By Ryan Mullen

Turki Alalshikh has clearly reached into his deep pockets to give us the most stacked card of boxing since last year’s 5v5 Queensbury vs Matchroom card. Seven out of the eight scheduled fights have a belt of some kind up for grabs. Whether that speaks to the kind of talent on the card or the dilution of what a championship means in boxing is a hotly debated subject among superfans, but casual viewers will see that statistic and feel strongly encouraged to tune in- especially when considering the generous pay-per-view price of £19.99.

Whether it’s the all-out offensive approach of fan-favourite “Dynamite” Daniel Dubois, or the slick, unorthodox defence of Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson that connoisseurs of the sport are sure to love, there’s something on this card for everyone.

Dubois and Parker faceoff (Richard Pelham via Gettyimages)

So from least to most, here’s the fights ranked based on how exciting they can be.

The fight that starts out the night also starts out the rankings. Constantino Nanga squares off with the younger, yet more experienced Bradley Rea. Sweden’s Nanga seeks to defend his undefeated record from England’s Rea, but bar that the stakes of the fight are little compared to the number of title fights it has accompanying it.

Funnily enough, second up on the card is also the second most exciting fight on it. Two veterans represent England in a bout, competing for the Interim WBO Light-heavyweight championship. A good fight, but again overshadowed by the sheer depth of the card it’s in.

Taking a dip into the deeper end of the card, Hamzah Sheeraz will represent England in his attempt to pry the WBO Middleweight Championship out of the sure hands of the under-the-radar reigning champion Carlos Adames. He won the interim championship by a stunning knockout in 2022 and was finally given the chance to win the real belt in 2024. Sheeraz, also, has made a name for himself, winning a number of regional titles in the super-middleweight division. He’s now taken a rough weight cut and aims to take a swing at real gold.

WBC World Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson’s title defence will be a great watch for veteran viewers. The American’s unorthodox, defensive style has led him to a perfect record, boasting 22 wins, zero losses and the aforementioned championship. Stevenson is a heavy betting favourite over the opposing Floyd Schofield, but the younger fighter may still shock the crowd with an upset. Though the stakes of this fight are high, Stevenson is a very safe fighter. Excellent at what he does, but his style is far from electric.

Shakur Stevenson at press conference (Mark Robinson via Gettyimages)

Israil Madrimov put himself on the map in his last bout when he went the distance one of the greatest of the generation in Terence “Bud” Crawford in a gritty, back-and-forth bout that some were even convinced he won. Performing like that against a fighter that was so heavily favoured and so highly touted by experts and casuals alike will certainly draw some eyes to his upcoming bout for the Interim WBC Super Welterweight championship against the equally impressive Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Agit Kabayel clashes with fan-favourite veteran Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang in the third-best fight of the card. Zhang, while slow-moving, proves entertaining with his unorthodox southpaw style and continued success, even at the age of 41. One fight he can be slick and technical, the next he can be an explosive brawler, like in his fight with former world champion Deontay Wilder. Kabayel will prove a stiff test for the vet, though. A perfect record, a slew of regional titles talk to that enough.“Dynamite” Daniel Dubois will find an incredibly willing dance partner in the gritty Joseph Parker. Parker went a tough 12 rounds with the aforementioned Zhilei Zhang, a toughness like that

will be instrumental in his bout against Dubois, who rebounded from his loss to Oleksandr Usyk in spectacular fashion, racking up wins against good competition and stunning the boxing world with a five round domination over the excellent Anthony Joshua, ending in a picture-perfect overhand counter to seize the IBF Heavyweight world championship.

The most anticipated fight of the night will of course be the rematch everyone wants to see. The headline fight is certainly one that’s worthy of the name of the card. Bivol and Beterbiev was like a real musical crescendo in a way, the fight started quiet, going tit for tat in the early rounds, though the action slowly built, the arena grew louder and louder as the two fighters forced each other to unveil more and more of their respective toolkits in order to counter the approach of the other. The bout agreement for a rematch was likely signed the very night of the fight after both men put on a breathtaking performance, showcasing the absolute pinnacle of both sides of boxing- the art and the violence that come together to make the fight such a thrilling experience for all.

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