{"id":6269,"date":"2010-12-23T07:32:59","date_gmt":"2010-12-23T12:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=6269"},"modified":"2010-12-24T12:51:50","modified_gmt":"2010-12-24T17:51:50","slug":"rubber-warrior%e2%80%99s-christmas-wish-list-manny-pacquiao%e2%80%99s-gift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=6269","title":{"rendered":"Rubber Warrior\u2019s Christmas Wish List: Manny Pacquiao\u2019s Gift"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Mike \u201cRubber Warrior\u201d Plunkett<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s almost hard to believe now that 2010 was one of the slowest and most unsatisfying years of boxing over the last half century. These last two months have been fantastic however, but prior to that we had long periods of nothing punctuated by the odd event. So good in fact were the last two months that had you taken all of the compressed activity and spread it over the year, 2010 really wouldn\u2019t have seemed all that desolate. Feeling the Christmas spirit and wondering what to ask for from the old bearded guy in red, and taking my cues from the year that almost never was, I have compiled a list of 12 bouts I\u2019d like to see happen over 2011. They are fan-friendly bouts that in some cases promise to go a long way to providing clarity, while others are an intriguing step towards something possibly greater. Amazingly, one of them is already signed and scheduled to take place on January 29th. Here\u2019s hoping.<\/p>\n

Devon Alexander vs. Timothy Bradley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Southpaw Devon Alexander, 21-0, 13 KO\u2019s is the current WBC light welterweight champion while the 26-0, 11 KO\u2019s Timothy Bradley, the current WBO champion, has been atop the division for over two years and considered by many, including The Ring Magazine, as the best in the division. Both are undefeated with something to prove. The mesh of skills and styles hints that something special could happen. The winner moves toward a monumental payday with Amir Khan, or possibly on to meet either Floyd Mayweather JR or Manny Pacquiao.<\/p>\n

Joan Guzman vs. Zab Judah<\/strong><\/p>\n

At 34 years of age the clock is ticking loudly for the 31-0-1 \u201cSycuan Warrior\u201d. Also running perilously low on sand in his hourglass, Zab Judah, 33, 40-6, recently stated his intention to take one last run at glory, at his best weight in the light welterweight division. I think the pairing of these two is fitting. Both are enigma\u2019s, possessing far more talent than desire or focus. Both have had their problems deciding on which weight class to campaign in and both have marketable names. At this late date, given the variables, such a match-up would almost certainly produce its fair share of drama, with the winner finding himself in the thick of the 140lb sweepstakes.<\/p>\n

Marco Huck vs. Steve Cunningham II<\/strong><\/p>\n

These two cruiserweights are familiar with each other. They have some history, and according to Huck, 30-1, 23 KO\u2019s, some unfinished business. It was exactly three years ago that \u201cUSS\u201d Cunningham handed then-challenger to his IBF title, his first career defeat. Since that fateful encounter, \u201cUSS\u201d has lost and regained that title while Huck has gone 11-0, along the way picking up the WBO title. As of press time, Huck was scheduled to defend his crown against undefeated Russian Dennis Lebedev. Should he prevail in that encounter, the best bout to be made at cruiserweight would be a unification rematch between these two.<\/p>\n

Oliver McCall vs. Evander Holyfield<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, I know. Neither of these two relics has any business climbing between the ropes these days, but they need to make a living and despite their advanced years, both have proven capable of pulling off the odd surprise. Coming off a recent split decision win over still useful Fres Oquendo, \u201cThe Atomic Bull\u201d, 55-10, presents the size, style, power and late career drive to push the former four-time heavyweight champion, 42-10-2, in a way that would be all but certain to present intrigue, if not sparks. I say let them cross swords.<\/p>\n

Amir Khan vs. Breidis Prescott II<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the two years since Prescott flattened Khan, much has happened. Prescott, 23-2, 19 KO\u2019s has mis-fired more than a Plymouth Volare with Corinthian Leather whereas Khan has aligned with Freddie Roach and retooled, ultimately winning the WBA World light welterweight title. Having recently shown the world the sort of chin and resolve critics claimed he didn\u2019t have in overcoming Marcos Maidana in 2010 Fight of the Year candidate, Khan is a star in search of bigger game. His recent calling out of Floyd Mayweather, JR., went unanswered, and with Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley currently committed, \u201cKing Khan\u201d is best served by taking a tune-up while the dust settles. A rematch against the one man that nearly derailed his career would ensure a modest payday, media attention, and go a long way to extricating the monkey from his back.<\/p>\n

