Santiago remains unified champ with another road win |
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Rene Santiago W12 Masataka Taniguchi... Puerto Rico's René “El Chulo” Santiago fadded to his legacy as a Japanese spoiler by successfully defending his unified WBA and WBO light flyweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Masataka Taniguchi. The high-level tactical battle took place Friday, April 3rd at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, marking Santiago’s third consecutive win on Japanese soil. After twelve rounds, the judges confirmed Santiago’s command with scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113, all in favor of the defending champion. With the victory, Santiago improves to 16-4 with 9 knockouts and joins fellow standouts like Oscar Collazo and Xander Zayas as part of the new wave of Puerto Rican fighters holding unified world titles. Taniguchi, a former 105-pound title holder, falls to 21-6.
The bout unfolded in two distinct phases. In the early rounds, Taniguchi used his southpaw stance and superior hand speed to trouble the champion, landing sharp combinations that gave him a slight edge on the scorecards. However, the turning point came in the fifth round, when Santiago landed a perfectly timed counter right hook that sent the Japanese fighter to the canvas. Though Taniguchi rose quickly, the knockdown dramatically shifted the momentum and psychology of the fight.
From that moment on, “El Chulo” took full control. Showcasing ring IQ and composure, the Humacao native relied on lateral movement and a tight defensive shell to neutralize the challenger’s offense. In the championship rounds, Santiago displayed excellent conditioning, maintaining his punch output while avoiding the kind of risky exchanges Taniguchi desperately needed to turn the tide.
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Santiago remains unified champ with another road win
Rene Santiago W12 Masataka Taniguchi... Puerto Rico's René “El Chulo” Santiago fadded to his legacy as a Japanese spoiler by successfully defending his unified WBA and WBO light flyweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Masataka Taniguchi. The high-level tactical battle took place Friday, April 3rd at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, marking Santiago’s third consecutive win on Japanese soil. After twelve rounds, the judges confirmed Santiago’s command with scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113, all in favor of the defending champion. With the victory, Santiago improves to 16-4 with 9 knockouts and joins fellow standouts like Oscar Collazo and Xander Zayas as part of the new wave of Puerto Rican fighters holding unified world titles. Taniguchi, a former 105-pound title holder, falls to 21-6.
The bout unfolded in two distinct phases. In the early rounds, Taniguchi used his southpaw stance and superior hand speed to trouble the champion, landing sharp combinations that gave him a slight edge on the scorecards. However, the turning point came in the fifth round, when Santiago landed a perfectly timed counter right hook that sent the Japanese fighter to the canvas. Though Taniguchi rose quickly, the knockdown dramatically shifted the momentum and psychology of the fight.
From that moment on, “El Chulo” took full control. Showcasing ring IQ and composure, the Humacao native relied on lateral movement and a tight defensive shell to neutralize the challenger’s offense. In the championship rounds, Santiago displayed excellent conditioning, maintaining his punch output while avoiding the kind of risky exchanges Taniguchi desperately needed to turn the tide.
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Dubois defeats Harper to become unified champion |
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Caroline Dubois W10 Terri Harper ... Caroline Dubois dropped Terri Harper en route to beating her rival by unanimous decision in a unification bout. After a cagey start, Dubois made a breakthrough in the sixth round when she dropped Harper to the canvas. They fought fiercely through the closing stages of the bout with Dubois taking the unanimous verdict: 98-91 (twice) and 97-92 to unify the WBC and WBO world lightweight championships. Harper is a three-weight world champion and established on the British boxing scene. But Dubois, the WBC titlist going in to the match-up at Kensington's Olympia, hadn't hesitated to dismiss her achievements and threaten an early knockout.
Neither however rushed in the first round, both reluctant to make a mistake. They looked for jabs and Harper examined Dubois' southpaw style. Dubois padded Harper's jab down and the Londoner launched a sudden double right and rapid left, only for it to sail wide. Dubois feinted but didn't draw much from Harper. Her right hook though grazed the top of Harper's head, prompting the WBO champion to step in with fast straight shots. Dubois bounded smartly clear. She slammed a left hook around Harper's guard and the Yorkshirewoman smiled and stuck out her tongue.
Dubois reached for the body with a one-two combination, then a solid right from Harper shot to her stomach. The Londoner blocked a heavy cross from Harper and rolled under a left hook to land her right. Dubois slid away from straight punches but Harper smiled at her again when Dubois' left fell short. Harper kept moving, looking to make Dubois work. Her plan was to drain Dubois' energy and she did land solidly before the end of the fourth round.
Dubois strode forward with a powerful one-two, but was breathing heavily as she sat on her stool. Holding the center of the ring, Dubois darted forward to apply body shots. A left hook caught Dubois as she backed out. Stranded up close, they put spite into punches but couldn't find the target. There was little separate them at the halfway stage. Dubois curved her left down. She moved in with the backhand again. Harper kept pedalling away, but Dubois was getting ever closer. She struck hard in the sixth round, hitting the body first before going upstairs, a crunching left hook to the head putting Harper down.
Harper looked to respond, fighting back in the next round. But as she came forward, Dubois could settle herself and time shots. She cranked another heavy left into Harper's glove and then whipped in more backhands. She attacked the body as Harper retreated and snagged her jab into the head.
A cut, opening on the left eyebrow, gave Harper yet another problem to contend with. Dubois smashed in a right hook and continued her pursuit. A cruel right uppercut landed and a big left from Dubois hit hard. Dubois kept her eyes locked on Harper and she set about her. She fired in a combination as Harper leant back into the ropes.
Harper was under pressure now. She stood her ground and reeled off a right hook. They exchanged vicious shots in the ninth round and Harper landed to head. She smacked a left in too as the bell sounded. In the last round, Harper repeated left hooks and brought in her right. Those shots caught Dubois but she rattled Harper with own fast right hook. They went blow for blow, both refusing to back off, Dubois' left landing strongly.
Harper had provided Dubois with her sternest professional examination yet. But it was one the young Briton passed. "What an atmosphere. Women's boxing has always been on the backburner but today we put it at the forefront, so thanks to everyone who turned up and fought on the card. I couldn't do it without you," Dubois told Sky Sports.
"I know the Terri Harper fans will be upset but she put on a good show and is a very good boxer. This was never personal for me, it was personal for Terri. I am an entertainer and put myself out there for you guys."
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Dubois defeats Harper to become unified champion
Caroline Dubois W10 Terri Harper ... Caroline Dubois dropped Terri Harper en route to beating her rival by unanimous decision in a unification bout. After a cagey start, Dubois made a breakthrough in the sixth round when she dropped Harper to the canvas. They fought fiercely through the closing stages of the bout with Dubois taking the unanimous verdict: 98-91 (twice) and 97-92 to unify the WBC and WBO world lightweight championships. Harper is a three-weight world champion and established on the British boxing scene. But Dubois, the WBC titlist going in to the match-up at Kensington's Olympia, hadn't hesitated to dismiss her achievements and threaten an early knockout.
Neither however rushed in the first round, both reluctant to make a mistake. They looked for jabs and Harper examined Dubois' southpaw style. Dubois padded Harper's jab down and the Londoner launched a sudden double right and rapid left, only for it to sail wide. Dubois feinted but didn't draw much from Harper. Her right hook though grazed the top of Harper's head, prompting the WBO champion to step in with fast straight shots. Dubois bounded smartly clear. She slammed a left hook around Harper's guard and the Yorkshirewoman smiled and stuck out her tongue.
Dubois reached for the body with a one-two combination, then a solid right from Harper shot to her stomach. The Londoner blocked a heavy cross from Harper and rolled under a left hook to land her right. Dubois slid away from straight punches but Harper smiled at her again when Dubois' left fell short. Harper kept moving, looking to make Dubois work. Her plan was to drain Dubois' energy and she did land solidly before the end of the fourth round.
Dubois strode forward with a powerful one-two, but was breathing heavily as she sat on her stool. Holding the center of the ring, Dubois darted forward to apply body shots. A left hook caught Dubois as she backed out. Stranded up close, they put spite into punches but couldn't find the target. There was little separate them at the halfway stage. Dubois curved her left down. She moved in with the backhand again. Harper kept pedalling away, but Dubois was getting ever closer. She struck hard in the sixth round, hitting the body first before going upstairs, a crunching left hook to the head putting Harper down.
Harper looked to respond, fighting back in the next round. But as she came forward, Dubois could settle herself and time shots. She cranked another heavy left into Harper's glove and then whipped in more backhands. She attacked the body as Harper retreated and snagged her jab into the head.
A cut, opening on the left eyebrow, gave Harper yet another problem to contend with. Dubois smashed in a right hook and continued her pursuit. A cruel right uppercut landed and a big left from Dubois hit hard. Dubois kept her eyes locked on Harper and she set about her. She fired in a combination as Harper leant back into the ropes.
Harper was under pressure now. She stood her ground and reeled off a right hook. They exchanged vicious shots in the ninth round and Harper landed to head. She smacked a left in too as the bell sounded. In the last round, Harper repeated left hooks and brought in her right. Those shots caught Dubois but she rattled Harper with own fast right hook. They went blow for blow, both refusing to back off, Dubois' left landing strongly.
Harper had provided Dubois with her sternest professional examination yet. But it was one the young Briton passed. "What an atmosphere. Women's boxing has always been on the backburner but today we put it at the forefront, so thanks to everyone who turned up and fought on the card. I couldn't do it without you," Dubois told Sky Sports.
"I know the Terri Harper fans will be upset but she put on a good show and is a very good boxer. This was never personal for me, it was personal for Terri. I am an entertainer and put myself out there for you guys."
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Bloodied Lauren Price defeats Stephanie Pineiro |
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Lauren Price W10 Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino.... In a fight that began as a technical showcase and turned into a grueling test of grit and resolve, Wales’ Lauren Price retained her unified welterweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino. The bout, held Saturday night at Utilita Arena Cardiff, left the champion bloodied but unbroken, her belts still firmly in her possession. After ten hard-fought rounds, the judges returned scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 98-92, all in favor of theundefeated Price, who is recognozed as a world champion by al the major organizations save the WBO, who have Mikaela Mayer as champ.
From the opening bell, Price (10-0, 2 KOs) put her Olympic pedigree on full display. Using superior hand speed and constant lateral movement, she controlled the first four rounds, snapping Piñeiro’s head back with crisp right hooks and straight lefts. Despite holding a noticeable height advantage, Piñeiro (10-1, 3 KOs) struggled to pin down the elusive Welsh fighter at range. The fight took a dramatic turn in the fifth round. An accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut over Price’s right eyebrow and left her mouth bloodied, with blood pouring heavily. Sensing opportunity, Piñeiro ramped up the pressure, trapping the champion along the ropes in the sixth and seventh rounds and landing heavy combinations that tested Price’s durability. Unfazed by the blood staining her white trunks, Price showed the heart of a true champion in the championship rounds. In the ninth and tenth, she abandoned her hit-and-move approach and stood her ground, trading in the center of the ring with sharp, surgical precision that ultimately halted the challenger’s momentum.
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Bloodied Lauren Price defeats Stephanie Pineiro
Lauren Price W10 Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino.... In a fight that began as a technical showcase and turned into a grueling test of grit and resolve, Wales’ Lauren Price retained her unified welterweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino. The bout, held Saturday night at Utilita Arena Cardiff, left the champion bloodied but unbroken, her belts still firmly in her possession. After ten hard-fought rounds, the judges returned scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 98-92, all in favor of theundefeated Price, who is recognozed as a world champion by al the major organizations save the WBO, who have Mikaela Mayer as champ.
From the opening bell, Price (10-0, 2 KOs) put her Olympic pedigree on full display. Using superior hand speed and constant lateral movement, she controlled the first four rounds, snapping Piñeiro’s head back with crisp right hooks and straight lefts. Despite holding a noticeable height advantage, Piñeiro (10-1, 3 KOs) struggled to pin down the elusive Welsh fighter at range. The fight took a dramatic turn in the fifth round. An accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut over Price’s right eyebrow and left her mouth bloodied, with blood pouring heavily. Sensing opportunity, Piñeiro ramped up the pressure, trapping the champion along the ropes in the sixth and seventh rounds and landing heavy combinations that tested Price’s durability. Unfazed by the blood staining her white trunks, Price showed the heart of a true champion in the championship rounds. In the ninth and tenth, she abandoned her hit-and-move approach and stood her ground, trading in the center of the ring with sharp, surgical precision that ultimately halted the challenger’s momentum.
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Andres Cortes takes Zuffa Boxing 05 main event |
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Andres Cortes W10 Eridson Garcia... In the main event at Zuffa Boxing 05 in Las Vegas, local lightweight Andres Cortes claimed a dominant decision victory over the Dominican Republic's Eridson Garcia over ten rounds. Cortes kept Garcia guessing early by staying at range, then blitzing in with two- or three-punch combinations, before sliding back out of range to avoid Garcia’s attempted counters. Cortes’s approach started to cause problems for Garcia, who was repeatedly warned for holding through round three, and between round referee Thomas Taylor warned his corner that a point deduction could follow if he continues to hold. And, sure enough, in round four, Garcia was hit with a point sanction by the official after again failing to let go on the call of break. It exacerbated things for the Dominican fighter, who was already struggling to keep up with his undefeated opponent.
From the mid-point of the fight, Cortes switched tactics and opted to close the distance, and Garcia seemingly had no answer to Cortes whenever the pair fought on the inside, with the Las Vegas native feasting at close quarters, ripping Garcia to the body and head. By the end of the seventh round, Cortes was exuding the confidence of a man who knew he had his opponent’s number. That didn’t change through the final three rounds, as Cortes comfortably negotiated the final nine minutes of the fight to claim a decision by scores of 97-92, 96-93 and 95-94 and move to 25-0 for his career.
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Andres Cortes takes Zuffa Boxing 05 main event
Andres Cortes W10 Eridson Garcia... In the main event at Zuffa Boxing 05 in Las Vegas, local lightweight Andres Cortes claimed a dominant decision victory over the Dominican Republic's Eridson Garcia over ten rounds. Cortes kept Garcia guessing early by staying at range, then blitzing in with two- or three-punch combinations, before sliding back out of range to avoid Garcia’s attempted counters. Cortes’s approach started to cause problems for Garcia, who was repeatedly warned for holding through round three, and between round referee Thomas Taylor warned his corner that a point deduction could follow if he continues to hold. And, sure enough, in round four, Garcia was hit with a point sanction by the official after again failing to let go on the call of break. It exacerbated things for the Dominican fighter, who was already struggling to keep up with his undefeated opponent.
From the mid-point of the fight, Cortes switched tactics and opted to close the distance, and Garcia seemingly had no answer to Cortes whenever the pair fought on the inside, with the Las Vegas native feasting at close quarters, ripping Garcia to the body and head. By the end of the seventh round, Cortes was exuding the confidence of a man who knew he had his opponent’s number. That didn’t change through the final three rounds, as Cortes comfortably negotiated the final nine minutes of the fight to claim a decision by scores of 97-92, 96-93 and 95-94 and move to 25-0 for his career.
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Cameron becomes two-weight champ |
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Chantelle Cameron W10 Michaela Kotaskova ... At London's Olympia, Chantelle Cameron defeated Michaela Kotaskova to win the WBO junior middleweight title. Cameron won first women's world title fight to be contested over three-minute rounds on United Kingdom soil. With the win, Cameron also became a two-weight world champion as she secured the vacant WBO title with a unanimous decision victory over Kotaskova of the Czech Republic. Cameron, a former undisputed world champion at 140 pounds and the sole professional conqueror of Katie Taylor, was stepping up to 154 pounds for this fight. She came into her own at that distance, winning a unanimous decision, 100-90 and 99-91 (twice), after ten three-minute rounds. Afterwards, Cameron called for Mikaela Mayer next although Mayer is currently a champion one division below Cameron.
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Cameron becomes two-weight champ
Chantelle Cameron W10 Michaela Kotaskova ... At London's Olympia, Chantelle Cameron defeated Michaela Kotaskova to win the WBO junior middleweight title. Cameron won first women's world title fight to be contested over three-minute rounds on United Kingdom soil. With the win, Cameron also became a two-weight world champion as she secured the vacant WBO title with a unanimous decision victory over Kotaskova of the Czech Republic. Cameron, a former undisputed world champion at 140 pounds and the sole professional conqueror of Katie Taylor, was stepping up to 154 pounds for this fight. She came into her own at that distance, winning a unanimous decision, 100-90 and 99-91 (twice), after ten three-minute rounds. Afterwards, Cameron called for Mikaela Mayer next although Mayer is currently a champion one division below Cameron.
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Magsayo wins lightweight debut |
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Mark Magsayo TKO5 Feargal McCrory ... In the Zuffa Boxing co-feature in Las Vegas, former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo successfully moved up to lightweight by finishing off Ireland’s Feargal McCrory. Cheered on by his Filipino following inside the Meta Apex, Magsayo made sure McCrory tasted his power early as he cracked the Irishman with two thumping right hands towards the end of the opening round. And, while McCrory gamely looked to step into range to land shots of his own, he struggled to connect with anything meaningful early on as Magsayo eased into the contest.
Magsayo continued to look a class above McCrory through the second and third rounds, and he came close to stopping the Irishman late in the fourth with a series of clean, hard shots that seemed to rock, but not drop, his man.
And, after McCrory’s corner warned him that they would pull him out of the fight if he continued to take damage, the call from head coach Colin Morgan came 21 seconds into the fifth round after Magsayo lit up McCrory with more power shots.
Elated, Magsayo celebrated a stoppage victory in his first Zuffa Boxing appearance, while McCrory was clearly gutted at his corner’s decision to pull him from the fight. In truth, it looked like a merciful decision from his team in order to give the brave Irishman the chance to potentially return to compete again. And, on the flip-side, it looks like Zuffa Boxing has a legitimate contender in Magsayo, who declared after his win that lightweight is his division, and that he’s ready to challenge for a world title.
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Magsayo wins lightweight debut
Mark Magsayo TKO5 Feargal McCrory ... In the Zuffa Boxing co-feature in Las Vegas, former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo successfully moved up to lightweight by finishing off Ireland’s Feargal McCrory. Cheered on by his Filipino following inside the Meta Apex, Magsayo made sure McCrory tasted his power early as he cracked the Irishman with two thumping right hands towards the end of the opening round. And, while McCrory gamely looked to step into range to land shots of his own, he struggled to connect with anything meaningful early on as Magsayo eased into the contest.
Magsayo continued to look a class above McCrory through the second and third rounds, and he came close to stopping the Irishman late in the fourth with a series of clean, hard shots that seemed to rock, but not drop, his man.
And, after McCrory’s corner warned him that they would pull him out of the fight if he continued to take damage, the call from head coach Colin Morgan came 21 seconds into the fifth round after Magsayo lit up McCrory with more power shots.
Elated, Magsayo celebrated a stoppage victory in his first Zuffa Boxing appearance, while McCrory was clearly gutted at his corner’s decision to pull him from the fight. In truth, it looked like a merciful decision from his team in order to give the brave Irishman the chance to potentially return to compete again. And, on the flip-side, it looks like Zuffa Boxing has a legitimate contender in Magsayo, who declared after his win that lightweight is his division, and that he’s ready to challenge for a world title.
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Scotney cleans up the 122-pound title situation |
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Ellie Scotney W10 Mayelli Flores... In London, Ellie Scotney prevailed in a thunderous ten-round battle with Mayelli Flores to become the undisputed super bantamweight world champion. Winning by unanimous decision, she unified Flores' WBA belt with the WBO, WBC and IBF world championships she already held. That earned her a place in British boxing history: Scotney, age 28, is the UK's youngest undisputed world champion, male or female, in the four-belt era. Flores had an eye on making her own history. She was battling to become the first Mexican woman to win the undisputed championship and would not let up for an instant. Two of the judges scored it overly generously for Scotney, 100-90 twice, and the third marked it 96-94 in her favour. It was though an unrelentingly intense battle with no breathing room for Scotney. A devout Christian, Scotney had been to church on the morning of Easter Sunday before fighting for her place in British boxing legend in the evening.
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Scotney cleans up the 122-pound title situation
Ellie Scotney W10 Mayelli Flores... In London, Ellie Scotney prevailed in a thunderous ten-round battle with Mayelli Flores to become the undisputed super bantamweight world champion. Winning by unanimous decision, she unified Flores' WBA belt with the WBO, WBC and IBF world championships she already held. That earned her a place in British boxing history: Scotney, age 28, is the UK's youngest undisputed world champion, male or female, in the four-belt era. Flores had an eye on making her own history. She was battling to become the first Mexican woman to win the undisputed championship and would not let up for an instant. Two of the judges scored it overly generously for Scotney, 100-90 twice, and the third marked it 96-94 in her favour. It was though an unrelentingly intense battle with no breathing room for Scotney. A devout Christian, Scotney had been to church on the morning of Easter Sunday before fighting for her place in British boxing legend in the evening.
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Zuffa Boxing 05 undercard results: Hovhannisyan overcomes adversity |
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Azat Hovhannisyan W10 Eduardo Baez... On the Zuffa Boxing 05 undercard in Las Vegas, Armenia’s “Crazy A” Azat Hovhannisyan had to do it the hard way, but he fought through adversity to claim a majority decision win on his first Zuffa Boxing appearance. Hovhannisyan faced Mexico’s Eduardo Baez in a 126-pound featherweight matchup, and looked to be in trouble after the opening round when he appeared to injure his left arm. Baez appeared to pick up on his opponent’s issue, and put his foot on the gas and unloaded power shots as he comprehensively outstruck the Armenian through the first two rounds. The third and fourth saw “Crazy A” gradually adapt his style to accommodate his injury, as he started to fight more competitively. But with Hovhannisyan clearly still only able to throw power with one hand, Baez continued to boss the action.
However, round five saw Hovhannisyan turn up the aggression as he drew Baez in, then looked to counter with big right hands as he seemed to settle on an alternative fighting style that worked for him. And, as the middle rounds played out, the action became much closer to call with Hovhannisyan enjoying some success with his right hand, while Baez’s work became increasingly more scrappy. And, despite fighting almost with one arm for much of the fight, Hovhannisyan battled all the way through to the final round to claim a majority decision verdict, with the judges scoring the fight 95-95, 96-94, 97-93 to give Hovhannisyan the 23rd, and perhaps the hardest-earned, victory of his fifteen-year career.
