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Fight nights: upcoming UK boxing matches and where to see them
The rising stars, title bouts and stadium-level grudge-matches set to take the ring across British boxing in 2026
The UK boxing scene isn’t messing around. The first half of 2026 brings a solid run of unmissable fights as fresh faces collide with old pros, rematches tease unfinished business, and at least one major international sports tournament prepares to get underway. This is a stretch built on jeopardy and headlines – the kind of sequence where reputations are tested and new heroes are made. Here’s your 2026 fight card, and where to see the best boxing in Britain over the next few months…
Itauma vs Franklin
28 March, 5pm
Co-op Live, Manchester
Moses Itauma’s rapid ascent continues in Manchester, where he faces Jermaine Franklin in a headline bout atop the returning Magnificent 7 series. Itauma has been fast-tracked with intent – a 21-year-old heavyweight of uncommon composure and spiteful finishing instincts – but Franklin brings a different kind of test. Durable, experienced and previously sharing the ring with elite company, he represents a step into deeper waters. Expect Itauma to dictate pace and look for a statement stoppage, yet Franklin’s resilience could stretch the contest and reveal more about the prospect than any quick finish.
Boxxer Presents Fight Night: Awaken The Dragon , Price vs Aquino
4 April, 4pm
Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Cardiff hosts Boxxer’s Awaken The Dragon card on 4 April, headlined by Lauren Price and Stephanie Pineiro Aquino. Price, an Olympic gold medallist and the unified world welterweight champion, is a polished professional operator – sharp, disciplined and increasingly authoritative over distance. Aquino, though, arrives with the kind of unpredictability that can unsettle rhythm fighters – unbeaten outside of Puerto Rico and looking to make her mark on the international stage. Price will be expected to control range and tempo (and, being Welsh, she’ll likely have the entire Utilita Cardiff crowd on her side) but the question will be how she handles things when the momentum stalls. It’s a bout that should underline Price’s world-level credentials if she comes through cleanly and set her up to be crowded undisputed champion. If she comes through cleanly…
Fury vs Makhmudov
11 April, 5pm
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
“I was retired…” Tyson Fury told Sky Sports. “I had no intentions of making a comeback… But there’s nothing like a stadium to get you going…” Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stages a heavyweight blockbuster on 11 April as Tyson Fury comes out of retirement to take on Arslanbek Makhmudov. Fury’s presence alone shifts the scale, but Makhmudov “The Lion” brings genuine menace. Heavy-handed and aggressive, he thrives on chaos – winning 19 of his 23 bouts by stoppage, 13 in the first round. Expectations lean on Fury’s ring IQ and movement, but Makhmudov is not coming just to survive. If Fury imposes control early, it becomes a showcase; if not, this could turn into something far less predictable.
Collins vs Lorente II
17 April
OVO Hydro, Glasgow
The rematch between Nathaniel Collins and Cristobal Lorente carries its own narrative weight. Their first encounter (last October, in the same arena) left enough unresolved to justify a second chapter, with Collins’ technical sharpness matched equally enough against Lorente’s persistence for a split decision. Rematches often hinge on adjustments – who has learned more, who can impose those changes under pressure etc – and Collins may enter as the marginal favourite here, but Lorente’s capacity to disrupt makes this a finely balanced contest.
Wardley vs Dubois
9 May, 5pm
Co-op Live, Manchester
Manchester returns to the spotlight on 9 May as Fabio Wardley faces Daniel Dubois in a heavyweight title clash that already feels explosive. WBO world champion Wardley has built his rise on pure grit, while Dubois remains one of the division’s most naturally powerful punchers (they’ve both only seen a scorecard win once, always going for the KO). This is less about polish and more about intent – two fighters with genuine stopping power and something to prove. Expect exchanges to come early, with the outcome likely decided inside the distance rather than over the long haul. “My power is proven. If there’s time left on the clock, I’m taking you out of the fight,” Wardley growled at Dubois in the press conference. “Victory by knockout” countered Dubois. “By any means necessary…”.
MVP’s Dubois vs Harper & Scotney vs Flores
5 April, 3.30pm
London Olympia
A busy weekend in early April sees MVP stage a double-header at London Olympia on 5 April, featuring Caroline Dubois against Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney taking on Yamileth Flores. Dubois continues to build momentum with a style that blends speed and authority, while Harper offers experience and ring-craft forged at world level, with both fighting to unify the WBC and WBO lightweight world championships. Scotney, meanwhile, has quietly established herself as one of Britain’s most consistent performers – technically sound, tactically astute – and faces a Flores challenge that will test her ability to break down durable opposition. If Scotney wins, she stands to be crowned the youngest undisputed champion in UK history (male or female), which could make this one for the history books.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games
24 July – 1 August
Various venues
Looking further ahead, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games boxing programme from 24 July to 1 August provides a different kind of stage – one where future stars often emerge before the professional spotlight finds them. The amateur code brings its own intensity: shorter formats, faster tempos, and no margin for slow starts. For British fighters, it’s an opportunity to assert dominance on home soil; for others, a chance to announce themselves internationally. These tournaments rarely follow a script, which is precisely why they matter.
Header image: Tom Jenkins / Getty
