November 30, 2023
Upcoming Boxing Fights for 2023
2023 has so far delivered some amazing entertainment for fight fans, but there is plenty more to come with a busy DAZN schedule for the remainder of the year.
In the final quarter, there is a packed catalogue of compelling upcoming boxing fights to look forward to, including undisputed vs. undisputed clashes, title unifications, rematches of huge upsets and some serious grudges to settle.
Upcoming Boxing Fights December 2023
Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte
Date: December 2nd, 2023
Location: Toyota Center, Houston
Watch: Live on DAZN
Records: Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs), Duarte (26-1, 21 KOs)
Ryan Garcia looks to bounce back from his first career defeat against Gervonta Davis for a tricky match up with Oscar Duarte. Garcia’s knockout loss back in April was undoubtedly a bitter disappointment to the Golden Boy prodigy, but he has his sights firmly set on a rematch against Davis. It may be a dangerous prospect to look too far ahead, with Duarte far from a tune up fight. The Mexican knockout artist only has one career defeat back in 2019 with a split decision loss to Adrian Estrella and has since been on a streak of 11 straight finishes. With him focussed on the Davis rematch, many believed that Garcia would look to take on contenders at 140lb such as Sergey Lipinets or Brandun Lee in to prepare for a likely weight jump. Nevertheless, this contest against a dangerous 135lb fighter getting their first major opportunity under the world lights is the kind of victory Garcia might need to get back on a title charge.
MJ Prediction: Garcia by TKO
Michael Conlan vs. Jordan Gill
Date: December 2nd, 2023
Location: SSE Arena, Belfast
Watch: Live on DAZN
Records: Conlon (18-2, 9 KOs), Gill (27-2, 8 KOs)
Fan favourite Michael Conlan returns to action in Belfast against Jordan Gill in what he hopes will be another charge towards a world championship. He has fallen agonisingly short in his previous two title fights, an incredible last gasp stoppage loss against Leigh Wood for the WBA featherweight title in 2022, and a TKO loss to Luis Alberto Lopez in May this year. Following his latest setback, Irishman Conlan has moved camps to Miami under new trainer Pedro Diaz and will be hoping his new surroundings and regime can propel him to one final run for a title. His opponent Jordan Gill is also on the comeback trail having lost his European featherweight title to Kiko Martinez in his last fight over a year ago at Wembley stadium. Conlan is rarely, if ever, in a dull fight, and in front of his home crowd, this could be a barnstormer.
MJ Prediction: Conlon by decision
Jake Paul vs. Andre August
Date: December 15th, 2023
Location: Caribe Royale, Orlando
Watch: Live on DAZN
Records: Paul (7-1, 4 KOs), August (10-1, 5 KOs)
Jake Paul returns to action for his third and final fight of the year, and his second bout against a professional boxer. He has doubled down on his ambitions to become a world champion one day and bounced back from his split decision defeat to Tommy Fury in February with a unanimous decision victory over MMA legend Nate Diaz in August. His detractors point to his lack of success against professional boxers and despite his encouraging knock down of Fury over their fight, a scalp against a boxer in their prime, with a winning record is what he needs to legitimise himself as a boxer, and that’s exactly what Andre August provides. While not as well known as his previous opponents, August is a boxer in the same weight class with a 10-1 record; providing the perfect test of Paul’s potential in the squared circle.
MJ Prediction: Jake Paul by KO
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodríguez vs. Sunny Edwards
Date: December 16th, 2023
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, Arizona
Records: Rodrigues (18-0, 11 KOs), Edwards (20-0, 4 KOs)
Belts on the line: WBO, IBF flyweight
Two undefeated champions lock horns as British IBF champion Sunny Edwards travels to Arizona for the biggest fight of his career to date; taking on two-weight world champion and current WBO belt holder Bam Rodriguez for a flyweight unification bout. Since winning the IBF title back in April 2021, Edwards has clocked four successful defences in impressive fashion but will be taking an undoubted step up in competition against Rodriguez who at just 23 years old has proven himself to be one of the biggest prospects in the sport. While not considered a knockout artist with just 4 finishes from 20 wins, Edwards offers a unique challenge for anyone and has shown that he can elude and frustrate big punchers. It’s a true clash of styles, but a win for either fighter would be an impressive addition to the CV. Rodriguez will likely enter the fight as favourite, but Edwards will no doubt be relishing the chance to cause an upset and further enhance his reputation on the world stage by becoming unified world champion.
