Boxing fans will be hoping 2026's kickoff month is a sign of things to come, because we're starting this year off with a bang.
New year, new fights. And there'll be no feeling-out process this year, no. Boxing fans will be hoping 2026's kickoff month is a sign of things to come, because we're starting this one off with a bang.
January is usually a quieter month on the boxing calendar, but this year it's stacked with competitive, meaningful matchups."You wait ages for one, and then two come along at the same time." That old saying about London buses holds just as much relevance when discussing Jan. 31 — there will be at least four cards of significance on that day, including three world title headliners (one of them a unification), as well as top prospect Adam Azim stepping up against Gustavo Lemos.
There's something for all boxing fans that day, and so naturally it features significantly on this list — but it's not the only big weekend to watch out for this month.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top five matchups in January 2026.
5. Dana White & Zuffa Boxing debuts, Jan. 23
I'm only a guest author on this series, so I think I'm allowed to bend the rules. Right?
At the time of writing, we don't know what fights will feature on Dana White and Zuffa's official boxing debut on Jan. 23 with Paramount+, but nevertheless it's still a key date on the schedule for a few reasons.
Jan. 23 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas is the beginning of what White believes will be his journey to domination of the sweet science.
Now I know a 1,000-seater venue on a Friday night, as a precursor to UFC 324 with no announced lineup four weeks out, doesn't exactly scream the beginning of the end for traditional boxing promoters, but we knew it would be a slow build for White in boxing.
Jan. 23 will be our first insight into how White can use the TKO and Paramount machine to leverage interest in his boxing shows. The UFC and WWE — both TKO products — will no doubt be an invaluable asset for White in his pugilistic endeavors, as will Paramount, which is now the biggest U.S. broadcast service that will regularly show boxing.
White has been vocal about his disapproval of lopsided fights on boxing cards and how he plans to make significant changes to the way boxing events are presented when he formally arrives in the sport.
It will no doubt be interesting to see the announced lineup of Zuffa boxers and how their first show looks and feels, even if it's a soft launch.
4. Subriel Matias vs. Dalton Smith, Jan. 10
It wouldn't be boxing without a spot of controversy.
In late November, it emerged that WBC super lightweight champion Subriel Matias tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test in the lead-up to his mandatory title defense against Dalton Smith on January 10 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Still, the fight will be allowed to proceed because the concentration of Ostarine in Matias' sample was below the threshold allowed by the New York State Athletic Commission.
From a rules standpoint, the commission made the correct call, and the promoters of the event and Matias are well within their rights to continue with the bout, but that won't make it any less controversial. A portion of fight fans — and perhaps Smith himself — will feel that he could be fighting an opponent with an unfair advantage. In a sport as unforgiving and dangerous as boxing, that's the last thing you want hanging over a major fight.
It's unfortunate because Matias-Smith is an excellent matchup. Smith, a decorated amateur who has won English, British, Commonwealth and European titles, going for his first world championship in his US debut, in the city "where dreams are made of."
Across from him stands Matias, a formidable multi-time champion — a relentless come-forward fighter with terrific output and knockout power. If Smith were to defeat Matias, he would be winning a world title the proper way, rather than picking up an interim belt and being sent an email to inform him of his upgrade to full champion.
It had the makings of a potentially special night for Smith and British boxing, but now it's a night that will undoubtedly be shrouded in controversy.
Every fan watching in the Barclays Center will be doing so with a sense of unease.
3. Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz, Jan. 24
The wider boxing fraternity could not have been more excited when 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz of Cuba turned professional with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in 2023.
Professional boxing has been banned in Cuba for many years — and pretty much still is — so when fighters want to turn professional and earn the money their talent deserves, they are forced to defect from the country, abandoning their family and life in their homeland. Cruz did just that in 2023, teaming up with Derek "Bozy" Ennis and Matchroom for his world title dream, which could come true against Raymond Muratalla on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas.
The Cuban has had just six bouts as a professional, but has been moved swiftly into a world title position. Matchmakers seem to have concluded that Cruz is skilled enough to compete at the top level and just needed the hard rounds with tough and gritty pros. Cruz's opposition has largely reflected that theory, fighting five consecutive Mexican opponents, notorious for being come-forward fighters with good chins.
Next month, he faces the ultimate test against IBF lightweight champion Muratalla, who has proven himself at the world level with wins over Tevin Farmer and Zaur Abdullaev. Many believed that Cruz had the tools to be an elite fighter as soon as he entered the paid ranks. And on Jan. 24, it will finally be time to find out if Cruz really has what it takes to be a successful pro.
2. Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou, Jan. 31
In boxing, when fighters become world champions for the first time, it is an unwritten rule that they are allowed a few comfortable defenses before pressure is put on them to make unification bouts and big fights.
Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou, however, needed no convincing.
Zayas, 23, became world champion in July. Top Rank was planning a homecoming defense for him against an opponent he would've looked good against, but Zayas simply wasn't interested in that.
The Puerto Rican became champion and straight away started talking about making a unification bout. Luckily for him, Abass Baraou — crowned champion in September — was more than willing to accommodate him.
Zayas and Baraou will enter a big-time unification fight in Puerto Rico within six months of lifting their world titles. It's that old-school mentality to prove oneself as the best in the world, which boxing is desperately lacking at the moment.
The pair should be applauded for setting an example for the other beltholders. Strike when the iron is hot.
1. Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson, Jan. 31
Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson is one of the most anticipated fights in boxing today. Not only does it top this list, but it'll likely be one of the best matchups — at least on paper — in all of 2026.
Stevenson, a three-division world champion and pound-for-pound top-10 fighter, steps up to 140 pounds to face two-division titlist and division No. 1 Lopez at the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, on Jan. 31.
A win for Stevenson will see him join just 24 other male fighters in the history of boxing as a four-division champion, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of this era.
Lopez already has modern-day great Vasiliy Lomachenko and former undisputed champion Josh Taylor on his résumé, and a win over Stevenson would surely see him re-enter the pound-for-pound rankings.
Surprisingly, Stevenson starts as a sizable favorite with the bookmakers, but Lopez is no stranger to defying the odds. After all, his chances were written off going into his fight with Lomachenko, but Lopez produced a special performance when it mattered most. Lopez was even doubted to defeat Josh Taylor due to previous showings at the weight and his pre-fight antics, but he looked brilliant in a dominant win.
My conclusion: Lopez produces his best performances on his biggest nights, and that could be bad news for Stevenson.
When Terence Crawford and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez shared the ring in September, we saw elite-level boxing deliver on the biggest of stages. Lopez and Stevenson have the chance to follow in their footsteps and produce another terrific fight between great fighters.
Category: General Sports
