2024 has been nothing short of a landmark year for boxing!
While it may not rival the Golden Era of Boxing—that unforgettable stretch from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s when legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman captivated the world with blockbuster bouts that transcended sports—it’s undeniable that boxing is experiencing a thrilling resurgence. This revival owes much to recent shifts in how the boxing business is managed and the caliber of matchups being delivered.
These changes are reigniting the passion of fans who once fell in love with the sport’s drama and spectacle. At the heart of this resurgence is one pivotal figure, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. Yet, even with the exciting momentum, there are still dream fights that the boxing world is yearning for. With hope and anticipation, we’ve compiled a list of matchups we’d love to see. Here’s to Alalshikh working his magic once again to turn these fantasies into reality!
Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez
Canelo Alvarez is undeniably a legend of the sport—a fighter who has faced some of the finest talent boxing has to offer during his illustrious career. However, as he approaches the twilight of his journey, ‘Cinnamon’ has seemingly chosen a safer path, prioritizing lucrative paydays over high-risk challenges. Thanks to his immense name recognition and carefully cultivated leverage, he’s managed to turn this strategy into a profitable venture.
The biggest casualty of Canelo Alvarez’s selective matchmaking has been David Benavidez. For over a year, ‘The Mexican Monster’ stood as Canelo’s WBC mandatory challenger at super middleweight. Yet, Canelo repeatedly denied Benavidez the opportunity to make history—or to silence his critics by taking on one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. Frustrated and unable to secure the fight, Benavidez was forced to shift his focus to the light heavyweight division, seeking opportunities that eluded him at super middleweight.
Canelo has even gone as far as to demand an unprecedented $200 million purse to face Benavidez—a staggering figure that underscores the challenges in making this fight a reality. While not impossible, such a bout seems unlikely for now. Meanwhile, Benavidez is set to take on David Morrell on February 1st in Las Vegas. Should he emerge victorious, a shot at the undisputed light heavyweight title could be next on his horizon.
Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2
At the start of this year, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney delivered a thrilling showdown that had fans buzzing about a potential rematch. In a shocking turn, Garcia dominated Haney, dropping him three times before securing a majority decision win. However, the celebration was short-lived as Garcia later tested positive for Ostarine.
The victory was overturned to a no-contest, Garcia was fined his entire purse, and he received a suspension lasting over a year. The fallout didn’t stop there—Haney sued Garcia, citing battery and breach of contract, escalating the tension between the two fighters.
The animosity between Garcia and Haney has deep roots, stemming from their six amateur bouts. With both fighters eager to settle the score, a rematch in 2025—potentially in Saudi Arabia—could reignite their storied rivalry, setting the stage for one of boxing’s most dramatic comebacks.
However, Turki Alalshaikh has one condition Garcia has to meet for the fight to happen. “First of all, I like Ryan Garcia, and second, I want to do a big fight with him,” Alalshikh told Charlie Parsons. “But I’ll tell you my situation now… I’m against drugs and everything, I said to Ryan Garcia ‘You must pass the test and clear yourself’ and I’m waiting for you and this is fair.”
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford
After or before Benavidez, the fans wouldn’t really mind, Canelo Alvarez needs to face Terence Crawford. ‘Bud’ has been lobbying for the fight since he defeated Errol Spence Jr. last year, emerging as the first male boxer to achieve undisputed status in two different weight classes. The Nebraska technician even agreed to climb up to the super middleweight division.
All this in an effort to make his last fight in the sport a big payday! However, Canelo Alvarez has brushed past this potential fight, suggesting he has nothing to gain from the fight. During Crawford’s last appearance against Israil Madrimov, His Excellency had even reached out to Canelo’s team to make the fight real.
However, ‘Cinnamon’ made some absurd demands for the fight, so it quickly fell apart and produced a very public back-and-forth between Canelo and the Saudi Royal. As of the time of writing, there’s no sign of this fight actually coming to fruition. Meanwhile, Crawford remains adamant about fighting Canelo as he looks to exit the sport with a big payday.
Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua
Moving on to the heavyweight side of things, former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury just lost his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. Many are speculating whether the English heavyweight would call it quits after his second consecutive career loss. However, there’s a lot of money left on the table for the Brit.
The good news is, now, he has nothing to lose—his precious zero is gone, and Usyk’s win has erased the possibility of a trilogy. Similarly, former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has suffered four losses now, and the biggest fight on the table for him would be a bout against Tyson Fury. The all-British clash would be bigger than Joshua’s bout against Daniel Dubois.
And there’s no reason for Joshua or Fury to not cash in on the fight. Even if it’s not a title fight, the British fan base has been asking for this bout for several years now and if the fight happens, it would definitely be a blockbuster. With both fighters approaching their 40s, 2025 would be the best year for them to get it out of the way.
Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury 2
Although boxing purists often refuse to consider Jake Paul a legitimate boxer—largely due to his choice of opponents, including MMA fighters and aging, out-of-prime boxers—the Cleveland native has undeniably carved out a significant name for himself in the sport. His latest performance against the legendary Mike Tyson, or more precisely, the staggering numbers the fight generated, has cemented his status as a sought-after figure in boxing.
Following the Tyson fight, Paul received several offers but has yet to announce his next opponent. Rumors are swirling about a potential bout with Conor McGregor in India, but the fight fans are clamoring for a rematch with Tommy Fury. The two first faced off in February 2023, a match that handed ‘The Problem Child’ his first professional loss.
If Paul truly wants to be taken seriously as a boxer, a rematch with Fury seems inevitable. Reports previously revealed that Paul’s team, MVP, had approached Fury for a Netflix-backed fight instead of the Tyson showdown. However, Fury and his father turned down the offer. With the success of Paul’s Netflix venture, the dynamics may have shifted, making 2025 an ideal time for this much-anticipated rematch.
Gervonta Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson
WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is arguably the biggest name in boxing today. However, in a surprising turn of events, Davis recently announced his retirement from the sport after 2025. This revelation came shortly before he shared on social media that his March 1st bout was canceled. Interestingly, his opponent, Lamont Roach, has made conflicting statements, and tickets for the fight remain on sale.
Despite the confusion, fans appear relieved about the fight’s cancellation. Many believed Roach, who was moving up a weight class for the bout, posed little challenge to Davis. Instead, fans are calling for a showdown between Davis and Shakur Stevenson before Davis steps away from the ring. Stevenson, who shares the same weight class as Davis, has been vocal about wanting the fight for some time.
Davis, however, has largely avoided the matchup, even though most experts agree Stevenson would be his toughest challenge yet. With few legitimate contenders left in the division, 2025 seems like the perfect time for these two fighters to finally deliver the matchup fans have been waiting for. This clash has the potential to be a massive pay-per-view event and could even break existing records.
That concludes our list of fights that should happen in 2025, but we would also like to see Joseph Parker, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, and Oleksandr Usyk in action as well.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73845384/2149471458.0.jpg)
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/04/21/3952784-80269388-2560-1440.jpg)
