Welterweights tend to bring in the big money after the Heavyweights and everyone has to be hoping that we are going to see Spence Jr and Terence Crawford getting it on sooner rather than later, although I would not hold my breath to think we will see it in 2021 and especially not if we are not going to have the big crowds back until the second half of the year.
Both can still be involved in decent fights in a loaded Division, but most fans won't be interested until the two unbeaten, pound for pound stars are sharing a ring.
This week we are back with the Heavyweights and the feeling is that we are closer than ever to finally seeing the Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury bouts that so many have argued about in recent years. I say bouts plural because it sounds like a template for a two fight deal has been arranged, but this is another I won't be holding my breath for having see it come close to fruition in the past only to be let down.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua for all of the Heavyweight trinkets would be the biggest fight that could be made in Boxing, but it seems many are more interested in arranging rubbish YouTube fights than the actual legacy fights that all fans would want to see.
This would actually be the biggest sporting event that could take place in Britain (and yes I know Wembley Stadium is hosting the Euro 2020 Final next year), but first AJ has to make sure he gets through his mandatory and not suffer the same fate that befell him last year at Madison Square Garden.
It is a deep card, although perhaps not as impressive as it may have been, and one I will join once the Manchester derby has been played.
Qais Ashfaq vs Ashley Lane
Opening the card on Saturday will be Qais Ashfaq who is looking to bounce back from his first professional defeat in October.
It was an upset defeat for Ashfaq when going down to Marc Leach and he is going to have show he has more punch resistance than he showed having been put down twice by an opponent who is not really known for his power.
This is something of a step back for Ashfaq as he takes on Ashley Lane who has won seven of his last eight fights to improve his recored to 14-9-2 as a professional. At one stage it felt like Lane was going to be a journeyman who might be used for prospects to earn some experience, but that run will have encouraged Ashley Lane and certainly give him a little more belief in his ability to cause an upset.
Ashley Lane has been stopped five times in his nine defeats, but he has shown a lot more durability in recent times and I do think the Eight Rounder will make it difficult for Qais Ashfaq to force a stoppage.
I do think he will show he is the better Boxer though and can work his way to a Decision win here as he recovers from his defeat a couple of months ago. The feeling is that Ashley Lane will push forward, but Qais Ashfaq may not want to take too many risks to look for the stoppage as he will just want to get back to winning ways.
Florian Marku vs Jamie Stewart
In the last couple of months Florian Marku has raised his profile through social media and joining up with Matchroom and he makes his debut under their banner on a big card.
His original opponent pulled out and Jamie Stewart stepped in as the unbeaten fighter hounded Eddie Hearn for an opportunity.
There isn't a lot to say about Jamie Stewart who has won both fights he has had on the cards, but keeping Florian Marku at bay is a big step up from his previous level. The reality is we don't really know what Marku is going to bring to the table, but I would be very surprised if Matchroom have not put him in with someone who will give the Albanian a chance to 'steal the show' with a big early stoppage.
Matchroom have to be credited for the way they tend to manage prospects who they are trying to push to a wider market and I do think that is what they see in Florian Marku. There has been talk about the likes of Conor Benn and Chris Kongo, but those fights will come for Marku who has an eye-catching style which is expected to be on full display on Saturday.
An early stoppage has to be expected and I think that will at least Florian Marku up for some bigger fights through 2021.
Martin Bakole vs Sergey Kuzmin
There are a number of Heavyweight fights on the undercard in London on Saturday and this is a crossroads one between Martin Bakole and Sergey Kuzmin.
Both have only suffered one previous defeat which has come against the same opponent, Michael Hunter, and you have to feel the winner may push on towards a World Title shot in the next eighteen months while the losing fighter may become a gatekeeper at this level.
There should be some heavy fists flying in this one and I don't think either is going to have to search too hard to find the other in the ring on Saturday night.
I do think Martin Bakole may have a bit more power than Sergey Kuzmin, although the latter may be the slightly better Boxer. That may see Kuzmin leading at half way, but I am expecting Bakole's pressure to begin to tell through the second half of the fight when he should be able to land some of the power shots to give himself a chance of ending things inside the distance.
