Fury tunes up vs. Makhmudov then calls out Joshua |
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Tyson Fury W12 Arslanbek Makhmudov... Ex-heavyweight champion Tyson Fury returned from retirement – again – as he claimed victory over hard-hitting Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov in his comeback fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The fight viewed like a fighter shaking off his ring rust as Fury gradually worked his way into the fight through the dangerous early rounds, tested his skills through the middle rounds, then started to mix up his footwork and hand speed in the later rounds as he outclassed a dangerous, if largely one-dimensional, opponent. Makhmudov’s sole tactic was to barrel forward, throwing winging overhand shots, and whenever Fury deployed lateral movement, he had the Russian swinging at air.
By round eight, Fury was in full control, and could barely miss with his shots on his slowing opponent, who seemingly had no answer to the former world champion’s skills, movement and conditioning, with Fury carrying his pace through to the later rounds. After comprehensively outboxing Makhmudov through the first 10 rounds, Fury was told by his coach SugarHill Steward to go for the knockout, and he finished round eleven landing big shots on the almost-static Russian.
And after a twelfth round that saw Fury dominate the action, including connecting with a number of thumping upper cuts on Makhmudov’s granite chin, the action went to the judges’ scorecards. The result was a formality, with the scorecards reading 120-108 (twice) and 119-109 to Fury, who returned with a landslide decision victory to potentially tee up an all-British heavyweight superfight with his longtime rival, Anthony Joshua.
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Fury tunes up vs. Makhmudov then calls out Joshua
Tyson Fury W12 Arslanbek Makhmudov... Ex-heavyweight champion Tyson Fury returned from retirement – again – as he claimed victory over hard-hitting Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov in his comeback fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The fight viewed like a fighter shaking off his ring rust as Fury gradually worked his way into the fight through the dangerous early rounds, tested his skills through the middle rounds, then started to mix up his footwork and hand speed in the later rounds as he outclassed a dangerous, if largely one-dimensional, opponent. Makhmudov’s sole tactic was to barrel forward, throwing winging overhand shots, and whenever Fury deployed lateral movement, he had the Russian swinging at air.
By round eight, Fury was in full control, and could barely miss with his shots on his slowing opponent, who seemingly had no answer to the former world champion’s skills, movement and conditioning, with Fury carrying his pace through to the later rounds. After comprehensively outboxing Makhmudov through the first 10 rounds, Fury was told by his coach SugarHill Steward to go for the knockout, and he finished round eleven landing big shots on the almost-static Russian.
And after a twelfth round that saw Fury dominate the action, including connecting with a number of thumping upper cuts on Makhmudov’s granite chin, the action went to the judges’ scorecards. The result was a formality, with the scorecards reading 120-108 (twice) and 119-109 to Fury, who returned with a landslide decision victory to potentially tee up an all-British heavyweight superfight with his longtime rival, Anthony Joshua.
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Benn outboxes Prograis |
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Conor Benn W10 Regis Prograis ... Conor Benn showcased his speed and conditioning as he comprehensively outworked former two-time 140-pound champion Regis Prograis over 10 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Benn pushed the pace throughout the ten-round matchup as he forced Prograis onto the back foot for almost the entirety of their 150-pound catchweight contest to earn a clear unanimous decision victory on the scorecards. The action started quickly as both men looked to take charge of the early exchanges, but it was Benn’s shots that seemed to carry the greater threat in the opening three minutes. Then, right at the bell at the end of the round, Benn connected with a big straight right that caused both of Prograis’ legs to buckle as he wobbled, but didn’t go down.
Benn continued his aggressive start through rounds two and three, as he consistently beat Prograis to the punch and found a home with his snapping jab. But the Englishman had to deal with his first moment of adversity early in the fourth when Prograis clipped him with some solid left hands and, after an accidental clash of heads, opened up a cut above Benn’s right eye.
Prograis enjoyed his best round of the fight in the fourth as he found his range and connected with several scoring shots. And, in the fifth, the former two-time world champion started to let his shots go as he looked to answer Benn’s power shots in kind. After calling the Englishman forward at the start of the sixth, Prograis came out and landed big shots on the Englishman and, after another accidental head clash, Benn emerged with a second cut, this time over his other eye. In a tricky round for the home fighter, Benn later drew the ire of the referee, who didn’t appreciate the Englishman’s mid-fight trash talk to his opponent
Benn found another gear in Round 7 as he turned up the heat on Prograis by pushing a relentless pace and ripping him to the midsection with some savage body shots. But he got a warning in the final minute of a round, as a smart counter briefly stopped him in his tracks. The body attack from Benn continued through the eighth as he poured the pressure on Prograis, who took his best shots well, albeit with a noticeably lower output himself.
After the ninth round ended with the pair glaring over the shoulder at each other as they returned to their corners, the final stanza started with Benn shoving Prograis to the canvas and receiving a warning from the referee. Benn kept pushing the pace as he walked down the American, throwing big shots. Heads clashed, and shots were traded, but overall it was Benn who held sway as his aggression kept him on the front foot all the way to the final bell.
After a rough, tough ten-rounder reached its conclusion, the attention turned to the judges’ scorecards, who all scored the fight the same – 98-92 to Benn, who claimed the 25th win of his professional career. Now the attention will turn to what comes next, with “The Destroyer” likely to set his sights on welterweight championship glory in the not-too-distant future.
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Benn outboxes Prograis
Conor Benn W10 Regis Prograis ... Conor Benn showcased his speed and conditioning as he comprehensively outworked former two-time 140-pound champion Regis Prograis over 10 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Benn pushed the pace throughout the ten-round matchup as he forced Prograis onto the back foot for almost the entirety of their 150-pound catchweight contest to earn a clear unanimous decision victory on the scorecards. The action started quickly as both men looked to take charge of the early exchanges, but it was Benn’s shots that seemed to carry the greater threat in the opening three minutes. Then, right at the bell at the end of the round, Benn connected with a big straight right that caused both of Prograis’ legs to buckle as he wobbled, but didn’t go down.
Benn continued his aggressive start through rounds two and three, as he consistently beat Prograis to the punch and found a home with his snapping jab. But the Englishman had to deal with his first moment of adversity early in the fourth when Prograis clipped him with some solid left hands and, after an accidental clash of heads, opened up a cut above Benn’s right eye.
Prograis enjoyed his best round of the fight in the fourth as he found his range and connected with several scoring shots. And, in the fifth, the former two-time world champion started to let his shots go as he looked to answer Benn’s power shots in kind. After calling the Englishman forward at the start of the sixth, Prograis came out and landed big shots on the Englishman and, after another accidental head clash, Benn emerged with a second cut, this time over his other eye. In a tricky round for the home fighter, Benn later drew the ire of the referee, who didn’t appreciate the Englishman’s mid-fight trash talk to his opponent
Benn found another gear in Round 7 as he turned up the heat on Prograis by pushing a relentless pace and ripping him to the midsection with some savage body shots. But he got a warning in the final minute of a round, as a smart counter briefly stopped him in his tracks. The body attack from Benn continued through the eighth as he poured the pressure on Prograis, who took his best shots well, albeit with a noticeably lower output himself.
After the ninth round ended with the pair glaring over the shoulder at each other as they returned to their corners, the final stanza started with Benn shoving Prograis to the canvas and receiving a warning from the referee. Benn kept pushing the pace as he walked down the American, throwing big shots. Heads clashed, and shots were traded, but overall it was Benn who held sway as his aggression kept him on the front foot all the way to the final bell.
After a rough, tough ten-rounder reached its conclusion, the attention turned to the judges’ scorecards, who all scored the fight the same – 98-92 to Benn, who claimed the 25th win of his professional career. Now the attention will turn to what comes next, with “The Destroyer” likely to set his sights on welterweight championship glory in the not-too-distant future.
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Riakporhe announces himself in the heavyweight division |
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Richard Riakporhe TKO5 Jeamie Tshikeva... Former cruiserweight title challenger Richard Riakporhe completed a successful move to heavyweight in London as he stopped defending British champion Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva in the fifth round to capture the domestoc heavyweight title. In an eventful opening round, Riakporhe appeared to stun Tshikeva early in an exchange that ended with the pair of them falling to the canvas. No count was administered, but it gave the challenger early confidence in his punch power in a big heavyweight fight.
That confidence only increased after the mid-way point of the second round, after Riakporhe busted up Tshikeva’s nose, causing it to leak blood. Then a big right upper cut from the challenger drew gasps from the crowd as he started to make his punches really count.
Tshikeva seemingly had little answer for Riakporhe’s shots other than consistent holding, and a strong warning from the referee in the third round made clear that he was far from happy with “TKV’s” constant clinching. Soon after, the champion was then deducted a point by the official for a cheeky head-butt on the inside at the start of Round 4.
The momentum was only going one way, and Riakporhe made the breakthrough in the fifth when he dropped the champion with a clubbing overhand right that forced “TKV” to take an eight-count. Riakporhe looked to follow up with more power shots, and Tshikeva tried to hold his way to safety, only for the challenger to throw the champion across the ring. Once the action resumed, Riakporhe poured on the pressure and landed some huge shots that eventually forced the referee to dive in and end the fight in the final minute of the round.
It gave Riakporhe his second British championship after previously capturing the cruiserweight crown, and took his heavyweight record to 3-0, all by stoppage, as he looks to make his way towards the biggest names in the division.
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Riakporhe announces himself in the heavyweight division
Richard Riakporhe TKO5 Jeamie Tshikeva... Former cruiserweight title challenger Richard Riakporhe completed a successful move to heavyweight in London as he stopped defending British champion Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva in the fifth round to capture the domestoc heavyweight title. In an eventful opening round, Riakporhe appeared to stun Tshikeva early in an exchange that ended with the pair of them falling to the canvas. No count was administered, but it gave the challenger early confidence in his punch power in a big heavyweight fight.
That confidence only increased after the mid-way point of the second round, after Riakporhe busted up Tshikeva’s nose, causing it to leak blood. Then a big right upper cut from the challenger drew gasps from the crowd as he started to make his punches really count.
Tshikeva seemingly had little answer for Riakporhe’s shots other than consistent holding, and a strong warning from the referee in the third round made clear that he was far from happy with “TKV’s” constant clinching. Soon after, the champion was then deducted a point by the official for a cheeky head-butt on the inside at the start of Round 4.
The momentum was only going one way, and Riakporhe made the breakthrough in the fifth when he dropped the champion with a clubbing overhand right that forced “TKV” to take an eight-count. Riakporhe looked to follow up with more power shots, and Tshikeva tried to hold his way to safety, only for the challenger to throw the champion across the ring. Once the action resumed, Riakporhe poured on the pressure and landed some huge shots that eventually forced the referee to dive in and end the fight in the final minute of the round.
It gave Riakporhe his second British championship after previously capturing the cruiserweight crown, and took his heavyweight record to 3-0, all by stoppage, as he looks to make his way towards the biggest names in the division.
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More Netflix results: Huni back in win column |
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Justis Huni W10 Frazer Clarke... Australian heavyweight contender Justis Huni used his superior speed and conditioning to edge a majority decision verdict over hard-hitting Brit Frazer Clarke after ten competitive rounds. Huni was coming off a 2025 loss to Fabio Wardley, who is now the WBA heavyweight title holder. After a close opening round, Huni established his speed advantage through the next two rounds by consistently beating Clarke to the punch. Huni enjoyed particular success early by slipping Clarke’s lead, then ripping the Englishman to the body with crushing left hooks. But Clarke came back in the fourth with a big shot that wobbled the legs of the Australian late in the round. It set the table for a tightly-contested battle as both men had their successes through the second half of the fight. But, while the rounds were all competitive, Huni edged just enough of them to claim the judges’ decision, with the scorecards reading 95-95 and 96-94 (twice) in his favor. It gave Huni a welcome return to form after his dramatic knockout loss to Wardley in an interim heavyweight title fight last July, and ensured his name remains among those at the sharp end of the heavyweight division.
Breyon Gorham TKO5 Eduardo Costa... In the night’s featured preliminary card bout, new Zuffa Boxing signee Breyon Gorham (22-0) handed durable Brazilian Eduardo Costa (12-6) the first stoppage loss of his career. Gorham settled into his work early as he stalked Costa around the ring and landed some solid shots, with the American enjoying particular success to the body. Then a chopping right hand sent the Brazilian to the canvas, as Costa was forced to take an eight-count in the final minute of the round. Gorham set about building on that success in the second, but the 25-year-old didn’t stick to just head-hunting. Instead, he kept mixing up his shots as he scored effectively to the body to help bring down the guard of the Brazilian. Gorham continued to hurt Costa to the body and briefly froze him with a left hook to the liver. Gorham continued to outclass Costa through round three, then loaded up in the fourth as she sent the Brazilian staggering backward with a stiff straight right. Costa gamely stayed in the contest, but by the end of the round, Gorham’s heavy shots had really taken their toll. Costa looked to be there for the taking, and in round five, Gorham turned up the power to finish the job. He pieced up his man with stiff, powerful shots in the early part of the round, then stepped into range and let the heavy artillery go. A huge right hook started the finishing sequence, followed by a corkscrew left uppercut that forced the Brazilian back against the ropes. A salvo of right hooks then forced the referee to step in and call an end to the contest.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Undefeated Liverpool flyweight Mikie Tallon showcased his boxing potential with a crisp performance to stop Argentina’s Leandro Blanc in the first round. The twenty-one-year-old Tallon took his time to assess his opponent’s style, then started to let his shots go with power and precision as he targeted his opponent’s head and body with solid punches. And, in the latter stages of the opening round, Tallon ripped a perfectly-placed left hook to the body that folded up Blanc, who couldn’t beat the count. It meant Tallon improved his perfect record to 13-0, with the third knockout of his young career.
Lightweight Sultan Almohammed delivered a strong performance as the teenager from Saudi Arabia scored a third-round TKO finish of Hector Lozano. Almohammed quickly established himself as the superior fighter as he dictated terms throughout the contest in a comfortable performance for the 18-year old from Riyadh. “El Nino’s” win improved his record to 3-0 with two knockouts, as he outclassed Mexico’s Lozano to continue his winning start to life in the pro ranks.
Undefeated fighters went head to head in a highly-competitive scrap at light heavyweight, and it was English-based Pole Pawel August who stepped in on two weeks’ notice to edge a razor-close decision over Germany’s former two-belt European champion Simon Zachenhuber. The matchup showcased a contrast in the two fighters’ respective fighting styles, with Zachenhuber looking to stay at range to utilize his reach advantage with his rangy southpaw style, while orthodox striker August looked to step inside and engage in a phone-booth fight. Overall, it was August who managed to impose his style more effectively, though both fighters landed plenty of scoring shots throughout an entertaining, back-and-forth battle. After six super-competitive rounds, the referee scored the bout 58-56 to August, sparking wild scenes of celebration in the Pole’s corner, and utter disbelief in Zachenhuber’s.
Former British and Commonwealth lightweight champion Felix Cash improved his record to 17-1 with a heavy-handed finish of Liam O’Hare in their middleweight matchup. Cash dropped O’Hare with a solid straight left, then dropped him almost immediately after the restart with a clubbing overhand right as he made a lightning-fast start to the contest. Cash then swarmed his man as he attempted to finish the fight, but got badly rocked in the closing seconds of the round as O’Hare almost turned the fight on its head with a huge Hail Mary shot. Cash picked up the pace at the start of round two, however, and after a short shot dropped O’Hare to one knee, the referee decided the fighter from Hereford, England had taken more than enough punishment for one night, and stepped in to wave off the contest. It meant that Cash picked up the 17th win, and 11th knockout, of his career as he looks to move back up the ranks at 147 pounds.
Undefeated English southpaw Eliot Whale improved his perfect professional record to 14-0 with a fourth-round stoppage of compatriot Tom Hill. Whale took a couple of rounds to get going, but after taking a look at Hill over the first six minutes, Whale really started to find his groove as he outboxed Hill through the third, then stopped his man in the fourth when the referee intervened to spare Hill any unnecessary punishment.
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More Netflix results: Huni back in win column
Justis Huni W10 Frazer Clarke... Australian heavyweight contender Justis Huni used his superior speed and conditioning to edge a majority decision verdict over hard-hitting Brit Frazer Clarke after ten competitive rounds. Huni was coming off a 2025 loss to Fabio Wardley, who is now the WBA heavyweight title holder. After a close opening round, Huni established his speed advantage through the next two rounds by consistently beating Clarke to the punch. Huni enjoyed particular success early by slipping Clarke’s lead, then ripping the Englishman to the body with crushing left hooks. But Clarke came back in the fourth with a big shot that wobbled the legs of the Australian late in the round. It set the table for a tightly-contested battle as both men had their successes through the second half of the fight. But, while the rounds were all competitive, Huni edged just enough of them to claim the judges’ decision, with the scorecards reading 95-95 and 96-94 (twice) in his favor. It gave Huni a welcome return to form after his dramatic knockout loss to Wardley in an interim heavyweight title fight last July, and ensured his name remains among those at the sharp end of the heavyweight division.
Breyon Gorham TKO5 Eduardo Costa... In the night’s featured preliminary card bout, new Zuffa Boxing signee Breyon Gorham (22-0) handed durable Brazilian Eduardo Costa (12-6) the first stoppage loss of his career. Gorham settled into his work early as he stalked Costa around the ring and landed some solid shots, with the American enjoying particular success to the body. Then a chopping right hand sent the Brazilian to the canvas, as Costa was forced to take an eight-count in the final minute of the round. Gorham set about building on that success in the second, but the 25-year-old didn’t stick to just head-hunting. Instead, he kept mixing up his shots as he scored effectively to the body to help bring down the guard of the Brazilian. Gorham continued to hurt Costa to the body and briefly froze him with a left hook to the liver. Gorham continued to outclass Costa through round three, then loaded up in the fourth as she sent the Brazilian staggering backward with a stiff straight right. Costa gamely stayed in the contest, but by the end of the round, Gorham’s heavy shots had really taken their toll. Costa looked to be there for the taking, and in round five, Gorham turned up the power to finish the job. He pieced up his man with stiff, powerful shots in the early part of the round, then stepped into range and let the heavy artillery go. A huge right hook started the finishing sequence, followed by a corkscrew left uppercut that forced the Brazilian back against the ropes. A salvo of right hooks then forced the referee to step in and call an end to the contest.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Undefeated Liverpool flyweight Mikie Tallon showcased his boxing potential with a crisp performance to stop Argentina’s Leandro Blanc in the first round. The twenty-one-year-old Tallon took his time to assess his opponent’s style, then started to let his shots go with power and precision as he targeted his opponent’s head and body with solid punches. And, in the latter stages of the opening round, Tallon ripped a perfectly-placed left hook to the body that folded up Blanc, who couldn’t beat the count. It meant Tallon improved his perfect record to 13-0, with the third knockout of his young career.
