Dana White offered position in the Trump administration |
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In a Truth Social post, United States president Donald Trump offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC. Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people [all MMA fighters] to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
At the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, White acknowledged the offer, saying: "I'm flying to Washington D.C. right now. I'm going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."
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Dana White offered position in the Trump administration
In a Truth Social post, United States president Donald Trump offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC. Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people [all MMA fighters] to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
At the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, White acknowledged the offer, saying: "I'm flying to Washington D.C. right now. I'm going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."
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Chev Clarke stops Chris Billam-Smith |
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Chev Clarke TKO7 Chris Billam-Smith... The Zuffa Boxing 12 main event at Copper Box Arena in London saw a career-changing victory for Chev “C4” Clarke, who rang up a stunning seventh-round TKO of ex-cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith. After six rounds, the fight was even on two official scorecards. Then in round sevem, Clarke sent “CBS” to the canvas twice – the only times Billam-Smith had been dropped in his career – as he claimed the biggest victory of his professional career. The bout started off with both men landing heavy shots early, with Billam-Smith pushing forward, ripping heavy shots to the body, while Clarke looked to counter upstairs with heavy punches over the top. It set the scene for a tough, gritty encounter that eventually saw Clarke close the show with his fight-altering punch power.
Throughout the contest, Clarke looked to have the faster hands, but Billam-Smith’s relentless forward pressure and heavier punches, particularly to the body, ensured he kept on scoring from round to round. However, the first warning shot came early in the fifth round, as a huge shot from Clarke early in the round forced Billam-Smith to hold on. That power would show itself again two rounds later in round seven, and it proved decisive as a massive right hand from Clarke sent Billam-Smith to the canvas for the first time in his career. “CBS” took an eight-count, but looked far from steady after returning to his feet. Then another barrage of shots sent Billam-Smith spinning into the ropes, and down to the mat again. Billam-Smith battled back to his feet again, but the end was near, and Clarke poured on the pressure to hurt his man again and force the referee to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:24 mark.
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Chev Clarke stops Chris Billam-Smith
Chev Clarke TKO7 Chris Billam-Smith... The Zuffa Boxing 12 main event at Copper Box Arena in London saw a career-changing victory for Chev “C4” Clarke, who rang up a stunning seventh-round TKO of ex-cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith. After six rounds, the fight was even on two official scorecards. Then in round sevem, Clarke sent “CBS” to the canvas twice – the only times Billam-Smith had been dropped in his career – as he claimed the biggest victory of his professional career. The bout started off with both men landing heavy shots early, with Billam-Smith pushing forward, ripping heavy shots to the body, while Clarke looked to counter upstairs with heavy punches over the top. It set the scene for a tough, gritty encounter that eventually saw Clarke close the show with his fight-altering punch power.
Throughout the contest, Clarke looked to have the faster hands, but Billam-Smith’s relentless forward pressure and heavier punches, particularly to the body, ensured he kept on scoring from round to round. However, the first warning shot came early in the fifth round, as a huge shot from Clarke early in the round forced Billam-Smith to hold on. That power would show itself again two rounds later in round seven, and it proved decisive as a massive right hand from Clarke sent Billam-Smith to the canvas for the first time in his career. “CBS” took an eight-count, but looked far from steady after returning to his feet. Then another barrage of shots sent Billam-Smith spinning into the ropes, and down to the mat again. Billam-Smith battled back to his feet again, but the end was near, and Clarke poured on the pressure to hurt his man again and force the referee to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:24 mark.
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Ex-champ Bentley edges Mosley |
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In the Zuffa co-feature in London, recently stripped WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley came close to finishing Shane Mosley Jr, but eventually had to dig deep to turn back his opponent’s late charge. Bentley claimed a unanimous decision victory over ten competitive rounds. Bentley made the breakthrough in round two when a swift lead right hand found its mark and snapped back Mosley’s head. Then, in the next exchange, the Englishman decked Mosley with another rapid-fire right hand that forced the American to take a count for the first time in his career. Bentley put his foot on the gas in an attempt to finish the fight, but despite landing several big shots, Mosley managed to survive the onslaught before coming back strongly at the end of the round.
Despite being dropped and close to finished in round two, Mosley took the fight to Bentley and pushed the pace through the middle portion of the fight, while Bentley seemed content to drop his output, stay defensively tight, and look to connect with clean, explosive shots. By the sixth round, Bentley’s corner was starting to get concerned with their man, and delivered a clear instruction to pick up the pace, as Mosley continued to box more smoothly and score more consistently. Then, in the seventh, with Mosely seemingly cruising, Bentley came alive late in the round and connected with big shots, including a superb left uppercut that spun the American’s chin in the closing seconds.
As the fight entered round nine, Mosley seemed to sense that the decision win he predicted during fight week was within reach, and he kept the pressure on, looking to outwork Bentley. But the Englishman switched back and forth between stances and landed the heavier, cleaner shots off the back foot. And, after a closely contested final three minutes, the judges were called into action to determine the victor, with Bentley picking up the decision win with scores of 96-94, 96-93, 95-94.
With a hard-earned win in the bank, Bentley turned his attention to the future, as he made clear his desire to fight for championship gold once again. But then he teased a possible all-British fight with Conor Benn, who was an interested spectator at ringside. “The Destroyer’s” reaction suggested making that matchup would be very easy indeed.
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Ex-champ Bentley edges Mosley
In the Zuffa co-feature in London, recently stripped WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley came close to finishing Shane Mosley Jr, but eventually had to dig deep to turn back his opponent’s late charge. Bentley claimed a unanimous decision victory over ten competitive rounds. Bentley made the breakthrough in round two when a swift lead right hand found its mark and snapped back Mosley’s head. Then, in the next exchange, the Englishman decked Mosley with another rapid-fire right hand that forced the American to take a count for the first time in his career. Bentley put his foot on the gas in an attempt to finish the fight, but despite landing several big shots, Mosley managed to survive the onslaught before coming back strongly at the end of the round.
Despite being dropped and close to finished in round two, Mosley took the fight to Bentley and pushed the pace through the middle portion of the fight, while Bentley seemed content to drop his output, stay defensively tight, and look to connect with clean, explosive shots. By the sixth round, Bentley’s corner was starting to get concerned with their man, and delivered a clear instruction to pick up the pace, as Mosley continued to box more smoothly and score more consistently. Then, in the seventh, with Mosely seemingly cruising, Bentley came alive late in the round and connected with big shots, including a superb left uppercut that spun the American’s chin in the closing seconds.
As the fight entered round nine, Mosley seemed to sense that the decision win he predicted during fight week was within reach, and he kept the pressure on, looking to outwork Bentley. But the Englishman switched back and forth between stances and landed the heavier, cleaner shots off the back foot. And, after a closely contested final three minutes, the judges were called into action to determine the victor, with Bentley picking up the decision win with scores of 96-94, 96-93, 95-94.
With a hard-earned win in the bank, Bentley turned his attention to the future, as he made clear his desire to fight for championship gold once again. But then he teased a possible all-British fight with Conor Benn, who was an interested spectator at ringside. “The Destroyer’s” reaction suggested making that matchup would be very easy indeed.
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Zuffa undercard results |
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Da’Mazion Vanhouter KO1 Ivan Balaz... American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter continued his rise with a first-round demolition of former Czech heavyweight champion Ivan Balaz. Balaz, whose only career defeat came via fourth-round knockout to Johnny Fisher last December, came out looking to use his size to bully Vanhouter, but the 21-year old was in no mood to be pushed around. The American’s hand-speed advantage was there for all to see as he landed big, powerful shots on Balaz early while working behind a high guard to avoid being caught by one of the Czech’s clubbing counters. Vanhouter then switched targets from head to body and ripped a left to the liver that sent the six-foot-five Balaz down to one knee. The big Czech just about beat the count, but Vanhouter immediately pounced on him and sent him back to one knee after a heavy right to the body forced Balaz to fold up again. The referee delivered another eight-count, and with plenty of time left in the round, Vanhouter closed in, threw some big punches upstairs to bring Balaz’s elbows up, then buried another right to the body to put him down for a third and final time as the referee waved off the bout at the 2:04 mark. Now with his career standing at 14-0, with 11 knockouts, and 10 in the first round, Vanhouter is eyeing bigger opportunities. And with Dana White stating that he might find space for “Mazi” on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff, that opportunity could potentially come sooner, rather than later.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Undefeated Scottish middleweight Sam “Tricky” Hickey added another stoppage win to his record with a fifth-round finish of Belgium’s Amaury Massenaux. Faced with a mobile, scrappy opponent, Hickey bided his time and gauged his opponent’s timing and range through the first three rounds. Hickey found his mark in the fourth round with some solid counter shots and nasty shots to the body. Then, in the fifth, he had Massenaux in trouble early with some nasty shots to the midsection, though rather than administer a count when the Belgian took a knee, the referee instead gave Hickey a warning for pushing his opponent’s head down. Hickey made amends moments later as he landed more big shots that forced Massenaux to one knee once again. This time it counted as a legitimate knockdown as the Belgian received an eight-count. Hickey saw his moment and loaded up with heavy shots to the chin and body that sent Massenaux to one knee for the third time, and convinced the referee to step in and end the contest. Massenaux protested the swiftness of the stoppage, and he may have had a point, but at that point in the fight it was all Hickey, and a stoppage seemed inevitable. The stoppage gave Hickey his third straight win, and third finish, under the Zuffa Boxing banner as he improved his record to 7-0 with a mature, composed display.
England’s Kayla Allen continued her winning start to life in the pro ranks with a hard-earned decision victory over hard-hitting German Julia Igel in their six-round junior welterweight matchup. Both women loaded up and swung for the fences in a breathless opening round as they looked to impose their will on the other. In the end, it was Igel who had to take the first backward step of the fight, with Allen’s pace proving too hot to handle through the first round. In the final two rounds, Allen loaded up again and bloodied up Igel, whose face was starting to wear the damage of the English fighter’s relentless pressure. But Igel stayed in the pocket and continued to fire back with strong punches as she pushed Allen all the way to the final bell. After six rounds banked, and countless punches thrown, Allen got the nod from the scoring referee, whose scorecard read 58-56 to take her career record to 2-0. Igel’s output dropped significantly in round 2, but what she threw was heavy, and with intent to end the fight as she tried to ration her energy. It forced Allen to take some big shots, but she continued to pour forward, throwing punches in bunches, all the way to the bell. That pattern continued through the third round, but unsurprisingly, the pace dropped a little in the fourth, with Allen dropping her output and being more selective with her shots. It gave Igel the chance to up her own output, and it produced the closest round of the fight, which could have been scored either way after a closely contested two minutes.
In the main card opener, Lucas “Lights Out” Roehrig’s third straight stoppage victory improved his perfect professional record to 10-0, as he banked valuable rounds before putting away the durable Scottish cruiserweight champion Connal McDonald in the seventh. A protege of former super-middleweight world champion George Groves, Roehrig showed superior hand speed early as he settled into his work. But a couple of well-timed counters from McDonald served as a warning to the undefeated prospect not to get too confident, too early. Indeed, as the bout progressed through the first three rounds, McDonald proved to be a tricky proposition as he took the best of Roehrig’s shots without ever looking flustered, and came back with some decent shots of his own. With Roehrig holding the aces in terms of speed and conditioning, it meant the undefeated Englishman had to control his pace, power, and energy, and he did just that as he gradually worked over his opponent, then finished the job in the seventh round. with a relentless barrage of hooks forcing McDonald to his knees and convincing the referee to wave the fight off, rather than administer a count. It put the exclamation point on a valuable learning fight for Roehrig, who set his sights on bigger fights, with the 23-year-old name-checking former world champion Andrew Tabiti as someone he’d love to test himself against as he looks to make the next developmental leap in his promising career.
Undefeated light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov followed up his Knockout of the Year-worthy finish of Ahmed El Biali at Zuffa Boxing 3 with another highlight-reel finish as he stopped British veteran Zach Parker with a show-stopping body shot in the fourth round. Things didn’t start ideally for Dzambekov, who had to endure a tricky first three rounds as he was forced to deal with a host of body shots from Parker, who appeared to be targeting the Austrian’s midsection. But that all changed in the fourth round, when Dzambekov dipped his hips and connected with a crushing left hand to the body that folded up Parker and sent him to the canvas for the ten-count. The 28-year-old improved his perfect professional record to 15-0.
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Zuffa undercard results
Da’Mazion Vanhouter KO1 Ivan Balaz... American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter continued his rise with a first-round demolition of former Czech heavyweight champion Ivan Balaz. Balaz, whose only career defeat came via fourth-round knockout to Johnny Fisher last December, came out looking to use his size to bully Vanhouter, but the 21-year old was in no mood to be pushed around. The American’s hand-speed advantage was there for all to see as he landed big, powerful shots on Balaz early while working behind a high guard to avoid being caught by one of the Czech’s clubbing counters. Vanhouter then switched targets from head to body and ripped a left to the liver that sent the six-foot-five Balaz down to one knee. The big Czech just about beat the count, but Vanhouter immediately pounced on him and sent him back to one knee after a heavy right to the body forced Balaz to fold up again. The referee delivered another eight-count, and with plenty of time left in the round, Vanhouter closed in, threw some big punches upstairs to bring Balaz’s elbows up, then buried another right to the body to put him down for a third and final time as the referee waved off the bout at the 2:04 mark. Now with his career standing at 14-0, with 11 knockouts, and 10 in the first round, Vanhouter is eyeing bigger opportunities. And with Dana White stating that he might find space for “Mazi” on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff, that opportunity could potentially come sooner, rather than later.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Undefeated Scottish middleweight Sam “Tricky” Hickey added another stoppage win to his record with a fifth-round finish of Belgium’s Amaury Massenaux. Faced with a mobile, scrappy opponent, Hickey bided his time and gauged his opponent’s timing and range through the first three rounds. Hickey found his mark in the fourth round with some solid counter shots and nasty shots to the body. Then, in the fifth, he had Massenaux in trouble early with some nasty shots to the midsection, though rather than administer a count when the Belgian took a knee, the referee instead gave Hickey a warning for pushing his opponent’s head down. Hickey made amends moments later as he landed more big shots that forced Massenaux to one knee once again. This time it counted as a legitimate knockdown as the Belgian received an eight-count. Hickey saw his moment and loaded up with heavy shots to the chin and body that sent Massenaux to one knee for the third time, and convinced the referee to step in and end the contest. Massenaux protested the swiftness of the stoppage, and he may have had a point, but at that point in the fight it was all Hickey, and a stoppage seemed inevitable. The stoppage gave Hickey his third straight win, and third finish, under the Zuffa Boxing banner as he improved his record to 7-0 with a mature, composed display.
England’s Kayla Allen continued her winning start to life in the pro ranks with a hard-earned decision victory over hard-hitting German Julia Igel in their six-round junior welterweight matchup. Both women loaded up and swung for the fences in a breathless opening round as they looked to impose their will on the other. In the end, it was Igel who had to take the first backward step of the fight, with Allen’s pace proving too hot to handle through the first round. In the final two rounds, Allen loaded up again and bloodied up Igel, whose face was starting to wear the damage of the English fighter’s relentless pressure. But Igel stayed in the pocket and continued to fire back with strong punches as she pushed Allen all the way to the final bell. After six rounds banked, and countless punches thrown, Allen got the nod from the scoring referee, whose scorecard read 58-56 to take her career record to 2-0. Igel’s output dropped significantly in round 2, but what she threw was heavy, and with intent to end the fight as she tried to ration her energy. It forced Allen to take some big shots, but she continued to pour forward, throwing punches in bunches, all the way to the bell. That pattern continued through the third round, but unsurprisingly, the pace dropped a little in the fourth, with Allen dropping her output and being more selective with her shots. It gave Igel the chance to up her own output, and it produced the closest round of the fight, which could have been scored either way after a closely contested two minutes.
