Sometimes fans get the fights they crave. Normally they don’t.

However, we remain optimistic, always hoping that the best fighters in the world will face their peers rather than obscure mandatory title challengers or foes keeping busy.

With that in mind, here’s a list of the 20 fighters on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list (the Top 15 and five honorable mentions) and the opponent we most want to see them fight next year.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that politics or unreasonable demands sink the potential clashes you see below.

Terence Crawford-Jermell Charlo. The biggest challenge for the best fighter in the world (and 147-pound champion) is at 154 pounds. Naoya Inoue – It seems like no one in or around the 122-pound champion’s weight class can compete with him. Murodjon Akhmadaliev might have the best chance. Oleksandr Usyk – Tyson Fury. And it will happen on February 17 in Saudi Arabia. We will have our first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, barring something unforeseen. Dmitry Bivol – Artur Beterbiev. What’s better than a match between undefeated and highly respected fighters for an undisputed championship? Juan Francisco Estrada – Jesse Rodríguez. “Bam,” one of the most popular fighters in the world, yelled at Estrada because it could result in a passing-of-the-torch showdown. Canelo Alvarez – David Benavidez. Duh. Jermell Charlo-Crawford. We like Charlo against Tim Tszyu, who has earned the opportunity to face the best fighter at 154 pounds. However, Charlo-Crawford would be a next level matchup. Gervonta Davis – Shakur Stevenson. This would be a pairing of two deeply talented fighters, who have the ability to become the pound-for-pound number one one day. Tyson Fury – Oleksandr Usyk. This is Fury’s chance to end all debate about who is the best heavyweight of the post-Klitschko era. Devin Haney – Teofimo López. Haney is in talks with Ryan Garcia, who would be a big deal, but a win over Lopez would do more for his legacy. Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez – Estrada. Rodriguez already has three major wins, but a date with the future Hall of Famer would be the ultimate test of him. Errol Spence Jr. – Jaron Ennis. Spence needs to prove that he is better than he looked in his knockout loss to Crawford. Ennis, as talented as anyone, needs a big fight. Perfect. Vasiliy Lomachenko – George Kambosos Jr. The Australian probably isn’t a significant threat to Loma, but a win in the fight, which is in progress, would give him a title. He deserves the opportunity. Artur Beterbiev – Bivol. The classic boxer vs. puncher matchup would arguably determine the best 175-pounder since Hall of Famer Andre Ward retired. Shakur Stevenson-Davis. Stevenson is one significant victory away from becoming a superstar. This matchup would give him that opportunity.

HONORABLE MENTION

David Benavidez – Canelo Alvarez. Benavidez has earned the right to confront the man he has been chasing. Jermall Charlo – Benavidez or Álvarez. If the two 168-pound stars don’t fight each other, or perhaps after they do, either of them would make for the biggest fight of Charlos’ career. Román González – “Bam” Rodríguez said in so many words that he has too much respect for “Chocolatito” to fight him, but man, this would be an incredible matchup between special little men. Kazuto Ioka – Juan Francisco Estrada. Ioka and Estrada were headed for a meeting in 2023 until talks broke down. The title unification showdown would be great if Estrada doesn’t fight Rodriguez. Teofimo López – Haney. Lopez’s victory over Josh Taylor was a step back from his pre-Kombosos status. He would be back, and then some, with a win over Haney.