2008 preview - Top 10 all-British dream fights by Oliver Fennell Dec 21st 2007

1- David Haye v Enzo Maccarinelli, WBC/WBA/WBO cruiserweight championships Why? This made number three on my list last year, but both men have gone on to bigger things, making the fight even more enticing now. Haye scored one of the famous British victories on foreign soil by dethroning world leader Jean-Marc Mormeck in November, while WBO titlist Maccarinelli validated his own credentials by soundly outpointing Wayne Braithwaite in July. These results make them natural rivals in a battle for not only domestic superiority, but world renown too. And it's not just the high stakes which make this so appealing – both men possess a combination of power and vulnerability, which would make for an utterly compelling spectacle. Who would win? There is an air of “who lands first” with this one – but then both men have risen from the canvas to score knockouts, so perhaps it would actually be more a case of “who gets up first”. It's a tough pick, but I'll go for the man who's proved himself at the higher level – Haye. Will it happen? There's no doubt both men want it, but it is their managements who have proved coy in the past. Now, with Haye considering an immediate move to heavyweight instead of dragging his 16st body back down to cruiser again – and natural 14st 4lb man Maccarinelli not fancying a trip north – it looks more unlikely than ever. 2- Clinton Woods v Joe Calzaghe, IBF light-heavyweight championship Why? For Calzaghe, it would be a chance to become a two-weight world champion, having cleaned up at super-middle. For Woods, it would be a huge reward for his many years of hard work away from the spotlight. Not to mention it would probably be a more exciting fight than Calzaghe against Bernard Hopkins. Who would win? The fight would probably resemble Calzaghe's against Mikkel Kessler, with the Welshman's greater speed and versatility overcoming a man who is good in all areas but exceptional in none. Will it happen? It's got a better chance of happening now than 12 months ago. Calzaghe has long coveted a world title in a second weight division, and while Hopkins offers a big financial incentive, he doesn't hold a major belt. Woods, for his part, would likely jump at the chance. 3- Junior Witter v Ricky Hatton, WBC light-welterweight championship Why? I asked for it this time last year and fans in general have been asking for it since, what, 1999? This match has everything – the contrast of fighting styles and personalities, a genuine grudge, and an unpredictable outcome in a confrontation of world class men with points to prove. I don't blame Hatton for not meeting Witter in 2007, as Jose Luis Castillo and Floyd Mayweather were much bigger fights, but now Hatton has lost and Witter has upped his game with a resounding knockout of Vivian Harris, they are once again obvious rivals. Some say the match doesn't appeal to American TV, but I say forget the Yanks – get this fight signed and watch 50,000 people turn up to any football stadium in the land. Who would win? Very difficult to pick, and it all depends to how Hatton comes back from his humbling at the fists of Mayweather. Then again, Witter himself is an erratic sort. Assuming they are both at their best, then Hatton runs Witter out of the ring in the late rounds, but if you're only as good as your last fight, then Junior follows Mayweather's blueprint and bags a close but unanimous decision. Will it happen? If Hatton, having been beaten and returning to light-welterweight without a major title, still doesn't think it makes sense to fight WBC champ Witter, he probably never will. 4- Joe Calzaghe v Carl Froch, WBO super-middleweight championship Why? In the unlikely event Calzaghe elects to stay at super-middle after all, his most attractive opponent is probably Froch. “The Cobra” is pretty much unproven at world level, but he looks to have bags of talent and certainly believes in himself. His motor mouth will sell the fight and possibly get under Calzaghe's skin, leading to a bit of a tear-up. Both have exciting styles and it would be a classic meeting of youth and experience. Who would win? On all available evidence, you'd have to go for Calzaghe. Froch's appeal so far lies more in his potential than his accomplishments. It could be that this match sees him rise to the next level, and Calzaghe has to grow old someday, but still, I feel the questions are more about how Calzaghe would win, rather than if he would. Will it happen? I doubt it. Calzaghe will only stay at super-middle if matches with Hopkins or Woods can't be made, and even if he does stay at 12st, he'd probably prefer more lucrative assignments against imminently rising American middleweights Kelly Pavlik or Jermain Taylor. 5- Amir Khan v Jon Thaxton, Commonwealth and British lightweight championships Why? It's another classic youth-versus-experience showdown, with old guard Thaxton standing in the way of Khan's ambitions to become Britain's youngest world champion. Khan has talent to spare, but Thaxton punches hard and finishes strong; two qualities likely to test Khan's biggest perceived weaknesses – chin and stamina. Who would win? Khan has had a rollercoaster year and the winner depends on which evidence is presented. The Khan who was decked by a light-hitting Willie Limond would be flattened by Thaxton, but the one who wiped out Graham Earl in 72 seconds would be a hot favourite, especially if faced with the Thaxton who struggled with unheralded Dave Stewart last time out. I'll go for the latter permutation, with Khan getting a mid-rounds stoppage in a fight which remains entertaining due to Thaxton's spirit. Will it happen? It's already being talked about for February, although nothing had been confirmed at the time of writing. Khan has nine months in which to launch his record-attempting world title bid, plenty of time to accommodate a Thaxton who should give him some vital extra seasoning. Therefore, I expect these two to get it on in one of Khan's next two contests. 