A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content \u2014 and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven\u2019t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.<\/p>\n
Give a gift subscription<\/a><\/p>\nSubscribe to the podcast<\/a><\/p>\nSubscribe to the YouTube channel<\/a><\/p>\nFollow me on Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\nFollow me on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\nLeave a comment<\/a><\/p>\nThree world title fights, including one to unify belts, along with a grudge rematch is how Matchroom Boxing will kick off 2026 on DAZN as promoter Eddie Hearn announced the first four main events \u2014 two in January and two in February.<\/p>\n
The bouts include IBF lightweight titlist Raymond Muratalla against mandatory challenger Andy Cruz; IBF junior middleweight titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev against mandatory challenger Josh Kelly; a junior lightweight rematch between former featherweight titleholders Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington; and a junior lightweight unification fight pairing WBO titlist Emanuel Navarrete and IBF counterpart Eduardo \u201cSugar\u201d Nunez.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you all we would be coming in hot and this is proof that we are standing on business,\u201d Hearn said on Friday. \u201cBy kicking off the new year with some of the best fights you will see in the sport, we really will \u2018Make Boxing Great Again.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAndy Cruz finally gets his shot to win his first world title, before our latest signing (Kelly) bids to become one of Britain\u2019s next world champions. Then all eyes will be on two former kings \u2014 and absolute bitter enemies \u2014 in what will be a must-see rematch between two brilliant warriors in Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington. And Navarrete-Nunez is an all-out Mexican war that every fight fan needs. This promises to be one of the contests of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here is a look at the four bouts, all of which are part of a regular DAZN subscription<\/a>:<\/p>\n