Welterweight

A pair of future first-ballot Hall of Fame fighters who are winding down their careers could once again be on a collision course for a 2017 bout.

Juan Manuel Marquez hasn’t fought since dominating Mike Alvarado for a unanimous-decision victory in May 2015. He’s 43 years old now and has repeatedly stated that he wants just one more fight before calling it quits.

In an interview with the Manila Times (h/t Edward Chaykovsky of Boxing Scene) Marquez’s promoter, Bob Arum, discussed the potential for a fifth fight between the Mexican and his longtime rival Manny Pacquiao.

It’s not going to happen.

"Marquez came to see us with his lawyer, and he told me that under no circumstances, no matter what money it is, he won’t fight Manny Pacquiao," Arum said, per the Manila Times. "He didn’t say a hundred million but under no circumstances, he is not going to fight."

"The fight will never happen, according to Marquez. He is not interested."

What does interest Marquez is a potential career-ending fight against Miguel Cotto.

The Puerto Rican icon was scheduled to face James Kirkland on February 25 in the Dallas area in a fight presented by HBO pay-per-view. There was very limited interest in that fight (if any at all), and it was scrapped last week when Kirkland broke his nose in training.

There aren’t many people shedding tears over the cancellation of a PPV event that became the poster child for everything wrong with boxing’s skewed economics.

Nobody wanted the fight, which featured a pair of inactive fighters (neither has been in the ring in two years) and didn’t belong anywhere near a pay platform.

Luckily that one is out the window, and a fight that can justify asking fans to shell out extra cash could come together between Marquez and Cotto.

"With Pacquiao, we closed that chapter, and Cotto is a great fighter. He has a great legacy, the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry that is always at the top of the mountain," Marquez recently said to Alvaro Morales (h/t Miguel Rivera of Boxing Scene).

"It would be an interesting fight, especially the rivalry. We can make a great fight, a great entry into that rivalry, but I have to start training. It has to be this year."

Cotto-Marquez would clearly be an easier sell on PPV than Cotto-Kirkland was.

Both are established stars (even with the inactivity) with natural fanbases and the built-in best national rivalry in the sport. Add to that the fact that both men are heading toward the inevitable close of their careers and you could really have something.

The biggest question seems to be whether an acceptable weight can be agreed upon.

Rivera reported last week that Marquez was Cotto’s first choice for a comeback opponent before Kirkland landed the assignment. The problem was related to weight.

Marquez didn’t want to fight above the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Cotto preferred something closer to 150 pounds since he’s technically been a middleweight (though at a catchweight) for his last three fights.

The Mexican has won world titles at 126, 130, 135 and 140 pounds but has never weighed more than 144.5 pounds—in a loss to Timothy Bradley in 2013—and would have to make a big leap to compete at junior middleweight.

That seems like a lot of heavy lifting for a competitor who was his best at featherweight, has suffered through a recent spate of injuries and will turn 44 years old in August.

Though it might have to happen if he wants to make the fight, which, if Pacquiao is truly off the table, is probably the only really lucrative bout out there that would land on PPV and entice him to step back in the ring.

Cotto hasn’t fought at welterweight since 2009.

There isn't a lot of reason to expect that he'll go back at this point in his career.

He has more potential options (and a contract with Roc Nation that guarantees him a king’s ransom for his next fight) and is the man with all the chips in this case.

Cotto-Marquez should happen, but it’s going to have to happen on the Puerto Rican’s terms.

Just how he likes it.

Authorities in Pasadena, California, arrested former boxer Oscar De La Hoya on suspicion of driving under the influence Wednesday.

California Highway Patrol officer Stephan Brandt said De La Hoya was pulled over for speeding and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). De La Hoya failed a sobriety test and was arrested, per the report.

TMZ Sports initially reported the news.

Police pulled over De La Hoya after he was caught speeding around 2 a.m. PT (5 a.m. ET) and placed him in custody after giving him multiple sobriety tests. He has since been released from jail.

In September 2013, the 43-year-old chairman of Golden Boy Promotions missed Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s win over Canelo Alvarez because he had checked into a treatment facility for the second time in three years.

