1) Usyk - is it going to be Dubois? If not, who? 2) Dubois - Wants Usyk, if not who? 3) Kabayel - Probably about to be avoided. Would love to see vs. Parker 4) Parker - If not Kabayel, deserves a shot at Usyk. 5) Joshua - Fury is obviously the fight, if not who else? 6) Fury - Joshua or couch. Personally, I don't care 7) Okolie - Who's next for the Octopus after Riakporhe (whoever that is) 8) Gassiev - Don't know how he's #8, but don't see him getting a big fight this year. 9) Wardley - Hoping the Pulev fight gets made 10) Hunter - Needs to stay busy, but will probably sit and wait on Wardley - Pulev 11) Ajagba - I want to see him fight Bakole. Have it in Africa. Nigeria vs. the Congo 12) Huni - Call me crazy, but I'd like to see him fight Frank Sanchez or Jared Anderson. Win or go home 13) Whyte - Throw him to somebody to go ahead and end it. Maybe Andy Ruiz or Zhang if either of them still want to fight 14) Chisora - I'd really like to see him win his last fight, but nobody in the top 10 would risk fighting him, so who would it be 15) Bakole - Ajagba. Would be a good test for him to either bounce back or settle in. Also, what's next for Joyce/Hrgovic winner? What is Andy Ruiz doing? If Torrez gets by Gianello, who's next for him? Who's Moses Itauma looking at?
Great assessment of the top 15's plans. Agree with everything really. Not a fight I care much about but Hunter V Gassiev might make sense - whats dumb is that the winner will be like number 2-3 according to Boxrec when they both should be ranked 20-25th. Gassiev literally lost to Wallin, and Hunter has done nothing since the Povetkin fight which was over 5 years ago. Would love to see Chisora fight Ruiz or Miller, would be great fights. Maybe even AJ if Fury doesn't want it. I could see the winner of Joyce/Hrgovic fighting the winner of Bakole/Ajagba, or Wardley/Pulev or Whyte. Just have to see how things develop. Ruiz? Sadly doesn't take the sport seriously enough as he does have a couple fun fights left in him if he tried. Torrez is young even though Vianello is a good step up for him. Too soon for both Torrez and Itauma to fight each other. If Torrez does beat Vianello, would probably expect someone like Stephen Shaw. Itauma apparently fighting Charles Martin next.
1. Usyk: Probably Dubois. Possibly Parker if Dubois situation is very bad. 2. Dubois: Should fight Parker. Wants Usyk which I assume is in the works. But why is it so quiet around him? If his situation is bad he might end up getting stripped or having to fight the IBF mandatory. 3. Kabayel: Deserves a title shot but I think Okolie is next. I think Okolie is told to call out Kabayel to distract from a Usyk vs Kabayel fight. 4. Parker: I hope Dubois or Usyk. See above. Possibly Bakole rematch or Kabayel. 5. Joshua: Fury fight might be the biggest in Boxing. Still don’t think it’s going to happen right now. They are pulling a Mayweather vs Pacquiao. I think he will fight the Bakole vs Ajagba winner in Africa. Joshua has been wanting a fight in Africa for a while. He got Africa tattooed on his arm after all. 6. Fury: Something unpredictable. 9 different Fury’s 10 different possibilities. 7. Okolie: Claims he wants Kabayel next. 8. Gassiev: Some stepping stone/gatekeeper fight against Itauma/Huni/Torrez Jr/Vianello. 9. Wardley: Probably the Pulev fight. 10. Hunter: Supposedly the Wardley vs Pulev winner. Very hard to say what Hunter can bring at this stage of his career. 11. Ajagba: Bakole is next. If he beats Bakole probably Joshua in Africa. Zhang would be a good fight for Ajagba if he gets past Bakole. He might be able to outlast and outmaneuver Zhang. Ajagba has issues against slick fighters. 12. Huni: I would love to see him vs Itauma. Or Torrez Jr. Otherwise a development fight against some no hoper. 13. Whyte: Maybe Chisora. Last fight for both. 14. Chisora: Whyte. Last fight for both. It would be awesome if he could beat Joshua. But I don’t want to see him on the oxygen on a stretcher either. 15. Bakole: Ajagba is next. If he wins then Joshua in Africa. Parker kind of owes him a rematch. Joyce/Hrgovic winner: No idea. Maybe some gatekeeper fight against someone trying to break into the Top 10. Andy Ruiz Jr: I don’t think he cares anymore. Will probably fight a couple more times but not anytime soon. Maybe Joyce vs Hrgovic winner? Torrez Jr: I would like to see him fight Huni. Or maybe someone like Franklin since they are both from the USA. Vianello: If he beats Torrez Jr next I think he can get some interesting fights. I think he has potential to reach Otto Wallin level. Itauma: Charles Martin?
... then there's Jalolov ... who should be right in this mix yelling "let's go champ!" ... at any HW with a ranking.
How on gods green earth are Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez not in the top 15 when their only losses are to the top 2? And for those thinking "they must be #16 and #17 its a tough division". Nope they #20 and #23. Jared Anderson might be underrated but he lost to Bakole who just lost his title fight to Parker. #19. Logic is fun. Checked the full rankings and its crazy how the IBF despite having 2 vacant spots are the only rankings to find room for both of them in their top 10 or top 8.
