With the fresh year, fresh opportunities await players who want to make a name for themselves in the ring. In 2025, several fighters took advantage of these moments. Rolando “Rolly” Romero, Lewis Crocker, Xander Zayas, Richardson Hitchins and Abdullah Mason, among others, all capitalized on key fights to win world titles and prepare for bigger fights in 2026.

As some of boxing’s biggest names enter the twilight of their careers – such as Canelo Alvarez – and others, including Terence Crawford, retire from the sport, the door is opening for a fresh generation to emerge.

Here are five fighters who can break through in 2026 and climb to the top of their divisions.

Ryan Garcia

After a disastrous 2025, during which he lost to Rolando “Rolly” Romero in May and was banned from the WBC in July for repeatedly using racial slurs (the ban was lifted in November), Garcia has reached a pivotal moment in his career. It’s time to see if he can live up to the high expectations set years ago, when he was perceived as one of boxing’s biggest stars. With just one official win since April 2023 (his win over Devin Haney in April 2024 was changed to a no contest after Garcia tested positive for a banned substance), Garcia is reportedly in line to become a world champion when he faces WBC welterweight Mario Barrios in early 2026. Despite his problems in and out of the ring, Garcia still has a huge advantage, which is based on a brilliant left hook. If he can put it all together, the sky’s the limit and his comeback story will be a special one for the ages. However, if he fails on the large stage again, there will be no more excuses.

Jake Paul

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Anthony Joshua KO defeats Jake Paul in dominant victory

Anthony Joshua finds a good opportunity in the sixth round and uses it to score a knockout victory over Jake Paul.

Paul reached for the stars and suffered a broken jaw in two places on December 19 in a knockout loss to two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Once Paul recovers, all eyes will be on his next move. He remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions, but only he can decide whether his career will be something fans take seriously or see as a side attraction. Paul has teased a pursuit of the cruiserweight championship upon his return, but is he ready to challenge one of the lesser-known 200-pound champions instead of a potential mega-fight against another former MMA fighter (Francis Ngannou) or a smaller boxer (Ryan Garcia or Gervonta “Tank” Davis)?

Keyshawn Davis

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Keyshawn Davis wins WBO lightweight title via 4th round TKO

Keyshawn Davis wins via fourth-round TKO to become the fresh WBO 135-pound lightweight champion.

After defeating Denys Berinchyk in February to capture the WBO lightweight title, Davis was primed for a breakthrough in 2025, but all his momentum was wasted when he failed to make weight and his June fight with Edwin De Los Santos was canceled. Davis disappeared from the scene and teased retirement, then returned to his fresh team and had a junior welterweight fight against Jamain Ortiz on January 31, which gave Teofimo Lopez Jr. the punch. in 2024. Davis has elite talent and enormous potential. There is certainly a scenario where “The Businessman” knocks on the door of uncontested fights in 2026.

Gervonta Davis

Davis is in a similar situation to Ryan Garcia, and his behavior outside the ring affects his performance (or lack thereof) inside the circle. The current WBA lightweight champion remains one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. However, a controversial draw with Lamont Roach Jr. in March and legal issues derailing an already questionable fight with Jake Paul in November have left many wondering how badly “Tank” wants to compete. He has talked openly about retiring, but will he really end his incomplete boxing career prematurely? The outcome of his legal problems will determine whether he will be able to return to the ring. If Davis wants to compete, there will be plenty of blockbuster fights waiting for him. Davis will certainly be very focused in 2026 on where he decides to take his boxing career.

David Benavidez

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David Benavidez: Legacy wins all the belts in his weight class

WBC lithe heavyweight champion David Benavidez believes that to become a boxing legend, you need to become the undisputed champion in your weight class.

Benavidez stopped his pursuit of fighting Canelo Alvarez in 2025, which only added to the allure of the “Mexican Monster.” The change in weight class allowed Benavidez to challenge fresh opponents, and with last year’s victories over David Morrell and Anthony Yard, he has become quite established as the WBC lithe heavyweight champion. His 2026 campaign is worth watching. He has already announced a cruiserweight title fight against WBO and WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in May and will likely continue fighting either unified lithe heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol or former champion Artur Beterbiev in the second half of 2026. Canelo can finally give him what he wants. Benavidez is a budding superstar who could fully blossom in 2026.