
NEW YORK, NY — Get ready boxing fans because the dull period of January for the sport is leading to February. A new calendar year of major fights for champions and contenders looking to move up the ladder.
Boxing for sure was more than a spectacle in 2024, including last April 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Then the mega fight with junior welterweights Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia resulted in controversy.

Moments after Ryan Garcia knocked down Devin Haney on April 20th, 2024 at the Barclays Center – Image Credit: Al Bello/AFP
Garcia would dominate Haney but did not dethrone the champion due to not making weight and later imposed with a year suspension testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.
And Amanda Serrano had her rematch with Katie Taylor, a controversial ending in their second fight that will lead to a trilogy. She is the face of female boxing and a proud member of the champions who represent Puerto Rico.

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano made for one of the most entertaining fights of 2024 – Image Credit: Esther Lin/Most Valuable Promotions
Canelo Alvarez is still considered the face of boxing, though the Mexican icon has been surpassed as possibly the best pound-for-pound best. Regardless, Alvarez defended his super middleweight titles twice with decisive wins against Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguía. More to come for Berlanga, the Brooklyn born puncher from Brooklyn and proudly representing Puerto Rico who went the 12-round distance with Alvarez.
Diego Pacheco, the undefeated super middleweight Mexican-American and promoted under the Matchroom Boxing banner returns next weekend in Las Vegas on DAZN opposing Steven Nelson, a win could propel him to fight Alvarez this year for his titles.

Canelo Alvarez receives massive ovation from Las Vegas crowd before his fight vs. Edgar Berlanga in September of 2024 – Image Credit: Ray Del Rio/PBC
And Puerto Rico will soon have a new champion, 22-year old Xander Zayes ( 20–0, 12 K0’s) remained undefeated and has positioned to become a contender for one of the titles in a competitive 154-pound division that includes Terence Crawford and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora — The Towering Inferno — a Mexican-American who dethroned Tim Tszyu with a memorable 12-round split decision last March.
So many more fighters representing Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Argentina. Brazil, and Cuba. For sure, the Latino fighter continues to dominate boxing as champions and rising contenders. Last count, over 75 percent of the sport has a Latino presence.
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Sebastian Fundora defeated Tim Tszyu last March in a 12 round split decision – Image Credit: Getty Images
Move on to February and 2025. The calendar is set for the next few months and more mega fights in discussion for the year. Boxing is strong despite the skeptics saying otherwise, though the proliferation of streaming networks prevents a novice or average fan from viewing fights on cable or national television.
If anything, the sport deserves better but we are in a world of streaming networks and boxing has been lured into the money that comes with it. And many of the mega fights have moved to Saudi Arabia where the Kings and Princes lure the money in the hands of promoters that can’t refuse. The mega fights are made and streamed on DAZN and Pay–Per-View also on Amazon.

Who can forget about the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight? – Image Credit: Esther Lin/Most Valuable Promotions
Some of the rankings are subject to debate, though the fighters listed here are in line for potential major fights in the months to come. Regardless I still go with Alvarez as the No. 1 fighter in that prestigious Latino category. That will hold until someone dethrones Alvarez and that has been difficult to do. Realize also he is always in demand, continues to be a draw, and chooses opponents despite mandatory mandates from the various boxing alphabet soup organizations that dictate who gets who.
A list to move forward:
Heavyweights: No viable Latino among the top 10 as boxing and the heavyweight division has evolved with champions and contenders from the UK (Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker, Tyson Fury) and the reigning unified champion (Oleksandr Usyk) from Ukraine.

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with the belts after defeating Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion – Image Credit: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Cruiserweight: A lost division but with talent and champion Jai Opetaia who retained his IBF championship this week with a fourth-round KO of David Nyika in Australia. WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez (Mazatlan, Mexico, 47-1-30 K0’s), the 32-year old southpaw regained a part of the division titles and made the pivot with a great comeback trail as a two division world champion.
Light Heavyweight: The division is dominated by champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, their rematch scheduled in Saudi Arabia (February 22nd, DAZN PPV). Albert Ramírez and Richard Rivera are ranked in the top 10 and scheduled for fights this year.

