Warrington: "the penny has dropped; I've been on fire" |
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It was the calm before the inevitable storm this Saturday in front of a capacity crowd at Nottingham, England’s Motorpoint Arena this Saturday, as arch-rivals Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington (pictured) stood toe-to-toe at today’s Press Conference. The former featherweight champions face each other in long-awaited rematch this weekend, live worldwide on DAZN. They will head up a brilliant card featuring the British & Commonwealth 154-pound title clash between Ishamel Davis and Bilal Fawaz, Sandy Ryan fighting Karla Ramos Zamora for the WBC 140-pound championship plus the return of popular heavyweight Dave Allen, young Leo Atang and Tiah-Mai Ayton, along with former MMA icon Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann. Here’s what the fighters had to say ahead of Saturday night – with selected quotes and the video from the final press conference:
MATCHROOM SPORT CHAIRMAN, EDDIE HEARN
It’s great to be here in Nottingham, a fight city which has given us so many incredible fights over the years. And on Saturday night, we have it all over again with a sold out arena ready to witness what is really one of the great British domestic grudge matches. It’s the ‘Last Man Standing’ between Nottingham’s very own Leigh Wood and, of course, Leeds’ Josh Warrington. I want to thank both men, not just for agreeing to be a part of this massive event, but for everything you have done for British boxing. Onb Wednesday, you would have seen that Matchroom has secured a huge, five-year extension. It’s a massive moment for our fighters and a massive moment for sports fans in general. And over the next two weeks we have two huge events – and these fights are our bread and butter. These kind of events are what made Matchroom great in the sport of boxing. These kind of events are what made me fall in love with the sport. These kind of events are what invigorate the boxing scene and show everyone just how great this sport can be. Next week, we will have over 10,000 in Arizona for Navrette-Nunez, the big Unification match-up to see who really is the next King of Mexico. This weekend, in Nottingham, over 8,000 – these events are what we live and breathe for. Josh Warringtron will come and put in everything he can on Saturday. He has given British fights fans over the years so many phenomenal nights, tracing back against the likes of Lee Selby, Carl Frampton, Kiko Martinez, the first Leigh Wood fight and so many more. For Leigh Wood, his story is quite remarkable. From the early days back in Hull where it looked like things might have been over before they really got going, to back in the bubble when he was fighting for peanuts against Reece Mould to winning a World Title behind-closed-doors at Fight Camp to one of the greatest nights we’ve ever had against Mick Conlon, to the Mauricio Lara fights and of course the battles with Josh Warrington. These fights are generational of British boxing and I cannot wait to watch you two go at it again this Saturday night, live on DAZN. The undercard is quite incredible too. Two guys in Ishmael Davis and Bilal Fawaz with the British & Commonwealth Championship on the line in what is a perfect domestic match-up for our co-Main Event of the evening – two great guys, im a brilliant fight. So much more talent too with the return of the ‘White Rhino’ Dave Allen, young hevyweight Leo Atang, Sandy Ryan, Tiah-Mai Ayton and Molly McCann all in action in what is a brilliant night of boxing. Make sure you tune in.
JOSH WARRINGTON
Back in 2024, I retired for a few weeks. I never officially announced it but I had to mull over my career for a bit before I decided to continue. I felt like I still had more than enough to do some more things in this sport. Even though I haave achieved so much and had lots of great memories over the years, in the gym I feel like I’m just getting better and better. I have a more mature mindset. Physically, my numbers keep on getting better and stronger so I’ve trained hard and had a good kick up my backside to keep me working hard throughout – and I feel fantastic. I will show that on Saturday night. The only way I see it going is by stoppage. I can’t really see what Leigh is going to come in and do differently to make it go quicker. I’ve boxed him, I’ve fought him, boxed him on the ropes, and did everything I needed to do until I, obviously, left myself very open. He did catch me with a fantastic shot and then the fight was over. That’s how quickly this sport can be changed. But we know that we have to do more this time around and so I am very, very confident that the fight will go early.
LEIGH WOOD
I am confident. And that’s not m thinking it’s going to be easy – because I don’t think it’s going to be easy. In a way, I don’t want it to be because I’ll actually feel even better when I go on and get the victory, like I did in the previous fight. But I am confident. I know what I need to do, it’s a lot clearer. The support in Nottingham is unbelievable and I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for filling that arena so quick. I was saying to Carl Froch that he inspired me as a kid, going to that arena to watch him and looking around thinking that I want to do this one day. We’re both going in with the will to win and I’m not underestimating him [Josh]. I know what he brings. We’re both [former] champions, so you have to have something about you to get to that level. But I just feel that on Saturday night that my something is going to shine so f****** bright. The things I’ve been working on and what I have been doing in the gym, which up against a fight night are completely different things, but normally in every camp perhaps my spars haven’t been great – in fact, for the Mick Conlon fight, I had one spar so bad and went and hid in the weights room at the gym to have a cry before Ben [Davison] came and found me. So I have sparred quite badly before because I’ve probably tried too hard. But in this camp, the penny has dropped with what I need to do and in my approach to it, so I have been on fire.
ISHAMEL DAVIS
He [Bilal Fawaz] just makes me laugh. He’s a comedian. I respect his game but he can’t get into my head. All the talking is fine but on Saturday night, when you get in the ring, it’s all about who does the walking. It’s two days away and it’s nearly time to throw them hands. Am I scared? Let’s just fight! We’ll see who is scared and we will see what will happen next Fight Night. He’s a funny guy, I respect his comedy and I’ll let him take the floor for now but on Saturday’s I’ll be leading the way. There’s nobody who fights like me in British boxing. I’m on job. And you are going to see that on Saturday. I’ve fought everyone who’s been put in front of me, and it’s no different with you. You’re a clown – and all I can do is laugh at you. There is nothing you can say that will get to me. You’ve underestimated me and when you get in there with me, you are going to see the real deal. I’m looking forward to a great fight because I know I’ve done everything that I’ve needed to do. Think whatever you like, Bilal, but when you step inside that ring with me you are going to see some serious business.
BILAL FAWAZ
I think he [Ishmael] is lying. He is rattled. He’s saying he cannot take me seriously, but he’s laughing because he knows I am a threat. How long has he been in the game? You’re rattled and you know that. You called me an idiot and I will make you pay for that. I promise you. You’re smiling but I will wipe that off of your face. He’s scared, trust me. Look at him. All he has is muscles. You should be afraid of me. You will see. He’s acting like he is not rattled but he is nervous. His body language says it all – all he does is just laugh.I’ve seen your fights and you crumble under pressure. I will snatch hi titles off of him and there i nothing he can do. Piece-by-piece, until there is nothing left.
DAVE ALLEN
We’re all very proud of Leo [Atang]. A lot of people don’t know this but I’m actually Leo’s uncle. We are all very proud of him. We’re hoping he goes right to the top. So far, so good but there is a long road ahead and on Saturday night, it’s the next step forward for him and we’re all very excited for him. For me, the fella who I’m boxing, I’ve only seen one round of his and I think I’m just going to try and knock him out straight away. Hopefully a first round knockout and then on to whatever is next. Arslenbek Makhmudov is fighting Tyson [Fury] now – I didn’t think I was a million miles away really from possibly that result being different against Makhmudov on a different day. So we’ll have to see what comes next. The British tite? I’m hearing Jeamie TKV is fighting Richard Riakporhe next, so maybe the winner of that. Or for the European Title. I won a title last year – but I’d like to win a proper one. I just want to be in more good fights and make more money and enjoy it.
LEO ATANG
He [Dan Garber] has been in with some big names. For me in my first four fights, all of them have been quite negative in that they have all fought on the back foot an I’ve almost been having to chase them. But I know he’s game and will come to fight, which will definitely suit me better. Five wins from five? That is the plan.
TIAH-MAI AYTON
I like staying active, so I’m always ready to go again and learn more things whenever I start a new camp. I hope this year to be winning my first title. I don’t know what that is yet – but I just want anything.
MOLLY McCANN
Tiah and I sparred together and she taught me a hell of a lot. Our teams get on really well together, so we had a nice, tough last week together before we’ve got to do this. She is the best. I really believe so. I didn’t know – sometimes it might just be a bit of propaganda. But the way she carries herself, how calm she is, very methodical, so it is brilliant to share a card with her. For me, coming from MMA everything is geared to be so intense to getting the finish. So, when I moved to this sport I got the finish in my first fight and I tried to rush it a bit too much in the second. I wasn’t really into my opponent because she was burning my head out all week. But i learned so many lessons. I’m six months in to a new sport for my third fight this weekend, I need these lessons. After my last fight, I messaged Eddie and said I was sorry for not getting the finish, and was just being really down on myself. He just told me not to be down on myself and go and enjoy what I’m supposed to be doing because this is why you’re doing it – in four, five, six fights time I’ll be fighting for belts, so I need to make the most out of these lessons whilst I can. I’ve had a great camp, including some great rounds with Tiah, and I’m ready to go and play a bit more of a game of chess than just go in like a windmill.
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Warrington: "the penny has dropped; I've been on fire"
It was the calm before the inevitable storm this Saturday in front of a capacity crowd at Nottingham, England’s Motorpoint Arena this Saturday, as arch-rivals Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington (pictured) stood toe-to-toe at today’s Press Conference. The former featherweight champions face each other in long-awaited rematch this weekend, live worldwide on DAZN. They will head up a brilliant card featuring the British & Commonwealth 154-pound title clash between Ishamel Davis and Bilal Fawaz, Sandy Ryan fighting Karla Ramos Zamora for the WBC 140-pound championship plus the return of popular heavyweight Dave Allen, young Leo Atang and Tiah-Mai Ayton, along with former MMA icon Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann. Here’s what the fighters had to say ahead of Saturday night – with selected quotes and the video from the final press conference:
MATCHROOM SPORT CHAIRMAN, EDDIE HEARN
It’s great to be here in Nottingham, a fight city which has given us so many incredible fights over the years. And on Saturday night, we have it all over again with a sold out arena ready to witness what is really one of the great British domestic grudge matches. It’s the ‘Last Man Standing’ between Nottingham’s very own Leigh Wood and, of course, Leeds’ Josh Warrington. I want to thank both men, not just for agreeing to be a part of this massive event, but for everything you have done for British boxing. Onb Wednesday, you would have seen that Matchroom has secured a huge, five-year extension. It’s a massive moment for our fighters and a massive moment for sports fans in general. And over the next two weeks we have two huge events – and these fights are our bread and butter. These kind of events are what made Matchroom great in the sport of boxing. These kind of events are what made me fall in love with the sport. These kind of events are what invigorate the boxing scene and show everyone just how great this sport can be. Next week, we will have over 10,000 in Arizona for Navrette-Nunez, the big Unification match-up to see who really is the next King of Mexico. This weekend, in Nottingham, over 8,000 – these events are what we live and breathe for. Josh Warringtron will come and put in everything he can on Saturday. He has given British fights fans over the years so many phenomenal nights, tracing back against the likes of Lee Selby, Carl Frampton, Kiko Martinez, the first Leigh Wood fight and so many more. For Leigh Wood, his story is quite remarkable. From the early days back in Hull where it looked like things might have been over before they really got going, to back in the bubble when he was fighting for peanuts against Reece Mould to winning a World Title behind-closed-doors at Fight Camp to one of the greatest nights we’ve ever had against Mick Conlon, to the Mauricio Lara fights and of course the battles with Josh Warrington. These fights are generational of British boxing and I cannot wait to watch you two go at it again this Saturday night, live on DAZN. The undercard is quite incredible too. Two guys in Ishmael Davis and Bilal Fawaz with the British & Commonwealth Championship on the line in what is a perfect domestic match-up for our co-Main Event of the evening – two great guys, im a brilliant fight. So much more talent too with the return of the ‘White Rhino’ Dave Allen, young hevyweight Leo Atang, Sandy Ryan, Tiah-Mai Ayton and Molly McCann all in action in what is a brilliant night of boxing. Make sure you tune in.
JOSH WARRINGTON
Back in 2024, I retired for a few weeks. I never officially announced it but I had to mull over my career for a bit before I decided to continue. I felt like I still had more than enough to do some more things in this sport. Even though I haave achieved so much and had lots of great memories over the years, in the gym I feel like I’m just getting better and better. I have a more mature mindset. Physically, my numbers keep on getting better and stronger so I’ve trained hard and had a good kick up my backside to keep me working hard throughout – and I feel fantastic. I will show that on Saturday night. The only way I see it going is by stoppage. I can’t really see what Leigh is going to come in and do differently to make it go quicker. I’ve boxed him, I’ve fought him, boxed him on the ropes, and did everything I needed to do until I, obviously, left myself very open. He did catch me with a fantastic shot and then the fight was over. That’s how quickly this sport can be changed. But we know that we have to do more this time around and so I am very, very confident that the fight will go early.
LEIGH WOOD
I am confident. And that’s not m thinking it’s going to be easy – because I don’t think it’s going to be easy. In a way, I don’t want it to be because I’ll actually feel even better when I go on and get the victory, like I did in the previous fight. But I am confident. I know what I need to do, it’s a lot clearer. The support in Nottingham is unbelievable and I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for filling that arena so quick. I was saying to Carl Froch that he inspired me as a kid, going to that arena to watch him and looking around thinking that I want to do this one day. We’re both going in with the will to win and I’m not underestimating him [Josh]. I know what he brings. We’re both [former] champions, so you have to have something about you to get to that level. But I just feel that on Saturday night that my something is going to shine so f****** bright. The things I’ve been working on and what I have been doing in the gym, which up against a fight night are completely different things, but normally in every camp perhaps my spars haven’t been great – in fact, for the Mick Conlon fight, I had one spar so bad and went and hid in the weights room at the gym to have a cry before Ben [Davison] came and found me. So I have sparred quite badly before because I’ve probably tried too hard. But in this camp, the penny has dropped with what I need to do and in my approach to it, so I have been on fire.
ISHAMEL DAVIS
He [Bilal Fawaz] just makes me laugh. He’s a comedian. I respect his game but he can’t get into my head. All the talking is fine but on Saturday night, when you get in the ring, it’s all about who does the walking. It’s two days away and it’s nearly time to throw them hands. Am I scared? Let’s just fight! We’ll see who is scared and we will see what will happen next Fight Night. He’s a funny guy, I respect his comedy and I’ll let him take the floor for now but on Saturday’s I’ll be leading the way. There’s nobody who fights like me in British boxing. I’m on job. And you are going to see that on Saturday. I’ve fought everyone who’s been put in front of me, and it’s no different with you. You’re a clown – and all I can do is laugh at you. There is nothing you can say that will get to me. You’ve underestimated me and when you get in there with me, you are going to see the real deal. I’m looking forward to a great fight because I know I’ve done everything that I’ve needed to do. Think whatever you like, Bilal, but when you step inside that ring with me you are going to see some serious business.
BILAL FAWAZ
I think he [Ishmael] is lying. He is rattled. He’s saying he cannot take me seriously, but he’s laughing because he knows I am a threat. How long has he been in the game? You’re rattled and you know that. You called me an idiot and I will make you pay for that. I promise you. You’re smiling but I will wipe that off of your face. He’s scared, trust me. Look at him. All he has is muscles. You should be afraid of me. You will see. He’s acting like he is not rattled but he is nervous. His body language says it all – all he does is just laugh.I’ve seen your fights and you crumble under pressure. I will snatch hi titles off of him and there i nothing he can do. Piece-by-piece, until there is nothing left.
DAVE ALLEN
We’re all very proud of Leo [Atang]. A lot of people don’t know this but I’m actually Leo’s uncle. We are all very proud of him. We’re hoping he goes right to the top. So far, so good but there is a long road ahead and on Saturday night, it’s the next step forward for him and we’re all very excited for him. For me, the fella who I’m boxing, I’ve only seen one round of his and I think I’m just going to try and knock him out straight away. Hopefully a first round knockout and then on to whatever is next. Arslenbek Makhmudov is fighting Tyson [Fury] now – I didn’t think I was a million miles away really from possibly that result being different against Makhmudov on a different day. So we’ll have to see what comes next. The British tite? I’m hearing Jeamie TKV is fighting Richard Riakporhe next, so maybe the winner of that. Or for the European Title. I won a title last year – but I’d like to win a proper one. I just want to be in more good fights and make more money and enjoy it.
LEO ATANG
He [Dan Garber] has been in with some big names. For me in my first four fights, all of them have been quite negative in that they have all fought on the back foot an I’ve almost been having to chase them. But I know he’s game and will come to fight, which will definitely suit me better. Five wins from five? That is the plan.
TIAH-MAI AYTON
I like staying active, so I’m always ready to go again and learn more things whenever I start a new camp. I hope this year to be winning my first title. I don’t know what that is yet – but I just want anything.
MOLLY McCANN
Tiah and I sparred together and she taught me a hell of a lot. Our teams get on really well together, so we had a nice, tough last week together before we’ve got to do this. She is the best. I really believe so. I didn’t know – sometimes it might just be a bit of propaganda. But the way she carries herself, how calm she is, very methodical, so it is brilliant to share a card with her. For me, coming from MMA everything is geared to be so intense to getting the finish. So, when I moved to this sport I got the finish in my first fight and I tried to rush it a bit too much in the second. I wasn’t really into my opponent because she was burning my head out all week. But i learned so many lessons. I’m six months in to a new sport for my third fight this weekend, I need these lessons. After my last fight, I messaged Eddie and said I was sorry for not getting the finish, and was just being really down on myself. He just told me not to be down on myself and go and enjoy what I’m supposed to be doing because this is why you’re doing it – in four, five, six fights time I’ll be fighting for belts, so I need to make the most out of these lessons whilst I can. I’ve had a great camp, including some great rounds with Tiah, and I’m ready to go and play a bit more of a game of chess than just go in like a windmill.
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Pryce Taylor continues his heavyweight campaign on Sunday |
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Brooklyn, New York heavyweight Pryce Taylor (10-0, 6 KOs) is set to make his third consecutive appearance in Detroit and fifth overall in Michigan overall. He will face James Evans (9-2-1, 7 KOs) this Sunday in an eight-round bout at Little Caesars Arena. Taylor is part of the Salita Promotions' card, headlined by Claressa Shields (17-0), the undisputed world female heavyweight champion (Feb. 22 vs. Franchon Crews Dezurn (10-2). streaming live on DAZN. This fight will mark the third time Pryce has fought on a show featuring Shields in the main event bThe added exposure Taylor receives fighting on the same card as Shields is invaluable, especially considering the international range of DAZN.
“My promoter, Dimitry Salita, has a lot of connections in Detroit,” Taylor noted about fighting again in Detroit. “I like fighting and have no complaints about where. Wherever it is, I bring my New York City charisma. Claressa’s Detroit fans are 100-percent behind me and I’ve gained a lot of followers fighting on DAZN cards that she headlines. “Claressa is an inspiration for what she has accomplished. We know each other through my coach. He was one of the USA Boxing Team’s coaches when she was on it, so we are cool with each other and support each other. After my last fight, she gave me some good advice. She likes my style and said if I follow her advice, I’ll be faster, and she’s right.”
In December, Taylor demonstrated progress in his skill set during his latest bout, securing an almost “shutout” victory with an eight-round unanimous decision against veteran heavyweight Michael Polite-Coffie (13-5, 10 KOs), further establishing his reputation as one of America's most promising heavyweights.
Evans, who fights out of Toledo, Ohio, is coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory last August to Vercell Webster (3-7-1).
The 29-year-old Taylor’s last 2 fights have been 8-rounders, as his match with Evans, and he’s preparing to soon graduate to a ten-round fighter. “I feel like I’m ready for ten-plus rounds and title fights,” Taylor said. I’ve been training to go 12 rounds. My stamina is much better now because of some changes we made in my training.”
“Claressa Shields sets the standard for championship excellence, and fighting on her undercard puts Pryce in front of a global audience,” Taylor’s manager Keith Sullivan commented. “Pryce is ready to grab that moment and showcase why is the American heavyweight to watch.”
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Pryce Taylor continues his heavyweight campaign on Sunday
Brooklyn, New York heavyweight Pryce Taylor (10-0, 6 KOs) is set to make his third consecutive appearance in Detroit and fifth overall in Michigan overall. He will face James Evans (9-2-1, 7 KOs) this Sunday in an eight-round bout at Little Caesars Arena. Taylor is part of the Salita Promotions' card, headlined by Claressa Shields (17-0), the undisputed world female heavyweight champion (Feb. 22 vs. Franchon Crews Dezurn (10-2). streaming live on DAZN. This fight will mark the third time Pryce has fought on a show featuring Shields in the main event bThe added exposure Taylor receives fighting on the same card as Shields is invaluable, especially considering the international range of DAZN.
“My promoter, Dimitry Salita, has a lot of connections in Detroit,” Taylor noted about fighting again in Detroit. “I like fighting and have no complaints about where. Wherever it is, I bring my New York City charisma. Claressa’s Detroit fans are 100-percent behind me and I’ve gained a lot of followers fighting on DAZN cards that she headlines. “Claressa is an inspiration for what she has accomplished. We know each other through my coach. He was one of the USA Boxing Team’s coaches when she was on it, so we are cool with each other and support each other. After my last fight, she gave me some good advice. She likes my style and said if I follow her advice, I’ll be faster, and she’s right.”
In December, Taylor demonstrated progress in his skill set during his latest bout, securing an almost “shutout” victory with an eight-round unanimous decision against veteran heavyweight Michael Polite-Coffie (13-5, 10 KOs), further establishing his reputation as one of America's most promising heavyweights.
Evans, who fights out of Toledo, Ohio, is coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory last August to Vercell Webster (3-7-1).
The 29-year-old Taylor’s last 2 fights have been 8-rounders, as his match with Evans, and he’s preparing to soon graduate to a ten-round fighter. “I feel like I’m ready for ten-plus rounds and title fights,” Taylor said. I’ve been training to go 12 rounds. My stamina is much better now because of some changes we made in my training.”
“Claressa Shields sets the standard for championship excellence, and fighting on her undercard puts Pryce in front of a global audience,” Taylor’s manager Keith Sullivan commented. “Pryce is ready to grab that moment and showcase why is the American heavyweight to watch.”
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Friday: Houston's Biyu Arena hosts eight-bout show |
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Today (Friday, February 20th) at the BiYu Arena in Houston, BiYu Promotions has an eight-bout show scheduled. The main event features two undefeated super flyweights scheduled for six rounds: Las Vegas' Jerickel Padsing (7-0) battles Homan Matamoros (2-0) of Nicaragua. In heavyweight action, Tyrone Nash looks to get his third win in as many pro bouts vs. Sean Schultz of Indianapolis, who is 0-1. The ring announcer will be Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt.
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Friday: Houston's Biyu Arena hosts eight-bout show
Today (Friday, February 20th) at the BiYu Arena in Houston, BiYu Promotions has an eight-bout show scheduled. The main event features two undefeated super flyweights scheduled for six rounds: Las Vegas' Jerickel Padsing (7-0) battles Homan Matamoros (2-0) of Nicaragua. In heavyweight action, Tyrone Nash looks to get his third win in as many pro bouts vs. Sean Schultz of Indianapolis, who is 0-1. The ring announcer will be Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt.
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Spotlight on Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. |
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In an IBF heavyweight eliminator on March 28th in Las Vegas, Cuban standout Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will take on undefeated U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in a high-stakes crossroad matchup. Sanchez vs. Torrez is promoted in association with Top Rank. Born in Guantanamo, Cuba and now fighting out of Miami, Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) can put himself back into the world title mix with a victory on March 2th8. The 33-year old worked his way up the rankings while winning his first 24 bouts, including a dominant unanimous decision over then-unbeaten Efe Ajagba in October 2021 that cemented his contender status. Sanchez challenged another undefeated foe in May 2024 as he went up against Agit Kabayel, eventually losing the bout in round seven after suffering a knee injury early in the fight. Recovered from the injury, Sanchez returned to the ring last February with a TKO of Ramon Olivas Echeverria.
“A victory on March 28th moves me one step closer to being the IBF’s mandatory challenger and realizing my dream of becoming the first Cuban heavyweight champion of the world,” said Sanchez. “Torrez is a strong fighter who’s hungry to prove himself, but I will win this fight in grand fashion for my great Cuban and Latino fans.”
The 26 year-old Torrez (14-0, 12 KOs) has been perfect as a pro following a sensational amateur career that was capped by earning an Olympic silver medal, and which also featured triumphs over Jared Anderson and Dainier Pero. A native of Tulare, California, Torrez has steadily increased his competition as a pro, with his first notable triumph coming over the then undefeated Brandon Moore via fifth-round TKO in May 2024. After adding wins in 2024 over Joey Dawejko and Isaac Munoc Gutierrez, Torrez defeated another notable name last April as he bested Guido Vianello by unanimous decision. Most recently, Torrez earned a first-round stoppage of Tomas Salek last November.
“Frank is skilled, technical and dangerous, and that’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for,” said Torrez. “Great fighters don’t avoid tests; they run toward them. I’ve prepared for every moment of this fight, and when the bell rings, I’m coming to take over.”
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Spotlight on Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr.
In an IBF heavyweight eliminator on March 28th in Las Vegas, Cuban standout Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will take on undefeated U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in a high-stakes crossroad matchup. Sanchez vs. Torrez is promoted in association with Top Rank. Born in Guantanamo, Cuba and now fighting out of Miami, Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) can put himself back into the world title mix with a victory on March 2th8. The 33-year old worked his way up the rankings while winning his first 24 bouts, including a dominant unanimous decision over then-unbeaten Efe Ajagba in October 2021 that cemented his contender status. Sanchez challenged another undefeated foe in May 2024 as he went up against Agit Kabayel, eventually losing the bout in round seven after suffering a knee injury early in the fight. Recovered from the injury, Sanchez returned to the ring last February with a TKO of Ramon Olivas Echeverria.
