SuikodenII
Where's Suikoden VI??????
2014 as a whole was............ let's not talk about it.
Prophetic in more ways than one...
However, it's a new year, a new day (no WWE) and we have the future to look forward to because as we all know, the only constant in life, is change, and that change is the continual progression of time. Therefore, let's look ahead and highlight some very interesting bouts scheduled to happen in 2015 and PLEASE feel free to add on others I may have missed.
10. 2/21 - Arthur Abraham (WBO Super Middleweight Champion) vs. Paul Smith II - Germany SAT 1I'm not sure what's more surprising, Arthur Abraham giving Smith an immediate rematch, or how the first fight turned out to begin with. On paper, it seemed like another run of the mill Abraham defense where he guards heavy early on and picks his opponent apart down the stretch to a decision win or late stoppage. To my surprise, Smith took control of the second half of the fight and arguably could've been awarded the victory. In a close fight without a popular name, you'd expect him to lose, but not by those scores. Paul is the eldest of the talented Smith boxing family from the UK, and is looking to acquire the first major championship amongst his siblings while Abraham hopes to turn back the clock and continue his final run as champion.
9. 1/17 - Jomthong Chuwatana vs. Daiki Kaneko - JapanOh look, another potentially important and competitive bout that will probably not been seen until someone uploads it a month later. As frustrating as it is to follow the Japanese boxing scene, they do produce some good fights, and this is one of them. Kaneko, to date, has given Takashi Uchiyama the toughest fight of his career and even had him down. Chuwatana was a sensational, young kickboxing phenom who made the switch over to boxing and has been impressive thus far. He may have bitten off a bit much with Kaneko, but at least one of these guys will rightfully earn a little more acclaim, even if it is a week or more after the bout.
8. 4/4 - Anthony Joshua vs. Kevin Johnson - UK SKYAnthony Joshua has been nothing but impressive thus far. He's a must see fighter in a division that has been gasping for breath for damn near 10 years. He's drawn comparisons to fighters like Lennox, Bruno, Haye and even Audley due to his background, look and impressive early streak. However, now he's in a heat check of endurance as he's facing a veteran who has been in with heavy hitters and, to my knowledge, has never even been knocked down. Joshua has never even seen the 4th round. There's a first time for everything, and something will give.
7. 2/28 - Carl Frampton (IBF Super Bantamweight Champion) vs Chris Avalos - UKVery intriguing match-up between two guys who could possibly face Guillermo Rigondeaux next. Frampton and Avalos are both young, strong fighters who are on a collision course. Avalos disputes both of his loses as screw-jobs and still sees himself as undefeated. Frampton has faced rugged fighters before, but Avalos is a bigger guy who steamrolled the last two fighters I thought would be competitive with him. Frampton is the better boxer, but this could prove difficult if Frampton sits in one spot for too long. We'll see how long Avalos can keep it competitive, if he can keep up with Frampton's jab, movement, and speed.
*insert promotional picture..... way to go, Golden Girl*
6. 1/26 - Rocky Juarez vs. Robinson Castellanos - FOX Sports 1Rocky Juarez resurrected his career with an upset of the year candidate against Rene Alvarado and out-fought him throughout the bout. Once again, he's in a do-or-retire situation where he cannot afford to lose as he's too old and worn down to climb the ladder once again for a title shot. Robinson Castellanos is an unheralded fighter with tall, lanky attributes who is not afraid to let his hands go. So much so that he earned my "beat-down of the year" award for his mauling of Ronny Rios. He's complained about making 126 before, but could not pass up the opportunity to win a final mandatory eliminator. This has ACTION written all over it, do not miss this. Winner guaranteed to face WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez next.
5. 1/17 - Bermane Stiverne (WBC Heavyweight Champion) vs. Deontay Wilder - ShowtimeThe questions about whether Stiverne was a one-time winner or a champion were soundly answered in his second thrashing of Chris Arreloa for the vacant WBC title. Despite this, some may say that he simply has his number. However, now he's in with maybe the hardest hitting heavyweight in the division (not named Wladimir) and possibly the best American heavyweight in the world (not named Jennings). For Deontay, this is the first time he will have stepped up in competition against a top tier heavyweight from his C-tier, at best, previous competition and may actually have to go 6-to-12 rounds. Either this will be a short night, or an unfortunate clinch-fest/posing contest. Too much power to be a slug-fest.
