10 Fights to Watch During the Month of November
Remember, remember the fights coming up in November. The new month should see some fireworks and not just because of Bonfire Night.
The boxing schedule sees a plethora of stars in action during November, including the huge clash between Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez on American soil.
There are plenty of other big names with fights coming up, including Timothy Bradley, James DeGale and Wladimir Klitschko.
Here Bleacher Report has marked your card by picking out 10 bouts that you need to watch in the coming weeks.
1. Callum Smith vs. Rocky Fielding
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When: November 7
Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
The city of Liverpool will be split on November 7 when local lads Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding face each other.
The two super middleweights meet for more than bragging rights at the Echo Arena—the vacant British title will also be up for grabs.
Smith, the youngest of four boxing brothers, has a 17-0 (12 KOs) record. His last outing saw him defeat the durable Christopher Rebrasse on points.
Fielding is also unbeaten as a pro, recording 21 straight victories. On the same night his next opponent got the better of Rebrasse, the 28-year-old dismantled Brian Vera inside two rounds.
Per Odds Shark, Smith—who will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of sibling Liam by becoming a world champion—is the 100/35 favourite.
2. Ricky Burns vs. Josh King
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When: November 7
Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Ricky Burns should, should, see off an opponent of Josh King's calibre and experience.
However, there are questions to be answered by Burns. Can he get back to the same level he displayed when becoming a two-weight world champion? Or is the Rickster now just a fading force fighting for the money?
Going up against King—an Australian with a 20-3 (9 KOs) record—may give us some answers.
Burns was brave in defeat against Omar Figueroa Jr. when he moved up to light welterweight earlier this year.
However, he is now back down at lightweight, telling Sky Sports: "There are so many big fights at lightweight not only in the UK but on the world scene and I can’t wait to get involved in the thick of it."
The Scotsman (38-5-1, 12 KOs) has never been known for his punching power. He is instead a relentless worker who breaks down opponents.
Some of that old spark needs to be seen again if Burns really is to mix it with the best at 135 pounds.
3. Timothy Bradley vs. Brandon Rios
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When: November 7
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
Although Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be retired, and although Manny Pacquiao is currently ruled out through injury, the welterweight division is still hot right now.
Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios are two entertainers at 147 pounds, and the duo will go toe-to-toe in Las Vegas.
Bradley will put the WBO title on the line (he was upgraded from interim champion when the governing body stripped the belt from Mayweather Jr.) in his first bout under the guidance of trainer Teddy Atlas.
Bradley said of the new man in his corner, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports: "I am confident with Teddy Atlas with me. He has great boxing knowledge. I want that knowledge. We can do some damage together."
Desert Storm (32-1-1, 12 KOs) has been involved in a few wars in his career, though only Pacquiao has come out on top against him.
He won't have to look too far to find Rios (33-2-1, 24 KOs), with Bam Bam known for his willingness to stand and trade.
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4. Arthur Abraham vs. Martin Murray
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When: November 21
Where: Tui Arena, Hannover, Germany
Martin Murray gets a fourth crack at a world title when he faces WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in Hannover, Germany.
Murray's previous three attempts all came at middleweight, with the Englishman losing to Felix Sturm, Sergio Martinez and, most recently, Gennady Golovkin.
He moved up after the defeat to Golovkin but has had only three fights at the new weight before accepting the chance to take on Abraham.
King Arthur (43-4, 29 KOs), meanwhile, was last seen settling an old score with Robert Stieglitz.
The 35-year-old has won seven on the spin, with his successful run including back-to-back victories over another Englishman, Paul Smith.
Promoter Eddie Hearn admits it is a huge chance for Murray (32-2-1, 15 KOs), telling Sky Sports: "The opportunity presented itself and there was no stopping Martin Murray. He has to take this opportunity. I think it's a very winnable fight but a tough fight."
5. Darleys Perez vs. Anthony Crolla
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When: November 21
Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
The first fight between Darleys Perez and Anthony Crolla back in July ended in a disputed decision.
Perez retained the WBA lightweight belt courtesy of a majority draw, but the scorecards left a bitter taste in the challenger's mouth.
While one judge gave it 116-111 in Crolla's favour, the other two had it at 113-113.
It was tough to see how those numbers added up, seeing as the champion had twice been deducted points for low blows.
Crolla's promoter, Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, appealed to the World Boxing Association for a rematch, and the governing body agreed with the request.
So, now Million Dollar (29-4-3, 11 KOs) gets a second opportunity to become a world champion in his home city of Manchester.
