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http://www.boxingfancast.com/2012/01...in-2012-part-1

Top Ten Fights To Look Out For in 2012 (Part 1)

Ahead of the first fights of the New Year, BoxingFancast runs through its wish list of fights for 2012 and the chances of each big bout coming to fruition. (Part 1 of 2).

10) Tyson Fury Vs David Price

For better or worse, Tyson Fury is fast becoming the general public’s blue eyed boy of boxing after a three fight showing on Channel 5 that has really improved the profile of the Manchester born heavyweight.

With promoter Mick Hennessy openly talking about a tilt at a world title in the next 18 months, the onus on Fury is to improve his physical conditioning and display evidence that his chin could stand up to jabs of the classier men in the division.

A fight against former Olympic bronze medalist, David Price, could be just the ticket for Fury to tick both those boxes. Price is fitter than his flamboyant rival and has shown no little power in cruising through 11 professional assignments to date. A win over old Fury foe, John McDermott should be a formality before the big domestic clash is delivered in May or June.

Likelihood rating: 8/10

9) George Groves Vs Sakio Bika

How do you solve a problem like George Groves? Since providing one of the shocks of 2011 in defeating James DeGale, Groves sat on his hands a little, allowing his former amateur rival a first shot at a European title before “Saint” George returned to the ring to dispatch Paul Smith inside two rounds at Wembley Arena in November.

Make no bones about it, the unblemished record of the two time ABA champion is something that DeGale would happily swap his European title for, however, he needs to kick on in 2012 to establish himself amongst the next wave of world class super middleweights on the horizon.

To that end, you could select any number of second tier operators in this divison for Groves to engage this year. Super Six whipping boy, Allan Green, might be a safe option else a meeting with former IBO champion Sakio Bika, may be an interesting assignment.

At 23, however, there is no rush for Groves. He will want to avoid facing a DeGale rematch this year, and despite pressure from new promoter Frank Warren, I would back him being able to delay a return fight until 2013.

Likelihood rating: 5/10

8 ) Manny Pacquiao Vs Juan Manuel Marquez

In any other year, this fight would be an absolute certainty. Juan Manuel Marquez has entered the ring on three previous occasions with the eight weight world champion only to feel let down by poor judging on each occasion. His complaints have a varying level of merit depending on the fight, however his November 2o11 meeting with the Filipino certainly had the feeling of an incredibly poor decision.

Pacquiao has taken a lot on in the last two years, both in and out of the ring, and for my money 2012 could be the final full year of his career. With political obligations pulling him one way and the constant battle to secure a meeting with Floyd Mayweather Jr dragging him in another, it may not be to much of stretch to suggest that Marquez could be the one to lose out.

The only saving grace for the Mexican could be Mayweather’s upcoming 90 day prison term that looks set to scupper hopes of a 5 May date for Pacquiao.

Likelihood rating: 5/10

7) Martin Murray Vs Darren Barker

With toppling Felix Sturm at home proving impossible for both Martin Murray and Matthew Macklin during 2010, there may well be clamour early in the New Year for a domestic middleweight elimination mega fight. Murray, who remains undefeated after his draw with Sturm in December, and Darren Barker, a man defeated for the first time by Sergio Martinez in October, will be looking to regain confidence ahead of further world title attempts ahead.

Murray may be more likely to secure rematch with the slippery Sturm, however with Macklin looking at a St Patrick’s Day showdown with Martinez, both men may look to wait for the outcome of that before making their next move.

Likelihood rating; 4/10

6) James DeGale Vs Andre Dirrell

Andre Dirrell formed part of the George Groves training camp in the run up to his meeting with DeGale last spring and as the American looks to reboot his own career after nearly two years out of the ring, who better to face than the current European champion?

DeGale has made no secret of his desire to make 2012 the year of his first world title and in a highly compact super-middleweight division, the former Olympic gold medalist must start the year with a bang and a big name target if his prophecy surrounding world glory is to come true.

