Six scraps UK fight fans would like to see in 2024
With Taylor vs Catterall rematch confirmed and Yarde vs Buatsi in negotiation, it’s shaping up to be a big year of fights for UK boxing.
As expected, it was a spicy press conference in Edinburgh between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall, with emotions spilling over resulting in a few handbags during the final face off.
Whilst such scenes are, of course, commonplace in matches containing as intense a rivalry as what is shared between the Scotsman and Mancunian, it served as a reminder of the added fire and atmosphere which is synonymous with witnessing two world class domestic fighters lock horns.
With a plethora of world class and potentially world class prospects currently plying their trade across the UK, lets look at what other tantalising match-ups we might be treated to during 2024.
Anthony Yarde vs Joshua Buatsi
Outside of Taylor-Catterall 2, this is the big one!
The two world class London based Light Heavyweights have long been compared since turning professional. Whilst neither can boast being a current or former world champion, you could certainly argue that they both deserve to be ranked within the top five at 175lbs.
Although Yarde boasts a mightily impressive 24 knockouts in 25 victories, it is really in two of his three defeats that he has demonstrated the extent of his capabilities, putting in a valiant showing over in Russia against Sergey Kovalev, and more recently giving division supremo, the ruthless Artur Beterbiev, his toughest bout to date in an epic back and forth fight of the year contender, resulting in an eventual eight round stoppage defeat for the brave Brit.
For Buatsi, however, he is yet to take a risk against a name such as a Kovalev or Beterbiev, but close yet convincing wins over Craig ‘Spider’ Richards and ‘Super’ Dan Azeez have earnt him his reputation as one of the top names in the division.
In terms of entertainment, this fight would also surely be as much of a barnstormer as it would be tactically fascinating. The Hackney born KO artist Yarde always brings the same calculated aggression, power punching and spiteful combinations, whilst Olympic medallist Buatsi perhaps has the better fundamentals and has also demonstrated he is not afraid to go to battle in the trenches when faced with a willing dance partner, as he showed against both Richards and Azeez.
Though currently on different platforms, both sides have made it clear this is their desired next move, potentially for huge summer showdown.
Dan Azeez vs Craig Richards
With Azeez and Richards both coming up short in competitive battles with Joshua Buatsi, they will be looking for a route back into the conversation at world level. What better way than in squaring off with each other?
In reality there are an abundance of names at Light Heavyweight, any combination of which fight fans would tune in to see happen, including Buatsi, Yarde, Azeez, Richards, Callum Smith and Lyndon Arthur. Before too long, rapidly rising star Ben Whittaker will be thrown into that mix.
If Yarde vs Buatsi does manage to get made, Azeez vs Richards would be a fantastic chief supporting bout, but in reality it could headline a show on its own merit. The winner would be right back up there, whilst the loser would be faced with the not impossible but arduous task of gradually building their way back up again.
Adam Azim vs Dalton Smith
Moving away from the Light Heavyweights, and down at Super Lightweight we can find two of the biggest talents that the UK has on it’s books in Adam Azim and Dalton Smith.
In a combined total 26 victories, both have demonstrated they are a cut above British and perhaps even European level.
Smith now has his toughest assignment to date scheduled against the former world title challenger, American southpaw Jose Zepeda on March 23rd, with an impressive victory here catapulting him from domestic prospect to genuine world level contender.
For Adam Azim, he is in a fantastic place holding the European belt at just 21 years old, whilst his management have made no secret that they believe he has the talent to be fast tracked to world honours.
This fight has actually already been ordered by the EBU and now seconded by the BBBofC, however you sense both BOXXER and Matchroom may let this one marinate for a little while longer. Fight fans would love to see this fight next, but with politics getting in the way and a history of BOXXER not wanting to go to purse bids to risk their man going to another platform, we may be forced to wait to watch these two top talents square off.
Nevertheless in a division as talent rich as 140lbs on the global scene, headed up by the likes of Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and Subriel Mathias, the route to world honours is an exceedingly tough one, so perhaps this domestic blockbuster may prove an attractive open sooner than we think.
Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington II
There is certainly unfinished business between ‘The Sheriff of Nottingham’ Leigh Wood and Leeds warrior Josh Warrington.
The Yorkshire favourite was dominating ‘Leigh-thal’ back in October, before a beautifully placed left hook from Wood’s typically unfavoured southpaw stance turned the fight on its head in the blink of an eye. There was also an air of controversy surrounding the stoppage, with mere seconds left on the clock before the referee called a halt to proceedings.
Both men have been a credit to British boxing, with the atmosphere generated by their home fans perhaps being the best of any domestic fighter fighting today, Fury and Joshua aside. Although both coming to the tail end of their careers, it would be fantastic to behold this atmosphere once more, with this fight likely being the biggest on the table from a financial perspective for both. This one should get made soon, in what promises to be another enthralling encounter that could go either way.
Viddal Riley vs Isaac Chamberlain
Although not in the immediate offing, with both men on the same platform with BOXXER and Sky, this mouth-watering Cruiserweight scrap should be a possibility before the end of the year.
Viddal Riley is someone that Boxxer clearly have a lot of hope for, with his big YouTube fan following combined with his undoubted talent inside the ring fusing together to make a potential future star.
To get a true assessment at to his potential, he first needs a big step up, which is coming thick and fast as he is due to defend his English belt against former British champion Mikael Lawal. This in itself is a brilliant match up, with victory far from a foregone conclusion.
Nevertheless, if Riley does possess the talent that Boxxer will be hoping, victory over Lawal should tee up a huge domestic fight with new British champion Isaac Chamberlain before the year end.
For Isaac Chamberlain, he showed in his fight of the year contender with Chris Billiam Smith, who has since gone on to secure world honours, that he is not out of his depth at world level. If Riley and Chamberlain are to fight this year, the victor will be in a great place to position to manouvre themselves towards challenging for one of the main four belts.
Connor Benn vs Josh Kelly
This one may be a tad more far fetched, with Connor Benn’s focus seemingly elsewhere in trying to secure a fight with a huge global name such as Gervonta Davis or Danny Garcia. However, this is still a matchup many British boxing fans want to see.
There was a time where it was Kelly who was the rising star coming through and forging a reputation as one of the best prospects in the country, before hitting a huge roadblock in the form of relentless Russian David Avanesyan.
Since then, it must be said in terms of profile, Conor Benn has far superseded the stylish Sunderland slickster, even in spite of the controversy over his failed drugs test.
Since the Avanesyan defeat, Kelly has gradually rebuilt himself to a very healthy position with the WBO at 154lbs, however his promotional team seem to keep calling out for the big domestic clashes, as oppose to facing bigger names at Super Lightweight.
If Kelly does want a fight with Benn, he would probably be better off getting some world level names at 154lbs on his resume, giving his name and the fight more creditability on a global scale.
Within the UK, even now the fight would do huge numbers, given how long their names have been side by side. Stylistically, this match up would also be engrossing, pitting the relentless aggression and destructive nature of Benn’s work, against the classy head movement, counter punching and footwork of Kelly. Perhaps not an immediate possibility, but without doubt a captivating potential future match up.
Summary
Some honourable mentions that have not been included due to already being agreed include Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe, as well as Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke.
You also have Billy Joe Saunders working towards a comeback. If he looks to still have the goods, then a rematch with Eubank Jr will always be a huge affair.
Boxing on a domestic and global scene is really thriving in 2024, with fighters more than ever seemingly wanting to fight against the best, and Saudi also being critical in seeing rival promoters work together when it once seemed unfathomable.
The UK has always played a critical role in the worldwide boxing landscape, and if some of these bouts listed above do manage to get made in 2024, fans will be tuning in and bringing the amount of eyes to boxing the sport deserves.
With Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury still flying the flag for the UK as huge global stars, we can see here we have a tremendous supporting cast, which should provide some memorable nights for UK fight fans over the remainder of 2024.