Boxing's 10 Biggest Can't-Miss World Championship Fights in September

Boxing has been pretty barren of action during the month of August. After such a game-changing July that featured dramatic come-from-behind knockouts and broken jaws.

But in September, expect drama, intrigue and boxing history to be made. High profile fights are coming nearly every weekend of the month with the stakes higher than ever.

From slugfests to classic boxing matches, September will be a month to remember with so many belts and reputations on the line. Here's the best championship fights to catch.

Honorable Mention: Edwin Rodriguez vs. Jason Escalera

Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KO) is a super middleweight on the rise. Escalera (13-0-1, 12 KO) is meant to serve as just another step on his path to greatness, but Escalera can hit hard.

Rodriguez will need to be mindful of Escalera's power if he is to continue to ascend the ranks of boxing's best super middleweights. This fight takes place on September 29 and airs live on HBO.

10. Lucas Matthysse vs. Ajose Olusegun for an Interim Junior Welterweight Title

Matthysse (31-2, 29 KO) and Olusegun (30-0, 14 KO) are both determined to win the interim WBC junior welterweight world title on September 8 when this fight goes live on Showtime.

Olusegun has been an ignored mandatory for the world title for a long time and Matthysse has been robbed by the judges in two high profile match-ups.

That means both fighters have a chip on their shoulder they intend to take out on each other. Though Matthysse is expected to be the smarter and harder puncher of the two, but expect a good fight.

9. Randall Bailey vs. Devon Alexander for the IBF Welterweight World Title

Bailey (43-7, 37 KO) captured not just the IBF welterweight title, but the world's attention when he knocked out previously undefeated Mike Jones (26-1, 19 KO).

Now former unified junior welterweight champ Devon Alexander (23-1, 13 KO) is looking to take the belt Bailey has worked so hard for.

It seems the teams of Alexander and Bailey have come to the table to find a home for this fight in Las Vegas on September 8 on Showtime after a long series of disputes about the locale.

[Update: 9/1/2012] Bailey has suffered a back injury, delaying his fight with Alexander to late October.

8. Antonio DeMarco vs. John Molina for the WBC Lightweight World Title

DeMarco (27-2-1, 20 KO) has said he's willing to die for his title. Molina (24-1, 19 KO) is a smart fighter who can hang with the best.

DeMarco vs. Molina is on the undercard of HBO's September 8 superfight between Andre Ward and Chad Dawson and DeMarco-Molina has the potential to steal the show from the main event.

Action is guaranteed and a stoppage is very likely. Don't miss it.

7. Vitali Klitschko vs. Manuel Charr for the WBC Heavyweight World Title

Klitschko (44-2, 40 KO) is a miraculous talent that may be leaving boxing for politics after years of defending his WBC heavyweight world championship with skillful precision and fight-ending power.

Charr (21-0, 11 KO) is a 27-year-old German with most likely no chance of defeating Klitschko, but he could make it entertaining.

Klitschko vs. Charr will air on HBO September 8 before the Ward-Dawson fight and may serve as a final showcase for a 41-year-old Klitschko before he rides off into the political sunset.

6. Saul Alvarez vs. Josesito Lopez for the WBC Junior Middleweight World Title

"Canelo" Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KO) is on a trajectory toward fame and success in America after already achieving recognition in his home country of Mexico.

The victory may be expected, but it won't come easy for Alvarez against Lopez (30-4, 18 KO). Lopez is coming off the biggest win of his career in an upset against Victor Ortiz (29-4-2, 22 KO).

Alvarez is the bigger guy, but Lopez is the spirited underdog in this Showtime-televised September 15 match-up.

5. Daniel Ponce De Leon vs. Jhonny Gonzalez for the WBC Featherweight Title

Ponce De Leon (43-4, 35 KO) is a solid, hard-hitter with a lot of skill. Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KO) is a Mexican warrior and proud WBC belt-holder who's not ready to give up what he's earned.

Expect brutality in this match that will be on the undercard and likely steal the show from the Alvarez vs. Lopez headliner. Two vets+A lot of knockout power= a good time on Showtime come September 15.

4. Felix Sturm vs. Daniel Geale for the Super WBA/IBF Middleweight World Title

Sturm (37-2-2, 16 KO) and Geale (27-1, 15KO) are both middleweight world champions with nice resumes and a drive to remain champ.

Sturm has been WBA champ for over five years and his list of challengers have yet to unseat him. If anyone has a chance, the strong-willed Geale may be the one to do it on September 1.

3. Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Grzegorz Proksa for the WBA Middleweight World Title

Golovkin (23-0, 20 KO) is powerful and precise. Proksa (28-1, 21 KO) is also a heavy-hitter who's game for anything. When the two collide on HBO this September 1, it'll be electrifying.

Golovkin is a heavily ducked middleweight champion for a reason, but Proksa is dangerous as demonstrated when he avenged his lone defeat by vicious knockout this past July.

2. Andre Ward vs. Chad Dawson for the WBC/WBA Super Middleweight World Titles

Two American world champs that are in their prime and rated in the top ten pound-for-pound in the world are willing to fight each other?

It really is 2012 huh?

Ward (25-0, 13 KO) and Dawson (31-1, 17 KO) are blessing the boxing public with the type of fight you don't get to see often enough, a fight that actually means something.

Ward is coming off a terrific victory over British legend Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KO) in the Super Six Finals. Ward is now the WBA, WBC and Ring champion of the super middleweight division.

Dawson is coming off a career-high victory over all-time great Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KO) to win the light heavyweight world title.

Afterwards, Dawson called out Ward and he answered. The match was made almost immediately for the super middleweight division.

Dawson dropped down to super middleweight with ease and is ready to go. On September 8, these fast, technically brilliant fighters will come together on HBO to deliver what could be a masterpiece.

1. Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for the Middleweight World Title

Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KO) vs. Chavez Jr. (46-0-1, 32 KO) is as big as a fight can get without including Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.

Chavez won the WBC world title after it was stripped from Martinez in June of 2011. Martinez has been very vocal about getting that title back ever since.

Fast-forward a year later, Chavez has gotten even better with three victories over worthy competition and Martinez has shown vulnerabilities against bigger men.

Chavez will have the size and power advantage to go along with his titanium chin. Martinez will have the speed advantage as well as experience and technique that's allowed him to break down giants.

Both will bring everything they've got into the ring on September 15 at the Thomas and Mack Center. Live on HBO PPV, the biggest spectacle of not only September, but possibly the year, will take place.

For more news and analysis, follow me on Twitter @justindavidtate.