The biggest fight of 2024 is now in the rear-view after Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion on May 18 in Saudi Arabia. The fight was another in the long list of massive showdowns that boxing has produced over the past few years. It's likely Usyk and Fury meet again before the end of 2024, with a built-in rematch clause in the contract that both fighters said they expect to be enforced.
The ball is ultimately in Fury's court as the loser of the fight was the one who had the power to activate the rematch clause. Attention now turns to Leeds, England for a highly-anticipated rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall. The two first met in 2022 when Taylor was undisputed junior welterweight champion.
Catterall clearly dominated the fight and deserved a clear decision victory but somehow two of the three ringside judges scored the fight for Taylor. Despite the controversy, Taylor maintained he earned the win and was eventually stripped or relinquished three of his four world titles rather than accepting mandatory defenses before dropping the WBO title in lopsided fashion against Teofimo Lopez in 2023. Catterall now finally gets his crack at Taylor, affording him a long-awaited opportunity to gain revenge, even if there is no championship on the line.
Another major showdown was set for the summer in Saudi Arabia with a bout to see an undisputed light heavyweight champion crowned. Unified titleholder Artur Beterbiev was set to take on WBA cha.