Alexis De La Cerda KO3 Ervin Fuller III... Alexis De La Cerda added an early candidate for the Zuffa Boxing highlight reel with a huge one-shot knockout of Ervin Fuller III in their featherweight matchup. The two undefeated 126-pounders went head-to-head with a combined record of 20-0, but it was De La Cerda’s punch power that proved the difference-maker as he starched Fuller with a sledgehammer of a short right hook that sent his man face-first into the canvas late in the third round. Fuller actually started the fight well, and may have edged the opening three minutes. But De La Cerda started to find his rhythm in the second as he loaded up with shots and went toe to toe with Fuller through round two. Then, in the third, De La Cerda hit the jackpot. After drawing Fuller into a close-quarters exchange, the 22-year-old from Federal Way, Washington unloaded a huge right hook that connected clean and ended the fight instantly. It gave De La Cerda the ninth win, and fifth knockout, of his undefeated career, as he claimed a statement win on his Zuffa Boxing debut.
Tony Hirsch Jr. W8 Robert Meriwether III... Tony Hirsch Jr. won the battle of the unbeaten lightweights as he defeated Robert Meriwether III via majority decision after eight action-packed rounds in their 135-pound matchup. The pair came out of the gates at full throttle and immediately went toe to toe in a breathless opening three minutes as they met in the center of the ring and traded combinations. Hirsch’s shots to the body looked particularly effective early on for the Zuffa Boxing debutant, while Meriwether appeared to have the slight edge in speed. It set things up for a high-octane encounter as Hirsch continually pushed the pace on Meriwether and refused to let “King” get a free shot. Through the fight, Hirsch’s greatest successes came from working behind his excellent jab, while Meriwether performed best from range, where he could put his shots together. But with most of the action coming in close, it became a battle of wills as the pair traded heavy combinations on the inside, both switching from head to body to excellent effect during the contest. And, as the fight wore on, it appeared that Hirsch’s work was more effective as he took charge of the closing rounds. With two rounds to go, Meriwether’s father, Robert Meriwether Jr., told his son that he needed to finish the fight. But despite pushing hard to find a fight-changing shot, he couldn’t break the relentless Hirsch, who ran out the majority decision winner with scores of 76-76, 76-75, 78-74. It improved “The Phantom’s” record to 8-0-2, while Meriwether suffered the first defeat of his professional career to take his record to 10-1.
Jorge Maravillo TKO5 Elias Diaz... California welterweights went head to head as undefeated Jorge Maravillo recovered from a sluggish start to stop Elias Diaz in the fifth round of their 148-pound matchup. Diaz started the stronger as he pushed the pace and connected with heavy shots through the first six minutes. One right hand over the top connected clean mid-way through the second round as the 32-year-old found his range the better of the two in the early going. Over the course of a competitive first four rounds, Diaz’s shots carried the greater weight as he edged Maravillo in terms of scoring shots landed as he opened up an early lead on the scorecards. But that all changed in the fifth when Maravillo, spurred on by his corner to let his hands go, did exactly that as he rocked Diaz with a huge right hand that forced the San Diego native to hold on. Maravillo kept the pressure on and eventually overwhelmed Diaz, who went to the canvas and took an eight count. Diaz beat the count, but was still badly rocked and, after Maravillo closed in and unloaded more power shots, referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to wave off the fight and spare Diaz any further punishment. It gave Maravillo the TKO victory as the undefeated 26-year-old improved his record to 12-0-1 with the ninth stoppage win of his career. Zuffa Boxing color commentator and pound-for-pound great Andre Ward said it best: “It ain’t how you start. It’s how you finish.”
Troy Nash W8 Bryan Rodriguez... In the opening bout of the evening, Colorado Springs featherweight Troy Nash added to his Zuffa Boxing debut win with a second victory, courtesy of a majority decision verdict over Bryan “Pretty Boy” Rodriguez. Fighting in his first career eight-rounder, Nash took the first couple of rounds to take a look at 19-year-old Rodriguez, and flashed some impressive hand speed as he offered a glimpse of his slick boxing. A Texas native, Rodriguez walked forward almost constantly in search of openings, but Nash controlled the range smartly off the back foot and scored more consistently as he beat the teenager to the punch throughout the contest. Rodriguez attempted to pick up the pace and intensity through the final three rounds, but Nash showcased some soldi defensive skills as he made his man miss, then punished him with well-timed counters. By the end of the penultimate round, Nash was putting his shots together beautifully as he landed cleanly with some eye-catching multi-punch combinations. Surprisingly, one judge scored the fight even at 76-76, but the other two cards more accurately reflected the action, with totals of 79-73 and 80-72 in Nash’s favor, as the undefeated Colorado native improved his record to 7-0-1 with a smart, controlled performance.
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Zuffa Boxing 05 undercard results: Hovhannisyan overcomes adversity
Azat Hovhannisyan W10 Eduardo Baez... On the Zuffa Boxing 05 undercard in Las Vegas, Armenia’s “Crazy A” Azat Hovhannisyan had to do it the hard way, but he fought through adversity to claim a majority decision win on his first Zuffa Boxing appearance. Hovhannisyan faced Mexico’s Eduardo Baez in a 126-pound featherweight matchup, and looked to be in trouble after the opening round when he appeared to injure his left arm. Baez appeared to pick up on his opponent’s issue, and put his foot on the gas and unloaded power shots as he comprehensively outstruck the Armenian through the first two rounds. The third and fourth saw “Crazy A” gradually adapt his style to accommodate his injury, as he started to fight more competitively. But with Hovhannisyan clearly still only able to throw power with one hand, Baez continued to boss the action.
However, round five saw Hovhannisyan turn up the aggression as he drew Baez in, then looked to counter with big right hands as he seemed to settle on an alternative fighting style that worked for him. And, as the middle rounds played out, the action became much closer to call with Hovhannisyan enjoying some success with his right hand, while Baez’s work became increasingly more scrappy. And, despite fighting almost with one arm for much of the fight, Hovhannisyan battled all the way through to the final round to claim a majority decision verdict, with the judges scoring the fight 95-95, 96-94, 97-93 to give Hovhannisyan the 23rd, and perhaps the hardest-earned, victory of his fifteen-year career.
Alexis De La Cerda KO3 Ervin Fuller III... Alexis De La Cerda added an early candidate for the Zuffa Boxing highlight reel with a huge one-shot knockout of Ervin Fuller III in their featherweight matchup. The two undefeated 126-pounders went head-to-head with a combined record of 20-0, but it was De La Cerda’s punch power that proved the difference-maker as he starched Fuller with a sledgehammer of a short right hook that sent his man face-first into the canvas late in the third round. Fuller actually started the fight well, and may have edged the opening three minutes. But De La Cerda started to find his rhythm in the second as he loaded up with shots and went toe to toe with Fuller through round two. Then, in the third, De La Cerda hit the jackpot. After drawing Fuller into a close-quarters exchange, the 22-year-old from Federal Way, Washington unloaded a huge right hook that connected clean and ended the fight instantly. It gave De La Cerda the ninth win, and fifth knockout, of his undefeated career, as he claimed a statement win on his Zuffa Boxing debut.
Tony Hirsch Jr. W8 Robert Meriwether III... Tony Hirsch Jr. won the battle of the unbeaten lightweights as he defeated Robert Meriwether III via majority decision after eight action-packed rounds in their 135-pound matchup. The pair came out of the gates at full throttle and immediately went toe to toe in a breathless opening three minutes as they met in the center of the ring and traded combinations. Hirsch’s shots to the body looked particularly effective early on for the Zuffa Boxing debutant, while Meriwether appeared to have the slight edge in speed. It set things up for a high-octane encounter as Hirsch continually pushed the pace on Meriwether and refused to let “King” get a free shot. Through the fight, Hirsch’s greatest successes came from working behind his excellent jab, while Meriwether performed best from range, where he could put his shots together. But with most of the action coming in close, it became a battle of wills as the pair traded heavy combinations on the inside, both switching from head to body to excellent effect during the contest. And, as the fight wore on, it appeared that Hirsch’s work was more effective as he took charge of the closing rounds. With two rounds to go, Meriwether’s father, Robert Meriwether Jr., told his son that he needed to finish the fight. But despite pushing hard to find a fight-changing shot, he couldn’t break the relentless Hirsch, who ran out the majority decision winner with scores of 76-76, 76-75, 78-74. It improved “The Phantom’s” record to 8-0-2, while Meriwether suffered the first defeat of his professional career to take his record to 10-1.
Jorge Maravillo TKO5 Elias Diaz... California welterweights went head to head as undefeated Jorge Maravillo recovered from a sluggish start to stop Elias Diaz in the fifth round of their 148-pound matchup. Diaz started the stronger as he pushed the pace and connected with heavy shots through the first six minutes. One right hand over the top connected clean mid-way through the second round as the 32-year-old found his range the better of the two in the early going. Over the course of a competitive first four rounds, Diaz’s shots carried the greater weight as he edged Maravillo in terms of scoring shots landed as he opened up an early lead on the scorecards. But that all changed in the fifth when Maravillo, spurred on by his corner to let his hands go, did exactly that as he rocked Diaz with a huge right hand that forced the San Diego native to hold on. Maravillo kept the pressure on and eventually overwhelmed Diaz, who went to the canvas and took an eight count. Diaz beat the count, but was still badly rocked and, after Maravillo closed in and unloaded more power shots, referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to wave off the fight and spare Diaz any further punishment. It gave Maravillo the TKO victory as the undefeated 26-year-old improved his record to 12-0-1 with the ninth stoppage win of his career. Zuffa Boxing color commentator and pound-for-pound great Andre Ward said it best: “It ain’t how you start. It’s how you finish.”
Troy Nash W8 Bryan Rodriguez... In the opening bout of the evening, Colorado Springs featherweight Troy Nash added to his Zuffa Boxing debut win with a second victory, courtesy of a majority decision verdict over Bryan “Pretty Boy” Rodriguez. Fighting in his first career eight-rounder, Nash took the first couple of rounds to take a look at 19-year-old Rodriguez, and flashed some impressive hand speed as he offered a glimpse of his slick boxing. A Texas native, Rodriguez walked forward almost constantly in search of openings, but Nash controlled the range smartly off the back foot and scored more consistently as he beat the teenager to the punch throughout the contest. Rodriguez attempted to pick up the pace and intensity through the final three rounds, but Nash showcased some soldi defensive skills as he made his man miss, then punished him with well-timed counters. By the end of the penultimate round, Nash was putting his shots together beautifully as he landed cleanly with some eye-catching multi-punch combinations. Surprisingly, one judge scored the fight even at 76-76, but the other two cards more accurately reflected the action, with totals of 79-73 and 80-72 in Nash’s favor, as the undefeated Colorado native improved his record to 7-0-1 with a smart, controlled performance.
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Team Boxing League announces huge expansion for 2027 |
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Team Boxing League ("TBL") announced a groundbreaking global expansion set to launch for Season 5 in 2027, marking the league's most ambitious growth to date. The expansion will introduce eight new franchises across the United States and Europe transforming TBL into a fully international competition. Beginning in 2027, TBL will expand into San Diego, Chicago, Detroit, San Juan, Dublin, Birmingham, London, and Manchester, creating a truly global platform where European teams will compete directly against their U.S. counterparts. The introduction of a European Division marks the first time in league history that international teams will be fully integrated into regular season competition, setting the stage for cross-continental matchups and a broader global audience. The expanded league will feature 96 events in 2027, a significant increase from the 56 events held during Seasons 3 and 4, reflecting TBL's rapid growth and increasing demand.
"This is a defining moment for TBL," said Cassidy. "We are not just expanding - we are evolving into a global league. By bringing international teams into direct competition with our U.S. markets, we are elevating the sport, creating new rivalries, and delivering a world-class experience for fighters and fans alike."
The full list of teams for 2027 are as follows:
West Division
San Diego Tj's
Phoenix Fury
Las Vegas Hustle
Los Angeles Dynasty
Midwest Division
Chicago Gladiators
Nashville Smash
Atlanta Attack
Dallas Enforcers
East Division
NYC Attitude
Boston Butchers
Detroit Power Punchers
Philly Smoke
European Division
Dublin Rebels
Birmingham Blitz
Manchester Maulers
London Storm
South Division
Houston Hitmen
San Antonio Snipers
Miami Assassins
San Juan Strikers
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Team Boxing League announces huge expansion for 2027
Team Boxing League ("TBL") announced a groundbreaking global expansion set to launch for Season 5 in 2027, marking the league's most ambitious growth to date. The expansion will introduce eight new franchises across the United States and Europe transforming TBL into a fully international competition. Beginning in 2027, TBL will expand into San Diego, Chicago, Detroit, San Juan, Dublin, Birmingham, London, and Manchester, creating a truly global platform where European teams will compete directly against their U.S. counterparts. The introduction of a European Division marks the first time in league history that international teams will be fully integrated into regular season competition, setting the stage for cross-continental matchups and a broader global audience. The expanded league will feature 96 events in 2027, a significant increase from the 56 events held during Seasons 3 and 4, reflecting TBL's rapid growth and increasing demand.
"This is a defining moment for TBL," said Cassidy. "We are not just expanding - we are evolving into a global league. By bringing international teams into direct competition with our U.S. markets, we are elevating the sport, creating new rivalries, and delivering a world-class experience for fighters and fans alike."
The full list of teams for 2027 are as follows:
West Division
San Diego Tj's
Phoenix Fury
Las Vegas Hustle
Los Angeles Dynasty
Midwest Division
Chicago Gladiators
Nashville Smash
Atlanta Attack
Dallas Enforcers
East Division
NYC Attitude
Boston Butchers
Detroit Power Punchers
Philly Smoke
European Division
Dublin Rebels
Birmingham Blitz
Manchester Maulers
London Storm
South Division
Houston Hitmen
San Antonio Snipers
Miami Assassins
San Juan Strikers
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Slimmed down Chris Thomas wins for the first time since 2020 |
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Chris Thomas W6 Greg Hackett... Chris “Sandman” Thomas is back in the win column. He reunited with his longtime coach, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Famer Shawn Darling and improver to 16-3-2, with 10 KOs He defeated Philadelphia’s Greg Hackett (4-25-1) via a six-round unanimous decision at Harrahs in Chester, Pennsylvania. After turning pro at 18, Thomas took about five years off from the sport and went 0-2-1 at heavyweight. He is hoping to bounce back from six years in boxing's wilderness. His last fight prior to this win was a second-round KO loss to Otto Wallin. But he just lost seventy five pounds and is down to cruiserweight. He is planning for his next fight this to be at light heavyweight this fall.
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Slimmed down Chris Thomas wins for the first time since 2020
Chris Thomas W6 Greg Hackett... Chris “Sandman” Thomas is back in the win column. He reunited with his longtime coach, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Famer Shawn Darling and improver to 16-3-2, with 10 KOs He defeated Philadelphia’s Greg Hackett (4-25-1) via a six-round unanimous decision at Harrahs in Chester, Pennsylvania. After turning pro at 18, Thomas took about five years off from the sport and went 0-2-1 at heavyweight. He is hoping to bounce back from six years in boxing's wilderness. His last fight prior to this win was a second-round KO loss to Otto Wallin. But he just lost seventy five pounds and is down to cruiserweight. He is planning for his next fight this to be at light heavyweight this fall.
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Shutout win for Tim Tszyu |
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Tim Tszyu W10 Denis Nurja... Former 154-pound champion Tim Tszyu earned a second consecutive unanimous decision victory as he overwhelmed previously unbeaten Denis Nurja in the main event of a PBC show on Saturday night (U.S. time) from the Wollongong Entertainment Centre in Australia. “He’s tough and I expected that,” said Tszyu (27-3, 18 KOs). “He came in with the perfect record, so I knew he was no joke. I had him a couple times but he didn’t drop. Those were some good rounds. I was trying to take him out, he’s just tough. Big respect.”
In his second fight with trainer Pedro Diaz, Tszyu continued his rise back to world title contention at 154 pounds with a strong overall performance that saw him dominate early and often. Tszyu faced some adversity early in round four when a headbutt caused a cut under his left eye, but he quickly bounced back just a minute later when he caught Nurja (20-1, 9 KOs) with a left hook that put Nurja on the mat.
Nurja was able to rise to his feet, but continued to take punishment, including an overhand right in round six that wobbled the Albanian. In round seven, a desperate Nurja was deducted a point for excessive holding. Tszyu continued to pour the offense on across the last three rounds, wobbling Nurja in the final ten seconds.
After ten rounds, Tszyu won the shutout decision with the score of 100-88 in the eyes of all three judges before turning his attention to future action in the ring.
“I feel like I’m up for Errol Spence Jr,” said Tszyu. “I think that would be one hell of a fight. That’s a banger. I don’t take a backward step. If he’s ready to meet me there, bring it on. I’m coming to catch the big fish. Let’s go fishing.”
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Shutout win for Tim Tszyu
Tim Tszyu W10 Denis Nurja... Former 154-pound champion Tim Tszyu earned a second consecutive unanimous decision victory as he overwhelmed previously unbeaten Denis Nurja in the main event of a PBC show on Saturday night (U.S. time) from the Wollongong Entertainment Centre in Australia. “He’s tough and I expected that,” said Tszyu (27-3, 18 KOs). “He came in with the perfect record, so I knew he was no joke. I had him a couple times but he didn’t drop. Those were some good rounds. I was trying to take him out, he’s just tough. Big respect.”
In his second fight with trainer Pedro Diaz, Tszyu continued his rise back to world title contention at 154 pounds with a strong overall performance that saw him dominate early and often. Tszyu faced some adversity early in round four when a headbutt caused a cut under his left eye, but he quickly bounced back just a minute later when he caught Nurja (20-1, 9 KOs) with a left hook that put Nurja on the mat.
Nurja was able to rise to his feet, but continued to take punishment, including an overhand right in round six that wobbled the Albanian. In round seven, a desperate Nurja was deducted a point for excessive holding. Tszyu continued to pour the offense on across the last three rounds, wobbling Nurja in the final ten seconds.
After ten rounds, Tszyu won the shutout decision with the score of 100-88 in the eyes of all three judges before turning his attention to future action in the ring.
“I feel like I’m up for Errol Spence Jr,” said Tszyu. “I think that would be one hell of a fight. That’s a banger. I don’t take a backward step. If he’s ready to meet me there, bring it on. I’m coming to catch the big fish. Let’s go fishing.”
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Wilder outslugs Chisora in punishing thriller |
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Deontay Wilder W12 Derek Chisora... London's O2 Arena saw a punishing and highly entertaining bout in which former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder defeated hometown favorite Derek Chisora. Wilder scored at least one knockdowns to win an absolute slugfest between two well-past-their-prime legends. Wilder claimed a twelve-round split decision verdict by scores of 112-115, 115-111 and 115-113. DAZN News scored the fight 114-111 for Wilder. Chisora said before hand that retirement was next for him, win, lose, or draw, but no one is sure if that promise will be kept. Wilder made no such vow, and in light of this win, a long sought-after fight vs. former champ Anthony Joshua seems like a no brainer. Joshua, who was ringside to cheer on Chisora, would be a definite favorite vs. Wilder.
A sensational eighth round saw Chisora on the verge of being stopped, with Wilder finally knocking him down and halfway through the ropes. Chisora beat the count, with the help of his corner pushing him up (that could have been a disqualification) from the ring floor. Chisora showed incredible resolve to flip the momentum away from back-pedalling to forcing Wilder on to the ropes.Wilder was also penalized a point that round, keeping Chisora's hopes of winning a decision alive. An even ninth round was backed up by Wilder trying and failing to line up his rival in a round ten which ended with a Chisora looping right landing. Chisora was again knocked down and almost through the ropes midway through round eleven before Wilder went down, but neither was officially counted as knockdown even though they appeared to be legitimate.
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Wilder outslugs Chisora in punishing thriller
Deontay Wilder W12 Derek Chisora... London's O2 Arena saw a punishing and highly entertaining bout in which former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder defeated hometown favorite Derek Chisora. Wilder scored at least one knockdowns to win an absolute slugfest between two well-past-their-prime legends. Wilder claimed a twelve-round split decision verdict by scores of 112-115, 115-111 and 115-113. DAZN News scored the fight 114-111 for Wilder. Chisora said before hand that retirement was next for him, win, lose, or draw, but no one is sure if that promise will be kept. Wilder made no such vow, and in light of this win, a long sought-after fight vs. former champ Anthony Joshua seems like a no brainer. Joshua, who was ringside to cheer on Chisora, would be a definite favorite vs. Wilder.
A sensational eighth round saw Chisora on the verge of being stopped, with Wilder finally knocking him down and halfway through the ropes. Chisora beat the count, with the help of his corner pushing him up (that could have been a disqualification) from the ring floor. Chisora showed incredible resolve to flip the momentum away from back-pedalling to forcing Wilder on to the ropes.Wilder was also penalized a point that round, keeping Chisora's hopes of winning a decision alive. An even ninth round was backed up by Wilder trying and failing to line up his rival in a round ten which ended with a Chisora looping right landing. Chisora was again knocked down and almost through the ropes midway through round eleven before Wilder went down, but neither was officially counted as knockdown even though they appeared to be legitimate.
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PBC undercard: Goodman wins IBF eliminator |
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Sam Goodman W12 Rodrigo Ruiz ... In the PBC co-feature in Wollongong, Australia, local man Sam Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs) took home a unanimous decision victory over Argentina’s Rodrigo Ruiz (23-2, 17 KOs) in a twelve-round IBF 122-pound title eliminator. A former world title challenger, the hometown favorite Goodman was buoyed on by the crowd as he showed off his versatile game against the rugged, come forward style of Ruiz. Goodman was especially effective landing power shots, connecting on over 51% while out landing Ruiz overall 225 to 157. Ruiz found success with left hands, especially early in the bout, but Goodman was able to adjust and stay out of danger, while consistently working in pot shots with the right hand. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in Goodman’s favor, with scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Rugby star turned heavyweight brawler Nelson Asofa Solomona (2-0, 2 Kos) defeat Jarrod Wallace (0-1) by third-round stoppage in their heavyweight slugfest. While Wallace had some success landing right hands across the first two rounds, Solomona found a home for a sharp right hand in round three that sent Wallace down, before following up with a second knockdown that ended the fight 1:03 into the frame.
2024 Australian Olympian Callum Peters (6-0. 6 KOs) took down the previously unbeaten Delio Mouzinho (4-1, 4 KOs) in the second round of their fast-paced middleweight clash. Peters and Mouzinho wasted no time going toe-to-toe, with Peters getting the best of the all-out brawl before punctuating the round with a series of thudding shots that put Mouzinho down. While his opponent was able to rise to his feet, Peters went right back to work early in round two, eventually connecting on a blistering straight right that dropped Mouzinho again and forced the stoppage 57 seconds into the round.
