- Tim Bradley versus Keith Thurman
Both have been involved in exciting fights recently and both are highly-ranked at the weight, adding significance to a potential fight between them. However, broadcasting disputes likely rule this one out given Thurman’s allegiance to Al Haymon and his Premier Boxing Champions network while Bradley is a Top Rank fighter who appears on HBO.
- Terence Crawford versus Victor Postol
Crawford stepped up a division in 2015 to win a super-lightweight world title. He already looks the best in the division but the man rivaling him for that accolade is Viktor Postal who outsmarted then forced Lucas Matthysse to crumble.
- Adonis Stevenson versus Artur Beterbiev
We’ve waited too long for Adonis Stevenson’s unification with Sergey Kovalev, which doesn’t appear to have gotten any closer over the years. Why then shouldn’t Stevenson take on another Russian destroyer, the excellent Artur Beterbiev?
- Vasyl Lomachenko versus Leo Santa Cruz
Lomachenko has had a quiet 2015 but a unification clash with Leo Santa Cruz would set the elite Olympic master against a quality Mexican fighter. Santa Cruz’s stock is high after winning the WBA featherweight title against Abner Mares in an exciting clash.
- Roman Gonzalez versus Naoya Inoue
Although neither man is a crossover star, this battle of the little men is one of the best that can be made in boxing today. A three-weight world champion and unbeaten in 43, Gonzalez has established himself as one of the best fighters on the planet. Inoue has only had eight fights as a professional but has picked up titles in two divisions in that time. Currently there’s only 3lbs between them, but more of an issue might be the location of the fight, with neither man a big enough draw to top a bill in the US. Inoue is also yet to box outside of his native Japan, given how much he’s paid to fight there, although Gonzalez has fought there nine times himself.
5. Andre Ward v Sergey Kovalev
Having made his return from a 19-month hiatus last month, super-middleweight king has been touted to make the move up to light-heavyweight, where Russian slugger Kovalev reigns as IBF, WBO and WBA ‘Super’ world champion. It would pit a master boxer against a ferocious puncher, as well as being a clash of two of the world’s best.
4. Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather
There was a fevered clamour to see boxing’s two superstars collide. While the fight itself couldn’t meet that expectation, Pacquiao has perhaps sown an element of intrigue with his complaints about his shoulder and Mayweather potentially going a record breaking 50-0 in his career would still make this a major event.
- Kell Brook versus Amir Khan
With Brook now holding a legitimate world title at 147lbs, a stipulation Khan insisted upon for the fight to be made, there is serious potential for this one to come off. At the moment, the main stumbling block is Khan’s understandable desire for a fight with Manny Pacquiao, who is yet to confirm his opponent for April 9. If Manny were to leave Khan by the wayside, Khan-Brook could become a serious possibility.
- Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder
Thanks to the IBF stripping Fury this would no longer unify all the heavyweight titles but it remains one of the most appealing fights in the sport, matching two of the biggest men and biggest personalities in boxing.
- Saul Alvarez versus Gennady Golovkin
Golovkin played a starring role in 2015 and looks to be one of the most devastating fighters at any weight. But fearless Mexican Saul Alvarez, coming off the best win of his career against Miguel Cotto, is the man to create a super-fight with “GGG”.
