A few words with Isaac Lucero

A few words with Isaac Lucero

Young junior middleweight Isaac “La Bestia” Lucero (17-0) hopes to become the next rising Mexican star in boxing by making a statement against hard-hitting Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (31-5) this Saturday, December 6th as part of PBC on Prime Video action from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Lucero’s ten-round bout will stream live and for free on Prime Video as part of a three-fight presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT and leading into a the PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video headlined by WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach against former 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” for the WBC interim title. Here is what Lucero had to say about training camp, December 6th and more:

On his matchup with Roberto Valenzuela Jr. and the message he wants to send to fans in Mexico:

“This is more than just another fight—it’s a battle between two proud Mexican warriors. I have respect for Valenzuela, but once that bell rings, it’s all business. I’m coming to represent my hometown and make my country proud. I want to show the fans in Mexico that there’s a new name rising in the sport, and that name is Isaac Lucero. I’m fighting for my people, for my roots, and for the future of Mexican boxing.”

 On his recent training camp in Las Vegas with trainer Bob Santos:

“This camp in Las Vegas has been the most intense and focused of my career. Working with Bob Santos has taken me to another level, both mentally and physically. He pushes me to sharpen every part of my game—from defense and footwork to ring IQ and conditioning. We've been in the gym every day with purpose, and I feel stronger, faster, and smarter than ever. Training alongside great fighters and under the guidance of a world-class coach has me prepared for this fight. I’m ready to show the world the results of this work.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“A win on December 6th means everything. It’s my ticket to the next level—bigger names, bigger fights, and ultimately a shot at the world title. Staying undefeated is important, but more than that, I want to make a statement that I belong among the elite. Beating a tough, experienced fighter like Valenzuela Jr. on a platform like Prime Video will send that message loud and clear.”

On what fans can expect from him on fight night:

“Expect fireworks. I’m bringing pressure, power, and precision. I’ve worked too hard to let this moment slip away. Fans tuning in will see a hungry fighter who’s prepared to go to war and leave it all in the ring. Whether it ends early or goes the distance, I promise it’ll be a performance people will remember. December 6th, I’m coming to steal the show.”

 

Introducing cruiserweight Dejon Farrell-Francis

Introducing cruiserweight Dejon Farrell-Francis

It took Dejon Farrell-Francis ten years to find the right gym. This 29-year old is better known as "FairPlay" from his old street beefs fights on YouTube where he would fight while wearing a tuxedo. He amassed an unofficial 38-2 record and a huge following from these unsanctioned donnybrooks. He had some success in amateur mixed  martial arts. But when he turned pro in boxing in 2023 he didn’t have a gym or coach and started off with a 1-3 record. Then earlier this year he walked into Gladiator Gym in Forked River and hit it off with Coach Shawn Darling (who was recently inducted into the NJ Boxing Hall of Fame).

Darling took him on as a challenge to see if they could turn him around. After four months of training they went into hostile territory defeating Bethlehem, Pennsylvania's Mike Liberto who was a 2-0 cruiserweight at the time. Liberto fell via second-round TKO on September 5th. Only eight weeks later, Farrell-Francis he moved up to heavyweight to challenge 288-pound Dominique Mayfield in Philadelphia on November 1st. The fight was stopped within seconds of the first round after an onslaught of punches from "FairPlay" caused Mayfield’s shoulder to become dislodged leading to a first-round stoppage. Since that fight was so quick, Farrell-Francis took on cruiserweight Avante Barr only three weeks later on November 22nd in Atlantic City. That fight took "FairPlay" four rounds and two knockdowns before it was waved off, giving him three TKOs in three months.

Farrell-Francis is set to kick off the new year on January 13, 2026 against Tunde Fatiregun (3-2) at cruiserweight. Darling is teaching him the ropes and keeping him busy. Now 4-3, Farrell-Francis wants a couple of more wins and then would like to fight for a regional belt.

Having excellent sparring partners at Gladiator: Chris "Sandman: Thomas (15-3), Cali "Ninja" Box (5-0) and Tyler Ghost Vanorden (4-0) is a huge plus. When Farrell-Francis isn’t knocking people out he’s answering to the name Sarge in the US Army National Guard.

TKV wins British heavyweight title

TKV wins British heavyweight title

Jeamie Tshikeva W12 Frazer Clarke... Over the weekend in Derby, England, Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva beat Frazer Clarke by split decision to claim the vacant British heavyweight title. The title was last held by David Adeleye based on his defeat of Tshikeva in April.  It was a significant night for British boxing, as live professional boxing returned to BBC linear television for the first time in two decades. It was far from a technical showcase with frequent grappling and clinching, but the contest sparked to life when Tshikeva rocked Clarke with a heavy left hook in the eleventh round. A stunned Clarke somehow stayed upright and staggered back to his corner. With his trainer poised to pull him out unless he responded, Clarke insisted he could continue and bravely fought through the final round. The judges scored it 115-113 and 115-112 for Tshikeva, while the third judge disagrred and turned in a 115-112 scorecard for the 2021 Olympic bronze medallist (Clarke). Tshikeva is now 9-2, while the 35 year-old Clarke falls to 9-2-1.

Stevenson moving up to 140 to challenge world champ Lopez

Stevenson moving up to 140 to challenge world champ Lopez

Stevenson moving up to 140 to challenge world champ Lopez

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and owner of Ring Magazine, has confirmed the highly anticipated fight between world 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez and WBC 135-pound championb Shakur Stevenson (pictured) for Saturday January 31, 2026 in New York City (likely at Madison Square Garden). Brooklyn’s Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) will be putting his world and WBO junior welterweight titles on the line when he takes on Stevenson, who will be stepping up to 140 for the first time. The fight will be broadcast live, exclusively on DAZN worldwide. This will serve as a fourth title defense for ‘The Takeover’ as he looks to extend his six-fight winning streak following his most recent victory, a unanimous decision win over the previously undefeated Arnold Barboza Jr. during The Ring’s historic Times Square card in May.

For Stevenson, who will also be fighting just a few miles from his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, this represents an opportunity to become a four-weight champion. The southpaw’s most recent fight came just two months after Lopez's triumph, when he claimed a unanimous decision win against mandatory challenger William Zepeda to retain his WBC lightweight belt during July’s event at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.

Alalshikh said: “This fight between two huge talents will provide an exciting start to our plans for 2026 and as we look to create another great year of boxing events around the world. We are looking forward to returning to New York in January and producing another big world title fight that fans have been waiting for.”

Lopez said: “Duck, Duck, Goose! Are you ready for New York City? Brick city in the concrete jungle, so let’s get ready to rumble! The Takeover is here to stay, not play. Make Boxing Great Again is my forte. Shakur will fall in nine.”

Stevenson said: “I have never shied away from a challenge and always chased the biggest fights in the sport because I know I am one of the best boxers in the world. Teofimo Lopez will learn that firsthand on January 31st when I take his belt and show him that there are levels to this game. New York, get ready for a spectacular performance as I take over a fourth straight weight division. ”

Further details including ticketing, venue and additional fights on the card will be announced in due course.

Pencil in May 2, 2026: Benavidez to challenge Ramirez for cruiserweight titles

Pencil in May 2, 2026: Benavidez to challenge Ramirez for cruiserweight titles

WBC light heavyweight champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez (pictured) is excited about taking over next Cinco de Mayo weekend to face WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez-- not only because he’ll be vying to become a three-division champion, but also for the history-making aspect of two proud Mexican warriors competing for the cruiserweight world championship for the first time in history. Fresh off his seventh-round TKO victory over Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) is next scheduled to meet Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) on May 2, 2026, at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Many fans want Benavidez to face the lineal world light heavyweight champion Dmitrii Bivol or former three-belt champion Artur Beterbiev rather than Ramirez. However, Benavidez’s longtime promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing wishes to remind fans of some facts concerning the choice to face Zurdo instead.

