Boxing
Round box: Is Canelo-Crawford the best fight in the future?
The boxing schedule was filled with great duels over the next four months, including three fights, which you need to see: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terenca Crawford on the unquestioned Super Middle Championships, the rematch between the letters of heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois and the trilogical fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Other best fighters in action are the undisputed junior champion of Nayy Inoue and Junior Bantamweight, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. And don’t forget to return the former master Manny Pacquiao and Jermall Charlo.
But what is the best upcoming duel? Will we see a novel pound king for pounds with all these great fights at the end of the year? Which warrior is best considered great nervousness? Which megafight would be perfect to add before the end of 2025?
Andreas Hale and Nick Parkinson share their thoughts and perform their types.
Currently, the best duel in the boxing schedule is …
Parkinson: Canelo vs. Crawford. The two best operators of this era will take various strategies for the ring on September 13. Canelo, 34, the undisputed master of super medium medium weight, has advantages of power and experience, because Crawford was the undisputed champion 140 and 147 pounds, accelerates two weight classes – after one fight for 154 pounds. Alvarez won his first 168-pound title seven years ago and won world titles in four weight classes during almost 20 years of career. However, the latest fight of Alvarez – the victory of the decision on William Scull at the beginning of this month – the fall suggested. From November 2021, he did not win a win in space. Maybe even chances. 37-year-old Crawford also a four-way world champion, could operate in branches of less weight, but he has the advantage and better boxing skills. This is a physical canelo vs. Technical Crawford, and this fight can be resolved with the most attractive margin.
Resilient: Canelo vs. Crawford is a must, but Taylor vs. Serrano 3 can be the best in the year. Considering how closely questioned – and extremely invigorating – their first two fights were, there is no reason to believe that the third meeting will be less than fireworks. The first two fights were decision-making victories for Taylor, but it can be argued that the series can be easily 2-0 in favor of Serrano. Unfortunately, here we are, and both warriors have something to prove and are adapted to each other. Taylor will be 39 before he enters the ring, but it seems that she has not lost his pace, while the Serrano-Master in the seven boxing divisions-has a greater course at the age of 36, but it seems to be as shrewd as before their first meeting in 2022. It is worth mentioning that these women appear as the head of the All-Women card in Madison Square Garden, may have significant mission in the future of women. The stake is individually and for this sport on a larger scale, when they meet on July 11.
Which warrior has the best chance of nervousness?
Resilient: Calling this nervousness indicates that in battle it is clearly weaker, so I will go with Dubois to Usyk. It is not about the controversial low blow, which caused Usyk at their meeting in August 2023 and more about how Dubois apparently simply falls into his physical foundation. It seems that 27 -year -old Dubois exists forever, but he changed the professional only in 2017, and two losses in space – to Usyk in 2023 and Joe Joyce in 2020 – should not define his career. Perhaps we saw the British at its best, when he completely evaporated Anthony Joshua in September last year, and the confidence he gained thanks to this fifth winning KO should move to his rematch from Usyk, Espn warrior No. 1 for pounds. Dubois knows what to expect after dividing nine rounds from UYYk and may have the time of his father as his secret weapon, taking into account that the ambiguous unquestioned master turned 38 in January. Dubois will have to be almost perfect to break the brilliant ring tactic, but he knows how to get to it and will have the opportunity to shock the world on July 19 at the London Wembley stadium.
Parkinson: Crawford’s movement, Ring IQ and Slick Boxing can get a win in points if he manages to keep it out of reach. Alvarez was not at his usual level in his last fight, victory in the decision on William Scull on May 3 in Saudi Arabia, but he will be better before a larger and more enthusiastic crowd in Las Vegas. The difference in this fight, however, will be Crawford’s ability to control the distance. Three years ago, Dmitriry Bivol unanimously overtook Canelo in a delicate weighty weight when he used his reach and stabbing to outline and outweigh Alvarez. Crawford has skills in his cabinet to do the same. It is pointed and enjoys a four -inch advantage. He can operate his leg work to avoid hazardous Canelo attacks on the body. Crawford can accelerate two classes to take part in Canelo, but it can turn away from blows and brisk meters. Technical brilliance and work of Crawford legs are enough to win a miniature decision.
The fight I would like to see the most before the end of the year is …
1:54
Nayya Inoue is burdened with Ramon Cardenas from the 8th TKO round
After early knocking out, Nayy Inoue burden Ramon Cardenas and wins TKO victory in the eighth round to keep his unquestionable junior championships.
