Release at the back end of 2016, WBN’s ‘Seventeen Fights’ series logs some of the biggest battles in the hope that they come to fruition in the coming year.
Below is the 2017 list and whether or not the fight came about or was even close to becoming a reality.
Heavyweight – Deontay Wilder v Anthony Joshua
No real attempts to get the fight over the line on the part of Joshua in 2017, although there could possibly be some movement by the summer of 2018.
Cruiserweight – Oleksandr Usyk v Murat Gassiev
Both fighters signed on for the World Boxing Super Series in 2017 meaning a fight could happen in May of next year should both come through their respective semi-finals in February.
Light-heavyweight – Andre Ward v Sergey Kovalev II
The fight took place in June, 2017 and resulted in an eight round stoppage for Ward.
Super-middleweight – James DeGale v George Groves II
Groves joined the WBSS as DeGale nursed an injury through the majority of the year. Should Groves lose to Chris Eubank Jr. in his semi-final, a second fight could revive their careers as DeGale recently lost his IBF title.
Middleweight – Gennady Golovkin v Canelo Alvarez
Both men traded punches in September 2017, and following a debated draw, are set to meet again in May 2018.
Super-welterweight – Miguel Cotto v Juan Manuel Marquez
Despite initial talks in 2016, the clash never got off the ground and legends have both now hung up their gloves for good.
Welterweight – Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao II
Despite Mayweather being retired, WBN predicted the former pound for pound king would make a comeback in 2017, although UFC’s Conor McGregor was the chosen opponent.
Super-lightweight – Terence Crawford v Mikey Garcia
No movement on a fight yet, but rumor has it Top Rank are interested in the fight should Garcia accept.
Lightweight – Jorge Linares v Anthony Crolla II
The fight happened in March and was more convincing than the first in favor of Linares.
Super-featherweight – Francisco Vargas v Vasyl Lomachenko
Both boxers won at separate venues this month and could be put forward to collide in 2018 should Top Rank and Golden Boy agree to work together again.
Featherweight – Carl Frampton v Guillermo Rigondeaux
Frampton certainly would have been a better option than Lomachenko for Rigondeaux, who is now considering his next move following a one-sided defeat.
Super-bantamweight – Jessie Magdaleno v Scott Quigg
Quigg’s move up to featherweight meant any fight was a non-starter.
Bantamweight – Shinsuke Yamanaka v Luis Nery
Yamanaka v Nery went down in August with a second helping ordered for 2018.
Super-flyweight – Roman Gonzalez v Naoya Inoue
A shock loss for Gonzalez meant any chance of a contest disappeared.
Flyweight – Kazuto Ioka v Donnie Nietes
Both fighters remain on separate paths.
Light-flyweight – Kosei Tanaka v Pedro Guevara
A future fight at the flyweight limit remains possible.
Minimumweight – Wanheng Menayothin v Knockout CP Freshmart
Nothing came to fruition but it remains the biggest fight out there at 105.
Look out for WBN’s list for 2018 due out later this month.
