Boxing in 2022: Five passionate questions about the biggest stars in the sport for a new year

The sport of boxing is poised to continue to gain momentum in 2021, with hopes of tackling many stars. Last year gave us some of the wildest moments of the new millennium, and some young stars set the stage for us to actually take flight in 2022. Moreover, the Paul brothers continue to be a force worth following while they ignite the sport. requires focus and attention.

With so much to choose from, CBS Sports writers took it upon themselves to answer some of the biggest questions at the forefront as a new 12-month struggle begins this weekend.

Let’s dive into the questions and predictions of host Brian Campbell “Morning Kombat” and writer Brent Brookhouse right now.

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Which division will surprise you the most in 2022?

Campbell: junior welterweight

Although the 140-pound level has been steady in the world of boxing in recent years, from the running of Terence Crawford to the undisputed championship to the duels that culminated in the 2021 reunion of Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez, it’s been a while. it was considered a deep division. Former champion Danny Garcia climbed the welterweight in 2015 all the time, with the majority of the big names continuing up to 147 pounds. But the recent provocation of former lightweight king Teofimo Lopez Jr. after Taylor’s four-belt reign would have been a huge increase in welterweight at the top of the ladder and could have had a ripple effect. Ramirez will open the year trying to recover from his first defeat against Jorge Pedraza, and those like Regis Prograis, Jose Zepeda and Viktor Postol provide great depth. But if you go after any lightweight youngster who appears ready to explode in Lopez, including Gervonta Davis, in 2022 there could be big enough business for 140-pound fans to notice by chance.

Brookhouse: Light (but for all the wrong reasons)

While there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the 135-pound division of boxing with all the young talent available, 2022 could very well be another year for Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney not to stand in front of a ring from each other. Teofimo López seems to have finished his time in the lightweight division after losing to George Kambosos and it is unlikely that the lightweight team will be able to follow him without a title. All of this leaves Cambosos behind, who deserves full attention, but the two fighters who lose in the Cambosos draw aren’t likely to step on the ring with each other. Add Vasiliy Lomachenko, who is also a fighter in the fight for the Cambodians, and you have another star in the division who probably won’t fight these young stars. There is still a lot of talent in the division and they can all be in interesting fights. These fights will not be against each other.

What are Jake Paul’s logical opponents in 2022?

Campbell: From Paul to MMA fans, he would probably be interested in a cross-country boxing match between himself and any UFC star, including Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. But Dana White, the current president of the UFC Fighter Contracts Contracts, is likely to prevent that scenario from happening soon. That’s why Paul can take advantage of a little bit of legitimacy to fight a “real” boxer. Recently, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. his flirtation with the idea of ​​tackling a former middleweight graduate makes sense, especially if the 35-year-old son of a boxing legend has four defeats in his last seven fights and remains almost unforgivable. lack of professionalism makes every fight difficult. Yes, Chavez recently lost 46-year-old MMA star Anderson Silva to a legitimate boxing match last year. But the fight will still offer Paul some critical respect, as he will be in a perfect set-up to fight Silva if he passes a dangerous test to close the year.

Brookhouse: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. remains the best option. He is a former world champion and a “true boxer,” two things that all Paul questions are demanding. A lot of people have suggested that Paul has to face a 5-0 boxer to tick the “just face a real boxer” box. Of course, these poles will move all of Paul’s struggles until his inevitable loss or retirement. Yes, Chavez lost to Anderson Silva in his last fight, Chavez being one of the greatest boxing players of all time and Silva had a ridiculous performance. However, to join the circle with a former champion Paul and a man with 53 victories against the “real boxer”? That would be a featherweight in Paul’s hat, which would be difficult for YouTube 5-0.

Who ends the year on a light weight?

Campbell: Devin Haney

Given the boxing network and political divide, which is more difficult than the expected luxury of matching the best against each other, it’s hard to really gauge what fights can actually be fought. If it were a round-robin tournament, it would be difficult to tell a dangerous rising star like former United King Vasiliy Lomachenko or a rising star like Gervonta Davis. But newly crowned champion George Kambosos Jr. As Teofimo Lopez Jr. continues to negotiate an economic reward for his 2021 downturn, it looks like Devin Haney is on his way to a non-winning WBC champion fight. Most likely, Haney would benefit from Cambos, even if the fight was behind the Australian champion. And given the unquestionable responsibility of an undisputed champion, Haney would likely emerge from 2022 as the new face of the division.

Brookhouse: Vasily Lomachenko

As I already said in our boxing predictions, I think Vasiliy Lomachenko will end the year with three of the four belts in the division, with Devin Haney remaining WBC champion. It is likely that the easiest way to reach an agreement with George Lomachenko’s people in Cambodia is to find it easier, especially if Kanboso stays firm with the men who are coming to fight in Australia. It will be enough for Gervonta Davis to keep fighting for her second title – while everyone around her pretends to be a world champion – and Ryan Garcia can’t seem to get back into the ring. This leaves Haney and Lomachenko with the safest chances for the Cambodians. The man who takes the fight would side with the champion. It should also be noted that Kanbosos remains at the top of the level, both because it has been proven that he can win “big” and because it is impossible to see that the political game of boxing allows him to make a mandatory defense against a bottom. because he likes to shoot his opponent or two sportsmen in the foot.

Who ends the year in welterweight?

Campbell: Terence Crawford

Is it the year we finally get the Errol Spence Jr.-Terence Crawford super-fight to define the post-Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao era in 147 pounds? Crawford, a free promotional agent who would have to sign with PBC, is much more likely. Spence will have to pass WBA champion Yordenis Ugas in the first round in April, but before the winner of a Spence-Crawford fight between age and injury reaches the point of expiration of his brilliant potential, the winner would be the new king. In the past, both fighters have had their moments becoming favorites in the eyes of the public, winning so many hyped fights. Spence, however, seems to have more questions to answer given the physical setback he has experienced in recent years, including surgery on his retinal release in 2021. Crawford, who turns 35 in September, is not rejuvenating, but he has just proved that he is the current favorite in the first elite test against Shawn Porter.

Brookhouse: Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford

Is that a scam? It’s a “must-do” fight in the Crawford vs Spence division, as it has been for years. With Crawford Top Rank out of camp, the fight is getting easier now than it used to be. However, there are other names enough to deal with as the two men in the division continue to find reasons to not enter the ring with each other. Both of them will win fights throughout the year, but they won’t face off, and who really is the welterweight king is still in the air.

Who is the star of 2022?

Campbell: Tim Tszyu comes and the remaining 154-pound portion needs to be considered. Hall-of-Famer’s son Kostya Tszyu has overcome every hurdle he has faced in the last two years in his hometown at the Australian home level, including victories against Jeff Horn and Dennis Hogan. It’s time for the 27-year-old to take his talents to the biggest stage in the U.S., where the busy distribution of names, back and forth, awaits. Tszyu is a confident fighter with a level that seems to be beyond his age. He is also a savage bodybuilder and looks set to make his own split in the next 12 months.

Brookhouse: Subriel Matias He has the opportunity to continue his story of redemption on January 22 when Petros Ananyan repeats it on Showtime. Ananyan upset Matias in February 2020. Although the result was astonishing, it was understandable. Ananyan’s first fight was in a fight when Maxim Dadashev was tragically killed after losing his TKO against Matias. It looked like Matthias had lost to Ananyan after a couple of victories against Malik Hawkins and Batyrzhan Jukembayev. Matias has a fan-friendly style and is a junior weight welter with a lot of good games. Between a story of tragedy and redemption for television, a simple style for the eyes and a part of the great struggles of his future, 2022 could be a horrible year for Matias.