Ten dream boxing bouts that could take place during 2017

A battle for Manchester bragging rights between home fighters Crolla and Flanagan will be a great British bout in the heart of the city.

With dethroned former WBA lightweight champion Crolla now confirmed to challenge Jorge Linares in a rematch beforehand, and Flanagan still in possession of the WBO title, the pair provide another mammoth fight night at the Manchester Arena.

Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury

This heavyweight grudge match has been brewing for quite some time now between the pair of Brits, and a showdown later in the 2017 would be huge.

If Joshua can overcome Wladimir Klitschko, which he is 5/1 with Coral to do by knockout inside rounds 1-3 on April 29th, then a meeting with former unified champion and ‘Dr Steelhammer’ conqueror Fury could hopefully be agreed.

Sergey Kovalev v Andre Ward II

After Ward’s widely disputed points victory over Kovalev to become unified light-heavyweight champion, there have been widespread calls for an immediate rematch.

Whether the undefeated American will actually want to step into the ring once again with the hard-hitting Russian that floored him early on during their initial bout, however, is debatable. Although, only a second success for Ward over ‘Krusher’ will banish any doubts over his legacy.

Amir Khan v Kell Brook

British boxing fans could finally be treated to this intriguing grudge match between Sheffield’s Brook and Mancunian Khan, following years of speculation.

Both Brook and Khan were brutally halted by ‘GGG’ and Canelo respectively last year at much higher weights than usual, but a meeting between the pair at welterweight is a mouth-watering prospect. Particularly if Brook is still in possession of his IBF strap at the time.

Chris Eubank Jr v Billy Joe Saunders II

Reigning WBO middleweight champ Saunders outpointed bitter rival Eubank Jr back in 2014 and a follow-up showdown would settle their ongoing feud and provide great build-up for the fans to witness.

Vasyl Lomachenko v Guillermo Rigondeaux

In what is almost like a fantasy match-up between former Olympic Gold medallists and two of the greatest amateur fighters in history, Lomachenko against Rigondeaux is a boxing purist’s dream match-up.

Dynamic Ukrainian attacker Lomachenko would be a real threat to the slick defensive talents of Cuban Rigondeaux, though weight is a stumbling block that could scupper any possible bout.

Roman Gonzalez v Naoya Inoue

Nicaraguan master Gonzalez outdid Carlos Cuadras in September last year and an encounter against fellow unbeaten 112lbs champion Inoue of Japan would be a superb pair-up at the lower weights.

James DeGale v George Groves II

Since Groves defeated DeGale in 2011, their respective careers have taken very different paths. The latter has since become super-middleweight world champion and continues to make an impact in America, while Groves has been overcome three times by Carl Froch twice and Badou Jack.

Although, under the guidance of esteemed trainer Shane McGuigan, the west Londoner has gradually got himself back on track and could finally land himself world honours in 2017. Such an outcome could set up a truly mammoth unification rematch with DeGale.

Manny Pacquiao v Terence Crawford

Having impressively returned from a short-lived retirement in 2016 to dethrone Jessie Vargas and clinch the WBO welterweight crown, a tasty showdown with 140lbs kingpin Crawford is being pushed for.

‘Pacman’ has reportedly demanded $20m in order to take on such a risky bout at this stage of his career, while such a meeting could potentially propel Nebraska-born switch-hitter ‘Bud’ to boxing superstardom. He is seen as the 5/4 outsider to oust Pacquiao this year.

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