After one of the most anticipated months of the year so far, matters slow down in August with a spare handful of title fights as we roll into what should be an exciting fall calendar. It’s no surprise. August is rarely the biggest month for boxing.
It doesn’t mean there won’t be some big happenings.
The heavyweights have been one of the low points of an otherwise phenomenal year with limited star appearances and few significant fights. On paper, the latter doesn’t appear to be on tap but fights can become significant with a single punch, especially with two of the division’s best on tap:
08/12: TBRB #3 Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KO) vs. #7 Dillian Whyte (29-3, 19 KO)
08/26: TBRB Champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KO, IBF/WBA/WBO) vs. Daniel Dubois (19-1, 18 KO)
Joshua’s win over Whyte in their first fight in 2015 was arguably the gateway to his becoming one of the biggest draws of the 21st century. Joshua won his first title his very next fight while Whyte scrapped his way to a title shot in 2022. Both men are rebuilding now in this crossroads clash. The O2 Arena should be rocking.
The man who took Joshua’s belts is also on tap. Usyk might be recognized by Ring and TBRB as champion due to Tyson Fury’s fake retirements, but he knows what everyone else does. Until Usyk beats Fury, he’s still one name short of being the top of the class. Dubois hasn’t shown the sort of ability to beat one of the game’s genuine elites but he gets Usyk back in the ring and that’s a good thing. Usyk has been a once a year fighter for more than four years.
The heavyweights will get the most spotlight in August but the best fight of the month appears to be coming at junior lightweight.
Navarette-Valdez Looks Like a War
After fans are done watching Joshua-Whyte II, they can tune in to:
08/12: #1 Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KO) vs. #9 Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 30 KO)
Valdez has won titles at featherweight and junior lightweight with his only loss coming to Shakur Stevenson. Navarrete hasn’t lost since his sixth professional start and has his best opponent on paper since a pair of wins over Isaac Dogboe at junior featherweight. This all-Mexican showdown should see the leather fly and might sneak up as a fight of the year candidate.
Additional Title Fights in August
Men
08/12: 118 – #1 Emmanuel Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KO) vs. Melvin Lopez (29-1, 19 KO); vacant IBF
08/06: 105 – #3 Oscar Collazo (7-0, 5 KO, WBO) vs. Garan Diagan (10-3, 5 KO)
Women
08/05: 126 – World Champion Amanda Serrano (44-2-1, 30 KO, WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO) vs. Heather Hardy (24-2, 4 KO)
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.