Mayweather and Pacquiao still among boxing fans’ most desired fights, but there are so many more!

So far, 2014 has gotten off to a very slow start in boxing. Unfortunately, February is not getting any better, and fight fans will have to wait for March until some big names step back in the squared circle. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will face Bryan Vera on March 1st at middleweight; Canelo Alvarez will get back in the ring on March 8th against Alfredo Angulo at junior middleweight; and Danny Garcia will square off against Mauricio Hererra at junior welterweight on March 15th. Although none of the aforementioned fights in March are huge so to speak; if the big names all go on to win as expected, it should set up some very interesting fights for the second half of the year. How about Chavez Jr. vs Canelo Alvarez?

The first real blockbuster fight for 2014 will come on April 12th, when Tim Bradley and Manny Pacquiao face off in their much anticipated rematch. For me, although many people out there are still hoping for a Mayweather and Pacquiao showdown; I would love to see Bradley vs. Mayweather in September, should Bradley beat Pacquiao again (although most of know who really won the first time around, I got Bradley in this one). Unfortunately, given Bradley/Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is not likely to happen, I would love to see either Bradley or Pacquiao face Ruslan Provodnikov this year. It’s very interesting how popular Provodnikov became in 2013. With outstanding fights against Bradley and Mike Alvarado, he has become one of the most feared fighters in boxing. I recently asked many different fight fans and boxing media, and almost all of them said they would love to see Provodnikov fight almost anyone.

Likewise, Genady Golovkin has also become one of the most feared and popular fighters for 2014, with a number of matchups fight fans would love to see happen for him. Some outstanding fights to be made for Golovkin would be with fellow middleweight(s) Sergio Martinez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., or Peter Quillen. With no shortage of possible fights for Golovkin, another fight high on fans’ wish lists would be Golovkin vs. Andre Ward or even Carl Froch at super middleweight. There are, however, already rumors of a fight between Carl Froch and Chavez Jr. sometime this summer. I really hope that one pans out as it could be the one that rids of the brat from Mexico hanging on to the tail of his father’s legend.

Although not as deep a division, what about light heavyweight? The biggest fight out there currently would be Adonis Stevenson vs. Sergey Kovalev which could be fireworks and a fight of the year mention if it takes place; but, hold the phone, and don’t forget about Bernard Hopkins. The guy won’t go away and don’t be surprised if he finds himself in the ring with either Stevenson or Kovalev. Should a big fight with one of them does unfold for BHOP, I think it may finally be the last straw for Hopkins as both Stevenson and Kovalev are enormous and dangerous punchers. Father time will rear its ugly head in 2014 for Hopkins.

Now, don’t even get us started on all the possible matchups in the welterweight and lightweight divisions this year. There are obviously the big names in Floyd Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto, and Manny Pacquiao that will always bring much fan interest and ticket sales. Outside that A-list, however, is an enormous group of outstanding fighters who offer crazy fight possibilities. There are, unfortunately, many things that can prevent venues involving the following fighters from taking place, but I will still list the fighters most of us hope to see in a multitude of pairings with the understanding it would require some of them moving up or down a weight class.

Timothy Bradley, Ruslan Provodnikov, Danny Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Adrien Broner, Keith Thurman, Mike Alvarado, and Brandon Rios are all fighters who could match up with one another and compete for fight of the year classics in the welterweight divisions. For me, I would like to see Bradley vs Provodnikov II; Rios vs. Alvarado III; Danny Garcia vs. Adrien Broner; and Marcos Maidana against anyone right now (except Mayweather). My apologies to Juan Manuel Marquez, but he should have called it a career and rode into the sunset after his 2012 win over Pacquiao.

Moving down a bit into the lightweight and featherweight divisions, fans start to think of Mikey Garcia, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Abner Mares, Jhonny Gonzalez, Terrance Crawford, Nonito Donaire, Guillermo Rigondeaux, and Leo Santa Cruz. Look for the rematch with Abner Mares and Jhonny Gonzalez to kick start this class of fighters and for Mares to avenge his 2013 knockout loss to Gonzalez. My vote here would be Rigondeaux vs. Donaire II, and Mikey Garcia against any of the fighters in this class.

Floyd Mayweather is already slated to fight on May 3rd for Cinco de Mayo weekend as usual; however the exact opponent is not yet named. Although it is likely to be Amir Khan or Marcos Maidana, neither fight is one that boxing fans want to see. If Mayweather has a meaningful opponent in 2014, it will likely come in September for Mexican Independence Day weekend. Who that fighter will be is completely unknown, but as usual, most people are hoping for Manny Pacquiao. I am pulling for Tim Bradley, because I think he matches up the best athletically with Mayweather, and if he beats Pacquiao in April, I see no reason for that fight not to happen (promotion issus aside). I will go on record saying Bradley will also fall at the hands of Mayweather, should that fight happen. There will be no passing of the torch until Mayweather verbally decides to do so.

The only other fight (so far) involving boxing mega stars that is close to being worked out is a fight with Miguel Cotto and Sergio Martinez on June 7th, which should take place in New York. I am actually very excited for this to be worked out but am totally on the fence for which way it will go. A win for Cotto could mean a rematch with Mayweather. A win for Martinez, who knows, but many want to see him in the ring with GGG. I will take GGG (Golovkin) and I would prefer to see Cotto fight Canelo Alvarez.

So many exciting fight possibilities. Who do you want to see?