Lightweight Sultan Almohammed delivered a strong performance as the teenager from Saudi Arabia scored a third-round TKO finish of Hector Lozano. Almohammed quickly established himself as the superior fighter as he dictated terms throughout the contest in a comfortable performance for the 18-year old from Riyadh. “El Nino’s” win improved his record to 3-0 with two knockouts, as he outclassed Mexico’s Lozano to continue his winning start to life in the pro ranks.
Undefeated fighters went head to head in a highly-competitive scrap at light heavyweight, and it was English-based Pole Pawel August who stepped in on two weeks’ notice to edge a razor-close decision over Germany’s former two-belt European champion Simon Zachenhuber. The matchup showcased a contrast in the two fighters’ respective fighting styles, with Zachenhuber looking to stay at range to utilize his reach advantage with his rangy southpaw style, while orthodox striker August looked to step inside and engage in a phone-booth fight. Overall, it was August who managed to impose his style more effectively, though both fighters landed plenty of scoring shots throughout an entertaining, back-and-forth battle. After six super-competitive rounds, the referee scored the bout 58-56 to August, sparking wild scenes of celebration in the Pole’s corner, and utter disbelief in Zachenhuber’s.
Former British and Commonwealth lightweight champion Felix Cash improved his record to 17-1 with a heavy-handed finish of Liam O’Hare in their middleweight matchup. Cash dropped O’Hare with a solid straight left, then dropped him almost immediately after the restart with a clubbing overhand right as he made a lightning-fast start to the contest. Cash then swarmed his man as he attempted to finish the fight, but got badly rocked in the closing seconds of the round as O’Hare almost turned the fight on its head with a huge Hail Mary shot. Cash picked up the pace at the start of round two, however, and after a short shot dropped O’Hare to one knee, the referee decided the fighter from Hereford, England had taken more than enough punishment for one night, and stepped in to wave off the contest. It meant that Cash picked up the 17th win, and 11th knockout, of his career as he looks to move back up the ranks at 147 pounds.
Undefeated English southpaw Eliot Whale improved his perfect professional record to 14-0 with a fourth-round stoppage of compatriot Tom Hill. Whale took a couple of rounds to get going, but after taking a look at Hill over the first six minutes, Whale really started to find his groove as he outboxed Hill through the third, then stopped his man in the fourth when the referee intervened to spare Hill any unnecessary punishment.
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Mielnicki wins in New Jersey |
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Vito Mielnicki W10 Omar Huerta... Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (23-1, 13 KOs) of Roseland, New Jersey, won a unanimous ten-round decision while dominating formerly undefeated Omar Huerta (15-1-1, 13 KOs) of San Ysidro, California. Fighting in the main event at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and broadcast live on ProBoxTV, Mielnicki showed the maturity and technical improvements from his relationship with super-trainer Ronnie Shields, while dismantling the brave but outclassed Huerta. Mielnicki used his confident, slashing fists to control the action and cruise to scores of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91 while enjoying a 175-60 edge in power punchers over the 10 rounds.
Yan Marcos W10 Dwyke Flemmings... In the night’s co-feature, Cuban junior middleweight Yan Marcos (15-0, 10 KOs) won a close split decision over formerly undefeated local favorite Dwyke Flemmings Jr. (11-1, 10 KOs) of Paterson, NJ. Marcos dropped Flemmings with a big left hand in round four. Flemmings returned the favor, dropping Marcos with a strong right hand along the ropes in round five. Flemmings had a good round nine, landing a series of three strong right hands, but it was not enough to overcome the slightly better work in most of the rounds by the elusive Marcos. A score of 97-91 Marcos and 96-92 Flemmings was overcome by a deciding 96-92 score for Marcos.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Dominican junior welterweight Heidan “Sugar” Martinez (18-0, 17 KOs) went the distance for the first time in career with a dominant unanimous 10-round decision over Philadelphia’s Daiyaan “Badshah” Butt (20-4, 10 KOs).vMaking his United States fighting debut, the dominant Martinez never found the switch-flipping KO shot he is known for until a wicked Martinez uppercut shook Butt to his heels with about 30 seconds remaining in round ten. The scores were 100-90 (twice) and 99-91.
Power-punching light heavyweight Arjan Iseni (6-0, 5 KOs) of Staten Island, New York put in a mature performance in scoring a “closer than the cards” six-round decision over Christian Figueroa (2-1, 2 KOs) of Galloway, NJ. The two 175-lb fighters showed their mettle in this one, as both fought well with obviously high levels of schooling and technique, however Figueroa maintained enough advantage to take the W by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 (twice).
In the televised opener, lightweight Michael Harris (5-0, 1 KO) of Trenton, NY, showed his advantage in conditioning while winning a high-level four-round majority decision over La’Vay Lawrence (4-3, 3 KOs) of Washington, DC. In a good scrap that could have gone either way, both men had their moments, however, Harris came on strong in the later rounds of the entertaining matchup. The scores were 38-38, overruled by two scores of 39-37 for Harris.
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Mielnicki wins in New Jersey
Vito Mielnicki W10 Omar Huerta... Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (23-1, 13 KOs) of Roseland, New Jersey, won a unanimous ten-round decision while dominating formerly undefeated Omar Huerta (15-1-1, 13 KOs) of San Ysidro, California. Fighting in the main event at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and broadcast live on ProBoxTV, Mielnicki showed the maturity and technical improvements from his relationship with super-trainer Ronnie Shields, while dismantling the brave but outclassed Huerta. Mielnicki used his confident, slashing fists to control the action and cruise to scores of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91 while enjoying a 175-60 edge in power punchers over the 10 rounds.
Yan Marcos W10 Dwyke Flemmings... In the night’s co-feature, Cuban junior middleweight Yan Marcos (15-0, 10 KOs) won a close split decision over formerly undefeated local favorite Dwyke Flemmings Jr. (11-1, 10 KOs) of Paterson, NJ. Marcos dropped Flemmings with a big left hand in round four. Flemmings returned the favor, dropping Marcos with a strong right hand along the ropes in round five. Flemmings had a good round nine, landing a series of three strong right hands, but it was not enough to overcome the slightly better work in most of the rounds by the elusive Marcos. A score of 97-91 Marcos and 96-92 Flemmings was overcome by a deciding 96-92 score for Marcos.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Dominican junior welterweight Heidan “Sugar” Martinez (18-0, 17 KOs) went the distance for the first time in career with a dominant unanimous 10-round decision over Philadelphia’s Daiyaan “Badshah” Butt (20-4, 10 KOs).vMaking his United States fighting debut, the dominant Martinez never found the switch-flipping KO shot he is known for until a wicked Martinez uppercut shook Butt to his heels with about 30 seconds remaining in round ten. The scores were 100-90 (twice) and 99-91.
Power-punching light heavyweight Arjan Iseni (6-0, 5 KOs) of Staten Island, New York put in a mature performance in scoring a “closer than the cards” six-round decision over Christian Figueroa (2-1, 2 KOs) of Galloway, NJ. The two 175-lb fighters showed their mettle in this one, as both fought well with obviously high levels of schooling and technique, however Figueroa maintained enough advantage to take the W by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 (twice).
In the televised opener, lightweight Michael Harris (5-0, 1 KO) of Trenton, NY, showed his advantage in conditioning while winning a high-level four-round majority decision over La’Vay Lawrence (4-3, 3 KOs) of Washington, DC. In a good scrap that could have gone either way, both men had their moments, however, Harris came on strong in the later rounds of the entertaining matchup. The scores were 38-38, overruled by two scores of 39-37 for Harris.
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Brazil's Conceicao survives knockdown to remain undefeated |
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Hebert Conceicao Sousa W10 Johan Gonzalez... Brazilian middleweight Hebert Conceicao Sousa (11-0, 5 KOs) survived a scare to outpoint dangerous puncher Johan “The Chelo Manotas” Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) of Las Vegas via Venezuela, by unanimous decision. Fighting in the ten-round main event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Gonzalez dropped 2021 Olympic gold medalist Conceicao with a big right hand for a flash knockdown, midway through round three. Gonzalez, however, failed to capitalize on his punching-power advantage the rest of the way. To his credit, Conceicao righted the ship, made adjustments and never really struggled again while winning by the scores of 96-93 on two cards and 95-94 on the third in a world-class game of cat and mouse. The show was presented by ProBoxTV and Rising Star Promotions.
Francisco Veron W10 Raul Garcia... In the night’s co-feature, Francisco “Bebu” Daniel Veron (17-1-1, 10 KOs) of Buenos Aires, scored a unanimous ten-round decision over Raul Garcia (15-3-1, 12 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. A chippy junior middleweight encounter between rock-solid veterans, Veron’s faster hands and feet forced Garcia out of his game plan repeatedly, round after round, giving him a slight advantage in a well-fought battle. The taller Veron had too many offensive weapons for the cruder but always game Garcia, who never stopped trying. Garcia hurt Veron in round nine and had a strong round ten, but Veron managed to stay cool, and hinder Garcia’s follow-up, to coast to a unanimous decision win by scores of 97-93 and 98-92 (twice).
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
In a ten-round junior lighweight bout, William Foster III (19-3, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Connecticut, and Joshafat Ortiz (13-3, 6 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania, fought to a bloody “no contest” after three competitive rounds. Spoiling a good matchup, both men were cut by an accidental headbutt in round two, heating up the temperature of the fight temporarily until the ringside physician advised referee Earl Brown to rule a No Contest after round three, due to both fighters’ wounds and four full rounds not having been completed.
Bantamweight Emmanuel Chance (4-0, 1 KO) of East Orange, New Jersey, won a razor-thin, six-round split decision over Angel Munoz (3-3, 2 KOs) of Baldwin Park, California. The quick-fisted southpaw Chance was seemingly in total control early on, dropping Munoz with a straight left midway through round two, however, it was the determined Munoz who came back strong later in the round.
The rejuvenated Munoz came out firing in round three, landing several eye-catching lead right hands on a tiring Chance and continued his comeback momentum in rounds four and five. Munoz then poured it on in round six, notably staggering an exhausted Chance with an uppercut. Despite a 106-85 advantage in punches landed, the judges scored it 58-56 Munoz, overruled by two scores of 57-56 for Chance. Without the knockdown, the fight would have been a draw.
In a six-round super middleweight prelim, Erick Kedar Gainous (9-0, 6 KOs) of Detroit scored a third-round TKO over Alejandro Ibarra (8-4, 2 KOs) of Denver. After a one-sided first round, Kedar Gainous rocked Ibarra to the soles of his shoes with a right uppercut early in round two, cutting him between the eyes.
Smelling blood, Kedar Gainous moved in and pummeled his iron-chinned foe for the remainder of the round. Ibarra’s brave cornermen decided to send their battered fighter out for round three, only to see him take an extended two-fisted pasting until Referee Richard Gonzalez finally waved it off at 2:48.
In the televised opener, hometown featherweight Keith “Tsunami” Colon (10-0, 10 KOs) scored an impressive first-round TKO over Luis “Chacal” Almendarez Morales (8-5-1, 3 KOs) of Tijuana. After dominating the first two minutes, Colon dropped the overmatched Almendarez Morales with a right hand with 30 seconds to go in the opening round. Referee Richard Gonzalez began counting but quickly decided no further action needed to be taken. The official time was 2:38 of the opener.
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Brazil's Conceicao survives knockdown to remain undefeated
Hebert Conceicao Sousa W10 Johan Gonzalez... Brazilian middleweight Hebert Conceicao Sousa (11-0, 5 KOs) survived a scare to outpoint dangerous puncher Johan “The Chelo Manotas” Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) of Las Vegas via Venezuela, by unanimous decision. Fighting in the ten-round main event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Gonzalez dropped 2021 Olympic gold medalist Conceicao with a big right hand for a flash knockdown, midway through round three. Gonzalez, however, failed to capitalize on his punching-power advantage the rest of the way. To his credit, Conceicao righted the ship, made adjustments and never really struggled again while winning by the scores of 96-93 on two cards and 95-94 on the third in a world-class game of cat and mouse. The show was presented by ProBoxTV and Rising Star Promotions.
Francisco Veron W10 Raul Garcia... In the night’s co-feature, Francisco “Bebu” Daniel Veron (17-1-1, 10 KOs) of Buenos Aires, scored a unanimous ten-round decision over Raul Garcia (15-3-1, 12 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. A chippy junior middleweight encounter between rock-solid veterans, Veron’s faster hands and feet forced Garcia out of his game plan repeatedly, round after round, giving him a slight advantage in a well-fought battle. The taller Veron had too many offensive weapons for the cruder but always game Garcia, who never stopped trying. Garcia hurt Veron in round nine and had a strong round ten, but Veron managed to stay cool, and hinder Garcia’s follow-up, to coast to a unanimous decision win by scores of 97-93 and 98-92 (twice).
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
In a ten-round junior lighweight bout, William Foster III (19-3, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Connecticut, and Joshafat Ortiz (13-3, 6 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania, fought to a bloody “no contest” after three competitive rounds. Spoiling a good matchup, both men were cut by an accidental headbutt in round two, heating up the temperature of the fight temporarily until the ringside physician advised referee Earl Brown to rule a No Contest after round three, due to both fighters’ wounds and four full rounds not having been completed.
Bantamweight Emmanuel Chance (4-0, 1 KO) of East Orange, New Jersey, won a razor-thin, six-round split decision over Angel Munoz (3-3, 2 KOs) of Baldwin Park, California. The quick-fisted southpaw Chance was seemingly in total control early on, dropping Munoz with a straight left midway through round two, however, it was the determined Munoz who came back strong later in the round.
The rejuvenated Munoz came out firing in round three, landing several eye-catching lead right hands on a tiring Chance and continued his comeback momentum in rounds four and five. Munoz then poured it on in round six, notably staggering an exhausted Chance with an uppercut. Despite a 106-85 advantage in punches landed, the judges scored it 58-56 Munoz, overruled by two scores of 57-56 for Chance. Without the knockdown, the fight would have been a draw.
In a six-round super middleweight prelim, Erick Kedar Gainous (9-0, 6 KOs) of Detroit scored a third-round TKO over Alejandro Ibarra (8-4, 2 KOs) of Denver. After a one-sided first round, Kedar Gainous rocked Ibarra to the soles of his shoes with a right uppercut early in round two, cutting him between the eyes.
Smelling blood, Kedar Gainous moved in and pummeled his iron-chinned foe for the remainder of the round. Ibarra’s brave cornermen decided to send their battered fighter out for round three, only to see him take an extended two-fisted pasting until Referee Richard Gonzalez finally waved it off at 2:48.
In the televised opener, hometown featherweight Keith “Tsunami” Colon (10-0, 10 KOs) scored an impressive first-round TKO over Luis “Chacal” Almendarez Morales (8-5-1, 3 KOs) of Tijuana. After dominating the first two minutes, Colon dropped the overmatched Almendarez Morales with a right hand with 30 seconds to go in the opening round. Referee Richard Gonzalez began counting but quickly decided no further action needed to be taken. The official time was 2:38 of the opener.
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Weigh-in report from London |
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Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov weighed in for Saturday's fight in London's Tottenham Hostspur Stadium. Fury was 267.9 pounds, down from the 281 he weighed for his last fight, a loss to reigning world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at the end of 2024. Fury will outweight Makhmudov by three pounds, as the Russian scaled in at 264.9. For the co-feature, which was contracted at a catchweight of 150 pounds, Conor Benn weighed 149.6, while former 140-pound champ Regis Prograis came in at 148.1.
Before the main card fighters step into the ring on Saturday in London, the preliminary bouts will get fight night started. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the prelims, what time they start, and who’s fighting. The prelims begin on Saturday, April 11th at 3:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. ET. The bouts will stream on Tudum. The preliminary lineup features a mix of international prospects and rising names across multiple weight classes:
Simon Zachenhuber vs. Pawel August;
Breyon Gorham vs. Eduardo Costa;
Mikie Tallon vs. Leonardo Blanc;
Felix Cash vs. Liam O’Hare;
Hector Lozano vs. Sultan Almohammed; and
Elliot Whale vs. Tom Hill.
The Fury vs. Makhmudov main card streams live globally on Netflix at 7:00 p.m. BST / 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 PM ET.
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Weigh-in report from London
Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov weighed in for Saturday's fight in London's Tottenham Hostspur Stadium. Fury was 267.9 pounds, down from the 281 he weighed for his last fight, a loss to reigning world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at the end of 2024. Fury will outweight Makhmudov by three pounds, as the Russian scaled in at 264.9. For the co-feature, which was contracted at a catchweight of 150 pounds, Conor Benn weighed 149.6, while former 140-pound champ Regis Prograis came in at 148.1.
Before the main card fighters step into the ring on Saturday in London, the preliminary bouts will get fight night started. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the prelims, what time they start, and who’s fighting. The prelims begin on Saturday, April 11th at 3:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. ET. The bouts will stream on Tudum. The preliminary lineup features a mix of international prospects and rising names across multiple weight classes:
Simon Zachenhuber vs. Pawel August;
Breyon Gorham vs. Eduardo Costa;
Mikie Tallon vs. Leonardo Blanc;
Felix Cash vs. Liam O’Hare;
Hector Lozano vs. Sultan Almohammed; and
Elliot Whale vs. Tom Hill.
The Fury vs. Makhmudov main card streams live globally on Netflix at 7:00 p.m. BST / 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 PM ET.
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Weigh-in report from Atlantic City, NJ |
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Here are the boxers' weights for Saturday's ProBox TV event at t Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey:
Vito Mielnicki Jr. 159.6 pounds vs. Omar Ulises Huerta 157.6;
Yan Marcos 154.6 vs. Dwyke Flemmings Jr. 153.6;
Heidan Martinez Morillo 139.7 vs. Daiyaan Butt 139.8;
Arjan Iseni 174.4 vs. Christian Figueroa 175;
Michael Harris 134.7 vs. La’Vay Lawrence 133.6;
Zahir Abdus Salaam 153.9 vs. Josue Silva 152.9;
Norman Neely 248.5 vs. Gabriel Garcia Perez 342.9; and
Muadh Abdus-Salaam 142.7 vs. Benji Gomez 142.2.
Venue: Adrian Phillips Theater;
TV: ProBoxTV 7:00 pm EST;
Promoters: Sampson Boxing and Paco Presents in partnership with Pro Box Promotions;
Matchmakers: Ramiro Hernandez, Daniel Rubin; and
Tickets: Available through Ticketmaster or at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Box Office (609-348-7512).
