If you didn’t realize boxing was up and running in 2026 then, boy, Dalton Smith would have given you a stiff wakeup call last weekend. 

The new WBC super lightweight champion set the torch paper on what we hope is another memorable year in the sport as he dethroned Subriel Matias in New York, courtesy of a devastating fifth-round knockout.

While we can’t promise a repeat of the action, there is more than enough to keep you occupied through these dark and dreary January weekends.

Let’s take a closer look at the five biggest things to look out for this weekend in the world of boxing:

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1. Nikita Tszyu’s first step to middleweight glory?

We’re off Down Under to Brisbane on Friday as Michael Zerafa (34-5, 22 KOs) finally mixes it with a Tszyu.

Obviously not Kostya, not even Tim, but instead 27-year-old baby brother Nikita Tszyu (11-0, 9 KOs) in what will be his first outing in the middleweight division.

Zerafa is a veteran of Australian boxing — somehow only 33 and with the moniker of “Pretty Boy” — and will be hoping his face doesn’t get rearranged by a member of Australia’s most revered fighting name.

Zerafa was supposed to fight Tim Tszyu in 2021 before pulling out due to travel issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are plenty of gym rumors circling that Zerafa never wanted that fight.

But still, this is a corker of a 50/50 fight on Friday for the vacant WBO International middleweight title, as Tszyu drags his unbeaten record up to 160 pounds. 

Zerafa is as experienced as they come, is the best fighter that Tszyu has been in with and is 3-0 since losing to Erislandy Lara in 2024. It’s well worth setting your alarms or watching with your breakfast.

2. Alexis Rocha pulls out of Friday’s welterweight rematch

If a couple of Australian middleweights aren’t your cup of tea, then why not wait it out for a guaranteed barnburner on Friday night?

OK, that would have been the case if the Alexis Rocha vs. Raul Curiel rematch was still slated.

But at Thursday’s weigh-in Rocha was hospitalized due to dehydration trying to make the welterweight limit, and Curiel will now face Jordan Panthen at a 158-pound catchweight.

Panthen is 11-1 with nine KOs, and while the situation isn’t exactly ideal, hey, it’s something.

3. Manuel Flores revisits Jorge Chavez test

If the disappointment of Rocha vs. Curiel falling over was too much for you to take, then get a load of Manuel Flores vs. Jorge Chavez 2!

These two danced to a 10-round majority decision draw in July.

The southpaw Flores (20-1-1, 16 KOs) elected to walk down and stalk the younger Chavez in their opening junior featherweight encounter, and that arguably played into the hands of the slick 26-year-old. Flores has a reach advantage over Chavez and may find more success in fighting smart off the back foot in the rematch.

Chavez (14-0-1, 8 KOs) did enough to win in a lot of eyes in July and showed he was able to comfortably outbox Flores for substantial sections of the contest. But in Friday’s rematch he’ll have to prove he can do this for the entire 30 minutes.

4. Kuntae Lee looking to march on in Tokyo, protecting unbeaten streak at super lightweight 

Trust Japan to sneak in a little card under the radar.

Inside Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on Saturday night, the WBO Asia Pacific title at super lightweight in on the line as Kuntae Lee (10-0-1, 2 KOs) looks to extend his unbeaten run against veteran southpaw Daishi Nagata (21-4-2, 7 KOs).

Nagata, 36, has had a long, sometimes bruising, career as a 140-pounder and is expected to struggle with the youth and movement of Lee, despite the 29-year-old not being known as a big puncher in the division.

Lee isn’t a flashy fighter. He’s got a good long jab and fights pretty upright with plenty of patience in his attacks, so there is a chance he will bide his time Saturday and jab Nagata a step closer to retirement.

5. Freddy Kiwitt looking to add to his honors at junior middleweight

Before the weekend is up, why not check in on Germany on Saturday night while you’re at it?

Self-described “road warrior” Freddy Kiwitt (28-3 18 KOs) has leaned more into home comforts over the past few years, fighting 11 of his last 12 fights in his native Germany after forging the early stages of his career as a traveling fighter.

The super welterweight is unbeaten in his last 11 fights since 2019 and defends his WBF and WBO Global titles this weekend against Nigeria’s Suleiman Jafaru (17-1-0, 14 KOs) — a man looking to register his first win outside of his home country.

Kiwitt is gaining more and more exposure in Germany and a comfortable win this weekend in Flintsburg could see him move up a level at 35.