Boxing
Ranking the top five boxing fights on the schedule for the rest of 2024
Published
3 months agoon
There are a number of substantial boxing fights coming up over the next few months, including undisputed title clashes and stimulating rematches. While the first half of the year brought us incredible moments like Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis’ KO of Frank Martin and Oleksandr Usyk’s decision win over Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era, the months ahead are full of fights that could overshadow those substantial moments.
There’s the highly anticipated Usyk-Fury rematch, the return of Canelo Alvarez — in the next chapter of the Mexico-Puerto Rico boxing rivalry — against Edgar Berlanga, and another rematch between two of the best fighters in women’s boxing history, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. And we could see another first in the four-belt era: an undisputed lightweight heavyweight champion.
Whether it’s the knockouts, the boxing skills, or the fierce fighting style that someone enjoys watching, there’s something for everyone. Let’s take a look at five of the most intriguing fights on the boxing calendar between now and December.
1. Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol (October 12 on ESPN+ PPV)
The two lightweight heavyweight champions may have a lower profile than the likes of Alvarez and Fury, but fight fans have been waiting a long time for this one. We had to wait even longer, as the fight was pushed back from June after Beterbiev suffered a torn meniscus during training.
This is a fascinating clash of the best fighters in this weight class: Bivol (23-0, 11 KO), a clever and wise boxer, versus Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KO), a ruthless fighter who can knock out 100 percent of the time.
You wonder if Beterbiev’s injury will be a deciding factor in this fight, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bivol will enter the fight full of confidence after earning his first knockout victory in 10 fights, a sixth-round TKO over Malik Zinad in June. Bivol, 33, also has a history of pulling off upset victories over Alvarez. His move could prove pivotal against the 39-year-old Beterbiev, who has stopped every one of his professional opponents.
2. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (December 21 on DAZN PPV)
Usyk nearly stopped Fury in the 9th round of their undisputed heavyweight title fight in December and it will be fascinating to watch how the rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia plays out. Can Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) beat Fury by split decision and stop him? Or will Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) come up with a strategy to get his revenge?
Fury, 36, is a shrewd fighter and knows what changes he needs to make. Remember, he was winning the fight halfway through when Usyk, 37, started to find success.
This could be Usyk’s last fight in the heavyweight division. He has said that the heavyweight division is too hard to maintain and that he may return to the cruiserweight division, where he reigned as the undisputed champion.
It could also be Fury’s last fight if he loses by knockout. There has been much talk of Fury fighting English rival Anthony Joshua next May, but if he suffers a devastating defeat to Usyk, his second in a row, he may consider retirement to avoid the humiliation of losing to AJ.
Fury will have no shortage of motivation or heart, but can he handle Usyk’s speed and movement?
3. Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua (September 21 on DAZN PPV)
The Brits’ clash, scheduled for Wembley Stadium in London, is full of drama. Both are powerful boxers, and a knockout seems likely. Joshua has bounced back from losing two world title fights to Usyk by decision and has three straight knockout wins, making him the odds-on favorite against Dubois (-550 at ESPN BET).
Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) was sensational in his quick demolition of former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in March, and in the fight against Dubois, expect him to land his right hook whenever he sees an opening, just like he did against Ngannou. Filip Hrgovic was able to land a right hook on Dubois last June before Dubois stopped him in round 8. That victory earned Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) the interim IBF belt, which was upgraded to the full title after undisputed champion Usyk dropped it in June.
Dubois, 26, looked vulnerable but risky. In the Usyk fight, Dubois’ team argued he scored a legitimate knockdown in Round 5 when he hit Usyk with a body shot that sent him to the floor in pain, but the punch was ruled a low blow. Usyk won by stoppage in the ninth round, but Dubois revived his career with TKO victories over Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic.
However, Joshua, 34, is another step forward and many expect him to become a three-time champion in spectacular fashion.
4. Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 (November 15 on Netflix)
Netflix is getting involved in the substantial boxing world with a thriller in the sequel. The two heavyweights will face off again after Taylor won their April 2022 clash by split decision to defend her undisputed lightweight title. Some thought Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) was unlucky not to win by decision, and she has since reeled off five straight wins, four of which at featherweight. The fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be the co-main event of Jake Paul taking on legendary former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
The Taylor-Serrano rematch will take place at junior welterweight, which is significant because Serrano, a 35-year-old seven-division champion, has fought in lighter weight classes for most of her career. Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) will be stronger and more accustomed to the weight class after coming off a career-best victory in a majority decision over Chantelle Cameron in November. The victory made Taylor the undisputed junior welterweight champion and avenged her only professional loss, which came in May 2023 against Cameron.
Taylor, 38, showed she was far from finished in her last fight and could win hands down this time. Serrano will look to employ her speed in what could be the last truly great fight for these two women’s boxing legends.
5. Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga (September 14 on Prime Video PPV)
Canelo’s defense of his three super middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is not a fight many would have preferred. Boxing fans would like to see him fight David Benavidez or even Terence Crawford, the long-reigning welterweight champion who just moved up to capture the junior middleweight belt.
Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) began his career with 16 consecutive first-round knockout wins, but went three years without a knockout win until he knocked out Padraig McCrory in February. Berlanga, 27, is younger and has power, but doesn’t pose the same threat as recent Canelo opponents like Jaime Munguia and Jermell Charlo.
Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) was stripped of his IBF title in July, but he’s still the biggest star in boxing. The 34-year-old Mexican has faced a slew of substantial names in his career, from Floyd Mayweather to Gennady Golovkin. This fight with Berlanga just doesn’t excite everyone. But Canelo will be looking to score his first knockout win in almost three years. That’s a good reason to tune in. You don’t know how many more nights like this we have left with Canelo.
Other engaging fights that didn’t make it into the top five:
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Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Super Middleweight (August 17 on ESPN and ESPN+)
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Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny for Inoue’s undisputed junior featherweight championship (September 3 on ESPN+)
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Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer, 10 rounds, for Ryan’s WBO women’s welterweight title (September 27 on ESPN/ESPN+)
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Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis, 12 rounds, junior welterweight (October 26 on DAZN)
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Boxing
Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul
Published
1 day agoon
November 21, 2024One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
Boxing
Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory
Published
2 days agoon
November 21, 2024Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.
Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.
Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.
Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.
Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.
Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.
There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.
Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.
McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.
English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.
Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.
Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.
After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.
Boxing
Heavyweight who knocked out Lewis to break Tyson’s record days after the feat
Published
3 days agoon
November 19, 2024Mike Tyson will miss his final record-breaking days after becoming the oldest former heavyweight champion to walk through the ring.
“The Baddest Man on the Planet” reached an all-time high in Texas on Friday night, returning from a two-decade absence. However, Tyson gave the achievement five days later to former Lennox Lewis conqueror Oliver McCall.
On Tuesday night at The Troubadour in Nashville, Tennessee, the former WBC heavyweight champion returns to action and will face veteran Stacy Frazier in a fight scheduled for four rounds. At age 59, McCall will set the record for a sanctioned fight, beating Tyson by fourteen months.
McCall was born in April 1965, and Tyson’s mother gave birth to him in June 1966. “The Atomic Bull” hopes to score his 60th career victory tonight. He enters the fight with a record of 59-14, including 38 knockouts.
The Chicago native believes his continued activity over the last 19 years will be what separates his performance on Tuesday night from what Tyson looked like on Friday.
“I’m ready. I’ve been training here in Nashville for a few weeks now, but I’m always in shape,” McCall said. “It will be a completely different match than what the fans saw on Friday.
“I think being lively has a lot to do with it. I haven’t fought in five years because of the pandemic and a few things that didn’t work out.
“If you look at my record, since 2005 I have fought 25 times, of which I have won 19-6 times against quality fighters and won various regional titles.
McCall fights without financial motivation. He sees his fighting days approaching and is already planning his post-retirement plans.
“I want to do this for another year. This means I will be 40 years into my career as a professional boxer. Then I want to train and become a manager. I want to return the favor and assist the next generation of players try to become world champions.
“I came here to Nashville and contacted the manager who took me to the title [Country Box] promoter Jimmy Adams. I’m learning a lot about this aspect of the sport. I love the players here and everything that happens with Country Box.”
The Country Box 25 gala will also feature eight-round fights between super bantamweight Elon DeJesus (8-1-2, 7 KO) and Dominique Griffin (5-7-2, 2 KO), as well as super middleweight fighters. Sean Hemphill (16-2, 10 KO) fights Bryant McClain (6-5-2, 1 KO).
Airy heavyweight Isaac Carbonell (8-0, 5 KO) will face Antonio Louis Hernandez (7-19-4, 4 KO) in six-round fights; Joel Mutombo (6-0, 4 KO) vs. Kevin Torian (3-2, 3 KO) in a cruiserweight fight.
In a four-round fight, Ryan Zempoaltecatl (2-0, 1 KO) will face Raymond Chacon (10-64-1, 2 KO).
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