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Weigh-in report from Atlantic City, NJ
Here are the boxers' weights for Saturday's ProBox TV event at t Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey:
Vito Mielnicki Jr. 159.6 pounds vs. Omar Ulises Huerta 157.6;
Yan Marcos 154.6 vs. Dwyke Flemmings Jr. 153.6;
Heidan Martinez Morillo 139.7 vs. Daiyaan Butt 139.8;
Arjan Iseni 174.4 vs. Christian Figueroa 175;
Michael Harris 134.7 vs. La’Vay Lawrence 133.6;
Zahir Abdus Salaam 153.9 vs. Josue Silva 152.9;
Norman Neely 248.5 vs. Gabriel Garcia Perez 342.9; and
Muadh Abdus-Salaam 142.7 vs. Benji Gomez 142.2.
Venue: Adrian Phillips Theater;
TV: ProBoxTV 7:00 pm EST;
Promoters: Sampson Boxing and Paco Presents in partnership with Pro Box Promotions;
Matchmakers: Ramiro Hernandez, Daniel Rubin; and
Tickets: Available through Ticketmaster or at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Box Office (609-348-7512).
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Bare knuckle show today in Kazakhstan |
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IBA’s new bare knuckle boxing partnership with Nomad Fighting will officially debut on April 11th at Almaty Arena in the capital of Kazkhstan. Top Dog champion Shahobiddin Egamov is already known for his toughness and refusal to break under pressure. Egamov built his reputation the hard way — including a bout in which he kept going after losing teeth, and a title fight where both he and his opponent reportedly broke their hands yet continued trading for four rounds. Egamov still found a way to win, and that kind of grit makes any of his appearances a must-watch.
Former UFC fighter Zhalgas Zhumagulov brings major name value and genuine elite-level experience. He has shared the cage with top opposition, including Joshua Van and Manel Kape. He is also well known across the region as a former Fight Nights champion.
A title clash between Isa Tandovskiy Isaev and Vasif Abbasov adds even more weight to the card. Isaev is regarded as one of Russia’s top bare-knuckle fighters and has built a reputation around a brutal, aggressive style. He does not come to manage fights or slow them down — he comes to finish. That makes this matchup especially compelling, because when a fighter with that mentality is competing for a belt, fans know they are unlikely to get a cautious performance.
Aidos Zhaparbergenov and Asror Akparkhodjaev meet again after their first bout ended in a draw. Neither man truly accepted that result, with both believing they had done enough to win. That unresolved tension gives the rematch a natural storyline: this time there will be a chance to settle the argument properly and answer the question of who is really better.
Zhuman Zhumabekov will face Wanderlei Lewandowski in another compelling rematch. Their first meeting, held under MMA rules, ended with the Brazilian winning by submission. This time the contest shifts into a stand-up battle, and that changes the equation. In a striking fight, Zhumabekov may have the edge in experience, which gives this second meeting a completely different feel from the first and makes it one of the most intriguing bouts on the card.
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Bare knuckle show today in Kazakhstan
IBA’s new bare knuckle boxing partnership with Nomad Fighting will officially debut on April 11th at Almaty Arena in the capital of Kazkhstan. Top Dog champion Shahobiddin Egamov is already known for his toughness and refusal to break under pressure. Egamov built his reputation the hard way — including a bout in which he kept going after losing teeth, and a title fight where both he and his opponent reportedly broke their hands yet continued trading for four rounds. Egamov still found a way to win, and that kind of grit makes any of his appearances a must-watch.
Former UFC fighter Zhalgas Zhumagulov brings major name value and genuine elite-level experience. He has shared the cage with top opposition, including Joshua Van and Manel Kape. He is also well known across the region as a former Fight Nights champion.
A title clash between Isa Tandovskiy Isaev and Vasif Abbasov adds even more weight to the card. Isaev is regarded as one of Russia’s top bare-knuckle fighters and has built a reputation around a brutal, aggressive style. He does not come to manage fights or slow them down — he comes to finish. That makes this matchup especially compelling, because when a fighter with that mentality is competing for a belt, fans know they are unlikely to get a cautious performance.
Aidos Zhaparbergenov and Asror Akparkhodjaev meet again after their first bout ended in a draw. Neither man truly accepted that result, with both believing they had done enough to win. That unresolved tension gives the rematch a natural storyline: this time there will be a chance to settle the argument properly and answer the question of who is really better.
Zhuman Zhumabekov will face Wanderlei Lewandowski in another compelling rematch. Their first meeting, held under MMA rules, ended with the Brazilian winning by submission. This time the contest shifts into a stand-up battle, and that changes the equation. In a striking fight, Zhumabekov may have the edge in experience, which gives this second meeting a completely different feel from the first and makes it one of the most intriguing bouts on the card.
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New champion alert: Osleys Iglesisas |
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Osleys Iglesias TKO8 Pavel Silyagin... In Montreal, Cuban-born Osleys Iglesias destroyed Russia's Pavel Silyagin to win the vacant IBF super middleweight championship. Fighting in his adopted hometown, Iglesias (17-1 including World Series of Boxing paid bouts) hurt Silyagin in round one with a punch that caused Silyagin's right eye to swell and his legs to wobble. Silyagin is a skilled operator and was able to survive rounds by fighting cautiously, but Iglesias fought at such a high level that there was barely a round to give to the Russian. The end came after eight one-sided rounds when Silyagin retired in his corner. Silyagin's record falls to 18-2-1 including IBA Pro and World Series of Boxing paid bouts
The IBF super middleweight title most recently belonged to the diviison's true world champion, Terence Crawford, but "Bud" retired after conquering Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Iglesias is also the IBO super middleweight champion.
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New champion alert: Osleys Iglesisas
Osleys Iglesias TKO8 Pavel Silyagin... In Montreal, Cuban-born Osleys Iglesias destroyed Russia's Pavel Silyagin to win the vacant IBF super middleweight championship. Fighting in his adopted hometown, Iglesias (17-1 including World Series of Boxing paid bouts) hurt Silyagin in round one with a punch that caused Silyagin's right eye to swell and his legs to wobble. Silyagin is a skilled operator and was able to survive rounds by fighting cautiously, but Iglesias fought at such a high level that there was barely a round to give to the Russian. The end came after eight one-sided rounds when Silyagin retired in his corner. Silyagin's record falls to 18-2-1 including IBA Pro and World Series of Boxing paid bouts
The IBF super middleweight title most recently belonged to the diviison's true world champion, Terence Crawford, but "Bud" retired after conquering Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Iglesias is also the IBO super middleweight champion.
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Benn talks about his big Netflix fight this Saturday |
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Conor Benn will be on familiar territory in North London on April 11th, and he plans to show the world just why he’s one of the biggest stars in British boxing. Benn, the son of former middleweight and super middleweight champion Nigel Benn, fought Chris Eubank Jr. – the son of Nigel’s big rival, Chris Eubank Sr .– in a two-fight series that captured the imagination of the UK’s sports-watching public. While Benn lost a thrilling first fight on the scorecards, he came storming back in the rematch to drop Eubank twice en route to a wide unanimous decision victory. Now a legitimate star in his homeland, “The Destroyer” is looking to take his talents international. Benn signed with Zuffa Boxing and will step out under the bright lights of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium once again as he faces off against former junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis in support of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov main event, a show which streams live globally on Netflix on Saturday, April 11th.
“Never in my life did I dream of being where I am now,” said Benn as he sat down with Zuffa Boxing ahead of fight night in London. “A third stadium show, back-to-back. Signed a mega-deal with Zuffa Boxing. Had the Fight of the Year last year, came back to claim victory over my arch-nemesis, the family feud, for a year (long) rivalry. At middleweight, and now dropping back down to 150 (pounds) to have my third stadium show within a year. I never thought I’d be in the position I’m in now. But, by God’s grace and His mercy, I’m here.”
Benn made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic when it was announced that he had signed a deal with Zuffa Boxing. It sparked plenty of comment and debate over the move, but while almost every talking head in the boxing media has offered their take on his situation, Benn remains clear that he’s made the right call, and he’s excited for what the future may hold. “It was definitely one of the best decisions I've made in my career to date,” he said. “It's a platform (and) profile that's planning to take over by storm, you know? To have Nick Khan and Dana White behind it, you’ve seen what they've done with combat sports already, so they're a force to be reckoned with. And I'm glad that I get to be a part of it.”
On April 11th, Benn will make the walk for his 26th career fight, almost 10 years to the day since his professional debut. That fight took place at another iconic London fight venue, The O2 Arena, but the 18,000-seat arena in London’s Docklands area is dwarfed by the 62,000-seat home of Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Few fighters have had the chance to get acclimated to the white-hot atmosphere generated by the passionate British boxing fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Benn has headlined the state-of-the-art stadium twice in front of capacity crowds, and said it’s an experience like no other. “Yeah, it's insane,” he admitted. “The pressure is real. You want to do the best you can, and it makes you work so hard to be the best version of yourself so that, come fight night, you know you've done everything you possibly can to claim victory.”
Benn knows what it takes to deliver exciting fights. As someone who has yet to challenge for a world title, Benn is still discovering his ceiling as a fighter, but while he hasn’t yet reached his fighting potential, Benn has fully discovered and embraced his personality as a fighter. “In the ring, I like to destroy and destruct, and cause pain,” he said. “Ultimately, I'm in there for that exact reason. I want to go in there and give people value for money and give them entertainment. That's what this game's about. And I've done it … this will be the 26th time, I believe, where I've gone in there and put it all on the line. I fight with my heart on my sleeve, and for me, that's good enough. It's just giving the public what they want. I'd rather lose an exciting fight than win a boring fight, because then it's like, did you even really win, though? For me, it's just about giving the public what they want to see.”
While much has been said and written about Benn’s career trajectory and the moves he’s made, he’s remained steadfast in his approach, and that’s to deliver value for money every time he steps through the ropes. Now he gets the opportunity to do so on the biggest platform of his career so far. “Listen, I just want to carry on doing what I'm doing. It's just on a bigger scale,” he stated.
“Netflix is a great audience, 300 million subscribers, you know? So for me, it's just a matter of giving them value for money and sheer entertainment. And ultimately, throughout my career, win, lose, or draw, people go, ‘Do you know what? I want to watch Conor Benn fight again.’
“The fight with Eubank, Fight of the Year, up at middleweight, jumping up two weights, I gave people Fight of the Year, and gave people value for money. That's what this game is about – it's about entertainment. So many fighters now are worried about losing their 0, or just staying undefeated, so they'd rather just win a fight. I'm in there for a fight.”
Which begs the question: Will Prograis be the man to give him that fight? “I believe so. I believe he will be a test, for as long as it lasts,” said Benn. “But I believe I get him out of there. I want an early night Saturday night.”
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Benn talks about his big Netflix fight this Saturday
Conor Benn will be on familiar territory in North London on April 11th, and he plans to show the world just why he’s one of the biggest stars in British boxing. Benn, the son of former middleweight and super middleweight champion Nigel Benn, fought Chris Eubank Jr. – the son of Nigel’s big rival, Chris Eubank Sr .– in a two-fight series that captured the imagination of the UK’s sports-watching public. While Benn lost a thrilling first fight on the scorecards, he came storming back in the rematch to drop Eubank twice en route to a wide unanimous decision victory. Now a legitimate star in his homeland, “The Destroyer” is looking to take his talents international. Benn signed with Zuffa Boxing and will step out under the bright lights of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium once again as he faces off against former junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis in support of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov main event, a show which streams live globally on Netflix on Saturday, April 11th.
“Never in my life did I dream of being where I am now,” said Benn as he sat down with Zuffa Boxing ahead of fight night in London. “A third stadium show, back-to-back. Signed a mega-deal with Zuffa Boxing. Had the Fight of the Year last year, came back to claim victory over my arch-nemesis, the family feud, for a year (long) rivalry. At middleweight, and now dropping back down to 150 (pounds) to have my third stadium show within a year. I never thought I’d be in the position I’m in now. But, by God’s grace and His mercy, I’m here.”
Benn made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic when it was announced that he had signed a deal with Zuffa Boxing. It sparked plenty of comment and debate over the move, but while almost every talking head in the boxing media has offered their take on his situation, Benn remains clear that he’s made the right call, and he’s excited for what the future may hold. “It was definitely one of the best decisions I've made in my career to date,” he said. “It's a platform (and) profile that's planning to take over by storm, you know? To have Nick Khan and Dana White behind it, you’ve seen what they've done with combat sports already, so they're a force to be reckoned with. And I'm glad that I get to be a part of it.”
On April 11th, Benn will make the walk for his 26th career fight, almost 10 years to the day since his professional debut. That fight took place at another iconic London fight venue, The O2 Arena, but the 18,000-seat arena in London’s Docklands area is dwarfed by the 62,000-seat home of Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Few fighters have had the chance to get acclimated to the white-hot atmosphere generated by the passionate British boxing fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Benn has headlined the state-of-the-art stadium twice in front of capacity crowds, and said it’s an experience like no other. “Yeah, it's insane,” he admitted. “The pressure is real. You want to do the best you can, and it makes you work so hard to be the best version of yourself so that, come fight night, you know you've done everything you possibly can to claim victory.”
Benn knows what it takes to deliver exciting fights. As someone who has yet to challenge for a world title, Benn is still discovering his ceiling as a fighter, but while he hasn’t yet reached his fighting potential, Benn has fully discovered and embraced his personality as a fighter. “In the ring, I like to destroy and destruct, and cause pain,” he said. “Ultimately, I'm in there for that exact reason. I want to go in there and give people value for money and give them entertainment. That's what this game's about. And I've done it … this will be the 26th time, I believe, where I've gone in there and put it all on the line. I fight with my heart on my sleeve, and for me, that's good enough. It's just giving the public what they want. I'd rather lose an exciting fight than win a boring fight, because then it's like, did you even really win, though? For me, it's just about giving the public what they want to see.”
While much has been said and written about Benn’s career trajectory and the moves he’s made, he’s remained steadfast in his approach, and that’s to deliver value for money every time he steps through the ropes. Now he gets the opportunity to do so on the biggest platform of his career so far. “Listen, I just want to carry on doing what I'm doing. It's just on a bigger scale,” he stated.
“Netflix is a great audience, 300 million subscribers, you know? So for me, it's just a matter of giving them value for money and sheer entertainment. And ultimately, throughout my career, win, lose, or draw, people go, ‘Do you know what? I want to watch Conor Benn fight again.’
“The fight with Eubank, Fight of the Year, up at middleweight, jumping up two weights, I gave people Fight of the Year, and gave people value for money. That's what this game is about – it's about entertainment. So many fighters now are worried about losing their 0, or just staying undefeated, so they'd rather just win a fight. I'm in there for a fight.”
Which begs the question: Will Prograis be the man to give him that fight? “I believe so. I believe he will be a test, for as long as it lasts,” said Benn. “But I believe I get him out of there. I want an early night Saturday night.”
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Weigh-in report from Newark, NJ |
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Here are the boxers' weights for Friday's show at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey:
Hebert Conceicao Sousa 163.5 pounds vs. Johan Gonzalez 163.5;
Francisco Daniel Veron 153.5 vs. Raul Garcia 153.5;
William Foster III 130 vs. Joshafat Ortiz 130;
Gabriel Gerena 142.5 vs. Rani Jalomo 139; and
Emmanuel Chance 118.5 vs. Angel Munoz 118.
The show will be aired on ProBoxTV at 8:00 pm EST
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Weigh-in report from Newark, NJ
Here are the boxers' weights for Friday's show at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey:
Hebert Conceicao Sousa 163.5 pounds vs. Johan Gonzalez 163.5;
Francisco Daniel Veron 153.5 vs. Raul Garcia 153.5;
William Foster III 130 vs. Joshafat Ortiz 130;
Gabriel Gerena 142.5 vs. Rani Jalomo 139; and
Emmanuel Chance 118.5 vs. Angel Munoz 118.
The show will be aired on ProBoxTV at 8:00 pm EST
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RDR Promotions books Prudential Center show for June 6th |
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RDR Promotions will stage its first show at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, June 6th. Among the bouts announced so far, Newark’s own Michael “Slick” Anderson (25-4-1, 19 KOs) will meet Nimal Farmer (6-1-2, 4 KOs) of Lindenwold, NJ in an eight-round welterweight fight. Anderson is coming off a third-round stoppage win over Tackie Annan in November and always brings large crowds, especially when he’s fighting at home. He will face the tough as nails Farmer, who is looking to rebound from his first ever defeat. “RDR Promotions is extremely proud to have been welcomed into the Newark boxing community,” said Rodney Rice, president of RDR Promotions. “We plan to not only provide a consistent platform for local fighters, but vow to be an invaluable resource to the community.”
The card will also feature a number of competitively matched fights between prospects from across the area. In a six-round lightweight bout, Philadelphia's Rashan Adams (11-1, 6 KOs) will meet Camden, JJ's Naheem Parker (6-4, 2 KOs). Adams has won his last six bouts and will be facing a crafty boxer-puncher who has shown he can upset the odds, having handed previously unbeaten boxers Raekwon Butler and Justin Palmieri their first defeats.
Junior welterweights will put it all on the line when Juan Rivera V (9-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia meets Demarius Driver (12-1, 7 KOs) of Nashville. It will be the first ten-round fight for Rivera, who has kept a busy schedule since turning professional two years ago. Driver, a pro since 2017, is seeking to redeem himself after suffering his first loss in his most recent bout.
In another "crossroads" bout, Vladimir Dalton (2-0) of nearby Elizabeth, NJ will meet fellow unbeaten fighter Ibrahima Fofana (2-0, 2 KOs) of The Bronx, New York in a four-round cruiserweight fight. Dalton, a 2017 National Golden Gloves silver medalist, last fought in March, defeating the previously unbeaten Shakeem Williams by decision, while Fofana, a native of Senegal, scored knockouts in his two pro fights last year.
New York and Jersey City will collide in a four-round middleweight fight as Famous Wilson (4-0, 2 KOs) of Brentwood, Long Island faces Bernard Gardner (1-1, 1 KO) in a matchup of former amateur standouts. This won’t be the first time the two have met, with Wilson having won a decision over the man now known as Rex Presidential in the 2019 National Golden Gloves. The fight will be Wilson’s first in two years while Gardner, a southpaw, will look to bounce back from his first defeat last December.
The main event has not yet been announced but Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs), who now lives in New Jersey, will face an opponent to be named in an eight-round fight. Prenga has become one of the most popular fighters in the state since making his United States debut in 2022. He has won his last three fights by first round knockout thanks in large part to possessing one of the hardest right hands in the sport. Now, Prenga takes his next step towards heavyweight contention, with a big win expected to move him into the next tier of the division.
Tickets are available for purchase now at www.ticketmaster.com and www.prucenter.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight set for 6:30 p.m.
Also in action, brothers Muadh Abdus-Salaam (3-0, 1 KO) and Zahir Abdus-Salaam (2-0, 1 KO), both of Newark, will fight in separate bouts. The Abdus-Salaam brothers were recently commended by the city of Newark for their accomplishments as student athletes, with Muadh having played defensive back for the Delaware State University Hornets football team and Zahir having been a running back for the Western Michigan University Broncos. Also commended at that ceremony were fellow Newark natives Anthony Johns (11-1, 6 KOs) and Yoell “Boy Boy” Cooper, who will also be in action on the card in separate bouts.