Opening the Prime Video card, Australian Olympian Paulo Aokuso (10-0, 5 KOs) earned a first-round knockout over Thai contender Kittipong Jian Hao Ho (13-2-1,12 KOs) after his opponent appeared to injure his knee in the opening seconds of the fight, before eventually being stopped 2:20 into the round. The light heavyweight Aokuso took advantage of his injured opponent, eventually finding the opening to drop him with just over a minute left in the round. The 28-year-old Aokuso followed up aggressively, quickly scoring a second knockdown that led to the stoppage being called by his opponent’s corner.
The event was promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.
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PBC undercard: Goodman wins IBF eliminator
Sam Goodman W12 Rodrigo Ruiz ... In the PBC co-feature in Wollongong, Australia, local man Sam Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs) took home a unanimous decision victory over Argentina’s Rodrigo Ruiz (23-2, 17 KOs) in a twelve-round IBF 122-pound title eliminator. A former world title challenger, the hometown favorite Goodman was buoyed on by the crowd as he showed off his versatile game against the rugged, come forward style of Ruiz. Goodman was especially effective landing power shots, connecting on over 51% while out landing Ruiz overall 225 to 157. Ruiz found success with left hands, especially early in the bout, but Goodman was able to adjust and stay out of danger, while consistently working in pot shots with the right hand. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in Goodman’s favor, with scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Rugby star turned heavyweight brawler Nelson Asofa Solomona (2-0, 2 Kos) defeat Jarrod Wallace (0-1) by third-round stoppage in their heavyweight slugfest. While Wallace had some success landing right hands across the first two rounds, Solomona found a home for a sharp right hand in round three that sent Wallace down, before following up with a second knockdown that ended the fight 1:03 into the frame.
2024 Australian Olympian Callum Peters (6-0. 6 KOs) took down the previously unbeaten Delio Mouzinho (4-1, 4 KOs) in the second round of their fast-paced middleweight clash. Peters and Mouzinho wasted no time going toe-to-toe, with Peters getting the best of the all-out brawl before punctuating the round with a series of thudding shots that put Mouzinho down. While his opponent was able to rise to his feet, Peters went right back to work early in round two, eventually connecting on a blistering straight right that dropped Mouzinho again and forced the stoppage 57 seconds into the round.
Opening the Prime Video card, Australian Olympian Paulo Aokuso (10-0, 5 KOs) earned a first-round knockout over Thai contender Kittipong Jian Hao Ho (13-2-1,12 KOs) after his opponent appeared to injure his knee in the opening seconds of the fight, before eventually being stopped 2:20 into the round. The light heavyweight Aokuso took advantage of his injured opponent, eventually finding the opening to drop him with just over a minute left in the round. The 28-year-old Aokuso followed up aggressively, quickly scoring a second knockdown that led to the stoppage being called by his opponent’s corner.
The event was promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Riley wins European championship |
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On the undercard at the O2 Arena in London, cruiserweight Viddal Riley defeated Mateusz Masternak to become the European champion. Now 14-0, Riley prevailed by unanimous decision. Scores were 119-109 and 118-110 (twice)... Denzel Bentley defeated Endry Saavedra by technical knockout at 1:38 of the seventh round to become the WBO interim middleweight title holder. The main WBO middleweight title still belongs to Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, whom the WBO refused to strip despite a positive test for a banned substance.... In the heavyweight division, Matty Harris defeated Franklin Ignatius by TKO at 0:20 of the second round... and in a middleweight match-up, Amir Anderson stopped Jordan Dujon by TKO in the eighth round.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Riley wins European championship
On the undercard at the O2 Arena in London, cruiserweight Viddal Riley defeated Mateusz Masternak to become the European champion. Now 14-0, Riley prevailed by unanimous decision. Scores were 119-109 and 118-110 (twice)... Denzel Bentley defeated Endry Saavedra by technical knockout at 1:38 of the seventh round to become the WBO interim middleweight title holder. The main WBO middleweight title still belongs to Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, whom the WBO refused to strip despite a positive test for a banned substance.... In the heavyweight division, Matty Harris defeated Franklin Ignatius by TKO at 0:20 of the second round... and in a middleweight match-up, Amir Anderson stopped Jordan Dujon by TKO in the eighth round.
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Boxing artist Richard Slone needs our help |
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There are people in boxing who fight under the lights…and there are those who spend a lifetime honoring the sport in ways the public rarely sees, but never forgets once they do. Richard Slone, the distinguished and talented artist, is one of those people. Long before many knew his name, Richard was living the boxing life. As a teenager, he came to the United States with a dream, and found himself under the guidance of the great Joe Frazier. Not just training, but learning. Absorbing the discipline, the sacrifice, and the soul of boxing from one of its greatest champions. That journey continued in Detroit, where Richard was in the gym alongside another icon of the sport, Emanuel Steward, the man who shaped champions from the Kronk Gym, and in many ways, helped shape Richard as well.
But Richard’s true canvas would not be the ring. It would be history itself. Over the years, he became one of boxing’s most respected artists, capturing the spirit, the violence, the beauty, and the humanity of the sport in a way few ever have. His work is not just art. It is preservation. He is the artist behind the iconic imagery associated with the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His paintings, larger than life, have immortalized the legends of this sport for generations to come.
And like so many great artists, he was shaped by greatness. His mentor, LeRoy Neiman, was himself a titan of sports art. That lineage is visible in every stroke of Richard’s work. But now, Richard Slone finds himself in the fight of his life. Recently diagnosed with oral cancer, Richard underwent life-altering surgery in California where approximately 50% of his tongue was removed. Multiple skin graft procedures followed in an effort to reconstruct his ability to speak and swallow.
As of this writing, he remains in the ICU, beginning a long and difficult road to recovery. In the weeks ahead, he will face chemotherapy and radiation, battles that will test him in ways no canvas ever could. And like so many fighters, inside and outside the ring, this fight comes with a burden no one should carry alone.
The medical costs are overwhelming. To those of you who may want to contribute to Richard’s Go Fund Me page, following is the link where you can make a contribution. Every donation, no matter how small, would be appreciated.
Richard has never been one to ask for help. Like many in boxing, he has always been the one giving, his time, his talent, his passion. Now, we are asking on his behalf. Boxing is a sport built on pride. On toughness. On the idea that you handle your business and keep moving forward. But at its best, boxing is also a community.
Richard Slone has spent a lifetime giving something to boxing that cannot be measured in purses or titles. He gave it memory. He gave it identity. He gave it art. Now, the sport, and the people in it, have an opportunity to give something back. If you know Richard, this is personal. If you know boxing, this matters.
Please consider supporting Richard Slone in his fight by contributing to his GoFundMe page and sharing his story with others in the boxing community. Because sometimes, the most important fights don’t happen under the lights. They happen when we decide to stand with one of our own.
Here is a sample of Richard's work:
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Boxing artist Richard Slone needs our help
There are people in boxing who fight under the lights…and there are those who spend a lifetime honoring the sport in ways the public rarely sees, but never forgets once they do. Richard Slone, the distinguished and talented artist, is one of those people. Long before many knew his name, Richard was living the boxing life. As a teenager, he came to the United States with a dream, and found himself under the guidance of the great Joe Frazier. Not just training, but learning. Absorbing the discipline, the sacrifice, and the soul of boxing from one of its greatest champions. That journey continued in Detroit, where Richard was in the gym alongside another icon of the sport, Emanuel Steward, the man who shaped champions from the Kronk Gym, and in many ways, helped shape Richard as well.
But Richard’s true canvas would not be the ring. It would be history itself. Over the years, he became one of boxing’s most respected artists, capturing the spirit, the violence, the beauty, and the humanity of the sport in a way few ever have. His work is not just art. It is preservation. He is the artist behind the iconic imagery associated with the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His paintings, larger than life, have immortalized the legends of this sport for generations to come.
And like so many great artists, he was shaped by greatness. His mentor, LeRoy Neiman, was himself a titan of sports art. That lineage is visible in every stroke of Richard’s work. But now, Richard Slone finds himself in the fight of his life. Recently diagnosed with oral cancer, Richard underwent life-altering surgery in California where approximately 50% of his tongue was removed. Multiple skin graft procedures followed in an effort to reconstruct his ability to speak and swallow.
As of this writing, he remains in the ICU, beginning a long and difficult road to recovery. In the weeks ahead, he will face chemotherapy and radiation, battles that will test him in ways no canvas ever could. And like so many fighters, inside and outside the ring, this fight comes with a burden no one should carry alone.
The medical costs are overwhelming. To those of you who may want to contribute to Richard’s Go Fund Me page, following is the link where you can make a contribution. Every donation, no matter how small, would be appreciated.
Richard has never been one to ask for help. Like many in boxing, he has always been the one giving, his time, his talent, his passion. Now, we are asking on his behalf. Boxing is a sport built on pride. On toughness. On the idea that you handle your business and keep moving forward. But at its best, boxing is also a community.
Richard Slone has spent a lifetime giving something to boxing that cannot be measured in purses or titles. He gave it memory. He gave it identity. He gave it art. Now, the sport, and the people in it, have an opportunity to give something back. If you know Richard, this is personal. If you know boxing, this matters.
Please consider supporting Richard Slone in his fight by contributing to his GoFundMe page and sharing his story with others in the boxing community. Because sometimes, the most important fights don’t happen under the lights. They happen when we decide to stand with one of our own.
Here is a sample of Richard's work:
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Tonight: Prime Video airs Tim Tszyu-headlined card |
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Former junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu takes on undefeated Albanian Denis Nurja atop a PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video card from the WIN Entertainment Centre in Australia. Tonight's Prime Video action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT (U.S. time) and will feature five fights in total, including a duel of top super bantamweights as Australia’s Sam Goodman takes on Argentina’s Rodrigo Ruiz in a 12-round IBF eliminator.
Plus, rugby star turned heavyweight Nelson Asofa Solomona steps in against Jarrod Wallace in a bout scheduled for four rounds, while 2024 Australian Olympian Callum Peters will put his perfect record on the line against fellow unbeaten Delio Mouzinho in eight rounds of middleweight action. Kicking off the card is rising Australian Olympian Paulo Aokuso battling veteran Thai contender Kittipong Jian Hao Ho in a ten-round light heavyweight affair.
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Tonight: Prime Video airs Tim Tszyu-headlined card
Former junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu takes on undefeated Albanian Denis Nurja atop a PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video card from the WIN Entertainment Centre in Australia. Tonight's Prime Video action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT (U.S. time) and will feature five fights in total, including a duel of top super bantamweights as Australia’s Sam Goodman takes on Argentina’s Rodrigo Ruiz in a 12-round IBF eliminator.
Plus, rugby star turned heavyweight Nelson Asofa Solomona steps in against Jarrod Wallace in a bout scheduled for four rounds, while 2024 Australian Olympian Callum Peters will put his perfect record on the line against fellow unbeaten Delio Mouzinho in eight rounds of middleweight action. Kicking off the card is rising Australian Olympian Paulo Aokuso battling veteran Thai contender Kittipong Jian Hao Ho in a ten-round light heavyweight affair.
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WBC to disregard UKAD suspension of Rodriguez for PEDs |
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Despite a two-year suspension from the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) handed out to Mexican flyweight Francisco Rodriguez Jr., the WBC will continue to allow Rodriguez to compete in WBC bouts. The WBC stripped Rodriguez of his interim title last year following a positive test for an illegal substance after a fight against Gala Yafai, but in a new ruling, the WBC accepted Rodriguez's explanation that the banned substance came from a sports drink. Here is the WBC's ruling:
On July 8, 2025, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez, Jr. and the WBC that the urine sample collected from him on June 21, 2025, in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in connection with his bout for the interim WBC flyweight championship against Galal Yafai, yielded an adverse analytical finding for Heptaminol (the “Adverse Finding”). Heptaminol is a known cardiac stimulant and vasodilator. Heptaminol is a metabolite of Octodrine. It is also a banned substance. On July 11, 2025, the WBC CBP Results Management Unit notified then-Champion Rodriguez of the Adverse Finding and of the start of its investigation of the circumstances that led to it. Soon after receiving the notification, Rodriguez’s representatives provided photographic evidence of a container and label of an energy enhancement supplement called Lipodrene. There is ample scientific literature support for the fact that supplements containing stimulants have also been found to include and/or be contaminated with Octodrine and other banned substances.
Rodriguez admitted to unintentionally ingesting a supplement that was likely contaminated with Octodrine. A significant extenuating fact is that Rodriguez reported the use of Lipodrene to the WBC CBP on his registration form. Therefore, in the view of the WBC, his consumption of Lipodrene was not an intentional or knowing ingestion of a banned substance with the purpose of enhancing his athletic performance.
The WBC and Rodriguez therefore entered into an Adjudication Agreement which: (a) placed him on probation for one year from the date of the sample collection; (b) vacated his WBC interim title; (c) changed the outcome of his victory against Galal Yafai to a No Contest; and (d) ordered a minimum of three random VADA anti-doping tests at Rodriguez’s sole cost during the probationary period. Three anti-doping tests have been conducted and all have yielded negative results.
Rodriguez has also participated in social responsibility events and he and his camp cooperated with the WBC CBP at all stages of the investigation of his adverse finding. He has complied with all conditions in the Adjudication Agreement.
The WBC has learned that on March 30th, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) notified Rodriguez that it had imposed a two-year period of ineligibility for the very same adverse finding described above.
The WBC legal counsel as well as the WBC CBP Results Management Unit have tried several times in prior cases to work together with UKAD in situations similar to Rodriguez’s. UKAD has never responded to the WBC’s overtures and does not recognize the WBC CBP nor its results management rulings or Adjudication Agreements.
The Rodriguez vs. Yafai bout took place under the authority of the WBC [as well as the British Board of Boxing Control]. In light of the WBC/Rodriguez fair and just Adjudication Agreement, the WBC will continue to allow Rodriguez to compete in WBC bouts.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
MARCH 30, 2026: According to UKAD, Mexican flyweight Francisco Rodriguez Jr. has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sports competitions for two years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of prohibited substances. On June 21, 2025, UKAD collected a urine sample from Rodriguez, after his bout against Galal Yafai in Birmingham, England. Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAFs) for the prohibited substances octodrine and its metabolite, heptaminol, in addition to an AAF for oxilofrine. Octodrine, heptaminol and oxilofrine are specified substances that are prohibited in-competition only. The problem here is that Rodriguez won the Yafai bout by unanimous decision, making him the WBC interim champion at the time. The WBC has given Yafai the interim title but still ranks Rodriguez as the #1 contender. Rodriguez won another fight in Mexico in October.
UKAD notified Rodriguez of his adverse analytical findings and imposed a provisional suspension. Having received no response to the notice, UKAD subsequently charged him with both ADRVs. Still, Rodriguez provided UKAD with no response to the charge, despite multiple efforts to contact the boxer across various channels. UKAD did not assert that the ADRVs were intentional and imposed a two-year period of Ineligibility. The ban is deemed to have begun on July 30th 2025 (the date of the provisional suspension) and will expire on July 29, 2027
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WBC to disregard UKAD suspension of Rodriguez for PEDs
Despite a two-year suspension from the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) handed out to Mexican flyweight Francisco Rodriguez Jr., the WBC will continue to allow Rodriguez to compete in WBC bouts. The WBC stripped Rodriguez of his interim title last year following a positive test for an illegal substance after a fight against Gala Yafai, but in a new ruling, the WBC accepted Rodriguez's explanation that the banned substance came from a sports drink. Here is the WBC's ruling:
On July 8, 2025, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez, Jr. and the WBC that the urine sample collected from him on June 21, 2025, in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in connection with his bout for the interim WBC flyweight championship against Galal Yafai, yielded an adverse analytical finding for Heptaminol (the “Adverse Finding”). Heptaminol is a known cardiac stimulant and vasodilator. Heptaminol is a metabolite of Octodrine. It is also a banned substance. On July 11, 2025, the WBC CBP Results Management Unit notified then-Champion Rodriguez of the Adverse Finding and of the start of its investigation of the circumstances that led to it. Soon after receiving the notification, Rodriguez’s representatives provided photographic evidence of a container and label of an energy enhancement supplement called Lipodrene. There is ample scientific literature support for the fact that supplements containing stimulants have also been found to include and/or be contaminated with Octodrine and other banned substances.
Rodriguez admitted to unintentionally ingesting a supplement that was likely contaminated with Octodrine. A significant extenuating fact is that Rodriguez reported the use of Lipodrene to the WBC CBP on his registration form. Therefore, in the view of the WBC, his consumption of Lipodrene was not an intentional or knowing ingestion of a banned substance with the purpose of enhancing his athletic performance.
The WBC and Rodriguez therefore entered into an Adjudication Agreement which: (a) placed him on probation for one year from the date of the sample collection; (b) vacated his WBC interim title; (c) changed the outcome of his victory against Galal Yafai to a No Contest; and (d) ordered a minimum of three random VADA anti-doping tests at Rodriguez’s sole cost during the probationary period. Three anti-doping tests have been conducted and all have yielded negative results.
Rodriguez has also participated in social responsibility events and he and his camp cooperated with the WBC CBP at all stages of the investigation of his adverse finding. He has complied with all conditions in the Adjudication Agreement.
The WBC has learned that on March 30th, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) notified Rodriguez that it had imposed a two-year period of ineligibility for the very same adverse finding described above.
The WBC legal counsel as well as the WBC CBP Results Management Unit have tried several times in prior cases to work together with UKAD in situations similar to Rodriguez’s. UKAD has never responded to the WBC’s overtures and does not recognize the WBC CBP nor its results management rulings or Adjudication Agreements.
The Rodriguez vs. Yafai bout took place under the authority of the WBC [as well as the British Board of Boxing Control]. In light of the WBC/Rodriguez fair and just Adjudication Agreement, the WBC will continue to allow Rodriguez to compete in WBC bouts.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
MARCH 30, 2026: According to UKAD, Mexican flyweight Francisco Rodriguez Jr. has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sports competitions for two years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of prohibited substances. On June 21, 2025, UKAD collected a urine sample from Rodriguez, after his bout against Galal Yafai in Birmingham, England. Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAFs) for the prohibited substances octodrine and its metabolite, heptaminol, in addition to an AAF for oxilofrine. Octodrine, heptaminol and oxilofrine are specified substances that are prohibited in-competition only. The problem here is that Rodriguez won the Yafai bout by unanimous decision, making him the WBC interim champion at the time. The WBC has given Yafai the interim title but still ranks Rodriguez as the #1 contender. Rodriguez won another fight in Mexico in October.
UKAD notified Rodriguez of his adverse analytical findings and imposed a provisional suspension. Having received no response to the notice, UKAD subsequently charged him with both ADRVs. Still, Rodriguez provided UKAD with no response to the charge, despite multiple efforts to contact the boxer across various channels. UKAD did not assert that the ADRVs were intentional and imposed a two-year period of Ineligibility. The ban is deemed to have begun on July 30th 2025 (the date of the provisional suspension) and will expire on July 29, 2027
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Weigh-in report from London |
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Some fighters in boxing are content being in the background and doing what the people around them want to do. And there's nothing wrong with doing that, so they can just focus on fighting and nothing else. But some fighters don't want to do it that way and want to be involved in every aspect.Count former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder among the latter group heading into Saturday's battle with British slugger Derek Chisora on Saturday from the O2 Arena in London, live and exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view. "I'm not a sheep," Wilder said on "Wilder, Louder Uncut", which can be seen on DAZN.com. "Most kinds of people in this world are sheep, just follow behind each other because they don't have their own mindset."
At Friday's weigh-in, Chisora (36-23, 23 KOs) came to the scales first and weighed 266.7 pounds. Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) made his way next and tipped the scales at 226.4 pounds.
Just because Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) has that mentality about people, that doesn't mean he doesn't believe they have the potential to step outside of the realm. "We all have a creative mind," Wilder said. "But, it's up to you to use it. And that's free. Some people just disable their mindset, their creativity of what they can do in this world, because they live in fear. I don't live in fear.
Many fighters are afraid to speak their mind because they don't want to ruffle any feathers. Wilder can care less and will always stay true to himself. "I'm unapologetic for the things I say," Wilder said. "Because if I said and I speak from my heart, I meant it. If I do something, I meant it. I live life without regrets."
The Wilder-Chisora fight, which takes place in London, is also included in the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription package, which means you would not need to purchase this PPV individually at an extra cost.
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Weigh-in report from London
Some fighters in boxing are content being in the background and doing what the people around them want to do. And there's nothing wrong with doing that, so they can just focus on fighting and nothing else. But some fighters don't want to do it that way and want to be involved in every aspect.Count former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder among the latter group heading into Saturday's battle with British slugger Derek Chisora on Saturday from the O2 Arena in London, live and exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view. "I'm not a sheep," Wilder said on "Wilder, Louder Uncut", which can be seen on DAZN.com. "Most kinds of people in this world are sheep, just follow behind each other because they don't have their own mindset."
At Friday's weigh-in, Chisora (36-23, 23 KOs) came to the scales first and weighed 266.7 pounds. Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) made his way next and tipped the scales at 226.4 pounds.
Just because Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) has that mentality about people, that doesn't mean he doesn't believe they have the potential to step outside of the realm. "We all have a creative mind," Wilder said. "But, it's up to you to use it. And that's free. Some people just disable their mindset, their creativity of what they can do in this world, because they live in fear. I don't live in fear.
Many fighters are afraid to speak their mind because they don't want to ruffle any feathers. Wilder can care less and will always stay true to himself. "I'm unapologetic for the things I say," Wilder said. "Because if I said and I speak from my heart, I meant it. If I do something, I meant it. I live life without regrets."
The Wilder-Chisora fight, which takes place in London, is also included in the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription package, which means you would not need to purchase this PPV individually at an extra cost.
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Full list of bouts for Zuffa 05 |
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Here is the full list of bouts-- in running order-- for Zuffa Boxing 05, which is set for Sunday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The prelims start at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT, followed by the main card 9pm ET/6pm PT.
featherweight - Troy Nash vs Bryan Rodriguez;
Welterweight - Jorge Maravillo vs Elias Diaz;
Lightweight - Robert Meriwether III vs Tony Hirsch Jr.;
Featherweight - Alexis De La Cerda vs Ervin Fuller III;
Featherweight - Azat Hovhannisyan vs Eduardo Baez;
Lightweight - Co-Main Event: Mark Magsayo vs Feargal McCrory; and
Lightweight - Main Event: Andres Cortes vs Eridson Garcia.
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Full list of bouts for Zuffa 05
Here is the full list of bouts-- in running order-- for Zuffa Boxing 05, which is set for Sunday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The prelims start at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT, followed by the main card 9pm ET/6pm PT.
featherweight - Troy Nash vs Bryan Rodriguez;
Welterweight - Jorge Maravillo vs Elias Diaz;
Lightweight - Robert Meriwether III vs Tony Hirsch Jr.;
Featherweight - Alexis De La Cerda vs Ervin Fuller III;
Featherweight - Azat Hovhannisyan vs Eduardo Baez;
Lightweight - Co-Main Event: Mark Magsayo vs Feargal McCrory; and
Lightweight - Main Event: Andres Cortes vs Eridson Garcia.
