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Remembering James “Black Gold” Shuler

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“If a man can fill the gap between life and death, if he can live after death, maybe he was a great man.” – James Dean

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the tragic death of James Shuler, the best pretender in the mediumweight division, a two -time amateur champion and a member of the American Olympic team. More years have passed since the Night of the Shulera Motorcycle Wreck in 1986, than he was given to him to influence the sport he loved; He was only 26 when he died, and for more than three decades of his death, boxing felt his absence.

“James’ death was destructive,” says Shulera’s cousin, Percy “Burster” Custus. “James was just a good man. He lived such a brief life. It was almost as if he did the good things he did and came out before anyone remembered bad things. “

Percy “Burster” Cost

Custus is the owner and trainer at the James Shuler Memorial gym in Philadelphia, about three miles from the former place of the Joe Frazier gym in northern Philly, where Shuler began boxing. Shuler escaped from the reality of the North Philly housing project, in which he grew up and stood out in sport, but was drawn into the cruel world of boxing, simply passing by the Frazier gym a day after the meeting. Fate was playing at the early stage of Shuler and never really stopped.

Shuler fell into the crotch in the middle of a huge American boxing wave. Before the American success at the 1976 Games in Montreal, about $ 16,000 received an American amateur boxing program a year. Three years later, the program was flooded almost USD 800,000 for money, and the amount was to exceed $ 1 million a year by the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980. At that time, Shuler developed a reported amateur record of 178 wins compared to six failures.

Shuler was a decorated amateur champion.
Shuler was a decorated amateur champion.

At the age of 19, Shuler won both gold gloves in Pennsylvania and domestic gold gloves, and then won the silver medal at the Mr. AM matches in 1979. But he didn’t finish. “We went to Novel York, and James went through [1979] World Championships, as if it were nothing, said Custus. Actually The Novel York Times Called Shuler “the most gone boxer” of the tournament. He chased greatness and pinched her heels, but 1980 was a year that threw many amateur boxing dreams.

In January, President Jimmy Carter called the US to boycott the upcoming Moscow Olympic Games, if the Soviet army did not withdraw from Afghanistan. Because the soldiers still in place two months later the boycott became official, ending the Olympic dream for hundreds of elite athletes. But even more tragic was what took place a few days before this announcement, when 22 members of the American boxing team, on the way to Warsaw to the amateur tournament, died in an air accident in Poland. Shuler was supposed to be in this flight, but he hurt his nose in a car accident and decided not to go.

James Shuler
In 1985, Shuler defeated James Kinchen by decision.

Amateur boxing moved on, like the Olympic Games. For some reason, also Olympic rehearsals, and Shuler won his place in a non -existent team in June. It was unfair, but he was well in Shulera’s narrative because he has already defeated Armando Martinez, eventually the winner of the Golden Medal in Moscow. Even the nickname Shulera, “Black Gold”, reflected the fact that he was preferred to win the Olympic tournament.

With his dreams of being an Olympian in the past, Shuler returned to Philadelphia and the gym, where it all began. When Joe Frazier decided to start managing fighters later in the same year, he initially signed two teenage perspectives: his son Marvis and James Shuler. A few days later, Shuler had his first professional match under the banner “Smokin” Joe Inc. ” And it didn’t take much time before Shuler won a special reputation.

Shuler
Shuler (right) with Marvis and Joe Frazier.

Custus said: “There was a time when we were somewhere in Novel York and James boxed in the series. James fights with this guy, hits him and knock him out of the ring. Then he helped him back to the ring like a gentleman. Everyone thought it was so special, but he was such a guy James. “

Being this life is wicked and corresponds to the kindness with the frigid, slowly leisurely madness towards its destiny began.

Fighting became Shulera’s life, but when he signed a contract with the promoter butch Lewis in his career, because he constrained himself to competing for backlighting with Michael Spinks duels, and Spinks was relatively inactive. So Shuler turned his family car into a taxi. “I had to support my daughters,” he said later. Nevertheless, Shuler found himself in the top ten races of the average ring of the ring in 1982 and remained there, looking for a shot at the world champion, the wonderful Marvin Hagler.