In addition, John Gjini (16-0, 15 KOs) of Greenwich, Connecticut will compete in an eight-round featherweight fight, while junior lightweight Alexander Collado of North Bergen, N.J. will look to secure his first win as a professional in a four-round bout.
“We are thrilled to welcome RDR Promotions’ marquee professional boxing event entitled ‘Crossroads in Brick City’ to Prudential Center for the first time,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President, Sports Properties and Special Events, Prudential Center. “With a world-class fighter like Kristian Prenga headlining plus a stacked lineup of rising talent from throughout the Northeast, fans are in for an unforgettable night. This event marks an exciting step in showcasing top-level boxing in New Jersey and solidifying Prudential Center as a premier destination for combat sports.”
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RDR Promotions books Prudential Center show for June 6th
RDR Promotions will stage its first show at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, June 6th. Among the bouts announced so far, Newark’s own Michael “Slick” Anderson (25-4-1, 19 KOs) will meet Nimal Farmer (6-1-2, 4 KOs) of Lindenwold, NJ in an eight-round welterweight fight. Anderson is coming off a third-round stoppage win over Tackie Annan in November and always brings large crowds, especially when he’s fighting at home. He will face the tough as nails Farmer, who is looking to rebound from his first ever defeat. “RDR Promotions is extremely proud to have been welcomed into the Newark boxing community,” said Rodney Rice, president of RDR Promotions. “We plan to not only provide a consistent platform for local fighters, but vow to be an invaluable resource to the community.”
The card will also feature a number of competitively matched fights between prospects from across the area. In a six-round lightweight bout, Philadelphia's Rashan Adams (11-1, 6 KOs) will meet Camden, JJ's Naheem Parker (6-4, 2 KOs). Adams has won his last six bouts and will be facing a crafty boxer-puncher who has shown he can upset the odds, having handed previously unbeaten boxers Raekwon Butler and Justin Palmieri their first defeats.
Junior welterweights will put it all on the line when Juan Rivera V (9-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia meets Demarius Driver (12-1, 7 KOs) of Nashville. It will be the first ten-round fight for Rivera, who has kept a busy schedule since turning professional two years ago. Driver, a pro since 2017, is seeking to redeem himself after suffering his first loss in his most recent bout.
In another "crossroads" bout, Vladimir Dalton (2-0) of nearby Elizabeth, NJ will meet fellow unbeaten fighter Ibrahima Fofana (2-0, 2 KOs) of The Bronx, New York in a four-round cruiserweight fight. Dalton, a 2017 National Golden Gloves silver medalist, last fought in March, defeating the previously unbeaten Shakeem Williams by decision, while Fofana, a native of Senegal, scored knockouts in his two pro fights last year.
New York and Jersey City will collide in a four-round middleweight fight as Famous Wilson (4-0, 2 KOs) of Brentwood, Long Island faces Bernard Gardner (1-1, 1 KO) in a matchup of former amateur standouts. This won’t be the first time the two have met, with Wilson having won a decision over the man now known as Rex Presidential in the 2019 National Golden Gloves. The fight will be Wilson’s first in two years while Gardner, a southpaw, will look to bounce back from his first defeat last December.
The main event has not yet been announced but Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs), who now lives in New Jersey, will face an opponent to be named in an eight-round fight. Prenga has become one of the most popular fighters in the state since making his United States debut in 2022. He has won his last three fights by first round knockout thanks in large part to possessing one of the hardest right hands in the sport. Now, Prenga takes his next step towards heavyweight contention, with a big win expected to move him into the next tier of the division.
Tickets are available for purchase now at www.ticketmaster.com and www.prucenter.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight set for 6:30 p.m.
Also in action, brothers Muadh Abdus-Salaam (3-0, 1 KO) and Zahir Abdus-Salaam (2-0, 1 KO), both of Newark, will fight in separate bouts. The Abdus-Salaam brothers were recently commended by the city of Newark for their accomplishments as student athletes, with Muadh having played defensive back for the Delaware State University Hornets football team and Zahir having been a running back for the Western Michigan University Broncos. Also commended at that ceremony were fellow Newark natives Anthony Johns (11-1, 6 KOs) and Yoell “Boy Boy” Cooper, who will also be in action on the card in separate bouts.
In addition, John Gjini (16-0, 15 KOs) of Greenwich, Connecticut will compete in an eight-round featherweight fight, while junior lightweight Alexander Collado of North Bergen, N.J. will look to secure his first win as a professional in a four-round bout.
“We are thrilled to welcome RDR Promotions’ marquee professional boxing event entitled ‘Crossroads in Brick City’ to Prudential Center for the first time,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President, Sports Properties and Special Events, Prudential Center. “With a world-class fighter like Kristian Prenga headlining plus a stacked lineup of rising talent from throughout the Northeast, fans are in for an unforgettable night. This event marks an exciting step in showcasing top-level boxing in New Jersey and solidifying Prudential Center as a premier destination for combat sports.”
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Introducing 6'6" junior middleweight Jahvad McDermott |
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Wise Owl Boxing has announced the signing of junior middleweight Jahvad McDermott out of Los Angeles. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6, McDermott brings a rare blend of size, athleticism, and power to the 154-pound division. With physical dimensions comparable to reigning champion Sebastian Fundora, McDermott is expected to create serious problems for opponents throughout the same weight division. While officially listed as 1–0, McDermott has already competed in two professional bouts, with one victory yet to be reflected in official records.
“Jahvad is a force to be reckoned with,” said Mark Habibi, founder of Wise Owl Boxing. “He’s still very young in his boxing career, but his upside is tremendous. His size alone is going to give a lot of fighters in the division a very difficult time, and when you combine that with his power and athleticism, you’re looking at a future star.”
The signing of McDermott is the latest addition to Wise Owl's expanding roster. “We’re building something very special,” Habibi added. “Our stable has been growing rapidly, and we’ve assembled elite fighters across the board—world champions, Olympians, and future world champions. Jahvad fits right into that mix, and we’re excited to have him on board and begin developing him into a superstar.”
Despite being early in his professional journey, he has shown clear signs of his potential, combining natural physical advantages with strong athletic ability and developing ring skills.
With the backing of Wise Owl Boxing and a focused development plan, McDermott is expected to quickly emerge as one of the most intriguing rising fighters in his weight class. Wise Owl Boxing remains committed to identifying, developing, and elevating elite talent, and the addition of McDermott further strengthens its position.
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Introducing 6'6" junior middleweight Jahvad McDermott
Wise Owl Boxing has announced the signing of junior middleweight Jahvad McDermott out of Los Angeles. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6, McDermott brings a rare blend of size, athleticism, and power to the 154-pound division. With physical dimensions comparable to reigning champion Sebastian Fundora, McDermott is expected to create serious problems for opponents throughout the same weight division. While officially listed as 1–0, McDermott has already competed in two professional bouts, with one victory yet to be reflected in official records.
“Jahvad is a force to be reckoned with,” said Mark Habibi, founder of Wise Owl Boxing. “He’s still very young in his boxing career, but his upside is tremendous. His size alone is going to give a lot of fighters in the division a very difficult time, and when you combine that with his power and athleticism, you’re looking at a future star.”
The signing of McDermott is the latest addition to Wise Owl's expanding roster. “We’re building something very special,” Habibi added. “Our stable has been growing rapidly, and we’ve assembled elite fighters across the board—world champions, Olympians, and future world champions. Jahvad fits right into that mix, and we’re excited to have him on board and begin developing him into a superstar.”
Despite being early in his professional journey, he has shown clear signs of his potential, combining natural physical advantages with strong athletic ability and developing ring skills.
With the backing of Wise Owl Boxing and a focused development plan, McDermott is expected to quickly emerge as one of the most intriguing rising fighters in his weight class. Wise Owl Boxing remains committed to identifying, developing, and elevating elite talent, and the addition of McDermott further strengthens its position.
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Lamont Peterson hosts Adrian Clark on Boxed Out podcast |
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Fighters First Management CEO Adrian Clark joined retired champion Lamont Peterson (pictured) on the new episode of Peterson’s “Boxed Out” podcast for an all-encompassing conversation on the duo’s experience with the business of boxing, including Clark’s managerial philosophy and Peterson’s new role advising young fighters about to enter the sport. The episode premieres on the Lamont Peterson YouTube Channel starting on Tuesday, April 14th. It begins with Clark recounting how he first became interested in the business side of boxing after a knockout defeat during his amateur boxing career and how it eventually led him to write his popular book on boxing management, Protect Yourself at All Times
“I sat there after and was thinking, if it’s like this for an amateur fighter, I can only imagine how bad it is for a professional,” said Clark, who celebrates the 10-year anniversary of his book this summer. “Then I was able to see it for myself. Not only are the contracts bad, but you go in there and get your head rattled. You’re not necessarily doing it for peanuts, but it’s the hard percentages. 10% here, 33% there, another 5%, then after taxes, you’re really making no bread.
“I thought about it from a young manager’s perspective and I decided that I could just talk about how bad things are, or I could do something about it. That’s how Protect Yourself at All Times came into fruition.”
When discussing the current landscape of the boxing business, Clark implores to Peterson, and the audience, that boxers need to begin thinking about themselves beyond just what they do in the ring long before it’s time to realize their professional dreams. “A boxer should understand that he or she is a business in the amateurs,” said Clark. “The programming should start in the amateurs, so when you turn pro, you already understand that you’re a business owner, instead of realizing it the first day on the job…The worst mistake they make is giving up their business and letting someone else run it for them.”
A former 140-pound world champion who also held a secondary title at 147, Peterson built on Clark’s ideas with his own view from a former fighter’s perspective and share his belief that the time has come for collective action to protect fighters from some of the businesses predatory practices. “It’s time to reevaluate what’s going on with these contracts,” said Peterson. “I know that everyone is just doing what’s been being done. Everyone is comfortable with it. These young kids coming up, who might look up to me, they feel more comfortable signing that contract, because they know Lamont signed it. There needs to be a collective sit down. We need a new baseline. All the rights are in favor of the person who structured the contract.”
The episode continues with a deep dive into contract percentages and specifics that are atypical of most conversations about the sport. With the combined perspective of a fighter who’s seen it all, and a manager at the forefront of boxing, the episode lays out many of the behind the scenes dealings often shielded from fight fans.
In the end, Clark re-emphasizes the importance of young fighters finding education, and points out that his Protect Yourself at All Times book offers one of the rare blueprints in wide circulation that is specifically tailored for boxers. “I don’t believe morality has ever been in the sport of boxing, nor do I think it ever will,” said Clark. “We can’t expect the managers and promoters to turn over a new leaf and become this ethical individual when it comes to business and contracts. Your responsibility as a fighter is to tap into whatever educational piece you have available to you, including Protect Yourself at All Times, to prepare you for this business.
“The sport’s been around for a century, name me another educational system or entity besides Protect Yourself at All Times that’s strictly for professional boxing that can help fighters from being taken advantage of?”
Catch the full conversation this Tuesday on YouTube and subscribe for more episode of Boxed Out, plus stay tuned for more information on Clark and his stable of Fighters First Management stars in the near future.
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Lamont Peterson hosts Adrian Clark on Boxed Out podcast
Fighters First Management CEO Adrian Clark joined retired champion Lamont Peterson (pictured) on the new episode of Peterson’s “Boxed Out” podcast for an all-encompassing conversation on the duo’s experience with the business of boxing, including Clark’s managerial philosophy and Peterson’s new role advising young fighters about to enter the sport. The episode premieres on the Lamont Peterson YouTube Channel starting on Tuesday, April 14th. It begins with Clark recounting how he first became interested in the business side of boxing after a knockout defeat during his amateur boxing career and how it eventually led him to write his popular book on boxing management, Protect Yourself at All Times
“I sat there after and was thinking, if it’s like this for an amateur fighter, I can only imagine how bad it is for a professional,” said Clark, who celebrates the 10-year anniversary of his book this summer. “Then I was able to see it for myself. Not only are the contracts bad, but you go in there and get your head rattled. You’re not necessarily doing it for peanuts, but it’s the hard percentages. 10% here, 33% there, another 5%, then after taxes, you’re really making no bread.
“I thought about it from a young manager’s perspective and I decided that I could just talk about how bad things are, or I could do something about it. That’s how Protect Yourself at All Times came into fruition.”
When discussing the current landscape of the boxing business, Clark implores to Peterson, and the audience, that boxers need to begin thinking about themselves beyond just what they do in the ring long before it’s time to realize their professional dreams. “A boxer should understand that he or she is a business in the amateurs,” said Clark. “The programming should start in the amateurs, so when you turn pro, you already understand that you’re a business owner, instead of realizing it the first day on the job…The worst mistake they make is giving up their business and letting someone else run it for them.”
A former 140-pound world champion who also held a secondary title at 147, Peterson built on Clark’s ideas with his own view from a former fighter’s perspective and share his belief that the time has come for collective action to protect fighters from some of the businesses predatory practices. “It’s time to reevaluate what’s going on with these contracts,” said Peterson. “I know that everyone is just doing what’s been being done. Everyone is comfortable with it. These young kids coming up, who might look up to me, they feel more comfortable signing that contract, because they know Lamont signed it. There needs to be a collective sit down. We need a new baseline. All the rights are in favor of the person who structured the contract.”
The episode continues with a deep dive into contract percentages and specifics that are atypical of most conversations about the sport. With the combined perspective of a fighter who’s seen it all, and a manager at the forefront of boxing, the episode lays out many of the behind the scenes dealings often shielded from fight fans.
In the end, Clark re-emphasizes the importance of young fighters finding education, and points out that his Protect Yourself at All Times book offers one of the rare blueprints in wide circulation that is specifically tailored for boxers. “I don’t believe morality has ever been in the sport of boxing, nor do I think it ever will,” said Clark. “We can’t expect the managers and promoters to turn over a new leaf and become this ethical individual when it comes to business and contracts. Your responsibility as a fighter is to tap into whatever educational piece you have available to you, including Protect Yourself at All Times, to prepare you for this business.
“The sport’s been around for a century, name me another educational system or entity besides Protect Yourself at All Times that’s strictly for professional boxing that can help fighters from being taken advantage of?”
Catch the full conversation this Tuesday on YouTube and subscribe for more episode of Boxed Out, plus stay tuned for more information on Clark and his stable of Fighters First Management stars in the near future.
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IBF orders purse bid for Hitchins vs. Delgado |
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One day after IBF junior welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins announced he had signed a promotional agreement with Zuffa Boxing, the IBF ordered a purse bid for Hitchins' mandatory defense against undefeated Lindolfo Delgado. Hitchins' last fight was back in June when he stopped former lightweight world champion George Kambosos, so his mandatory defense is due under IBF rules. But these dealings should generate close scrutiny given the developing feud between the IBF and Zuffa. Hitchins is the second reigning champion to sign with Zuffa, following now-former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Optetaia. Shortly after Opetaia signed with Zuffa, the IBF stripped him of his championship title over a dispute between the IBF and Zuffa, even though Opetaia had not done anything wrong.
Prior to Hitchins signing with Zuffa, on February 23rd, the IBF had already ordered him to begin negotiating with Delgado. An agreement wasreached within the timeframe set forth by the IBF, so the sanctioning body has scheduled a purse bid for April 21st.
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IBF orders purse bid for Hitchins vs. Delgado
One day after IBF junior welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins announced he had signed a promotional agreement with Zuffa Boxing, the IBF ordered a purse bid for Hitchins' mandatory defense against undefeated Lindolfo Delgado. Hitchins' last fight was back in June when he stopped former lightweight world champion George Kambosos, so his mandatory defense is due under IBF rules. But these dealings should generate close scrutiny given the developing feud between the IBF and Zuffa. Hitchins is the second reigning champion to sign with Zuffa, following now-former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Optetaia. Shortly after Opetaia signed with Zuffa, the IBF stripped him of his championship title over a dispute between the IBF and Zuffa, even though Opetaia had not done anything wrong.
Prior to Hitchins signing with Zuffa, on February 23rd, the IBF had already ordered him to begin negotiating with Delgado. An agreement wasreached within the timeframe set forth by the IBF, so the sanctioning body has scheduled a purse bid for April 21st.
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Boxxer responds to Bakole tweet |
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Boxxer, the British promotional company, and its principal, Ben Shalom, have responded to heavyweight Martin Bakole: "Boxxer would like to respond to recent public comments made by Martin Bakole. [He] remains under contract with Boxxer. Throughout our promotional agreement, we have enjoyed a good relationship, delivering major fights and securing career high purses for him. We continue to work to secure the best possible opportunities for Martin, including a number of high-profile fights over the past twelve months, which he has either been unavailable for or declined. It is therefore disappointing to see these claims made publicly, and as a result of third-party interference intended to cause damage. Boxxer remains fully committed to getting Martin back in the ring when he is next available to compete at the highest level." Social media post from heavyweight Martin Bakole: "For everybody asking what is happening with me. I am ready to fight anytime but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he is doing it. He has been earning money from me for years and years and has kept me tied up in a contract. My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him is finished. I try to move on and he sends crazy emails to everyone blocking me from fighting and earning a living. He is trying to scare me saying he will sue everyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I am ready to fight but I will not pay that man another cent." Bakole (21-2-1) has been inactive for eleven months since a draw with Efe Ajagba.
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Boxxer responds to Bakole tweet
Boxxer, the British promotional company, and its principal, Ben Shalom, have responded to heavyweight Martin Bakole: "Boxxer would like to respond to recent public comments made by Martin Bakole. [He] remains under contract with Boxxer. Throughout our promotional agreement, we have enjoyed a good relationship, delivering major fights and securing career high purses for him. We continue to work to secure the best possible opportunities for Martin, including a number of high-profile fights over the past twelve months, which he has either been unavailable for or declined. It is therefore disappointing to see these claims made publicly, and as a result of third-party interference intended to cause damage. Boxxer remains fully committed to getting Martin back in the ring when he is next available to compete at the highest level." Social media post from heavyweight Martin Bakole: "For everybody asking what is happening with me. I am ready to fight anytime but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he is doing it. He has been earning money from me for years and years and has kept me tied up in a contract. My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him is finished. I try to move on and he sends crazy emails to everyone blocking me from fighting and earning a living. He is trying to scare me saying he will sue everyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I am ready to fight but I will not pay that man another cent." Bakole (21-2-1) has been inactive for eleven months since a draw with Efe Ajagba.
