Just as the Super Six tournament at super middleweight is falling apart, an unofficial matchup between the six best at junior welterweight has taken form. This past Friday, undefeated WBO light welterweight champion Tim Bradley signed to fight undefeated WBC & IBF champion Devon Alexander, finally making official a highly-anticipated clash between the two slick boxers. The fight will take place January 29th, but Alexander's IBF belt will not be on the line as the IBF will strip Alexander of the title for not facing his mandatory defense within the required time. This marks the third matchup slated between two of the top six fighters in the 140 lb division.
On November 6th, veteran Zab Judah takes on undefeated Argentinian prospect Lucas Matthysse. Matthysse has a stellar 90% knockout ratio, but aside from his match against Vivian Harris early this year, all of his fights have taken place in his hometown of Argentina. It's a great matchup between an old dog and the new kid on the block. Judah will be looking to prove he's still elite at the 140 lb division after a long career of highs and lows. Matthysse will show us whether or not he can really hang on the big stage or if he's simply benefited by a diluted talent pool from primarily only fighting within his home country.
Finally, December 11th brings us British sensation Amir Khan vs. puncher Marcos Maidana. It's your classic boxer vs. puncher, and like Lucas Mattysse, Maidana also has a 90% knockout ratio, but has faced better competition. No one doubts Khan will be looking to work the ring and box all night against the relentless Maidana, but expect Khan's chin to be tested as many still suspect the Brit of having a glass jaw after being knocked out in the first minute against Breidis Prescott two years ago.
You may be wondering where Victor Ortiz or Andriy Kotelnik play into all this. Word is the powers that be are trying to get a fight going between the two, and while technically this would make it a Super Eight, with Kotelnik having already lost to Alexander and Khan, and Ortiz to Maidana, when the cards fall, it's unlikely that either of the two will be considered the best in the division.
The question then becomes whether or not the winners will wind up fighting each other. Doing so could position a worthy superfight against either welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao or lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, but don't be surprised to see a derailment before then. With nothing official to require it, not to mention politics, mandatories, and alternate paydays available, the winners fighting the winners may never come to fruition, but until we know for sure, let's keep our fingers crossed.