We stepped into a new year yesterday, one that could bring us many high-quality boxing challenges—or at least that is what we hope for. Let us therefore try to put together a small wish list by naming the five boxing matches we would most like to see in 2026. Hopefully, at least some of our wishes will come true!
Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani
In the eyes of some, the long-awaited Japanese derby may have lost a bit of its appeal after the difficulties Nakatani encountered in his super bantamweight debut against the aggressive Mexican destroyer Sebastian Hernandez. We see it differently: Hernandez and Inoue are far too different in style and characteristics to draw too many conclusions from what happened. The clash between the two unbeaten Japanese fighters—which, barring surprises, should take place in May—retains extraordinary appeal and still promises, in our view, to deliver plenty of excitement and top-level quality.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Moses Itauma
If the very young Itauma were to overwhelm the solid Jermain Franklin on January 24, his credentials would rise significantly. Franklin, after all, went twelve rounds with Anthony Joshua without ever being knocked down and therefore represents a credible benchmark for gauging just how lethal the punches of the British rising star truly are. At that point, a fascinating intergenerational battle between a great champion nearing the end of his career and a young prospect on the rise would certainly spark our keenest interest.
Jaron Ennis vs Vergil Ortiz Jr
Negotiations between these two unbeaten fighters with fists of steel seem to be moving at an exasperatingly slow pace, perhaps complicated by the fact that neither currently holds a world title. Still, seeing them face each other in the same ring remains a strong wish of ours—and it’s not hard to see why: Ennis and Ortiz are extremely powerful, they are at the peak of their careers, and both possess an exciting style that entertains and thrills. The winner of such a showdown would seriously stake a claim to becoming one of the defining faces of boxing in this era.
David Benavidez vs Jai Opetaia
Benavidez now seems set to move up yet another weight class and test himself against the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. We see the American as the favorite in that matchup, thanks to his hand speed, which could prove to be a real nightmare for the Mexican fighter. If things go as we expect, a unification bout between “Bandera Roja” and the formidable IBF champion Jai Opetaia would be a mouth-watering fight for all fans and would elevate the winner to a true legend of the cruiserweight division.
Dmitrii Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev 3
Perhaps some of you, after 24 rounds, are tired of seeing the two Russians face each other. We, on the other hand, would gladly watch a third fight—both because the first two bouts, despite the lack of knockdowns, offered technical and tactical insights of the highest level, and because it would be fairer to close the rivalry with an undisputed winner rather than leave the score at one apiece. Of course, Beterbiev is about to turn 41 and there are solid reasons to expect a decline in performance, but his power, competitive ferocity, and sheer aggression convince us that even in 2026 he will not be an easy opponent for anyone.