Lack of star-studded heavyweight clashes gives lower weight classes chance to shine

In many ways, 2019 has been a sort of stop-gap year for heavyweight boxing. The major players of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have avoided each other for the time being, content to take on lesser opponents to maintain their sharpness for the inevitable epic clashes that lie ahead.

Last year's battle between Wilder and Fury proved a rip-roaring fight, with many believing Fury had triumphed despite the judges' decision of a tie. That has given boxing fans a taste for such titanic match-ups, but for the time being they will have to wait, and continue to salivate at the prospect of the next major heavyweight bout.



This plan has worked out well for both Wilder and Fury, the American knocking out Dominic Breazeale in May, and the Englishman dispatching Tom Schwarz a month later. Joshua, however, suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr, losing his heavyweight belts and damaging his chances of facing off against Wilder or Fury in the near future.

The slight lull in the world of heavyweight boxing means that attention can be turned to some of the lower weight bouts pencilled in for the rest of 2019. One of these is the highly-anticipated welterweight clash between Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia. Mikey lost his only previous welterweight fight to Errol Spence earlier this year, while Danny has endured some up and down form of late, so this match up will be causing Betfair punters to rub their hands in anticipation.

Mikey Garcia is one of boxing's biggest stars in the lower weight divisions, and his adventures into the welterweight clash are a sign of his ambition to better himself. That, combined with the agony of what was a crushing defeat at the hands of Spence, mean that this clash of the Garcias is not to be missed.

Carl Frampton's featherweight clash with Emmanuel Dominguez in Pennsylvania in August is another intriguing match-up. Frampton will be coming off the back of that painful points defeat to Josh Warrington in December, and will be out to redeem himself as one of featherweight boxing's most potent forces.



In the build-up Frampton has stated that his career will be over if he loses to the Mexican, but the Belfast man will no doubt be fired up to get back to winning ways and work towards another shot at the world title.

Another featherweight bout to look out for is Irishman Michael Conlan taking on Diego Albert Ruiz. Conlan has made a phenomenal start to his professional boxing career, and is 11-0 heading into this latest fight. The Irishman is no stranger to controversy, having blasted Olympic judges in a TV interview following his defeat to Vladimir Nikitin at Rio 2016.

The 27-year-old is an outspoken character, and indeed a very talented fighter, and he will have no intentions of surrendering his one hundred percent record against Argentine, Albert Ruiz.

While many boxing fans were hoping to see a Fury vs Wilder re-match in 2019, or a clash between one of those two and Anthony Joshua, there are still many mouthwatering matches lined up in the lighter divisions before the year is out.