After a weekend the place Oleksandr Usyk ratified his standing as the very best pound-for-pound fighter on the earth by demolishing Daniel Dubois in 5 rounds, and boxing’s solely eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, made his anticipated return after 4 years away from the ring in a majority draw in opposition to Mario Barrios , we flip to the remaining boxing calendar in 2025.
Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, two of the very best fighters on the earth, will meet within the largest combat of the 12 months on Sept. 13 for the undisputed tremendous middleweight championship. However what are the opposite potential huge fights to stay up for for the remainder of 2025 and past?
Nick Parkinson shares his want listing and explains why these matchups ought to get made.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joseph Parker
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How Oleksandr Usyk turned undisputed heavyweight champion once more
Check out the numbers behind Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
Earlier than we will doubtlessly get right into a trilogy with Tyson Fury, Usyk might use a combat to set it up, and combating Fury’s pal Parker — the WBO obligatory challenger — does it properly.
Fury confirmed final Saturday in London that he can be returning to the game, however not till subsequent 12 months. Fury has not fought since shedding a rematch with Usyk in December 2024.
Usyk’s subsequent combat, then, will all be about him successful and organising the Fury combat. Queensberry Promotions’ Frank Warren, who promotes Parker, likes the concept of Parker, a former WBO champion, difficult Usyk nextk.
Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) trains with Fury in Morecambe, England, and has revived his profession with coach Andy Lee following a KO loss to Joe Joyce in 2022. Since that setback, Parker has produced the very best performances of his profession, together with a large determination win over former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in 2023, a majority determination over Zhilei Zhang in Might 2024 and a fast stoppage of Martin Bakole in February. Parker, who made two defenses of the WBO belt earlier than shedding it in a title unification combat in opposition to Joshua in 2018, is extra skilled than different high-ranked contenders reminiscent of Fabio Wardley, Moses Itauma and Agit Kabayel.
Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs), the WBC interim heavyweight champion, has been calling on Usyk to face him and has a convincing case after KO wins over Zhang and Frank Sanchez. However Parker’s affiliation with Fury, which might assist construct the potential Usyk vs. Fury trilogy combat, and the actual fact Usyk must combat Parker subsequent to carry on to the WBO belt makes Parker a greater possibility.
Teofimo Lopez vs. Rolando “Rolly” Romero
These two have been the largest winners of the surreal Instances Sq. boxing card in Might, and it’s a logical combat for them each to progress towards the highest of a crowded welterweight division. It’s a good matchup between the technical qualities Lopez possesses versus the uncooked energy and unpredictability that Romero displayed in New York.
Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs), the WBO junior welterweight champion, produced an improved efficiency on that New York card, defeating Arnold Barboza Jr. by unanimous determination,and going through Romero can be first step at welterweight.
Additionally on that card, Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) produced an enormous shock when he dropped Ryan Garcia with a left hook on his strategy to a unanimous determination win in a significant upset for the WBA “common” welterweight title. It was the newest twist in Romero’s profession, which has seen him lose by stoppage in light-weight and junior welterweight title fights to “Tank” Davis and Isaac Cruz, rating a win by controversial stoppage in opposition to Ismael Barroso for the WBA junior welterweight title two years in the past after which step up a division to beat Garcia for the largest win of his profession.
Romero’s brawling fashion might play into the palms of a slick boxer reminiscent of Lopez, however Romero’s win over Garcia confirmed he may disrupt slick boxers.
It is a combat that will get consideration because of the trash-talking each are vulnerable to, and there’s a story a few sparring session between them in 2017 that can get revisited. It’s a rivalry that can construct right into a grudge match that sells.
Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua at Wembley? 🤔
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— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 19, 2025
If this occurs, and there’s severe discuss of it, Joshua, a two-time world champion, will likely be surrendering a few of his legitimacy by combating a much less aggressive opponent for a profitable payday.
Joshua (28-4, 24 KOs) has not fought since being dropped 4 instances in a fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois final September for the IBF world title. Elbow surgical procedure is predicted to maintain Joshua out till late this 12 months.
Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer is excessive on confidence following his June win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., , however Chavez was gone his finest and had by no means been on the degree Joshua has operated at. Joshua is coming off a loss, however Paul must rewatch what Joshua did to former UFC champion Francis Ngannou simply two fights in the past final March. Joshua shouldn’t be washed up and needs to be combating higher opponents, reminiscent of Dubois, Moses Itauma, Fabio Wardley and even Deontay Wilder. However combating Paul would create worldwide curiosity, and it is a combat that Joshua ought to simply win.
Shakur Stevenson vs. Conor Benn
With Benn’s rematch vs. Chris Eubank Jr. in jeopardy of taking place on Sept. 20 as deliberate on the point of collapse, the English boxer may very well be in search of another huge combat, and WBC light-weight champion Stevenson can be an attention-grabbing possibility.
Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs), should step up from light-weight to junior welterweight to face Benn (23-1, 14 KOs), who misplaced a unanimous determination to Eubank in a non-title middleweight bout in April.
Whereas Stevenson has the benefit of being a extra expert boxer, after a distinguished beginner profession, Benn, who solely had a quick beginner profession, will take pleasure in dimension. It is a basic boxer vs. slugger encounter.
Stevenson is coming off an entertaining and aggressive efficiency vs. William Zepeda earlier this month. Nonetheless, it may very well be a enjoyable build-up with loads of back-and-forth on social media.
Benn may very well be tempted to face Stevenson whereas he waits to see if the rematch with Eubank will occur, or his dream combat in opposition to Gervonta “Tank” Davis can turn into a actuality in 2026.
Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron
Taylor does not appear eager on this one, however many followers are, and it’s the most reasonable subsequent combat for the Irishwoman if she decides to field on. When requested a few potential trilogy combat with Cameron, Taylor mentioned Cameron has to show herself as soon as once more earlier than they meet.
“I feel Chantelle has to see if she will be able to promote out a 1,000-seat area first, I feel I’ve made her more cash than she actually deserves, to be sincere,” Taylor mentioned after her determination win over Amanda Serrano on July 11.
After ending all arguments with three victories within the trilogy with Serrano, Taylor ought to think about a 3rd encounter with Cameron, the one girl to beat her within the skilled ranks. Taylor might additionally think about retirement after excellent beginner {and professional} careers, which has helped remodel the recognition of girls’s boxing.
After Taylor’s rivalry with Serrano was settled, Cameron is now Taylor’s largest rival. Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs), the undisputed junior welterweight champion, is No. 2 on ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, and Cameron (21-1, 8 KOs), the WBC interim champion, is No. 4.
Cameron inflicted Taylor’s solely defeat with a majority determination in Might 2023, earlier than Taylor gained revenge additionally in a majority determination win in November 2023.
“I am advised I’ll combat the winner of Katie versus Amanda, as a result of I am the WBC interim champion,” Cameron advised ESPN not too long ago. “[But] I do not say I am assured of getting a 3rd combat with Katie although, as a result of the trilogy combat together with her ought to have occurred a very long time in the past.”
This combat most likely hinges on whether or not Taylor decides if her profession is now completed, but when it occurs, it will be probably the most anticipated fights in ladies’s boxing in what’s left of the 12 months.
Jai Opetaia vs. Gilberto Ramirez
Opetaia, the IBF champion, has been the dominant ruler at cruiserweight for a couple of years, however he now has a severe rival to his crown in Ramirez, who has unified the WBA and WBO titles.
A matchup between these two in a three-belt unification combat would convey a uncommon highlight to the cruiserweight division, which will get much less consideration than different weight courses.
It’s the most reasonable possibility for Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs) apart from stepping as much as heavyweight, and each fighters have desires of reaching undisputed standing, which might launch their careers at heavyweight similar to it did for Oleksandr Usyk.
“I am sick of all the justifications and delays,” Opetaia mentioned, referring to Ramirez after breaking Claudio Squeo’s jaw in a fifth-round KO win again in June. “I respect what Ramirez has completed, however I do know I am on one other degree.” Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) additionally made a title protection final month, with a unanimous determination win over Yuniel Dorticos. Nonetheless, Ramirez was extra spectacular when he dominated Chris Billam-Smith in a unification combat final November.
Ramirez is likely to be tempted to make the combat if a matchup in opposition to WBC champ David Benavidez doesn’t materialize.