In the main card opener, Lucas “Lights Out” Roehrig’s third straight stoppage victory improved his perfect professional record to 10-0, as he banked valuable rounds before putting away the durable Scottish cruiserweight champion Connal McDonald in the seventh. A protege of former super-middleweight world champion George Groves, Roehrig showed superior hand speed early as he settled into his work. But a couple of well-timed counters from McDonald served as a warning to the undefeated prospect not to get too confident, too early. Indeed, as the bout progressed through the first three rounds, McDonald proved to be a tricky proposition as he took the best of Roehrig’s shots without ever looking flustered, and came back with some decent shots of his own. With Roehrig holding the aces in terms of speed and conditioning, it meant the undefeated Englishman had to control his pace, power, and energy, and he did just that as he gradually worked over his opponent, then finished the job in the seventh round. with a relentless barrage of hooks forcing McDonald to his knees and convincing the referee to wave the fight off, rather than administer a count. It put the exclamation point on a valuable learning fight for Roehrig, who set his sights on bigger fights, with the 23-year-old name-checking former world champion Andrew Tabiti as someone he’d love to test himself against as he looks to make the next developmental leap in his promising career.
Undefeated light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov followed up his Knockout of the Year-worthy finish of Ahmed El Biali at Zuffa Boxing 3 with another highlight-reel finish as he stopped British veteran Zach Parker with a show-stopping body shot in the fourth round. Things didn’t start ideally for Dzambekov, who had to endure a tricky first three rounds as he was forced to deal with a host of body shots from Parker, who appeared to be targeting the Austrian’s midsection. But that all changed in the fourth round, when Dzambekov dipped his hips and connected with a crushing left hand to the body that folded up Parker and sent him to the canvas for the ten-count. The 28-year-old improved his perfect professional record to 15-0.
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Paro headed to San Fran for Tuesday press conference |
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On Tuesday at 4 PM ET/ 1 PM PT, Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions will host a press conference in San Francisco to formally announce the welterweight title unification showdown between Liam Paro (pictured) and Devin Haney. The presser will stream live on DAZN’s and Top Rank YouTube channels. In attendance will be three-division and current WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, his father and trainer, Bill Haney, two-division and current IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro, CEO of No Limit Boxing George Rose, Top Rank President Todd duBoef and DAZN Head of Boxing for North America Britton Hardin.
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Paro headed to San Fran for Tuesday press conference
On Tuesday at 4 PM ET/ 1 PM PT, Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions will host a press conference in San Francisco to formally announce the welterweight title unification showdown between Liam Paro (pictured) and Devin Haney. The presser will stream live on DAZN’s and Top Rank YouTube channels. In attendance will be three-division and current WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, his father and trainer, Bill Haney, two-division and current IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro, CEO of No Limit Boxing George Rose, Top Rank President Todd duBoef and DAZN Head of Boxing for North America Britton Hardin.
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Tank Davis settles up with his accuser |
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Amid rumors that Gervonta "Tank" Davis is planning a comeback fight, USA Today is reporting that the former two-division champion has settled a civil lawsuit in which a Florida woman accused him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Terms of the settlement were not revealed but the lawsuit was dropped. Davis is listed as undefeated, but very questionable officiating elevated what should have been a loss into a draw with Lamont Roach in March 2025. After that, Davis' life turned chaotic, with various legal charges, primarily the Florida one he just settled, and diva-like behavior costing Davis a lucrative exhibition fight against social influencer-turned-cruiserweight Jake Paul. Davis has not fought since the Roach draw. PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
MAY 28, 2026: According to a report from TMZ, an arrest warrant has been issued in the state of Maryland for disgraced boxing star Gervonta "Tank" Davis. A Baltimore native who spends a lot of time in Florida (where the majority of his current legal troubles arose), Davis **allegedly** was involved in a strip club altercation in Miami in October of last year, which resulted in serious charges being brought against him. Davis is accused of attacking one of his girlfriends, with some grainy security video appearing to corrobotate at least some of the charges. Davis was already on probation in Maryland for a 2020 hit-and-run incident, and last month, a Maryland judge apparently decided the Miami incident constituted a violation of Davis' terms of probation, and as a result, the Maryland warrant was issued. Davis is still listed as the WBA lightweight champion, but his boxing career has gone off a cliff for now, with a very lucrative exhibition bout against Jake Paul getting cancelled last year due to Davis' bad behavior.
MAY 25, 2026: The WBA Championships Committee has officially ordered the mandatory lightweight title bout between reigning champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis and WBA #1 contender, Floyd Schofield. The sanctioning organization sent formal notification to both camps this Saturday, May 23rd, granting the parties a 30-day negotiation period that will expire on June 22nd. Under WBA Championship Rule C.10 — Title Defense Periods — champions in all divisions outside of heavyweight are required to defend their titles every nine months from the date the championship was obtained. In Davis’ case, his last appearance came on March 1, 2025, when he retained the title via majority draw against Lamont Roach, leaving the mandatory defense significantly overdue. One explanation for Davis' inactivity is his troubling legal situation. See below:
JAN 29, 2026: On Wednesday evening, TMZ broke the news that WBA lightweight champion was arrested in Miami Gardens, Florida on domestic violence charges. Davis was taken into police custody about two weeks after officials put out a warrant for his arrest. It is expected that Davis will be bailed out of jail shortly. The details of the allegations against Davis are as follows: Courtney Rossel and Davis have known each other for a few years. Rossel and Davis were intimately involved for a few months, although they chose not to make their relationship public. On October 27, 2025, at approximately 4:15 a.m., Davis came to Rossel at her place of work, a VIP lounge. Next, Davis allegedly grabbed and dragged her through a stairway, through the kitchen and through the back entrance all the way into the parking garage, where Davis continuously grabbed, choked, pushed, pulled, and struck Rossel in the back of the head, leaving her terrified and alone and embarrassed. During the incident, Davis allegedly forced Rossel to exit her workplace against her will, dragged her through the establishment, through a staircase, a kitchen, a backroom, and all the way into a parking garage, and attempted to force Rossel into his car until Rosell was able to run away. [This is the basis for the kidnapping charge].
JAN 17, 2026: Earlier this week, an arrest warrant was issued for troubled Gervonta "Tank" Davis by Miami Gardens Police for alleged domestic violence. The charges against Davis stem from a previously reported incident that occurred in October. They include battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping. Police apparently have not yet located Davis in the three days since the warrant was issued. Davis is still recognized as the lightweight champion by the WBA despite his boxing inactivity, reprehensible alleged conduct, the controversy of his last match against Lamont Roach (in which Davis was allowed to take an illegal "time out") and his agreement to a cruiserweight fight vs. Jake Paul. The Paul fight was abruptly called off in November, shortly after the initial domestic violence reports surfaced.
NOV 4, 2025: Jake Paul and MVP canceled Paul's November 14th exhibition vs. WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis over the allegations that Davis committed yet another act of violence against a woman. Paul issued the following statement: "Gervonta Davis is an actual walking human piece of garbage. Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, the showing up hours late to shoots, to the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits. If you support this man you support the most vile sin a man can commit. I didn’t want to give this woman abuser a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account. My company champions women. I’m so sorry to everyone involved. Mostly to the undercard fighters, to my team at MVP and to my team who worked so hard prepping for this fight, sacrificing time with loved ones and kids just for this fool to lose his unintelligent mind again. It’s scary that devilish men like this can rise to the top of culture and sports, including in positions of power. I hope you people moving forward look beyond his fake streetwear pieces and search for something deeper to be a fan of. As for me it’s on to the next one as always. Anyone. Anytime. Any place."
Paul's statement followed on the heels of one issued by his company, which read: "Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix have announced that Jake Paul versus Gervonta Davis, originally scheduled for Friday, November 14th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida will no longer be moving forward. 'Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate the situation responsibly,' said MVP's CEO, Nakisa Bedarian. “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We think Netflix, the Keseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Casino for their partnership.' MVP appreciates the continued support and understanding of our athletes, partners, sponsors, and fans as we work to finalize updated event plans. Those who purchased tickets via Ticketmaster for the Jake Paul versus Gervonta Davis event will get an automatic refund through the original point of purchase within 14 to 21 days. Those who purchased through the secondary market should contact them. MVP thanks everyone for their patience and look forward to delivering an extraordinary boxing event in 2025, live globally only on Netflix."
NOV. 2, 2025: With the heavily criticized Jake Paul vs. Gervonta "Tank" Davis exhibition just two weeks away, the event has come under more intense fire due to this week's assault allegations against Davis. Paul's Most Valuable Promotions issued the following statement: Most Valuable Promotions immediately initiated an investigation upon learning of the civil lawsuit filed against Gervonta Davis in Miami-Dade County on October 30, 2025. At this time, we are gathering information and reviewing the details to ensure any decision we make is thoroughly vetted. We unequivocally condemn any form of violence and are committed to handling this matter with diligence and respect for all involved. We will make a determination on next steps once we have completed our review and consult with the appropriate parties. Until then, we will not be commenting further."
OCT. 31, 2025: WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis has been sued in Florida state court over new allegations of violence against a girlfriend. There is currently no indication of any criminal charges, but the civil lawsuit details an incident that occurred last week, less than a month before Davis’ planned November 14th exhibition fight vs. Jake Paul on Netflix. The plaintiff is a woman named Courtney Rossel, who accuses Davis of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint itself did not contain any specific monetary demand, but a cover sheet filed with the complaint states the amount sought exceeds $100,000.
Here are the details of the lawsuit, which at this time are simply allegations that the plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence:
Plaintiff Courtney Rossel is an individual residing in Miami-Dade County, Florida, who conducts business in Miami-Dade County. Defendant, Gervonta Bryant Davis, is an individual who resides at Southwest Ranches, FL. He is a professional boxer known as “Tank”. This Court has personal jurisdiction over the Defendant, and venue is proper because all parties conduct business in Miami-Dade County, and because the incident that took place occurred in Miami-Dade County, Florida. […]
Davis is a professional boxer who has competed in multiple weight divisions. Davis is publicly known for his career in the sport of boxing and for holding multiple championship titles. [But he] has a vast and extensive criminal history, especially instances related to domestic violence and abuse against ex-girlfriends. On September 19, 2017, an arrest warrant was issued due to Davis committing first-degree aggravated assault; on September 14, 2018, Davis was arrested for starting a fight with another man; on February 1, 2020, Davis was arrested on charges of simple battery / domestic violence against his former girlfriend; on December 27, 2022, Davis was arrested on a charge of battery domestic violence; and again on July 11, 2025, Davis was taken into custody following another battery charge. Davis ultimately has a pension for being violent. As a result, it is clear that Davis has a propensity and pattern of violence upon women.
Rossel and Davis have known each other for [a few] years. For approximately five months prior to the incident at issue, Rossel and Davis were intimately involved, although they chose not to make their relationship public. Throughout the five months prior to the incident in question, there were multiple instances of domestic violence, abuse, and threats made by Davis against Rossel concerning her safety and well-being. The incident that occurred on October 27, 2025, was not the first time Davis was violent toward Rossel.
On at least four prior occasions, Davis physically assaulted and choked Rossel, and on two occasions, he threatened in writing to kill her. The first instance of abuse occurred on or about September 2, 2025, when Davis threatened to kill Rossel for failing to respond to his calls and messages. In his communications, Davis accused Rossel of being with another man and used abusive and threatening language, stating that he would kill her for being unresponsive. On or about September 23, 2025, Davis again threatened Rossel’s life, accusing her of infidelity and writing, “I’ll kill you.”
That same day, September 23, 2025, while at Playa Miami, Davis physically assaulted Rossel by choking her in public. The assault at Playa Miami was not the first time Davis had physically attacked Rossel in a public setting. Prior to the October 27, 2025, incident, Davis also violently choked Rossel at her workplace, Tootsies, where she works as a VIP cocktail waitress. There, he found Rossel in a backroom area without cameras in order to conceal the abuse.
On October 27, 2025, at approximately 4:15 a.m., Davis located Rossel inside her place of work, upstairs in the VIP lounge, where Davis forcibly grabbed and dragged Rossel through a stairway, through the kitchen, and through the back entrance all the way into the parking garage, where Davis continuously grabbed, choked, pushed, pulled, and struck Rossel in the back of the head, leaving her terrified and alone and embarrassed for her co-workers and employer. During the October 27, 2025, incident, Davis forced Rossel to exit her workplace against her will, dragged her through the establishment, through a staircase, a kitchen, a backroom, and all the way into a parking garage, and attempted to force Rossel into his car until Rosell was able to run away. [This is the basis for the kidnapping charge]. Davis has continued to verbally, physically, and psychologically abuse Rossel, causing her to seek medical treatment, therapy, and assistance with daily living, as she remains in constant fear for her life. Rossel and Davis have known each other for approximately five years.
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Tank Davis settles up with his accuser
Amid rumors that Gervonta "Tank" Davis is planning a comeback fight, USA Today is reporting that the former two-division champion has settled a civil lawsuit in which a Florida woman accused him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Terms of the settlement were not revealed but the lawsuit was dropped. Davis is listed as undefeated, but very questionable officiating elevated what should have been a loss into a draw with Lamont Roach in March 2025. After that, Davis' life turned chaotic, with various legal charges, primarily the Florida one he just settled, and diva-like behavior costing Davis a lucrative exhibition fight against social influencer-turned-cruiserweight Jake Paul. Davis has not fought since the Roach draw. PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
MAY 28, 2026: According to a report from TMZ, an arrest warrant has been issued in the state of Maryland for disgraced boxing star Gervonta "Tank" Davis. A Baltimore native who spends a lot of time in Florida (where the majority of his current legal troubles arose), Davis **allegedly** was involved in a strip club altercation in Miami in October of last year, which resulted in serious charges being brought against him. Davis is accused of attacking one of his girlfriends, with some grainy security video appearing to corrobotate at least some of the charges. Davis was already on probation in Maryland for a 2020 hit-and-run incident, and last month, a Maryland judge apparently decided the Miami incident constituted a violation of Davis' terms of probation, and as a result, the Maryland warrant was issued. Davis is still listed as the WBA lightweight champion, but his boxing career has gone off a cliff for now, with a very lucrative exhibition bout against Jake Paul getting cancelled last year due to Davis' bad behavior.
MAY 25, 2026: The WBA Championships Committee has officially ordered the mandatory lightweight title bout between reigning champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis and WBA #1 contender, Floyd Schofield. The sanctioning organization sent formal notification to both camps this Saturday, May 23rd, granting the parties a 30-day negotiation period that will expire on June 22nd. Under WBA Championship Rule C.10 — Title Defense Periods — champions in all divisions outside of heavyweight are required to defend their titles every nine months from the date the championship was obtained. In Davis’ case, his last appearance came on March 1, 2025, when he retained the title via majority draw against Lamont Roach, leaving the mandatory defense significantly overdue. One explanation for Davis' inactivity is his troubling legal situation. See below:
JAN 29, 2026: On Wednesday evening, TMZ broke the news that WBA lightweight champion was arrested in Miami Gardens, Florida on domestic violence charges. Davis was taken into police custody about two weeks after officials put out a warrant for his arrest. It is expected that Davis will be bailed out of jail shortly. The details of the allegations against Davis are as follows: Courtney Rossel and Davis have known each other for a few years. Rossel and Davis were intimately involved for a few months, although they chose not to make their relationship public. On October 27, 2025, at approximately 4:15 a.m., Davis came to Rossel at her place of work, a VIP lounge. Next, Davis allegedly grabbed and dragged her through a stairway, through the kitchen and through the back entrance all the way into the parking garage, where Davis continuously grabbed, choked, pushed, pulled, and struck Rossel in the back of the head, leaving her terrified and alone and embarrassed. During the incident, Davis allegedly forced Rossel to exit her workplace against her will, dragged her through the establishment, through a staircase, a kitchen, a backroom, and all the way into a parking garage, and attempted to force Rossel into his car until Rosell was able to run away. [This is the basis for the kidnapping charge].
