IT’S far too fanciful to believe that when Martin Luther King said “we must accept finite disappointment — but never lose infinite hope” he had boxing fans in mind.
Lovers of the noble art are constantly irritated beyond measure, because they so rarely get the opportunity to see the best fighting the best.
A year ago, this column chose six fights British punters would like to have watched in 2022.
They were Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua, Terry Crawford v Errol Spence, Anthony Yarde v Joshua Buatsi, Josh Taylor v Gervonta Davis, Mairis Briedis v Lawrence Okolie, as well as Gennady Golovkin v Chris Eubank Jr.
All potential box-office hits. But I did warn that — because of the cynicism and greed of the world governing bodies and the intransigence of rival TV companies — few, if any, would happen.
Surprise, surprise none of them did.
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So it’s pointless for me to suggest future match-ups because, despite the new year about to dawn, the situation in 2023 isn’t going to change.
But at least promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren assured us we can now look forward to a world heavyweight unification battle between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in the spring.
Warren said: “It looks like March and we hope to get the deal done in the next few weeks.
“They both want it to happen and there won’t be broadcast problems.
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“We will still need to decide on a venue.”
Wembley Stadium has been mentioned — and it would certainly draw another 94,000 crowd — but if the Saudis badly want to stage it, then it will be another desert dust-up.
There is no doubt the heavyweights will dominate again next year — and there are so many mesmerising and mouthwatering possibilities open to the big boys.
Imagine Deontay Wilder against Joshua, a Joe Joyce-Danny Dubois return, Joshua-Joyce, Wilder-Dubois, Dubois-Joshua, or Joyce-Wilder.
And if Fury should beat Usyk he could defend against British rivals, Joshua, Joyce and Dubois. Well, we can dream, can’t we?
At least boxing gets off to a cracking start next month when Russian-born Canadian Artur Beterbiev defends his WBC, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde at Wembley Arena on January 28.
Beterbiev, who turns 38 a week before they clash, is a scary, ferocious puncher with a remarkable record — having won all of his 18 pro fights by knockout.
It’s not surprising he is a massive 1-7 favourite to keep his belts. And if Yarde does find a way to win, it’s doubtful there will be a bigger upset in the next 12 months.
At least the Ilford man now has James Cook, the former British and European super- middleweight champion, giving him sound advice.
Cook told me: “Nobody in the division is fitter than Yarde.”
Yarde runs eight miles on London’s roads twice a week, starting at 3am, when the air is at its purist and there is no traffic.
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It takes him an impressive 1hr 15min.
But, as the immortal Joe Louis memorably said before defending against Billy Conn: “He can run, but he can’t hide!”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
