The February 22nd Fight Card is Good but could be WAY BETTER

Save the date fight fans. February 22nd looks like another treat provided by the one and only Turki Alalshikh. Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, fresh from tying the knot after Warren’s switch to DAZN, have now released the full fight card. But crucially, in this Saudi-led era where money doesn’t just talk, it fights, the perfect card no longer hides in the nether realm of our imagination. It is out loud and proud, like a M16-wielding mankini-clad Trump supporter draped in the American flag. Turki has made boxing great again. But the February 22nd card is far from perfect. A good card, but not a perfect one.

Of course, in this new era the titans rule. A perfect card should ultimately be dominated by heavyweights flanked with at least two world title fights involving pound-for-pound killers. Let’s take a deeper look at what a perfect, but still realistic, card would look like with the first fight of the undercard and make work our way to the dream main event.

Wardley v Hrgovic: The Test

Wardley has spoken openly about wanting a test at world level before taking on a former champion like Andy Ruiz Jr or Joseph Parker, but he will be keen to move himself into title contention quickly. Hrgovic, humbled by a TKO loss to Dubois in June earlier this year, would be looking to prove himself after suffering the first defeat of his career. A chance for the Croat to show his cruelty. For Wardley, a stoppage before Dubois’ round 8 stoppage would put the boxing world on notice. Underestimate him at your peril. Fans could expect big punches from both men and for Wardley’s nose to be on its time of the month throughout.

Zhang v Bakole: The Dance of the Ducked

When nobody wants to fight you, the only person left to fight is guy nobody else wants to face either. Zhang and Bakole are not heavyweights. They are monsters with high boxing IQs. Zhang, the stubborn southpaw who punches with quick and powerful bursts, would be keen to get back to winning ways after being outboxed by Parker despite knocking him down twice. Bakole, on a high after simply beating up Jarred Anderson in his own back yard, will look to force an interim title challenge by coupling his African uncle strength with ringcraft to wear down the man known as Big Bang for good reason. Not a fight likely to go the distance.

Inoue v Ball: World War 3

OK, World War 3 is a tad bit dramatic for the smallest fighters on the dream card. But these men are ruthless world champions with an assassin’s attitude to mercy. Show none. Give none. Naoya Inoue, the Japanese superstar, would be looking to prove himself on his first fight night outside of Japan, and is one of only three men in the four-belt era to become undisputed across two weight classes, in his case bantamweight and super bantamweight respectfully. The other two gentlemen: Oleksander Usyk and Terrence Crawford, great company to keep. Here, Inoue would be stepping up to featherweight to fight against a living nightmare. Nick Ball has a style that is awkward, aggressive, relentless and effective. A stocky volume puncher that fights like the lovechild of Mike Tyson and a Duracell bunny. This fight would have fight of the year written all over it.

Joshua v Wilder: The Lost Coup

Perhaps a classic tale of coming far too late, there is still some purchase left in this encounter. Both men are scarred from their respective beatings by Zhang (Wilder) and Dubois (Joshua). Both men have once believed that beating the other would be a glorious regicide. A sort of epic coup d'état. Instead, this fight is a palatable hors d’oeuvre for purists and magnet for casual fans. Yet still, wounded animals are often at their most dangerous. These lions are no exception.

Bivol v Beterbiev 2: Round 13

Run, it, back. The first fight was an awe inspiring display of skill versus brutality. Bivol, the grandmaster issuing smart combinations like lectures on the sweet science. Beterbiev, relentless in his pressure, hit Bivol’s guard so hard Bivol’s eyes were swollen from the sheer force reverberating through his gloves. Bivol should have been awarded the first fight for his efforts but had undisputed glory snatched from him by the judges. Beterbiev will want to put things beyond doubt next time before his inevitable climb to cruiserweight where the likes of Jai Opetaia will be waiting for him.

MAIN EVENT - Dubois v Parker: The Bogeymen

Definitely not the most in-demand fight here owing to the fact both fighters are not particularly gifted orators, and are certainly not household names outside of boxing. But it should be considered the real main event. Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title requires it. More still, this fight could settle who will dominate the heavyweight division for the next 5-10 years. Usyk, Joshua, Fury and Wilder are all on the cusp of retirement. Tyson Fury has retired a few times previously, only to come back like an aged rock band or Hugh Hefner’s gonorrhoea. The other contenders have either been bested by Dubois or Parker already or are still wholly untested. Dubois is only 27 and Joseph Parker is only 32 . They are left standing as two princes poised to rule if they can submit the other to their will. Either way, their mutual promoter Frank Warren will reign over the heavyweight division with an iron fist. Machiavelli would be proud.

So what will the fight card actually look like on February 22nd?

Not bad at all. We still get the same main and co-main (albeit in reverse order) and there’s a strong argument that Shakur Stevenson v Floyd Schofield and Vergil Ortiz Jr v Israil Madrimov are headliner fights in their own right. In any case, the great thing about the best fighting the best is there are always upsets. A sport without upsets is not a real sport at all. February 22nd will be real for sure.