De La Hoya spoke about that decision in an interview last May with Steve Springer of USA Today:

It was a very difficult time, because here you have the biggest fight of your star fighter's career and I made the decision not to attend because I had to take care of my issues. It was difficult for me to make that decision, but I had to in order to not only gain control of my company, but also to gain control of what I was losing as a person and that was everything I had worked so hard for. It was literally going down the drain.

De La Hoya retired from boxing in 2009 following his December 2008 defeat to Manny Pacquiao, as he left the ring with a 39-6 overall record.

During the premiere of the ESPN Deportes show El Bar in September 2012, De La Hoya said he drank wine and beer during his training camp for the Pacquiao fight and another championship bout (via the Los Angeles Times' Melissa Rohlin).

Zab Judah's long-awaited return to the boxing ring was a successful one, as the former welterweight champion defeated Jorge Luis Munguia by TKO in the second round on Saturday. 

This was a bout essentially designed to make Judah look good and shake off any potential ring rust, so the mission was accomplished. 

Judah last fought in December 2013 when he lost to Paulie Malignaggi by unanimous decision. It marked his third loss in four fights, casting doubt on his ability to be a top welterweight at the age of 36.

More than three years later, time didn't seem to be on Judah's side, yet he put together the perfect storm of circumstances to get back on the winning track. 

Yet there has never been any doubt in Judah's mind that he would be able to regain the form that once made him the undisputed welterweight champion. 

Here's what Judah told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael about keeping his body in top shape for when an opportunity came his way:

I have a lot left, and even though I've been off, I've been through numerous training camps. I sparred with [Floyd] Mayweather when he was getting ready for the [Manny] Pacquiao fight [in 2015]. I got in tremendous shape.

A couple of fights fell through because of different difficulties, but I was always prepared, always in great shape. Still to this day, I've never been as heavy as 160 or 165. I have 20 years in the game, and I'm still at 140 pounds. I feel like I am a very disciplined fighter.

As for what this win means for Judah moving forward, that's a more complicated issue. He did need a win to turn around his previous losing stretch, but Munguia is not the kind of fighter to provide an accurate litmus test. 

Munguia is a 28-year-old fighter who now has a pedestrian 12-8 career record and has lost five consecutive fights and seven of his last nine overall. 

This wasn't a fight to build up Judah for a welterweight title shot—at least, it shouldn't be—but he can use this win as a springboard for another fight later this year that can lead to bigger things for him down the road. 

Zab Judah makes his long-awaited return to the boxing ring on Saturday against Jorge Luis Munguia after a three-year absence from the sport. 

Thirty-nine-year-old Judah had a rough go of things at the end of his previous run. He lost three of his previous four fights, including a unanimous decision to Paul Malignaggi in December 2013 that led to his long sabbatical. 

Judah has tried to get back in the ring previously, notably in 2015, when his bout with Hevinson Herrera was canceled following an altercation between the two fighters at the weigh-in, but such a long layoff presents many challenges for an athlete his age. 

Date	Live Stream	Start Time (ET)
Saturday, Jan. 21	FightTyme.com	4:30 p.m.

Due to the amount of time Judah has been off, it's fair to think there will be some ring rust when he steps through the curtain at the Sun National Bank Center in New Jersey on Saturday. 

If you listen to Judah talk leading up to the bout against Munguia, he's been able to keep himself in top physical shape, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:

I sparred with [Floyd] Mayweather when he was getting ready for the [Manny] Pacquiao fight [in 2015]. I got in tremendous shape.

A couple of fights fell through because of different difficulties, but I was always prepared, always in great shape. Still to this day, I've never been as heavy as 160 or 165. I have 20 years in the game, and I'm still at 140 pounds. I feel like I am a very disciplined fighter.

Despite Judah remaining at 140 pounds, that weight hasn't been kind to him lately. He lost to Amir Khan and Danny Garcia in light-welterweight bouts, while his match against Malignaggi was at welterweight. 

In addition to staying in great shape, Judah told Rafael there is another reason for his return to the ring. 

"The motivating factor is I want to put a stamp on my career and be a [seven]-time champion," Judah said.

Judah is taking on the right opponent to kickstart his comeback. Munguia is a journeyman with a 12-7 career record. The 28-year-old has lost four consecutive fights and six of his last eight overall, so he's desperate to right the ship against a known commodity. 

