Up-and-coming British boxers
British boxing is on the up⎯with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua sitting at the top of the heavyweight scene, and other fighters like Chris Eubank Jr and Dillian Whyte making stabs at world titles, 2023 is set to be another great year for fighters from the UK.
But beyond those getting international acclaim, Britain has a wealth of exceptional boxers waiting for their chance to break out and make a worldwide name for themselves.
Take a look at the list below to see which British boxers deserve your attention in 2023. If you’re feeling really confident in the fighters below, consider placing a bet on them at a casino online and if you’re looking for that same high-stakes thrill, there a plenty of games like Football Roulette and other sport-themed slots for you to enjoy as well.
Adam Azim
There’s no talking about the future of British Boxing without talking about Adam Azim. Having won six of his eight fights by knockout since he turned professional at 18 years of age, he’s certainly gone the distance since his debut.
Now, at just 21, he’s not only undefeated but he’s made a name for himself as one of the hardest hitters in the British boxing scene.
His recent fight, in which he dominated Santos Reyes and handed the Nicaraguan his first career loss, is enough to silence the murmurs of doubt that Azim is no more than a knockout artist. Azim took control over the distance from the get-go, grinding Reyes down over the long haul and putting on a stellar display of technical boxing.
His trainer, Shane McGuigan, said to Sky Sports, “It was definitely what we wanted.
We got a knockdown, he got rounds, he got experience. He got a guy that had a tight guard and pushed him back.
He learnt how to pace the rounds as well, so these are all the things we're doing in the gym but actually got to showcase on the live stage.”
And Azim’s age isn’t going to slow down his explosion into the world scene. Azim’s goal is to become a world champion even younger than his idol Amir Khan did⎯aged 22. With that in mind, he’ll have to pick up the pace this year⎯seeking out tougher opponents and world-class fights. This British lightweight is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Caroline Dubois
Caroline Dubois performed a standout match on the same undercard as Azim recently, claiming her sixth pro win with a three-round knockout and bringing her total up to five.
As a previous Olympian, Dubois turned pro after falling short of a medal in the Tokyo Olympics (although she has a Gold under her belt from the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics in 2018). Her first pro match was a victory on points but after a now total of five consecutive knockouts, she’s showing her power in the ring. Dubois expressed “frustration” at the lack of competition from her opponent⎯the Tanzanian Feriche Mashaury⎯but with this win, no one can deny her star power.
Willing to fight at 130 lb or 140 lb, Dubois has stated that she’s now got her sights set on Mikaela Mayer and Katie Taylor.
Dennis McCann
Nicknamed ‘The Menace’, Dennis McCann is a charismatic and proven fighter with a 14−0 pro record under his belt. Putting that magnetic personality together with a number of high-profile wins has really pushed him forward as a contender both nationally and with a future in international bouts.
His recent win against Joe Ham, a career veteran, is one of those star shows. McCann was marked as the underdog going into the fight, although the super-bantamweight from Maidstone, Kent, never doubted himself. And he went on to prove himself right⎯McCann picked Ham to pieces, eventually coming out with a stoppage in the eighth round.
Keep a close eye on this underdog in 2023.
Pierce O’Leary
Now with his first belt around his waist, the up-and-coming Irishman, Pierce O’Leary, snagged the WBC International Super-Lightweight belt from Emmanual Mungadjela at the end of 2022.
The 23-year-old from Dublin didn’t let himself off after a win. He criticized his performance after being denied his fifth straight finish, “I am always harsh on myself and I’ll always criticize my performance, that was an absolute s*** performance.
It was all new to me, 10 rounds, a lot of hype surrounding me, it was a lot to deal with but I got the win, that’s the main thing.”
But you can’t deny the talent. As a historically active fighter, if O’Leary keeps to his current record of 11−0, there could be huge things in his future. Keep your eye on this up-and-comer for big fights and international renown.