5 fights we want to see boxing fight in 2026

The start of any new boxing year brings with it a familiar mix of hope, expectations and lists. Twelve months in which the sport will be celebrated, criticized, dissected and sometimes derided – and yet, even though it tests our patience, we always come back for more.

The in-ring action rarely disappoints, however. January alone offers a true superfight, with Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson rolling the dice against each other. And while this time in the calendar is often associated with quiet nights and algorithm-driven distractions, there’s plenty more to support fight fans beyond the first few weeks.

So, what awaits us once January rolls around? At Boxing News, we’ve analyzed the divisions and selected five fights that we not only want to see, but think the sport sorely needs. We begin in one of boxing’s most dynamic strongholds: Japan.

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani – Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title

December 27, 2025 was supposed to whet the appetite. Two separate fights designed to kick off an all-Japanese superfight that lasted for years. Inoué duly outclassed David Picasso, while Nakatani left Riyadh with the chance to maintain his unbeaten run after edging out Sebastian Hernandez.

The consequences have widened perceived gaps. Inoue remains the finished article; Nakatani, still adjusting to super bantamweight, suddenly looks like a challenger rather than an equal. Does this detract from the plot? Not remotely. With May mooted and the Tokyo Dome – potentially in front of 50,000 fans – the likely setting, it’s the kind of occasion that stops the sport in its tracks. A reigning superpower against a man daring to seize its throne.

Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz – Super Welterweight

Boxing has reached a point where risk is no longer a dirty word and invincibility records are increasingly useless. Riyadh’s season helped change that mindset – but this fight must happen regardless. Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya must find common ground and deliver the defining contest at 154 pounds.

Ennis’ speed, precision and fluidity against Ortiz’s relentless pressure and power make for a matchup worthy of division history. This elevates the winner to a place every elite fighter dreams of. The signals have been mixed. They cannot allow this to become another big fight that gets out of boxing’s hands.

Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev III – Light Heavyweight Unification

A rivalry involving either man demands resolution – especially when neither man has shown significant decline. Bivol and Beterbiev proved in two fights that year-end classics don’t have to be reckless wars. Their contrasting styles instead produced elite-level tension and technical excellence.

It has now been almost a year since The redemption of Bivolthe operation keeping him inactive, while Beterbiev hopes that rest will have fully restored him. Despite David Benavidez’s ambitions, the two best light heavyweights remain Bivol and Beterbiev. Boxing needs the rubber match.

Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Christian Mbilli – WBC super middleweight title

With the 168-pound landscape changing following the retirement of Terence Crawford, the division awaits a new standard-bearer. Canelo Alvarez may still hold that status, but contenders such as Sheeraz and Mbilli can announce themselves by winning their first world title.

The WBC ordered this fight – and for good reason. Sheeraz brings size, reach and growing authority; Mbilli delivers relentless output and consistent pressure. Sheeraz looked devastating against Edgar Berlanga, while Mbilli was lucky to earn a draw against Lester Martinez. The styles promise intensity, swings of momentum and real danger.

Anthony Olascuaga vs. Masamichi Yabuki – Flyweight Unification

Japanese boxing has been one of the sport’s great success stories in 2025, and Olascuaga and Yabuki have been integral to that rise. Both thrived on activity, opportunity and momentum, establishing themselves as two of the most dangerous punchers in the division.

Aggressive, friendly and hot, their styles seem tailor-made for each other. Olascuaga’s star continues to rise, while Yabuki has been rejuvenated since his 2022 loss to Kenshiro. The timing is perfect. This has all the ingredients of a fight of the year contender.