29 December 2023 , 10:28
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Whatever happens in 2024, Naoya Inoue should be front and centre. I put him up there with Terence Crawford as the pound for pound king.
His devastating victory over Marlon Tapales in Tokyo this week was another breathtaking demonstration of his quality, a performance deserving of fighter of the year. He is so explosive. He tries to land the knockout blow from the first punch. He is not interested in style per se. He just goes for it from the bell. I love that in a fighter. He is Mr Excitement.
Big guys tend to get all the attention but there is none in this generation as riveting to watch as him. He underscored that by claiming the undisputed super bantamweight title to become a four-weight world champion.
There is talk of a match-up with Gervonta Tank Davis. I think that’s a leap to far, besides my fingers are crossed elsewhere for Davis.
Crawford needs to go to super welterweight for a real challenge. There is no point in a rematch with Errol Spence at 147 pounds. He is just too good for him.
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Crawford started at lightweight. Inoue at light-flyweight. Going through the divisions proves their greatness. They make it look so easy. Believe me it is not.
Tim Tszyu would be a fight for Crawford or Jermell Charlo. He could even stretch to middleweight to fight Jermall Charlo he is that good.
The fighter I would like to see take on Davis is Devin Haney. Though Haney says he is done at 140, it would be a real test. Davis is really a 135 pounder but he could do 140. Haney is looking at 147 but there is no fight for him as compelling as the Tank.
I want to see the best guys fighting in 2024. We already have Callum Smith versus Arturo Beterbiev to look forward to in a fortnight. Short or long, that will be spectacular.
At heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury sets the agenda. Fury has the advantage of size but Usyk is high class, and tricky as a southpaw. Fury won’t beat him if he fights as he did against Francis Ngannou.
Now Deontay Wilder is out of the equation Anthony Joshau is looking for an opponent to meet the box office demand in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua will want to become a three-time world champion in the next 12 months (Getty)If he is back in the game after the victory over Otto Wallin, as his promoter Eddie Hearn claimed, let’s see Joshua in against Filip Hrgovic, Zhilei Zhang or even Daniel Dubois.
Joshua did his job against Wallin. He will probably want to wait for the winner of Fury and Usyk but that could go to a rematch.
It will be fascinating to see who they pair him with next now Wilder is cooked. Ultimately 2024 is about regaining a world title for Joshua, preferably against Fury, probably in Saudi. Happy New Year.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym
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