Despite Judah's recent struggles, he is no stranger to blocking out the past. He had a four-fight winless streak from January 2006-June 2007 before defeating Edwin Vasquez. That streak was against elite competition, including Mayweather and Miguel Cotto. 

This fight was designed for Judah to win and prove to other promoters he's got the skill to compete at a high level and draw enough to get back on major networks or possibly regular pay-per-view. 

A loss in this spot would essentially spell the end of Judah's relevance in the sport, so he better not waste this moment. 

Prediction: Judah wins by sixth-round TKO

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced he will be in attendance for Donald Trump's inauguration as president of the United States in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20. 

Mayweather explained his decision to be in attendance when Trump is sworn in to TMZ Sports:

Mayweather's decision to attend Trump's inauguration comes nearly two months after the boxing superstar and billionaire businessman had a meeting after Trump won the 2016 presidential election. 

Donald Trump Jr. snapped a photo of himself, his father and Mayweather after their discussion at Trump Tower in New York City:

Had a great visit from @FloydMayweather today with @realdonaldtrump. One of the best all time boxing legends. pic.twitter.com/BFQbLMeHlH

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 17, 2016

Mayweather seems to be holding no hard feelings after Trump went on a Twitter rant after the undefeated boxer's majority-decision win over Marcos Maidana in May 2014. 

Trump is a known boxing fan, having regularly attended marquee fights over the years involving Mayweather and Mike Tyson. He also made an appearance at the Gennady Golovkin-David Lemieux bout at Madison Square Garden in October 2015.

Whether they like it or not, Kell Brook and Amir Khan are stuck in a relationship. If they were to update their status on Facebook, it would read: It's complicated.

It didn't always have to be this way. Britain's top two welterweights have verbally sparred with each other for several years but have sadly yet to settle their dispute in a ring.

A money-spinning fight has long been talked about without ever appearing close to becoming a reality. At first, Brook was the one doing all the chasing. Khan felt superior at the time, but his status has slipped.

Right now, the time feels right to do the deal; both boxers are coming off unsuccessful attempts to win world titles up at middleweight. Both are also recovering from surgery, delaying any bout until 2017.

The window of opportunity is open—but it won't remain that way forever.

The problem is about pride, posturing and positions. Neither man wants to be seen as giving ground to the other. They also don't want to risk losing their standing with different governing bodies, either.

Despite failing in his audacious bid to topple Gennady Golovkin in September, Brook still retained his firm grip on the IBF welterweight title. His performance—not to mention his comfort in making the middleweight limit of 160 pounds—suggested his future could involve stepping up to a new division.

The Special One suffered a broken eye socket against GGG, an injury that not only led to him being pulled out on the night by his trainer, Dominic Ingle, but also required surgery to repair.

He is now beginning to return to work in the gym, albeit a comeback is still some way off.

.@SpecialKBrook with the bit between his teeth and hungry for big fights in 2017. pic.twitter.com/XGNr4RVeZg

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 8, 2016

However, it seems his return won't be at super welterweight.

In a statement released through his promoters, Matchroom Boxing, Brook confirmed he has no plans to just relinquish his grip on the world title he worked so hard to gain. That means either unification fights at welterweight or, if those cannot be made soon, a meeting with mandatory challenger Errol Spence Jr.

"Kell can make 147 [pounds]—it just means he has to be in training camp longer," Ingle told Bleacher Report.

"For Golovkin, he had nine weeks to prepare, but realistically he was already training for five or six weeks before that for a potential date in September. In those nine weeks, though, he got into fantastic shape. When you’re motivated, when you know there’s a lot on the line, you can do it quickly.

"Looking back at the whole process, it was a unique opportunity to box Golovkin. His [Brook's] 12 years as a pro fighter paid off with that fight.

"When you become world champion you think big-money fights are coming, but that didn’t initially happen for Kell. Facing Golovkin was not only the biggest fight out there for him, it was also a chance to test himself.

"He needs further challenges now. I don’t think he wants to drop back down, he wants to be in against decent fighters. When you’ve been at it all this time, there’s got to be something more.

"Ideally, it would be great to get a fight like Canelo or [Miguel] Cotto, but if no one is forthcoming in showing interest, then the easiest fight to make will be his mandatory defence."

