Why there's reason for optimism that boxing may be set up to close out its strongest year in over a decade

With some superfights already in the rearview, there's a lot on the horizon to still be excited about

Although a true boxing fan knows never to get too optimistic while following a sport known for its reputation of disarray and the difficulty of making big fights, 2023 is on pace to be a special year.

The midway point of the calendar year has already provided a series of blockbuster fights and big announcements for the second half. But it has been the steady rumors about which events might still be to come for the final six months that has many wondering whether this could be the best year for boxing in at least a decade. 

The last great year for boxing was likely 2013, when high-powered adviser Al Haymon, two years before launching Premier Boxing Champions, moved his prolific stable of fighters from HBO to Showtime, which created a buoyancy of competition between the cable networks to outshine one another.