Nick Peet | Biggest Fight in 2025

BRITISH heavyweights are at the epicentre of the biggest fights available in both boxing and mixed martial arts in 2025.

In the ring, despite their world titles deserting them, both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are closer than ever to a long-overdue showdown.

And, in the cage, Tom Aspinall’s interim UFC title reign only has one logically next step – a unification showdown with MMA’s Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.

 

WEMBLEY OR BUST

After years circling one another, debating who the #1 heavyweight of this era was, both Fury and AJ were gazumped by Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk; twice a piece, for good measure.

And yet, whilst there is now no logical next step for the unified heavyweight champion, Fury and Joshua have emerged from the crestfallen but as logical rivals once more.

‘The best British heavyweight of this era’ may not have quite the same buzz, but with a sold-out stadium and a multi-million-pound pay-day (or two) on the table, British fans should be packing out Wembley Way come spring.

 

WEIGHT, WHAT?

Sticking to the ring, the other biggest match-ups this year may all be a little less (or more) palatable, as long as size discrepancy and failed drug tests don’t put you off.

Ryan Garcia’s match-up with Devin Haney last April was easily one of the biggest fights of the year, tarnished, of course, by the former’s subsequent drug test failure and overturned victory.

With Garcia now cleared to fight again, their return would be another hugely lucrative contest.

Likewise, here in the UK, failed drug tests kept Conor Benn from his money-spinning matchup with Chris Eubank Jr in 2022.

Despite little clarity on the actually details of those hot tests, Benn will return to a British ring and the family feud fight has undoubtedly actually benefitted from the controversy.

TENSIONS ARE RISING! 🔥Eubank Jr & Conor Benn face-off in the ring 😯#BeterbievBivol | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/spTtNf2I5C

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 12, 2024

And another fight that disregards the fact the protagonists are from different weight classes will see super-middleweight master Canelo Alvarez face new light-middle champion Terence Crawford.

Naoya Inoue stands – figuratively, at least – shoulder to shoulder with Usyk and Crawford at the top of the pound-for-pound list. A move back down in weight to face either Bam Rodriguez or Junto Nakatani would pack out the Tokyo Dome twice over.

 

DANA DELIVERS

Back inside the Octagon and, aside from Jones and Aspinall, a move up to heavyweight from former middleweight and current light-heavyweight king Alex Pereira would be a surefire PPV hit.

The Brazilian was the standout mixed martial artist in 2024, headlining the biggest events and racking up three straight knockout title defences.

If he were to move up, Pereira would get the opportunity to become the UFC first ever three-weight world champion.

And he may have to get a move on, especially if featherweight champ Ilia Topuria’s aspirations become reality.

The Spaniard plans to move to 155lb and challenge Islam Makhachev before the year is out and has made it clear his career will end at 170lb.

19-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov’s designs on taking that belt from new owner Belal Muhammad should be enough to slow that transition; that welterweight showdown has to happen in the next few months.

Also, Kayla Harrison’s UFC bantamweight title reign feels almost inevitable at this point, whilst unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev simply has to fight for a UFC championship in 2025; any time, any place, anywhere.

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