Plenty of big time boxing left in 2015

As we look back on what could well be the last time we’ll see Floyd Mayweather inside a boxing ring, it’s important to remember that there is still a host of exciting fights coming up between now and the end of 2015. While some might feel the end of Mayweather’s career may be a huge blow to boxing as a sport, you only have to look at the world title bouts ahead of us over the next few months to see just how healthy the game is despite the apparent loss of its undisputed king.

Whether you’re a hardcore boxing nut, a casual fight fan or someone who just likes to throw a wager on the big bouts, here are three fights you should make sure you see this year.

Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux
?Boxing fans aren’t fussy. All they want to see is the best fight the best, and the middleweight division is certainly about to see that in Gennady Golovkin taking on David Lemieux on October 18. The big-hitting duo had been linked with a potential fight for the past 12 months, and boxing fans now have their wish, in what many feel is the greatest threat to Golovkin’s march towards the number-one pound-for-pound rankings.

The unbeaten Kazakhstan middleweight has blown away all but three of his opponents inside the distance on his way to picking up four versions of the middleweight world title, but Golovkin will now meet an opponent with almost as impressive a KO rate as him. Aside from two straight defeats in 2011, Canada’s Lemieux has amassed 34 victories, 31 of which have come by way of TKO. While Golovkin will start the fight as short as 1/4 with 32Red and BetVictor, this is definitely the biggest test of his career and one he could slip up in.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury
If you listened to the pre-fight comments from brash British heavyweight Tyson Fury, you’d be forgiven for thinking this could be a much closer fight than you may have initially thought. During Klitschko’s lengthy reign at the top of the heavyweight division, he hasn’t come up against many fighters who can match his six-foot-six frame, never mind someone taller than him. While the obvious choice is to back a man who has gone unbeaten in the heavyweight division since 2004, Fury has a lot of boxing fans convinced, not to mention punters visiting the likes of 32Red, that he can spring an upset in Germany on October 24.

At six-foot-nine, Fury knows he won’t be bullied in the same way many of Klitschko’s recent opponents, the question will be whether he is able to stand up to the power of the German-based Ukrainian. Having been sent to the canvas on a number of occasions in his career, getting up each time to knock the other man out, there are some who feel Fury could struggle with the champion’s punch-power. If it comes down to heart, however, you’d be a brave soul to rule out the unbeaten 27-year old.
by BerlinBeyond2011

Miguel Cotto vs. Saul Alvarez
In terms of the Latin sporting world, there aren’t many bigger events this year than Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto attempting to defend his WBC middleweight belt against Mexico’s Saul Alvarez on September 21. Having beaten Sergio Martinez in June of 2014 to clinch the middleweight world title, Cotto has been accused of avoiding opponents, defending his belt just once, in a mismatch against a weight-drained Daniel Geale. The four-weight world champion can’t be accused of ducking here, though, coming up against a Saul Alvarez whose sole defeat came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather.

Boasting a remarkable record of 45-1-1 at the age of just 25, Alvarez has achieved an incredible amount ever since turning professional as a 15-year old. With breakthrough wins over Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara, as well as his recent highlight reel KO of James Kirkland, Canelo has proven on a number of occasions that he is the real deal. While Cotto might not be the fighter he was five years ago, a win over the future Hall of Famer would be a huge statement to the rest of boxing that Alvarez is the man to take over from Mayweather as the next pound-for-pound king.

via GIPHY