DREAM FIGHTS FOR 2009
By Ryan Burton

As 2008, a  terrific year for boxing, wraps up, let’s look ahead to 2009.  Here are ten fights in no particular order that I would call must-see TV.  Although I picked the fights that I considered great for the fans, the probability of the fights having a realistic chance of happening was also considered.


1. Antonio Margarito-Paul Williams II...  Margarito vs Cotto II should be an action packed fight, but this one could be better.  In their first fight, Margarito had one of his typical slow starts and Williams pitty-patted him with soft punches, although at a remarkable work rate.  Margarito came on late in that fight but not soon enough to win the decision.  Since then, Margarito’s stock has soared with his wins over Kermit Cintron and Cotto. If he can beat Sugar Shane Mosely in January and win a rematch with Cotto (neither one is a small task) then a Williams rematch would be a true gem of a matchup.  Since beating Margarito, Williams was upset by Quintana but came back with a vengeance by knocking Quintana out in the first round in their rematch.  He then went up to 160 and destroyed Andy Kolle in a first-round TKO.  In his fourth  fight of 2008, he went down to 154 and overcame a nasty cut from an early headbutt to score a TKO against tough Verno Phillips.  Hopefully Williams will be fighting Winky Wright in their rumored upcoming bout in April which will only heighten demand for this possible showdown with Margarito towards the end of the year.

2. Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao...  After Ricky’s demolition of Paul Malignaggi and Manny’s destruction of Oscar De La Hoya, this fight is sure to be all action.  Ricky seems to be reborn under trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.’s tutelage and PacMan is at the peak of his career.  This fight will almost certainly hapen in May and if Manny wins, it may lead to the real dream match.  A win for Ricky would shoot him back in the pound for pound top 5 and may get him the rematch with Floyd he so desperately desires.  With Manny’s stock already through the roof what would happen if he beat the 140 lb champ? Well hopefully it would lead to the next fight on my list. [It has been reported that Hatton-Pacquiao will indeed happen on May 2nd]

3. Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr...  If Manny defeats Ricky then this would be the marquee fight of the year.  It would be nice to see this fight at 140 but with Floyd holding most of the negotiating power, it would likely be at the welterweight limit of 147.  Manny’s victory over De La Hoya was a lot more dominant than Floyd’s but De La Hoya was a year and a half older and noticeably slower.  Lets get these two guys in the ring and see the current pound for pound champ versus the former pound for pound champ.  Speed versus Speed.  Offensive aggression versus stifling defense.  Insert what ever superlative you want.  This truly would be the Dream Match and really is the only fight that Floyd could come back for.  He destroyed Hatton in their first match and their really isn’t any reason to believe a second fight would be much different. How does the first week in November sound for this one?

4. Joe Calzaghe-Jermain Taylor...  I want to see Taylor get one or two more tuneups at 168 and then challenge Joe in a big event.  If Taylor can get a victory over Carl Froch or Lucian Bute then maybe this fight can happen in the second half of the year.  Taylor looked good beating Jeff Lacy but needs another fight or two at this weight before being ready for Joe.  Calzaghe has beaten two legends this year [Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones] but hasn’t beaten a top fighter in his prime on U.S. soil [The Lacy fight was abroad].  Joe should come back one more time for this fight and if he beats the younger man in his prime, he will have answered his critics.

5. Juan Manuel Lopez against anyone half way decent...  Seriously, lets get this 122-pound prospect in the ring with Celestine Caballero.  Lopez destroyed Ponce De Leon and has been ripping through suspect competition.  Caballero is coming off his big win over Steve Molitor to unify two titles.  Will Lopez's speed and power overcome Caballero's height and reach advantage? Then the winner can fight the winner of the next fight...

6. Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez IV.  Another 122-pound classic. Its been a long time since the public has seen or demanded a fourth fight between two prizefighters.  Hopefully Vazquez recovers from his eye surgery soon.  A fourth fight would be sure to be an instant classic just like the first three installments.  If Marquez gets the win then a fifth and final rubber match might be needed.  If Vazquez wins again then he should fight the ring with the Lopez/Caballero winner. 

7. Kelly Pavlik-Arthur Abraham...  Pavlik needs to stay at 160 where he has been dominant.  He has spoken about wanting to unify the division and this would be his chance.  Abraham destroyed his opposition in three fights in 2008. If Pavlik, the linear world champion, defeats Abraham, the undefeated IBF title holder, then he will be the indisputable king at 160 and will rise back up to the superstar status he had before being humbled by Bernard Hopkins. Since that loss, most boxing experts have said that King Arthur is the best at middleweight. Let them settle it in the ring.

8. Chad Dawson-Bernard Hopkins...  Bad Chad just keeps rising up the charts with wins like his last one against Antonio Tarver.  B-Hop turned back the hands of time in his win over Pavlik and deserves another fight.  Bad Chad may not provide the money that Hopkins wants but it would be an exciting fight.  Can B-Hop tame another young warrior or does Dawson beat another hall of famer and build a bigger case to fight Joe Calzaghe?   B-Hop’s fights aren’t usually crowd pleasing with his defensive style but I think Dawson has the offense to make this a great fight. 

9. Ricky Hatton-Juan Manuel Marquez...  Hatton said that at this stage of his career he only wants big fights.  While Marquez doesn’t have quite the marquee name of a Pacquiao or Mayweather, it would still be a huge Mexican vs. English event that could sell a ton of tickets in Las Vegas.  Let's see Marquez move up to 140 and take on Ricky after Ricky fights Pacquiao.  If Hatton loses to Pacquiao, then this fight has a greater chance to happen.  If Hatton beats Pacquiao we are probably looking at Hatton-Mayweather II.  If Marquez wins then at some point, Pacquiao will have to give him a third fight, probably at 140 lbs this time.

10. Tomasz Adamek-Steve Cunningham II...  While they aren’t household names, they put on one of the three top fights in 2008.  Will Cunningham clean up his sloppiness that lead to being knocked down three times?  While Cunningham can’t gain any more power and likely won’t be able to knock Adamek out, if he sticks to a sound gameplan he could outbox Adamek and win a decision.  Adamek now knows that Cunningham doesn’t have the power to hurt him so he can take more chances in a effort to get into Cunningham and knock him out.  Their first fight was Versus best fight of 2008 and easily the best fight on free TV.  If Cunningham wins the second fight then we may have another classic trilogy on our hands.

10.5 Felix Trinidad-Oscar De la Hoya II... That’s my top ten list.  There are a lot of other fights I would like to see but I chose ten that sounded like must see TV.  One fighter I don not want to see back in the ring is Oscar De La Hoya.  Oscar had a great career but should hang it up and concentrate on promoting.  If Oscar must come back then lets see a rematch with Felix Trinidad at, say a catchweight of 157.  It would give both men a chance to save a little face (especially Oscar with the way he lost to Pacquaio).  There should be some clause in the contract stating that this has to be both men’s last fight as neither should take anymore punishment to their body and brains at this stage of their lives.  The fight would be great in Las Vegas or New York City yet winnable for both fighters.  This isn’t truly must-see TV, but it is a chance for the public to say goodbye to both of these legends.  One last time to see them and their fading skills go at it for legacy and their pride.  This matchup of past-their-prime fighters will still sell many pay-per-view buys.  Unfortunately, why do I have a feeling the winner and possibly the loser will not retire?