By the time Sunday morning arrives, the boxing world may have a new three-division champion, a clearer picture of women’s boxing’s rising stars, and perhaps an answer to the question nobody thought to ask five years ago: What happens when a Fury shares a ring with a former World’s Strongest Man?

We have a varied weekend coming up in the fight game. Some fights carry championship implications. Others are fueled by ambition, curiosity, or simple spectacle.

Matchroom Boxing: Rodriguez vs Vargas
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas

The weekend’s most important fight pairs Jesse Rodriguez and Antonio Vargas

At just 26 years old, Rodriguez has already assembled one of boxing’s most impressive résumés. The San Antonio southpaw has collected world titles in multiple weight classes and defeated a string of elite opponents including Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Sunny Edwards, Juan Francisco Estrada and Fernando Martinez. Now, with a record of 23-0, 16 KOs,  he moves to bantamweight seeking a world title in a third division.

Standing in his way is WBA bantamweight champion Antonio Vargas, a fighter many observers have already written off.

Vargas isn’t listening and will be putting his WBA bantamweight title belt on the line.

The former U.S. Olympian has spent the last several years rebuilding his career and believes this is the opportunity he has been waiting for. Speaking during fight week, Vargas said he has trained his entire life for this moment and promised to shock the boxing world. His confidence is rooted not only in preparation but also in faith, frequently referencing the spiritual support system that has carried him throughout his career.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, enters the bout carrying the expectations of a fighter increasingly mentioned among the sport’s pound-for-pound elite. The looming possibility of a future showdown with Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue has become one of boxing’s favorite discussion topics. Rodriguez has called that fight “inevitable,” though both he and trainer Robert Garcia have stressed that Vargas remains the immediate focus. Garcia has also suggested that additional time at bantamweight may be prudent before a move toward Inoue’s territory.

For Rodriguez, victory would move him one step closer to superstardom. For Vargas, it represents the chance to author one of the year’s biggest upsets.

Elif Nur Turhan vs. Gabriela Tellez

IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan returns for the second defense of the title she captured with a stoppage victory over Beatriz Ferreira. The undefeated Turkish champion enters with a 13-0 record and eight knockouts, impressive power for a lightweight and an aggressive style that has quickly made her one of the sport’s emerging attractions. Turhan won four consecutive fights by knockout before  a split decision win over Taylah Gentzen in her most recent outing.

Standing opposite her will be unbeaten Texan Gabriela Tellez, who brings a 7-0 record with 3 KOs into her first world-title opportunity. At just 19 years old, Tellez is taking a considerable step up in class, but she has embraced the challenge and described the title shot as the realization of a lifelong dream. The matchup pits one of women’s boxing’s fastest-rising champions against a young challenger with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Watch: DAZN
Main Card: Approximately 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Featured Undercard Bouts

Arturo Cardenas (17-0-2, 9 KOs) vs. Jordan Martinez (16-0-1, 15 KOs)
Adrian Rodriguez (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Elias Montoya Terraza (13-0, 8 KOs)
Ronny Alvarez (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Filip Stankovic (9-3, 6 KOs)
Trini Ochoa (21-1, 9 KOs) vs. Cristian Perez Hernandez (12-4-1, 7 KOs)
Hector Beltran (7-0, 5 KOs) vs. Shaquile Felicia (3-1, 1 KO)
Xechal Xavier Esquivel (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Rayshawn Taylor (1-1-1, 1 KO)

Most Valuable Promotions and Boxlab Promotions: Jones vs Carranza, Brown vs Rapp
Oshae Jones  vs. Elia Carranza

Women’s boxing continues to build momentum with  MVP’s latest all-female card this weekend.

The main event features IBF junior middleweight champion Oshae Jones (9-0, 3 KOs), the Olympic bronze medalist whose transition from amateur star to professional champion has been remarkably smooth. Jones earned a close victory over Elia Carranza in their first meeting, but the result was competitive enough to warrant an immediate rematch. Carranza (11-2, 3 KOs) enters as the mandatory challenger and the division’s top-ranked contender.

Jones has shown poise and technical maturity beyond her experience level. Carranza brings familiarity and the confidence that comes from knowing she was competitive the first time around.

The card extends well beyond the main event.

WBC featherweight champion Tiara Brown returns to defend her title against unbeaten contender Hannah Rapp. Unified light flyweight champion Evelin Bermudez is also scheduled to appear, while several undefeated prospects and international standouts round out one of the deepest women’s cards assembled this year.

