Boxing Betting: The fights you'd like to see in 2009 (but probably won't)

Boxing Betting / Editor / 04 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Richard Douglas imagines a Mayweather comeback, a battle of Britons and a bout of brothers which would break an old lady's heart...

Fight fans can wish their lives away. A boxer's footwork will help him win titles but, having got there, his manager may also display a few fancy moves to keep his client competing for the big money.

This is one of the only sports where the best don't always have to take on the best to maintain a lofty position. However we can all dream of a year when legacies, reputations and fortunes are continually at stake in the ring. So here's a personal wishlist of fights for 2009 - but don't hold your breath.

Joe Calzaghe v Carl Froch

The unbeaten Welshman supposedly ends his career on Saturday night against Roy Jones Junior at light-heavyweight. We'll see... Calzaghe's last few bouts have had a 'pension-plan' as well as a legacy feel to them. If the mouthy Carl Froch beats Jean Pascal to take the WBC super-middleweight in December he'll no doubt continue calling out Calzaghe whenever possible. The Nottingham fighter is hardly a 'marquee' name who can make the pay-per-view number tickover but this fight would either cement Calzaghe as the best British boxer of the modern era or hand the reigns to Froch.

But why would the senior partner take the risk? After Bernard Hopkins humbled Kelly Pavlik there will be much more money in a rematch between the two veterans. Meanwhile, if Froch wants a big-name on his record he could always chase Mikkel Kessler.

Floyd Mayweather Junior v Antonio Margarito

Sometime, somewhere, Floyd Mayweather Junior will make a comeback. The greatest fighter of his generation seems to treat retirement as a bargaining chip. Margarito is the biggest challenge out there and achieved his lofty status by bursting the aura of invincibility surrounding Miguel Cotto to take the WBA welterweight title. Still for Mayweather there is much, much easier money to be made

Junior Witter v Ricky Hatton

With both fighters starting to slide, this much-discussed fight is actually closer than it has ever been. But it is still unlikely to happen. There was a period when these two Britons were the best two light-welterweights on the planet. Since then, Hatton has been outclassed by Mayweather and Witter has been outworked by Timothy Bradley. Their styles could clash but they are none too friendly and have avoided each other for years.

Vitali Klitschko v Vladimir Klitschko

One of the biggest fights in history (certainly the richest not involving an American) will never happen because of one old lady - Mamma Klitschko. The two brothers hold three of the main four heavyweight belts but have vowed never to fight because "it would break their mother's heart". David Haye could be on the bill for either man by the end of next year.

Jon Thaxton v Amir Khan

Khan is training in America with Freddie Roach as he tries to rebuild after that shattering defeat to Breidis Prescott. Meanwhile the ever-motivated Jon Thaxton grabbed the European lightweight title after producing a superb one-punch finish to knockout favourite Juan Melero. Taking on, let alone beating, Thaxton would hand back some credibility to Khan among British fight fans but he won't fancy a banger. Oh and Khan v Prescott II won't happen either.

Arthur Abraham v Kelly Pavlik

The middleweight division is not the strongest right now but these two are ahead of the rest. Kelly Pavlik was the darling of the American scene before stepping up too far to take on Bernard Hopkins at light-heavyweight. However the throwback box-fighter is still very effective at 160lbs. Arthur Abrahams is an Armenian but, like the Klitschkos, he is an adopted German and he has developed a relatively sheltered career there. However his last fight was in Florida and he may be looking to build profile in the US. But if he is not seeking a fight against an under-confident Pavlik now then these two are going to avoid either other for at least another 12 months.

Audley Harrison v any top 10 rated heavyweight

It is now or never for A-Force. He has barely got above British level since winning super-heavyweight gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the clock has been ticking for some time. The talented yet shot-shy southpaw teamed up with Frank Warren recently when - despite defeats to Danny Williams, Michael Sprott and Dominic Guinn - the paucity of the heavyweight division meant he still might just be able to get a shot. Since then Vitali Klitschko has come back and David Haye has moved up, so it will be much harder for Harrison to fulfil his potential now.