“A victory on March 28th moves me one step closer to being the IBF’s mandatory challenger and realizing my dream of becoming the first Cuban heavyweight champion of the world,” said Sanchez. “Torrez is a strong fighter who’s hungry to prove himself, but I will win this fight in grand fashion for my great Cuban and Latino fans.”
The 26 year-old Torrez (14-0, 12 KOs) has been perfect as a pro following a sensational amateur career that was capped by earning an Olympic silver medal, and which also featured triumphs over Jared Anderson and Dainier Pero. A native of Tulare, California, Torrez has steadily increased his competition as a pro, with his first notable triumph coming over the then undefeated Brandon Moore via fifth-round TKO in May 2024. After adding wins in 2024 over Joey Dawejko and Isaac Munoc Gutierrez, Torrez defeated another notable name last April as he bested Guido Vianello by unanimous decision. Most recently, Torrez earned a first-round stoppage of Tomas Salek last November.
“Frank is skilled, technical and dangerous, and that’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for,” said Torrez. “Great fighters don’t avoid tests; they run toward them. I’ve prepared for every moment of this fight, and when the bell rings, I’m coming to take over.”
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WBA creates interim title at 122 pounds for all-Dominican battle |
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Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, will host a secondary title fight this Saturday, February 21st, as Noel Reyes and Víctor Santillán collide in an all-Dominican showdown for the WBA interim super bantamweight title. The WBA, like the entire world, recognizes Naoya Inoue as the world champion in this weight class, and Inoue is not going to fight the winner of Reyes-Santillan, but this is an important fight nonetheless that could see the winner elevated to champion status should Inoue move up or vacate. At age 39, Reyes Cepeda (19-4, 15 KOs) stands at the defining moment of his career. The La Vega native has enjoyed a late-career resurgence over the past two years, stacking up wins over well-known but faded competitors. His calling card is power—backed by an imposing knockout ratio that makes him especially dangerous in the early frames. For Reyes, this represents the chance to crown a lifetime of work with his first world title.
Santillán (15-2, 6 KOs), meanwhile, embodies the new guard. The La Romana native is known for polished technique and fluid footwork that tends to frustrate heavy-handed opponents. He’s no stranger to big stages, having lost to Sho Ishida and Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan. Built on volume punching and tactical intelligence, Santillán’s style is designed to defuse power and bank rounds.
Stylistically, it’s the classic puncher-versus-boxer matchup. Reyes will look to impose his strength from the opening bell, hunting for damage early. Santillán’s path likely runs through discipline and distance, stretching the fight into the later rounds and trusting his craft to sway the scorecards.
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WBA creates interim title at 122 pounds for all-Dominican battle
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, will host a secondary title fight this Saturday, February 21st, as Noel Reyes and Víctor Santillán collide in an all-Dominican showdown for the WBA interim super bantamweight title. The WBA, like the entire world, recognizes Naoya Inoue as the world champion in this weight class, and Inoue is not going to fight the winner of Reyes-Santillan, but this is an important fight nonetheless that could see the winner elevated to champion status should Inoue move up or vacate. At age 39, Reyes Cepeda (19-4, 15 KOs) stands at the defining moment of his career. The La Vega native has enjoyed a late-career resurgence over the past two years, stacking up wins over well-known but faded competitors. His calling card is power—backed by an imposing knockout ratio that makes him especially dangerous in the early frames. For Reyes, this represents the chance to crown a lifetime of work with his first world title.
Santillán (15-2, 6 KOs), meanwhile, embodies the new guard. The La Romana native is known for polished technique and fluid footwork that tends to frustrate heavy-handed opponents. He’s no stranger to big stages, having lost to Sho Ishida and Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan. Built on volume punching and tactical intelligence, Santillán’s style is designed to defuse power and bank rounds.
Stylistically, it’s the classic puncher-versus-boxer matchup. Reyes will look to impose his strength from the opening bell, hunting for damage early. Santillán’s path likely runs through discipline and distance, stretching the fight into the later rounds and trusting his craft to sway the scorecards.
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Erik Morales coming to Box Fan Expo |
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Four-division world champion and Hall of Famer Erik Morales has confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2nd at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will coincide with the big cruiserweight fight between Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez and David Benavidez that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena. Barrera will hold a meet and greet at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend. Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online.
Nicknamed "El Terrible," Morales is a retired Mexican boxing legend and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of fame in Canastota on June 10th, 2018. Morales compiled a 52-9 record in 61 fights, including 41 straight wins to start his career, and won world titles in four different weight classes (junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, junior welterweight). He also ended Manny Pacquiao's six-year unbeaten streak in 2005 with a unanimous decision win. Morales notable fights came against Marco Antonio Barrera (nicknamed "The Baby Face Assassin"). The Morales versus Barrera trilogy is one of Boxing’s most famous fight trilogies of all time, involving two of Mexico’s most revered boxers.
The last Box Fan Expo that took place in September 2025. It attracted nearly 4000 boxing fans who came to meet and greet some of their favorite fighters, such as Roy Jones Jr., Teofimo Lopez, Tommy Hearns, Marco Antonio Barrera, Sugar Shane Mosley, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Shawn Porter, Juan Francisco Estrada and many others …
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Erik Morales coming to Box Fan Expo
Four-division world champion and Hall of Famer Erik Morales has confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2nd at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will coincide with the big cruiserweight fight between Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez and David Benavidez that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena. Barrera will hold a meet and greet at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend. Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online.
Nicknamed "El Terrible," Morales is a retired Mexican boxing legend and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of fame in Canastota on June 10th, 2018. Morales compiled a 52-9 record in 61 fights, including 41 straight wins to start his career, and won world titles in four different weight classes (junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, junior welterweight). He also ended Manny Pacquiao's six-year unbeaten streak in 2005 with a unanimous decision win. Morales notable fights came against Marco Antonio Barrera (nicknamed "The Baby Face Assassin"). The Morales versus Barrera trilogy is one of Boxing’s most famous fight trilogies of all time, involving two of Mexico’s most revered boxers.
The last Box Fan Expo that took place in September 2025. It attracted nearly 4000 boxing fans who came to meet and greet some of their favorite fighters, such as Roy Jones Jr., Teofimo Lopez, Tommy Hearns, Marco Antonio Barrera, Sugar Shane Mosley, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Shawn Porter, Juan Francisco Estrada and many others …
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Eric Gomez: "no benefit in Golden Boy agreeing to extend its agreement with DAZN beyond Dec. 31st" |
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Golden Boy Promotions' president Eric Gomez submitted a sworn declaration as part of his company's lawsuit against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz. The boxer is trying to free himself from a Golden Boy contract and sign for a huge fight against former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, with a crucial hearing scheduled for Friday. Here is what Gomez told the court in advance of the hearing: "As Golden Boy’s President since at least 2018, I have been involved in all negotiations of broadcast rights for Golden Boy’s events and specifically in negotiations with DAZN. Golden Boy and DAZN have had a longstanding broadcast distribution relationship. Since October of 2018, Golden Boy and DAZN have entered into a series of exclusive distribution agreements, whereby Golden Boy has licensed to DAZN the exclusive right to broadcast boxing events promoted by Golden Boy. During the course of Golden Boy’s relationship with DAZN, we would typically negotiate the terms of a renewed agreement beginning in September or October of the year in which the then current version of the license agreement was set to expire. In the past, we have typically agreed on principal business terms before the end of year, but the long form agreement would be finalized and signed the following year.
"We followed this same practice in 2025. Specifically, after some negotiation, we agreed on material terms to be included in a license agreement for 2026-2027 and DAZN circulated an initial draft of the long form agreement in early November 2025. The parties then exchanged several rounds of revisions and comments, and Golden Boy delivered a revised version to DAZN on December 15th.
"On January 7, 2026, I resent that revised version of the long form agreement to DAZN and asked them whether the changes were acceptable. The very next day, Golden Boy received a letter from Vergil Ortiz’s lawyer [attempting] to terminate our promotional agreement with him. On January 13th, DAZN’s Senior Vice President, Jared Kass, suggested that he and I have a call to work through the final points on the long form contract. The next day, Ortiz filed this lawsuit.
"Since this lawsuit was filed, DAZN has refused to finalize the terms of the long-form agreement that was almost fully negotiated as of December 15, 2025. Although I have participated in discussions between Golden Boy and DAZN regarding a new two-year license agreement that have continued since this lawsuit was filed, DAZN has made clear that they will not agree to a new long-term license agreement with Golden Boy unless Golden Boy provides a full and complete waiver of claims related to this lawsuit and Ortiz generally. Since the date this lawsuit was filed, Ed McCarthy, DAZN’s Chief Operating Officer, has been involved in all of Golden Boy’s discussions with DAZN. McCarthy is also a manager of Matchroom Boxing USA, LLC, one of the promoters who has offered Ortiz a new contract.
"On February 18th, DAZN and Matchroom announced a new five-year exclusive broadcast contract extension. It is my understanding and belief that but for Ortiz’s purported termination of his promotional agreement with Golden Boy, as well as this lawsuit, Golden Boy’s distribution relationship with DAZN would have continued unimpeded. It is my belief that Ortiz’s actions have directly and solely prevented the draft distribution agreement between Golden Boy and DAZN from being executed. If Ortiz is permitted to sign elsewhere, especially with Matchroom, there is no way to know whether we will be able to reach agreement with DAZN. Contrary to the statements in [Ortiz's manager] Rick Mirigian’s declaration, I never stated that Golden Boy would 'bench' Ortiz if he did not agree to the proposals we made for the Ennis fight. To the contrary, after Mirigian and Ortiz indicated that our offer was not sufficient, I continued negotiating with DAZN and Matchroom (who represents Ennis) to try and obtain improved terms for Ortiz.
"Mirigian’s statements regarding Golden Boy’s relationship with Turki Alalshikh and his boxing promotional companies are completely false. Golden Boy has worked closely with Sela Global Entertainment Co. Ltd. and its affiliates on several events and earlier this year [we] signed contracts by which Sela acquired the rights to this weekend’s event featuring a championship fight between Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios. Golden Boy is the promoter of record for that event and is working directly with Sela to promote that event.
"On behalf of Golden Boy, I was the individual primarily responsible for negotiations related to the Ortiz-Ennis bout. At no point did I ever direct, consent to, or authorize Mirigian to negotiate on Ortiz’s or Golden Boy’s behalf. In fact, shortly after Ortiz’s last fight in November, Mirigian told me he had discussed the Ennis fight with certain unidentified representatives of Sela and I specifically instructed him to direct any such inquires to me. Any direct contact or communications Mirigian made to third parties relating to the fight, including to Turki Alalshikh, were made without Golden Boy’s knowledge or authorization. Additionally, there was no benefit in Golden Boy agreeing to extend its previous long-term distribution agreement with DAZN beyond December 31, 2025 because there were no remaining funds under that agreement to finance any new bouts. I declare under penalty of perjury under that the foregoing is true and correct.
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Eric Gomez: "no benefit in Golden Boy agreeing to extend its agreement with DAZN beyond Dec. 31st"
Golden Boy Promotions' president Eric Gomez submitted a sworn declaration as part of his company's lawsuit against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz. The boxer is trying to free himself from a Golden Boy contract and sign for a huge fight against former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, with a crucial hearing scheduled for Friday. Here is what Gomez told the court in advance of the hearing: "As Golden Boy’s President since at least 2018, I have been involved in all negotiations of broadcast rights for Golden Boy’s events and specifically in negotiations with DAZN. Golden Boy and DAZN have had a longstanding broadcast distribution relationship. Since October of 2018, Golden Boy and DAZN have entered into a series of exclusive distribution agreements, whereby Golden Boy has licensed to DAZN the exclusive right to broadcast boxing events promoted by Golden Boy. During the course of Golden Boy’s relationship with DAZN, we would typically negotiate the terms of a renewed agreement beginning in September or October of the year in which the then current version of the license agreement was set to expire. In the past, we have typically agreed on principal business terms before the end of year, but the long form agreement would be finalized and signed the following year.
"We followed this same practice in 2025. Specifically, after some negotiation, we agreed on material terms to be included in a license agreement for 2026-2027 and DAZN circulated an initial draft of the long form agreement in early November 2025. The parties then exchanged several rounds of revisions and comments, and Golden Boy delivered a revised version to DAZN on December 15th.
"On January 7, 2026, I resent that revised version of the long form agreement to DAZN and asked them whether the changes were acceptable. The very next day, Golden Boy received a letter from Vergil Ortiz’s lawyer [attempting] to terminate our promotional agreement with him. On January 13th, DAZN’s Senior Vice President, Jared Kass, suggested that he and I have a call to work through the final points on the long form contract. The next day, Ortiz filed this lawsuit.
"Since this lawsuit was filed, DAZN has refused to finalize the terms of the long-form agreement that was almost fully negotiated as of December 15, 2025. Although I have participated in discussions between Golden Boy and DAZN regarding a new two-year license agreement that have continued since this lawsuit was filed, DAZN has made clear that they will not agree to a new long-term license agreement with Golden Boy unless Golden Boy provides a full and complete waiver of claims related to this lawsuit and Ortiz generally. Since the date this lawsuit was filed, Ed McCarthy, DAZN’s Chief Operating Officer, has been involved in all of Golden Boy’s discussions with DAZN. McCarthy is also a manager of Matchroom Boxing USA, LLC, one of the promoters who has offered Ortiz a new contract.
"On February 18th, DAZN and Matchroom announced a new five-year exclusive broadcast contract extension. It is my understanding and belief that but for Ortiz’s purported termination of his promotional agreement with Golden Boy, as well as this lawsuit, Golden Boy’s distribution relationship with DAZN would have continued unimpeded. It is my belief that Ortiz’s actions have directly and solely prevented the draft distribution agreement between Golden Boy and DAZN from being executed. If Ortiz is permitted to sign elsewhere, especially with Matchroom, there is no way to know whether we will be able to reach agreement with DAZN. Contrary to the statements in [Ortiz's manager] Rick Mirigian’s declaration, I never stated that Golden Boy would 'bench' Ortiz if he did not agree to the proposals we made for the Ennis fight. To the contrary, after Mirigian and Ortiz indicated that our offer was not sufficient, I continued negotiating with DAZN and Matchroom (who represents Ennis) to try and obtain improved terms for Ortiz.
"Mirigian’s statements regarding Golden Boy’s relationship with Turki Alalshikh and his boxing promotional companies are completely false. Golden Boy has worked closely with Sela Global Entertainment Co. Ltd. and its affiliates on several events and earlier this year [we] signed contracts by which Sela acquired the rights to this weekend’s event featuring a championship fight between Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios. Golden Boy is the promoter of record for that event and is working directly with Sela to promote that event.
"On behalf of Golden Boy, I was the individual primarily responsible for negotiations related to the Ortiz-Ennis bout. At no point did I ever direct, consent to, or authorize Mirigian to negotiate on Ortiz’s or Golden Boy’s behalf. In fact, shortly after Ortiz’s last fight in November, Mirigian told me he had discussed the Ennis fight with certain unidentified representatives of Sela and I specifically instructed him to direct any such inquires to me. Any direct contact or communications Mirigian made to third parties relating to the fight, including to Turki Alalshikh, were made without Golden Boy’s knowledge or authorization. Additionally, there was no benefit in Golden Boy agreeing to extend its previous long-term distribution agreement with DAZN beyond December 31, 2025 because there were no remaining funds under that agreement to finance any new bouts. I declare under penalty of perjury under that the foregoing is true and correct.
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Preview of Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka |
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This Saturday (February 21st), the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas sets the stage for a tactical shootout for the WBA junior welterweight championship. Champion Gary Antuanne Russell, from Maryland, makes the first defense of his crown against undefeated mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka of Japan in a clash that promises precision wrapped in strategic nuance. Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) lost a split decision to Alberto Puello, a former title holder, in 2024 but won the WBA title in March 2025 against Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela. The new champion has remained inactive since then. Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) is coming off a quality win over Ismael Barroso (who was stopped prematurely in a 2023 world title bout against Rollie Romero that Barroso was winning). However, Hiraoka-Barroso took place in September of 2024 and Hiraoka has not fought since.
Here are the WBA's four keys that will determine who leaves the ring as king at 140 pounds:
The Battle of Height and Reach: Hiraoka brings rare dimensions to the division. At 5-foot-11 with a 74-inch reach—numbers more typical of a welterweight—he’ll look to dictate tempo from the outside. For Russell, the mission is clear: cut off the ring, breach that long defensive perimeter, and do it without walking into clean counters.
Southpaw vs. Southpaw Dynamics: Both men fight left-handed, so traditional counter angles will shift. Lead foot positioning and jab control become paramount. Hiraoka uses his right hand not just to score but as a rangefinder and stabilizer to keep opponents at bay. Russell, however, boasts one of the quickest and most explosive left hands in the division. He’ll need to unleash it in tight, compact combinations to neutralize the challenger’s size advantage.
Volume vs. Surgical Precision: Russell thrives on relentless pressure, forcing exchanges at mid-to-close range. His success hinges on turning the fight into a battle of attrition. Hiraoka, by contrast, is methodical and has scored knockouts in his last ten outings through pinpoint accuracy. If he can frustrate Russell on entry, his counters could prove decisive—and dangerous.
Ring Rust and Early Tempo: Both fighters enter after periods of inactivity. Russell hasn’t fought since capturing the title in March 2025 against José Valenzuela, while Hiraoka last saw action in September with an emphatic win over Ismael Barroso. The opening three rounds will be telling—who shakes off the cobwebs first and settles into the championship rhythm under the bright lights of Las Vegas?
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Preview of Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka
This Saturday (February 21st), the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas sets the stage for a tactical shootout for the WBA junior welterweight championship. Champion Gary Antuanne Russell, from Maryland, makes the first defense of his crown against undefeated mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka of Japan in a clash that promises precision wrapped in strategic nuance. Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) lost a split decision to Alberto Puello, a former title holder, in 2024 but won the WBA title in March 2025 against Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela. The new champion has remained inactive since then. Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) is coming off a quality win over Ismael Barroso (who was stopped prematurely in a 2023 world title bout against Rollie Romero that Barroso was winning). However, Hiraoka-Barroso took place in September of 2024 and Hiraoka has not fought since.
Here are the WBA's four keys that will determine who leaves the ring as king at 140 pounds:
The Battle of Height and Reach: Hiraoka brings rare dimensions to the division. At 5-foot-11 with a 74-inch reach—numbers more typical of a welterweight—he’ll look to dictate tempo from the outside. For Russell, the mission is clear: cut off the ring, breach that long defensive perimeter, and do it without walking into clean counters.
Southpaw vs. Southpaw Dynamics: Both men fight left-handed, so traditional counter angles will shift. Lead foot positioning and jab control become paramount. Hiraoka uses his right hand not just to score but as a rangefinder and stabilizer to keep opponents at bay. Russell, however, boasts one of the quickest and most explosive left hands in the division. He’ll need to unleash it in tight, compact combinations to neutralize the challenger’s size advantage.
Volume vs. Surgical Precision: Russell thrives on relentless pressure, forcing exchanges at mid-to-close range. His success hinges on turning the fight into a battle of attrition. Hiraoka, by contrast, is methodical and has scored knockouts in his last ten outings through pinpoint accuracy. If he can frustrate Russell on entry, his counters could prove decisive—and dangerous.
Ring Rust and Early Tempo: Both fighters enter after periods of inactivity. Russell hasn’t fought since capturing the title in March 2025 against José Valenzuela, while Hiraoka last saw action in September with an emphatic win over Ismael Barroso. The opening three rounds will be telling—who shakes off the cobwebs first and settles into the championship rhythm under the bright lights of Las Vegas?
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Japanese boxing awards for 2025 |
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The Japanese boxing community celebrated the annual Japan Boxing Awards 2025 ceremony. Undisputed world 122-pound champion “The Monster” Naoya Inoue once again elevated his legend by being honored with the Most Valuable Player award. This recognition marks the ninth time Inoue has received the highest honor in Japanese pugilism and the eighth consecutive time, an unprecedented streak that reaffirms his historical career and his status as one of the current best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet. In addition to the stellar recognition for Inoue, the ceremony honored the best Japanese talent in various categories:
Most Valuable Victory: Seiya Tsutsumi;
Effort Award: Tomoya Tsuboi;
Knockout of the Year: Masamichi Yabuki;
Rookie of the Year: Kyosuke Takami;
Female Fighter of the Year: Mizuki Hiruta;
Fight of the Year: The WBC and WBA flyweight world unification bout between Kenshiro Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui; and
Trainer of the Year: Shingo Inoue, father of Naoya and Takuma.
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Japanese boxing awards for 2025
The Japanese boxing community celebrated the annual Japan Boxing Awards 2025 ceremony. Undisputed world 122-pound champion “The Monster” Naoya Inoue once again elevated his legend by being honored with the Most Valuable Player award. This recognition marks the ninth time Inoue has received the highest honor in Japanese pugilism and the eighth consecutive time, an unprecedented streak that reaffirms his historical career and his status as one of the current best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet. In addition to the stellar recognition for Inoue, the ceremony honored the best Japanese talent in various categories:
Most Valuable Victory: Seiya Tsutsumi;
Effort Award: Tomoya Tsuboi;
Knockout of the Year: Masamichi Yabuki;
Rookie of the Year: Kyosuke Takami;
Female Fighter of the Year: Mizuki Hiruta;
Fight of the Year: The WBC and WBA flyweight world unification bout between Kenshiro Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui; and
Trainer of the Year: Shingo Inoue, father of Naoya and Takuma.
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Houston show set for Saturday |
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Steve Mares of Texas Combat Sports Promotions is set to bring a boxing event titled Mardi Brawl, the Houston Takeover this Saturday night, February 21st. The show starts at 7 PM at the ULH Event Center in Houston. The main event will be a six rounder in with John Magalog (14-3) of San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines taking on local man Miguel Flores (28-5-1) in the featherweight division. Giovanni Marquez (17-1) will look to rebound from his first pro loss by facing Daniel Evangelista Jr. (23-20-2). In the bantamweight division, undefeated Fabian "El Mexicanito" Arredondo and Osmar Rodriguez Gamez (6-6) square off. Jewry Rodriguez is set to lace up the gloves fir his pro debut. Tickets are available online at Texascombatsportsllc.com. The ring announcer will be Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt.
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Houston show set for Saturday
Steve Mares of Texas Combat Sports Promotions is set to bring a boxing event titled Mardi Brawl, the Houston Takeover this Saturday night, February 21st. The show starts at 7 PM at the ULH Event Center in Houston. The main event will be a six rounder in with John Magalog (14-3) of San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines taking on local man Miguel Flores (28-5-1) in the featherweight division. Giovanni Marquez (17-1) will look to rebound from his first pro loss by facing Daniel Evangelista Jr. (23-20-2). In the bantamweight division, undefeated Fabian "El Mexicanito" Arredondo and Osmar Rodriguez Gamez (6-6) square off. Jewry Rodriguez is set to lace up the gloves fir his pro debut. Tickets are available online at Texascombatsportsllc.com. The ring announcer will be Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt.
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Manager: Golden Boy's lawsuit is blocking Vergil Ortiz from a $16M deal! |
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As part of Vergil Ortiz's legal efforts to end the court-imposed temporary restraining order that is blocking him from signing a deal to fight Jaron Ennis, Ortiz's manager, Rick Mirigian, submited a sworn declaration to the Nevada federal court. The full text of that declaration, lightly edited, is available below. Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds and is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders. He has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016, but in May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional contract. It was supposed to run for three years, but a termination clause has become the center of this legal dispute. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate the contract before the three years expired if Golden Boy no longer had a broadcast deal with DAZN. Ortiz and Mirigian usaed that clause to terminate in December, saying Golden Boy's deal with DAZN was over. But Golden Boy fired back, claiming it had a new “agreement in principle” in place. The court issued a temporary restraining order to give it some time to soret out the legal arguments. A hearing on whether to continue the temporary restraining order is scheduled for Friday, with the expectation that the judge will dissolve it and allow Ortiz to sign for a Jaron Ennis fight in April. If that were to happen, Golden Boy could either seek a settlement (although it would have very little leverage) or continue the lawsuit seeking monetarty damages from Ortiz if it can prove he breached his contract.
Here is what Mirigian said in his declaration: "I am a boxing manager and I represent Vergil Ortiz, Jr. ... Following Ortiz’s November 2025 bout against Erickson Lubin, Ortiz instructed his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions and me to negotiate an agreement for a fight between Ortiz and Jaron 'Boots' Ennis."
Mirigian continued, "It was the hope of Ortiz that the bout with Ennis, which was considered to be one of the best matchups in the sport, would attract the eye of Turki Alalshikh, a boxing fan and the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. At Mr. Alalshikh’s direction, Saudi Arabia has been a significant sponsor of boxing matches in the last few years... However, instead of working 'in good faith with all boxing promoters to assure that Ortiz maximizes his exposure and revenue opportunities' [this appears to be a quote from Ortiz's promotional contract], Golden Boy’s founder Oscar De La Hoya publicly attacked Alalshikh and Zuffa Boxing [Alalshikh’s new partner]. In December 2025, De La Hoya posted to his Instagram an expletive filled rant insulting the project and all involved."
Next, Mirigian laid out part of his case against Golden Boy: "I believe that [through] De La Hoya’s attacks and other actions, Golden Boy actively undercut any opportunity to maximize Ortiz’ potential earnings from Saudi-backed sponsorships. In a December 2025 meeting Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy, presented me with an offer for the bout with Ennis, and insisted that if Ortiz did not agree to the fight that he would be 'benched' and not presented with any other opportunity. Golden Boy also threatened that if Ortiz did not agree to the sole offer presented, it would publicly blame Ortiz and me for the fight with Ennis not happening. During that same meeting, Gomez, called Dr. Rakan Al Harthy, CEO of the Saudi Arabian entertainment company Sela. With me on speaker phone, Gomez unsuccessfully pitched the fight between Ortiz and Ennis to Sela. On December 12th, I sent a direct message to Alalshikh on Instagram to ask if he had any interest in sponsoring the Ortiz and Ennis bout. He did not acknowledge it or respond... My attempts to communicate with Alalshikh and Sela in December 2025 were done with Gomez’ participation, knowledge, consent, and approval. Although Golden Boy did not disclose it to [me] during the December 2025 meeting, [I] later came to learn, through public comments of Eddie Hearn that there had already been a meeting between Golden Boy, Matchroom Boxing and DAZN that resulted in a written agreement related to terms for the Ortiz/Ennis fight. Golden Boy never presented this document to Ortiz."
