Sure, it’s disappointing. Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford have not come to terms for a potential super fight in the welterweight division. Similarly, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have not made plans to fight for the undisputed heavyweight title. Still, there are a number of exciting fights set to take place between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend. Alycia Baumgardner is set to fight the only woman to hand her a loss in the pros while Claressa Shields has a rematch set up with Hanna Gabriels near her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Not to mention, Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz is set to make his pro debut and hard-hitting welterweight Vergil Ortiz will make his return to the ring after a lengthy, medically-induced layoff. With all of that said, let’s take a look at the top fights set to take place this summer in the sport of boxing.
1. Naoya Inoue v. Stephen Fulton Jr.
Network: ESPN+
Date: July 25, 2023
Location: Tokyo, Japan
What’s At Stake: Unified Junior Featherweight Championship (WBC, WBO)
Getting up early is never fun, but it may be on July 25, 2023. Pound-for-Pound force Naoya Inoue is set to challenge unified junior featherweight champion Stephen Fulton Jr. in Japan. With Inoue’s undeniable power and home ring advantage, he has emerged as an early betting favorite. While Inoue has earned the praise he is receiving, it would be unwise to count out Stephen Fulton Jr. He may not be on many pound-for-pound lists, but he is not far off. Having beaten Brandon Figueroa in a close fight and outpointed former champion Daniel Roman, the Philadelphia native has proven time and time again that he will perform when the lights are on. Not to mention, he appears to hold a size advantage as Inoue moves up in weight. Both men are extremely skilled with high boxing IQs which will produce a great fight for the fans.
2. Josh Taylor v. Teofimo Lopez
Network: ESPN
Date: June 10, 2023
Location: New York, USA
What’s At Stake: WBO Super Lightweight Championship
Heading into Saturday’s lightweight title clash featuring Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko, many felt that either man could come out victorious. Similarly, many fight fans and insiders are unsure who will win next month’s super lightweight title fight featuring Teofimo Lopez and Josh Taylor. At their best, Josh Taylor was the undisputed super lightweight champion and Teofimo Lopez was the undisputed lightweight champion. More recently, Lopez hasn’t looked spectacular against the likes of George Kambosos and Sandor Martin. Likewise, Josh Taylor struggled in a narrow decision victory against Jack Catterall and has been sidelined with an injury for more than a year. For both men, the outcome of this fight will have a major impact on the trajectory of their careers. Not to mention, Lopez will likely be looking for a new promotional home after this fight. Simply put, there’s a lot on the line as the two men head into the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 10.
3. Eimantas Stanionis v. Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Network: DAZN
Date: July 8, 2023
Location: San Antonio, USA
What’s At Stake: WBA “Regular” Welterweight Championship
Similar to July’s Fulton-Inoue matchup, this fight has been postponed, but it still promises to pack a punch when it arrives. The welterweight division waits patiently as Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. dance around the idea of an undisputed title fight. Meanwhile, welterweight contenders Eimantas Stanionis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. have signed on to fight for a secondary belt in Ortiz Jr.’s home state of Texas. Having stopped all of his opponents inside of the distance, it’s fair to say that Ortiz Jr. is a betting favorite heading into the fight. However, Stanionis is no slouch. With a split decision victory against Radzhab Butaev under his belt, it’s fair to say that he has the best win of the two. Not to mention, he’s a tough, skilled fighter who expects nothing short of a big win on July 8th. To top it all off, the winner of the bout will be next in line to challenge for Spence Jr.’s WBA Welterweight Championship.
4. Franchon Crews-Dezurn v. Savannah Marshall
Network: TBD
Date: July 1, 2023
Location: Manchester, England
What’s At Stake: Undisputed Super Middleweight Championship (WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF)
In the post-Floyd Mayweather Jr. era of boxing, an unhealthy amount of fans and insiders obsess over the idea of a fighter maintaining a perfect record. When in reality, the fighters that most people love (i.e. Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard, etc.) have lost multiple fights. A loss or two doesn’t diminish a fighter’s legacy or impact on the sport. This summer’s undisputed super middleweight title bout is a perfect example of that. Franchon Crews-Dezurn and Savannah Marshall have both lost to the same woman — Claressa Shields. Crews-Dezurn lost her pro debut to Shields and has gone on to win the undisputed super middleweight title. Marshall lost to Shields in her most recent outing, but has already emerged as one of the top fighters in the super middleweight division. For both women, a win would likely move them up in the pound-for-pound rankings and enhance their resumé as they hope to enter the hall of fame one day.
5. Mauricio Lara v. Leigh Wood
Network: DAZN
Date: May 27, 2023
Location: Manchester, England
What’s At Stake: WBA Featherweight Championship
Oftentimes, it’s hard for the sequel to match the magic of the original, but Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood have a chance to do just that during Memorial Day Weekend. Just a few months after Lara scored a knockout that erased Wood’s lead on the scorecards, the two men will meet once again and fight for the WBA Featherweight Championship. Will Wood do enough to maintain his lead and stay away from Lara’s heavy hands or will Lara finish things earlier than he did the first time? Only time will tell.
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Honorable Mention(s): Paul v. Diaz (August 5), Hitchinson v. Love (July 15), Cruz v. Burgos (July 15)
