On Thursday, Matchroom tweeted, "Purse bid won. Andy Cruz will challenge for Raymond Muratalla’s IBF world 135-pound title in early 2026 [to be broadcast] on DAZN Boxing." In June, after the IBF received notification that its lightweight champion, the great Vasily Lomachenko, was retiring, Muratalla was upgraded from interim lightweight champion to full IBF lightweight  champion status. Muratalla has a pro record of 23-0. Later in June, Cruz defeated Hironori Mishiro to become the mandatory challenger. From Cuba, Cruz is listed as 6-0, but Boxingtalk recognizes his record as 22-0 due to paid bouts in the World Series of Boxing.

Boxing Insider Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City with Local Talent and Regional Prospects on November 7th. Tickets are on sale now. Heavyweight veteran Otto Wallin (pictured, 27-3), who has faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, returns to Atlantic City for his third appearance. He'll meet New Jersey’s Chris Thomas (15-2-2) in a ten-round heavyweight bout. Thomas, known for his power punching, seeks to make the most of this matchup. Also on the show, heavyweight Bruce Seldon Jr. (7-0, 6 KOs), son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, faces Jose Medina (8-2, 3 KOs) in a scheduled six-round contest. The nominal main event will feature Justin Figueroa (13-0, 10 KOs), a local favorite making his fifth appearance at Tropicana. Coming off a win in August, the junior middleweight is matched for the bout, but officials are awaiting signed contracts before announcing the opponent.

UNDERCARD

Lia Lewandowski vs. Chantal Sumrall: Berlin, N.J.’s Lia Lewandowski (2-0, 1 TKO), a 25-year-old flyweight trained by former pro Milton Davis at The Kennel gym in South Jersey, makes her third professional appearance. A graduate of Eastern Regional High School and Drexel University, she was once ranked fifth among U.S. female amateurs at 114 pounds. Chantall Sumrall is 1-1-1.

Julio Sanchez III vs. Mike Randolph: Pleasantville’s Julio Sanchez III, a 22-year-old welterweight and former standout basketball player at Pleasantville High School and Coalinga College, competes under the guidance of his father and coach, Julio Sanchez Jr. Opponent Mike Randolph is just 2-6.

Elijah Lugo vs. Josue Silva: Featherweight Elijah Lugo, holder of 26 USA Boxing national titles and five international championships, continues his transition to the professional ranks.

Nathan Lugo vs. Diego Lablonski: Super middleweight Nathan Lugo (5-0, 5 KOs) from Marietta, Ga., debuted professionally in April 2024 after an amateur career that included 25 national titles and qualification for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Yoel Angeloni vs. Brandon Diaz-Campos: 21-year-old Italian-Cuban southpaw welterweight Yoel Angeloni, who boasts a 140-2 amateur record, looks to advance his pro career.

Patrick O’Connor vs. Anthony Michael Trejo: Cruiserweight Patrick O’Connor (2-0), a 20-year-old former national champion from Waldorf, Md., trains at Oxon Hill Boxing Club faces Anthony Michael Trejo, who also has a 2-0 record.

“We’re excited to bring professional boxing back to Atlantic City with a mix of local talent and promising prospects,” said Larry Goldberg, Boxing Insider promoter. “This card highlights fighters who could shape the sport’s future.”

Boxing Insider also partners with AC PAL for an amateur event on Sunday, November 9, with all proceeds supporting AC PAL youth programs. Tickets for the amateur event are $30 and $40, available at AC PAL, the November 7 event, or at the door.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on November 7, with the card streaming live on DAZN. Tickets start at $50 and are available through the Tropicana Atlantic City box office or Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.com/boxing-insider-live-professional-boxing-atlantic-city-new-jersey-11-07-2025/event/02006337A4E93B1B).

For updates, visit BoxingInsider.com or follow on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Longtime Detroit promoter Carlos Llinas of CLIP Boxing will put on two professional boxing shows in a span of just eight days at Sound Board in MotorCity Casino Hotel. On Friday, October 24th, “Night of Knockouts XXXVI” will featureToronto's Jaquan Carty (10-0, 7 KOs) against Chicago’s Semajay Thomas (11-1, 8 KOs) in a ten-round junior middleweight main event. A former national champion who was widely known as “Canada Best Amateur Boxer” before turning pro in 2023, the 27 year-old Carty was last seen scoring a second-round stoppage over previously undefeated  Graham Tirrell in August. Thomas, age 33, won the United States National light welterweight amateur championship in 2011 and was once considered a blue-chip prospect. Thomas, however, is coming off six-year period of inactivity and will be looking to resume his promising career with an eye-catching victory over the formidable Carty.

Also on the card, Daishaun Bundrage (1-0, 1 KO), the son of Detroit’s former IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage, will have his second professional fight against Bossier City, Louisiana, veteran Lamar Bolden (2-12-2). On the undercard will be local fan favorites Josiah Shackleford (7-2, 4 KOs), Wesley Rivers (10-6, 4 KOs), Kevin Carree (5-0-1, 3 KOs), Ferris Dixon (6-1, 3 KOs), Marcus Wilson (5-0-1, 2 KOs) and several others.

The most active and consistent boxing promoter in Detroit over the last two decades and the leading name in keeping the storied history of Motown boxing alive, Llinas says he’s excited for this show, as every episode of his popular and long-running Night of Knockouts series has sold out. “Night of Knockouts 36 will be one of the best shows we’ve ever presented at this incredible venue in Downtown Detroit,” said Llinas.