Roman Gonzalez vs. Giovani Segura <\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a matchup that promises sparks. Two hungry young punchers bent on destruction. \u201cEl Chocolatito\u201d may be the sports best kept secret. At 27-0, 23 KO\u2019s he is currently the interim WBA World light flyweight champion. A move up to flyweight for a meeting with Segura, 26-1-1, 22 KO\u2019s, the man that recently hammered Ivan Calderon for the WBA Super World and WBO light flyweight titles would quite possibly be the potentially most explosive match-up in boxing today. I long ago moved on hoping for Floyd Mayweather JR and Manny Pacquiao to meet. This is THE match-up I want to see.<\/p>\n

Alfredo Angulo vs. Saul Alvarez<\/strong><\/p>\n

The light middleweight division is a funny weight class. Titles are passed around like a beach bong and most of the guys with straps lack snap. Ascending the ranks are these two; youthful, determined and hard-hitting. Angulo, 19-1, 16 KO\u2019s specializes in punching holes in his opposition, Alvarez, 35-0-1, 26 KO\u2019s, has the talent and the power, but has the tendency to blow hot and cold. Let\u2019s have these two meet in 2011 to determine division bad-ass.<\/p>\n

Andre Berto vs. Jan Zaveck<\/strong><\/p>\n

I keep reading about how Berto, 27-0, 21 KO\u2019s and the current WBC welterweight champion is a part of the Pacquiao sweepstakes, but frankly I don\u2019t believe a word of it. As for IBF champion Jan Zaveck, 30-1, 17 KO\u2019s, he\u2019s like the guy that slips in to do the night shift where you work. You\u2019ve never met him, you sometimes hear about him and at times you see evidence that he is more than just a rumor. But the fact is he is as invisible as a welterweight champion can get these days. Want to know how to legitimize both Berto and Mr. Invisible as a possible threat towards Pacquiao? Unification!<\/p>\n

Humberto Soto vs. Ali Funeka<\/strong><\/p>\n

With Juan Manuel Marquez on the radar for a rubber match with Manny Pacquiao, WBC lightweight champion Soto, 54-7-2, 34 KO\u2019s is a champion in search of a challenge. In Funeka, 30-3-3, a hard luck loser in his last three title opportunities (the draw with Joan Guzman notwithstanding), Soto would be getting all he could handle. Let\u2019s see this bout happen.<\/p>\n

Jorge Linares vs. Robert Guerrero<\/strong><\/p>\n

History tells us that unification between WBA World super featherweight champion Jorge Linares and IBF counterpart Robert Guerrero never happened. But time has a way of making amends, and today both Linares, 30-1, 19 KO\u2019s and \u201cThe Ghost\u201d, 28-1-1, 18 KO\u2019s are lightweight contenders bent on legacy and redemption. Let\u2019s see them give us the bout at 135lbs that never happened at 130.<\/p>\n

Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not one who watches Klitschko, 55-3, 49 KO\u2019s, the current IBF\/WBO Ring Magazine heavyweight champion so that I can piss and moan after each convincing if methodical victory. He continues to win because he is the best heavyweight in the world today. He\u2019s successfully defended his title nine times to date against the best available opposition, and of that nine six have been legitimate top ten contenders. His decisive victory over Ruslan Chagaev should have been a unification bout. His win over Sultan Ibragimov was. In short Klitschko provided clarity while taking out the trash. In the case of David Haye, 25-1, 23 KO\u2019s, the Brit simply talks trash and delivers counterfeits. Let\u2019s see these two meet \u2013 as Haye so often claims is his biggest wish. Maybe then I\u2019ll get mine \u2013 for Haye to finally shut-up.<\/p>\n

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s not much left for either of these two. Both have underlined their greatness by moving onward and upward in search of glory, to varying degrees. They fought to a disputed draw back in 2003 and a highly competitive rematch three years ago. Both outcomes were controversial. For Pacquiao, 52-3-2, 38 KO\u2019s, Marquez presents his greatest active challenge. Think of \u201cDinamita\u201d, 52-5-1, 38 KO\u2019s as Ken Norton to Pacquiao\u2019s Ali. Given the outcomes of their first two meetings, a rubber match makes complete sense. Both are great fighters and each is a lock for the Hall. Who wants to sit around and cry over a missed opportunity with part-time fighter and full-time excuse maker Floyd Mayweather when there is outstanding good business between Pacquiao and Marquez.<\/p>\n

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By Mike \u201cRubber Warrior\u201d Plunkett It\u2019s almost hard to believe now that 2010 was one of the slowest and most unsatisfying years of boxing over the last half century. These last two months have been fantastic however, but prior to that we had long periods of nothing punctuated by the odd event. So good in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[2219,105,477],"class_list":["post-6269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-news","tag-bouts-in-2011","tag-boxing","tag-manny-pacquiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6269"}],"version-history":[{"count":-2,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6269\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}