The game of boxing had an enormous yr in 2023 as a number of extremely anticipated, long-awaited bouts befell. Matchups between Gervonta ‘Tank Davis and Ryan Garcia, Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo, and Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko highlighted a powerful yr for the game. Moreover, an exhibition bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou introduced loads of eyes to the game, as nicely.
Regardless of the robust yr, there are many fights that followers are nonetheless clamoring for getting into 2024. Whereas followers must wait till February for the undisputed heavyweight title bout between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, there are nonetheless loads of fights to stay up for in January.
The yr will kick off with Vergil Ortiz Jr. placing his undefeated 19-0 report, all of which have come by way of knockout, on the road in opposition to 30-3 Fredrick Lawson on Jan. 6. Ohara Davies (25-2) and Ismael Barroso (24-4-2) may even conflict on the cardboard, with the WBA tremendous light-weight interim title on the road.
Essentially the most anticipated battle of the month will happen on Jan. 13 as Artur Beterbiev, who’s 19-0 with 19 knockouts, places his IBF, WBC, and WBO mild heavyweight titles on the road in opposition to Callum Smith, who’s 29-1 together with his solely loss coming in opposition to Canelo Alvarez. The co-main occasion of the cardboard will function 26-2 Jason Moloney, who will put his WBO bantamweight title on the road in opposition to 20-2 Saul Sanchez.
The next week, on Jan. 20, Natasha Jonas (14-2-1) will put her IBF ladies’s welterweight title on the road in opposition to 19-1 Mikaela Mayer. Three days later, two title fights will happen as Kenshiro Teraji (22-1) will look to defend his WBA and WBC mild flyweight titles in opposition to Carlos Canizales (26-1-1). The co-main occasion will function WBA flyweight champion Artem Dalakian (22-0) defending his belt in opposition to Seigo Yuri Akui (18-2-1).
Whereas no belt might be on the road, a high-profile boxing matchup will happen on Jan. 27. Jaime Munguia (42-0) will face John Ryder (32-6) in a matchup of former title holders.
Which battle might have the largest influence on boxing in 2024?
Of all of the thrilling matchups in January 2024, Artur Beterbiev’s upcoming bout with Callum Smith could have the largest influence on the game of boxing. If Beterbiev is ready to stay undefeated and retain the IBF, WBC, and WBO mild heavyweight titles, a long-awaited matchup with WBA mild heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who boasts a 22-0 report, appears inevitable.
The pair have been on a collision course, and a bout between the 2 stays probably the most extremely anticipated fights within the sport. Bivol retained his title with a unanimous resolution victory over Lyndon Arthur to shut the yr and reportedly signed a deal for the undisputed title bout. If Beterbiev is ready to get previous Smith, the bout seems prone to lastly come to fruition.
