Christmas Crackers: 10 Fights to Watch During the Month of December
Boxing Day is on December 26. But, the upcoming fight schedule sees several great boxing days take place all around the world.
In England, Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders will finally meet in Manchester, while amateur rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte get the chance to settle an old score in London.
Looking further afield, friends Daniel Jacobs and Peter Quillin go head-to-head in a bout dubbed the "Battle of Brooklyn."
Nonito Donaire and Rances Barthelemy are also in action, along with a legendary name who refuses to call it a day.
So, while you've been focused on opening doors on your advent calendar, Bleacher Report has looked at the boxing calendar to pick out 10 great fights in December.
Just to be clear, these bouts will appear in date order. You can rank them yourself and let us know which one is your favourite via the comments section.
1. Daniel Jacobs vs. Peter Quillin
1 of 10
When: December 5
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Daniel Jacobs defends the WBA middleweight title against local rival Peter Quillin.
The Miracle Man—whose career was put on hold in 2011 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer—was born and bred in Brooklyn.
Jacobs is a four-time New York Golden Gloves champion with a 30-1 (27 KOs) pro record. His last title defence was short and sweet—he came out on top in a two-round war with Sergio Mora.
Quillin, however, is unlikely to be as easy to hit as Mora was in August.
Kid Chocolate is undefeated in 33 bouts, with the only blemish on his record being a draw against WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee in a non-title bout due to Qullin's failure to make weight.
While he was born in Chicago, Brooklyn is now home for the 32-year-old.
Quillin admits he and Jacobs are friends outside of the ring, per Boxing News 24: "Me and him always bump into each other in New York and there’s always love. So this is strictly part of the business that, you know, whether people love it or not you’re just going to have to accept it."
They will put the friendship on hold at the Barclays Center.
Forget local pride—this is a key fight for both men in a division that includes superstars Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto (if he doesn't move back down) and Gennady Golovkin.
2. Roy Jones Jr. vs. Enzo Maccarinelli
2 of 10
When: December 12
Where: VTB Ice Palace, Moscow, Russia
Roy Jones Jr. will continue to risk tarnishing his legacy by taking on Enzo Maccarinelli in a cruiserweight contest in Moscow.
Now 46 and a fully fledged Russian citizen, four-weight world champion Jones (62-8, 45 KOs) is on an eight-fight winning streak.
However, since being knocked out by Denis Lebedev in 2011, his opponents have hardly been of the highest quality.
Once rated the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, Jones Jr. seems unwilling to hang up the gloves just yet.
Maccarinelli (40-7, 32 KOs) is not quite the fighter he used to be, either. The Welshman, a former WBO champion at the weight, is preparing to face a dangerous opponent, even if Jones is well past his best.
Maccarinelli told BBC Sport Wales: "He's not as fast as he was, he's not as good as he was but he's still got a lot left. If he was still at the peak of his career I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you thinking I could win."
3. Anthony Joshua vs. Dillian Whyte
3 of 10
When: December 12
Where: O2 Arena, London
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will settle an old score at the O2 Arena in London.
The pair fought back in their amateur days—and it was Whyte who came out on top. He even knocked his rival down during the bout.
Since then, of course, Joshua has gone on to win a gold medal at the Olympics. He has made serene progress so far in the paid ranks too, winning 14 on the spin, all by knockout.
Whyte, though, is his toughest test to date.
The man nicknamed "The Villian" is 16-0 and branded his next opponent a "fake" in a video interview with Sky Sports.
Joshua has done his best to remain calm, telling Sky Sports: "He [Whyte] is running his mouth as per usual. I'm out on the streets running and getting in my cardio—that's all I'm doing. We're going to clash."
However, you sense Whyte has got under his fellow heavyweight's skin.
A bit of needling only adds interest to what should be an entertaining fight, provided Whyte can back up his words with a big performance.
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4. Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Gary O’Sullivan
4 of 10
When: December 12
Where: O2 Arena, London
Matchroom Sports' London card on December 12 isn't just about the rivalry between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
Chris Eubank Jr. and Gary "Spike" O'Sullivan are hardly the best of friends ahead of their middleweight bout.
Eubank Jr. (20-1, 15 KOs) will be making his second appearance since joining promoter Eddie Hearn's stable of fighters, having dismantled Tony Jeter inside two rounds in October.
O'Sullivan, though, is a better standard of opponent than the horribly overmatched Jeter.
The Irishman has a 22-1 (15 KOs) record and, like his next opponent, suffered his only professional defeat on points against Billy Joe Saunders.
Spike stirred the pot at a pre-fight press conference, referencing the absence of Chris Eubank Sr. "English" as he now wants to be known, is currently away filming the television show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"
Per Sky Sports, O'Sullivan said, "The fact is, his dad chose to go to the jungle and eat animal genitals over being here with his son."
Eubank Jr. shouldn't be too bothered by the absence of his dad—he has added trainer Adam Booth to a team that already included the experienced Ronnie Davies.
5. Tony Bellew vs. Mateusz Masternak
5 of 10
When: December 12
Where: O2 Arena, London
Tony Bellew is at the stage of his career where a defeat could spell the end of the road.
The 33-year-old has a 25-2-1 (16 KOs) record and has failed twice before in attempts to become a world champion.
Defeats to Nathan Cleverly and Adonis Stevenson at light heavyweight led to a move up to cruiserweight, and he has since reeled off five straight wins.
However, Mateusz Masternak will be his first real challenge at the 200-pound limit.
