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Boxing wish list: 10 bouts we would love to see in 2016

The calendar reads February, but it's not too late to rank the 10 most wanted boxing fights in 2016.

The top bouts don't start until the spring — the snoozefest between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal last month didn't make the list — and the megafights in the fall are far from being decided.

It doesn't hurt to play promoter this time of year and make a wish list that most boxing fans would love to see come to fruition. These fight proposals probably won't happen in the next 11 months, some are close to reality and others are pipe dreams.

Regardless, here are the 10 most coveted fights:

10. Vasyl Lomachenko-Leo Santa Cruz:

Lomachenko (5-1) has six professional fights, but he's already viewed by many as the top boxer in the featherweight division.

The speedy Ukrainian made a name for himself by winning gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He proved he belonged with the best pros by defeating Gary Russell Jr. in 2014. Santa Cruz (31-0-1) is the same age as Lomachenko, 27, but he's a veteran who continues to move up the rankings.

This fight would prove who is the best fighter in the featherweight division. This match probably won't happen because Lomachenko is looking to move up to junior lightweight, according to his manager, Egis Klimas.

9. Danny Garcia-Keith Thurman:

With Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the way out, the welterweight division will soon belong to Garcia (32-0) and Thurman (26-0).

Garcia is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves with wins over Robert Guerrero, Lamont Peterson, Zab Judah and Amir Khan. Thurman's resume isn't as impressive, but that could soon change with a win against Shawn Porter in March. If Thurman gets by Porter, expect him to face Garcia later this year.

8. Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury:

The heavyweight division has new life thanks to these two juggernauts. Once regarded the best division in boxing, the heavyweight class has been down since the turn of the century.

That could soon change with new stars such as Wilder (36-0) and Fury (25-0) fighting down the road. Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko, who had dominated the heavyweight division for a decade. Everyone is now gunning for Fury, and his biggest opponent could be Wilder, the power puncher from Alabama. Wilder deserves the hype he's gotten, but he's missing a signature victory.

Wilder-Fury would be the biggest heavyweight fight this year. The two heavyweight champions already have history after Fury crashed Wilder's post-win conference last month.

7. Francisco Vargas-Takashi Miura II:

The fight of the year in 2015 deserves a Part II in 2016. Vargas (23-0-1) and Miura (29-3-2) clashed for nine grueling rounds during the undercard of Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto in November.

Vargas looked defeated multiple times before rallying and leaving the ring with a win and swollen right eye. Put these two back on the Strip and let them go at it for a second time. People would pay to see this fight again.

6. Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz:

This matchup won't generate as much hype as Wilder-Fury, but it would garner plenty of eyeballs if these two giants set foot in the same ring.

At age 36, Ortiz (24-0) is on the verge of heavyweight stardom. The Real King Kong from Cuba is the most avoided fighter in the division after dismantling Bryant Jennings in December.

5. Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez-Juan Estrada II:

Gonzalez, the new pound-for-pound king, is cruising through the flyweight division, knocking out his past 10 opponents. The last time a fighter went the distance with Gonzalez (44-0) was Estrada (33-2) in 2012.

Estrada has recovered by winning seven in a row, and it appears he'll receive his rematch with Gonzalez in the summer. Don't overlook these compact fighters. They'll put on a show if they meet again.

4. Manny Pacquiao-Terence Crawford:

The groans were loud when Pacquiao named Timothy Bradley Jr. as his final opponent. Most pundits wanted Pacquiao (57-6-2) to go out against Crawford (27-0), the rising star from Omaha, Nebraska.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has said he doesn't think Pacquiao is done for good after he fights Bradley in April. A November fight between Pac Man and Crawford would benefit the public and the Top Rank organization.

Arum said Crawford wasn't picked for the April fight because he isn't a big enough name. Bradley wasn't, either, until he fought Pacquiao. Let the two duke it out, Pacquiao goes into the sunset with his Hall of Fame career, and Crawford builds his fan base and takes over as Top Rank's next moneymaker.

3. Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward:

This star-studded affair between two of the most feared boxers in the sport is close to happening. The only thing holding it up is Ward (28-0) deciding if he needs one or two tuneup fights before jumping into the ring with Kovalev (29-0-1).

Ward, scheduled to face Sullivan Barrera on March 26, said on the HBO broadcast show of Kovalev-Pascal that he wasn't sure if needed another fight to prepare for Kovalev. That probably didn't sit well with the Ward fans who have seen him fight once in the past two years.

Ward has had promotional and injury issues while the man known as Krusher is crushing the light heavyweight division. If Ward postpones the fight, that will give Kovalev a chance to fight Adonis Stevenson. Unless Stevenson is indeed a chicken.

2. Gennady Golovkin-Saul "Canelo" Alvarez:

Here's another megafight set without a date. Golovkin (34-0) and Alvarez (46-1-1) each agreed to take one more fight this spring before battling in the fall in what arguably would be the biggest bout in 2016.

All signs seem to suggest Golovkin, the mandatory challenger for Alvarez's World Boxing Council belt, was ready to fight now and Canelo's camp decided to wait. Oscar De La Hoya, the founder of Golden Boy Promotions, kept everyone waiting to announce Alvarez's next opponent. Many thought it would be a no-name scrub Canelo could destroy before facing Triple G. It was the opposite.

De La Hoya announced last week a stunning May 7 bout between Alvarez and England's Amir Khan for the WBC middleweight title. The fight is scheduled to be the first boxing match at the new T-Mobile Arena. Khan lacks power and size, but he makes that up with speed and combinations. This is no easy fight for Alvarez. Golden Boy Promotions deserves kudos for setting up this blockbuster fight to headline the spring schedule.

The wait left Golovkin in a bad position. Fighters aren't lining up to face him after knocking out his past 21 opponents. Reports suggest Golovkin will face Dominic Wade in April at the Forum in Los Angeles. This is not pay-per-view worthy, but Triple G has a huge fan base in Los Angeles. He'll knock out his 22nd straight opponent, the Forum will sell out, and the megafight between Triple G and Canelo will be set. Everybody wins.

1. Gennady Golovkin-Floyd Mayweather Jr.:

Yes, this one is ludicrous. Mayweather Jr. (49-0) fighting Pacquiao for a second time has better odds.

It's a long shot, but it easily would be the "fight of the century" if Mayweather, arguably the greatest defensive boxer ever, were to come out of retirement to face the most devastating power puncher of this era in Golovkin.

This improbable fight wouldn't disappoint as Mayweather-Pacquiao did, and it could top the money records that bout shattered in May. Everyone knows Mayweather loves money. He has defeated nearly everyone in his era, and the only man left is Triple G. This bout would cement Mayweather's legacy. It's the perfect scenario to go out 50-0 and break Rocky Marciano's record of consecutive wins.

The big issue would be the weight class. Mayweather has fought in the 145-pound range most of his career, and Golovkin is comfortable at 160. They could meet in the low 150s. Canelo faced Mayweather at a catch-weight of 152.

If Golovkin's fight with Wade doesn't work out, why not call up Mayweather for a fight at T-Mobile Arena on April 23. It would definitely one-up Canelo-Khan, and Mayweather rightfully would be the first boxer to open up T-Mobile Arena. Think about it, Mayweather.

Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow him on Twitter: @gmanzano24

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