The Four Fights I Would Like To See In 2023

The Four Fights I Would Like To See In 2023

Women’s boxing is undoubtedly in a very good place. The previous twelve months were the best yet, and by a country mile. It was more than progress and acceptance and the removal of any lingering doubters. Or so we hope. On both sides of the Atlantic, we had big fights, sold-out arenas, and the promise of more. Much more. But despite the obvious and easy temptation, we don’t necessarily want more of the same.

While admittedly, if we see any kind of reincarnation of the three biggest female fights from 2022 there would be few complaints, but if the sport is to continue that incredible upward trajectory of recent times new rivalries and fresh fights need to emerge.

Here are the four fights I would like to see in 2023.

Chantelle Cameron vs Mikaela Mayer

Chantelle Cameron and Mikaela Mayer are likely to share many things in common in 2023. Both will chase the big fights and for different reasons, have one eye on their previous opponents, and Katie Taylor will be an obvious target for both. Cameron ended last year on an incredible high, the undisputed status she now holds has been a long-time coming. A fighter frustrated and more by how boxing works. Her win over Jessica McCaskill which gave her all the belts at 140 was sweet in many ways. But that win shouldn’t be the pinnacle of her career, it should be the springboard for even greater things.

2022 ended a little differently for Mayer. Her undefeated record and unified world super-featherweight titles were lost to the tsunami of boos in London last October that greeted the controversial decision that was awarded to her bitter rival Alycia Baumgardner. Mayer wants revenge, make no mistake about that, but equally the American knows she can’t stand still waiting for a call that might never come. Mayer has moved up to lightweight and has already set her sights on Taylor. In truth, Taylor has long been on her radar.

Cameron and Mayer are both ambitious and want the legacy fights, and if the Taylor fight or any other big fight that matches their personal and high ambitions doesn’t materialise for either, they could turn their attention to each other. A fight between the pair for everything that shines at 140 would be a very big fight indeed. And a very good one.

Ebanie Bridges vs Nina Hughes

Everything Ebanie Bridges has built for herself outside of the ring often camouflages her achievements inside it. What Bridges does in other areas of her life shouldn’t disguise her skills inside a boxing ring. The Australian has achieved plenty, and in recent times she has done it with only one good hand. An injury to her right hand has been a constant problem since 2021, her training has been severely restricted and as she seemingly always has to do, fighting through the pain barrier has been very much a requirement. But Bridges has still impressed, winning a world title last March over a long-reigning champion and in her best performance to date, an incredibly impressive win over her fellow Australian Shannon O’Connell in December. Bridges has now had that troublesome right hand repaired via surgery and when she returns later this year a 100% IBF bantamweight champion will be looking to add more belts to her resume.

A fight with the newly crowned WBA bantamweight champion Nina Hughes is the easiest fight on my list to make. Hughes will look to defend her title against Shannon Courtenay in the coming months, and that seems the only obstacle to overcome in making the big unification fight. Hughes has an inspiring story of her own, a world champion in her first year as a professional and will now look to build on her success. A fight with Bridges will give her the opportunity to do exactly that. If Bridges and Hughes do get to share a ring together, it is one of those fights that is guaranteed not to disappoint.

Ellie Scotney vs Skye Nicolson

Ellie Scotney and Skye Nicolson are two of the most talented and promising fighters around today. At the end of their careers, both are likely to have several world titles to their name. After a slow start to her career, Scotney has now found her rhythm and is developing into the fighter that was promised when she left her amateur days behind her a few years ago. Nicolson has glided almost effortlessly and practically untouched to five wins in her first year as a professional. Both fighters are serious talents.

Scotney looks set to challenge Cherneka Johnson for her IBF super-bantamweight title in the next few months, and Nicolson wants her maiden world title opportunity sooner rather later. But with Amanda Serrano looking to rematch Katie Taylor after her undisputed featherweight clash with Erika Cruz next month, Nicolson, who fights on the same New York card, might have to sit and wait for a shot at a world title at her more natural weight if as expected, Serrano beats Cruz and all the belts are then held up while Serrano looks for revenge over Taylor. But Nicolson wants her own moment of truth and unless Cruz upsets the odds, she will likely have to look elsewhere for that first world title.

Nicolson told me last month, that with enough notice and if needed she is prepared to move down in weight in that chase for her first world title, and if Scotney relieves Johnson of her world title a Scotney/Nicolson match-up suddenly becomes a real possibility. And a very enticing one at that. It might seem an unlikely fight right now, but don’t be surprised if it becomes a reality.

Claressa Shields vs Natasha Jonas

A fight between Claressa Shields and Natasha Jonas is almost certainly dependent on the importance that Sky and Boxxer put on a rematch between Shields and Savannah Marshall. If the powers that be decide the priority is running back that incredible fight from last October, then Jonas might have to look elsewhere for her next opponent. But timing might be on her side if Shields has to or can take a fight in the first half of 2023 before her PFL MMA commitments kick in, and with Marshall looking to have a fight before facing Shields again, the Liverpool fighter might just get her wish. Although ‘Miss GB’ has plenty of other live options which are currently being explored. As with every other fight on this list, there are many moving parts that will determine if any of them actually get made. Boxing rarely runs in straight lines.

Shields and Jonas have more than shown an interest in fighting each other and a fight between the two world champions would surely sell out any arena in England, it could even grace a stadium, and I’m certain Jonas has one in mind. Shields is a true superstar in her sport, and her reputation was enhanced further in the win over Marshall and specifically the manner of it. A fight with Jonas gives the undisputed middleweight champion another big fight her talents deserve. Jonas started 2022 with no world titles to her name but ended it with three. The unlikely move up to the 154 division has more than paid off, but she isn’t satisfied. A victory over Shields would be the perfect final chapter to the Natasha Jonas story. The fight ticks many boxes, and outside of the Taylor/Serrano rematch it could be the biggest fight the women’s side of the sport has to offer in 2023.