Let’s get this out of the way early: we can’t just make up fights for 2026 anymore.
The landscape has changed. Fighters have retired, divisions have shifted, and some of the so-called “dream fights” that got recycled for years are finally dead. Terence Crawford retiring properly killed off the Canelo rematch debate, and frankly, good — that conversation had been running on fumes for a while.
So instead of fantasy matchmaking, this is a grounded look at the boxing fights 2026 that are actually on the calendar, or at least moving in that direction. Not because they excite everyone — but because boxing will sell them anyway.
And that’s the problem.
The Calendar Doesn’t Lie — But It Doesn’t Tell the Whole Truth Either
If you scan the 2026 boxing calendar — the proper one, not the fantasy Twitter graphics — there are already plenty of fights locked in. Dates, venues, press releases, the lot.
On paper, it looks strong. In reality? I’m interested in about two of them.
And that’s not because boxing lacks talent. It’s because modern boxing doesn’t sell fights anymore — it sells narratives. Over and over again. Loudly. Weekly. Until people convince themselves they care.
Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson — The One Fight That Actually Grabs Me
This is the standout. No question.
Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson is confirmed, and for once it feels like boxing hasn’t overthought itself into paralysis.
Lopez defending at 140. Stevenson moving up. Styles that genuinely clash. No fake bad blood required. No nostalgia bait. Just a proper, high-level boxing match.
This is what boxing fights 2026 should look like.
Which probably explains why it feels like an outlier.
Moses Itauma — At Least Someone Is Being Moved Properly
I’ll give boxing this much: Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin makes sense.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not being sold as “the future of the division”. It’s just a necessary step — the kind of fight that tells you whether the hype is deserved or premature.
That alone makes it more interesting than half the heavyweight billboards we’re going to see this year.
Andy Cruz, Claressa Shields, and Fights That Don’t Need TikTok Explainers
Andy Cruz fighting Raymond Muratalla for the IBF title? Good fight. Real stakes. No nonsense.
Claressa Shields defending again? Same story as always — she fights, regardless of whether the noise follows.
These bouts won’t dominate social media for weeks, and that’s exactly why they matter. They exist for sporting reasons, not algorithms.
Joshua vs Fury — Am I Really the Only One Who Doesn’t Care Anymore?
Here’s where I lose patience.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury might finally happen in 2026 — and I genuinely couldn’t care less.
Five years ago? Absolutely.
Now? It feels exactly like Kell Brook vs Amir Khan did — a fight sold on what it used to mean.
We already know how this will be packaged:
“Battle of Britain.”
“Legacy.”
“The fans finally get what they wanted.”
No.
We wanted it five years ago.
They’ll book Wembley. They’ll claim it sold out. They’ll shout about numbers. They’ll pretend it defines an era. And most people will buy it — because boxing has trained fans to chase nostalgia.
That doesn’t make it good. It just makes it profitable.
And let’s be honest — isn’t Tyson Fury supposed to be retired this week anyway?
This Is Boxing in 2026: Sell the Story, Not the Substance
This is why so many boxing fights 2026 feel hollow before they even happen.
Promoters don’t sell fights anymore — they sell talking points.
They sell weekly content.
They sell hype cycles.
They sell TikTok narratives for fans who weren’t watching when these fights actually mattered.
We saw it in 2025. Inflated attendance claims. “Historic” rematches that weren’t. Events sold as cultural moments rather than competitive ones.
If you want proof of how wide the gap is between expectation and reality, look back at what actually delivered last year versus what was shouted about endlessly:
That tells you everything.
The Brutal Truth About 2026
These fights will sell.
They always do.
Eddie, Frank, Ben — they’ll push them relentlessly. Every interview, every press conference, every minor angle inflated into something bigger than it is.
Because boxing doesn’t need the fight to be great — it just needs the numbers to look good.
And yes, CMBoxing probably is in the minority for calling that out.
Final Bell — Say It Loud
Are you genuinely excited for most of these fights — or are you just being told you should be?
Which bout actually interests you in 2026, and which one are you already tired of hearing about?
Share this, argue with it, and head back to CMBoxing — where fights are judged on what happens in the ring, not how loud the marketing department shouts.