JAN 17, 2026: Earlier this week, an arrest warrant was issued for troubled Gervonta "Tank" Davis by Miami Gardens Police for alleged domestic violence. The charges against Davis stem from a previously reported incident that occurred in October. They include battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping. Police apparently have not yet located Davis in the three days since the warrant was issued. Davis is still recognized as the lightweight champion by the WBA despite his boxing inactivity, reprehensible alleged conduct, the controversy of his last match against Lamont Roach (in which Davis was allowed to take an illegal "time out") and his agreement to a cruiserweight fight vs. Jake Paul. The Paul fight was abruptly called off in November, shortly after the initial domestic violence reports surfaced.
NOV 4, 2025: Jake Paul and MVP canceled Paul's November 14th exhibition vs. WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis over the allegations that Davis committed yet another act of violence against a woman. Paul issued the following statement: "Gervonta Davis is an actual walking human piece of garbage. Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, the showing up hours late to shoots, to the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits. If you support this man you support the most vile sin a man can commit. I didn’t want to give this woman abuser a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account. My company champions women. I’m so sorry to everyone involved. Mostly to the undercard fighters, to my team at MVP and to my team who worked so hard prepping for this fight, sacrificing time with loved ones and kids just for this fool to lose his unintelligent mind again. It’s scary that devilish men like this can rise to the top of culture and sports, including in positions of power. I hope you people moving forward look beyond his fake streetwear pieces and search for something deeper to be a fan of. As for me it’s on to the next one as always. Anyone. Anytime. Any place."
Paul's statement followed on the heels of one issued by his company, which read: "Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix have announced that Jake Paul versus Gervonta Davis, originally scheduled for Friday, November 14th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida will no longer be moving forward. 'Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate the situation responsibly,' said MVP's CEO, Nakisa Bedarian. “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We think Netflix, the Keseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Casino for their partnership.' MVP appreciates the continued support and understanding of our athletes, partners, sponsors, and fans as we work to finalize updated event plans. Those who purchased tickets via Ticketmaster for the Jake Paul versus Gervonta Davis event will get an automatic refund through the original point of purchase within 14 to 21 days. Those who purchased through the secondary market should contact them. MVP thanks everyone for their patience and look forward to delivering an extraordinary boxing event in 2025, live globally only on Netflix."
NOV. 2, 2025: With the heavily criticized Jake Paul vs. Gervonta "Tank" Davis exhibition just two weeks away, the event has come under more intense fire due to this week's assault allegations against Davis. Paul's Most Valuable Promotions issued the following statement: Most Valuable Promotions immediately initiated an investigation upon learning of the civil lawsuit filed against Gervonta Davis in Miami-Dade County on October 30, 2025. At this time, we are gathering information and reviewing the details to ensure any decision we make is thoroughly vetted. We unequivocally condemn any form of violence and are committed to handling this matter with diligence and respect for all involved. We will make a determination on next steps once we have completed our review and consult with the appropriate parties. Until then, we will not be commenting further."
OCT. 31, 2025: WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis has been sued in Florida state court over new allegations of violence against a girlfriend. There is currently no indication of any criminal charges, but the civil lawsuit details an incident that occurred last week, less than a month before Davis’ planned November 14th exhibition fight vs. Jake Paul on Netflix. The plaintiff is a woman named Courtney Rossel, who accuses Davis of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint itself did not contain any specific monetary demand, but a cover sheet filed with the complaint states the amount sought exceeds $100,000.
Here are the details of the lawsuit, which at this time are simply allegations that the plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence:
Plaintiff Courtney Rossel is an individual residing in Miami-Dade County, Florida, who conducts business in Miami-Dade County. Defendant, Gervonta Bryant Davis, is an individual who resides at Southwest Ranches, FL. He is a professional boxer known as “Tank”. This Court has personal jurisdiction over the Defendant, and venue is proper because all parties conduct business in Miami-Dade County, and because the incident that took place occurred in Miami-Dade County, Florida. […]
Davis is a professional boxer who has competed in multiple weight divisions. Davis is publicly known for his career in the sport of boxing and for holding multiple championship titles. [But he] has a vast and extensive criminal history, especially instances related to domestic violence and abuse against ex-girlfriends. On September 19, 2017, an arrest warrant was issued due to Davis committing first-degree aggravated assault; on September 14, 2018, Davis was arrested for starting a fight with another man; on February 1, 2020, Davis was arrested on charges of simple battery / domestic violence against his former girlfriend; on December 27, 2022, Davis was arrested on a charge of battery domestic violence; and again on July 11, 2025, Davis was taken into custody following another battery charge. Davis ultimately has a pension for being violent. As a result, it is clear that Davis has a propensity and pattern of violence upon women.
Rossel and Davis have known each other for [a few] years. For approximately five months prior to the incident at issue, Rossel and Davis were intimately involved, although they chose not to make their relationship public. Throughout the five months prior to the incident in question, there were multiple instances of domestic violence, abuse, and threats made by Davis against Rossel concerning her safety and well-being. The incident that occurred on October 27, 2025, was not the first time Davis was violent toward Rossel.
On at least four prior occasions, Davis physically assaulted and choked Rossel, and on two occasions, he threatened in writing to kill her. The first instance of abuse occurred on or about September 2, 2025, when Davis threatened to kill Rossel for failing to respond to his calls and messages. In his communications, Davis accused Rossel of being with another man and used abusive and threatening language, stating that he would kill her for being unresponsive. On or about September 23, 2025, Davis again threatened Rossel’s life, accusing her of infidelity and writing, “I’ll kill you.”
That same day, September 23, 2025, while at Playa Miami, Davis physically assaulted Rossel by choking her in public. The assault at Playa Miami was not the first time Davis had physically attacked Rossel in a public setting. Prior to the October 27, 2025, incident, Davis also violently choked Rossel at her workplace, Tootsies, where she works as a VIP cocktail waitress. There, he found Rossel in a backroom area without cameras in order to conceal the abuse.
On October 27, 2025, at approximately 4:15 a.m., Davis located Rossel inside her place of work, upstairs in the VIP lounge, where Davis forcibly grabbed and dragged Rossel through a stairway, through the kitchen, and through the back entrance all the way into the parking garage, where Davis continuously grabbed, choked, pushed, pulled, and struck Rossel in the back of the head, leaving her terrified and alone and embarrassed for her co-workers and employer. During the October 27, 2025, incident, Davis forced Rossel to exit her workplace against her will, dragged her through the establishment, through a staircase, a kitchen, a backroom, and all the way into a parking garage, and attempted to force Rossel into his car until Rosell was able to run away. [This is the basis for the kidnapping charge]. Davis has continued to verbally, physically, and psychologically abuse Rossel, causing her to seek medical treatment, therapy, and assistance with daily living, as she remains in constant fear for her life. Rossel and Davis have known each other for approximately five years.
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Zuffa Boxing 12: fight-by-fight preview |
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In Zuffa Boxing's main event tonight (Nov. 7th), former amateur adversaries Chris Billam-Smith (pictured) and Chev Clarke renew their rivalries at the sharp end of Zuffa Boxing’s cruiserweight division. Billam-Smith, a former champion, and Clarke both featured on the explosive Zuffa Boxing 7 card in Bournemouth with both men claiming dramatic seventh-round stoppage victories. In the main event, Billam-Smith battled toe-to-toe with the relentless Ryan Rozicki en route to a seventh-round corner-stoppage TKO victory in an instant classic. That fight followed hot on the heels of Clarke’s remarkable come-from-behind victory over Jack Massey as he got off the canvas twice to eventually stop his rival in the seventh round. With both men now off and running in Zuffa Boxing’s cruiserweight division, the pair will now face off in a rematch of their meeting a decade ago, when Clarke edged a decision over Billam-Smith in the final of the National Championships. Back then, they were two of British boxing’s most talented amateur prospects. Now, 10 years removed from that meeting, the pair will meet again as two of the world’s top cruiserweight operators.
The co-feature sees two world-class middleweights face off, as recently stripped WBO champion Denzel Bentley looks to make a statement against Shane Mosley Jr, who is also eyeing a shot at world honors. Bentley claimed a sanctioning body interim championship last time out with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra,got elevated to full champ but was stripped of his belt ahead of this weekend’s bout with Mosley, who stopped Serhii Bohachuk in a stellar showing back in May. Both middleweights have a point to prove. Bentley wants to show that he should still be carrying a championship belt, while Mosley wants to prove he deserves to challenge for one.
One of the real success stories of Zuffa Boxing’s short history so far, American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter wants to bring American success back to the heavyweight division, and the rising prospect gets his latest runout in London this weekend. “Mazi” takes on Slovakian heavyweight Ivan Balaz, whose only career defeat came against Johnny Fisher back in 2025. This will be Balaz’s first Zuffa Boxing appearance, and with Vanhouter receiving rave reviews for his performances so far inside the Zuffa Boxing ring, the 30-year-old will look to claim the tenth win of his professional career. Vanhouter, meanwhile, will bid to take his perfect professional career to 14-0 with another impressive victory. With finishes of Julian Gomez and Raphael Murphy at Zuffa Boxing 2 and 6, respectively, Vanhouter then took on Raphael Akpejiori, and claimed the 10th knockout victory of his career on the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn undercard. Now Vanhouter lands in the UK looking
After registering a pair of impressive knockout finishes, Sam “Tricky” Hickey returns for his third Zuffa Boxing assignment as he bids to extend his perfect professional record to 7-0. The Dundee native faces a change of opponent as he gets set to face Belgium’s Amaury Massenaux, who arrives in London having picked up three wins from his last four outings. It’s a big opportunity for Massenaux to upset the applecard by defeating one of the UK’s undefeated rising stars, while for Hickey, it’s a chance to showcase his skills on UK soil as he looks to continue his rise up Zuffa Boxing’s 160-pound division.
London’s own Kayla Allen wowed the Copper Box last time out as she made history twice – by being the first female fighter to sign with Zuffa Boxing, then becoming the first to register a victory in the Zuffa Boxing ring – to cap a dream debut in the pro ranks. Thanks to her finish of Edina Kiss on her debut, the former GB amateur standout now has a stoppage win under her belt, and she returns to the Copper Box for another home game, as she takes on a super lightweight matchup against Germany’s Julia Igel, who has finished each of her last four wins by knockout, and has never been stopped herself. It’s a step up in competition for Allen, who will look to show her development as she steps through the Zuffa Boxing ropes for her sophomore appearance. And with Allen only living a short distance from the Copper Box, you can bet there will be plenty of her friends and family in the stands when she makes her walk on Saturday night.
The main card kicks off with eight rounds of cruiserweight action, with undefeated Englishman Lucas “Lights Out” Roehrig taking on Scotland’s Connal McDonald. Both men will be making their Zuffa Boxing debuts, and both head into the fight in fine form. Roehrig is 7-0, with his last two wins coming via knockout, while McDonald arrives having won five of his last six, with his most recent outing seeing him capture the Scottish Area cruiserweight title. Now the 30-year-old from Kirkinner, Scotland makes the trip south to face local boy Roehrig in a fight that could catapult the winner to bigger matchups in Zuffa Boxing’s growing π– and talent stacked – cruiserweight division.
Undefeated light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov made a big impression on his Zuffa Boxing debut back in February, and the 28-year-old returns for his second ZB appearance as he takes on English vet Zach Parker in a big matchup over ten rounds in the 175-pound division. Dzambekov was one of the standout performers at Zuffa Boxing 3 when he stunned Ahmed El Biali in the second round to earn a Performance of the Night bonus at Meta APEX, and now the 14-0 prospect gets to test his mettle against 26-2 Parker, who heads into his Zuffa Boxing debut looking to bounce back after being edged out via majority decision by Joshua Buatsi last time out.
The preliminary card will see two new faces look to make a big impression as they step into the Zuffa Boxing ring for the first time. Hailing from Brentwood, Essex, Vinnie Kemp goes by the nickname of “The King of Violence” and he’ll be keen to show exactly why that moniker is well deserved when he makes his professional debut against Buckinghamshire’s Liam McElhinney. Both men are chasing their first wins in the professional ranks, and will look to kickstart their respective careers when they go head to head in a four-round middleweight showcase.
Kicking off the night is a featherweight scrap between Masood Abdullah and Adan Palma, as two solid prospects with decent records go head to head in the opening bout of the evening. Former Commonwealth champion Abdulah is making his Zuffa Boxing debut, and is determined to deliver a big performance to kickstart a run in the ZB featherweight division. But he’s facing a man who has already established himself inside the Zuffa Boxing ring. Palma has crossed the pond to compete in his second Zuffa Boxing contest as he chases his first victory under the ZB banner. Palmer went the distance with Pablo Rubio Jr in a thrilling contest at Zuffa Boxing 4 that earned both men Fight of the Night bonuses. Now he has jetted across the world to take on hometown fighter Abdulah in a bout that looks set to produce an action-packed start to the evening.
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Zuffa Boxing 12: fight-by-fight preview
In Zuffa Boxing's main event tonight (Nov. 7th), former amateur adversaries Chris Billam-Smith (pictured) and Chev Clarke renew their rivalries at the sharp end of Zuffa Boxing’s cruiserweight division. Billam-Smith, a former champion, and Clarke both featured on the explosive Zuffa Boxing 7 card in Bournemouth with both men claiming dramatic seventh-round stoppage victories. In the main event, Billam-Smith battled toe-to-toe with the relentless Ryan Rozicki en route to a seventh-round corner-stoppage TKO victory in an instant classic. That fight followed hot on the heels of Clarke’s remarkable come-from-behind victory over Jack Massey as he got off the canvas twice to eventually stop his rival in the seventh round. With both men now off and running in Zuffa Boxing’s cruiserweight division, the pair will now face off in a rematch of their meeting a decade ago, when Clarke edged a decision over Billam-Smith in the final of the National Championships. Back then, they were two of British boxing’s most talented amateur prospects. Now, 10 years removed from that meeting, the pair will meet again as two of the world’s top cruiserweight operators.
The co-feature sees two world-class middleweights face off, as recently stripped WBO champion Denzel Bentley looks to make a statement against Shane Mosley Jr, who is also eyeing a shot at world honors. Bentley claimed a sanctioning body interim championship last time out with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra,got elevated to full champ but was stripped of his belt ahead of this weekend’s bout with Mosley, who stopped Serhii Bohachuk in a stellar showing back in May. Both middleweights have a point to prove. Bentley wants to show that he should still be carrying a championship belt, while Mosley wants to prove he deserves to challenge for one.
One of the real success stories of Zuffa Boxing’s short history so far, American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter wants to bring American success back to the heavyweight division, and the rising prospect gets his latest runout in London this weekend. “Mazi” takes on Slovakian heavyweight Ivan Balaz, whose only career defeat came against Johnny Fisher back in 2025. This will be Balaz’s first Zuffa Boxing appearance, and with Vanhouter receiving rave reviews for his performances so far inside the Zuffa Boxing ring, the 30-year-old will look to claim the tenth win of his professional career. Vanhouter, meanwhile, will bid to take his perfect professional career to 14-0 with another impressive victory. With finishes of Julian Gomez and Raphael Murphy at Zuffa Boxing 2 and 6, respectively, Vanhouter then took on Raphael Akpejiori, and claimed the 10th knockout victory of his career on the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn undercard. Now Vanhouter lands in the UK looking
After registering a pair of impressive knockout finishes, Sam “Tricky” Hickey returns for his third Zuffa Boxing assignment as he bids to extend his perfect professional record to 7-0. The Dundee native faces a change of opponent as he gets set to face Belgium’s Amaury Massenaux, who arrives in London having picked up three wins from his last four outings. It’s a big opportunity for Massenaux to upset the applecard by defeating one of the UK’s undefeated rising stars, while for Hickey, it’s a chance to showcase his skills on UK soil as he looks to continue his rise up Zuffa Boxing’s 160-pound division.