“After waiting so long for [former world super middleweight champion] Canelo Alvarez, only to have him avoid us at all costs, David will wait for no one ever again,” said Lewkowicz. “We offered Bivol $8 million to face David last year, and he chose to vacate the WBC title a day before a scheduled purse bid rather than face him. Beterbiev is coming off a loss, so other than money, he brings nothing to table. Besides, David wanted the winner of rematch, not the loser. David would stop Beterbiev. No doubt in my mind and has already dropped Bivol with headgear and big gloves. David is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but he won’t talk about it. He will show it, fight after fight.”

Lewkowicz also wants fans to know their wish will be granted in the near future. “The WBA has guaranteed us that David is the mandatory for the Bivol/Beterbiev winner,” he added. “Bivol will have to act like a ‘Russian Canelo’ and vacate another title to avoid facing David. He doesn’t want to fight because he knows when they sparred, David put a beating on him and dropped him. He has zero chance of beating David. That I promise you. He has no power to keep David off him, and he will take a brutal beating!”

Benavidez has already held world championships in two weight classes, the WBA regular (secondary) light heavyweight title since February 2025 and the WBC light heavyweight title since April 2025. Previously, he held the WBC super middleweight title twice between 2017 and 2020. And, by claiming his first world title at 20 years, and eight months old, Benavidez holds the record as the youngest super middleweight world champion in history.

Purse bid set for Irma Garcia vs. Emma Dolan

Purse bid set for Irma Garcia vs. Emma Dolan
The IBF has scheduled a purse bid for tomorrow (December 2nd) that will determine the promotional rights for a super flyweight title defense by champion Irma Garcia against mandatory contender Emma Dolan. From Mexico City, Garcia has a record of 25-5-1 and is 44 years old. Dolan, 8-0, is 27 years old. She is the reigning British champion with quality wins over Lauren Parker and Shannon Ryan over the last eighteen months.
 

Welcome to Pitbull vs. Roach fight week

Welcome to Pitbull vs. Roach fight week

Welcome to Pitbull vs. Roach fight week
Saturday's "Pitbull vs. Roach" pay-per-view show will see former 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz step into the ring against reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for a WBC interim title fight at 140 pounds at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The pay-per-view broadcast will also feature WBO and IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly against his WBA counterpart Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara in a unification battle. The action will also feature two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr., the current WBC featherweight monarch moving up to take on WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster, a native of Orange, Texas, in Fulton's bid to become a three-division champion.  Plus, Mexico's star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. duels Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight belt opening the pay-per-view at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. This Wednesday, many of the boxers will work out in front of the public live on PBC's Youtube channel.
 
Preceding the pay-per-view, Frank “The Ghost” Martin will make his return to the ring against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a ten-round 140-pound showdown that tops a three-fight freestream on Prime Video. The streaming presentation will also feature undefeated Isaac “La Bestia” Lucero dueling hard-hitting Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a ten-round all-Mexican 154-pound showdown, plus unbeaten junior lightweight Luis “The Twist” Nunez faces Argentina's Hector Sosa in the ten-round opening bout at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. 
 
In addition to the pay-per-view available for purchase on Prime Video regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as through PPV.com. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions, in association with MP Promotions, ProBox Promotions and BXSTRS.

WBC Convention under way in Thailand

WBC Convention under way in Thailand
The opening ceremony kicked off the WBC's 63rd boxing convention and the simultaneous first muay thai convention at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, Queens Park in Bangkok, all commencing to the beat of the drum. The setting featured a shimmering sea of floating silk banners and ornate lattice signs, all choreographed by a giant drum and smaller accompanying drums. Drummers wielding thick sticks delivered a performance that was drilling, thundering, and rolling in perfect, synchronized tempo. Less than an hour before the main event, final rehearsals ensured perfection and got the adrenaline flowing. This rhythmic start was followed by a smattering of Mozart from a string ensemble. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman praised the assembly for working so hard to make dreams come true, urging them to cherish these moments forever.
 
Governor of The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, delivered a speech describing her country as the Motherland of Muay Thai, dedicated to building integrity and a shared dream. This was followed by a display of the Klong Sabet Chai Drums and greetings from Muay Thai stars Liam Harrison and Shannon Gardiner.
 
Champions Oleksandr Usyk and Katie Taylor were invited on stage. Oleksandr said: “My color is green. Mauricio, thank you for what you do. I like it!”
 
Katie, attending her first WBC Convention, said: “This is the most prestigious belt. Thank you so much for giving us a platform.”
 
The great Roberto Duran modestly expressed that he was thrilled to see all the champions, confiding that he had watched many Mexican films as a child, and now there was a film about his own life.
 
Former world featherweight champion Naseem Hamed and his two sons came on stage. Naz, who once dazzled the world of boxing, was awarded an "ambassadorship."
 
WBC Cares and Courage Awards
 
Jill Diamond and Christiane Manzur, who fostered WBC Cares (a powerful force that opens doors and changes lives), gave a memorable presentation. Jill called the event a “gathering of hearts,” stating, “we are born and die, but dance in the middle.” Christiane explained that WBC Cares now has twenty-seven chapters worldwide.
 
Awards for courage and fortitude followed:
 
The Bravest Man Honor was presented to Pedro Silva. His daughter, Jesselyn, a brilliantly promising boxer, fought brain tumor cancer for three titanic years and sadly died in 2024 at just eighteen. He praised the WBC for all its support, describing his daughter as a true fighter who loved life.
 
Champion of Hope went to former boxer Jasilly Musa, who disarmed a knife man in a Kazakhstan airport.
 
Champion of Life was awarded to Joe Gallagher, who overcame stage four bowel and liver cancer. Joe reflected on the difference a year makes since his diagnosis, thanking Mauricio for a WBC bracelet that inspired him, and thanking the boxers he trains for their continued support.
Presidential Vision and Legacy
 
Two awards recognized special men: Salvatore Cherchi was named Man of the Year, and Chuck Williams was presented with The Loyalty Award.
 
The dream of Don José Sulaiman, though delayed, has come to fruition in Saudi Arabia with the full support of Turki Alalshikh. This involves 128 fighters from forty nations, with the Grand Final scheduled for Riyadh on December 20th.
 
A vital WBC team highlights narcotics awareness. Rocky Herron, a thirty-year DEA agent with a compassionate heart, runs a drug awareness program for the WBC, having given talks to 287,600 kids, saving countless lives in the process.
 
The most poignant and emotional moment of the morning was the award of the Lifetime Legacy Award to the Father of Muay Thai, General Kovid Bhkdjbhumi. He and Don José united to build Muay Thai following a solemn pledge to the King of Thailand in 2001. His son, Thanapol, who now leads Muay Thai, received the award alongside his father, saying: “We are deeply honored to receive this award. There is a partnership between our two Families.”
 

Austin Trout in bare knuckles rematch this week

Austin Trout in bare knuckles rematch this week
Austin “No Doubt” Trout is ready to live up to his nickname in his rematch with Luis Palomino. Trout, a former traditional boxing junior middleweight champion and Palomino will do battle bare-knuckle style in the BKFC 85 Main Event, on DAZN on December 5th at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. Their bout is a semifinal in BKFC’s 155-pound championship tournament. The winner of Trout-Palomino II will take on Franco Tenaglia in the finals on a to-be-announced date in 2026. Trout defeated Palomino via unanimous decision in 2024, dethroning the long-time BKFC 165-pound champion.
 
Trout is 4-0 in his BKFC career and 2-0 since beating Palomino, who’s widely regarded as one of the best fighters in BKFC history. The unbeaten Las Cruces, New Mexico product, Trout expects his winning ways to continue on Dec. 5th. “We put a lot of thought into how he’d approach the second fight, and what he might try to do better, but ultimately I see the same result, except I’m going to really impose my will a lot earlier this time,” Trout says.
 
“I’m exponentially better right now than I was in our first fight.” Trout isn’t looking past Palomino, but he’s already envisioning a victory over Tenaglia in that hypothetical matchup for the BKFC 155-pound (called lightweight by BKFC) championship. “I can’t wait to take that belt,” he says with a smile.
 
“I’ve wanted to fight him for a while. After we get over our first hurdle, which is Palomino on December 5th, we’ll shift our focus solely onto Tengalia.”
 

