Boxing Schedule: Big Boxing Fights

Naoya Inoue meets replacement opponent Ye Joon Kim. The Korean steps in for Sam Goodman, who suffered a reopening of the same cut that forced the first postponement. Hailing from Seoul, the ‘Troublemaker’ is 21-2-2 (13 KOs) but has never been stopped but he has never faced this level of competition before and will have to produce a career-best display to trouble undisputed king Inoue.

Dalton Smith returns after a 10 month layoff to fight for the vacant European Super Lightweight title against France’s Walid Ouizza at the Nottingham Arena. A venue which has produced some memorable and dramatic fights over the years. Sheffield’s Smith will hope to pick up from where he left off in March 2024 when he knocked out former world title challenger Jose Zepeda in five rounds. Ouizza will look to follow in the footsteps of Franck Petitjean, Souleymane M’baye and a number of other Frenchman who have won the European 140lbs title.

WBO number one super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco can take a step nearer to a maiden world title shot should he get past fellow unbeaten 168lbr Steven Nelson on January 25 in Las Vegas. Pacheco starts as a strong favourite to beat Terence Crawford’s long-time friend and will need to demonstrate his credentials if he is to be seen as a worthy challenger to world champion Canelo Alvarez. The main event tops a six fight card for Matchroom’s American opener in 2025.

Boxing fans will get a better idea of George Liddard’s ceiling when he squares off against Derrick Osaze on January 31. The middleweight prospect will no doubt be looking to send a message to his rivals by dealing with Osaze just as former world title challenger and three-time British champion Denzel Bentley did in August 2024. Osaze, also known as ‘Delboy The Punching Preacher’, needs a win if he is to avoid being used a domestic gatekeeper in the future.

Adam Azim has vowed to retire Sergey Lipinets ahead of their super lightweight main event on February 1 in London. Azim was only 11 years old when Lipinets made his professional debut in Russia in 2014. And three years later the Kazakh hard man won his only world title to date. In his three defeats only Jaron Ennis has been able to finish him inside the distance. Azim, who has world title aspirations of his own, will be looking for a spectacular victory but his veteran opponent could prove to be a difficult man to shift.

When the first quarter of boxing in 2025 began to take shape there were a few fights which stood out. One of those is the light heavyweight matchup between two of the most dangerous men in the sport, David Benavidez and David Morrell. Both unbeaten, both big punchers and both rarely take a backward step. The early build up caught fire when the two got up close and personal which promises to carry on right into fight week and in the ring as well. A fight that simply can’t be missed.

Shakan Pitters can join Dan Azeez, Nathan Cleverly, Clinton Woods, Crawford Ashley, John Conteh and more by becoming the latest Brit to hold the European light heavyweight title on February 7 in Sheffield. To do so the 6ft 6ins challenger will have to dethrone Frenchman Daniel Blenda Dos Santos who makes the first defence of the title having beat Thomas Faure on points in June 2024 to win the vacant title.

The controversial career of Derek Chisora will reach its penultimate fight on February 8 in Manchester. His bout against Otto Wallin is to be the last on British soil before boxing for the 50^th and final time overseas. For his Swedish opponent it is vital he beats the veteran if he is to maintain hopes of landing a shot at one of the four world titles. Wallin is 0-2 against British opposition having lost to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

America could have three world lightweight champions by the end of February 14 if Keyshawn Davis defeats Denys Berinchyk at Madison Square Garden Theatre. Berinchyk was part of the hugely talented Ukrainian boxing team at the 2012 Olympics where he won silver and is unbeaten in 19 fights as a pro. Davis also picked up silver at the delayed Tokyo Games and has since gone on to rack up a 12-0 record. Unifications against either Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson could await the winner.

Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza face one of the biggest nights of their career on February 15 in Manchester. And the WBO added greater importance to Matchroom’s main event with the winner receiving the interim super lightweight belt and a mandatory title shot against champion Teofimo Lopez. Catterall is in career best form having beat Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis back-to-back while Barboza defeated former unified world champion Jose Carlos Ramirez last time out.

Their first battle was a highly skilled and engrossing encounter and there is every reason to believe the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will be just as good on February 22. Little separated the two best light heavyweights in the world on October 12, 2024 with Beterbiev’s relentless pressure countered by the slashing combinations of Bivol. Their return and the undercard is not to be missed.

While the world waits on a showdown between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani the two men continue to defend their respective world titles. And on Monday, February 24 at the Ariake Arena Naktani can take another step toward the biggest fight in Japanese boxing should he beat unbeaten Mexican David Cuellar Contreras. The 23-year-old will fight for his first world title in his 29^th contest and do so by competing outside Mexico for the first time in his career.

Promoter Frank Warren vowed to deliver a title and a big fight for Ryan Garner and in doing so has also given ‘The Piranha’ the chance to headline his own show in Bournemouth. So, on March 1 Garner fights for the vacant European Super Featherweight title against Salvador Jimenez with a chance to establish himself as a leading player in the 130lbs division. Jimenez fought for the title unsuccessfully in 2023 and will be fighting outside of Spain for the first time in his career.

Bragging rights and a chance to fight for the IBF welterweight title in the future are the rewards on offer for Belfast’s Lewis Crocker and Limerick’s Paddy Donovan on March 1. Crocker will have home advantage at The SSE Arena in the Northern Irish capital on a night which promises to deliver a crackling atmosphere and a potentially thrilling fight between two unbeaten rising stars. Big Irish fight nights rarely fail to entertain.