Boxing schedule for 2024: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou, Teofimo Lopez vs. Jamaine Ortiz on tap

In the year 2023, boxing was filled with excitement as almost every fight that fans had hoped for actually happened. However, the fight between Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, and Oleksandr Usyk, the IBF, WBA, and WBO champion, which was set to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, unfortunately did not come to fruition.

Although the anticipated match didn't happen in 2023, it's now the biggest event on the 2024 boxing schedule. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 18, Fury and Usyk will go head-to-head, with all four heavyweight world titles up for grabs. The fight was initially planned for Feb. 17, but Fury developed a cut during training a few weeks prior, which postponed the bout.

Both fighters come into the bout after facing close calls in their previous fights. Usyk was knocked down by Daniel Dubois, but the shot was ruled a low blow by the referee, giving Usyk time to recover and ultimately stopping Dubois in the ninth round. Fury faced a tough challenge against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in October, with Ngannou scoring a knockdown and winning several rounds. Although Fury won the fight by split decision, losing would have been a more significant blow as he was expected to dominate the match even though his title was not on the line.

There's going to be a big fight for the undisputed light heavyweight champion title this summer in Saudi Arabia. Artur Beterbiev, who holds two titles, will compete against Dmitry Bivol, who holds the WBA title, on June 1. The winner of the fight will walk away with all four titles.

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The upcoming major match in the junior welterweight category will feature Teofimo Lopez, a prominent and maybe controversial star, defending his WBO title against Jamaine Ortiz. It will be the first time Lopez puts his belt on the line, and he will face Ortiz, a fighter who almost beat Vasiliy Lomachenko but ultimately lost by a very narrow margin.

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