A resident of Detroit, Llinas says the main event alone is worth the price of admission. “Jaquan Carty is rising like a rocket in the sport right now,” he said “but Semajay Thomas and his fantastic resume could be ready to pull off an upset. There are so many variables in this fight and so much intrigue. The winner of this fight will take a huge step up the ladder in the sport. It’s going to be an all-action thriller. When you factor in K9’s son and all the great names we have on the undercard, this show can not miss!”

On November 1st at the same Sound Board in MotorCity Casino Hotel, Llinas' CLIP Boxing will present “Night of Knockouts XXXVII,” featuring a hybrid night of professional boxing and kickboxing. On the boxing portion of the show will be Grand Rapids, Michigan junior middleweight Justin Lacey-Pierce (12-0, 7 KOs) taking on all-action veteran Courtney Pennington (17-10-3, 7 KOs) of Brooklyn in a guaranteed eight-round thriller, as well as Pontiac, Michigan’s Samuel Rizzo (9-1, 6 KOs) in six-round battle against St. Louis scrapper Deonta Williamson (2-4, 2 KOs).

Also appearing will be undefeated Toledo-based knockout artist Jeffery Hudson (5-0, 5 KOs) looking to keep his featherweight record perfect in a four-round fight against St. Louis’s Rashad Hicks (2-4-1, 1 KO) and Grand Rapids welterweight Ulysses Campos (3-0, 3 KOs) putting his hard-punching skill against an opponent TBA in a four-round battle. In addition to these boxing bouts will be a full-throttle night of kickboxing to satisfy Detroit’s thriving kickboxing scene and its many fans.

Tickets for Night of Knockouts XXXVII start at $51 and are available at Ticketmaster and the MotorCity Casino Hotel Box Office.

On Saturday, November 1st, CES Boxing returns to Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Arena with its 2025 Autumn Classic. The show will be headlined by a world-class welterweight showdown between "Speedy" Rashidi Ellis (27-1, 18 KOs) of Lynn, Massachusetts and former secondary champion Javier "El Abejón" Fortuna (39-6-1, 28 KOs) of the Dominican Republic. The chief support will be a featherweight contest between Kevin Walsh (18-0, 10 KOs) and Jesus Sosa (8-1, 8 KOs). Tickets are available at CES Fights, Ticketmaster or the Mohegan Sun Arena website. 

Ellis continues his pursuit of a world title shot against WBO champion Brian Norman, Jr. Standing in his way is the dangerous Fortuna, a former WBA junior lightweight regular champion from the Dominican Republic now based in Braintree, MA. Fortuna, known for his crafty southpaw style and explosive power, owns wins over Sharif Bogere and Jesus Cuellar.  

Walsh (18-0, 10 KOs), from Brockton, MA, makes his fourth start of 2025 against Sosa (8-1, 8 KOs), a Dominican knockout artist. Walsh is coming off a first-round knockout of veteran Angel Luna last month.

UNDERCARD

Joseph "J-Elite" Chisholm (5-1, 5 KOs) of Stratford, Connecticut, looks to rebound from his first professional defeat in a can’t-miss intra-state firefight against Anthony Ortiz (5-2, 5 KOs) of Hartford....

Someone’s ‘0’ has to go when Tevin Regis (6-0, 5 KOs) of Dorchester, MA collides with New Haven, CT’s Anuel Rosa (6-0-1, 4 KOs) in a lightweight showdown.

Two Stamford standouts are also in action, as "Dangerous" Douglas Marroquin (7-0, 4 KOs) returns in a middleweight contest against Mexico’s Jesus Silva (6-4, 1 KO) and..

Poland's Slawomir Bohdziewicz (6-0, 5 KOs) faces Milwaukee’s hard-hitting Cesar Ugarte (6-5, 6 KOs) in a cruiserweight clash.

New Haven boxing fans are in for a treat when Carlos Perez (4-0) and Giani Liguori (3-0-1) return to action in bouts soon to be announced.

Several Rhode Island boxers will also take center stage, as Cranston’s Tyler Macari (1-0, 1 KO), Coventry’s Will Guilmette (1-0, 1 KO), and Johnston’s Kevin Mojica (2-0, 2 KOs) showcase their skills.

A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in honor of JoAnne Sullivan, mother of CES Director of Operations Patrick Sullivan. Fans are encouraged to wear pink on the night and can join the fight by donating here: The JoAnne Sullivan Memorial Fund.

Jim Donovan KO1 Bartlomiej Wlodarczyk... Last Saturday night, Irish middleweight Jim Donovan (2-0, 1 KO) turned in a memorable performance in his first pro boxing match in his native Ireland, registering an opening-round knockout in Letterkenny, County Donegal. Fighting just five weeks after his pro debut in Belfast, the 21 year-old southpaw from Limerick quickly blasted out his Polish opponent, Bartlomiej Wlodarczyk (2-6, 1 KO), dropping him in the opening round with a left and closing the show with a right at the 1:44 mark of round one, when referee Paul McCollough halted the fight.

“A new day, new experience,” Donovan described his pro boxing debut in Ireland. “He’s a tough opponent who came to win, but obviously skills pay the bills. I feel like I’ve been a pro for the last four or five years because I’ve been in a professional boxing gym since I was 14 years old. The debut was a long time coming and hopefully, I’ll be 3-0 by the end of the year with a big 2026 coming.

“Andy (Lee, James’ head trainer and co-manager) is the mastermind behind it all and a big thank you to my manager, Keith Sullivan, too. My two training camps as a professional boxer have been with Paddy for his big one and Joseph Parker for his fight this weekend.”

