Is it not a happy holiday season for the boxing world? In the next two months before the ball drops to bring in 2014, the boxing fans have had several pay-per-views, with one more on the calendar, and the chance to see who sets themselves up as a potential break out star of 2014.
Let’s take look back at the beginning of the quarter 4:
– Tim Bradley continued his winning streak by beating Juan Manuel Marquez. Unfortunately, Bradley still needs to build his fan base and create a more marketable name, but beating Marquez is a step towards that
– Ruslan Provodnikov overcame the odds to stop Mike Alvarado. Additionally, I believe this increases the value of Bradley’s win earlier this year.
– Gennady Golovkin passed his toughest test with flying colors, easily beating Curtis Stevens. Stevens was tough and entertaining and hopefully will have a shot at another champion or contender.
Exciting upcoming fights include the return of Andre Ward. While this may not be the most desired fight against Edwin Rodriguez, a lot of fans are eager to see Ward get back in the ring, hopefully setting up a busier 2014. Facing a future light heavyweight showdown, Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson both look to take care of business in different bouts at the end of November. This leads to a potential clash with each other, Andre Ward or even the Alien, Bernard Hopkins.
With much suspense, many questions will be answered in November and December. Will Zab Judah or Paulie Malignaggi be crowned the king of Brooklyn and live to fight for another championship? Is Pacquaio finished? Who is on the cusp of a junior middleweight championship after Erislandy
Lara and Austin Trout battle? Over the next 6 weeks, these questions will be answered.
In setting up 2014, expect a break out star to be made in November and December. Adrien Broner and Marcos Maidana, originally scheduled for a PPV, battle on top of a packed Showtime card and set themselves up for PPV potential in 2014. Who on that card breaks out as a Showtime regular? Can Keith Thurman be taken out by the contender beating Jesus Soto Karass? Additionally, we will see if Bob Arum’s calculated risk of the Pacquiao-Rios undercard pays off with a future star. The amount of talent is incredible and a 2014 HBO regular may be born on November 23rd.
Hopefully the great fights and matching of 2013 will roll on to 2014 with bigger fights, new stars and more wars.