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Vacant super middleweight title on the line tonight |
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Already the IBO super middleweight champion, the avoided Osleys Iglesias (16-1 including World Series of Boxing paid bouts) will attempt to unify that title with the vacant IBF super middleweight version tonight (April 9th) against Russia's Pavel Silyagin (18-1-1 including IBA Pro and World Series of Boxing paid bouts) at the Cabaret du Casino in Montréal. Promoter Eye of the Tiger Management reports the venue is sold out. The show will be broadcast worldwide on the DAZN platform except in the province of Quebec, where it will be streamed on Punching Grace with TVA Sports airing the undercard only.
The IBF title most recently belonged to true world champ Terence Crawford, who retired after conquering Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. In his last fight, also at the Cabaret du Casino, the Cuban-born Iglesias stopped Vladimir Shishkin in an IBF eliminator. Iglesisas had Shishkin out on his feet when the referee intervened. Silyagin's last fight came in July, a win against Pablo Exequiel
Corzo who was 23-0 at the time.
In tonight's co-feature, Canadian Olympian and rising junior welterweight contender Arthur Biyarslanov (20-0) will go to war against powerful Mexican puncher Jimerr Espinosa (17-2-1). Also on the card is a strong local matchup of 135 pounders between Montreal’s Luis Santana (15-0) and Brossard native Chann Thonson (18-1). Deeper down the card, Témiscouata’s pride Leïla Beaudoin (13-2) will be in action against former three-time champion Victoria Bustos (26-9-1).... Buckingham puncher Alex Gaumont (13-1) and Montreal's Stephane Fondjo (14-2-1) will look to return to winning ways, while Erik Israyelyan (4-0) will fight in his first scheduled six-round bout.
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Vacant super middleweight title on the line tonight
Already the IBO super middleweight champion, the avoided Osleys Iglesias (16-1 including World Series of Boxing paid bouts) will attempt to unify that title with the vacant IBF super middleweight version tonight (April 9th) against Russia's Pavel Silyagin (18-1-1 including IBA Pro and World Series of Boxing paid bouts) at the Cabaret du Casino in Montréal. Promoter Eye of the Tiger Management reports the venue is sold out. The show will be broadcast worldwide on the DAZN platform except in the province of Quebec, where it will be streamed on Punching Grace with TVA Sports airing the undercard only.
The IBF title most recently belonged to true world champ Terence Crawford, who retired after conquering Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. In his last fight, also at the Cabaret du Casino, the Cuban-born Iglesias stopped Vladimir Shishkin in an IBF eliminator. Iglesisas had Shishkin out on his feet when the referee intervened. Silyagin's last fight came in July, a win against Pablo Exequiel
Corzo who was 23-0 at the time.
In tonight's co-feature, Canadian Olympian and rising junior welterweight contender Arthur Biyarslanov (20-0) will go to war against powerful Mexican puncher Jimerr Espinosa (17-2-1). Also on the card is a strong local matchup of 135 pounders between Montreal’s Luis Santana (15-0) and Brossard native Chann Thonson (18-1). Deeper down the card, Témiscouata’s pride Leïla Beaudoin (13-2) will be in action against former three-time champion Victoria Bustos (26-9-1).... Buckingham puncher Alex Gaumont (13-1) and Montreal's Stephane Fondjo (14-2-1) will look to return to winning ways, while Erik Israyelyan (4-0) will fight in his first scheduled six-round bout.
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Hitchins and Berlanga join Zuffa Boxing |
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Richardson Hitchins (pictured) and Edgar Berlanga have signed promotional deals with Zuffa Boxing. Hitchins is 20-0 and the IBF junior welterweight champion. His last fight was back in June when he stopped former lightweight world champion George Kambosos. He is the second reigning champion to sign with Zuffa, following Jai Optetaia. Shortly after Opetaia signed with Zuffa, the IBF stripped him of its cruiserweight title over a dispute with Zuffa. Hitchins relationship with the IBF is therefore something that boxing fans will be watchng very closely. Berlanga is a 23-2 super middleweight whose two losses are to Hamzah Sheeraz (in Berlanga's most recent fight) and former world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Both Hitchins and Berlanga are managed by Keith Connolly.
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Hitchins and Berlanga join Zuffa Boxing
Richardson Hitchins (pictured) and Edgar Berlanga have signed promotional deals with Zuffa Boxing. Hitchins is 20-0 and the IBF junior welterweight champion. His last fight was back in June when he stopped former lightweight world champion George Kambosos. He is the second reigning champion to sign with Zuffa, following Jai Optetaia. Shortly after Opetaia signed with Zuffa, the IBF stripped him of its cruiserweight title over a dispute with Zuffa. Hitchins relationship with the IBF is therefore something that boxing fans will be watchng very closely. Berlanga is a 23-2 super middleweight whose two losses are to Hamzah Sheeraz (in Berlanga's most recent fight) and former world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Both Hitchins and Berlanga are managed by Keith Connolly.
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Martin Bakole rips promoter Ben Shalom |
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Social media post from heavyweight Martin Bakole: "For everybody asking what is happening with me. I am ready to fight anytime but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he is doing it. He has been earning money from me for years and years and has kept me tied up in a contract. My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him is finished. I try to move on and he sends crazy emails to everyone blocking me from fighting and earning a living. He is trying to scare me saying he will sue everyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I am ready to fight but I will not pay that man another cent." Bakole (21-2-1) has been inactive for eleven months since a draw with Efe Ajagba.
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Martin Bakole rips promoter Ben Shalom
Social media post from heavyweight Martin Bakole: "For everybody asking what is happening with me. I am ready to fight anytime but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he is doing it. He has been earning money from me for years and years and has kept me tied up in a contract. My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him is finished. I try to move on and he sends crazy emails to everyone blocking me from fighting and earning a living. He is trying to scare me saying he will sue everyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I am ready to fight but I will not pay that man another cent." Bakole (21-2-1) has been inactive for eleven months since a draw with Efe Ajagba.
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Undefeated Breyon Gorham lands slot on Fury undercard |
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Breyon Gorham’s first trip to London is going about as well as anyone could hope for. “It’s a vibe” he insists, again and again. His first assignment under Zuffa Boxing banner is a big one: colliding with veteran Eduardo Costa (12-5) on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov event on April 11th at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. Relentlessly friendly, the self-described family man happily gives time to an unending series of media and fans. But despite the attention, he seems a bit surprised by all the fuss and admits more than once that he’s ready to get to the fighting part of the week. "Boxing was just always in my family, you know? It was part of my family bloodline. I'm a fourth-generation boxer. I had two uncles that boxed and a grandfather that boxed. So, I just fell down in line with it.”
The sport ran in his veins from early childhood, and eventually the moment arrived; the moment where he knew boxing was more than a pastime. "When I won my first nationals, that's when I had the realization that I can do something in this sport. Definitely."
And he has. At just 25 years of age, he has remained undefeated through his 21 professional fights, with 16 of them ending in knockouts. The results have been dazzling, but there is no magic in his process. "I just feel like it's the hard work and dedication we put in,” he offers. “Being able to be patient, the skills, the team that I have that's backing me, it's a collective of things."
His undefeated resume, coupled with a disarmingly humble and easygoing spirit made him a much sought-after talent in the boxing world, but when the time came, his decision was an easy one. "Zuffa Boxing was the right choice because I feel like they're the future of boxing. We had a lot of offers. My coach and management was able to see what fit was best for us. Zuffa Boxing was the route."
"I feel like [this fight] going to be something different,” he added, smiling big at the thought. “It's going to be my first time fighting in a stadium. They say by the time Tyson Fury comes in it could be 75,000 people. It's supposed to be massive, man, history in the making. I'm happy to be a part of it. Just happy to be part of the card. Like I say, I'm going make my mark."
He’ll certainly get his chance. Combined with the enormous in-house attendance will be a potentially sizeable audience watching at home as Netflix beams the fight all over the globe. "I'm feeling determined, man. I'm just ready to showcase my skills. We worked hard in training camp, and it's time to work now. I feel like this is destiny for me, to fight on a platform like this."
With the potential for his already sizeable fanbase set to climb, he recognizes this is his chance to make an impact on viewers. “I just want to leave an impressive impression...that when they watch me fight, they see that I'm different than a lot of fighters, that I really bring skills to the table. And grit. And that I could be a legend.”
The next chapter on his road to legend status will be the hard-hitting Brazilian Costa. "I don't know too much about him. I know that he's real durable. He's never been stopped before...so, we're looking to be the first ones to stop him."
Gorham's priorities in this game remain grounded. "The goal I have for myself personally is just to be comfortable in life. Be well-off financially. Take care of my family, be healthy. I got a baby on the way too; be the best dad that I can be for my baby. You know, it's a collective of things."
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Undefeated Breyon Gorham lands slot on Fury undercard
Breyon Gorham’s first trip to London is going about as well as anyone could hope for. “It’s a vibe” he insists, again and again. His first assignment under Zuffa Boxing banner is a big one: colliding with veteran Eduardo Costa (12-5) on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov event on April 11th at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. Relentlessly friendly, the self-described family man happily gives time to an unending series of media and fans. But despite the attention, he seems a bit surprised by all the fuss and admits more than once that he’s ready to get to the fighting part of the week. "Boxing was just always in my family, you know? It was part of my family bloodline. I'm a fourth-generation boxer. I had two uncles that boxed and a grandfather that boxed. So, I just fell down in line with it.”
The sport ran in his veins from early childhood, and eventually the moment arrived; the moment where he knew boxing was more than a pastime. "When I won my first nationals, that's when I had the realization that I can do something in this sport. Definitely."
And he has. At just 25 years of age, he has remained undefeated through his 21 professional fights, with 16 of them ending in knockouts. The results have been dazzling, but there is no magic in his process. "I just feel like it's the hard work and dedication we put in,” he offers. “Being able to be patient, the skills, the team that I have that's backing me, it's a collective of things."
His undefeated resume, coupled with a disarmingly humble and easygoing spirit made him a much sought-after talent in the boxing world, but when the time came, his decision was an easy one. "Zuffa Boxing was the right choice because I feel like they're the future of boxing. We had a lot of offers. My coach and management was able to see what fit was best for us. Zuffa Boxing was the route."
"I feel like [this fight] going to be something different,” he added, smiling big at the thought. “It's going to be my first time fighting in a stadium. They say by the time Tyson Fury comes in it could be 75,000 people. It's supposed to be massive, man, history in the making. I'm happy to be a part of it. Just happy to be part of the card. Like I say, I'm going make my mark."
He’ll certainly get his chance. Combined with the enormous in-house attendance will be a potentially sizeable audience watching at home as Netflix beams the fight all over the globe. "I'm feeling determined, man. I'm just ready to showcase my skills. We worked hard in training camp, and it's time to work now. I feel like this is destiny for me, to fight on a platform like this."
With the potential for his already sizeable fanbase set to climb, he recognizes this is his chance to make an impact on viewers. “I just want to leave an impressive impression...that when they watch me fight, they see that I'm different than a lot of fighters, that I really bring skills to the table. And grit. And that I could be a legend.”
The next chapter on his road to legend status will be the hard-hitting Brazilian Costa. "I don't know too much about him. I know that he's real durable. He's never been stopped before...so, we're looking to be the first ones to stop him."
Gorham's priorities in this game remain grounded. "The goal I have for myself personally is just to be comfortable in life. Be well-off financially. Take care of my family, be healthy. I got a baby on the way too; be the best dad that I can be for my baby. You know, it's a collective of things."
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A few words with Connecticut's Lefty Marrero |
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Bridgeport, Connecticut's Jacob "Lefty" Marrero (11-0, 8 KOs) will see ring action on Saturday, April 18th when he takes on Venezuela’s Rowin Sanchez (6-2-3, 4 KOs) in a light weight contest on CES Boxing’s ‘The Riverside Rumble’ card at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Tickets are on sale now at CESFights.com. Doors open at 4pm, with the Jimmy Burchfield Classic Invitational amateur showcase beginning at 5pm. At age 26, Marrero enters the biggest moment of his career, just one hour from his hometown. A strong Bridgeport contingent is expected to make the short trip to Hartford, turning the main event into a hometown atmosphere for Marrero. "It means everything," said Marrero of the opportunity to fight for his first pro title. "I’ve always dreamed about fighting for a [regional] belt. Doing it this close to home makes it even more special."
A slick, sharp-shooting southpaw with power, Marrero is coming off a dominant second-round knockout of veteran Emiliano Garcia at Foxwoods – an emphatic performance that established Marrero as one of the country’s top prospects. "I knew he was a veteran," said Marrero when asked about Garcia. "We stuck to the game plan, stayed patient, boxed smart, and eventually got him out of there in the second round. Everything went according to plan."
Enter Rowin Sanchez. The 29 year-old Venezuelan, now based in Alabama, has just as many fights as Lefty and is also coming off the biggest win of his career. "He comes to fight," assessed Marrero. "He has a lot of heart and he drew with an undefeated fighter recently, so much respect to him."
The bout is a classic clash of styles, pitting Marrero’s precision and timing against Sanchez’s pressure and toughness – an explosive combination for a high-stakes main event. "We don’t underestimate anybody," agreed Marrero. "I’m expecting a great fight. I’m just going to go out there, adapt, and do whatever I have to do to come out victorious."
Fans who would like to meet Lefty and hear from him a week before the fight can join CES Boxing this Saturday, April 11th at Steelpointe Harbor in Bridgeport. The press conference begins at 1pm EST.
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A few words with Connecticut's Lefty Marrero
Bridgeport, Connecticut's Jacob "Lefty" Marrero (11-0, 8 KOs) will see ring action on Saturday, April 18th when he takes on Venezuela’s Rowin Sanchez (6-2-3, 4 KOs) in a light weight contest on CES Boxing’s ‘The Riverside Rumble’ card at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Tickets are on sale now at CESFights.com. Doors open at 4pm, with the Jimmy Burchfield Classic Invitational amateur showcase beginning at 5pm. At age 26, Marrero enters the biggest moment of his career, just one hour from his hometown. A strong Bridgeport contingent is expected to make the short trip to Hartford, turning the main event into a hometown atmosphere for Marrero. "It means everything," said Marrero of the opportunity to fight for his first pro title. "I’ve always dreamed about fighting for a [regional] belt. Doing it this close to home makes it even more special."
A slick, sharp-shooting southpaw with power, Marrero is coming off a dominant second-round knockout of veteran Emiliano Garcia at Foxwoods – an emphatic performance that established Marrero as one of the country’s top prospects. "I knew he was a veteran," said Marrero when asked about Garcia. "We stuck to the game plan, stayed patient, boxed smart, and eventually got him out of there in the second round. Everything went according to plan."
Enter Rowin Sanchez. The 29 year-old Venezuelan, now based in Alabama, has just as many fights as Lefty and is also coming off the biggest win of his career. "He comes to fight," assessed Marrero. "He has a lot of heart and he drew with an undefeated fighter recently, so much respect to him."
The bout is a classic clash of styles, pitting Marrero’s precision and timing against Sanchez’s pressure and toughness – an explosive combination for a high-stakes main event. "We don’t underestimate anybody," agreed Marrero. "I’m expecting a great fight. I’m just going to go out there, adapt, and do whatever I have to do to come out victorious."
Fans who would like to meet Lefty and hear from him a week before the fight can join CES Boxing this Saturday, April 11th at Steelpointe Harbor in Bridgeport. The press conference begins at 1pm EST.
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BKFC makes its debut in Hawaii this weekend |
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) breaks new ground once again this week with BKFC Fight Night Honolulu on Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. Saturday’s action will stream live on The BKFC App. Maki “Coconut Bombz” Pitolo makes his highly anticipated BKFC debut in the main event as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) vet battles Doug “ColdRed” Coltrane in middleweight action. In the co-feature, Ke’ali’i “The Saint” Kanekoa steps into the squared circle for the first time against the red-hot Joseph “Dark Knight” Creer, who’s on the prowl for his third straight BKFC victory. Also on the card, combat sports OG “Felony” Charles Bennett knuckles up against Toby “2 Quick” Misech. Saturday's action also features many hungry Hawaiian fighters ready to make a smashing first impression.
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BKFC makes its debut in Hawaii this weekend
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) breaks new ground once again this week with BKFC Fight Night Honolulu on Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. Saturday’s action will stream live on The BKFC App. Maki “Coconut Bombz” Pitolo makes his highly anticipated BKFC debut in the main event as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) vet battles Doug “ColdRed” Coltrane in middleweight action. In the co-feature, Ke’ali’i “The Saint” Kanekoa steps into the squared circle for the first time against the red-hot Joseph “Dark Knight” Creer, who’s on the prowl for his third straight BKFC victory. Also on the card, combat sports OG “Felony” Charles Bennett knuckles up against Toby “2 Quick” Misech. Saturday's action also features many hungry Hawaiian fighters ready to make a smashing first impression.
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Prograis: "Benn's not fighting some weight-drained super middleweight" |
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In addition to the heavyweight main event between ex-champion Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov, the April 11th Netflix fight card from North London features Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) against former junior welterweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (30-3, 24 KOs) in a high-stakes clash promoted by The Ring. “April 11th can’t come soon enough,” Benn told Netflix. “Returning to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium again, where I made history against Eubank Jr., means everything to me. My last fight there showed the world exactly who I am and what I’m about. Fighting on the biggest stages, in the biggest shows, I fear no one. I’m fully locked in and ready to deliver another statement performance.”
Benn’s confidence is met head-on by Prograis (pictured), who framed the matchup as both a professional escalation and a personal reckoning. “Last time I fought in London, Conor Benn was on my undercard,” Prograis said. “So this is a full-circle moment for me. But this circle will close with me teaching him a lesson on April 11th. He’s not fighting some weight-drained super middleweight [Chris Eubank Jr.]. I am in shape and will bring home this victory.”
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Prograis: "Benn's not fighting some weight-drained super middleweight"
In addition to the heavyweight main event between ex-champion Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov, the April 11th Netflix fight card from North London features Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) against former junior welterweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (30-3, 24 KOs) in a high-stakes clash promoted by The Ring. “April 11th can’t come soon enough,” Benn told Netflix. “Returning to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium again, where I made history against Eubank Jr., means everything to me. My last fight there showed the world exactly who I am and what I’m about. Fighting on the biggest stages, in the biggest shows, I fear no one. I’m fully locked in and ready to deliver another statement performance.”
Benn’s confidence is met head-on by Prograis (pictured), who framed the matchup as both a professional escalation and a personal reckoning. “Last time I fought in London, Conor Benn was on my undercard,” Prograis said. “So this is a full-circle moment for me. But this circle will close with me teaching him a lesson on April 11th. He’s not fighting some weight-drained super middleweight [Chris Eubank Jr.]. I am in shape and will bring home this victory.”
