The coronavirus pandemic decimated sports in 2020, but 2021 is the year of recovery. Boxing has come out swinging with the top promoters worldwide, making moves to turn dream bouts into reality. It’s exciting times for followers of the noble art.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury near a blockbuster unification fight this year. Both men have signed a deal to face-off in the summer. The venue still hasn’t been announced, but the best sportsbooks in Vegas are accepting bets on the outcome.
AJ vs the Gypsy King to unify the world heavyweight titles is just one of the thrilling boxing contests covered on this page.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
Having taken out former WBC champion Deontay Wilder last time, new champion Fury has been pushing for a domestic dust-up with fellow Englishman Joshua. Tyson remained unbeaten and wiped the floor with the Bronze Bomber, who went into that contest unbeaten and considered one of the most devastating fighters in the sport’s history.
Joshua holds all but one belt and has lost only once; KO’d by American Andy Ruiz Jnr in New York. Betting traders have Fury as the hot favourite.
Saul Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders
Saul Alvarez remains the biggest name in boxing and is the pound-for-pound champion, according to most pundits. The Mexican has won world titles at several weights, including light heavyweight. He has just one defeat on his record, and that’s easy to forgive as Floyd Mayweather Jnr inflicted it.
Saunders doesn’t have the global fame and fortune enjoyed by his opponent, but he does have an unbeaten record and ranks as a two-weight world champion. The tricky southpaw from England should be Canelo’s most formidable opponent to date.
This fight happens in May at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, with the WBC, WBA and WBO world super-middleweight titles on the line.
Josh Taylor vs Jose Carlos Ramirez
Josh Taylor is the fighting pride of Scotland and boasts a fearsome 17-0-0 professional record, with 13 of his wins coming by way of knockout. The Tartan Tornado owns the Muhammad Ali Trophy after winning the World Boxing Super Series, beating American Regis Prograis on points in the final. It was a thrilling, hard-fought contest, but Edinburgh’s Taylor was the deserved winner.
Jose Carlos Ramirez is an unbeaten Californian with a record of 26-0-0 with 17 knockouts. He is the more experienced fighter of the two involved here and will hope to make that count on the night. Jaguar was last spotted beating Viktor Postol by majority decision, a man Taylor beat comfortably.
This contest will take place in Las Vegas in May, and the outcome continues to split opinion in the boxing world.
Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence
As an avid boxing fan in the world for a list of fights, they’d like to see in 2021, and this one will feature. Terence Crawford is one of the hottest properties in boxing today and 37-fight record as a professional, carrying a 75% knockout average. The Omaha star stopped Kell Brook in four rounds last time and beat Amir Khan and Jeff Horn inside the distance.
Errol Spence is a Texas-based fighter with 27 wins from as many contests, knocking out 21 of his victims so far. Despite the clean record, he is ranked number two in the world behind Crawford, and that’s something he’ll be desperate to remedy. Spence retained the WBC and IBF world welterweight titles last time with a 12-round points decision over Danny Garcia.
This bout hasn’t yet been confirmed but both boxers want to face-off and will be working with promoters to sign the contracts soon.
Manny Pacquiao vs Conor McGregor
PacMan vs Notorious isn’t a fight for the traditionalists but it is a rumour that isn’t going away. Since McGregor’s most recent loss in the UFC there’s been a belief amongst some fans that he’ll return to the boxing ring. The Irishman doesn’t do things in half measures so after losing to Mayweather he now wants Pacquiao.
Manny remains active in the sport and continues to win blockbuster fights for major titles. Unlike Floyd, he wouldn’t be coming out of retirement to face McGregor. Fans of boxing and UFC know this is a bit of a mismatch but when has that ever stopped Conor?