Home Columns 4 British fighters set for title shots in 2015

4 British fighters set for title shots in 2015

Credit: BoxNation

As 2015 began, several British fighters were on the cusp of a world title shot. When I say world title shot, I must be clear in stating that I generally refer to alphabet titles, not ProBoxing-Fans.com Championships. Of the four fighters whose potential title shots I will go on to discuss, only one involves a true world champion.

Nonetheless, all of these title opportunities would represent genuine steps up in terms of quality of opposition for those Brits taking the leap. Here I assess the viability, significance and win-ability of each title shot for four British fighters.

Tyson Fury

Credit: BoxNation
Credit: BoxNation

The heavyweight behemoth has been eying a shot at true heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko for a while now. A stoppage rematch victory over Dereck Chisora confirmed his mandatory status for one of the three alphabet titles Klitschko holds, thereby technically making him mandatory for Klitschko’s Heavyweight Championship in the process.

This would be a significant fight as Fury is seen as one of the heavyweight division’s up-and-comers. Fury is also an apt trash-talker which will only aid ticket sales should the fight come off, and British fight fans will be desperate to see one of their resident big men get a crack at Klitschko having watched David Haye lose widely to him back in 2011.

Fury may pose a unique threat with his size advantage, and has shown himself to be a decent boxer. This may mean Klitschko having to go on the offensive and mitigate Fury’s long jab. Klitschko’s greater technique should allow him to surpass such issues, however.

James DeGale

Credit: Matchroom Boxing
Credit: Matchroom Boxing

The super middleweight has spent the majority of the last few years overcoming injury while boxing relative unknowns in small arenas. Ultimately trying to levy himself into a title shot, DeGale finally cracked it in 2014, stopping both Brandon Gonzales and Marco Antonio Periban in sound fashion to place himself as mandatory challenger with the IBF.

The holder of that particular alphabet strap is Carl Froch. Froch, however, is closing in on retirement, with most signs pointing towards a showdown in Las Vegas with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

As a fast-handed southpaw with seemingly improving power thanks largely to the resolving of injury problems, DeGale would give Froch plenty to think about. The fight would also be a British super-fight, given the stature of both men – Froch is a British boxing deity and DeGale is also well known to the masses due to his rivalry with George Groves.

The only thing that would stop this fight from happening is Froch’s mindset. Should he wish to retire on the back of a Vegas swansong, DeGale won’t get his shot.

Billy Joe Saunders

Credit: Frank Warren
Credit: Frank Warren

Saunders’ route to a title opportunity was boosted when Andy Lee won the WBO belt by stopping Matt Korobov at the end of 2014. The Englishman was already highly rated by that organizing body, but Lee’s win made possible an Irish-English clash to entice the domestic fight fan.

Both Lee and Saunders are up for the fight. As good as his win over Korobov was, Lee is not on the same level as Gennady Golovkin or Miguel Cotto and thus his title reign could be predicted to be shorter in length. As such, he will want every defense to be a relevant one, and Saunders is highly relevant.

Saunders’ ascendancy from domestic to world level has been paved with challenges that other fighters in similar positions would not have deigned to take on. This route saw him defeat the two other highly rated – and at the time unbeaten – young English contenders, John Ryder and Chris Eubank Jr. Thus, although a challenger, he is more than prepared for the step up, and may even be the favorite if a shot at Lee’s title comes off.

Anthony Crolla

Credit: Lawrence Lustig
Credit: Lawrence Lustig

Crolla is a brave man. If that hasn’t been exemplified enough inside the ring, it certainly was when he confronted burglars near his home in Manchester. Left hospitalized with a fractured skull and broken ankle, his title shot against Richar Abril was cancelled.

Crolla has vowed to come back stronger, and he’ll need to do so ahead of a fight with an incredibly slick and awkward titleholder. Abril is now set to fight former Crolla-conqueror Derry Mathews – in March. It’s a fight the Cuban should win comfortably.

Abril came to fame when ‘losing’ an extremely controversial decision to Brandon Rios in 2012 and his inactivity since is no doubt partly down to his difficult style. Crolla has beaten a host of quality domestic fighters, but Abril represents a leap in class. It’s difficult to imagine Crolla pulling off the win, but given recent circumstances, simply pulling off the title shot would be a victory in itself.

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