Finally, Mirigian gave the court some inside details of the multi-fight deals that are at stake for Ortiz: "Since Ortiz initiated this lawsuit on January 15th, I have been entertaining offers from various boxing promoters on his behalf. Matchroom Boxing offered a three-bout agreement that includes the April 18th bout against Ennis. Although Ortiz’s exact compensation under that offer is dependent on the outcome and economic performance of the bouts, Ortiz would receive at least twelve million dollars and based upon Matchroom’s projections for the economics of the offered bouts, his earnings could approach twenty million dollars for the three fights. Separately, a different promoter offered three-bout deal that guaranteed me sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000), plus upside based on ticket and pay-per-view sales of the bouts. I believe that these agreements were effectively ready to be signed at the time the Court issued the present temporary restraining order on February 13th. [If there was no restraining] order, I believe that one of those agreements would already be signed. I declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
FEB. 17, 2026: Edward McCarthy, the chief operating officer of DAZN, submitted the following sworn statement on behalf of Vergil Ortiz, who is seeking to free himself from a contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Ortiz is seeking to sign a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, but Golden Boy obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the deal from going through. A federal court in Nevada is considering whether to extend or dissolve the restraining order, and here is what McCarthy had to say on behalf of the DAZN streaming service:
"DAZN has been in the U.S. market since 2018. Since that time Golden Boy Promotions (“GBP”) has been a party to a series of exclusive distribution agreements with DAZN, wherein DAZN had the right to be the sole broadcaster of boxing events promoted by GBP in the United States. As part of these agreements, DAZN provided GBP with an annual budget for events to be agreed and aired pursuant to the terms of the relevant long-term distribution agreement. Notably, GBP was not DAZN’s sole provider of boxing events. The various agreements between GBP and DAZN did not restrict DAZN from airing events from other promoters. DAZN has [also] worked with a number of other promoters, including Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions, Misfits Boxing and Most Valuable Promotions.
"DAZN’s most recent long-term distribution contract with GBP expired on December 31, 2025, despite DAZN’s offer to extend such long-term distribution contract, whilst the new long-term agreement was finalized and agreed. Since January 1, 2026, there has not been a long-term broadcast distribution relationship between DAZN and GBP, although DAZN aired a GBP-promoted event on January 16th and has contracted to distribute a show on March 14th. These events are 'one off' shows and the parties had and have no commitments to each other beyond those specific events. In the agreement, dated February 17th to broadcast the March 14th event, both DAZN and GBP acknowledged and confirmed this fact.
"Beginning in late 2025, through the present, GBP and DAZN have been discussing terms for a new contract under which the parties could continue their long-term broadcast distribution relationship. To date, GBP and DAZN have not agreed on final terms for such long-term broadcast distribution, although material terms and drafts were well progressed. No contract has been formally agreed, approved or signed by the parties. DAZN is aware that, following the filing of proceedings by Mr. Ortiz against GBP and immediately prior to the recent Court Order, Ortiz was negotiating, and close to executing, an agreement with Matchroom Boxing to fight Ennis on April 18th in an event to air on DAZN. DAZN remains open to seeking to agree and enter into a long-term distribution agreement with GBP on commercially reasonable terms, whether or not GBP has Mr. Ortiz under contract."
FEB. 16, 2026: Over the weekend, Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions, submitted a legal declaration in his company's federal lawsuit against Vergil Ortiz, Jr., the star junior middleweight who is seeking to end his promotional contract with Golden Boy and sign for a huge fight against former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis. Here is what Gomez declared: "Notwithstanding Golden Boy’s ongoing [legal] dispute with Ortiz, Golden Boy remains ready and willing to represent Ortiz in negotiating for and promoting a bout between Ortiz and Ennis. Even after Golden Boy discovered that Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, was having direct communications with third parties regarding the fight, Golden Boy remained committed to its representation of Ortiz with respect to the fight. In early January 2026, I exchanged emails with Mirigian articulating Golden Boy’s negotiation position. Also in early January, Golden Boy’s counsel, Ricardo P. Cestero, sent a letter to Ortiz’s counsel, Gregory M. Smith, confirming that Golden Boy offered Ortiz a $3 million guarantee plus upside for the Ennis fight."
FEB. 14, 2026: On Friday, a federal judge temporarily restrained Vergil Ortiz Jr. from negotiating or signing any deal for a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, granting an emergency restraining order requested by Golden Boy Promotions. The ruling, issued February 13th in federal court in Nevada, freezes Ortiz’s ability to contract with third parties for the Ennis bout while a contract dispute plays out between Golden Boy and Ortiz. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 20th, when both sides will appear for oral arguments. For boxing fans, the decision immediately puts one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the welterweight division on ice. Until the court or an arbitrator says otherwise, Ortiz is barred from making any independent deal for the Ennis fight, keeping control of his next move firmly tied to the legal battle with Golden Boy, his longtime promoter.
Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. He is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders and has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016. In May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional rights agreement that was supposed to run for three years, with guaranteed minimum payments of more than $1 million per fight. At the center of the dispute is a clause tied to Golden Boy’s broadcast relationship with DAZN. That contract with DAZN expired at the end of 2025. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate his agreement with Golden Boy if the promoter no longer had a distribution deal with DAZN—unless Golden Boy already had an “agreement in principle” in place with another broadcaster, or had agreed on all material terms of a new deal and was finalizing paperwork.
Ortiz sent a letter in early January seeking confirmation that the DAZN deal had ended, signaling his intent to terminate his contract. Golden Boy responded that while the formal contract had expired, the company and DAZN had already agreed on the key terms of a new licensing deal for 2026 and 2027 and were exchanging drafts. On that basis, Golden Boy argued Ortiz had no right to walk away.
Ortiz then filed suit, asking the court to declare the contract over. He also accused Golden Boy of breach of contract and interference with his business opportunities. Among Ortiz's claims: that the company undercut chances to maximize his earnings through Saudi-backed sponsorships and interfered with his ability to negotiate future fights. His complaint also points to public statements and actions by Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya, which Ortiz says confused other promoters and the boxing public about who controlled his career.
Golden Boy answered with an emergency motion, telling the court it had learned Ortiz was on the verge of signing a deal with third parties for a fight against Ennis. The company argued that such a move would violate the existing contract and cause irreparable harm—especially by damaging broadcast negotiations and business relationships that cannot simply be repaired with money later. The judge agreed with Golden Boy and granted the temporary restraining order, barring Ortiz, his managers, and representatives from negotiating or entering into any third-party contracts for the Ennis bout. The court emphasized that the order is meant to preserve the “status quo” while the dispute is resolved.
Legally, the case is also complicated by an arbitration clause in the contract that staes that any disputes should be handled through arbitration in Las Vegas. Golden Boy has already started arbitration proceedings, accusing Ortiz of breaching the agreement and interfering with its broadcast relationships. The court made clear that the restraining order does not decide who is right—it simply prevents irreversible business moves before arbitration and further court hearings take place.
From a boxing standpoint, the impact is immediate. Ortiz vs. Ennis is widely viewed as one of the most meaningful fights available in the division—a matchup of two elite, undefeated fighters in their prime. The ruling doesn’t kill the fight, but it removes Ortiz’s ability to make it happen independently. For now, the business has overtaken the sport. The February 20th court date will be the next step in deciding whether this freeze continues or changes, but until then, Ortiz’s future—and the Ennis fight—remains locked in a courtroom rather than a ring.
JAN. 19, 2026: WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. has taken his long-time promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, to federal court—claiming that behind-the-scenes chaos, missed opportunities and public blowups derailed his momentum at a critical moment in his career. The lawsuit was filed in Nevada. At the center of the dispute is Ortiz’s promotional agreement with Golden Boy, which he signed in May 2024. The deal extended Golden Boy’s rights for three years, guaranteed Ortiz million-dollar minimum purses, and was built around Golden Boy’s long-term broadcast relationship with DAZN. Here are the key allegations contained in Ortiz's legal complaint, which at this time are treated as unproven allegations:
Ortiz alleges Golden Boy's relatinship with DAZN was a key reason he stayed with Golden Boy in the first place. Fast forward to the end of 2025. Golden Boy’s DAZN deal expired on December 31st, and Ortiz moved quickly. On January 8, 2026, he exercised a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away if Golden Boy lost its exclusive broadcaster. Golden Boy acknowledged that the DAZN deal had ended (this weekend's DAZN show was a one-off with Golden Boy, not part of any long-term deal). Golden Boy took the position that ongoing negotiations for a new DAZN agreement meant Ortiz was still tied to the company. Ortiz disagrees, and the timing is everything. According to the complaint, his team believed that uncertainty over Golden Boy’s broadcast future—and Golden Boy’s strained relationships across the sport—were already costing him major fights and major money.
The biggest missed opportunity, Ortiz claims, was a potential showdown with former welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis. After Ortiz’s November 2025 win over Erickson Lubin, Ennis entered the ring for a face-off, and both fighters publicly said they wanted to fight each other. It was widely viewed as one of the best match-ups the sport of boxing could make across weight classes.
Ortiz wanted Golden Boy to negotiate with Ennis’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, and hoped the bout could attract backing from Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, the head of the government's General Entertainment Authority. Alalshikh has poured massive money into elite boxing events over the last few years. According to the lawsuit, Ortiz believed a Saudi-backed Ortiz-Ennis fight could have been career-defining.
Instead, Ortiz alleges, Golden Boy sabotaged those possibilities. The complaint points to Golden Boy's principal, Oscar De La Hoya and the public attacks he has made on Alalshikh and the Saudi-backed Zuffa Boxing venture—attacks made on social media during the very period Ortiz’s team was hoping to attract Saudi interest. Ortiz claims those outbursts poisoned the well, making him less attractive to deep-pocketed backers through no fault of his own.
Things escalated in December 2025. Ortiz says Golden Boy presented him with only one fight option—Ennis—despite a contract requirement that required Golden Boy to offer multiple opponents. Worse, Ortiz alleges he was threatened with being “benched” if he didn’t accept the terms and warned that Golden Boy would publicly blame him if the fight fell apart. According to the complaint, Ortiz later learned that Golden Boy, Matchroom and DAZN had already reached written terms for the Ennis fight—terms that were never shared with him, even though his contract required full disclosure and his signature on any deal involving his fights.
After Ortiz terminated the promotional agreement in January, the conflict spilled into public view. De La Hoya posted Instagram videos setting deadlines and monetary demands for the Ennis fight, then declaring negotiations dead when those deadlines passed. Ortiz says none of this was authorized and that Golden Boy no longer had the right to speak for him.
When Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian publicly invited other promoters to reach out, De La Hoya responded by asserting control over negotiations and threatening legal action. Ortiz claims these public power plays were designed to create confusion in the industry and scare off potential partners—effectively freezing his career during what should be his prime earning years.
The lawsuit asks the court to confirm that Ortiz is free from Golden Boy and to award damages for lost fights, purses, sponsorships, and momentum. But for boxing fans, the real takeaway is bigger than legal language: this case highlights how promoter politics, broadcast uncertainty, and personal grudges can derail elite fighters—and how even an undefeated champion can find himself fighting outside the ring just to get the biggest fights made.
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Manager: Golden Boy's lawsuit is blocking Vergil Ortiz from a $16M deal!
As part of Vergil Ortiz's legal efforts to end the court-imposed temporary restraining order that is blocking him from signing a deal to fight Jaron Ennis, Ortiz's manager, Rick Mirigian, submited a sworn declaration to the Nevada federal court. The full text of that declaration, lightly edited, is available below. Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds and is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders. He has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016, but in May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional contract. It was supposed to run for three years, but a termination clause has become the center of this legal dispute. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate the contract before the three years expired if Golden Boy no longer had a broadcast deal with DAZN. Ortiz and Mirigian usaed that clause to terminate in December, saying Golden Boy's deal with DAZN was over. But Golden Boy fired back, claiming it had a new “agreement in principle” in place. The court issued a temporary restraining order to give it some time to soret out the legal arguments. A hearing on whether to continue the temporary restraining order is scheduled for Friday, with the expectation that the judge will dissolve it and allow Ortiz to sign for a Jaron Ennis fight in April. If that were to happen, Golden Boy could either seek a settlement (although it would have very little leverage) or continue the lawsuit seeking monetarty damages from Ortiz if it can prove he breached his contract.
Here is what Mirigian said in his declaration: "I am a boxing manager and I represent Vergil Ortiz, Jr. ... Following Ortiz’s November 2025 bout against Erickson Lubin, Ortiz instructed his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions and me to negotiate an agreement for a fight between Ortiz and Jaron 'Boots' Ennis."
Mirigian continued, "It was the hope of Ortiz that the bout with Ennis, which was considered to be one of the best matchups in the sport, would attract the eye of Turki Alalshikh, a boxing fan and the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. At Mr. Alalshikh’s direction, Saudi Arabia has been a significant sponsor of boxing matches in the last few years... However, instead of working 'in good faith with all boxing promoters to assure that Ortiz maximizes his exposure and revenue opportunities' [this appears to be a quote from Ortiz's promotional contract], Golden Boy’s founder Oscar De La Hoya publicly attacked Alalshikh and Zuffa Boxing [Alalshikh’s new partner]. In December 2025, De La Hoya posted to his Instagram an expletive filled rant insulting the project and all involved."
Next, Mirigian laid out part of his case against Golden Boy: "I believe that [through] De La Hoya’s attacks and other actions, Golden Boy actively undercut any opportunity to maximize Ortiz’ potential earnings from Saudi-backed sponsorships. In a December 2025 meeting Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy, presented me with an offer for the bout with Ennis, and insisted that if Ortiz did not agree to the fight that he would be 'benched' and not presented with any other opportunity. Golden Boy also threatened that if Ortiz did not agree to the sole offer presented, it would publicly blame Ortiz and me for the fight with Ennis not happening. During that same meeting, Gomez, called Dr. Rakan Al Harthy, CEO of the Saudi Arabian entertainment company Sela. With me on speaker phone, Gomez unsuccessfully pitched the fight between Ortiz and Ennis to Sela. On December 12th, I sent a direct message to Alalshikh on Instagram to ask if he had any interest in sponsoring the Ortiz and Ennis bout. He did not acknowledge it or respond... My attempts to communicate with Alalshikh and Sela in December 2025 were done with Gomez’ participation, knowledge, consent, and approval. Although Golden Boy did not disclose it to [me] during the December 2025 meeting, [I] later came to learn, through public comments of Eddie Hearn that there had already been a meeting between Golden Boy, Matchroom Boxing and DAZN that resulted in a written agreement related to terms for the Ortiz/Ennis fight. Golden Boy never presented this document to Ortiz."
Finally, Mirigian gave the court some inside details of the multi-fight deals that are at stake for Ortiz: "Since Ortiz initiated this lawsuit on January 15th, I have been entertaining offers from various boxing promoters on his behalf. Matchroom Boxing offered a three-bout agreement that includes the April 18th bout against Ennis. Although Ortiz’s exact compensation under that offer is dependent on the outcome and economic performance of the bouts, Ortiz would receive at least twelve million dollars and based upon Matchroom’s projections for the economics of the offered bouts, his earnings could approach twenty million dollars for the three fights. Separately, a different promoter offered three-bout deal that guaranteed me sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000), plus upside based on ticket and pay-per-view sales of the bouts. I believe that these agreements were effectively ready to be signed at the time the Court issued the present temporary restraining order on February 13th. [If there was no restraining] order, I believe that one of those agreements would already be signed. I declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
FEB. 17, 2026: Edward McCarthy, the chief operating officer of DAZN, submitted the following sworn statement on behalf of Vergil Ortiz, who is seeking to free himself from a contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Ortiz is seeking to sign a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, but Golden Boy obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the deal from going through. A federal court in Nevada is considering whether to extend or dissolve the restraining order, and here is what McCarthy had to say on behalf of the DAZN streaming service:
"DAZN has been in the U.S. market since 2018. Since that time Golden Boy Promotions (“GBP”) has been a party to a series of exclusive distribution agreements with DAZN, wherein DAZN had the right to be the sole broadcaster of boxing events promoted by GBP in the United States. As part of these agreements, DAZN provided GBP with an annual budget for events to be agreed and aired pursuant to the terms of the relevant long-term distribution agreement. Notably, GBP was not DAZN’s sole provider of boxing events. The various agreements between GBP and DAZN did not restrict DAZN from airing events from other promoters. DAZN has [also] worked with a number of other promoters, including Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions, Misfits Boxing and Most Valuable Promotions.
"DAZN’s most recent long-term distribution contract with GBP expired on December 31, 2025, despite DAZN’s offer to extend such long-term distribution contract, whilst the new long-term agreement was finalized and agreed. Since January 1, 2026, there has not been a long-term broadcast distribution relationship between DAZN and GBP, although DAZN aired a GBP-promoted event on January 16th and has contracted to distribute a show on March 14th. These events are 'one off' shows and the parties had and have no commitments to each other beyond those specific events. In the agreement, dated February 17th to broadcast the March 14th event, both DAZN and GBP acknowledged and confirmed this fact.
"Beginning in late 2025, through the present, GBP and DAZN have been discussing terms for a new contract under which the parties could continue their long-term broadcast distribution relationship. To date, GBP and DAZN have not agreed on final terms for such long-term broadcast distribution, although material terms and drafts were well progressed. No contract has been formally agreed, approved or signed by the parties. DAZN is aware that, following the filing of proceedings by Mr. Ortiz against GBP and immediately prior to the recent Court Order, Ortiz was negotiating, and close to executing, an agreement with Matchroom Boxing to fight Ennis on April 18th in an event to air on DAZN. DAZN remains open to seeking to agree and enter into a long-term distribution agreement with GBP on commercially reasonable terms, whether or not GBP has Mr. Ortiz under contract."
FEB. 16, 2026: Over the weekend, Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions, submitted a legal declaration in his company's federal lawsuit against Vergil Ortiz, Jr., the star junior middleweight who is seeking to end his promotional contract with Golden Boy and sign for a huge fight against former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis. Here is what Gomez declared: "Notwithstanding Golden Boy’s ongoing [legal] dispute with Ortiz, Golden Boy remains ready and willing to represent Ortiz in negotiating for and promoting a bout between Ortiz and Ennis. Even after Golden Boy discovered that Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, was having direct communications with third parties regarding the fight, Golden Boy remained committed to its representation of Ortiz with respect to the fight. In early January 2026, I exchanged emails with Mirigian articulating Golden Boy’s negotiation position. Also in early January, Golden Boy’s counsel, Ricardo P. Cestero, sent a letter to Ortiz’s counsel, Gregory M. Smith, confirming that Golden Boy offered Ortiz a $3 million guarantee plus upside for the Ennis fight."
FEB. 14, 2026: On Friday, a federal judge temporarily restrained Vergil Ortiz Jr. from negotiating or signing any deal for a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, granting an emergency restraining order requested by Golden Boy Promotions. The ruling, issued February 13th in federal court in Nevada, freezes Ortiz’s ability to contract with third parties for the Ennis bout while a contract dispute plays out between Golden Boy and Ortiz. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 20th, when both sides will appear for oral arguments. For boxing fans, the decision immediately puts one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the welterweight division on ice. Until the court or an arbitrator says otherwise, Ortiz is barred from making any independent deal for the Ennis fight, keeping control of his next move firmly tied to the legal battle with Golden Boy, his longtime promoter.
Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. He is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders and has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016. In May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional rights agreement that was supposed to run for three years, with guaranteed minimum payments of more than $1 million per fight. At the center of the dispute is a clause tied to Golden Boy’s broadcast relationship with DAZN. That contract with DAZN expired at the end of 2025. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate his agreement with Golden Boy if the promoter no longer had a distribution deal with DAZN—unless Golden Boy already had an “agreement in principle” in place with another broadcaster, or had agreed on all material terms of a new deal and was finalizing paperwork.
Ortiz sent a letter in early January seeking confirmation that the DAZN deal had ended, signaling his intent to terminate his contract. Golden Boy responded that while the formal contract had expired, the company and DAZN had already agreed on the key terms of a new licensing deal for 2026 and 2027 and were exchanging drafts. On that basis, Golden Boy argued Ortiz had no right to walk away.
Ortiz then filed suit, asking the court to declare the contract over. He also accused Golden Boy of breach of contract and interference with his business opportunities. Among Ortiz's claims: that the company undercut chances to maximize his earnings through Saudi-backed sponsorships and interfered with his ability to negotiate future fights. His complaint also points to public statements and actions by Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya, which Ortiz says confused other promoters and the boxing public about who controlled his career.
Golden Boy answered with an emergency motion, telling the court it had learned Ortiz was on the verge of signing a deal with third parties for a fight against Ennis. The company argued that such a move would violate the existing contract and cause irreparable harm—especially by damaging broadcast negotiations and business relationships that cannot simply be repaired with money later. The judge agreed with Golden Boy and granted the temporary restraining order, barring Ortiz, his managers, and representatives from negotiating or entering into any third-party contracts for the Ennis bout. The court emphasized that the order is meant to preserve the “status quo” while the dispute is resolved.
Legally, the case is also complicated by an arbitration clause in the contract that staes that any disputes should be handled through arbitration in Las Vegas. Golden Boy has already started arbitration proceedings, accusing Ortiz of breaching the agreement and interfering with its broadcast relationships. The court made clear that the restraining order does not decide who is right—it simply prevents irreversible business moves before arbitration and further court hearings take place.
From a boxing standpoint, the impact is immediate. Ortiz vs. Ennis is widely viewed as one of the most meaningful fights available in the division—a matchup of two elite, undefeated fighters in their prime. The ruling doesn’t kill the fight, but it removes Ortiz’s ability to make it happen independently. For now, the business has overtaken the sport. The February 20th court date will be the next step in deciding whether this freeze continues or changes, but until then, Ortiz’s future—and the Ennis fight—remains locked in a courtroom rather than a ring.
JAN. 19, 2026: WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. has taken his long-time promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, to federal court—claiming that behind-the-scenes chaos, missed opportunities and public blowups derailed his momentum at a critical moment in his career. The lawsuit was filed in Nevada. At the center of the dispute is Ortiz’s promotional agreement with Golden Boy, which he signed in May 2024. The deal extended Golden Boy’s rights for three years, guaranteed Ortiz million-dollar minimum purses, and was built around Golden Boy’s long-term broadcast relationship with DAZN. Here are the key allegations contained in Ortiz's legal complaint, which at this time are treated as unproven allegations:
Ortiz alleges Golden Boy's relatinship with DAZN was a key reason he stayed with Golden Boy in the first place. Fast forward to the end of 2025. Golden Boy’s DAZN deal expired on December 31st, and Ortiz moved quickly. On January 8, 2026, he exercised a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away if Golden Boy lost its exclusive broadcaster. Golden Boy acknowledged that the DAZN deal had ended (this weekend's DAZN show was a one-off with Golden Boy, not part of any long-term deal). Golden Boy took the position that ongoing negotiations for a new DAZN agreement meant Ortiz was still tied to the company. Ortiz disagrees, and the timing is everything. According to the complaint, his team believed that uncertainty over Golden Boy’s broadcast future—and Golden Boy’s strained relationships across the sport—were already costing him major fights and major money.
The biggest missed opportunity, Ortiz claims, was a potential showdown with former welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis. After Ortiz’s November 2025 win over Erickson Lubin, Ennis entered the ring for a face-off, and both fighters publicly said they wanted to fight each other. It was widely viewed as one of the best match-ups the sport of boxing could make across weight classes.
Ortiz wanted Golden Boy to negotiate with Ennis’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, and hoped the bout could attract backing from Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, the head of the government's General Entertainment Authority. Alalshikh has poured massive money into elite boxing events over the last few years. According to the lawsuit, Ortiz believed a Saudi-backed Ortiz-Ennis fight could have been career-defining.
Instead, Ortiz alleges, Golden Boy sabotaged those possibilities. The complaint points to Golden Boy's principal, Oscar De La Hoya and the public attacks he has made on Alalshikh and the Saudi-backed Zuffa Boxing venture—attacks made on social media during the very period Ortiz’s team was hoping to attract Saudi interest. Ortiz claims those outbursts poisoned the well, making him less attractive to deep-pocketed backers through no fault of his own.
Things escalated in December 2025. Ortiz says Golden Boy presented him with only one fight option—Ennis—despite a contract requirement that required Golden Boy to offer multiple opponents. Worse, Ortiz alleges he was threatened with being “benched” if he didn’t accept the terms and warned that Golden Boy would publicly blame him if the fight fell apart. According to the complaint, Ortiz later learned that Golden Boy, Matchroom and DAZN had already reached written terms for the Ennis fight—terms that were never shared with him, even though his contract required full disclosure and his signature on any deal involving his fights.
After Ortiz terminated the promotional agreement in January, the conflict spilled into public view. De La Hoya posted Instagram videos setting deadlines and monetary demands for the Ennis fight, then declaring negotiations dead when those deadlines passed. Ortiz says none of this was authorized and that Golden Boy no longer had the right to speak for him.
When Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian publicly invited other promoters to reach out, De La Hoya responded by asserting control over negotiations and threatening legal action. Ortiz claims these public power plays were designed to create confusion in the industry and scare off potential partners—effectively freezing his career during what should be his prime earning years.
