On April 22, Tank Davis-Ryan Garcia sent a memo out to the fans, the promoters, the networks and anyone else who cared to look at their exceptional pay-per-view numbers and gate receipts that demonstrated what happens when the best fights the best.
While there are plenty of big nights left for the sport this year, with Devin Haney-Vasyl Lomachenko, Katie Taylor-Chantelle Cameron and Naoya Inoue-Stephen Fulton already in the diary, here are 10 fights that would allow boxing to capitalise on the momentum created by Tank-Garcia.
Sadly, with promotional rows, broadcaster issues, inflated egos and senses of entitlement, we might not get them and we could wind up with a slew of meaningless mandatories, cringeworthy keep-busy fights and tasteless tune-ups, but we can only hope that some follow the Tank-Garcia April 22 template and do their bit to help boxing return to something resembling its glory days.
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1. Errol Spence-Terence Crawford
Time is running out for this one, although a rumoured July date last week allows us to have some home. As a fight, it’s already probably not what it would have been two or three years ago, but both Brand Crawford and Brand Spence have probably built to a level that makes 2023 arguably the peak time to strike commercially. Sadly, they should have already had a trilogy.
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2. Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua
The biggest fight that could be made in the UK would probably happen in Saudi Arabia, such is the price politically-minded sports fans are prepared to pay for it. That said, it might not happen at all. The two camps have unsuccessfully negotiated on at least two occasions before, and we certainly don’t appear any closer to it happening this year.
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3. Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk
We thought we had it coming in April, but those who watch boxing through a more cynical lens always doubted that the hugely-attractive heavyweight unification fight for all of the belts would actually happen. Sure enough, negotiations carried on with both parties seemingly prepared to give ground but ultimately both sides walked away from the deal.
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4. Naoya Inoue-Vasyl Lomachenko
With no disrespect to Devin Haney or Stephen Fulton, who face Lomachenko and Inoue later this year, it would be incredible to see what Inoue looked like operating inside boxing’s matrix, with one of the most ferocious hitting fighters in the lighter weights going in against the experienced, thoughtful and intelligent Loma.
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5. Tank Davis-Shakur Stevenson
The lightweight conveyor belt hopefully won’t stop for anyone and Stevenson immediately put himself on Tank’s radar, calling Davis out after the Garcia win, and that fight would be a dream for boxing fans and near the top of any list of must-have bouts at 135 with the incredibly deep talent pool the division boasts. Stevenson accepts he’s the B side for now, but let’s see how the kings of Baltimore and Newark can communicate at the negotiating table.
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6. Artur Beterbiev-Dmitriy Bivol
Clearly the No. 1 and No. 2 at 175, these two light-heavyweights are known for different things. Bivol masterfully outboxed Canelo Alvarez, while Beterbiev has relentlessly ground down any number of ranked contenders. This is probably the best year for these two to meet in the ring, but it’s unlikely as Canelo wants Bivol again, meaning Beterbiev will have to wait on the backburner and keep busy against someone else.
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7. Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano II
We saw this one already, and it didn’t disappoint. We were supposed to get it again but Serrano got injured and Chantelle Cameron got the call to face Katie later this month but Taylor-Serrano in New York left such incredible memories that no one who saw it the first time would not want to see it again. And the sooner the better.
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8. Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez
Canelo wants to fight Bivol, and at 175, so this looks unlikely. But Benavidez is a big, strong, powerful super-middleweight, coming off the biggest win of his career, and it makes sense in many respects, even though Canelo has historically talked down Benavidez as an opponent and reportedly turned down a PBC offer to face Benavidez last year.
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9. Anthony Joshua-Deontay Wilder
There is glitz and glamour in the heavyweight division, but this would pit two of the biggest names and biggest punchers against one another. Again, this has been discussed ad nauseum for years, with Wilder, Haymon and PBC and Hearn and Matchroom negotiating for Joshua, and as a sporting contest it might be past its best, as Joshua looked a much more reluctant fighter in his recent contest with Jermain Franklin than when he crashed his way to victory over Wladimir Klitschko several years ago.
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10. Devin Haney-Tank Davis
There is a whole lot of talent at lightweight and this would see two of the very best meeting for the right to call themselves the top dog at the weight. Haney needs to come through Lomachenko first, but if he does, and if he impresses, Tank-Haney will be one of the hottest boxing tickets in any town.
Five more we would also like to see
David Benavidez-David Morrell
Regis Prograis-Devin Haney
Boots Ennis-Virgil Ortiz
Savannah Marshall-Christina Hammer
Natasha Jonas-Teri Harper II
