blockbuster
Boxing fans have been spoilt this early autumn with back-to-back heavyweight blockbusters, but there’s still plenty of top-class action to come before the end of 2021.
Late September saw Oleksandr Usyk produce a superb performance to dethrone champion Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Then, just two weeks later, Tyson Fury claimed a stunning victory against Deontay Wilder in their trilogy clash in one of the great fights in the modern era.
It’s been a truly spectacular few weeks for the fans who have been so eager to return to stadiums and venues around the world following the COVID-19 lockdowns.
While the dust has now settled on heavyweight titles, there are a host of glittering bouts coming up before Christmas.
Dillian Whyte vs Otto Wallin
October 30, O2 Arena, London
WBC interim heavyweight champion Whyte is desperate to secure a shot at Fury in 2022 but will first have to see off dangerous Swede Wallin.
Brixton’s ‘Body Snatcher’ took out Alexander Povetkin in their rematch in March, putting on a brilliant performance in Gibraltar.
The 33-year-old is yet to compete a world title level but has improved vastly in recent years despite his shock KO defeat to Povetkin in August 2020.
Whyte will not be overlooking Wallin.
‘All In’ beat former title contender Dominic Breazeale earlier this year and gave Fury a real test back in September 2019.
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Canelo Alvarez vs Caleb Plant
November 6 - MGM Grand, Las Vegas
In a year dominated by talk of a undisputed bout between Joshua and Fury, we will be treated to an explosive unification clash just after bonfire night.
There is no love lost between Canelo and Plant and they are set to go toe-to-toe for the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBF and The Ring super middleweight titles.
The two came to blows at their press conference recently and both will be eager to emerge victorious in Vegas.
Canelo claimed another belt when he stopped Billy Joe Saunders in May by breaking his eye socket.
Meanwhile, the unbeaten Plant saw off Caleb Truax at the start of the year and is now ready for a major step up.
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Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter
November 20 - Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
Undefeated welterweight star Crawford will make his long-awaited return in late November when he takes on fellow American Porter.
Crawford beat Kell Brook a year ago and has been out of the ring since.
Now he’ll put his WBO belt on the line once again against Porter.
‘Showtime’ bounced back from his defeat to Errol Spence Jr by seeing off Sebastian Formella in August 2020.
Now, the two will face off in Vegas in a mouth-watering welterweight clash.
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Vasyl Lomachenko vs Richard Commey
December 11 - Madison Square Garden, New York
Lomachenko was last seen cheering on Usyk to his victory over AJ but he is nearly ready to get back under the light himself.
Loma lost to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020 which ended his lightweight champion reign and he is eager to return to the summit of the sport once more.
He beat Masayoshi Nakatani over the summer and will not head to the iconic Madison Square Garden to face Commey.
Lomachenko will need to put on a show as he eyes a big year in 2022.
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Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall
December 18 - SSE Hydro Arena, Glasgow
Unbeaten and undisputed light-welterweight champion Taylor will face fellow Brit in the first defence of his world titles.
Taylor beat Jose Ramirez to add the WBC and WBO belts to his WBA (Super), IBF, and The Ring titles.
Now, he’ll be back in the squared-circle to face undefeated Catterall.
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‘El Gato’ has won 26 bouts on the bounce and saw off Abderrazak Houya last time out but he’ll need to take his game to another level to challenge Taylor.
It should be a thrilling as the ‘Tartan Tornado’ returns to Scotland just before the festive period kicks in.