Boxing Hotspots in Asia for 2025

Mainstream boxing has enjoyed a renaissance since Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season entered the fray. We have seen matchups we have only dreamed of such as Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury and Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol. Recently, it has been revealed that Riyadh will hold one of the greatest cards in history with the loaded Feb. 22 card. Away from ‘big-time boxing,’ the sport is thriving and popularity is soaring in many parts of the world, including Asia. Platforms like 1xBet India have also contributed to increased fan engagement by offering enthusiasts an opportunity to connect with the sport. Let’s look at three boxing hotspots in Asia for 2025.

Boxing in Asia: Hotspots for 2025

Philippines

The Philippines remains a boxing hotspot with a deep-rooted history in the sweet science – with legends such as Pancho Villa and Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. In more recent times Manny Pacquiao has been the flag bearer for boxing in the Philippines. Having these legends has helped pave the way for a plethora of talented fighters to come through, and help the country become a boxing hub, with more growth likely in 2025, with possible financial gains larger than ever before thanks to Riyadh Season.

Japan

Japan is going through an undeniable golden period of boxing with Akihiko Honda and Teiken Promotions leading the way. They are continuing to produce great fighters in a plethora of divisions. Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are at the forefront of this as world champions and feared pugilists. A Nakatani-Inoue super fight has recently been teased by Bob Arum. Japan has hosted many international fight cards which have featured many young fighters, only solidifying their long-term commitment to boxing.

India

The popularity of boxing appears to have waned in India over recent years, with high costs of diet and equipment leading to many children dropping out of their boxing journey. Growth in 2025 remains a possibility, with Neeraj Goyat, the first Indian fighter to make the WBC world rankings signing with Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions. A rise in popularity in female boxing across India has been noted which will largely be down to talented amateur boxers such as Lovlina Borgohain.

Boxing is enjoying a real period of growth with Riyadh Season and MVP at the forefront. It remains to be seen how fast the growth will be in the countries mentioned in this article but undoubtedly there is potential for significant growth.