Whether Spence Jr.—an unbeaten American tied to Al Haymon and Premier Boxing Champions—wants to travel to England for his shot at glory remains to be seen. That fight could happen in the United States, too. In the end, money will decide the exact location.

Brook would rather have the opportunity to earn even more by taking on newly crowned WBO champion Manny Pacquiao. That dream, however, seems unlikely to become a reality.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com that he feels a rematch between Pac-Man and Floyd Mayweather Jr.—who was at ringside to watch Pacquiao defeat Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas on Saturday—is "75 per cent" likely to happen.

"Floyd came to the fight and he was very friendly with [Top Rank president] Todd [duBoef] and some of our staff," Arum told Rafael. "Now, that doesn't mean that the fight will happen, but if it does, it won't take a long time to make because the animosity that was there before the first fight is gone. There's no more animosity between the camps."

Khan would welcome the chance to face former gym-mate Pacquiao, too—and he has pushed for the opportunity in the past.

Yet the Bolton boxer is also nestled in behind champion Danny Garcia in the WBC's welterweight rankings. Once fully recovered from surgery on his right hand, he can cash in his chip as mandatory challenger, although it is not yet known who will be holding the belt by then.

By agreeing a deal to face WBA holder Keith Thurman next March, Garcia kept Khan waiting, regardless of his injury status. In a game of boxing poker, a unification contest trumps a mandatory defence.

Now the fighter stood at the front of the queue has to wait a little longer to find out who he is next in line to face. Thurman is a good name with a good reputation in the United States, but he doesn't hold the same appeal as Garcia, a boxer Khan has history with.

It is easy to forget, back in 2012 when the pair met in a unification fight at super lightweight, Khan was dominant for nearly nine minutes before a counter left hook just before the bell in Round 3 changed everything.

Similarly, the former world champion saw a positive start against Canelo ruined by one punch.

While knockouts happen in boxing (duh), Khan has suffered three harrowing losses in a pro career that looks in serious danger of failing to meet the lofty expectations planted on his shoulders after dazzling everyone as a teenager at the 2004 Olympics.

Now he's an experienced pro in danger of becoming damaged goods. Sure, he possesses fast hands and looks flashy when on the front foot, but his punch resistance is an Achilles heel that is hard to fix.

In choosing to fight with bravado, rather than use his boxing brain, he's needlessly exposed a weakness others will always fancy exploiting.

It feels like win or bust for Khan the next time he steps in between the ropes. Even though he only turns 30 in December, his career is now balanced precariously on a precipice.

Losing to Canelo, having jumped up to a catchweight of 155 pounds, is excusable. It was a huge gamble that failed to pay off—and it's hard to criticise him for trying to land the jackpot.

Manny Pacquiao called me out. Not other way. Yes we friends. He knows the fight won't happen with Arum around.

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) November 4, 2016

However, if Brook were to beat Khan, where could the latter go?

"It’s different when you’re losing to big-name fighters in the United States," Ingle said.

"He [Khan] is never going to live it down if Kell beats him. It's in his own country. Plus, at the minute, he can convince himself he is the No. 1 welterweight in Britain."

Brook wants the chance to locate that soft spot in Khan's defences.

While referring to his rival as "Amir Khandashian," he told Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Nick Lustig of SkySports.com): "People are talking about us fighting, he's said he wants to have that fight and like I have said, I'll meet him at welterweight if he actually wants to get in and stop talking about it. We need to sit down, get it signed and get it done for the fans."

Yet a deal doesn't look like happening for a good while yet. The battle to gain the upper hand in the media will rage on, yet you have to wonder if the actual bout will ever happen.

All the talk will eventually become tiresome. Both camps should just look at Mayweather-Pacquiao I, and how the never-ending saga rather ruined the eventual event. If boxers care about their legacies, they need to understand the importance of striking while the iron is hot.

If Brook continues to reign in the IBF, and if Khan seizes his chance to fight for the WBC belt when it eventually comes around, a unification scrap would surely be too big to brush under the carpet.

That may be too many ifs, though.

There is the possibility that Brook-Khan never happens now, and that's a gloomy prediction towards the end of a boxing year that has already contained too many disappointments.