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MVP announces another huge women's show |
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Most Valuable Promotions announced a double main event show women's show for May 30th at El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas, live on ESPN. Future hall of famer and multi-division champion Amanda Serrano will defend her world featherweight championship against Germany's Cheyenne Hanson (17-2). Alongside her, WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han headlines in her hometown against boxing legend Holly Holm in an immediate rematch. On the same show, Australia's Desley Robinson defends her WBO / IBF unified middleweight titles against Canada's Mary Spencer, who once held the WBA junior middleweight title, and Lourdes Juarez defends her WBC junior flyweight world title against WBC minimumweight champion Yokasta Valle.
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MVP announces another huge women's show
Most Valuable Promotions announced a double main event show women's show for May 30th at El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas, live on ESPN. Future hall of famer and multi-division champion Amanda Serrano will defend her world featherweight championship against Germany's Cheyenne Hanson (17-2). Alongside her, WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han headlines in her hometown against boxing legend Holly Holm in an immediate rematch. On the same show, Australia's Desley Robinson defends her WBO / IBF unified middleweight titles against Canada's Mary Spencer, who once held the WBA junior middleweight title, and Lourdes Juarez defends her WBC junior flyweight world title against WBC minimumweight champion Yokasta Valle.
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Isaac Lucero to face Alan Sandoval on May 2nd PPV |
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Undefeated Mexican junior middleweight Isaac “Puro México” Lucero plans to deliver “all-out war” when he faces fellow unbeaten Alan Sandoval on the Ramirez vs. Benavidez pay-per-view event available on Prime Video on Saturday, May 2nd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Cinco de Mayo Weekend pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will lead into the first of its kind Mexico vs. Mexico duel between undefeated two-division champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez and unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in the main event. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Boxing in association with TGB Promotions.
A native of Baja California Sur, Lucero (18-0, 14 KOs) will step in for a ten-round showdown against Sandoval (30-0-1, 19 KOs) following a dominant eight-round stoppage in December against veteran Roberto Valenzuela Jr. Trained in Las Vegas by renowned trainer Bob Santos, here is what Lucero had to say about May 2nd, training camp and more:
On his matchup with Alan Sandoval:
“Sandoval comes from a part of Mexico that I’m very familiar with, so I know he’s coming to fight, he’s true warrior who carries himself with confidence. I respect what he has accomplished, but I also believe this is the kind of fight that reveals who is truly ready to take the next step. Styles will play a major role, and I see opportunities where my precision, patience, and execution will be the difference. This is going to be an all-out war!”
On his recent training camp in Las Vegas with Bob Santos:
“My time in Las Vegas with coach Bob Santos has been very productive. Bob is a teacher of the sport in the truest sense, he refines not only your technique, but your understanding of what it takes to be a champion. This camp has been about elevating every detail. We’ve focused on discipline, championship mentality, and ring intelligence. I feel more complete as a fighter and I'm ready for this challenge. There is a quiet confidence that comes from preparation at the highest level.”
On fighting in Las Vegas during Cinco de Mayo Weekend on an all-Mexican card:
“To fight in Las Vegas on Cinco de Mayo Weekend, on a card that celebrates Mexican fighters, is both an honor and a responsibility. This is a moment that carries me on to the global stage, it represents pride, history, and identity. To perform on this stage is something I do not take lightly. I intend to represent my country with dignity, with heart, and with a performance that reflects the tradition of Mexican boxing. Puro Mexico!”
On what a win will do for his career and his people back home in Mexico:
“A victory in this fight would be significant, not only for my career but for the people who have supported me from the beginning. I come from Baja California Sur, Mexico, and I carry that with me into every fight. This moment is about opening doors for myself, for my team, and for young fighters who are watching and believing that they can follow a similar path. Success is never individual…it belongs to everyone who has invested their faith in you. I want to give them something to be proud of.”
In addition to the pay-per-view being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to purchase the pay-per-view via DAZN.com. On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets.
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Isaac Lucero to face Alan Sandoval on May 2nd PPV
Undefeated Mexican junior middleweight Isaac “Puro México” Lucero plans to deliver “all-out war” when he faces fellow unbeaten Alan Sandoval on the Ramirez vs. Benavidez pay-per-view event available on Prime Video on Saturday, May 2nd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Cinco de Mayo Weekend pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will lead into the first of its kind Mexico vs. Mexico duel between undefeated two-division champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez and unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in the main event. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Boxing in association with TGB Promotions.
A native of Baja California Sur, Lucero (18-0, 14 KOs) will step in for a ten-round showdown against Sandoval (30-0-1, 19 KOs) following a dominant eight-round stoppage in December against veteran Roberto Valenzuela Jr. Trained in Las Vegas by renowned trainer Bob Santos, here is what Lucero had to say about May 2nd, training camp and more:
On his matchup with Alan Sandoval:
“Sandoval comes from a part of Mexico that I’m very familiar with, so I know he’s coming to fight, he’s true warrior who carries himself with confidence. I respect what he has accomplished, but I also believe this is the kind of fight that reveals who is truly ready to take the next step. Styles will play a major role, and I see opportunities where my precision, patience, and execution will be the difference. This is going to be an all-out war!”
On his recent training camp in Las Vegas with Bob Santos:
“My time in Las Vegas with coach Bob Santos has been very productive. Bob is a teacher of the sport in the truest sense, he refines not only your technique, but your understanding of what it takes to be a champion. This camp has been about elevating every detail. We’ve focused on discipline, championship mentality, and ring intelligence. I feel more complete as a fighter and I'm ready for this challenge. There is a quiet confidence that comes from preparation at the highest level.”
On fighting in Las Vegas during Cinco de Mayo Weekend on an all-Mexican card:
“To fight in Las Vegas on Cinco de Mayo Weekend, on a card that celebrates Mexican fighters, is both an honor and a responsibility. This is a moment that carries me on to the global stage, it represents pride, history, and identity. To perform on this stage is something I do not take lightly. I intend to represent my country with dignity, with heart, and with a performance that reflects the tradition of Mexican boxing. Puro Mexico!”
On what a win will do for his career and his people back home in Mexico:
“A victory in this fight would be significant, not only for my career but for the people who have supported me from the beginning. I come from Baja California Sur, Mexico, and I carry that with me into every fight. This moment is about opening doors for myself, for my team, and for young fighters who are watching and believing that they can follow a similar path. Success is never individual…it belongs to everyone who has invested their faith in you. I want to give them something to be proud of.”
In addition to the pay-per-view being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to purchase the pay-per-view via DAZN.com. On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets.
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Injury to Smith elevates Whittaker to main event |
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Britain’s Ben Whittaker will take on Argentina’s Braian Suarez in the new main event at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Saturday, April 18th – live worldwide on DAZN. An injury sustained during training camp has ruled Callum Smith out of his upcoming WBO interim light heavyweight championship fight with David Morrell. The ‘Surgeon’ Whittaker steps in to headline for only the third time in his career, looking to light up the famous fighting city of Liverpool in the same dazzling manner as his Matchroom Boxing debut against Benjamin Gavazi last November in Birmingham, when he brilliantly bulldozed his German rival inside the first round.
Buenos Aires native Suarez – who has 20 KOs from his 21 wins in 25 bouts – will look to bring more bite to Merseyside, however, having previously lost a bid for the IBO light heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur on his last visit to the UK, three years ago. But another statement performance from Whittaker will help set up a huge, prospective American debut for the 2021 Olympic silver medalist.
“Naturally, it is a massive blow to lose a mega fight so close to the event and we wish Callum a speedy recovery,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman, Eddie Hearn.
“But the show goes on – and it remains an unmissable night of boxing, headlined by arguably one of the greatest showmen in the sport today in Ben Whittaker. He is box office in whatever city in the world he is fighting in.
“Of course, the carrot of his eventual big US debut is dangling. And Ben will be out to show once again why he will be the future of this sport as the eventual ruler of the 175-pound division. It will be a solid test for him against Braian Suarez, who is a dangerous, heavy-hitting opponent with 20 stoppages on his resumé.”
Evertonian ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann will undoubtedly raise the roof at the M&S Bank Arena when she fights for the first time in her home city, against Wales’ Super Bantamweight Ashleigh Johnson, in what will be her fourth fight since turning professional.
Joe McGrail meanwhile, battles Aaron Hayden for the Central Area super bantamweight belt. Young, unbeaten teenage Heavyweight sensation Leo Atang is in action too as he seeks his sixth stoppage in as many fights – and Hearn expects it to be yet another entertaining UK spectacle, live on DAZN.
“Liverpool never disappoints for a Fight Night. And you can guarantee the atmosphere will be rocking for ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann,” Hearn added.
“Plus, we can look forward to what is the next stop on the knockout roadshow for destructive young heavyweight Leo Atang, the homecoming return Joe McGrail, and plenty more Merseyside talent including the likes of Ste Clarke and Sam Norris. It will be a great night, live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.”
Undefeated Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs), trained by the great Andy Lee in Ireland, is looking forward to travelling across the Irish Sea to Liverpool. “Performing in front of the Scousers, who are a set of true fight fans, for the first time is going to be special,” said Whittaker. “I’m really looking forward to headlining in Liverpool. I know everyone was expecting me to be fighting next in America – and that’s still very much the plan. I need to win this and we’ll be making a big announcement on that soon.
“But it is important for me to stay active as a fighter. So I am delighted to be able to jump on this great Liverpool card to keep myself ticking over.”
Ticket refunds are available via M&S Bank Arena or Victory Live, if required. To purchase tickets for Saturday, April 18, please visit matchroomboxing.com for more details. And follow @matchroomboxing on social media for the latest news and updates.
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Injury to Smith elevates Whittaker to main event
Britain’s Ben Whittaker will take on Argentina’s Braian Suarez in the new main event at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Saturday, April 18th – live worldwide on DAZN. An injury sustained during training camp has ruled Callum Smith out of his upcoming WBO interim light heavyweight championship fight with David Morrell. The ‘Surgeon’ Whittaker steps in to headline for only the third time in his career, looking to light up the famous fighting city of Liverpool in the same dazzling manner as his Matchroom Boxing debut against Benjamin Gavazi last November in Birmingham, when he brilliantly bulldozed his German rival inside the first round.
Buenos Aires native Suarez – who has 20 KOs from his 21 wins in 25 bouts – will look to bring more bite to Merseyside, however, having previously lost a bid for the IBO light heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur on his last visit to the UK, three years ago. But another statement performance from Whittaker will help set up a huge, prospective American debut for the 2021 Olympic silver medalist.
“Naturally, it is a massive blow to lose a mega fight so close to the event and we wish Callum a speedy recovery,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman, Eddie Hearn.
“But the show goes on – and it remains an unmissable night of boxing, headlined by arguably one of the greatest showmen in the sport today in Ben Whittaker. He is box office in whatever city in the world he is fighting in.
“Of course, the carrot of his eventual big US debut is dangling. And Ben will be out to show once again why he will be the future of this sport as the eventual ruler of the 175-pound division. It will be a solid test for him against Braian Suarez, who is a dangerous, heavy-hitting opponent with 20 stoppages on his resumé.”
Evertonian ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann will undoubtedly raise the roof at the M&S Bank Arena when she fights for the first time in her home city, against Wales’ Super Bantamweight Ashleigh Johnson, in what will be her fourth fight since turning professional.
Joe McGrail meanwhile, battles Aaron Hayden for the Central Area super bantamweight belt. Young, unbeaten teenage Heavyweight sensation Leo Atang is in action too as he seeks his sixth stoppage in as many fights – and Hearn expects it to be yet another entertaining UK spectacle, live on DAZN.
“Liverpool never disappoints for a Fight Night. And you can guarantee the atmosphere will be rocking for ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann,” Hearn added.
“Plus, we can look forward to what is the next stop on the knockout roadshow for destructive young heavyweight Leo Atang, the homecoming return Joe McGrail, and plenty more Merseyside talent including the likes of Ste Clarke and Sam Norris. It will be a great night, live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.”
Undefeated Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs), trained by the great Andy Lee in Ireland, is looking forward to travelling across the Irish Sea to Liverpool. “Performing in front of the Scousers, who are a set of true fight fans, for the first time is going to be special,” said Whittaker. “I’m really looking forward to headlining in Liverpool. I know everyone was expecting me to be fighting next in America – and that’s still very much the plan. I need to win this and we’ll be making a big announcement on that soon.
“But it is important for me to stay active as a fighter. So I am delighted to be able to jump on this great Liverpool card to keep myself ticking over.”
Ticket refunds are available via M&S Bank Arena or Victory Live, if required. To purchase tickets for Saturday, April 18, please visit matchroomboxing.com for more details. And follow @matchroomboxing on social media for the latest news and updates.
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Full details of Saturday's Atlantic City, NJ show |
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The full card has been announced for the Atlantic City, New Jersey show to be presented by Sampson Boxing and Paco Presents this Saturday, April 11th at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, to be broadcast live on ProBoxTV (7:00 pm ET). The televised action that night includes Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (22-1, 13 KOs) of Roseland, NJ in a middleweight contest against Omar Ulises “La Bala” Huerta (15-0-1, 13 KOs) of California in a ten rounder. Cuba’s Yan Marcos (14-0, 10 KOs) takes on fellow undefeated Dwyke Flemmings Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) of Paterson, NJ at junior middleweight.
Other televised action includes the United States debut of power-punching Dominican junior welterweight KO artist Sugar Martinez (17-0, 17 KOs) against tough Philadelphian Daiyaan “Badshah” Butt (20-3, 10 KOs)... a six-round light heavyweight battle between Arjan Iseni (5-0, 5 KOs) of Staten Island, New York and Christian Figueroa (2-0, 2 KOs) of Galloway, NJ and... a four-round junior welterweight showdown between Michael Harris (4-0, 1 KO) of Trenton, NY, and La’Vay Lawrence (4-2, 3 KOs) of Washington, DC.
Fighting on the untelevised undercard will be several local favorites including a four-round middleweight bout between Piscataway, NJ’s Zahir Abdus Salaam (1-0) and Josue Silva (3-5, 1 KO) of Mexico; a six-round heavyweight brawl featuring Paterson, NJ’s Norman Neely (16-1, 11 KOs) and San Ysidro, CA’s Gabriel Garcia Perez (8-4, 7 KOs); and a welterweight four-rounder pitting Muadh Abdus-Salaam (2-0, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ against Benji Gomez (1-8) of Oxnard, CA. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster or at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Box Office: (609) 348-7512.
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Full details of Saturday's Atlantic City, NJ show
The full card has been announced for the Atlantic City, New Jersey show to be presented by Sampson Boxing and Paco Presents this Saturday, April 11th at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, to be broadcast live on ProBoxTV (7:00 pm ET). The televised action that night includes Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (22-1, 13 KOs) of Roseland, NJ in a middleweight contest against Omar Ulises “La Bala” Huerta (15-0-1, 13 KOs) of California in a ten rounder. Cuba’s Yan Marcos (14-0, 10 KOs) takes on fellow undefeated Dwyke Flemmings Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) of Paterson, NJ at junior middleweight.
Other televised action includes the United States debut of power-punching Dominican junior welterweight KO artist Sugar Martinez (17-0, 17 KOs) against tough Philadelphian Daiyaan “Badshah” Butt (20-3, 10 KOs)... a six-round light heavyweight battle between Arjan Iseni (5-0, 5 KOs) of Staten Island, New York and Christian Figueroa (2-0, 2 KOs) of Galloway, NJ and... a four-round junior welterweight showdown between Michael Harris (4-0, 1 KO) of Trenton, NY, and La’Vay Lawrence (4-2, 3 KOs) of Washington, DC.
Fighting on the untelevised undercard will be several local favorites including a four-round middleweight bout between Piscataway, NJ’s Zahir Abdus Salaam (1-0) and Josue Silva (3-5, 1 KO) of Mexico; a six-round heavyweight brawl featuring Paterson, NJ’s Norman Neely (16-1, 11 KOs) and San Ysidro, CA’s Gabriel Garcia Perez (8-4, 7 KOs); and a welterweight four-rounder pitting Muadh Abdus-Salaam (2-0, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ against Benji Gomez (1-8) of Oxnard, CA. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster or at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Box Office: (609) 348-7512.
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Welcome to Fury vs. Makhmudov fight week |
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Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has made a career out of turning chaos into control. Now, he’s stepping back into the ring against a man built to do the opposite. On Saturday, April 11th, Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) returns for a heavyweight collision with Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs), a knockout artist whose fights rarely make it out of the early rounds. The bout headlines a stacked card streaming live on Netflix, with Conor Benn facing Regis Prograis as chief support and a full line-up of heavyweight and cruiserweight matchups underneath. Around the ring, the broadcast leans just as big, with host Elle Duncan joined by Lennox Lewis, Laila Ali, and Carl Froch, while Mauro Ranallo calls the action alongside David Haye and Andre Ward.
Fury is boxing’s ultimate anomaly. At 6-foot-9, he moves with the fluidity of a smaller fighter, pairing slick footwork with surprisingly quick hands — a combination that has allowed him to outmaneuver elite opponents like Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko. This fight also marks a homecoming. Fury returns to a British ring for the first time in more than three years, since his December 2022 TKO victory over Derek Chisora. But if the setting is familiar, the challenge is not. Makhmudov represents a very different kind of threat — one built on power. “If I fight a pudding, I don’t get turned on by that,” Fury said at the April 11 press conference. “I have to fight somebody dangerous to make me want to even train, make me want to even take it seriously. So now I know I’ve got a dangerous knockout artist in front of me … I’m looking forward to coming here, putting on a real show at Tottenham. And most of all, I’m looking forward to punching his face right in.”
Makhmudov strips heavyweight boxing down to its most dangerous elements. At 6-foot-6, he fights with relentless forward pressure and punishing power, walking opponents down until there’s nowhere left to go. You don’t rack up 19 knockouts without elite impact, and Makhmudov wastes nothing. There’s also a sense of arrival. At the press conference, Makhmudov reflected on a photo the two took nearly a decade ago, when he was still a fan and Fury was already a world champion. Now, the moment has come full circle — respect intact, but ambition sharpened. “He’s a legend, but I came here to make my legacy.”
Fury and Makhmudov meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London, the same venue where Fury last fought on home soil in December 2022, defeating Derek Chisora to retain his WBC title. This time, the setting sets the tone: a homecoming for Fury, and a hostile stage for anyone standing across from him. But Makhmudov isn’t interested in comfort. He’s already proven he can thrive in enemy territory, pointing to his October 2025 bout against Dave Allen in Sheffield, where a crowd of 10,000 backed his opponent. “The arena was against me,” he said. “Good with me. It doesn’t matter who is against me … all the world can be against me.”
That tension — control versus pressure, home advantage versus indifference — carries into how each fighter sees the outcome. Makhmudov is preparing for anything. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the fight, but I’m prepared for all distances,” he said.
Fury, as always, is more specific. “[Makhmudov] is dangerous. I understand that,” Fury said. “I want an explosive knockout, and I believe I’m going to knock him spark out … probably a big right-hand KO in round six.”
