f you’re looking out for some top-class boxing, then March is definitely a month in which you can’t afford to miss the in-ring action. There are a number of high-profile fights scheIduled to take place throughout the month, with the likes of Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua among the star attractions stepping into the squared circle again. Here are five fights we’re especially looking forward to in March.
Kell Brook v Sergey Rabchenko
Sheffield born boxer Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) moves up to light-middleweight and tackles Belarus’ former European champion Sergey Rabchenko (29-2, 22 KOs) on the night of March 3. Both fighters will be looking to bounce back from defeats when last in the ring.
Brook, 31, is a strong odds-on -1600 favorite for victory over Ricky Hatton-trained Rabchenko (+800) despite back-to-back losses first to Gennady Golovkin and then Errol Spence Jr. The latter defeat ended Brook’s near three-year reign as IBF welterweight champ. Given the vastly superior opposition Brook has boxed compared to Rabchenko, it’s no surprise the former is so fancied for a return to winning ways.
Deontay Wilder v Luis Ortiz
Reigning WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) targets a seventh successful defense of the strap against fellow unbeaten pro Luis Ortiz (28-0-2, 24 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York also on March 3. He is fancied to win at -275 over the Cuban southpaw veteran.
Deep South native Wilder looks to add +210 fight chance Ortiz to a list of beaten foes that include Bermane Stiverne, Eric Molina and Audley Harrison. The American’s reign has passed three years with the WBC belt now and could well continue.
Dillian Whyte v Lucas Browne
Jamaican born WBC silver heavyweight champ Dillian Whyte (22-1, 16 KOs) makes his first defense of the belt against Australia’s Lucas Browne (25-0, 22 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London on March 24. British representative Whyte is -300 to end his opponent’s unbeaten record.
Browne is a danger, though, and +225 to take the strap from Whyte just over two years after winning the WBA (regular) heavyweight title, which was later stripped from the Aussie for a failed drugs test.
Alexander Povetkin v David Price
Liverpool’s David Price (22-3-1, 18 KOs) has it all to do if he is to dethrone reigning WBA intercontinental and WBO international heavyweight champ Alexander Povetkin (33-1, 23 KOs) at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31. Only Wladimir Klitschko has beaten the Brit’s 38-year-old Russian opponent before.
Povetkin is a strong -2000 favorite for victory, while Price is +800 to leave the Welsh capital with the belts. Both boxers have recent wins over Romania’s Christian Hammer on their CVs.
Anthony Joshua v Joseph Parker
The main event of the card containing the Price v Povetkin fight sees fellow Briton and WBA (Super), IBF and IBO heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) seek to unify those straps with the WBO belt held by New Zealand’s Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs).
Something has to give as two unbeaten records are put on the line in Cardiff, but Watford native Joshua is -800 favorite for yet another win. Parker, meanwhile, is +500 to unify the belts.