With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the States, boxing fans will have more than turkey to look forward to as the month rolls on. Just two days after the festivities, the biggest fisticuffs of the month will play out on both sides of the Atlantic.
Circle November 25 for:
- 11/25: 168 - TBRB #1 David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KO) vs. #9 Demetrius Andrade (32-0, 19 KO)
- 11/25: 140 - World Champion Chantelle Cameron (18-0, 8 KO, WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO) vs. World Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor (22-1, 6 KO, WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO)
At super middleweight, two of the best in the world lock horns in pursuit of the big money and glory that comes with a crack at world champion Saul Alvarez. For Benavidez, who the WBC is keeping a stake in with one of their interim belts, it's a chance to further cement his place as Alvarez’s chief challenger after an impressive win over Caleb Plant earlier this year.
For Andrade, it will be the opportunity that has eluded him throughout his fifteen years as a professional. The 2008 Olympian won belts at junior middleweight and middleweight over the years, but who often matters more than what. The who has never given him a breakthrough. Now in his mid-30s, Andrade can make up for a whole lot of lost time in what will be the farewell voyage of Showtime’s pay-per-view arm. The undercard, with two quality title fights and the return of Jermall Charlo, looks like a solid value addition on the night as well.
Earlier in the day, junior welterweight queen Chantelle Cameron will return to Dublin for the second time in 2023. In May, she left Irish eyes crying, handing lightweight champion Katie Taylor her first defeat. With the win, Cameron secured a unique pair of consecutive wins, having beaten then-undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill in November 2022. Not many champions can say they defended against the very best one division up and one below back-to-back.
A second win over Taylor would give Cameron one hell of a third straight. It won’t be easy. Taylor certainly lost the first time, but the scores were close enough on her home turf to indicate Cameron has to win as clearly as possible. Can she force the judge's hands for a second time?
It will be worth the look to find out.
Additional Title Fights in November
Men
11/03: 130 - #2 Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 KO, IBF) vs. Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KO)
11/03: 108 - #3 Sivenathi Nontshinga (12-0, 9 KO, IBF) vs. Adrian Curiel (23-4-1, 4 KO)
11/04: 200 - #7 Ilunga Makbu (29-3, 25 KO) vs. Norair Mikaeljan (26-2, 11 KO) vacant WBC
11/16: 135 - #3 Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 KO) vs. Edwin De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KO); vacant WBC
11/16: 130 - #1 Emanuel Navarette (38-1, 31 KO, WBO) vs. #8 Robson Conceicao (17-2, 8 KO)
11/25: 140 - #6 Subriel Matias (19-1, 19 KO, IBF) vs. Shohjahon Ergashev (23-0, 20 KO)
11/25: 130 - #5 Hector Garcia (16-1, 10 KO, WBA) vs. Lamont Roach (23-1-1, 9 KO)
Women
11/03: 105 - Yokasta Valle (29-2, 9 KO, IBF/WBO) vs. Anabel Ortiz (33-5, 4 KO)
11/18: 154 - Hannah Rankin (13-6, 3 KO) vs. Ema Kozin (23-1-1, 12 KO); vacant WBC
11/18: 122 - Mayerlin Rivas (17-4-3, 11 KO, WBA) vs. Erika Cruz Hernandez (16-2, 3 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.