Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer and Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales set for Sky Sports | New date for Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez

Natasha Jonas has agreed to defend her IBF welterweight world title against American star Mikaela Mayer on January 20 in Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports will also broadcast Naoya Inoue’s undisputed super-bantamweight battle with Marlon Tapales on December 26 and the all-British showdown between Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez, which is now scheduled for February 3.

These events are part of an exciting boxing line-up on Sky Sports. In the early hours Friday morning elite fighters Shakur Stevenson and Emanuel Navarrete are competing in a world title doubleheader in Las Vegas while on Saturday Adam Azim and Tyler Denny are both challenging for European titles in Wolverhampton.

Cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe, the No 1 ranked contender for the WBO title, will also fight Dylan Bregeon on the November 18 bill.

Next month on Sky Chris Billam-Smith puts the WBO cruiserweight world title on the line in Bournemouth on Sunday December 10 and on January 14 Callum Smith will challenge Artur Beterbiev for the unified light-heavyweight in Quebec City.

‘An all-time great’

Inoue, arguably the best fighter in the world today, became the undisputed bantamweight champion when he knocked out Paul Butler last year.

In his first contest at super-bantam he took out Stephen Fulton to win the unified WBC and WBO belts.

Now the “Monster” is looking to become a two-weight undisputed champion against Tapales, who holds the IBF and WBA titles, in Tokyo on December 26.

“The sensational Naoya Inoue astounds with every performance. We are witnessing an all-time great fighter in the prime of his career,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

“He has a very difficult task at hand on December 26 against a tough, powerful Filipino champion in Marlon Tapales, but I am confident ‘The Monster’ will pass this test with flying colours.”

‘A monumental year’

US star Mayer moves up to welterweight to challenge IBF world champion Jonas at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on January 20, with British and Commonwealth champion Jack Cullen fighting Zak Chelli on the undercard.

Jonas became a three-belt super-welterweight world titlist last year and in July moved down to 147lbs, beating Kandi Wyatt to become a two-weight world champion.

“2024 promises to be a monumental year for BOXXER and Sky Sports, and we’re thrilled to kick things off with another massive night for women’s boxing as Natasha Jonas defends her world title against Mikaela Mayer in a matchup set to showcase the pinnacle of the sport. Natasha and Mikaela are two fantastic athletes – both former Olympians and world champions – from either side of the Atlantic, ready to put it all on the line to secure their legacy,” BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom said.

Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez, former sparring partners turned light-heavyweight rivals, were due to box this year but after sustaining a back injury Azeez had to withdraw.

Their clash has now been rescheduled for February 3 and will take place at Wembley Arena.

“It’s a big fight, everywhere I go it’s: ‘We’re looking forward to the fight.’ A lot of people are intrigued by the fight and are looking forward to it. I’m happy we’ve got a date locked in,” Azeez told Sky Sports.

“It’s a fight that has to happen.”

Ranked No 1 and No 2 with the WBA respectively, Buatsi and Azeez are fighting for a shot at the world title next.

Upcoming boxing events live on Sky Sports:

November 17

Shakur Stevenson vs Edwin De Los Santos (WBC lightweight)

Emanuel Navarrete vs Robson Conceicao (WBO super-featherweight)

November 18

Franck Petitjean vs Adam Azim (European super-lightweight)

Matteo Signani vs Tyler Denny (European middleweight)

December 10

Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak (WBO cruiserweight)

December 26

Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales (WBC, WBA, WBO & IBF super-bantamweight)

January 14

Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith (WBO, WBC & IBF light-heavyweight)

Jason Moloney vs Saul Sanchez (WBO bantamweight)

January 20

Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer (IBF welterweight)

February 3

Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez (WBA final eliminator)