     

Rob Lancaster is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.

In a city that is home to Spaghetti Junction, Sam Eggington and Frankie Gavin meet in the ring in Birmingham, England, on Saturday to decide which direction their respective careers will head in.

The two welterweights clash in the headline act of a bill branded as Bragging Rights by Matchroom Boxing. While local pride is on the line, the fight means so much more to both men.

Just like vehicles clogged up in rush hour at Gravelly Hill Interchange, the complex network of roads that connects the M6 to the A38 Aston Expressway and the centre of Birmingham that is nicknamed after a type of pasta, Gavin's career has been stuck in neutral for too long.

As an amateur, he won gold at the 2007 World Championships, becoming the first Englishman to ever achieve the feat with victory over Italian Domenico Valentino in the final.

As a pro, he has had stints as British and Commonwealth champion and challenged for a world title.

Yet it hasn't been all smiles for Funtime Frankie. His two defeats—against Leonard Bundu and Kell Brook—cast a shadow over his CV, while issues away from the ring have stunted his progress.

Having fought just once since the end of May 2015 and now aged 31, the talented southpaw needs to get moving again. Before making progress further afield, however, he first needs to take care of business in his own backyard.

Eggington is hardly the ideal opponent for someone trying to get over a nasty case of ring rust.

The Savage may only be 23, but he has already achieved plenty. Like Gavin, he has held the British and Commonwealth titles at the 147-pound limit. And like his opponent, a defeat has raised some doubts.

It looks set to be a wonderful clash of styles, a showdown between the boxer (Gavin) and the fighter (Eggington). Sprinkle in the local rivalry to add a little extra spice, plus a pinch of desperation in both corners, and promoter Eddie Hearn has served up a tasty main course for the Barclaycard Arena crowd.

Gavin believes he has the superior skills—and he's not been afraid to let his opponent know it, too.

"He's always had a dig at the way that I box," Eggington told Sky Sports. "Boxing is hard enough as it is without people trying to take digs at you in general. He has added more fuel to the fire, it's given me a bit more oomph to do a job."

The problem for Gavin, though, is technical ability will only get you so far.

.@frankiegavin1 knows he will have to stand and trade with Eggington in stages on Saturday. #GavinEggington pic.twitter.com/qVGpEUF3hx

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 18, 2016

His fine amateur pedigree gave him a sound footing to build on once he entered the paid ranks, but by no means did it make success at the highest level a certainty.

Gavin was part of the 2008 Great Britain Olympics squad (he had to withdraw from the Games at the last minute due to weight issues) and a look at his former team-mates shows the contrasting careers that can unfold once leaving behind the cosy nest of Team GB.

While Billy Joe Saunders and James DeGale are world champions right now, heavyweight David Price has suffered such serious setbacks that at one stage he seemed to ready to turn his back on the sport.

Others from the group have also had it tough. Bradley Saunders has been beset by hand injuries, and Joe Murray has found opportunities hard to come by. 

Gavin has had more ups than downs as a pro, but his loss to Bundu in 2014 highlighted an area of concern. While he landed pretty punches from a distance—the type of blows that would score points and lead to comfortable victories in the shorter amateur contests—he struggled to keep the Italian at bay.

A body shot dropped him to the canvas in Round 6 when seemingly in control of proceedings. He showed tremendous heart to survive the storm that followed, but the tide had turned. He ended up losing the contest—and his Commonwealth belt—via a split-decision verdict.

When he was surprisingly offered the chance to challenge IBF champion Brook in May 2015, the same issue was exposed again.

Gavin did OK in the opening exchanges, but eventually Brook's size and strength overwhelmed him.

"I knew it was going to be scrappy. He's awkward, he's crafty, he's smart," Brook said, per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport, after stopping his domestic rival in Round 6.

Since then, Gavin has fought just once—a six-rounder against unknown Ivo Gogosevic.

His career was put on hold following his involvement in a fracas at an English holiday resort. He was handed a five-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to serve 180 hours of community service, per Andy Richardson of the Mirror.

As a further punishment, the British Boxing Board of Control suspended the fighter for a year, although that ban was later reduced to six months on appeal.

However, his return was further delayed by a foot injury. The setback scuppered a planned meeting with Eggington last October, although thankfully the duo will still settle their differences in the ring.

