Joshua, Fury, Inoue, Canelo - guide to the big fights in first half of 2024

If the last week in boxing felt incomplete, that's because it was. About now we should be reflecting on either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk claiming the undisputed heavyweight title in Riyadh this past Saturday night.

However, an injury to Fury, namely a cut sustained in sparring, caused the February 17 'Ring of Fire' card to be aborted and left a rather sizeable hole in the boxing schedule.

Granted we've seen Artur Beterbiev bludgeon Callum Smith, Jaime Munguia take out John Ryder and Teofimo Lopez edge past Jamaine Ortiz, but given we are almost into March, it's been an underwhelming start to 2024.

However, things are certainly looking up. The schedule is finally starting to take shape as promoters and networks finalise their plans for the first half of the year with several intriguing fights on the horizon.

Below is a guide to some of the highlights fight fans can look forward to in the coming months.

The next big fight from Saudi Arabia is now only a few weeks away as Joshua faces MMA import Ngannou at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) looked as good as he has done in years in putting away Sweden's Otto Wallin in five rounds at the same venue in December.

The 34-year-old Briton was measured and spiteful in a hugely promising first display with new trainer Ben Davison. That relationship remains in place ahead of this showdown with the hulking Ngannou, who excelled on his boxing debut against a pitifully out of shape Fury last October.

Another emphatic showing from "AJ" would position him to face the winner of Fury/Usyk, while Ngannou, 37, will hope to show his last outing was no fluke.

As an added bonus, this card also boasts an excellent heavyweight co-feature with New Zealand's Joseph Parker, fresh from