Sports fans are bound to be excited about 2020. In 2019, two and a half billion cricket fans saw England win the World Cup, while Australia retained the Ashes. And next year, four billion soccer fans will be able to enjoy a special UEFA European Championship.
Next year will also be a great year for e-sport fans, with many e-sport athletes looking to top Kuro Takhasom’s career total of $3.5 million. As the number of e-sports fans increases by 30% year-on-year, the amount of winnings available is bound to increase as well.
And in 2019, it has been estimated that e-sport competitors could net up to $25 million when winnings, sponsorship and appearance fees are taken into account.
Another sport that is going to be really exciting is boxing. There are several new boxers who should make their mark in 2020, hoping their careers can excel to the likes of Floyd Mayweather’s (who in 2018 earned $285 million).
So, who are these new talents? Here is a quick rundown of the boxing stars of tomorrow.
Daniel Dubois
With so much talent already in the heavyweight division, you might not think there is anyone coming through the ranks. However, Daniel Dubois is certainly someone that could be a household name before too long.
At 21-years old, he has been fast-tracked to the professional ranks. This means he won’t be going to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics. However, under the watchful eye of Frank Warren, this young boxer has made headlines already in the sport.
He has an impeccable record (10-0) including nine incredible knockouts. One of his most recent achievements was a second-round win against Razyan Cojanu for the WBO European heavyweight strap.
Charlie Edwards
In the flyweight class, you have the impressive Charlie Edwards. Edwards is just 25-years-old but has already mastered a technical skill set that has seen him win the WBC flyweight title. And he’s only had 15 bouts in his career.
Normally the lighter classes are ignored, but this is certainly a category that should be watched closely when talent like this available. He is also ambitious – hoping for a future bout with Kal Yafai, Britain’s super-flyweight world champion.
Josh Kelly
The 2016 Olympics seems like an age away, but some of the boxers from that time are now coming through the ranks and are going to have a massive impact in 2020. Josh Kelly has won eight out of eight fights – and all in a classy fashion that has showcased his talent.
He has demonstrated a maturity well beyond his years, and has picked up WBA Commonwealth and International titles. The welterweight division can be lucrative, with a high number of big money bouts, so if Kelly continues to be successful he should see his earnings skyrocket in future.
Kelly also has a lot of exposure on Sky Sports and his talents are also showcased on DAZN, a US streaming service.
Jordan Gill
This featherweight young boxer destroyed Emmanuel Dominguez, the Mexican boxing superstar, in less than eight minutes. This helped him to move into the world rankings.
While he is only 24-years-old, he has six years of professional boxing experience and loads of time ahead of him. He is also in a division with some ageing stars such as Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jr and Josh Warrington (the IBF King).
Joshua Buatsi
One of the talents that should also be watched is the bronze medalist at Rio 2016. Joshua Buatsi has everything he needs to become the next British boxing superstar. Already, he has a record of 9-0, including three first-round wins and an impressive victory over Renold Quinlam.
His slick, fluid style has been praised by many boxing commentators and he is known for his style, which makes it look like he is dancing around the ring. It would be crazy not to keep an eye on his career and see his rise to superstardom.
These are the best talents that are going to be gracing the future boxing landscape. Which ones will you follow? And which ones will become household names? It is hard to know for sure, but watching their careers is going to be an enjoyable experience.