Boxing and its fighters have a behavior of unusual us. Stars emerge from relative obscurity, underdogs triumph in huge fights, startling progress is made by an up-and-comer, or a fading star steps again into the sunshine. Who shall be your shock bundle of 2025?
Lucas Ketelle: Daniel Dubois. He had his greatest 12 months as a professional and he won’t but even be in his prime, however realistically Dubois might be top-of-the-line 10 fighters on the planet and we’re overlooking him.
Owen Lewis: David Morrell. Sure, he’s in a dream combat with David Benavidez, however I don’t assume many are projecting future fights for Morrell afterwards with the identical optimism and zeal as they’re for Benavidez. David B., to his credit score, has given Canelo the digital finger and sought legacy fights in one other weight division. Morrell might take the chance to combat Bivol or Beterbiev that Benavidez is in search of by beating his fellow David in February.
Declan Warrington: Bakhram Murtazaliev. He’s in maybe essentially the most harmful and aggressive weight division of all, however lacks the marketability of Terence Crawford, Vergil Ortiz, his former opponent Tim Tszyu and others, which makes the prospect of him making a press release and rising from their shadows greater than doable.
Lance Pugmire: Joseph Parker. He’s appeared so good in defeating former champion Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia, and now he will get the chance to return as a heavyweight champion in February in opposition to new champion Daniel Dubois, who’s apparently waiting for an Oleksandr Usyk rematch. Parker could lack the knockout energy that followers of the division crave, however he is aware of find out how to field and outsmart the competitors, and if he gathers that IBF strap, he’s positioned for main bouts all year long.
Bernard Neequaye: My darkish horse this 12 months would positively be Daniel Dubois. He managed to beat Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua inside the 12 months regardless of being ignored most often. Dubois’ story is a extremely fascinating one and at age 27, his future is vivid.Eric Raskin: No person’s actually speaking about Brandon Figueroa for the time being — with good cause, as he hasn’t been energetic in any respect the final three years. However I’d make him a favourite to get his revenge on Stephen Fulton in February. And he’s as marketable and fan-friendly as they arrive. It’s excessive time for “The Heartbreaker” to interrupt out.
Matt Christie: Not a shock bundle however a fighter few are actually mentioning on the subject of stars of 2025 is Dmitry Bivol. Although I agreed he was simply pipped by Artur Beterbiev final 12 months, I’d make him favourite within the rematch. Victory there and the stage at 175 is his.
Elliot Worsell: No thought if he could be thought-about a darkish horse or not, however I’ll choose Hamzah Sheeraz. He had an excellent 2024 and I predict he could have a fair higher 2025. He simply appears a nightmare for any middleweight to combat and all he wants now could be that breakout win.
Tris Dixon: Bakole and Kabayel. Neither are trendy names within the heavyweight division however each are an issue, and will they arrive by way of their respective fights in opposition to Ajagba and Zhang respectively, that may be a enjoyable combat.
