- Boxing had another successful year in 2022here are the top five boxing fights we most want to see as the new year approaches.
- Plenty of must-see fights are scheduled for the coming year.
- Here are the top five boxing fights we most want to see as the new year approaches.
Boxing had another successful year in 2022, with plenty of must-see fights scheduled for the coming year.
Along with the recent trend of undisputed championship fights, the sport has recently seen a greater willingness for promoters, networks, and young fighters from opposing political parties to collaborate to ensure the most significant events can occur.
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, here are the top five boxing fights we most want to see as the new year approaches.
Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs Ryan Garcia
Ryan Garcia left, and Emannuel Tagoe faces a crowd gathered at their weigh-in in San Antonio on Friday. (Photo: Courtesy of Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Media)
The news of these two unbeaten lightweights agreeing to fight in April, assuming Davis passes Hector Luis Garcia’s test on Jan. 7, only adds to the belief that big fights can be made between big stars who work for opposing promoters and networks if the fighters themselves push for it. Both are still in the midst of their physical primes, making the prospect of pairing them all the more appealing. Garcia’s speed and size will undoubtedly give Davis pause, despite his experience and power advantages. Given their respective styles and intentions, a knockout is almost inevitable. Davis-Garcia is the perfect fit for a sport that frequently struggles to attract young, crossover audiences for its most significant events.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk. Photo/ MARCA.
Boxing’s premier division hasn’t produced a fight this important historically since Anthony Joshua got up from the floor to stop former champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. But in this renaissance era of the heavyweight division, two unbeaten champions squaring off for the title of best in the show has got boxing fans chomping. Usyk, the first four-belt undisputed cruiserweight champion, has the chance to cement his legacy further should he succeed at heavyweight after two shocking decision victories over Joshua to give him his three titles.
With a victory over Usyk, WBC champion Fury can add a fourth title to his growing collection, which already includes victories over Klitschko, Deontay Wilder (twice), and Dillian Whyte. Fury also poses the threat of breaking into the top 10 of heavyweight history. The possibility of how their styles might clash is so intriguing because neither of them is the only heavyweight alive who could defeat the other. Usyk, a southpaw, is the most unadulterated boxer the division has seen in decades. Fury, at 6-foot-9 with freakishly long arms and uncommon speed, continues to be the standard to which all previous champions must be held.
Errol Spence Jr. vs Terence Crawford
This matchup of unbeaten champions and potential all-time greats at welterweight, featuring four belts, has been a mainstay on lists like this for the past five years. Because Crawford accepted a lucrative stay-busy fight against David Avanesyan, fans were forced to take sides in the argument over which pound-for-pound ranked star shunned the other, which undoubtedly hurt the overall interest level. The good news is that the fight can still happen in 2023, despite Spence’s threats that he’s considering moving up to 154 pounds. Since Spence turns 33 in March and Crawford turns 35, it’s now or never for this fight to have the historical significance it could have.
Canelo Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol in action. Photo/ Marca.
Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev
Consider that this is the fourth undisputed championship fight between unbeaten opponents on this list alone to be a strong indication of how healthy boxing is in terms of potential super fights. One could argue that this is also the best fight for the group because it pits skill against skill. The WBA champion, Bivol, is just coming off a Fighter of the Year campaign in which he knocked Canelo Alvarez off the P4P throne and dominated Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez to give him his first loss in 45 fights. Meanwhile, Beterbiev won his third 175-pound championship in a June unification knockout victory over Joe Smith Jr. to raise his impressive record to 18-0. (18 KOs).
Beterbiev, 37, must first defeat mandatory opponent Anthony Yarde in January. Regarding network and promoter, the two champions are also at odds, which must be bridged. However, both fighters appear to be as eager as the fans to make history.
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