The boxing world is brimming with excitement over two of the most anticipated matchups of 2025, thanks to the efforts of Riyadh Season Head, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. First, there’s the long-awaited showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, a fight that’s captured the attention of fans worldwide. The second is the showdown between two of boxing’s finest, Terence Crawford and the super middleweight king Canelo Alvarez, being negotiated for September 2025 in Las Vegas. As the hype continues to build for these fights, EssentiallySports caught up with Nishant Dev, the Olympian from India who made his mark last year at the Paris Summer Games with a string of dominant performances.

For those who may not remember, it was only earlier this month that Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing announced the signing of the 24-year-old from Karnal, Haryana. With the signing, Dev not only became the first Indian boxer to join the Matchroom stable but also the first to make his professional boxing debut in the US. In a matter of a few hours, Nishant Dev will enter the professional ranks in a 6-round contest against Alton Wiggins on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. With his fight just around the corner, the Indian Southpaw sat down with our host Andrew Whitelaw for an exclusive interview to share his predictions on these high-stakes fights, and here is what he said.

Weight is a big aspect between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, but…

When it came to the much-anticipated fight between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, Nishant Dev didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts. He acknowledged the difference in styles between the two fighters. “In my opinion, they’re both really different boxers,” Dev began.

“Even though they are carrying different weight categories, I’d say I will go with Crawford.” Why? According to Nishant Dev, despite having to go up in weight to fight Canelo Alvarez, Crawford’s “really smart” and his “ring generalship” give him a significant advantage against other boxers. “He ties his opponents and he breaks them down with those body punches. And he shows the world he’s the best,” Dev explained, describing Crawford’s approach to dismantling his opponents throughout the duration of a fight.

One thing that stands out to Dev is the way Crawford delivers his punches. “The way he punches, I punch the same,” Dev added. “He doesn’t twist the back foot or the hooks. Even I do the same thing. And that makes him more special and attractive boxer.” It’s clear that Nishant Dev admires and favors Crawford’s technique over Canelo Alvarez’s. “I’ve seen Crawford last week in the gym,” Dev revealed. “He has a really different and killer mindset.”

It’s clear, the young Olympian is hoping Terence Crawford takes home the victory in the biggest fight of the decade. But what about the other fight?

Nishant Dev wants to see Tyson Fury take on Anthony Joshua

Nishant Dev’s take was equally insightful, when it came to the potential all-British showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, though much more cautious. When asked by Andrew Whitelaw if he believed Tyson Fury had truly retired, Dev was quick to say that he thought the Gypsy King should accept the challenge to fight Anthony Joshua.

“I think he should say yes,” Dev contended. “The whole world wants to see Tyson Fury again. He’s fast. He’s strong. And even I want to watch how Tyson Fury maintains distance.” When pushed for a prediction, Nishant confidently picked Tyson Fury to win the fight. “I think Tyson Fury will win the fight,” he said.

With that said, this exclusive interview with EssentiallySports offers fans an interesting glimpse into the much-anticipated fights and the mindset of Nishant Dev, a rising star on the cusp of his professional debut. To dive deeper into our discussion with Dev, check out the full conversation linked above.

So what do you think of Nishant Dev’s predictions? Do you agree with him or do you see a different outcome? And most importantly, which one are you looking forward to most?