Lovers of boxing are in for a real treat over the next few months.
It all starts this Sunday when “pretty boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr steps into the ring against the up and coming Mexican Saul Alvarez. This should be one hell of a fight. As I said in my tips a few weeks ago, get on Floyd as he may be the best pound for pound fighter the world has ever seen. Forget him as a person or his fighting style, just back his ability.
Juan Manual Marquez then takes on Timothy Bradley on October 13. A lot of experts give the kid a real chance to beat the future Hall of Famer. At around $2.50 Bradley might be a good bet but he is facing pretty tough opposition.
We also get to see Manny Pacquiao v Brandon Rios in Macau in late November. I love Manny and I think he will win but at under $1.20, or 1/5 on in the old speak, he is horrible value for a guy who has lost his last two fights.
These three fights all feature fighters in and around the same division. Add to that the likes Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto and the depth here is just amazing.
In the same division but probably not in the same league we are going to see Australian loud mouth Anthony Mundine jump in the ring with Shane Mosley on New Year’s Eve. Mosley at his best would have toyed with the Australian but at 42 we will see if he can punch Mundine to the canvas. The bookies are finding this hard to pick at the moment with both fighters at around $1.90 (10/11).
If Mundine can somehow win this through his hands, which usually play second fiddle to his mouth, let us pray that he follows through with his dream to fight Mayweather or someone similar. This is the first time in a very long time that he is actually stepping into the ring against a serious fighter and if Mosley is even half serious he should knock him out early.
Unfortunately the heavyweight division is still a joke and a couple of big thumpers is what this sport desperately needs.
