The potential US schedule gets considerably stronger from there.

Devin Haney has been linked to an October 3 WBO welterweight title defense against Jack Catterall. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez could return against Willibaldo Garcia Medina in November or December. Jaron “Boots” Ennis has been linked to Josh Kelly during that same stretch.

Dmitry Bivol against Callum Smith is also in discussions for December.

Not every fight on that list has been officially announced. If Matchroom gets most of them across the line, Eddie Hearn will have put together an excellent Q4 without relying on a faded attraction from the previous generation.

Too many major boxing events are sold around famous names in their late 30s or 40s because promoters believe familiarity is easier to market than competitive matchmaking.

Matchroom has another formula available here.

A matchup with Catterall gives the WBO champion a legitimate first defense at 147. Pairing Ennis with Kelly puts Boots against a ranked junior middleweight contender rather than another opponent chosen merely to keep him busy. Smith versus Puello is a mandatory defense between two proven light welterweights. Whittaker against Wallace brings direct IBF title implications.

Bam remains one of the best young fighters in boxing. Bivol fighting Smith gives Matchroom another meaningful 175-pound fight to finish the year.

There is no need to sell nostalgia when the current generation gets fights worth watching.