September will see six title fights taking place across various venues in the UK and the USA.
Anthony Joshua (24-1 22 KO) is set to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO Heavyweight Titles against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk (18-0, 13 KO) on Saturday 25 September at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
It has been something of a journey to get to this point.
As Usyk had become the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018, he was entitled to mandatory challenger status after moving up to the heavyweight division in 2019.
Meanwhile AJ had lost and then regained his title against Andy Ruiz Jr, which prompted the WBO to order an AJ and Usyk fight – but the following day the IBF ruled AJ should meet their mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev.
When AJ beat Pulev in December 2020, talks progressed around an undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury, meaning the WBO held off on the Usyk fight.
In the meantime, a meeting for the WBO interim title between Usyk and Joe Joyce was discussed.
But in May – just a day after the AJ and Fury date was confirmed – a judge ordered Fury to face Deontay Wilder before September 2021 due to a prior contractual obligation.
The WBO quickly dictated that AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, should provide proof of a contract between AJ and Fury.
After failing to do so within the allotted timeframe, the WBO ordered AJ to reach a deal with Usyk within 10 days.
Finally, in June, Hearn announced the September bout.
Prior to AJ’s fight this month, on Saturday 4 September, Katie Taylor (18-0, 6 KOs) will defend her WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Lightweight Titles against mandatory challenger Jennifer Han (18-3-1, 1 KO and 3 no contests) in Headingley, Leeds.
Oscar Valdez (29-0, 23 KO) is set for his inaugural defence of the WBC Super-Featherweight Title when hetakes on Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KO) on Friday 10 September in Tucson, Arizona.
Saturday 11 September sees Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KO) take on mandatory challenger Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KO) at the Copper Box Arena in London during what will be the first defence of his IBF Flyweight Title.
The Park MGM in Las Vegas will host Stephen Fulton (19-0, 6 KO) and Brandon Figueroa (22-0-1, 7 KO) as they battle it out in a unification fight for the WBC and WBO Super-Bantamweight Titles on Saturday 18 September.
On the same night AJ takes on Usyk, Lawrence Okolie (16-0, 13 KO) will fight Dilan Prasovic (15-0, 12 KO) in an attempt to retain his WBO Cruiserweight Title.
Here is the full boxing schedule for the upcoming month.
Saturday 4 September at Headingley, Leeds, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom
- Mauricio Lara vs Josh Warrington II (Featherweight)
- Katie Taylor vs Jennifer Han (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Lightweight Titles)
- Conor Benn vs Adrian Granados (Welterweight)
September 10, Tucson, Arizona, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank
- Oscar Valdez vs Robson Conceicao (WBC Super-Featherweight Title)
Saturday 11 September at Copper Box Arena, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry
- Sunny Edwards vs Jayson Mama (IBF Flyweight Title)
Saturday 11 September at Staples Center, LA, USA – Triller Fight Club
- Oscar De La Hoya vs Vitor Belfort (180lbs Catchweight)
- Anderson Silva vs Tito Ortiz (195lbs Catchweight)
- David Haye vs Joe Fournier (Heavyweight)
Saturday 18 September at Park MGM, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC
- Stephen Fulton vs Brandon Figueroa (WBC and WBO Super-Bantamweight Titles)
Saturday 25 September at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom
- Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, IBF and WBO Heavyweight Titles)
- Lawrence Okolie vs Dilan Prasovic (WBO Cruiserweight Title)
- Callum Smith vs Lenin Castillo (Light-Heavyweight)
- Campbell Hatton vs Izan Dura (Super-Featherweight)
