Boxing in 2021: Great Weights, one of the great stories left by Manny Pacquiao in the last six months

Due to the coronary virus pandemic, which has taken a large part of the 2020 event from the perspective of conducting successful fights, the sport of boxing has quickly entered mid-2021.

Features of this summer the show paid a few blockbuster fights which would go a long way in determining the future of the biggest stars and deepest divisions in boxing.

With that in mind what should be an exciting second half of 2021, let’s look at the biggest questions that need to be answered at the highest levels of the sport.

Was the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua secret solution the best thing to happen to the heavyweight division?

It’s a topic worth reflecting on, even if it’s hard to see it as beneficial for those involved, as the overproduction fight proposed to declare the first undisputed four-belt champion in heavyweight history this summer is no longer a fight. The main reason for this optimism is that despite Deontay Wilder’s victory in the courtroom, he retains his contract rights for the third fight against Fury, which has such exciting potential. Wilder has made a public statement regarding the tragic defeat of Fury in his second fight in 2020 Entering the war against Fury in the July 24 trilogy. This happened after a year of silent travel, as Wilder returned to the drawing board after the rematch, where he put up many excuses to find out immediately how the fight was played out. As the biggest puncher in the sport, it would be silly to look at Wilder like anything other than a live dog, even if Fury, the current WBC and linear champion, revealed their skill range by flipping Wilder’s script. in the second fight, walking again and again.

Joshua, the holder of the WBA, WBO and IBF titles, gave boxing fans a solid consolation prize when Fury’s deal was disbanded when he agreed in September to face his mandatory opponent and undisputed former cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usy. The undefeated Usy, a heavyweight Swiss Army knife who compensates for his lack of power and technical creativity, presents a unique style to Joshua, a great boxer-puncher, who could have trouble if Usy had to avoid a knockout blow.

While the idea of ​​a name / a face / division is weird and fascinating in any weight boxing class (even less in a money division like heavy weight), the fall has created a bit of a final four. If the winners of these fights agree to move forward and make room for all marbles in 2022, this hiccup may be the best thing for a long-term split. That’s, of course, if boxing policies or binding contracts don’t put obstacles in the way.

Is this just the end or the new beginning for 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao?

Formerly the only eight-time boxing champion in the Hall of Fame, Pacquaio scored one of the biggest victories of his career on his final outing when he defeated undefeated Keith Thurman in a formidable welterweight title fight. At the age of 40, Pacquiao returned victorious to the top 10-pound standings and ran a nearly year-long race. But even though Pacquiao never returned to the ring during the fight during the pandemic, “PacMan” shocked the boxing world. August return Errol Spence Jr. against welterweight combined. As well as being a blockbuster PPV fighter, it’s a huge challenge for the minor Pacquiao considering his age and inactivity, he offers the same risks and rewards to a historically brilliant fighter who won’t stop challenging himself stubbornly.

As the fight unfolds – Paradigm Sports ’management team is suing Pacquiao, and is asking for the event to be canceled because the alleged contract was broken – it’s likely that the results will also decide which direction the Filipino icon will go. If Pacquiao loses in the main, especially after taking the damage, it’s likely to surround discussions about retirement. However, if he wins the victory or looks great, the number of fighters who want to use his name as a star-studded star by getting younger (and – key words – smaller) fighters by getting a big fight. If Pacquiao and his team want to get creative, future fights will start with Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Devin Haney would not be in doubt, allowing the old fighter to match his blow strength and experience with the youth of some rising stars and against ambition.

How can Terence Crawford’s upcoming free agency affect Spence’s long-awaited fight?

Let’s just say: Crawford, who turns 34 in September, has a very important decision to make about his long-term legacy. While no one is debating the level of two-level champion and one-pound talent, the lack of an elite opponent since rising to welterweight in 2018 has easily slowed his overall momentum and star potential. Crawford is left with another fight in a Top Rank deal that expires in October. The first rumors about potential opponents didn’t appear strong, even though the Top Rank threw Jose Zepeda at the junior welterweight. In any case, the relationship between the fighter and the promoter has had a public turn, especially since the Bob Arum Hall of Fame failed to get Crawford to fight Spence, which would unite three of the four 147-pound titles that the boxing world so desires. .

Making the Premier Boxing Champions movement, which looks similar to control over division, seems to be a smart move as big as Crawford, if he really wants to test himself against welterweight elites like Spence, Thurman, Shawn Porter, Danny. Garcia and others. But Crawford hasn’t said much publicly about his level of interest and has maintained that his legacy is enough to make Spence ever fight. Should he rejoin the Top Rank, Crawford will be able to see some of his most famous opponents in the future, Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez Jr. like, if they all gain weight. But none of them, except the rising star Lopez, have the same kind of cache that PBC stars do today, allowing Crawford to fulfill the great potential that has historically been a great fighter.

How much air is left in the famous boxing balloon?

The past year has been as unpredictable as any boxing fan could have imagined, considering the sport’s biggest payout draws, from social media influenced by the Paul brothers to about 50 to Mike Tyson. But regardless of the level of interest or tolerance for new carnival entertainment, he has found an audience. In the careful struggles they made with Jake and Logan Paul in making successful transitions from the entertainment company to the ring, it seems that Tyson opened the door to many of the exhibition returns (or at least return threats) from almost all of which he withdrew. How long can this madness last? That largely depends on how exciting the fights are.

Jake Paul, for example, has seemed quite adept at looking for celebrities like the former NBA Guardian Nate Robinson and retired MMA star Ben Askren in exchange for a perfect payday as the perfect roles that give their names and chins. But the general public has not historically paid much attention to the fact that non-fighters try to wear gloves for less than the exciting results that can occur. Although Logan Paul’s performance was somewhat different admirable Floyd Mayweather for pounding away from the retired king-pound at the June PPV event, the fight was exciting but compared to the price and circus construction. However, a lot of money needs to be made before the bubble bursts, both for those who flash gloves and for networks / promoters like Showtime and Triller, as long as this lasts. Are we still going to talk 12 months from now about which opponent makes the best sense for Paul brothers, let’s just say? If history is any statement, I wouldn’t bet on that. But you better believe that those who are in a position to win this trend will go down with the ship.