Business picks up after a slower January with several intriguing bouts dotted throughout February to keep fans in suspense.

It kicks off this weekend with a Fox PPV show featuring the returns of two of the biggest names in their weight classes in recent years: Keith Thurman and Leo Santa Cruz. Both commence their careers after long layoffs with Thurman inactive since a 2019 loss to Manny Pacquiao and Santa Cruz out of the ring since a 2020 knockout loss to Gervonta Davis. It’s part of a four-fight card more appealing for depth than a central main event to put butts in seats.

Interested viewers on February 5th will see:

  • 147 - Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KO) vs. Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KO)
  • 126 - Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KO) vs. Keenan Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KO)
  • 122 - Luis Nery (31-1, 24 KO) vs. Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KO)
  • 147 - Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KO) vs. Lucas Santamaria (12-2-1, 7 KO)

While it will be the highest profile card available in the US on the weekend of the fifth, it may not provide the best fireworks.

A Worthy Replacement

Along with the Fox show, February 5th was a date to circle as chapter eleven in the sage of the hardcore four, featuring a rematch between Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras. It was there to dovetail perfectly into chapter twelve with Juan Francisco Estrada-Roman Gonzalez III set for March.

Both fights are off with Estrada and Sor Rungvisai forced out. Worthy replacements entered the fray in both bouts. Gonzalez will face WBC flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez next month while this Saturday we get:

  • 115 - TBRB #8 Carlos Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KO) vs. #10 (108) Jesse Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KO); vacant WBC

The 22-year old “Bam” Rodriguez is one of the most highly regarded young talents in the sport and he’s moving up the scale for a chance to break from the pack. Cuadras, a former WBC titlist at Jr. bantamweight, lingers on the edge of last chances. Cuadras will need all his experience to hold off the challenge of his fiery young rival.

Fire is also an element in a good grudge match and we’ve got a long-awaited clash of UK rivals on February 19th.

Grudge Match, Past Due

It feels like a showdown between former welterweight titlist Kell Brook (39-3, 27 KO) and former Jr. welterweight and welterweight titlist Amir Khan (34-5, 21 KO) should have happened years ago. That’s probably because it should have but the fans at the Manchester Arena will have a good time with this better late than never battle.

Khan has fought, and won, only once since a 2019 stoppage loss to Terence Crawford. Brook is 3-1 since losing his title in 2017 to Errol Spence with the lone loss coming in 2020 to Crawford. The winner may be able to parlay success into one more big opportunity down the road or at least a well paying rematch if this fight can entertain.  

Additional Title Fights in February

Men

02/06: 105 - Rene Cuarto (19-2-2, 11 KO, IBF) vs. Pedro Taduran (14-3-1, 11 KO)
02/26: 140 - World Champion Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KO, WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO) vs. #10 Jack Catterall (26-0, 13 KO)
02/26: 130 - #2 Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KO, WBA) vs. #7 Chris Colbert (16-0, 6 KO)
02/27: 200 - #1 Lawrence Okolie (17-0, 14 KO, WBO) vs. #6 Michael Cieslak (21-1, 15 KO)

Women

02/05: 160 - Claressa Shields (11-0, 2 KO, WBA/WBC/IBF) vs. Ema Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KO)
02/05: 118 - Jamie Mitchell (7-0-2, 4 KO, WBA) vs. Carly Skelly (4-0-1)
02/19: 154 - Natasha Jonas (10-2-1, 7 KO) vs. Ewa Piatkowska (16-1, 4 KO); vacant WBO

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.