The past year has been filled with great fights, upsets and incredible performances that have helped elevate some fighters' status.

ESPN's list of fighters to watch in 2024 features fighters such as bantamweight Junto Nakatani and lightweight Jai Opetaia both having title wins.

The heavyweight division was also on display, giving us two incredible fights between the two best fighters in the heavyweight division - Alexander Usyk and Tyson Fury - while also helping Daniel ·Fighters such as Dubois and Joseph Parker revitalized their careers.

Let’s take a look at which players can take over and compete for the top spot in their respective divisions in 2025 (in no particular order).

Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) – Junior Middleweight

Spence has not competed in 2024 and has not competed since being pinned and stopped by Terrence Crawford in July 2023.

When he's in the ring, former welterweight champion Spence is one of the best fighters and most reliable draws in the sport. He expects to end the cut by bulking up to 154 pounds.

As usual, Spence will have a tough test against the 6-foot-5.5-inch WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora in March or April as he attempts to win the second-place title. world champion.

After the 34-year-old Spence lost to Crawford, his competitiveness was no longer strong, and there were questions about how much Spence could still contribute. But he's overcome difficulties before.

In 2019, he came back from a serious crash to pass Danny Garcia in an uneven manner. In 2021, he completed surgery to repair a detached retina and won a title shot against Yordenis Ugas.

After nearly two years on the sidelines (and another eye surgery), a victory over Fundora would be Spence's most impressive feat to date.

Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) – WBC Junior Welterweight Champion on break

In 2024, Haney experienced the most difficult year of his career. Last April, he was knocked down three times by Ryan Garcia in a decision loss that Haney was considered a favorite to win.

Although the result was overturned as a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Haney's performance still raised questions about his ability to take hits and bounce back.

The rematch with Garcia is one of the biggest fights in boxing, and the fight is expected to generate more business than the first fight.

We are working hard to put the game together this year. Garcia could return from suspension in April, and a rematch will likely take place at 147 pounds after Garcia lost 3.2 pounds the first time.

If Haney can get his revenge, he will propel himself to new heights of stardom and should regain his spot on the class list.

Daniel Dubois (22 wins, 2 losses, 21 KOs) – IBF heavyweight champion

Dubois breaks out in 2024 and delivers on his promise as a former top prospect. The 28-year-old Brit ended 2023 with a career-best win, a 10th-round TKO of Jarrell Miller.

Since then, every performance has gradually improved. In June, Dubois defeated ESPN top 10 heavyweight Filip Hrgovic with an eighth-round TKO, earning him a chance to fight former unified champion Anthony Joshua.

In September, Dubois shocked the world by stunningly KOing Joshua in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium in London. The win catapulted Dubois to fame in the UK, and now he's the IBF champion, looking to shine in 2025.

Dubois will make his second title defense against a former champion when he meets Joseph Parker on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If Dubois can beat the resurrected Parker, he'll be set for a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, only this time the undisputed heavyweight championship will be at stake.

If not Usyk, a rematch with Joshua would bring another big fight, as would a showdown with former champion Wladimir Klitschko, who has shown interest in a comeback.

Keyshawn Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) – Lightweight

The 2020 Olympic silver medalist has all the tools to become the next American star. That pursuit came to a head on February 14 when Davis challenged for his first world title.

The 26-year-old met Denys Berinchyk at New York's Madison Square Garden Theater during an ESPN headline show. Ukraine's Belinchik managed to neutralize the dazzling boxing output of Emmanuel Navarrete when he won the WBO lightweight title in May.

Davis is expected to be at full strength for his toughest test yet as he faces Belinchik, who possesses an impressive jab and excellent footwork. Davis delivered one of his best wins to date in a two-round victory over Gustavo Lemos in November.

Davis also showcased his growing popularity during that game, drawing more than 10,000 fans into Scoop Arena during his homecoming in Norfolk, Virginia. With a title shot coming off a convincing win over Belinchik, Davis could be in line for some big unification fights later this year.

Oscar Collazo (11-0, 8 KO) - WBO, WBA strawweight champion

Puerto Rico's best fighter is only familiar to the most die-hard fans, but that may soon change.

At 105 pounds, Collazo is the smallest male boxing champion. In November, he achieved the best victory of his career by knocking out CP Freshmart via TKO in the seventh round, winning the WBA gold belt and thus his second title.

Collazo won the WBO belt and his first world title in his seventh professional fight, becoming the fastest Puerto Rican ever to become champion. The 5-foot-2 southpaw won't be an attraction at 105 pounds, but he could compete with the likes of Naoya Inoue and Manny Pacquiao (both of whom won their fights at 108 pounds). First Champion) to move up weight classes to achieve this goal.

There aren't any noteworthy fights in the 108-pound division for Collazo, but he could head to Japan for some high-profile title fights in the 112-pound division. Also at 115 pounds is Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez.

Currently, Collazo is putting Puerto Rico and boxing's smallest weight class in the spotlight with his knockout prowess, southpaw punching and toughness in the ring.