The lawsuit asks the court to confirm that Ortiz is free from Golden Boy and to award damages for lost fights, purses, sponsorships, and momentum. But for boxing fans, the real takeaway is bigger than legal language: this case highlights how promoter politics, broadcast uncertainty, and personal grudges can derail elite fighters—and how even an undefeated champion can find himself fighting outside the ring just to get the biggest fights made.
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IBF eyeing Reyes vs. Fajardo flyweight eliminator |
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The IBF is in the process of setting up a flyweight elimination bout. Japan's Masimichi Yabuki is the reigning IBF champion at 112 pounds. On January 13th, the IBF ordered Tobias J. Reyes of Argentina and Miel Fajardo of the Philippines to begin negotiations. Reyes is 18-1-1 and coming off a win over previously undefeated Pedro Alarcon. Reyes' lone loss was in a 2024 IBF eliminator vs. former 108-pound champion Felix Alvarado. Fajardo is 13-3-2 with two wins in 2025 following two losses in 2024. If no agreement is reached between Reyes and Fajardo, the IBF will hold a purse bid on March 3rd.
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IBF eyeing Reyes vs. Fajardo flyweight eliminator
The IBF is in the process of setting up a flyweight elimination bout. Japan's Masimichi Yabuki is the reigning IBF champion at 112 pounds. On January 13th, the IBF ordered Tobias J. Reyes of Argentina and Miel Fajardo of the Philippines to begin negotiations. Reyes is 18-1-1 and coming off a win over previously undefeated Pedro Alarcon. Reyes' lone loss was in a 2024 IBF eliminator vs. former 108-pound champion Felix Alvarado. Fajardo is 13-3-2 with two wins in 2025 following two losses in 2024. If no agreement is reached between Reyes and Fajardo, the IBF will hold a purse bid on March 3rd.
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Ex-champ Lee Selby to fight in bare knuckles boxing |
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Last week, BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, announced the signing of former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby to a multi-fight agreement. The Welsh boxing standout, known as "Lightning," will bring his technical skills, championship experience, and fan-favorite style to the bare knuckle trigon, making his bare knuckles debut in the coming months. Details on Selby’s debut fight and upcoming events will be announced soon. Selby held the IBF world title from 2015 to 2018, successfully defending it five times. He previously captured the British, Commonwealth, and European featherweight titles between 2011 and 2014, compiling a pro record of 28-4 with 9 KOs from 2008 to 2022. His championship reign and high-level performances established him as one of Wales' most accomplished boxers and the twelfth Welsh world champion in boxing history.
Selby said: “I’ve achieved everything in gloved boxing - from regional titles to defending my world title five times. Now, bare knuckle is calling. It’s the original, no-filter version of boxing, and I’m excited to bring my speed, skill, and experience to BKB. I’m here to win another world title and show why I’m still one of the best.”
Mike Vazquez, founder of BKB Bare Knuckle, said: “Lee Selby is a true champion with an incredible resume, and we’re honored to have him join our roster. His technical mastery and championship mentality will light up the trigon. With fighters like Gamboa and Malignaggi already proving the path for elite boxers, Lee’s signing shows BKB is where legends come to chase greatness.”
David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle, said: "Lee Selby is another game-changer for our organization. His world title pedigree, defensive brilliance, and proven ability at the highest levels make this a massive addition. We're excited to watch him chase bare knuckle glory alongside our growing stable of world-class talent."
Selby joins an expanding roster featuring more than 200 fighters from over 30 countries. This landmark signing showcases the growing appeal and momentum of BKB, which continues to attract decorated gloved boxers and deliver high-stakes, action-packed events. The promotion has seen stars like Olympic gold medalist and former multi-weight world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa cross over to the trigon, while Paulie Malignaggi made a hugely successful transition, delivering a thrilling Fight of the Night performance in his return at BKB 47 against Tyler Goodjohn. Building on that excitement, Malignaggi is now set to challenge reigning champion Rolando Dy for the BKB junior middleweight championship in Manchester on Saturday, May 16th, furthering BKB's rising profile, expanding roster of elite talent, and nonstop progression as one of most disruptive forces in combat sports.
From its beginnings in 2015 as BYB Extreme Fighting Series, founded by MMA pioneer Dhafir "Dada 5000" Harris and Mike Vazquez, BKB has elevated bare knuckle boxing into a regulated, globally broadcast powerhouse through key acquisitions—including the original UK-based BKB in 2021 and Bad To The Bone in 2025—and a fighter-first approach that prioritizes athlete welfare and opportunity. Landmark broadcast partnerships with talkSPORT (UK and Ireland), VICE (US and Canada), and Telemundo (Spanish-language in the US) have brought live events to millions worldwide.
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Ex-champ Lee Selby to fight in bare knuckles boxing
Last week, BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, announced the signing of former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby to a multi-fight agreement. The Welsh boxing standout, known as "Lightning," will bring his technical skills, championship experience, and fan-favorite style to the bare knuckle trigon, making his bare knuckles debut in the coming months. Details on Selby’s debut fight and upcoming events will be announced soon. Selby held the IBF world title from 2015 to 2018, successfully defending it five times. He previously captured the British, Commonwealth, and European featherweight titles between 2011 and 2014, compiling a pro record of 28-4 with 9 KOs from 2008 to 2022. His championship reign and high-level performances established him as one of Wales' most accomplished boxers and the twelfth Welsh world champion in boxing history.
Selby said: “I’ve achieved everything in gloved boxing - from regional titles to defending my world title five times. Now, bare knuckle is calling. It’s the original, no-filter version of boxing, and I’m excited to bring my speed, skill, and experience to BKB. I’m here to win another world title and show why I’m still one of the best.”
Mike Vazquez, founder of BKB Bare Knuckle, said: “Lee Selby is a true champion with an incredible resume, and we’re honored to have him join our roster. His technical mastery and championship mentality will light up the trigon. With fighters like Gamboa and Malignaggi already proving the path for elite boxers, Lee’s signing shows BKB is where legends come to chase greatness.”
David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle, said: "Lee Selby is another game-changer for our organization. His world title pedigree, defensive brilliance, and proven ability at the highest levels make this a massive addition. We're excited to watch him chase bare knuckle glory alongside our growing stable of world-class talent."
Selby joins an expanding roster featuring more than 200 fighters from over 30 countries. This landmark signing showcases the growing appeal and momentum of BKB, which continues to attract decorated gloved boxers and deliver high-stakes, action-packed events. The promotion has seen stars like Olympic gold medalist and former multi-weight world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa cross over to the trigon, while Paulie Malignaggi made a hugely successful transition, delivering a thrilling Fight of the Night performance in his return at BKB 47 against Tyler Goodjohn. Building on that excitement, Malignaggi is now set to challenge reigning champion Rolando Dy for the BKB junior middleweight championship in Manchester on Saturday, May 16th, furthering BKB's rising profile, expanding roster of elite talent, and nonstop progression as one of most disruptive forces in combat sports.
From its beginnings in 2015 as BYB Extreme Fighting Series, founded by MMA pioneer Dhafir "Dada 5000" Harris and Mike Vazquez, BKB has elevated bare knuckle boxing into a regulated, globally broadcast powerhouse through key acquisitions—including the original UK-based BKB in 2021 and Bad To The Bone in 2025—and a fighter-first approach that prioritizes athlete welfare and opportunity. Landmark broadcast partnerships with talkSPORT (UK and Ireland), VICE (US and Canada), and Telemundo (Spanish-language in the US) have brought live events to millions worldwide.
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Alex Bray sees action in Florida on Friday |
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Junior middleweight Alex Bray (10-0, 8 KOs) is entering the most important fight of his young career as he prepares to face Argentina’s Rodrigo Damian Coria (15-7, 3 KOs). The ten-round bout takes place this Friday, February 20th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, and will be streamed live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. With an 80% knockout ratio and growing momentum, Bray sees this opportunity as a step toward title contention. Bray recently wrapped up a disciplined training camp, and he believes this preparation has elevated his mindset and performance to another level. Reflecting on camp, Bray spoke with conviction. “This camp has been different. I’ve pushed myself mentally and physically like never before. We tightened up all aspects of my game. I’m not just training to win rounds…I trained to dominate every sparring session. Every day in camp felt like a fight. That’s the mentality I’m carrying into Orlando. I’m hungry, I’m locked in, and I’m ready to make a statement.”
Standing across the ring will be Coria, who split his four bouts over the past two years. Bray isn’t overlooking the challenge and is taking this fight very seriously. But Bray made it clear that he’s coming to control the narrative. “Coria is experienced. He’s been in there with different styles, and that makes him dangerous. Any time you fight someone with that kind of experience, you have to stay sharp. I respect him, but this is my moment. I’m younger, I’m explosive, and I’m evolving with every fight. I plan to break him down and show that I’m ready for the next level.”
At just 10-0, Bray understands that a dominant performance on February 20 could open major doors in the 154-pound division. He concluded with determination. “A big win here puts me in the conversation with all the top prospects and contender. It shows I’m not just another undefeated prospect…I’m a real threat at 154. This fight is about taking the next step forward in my career. It’s about building my name, my brand, and my legacy. February 20, I’m coming to make a statement the whole division can’t ignore.”
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Alex Bray sees action in Florida on Friday
Junior middleweight Alex Bray (10-0, 8 KOs) is entering the most important fight of his young career as he prepares to face Argentina’s Rodrigo Damian Coria (15-7, 3 KOs). The ten-round bout takes place this Friday, February 20th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, and will be streamed live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. With an 80% knockout ratio and growing momentum, Bray sees this opportunity as a step toward title contention. Bray recently wrapped up a disciplined training camp, and he believes this preparation has elevated his mindset and performance to another level. Reflecting on camp, Bray spoke with conviction. “This camp has been different. I’ve pushed myself mentally and physically like never before. We tightened up all aspects of my game. I’m not just training to win rounds…I trained to dominate every sparring session. Every day in camp felt like a fight. That’s the mentality I’m carrying into Orlando. I’m hungry, I’m locked in, and I’m ready to make a statement.”
Standing across the ring will be Coria, who split his four bouts over the past two years. Bray isn’t overlooking the challenge and is taking this fight very seriously. But Bray made it clear that he’s coming to control the narrative. “Coria is experienced. He’s been in there with different styles, and that makes him dangerous. Any time you fight someone with that kind of experience, you have to stay sharp. I respect him, but this is my moment. I’m younger, I’m explosive, and I’m evolving with every fight. I plan to break him down and show that I’m ready for the next level.”
At just 10-0, Bray understands that a dominant performance on February 20 could open major doors in the 154-pound division. He concluded with determination. “A big win here puts me in the conversation with all the top prospects and contender. It shows I’m not just another undefeated prospect…I’m a real threat at 154. This fight is about taking the next step forward in my career. It’s about building my name, my brand, and my legacy. February 20, I’m coming to make a statement the whole division can’t ignore.”
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Late result: Rapista wins super flyweight bout |
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Kenneth Rapista W10 Zhongchao Tao... In an exciting contest in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines, Kenneth Rapista emerged victorious over China’s Zhongchao Tao in a super flyweight contest. From the opening bell, both fighters displayed exceptional skill and determination in what proved to be a closely contested battle. Tao brought sharp combinations and relentless pressure, while Rapista answered with precision, composure and strong ring generalship. After ten competitive rounds, the judges scored the bout unanimously in favor of Rapista with three scorecards of 96-94. Rapista, fighting in his home nations, ascends to 8-1 while Tao's record falls to 6-2.
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Late result: Rapista wins super flyweight bout
Kenneth Rapista W10 Zhongchao Tao... In an exciting contest in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines, Kenneth Rapista emerged victorious over China’s Zhongchao Tao in a super flyweight contest. From the opening bell, both fighters displayed exceptional skill and determination in what proved to be a closely contested battle. Tao brought sharp combinations and relentless pressure, while Rapista answered with precision, composure and strong ring generalship. After ten competitive rounds, the judges scored the bout unanimously in favor of Rapista with three scorecards of 96-94. Rapista, fighting in his home nations, ascends to 8-1 while Tao's record falls to 6-2.
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Matchroom reaches five-year extension with DAZN |
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DAZN and Matchroom Boxing have extend thier long‑standing partnership for another five years in the U.S. and the U.K. The renewed deal guarantees a year‑round schedule of boxing consisting of more than 30 shows globally per year, combining premium Matchroom Boxing live events with original content. Matchroom also signed a new partnership with DAZN’s Foxtel Group in Australia, which will bring seven major events to Australian audiences on Kayo Sports. Here are further details from Matchroom's press release:
DAZN, the sports entertainment streaming platform, is reinforcing its leadership in global boxing through a new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing in the United States and the United Kingdom.... DAZN will continue to deliver a non-stop calendar of premium events supported by year-round original content to take fans inside the stories, camps and rivalries.
With more than 30 blockbuster Matchroom Boxing fight nights to be available on DAZN per year, boxing fans can already look forward to watching an explosive all-Mexican unification bout at junior lightweight Saturday, February 28th, as IBF titlist Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez (29-1) collides with WBO king Emanuel Navarrete (39-2) in a huge showdown between two renowned knockout artists.
Also announced is a new partnership between DAZN’s Foxtel Group and Matchroom Boxing in Australia. This agreement will see seven major Matchroom Boxing events broadcast on Kayo Sports and Foxtel in 2026, bringing top-tier global boxing to Australian audiences. Following DAZN’s acquisition of Foxtel Group last year, the company has continued to expand its portfolio of sports content on its Kayo Sports streaming and Foxtel subscription TV platforms. The new partnership with Matchroom Boxing strengthens Foxtel Group’s position as Australia’s leading sports and entertainment media company.
Matchroom Boxing’s roster includes Anthony Joshua, Katie Taylor, Dmitry Bivol and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. It also features newly crowned champions in Dalton Smith, Lewis Crocker and Josh Kelly, while Jaron “Boots” Ennis, Conor Benn and Ben Whittaker deliver mainstream attention and huge international pull. In the U.S., the likes of Sugar Nunez and Diego Pacheco bring global star potential. Leading female fighters Sandy Ryan, Elif Turhan, Skye Nicolson and Molly McCann guarantee intensity and draw major fan engagement. And emerging talents through the likes of Pat Brown, Leo Atang, Omari Jones, Teremoana Teremoana, Georgio Visioli, George Liddard, and Tiah Mai Ayton underscore not just the depth of Matchroom Boxing’s stable today, but the foundations of an exciting, lasting legacy for the generations to come.
DAZN is the global home of boxing with established partnerships with the sport’s biggest promoters, a global distribution footprint, and strategic investment in premium storytelling. Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said: “Our new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing builds on the success of our longstanding partnership and reaffirms DAZN as the global home of boxing. Matchroom Boxing trusts DAZN to deliver the best experiences for the biggest fights for boxing fans everywhere. Together, we’ll continue to raise the bar.”
Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “DAZN is the only partner that matches our ambitions for boxing. Their global platform, investment, passion and commitment to boxing make them the perfect partner for Matchroom Boxing’s fighters and events. This new, five-year deal in two of the world’s most important boxing markets reinforces our belief and trust in DAZN, and the scale of what we can achieve together.”
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Matchroom reaches five-year extension with DAZN
DAZN and Matchroom Boxing have extend thier long‑standing partnership for another five years in the U.S. and the U.K. The renewed deal guarantees a year‑round schedule of boxing consisting of more than 30 shows globally per year, combining premium Matchroom Boxing live events with original content. Matchroom also signed a new partnership with DAZN’s Foxtel Group in Australia, which will bring seven major events to Australian audiences on Kayo Sports. Here are further details from Matchroom's press release:
DAZN, the sports entertainment streaming platform, is reinforcing its leadership in global boxing through a new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing in the United States and the United Kingdom.... DAZN will continue to deliver a non-stop calendar of premium events supported by year-round original content to take fans inside the stories, camps and rivalries.
With more than 30 blockbuster Matchroom Boxing fight nights to be available on DAZN per year, boxing fans can already look forward to watching an explosive all-Mexican unification bout at junior lightweight Saturday, February 28th, as IBF titlist Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez (29-1) collides with WBO king Emanuel Navarrete (39-2) in a huge showdown between two renowned knockout artists.
Also announced is a new partnership between DAZN’s Foxtel Group and Matchroom Boxing in Australia. This agreement will see seven major Matchroom Boxing events broadcast on Kayo Sports and Foxtel in 2026, bringing top-tier global boxing to Australian audiences. Following DAZN’s acquisition of Foxtel Group last year, the company has continued to expand its portfolio of sports content on its Kayo Sports streaming and Foxtel subscription TV platforms. The new partnership with Matchroom Boxing strengthens Foxtel Group’s position as Australia’s leading sports and entertainment media company.
Matchroom Boxing’s roster includes Anthony Joshua, Katie Taylor, Dmitry Bivol and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. It also features newly crowned champions in Dalton Smith, Lewis Crocker and Josh Kelly, while Jaron “Boots” Ennis, Conor Benn and Ben Whittaker deliver mainstream attention and huge international pull. In the U.S., the likes of Sugar Nunez and Diego Pacheco bring global star potential. Leading female fighters Sandy Ryan, Elif Turhan, Skye Nicolson and Molly McCann guarantee intensity and draw major fan engagement. And emerging talents through the likes of Pat Brown, Leo Atang, Omari Jones, Teremoana Teremoana, Georgio Visioli, George Liddard, and Tiah Mai Ayton underscore not just the depth of Matchroom Boxing’s stable today, but the foundations of an exciting, lasting legacy for the generations to come.
DAZN is the global home of boxing with established partnerships with the sport’s biggest promoters, a global distribution footprint, and strategic investment in premium storytelling. Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said: “Our new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing builds on the success of our longstanding partnership and reaffirms DAZN as the global home of boxing. Matchroom Boxing trusts DAZN to deliver the best experiences for the biggest fights for boxing fans everywhere. Together, we’ll continue to raise the bar.”
Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “DAZN is the only partner that matches our ambitions for boxing. Their global platform, investment, passion and commitment to boxing make them the perfect partner for Matchroom Boxing’s fighters and events. This new, five-year deal in two of the world’s most important boxing markets reinforces our belief and trust in DAZN, and the scale of what we can achieve together.”
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Collazo books title defense as Golden Boy and DAZN agree to a one-off |
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Southern California pride meets Chicago grit as two elite contenders step into a new division and straight into danger when Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 KOs) of South El Monte, CA faces Chicago’s Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (22-2-1, 8 KOs) in a ten-round welterweight clash at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on March 14th. The co-feature will be a world title fight as Puerto Rico’s undefeated WBA / WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (pictured) will defend his titles against Mexico’s Jesus “Chiquito” Haro (13-3, 2 KOs). The third featured bout has undisputed world flyweight champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (17-0, 9 KOs) facing WBA interim titlist Viviana Ruiz Corredor (10-2, 5 KOs), an Australia-based Venezuelan. The show will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN. [This show is a "one-off" agreement between DAZN and Golden Boy. The long-term deal expired and has not been renwed, but the parties continue to negotiate]. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 18th at 10:00 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com and GoldenBoy.com.
“I’m officially stepping back into the ring after some much needed time off,” said Barboza, who is coming off a loss to former junior welterweight champi9on Teofimo Lopez. “My first loss didn’t break me, it built me. Built a new team, new gym, new mindset yet still same purpose, same hunger, same goals. I heard the doubters get louder. I saw some opinions change yet nothing about me changed. This is bigger than revenge. This is the Redemption Tour.”
“This is a fight that I’ve been wanting for a long time. Barboza is a good fighter who’s been on the big stage, but I’ve always known that I am a better fighter than him and only wanted the chance to prove it,” said Kenneth Sims Jr. “I’ve been chasing this opportunity for years now and this is a great time for it to finally happen. This is a do or die fight for both of us, and I can’t wait to get in there and handle business on March 14th.”
“I love this fight because neither guy is afraid of the other. Arnold Barboza Jr. and Kenneth Sims Jr. have worked their entire careers to become the best and on March 14 somebody takes a major step toward the top of the division,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “The undercard will be stacked with talent, with the return of Puerto Rican Unified Champ Oscar Collazo and Undisputed Champ Gabriella Fundora both defending their titles. Fans are getting a complete night of high-level Southern California fights!”
Collazo (13-0, 10 KOs) most recently delivered a devastating knockout victory over Jayson Vayson in September 2025 and now returns looking to continue his championship run. “I’m very happy to be returning to the ring this coming March 14th. Unfortunately, we won’t be pursuing a unification bout for reasons beyond my control,” said Collazo. “The company presented us with this opportunity with Jesús Haro. I respect him because I know he comes with the desire and hunger to be champion, but on March 14th he’ll be facing the best in the division. Without a doubt, Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is a guaranteed war. We’re ready to put on a great fight and secure a solid victory for Puerto Rico.”
“It’s going to be a great fight,” said Haro. “The Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry has always been present in this sport, and although I was born in the USA and I love this country, Aztec warrior blood runs through my veins, and I’m not going to let my Mexican people down.”
Fundora had this to say: “There are only two ways of doing something, the right way or the wrong way. We are preparing to put on a great performance on March 14th at the Honda Center in Anaheim California. Save the date to watch on DAZN!”"
Fundora's challenger, Ruiz, responded, “This opportunity to compete for the undisputed world title is an absolute dream come true for me. It represents everything we work toward from the moment we decide to become professional fighters, and I am incredibly grateful for the chance to perform on the biggest stage. We’re coming to America to steal the show. I understand the challenge in front of me, I’ve done the work, and I’m ready. I’m excited for March 14th, and I can’t wait to be crowned the new undisputed world champion.”
More information on the undercard will be released soon.
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Collazo books title defense as Golden Boy and DAZN agree to a one-off
Southern California pride meets Chicago grit as two elite contenders step into a new division and straight into danger when Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 KOs) of South El Monte, CA faces Chicago’s Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (22-2-1, 8 KOs) in a ten-round welterweight clash at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on March 14th. The co-feature will be a world title fight as Puerto Rico’s undefeated WBA / WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (pictured) will defend his titles against Mexico’s Jesus “Chiquito” Haro (13-3, 2 KOs). The third featured bout has undisputed world flyweight champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (17-0, 9 KOs) facing WBA interim titlist Viviana Ruiz Corredor (10-2, 5 KOs), an Australia-based Venezuelan. The show will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN. [This show is a "one-off" agreement between DAZN and Golden Boy. The long-term deal expired and has not been renwed, but the parties continue to negotiate]. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 18th at 10:00 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com and GoldenBoy.com.
“I’m officially stepping back into the ring after some much needed time off,” said Barboza, who is coming off a loss to former junior welterweight champi9on Teofimo Lopez. “My first loss didn’t break me, it built me. Built a new team, new gym, new mindset yet still same purpose, same hunger, same goals. I heard the doubters get louder. I saw some opinions change yet nothing about me changed. This is bigger than revenge. This is the Redemption Tour.”
“This is a fight that I’ve been wanting for a long time. Barboza is a good fighter who’s been on the big stage, but I’ve always known that I am a better fighter than him and only wanted the chance to prove it,” said Kenneth Sims Jr. “I’ve been chasing this opportunity for years now and this is a great time for it to finally happen. This is a do or die fight for both of us, and I can’t wait to get in there and handle business on March 14th.”
“I love this fight because neither guy is afraid of the other. Arnold Barboza Jr. and Kenneth Sims Jr. have worked their entire careers to become the best and on March 14 somebody takes a major step toward the top of the division,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “The undercard will be stacked with talent, with the return of Puerto Rican Unified Champ Oscar Collazo and Undisputed Champ Gabriella Fundora both defending their titles. Fans are getting a complete night of high-level Southern California fights!”
Collazo (13-0, 10 KOs) most recently delivered a devastating knockout victory over Jayson Vayson in September 2025 and now returns looking to continue his championship run. “I’m very happy to be returning to the ring this coming March 14th. Unfortunately, we won’t be pursuing a unification bout for reasons beyond my control,” said Collazo. “The company presented us with this opportunity with Jesús Haro. I respect him because I know he comes with the desire and hunger to be champion, but on March 14th he’ll be facing the best in the division. Without a doubt, Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is a guaranteed war. We’re ready to put on a great fight and secure a solid victory for Puerto Rico.”
“It’s going to be a great fight,” said Haro. “The Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry has always been present in this sport, and although I was born in the USA and I love this country, Aztec warrior blood runs through my veins, and I’m not going to let my Mexican people down.”
Fundora had this to say: “There are only two ways of doing something, the right way or the wrong way. We are preparing to put on a great performance on March 14th at the Honda Center in Anaheim California. Save the date to watch on DAZN!”"
Fundora's challenger, Ruiz, responded, “This opportunity to compete for the undisputed world title is an absolute dream come true for me. It represents everything we work toward from the moment we decide to become professional fighters, and I am incredibly grateful for the chance to perform on the biggest stage. We’re coming to America to steal the show. I understand the challenge in front of me, I’ve done the work, and I’m ready. I’m excited for March 14th, and I can’t wait to be crowned the new undisputed world champion.”
More information on the undercard will be released soon.
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Dana White speaks out vs. WBC, De La Hoya, Hearn |
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From the moment Zuffa Boxing was formally announced, the organization's plans have come under criticism from several sections of the boxing establishment, including rival promoters and sanctioning bodies. At the Zuffa Boxing 03 post-fight press conference in Las Vegas on Sunday, Zuffa Boxing head Dana White said that he hadn't responded directly to those critics until now. But on Sunday night White expressed surprise at the relative lack of opposition from critics as Zuffa Boxing has gotten underway with its first three shows. "What's been the biggest pushback? [laughs] There hasn't been any pushback. This is like beating up babies," White stated. "I feel like I came in and I'm beating up babies. I expected more. I expected some pushback. I expected them to be more game. They're all way out of their league, like absolutely, positively out of their league. I'm actually a little shocked." The lack of a coordinated response from Zuffa's competition has also been noticed by Boxingtalk's Charles Muniz.