MJ prediction: Rodriguez by unanimous decision
Upcoming Boxing Fights November 2023
Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor 2
Date: November 25th, 2023
Location: 3Arena, Dublin
Records: Cameron (18-0, 8 KOs), Taylor (22-1, 6 KOs)
Belts on the line: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring female light welterweight
Another mouth-watering upcoming bout, undisputed vs. undisputed clash, with Chantelle Cameron returning straight back to the scene of her impressive split decision victory over lightweight champ Katie Taylor. Even though Cameron held both an age and size advantage, it was considered a significant upset when she went to Taylor’s native Dublin back in May and took home a split decision to retain her light welterweight belts. It had been a long-term pursuit for Cameron, who originally lost to Taylor in the semi-finals of the EU Championships in Katowice back in 2011 and got redemption 12 years later when the two met as undefeated and undisputed champions. Despite falling short first time round, Taylor is still a perennial pound for pound great and will be gunning for revenge on her first-ever loss. She will no doubt be buoyed along by a rapturous Dublin crowd as she looks to become a two-weight undisputed champion at the second attempt.
MJ prediction: Taylor by split decision
Upcoming Boxing Fights October 2023
Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington
Date: 7th October, 2023
Location: Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Records: Wood (27-3, 16 KOs), Warrington (31-2 -1, 8 KOs),
Belts on the line: WBA featherweight
An all-British clash with a belt on the line between two fighters who have seldom, if ever, been in a boring fight. Wood vs. Warrington has all the makings of an explosive evening in Sheffield. Current WBA champion Wood heads into the fight off the back off a run which saw him win the WBA featherweight title by TKO, then follow it up with a remarkable last gasp knockout victory over Michael Conlan, only to lose his title with a stoppage loss against Maurizio Lara in February this year. He triggered the immediate rematch and just three months later had the belt back after a hard-fought unanimous decision victory in Manchester. He squares up against two-time IBF champion Warrington who had his own ups and downs over the last couple of years, retaining the IBF belt in March 2022 with a TKO victory against Kiko Martinez. He then lost the strap on his first defence with a decision loss to Luis Alberto Lopez in December 2022. In the (somewhat) neutral mid-ground between their respective hometowns of Nottingham and Leeds, this UK world title showdown has all the markings of an absolute banger.
MJ prediction: Wood by unanimous decision
Tommy Fury vs. KSI (X-Series)
Date: 14th October, 2023
Location: AO Arena, Manchester
Records: Fury (9-0, 4 KOs), KSI professional (1 – 0), exhibition (3-0-1, 3 KOs)
Belts on the line: MF cruiserweight
In the 10th instalment of the MF x DAZN X Series, the Prime Card is headlined with an exhibition clash for the MF cruiserweight belt between professional Tommy Fury and crossover YouTube boxing star KSI. Fury enters the contest as heavy favourite after defeating KSI’s fierce rival Jake Paul by split decision back in February. Fury will be looking to further emerge from the shadow of his brother Tyson and reality TV exploits; keen to further build a boxing legacy in his own right after securing an official world ranking as the #38 WBC cruiserweight in the world thanks his victory over Paul. For KSI, the opportunity to face and defeat a professional boxer offers a massive boost to legitimise his boxing ambitions and, importantly, give him a tangible roadmap for a debut professional clash against Jake Paul down the line.
MJ prediction: Fury by TKO
Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis (X-Series)
Date: 14th October, 2023
Location: AO Arena, Manchester
Records: Paul professional (0-1) exhibition (0-0-1), Danis (0-0)
The co-headline fight of the X Series event the same evening sees crossover star Logan Paul take on MMA fighter Dillon Danis in what has fast become a grudge match of epic proportions. Danis’ relentless trolling of Paul through social media during the build-up has created significant buzz around the fight and adds a significant extra layer of jeopardy for both fighters. Paul lost his only professional bout to date against KSI but has shared the ring with GOAT contender Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition fight. On paper, Paul brings with him a better boxing pedigree than Danis, who is a grappling specialist turned MMA fighter, but has been out of competitive action since 2019. Danis has been trained for the fight by Conor McGregor, the man who has previously made biggest MMA to boxing jump we’ve ever seen against Mayweather. While there is a limited boxing back catalogue to assess for either, the bad blood between the pair and antics at their recent face off suggests this one could become a slug fest from the opening bell. One not to miss.
MJ prediction: Paul by TKO
Upcoming Boxing Fights September 2023
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo
Date: 30th September, 2023
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Records: Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs), Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs)
Belts on the line: WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring super middleweight
For boxing fans, it really doesn’t get better than a clash between undisputed champion vs. undisputed champion. Mexican juggernaut Canelo is renowned for his admirable ambition in jumping between weight divisions and is set to put his four super middleweight belts on the line against the undisputed junior middleweight champ, Charlo. This will be Canelo’s third defence of his undisputed crown at 168lbs, and Charlo’s first fight at that weight. As with most of his matchups, Canelo goes into the fight as a big favourite and should have a size advantage with Charlo climbing two weight divisions. If anyone knows the risks of such a jump it’s Canelo himself; having lost to Dmitry Bivol after stepping up to light heavyweight in May 2022. Charlo hasn’t fought in over a year after sustaining a hand injury making it difficult to assess his form coming into the fight, but he is undoubtedly a dangerous opponent for anyone on his day. Canelo has recently conceded that his last couple of performances haven’t met his own usual high standards and will be looking to make a statement against Charlo.
MJ prediction: Canelo by TKO