Things may not have worked out this way had Bradley Skeete not beaten Eggington in March.

Pressure will be key on Saturday for @eggington_sam #GavinEggington pic.twitter.com/fMmAzfWSrx

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 18, 2016

Skeete is skilful and, standing at 6'1", a tall order for fellow welterweights to deal with. However, he came up short when he fought Gavin in 2014, losing by unanimous decision.

"I know people will say it's a completely different fight, but it's not completely different [in terms of style], it's just I am a better boxer than Skeete and I'm harder to hit than Skeete," Gavin told Sky Sports.

Gavin's victory over Skeete acts as a boxing barometer for the weekend, but by no means makes the result of the Birmingham battle a foregone conclusion.

Eggington's 48 per cent KO ratio doesn't suggest he carries a great deal of power at the weight. He will, however, look to do damage during sustained periods of pressure, hoping to eventually overwhelm a talented opponent who hasn't had a meaningful bout in nearly 18 months.

The problem for Eggington, though, is that his willingness to get involved in a scrap will only get him so far.

The vacant WBC International belt is on the line. Per the governing body's official website, Eggington is ranked at 24. Gavin, meanwhile, is down at 37.

A win for either would shoot them up the WBC's list, while a rematch with Skeete could also be an option. A defeat, however, would be a setback for two men who hold ambitions beyond just domestic level.

Thanks to Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham is known for traffic issues. Therefore, it seems right that local lads Eggington and Gavin will face each other as they reach the crossroads in their respective careers.

Lloyd Honeyghan didn't care about Donald Curry's reputation. He wasn't bothered by betting odds, either. He just came to fight—and on September 27, 1986, that's exactly what he did.

When he stepped between the ropes at the Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, few gave Honeyghan a chance of beating the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.

The unbeaten Curry had knocked out Milton McCrory in a hurry at the end of the previous year to add the WBC title to the IBF and WBA belts already in his possession.

The Lone Star Cobra was viewed by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet at the time. Middleweight Marvin Hagler was his major rival for the honour—and plans were in the pipeline for the pair to settle the argument in the ring.

Honeyghan—who was born in Jamaica but raised in London from the age of nine onward—was seen as nothing more than a hurdle to clear on the way to bigger and better things.

Sure, the challenger was unbeaten in 25 fights and had picked up the British, Commonwealth and European titles along the way. But he wasn't viewed as being on the same level as the all-conquering Curry, who'd enjoyed a highly successful amateur career before turning pro in 1980.

The outcome was seen as such a foregone conclusion that some bookmakers didn't even bother creating a line for the bout.

"It's what we call an out-bet, which means it was figured as such a mismatch there wouldn't be much betting interest, so there was no line," Las Vegas oddsmaker Lem Banker told Earl Gustkey of the Los Angeles Times.

However, one gambler was more than happy to put his money on the outsider.

Per the Independent's Steve Bunce, Honeyghan's manager, Mickey Duff, placed a $5,000 wager at odds of 7-1—and put the same down again on his fighter's behalf. "The odds were good, I fancied Lloyd," he said.

The British media didn't share Duff's optimism. Few newspapers sent journalists out to cover the event, believing their man had little hope of springing a surprise.

Lloyd Honeyghan stops Donald Curry: Showtime’s Greatest Upset https://t.co/wIsaXarr7K #boxing #boxingheads pic.twitter.com/tPAiCXBqm7

— Ringnews24 🥊 (@ringnews24) July 22, 2016

The cocky Honeyghan never had any doubts about the outcome.

"I had no fear of Curry. None. I just came to fight. I grew up in Bermondsey—after living there you weren't scared of anyone—and I knew how to defend myself. My boxing style was a product of my environment," he told Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph 20 years after the bout.

That style—fast, aggressive, occasionally wild and always willing to get involved in a scrap—had seen him cut down opponents at the domestic and European level.

Still, Curry saw nothing to fear, branding his rival a "Ragamuffin" in the buildup. The term stuck with Honeyghan, as he ended up with the nickname Ragamuffin Man. No, the main concern for the American before the bout was his weight.

He made sure to get under the limit on the scales, but his exertions to shed pounds at short notice also left him drained.

