The 2023 boxing calendar will start with some great action expected in the year’s opening weeks. And RDX Sports is here with a collection of the best boxing fights in 2023. Of course, you might not get to see all of them due to injuries, last-minute pull-outs, and a bunch of other variables. But we’ll continue updating the list as things get clearer in the coming weeks and months.
Following a fantastic boxing schedule in 2022 that boasted great fights like Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr., Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr., and Dmitry Bivol vs. Canelo Alvarez, 2023 is looking to continue the momentum.
Boxing Calendar 2023
So, let’s get straight to what you’re here looking for, the best boxing fights coming up throughout the year.
Most Anticipated Boxing Fights of 2023
Let’s agree to the fact 2023 seems to be really generous in rewarding the boxing fans around the world. All fights scheduled in boxing calendar 2023 are epic, to say the least. This makes it really difficult to segment out the most anticipated ones. However, we’ve come up with a list of top 4 (so that you don’t have to!) upcoming boxing fights.
1. Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk will take place between February 18 and March 4, the Ukrainian “Cat’s” manager Egis Klimas has revealed.
The undisputed heavyweight title fight will see Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King, unify his WBC crown with Usyk’s WBA, IBF and WBO titles if it comes to fruition.
The target dates for Fury vs Usyk are February 18, February 25 and March 4.
Fury defeated Derek Chisoro in their trilogy of fights on December 3, stopping his old friend in the tenth round.
And now all roads lead to Usyk. Manager Klimas, representing Usyk, told iD Boxing:
“Oleksandr said, ‘Let’s unify titles. Tyson, let’s fight.’
“Then Tyson came back, and he wants to dictate. Tyson said, ‘Let’s fight at the end of the year.’
“And Oleksandr’s position was, ‘Look, I’ve been preparing for that fight with Joshua for a long time. I need to get recovery. I need to go back to my country. I can’t just jump from camp to camp.’
“In that case, let’s do that fight in February.
Fury is currently the WBC heavyweight champion. Referencing to that, Klimas said:
“Instead of waiting a couple of months, Tyson decided he wants to fight as a ‘keep busy’ fight.
“It’s fine, let him do it.
“On our side, everything is done. We agreed with the promoters. Let’s put it together let’s move forwards.
“Right now, it’s Tyson Fury’s decision.”
Klimas was later asked when the fight would be if Fury agreed, and he replied:
“No earlier than February 18, no later than March 4.”
Usyk dethroned Anthony Joshua to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles and will defend them in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (tentatively).
That leaves three possible target dates – assuming the game takes place on Saturday as planned – February 18, February 25 and March 4.
Speaking to the media, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said:
“Both fighters absolutely want it.
“The managers and promoters all want it, so we’re just getting it together and working out where we’re gonna put it on – that’s really the situation.
“It’s gotta go on by March, and so we’ve gotta all move quickly. So, over the next couple of weeks, we will, or we won’t get it sorted out.
“But everybody wants to do the fight, absolutely want to do it.”
If you’d like, you can have Fury vs Usyk updates here.
2. Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde
Artur Beterbieve vs Anthony Yarde is another one of the big boxing fights coming up in the Boxing Calendar 2023.
The last time he stepped in the ring, Yarde (25-2, 22 KO) cruised through the win with no issues, no cuts or anything, stopping Koykov in the third round. That makes the January date with Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) official, as it was actually already set, with only Yarde coming in as a potential issue.
Yarde has been Beterbiev’s IBF mandatory bout since his rematch win over Lyndon Arthur in December 2021. He stepped down earlier this year to allow Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr. to unify their three belts. The WBC and IBF, which Beterbiev already held, and the WBO, which Smith lost to Beterbiev in June.
Beterbiev vs Yarde was also supposed to take place at the end of October 2022. But Beterbiev was injured during the camp and had to be postponed, due to which it was lined up in the up coming boxing fights in 2023.
January 28, 2023, date has been in the works for a while. However, Yarde wanted to avoid coming straight to one of the most formidable opponents with 13 months of inactivity, which is only fair.
Yarde is aware of the arduous task ahead of him against the unbeaten Beterbiev next month.
“It feels like the right time for me. I came from nothing, and if I get an opportunity, I take it,”
he said.
“I need to stop fighting monsters. But I got into this sport to fight the best. Lions have no choice but to hunt if they are going hungry.
“Since I’ve started boxing, I’ve not had more than one week out of the gym. Beterbiev had more than 200 amateur fights and 18 professional, but I’m going to be sharp and focused.
He added:
“In the light-heavyweight division, he has been nothing but a wrecking ball, knocking out every opponent so far. He’s very powerful. But I feel I’m faster and, by age, I’m fresher, but in experience, I’m behind him.
