List of fights we would like to see in 2022
The anticipated undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would have fit the bill last year; a world super fight planned for August 14 in Saudi Arabia. But the referee presiding over the Fury-Deontay Wilder feud got in the way and instead, fans were treated to an instant classic in the battle that completed the trilogy between Fury and Wilder.
Boxing, as expected, failed to deliver many of the obvious matchups that would lead to a place of prominence. Sure, we saw Canelo Alvarez claim all four major super middleweight titles in bouts against Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant in two very entertaining fights. But another year passed without a third bout between Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin, the biggest commercially appealing fight that remains on the table for boxing’s top star.
Oleksandr Usyk-Joshua and Fury-Wilder 3 were big 2021 fights, and Usyk and Joshua will meet again in 2022, but the upshot of it all is that we still don’t have an undisputed champion at heavyweight. On the plus side, we might finally be getting closer to the long-awaited welterweight title fight between champions Errol Spence Jr. and Terrence Crawford, as Crawford’s contract with Top Rank expires.
And there’s hope that we’ll finally see several of the stellar stars, in a lightweight division loaded with talent, square off against each other, instead of simply trading insults on social media.
Boxing has another chance in 2022 to right past wrongs by coming together and giving fans the matchups they deserve. Here are seven fights, with a real chance of materializing, that I would like to see this year:
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Midway through the first Usyk-Joshua fight in September, it became clear that AJ-Fury was no longer the main fight in boxing. Usyk not only dominated Joshua-he appeared to be on the verge of knocking him out in the twelfth round.
When Fury sent Wilder to the canvas for good in the 11th round in October, the stage was set to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion in 2022, even if it wasn’t the fight that was scheduled.
Still, hurdles remained. Fury was ordered to defend his WBC title against Dillian Whyte in the spring, and Usyk owes Joshua a rematch. If both Fury and Usyk win, as expected, the deal shouldn’t be too difficult to put together.
Fury has one fight left on his deal with Top Rank. Usyk will be a promotional free agent. There’s always the possibility of kick-out deals for Joshua and Whyte as well, which would allow Fury-Usyk to happen in the spring.
In addition to what an undisputed heavyweight title means, this fight would be spectacular considering the type of star Fury has become. It’s also a fascinating fight in the ring. Fury will be the favorite, for good reason, but Usyk has shown that the incredible footwork and boxing skills that carried him to cruiserweight supremacy also make him an elite heavyweight.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin 3
Enough is enough. It’s time to settle this once and for all. Naysayers will say that Golovkin will be 40 in April and has seen his best days pass him by. Similar things were said about Juan Manuel Marquez before his third fight against Manny Pacquiao and it was a great fight. Then they fought for the fourth time, and JMM knocked Pacquiao out.
Through 24 rounds between Alvarez and GGG – a controversial split draw and a majority decision for Alvarez – it can be argued that Golovkin won more rounds. Alvarez would come out as the clear favorite for a third bout, especially in a 168-pound fight, but it’s possible that Golovkin simply has the right style to make it difficult for Alvarez.
Regardless of how you feel about competitiveness, this is probably the biggest purse fight on this list. Their two previous fights each generated over a million PPV buys and box office in excess of $20 million. Alvarez has yet to have a convincing win over Golovkin, so his legacy would also be a factor to consider.
With Golovkin’s age, it’s now or never.
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford
We enter the theater of the absurd when contemplating the possibility of this matchup; a fight that could have – and should have – taken place years ago. Luckily, this fight not only remains relevant: it is perhaps bigger than ever before.
The likelihood of it happening is also greater. Boxing politics were always its biggest impediment, with Spence aligned with PBC and Crawford with Top Rank, but now ‘Bud’ is a promotional free agent and that should no longer be an obstacle.
Another impediment ruled out: the possibility of either of them winning the Manny Pacquiao lottery. With the retirement of one of the all-time greats, there is less chance of winning a big purse at 147 pounds.
Spence is back on the comeback trail after surgery for a detached retina. He is completing a deal to face Yordenis Ugas in the spring and the winner will walk away with three welterweight championship belts.
Crawford, who holds the fourth, is coming off the best performance of his career, a ten round KOT over Shawn Porter.
There is hope that Crawford and Spence will finally share a ring later in the year before this showdown loses luster.
Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder
This is a fight that has been talked about for years and even though there is no full weight title on the line, it would be an impossible TV event to ignore. Two big punchers, two of the top names in boxing and both looking to regain their place among the top ranks.
The stakes would be high. After their respective defeats in 2021, any further setback would weaken the loser’s chance of another title shot. Desperation is in the air, and it would be a shrapnel exchange.
Can Joshua regain confidence in his jaw, against boxing’s fiercest puncher? How much will Wilder have left after absorbing two KO losses to Fury, including an 11th round knockout in the third fight?
Let’s hope we get answers while this matchup is viable.
George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney
Kambosos takes the driver’s seat in boxing’s most popular division after his shocking win over Teofimo Lopez in November. With so many contenders vying to fight for the undisputed lightweight championship, there are a number of tempting fights that include Kambosos, but one with Haney is the most appealing.
Haney, of course, has insisted that Kambosos is not quite undisputed, as Haney is listed as the WBC 135-pound champion, unlike Kambosos’ WBC ‘franchise’ belt formerly held by Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko, which has thrown the ‘undisputed’ tag into chaos. That provides an added level of intrigue to the fight. And Haney has also earned a shot at Kambosos, with an outstanding 2021 that featured wins over Jorge Linares and Joseph Diaz Jr.
Was Kambosos’ performance against Lopez a fluke? Haney is certainly good enough to tell us what caliber of fighter Kambosos really is, and the American said he is willing to travel to Kambosos’ home country of Australia for the fight.
Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis
This fight would have incredible appeal to youngsters who would be more interested in seeing Jake Paul than Canelo Alvarez.
Both Garcia and Davis have immense social media followings, particularly Garcia with over 8 million on Instagram. Both have devastating punching power and there is reason to believe that this bout could actually happen.
After all, Garcia and ‘Tank’ Davis were in negotiations in early 2021 before ‘King Ry’ sought a bout with Pacquiao that never materialized. By the time he returned to the option of a fight against Davis, Davis had already moved on to Mario Barrios.
After Davis faced difficulties against Isaac Cruz in December, Garcia quickly criticized Davis and claimed the fight. Now, with Garcia now recovered from wrist surgery, the fight makes a lot of sense. It’s easy to forget because it happened a year ago but Garcia’s most recent fight was an impressive KOT win over Luke Campbell.
Golden Boy, Garcia’s promoter, might want to measure Garcia against a more comfortable opponent sooner, but after that, it’s time to take him on Davis before he loses his appeal.
David Benavidez vs. Jermall Charlo
It’s hard to object to this matchup at super middleweight. The exchange of insults and garbage between the two has reached a level of absurdity (Charlo said he wouldn’t face Benavidez until he’s 25 and has had his Covid-19 shot) and it’s usually been Benavidez who has pushed the fight the most.
Charlo is undefeated at 160 pounds but has rarely been tested. He’s big, even for the middleweight division after winning his first crown at 154 and has indicated interest in capturing a crown in a third weight division.
Benavidez, meanwhile, has been tested even less. Twice he has been stripped of a title at 168 pounds for problems making weight and a positive for cocaine, but he is a delight to watch fight. He throws punches by volume and doesn’t back down. He’s scheduled to face David Lemieux in the spring, but after that a bout with Charlo would be most welcome.
