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. Here are the first five!
#10: Tina Rupprecht vs. Sumire Yamananka
Tina Rupprecht made German boxing history at the end of 2024. Against Eri Matsuda, “Tiny Tina” (1.52 meters) unified the WBA, WBC and WBO titles in the atomweight division (up to 46.27 kilograms). Rupprecht was the first German boxing pro since Dariusz Michalczweski in 1997 to win the world championship belts of three major world associations. Only one goal remains for 2025: a fight against the unbeaten IBF world champion Sumire Yamananka. One more victory and Rupprecht would have written the next chapter in her impressive success story as the first undisputed German female world champion.
#9: Nina Meinke vs. Amanda Serrano
It was equal justice that Nina Meinke celebrated the biggest success of her career in the fall of 2024. In Hamburg, the likeable Berliner crowned herself IBF featherweight world champion with a points victory over Daniel Romina Bermudez. Six months earlier, the world had collapsed for Meinke. Superstar Amanda Serrano canceled the fight against the German in Puerto Rico just hours before the first bell – allegedly due to an eye injury. Meinke’s hard-as-nails preparation was wiped out in one fell swoop. The 31-year-old can only hope that WBA/WBO champion Serrano keeps her word and that Meinke can finally show her class on the big stage against “The Real Deal”. Should Katie Taylor not want a trilogy with Serrano, the Latina fighter would not have too many other top-class alternatives.
#8: Noel Mikaelian vs. Gilberto Ramirez
Alongside Kabayel, Noel Mikaelian is the second German figurehead on the international stage. It is to be hoped that the WBC cruiserweight champion will break away from promoter Don King and get back in the ring as soon as possible. Mikaelian would have some interesting options at cruiserweight. A thought experiment: WBA/WBO world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez picks Mikaelian as a supposedly easy opponent to collect a world championship belt before a potential showdown with Jai Opetaia – and then takes a massive look around the ring. “Germany against Mexico, that would be a big thing. My ex-girlfriend is Mexican, so it would also be very marketable,” said Mikaelian with a grin at the end of 2023 when he was asked about a possible fight against Ramirez in an interview with RTL.
#7: Agit Kabayel vs. Oleksandr Usyk
“I want Max Schmeling to finally have his peace, for someone to finally succeed him,” said Agit Kabayel at the beginning of December. The “boy from the pot” dreams of becoming the first German heavyweight champion since the legendary Schmeling (1930 to 1932). The dream could come true in 2025. If Kabayel wins against Zhang on February 22, he will be entitled to a fight for the real title as WBC “interim” world champion. Why not against grandmaster Usyk? Body shots are possibly Usyk’s only weak point – and Kabayel’s trump card on the other side. It’s not for nothing that the Bochum native dubbed himself the “Liver King” after his knockout victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez.
#6: ShakurStevenson vs. Gervonta Davis
On paper “only” a lightweight unification fight. In the ring, however, Shakur Stevenson against Gervonta Davis would probably be the best fight that could be made in the USA at the moment. Both boxers are technically gifted, with Stevenson bringing a unique defensive talent and “Tank” Davis the hardest punch in the lightweight division. Both champions still lack a real “signature” success in their fight record. If they were to fight each other, that would finally change.
Text by Martin Armbruster