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McCrory primed for Zuffa boxing on Sunday |
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Lightweight Feargal McCrory plans on delivering on his promises on Sunday night as he makes his Zuffa Boxing debut. A former 130-pound title challenger, McCrory takes on former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo in the co-feature of Zuffa Boxing 05 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, and the straight-talking Irishman already feels right at home in his new surroundings at Zuffa Boxing. “There's no snakes, everything’s straight up, everyone knows what they're doing. There's nothing where people don't know what's happening. You know you're going to be in hard fights. You're going to be in great fights. I believe it's going to bring the glamor back to this sport. The opportunities that I'm craving are the biggest opportunities out there, you know? Give me the biggest fighter you’ve got, and we go, no problem.”
McCrory’s passion for boxing began at an early age, when his father, himself a former boxer, took him to his local boxing club in Tyrone, where the experience of being in an old-school boxing gym left a lasting impression on him. “I was six when I first went,” he remembered. “I’ve had a few breaks in between there as I grew up. But I loved it. I loved the smell. The smell of the bags, the sound of the ropes, the thumping of the bag. I loved it. And what keeps me fighting now is my family. I have a wife and three kids at home, and, yeah, they inspire me.”
He also has vivid memories of his first professional fight, when he pulled on a set of gloves for a pro fight for the very first time. “I remember the gloves came in and I put my hand in the glove, and was my first time putting my hand in that little eight-ounce glove. And I remember thinking, ‘Whoa! This is serious! Now this is it!’ I remember walking out and the crowd, and you always dream of it as you grew up as a kid, of fighting professionally and coming out to the music and the noise and the atmosphere. And I’d sold loads of tickets. I'm so lucky. I'm so, so lucky that my local community and people support me as they do, and I'm so blessed. But the noise when I walked out for my first fight… oh, incredible! And it only lasted like 25 seconds or something! The guy fell down, and I didn't even hit him! I threw a body shot and hit his arm. I distinctly remembered hitting his arm, but I sort of remember saying to myself, ‘I found my range.’ And he went down, and I thought, ‘Yeah, this is easy! This game is easy!’ But you learn as you go on. It's not easy.”
Despite that early realization that life as a professional boxer was going to push him beyond what he thought possible, McCrory embraced the grind as he threw himself into his training. Now, he lives for it. “I miss it when I'm not doing it. I like getting my break, my week, or my two weeks off. I enjoy my break, but I love getting back into it,” he admitted. “I love the structure around training camp. I love the competitiveness of waking up when it's raining outside or snowing outside, but I’ve got to go. I love that. I love that challenge on me. I love the preparation, but I love the fight. I love the fight. I love everything around the fight. And yeah, I'm very happy at what I do.”
That dedication to preparation is one of the major reasons why he’s in Las Vegas this week. The 33-year-old has been a pro for 10 years and has built a record of 17 wins against just one defeat. And on Sunday night, he faces former WBC featherweight champion Magsayo in a huge fight for the Zuffa Boxing lightweight division. It’s a matchup he’s looking forward to immensely. “I think our styles will gel incredibly well,” he suggested. “He comes forward, I come forward. Now, we don’t just bomb forward and throw unnecessary punches and hope. It’s educated pressure. We know what we’re doing. I think it’s a great fight, I really do. The minute it was offered to me, I jumped on it right away.”
And when he did, he threw himself into his training to ensure that he’s prepared for whatever Magsayo can throw at him on fight night. “I believe you have to make yourself comfortable being uncomfortable,” he explained. “Psychologically, going into the fight, I know that no matter what faces me, I've prepared for it. My miles are in my legs, the rounds are in the bank. Everything's ready to go, and it gives you a great sense of belief. Confidence comes through preparation. I prepare the best I can. Like I said about the rain and the snow, and when I go out running on my sprints and my training, and even, like the other day in New York, it was closed down with a blizzard. ‘You can take the day off, Feargal. You don't have to come in.’ Yes, I do. That psychology of ‘nothing else in the world matters’ – as selfishly as that sounds, as I prepare for battle, nothing matters. I have to prepare every day. I don't miss. And when I go into that ring, I know within me that I'm ready to fight. And yeah, especially in a fight like this, I’ve got to be ready.”
McCrory is ready for the challenge ahead, and ultimately, he has his sights set on winning a Zuffa Boxing championship. But first he has to get his Zuffa Boxing career off to a winning start, and that means defeating Magsayo.
In addition to victory, McCrory hopes he can showcase the sort of fighting style that could make him an instant fan-favorite in Zuffa Boxing. “I hope they just see the resilience, the fight, the will to win, the sacrifices I make to be there and to prepare. And yeah, I think they'll fall in love with my style,” he said. “I come to pressure, throw lots of shots. You won't have to go looking for me. For my opponent, I hope I don't have to go looking for you, either, and we can really put a show on for the fans.”
And, having laid out his fighting manifesto ahead of his Zuffa Boxing debut, there’s just one thing he wants the fans to be saying about him as they leave Meta Apex after his fight on Sunday night. “He told you so.”
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McCrory primed for Zuffa boxing on Sunday
Lightweight Feargal McCrory plans on delivering on his promises on Sunday night as he makes his Zuffa Boxing debut. A former 130-pound title challenger, McCrory takes on former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo in the co-feature of Zuffa Boxing 05 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, and the straight-talking Irishman already feels right at home in his new surroundings at Zuffa Boxing. “There's no snakes, everything’s straight up, everyone knows what they're doing. There's nothing where people don't know what's happening. You know you're going to be in hard fights. You're going to be in great fights. I believe it's going to bring the glamor back to this sport. The opportunities that I'm craving are the biggest opportunities out there, you know? Give me the biggest fighter you’ve got, and we go, no problem.”
McCrory’s passion for boxing began at an early age, when his father, himself a former boxer, took him to his local boxing club in Tyrone, where the experience of being in an old-school boxing gym left a lasting impression on him. “I was six when I first went,” he remembered. “I’ve had a few breaks in between there as I grew up. But I loved it. I loved the smell. The smell of the bags, the sound of the ropes, the thumping of the bag. I loved it. And what keeps me fighting now is my family. I have a wife and three kids at home, and, yeah, they inspire me.”
He also has vivid memories of his first professional fight, when he pulled on a set of gloves for a pro fight for the very first time. “I remember the gloves came in and I put my hand in the glove, and was my first time putting my hand in that little eight-ounce glove. And I remember thinking, ‘Whoa! This is serious! Now this is it!’ I remember walking out and the crowd, and you always dream of it as you grew up as a kid, of fighting professionally and coming out to the music and the noise and the atmosphere. And I’d sold loads of tickets. I'm so lucky. I'm so, so lucky that my local community and people support me as they do, and I'm so blessed. But the noise when I walked out for my first fight… oh, incredible! And it only lasted like 25 seconds or something! The guy fell down, and I didn't even hit him! I threw a body shot and hit his arm. I distinctly remembered hitting his arm, but I sort of remember saying to myself, ‘I found my range.’ And he went down, and I thought, ‘Yeah, this is easy! This game is easy!’ But you learn as you go on. It's not easy.”
Despite that early realization that life as a professional boxer was going to push him beyond what he thought possible, McCrory embraced the grind as he threw himself into his training. Now, he lives for it. “I miss it when I'm not doing it. I like getting my break, my week, or my two weeks off. I enjoy my break, but I love getting back into it,” he admitted. “I love the structure around training camp. I love the competitiveness of waking up when it's raining outside or snowing outside, but I’ve got to go. I love that. I love that challenge on me. I love the preparation, but I love the fight. I love the fight. I love everything around the fight. And yeah, I'm very happy at what I do.”
That dedication to preparation is one of the major reasons why he’s in Las Vegas this week. The 33-year-old has been a pro for 10 years and has built a record of 17 wins against just one defeat. And on Sunday night, he faces former WBC featherweight champion Magsayo in a huge fight for the Zuffa Boxing lightweight division. It’s a matchup he’s looking forward to immensely. “I think our styles will gel incredibly well,” he suggested. “He comes forward, I come forward. Now, we don’t just bomb forward and throw unnecessary punches and hope. It’s educated pressure. We know what we’re doing. I think it’s a great fight, I really do. The minute it was offered to me, I jumped on it right away.”
And when he did, he threw himself into his training to ensure that he’s prepared for whatever Magsayo can throw at him on fight night. “I believe you have to make yourself comfortable being uncomfortable,” he explained. “Psychologically, going into the fight, I know that no matter what faces me, I've prepared for it. My miles are in my legs, the rounds are in the bank. Everything's ready to go, and it gives you a great sense of belief. Confidence comes through preparation. I prepare the best I can. Like I said about the rain and the snow, and when I go out running on my sprints and my training, and even, like the other day in New York, it was closed down with a blizzard. ‘You can take the day off, Feargal. You don't have to come in.’ Yes, I do. That psychology of ‘nothing else in the world matters’ – as selfishly as that sounds, as I prepare for battle, nothing matters. I have to prepare every day. I don't miss. And when I go into that ring, I know within me that I'm ready to fight. And yeah, especially in a fight like this, I’ve got to be ready.”
McCrory is ready for the challenge ahead, and ultimately, he has his sights set on winning a Zuffa Boxing championship. But first he has to get his Zuffa Boxing career off to a winning start, and that means defeating Magsayo.
In addition to victory, McCrory hopes he can showcase the sort of fighting style that could make him an instant fan-favorite in Zuffa Boxing. “I hope they just see the resilience, the fight, the will to win, the sacrifices I make to be there and to prepare. And yeah, I think they'll fall in love with my style,” he said. “I come to pressure, throw lots of shots. You won't have to go looking for me. For my opponent, I hope I don't have to go looking for you, either, and we can really put a show on for the fans.”
And, having laid out his fighting manifesto ahead of his Zuffa Boxing debut, there’s just one thing he wants the fans to be saying about him as they leave Meta Apex after his fight on Sunday night. “He told you so.”
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Quincy, MA show booked for May 16th |
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An intriguing light heavyweight bout between contrasting-styled Massachusetts fighters, Bobby “Lights Out” Laing (2-0, 2 KOs) and Russ Kimber (3-3, 1 KO), could steal the May 16th “Rumble at the Rink II” show, presented by Granite Chin Promotions at the Quincy Youth Arena in Quincy, Massachusetts. Fighting out of Braintree, Laing is a ‘graduate’ of Barstool Sports’ now defunct Rough N’ Rowdy events, which Laing described as semi-professional boxing because fighters were paid. He fought in 11 Rough N’ Rowdy fights – it was very popular in the South – and when it dissolved, he turned pro in boxing and has had two fights to date.
“Rough N’ Rowdy was my amateur boxing,” correction officer Laing said. “I’ve carried my popularity into boxing. I hope to be 3-0 after this fight and keep going from there. I want to keep winning and position myself for a big fight. I was known as a brawler, but I’ve changed my style. I think this fight will be pretty fast paced. There are only 4 rounds and no time for feeling out. We’ll start fighting and keep it going all the way.”
Kimber has a much different fighting background than his opponent in their scheduled four-round fight. The fitness instructor who lives in Salem and has strong roots in Peabody is a ‘legacy’ fighter. His father, Dick “The Destroyer” Kimber, and his uncle, Tommy “The Terminator” Kimber, were legendary kickboxers from Lynn (MA). Dick and Tommy, respectively, were three and five-time world champions. “I’ve carried on the Kimber name because I’m a fighter,” Russ explained, “but I’m different from them because I’m a boxer and they were kickboxers. I’ve taken my own path. I know my opponent was in ‘Rough N’ Rowdy’ and that he’s working on his game and craft. I think he’ll come out aggressively until he starts to tier. From his ‘Rough N’ Rowdy’ days, I expect him to come out swinging. I plan to use my boxing skills from the outside. I adapt to my opponent, so I’ll go inside and see how he handles that. I never go into a fight looking for a knockout, I just land my punches.”
Former world-ranked boxer Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (31-6, 11 KOs), four years since his last fight, returns to the ring to headline “Rumble at the Rink II” in an eight-round junior welterweight bout. A 36-year-old MBTA police officer, Kielczweski was a standout amateur boxer with a 118-26 record, winning silver at the 2008 National Golden Gloves and earning two New England Golden Gloves titles. He won his first 22 pro bouts between 2008 and 2015. The lifelong Quincy resident hasn’t fought at home since December 10, 2016. May 16th will be his third pro career fight at home.
Another local favorite, Milton (MA) super bantamweight Jenn Perella, fighting out of nearby Milton, faces Kate Radomska, of Waterford, Ireland. She was a silver medalist in the 2024 National Golden Gloves Tournament, as well as a 2016 New England Golden Gloves Champion. All the action will be streamed on www.BXNGTV.com live from the Quincy Youth Arena.
Granite Chin Promotions has teamed up once again with the Quincy Fire Cancer Foundation. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to this non-profit organization whose mission is to provide unwavering support to firefighters and their families as they face the challenges of occupational cancer, ensuring they receive the care, resources, and assistance they need. Go to www.quincyfirecancerfoundation.com for additional information.
Famed combat sports personality Butterbean, will make a special appearance to referee a professional little people's wrestling match between the Cambodian Dragon vs. Walter, presented by Midget Mayhem Wrestling. Granite Chin will also host a “Fan Zone” in which Butterbean and local boxing legend, “Irish” Micky Ward, will hold separate meet-and-greets at 7 p.m. ET for fans in attendance. Also, as part of the experience, Bud Light, WMEX and more to be announced will set up areas featuring giveaways and entertainment to make this night a truly unique experience.
Card subject to change. Tickets are available for purchase at https://events.ticketleap.com/events/granite-chin-promotions.com.
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Quincy, MA show booked for May 16th
An intriguing light heavyweight bout between contrasting-styled Massachusetts fighters, Bobby “Lights Out” Laing (2-0, 2 KOs) and Russ Kimber (3-3, 1 KO), could steal the May 16th “Rumble at the Rink II” show, presented by Granite Chin Promotions at the Quincy Youth Arena in Quincy, Massachusetts. Fighting out of Braintree, Laing is a ‘graduate’ of Barstool Sports’ now defunct Rough N’ Rowdy events, which Laing described as semi-professional boxing because fighters were paid. He fought in 11 Rough N’ Rowdy fights – it was very popular in the South – and when it dissolved, he turned pro in boxing and has had two fights to date.
“Rough N’ Rowdy was my amateur boxing,” correction officer Laing said. “I’ve carried my popularity into boxing. I hope to be 3-0 after this fight and keep going from there. I want to keep winning and position myself for a big fight. I was known as a brawler, but I’ve changed my style. I think this fight will be pretty fast paced. There are only 4 rounds and no time for feeling out. We’ll start fighting and keep it going all the way.”
Kimber has a much different fighting background than his opponent in their scheduled four-round fight. The fitness instructor who lives in Salem and has strong roots in Peabody is a ‘legacy’ fighter. His father, Dick “The Destroyer” Kimber, and his uncle, Tommy “The Terminator” Kimber, were legendary kickboxers from Lynn (MA). Dick and Tommy, respectively, were three and five-time world champions. “I’ve carried on the Kimber name because I’m a fighter,” Russ explained, “but I’m different from them because I’m a boxer and they were kickboxers. I’ve taken my own path. I know my opponent was in ‘Rough N’ Rowdy’ and that he’s working on his game and craft. I think he’ll come out aggressively until he starts to tier. From his ‘Rough N’ Rowdy’ days, I expect him to come out swinging. I plan to use my boxing skills from the outside. I adapt to my opponent, so I’ll go inside and see how he handles that. I never go into a fight looking for a knockout, I just land my punches.”
Former world-ranked boxer Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (31-6, 11 KOs), four years since his last fight, returns to the ring to headline “Rumble at the Rink II” in an eight-round junior welterweight bout. A 36-year-old MBTA police officer, Kielczweski was a standout amateur boxer with a 118-26 record, winning silver at the 2008 National Golden Gloves and earning two New England Golden Gloves titles. He won his first 22 pro bouts between 2008 and 2015. The lifelong Quincy resident hasn’t fought at home since December 10, 2016. May 16th will be his third pro career fight at home.
Another local favorite, Milton (MA) super bantamweight Jenn Perella, fighting out of nearby Milton, faces Kate Radomska, of Waterford, Ireland. She was a silver medalist in the 2024 National Golden Gloves Tournament, as well as a 2016 New England Golden Gloves Champion. All the action will be streamed on www.BXNGTV.com live from the Quincy Youth Arena.
Granite Chin Promotions has teamed up once again with the Quincy Fire Cancer Foundation. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to this non-profit organization whose mission is to provide unwavering support to firefighters and their families as they face the challenges of occupational cancer, ensuring they receive the care, resources, and assistance they need. Go to www.quincyfirecancerfoundation.com for additional information.
Famed combat sports personality Butterbean, will make a special appearance to referee a professional little people's wrestling match between the Cambodian Dragon vs. Walter, presented by Midget Mayhem Wrestling. Granite Chin will also host a “Fan Zone” in which Butterbean and local boxing legend, “Irish” Micky Ward, will hold separate meet-and-greets at 7 p.m. ET for fans in attendance. Also, as part of the experience, Bud Light, WMEX and more to be announced will set up areas featuring giveaways and entertainment to make this night a truly unique experience.
Card subject to change. Tickets are available for purchase at https://events.ticketleap.com/events/granite-chin-promotions.com.
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Twelve-bout show set for San Antonio on Saturday |
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Fists and Glory is set to bring a full night of professional boxing action this Saturday night in San Antonio. Twelve bouts in all are scheduled to take place. The main event will be a rematch between Corey Caad (9-9, 3 KOs) of Seguin, Texas against Jesus "Nino de Oro" Maldonado (8-16-1. 4 KOs) of Laredo, Texas. It will be a rematch, in the middleweight division, of their previous encounter in December when Maldonado was victorious via majority decision. Tickets can be purchased at Fistsandglory.com. Opening bell is 7PM and the event will take place at Rancho El Chema. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will serve as the ring announcer.
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Twelve-bout show set for San Antonio on Saturday
Fists and Glory is set to bring a full night of professional boxing action this Saturday night in San Antonio. Twelve bouts in all are scheduled to take place. The main event will be a rematch between Corey Caad (9-9, 3 KOs) of Seguin, Texas against Jesus "Nino de Oro" Maldonado (8-16-1. 4 KOs) of Laredo, Texas. It will be a rematch, in the middleweight division, of their previous encounter in December when Maldonado was victorious via majority decision. Tickets can be purchased at Fistsandglory.com. Opening bell is 7PM and the event will take place at Rancho El Chema. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will serve as the ring announcer.
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Chisora says he will retire Wilder on Saturday, then retire himself |
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Heavyweight legends Derek Chisora and ex-champ Deontay Wilder square off this Saturday, April 4th at London's O2 Arena, exclusively on DAZN PPV. Once a villain but now a hero, Chisora has loved being a fan favorite during a rollercoaster career. On Saturday night, he walks to the ring one last time, to face the former longtime WBC champion. A fiftieth pro bout for both men, Chisora has vowed he will retire regardless of the outcome. Wilder, on the other hand, still has his sights set on winning another world title. Chisora has other thoughts: "He thinks it's just me retiring after this, he's wrong!"
The days of throwing tables during press conferences and biting opponents appear to be long gone for Chisora. But the Finchley slugger, age 42, cannot wait to hear his name ring around a familiar venue once again. And as you would expect, he is relishing his post-fight ritual of tucking into a Five Guys after boxing at the arena for the eleventh time. Speaking exclusively to DAZN News, Del Boy said: “The O2 is beautiful, man. I love it. “It’s a good feeling to hear my name chanted. They used to boo me. I’d walk out to boos and I was like f—k me, they hate me. But I didn’t give a s—t because they were paying to watch me. Now, they love me, which is nice. It's a good feeling.”
Despite claims from the likes of Carl Froch that Wilder is a spent force, a fighter boasting 43 knockouts from 44 victories cannot be underestimated. Whether it turns out to be a quick night’s work or a twelve-round slugfest, Chisora admits it will be an evening of mixed feelings. He added: “It will be an emotional, stressful night. As for Froch, he needs to stop talking c—p and fight John Fury. My money is on Fury [if that fight happens]."
Many boxers find retirement hard to handle and can be lured back into the ring for one final hurrah — or even more. But Chisora maintains this is the last time we will see him in action. He said: “I’m done. I thought I'd be done by 25 fights. But the game is so addictive I had to carry on. Now, though, I’m done. Make sure you tune in on DAZN pay-per-view. You don't want to miss this — it’s going to be delicious.”
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Chisora says he will retire Wilder on Saturday, then retire himself
Heavyweight legends Derek Chisora and ex-champ Deontay Wilder square off this Saturday, April 4th at London's O2 Arena, exclusively on DAZN PPV. Once a villain but now a hero, Chisora has loved being a fan favorite during a rollercoaster career. On Saturday night, he walks to the ring one last time, to face the former longtime WBC champion. A fiftieth pro bout for both men, Chisora has vowed he will retire regardless of the outcome. Wilder, on the other hand, still has his sights set on winning another world title. Chisora has other thoughts: "He thinks it's just me retiring after this, he's wrong!"
The days of throwing tables during press conferences and biting opponents appear to be long gone for Chisora. But the Finchley slugger, age 42, cannot wait to hear his name ring around a familiar venue once again. And as you would expect, he is relishing his post-fight ritual of tucking into a Five Guys after boxing at the arena for the eleventh time. Speaking exclusively to DAZN News, Del Boy said: “The O2 is beautiful, man. I love it. “It’s a good feeling to hear my name chanted. They used to boo me. I’d walk out to boos and I was like f—k me, they hate me. But I didn’t give a s—t because they were paying to watch me. Now, they love me, which is nice. It's a good feeling.”
Despite claims from the likes of Carl Froch that Wilder is a spent force, a fighter boasting 43 knockouts from 44 victories cannot be underestimated. Whether it turns out to be a quick night’s work or a twelve-round slugfest, Chisora admits it will be an evening of mixed feelings. He added: “It will be an emotional, stressful night. As for Froch, he needs to stop talking c—p and fight John Fury. My money is on Fury [if that fight happens]."
Many boxers find retirement hard to handle and can be lured back into the ring for one final hurrah — or even more. But Chisora maintains this is the last time we will see him in action. He said: “I’m done. I thought I'd be done by 25 fights. But the game is so addictive I had to carry on. Now, though, I’m done. Make sure you tune in on DAZN pay-per-view. You don't want to miss this — it’s going to be delicious.”
