James Slater

Fights we want to see in 2017

Fights we want to see in 2017

2016’s boxing year was okay, if not great. We saw some excellent fights – see Keith Thurman-Shawn Porter, Orlando Salido-Francisco Vargas, Jamie Conlan-Anthony Nelson – and there is still a little over a month to go before the end of the year. But some experts, Oscar De La Hoya for example, has not been happy with how the sport played out this year, even calling 2016 “one of the worst years in boxing history.”

Those fans who agree that 2016 was a disappointment can look ahead to a potentially great 2017 for the sport. Already we have confirmed fights to get excited about, including Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia, David Haye-Tony Bellew and more, and also a strongly pencilled in Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua fight. And with the continued rise of future stars such as Vasyl Lomachenko, Artur Beterbiev, Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and others set to feature in further big fights, 2017 could really be a big fistic year.

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The Hottest Heavyweight Match-Ups To Look Forward To In The Next Six Months

The Hottest Heavyweight Match-Ups To Look Forward To In The Next Six Months

Pretty much all year, we’ve missed out on seeing anything approaching great heavyweight action. With world champ Tyson Fury battling his demons and unable to fight at all in 2016, it was left to belt-holders Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua to keep the fans entertained. But even Wilder was forced to take the second half of the year off due to injury, while Joshua, who became IBF champ in April (in a woefully forgettable fight with Charles Martin; remember him?) retained just once – with a second defence, against Eric Molina, set for December.

So, a pretty dull year for the heavyweight division so far. But over the coming six months or so, starting with this December, fight fans have some potentially thrilling heavyweight match-ups to look forward to. With Fury’s belts vacated, rival heavyweights got busy trying to get themselves a piece of the action. As a result, we have some interesting title fights coming up.

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If Bellew somehow pulls it off and beats Haye – does he stay at heavyweight?

If Bellew somehow pulls it off and beats Haye – does he stay at heavyweight?

What if reigning WBC cruiserweight boss Tony Bellew does what he insists he will and defeats David Haye next March? It might seem like a big if in the opinion of many fans, but “Bomber” (a far more palatable nickname to the new one Haye has given to his rival!) can certainly punch very hard – at least he can as a 200-pounder. There is definitely a chance, call it an outside chance if you want, that Bellew could catch Haye on the chin and cause the sensation.

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Shannon Briggs furious over Haye-Bellew announcement, says he will sue Haye for pulling out of agreed fight with him

Shannon Briggs furious over Haye-Bellew announcement, says he will sue Haye for pulling out of agreed fight with him

While the British boxing scene is buzzing over today’s official announcement that David Haye and Tony Bellew will meet in what appears to be a very genuine grudge-match next March, not everyone is happy or thrilled at this news. Shannon Briggs, who was to have fought Haye, is absolutely livid right now.

As soon as he heard the news regarding the March 4 fight, Briggs wasted no time taking to social media to let his anger, and his intentions, known. Briggs – who with the recent drugs test shocker regarding Lucas Browne, appears to be without any fight to speak of – says he plans to sue Haye, that he had a contract to fight Haye.

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Haye vs Bellew: “Hayemaker” Haye vows to smash “Bellend” Bellew!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7dhTvlFc1A

As fight fans may have read by now, David Haye and Tony Bellew will meet on March 4 at The O2 in London. A grudge-match between two vocal and exciting fighters who have a history (they sparred, many years ago, with differing versions from both on what transpired), Haye Vs. Bellew is a fight that is all but guaranteed to end by KO, one way or the other.

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Jean Pascal set for return with his former amateur trainer

Jean Pascal set for return with his former amateur trainer

Former WBC light-heavyweight champ Jean Pascal will return to action in Canada on December 16, against a TBA. Last seen losing by corner retirement to Sergey Kovalev in a return meeting, Pascal was pulled out after seven rounds by his trainer Freddie Roach. Now, some 11 months on from what was just his fourth career loss, Pascal will return to action with a new trainer. Or rather an old trainer who is reuniting with him.

The Montreal Gazette reports how Pascal, 30-4-1(17) and aged 34, will now be trained by his former amateur coach, Stephan Larouche. Pascal says he wants to become a champion again and that boxing is his passion. Larouche acknowledges how it could be a tough road back for Pascal, as the current 175-pound weight division is “pretty high calibre.”

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Vasyl Lomachenko-Manny Pacquiao: too big a leap for Lomachenko or the end for Pac-Man?

Vasyl Lomachenko-Manny Pacquiao: too big a leap for Lomachenko or the end for Pac-Man?

Promoter Bob Arum is hugely excited about Vasyl Lomachenko, the incredibly talented former amateur sensation (perhaps one of the greatest amateur boxers in history at 396-1). Arum, who has seen it all in boxing over his almost 90 years, remains enthusiastic about the sport because of special fighters that come his way – and Arum says Lomachenko is very special.

Indeed, the Top Rank boss recently said Lomachenko is the best he’s seen in the sport since the incomparable Muhammad Ali. Arum has big plans for the reigning WBO super-featherweight champion. At just 6-1 and already a two-weight champion, the slick and wickedly powerful southpaw is a future superstar, says Arum. This Saturday’s defence against puncher Nicholas Walters could be looked at as a risky assignment for “Hi-Tech,” as Lomachenko is known, but it would be a massive upset if “The Axe Man” scored a win.

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British heavyweight David Allen lands big fight he wanted with Luis Ortiz

British heavyweight David Allen lands big fight he wanted with Luis Ortiz

It’s official: Luis Ortiz will make a quick return from his recent, dull 12-round win over Malik Scott and face British heavyweight David Allen on the big Joshua-Molina bill in Manchester on December 10. The fight was announced today and both fighters are delighted.

Unbeaten Cuban Ortiz expects to be able put on a far more fan-friendly fight against Allen, 9-1(6), who has promised he will “come to fight.” Allen reportedly asked promoter Eddie Hearn for this particular fight quite some time ago, convinced as he is that he can defeat the southpaw known as “King Kong.”

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Billy Joe Saunders needs a big 2017 to make up for lost time; Akavov fight postponed yet again

Billy Joe Saunders needs a big 2017 to make up for lost time; Akavov fight postponed yet again

WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders has endured some disappointing and frustrating year here in 2016. Fans have lost count of the number of postponements the unbeaten southpaw has experienced since his last fight – an impressive decision win over Andy Lee last December – but the number has just risen by one; as it has been announced how this Saturday’s defence against Russian challenger Artur Akavov has been delayed yet again.

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