White then addressed some of the bigger names who have taken aim at his plans. "Listen, I don't like coming into these things and talking too much, but at the end of this year, just watch," he said. "I haven't said anything about [Matchroom Boxing's] Eddie Hearn. Me and [Golden Boy Promotions' Oscar] De La Hoya are what we are. The WBC... I haven't said anything about (them). They don't stop talking – the WBC and Eddie Hearn... And all the s*** De La Hoya talks ... The guy is talking all this s***, and his [office building is reportedly] is in foreclosure. He's suing his fighters [Vergil Ortiz, Jr.] to try to stay with him. Has Oscar done a 'Clapback Thursday' recently? I would f***ing love to see an episode of 'Clapback Thursday' this Thursday from Oscar De La Hoya. But yeah. Everybody feels it. It's already happening, and it's going to be a fun year."
And on the topic of the WBC, White also had some words for WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman. "I think that the guy from the WBC is the greatest public relations thing to ever happen for Zuffa Boxing," he smiled. "I mean, that guy should just keep doing interviews every day! Keep talking, it's incredible! Love it!"
White also said that boxing's establishment are welcome to continue doing what they're doing, but he's confident that Zuffa Boxing's approach will prove to be a gamechanger for the sport as things progress and plans start to come to fruition. "Like I said, I'll lay out a body of work this year, and then you can judge me by how this thing plays out," reiterated White. "But, you know, everybody knows that this thing's been broken for a long time. I said what I was going to do. I've never said anything bad about the WBC or the IBF or any of them. I just said I'm not going to do business with them – I'm going to do my own thing." Editor's note: White will soon have a big decision to make about doing business with the IBF. Zuffa Boxing 04 is scheduled to have Jai Opetaia fight for the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title -- but Opetaia is the reigning IBF champion and is not expected to give up his title to fight under the Zuffa banner.
"And then I saw Eddie Hearn saying that the belt is cringy and all this stuff. I don't think anybody looks at Eddie Hearn and says, 'Oh, this guy's a visionary.' The guy's been in boxing forever. I look at him like most politicians. You've done nothing in the sport except stay in the lane, and play by all the rules, and ride right along. You ended up becoming part of the problem, is what happened. And I don't want to sit here and smash Eddie Hearn or anything else, but Eddie Hearn works for his dad, you know what I mean? He works for dad. And I don't think he's come in and ever had any type of vision, whereas we do, and we're going to change the entire sport.
"And I understand the people who are the status quo in boxing don't like it, but it doesn't mean they can't still do their thing. If your thing is as good as you think it is, and you are as good as you think you are, then do your thing. Good luck to you. I'm going to do my thing, and they're going to do theirs."
White later added, "The sport has been out there for over 100 years, and there's plenty of guys that are involved in the sport. There's plenty of money in the sport... Eddie Hearn and his dad have a lot of money – not like they can't compete (financially). They can't compete because they don't know how to compete. There's no vision there. I don't know how else to explain it other than that. Listen, I'm sitting here, my third fight in. I'm either right or I'm wrong – we'll find out. I keep saying it over and over again – at the end of the year, judge us by what we've done this year."
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Dana White speaks out vs. WBC, De La Hoya, Hearn
From the moment Zuffa Boxing was formally announced, the organization's plans have come under criticism from several sections of the boxing establishment, including rival promoters and sanctioning bodies. At the Zuffa Boxing 03 post-fight press conference in Las Vegas on Sunday, Zuffa Boxing head Dana White said that he hadn't responded directly to those critics until now. But on Sunday night White expressed surprise at the relative lack of opposition from critics as Zuffa Boxing has gotten underway with its first three shows. "What's been the biggest pushback? [laughs] There hasn't been any pushback. This is like beating up babies," White stated. "I feel like I came in and I'm beating up babies. I expected more. I expected some pushback. I expected them to be more game. They're all way out of their league, like absolutely, positively out of their league. I'm actually a little shocked." The lack of a coordinated response from Zuffa's competition has also been noticed by Boxingtalk's Charles Muniz.
White then addressed some of the bigger names who have taken aim at his plans. "Listen, I don't like coming into these things and talking too much, but at the end of this year, just watch," he said. "I haven't said anything about [Matchroom Boxing's] Eddie Hearn. Me and [Golden Boy Promotions' Oscar] De La Hoya are what we are. The WBC... I haven't said anything about (them). They don't stop talking – the WBC and Eddie Hearn... And all the s*** De La Hoya talks ... The guy is talking all this s***, and his [office building is reportedly] is in foreclosure. He's suing his fighters [Vergil Ortiz, Jr.] to try to stay with him. Has Oscar done a 'Clapback Thursday' recently? I would f***ing love to see an episode of 'Clapback Thursday' this Thursday from Oscar De La Hoya. But yeah. Everybody feels it. It's already happening, and it's going to be a fun year."
And on the topic of the WBC, White also had some words for WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman. "I think that the guy from the WBC is the greatest public relations thing to ever happen for Zuffa Boxing," he smiled. "I mean, that guy should just keep doing interviews every day! Keep talking, it's incredible! Love it!"
White also said that boxing's establishment are welcome to continue doing what they're doing, but he's confident that Zuffa Boxing's approach will prove to be a gamechanger for the sport as things progress and plans start to come to fruition. "Like I said, I'll lay out a body of work this year, and then you can judge me by how this thing plays out," reiterated White. "But, you know, everybody knows that this thing's been broken for a long time. I said what I was going to do. I've never said anything bad about the WBC or the IBF or any of them. I just said I'm not going to do business with them – I'm going to do my own thing." Editor's note: White will soon have a big decision to make about doing business with the IBF. Zuffa Boxing 04 is scheduled to have Jai Opetaia fight for the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title -- but Opetaia is the reigning IBF champion and is not expected to give up his title to fight under the Zuffa banner.
"And then I saw Eddie Hearn saying that the belt is cringy and all this stuff. I don't think anybody looks at Eddie Hearn and says, 'Oh, this guy's a visionary.' The guy's been in boxing forever. I look at him like most politicians. You've done nothing in the sport except stay in the lane, and play by all the rules, and ride right along. You ended up becoming part of the problem, is what happened. And I don't want to sit here and smash Eddie Hearn or anything else, but Eddie Hearn works for his dad, you know what I mean? He works for dad. And I don't think he's come in and ever had any type of vision, whereas we do, and we're going to change the entire sport.
"And I understand the people who are the status quo in boxing don't like it, but it doesn't mean they can't still do their thing. If your thing is as good as you think it is, and you are as good as you think you are, then do your thing. Good luck to you. I'm going to do my thing, and they're going to do theirs."
White later added, "The sport has been out there for over 100 years, and there's plenty of guys that are involved in the sport. There's plenty of money in the sport... Eddie Hearn and his dad have a lot of money – not like they can't compete (financially). They can't compete because they don't know how to compete. There's no vision there. I don't know how else to explain it other than that. Listen, I'm sitting here, my third fight in. I'm either right or I'm wrong – we'll find out. I keep saying it over and over again – at the end of the year, judge us by what we've done this year."
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Welcome to Wood vs. Warrington II fight week |
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Tucked away at a small table with promoter Eddie Hearn last November, Leigh Wood (pictured) and Josh Warrington are perched with a peculiar air about them. The pair, proud domestic fighters who scaled the world at the peak of their powers, are dressed in their coats, hands jammed into pockets. Without context, without the hoardings selling an imminent rematch, you could be forgiven for assuming this is two men at a breakfast cafe. But this was no cozy catch-up. Boxing has its share of bad blood, and in an era of social media sleuths, it's hard to sometimes separate fact from fiction.vHere, however, are two men who, if at the very least respectful of their reputations, are hell-bent on settling scores before they quit the ring for good. In another world, this might have been a stadium-shifting affair, held at the City Ground or Elland Road, a true celebration of local roots and pride. Instead, Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena will be the room where these two make what could be a last stand - and seek to earn the last laugh. The two ex-champs meet Saturday for a rematch, with DAZN broadcasting live,
Warrington is 32-4-1 and had one win in 2025. Wood is 28-4 but hasn't won a fight since defeating Warrington in 2023.
To understand the brusque air between these two, you have to chart a path back before they even met as professionals, to their tenures at the top. Two years younger than his rival, Warrington nevertheless broke out before Wood, a proud West Yorkshireman who worked the circuit like a pro. Boxing has always had a place in this part of the world, but it has been neighbouring Sheffield, just down the M1, that has produced the real stars. Warrington was something different, a genuine local hero for the LS postcode. He could shift five-figure numbers against names nobody had heard of.
When he claimed the IBF featherweight title by split decision against Lee Selby at Elland Road, it marked the summit of a remarkable, hard-earned rise. A string of successive defences seemed to have him primed for unification, before the coronavirus pandemic hit the brakes - and Warrington stumbled. He lost to Mauricio Lara on his return, then saw their rematch cut short as a technical draw. A victory over Kiko Martinez started a second IBF reign. Defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez, however, meant he headed to Sheffield in 2023 knowing that any hope of a third reign would come through Wood.
At the time, Wood was riding high. After setbacks and near-misses, he had inherited the WBA crown from Leo Santo Cruz and regathered it against Mauricio Lara. Warrington fancied his chances, and across the first six rounds, it looked like he would do the job - before Wood caught him flush in the seventh. Both men had plenty of bite for the other afterwards. Warrington felt the result was unfair to his efforts. Wood thought his rival didn't show him enough.
A rematch has bubbled away in the background ever since, but various factors have conspired to keep it on the back burner and away from their fans. Lengthy injury problems left Wood sidelined for long periods. Warrington moved on to other fish a year later, losing to Anto Cacace at Wembley Stadium. 'The Leeds Warrior' was not the only man felled by the Northern Irishman. Wood himself would come up short in a clash with the star last year.
Finally, the stars aligned to bring them back to each other - and when they met late last year for the aforementioned table chat, it was clear grudges remained. Now, this week, they will have the chance to sort their beef. One thing seems certain: This will be the final word in the matter
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Welcome to Wood vs. Warrington II fight week
Tucked away at a small table with promoter Eddie Hearn last November, Leigh Wood (pictured) and Josh Warrington are perched with a peculiar air about them. The pair, proud domestic fighters who scaled the world at the peak of their powers, are dressed in their coats, hands jammed into pockets. Without context, without the hoardings selling an imminent rematch, you could be forgiven for assuming this is two men at a breakfast cafe. But this was no cozy catch-up. Boxing has its share of bad blood, and in an era of social media sleuths, it's hard to sometimes separate fact from fiction.vHere, however, are two men who, if at the very least respectful of their reputations, are hell-bent on settling scores before they quit the ring for good. In another world, this might have been a stadium-shifting affair, held at the City Ground or Elland Road, a true celebration of local roots and pride. Instead, Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena will be the room where these two make what could be a last stand - and seek to earn the last laugh. The two ex-champs meet Saturday for a rematch, with DAZN broadcasting live,
Warrington is 32-4-1 and had one win in 2025. Wood is 28-4 but hasn't won a fight since defeating Warrington in 2023.
To understand the brusque air between these two, you have to chart a path back before they even met as professionals, to their tenures at the top. Two years younger than his rival, Warrington nevertheless broke out before Wood, a proud West Yorkshireman who worked the circuit like a pro. Boxing has always had a place in this part of the world, but it has been neighbouring Sheffield, just down the M1, that has produced the real stars. Warrington was something different, a genuine local hero for the LS postcode. He could shift five-figure numbers against names nobody had heard of.
When he claimed the IBF featherweight title by split decision against Lee Selby at Elland Road, it marked the summit of a remarkable, hard-earned rise. A string of successive defences seemed to have him primed for unification, before the coronavirus pandemic hit the brakes - and Warrington stumbled. He lost to Mauricio Lara on his return, then saw their rematch cut short as a technical draw. A victory over Kiko Martinez started a second IBF reign. Defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez, however, meant he headed to Sheffield in 2023 knowing that any hope of a third reign would come through Wood.
At the time, Wood was riding high. After setbacks and near-misses, he had inherited the WBA crown from Leo Santo Cruz and regathered it against Mauricio Lara. Warrington fancied his chances, and across the first six rounds, it looked like he would do the job - before Wood caught him flush in the seventh. Both men had plenty of bite for the other afterwards. Warrington felt the result was unfair to his efforts. Wood thought his rival didn't show him enough.
A rematch has bubbled away in the background ever since, but various factors have conspired to keep it on the back burner and away from their fans. Lengthy injury problems left Wood sidelined for long periods. Warrington moved on to other fish a year later, losing to Anto Cacace at Wembley Stadium. 'The Leeds Warrior' was not the only man felled by the Northern Irishman. Wood himself would come up short in a clash with the star last year.
Finally, the stars aligned to bring them back to each other - and when they met late last year for the aforementioned table chat, it was clear grudges remained. Now, this week, they will have the chance to sort their beef. One thing seems certain: This will be the final word in the matter
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Callum Smith to host David Morrell on April 18th |
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Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith defends his WBO interim light heavyweight title against David Morrell on his home turf in Liverpool as part of a huge North-West double for Matchroom Boxing in the UK this April. On Saturday, April 18th, Smith fights in Merseyside for the first time in seven years, with his homecoming set against his dangerous Cuban rival Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) at the M&S Bank Arena. In that time away from home, Smith has valiantly fought on the road against the likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Artur Beterbiev, before a Fight of the Year contender against fellow Brit Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, twelve months ago, which propelled the 35-year old to the WBO interim crown after an outstanding, unanimous decision.
And an eventual shot against world champion Dmitry Bivol is a possibility for the winner – and Smith is confident. “Fighting back in Liverpool is special for me,” said Smith, the former WBA and World Boxing Super Series super middleweight champion. “This is home – there’s nothing like walking out in front of a home crowd that’s supported you from the very start. It gives me a real lift and I plan to give them a big performance. Morrell is a top fighter, but I’m coming into this fight with a clear goal – to win and take another big step towards becoming a two-weight world champion.”
A hungry Morrell, meanwhile, last fought to a narrow, split decision triumph over Iman Khataev in July 2025 – and he is intent on ruining the homecoming party for Smith as he bids to continue his rebound following the only loss of his career to date against the current WBC ruler David Benavidez aboout a year ago. “First, I want to thank God for this opportunity in my career,” said Morrell. I’m excited to showcase my talent in front of the great boxing fans in the UK. I’m preparing for an all-out war with Callum Smith on April 18th. I’m coming for that belt.”
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Callum Smith to host David Morrell on April 18th
Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith defends his WBO interim light heavyweight title against David Morrell on his home turf in Liverpool as part of a huge North-West double for Matchroom Boxing in the UK this April. On Saturday, April 18th, Smith fights in Merseyside for the first time in seven years, with his homecoming set against his dangerous Cuban rival Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) at the M&S Bank Arena. In that time away from home, Smith has valiantly fought on the road against the likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Artur Beterbiev, before a Fight of the Year contender against fellow Brit Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, twelve months ago, which propelled the 35-year old to the WBO interim crown after an outstanding, unanimous decision.
And an eventual shot against world champion Dmitry Bivol is a possibility for the winner – and Smith is confident. “Fighting back in Liverpool is special for me,” said Smith, the former WBA and World Boxing Super Series super middleweight champion. “This is home – there’s nothing like walking out in front of a home crowd that’s supported you from the very start. It gives me a real lift and I plan to give them a big performance. Morrell is a top fighter, but I’m coming into this fight with a clear goal – to win and take another big step towards becoming a two-weight world champion.”
A hungry Morrell, meanwhile, last fought to a narrow, split decision triumph over Iman Khataev in July 2025 – and he is intent on ruining the homecoming party for Smith as he bids to continue his rebound following the only loss of his career to date against the current WBC ruler David Benavidez aboout a year ago. “First, I want to thank God for this opportunity in my career,” said Morrell. I’m excited to showcase my talent in front of the great boxing fans in the UK. I’m preparing for an all-out war with Callum Smith on April 18th. I’m coming for that belt.”
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Sanchez vs. Torrez tops PBC March 28th undercard |
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Three high-stakes showdowns have been added to the PBC pay-per-view event available on Saturday, March 28th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In the previously announced main event, WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora battles former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman. The newly announced fights, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature heavyweight contender Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez taking on unbeaten U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in an IBF final eliminator. The lineup will also feature undefeated middleweight Yoenli Hernandez stepping in against battle-tested U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in a ten-round bout, plus exciting young Elijah Garcia facing veteran super middleweight Kevin Newman II in the ten-round pay-per-view opener.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com. In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“Saturday, March 28 will now feature three more exciting pay-per-view undercard matchups that feature young stars and top contenders going toe-to-toe, with the winners putting themselves in position for world title glory,” said Tom Brown, president of TGB Promotions. “Frank Sanchez has long established himself as a threat to anyone at heavyweight and can re-stake his place toward the top of the division against an undefeated U.S. Olympian in Richard Torrez Jr. Plus sensational Cuban middleweight Yoenli Hernandez takes on his most experienced opponent to date in the always dangerous Terrell Gausha, and Elijah Garcia hopes to make a statement at 168-pounds against the highly-skilled Kevin Newman II rounding out this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video.”
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Sanchez vs. Torrez tops PBC March 28th undercard
Three high-stakes showdowns have been added to the PBC pay-per-view event available on Saturday, March 28th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In the previously announced main event, WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora battles former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman. The newly announced fights, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature heavyweight contender Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez taking on unbeaten U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in an IBF final eliminator. The lineup will also feature undefeated middleweight Yoenli Hernandez stepping in against battle-tested U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in a ten-round bout, plus exciting young Elijah Garcia facing veteran super middleweight Kevin Newman II in the ten-round pay-per-view opener.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com. In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“Saturday, March 28 will now feature three more exciting pay-per-view undercard matchups that feature young stars and top contenders going toe-to-toe, with the winners putting themselves in position for world title glory,” said Tom Brown, president of TGB Promotions. “Frank Sanchez has long established himself as a threat to anyone at heavyweight and can re-stake his place toward the top of the division against an undefeated U.S. Olympian in Richard Torrez Jr. Plus sensational Cuban middleweight Yoenli Hernandez takes on his most experienced opponent to date in the always dangerous Terrell Gausha, and Elijah Garcia hopes to make a statement at 168-pounds against the highly-skilled Kevin Newman II rounding out this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video.”
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Masternak to defend European title vs. Riley |
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Viddal Riley’s credentials as a cruiserweight hopeful will face an acid test when he challenges respected European champion Mateusz Masternak (50-6) on April 4th, live on DAZN. The British domestic champion, Riley takes on Masternak at London’s O2, on the undercard of the Dereck Chisora vs. Deontay Wilder heavyweight showdown. A win over Masternak opens the door to a world title shot for Riley, but he knows the Polish road warrior will push him to the limit when the cruiserweights collide in the capital. Masternak, a former world title challenger and two-time European champion, knows all about British opposition, having traded punches with former cruiserweight kings Tony Bellew and Chris Billiam-Smith. The 38 year-old Masternak rates Riley (13-0) as better than both of those previous domestic opponents but has still vowed to return to Poland with the famous blue belt around his waist.
Riley is under no illusions as to the size of the task in front of him yet expects to take a giant leap towards the top echelons of the sport, with the biggest win of his career. Riley said: “It’s a new dawn. It’s a new chapter. MF PRO is the launch of a new beginning in my career and there’s no better way to enter this stage than with another difficult test. I’ve decided to challenge a seasoned veteran and former world title contender for his EBU cruiserweight title, this is pivotal on the climb into world honours, and I expect a test but one I am more than capable of shining through. Chisora vs Wilder is a massive event and I’m excited to display my skills under my new promotion who are truly invested in assisting me to the top.”
Masternak said: “I’m really pleased this fight is happening. It’s a tough challenge, and in my opinion he’s a better fighter than Billam-Smith — even better than Bellew. I took this fight because I truly believe he’s the best British cruiserweight out there right now. I’m excited to be part of such a big event and to have the chance to perform in front of a large audience. I’m fully motivated and ready — I’m going there to defend my title and bring my belt back home.”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “Strap yourselves in because Viddal Riley is about to take his career to a whole new level. Challenging Masternak, the hardman of the cruiserweight division, officially launches Viddal’s assault towards world titles. A fight with Masternak has been a rite of passage for so many of the best cruiserweights of the last decade or more, and we believe that Viddal is destined to get to the very top. But be under no illusions, there is no easy way to get there and he must be better than he’s ever been before, in order to get past the European champ. The cruiserweight division is one of my favourites in the sport and on April 4, at a packed out O2 and live on DAZN, will we witness to birth of a new star.”
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Masternak to defend European title vs. Riley
Viddal Riley’s credentials as a cruiserweight hopeful will face an acid test when he challenges respected European champion Mateusz Masternak (50-6) on April 4th, live on DAZN. The British domestic champion, Riley takes on Masternak at London’s O2, on the undercard of the Dereck Chisora vs. Deontay Wilder heavyweight showdown. A win over Masternak opens the door to a world title shot for Riley, but he knows the Polish road warrior will push him to the limit when the cruiserweights collide in the capital. Masternak, a former world title challenger and two-time European champion, knows all about British opposition, having traded punches with former cruiserweight kings Tony Bellew and Chris Billiam-Smith. The 38 year-old Masternak rates Riley (13-0) as better than both of those previous domestic opponents but has still vowed to return to Poland with the famous blue belt around his waist.
Riley is under no illusions as to the size of the task in front of him yet expects to take a giant leap towards the top echelons of the sport, with the biggest win of his career. Riley said: “It’s a new dawn. It’s a new chapter. MF PRO is the launch of a new beginning in my career and there’s no better way to enter this stage than with another difficult test. I’ve decided to challenge a seasoned veteran and former world title contender for his EBU cruiserweight title, this is pivotal on the climb into world honours, and I expect a test but one I am more than capable of shining through. Chisora vs Wilder is a massive event and I’m excited to display my skills under my new promotion who are truly invested in assisting me to the top.”
Masternak said: “I’m really pleased this fight is happening. It’s a tough challenge, and in my opinion he’s a better fighter than Billam-Smith — even better than Bellew. I took this fight because I truly believe he’s the best British cruiserweight out there right now. I’m excited to be part of such a big event and to have the chance to perform in front of a large audience. I’m fully motivated and ready — I’m going there to defend my title and bring my belt back home.”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “Strap yourselves in because Viddal Riley is about to take his career to a whole new level. Challenging Masternak, the hardman of the cruiserweight division, officially launches Viddal’s assault towards world titles. A fight with Masternak has been a rite of passage for so many of the best cruiserweights of the last decade or more, and we believe that Viddal is destined to get to the very top. But be under no illusions, there is no easy way to get there and he must be better than he’s ever been before, in order to get past the European champ. The cruiserweight division is one of my favourites in the sport and on April 4, at a packed out O2 and live on DAZN, will we witness to birth of a new star.”
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DAZN wants Ortiz vs. Ennis for April 18th; will do it with or without Golden Boy |
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Edward McCarthy, the chief operating officer of DAZN, submitted the following sworn statement on behalf of Vergil Ortiz, who is seeking to free himself from a contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Ortiz is seeking to sign a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, but Golden Boy obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the deal from going through. A federal court in Nevada is considering whether to extend or dissolve the restraining order, and here is what McCarthy had to say on behalf of the DAZN streaming service:
"DAZN has been in the U.S. market since 2018. Since that time Golden Boy Promotions (“GBP”) has been a party to a series of exclusive distribution agreements with DAZN, wherein DAZN had the right to be the sole broadcaster of boxing events promoted by GBP in the United States. As part of these agreements, DAZN provided GBP with an annual budget for events to be agreed and aired pursuant to the terms of the relevant long-term distribution agreement. Notably, GBP was not DAZN’s sole provider of boxing events. The various agreements between GBP and DAZN did not restrict DAZN from airing events from other promoters. DAZN has [also] worked with a number of other promoters, including Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions, Misfits Boxing and Most Valuable Promotions.
"DAZN’s most recent long-term distribution contract with GBP expired on December 31, 2025, despite DAZN’s offer to extend such long-term distribution contract, whilst the new long-term agreement was finalized and agreed. Since January 1, 2026, there has not been a long-term broadcast distribution relationship between DAZN and GBP, although DAZN aired a GBP-promoted event on January 16th and has contracted to distribute a show on March 14th. These events are 'one off' shows and the parties had and have no commitments to each other beyond those specific events. In the agreement, dated February 17th to broadcast the March 14th event, both DAZN and GBP acknowledged and confirmed this fact.
"Beginning in late 2025, through the present, GBP and DAZN have been discussing terms for a new contract under which the parties could continue their long-term broadcast distribution relationship. To date, GBP and DAZN have not agreed on final terms for such long-term broadcast distribution, although material terms and drafts were well progressed. No contract has been formally agreed, approved or signed by the parties. DAZN is aware that, following the filing of proceedings by Mr. Ortiz against GBP and immediately prior to the recent Court Order, Ortiz was negotiating, and close to executing, an agreement with Matchroom Boxing to fight Ennis on April 18th in an event to air on DAZN. DAZN remains open to seeking to agree and enter into a long-term distribution agreement with GBP on commercially reasonable terms, whether or not GBP has Mr. Ortiz under contract."
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DAZN wants Ortiz vs. Ennis for April 18th; will do it with or without Golden Boy
Edward McCarthy, the chief operating officer of DAZN, submitted the following sworn statement on behalf of Vergil Ortiz, who is seeking to free himself from a contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Ortiz is seeking to sign a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, but Golden Boy obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the deal from going through. A federal court in Nevada is considering whether to extend or dissolve the restraining order, and here is what McCarthy had to say on behalf of the DAZN streaming service:
"DAZN has been in the U.S. market since 2018. Since that time Golden Boy Promotions (“GBP”) has been a party to a series of exclusive distribution agreements with DAZN, wherein DAZN had the right to be the sole broadcaster of boxing events promoted by GBP in the United States. As part of these agreements, DAZN provided GBP with an annual budget for events to be agreed and aired pursuant to the terms of the relevant long-term distribution agreement. Notably, GBP was not DAZN’s sole provider of boxing events. The various agreements between GBP and DAZN did not restrict DAZN from airing events from other promoters. DAZN has [also] worked with a number of other promoters, including Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions, Misfits Boxing and Most Valuable Promotions.
