By Glenn Wilson

February is not even halfway over and I find myself searching schedules and websites for upcoming fights, the anticipation I have for certain fights and fighters, Lacy-Calzaghe, Castillo-Corrales 3, Hatton fighting in America, is tempered somewhat when I realize that by the end of this year we may have said goodbye to five of boxing's biggest stars.

While the boxing world is getting ready to say so long, Canastota will be preparing to welcome to it's halls perhaps the most accomplished class ever inducted.

If all goes according to plan, then this should be the last active year for boxing greats Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya, Kostya Tszyu and Julio Cesar Chavez. All have given notice that they are within a fight or two of hanging up their gloves. Their careers have crossed paths on occasion, which is the way great fighters approach the fight game, by fighting the best.

Roy Jones Jr.,37, of Pensacola, Fl., 49-4, 38 KO's, won his first world title in 1993 when he decisioned Bernard Hopkins for the vacant IBF Middleweight title. In 1994 he moved up and beat James Toney for the IBF Super Middleweight title, and in 1996 won a belt in a third weight division when he decisioned Mike McCallum for the WBC Light Heavyweight title. His proudest moment is without a doubt when he bypassed the Crusierweight division to challenge John Ruiz for the WBA Heavyweight title. Jones took control in round one, using his superior hand speed and boxing ability to easily win a piece of the Heavyweight puzzle.

The up coming year has Jones being mentioned as a possible opponent for Bernard Hopkins or in  possible fourth fight with Antonio Tarver. No matter how he leaves the game, he will forever be remembered for his cat like quickness and ring generalship. While critics were quick to point out the level of his competition as weak, let it be noted that he faced the best that his division had to offer at the time and it was usually his superior skills more than anything that turned most of his bouts into man versus boy type contests.

Bernard Hopkins, 41 of Philadelphia, Pa., 46-4-1, 32 KO's, "The Executioner" won his Middleweight title on his third try when he won the vacant IBF strap with a seventh round TKO over Segundo Mercado in April of 1995. Nard was able to hold on to the belt for an incredible ten years. He made twenty successful defenses, but did not get his just due until he knocked out Felix Trinidad to unify the belts with a twelve round stoppage in 2001. His last great appearance came in 2004, Hopkins played cat and mouse with Oscar De La Hoya until ending matters with a perfect body shot in the ninth round. Soon after, Bernard joined Oscar's Golden Boy Promotions in an executive capacity.

Since losing his rematch with Jermain Taylor, Hopkins has expressed an interest in having one last fight, possibly with Jones or Tarver. Hopkins' legacy will show that of a fighter so disciplined he fought his whole career as a Middleweight. Though not as skilled as some of his contemporaries, he was able to secure his place in history with a combination of ring smarts and physical conditioning unmatched by other fighters.

Oscar De La Hoya, 33 of California, 37-4, 29 KO's, "The Golden Boy" won his first world title by stopping Jimmi Bredahl in ten rounds in March of 1994. Oscar took home the WBO Junior Lightweight belt by easily beating Bredahl in LA's famed Olympic Auditorium. Four months later he took the WBO Lightweight title by stopping Jorge Paez in two rounds. In June of 1996 he beat legendary Julio Cesar Chavez in four rounds to win the WBC Junior Welterweight title, the following year he won a disputed decision to take Sweetpea Whitaker's WBC Welterweight belt.

Later he won a version of the Junior Middleweight title but it was his unification bout with Fernando Vargas that could be his signature fight. The two men had a sincere dislike for each other and it made for a great marketing campaign. The fight went back and forth for ten rounds until Oscar was able to close the show in the eleventh. De La Hoya's greatest assets were his gifted boxing ability, hand speed and tremendous left hook. Oscar has made it clear that he would like two more fights before stepping into the role of fulltime promoter. He is scheduled to fight Ricardo Mayorga in May and would like to follow that up with a superfight against Floyd Mayweather in the fall.

Kostya Tszyu, 36 from Australia, 31-2, 25 ko's, "The Thunder From Down Under" won his first title by knocking out Jake Rodriguez to win the IBF Junior Welterweight title in January of 1995. In May of 1997 Tszyu lost his title when he was stopped in ten by "Cool" Vince Phillips, what made this loss noteworthy is that it marked a turning point in Tszyu's career. 

After the loss he promised to never again come into a fight in anything but top condition and to never again take an opponent lightly.  He won the WBC Junior Welterweight belt in November of 1998 with a fifth round tko over Diobelys Hurtado. His signature fight came in November 2001 when he had a unification bout with the flashy Zab Judah. The first round belonged to Judah, but KT was able to find the range with his deadly right hand. The end came in round two as Tszyu was able to knock Judah down twice with one punch, prompting referee Jay Nady to stop the fight.

The finest performance of Tszyu was his November 2004 rematch with Sharmba Mitchell, the experts wondered how Tszyu would fare after coming back from an extended layoff due to injuries, add to the mix that Mitchell had looked sharp in his previous fights and the consensus was that Kostya was in for a long night. Tszyu looked brilliant, landing thunderous right hands and hard body shots, he controlled the action from the opening bell, knocking Mitchell down three times before the fight was stopped in the third.

Kostya Tszyu will be remembered for his powerful right, his jab that was more of a range finder and well placed body shots. History may never have seen a Junior Welterweight that was as physically strong as Tszyu. Kostya had contemplated retirement before being called out by Zab Judah earlier this year, while you can improve your offense and defense you can not improve your chin and this has Tszyu seriously considering one more fight.

Julio Cesar Chavez, 43 of Culiacan, Mexico, 108-6-2, 87 KO's, "JC Superstar" won his first world title when he beat Mario Martinez by eighth round tko to win the WBC version of the Junior Lightweight belt in September 1984. He defended that title with defenses over such quality fighters as Roger Mayweather, Rocky Lockridge and Juan LaPORTE. in November of 97 he challenged for Edwin Rosario's WBA lightweight belt, taking the title with an eleventh round stoppage. In 1989 Chavez had a rematch with Mayweather, this time for the WBA Junior Welterweight title, again Julio prevailed with a tenth round stoppage.

Twice he came up short in bids to add the Welterweight title to his list, drawing with Pernell Whitaker and being stopped by Oscar De La Hoya. Chavez was known as a relentless pressure fighter, throwing vicious hooks to the liver. He is considered by many to be the greatest fighter to ever come out of Mexico. Julio is currently on a farewell tour, fighting veteran boxers who had lost to him previously in their career.

As pundits debate the qualifications of certain boxers getting into the Hall of Fame, there will be no doubt as to the merits of the class of 2012.

While nothing has been confirmed, the end is apparently near. Boxing's loss will be the Hall's gain, five fighters whose combined records reach 271-20-3, 211 KO's, won titles in nine different weight divisions and have international appeal. It will be a great day for boxing in June 2012, because this class could rival any class in boxing or any other sport's Hall of Fame.