Within almost five years, in the ranks of Pro, the Top of Shulera withdrew the fringes of the NABF belt from “Sugar” Ray Seales, the age of the golden Olympic medalist from 1972, which was already chewed by the medium weight scene. She followed the quality of victory over Norberto Sabater and Clint Jackson, but he was disturbed by the fact that the stars of the 1984 Olympic boxing team signing Lucrative Pro contracts, while he remained relatively anonymous. What pushed him to claim the title of the world was James Kinchen’s squeak in early 1985, just two months before “The Fight”, this is a legendary clash between the wonderful Marvin and “The Motor City Cobra”.

Black gold.
Black gold.

After the brutal stop of Hagler “Hit Man” Hearns, the latter wanted a rematch as soon as possible. But they both lost a little tonight, and the injuries remained. In addition, Bob Arum from Top Rank claimed that he could not sell the idea that the rematch would end differently, that the return required a certain construction. This led to the fact that Hagler faced John Mugabie, while Hearns was to face Shuleer on the card. Until then, James had 22-0 with 16 knockouts and won with one of Hagler’s sparring partners, Jerry Holly. The card was still postponed because of Hagler’s injury and the recent manager of Shuler, Joe Hand, he was worried that his charge could occur to vine. But Shuler’s coach, Eddie Futch, remained confident, calling him “one of the best guarded secrets of boxing.” Shulera’s great chance to leave the shadows was finally established on March 10, 1986.

It is worth noting that in a subtle gesture, which would unfortunately become prophetic, Shuler gave the enthusiast of Hearns motorcycles a racing helmet during one of their press conferences from 1985.

Already a favorite from 5 to 2, Hearns received from Arum a bonus $ 500,000, if he stopped Shulera in less than six rounds. And Hagler’s band seemed to think that it was likely. “If Hearns has a head straight and if his right hand healed, he should throw Shulera into two parts,” said Pat Petronelli, co-chairman of Hagler. “Shuler eats his right hands.”

Hearns and Shuler before their 1986 showdown.
Hearns and Shuler before their 1986 showdown.

It just doesn’t make sense to have one life, and even shortened, crowded in 73 seconds, but that’s what James Shulera remembers.

Hearns, who often started at a leisurely pace when he sensed danger, threw full strength at Shuler moments in battle. Expecting a more technical boxing match of Tommy, Shuler was to chase, which led him to Hearns’s strength. The same right hand, which Petronelli predicted, broke straight by the guardian Shulera and folded him back after just a minute of action.

“I left myself open,” Shuler told reporters. “I just caught me. There is no excuse. When he hit me first, I thought, “I shoot, I can take him from him.” And then he hit me again. I think I was wrong. “

James Shuler Memorial Gym

In addition to the sting, which he first lost, Shuler was in a good mood and talked about a robust return. But it wasn’t.

Exactly a week after the fight, Shuler bought a red Kawasaki motorcycle and was on his way home when he collided with a trailer. Shuler was lying under a larger vehicle, and the observers began to shout: “Champ! Yo, Champ! “There was no answer. Shuler died at the scene.

Three days before the fight, Philadelphia Inquirer The writer Sarajane Freligigh wrote an article entitled “Philly Kid, whose time has come.” Exactly three weeks later, on March 28, Fraper’s article was the header: “Boxer’s Requiem: Shuler’s Corner is now empty.”

Hearns flew to Philadelphia for Shuler’s funeral and suggested that he would place the NABF belt, which he won from him in the shuler casket. Shulera’s family rejected the offer. “Hearns, deserved this belt,” said James Darryl’s brother. “This belt belongs to him. I am sure that James would like him to keep this belt and defend him well. “

Bob Arum said: “[James] He approached my room in the hotel day after [Hearns] Fight and thanked me personally. He is the only warrior who did it. “

It was a brief career, but Shuler still waves in boxing, and today the waves are moved further than his life. Gym Joe Frazier was once called a “temple, a university saving children, saving adults”, and since 1993 James Shuler Memorial Gym is seeking the same work.

Mural inside the gym.
Mural inside the gym.

“Joe [Frazier’s] The gym is the only gym I’ve ever went to, unless they took us for sparring, “said Custus. “I went to the gym in North Philly, so the children would have no trouble in West Philly.” And now Philly has a recent pugilistic unthreatening haven, James Shuler Memorial Gymwhich would not be there if it wasn’t for Shuler’s death.

A knowledgeable boy to move away
From the fields where the glory does not remain,
And early, although the laurel is growing
Put faster than a rose.

