Top Lightweight Fights For 2022
Although 2021 has been another sensational year in the world of boxing, it is soon time to look ahead to 2022 and although the heavyweight division usually generates the most attention, one should not forget the lighter classes either.
Because no matter what the muscle mass, there is an incredible amount of talent on show at the moment and for those who like their boxers to be slightly more agile, the lightweight class is arguably the most agile of the lot.
Not only that, but if 2021 is anything to go by, 2022 could be a bumper year for lightweight boxing and with a number of potential fight options on the table, the opportunity for big money title fights could be afforded to the very best.
A bracket of fighters that now includes George Kambosos and after his stunning recent victory over Brooklyn’s Teofimo Lopez, the Australian can now consider himself kingmaker in the up to 135 pounds division or as he claims, the emperor.
If only because Kambosos holds a litany of belts and with the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles now in his possession, he will also have something of a figurative target on his back.
With so many belts to call his own, it means a labyrinth of potential fight foes lie in wait and with either mandatory or negotiated challengers lying in wait, it means the 28-year-old could be rather busy in 2022.
Especially if Devin Haney gets his way and with the WBC version of the lightweight title in his possession, the boxing world is now clamouring for these two champions to meet each other as soon as possible.
Something that both men have expressed an interest in themselves and with Haney getting the better of Joseph Diaz at the start of December, a rather substantial roadblock has been cleared on the path to being undisputed.
The prospect of these two going to lightweight war is a rather mouth-watering one and if Kambosos and Haney were to get it on next year, the expert are already favoring Haney at -280 . Kambosos will be the betting underdog for the second straight fight as he came in at +650 against Lopez. So make sure to check the expert picks before all the big fights to see what they are saying.
Because with both fighters displaying a recent championship pedigree, it would be an incredibly tough fight to call and if you are a betting man or woman, you would be brave in making a choice beforehand.
Although Kambosos has more to lose in any undisputed attempt that may take place in the future, it is that very status which is all the more appealing and after stunning Teofimo Lopez just a few weeks ago, his confidence will be at an all-time high.
Which means although Haney is certainly no pushover in the boxing ring and an overall record of 27-0 is certainly testament to that, Kambosos will be confident of picking up a 21st victory of his own professional career.
Such is the confidence of the newly crowned WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring champion, that he even had some words to offer when watching the recent clash between Haney and Diaz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Talking to BoxingScene he had this to say:
“He boxed nice, he did what he had to do, similar to his other fights. But I’ve got to give credit to JoJo Diaz, he brought it, but Devin Haney did his thing. “I saw the holes there already. That’s me as a fighter, I see things straight away. It was a good fight. I’ll give him his props and we’ll see what happens now.”
Which means the war of words has already begun and if the two can get around the negotiating table first and hammer out a deal to meet in 2022, one could well earn the opportunity to call himself the undisputed king of the lightweight division.
Then again, the world of boxing is always mired in politics and with both Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis holding lightweight belts of their own, they may have a say in the direction of plans for the first half of 2022.
With Garcia currently taking hold of the WBC interim lightweight title and Davis the WBA (Regular) lightweight equivalent, they do have at least some claim to take on both Haney and Kambosos respectively.
However, before they lay claim to trying to move further up the food chain, it may make more sense to strengthen that claim by facing each other first and if these two meet in 2022, then an undisputed shot could materialise thereafter.
Which means there are two de-facto semi-finals in place for the lightweight division and with two likely winners to then follow, we could then see the winner of Kambosos and Haney and the winner of Garcia and Davis go up against each other.
Something that could keep this awesome foursome busy for 2022 and beyond and with some great fighters within the lightweight class at the moment, you get the feeling that next year could be a golden year for the division.