"DAZN’s most recent long-term distribution contract with GBP expired on December 31, 2025, despite DAZN’s offer to extend such long-term distribution contract, whilst the new long-term agreement was finalized and agreed. Since January 1, 2026, there has not been a long-term broadcast distribution relationship between DAZN and GBP, although DAZN aired a GBP-promoted event on January 16th and has contracted to distribute a show on March 14th. These events are 'one off' shows and the parties had and have no commitments to each other beyond those specific events. In the agreement, dated February 17th to broadcast the March 14th event, both DAZN and GBP acknowledged and confirmed this fact.
"Beginning in late 2025, through the present, GBP and DAZN have been discussing terms for a new contract under which the parties could continue their long-term broadcast distribution relationship. To date, GBP and DAZN have not agreed on final terms for such long-term broadcast distribution, although material terms and drafts were well progressed. No contract has been formally agreed, approved or signed by the parties. DAZN is aware that, following the filing of proceedings by Mr. Ortiz against GBP and immediately prior to the recent Court Order, Ortiz was negotiating, and close to executing, an agreement with Matchroom Boxing to fight Ennis on April 18th in an event to air on DAZN. DAZN remains open to seeking to agree and enter into a long-term distribution agreement with GBP on commercially reasonable terms, whether or not GBP has Mr. Ortiz under contract."
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Golden Boy fighting hard to stay involved in potential Ortiz vs. Ennis fight |
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Over the weekend, Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions, submitted a legal declaration in his company's federal lawsuit against Vergil Ortiz, Jr., the star junior middleweight who is seeking to end his promotional contract with Golden Boy and sign for a huge fight against former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis. Here is what Gomez declared: "Notwithstanding Golden Boy’s ongoing [legal] dispute with Ortiz, Golden Boy remains ready and willing to represent Ortiz in negotiating for and promoting a bout between Ortiz and Ennis. Even after Golden Boy discovered that Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, was having direct communications with third parties regarding the fight, Golden Boy remained committed to its representation of Ortiz with respect to the fight. In early January 2026, I exchanged emails with Mirigian articulating Golden Boy’s negotiation position. Also in early January, Golden Boy’s counsel, Ricardo P. Cestero, sent a letter to Ortiz’s counsel, Gregory M. Smith, confirming that Golden Boy offered Ortiz a $3 million guarantee plus upside for the Ennis fight."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
FEB. 14, 2026: On Friday, a federal judge temporarily restrained Vergil Ortiz Jr. from negotiating or signing any deal for a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, granting an emergency restraining order requested by Golden Boy Promotions. The ruling, issued February 13th in federal court in Nevada, freezes Ortiz’s ability to contract with third parties for the Ennis bout while a contract dispute plays out between Golden Boy and Ortiz. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 20th, when both sides will appear for oral arguments. For boxing fans, the decision immediately puts one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the welterweight division on ice. Until the court or an arbitrator says otherwise, Ortiz is barred from making any independent deal for the Ennis fight, keeping control of his next move firmly tied to the legal battle with Golden Boy, his longtime promoter.
Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. He is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders, has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016. In May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional rights agreement that was supposed to run for three years, with guaranteed minimum payments of more than $1 million per fight. At the center of the dispute is a clause tied to Golden Boy’s broadcast relationship with DAZN. That contract with DAZN expired at the end of 2025. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate his agreement with Golden Boy if the promoter no longer had a distribution deal with DAZN—unless Golden Boy already had an “agreement in principle” in place with another broadcaster, or had agreed on all material terms of a new deal and was finalizing paperwork.
Ortiz sent a letter in early January seeking confirmation that the DAZN deal had ended, signaling his intent to terminate his contract. Golden Boy responded that while the formal contract had expired, the company and DAZN had already agreed on the key terms of a new licensing deal for 2026 and 2027 and were exchanging drafts. On that basis, Golden Boy argued Ortiz had no right to walk away.
Ortiz then filed suit, asking the court to declare the contract over. He also accused Golden Boy of breach of contract and interference with his business opportunities. Among Ortiz's claims: that the company undercut chances to maximize his earnings through Saudi-backed sponsorships and interfered with his ability to negotiate future fights. His complaint also points to public statements and actions by Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya, which Ortiz says confused other promoters and the boxing public about who controlled his career.
Golden Boy answered with an emergency motion, telling the court it had learned Ortiz was on the verge of signing a deal with third parties for a fight against Ennis. The company argued that such a move would violate the existing contract and cause irreparable harm—especially by damaging broadcast negotiations and business relationships that cannot simply be repaired with money later. The judge agreed with Golden Boy and granted the temporary restraining order, barring Ortiz, his managers, and representatives from negotiating or entering into any third-party contracts for the Ennis bout. The court emphasized that the order is meant to preserve the “status quo” while the dispute is resolved.
Legally, the case is also complicated by an arbitration clause in the contract that staes that any disputes should be handled through arbitration in Las Vegas. Golden Boy has already started arbitration proceedings, accusing Ortiz of breaching the agreement and interfering with its broadcast relationships. The court made clear that the restraining order does not decide who is right—it simply prevents irreversible business moves before arbitration and further court hearings take place.
From a boxing standpoint, the impact is immediate. Ortiz vs. Ennis is widely viewed as one of the most meaningful fights available in the division—a matchup of two elite, undefeated fighters in their prime. The ruling doesn’t kill the fight, but it removes Ortiz’s ability to make it happen independently. For now, the business has overtaken the sport. The February 20th court date will be the next step in deciding whether this freeze continues or changes, but until then, Ortiz’s future—and the Ennis fight—remains locked in a courtroom rather than a ring.
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Golden Boy fighting hard to stay involved in potential Ortiz vs. Ennis fight
Over the weekend, Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions, submitted a legal declaration in his company's federal lawsuit against Vergil Ortiz, Jr., the star junior middleweight who is seeking to end his promotional contract with Golden Boy and sign for a huge fight against former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis. Here is what Gomez declared: "Notwithstanding Golden Boy’s ongoing [legal] dispute with Ortiz, Golden Boy remains ready and willing to represent Ortiz in negotiating for and promoting a bout between Ortiz and Ennis. Even after Golden Boy discovered that Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, was having direct communications with third parties regarding the fight, Golden Boy remained committed to its representation of Ortiz with respect to the fight. In early January 2026, I exchanged emails with Mirigian articulating Golden Boy’s negotiation position. Also in early January, Golden Boy’s counsel, Ricardo P. Cestero, sent a letter to Ortiz’s counsel, Gregory M. Smith, confirming that Golden Boy offered Ortiz a $3 million guarantee plus upside for the Ennis fight."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
FEB. 14, 2026: On Friday, a federal judge temporarily restrained Vergil Ortiz Jr. from negotiating or signing any deal for a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, granting an emergency restraining order requested by Golden Boy Promotions. The ruling, issued February 13th in federal court in Nevada, freezes Ortiz’s ability to contract with third parties for the Ennis bout while a contract dispute plays out between Golden Boy and Ortiz. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 20th, when both sides will appear for oral arguments. For boxing fans, the decision immediately puts one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the welterweight division on ice. Until the court or an arbitrator says otherwise, Ortiz is barred from making any independent deal for the Ennis fight, keeping control of his next move firmly tied to the legal battle with Golden Boy, his longtime promoter.
Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. He is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders, has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016. In May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional rights agreement that was supposed to run for three years, with guaranteed minimum payments of more than $1 million per fight. At the center of the dispute is a clause tied to Golden Boy’s broadcast relationship with DAZN. That contract with DAZN expired at the end of 2025. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate his agreement with Golden Boy if the promoter no longer had a distribution deal with DAZN—unless Golden Boy already had an “agreement in principle” in place with another broadcaster, or had agreed on all material terms of a new deal and was finalizing paperwork.
Ortiz sent a letter in early January seeking confirmation that the DAZN deal had ended, signaling his intent to terminate his contract. Golden Boy responded that while the formal contract had expired, the company and DAZN had already agreed on the key terms of a new licensing deal for 2026 and 2027 and were exchanging drafts. On that basis, Golden Boy argued Ortiz had no right to walk away.
Ortiz then filed suit, asking the court to declare the contract over. He also accused Golden Boy of breach of contract and interference with his business opportunities. Among Ortiz's claims: that the company undercut chances to maximize his earnings through Saudi-backed sponsorships and interfered with his ability to negotiate future fights. His complaint also points to public statements and actions by Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya, which Ortiz says confused other promoters and the boxing public about who controlled his career.
Golden Boy answered with an emergency motion, telling the court it had learned Ortiz was on the verge of signing a deal with third parties for a fight against Ennis. The company argued that such a move would violate the existing contract and cause irreparable harm—especially by damaging broadcast negotiations and business relationships that cannot simply be repaired with money later. The judge agreed with Golden Boy and granted the temporary restraining order, barring Ortiz, his managers, and representatives from negotiating or entering into any third-party contracts for the Ennis bout. The court emphasized that the order is meant to preserve the “status quo” while the dispute is resolved.
Legally, the case is also complicated by an arbitration clause in the contract that staes that any disputes should be handled through arbitration in Las Vegas. Golden Boy has already started arbitration proceedings, accusing Ortiz of breaching the agreement and interfering with its broadcast relationships. The court made clear that the restraining order does not decide who is right—it simply prevents irreversible business moves before arbitration and further court hearings take place.
From a boxing standpoint, the impact is immediate. Ortiz vs. Ennis is widely viewed as one of the most meaningful fights available in the division—a matchup of two elite, undefeated fighters in their prime. The ruling doesn’t kill the fight, but it removes Ortiz’s ability to make it happen independently. For now, the business has overtaken the sport. The February 20th court date will be the next step in deciding whether this freeze continues or changes, but until then, Ortiz’s future—and the Ennis fight—remains locked in a courtroom rather than a ring.
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MVP announces MMA event: Rousey vs. Carano |
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Ronda Rousey is back, and she’s ready to return to combat sports. Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix announced the mixed martial arts event that will be headlined by the return of former UFC champion and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey (12-2, 9 submissions, 3 KOs), who’ll compete in her first fight in nearly a decade against fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano (7-1, 1 submission, 3 KOs). The five-round fight will take place on May 16th at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast and MVP’s inaugural MMA event. Each round will last five minutes, as is typical in MMA. The bout will be contested with a 145-pound weight limit inside a hexagon cage. It will stream live globally on Netflix at no additional cost to subscribers.
“After the record-breaking success in boxing, we wanted our first MMA event to be truly legendary,” Gabe Spitzer, Netflix VP of Sports, says. “These are more than just athletes — they are generational stars, and having them headline our MMA debut at the Intuit Dome is a defining moment for us.”
Rousey shattered the glass ceiling for women’s MMA during a record-setting run from 2011to 2016. An Olympic medalist in judo, Rousey racked up several submission and TKO/KO victories, many of which came within one minute of start time. After a dominant reign as UFC bantamweight champion, Rousey catapulted the WWE women’s division toward its first WrestleMania main event in history. Her star power is also on display via appearances in both the Fast and the Furious and The Expendables franchises.
“Been waiting so long to announce this,” Rousey tells Netflix. “Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest superfight in women’s combat sport history, and we’re partnering with the fighter-first promoter, MVP, as well as the baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present, and future.”
It’s no coincidence that Rousey’s return will be against another legend of the sport. Carano says, “Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it’s been her dream to make this fight happen between us.”
Carano is one of the first combat sports stars to cross over into the entertainment industry after her MMA tear from 2006 to 2009 — a time before women were invited to compete in the UFC. Carano’s marketability and mainstream appeal outside of fighting led to an acting career. She earned major roles in Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian. She also headlined the first major MMA main event to feature two women in 2009, a landmark moment for the sport.
Though Rousey and Carano are preparing to come to blows, they share a mutual appreciation and admiration. “She thanked me for opening up doors for her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen,” Carano recalls. “This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and I as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”
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MVP announces MMA event: Rousey vs. Carano
Ronda Rousey is back, and she’s ready to return to combat sports. Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix announced the mixed martial arts event that will be headlined by the return of former UFC champion and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey (12-2, 9 submissions, 3 KOs), who’ll compete in her first fight in nearly a decade against fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano (7-1, 1 submission, 3 KOs). The five-round fight will take place on May 16th at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking Netflix’s first-ever live MMA broadcast and MVP’s inaugural MMA event. Each round will last five minutes, as is typical in MMA. The bout will be contested with a 145-pound weight limit inside a hexagon cage. It will stream live globally on Netflix at no additional cost to subscribers.
“After the record-breaking success in boxing, we wanted our first MMA event to be truly legendary,” Gabe Spitzer, Netflix VP of Sports, says. “These are more than just athletes — they are generational stars, and having them headline our MMA debut at the Intuit Dome is a defining moment for us.”
Rousey shattered the glass ceiling for women’s MMA during a record-setting run from 2011to 2016. An Olympic medalist in judo, Rousey racked up several submission and TKO/KO victories, many of which came within one minute of start time. After a dominant reign as UFC bantamweight champion, Rousey catapulted the WWE women’s division toward its first WrestleMania main event in history. Her star power is also on display via appearances in both the Fast and the Furious and The Expendables franchises.
“Been waiting so long to announce this,” Rousey tells Netflix. “Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest superfight in women’s combat sport history, and we’re partnering with the fighter-first promoter, MVP, as well as the baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present, and future.”
It’s no coincidence that Rousey’s return will be against another legend of the sport. Carano says, “Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it’s been her dream to make this fight happen between us.”
Carano is one of the first combat sports stars to cross over into the entertainment industry after her MMA tear from 2006 to 2009 — a time before women were invited to compete in the UFC. Carano’s marketability and mainstream appeal outside of fighting led to an acting career. She earned major roles in Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, and The Mandalorian. She also headlined the first major MMA main event to feature two women in 2009, a landmark moment for the sport.
Though Rousey and Carano are preparing to come to blows, they share a mutual appreciation and admiration. “She thanked me for opening up doors for her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen,” Carano recalls. “This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and I as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”
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Leo vs. Aleem purse bid results |
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The IBF held a purse bid today for featherweight champion Angelo Leo’s mandatory defense against Ra’eese Aleem. The winning bid was in the amount of $227,100 and was submitted by Aleem’s promoter, Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions. Under IBF rules, Manny Pacquiao Promotions must hold the fight within ninety days. Aleem is 23-1 and is riding a streak of three straight high-quality wins since a split decision loss to Sam Goodman in Goodman’s native Australia. Aleem’s last outing was a unanimous decision road win over previously undefeated Mikito Nakano in Tokyo last November. Leo, from New Mexico, is a two-division champion with a 26-1 pro record. He won the title by knocking out the favored Luis Alberto Lopez in 2024. Leo defended his title only once since then, defeating Tomoki Kameda in Japan in May. Leo's only career loss was to then-WBO 122-pound champion Stephen Fulton in 2021.
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Leo vs. Aleem purse bid results
The IBF held a purse bid today for featherweight champion Angelo Leo’s mandatory defense against Ra’eese Aleem. The winning bid was in the amount of $227,100 and was submitted by Aleem’s promoter, Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions. Under IBF rules, Manny Pacquiao Promotions must hold the fight within ninety days. Aleem is 23-1 and is riding a streak of three straight high-quality wins since a split decision loss to Sam Goodman in Goodman’s native Australia. Aleem’s last outing was a unanimous decision road win over previously undefeated Mikito Nakano in Tokyo last November. Leo, from New Mexico, is a two-division champion with a 26-1 pro record. He won the title by knocking out the favored Luis Alberto Lopez in 2024. Leo defended his title only once since then, defeating Tomoki Kameda in Japan in May. Leo's only career loss was to then-WBO 122-pound champion Stephen Fulton in 2021.
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Zuffa Boxing and the unattended gate |
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History provides an important lesson that boxing entities would be wise to heed: history is unkind to incumbents who mistake possession for permanence. Kodak invented digital photography. It held the patents. It had the brand. It had the distribution. But it protected the old model while the marketplace shifted beneath it. The future did not defeat Kodak-- it bypassed it. In 1940, France built the Maginot Line — a masterpiece of fortification designed to prevent the last war from repeating itself. Germany did not attack it head-on. It went around it. Strength was not absent. The map had changed.
Boxing today does not lack firepower. The sanctioning bodies operate across seventeen or eighteen weight divisions (if you count bridgerweight), with regional titles, international rankings, and decades of recognition. Promoters hold television relationships, capital, and global infrastructure. On paper, the walls are intact. And yet the challenger speaks as though the perimeter is empty.
When Zuffa Boxing's Dana White recently described entering boxing as “like taking candy from a baby,” the phrasing was blunt. But beneath it was something more revealing than bravado: surprise at the absence of coordinated resistance.
Surprise that criticism arrived individually, not collectively.
Surprise that no unified articulation of the existing system’s strengths materialized.
The debate has centered on a single number: three percent.
Three percent is what the four major sanctioning bodies charge boxers fighting for their title. Thefee is visible. It appears on a purse sheet. It can be pointed to, simplified, and criticized. But markets tend to reveal what arguments miss.
When Francis Ngannou stepped into the ring against Tyson Fury, the purse reflected open negotiation. When Conor McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr., the upside behaved differently than it does inside a centralized promotional contract. When Nate Diaz crossed over to face Jake Paul, the marketplace again demonstrated that flexibility has value. These were not sentimental exhibitions. They were economic decisions.
At the highest level of boxing, one night can generate earnings that many fighters in centralized systems will not approach across years. This is not a comment on toughness. It is a reflection of structure. The toll booth is easy to see.
Ownership of the highway is not. In boxing’s decentralized model, elite fighters negotiate independently. They can secure outside sponsorships. They can move between promoters. They can climb through regional titles toward larger opportunities. The system is imperfect and fragmented — but it is plural.
Zuffa’s model is centralized. Fewer divisions. One promotional ecosystem. Advancement defined internally. Commercial presentation standardized. Contracts that often span dozens of pages and define the entire economic relationship. Contracts do not grow to thirty-six pages by accident. They expand because contingencies are defined. Extension triggers clarified. Exclusivity reinforced. Dispute forums specified. In industries that have faced significant litigation and regulatory scrutiny, drafting becomes meticulous.
Length, by itself, is not the issue. Leverage is. Under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, fighters operating in the United States retain statutory avenues to challenge certain promotional and sanctioning actions. That leverage exists outside the contract. If Congress revises the law in a manner that formally deems a centralized promotional model compliant, which is the case here, judicial review narrows. Courts interpret statutes; they do not rewrite them. Once compliance is codified, the perimeter shifts.
That is not a moral claim. It is an institutional one. Which brings the conversation back to the gate... The sanctioning bodies and major promoters possess a compelling counterargument to the 3% narrative. They can point to independent negotiation. They can point to crossover paydays. They can point to statutory protections. They can point to plural pathways and regional ladders that allow mobility. The arguments exist... The numbers exist... The precedent exists.
And yet... there has been no unified articulation of those strengths. History suggests that incumbents rarely lose because they lack resources. They lose because they defend the wrong terrain — or fail to defend it together. Fortresses are not surrendered when the walls collapse. They are surrendered when no one is certain who is standing watch. And when this chapter of the sport is revisited, it may not speak of conquest. It may not speak of sudden collapse. It may simply remember a moment when the gates stood open — and someone, almost incredulously, given the unattended gate, described the entry as “like taking candy from a baby.”
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Zuffa Boxing and the unattended gate
History provides an important lesson that boxing entities would be wise to heed: history is unkind to incumbents who mistake possession for permanence. Kodak invented digital photography. It held the patents. It had the brand. It had the distribution. But it protected the old model while the marketplace shifted beneath it. The future did not defeat Kodak-- it bypassed it. In 1940, France built the Maginot Line — a masterpiece of fortification designed to prevent the last war from repeating itself. Germany did not attack it head-on. It went around it. Strength was not absent. The map had changed.
Boxing today does not lack firepower. The sanctioning bodies operate across seventeen or eighteen weight divisions (if you count bridgerweight), with regional titles, international rankings, and decades of recognition. Promoters hold television relationships, capital, and global infrastructure. On paper, the walls are intact. And yet the challenger speaks as though the perimeter is empty.
When Zuffa Boxing's Dana White recently described entering boxing as “like taking candy from a baby,” the phrasing was blunt. But beneath it was something more revealing than bravado: surprise at the absence of coordinated resistance.
Surprise that criticism arrived individually, not collectively.
Surprise that no unified articulation of the existing system’s strengths materialized.
The debate has centered on a single number: three percent.
Three percent is what the four major sanctioning bodies charge boxers fighting for their title. Thefee is visible. It appears on a purse sheet. It can be pointed to, simplified, and criticized. But markets tend to reveal what arguments miss.
When Francis Ngannou stepped into the ring against Tyson Fury, the purse reflected open negotiation. When Conor McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr., the upside behaved differently than it does inside a centralized promotional contract. When Nate Diaz crossed over to face Jake Paul, the marketplace again demonstrated that flexibility has value. These were not sentimental exhibitions. They were economic decisions.
At the highest level of boxing, one night can generate earnings that many fighters in centralized systems will not approach across years. This is not a comment on toughness. It is a reflection of structure. The toll booth is easy to see.
Ownership of the highway is not. In boxing’s decentralized model, elite fighters negotiate independently. They can secure outside sponsorships. They can move between promoters. They can climb through regional titles toward larger opportunities. The system is imperfect and fragmented — but it is plural.
Zuffa’s model is centralized. Fewer divisions. One promotional ecosystem. Advancement defined internally. Commercial presentation standardized. Contracts that often span dozens of pages and define the entire economic relationship. Contracts do not grow to thirty-six pages by accident. They expand because contingencies are defined. Extension triggers clarified. Exclusivity reinforced. Dispute forums specified. In industries that have faced significant litigation and regulatory scrutiny, drafting becomes meticulous.
Length, by itself, is not the issue. Leverage is. Under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, fighters operating in the United States retain statutory avenues to challenge certain promotional and sanctioning actions. That leverage exists outside the contract. If Congress revises the law in a manner that formally deems a centralized promotional model compliant, which is the case here, judicial review narrows. Courts interpret statutes; they do not rewrite them. Once compliance is codified, the perimeter shifts.
That is not a moral claim. It is an institutional one. Which brings the conversation back to the gate... The sanctioning bodies and major promoters possess a compelling counterargument to the 3% narrative. They can point to independent negotiation. They can point to crossover paydays. They can point to statutory protections. They can point to plural pathways and regional ladders that allow mobility. The arguments exist... The numbers exist... The precedent exists.
And yet... there has been no unified articulation of those strengths. History suggests that incumbents rarely lose because they lack resources. They lose because they defend the wrong terrain — or fail to defend it together. Fortresses are not surrendered when the walls collapse. They are surrendered when no one is certain who is standing watch. And when this chapter of the sport is revisited, it may not speak of conquest. It may not speak of sudden collapse. It may simply remember a moment when the gates stood open — and someone, almost incredulously, given the unattended gate, described the entry as “like taking candy from a baby.”
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Report: Ryan Garcia has some weight to lose |
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WBC welterweight champion, Mario “Azteca” Barrios, will face Ryan Garcia this coming February 21st at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) gained the WBC interim title in 2023 by defeating Yordenis Ugás and defending it against Fabián Maidana. He was then elevated to WBC full champion following Terence Crawford’s departure from the division. His last two defenses ended in draws: first against Abel Ramos in November 2024 and, most recently, this past July against the Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao. Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) seeks redemption after a turbulent year. Garcia returns to the ring following a defeat against Rolando Romero last May. Both warriors passed the WBC's seven-day pre-fight weigh-in, but one more readily than the other. On or before Feb. 14th, with a looming weight limit of 147 pounds, Barrios tipped the scales at 150.6, while Garcia registered 159.4 pounds.
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Report: Ryan Garcia has some weight to lose
WBC welterweight champion, Mario “Azteca” Barrios, will face Ryan Garcia this coming February 21st at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) gained the WBC interim title in 2023 by defeating Yordenis Ugás and defending it against Fabián Maidana. He was then elevated to WBC full champion following Terence Crawford’s departure from the division. His last two defenses ended in draws: first against Abel Ramos in November 2024 and, most recently, this past July against the Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao. Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) seeks redemption after a turbulent year. Garcia returns to the ring following a defeat against Rolando Romero last May. Both warriors passed the WBC's seven-day pre-fight weigh-in, but one more readily than the other. On or before Feb. 14th, with a looming weight limit of 147 pounds, Barrios tipped the scales at 150.6, while Garcia registered 159.4 pounds.
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Mario Barrios training camp update |
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WBC welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) is in the final stretch of training camp ahead of his twelve-round title defense against Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs). The bout headlines on Saturday, February 21st at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promoted by TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be available worldwide on DAZN, either as part of a subscription or as a pay-per-view add-on. Barrios has been locked in at training camp since December of 2025, under the guidance of new trainer, Hall of Fame coach, Joe Goossen, whose legendary career continues to shape championship fighters. Barrios emphasized that Goossen's attention to detail and championship mentality have been crucial in preparing for a high-risk, high-reward fight. “Working with Joe Goossen has brought a whole new level to my game,” said Barrios. “His experience, the way he sees the ring, it’s been a huge advantage. Every session, he’s pushing me to refine my strengths and fix every small mistake. I’ve grown more as a fighter in this camp and I’m ready to bring a war to Ryan Garcia.”
On his upcoming challenge against the explosive Ryan Garcia, Barrios remains confident yet respectful. “I give Ryan credit—he’s fast, he’s dangerous, and he’s hungry,” Barrios stated. “But I’ve been in deep waters before, and I know how to stay composed and break my opponents down. This fight is about proving that I’m not just a champion—I’m one of the best in the world at 147. Garcia has power, but I’ve seen it all in the ring. I’m ready to go through fire to keep what’s mine.”
