Oleksandr Usyk’s upset over Anthony Joshua kicks off a boxing packed fall
Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight match was just the beginning of an action-packed fall season for boxing.
This past Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk announced himself as a real heavyweight player with an impressive victory over Anthony Joshua. Fortunately for boxing fans, it was just the start to a very exciting, action-packed ending of the year.
Boxing fans don’t often get to have nice things, but after a year with failed negotiations, positive COVID and PEDs test, and injuries, it seems as if fans will finally be rewarded for their patience.
The boxing slate to end the year has everything a fan can ask for. An undisputed match, trilogies, multiple high stakes title fights, unification bouts, and exciting prospects back in the ring. Here’s a look at some of the matches to get excited for.
Undisputed fights
Canelo Alvarez (c) vs. Caleb Plant (c), Nov. 6, Showtime PPV
True undisputed fights are rare in men’s boxing but that trend is changing for the better. On November 6, fans will get the third undisputed boxing match of the year. Pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez (56-1-2) brings three super middleweight (168 pounds) titles to the ring against IBF Champion Caleb Plant (21-0). The first press conference showed us that the fighters are as ready for the fight as the fans.
Josh Taylor (c) vs. Jack Catterall, Dec. 18
Josh Taylor (18-0) fought in the first undisputed match of the year when he defeated Jose Ramirez in May to become the undisputed junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion. This is his first title defense of all four belts against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall (26-0). Taylor will need a dominant victory to keep the momentum of his career rolling.
Trilogy fight
Tyson Fury (c) vs. Deontay Wilder, Oct. 9, ESPN/FOX PPV
The seemingly final chapter to a heavyweight rivalry is finally set to take place. After a near knockout, a controversial draw, a bludgeoning, cheating accusations, and an arbitration, Tyson Fury (30-0-1) and Deontay Wilder (42-1-1) will face off one last time. The winner of this fight sets themself up for an Undisputed Heavyweight fight with the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua rematch.
High-stakes boxing title fights
Terence Crawford (c) vs. Shawn Porter, Nov. 20, ESPN PPV
Terence Crawford (37-0) has long been regarded as one of the best fighters in the world, unfortunately, he has been avoided for about just as long. After becoming undisputed at 140 pounds in 2017, he moved to the Welterweight (147 pounds) division, won the WBO title and hasn’t been able to secure a fight against a top-five welterweight due to the politics of boxing. That changes on November 20, when he faces the aggressive Shawn Porter (31-3-1). The winner of this fight stays atop a talented division and can look to unify.
Jamel Herring (c) vs. Shakur Stevenson, Oct. 23, ESPN
Jamel Herring (23-2) and Shakur Stevenson (16-0) have a shared history due to their relationships with Terence Crawford. Both consider Crawford to be like a brother so that has caused the two to build a cordial relationship over the years. On October 23, that relationship will be left outside the ring as the two fight for Herring’s WBO junior lightweight (130 pounds) title.
Teofimo Lopez (c) vs. George Kambosos, Oct. 16, Triller PPV
This fight should happen, maybe. Truthfully, no one really knows. The fifth date change is currently being negotiated. If it does take place, it will be Lopez’s (16-0) first title defense since his monumental upset of Vasiliy Lomachenko. A mandatory defense that Lopez needs to win against Kambosos (19-0) to keep his name prevalent in a division with so much young talent.
Savannah Marshall (c) vs. Lolita Muzeya, Oct. 16
Savannah Marshall (10-0) defends her WBO middleweight (160 pounds) title on October 16. Going against Muzeya (16-0), its crucial that Marshall wins if she wants the fight that fans have been asking for. A fight against Claressa Shields. Shields has already proven herself as a boxing great winning two gold medals and becoming the first fighter male or female to become undisputed twice in the four-belt era. Shields now competing in MMA and boxing has only ever loss once as a pro or amateur. That was against Marshall in the amateurs when the two were teens. Marshall and her fans won’t let Shields forget it and that history makes a fight between the two one of the biggest in boxing.
Unification fights
Mikaela Mayer (c) vs Maiva Hamadouche (c), Nov. 5, ESPN+
Mikaela Mayer (15-0) and Maiva Hamadouche (21-1) put their junior lightweight (130 pounds) titles on the line as they headline an ESPN+ card. In a division that has had plenty of Twitter attention, Mayer and Hamadouche take the first steps to unify the division. With Hyun Mi Choi recently winning her last fight, and Terri Harper back from injury, Choi and Harper are likely to renegotiate the unification bout that was scheduled prior to Harper’s hand injury. These two fights give a path to crowning a junior lightweight Queen.
Stephen Fulton Jr. (c) vs. Brandon Figueroa (c), Nov. 27, Showtime
Stephen Fulton Jr (19-0), an exciting fighter out of the historic fight city Philadelphia, won the WBO junior featherweight (122 pounds) title in January. After winning, he made it clear that his goal was to unify the division. He’ll have the opportunity to start that against WBC champion Brandon Figueroa (22-0-1) who is coming of an exciting knockout victory in May. The winner of this fight will have the opportunity to face Murodjon Akhmadaliev who holds the division’s other two belts.
Much more boxing
These are just some of the biggest fights that have been finalized. There are many more fights on the docket and many being negotiated with talented boxers, young and established. If you are a boxing fan, this is a season you have been desperately waiting for. If you are not a boxing fan, this is a great time to get in the game.