12.12.06 – By Onur Tezucar: As the holiday season approaches, many of the children around the world begin to strategize what gifts Santa should bring. This holiday season, my milk and cookies will be next to my wish list under the Christmas tree hoping Santa can come bring all of us a better new year of boxing. After a relatively mediocre 2006, which could not provide a clear cut “Fight of The Year” winner, hopefully Santa can answer the bell and provide a more dramatic 2007. So here’s my wish list in no particular pecking order:
1.) Ricky Hatton where have you been? – The 2005 fighter of the year had full steam of momentum coming into 2006 only to run into the Luis Collazo road block. After that physical and ego abuse he disappeared, then reappeared trying to promote a fight with Juan Urango at a weight class lower, Junior Welterweight (140.lbs). If he can get by Urango, that should set up a date with Jose Luis Castillo, which would be a treat to all boxing fans. However inactivity for a fighter of Ricky Hatton’s stature can be a real detriment. In some of his latest interviews, Hatton looked very bloated and heavy. Though he’s only 28, which is young in boxing years, he’s much older considering his brawling, punch and get punched style. Time is of the essence for the Hitman. He is most effective at Junior Welterweight where his punches do more damage and he out muscles and hustles opponents. He can’t afford to age and end up back at Welterweight with the bigger bangers.
2.) Joe Calzaghe please fight a marquee name! – I am very cognoscente of the fact that fighting Peter Manfredo is a marketing campaign using the household Contender name to get Calzaghe publicity in America. This hopefully will land Calzaghe a big fight with a big name in the United States. At 34, this is another British fighter with sand running out of the´hour glass. Many have to wonder why it took until the age of 33 to fight a fighter of Jeff Lacy’s caliber! With his game predicated around hand speed, Calzaghe needs to land a fight with Hopkins, Wright or Taylor quickly if he expects to receive a big payday, cement his legacy and silence all his critics.
3.) Televise more Miranda. – Though Edison Miranda is still a bit raw, he sure is exciting. Edison Miranda, still virtually an unknown to the general boxing public needs to be televised more in 2007. He is a crowd pleasing big puncher who is close to challenging upper echelon talent at Middleweight. His HBO debut is on Dec. 16 against Willie Gibbs. Hopefully, there will be more Edison Miranda to come in 2007.
4.) A little more risky Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007 – The Pound for Pound internet chat king needs to be being willing to exchange punches more if he expects to win over fans and critics alike. In his last two fights against Judah and Baldomir they were right there for the taking. Instead of knocking out either of them or having their corner’s surrender, Mayweather chose to cruise to a decisive point’s victory. Granted, Pretty Boy was battling a hand injury, it seemed as though both Baldomir and Judah were so out classed, a stoppage with one good hand was not that ludicrous. Boxing is a hit and not get hit game but if Mayweather wants to be mentioned with the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson or Sugar Ray Leonard, he must be more risky and take out inferior opposition. If Floyd can get De la Hoya in trouble, a dramatic, assertive KO or TKO would be quite a sight to see on May 5th.
5.) Antonio Margaritio vs. Miguel Cotto – No excuses networks, egos, sanctioning bodies or money these two are on a collision course for the fall of 2007. The hype surrounding Miguel Cotto is at an all-time high. He is the man to beat at Welterweight. In his last fight, he completely dismantled a fighter in Carlos Quintana, in which many so called experts including myself picked him to lose. As for Margarito, his camp was put on spin cycle trying to piece together why he looked so ordinary against Joshua Clottey in his last fight. Clottey may have something to do with that. Don’t be surprised if he has a belt in the near future. If Both fighters can get past there mandatories in the spring of 2007, (a much bigger “if” for Margarito considering he’s facing a big tough customer named Paul Williams) then a borderline mega-fight must be made in the fall of 2007.
6.) Wladimir Kilitschko, please unify! – Lets be honest we all questioned his chin and heart but Kilitschko since teaming up with Manny Steward, has looked like a different fighter both technically and mentally. Steward sometimes gets more credit then he deserves. When it comes to Wladimir, he deserves all that credit. After Kilitschko got knocked down three times by Sam Peter, got up, composed himself and won, I was sold. Though most will agree he is the man to beat at Heavyweight, it’s time to have the hardware to back it up. Kilitschko fighting Oleg Maskaev in the spring, then Shannon Briggs in fall, must take place. Nobody else, only title fights to solidify himself as the true Heavyweight Champ.
7.) Evander Holyfield, RETIRE! – Holyfield claims his return to the ring is not for money. So then what is it for? At 44, Evander Holyfield is a shell of his former self and has nothing to prove. He’s been a great Heavyweight Champ and is a lock in the Hall of Fame. It would be a shame to see Holyfield ten years from now with deteriorated cognitive and motor skills struggling to speak through an interview. Evander, please stop abusing your body and retire for good!
8.) Happy Holidays to all ESB and general boxing fans around the world!