On September 13th in Belfast, Donovan scored a unanimous decision over veteran Lukasz Barabasz (4-18) in Belfast, in which his cousin Paddy Donovan lost a disputed decision to Lewis Crocker for the vacant IBF welterweight title. “Paddy will bounce back in a flash,” Jim predicted. “Paddy will be world champion in 2026, he should have been world champion on March 5th, but controversy is controversy. The second fight was what it was; Paddy should have been up on the scorecards and he’s going to bounce right back.”

Jim Donovan was an outstanding Irish amateur boxer with a 160-7 record, including 10 Irish National Championships, as well as earning prestigious medals from the 2018 European Boxing Championship Schoolboys and 2022 IBA World Youth Championships.

“A great performance,” manager Sullivan commented. “An excellent showing in Windsor Park and tonight he got his first knockout. Jim Donovan is a diamond in the rough. He’s going to be the next Irish superstar and carry the Donovan name in front of the big Irish boxing crowd. But there’s only one Jim Donovan!”

Reports are that Jim’s next fight could be right at home in Limerick before the end of 2025. “Limerick has missed out on professional boxing for years, Donovan noted. “There are some great fighters there like Paddy, Eddie Donovan, me, and Kian Henderman. There hasn’t been a professional fight night in Limerick for years and something should be done. Boxing fans in Munster and Limerick are hectic. Any venue in Limerick will fill out.”

“We have some irons in the fire if it doesn’t happen in Limerick so we can get him to 3-0 before the end of this year,” Sullivan concluded.

Reymart Tagacanao of the Philippines and Ayumu Sano of Japan will step into the ring this Saturday at the Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan in a super flyweight contest. This bout is set to be one of the highlights of the event, pitting two undefeated young fighters against each other. At 26 years old, Tagacanao (11-0) will be facing the toughest opponent of his career, at least on paper. The Filipino has fought twice in the last ten months. Facing him is 22 year-old Sano (10-0-1), who is coming off a dominant fourth-round knockout of Thailand’s Nattapong Jankaew in March. Sano's draw came in his first pro bout.

The WBA junior middleweight world title showdown between reigning champion Mary Spencer and two-weight queen Mikaela Mayer (pictured) will take place on Thursday, Oct. 30th at Montreal Casino in Montreal. It will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on the Top Rank Classics' FAST channel. Top Rank Classics is free and available on major FAST hubs. Spencer-Mayer and select undercard bouts will stream on Top Rank Classics beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Mayer (21-2, 5 KOs) is the reigning WBO welterweight champion, a title she won last September with a majority decision over British standout Sandy Ryan. She defeated Ryan by unanimous decision in March’s rematch. Spencer (10-2, 6 KOs), a 2012 Olympian and three-time amateur world champion as a Team Canada amateur standout, made the first defense of her championship in April with a unanimous decision over former world champion Ogleidis Suarez.

UNDERCARD

The Top Rank Classics stream is also scheduled to include the following undercard bouts:

Wilkens Mathieu (14-0, 10 KOs) vs. Shakeel Phinn (27-3-2, 17 KOs), super middleweights;

Arthur Biyarslanov (19-0, 16 KOs) vs. Sergey Lipinets (18-4-1, 13 KOs), junior welterweights;

Mehmet Unal (13-0, 11 KOs) vs. Ralfs Vilcans (18-2, 7 KOs), light heavyweights; and

Christopher Guerrero (15-0, 9 KOs) vs. Williams Andres Herrera (17-4, 7 KOs), welterweights.

Joseph Parker (pictured) and Fabio Wardley square off in just a matter of days in a career-defining fight for both heavyweights this Saturday night, October 25th at London's The O2 Arena. The New Zealander and the Briton are the WBO and WBA interim heavyweight champions respectively, meaning this bout is an elimination battle for a world title shot and it is live and exclusive on DAZN pay-per-view. The victor will either fight the great Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed world championship or the Ukrainian will give up his WBO crown, meaning Parker or Wardley would be upgraded to be named the new WBO champion in the near future. As a former WBO champion himself, the more experienced Parker will enter as the narrow favorite.

Parker will hope to make better memories at The O2 this time around, after losing to another Brit in Dillian Whyte by unanimous decision at the venue back in 2018.

A particularly cordial relationship has bloomed across the past few months between the two fighters, built on a respect and appreciation for their craft in the ring. Parker paid tribute to Wardley's decision to take a bout that marks a gamble for both men, speaking to him as part of DAZN's Face-Off ahead of their incoming fight. "There's a lot of fighters who say that they'll want to fight anyone," he stated. "But they just say it. He's shown in his career that he steps up, and he finds a way to win."

Wardley repaid the compliments, suggesting that the Kiwi is operating at the top of his game, and reflecting on his ability to improve the more he takes out his foes. I think he's in his prime. Early on in his career, he was a great fighter, but he was still finding his feet. Now, his ambition shows he must love the sport again."

UNDERCARD BOUTS

Lewis Edmonson vs. Ezra Taylor (light heavyweights);

Juergen Uldedaj vs. Rolly Lambert Fogoum (cruiserweights);

Danny Quartermaine vs. Royston Barney-Smith (junior lightweights); and

Mitchell Smith vs. Arnie Dawson (junior lightweights).

Heavyweight Michael Hunter (pictured) returns to the ring on December 5th in London's storied York Hall to face Eli Frankham (3-0). A Southern California native, Hunter's most accurate record is 24-2-2 but his published record ignores an April 2024 loss to little-known Artem Suslenkov in Uzbekistan. In his last fight in December, Hunter registered a fifth-round TKO over Christian Larrondo Garcia in Mexico. Hunter’s only other career setback came back in 2017 when he lost a unanimous twelve-round decision to current world champion Oleksandr Usyk. Although William Storey Promotions lists Frankham as 8-0, his published record shows only three wins, none since 2020.

Coming off his only loss as a professional, Houston-based super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (14-1, 12 KOs) is preparing to get back into the ring on November 8th versus “Dynamite” David Stevens (15-2, 10 KOs). Fulghum vs. Stevens is on a card presented by Golden Boy Promotions, and headlined by a WBC interim title fight between Virgil Ortiz, Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) and challenger Erickson Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs). The action will be streamed live on DAZN from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Last May in Las Vegas, Fulghum lost a close twelve-round decision (all three scores were 114-112) to Uzbekistan's Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev (20-3 including the World Series fo Boxing).

Fulghum, physically speaking, hasn’t done anything different during training camp than he has for his past fights. There is, however, a noticeable pyschological change in his approach. “I needed to change my mental approach,” the 29-year old explained. “Coming off a loss, I really want to make a splash. I feel like I’m still at the top of the division and this fight is a great opportunity to showcase my skills. This is another day! I want to put on a great performance to be in contention for one of those four belts. I’m not far away – one or two more fights – but it all depends on how I perform. (Terence) Crawford has those four belts. Will he stay in this weight class? Should he retire? Will the division be opened up? I want to put myself in position. My time will be perfect for a world title fight."

He continued, "In my last fight, skill-wise, I am superior to Bek; I thought I won the fight. I didn’t and it happened (first loss). I think experience was a factor. My ego got the best of me. I never liked bullies, and I made it my mission to not get bullied. I wouldn’t take a step backwards, but I should have boxed right from the start. It’s all part of learning lessons. It’s not the end of the world, part of my story. It is what it is! I would like to think that we’ll (Bek) meet again, but for a world title. Things will work out. That fight is in the past, and I will grow and keep learning. What I appreciate the most about boxing is that a lot of people make excuses and point fingers at others, but that doesn’t work in boxing.”

Fulghum is sure to have a lot of support in attendance because Fort Worth is a four-hour drive from Houston, only 2.5 hours from his El Paso birthplace.

Fulghum is more than familiar with his opponent, Stevens, the 25-year-old from Reading, Pennsylvania, who lost a twelve-round split decision to Melikuziev last November. Stevens’ most notable wins have been over 13-0 Petr Khamukov, 26-6-1 Marco Antonio Periban and 14-0 Sean Hemphill (TKO1).

“I know a lot about David Stevens,” Fulghum said. “He trains here (Houston), and we’ve sparred. I’ve seen him around for a long time. He is unique to himself; unlike anybody I’ve fought. This is a dangerous fight. He’s going to bring his stuff; I need to set the tone from the start.”

Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer who was ranked #1 in the USA as a heavyweight, but as a professional he’s fought strictly as a super middleweight. He was the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament Champion, and he also won the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He earned a nursing degree from Prairie View A & M University during the coronavirus pandemic. Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM).

UPDATE: The IBF announced that the Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Josh Kelly purse bid scheduled for today has been postponed until October 28th. Original story: On August 19th, the IBF ordered its junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to begin negotiations with Josh Kelly of the United Kingdom for a mandatory title defense. An agreement was not reached within the time frame set forth by the IBF, so the IBF has scheduled a purse bid for October 21st. Originally from Grozny, Russia, Murtazaliev is 23-0 and has two wins in world title fights: Jack Culcay for the vacant IBF title and a successful defense vs. ex-champ Tim Tszyu. Kelly (17-2-1 includin g the World Series of Boxing) has won seven straight since a 2021 loss to William Avanesyan.

Sebastian Juarez KO1 Demarcus Layton... Fans at the South Padre Island Convention Center saw a middleweight war last weekend as Sebastian Juarez (10-0, 8 KOs) of Brownsville, Texas survived early adversity to stop Demarcus Layton (10-8-1, 7 KOs) in a wild, action-packed first round. What was scheduled as a six-round bout on Most Valuable Promotions’ show turned into a dramatic shootout in just three breathless minutes. The fireworks began early when Juarez, who is promoted by Boxlab Promotions, was sent to the canvas by a right hand from Layton. Shaken but not broken, Juarez beat the count but was deducted two points for excessive holding in the chaos that followed. Just when it looked like the tide had turned against him, Juarez answered back, sending Layton crashing to the canvas with a powerful right hand of his own. Layton bravely rose to continue but was dropped again moments later, hanging precariously on the ropes as the referee issued a count. Sensing the finish, Juarez unleashed a relentless flurry of punches that knocked Layton down for the third time in the round, stopping the contest and giving the Texan a dramatic first-round TKO victory, preserving his undefeated record.

"I got caught early, but I stayed calm and trusted my training," said Juarez. "Every fight is a lesson, and this fight reminded me that it’s not how you start, it’s how you respond. I was in great shape and it showed. I want to keep growing and keep representing Brownsville with heart and humility."

Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Juarez’s promoter, praised the young fighter’s resilience and poise under pressure. "Sebastian showed the heart of a true warrior against Layton. Most fighters would’ve folded after a knockdown and point deductions—but not him. He dug deep, stayed composed, and delivered an incredible performance. The future is bright for this young man and he’s much watch TV whenever he steps in the ring.” With this statement win, Juarez extends his record to (10-0, 8 KOs) and hopefully cements himself as a must-watch name.

