This weekend, the UFC has Volkanovski vs Makhachev. Two of the best fighters in the world going at it. In March, Jones is fighting Gane. In April, Pereira and Adesanya is fighting a rematch. What does boxing have? No Usyk/Fury, no Davis/Garcia, no Wilder/Ruiz and no Spence/Crawford. It's already February and the only fight may be set is stone is Haney/Lomachenko. Even that fight can fall through with the way things are going in boxing. Edit: We do have Inoue/Fulton & Benevidez/Plant. I hope those fights don't get cancelled.
Today, boxers don't face each other once because they can't agree on who will promote if they face twice. Maybe just fight once and see how it goes. Because maybe WE (the fans) won't want to see it again. Rematches should be reserved for fights people actually want to watch again.
Not sure about the Haney/Loma fight either as nothing has been set, seems like there's one guy who is dragging his feet but i do expect that it will eventually be made, Haney is also now implying he will move up to 140 to take on Teo, either way with all the talk from him & his father about how Lomachenko apparently ducked him for so long (which we know was never possible in the first place) they sure are taking their sweet time with this fight being finalized, Haney is also the favorite versing the much undersized older fighter in Loma as well, but we wait.
We're off to a much better start than last year, both quantity and quality. I want more obviously but I can't remember the last time boxing was on a positive trend. The fact is Davis vs Garcia isn't actually one of the best fights to be made. This match-up caught some hype after Lopez beat Loma and Garcia beat Campbell, and we thought he had beaten a skilled boxer and showed heart and it seemed like anything was possible for a young lightweight. Meanwhile Tank was having weight problems and trying to make the jump to a big money fighter. Now a couple years later gravity is back in effect. Garcia still has power but the boxing development is stalled, Tank is showing up basically in shape, to me it's just a decent fight for a Saturday. Inoue vs Fulton is going to be great though. Fulton has quietly become a tough, action fighter. Inoue is who he is but he's coming up to where small guys start hitting their wall. I'm looking forward to it very intensely.
Just because fans want to see it doesn't mean it will happen. Example, Loma and Lopez. That fight right there explains why fighters put in a rematch clause. Now, what I think needs to be added in the rematch clause is whether or not a rematch is warranted. Haney/Kambosos, there was no need for a rematch, Canelo/Bivol, no need for a rematch. If a guy wins 4 rounds or less, no rematch.
Inoue's displaying all time great G-Ness. No tune-up to acclimate to the new weight class. No dilly dallying about his intentions. Activated his mandatory position for Fulton's WBO. Fulton will be the THIRD #1 guy Inoue's fought as his first fight in a new division. This will be Inoue's fourth weight class whereas Fulton has only fought at 122 and is extremely comfortable.
If Tank was in Fulton's position that WBO belt would be deep in the trash and Takuma Inoue's phone ringing off the hook.
Gervonta Davis is following in the footsteps of the legendary Sven Ottke, he will retire without ever having participated in a major fight. Such a great accomplishment.