Five massive boxing bouts to look forward to after Tyson Fury’s victory over Deontay Wilder
From a four-weight world champion to an all-British heavyweight blockbuster, 2020 is set to be action-packed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.After Tyson Fury’s sensational seventh-round knockout victory against Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas, boxing has surged back to the forefront of the sporting world.
Already a whole host of exciting bouts have been booked in, while many are on the verge of being signed off, including unbeaten pound-for-pound star Vasyl Lomachenko facing IBF lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez.
Welterweight kings Errol Spence and Terence Crawford will both be in action, while all-time great Manny Pacquiao is set to return at 41 to defend his WBA world title at 147lbs. And there could be another huge British contingent travelling to Vegas again if Billy Joe Saunders is selected to face Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
Towards the back end of 2020, it’s the heavyweights who will again steal the spotlight, though. After Anthony Joshua faces Kubrat Pulev, a historic undisputed fight with Fury is in the offing unless Wilder enacts his rematch clause for a trilogy fight.
Here we take a look at five massive fights to look out for in the first half of the year that have already been confirmed:
Mikey Garcia v Jessie Vargas
29 February, Ford Center, Texas
A stacked card sees former four-weight world champion Garcia fight for the first time since losing his undefeated tag against Errol Spence Jr in March 2019. There was no shame in being bested by a fighter of Spence’s quality and comparative size, but Garcia has had 11 months to stew over the first schooling of his career.
Former welterweight champion Vargas will be no easy ride, having lasted 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao and impressed in a majority decision draw with Adrien Broner in the past. Vargas is the bigger man, and the two should put on a show in Texas.
The bout is a Matchroom promotion and the undercard sees Britain’s longest-reigning world champion Kal Yafai defend his super-flyweight title against Roman Gonzalez, and former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker continue his comeback against Shawndell Winters.
Robert Helenius v Adam Kownacki
7 March, Barclays Center, New York
Veteran Helenius will look to upset Polish-born New York native Kownacki as the latter seeks to add another victim to his 20-0 record. Kownacki is ranked fourth by the WBO and third by the IBF and WBA and could set up a world title fight with a win here.
The 30-year-old has previously bested brief world champion Charles Martin and former challengers Chris Arreola and Gerald Washington and should get through Helenius relatively comfortably. The experienced Finn won a controversial decision against Dereck Chisora in 2011 and was once 22-0, but the duo’s careers are on different trajectories now. As ever with the heavyweight division though, anything can happen.
Josh Kelly v David Avanesyan
28 March, O2 Arena, London
Josh ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly’s still-fledgling career has already seen a tremendous amount of hype and skepticism and his clash with Russian Avanesyan, originally scheduled for December 2018, should go some way to providing a definitive answer as to where the truth really lies. Kelly is a flamboyant show-boater in the ring who many have touted as destined for greatness, but has seemingly been guilty of complacency in the past. The welterweight could only draw with Ray Robinson on his U.S debut in 2019.
Avanesyan comes in as bookies’ favourite on a three-knockout streak and full of venom, his camp repeatedly accusing Kelly’s of “bottling” the original fight. Well known Brits Joshua Buatsi and Conor Benn are both on the undercard too.
Joe Joyce v Daniel Dubois
11 April, O2 Arena, London
This fight represents serious risk and reward for two fighters on the edge of the elite cabal of world heavyweights and could make or break either man’s career. Dubois is heavy favourite, the explosive puncher forcing early stoppages in all but one of his 14 professional fights. The British champion is one of the most exciting prospects in the division, but is yet to face a man of Joyce’s calibre.
34-year-old Joyce picked up silver at the 2016 Olympics and turned professional a year later. He too is undefeated, and has arguably beaten a better standard of opponent than Dubois, in the form of Bermane Stiverne, Bryant Jennings and Alexander Ustinov.
A destructive win for Dubois could propel the 22-year-old into serious contention for a world title bout in the next year or two.
John Riel Casimero v Naoya Inoue
25 April, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Inoue boasts a knockout record above 84% and regularly challenges the higher reaches of global pound-for-pound lists, with good reason. He packs an absurd punch for the bantamweight division and won the 2019 Ali Trophy over Nonito Donaire in the fight of the year.
Inoue’s global recognition is about to ignite after signing a multi-fight promotional deal with Top Rank, the first of which will see him face Casimero in a unification bout. The Filipino is a highly skilled fighter in his own right, having beaten world champions Zolani Tete and Charlie Edwards by technical knockout in a 13-year professional career.
Both men come into this riding the crest of a wave and it should be one of the standout fights of the next 12 months. Inoue in particular is always worthy of attention.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments