8 Fights We Want To See in 2022

From Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua to Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia to Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr., here are eight fights we want to see in 2022.

Canelo Alvarez Gennadiy Golovkin Rematch 2018 Las Vegas
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LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 15: Gennady Golovkin (R) punches Canelo Alvarez during their WBC/WBA middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Canelo Alvarez Gennadiy Golovkin Rematch 2018 Las Vegas

Keith Thurman is a former welterweight champion who not that long ago was considered the best at 147 pounds, was absolutely one of the most entertaining fighters to watch when he owned a couple of belts, and never pulled any punches in interviews. 

He hasn’t fought in two-and-a-half years since losing to Manny Pacquiao and now Thurman will headline a Pay-per-view Feb. 5 in his return to the ring. He’ll meet Mario Barrios, who is coming off a loss to Gervonta Davis, in a fight nobody is clamoring to see. 

I’m not trying to pick on Thurman or shade Barrios here, but their showdown is yet another example of how boxing more often than not doesn’t do its fans any favors. Forcing them fork over additional dollars for a fight they don’t need—which will go up against other interesting cards that same evening—is just par for the course. 

Boxing fans, of course, know that the sport’s problems stack higher than the bricks of $100s Floyd Mayweather loves to stunt with on Instagram. No. 1 on that list is the lack of marquee matchups being made between boxing’s superstars, mostly because the politics of the sport—with its warring promotions and network exclusivity—always get in the way of delivering what fans demand: highly consequential and attractive matchups between the best in the world. Barring some sort of industry-wide exorcism, boxing will continue to under-deliver and disappoint.

But that’s not going to stop fans of the sweet science from dreaming about mega-fights that should be made. So we’re back for another edition highlighting eight bouts that—fingers crossed—we’d really like to see happen in the new year. Notably, none of the eight we wished for at the beginning of 2021 were consummated. Some of the ones highlighted here are nothing but a pipe dream, while others could legitimately go down. But from my perspective, these are the eight I’d be most hyped to see in 2022. And I’d like to think most fans would agree.   

Just missed the cut: Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire II, Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, Shakur Stevenson vs. Oscar Valdez, Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano II, Jermall Charlo vs. Demetrius Andrade 

Jake Paul vs. A Real Boxer

Jake Paul first round knockout

Josh Taylor vs. Teófimo López

Josh Taylor Four Belts 2021 Las Vegas

Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia

Gervonta Davis Issac Cruz Los Angeles 2021

George Kambosos Jr. vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko

George Kambosos Jr Australia Belts 2021

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua Getty Images 2020

Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Román “Chocolatito” González

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Division: Super Flyweight

Records: Estrada 42-3, 28 KOs | Gonzalez 50-3, 41 KOs

Didn’t expect this one to be this high? Maybe you should’ve. When these two fought for the second time last February (their first fight went down nine years ago), it was a brutal but scintillating 12-round slugfest full of fireworks. They landed a combined 649 power punches which is bonkers and that’s why it’s my 2021 Fight of the Year. While Chocolatito, who just a few years ago looked completely washed, should’ve won in the eyes of many, Juan Francisco Estrada earned a controversial split decision. Regardless, Estrada and Chocolatito were supposed to square up for the third and final time this past fall, but Chocolatito reportedly came down with COVID and now the hope is the fight—verbally agreed upon—will happen early in 2022. Fighters weighing in at 115 pounds often get ignored by the public, but a third bout between the small sluggers cannot be missed.

Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin

Canelo Alvarez Gennady Golovkin 2 Getty 4 2018

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.

Terence Crawford Errol Spence Jr. 2021

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