Ranking the five best boxing matches on the schedule for the rest of 2024

There are some big boxing matches coming up in the next few months, including undisputed title fights and exciting rematches. While first half of the year has brought us amazing moments, such as Gervonta “Tank” Davis‘ KO by Frank Martin and Oleksandr Usykdecide the victory of Tyson Fury To become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era, the next few months will be filled with fights that could overshadow those big moments.

There’s the highly anticipated rematch between Usyk and Fury, the return of Canelo Alvarez – in another chapter of the boxing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico – with Edgar Berlanga and another rematch between two of the best fighters in the history of women’s boxing, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. And we could see a first in the four-belt era: an undisputed light heavyweight champion.

Whether it’s knockouts, boxing skills or a ferocious fighting style that people love to watch, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a look at the five most exciting fights on the boxing calendar between now and December.

1. Artur Beterbiev compared to Dmitry Bivol (October 12 on ESPN+ PPV)

The two rival light heavyweight champions may have lower profiles than the likes of Alvarez and Fury, but fans have been waiting a long time for this fight. We’ve had to wait even longer after the fight was postponed from June because of Beterbiev. torn meniscus during exercise.

This is an exciting match between the best fighters in the division: Bivol (23-0, 11 KOs), a skillful and intelligent fighter, against Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), a 100 percent knockout machine.

You wonder if Beterbiev’s injury will be a deciding factor in this match, which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Bivol will come into the fight brimming with confidence after notching his first win in 10 fights, a sixth-round TKO over Malik Zinad in June. Bivol, 33, also has the experience of pulling off a surprise win over Alvarez. His moves could make the difference against Beterbiev, 39, who has knocked out every one of his professional opponents.

2. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (December 21 on DAZN PPV)

Usyk nearly stopped Fury in Round 9 of their undisputed heavyweight title clash in December, and it will be fascinating to see how the rematch plays out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Can Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) go one better than the split decision and stop Fury? Or will Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) come up with a strategy that will allow him to exact revenge?

Fury, 36, is a smart fighter and knows what adjustments to make. Remember, he won the fight halfway through, when Usyk, 37, started to have success.

This could be Usyk’s last fight in the heavyweight division. He has said that the heavyweight division is too difficult to hold weight for, and could return to cruiserweight, the division he dominated as the undisputed champion.

This could also be the last fight of Fury’s career if he loses by knockout. There has been much talk of Fury fighting British rival Anthony Joshua in May, but if he loses to Usyk, his second in a row, he may consider retiring to avoid the humiliation of losing to AJ.

Fury doesn’t lack drive or courage, but can he cope with Usyk’s speed and movement?

3. Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua (September 21 on DAZN PPV)

This all-British showdown, scheduled for London’s Wembley Stadium, has drama written all over it. Both are powerful punchers, and a knockout looks like a likely outcome. Joshua is back in form, having lost twice to Usyk in world title fights, and has won three straight by stoppage to become the betting favorite against Dubois (-550 on ESPN BET).

Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) made a splash with a quick knockout of former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in March, and against Dubois, look for him to land a right hand whenever he sees an opening, just as he did against Ngannou. Filip Hrgovic was able to land a right hand on Dubois last June before Dubois stopped him in Round 8. That win earned Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) the interim IBF belt, which was upgraded to a full title after undisputed champion Usyk relinquished it in June.

Dubois, 26, looks vulnerable but also dangerous. Against Usyk, Dubois’ team argues he scored a valid kill in Round 5 when he hit Usyk with a body punch that sent him to the floor in pain, but the punch was ruled low. Usyk won by stoppage in the ninth round, but Dubois revived his career with TKO wins over Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic.

However, Joshua, 34, is another step up and many expect him to become a three-time champion in spectacular fashion.

4. Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 (November 15 on Netflix)

Netflix is ​​getting into the big boxing biz with what promises to be a thrilling sequel. The two greats will face off again after Taylor won their April 2022 clash via split decision to retain her undisputed lightweight title. Some felt Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) was unlucky not to win the decision, and she has since won five straight, four of them at featherweight. The fight, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be the co-main event for Jake Paul’s fight with legendary former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

The rematch between Taylor and Serrano will take place at welterweight, an important factor because Serrano, 35, a seven-division champion, has worked most of her career at lighter weights. Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) will be stronger and more familiar with the weight class after her retirement. the best win of her career with a majority decision Chantelle Cameron in November. The win made Taylor the undisputed welterweight champion and avenged her only professional defeat, to Cameron in May 2023.

Taylor, 38, showed she wasn’t done in her last fight, and she could win without controversy this time. Serrano will look to capitalize on her speed in what could be the last truly big fight between these two female boxing legends.

5. Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga (September 14 on Prime Video PPV)

Canelo’s defense of his three super middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is not the opponent many people want. Boxing fans would like to see him line up with David Benavidez or even Terence Crawford, the longtime welterweight champion who recently moved up a weight class to win the junior middleweight title.

Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) started his career with 16 straight wins by first-round stoppage, but went three years without a KO victory until he knocked out Padraig McCrory in February. Berlanga, 27, is younger and has power, but he doesn’t pose the same level of threat as Canelo’s recent opponents like Jaime Munguia and Jermell Charlo.

Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) was stripped of the IBF title. in July, but he’s still boxing’s biggest star. The 34-year-old Mexican has faced a host of big names in his career, from Floyd Mayweather to Gennadiy Golovkin. This Berlanga fight won’t excite everyone. But Canelo will be looking to get his first knockout win in nearly three years. That’s a good reason to tune in. You never know how many more Canelo nights we have left.

Other exciting matches that did not make the top 5:

• Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko, super middleweight (August 17 on ESPN and ESPN+)

• Inoue Naoya vs. TJ Doheny, for Inoue’s undisputed featherweight championship (September 3 on ESPN+)

• Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer, 10 rounds, for Ryan’s WBO welterweight title (September 27 on ESPN/ESPN+)

• Jack Catterall vs. Regis Program12 rounds, welterweight (October 26 on DAZN)