Anthony Joshua faces career-defining rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr
Boxing's lower weights have been gifting fans with incredible fights in recent weeks but it's soon time for the heavyweights to once again take the spotlight.
The World Boxing Super Series final between Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire provided fans with a remarkable bantamweight battle, which swung back and forth, with the Japanese 'Monster' prevailing after 12 dramatic rounds on home soil.
Meanwhile, Scotland's Josh Taylor also earned the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy with his light-welterweight final victory over unbeaten American opponent Regis Prograis before that in what was another sublime match-up. Both WBSS finals have been heralded as fight of the year contenders.
It will soon be time for the heavyweight sluggers to showcase their credentials next, with two eagerly awaited rematches in the division swiftly approaching during this stacked end of year period for the sport.
First up will be anticipated second meeting between WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Cuban challenger Luis Ortiz on November 23rd.
But British fans will have a closer eye on the December 7th battle in Saudi Arabia, as Anthony Joshua aims to avenge his shocking defeat at the hands of newly crowned unified champion Andy Ruiz Jr.
The Mexican will enter proceedings as the 9/4 outsider in the Andy Ruiz Jr v Anthony Joshua betting odds from Paddy Power to repeat his summer heroics and potentially derail his British challenger's career at the top.
Perhaps surprisingly, 'AJ' is considered the odds-on 4/11 favourite to gain revenge in this second scrap, despite having been comprehensively beaten the first time around.
Joshua was an overwhelming favourite to overcome Ruiz when they first met back in June of this year at New York City's Madison Square Garden, in what was his debut on American soil.
What was supposed to be his showcase outing for an American audience proved to be a disastrous debut across the pond, though.
'AJ' looked far from his usual focused self moments before the opening bell but did seem to be on his way to another knockout victory nevertheless when he dropped Ruiz Jr in the third round. Notably, this was the first time the sizeable challenger had been on the canvas in his professional career to date.
But the fight took an unexpected and dramatic twist straight after, as the Mexican bounced back immediately and hurt Joshua once he had risen from the knockdown.
Joshua went on to hit the canvas himself on four occasions before rising to his corner and the referee called a halt to proceedings in the seventh round.
Such a result was likely the biggest shock of the year for boxing and it saw Ruiz Jr crowned as the first-ever world heavyweight champion of Mexican descent.
The now unified WBA 'Super', IBF and WBO titlist will look to prove that is wasn't a one-off result when the pair meet again for their awaited rematch on December 7th at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia.
A second successive defeat at the hands of Ruiz Jr could ultimately prove to be the end of Joshua's career at the elite level and mooted super-fights with Wilder and compatriot Tyson Fury could potentially be scuppered too. The stakes have never been higher for 'AJ' and it will take a career-best performance for him to regain his heavyweight crowns and salvage his career at the top.