Perez—who has a 32-1-1 record for his career with 20 knockouts—will know what to expect this time, though he cannot possibly hope to be so fortunate with the scores again.
6. Miguel Cotto vs. Saul Alvarez
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When: November 21
Where: Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Miguel Cotto against Saul Alvarez is the big fight in the month of November.
The two head into the catchweight showdown in Las Vegas at different ends of the career spectrum.
Cotto—now 35—is the WBC middleweight champion. He claimed the belt by beating Sergio Martinez last June and has since successfully defended it against Daniel Geale.
As for Canelo, he is only 25 but has already had 47 bouts.
His solitary loss in the professional ranks came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Since then, though, he has won three on the bounce.
Cotto also has a defeat to Mayweather Jr. on his 40-4 (33 KOs) record. Despite his seniority, he has actually been involved in fewer fights than his next opponent.
However, Junito has been in some serious battles during his ring career. Facing Canelo should answer any questions about how much Cotto has left in the tank.
You can be sure that Gennady Golovkin will be an interested spectator, with a showdown against the winner likely for some time in 2016.
7. Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins
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When: November 21
Where: Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
On the undercard to Miguel Cotto's clash with Saul Alvarez, bantamweights Randy Caballero and Lee Haskins go head-to-head for the IBF strap.
Caballero claimed the vacant title by defeating Englishman Stuart Hall in Monaco last October but since then has been beset by injury problems.
While the unbeaten Californian was out of action, Haskins (32-3, 14 KOs) seized the chance to become the interim champion.
The boxer from Bristol, England, stopped Ryosuke Iwasa in impressive fashion on home soil in June.
He is relishing the chance to fight in the United States, telling George Gigney of Boxing News: "All my life I have dreamed about boxing in Las Vegas and now my dreams have come true."
Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) is a tough challenge, though. The two little men could end up stealing the show from the main event.
8. Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury
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When: November 28
Where: Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany
After one false start, Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury will finally meet in the ring on November 28.
The pair had initially been due to fight at the end of October, but an injury to reigning WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Klitschko caused a delay.
The announcement of the postponement came shortly after an unusual press conference on English soil that saw Fury turn up dressed as Batman.
The challenger, however, was grateful for the delay, per David Anderson of the Mirror: "The postponement’s not been a major issue for me, the reasons being that if the fight had gone ahead on October 24, little did he know, he would probably have had a better chance against me because I was just getting over the flu."
Hopefully, both boxers will be fully fit when they do eventually go toe-to-toe.
Fury will not make it easy for Klitschko. His pre-fight antics are one thing, but he's a viable threat who boasts a 24-0 (18 KOs) record.
Could he be catching the undisputed champion at the right time? All will be revealed in Dusseldorf, Germany.
9. Errol Spence Jr vs. Alejandro Barrera
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When: November 28
Where: The Bomb Factory, Dallas, Texas
So far, Errol Spence Jr. has shown both the talent and the personality to be the next big star in boxing.
The 25-year-old—who fought at the 2012 Olympics but failed to pick up a medal—has so far won all 18 of his professional bouts, finishing 15 of them inside the distance.
He proved too much for Chris van Heerden to handle in September, with that result pushing him into the top 10 in the welterweight rankings published by Ring Magazine.
Alejandro Barrera is next up for Spence Jr.
The Mexican has a 28-2 record, including 18 KOs, but has only fought outside of his homeland once before in his career.
El Elegido will be brave but doesn't seem to have enough to burst the Spence Jr. bubble.
10. James DeGale vs. Lucian Bute
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When: November 28
Where: Centre Videotron, Quebec City, Canada
The clash between James DeGale and Lucian Bute sees the current IBF super middleweight champion go up against a former holder of the belt.
DeGale is the man currently in possession of the title, though the Londoner has given up home advantage for his first defence.
Instead, Chunky—who became the first British fighter to win a world strap having previously struck gold at the Olympics—is heading to his opponent's back yard.
Bute may have been born in Romania, but Quebec, Canada, is now the place he calls home.
He can expect the crowd to be right behind him on November 28, but there are serious questions over whether the 35-year-old is a shot fighter at this stage of his career.
Le Tombeur has never really been the same in the ring since he was demolished by another Englishman, Carl Froch, back in 2012.
DeGale is a different type of opponent to Froch, but Bute will need to roll back the years if he is to take back the belt that was once his.
Have we missed out a fight that you're looking forward to watching in November?
Feel free to add your favourites and also offer your predictions for the 10 to watch, via the comments section.
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