Future looks Wilder as AJ rules the ring

JOSEPH PARKER looks set to get in the ring with Anthony Joshua in March or April. One way or another Joshua looks like being at the centre of things in 2018.

And that is a good thing for boxing. When the heavyweight division is setting the agenda the sport is in rude health.

Unification is the way to go for the WBA/IBF king (below). After WBO champion Parker (above, right), WBC champ Deontay Wilder awaits in what could easily be a record-breaking fight in terms of cash.

Tyson Fury will be watching in the wings telling everybody he is the best, which, from a technical point of view, might just be true and should he get a chance to prove that it will further boost the sport’s visibility.

Unbeaten prospect Daniel Dubois is making a deal of noise but if any heavyweight is to break though next year I’m backing my man Martin Bakole, who is as naturally gifted as they come.

The welterweight and middleweight divisions also look red hot.

Terence Crawford, ESPN’s fighter of the year, steps up from super-lightweight to a division packed with stellar talent in the shape of Errol Spence and Keith Thurman.

As much as I love Crawford at superlightweight I’m not sure he thrives against Thurman, returning after an elbow injury, or Spence, who appear destined to meet each other.

At middleweight we await news of the Gennady Golovkin/Saul Alvarez re-match, with Billy Joe Saunders ready to challenge the winner after his stunning WBO title defence against David Lemieux.

Saunders defused the punching threat of Lemieux with his clever movement. But Golovkin and Alvarez don’t miss with the big shots like Lemieux did.

Though Saunders has earned his shot at the big show the biggest threat to the ruling middleweight class could be the dangerous Jermall Charlo who has moved up from 154 to 160lbs.

On a personal note I’m confident Josh Taylor will be crowned super lightweight world champion, Lee McGregor will fight for a significant title at bantamweight and Chantelle Cameron will chase down a lightweight unification bout.

So it’s all to play for in an action-packed 2018. Happy New Year.