BOXING had perhaps its best 12 months in 2023 with fans finally treated to the fights they want to see – and this year could be even better.
Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr finally settled who was the best welterweight on the planet last July.
Meanwhile, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia put on a pay-per-view blockbuster in April after years of feuding.
But despite the super-fights that got over the line, still plenty fell by the wayside and here SunSport rounds up the best which could be yet to come.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
On February 17, Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed crown and the right to call themselves the No1 heavyweight in the world.
But, fans are still desperate to finally see Fury and Joshua do battle for the pride of Britain.
Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez
With Canelo settled in as the undisputed super-middleweight king, he is running out of contenders to face.
But the one man fans have most been demanding he fight is Benavidez, dubbed the “Mexican Monster” by Mike Tyson.
The two-time champ has 24 KOs in his 28 undefeated fights and stands as the biggest test to Canelo at 168lb.
Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev
This is another undisputed title decider between two unbeaten champions to determine the best in the division.
Bivol – who beat Canelo in 2021 – is the WBA light-heavyweight champion and has actually signed his side of the deal to fight Beterbiev.
But unified champ Beterbiev – boxing’s only title holder with a 100 per cent KO ratio – must first beat Callum Smith on January 13.
Gervonta Davis vs Devin Haney
At just 25, Haney has established himself as a two-division champ with undisputed titles won at lightweight.
Whereas Davis, 28, is one of boxing’s biggest PPV attractions with fan-friendly KO power.
Davis’ heavy-hands against Haney’s slick skills make this one of boxing’s best fights but their differing weights and promotional teams makes it a hard one to get over the line.
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero
Garcia, who has 10MILLION Instagram followers, is one of boxing’s biggest stars without a world title to his name.
And he walked away from talks with old amateur rival Haney to try and set up a PPV grudge bout with WBA super-lightweight champ Romero.
The pair had a famously heated sparring session which had led to years of trash-talk – making for a blockbuster bout for 2024.
Joshua Buatsi vs Anthony Yarde
Heading closer to home and outside of the heavyweight division, this is the biggest and best bout on offer.
For years fans have debated who is the better between the London duo and now is the time to find out.
But, if Buatsi, 30, wins his next fight against Dan Azeez, he is in line for a WBA light heavyweight title shot, which could stand in the way of Yarde, 32.
KSI vs Jake Paul
Whether boxing purists like it or not, YouTubers-turned boxers Jake Paul, 26, and KSI, 30, bring both money and attention to the sport.
And no fight in the influencer boxing world is bigger than this.
It would end years of bitter feuding and at last crown who is the true king of the crossover boxing scene.
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25280993/boxing-fights-anthony-joshua-tyson-fury-canelo/