Barrios is the reigning WBC welterweight champion. Initially an interim champ, he was elevated to full champion status in 2024, following victories over Yordenis Ugas and Fabian Maidana. “Defending this title means everything to me,” said Barrios. “I fought my way back to the top, and now that I’m champion, this belt is staying home with me. Every round, every second, I’ll be fighting like a man whose entire spirit is in that ring—like everything I am is on the line.”
Representing San Antonio, Texas, Barrios knows this bout is more than just a title defense—it’s a career-defining moment. “This is bigger than just another fight—this is another opportunity to cement my legacy,” Barrios concluded. “I’m representing my city, my family, and every person who’s believed in me since day one. When I step into that ring, I carry San Antonio on my back—and I’m leaving with my hand raised. A win on February 21 isn’t just another victory—it’s a message to the entire boxing world, I’m here to stay.”
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Mario Barrios training camp update
WBC welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) is in the final stretch of training camp ahead of his twelve-round title defense against Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs). The bout headlines on Saturday, February 21st at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promoted by TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be available worldwide on DAZN, either as part of a subscription or as a pay-per-view add-on. Barrios has been locked in at training camp since December of 2025, under the guidance of new trainer, Hall of Fame coach, Joe Goossen, whose legendary career continues to shape championship fighters. Barrios emphasized that Goossen's attention to detail and championship mentality have been crucial in preparing for a high-risk, high-reward fight. “Working with Joe Goossen has brought a whole new level to my game,” said Barrios. “His experience, the way he sees the ring, it’s been a huge advantage. Every session, he’s pushing me to refine my strengths and fix every small mistake. I’ve grown more as a fighter in this camp and I’m ready to bring a war to Ryan Garcia.”
On his upcoming challenge against the explosive Ryan Garcia, Barrios remains confident yet respectful. “I give Ryan credit—he’s fast, he’s dangerous, and he’s hungry,” Barrios stated. “But I’ve been in deep waters before, and I know how to stay composed and break my opponents down. This fight is about proving that I’m not just a champion—I’m one of the best in the world at 147. Garcia has power, but I’ve seen it all in the ring. I’m ready to go through fire to keep what’s mine.”
Barrios is the reigning WBC welterweight champion. Initially an interim champ, he was elevated to full champion status in 2024, following victories over Yordenis Ugas and Fabian Maidana. “Defending this title means everything to me,” said Barrios. “I fought my way back to the top, and now that I’m champion, this belt is staying home with me. Every round, every second, I’ll be fighting like a man whose entire spirit is in that ring—like everything I am is on the line.”
Representing San Antonio, Texas, Barrios knows this bout is more than just a title defense—it’s a career-defining moment. “This is bigger than just another fight—this is another opportunity to cement my legacy,” Barrios concluded. “I’m representing my city, my family, and every person who’s believed in me since day one. When I step into that ring, I carry San Antonio on my back—and I’m leaving with my hand raised. A win on February 21 isn’t just another victory—it’s a message to the entire boxing world, I’m here to stay.”
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Arutyunyan and Samedov win interim belts in Russia |
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Vartan Arutyunyan TKO6 Georgiy Yunovidov... On Saturday night at the Traktor Ice Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia, Armenia’s Vartan Arutyunyan stopped hometown titleholder Georgiy Yunovidov in the sixth round to capture the WBA interim bridgerweight title. Yunovidov (12-3 including IBA pro fights) really wasn't much of a champion, as he was coming off a loss to a little-known heavyweight but was allowed to keep his 224-pound title by the WBA. Yunovidov opened the bout boxing behind technique and range, looking to control distance and tempo. But Arutyunyan disrupted that rhythm early, pressing forward with intent and forcing exchanges that favored his heavier artillery. The turning point came in the fifth round. A sharp combination from Arutyunyan dropped the defending champion, shifting momentum dramatically. Although Yunovidov rose to finish the frame, the fight had clearly swung in the challenger’s direction. At the start of the sixth, Arutyunyan came out with urgency. He backed Yunovidov to the ropes and unleashed a barrage of punishing hooks. With the Russian offering little in return and absorbing clean, unanswered shots, the referee stepped in to wave it off. The win positions Arutyunyan on a direct collision course with the division’s regular champion, Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.
Elnur Samedov TKO11 John Lennon Gutierrez... As part of the same show, hometown fighter Elnur Samedov claimed the WBA interim junior lightweight title with an eleventh-round TKO over Colombia’s John Lennon Gutierrez in a grueling battle defined by pace, persistence, and punishment. From the opening bell, Samedov set a suffocating tempo. He cut off the ring with precision and forced the taller Colombian to fight at close quarters. Gutierrez tried to establish distance behind his reach advantage, but the Russian’s relentless pressure began breaking him down by the middle rounds. The first major breakthrough came in the seventh. Samedov detonated a sharp combination that sent Gutierrez to the canvas for the first time. To his credit, the Colombian rose and showed tremendous grit, remaining competitive over the next few rounds despite absorbing heavy fire. But in the eleventh, the dam finally broke. Samedov unleashed a sustained assault, scoring another knockdown and trapping Gutierrez along the ropes with unanswered shots. Seeing no effective return and with the challenger defenseless, the referee stepped in to halt the contest. With the victory, Samedov improves to 22-1 while Gutierrez falls to 11-1 in his European debut.
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Arutyunyan and Samedov win interim belts in Russia
Vartan Arutyunyan TKO6 Georgiy Yunovidov... On Saturday night at the Traktor Ice Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia, Armenia’s Vartan Arutyunyan stopped hometown titleholder Georgiy Yunovidov in the sixth round to capture the WBA interim bridgerweight title. Yunovidov (12-3 including IBA pro fights) really wasn't much of a champion, as he was coming off a loss to a little-known heavyweight but was allowed to keep his 224-pound title by the WBA. Yunovidov opened the bout boxing behind technique and range, looking to control distance and tempo. But Arutyunyan disrupted that rhythm early, pressing forward with intent and forcing exchanges that favored his heavier artillery. The turning point came in the fifth round. A sharp combination from Arutyunyan dropped the defending champion, shifting momentum dramatically. Although Yunovidov rose to finish the frame, the fight had clearly swung in the challenger’s direction. At the start of the sixth, Arutyunyan came out with urgency. He backed Yunovidov to the ropes and unleashed a barrage of punishing hooks. With the Russian offering little in return and absorbing clean, unanswered shots, the referee stepped in to wave it off. The win positions Arutyunyan on a direct collision course with the division’s regular champion, Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.
Elnur Samedov TKO11 John Lennon Gutierrez... As part of the same show, hometown fighter Elnur Samedov claimed the WBA interim junior lightweight title with an eleventh-round TKO over Colombia’s John Lennon Gutierrez in a grueling battle defined by pace, persistence, and punishment. From the opening bell, Samedov set a suffocating tempo. He cut off the ring with precision and forced the taller Colombian to fight at close quarters. Gutierrez tried to establish distance behind his reach advantage, but the Russian’s relentless pressure began breaking him down by the middle rounds. The first major breakthrough came in the seventh. Samedov detonated a sharp combination that sent Gutierrez to the canvas for the first time. To his credit, the Colombian rose and showed tremendous grit, remaining competitive over the next few rounds despite absorbing heavy fire. But in the eleventh, the dam finally broke. Samedov unleashed a sustained assault, scoring another knockdown and trapping Gutierrez along the ropes with unanswered shots. Seeing no effective return and with the challenger defenseless, the referee stepped in to halt the contest. With the victory, Samedov improves to 22-1 while Gutierrez falls to 11-1 in his European debut.
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Gabriela Tellez to face Calista Silgado on Friday |
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Boxlab Promotions’ lightweight Gabriela Tellez (6-0, 2 KOs), just wrapped up training camp as she gears up for the biggest fight of her young career. Tellez will face veteran power-puncher Calista Silgado (22-20-4, 16 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round bout on Friday, February 20th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The action-packed event will stream live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. For Tellez, this isn’t just another fight — it’s an opportunity to announce herself as a serious force in the lightweight division. Tellez held her training camp in San Antonio, Texas under the guidance of head coach Arturo Ramos and her father, Martin Tellez. Speaking on her preparation, Tellez emphasized that the structure and discipline in camp have her feeling stronger and more confident than ever heading into her first 10-round title fight.
“This has been the most intense camp of my career,” said Tellez. “Working with coach Arturo Ramos and my dad in San Antonio pushed me mentally and physically. We focused on sharpening every detail, my footwork, my conditioning, my combinations. I’m not just coming in to win…I’m coming in to dominate. This camp was about preparing to make a statement.”
Tellez understands that Silgado brings experience and knockout power into the ring, but she sees the matchup as the perfect test at the right time. Tellez believes Silgado’s veteran presence will bring out the best in her. “Calista has experience and she’s faced tough competition. Sixteen knockouts shows she can punch,” Tellez said. “But experience doesn’t win fights by itself. Hunger does. Discipline does. I respect what she’s done in the sport, but this is my time. I’m younger, I’m sharper, and I’m evolving every fight. I’m ready for this level. Fighting someone like her motivates me. This is the kind of opponent that proves where you really belong. I’m ready to show that I belong at the top.”
At just 6-0, Tellez knows that a victory on February 20th could accelerate her rise in the lightweight rankings. She closed with a message to fans tuning in worldwide. “A win here changes everything,” said Tellez confidently. “It puts my name in the conversation. It shows I can go 10 rounds, handle a veteran, and perform under pressure. After this fight, people won’t just see me as a prospect, they’ll see me as a contender. On February 20th, I’m going to show the world exactly who Gabriela Tellez is. I’m hungry, I’m focused, and I’m coming to take that title.”
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Gabriela Tellez to face Calista Silgado on Friday
Boxlab Promotions’ lightweight Gabriela Tellez (6-0, 2 KOs), just wrapped up training camp as she gears up for the biggest fight of her young career. Tellez will face veteran power-puncher Calista Silgado (22-20-4, 16 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round bout on Friday, February 20th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The action-packed event will stream live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. For Tellez, this isn’t just another fight — it’s an opportunity to announce herself as a serious force in the lightweight division. Tellez held her training camp in San Antonio, Texas under the guidance of head coach Arturo Ramos and her father, Martin Tellez. Speaking on her preparation, Tellez emphasized that the structure and discipline in camp have her feeling stronger and more confident than ever heading into her first 10-round title fight.
“This has been the most intense camp of my career,” said Tellez. “Working with coach Arturo Ramos and my dad in San Antonio pushed me mentally and physically. We focused on sharpening every detail, my footwork, my conditioning, my combinations. I’m not just coming in to win…I’m coming in to dominate. This camp was about preparing to make a statement.”
Tellez understands that Silgado brings experience and knockout power into the ring, but she sees the matchup as the perfect test at the right time. Tellez believes Silgado’s veteran presence will bring out the best in her. “Calista has experience and she’s faced tough competition. Sixteen knockouts shows she can punch,” Tellez said. “But experience doesn’t win fights by itself. Hunger does. Discipline does. I respect what she’s done in the sport, but this is my time. I’m younger, I’m sharper, and I’m evolving every fight. I’m ready for this level. Fighting someone like her motivates me. This is the kind of opponent that proves where you really belong. I’m ready to show that I belong at the top.”
At just 6-0, Tellez knows that a victory on February 20th could accelerate her rise in the lightweight rankings. She closed with a message to fans tuning in worldwide. “A win here changes everything,” said Tellez confidently. “It puts my name in the conversation. It shows I can go 10 rounds, handle a veteran, and perform under pressure. After this fight, people won’t just see me as a prospect, they’ll see me as a contender. On February 20th, I’m going to show the world exactly who Gabriela Tellez is. I’m hungry, I’m focused, and I’m coming to take that title.”
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Henry Stewart picks up easy win in Virginia |
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Henry Stewart TKO2 Ulisses Jimenez Munoz... USA-based Canadian Henry Stewart had no trouble defeating Mexico's Ulisses Jimenez Munoz on Saturday in Richmond. Munoz, age 42, is 1-6 over the past two years and 25-39-1 overall. The 31 year-old Stewart stopped Munoz in two rounds of cruiserweight action. With the victory Stewart improved his professional record to 8-0. The fight headlined a show promoted by Game Related Sports Agency.
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Henry Stewart picks up easy win in Virginia
Henry Stewart TKO2 Ulisses Jimenez Munoz... USA-based Canadian Henry Stewart had no trouble defeating Mexico's Ulisses Jimenez Munoz on Saturday in Richmond. Munoz, age 42, is 1-6 over the past two years and 25-39-1 overall. The 31 year-old Stewart stopped Munoz in two rounds of cruiserweight action. With the victory Stewart improved his professional record to 8-0. The fight headlined a show promoted by Game Related Sports Agency.
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Welcome to Barrios vs. Garcia fight week: discount tickets available |
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Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia meet in Las Vegas this Saturday, and 50%-off tickets are available for this WBC welterweight championship match-up. Set to take place at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, Barrios will bid to extend his reign as WBC champion following his majority draw with Manny Pacquiao. But Garcia, seeking a first world strap, will hope he can get the job done after he came up short against Rolly Romero in his last outing. The fight will be streamed live and exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view and Ultimate Tier DAZN has teamed up with AXS, the official ticket provider, to offer customers a unique discount to attend this clash. Right now, fans can enjoy 50% off tickets for Barrios versus Garcia. Click here to get 50% off tickets, using the code DAZN50.
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Welcome to Barrios vs. Garcia fight week: discount tickets available
Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia meet in Las Vegas this Saturday, and 50%-off tickets are available for this WBC welterweight championship match-up. Set to take place at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, Barrios will bid to extend his reign as WBC champion following his majority draw with Manny Pacquiao. But Garcia, seeking a first world strap, will hope he can get the job done after he came up short against Rolly Romero in his last outing. The fight will be streamed live and exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view and Ultimate Tier DAZN has teamed up with AXS, the official ticket provider, to offer customers a unique discount to attend this clash. Right now, fans can enjoy 50% off tickets for Barrios versus Garcia. Click here to get 50% off tickets, using the code DAZN50.
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Ajagba stops Martin in four |
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Efe Ajagba TKO4 Charles Martin... In Zuffa Boxing's main event from Las Vegas, Nigerian heavyweight Efe Ajagba calmly dismantled former IBF champion Charles Martin in just four rounds. Martin started out with a slick one-two as he showed off his speed in the early moments, then used his quickness to counter effectively as the round wore on. But, as the round came to a close, Ajagba started to find a home for his shots as Martin got his first taste of "The Silent Roller's" heavy punch power. Martin boxed smartly from the outside through the second round, scoring frequently as Ajagba tried to walk him down to throw big shots. Then, late in the round, Martin briefly seemed to stun Ajagba with a well-timed left cross, but despite a crisp follow-up combination, he couldn't quite make the breakthrough as the round came to a close.
The bout exploded into life in the third. Martin was boxing well and scoring from the outside, and had connected with a couple of solid left hands when Ajagba stepped in and dropped him hard with a big right hand. Martin beat the count, but looked far from steady on his feet as the bout resumed. But, despite looking close to being finished, Martin showed guts and determination to survive the round.
Ajagba picked up in the fourth where he left off in the third as he stalked Martin around the ring, landing big shots. Another right hand dropped Martin once again and, after the American managed beat the count again, Ajagba eventually forced referee Thomas Taylor to step in after another barrage of heavy shots found their mark. The finish gave Ajagba his 15th career stoppage victory as he improved his record to 21-1-1 to put the rest of the heavyweight division on notice.
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Ajagba stops Martin in four
Efe Ajagba TKO4 Charles Martin... In Zuffa Boxing's main event from Las Vegas, Nigerian heavyweight Efe Ajagba calmly dismantled former IBF champion Charles Martin in just four rounds. Martin started out with a slick one-two as he showed off his speed in the early moments, then used his quickness to counter effectively as the round wore on. But, as the round came to a close, Ajagba started to find a home for his shots as Martin got his first taste of "The Silent Roller's" heavy punch power. Martin boxed smartly from the outside through the second round, scoring frequently as Ajagba tried to walk him down to throw big shots. Then, late in the round, Martin briefly seemed to stun Ajagba with a well-timed left cross, but despite a crisp follow-up combination, he couldn't quite make the breakthrough as the round came to a close.
The bout exploded into life in the third. Martin was boxing well and scoring from the outside, and had connected with a couple of solid left hands when Ajagba stepped in and dropped him hard with a big right hand. Martin beat the count, but looked far from steady on his feet as the bout resumed. But, despite looking close to being finished, Martin showed guts and determination to survive the round.
Ajagba picked up in the fourth where he left off in the third as he stalked Martin around the ring, landing big shots. Another right hand dropped Martin once again and, after the American managed beat the count again, Ajagba eventually forced referee Thomas Taylor to step in after another barrage of heavy shots found their mark. The finish gave Ajagba his 15th career stoppage victory as he improved his record to 21-1-1 to put the rest of the heavyweight division on notice.
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Watch: Dzambekov gets highlight reel KO of Elibali |
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Umar Dzambekov KO2 Ahmed Elbiali... At Zuffa Boxing 03 in Las Vegas, undefeated Austrian light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov scored a jaw-dropping knockout of Egyptian-American Ahmed Elbiali. Dzambekov quickly settled into his work in the opening round, and in the second he exploded with a huge knockout. Dzambekov had already found his mark with a body shot when Elbiali stepped in, looking to find an answer. But all he found was a colossal upper cut from Dzambekov that knocked Elbiali out cold from the moment it landed. Elbiali needed a little time to regain consciousness before being able to sit up. After extending his perfect professional record to 14-0 with his tenth career knockout, Dzambekov said he was ready to take on whatever challenges the Zuffa Boxing matchmakers throw his way. After a win like that, it's sure to be must-see TV, regardless of the opponent.
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Watch: Dzambekov gets highlight reel KO of Elibali
Umar Dzambekov KO2 Ahmed Elbiali... At Zuffa Boxing 03 in Las Vegas, undefeated Austrian light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov scored a jaw-dropping knockout of Egyptian-American Ahmed Elbiali. Dzambekov quickly settled into his work in the opening round, and in the second he exploded with a huge knockout. Dzambekov had already found his mark with a body shot when Elbiali stepped in, looking to find an answer. But all he found was a colossal upper cut from Dzambekov that knocked Elbiali out cold from the moment it landed. Elbiali needed a little time to regain consciousness before being able to sit up. After extending his perfect professional record to 14-0 with his tenth career knockout, Dzambekov said he was ready to take on whatever challenges the Zuffa Boxing matchmakers throw his way. After a win like that, it's sure to be must-see TV, regardless of the opponent.
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Zuffa Boxing 03 undercard results |
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Jaybrio Pe Benito TKO3 Abel Mejia... Undefeated lightweights went head-to-head in the main card opener and served up a spectacular finish as Jaybrio Pe Benito made a mockery of his underdog status to stop Abel Mejia in the third round. Pe Benito showcased his hand speed from the opening bell, and connected with some solid shots early as he used his quickness to consistently beat Mejia to the punch. And, with Mejia stepping in to go toe to toe in a bid to impose himself in the second round, Pe Benito timed a superb short left hook to put Mejia down and onto the seat of his pants right at the end of the round. Mejia came out of the corner for round three looking to re-establish himself, and the pair quickly got involved in another heavy-handed exchange. And, just as we saw at the end of the second round, Pe Benito stood firm, planted his feet, and answered with a huge shot. This time it was a huge right hand that spun Mejia's jaw and sent him down the canvas. Mejia gamely beat the count, but the referee saw that he was in no position to continue and mercifully waved off the contest 48 seconds into the round to spark wild scenes as Pe Benito celebrated a TKO victory. Pe Benito's finish improved his career record to 7-0, with five knockouts as he handed Mejia the first defeat of his career to send him home with his record reading 10-1.
Leo Ruiz TKO4 Casey Streeter ... Experienced middleweights went head to head in the final preliminary card matchup of the night, as Leo Ruiz claimed a fourth-round TKO victory over Casey Streeter in their eight-round 157-pound catchweight matchup. Streeter focused on speed and volume as he worked several multi-punch combinations through the opening rounds, while Mexico's Ruiz looked to dip and duck into range before ripping hard to the body and coming upstairs with clubbing shots. Following a tactical adjustment from his corner, Streeter started Round 3 looking to stay on the outside, but it appeared to have a detrimental effect on the Portland, Maine fighter's effectiveness, as he found himself out of range for his combinations. But, once he stepped back in and started to land his work again, Ruiz loaded up and hurt Streeter badly as he came close to finishing the fight. After a tough third round, Streeter's corner told him in no uncertain terms that if he continued to get clipped hard, he'd be pulled out of the fight, but in the end, it was the referee who made the decision before the corner. Ruiz loaded up and cracked Streeter with a huge straight right, and the official decided he'd seen enough and waved off the fight at the 1:23 mark of Round 4. Ruiz's fight-ending punch was his 100th shot to Streeter's head over those four punishing rounds. It gave Ruiz the ninth stoppage victory of his career as he improved his record to 17-1.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS Texas middleweight Mark Beuke battled all the way to the scorecards with Antonio Woods (14-2) to claim the biggest win of his career. Beuke, whose three career defeats came via either split- or majority decision, battled to the final bell to earn a split-decision verdict that fell in his favor. After eight hard-fought rounds, the judges were called into action to decide the victor, and it was Beuke who got the nod, with the scorecards reading 77-75, 75-77, 77-75 to give the Texan a 13-3 record and extend his active win streak to ten fights.
Undefeated Mexican lightweight Oswaldo Molina used his physical advantages to great effect as he pitched a shutout on the scorecards to comprehensively outbox nineteen-year old Joshua Clark in their six-round lightweight contest. Molina is now 9-0.
Eighteen-year-old Mexican Emiliano Alvarado showed potential as he claimed a fourth round victory over New Jersey's Devin Gantt in their 122-pound matchup. The matchup was Alvarado's first bout against a southpaw, and a thumping left hook to the body quickly told the teenager he would have to keep his defenses in check against Gantt, who started aggressively and outstruck the Mexican through the first three minutes. Alvarado turned up the pressure in the fourth round as he forced Gantt backward with more heavy punches. Gantt attempted to stem the tide with some stiff shots of his own, but he was unable to halt the Mexican's relentless attacks. Eventually, an overwhelmed Gantt took an eight count from the referee and, when asked if he could continue, admitted that he could not. The bout was promptly waved off at the 1:24 mark, with Alvarado claiming the 10th win of his professional career.
In the opening bout of the night, undefeated Russian lightweight Dariial Kuchmenov extended his perfect professional record to 10-0 with a fourth-round TKO victory over Mexico's Jorge Lagunas (19-8)
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Zuffa Boxing 03 undercard results
Jaybrio Pe Benito TKO3 Abel Mejia... Undefeated lightweights went head-to-head in the main card opener and served up a spectacular finish as Jaybrio Pe Benito made a mockery of his underdog status to stop Abel Mejia in the third round. Pe Benito showcased his hand speed from the opening bell, and connected with some solid shots early as he used his quickness to consistently beat Mejia to the punch. And, with Mejia stepping in to go toe to toe in a bid to impose himself in the second round, Pe Benito timed a superb short left hook to put Mejia down and onto the seat of his pants right at the end of the round. Mejia came out of the corner for round three looking to re-establish himself, and the pair quickly got involved in another heavy-handed exchange. And, just as we saw at the end of the second round, Pe Benito stood firm, planted his feet, and answered with a huge shot. This time it was a huge right hand that spun Mejia's jaw and sent him down the canvas. Mejia gamely beat the count, but the referee saw that he was in no position to continue and mercifully waved off the contest 48 seconds into the round to spark wild scenes as Pe Benito celebrated a TKO victory. Pe Benito's finish improved his career record to 7-0, with five knockouts as he handed Mejia the first defeat of his career to send him home with his record reading 10-1.
Leo Ruiz TKO4 Casey Streeter ... Experienced middleweights went head to head in the final preliminary card matchup of the night, as Leo Ruiz claimed a fourth-round TKO victory over Casey Streeter in their eight-round 157-pound catchweight matchup. Streeter focused on speed and volume as he worked several multi-punch combinations through the opening rounds, while Mexico's Ruiz looked to dip and duck into range before ripping hard to the body and coming upstairs with clubbing shots. Following a tactical adjustment from his corner, Streeter started Round 3 looking to stay on the outside, but it appeared to have a detrimental effect on the Portland, Maine fighter's effectiveness, as he found himself out of range for his combinations. But, once he stepped back in and started to land his work again, Ruiz loaded up and hurt Streeter badly as he came close to finishing the fight. After a tough third round, Streeter's corner told him in no uncertain terms that if he continued to get clipped hard, he'd be pulled out of the fight, but in the end, it was the referee who made the decision before the corner. Ruiz loaded up and cracked Streeter with a huge straight right, and the official decided he'd seen enough and waved off the fight at the 1:23 mark of Round 4. Ruiz's fight-ending punch was his 100th shot to Streeter's head over those four punishing rounds. It gave Ruiz the ninth stoppage victory of his career as he improved his record to 17-1.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS Texas middleweight Mark Beuke battled all the way to the scorecards with Antonio Woods (14-2) to claim the biggest win of his career. Beuke, whose three career defeats came via either split- or majority decision, battled to the final bell to earn a split-decision verdict that fell in his favor. After eight hard-fought rounds, the judges were called into action to decide the victor, and it was Beuke who got the nod, with the scorecards reading 77-75, 75-77, 77-75 to give the Texan a 13-3 record and extend his active win streak to ten fights.
Undefeated Mexican lightweight Oswaldo Molina used his physical advantages to great effect as he pitched a shutout on the scorecards to comprehensively outbox nineteen-year old Joshua Clark in their six-round lightweight contest. Molina is now 9-0.
