Tony Bellew and Ricky Burns Feature in 10 Fights to Watch in October
Halloween falls in October, but will the boxing world serve up any treats in the next few weeks?
Well, the trick (see what I did there?) to finding out the answer to that question is to take a look at Bleacher Report's breakdown of the best bouts in the upcoming month.
Although the rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko has been called off for a second time, there's still plenty for British fight fans to look forward to.
Ricky Burns and Tony Bellew both defend world titles on home turf, while Nathan Cleverly attempts to win one on the road.
There were strong contenders who didn't make the cut for the top 10, including crucial nights for brothers Liam and Ryan Walsh, and a British title defence for Welshman Liam Williams.
However, it's a slow month in the United States—the quiet before the storm ahead of the return of Manny Pacquiao, as well as the showdown between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, in November.
Right, time to crack on with the fights you need to be focusing on during October.
Juergen Braehmer vs. Nathan Cleverly
1 of 10
When: October 1
Where: Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany
Light heavyweights Juergen Braehmer and Nathan Cleverly were due to meet in London back in 2011, only for the former to pull out at short notice due to injury.
Five years later, the pair will try again, with German Braehmer (48-2, 35 KOs)—the WBA champion who has won 17 on the spin—having home advantage.
Cleverly is back at light heavy after a brief flirtation with the cruiserweight division. He was last seen losing a bloody battle against Andrzej Fonfara last year, although the boxer with a degree in mathematics believes he has Braehmer's number.
"I was confident of beating him five years ago, but I feel even more confident now. It’s my time, and that belt is mine for the taking," he said in a Matchroom Boxing press release.
Neither man can afford a defeat at this stage of their careers. That must-not-lose mentality in both corners should add an extra edge to the occasion.
Alexander Dimitrenko vs. Joseph Parker
2 of 10
When: October 1
Where: Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand
Rather than sit and wait for his opportunity at a world title to come around, heavyweight Joseph Parker (20-0, 17 KOs) has opted to stay busy.
The unbeaten New Zealander is the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Anthony Joshua—and it seemed the two were going to meet on November 26, according to Richard Damerell and Ed Robinson of Sky Sports.
However, with Wladimir Klitschko now at a loose end, there could be a change to the script.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, used his Instagram account to confirm talks were ongoing with Klitschko's management team over the Ukrainian facing Joshua next month instead.
Parker cannot worry about what may happen in the not-too-distant future. His focus is on dealing with former European champion Alexander Dimitrenko, a German-based Russian with a 38-2 (24 KOs) record.
Ricky Burns vs. Kiryl Relikh
3 of 10
When: October 7
Where: The SSE Hydro Glasgow, Scotland
Ricky Burns is back boxing again at the SSE Hydro, the same venue where he made British boxing history in May.
In beating Michele Di Rocco to claim the vacant WBA super lightweight belt in May, Burns became the first Scotsman to win world titles in three different divisions.
His first defence of his latest title sees him go up against Kiryl Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs), an unbeaten Belarusian who is managed by Ricky Hatton.
According to Ewing Grahame of the Daily Record, Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) is in line to face Adrien Broner, who was stripped of the WBA strap after failing to make weight for a defence against Ashley Theophane.
However, Hatton believes Relikh can ruin any ideas the Scotsman has of taking on Broner in a lucrative showdown in Las Vegas.
The Hitman told the Press Association (h/t the Daily Mail): "I firmly believe he [Relikh] is going to break a few Scottish hearts."
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Dillian Whyte vs. Ian Lewison
4 of 10
When: October 7
Where: The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Dillian Whyte is such a combustible character that he could probably pick an argument in an empty room.
The heavyweight gets a second chance to win the British title on October 7, as he takes on Ian Lewison in the pick of the bouts on the Glasgow undercard.
Both fighters are based in Brixton, London. They nearly came to blows at a press conference in the English capital, with Lewison promising it will be "carnage" when they meet in the ring, per Boxing News.
Whyte (18-1, 14 KOs) missed out on the Lonsdale belt last year when losing to another fierce domestic rival, Anthony Joshua. He bounced back to winning ways by knocking out Ivica Bacurin in June, then outpointed David Allen in a one-sided 10-rounder at the end of July.
Lewison (12-2-1, 8 KOs), meanwhile, has only had 15 fights in a career that has spanned over seven years. At 35, he cannot expect to get too many better opportunities to make a name for himself.
Daniel Geale vs. Renold Quinlan
5 of 10
When: October 14
Where: Silverdome Basketball Stadium, Launceston, Australia
Just how much has Daniel Geale got left in the tank?
The Australian has lost three of his last five outings, and he's not been seen in a ring since WBC middleweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto stopped him inside four rounds in June 2015.
If you also add in the fact he'll be 36 next February, it's easy to think his better days are behind him.
However, Geale (31-4, 16 KOs) told Damian McIntyre of ABC.net.au: "I love the sport of boxing, I still believe I've got something left to offer as well. When that desire stops I'll obviously step away."
Moving to the super middleweight division, the Real Deal takes on compatriot Renold Quinlan (10-1, 6 KOs) for the vacant IBO title.
The switch in divisions should make life easier on the scales, so the well-rested Geale should put on a big performance for his hometown crowd in Launceston, Tasmania.
BJ Flores vs. Tony Bellew
6 of 10
When: October 15
Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Tony Bellew will struggle to ever hit the same heights he reached when winning a world title at Goodison Park, the home of his beloved Everton Football Club, in May.
The Bomber (27-2-1, 17 KOs) became a world champion at the third attempt, emphatically stopping Ilunga Makabu in the third round to grab the vacant WBC cruiserweight title.
Now the 33-year-old is back in action again in Liverpool, albeit this time at the Echo Arena, to defend his crown against BJ Flores.
While the occasion may not be quite the same, Bellew has been fired up for Flores' busy mouth (I know, the irony of the situation).
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I finally get my chance to shut BJ Flores up. He's been following me everywhere and now is the time for him to back up his words."
The American challenger (32-2-1, 20 KOs) talks a good game when working on television in the United States—now it is time to find out if he can back up his words with a win on the road.
Expect fireworks.
Derry Mathews vs. Luke Campbell
7 of 10
When: October 15
Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Luke Campbell may have won an Olympic gold medal in 2012, but Derry Mathews hasn't been impressed by his fellow Englishman's progress in the paid ranks.
"I’ve seen his fights where he’s stepped up and to me, he hasn’t adapted to the pro game very well. So when this fight was presented to me by my manager, I jumped at it," Dirty Derry told Luke Byron of BritishBoxers.co.uk.
Lightweight Campbell (14-1, 11 KOs) may have a baby face, but he's 29. The time has long gone to get rounds under the belt—now he needs to be tested. To that extent, the experienced Mathews (38-10-2, 20 KOs) is the perfect opponent.
Campbell was dropped in his most recent outing, yet he climbed off the canvas to defeat Argenis Mendez on points. He is undoubtedly the more skilled of the two but could find Mathews—who lost by unanimous decision against WBO champion Terry Flanagan in March—a tough nut to crack.
The mix of styles should make for an absorbing undercard battle at the Echo Arena.
Tom Stalker vs. Craig Evans
8 of 10
When: October 22
Where: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
It may seem odd to include a fight for the WBO European lightweight title in the list, but something special happens when Tom Stalker and Craig Evans get together inside a boxing ring.
The clash in the Welsh capital will be the third chapter in their story—and fans can only hope the latest instalment lives up to the two previous meetings.
Astonishingly, despite fighting 20 rounds with each other, there's been nothing to split them.
A split-decision draw at the Manchester Arena in October was so entertaining that Stalker (11-1-3, 2 KOs) and Evans agreed to do it all over again just two months later.
The rematch—held at the same venue—ended up as...a split-decision draw.
Welsh southpaw Evans (15-1-2, 3 KOs) has home advantage for their third fight, as they appear on a bill that had been due to feature Chris Eubank Jr. defending his British middleweight title against Tommy Langford.
Surely, surely, we won't see a third draw, right? Whatever the outcome, the bout should be fun to watch.
Frankie Gavin vs. Sam Eggington
9 of 10
When: October 22
Where: Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, England
The battle of Birmingham promises to be a feisty affair as local rivals Sam Eggington and Frankie Gavin go toe-to-toe at the Barclaycard Arena.
This will be the second attempt to get the fight on—they had been due to face each other a year ago, only for Gavin to be ruled out with an injury.
Funtime Frankie (23-2, 14 KOs) has only managed six rounds of action since losing to IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook in May 2015.
Eggington is also trying to rebuild his reputation after losing the British and Commonwealth titles to Bradley Skeete.
The Savage (18-3, 10 KOs) has previously sparred with his next opponent, although more recently they've switched to exchanging verbal blows in the media.
"I don't mind him having a go at the way I box, but he's said some personal stuff about me and that's got me annoyed, and now I am going to punch him from pillar to post," Eggington said at the pre-fight press event, per Michael Kelleher of Sky Sports.
While local pride is at stake, the fight is about more than just bragging rights.
David Lemieux vs. Cristian Fabian Rios
10 of 10
When: October 22
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
David Lemieux makes his comeback after knee surgery against Cristian Fabian Rios.
The heavy-handed Canadian—who underwent an operation in July to repair a torn meniscus—fights for the first time on home soil in 2016.
Having lost to Gennady Golovkin last October, Lemieux (35-2, 32 KOs) got back to winning ways by stopping Glen Tapia in May.
Argentinian Rios (21-7-3, 6 KOs) isn't expected to cause the local boy too many problems in Montreal. Although a national champion at home, the 33-year-old has barely made a ripple on the world scene.
According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, the fight has been signed at a weight limit of 165 pounds.
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