1) Tyson Fury (Queensberry) vs Anthony Joshua (Matchroom)
They’ve had long enough to make it, but still the all-British heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua escapes us. Perhaps now, though, with Matchroom and Queensberry forced to hold hands by Turki Alalshikh, we are closer than ever to common sense prevailing.
Joshua lands his right against Otto Wallin (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
2) Anthony Yarde (Queensberry) vs Callum Smith (Matchroom)
Both recent victims of the terrifying Artur Beterbiev, it would seem wise for light-heavyweights Yarde and Smith to now try to assert their superiority in the UK before once again attempting to mix it with the elite.
Yarde and Beterbiev produced a light-heavyweight classic at Wembley Arena on January 28, 2023 (James Chance/Getty Images)
3) Joe Joyce (Queensberry) vs Filip Hrgovic (Matchroom)
As Joyce looks to rediscover his mojo following a couple of stoppage defeats against Zhilei Zhang, he could do far worse than target Hrgovic, a talented Croatian who, although he boasts a razor-thin decision over Zhang, has yet to really dazzle as a pro.
Hrgovic stops Demsey McKean (Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
4) Nick Ball (Queensberry) vs Mauricio Lara (Matchroom)
Stylistically, this could be the best of the lot, with Ball and Lara two peas in a featherweight pod. Together, they would surely produce one of the most entertaining and frenetic fights of the year.
Nick Ball in action against Isaac Dogboe (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
5) Denzel Bentley (Queensberry) vs Conor Benn (Matchroom)
Although Benn is apparently targeting bigger names and looking to capitalise on his recent infamy to the fullest, there would no doubt be interest in seeing him take on a fellow Brit in the form of Bentley. Bentley, too, has, unlike Benn, tested himself against a world champion (Zhanibek Alimkhanuly), so brings pedigree.
Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn celebrate Benn’s win over Rodolfo Orozco at the Grand Sierra Ballroom at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida (Ed Mulholland/Matchroom)
6) Nathan Heaney (Queensberry) vs Felix Cash (Matchroom)
Heaney, British boxing’s latest “Cinderella Man”, is enjoying the momentum of a recent British middleweight title win against Denzel Bentley, whereas Cash for some reason didn’t fight at all in 2023. This fight could make sense for a lot of reasons then.
Nathan Heaney takes aim at Denzel Bentley (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
7) Gavin Gwynne (Queensberry) vs Gary Cully (Matchroom)
After just about getting by veteran Italian Emiliano Marsili to take the European lightweight title in December, Gwynne will be looking for more convincing showings in 2024. So too will Cully, who last year found himself stopped inside three rounds by Jose Felix before rebounding with a tight decision win over Reece Mould.
Gary Cully (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
8) David Adeleye (Queensberry) vs Johnny Fisher (Matchroom)
Still licking his wounds following a seventh-round stoppage defeat against Fabio Wardley, it would perhaps do Adeleye good to put himself in another heavyweight test soon. That could come in the form Fisher, who is unbeaten in 10 pro fights and last year registered three stoppage wins.
Adeleye in action against Fabio Wardley (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
9) Hamzah Sheeraz (Queensberry) vs Austin Williams (Matchroom)
Sheeraz, unbeaten in 18, must come through the challenge of Liam Williams on February 10 before thinking too far ahead. But a good next step for him, if able to overcome Williams, might be a middleweight fight against another Williams: Austin Williams from America, otherwise known as “Ammo”.
Hamzah Sheeraz (Getty Images)
10) Liam Davies (Queensberry) vs Shabaz Masoud (Matchroom)
Last year super-bantamweight Liam Davies, 15-0, rose to prominence with a couple of eye-catching stoppage wins, the first against Jason Cunningham and the second against Vincenzo La Femina. Masoud, meanwhile, moved his record to 12-0 with a split-decision win over Jose Sanmartin in November.
Liam Davies attacks Vincenzo La Femina (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
