By Thomas Scherr: As we reach the holiday season, I figured it was a good time to put together my Christmas list for 2009:
Day 1: An undisputed lightweight champion. Golden Boy Promotions announced this week that Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz will meet to determine the best lightweight in the world. While that kind of rhetoric is expected, until the winner of this contest meets Nate Campbell we will still have splintered division. Hopefully we can clarity this year in at least one division..
Day 2: Paul Williams vs. Antonio Margarito 2: The first battle was a highly contested, and the second would be a can’t miss war. Unfortunately, with Paul Williams fighting at 154-160 and Margarito expected to face Cotto this summer, this Christmas wish may go unfulfilled.
Day 3: Pacman vs. The Hitman: Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton is the biggest event that can be made in boxing. It should also be an interesting fight and while I would favor Manny, although Hatton should be a live underdog.
Day 4: Cunningham vs. Adamek 2: The first battle was an immediate cruiserweight classic, topped only by Evander Holyfield’s Cruiserweight wars. Cunningham, a fighter largely ignored by the American public is becoming appreciated even in a loss.
Day 5: An American heavyweight contender: Chris Arreola? Not with his lax training habits. Kevin Johnson? He has a world champion’s mouth and a ten cent punch. The best American heavyweight right now looks to be Evander Holyfield, and that does not say much.
Day 6: Joe Cortez’s retirement: Now don’t get me wrong, Cortez used to be one of the great referee’s in the game, but in his latest matches he has clearly slipped. The DQ of Soto was the most obvious example, but other recent efforts have been very questionable.
Day 7: Floyd’s continued retirement: Floyd may have been the greatest talent in boxing, but it was impossible to tell as he outright refused to face the top competition available. Boxing simply doesn’t need him.
Day 8: Vazquez- Marquez 4, 5, and 6: These two could fight every week, and they would all be classics.
Day 9: More Versus: Since Top Rank Promotions is no longer involved in the Versus telecasts, the cards are much improved. There have been multiple titled fights and cards have included Williams, Arreola, Hatton, Adamek, and more. Keep it up!
Day 10: Edwin Valero in the U.S.: My understanding is that he received a license in Texas, so where is he? Valero is an unparalleled punching talent, but if he can’t get in the ring, it may all be for nothing.
Day 11: More Chad Dawson: Dawson is quickly proving himself to be the best pound for pound fighter above welterweight. A rematch with Dawson and Glen Johnson needs to be made in 2009.
Day 12: The return of Kelly Pavlik: There is no shame in losing to a future Hall of Famer like Bernard Hopkins. Now he needs to bounce back with meaningful fights in 2009.
Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good Fight.