10 Fights to Watch in the Month of February
February is all about love. Well, unless you happen to be a boxer.
Valentine's Day may fall in the month (Feb. 14 everyone, don't forget!), but fighters are not interested in displays of affection.
The only card they want to see is one from a judge that adds up in their favour.
Terence Crawford and Leo Santa Cruz are both in action on American soil during February. Meanwhile, in Germany, familiar foes Ola Afolabi and Marco Huck meet for a fourth time.
The main attraction for British boxing fans, however, is a unification clash between super bantamweight rivals Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg.
There was also supposed to be a big domestic showdown in Liverpool, England, for a world title at lightweight, but an injury to reigning WBO champion Terry Frampton has pushed his bout with Derry Mathews back to March.
Here, Bleacher Report has picked out 10 fights worth watching this month.
Johann Duhaupas vs. Marcelo Luiz Nascimento
1 of 10
When: Feb. 5
Where: Gymnase du Lycee Technique de Monaco, Monte Carlo
Johann Duhaupas was last seen taking on Deontay Wilder in September 2015.
The Frenchman took the WBC heavyweight champion into Round 11 before suffering a TKO loss. But, despite the defeat, The Reptile enhanced his reputation with his display.
He earned praise from Wilder, who finished the bout with his left eye swollen shut, per Sky Sports: "When you have guys who want what you have, they're going to give it their all. You have to give him the credit. He did an excellent job, and he definitely has my respect.
The Frenchman Duhaupas (32-3, 20 KOs)—who has a win over Manuel Charr on his record—can still get back into the mix in an open division.
He returns to action against Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (18-11, 16 KOs) in Monaco.
Duhaupas doesn't appear to be taking a huge gamble in Monte Carlo, but he will be under pressure to impress against a Brazilian opponent who has been served up to several heavyweight prospects in the past, including Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam.
Fedor Chudinov vs. Felix Sturm
2 of 10
When: Feb. 20
Where: Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
Fedor Chudinov makes the second defence of the WBA super middleweight title when he goes up against Felix Sturm on Feb. 20.
The two men have met once before: Chudinov came out on top in May 2015, beating his more experienced opponent on a split-decision points verdict to pick up the vacant strap.
The Russian made a successful first defence against Frank Buglioni in England, stretching his professional record to 14-0 (10 KOs).
Sturm (39-5-3, 18 KOs), meanwhile, has not been seen since the first meeting with Chudinov.
Now 37 and without a victory in the ring since December 2013, The Fighter needs to prove he isn't finished just yet. A third defeat in his last four outings could signal the end of the line.
Jessie Magdaleno vs. Edward Mansito
3 of 10When: Feb. 20
Where: Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Unbeaten super bantamweight Jessie Magdaleno (22-0, 16 KOs) will look to push his claim for a world-title fight when he takes on Edward Mansito.
The 24-year-old southpaw from Las Vegas—who is the younger brother of lightweight Diego Magdaleno—is ranked inside the top 10 by the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO, per FightNews.com.
WBO champion Nonito Donaire could be a potential target for later in 2016.
The Filipino Flash claimed the belt with a victory over Cesar Juarez in 2015, but as yet he doesn't have an opponent named for his next fight on April 23.
Mansito, meanwhile, is nicknamed The Nightmare. However, his 13-3-2 (7 KOs) record doesn't suggest Magdaleno should have too many sleepless nights over the bout.
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Ola Afolabi vs. Marco Huck
4 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
Ola Afolabi and Marco Huck won't need to spend a lot of time studying tape of each other before they meet on Feb. 27.
The bout in Halle, Germany, will be their fourth meeting in the paid ranks. Huck has won two of the three previous bouts (in 2009 and 2013), with the other, staged in 2012, ending in a majority draw.
Basically, Huck vs. Afolabi is the boxing equivalent of the motion picture series Die Hard, because someone, somewhere, still thinks it's worth doing it all over again.
The cruiserweights go into the latest episode of a seemingly never-ending rivalry off the back of contrasting results.
Huck (38-3-1, 26 KOs) surrendered the WBO title in his last outing, suffering a stunning knockout loss at the hands of Krzysztof Glowacki in New Jersey.
Afolabi (22-4-4, 11 KOs), however, caused an upset of his own in knocking out Rakhim Chakhkiev and claiming the IBO title in the process in November.
Cecilia Braekhus vs. Chris Namus
5 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
Cecilia Braekhus has the nickname the First Lady for a reason.
The Colombian-born fighter is the reigning IBO, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO champion at welterweight. That's a collection of titles that could rival all the occupants in the House of Lords in London.