Valle to defend minimumweight title on Dec. 19th

Valle to defend minimumweight title on Dec. 19th

Valle to defend minimumweight title on Dec. 19th
Costa Rica's Yokasta Valle will return to the ring on Friday, December 19th on the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul undercard at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Valle (33-3) will face Yadira Bustillos (11-1) in a card broadcast by Netflix. Valle’s WBC minimumweight world title will be on the line. Valle, one of the most active figures in women’s boxing, comes in with momentum from multiple defenses and with the aim of strengthening her standing in the division. Bustillos, of Mexican descent and based in the United States, enters the biggest opportunity of her career, supported by a high-pressure style and results that earned her a mandatory challenger position.
 

Bigvava gets chance to restore his winning record

Bigvava gets chance to restore his winning record
Middleweight Nika Bigvava (7-7-2), from the Republic of Georgia is set for action on December 14 in his nation's capital, Tbilisi. Bigvava will take on South African Jarred “Mr. Hollywood” Silverman, a tough challenger who enters the fight with an 11-4 record. The 24 year-old Bigvava achieved a quality win last May when he scored a clear unanimous decision over Zimbabwe's Freeman Mabvongwe. In his most recent bout he was unlucky to only get a draw against 18-1 Bohdan Sobol in Latvia, proving again that he is much better than his mediocre record indicates.
 

ProBox TV results: Pauldo gets stoppage win

ProBox TV results: Pauldo gets stoppage win
Justin Pauldo TKO8 Nike Theran ... Justin Pauldo took some early thunder from Colombia’s hard-punching Nike Theran but used a pinpoint jab and searing body attack to wear down his foe after seven tough rounds in the lightweight main event at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, California. After a careful opening round, Theran (20-2, 14 KOs) rocked Pauldo (20-2, 10 KOs) late in round two with a powerful counter left hook to the temple, but he was unable to capitalize before the bell to end the round. A fairly even third round was followed by Pauldo beginning to establish a strong body attack and spearing jab in the middle rounds that noticeably slowed and muted the aggression of Theran for the rest of the fight.
 
Looking fatigued and hurt to the body, Theran took a fearsome beating in round seven, especially to the ribs, as Pauldo lost all fear of his opponent’s power and turned on the jets. The sustained three-minute beating was enough to convince Theran to remain on his stool before round eight. The official verdict was a knockout at 3:00 of round seven.
 
“I never thought it would go like this,” said Pauldo, post-fight. “I thought I would blaze him out. That may have been the problem. He caught me early, but I was in good shape, so I bounced right back and got the job done. That was good adversity for me to face early in my career.
 
“He was a strong guy. I’ve fought harder punchers, but he was also very awkward. I saw the jab was taking the confidence away from him, so I stayed behind the jab and beat him to the punch. I want all the big names. Anyone who wants to give me a shot. I want to show the world I belong at the top.”
 
Muhamad Yaqubov D10 Cristian Cruz... In the ten-round junior lighweight co-feature, Muhammad Yaqubov (23-1-1, 12 KOs) of Tajikistan, and Cristian “Lacandonsito” Cruz Chacon (24-7-2, 12 KOs) of Tijuana fought to a split draw. A battle between two tough southpaws, Cruz set a busy pace early, often outworking Yaqubov by leaping in with solid combinations. Early on, Yaqubov conserved energy and landed the occasional reminder of his punching power. Yaqubov began to step it up starting midway through the fight, timing Cruz and landing a series of classy left hands to the head. Cruz came back to seemingly nip round seven and then landed a strong overhand left in a good round eight. After a closely fought round nine, Yaqubov took full control in the final round with a sharp jab and a powerful uppercut whenever a tiring Cruz tried to move inside. The scores were 96-94 Yaqubov, 97-93 Cruz and 95-95.
 
MORE RESULTS
 
2016 US Olympian “King” Carlos Balderas (17-2, 14 KOs) of Santa Maria, California, won a ten-round split decision over Ricardo “El Cornejo” Quiroz (13-7, 7 KOs) of Oxnard. Fighting tall behind a sharp jab, Quiroz scored with a big right uppercut in round one and established himself in the fight. Balderas got the better of the inside exchanges with his straighter punches. Both men had moments in the fight, a good action all-Mexican junior welterweight battle. Quiroz rocked Balderas late in round seven with a right. Balderas came out firing in round nine, landing several hard right hands. In the end, the judges favored Balderas’ work. The scores were 97-93 and 97-93 Balderas, overruling a 96-94 card for Quiroz.
 
In the opening televised bout, a ProBoxTV’s Future Stars Series matchup, former 17-time national amateur champion Charlie Sheehy (12-0, 7 KOs) scored a sixth-round stoppage over rugged veteran “King D-Lo” D'Angelo Keyes (18-7, 11 KOs). Unable to find an answer to Sheehy’s lightning jabs and blinding combinations, Keyes went down for the first time from a mean left uppercut near the end of round two. Sheehy came out firing looking for the finish in round three, but Keyes bravely gutted it out until the cobwebs cleared. Interestingly, Sheehy suffered a cut over the right eye in round four from a sneaky shot inside, but despite his game attitude, Keyes went down two more times in round six from sharp right hands before Referee Cameron Frizzell waved it off at 2:29.
 
 

 

New champion alerts: Adelaida M. Ruiz and Isabel Rivero claim vacant titles

New champion alerts: Adelaida M. Ruiz and Isabel Rivero claim vacant titles

New champion alerts: Adelaida M. Ruiz and Isabel Rivero claim vacant titles
Adelaida M. Ruiz W10 Alexas Kubicki... On Saturday, California's Adelaida Maria “La Cobra” Ruiz (18-1-1, 8 KOs) won a “closer than the cards” unanimous decision over Canada''s Alexas “Iron Lady” Kubicki (13-3, 2 KOs) to win the vacant WBC super flyweight championship. [The title was last held by Mexico's Asley Gonzalez]. The fight took place in Fresno in Ruiz's home state. Kubicki started the fight moving in and out effectively, landing dozens of straight right hands and may have won several of the opening frames. The fight turned late in round five, when the harder-punching Ruiz sent Kubicki down from a hard combination. Ruiz took over for the next three rounds after that, battering Kubicki around the ring. Kubicki, who moved up a division for this fight, came back to make it closer in the final two frames, but the judges were not impressed. The scores were 97-92, 97-92 and 99-90, all for Ruiz.
 
Isabel Rivero W10 Silvia Torres... Last week (November 21st), Spain's Isabel Rivero (12-3-1, 1 KO) carved her name into her nation's boxing history books,  scoring a hard-fought majority decision (97–93, 96–94, 95–95) over Mexico’s Silvia “La Guerrerita” Torres (22-5-3, 7 KO) to capture the WBA atomweight title (102 pounds).  Germany's Tina Rupprecht unified all the atomweight titles and then retired last year, leaving the WBA belt vacant. The bout, staged in Valladolid, Spain, delivered rounds of tight, tactical action. Rivero showcased crisp distance control and sharp counterpunching, while Torres leaned on her ring savvy and heavier hands to try and turn the tide. The scorecards reflected the competitiveness of the fight: two judges saw Rivero ahead, while the third called it even, sealing the Spaniard’s win by majority decision. A pioneer of women’s boxing in Spain and already a two-time European champion, Rivero now claims the first world title of her career, becoming just the third woman in Spain’s history to secure a WBA belt.

Erik Badillo defeats ex-champ Elwin Soto

Erik Badillo defeats ex-champ Elwin Soto
Erik Badillo W10 Elwin Soto...In an all-Mexican slugfest between light flyweight contenders, southpaw Erik Badillo Mares (19-0, 8 KOs) outlasted former WBO minimumweight champion Elwin “La Pulga” Soto (21-4-1, 13 KOs) to win an all-action ten-round unanimous decision. The bout was part of the ProBox TV show in Fresno, California. With few single punches thrown, the two world-class fighters exchanged sharp combinations nearly non-stop. Badillo took the first round; Soto came back in rounds two and three. Badillo started round four looking determined to reassert himself, banging to the head and body of Soto with authority and hurting him late in the round with a flurry against the ropes. Badillo’s superior work rate, power and conditioning began to show more as the fight wore on, as he enjoyed an ever-increasing edge to the all-action back-and-forth. Soto found a second wind in a mostly good round nine for him but was rocked onto his heels by a right hand late in the stanza. Badillo closed strong in round ten to seal the deal. The rugged pair ended the fight going toe-to-toe. The official scores were 98-92, 99-91 and 99-91.
 

