Canelo, Inoue and Benavidez: 6 boxing cards to get your pulse racing
Reasons to be cheerful for the rest of 2025
Nothing exciting left on the boxing schedule? Think again. Some of the biggest names in the sport are scheduled out, alongside some tasty trade tear-ups. Let’s take a look at what’s scribbled on the calendar, how it might play out and what you’re looking forward to.
August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on DAZN (PPV)
Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte
Nick Ball vs. Sam Goodman
Filip Hrgovic vs. David Adeleye
Ray Ford vs. Abraham Nova
Hayato Tsutsumi vs. Qais Ashfaq
Verdict: A decent card overall, although the premium price is a bit of a liberty. Many observers expect Itauma to keep his momentum rolling and spark veteran Whyte, who has been inactive at any decent level.
Ball-Goodman should be a decent scrap and while it’s a shame Anthony Cacace withdrew injured from the Ray Ford fight, Abraham Nova is an adequate replacement. Hrgovic should be too experienced for a resurgent Adeleye, while Tsutsumi should have too much firepower for Ashfaq.
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August 23 in Orlando, Florida, live on DAZN
Yankiel Rivera vs. Angelino Cordova
Yoenis Tellez vs. Abass Baraou
Jamaine Ortiz vs. Steve Claggett
Jasmine Artiga vs. Linn Sandstrom
Stephanie Han vs. Paulina Angel
Verdict: Jake Paul and MVP are becoming a strong force within the promoting scene and there are some nice scraps here in Florida. Rising Cuban Yoenis Tellez meets recent European champion Baraou as the battle to fill Terence Crawford’s shoes continues.
Puerto Rican Yankiel Rivera and Venezuela’s Cordova are both unbeaten flyweights, contesting the WBA Interim bauble. In the battle of Teofimo Lopez’s leftovers, Ortiz and Claggett should produce an interesting style clash.
September 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, live on Netflix
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford
Verdict: An intriguing match-up for all the jewels at 168 pounds as Crawford moves up two weight classes to tackle the super-middleweight king. Quite a few people are sensing a win for ‘Bud’ despite the size discrepancies.
September 13 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, live on DAZN
Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan 2
Caoimhin Agyarko vs. Ishmael Davis
Tyrone McKenna vs. Dylan Moran 2
Pat Brown, Molly McCann and Aaron Bowen.
Verdict: Not a bad card overall. I’ll be in attendance at Windsor Park as I was the last time they held boxing there (Carl Frampton won by KO, it hammered down with rain and the evening ended on a bomb scare). Donovan should have far too much for Crocker in the main event and the undercard isn’t much to write home about.
September 14 in Nagoya, Japan, TV TBC
Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Yoshiki Takei vs. Christian Medina
Yuni Takada vs. Ryusei Matsumoto
Verdict: It’s all about the main event here in what should be a tasty scrap. Inoue has looked a little vulnerable of late, becoming surprisingly acquainted with the canvas. MJ Akhmadaliev will happily send him back there if the Japanese star slips up.
November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on DAZN (PPV)
David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde
Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez
Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes
Subriel Matias vs. Dalton Smith
Verdict: A definite reason to be cheerful at the close of the year, with some enticing bouts on offer, involving pure punchers. Can Brian Norman catch the suspicious chin of Haney and make him pay once and for all?
David Benavidez should be too active for Anthony Yarde, who has failed in each step up to world-class. ‘Bam’ versus Martinez promises to be a high-octane affair, although once things slow down in the second half and the expected frenetic pace subsides, you’d expect Rodriguez’s classy shots and punch placement to take over.
Abdullah Mason and Same Noakes are pitted together in an interesting battle of the bangers. Mason has displayed gaps, but has more in his locker. I struggle to give Dalton Smith much of a chance at holding off even this rusting version of Matias.
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About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com
Great reminder of what’s to come, even if this weekend is slightly thin on action!
Brilliant to hear that you’ll be in attendance for Crocker Vs. Donovan II, that’ll be a killer atmosphere :)