Boxing is weird right now. Honestly, if you told me a few years ago that Dalton Smith would be sitting on a world title after starching Subriel Matias in five rounds, I’d have probably told you to lay off the energy drinks. But here we are. It’s January 2026, and the sport has basically decided to flip the script on everyone.
The latest boxing news is a chaotic mix of legends coming out of retirement, young guns smashing through "unbeatable" champions, and a heavyweight division that currently looks like a game of musical chairs played at 100 miles per hour.
The Gypsy King is Back (Again)
Tyson Fury just can’t stay away. Seriously. After losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 and then vanishing into what we all thought was a permanent retirement, Fury popped up on Instagram a few days ago with a simple message: "2026 is that year. Return of the Mac."
At 37, the guy says he has nothing better to do than "punch men in the face and get paid for it." It’s vintage Fury. But where does he actually fit? Usyk has already moved on. The Ukrainian wizard recently vacated his WBO belt—which Fabio Wardley now holds—and he’s apparently eyeing a 2026 showdown with Deontay Wilder. That’s a fight that feels about three years too late, but you know people will still pay for it.
The real cloud hanging over the heavyweights is Anthony Joshua. He was supposed to be the big comeback story, but life got in the way. That horrific car accident in Nigeria that took the lives of two of his friends has put everything on hold. He’s out of the hospital now, but his head isn't in the ring, and it shouldn't be.
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Dalton Smith and the Great 140-Pound Shakeup
If you missed the fight in Brooklyn last week, you missed a robbery—specifically, Dalton Smith stealing the "boogeyman" aura right off Subriel Matias.
Most people thought Matias would eventually just walk through Smith’s shots and break him. Instead, Smith looked like he was operating in slow motion while everyone else was at full speed. He dismantled the Puerto Rican power puncher, finishing him in the fifth. This win didn't just give Smith the WBC Super Lightweight belt; it basically blew up the entire division.
Suddenly, the 140-pound landscape is wide open. You've got Adam Azim looking for a unification, and guys like Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson are set to clash on January 31 in New York. If you aren't paying attention to the lighter weights right now, you're doing it wrong.
Canelo, Crawford, and the $100 Million Problem
Canelo Alvarez is taking a break. His manager, Eddy Reynoso, confirmed they are skipping the traditional May date. No Cinco de Mayo fight. That’s a massive blow for Vegas, but Canelo’s left elbow needed surgery after that loss to Terence Crawford.
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Speaking of Crawford, the guy is living his best life. He’s the unified 168-pound king, and his trainer, Bernie Davis, is being very clear: if Canelo wants the rematch in September, he needs to bring $100 million to the table. Crawford doesn’t need the fight. He already proved he could move up and beat the face of boxing.
While those two negotiate, keep an eye on Hamzah Sheeraz. He’s moving up to 168, and some experts think he’s actually the most dangerous guy in the division now. He’s huge for the weight, and his power is legit.
The Monster vs. The Natural
In Japan, things are getting very serious. Naoya "The Monster" Inoue and Junto Nakatani are on a collision course for May 2026 at the Tokyo Dome.
Inoue just came off a tough decision win against David Picasso—a fight where he looked human for maybe the first time in a decade. Nakatani, meanwhile, is looking like a cold-blooded assassin. He’s taller, he’s a southpaw, and he’s got that "it" factor.
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What to Watch in the Coming Weeks
If you're looking for the next big hits, the schedule is packed:
- January 16: Nikita Tszyu vs. Michael Zerafa. This is personal. The weigh-in was a near riot.
- January 24: Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin. Itauma is only 21 and he’s already knocking people out in one round. If he smokes Franklin, the hype train is going to be unstoppable.
- January 31: The big one. Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson. This is for all the bragging rights at 140.
Boxing is moving fast. We’ve gone from a stagnant sport to one where the top guys are actually fighting, and the upsets are coming thick and fast.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, stop looking at the old rankings. They don't matter anymore. Watch the young heavyweights like Itauma and Agit Kabayel. Watch the Japanese super-fight buildup. And honestly, maybe keep an eye on Tyson Fury's Instagram, because you never know what version of him is going to show up to camp.
The best move right now is to keep January 31st clear on your calendar. That Lopez-Stevenson card is going to dictate how the rest of 2026 plays out for the pound-for-pound lists.