London’s own Kayla Allen wowed the Copper Box last time out as she made history twice – by being the first female fighter to sign with Zuffa Boxing, then becoming the first to register a victory in the Zuffa Boxing ring – to cap a dream debut in the pro ranks. Thanks to her finish of Edina Kiss on her debut, the former GB amateur standout now has a stoppage win under her belt, and she returns to the Copper Box for another home game, as she takes on a super lightweight matchup against Germany’s Julia Igel, who has finished each of her last four wins by knockout, and has never been stopped herself. It’s a step up in competition for Allen, who will look to show her development as she steps through the Zuffa Boxing ropes for her sophomore appearance. And with Allen only living a short distance from the Copper Box, you can bet there will be plenty of her friends and family in the stands when she makes her walk on Saturday night.
The main card kicks off with eight rounds of cruiserweight action, with undefeated Englishman Lucas “Lights Out” Roehrig taking on Scotland’s Connal McDonald. Both men will be making their Zuffa Boxing debuts, and both head into the fight in fine form. Roehrig is 7-0, with his last two wins coming via knockout, while McDonald arrives having won five of his last six, with his most recent outing seeing him capture the Scottish Area cruiserweight title. Now the 30-year-old from Kirkinner, Scotland makes the trip south to face local boy Roehrig in a fight that could catapult the winner to bigger matchups in Zuffa Boxing’s growing π– and talent stacked – cruiserweight division.
Undefeated light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov made a big impression on his Zuffa Boxing debut back in February, and the 28-year-old returns for his second ZB appearance as he takes on English vet Zach Parker in a big matchup over ten rounds in the 175-pound division. Dzambekov was one of the standout performers at Zuffa Boxing 3 when he stunned Ahmed El Biali in the second round to earn a Performance of the Night bonus at Meta APEX, and now the 14-0 prospect gets to test his mettle against 26-2 Parker, who heads into his Zuffa Boxing debut looking to bounce back after being edged out via majority decision by Joshua Buatsi last time out.
The preliminary card will see two new faces look to make a big impression as they step into the Zuffa Boxing ring for the first time. Hailing from Brentwood, Essex, Vinnie Kemp goes by the nickname of “The King of Violence” and he’ll be keen to show exactly why that moniker is well deserved when he makes his professional debut against Buckinghamshire’s Liam McElhinney. Both men are chasing their first wins in the professional ranks, and will look to kickstart their respective careers when they go head to head in a four-round middleweight showcase.
Kicking off the night is a featherweight scrap between Masood Abdullah and Adan Palma, as two solid prospects with decent records go head to head in the opening bout of the evening. Former Commonwealth champion Abdulah is making his Zuffa Boxing debut, and is determined to deliver a big performance to kickstart a run in the ZB featherweight division. But he’s facing a man who has already established himself inside the Zuffa Boxing ring. Palma has crossed the pond to compete in his second Zuffa Boxing contest as he chases his first victory under the ZB banner. Palmer went the distance with Pablo Rubio Jr in a thrilling contest at Zuffa Boxing 4 that earned both men Fight of the Night bonuses. Now he has jetted across the world to take on hometown fighter Abdulah in a bout that looks set to produce an action-packed start to the evening.
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Weigh-in report from Massachusetts |
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The weights are in at Encore, where CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions present Boston Harbor Fight Night 3 on Saturday featuring a junior middleweight showdown between New Hampshire's Jaydell Pazmino (10-0, 8 KOs) and England's Graham Tirrell (10-3, 2 KOs). The action takes place beginning at 7:30pm at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts. Limited Tickets remain, purchase yours now on at CES Fights. Tickets will also be sold at the venue on fight night. Here are the boxers' weights:
Jaydell Pazmino 151.5 pounds vs. Graham Tirrell 152 – Jr. Middleweights;
Leonardo Ladeira 175 vs. Russ Kimber 174 – Light Heavyweights;
Pablo Costa 190 vs. Barrett Hanlon 185 – Crusierweights;
Michael Fontanez 160 vs. Alfred Raymond 158 – Middleweights;
Patrick Pierre 175 vs. Mohammad Alyzouri 174 – Light Heavyweights;
Jefferson Almeida 157.5 vs. Rakim Johnson 160 – Middleweights;
Stone Finau 251.5 vs. Kevin Nagle 317 – Heavyweights; and
Daine Smikle 160 vs. Daniel Sostre 156.5 – Middleweights.
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Weigh-in report from Massachusetts
The weights are in at Encore, where CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions present Boston Harbor Fight Night 3 on Saturday featuring a junior middleweight showdown between New Hampshire's Jaydell Pazmino (10-0, 8 KOs) and England's Graham Tirrell (10-3, 2 KOs). The action takes place beginning at 7:30pm at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts. Limited Tickets remain, purchase yours now on at CES Fights. Tickets will also be sold at the venue on fight night. Here are the boxers' weights:
Jaydell Pazmino 151.5 pounds vs. Graham Tirrell 152 – Jr. Middleweights;
Leonardo Ladeira 175 vs. Russ Kimber 174 – Light Heavyweights;
Pablo Costa 190 vs. Barrett Hanlon 185 – Crusierweights;
Michael Fontanez 160 vs. Alfred Raymond 158 – Middleweights;
Patrick Pierre 175 vs. Mohammad Alyzouri 174 – Light Heavyweights;
Jefferson Almeida 157.5 vs. Rakim Johnson 160 – Middleweights;
Stone Finau 251.5 vs. Kevin Nagle 317 – Heavyweights; and
Daine Smikle 160 vs. Daniel Sostre 156.5 – Middleweights.
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A few words with Omar Juarez |
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All-action junior welterweight Omar “El Relampago” Juarez plans to take unbeaten Emiliano “El General” Vargas into “deep water” in their ten-round bout that will be a part of the next PBC pay-per-view event, scheduled for Saturday, December 5th at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The bout is part of a five-fight pay-per-view lineup headlined by undefeated WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez in a unification clash against WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak. Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com. The 27 year-old Juarez (21-2, 8 KOs) is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak that dates back to 2024. Now under the helm of top trainer Bob Santos, Juarez’s current run includes a four-win 2025 campaign that featured a dominant decision over Omar Rosario. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Juarez has achieved recognition in his community by uplifting the state’s youth through motivational speaking, receiving commendations from the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives for his altruism. Here is what Juarez had to say about facing Vargas, training camp in Las Vegas and more:
On what kind of fight fans can expect and what a win does for his career:
“It’s gonna be an exciting fight. Both of us are in there to prove something. I’m coming to hurt him and I’m coming to win. I have no doubt in my mind that I’m gonna win. I think he’s overlooking me and underestimating me. He thinks I’m a typical Mexican pressure fighter. But the fans are gonna see me break Vargas down and take him to deep water. This is a great win to have on my resume and get me closer to a world title shot. My team is managing my career perfectly, so I know that winning this will get me a big opportunity next.”
On his assessment of Emiliano Vargas:
“He sparred my brother, but that was many years ago. From what I’ve seen, he’s a fighter who reacts. He’s a fast-twitch type of guy. He reacts off of your reaction. But the guys he’s fought are very flat-footed. They’re telegraphing everything and you can see what they’re gonna do. He’s gonna try to do that with me, but I’m gonna be two or three steps ahead of him. Vargas hasn’t fought anybody who’s gonna take it to him like I will. It’s gonna be exciting once he sees that I’m not a normal fighter.”
On tapping Bob Santos as his lead trainer:
“Bob has been my manager since the beginning of my career, but has also been my little brother Sebastian’s trainer from his pro debut. That’s where I started to see that there are levels to this when it comes to guidance from the corner. When it came down to my tougher fights, I realized I needed to get better. I’m a hard worker, but I also realized with Bob that I needed to work intelligently. I was doing a lot wrong. The change was the best thing I could have done for my career.
“I don’t think it’s that he added anything, but he gave me more peace of mind that I’m a really good fighter who can adapt to anything. I’ve been flowing in these sparring sessions with big name fighters. I had been stressing in my head too much in my past fights and I wasn’t letting my movement be fluid. When I watch those fights I realize that I was too far into my own head. Bob helped me re-wire my brain so that I can say that I know who I am, I just have to go out and perform.
On what he learned from losses earlier in his career:
“When you get signed and you’re winning, there’s obviously a big crowd around you hyping you up. It’s the same story that every fighter goes through, and I went through it. People started doubting me and stopped believing in me. That kind of showed me who’s really with me. But the losses never bothered me. I’m doing this for myself and my family. I’m a competitor. I look for the grind. Sacrificing my time out here in Las Vegas is gonna pay off in the end.”
On what it means to fight on a David Benavidez undercard:
“This is a stacked card and it’s the perfect opportunity to shine and get this win, because everybody is gonna be tuning in. The card from top to bottom is filled with a bunch of hungry lions. We’re all coming to steal the show.”
On his message to his fans in Brownsville, Texas:
“They’ve always supported me since the beginning of my career and I represent them everywhere I go. I represent the special needs community everywhere I go as
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A few words with Omar Juarez
All-action junior welterweight Omar “El Relampago” Juarez plans to take unbeaten Emiliano “El General” Vargas into “deep water” in their ten-round bout that will be a part of the next PBC pay-per-view event, scheduled for Saturday, December 5th at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The bout is part of a five-fight pay-per-view lineup headlined by undefeated WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez in a unification clash against WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak. Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com. The 27 year-old Juarez (21-2, 8 KOs) is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak that dates back to 2024. Now under the helm of top trainer Bob Santos, Juarez’s current run includes a four-win 2025 campaign that featured a dominant decision over Omar Rosario. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Juarez has achieved recognition in his community by uplifting the state’s youth through motivational speaking, receiving commendations from the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives for his altruism. Here is what Juarez had to say about facing Vargas, training camp in Las Vegas and more:
On what kind of fight fans can expect and what a win does for his career:
“It’s gonna be an exciting fight. Both of us are in there to prove something. I’m coming to hurt him and I’m coming to win. I have no doubt in my mind that I’m gonna win. I think he’s overlooking me and underestimating me. He thinks I’m a typical Mexican pressure fighter. But the fans are gonna see me break Vargas down and take him to deep water. This is a great win to have on my resume and get me closer to a world title shot. My team is managing my career perfectly, so I know that winning this will get me a big opportunity next.”
On his assessment of Emiliano Vargas:
“He sparred my brother, but that was many years ago. From what I’ve seen, he’s a fighter who reacts. He’s a fast-twitch type of guy. He reacts off of your reaction. But the guys he’s fought are very flat-footed. They’re telegraphing everything and you can see what they’re gonna do. He’s gonna try to do that with me, but I’m gonna be two or three steps ahead of him. Vargas hasn’t fought anybody who’s gonna take it to him like I will. It’s gonna be exciting once he sees that I’m not a normal fighter.”
On tapping Bob Santos as his lead trainer:
“Bob has been my manager since the beginning of my career, but has also been my little brother Sebastian’s trainer from his pro debut. That’s where I started to see that there are levels to this when it comes to guidance from the corner. When it came down to my tougher fights, I realized I needed to get better. I’m a hard worker, but I also realized with Bob that I needed to work intelligently. I was doing a lot wrong. The change was the best thing I could have done for my career.
“I don’t think it’s that he added anything, but he gave me more peace of mind that I’m a really good fighter who can adapt to anything. I’ve been flowing in these sparring sessions with big name fighters. I had been stressing in my head too much in my past fights and I wasn’t letting my movement be fluid. When I watch those fights I realize that I was too far into my own head. Bob helped me re-wire my brain so that I can say that I know who I am, I just have to go out and perform.
On what he learned from losses earlier in his career:
“When you get signed and you’re winning, there’s obviously a big crowd around you hyping you up. It’s the same story that every fighter goes through, and I went through it. People started doubting me and stopped believing in me. That kind of showed me who’s really with me. But the losses never bothered me. I’m doing this for myself and my family. I’m a competitor. I look for the grind. Sacrificing my time out here in Las Vegas is gonna pay off in the end.”
On what it means to fight on a David Benavidez undercard:
“This is a stacked card and it’s the perfect opportunity to shine and get this win, because everybody is gonna be tuning in. The card from top to bottom is filled with a bunch of hungry lions. We’re all coming to steal the show.”
On his message to his fans in Brownsville, Texas:
“They’ve always supported me since the beginning of my career and I represent them everywhere I go. I represent the special needs community everywhere I go as
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Kayla Allen back for more in the Copper Box |
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In September, Zuffa Boxing's Kayla Allen made her pro debut at the Copper Box Arena and stopped Edina Kiss on her stool at the end of the second round. It meant that Allen, already the first female signed to Zuffa Boxing, also became the first female to claim a victory inside the Zuffa Boxing ring. “It was a good experience,” said Allen ahead of her next outing on November 7th. Allen will take on Germany’s Julia Igel, a Swiss-based fighter with a 5-2 record that includes knockouts in each of her last four victories. “It's always good to get the first one out of the way, and it's just about building momentum now. I’m back out again on Saturday night, six weeks apart, so yeah, it’ll be good to get along with a set of fans and start building this ball, and keep rolling, and looking forward to next year and getting the ball rolling even further.”
Allen continued, “I don’t really get nervous, so for me, it was just more like adrenaline, waiting to get in there and just show everybody what I've been working on in the gym, and yeah, just make my family and my team proud,” she said. “That's ultimately is what the ring walk’s about. You start visualizing what you're going to do in the ring, and that's how I felt. I just feel confident. And I’ll feel confident Saturday night, as well. There’s no pressure. It's a privilege to have any sort of like hype around you. Like I say, pressure is a privilege for me, and that's how I get through all my hard times… So, the ring walk and the whole fight, the whole build-up, it all leads to one moment, and I'll be creating history for myself and creating a lot of wealth for my family. That's what ultimately will happen.”
A winning debut is always a special moment for any young professional fighter, and Allen’s first victory was no different, with those who have been with her throughout her journey all elated to see her succeed, and excited for what’s to come. “Yeah, they were buzzing,” grinned Allen. “They were like, ‘When's the next one?’ I was like, ‘Guess what? It's coming soon!’ … I was like, ‘Listen, I'll be out regularly,’ because when I'm getting people out early, and I'm giving people value for money, people want to buy tickets.
“I don't have to sell too much. People know what I'm about. I'm an honest person. I'm black and white, as easy as they come, you know? Support me, and I'll give the same back to my community and my family, and that's what it's all about. It’s boxing, at the end of the day.”
Clearly, Allen is far more focused on her own performance than her opponent’s past fights. When we asked Allen what she knew about her opponent, her answer was short and sweet. “My opponent? She's got two legs, two arms, and a head,” she said. “She's southpaw, she's from Germany, and she’s getting knocked out! That's what I know about her.”
For Zuffa Boxing’s female trailblazer, it’s the start of a journey that she hopes will open the doors for more young female fighters to follow in her footsteps. “It's amazing, isn't it? You can't ever take that away from me. As I said, a one-of-one. You can't ever take away someone who's unique and sets a precedent for other female young young athletes coming through. You can't ever take that away from me, and you know it's going to be an amazing journey, and it’s just the start.”
And on November 7th, just a couple of days after the UK’s annual celebration of Bonfire Night, where fireworks light up the night sky, Allen plans to light up the Copper Box with some pugilistic pyrotechnics of her own. “[It’ll be] fireworks again,” she stated. “It's gonna be a confident, great performance again. Just tune in Saturday night, and you'll see.”
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Kayla Allen back for more in the Copper Box
In September, Zuffa Boxing's Kayla Allen made her pro debut at the Copper Box Arena and stopped Edina Kiss on her stool at the end of the second round. It meant that Allen, already the first female signed to Zuffa Boxing, also became the first female to claim a victory inside the Zuffa Boxing ring. “It was a good experience,” said Allen ahead of her next outing on November 7th. Allen will take on Germany’s Julia Igel, a Swiss-based fighter with a 5-2 record that includes knockouts in each of her last four victories. “It's always good to get the first one out of the way, and it's just about building momentum now. I’m back out again on Saturday night, six weeks apart, so yeah, it’ll be good to get along with a set of fans and start building this ball, and keep rolling, and looking forward to next year and getting the ball rolling even further.”
