5 world title fights to watch in January

The month of January is usually reserved for repairing bank balances and pretending the festive damage to the balance never happened. In boxing terms, it has traditionally been a month of gentle awakening – an odd card here, a stray contender there – before the sport properly shifts into high gear from February onwards.

January 2026 has other ideas, however. With more than a dozen broadcasts spread across several broadcasters and no fewer than eight world title fights on the schedule, the year is off to a flying start. If you’re not sure where to focus your attention, Boxing News has you covered. Here are the five world title clashes you simply can’t miss this month.

January 10: Subriel Matias vs. Dalton Smith – WBC Welterweight Title (PPV.com)

We start in Brooklyn where the Puerto Rican pressure machine Subriel Mathias defends his WBC crown against Briton Dalton Smith. Matias – cleared to fight despite recent positive doping test – is one of the sport’s most ruthless fighters, a relentless force who seeks to drown his opponents under sustained, punishing pressure.

Smith arrives as a polished and composed competitor, but is yet to be tested at the elite global level. Britain has produced a steady stream of high-profile 140-pound champions in the modern era – among them Ricky Hatton and Josh Taylor – but following in those footsteps will require discipline, precision and nerves of steel. Matias will look to disrupt the Sheffield man’s game plan and turn the fight into a war of attrition. That Smith can resist that pull makes this a compelling opening for the year.

January 24: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz – IBF Lightweight Title (DAZN)

Titles won off the ropes always come with an asterisk in the minds of fans. For Raymond Muratalla, it’s an opportunity to erase all doubt and justify his elevation by beating one of the sport’s most high-profile newcomers.

Andy Cruz looks like a future world champion despite only six professional fights. The Cuban amateur player has made a seamless transition to the paid ranks, bringing with him elite timing, footwork and shot selection. Muratalla’s relaxed, attacking style will need to be crisp and precise from the first kick-off, as Cruz rarely gives a second chance. Expect a high-level, technically rich encounter with world-class punches.

January 31: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou – WBO/WBA super welterweight title unification (Broadcaster to be confirmed)

Abass Baraou was another fighter crowned without firing a shot, but legitimacy must be earned the hard way – and Xander Zayas will be eager to make a statement in front of a partisan Puerto Rican crowd.

Zayas enjoys home advantage for what is billed as his second defense and will look to box intelligently, moving in and out of range while eliminating the German pressure fighter. Baraou, however, is durable, aggressive and persistent. If Zayas fails to discourage him with his power, this could turn into a grueling and very entertaining affair. Don’t be surprised if this one finds its way into the fight of the year conversations early on.

January 31: Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly – IBF super welterweight title (DAZN)

The 154-pound division once again takes center stage on a night of frenetic action in the UK and USA. In Newcastle, Russian champion Bakhram Murtazaliev poses a serious threat in the backyard of Briton Josh Kelly.

It’s a familiar scenario: a destructive hitter against a skilled and ambitious player, evoking memories of Kovalev-Intelligently in Cardiff more than ten years ago. Kelly will be desperate to avoid a similar fate. His world title potential has been discussed since the day he turned professional, but his first championship assignment could hardly be more difficult. It’s a true “sink or swim” moment.

January 31: Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson – WBO Welterweight Title (DAZN)

The biggest fight of the month – and arguably the most intriguing – is saved for last. Two elite operators, long touted as future all-time greats, face off with more than one belt on the line. It’s about status, hierarchy and pound-for-pound positioning.

Lopez will need something special to outplay and outwit one of the sport’s sharpest boxing minds. Stevenson, meanwhile, will aim to assert his control and prove his superiority at weight. It won’t be reckless mayhem or total mayhem, but it will be pure elite boxing – the kind of fight you just can’t look away from.