Adam Kownacki vs Chris Arreola in our top 3 August fights

August was, for a long time, a rather fallow month for boxing. Dictated in part by television schedules and promoters not wanting to stage shows when a large proportion of their potential audience were embarking on holidays, the period from mid-July to mid-September was largely avoided. It is still not the most eventful month on the boxing calendar but there are reasons to be cheerful. Here are our top 3.

Anthony Fowler vs Brian Rose (August 2, Liverpool)
Blackpool’s veteran former British champion and world title challenger Brain Rose had got himself into fantastic shape for one last throw of the dice against Preston rival Scott Fitzgerald on July 6, only to see first Anthony Fowler replace the man who had recently beaten him when “Fitzy” got injured, then the whole show cancelled when the main event fell through. Now Fowler vs Rose has reportedly been rescheduled for the Scouser’s home city and both men have something to prove: Rose that he still has something to offer at a respectable level, and Fowler that he can improve from the Fitzgerald humbling. Fowler is aggressive and strong, Rose tall, well-schooled and with plenty of heart.

Adam Kownacki vs Chris Arreola (August 3, Brooklyn)
Chris Arreola must have watched his fellow chubby Latino heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr upset Anthony Joshua to become the first man of Mexican heritage to win the world heavyweight title and thought, at least fleetingly, ‘That should have been me.’ Arreola has lost his three shots at the WBC title but, at 38, remains exciting and dangerous. Poland’s Kownacki is a rising contender and big fan favourite closing in on a world title shot. He cannot afford to take a motivated Arreola lightly and this fight is virtually guaranteed to provide toe-to-toe action and a brutal finish.

Caleb Truax vs Peter Quillin II (August 31, Minneapolis)
It was intriguing when these two were first scheduled to meet in April, but their fight, in the same venue, was unfortunately cut short by at the end of the second round, due to a Truax laceration caused by an accidental headbutt. Hopefully lightning does not strike twice as slick former WBO middleweight king Quillin meets tough, productive ex-IBF super-middle boss Truax. Quillin began as the bookmakers’ favourite before the first fight but has not looked as explosive since moving up in weight following an extended hiatus, while Truax of course has relative home advantage and is 7-0-1 (6) in Minneapolis.