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5 world title fights you need to watch in January

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7 months ago

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5 world title fights you must watch in January

January is usually reserved for repairing bank balances and pretending the holiday weight damage never happened. When it comes to boxing, it has traditionally been a month of delicate awakening – an odd card here, a stray rival there – before the sport gets back on track from February.

January 2026, however, has other ideas. With over a dozen multi-broadcaster shows and no less than eight world title fights on the schedule, the year is off to a flying start. If you’re not sure where to focus your attention, Boxing News can facilitate. Here are five world title fights you simply can’t miss this month.

January 10: Subriel Matias vs. Dalton Smith – WBC super lightweight title (PPV.com)

We start in Brooklyn, where Puerto Rican pressure machine Subriel Matias is defending his WBC title against Britain’s Dalton Smith. Matias – allowed to fight despite a recent positive anti-doping test – he is one of the most ruthless fighters in the sport, a ruthless force that seeks to drown his opponents under constant, punishing pressure.

Smith emerges as a polished, composed player but remains unproven at the elite world level. Britain has produced a steady stream of top-class 140-pound champions in the state-of-the-art era – Ricky Hatton and Josh Taylor among them – but following in those footsteps will require discipline, precision and nerves of steel. Matias will want to thwart the Sheffield player’s game plan and turn the fight into a war of attrition. Whether Smith can resist this strength is what makes this a fascinating start to the year.

January 24: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz – IBF lightweight title (DAZN)

Titles won outside the ropes are always associated with an asterisk by fans. For Raymond Muratalla, this is a chance to dispel any doubts and justify his rise by defeating one of the sport’s most highly regarded newcomers.

Andy Cruz looked every bit the future world champion, even though he had only had six professional fights. The Cuban amateur standout has made a sleek transition into the paid ranks, offering elite timing, footwork and shot selection. Muratalla’s relaxed, attacking style will need to be edged and true from the first bell, as Cruz rarely gives second chances. Expect a high-level, technically affluent match with world-class striking throughout.

January 31: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou – WBO/WBA super welterweight title unification (broadcaster TBC)

Abass Baraou is another fighter crowned without throwing a punch, but legitimacy is earned the demanding way, and Xander Zayas is eager to make a statement to Puerto Rico’s partisan crowd.

Zayas enjoys home court advantage in his secondary defense and will look to box intelligent, moving in and out of range while eliminating the German pressure fighter. However, Baraou is persistent, aggressive and persistent. If Zayas doesn’t manage to discourage him by force, this could turn into a grueling and very entertaining case. Don’t be surprised if this information comes up in Fight of the Year discussions early.

January 31: Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly – IBF super welterweight title (DAZN)

The 154lb division once again takes center stage in a wild night of action in both the UK and USA. In Newcastle, brutal Russian champion Bakhram Murtazaliev poses a grave threat in Britain’s Josh Kelly’s backyard.

It’s a familiar scenario: a devastating blow versus a skillful, ambitious striker that brings back memories Kovalev-Cleverly in Cardiff over ten years ago. Kelly will be desperate to avoid a similar fate. His world title potential has been discussed since the day he turned professional, but his first championship assignment couldn’t have been more tough. This is a real sink or swim moment.

January 31: Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson – WBO super lightweight title (DAZN)

The biggest fight of the month – and arguably the most intriguing – is saved for last. Two elite operators, long touted as future all-time greats, collide with more than just a belt on the line. It’s about status, hierarchy and positioning pound for pound.

Lopez will need something special to outsmart and outmaneuver one of the sharpest boxing minds in the sport. Meanwhile, Stevenson will look to assert control and prove his superiority at the weight. It won’t be reckless chaos or action-packed mayhem, but it will be elite-level boxing in its purest form – the type of fight you simply can’t look away from.

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Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

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11 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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13 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

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13 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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