SEVEN FIGHTS WE NEED TO SEE BEFORE THE END OF 2024
What a first half of the year it has been in terms of thrilling, intriguing and epic boxing contests, with the likes of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia, Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith and Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery all living up to the pre-fight hype.
With a second half of the year which should be equally as exciting to come, we take a look at five fights which need to happen before the year is out, along with two fantasy bouts that may not be beyond the realms of possibility, especially with Uncle Turki at the helm of the sport.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2
We’ll start with the big one, a fight which has already been made and is set to take place on December 21st in Riyadh.
A thrilling first fight had everything an undisputed heavyweight clash needs, and with a two-way rematch clause already in place, we knew these two warriors would have to do it all over again.
No complaints.
Tyson Fury will want to show that it was just a bad night at the office when he suffered the first defeat of his professional career, while Usyk will be aiming to reinforce the belief that he really is a generational talent.
Hopefully, the undisputed championship will be on the line once again but even if that isn’t the case, the winner will be the king of the heavyweight division, and the baddest man in boxing.
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
The battle for undisputed at 175lbs was scheduled to headline the Matchroom vs Queensberry card last weekend, before Beterbiev was forced to withdraw through injury.
After Bivol made relatively light work of the late replacement, Malik Zinad, Turki Alalshikh confirmed the undisputed clash had been rescheduled for October 12th.
So, why is this fight so crucial?
Well, the obvious answer is that it’s to become undisputed, and whenever there’s an opportunity to have one champion in a division, it should be grasped with both hands.
But more important is the fact that these two have been dominating the division for years without crossing paths.
We need a definitive answer once and for all: who is the best light-heavyweight on the planet? Bar any more pull-outs, we’ll find out in October.
Shakur Stevenson vs Vasyl Lomachenko
From a technical boxing standpoint, this could well be the best match-up to be made in the sport right now.
Both world champions at featherweight, super-featherweight and now lightweight, these two were standout amateurs and have lived up to their potential in the paid ranks.
If it’s made, this fight WILL be the most beautiful chess match ever to take place inside of a boxing ring.
There may not necessarily be fireworks, but what you will see is art that wouldn’t look out of place in the Louvre.
Victory for Loma would consolidate his place at the top table of boxing greats, whilst victory for Shak would put him on a path to world domination and potentially joining Loma at that banquet alongside legends of the sport.
David Benavidez vs David Morrell Jr
A pretty left-field suggestion, but a fight that will definitely set the pulses racing, these are arguably two of the most avoided fighters in the sport.
Both super-middleweights who have pursued a fight with Canelo Alvarez to no avail, they are both stepping up to 175lbs in pursuit of world honours with the belts firmly locked in Canelo’s cellar down at super-middle.
The exciting thing about this fight is their styles, and the fact that even though they box very differently, they both whack like f*ck and are guaranteed box office.
Benavidez, the classic Mexican. Plants his feet, looks to wear you down, chin of granite and never takes a step back.
Morrell Jr, the classic Cuban southpaw. Light on his feet, bamboozles you with his hand speed, makes you feel like a white-collar fighter and then walks you onto something absolutely massive.
Regardless of weight, if this one happens, you will not be disappointed and it could well turn out to be the first of three or four clashes between the pair, who have the ability to dominate 168lbs and 175lbs for the next decade or so.
Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis
Two fighters that do actually get on, but will undoubtedly put that relationship to one side if the fight is made, are Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis.
Catterall, fresh off the back of gaining revenge over Josh Taylor and Prograis, fresh off the back of a lacklustre performance against Devin Haney.
Both southpaw, both can punch, both like to sit in the pocket and trade. Perhaps more importantly, both with a point to prove.
The only thing that would get in the way of this fight happening is the fact that there probably wouldn’t be a world title on the line.
Eddie Hearn has made it clear that Catterall is getting a world title shot next, which he most definitely deserves after being robbed of becoming undisputed two years ago, but if a world title becomes available, then this becomes pretty much a dead cert to happen before the end of the year, and what a fight it would be.
Now for two fantasy fights. A couple of contests which, in any other year, you’d probably laugh at the thought of getting made. However, with Turki Alalshikh making the impossible possible over in Saudi, you would be foolish to write anything off.
Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford
Two of the best fighters of this generation, whose last fights came in weight classes that are 21lbs apart, surely these two are unlikely to face off?
Well, maybe not.
With Crawford’s move up to 154lbs now confirmed, and Canelo hanging about at 168lbs following his win over Jaime Munguia, Turki Alalshikh has once again reiterated his eagerness to make this fight between two of boxing’s biggest names.
Crawford will inevitably have to go up to 168lbs to make it happen, and rightly so, but in a career that has seen him go 40 fights undefeated and barely getting out of fourth gear, a match-up with Canelo for the undisputed super-middleweight championship is a potential blockbuster.
Naoya Inoue vs Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez
Another fight that would have seemed an unrealistic dream a year ago is the established P4P great Naoya Inoue against the next generation of P4P superstar in Bam Rodriguez.
A two-weight world champ at the age of just 24, Rodriguez is building a reputation for being the potential face of this sport in years to come. Just like Inoue, who is already held in high regard having won world titles in four different weight classes and become undisputed champ in two different weight classes.
Bam is currently campaigning at super-fly and Inoue at super-bantam, weight classes which are only 7lbs apart, and with Rodriguez making it clear he wants to power through the weights and pick up world titles at a pace, a carrot may well be dangled for both fighters to put it all on the line towards the end of the year.
Good luck picking a winner.
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