– “He is an athlete dying teenage”, AE Housman, 1896 – Patrick Connor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URZSBLMNZUE

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Vasyl Lomachenko is “The Matrix”: all the best to Hi-Tech

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On this day in 1988 in southwestern Ukraine, a future champion, a true recent champion, was born, and that’s all the excuse we need to revisit our take on one of “Hi-Tech’s” most impressive performances with Lee Wylie’s excellent film about Lomachenko’s ring brilliance, “The Tricks.” Elated birthday from everyone at The Fight City to the one and only Vasyl Lomachenko. Check it out:

On Saturday night, MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland hosted arguably the most talented player in the game, Vasyl Lomachenko, who, dressed in green and black in homage to his latest nickname, “The Matrix,” well and truly lived up to the lofty expectations many had for him. Indeed, he made a show that could be considered science fiction, and it was a miracle.

Against the tough Jason Sosa, Lomachenko was simply dazzling. What was admirable was the way he switched seamlessly between offensive brilliance and defensive skill. Much of that genius came from his masterful footwork; superlatives alone do not fully convey the virtuosity of his movements. Lomachenko reads his opponents similarly to Neo’s “matrix” and it is almost unfair.

It was a dazzling display of skill from a man many consider the best fighter in the world.

Sosa turned out to be his match opponent and gave his all to fight Lomachenko, but it was clear that he had no chance against the Ukrainian. It was a break from the first bell. Most of Sosa’s punches seemed to only land in the air, and instead he was peppered with punches from all sides.

Only after nine one-sided rounds did Sosa stop the fight from a corner kick, although one can’t lend a hand but feel that if Lomachenko hadn’t been having so much fun, he might have ended it earlier. Like a cat playing with a mouse, Lomachenko was playing with his superior opponent. He taunted Sosa, effortlessly dodging punches, at one point imitating a matador taunting a rushing bull with his cape; he even imitated the clearly armed Sosa several times to better demonstrate his complete superiority. It’s clear that Lomachenko’s showmanship is now a key part of his personality.

In the end, “Hi-Tech” landed 275 punches compared to Sosa’s paltry 68 punches. The fight wasn’t even, but finding a worthy opponent for the former amateur star is clearly becoming a arduous task. Looking not only at his dominance over Sosa, but also at his one-sided victories over Nicholas Walters and Roman Martinez, one can’t lend a hand but feel that nothing low of the best opponent available could even dream of giving the Ukrainian virtuoso a competitive battle, let alone beating him. According to the man himself, reunification is currently at the top of the list, but if it fails, the next step will be to jump on the scale.

“I’ll call Bob (Arum) and tell him I only want to fight champions,” Lomachenko said after the fight. “I’m going to ask if we can get any of the 130-pound champions. If they refuse to fight, I’ll move up to 135. I’d like to fight Flanagan in England. [Mikey] Garcia would be great. I would like to fight this fight soon.”

Garcia and Flanagan are breathtaking matchups, but it looks like Lomachenko has other gigantic names in his sights as well. There’s also the only fighter to beat him in the professional rankings, Orlando Salido, and another pound-for-pound title contender in Terence Crawford.

“The first time we fought, I felt like a third-grader fighting a 12th-grader,” said Lomachenko of “Siri.” “Now I’ve graduated and I want to invite Salido to my university. And I’m heading towards Terence Crawford. I know it’s a gigantic fight and I know people want to see it.”

However, regardless of what matches take place in the coming months, Lomachenko has already proven that he is one of the most talented fighters to grace boxing in many years. This is a unique and astonishing talent, the kind we only see a few times in each generation. His skills are unmatched in contemporary fighting games, and the only drawback is that without famed opponents to fight, it is possible that his unique talents may go undiscovered by mainstream sports fans. And that would be a real shame. —Daniel Attias

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2025: summary of the year

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How to sum up the just ended year in professional boxing? As we look back to 2025, we’re obviously grateful for Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue, as well as Jesse Rodriguez, Fabio Wardley, Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr., but we’re also a bit frustrated with the lackluster activity levels of so many of the sport’s top talents and the overall dearth of high-level fight cards. For some of us here on your favorite independent boxing site, getting used to 21st century boxing is still a challenge. That said, this post is about taking some time to acknowledge the achievements of the year just ended and highlight the positives. So, without further ado, the fights and fighters who have earned our recognition and desired awards. Check them out:

