NEXT year could see the crowning of an undisputed heavyweight champion.
But the big boys’ division isn’t the only one where a king is waiting to be crowned.
And of course boxing fans will be praying tickets will be up for grabs to see some truly mouthwatering clashes live.
Here, SunSport lists seven fights that HAVE to happen in 2021…
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
It really is the ONLY fight boxing fans want to see made at heavyweight.
The two Brits hold all the belts and each have legions of passionate and knowledgeable fans.
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn says the fight has been ‘verbally agreed’ but Fury’s promoter Frank Warren will ensure his man gets the deal he wants.
It will be the biggest ever all-British fight, and if a rematch is written in it could be a HALF-A-BILLION pound double.
Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders
Following his demolition of the previously undefeated super-middleweight champ Callum Smith, many wonder whether Canelo will ever lose again.
But the outspoken WBO champ Saunders fancies it, and believes he has ‘all the tools in the box’ to win.
Saunders is undefeated, but many think he STILL hasn’t lived up to his promise despite being a two-weight world champ.
Only one way to find out…
Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr
The amount of belts flying around in boxing has recently been criticised by the legendary Floyd Mayweather no less.
If this fight is made at least one boxer will have three at welterweight – and they can always challenge Manny Pacquiao for the WBA version.
Both are unbeaten and have one thing in common – they have both battered Kell Brook in one-sided affairs
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Naoya Inoue
Lomachenko is likely to drop back down to featherweight after he was outmuscled, outfought and outthought last time out by Teofimo Lopez.
And as luck would have it, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters and a fellow Top Rank pugilist is poised to step up from bantamweight – Inoue.
Loma seems to have lost some fans after his excuses and bitter acceptance that he lost to Lopez – which he clearly did.
If he really thinks he has to prove himself, a scrap against undefeated Japanese destroyer Inoue would be mouthwatering.
Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia
In the mash-up of lightweight belts, Haney holds the WBC regular lightweight belt, with Garcia to become the interim champ provided he beats Brit Luke Campbell in January.
That sets up the chance for these two to continue their rivalry that started in the amateurs.
In headguards, the pair are tied at 3-3 – so what better way to find the real winner than in the pros.
If they do fight we can be guaranteed the build up would be intense – the two love their social media.
Teofimo Lopez vs Gervonta Davis
This is the bona fide lightweight unification scrap – Lopez holds the full WBC version and Davis the WBA belt.
Lopez, like he did against Lomachenko, will have a weight advantage against former super-featherweight champion Davis.
But you’d have to argue that it is Davis, coached by the legendary Floyd Mayweather, that has that one-punch power and bookies may find it hard to separate the pair.
Davis has been described as a ‘mini Mike Tyson’, and like his namesake he is as feisty out of the ring as he is in it. This fight would have people talking from the get go.
Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez
Taylor has answered everything that has been thrown at him and proved he can adapt to all styles.
Ramirez is sure to be next on his hitlist in a bid to be crowned undisputed light-welterweight champ.
Both are promoted by Top Rank so that sees one hurdle jumped to getting it done.
The only other might be Ramirez himself – he has barely responded to Taylor’s urgings to crown the real king of the division.
Taylor versus Ramirez just made our list ahead of Amir Khan versus Kell Brook – which would surely be a retirement fight if announced. Too many years too late some might say…
