Ring in New Year classics
BELTERS FOR BRITS
SO 2017 has been a knockout year for boxing – but the next 12 months could be even more special.
Some big fights are already slated for 2018 with IBF and WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua set to fight WBO title holder Joseph Parker in March.
WBA super-middleweight king George Groves faces rival Chris Eubank Jnr in the World Boxing Super Series semi-final in February.
IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby will take on Leeds favourite Josh Warrington in May with the winner fighting Carl Frampton, if he beats Nonito Donaire in April.
There are sure to be big nights for WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders and IBF and WBA bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett, plus the possible return of Tyson Fury.
Starsport takes a look at five of the fights we want to see in 2018. 8EK?FEP AFJ?L8 m ;<FEK8P N@C;<I The unbeaten IBF and WBA champion from Britain against the big-hitting and loud-mouthed WBC champion from America – what’s not to like? Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says this one needs to build, but just get it on now and the winner can face Fury in 2019 if he is back fit and firing.
><EE8;P >FCFMB@E m J8LC Ê:8E<CFË 8CM8I<Q ) The first fight in September was spoiled by a dodgy scorecard in favour of Alvarez, which left it as an unsatisfying draw.
This classic looks close to being finalised for May 5 and we just need better judges this time. M8JPC CFD8:?<EBF
m AFI>< C@E8I<J Lomachenko announced himself as boxing’s pound-for-pound king with his six-round thrashing of Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Now the WBO super-featherweight champion may move up in weight again.
What better fight than the WBA lightweight champion Linares, who would give the Ukrainian the chance to prove himself as a modern great. 9@CCP AF< J8LE;<IJ
m ;8E@<C A8:F9J Saunders showed in his 12-round masterclass against David Lemieux last week that he is ready for the winner of the Golovkin and Alvarez rematch.
A clash with New Yorker Jacobs would be a cracking fight to have in between and could further enhance Saunders’ reputation in the USA.
B<@K? K?LID8E m <IIFC JG<E:< AEI Spence Jnr went from contender to champion with his spectacular win over Kell Brook in May. Now the IBF welterweight champion is ready to show he is the best in the division.
The only way to do that is by taking on WBA and WBC title holder Thurman, in what would be the fight to decide who is the real heir to Floyd Mayweather’s throne as the welterweight king.