Knockout Cocktails for Fight Fans

This post was written in collaboration with Digital Whiskers

As we get into the thick of 2024 and a brand new year, sports fans have plenty to be excited about. The upcoming schedule provides something for everyone, from the competitiveness of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis in January to Super Bowl LVIII in February. It's an electric start to what promises to be a thrilling 12 months. Which sporting events have you marked in your diary already? Check the schedule, pick your favorite, and plan to purchase a ticket or watch the play live on TV.

The 2024 calendar gives followers of one sport more reason to cheer than most. Lovers of professional boxing have some mouth-watering and potentially explosive bouts on the horizon. The biggest and best fight confirmed so far pairs heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. The winner of that fight will give boxing fans something they've sought for almost 25 years: a unified and globally recognized world heavyweight champion.

Will Fury win the fight in Saudi Arabia and be crowned king of the division? The Englishman is unbeaten to date, and he's popular with fans who like to bet on boxing online. The leading sportsbooks make Fury the red-hot favorite to add Usyk's belts to his collection and complete the set. But it would be foolish to overlook Ukranian Usyk, who unified the cruiserweight division and now plans to do the same in the sport's highest weight category. Are you backing Fury or Usyk?

Saudi influence

Fury vs. Usyk will be the biggest fight in a generation and will go down as a classic, with the top two fighters meeting in their primes. What awaits is a memorable bout, and we can't wait to see the action live. The fight will be broadcast from Riyadh across the world on major TV channels and live-streaming apps. But why are the best fighters suddenly fighting the best opponents?

Saudi Arabia has become a major player in the world of professional boxing, providing the finances needed to ensure the most talented share a ring. Those delivering the funds and working to bring the best boxers to Saudi Arabia say they have just one goal: to make boxing fans happy. They, too, are fans of the sport and share a desire to see one champion in as many weight divisions as possible. But how will they make that happen this year?

A seemingly bottomless money pit will help get things moving in the right direction. Fury vs. Usyk will take place on Saturday, February 17th, at the Kingdom Arena. Tyson appeared in this part of the world in his last fight, and supporters of the WBC champion hope that gives him an edge over his fellow champion, unbeaten fighter, and opponent. But Usyk is no soft touch and believes he has the skills to silence the out-spoken Briton before the eyes of the watching world.

Watch Fury vs Usyk live

Will you watch this famous and historic sporting event that will cement boxing as the number one combat sport worldwide? You can visit Riyadh, snag a ticket to the event, and watch the main fight and undercard from the arena. Visiting the Kingdom Arena is the best and most exciting way to enjoy this heavyweight fixture, but tickets are expensive and difficult to find. You must then factor in travel and accommodation costs before boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia.

If you aren't one of the lucky few to bank a ticket to this fight, you can watch on the move using your Android or iOS device. The best live-streaming apps allow fans to watch boxing on their smartphone from anywhere in the world, proving there's a reliable Wi-Fi connection or available data. Take the boxing with you to work, out for the evening, or when visiting family and enjoy an HD-quality livestream.

The final and most popular option for followers of the noble art is to watch live on television. You can create a watch party, inviting friends, family, and fellow fighters to your home. Lay out some drinks and snacks, make sure everyone gets a good view of the television, and enjoy the show. Speaking of drinks, we suggest some boxing-themed cocktails to help the night go with a bang. The recipes are simple to follow, and the ingredients are readily available. Pick your favorite from those listed below and ensure it's cocktail hour all evening.

The Knockout Punch

Ingredients:

• 1 oz dark rum
• 1 oz light rum
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 0.5 oz grenadine
• Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add the dark rum, light rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and grenadine.
3. Shake well and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.

This vibrant and fruity cocktail is a punchy way to kick off your boxing-themed mixology journey.

The Jab & Hook

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 0.75 oz elderflower liqueur
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
• Cucumber slices for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a mixing glass, combine the gin, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice.
2. Fill the mixing glass with ice and shake well.
3. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with cucumber slices for a refreshing twist.

This cocktail delivers a combination of flavors that dance on your palate, just like a well-executed jab and hook combination in the ring.

The Southpaw Sipper

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz bourbon
• 0.5 oz peach schnapps
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 0.25 oz honey
• 3-4 fresh basil leaves for muddling
• Peach slice for garnish

Instructions

1. Muddle the fresh basil leaves in the bottom of a shaker.
2. Add the bourbon, peach schnapps, lemon juice, and honey to the shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
4. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with a peach slice for a touch of Southern charm.

This cocktail is a nod to the left-handed fighters, offering a delightful combination of bourbon warmth and peachy sweetness.