Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz Tops the 10 Fights to Watch in January
While January is normally a quiet time in the boxing world, several fights are worth seeing during the opening month of 2017.
The two main cards take place in the United States, starting with the long-awaited unification clash between super middleweights James DeGale and Badou Jack.
Then, at the end of the month, Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz meet again, this time in Las Vegas.
Both bills also contain some excellent undercard action, giving boxing fans plenty of reasons to be cheerful at the start of what will hopefully be a much better year for the sport.
Bleacher Report has picked out 10 duels to watch in the coming weeks.
Erislandy Lara vs. Yuri Foreman
1 of 10
When: January 13
Where: Hialeah Park Racing & Casino, Hialeah, Florida
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Erislandy Lara's latest defence of the WBA super welterweight title is the headline act of PBC's first show—aired by Spike TV—during what is set to be a busy January.
Cuban defector Lara (23-2-2, 13 KOs), who fought just once last year, beating Vanes Martirosyan on points, goes up against the experienced Yuri Foreman in Florida.
"Yuri Foreman is a former world champion who is dedicated to this sport and will be looking to win another world title. I expect nothing but the best from him. On fight night, I'm making another statement and going for the knockout," Lara said, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
The champion needs to go for the knockout, too. His style hasn't thrilled the American audiences so far, and since he lost to Saul Alvarez in 2014, the leading fighters in the division have avoided Lara.
Foreman (34-2, 10 KOs) is a recognisable name, but he's also 36 and has fought just 10 rounds since the start of 2014.
Anthony Dirrell vs. Norbert Nemesapati
2 of 10
When: January 13
Where: Hialeah Park Racing & Casino, Hialeah, Florida
Anthony Dirrell (29-1-1, 23 KOs) was active for a grand total of one minute and 49 seconds in 2016, a criminally low number for a former world champion who is only 32.
The Dog needs exercise.
Since losing his WBC title to Badou Jack in April 2014, Dirrell eased to a points win over Marco Antonio Rubio in a 10-rounder and then easily knocked out Caleb Truax inside one.
His next foe is Norbert Nemesapati (24-4, 17 KOs), a 21-year-old Hungarian whose last defeat came against the heavy-handed Callum Smith in September.
Since then, the man nicknamed Noble has won three on the spin, albeit against easy opposition.
Also on the same bill, former bantamweight world champion Juan Carlos Payano—who lost to Rau'shee Warren last year—takes on Isao Gonzalo Carranza in an eight-round bout.
James DeGale vs. Badou Jack
3 of 10
When: January 14
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Finally, finally, super middleweights James DeGale and Badou Jack will face each other in a ring.
The two world champions ended up doing far too much negotiating and not enough fighting in 2016, which resulted in their head-to-head showdown being pushed into the new year.
Despite the scheduling for early in January, DeGale (23-1, 14 KOs) didn't let his January date ruin his Christmas, even squeezing in a dinner on December 25 too.
"My weight's fine. Turkey is good, lean meat. I can have a big Christmas dinner, but I’ve just got to cut out all the rubbish," Chunky said in a video interview with BBC Sport.
Jack (20-1-2, 12 KOs) held onto his WBC crown last year by the skin of his teeth, getting a majority-draw verdict against Lucian Bute (although Bute failed a doping test).
DeGale, who holds the IBF strap, was more convincing against Bute in 2015, but the fact neither champion has managed a win inside the distance in more than two years points to the judges' earning their keep in Brooklyn.
The Englishman Callum Smith will watch on with interest too, as he is scheduled to face the winner next.
Jose Pedraza vs. Gervonta Davis
4 of 10
When: January 14
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Jose Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs) puts his IBF super featherweight belt on the line against Gervonta Davis (16-0, 15 KOs) in the co-main event in Brooklyn.
The Puerto Rican Pedraza fought just once in 2016, retaining his title with a points win over the Englishman Stephen Smith.
Davis, meanwhile, is a 22-year-old southpaw who has made a habit of knocking out opponents in the paid ranks.
Backed by Mayweather Promotions, the fighter nicknamed Tank now gets a world title shot after just 43 rounds. It is a leap of faith from those who are in charge of his promising career.
"Davis will enter the ring as a young, hungry, unbeaten challenger, but the only thing he will leave with is the first loss on his record," Pedraza told the media at a pre-fight press conference.
Cecilia Braekhus vs. Klara Svensson
5 of 10
When: January 28
Where: The Spectrum, Oslo, Norway
Cecilia Braekhus (29-0, 8 KOs) fights for the second successive time in Oslo, Norway, when she defends her five (yes, five) world titles against Klara Svensson.
The unbeaten Braekhus, who is nicknamed First Lady and is a national treasure in her adopted homeland of Norway, stopped Anne Sophie Mathis in Round 2 at The Spectrum last year.
