Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Degale’s D-day against Eubank is a massive start to a great year for boxing
ITV’S return to boxing on a three-year deal is obviously positive for the sport and kicks off the New Year with a bang.
James Degale called it right when he described his February showdown with Chris Eubank Jnr as a retirement fight, at least as it applies to him.
Degale struggles to make the 12-stone limit, taking away his strength and vitality. It is going to be tough for him to alter the direction of travel we have witnessed in recent fights.
Mikey Garcia fighting Errol Spence is another cracker in March. Garcia has a great chin, is a terrific puncher, but Spence’s natural strength and size, not to mention his ability, will, I expect, be too much even for a warrior like him.
The welterweight scrap we are all waiting for is Spence v Terence Crawford. The economics of that fight look irresistible later in the year.
Let’s hope 2019 is also the year the heavyweight division finally shakes down to reveal who is the best.
Deontay Wilder showed his flaws and his strengths in the ‘draw’ with Tyson Fury. When they have done with each other in the rematch the door is open for the winner to face Anthony Joshua. From where I’m sitting AJ comes out on top.
But he is not the finished article by any means and there are plenty of takers for
Fury to emerge king of the crop.
Britain enters the new year with five world champions. I’m confident Josh Taylor will make it six when he meets IBF super lightweight champion
Ivan Baranchyk in the WBSS semi-finals. We are looking for big things too from Lee Mcgregor, who proved himself a world class kid with a record of five KOS in five fights at just 21. His 12th round KO of Thomas Essomba for the Commonwealth bantamweight crown last time out was top drawer. WBA/IBF lightweight champion Katie Taylor (inset, top) has her eye on unifying the division against WBO champ Rose Velante and WBC champ Delfine Persoon. Our own IBO champion Chantelle Cameron (inset, bottom) is chasing all three in any order. Hopefully she will get her wish this year.
IBF champion Josh Warrington is a now featherweight A-lister. I’d be looking at a unification fight with WBO champ Oscar Lopez next or WBA king Leo Santa Cruz.
I also expect to be hearing a lot more about two young Americans; the new Oscar De La Hoya, undefeated super featherweight Ryan Garcia, and big punching Teofimo Lopez at lightweight. Bring it on.