A closer look at the battles of the February world title

The 2026 boxing calendar has started in style, as Shakur Stevenson pushes his name into the pound-am-pound contention, while Dalton Smith and Josh Kelly have registered the winners of distressed title to become the latest world champions of Great Britain.

Now, the year is at its peak and we are about to see another month’s troubles and title changes as we arrive in February, where six male world title matches await us. Here, Boxing News looks at each of those competitions, before what is sure to be a thrilling continuation of the play seen in January.

February 6: Christian Medina Vs. Adrian Curiel – WBO Bantam Weight Title (Dazn)

Following the movement of Junto Nakatani to the weight of ultra-dance, marbles left the WTB and WBO Bantam and WBO weight, with the WLC strap raised by Takuma Inoue and Christian Medina distressing Yoshiki Takei to get his hands on the WBO title.

On Friday night, Medina seeks first defense of the belt, as he conflicts with Adrian Curiel in an exciting all-Mexican fight in his hometown, Guadalajara, hopefully of a sixth consecutive victory within the distance.

With 30 fights to his name, at the age of 25, Medina looked much better against Takei last time and another dominant show here could see him as the man to beat in a bantam weight section dotted with Japanese talent.

However, Curiel has secured shock victories in the past, best known for his stunning shot in 2023 of Sivenathi Nontshinga in Monte Carlo who saw him claim the IBF light weight crown.

February 7: Nick Ball Against Brandon Figueroa – WBA Featherweight Title (Dazn)

Nick Ball defeated Ray Ford to become the WBA Featherweight Champion back in June 2024 and the Liverpudlian has defended the belt on three occasions since then, appearing as if he was waiting for a fight with the Naoya Inoue pound star rather than merging.

This Saturday, Ball returns for his toughest title defense so far, as he returns to home ground against former Ultra-Bantam Ultra-Bantam Manager Brandon Figueroa in the Echo Arena, looking to overcome the disadvantage of seven-inch height and bounce back from a rather controversial victory over Sam Goodman.

In terms of Figueroa, he followed a couple of striking years with 2025 rope, losing in his second game with Stephen Fulton and overwhelming against Joet Gonzalez. Yet, if the Texan can rediscover the form that went on to the second Fulton game, there is every chance that it can pull off the away victory.

February 21: Gary Antuanne Russell Against Andy Hiraoka-WBA Ultra-Light Title (Dazn PPV)

On the lowest card Barrios-garcia, Gary Antuanne Russell and Andy Hiraoka will finally meet the third time of asking, following the cancellation of fighting on Pacquiao-Barrios and Jake Paul-Cervonta Davis shows, after the fighting has been ordered last April.

Russell depleted Jose Valenzuela to become the champion of the month before that order in a one -sided decision victory, but will have suffered nearly a year of inactivity before this battle against Hiraoka, which has not fought itself since September 2024.

The winner will probably be determined by who has dealt better with that inactivity, in a relationship that will prove whether the Japanese-German challenger is real. the boogeyman whom some fighting fans are painted to be.

February 21: Richardson Hitchins Against Oscar Duarte-IBF Ultra-Light Title (Dazn PPV)

The reigning IBF-light champion, Richardson Hitchins, believes he is a prominent fighter in a competitive section of 140 lbs and the unbeaten Brooklynite returns to act in difficult protection against Oscar Duarte in Barrios-Garcia’s main card.

Hitchins scored a first shimmering victory in five fights when George Kambosos JR stopped last time in defending his title for the first time, but durable and formal Duarte is sure to provide a tougher challenge.

‘La Migrana’ (The Migraine) has proven to be a headache to his last four enemies, combining a quartet of victories in compatible fights to win a first shot in the world’s honors in his 34th contest.

If Hitchins is the fighter he believes himself, he should comfortably overcome Duarte, but any chin in the armor is sure to be exploited by the game’s challenger, who will try to march Hitchins down and make this opportunity on the throne count.

February 21: Mario Barrios against Ryan Garcia – WTS Week Weight Title (Dazn PPV)

In the highly awaited February event, global star Ryan Garcia is finally trying to become a world champion, despite competing at the elite level for half a decade.

‘King Ry’ briefly came in a world title application against Rolando Romero last May, following a ban for a year from the sportand it remains to be seen whether that screening was an off -night night or whether Garcia has become a shadow of the fighter he once was.

The California guns for the WBA Crown Mario Barrios, with ‘El Azteca’ hoping to win his first world title match since 2020, after being upgraded to a champion in June 2024 and defending the belt twice with equal games against Abel Ramos and Manny Pacquiao.

While Barrios is a worthy title holder, another failure by Garcia will confirm its decline, in a contest that is sure to have a rippling effect across the sport, such as Conor Benn waits for a shot to the winner.

February 28: EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS EDUARDO NUNEZ – WBO and IBF Advanced Featherweight Titles (DAZN)

February begins with an all-Mexican conflict in Mexico and ends with one in the United States, as Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez go to the feet in the feet in drooling scrap that is unlikely to need any judges.

Nunez’s ‘Sugar’ on the cards won for the first time when Masanori defeated Rikiishi for 28th a career success to win the IBF Fly in Japan’s super-weight title last May, and repeated that unfamiliar feeling with other points winning over Christopher Diaz to protect the belt three months later.

Navarrete, however, has won in just one of his last four outings but remains a WBO higher featherweight champion; Drawing with Robson Conceicao to keep his belt, lose to Denys Berinchyk while bidding for the light title, prevent Oscar Valdez and then compete in a non-competition competition against Charly Suarez.

Nunez’s victory could boost the 130 lbs scene, but Navarrete can mix it with the best when fit and fuel, making this one a possible fight of the year.