2018 promises to be the year of the heavyweights and that’s exactly where we begin as WBN rounds up the most mouth-watering fight for each of the seventeen weight classes.
Here are the seventeen fights for 2018:
HEAVYWEIGHT
Anthony Joshua v Deontay Wilder – The biggest top division contest featuring fighters on either side of the Atlantic and hopefully one that can be agreed for the summer of 2018 for all the belts.
CRUISERWEIGHT
Aleksandr Usyk v Murat Gassiev – On course to collide around May, Usyk v Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series finale would cement the winner as the best 200 pounder of all.
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT
Sergey Kovalev v Dmitry Bivol – Two of the biggest punchers in the division colliding in an all-Russian affair with two world titles on the line would be a spectacular and potentially short, explosive fight.
SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT
Chris Eubank Jr. v Billy Joe Saunders II – With middleweight star Billy Joe Saunders talking up a possible move north to fight for a world title at 168, a second collision with Eubank Jr. would be immense should his old rival be victorious in the current WBSS tournament by the spring.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Gennady Golovkin v Canelo Alvarez II – The most sought-after rematch in the whole of boxing right now and on course to go ahead on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas should negotiations be concluded soon.
SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT
Erislandy Lara v Jarrett Hurd – In a class struggling for high-profile contenders, number one Lara aiming for another championship to add to his pair would be high of the list ahead of Jermell Charlo or a UK battle between Amir Khan and Kell Brook at 154.
WELTERWEIGHT
Manny Pacquiao v Terence Crawford – A star of 2017, Crawford would be the ideal foil to see what the Filipino has left as he approaches 40.
SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT
Mikey Garcia v Terry Flanagan – The UK’s Flanagan has looked unstoppable at 135 but now he’s moved up, Garcia would be the acid test of his impressive undefeated record.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jorge Linares v Vasyl Lomachenko – Is 135 a step too far for the awesome Loma? Many believe it is, but trading blows with Linares – the current king of the division – would be a stunning match-up for the fans.
SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT
Francisco Vargas v Miguel Berchelt II – A rematch of their January meeting would be most welcome in the coming year.
FEATHERWEIGHT
Leo Santa Cruz v Abner Mares II – Much-talked about to be on the cards in 2018, Santa Cruz v Mares II is fast approaching three years in the making and should get over the line.
SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT
Guillermo Rigondeaux v Rey Vargas – Does the aging Rigo have anything to prove after his defeat to Lomachenko? Some would say yes on the back of the Ukrainian taking his new nickname ‘No Mas Chenko’ from their clash. The Cuban may even begin as a slight underdog against Vargas if they agreed to meet next year.
BANTAMWEIGHT
Ryan Burnett v Jamie McDonnell – Possibly the only fight out there which could stop McDonnell from moving up to 122 and one which would be a massive highlight for UK fans in 2018. Failing that, Burnett v Naoya Inoue has a nice ring to it.
SUPER-FLYWEIGHT
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai v Kal Yafai – As Inoue prepares to move up to 118, Rungvisai unifying against Briton Yafai would be a huge affair either in the US or UK.
FLYWEIGHT
Donnie Nietes v Juan Carlos Reveco – Both sides are believed to be on the cusp of an agreement for the fight which is currently the standout of the 112 weight-class.
LIGHT-FLYWEIGHT
Ryoichi Taguchi v Ken Shiro – Two of the best of the 108 division and a potential unification.
MINIMUMWEIGHT
Wanheng Menayothin v Knockout CP Freshmart – On the 2017 wishlist and here again unless Wanheng finally decides to take the plunge and move up after equalling Rocky Marciano on 49-0 this year.