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Welcome to Fury vs. Makhmudov fight week
Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has made a career out of turning chaos into control. Now, he’s stepping back into the ring against a man built to do the opposite. On Saturday, April 11th, Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) returns for a heavyweight collision with Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs), a knockout artist whose fights rarely make it out of the early rounds. The bout headlines a stacked card streaming live on Netflix, with Conor Benn facing Regis Prograis as chief support and a full line-up of heavyweight and cruiserweight matchups underneath. Around the ring, the broadcast leans just as big, with host Elle Duncan joined by Lennox Lewis, Laila Ali, and Carl Froch, while Mauro Ranallo calls the action alongside David Haye and Andre Ward.
Fury is boxing’s ultimate anomaly. At 6-foot-9, he moves with the fluidity of a smaller fighter, pairing slick footwork with surprisingly quick hands — a combination that has allowed him to outmaneuver elite opponents like Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko. This fight also marks a homecoming. Fury returns to a British ring for the first time in more than three years, since his December 2022 TKO victory over Derek Chisora. But if the setting is familiar, the challenge is not. Makhmudov represents a very different kind of threat — one built on power. “If I fight a pudding, I don’t get turned on by that,” Fury said at the April 11 press conference. “I have to fight somebody dangerous to make me want to even train, make me want to even take it seriously. So now I know I’ve got a dangerous knockout artist in front of me … I’m looking forward to coming here, putting on a real show at Tottenham. And most of all, I’m looking forward to punching his face right in.”
Makhmudov strips heavyweight boxing down to its most dangerous elements. At 6-foot-6, he fights with relentless forward pressure and punishing power, walking opponents down until there’s nowhere left to go. You don’t rack up 19 knockouts without elite impact, and Makhmudov wastes nothing. There’s also a sense of arrival. At the press conference, Makhmudov reflected on a photo the two took nearly a decade ago, when he was still a fan and Fury was already a world champion. Now, the moment has come full circle — respect intact, but ambition sharpened. “He’s a legend, but I came here to make my legacy.”
Fury and Makhmudov meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London, the same venue where Fury last fought on home soil in December 2022, defeating Derek Chisora to retain his WBC title. This time, the setting sets the tone: a homecoming for Fury, and a hostile stage for anyone standing across from him. But Makhmudov isn’t interested in comfort. He’s already proven he can thrive in enemy territory, pointing to his October 2025 bout against Dave Allen in Sheffield, where a crowd of 10,000 backed his opponent. “The arena was against me,” he said. “Good with me. It doesn’t matter who is against me … all the world can be against me.”
That tension — control versus pressure, home advantage versus indifference — carries into how each fighter sees the outcome. Makhmudov is preparing for anything. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the fight, but I’m prepared for all distances,” he said.
Fury, as always, is more specific. “[Makhmudov] is dangerous. I understand that,” Fury said. “I want an explosive knockout, and I believe I’m going to knock him spark out … probably a big right-hand KO in round six.”
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Estrada goes to war in Japan this week |
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The boxing world sets its sights on the iconic Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, where a golden chapter in the historic rivalry between Mexico and Japan will be written this Saturday, April 11th. It will be a WBC final eliminator in the bantamweight division, as the legendary Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (45-4, 28 KOs), a former two-division champion and one of the most respected warriors of the last decade, arrives in Japan with a clear mission: to defeat sporting and media phenomenon Tenshin Nasukawa (7-1, 2 KOs) . Nasukawa will be facing the most rigorous test of his professional career, a high-stakes showdown that will determine the official challenger for the reigning WBC monarch, Takuma Inoue.
Having faced the greatest names in contemporary boxing, the aging Estrada (pitcutred) seeks to reaffirm his elite status and join the select group of legends who have captured world titles in three different divisions. Age 35, Estrada scored a trmendous win against a fellow Hall of Famer to be, Roman Gonzalez, in a superflyweight championship bout in 2022. But he has only fought twicw since then, going 1-1.
Following a brave previous attempt against Takuma Inoue, the Japanese idol Nasukawa has focused his training on mobility and speed to decipher the technical and aggressive style of the Sonoran warrior.
The fight will be broadcast on ESPN KnockOut and Disney+ (Latin America), Prime Video Boxing 15 (Japan).
The undercard features high-impact bouts that reinforce the sporting brotherhood between both nations: Tomoya Tsuboi vs. Pedro Guevara: a clash of experience and youth in the super flyweight division.... Kyosuke Takami vs. Ángel “Camaleón” Ayala: a strategic flyweight duel that promises fireworks.
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Estrada goes to war in Japan this week
The boxing world sets its sights on the iconic Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, where a golden chapter in the historic rivalry between Mexico and Japan will be written this Saturday, April 11th. It will be a WBC final eliminator in the bantamweight division, as the legendary Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (45-4, 28 KOs), a former two-division champion and one of the most respected warriors of the last decade, arrives in Japan with a clear mission: to defeat sporting and media phenomenon Tenshin Nasukawa (7-1, 2 KOs) . Nasukawa will be facing the most rigorous test of his professional career, a high-stakes showdown that will determine the official challenger for the reigning WBC monarch, Takuma Inoue.
Having faced the greatest names in contemporary boxing, the aging Estrada (pitcutred) seeks to reaffirm his elite status and join the select group of legends who have captured world titles in three different divisions. Age 35, Estrada scored a trmendous win against a fellow Hall of Famer to be, Roman Gonzalez, in a superflyweight championship bout in 2022. But he has only fought twicw since then, going 1-1.
Following a brave previous attempt against Takuma Inoue, the Japanese idol Nasukawa has focused his training on mobility and speed to decipher the technical and aggressive style of the Sonoran warrior.
The fight will be broadcast on ESPN KnockOut and Disney+ (Latin America), Prime Video Boxing 15 (Japan).
The undercard features high-impact bouts that reinforce the sporting brotherhood between both nations: Tomoya Tsuboi vs. Pedro Guevara: a clash of experience and youth in the super flyweight division.... Kyosuke Takami vs. Ángel “Camaleón” Ayala: a strategic flyweight duel that promises fireworks.
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Zuffa Boxing 06: Bohachuk vs. Mosley Jr. |
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Zuffa Boxing has announced that its sixth show will take place on Sunday May 10th at the Apex, the same Las Vegas venue that has hosted the previous five editions. In the main event, Shane Mosley Jr. (22-5) will challenge Serhii Bohachuk (27-3) in a middleweight bout. The chief support will see Julian "Hammer Hands" Rodriguez (25-1) against James Perrella (21-0) at welterweight. Also on the card will be a battle of unbeaten middleweights pitting Misael Rodriguez against Andreas Katzourakis, both of whom have pro records of 16-0.
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Zuffa Boxing 06: Bohachuk vs. Mosley Jr.
Zuffa Boxing has announced that its sixth show will take place on Sunday May 10th at the Apex, the same Las Vegas venue that has hosted the previous five editions. In the main event, Shane Mosley Jr. (22-5) will challenge Serhii Bohachuk (27-3) in a middleweight bout. The chief support will see Julian "Hammer Hands" Rodriguez (25-1) against James Perrella (21-0) at welterweight. Also on the card will be a battle of unbeaten middleweights pitting Misael Rodriguez against Andreas Katzourakis, both of whom have pro records of 16-0.
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Sheeraz and Begic to clash for vacant super middleweight belt |
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His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and The Ring Magazine announced details of the undercard for ‘Glory in Giza’ taking place in Egypt on Saturday May 23rd supported by Matchroom Boxing. World heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk faces former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven as the headline bout, live worldwide on DAZN. Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1) and Alem Begic (29-0-1) lead the undercard in a clash of unbeaten fighters for the vacant WBO super middleweight title, with Sheeraz returning to the ring for the first time in 2026 following a fifth-round knockout of Edgar Berlanga in New York last July. The title was vacated when wrold champion Terence Crawford retired last year.
Jack Catterall (32-2) will faces Uzbek contender Shakhram Giyasov (17-0-0) for the WBA regular welterweight title, with Catterall coming off a victory over Ekow Essuman in November... Cuban contender Frank Sanchez (25-1) will take on unbeaten Olympic silver medallist Richard Torrez Jr. (14-0) in an IBF heavyweight eliminator... Mizuki Hiruta (10–0) will defend her WBO super flyweight title against Egyptian-born Australian Mai Soliman (10–1). This will be Hiruta’s seventh straight defense of her WBO belt, which she won back in September 2022, and her first bout on a major card... Egyptian cruiserweight Basem Mamdouh (10-2) is set to compete on home soil, taking on undefeated American Jamar Talley (6-0-0)... The undercard will also showcase emerging Egyptian talents with Mahmoud Mobark facing Michael Kalyalya and Omar Hikal taking on Ali Sserunkuma.
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Sheeraz and Begic to clash for vacant super middleweight belt
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and The Ring Magazine announced details of the undercard for ‘Glory in Giza’ taking place in Egypt on Saturday May 23rd supported by Matchroom Boxing. World heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk faces former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven as the headline bout, live worldwide on DAZN. Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1) and Alem Begic (29-0-1) lead the undercard in a clash of unbeaten fighters for the vacant WBO super middleweight title, with Sheeraz returning to the ring for the first time in 2026 following a fifth-round knockout of Edgar Berlanga in New York last July. The title was vacated when wrold champion Terence Crawford retired last year.
Jack Catterall (32-2) will faces Uzbek contender Shakhram Giyasov (17-0-0) for the WBA regular welterweight title, with Catterall coming off a victory over Ekow Essuman in November... Cuban contender Frank Sanchez (25-1) will take on unbeaten Olympic silver medallist Richard Torrez Jr. (14-0) in an IBF heavyweight eliminator... Mizuki Hiruta (10–0) will defend her WBO super flyweight title against Egyptian-born Australian Mai Soliman (10–1). This will be Hiruta’s seventh straight defense of her WBO belt, which she won back in September 2022, and her first bout on a major card... Egyptian cruiserweight Basem Mamdouh (10-2) is set to compete on home soil, taking on undefeated American Jamar Talley (6-0-0)... The undercard will also showcase emerging Egyptian talents with Mahmoud Mobark facing Michael Kalyalya and Omar Hikal taking on Ali Sserunkuma.
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Preview of Friday's show in Newark, NJ |
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This Friday, April 10th, (7:30 pm EDT/4:30 pm PDT) ProBoxTV is at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Presented by Rising Star Promotions and Pro Box Promotions, the ten-round middleweight main even features Brazil's Hebert Conceicao Sousa (10-0, 5 KOs) in his toughest career test to date against Johan “The Chelo Manotas” Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) of Las Vegas via Venezuela. And in the ten-round co-feature, ProBoxTV fan favorites Francisco “Bebu” Daniel Veron (16-1-1, 10 KOs) of Buenos Aires and Raul Garcia (15-2-1 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic will trade power punches in a guaranteed junior middleweight slugfest. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and prucenter.com.
Before turning professional in 2022, 28-year-old Hebert Conceicao won a middleweight gold medal at the 2021 Olympics and took bronze in the 2019 World Amateur Championships. In ten pro fights, Conceicao has already beaten two prominent Brazilian countrymen: the 2012 London Olympic-medal-winning brothers, Esquiva and Yamaguchi Falcao. In June 2024, in just his sixth fight, Conceicao won a unanimous ten-round decision over younger brother and silver medalist Esquiva and in September of last year, he prevailed against older brother and bronze medalist Yamaguchi to win the Brazilian super middleweight title. Conceicao was last seen in December of last year with a nearly flawless ten-round unanimous decision over veteran Elias Espadas in Fort Lauderdale, live on ProBoxTV.
After turning professional in 2017, the 34-year-old Johan Gonzalez won his first 22 fights by knockout. In March 2025, he won a ten-round split decision over former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd. Gonzalez has made two previous appearances on ProBoxTV. In August 2023, he stopped Ricardo Ruben Villalbain five rounds, and then in November of that year, he scored a majority ten-round decision over then 16-1-2 Guido Schramm. Both fights were held at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.
In a ten-round supporting bout, junior lightweight William Foster III (19-3, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Connecticut, will face Joshafat Ortiz (13-3, 6 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania....
Opening the televised action will be a six-round junior welterweight battle between Gabriel Gerena (8-1, 6 KOs) of Piscataway, New Jersey, and Rani Jalomo (7-0-1, 4 KOs) of Chicago...
A six-round bantamweight tilt will feature Emmanuel Chance (3-0, 1 KO) of East Orange, New Jersey against Angel Munoz (3-2, 2 KOs) of Baldwin Park, California.
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Preview of Friday's show in Newark, NJ
This Friday, April 10th, (7:30 pm EDT/4:30 pm PDT) ProBoxTV is at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Presented by Rising Star Promotions and Pro Box Promotions, the ten-round middleweight main even features Brazil's Hebert Conceicao Sousa (10-0, 5 KOs) in his toughest career test to date against Johan “The Chelo Manotas” Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) of Las Vegas via Venezuela. And in the ten-round co-feature, ProBoxTV fan favorites Francisco “Bebu” Daniel Veron (16-1-1, 10 KOs) of Buenos Aires and Raul Garcia (15-2-1 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic will trade power punches in a guaranteed junior middleweight slugfest. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and prucenter.com.
Before turning professional in 2022, 28-year-old Hebert Conceicao won a middleweight gold medal at the 2021 Olympics and took bronze in the 2019 World Amateur Championships. In ten pro fights, Conceicao has already beaten two prominent Brazilian countrymen: the 2012 London Olympic-medal-winning brothers, Esquiva and Yamaguchi Falcao. In June 2024, in just his sixth fight, Conceicao won a unanimous ten-round decision over younger brother and silver medalist Esquiva and in September of last year, he prevailed against older brother and bronze medalist Yamaguchi to win the Brazilian super middleweight title. Conceicao was last seen in December of last year with a nearly flawless ten-round unanimous decision over veteran Elias Espadas in Fort Lauderdale, live on ProBoxTV.
After turning professional in 2017, the 34-year-old Johan Gonzalez won his first 22 fights by knockout. In March 2025, he won a ten-round split decision over former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd. Gonzalez has made two previous appearances on ProBoxTV. In August 2023, he stopped Ricardo Ruben Villalbain five rounds, and then in November of that year, he scored a majority ten-round decision over then 16-1-2 Guido Schramm. Both fights were held at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.
In a ten-round supporting bout, junior lightweight William Foster III (19-3, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Connecticut, will face Joshafat Ortiz (13-3, 6 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania....
Opening the televised action will be a six-round junior welterweight battle between Gabriel Gerena (8-1, 6 KOs) of Piscataway, New Jersey, and Rani Jalomo (7-0-1, 4 KOs) of Chicago...
A six-round bantamweight tilt will feature Emmanuel Chance (3-0, 1 KO) of East Orange, New Jersey against Angel Munoz (3-2, 2 KOs) of Baldwin Park, California.
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Bachkov gets TKO win in Dubai |
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Hovhannes Bachkov TKO4 Luis Arcón... In a display of precision and punching power, Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov registered a fourth-round technical knockout victory over Venezuela’s Luis Arcón. The junior welterweight bout, held in Dubai last weekend, marked a reunion between two former Olympic circuit rivals, with the European once again asserting his dominance. From the opening bell, Bachkov (9-0, 8 KOs) controlled the center of the ring, using his polished technique to break down Arcón’s guard as the Venezuelan attempted to answer back with his trademark aggression. However, the Tokyo Olympic medalist’s hand speed proved decisive, as he fired off sharp combinations that quickly began to wear down Arcon.
The end came in the fourth round. Following a sustained barrage capped by a powerful combination to the head, Arcón was sent to the canvas. Though he tried to beat the count, the accumulated punishment and Bachkov’s clear superiority prompted the referee to wave it off, awarding the Armenian his ninth professional victory. With the win, Bachkov further solidifies his standing as one of the most dangerous punchers in the 140-pound division. For Arcón (16-1-1, 12 KOs), the loss marks the first defeat of his professional career, in a bout where Bachkov’s technical edge ultimately proved decisive—echoing their amateur meeting a decade ago on the road to Rio 2016, where the Armenian prevailed by split decision.
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Bachkov gets TKO win in Dubai
Hovhannes Bachkov TKO4 Luis Arcón... In a display of precision and punching power, Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov registered a fourth-round technical knockout victory over Venezuela’s Luis Arcón. The junior welterweight bout, held in Dubai last weekend, marked a reunion between two former Olympic circuit rivals, with the European once again asserting his dominance. From the opening bell, Bachkov (9-0, 8 KOs) controlled the center of the ring, using his polished technique to break down Arcón’s guard as the Venezuelan attempted to answer back with his trademark aggression. However, the Tokyo Olympic medalist’s hand speed proved decisive, as he fired off sharp combinations that quickly began to wear down Arcon.
The end came in the fourth round. Following a sustained barrage capped by a powerful combination to the head, Arcón was sent to the canvas. Though he tried to beat the count, the accumulated punishment and Bachkov’s clear superiority prompted the referee to wave it off, awarding the Armenian his ninth professional victory. With the win, Bachkov further solidifies his standing as one of the most dangerous punchers in the 140-pound division. For Arcón (16-1-1, 12 KOs), the loss marks the first defeat of his professional career, in a bout where Bachkov’s technical edge ultimately proved decisive—echoing their amateur meeting a decade ago on the road to Rio 2016, where the Armenian prevailed by split decision.
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Japanese update: a win for Midorikawa, age 39 |
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Tsukuru Midorikawa TKO7 Hisashi Kato... Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall was the stage for a night of boxing this past April 3rd, featuring the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) junior middleweight championship. In an event presented by the prestigious Teiken Promotions, reigning monarch Tsukuru Midorikawa successfully defended his crown against the tough challenger Hisashi Kato. From the opening bell, Midorikawa demonstrated the experience and power that keep the prestigious regional belt around his waist, controlling the attacks of a relentless Kato. The conclusion came at 2:12 of the seventh round, when referee Takeru Okaniwa determined the challenger could not continue, decreeing a Technical Knockout victory for Midorikawa. With this result, the 39 year-old champion moves to 6-0. Kate is now 13-15-2.
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Japanese update: a win for Midorikawa, age 39
Tsukuru Midorikawa TKO7 Hisashi Kato... Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall was the stage for a night of boxing this past April 3rd, featuring the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) junior middleweight championship. In an event presented by the prestigious Teiken Promotions, reigning monarch Tsukuru Midorikawa successfully defended his crown against the tough challenger Hisashi Kato. From the opening bell, Midorikawa demonstrated the experience and power that keep the prestigious regional belt around his waist, controlling the attacks of a relentless Kato. The conclusion came at 2:12 of the seventh round, when referee Takeru Okaniwa determined the challenger could not continue, decreeing a Technical Knockout victory for Midorikawa. With this result, the 39 year-old champion moves to 6-0. Kate is now 13-15-2.
