The boxing fights we want in 2023, including Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder vs Joe Joyce, Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford and more
Tyson Fury has told boxing fans they can expect to see the biggest year of his career in 2023.
We hope that rings true and we also want to see the very best match-ups after a less than stellar year for the sport.
Here are the dust-ups we hope come to fruition in 2023...
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
It looked like we would finally see Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua in 2022 - the fight that fans have been craving for years, but it was not to be.
The pair agreed terms for a bout on December 3, but negotiations collapsed almost as quickly as they began when it came down to the intricacies of contracts and instead Fury ended up fighting heavyweight veteran Derek Chisora instead.
Since then, Fury has made out that the chances of seeing him take on Joshua in the future are very slim, as he says that 'AJ' has missed his opportunity and he is no longer interested.
With that being said, there is still a slither of hope of the fight taking place in 2023, as Fury is notorious for contradicting himself and Joshua has said that he still believes the clash will take place, because 'The Gypsy King's' dad, John Fury, will make it happen.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
One name, one champion.
This is what the heavyweight division needs to create some clarity and Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have the power to make it happen.
As it stands, Fury is the WBC world champion, while Usyk holds the WBA, WBO and IBF titles and so if the pair clash it will be for the undisputed heavyweight world titles.
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There is the slight issue that Fury refuses to pay sanctioning fees for the IBF and so the title may not be on the line for him, due to a past dispute with the organisation, but it will still be clear to the fans that the winner is the number one heavyweight in the world.
Unlike a potential Fury vs Joshua bout, a fight between Fury and Usyk seems much more likely as the Ukrainian's manager recently revealed that a deal was 'almost done' with it set to take place no later than March 4 and Saudi Arabia is the likely location.
Deontay Wilder vs Joe Joyce
Staying in the heavyweight division, as Fury described it this would be the world’s toughest man take in 'The Juggernaut' vs the world’s biggest puncher in 'The Bronze Bomber'.
Earlier this year, Joyce announced himself as a real contender in the heavyweight division when he beat former world champion, Joseph Parker, showing his relentless punch output and unbreakable chin.
Meanwhile, Wilder bounced back from his two knockout losses against Fury, as he returned to the ring by KOing Robert Helenius in emphatic fashion in round one.
With the world titles currently occupied by Fury and Usyk, while it would be a risky fight, a clash between Wilder and Joyce could make for incredible viewing for fans and it could be a potentially lucrative outing for both men.
Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford
The fact that this fight did not happen this year is everything that's wrong with boxing and now it absolutely has to happen in 2023.
Spence Jr and Crawford have been on a collision course ever since 'Bud' made the move up to welterweight after becoming undisputed super lightweight world champion and now if they were to fight it would be for the undisputed welterweight world titles.
It seemed we might finally get the fight earlier this year, but negotiations collapsed very publicly and Crawford instead chose to fight David Avanesyan, while Spence found himself in another car crash and so did not close the year out with a bout.
The car crash could also delay the fight in 2023, as Spence Jr has recently explained that most likely his next fight will not be Crawford, but he did also say that "hopefully it can definitely happen next year."
Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia
Outside of the heavyweight division and Canelo, 'Tank' Davis is one of the biggest pay-per-view stars in boxing, while Garcia has a huge social media following, with 3.3 million more Instagram followers than heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
When you also consider the fact that both men have devastating knockout power with a combined 44 knockouts in their 50 professional outings so far, then this fight is a promoters dream.
There is also a good chance this fight takes place in 2023, as both men have hinted on social media that a deal is already done, with Las Vegas the rumoured location for the bout.
Davis' troubles out of the ring, however, mean nothing is ever guaranteed.
Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko
This is a classic young emerging talent vs ageing established legend clash, with Lomachenko ten years Haney's senior, although on this occasion the younger man is the one with all the titles.
Haney is yet to put a foot wrong in his 29 fight professional career so far and this year he both won and defended the undisputed lightweight world titles against George Kambosos Jr to become the man to beat at 135 lbs.
Meanwhile, back in 2020 Lomachenko lost his world titles against Teofimo Lopez, but he has since bounced back with three straight victories, albeit against relatively underwhelming opposition, but he looks as sharp as ever.
Both of these men are promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank who has confirmed to talkSPORT that the bout will happen in 2023, so fans can get start getting excited for this super-fight now.
Honourable mentions:
Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte 2
The argument for this fight to happen for a second time is obvious. When the pair first met in the professional ranks in 2015, the build-up was feisty and it carried over into the ring on fight night making for an electric evening of boxing.
Also, with Joshua winning their last fight by stunning seventh round knockout and Whyte claiming victory when they met in the amateur ranks in 2009, a third fight is needed to settle the score.
Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol 2
2023 will be a big year for Canelo, as having successfully closed out his trilogy with Gennady Golovkin, he will now look to re-establish himself as the number one pound for pound boxer in the world.
To do so, however, he will need to beat Dmitry Bivol in a rematch, who when the pair met earlier this year, the Russian made Canelo go from looking seemingly invincible to a mere mortal, as he cruised to a relatively comfortable unanimous decision victory.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall 2
Up until this year, Taylor had enjoyed a flawless professional career, beating five straight unbeaten fighters and becoming undisputed super-lightweight world champion.
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Before moving up to welterweight, as was Taylor's plan, he decided to take on mandatory challenger Catterall in what was expected to be an easy victory, but it was anything other than comfortable, as he was very fortunate to win by split decision.
Taylor needs a rematch with Catterall to be able to move on with his career and silence those calling 'robbery' and perhaps more importantly 'El Gato' did more than enough in the first fight to deserve a second chance at becoming world champion.