The Pole (36-3, 26 KOs) is an experienced campaigner at the weight. He has fought current WBC champion Grigory Drozd, losing in Round 11, and also has a win over Jean-Marc Mormeck on his CV.
Bellew is preparing for a tough night against Masternak, per Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo: "Victory means a world-title fight, simple as that. I have to show the minerals, the guts, everything as usual and on December 12, I will do that."
The Liverpudlian has never lacked for heart, and desperation could bring out the best in him.
6. Kevin Mitchell vs. Ismael Barroso
6 of 10
When: December 12
Where: O2 Arena, London
Like Tony Bellew, Kevin Mitchell is at the make-or-break stage of his career.
The Londoner returns to the scene of his desperate defeat to Jorge Linares in May. Mitchell was outstanding in his bid to win the WBC lightweight title from the Venezuelan but ultimately fell short.
Stuck against the ropes with a huge welt above his left eye and blood pouring from several cuts, The Hammer was stopped in Round 10.
The defeat, however, has not dissipated the 31-year-old's desire to become a world champion.
As he looks to work his way to a fourth crack at a major belt, Mitchell takes on the unbeaten Ismael Barroso for the interim WBA strap.
Anthony Crolla now holds the full title, and a fight against fellow Englishman Mitchell should not be too hard to make, considering both are promoted by Eddie Hearn.
7. Nonito Donaire vs. Cesar Juarez
7 of 10
When: December 12
Where: Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
At the end of 2012, Nonito Donaire was a star of the sport. He was a naturally talented fighter who was a two-weight world champion. Having reeled off four wins in the space of 12 months, Ring Magazine named him Fighter of the Year.
However, things changed quickly in 2013, starting with Guillermo Rigondeaux handing The Filipino Flash his first defeat in 12 years.
He didn't have a long gap before the next one, though, as Nicholas Walters stopped Donaire in October 2014.
The 33-year-old has since returned with two comfortable wins and now continues his comeback with a bout against young Mexican Cesar Juarez in Puerto Rico.
Donaire has not always taken the sport seriously, but a switch seems to have been flicked inside his head.
He told Doc Lopez of the Latin Post: "This is the hardest I have trained for a fight. I am more committed and have direction in my training [compared to other training sessions in the past]."
8. Denis Shafikov vs. Rances Barthelemy
8 of 10
When: December 18
Where: Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas
Denis Shafikov and Rances Barthelemy meet for the vacant IBF lightweight title in Las Vegas live on Spike TV.
Shafikov failed in a previous attempt to claim the belt, losing to Miguel Vazquez on points in February 2014.
That loss is the only one the Russian southpaw has suffered as a pro. He was initially set to challenge then-champion Mickey Bey earlier in the year, only for issues over money to twice see the bout cancelled.
Per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Bey—who will appear on the undercard at the Palms Casino Resort—was stripped of the title.
That has opened the door for the unbeaten Barthelemy, who previously held the IBF's belt at super featherweight.
Born in Cuba but now based in Nevada, Kid Blast intends to make a statement, per Boxing News 24: "Shafikov is a very tough opponent and at this level everyone is dangerous. I’m taking this fight very seriously and the boxing world will take notice of my presence in the ring."
9. Andy Lee vs. Billy Joe Saunders
9 of 10
When: December 19
Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Finally, finally, Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders will meet in the ring. It will (hopefully) be third time lucky for the duo.
The original date in September was scuppered by Lee getting a viral infection. The rearranged date for October also bit the dust, with Saunders unable to go due to a cut eye.
Lee's WBO middleweight belt will be on the line. He picked up the title by defeating Matt Korobov a year ago and then retained it with a draw against Peter Quillin.
If he can keep hold of his belt by beating Saunders, the 31-year-old could be in line for a shot at Gennady Golovkin next year.
However, per Kevin Mitchell in the Guardian, Lee is not looking too far ahead: "Golovkin is the golden carrot for everyone in the middleweight division but I have to deal with Saunders first."
The challenger, meanwhile, has had to patiently wait for his opportunity. He is 22-0 with a win over Chris Eubank Jr. on his record.
But, Saunders has fought just once since that split-decision triumph over Eubank Jr. in November 2014 that saw him become British, Commonwealth and European champion.
10. Luis Ortiz vs. Bryant Jennings
10 of 10
When: December 19
Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino, New York
The heavyweight division just became interesting again.
Tyson Fury's stunning win over Wladimir Klitschko has shaken things up at the top, with the Englishman scooping the WBA Super, WBO and IBF titles.
With American Deontay Wilder currently holding the WBC belt, there are some fresh faces in a weight class that desperately needed rejuvenation.
Bryant Jennings is another intriguing heavyweight. The 31-year-old from Philadelphia impressed in defeat against Klitschko in April, taking the Ukrainian the distance.
According to Bryan Armen Graham in the Guardian, Klitschko was impressed with the American: "He would have beat a lot of top heavyweights tonight. I welcome him to the top of the heavyweight division."
Now Jennings—who only turned pro in 2010—can move a step closer to another world title shot by claiming the interim WBA strap.
He takes on Luis Ortiz, a Cuban who now lives in Florida and is unbeaten in 22 fights.
It is a great chance for the winner to vault themselves to bigger and better things.
If we've missed out a fight you're looking forward to in December, let us know via the comments section. Alternatively, feel free to send in your thoughts/predictions on the 10 Bleacher Report has picked out.
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