Watch: Whittaker steamrolls Gavazi

Watch: Whittaker steamrolls Gavazi
Ben Whittaker KO1 Benjamin Gavazi...  Saturday night marked the Matchroom Boxing debut of Ben Whittaker as he took on Benjamin Gavazi at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England, live on DAZN. Whittaker was expected to win, but the question was, how would he look? "The Surgeon" delivered, dropping Gavazi once and then flatlining him to win by knockout at the 2:15 mark of the first round. It was all Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) from the outset. His hand and foot speed were too much for Gavazi (19-2, 13 KOs). The first knockdown came after Whittaker unloaded an eight-punch combination, punctuated by an overhand right to send Gavazi to the canvas. Gavazi got up, but it was a matter of when, not if, Whittaker would put him out of his misery. A left-right hook combination from Whittaker forcing Gavazi into the ropes. The German was in a world of trouble, and Whittaker knew it. The 28-year old followed with an uppercut to the body and closed with another left-right hook combination, sending Gavazi to sleep. "When you walk out pretty like that, you have to back it up. And that’s what I did," Whittaker said in his post-fight interview.
 

Vuong vs. Gwynne rematch ends in a draw

Vuong vs. Gwynne rematch ends in a draw

Vuong vs. Gwynne rematch ends in a draw

Cameron Vuong D10 Gavin Gwynne... British lightweights Cameron Vuong and all-action Gavin Gwynne fought to a draw in a rematch held in Birmingham, England on Saturday. It was an exciting fight in which Vuong raced out to an early lead but Gwynne's endurance in the second half saw that lead receive a big dent. Vuong showed great spirit against the former European champion, and after ten rounds they could not be split as two judges scored it a draw with the other going for Vuong. Gwynne is now 18-4-2 while Vuong, who won their first encounter, is now 9-0-1.

Cudras retires after losing to Tsuboy

Cudras retires after losing to Tsuboy
Tomoya Tsuboi TKO8 Carlos Cuadras... Earlier this week, former 115-pound champion Carlos “Príncipe” Cuadras announced his retirement from professional boxing after suffering an eighth-round technical knockout defeat to Japan’s Tomoya Tsuboi in Tokyo. That loss occurred the week before.Tsuboi is 29 years old but just 3-0 as a professional. He is a former national amateur champion of Japan. “I’m even with boxing. It gave me everything and I gave it everything,” Cuadras said, making clear that his decision is final. He plans to enjoy time with his family and remain connected to the sport in a different capacity. Cuadras made his debut in 2008 and reached the pinnacle of his career in 2014 when he captured the WBC super flyweight world title. He defended the belt six times, establishing himself as one of the most prominent names in the division throughout the last decade. He retires with a record of 44 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw, and 28 knockouts.
 
Boxingtalk salutes Cuadras and wishes him a successful and satisfying retirement. Throughout his career, Cuadras faced challenges both inside and outside the ring, including a period of rehabilitation that he overcame before returning to win an interim belt in 2023. His last victory came in May 2025, fueling hopes of another world title run.

Pacheco to face Sadjo in battle of undefeateds

Pacheco to face Sadjo in battle of undefeateds
Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco will take on undefeated Kevin Lele Sadjo on Saturday, December 13th in Stockton, California, headlining a Matchroom Boxing card to be broadcast on DAZN. Pacheco enters undefeated over 24 pro fights. In 2025, he has outpointed Steven Nelson and Trevor McCumby over twelve rounds, making this his third fight of the year. Born in the African nation of Cameroon, Sadjo has a record of 26-0. This will be his United States debut.  

Misfits Boxing to promote Andrew Tate vs. Chase DeMoor

Misfits Boxing to promote Andrew Tate vs. Chase DeMoor

Misfits Boxing to promote Andrew Tate vs. Chase DeMoor
Andrew Tate, a controversial British-American influencer, and Chase DeMoor go head-to-head for the first time at a major press conference next week as the world-famous Misfits Boxing heads to Dubai. The heavyweight rivals clash in a crossover boxing event, MF Mania – The Fight Before Christmas, on Saturday, December 20th at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Although he maintains his innocence, Tate has faced numerous allegations of rape and human trafficking. Before they fight it out, Tate and DeMoor will square off at a press conference on Thursday, December 4th at the luxury waterfront destination of Jewel of the Creek.
 
A former accomplished kickboxer Tate and DeMoor, a US reality TV star-turned Misfit heavyweight, have already traded pre-fight barbs and insults across social media but, for the first time since this showdown was confirmed, they will meet in person. Misfits Boxing Co-President, Mams Taylor said: “This could be the most exhilarating, intense and drama-filled press conference in Misfits history!
 
“Social media will go into overdrive when these two heavyweights meet next week, as the road to MF Mania heads to the beautiful Jewel of the Creek.
 
“We can’t wait for next week’s press conference, and then to deliver the biggest Misfits Boxing event of the year in Dubai, where the world will be watching a night that will go down in crossover boxing folklore.”

Pulev vs. Gassiev formally announced for Dec. 12th in Dubai

Pulev vs. Gassiev formally announced for Dec. 12th in Dubai
The IBA announced the full line-up for a big December 12th show  in Dubai, headlined by a WBA regular heavyweight title showdown between Kubrat Pulev and Murat Gassiev. Set for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, here are the announced undercard bout:
 
Bakhodur Usmonov vs Maxi Hughes: A WBA lightweight title eliminator...
 
Yoel Finol vs Shakhobidin Zoirov II: A rematch for the IBA pro bantamweight belt. The stakes could not be higher for Uzbekistan’s 2016 Olympic gold medallist Zoirov, as he looks to settle the score against Venezuelan rival Finol, following Finol’s majority decision win in their first meeting in December 2024.. 
 
Khariton Agrba vs Nerii Muñoz II: Another rematch, this time serving as an eliminator for Gary Antuanne Russell’s WBA 140-pound championship. Russian technician Agrba looks to gain revenge over Argentinean banger Muñoz, after Muñoz’s upset KO victory back in July and...
 
Tulani Mbenge vs. Vadim Musaev: After a perfect 13-0 start to life as a professional, Russian welterweight Musaev takes a considerable step up in competition as he takes on seasoned IBO welterweight champion Mbenge.  
 
“At IBA.Pro 13 in Dubai, things are going to get truly intense. I am confident that the whole world will be watching the Gassiev vs Pulev fight, because the world title is on the line. We expect spectacular boxing and a competitive battle between two opponents of the highest calibre. This boxing night will, for the first time, be held as part of IBA Boxing Festival in Dubai. We are actively developing the IBA ecosystem, which unites our vast IBA boxing family and offers unprecedented opportunities. I am confident that the IBA.Pro Champions’ Night will go down in history alongside the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships as events that delivered the best fights of the year,” said Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association
 
“This undercard exemplifies the very best of what IBA Pro events have become synonymous with – evenly matched fights that guarantee excitement and unpredictability,” said IBA Pro General Director Al Siesta.
 
 

WBC strips Carlos Canizalez

WBC strips Carlos Canizalez
The WBC has stripped Carlos Cañizales of its 105-pound championship because he is unable to leave his troubled nation of Venezuela to fulfill his mandatory defense. Former WBA champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong a/k/a Knockout CP Freshmart as scheduled to face Canizalez, but Canizalez was quickly replaced with Argentina's Junior Zárate, who will face Niyomtrong (28-1) for the vacant tile. The fight will take place during the WBC Annual Convention 2025, which is being held in Bangkok, Thailand. Zarate is 26-5, with two wins since a failed IBO 108-pound title bid vs. Mpumelelo Tshabalala.
 
Cañizales was demoted to champion in recess. Zárate, one of the rising names in the division, arrives at his first world title opportunity after a series of victories elevated him in the rankings. According to the WBC, "the bout will determine the undisputed monarch, while Cañizales retains the right to face the winner once his situation is resolved."
 

