2021 Wish List: Top Boxing fights to make

Read Time:6 Minute, 17 Second

Despite a global pandemic, the show was able to go on for boxing. Several fights took place that wowed fans and opened the door for opportunities.

If all goes according to plan, 2021 will be the year of the superfight. Will fans end up getting the fights they have been craving for? Here are some of the matchups that could help give the sport a tremendous boost.

Devin Haney vs. Teofimo Lopez

Boxing’s lightweight division is full of young talent ready to break out. While they are both with different promotions, Haney and Lopez could help start a new revolution in the sport.

Lopez, 23, just beat Vasiliy Lomachenko to win the WBA, WBO, and The Ring Lightweight Titles. Already the IBF Lightweight Champion, Lopez was able to prove all doubters wrong after winning four fights in 2019. He is ready to truly take over the division and is willing to take down Haney, even if he doesn’t think the 22-year-old is ready, if that’s what it takes.

“Honestly, there’s not much to the table that (Haney) brings,” Lopez stated on The 3 Knockdown Rule Podcast, via Boxing Scene. “There’s a lot of promotional mindset that I gotta bring out. Same thing with (Vasyl) Loma (chenko), but with Loma there was the amount of accomplishments and the pedigree that he (had) in the boxing world, so that helped.”

Haney has been WBC Lightweight Champion since September 2019. He almost lost it after undergoing shoulder surgery, but came back and took care of Yuriorkis Gamboa. “The Dream” is waiting to face the winner of Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell, taking place on January 2. It is unknown how long either fighter would have to wait to face Haney, who has been picking a fight with Garcia, Gervonta Davis, and Lopez on social media. He believes the latter is someone willing to step up to face him.

“I think Teofimo Lopez does want to fight me, Haney stated on Brian Custer’s The Last Stand Podcast, via Bad Left Hook. “I think Teofimo actually, really wants to fight me. Maybe he doesn’t really like me or whatever the case may be but I think he really does want to fight me. Ryan Garcia not so much. Tank, no!”

The new blood is ready to play, will they end up getting what they want?

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.

This fight has been discussed so many times over the years. While both have dismissed one another in the past, Crawford and Spence may end up fighting for welterweight gold when all is said and done.

The WBC and IBF Welterweight Champion in Spence returned to the ring and defeated Danny Garcia in early December. This was after a car crash that almost ended his career last year. Crawford came back from a layoff and retained the WBO Welterweight Title for the fourth time against Kell Brook. He does not want to fight if he was to receive a pay cut, and a fight with Spence could not only boost his resume, but his bank account.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum would prefer a Crawford-Manny Pacquiao fight, but it is unknown if the 42-year-old will get a shot. There is also the chance that Shawn Porter could face Crawford next year, as the two were talking about something happening earlier this year.

Arum and Premier Boxing Champions will have to work together and come up with a way to get the two in the ring together, if possible.

Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano

We were so close to getting one of the biggest fights in the history of women’s boxing. Taylor, the undisputed lightweight champion, was set to face Serrano, a fighter who holds gold in seven different weight classes. Scheduled for Matchroom Fight Camp, talks came to a halt following contract disputes and potential lawsuits.

Serrano, who has fought twice in 2020, was set to appear on Exatlon, which didn’t sit well with Eddie Hearn. When talking to Sky Sports about the nixed bout, the normally quiet Taylor had the following to say:

“My opinion is that Serrano didn’t want the fight. I was training for the fight since January, it was scheduled for May but postponed, rescheduled for July then for August, then she pulled out. She came out with excuse after excuse after excuse. I don’t think she had any intention of stepping into the ring with me.”

Taylor would end up facing Delfine Persoon in a rematch from their epic 2019 affair. She beat her at Fight Camp, and then beat Miriam Gutierrez in November. Taylor has a lot of options when it comes to opponents, but hopes the Serrano fight can come to fruition. Serrano also has options, as she wants to unify the featherweight division.

2021 could end up being the final time the two have a chance to fight one another. Perhaps, with a neutral arena, the two will get their time to shine.

Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant

The most obvious choice when it comes to Canelo is Gennadiy Golovkin. If everything goes according to plan, however, Canelo can still face GGG while also focusing on obtaining more super-middleweight gold. He could also finally answer the call of a fighter who has been ready for his shot.

Plant, the IBF Super-Middleweight Champion, has defended his belt against mandatory challengers. He is set to face off against Caleb Truax by the end of January. Canelo, the new WBA and WBC Super-Middleweight Champion, is reportedly facing Avni Yildirim in February. While there are rumors of a Billy Joe Saunders fight for Canelo and a clash with David Benavidez for Plant, the latter wants a crack at Canelo.

“I know that’s a fight that me and him both want,” Plant told Brian Kenny, via Boxing Insider. “At some point me and Canelo are going to get in there and do our thing. We will have our showdown and when we do, I can promise you it’s going to be fireworks. I think Canelo is a great fighter but I feel like I have all the tools and the weapons to beat him. I will get my hand raised when we fight, I can assure you that.”

Plant was offered a fight with Canelo last February but didn’t feel ready for it. Now, the opportunity could be there for the taking.

Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury

A fight to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. That one sentence should get you invested.

For three+ years, fans have been waiting for the combination of Fury, Joshua, and Deontay Wilder to fight one another. When Fury beat Wilder to start 2020, it was assumed that everything would be set. Recently, there have been complications; Joshua just beat Kubrat Pulev, but still has a mandatory challenger in Oleksandr Usyk. Wilder still wants a third fight with Fury, despite the negative press he is giving himself. The fights are enticing, but the real money fight is Joshua vs. Fury.

If the fight doesn’t take place right away, mandatory fights could happen. Late 2021 could be the date of the bout if everyone manages to hold it all together. As far as location, Eddie Hearn is hoping for fans for this event. Matchroom just recently had fans inside The SSE Arena for Joshua-Pulev, so anything is possible.

Will we finally determine who the top dog in the heavyweight division is?

About Post Author

The Scrap

The Scrap is a combat sports news hub dedicated to bringing you creative MMA, Pro Wrestling, Bare Knuckle, and Boxing content. We choose highlight the indie and regional scenes as passionately as the big leagues. Aside from exclusives on our Patreon account, we also provide video content on our YouTube channel ranging from interviews to highlighting current events.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %

About Post Author

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

Previous post Thank you, Brodie Lee
Next post Contender Series: Exciting prospects to watch coming out of Season 4