Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 12 years after it was conceived, finally opened its doors in 2019 and on April 11 it will host its fifth boxing event when Tyson Fury takes on Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Though it is impossible to park anywhere near it, and transport links are not remotely fit for purpose when the nearby streets are 60-odd thousand people deep, it is one of the most impressive stadiums in Britain once inside.
Though fans of the flailing soccer team it homes might not currently share the same view, boxing fans have been treated to several memorable moments to keep the conversation flowing during the long expedition home…
10. Campbell Hatton gets the rub of the green (September 25, 2021)
Back when sons of British boxing legends turning professional was all the rage, Campbell Hatton was being carefully guided by Matchroom when he stumbled across Sonni Martinez, a late substitute, in a six-rounder. The huge underdog seemed to have done more than enough to win and even Eddie Hearn looked surprised when referee Marcus McDonnell scored the bout 57-56 in Hatton’s favor.
9. Callum Smith sends shockwaves through Lenin Castillo (September 25, 2021)
Callum Smith called on his inner assassin and bulleted Lenin Castillo into oblivion inside just two rounds. The right-hand finisher was savage but it was the sight of Castillo on the canvas, body frozen with legs twitching, that will not be forgotten.
8. Anthony Joshua stops for advice (September 25, 2021)
There was something magical in the air the night that Anthony Joshua fought Oleksandr Usyk for the first time. The packed stadium, kissing goodbye to the long and winding pandemic, went berserk when Joshua made his entrance. Along the way, Joshua stopped more than once to greet old acquaintances and even asked Clifton Mitchell, the former heavyweight who was working as a security guard, how best to approach his impending battle with Oleksandr Usyk.
7. Kevin Lerena appears to break Daniel Dubois’ ankle (December 3, 2022)
Daniel Dubois’ reputation hanged by a thread during the first three minutes of his contest with the exceptionally unfancied Kevin Lerena. An early right from the underdog clipped the top of Dubois’ head, caused his knee to buckle and his ankle to fold. The Briton stumbled to the mat three times, looked to his corner in panic, before orchestrating a bombastic turnaround.
6. Jack Catterall bends the rules (November 15, 2025)
Ekow Essuman, after being floored in the fourth, gutsily worked his way back into his battle with Jack Catterall before all his effort suddenly came undone in the 11th round. Essuman lost his footing, the referee tried to separate them, Catterall was having none of it, and clattered his man three times to send him sprawling. Essuman, clearly dazed, got up but was soon bundled out of the ring and stopped.
5. Conor Benn gains one-sided revenge (November 15, 2025)
Whether Conor Benn morphed into a master boxer capable of mixing it with the world’s best in the space of seven months is open to interpretation. Not debatable was the shocking decline in Chris Eubank Jnr, who looked oddly hollow, devoid of ideas, low on energy and slow to react. That he heard the final bell in that decrepit state was almost as surprising.
4. Chris Eubank Snr parties like it’s 1999 (April 26, 2025)
Ahead of the first Eubank Jnr-Benn tussle, Chris Eubank Snr all but stole the show with his lively cameo. From the moment he tottered into the stadium he was difficult to ignore, and, during his son’s ring walk and introduction, Senior looked beautifully lost in his own little world while having the most fabulous party for one.
3. Oleksandr Usyk grins at Tyson Fury (December 3, 2022)
The needless third fight between Derek Chisora and Tyson Fury, the man who long ago had proved he had “Del Boy’s” number, was forgotten when Oleksandr Usyk emerged at ringside and stood there, grinning both calmly and demonically, as Fury screamed in his face.
2. Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn wage war (April 26, 2025)
It seemed impossible for the three-years-in-the-making grudge match between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn to justify the relentless hype. Then the opening bell sounded and the two enemies, buoyed by family pride, went to war with gusto and didn’t let up until the end of the 12th round.
1. Oleksandr Usyk bedazzles Anthony Joshua (September 25, 2021)
It might seem unlikely now but heading into the first clash between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, the former was the favorite. But Usyk unleashed one of the most majestic showings of his glittering career to expose Joshua’s ideas about outboxing such a sublime technician. This was the night when Usyk’s legend really gathered pace.