Allen continued, “I don’t really get nervous, so for me, it was just more like adrenaline, waiting to get in there and just show everybody what I've been working on in the gym, and yeah, just make my family and my team proud,” she said. “That's ultimately is what the ring walk’s about. You start visualizing what you're going to do in the ring, and that's how I felt. I just feel confident. And I’ll feel confident Saturday night, as well. There’s no pressure. It's a privilege to have any sort of like hype around you. Like I say, pressure is a privilege for me, and that's how I get through all my hard times… So, the ring walk and the whole fight, the whole build-up, it all leads to one moment, and I'll be creating history for myself and creating a lot of wealth for my family. That's what ultimately will happen.”
A winning debut is always a special moment for any young professional fighter, and Allen’s first victory was no different, with those who have been with her throughout her journey all elated to see her succeed, and excited for what’s to come. “Yeah, they were buzzing,” grinned Allen. “They were like, ‘When's the next one?’ I was like, ‘Guess what? It's coming soon!’ … I was like, ‘Listen, I'll be out regularly,’ because when I'm getting people out early, and I'm giving people value for money, people want to buy tickets.
“I don't have to sell too much. People know what I'm about. I'm an honest person. I'm black and white, as easy as they come, you know? Support me, and I'll give the same back to my community and my family, and that's what it's all about. It’s boxing, at the end of the day.”
Clearly, Allen is far more focused on her own performance than her opponent’s past fights. When we asked Allen what she knew about her opponent, her answer was short and sweet. “My opponent? She's got two legs, two arms, and a head,” she said. “She's southpaw, she's from Germany, and she’s getting knocked out! That's what I know about her.”
For Zuffa Boxing’s female trailblazer, it’s the start of a journey that she hopes will open the doors for more young female fighters to follow in her footsteps. “It's amazing, isn't it? You can't ever take that away from me. As I said, a one-of-one. You can't ever take away someone who's unique and sets a precedent for other female young young athletes coming through. You can't ever take that away from me, and you know it's going to be an amazing journey, and it’s just the start.”
And on November 7th, just a couple of days after the UK’s annual celebration of Bonfire Night, where fireworks light up the night sky, Allen plans to light up the Copper Box with some pugilistic pyrotechnics of her own. “[It’ll be] fireworks again,” she stated. “It's gonna be a confident, great performance again. Just tune in Saturday night, and you'll see.”
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Weigh-in report from Bournemouth |
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Here are the boxers' weights for Zuffa Boxing 12 in Bounremouth, England, scheduled for Saturday on Paramount+ and Sky Sports:
Chris Billam-Smith, 199.5 pounds -vs.- Chev Clarke, 198.8 (cruiserweights, ten rounds);
Denzel Bentley, 160 -vs.- Shane Mosley Jr., 160 (middleweights, ten rounds);
Da'Mazion Vanhouter, 230.6 -vs.- Ivan Balaz, 244.8 (heavyweights, eight rounds);
Sam Hickey, 161.4 -vs.- Amaury Massenaux, 160.6 (middleweights, eight rounds);
Kayla Allen, 142.5 -vs.- Julia Igel, 142.4 (junior welterweights, six rounds); and
Lucas Roehrig, 199.7 -vs.- Connal McDonald, 199.8 (cruiserweights, eight rounds).
Zach Parker, 174.9 -vs.- Umar Dzambekov, 174.8 (light heavyweights, ten rounds);
Vinnie Kemp, 156.2 -vs.- Liam McElhinney, 155.3 (middleweights, four rounds); and
Masood Abdullah, 125.4 -vs.- Adan Palma, 124.8 (featherweights, eight rounds).
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Weigh-in report from Bournemouth
Here are the boxers' weights for Zuffa Boxing 12 in Bounremouth, England, scheduled for Saturday on Paramount+ and Sky Sports:
Chris Billam-Smith, 199.5 pounds -vs.- Chev Clarke, 198.8 (cruiserweights, ten rounds);
Denzel Bentley, 160 -vs.- Shane Mosley Jr., 160 (middleweights, ten rounds);
Da'Mazion Vanhouter, 230.6 -vs.- Ivan Balaz, 244.8 (heavyweights, eight rounds);
Sam Hickey, 161.4 -vs.- Amaury Massenaux, 160.6 (middleweights, eight rounds);
Kayla Allen, 142.5 -vs.- Julia Igel, 142.4 (junior welterweights, six rounds); and
Lucas Roehrig, 199.7 -vs.- Connal McDonald, 199.8 (cruiserweights, eight rounds).
Zach Parker, 174.9 -vs.- Umar Dzambekov, 174.8 (light heavyweights, ten rounds);
Vinnie Kemp, 156.2 -vs.- Liam McElhinney, 155.3 (middleweights, four rounds); and
Masood Abdullah, 125.4 -vs.- Adan Palma, 124.8 (featherweights, eight rounds).
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MVP books Caroline Dubois vs. Stephanie Han unification for 2027 |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that undefeated champions Caroline Dubois (14-0-1, 5 KOs) and Stephanie Han (13-0, 3 KOs) will clash in a lightweight unification showdown on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. With the WBO, WBC and WBA world titles on the line, the bout will headline a night of championship boxing as Han prepares for the biggest fight of her career in front of her hometown fans. Dubois vs. Han will air live on Sky Sports in UK prime time. Public sale of tickets begins Thursday, December 3rd at 10 a.m. MT on Ticketmaster.com. Dubois vs. Han will mark MVPW-09, with details on MVPW-08 to be announced shortly.
The announcement comes as the two champions head to Arlington, Texas, for their first face-to-face meeting as special guests at fight week of MVPW-07, which is set for on Sunday, November 8th. The IBF women's lightweight champion is Elif Nur Turhan who faces junior lightweight champion Alycia Bumgardner on MVPW-07.
Dubois (14-0-1, 5 KOs), the unified WBC / WBO lightweight champion is one of the most accomplished young talents in women’s boxing. Fighting out of London, the southpaw known as “Sweet Caroline” enjoyed a decorated amateur career that included gold at the 2018 Youth Olympics, four European Youth Championships and representing Great Britain at the 2021 Olympics. Turning pro in 2022, Dubois captured the WBC title before unifying the WBC and WBO championships with a victory over Terri Harper in April 2026. She most recently defended her titles against Amelia Moore in August and now looks to add the WBA championship to her collection in the biggest unification fight of her professional career.
Dubois said: “I can’t wait to get back in the ring and I can’t wait to go into Stephanie Han’s hometown and add another world title to my collection. I respect what she’s accomplished, but I’m coming to El Paso to take her title and show everyone why I’m the best lightweight in the world. These are the kinds of fights I’ve been working toward my entire career. I want all the belts, I want the biggest fights, and I want to prove myself against the best. On Saturday, February 20, I’m coming to make a statement and take another step toward becoming undisputed. A big thank you to MVP and Sky for making this fight happen and continuing to give women’s boxing the platform it deserves.”
Han (13-0, 3 KOs), the WBA lightweight champion, is an El Paso native, devoted mother of two, veteran of the El Paso Police Department and a former beauty pageant competitor whose remarkable journey has made her a compelling figure in women’s boxing. Known as “The Enforcer,” Han captured the vacant WBA lightweight world title with a first-round knockout of Hannah Terlep in February 2025 and has since defended her belt three times, including back-to-back victories over boxing legend Holly Holm. Most recently, Han defeated Holm in front of her hometown fans in El Paso on May 30th. She will now face the biggest challenge of her career at GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center, with an opportunity to unify three major world titles.
Han said: “This fight is a dream come true! Finally, I have the opportunity to unify titles in my division and get one step closer to becoming the undisputed queen of the lightweight division! To be able to fight at home at GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center is incredibly special, and I’m grateful to MVP for their support to make this happen. I invite all of El Paso to come out and support on Saturday, February 20 and witness this moment.”
Nakisa Bidarian, MVP's CEO, said: “Caroline Dubois and Stephanie Han are two undefeated world champions at the top of one of the deepest and most competitive divisions in boxing. Stephanie’s story is remarkable. She’s a police officer, a mother, a former beauty queen and a world champion who has become a source of pride for El Paso. Caroline has established herself as one of the most talented young champions in the sport, and bringing these two women together with three major world titles on the line is a huge moment for MVP and women’s boxing. El Paso has shown up for its hometown hero time and time again, so we owed it to this city to bring one of the biggest fights in boxing to GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday, February 20th, live in UK prime time on Sky Sports.”
Additional details, including the full fight card and further event information, will be announced in the coming weeks.
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MVP books Caroline Dubois vs. Stephanie Han unification for 2027
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that undefeated champions Caroline Dubois (14-0-1, 5 KOs) and Stephanie Han (13-0, 3 KOs) will clash in a lightweight unification showdown on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. With the WBO, WBC and WBA world titles on the line, the bout will headline a night of championship boxing as Han prepares for the biggest fight of her career in front of her hometown fans. Dubois vs. Han will air live on Sky Sports in UK prime time. Public sale of tickets begins Thursday, December 3rd at 10 a.m. MT on Ticketmaster.com. Dubois vs. Han will mark MVPW-09, with details on MVPW-08 to be announced shortly.
The announcement comes as the two champions head to Arlington, Texas, for their first face-to-face meeting as special guests at fight week of MVPW-07, which is set for on Sunday, November 8th. The IBF women's lightweight champion is Elif Nur Turhan who faces junior lightweight champion Alycia Bumgardner on MVPW-07.
Dubois (14-0-1, 5 KOs), the unified WBC / WBO lightweight champion is one of the most accomplished young talents in women’s boxing. Fighting out of London, the southpaw known as “Sweet Caroline” enjoyed a decorated amateur career that included gold at the 2018 Youth Olympics, four European Youth Championships and representing Great Britain at the 2021 Olympics. Turning pro in 2022, Dubois captured the WBC title before unifying the WBC and WBO championships with a victory over Terri Harper in April 2026. She most recently defended her titles against Amelia Moore in August and now looks to add the WBA championship to her collection in the biggest unification fight of her professional career.
Dubois said: “I can’t wait to get back in the ring and I can’t wait to go into Stephanie Han’s hometown and add another world title to my collection. I respect what she’s accomplished, but I’m coming to El Paso to take her title and show everyone why I’m the best lightweight in the world. These are the kinds of fights I’ve been working toward my entire career. I want all the belts, I want the biggest fights, and I want to prove myself against the best. On Saturday, February 20, I’m coming to make a statement and take another step toward becoming undisputed. A big thank you to MVP and Sky for making this fight happen and continuing to give women’s boxing the platform it deserves.”
Han (13-0, 3 KOs), the WBA lightweight champion, is an El Paso native, devoted mother of two, veteran of the El Paso Police Department and a former beauty pageant competitor whose remarkable journey has made her a compelling figure in women’s boxing. Known as “The Enforcer,” Han captured the vacant WBA lightweight world title with a first-round knockout of Hannah Terlep in February 2025 and has since defended her belt three times, including back-to-back victories over boxing legend Holly Holm. Most recently, Han defeated Holm in front of her hometown fans in El Paso on May 30th. She will now face the biggest challenge of her career at GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center, with an opportunity to unify three major world titles.
Han said: “This fight is a dream come true! Finally, I have the opportunity to unify titles in my division and get one step closer to becoming the undisputed queen of the lightweight division! To be able to fight at home at GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center is incredibly special, and I’m grateful to MVP for their support to make this happen. I invite all of El Paso to come out and support on Saturday, February 20 and witness this moment.”
Nakisa Bidarian, MVP's CEO, said: “Caroline Dubois and Stephanie Han are two undefeated world champions at the top of one of the deepest and most competitive divisions in boxing. Stephanie’s story is remarkable. She’s a police officer, a mother, a former beauty queen and a world champion who has become a source of pride for El Paso. Caroline has established herself as one of the most talented young champions in the sport, and bringing these two women together with three major world titles on the line is a huge moment for MVP and women’s boxing. El Paso has shown up for its hometown hero time and time again, so we owed it to this city to bring one of the biggest fights in boxing to GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday, February 20th, live in UK prime time on Sky Sports.”
Additional details, including the full fight card and further event information, will be announced in the coming weeks.
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Heavyweight Vanhouter is growing up quickly |
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Da'Mazion Vanhouter shares the same birthday, January 17th, as Muhammad Ali, the greatest heavyweight of all time. Ali accomplished that goal in his lifetime, and while those are enormous shoes to fill, it’s the fuel that drives the 21-year old fighting out of Saint Petersburg, FL. To that end, he’s off to a promising start. Undefeated across 13 professional fights, Vanhouter is the only fighters with three stoppages on Zuffa Boxing shows. He began with a third-round TKO over Julian Gomez back in February, followed by a first-round TKO of Raphael Murphy in May. His most recent was a first-round KO of Raphael Akpejiori on the undercard of the Garcia vs Benn mega-event in September. That brought his KO streak to seven consecutive fights and ten total for his career. He sat down to discuss his bout vs Ivan Balaz (9-1) at Zuffa Boxing 12 on November 7th in London.
Sitting across from him, it’s nearly impossible to imagine this is the same guy who fought his first few pro fights at 155 pounds, starting back in 2022. For the Akpejiori bout, he hit the scale at 231.5. Massive gains of lean muscle like that have, of course, meant countless hours dedicated to strength and conditioning, and maybe a few for video games. “The morning before left, I worked out, and then I played the game from 10 in the morning to 11 at night,” he admitted a little sheepishly. “I didn’t do anything else.”
There are plenty of games he enjoys but names the latest MLB game as a huge culprit of occupying his non-gym hours. But games are just a luxury for after the hay is in the barn, as it is for Saturday’s showdown at Copper Box Arena. His focus is squarely on the task in front of him, and his opponents rarely ever rent space in his head. “I know (Balaz) fought Johnny Fisher and that he has a good record,” he said, as if these are the only things he needs to know. Vanhouter largely stays out of the discussions of what the arc of his opponents should look like. “I don’t focus on that,” he said. “I just focus on who they give me. They worry about that stuff. Just tell me who I’m fighting.”
When asked how he has improved, Vanhouter responded, "my mentality and my patience,” Vanhouter said. “My first Zuffa Boxing fight, I was very nervous; more anxious because of what was going on. I just mellowed out. Got more patient.”
This much is evident even as you speak to Vanhouter. Although soft-spoken and visibly shy, he’s much more relaxed doing media and interviews than he was just a few short months earlier, so it stands to reason that comfort extends to other areas of his profession. “Just fighting more,” he said. “Just being in front of people.”
The nerves, to hear him tell it, all exist outside of the opening bell. “I feel more nervous before the fight, like training up for the fight,” he said. “When I’m in the ring, there ain’t nothing else I can do but do what I love, and that’s hurt ‘em.”
While Vanhouter has an imposing physique, he often finds himself on the wrong end of the height and reach advantage — not that it has mattered. “It’s easy; they’re all a lot slower,” he said, smiling. “All I’ve got to do is use my feet. Everybody’s just slow to me.” Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, as his hero used to say.
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Heavyweight Vanhouter is growing up quickly
Da'Mazion Vanhouter shares the same birthday, January 17th, as Muhammad Ali, the greatest heavyweight of all time. Ali accomplished that goal in his lifetime, and while those are enormous shoes to fill, it’s the fuel that drives the 21-year old fighting out of Saint Petersburg, FL. To that end, he’s off to a promising start. Undefeated across 13 professional fights, Vanhouter is the only fighters with three stoppages on Zuffa Boxing shows. He began with a third-round TKO over Julian Gomez back in February, followed by a first-round TKO of Raphael Murphy in May. His most recent was a first-round KO of Raphael Akpejiori on the undercard of the Garcia vs Benn mega-event in September. That brought his KO streak to seven consecutive fights and ten total for his career. He sat down to discuss his bout vs Ivan Balaz (9-1) at Zuffa Boxing 12 on November 7th in London.
