Malignaggi, Nelson, Froch, Bellew, Moore and Coldwell pick their ideal scraps
Sunday 31 December 2017 09:42, UK
Boxing's biggest stars will return to action next year and The Panel have revealed their dream wishlist of fights for 2018.
Gennady Golovkin is expected to battle Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for a second time, while America's No 1 Terence Crawford will pick his next opponent, and Britain's best fighters can also continue their rise.
We asked our panel of experts to pick the fight they most want to see in the next 12 months...
Keith Thurman and Errol Spence Jr two are the two best welterweights in the world right now and with respect to Jeff Horn who is a world champion for a reason, they are a level above the rest.
It's obviously a unification, but the fact that they are both so skilled and so strong, means there is a lot to like about this.
They've both got world titles so it's obviously a unification, but the fact that they are both so skilled and so strong, means there is a lot to like about this.
They both got here the hard way, with Thurman taking care of Danny Garcia and Spence Jr obviously going over the UK to take the IBF away from Kell Brook last year and people like them and want to watch them. Especially when the best is fighting the best.
I've said it before but it makes more sense than ever - to me at least - George Groves against James DeGale II.
They'd both think they'll win it and above all, it is the sort of needle fight, I like. And I think most British boxing fans would like to see this again, too.
I've gone on record saying I can only see Chris Eubank Jr beating Groves in the World Boxing Series and DeGale has just lost, so I think it should happen. They'd both be up for it, they'd both think they'll win it and above all, it is the sort of needle fight, I like. And I think most British boxing fans would like to see this again, too.
It should get DeGale going again and he'll need to improve from his last performance. Facing Groves should bring the best out of him again and you don't need to tell me Groves will have fun in the build-up, but it all depends on what Eubank Jr does to him.
It's Christmas, so I'm going for two fights. But if you were to say which one would I pay to watch? It would be the rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Saul Alvarez.
The second fight will be even better than the first, because Alvarez knows what cost him that fight last time was him being too inactive.
The second fight will be even better than the first, because Alvarez knows what cost him that fight last time was him being too inactive. Golovkin also knows that he needs to get straight on him and get to work earlier. Both men will adjust and it makes for an even better fight.
I want to see Terence Crawford against Errol Spence Jr too. I would go with Crawford, because I think he's got an old school boxing brain. He goes out and has a look at his opponent, breaks them down, and adjusts. He can fight, he can box, and that boxing brain gives him an advantage over everyone else right now.
I was thinking about the rematch between Golovkin and Alvarez, but I've been hearing Canelo's team aren't really the easiest people to deal with. Golovkin took the short straw last time, so I think that might get pushed back until September, so wouldn't it be great if Billy Joe Saunders fight Gennady Golovkin.
I actually think if it did happen, it would certainly be a fight Billy Joe could win.
He was absolutely brilliant against David Lemieux and that was a big, big statement and going in against 'Triple G' could well be the fight that puts him right up there. I am sure he knew going into Lemeiux that one small mistake could be the end of him and it would be the same against Golovkin.
But he had to stick to the gameplan to a tee and if he does it against Golovkin, he has the perfect style and their's would gel really well. I actually think if it did happen, it would certainly be a fight Billy Joe could win.
It may be a dream and it won't go down well with one of my Sky Sports colleagues, but what about David Haye against Anthony Joshua.
Those two at Wembley Stadium, around the end of the summer, would be the one fight that would get the whole country watching.
I can see Haye winning the rematch with Tony Bellew so if that happens, I am sure David will go looking for 'AJ' and I don't think anyone would argue if that could happen.
Joshua already has a huge, huge following but don't forget Haye does as well, so those two at Wembley Stadium, around the end of the summer, would be the one fight that would get the whole country watching.
I would love to see Vasyl Lomachenko against Mikey Garcia, because it's such a good fight. I think Lomachenko wins, but Garcia is going to pose him problems that he hasn't encountered before - punch power, punch resistance, size. Different things that Lomachenko hasn't had to handle yet, so that for me is a big, big fight.
He's as strong as they come, can punch hard with either hand, and will pose different threats to Vasyl Lomachenko.
I don't believe Garcia is on the same level as Lomachenko when it comes to boxing brains, especially when it comes to foot movement and things like that.
It will be a good fight, because Garcia is never going to back down. He's as strong as they come, can punch hard with either hand, and will pose different threats to Vasyl Lomachenko, but ultimately he will still go the same as the other fighters by ending with an L on his record.
So who is YOUR stand-out star we will see in 2018? Comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.