3. Jermell Charlo vs Tim Tszyu
Jermello Charlo has been ordered by the WBO to defend his super welterweight title against undefeated Australian Tim Tszyu.
It means that Tszyu’s first title shot opportunity comes forth with all belts on the line.
Considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Charlo represents a huge step forward for the son of former undisputed super-lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu.
The 32-year-old American recently ended a winning streak at 154 pounds, robbing Brian Castano of his WBO belt with a 10th-round stoppage.
The couple will meet on Saturday, January 28 2023, one of the best fights scheduled for boxing calendar 2023.
As for Charlo, it’s been over eight months since his rematch win over Castano.
Come Fight Night, and it will be more than ten months out of the ring for Tszyu.
Everything you read above was true until there was a twist in the tale, not a welcoming one. Why? Because it can potentially jeopardize Jermell Charlo vs Tim Tszyu’s confrontation.
The fight for Charlo’s four titles in the 154-pound category, which was supposed to be in Las Vegas, has been postponed.
“I was sparring, and I threw this nice punch and as soon as it landed, I knew something was wrong,”
said Charlo, whose twin brother, Jermall, is the WBC middleweight champion.
“I felt my hand throbbing right away. I had two X-rays and an MRI to see what was wrong. It showed it was broken in two places.
“I hate this feeling. My hand will be in a cast for two months. I’m as disappointed as the fans, maybe more, because this was my first chance to defend the undisputed title.”
Charlo’s hand is broken between the fingers and the ring and at the pole’s base. The injury occurred on Tuesday during sparring in Houston. After they remove the cast, Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) will have to rehabilitate his arm.
Charlo, 32, unified all four junior middleweight titles by knocking out Brian Castan in the 10th round in a rematch in May 2022. Charlo and Castano fought to a controversial draw last year.
Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) is the son of Hall of Fame boxer Kostya Tszyu. The 28-year-old Australian made his American debut in March with a unanimous decision against Terrell Gausha. Tszyu is ESPN’s No. 4 junior middleweight.
“I’m very disappointed,”
Tszyu said.
“I felt like the stars aligned for undisputed … but we move on. I’m ready to take on the next mandatory challenger. I’ll be back for Charlo once he is ready and healed.”
4. Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia
The boxing world was in turmoil for a while when the news broke that Ryan Garcia and Gervonta “Tank” Davis would not fight in 2022. There was doubt that this would happen until it was too late for their respective careers.
It looks like the two fighters have teamed up to give the fans the fight they want and the fight boxing needs. Boxing Calendar 2023 seems to be bring you one of the most anticipated fights of the Bantamweight division.
Davis and Garcia announced via social media that they will fight in Las Vegas in early 2023. According to Davis, he will face Hector Luis Garcia on January 7 to fight Garcia. The match will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
According to Mike Coppinger, Garcia was scheduled to fight Mercito Gesta on January 28. However, Garcia himself said he would forgo the focus fight to focus on Davis.
Although it is not official, the likely date is in April. According to DAZN’s Joe Markowski, the fight will be on Showtime PPV with DAZN in the mix. ESPN’s Mike Coppinger said it was a 136-pound fight.
I’m so pumped this fight is finally in place — I want it more than anything right now. I’ve put in the work, I’m at the prime of my career, and I know I’m going to be the biggest boxer in the world. That legacy starts today🥊 pic.twitter.com/6Hv5y3hwMY
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) November 17, 2022
“I’m so pumped this fight is finally in place — I want it more than anything right now,”
Garcia stated on Twitter.
“I’ve put in the work. I’m at the prime of my career, and I know I’m going to be the biggest boxer in the world. That legacy starts today.”
SHOWTIME President Stephen Espinoza had the following to say in a release:
“Tank Davis vs Ryan Garcia is one of the biggest and most exciting fights that can be made in boxing. We have two supremely talented boxers, both in their prime, who have amassed huge fanbases, meeting in a career-defining fight. This is the epitome of a crossover boxing event. All credit to Tank and Ryan for staying the course and giving the fans the fight they want.
“SHOWTIME has delivered the three biggest pay-per-view events in television history and we are thrilled to add this marquee event to our list of culture-moving matchups.”
Concluding at Best Wishes for a New and Exciting Year
The best thing about happiness is that it grows with sharing. So, we at RDX Sports, wish you Happy Holidays, and a whole year full of fun, joys, excitements, and achievements ahead. While we leave you now to make the best of your Holidays, we’ll just be around the corner to make the coming year even more exciting with tons of boxing fun coming your way.
