Thought this year’s boxing was good? Here’s what 2017 has in store

What a year we’ve been treated to in the world of boxing. It began with David Haye returning to the ring back in January after four years away, and ended with Anthony Joshua maintaining his remarkable record of 18 KOs from as many bouts.

But there was plenty in-between, too. Too much, in fact, to mention here, as we’re looking to the year ahead. And it’s one which looks set to be the most exciting we’ve seen in recent times.

Ladbrokes News takes you through some of the standout fights to come in 2017. Some are set in stone, while a couple are yet to be confirmed. But one thing’s for certain, this looks set to be an incredible 12 months in the sport.

James DeGale v Badou Jack

‘Chunky’ will be kicking things off in January as he faces off against WBC super middleweight title-holder Badou Jack in New York.

This will be the Brit’s fourth consecutive fight off home soil, as he looks to build his fan base after defeating Rogelio Medina, Lucian Bute and Andre Dirrell in the last two years.

DeGale heads into this one as the 2/5 favourite, although his opponent has held the title since 2015. And at 2/1, we’re not going to rule the Swede completely out of this one any time soon.

This should be a great fight to start the year.

David Haye v Tony Bellew

But then all eyes will be on this pair, who will meet in London on March 4.

Bellew reckons he can cause an upset here, but he’ll have it all to do if he’s to topple the Hayemaker.

He may not have faced any genuinely threatening opponents since Dereck Chisora back in 2012, but our traders are still fancying Haye to win this one at 1/6, with Bomber priced up at 4/1.

It might just be a case of the pre-match hype outdoing the actual fight, as the pair have already come to blows in a press-conference.

Either way, we can’t wait for March 4 to come around.

Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko

Finally.

After months of speculation, with reports suggesting both fighters have at some point backed out of this one, finally we’ll get to see two of the biggest names in the sport face off against each other.

It’s Joshua who’ll be fighting on home soil in London, but his opponent – who tasted defeat for the first time in 12 years against Tyson Fury last time out – will be confident of

putting an end to AJ’s remarkable run.

Joshua will be defending his IBF heavyweight title, while the vacant WBA belt will also be up for grabs for the winner.

Dr Steelhammer will be fighting as a challenger for the first time in 11 years, too, and traders make him the 7/4 outsider in this one.

Will AJ give 41-year-old Klitschko just the fourth defeat of his career? It’s 8/11 the Brit does exactly that.

Dillian Whyte v Dereck Chisora Part II

This one is yet to be confirmed, but if the powers that be have any sense, they’ll schedule in a rematch in late 2017.

The pair made headlines prior to their fight after Chisora famously threw a table at Whyte in a press conference before their bout.

And they carried that passion and aggression into the ring on December 10, only for the Brit to controversially lose via a split decision.

It’s only fair that the pair have another go at each other. And if they do, it may just trump all three of the aforementioned fights.

Click here for a full list of boxing odds.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing