Boxing
2025 Box Contenders: Who can win Fighter of the Year?
Published
1 year agoon
The remaining four months in the 2025 boxing schedule, there is no clear frontator for Fighter of the Year. From the unilateral impact of Daniel Dubois through Oleksandra Usyk to Dmitry Bivol, who avenged his defeat with Artur Beterbavier for the undisputed lightweight championships, great results took place throughout the year. However, there is no performance that creates a sufficient distance to distinguish one warrior from the package.
There are still several solemn fights in this year’s schedule that can bring performances in conversation. Terenka Crawford challenges Canelo Alvarez about the unquestioned super -medium scale championships that stands out. However, several other fighters also have the option of strongly closing the year and justification.
We look at some of the fights that have already been announced, as well as the fighters we expect again before the end of the year. What will they have to do to strengthen their place as the warrior of the ESPN 2025 year?
Terenca Crawford, if he defeats Canelo Alvarez
Yes, it would be the only fight of Crawford this year, but the transfer of two weight classes in order to overcome Canelo stapling to the pounds and become a three -part unquestioned master would have a greater value than two or three fights anyone else.
There was a time when we thought Crawford would be too tiny for Errol Spence Jr., when they met at the undisputed welterweight championships in July 2023 and we saw how it went. For Crawford, who began his championship in 135 pounds, to advance up and beat Canelo, all time, who has never lost in 168 pounds, would be a revelation. Let’s not forget that Crawford will be 38 years aged in September and is almost three years older than Canelo.
Depending on how Crawford was to win, he would not only strengthen his place as a warrior of the year, but also would lead to solemn consideration, where the career “Buda” is one of the biggest boxers.
Rolando “Rolly” Romero, if he lands in Manny Pacquiao and wins
Losers with a knockout from Gervont “Tank” Davis in 2022 and Isaac Cruz in 2024 left Romero as an opponent, not a future candidate for Fighter of the Year. However, he upset the apple stroller, defeating Ryan Garcia with a unanimous decision in May and is high on the list of potential Pacquiao opponents during his next fight.
The Pacquiao manager, Sean Gibbons, mentioned Romero by name and aims to the Philippine legend to return to the ring before the end of 2025 with aspiration to break his own record as the oldest warrior who became a welterweight champion (Pacquiao ends on December 47), the fight with Master WBA has a lot of sense.
As for the fight itself, Romero still has a significant power to hit and looked enormous against Garcia. While the fight against Garcia was not Barnburner in any episode of imagination, Romero showed several recent wrinkles in his game and defended the left hook very well against Garcia’s trademark. If he could beat Pacquiao, he would have a prize claim.
Katie Taylor, if he faces Chantelle Cameron
After closing the book about the Amanda Serrano trilogy with a clear win in July, Taylor can finally go on and chase another opponent. The fight, which is the most sensible for the undisputed welterweight master, is a rubber match with Cameron, the only warrior who defeated Taylor in his professional career.
The fight is simple to do when Cameron has signed a contract with Jake Paul’s most valuable promotions and debuting promotional on Taylor-Serrano 3 Undercard, a unanimous decision on Jessica Camar.
Cameron defeated Taylor by the decision of the majority in May 2023 and lost a narrow decision in the rematch in November 2023. Given the strictly imported nature of the first two meetings, the third fight is an obvious choice. If Taylor could win impressive, it would be challenging to ignore the Fighter of the Year conversation.
Nayya Inoue, if he defeats Murodjona Akhmadalieva and take another fight in December
This year, “The Monster” was crazy with the knockout Ye Joon Kim and Ramon Cardenas and will take the third fight in 2025, when he will face Akhmadaliev on September 14. While the very victory over “MJ” may not make Inoue be the fourth fighter of the year, the fourth fight in 2025 will certainly put him in the conversation.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the general entertainment authority of Saudi Arabia, announced the plans of the December battle card, in which Inoue defended his unquestioned Junior Junior Championships in WBC, David Picasso, who decides to most against Kyonosuke Kameda on Barrio-Mario.
If Inoue can go 4-0 with four knockouts this year, he could come out with distinction.
Moses Itauma, if he faces the 10 best bulky scales
Ituma is only 20 years aged, but he has gone from the perspective to compete in the blink of an eye. His annihilation of Dillian Whyte in the first round of August 16 was a terrifying example of his potential. Between the Mike Balogun’s two -level couple in May, the heavyweight herd of Ituma glides through the roof. In 2025 he dealt with in less than six minutes of fighting, and return before the end of the year is very likely.
Ituma mentioned the fight against the strong Jermaine Franklin for a lap. However, with Franklin fighting now on Canelo-Crawford Undercard, Ituma will have to look for an opponent elsewhere, and the fight against TOP-10 can be a strenuous way.
Filip Hrgovic, who defeated David Adeleye to Podkard Itauma-Cyte, makes sense. Or Itauma can continue to fight the former momentary champion of Zhilei Zhang, who lost to Agit Kabayel in February. If Ituma fights with any best weight and wins, it will be challenging to exclude it from the conversation.
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, if he defeats Fernando Martinez
Rodriguez added to his collection of belts in smaller weight classes in 2025 with an impressive stop of the 10th round of Phumelele Cafu in July to become the Bantamweight WBO champion. He was already the owner of the WBC title. The 25 -year -old Rodriguez is still impressive on his newborn career and is to face the owner of the IBF Martinez title in November on the arranged Ring IV card, headed by David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde.
The way Rodriguez still sends opponents is extremely opening eyes, and he will have the opportunity to take an invincible record of another warrior and closer to the undoubted 115 pounds. A lot would have to go on his way, outside of him, winning this fight so that Rodriguez take Fighter of the Year Honors, but “Bam” is always in conversation.
Shakur Stevenson, if he moves to 140 pounds or defends his 135 title before the best claimant
Stevenson has 2-0 in 2025 with the dominant victories over Josh Padley and William Zeda. His ability was never questioned, and his invigorating fight against Zepeda in July, oppressing nutsayers who claim that Stevenson’s fights are tedious. He hunted for fighting with Gervont Davis and Teofimo Lopez. With Davis closed to fight Jake Paul and Lopez still on the radio after Stevenson called for the fight for 140 pounds, Stevenson’s options for a great fight for closing 2025 are restricted.
There is always a possibility that he will visit the previously planned fight against Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield. They were to meet in February, but Schofield had to withdraw due to illness. Schofield returned in June when he destroyed Farmer Tevin to Undercard Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The fight between Stevenson and Schofield would now be much larger than it was originally planned.
Stevenson can also continue to fight the IBF Richardson Hitchins Hitchins Hitchins Health Master or compete in a 135-pound unification against the owner of the IBF Raymond Muratalla titles. None of these fights would make Stevenson Shoo-in for Fighter of the Year, but if he contributes to another dazzling performance, you never know.
You may like
Boxing
Devin Haney Targets Key Opponent Following Shakur Stevenson Fight Talks Breakdown
Published
5 hours agoon
October 16, 2026
After positive steps towards making a fight, Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are said to be moving on after their teams could not finalise terms behind the scenes.
The pair of elite world champions have been linked throughout 2026, but the match-up appeared off the table earlier in the year due to a dispute over the weight.
Stevenson, who has fought just once at super-lightweight, wanted to meet at a catchweight of 144lbs, and was even said to be demanding a 10lbs rehydration clause.
Team Haney at first remained firm on the welterweight limit of 147lbs, where he beat Brian Norman Jr. last November to become WBO world champion.
Earlier this month, the fighters appeared to have a breakthrough, publicly agreeing to 145lbs on social media. Fans got excited, and predictions began flooding in.
Today, Stevenson said that, despite the initial agreement, he received an email from Haney’s lawyer saying that they were now switching back to 147lbs. Haney hit back, saying Stevenson ‘went missing for days’ after they had agreed to 145lbs, and that his rival ‘did everything’ for the fight not to happen.
Whoever is at fault, the fight now seems dead in the water.
Boxing Scene‘s Lance Pugmire now reports that Haney will revisit a fight with IBF champion Liam Paro. The Australian won the belt from Lewis Crocker in June and has since called on all champions in the division – Haney, Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez – to unify. Bill Haney, father and trainer to Devin, previously announced that November 28 in Atlanta was the target for his son’s return.
Who Stevenson now targets remains unclear, though fans will begin to criticise the inactivity. He has not been in the ring since an impressive victory over Teofimo Lopez in January, a particularly frustrating period of inactivity due to a high-profile promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing announced in July.
