Boxing watchlist: October's 5 can't-miss fights, from Canelo Alvarez's return to Dubois vs. Wardley 2

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Boy, do we have an October slate for you.

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Forget a three-course dinner, there’s a legitimate boxing buffet over the next 31 days, with a delightful mix of cuisines from all over the world to suit every taste.

From the glitz and glamour of a “Canelo” fight week, to a delectable super featherweight clash of styles, to the second chapter of the bloody, bruising Dubois-Wardley heavyweight rivalry. 

Let's run down the top five fights coming up in October.

There's a pretty simple rule I like to follow in boxing: If Brandon Figueroa is fighting, then I'm watching.

We've not seen “The Heartbreaker" since he broke Nick Ball's heart in February with a 12th and last round shocker, stopping the hometown hero to snatch the WBA featherweight title. In October he makes the first defense of that belt title against the veteran and former bantamweight titlist, Tomoki Kameda.

Kameda, 35, ruled the 118-pound division last in 2014, and brings a 42-5 (23 KOs) record to the Sebastian Fundora vs. Ermal Hadribeaj co-main event, expected to look every one of the 349 professional rounds he has contested. 

But Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) is beautifully unpredictable and beautifully unconventional. He's probably learning a lot under the new tutelage of Manny Robles, but his exciting, aggressive, and at times reckless style of fighting will always allow opponents success. 

With a Figueroa win, he'll be targeting the likes of Rafael Espinoza and Bruce Carrington for future unifications, but things aren't usually that simple nor straightforward when it comes to the Texan.

Brandon Figueroa is must-see television.Alex Livesey via Getty Images

It's second time lucky for this one after it fell out of bed in June, with champion Smith suffering an elbow injury in preparation for the maiden defense of his WBC super lightweight title.

Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) recorded one of the best victories by a Briton on away soil back in January, dethroning Subriel Matias for the green and gold belt at 140-pounds thanks to a stunning fifth-round TKO.

But things don't get much easier now for the Sheffield fighter.

The Dominican, Puello (25-1, 11 KOs), has just one defeat on his ledger, coming at the hands of the man Smith beat for the title, Matias, via a tight majority decision in New York last summer.

So this super lightweight triangle completes Oct. 24 as Smith welcomes Matias to his Sheffield backyard — and if the previous two fights between these three protagonists is anything to go by, Smith-Puello is well worth inclusion in October's must-see fights. 

This super featherweight unification fight is your classic case of opposites attracting.

Navarrete (40-2-1, 33 KOs), the come-forward, aggressive puncher, meets the slick, technical brilliance of Foster (25-3, 12 KOs) and his fleet footwork. As we like to say over at Uncrowned: If you’re telling me you know who’s going to win this fight, you’re simply lying.

And that's what makes their meeting on Oct. 24 so appealing. 

Trade with Navarrete and your rounds are numbered, but if you allow Foster to get into a rhythm over 12 championship frames — just ask Ray Ford and Stephen Fulton — your days are similarly numbered.

If this one gels, it wouldn't be a surprise if we’re looking at a late entrant as a Fight of the Year contender.

His powers have wilted, but “Canelo” Alvarez is still “Canelo” Alvarez.

And to some, the 36-year-old Mexican superstar is still the "face" of boxing despite struggling to record marquee wins in what is now the twilight of his career.

Christian Mbilli is the next super middleweight up in line, bringing his elevated WBC title to the table in this "Mexico vs. the World" headliner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) will arrive in the Kingdom as an extremely live dog, pushing this fight up the standings for ones to watch in October.

Canelo Alvarez has been sidelined since his September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford.Sarah Stier via Getty Images

His aggressive, physical, unrelenting style may ask questions that Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) doesn't wish to answer at this stage of his career, as the microscope is placed over the Mexican great in his first appearance since losing his 168-pound titles to Terence Crawford last September.

What is left of “Canelo” will become evident here. He's 68 fights into a long, hard career, has tasted defeat three times now and is returning following elbow surgery and a 13-month layoff. 

If this rematch is anything like their first meeting back in May of this year, then we are in for a wild ride inside London's O2 Arena.

But if you're Fabio Wardley, that probably wouldn't be advised …

These two put on a Fight of the Year contender inside Manchester's Co-op Live earlier this summer, with Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) climbing off the canvas twice to bludgeon Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) and capture the WBO world heavyweight title in the 11th round.

This one wasn't for the squeamish. Wardley's face was rearranged by the power of "DDD" as he dominated a majority of the fight — except for the handful of seconds he was sat on his bum — and was crowned a two-time heavyweight world champion.

But Wardley's journey to the top of the heavyweight mountain was as unorthodox as they come. He thrives on being the underdog with limited expectations placed on his shoulders, so it would be foolish to assume he can't make the necessary adjustments to pin down a guy he has previously hurt.

Those inside London's O2 Arena on Oct. 17 should get a discount on their seats, as they'll only need the edge of it.

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