Boxing Warriors of 2021
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Despite the challenging time period for amateur and professional athletics, mankind, society, and the media outlets, some of boxing’s greatest warriors remain active, alert, determined, and in position to rise to the occasion to keep their careers and the sport of boxing alive. Here of some of this reporter’s best picks for the boxing warriors of 2021.
Boxing Warrior Number One: Tyson Fury. Well, various heavyweight titles aside, Fury will be happy to fight Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder (a third time), Oleksandr Usyk, Dillian Whyte, and any of the rising contenders and pretenders of the heavyweight division anywhere, anyplace, and anytime. A colorful personality, Fury has fury, which is what professional boxing promoters need to keep the sport vibrant during and after the pandemic. Fury will reappear against Joshua as soon as a firm date can be agreed upon.
Boxing Warrior Number Two: Iron Mike Tyson. True, exhibitions are not actual bouts. However, some positive publicity is better than no publicity, with or without boxing fans present. The former world heavyweight champion, bearded and middle aged, has fought Roy Jones Jr., and the winner of the Evander Holyfield versus Kevin McBride exhibition could be next in Tyson’s Legends exhibition pay-per-view future. It’s a clash for cash.
Boxing Warrior Number Three: Floyd Mayweather Jr. The tentative June 5, 2021 date for his exhibition with Logan Paul on Showtime is real, but the quality of the matchup is a farce. Again, some publicity is better than no publicity. If you are going to return, do it for real or you might get hurt. Floyd is unlikely to face grave danger against “opponents” like Paul, who are worse than Big George Foreman beating up on a tomato can.
Boxing Warrior Number Four: Robert Helenius. “The Nordic Nightmare” demonstrated greatness with his march 2020 four round destruction of overhyped Adam Kownacki, and served notice on the heavyweight division that on a good day, he could beat anybody. The proof of the pudding was in the televised result, which no boxing experts predicted.
Boxing Warrior Number Five: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Undoubtedly the biggest box office draw in professional boxing today outside of the heavyweight division. Canelo could fight Floyd again, Oscar De la Hoya (if he makes a serious comeback), or anyone between 160 pounds and 220 pounds World Boxing Council Bridgerweight if he gets by Billy Jo Saunders on May 8, 2021, in a super duper super super middleweight showdown.
Boxing Warrior Number Six: Manny Pacquiao. Pac Man has been inactive since defeating Keith Thurman in July 2019. A Thurman rematch is less desirable than Pac Man versus Terence Crawford. Everyone wants to see Pacquiao take apart Crawford, but the bout may not happen because Crawford remains contractually elusive.
Boxing Warrior Number Seven: David Avanesyan. The Russian welterweight based on the United Kingdom has demonstrated destructive power in his past for bouts, knocking out and destroying his top flight opposition. As European champion, Errol Spence Jr. is virtually obligated to make a title defense against this worthy warrior in the near future.
Boxing Warrior Number Eight: Dmitry Bivol. At 17-0, the World Super World Light Heavyweight champion faces challenger Craig Richards on May 1, 2021, and might wind up battling and vanquishing yet another dangerous opponent for the sixth consecutive fight in the twelfth round of a title bout. Bivol is truly a warrior in a class by himself.
Boxing Warrior Number Nine: Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta “Tank” Davis, and Devon Haney. The top three lightweights in the world have to fight each other. Their combined records are 65-0, and perhaps the next Edwin Valero or Robert Duran will emerge from the pack.
Boxing Warrior Number Ten: Oscar Valdez. At 29-0, the Mexican World Boxing Council World Super Featherweight champion is set to destroy the 130 pounds division, then move up and attack the 135 pounds champions listed above. Watch out, Valdez is dangerous.
Honorable Mention: Goes to the winner of Mexico’s 31-0 WBA and WBC World Super Bantamweight champion Luis Nery versus Texas prospect 21-0-1 Brandon Figueroa on May 15, 2021. The winner of this bout will be recognized as a truly formidable rising star, ready to serve notice on any champion above in the 126 pounds featherweight division later in 2021.
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