Weigh-in report from Fresno, CA

Weigh-in report from Fresno, CA

Weigh-in report from Fresno, CA
Here are the boxer's weights for Satuday's ProBox TV show from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California:
 
Justin Pauldo 135 pounds vs. Nike Theran 135; 
Muhammad Yaqubov 129.8 vs. Cristian Cruz Chacon 129;
Adelaida Maria Ruiz 113.4 vs. Alexas Kubicki 114;
Erik Badillo Mares 107.8 vs. Elwin Soto 107.8;
Carlos Balderas 142.6 vs. Ricardo Quiroz 143; and
Charlie Sheehy 136.4 vs. D'Angelo Keyes 136.8.
 
 
TV: ProBoxTV 7:00 pm EST -- Watch it all free this Friday night on Amazon, Fubo, Tubi, or Pluto TV.
 
This Saturday, November 29th at 4 pm, ProBox TV is at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California for another stacked night of 50/50 all-action matchups. Lightweight Justin Pauldo collides with Colombian strongman Nike Theran in the main event... Junior lightweight Muhammad Yaqubov risks it all against upset specialist Cristian Cruz... Adelaida Ruiz battles Alexas Kubicki in a women’s world championship fight... Light flyweight contender Erik Badillo lays it all on the line against former champ Elwin Soto.... KO artist Carlos Balderas and proven warrior Ricardo Quiroz have an “All California” shootout for bragging rights.. and undefeated Charlie Sheehy looks to show his skills against D'Angelo Keyes.
 
 

Roach to work out for D.C., Maryland fans on Saturday

Roach to work out for D.C., Maryland fans on Saturday
Washington, D.C. native and reigning WBA junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach will hold a public workout and community day in his hometown before he takes on Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz on a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The public workout will take place on Saturday, November 29th at 12:00 p.m. ET at the NoXcuse Boxing Club, located at 6801 Walker Mill Road in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The pay-per-view will also see IBF/WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly take on his WBA counterpart, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr., the reigning WBC featherweight champion, moving up to challenge WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster.

Queensberry signs pair of Uzbeki amateur stars

Queensberry signs pair of Uzbeki amateur stars
Queensberry Promotions has announced the signing of two Uzbekistan amateur standouts. Their names are Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (age 24) and Javokhir Ummataliev (20). The pair made headlines earlier this year when both captured gold at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. Now, they take the next step in their journey. Both men will make their professional debuts in Russia this weekend. Muydinkhujaev, who also won gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, will enter the welterweight division, where his blend of speed and precision is expected to make an immediate impact. Ummataliev, a powerful and composed operator, joins Queensberry’s light heavyweight ranks and is ready to make his name in a tough division.
 

Takuma Inoue now a two-time bantamweight champ

Takuma Inoue now a two-time bantamweight champ

Takuma Inoue now a two-time bantamweight champ
Takuma Inoue W12 Tenshin Nasukawa... Japan's Takuma Inoue (21-2, 5 KOs) is now a two-time bantamweight title holder. On Monday, he was crowned the WBC champion by defeating his compatriot, former kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa (7-1, 2 KOs). Inoue picked up the vacant title via a unanimous decision win on a Teiken Promotions show held in Tokyo. (The title was vacated when Junto Nakatani decided to move up to junior featherweight). Inoue, a former WBA champion and brother of superstar Naoya Inoue, proved that his vast experience to be the determining factor, especially in the championship rounds. The WBC's open scoring system also played a crucial role in the development of the fight. By revealing the judges’ scorecards after rounds four and eight, the system dictated the pace for both fighters at key moments.
 
After round four, the score of 38-38 showed that the fight was level, with Nasukawa’s speed and power punches neutralizing Inoue’s technique. Bit the reveal after round eight was that Inoue had taken a significant lead (with scores of 77-75, 78-74, and 77-76 in his favor). This information was vital, as it forced Nasukawa to seek the knockout or win the final four rounds dominantly, while giving Inoue the confidence to box intelligently and secure the victory. 
 
Nasukawa used his speed and strong jab to dominate the second, fourth, and fifth rounds. His offense caused initial concern. However, Inoue’s boxing maturity emerged in the second half of the fight. In rounds six and seven, Inoue commanded the action with intelligence and short-range boxing, landing effective flurries and handling Nasukawa’s power. The key to victory was defined in the final rounds (ten to twelve), where Inoue neutralized Nasukawa’s pressure in close quarters. At the conclusion of the dozen rounds, the judges’ final scorecards dictated the victory for Takuma Inoue: 116-112 (twice and 117-111.
 
Nasukawa suffered his first professional boxing loss (he also was KO'd by Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition), but made it clear that he still has the potential to be a dominant figure. 
 

ProBox has strong show set for Saturday in Fresno

ProBox has strong show set for Saturday in Fresno
On Saturday, November 29th at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in California, ProBoxTV will present another edition of its Contender Series, broadcast live on ProBoxTV beginning at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT. In a ten-round head-on collision at lightweight, surging Justin “The Million Dollar Man” Pauldo (19-2, 9 KOs) will face hard-punching Colombian Nike Theran (20-1, 14 KOs). n the ten-round junior lightweight co-feature, Muhammad Yaqubov (23-1, 12 KOs) of Tajikistan, will go to war with Tijuana's Cristian Cruz Chacon (24-7-1, 12 KOs). Yaqubov had been scheduled to face Jessie Magdaleno in the night’s original main event, but Magdaleno pulled out with an injury.
 
“Coming off his stellar performance against highly regarded Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, Justin Pauldo will be looking to continue his climb to a world title shot,” said ProBoxTV's founder and CEO, Garry Jonas. “This should be a phenomenal fight and a real test to see if Justin Pauldo is that guy. If he has another performance like Rakhimov, he is the running for a title fight in the 135-lb division.”
 
Born in Orlando, Florida, but now living in Houston and training with Ronnie Shields, the 31 year-old Pauldo is a four-time ProBoxTV veteran. He came to ProBox after having put together eleven consecutive wins since his first defeat, a split-decision to Efrain Cruz in July 2015. In his ProBoxTV debut in August 2023, Pauldo scored a ten-round unanimous decision over Eduardo Estela (then 14-2) in Plant City, Florida. He returned there in November 2023 to stop Jerry Perez (then 14-3-1) in three rounds. Pauldo suffered his second career setback on ProBoxTV air in February 2024, dropping a ten-round split decision to Miguel Madueno (30-2), but returned to ProBoxTV a year later to score an upset eighth-round knockout over former IBF 130-pound champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in February of this year. Pauldo scored two knockdowns on the night, the latter of the two produced an immediate stoppage at 1:53.
 
In his most recent ring appearance, Pauldo took a ten-round unanimous decision over Said Chino last August. “Training has been great,” said Pauldo. “I’ve gotten a lot of great work to sharpen my skills and be at my best come fight night. I know my opponent is a tough guy coming out of Colombia. He’s got quite a few fights under his belt, so I’m looking forward to facing an experienced and hungry fighter and to being back on ProBoxTV. I’m going to put on a great show for all the fans.”
 
Theran, age 28, is a nearly nine-year professional who will be making his debut fighting in the United States, having spent the bulk of his career fighting in South America and The Dominican Republic.  He has won two consecutive fights since suffering his only career setback in October 2023, a close twelve-round unanimous decision to Italy's Michael Magnesi (then 22-1) in the 130-pound division. “Training camp has been going great; I’m very motivated,” said Theran. “Pauldo is a very good fighter and one of the best on ProBoxTV because he likes to fight. God gave me this opportunity and I’m well-prepared physically and mentally to win. I’m very happy for the opportunity and being in this important fight only gives me more motivation.”
 
As for the co-featrue, Jonas had this to say: “We’re not happy that Jessie Magdaleno fell out, but we’re fortunate enough to get a great replacement in Cristian Cruz Chacon, who recently had a huge win over Jeremy Hill on ProBoxTV. Honestly, this could be a tougher test for Yaqubov.”
 
