FIVE WEIGHT CLASSES THAT WILL LIGHT UP 2025

Boxing is booming already in 2025, and the year is barely a couple of weeks old. With superfights such as Eubank Jr vs Benn and Garcia vs Haney both pretty much announced, we’ve picked out five weight classes that could host some of the biggest and most exciting bouts over the next 12 months.

Where better to start than with the big boys?

Heavyweights

A division dominated by Oleksandr Usyk, it’s the fighters behind him that make this division so mouthwatering in 2025.

With Daniel Dubois’s second defence of his IBF world title against Joseph Parker pencilled in for 22nd February, there is a whole host of challengers battling it out to book themselves a world title shot before the end of the year.

Former unified champion Anthony Joshua looked set to take on Tyson Fury, but with Fury now retired, he could potentially be thrown in with the boogeyman of the division, Martin Bakole, in an all-African clash at some point this year. What a spectacle that would be!

Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel face off for the WBC ‘Interim’ World Title on 22 February, deciding the #1 contender for that governing body. But do not forget the likes of Moses Itauma, Fabio Wardley, Justis Huni, two-time Olympic gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov, and Dillian Whyte—all of whom are in prime position for a crack at the big boys of the division at some point this year.

With Usyk’s next move unconfirmed, he could well decide to walk away from the sport. If that happens, the world titles could become scattered, leaving us with four different world heavyweight champions by the start of 2026.

Super-Middleweights

Similar to the heavyweights, this is a division dominated by one man, but behind Canelo Alvarez, there’s a whole host of undefeated contenders ready to challenge him and take everything he has achieved in the 168lbs division.

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: Terence Crawford. A former welterweight who claimed the WBA 154lbs world title in his first fight at the weight last year, he looks set to face Canelo later this year in what will likely be the biggest fight of 2025.

While everyone waits on Canelo, the tussle to be crowned the number-one contender will be well and truly on.

There are already two enticing tear-ups between undefeated fighters pencilled in. Diego Pacheco is set to face Steven Nelson on 25 January, while Christian Mbilli takes on Kevin Lele Sadjo in a thrilling all-French eliminator, though a date is yet to be confirmed.

The winners of these bouts will put themselves in pole position with the WBO and IBF respectively. Away from them, you still have the likes of undefeated IBO champion Osleys Iglesias, who is obliterating everything in his path at the moment, and former world champion Caleb Plant, who is patiently waiting to launch another assault on the world titles.

Domestically, Callum Simpson impressed once again by stopping Steed Woodall earlier this month. He is ranked in the top 10 of the WBA alongside former English champion Mark Jeffers, who is highly ranked with the IBF.

A classic ‘War of the Roses’ clash between these two could decide who the best super-middleweight in the country is. Alternatively, they might choose patience, hoping to set up a world title clash in the next couple of years.

Super-Lightweights

With the news that Devin Haney’s rematch with Ryan Garcia is set to take place at welterweight, the super-lightweight division is completely opened up.

Teofimo Lopez is the man who holds all the cards at the weight with the WBO and Ring Magazine world titles. However, with Haney and Garcia seemingly stepping up in weight, Lopez might be tempted to follow suit, relinquishing his titles at 140lbs.

If that happens, the division will most definitely open up. Jack Catterall faces Arnold Barboza Jr for the WBO ‘Interim’ title, with the winner likely being upgraded to full champion should Lopez vacate.

Elsewhere, Richardson Hitchins looks poised to make the first defence of his IBF world title against George Kambosos Jr in Australia. Meanwhile, WBA champion Jose Valenzuela and WBC champion Albert Puello both remain in limbo regarding big upcoming fights.

Sheffield’s Dalton Smith might be in line for the next crack at Albert Puello. He faces Walid Ouizza this month for the European title, but with his #2 WBC ranking and Puello seemingly the weakest of the current champions, don’t be surprised to see Smith claim the WBC world title this year.

Away from the world champions, the likes of former IBF champions Liam Paro and Subriel Matias, along with Adam Azim, Josh Taylor, and the underrated Andy Hiraoka, add further depth to the division.

Hopefully, Uncle Turki can find a way to sort out the division, allowing for a clear number-one super-lightweight to emerge by year’s end.

Lightweights

This is a weight division brimming with potential, but only if the big names cooperate.

With four different world champions holding four different belts, the division is wide open. Adding to the intrigue, three of these champions have title defences lined up.

WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis takes on Lamont Roach Jr, WBC champion Shakur Stevenson faces Floyd Schofield Jr, and WBO champion Denys Berinchyk defends his title against Keyshawn Davis.

IBF champion Vasyl Lomachenko has been granted time off by the organisation, but with his career in doubt, Olympic gold medallist Andy Cruz might be in line for a crack at the vacant title.

If that happens, it could set up two mouthwatering unification grudge matches: Andy Cruz vs Keyshawn Davis and the big one—Shakur Stevenson vs Gervonta Davis.

Imagine a four-man tournament between these four.

Even if that doesn’t happen, the division is still stacked. Fighters like William Zepeda and Sam Noakes are eyeing world honours, while super-featherweights Anto Cacace, Sugar Nunez, and O’Shaquie Foster could all join the mix.

Featherweights

Our final weight class to watch in 2025 is the featherweights. Like lightweight, there are currently four world champions with four belts. However, there’s a factor that could make this division even more exciting, which we’ll get to shortly.

With no major recognisable names at the weight apart from Nick Ball, this is a division for the hardcore fans.

Among non-champions, Bruce Carrington seems next in line to dethrone one of the current titleholders, being ranked #1 in the WBO and WBC, #2 in the WBA, and #4 in the IBF.

But there’s also a certain super-bantamweight running out of opposition in his current division: ‘The Monster’ Naoya Inoue.

The current undisputed champion at 122lbs, only Murodjon Akhmadaliev appears a viable opponent for him there.

If Inoue steps up, he will undoubtedly fancy his chances of becoming a five-weight world champion, possibly even undisputed again, in a new weight class.

Naoya Inoue vs Nick Ball on a Riyadh Season card before the end of 2025—how bloody good would that be?