By – Justin Jones & Brian Jones: You might recall our earlier plea to Push Boxing Ahead again in 2021 through which we referred to as for the boxing powers that be to place their agendas apart and make the fights the boxing followers wished.
Whereas a few the matchups we outlined got here to fruition, the overwhelming majority by no means materialized and are nonetheless in play at present. Our place then and now stays the identical, “the perfect vs the perfect equals success”.
Actually talking, we have been apprehensive in regards to the long-term survival of the game now we have adored for 75 years mixed, however fortunately, boxing’s buzz has barely intensified during the last couple of years in a approach that we couldn’t have imagined. It’s nonetheless fairly stunning when you concentrate on the truth that it has been social media influencers and elite overseas traders which have shaken up the game and led to much-needed change. Issues have been altered financially, competitively, systemically, and programmatically, and to us, it’s what boxing has been lacking.
The times of fights not being made due to “promotional sides of the road”, community beefs, and report safety are seemingly over. And for these causes, now we have outlined 4 divisional tournaments that we consider will captivate the boxing world.
We’re proposing that these tourneys – official or unofficial – happen over the following 18 to 24 months and have a number of of boxing’s glamour divisions, together with Heavyweight, Gentle Heavyweight, Junior Welterweight, and Light-weight. We arrived at these 4 divisions after establishing a transparent standards primarily based upon fighter rankings throughout the divisions (e.g., pound-for-pound standing), world champions, star energy (e.g., pay-per-view draw, dwell gate information, viewership statistics, and so forth.), corridor of fame candidacy, and energy of the particular matchups.
With out additional ado, please take a second to learn by way of our tournaments, evaluation, and predictions and tell us what you suppose within the feedback and on social media:
#1 Gentle Heavyweight (175 Kilos) – The sunshine heavyweight division proper now in our opinion is boxing’s hottest division. No different division options three pound-for-pound elites – Dmitrii Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs), Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs), and newcomer David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs).
Wildcard: The wildcard within the division can be the game’s greatest star – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs). If he determined to rejoin the 175 lbs. ranks then it will alter our match for certain. We might deliver Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) into the fold and broaden it to a six-man tourney. With Canelo tied up till September, the probability of him having the ability to compete is severely diminished, so we’ll simply go along with a remaining 4 for now:
Semifinals
#1 Bivol vs #4 David Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs)
# 2 Beterbiev vs 3 Benavidez
Justin’s Picks: Bivol by Unanimous Determination (UD). Bivol is best in each space aside from perhaps energy. Bivol’s toolbox and championship pedigree can be too complicated for the nonetheless inexperienced Morrell to unravel. The one approach Morrell might win for my part is by knockout and if Beterbiev couldn’t do it in 24 rounds I don’t see Morrell doing so.
Benavidez by majority resolution. I’m going with the upset on this one as I see father time nipping at Beterviev’s heels. Benavidez is in his prime, locked in, appears actually cozy at 175. His mixture punching, work price, and youth will put on down Beterbiev and permit him eek out a extremely contested and brutal victory over the long run 1st poll corridor of famer.
Closing: Bivol by UD. This matchup has me tremendous excited as a consequence of their contrasting types and the place they’re of their careers. I consider Bivol’s potential to battle in any approach – in all probability solely second to Terence “Bud” Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) – provides him a slight benefit over the bull-like fashion Benavidez brings to the ring. Benavidez will push Bivol to his limits, however Bivol’s footwork and ring generalship allow him to remain undisputed.
Brian’s Picks: Bivol by UD over Morrell. Although Morrell can be closely motivated to show to the world that he’s the brand new king of the division, Bivol’s expertise and expertise will lead him to a call victory. Beterbiev stops Benavidez by late technical knockout (TKO) in a attainable battle of the yr (FOTY) candidate.
Closing: Bivol outpoints Beterbiev for the cut up resolution victory. Beterbiev will begin quicker on this battle and land a shot within the early rounds that stuns Bivol, however as now we have seen earlier than, Bivol will climate the storm and be victorious within the trilogy match.
#2 Light-weight (135 Kilos) – The light-weight division is one other star-studded glamour division in boxing which options considered one of boxing’s greatest pay-per-view stars in Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs), and fellow pound-for-pound and arch nemesis Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs). We’ve been ready for the highest guys to combine it up for a couple of years, and there’s no higher time than the current to see who the king of the hill is.
Wildcard: If Vasyl Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) have been to retire or preserve his inactivity, then William Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) would step into the fourth seed until Lamont Roach’s (25-1-2, 10 KOs) continues campaigning at 135. If that’s the case, we’d have a fourth seed “battle in” bout to find out the match’s fourth seed.
Semifinals
#1 T. Davis vs #4 Okay. Davis (13-0, 9 KOs)
# 2 Stevenson vs #3 Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs)
Justin’s Picks: Tank by late TKO. Keyshawn is a rising star with tons of potential, however it’s too quickly to throw him in there with Tank, he wants a bit of extra seasoning. Stevenson by UD. Lomachenko regarded good in his final outing, however his inactivity and age are large issues for me. I do know Stevenson has not been as dominant as anticipated recently, however I feel a battle of this magnitude will deliver out the perfect in him.
Finals: Stevenson by cut up resolution. This can be a extremely contested bout between two of essentially the most proficient and well-known boxers of this technology. Each guys can be on their A-game, however Stevenson’s protection and pace would be the distinction in a razor-thin victory.