6- Enzo Maccarinelli v Herbie Hide, WBO cruiserweight championship Why? How about this for a consolation prize in the likely event we don't get Haye-Maccarinelli? Two-time WBO heavyweight holder Hide has resurrected himself as a cruiserweight in Germany, winning five on the trot against modest opposition, and is now targeting his compatriot champions. It's a long time since Hide has beaten a fighter of note, but he was a murderous puncher as a heavyweight, so it will be interesting to see what he can do against Maccarinelli, a cruiserweight who has been dropped and stopped before. Similarly, Hide is known for his fragile chin, and Maccarinelli is one of the biggest punchers in the division. Either way, it promises to be quick and spectacular. Who would win? It has to be Maccarinelli, given he has been mixing in a far higher class than Hide for several years now, and that Herbie can be decked with glancing blows. Enzo also has the greater composure, while Hide is a bit wild in his approach. It would probably be over between one and four rounds, but can't fail to be exciting while it lasts. Will it happen? Probably not. Hide is based in Germany due to legal problems in the UK, but even if these are resolved, I don't think Maccarinelli's promoter, Frank Warren, would fancy it – too much risk for too little reward. 7- Alex Arthur v Scott Harrison, WBO interim super-featherweight championship Why? This has been talked about in the past, with the two fighters near each other's weight classes and from the rival cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, but Harrison went flying off the rails this year, going in and out of prison and on and off the wagon. But towards the end of the year he sobered up and announced he was planning to fight again. He was ringside for Arthur-Stephen Foster Jr and looked in decent shape. At the same time, Arthur went to hell and back against domestic-level Foster, casting a question mark over his world title claim. If Harrison can come back with a couple of solid wins, he'd be a live challenger for Arthur. Who would win? Until we see Harrison's form when he fights again, Arthur must be favoured, even with the Foster struggle. A peak Harrison would have destroyed the Arthur of that night, but it's hard to imagine Scott getting back to his best after the abuses of the past year. I see Arthur winning on a clear points decision or late stoppage, but Harrison giving it a brave effort and earning a moral victory. Will it happen? Who knows? Despite his comeback announcement, it is possible Harrison might not even fight again. But if he can win, say, three contests of increasing quality, his name value alone could lead to a title challenge near the end of the year – with fellow Scot Arthur being the obvious choice. 8- Bradley Pryce v Jamie Moore, Commonwealth light-middleweight championship Why? In one corner, you'd have Commonwealth champ Pryce, known for his huge heart and power. In the other corner would be Moore, an incessantly aggressive type with a similarly unquenchable spirit. Both have been in fights of the year and both have designs on world championships. The winner would take a huge step towards such a goal. Who would win? It's a tough pick, as both men have lost to lesser fighters than each other, but are also both much-improved. Pryce has a slight advantage in momentum, coming off two impressive knockout defences, while Moore looked a little flat through 2007. On current form, I think Pryce would triumph late or on points in a fight which is gruelling from bell to bell. Will it happen? Moore has a shoulder operation coming up which will likely keep him out of action for the first half of the year. After that, he has a rescheduled European title attempt to look forward to. This only leaves the last quarter of the year for Pryce-Moore, and I suspect by then one or both of them will be looking beyond their domestic rivals. 9- Gavin Rees v Colin Lynes, WBA or European and British light-welterweight championships Why? Lynes is arguably the most improved boxer in Britain and many rank him above Rees, despite the Welshman's world title distinction. The jury is still out on Rees, and a lot of questions will be answered when he defends against the favoured Andreas Kotelnik next month. If he comes through, Lynes would be an attractive challenger, and it would be a decent reward for Colin's good recent form. If Rees falls to Kotelnik, though, a challenge for Lynes' European and British crowns would be a great consolation. Whenever it happens, and for whichever championships, the winner can validate his world-level aspirations. Who would win? You'd think the squat, pudgy 5'3” Rees would be the perfect foil for the rangy, tactical 5' 8” Lynes – but then, who'd have thought Rees would have had a chance against Soulemane MBaye? And it could be that Rees, in tucking himself up small and rolling in and out of range, firing off the blurring handspeed that is trainer Enzo Calzaghe's trademark, proves a stylistic nightmare for the excellent but more conventional Lynes. I think I'll have to wait and see what happens in Rees-Kotelnik before I can make a more confident prediction, but for now I'll tentatively go for a buoyant Rees nicking a controversial decision. Will it happen? Probably not. I haven't heard anybody else talking about this, and even if Rees beats Kotelnik, the suspicion is he's simply keeping the belt warm for fellow Frank Warren fighter Amir Khan. Domestic matches between fighters from different outfits have always been difficult to make, and I can't imagine Rees – and his title – being risked against Lynes. There's an outside chance of it happening if Rees loses to Kotelnik, though. 10- Nicky Cook v Michael Hunter, featherweight Why? It would be a crossroads between popular and exciting battlers who came up the hard way and were pegged back in world title heartbreakers. Both men are popular and exciting performers, and a win over either man would go a long towards getting the victor back in contention for bigger things. Who would win? Cook's compact box-fighting, or taller Hunter's rangy and prolific slugging? Cook's power or Hunter's frightening fitness? Nicky's the naturally bigger man, having fought up at super-featherweight, while Hunter was a super-bantam until one contest ago. This could be the difference. I see Hunter making a fast start and perhaps going to an early lead, with the calmer Cook's better chin helping him ride the storm before his heavier artillery forces a stoppage in about eight rounds . Will it happen? Again, promotional rivalries get in the way, but with both men having been heavily defeated in the recent past, their managements might feel it's worth a gamble. But then neither man has a title, and Cook is talking of going back up to 9st 4lb, which would be too far for Hunter to follow. I suspect this one won't be made.

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