Former traditional boxing junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi made a triumphant return to competitive fighting, defeating Tyler Goodjohn via split decision in a bare knuckle boxing match at Planet Ice in Leeds, England on Saturday. However, Malignaggi suffered gruesome facial damage for his efforts. The five-round bout marked Malignaggi’s first officially sanctioned fight since 2019, showcasing his skill and resilience in the unique triangle-shaped ‘trigon’ ring of BKB. Malignaggi, the 44-year-old Brooklyn native, leveraged superior footwork, precise punching and tactical distance control to outmaneuver the hard-hitting Goodjohn. Despite absorbing significant blows, including a powerful left hook in the first round and a staggering right cross in the fourth, Malignaggi’s disciplined approach and high-volume striking earned him the nod from the judges with scores of 48-47 (twice) and 47-48.

Speaking in the trigon after having his arm raised, Paulie Malignaggi, said: “I had to tough it out. Tyler was taking no prisoners tonight. I started out good, but he started coming on very very strong. After that eye poke, I’m still blind in this [right] eye. Maybe that’s why I got cut. I finished the fight with one eye. I could just see shadows. We worked a lot. We did a lot of not just strength training, but nervous system training based on motion and strength to prepare for camp and boxing. At my age, I didn’t want to just go back into boxing. That was a really big asset for me, because it prepared me for the rhythm, prepared my core, and when I started boxing - really allowed me to get the best out of myself.”

“I’m here for a good time, not a long time. I’d like to get a title shot after this with BKB. Nothing satisfies me more than accomplishment. It is bigger than money. I made weight a lot easier than I anticipated. With a bit more push I could box at 147. I’d like to get the belt at 154, then become champion at 147. Anyone making money in bare knuckle fighting owes it to Tyler Goodjohn. That’s why he was chosen over other schmucks calling me out.”

Goodjohn, a seasoned bareknuckle fighter from Britain with a 5-4 (1 KO) record, brought relentless pressure and landed several heavy shots, but couldn’t match Malignaggi’s technical finesse. The fight was not without flair, as both fighters engaged in theatrical moments - Malignaggi taunting with a matador-like pose after dodging a wild punch, and Goodjohn goading his opponent by lounging on the ropes with a grin.

Malignaggi, who retired from professional boxing in 2017 after a 36-8 (7 KOs) career, proved he still has plenty to offer in the bareknuckle arena. His only prior bareknuckle bout was a decision loss to Artem Lobov in 2019 under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship banner. This victory improves his bareknuckle record to 1-1 and signals his intent to remain a force in the sport.

ADDITIONAL RESULTS

On the undercard at Planet Ice Leeds BKB super cruiserweight champion Marko Martinjak, known as “The Emperor of Bare Knuckle,” became BKB’s second two-division champion by capturing the bridgerweight title with a first-round knockout of Dan Podmore.

Leeds’ own Scott McHugh earned his 15th bareknuckle victory, stopping former Commonwealth Games medalist Joe Fitzpatrick with a hard-fought second-round knockout... Alex Wilson made quick work of Danny Worsfold, securing a first-round knockout with a punishing body shot... Aaron McCallum added to his resume, claiming his eighth bareknuckle win with a first-round knockout of Liam Howell... Reece Murray returned to winning ways, stopping Jack Dugdale via third-round TKO... In a Super Middleweight clash, Ryan Gibbs emerged victorious, defeating Chris Carroll with a third-round TKO.

The preliminary bouts were equally action-packed. Jordan Ward defeated Pat Nash by TKO at the end of the second round... In a battle of bareknuckle newcomers, Omari Grant and Marshall Fuery fought to a 38-38 unanimous draw... Fruqan Cheema overcame an early knockdown to edge out Patryk Fornalski by split decision... Spain’s Victoria Albons Llompart impressed in her bareknuckle debut, stopping Nicaragua’s Jamillette Vallejos with a fourth-round TKO.

Sarah Bormann W10 Yuko Kuroki ... In a hard-fought battle, Germany’s Sarah “Babyface” Bormann (21-1, 7 KOs) unified the WBA minimumweight championship with her WBO version with a split-decision victory over Japan’s Yuko Kuroki (25-9-2, 10 KOs) on Saturday at the Wandsbeker Sporthalle in Hamburg, Germany. The judges’ scorecards reflected how close the contest was: 93-97 for Kuroki, and 97-93 and 96-95 for Bormann, giving the German fighter a razor-thin win in front of her home crowd. It was a true clash of styles from the opening bell. Kuroki showcased her trademark hand speed, accuracy, and slick movement early on, clearly taking the first two rounds with sharp jabs and crisp combinations while keeping Bormann at bay with effective lateral footwork.

But starting in the third, Bormann began to apply relentless pressure. Though her style was more direct and less refined, her body attack slowly wore Kuroki down. The German champion-in-waiting closed the distance effectively, and her aggression forced exchanges that disrupted the Japanese boxer’s rhythm. At one point, Bormann received a warning from the referee for hitting on the break, as tempers flared and the action became increasingly physical — a source of frustration for Kuroki’s corner.

The middle rounds were evenly contested, with Kuroki trying to reassert her speed advantage while Bormann banked on sheer physicality and endurance. In the ninth, an accidental head clash opened a cut on Bormann’s forehead, adding a layer of drama heading into the final stretch. Both fighters dug deep in a wild tenth round, trading in close quarters without a clear edge. When the final bell rang, the tension in the arena was palpable. Moments later, Bormann was declared the winner by split decision. This was her third defense of the WBO title

Here are the semi-final results from the WBC Boxing Grand Prix at the Global Theater in Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

HEAVYWEIGHT

Bosnia's Ahmed Krnjic (7-0) took the victory by split decision in a battle against South Africa's Keaton Gomes (13-4). The most physical fight of the night took place in the first heavyweight semi-final. Although Gomes did his best to outwork the Bosnian giant, even hurting him in the fifth round, Krnjic got the better of the exchanges. By managing his stamina and landing power shots to the South African's body and face, Krnjic tired out his opponent and managed the fight more intelligently.

