Boxing fans were spoiled in the previous decade as we were all treated to some great fights.
Carl Froch knocked out fellow Brit George Groves in front of 80,000 people at Wembley and spent the rest of the decade reminding everybody.
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Joshua announced himself to the world by stopping the former world heavyweight champion in 2017
Tyson Fury beat heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko – his Everest – gained more than nine stone in weight, lost it, then drew with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
And, of course, who can forget Anthony Joshua’s victory over Klitscho, or his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr?
The next decade promises to bring just as much drama.
We could finally see a heavyweight unification fight between Wilder or Fury and Joshua, and who knows, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather might even step back into the ring to right the wrongs of their supremely boring meeting in 2015.
But first, there are plenty of exciting fights already confirmed. Here, we take a look at the six we’re most looking forward to.
Claressa Shields vs Ivana Habazin (WBC & WBO Super-Welterweight Titles)
Is 2020 the year this fight finally happens? It’s scheduled for January 10, but it’s been called off twice before.
Shields, the undefeated super-middleweight and middleweight champion, is bidding to become a three-division champion by winning the WBC and WBO women’s super-welterweight titles.
However, with the fight originally scheduled for August last year, Shields dislocated her right knee at the end of June.
It was rescheduled for October but cancelled again after Habazin’s trainer was hospitalised following a brutal attack at the weigh-in.
Shields’ brother, Artis Mack was later arrested and charged with one count of assault. Hopefully, come January 10, we can refocus on Shields’ attempt at world domination.
Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
Claressa Shields is the undisputed women’s middleweight champion
Julian Williams vs Jeison Rosario (WBA & IBF Super-Welterweight Titles)
Unified super-welterweight champion Williams will defend his world titles against Rosario in what should be an entertaining contest on January 18.
Williams, 29, has only been defeated once in 29 professional fights and will be cheered on by his home crowd in Philadelphia.
But Rosario, the 24-year-old challenger, can hit hard and has only tasted defeat once himself.
Jose Ramirez vs Viktor Postol (WBC & WBO Super-Lightweight Titles)
Fresh off the back of one of the fights of the year, Ramirez will defend his unified super-lightweight titles in a rare Top Rank event held in China.
The pride of California’s Central Valley, who beat Maurice Hooker back in July, will face former WBC world champion Viktor Postol on February 1.
“Boxing is a global sport, and it is with great pleasure that we bring one of the sport’s great champions, Jose Ramirez, to the beautiful Mission Hills Haikou,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“Jose is coming off a career-best victory, but he can’t afford to overlook Postol, who is a tremendous former world champion.”
Kell Brook vs Mark DeLuca (Super-Welterweight)
Kell Brook will make an eagerly-anticipated return to the ring against Mark DeLuca in early 2020.
The former IBF welterweight champion (38-2, 26 KOs) last fought over a year ago when he defeated Australia’s Michael Zerafa on points.
The Sheffield fighter, trained by Dominic Ingle, will be aiming to overcome any ring rust against DeLuca at the FlyDSA Arena on February 8 as he attempts to put his name back into the mix for a world title shot.
“I’m so happy to be back and I can’t wait to put on a performance for my city on February 8 live on Sky Sports and DAZN,” said Brook.
American DeLuca (24-1, 13 KOs) is a southpaw hailing from Whitman in Massachusetts and is nicknamed ‘The Bazooka’.
Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury II (WBC Heavyweight Title)
Of course, we’re absolutely buzzing for the main event on February 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The WBC heavyweight champion and the ‘lineal’ heavyweight champion shared a draw back in December 2018, with many feeling the Brit was very unfortunate not to get the result.
Now, both men finally have the opportunity to settle the score with the Ring Magazine belt also on the line.
If it’s anything like the first fight, we’re in for a real treat.
Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Tyson Fury will face Deontay Wilder once again in February 2020
Mikey Garcia vs Jessie Vargas (Welterweight)
It’s all change for Garcia at the start of 2020 as he enters the new year with a new promoter and broadcaster.
The four-weight world champion has now linked up with Eddie Hearn and DAZN, with the first fight of their partnership seeing him take on two-division title-holder Vargas.
Despite suffering his first career defeat when he jumped up and challenged Errol Spence for a welterweight title last year, Mikey is insistent that he can compete at 147lbs and intends to prove doubters wrong on February 29.
Should he come through, a potential second opportunity to become a five-weight world champion – this time against Manny Pacquiao – could be on the horizon.
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