However, this weekend, the sweet science is back with a bang with three huge fights scheduled across the world. 

DAZN News' Matt Astbury guides you through the ultimate boxing weekend and it all kicks off in Belfast, live on DAZN. 

Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan II: A rematch with added world title spice

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan produced one of the stories of the year so far with their first encounter in March at a packed SSE Arena in Belfast. 

The two welterweights went hell for leather with points deductions aplenty and Crocker taking significant damage from Donovan. Then came a moment of controversy. 

At the end of round eight, referee Marcus McDonnell disqualified Donovan for punching after the bell which sparked fury from the latter's corner. Both men acknowledged that they would need to run things back, and this Saturday, live on DAZN, is their chance. 

Taking place at Windsor Park, Crocker and Donovan will lock horns once again, this time with the IBF welterweight title at stake following a Jaron 'Boots' Ennis vacation, adding an extra bit of spice to what is already an eagerly anticipated contest. 

It will no doubt be a bear pit atmosphere at the Belfast stadium and a night to remember for Irish boxing. 

Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: A fantasy fight becomes a reality

Over the past few years, boxing fans have been talking about the prospect of multi-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford making a significant step up to face current undisputed super middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. 

With Crawford most recently competing at super welterweight, two weight divisions below 168lbs, it still felt like a pipedream due to the huge physical changes 'Bud' would have to undertake. 

Fast forward to this Saturday, and a fight for the ages between Canelo and Crawford becomes a reality with the two pound-for-pound stars squaring off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. 

This historical contest is one that has storylines galore, can Alvarez topple one of the very best to lace up the gloves? Can Crawford secure his place at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings with a win? 

These questions and more will be answered this weekend. 

Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev: The Monster returns

PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images

As the curtain comes down on Canelo-Crawford in Las Vegas, attention will quickly switch to the IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan where another pound-for-pound star will be in action on Sunday.

Fighting for a third time this year, undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue takes on mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev. 

The Uzbek has been waiting in the wings for his long awaited shot at the 'Monster', but while he poses an awkward test, Inoue will be the favourite to triumph once more. 

Winning his last 11 fights by knockout, fight fans will be hoping Inoue can produce another brutal, and explosive finish to set him up for possibly one more outing before the year's end. 

Who knows, maybe Inoue will finally make the move to featherweight, or face Junto Nakatani in an all-Japan showdown.

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