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Ex-champ Magsayo returns on Sunday |
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On Sunday in Las Vegas, Zuffa Boxing returns with its fifth show (Zuffa Boxing 05) in Las Vegas. Filipino fan-favorite Mark Magsayo returns to action against Ireland’s Feargal McCrory in a ten-round matchup at 135 pounds. Magsayo (pictured) is a former WBC featherweight champion, having defeated long-time champ Gary Russell in 2022 then losing his first defense to Rey Vargas. A Filipino fan-favorite, Magsayo heads into Sunday night with a 28-2 resumé that includes 18 knockouts. The 30-year old has been away from the ring for more than eight months, but he's now a Las Vegas-based lightweight looking to build on a four-fight win streak following a 2023 loss to Brandon Figueroa.
Magsayo will face off against McCrory, who is ending his own one-year hiatus and will be making his Zuffa Boxing debut. The 33-year-old, who fights out of New York, arrives in Vegas with a 17-1 record, and a reputation for getting into the trenches with his opponents. McCrory’s lone defeat came in a 130-pound title challenge against Lamont Roach in 2024, but since then, the Irishman has bounced back since, getting off the canvas to stop Keenan Carbajal in the eighth round on St Patrick’s Day 2025.
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Ex-champ Magsayo returns on Sunday
On Sunday in Las Vegas, Zuffa Boxing returns with its fifth show (Zuffa Boxing 05) in Las Vegas. Filipino fan-favorite Mark Magsayo returns to action against Ireland’s Feargal McCrory in a ten-round matchup at 135 pounds. Magsayo (pictured) is a former WBC featherweight champion, having defeated long-time champ Gary Russell in 2022 then losing his first defense to Rey Vargas. A Filipino fan-favorite, Magsayo heads into Sunday night with a 28-2 resumé that includes 18 knockouts. The 30-year old has been away from the ring for more than eight months, but he's now a Las Vegas-based lightweight looking to build on a four-fight win streak following a 2023 loss to Brandon Figueroa.
Magsayo will face off against McCrory, who is ending his own one-year hiatus and will be making his Zuffa Boxing debut. The 33-year-old, who fights out of New York, arrives in Vegas with a 17-1 record, and a reputation for getting into the trenches with his opponents. McCrory’s lone defeat came in a 130-pound title challenge against Lamont Roach in 2024, but since then, the Irishman has bounced back since, getting off the canvas to stop Keenan Carbajal in the eighth round on St Patrick’s Day 2025.
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Martinez looks to rehabilitate his career after PED issues |
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Wise Owl Boxing anounced the signing of former champion Julio César Martínez. Once recognized as one of boxing’s most fan-friendly fighters, Martinez now joins Wise Owl, a company headed by Mark Habibi. Martinez will be co-managed by respected boxing figure Miguel Lopez. Together, the team is committed to guiding Martinez back to the pinnacle of the sport. Martinez (20-4) fought once in 2025 in Mexico. He vacated his flyweight title in 2024 and was caught with banned performance-enhancing substances in his system. According to ESPN in June 2024, Martinez was suspended for nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for three banned substances (diuretics and masking agents).
“We’re very excited about this signing,” said Habibi. “Julio Cesar Martinez is a proven world champion with a massive fan base and a style that fans love. He brings energy, personality, and excitement every time he steps into the ring. Our goal is clear — to bring him back to the championship level and help him regain a world title.”
With Wise Owl Boxing now steering his career, Martinez is positioned for a strong return, with major opportunities on the horizon. “This is a huge addition to our team,” Habibi added. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Wise Owl family and excited for what’s ahead.”
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
AUG. 14, 2024: Disgraced former WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martínez opened up to the press and talked about his experience of the positive doping test that caused him to be stripped of his title. Martinez said it was very painful when he was told that he had tested positive for doping, because in his opinion he had only taken a tea that would help him lose the last few kilos to make the weight, without knowing that it contained a prohibited substance. He recognized his responsibility, because as an athlete he knows that he should know everything he consumes and avoid trusting people who put at risk not only his health but also his rival’s. At this point, the president of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaiman, paused to recognize Martinez, claiming the ex-champ showed courage, since not many boxers do so and prefer to hide without talking about the subject.
MAY 23, 2024: Mexico's Julio César “Rey” Martínez has notified the WBC that he will vacate its flyweight championship in order to move up to the super flyweight division. Martínez (21-2-2, 15 KOs) won the title in 2019 and made seven successful defenses of his crown. He fought his most recent bout on March 30th, vanquishing the previously unbeaten Angelino Cordova of Venezuela. During his 112-pound reign, Martinez ventured up to 115 pounds once, losing to Roman Gonzaez in 2022.
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Martinez looks to rehabilitate his career after PED issues
Wise Owl Boxing anounced the signing of former champion Julio César Martínez. Once recognized as one of boxing’s most fan-friendly fighters, Martinez now joins Wise Owl, a company headed by Mark Habibi. Martinez will be co-managed by respected boxing figure Miguel Lopez. Together, the team is committed to guiding Martinez back to the pinnacle of the sport. Martinez (20-4) fought once in 2025 in Mexico. He vacated his flyweight title in 2024 and was caught with banned performance-enhancing substances in his system. According to ESPN in June 2024, Martinez was suspended for nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for three banned substances (diuretics and masking agents).
“We’re very excited about this signing,” said Habibi. “Julio Cesar Martinez is a proven world champion with a massive fan base and a style that fans love. He brings energy, personality, and excitement every time he steps into the ring. Our goal is clear — to bring him back to the championship level and help him regain a world title.”
With Wise Owl Boxing now steering his career, Martinez is positioned for a strong return, with major opportunities on the horizon. “This is a huge addition to our team,” Habibi added. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Wise Owl family and excited for what’s ahead.”
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
AUG. 14, 2024: Disgraced former WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martínez opened up to the press and talked about his experience of the positive doping test that caused him to be stripped of his title. Martinez said it was very painful when he was told that he had tested positive for doping, because in his opinion he had only taken a tea that would help him lose the last few kilos to make the weight, without knowing that it contained a prohibited substance. He recognized his responsibility, because as an athlete he knows that he should know everything he consumes and avoid trusting people who put at risk not only his health but also his rival’s. At this point, the president of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaiman, paused to recognize Martinez, claiming the ex-champ showed courage, since not many boxers do so and prefer to hide without talking about the subject.
MAY 23, 2024: Mexico's Julio César “Rey” Martínez has notified the WBC that he will vacate its flyweight championship in order to move up to the super flyweight division. Martínez (21-2-2, 15 KOs) won the title in 2019 and made seven successful defenses of his crown. He fought his most recent bout on March 30th, vanquishing the previously unbeaten Angelino Cordova of Venezuela. During his 112-pound reign, Martinez ventured up to 115 pounds once, losing to Roman Gonzaez in 2022.
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Talk of Bivol vs. Beterbiev III in Moscow |
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Umar Kremlev, the president of the IBA, has expressed the organization’s readiness to stage a third bout between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Both Bivol, thge current world champion, and Beterbiev, the former world champion, are widely regarded as the top two in the light heavyweight division (particularly with David Benavidez moving up to cruiserweight), and their rivalry has already achieved mass global recognition within the modern professional boxing landscape. Kremlev noted that, prior to meeting for a third time, each Russian boxer is expected to take part in an interim bout. Following this, the parties involved would be in a position to proceed with detailed discussions regarding the timing and format of the trilogy fight. Preliminary talks may commence towards the end of the year. Kremlev identified Moscow as the preferred host city for the potential bout, stating that it meets all the necessary high quality criteria for staging an event of such magnitude.
Bivol and Beterbiev squared off in 2024 and 2025, both claose majority decisions, with Beterbiev winning the first encounter and Bivol the second.
Kremlev stated: “IBA stands ready to organize a trilogy fight between Bivol and Beterbiev. These are two of the finest boxers in the world, and their rivalry represents a truly global sporting historical event. However, both fighters are expected to complete one interim bout before facing each other again. Thereafter, by the end of the year, it should be possible to move forward with firm planning and organisation of the third fight. Our priority is to stage this trilogy in Russia. In my view, hosting such a bout is entirely feasible at present. Given the current global circumstances, Moscow represents a suitable and secure venue for an event of this scale, with all the necessary infrastructure in place to deliver it at the very highest level.”
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Talk of Bivol vs. Beterbiev III in Moscow
Umar Kremlev, the president of the IBA, has expressed the organization’s readiness to stage a third bout between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Both Bivol, thge current world champion, and Beterbiev, the former world champion, are widely regarded as the top two in the light heavyweight division (particularly with David Benavidez moving up to cruiserweight), and their rivalry has already achieved mass global recognition within the modern professional boxing landscape. Kremlev noted that, prior to meeting for a third time, each Russian boxer is expected to take part in an interim bout. Following this, the parties involved would be in a position to proceed with detailed discussions regarding the timing and format of the trilogy fight. Preliminary talks may commence towards the end of the year. Kremlev identified Moscow as the preferred host city for the potential bout, stating that it meets all the necessary high quality criteria for staging an event of such magnitude.
Bivol and Beterbiev squared off in 2024 and 2025, both claose majority decisions, with Beterbiev winning the first encounter and Bivol the second.
Kremlev stated: “IBA stands ready to organize a trilogy fight between Bivol and Beterbiev. These are two of the finest boxers in the world, and their rivalry represents a truly global sporting historical event. However, both fighters are expected to complete one interim bout before facing each other again. Thereafter, by the end of the year, it should be possible to move forward with firm planning and organisation of the third fight. Our priority is to stage this trilogy in Russia. In my view, hosting such a bout is entirely feasible at present. Given the current global circumstances, Moscow represents a suitable and secure venue for an event of this scale, with all the necessary infrastructure in place to deliver it at the very highest level.”
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Introducing French junior lightweight Yoni Valverde |
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Team Magnesi, together with promoter A&B Events, announced the signing of France's Yoni Valverde, a move that marks the beginning of an ambitious Franco-Italian project. This agreement aims to develop a solid and competitive career for Valverde at both European and world level, with a structured and long-term plan. Valverde holds a record of 17-1 with 4 knockouts. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a technical fighter, with a strong pace and good ring intelligence. Among his most notable achievements are the French junior lightweight title and his competition in the WBC Grand Prix at featherweight, although his team believes his best version is at 130 pounds, where his future development will be focused.
“Yoni has already shown great qualities. He has experience, mindset, and important titles. We believe he can reach his full potential at super featherweight,” said A&B Eevents' Alessandra Branco.
A key role in the project is played by the synergy between Branco and Davide Bianchi, who serves as manager and close collaborator in planning the boxer’s career. Training camps will take place in Civitavecchia under the technical supervision of coach Gesumino Aglioti.
Meanwhile, Hamid Zaim, who has guided Valverde’s career so far, will continue to be an important part of the team. “This agreement is based on a clear vision and a strong international strategy between Italy and France,” Branco concluded.
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Introducing French junior lightweight Yoni Valverde
Team Magnesi, together with promoter A&B Events, announced the signing of France's Yoni Valverde, a move that marks the beginning of an ambitious Franco-Italian project. This agreement aims to develop a solid and competitive career for Valverde at both European and world level, with a structured and long-term plan. Valverde holds a record of 17-1 with 4 knockouts. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a technical fighter, with a strong pace and good ring intelligence. Among his most notable achievements are the French junior lightweight title and his competition in the WBC Grand Prix at featherweight, although his team believes his best version is at 130 pounds, where his future development will be focused.
“Yoni has already shown great qualities. He has experience, mindset, and important titles. We believe he can reach his full potential at super featherweight,” said A&B Eevents' Alessandra Branco.
A key role in the project is played by the synergy between Branco and Davide Bianchi, who serves as manager and close collaborator in planning the boxer’s career. Training camps will take place in Civitavecchia under the technical supervision of coach Gesumino Aglioti.
Meanwhile, Hamid Zaim, who has guided Valverde’s career so far, will continue to be an important part of the team. “This agreement is based on a clear vision and a strong international strategy between Italy and France,” Branco concluded.
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Filip Hrgovic to face Dave Allen in May |
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Doncaster, England’s own Dave Allen takes center stage on Saturday, May 16th as he returns home to headline at Eco-Power Stadium against heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic (pictured), live on DAZN. ‘The White Rhino’, one of Britain’s most popular heavyweights, is enjoying a career resurgence and now faces the biggest test of his career on familiar ground in front of a passionate home crowd in South Yorkshire. Tickets for ‘Dave vs Goliath’ are on sale at doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Allen’s revival has been driven by his compelling two-fight rivalry with Johnny Fisher. After suffering a controversial points defeat in their first meeting in Riyadh at the end of 2024, the 34-year-old emphatically settled the score five months later, stopping Fisher in the fifth round at the Copper Box Arena.
That momentum led Allen into a high-level clash with the formidable Arslanbek Makhmudov in Sheffield, where he pushed the towering Russian over twelve rounds before coming up short on the cards. He bounced back in explosive fashion in February, needing less than a minute to dispatch Karim Berredjem in Nottingham. Remarkably, despite a 35-fight career, Allen has fought in his hometown of Doncaster only once before, back in 2015. Now, he returns as the headline attraction at the home of Doncaster Rovers for what promises to be a landmark night.
Standing in his way is the dangerous Hrgovic, a former world title challenger who arrives in strong form. The Croatian, known as ‘El Animal’, secured back-to-back wins over Joe Joyce and David Adeleye.
The 33-year-old from Zagreb had previously been on the brink of an IBF world title opportunity before falling to Daniel Dubois in an interim title fight in 2024, with Dubois later upgraded to full champion following his victory over Anthony Joshua.
Hrgovic’s clash with Allen will mark his fourth successive bout against British opposition, underlining the scale of the challenge facing the Doncaster favourite “May 16th will be a magical experience for Dave Allen,” said promoter Frank Warren. “He is taking on a world-class operator in Filip Hrgovic, but he gets to do it on his own doorstep at Doncaster Rovers. This will be a huge occasion for the city of Doncaster and for the fans who have backed Dave throughout his career. Filip has got into a habit of beating British heavyweights, so this really is a ‘Dave vs Goliath’ battle.”
“This is everything I’ve wanted,” Allen added. “A big fight, at home, in front of my own people. Nights like this don’t come around often, and I’m not letting it pass me by. I know how tough Hrgovic is, but I believe in myself and I’ll be ready to give Doncaster a night to remember.”
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Filip Hrgovic to face Dave Allen in May
Doncaster, England’s own Dave Allen takes center stage on Saturday, May 16th as he returns home to headline at Eco-Power Stadium against heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic (pictured), live on DAZN. ‘The White Rhino’, one of Britain’s most popular heavyweights, is enjoying a career resurgence and now faces the biggest test of his career on familiar ground in front of a passionate home crowd in South Yorkshire. Tickets for ‘Dave vs Goliath’ are on sale at doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Allen’s revival has been driven by his compelling two-fight rivalry with Johnny Fisher. After suffering a controversial points defeat in their first meeting in Riyadh at the end of 2024, the 34-year-old emphatically settled the score five months later, stopping Fisher in the fifth round at the Copper Box Arena.
That momentum led Allen into a high-level clash with the formidable Arslanbek Makhmudov in Sheffield, where he pushed the towering Russian over twelve rounds before coming up short on the cards. He bounced back in explosive fashion in February, needing less than a minute to dispatch Karim Berredjem in Nottingham. Remarkably, despite a 35-fight career, Allen has fought in his hometown of Doncaster only once before, back in 2015. Now, he returns as the headline attraction at the home of Doncaster Rovers for what promises to be a landmark night.
Standing in his way is the dangerous Hrgovic, a former world title challenger who arrives in strong form. The Croatian, known as ‘El Animal’, secured back-to-back wins over Joe Joyce and David Adeleye.
The 33-year-old from Zagreb had previously been on the brink of an IBF world title opportunity before falling to Daniel Dubois in an interim title fight in 2024, with Dubois later upgraded to full champion following his victory over Anthony Joshua.
Hrgovic’s clash with Allen will mark his fourth successive bout against British opposition, underlining the scale of the challenge facing the Doncaster favourite “May 16th will be a magical experience for Dave Allen,” said promoter Frank Warren. “He is taking on a world-class operator in Filip Hrgovic, but he gets to do it on his own doorstep at Doncaster Rovers. This will be a huge occasion for the city of Doncaster and for the fans who have backed Dave throughout his career. Filip has got into a habit of beating British heavyweights, so this really is a ‘Dave vs Goliath’ battle.”
“This is everything I’ve wanted,” Allen added. “A big fight, at home, in front of my own people. Nights like this don’t come around often, and I’m not letting it pass me by. I know how tough Hrgovic is, but I believe in myself and I’ll be ready to give Doncaster a night to remember.”
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Promoter wants Itauma to fight again in July |
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Promoter Frank Warren had this to say about young heavyweight Moses Itauma in the wake of Itauma's knockout of Jermaine Franklin last Saturday in Manchester, England: "Moses Itauma has proved himself to be an absolutely natural headline attraction at just 21 years of age. I actually think this young man has got it all and it is hard to think of a fighting attribute he doesn’t possess. Size, speed, skill, power, accuracy, athleticism, to name some that immediately spring to mind. Without wanting this to sound like a blatant promotional plug, I really recommend watching him live in person and up close to truly comprehend the magnitude of the talent we are lucky enough to be watching.
"Moses is that good and, even after just 14 fights and not that many as an amateur, there is hardly anyone I wouldn’t put him in with now. There is no need to rush into anything for the sake of it though. The best thing for Moses now - and us as boxing fans - is to just keep him fighting and give more and more people the chance to be part of the journey. The WBO have installed Moses at #1 and I believe the WBA will do likewise, which will make it easier when it comes to forcing a world title shot. In the shorter term the plan is to get Moses back out in July and to build on his performance against Franklin.
"Credit to Franklin, he did what we hoped he would do and that was to provide some resistance and give Moses something to think about. We knew he was a tough customer and nobody’s fall guy. And so it proved. Moses has made another statement and it is interesting to see that leading fighters from across the world, particularly in the US, are sitting up and taking notice now.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
MARCH 29, 2026: On Saturday night, Moses Itauma continued to flash future champion potential when he beat tough American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin by knockout. Landing the final blow in the fifth round, Itauma wore his opponent down, sending him to the canvas in the third before finishing off Franklin two sessions later, inflicting the first stoppage defeat of Franklin’s career. For those thousands in attendance, it was a performance to behold, and one which launches Itauma into sporting superstardom. Itauma begin his attack by targeting Franklin’s body, two lefts put the British southpaw in charge.
While Franklin’s corner was urging their man into the centre of the ring, Itauma had him backed up and methodically picked his shots with serious spite. The closing seconds of the first saw the 21-year-old land two successive right-left combinations and Franklin was already on the ropes. The second saw Franklin attempt to take the fight to Itauma, but his attempted swings to the body were easily blocked.
A thumping Itauma right dug into Franklin’s midriff, but he still stood in front of his foe who pressed on. Backed on to the ropes, Franklin attempted to gain his opponent’s respect by throwing some shots, albeit none landed. Itauma’s right hand had Franklin in trouble in round three. The American was trying his best to force Itauma back off the ropes, but with every jab, Itauma went on the front foot and made him a sitting duck.
The first knockdown came with around 25 seconds to go, a left faint, followed by a right hand had Franklin down, but he managed to meet the referee’s count.
In the fourth session, Itauma kept up the intensity, and the crowd backed it up with chants of ‘Moses Itauma’, making the Co-op Live a bear pit for what was becoming a beatdown. Franklin landed a rare jab, which had little effect. But he did hit Itauma with a right hand of his own, and for the first time in the fight, Franklin had some success.
The knockout blow came in round five when Itauma hit a left uppercut, leaving Franklin emotionless before finishing him off with a straight right with 87 seconds remaining on the clock.
The crowd went into raptures following the finish, and Itauma bowed to the crowd, knowing he put on a performance fitting for a superstar.
Questions were answered, Itauma showcased what he can do past the early rounds, and did not get caught in the headlights following the first knockdown in round three. Instead of going reckless in search of the kill, Itauma continued to be methodical with his shot selection.
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Promoter wants Itauma to fight again in July
Promoter Frank Warren had this to say about young heavyweight Moses Itauma in the wake of Itauma's knockout of Jermaine Franklin last Saturday in Manchester, England: "Moses Itauma has proved himself to be an absolutely natural headline attraction at just 21 years of age. I actually think this young man has got it all and it is hard to think of a fighting attribute he doesn’t possess. Size, speed, skill, power, accuracy, athleticism, to name some that immediately spring to mind. Without wanting this to sound like a blatant promotional plug, I really recommend watching him live in person and up close to truly comprehend the magnitude of the talent we are lucky enough to be watching.
"Moses is that good and, even after just 14 fights and not that many as an amateur, there is hardly anyone I wouldn’t put him in with now. There is no need to rush into anything for the sake of it though. The best thing for Moses now - and us as boxing fans - is to just keep him fighting and give more and more people the chance to be part of the journey. The WBO have installed Moses at #1 and I believe the WBA will do likewise, which will make it easier when it comes to forcing a world title shot. In the shorter term the plan is to get Moses back out in July and to build on his performance against Franklin.
"Credit to Franklin, he did what we hoped he would do and that was to provide some resistance and give Moses something to think about. We knew he was a tough customer and nobody’s fall guy. And so it proved. Moses has made another statement and it is interesting to see that leading fighters from across the world, particularly in the US, are sitting up and taking notice now.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
MARCH 29, 2026: On Saturday night, Moses Itauma continued to flash future champion potential when he beat tough American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin by knockout. Landing the final blow in the fifth round, Itauma wore his opponent down, sending him to the canvas in the third before finishing off Franklin two sessions later, inflicting the first stoppage defeat of Franklin’s career. For those thousands in attendance, it was a performance to behold, and one which launches Itauma into sporting superstardom. Itauma begin his attack by targeting Franklin’s body, two lefts put the British southpaw in charge.
While Franklin’s corner was urging their man into the centre of the ring, Itauma had him backed up and methodically picked his shots with serious spite. The closing seconds of the first saw the 21-year-old land two successive right-left combinations and Franklin was already on the ropes. The second saw Franklin attempt to take the fight to Itauma, but his attempted swings to the body were easily blocked.
A thumping Itauma right dug into Franklin’s midriff, but he still stood in front of his foe who pressed on. Backed on to the ropes, Franklin attempted to gain his opponent’s respect by throwing some shots, albeit none landed. Itauma’s right hand had Franklin in trouble in round three. The American was trying his best to force Itauma back off the ropes, but with every jab, Itauma went on the front foot and made him a sitting duck.
The first knockdown came with around 25 seconds to go, a left faint, followed by a right hand had Franklin down, but he managed to meet the referee’s count.