For the American, however, a fight of this nature may come too soon into his comeback- defeat may leave the former Super Six contender with few options.

Likelihood rating: 5/10

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sport...-khan-and-more

Ahead of the first fights of the New Year, BoxingFancast runs through its wish list of fights for 2012 and the chances of each big bout coming to fruition. (Part 2 of 2).

5) David Haye Vs Vitali Klitschko

Say what you will about David Haye in the wake of his disappointing defeat to Wladimir Klitschko last July, but the brash Brit remains the most marketable prospect in the heavyweight division and a cash cow that the other Klitschko brother, Vitali, will want to take full advantage of.

As with Haye’s fight with Wladimir last year, Britain’s Dereck Chisora stands in the way of an immediate deal being struck, however Vitali will see that as no more than a warm up before the final major fight of his career. At 40, Haye will back his chances of toppling the elder Klitschko despite being out of the ring for a year by the time the first bell rings.

Likelihood rating; 8/10

4) Carl Froch Vs Mikkel Kessler

After two and a half years of must win bouts, Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch may find themselves in another one before the end of 2012. Froch must prove that his defeat to Andre Ward is not symptomatic of a decline at the highest level and Kessler needs to demonstrate that he is fully healed from the career threatening eye injury that scuppered his participation in the latter stages of the Super Six.

A UK based rematch of their 2010 slugfest would appear the most logical step although Froch’s frosty relationship with the Sauerland promotional team that controls the Danish former champion could put a spanner in the works.

Likelihood rating: 7/10

3) Andre Ward Vs Lucian Bute

Arguably the most unlikely fight on this list. Not because either man does not want the fight- two unbeaten world champions facing off is always attractive- but arguments on location could be a sticking point with both men loathe to fight away from home.

Ward has the WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine belts at this weight and may feel that he doesn’t need Bute’s IBF strap to validate his claim as top dog in the super middleweight division. If the fight is to be made, I would wager a Vegas showdown towards the back end of the year after each man has secured one further defence each.

Likelihood rating; 5/10

2) Amir Khan Vs Lamont Peterson

A fight certain to be made in 2012, all that remains to be resolved is whether Lamont Peterson enters the ring as unified light-welterweight champion of the world or if Khan’s controversial defeat in Washington during December will be overturned.

Either way, Khan will come at this rematch with much to prove. A second defeat in just over three years is not in the least bit terminal for his long term prospects, however, should the British fighter want a superfight against Floyd Mayweather in the next 18 months, he will need to beat Peterson handily. The concern for domestic fans will be that this fight may scupper hopes of a Khan meeting with undefeated Kell Brook in 2012. However, should both men avoid defeat before the autumn I would suggest a fight between the pair could be made in November or December.

Likelihood rating: 10/10

1) Manny Pacquiao Vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.

I came pretty close to leaving this fight off the 2012 list because, ultimately, what else is there to say? For the best part of three years, this has been the fight sports fans the world over have wanted to see yet all have been left disappointed. I had hoped to see this in early 2010, however Pacquiao elected to chase titles and money in a nonsense fight against Joshua Clottey and Mayweather made his annual appearance against a shopworn Sugar Shane Mosley.

The concern for both men as we enter 2012 is that, in a similar scenario facing Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson before their match up ten years ago, that time has moved on too long to benefit either man’s resume. In Pacquiao’s case, any win over Mayweather would be monumental, but for the American, with his Filipino rival showing slight signs of decline, boxing historians may bemoan a reluctance to make this match up two years ago.

Mayweather now appears more keen than ever to sign on the dotted line, however with an impending 90 day prison sentence, the chances of the fight happening before the summer are next to nil.

If the fight is to happen and remain relevant, 2012 will have to be the year. Even with the complications provided by Mayweather’s legal problems and drug test demands, there exists enough hope that all relevant sides finally want this fight to happen.

Likelihood rating: 6/10

What are your views about these potential fights and who do you think will be the big stars of 2012.