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| Juan Manuel Marquez |
10. Lucian Bute (26-0-0, 21 KO) Super Middleweight
Bute will defend his IBF super middleweight title against fringe contender Jesse Brinkley (35-5-0, 22 KO) this fall in Montreal. Expect an excellent atmosphere, as the French-Canadian fans always go crazy for Bute in the Romanian's adopted hometown. Brinkley will likely give a spirited effort, fighting for a title for the first (and possibly only) time at age 33, but expect him to be over matched.
9. Shane Mosley (46-6-0, 39 KO) Welterweight
"Sugar" Shane will move up to light middleweight for a fall fight with Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora. Mora (22-1-1, 6 KO) looked sharp in his last outing, but should be a healthy underdog against Mosley. Some in the media have criticized this fight, but I say let Shane take a bit of a softer fight, he deserves it.
8. Paul Williams (39-1-0, 27 KO) Junior Middleweight
In a strange turn of events, "boxing's most avoided man" is now himself becoming a bit picky. Rematches of controversial decisions over Kermit Cintron (32-3-1, 28 KO) and Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO) don't seem to interest his team, and a mega fight with Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather seem far fetched. What's next for Williams remains a mystery.
7. Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO) Lightweight
Juan Diaz (35-4-0 17 KO) may no longer be an elite fighter, but take nothing away from Marquez. "Dinamita" was masterful and dominated Diaz, perhaps sending a man 10 years his junior into retirement.
More than anything else, Marquez would like a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. He would likely be no closer than third in line though, behind Antonio Margarito and Floyd Mayweather. Amir Khan (23-1-0, 17 KO) has also been discussed. A win over the junior welterweight belt holder would make Marquez the first Mexican to win titles in four divisions.
6. Chad Dawson (29-0-0, 17 KO) Light Heavyweight
Dawson will be in action on the 14th against Jean Pascal (25-1-0, 16 KO) in Quebec. Much respect to Dawson for going on the road to take on a top contender in front of a hostile crowd. Expect a good fight here.
5. Vitali Klitschko (40-2-0, 38 KO) Heavyweight
The elder Klitschko is scheduled to defend his WBC title in Germany this October. Opponents seem to be a bit scarce, however, and former contender Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO) may be dusted off for the assignment. Briggs has done nothing in the last several years but beat up journeymen, and the fight would appear to be a huge mismatch.
4. Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO) Light Heavyweight
Hopkins is still pondering his future age 45. It would be no surprise to see him fight again, though I can't think of much reason for it to happen. Hopkins has nothing left to prove. If he does step in the ring, don't take him lightly regardless of the opponent. He has incorrectly been thought finished more than once before.
3. Wladimir Klitschko (54-3-0, 48 KO) Heavyweight
Wlad will take on Nigerian Samuel Peter (34-3-0, 27 KO) in September in his adopted home of Germany. Peter has already lost to both brothers, but was the last man to give Wladimir a competitive fight, knocking him down three times in 2005 before dropping a decision. The fight will be broadcast on ESPN in the United States.
2. Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO) Welterweight
Pacquiao will attempt to win a title in yet another division against Antonio Margarito (38-6-0, 27 KO) in November. Forgetting that the belt is a complete joke, as is Margarito's status as legit opponent, Pacquiao always brings the goods on fight night. Expect there to at least be action for as long as it lasts.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0-0, 25 KO) Welterweight
Mayweather has declared himself on vacation, probably at least for the rest of the year. If we don't see him again soon, his great career will likely be forever stained by the disappointment of not fighting Pacquiao. Don't expect this, however, as I believe that match up will likely be made in 2011.
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