The championship fight. The pinnacle of achievement across combat sports for centuries. A premiere attraction that draws millions every year. But not all title bouts are created equally.
So which title bouts every week are the ones to watch? We’ll look over every title fight from across the combat sports landscape and give you the five best based on five criteria:
- Competitiveness: Is this an even matchup? Or just a warm body to throw at a champion? It’s a title fight, so we want the best possible at that division in that promotion.
- Excitement: How exciting will this fight be? A clash of two elite talents throwing everything they have at each other in an attempt to win the gold? Or a half-dead plod-fest devoid of action or risk?
- Juice: A sort of catch-all term for all the factors behind the matchup. Is there a story leading up to the match? A true rivalry? Anticipated rematch? Do the fighters dislike each other? Were the circumstances leading to the fight extraordinary, or was it just a promoter putting two names against each other? Is there a lot of excitement or hype going into it?
- Prestige: Applies to the belt itself, but also to the fighter wearing it. Is this a long-tenured champion defending? Is this an interim title or one that was vacated? Has the champion increased the prestige of the title or is this a fight that will increase the prestige of it?
- Viewing Ease: We all don’t mind suffering for our art (or hobbies), but sometimes paying twenty dollars for a choppy stream, or searching your cable plan for a channel you’re pretty sure was just invented three days ago in the 6000s isn’t the best of times. How easy, affordable, and stress-free is this bout to watch?
So here are your five best gold options for the weekend.
1. IBF World Featherweight Championship: Josh Warrington (c) (27-0) vs. Carl Frampton (26-1)
When/Where: Saturday, 3:30pm, ESPN+
Competitiveness: 5: This is a fantastic bout. I absolutely love it. Frampton, the former WBA featherweight king, lost his title after trading majority decisions with Leo Santa Cruz, back for another crack at gold against Warrington, who snuck by Lee Selby by split-decision. This could absolutely go to either man.
Excitement: 3
Juice: 3: Frampton’s road back to the title after barely losing it, including going through Horacio Garcia, Nonito Donaire, and Luke Jackson. He’s more than earned another crack. This will be the toughest fight of Warrington’s career, and can cement himself as a legit world champion after squeaking by Lee Selby to gain it.
Prestige: 5
Viewing Ease: 3
Total: 19
2. WBC World Junior Middleweight Championship: Jermell Charlo (c) (31-0) vs. Tony Harrison (27-2)
When/Where: Saturday, 8:00pm, FOX
Competitiveness: 3
Excitement: 3: His brother is the more explosive fighter, but Jermell has enough power to make it interesting.
Juice: 1
Prestige: 5
Viewing Ease: 5: World championship boxing on network TV! Get out your rabbit ears, cord-cutters, no excuses for missing this.
Total: 17
t3. Interim WBC World Middleweight Championship: Jermall Charlo (c) (27-0) vs. Matt Korobov (28-1)
When/Where: Saturday, 8:00pm, FOX
Competitiveness: 2: Unfortunately, Korobov is a late-replacement for Willie Monroe Jr., who was pulled after a flag on a test. They’re lucky Korobov was already on the card, and he’s already been a world title contender, but I’m skeptical of the readiness of a fighter who was training for a tune-up fight at light heavyweight, and now is thrust into a title fight at middleweight.
Excitement: 3
Juice: 1
Prestige: 4: The true WBC Middleweight strap is being held by Canelo, so who knows if PBC and DAZN can get something done, but I doubt it, as it appears Daniel Jacobs is on deck for Saul.
Viewing Ease: 5
Total: 15
t3. Interim Titan Fighting Championship Lightweight Championship: Beibit Nazarov (14-3) vs. Martin Brown (12-5)
When/Where: Friday, 9:00am, UFC Fight Pass
Competitiveness: 4
Excitement: 3: Brown is the kind of fighter who usually controls the fight, but Nazarov is a scary submission artist who could catch him.
Juice: 2
Prestige: 2: Ironically, the Titan Lightweight champion, Sidney Outlaw is fighting that very same night…for Island Fights. Huh.
Viewing Ease: 4
Total: 15
t3. Vacant Titan Fighting Championship Flyweight Championship: Juan Puerta (15-6) vs. Kazbek Ashimov (6-3)
When/Where: Friday, 9:00am, UFC Fight Pass
Competitiveness: 2
Excitement: 5: Ashimov lives by the submission and dies by the submission, so his kamikaze mission is must-watch.
Juice: 2: Eastern Bloc, so hot right now. They’re taking over the entire world via fighting championships, which is the first start to world domination! And after tonight, Titan might have have added two more Eastern Bloc champs to add.
Prestige: 2
Viewing Ease: 4
Total: 15
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