Bravose Previews: Fights happening in January 2023
von {{ author }} Kate Rosindale an Jan 01, 2023
The year of 2023 is kicking off with several title fights in January including Gervonta Davis taking on Hector Luis Garcia for the WBA ‘Regular’ Lightweight Title, and Jaron Ennis and Karen Chukhadzhian going up against each other for the IBF ‘Interim’ Welterweight Title.
We are highly anticipating the match up between Brit Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs) and Russian Canadian Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 knockouts) at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on Saturday 28 January.
Londoner Yarde will be looking to be crowned a world champion at the second time of asking when he attempts to take the IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight titles from Beterbiev.
Both fighters are coming into this bout off the back of successful results; 31-year-old Yarde secured a third round knockout of Stefani Koykov in November, while 38-year-old Beterbiev stopped Joe Smith Jr in the second round of a June match up.
While the odds are against underdog Yarde – as he faces a rival who has won all 18 of his professional fights by knockout – some pundits believe Yarde does have certain routes to victory.
Being up against a fighter with a 100 per cent knockout rate means Yarde will need to balance any pressure with a certain degree of cautiousness. It will be important to take a consciously methodical approach against a puncher as lethal as Beterbiev.
While Yarde tends to keep his guard around chest height, some elevation will be needed to defend against Beterbiev’s well known - and potentially extremely damaging - right hook. Even then, staying tight and braced for impact will be key.
Yarde’s tactic of delivering body shots to Koykov helped create the opportunity to knock out his opponent with a whipped right uppercut. This approach could work once again and be the key to Yarde being able to land a decisive blow to the head.
Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren has also spoken out about Yarde’s chances of causing an upset.
In his column, Warren said: “Beterbiev is the fight Anthony has wanted for some time and believe me, he fancies the job. Beterbiev has just turned 38-years-old, and Father Time can be an unforgiving foe.
“Much is made of his 18 straight stoppages, but this also shows that most of his fights have gone early and only once has he entered the 12th round.
“If Anthony sets the pace we expect him to, then this could be a factor. I would also be confident of Anthony proving successful against the names on the record of Beterbiev.
“As ever, the proof of the pudding will be in the punching and Anthony will need to get everything right against a proven champion.”
Here we share a list of the fights to be taking place during January 2023.
Saturday 7 January at the Capital One Arena, Washington DC, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC
- Gervonta Davis vs Hector Luis Garcia (WBA ‘Regular’ Lightweight Title)
- Jaron Ennis vs Karen Chukhadzhian (IBF ‘Interim’ Welterweight Title)
- Demetrius Andrade vs - Demond Nicholson (Super-Middleweight)
Saturday 14 January at OVO Arena Wembley, London, UK – KSI’s Misfits Boxing
- KSI vs FaZe Temperrr (177½lbs Catchweight)
Saturday 14 January at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank
- Efe Ajagba vs Stephan Shaw (Heavyweight)
Saturday 21 January at AO Arena, Manchester, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER
- Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith (Middleweight)
- Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki (Cruiserweight)
- Joseph Parker vs Jack Massey (Heavyweight)
Saturday 28 January at OVO Arena Wembley, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry
- Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde (WBC, IBF and WBO Light-Heavyweight World Titles)