4. 1/16 - Petr Petrov and Willie Monroe Jr. co-headline Friday Night Fights - ESPN2Now, the fights themselves are interesting, but what's more at stake here is the legitimizing of future tournaments to showcase young, deserving talent. This year's tournament was one of the few bright spots in 2014 boxing that showed a re-emergence of a one-time title challenger and a new middleweight prospect who may be headed for stardom (Did I mention he has his own PBS special?). In their very next bout, they're once again on FNF and are not in protected showcase fights. Petrov is once again pitted against a young, undefeated challenger and Monroe Jr. against the rugged, spoiling veteran, Bryan Vera.
3. 1/24 - Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado III - HBOAh, the "rubber-match." It's a beautiful concept that can create closure for heated rivalries, open new doors for the winner and unfortunately close the doors on the career of the loser. While it does not always happen this way, the general feeling is that this is one of those situations. Both men have taken heavy punishment during their two bouts against each other and in separate bouts against other boxers. Also worth noting is the talk of Rios' arm being unrepairable and unreliable. This could be another war, a showcase of superior boxing, or simply a one-sided massacre, but it WILL be entertaining.
2. 2/21 - Gennady Golovkin (WBA Middleweight Champion) vs. Martin Murray - HBOFor a year or more I said that this bout would never happen. I was wrong. I am very happy to be wrong. Since his breakout performances against Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez, Martin Murray has been looked at as an uncrowned champion in the division. He was another British middleweight contender amongst others such as Barker, Macklin, and Saunders who has proven to be a level higher than them and possibly elite. Standing in his way is a man already crowned as elite by the media and most fight fans but lacking of a defining fight against a prime, elite challenger. Murray gets another, rightful shot at being champion and GGG gets the challenge he's been chasing for years. One of these men will finally get their just due.
1. 3/14 - Sergey Kovalev (WBA/WBO/IBF Light Heavyweight Champion) vs. Jean Pascal - HBONot much I really have to say here. Do not miss this. Both guys hit hard, both guys can box, both guys have great trainers in their corner, and both guys still have something to prove. For Kovalev, it's to show he's number 1 by facing all top challengers at 175, unlike his arch-nemesis as of late. For Pascal, it's to show he's not done and he's not like his Haitian-Canadian arch-nemesis because he's willing to take on the best at 175. The under-card has surging Steve "USS" Cunningham against the Hot-and-Cold Glazkov who is the most bipolar heavyweight performer in the division. Barring a bad set of scorecards, the truth will come out for one of these top contenders who may be granted a mandatory spot against Dr. Steelhammer.
Prophetic in more ways than one...
However, it's a new year, a new day (no WWE) and we have the future to look forward to because as we all know, the only constant in life, is change, and that change is the continual progression of time. Therefore, let's look ahead and highlight some very interesting bouts scheduled to happen in 2015 and PLEASE feel free to add on others I may have missed.
10. 2/21 - Arthur Abraham (WBO Super Middleweight Champion) vs. Paul Smith II - Germany SAT 1
9. 1/17 - Jomthong Chuwatana vs. Daiki Kaneko - Japan
8. 4/4 - Anthony Joshua vs. Kevin Johnson - UK SKY
7. 2/28 - Carl Frampton (IBF Super Bantamweight Champion) vs Chris Avalos - UK
*insert promotional picture..... way to go, Golden Girl*
6. 1/26 - Rocky Juarez vs. Robinson Castellanos - FOX Sports 1
5. 1/17 - Bermane Stiverne (WBC Heavyweight Champion) vs. Deontay Wilder - Showtime
4. 1/16 - Petr Petrov and Willie Monroe Jr. co-headline Friday Night Fights - ESPN2
3. 1/24 - Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado III - HBO
2. 2/21 - Gennady Golovkin (WBA Middleweight Champion) vs. Martin Murray - HBO
1. 3/14 - Sergey Kovalev (WBA/WBO/IBF Light Heavyweight Champion) vs. Jean Pascal - HBO
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Loser should retire. or face Amir Khan
Props to Monroe Jr. 
Alvarado........... 