Argentina's Kevin Ramírez (11-0-2) punched his ticket to the finals by defeating Dante Stone (21-2) of the United States via split decision. In the first round, Ramírez surprised Stone with a right that knocked him to the canvas. The American got up and recovered, working his jab well. However, Ramirez's right hand remained dangerous at various points in the fight. Despite both men's exhaustion in the final rounds, they continued to fight hard. In the end, the judges awarded a split decision in favor of Ramírez.

MIDDLEWEIGHT

In a very close fight, Canada's Derek Pomerleau (15-) took a victory by majority decision over Colombia's Carlos Sinisterra (13-2). From the outset, both boxers challenged each other to exchange blows. Both men grew in strength, throwing combinations: Sinisterra attacked Pomerleau's face with precise punches and managed the distance well, while Pomerleau fought intelligently, standing out in the fifth round when he injured his opponent's nose, a moment that proved decisive in the fight. In the final round, the fight was momentarily halted due to an accidental headbutt, leading to a spectacular and action-packed finish.

Australia's Dylan Biggs (17-1) took a unanimous decision victory over France's Lancelot De la Chapelle (17-2-2) and advanced to the final against Derek Pomerleau. Biggs displayed more power in his punches throughout most of the fight, which put him ahead on the scorecards in the early rounds. By the fifth round, all the judges had him as the winner. But, the Australian began to slow down, trying to distance himself from De la Chapelle, who never stopped coming forward. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't catch him on the scorecards, and Biggs claimed the victory by unanimous decision.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT

In one of the closest fights of the night, Uzbekistan's Mujibillo Tursunov (9-0) took a majority decision victory over Ukraine's Danylo Lozan (15-1). The semi-final event couldn't have started any better, as Lozan and Tursunov waged a war on the first bout of the night. It was an extremely active fight, with both boxers constantly throwing punches. Lozan tried to maintain his distance and was very proactive, but Tursunov got the better of the exchanges.

Colombia's Carlos Utria (13-0) scored a technical knockout in just one round against South Africa's Ntethelelo Nkosi (10-3). From the start of the fight, Nkosi came forward trying to pressure Utria, but he found himself up against the Colombian's great talent, who connected and kept his opponent at a distance. Utria navigated the ring well and soon found a right hand and an uppercut that put Nkosi in a difficult position. At that point, Utria went all out and began to punish the South African against the ropes. The referee was slow to stop the fight, but eventually intervened.

FEATHERWEIGHT

Italy's Muhamet Qamili (17-0-1) scored a first-round stoppage of France's Yoni Valverde Jr. (16-1). The end came at 2:26, ​​when Qamili knocked down Valverde with a left hand and then punished him with a powerful combination. The referee deemed the punishment excessive and stopped the fight.

In the first round, Bekizizwe Maitse of South Africa did his job, keeping Brandon Mejia of Mexico at a distance. But by the second round, Mejía adjusted and began landing power shots. Most of the judges had the fight even but in the third, everything changed, and the fight began to lean in favor of the Mexican. In the fifth round, a hook to the liver brought Maitse to his knees. He got up, but Mejia (12-0) repeated the blow, causing Maitse (8-2) to double over in pain. Mejía took the win by knockout and advances to the final against Qamili.

Queensberry Promotions announced a change to the undercard for Saturday's show in London. While the Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley interim heavyweight title clash remains atop the bill, Lewis Edmondson has withdrawn from a British light heavyweight title fight against Ezra Taylor due to an undicslosed injury. However, Steed Woodall (20-3-1) has stepped in on very short notice to face Taylor (12-0). Nether man has gone past ten rounds, although Woodall was scheduled for twelve vs. Callum Simpson early this year in a British super middleweight title fight, but did not make it out of the second round. 

The British heavyweight title fight between Frazer Clarke and Jeamie TKV, originally scheduled for Saturday, October 25th, has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 29th after Jeamie TKV suffered an injury in training. The vacant title clash will go ahead at the same venue, the Vaillant Live Arena in Derby, to be broadcast live on BBC Two and iPlayer. The new date will allow TKV time to recover and prepare for the showdown that will air live on primetime BBC television and iPlayer Ahead of the main event, ‘Billion Dollar Baby’ Francesca Hennessy, age 20, will take on former  champion Fabiana Bytyqi, as previously announced. Ohter previously announced undercard fights also remain unchanged.

Boxxer founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “Injuries are part of the sport. While it’s disappointing to reschedule, the safety of our fighters must always come first. Jeamie suffered an injury in training and the medical advice was he can’t compete. I’ve spoken to both fighters and of course they’re disappointed but it means there’s an extra edge to the fight on November 29th. Frazer feels he’s ready to win right now and is frustrated at having to completely change his training plan. Jeamie will be desperate to prove he’s fighting fit and capable of beating Frazer. They have been quite respectful of each other up to now, but it feels like that’s changing as emotions are running high on both sides.”

Ryad Merhy TKO2 Gora Niang ... Ryad Merhy, age 30, kept his career going on Saturday night at LLN Boxing Night 3 in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, where he knocked out Senegal’s Gora Niang, age 31, in the second round of a heavyweight contest. Merhy dominated the first round without problems, even hurting his opponent a couple of times shortly before the bell. Already seriously affected, Niang (7-2-2) was staggered in the second round by a left hook, leaving him visibly hurt, which forced the referee to stop the fight. Merhy, a smallish heavyweight who seems better accustomed to bridgerweight or cruiserweight (where he campaigned until 2021), has now won three in a row to improve his resume to 35-3.