Nominations for “Annoyance of the Year”:
Rolando Romero W12 Ryan Garcia
Fabio Wardley via 11 TKO of Joseph Parker
Armando Resendiz W12 Caleb Plant
Aaron McKenna W12 Liam Smith
Brown tiara SD10 Skye Nicolson
Lewis Crocker W12 Paddy Donovan

Winner: Armando Resendiz W12 Caleb Plant

Resendiz had two losses in his last five fights and was considered just a busy opponent for Plant, who seemed to be established at the elite level of the super middleweight division. However, all preconceptions about this match were quickly forgotten when the underdog Mexican, clearly dissatisfied with Plant’s credibility, defied all expectations, not only causing a huge upset, but doing so emphatically and even coming close to scoring. It was a huge shock that forced everyone to reassess the position of both players.

Knockout of the Year nominations:
Masataka Taniguchi KO3 Condor Inaba
Fabio Wardley KO10 Justis Huni
Cayden Griffiths KO10 Fernando Elias Ruiz Hernandez
Anthony Joshua KO6 Jake Paul
Janibek Alimkhanuly KO5 Anaeul Ngmissengue
Elilf Nur Speak TKO6 Beatriz Ferreira
Brian Norman Jr KO5 Jin Sasaki

Winner: Anthony Joshua KO6 Jake Paul

One devastating right hand not only broke Jake Paul’s jaw in two places, but effectively ended his absurd claims to being an elite professional boxer once and for all. Some have been more spectacular, more brutal and more shocking, but no other knockout in 2025 has had even a greater impact on the sport. With any luck, Jake Paul’s boxing experiment will finally come to an end.

Nominations for the round of the year:
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 1, round 12
Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro, round 10
Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes, round 11
Jesse Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez, round 10
Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kombosos Jr, round 8
Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alverez, round 9
Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley, round 10
Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas, round 2
Cristobal Lorente vs. Nate Collins, round 6

Winner: Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes, round 11

Mason vs. Noakes was a standout match in a year of excellent action-packed fights, and one of the main reasons for that was the three minutes of the penultimate round of the fight, a thrilling war within a war filled with acute exchanges and changing dynamics that kept fans on the edge of their seats from bell to bell. This epitomized the constant nature of the brutal battle itself, which showcased the high skill, stamina and incredible heart of both fighters, with Mason ultimately winning by unanimous decision.

Performance of the Year nominations:
Dmitry Bivol W12 Artur Beterbiev
Terence Crawford W12 Canelo Alvare
Naoya Inoue W12 Achmali
Jesse Rodriguez KO10 Fernando Martinez
Alycia Baumgardner W12 Leila Beaudoin
Katie Taylor W12 Amanda Serrano

Winner: Terence Crawford

It wasn’t that long ago that Terence Crawford was a welterweight and many of us may have thought “there’s a reason they have weight classes” when the Crawford vs. Canelo fight was first announced. Also significant was the fact that Canelo had established himself as the undisputed king at 168 pounds, occasionally moving up to lightweight heavyweight, so once again, Crawford vs. Canelo looked on paper like the proverbial “good massive man vs. good little man” fight, which, as any student of boxing history knows, usually doesn’t end well for the smaller man. So it was a surprise and an impressive performance when Crawford not only won, but outclassed Canelo with a masterful display of skill and flair to take a one-sided decision and claim a historically significant victory. Unlike other awards, choosing “2025 Performance of the Year” was basic.

Fight of the Year nominations:
Chris Eubank Jr. W12 Coner Benn
Dmitry Bivol W12 Artur Beterbiev
Katie Taylor W12 Amanda Serrano
Kenshiro Teraji via TKO12 Seigo Yuri Akui
Shadasia Green W10 Savannah Marshall
Naoya Inoue KO8 Ramon Cardenas
Christian Mbilli D10 Lester Martinez
Total Nakatani W12 Sebastian Hernandez

Winner: Kenshiro Teraji via TKO12 Seigo Yuri Akui

2025 was an exceptional year for dramatic, action-packed battles, which made choosing our Fight of the Year quite a challenging task, but in the end we had to say that nothing could top the fireworks that accompanied the March flyweight unification bout between Japanese fighters Teraji and Akui at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo. There was action throughout the match, round after furious one, before Teraji, lagging behind on the scorecards, charged with momentum to force a dramatic stoppage in the twelfth and final round.