The southpaw Yaqubov, age 30, started boxing at the age of 10 and turned professional in late 2015. In his decade-long career, Yaqubov has victories over Emanuel López (29-9-1), Abraham Montoya (18-1-1) and former two-time world champ Tomás Rojas. In March 2022, Yaqubov suffered his only career loss via a twelve-round unanimous decision in a WBC title eliminator to current WBC champion O'Shaquie Foster. He has since rebounded with five consecutive victories, including quality wins over Pablo Vicente (23 1) in a ten rounder, Zafar Parpiev (13-2) and his most recent fight, a ten-round majority decision over William Foster III in August of this year. The win was Yaqubov’s first under new head trainer Manny Robles.
 
Holding one of the most deceiving records in boxing, the 28 year-old Cruz Chacon turned professional in 2014 and lost five of his first seven fights before turning things around and going 22-2-1 since then. Along the way, he has scored notable victories over Diego Ortiz Aleman (12-1-1), Jesus Acosta Ayala (15-1-1), a first-round stoppage of Pablo Robles (15-3), an eighth-round stoppage of Rafael Rosas Ramirez (19-3-2), a third-round stoppage of former world title challenger David Carmona, and his most recent ring appearance, an impressive split decision victory over a streaking Jeremy Hill (22-3-1) in September of this year on ProBoxTV.
 
ADDITIONAL BROADCAST BOUTS
 
Light flyweight Erik Badillo Mares (18-0, 8 KOs), a southpaw, will battle former WBO champion Elwin “La Pulga” Soto (21-3-1, 13 KOs) in a ten-round All-Mexican clash of contenders.
 
There will be a ten-round junior welterweight rumble between Carlos Balderas (16-2, 14 KOs) of Santa Maria, California and Ricardo Quiroz (13-6, 7 KOs) of Oxnard, California.
 
Also, on the televised slate that night is a battle for the vacant WBC women's 115-pound championship between California's Adelaida Maria “La Cobra” Ruiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) and Canada's Alexas “Iron Lady” Kubicki (13-2, 2 KOs) of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A longtime contender, the 37 year-old Ruiz’s aggressive style, strength, and punching power make her a dangerous foe for any of the world’s female super flyweights. A victory over Kubicki will give her an opportunity to avenge her only career loss, a thrilling ten-round split decision to Ginny Fuchs for the WBC interim title in August 2024. The WBC has ordered the winner of Ruiz vs. Kubicki to fight Interim champ Fuchs, who has been out of action for 14 months due to injuries suffered in the fight with Ruiz and also promotional issues. Kubicki will be in just her second fight on U.S. soil. In her most recent fight, the 22 year-old lost by seventh-round TKO in a brave stand against undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora in September. Kubicki’s technical skills are predicted to test Ruiz’s aggression in what promises to be a thrilling clash of styles.
 
The opening televised bout will feature the sole addition to ProBoxTV’s Future Stars Series, which features emerging boxing talents and serves as a platform for up-and-coming fighters to showcase their skills, as lightweight Charlie Sheehy (11-0, 6 KOs) of Brisbane, California, will continue to try and prove his worth against veteran D'Angelo Keyes (18-6, 11 KOs) of Houston.
 
Tickets to attend ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series in person at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, are available from the ProBoxTV website, the Save Mart Center Box Office, or directly from Ticketmaster.
 
 

Tyrone James and Harley Burke win on Long Island

Tyrone James and Harley Burke win on Long Island
Tyrone James W8 Braulio Matias Ferreira... On Saturday in Huntington (Long Island), New York, Star Boxing closed out 2025 with a four bout show that was steamed live on Millions.co. In the featured bout, local middleweight Tyrone “Pretty Boy” James scored a unanimous decision victory over Uruguay’s Braulio Matias Ferreira in their eight-round main event. Ferreira came out aggressively, but by round three James found his rhythm, showcasing sharp combinations, timing, and improved ring generalship. With this win, James returned to his best form before injuries derailed him. James closed the fight strong in front of fan base, improving his career mark to 14-0 with 10 KOs while Ferreira drops to 7-2 with 2 KOs. The official scores were 79-73, 77-75 and 79-73.
 
Harley Burke W6 Avtandil Khurtsidze... Yonkers-based super middleweight Harley Burke dug deep to edge out the veteran Avtandil “Mini Mike Tyson” Khurtsidze by majority decision. Khurtsidze, a former contender whoise career was derailed by a prison stint, applied relentless pressure from the opening bell, but Burke matched him with grit, conditioning and smart counterpunching. The offfical scores were: 59–55, 58–56 and 57–57. The win raises Burke's record to 11-0 with 7 KOs while Khurtsidze goes to 34-3-3 with 23 KOs.
 
ADDITIONAL RESULTS 
 
Bronx super middleweight Louis Maietta lost to Colorado’s Caleb Hall after a six-round, fan-friendly matchup. Maietta and Hall tore into each other from the start of round one to the closing bell of round six. The pro Maietta crowd cheered on their fighter but in the end Hall, a former U.S. Army boxer, came away with the close but unanimous decision.
 
Local cruiserweight Emmanuel Etienne started the night with a high-energy six-round win over Canada’s Hassen Oseni, a seasoned Muay Thai veteran with extensive MMA experience and a Canadian military background. Both men came out fast, exchanging heavy shots from start to finish. It was give and take throughout as each fighter scored significantly on their opponent. In the end, Etienne proved a little too much and took a very close decision, scored 58-56 on all three official cards. Etienne improves to 11-1 with 5 KOs while Oseni drops to 2-2 with 1 KO in pro boxing.
 
Promoter Joe DeGuardia was pleased with the show, saying, “This is what Rockin’ Fights is all about — high-level action, passionate fans, and fighters who leave everything in the ring. Tyrone James made a strong statement in his return, Burke showed tremendous heart, Hall-Maietta was nonstop action, and Etienne-Oseni set the tone for an unforgettable night.” 

Golovkin is now president of World Boxing

Golovkin is now president of World Boxing

 

 

Former world middleweight champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Gennadiy "Triple G" Golovkin, has been named the new president of World Boxing at its Congress 2025 in Rome. He will serve an initial three-year term and succeeds Boris van der Vorst, who did not seek re-election following the completion of his term. Golovkin was the only candidate for the role on the final ballot paper and was named president by acclamation at the Congress. Other candidates had put themselves forward in October 2025 to contest the Presidential election, however Golovkin was the only person approved to stand by an independent vetting panel, which assessed the backgrounds of all the candidates. The panel was made up of three independent, external experts and supported by the leading independent provider of sport-specific arbitration and mediation services, Sport Resolutions, and was designed to ensure World Boxing adheres to the highest standards of governance by providing independent, third party checking and oversight of Congress and the election process. 
 
Golovkin, said: “It is a privilege to be elected as the new president of World Boxing. But this is just the beginning. Starting today, athletes will be at the heart of every decision we make. On the road to LA28, we will restore trust in Olympic boxing to secure our place in Brisbane and beyond. Now it’s time to move forward as one united boxing family.” 
 
The presidential election was one of four votes at the Congress which included one position as Vice President and two seats on the World Boxing Executive Board. In the election for vice president, Ryan O’Shea from Canada secured a second term with 57 per cent of the vote in a two-person contest with Thailand’s Chaiwat Chotima. 
 
The election for the executive board had six candidates and saw Michael Muller from Germany and Tatsuya Nakama from Japan emerge with the most votes. 
 
The four winners of today’s elections will join the World Boxing Executive Board which is made-up of the president; three vice presidents; four Board members; four continental confederation presidents; two athlete representatives; the chairs of the Committees for Sport and Competition, Medical and Anti-Doping, and Finance and Audit.
 