Tiara Brown  vs. Hannah Rapp

Philadelphia’s Tiara Brown (20-0, 11 KOs) puts her WBC featherweight title on the line against unbeaten challenger Hannah Rapp (8-0-1, 5 KOs). Brown captured the title from Skye Nicolson and has emerged as one of the sport’s top featherweights, while Rapp receives her first world title opportunity after a rapid rise through the professional ranks.

Jasmine Artiga  vs. Nataly Delgado

Tampa native Jasmine Artiga (15-0-1, 7 KOs) makes the third defense of her WBA super flyweight title against mandatory challenger and interim champion Nataly Delgado (20-7-2, 5 KOs). Artiga became Tampa’s first native-born boxing world champion and has quickly developed a reputation as one of the division’s most aggressive champions.

Evelin Bermudez  vs. Estefany Alegria

Argentina’s Evelin Bermudez (22-1-1, 8 KOs), one of the most accomplished champions in women’s boxing, defends her unified WBA, WBO, IBF light flyweight titles against Mexico’s top-ranked contender Estefany Alegria (14-1, 4 KOs). Bermudez enters as one of the pound-for-pound standouts in the sport, while Alegria receives her first world title opportunity.

Venue: Caribe Royale Resort, Orlando, Florida
Watch: ESPN+
Main Card: 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT

Featured Undercard Bouts

Jully Poca vs. Monica Medina
LeAnna Cruz vs. Rubi Gutierrez
Brittany Sims vs. Naomy Cardenas
Jordan Orozco Hernandez (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. Fernando Diaz
Keno Marley — Opponent TBA

Salita Promotions: Gonzalez vs. Perez
Jonathan Gonzalez vs Abraham Perez

Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Gonzalez (29-4-1, 14 KOs) faces unbeaten challenger Abraham Perez (14-0, 7 KOs) in a bout scheduled for the interim WBA flyweight title. Gonzalez brings extensive championship experience, while Perez enters undefeated and looking to score the biggest victory of his career.

Venue: GLC Live at 20 Monroe, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Watch: DAZN
Main Event: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Undercard Bouts

Joshua Pagan (15-0, 5 KOs) vs. Rodolfo Bustamante Salazar (22-1-1, 12 KOs) – WBO NABO Lightweight Title
Troy Isley (15-0, 5 KOs) vs. Leonardo Di Stefano (17-7, 14 KOs) – WBA Continental USA Middleweight Title
Brandon Moore (19-1, 10 KOs) vs. Donald Haynesworth (19-10-1, 17 KOs)
Bryant Jennings (26-4, 15 KOs) vs. Robert Simms (12-6-1, 3 KOs)
Shannel Butler (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Mayerlin Rivas (17-6-3, 11 KOs)
Jaquan McElroy (6-0, 2 KOs) vs. Damian Munoz
Sardius Simmons (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Walter Burns (8-4, 6 KOs)
Lance Smith (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jovanis Rodriguez (2-0-2, 1 KO)
Caleb Tirado (1-0) vs. Osmar Rodriguez (6-6, 2 KOs)
Jasmine Hampton (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Yazmin Martinez Benavides (6-9, 1 KO)

Misfits Boxing: Tommy Fury vs. Eddie Hall

The purists will roll their eyes. The general public may tune in anyway.

Tommy Fury enters unbeaten at 11-0, 4 KOs and carrying victories over Jake Paul and KSI. Across the ring stands former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall, who brings a size advantage that borders on absurd. At Friday’s weigh-in, Hall came in at 325.6 pounds while Fury registered 217.5, creating a 108-pound gap between the two men.

Hall, who has slimmed down considerably for the contest, declared himself to be in his best shape in years and expressed confidence that his power could end matters suddenly. Fury, unsurprisingly, dismissed the size disparity and insisted that boxing skill would ultimately prevail.

The tension spilled over during fight week as Hall attempted to kick through the barrier separating the fighters during a heated faceoff, adding another layer of theater to an event that hardly needed one. No championship belts are at stake. No rankings will be altered.

Venue: AO Arena, Manchester, England
Watch: DAZN Pay-Per-View
Broadcast Begins: Approximately 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT

Featured Card

Tommy Fury (11-0) vs. Eddie Hall
Anthony Taylor vs. Matt Floyd
Swarmz vs. Biel
Big Stacks vs. Armz Korleone
Ibiza Final Boss vs. Jordan McCann
Additional crossover bouts