On the last day of the month, two of boxing’s undisputed kings will lock horns in the biggest fight of the month. (photo by Ryan Hafey)

Don’t be surprised if, after the receipts are tallied, it ends up being the biggest fight of the year:

    09/30: 168 - World Champion Saul Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KO, IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO) vs. World Jr. Middleweight Champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KO, IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO)

It’s a fight that looks a little outrageous to some on paper considering the separation of weight classes between the two men. Off paper, the pre-fight press tour indicated little real size issue to this one. Consider in broader context that Alvarez spent the bulk of his career in the weight class Charlo currently reigns over and the gap narrows more.

Charlo will be making his first start in more than a year and will attempt the biggest win of his career. It is Charlo’s fifth straight opponent listed as champion or top ten in their weight class by TBRB or The Ring. Alvarez is facing his 12th such foe in 13 starts. Consider this as well: in his last five starts, Alvarez will have faced someone ranked no less than the top two of every weight class from 154-175 pounds. 

Only light heavyweight titlist Dimitry Bivol has officially had the better of him in the last decade.  

It’s a fascinating fight supported by a solid undercard, including Yordenis Ugas vs. Mario Barrios and Jesus Ramos vs. Erickson Lubin, for what could be one of the best pay-per-view buys of the year.

While this will be the biggest box office, the literal biggest fight of the month in the ring will see a pair of heavyweight behemoths lock horns for the second time.

Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat, Part II

In April, undefeated Joe Joyce saw his record blemished and his hopes of a title shot pushed back by the heavy hands of one of the few men in the sport who can match his size. At 6’6, 256 pounds, for his last outing, that’s no easy feat. China’s Zhang Zhilei, at 6’6 and 278 pounds, was up to the task both on the scale and in the ring. 

The sequel is all set:

    09/23 - Hvy - TBRB #5 Zhang Zhilei (25-1-1, 20 KO) vs. #6 Joe Joyce (15-1, 14 KO)

Zhilei now holds the WBO interim strap at heavyweight so the winner here will be right in range for a shot at unified titlist Oleksandr Usyk. They’ll wait in line behind IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic, the only man with a win over Zhilei, and any possible unification clash between Usyk and lineal king Tyson Fury.

If Joyce can reverse the outcome of their first fight, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to see these two settle the score all the way if their other option is just to wait.

Unification Fever Rolls On

The number of unification fights in recent years has been a net plus for boxing. It’s happening so often on the men’s and women’s side it almost feels hard to keep up. Two more bouts add to the fun in September:

    09/01: 118 - Dina Thorslund (19-0, 8 KO, WBO) vs. Yulihan Luna (25-3-1, 4 KO, WBC)

    09/23: 147 - World Champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3, 5 KO, WBA/WBC) vs. Sandy Ryan (6-1, 2 KO, WBO)

At bantamweight, Thorslund and Luna are ranked top two by both The Ring and LinealboxingChampion.com meaning the winner of this bout will have a claim to the vacant lineal throne in their division. At welterweight, McCaskill was undisputed and is attempting to reunify her division beginning with the showdown versus Ryan. 

Both fights will be worth a look.

Cliff’s Notes…

The hardcore card of the month will come in Japan with Kenshiro vs. Budler and Nakatani vs. Cortes both work waking up early for…Lightweight William Zepeda is a little lost in a heavy shuffle in his weight class but he’s as exciting as anyone in the world. Mercito Gesta isn’t likely to threaten his rise…Richardson Hitchins-Jose Zepeda could be a quality sleeper this month.

Additional Title Fights in September

Men

09/15: 126 - #1 Luis Lopez (28-2, 16 KO, IBF) vs. Joet Gonzalez (26-3, 15 KO)

09/18: 115 - #4 Junto Nakatani (25-0, 19 KO, WBO) vs. Argi Cortes (25-3-2, 10 KO)

09/18: 108 - World Champion Kenshiro Teraji (21-1, 13 KO, WBA/WBC) vs. #3 Hekkie Budler (35-4, 11 KO)

09/30: 200 - World Champion Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KO, IBF) vs. Jordan Thompson (15-0, 12 KO)

Women

09/16: 105 - Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9 KO, IBF/WBO) vs. Maria Santizo (11-3, 6 KO)

09/30: 122 - Elie Scotney (7-0, IBF) vs. Laura Griffa (20-8, 1 KO)

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.