently struggles greatly to make weight and Gonzalez is a live threat. I'm gonna edge towards Segura based on his experience. Prediction- Segura Strawweight: Nkosianathi Joyi vs Kazuto Ioka Once again going off experience I'm gonna edge toward Joyi as Ioka has only fought 7 times.
Wlad-Vitali; at this point, I'd take Wlad. I think Vitali is slowing down a little and, with Wlad using his jab to measure distance so well, I think he catches him when he's trying to lean away from the punches. Cunningham-Hicks; never been overly impressed with Huck - USS takes him again. Pascal-Cloud; I think I'll still go with Pascal. He has stamina issues but I think his speed can help him put enough rounds in the bank to come away with a close decision. Ward-Bute; It's hard to go against Ward. Bute could give him a lot to think about with his body attack but I think Ward could make it rough and ugly, grinding out a decision: Martinez-Pacquiao; Maravilla. Too big, and he has a lot of talent to go with his size advantage. He stops Pac in a mis-match. Cotto-Angulo; guaranteed to be a terrific fight. I know Cotto isn't what he used to be but I think he still has enough class to out-box el Perro. He can certainly out-jab him and hold his own on the inside. Pacquiao-Mayweather; if this happens, I'll be so happy to see it that I honestly don't care who wins. I'd pick Floyd to find a way to win. After struggling early and maybe tasting the canvas, he adjusts and starts to time Pac, dominating over the second half of the fight and taking a decision. Bradley-Khan; I'll go with Amir. He doesn't have an inside game which could be exposed badly against Tim but I think his jab, speed and combinations are enough to earn a comfortable decision. JMM-Rios; unless Marquez slows down significantly, he handles Rios' early pressure before turning it against him and countering him over and over. Burns-Martinez; best fight I've been to live and I think Ricky does it again. Rocky had no answer to the uppercut or the body-shots and I think the struggle to make 130 makes it more difficult for him. Gamboa-Donaire; Yuri takes this one, probably by ko. Donaire is the truth but I think this would be a step too far. Gamboa's hand-speed and power light him up. Nishioka-Shimboda; Nishioka. I think he's a step ahead all night, winning comfortably with his jab and body work. Donaire-Mares; Abner has really shown me something in his last couple of fights but I don't see anyone at bantam surviving Donaire. I think the Flash stops him in the mid-rounds. Cazares-Rojas; Hugo seems to have found his natural weight class and I think he bullies Rojas down the stretch, winning a decision. Marquez-Conception; the first fight was unreal and I think Marquez makes slightly easier work of it second time around. Segura-Gonzalez; Segura is huge for the weight and I think that helps him take Gonzalez' power early, before coming on late and maybe forcing a stoppage. Joyi-Ioka; I'll take Joyi in a competitive fight where Ioka fights on even terms before Joyi's experience helps him take the championship rounds, and the decision.
These would be my dream fights in each weight class: Heavweight: Klitschko v Klitschko Cruiserweight: Cunningham v. Lebdev Light Heavy: Hopkins v. Bute Super Middle Weight: Ward/ Forch winner v Bute Middle: Martinez v Mayweather Junior Middle: Martinez v Pacquiao Welter: Mayweather v Pacquiao Junior Welter: Pacquiao v Khan Lightweight: Marquez v Rios Junior Light: Linares v Fana Feather: Gamboa v Donaire Junior Feather: Rigondeaux v Donaire Banty: Donaire v Mares Junior Banty: Canares v Segura Flyweight: Wonjonkam v Segura Jr Fly: Segura v Gonzalzez Straw: Joyi v Ioka
Middleweight is shite the only fighter who would get in the p4p top 20 is Martinez. I don't think anyone from Cruiserweight would be in many peoples top 20 same with Junior Lightweight, possible Junior featherweight, defo junior bantamweight and the only one's that would be considered flyweight and below are Segura and Wonjongkam
yeah but at least at those weights the fighters are evenly matched mw is martinez then a ton of unproven contenders
True. Thing is Junior Middleweight is too small for him- he probably doesn't want to be busting a gut to make weight at his age especially with so many good JMM contenders and he is probably to short for super middleweight. The likes of Froch and Bute would tower over him. His saving grace may be that JMM is that croweded at the moment that one or two of the bigger names may step up who struggle to make weight.
Oscar must still really hate Pac. jesus h christ. but yeah, martinez beats pac at middleweight, surprpise surprise.
I think Mayweather may actually have a better chance at beating Martinez at middleweight than Pac-Man (even though I predict Pac would edge Floyd at welter). Mainly as he is bigger than Pac and no way Martinez could catch Floyd like he did Paul Williams. However I would edge 60-40 in favour of Sergio still (if Mosley can hurt Floyd, Martinez can), whereas maybe 70-30 in Sergio's favour against Pacquiao.