Bold boxing predictions for 2023: Deontay Wilder beats Anthony Joshua in fit of the yer; Shar Steveon becomes undisputed

The new year can bring some of the biggest fights boxing can offer, and add more undisputed champions to its 먹튀검증rankings -- if the stars (meaning, promoters, networks and fighters) align. From Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk for all the heavyweight titles in the men's 안전놀이터side, to a rematch of one of the best fights of the year between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, big fights are there to be made.

Of course, this is boxing, and chances are, https://mtygy.com some of the matchups above won't happen, but we can still predict what can happen in 2023.

Will we see Devin Haney against Vasiliy 토토사이트Lomachenko? How about Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua? Will women's boxing continue its ascent?

ESPN's Mike Coppinger, Ben Baby, Michael Rothstein and Nick Parkinson offer up their bold predictions for 2023.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk deliver a heavyweight classic

They still need to close the deal, but once they do, Fury and Usyk will be on a collision course for one of the most important fights in heavyweight championship history.

Since the four-belt era began in 2004, no heavyweight has earned the right to call himself undisputed champion. That should change when Fury and Usyk share the ring in a truly fascinating clash of styles. Fury will be favored amid a dominant run that includes a string of incredible knockouts, most notably a pair of such victories against Deontay Wilder.

The "Gypsy King" also owns a win over a master boxer from Ukraine in Wladimir Klitschko. But Usyk, also from Ukraine, presents a different challenge altogether. The Olympic gold medalist has some of the best footwork in boxing, can deliver punches from varying angles and has carried his power from cruiserweight -- where he was the undisputed champion -- to heavyweight.

Fury will no doubt look to lean on Usyk and force him to carry all 270-plus pounds, but Usyk has shown an ability to adapt. He beat Anthony Joshua to the punch consistently and was able to absorb AJ's power shots.

Fury, of course, is a better fighter than Joshua, and while he, too, has impressive footwork, he surely will be slower than Usyk.

The bout shapes up as one of the biggest in global boxing in years, a fight the sporting world will pause to watch. And you can bet Fury and Usyk will deliver a thrilling fight worthy of the hype. -- Coppinger

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to become undisputed world heavyweight champ

Fury, the WBC champion, will start as the favorite against Usyk, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion, and it will take a minor upset for the Ukrainian boxer to topple Fury from his perch. But Usyk is capable of it in the form he is in.

As he has shown since stepping up from cruiserweight, Usyk's movement, speed and boxing skills can beat bigger opponents.

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When the pair came face-to-face following Fury's win over Derek Chisora in December, Usyk also showed he was immune to Fury's attempts at intimidation.

Fury, 34, is yet to show signs of decline, but his two opponents in 2022 were not as good as Anthony Joshua, the former champion whom Usyk twice convincingly beat by decision in a 12-month period.

Usyk, 35, looked comfortable in the back-to-back wins over Joshua, and that suggests he can do the same to unsettle Fury and become boxing's first four-belt world heavyweight champion.

Fury is six inches taller than Usyk and a better boxer than Joshua. Since his last win over Deontay Wilder, Fury has defeated Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora. Fury-Usyk has been talked about for spring next year -- but Fury says he needs surgery on his right elbow, which would push the fight back into the second half of 2023.

That won't help Fury's cause against southpaw Usyk's mobility, boxing IQ and hand speed, which combined could be enough to see him have his hand raised, perhaps amid controversy, with a rematch a likely scenario. -- Parkinson

Deontay Wilder beats Anthony Joshua in the fight of the year

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, left, still has one of the most powerful right hands in boxing. Al Bello/Getty Images

Wilder and Joshua have firmly planted themselves in the heavyweight tier below Fury and Usyk, which isn't a bad place to be. Wilder is coming off a stunning knockout win over Robert Helenius, while Joshua is rebuilding his career following two losses to Usyk.

This fight makes too much sense for both guys. Wilder is still looking for big fights at this stage of his career, and while Joshua could go up against some of the British up-and-comers in the division, he would be wise to take on Wilder sooner rather than later, especially if he suffers another loss that would further harm his marketability.

If they meet, this one has all the makings of a massive event and a pretty entertaining fight. Joshua's chin has proved to be pretty decent over the years (see his epic comeback win over Wladimir Klitschko), which makes a matchup against Wilder very intriguing. Wilder has knocked down or knocked out every opponent he has faced (he didn't do that against Bermane Stiverne in their first fight, but knocked him down three times in the rematch).

The end of 2023 makes the most sense for this one. It allows Joshua to regain some confidence in his first non-Usyk opponent since 2020. -- Baby

Naoya Inoue ends 2023 as P4P No. 1 after winning world title(s) at junior featherweight

With the mission complete at bantamweight, Inoue is expected to move on to junior featherweight in 2023 with the prospect of some exciting matchups.

The Japanese boxer is one of the most exciting performers in the sport today and is No. 2 in ESPN's latest pound-for-pound rankings behind welterweight Terence Crawford.

If Crawford once again fails to fight rival world champion Errol Spence Jr. in 2023, and Inoue beats two of the leading fighters at junior featherweight, many will feel Inoue deserves to be recognized as the new No. 1.

In a perfect world, Inoue would fight at least one of Stephen Fulton, the WBC and WBO champion, or Murodjon Akhmadaliev, the IBF and WBA champion, who between them hold all four belts at 122 pounds.

In his current impressive form, Inoue beats both those champions. Not only is he a clinical finisher, Inoue is also a brilliant tactician and boxer. Most recently he dismantled Paul Butler over 11 rounds in December to become the undisputed bantamweight champion after dismissing future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire in two rounds last summer. He has run out of opponents at bantamweight, but there are at least two fights at 122 pounds that can enhance Inoue's reputation even more.

Much depends on what happens out of the ring and at the negotiating table with Crawford, and whether the American can be matched against Spence to secure