Boxing
Tim Bradley Calls Out Biggest Duck in Boxing for Devin Haney vs Shakur Stevenson Collapse
Published
6 hours agoon
October 16, 2026
In the wake of a proposed clash between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney falling through, Tim Bradley believes one man, who he describes as the “biggest duck in boxing”, is solely responsible.
The two pound-for-pound stars were in talks to collide later this year, with November 28 and Atlanta having been suggested as the potential date and location, respectively.
According to Stevenson, however, negotiations reached an impasse at the “11th hour” due to Haney’s lawyer demanding that they fight at 147lbs.
This, if accurate, would have meant a refusal to meet at 145lbs, which both sides had seemingly decided was a sensible catchweight for their showdown.
But while Stevenson claims he was willing to jump up from 140lbs, the slick southpaw has accused Haney of going back on his promise to drop down from welterweight.
As a result, Hall of Famer Bradley has said on his YouTube channel that, in his mind, Devin and his father and trainer, Bill Haney, are to blame for the fight not happening.
“I’m gonna name you ‘Deebo Dev’ – the biggest duck in boxing. And all y’all thought it was Shakur Stevenson [avoiding Haney] all along.
“Bill [Haney]how you gonna get out of this one? What happened – you got cold feet? This man [Stevenson] gave up the weight; this man gave up some money.
“You got your lawyer involved. You said you wanted this fight – you agreed to 145[lbs] and all. Come on now – Shakur agreed to it as well. And now we can’t get the fight because you wanted it at 147[lbs]. Is that true, Bill?”
While Stevenson comes off a unanimous decision victory over Teofimo Lopez in January, Haney has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr last November.
Boxing
Dubois vs Wardley 2: Heavyweights Clash at Career Heavies for World Title Rematch
Published
8 hours agoon
October 16, 2026
With 41 knockouts between them from 43 victories, few expect the contest to go the distance.
Wardley, sporting Ipswich Town’s newly-launched third kit with his name printed on the sleeve, was still bearing the scars of his punishing defeat in Manchester five months ago.
A cut across the bridge of his nose, first sustained during his 2024 draw with Frazer Clarke, reopened against Dubois and left his face badly swollen and bloodied.
The punishment he absorbed has raised questions over whether his decision to take an immediate rematch has come too soon but Wardley remains confident he can reverse the result.
“It’s simply seek and destroy now,” he said.
Promoter Frank Warren is predicting a “blockbuster” 2027 for the heavyweight division, with lucrative fights awaiting Saturday’s winner.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet in Cardiff on 11 December, while British prospect Itauma is set to return in January following his world-title defeat by Hrgovic.
Warren confirmed there is no clause for a third fight between Dubois and Wardley but the Queensberry Promotions boss refused to rule out a trilogy if the Ipswich fighter avenges the only defeat on his record.
“If that happens it’s a natural fight,” Warren said. “That’s what’s so intriguing about this. Who will they fight next year? We want to find out who is the best.”
Kayla Harrison says she might not have returned without Amanda Nunes
Devin Haney Targets Key Opponent Following Shakur Stevenson Fight Talks Breakdown
Tim Bradley Calls Out Biggest Duck in Boxing for Devin Haney vs Shakur Stevenson Collapse
Trending
-
MMA2 days agoMorning Report | Kayla Harrison opens up about injury layoff and possible retirement
-
MMA2 days agoMorning Report | Kayla Harrison opens up about injury layoff and possible retirement
-
Boxing2 days agoJose Valenzuela Overcomes Broadcast Challenges in Pursuit of Schofield
-
Boxing2 days agoFrazer Clarke Declares Fabio Wardley Hits Harder Than Daniel Dubois: Massively | Boxing News
-
Boxing2 days agoImproving Matchmaking for Fury vs Joshua Undercard: Key Strategies for Better Fights
-
MMA2 days agoUFC reportedly lets 16-0 Farid Basharat walk after seven wins
-
Boxing1 day agoKeith Thurman Analyzes Devin Haneys Chances Against Shakur Stevenson in 145lb Catchweight Fight
-
Boxing2 days agoEx-Klitschko Manager Backs Dubois as UK Boxings New Number One Over Fury and Joshua


