ANTHONY JOSHUA is back on top of the boxing world after his masterful victory against Andy Ruiz Jr at the weekend.
And of course it has led for renewed calls for him to face the likes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to see just who is the best heavyweight boxer in the world.
Anthony Joshua got the ultimate revenge against Andy Ruiz Jr to win back his heavyweight world titlesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The year 2020 is set to be a monumental period for the sport – divisions are likely to be unified and we could even see the crowning of an undisputed champ.
As ever with boxing, money talks, and there are likely to be some monster pay days for the sports best and biggest names.
And one of the best ever could be tempted out of retirement to settle a long-standing grudge.
Here, SunSport checks out nine fights we all want to see in 2020.
Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder
Both have accused each other of running away from the fight the whole world wants.
Wilder has some business to take care of first – and tricky business at that when he fights Tyson Fury in February.
And should he come through that with his WBC belt intact, it would be almost impossible NOT to have champ versus champ to see who is the undisputed king of heavyweight boxing.
Joshua would be keen to prove he can do it over in the US after his shock loss on debut there to Andy Ruiz Jr back in June.
Deontay Wilder has destroyed all of his opponents so far – barring the enigma that is Tyson FuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford
Arguably the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, if these two get it on someone’s 0 has got to go.
But a lot depends on how Spence has recovered from injuries suffered in a horror car crash in October.
Crawford has the WBO welterweight title, while Spence is the IBF belt-holder.
Boxing really needs these two to prove who is the best at 147lbs.
Errol Spence Jr has looked immense on the way to winning the IBF and WBC welterweight world titlesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Canelo Alvarez vs Artur Beterbiev
Canelo is a four-weight world champ and last time out battered the teak-tough Sergey Kovalev into an 11th-round KO stoppage.
But Beterbiev could prove the most dangerous fight he could have at light heavyweight.
The 34-year-old Russian has knocked out all 15 of his opponents, including Brit banger Callum Johnson.
But Canelo will fancy his chances of taking Beterbiev into the later rounds where his boxing experience could prove vital.
Canelo sent Sergey Kovalev one step closer to retirement when he won the WBO light heavyweight world title last monthCredit: AP:Associated Press
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
Experts, fellow boxers and fans are split on who is the best British heavyweight out of these two.
Fury returned to the sport in style when he drew with WBC champ Deontay Wilder back in December 2018.
He should have won that as he clearly outboxed the American for much of it, and he wasn’t in the shape he is in now.
Should Fury beat Wilder in their February 22 rematch, the clamour for a Battle of Britain will hopefully prove too hard to ignore.
Tyson Fury put on a spectacular boxing performance when he fought Deontay Wilder back in December 2018 and should have been crowned new WBC champCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Floyd Mayweather Jnr vs Manny Pacquiao II
Mayweather continues to tease a return to boxing, despite him ending his career with an unblemished 50 and 0 record.
The American defeated Pac-Man back in 2015 – but for most people that happened far too late with both past their best at the time.
However Pacquiao has since gone on to win back, lose, and win back the WBO world welterweight title, including an impressive victory against previously undefeated Keith Thurman.
Would Mayweather put his undefeated record on the line against a man who is clearly still at the top of his game.
Floyd Mayweather fought Manny Pacquiao back in 2015 – and comfortably outpointed himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Vasyl Lomachenko vs Gervonta Davis
Lomachenko rivals the likes of Crawford and Spence Jr as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
He is a three-weight world champion after just 15 fights, and has just one blemish on his record – losing in his second fight when challenging Orlando Salido for the featherweight world title in 2014.
Davis, meanwhile, has moved up to lightweight from feather, just like Lomachenko did, and will challenge Yuriorkis Gamboa for the WBA world title on December 2018.
If he wins that it should put the 25-year-old on a collision course with Lomachenko.
Davis has stopped 21 of his 22 opponents so far and is undefeated in the paid ranks.
Many boxing fans believe Vasyl Lomachenko to be the pound-for-pound bestCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Oleksandr Usyk vs Derek Chisora
Usyk is the mandatory challenger for Joshua’s WBA belt – but fight fans will want him to test himself against a seasoned heavyweight first.
And that man could be Chisora, who never backs down from a fight and would fancy putting the Ukrainian in his place.
Usyk was the undisputed cruiserweight champion before giving up those belts to move up to heavyweight.
Chisora, meanwhile, looks better than ever and boxing fans love his all-action style. He would be a stern test to see whether Usyk has the power at heavyweight level.
Oleksandr Usyk has stepped up to heavyweight and is tipped to become a world champ there tooCredit: USA TODAY Sports
Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury
Both men insist it IS happening on February 22.
But whether it is WWE, a recovering cut or finances, many are speculating that it’s far from a “done deal”.
Fury was cheated out of the WBC belt when he drew with Wilder in December 2018 despite comprehensively outboxing the American.
He may have been floored twice in that fight, but Fury insists he has the power to KO Wilder when they rematch.
And we know all about Wilder’s devastating right.
Tyson Fury will get another crack at Deontay Wilder in February next yearCredit: Reuters
Tyson Fury taunts ‘sucker’ Deontay Wilder as he posts video of himself shadow boxing around his living room
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
This makes the list purely because boxing fans are probably sick of hearing about it and want it out of the way.
Both are well past their best, but it could provide each with a decent last pay-day before retirement.
Khan insists he can still win a world title, while Brook is desperate to put horrific eye injuries behind him and step up.
But it is a fight that should have happened years ago, and it would be almost impossible to judge from it happening whether either is at world level.
Amir Khan insists he can still win a world title – but fans will want him to settle his ongoing feud with Kell Brook firstCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Amir Khan dyes his hair but his daughter doesn’t recognise him
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