Braekhus—who has a 27-0 (7 KOs) record—puts her many, many belts on the line when she faces Uruguayan Chris Namus (21-3, 8 KOs) on the undercard to Afolabi-Huck IV.
The challenger goes into the 10-round contest on a five-fight winning streak.
However, she will have her hands full against a former kickboxer who is the undisputed queen of the welterweight division.
Carl Frampton vs. Scott Quigg
6 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Such was the overwhelming public interest that the fight between world champions Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg sold out in a matter of minutes, per the Belfast Telegraph.
The bout has been a long time in the making. Having risen through the ranks at a similar time, the duo could have met years ago for a domestic title.
Now, though, they finally meet in a unification showdown in Manchester, England.
The Northern Irishman Frampton (21-0, 14 KOs)—who holds the IBF title—is the visiting fighter, but he won't lack for support inside the arena.
The WBA champion Quigg (31-0-2, 23 KOs) has home advantage (well, it's near enough home; he's from nearby Bury). He also goes into the bout off the back of a stunning TKO victory over Kiko Martinez.
The three-city press tour, taking place in London, Manchester and Belfast, for the pay-per-view event only increased the tension between the two camps.
Expect fireworks on Feb. 27. Also, expect Frampton-Quigg II to happen before the end of 2017.
Hosea Burton vs. Miles Shinkwin
7 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
The Frampton-Quigg undercard offers the opportunity for several of British boxing's rising stars to make an impression on a huge stage.
Bantamweight Ryan Burnett and flyweight Charlie Edwards are booked for Feb. 27, while Isaac Lowe meets Marco McCullough for the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title.
However, Hosea Burton's clash with fellow unbeaten light heavyweight Miles Shinkwin could be the tastiest of the appetisers ahead of the main course.
Burton (14-0, 5 KOs)—the cousin of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury—has a chance to pick up a title of his own, as the British belt will be up for grabs.
However, Shinkwin (12-0, 6 KOs) is determined to follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names, per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News: "I’m very proud to be fighting for a belt that has been won down the years by such greats as Freddie Mills, Randy Turpin and John Conteh, all of whom went on to make a name for themselves on the world stage."
Terence Crawford vs. Henry Lundy
8 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
Terence "Hunter" Crawford didn't end up winning the Manny Pacquiao lottery.
The unbeaten American had hoped to be selected for Pacquiao's final pro fight, but instead the Filipino opted to take on Timothy Bradley for a third time.
A fight against Henry Lundy (26-5-1, 13 KOs) isn't quite as appealing, but Crawford cannot afford to look beyond his next opponent.
Hunter will defend his WBO super lightweight title in New York—and Lundy's record doesn't suggest he can take the belt from the champion.
He has lost to Raymundo Beltran, Viktor Postol and Thomas Dulorme, but according to Olly Campbell of Boxing News, Lundy is confident he can seize his chance: "This is the type of fight I have been waiting for."
Crawford has to keep his mind on the job and not think about what might have been.
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez
9 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
All healed up after his battle with Abner Mares in August, Leo Santa Cruz defends his WBA Super featherweight title against Kiko Martinez at the end of February.
El Terremoto (31-0-1, 17 KOs) became a three-weight world champion by getting a majority verdict to go in his favour after 12 tough rounds against Mares.
His next task could also be tricky—the Spaniard Martinez (35-6, 26 KOs) is not a fighter who takes a backward step.
Martinez said ahead of the bout, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com: "Leo and me are true warriors, and this fight will be a brutal war. Leo is a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter. I am very conscious of that point."
However, Quigg surprisingly stopped Martinez inside two rounds at super bantamweight on July 18, 2015.
According to the (Belfast) News Letter, Santa Cruz wants to face the winner of the Frampton-Quigg clash: "We are all fighting on the same night—so if I am good and beat Martinez—I get the winner of them."
Julio Ceja vs. Hugo Ruiz
10 of 10
When: Feb. 27
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Although it was all over in Round 5, super bantamweights Julio Ceja and Hugo Ruiz packed plenty into their first fight.
Ceja (30-1, 27 KOs) became the WBC's interim champion when he knocked out his opponent with a superb left hook at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last August.
However, the eventual winner had been down himself in Round 3. Ruiz (35-3, 31 KOs) dropped his fellow Mexican with a left hook of his own but couldn't find a way to force a stoppage.
Polito came through the storm to record a sensational win. He said in the post-fight interview, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com: "I was very well prepared. I was surprised when I got dropped but I felt good. I felt mentally well and I knew I could come back."
Quite what will happen in the rematch, staged in Anaheim, is anyone's guess.
Ceja has also since been elevated to full champion, as Santa Cruz—who takes on Martinez in the headline act on the Honda Center card—has moved up to featherweight.
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