Honeyghan was not a man you wanted to face when not at your physical peak. He attacked early and often, with a sluggish Curry unable to keep his foe at bay. Struggling for both accuracy and power, he quickly found himself on the back foot and forced at times to go on the run.

In Round 2, Honeyghan landed a big right hand that buckled the knees of the heavy favourite.

It was a punch he would attempt to repeat on numerous occasions after that, although it wasn't until the fifth that he landed another on the button again.

Consistently out-muscled and out-hustled, Curry found himself in a battle he couldn't win. The money-spinning showdown with Hagler that had loomed on the horizon beforehand was now drifting out of view.

A clash of heads in Round 6 left Curry with a nasty cut just above his left eye. He was already bleeding from his mouth too, while also dealing with a broken nose. In summary: He was a mess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GfCVvvlBX0

Honeyghan showed no sympathy whatsoever. He finished the sixth strongly, and Curry never came off his stool for the next round.

Ringside doctors Frank Doggett and Paul Williams examined the cut during the break, then informed referee Octavio Meyran to stop the contest. Curry had been sliced, diced and devoured by a hungry opponent.

Honeyghan collapsed to the floor in delight when realising it was all over, but was quickly back up and bouncing around the ring again. Even while celebrating, he was a hard man to contain.

The boy who grew up battling on the streets of Bermondsey was able to bask in the glory of recording the biggest upset by a British fighter since Randolph Turpin had out-pointed the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson back in 1951. Turpin, though, won on home soil.

Yet for Honeyghan, it was just another fight.

"I didn't care if anyone thought I would win, I just wanted to punch this geezer's face in. The worst mistake Don Curry ever made was signing the contract for that fight," he later told Ben Dirs of BBC Sport.

After being branded a "Ragamuffin," he was suddenly undisputed world champion in six rounds. Catapulted to stardom off the back of the result, his life would never be the same again.

Honeyghan's career carried on until February 1995, but he will always be best known for beating Curry. It was the night the Ragamuffin Man was born into the big time.

The result still acts as a reminder to any boxer that reputations count for nothing once you enter the ring.

If boxers were floated on the London Stock Exchange, now would be the ideal time to buy shares in Amir Khan.

The British fighter, who first shot to prominence when claiming a silver medal as a teenager at the 2004 Olympic Games, saw his value plummet in May—the moment he failed to avoid a right hand from Saul Alvarez. That punch in Round 6 left Khan out cold on the canvas at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

He had made a decent start to the contest, yet all his carefully considered work in the previous five-and-a-bit rounds was erased in a split second. The gamble of jumping up to middleweight (well, to a "Canelo-weight" of 155 pounds) had failed to pay off.

There was Amir Khan, knocked out again.

Yet while his stock price would have dipped with the defeat, it's too early to give up on the boy from Bolton just yet. At 29, he still has time to recover from the collateral damage he suffered against Alvarez.

First, though, he has to recover from hand surgery. A longstanding problem required an operation—as well as a bit of bone from his hip—to fix.

Despite the layoff, Khan remains positive over his future. He is eager to make a comeback after the disappointment against Alvarez, as he told Gavin Glicksman of the Sun:

I want to fight again in January, then in May and again before the end of 2017.

I’m going to start training and make sure my hand is fully recovered. I don’t want to rush into a fight at the end of this year.

I want my next fight to be in Britain. I know it’s going to have to be a tune-up having lost the Canelo fight and also having had the hand surgery.

He also made clear on Twitter that the move up in weight was only temporary—his future is back down at 147 pounds.

Want to be back in the ring around January. Big fights next year. Who do you think? il be ready. #147lbs January May December #3Fights #2017

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) August 22, 2016

He dazzled at welterweight against Devon Alexander in December 2014, dominating to such an extent that one judge scored it a shutout on his card. Khan made a statement that night in Las Vegas, but he's failed to back it up since. 

The plan now, as he outlined to Glicksman, is clear: Return to action on home turf in a warm-up bout, get his rematch against WBC champion Danny Garcia and then defend his new title before the end of the year.

Khan's lack of recent activity in the division has not cost him his place as the governing body's mandatory challenger. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed as much to Phil D Jay of World Boxing News.