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Medford, Massachusetts card on tap for Great American Beer Hall |
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This Friday, April 10th, the Great American Beer Hall in Medford, Massachusetts will play host to a pro boxing when undefeated Irishman Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole takes on puncher Jeremy Cullors of Virginia in a super middleweight contest. O’Toole (15-0, 10 KOs), a Braintree resident and a fan favorite among Boston’s strong Irish community, enters the bout riding the momentum of a dominant performance last November, where he stopped Ismael Ocles in four rounds. A southpaw standing an imposing 6’3”, O’Toole has steadily developed his punching power. Across the ring, Cullors (8-2, 8 KOs) represents a dangerous test. Despite having fewer bouts, he boasts a menacing résumé in that every one of his victories has come by knockout. Cullors is the kind of fighter who can change the course of a fight with a single shot. His game plan is straightforward: close the distance and force exchanges that will test the chin of the unbeaten Irishman.
O’Toole will need to make full use of his reach advantage and footwork, keeping Cullors at bay behind a sharp jab while avoiding getting trapped along the ropes, where the American is at his most dangerous. Cullors, meanwhile, will look to apply relentless pressure, hunting for that one decisive blow that could silence the crowd.
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Medford, Massachusetts card on tap for Great American Beer Hall
This Friday, April 10th, the Great American Beer Hall in Medford, Massachusetts will play host to a pro boxing when undefeated Irishman Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole takes on puncher Jeremy Cullors of Virginia in a super middleweight contest. O’Toole (15-0, 10 KOs), a Braintree resident and a fan favorite among Boston’s strong Irish community, enters the bout riding the momentum of a dominant performance last November, where he stopped Ismael Ocles in four rounds. A southpaw standing an imposing 6’3”, O’Toole has steadily developed his punching power. Across the ring, Cullors (8-2, 8 KOs) represents a dangerous test. Despite having fewer bouts, he boasts a menacing résumé in that every one of his victories has come by knockout. Cullors is the kind of fighter who can change the course of a fight with a single shot. His game plan is straightforward: close the distance and force exchanges that will test the chin of the unbeaten Irishman.
O’Toole will need to make full use of his reach advantage and footwork, keeping Cullors at bay behind a sharp jab while avoiding getting trapped along the ropes, where the American is at his most dangerous. Cullors, meanwhile, will look to apply relentless pressure, hunting for that one decisive blow that could silence the crowd.
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Dirty Boxing reveals full line-up for Friday |
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Dirty Boxing Championship returns this Friday, April 10th with DBX6 headlined by Michael Garcia vs. Rob “The Wolf” Perez for the orgnaization's interim heavyweight title live from the James L. Knight Center and streaming live and for free beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on the Dirty Boxing Championship YouTube Channel. In the co-feature, Montavious Ware (4-0 in traditional boxing) looks for a second DBX win against Luis Saldana in a battle of fighters sporting 1-0 DBX records. Also st for action is Miami fan-favorite Bryan “El Gallo” Duran, who steps into the ring against veteran boxer Tristan Gallichan (6-5-2 in traditional boxing). Rounding out main card action is rising 6’7” star Tibaba Progress, who steps into the ring against 6’6” boxing veteran Blake LaCaze and 2-0 DBX competitor Milos “The Cobra” Janicic looking to keep his perfect record intact against Taylor “The Wyldman” Burley.
For ticket information and event details, visit https://dirtyboxingchampionship.com/.
The live streaming action also features a loaded lineup of prelims that will see former UFC competitor A.J. “The Savage” Cunningham facing Indiana’s Gabriel “Tag” Eurit (1-0 DBX) in a 145-pound duel, NFL turned combat sports athlete Zachary “The High Chief” Pauga (1-0 DBX) battling Joseph White in a heavyweight tilt, Jaleel “The Realest” Willis (1-0 DBX) dueling North Carolina’s Ryan Jett in a 170-pound matchup and Korean brawler Seung Jun Lee (1-0 DBX) facing Arizona’s Steven Gurrola in a heavyweight bout.
Rounding out the card is Dustin “Hollywood” Bailey (1-0 DBX) in 185-pound action against fellow DBX unbeaten Jeff “Insidious” Craig (1-0 DBX), plus Monte Ogbonna-Morrison (1-0 DBX) facing Leonardo Acanda in a 185-pound matchup and Ago “The Bosnian Dragon” Huskic in a 155-pound bout against Jeremy Henry.
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Dirty Boxing reveals full line-up for Friday
Dirty Boxing Championship returns this Friday, April 10th with DBX6 headlined by Michael Garcia vs. Rob “The Wolf” Perez for the orgnaization's interim heavyweight title live from the James L. Knight Center and streaming live and for free beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on the Dirty Boxing Championship YouTube Channel. In the co-feature, Montavious Ware (4-0 in traditional boxing) looks for a second DBX win against Luis Saldana in a battle of fighters sporting 1-0 DBX records. Also st for action is Miami fan-favorite Bryan “El Gallo” Duran, who steps into the ring against veteran boxer Tristan Gallichan (6-5-2 in traditional boxing). Rounding out main card action is rising 6’7” star Tibaba Progress, who steps into the ring against 6’6” boxing veteran Blake LaCaze and 2-0 DBX competitor Milos “The Cobra” Janicic looking to keep his perfect record intact against Taylor “The Wyldman” Burley.
For ticket information and event details, visit https://dirtyboxingchampionship.com/.
The live streaming action also features a loaded lineup of prelims that will see former UFC competitor A.J. “The Savage” Cunningham facing Indiana’s Gabriel “Tag” Eurit (1-0 DBX) in a 145-pound duel, NFL turned combat sports athlete Zachary “The High Chief” Pauga (1-0 DBX) battling Joseph White in a heavyweight tilt, Jaleel “The Realest” Willis (1-0 DBX) dueling North Carolina’s Ryan Jett in a 170-pound matchup and Korean brawler Seung Jun Lee (1-0 DBX) facing Arizona’s Steven Gurrola in a heavyweight bout.
Rounding out the card is Dustin “Hollywood” Bailey (1-0 DBX) in 185-pound action against fellow DBX unbeaten Jeff “Insidious” Craig (1-0 DBX), plus Monte Ogbonna-Morrison (1-0 DBX) facing Leonardo Acanda in a 185-pound matchup and Ago “The Bosnian Dragon” Huskic in a 155-pound bout against Jeremy Henry.
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Santiago remains unified champ with another road win |
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Rene Santiago W12 Masataka Taniguchi... Puerto Rico's René “El Chulo” Santiago fadded to his legacy as a Japanese spoiler by successfully defending his unified WBA and WBO light flyweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Masataka Taniguchi. The high-level tactical battle took place Friday, April 3rd at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, marking Santiago’s third consecutive win on Japanese soil. After twelve rounds, the judges confirmed Santiago’s command with scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113, all in favor of the defending champion. With the victory, Santiago improves to 16-4 with 9 knockouts and joins fellow standouts like Oscar Collazo and Xander Zayas as part of the new wave of Puerto Rican fighters holding unified world titles. Taniguchi, a former 105-pound title holder, falls to 21-6.
The bout unfolded in two distinct phases. In the early rounds, Taniguchi used his southpaw stance and superior hand speed to trouble the champion, landing sharp combinations that gave him a slight edge on the scorecards. However, the turning point came in the fifth round, when Santiago landed a perfectly timed counter right hook that sent the Japanese fighter to the canvas. Though Taniguchi rose quickly, the knockdown dramatically shifted the momentum and psychology of the fight.
From that moment on, “El Chulo” took full control. Showcasing ring IQ and composure, the Humacao native relied on lateral movement and a tight defensive shell to neutralize the challenger’s offense. In the championship rounds, Santiago displayed excellent conditioning, maintaining his punch output while avoiding the kind of risky exchanges Taniguchi desperately needed to turn the tide.
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Santiago remains unified champ with another road win
Rene Santiago W12 Masataka Taniguchi... Puerto Rico's René “El Chulo” Santiago fadded to his legacy as a Japanese spoiler by successfully defending his unified WBA and WBO light flyweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Masataka Taniguchi. The high-level tactical battle took place Friday, April 3rd at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, marking Santiago’s third consecutive win on Japanese soil. After twelve rounds, the judges confirmed Santiago’s command with scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113, all in favor of the defending champion. With the victory, Santiago improves to 16-4 with 9 knockouts and joins fellow standouts like Oscar Collazo and Xander Zayas as part of the new wave of Puerto Rican fighters holding unified world titles. Taniguchi, a former 105-pound title holder, falls to 21-6.
The bout unfolded in two distinct phases. In the early rounds, Taniguchi used his southpaw stance and superior hand speed to trouble the champion, landing sharp combinations that gave him a slight edge on the scorecards. However, the turning point came in the fifth round, when Santiago landed a perfectly timed counter right hook that sent the Japanese fighter to the canvas. Though Taniguchi rose quickly, the knockdown dramatically shifted the momentum and psychology of the fight.
From that moment on, “El Chulo” took full control. Showcasing ring IQ and composure, the Humacao native relied on lateral movement and a tight defensive shell to neutralize the challenger’s offense. In the championship rounds, Santiago displayed excellent conditioning, maintaining his punch output while avoiding the kind of risky exchanges Taniguchi desperately needed to turn the tide.
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Dubois defeats Harper to become unified champion |
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Caroline Dubois W10 Terri Harper ... Caroline Dubois dropped Terri Harper en route to beating her rival by unanimous decision in a unification bout. After a cagey start, Dubois made a breakthrough in the sixth round when she dropped Harper to the canvas. They fought fiercely through the closing stages of the bout with Dubois taking the unanimous verdict: 98-91 (twice) and 97-92 to unify the WBC and WBO world lightweight championships. Harper is a three-weight world champion and established on the British boxing scene. But Dubois, the WBC titlist going in to the match-up at Kensington's Olympia, hadn't hesitated to dismiss her achievements and threaten an early knockout.
Neither however rushed in the first round, both reluctant to make a mistake. They looked for jabs and Harper examined Dubois' southpaw style. Dubois padded Harper's jab down and the Londoner launched a sudden double right and rapid left, only for it to sail wide. Dubois feinted but didn't draw much from Harper. Her right hook though grazed the top of Harper's head, prompting the WBO champion to step in with fast straight shots. Dubois bounded smartly clear. She slammed a left hook around Harper's guard and the Yorkshirewoman smiled and stuck out her tongue.
Dubois reached for the body with a one-two combination, then a solid right from Harper shot to her stomach. The Londoner blocked a heavy cross from Harper and rolled under a left hook to land her right. Dubois slid away from straight punches but Harper smiled at her again when Dubois' left fell short. Harper kept moving, looking to make Dubois work. Her plan was to drain Dubois' energy and she did land solidly before the end of the fourth round.
Dubois strode forward with a powerful one-two, but was breathing heavily as she sat on her stool. Holding the center of the ring, Dubois darted forward to apply body shots. A left hook caught Dubois as she backed out. Stranded up close, they put spite into punches but couldn't find the target. There was little separate them at the halfway stage. Dubois curved her left down. She moved in with the backhand again. Harper kept pedalling away, but Dubois was getting ever closer. She struck hard in the sixth round, hitting the body first before going upstairs, a crunching left hook to the head putting Harper down.
Harper looked to respond, fighting back in the next round. But as she came forward, Dubois could settle herself and time shots. She cranked another heavy left into Harper's glove and then whipped in more backhands. She attacked the body as Harper retreated and snagged her jab into the head.
A cut, opening on the left eyebrow, gave Harper yet another problem to contend with. Dubois smashed in a right hook and continued her pursuit. A cruel right uppercut landed and a big left from Dubois hit hard. Dubois kept her eyes locked on Harper and she set about her. She fired in a combination as Harper leant back into the ropes.
Harper was under pressure now. She stood her ground and reeled off a right hook. They exchanged vicious shots in the ninth round and Harper landed to head. She smacked a left in too as the bell sounded. In the last round, Harper repeated left hooks and brought in her right. Those shots caught Dubois but she rattled Harper with own fast right hook. They went blow for blow, both refusing to back off, Dubois' left landing strongly.
Harper had provided Dubois with her sternest professional examination yet. But it was one the young Briton passed. "What an atmosphere. Women's boxing has always been on the backburner but today we put it at the forefront, so thanks to everyone who turned up and fought on the card. I couldn't do it without you," Dubois told Sky Sports.
"I know the Terri Harper fans will be upset but she put on a good show and is a very good boxer. This was never personal for me, it was personal for Terri. I am an entertainer and put myself out there for you guys."
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Dubois defeats Harper to become unified champion
Caroline Dubois W10 Terri Harper ... Caroline Dubois dropped Terri Harper en route to beating her rival by unanimous decision in a unification bout. After a cagey start, Dubois made a breakthrough in the sixth round when she dropped Harper to the canvas. They fought fiercely through the closing stages of the bout with Dubois taking the unanimous verdict: 98-91 (twice) and 97-92 to unify the WBC and WBO world lightweight championships. Harper is a three-weight world champion and established on the British boxing scene. But Dubois, the WBC titlist going in to the match-up at Kensington's Olympia, hadn't hesitated to dismiss her achievements and threaten an early knockout.
Neither however rushed in the first round, both reluctant to make a mistake. They looked for jabs and Harper examined Dubois' southpaw style. Dubois padded Harper's jab down and the Londoner launched a sudden double right and rapid left, only for it to sail wide. Dubois feinted but didn't draw much from Harper. Her right hook though grazed the top of Harper's head, prompting the WBO champion to step in with fast straight shots. Dubois bounded smartly clear. She slammed a left hook around Harper's guard and the Yorkshirewoman smiled and stuck out her tongue.
Dubois reached for the body with a one-two combination, then a solid right from Harper shot to her stomach. The Londoner blocked a heavy cross from Harper and rolled under a left hook to land her right. Dubois slid away from straight punches but Harper smiled at her again when Dubois' left fell short. Harper kept moving, looking to make Dubois work. Her plan was to drain Dubois' energy and she did land solidly before the end of the fourth round.
Dubois strode forward with a powerful one-two, but was breathing heavily as she sat on her stool. Holding the center of the ring, Dubois darted forward to apply body shots. A left hook caught Dubois as she backed out. Stranded up close, they put spite into punches but couldn't find the target. There was little separate them at the halfway stage. Dubois curved her left down. She moved in with the backhand again. Harper kept pedalling away, but Dubois was getting ever closer. She struck hard in the sixth round, hitting the body first before going upstairs, a crunching left hook to the head putting Harper down.
Harper looked to respond, fighting back in the next round. But as she came forward, Dubois could settle herself and time shots. She cranked another heavy left into Harper's glove and then whipped in more backhands. She attacked the body as Harper retreated and snagged her jab into the head.
A cut, opening on the left eyebrow, gave Harper yet another problem to contend with. Dubois smashed in a right hook and continued her pursuit. A cruel right uppercut landed and a big left from Dubois hit hard. Dubois kept her eyes locked on Harper and she set about her. She fired in a combination as Harper leant back into the ropes.
Harper was under pressure now. She stood her ground and reeled off a right hook. They exchanged vicious shots in the ninth round and Harper landed to head. She smacked a left in too as the bell sounded. In the last round, Harper repeated left hooks and brought in her right. Those shots caught Dubois but she rattled Harper with own fast right hook. They went blow for blow, both refusing to back off, Dubois' left landing strongly.
Harper had provided Dubois with her sternest professional examination yet. But it was one the young Briton passed. "What an atmosphere. Women's boxing has always been on the backburner but today we put it at the forefront, so thanks to everyone who turned up and fought on the card. I couldn't do it without you," Dubois told Sky Sports.
"I know the Terri Harper fans will be upset but she put on a good show and is a very good boxer. This was never personal for me, it was personal for Terri. I am an entertainer and put myself out there for you guys."
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Bloodied Lauren Price defeats Stephanie Pineiro |
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Lauren Price W10 Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino.... In a fight that began as a technical showcase and turned into a grueling test of grit and resolve, Wales’ Lauren Price retained her unified welterweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino. The bout, held Saturday night at Utilita Arena Cardiff, left the champion bloodied but unbroken, her belts still firmly in her possession. After ten hard-fought rounds, the judges returned scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 98-92, all in favor of theundefeated Price, who is recognozed as a world champion by al the major organizations save the WBO, who have Mikaela Mayer as champ.
From the opening bell, Price (10-0, 2 KOs) put her Olympic pedigree on full display. Using superior hand speed and constant lateral movement, she controlled the first four rounds, snapping Piñeiro’s head back with crisp right hooks and straight lefts. Despite holding a noticeable height advantage, Piñeiro (10-1, 3 KOs) struggled to pin down the elusive Welsh fighter at range. The fight took a dramatic turn in the fifth round. An accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut over Price’s right eyebrow and left her mouth bloodied, with blood pouring heavily. Sensing opportunity, Piñeiro ramped up the pressure, trapping the champion along the ropes in the sixth and seventh rounds and landing heavy combinations that tested Price’s durability. Unfazed by the blood staining her white trunks, Price showed the heart of a true champion in the championship rounds. In the ninth and tenth, she abandoned her hit-and-move approach and stood her ground, trading in the center of the ring with sharp, surgical precision that ultimately halted the challenger’s momentum.
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Bloodied Lauren Price defeats Stephanie Pineiro
Lauren Price W10 Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino.... In a fight that began as a technical showcase and turned into a grueling test of grit and resolve, Wales’ Lauren Price retained her unified welterweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Piñeiro Aquino. The bout, held Saturday night at Utilita Arena Cardiff, left the champion bloodied but unbroken, her belts still firmly in her possession. After ten hard-fought rounds, the judges returned scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 98-92, all in favor of theundefeated Price, who is recognozed as a world champion by al the major organizations save the WBO, who have Mikaela Mayer as champ.
From the opening bell, Price (10-0, 2 KOs) put her Olympic pedigree on full display. Using superior hand speed and constant lateral movement, she controlled the first four rounds, snapping Piñeiro’s head back with crisp right hooks and straight lefts. Despite holding a noticeable height advantage, Piñeiro (10-1, 3 KOs) struggled to pin down the elusive Welsh fighter at range. The fight took a dramatic turn in the fifth round. An accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut over Price’s right eyebrow and left her mouth bloodied, with blood pouring heavily. Sensing opportunity, Piñeiro ramped up the pressure, trapping the champion along the ropes in the sixth and seventh rounds and landing heavy combinations that tested Price’s durability. Unfazed by the blood staining her white trunks, Price showed the heart of a true champion in the championship rounds. In the ninth and tenth, she abandoned her hit-and-move approach and stood her ground, trading in the center of the ring with sharp, surgical precision that ultimately halted the challenger’s momentum.
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