Sitting across from him, it’s nearly impossible to imagine this is the same guy who fought his first few pro fights at 155 pounds, starting back in 2022. For the Akpejiori bout, he hit the scale at 231.5. Massive gains of lean muscle like that have, of course, meant countless hours dedicated to strength and conditioning, and maybe a few for video games. “The morning before left, I worked out, and then I played the game from 10 in the morning to 11 at night,” he admitted a little sheepishly. “I didn’t do anything else.”
There are plenty of games he enjoys but names the latest MLB game as a huge culprit of occupying his non-gym hours. But games are just a luxury for after the hay is in the barn, as it is for Saturday’s showdown at Copper Box Arena. His focus is squarely on the task in front of him, and his opponents rarely ever rent space in his head. “I know (Balaz) fought Johnny Fisher and that he has a good record,” he said, as if these are the only things he needs to know. Vanhouter largely stays out of the discussions of what the arc of his opponents should look like. “I don’t focus on that,” he said. “I just focus on who they give me. They worry about that stuff. Just tell me who I’m fighting.”
When asked how he has improved, Vanhouter responded, "my mentality and my patience,” Vanhouter said. “My first Zuffa Boxing fight, I was very nervous; more anxious because of what was going on. I just mellowed out. Got more patient.”
This much is evident even as you speak to Vanhouter. Although soft-spoken and visibly shy, he’s much more relaxed doing media and interviews than he was just a few short months earlier, so it stands to reason that comfort extends to other areas of his profession. “Just fighting more,” he said. “Just being in front of people.”
The nerves, to hear him tell it, all exist outside of the opening bell. “I feel more nervous before the fight, like training up for the fight,” he said. “When I’m in the ring, there ain’t nothing else I can do but do what I love, and that’s hurt ‘em.”
While Vanhouter has an imposing physique, he often finds himself on the wrong end of the height and reach advantage — not that it has mattered. “It’s easy; they’re all a lot slower,” he said, smiling. “All I’ve got to do is use my feet. Everybody’s just slow to me.” Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, as his hero used to say.
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New champion alert: WBO elevates Ryusei Matsumoto |
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With Oscar Collazo vacating his WBO title, the WBO has now officially elevated Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan to WBO minimumweight world champion. Matsumoto (9-0) got elevated because he has been the WBO's interim champion since September when he defeated Russell Acosta Silveira. Meanwhile, Collazo remains the WBA champion in this 105-pound weight class, although he previously had a 112-pound fight scheduled before getting injured.
The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
NOV. 3, 2026: The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
OCT. 20, 2026: With Oscar Collazo's flyweight title shot called off due to his injury, he must now decide whether he wants to return to minimumweight. Collazo holds both the WBO and WBA titles at minimumweight (105 pounds).The WBO World Championships Committee has formally ordered negotiations between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto (9-0) of Japan to fulfill the mandatory championship obligation and promptly terminate the interim championship status. Matsumoto becam einterim champion last month by defeating Russell Acosta Sivleira in a battle of unbeatens. Representatives of Collazo and Matsumto have fifteen days to reach an agreement. Should negotiations prove unsuccessful, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
SEPT 19, 2026: Puerto Rico's Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo, who holds two of the four world titles at miniumweight has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight title challenge due to a rib injury sustained in training camp. Collazo was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge another two-belt champion, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval, on October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to Collazo's promoter, Golden Boy, the show will proceed with undefeated lightweights Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield III (19-0, 13 KOs) and “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) meeting in the main event for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions said additional details concerning the October 10th undercard will be announced once confirmed.
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New champion alert: WBO elevates Ryusei Matsumoto
With Oscar Collazo vacating his WBO title, the WBO has now officially elevated Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan to WBO minimumweight world champion. Matsumoto (9-0) got elevated because he has been the WBO's interim champion since September when he defeated Russell Acosta Silveira. Meanwhile, Collazo remains the WBA champion in this 105-pound weight class, although he previously had a 112-pound fight scheduled before getting injured.
The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
NOV. 3, 2026: The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
OCT. 20, 2026: With Oscar Collazo's flyweight title shot called off due to his injury, he must now decide whether he wants to return to minimumweight. Collazo holds both the WBO and WBA titles at minimumweight (105 pounds).The WBO World Championships Committee has formally ordered negotiations between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto (9-0) of Japan to fulfill the mandatory championship obligation and promptly terminate the interim championship status. Matsumoto becam einterim champion last month by defeating Russell Acosta Sivleira in a battle of unbeatens. Representatives of Collazo and Matsumto have fifteen days to reach an agreement. Should negotiations prove unsuccessful, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
SEPT 19, 2026: Puerto Rico's Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo, who holds two of the four world titles at miniumweight has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight title challenge due to a rib injury sustained in training camp. Collazo was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge another two-belt champion, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval, on October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to Collazo's promoter, Golden Boy, the show will proceed with undefeated lightweights Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield III (19-0, 13 KOs) and “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) meeting in the main event for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions said additional details concerning the October 10th undercard will be announced once confirmed.
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MVP signs reigning champ Mizuki Hiruta |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the signing of undefeated Mizuki “Mimi” Hiruta (11-0, 2 KOs) of Japan, the reigning WBO super flyweight world champion and one of the most accomplished pound-for-pound fighters in women’s boxing. The signing brings one of Japan’s premier combat sports talents to MVP’s rapidly expanding global roster of world champions and further strengthens the company’s position as the leading force in women’s boxing. Hiruta already boasts seven successful title defenses and The Ring’s 2025 Female Fighter of the Year honors.
A former Japan Self-Defense Forces elite athlete, Hiruta built an accomplished amateur career before turning professional in 2021 and capturing the WBO world title in just her fourth professional fight. A precise, high-volume southpaw style and resilience, she made history with a 63-second stoppage in her first title defense, among the fastest world title finishes ever recorded in Japan. After establishing herself in Southern California under renowned trainer Manny Robles, Hiruta enjoyed a standout 2025 with four title defenses before most recently retaining her titles with a unanimous decision victory beneath the Pyramids of Giza in May 2026. A four-time consecutive Japan Female Fighter of the Year, Hiruta now joins MVP.
Her signing marks another significant step in MVP’s international expansion and its mission to bring the world’s most talented female fighters to the biggest stages in boxing. Through MVP’s global promotional platform and media partnerships, Hiruta will pursue marquee championship opportunities while building her profile with audiences across Japan, the United States and around the world.
Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, MVP Founders, said: “Japan has some of the best boxers in the world and Mizuki Hiruta has everything it takes to become a global superstar. She’s undefeated, a world champion with seven successful title defenses, a four-time Japanese Female Fighter of the Year and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Her journey from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to the top of women’s boxing is remarkable. Inside the ring, she’s an exceptional boxer. Outside the ring, she has the confidence, charisma and authenticity to transcend the sport. Mizuki is exactly the type of athlete we want at MVP, and we’re going to give her the platform and opportunities to become one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing. We look forward to her making her MVP debut and delivering an MVP event in Japan in the future.”
Hiruta said: “I want to thank Most Valuable Promotions from the bottom of my heart for this incredible opportunity! I’m so excited to chase my dreams with MVP! I’ll turn all this gratitude into strength, keep working hard, and never lose my smile or forget who I am. I want to make everyone who supports me happy and bring smiles to as many people as possible. I want to be a one-of-a-kind superstar."
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MVP signs reigning champ Mizuki Hiruta
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the signing of undefeated Mizuki “Mimi” Hiruta (11-0, 2 KOs) of Japan, the reigning WBO super flyweight world champion and one of the most accomplished pound-for-pound fighters in women’s boxing. The signing brings one of Japan’s premier combat sports talents to MVP’s rapidly expanding global roster of world champions and further strengthens the company’s position as the leading force in women’s boxing. Hiruta already boasts seven successful title defenses and The Ring’s 2025 Female Fighter of the Year honors.
A former Japan Self-Defense Forces elite athlete, Hiruta built an accomplished amateur career before turning professional in 2021 and capturing the WBO world title in just her fourth professional fight. A precise, high-volume southpaw style and resilience, she made history with a 63-second stoppage in her first title defense, among the fastest world title finishes ever recorded in Japan. After establishing herself in Southern California under renowned trainer Manny Robles, Hiruta enjoyed a standout 2025 with four title defenses before most recently retaining her titles with a unanimous decision victory beneath the Pyramids of Giza in May 2026. A four-time consecutive Japan Female Fighter of the Year, Hiruta now joins MVP.
Her signing marks another significant step in MVP’s international expansion and its mission to bring the world’s most talented female fighters to the biggest stages in boxing. Through MVP’s global promotional platform and media partnerships, Hiruta will pursue marquee championship opportunities while building her profile with audiences across Japan, the United States and around the world.
Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, MVP Founders, said: “Japan has some of the best boxers in the world and Mizuki Hiruta has everything it takes to become a global superstar. She’s undefeated, a world champion with seven successful title defenses, a four-time Japanese Female Fighter of the Year and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Her journey from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to the top of women’s boxing is remarkable. Inside the ring, she’s an exceptional boxer. Outside the ring, she has the confidence, charisma and authenticity to transcend the sport. Mizuki is exactly the type of athlete we want at MVP, and we’re going to give her the platform and opportunities to become one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing. We look forward to her making her MVP debut and delivering an MVP event in Japan in the future.”
Hiruta said: “I want to thank Most Valuable Promotions from the bottom of my heart for this incredible opportunity! I’m so excited to chase my dreams with MVP! I’ll turn all this gratitude into strength, keep working hard, and never lose my smile or forget who I am. I want to make everyone who supports me happy and bring smiles to as many people as possible. I want to be a one-of-a-kind superstar."
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Haney to unify vs. Paro |
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Three-division champion and current WBO welterweight king Devin Haney (pictured) will face two-division champion and current IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro in a unification showdown Saturday, Dec. 19th, at Chase Center in San Francisco. In the ten-round welterweight co-feature, former champion Brian Norman Jr. takes on Abel Ramos. Haney-Paro, Norman-Ramos and two additional fights will be streamed LIVE on DAZN PPV beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions, in association with No Limit Boxing and TGB Promotions, ticket information will be announced shortly.
Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) stopped Zaur Abdullaev in four rounds to win the interim lightweight title in 2019 and was elevated to world champion later that year. After four defenses, he traveled to Australia twice in 2022 to beat George Kambosos Jr., first to claim the undisputed crown and then to defend it. Haney outpointed Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2023 before moving up to 140 pounds that December, where he dominated Regis Prograis to become a two-division champion. His April 2024 decision loss to Ryan Garcia was later overturned and the bout ruled a no contest. Haney returned in May 2025 to outpoint Jose Ramirez. That November, he dropped Brian Norman Jr. en route to a unanimous decision to capture the WBO welterweight title. In his second appearance at Chase Center, he’ll look to unify titles in a second weight class.
Haney said, “My resume speaks for itself. I’ve never been afraid to go into a champion’s backyard and put my record on the line. I went to Australia, took George Kambosos’ belts, and became undisputed lightweight champion of the world. Now I’m bringing another Australian world champion, Liam Paro, into my backyard. This time, I plan to take his belt and become a unified welterweight world champion right here at home.
“Oakland is where my story started, and the Bay Area has always been part of who I am. The Valkyries just brought a championship to Chase Center, and on December 19, I plan to keep that championship energy going. I made history in Australia. Now it’s time to make history at home.”
Paro (28-1, 16 KOs) traveled to Puerto Rico in June 2024 and outpointed Subriel Matias to capture the super lightweight world title. The Mackay, Australia, native returned to Puerto Rico that December and lost the belt by split decision to Richardson Hitchins in his first defense. Paro moved up to welterweight the following year, stopping Jonathan Navarro after five rounds and outpointing unbeaten David Papot. In June, he handed Lewis Crocker his first defeat, earning a unanimous decision in Brisbane to become a two-division world champion.
Paro said, “Three years ago, I was on the undercard at Chase Center the night Devin fought Regis Prograis. I said back then that Haney versus Paro rolls off the tongue. Now it’s here. Champion versus champion, two belts on the line, in his backyard.
“I’ve never taken the easy road. I went to Puerto Rico and took the title off Matias in front of his own people. Devin’s a great fighter and I respect that. But I’ve been the underdog plenty of times and I’ve made history before. December 19, I’m coming to unify the division and make more history.”
“Look, this is the fight we've been chasing since the day Liam won that IBF belt,” said No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose. “Plenty of champions sit on their titles and wait for an easy defence. That's never been Liam Paro and it's never been No Limit. We put his name in front of every champion in the division and said come and get it. Devin Haney has answered, and full credit to him for that.
“I'll say it straight. Devin Haney is the best welterweight in the world right now. Undefeated, three-division world champion, fighting in his hometown. That's exactly why Liam wants him. You don't become the best by going around the best. You go straight through them, and that's what we're heading to America to do.”
Norman (29-1, 23 KOs) broke through in May 2024, knocking out unbeaten Giovani Santillan in 10 rounds to capture the interim welterweight world title. Elevated to full champion later that year, the Atlanta native made two emphatic defenses in 2025, stopping Derrieck Cuevas and Jin Sasaki before the Haney loss. He returned in May and dispatched Josh Wagner in two rounds.
Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs), a Mexican American raised in Casa Grande, Arizona, made his mark in September 2020 when he dropped a split decision to Yordenis Ugas in his first bid for a world title. His second shot came in November 2024, when he traded knockdowns with Mario Barrios en route to a split draw. In February, Ramos rallied to upset previously unbeaten Tahmir Smalls by split decision.
Norman said, “I don't fear the moment. I embrace it. Every setback has sharpened me, every sacrifice has shaped me, and every round has taught me something. I don't need to be perfect. I need to be present, disciplined, and calculated. The goal isn't just to win a fight. It's to bring the best version of myself into that ring and leave no doubt about who I am. December 19, I’ll be my best self.”
Ramos said, “I’m super excited for this opportunity. Brian Norman Jr. always comes to fight, and with my action-packed style, I know this is going to be a fan-friendly fight for everyone at the Chase Center and watching on DAZN. This will be my first time in San Francisco, and I can’t wait to put on a show for the boxing fans to close out the year.”
“The historically prestigious welterweight division is heating up, and it all starts on December 19th in San Francisco when Devin Haney and Liam Paro unify their titles,” said Top Rank President Todd duBoef. “It is a pleasure to be reunited with Team Haney after orchestrating his successful bid for the undisputed lightweight championship in 2022. Paro is no stranger to winning on the road, having broken the hearts of Puerto Rican fans when he upset Subriel Matias for his super lightweight crown. This is a terrific matchup with massive stakes.”
“We are excited to partner with Top Rank, TGB Promotions, No Limit Boxing and DAZN to deliver another major night of championship boxing,” said Bill Haney, Devin's father and manager. “At Devin Haney Promotions, our commitment is to bring meaningful, high-level fights to the sport, and December 19th represents exactly that. Devin Haney and Liam Paro are two reigning world champions competing in one of the hottest divisions in boxing. This is a championship unification, with the WBO and IBF welterweight titles at stake and the winner taking another step toward becoming undisputed. We made championship history at Chase Center at 140 pounds. Now we’re returning at 147 for another opportunity to make history, looking to build on that success and deliver a memorable night of world-class boxing for the Bay Area.”
“Devin Haney aka Deebo's homecoming sets the stage for a blockbuster welterweight unification showdown in San Francisco,” said Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With Liam Paro looking to make his own statement, and Brian Norman Jr. facing battle-tested former world title challenger Abel Ramos, this card brings together elite talent, compelling rivalries and high stakes.”
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Haney to unify vs. Paro
Three-division champion and current WBO welterweight king Devin Haney (pictured) will face two-division champion and current IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro in a unification showdown Saturday, Dec. 19th, at Chase Center in San Francisco. In the ten-round welterweight co-feature, former champion Brian Norman Jr. takes on Abel Ramos. Haney-Paro, Norman-Ramos and two additional fights will be streamed LIVE on DAZN PPV beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions, in association with No Limit Boxing and TGB Promotions, ticket information will be announced shortly.
Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) stopped Zaur Abdullaev in four rounds to win the interim lightweight title in 2019 and was elevated to world champion later that year. After four defenses, he traveled to Australia twice in 2022 to beat George Kambosos Jr., first to claim the undisputed crown and then to defend it. Haney outpointed Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2023 before moving up to 140 pounds that December, where he dominated Regis Prograis to become a two-division champion. His April 2024 decision loss to Ryan Garcia was later overturned and the bout ruled a no contest. Haney returned in May 2025 to outpoint Jose Ramirez. That November, he dropped Brian Norman Jr. en route to a unanimous decision to capture the WBO welterweight title. In his second appearance at Chase Center, he’ll look to unify titles in a second weight class.
Haney said, “My resume speaks for itself. I’ve never been afraid to go into a champion’s backyard and put my record on the line. I went to Australia, took George Kambosos’ belts, and became undisputed lightweight champion of the world. Now I’m bringing another Australian world champion, Liam Paro, into my backyard. This time, I plan to take his belt and become a unified welterweight world champion right here at home.
“Oakland is where my story started, and the Bay Area has always been part of who I am. The Valkyries just brought a championship to Chase Center, and on December 19, I plan to keep that championship energy going. I made history in Australia. Now it’s time to make history at home.”
Paro (28-1, 16 KOs) traveled to Puerto Rico in June 2024 and outpointed Subriel Matias to capture the super lightweight world title. The Mackay, Australia, native returned to Puerto Rico that December and lost the belt by split decision to Richardson Hitchins in his first defense. Paro moved up to welterweight the following year, stopping Jonathan Navarro after five rounds and outpointing unbeaten David Papot. In June, he handed Lewis Crocker his first defeat, earning a unanimous decision in Brisbane to become a two-division world champion.
Paro said, “Three years ago, I was on the undercard at Chase Center the night Devin fought Regis Prograis. I said back then that Haney versus Paro rolls off the tongue. Now it’s here. Champion versus champion, two belts on the line, in his backyard.
“I’ve never taken the easy road. I went to Puerto Rico and took the title off Matias in front of his own people. Devin’s a great fighter and I respect that. But I’ve been the underdog plenty of times and I’ve made history before. December 19, I’m coming to unify the division and make more history.”
“Look, this is the fight we've been chasing since the day Liam won that IBF belt,” said No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose. “Plenty of champions sit on their titles and wait for an easy defence. That's never been Liam Paro and it's never been No Limit. We put his name in front of every champion in the division and said come and get it. Devin Haney has answered, and full credit to him for that.
“I'll say it straight. Devin Haney is the best welterweight in the world right now. Undefeated, three-division world champion, fighting in his hometown. That's exactly why Liam wants him. You don't become the best by going around the best. You go straight through them, and that's what we're heading to America to do.”
Norman (29-1, 23 KOs) broke through in May 2024, knocking out unbeaten Giovani Santillan in 10 rounds to capture the interim welterweight world title. Elevated to full champion later that year, the Atlanta native made two emphatic defenses in 2025, stopping Derrieck Cuevas and Jin Sasaki before the Haney loss. He returned in May and dispatched Josh Wagner in two rounds.
Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs), a Mexican American raised in Casa Grande, Arizona, made his mark in September 2020 when he dropped a split decision to Yordenis Ugas in his first bid for a world title. His second shot came in November 2024, when he traded knockdowns with Mario Barrios en route to a split draw. In February, Ramos rallied to upset previously unbeaten Tahmir Smalls by split decision.
Norman said, “I don't fear the moment. I embrace it. Every setback has sharpened me, every sacrifice has shaped me, and every round has taught me something. I don't need to be perfect. I need to be present, disciplined, and calculated. The goal isn't just to win a fight. It's to bring the best version of myself into that ring and leave no doubt about who I am. December 19, I’ll be my best self.”
Ramos said, “I’m super excited for this opportunity. Brian Norman Jr. always comes to fight, and with my action-packed style, I know this is going to be a fan-friendly fight for everyone at the Chase Center and watching on DAZN. This will be my first time in San Francisco, and I can’t wait to put on a show for the boxing fans to close out the year.”
“The historically prestigious welterweight division is heating up, and it all starts on December 19th in San Francisco when Devin Haney and Liam Paro unify their titles,” said Top Rank President Todd duBoef. “It is a pleasure to be reunited with Team Haney after orchestrating his successful bid for the undisputed lightweight championship in 2022. Paro is no stranger to winning on the road, having broken the hearts of Puerto Rican fans when he upset Subriel Matias for his super lightweight crown. This is a terrific matchup with massive stakes.”
“We are excited to partner with Top Rank, TGB Promotions, No Limit Boxing and DAZN to deliver another major night of championship boxing,” said Bill Haney, Devin's father and manager. “At Devin Haney Promotions, our commitment is to bring meaningful, high-level fights to the sport, and December 19th represents exactly that. Devin Haney and Liam Paro are two reigning world champions competing in one of the hottest divisions in boxing. This is a championship unification, with the WBO and IBF welterweight titles at stake and the winner taking another step toward becoming undisputed. We made championship history at Chase Center at 140 pounds. Now we’re returning at 147 for another opportunity to make history, looking to build on that success and deliver a memorable night of world-class boxing for the Bay Area.”
“Devin Haney aka Deebo's homecoming sets the stage for a blockbuster welterweight unification showdown in San Francisco,” said Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With Liam Paro looking to make his own statement, and Brian Norman Jr. facing battle-tested former world title challenger Abel Ramos, this card brings together elite talent, compelling rivalries and high stakes.”
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Serrano vs. Falzon presser quotes |
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In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) hosted the kickoff press conference for Amanda Serrano's farewell fight vs. Skye Falzon, taking place Saturday, January 9, 2027, live on DAZN from Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The event will mark the final professional fight of seven-division champion Serrano (50-4-1, 32 KOs), who will defend her unified WBO and WBA featherweight world titles against Australia’s Falzon (12-2, 7 KOs) over twelve three-minute rounds. Hosted by Pepe Calderón and joined by MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian, Serrano and Falzon came face-to-face. Here is what they had to say:
Amanda Serrano
On retiring: “You know when it’s time. I enjoyed it every time I fought, every time I get to go into that ring, I enjoy it. But I think it’s time.”
To her fans: “You guys helped me get to where I’m at right now, and this is our story. Not just my story, not just my journey. It’s our journey. So, I would love for you guys to come and celebrate this night with us. It’s going to be a beautiful event.”
On fighting in Puerto Rico: “Well, it means everything. I always knew that my last fight, my last step, would be here in Puerto Rico.”
On fighting for Puerto Rico and celebrating her journey: “You guys have been with me from the very beginning, supporting me, loving me, and I’ve been fighting for you guys. I bring my flag with me. It’s in my heart, and I’m always with you, and I fight for you, and I just want you guys to celebrate my long journey. It’s going to be a great night, January 9th.”
On whether she will be trying to break Christy Martin’s KO record of 32 KOs: “If the knockout comes, it comes. I’m going to enjoy every second of the last time I go into that ring.”
On how she wants to be remembered: “I want people to remember me as a game changer and that I gave it my all in the ring. Every time I fall, every time I train, I just left everything in the ring.”
On fighting for her fans: “I hope you will see that come January 9th, I fight for you guys. I fight to make you guys excited to continue to see me fight.”
On Falzon’s confidence that she will beat Serrano: “I love that she’s going to come in shape, and she’s going to try to take my titles away. These titles are going to stay here first and foremost. I love it, and just for her to go out with that mindset, knowing that when I do beat her, I’m beating the best Skye Falzon.”
On what she will miss about boxing: “I’m going to miss you guys screaming my name, cheering for me. I think that’s going to be the hardest part: not being able to walk into an arena and have people cheer for me and me performing for you guys.”
On preparing for January 9th: “I think we’re just working day by day, just practicing, being strong, and just going out there and working hard so we can enjoy January 9th.”
On her message to young people wanting to achieve their dreams: “I thought my dreams were big, and I’ve accomplished my dreams. I accomplished my goals. Just believe in yourself. That’s all you have to do.”
Skye Falzon
On getting the opportunity to fight Serrano: “Look, to be honest, I never thought that I’d get a call-up to fight Amanda Serrano. I watch her. I’m a fan of hers. She is the best, and that’s just the way it is. To get a call-up to fight her was a dream come true. I actually cried about it. It’s been amazing. The opportunity is something I’m going to grab hold of, and I just can’t wait.”
On wanting to defeat Serrano: “I’m not here just to take part in Amanda’s history. I’m here to try to write my own. I wouldn’t be a fighter if I didn’t believe I could win.”
On preparing to face Serrano in front of her Puerto Rican supporters: “I’ve got a great team, and I have a great technical coach. All I got to do is listen and execute what he tells me to do.”
On fighting twelve three-minute rounds: “I expected Amanda to want to fight 12 three-minute rounds. I know that she’s trying to change the women’s sport to be the men’s rules.”
On whether she will be trying to earn a KO: “I’m just here to win. If a knockout comes, it comes. But at the end of the day, winning is the most important thing for me to do.”
Nakisa Bidarian
On Serrano’s impact on MVP and women’s boxing: “Back when MVP was just an idea and a promise to put fighters first, Amanda was the first athlete to believe in me and my partner Jake Paul. She entrusted us with her career, and she convinced us to go all in on women’s boxing.”
On Serrano’s career since joining MVP: “Since she’s met us, she’s added more belts. She’s become the first and only male or female undisputed champion in the history of Puerto Rico. She’s fought for equality and choice for women in the sport of boxing, including giving up her WBC belt to take a stand for three-minute rounds. She’s used her platform to push the next generation of male and female Puerto Rican boxers. Amanda’s dedication and sacrifice, her love for the sport of boxing, and her desire to make this island proud, coupled with the leadership of her trainer, her coach, her brother-in-law, her manager, Jordan Maldonado, and the inspiration of her world champion sister, Cindy Serrano, have resulted in a Hall of Fame career that is approaching 18 years. On Saturday, January 9th, from right here in San Juan, a few miles down at the Choli, live on DAZN, globally the home of boxing, we get to see it for one more time.”
On the importance of Serrano’s last fight: “Amanda Serrano to me is numero uno. You do not want to miss this event.”
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Serrano vs. Falzon presser quotes
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) hosted the kickoff press conference for Amanda Serrano's farewell fight vs. Skye Falzon, taking place Saturday, January 9, 2027, live on DAZN from Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The event will mark the final professional fight of seven-division champion Serrano (50-4-1, 32 KOs), who will defend her unified WBO and WBA featherweight world titles against Australia’s Falzon (12-2, 7 KOs) over twelve three-minute rounds. Hosted by Pepe Calderón and joined by MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian, Serrano and Falzon came face-to-face. Here is what they had to say:
Amanda Serrano
On retiring: “You know when it’s time. I enjoyed it every time I fought, every time I get to go into that ring, I enjoy it. But I think it’s time.”
To her fans: “You guys helped me get to where I’m at right now, and this is our story. Not just my story, not just my journey. It’s our journey. So, I would love for you guys to come and celebrate this night with us. It’s going to be a beautiful event.”
On fighting in Puerto Rico: “Well, it means everything. I always knew that my last fight, my last step, would be here in Puerto Rico.”
On fighting for Puerto Rico and celebrating her journey: “You guys have been with me from the very beginning, supporting me, loving me, and I’ve been fighting for you guys. I bring my flag with me. It’s in my heart, and I’m always with you, and I fight for you, and I just want you guys to celebrate my long journey. It’s going to be a great night, January 9th.”
On whether she will be trying to break Christy Martin’s KO record of 32 KOs: “If the knockout comes, it comes. I’m going to enjoy every second of the last time I go into that ring.”
On how she wants to be remembered: “I want people to remember me as a game changer and that I gave it my all in the ring. Every time I fall, every time I train, I just left everything in the ring.”
On fighting for her fans: “I hope you will see that come January 9th, I fight for you guys. I fight to make you guys excited to continue to see me fight.”
On Falzon’s confidence that she will beat Serrano: “I love that she’s going to come in shape, and she’s going to try to take my titles away. These titles are going to stay here first and foremost. I love it, and just for her to go out with that mindset, knowing that when I do beat her, I’m beating the best Skye Falzon.”
On what she will miss about boxing: “I’m going to miss you guys screaming my name, cheering for me. I think that’s going to be the hardest part: not being able to walk into an arena and have people cheer for me and me performing for you guys.”
On preparing for January 9th: “I think we’re just working day by day, just practicing, being strong, and just going out there and working hard so we can enjoy January 9th.”
On her message to young people wanting to achieve their dreams: “I thought my dreams were big, and I’ve accomplished my dreams. I accomplished my goals. Just believe in yourself. That’s all you have to do.”
Skye Falzon
On getting the opportunity to fight Serrano: “Look, to be honest, I never thought that I’d get a call-up to fight Amanda Serrano. I watch her. I’m a fan of hers. She is the best, and that’s just the way it is. To get a call-up to fight her was a dream come true. I actually cried about it. It’s been amazing. The opportunity is something I’m going to grab hold of, and I just can’t wait.”
On wanting to defeat Serrano: “I’m not here just to take part in Amanda’s history. I’m here to try to write my own. I wouldn’t be a fighter if I didn’t believe I could win.”
On preparing to face Serrano in front of her Puerto Rican supporters: “I’ve got a great team, and I have a great technical coach. All I got to do is listen and execute what he tells me to do.”
On fighting twelve three-minute rounds: “I expected Amanda to want to fight 12 three-minute rounds. I know that she’s trying to change the women’s sport to be the men’s rules.”
On whether she will be trying to earn a KO: “I’m just here to win. If a knockout comes, it comes. But at the end of the day, winning is the most important thing for me to do.”
Nakisa Bidarian
On Serrano’s impact on MVP and women’s boxing: “Back when MVP was just an idea and a promise to put fighters first, Amanda was the first athlete to believe in me and my partner Jake Paul. She entrusted us with her career, and she convinced us to go all in on women’s boxing.”
On Serrano’s career since joining MVP: “Since she’s met us, she’s added more belts. She’s become the first and only male or female undisputed champion in the history of Puerto Rico. She’s fought for equality and choice for women in the sport of boxing, including giving up her WBC belt to take a stand for three-minute rounds. She’s used her platform to push the next generation of male and female Puerto Rican boxers. Amanda’s dedication and sacrifice, her love for the sport of boxing, and her desire to make this island proud, coupled with the leadership of her trainer, her coach, her brother-in-law, her manager, Jordan Maldonado, and the inspiration of her world champion sister, Cindy Serrano, have resulted in a Hall of Fame career that is approaching 18 years. On Saturday, January 9th, from right here in San Juan, a few miles down at the Choli, live on DAZN, globally the home of boxing, we get to see it for one more time.”
On the importance of Serrano’s last fight: “Amanda Serrano to me is numero uno. You do not want to miss this event.”
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Hasanboy Dusmatov added to Istanbul show |
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Two-time Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan will face Roderick Bautista of the Philippines in Istanbul, Türkiye, on December 4th, adding a pro bout to the final day of the inaugural IBA President’s Cup. The ten-round bout will be contested at 52.2 kilograms (115 pounds). Dusmatov, who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, is one of Uzbekistan’s most accomplished boxers. Including the World Series of Boxing and IBA pro bouts, Dusmatov has apro record of 23-0, much of it in the 105 and 108 pound weight divisions. His opponent, Bautista is 10-0 and will represent the Philippines in a contest that offers the opportunity to claim an IBA title.
The championship bout will form part of the closing program of the first IBA President’s Cup, which will take place from November 27th to December 4th. The tournament marks the launch of IBA Elite, a new international competition platform designed to bring amateur and professional boxers together within a unified sporting pathway. With a total prize fund of $3 million, the President’s Cup will feature 12 men’s weight categories, with champions receiving $100,000, silver medallists $50,000 and bronze medallists $25,000.