The people that make up the Executive Board of World Boxing are: 
 
Office                                                                   Name
 
President                                                       Gennadiy Golovkin (KAZ)
 
Vice President                                               Ryan O’Shea (CAN)
Vice President                                               Matt Holt (GBR)
Vice President                                               Dinah Glykidis (AUS)
 
Executive Board                                           Micchael Muller (GER)
Executive Board                                           Victorico Vargas (PHI)
Executive Board                                            Tatsuya Nakama (JPN)
Executive Board                                           Marcos Candido de Brito (BRA)
 
Athlete Representative (Chair)                      Richard Torres Jr. (USA)
 
President, Asian Boxing                                Lars Brovil (DEN)
President, Oceania Boxing                           Beulah Daunakamakama (FJI)
President, Panamerican Boxing                   Elise Seignolle (USA)
 
Chair Sport and Competition Committee      Hernan Salvo (ARG)
Chair Medical and Anti-Doping Committee   Dr Armando Sanchez (USA)
Chair Finance and Audit Committee              Julia Felton (AUS)
 
                                                   ***

 

Congress 2025 was chaired by World Boxing vice president, Dinah Glykidis. In accordance, with World Boxing’s Statutes, 59 National Federations were eligible to take part in the voting which was conducted in-person and online and overseen by an independent, third-party organization. Scrutineers were onsite to validate the veracity of the election processes and ensure candidates were treated in a fair and equitable manner. Glykidis said: “Congress is the ultimate authority of World Boxing and to have so many of our members be able to participate in it today and express their views on the future direction of the organization is very important, and a positive sign that World Boxing is continuing to deliver on its commitment to transparency and rigorous governance.  Since it was launched in April 2023, World Boxing has achieved an enormous amount in a short space of time and I am confident that with our new President and the Executive Borad that we now have in place, following today’s elections, that it will continue to go from strength to strength as we build towards the next Olympic Games at LA28.” 
 
Other business concluded at the World Boxing Congress 2025 included: 
 
• Acceptance of a series of amendments to the Statutes of World Boxing following provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in February 2025 
• Ratification by Congress of the membership applications of 49 National Federations to join World Boxing 
• Acceptance of a series of proposals which included the incorporation of World Boxing’s Sex Eligibility Policy into the Competition Rules and associated operational documents 
• Approval of the 2025 Accounts and the provisional budget for 2026 
• The acceptance of Panama’s bid to host World Boxing’s next annual Congress in 2026 
 
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on February 25, 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level. 
 
Born in 1982, Gennadiy Golovkin is widely considered to be Kazakhstan’s greatest ever boxer. He won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 before entering the professional ranks where he won the middleweight world title twice in a career made-up of 42 wins, two losses and a draw. He has been the President of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee since 2024. 
 
 

Golovkin will serve an initial three-year term and succeeds Boris van der Vorst, who did not seek re-election following the completion of his term. 


 

New Jersey show postponed until January

New Jersey show postponed until January
The CB Promotions card scheduled for tomorrow (Novermber 25th) at The Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey has been postponed. A new date of Tuesday, January 13, 2026 has been announced but the venue has not yet been secured. All tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.
 

Saturday: Ruiz vs. Kubicki for WBC 115-pound title

Saturday: Ruiz vs. Kubicki for WBC 115-pound title
On Saturday's ProBox TV broadcast from Fresno, California will be a battle for the vacant WBC women's 115-pound championship between California's Adelaida Maria “La Cobra” Ruiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) and Canada's Alexas “Iron Lady” Kubicki (13-2, 2 KOs). A longtime contender, the 37 year-old Ruiz’s aggressive style, strength, and punching power make her a dangerous foe for any of the world’s female super flyweights. A victory over Kubicki will give her an opportunity to avenge her only career loss, which occurred in a thrilling ten-round split decision to Ginny Fuchs for the WBC interim title in August 2024. The WBC has ordered the winner of Ruiz vs. Kubicki to fight interim champ Fuchs, who has been out of action for 14 months due to injuries suffered in the fight with Ruiz and also promotional issues. Kubicki, from Edmonton, will be in just her second fight on U.S. soil. In her most recent fight, the 22 year-old lost by seventh-round TKO in a brave stand against undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora in September. Kubicki’s technical skills are predicted to test Ruiz’s aggression in what promises to be a thrilling clash of styles.

Boxingtalk salutes CES' Pat Sullivan

Boxingtalk salutes CES' Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan has worked for many years as Director of Operations for Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES), New England's leading boxing and MMA promoter. Though he has never thrown a punch in the ring, Sullivan is a champion of life based on how he has responded to tragedy. He established the Joanne Sullivan Memorial Fund following his mother’s passing in 2008, and he calculates that he has raised more than $950,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute in Boston. That total was current as of November 1st. But later that night, during a fight card at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, Burchfield along with CES’ righthand men Michael Parente and Steve Maze, presented a jumbo-sized $10,000 check to Sullivan in support of his efforts.
 
In addition, Burchfield supported a Pink Out as part of the night’s festivities. Every fighter wore pink gloves; CES staffers wore pink dress shirts and ties; the round card girls wore pink crop tops;  Sullivan wore a pink shirt, pink blazer and pink shoes; QR codes were posted in the fight programs and around the arena inviting boxing fans to donate to the Joanne Sullivan Memorial Fund; and a table was set up in the upper concourse to encourage donations, with pink T-shirts being given to everyone contributing. 
 
Burchfield said he considers Sullivan his “fourth son” and encouraged any generous donors out there to get Sullivan over the $1 millio mark. Anyone looking to support the cause can make a donation at https://joannesullivanmemorialfund.org/.
 
“We definitely want to go over the $1 million mark before this year is over,” said Burchfield, who planned to have another Pink Out event at his mixed martial arts event one week later at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island. Alongside support from his boxing boss, Sullivan has raised nearly a million dollars through an annual golf event at Framingham Country Club. The three largest sponsorships are Dinner, Hole and Golf Cart, at $5,000, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. 
 
“Pat, I’m so proud of you,” said Burchfield after presenting the check. “Your mom and dad are smiling right now in Heaven. Thank you so much for everything that you do.” 
 
Maze also encouraged boxing fans in attendance to donate. “There are QR codes all over the place,” he said. “Please, please help. It’s a fight that everybody’s in, whether it was your mother, your father, your grandmother, your grandfather, your husband, your wife. Everybody’s affected by cancer. Every dollar helps.” 
 
As he accepted the generous donation, Sullivan thanked Burchfield, the CES team, Mohegan Sun for their combined efforts. He also talked about his mother. “In 2008 my mother passed away from breast cancer. I was only 23 years old,” said Sullivan. “And I’m not ashamed to say, I’m very proud to say, I am, 17 years later, I was and still am the biggest mama’s boy that anyone’s going to meet.”
 
He added, “My mother was my best friend, my rock, the person I looked up to. She’s still my hero to this day , so when she passed away it totally crushed me. But we got such great care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, that we went in and met with the head of oncology, and said, ‘What can we do to support what you’re doing here?’ ”
 
Sullivan and his family met with Dr. Sara Tolaney, an oncologist at the time who is now the head of Dana-Farber’s oncology department and an associate professor of nedicine at Harvard.  “At the time, she said she was on to some pretty important research,” said Sullivan, “And we told her we’re going to raise as much money as we can, but the money has to go to the research [not to stock the shelves, or pay administrative fees, etc.], and I’m proud to say that in the 15 years of this research Dr. Tolaney has set the standard of care, not just in Boston, not just in Massachusetts, not just in the United States, but worldwide. People are being affected by the standard of care because of the research that we are funding.” 
 
Dr. Tolaney praised Pat's efforts, saying "Pat is truly extraordinary. He has been hosting an annual golf tournament in memory of his mother, Joanna Sullivan, and pours his heart and soul into every detail of the event. The funds he raises each year provide critical support for our breast oncology research, enabling us to pursue more effective and better-tolerated therapies for patients. His commitment has a tangible and meaningful impact on the progress we’re able to make."
 
Sullivan’s said he’s proud he’s been able to support such change and “I know that my mother’s name might be on the check when it gets donated, but for everybody here that’s thinking of somebody, praying for somebody, remembering somebody, I want you to know..it’s also written and signed by hundreds of heavy hearts who are out here tonight in support of somebody.” 
 
