MUST-SEE TV📺: TOP 3 MUST-SEE FIGHTS IN BOXING THIS YEAR

Anticipation continues to build around the 2024 boxing schedule. It will be interesting to see whether or not 2024 can live up to the heights set by 2023. If this year is to stand any chance of being as good as last year, then these are the must-see matchups that need to happen for that to become a reality.

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1.    Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury

It’s only right to start at the marquee division in boxing and that’s the heavyweights. This fight would be over 5 years in the making and an event that fans should have witnessed years ago. For one reason or another, this fight has failed to materialise. However, hope still remains that the biggest fight in British boxing history can be finally take place this year.

But boxing can often ruin the best of plans and once again, there are formidable foes standing in the way of this all time bout from happening. Previously it was Andy Ruiz Jr and Deontay Wilder, 2 former champions who both left a mark on their respective opponents. This time around, it’s Francis Ngannou and Oleksandr Usyk.

Ngannou’s emergence to the heavyweight division has been both unexpected and fascinating. After dropping Tyson Fury in Round 3 of their fight, and losing to a controversial split decision, there was a growing clamour to see Ngannou box again. On March 8, Anthony Joshua looks to the add a second loss in two fights for the new character in the heavyweight division, but in a much more emphatic fashion than his fellow English heavyweight rival.

Oleksandr Usyk has become very familiar with English heavyweights in his career, after defeating Chisora, Dubois and most notably Anthony Joshua twice. Usyk is now set to take on the best heavyweight in the country, the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury. Although Usyk is the slight betting underdog according to the bookies, this is most definitely a 50/50 fight. Both fighters are coming off questionable performances, but head into an undisputed title fight with their unbeaten records still intact. Now, someone’s 0 has GOT to go!

In an ideal world, AJ (Anthony Joshua) knocks out Ngannou in dramatic fashion in front of a raucus Riyadh crowd. He looks as dominant as ever, with his confidence back to its peak levels and calls out the winner of Fury-Usyk immediately after the fight.

Fury responds with an all time heavyweight performance, reminicint of his 3rd fight with Deontay Wilder, and defeats the resilient Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. Respect is shown by the two great fighters after the match, before the Gypsy King calls out ‘big dosser’ and ‘stiff bodybuilder’ Anthony Joshua for a fight to finally decide who the best in the country really is.

Unfortunately, as boxing has proved time and time again, we do not live in an ideal world! There are often spanners in the works but one can only dream. If everything goes right, we would witness a heavyweight battle for the ages.

2.    Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs David Benavidez

If I'm being honest with you, this is a fight I have very strong opinions on. But its not about me, its about the fighters. 2 great fighters of Mexican (*and Ecuadorian for Benavidez) descent. 2 champions at the super middleweight division. Benavidez is unbeaten and a former 2 time champion, Canelo is currently the undisputed champion. A blockbuster battle that has been marinating for around 2-3 years, is 2024 finally going to be the year we see this fight happen? The answer is…It fucking better be!

Benavidez is 28-0 with 24 KOs. Career highlight? How about winning the WBC super middleweight world title at just 20 years old. Marquee performance? You could look at his destruction of former two weight world champion Demetrius Andrade in 6 rounds only 3 months ago. What about experience? Benavidez is from a boxing family, been a professional fighter for over 10 years and been in world title contention for over 7 years.

These are just some of the respones in an attempt to justify why this fight has not happened yet. As I have just showed, these are all baseless justifications. But it does make sense why Canelo would not be in a hurry to fight David Benavidez.

Canelo is 33 years old and has had 64 professional fights. He has fought some of boxing's all time greats and became the first ever undisputed super middleweight world champion. He's also made over $500 million since his debut. Is fighting a prime and hungry Benavidez really the best decision Canelo can make at this stage of his career?

I think its important to highlight that this fight is bigger than Canelo. This fight is bigger than Benavidez. This fight is an opportunity to create real history in the sport of boxing. Where were you when Canelo Alvarez fought David Benavidez for all the belts? Who is the king of Latino boxing. Who truly is the face of boxing? A lot of questions would be asked and only 2 men can answer them. A fight of this magnitude is not an opportunity that should be missed, so I really hope an agreement can be made. But time will tell.

3.    ‘Shinin’ Shakur Stevenson vs Willam Zepeda

Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda is one of the best fights that can be made in boxing! Shakur is an incredibly skilled defensive fighter and regualry referred to as the next P4P great in boxing. However, there have been criticisms of Shakur’s style and lack of big name opponents. Notable wins against Herring and Valdez are significant high points in a relatively young career, but to whom more is given, more is expected. Shakur Stevenson’s talent is unquestionable, and fans want to see him tested against the very best. I’m here to tell you, Willam Zepeda is one of the very best lightweights in the world.

The Mexican is 29-0 with 25 KOs and has previously been clocked at throwing over 100 punches per round! He literally does not stop punching! How would the defensive master deal with such a relentless offensive fighter. The odds are that he would probably get hit at some point right? And probably hit hard. Would Shakur stand and fight back? Or would he do what some critics have described as running...

Personally, I would love to see this fight go down in Mexico. I'm sure there would be a lot more lucrative venues to host this fight, but the spectacle of this clash of styles would be epic in front of a Mexican crowd. WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson would be the bookies favourite, but public enemy number 1 in Mexico. William Zepeda would be looking to win his first world title on his return home, and begin his journey toward being mentioned alongside some the great Mexican fighters past and present. This fight NEEDS to happen!

Honourable Mentions:

-     Devin Haney vs Teofimo Lopez

-     Joshua Buatsi vs Anthony Yarde

-     Jermall Charlo vs Caleb Plant

-     Terence Crawford vs Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis

-     Jai Opetaia vs Richard Riakporhe

- AE