Now she's back at the same venue to face Svensson (17-1, 5 KOs), a Swede who failed in an attempt to take the WBC super lightweight belt from Erica Anabella Farias in May 2016.
That reverse is the only blip on Svensson's record—she has since bounced back with wins over Lucia Morelli and Mikaela Lauren, both on points.
Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz
6 of 10
When: January 28
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Will the dethroned king get revenge, or will the new champion prove why he appears in The Ring's pound-for-pound top 10?
Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz produced one of the best fights of 2016, with the former winning by a majority-decision verdict to claim the WBA super featherweight belt.
The Mexican Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs) feels he can bounce back from his first pro loss and reverse the result; otherwise he wouldn't have bothered to activate the rematch clause in his contract.
However, Barry McGuigan—part of the Cyclone Promotions team who manage Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs)—believes The Jackal will be even better the second time around.
"He made a lot of mistakes in that first fight, but of course, he still won. This time I am looking for less mistakes and a comprehensive victory," McGuigan told Sky Sports.
No pressure then, Carl.
What we do know is that styles make fights, and Frampton and Santa Cruz jelled together nicely. Expect another absorbing contest.
Dejan Zlaticanin vs. Mikey Garcia
7 of 10
When: January 28
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
While Frampton vs. Santa Cruz is a great matchup, Dejan Zlaticanin's defence of his WBC lightweight title against Mikey Garcia has the potential to steal the show in Las Vegas.
The pair have a combined 57-0 record in the paid ranks, but someone's perfect record will have to come to an end at the MGM Grand.
"The fight is not going to reach the final bell; one of us will be knocked out, and I believe it will be Mikey," Zlaticanin, 22-0 (15 KOs), said, per World Boxing News.
The challenger Garcia is 35-0 (29 KOs) and a two-weight world champion. However, he's had just one outing since the end of January 2014, which hardly ideal preparation for such a huge fight.
Zlaticanin is not the kind of rival who allows you to ease back in—just ask Ricky Burns—so the opening rounds may be crucial in deciding the outcome.
Lee Selby vs. Jonathan Victor Barros
8 of 10
When: January 28
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
The third world title fight on a packed Vegas bill sees IBF featherweight champ Lee Selby face Jonathan Victor Barros.
Now stop me if you've heard this before in this slideshow, but Selby's 2016 schedule was far too empty.
Despite holding a major belt in a packed division and also being in the prime of his career at the age of 29, the Welshman made just one solitary defence last year.
He was forced to climb off the canvas to beat the awkward Eric Hunter on points in April.
Selby (23-1, 8 KOs) will want to be far more active in 2017, and he has set his sights on the winner of the main event at the MGM Grand, according to Michael Pearlman of BBC Wales Sport.
First, though, he needs to deal with mandatory challenger Barros (41-4-1, 22 KOs).
The Argentinian fighter is vastly experienced but has defeats to Yuriorkis Gamboa and Mikey Garcia on his CV.
Francisco Vargas vs. Miguel Berchelt
9 of 10
When: January 28
Where: Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California
After taking a break following his bruising battle with Orlando Salido last June, Francisco Vargas returns as the main attraction on a bill to be aired by HBO.
The WBC super featherweight champion (23-0-2, 17 KOs) takes on fellow Mexican Miguel Berchelt and expects another gruelling battle in California.
"Boxing fans know what to expect every time I step in to the ring—and that is a war," Vargas said in a press release (h/t Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times).
El Bandido only just held onto his title last time out, as he and Salido produced a strong Fight of the Year contender that was scored as a majority draw in Vargas' favour.
Berchelt (30-1, 27 KOs) has only once fought outside of his homeland but boasts an impressive 87 per cent KO ratio, per BoxRec.
This could be a fun watch, however long it lasts.
Jerwin Ancajas vs. Jose Alfredo Rodriguez
10 of 10When: January 29
Where: Studio City, Macau, China
Having ripped the IBF title from McJoe Arroyo, super flyweight Jerwin Ancajas (25-1-1, 16 KOs) makes the first defence of his crown in Macau.
The Filipino fighter—who is promoted by compatriot Manny Pacquiao—picked a good time to claim a major belt in a division that includes some stellar names.
The other three world champions at 115 pounds are Khalid Yafai (WBA), Roman Gonzalez (WBC) and Naoya Inoue (WBO). The trio could all be attractive options for later in 2017.
"He is one of the best at 115 pounds in the world, and with a little more experience, he'll be right there with all the top guys in the division, guys like [titleholder] Roman Gonzalez and [former titlist Carlos] Cuadras. He just needs a little more experience," Ancajas' adviser, Sean Gibbons, told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.
Before any further talk of unification bouts, the southpaw has to make sure he deals with Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (32-4, 19 KOs).
If there is one concern over the Mexican challenger, who started out at light flyweight, it is his lack of serious competition of late. He hasn't fought in a 12-round contest since November 2013.
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