Canada’s Boxing Scene in 2026
Canada’s current boxing scene is in rude health, with high calibre big names alongside a crop of developing talent. This article will cover fighters making a big impact right now, plus forthcoming events, and how Canadian boxing fits in the wider North America scene.
Canadian Fighters Making Their Mark in 2026
While boxing isn’t Canada’s national sport there are some impressive fighters boxing for national glory. Lucas Bahdi is one of the best and will soon face off against America’s Floyd Schofield for the WBA lightweight world title. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds, and Bahdi’s record of 20 wins, 15 KOs, and no defeats or draws is marginally better than Schofield’s 19 wins, 13 KOs and no losses or draws. Bahdi’s ranked number 1 in Canada and has a solid shot of victory.
Another impressive Canadian lightweight boxer is Luis Santana, whose record boasts of 16 wins and 7 KOs, with neither a draw nor defeat to his name. He’s currently ranked 3rd in the lightweight category by the Canadian Professional Boxing Council. He’s due to fight the undefeated Dzmitry Asanau on 8 October.
A little heavier, and taller at 6’1”, is Wilkens Mathieu. The undefeated number 1 Canadian super middleweight has achieved 11 KOs in 16 wins, with no draws or losses. His last fight was against Esquiva Falcao, and his next is on 8 October.
The Next Generation of Canadian Boxing
Wyatt Sanford is a super lightweight Canadian boxer with 8 wins, 4 KOs, and no losses or draws so far. This youngster makes an appearance on Boxing Canada’s World Class list for the 2026/7 national team. His Olympic records are 17th in Tokyo and winning the bronze medal at the last Olympics in Paris. Since then he’s made the shift from amateur to professional, proving the amateur/Olympic pathway is a viable route to professional success. His last result was a TKO versus Costin Ion in September 2026.
Another potential star for the future is Joshua Ofori of Edmonton, who helped lead Canada to success at the World Boxing Challenge Cup in 2025. And in 2026 he won a bronze medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Steven Butler and Canada’s Experienced Contenders
Super welterweight Steven Butler is among Canada’s most experienced boxers, with 38 wins, 29 by KO, just 1 draw and 6 losses over the years. His last result was a loss by TKO to Edgar Berlanga in July 2026, and his recent record has been a roughly even mix of wins and losses.
Butler’s next test is against Erik Bazinyan at the Montreal Casino on 12 November. It’ll be a challenge as Bazinyan’s got 23 KOs among 32 wins, and just 1 draw and 1 loss to his name.
Major Boxing Events in Canada
On 8 October Quebec City plays host to Osleys Iglesias versus Oliver Zaren in a super middleweight clash. The card also features Canadian interest, with rising star Wilkens Mathieu facing Russia’s Vladimir Shishkin. The Russian’s no pushover, so a win will be a good step forward for Mathieu.
The same undercard features Luis Santana against Dzmitry Asanau. Both men are undefeated, and if Santana wants to challenge Bahdi as the top dog of Canada’s lightweights he needs to win.
Canada’s Place in North American Boxing
There’s no better example of Canadian competitiveness in the North American scene than Bahdi’s forthcoming bout in Chicago against Schofield to decide the WBA Lightweight Title. Beyond Bahdi’s title tilt and other established stars like Santana, Canada also hosts its share of major fights.
The BF IBO World Super Middleweight title bout between Cuba’s Iglesias and Denmark’s Zaren is being hosted by Quebec City on 8 October 2026. The previous month, Montreal held the welterweight clash of Perez versus Mchunu, which featured a Canadian victory on the undercard when Sanford beat Ion.
How Fans Follow Boxing Beyond Fight Night
The fight’s obviously centre stage when it comes to boxing but not everyone has the time or money to attend in person. Streaming live and watching either at home or on the go is cheaper and more convenient, and it’s easy to check the records and stats of each fighter.
Between fights social media can offer mocking memes or a way to have some friendly banter, while Canadian news and analysis from mainstream media can offer interesting insights.
And no deposit casinos Canada can offer a distraction with offers for sports or casino that require no deposit to be made.
What Comes Next for Canadian Boxing
October 2026 is set to be an exciting month for Canadian boxing, most notably with the Bahdi title fight in Chicago. A couple of days before that both Santana and Mathieu will be in action.
Further into the future, amateur provincial organisations under the umbrella of Boxing Canada offer a way for promising youngsters to get into the sport. Local clubs and tournaments offer a route to get into bigger fights, culminating in a chance to compete at the Olympics.
As Wyatt Sanford proved in 2024 when he won Olympic bronze, this can be a great stepping stone to a professional career. Between Bahdi, Santana, Sanford, and rising stars like Mathieu and Ofori, the boxing scene of Canada is in great shape.