Warrior of the Year nominations:
Terence Crawford
Katie Taylor
Jesse Rodriguez
Naoya Inoue
Jai Opetaia

Urban: Assist me

Not that there is any doubt about these parts, but 2025 can be considered the year Naoya Inoue proved beyond any doubt that he is an all-time great boxer. As everyone knows, four championship victories in one calendar year is an extraordinary achievement in today’s fighting game, but in this case it is even more extraordinary because Inoue is 32 years senior and has been competing at the championship level since 2014. And he is still undefeated.

Nothing but championship victories since 2014.

Besides, these weren’t four routine title defenses. Both Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Ramon Cardenas presented significant challenges; both were ranked high in the super bantamweight division and both deserved a chance to fight for world titles. Inoue had to recover from a knockout to beat Cardenas by eighth-round TKO, and Akhmadaliev’s skill was such that one suspects that nothing less than the superb technical execution the champion delivered could have neutralized the tough Uzbek. Yes, the victories over Alan Picasso and Ye Joon Kim were more superficial, but also dominant.

To recap, Inoue not only scored four championship victories in 2025; he gave four master classes in the art of boxing, losing several valuable minutes, not to mention rounds, while eliminating two of the most threatening challengers remaining in his division. If anyone had any doubts about Naoya Inoue’s greatness, 2025 should have eliminated them. He is an all-time great fighter and is once again our Fighter of the Year. –Robert Portis

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2026: The fights we need to see

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As anyone reading this knows, the life of a stern boxing fan can be complex these days when we see so many talented fighters turn their backs on meaningful fights, the most intriguing fights the sport has to offer, and instead see guys like Jake Paul mocking “The Sweet Science.” Too much marinating, too many social media feuds, too many celebrities and YouTubers, and too few stern fights: it’s a complaint that’s been around for a long time, and there’s no sign that this regrettable trend will reverse anytime soon. But hope springs forever, right, fighting freaks? So here, in no particular order, is the list of the most critical fights we need to see in 2026. Some are possible, some are fanciful, but all would be intriguing for different reasons. Please feel free to comment and add any matches you miss and we may add them to the list. Check them out:

1. Artur Beterbiev vs. David Benavidez: Talk about pure violence and the perfect fight chaser in 2025 that left a bad taste in our mouths. This fight basically guarantees non-stop action as it features Beterbiev’s aggression and one-shot KO power against Benavidez’s relentless pressing style. The fight will pit the older, more experienced Beterbiev, who has a near-perfect knockout rate, against the “Mexican Monster,” who is in great shape and known for his durability. With both tough fighters willing to take the shot to land it, this looks like a can’t-miss war for the ages, not to mention a showdown that would cement the winner’s stern legacy at 175 pounds.

Benavidez will be put to the test of Beterbiev’s strength.

2. Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani: Without a doubt, this bout represents the biggest event in the history of Japanese professional boxing and is a must-see fight for fans around the world as it will feature two of the best undefeated pound-for-pound fighters in top form, a infrequent event. Both possess exceptional power and high technical skill, not to mention contrasting styles, with the orthodox, more combative Inoue facing the taller, longer southpaw in Nakatani. Both fighters scored critical victories (though admittedly not Nakatani’s most impressive victory), and Inoue vs. Nakatani represents the true elite-versus-elite showdown that the sport must undoubtedly deliver in the first half of the modern year. Let’s hope that the current authorities recognize the importance of this duel and make it happen.

Inoue
Inoue: Is he still a “monster” or is Nakatani ready to take him down?

3. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Fabio Wardley: The story of Fabio Wardley is inspiring and unlikely, and the bottom line is that the Suffolk native clearly deserved a chance on The Cat. You can also dismiss Wardley as a terrible scorer if you want, but it’s actually a fascinating matchup between Usyk’s technical mastery and Wardley’s raw strength and underdog spirit. Yes, Usyk, the undisputed champion with an unblemished record, represents a huge step up for Wardley in the competition, but the Briton’s immense knockout power means he is a constant threat and there is still the potential for a dramatic upset. The clash of styles combined with the high stakes of a heavyweight title match would make for a fascinating and unpredictable spectacle, and likely a very engaging action-packed fight.

Can Wardley shock Usyk too?

