Usyk – Joshua, the possible return of Lomachenko and again Canelo – Golovkin. Top 5 main fights of the second half of 2022

The first half of 2022 is behind us. This year has not yet been the coolest in terms of boxing, but he has already presented several memorable fights – Inoue – Doner, Spence – Ugas, Charlo – Castano, Davis – Romero and several others. But the second half of 2022 promises to be much more interesting. Sport Arena has collected the top 5 most anticipated fights of the second part of the year, which included three Ukrainians.

Revenge Usyk – Joshua

One of the most significant fights of this year. Former WBA / WBO / IBF / IBO heavyweight champion and one of the most popular boxers in the world Anthony Joshua will try to regain his belts in a duel with the current holder of these titles in the division Alexander Usyk. Previously, the Briton has already managed to carry out a similar “trick” by beating Andy Ruiz in a second fight, whom he lost by knockout in the first fight. With Usyk, the task looks much more difficult.

In any case, in the first fight, the Ukrainian outright beat Joshua (in the first fight with Ruiz, the Briton underestimated his opponent), and it’s hard to say what will make him look better in the second fight. But Joshua takes him very seriously: a new coaching staff, less public activity and statements about a change in tactics and style. Plus, do not forget about the psychological background of Usyk, who is preparing for battle against the backdrop of a full-scale war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.

The fight itself, which is scheduled for August 20 in Saudi Jeddah, will already be unique for several reasons. First, it got its own name – “Rage on the Red Sea.” Second, it will have an incredible prize pool of $80 million guaranteed. Thirdly, according to preliminary data, the fight will be broadcast in more than 150 countries around the world.

Completion of the showdown between Golovkin and Alvarez

Scheduled for September 17, a third fight between the two best middleweights in the world is quite likely, given Golovkin’s age, to be the end of his showdown with Canelo. In two previous fights, one of which was won by Saul Alvarez, and one was a draw, Golokin definitely did not look worse than the star Mexican and had every reason to believe that he was robbed. Now he has a great chance to rematch.

Three years have passed since the last fight between Golovkin and Canelo. During this time, Golovkin had four fights, including winning against Sergey Derevyanchenko and Ryota Murata. Canelo fought exactly twice as many fights, including defeating Kovalev, Jacobs, Smith, Plant, jumped in weight categories, became the undisputed world champion in the super middleweight division and lost to Dmitry Bivol in the light heavyweight championship fight.

For the sake of the fight with Golovkin, at least that’s what Canelo himself says, he refused a rematch with Bivol (although, it is likely that Alvarez realized the futility of a fight with one of the best boxers in the division at the moment). He is younger than Golovkin, he is in better shape and charged for a bright performance in order to avenge his failure in the last fight. But for Golovkin, the upcoming fight is a career-long fight. The opportunity to put an end to his performances, and even in a duel against the most important and principled opponent (it was Canelo who added one to Gennady’s professional record) is an incredible motivation. So we are waiting for a bright fight and felling.

Rematch between Haney and Kambosos

Australian George Kambosos, having sensationally defeated Teofimo Lopez, spent only seven months almost the absolute world champion in lightweight. In June of this year, Devin Haney added three belts to Kambosos to his WBC title. Moreover, the American did it in the manner of an Australian: he won on foreign territory, showing a competent, with a detailed analysis of the opponent, boxing.

As in the case of the Usyk-Joshua fight, Kambosos will immediately take advantage of the rematch option and, most likely, the boxers will meet again in the ring before the end of the year. And again in Australia. The first fight Kambosos – Haney turned out to be quite commercially successful, but generally boring in the ring. Now the Aussie, and again to avoid his comparison with Joshua, will have to seriously rebuild to beat the American.

Historic battle for Berinchyk

For the last and so far only time in his professional career, International WBO lightweight champion Denis Berinchyk fought outside of Ukraine five years ago – in his sixth fight, the Ukrainian in Hungary easily dealt with Venezuelan Loresso Parra. Denis spent the next 10 fights not just in Ukraine, but in Kyiv and the region. Who knows who would have been Berinchyk’s next opponent and where he would have fought next if not for Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine.

Now we must pay tribute to the promoters of Berinchyk: in a difficult situation, Denis got a potential away fight against a strong and experienced boxer, as well as the opportunity to win a title, albeit a minor one, but still quite significant.

37-year-old Ivan Mendy is an experienced fighter with 53 fights in the professional ring against Berinchyk’s 17. The Frenchman won 47 fights (22 by knockout), one ended in a draw, five he lost. At the same time, it should be noted that Mendy was not knocked out in any of the lost fights, losing on points.

Possible return of Lomachenko

The large-scale war unleashed by Russia against our country has confused all the cards and one of the best boxers of our time, Vasily Lomachenko. Having entered the territorial defense, Loma, who last entered the ring in December last year, refused the championship fight with Kambosos (it was the Ukrainian that the Australian wanted to see as his opponent in the first defense), and now he risks being left without title holders for a long time.

The belts will again be played by Haney and Kambosos and, in the event of the second victory of the first, it is not a fact that he will agree to a duel with the Ukrainian. Plus, you need to understand that Lomachenko himself, for all his boxing genius, will need a “pull-in” fight before more significant fights. There are actually enough options, but a lot will depend on the situation at the front and in Ukraine as a whole. Well, do not forget that Lomachenko is already 34 – the age is not critical, but extremely limiting for light weights. So if Vasily has not given up his dream of becoming the absolute world champion in professionals, it is time for him to think about returning to the ring.

Bonus: Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury

Yes, probably, the fight, scheduled for August 6 at Madison Sker Garden, is difficult to attribute to star fights in terms of the professional level of a boxer. But there is no doubt that this fight will become a significant event in terms of interest. Not for nothing, by the way, the duel in which one of the most popular bloggers of our time Jake Paul and Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy will meet will be held in the Mecca of boxing, will be broadcast on paid channels, and tickets for the event are almost sold out.

“He has been boxing all his life, and his brother is a world heavyweight champion. He has a name, a fan base. It’s just the perfect fight. When I win by knockout, people will have nothing to say. I’m going to shut up everyone, all the media that wrote that Jake Paul is bad for boxing. You will respect my name. They wanted me to fight a real boxer? No problem, ”Paul explained the fight with Fury.

And for all the skepticism towards Paul, it is impossible not to admit that the level of his opposition is growing. In the first fight in the professional ring, he defeated another blogger, Ali Eson Giba. In the second – basketball player Nate Robinson. Then he defeated former Bellator champion Ben Askren, and then defeated Tyron Woodley twice. Now his opponent will be a professional boxer, who has eight victories in eight fights in the professional ring, and who will be trained and supported by the Fury boxing family. In general, it will be interesting.