Artur Beterviev-Dmitry Bivol, the rematch is set for next month – Image Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing
Super Middleweight: The champion Alvarez, Berlanga looking to rebound after his loss to Alvarez and scheduled at some point in March. Diego Pacheco is ranked Number 1 with the WBO, Jaime Munguía in the top five among the sanctioning groups and seeking a rematch with Bruno Surace who upset the Mexican who sustained his second loss.
Middleweight: Erislandy Lara retired three-time champion Danny Garcia and represented Cuba. At 41-years old, he is the oldest and current champion among active fighters.
Junior Middleweight: Terence Crawford, Fundora, and Vergil Ortiz Jr. (interim WBC champion, as boxing politics states) and Zayas in the top 5 for major title opportunities. Zayas returns to Madison Square Garden February 14 as a headliner on a Top Rank ESPN card, a win and a title opportunity could await. Jesus Ramos, Yoenis Tellez, Jorge Garcia Perez also ranked in the top 10 among the sanctioning organizations.

Terence Crawford after his win over Israil Madrimov for the WBA World Interim WBO World Super Welterweight Title in August of 2024 – Image Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Welterweight: Once the top division is no longer with Crawford or Errol Spence Jr. and Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the undefeated IBF champion is making a move to 154. Regardless, Alexis Rocha (25-2-1) the 27 year-old Mexican American, promoted under Golden Boy and Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya is in the title mix.
Junior Welterweight: Many will say this is the elite division with Mexican José Valenzuela, the WBA champion, and Alberto Puello the WBC champion, in recess due to the inactivity of Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, the WBO champion looking to move up in weight as he continues his vow to takeover the division. Arnold Barboza Jr. (31-0, 11 KO’s), a Mexican American, also a De La Hoya promoted fighter, scheduled to oppose Jake Catterall for the WBO interim world title February 15 and streamed live on DAZN. Subriel Matias (San Juan, Puerto Rico) the former champion is on the comeback trail and ranked third. Also look out for Alfredo Santiago, Lindolfo Delgado, José Carlos Ramírez, and Elvis Rodriguez also ranked in the WBO title picture and with an eye on IBF champion Richardson Hitchins. There is also former champion and Mexican Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz who is a part of the DAZN super-card with Bivol-Beterbiev.

The super-card for Beterbiev-Bivol next month – Image Credit: DAZN
Lightweight: With WBA champion Gervonta Davis vowing two more fights before retiring, hard to believe. Edwin De Los Santos and rising star Andy Cruz are slated for major fights in the next few months. William Zepeda is slated to eventually oppose Shakur Stevenson for the interim WBC title. Raymond Muratalla (Mexican-American- 22-0, 11 KO’s) is coming off a three win via knockout year. Look more at Roger Gutiérrez, Gabriel Flores Jr. and Ricardo Nunez as rising stars.

William Zepeda and Oscar De La Hoya have a big 2025 planned ahead – Image Credit: DAZN
Junior Lightweight: The champion O’Shaquie Foster (WBC) regained a championship from Robson Conceição in their rematch from their controversial first fight. The division that is known with Emanuel Navarrete, the Mexican warrior who dethroned fellow Mexican Óscar Valdez of the WBO title last month with a devastating sixth round knockout.
Featherweight: Angelo Leo (Mexican-American) IBF champion is slated for bigger paydays and looking to move up in weight. Nick Ball has challenges ahead and possible opponents aiming for his WBA title with Bruce Carrington, Mirco Cuello, and Edward Vazquez. Brandon Figueroa (25-1. 19 KO’s) and Rey Vargas, two Mexican Americans, are looking for a big year. Figueroa defends the WBC interim title February 1 versus Stephen Fulton streamed on PBC Prime PPV. Rafael Espinoza, undefeated at 26-0, (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) is coming off a sixth round KO of Robeisy Ramirez last month in Phoenix.

Rafael Espinoza went blow for blow with Robeisy Ramirez last month in Phoenix – Image Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing
Other Divisions: Naoya Inoue, the junior featherweight champion from Japan continued to dominate. Ramon Cardenas is a potential threat and Jose Israel Ramirez, in a division that gets minimal exposure with Inoue is considered Number 3 among best pound-for-pound champions.
Bantamweight belongs to Antonio Vargas (WBA interim champion), Juan Francisco Estrada and Christian Medina.
The Junior Bantamweight class, it’s always talked about WBC champion Jesse Rodriguez, who is also a Mexican warrior. Add Román González to the list as the number one contender and Francisco Rodríguez Jr.

What’s next for Jesse Rodriguez? – Image Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
Flyweight champion Ángel Ayala and No. 3 ranked Felix Alvarado and Mexican Ricardo Sandoval, a devastating puncher is ranked 4th with the WBA and WBC.
Junior Flyweight champion Erick Rosa gets little recognition because of a division that lacks the needed exposure. Oscar Collazo, another and not known puncher from Mexico continues to reign as WBA/WBO champion.
May have bypassed a few here and there but boxing will be strong this year and for sure with lots of Latino representation.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and contributor at LatinoSports.com – Twitter: @Ring 786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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