With the new year upon us, boxing fans worldwide are looking forward to what the future holds in the sport we all love. Although 2010 was okay, 2011 can always be better. While I'm sure there are a number of items on every fight fan's wish list, I've compiled my own top 20 list of things that I think will truly benefit the sport. So without further ado, I wish...
- Great health to all boxers, so they will not have any excuses not to fight each other and the best fights can actually be made.
- The networks - HBO, Showtime, ESPN2 - put on the best fights for the fans instead of mismatches.
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. gets out of trouble and stays out of trouble. There is nothing worse than seeing a great talent wasted due to legal issues.
- Mayweather vs. Pacquiao happens before the end of the year if, and I do mean if, Pacquiao beats Mosley and Mayweather avoids jail.
- David Haye and one of the Klitschko brothers fight each other this year. They have all the belts; now they just need to fight to prove ultimate supremacy.
- Boxing as a sport and fighters, such as Chad Dawson and Andre Berto, get better promotion so they can be known by more than just diehard boxing fans. Neither can draw fans to their own hometown and that is just not good.
- Top Rank and Golden Boy would end the cold war. They both swear they want the best for the fans; now they just need to live by what they say.
- We never see a fight between legends as horrible as Hopkins vs. Jones Jr. II or a PPV fight as bad as Mosley vs. Mora. If anyone knows how to get a refund for either of those two fights, PLEASE let me know ASAP!
- Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. retire. Both men are legends and I hate to see them continue to fight and take more abuse than needed.
- Roy Jones Jr. permanently gets his HBO job back.
- We see a great ending to the Super Six tournament and the winner gets to fight Lucian Bute. I also wish we see a great ending to the Bantamweight tournament and the winner gets to fight the winner of Montiel vs. Donaire.
- The Cruiserweight division could somehow find some life in the United States, so Steve Cunningham can get some notoriety in his own country.
- Bernard Hopkins somehow gets his rematch against Jean Pascal before Dawson does and wins back his Light Heavyweight title.
- More living legends would get involved in fight promotions to help promote upcoming fighters.
- Sergio Martinez continues to become more popular and gets the big money fights he deserves.
- No other boxers fly out of the ring like Kermit Cintron and Said Ouali did, unless they are knocked out of course. Strange endings to fights are never good.
- James Kirkland stays out of jail and stays in the gym and the ring. He is an exciting fighter.
- Don King can make a strong comeback and have another mega-fight under his belt.
- Myself and the whole crew of FightHype.com a wonderful year full of blessings, great boxing, and continued growth for the best site on the internet.
- Any other boxing wish I may have forgotten comes true too.