However, there is a feeling that it can be an easy target.
2023 has been a very good year for the fans with some excellent fights made, even if some of them have not turned out to be nearly as competitive as we would have hoped. It happens in Boxing, and that has always happened in a violent sport where one punch can really change the entire direction of a fight and, ultimately, a career.
Last week we may not have seen a career ended, but Demetrius Andrade is going to have to drop out of the Super Middleweight Division after being overpowered by David Benavidez.
However, you do have to wonder where Boo Boo goes from here? The Middleweight Division is in a transitional period and missing the star power that will generate the money that Andrade seemingly demands, while he may be too old to drop down to Light Middleweight at this stage of his career. That is going to mean questions to be answered for Andrade who has been far too inactive in recent years as he has hoped the Canelo fight lands in his lap.
The approach has been completely different from David Benavidez- he has decided he will beat all those names around Canelo until the Mexican has no other choice but to fight him next. Wins over Caleb Plant and Andrade has many calling for Canelo vs Benavidez next May, although rumours suggest Jaime Munguuia may be next.
So how has David Benavidez reacted to that? He has called out Jermall Charlo in a bid to knock another contender out of line and keep the pressure on the Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion.
One more second was needed to get the Pick right from the Benavidez-Andrade fight and it has been a tough year for the Boxing Picks after a strong 2022.
There are some big nights to be enjoyed before the end of the calendar year, the most notable for the casual fan being the Heavyweight night in Saudi Arabia two days before Christmas.
However, it is the Regis Prograis-Devin Haney fight next weekend that looks a standout, as well as Naoya Inoue's bid to become a two weight Undisputed World Champion. Those events will round out a decent year and we already have some good fights signed off through the first couple of months of 2024, which can only be good news for the fans about the year ahead.
Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte
The devastating defeat to Gervonta Davis will have certainly given Ryan Garcia pause for thought, but he returns this weekend and looks to remind those in and around his weight class about his abilities.
It has been far from an ideal build up with Garcia seemingly at odds with his promoters, while making weight has been problematic to the point that this is going to be a catchweight contest.
Ryan Garcia has moved to a new trainer and there are some doubts about how focused he is on his opponent rather than picking fights with Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya.
He will quickly find he needs to make sure he is dealing with the threat posed by the fighter coming out of the other corner with Oscar Duarte expected to get forward and try and pressure Ryan Garcia.
Having a single loss on his record and the chance to really change the momentum on his own career will mean there is plenty of motivation in the Oscar Duarte camp. Oscar Duarte has won eleven in a row since his sole defeat, which came by Split Decision, and none of those wins has needed the scorecards.
However, it should be noted that none of those wins have been against a fighter of the quality of Ryan Garcia- he may not be as good as he thinks, but wins over Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna does mean Garcia has been operating at a higher level than Duarte and the come forward style of the latter may play into the hands of the favourite.
There is no doubting that Ryan Garcia hits hard enough to give Duarte pause for thought, and his fast hands should produce plenty of problems for his opponent. With Twelve Rounds scheduled, you have to believe that there will be a moment where Ryan Garcia breaks through the Oscar Duarte pressure and breaks down and stops his opponent.
He could have had an easier return fight than this one, but Ryan Garcia has an opportunity to show that he is still capable of big things in Boxing with a strong win.
Earlier in the day, DAZN have a card from Belfast featuring the return of Michael Conlan who has joined up with Matchroom and with a new trainer.
The last time we saw Conlan he was getting obliterated by Luis Alberto Lopez and the decision was made to move up in weight class.
Things may have been different for Michael Conlan if he could have stayed on his feet when being stopped in the Twelfth Round by Leigh Wood, but that rematch is potentially on at Super Featherweight.
First he has to show that there is still something left in the tank when taking on Jordan Gill, who is also moving up in weight after a bad loss to Kiko Martinez in October 2022. He has looked plenty worn in his last couple of fights in what is a crossroads moment in his own career and Gill is going to have a hard time in this one.
At least Michael Conlan can say he has been found out at World level- it has been a little above domestic level for Jordan Gill and that can be underlined when they meet with the former expected to put enough punches together to earn a referee or corner intervention.
MY PICKS: Ryan Garcia to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Michael Conlan to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.66 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Boxing 2023: 57-106, - 40.77 Units (301 Units Staked, - 13.54% Yield)
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