What To Know
- The May boxing schedule is highlighted by two significant heavyweight title fights in London and in Egypt
- The leading U.S. fight card features a rematch between Keyshawn Davis and Nahir Albright
- Most Valuable Promotions ends the month with its third all women’s fight card airing on ESPN and ESPN-Plus
If April showers bring May flowers, April faceoffs lead to May showdowns on the May boxing schedule, including heavyweight titles on the line in Wardley vs Dubois and yes, Usyk vs Verhoeven.
With NBA and NHL playoffs in full swing this month, along with baseball, auto racing, and more, which boxing events are worth your time, money, and attention? NY Fights runs the list down of the major boxing events in May
Saturday, May 9: Wardley vs Dubois, Manchester, England
DAZN PPV, 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT. Cost: $59.99 (free with DAZN Ultimate)
In the main event, British heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois square off with Wardley’s WBO World Heavyweight belt on the line. With a combined 95% knockout rate between the two men, there will be no need for all 12 scheduled rounds.
On the undercard, talented Cuban light heavyweight David Morrell faces former British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Zak Chelli of England in his second fight at light heavyweight.
Also on the card:
Jack Rafferty vs. Ekow Essuman, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Agron Smakici, 10 rounds, heavyweights
Saturday, May 9: Leo vs Aleem, Atlanta
DAZN Boxing, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
In this domestic card from Salita Promotions, Angelo Leo of Albuquerque defends his IBF World Featherweight title against Ra’eese Aleem of Las Vegas. Both men are coming off wins in Japan, but Leo has only fought once in the last two years.
Also on the undercard:
Atif Oberlton vs. Carlos Gongora, 10 rounds, light heavyweights
Pryce Taylor vs. Calvin Barnett, 10 rounds, heavyweights
Sunday, May 10: Mosley Jr. vs Bohachuk, Las Vegas
Paramount Plus, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Headlining the Zuffa Boxing 06 card, Shane Mosley Jr. will take on Serhii Bohachuk in the middleweight main event.
Also on the undercard:
Julian Roriguez vs. James Perella, 10 rounds, welterweights
Misael Rodriguez vs. Andreas Katzdurakis, 10 rounds, middleweights
Raphael Monny vs. Suray Mahmutovic, 8 rounds, light heavyweights
Justin Viloria vs. Ivan Ortiz, 8 rounds, lightweights
Saturday, May 16: Allen vs Hrgovic, Doncaster, England
DAZN Boxing, 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
Two heavyweights looking for the next title opportunity both need a win here to make that happen. British fan favorite Dave Allen faces contender Filip Hrgovic in a ten-round bout, supported by a lineup of British matchups. In 2023, Davis defeated Albright in a close split decision, but the fight was changed to a no-contest when Davis tested positive for marijuana, which is prohibited in Texas.
Saturday, May 16: Davis vs Albright 2, Norfolk, Virginia
DAZN Boxing, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
The most significant card in the United States is Top Rank’s debut on DAZN and its promotional return since it left ESPN last August. Top Rank will run back the fight between former WBO World Lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis against his former foe Nahir Albright for a grudge rematch in the super lightweight division.
Last June, Albright scored an upset over Keyshawn’s brother Kelvin Davis. Keyshawn Davis was stripped of his title after missing weight. The Davis brothers stormed into Albright’s dressing room and started a brawl in the same arena where this card takes place. Expect things to get plenty hot.
Also on the undercard:
Brian Norman Jr. vs. Josh Wagner, 10 rounds, welterweights
Kelvin Davis vs. Peter Dobson, 10 rounds, welterweights
Yan Santana vs. Cristian Cruz Chacon, 10 rounds, featherweights
Keon Davis vs. Edwine Humaine Junior, 6 rounds, welterweights
Dedrick Crocklem vs. Eric Howard, 6 rounds, junior lightweights
Saturday, May 23: Usyk vs Verhoeven, Giza, Egypt
DAZN PPV, 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT Cost: $59.99 or free with DAZN Ultimate
Yes, this is a legitimate title defense for the undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk against the world’s greatest kickboxer in Verhoeven. The WBC deemed the fight a title defense of its heavyweight belt held by Usyk, and the lineal status is also on the line. No one knows exactly what to expect from this showdown, or even whether strife in the Middle East might affect it.
But for the money, the main event is supported by several worthwhile undercard bouts you might consider of interest.
Also on the undercard:
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic, 12 rounds, for vacant WBO super middleweight title
Shakhram Giyasov vs. Jack Catterall, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA “regular” welterweight title
Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr., 12 rounds, IBF heavyweight eliminator
Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman, 10 rounds, for Hiruta’s WBO women’s junior bantamweight title
Saturday, May 30: Bivol vs Eifert, Ekaterinburg, Russia
DAZN Boxing, 12 noon ET/9 a.m. PT.
Former undisputed world light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol puts the WBA, IBF and lineal titles on the line as he returns from more than a year off due to back surgery. He will test his fitness against Michael Eifert of Germany, whose only notable win came against a fading Jean Pascal. Eifert has not fought since August 2024. This fight will determine whether Bivol ends up in a trilogy fight against Artur Beterbiev or accepts the challenge from David Benavidez. Or an option TBD
Saturday, May 30: Foster vs Ford, Houston, Texas
DAZN Boxing, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
O’Shaquie Foster and Raymond Ford do not like each other, and both insist he will be the winner to take home the WBC Junior Lightweight title currently held by Foster.
Also on the undercard:
Charlie Sheehy vs. Jaret Gonzalez, 10 rounds, lightweights
Omari Jones vs. Alan Sanchez, 8 rounds, junior middleweights
Saturday, May 30: Han vs Holm, El Paso, Texas
ESPN and ESPN Plus, 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
The MVPW-03 card features ten bouts including four women’s championship fights. In the main event. WBA World Lightweight champion Stephanie Han of El Paso defends her title against dual combat sports champion Holly Holm. It is a rematch between Han and Holm. Han won a technical decision after a cut suffered by Holm forced the fight to be halted in the seventh round. Han, a full time El Paso police officer, was ahead on the card at the time it was stopped.
Also on the undercard:
Amanda Serrano vs. Cheyenne Hanson, 10 rounds, for Serrano’s WBO/WBA women’s featherweight title
Desley Robinson vs. Mary Spencer, 10 rounds, for Robinson’s WBO/IBF women’s middleweight title
Lourdes Juarez vs. Yokasta Valle, 10 rounds, for Juarez’s WBC women’s junior flyweight title
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.