Brian’s Picks: Tank by knockout (KO) over Keyshawn. Though Tank’s final battle in opposition to Roach left a lot to be desired, I nonetheless see him successful this battle through late stoppage. Keyshawn’s measurement and repertoire lead him to success within the early rounds, however that success can be short-lived after being caught with a devasting KO blow from Tank within the later rounds. Stevenson defeats Lomachenko by resolution in a battle that I’d have predicted Lomachenko would win if this was a couple of years again.
Closing: Tank by TKO over Stevenson. That is one other clear FOTY candidate, and it lives as much as the hype. Tank struggles to hit Stevenson within the early rounds, however he finally cuts off the ring and finds his mark, stopping him late with a ferocious flurry.
#3 Junior Welterweight (140 Kilos) – There are a ton of characters with huge personalities at 140, some current unhealthy blood, and top-tier expertise that makes issues very attention-grabbing. Some may argue that the trash discuss on the press conferences and social media banter can be extra entertaining than among the fights themselves and we agree.
Semifinals
#1 Teófimó López (21-1, 13 KOs) vs #4 Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs)
# 2 Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) vs #3 Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs)
Justin’s Picks: López by UD. I don’t really feel that López is as huge of a puncher as we as soon as thought, particularly as he climbs the divisions, however he nonetheless has sufficient pop and explosiveness to get the job achieved. He must look ahead to Ryan Garcia’s left hook, however I feel he can outbox Ryan and beat him to the punch. Devin Haney by UD. Many fighters don’t bounce again after a punishing beat down like Haney suffered versus Garcia, however I feel Haney will study from it and be sharper within the ring transferring ahead. He’ll make the most of his jab and pace to neutralize Hitchins.
Closing: Haney by UD. I see Haney turning into a unified champion as soon as once more with a dominant efficiency over López. His pace and motion will frustrate López and lead him to an 8-4 sort efficiency.
Brian’s Picks: López by resolution. The build-up to the battle will acquire a lot curiosity, I’m certain, and hopefully, the motion contained in the ring matches that power. López will potshot from the surface and use his motion to remain away from Garcia’s lethal left hook, main him to a unanimous resolution. Hitchins upsets Haney by resolution. Two phrases: starvation and confidence. Hitchins can be hungry to show that he’s the person at 140, whereas we’ll see if Haney has regained his confidence after his dramatic loss to Garcia.
Closing: This battle would solely make sense to happen in NY – the power can be superb. López must take care of some huge pictures and fixed strain, however his expertise and forgotten energy safe him a 7-5 UD.
#4 Heavyweight – Boxing’s greatest – pun supposed – and most essential division is closing out a mini-golden period with the likes of Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs), Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), and Deontay Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) all previous their primes and both getting into retirement or on the verge of it which creates alternative for the following crop of heavyweights. The division boasts the #1 pound-for-pound king in Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) and some up-and-comers who’ve an opportunity to battle it out to resolve who would be the division’s high man sooner or later.
Semifinals
#1 Usyk vs #4 Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs)
# 2 Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) vs #3 Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs)
Justin’s Picks: Usyk by UD. Usyk will not be prime Usyk, nevertheless it’s nonetheless darn shut. His energy of schedule has been unbelievable, and he continues to amaze me with every efficiency. Kabayel has strong expertise, motor, and all the time involves battle, however the pound-for-pound king will come out victorious and accomplish that in a dominant vogue. Parker by cut up resolution. Parker and Dubois are two of essentially the most improved boxers for my part. I envision Dubois catching and dropping Parker throughout the first 4 rounds, then shedding steam, permitting Parker to make the most of his motion and jab to show the momentum and safe a detailed victory to turn out to be a world champion once more.
Closing: Usyk by UD. The one one who can beat Usyk is Father Time. I feel this can be his remaining battle, placing a stamp on an illustrious and ideal profession that may land him within the Boxing Corridor of Fame as a unanimous 1st poll choice. Parker can be sport, however the southpaw will use his angles and multi-level correct punching to maintain Parker at bay and behind on the playing cards over 12 rounds.
Brian’s Picks: Usyk by late stoppage. Kabayel regarded nice in opposition to Zhilel Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KOs), however sadly for him, Usyk will not be Zhang. The undisputed champion will show to be an excessive amount of for the rising heavyweight and finish this battle by TKO within the later rounds. Dubois by KO. Parker has regarded nice in his previous few fights, and this one will look the identical till it doesn’t. I see Parker being up on the playing cards early however getting caught across the seventh spherical and unable to beat the rely.
Closing: Dubois by TKO. On this rematch, I’m going with Dubois to cease Usyk late, handing him his first loss and claiming the undisputed heavyweight crown.
As soon as once more, our name is to the fighters and the choice makers to maintain the massive fights, aggressive playing cards, raucous arenas, multi-platform consumer experiences, high-quality productions coming. The followers and boxing neighborhood need you to “Make Boxing Nice Once more”.
Boxing deserves it. No turning again now.
Previous Articles:
https://www.boxingnews24.com/2017/09/hot-takes-procon-%E2percent97percent8F-procon-canelo-vs-golovkin-jones-bros-react/
https://www.boxingnews24.com/2021/01/pro-con-lopez-davis-garcia-and-haney-will-make-lightweight-boxings-glamour-division-in-2021-jones-bros-debate/
Social Media – @jusjones29
E-mail: Jusjones2112@yahoo.com, Jonesb3329@yahoo.com
That is an thrilling proposal for bringing extra pleasure to boxing! Right here’s a breakdown
Boxing Information 24 » It’s Match Time…4 Divisional Boxing Tournaments That Will “Make Boxing Nice Once more” – Bivol, Canelo, Tank & Extra
Final Up to date on 03/19/2025