Parkinson: Over the past five years, like many fans of the fight, I wanted to see the English heavyweight rival Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua divide the ring. But we are still waiting and the fight lose part of its charm. Instead of placing Fury vs. Joshua at the top of my wish list, I will go to the duel of the All-Japanese between the undisputed champion of the featherweight champion Inoue and Junto Nakrekani, the king of WBC Bantamweight. Drawany will face Ryosuke Nishida, IBF master, in the fight with the title of union on June 8, and if he wins, the demand will intensify about the start with Inoue. Skilledy, world champion in three weight and ESPN fighter No. 9 pounds per pound, broke in a win in the 3rd round over David Cuellar in February, and looks good to stay at Inoue’s clash in December. Inoue, fighter No. 2 ESPN and a four -way world champion, compiled 11 wins in a straightforward space, and the clash from Nakrekani would cause a lack of compromise, a crazy and furious meeting.
Resilient: Considering that it is unlikely that David Benavidez has a chance for Alvarez or a shot in the winner Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev 3 before the end of the year, I will change running with my choice and go with Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. at 154 pounds. These two have been encircled for years and are often omitted in conversation as the future of boxing in favor of Gervont “Tank” Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez (sorry, Ryan Garcia). But between the Ortiza changing power and Ennis’s pure athleticism, it is a showdown that can eventually achieve this year. Ennis, IBF and WBA welterweight master, was attacked by Lopez, but it is obvious that Ennis would be more comfortable competing with 154 pounds, where Ortiz currently has a WBC transition belt. Junior Division Middle is a bit sloppy, and Crawford currently had the title of WBA, and Sebastian Funda defended both WBO and WBC belts against Tim Tkom in the rematch on July 19, but Ennis-Wordiz does not need the title attached to him to be convincing. This fight does not have to marinate; It just has to happen.
Which warrior will end a year at ESPN rankings for pounds?
Resilient: Crawford. If “Bud” Crawford does what I expect that he would do and beat Canelo the undisputed in the third weight class, how can you refuse his place on the rankings? Although the current one is present No. 1, he cannot rise on the weight to do what Crawford is trying in September. And the current No. 2 Inoue does not have an opponent who is as achieved as Canelo. Crawford, currently taking third place, has every tool necessary to defeat Canelo, but also to become the first warrior who stopped the Mexican superstar. It has an absolutely nasty run that could take advantage of the decreasing capacity of Canelo as the fight has passed. The size difference will not be as huge as some do it, and Crawford can potentially facilitate this appearance. The only thing that stopped Crawford from above is inactivity that will be repaired after entering the ring from Canelo.
Parkinson: Usyk, after closing his career this year, two defensive titles of the world champion will remain at the top. Inoue will be ready to take control when Usyk follows his retirement plan after two consecutive fights, although Crawford will also have a sturdy argument to be number 1 if he defeated Alvarez in September. But as long as Usyk leaves, his achievements will remain before the rest. First for Utyk there is a rematch from July 19 with Dubois, which two years ago Usyk Ko’d. Usyk looks too good to worry him Dubois, and the final fight vs. Joseph Parker is probably waiting for him this year. Usyk defeated several huge names (Joshua and Fury twice each), after reaching the unquestioned status in the circuitous weight. He will go down as the best weight of his weighty era if he ended his career with a flawless record.
It is Ruiz’s lowest scale reading since he weighed 252 pounds for his July 2018 decision over Kevin Johnson. He was 28 then, active, and still climbing toward the biggest victory of his career. Eight years later, his body has been through extreme fluctuations, long layoffs, and the soft living that followed his 2019 upset of Anthony Joshua.
Two years ago, Ruiz came in at 274.4 pounds for his draw with Jarrell Miller, making this a drop of 20.1 pounds. He was 268 when he stopped Joshua, ballooned to 283 for the rematch, and registered 268.8 against Luis Ortiz in 2022.
The 254.3 pound reading will be sold as evidence of renewed discipline. It may be. Ruiz clearly did more than stroll through camp and hope his name would carry him. Losing that much weight at this stage of his career still brings questions about what the reduction took out of him.
Extra mass is not an automatic source of punch resistance, but Ruiz has spent most of his prime absorbing heavyweight shots with a much thicker body. Cutting down rapidly may leave less natural padding through his upper body and neck. That is worth watching against a 6’7″ opponent whose punches arrive from steep downward angles.
Ruiz also needs his right hand to survive a full fight. He fractured it against Miller and said the injury prevented him from throwing properly during the second half. The lower weight will mean little if he cannot release the three-punch combinations that made him dangerous at close range.
Knyba gives him openings. The Polish heavyweight often stands tall and does not possess elite lateral movement. Added quickness should allow Ruiz to work around the long guard with overhand rights, then dig shorter punches underneath. The danger comes when Knyba grabs him. Repeated clinches may drain Ruiz’s legs and prevent him from establishing the fast inside exchanges he needs.
