Professional boxing offers a wide range of exciting fights every single year and in 2024, it's set to present some of its most intriguing bouts yet. From crossover matchups to the biggest heavyweight clash of all time, this year's headline fights will revolve around a pair of scintillating narratives.
We look at the two fights that stand above all on the 2024 schedule as the heavyweight division prepares to dominate the headlines again.
Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou
Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou is the first genuine blockbuster of the year despite the meeting being merely an exhibition. Joshua is undoubtedly one of the greatest heavyweights of his generation and he'll meet a mixed martial arts legend in Ngannou.
In the outright markets for betting on Joshua vs Ngannou, the Englishman is currently offered at a price of 1/5, however, the Cameroonian proved in his narrow debut loss against Tyson Fury that he shouldn't be underestimated. Ngannou is presently offered at 7/2 to win the fight in the latest boxing odds and, importantly, underdog victories have been a recurring theme throughout his fighting career.
Combat sport crossovers are common but few in the past have been as high-profile and monumental as this one. A potential victory could be vital to the long-term boxing careers of both opponents.
Naturally, Joshua needs to win to stay on course when it comes to earning another title fight in the future. He lost his four world title belts in 2021 against Oleksandr Usyk and was unable to reclaim them in the 2022 rematch. Meanwhile, Ngannou simply has to cause a shock against one of the elite heavyweights sooner or later if he's to prove he belongs at the top level besides one-off exhibitions.
This fight is set to be massive simply due to the iconic names that will go head-to-head and the remarkably positive implications that a win for either corner could have.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk will arguably be the biggest fight in the history of the sport. For the first time, five international belts will be on the line, which means a unified and undisputed heavyweight champion will emerge from the other side.
The fight was initially set to take place in February but an injury to Fury caused the contest to be pushed back until May and this has ramped the anticipation up further.
Fury and Usyk will meet in the ring with perfect boxing records backing them up. The Gypsy King has won 34 fights and has toppled legendary figures like Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder. Usyk, on the other hand, has a slightly less impressive 21 wins to his name including 14 in which titles were on the line.
Fury vs Usyk is set to hold higher stakes in terms of both prizes and personal pride than any fight throughout history which alone should make it the fight of the year. Ultimately, both of the fights mentioned here should bring in hundreds of millions of viewers and create the biggest boxing headlines of the year, regardless of the outcomes.
This year's standout boxing events will allow fans to witness the foundations of one fighter's world title credentials, as well as another's crowning moment later in the year.
