It was another absolutely packed weekend for boxing with several strong main events, some memorable stoppages, and the foundation for some big clashes next year.

The most notable action in the ring came at light heavyweight. Artur Beterbiev laid claim to history’s crown in 2019 and unified the IBF and WBC belts with an excellent stoppage of Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Beterbiev hasn’t had a chance to do much since. Defending against solid contender Marcus Browne on Friday, Beterbiev got to remind the world how good he can be.

Beterbiev worked through a nasty cut to batter Browne, dropping the challenger twice en route to a ninth round knockout. It’s only the second time since 2016 Beterbiev fought twice in the same calendar year. At 36, Beterbiev getting more active in 2022 would be a good thing for him and for fight fans. There are fights out there to further define him.  

Futures: The best fight at light heavyweight isn’t the same as the easiest to make. Beterbiev’s ties to Top Rank align with ties for WBO titlist Joe Smith Jr. A unification has been discussed in the past and would make sense next year if Smith wins next month against Callum Smith. That fight would unify belts. A clash with WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol, who laid a one sided loss on Smith, looks like the most competitive fight in the class on paper. 

Bivol may instead see Gilberto Ramirez before that possible. Bivol and Ramirez have both been regulars of late on DAZN and that would be an intriguing match. Ramirez looked good Saturday against veteran Yunieski Gonzalez. While defense remains a liability, Ramirez has a good chin and offense and has a chance to push a Bivol who hasn’t had much to get up for since the Smith fight. 

As long as Saul Alvarez is out there, all the light heavyweights will be aware he could return to their class but there are no promises there. The best case without Alvarez is Beterbiev-Smith and Bivol-Ramirez with the winners meeting on the back side.            

Serrano Secures a Superfight?

One of the most significant fights in the history of women’s boxing would be a clash between multi-division titlist Amanda Serrano and lightweight champion Katie Taylor. Serrano did her part with a near shutout of Miriam Gutierrez on the undercard of Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley II. The ink might not be on paper yet but all signs point to a showdown.  

Futures: Serrano has won belts from 115 to 140 pounds in her career and hasn’t lost since 2012. A win over Taylor would be a stamp on history and her era. Taylor is naturally bigger. Serrano is a little younger. The winner would have a powerful case as the pound for pound queen of the ring. It’s hard to ask for more. 

Inoue Needs a Rebound Year 

Earlier in the week, Naoya Inoue did what Inoue usually does. He knocked someone out. In this case, the someone was Aran Dipaen and that’s not a name anyone is likely to recall. It shouldn’t be. After a run at bantamweight that started with five straight wins over consensus top ten battlers, Inoue spent 2021 against a mis-mandatory and the hopeless Dipaen. Inoue is one of the premiere talents in boxing and is still only 28. He says he wants to finish unifying bantamweight. Can the pieces align to allow that to happen next year?

Futures: Inoue, who holds the WBA and IBF belts, versus WBC titlist Nonito Donaire in a rematch of their 2019 Fight of the Year seems to be something both men want. The issues around WBO titlist John Riel Casimero missing his mandatory bout with Paul Butler remain unresolved for now. The availability for that belt to be won remains to be seen. Depending on when the third Juan Francisco Estrada-Roman Gonzalez fight gets a date, facing the winner there would also be desirable. 

Ultimately, Inoue moving to Jr. featherweight is what feels inevitable. It’s a matter of when. If unification can’t happen, there are a pair of unified titlists one class up who could provide him a chance at new accolades and perhaps some defining fights. Muradjon Akhmadaliev and Stephen Fulton are both young, fresh, undefeated threats. Inoue against either would be highly anticipated among hardcore fans and give Inoue a chance to resume the momentum he looked like he had coming out of the World Boxing Super Series. 

Cliff’s Notes…

Jake Paul’s knockout of Tyron Woodley was highlight reel, toe curling stuff no matter how one feels about that slice of the sport…David Morrell is yet another blue chip under 25 in a commendable youth movement and he’s clearly fast tracking. Morrell is a problem already. A year from now, he might be more than that…Has Michael Soro’s loss to Israil Madrimov been rendered a “No Contest” yet? It should be…Errol Spence-Yordenis Ugas is likely coming based on the news this weekend. What does Terence Crawford do in the meantime?...Joseph Parker-Dereck Chisora was wildly entertaining and kept Parker in contention at heavyweight. The power, speed, and combinations Parker displays on occasion remind why he was so highly regarded on the way up the ranks. What appeared again to be a lack of killer instinct, or maybe even confidence when Chisora kept getting up, was perhaps a reminder of why Parker has found a ceiling on some obvious talent.  

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.