As we approach the end of a remarkable year for boxing, fans have a chance to reflect. The season has given us some amazing results that helped shape the most popular divisions, not least of all at heavyweight. Oleksandr Usyk confirmed himself as the main man in the division after Tyson Fury. The Gypsy King proved Dillian Whyte is still off the pace needed to be a contender.
We will remember 2022 as the year that professional boxing bounced back from the devastating effects of the pandemic. COVID-19 hampered the schedule in 2020 and parts of 2021. There were doubts over its ability to recover in 2022, with many suggesting the sport should work through the summer in the absence of the FIFA World Cup and ease off during the winter months when COVID is most dangerous. But there were no interruptions as the year passed without any drama witnessed over the last two years.
Professional boxing is now back to full health and fighting fit. With a complete season under its belt, followers hope 2023 will be bigger, better, and more exciting. Is this the year we see the best finally fight the best? Bouts like Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk are exactly what the sport needs, but will that unification happen in the coming months? What are the other big fights on our 2023 wish list? Read on as we pick out three bouts we hope will be added to the program. There are also the thoughts of traders who offer odds and the best sportsbook bonuses.
Get in early
The top bookies offer betting odds on the winner of the top bouts. There are also specials, including method of victory, winning round, and price boosts. Check the latest offers from a sportsbook before registering your account, releasing the welcome bonus, and making predictions on bouts.
A fixture doesn’t have to be confirmed for you to wager on the outcome. In most cases, the earlier you bet, the more value you will recieve. For example, you can bet on the winner of Fury v Usyk, and if the fight doesn’t happen before the end of 2023, the bookies will refund your stake to your account.
We have trawled the boxing fixtures and gossip sites before deciding on our 2023 three-fight wish list. These are the bouts we want to see made sooner rather than later.
Fury v Usyk
This bout will give boxing fans something they haven’t had since the era of Klitschko domination; one recognized heavyweight champion of the world. Between the two, Fury and Usyk possess all titles in the top division and must meet to decide who the best fighter is.
The Gypsy King or the Ukrainian that unified the cruiserweight division before moving up to heavyweight. It would all be on the line for this decider, and the bookies believe Fury will be the winner. They have priced Tyson as the most likely victor with a points verdict favorite in the method of victory market.
The WBC champion may be enjoying a run of knockout wins, but he faces a much tougher test in Usyk than he did against Dillian Whyte or Deontay Wilder. It’s believed he will need his boxing skills and weight advantage to get through this fight unscathed.
Gervonta Davis v Ryan Garcia
This one has got tongues wagging in the United States, where they are eager to see if Garcia is the real deal. The talented young fighter hasn’t put a foot wrong inside the ring, but one or two of his decisions away from boxing has raised questions over his commitment.
Boxing pound-for-pound legend Saul Alvarez has already spoken of his surprise at how inactive his teammate can be and fears Garcia could be wasting the best years of his career as a spectator. Garcia does not pay too much attention to the opinions of others, but he is well-backed in the early betting for this clash.
Fury v Joshua
It’s the all-British fight we want to see, but Fury v AJ is in danger of never happening. The Londoner has lost three of his last five, including a KO, against Andy Ruiz Jr in New York.
Fury is the favorite with traders to finally settle the score and beat Joshua, and there aren’t too many pundits clambering to disagree.