5 best boxing fights in a busy November: No, Jake Paul vs. 'Tank' Davis doesn't make the cut

Buckle up, boxing fans: November looks like a cracker, with a stacked schedule of action guaranteed to reel you in.

If a hate-fueled British boxing blood feud doesn’t do it for you, then surely there’s something from a stacked Nov. 22 show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that will tickle your fancy.

And if you’re here wondering what position in the rankings Jake Paul vs. Gervonta “Tank” Davis has earned, then I have some bad news for you…

Let’s take a look at the top five fights that November has to offer.

5. Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka, Nov. 14

On Friday, Nov. 14, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, the super lightweight division gets one of its most compelling matchups in a while: Gary Antuanne Russell defending his WBA world title against unbeaten Japanese challenger Andy Hiraoka.

Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) earned the belt earlier this year by dominating Jose Valenzuela in March, whereas Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) arrives with an unblemished record and a size and length advantage he hopes to impose.

Russell will start the contest as the slight favorite for good reason — he’s looked elite in patches, shown he can beat and dominate good opposition, and brings a finishing threat. Hiraoka has the size, the record and the technical base to make it a genuine threat.

This one can set the tone for the 140-pound division in 2026. Russell is considered a top-five fighter in the weight class — jostling for position with the likes of Richardson Hitchins, Teofimo Lopez, Subriel Matias and Alberto Puello (who Russell’s sole defeat came against via split decision last year) — but Hiraoka will read this as his opportunity to gatecrash the top table.

4. David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde, Nov. 22

Anthony Yarde might not have been atop anyone’s list when looking at next opponents for David Benavidez, but the Englishman’s spirit shown in previous world championship tests should mean we give him the benefit of the doubt as a live dog on Ring IV in Riyadh.

Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) came close in losing efforts to Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev at light heavyweight and now has a third chance to achieve his dream against one of the most feared men in boxing.

Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) is a legit pound-for-pound talent, but is still searching for that standout win on his record that will find him a seat at the very top table of the sport.

Sure, a win over the 34-year-old Yarde won’t do that, but if he can do it in style, then it’s a springboard for a huge 2026 where he will surely fight for an opportunity to unify the division against Dmitry Bivol.

If only things were that simple.

Narratives aside, if a fit, firing and confident Yarde turns up on Nov. 22, this one might not be as straightforward as it appears in the betting.

3. Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes, Nov. 22

Britain’s Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) and unbeaten American Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) battle for the vacant WBO lightweight title on Nov. 22 in Riyadh.

An all-action 28-year-old from Kent, Noakes carved his reputation the hard way — tearing through the domestic 135-pound scene with relentless pressure and heavy hands. Thirteen straight knockouts brought him the British, Commonwealth and European titles, and now he’s stepping onto the world stage with everything to gain.

In his way? The 21-year-old Mason, unbeaten and touted as one of the brightest stars of the sport, having blown away 17 of his 19 opponents since turning pro in 2021.

The WBO sanctioned the matchup after stripping former champion Keyshawn Davis, who failed to make weight ahead of his cancelled bout with Edwin De Los Santos.

If you want to pick a winner here, then feel free, but on paper this feels like a massive test for two big punchers — an opportunity to prove who will sink or swim at world level.

Feb. 14, 2025: Abdullah Mason knocks down Manuel Jaimes in the second round during their fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

(Al Bello via Getty Images)

2. Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, Nov. 15

Here we go again. Eubank. Benn. Two surnames stitched into the fabric of British boxing beef, dusted off, reheated, and served with an extra pinch of salt.

Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) still has that same smirk plastered across his face despite going 12 hellacious rounds with his rival back in April — the smirk that’s half-confidence, half-marketing plan. There were plenty of moments throughout this summer where we believed the rematch was dead in the water, but Turki Alalshikh’s money talks.

Conor Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) still burns like a match head. Still defiant, still divisive, still swinging at ghosts and critics alike. For Benn, this isn’t about money or redemption, or even legacy. It’s about respect. He wants to shut everyone up — preferably by shutting Eubank Jr. down.

We’re back to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in north London for this one, with a sell out of 60,000-plus expected to fill the impressive structure, all hoping for a continuation of what was undeniably one of the best fights of the year back in April.

For all the controversy that has surrounded this rivalry over the past few years — including failed drugs tests, dangerous weight cuts, egg slaps and threatened legal action from both sides — both men put on a hell of a show in the spring, subsequently reducing that list to an afterword in the pair’s story.

That’s boxing, baby.

1. Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney, Nov. 22

A few months back, I was in New York City for Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3, and I noticed Brian Norman Jr. — alongside his father — walk the streets of Times Square unbothered.

The 24-year-old world champion cut a lost figure under the skyscrapers and bright lights, without a single soul recognizing him enough to walk over and ask for a selfie or a boxing chat. I have a feeling that will change dramatically for the WBO welterweight champion following his Nov. 22 fight with Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This is the type of opportunity Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) has been waiting for to break him out of the shadows of the 147-pound division and into the headlines and history books. He has the fighting acumen in abundance and talks like a superstar in waiting.

This is a high-risk, high-reward fight for both men. Haney is stepping into new territory (147 pounds), and Norman Jr. is stepping into a fight where his opponent arguably has more experience at the top level (even if at lower weight).

It’s a must-win for them and a must-see for us.