That is a boost, because Garcia is a ghost from the past that needs to be exorcised. Their first meeting in 2012 saw Khan—the IBF and WBA super lightweight champion at the time—knocked out in Round 4. 

The manner of the defeat, coming after a harrowing KO inside a minute against Colombian Breidis Prescott four years earlier, gave Khan an unwanted reputation for having a weak chin.

In between those two losses, however, Khan survived a tremendous onslaught against Marcos Maidana. For a man with supposed issues staying upright, he remained on two feet under heavy fire during Round 10.

The problem is, Khan's punch resistance is too often tested by his fighting instincts.

Blessed with blistering hand speed, he really has no need to get involved at close quarters. Yet when an opponent lands a big shot, his response is to dig his boots into the canvas and swap punches like a pair of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots being controlled by kids on a sugar high.

That switch, turning him from boxer to brawler in a flash, is part of what makes the Englishman so exciting to watch. It may be asking too much for him to change his ways at this stage. The flight-or-fight response is a reaction we have within all of us—Khan's instincts tell him to stand and trade.

Where he might be willing to consider a new approach, however, is with the media. Never slow to speak his mind, or blow his own trumpet for that matter, Khan's self-inflated opinion of himself rubs some up the wrong way.

His pursuit of potential paydays with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao saw him talk with an air of entitlement, as if he was the only option who should be considered by the pair.

Mayweather Jr. put Khan in his place when he said at the WBC's convention (h/t Matt Morlidge of MailOnline) in 2014: "'No one knows who Amir Khan is, except for people who are involved in boxing."

While Money may have slightly overstated his point, it is hard to argue against the notion that Khan has failed to live up to the early promise he displayed at the Athens Games over a decade ago.

He has some notable scalps on his professional record, but still there's that nagging feeling he could achieve even more. Thankfully, there's still time for him to do just that.

With his previous targets not in play—Mayweather Jr. is retired and insists he will be staying that way, while Pacquiao is booked to face Jessie Vargas in November—Khan has to consider other names.

Garcia is in his sights for the second of three fights he has planned in 2017, but who might be first up?

Considering Khan will want a recognised opponent in the opposite corner, and likely someone ranked high by the WBC, the options are limited.

Andre Berto does fit both criteria. However, according to Mitch Abramson of RingTV.com, he's in negotiations to face Garcia before the end of 2016.

A rematch with Lamont Peterson, who won their first meeting in December 2011, would create interest, yet Khan may not be keen to go back over old ground. They had been due to meet again in 2012, only for the bout to be cancelled when the American failed a drugs test.

Shawn Porter (ranked No. 5 by the WBC) seems a long shot to come to England. Omar Figueroa (No. 8) seems a more likely rival to travel, but Robert Guerrero (previously No. 13) should have slipped off the radar completely after losing to David Peralta in August.

There are other names to consider (Adrien Broner, anyone? Anyone?).

The one that could make the most sense is Kell Brook. The Special One has his hands full right now preparing for Gennady Golovkin on September 10. However, depending on the result, the Englishman could return to the welterweight ranks after his meeting with GGG.

Whoever ends up being next, it wouldn't be a complete surprise if Khan suffered a fifth pro loss. Would another setback see him decide to turn his back on the sport? Quite possibly.

He's already committed a great amount of time and money to his foundation. And, whatever you think of him as a fighter, Khan the humanitarian deserves a great deal of respect.

The idea has even been floated about swapping the boxing ring for the MMA Octagon. Per Chamatkar Sandhu of FloCombat.com, Khan said he would "definitely give it a go."

Of course, he has no interest in taking the easy option, talking up the potential for a fight with Conor McGregor. Per Jefferson Lake of SkySports.com, Khan said: "I'll go and fight Conor McGregor just to prove I'm a real man. I'm not one to back away, I've never backed away from any fight and I never will."

That desire to stand firm in the face of a challenge means you never quite know what will happen next with Khan. It's not a far-fetched idea to see him in MMA by this time next year. It's also completely possible he will be a two-weight world champion after gaining sweet revenge over Garcia.

Shares in Amir Inc. might be a risky investment right now, but they are still worth the gamble.

      

Who would you like to see Khan face next? And will he ever be a world champion again? Have your say via the comments section.