Eighteen-year-old Mexican Emiliano Alvarado showed potential as he claimed a fourth round victory over New Jersey's Devin Gantt in their 122-pound matchup. The matchup was Alvarado's first bout against a southpaw, and a thumping left hook to the body quickly told the teenager he would have to keep his defenses in check against Gantt, who started aggressively and outstruck the Mexican through the first three minutes. Alvarado turned up the pressure in the fourth round as he forced Gantt backward with more heavy punches. Gantt attempted to stem the tide with some stiff shots of his own, but he was unable to halt the Mexican's relentless attacks. Eventually, an overwhelmed Gantt took an eight count from the referee and, when asked if he could continue, admitted that he could not. The bout was promptly waved off at the 1:24 mark, with Alvarado claiming the 10th win of his professional career.
In the opening bout of the night, undefeated Russian lightweight Dariial Kuchmenov extended his perfect professional record to 10-0 with a fourth-round TKO victory over Mexico's Jorge Lagunas (19-8)
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Tonight: Ajagba looks to erase bad memories of Bakole draw |
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Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba is still smarting from his controversial draw in his last fight. Now he’s ready to step through the ropes and make a statement at Zuffa Boxing 03. Ajagba is in Las Vegas for his Zuffa Boxing debut where he’ll take on Charles Martin in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 03 at the Meta Apex on February 15th. It’s a chance for Ajagba to put things right after he battled to a majority draw with Martin Bakole last May in a fight many believed Ajagba had done enough to win. Prior to that fight in Riyadh, Ajagba had won five straight to take his career record to 20-1. And while he has a loss on his record from earlier in his career, the draw with Bakole still sticks in his craw, and he’s determined to put it firmly in the rearview mirror with a big performance against Martin on Sunday night.
'Everybody knows that I won my last fight,” he stated. “But we move forward to this fight, and I all can think of is sticking to my gameplan and stuff like that. I’ve been working hard in training camp, in sparring, all that stuff. So my main focus is to just go to the ring and do what I’ve got to do.”
Ajagba thought his plan had worked out well against Bakole, as he used his movement to keep his heavier, less mobile opponent guessing as he made a great start to the matchup. But, as the rounds started to mount up, Ajagba started to slow in the closing rounds, which allowed Bakole enough of an opening to claim enough rounds in the judges’ eyes to earn a draw.
As far as Ajagba saw it, it was a solid execution of his pre-fight plan, and was only let down by the scoring. “My gameplan was perfect,” he said. “Everything we did in that fight was moving around, because the guy loves to fight, he loves to punch. He’s a big guy, so of course, he doesn’t want to move. He wanted me to stand in front of him to fight. My game plan was just to move, move, move; punch, punch, punch. But, at the end of the day, they made the fight a draw. It’s a disappointing result (but) I have to take it. It is what it is.”
Now with his record reading 20-1-1, with 14 knockouts, Ajagba is set to showcase his skills against 35-fight veteran Martin, who hasn’t fought since 2024. As a former IBF champion, Martin has plenty of pedigree, but Ajagba said he’ll just have too much for the American on fight night. “He’s not a tough opponent, but he’s a former champion. So, he’s fought a lot of great fighters, but at the same time, he lost… When he steps into the ring with me, it’s gonna be another defeat for him. That’s it.”
Ajagba knows he has the power to give Martin problems, but he said he wouldn’t go chasing the knockout. Instead, he said he’ll stick to his plan, and the knockout will eventually come. “Sometimes you don’t think about the knockout. I just go in there (and) do my thing,” he said. “Start with the jab to see his reaction, to see his weakness, and then just find his weakness – that’s what a boxer is looking for. When you see the weakness, that’s when you’re going to finish them off. So, my gameplan is just touch him, touch him, touch him. Whatever is hurting him, I can finish him off from there. That’s how the knockout comes.”
With Ajagba determined to rebound from his scorecard woe last time out, and with a former world champion standing across the ring from him, all the ingredients are in place for an exciting fight as “The Silent Roller” looks to let his fists do the talking.
But he did leave us with a quick rallying call to boxing fans to make sure they’re in front of a screen when he steps through the ropes on Sunday night. “You don’t want to miss this fight,” he said. “Buy your ticket, sit on your chair and you’ll be entertained – trust me. This is gonna be a great fight.”
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Tonight: Ajagba looks to erase bad memories of Bakole draw
Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba is still smarting from his controversial draw in his last fight. Now he’s ready to step through the ropes and make a statement at Zuffa Boxing 03. Ajagba is in Las Vegas for his Zuffa Boxing debut where he’ll take on Charles Martin in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 03 at the Meta Apex on February 15th. It’s a chance for Ajagba to put things right after he battled to a majority draw with Martin Bakole last May in a fight many believed Ajagba had done enough to win. Prior to that fight in Riyadh, Ajagba had won five straight to take his career record to 20-1. And while he has a loss on his record from earlier in his career, the draw with Bakole still sticks in his craw, and he’s determined to put it firmly in the rearview mirror with a big performance against Martin on Sunday night.
'Everybody knows that I won my last fight,” he stated. “But we move forward to this fight, and I all can think of is sticking to my gameplan and stuff like that. I’ve been working hard in training camp, in sparring, all that stuff. So my main focus is to just go to the ring and do what I’ve got to do.”
Ajagba thought his plan had worked out well against Bakole, as he used his movement to keep his heavier, less mobile opponent guessing as he made a great start to the matchup. But, as the rounds started to mount up, Ajagba started to slow in the closing rounds, which allowed Bakole enough of an opening to claim enough rounds in the judges’ eyes to earn a draw.
As far as Ajagba saw it, it was a solid execution of his pre-fight plan, and was only let down by the scoring. “My gameplan was perfect,” he said. “Everything we did in that fight was moving around, because the guy loves to fight, he loves to punch. He’s a big guy, so of course, he doesn’t want to move. He wanted me to stand in front of him to fight. My game plan was just to move, move, move; punch, punch, punch. But, at the end of the day, they made the fight a draw. It’s a disappointing result (but) I have to take it. It is what it is.”
Now with his record reading 20-1-1, with 14 knockouts, Ajagba is set to showcase his skills against 35-fight veteran Martin, who hasn’t fought since 2024. As a former IBF champion, Martin has plenty of pedigree, but Ajagba said he’ll just have too much for the American on fight night. “He’s not a tough opponent, but he’s a former champion. So, he’s fought a lot of great fighters, but at the same time, he lost… When he steps into the ring with me, it’s gonna be another defeat for him. That’s it.”
Ajagba knows he has the power to give Martin problems, but he said he wouldn’t go chasing the knockout. Instead, he said he’ll stick to his plan, and the knockout will eventually come. “Sometimes you don’t think about the knockout. I just go in there (and) do my thing,” he said. “Start with the jab to see his reaction, to see his weakness, and then just find his weakness – that’s what a boxer is looking for. When you see the weakness, that’s when you’re going to finish them off. So, my gameplan is just touch him, touch him, touch him. Whatever is hurting him, I can finish him off from there. That’s how the knockout comes.”
With Ajagba determined to rebound from his scorecard woe last time out, and with a former world champion standing across the ring from him, all the ingredients are in place for an exciting fight as “The Silent Roller” looks to let his fists do the talking.
But he did leave us with a quick rallying call to boxing fans to make sure they’re in front of a screen when he steps through the ropes on Sunday night. “You don’t want to miss this fight,” he said. “Buy your ticket, sit on your chair and you’ll be entertained – trust me. This is gonna be a great fight.”
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Court Temporarily Blocks Ortiz From Negotiating Ennis Fight as Golden Boy Wins TRO |
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A federal judge has temporarily restrained Vergil Ortiz Jr. from negotiating or signing any deal for a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, granting an emergency restraining order requested by Golden Boy Promotions. The ruling, issued February 13th in federal court in Nevada, freezes Ortiz’s ability to contract with third parties for the Ennis bout while a contract dispute plays out between Golden Boy and Ortiz. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 20th, when both sides will appear for oral arguments. For boxing fans, the decision immediately puts one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the welterweight division on ice. Until the court or an arbitrator says otherwise, Ortiz is barred from making any independent deal for the Ennis fight, keeping control of his next move firmly tied to the legal battle with Golden Boy, his longtime promoter.
Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. He is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders, has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016. In May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional rights agreement that was supposed to run for three years, with guaranteed minimum payments of more than $1 million per fight. At the center of the dispute is a clause tied to Golden Boy’s broadcast relationship with DAZN. That contract with DAZN expired at the end of 2025. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate his agreement with Golden Boy if the promoter no longer had a distribution deal with DAZN—unless Golden Boy already had an “agreement in principle” in place with another broadcaster, or had agreed on all material terms of a new deal and was finalizing paperwork.
Ortiz sent a letter in early January seeking confirmation that the DAZN deal had ended, signaling his intent to terminate his contract. Golden Boy responded that while the formal contract had expired, the company and DAZN had already agreed on the key terms of a new licensing deal for 2026 and 2027 and were exchanging drafts. On that basis, Golden Boy argued Ortiz had no right to walk away.
Ortiz then filed suit, asking the court to declare the contract over. He also accused Golden Boy of breach of contract and interference with his business opportunities. Among Ortiz's claims: that the company undercut chances to maximize his earnings through Saudi-backed sponsorships and interfered with his ability to negotiate future fights. His complaint also points to public statements and actions by Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya, which Ortiz says confused other promoters and the boxing public about who controlled his career.
Golden Boy answered with an emergency motion, telling the court it had learned Ortiz was on the verge of signing a deal with third parties for a fight against Ennis. The company argued that such a move would violate the existing contract and cause irreparable harm—especially by damaging broadcast negotiations and business relationships that cannot simply be repaired with money later. The judge agreed with Golden Boy and granted the temporary restraining order, barring Ortiz, his managers, and representatives from negotiating or entering into any third-party contracts for the Ennis bout. The court emphasized that the order is meant to preserve the “status quo” while the dispute is resolved.
Legally, the case is also complicated by an arbitration clause in the contract that staes that any disputes should be handled through arbitration in Las Vegas. Golden Boy has already started arbitration proceedings, accusing Ortiz of breaching the agreement and interfering with its broadcast relationships. The court made clear that the restraining order does not decide who is right—it simply prevents irreversible business moves before arbitration and further court hearings take place.
From a boxing standpoint, the impact is immediate. Ortiz vs. Ennis is widely viewed as one of the most meaningful fights available in the division—a matchup of two elite, undefeated fighters in their prime. The ruling doesn’t kill the fight, but it removes Ortiz’s ability to make it happen independently. For now, the business has overtaken the sport. The February 20th court date will be the next step in deciding whether this freeze continues or changes, but until then, Ortiz’s future—and the Ennis fight—remains locked in a courtroom rather than a ring.
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Court Temporarily Blocks Ortiz From Negotiating Ennis Fight as Golden Boy Wins TRO
A federal judge has temporarily restrained Vergil Ortiz Jr. from negotiating or signing any deal for a fight with former welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, granting an emergency restraining order requested by Golden Boy Promotions. The ruling, issued February 13th in federal court in Nevada, freezes Ortiz’s ability to contract with third parties for the Ennis bout while a contract dispute plays out between Golden Boy and Ortiz. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 20th, when both sides will appear for oral arguments. For boxing fans, the decision immediately puts one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the welterweight division on ice. Until the court or an arbitrator says otherwise, Ortiz is barred from making any independent deal for the Ennis fight, keeping control of his next move firmly tied to the legal battle with Golden Boy, his longtime promoter.
Ortiz is the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. He is one of the sport’s top undefeated contenders, has been promoted by Golden Boy since 2016. In May 2024, the two sides signed a new promotional rights agreement that was supposed to run for three years, with guaranteed minimum payments of more than $1 million per fight. At the center of the dispute is a clause tied to Golden Boy’s broadcast relationship with DAZN. That contract with DAZN expired at the end of 2025. Under the terms of Ortiz’s deal, he could terminate his agreement with Golden Boy if the promoter no longer had a distribution deal with DAZN—unless Golden Boy already had an “agreement in principle” in place with another broadcaster, or had agreed on all material terms of a new deal and was finalizing paperwork.
Ortiz sent a letter in early January seeking confirmation that the DAZN deal had ended, signaling his intent to terminate his contract. Golden Boy responded that while the formal contract had expired, the company and DAZN had already agreed on the key terms of a new licensing deal for 2026 and 2027 and were exchanging drafts. On that basis, Golden Boy argued Ortiz had no right to walk away.
Ortiz then filed suit, asking the court to declare the contract over. He also accused Golden Boy of breach of contract and interference with his business opportunities. Among Ortiz's claims: that the company undercut chances to maximize his earnings through Saudi-backed sponsorships and interfered with his ability to negotiate future fights. His complaint also points to public statements and actions by Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya, which Ortiz says confused other promoters and the boxing public about who controlled his career.
Golden Boy answered with an emergency motion, telling the court it had learned Ortiz was on the verge of signing a deal with third parties for a fight against Ennis. The company argued that such a move would violate the existing contract and cause irreparable harm—especially by damaging broadcast negotiations and business relationships that cannot simply be repaired with money later. The judge agreed with Golden Boy and granted the temporary restraining order, barring Ortiz, his managers, and representatives from negotiating or entering into any third-party contracts for the Ennis bout. The court emphasized that the order is meant to preserve the “status quo” while the dispute is resolved.
Legally, the case is also complicated by an arbitration clause in the contract that staes that any disputes should be handled through arbitration in Las Vegas. Golden Boy has already started arbitration proceedings, accusing Ortiz of breaching the agreement and interfering with its broadcast relationships. The court made clear that the restraining order does not decide who is right—it simply prevents irreversible business moves before arbitration and further court hearings take place.
From a boxing standpoint, the impact is immediate. Ortiz vs. Ennis is widely viewed as one of the most meaningful fights available in the division—a matchup of two elite, undefeated fighters in their prime. The ruling doesn’t kill the fight, but it removes Ortiz’s ability to make it happen independently. For now, the business has overtaken the sport. The February 20th court date will be the next step in deciding whether this freeze continues or changes, but until then, Ortiz’s future—and the Ennis fight—remains locked in a courtroom rather than a ring.
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Tonight: ex-champ Martin returns for first fight since 2024 |
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Former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin has been around the block more than a few times, but he’s ready to explore a new avenue with Zuffa Boxing. Martin has been away from the ring for more than a year. But when the opportunity arose to get back into active competition with Zuffa Boxing, he leapt at the chance. “It means everything, man,” said a grateful Martin.“I’m very thankful for Dana White and Zuffa Boxing for putting on these amazing fights, starting something amazing (and) giving back to the guys like me that’s at the end of my career. I could have been done, and it would have been over without the help of him. So, I'm very thankful.”
Martin’s new career opportunity means guaranteed fights, and that’s something he hasn’t been too accustomed to over the last decade of his career. “It means everything, for the most part, because I finally got a fight scheduled. They actually give me something to look forward to,” he explained. “Back when I was with traditional boxing, it was kind of like you fight, and then you're unemployed for two years, so it's hard to be motivated and stay in the gym and stay in shape. So, with this being said, I'm gonna stay in shape, man. You know, I'm a high performance Ferrari car so, you know, we're gonna keep it that way.”
Martin may have been away from the ring, but he’s been rebuilding himself as an athlete. Now aged 39, he knows more than ever the importance of staying in shape, particularly as a heavyweight, and he’s put in countless hours in the gym to ensure that he has arrived in Las Vegas for fight week in tip-top form. “It’s always like that. It’s an up and downhill battle, not knowing when's your next time to get back out there and perform. So that was always a struggle for me,” he said.“But, as I get older, I'm realizing, like, hey, health is wealth, you know? I mean, I stay in shape, I eat healthy. So it kind of ties into what I do for a living. So, yeah, it made it that much easier. For instance, this camp, I came in 70 percent in shape. So that made a world of a difference (compared to) when I’d came in at 272 pounds before fights and I’ve gotta fight the scale and train. It’s f***ing hard.
“The last year I've been training. I've been lifting weights all year (and) doing cardio, so it's easy, man. This camp was a breeze. I remember back when I was like an amateur and how things used to just flow, and I could go right into a fight and execute. I feel like that again… I take accountability fully for everything that happens in my life, because I'm the captain of the ship. This is what it is, and this is me standing here right now today, and I'm just thankful, and I'm gonna keep putting in the work until I hang them up.”
It’s a refreshing mindset from an athlete who is fully aware of his advancing age in the context of his career but has made key changes to give himself the best possible chance of success. The new and improved Martin will step into the ring at the Meta APEX on Sunday night when he headlines against hard-hitting Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba in a matchup that could move the winner towards a shot for the Zuffa heavyweight title further down the line.
As comeback fights go, it’s anything but a tune-up, but it’s a challenge Martin is clearly relishing. “He’s good, dude. But you know, he's just in front of me, and I got to keep moving forward. So with that being said, we go in there, seek and destroy, man. Happy hunting.”
As for the hunt itself, Martin has his plan all mapped out, and it finishes with a knockout, and his hand being raised in victory. "I'm just gonna systematically break him down,” he predicted. “I got a lot of tools in my arsenal, so break him down and get him out of there. We don't plan on going 10 rounds, so we gonna make this a knockout. I gotta get this knockout, a spectacular knockout, because I want all the bonuses, I want all the good shit, I want all the praise, and I want the big fights.”
Martin is confident he can get all of the above, based on the tools he’ll carry into battle on Sunday night. With 27 of his 30 career wins coming by knockout, the punch power is certainly there. But now, with Martin newly dedicated to his fitness and speed, he said he’ll enter the Meta APEX as dangerous as he’s ever been in his professional career.
“I’m so light on my feet, man. I’m like a cruiserweight in a heavyweight body,” he explained. “I'm 255 pounds, but I'm definitely moving like a cruiserweight, and I'm cracking like a heavyweight, so that’s a great combination. You can't hit what you can't see. (I’m) very fleet footed, light on my feet, and I'm punching hard, so y’all get ready, man. Stay tuned.”
Martin has been working on his mindset through reading philosophy, which has given him a fresh perspective on his career. But he’s also more than aware that for any pro fighter to have any sort of success, you still have to put in the hard yards in the gym. On that side of things, he’s confident he’ll step into the ring without any rustiness from his time away.
“Oh, ring rust? Well, I got 129 rounds of sparring in the bank, so I doubt if I have any ring rest,” he smiled. “I'm gonna go in there and get the pop in that jab, and moving and sticking and moving and looking. One thing about it, man, when you got a nice arsenal, you have a lot of tools. So I'm really gonna just make the man miss, and then I'll be able to make him pay. Once I know I can make you miss, I'll make you pay. I guarantee I'll make you pay!”
Martin’s return to the ring offers him the chance to win some new fans, while reminding some of his old ones that he’s still got plenty to offer at the sharp end of the heavyweight division.
“’He's back, and he's better than ever.’ You know what I mean?” he grinned. “I'm focused, I'm older. See, a lot of times, the window shuts on people. You get too old and the window shuts. I was blessed enough, you know, God, genetics, whatever you want to call it, but you know, I'm here, and I have all the knowledge of a 40-year-old man in a 29-year-old body.
“It's a blessing, man. This ain't me. This is God, man. This is destiny, and this is the vehicle that’s gonna get me to where I want to go in life. I have a lot of plans that I want to do and a lot of people that I need to help.”
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Tonight: ex-champ Martin returns for first fight since 2024
Former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin has been around the block more than a few times, but he’s ready to explore a new avenue with Zuffa Boxing. Martin has been away from the ring for more than a year. But when the opportunity arose to get back into active competition with Zuffa Boxing, he leapt at the chance. “It means everything, man,” said a grateful Martin.“I’m very thankful for Dana White and Zuffa Boxing for putting on these amazing fights, starting something amazing (and) giving back to the guys like me that’s at the end of my career. I could have been done, and it would have been over without the help of him. So, I'm very thankful.”
Martin’s new career opportunity means guaranteed fights, and that’s something he hasn’t been too accustomed to over the last decade of his career. “It means everything, for the most part, because I finally got a fight scheduled. They actually give me something to look forward to,” he explained. “Back when I was with traditional boxing, it was kind of like you fight, and then you're unemployed for two years, so it's hard to be motivated and stay in the gym and stay in shape. So, with this being said, I'm gonna stay in shape, man. You know, I'm a high performance Ferrari car so, you know, we're gonna keep it that way.”
Martin may have been away from the ring, but he’s been rebuilding himself as an athlete. Now aged 39, he knows more than ever the importance of staying in shape, particularly as a heavyweight, and he’s put in countless hours in the gym to ensure that he has arrived in Las Vegas for fight week in tip-top form. “It’s always like that. It’s an up and downhill battle, not knowing when's your next time to get back out there and perform. So that was always a struggle for me,” he said.“But, as I get older, I'm realizing, like, hey, health is wealth, you know? I mean, I stay in shape, I eat healthy. So it kind of ties into what I do for a living. So, yeah, it made it that much easier. For instance, this camp, I came in 70 percent in shape. So that made a world of a difference (compared to) when I’d came in at 272 pounds before fights and I’ve gotta fight the scale and train. It’s f***ing hard.
“The last year I've been training. I've been lifting weights all year (and) doing cardio, so it's easy, man. This camp was a breeze. I remember back when I was like an amateur and how things used to just flow, and I could go right into a fight and execute. I feel like that again… I take accountability fully for everything that happens in my life, because I'm the captain of the ship. This is what it is, and this is me standing here right now today, and I'm just thankful, and I'm gonna keep putting in the work until I hang them up.”
It’s a refreshing mindset from an athlete who is fully aware of his advancing age in the context of his career but has made key changes to give himself the best possible chance of success. The new and improved Martin will step into the ring at the Meta APEX on Sunday night when he headlines against hard-hitting Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba in a matchup that could move the winner towards a shot for the Zuffa heavyweight title further down the line.
As comeback fights go, it’s anything but a tune-up, but it’s a challenge Martin is clearly relishing. “He’s good, dude. But you know, he's just in front of me, and I got to keep moving forward. So with that being said, we go in there, seek and destroy, man. Happy hunting.”
As for the hunt itself, Martin has his plan all mapped out, and it finishes with a knockout, and his hand being raised in victory. "I'm just gonna systematically break him down,” he predicted. “I got a lot of tools in my arsenal, so break him down and get him out of there. We don't plan on going 10 rounds, so we gonna make this a knockout. I gotta get this knockout, a spectacular knockout, because I want all the bonuses, I want all the good shit, I want all the praise, and I want the big fights.”
Martin is confident he can get all of the above, based on the tools he’ll carry into battle on Sunday night. With 27 of his 30 career wins coming by knockout, the punch power is certainly there. But now, with Martin newly dedicated to his fitness and speed, he said he’ll enter the Meta APEX as dangerous as he’s ever been in his professional career.
“I’m so light on my feet, man. I’m like a cruiserweight in a heavyweight body,” he explained. “I'm 255 pounds, but I'm definitely moving like a cruiserweight, and I'm cracking like a heavyweight, so that’s a great combination. You can't hit what you can't see. (I’m) very fleet footed, light on my feet, and I'm punching hard, so y’all get ready, man. Stay tuned.”
Martin has been working on his mindset through reading philosophy, which has given him a fresh perspective on his career. But he’s also more than aware that for any pro fighter to have any sort of success, you still have to put in the hard yards in the gym. On that side of things, he’s confident he’ll step into the ring without any rustiness from his time away.
“Oh, ring rust? Well, I got 129 rounds of sparring in the bank, so I doubt if I have any ring rest,” he smiled. “I'm gonna go in there and get the pop in that jab, and moving and sticking and moving and looking. One thing about it, man, when you got a nice arsenal, you have a lot of tools. So I'm really gonna just make the man miss, and then I'll be able to make him pay. Once I know I can make you miss, I'll make you pay. I guarantee I'll make you pay!”
Martin’s return to the ring offers him the chance to win some new fans, while reminding some of his old ones that he’s still got plenty to offer at the sharp end of the heavyweight division.
“’He's back, and he's better than ever.’ You know what I mean?” he grinned. “I'm focused, I'm older. See, a lot of times, the window shuts on people. You get too old and the window shuts. I was blessed enough, you know, God, genetics, whatever you want to call it, but you know, I'm here, and I have all the knowledge of a 40-year-old man in a 29-year-old body.
“It's a blessing, man. This ain't me. This is God, man. This is destiny, and this is the vehicle that’s gonna get me to where I want to go in life. I have a lot of plans that I want to do and a lot of people that I need to help.”
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Maihemut gets cruiserweight win in Thailand |
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Muhetaer Maihemut TKO1 Nattapon Plangpimai ... At the Bazaar Hotel in Bangkok, Chinese cruiserweight Muhetaer Maihemut (11-6-1) defeated local fighter Nattapon Plangpimai (24-7) to become the OPBF cruiserweight champion. The card, presented by promoter Wang Fei, lived up to expectations by delivering a very quick finish. Maihemut came out determined to end the fight from the opening bell and the Thai fighter’s resistance was brief against the visitor’s momentum. With a combination, Maihemut managed stopped Plangpimai just 1 minute and 47 seconds into the first round. The referee declared a technical knockout upon seeing that the Thai fighter could not continue.
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Maihemut gets cruiserweight win in Thailand
Muhetaer Maihemut TKO1 Nattapon Plangpimai ... At the Bazaar Hotel in Bangkok, Chinese cruiserweight Muhetaer Maihemut (11-6-1) defeated local fighter Nattapon Plangpimai (24-7) to become the OPBF cruiserweight champion. The card, presented by promoter Wang Fei, lived up to expectations by delivering a very quick finish. Maihemut came out determined to end the fight from the opening bell and the Thai fighter’s resistance was brief against the visitor’s momentum. With a combination, Maihemut managed stopped Plangpimai just 1 minute and 47 seconds into the first round. The referee declared a technical knockout upon seeing that the Thai fighter could not continue.
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