In the fourth session, Itauma kept up the intensity, and the crowd backed it up with chants of ‘Moses Itauma’, making the Co-op Live a bear pit for what was becoming a beatdown. Franklin landed a rare jab, which had little effect. But he did hit Itauma with a right hand of his own, and for the first time in the fight, Franklin had some success.
The knockout blow came in round five when Itauma hit a left uppercut, leaving Franklin emotionless before finishing him off with a straight right with 87 seconds remaining on the clock.
The crowd went into raptures following the finish, and Itauma bowed to the crowd, knowing he put on a performance fitting for a superstar.
Questions were answered, Itauma showcased what he can do past the early rounds, and did not get caught in the headlights following the first knockdown in round three. Instead of going reckless in search of the kill, Itauma continued to be methodical with his shot selection.
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Tszyu days away from facing unbeaten Nurja |
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Former junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu (pictured) kicked off fight week in Australia on Tuesday by facing off against undefeated Denis Nurja before they meet in the ring on a PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video stream this Saturday, April 4th from the WIN Entertainment Centre. The event will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with the action streaming on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free trial to catch the card.
Also featured on Prime Video will be a duel of super bantamweight contenders as Australia’s Sam Goodman takes on Argentina’s Rodrigo Ruiz in an IBF eliminator. Also, 2024 Australian Olympian Callum Peters will put his perfect record on the line against fellow unbeaten Delio Mouzinho in middleweight action. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.
Tszyu will enter the ring for the second time with new trainer Pedro Diaz, who’s prepared the Australian star in Miami. Tszyu is looking to continue his climb back to a world title whereas Nurja, a 20-0 Albanian who arrived down under on Sunday, is upset-minded and looking to make his own name in the 154-pound division. Here is what the fighters, along with No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose, had to say Tuesday during a media workout in Sydney:
TIM TSZYU
“Finally, someone my height. Usually I’m looking up, so it’s nice to have someone your own height. Nurja seems ready, which is good. At least he’s here nice and early.
“It’s unbelievable to be back home in Australia. I’m loving being back home. Australia is always going to be home for me. Even though I’m travelling nonstop and putting myself in uncomfortable positions at times, being back home is comforting.
“Everything is at risk. Your whole career. That’s what you do in this sport. You put everything on the line every time. The biggest risk is not just losing, but your health. You’re always one punch away, so I prepare strong every time because I know what’s ahead.
“I wouldn’t say I fear losing, but it’s not a good feeling and it’s not something I want to experience again. My motivation throughout this training camp, and in life right now, is victory by any means necessary.
“The word annihilation has been in my head and repeated in my head for the last seven weeks. That’s all I want to do. My whole purpose right now is just to annihilate.
“I need to win. And the win comes from the way I want to do it.”
DENIS NURJA
“I’ve had a fantastic training camp. I’ve trained hard for this, in Italy and in London. I’m ready. I respect Tim. I think he’s still in great shape, still a good level fighter and I respect him.
“This is no problem. I will be ready, Tim will be ready and the ring will decide it, not the talking.
“I understand these thoughts, but he still has to pass through me before thinking about Errol Spence Jr., which is no easy task.
“It’s better not to talk about what’s next or the plans before a fight. We have a lot of plans we want to carry out and don’t want to give away anything.”
GEORGE ROSE, CEO of No Limit Boxing
““We’ve got a massive fight this Easter Sunday, live from the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong. It will be the first time Timmy has fought in Wollongong, so that’s very exciting.
“He’s coming up against the number 12 ranked fighter in the world in Denis Nurja. It’s a very tough fight, but a fight that can set him up for huge things later in the year.
“It’s just great to have Timmy back here. I think when you’ve had someone around for so long, you can almost take it for granted, but when he’s overseas in camp you realize how much you miss those opportunities to watch him train live, be around him and feel that energy.
“When Tim Tszyu is back in town, there’s a real aura about him. He’s coming up against an undefeated fighter who has that undefeated strut about him, so it’s a very tough fight this weekend.”
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Tszyu days away from facing unbeaten Nurja
Former junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu (pictured) kicked off fight week in Australia on Tuesday by facing off against undefeated Denis Nurja before they meet in the ring on a PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video stream this Saturday, April 4th from the WIN Entertainment Centre. The event will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with the action streaming on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free trial to catch the card.
Also featured on Prime Video will be a duel of super bantamweight contenders as Australia’s Sam Goodman takes on Argentina’s Rodrigo Ruiz in an IBF eliminator. Also, 2024 Australian Olympian Callum Peters will put his perfect record on the line against fellow unbeaten Delio Mouzinho in middleweight action. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.
Tszyu will enter the ring for the second time with new trainer Pedro Diaz, who’s prepared the Australian star in Miami. Tszyu is looking to continue his climb back to a world title whereas Nurja, a 20-0 Albanian who arrived down under on Sunday, is upset-minded and looking to make his own name in the 154-pound division. Here is what the fighters, along with No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose, had to say Tuesday during a media workout in Sydney:
TIM TSZYU
“Finally, someone my height. Usually I’m looking up, so it’s nice to have someone your own height. Nurja seems ready, which is good. At least he’s here nice and early.
“It’s unbelievable to be back home in Australia. I’m loving being back home. Australia is always going to be home for me. Even though I’m travelling nonstop and putting myself in uncomfortable positions at times, being back home is comforting.
“Everything is at risk. Your whole career. That’s what you do in this sport. You put everything on the line every time. The biggest risk is not just losing, but your health. You’re always one punch away, so I prepare strong every time because I know what’s ahead.
“I wouldn’t say I fear losing, but it’s not a good feeling and it’s not something I want to experience again. My motivation throughout this training camp, and in life right now, is victory by any means necessary.
“The word annihilation has been in my head and repeated in my head for the last seven weeks. That’s all I want to do. My whole purpose right now is just to annihilate.
“I need to win. And the win comes from the way I want to do it.”
DENIS NURJA
“I’ve had a fantastic training camp. I’ve trained hard for this, in Italy and in London. I’m ready. I respect Tim. I think he’s still in great shape, still a good level fighter and I respect him.
“This is no problem. I will be ready, Tim will be ready and the ring will decide it, not the talking.
“I understand these thoughts, but he still has to pass through me before thinking about Errol Spence Jr., which is no easy task.
“It’s better not to talk about what’s next or the plans before a fight. We have a lot of plans we want to carry out and don’t want to give away anything.”
GEORGE ROSE, CEO of No Limit Boxing
““We’ve got a massive fight this Easter Sunday, live from the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong. It will be the first time Timmy has fought in Wollongong, so that’s very exciting.
“He’s coming up against the number 12 ranked fighter in the world in Denis Nurja. It’s a very tough fight, but a fight that can set him up for huge things later in the year.
“It’s just great to have Timmy back here. I think when you’ve had someone around for so long, you can almost take it for granted, but when he’s overseas in camp you realize how much you miss those opportunities to watch him train live, be around him and feel that energy.
“When Tim Tszyu is back in town, there’s a real aura about him. He’s coming up against an undefeated fighter who has that undefeated strut about him, so it’s a very tough fight this weekend.”
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Andres Cortes launches his lightweight campaign this weekend |
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Andres Cortes is ready to step out for his first main event showcase as he makes his Zuffa Boxing debut this weekend at Meta Apex. Cortes has built a 24-0 record over the course of the last decade, but now he’s ready to introduce himself to a new weight class in a bid to become a true contender. With no 130-pound division in Zuffa Boxing, Cortes is moving up five pounds to lightweight, and said he’s already feeling the benefits as he prepares for his main event matchup with Eridson Garcia at Zuffa Boxing 05 on Sunday night. “I feel really good,” he said. “It’s my first time at 135, so less stress on the weight, but I feel really, really good.”
The move up in weight has meant Cortes has been able to invest more time in his boxing prep, rather than his weight management prep, and as a result, he’s never felt better as he prepares for his main event showcase this weekend. “(I’ve done) more training, honestly, and heavier training. I feel good. Like I said, it’s the best I’ve ever felt.”
It’s a fresh start for Cortes, who first got bitten by the boxing bug as a five-year old, when he watched Oscar De La Hoya stop Fernando Vargas back in 2002. Now he’s looking forward to introducing himself to the world, both inside and outside the ring. “I definitely want people to know a little bit more about my personal life. I haven't been able to express that and talk about my addiction,” he explained. “I feel like there's a lot of people like me. One of my addictions is gambling – I love to gamble. So I kind of see boxing the same way. When we go in there, we risk it all.
“In my opinion, boxing is very similar, because if you take a loss, obviously, you lose a lot. In the gambling aspect, if you lose, you lose your money. If you win, you win money. I see it very similar. That's just me, though. And I'm sure there's a lot of people out there that love to gamble as much as I do.”
Cortes’s decision to join Zuffa Boxing wasn’t a gamble, however. The 28-year-old has seen the huge success Dana White has had with the UFC, and is looking forward to being a part of an organization that he trusts can do the same for the sport of boxing. “I’ve always been a UFC fan,” he revealed. “I've seen how UFC takes care of their fighters, promotes their fighters, pushes their fighters. I always felt that boxing needed that. So, here it is.”
Another reason for his decision is his desire to progress his career. Despite his unblemished 24-0 record, he hasn’t been able to secure the opportunities he’d hoped for, and he’s hopeful that he can chase his dreams under the Zuffa Boxing banner. “I definitely haven't achieved my goals that I've been chasing,” he said. “So right now I'm obviously pursuing that and chasing what I've always envisioned myself to have. That's what keeps me motivated.”
Cortes is ready to start a new chapter in his career in a new environment, in a new weight class, and he plans on showcasing his full array of skills when he faces Garcia on Sunday night. “I think (I’ll show) everything,” he said. “I’m better than him in everything, in every aspect. I have more experience, you know? He’s gonna find out. I want people to be like, ‘Wow, he can fight! Impressive win, he knocked the dude out!’ I'm hoping that people are rooting against me so, once I win, this win feels a little bit better.”
And when it comes to his main event matchup with Garcia, Cortes is in no doubt over how his Zuffa Boxing debut will play out as he plans to close the show in style. “He's a good fighter, but he ain’t gonna hang with me,” he smiled. “I’m knocking his ass out!”
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Andres Cortes launches his lightweight campaign this weekend
Andres Cortes is ready to step out for his first main event showcase as he makes his Zuffa Boxing debut this weekend at Meta Apex. Cortes has built a 24-0 record over the course of the last decade, but now he’s ready to introduce himself to a new weight class in a bid to become a true contender. With no 130-pound division in Zuffa Boxing, Cortes is moving up five pounds to lightweight, and said he’s already feeling the benefits as he prepares for his main event matchup with Eridson Garcia at Zuffa Boxing 05 on Sunday night. “I feel really good,” he said. “It’s my first time at 135, so less stress on the weight, but I feel really, really good.”
The move up in weight has meant Cortes has been able to invest more time in his boxing prep, rather than his weight management prep, and as a result, he’s never felt better as he prepares for his main event showcase this weekend. “(I’ve done) more training, honestly, and heavier training. I feel good. Like I said, it’s the best I’ve ever felt.”
It’s a fresh start for Cortes, who first got bitten by the boxing bug as a five-year old, when he watched Oscar De La Hoya stop Fernando Vargas back in 2002. Now he’s looking forward to introducing himself to the world, both inside and outside the ring. “I definitely want people to know a little bit more about my personal life. I haven't been able to express that and talk about my addiction,” he explained. “I feel like there's a lot of people like me. One of my addictions is gambling – I love to gamble. So I kind of see boxing the same way. When we go in there, we risk it all.
“In my opinion, boxing is very similar, because if you take a loss, obviously, you lose a lot. In the gambling aspect, if you lose, you lose your money. If you win, you win money. I see it very similar. That's just me, though. And I'm sure there's a lot of people out there that love to gamble as much as I do.”
Cortes’s decision to join Zuffa Boxing wasn’t a gamble, however. The 28-year-old has seen the huge success Dana White has had with the UFC, and is looking forward to being a part of an organization that he trusts can do the same for the sport of boxing. “I’ve always been a UFC fan,” he revealed. “I've seen how UFC takes care of their fighters, promotes their fighters, pushes their fighters. I always felt that boxing needed that. So, here it is.”
Another reason for his decision is his desire to progress his career. Despite his unblemished 24-0 record, he hasn’t been able to secure the opportunities he’d hoped for, and he’s hopeful that he can chase his dreams under the Zuffa Boxing banner. “I definitely haven't achieved my goals that I've been chasing,” he said. “So right now I'm obviously pursuing that and chasing what I've always envisioned myself to have. That's what keeps me motivated.”
Cortes is ready to start a new chapter in his career in a new environment, in a new weight class, and he plans on showcasing his full array of skills when he faces Garcia on Sunday night. “I think (I’ll show) everything,” he said. “I’m better than him in everything, in every aspect. I have more experience, you know? He’s gonna find out. I want people to be like, ‘Wow, he can fight! Impressive win, he knocked the dude out!’ I'm hoping that people are rooting against me so, once I win, this win feels a little bit better.”
And when it comes to his main event matchup with Garcia, Cortes is in no doubt over how his Zuffa Boxing debut will play out as he plans to close the show in style. “He's a good fighter, but he ain’t gonna hang with me,” he smiled. “I’m knocking his ass out!”
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Heavyweight Suslenkov to headline on April 17th |
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The IBA Pro 16 tournament will bring heavyweight action to Serpukhov, Russia on April 17th, headlined by Russian contender Artem Suslenkov (16-1 including IBA Pro and the World Series of Boxing) against former cruiserweight Artur Mann (23-5, 14 KOs) of Germany. Suslenkov, from Russia, enters the ring riding a wave of momentum. The 30-year old fought in October, a stoppage victory over Agron Smakici. He followed that up in December by knocking out Stanley Wright. He also holds a pro win over Michael Hunter.
He faces a seasoned challenger in Mann. The 35 year-old German, known for his resilience and high-level experience, famously shared the ring with former world light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in April 2025. Mann recently bounced back from that defeat with a clinical first-round knockout of Gregory Garcia in February. Having faced elite competition like Mairis Briedis and Kevin Lerena, Mann aims to use his veteran savvy style to upset the rising Russian star.
The co-feature wil be an eight-round welterweight domestic clash between Nikita Miroshnichenko (16-2-1, 5 KOs) and Aleksandr Khokhlov (4-1-1, 1 KO). Miroshnichenko brings elite pedigree to the ring, having served as a primary sparring partner for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and training under the world-renowned Reynoso team in Guadalajara.
Serpukhov fans will also witness an emotional evening as local favorite Sergey Kalchugin (5-0, 3 KOs) competes in his farewell professional bout. Additionally, the city’s rising star and 2025 Russian Championship finalist Danila Belevitin will look to continue his ascent in the rankings.
One more bout will feature middleweight hopeful Yury Osipov (4-0), known for his power punching. He recently gained attention after a clean victory over American Nikita Ababiy and is also looking to climb the international rankings. The night in Serpukhov will have an explosive opening when Russia’s Nikita Kurenkov faces Armenia's David Azizyan.
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Heavyweight Suslenkov to headline on April 17th
The IBA Pro 16 tournament will bring heavyweight action to Serpukhov, Russia on April 17th, headlined by Russian contender Artem Suslenkov (16-1 including IBA Pro and the World Series of Boxing) against former cruiserweight Artur Mann (23-5, 14 KOs) of Germany. Suslenkov, from Russia, enters the ring riding a wave of momentum. The 30-year old fought in October, a stoppage victory over Agron Smakici. He followed that up in December by knocking out Stanley Wright. He also holds a pro win over Michael Hunter.
He faces a seasoned challenger in Mann. The 35 year-old German, known for his resilience and high-level experience, famously shared the ring with former world light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in April 2025. Mann recently bounced back from that defeat with a clinical first-round knockout of Gregory Garcia in February. Having faced elite competition like Mairis Briedis and Kevin Lerena, Mann aims to use his veteran savvy style to upset the rising Russian star.
The co-feature wil be an eight-round welterweight domestic clash between Nikita Miroshnichenko (16-2-1, 5 KOs) and Aleksandr Khokhlov (4-1-1, 1 KO). Miroshnichenko brings elite pedigree to the ring, having served as a primary sparring partner for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and training under the world-renowned Reynoso team in Guadalajara.
Serpukhov fans will also witness an emotional evening as local favorite Sergey Kalchugin (5-0, 3 KOs) competes in his farewell professional bout. Additionally, the city’s rising star and 2025 Russian Championship finalist Danila Belevitin will look to continue his ascent in the rankings.
One more bout will feature middleweight hopeful Yury Osipov (4-0), known for his power punching. He recently gained attention after a clean victory over American Nikita Ababiy and is also looking to climb the international rankings. The night in Serpukhov will have an explosive opening when Russia’s Nikita Kurenkov faces Armenia's David Azizyan.
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Olympic champ Conceicao to fight in Newark on April 10th |
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Rising Star Promotions has announced an April 10th edition of its Brick City Fight Night Series at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, live on ProBox TV. Headlining the card, 2021 Olympic champion Hebert Conceicao Sousa (10-0, 5 KOs) takes on hard-hitting Johan Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) in a high-stakes middleweight main event. The co-feature will be a match-up between Francisco Daniel Veron (16-1-1, 10 KOs) and Raul Garcia (15-2-1, 12 KOs).
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Olympic champ Conceicao to fight in Newark on April 10th
Rising Star Promotions has announced an April 10th edition of its Brick City Fight Night Series at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, live on ProBox TV. Headlining the card, 2021 Olympic champion Hebert Conceicao Sousa (10-0, 5 KOs) takes on hard-hitting Johan Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) in a high-stakes middleweight main event. The co-feature will be a match-up between Francisco Daniel Veron (16-1-1, 10 KOs) and Raul Garcia (15-2-1, 12 KOs).
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IBA bare knuckle results from Russia |
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The KSK Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia played host to IBA Bare Knuckle 4 last weekend. The main event featured a massive title clash between two giants of combat sports: UFC legend and Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero (Cuba and the formidable Vagab Vagabov (Russia). The opening round was a tactical, high-stakes chess match, with both men staying patient and scouting for openings, clearly wary of each other’s power. The intensity picked up in the second as the exchanges became more frequent. Both fighters landed significant strikes, but the round remained too close to call, with neither establishing a clear lead.
The third round followed a similar pattern until a split-second opening changed the dynamic of the fight. Romero pinned Vagabov against the ropes and unleashed a thunderous left hand. The shot landed flush, sending Vagabov to the canvas and swinging the momentum in the Cuban’s favor. In the fourth, Romero continued to pick his shots with surgical precision, targeting the body and catching Vagabov with dangerous left hands. However, late in the round, Vagabov made a crucial adjustment, finding success with his right cross and visibly rocking Romero on several occasions.
The fifth and final round was an all-out sprint. Knowing the title was on the line, both men moved forward and threw everything into their strikes. The fight opened up completely as they traded heavy blows in the center of the ring. While Romero had his moments, Vagabov’s right hand proved to be a constant and stinging weapon. At the end, Vagabov emerged victorious, being crowned the new IBA Bare Knuckle Champion.
The co-feature saw Iskandar Ziyaev (Rus) and Timur Musaev face off in one of the most anticipated rematches of 2026. With their first encounter five years ago ending in a TKO win for Ziyaev, this second meeting between the two Russians carried significant weight and a palpable sense of rivalry. Ziyaev looked the sharper man in the opening round, using superior footwork and timing to find his range. He asserted his dominance early, dropping Musaev twice in the first round to set a commanding tone. Musaev attempted a comeback in the second, ramping up the pressure and forcing Ziyaev into a more defensive posture. However, Ziyaev remained composed, utilizing lateral movement to make Musaev miss and firing back with sharp counters. The round was significantly more competitive as Musaev began to find his range. The momentum continued to shift in the third as Musaev pushed the pace, leading to heavy exchanges from both sides. Musaev landed several clean, powerful shots in what was likely his strongest round, though Ziyaev remained a constant threat on the counter. By the fourth, the pace and accumulated damage began to show. While accuracy dipped and the clinch work increased, Musaev appeared the more convincing of the two in this stretch, outlanding Ziyaev by a narrow margin. In the final round, both warriors relied on pure instinct and heart. Despite the exhaustion, they traded until the final bell, finishing the fight in emphatic fashion. After a grueling and tense five-round battle, Iskandar Ziyaev was awarded a majority decision victory, officially becoming the IBA Bare Knuckle Champion.
Early in the evening, Magomed Abdurakhimov (Rus) secured a decision victory over Mikhail Alabugin (Rus). In other action, Viktor Zakrevsky (Rus) defeated Oleg Zharkov (Rus) via TKO, and Cuban standout Yassel Reyes (Cub) also earned a stoppage, defeating Eduard Yashchenin (Rus) by TKO. Igor Dimov (Rus), meanwhile, suffered a TKO loss to Kazakhstan’s Kanysh “Kona” Seidazym (Kaz).
One of the most electric moments of the evening came in the clash between Usman Magomedov (Rus) and Anatoly Nadratovsky (Rus). From the opening bell, both fighters bypassed the feeling-out process and immediately engaged in a wide-open exchange of power shots. The bout escalated rapidly and reached its climax in the very first round: Nadratovsky connected with a pinpoint right hook that sent Magomedov to the canvas. Unable to beat the count, Magomedov was counted out, handing Anatoly Nadratovsky a spectacular first-round TKO victory.
Abubakar Suleymanov (Rus) delivered a commanding performance against Igor Barabanov (Rus) from start to finish. Seizing the initiative early, he maintained relentless forward pressure, regularly digging heavy power shots into Barabanov’s body and head. Barabanov attempted to maintain distance but was largely forced onto the back foot throughout the contest. In the second round, Suleymanov doubled down on his body work before scoring his first knockdown with a thudding left hook. Refusing to let up, he surged forward again, dropping Barabanov for a second time with a heavy right hand. Showing immense heart in the third round, Barabanov attempted to claw back into the fight, turning aggressor in an effort to close the scoring gap. The two engaged in a dense mid-range slugfest, but Suleymanov remained the sharper of the two. After rocking Barabanov once more, Suleymanov navigated the closing stages to secure a comprehensive points victory.
The showdown between Russians Eduard Kuzminov and Danila Chizhov was a deeply personal affair. For Chizhov, a Saint Petersburg native, the stakes were heightened by the vocal support of the home crowd. Both men maintained a frantic pace from the outset, trading heavy leather in a grueling opening round where neither side would give an inch. The intensity remained high in the second, as the fighters battled through grueling clinches and power exchanges. The momentum swung back and forth in a high-octane display of durability and grit, with neither man backing down. By the third and final round, fatigue began to set in, yet both Kuzminov and Chizhov continued to treat the fans to an all-out war. In the closing minutes, Danila Chizhov’s composure proved to be the difference. Acting with slightly more precision throughout the duration of the fight, Chizhov earned a unanimous decision victory in what was undoubtedly one of the most hard-fought battles of the night.
