Boxing will be booming with four undisputed title fights and a “5-on-5” tournament over the next two months.
Big times are ahead for the sport, headlined by the undisputed heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on May 18th.
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Fury and Usyk set to headline months of incredible boxing Credit: Top Rank
Another featured card will see Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol fight for the undisputed light heavyweight title in another Middle Eastern battle. The fight comes ahead of a huge “5-on-5” tournament between fighters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren on June 1st.
Saudi Arabia’s investment in the sport is delivering fights that fans want to see, and talkSPORT boxing analyst Spencer Oliver believes the boxing schedule is now reaching a new peak.
“We have two undisputed matches coming up two weeks apart, and the Saudi investment has made these two cards possible, so we’re going to see cards that we haven’t seen in the past.
“The undisputed fight continues, and with the economic impact removed, fans can get what they want to see, which is healthy for the sport.
“This is a really good time for boxing, especially the next two months.”
Fury and Usyk will make history as they face off to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
The absence of a four-belt champion in the division will finally be filled, and a mandatory challenge will be posed to make a huge showdown happen.
And Oliver believes the 25-year gap shows how big the moment is in the making.
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Hearn and Warren selected five fighters to face in the tournament.
“It’s taken us 25 years to get to this point, so it’s a big moment and an exciting time for the sport,” he continued.
“But even when you look at the undercard, it’s often a weak one when you consider the investment in the main event.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn surprises fans with 5-on-5 speech
“But we now have an even stronger undercard and that’s great. We’ll find out who’s the best in the end.”
Further 5-on-5 showdowns followed between fighters Hearn and Warren, with the promoter finally ending the feud as a result of the persistence of Prince Turki Alarusik.
Oliver said the concept, which is headlined by the June 1 matchup between Deontay Wilder and Ji-Ray Zhang, could help revive the sport and promote competition between martial artists.
He said: “This is a great concept and once completed it could work in the UK as well.”
“I think it’s going to be a great night and there’s a possibility that we’ll continue on a pay-per-view model in the future.
“This is the way forward, and obviously Beterbiev vs. Bivol is a great card from top to bottom.”
Boxing fever spread to other continents, with an undisputed bout between Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia taking place on May 4th.
Naoya Inoue is also scheduled to face Louis Nery for all four super bantamweight belts in Japan.
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Canelo and Munguia plan to take uncontroversial action in the US Credit: Esther Lin/PBC
And Oliver believes his time in the sport is currently enjoying the most fruitful period he has ever seen.
“People are now thinking and thinking that they need to put politics aside and look to Saudi Arabia to make these fights happen,” he added.
“If you look at what’s going on with Canelo in America and Inoue in Japan, everyone wants to be involved.
“Saudi Arabia is even considering introducing the sport in the UK in September, and the sport is generally healthy.
“I’ve got a lot of big shows coming up over the next few months so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been around for a long time and I think this is the best I’ve ever done.”
But it’s not just two months, with some big shows planned for the future, including Anthony Joshua’s possible next fight at Wembley Stadium in September.
Saudi boxing boss Alarsik has hinted that fans could finally see a showdown between Joshua and British rival Fury within the next two years.
And Oliver believes negotiations between each fighter’s team are going smoother than ever and there’s no reason that can’t happen.
“I think it was beneficial for fighters overall and for boxing fans,” he added.
“I believe Fury vs. Joshua and Joshua vs. Wilder will happen, and that’s largely due to this new investment.
“Have we ever been able to get something like this? That’s only a plus!”
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