Former three-title holder Anthony Joshua will take on a stern test in once-beaten Otto Wallin in a twelve-round bout that may be closer than expected.
Wallin has yet to fight often since his close decision defeat to Tyson Fury in 2019 but is returning after a win over former cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev and style-wise could be a threat to Joshua, should he be looking ahead to Deontay Wilder.
Joshua has won twice since his consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk with a decision over Jermaine Franklin and a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius and seeks a third win to cap off the year.
Should Joshua win over Wallin, he is planning to battle Deontay Wilder, who also is fighting on the card against former WBO champion Joseph Parker.
Wilder has fought only one round since his gallant loss to Tyson Fury in their third fight, in 2021, icing Robert Helenius in October 2022, so who knows how that ring rust will affect the biggest puncher in the division.
Parker has always shown a durable chin but suffered his first knockout loss in 2022, falling to Joe Joyce in eleven rounds.
Parker has won three straight since against mediocre competition, so it is fair to wonder if Parker will hold up in his first challenge since losing to Joyce.
The top contender in the IBF will be in action as Filip Hrgovic battles veteran Mark DeMori.
DeMori hasn't fought anyone of note since being knocked out in one round by David Haye in 2016, so this is a showcase fight for Hrgovic and staying active.
Daniel DuBois has been stopped in both of his losses and yet he takes a very interesting opponent in Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller, who has been on tour against weak opposition since his PED suspension.
DuBois has the size and skills to do well against Miller, as long as his chin holds up.
Miller did stop former contender Lucas Browne in six rounds in his last fight, so that's something and DuBois hasn't shown a great chin, so Miller does have a puncher's chance.
The winner should be in line for a 2024 eliminator.
Two unbeaten fighters with plenty to prove with Arislenbek Makhmundov meeting Agit Kabayel in a ten-rounder.
Makhmundov has stopped eighteen of nineteen foes but the best of them, veteran Carlos Takam, lasted the ten-round distance.
Kabayel has beaten Dereck Chisora and Andrei Rudenko both by decision and has shown more boxing ability than Makhmundov but doesn't have the power.
The final heavyweight pits unbeaten Franks Sanchez against Junior Fa,
Sanchez looked to be on the edge of contention when he dominated Efe Ajagba in a match of unbeaten heavyweight prospects in October 2021 but hasn't fought a contender since in his four wins after the victory over Ajagba.
Fa was once a highly regarded prospect before losses to Joseph Parker by decision and an awful first knockout loss to Lucas Browne in 2022, so Fa is a heavy underdog in this fight.
WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol makes his 2023 debut with less than ten days to go in the year as he defends his title against Lyndon Arthur.
Arthur's not a gimme' as he owns a win over Anthony Yarde, but Yarde did stop Arthur in four rounds in their rematch.
Remember that Craig Richards, another lanky fighter from the UK, went the distance with Bivol and gave him a difficult fight so don't be surprised if Arthur fights better than expected.
Jai Opietaia was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title last week in one of the dumber decisions in boxing as Opietaia didn't face mandatory challenger Mairis Briedis, despite Briedis giving permission for Opietaia to take an optional defense and Briedis stating that he would be unavailable to fight in December anyway.
Opietaia will face unbeaten Briton Ellis Zorro, who will be taking a jump from England's best to arguably the best cruiserweight in the world.
Boxing Challenge
TRS: Wilder Unanimous Decision
V.S: Parker KO 8
TRS: DuBois Unanimous Decision
V.S: Miller Unanimous Decision
TRS: Makhmudov Unanimous Decision
V.S: Kabayel KO 6
TRS: Hrgovic KO 3
V.S: Hrgovic Unanimous Decision
TRS: Opietaia Unanimous Decision
TRS: Sanchez KO 4
V.S; Fa Unanimous Decision
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