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IBA bare knuckle results from Russia
The KSK Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia played host to IBA Bare Knuckle 4 last weekend. The main event featured a massive title clash between two giants of combat sports: UFC legend and Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero (Cuba and the formidable Vagab Vagabov (Russia). The opening round was a tactical, high-stakes chess match, with both men staying patient and scouting for openings, clearly wary of each other’s power. The intensity picked up in the second as the exchanges became more frequent. Both fighters landed significant strikes, but the round remained too close to call, with neither establishing a clear lead.
The third round followed a similar pattern until a split-second opening changed the dynamic of the fight. Romero pinned Vagabov against the ropes and unleashed a thunderous left hand. The shot landed flush, sending Vagabov to the canvas and swinging the momentum in the Cuban’s favor. In the fourth, Romero continued to pick his shots with surgical precision, targeting the body and catching Vagabov with dangerous left hands. However, late in the round, Vagabov made a crucial adjustment, finding success with his right cross and visibly rocking Romero on several occasions.
The fifth and final round was an all-out sprint. Knowing the title was on the line, both men moved forward and threw everything into their strikes. The fight opened up completely as they traded heavy blows in the center of the ring. While Romero had his moments, Vagabov’s right hand proved to be a constant and stinging weapon. At the end, Vagabov emerged victorious, being crowned the new IBA Bare Knuckle Champion.
The co-feature saw Iskandar Ziyaev (Rus) and Timur Musaev face off in one of the most anticipated rematches of 2026. With their first encounter five years ago ending in a TKO win for Ziyaev, this second meeting between the two Russians carried significant weight and a palpable sense of rivalry. Ziyaev looked the sharper man in the opening round, using superior footwork and timing to find his range. He asserted his dominance early, dropping Musaev twice in the first round to set a commanding tone. Musaev attempted a comeback in the second, ramping up the pressure and forcing Ziyaev into a more defensive posture. However, Ziyaev remained composed, utilizing lateral movement to make Musaev miss and firing back with sharp counters. The round was significantly more competitive as Musaev began to find his range. The momentum continued to shift in the third as Musaev pushed the pace, leading to heavy exchanges from both sides. Musaev landed several clean, powerful shots in what was likely his strongest round, though Ziyaev remained a constant threat on the counter. By the fourth, the pace and accumulated damage began to show. While accuracy dipped and the clinch work increased, Musaev appeared the more convincing of the two in this stretch, outlanding Ziyaev by a narrow margin. In the final round, both warriors relied on pure instinct and heart. Despite the exhaustion, they traded until the final bell, finishing the fight in emphatic fashion. After a grueling and tense five-round battle, Iskandar Ziyaev was awarded a majority decision victory, officially becoming the IBA Bare Knuckle Champion.
Early in the evening, Magomed Abdurakhimov (Rus) secured a decision victory over Mikhail Alabugin (Rus). In other action, Viktor Zakrevsky (Rus) defeated Oleg Zharkov (Rus) via TKO, and Cuban standout Yassel Reyes (Cub) also earned a stoppage, defeating Eduard Yashchenin (Rus) by TKO. Igor Dimov (Rus), meanwhile, suffered a TKO loss to Kazakhstan’s Kanysh “Kona” Seidazym (Kaz).
One of the most electric moments of the evening came in the clash between Usman Magomedov (Rus) and Anatoly Nadratovsky (Rus). From the opening bell, both fighters bypassed the feeling-out process and immediately engaged in a wide-open exchange of power shots. The bout escalated rapidly and reached its climax in the very first round: Nadratovsky connected with a pinpoint right hook that sent Magomedov to the canvas. Unable to beat the count, Magomedov was counted out, handing Anatoly Nadratovsky a spectacular first-round TKO victory.
Abubakar Suleymanov (Rus) delivered a commanding performance against Igor Barabanov (Rus) from start to finish. Seizing the initiative early, he maintained relentless forward pressure, regularly digging heavy power shots into Barabanov’s body and head. Barabanov attempted to maintain distance but was largely forced onto the back foot throughout the contest. In the second round, Suleymanov doubled down on his body work before scoring his first knockdown with a thudding left hook. Refusing to let up, he surged forward again, dropping Barabanov for a second time with a heavy right hand. Showing immense heart in the third round, Barabanov attempted to claw back into the fight, turning aggressor in an effort to close the scoring gap. The two engaged in a dense mid-range slugfest, but Suleymanov remained the sharper of the two. After rocking Barabanov once more, Suleymanov navigated the closing stages to secure a comprehensive points victory.
The showdown between Russians Eduard Kuzminov and Danila Chizhov was a deeply personal affair. For Chizhov, a Saint Petersburg native, the stakes were heightened by the vocal support of the home crowd. Both men maintained a frantic pace from the outset, trading heavy leather in a grueling opening round where neither side would give an inch. The intensity remained high in the second, as the fighters battled through grueling clinches and power exchanges. The momentum swung back and forth in a high-octane display of durability and grit, with neither man backing down. By the third and final round, fatigue began to set in, yet both Kuzminov and Chizhov continued to treat the fans to an all-out war. In the closing minutes, Danila Chizhov’s composure proved to be the difference. Acting with slightly more precision throughout the duration of the fight, Chizhov earned a unanimous decision victory in what was undoubtedly one of the most hard-fought battles of the night.
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May 16th is the date for Jerusalem vs. Kuse II |
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On May 16th, Kempton Park, South Africa, will host a rematch between WBC 105-pound champion Melvin Jerusalem (pictured) and local contender Siyakholwa Kuse. This fight represents a direct continuation of their October 2025 clash, when the Filipino successfully defended his title, winning by unanimous decision in a close and highly competitive fight. In that bout, the champion's experience proved decisive in the final rounds, where he landed the cleanest and most effective punches to sway the judges' scorecards in his favor. However, Kuse left a solid impression, displaying aggression, punching power, and the ability to compete at the highest level, despite his shorter professional career. The South African Kuse sees this rematch as an opportunity for redemption. Younger and hungry for revenge, he will look to correct the mistakes that cost him the first fight and take advantage of fighting at home.
In 2024, Jerusalem became a two-time champion in the 105-pound division when he upset Japan's Yudai Shigeoka (8-1) via split decision in Nagoya, Japan. A WBO champion for four months in 2023, Jerusalem (22-3) scored knockdowns in the third and sixth rounds on his way to prevailing on two of the three judges' scorecards at the end of the twelve rounds.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE OCT. 30, 2025: In the main event of the big Manila show celebrating the fiftieth annviersary of Muahammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III, there was a WBC minimumweight championship fight. Melvin Jerusalem of the Philippines retained his 105-pound title in a fiercely-contested unanimous decision win over brave South African challenger Siyakholwa Kuse. The battle featured twelve high-quality rounds of action with several shifts in momentum. It was a late rally from Jerusalem (25-3, 12 KOs) that allowed him retain his title in front of his adoring home fan base. However, Kuse (9-3-1, 4 KOs) leaves Manila with his reputation enhanced after an impressive display of southpaw skill. It was the cleaner, more effective shots of Jerusalem that saw him awarded the victory by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 (twice). AUG. 23, 2025: WBC minimumweight champion Melvin “El Gringo” Jerusalem is preparing for his third title defense in October. Originally, the Filipino Jerusalem was set to face Mexico's Daniel Valladares, but due to logistical changes, South Africa's Siyakholwa Kuse has been confirmed as his new opponent. Kuse, ranked #2 by the WBC, is a 22 year-old southpaw with a professional record of 9 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 4 KOs. In his most recent fight, held in May 2025, he defeated Filipino Sammy Salva. This will be his first opportunity to fight for a world title. Jerusalem, age 31, has been training in Nagoya, Japan since early August to strengthen his physical and technical preparation. With a record of 24 wins, 3 losses, and 12 KOs, the Filipino aims to maintain his world champion status and continue his path toward unifying the major world titles. The bout between Jerusalem and Kuse will take place in Manila, on a date to be confirmed. This matchup promises to be an exciting battle, with both fighters aiming to make their mark in boxing history.
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May 16th is the date for Jerusalem vs. Kuse II
On May 16th, Kempton Park, South Africa, will host a rematch between WBC 105-pound champion Melvin Jerusalem (pictured) and local contender Siyakholwa Kuse. This fight represents a direct continuation of their October 2025 clash, when the Filipino successfully defended his title, winning by unanimous decision in a close and highly competitive fight. In that bout, the champion's experience proved decisive in the final rounds, where he landed the cleanest and most effective punches to sway the judges' scorecards in his favor. However, Kuse left a solid impression, displaying aggression, punching power, and the ability to compete at the highest level, despite his shorter professional career. The South African Kuse sees this rematch as an opportunity for redemption. Younger and hungry for revenge, he will look to correct the mistakes that cost him the first fight and take advantage of fighting at home.
In 2024, Jerusalem became a two-time champion in the 105-pound division when he upset Japan's Yudai Shigeoka (8-1) via split decision in Nagoya, Japan. A WBO champion for four months in 2023, Jerusalem (22-3) scored knockdowns in the third and sixth rounds on his way to prevailing on two of the three judges' scorecards at the end of the twelve rounds.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE OCT. 30, 2025: In the main event of the big Manila show celebrating the fiftieth annviersary of Muahammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III, there was a WBC minimumweight championship fight. Melvin Jerusalem of the Philippines retained his 105-pound title in a fiercely-contested unanimous decision win over brave South African challenger Siyakholwa Kuse. The battle featured twelve high-quality rounds of action with several shifts in momentum. It was a late rally from Jerusalem (25-3, 12 KOs) that allowed him retain his title in front of his adoring home fan base. However, Kuse (9-3-1, 4 KOs) leaves Manila with his reputation enhanced after an impressive display of southpaw skill. It was the cleaner, more effective shots of Jerusalem that saw him awarded the victory by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 (twice). AUG. 23, 2025: WBC minimumweight champion Melvin “El Gringo” Jerusalem is preparing for his third title defense in October. Originally, the Filipino Jerusalem was set to face Mexico's Daniel Valladares, but due to logistical changes, South Africa's Siyakholwa Kuse has been confirmed as his new opponent. Kuse, ranked #2 by the WBC, is a 22 year-old southpaw with a professional record of 9 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 4 KOs. In his most recent fight, held in May 2025, he defeated Filipino Sammy Salva. This will be his first opportunity to fight for a world title. Jerusalem, age 31, has been training in Nagoya, Japan since early August to strengthen his physical and technical preparation. With a record of 24 wins, 3 losses, and 12 KOs, the Filipino aims to maintain his world champion status and continue his path toward unifying the major world titles. The bout between Jerusalem and Kuse will take place in Manila, on a date to be confirmed. This matchup promises to be an exciting battle, with both fighters aiming to make their mark in boxing history.
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Sky Sports and MVP strike a deal on Dubois vs. Harper fight week |
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Sky Sports and Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have agreed a multi-year broadcast deal. MVP will stage two all women's events in the UK a year, the first on this Sunday; Sky Sports will also show select US shows starting with Alycia Baumgardner versus Bo Mi Re Shin on April 18th. The deal means Sky Sports will exclusively broadcast two all-female UK fight nights every year with the card at London's Olympia on Sunday, April 5th being MVPW's first UK event. The Olympia show, live on Sky Sports this Sunday, will include a historic double main event with Caroline Dubois meeting British rival Terri Harper in a lightweight world title unification, as well as three-belt super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney facing Mexico's WBA world titlist Mayelli Flores in a bout where victory would see her become the UK's youngest ever undisputed champion of the four belt era.
Sky Sports' Chief Officer UK and Ireland, Jonathan Licht said: "This agreement with MVP underlines Sky Sports' ambition to showcase the very best in women's boxing to sports fans and new audiences. As the UK and Ireland's biggest investor in and broadcaster of women's sport, we are proud to be part of the momentum women's boxing is enjoying and adding the sport to our unrivalled line-up."
Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian , co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions, said: "This partnership with Sky Sports marks a major milestone for MVPW and women's boxing globally. Through MVPW, we are committed to delivering meaningful opportunities for fighters while producing premium events that expand the global reach and commercial potential of women's boxing. Bringing two premium all-female MVPW events to the UK and Ireland each year, starting with the historic MVPW-01 on Sunday April 5 at London's Olympia, is exactly what we envisioned when we launched this platform. We have the best female British boxers in the world and Sky Sports is the perfect home to showcase the elite talent and championship-level action that defines MVPW. Together, we're committed to continuing to elevate women's boxing to the main stage it deserves, delivering unforgettable nights for fans across the UK and beyond."
Sky Sports has broadcast some of the most iconic moments in women's boxing, including the first all-female card in 2022 which was headlined by Claressa Shields' landmark victory over Savannah Marshall. More than two million viewers tuned in, making it the most-watched women's professional boxing event at the time, delivering Sky's biggest audience for live women's sport ever. Just last year, Sky Sports exclusively broadcast the second all-female card in the UK, headlined by Lauren Price vs Natasha Jonas from the Royal Albert Hall.
As the UK and Ireland's biggest investor in and broadcaster of women's sport, Sky Sports' agreement with MVP reinforces the broadcaster's commitment to showcasing the best female fighters and contributing to the continued growth of the sport. Sky Sports accounted for 79 per cent of all televised women's sport coverage in 2025 in the UK, with total viewing up 25 per cent across over 4,000 hours of women's sport broadcasting. Further details of future cards will be announced in due course.
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Sky Sports and MVP strike a deal on Dubois vs. Harper fight week
Sky Sports and Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have agreed a multi-year broadcast deal. MVP will stage two all women's events in the UK a year, the first on this Sunday; Sky Sports will also show select US shows starting with Alycia Baumgardner versus Bo Mi Re Shin on April 18th. The deal means Sky Sports will exclusively broadcast two all-female UK fight nights every year with the card at London's Olympia on Sunday, April 5th being MVPW's first UK event. The Olympia show, live on Sky Sports this Sunday, will include a historic double main event with Caroline Dubois meeting British rival Terri Harper in a lightweight world title unification, as well as three-belt super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney facing Mexico's WBA world titlist Mayelli Flores in a bout where victory would see her become the UK's youngest ever undisputed champion of the four belt era.
Sky Sports' Chief Officer UK and Ireland, Jonathan Licht said: "This agreement with MVP underlines Sky Sports' ambition to showcase the very best in women's boxing to sports fans and new audiences. As the UK and Ireland's biggest investor in and broadcaster of women's sport, we are proud to be part of the momentum women's boxing is enjoying and adding the sport to our unrivalled line-up."
Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian , co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions, said: "This partnership with Sky Sports marks a major milestone for MVPW and women's boxing globally. Through MVPW, we are committed to delivering meaningful opportunities for fighters while producing premium events that expand the global reach and commercial potential of women's boxing. Bringing two premium all-female MVPW events to the UK and Ireland each year, starting with the historic MVPW-01 on Sunday April 5 at London's Olympia, is exactly what we envisioned when we launched this platform. We have the best female British boxers in the world and Sky Sports is the perfect home to showcase the elite talent and championship-level action that defines MVPW. Together, we're committed to continuing to elevate women's boxing to the main stage it deserves, delivering unforgettable nights for fans across the UK and beyond."
Sky Sports has broadcast some of the most iconic moments in women's boxing, including the first all-female card in 2022 which was headlined by Claressa Shields' landmark victory over Savannah Marshall. More than two million viewers tuned in, making it the most-watched women's professional boxing event at the time, delivering Sky's biggest audience for live women's sport ever. Just last year, Sky Sports exclusively broadcast the second all-female card in the UK, headlined by Lauren Price vs Natasha Jonas from the Royal Albert Hall.
As the UK and Ireland's biggest investor in and broadcaster of women's sport, Sky Sports' agreement with MVP reinforces the broadcaster's commitment to showcasing the best female fighters and contributing to the continued growth of the sport. Sky Sports accounted for 79 per cent of all televised women's sport coverage in 2025 in the UK, with total viewing up 25 per cent across over 4,000 hours of women's sport broadcasting. Further details of future cards will be announced in due course.
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Zayas to defend vs. Ennis on June 27th |
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The WBO / WBA junior middleweight titles will be on the line in a sizzling summer showdown in the Big Apple, as Xander Zayas defends his two belts against former welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday June 27th. It will be streamed on DAZN pay-per-view and promoted by Matchroom in association with Top Rank. Zayas (23-0 13 KOs) unified the titles in January in Puerto Rico in a thrilling contest with Abass Baraou via split decision, becoming the youngest current unified ruler in the sport and the first Puerto Rican to unify at the weight. The popular 23-year old returns to New York for his ninth fight in the Big Apple and does so just a month shy of a year since winning his first world title at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, dominating Jorge Garcia Perez to claim the vacant WBO belt.
Ennis (35-0 31 KOs) is looking to become a two-weight unified champion – and does so after just one fight, and one round, up at his new weight. The Philadelphia star unified twp welterweight titles last April with a destructive beating of Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City to add the WBA strap to his own IBF crown. The 28-year old, who turns 29 the day before the bout with Zayas, signaled his intentions at 154 pounds in his debut at the weight, destroying Uisma Lima inside a round on home turf, grabbing the interim WBA title in the process.
“Long before I became a world champion,” said Zayas. “I always sought to face the biggest challenges in my division I have never shied away from a fight and have always been willing to test my skills against anyone. “Now, as the unified champion, I am ready to defend my world titles against one of the sport’s biggest names. I have always believed in myself, and on June 27, I will continue to show the world what is possible when you dare to be great!”
“Time to step and collect these belts!” said Ennis. “Knocking them down one by one! And the new...”
“Zayas vs. Boots is everything fans want in a summer blockbuster — two elite level champions, fighting for multiple world titles, staged in an iconic backdrop, New York,” said Alfie Sharman, VP of DAZN. “This matchup is a statement moment for global boxing, and we’re thrilled to deliver it live and exclusive on DAZN. June 27th will be a night where the best fight the best, and fans around the world won’t want to miss it.”
“What a fight!” said Ennis’ promoter and Matchroom Chairman, Eddie Hearn. “I’m thrilled to be able to get this fight made for Jaron – this is exactly the kind of occasion that brings the very best out of a future pound-for-pound #1. Boots shone so brightly against Stanionis in Atlantic City in his first unification fight, and I expect him to light up Brooklyn on June 27th.
“But Xander is a special fighter in his own right, and huge props go to him for wanting to fight the very best – Brooklyn has a special fight on it’s hands this summer, and I am counting down the days already.”
“We signed Xander at 16 and have seen him develop into the sport’s youngest current unified champion and a budding superstar,” said Zayas’ promoter and President of Top Rank, Todd duBoef. “Facing the best has always been Xander’s priority, and ‘Boots’ Ennis provides Xander with the next step to prove greatness in only his second title defense.
“The matchup pits boxing’s elite young talent who want to emerge as a pound-for-pound king and entertain the sports world. We’re proud to work alongside Matchroom and DAZN to bring this meaningful fight to a global audience from Barclays Center on June 27.”
“Barclays Center is a premier destination for the biggest nights in boxing and continues to serve as a global stage for the sport’s most exciting talent, a tradition we’re proud to continue with this incredible matchup,” said Laurie Jacoby, Chief Entertainment Officer, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “From championship bouts and global sporting events, Barclays Center has built a reputation for delivering unforgettable nights that resonate far beyond Brooklyn, reflecting our ongoing commitment to bringing world-class competition and must-see moments to our fans.”
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Zayas to defend vs. Ennis on June 27th
The WBO / WBA junior middleweight titles will be on the line in a sizzling summer showdown in the Big Apple, as Xander Zayas defends his two belts against former welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday June 27th. It will be streamed on DAZN pay-per-view and promoted by Matchroom in association with Top Rank. Zayas (23-0 13 KOs) unified the titles in January in Puerto Rico in a thrilling contest with Abass Baraou via split decision, becoming the youngest current unified ruler in the sport and the first Puerto Rican to unify at the weight. The popular 23-year old returns to New York for his ninth fight in the Big Apple and does so just a month shy of a year since winning his first world title at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, dominating Jorge Garcia Perez to claim the vacant WBO belt.
Ennis (35-0 31 KOs) is looking to become a two-weight unified champion – and does so after just one fight, and one round, up at his new weight. The Philadelphia star unified twp welterweight titles last April with a destructive beating of Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City to add the WBA strap to his own IBF crown. The 28-year old, who turns 29 the day before the bout with Zayas, signaled his intentions at 154 pounds in his debut at the weight, destroying Uisma Lima inside a round on home turf, grabbing the interim WBA title in the process.
“Long before I became a world champion,” said Zayas. “I always sought to face the biggest challenges in my division I have never shied away from a fight and have always been willing to test my skills against anyone. “Now, as the unified champion, I am ready to defend my world titles against one of the sport’s biggest names. I have always believed in myself, and on June 27, I will continue to show the world what is possible when you dare to be great!”
“Time to step and collect these belts!” said Ennis. “Knocking them down one by one! And the new...”
“Zayas vs. Boots is everything fans want in a summer blockbuster — two elite level champions, fighting for multiple world titles, staged in an iconic backdrop, New York,” said Alfie Sharman, VP of DAZN. “This matchup is a statement moment for global boxing, and we’re thrilled to deliver it live and exclusive on DAZN. June 27th will be a night where the best fight the best, and fans around the world won’t want to miss it.”
“What a fight!” said Ennis’ promoter and Matchroom Chairman, Eddie Hearn. “I’m thrilled to be able to get this fight made for Jaron – this is exactly the kind of occasion that brings the very best out of a future pound-for-pound #1. Boots shone so brightly against Stanionis in Atlantic City in his first unification fight, and I expect him to light up Brooklyn on June 27th.
“But Xander is a special fighter in his own right, and huge props go to him for wanting to fight the very best – Brooklyn has a special fight on it’s hands this summer, and I am counting down the days already.”
“We signed Xander at 16 and have seen him develop into the sport’s youngest current unified champion and a budding superstar,” said Zayas’ promoter and President of Top Rank, Todd duBoef. “Facing the best has always been Xander’s priority, and ‘Boots’ Ennis provides Xander with the next step to prove greatness in only his second title defense.
“The matchup pits boxing’s elite young talent who want to emerge as a pound-for-pound king and entertain the sports world. We’re proud to work alongside Matchroom and DAZN to bring this meaningful fight to a global audience from Barclays Center on June 27.”
