The forecast for this coming March looks pretty fantastic in terms of elite outings, meaningful matchups and overall entertainment. The month kicks off with a bumper weekend, and that momentum carries right through. Basically there’s something for just about everyone, but it seems particularly relevant for Heavyweight fans, with three major scraps on the slate, two of which are championships. Really, there’s too much going on for a tight Top 5, so be sure to check out the Best of the Rest list. For the entire month’s boxing fixtures, check out our Complete 2018 Schedule.
Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz (Showtime, Sky Sports Action)
March 3, New York, US
This is definitely an important fight that needs to happen, and one that has the ingredients to be rather dramatic. However, while I rate Luis Ortiz as a technical-puncher who could potentially expose Deontay Wilder’s lack of boxing pedigree, I’m reluctant to oversell this fight. On paper, this is a great matchup, sure. But I just wonder whether it’s happening a little too late for Ortiz, almost 39, who seems to be showing signs of slowing down in the legs and handspeed department. Wilder’s WBC title will be on the line.
Wilder vs. Ortiz: Notable Undercard
- Jermall Charlo vs. Hugo Centeno | Middleweight
- Andre Dirrell vs. Jose Uzcategui II | Super Middleweight
- Sergey Derevyanchenko vs. Dashon Johnson | Middleweight
Sergey Lipinets vs. Mikey Garcia (Showtime)
March 10, San Antonio, Texas
Returning from a dominating win over Adrien Broner last July, Mikey Garcia (BB’s No.7 Pound for Pound) will look to dethrone Sergey Lipinets of his IBF Junior Welterweight belt. In an ideal world we’d all love to see the elite Garcia in with guys like Terence Crawford and Vasyl Lomachenko, simply because they’re fellow elites campaigning around the 140-pound vicinity. But nothing gets rushed in boxing, so we may have to wait a while for those. And actually, there’s no reason to seriously write off Lipinets as a credible foe just yet. On paper he’s solid and yet to suffer a defeat.
Lipinets vs. Garcia: Notable Undercard
- Rances Barthelemy vs. Kiryl Relikh | Vacant WBA Junior Welterweight Championship
- Richard Commey vs. Alejandro Luna | Lightweight
Oscar Valdez vs. Scott Quigg (ESPN / Deportes, Sky Sports Main Event)
March 10, Carson, California
According to my gut, this meeting of two of the planet’s nastiest, vicious Featherweights could well be a Fight of The Year contender in the making. Oscar Valdez and Scott Quigg (occupying BB’s Feather Top 10) are all-action types who never shy away from a toe-to-toe war, and, for that reason, I’m expecting either a dramatic knockout or twelve hard – probably brutal – rounds of action. Quigg will be looking to become a two-weight champion here, while Valdez will look to secure the fourth defense of his WBO title. Not to be missed.
Dillian Whyte vs. Lucas Browne (Sky Sports Action TBA)
March 24, London, England
I’m not quite sure who to favour in this Heavyweight meeting, but it could turn into a barnburner, especially since victory could lead to a title shot. Lucas Browne is an exciting, still unbeaten champion (well, kind of), looking to burst back on to the scene after being firmly swept from it following a failed doping test in 2016 (in the wake of stopping WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev). Dillian Whyte is a good, value-for-money banger, best known for his brave effort against Anthony Joshua and life-and-death battle with Derek Chisora more recently.
Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker (Sky Sports Box Office)
March 31, Cardiff, Wales
I could be very wrong here, but Joseph Parker, despite his unbeaten run, seems like another Anthony Joshua opponent who just isn’t on the same level, something which should become evident in this unification bout. Sure, Joseph Parker’s knockout power is very real and isn’t to be overlooked, but Joshua’s power should be all the more devastating due to his slick timing and finely tuned boxing fundamentals. Joshua (BB’s No.1 Heavy) brings the WBA and IBF portions to the table, and Parker the WBO.
Joshua vs. Parker: Notable Undercard
- Alexander Povetkin vs. David Price | Heavyweight
- Ryan Burnett vs. Yonfrez Parejo | WBA Bantamweight Championship
Boxing in March: Best of the Rest
Luis Nery vs. Shinsuke Yamanaka II (BeIN Sports Espanol)
March 1, Tokyo, Japan; WBC Bantamweight Championship
- Ryosuke Iwasa vs. Ernesto Saulong | Iwasa’s IBF Junior Featherweight Championship
Kell Brook vs. Sergey Rabchenko (Sky Sports Action)
March 3, Sheffield, England; Junior Middleweight
- Gamal Yafai vs. Gavin McDonnell | Junior Featherweight
Sergey Kovalev vs. Igor Mikhalkin (HBO, Boxnation)
March 3, New York, US; WBO Light Heavyweight Championship
- Dmitry Bivol vs. Sullivan Barrera | WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Knockout CP Freshmart vs. Toto Landero
March 6, Chonburi, Thailand; WBA Strawweight Championship
Regis Prograis vs. Julius Indongo (Showtime, Boxnation)
March 9, TBA location; Junior Welterweight
Jose Ramirez vs. Amir Imam (ESPN / Deportes)
March 17, New York, US; Vacant WBC Junior Welterweight Championship
- Michael Conlan vs. TBA | Featherweight
- Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Mehdi Amar | Light Heavyweight
Ryuya Yamanaka vs. Moises Calleros
March 18, Kobe, Japan; WBO Strawweight Championship
Tyron Zeuge vs. Isaac Ekpo II
March 24, Hamburg, Germany; WBA Super Middleweight Championship
Do you agree with our March Top 5 Best Fights? Is it a foregone conclusion that all roads lead to a Joshua vs. Wilder blockbuster? Or would it be very foolish to overlook the challenge that Parker and Ortiz represent? Also, spill your predictions on your favourite matchups.
