It’s not even September yet and the 2018 boxing season is already upon us. As we all know, boxing is one of the traditional sports that we in the UK really take pride in and this year is looking to continue that tradition. With the likes of Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr and Katie Taylor all taking the ring in the next couple of months, we’re definitely in for an action-packed year.
The Main Events
The most talked-about match-ups so far this year include:
- WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight champion Golovkin (44-1-1) defending his title against undefeated American challenger Canelo (29-0) on October 27 at the regular site of the WBA title, Madison Square Garden in New York City.
- Former unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3-1) defending his title against Alexander Ustinov (17-1) on September 22 at the famous Ukrainian sports arena in Kiev.
- JMMM ‘regular’ junior middleweight champion Jose Ramirez defending his title against undefeated American challenger Caleb Plant (14-0) on September 22 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
- WBO ‘regular’ champion Joshua (20-0-1) defending his title against Klitschko on September 29 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
- Taylor (11-0) fighting for the WBA ‘regular’ super lightweight title against Katie Taylor (11-0) on October 19 at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
This year also sees a female super featherweight world championship being put on the line when defending champion Erin Riley (5-0) takes on Ukraine’s Vasilisa Urakova (14-1) in a rematch on October 12 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The Undisputed Champion
The man with the most titles in the world is Anthony Joshua, who has the IBF, WBA and WBO ‘regular’ heavyweight titles. In March this year, he successfully defended all his titles against Andy Ruiz Jr, meaning he is now undefeated in 34 fights. Despite Joshua being the dominant force in the sport, he has not yet fought the champion Golovkin. This year, he’s been trying to get the fight with Golovkin several times, but the Russian has kept it exclusive to world title fights. Nevertheless, on September 29, Joshua gets his opportunity when he takes on Klitschko in Cardiff.
Top Heavyweights
One of the most anticipated fights of the year will see WBA ‘regular’ champion Golovkin defending his title against undefeated American challenger Canelo. Not only do they have some of the best boxers of this generation going head-to-head, but their rivalry is also made all the more interesting by their contrasting styles. Golovkin, a southpaw, is known for his aggression and powerful punches. Canelo, on the other hand, is a southpaw as well, but he tends to prefer a more technical approach, using his speed and movement to wear down his opponents.
Another top heavyweight battle to look out for this year is that between IBF champion Klitschko and WBA ‘regular’ champion Joshua. The two undefeated heavyweights have been trading blows for years now and it’s time for them to finally settle the score. This bout will not only be for the belts, but it will also be for showmanship as Joshua has called out Klitschko on numerous occasions, even admitting that he would love to fight the former undisputed champion. His chance comes in September when he takes on Klitschko in a world title fight in what promises to be one heck of a contest.
The 2019 boxing season is looking to continue the great tradition of the UK sport with top-notch fights and a massive amount of excitement. With the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua, Katie Taylor, Jose Ramirez, Wladimir Klitschko and many more set to give it their all, let’s not miss out on what is shaping up to be an incredible year.