Exciting Weekend of Boxing: Top Fights to Watch
After a weekend where big names like Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Canelo Alvarez didn’t quite meet expectations, boxing fans are in for a treat with a lineup of thrilling matchups scheduled across the globe. From California to Japan, the action is set to unfold in various time zones, promising a weekend packed with excitement.
ESPN has broken down the best card and ranked all the notable fights this weekend. Let’s dive into the details of these highly anticipated bouts.
1. Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood – Junior Lightweight Fight (DAZN, Saturday at 2 p.m. ET)
Leigh Wood, after his last fight, expressed a desire to end his career with a world title fight at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest. While that dream won’t come true this Saturday, the 36-year-old will still be fighting in front of his home city fans in Nottingham. The indoor arena, where Carl Froch made his mark at super middleweight, will host this significant junior lightweight bout.
Anthony Cacace, hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, gave up the IBF world title he won against Joe Cordina in May 2024 to make this fight happen. Despite no recognized titles being on the line, this clash features two top operators in the division. Wood was previously ranked No. 1 at featherweight before relinquishing the WBA belt after a seventh-round stoppage win over Josh Warrington in October 2023. However, his career has been on hold since then.
Cacace, also 36, has been more active, having fought in Saudi Arabia and secured a shock stoppage win over Cordina, elevating his career to new heights. With significant height and reach advantages, Cacace enters the fight as ESPN’s No. 2 at junior lightweight. But what if Wood, inspired by his home fans, shows no signs of rust in his first outing at 130 pounds? It could be another fairy-tale chapter in Wood’s career, known for its dramatic surprises.
The winner of this fight would be a natural next opponent for the victor of Saturday’s Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez WBO title fight.
2. Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez – Junior Lightweight Title Fight (ESPN/ESPN+, Saturday at 10 p.m. ET)
Emanuel Navarrete, a three-division world champion, delivered a sensational performance in his last outing, crushing Oscar Valdez with a shot to the liver in their rematch in December. In that form, the Mexican fighter is a must-watch.
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) defends his WBO junior lightweight belt against the Philippines’ Suarez in San Diego on Saturday. A strong performance could solidify his position at the top of the 130-pound division. Navarrete was ruthless against Valdez, flooring him three times before the stoppage. Another stunning display might tempt him to try another crack at the lightweight division. Navarrete lost a split decision to Denys Berinchyk challenging for the WBO lightweight belt in May 2024, but he could be tempted to pursue more lucrative fights at lightweight again if he beats Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs). There’s also the possibility of a unification title fight against WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster if Navarrete decides to stay at 130.
3. Erickson Lubin vs. Ardreal Holmes Jr. – Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator (PROBOX TV, Saturday at 6 p.m. ET)
This clash features two southpaws who desperately need a win in this IBF junior middleweight title eliminator. Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs), from Orlando, Florida, has the experience but is coming off a long layoff. He hasn’t fought since September 2023, when he won a unanimous decision over Jesus Ramos, with a hand injury delaying his return. Holmes (17-0, 6 KOs), from Flint, Michigan, is less experienced but has momentum after registering three wins in 2024.
Lubin can be exciting and was involved in a thrilling fight with Sebastian Fundora three years ago. The winner of Saturday’s fight in Kissimmee, Florida, progresses to fight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
4. Fernando Martinez vs. Kazuto Ioka – Junior Bantamweight Title Fight on Sunday
After a relentless firefight last July, Martinez and Ioka meet again Sunday in Tokyo, and more of the same is expected. Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) won a unanimous decision after he outlanded Ioka in their unification title fight in Japan.
The question is, how much did that attritional fight take out of 36-year-old Ioka? It will determine whether he can get revenge and win a world title in a third weight class. Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs), from Japan, began his career 16 years ago, and he will have to roll back the years to keep pace with the 33-year-old WBA champion from Argentina. This rematch was delayed from December, after Martinez withdrew with illness, but it is worth the wait.
5. Souleymane Cissokho vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas – WBC Welterweight Title Eliminator on Saturday
Equatorial Guinea, the site of Saturday’s fight, is 2,000 miles from Senegal, where Cissokho (17-0, 9 KOs) was born. But it will still feel like a homecoming fight for him. He will fulfill a dream of boxing in Africa when he takes on Kavaliauskas (24-2-1, 19 KOs) in a WBC welterweight title eliminator in the capital of Malabo.
Cissokho, who is due a title shot, is based in Paris but trains in California with Virgil Hunter. If he wins, he will get that opportunity and time in the spotlight. Injury has delayed the bout, and an 18-month ring absence will be a concern for Cissokho, who faces a dangerous puncher in California-based Lithuanian Kavaliauskas.
However, Kavaliauskas has been stopped on the two occasions he has stepped up a level (by Vergil Ortiz in 2021 and Terence Crawford in 2019), and this looks like a golden opportunity for a smart boxer such as Cissokho to seal a big fight for later in the year.
Originally Written by: Nick Parkinson
