Everyone is anticipating that we will have the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight that the fans want to see, even if it is four or five years too late, but the latter is expected to be out in February in Riyadh.
Before that Anthony Joshua is going to have to deal with Jake Paul and the expectation is that he is going to blitz through an opponent who looks to have bitten off far more than he can chew. He looked relaxed, but focused, and Joshua should be given a slightly tougher challenge in February, although not one that is expected to derail the super fight that could be the perfect way to end what has been a solid career.
Some very good main events have already been announced for the first two months of 2026, but Boxing is Boxing and the news about Subriel Matias potentially failing a drugs test and putting his World Title fight against Dalton Smith in jeopardy is a blow.
It hurts for Smith, who was hoping that World Title fight would be on the card in Riyadh this weekend, and the hope is that any potential suspension for Matias would mean a vacant Belt can be won in January. He needs to be active having last been out in April at a time when entering the peak of his career, and Dalton Smith vs Adam Azim continues to be the fight that so many do want to see with the two both hoping to have World Titles for a Unification at the end of next year.
Of course Dalton Smith is much closer to holding a World Title having a fight lined up to do that, but both are on a good path and the hope is that the Sheffield man gets his shot in January.
This week a loaded card takes place in Saudi Arabia with four very solid fights on the main feature.
The timings are not terrible for fans in the United Kingdom with the main event due out at 2am and this looks to be the best card left in 2025, although there are decent fights still to take place before the end of the calendar year.
David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde
He has come up short in two previous bids to become World Champion and you have to believe that this is going to be Anthony Yarde's last chance to get over the line.
Credit has to be given to Yarde for challenging Sergey Kovalev in Russia and then Artur Beterbiev in London, but this World Title bid against David Benavidez looks every bit as difficult.
For starters David Benavidez is six years younger at 28 years old and the unbeaten WBC World Champion has moved into the Light Heavyweight Division without missing a beat.
He will have to weather some of the early storm that Anthony Yarde can bring, but David Benavidez is going to be confident he can outlast an opponent who has had his gas tank questioned.
Since putting in a big effort against Artur Beterbiev and enhancing his reputation even in a defeat, Anthony Yarde has perhaps not capitalised on his profile. This is just the fifth fight since January 2023 and Yarde has not exactly been in with some of the top names in a tough Division, while the Mexican Monster has put together a much more solid overall resume, even if not being in with the top, top name like Artur Beterbiev.
It is not for a lack of trying, but David Benavidez will be hoping that he can push forward in 2026 by adding Anthony Yarde to his list of victims.
The two should gel together very well and this has every chance of being a really exciting fight.
David Benavidez has not had a Stoppage since moving up into the Light Heavyweight Division, but there have to be some questions about Anthony Yarde's ability to keep up with the pace that is going to be set by the WBC World Champion.
Anthony Yarde has been to the cards in consecutive fights, but those have been against a much lower level of opponent than the one that will be faced in Riyadh.
He impressed in the effort against Artur Beterbiev and it would not be a big surprise if Anthony Yarde does the same in this one through the first half of the Twelve Rounds scheduled.
However, that is where David Benavidez can take over with his pace and tempo and the Champion may be able to force Yarde into another Stoppage defeat.
In the next couple of months, the face of the Lightweight Division could have significant changes with the IBF World Title to be defended in January.
Before that, the WBO World Title will be decided between Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes and this looks like a potential headline stealer.
Both are unbeaten and have a huge amount of Stoppages in the victories that have been produced.
Abdullah Mason is seen as one of the brightest young fighters in the United States, but he has yet to hear the bell for the Seventh Round, while Sam Noakes has won British, Commonwealth and European Titles and at 28 years old is coming into the peak of his power.
The expectation is that neither is going to be taking a backwards step and this could very soon become a shoot out.
The younger fighter is the favourite, but Sam Noakes looks very dangerous and he is likely going to be confident if this fight does go longer than expected having completed Twelve Rounds twice before.
However, it is the athleticism of Abdullah Mason that may make the difference and could leave the 21 year old as the last one standing, even if Sam Noakes is able to offer him a real scare.
Eddie Hearn is expecting to extend his contract to promote Bam Rodriguez and the Number One Junior Bantamweight can Unify this Division by picking up a third World Title to go along with his WBC and WBO Belts.
There is no doubt that Fernando Martinez is coming into this one with the confidence of an unbeaten fighter, but the Argentinian WBA World Champion is 34 years old now and not nearly as active as his opponent.
The quality of the recent wins cannot be ignored, but Bam Rodriguez is younger and stronger and he can wear down Martinez in this one.
Fernando Martinez can make the first half of the contest competitive, but keeping up with the Bam tempo will be tough and that has seen a number of recent fighters just break down in the second half of the bout.
This very much feels like the direction of travel in this World Title fight.
The chief support on the Night of Champions card looks like one that could easily be given the main event slot.
Devin Haney is moving up to try and become World Champion in a third Division, but he has been given the task of facing Brian Norman Jr who looks to be the standout in the Welterweight Division that has recently seen the likes of Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr depart for Light Middleweight.
It has long been one of the top Divisions in Boxing, but the current group of Welterweight Champions have a lot to prove.
Brian Norman Jr is the leader of the current pack, but Devin Haney will feel this is a very winnable fight and he could soon be looking to Unify, and earn redemption, against Ryan Garcia who is expected to fight for the WBC World Title in February.
However, we are still trying to work out how much was taken from Haney in the manner of his defeat to Garcia, even if the latter was later found to have failed a drugs test that meant a victory turned into a No Contest. Unfortunately for The Dream, the eyes on that fight will have tarred him with a defeat and his performance against Jose Carlos Ramirez was really worrying, even if Devin Haney won easily.
He looked worried about engaging with Ramirez, who is not nearly the puncher that Brian Norman Jr is, and the question is whether Devin Haney is going to want to 'run' as much as he did in that fight at Times Square earlier in the year.
Devin Haney has something to prove, but so does Brian Norman Jr who is facing his toughest opponent.
The last two wins have been eye-catching, while Norman Jr broke down previously unbeaten Giovani Santillan to pick up an Interim World Title before being made full Champion.
He is 24 years old and Brian Norman Jr is still improving, while being the naturally more comfortable at Welterweight.
This has to be a factor and Devin Haney is unlikely to be able to keep firmly away from the World Champion for as long as he did against a faded Jose Carlos Ramirez.
There is confidence in the Devin Haney camp and he has upset the odds before, but the scars from the Ryan Garcia defeat may be on display if Brian Norman Jr starts landing that left hook.
It looks like another quality fight on what is a high-quality card, and the World Champion looks like he could have a little too much for a Devin Haney who may not be the Boxer he once was.
MY PICKS: David Benavidez to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Abdullah Mason to Win by KO/TKO @ 2.10 William Hill (2 Units)
Bam Rodriguez to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.37 Bet365 (2 Units)
Brian Norman Jr to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Boxing 2025: 24-73, - 45.02 Units (124 Units Staked, - 36.31% Yield)
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