Gabe Rosado W8 Vaughn Alexander... In Swift Promotions' undercard action from Brooklyn, New York, popular “King” Gabriel Rosado (28-17-1, 16 KOs) took home a unanimous decision triumph over fellow veteran Vaughn Alexander (19-17-2, 12 KOs) by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice after eight rounds of super middleweight action. Rosado, a 39 year-old warrior from Philadelphia, has now won two straight after a two-year hiatus.

In Swift Promotions' undercard action from Brooklyn, New York, popular “King” Gabriel Rosado (28-17-1, 16 KOs) took home a unanimous decision triumph over fellow veteran Vaughn Alexander (19-17-2, 12 KOs) by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice after eight rounds of super middleweight action. Rosado, a 39 year-old warrior from Philadelphia, has now won two straight after a two-year hiatus.

Damian Knyba TKO7 Joey Dawejko... Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba (17-0, 11 KOs) showed his mettle with a seventh-round TKO of Joey Dawejko (28-14-4, 16 KOs) in Brooklyn, New York last night. Fighting on the Danny Garcia undercard, Knyba closed the fight 2:25 into the round. Fighting behind his jab through most of the action, Knyba broke through with a series of power shots that hurt Dawejko, before eventually forcing his opponent to the mat with a blistering left hook that ended the bout.

Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (pictured) will defend his WBO featherweight title against Arnold Khegai on Saturday, Nov. 15th, at Arena Potosí in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The Guadalajara native will risk his crown on Mexican soil for the first time, while Khegai receives his long-awaited shot at a world title. The twelve-round junior welterweight co-feature, an all-Mexican affair, sees the undefeated Lindolfo Delgado battle Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in an IBF eliminator. The undercard will showcase U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in a ten-round heavyweight contest against Czech veteran Tomas Salek (23-7), while junior welterweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas competes in his first scheduled ten-rounder versus Jonathan Montrel. Seventeen year-old junior lightweight Julian “El Natural” Montalvo (4-0, 3 KOs), who hails from Las Vegas, aims for his third triumph of the year in a six-rounder.

“Rafael Espinoza is a unique talent, a 6-foot-1 featherweight with devastating knockout power in either hand. He is a dominant force, but I expect Arnold Khegai to be a formidable test,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “San Luis Potosí is a great fight town, and I’m thrilled that the Mexican fans will have an opportunity to see several future world champions in action on the undercard.”

Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) captured the WBO featherweight title in December 2023 with a majority decision over two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez. In what an upset at the time,  Espinoza rose from the canvas in the fifth before returning the favor in the climactic twelfth stanza to clinch the decision. Since then, he has made three defenses, stopping Sergio Chirino in four rounds in June 2024, halting Ramirez in six in their rematch that December, and battering Edward Vazquez in May in Las Vegas.

Espinoza said, “I’m happy and anxious to get back into the ring because it will be in my country, with my people. I want to display new tools from my arsenal. I know Arnold Khegai is strong, but that’s motivating me to keep demonstrating that I am ready for big things. I can’t wait for the support from the Mexican fans.”

Khegai (23-2-1, 14 KOs), who is of Korean descent, took up combat sports in his teens to help support his family. A two-time world champion in Thai boxing and a Ukrainian national amateur champion, he turned professional in 2015 before making his debut stateside in 2018 with a decision victory over Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez. Khegai is 7-1 since moving up to featherweight, with his only blemish coming via split decision to division mainstay Joet Gonzalez in March. Khegai returned to winning ways with an eight-round decision over Liborio Solis in September.

“When my team mentioned Rafael Espinoza as an opponent, I told them to do whatever it takes to make the fight,” Khegai said. “I’ve had a long journey in boxing, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I am coming to Mexico to ruin his homecoming.”

Delgado (23-0, 16 KOs) emerged as a contender in August 2022 with a unanimous decision over then-unbeaten Mexican Omar Aguilar. He has since turned back several other of his countrymen, a run that includes a knockout of Luis Hernandez and a seventh-round stoppage of Carlos Sanchez. Delgado earned this title eliminator opportunity in April against Elvis Rodriguez, sweeping the tenth and final round on all three judges’ cards to win a majority decision.

Valenzuela (31-4-1, 17 KOs) is a 30-year old from Guadalajara who broke onto the scene in 2021 by edging British veteran Robbie Davies Jr. in London. He followed up with two stoppage wins on home soil before making his second international trip, dropping a decision to then-unbeaten Montana Love in Las Vegas in May 2022. He returned the following February and blitzed Yves Ulysse Jr. in one round and compiled four more wins before March’s stoppage loss to former champion Subriel Matias. Valenzuela bounced back with a decision over Manuel Medina Barrera in May.

Torrez (13-0, 11 KOs) turned pro in March 2022 and has surged through the ranks with a high-pressure southpaw style. He handed Brandon Moore his first pro loss via fifth-round stoppage in May 2024, won by disqualification against Joey Dawejko that September, and ended the year with a third-round TKO over Issac Muñoz. Torrez made his headlining debut in Las Vegas in April, vanquishing Italian Olympian Guido Vianello by unanimous decision.

Salek (23-7, 14 KOs) is an eight-year pro coming off a second-round TKO over countryman Daniel Kubelka in June.

Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs), the streaking second-generation phenom, is the youngest son of former world champion Fernando Vargas. The 21-year-old turned pro in 2022 and went 4-0 with three knockouts in 2024. This year, he’s looked even sharper, stopping every opponent within two rounds: Giovannie Gonzalez in March, Juan Leon in May, and Alexander Espinoza in 42 seconds of round one in his New York City debut in July.

New Orleans native Montrel (19-3, 13 KOs) has won four consecutive bouts since a pair of 2023 decision defeats.

Brazilian MMA legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva (3-2 with 2 KOs in boxing, 34-11 with 22 KOs in MMA), will return to combat sports on November 14th to face his biggest foe, American MMA veteran and former champion Chris “The All-American” Weidman (pro debut in boxing, 16-8 with 6 KOs in MMA) in a six-round heavyweight fight contested at 205 pounds. The fight will be part of the big Netflix broadcast headlined by an exhibition fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta "Tank" Davis in Miami. Silva and Weidman fought twice in MMA in 2013, with Weidman winning both bouts. Their first fight at UFC 162 ended with Weidman knocking out Silva to win the UFC middleweight championship. Their second fight at UFC 168 ended when Silva suffered a severe leg break from a checked kick from Weidman, resulting in a TKO victory for Weidman. 

Former two-division champion Danny “Swift” Garcia held a media workout at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday ahead of his show this Saturday, October 18th at Barclays Center as he takes on Queen-native Danny “El Gallo” Gonzalez in the main event of Swift Promotions' big show. The media workout also featured a slew of undercard fighters including undefeated Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba, who takes on Joey Dawejko in an eight-round matchup, Brooklyn’s own Chris “Primetime” Colbert, who faces Blas Ezequiel Caro in an eight-round attraction, and Philly action fighter Gabriel Rosado, who takes on veteran Vaughn Alexander in a super middleweight bout. The workout also featured Brooklyn’s Cristian Cangelosi, who faces Victoriano Antonio Santillan. Tickets for the live event are available through Ticketmaster.com. The show will be available on a pay-per-view basis exclusively through Millions.co beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with twelve scheduled attractions featured with purchase of the event. Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from world famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn:

DANNY GARCIA

“Camp has been great. I feel ready. There were no shortcuts. I treated this like a world title fight. I’ve done everything right.

“I got here because of everything I went through as a kid. I came from nothing and that’s why I have the grit that I’ve shown in fight after fight.

“I just want to be remembered as someone who fought everyone and never backed down.

“Danny Gonzalez is someone who’s been under the radar and deserves a shot. Some guys never get the opportunity and I thought he earned it.

“It makes me really happy to give young guys opportunities like this. To a lot of guys fighting at Barclays Center is a dream come true. That means everything to me.”

DANNY GONZALEZ

“I’m just excited to go. I’m calm. On Saturday the talking is done. We’re going in there to hurt each other, and I’m gonna hurt him.

“I don’t think it matters what his mentality is. When he loses, he’s gonna realize it’s time to spend time with his family.

“This is everything. This proves that hard work and consistency pays off. I’ve been grinding for 20 years and now I’m here on the big stage.

“I’m in phenomenal shape for this. He’s gonna be shocked with what he’s in there with. Speed, strength, size, power, it’s gonna be everything.

“I know what I can do and I know that I can beat him.”

DAMIAN KNYBA

“I’m really excited to be fighting in front of the Polish fans at Barclays Center. There have been a lot of great heavyweights like Adam Kownacki who have fought there and I look forward to keeping that tradition going.

“I’m extremely motivated. I’ve fought in big arenas before, so this is nothing new to me. I’m coming in here mentally strong and ready to do what I have to do.

“I’m very motivated to show everyone that I’m the best. The Polish fans mean the world to me. I want to be at my best and make my country proud.”

CHRIS COLBERT

“I’m feeling great. I’m blessed to be here on the big stage again and on Saturday night I just have to do what I do best.

“I’m gonna go back down to super featherweight to get back to the top. I’m actually hungrier now than I was for my last few fights. Right now I’m starving. I have no choice but to go in there and wipe out the 130-pound division.

“I know there’s a lot more that I’m leaving on the table as far as my career, and I can’t leave it there.

“I just want to win. I’m not worried about making a statement.

GABRIEL ROSADO

“I feel good to be here in Brooklyn. This is actually my favorite city to fight in. The atmosphere is amazing and it’s close to Philly.

“We’re doing everything right, that’s why my energy is really good. We’ve had a great training camp in Puerto Rico. It was hot as hell and it was what we needed.

“The heart has to still be in it to fight. That’s one thing about me, I can always count on my heart and my will. Nobody is gonna take that away from me. There was actually a point in my career where I counted too much on my will and slacked on my fundamentals. It’s those little things that make a big difference.”

CRISTIAN CANGELOSI

“I’m looking to put on a good show for all my Italians here in Brooklyn. I’m feeling good and ready to deliver a knockout.

“I have a great team that’s really got me ready to go. We’ve had a great training camp with really strong sparring. I’m gonna be at my best on Saturday night.

“I want to be great and show that I’m a future world champion.”

On Saturday, ring official Joe Cusano will be inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2025. The induction ceremony will take place at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Kirk Lang interviewed Cusano about his career and the honor of being enshrined in his home state's hall of fame. Part two of that interview can be viewed here. Cusano spent more than three decades officiating both amateur and professional bouts, serving as chief of officials for Connecticut USA Boxing. His expertise even extended to the silver screen, where he had the distinct honor of officiating a boxing match in "The Featherweight," a 2024 film celebrating his childhood hero, Willie Pep. Cusano also memorialized his own life in "Uppercuts," a memoir about his experiences in the exhilarating and often brutal world of boxing.  Watch part one of the interview here.