4. Naoya Inoue vs. Isse Rodriguez: “Bam” Rodriguez vs. “Monster” Inoue may be the best fight in all of professional boxing right now, as it would be a matchup between two elite, undefeated boxers going pound-for-pound, as well as a matchup between a highly experienced future Hall of Famer and a youthful elite-level talent. The stylistic differences between Rodriguez’s high IQ and angle-making compared to Inoue’s devastating power and peaceful promise to be an explosive rivalry. Both possess brilliant skills and impressive knockout rates, making for a must-see dramatic spectacle. Ultimately, a victory for either fighter would be a career-defining moment and cement their place in boxing history.

Is “Bam” ready to become the king of P4P boxing?

5. Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney II: Talk about a guilty pleasure. By no means does Ryan Garcia deserve a high-profile fight and a massive payday, and yet a Haney vs. Garcia rematch steeped in fierce personal rivalry and controversial history would be an irresistible attraction. In the first fight, the hard-fought Garcia won by majority vote, but the decision was overturned after he tested positive for stimulants, leaving an atmosphere of “unfinished business.” Fans can’t wait to see if Garcia can prove he can win cleanly, or if Haney will be able to redeem himself and finally settle the score. The potential rematch could also become a significant title unification fight if Garcia defeats Mario Barrios for the WBC belt.

The Garcia vs. Haney rematch could look completely different.

6. Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Jaron “Boots” Ennis: Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s potential fight and Jaron “Boots” Ennis in 2026 promises to be a high-stakes clash of undefeated talents in excellent form. The fight features a fascinating, contrasting style: Ortiz Jr. is a relentless pressure fighter with knockout power, while Ennis offers agile skills, switch-hitting ability, and powerful speed. This active raises genuine questions about who will come out on top, making it the unpredictable 50-50 fight we all want, with the winner poised to assume supremacy at 154 pounds.

Jaron Ennis
Can “Boots” be better than “The Texas Machine”?

7. Daniel Dubois vs. Moses Itauma: Itauma vs. Dubois in 2026 will be a high-stakes battle and a crossroads between the experienced, hard-hitting former titleholder and the undefeated prodigy. The clash of styles between the precision and speed of the southpaw Itauma and the experience and physical strength of Dubois should create fascinating drama in the ring. Since both generate significant power, the fight offers a high probability of a spectacular final finish. Additionally, this domestic clash could serve as a turning point for British boxing, potentially ushering in the next dominant force in the heavyweight division.

Will Itauma be the next great heavyweight champion?

8. Shakur Stevenson vs. Devin Haney: Stevenson vs. Haney would have pitted two of the most talented, high-IQ American boxers of their generation against each other in their prime. Ideally, this would lead to a compelling chess match that would allow fans to see both fighters at their technical best. With Shakur’s elite defense and distance management compared to Haney’s size, reach, and tactical adjustments, the fight offers a compelling contest of skill, not just pure strength, and a battle that will intensify as the situation unfolds over the twelve-round distance. The two have expressed mutual respect and desire for a legacy-defining fight to take place at the right time, so why not do it in 2026?

A win over Haney would be a breakthrough win for Shakur.

9. Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol III: In brief, the Beterbiev vs. Bivol trilogy in 2026 must take place. We have some unfinished business here and fight fans deserve to have them resolved. Their first two fights were invigorating, close as nails, majority decisions, with each fighter securing one victory. The fascinating clash of styles – Beterbiev’s unrelenting power and pressure against Bivol’s precision and movement – gave us active and unpredictable fights, and Chapter Three would probably be just as competitive, but something tells us one of these two will make its mark on the competition. Ultimately, the winner cemented his position as the undisputed king of the division in one of the best rivalries in recent years.

The Bivol vs. Beterbiev III fight must take place.

10. Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach II: Unfinished business again. Roach was robbed when the first fight ended in a majority judges draw and everyone knows it. And then he got robbed again while fighting Isaac Cruz. He deserves a return and a massive payday, while Davis owes fight fans a performance truly befitting his talents, as well as a final finish, one way or another. Roach’s ability to counter Tank’s power and even stagger him in the initial fight showed competitive balance that surprised many; Can “The Reaper” replicate this fight and make the second fight compelling? Both fighters expressed immediate interest in replaying the fight, pointing to the high likelihood of an invigorating and action-packed matchup. Both Davis and Roach need this fight and so do the fans. –Neil Crane

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