With both Bakole and Kuzmin knowing what is at stake, I would not be surprised if the early Rounds see both looking to avoid making a big mistake. However that should change as soon as some fatigue begins to come into play and I do think Martin Bakole will begin to land at will the longer the fight goes which should see him end things late.
Hughie Fury vs Mariusz Wach
We have yet to see Hughie Fury have the same kind of success as cousin Tyson, but it is still funny to think that the former is only 26 years old and still heading towards his peak.
Three losses have come at the hands of former World Champions Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin and also a defeat to Kubrat Pulev who is in the main event. The style has sometimes been criticised with fans hoping Hughie Fury would be more ready to let his hands go, but he is a Boxer first and foremost and it has been good enough to see him get to a certain level.
He now takes on a former World Title challenger in Mariusz Wach, but the Polish fighters best days are behind him.
The 40 year old has lost his last four fights of any note and there is a feeling that Wach has lost some of his punch resistance despite going the distance against Dillian Whyte last year. He is not going to be as quick off the mark and I do think Hughie Fury should be able to do enough to out-land him and win clear on the cards.
I would be surprised if Fury decides to stand and perhaps go for the finish against what has been a pretty durable opponent through his career, but I do think he will do enough to win a fight that has the potential to be a pretty boring one if I am honest.
Lawrence Okolie vs Nikodem Jezewski
This should have been a World Title fight for The Sauce, but a late withdrawal means this is going to be a secondary WBO Title bout and you do have to wonder if there is going to be motivation issues for Lawrence Okolie.
In the New Year Okolie is likely to have that World Title fight but he has to focus on unbeaten Nikodem Jezewski who has come in at late notice.
This is a big step up for Jezewski and I do think it may take a couple of Rounds for Lawrence Okolie to get over the fact there is not a World Title on the line. I am not a massive fan of Okolie as I tend to find his fights pretty boring with a lot of hugging and mauling, but there isn't much on his opponent's record to believe that he is going to be able to stay with what is a power puncher when he does let his hands go.
Lawrence Okolie is a big Cruiserweight and I do think he will find Jezewski standing in front of him and looking to fight fire with fire and that should lead to a fairly early night in the office. The last couple of opponents have managed to get into the Seventh Round against Okolie, but I am not sure Nikodem Jezewski has more to offer on late notice and I would expect the favourite to end this one within the first Six Rounds.
Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev
If I am honest I don't care what the broadcasters are trying to sell me about Kubrat Pulev's chances of the upset in this main event.
Anything but an Anthony Joshua win would be a massive surprise and my only question is whether the British fighter has perhaps gotten a little concerned about pulling the trigger after the upset against Andy Ruiz Jr last year.
I don't think that is the case and I expect Anthony Joshua to dismiss the Bulgarian opponent relatively quickly.
A few years ago Kubrat Pulev was blown away by Wladimir Klitschko and I actually feel Anthony Joshua is a much better finisher than the Ukrainian long-time World Champion. While Klitschko took some time to finish off Pulev, I expect Joshua to really go after him if he hurts Pulev and I am expecting him to produce a big finish.
I am not dismissing the Pulev skills with his experience, but only 14 of his 28 wins have come via stoppage and I do think he believes he is tougher and more rugged than he perhaps is. The Bulgarian has won eight times since the defeat to Klitschko, but he was dropped multiple times in that Fifth Round defeat and Pulev hasn't exactly impressed.
A Split Decision over Dereck Chisora and another Decision against Hughie Fury will not worry Anthony Joshua who clearly has plenty of power. He won't take too long to decipher what he is seeing from a basic style and I expect Anthony Joshua to go through the gears and produce a relatively early night in the office as he prepares to try and do a deal with Tyson Fury for a huge fight in 2021.
MY PICKS: Qais Ashfaq to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Florian Marku to Win Between 1-2 @ 2.62 William Hill (2 Units)
Martin Bakole to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Hughie Fury to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.61 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Lawrence Okolie to Win Between 1-6 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Anthony Joshua to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.37 William Hill (2 Units)
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