Boxing: Haye's back - but will 2016 see Khan v Brook, Mayweather's return and Fury's fall?

2016 Boxing Preview

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of boxing’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. We’re frequently told that the sport is in terminal decline yet it looks remarkably durable. While there is nothing on the horizon that comes close to last year’s Mayweather Pacquiao mega fight, 2016 holds plenty of promise. Here’s a look ahead to what is happening, what might happen and some foolhardy predictions which I’ll no doubt regret…

Haye v De Mori

It’s hardly a blockbuster but it’s happening tonight so it seems a fitting place to start. After a three and a half year break from the game David Haye makes his triumphant return...on Dave against an Australian nobody has heard of. It’s difficult to tell whether this is a serious comeback by the Londoner or not. Fighting a man who has spent the bulk of his career boxing in local promotions in Australia, anything other than a regulation victory will give us the answer.

Frampton v Quigg

It’s a shame these two don’t have more recognition among the general public. In an earlier age both would have been household names. Their meeting on 27 February is that rarity; two unbeaten British fighters in possession of world titles. So long have their paths been converging that there is a danger of anti-climax. But their styles look well suited to delivering an exciting contest. There’s precious little to choose and it will go to the wire. But, based largely on a shaky last outing for Frampton, I’ll go for Quigg to squeak home on points.

Will Khan v Brook happen this summer?

Let’s hope Eddie Hearn can pull this one off. Two genuinely world class British fighters. Both in the prime of their careers and both proven in America. World title on the line. Summertime. Wembley Stadium. It has all the makings. Benn v Eubank is probably the last comparable thing. Both men seem apparently keen and the noises on negotiations are positive. We’re in for a classic if it does happen. I’ll go for Khan to dominate early with Brook’s accuracy and freakish strength eventually proving decisive and forcing a late stoppage.

Will Floyd Mayweather stay retired?

It’s something of an indictment of the sport that its most talked about star officially no longer even fights. But don’t be fooled. Ever the canny operator, the already twice retired Mayweather will be surveying the scene carefully. Several money spinning possibilities are out there. Danny Garcia, Amir Khan or possibly even the winner of the Pacquiao Bradley fight. Will the lure of the bright lights prove too great once again? He can’t go out with a win over Andre Berto surely…

Will GGG find a worthy opponent?

Gennady Golovkin is currently in a similar predicament to the one that Mike Tyson faced in the late 1980s. He is running out of opponents. Having beaten all comers at middleweight he looks to have two options: Move up to super middle or stick around a little longer and square off against recently crowned WBC champ Canelo Alvarez later in 2016. Given the red haired Mexican’s huge following, his high profile in the US and the likely money involved, expect it to happen. Don’t however expect it to be the challenge that GGG is looking for. This may upset a few Canelo fans but it looks a one sided mismatch to me. Golovkin will need to go searching in higher divisions for those elusive career defining nights.

The heavyweights

The heavyweight scene is bubbling up nicely. National treasure Tyson Fury will have his second date with Wladimir Klitschko, possibly around April. The landscape will become much clearer upon the outcome of that. I’ll predict that Fury will prove it was no fluke first time round, with another points win against the faded Ukrainian. The stage could then be set for a unification meeting with American Deontay Wilder towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua will continue his steady ascent up the ladder against some hopefully stiffer opposition.

Best of the rest

Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley will do it all again for a third time in April. Pacquiao is telling us that the decider is his farewell bout. Should he lose, it may well be. But, expect a Pacquiao win followed by a sudden change of heart.

Pick of the bunch could be occasional boxer Andre Ward’s potential meeting with light heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev. To those who don’t remember, Kovalev is the guy who beat up Nathan Cleverley a few years ago. The fight is being heavily talked up but still appears to have a way to go before being rubber stamped. What’s certain is that Ward needs to see some action in 2016 or else a once stellar looking career risks stalling. If that fight doesn’t happen, Kovalev v Adonis Stevenson is a none too shabby alternative.

Finally, the vibrant British scene has some other tasty morsels to keep an eye out for. Lee Selby v Josh Warrington is a classic boxer v fighter match-up should it happen and the increasingly impressive Chris Eubank Jnr may well get a return against Billy Joe Saunders.

That’s your lot.