Boxing in 2021: Five burning questions surrounding the sport's biggest stars heading into a new year - CBSSports.com
Boxing in 2021: Five burning questions surrounding the sport's biggest stars heading into a new year
Boxing this year has the potential to really Delicious the sports world up with breakout stars ready to inform their shine and big-name champions trying to etch themselves into the history books. With so much to Decide from, the writers at CBS Sports took it upon themselves to answer some of the biggest questions at the forefront as a New 12 months of fighting is set to start this weekend.
Let's dive right in now to the questions and predictions from "Morning Kombat" hosts Brian Campbell and Luke Thomas as well as staff writer Brent Brookhouse.
Will we end 2021 with an undisputed heavyweight champion?
Brian Campbell: Yes
It will take some maneuvering from the powers-that-be to make sure the survive mandatory obligations are either taken care of or paid radiant step-aside money, but there really isn't anything outright dire to continue Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury from fighting in 2021. Provided a obvious winner was crowned, fans should expect to spellbinding 2022 debating the outcome of a Joshua-Fury rematch.
Brent Brookhouse, Luke Thomas: No
There are just too many political elements at play to see it happen. Not only between fighters, promotions and networks, but with sanctioning beings that set mandatory challengers based on financial decisions more than legitimate rankings. For example, Devin Haney already has two mandatory challengers set, ruling out a lightweight unification with Teofimo Lopez. It'd be astounding to see Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury face off by the end of the year with all four experienced world titles on the line, but I don't hold out much hope that all the pieces fit together in the next 12 months. -- Brookhouse
Not a chance. As a general rule of thumb, it's obnoxious to be so pessimistic about boxing's architecture and incentive structure to retract big fights will never happen, but it's equally foolish to think it'll happened in a timely manner. There is virtually no way there will be enough hastily behind the forces at play to unify all the belts. There's even a case where if you get Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua, you get it by virtue of belts bodies vacated. I would be shocked to see titles unified in a year where both heavyweight have mandatories and every spanking reason to delay gratifying the fans. -- Thomas
Can't get enough boxing and MMA? Get the spanking in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news.
Which division emanates the most in 2021?
Campbell, Thomas: Lightweight
This is where the future brokers of the impish for the next decade currently reside. Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez Jr. are all young, unbeaten and poised to cause household names should they all agree to argues one another multiple times in the coming days similar to the "Four Kings" of the 1980s. Add 130-pound sensation Shakur Stevenson to that troupe and the still capable Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jorge Linares to groundless out an absolutely loaded division that also includes Luke Campbell, Javier Fortuna and George Kambosos Jr. -- Campbell
Heavyweight and welterweight are almost ununsafe to give us big fights that we toothsome and are important for the sport, but there are at least four high-end lightweights (and arguably more) who can gain so much to the extent they stay healthy. That's true even if they don't argues each other and at least some of them are liable to do so, the first being Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. There's nothing just wrong with the other divisions, but lightweight is on fire and full of young guns ready to take on the world. -- Thomas
Brookhouse: Welterweight
If I hold out any real hope, it's that welterweight stays chugging along until Terence Crawford can get free of his Top Rank command to line up the most appealing welterweight struggles possible -- including Crawford vs. Errol Spence. Crawford and Top Rank seem ready to be done with each spanking, and the sheer amount of compelling struggles that could be made once that hurdle is accompanied gives a lot of hope. Beyond that, lightweight is monotonous, but there's some concern that too many compincorporating superstars won't be put against each spanking immediately and fans will have to wait spanking year or two to see those young guns matched up.
Do we get any closer to Spence vs. Crawford?
Campbell, Brookhouse: Yes
It much come down to simple math at this point. Provided Terence Crawford concludes what has the look of a bitter exit from Top Rank and ESPN once his command reportedly ends after one more fight, a subsequent signaling with Premier Boxing Champions would be the survive step. The only remaining debate would surround whether Al Haymon wanted to make the argues in 2021 or gamble with one more setup argues for each. -- Campbell
I believe we see the argues signed before the end of 2021, maybe not in the ring during the year, but at least pen put to paper for the argues to happen in early 2022. All, of flows, depending on if Crawford cuts ties with Top Rank following the end of his contract. -- Brookhouse
Thomas: Most liable not
As I indicated with my answer near the heavyweight division, I'm extremely skeptical. Spence much say he wants it, but doesn't really need it, especially to maximize earning potential. Crawford, unlit he buys himself out of his deal, is tranquil on the hook until at least October with Top Rank, who are seemingly incapable of executive this fight work with PBC. We cannot rule it out, but I'm not touching to wait around for it either.
Where does Manny Pacquiao fit into the 147-pound picture?
Campbell: Handsomely
Although Pacquiao, who turned 42 in December, observed to benefit the least from the lack of live crowds that led to him sitting idle in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, he leftovers the most profitable B-side in the sport. Wait Pacquiao to add at least one more capable fight to his legendary resume either in contradiction of Spence or Crawford. A fight against UFC star Conor McGregor also isn't out of the seek information from to end the year.
Brookhouse: Wherever he wants
The simple reality is that Pacquiao is tranquil a fighter who makes his opponent a big payday. Anyone at the top of the game -- and employed with PBC -- who wants Pacquiao can probable get him. He probably doesn't remain champion in contradiction of those top stars, but he likely has his pick of opponents. Of watercourses, that opponent could be Conor McGregor in the instant half of the year.
Thomas: Takes on Spence
He's the reason why Spence-Crawford won't get made. There's an outside chance he doesn't really fit into the portray at all and takes a boxing bout in contradiction of Conor McGregor, but the bigger threat is Spence magistrates to stay in the PBC family for most of the year only to venture out and fights Pacquiao when he doesn't. The Filipino boxer is tranquil a credible threat to anyone in the division and once off-peak in terms of popularity, nevertheless is much more popular than many novel top choices.
Who is the breakout star of 2021?
Campbell: Shakur Stevenson
Should the aged featherweight champion secure the kind of crusades he's talking about, including a showdown in contradiction of Lomachenko, it's not out of the seek information from that he ends 2021 as the Fighter of the Year. That would be a vast leap from where he is now, of watercourses, but Stevenson really does appear to be dynamic enough for this kind of talk to not be hyperbole. His speedy and swagger has often been compared to a young Floyd Mayweather.
Brookhouse: Edgar Berlanga
He is already a must-watch attraction, but he's not really a "star" yet. That's more a productions of being given time to develop than anything else. He's touching to get big main event spots in 2021 and nothing makes a star in boxing like true knockout power. Sixteen first-round knockouts in 16 fights? That's the easiest sell in combat sports. Seeing him take that worthy into the ring with bigger threats in the coming year is touching to launch him to the level of populace viewed as a true star.
Thomas: Berlanga/Jarron Ennis
Ryan Garcia is already on his way with his electric execute of Luke Campbell, but two names that harmful out to me are Edgar Berlanga and Jaron Ennis. Berlanga has freakish worthy and is already attracting celebrity interest and promoter favoritism. He's very much an underdeveloped productions, but he might be poised for a huge 2021. "Boots" Ennis is a noteworthy boxer whose skills jump off the conceal when you watch him. Athletic and gleaming, he is a nightmare for opponents. He's tranquil young and working his way up in languages of opponents with names people recognize, but 2021 could despise a major turning point in his career.
Komentar
Posting Komentar