 
 
 

Isaac Johnson dies in combat sports event in Chicago

Isaac Johnson dies in combat sports event in Chicago
According to television station Fox32 in Chicago, mixed martial artist Isaac Johnson, age 31, collapsed near the end of his first "Thai boxing match" at Cicero Stadium on Friday and later died at Loyola Hospital. Johnson had passed a state-required physical before the fight and was competing in what was billed as the Matador Fighter Challenge. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations is investigating; the cause of death has not been released.
 
Promoter Joe Goytia wrote on social media, "This is a post I hoped to never make. Last night one of the fighters in our event, Isaac Johnson, collapsed towards end of his fight. Medical attention was given by medical staff on hand and he was transported to hospital. I was then informed at around 1:30 AM [Sunday] morning that he didn't make it. I don't have the words to express how I feel right now. All I can say is my deepest condolences to his family, friends and teammates. We will know more as the medical report is released.
 

Weigh-in report from Tokyo

Weigh-in report from Tokyo
Two Japanese boxers, Tenshin Nasukawa and Takuma Inoue, will face each other for the vacant WBC bantamweight championship on Monday at the Toyota Arena in Tokyo. The fight is organized by Teiken Promotions and will be televised by Prime Video Japan. It will also be broadcast live on the Top Rank Classics channel, available on the Roku Channel, Tubi, and Vizio applications. Nasukawa and Inoue both weighed in at 117.7 pounds. The winner will claim the title vacated by Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 knockouts), who is now campaigning at super bantamweight.
 

Hennessy steps up vs. Bytyqi this weekend

Hennessy steps up vs. Bytyqi this weekend
Francesca Hennessy (6-0), one of the most promising young fighters in British boxing, will see actionon Saturday, November 29, when, at bantamweight, she faces blown-up former atomweight champion Fabiana Bytyqi (22-2-2) at the Valliant Live Arena in Derby, United Kingdom. Hennessy enters motivated not only by fighting at home but by the chance to establish herself as a serious contender within the division. The British fighter has shown rapid improvement with each appearance, combining tempo, controlled aggression, and a tactical approach that has made her a standout prospect.
 
Bytyqi represents a major challenge: she brings the experience of having been a WBC champion, along with the technical solidity that has long defined her style. Accustomed to performing on big stages, the Czech fighter will aim to spoil the evening for the hometown favorite and prove she remains relevant at the highest level.
 
The fight carries clear implications: for Hennessy, it would be the first title of her professional career and an immediate rise in the rankings; for Bytyqi, a chance to relaunch herself in a higher division, using her ring IQ and experience to overcome a rising opponent. 

Cancer claims the life of Vanes Martirosyan

Cancer claims the life of Vanes Martirosyan
Sad news out of Los Angeles: former junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan has passed away at the age of 39 after his two-year battle with skin cancer. A 2004 United States Olympian, Martirosyan (36-4-1, 21 KOs) retired in 2019 after back-to-back losses against Erislandy Lara and Gennadiy Golovkin. He held wins over Ishe Smith, Kassim Ouma, Joe Greene and Willie Nelson, among others. Boxingtalk sends its condolences to the friends and family of Vanes Martirosyan. 
 

Benavidez KOs Yarde

Benavidez KOs Yarde
David Benavidez TKO7 Anthony Yarde. ...  In the main event of the big show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, David Benavidez successfully defended his title against Britain's Anthony Yarde.  After a little bit of a slow start, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) turned it on with his fast hands to bloody and swell Yarde's face up, which resulted in Benavidez dropping the Brit and stopping him at the 1:59 mark of the seventh round to retain the WBC and interim WBA light heavyweight titles. In the third round, Benavidez uncorked a series of left hands that let Yarde know trouble was brewing. He continued to unload those violent combinations until he completely broke Yarde and closed the show in the seventh round. “I got some news for you guys,” a victorious Benavidez said during his post-fight interview on the DAZN pay-per-view broadcast “May 2 — me versus [WBA/WBO 200-pound champion Gilberto] ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. I’m going up to cruiserweight to challenge for his titles, so I’m excited for that.”
 

Devin Haney is an undefeated three-division champion

Devin Haney is an undefeated three-division champion

Devin Haney W12 Brian Norman... In Saudi Arabia, Devin Haney became a three-division champion and experienced a moment of redemption that precious few get to experience. He knocked down Brian Norman, Jr. in round two and cruised to a unanimous decision victory to become the WBO welterweight champion. The judges scored it 114-113, 117-110 and 116-111, all in Haney's favor. The win marked redemption for the 27-year-old Haney (32-0 with 1 no contest, 15 KOs), who used the quality victory to propel himself from his rather lackluster points win over Jose Ramirez in May. It also erased some of the stained memory of being knocked down three times in an April 2024 loss to Ryan Garcia that was later turned into a no-contest after the latter tested positive for a banned substance. "In 2024, I lost everything, everything came crashing on me," a victorious Haney said live on DAZN Pay-Per-View. "In 2025, I came to get it back, in 2026 I'm coming for everything."

 

Bam Rodriguez collects third belt at 115

Bam Rodriguez collects third belt at 115
Jesse Rodriguez KO10 Fernando Martinez... Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez was boxing a shutout against Fernando Martinez, winning every single round, until he exploded with a left hook that caught Martinez across the jaw for a tenth-round knockout Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on DAZN pay-per-view. By winning the unification bout, Ruiz grabbed Martinez’ WBA super flyweight world championship, adding it to the WBC and WBO titles he entered the ring with. The dynamic 25-year-old Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) is now one title away from reaching undisputed glory at 115 pounds (the IBF version is held by Willibaldo García of Mexico).
 
With nimble footwork, clever angles, piercing punch selection and placement in an all-around package of sweet science brilliance, Rodriguez showed he is levels above Martinez in a boxing masterclass. And it didn't take long for Rodriguez to know he's the superior fighter. Rodriguez told DAZN’s Claudia Trejos that he knew he had Martinez’ number “after round one.”
 
As triumphant as the victory was, it was also bittersweet as ‘Bam’ missed the birth of his son this week, while preparing for the fight in Riyadh. “Honestly, I could cry right now because that’s the birth of my son and I missed it to be here,” Rodriguez told Trejos after his win. “It’s hard for me but it paid off. [My son will] understand when he’s a little bit older. I did it not only for him but for my daughter as well. I love my family a lot. This one’s for them.”

New champion alert: Abdullah Mason begins lightweight reign

New champion alert: Abdullah Mason begins lightweight reign
Abdullah Mason W12 Sam Noakes... Abdullah Mason used razor-sharp accuracy and a bevy of body shots to methodically dismantle Sam Noakes’ grit to claim the vacant WBO lightweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. At the end of a twelve-round war of attrition, judges scored the bout 117-111 and 115-113 (twice) in favor of Mason for the unanimous decision victory. At age 21, Mason is now the youngest current male world champion. He won the title that became vacant when Keyshawn Davis failed to make weight. From Cleveland, Mason won this battle of unbeatens to climb to 20-0. Noakes made a strong accounting for himself and at 17-1, he still has a bright future ahead of him.
 

Skye Nicholson and Yuliahn Luna agree to fight

Skye Nicholson and Yuliahn Luna agree to fight
On December 13th at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, California, Skye Nicolson (14-1, 3 KO) and Yuliahn “Cobrita” Luna Ávila (28-4-1, 4 KO) will be competing for the WBC interim super bantamweight title. A former champion, Nicolson (14-1, 3 KO) returns to the ring on a two-fight win streak since losing the WBC featherweight title to Tiara Brown. The Australian, known for her constant movement, sharp precision, and a tactical style that frustrates more aggressive opponents, enters with the mission of reestablishing herself as an elite contender. Her back-foot boxing, angle control, and ability to score without taking unnecessary risks remain her key weapons.
 
Mexico’s Luna is a seasoned fighter with championship experience and a record that reflects her depth. The former WBC bantamweight titleholder is methodical, strong, patient, and skilled at applying pressure without burning out early. She specializes in body work, a crucial factor when facing a mobile boxer like Nicolson.
 
The matchup is a clear clash of styles: Nicolson’s technique and volume against Luna’s strength, durability, and experience. For Nicolson, it’s a chance to prove she remains championship material; for Luna, an opportunity to disrupt plans and reenter the world-title picture.