“Barclays Center is a premier destination for the biggest nights in boxing and continues to serve as a global stage for the sport’s most exciting talent, a tradition we’re proud to continue with this incredible matchup,” said Laurie Jacoby, Chief Entertainment Officer, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “From championship bouts and global sporting events, Barclays Center has built a reputation for delivering unforgettable nights that resonate far beyond Brooklyn, reflecting our ongoing commitment to bringing world-class competition and must-see moments to our fans.”
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Francis Hogan wins by DQ |
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Francis Hogan DQ5 Patrick Allottey... On Saturday at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly Massachusetts, local middleweight Francis "Frank the Tank" Hogan improved to 22-0 with 18 KOs via a fifth-round stoppage of Ghana’s Patrick Allotey (45-11, 35 KOs). From the opening bell, it was a tactical battle of Hogan’s southpaw range against Allotey’s orthodox pressure. The Boston native remained composed against the experienced Allottey, who had previously shared the ring with world-class opponents including former jr. middleweight champion Jaime Munguia, contenders Serheii Bohachuk and Chordale Booker. Hogan took control, dropping Allotey in the fourth with a sharp left hand. Tensions escalated in the fifth, when Allotey felt that he was hit behind the head. The Ghanaian responded moments later with a hammer punch to the top of Hogan’s head, prompting a point deduction from referee Johnny Callas. It was the beginning of the end, as the frustrated Allotey seemed to be looking for a way out of the fight. Moments later, Allotey grabbed Hogan and attempted to knee him in the head, prompting referee Johnny Callas to immediately halt the contest via disaqualification.
"I had a tough, quality opponent in there tonight," said Hogan immediately after the bout. "He punched hard and went more rounds than I thought he would. I wish he would have been a bit more classy with the way things ended, but I was breaking him down and I know that I would have gotten him out of there one way or another... I want to fight Connor Coyle next. We have similar records and are in the same division, so we should fight each other. We can’t just keep fighting stepping stones and veterans, we have to fight someone who is undefeated and take someone’s ‘0’. So, Connor Coyle, I’m calling you out. You’re next – sign the contract."
Amelia Moore W8 Bonnie Hunter... Lightweight Amelia Moore (4-0, 1 KO) delivered a disciplined, one-sided masterclass, defeating Canada’s Bonnie Hunter (6-7, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision with scores of 80-72 (twice) and 80-71. The bout, originally scheduled for November before being postponed, saw both fighters enter with ample preparation – and Moore made the most of it. The 2020 U.S. Olympic alternate showcased her elite amateur pedigree, controlling the action with superior speed, footwork, and sharp punching. Moore stunned Hunter in the third round with a powerful right hand and dictated the pace throughout, consistently evading incoming shots with sharp head movement. Despite Hunter’s trademark durability, she was unable to mount any sustained offense or trouble Moore at any point over eight rounds. With the win, Moore positions herself firmly within reach of a world title opportunity.
"I’d really like to fight [WBA champion] Stephanie Han," said Moore. "I know we would make for a great fight."
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Dorchester’s Tevin ‘The Hitman’ Regis (7-0, 6 KOs) overcame early adversity in his junior welterweight bout to remain unbeaten, earning a third-round TKO over late replacement Romel Tsanimp (3-9). The power-punching Regis was originally scheduled to face fellow unbeaten Anuel Rosa, who withdrew due to injury. Tsanimp answered the call on seven days’ notice to save the day, but he almost ruined Regis’ perfect record in the process. Regis appeared on the verge of a quick finish after dropping Tsanimp with a stiff jab in round one. Just as ‘The Hitman’ went in to finish the job, the Baltimore-based Ecuadorian caught him with a looping right hand to the temple that sent Regis to the canvas and had him on shaky legs at the bell. But Regis regained control in round two, reasserting himself behind a punishing jab and sharp right hands as the exhausted Tsanimp began to fade. Just as the action was heating up, the Ecuadorian chose not to answer the bell for round three, giving Regis another stoppage victory.
Marshfield welterweight Joe Bush (7-0, 5 KOs) returned from a year layoff to stop Giovanni Gutierrez (11-18-1, 6 KOs) after three rounds. Bush overwhelmed the normally durable veteran with short left hooks and heavy right hands on the inside, steadily breaking down the Nicaraguan. Gutierrez bravely fought back in spurts but decided that he had enough at the end of round three.
New Hampshire featherweight Christian Moura continued to impress as one of the most promising young prospects in the CES stable, improving to 3-0 (3 KOs) with a second-round stoppage of Rashad Hicks (2-7-1, 2 KOs). Moura dropped Hicks with a left hook in the opening round before trapping him in the corner in round two and unleashing a sustained attack that forced the referee to stop the bout one minute into the round.
Saugus’s Lamin Conteh made a successful professional debut, earning a unanimous decision over Steven Farrar in a 4-round jr. middleweight contest. Conteh used his reach effectively throughout the contest and punctuated his performance with a fourth-round knockdown via left hook. Farrar had his best moment in round three with a counter left hand but was unable to build on it.
Irish lightweight Conor ‘Bullet’ O’Donovan traveled overseas for his professional debut and wasted no time making an impression, stopping John Medina in the first round. O’Donovan scored two knockdowns—first with a short right hand and then with a body shot—before finishing the fight with a final left hand at 2:04 of round one.
In a battle of debuting fighters, Pennsylvania’s Jose Perez Marrero (1-0, 1 KO) scored a highlight-reel knockout over Lawrence, Massachusetts native Dimas Colon (0-1). Marrero dropped Colon twice in the opening round with left hands before ending the bout in round two, catching Colon with a short left that produced a delayed knockdown for the count at 2:09.
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Francis Hogan wins by DQ
Francis Hogan DQ5 Patrick Allottey... On Saturday at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly Massachusetts, local middleweight Francis "Frank the Tank" Hogan improved to 22-0 with 18 KOs via a fifth-round stoppage of Ghana’s Patrick Allotey (45-11, 35 KOs). From the opening bell, it was a tactical battle of Hogan’s southpaw range against Allotey’s orthodox pressure. The Boston native remained composed against the experienced Allottey, who had previously shared the ring with world-class opponents including former jr. middleweight champion Jaime Munguia, contenders Serheii Bohachuk and Chordale Booker. Hogan took control, dropping Allotey in the fourth with a sharp left hand. Tensions escalated in the fifth, when Allotey felt that he was hit behind the head. The Ghanaian responded moments later with a hammer punch to the top of Hogan’s head, prompting a point deduction from referee Johnny Callas. It was the beginning of the end, as the frustrated Allotey seemed to be looking for a way out of the fight. Moments later, Allotey grabbed Hogan and attempted to knee him in the head, prompting referee Johnny Callas to immediately halt the contest via disaqualification.
"I had a tough, quality opponent in there tonight," said Hogan immediately after the bout. "He punched hard and went more rounds than I thought he would. I wish he would have been a bit more classy with the way things ended, but I was breaking him down and I know that I would have gotten him out of there one way or another... I want to fight Connor Coyle next. We have similar records and are in the same division, so we should fight each other. We can’t just keep fighting stepping stones and veterans, we have to fight someone who is undefeated and take someone’s ‘0’. So, Connor Coyle, I’m calling you out. You’re next – sign the contract."
Amelia Moore W8 Bonnie Hunter... Lightweight Amelia Moore (4-0, 1 KO) delivered a disciplined, one-sided masterclass, defeating Canada’s Bonnie Hunter (6-7, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision with scores of 80-72 (twice) and 80-71. The bout, originally scheduled for November before being postponed, saw both fighters enter with ample preparation – and Moore made the most of it. The 2020 U.S. Olympic alternate showcased her elite amateur pedigree, controlling the action with superior speed, footwork, and sharp punching. Moore stunned Hunter in the third round with a powerful right hand and dictated the pace throughout, consistently evading incoming shots with sharp head movement. Despite Hunter’s trademark durability, she was unable to mount any sustained offense or trouble Moore at any point over eight rounds. With the win, Moore positions herself firmly within reach of a world title opportunity.
"I’d really like to fight [WBA champion] Stephanie Han," said Moore. "I know we would make for a great fight."
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Dorchester’s Tevin ‘The Hitman’ Regis (7-0, 6 KOs) overcame early adversity in his junior welterweight bout to remain unbeaten, earning a third-round TKO over late replacement Romel Tsanimp (3-9). The power-punching Regis was originally scheduled to face fellow unbeaten Anuel Rosa, who withdrew due to injury. Tsanimp answered the call on seven days’ notice to save the day, but he almost ruined Regis’ perfect record in the process. Regis appeared on the verge of a quick finish after dropping Tsanimp with a stiff jab in round one. Just as ‘The Hitman’ went in to finish the job, the Baltimore-based Ecuadorian caught him with a looping right hand to the temple that sent Regis to the canvas and had him on shaky legs at the bell. But Regis regained control in round two, reasserting himself behind a punishing jab and sharp right hands as the exhausted Tsanimp began to fade. Just as the action was heating up, the Ecuadorian chose not to answer the bell for round three, giving Regis another stoppage victory.
Marshfield welterweight Joe Bush (7-0, 5 KOs) returned from a year layoff to stop Giovanni Gutierrez (11-18-1, 6 KOs) after three rounds. Bush overwhelmed the normally durable veteran with short left hooks and heavy right hands on the inside, steadily breaking down the Nicaraguan. Gutierrez bravely fought back in spurts but decided that he had enough at the end of round three.
New Hampshire featherweight Christian Moura continued to impress as one of the most promising young prospects in the CES stable, improving to 3-0 (3 KOs) with a second-round stoppage of Rashad Hicks (2-7-1, 2 KOs). Moura dropped Hicks with a left hook in the opening round before trapping him in the corner in round two and unleashing a sustained attack that forced the referee to stop the bout one minute into the round.
Saugus’s Lamin Conteh made a successful professional debut, earning a unanimous decision over Steven Farrar in a 4-round jr. middleweight contest. Conteh used his reach effectively throughout the contest and punctuated his performance with a fourth-round knockdown via left hook. Farrar had his best moment in round three with a counter left hand but was unable to build on it.
Irish lightweight Conor ‘Bullet’ O’Donovan traveled overseas for his professional debut and wasted no time making an impression, stopping John Medina in the first round. O’Donovan scored two knockdowns—first with a short right hand and then with a body shot—before finishing the fight with a final left hand at 2:04 of round one.
In a battle of debuting fighters, Pennsylvania’s Jose Perez Marrero (1-0, 1 KO) scored a highlight-reel knockout over Lawrence, Massachusetts native Dimas Colon (0-1). Marrero dropped Colon twice in the opening round with left hands before ending the bout in round two, catching Colon with a short left that produced a delayed knockdown for the count at 2:09.
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Davies grabs Grandelli's European championship |
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Liam Davies TKO6 Francesco Grandelli ... Liam Davies is the new European featherweight champion after Francesco Grandelli was pulled out of the fight by his corner at the end of round six. The fight took place on the Queensberry show in Manchester, England that was headlined by Moses Itauma defeating Jermaine Franklin. Davies dominated from the outset, an overhand right and left to the body in the first round were a clear sign that Davies was in control against the Italian. Grandelli began to slow down in the third, his shots lacking zip, while Davies, full of energy, was throwing with ease. A Davies left hand in the fourth knocked down Grandelli who increased his intensity in the fifth with him knowing the fight was quickly slipping away on the scorecards. Grandelli was backed up to the corner at the start of the sixth, and managed to land a right hand before controlling the rest of the session. The Italian’s team had seen enough at the end of the sixth, pulling their fighter out which made Davies the new European featherweight champion.
Willy Hutchinson W10 Ezra Taylor... Light heavyweight Willy Hutchinson prevailed against previously undefeated Ezra Taylor with a convincing points win. It was not the all action fight which many had hoped for, but Hutchinson set the tone in round one with a short left. This punch sent Taylor into his shell who seemed reluctant to engage and looked tense when throwing. Round three saw Taylor catch Hutchinson with a left hand, but two rounds later, Hutchinson rocked his opponent with his own swinging left. As the fight progressed, Hutchinson’s fluidity allowed him to keep control against Taylor who failed to push back sufficiently. Hutchinson’s dominance was reflected on the judges’ scorecards with scores 99-91, and two reading 98-92. This defeat for Taylor was the first of his 14-fight career, while Hutchinson hopes this victory can push him towards a world title shot.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Gerome Warburton beat Nathan Heaney by unanimous decision in a fight which proved difficult to watch. Warburton was nervous, while Heaney was rigid, offering very little and not throwing. Heaney landed two successive lefts to Warburton’s body in the second, but this was arguably the only major punches thrown. Warburton grew in confidence as the fight progressed, using his footwork to dance around Heaney who only seemed to have one direction of travel, and that was forward. With Heaney struggling to make any notable impression, Warburton continued to dance around the former British middleweight champion, and he was rewarded with the win. One judge scored the fight 98-92, and the two others 97-93 in Warburton’s favor.
Brad Pauls snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a ninth-round stoppage against Shakiel Thompson. The opening rounds were cagey, but Thompson seized the initiative and began to dominate. While he threw combinations, Pauls was only managing single jabs without any meaningful follow up. With the fight seemingly under his control, Thompson clipped Pauls with a right hand in the fourth, and in the seventh, two left hands had Pauls on the back foot, and the contest slipping away. As the fight reached round nine, it looked like Thompson was set for a comfortable points win, but Pauls tore up the script. A left jab wobbled Thompson up close before three successive rights to the head had Thompson down. Pauls sniffed blood once Thompson got back to his feet and met the referee’s count, he unloaded what felt like endless left-right combinations and in the end, it proved too much for Thompson. Another Pauls left hand sent him to the canvas, and the referee stopped the fight with 90 seconds remaining in the round.
It took Josh Holmes just one round to beat Alex Murphy. Murphy looked comfortable after rocking Holmes, but the latter struck back. First with a right hook, followed by a left which floored Murphy. As Holmes’ support roared, Murphy got back to his feet, but he was on shaky legs and Holmes capitalised. A left-right had Murphy on the floor once again, this time in the neutral corner. The bell may have sounded, but Murphy was unable to continue and the fights was stopped by referee Howard Foster.
Michael Gomez Jr. beat Jordan Flynn in the night’s opening contest with a stoppage in round three. Flynn opted to box off the jab, and had the better of the early exchanges, but there was always the threat from Gomez who was beginning to land a number of power punches towards the end of round one. Gomez stepped up the intensity in the second and landed a left to the body which winded Flynn and gave his opponent plenty of confidence to continue the offensive. With Flynn cut going into the third session, it was one-way traffic with Gomez clipping Flynn numerous times with uppercuts. Gomez managed to back Flynn on to the ropes before landing at will, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the fight. For now, Gomez’s boxing career continues after stating that he would retire if beaten in Manchester.
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Davies grabs Grandelli's European championship
Liam Davies TKO6 Francesco Grandelli ... Liam Davies is the new European featherweight champion after Francesco Grandelli was pulled out of the fight by his corner at the end of round six. The fight took place on the Queensberry show in Manchester, England that was headlined by Moses Itauma defeating Jermaine Franklin. Davies dominated from the outset, an overhand right and left to the body in the first round were a clear sign that Davies was in control against the Italian. Grandelli began to slow down in the third, his shots lacking zip, while Davies, full of energy, was throwing with ease. A Davies left hand in the fourth knocked down Grandelli who increased his intensity in the fifth with him knowing the fight was quickly slipping away on the scorecards. Grandelli was backed up to the corner at the start of the sixth, and managed to land a right hand before controlling the rest of the session. The Italian’s team had seen enough at the end of the sixth, pulling their fighter out which made Davies the new European featherweight champion.
Willy Hutchinson W10 Ezra Taylor... Light heavyweight Willy Hutchinson prevailed against previously undefeated Ezra Taylor with a convincing points win. It was not the all action fight which many had hoped for, but Hutchinson set the tone in round one with a short left. This punch sent Taylor into his shell who seemed reluctant to engage and looked tense when throwing. Round three saw Taylor catch Hutchinson with a left hand, but two rounds later, Hutchinson rocked his opponent with his own swinging left. As the fight progressed, Hutchinson’s fluidity allowed him to keep control against Taylor who failed to push back sufficiently. Hutchinson’s dominance was reflected on the judges’ scorecards with scores 99-91, and two reading 98-92. This defeat for Taylor was the first of his 14-fight career, while Hutchinson hopes this victory can push him towards a world title shot.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Gerome Warburton beat Nathan Heaney by unanimous decision in a fight which proved difficult to watch. Warburton was nervous, while Heaney was rigid, offering very little and not throwing. Heaney landed two successive lefts to Warburton’s body in the second, but this was arguably the only major punches thrown. Warburton grew in confidence as the fight progressed, using his footwork to dance around Heaney who only seemed to have one direction of travel, and that was forward. With Heaney struggling to make any notable impression, Warburton continued to dance around the former British middleweight champion, and he was rewarded with the win. One judge scored the fight 98-92, and the two others 97-93 in Warburton’s favor.
Brad Pauls snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a ninth-round stoppage against Shakiel Thompson. The opening rounds were cagey, but Thompson seized the initiative and began to dominate. While he threw combinations, Pauls was only managing single jabs without any meaningful follow up. With the fight seemingly under his control, Thompson clipped Pauls with a right hand in the fourth, and in the seventh, two left hands had Pauls on the back foot, and the contest slipping away. As the fight reached round nine, it looked like Thompson was set for a comfortable points win, but Pauls tore up the script. A left jab wobbled Thompson up close before three successive rights to the head had Thompson down. Pauls sniffed blood once Thompson got back to his feet and met the referee’s count, he unloaded what felt like endless left-right combinations and in the end, it proved too much for Thompson. Another Pauls left hand sent him to the canvas, and the referee stopped the fight with 90 seconds remaining in the round.
It took Josh Holmes just one round to beat Alex Murphy. Murphy looked comfortable after rocking Holmes, but the latter struck back. First with a right hook, followed by a left which floored Murphy. As Holmes’ support roared, Murphy got back to his feet, but he was on shaky legs and Holmes capitalised. A left-right had Murphy on the floor once again, this time in the neutral corner. The bell may have sounded, but Murphy was unable to continue and the fights was stopped by referee Howard Foster.
Michael Gomez Jr. beat Jordan Flynn in the night’s opening contest with a stoppage in round three. Flynn opted to box off the jab, and had the better of the early exchanges, but there was always the threat from Gomez who was beginning to land a number of power punches towards the end of round one. Gomez stepped up the intensity in the second and landed a left to the body which winded Flynn and gave his opponent plenty of confidence to continue the offensive. With Flynn cut going into the third session, it was one-way traffic with Gomez clipping Flynn numerous times with uppercuts. Gomez managed to back Flynn on to the ropes before landing at will, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the fight. For now, Gomez’s boxing career continues after stating that he would retire if beaten in Manchester.
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BKB results from Connecticut |
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There were two bare knuckles fight shows in Connecticut last weekend, both claiming to be sold out. BKB made its Connecticut debut on Saturday, March 28th in front of a sold-out crowd at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Two new BKB champions were crowned. In the main event, BKB light heavyweight champion Cub “The Savage” Hawkins, the all-time leader in wins in BKB’s patented trigon, improved to 10-1 (9 KOs) with a finish over Canada’s Jesse Ronson. After being knocked down three times in the second round, Hawkins, age 28, turned the tables and scored a third-round knockout of the UFC veteran.
One of the world’s top young bare knuckles fighters, 22-year-old Cuban Yampier “The Samurai” Ramirez improved to 4-0 (4 KOs) and claimed the vacant BKB featherweight title over Wales’ previously-undefeated Ash “Bash” Williams with a second-round TKO.
Julian “Pit Bull Jr.” Fernandez stayed undefeated and made history by becoming the first Mexican male to win a bare knuckle world title with a quick first-round KO finish of England’s Alex Wilson, securing the vacant BKB super cruiserweight championship.
Former BKB heavyweight champion DJ Linderman improved to 5-2, spoiling UFC veteran Braxton Smith’s BKB debut with a corner stoppage after the third round.
Medford, Massachusetts’ Greg Bono brought the local crowd to its feet with a his BKB debut, defeating Matt Denning by second-round TKO.
In a back and forth firefight, Bekhzod Usmonov outlasted Luis Guerrero picking up a second-round TKO.
In another barnburner, Armus Guyton defeated Ozzie Alvarez with a second-round knockout.
Zion Tomlinson improved to 6-5-1 NC after a corner stoppage over bare knuckle veteran Zach Calmus in the second.
In the prelims, Ryan Venable outlasted Brandon Desrosier in his bare knuckle debut with a five-round unanimous decision.
Taylor Bull delivered a highlight reel first-round knockout of Bubba McDaniel.
Jesse Sparks, age 22, put the heavyweight division on notice with a nineteen-second first round knockout of Hassan Graham.
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BKB results from Connecticut
There were two bare knuckles fight shows in Connecticut last weekend, both claiming to be sold out. BKB made its Connecticut debut on Saturday, March 28th in front of a sold-out crowd at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Two new BKB champions were crowned. In the main event, BKB light heavyweight champion Cub “The Savage” Hawkins, the all-time leader in wins in BKB’s patented trigon, improved to 10-1 (9 KOs) with a finish over Canada’s Jesse Ronson. After being knocked down three times in the second round, Hawkins, age 28, turned the tables and scored a third-round knockout of the UFC veteran.
One of the world’s top young bare knuckles fighters, 22-year-old Cuban Yampier “The Samurai” Ramirez improved to 4-0 (4 KOs) and claimed the vacant BKB featherweight title over Wales’ previously-undefeated Ash “Bash” Williams with a second-round TKO.
Julian “Pit Bull Jr.” Fernandez stayed undefeated and made history by becoming the first Mexican male to win a bare knuckle world title with a quick first-round KO finish of England’s Alex Wilson, securing the vacant BKB super cruiserweight championship.
Former BKB heavyweight champion DJ Linderman improved to 5-2, spoiling UFC veteran Braxton Smith’s BKB debut with a corner stoppage after the third round.
Medford, Massachusetts’ Greg Bono brought the local crowd to its feet with a his BKB debut, defeating Matt Denning by second-round TKO.
In a back and forth firefight, Bekhzod Usmonov outlasted Luis Guerrero picking up a second-round TKO.
In another barnburner, Armus Guyton defeated Ozzie Alvarez with a second-round knockout.
Zion Tomlinson improved to 6-5-1 NC after a corner stoppage over bare knuckle veteran Zach Calmus in the second.
In the prelims, Ryan Venable outlasted Brandon Desrosier in his bare knuckle debut with a five-round unanimous decision.
Taylor Bull delivered a highlight reel first-round knockout of Bubba McDaniel.
Jesse Sparks, age 22, put the heavyweight division on notice with a nineteen-second first round knockout of Hassan Graham.
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