Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook Tops the 10 Fights to Watch in September

After August allowed the boxing world to take a break, the sport returns with a bang in September.

The focus over the next month centres around two modern-day superstars who would ideally be preparing to face each other right now in a blockbuster bout everyone is desperate to see.

Instead, Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin find themselves going up against English opponents in the coming weeks.

GGG has found middleweight opponents hard to come by, but unbeaten welterweight Kell Brook is up for the challenge of ending the Kazakh's reign in the division.

Canelo, meanwhile, has forfeited his title at 160 pounds to return to action at super welterweight. The Mexican has the chance to immediately reclaim a world title when he faces WBO champion Liam Smith in Texas.

The outstanding Roman Gonzalez is also in action soon, while Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares meet to decide who should be considered the best lightweight on the planet.

Bleacher Report has tried to help your schedule out by picking 10 fights to watch in September.

Sergio Mora vs. Daniel Jacobs

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Daniel Jacobs defends his WBA middleweight title against a familiar foe.

When: September 9

Where: Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania

Danny Jacobs and Sergio Mora have history.

The two middleweights first met last year in a bout that came to an abrupt end. Jacobs—the WBA champion—climbed off the canvas to win in Round 2 after his opponent suffered a serious ankle injury.

A rematch hadn't really appeared to be in the pipeline until Jacobs ran out of alternatives.

Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs) pushed hard on social media for another opportunity—and eventually Jacobs gave in. However, now he's developed a real dislike for his rival.

Per Mike Coppinger of USA Today, The Miracle Man (31-1, 28 KOs) said on a conference call ahead of the bout: "I want to hurt this man. I want to make him feel pain. I want to punch him in the face."

Provided he can avoid any more fitness issues, expect Mora to last much longer second time around.

Richard Commey vs. Robert Easter Jr.

When: September 9

Where: Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania

Richard Commey and Robert Easter Jr. meet in the chief support act to Mora-Jacobs to decide who will become the new IBF champion in the lightweight division.

The belt was vacated by Rances Barthelemy, who has opted to move up in weight to further his career.

American Easter Jr. (17-0, 14 KOs) has battered his way to a world-title shot. The 25-year-old was last seen stopping Argenis Mendez in April, taking his knockout ratio to 82 per cent, per BoxRec.

Commey, though, is comfortably the toughest task he's faced to date. The Ghanaian (24-0, 22 KOs) has won all but two of his pro bouts inside the distance and has been patiently waiting for an opportunity at a major title.

The meeting of two heavy-handed fighters should be fun to watch—and don't be surprised if their bout ends up stealing the show in Pennsylvania.

Kell Brook vs. Gennady Golovkin

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Gennady Golovkin struggled to find willing opponents in the middleweight division.

When: September 10

Where: O2 Arena, London

Had Chris Eubank Jr. and his team put pen to paper, Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook would be preparing for different opponents right now.

GGG (35-0,32 KOs) seemed set to meet Eubank Jr. at the O2 Arena in the English capital. Brook, meanwhile, looked on course to face Jessie Vargas in a unification clash at welterweight.

However, a phone conversation between Brook and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, changed everything.

While Eubank Jr. and his team of negotiators played hardball, The Special One suddenly jumped ahead of him to the front of the Golovkin queue.

Needing a big fight at the age of 30, Brook (36-0, 25 KOs) agreed to move up two divisions to take on the reigning IBO, IBF and WBC middleweight champion.

Both men are unbeaten, and both have a reputation for hitting hard at their respective weights.

Brook has used scientific methods to help him prepare for his middleweight debut. It will be fascinating to see how he copes against a man many at 160 pounds have avoided like the plague.

Lee Haskins vs. Stuart Hall

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Lee Haskins will put his IBF bantamweight title on the line at the O2.

When: September 10

Where: O2 Arena, London

Back in July 2012, Lee Haskins defeated Stuart Hall on points to claim the vacant European bantamweight title.

Now, over four years on from that bout, the two old foes meet again. This time, though, there's a world title on the line.

Haskins (33-3, 14 KOs) will be defending his IBF belt at the O2 Arena. He became a world champion without throwing a punch after Randy Caballero failed to make weight for their bout in November.

However, the 32-year-old from Bristol, England, is on a seven-fight winning streak that included winning the British and European titles (the latter for a second time).

At 36, Hall (20-4-2, 7 KOs) understands it's now or never if he wants to win back a belt he used to have in his possession.

He told Adam Steel of the Evening Gazette: "It’s a last roll of the dice for me, I’m climbing back up to the top of the snakes and ladders and if I hit the snake there is no coming back."

Desperation and determination can be a lethal combination inside a boxing ring—Haskins should expect a tough defence.

Carlos Cuadras vs. Roman Gonzalez

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Roman Gonzalez is a little man who hits extremely hard.

When: September 10

Where: Forum Inglewood, California

It seems his trainer, Arnulfo Onado, has revealed the secret behind Roman Gonzalez's unblemished record.

Per World Boxing News, Onado said: "He's like a robot. He trains, he rests and nothing else. Roman is totally focused on this fight."

Now it all makes sense. Chocolatito—who is 45-0 (38 KOs) as a pro and a three-weight world champion—may not be human. His CV certainly suggests he's some sort of boxing Terminator.

WBC super flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras (35-0-1, 27 KOs) is next up for Gonzalez, who sits on top of The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound rankings.

The Mexican, like his opponent, is unbeaten. He's confident of causing an upset too, per BoxingScene: "Chocolatito is too small for super flyweight, so I’m sure I’ll surprise everyone. I have always been a natural 115-pounder and I’ll do the job."

The pair have combined for 65 knockout victories, suggesting it could be an explosive battle between two little men with big reputations.

Saul Alvarez vs. Liam Smith

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Saul Alvarez and Liam Smith will meet at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

When: September 17

Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Liam Smith wanted a big name for his next fight. In Saul Alvarez, he's got one of the biggest around.

Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) is the reigning WBO super welterweight champion, yet that seems to have been somewhat overlooked in the buildup.

In Great Britain, he is well-known as one of four fighting siblings from the city of Liverpool, but in the United States, his name barely moves the needle of interest.

Canelo (47-1-1, 33 KOs) is the one under pressure. Unless his next opponent was called Gennady Golovkin, he was always going to be criticised for taking a softer option.

Now back down at 154 pounds, the Mexican expects a tough test against a fighter nicknamed Beefy. 

Per Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail, Canelo said: "I’ve seen a couple of his recent fights, his style is a come forward style. He takes punches really well, he’s very strong, very powerful, he likes to fight. It’s going to be a great fight."

Smith will hope to succeed where Amir Khan failed. His tactics will be vastly different to Khan's—Canelo won't have to look far to find his latest foe from Britain.

Gabriel Rosado vs. Willie Monroe Jr.

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Gabriel Rosado has won two on the spin since being beaten by David Lemieux.

When: September 17

Where: T&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

The undercard to Smith-Alvarez includes a battle between middleweight nearly men Gabriel Rosado and Willie Monroe Jr.

Both fighters suffered at the hands of Gennady Golovkin in the past.

GGG stopped Monroe Jr. (20-2, 6 KOs) in Round 6 last May. However, Monroe Jr. bounced back with a points win over fellow American John Thompson in June this year.

Rosado (23-9, 13 KOs), meanwhile, made it to Round 7 against Golovkin in 2013. He's also lost to Peter Quillin, Jermell Charlo and David Lemieux.

Initially, Billy Joe Saunders was set to appear on the card in Texas. However, per Patrick L. Stumberg of Bad Left Hook, the WBO champion turned down the chance to defend his belt against Rosado.

His loss is Monroe Jr.'s gain, and both men will know they have an opportunity to impress in front of a huge audience.

Krzysztof Glowacki vs. Oleksandr Usyk

When: September 17

Where: Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland

Polish cruiserweight Krzysztof Glowacki returns to action on home soil when he defends his WBO title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

Glowacki (26-0, 16 KOs) claimed the belt last August from Marco Huck in Newark, New Jersey, knocking the German out in Round 11 to end his long reign.

Fellow southpaw Usyk (9-0, 9 KOs) is a dangerous foe despite his limited experience in the pro game. The Ukrainian won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games and is a former amateur world champion. 

At 6'3", he also has a healthy size advantage over the 6'0" champion.

Jorge Linares vs. Anthony Crolla

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Anthony Crolla stopped Ismael Barroso in his first defence of the WBA title.

When: September 24

Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England

Just who is the best lightweight in the world right now?

According to The Ring magazine, the winner of the September 24 fight between Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares deserves the accolade, as the famous publication has put their vacant belt up for grabs.

WBA champion Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) has home advantage at the Manchester Arena, the same venue where he dethroned Darleys Perez last year with a beautiful body shot.

Linares, however, has already experienced an English crowd. He dashed Kevin Mitchell's dreams of winning a world title in 2015, stopping the Londoner at the O2 Arena after an unforgettable war in the capital.

The Venezuelan (40-3, 27 KOs) is the WBC's Diamond champion, having been unable to defend his title against Dejan Zlaticanin (who now has the belt in his possession) due to a hand injury.

Now fit to return to the ring, Linares could be involved in yet another fight-of-the-year contender against an Englishman.

Crolla told Sky Sports (h/t Michael Kelleher of SkySports.com): "I think it can't fail but to be a good fight. If we put on a great fight, it wouldn't surprise me if we have a few fights down the line."

Marco Huck vs. Ovill McKenzie

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Marco Huck picked up the IBO title by beating Ola Afolabi in February.

When: September 24

Where: Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany

Few expected cruiserweight Marco Huck to lose his WBO title to Krzysztof Glowacki last year.

The German (39-3-1, 27 KOs) bounced back from the shock result by overcoming longtime rival Ola Afolabi in February, claiming the IBO title in the process.

Their fourth and (surely) final meeting came to an early end when Afolabi—with his left eye swollen shut—was retired on the advice of the ringside doctor before the start of Round 10.

Now Huck faces another teak-tough warrior in Ovill McKenzie. The English-based Jamaican has a mixed record (25-12-1, 13 KOs) but displayed his talent last time out in a debatable draw with IBF champion Victor Emilio Ramirez in Argentina. 

The Upsetter will hope to live up to his nickname by becoming the first cruiserweight to beat Huck on German soil.

"I will give the performance of my life. I am a real fighter, a warrior. I am 36 now, but I honestly feel like I’m 20. I am in amazing shape," McKenzie told World Boxing News (h/t Boxing News).