There is also a difference between looking better on a scale and being restored as a fighter. Ruiz’s inactivity has taken away valuable years, while his reflex-dependent style requires timing that neither roadwork nor dieting can reproduce. At his best, he slipped shots at close range and answered with combinations before opponents recovered. That version has not been seen consistently since the first Joshua fight.
Ruiz faces vastly more pressure here than a fighter merely shaking off ring rust. Ruiz cannot afford another flat performance against an opponent selected to relaunch him. A cautious decision or exhausting struggle would damage his value as a future opponent for the leading names at heavyweight. At 36, there is not enough time for a lengthy rebuild.
The lower number is encouraging, but the fight will reveal what Ruiz lost along with those 20 pounds. A rejuvenated former champion may turn up in Newark. We may just as easily see an older fighter who worked hard to recreate a body from his twenties without recovering the fighter who once occupied it.
“Now Frank is the mandatory for Hrgovic. We plan on enforcing it. We’ve already had discussions about it. It’s happening,” Valencia told BoxingScene. “There’s not going to be step-asides for no amount of money. He believes he can be world champion and wants to be world champion, and [nothing] is going to interfere with that opportunity.
“Moses wasn’t strong enough to hurt Hrgovic in the first six or seven rounds. It’s a completely different story with Frank Sanchez. Frank has speed and big power.”
Itauma did hurt Hrgovic, dropping him in the second round and landing enough heavy shots to build a huge lead. His failure was not a lack of strength. He emptied his gas tank trying to force a stoppage, abandoned his jab as fatigue set in, and eventually became a stationary target.
The Cuban presents a different test. He is more comfortable boxing at a controlled pace, changing angles, and forcing slower heavyweights to reach for him. Hrgovic had trouble finding Itauma when the 21-year-old stayed disciplined early. That kind of movement is available to Sanchez without the pressure to satisfy a British crowd by turning every exchange into a firefight.
The danger is Sanchez’s low punch output. Against Efe Ajagba and Christian Hammer, he often waited to land single counter rights or lead left hooks. Hrgovic keeps throwing after taking clean punches and can steal rounds through activity alone. Sanchez cannot circle for three minutes, land two eye-catching counters, and assume the judges will ignore everything coming back.
Agit Kabayel also exposed the fastest route to breaking Sanchez down: sustained body punching. Hrgovic is not a committed body attacker. He prefers straight rights upstairs and rough right hands in close, which allows Sanchez to use his upper-body movement against predictable head shots. If Hrgovic cannot slow his legs by attacking downstairs, chasing him around the ring may turn into an ugly night.
Hrgovic still carries physical force that Richard Torrez Jr. could not match. At roughly 245 pounds, he can make clinches exhausting and punish Sanchez once his movement declines. The real test comes after the eighth round, when Sanchez must continue slipping heavy shots while producing enough offense to protect his lead.
Abel Sanchez helped Hrgovic settle down against Itauma by getting him to stop lunging and allowing the younger fighter to exhaust himself. Similar patience will be required against Frank Sanchez. Reckless pursuit gives the Cuban the exact counterpunching opportunities he wants.
Frank Sanchez may possess the tools to hurt Hrgovic in ways Itauma failed to sustain, but Valencia is overlooking the champion’s durability, output, and ability to keep applying physical pressure. One sharp combination will not be enough over 12 rounds.
Hrgovic’s trainer wants the champion’s cuts to heal before a January return. Valencia is willing to wait, provided Frank Sanchez remains next.
Ryan Garcia Reveals Undefeated Legend Assisting Conor Benn in Fight Preparation
How to watch UFC Paris: Start time, live stream & fight card
Shannon Clark vs. Lucero Acosta booked for PFL Chicago on Oct. 16
-
MMA2 days agoDana White reacts to UFC 329 stars being fined over post-fight celebrations: "It's one of those tough things"
-
MMA2 days agoTom Aspinall must undergo more eye tests before returning, says Eddie Hearn: "It all depends whether he’ll be ready"
-
Boxing2 days agoAustin Williams Challenges Vito Mielnickis Contender Claims in High-Stakes Showdown
-
MMA2 days agoGlover Teixeira says Alex Pereira would KO Josh Hokit in Round 1
-
MMA2 days agoTommy McMillen takes aim at unbeaten UFC rival: He runs his mouth
-
MMA2 days agoJustin Gaethje would rather fight Conor McGregor than avenge losses to Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira: "Fun to shut him up"
-
MMA2 days agoKhamzat Chimaev set to run it back at RAF 13 with former UFC rival who nearly beat him
-
MMA2 days agoDan Hooker details why he's fine being viewed as a gatekeeper going into UFC Paris: 'Can change in one single night'