Wishes at the turn of the year are a tradition. That’s why BOXSPORT has put ten ultimate top fights on our wish list that we want to see in 2025 – from a German perspective, of course. These are our top dream fights!
Click here for the first part of Dream-Fights 2025!
#5: Teofimo Lopez vs. Devin Haney
The semi-welterweight division could also be a hot topic in 2025. A fight that fans have been waiting years for: Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney. Unfortunately, negotiations for a clash between the US rivals broke down at the end of 2024 – because of Haney, according to Lopez. “I waited a week for a response from Team Haney. We made them a good, reasonable offer with a fixed purse of 2.4 million dollars and a 55:45 split for the pay-per-view,” said “The Takeover”. But Haney turned it down and “wasted my time”. Too bad. A duel between the US loudmouths could be marketed very well – and would be necessary in sporting terms to crown the number one in the 140-pound class. We can only hope that the world champion camps will try again. If not, Ryan Garcia (if the wonder bag returns) would be an attractive alternative.
#4: Terence Crawford vs. Jaron Ennis
Although the half-middleweight division does not have the huge publicity of other weight classes, there are some good fights in the 154-pound limit. The best: Terence “Bud” Crawford against Jaron “Boots” Ennis. If Crawford does not aspire to higher honors, he does have some interesting options at half-middleweight from a purely sporting point of view. Financially, however, only a fight against Ennis would make sense. The IBF champion is under contract with promoter giant Eddie Hearn, who has excellent contacts with the Saudis, in whose concert Crawford also plays. Many observers are convinced that Crawford would have to stretch himself mightily against the strong Ennis in order to maintain his status as the number one half-middleweight.
#3: Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani
Naoya Inoue has conquered the bantam and super bantamweight divisions with some brutal knockout victories. Quite a few experts believe that the “monster” should look upwards and set his sights on the next higher limits. However, looking “downwards” could prove to be the most lucrative option for Inoue. After all, Junto Nakatani, the next Japanese fighter with an iron fist, rules the bantamweight division. A duel between the boxing samurai would shatter all records in the Land of the Rising Sun – the live gate of ticket revenues alone in one of the country’s huge arenas would make the cash register ring with joy. In sporting terms, a spectacle would be guaranteed: “Monster” Inoue (31 years old; 25 knockouts in 28 fights) against southpaw Nakatani (26 years old; 22 knockouts in 29 fights): The fight between the unbeaten Japanese champions would be a feast for
all boxing fans.
#2: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is perhaps the biggest fight that could be possible below heavyweight in 2025. The multiple world champions have been greeting each other from Mount Olympus for years, but they don’t have many options for a big box office hit. Boxing sheikh Al-Sheikh has dreamed of the mega-fight several times in the past, but Canelo has so far given the Saudi string-puller the cold shoulder. But: If the price is right, Canelo would immediately agree to a fight against Crawford (and vice versa). It would be a fascinating duel between two shining lights. Crawford (currently at half-middleweight) would have to follow in the footsteps of the sport’s great legends and jump two weight classes. A Herculean task for the US-American – and a great fight in the best Mexican-American tradition. If the dream fight does not materialize, at least Alvarez would have an option in David Benavidez that could be excellently marketed.
#1: Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua
The boxing world has been dreaming of the great “Battle of Britain” for years. In 2025, there could be no alternative for the rivals. Fury versus Joshua is by far the most lucrative fight that could be made, emphasizes AJ promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s breaking all records,” he said in an interview in November and immediately guaranteed “two million pay-per-view sales” for the UK alone. “It’s the biggest fight there is in boxing,” agreed Fury manager Spencer Brown in an interview with sport.de. “If you announce it for Wembley tomorrow, it sells out in five minutes. If you do it in Riyadh, the flights are booked up in 20 minutes – that’s how big it is. Both are aware of that.” Fury himself has said time and again recently that it would be “a shame” if the fight against Joshua fails to materialize.
Text by Martin Armbruster