So as the rest of the 2025 boxing schedule fills out, we can begin to look ahead to what might be in store in 2026. On the most recent episode of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' with Mario Lopez and I we devoted a segment to five fights we'd like to see in the near future.
The stipulations were pretty simple, we couldn't come up with a fight that was already signed or announced. And it really didn't matter if it's a bout that has already been talked about at length, or assumed to be taking place.
3KR
Also, we didn't think about any of the impediments that usually keep the most anticipated match-ups from taking place. Again, this is a wish list, nothing less, nothing more. Just five bouts that we want to see. They don't even necessarily even have to be 'big' fights per say, but ones that for whatever reason pique our interest.
So with that said, here was my 'Big 5'...
- Gervonta Davis vs Shakur Stevenson
This is one that Mario and I both had. Honestly, it's probably one that many of you have on your list. This would be a match-up of two of the best lightweights (Stevenson is rated first by Ring Magazine, with Davis right behind him. Currently the Ring Championship at 135 is vacant). 'Tank' has long established himself as one of the best attractions in America, and Stevenson has drawn very well in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
From a stylistic point of view, it's the classic battle between boxer and puncher. Stevenson showed against William Zepeda that he will stand and deliver when he has to.
Unfortunately, Davis hasn't shown much interest in this bout(or the rematch with Lamont Roach) and is now engaging in an exhibition with Jake Paul. As for Stevenson, there are reports that he will be facing Teofimo Lopez.
- Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani
OK, another one that Lopez and I agreed on. Hey, we didn't try to overthink this too much. This is pretty much penciled in for next year in Japan. We'd like to see at least some of our preferred bouts actually come to fruition. Simply put, this is being described as the biggest fight in the history of Japanese boxing.
With 'the Monster' you have one of the most respected and accomplished boxers in the sport. Currently he is the undisputed junior featherweight champion and rated number three pound-for-pound by Ring Magazine. At 32 he still looks to be in his physical prime, if not his absolute apex as a boxer.
Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank
Nakatani, who is five years his junior, is a fighter who is coming into this own and in the last year or so has gained notoriety as one of the elite fighters in the world. The long and lanky southpaw is now seventh in the Ring pound-for-pound rankings. What makes this fight so intriguing is that we've seen Inoue have some problems defending himself against left hands, and Nakatani certainly has a stout one.
This is a bout that I will certainly try and make the trip to 'the Land of Rising Sun' and drink fresh Sapporo Beer.
- Vergil Ortiz vs Jaron Ennis
Alright, so Lopez and I didn't agree on every fight. He prefers that Ortiz face Xander Zayas, certainly a very good pairing, but I went with Ortiz facing 'Boots' Ennis. It wasn't that long ago that there was talk of them facing one another on a Turki-funded show that for whatever reason didn't transpire. This would be a bout with offensive fireworks with guys who have notched a good number of knockouts.
This is a clash that has been talked about for years going back to their days as up-and-coming welterweights. The problem was that neither was going to face one another as mere contenders, and they were both stuck behind the Errol Spence-Terence Crawford created logjam at 147.
Matchroom
But as they are now at 154, there really shouldn't be any excuse for them not face one another. Ennis and Ortiz fight within several weeks of one another in the fall. There's nothing really keeping them from squaring off other than the reticence of their respective promoters (Matchroom and Golden Boy).
If I'm DAZN, who has a close relationship with both entities, you lean on both to make this happen. (Of course, this would be on pay-per-view, but that's a different story for a different day.)
- Rafael Espinoza vs Bruce Carrington
I admit, this is one that most probably wouldn't list, but again, the fights I want to see aren't always ones that are the biggest events. Espinoza, the current WBO welterweight champion, is literally a tall order. At 6'1, 'el Divino' is a physical freak, and facing him is like walking into a helicopter wings as they get going. He doesn't necessarily knock you out with one punch, but he drowns you with a multitude of them.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
'Shu Shu' has steadily developed his solid skills. Currently he is the WBC interim champion, which I'm assuming is why he's not listed in the other organizations, but the reality is that some of the other belt-holders at 126 don't deem him to be worth risk.
Well, Espinoza and Carrington both have ties with Top Rank, in theory this should be a relatively easy fight to make. You could make the argument that Carrington would be facing the toughest champion in the division, well, shouldn't titles be tough to win?
- Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Carlos Adames
Once again, this fight was brandied about recently, and once again it looks like it's not going to happen. And to be frank, it's Alimkhanuly who seems much more receptive to this bout than Adames. Which is a shame, given how dormant this once-historic division has become.
Alimkhanuly is a unified champion (WBO and IBF), while Adames currently has the WBC belt in his possession. This figures to be a good battle between two guys who have heavy hands and wont have any issues finding one another inside the ring.
Top Rank
But alas, it looks like Adames and his representatives have rejected the fight (again) for whatever reason. My question is, what is the better option for them? Or is fighting Alimkhanuly with three belts on the line simply not worth the risk, regardless? That's today's boxing, unfortunately.
3KR
Here is this weeks episode of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule', where we discuss our lists at length:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfuUtvFHe9A&t=50s
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