We’re three months into 2024 and already boxing has thrown up some blockbuster fights, with plenty more on the way in the not-too-distant future. But as always, some of the sports’ big names seem to have disappeared into the ether. Head Body Boxing is going to look at some of the fighters that have fallen off our radars recently, and who they could possibly fight should they finally return to action:
Andy Ruiz Jr
It’s a long time in the context of the heavyweight division since Andy Ruiz Jr had just shocked the world and handed Anthony Joshua his first defeat via knockout in Madison Square Garden. In the aftermath of that massive upset back in June 2019, pundits were predicting that Ruiz’ hand-speed and overall boxing skill would be too much for Joshua in the rematch. That wasn’t the case as Ruiz now infamously underprepared for his only ever world title defense, as the grossly overweight Mexican American essentially handed the titles back to Joshua. Since then, there have been declarations from Ruiz that he’s going to knuckle down and take his career seriously, but the fact remains that he has only had three fights in the last two years and there appears to be nothing on the horizon. Ruiz undoubtedly earned life changing money in his two fights with Joshua, particularly the second bout in Saudi Arabia, but the lure of being included in the recent boom in heavyweight fights in Saudi accompanied with the chance to become a two-time heavyweight world champion will surely be enough to entice Ruiz to have one last run in his career while its still not too late. When we do hopefully see ‘The Destroyer’ back in action, here’s a list of some decent possible opponents:
- Joseph Parker(rematch)
- Dillian Whyte
- Anthony Joshua (trilogy match)
- Zhilei Zhang
- Deontay Wilder
Chris Eubank Jr
The last eighteen months have been quite the rollercoaster for Chris Eubank Jr, having been initially preparing for a high-profile showdown with Conor Benn before Benn tested positive for banned substances. From the glitz and glam of the cancelled Benn fight, Eubank was catapulted to a surprise domestic encounter with Liam Smith where proceedings were stopped early by the referee while Eubank was on the receiving end of a punishing beating. To his credit, Eubank triggered an immediate rematch clause and gave Smith a taste of his own medicine, and in turn has put himself in a great position to progress to world title fights, or at least other massive money-spinning fights. But, as is on brand for Eubank’s career, the momentum appears to have stalled again and there’s nothing to suggest that we will be seeing him back in the ring anytime soon. Eubank has always maintained that his career long ambition is to win a world title and he has the perfect opportunity to challenge for both the IBF and WBO middleweight titles, with the WBO previously having installed the Englishman as mandatory challenger to unified champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly. Although this fight is one of Eubank’s potential options, it has appeared that he has been cool on the idea of challenging the Kazakh fighter. Eubank has spent large parts of his career courting mega-stars like Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and even more recently, Terence Crawford. None of this those fights are ever likely to happen, so let’s look at some of possible opponents for when Eubank does return to the ring:
- Janibek Alimkhanuly
- Jermall Charlo
- Jermell Charlo
- Erislandy Lara
Jaron Ennis
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has easily graduated through the ranks of professional boxing from prospect to contender to, eventually, world champion. Although the manner in which he was awarded the IBF title after Terence Crawford vacated the belt was a bit anti-climactic. Regardless of whether Ennis won his title in the ring, or he did so by receiving an email to inform him of same by the IBF, one thing that always seemed certain is that he would become a world champion. Something which never seems to offer such certainty is the identity of Ennis’ next opponents. Despite already being a world champion at the age of twenty-six, Ennis has had great difficulty at building momentum and getting meaningful opposition into the ring with him and it’s evident that the Philadelphia fighter wants to fight much more frequently against a higher standard of opponent. Ennis’ breathtaking skills make him a tough prospect for anyone to go head-to-head with and his hope would have been that the Crawford vs Errol Spence rematch not transpiring would have been good news for him, but both fighters are leaving the welterweight division depriving Ennis of the two most lucrative options that had been possible. From the beginning of 2021 to the end of 2023 Ennis has only fought five times, which is not enough for a fighter at this stage of his career. Let’s hope as 2024 progresses that ‘Boots’ Ennis can get more active and let’s look at some of the fighters that could square off against him next:
- Cody Crowley
- Conor Benn
- David Avanesyan
- Egidijus Kavaliauskas