The competition will also open a new IBA world ranking cycle, with results contributing to qualification for future editions of the President’s Cup and the IBA championships.
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Hasanboy Dusmatov added to Istanbul show
Two-time Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan will face Roderick Bautista of the Philippines in Istanbul, Türkiye, on December 4th, adding a pro bout to the final day of the inaugural IBA President’s Cup. The ten-round bout will be contested at 52.2 kilograms (115 pounds). Dusmatov, who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, is one of Uzbekistan’s most accomplished boxers. Including the World Series of Boxing and IBA pro bouts, Dusmatov has apro record of 23-0, much of it in the 105 and 108 pound weight divisions. His opponent, Bautista is 10-0 and will represent the Philippines in a contest that offers the opportunity to claim an IBA title.
The championship bout will form part of the closing program of the first IBA President’s Cup, which will take place from November 27th to December 4th. The tournament marks the launch of IBA Elite, a new international competition platform designed to bring amateur and professional boxers together within a unified sporting pathway. With a total prize fund of $3 million, the President’s Cup will feature 12 men’s weight categories, with champions receiving $100,000, silver medallists $50,000 and bronze medallists $25,000.
The competition will also open a new IBA world ranking cycle, with results contributing to qualification for future editions of the President’s Cup and the IBA championships.
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Tomorrow's Patricio vs. Sims: secondary belt at stake |
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Hawaii's Shera Mae Patricio (10-0) and Pennsylvania-based Brittany Sims (10-3) will step into the ring this Saturday at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas with the WBA regular bantamweight title on the line in a match-up that promises to reshape the division’s pecking order. Dina Thorslund remains the undisputed world champion. Patricio-Sims is part of the big MVP show that will be shown on ESPN.
Patricio enters the bout undefeated, bringing formidable punching power and relentless pressure to the table. The Hawaiian fighter will look to dictate the action from the center of the ring, relying on her heavy hands to put together explosive combinations to the chin while applying constant pressure to prevent her opponent from getting comfortable at long range. Her key will be cutting off the ring effectively and targeting the body with punishing shots from the opening bell.
Standing across from her will be Sims, a fighter known for her athleticism, crisp footwork, and high punch output. Sims understands the challenge ahead and is expected to rely on a strategy built around constant movement, using her left jab to disrupt Patricio’s advances and stepping laterally to make her opponent pay for missing at mid-range.
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Tomorrow's Patricio vs. Sims: secondary belt at stake
Hawaii's Shera Mae Patricio (10-0) and Pennsylvania-based Brittany Sims (10-3) will step into the ring this Saturday at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas with the WBA regular bantamweight title on the line in a match-up that promises to reshape the division’s pecking order. Dina Thorslund remains the undisputed world champion. Patricio-Sims is part of the big MVP show that will be shown on ESPN.
Patricio enters the bout undefeated, bringing formidable punching power and relentless pressure to the table. The Hawaiian fighter will look to dictate the action from the center of the ring, relying on her heavy hands to put together explosive combinations to the chin while applying constant pressure to prevent her opponent from getting comfortable at long range. Her key will be cutting off the ring effectively and targeting the body with punishing shots from the opening bell.
Standing across from her will be Sims, a fighter known for her athleticism, crisp footwork, and high punch output. Sims understands the challenge ahead and is expected to rely on a strategy built around constant movement, using her left jab to disrupt Patricio’s advances and stepping laterally to make her opponent pay for missing at mid-range.
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Clarke steps up to face ex-champ CBS |
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Still on a high from his epic comeback victory on his Zuffa Boxing debut, cruiserweight Chev Clarke is ready to step into the main event spotlight on Saturday. Clarke (12-2, 9 KOs) returns to action in the headline bout at Zuffa Boxing 12, where he takes on old adversary Chris ("CBS") Billam-Smith in a pivotal clash in the cruiserweight division. It’s a chance to follow up on his big win at Zuffa Boxing 07 in Bournemouth, where he got off the canvas twice to take over the fight before eventually stopping Jack Massey. The win was a memorable one, but the abiding memory for Clarke was the reaction of the fans in the stands at Bournemouth International Centre, who went through the full gamut of emotions as Clarke battled through adversity before eventually getting a huge come-from-behind win. “My biggest takeaway was the crowd and the atmosphere,” he said.“The reaction to it was my biggest takeaway. In the fight, in terms of coming back from adversity – I’ve been doing that since I was like a baby, so nothing new learned there about myself. But to see people's reaction to what can happen when things don't go your way, and then a full-circle moment. That was pretty cool.”
Now Clarke has a date with the man he defeated in the elite national finals to win an ABA title in the UK during his amateur days. “What I remember most about that one is all the people that traveled to Liverpool to come and support me,” he said. “Of course, the fight was really good. A really good fight. Again, there was a lot of adversity for that because, really and truly Chev Clarke wasn't supposed to be in the final, or anywhere close to the final. But I have a habit of being a pain in the arse… So yeah, it was a good, good moment in my time, and that moment seemed to handily change the trajectory of my life. Because then I went on to represent Team GB, and what people don't seem to speak about was that Chris had the opportunity to try out for Team GB. He tried out at the same time I tried out. I wasn't just given it. He tried out, and there was the last three of us. It was me, Chris, and a kid called Scott Forrest. Me and Scott Forrest made it, and he didn't. So it wasn't a thing of like, ‘Oh, Chev won the national championships and then got given a golden spoon to go to the Olympics.’ No, I earned it”
Despite getting the victory over Billam-Smith back then, Clarke admits that fight is unlikely to have much influence in how their rematch will go, with both men now vastly different competitors to the young hungry prospects who met in the amateur ranks. He's obviously still got some remnants of the defeat in his system, but I think we're different human beings now,” Clarke said. “He's a dad. He's been a former world champion. I became the best [amateur] heavyweight that Great Britain's ever had. Olympics, and weirdly, we're back here now. So, you know, it's just horses for courses, and it's a full-circle moment.”
Their rematch at Zuffa Boxing 12 is a meeting that’s ten years in the making, and one that Clarke knew would come around one day. Now it has arrived, he’s ready to deliver and produce another winning performance against a world-class opponent.
“From turning professional, it was always a case of when, not if,” he admitted. “The cruiserweight division, especially in the UK, is not very big, so it was just a matter of time. And when I was here, and it's a headline – Zuffa [Boxing] 12, November 7th, it's gonna be a spectacle. Sky Sports, Paramount, come on!”
Clarke is here to win for himself, and to push himself towards even bigger fights down the line. And while he wants to face the biggest and the best, he said he isn’t going to throw sweeping statements out there for his rivals to latch onto. Instead, he’s just going to do his job, and let his performance speak for itself. “I ain’t got a message for anybody in my weight class. Just watch the show, man,” he smiled. “Talk is cheap, isn't it? That's why people use free wi-fi. So me, I just handle my business, and you get to see the show.”
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Clarke steps up to face ex-champ CBS
Still on a high from his epic comeback victory on his Zuffa Boxing debut, cruiserweight Chev Clarke is ready to step into the main event spotlight on Saturday. Clarke (12-2, 9 KOs) returns to action in the headline bout at Zuffa Boxing 12, where he takes on old adversary Chris ("CBS") Billam-Smith in a pivotal clash in the cruiserweight division. It’s a chance to follow up on his big win at Zuffa Boxing 07 in Bournemouth, where he got off the canvas twice to take over the fight before eventually stopping Jack Massey. The win was a memorable one, but the abiding memory for Clarke was the reaction of the fans in the stands at Bournemouth International Centre, who went through the full gamut of emotions as Clarke battled through adversity before eventually getting a huge come-from-behind win. “My biggest takeaway was the crowd and the atmosphere,” he said.“The reaction to it was my biggest takeaway. In the fight, in terms of coming back from adversity – I’ve been doing that since I was like a baby, so nothing new learned there about myself. But to see people's reaction to what can happen when things don't go your way, and then a full-circle moment. That was pretty cool.”
Now Clarke has a date with the man he defeated in the elite national finals to win an ABA title in the UK during his amateur days. “What I remember most about that one is all the people that traveled to Liverpool to come and support me,” he said. “Of course, the fight was really good. A really good fight. Again, there was a lot of adversity for that because, really and truly Chev Clarke wasn't supposed to be in the final, or anywhere close to the final. But I have a habit of being a pain in the arse… So yeah, it was a good, good moment in my time, and that moment seemed to handily change the trajectory of my life. Because then I went on to represent Team GB, and what people don't seem to speak about was that Chris had the opportunity to try out for Team GB. He tried out at the same time I tried out. I wasn't just given it. He tried out, and there was the last three of us. It was me, Chris, and a kid called Scott Forrest. Me and Scott Forrest made it, and he didn't. So it wasn't a thing of like, ‘Oh, Chev won the national championships and then got given a golden spoon to go to the Olympics.’ No, I earned it”
Despite getting the victory over Billam-Smith back then, Clarke admits that fight is unlikely to have much influence in how their rematch will go, with both men now vastly different competitors to the young hungry prospects who met in the amateur ranks. He's obviously still got some remnants of the defeat in his system, but I think we're different human beings now,” Clarke said. “He's a dad. He's been a former world champion. I became the best [amateur] heavyweight that Great Britain's ever had. Olympics, and weirdly, we're back here now. So, you know, it's just horses for courses, and it's a full-circle moment.”
Their rematch at Zuffa Boxing 12 is a meeting that’s ten years in the making, and one that Clarke knew would come around one day. Now it has arrived, he’s ready to deliver and produce another winning performance against a world-class opponent.
“From turning professional, it was always a case of when, not if,” he admitted. “The cruiserweight division, especially in the UK, is not very big, so it was just a matter of time. And when I was here, and it's a headline – Zuffa [Boxing] 12, November 7th, it's gonna be a spectacle. Sky Sports, Paramount, come on!”
Clarke is here to win for himself, and to push himself towards even bigger fights down the line. And while he wants to face the biggest and the best, he said he isn’t going to throw sweeping statements out there for his rivals to latch onto. Instead, he’s just going to do his job, and let his performance speak for itself. “I ain’t got a message for anybody in my weight class. Just watch the show, man,” he smiled. “Talk is cheap, isn't it? That's why people use free wi-fi. So me, I just handle my business, and you get to see the show.”
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Pazmino set for first main event on Saturday |
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Every morning on his way to work, Jaydell Pazmino drives past Encore Boston Harbor in Everett Massachusetts. The 25 year-old electrician used to imagine what it would be like to headline there. On Saturday, November 7th, he will find out. Pazmino (10-0, 8 KOs) takes on England’s Graham "Tyson" Tirrell (10-3, 2 KOs) in the six-round welterweight main event on a show presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets are available at CESFights.com. "This will be my third fight there, but this time I’m in the main event," said Pazmino from his training camp at Thrive Boxing in Londonberry, New Hampshire. "I’m so excited."
In each of his first two appearances at the venue, the Sandown, NH resident gave fans a look at a different side of his game. Last November, Pazmino knocked out veteran Daniel Sostre with a left hook to the body in the second round. This past August, Pazmino outboxed slick Alfred Raymond over six rounds to win a unanimous decision. "I’m an aggressive fighter. I can fight inside or outside, box or brawl," says a confident Pazmino. "I’m known for my aggressiveness, but in the Raymond fight I wanted to show that I can really box."
"That’s the kind of progress you want to see in a young fighter," observed CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr. "Jaydell gave the fans at Encore a big knockout against Sostre, then came back and showed against Raymond that he could control a fight for six rounds. He's earned this chance to headline, and I’m looking forward to seeing him take that next step in front of his fans."
Signed by CES Boxing in 2025, Pazmino has registered four wins in less than two years, with two coming by knockout. While Pazmino has impressed fans with his blend of speed and power, he admits that he was not at his best through some of those bouts. "To be honest, some of my performances were impacted by a shoulder injury I've had for a while," explained Pazmino. "I've had two surgeries to fix it, and I finally feel like myself again."
Pazmino will need to be in top condition to defeat Tirrell, a 40 year-old Brit who fought lost to Michael Osumah at middleweight last November in Denver. The Hertfordshire native turned pro in 2013 and won his first ten bouts before suffering his first defeat. Moving down to welterweight for this opportunity, Tirrell enters the fight on Saturday night with a chance to hand Pazmino his first defeat at the same 10-0 mark that Tirrell once held.
But can Tirrell turn Pazmino's dream into a nightmare? "He's a tough fighter with a good record, but I'm laser-focused on this fight," says Pazmino, who sparred with CES stablemate 'Speedy' Rashidi Ellis to prepare for this bout. "This is the fight where I put it all together - I want to show my ring smarts and my power, leaving no doubt that I'm the welterweight prospect to watch in New England."
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Pazmino set for first main event on Saturday
Every morning on his way to work, Jaydell Pazmino drives past Encore Boston Harbor in Everett Massachusetts. The 25 year-old electrician used to imagine what it would be like to headline there. On Saturday, November 7th, he will find out. Pazmino (10-0, 8 KOs) takes on England’s Graham "Tyson" Tirrell (10-3, 2 KOs) in the six-round welterweight main event on a show presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets are available at CESFights.com. "This will be my third fight there, but this time I’m in the main event," said Pazmino from his training camp at Thrive Boxing in Londonberry, New Hampshire. "I’m so excited."
In each of his first two appearances at the venue, the Sandown, NH resident gave fans a look at a different side of his game. Last November, Pazmino knocked out veteran Daniel Sostre with a left hook to the body in the second round. This past August, Pazmino outboxed slick Alfred Raymond over six rounds to win a unanimous decision. "I’m an aggressive fighter. I can fight inside or outside, box or brawl," says a confident Pazmino. "I’m known for my aggressiveness, but in the Raymond fight I wanted to show that I can really box."
"That’s the kind of progress you want to see in a young fighter," observed CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr. "Jaydell gave the fans at Encore a big knockout against Sostre, then came back and showed against Raymond that he could control a fight for six rounds. He's earned this chance to headline, and I’m looking forward to seeing him take that next step in front of his fans."
Signed by CES Boxing in 2025, Pazmino has registered four wins in less than two years, with two coming by knockout. While Pazmino has impressed fans with his blend of speed and power, he admits that he was not at his best through some of those bouts. "To be honest, some of my performances were impacted by a shoulder injury I've had for a while," explained Pazmino. "I've had two surgeries to fix it, and I finally feel like myself again."
Pazmino will need to be in top condition to defeat Tirrell, a 40 year-old Brit who fought lost to Michael Osumah at middleweight last November in Denver. The Hertfordshire native turned pro in 2013 and won his first ten bouts before suffering his first defeat. Moving down to welterweight for this opportunity, Tirrell enters the fight on Saturday night with a chance to hand Pazmino his first defeat at the same 10-0 mark that Tirrell once held.
But can Tirrell turn Pazmino's dream into a nightmare? "He's a tough fighter with a good record, but I'm laser-focused on this fight," says Pazmino, who sparred with CES stablemate 'Speedy' Rashidi Ellis to prepare for this bout. "This is the fight where I put it all together - I want to show my ring smarts and my power, leaving no doubt that I'm the welterweight prospect to watch in New England."
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Lomachenko back with Top Rank; eyes 2027 return |
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Vasiliy Lomachenko is back and will have his next bout in early 2027 according to Top Rank. The three-division champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist has ended his retirement and entered a multi-year co-promotional agreement with Top Rank through his newly formed Loma Power Promotions. Lomachenko was a 135 pounder when he announced his retirement in June 2025 but now plans to return to the 130-pound division to pursue the biggest fights in that division.
Top Rank has promoted the Ukrainian throughout his professional career, which began in 2013. “Vasiliy is one of the most gifted fighters I’ve ever promoted, and I’m delighted he’s returning to the ring,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “He’s accomplished so much, but he’s determined to become undisputed. There’s tremendous talent at super featherweight, and we’re looking forward to working with Loma Power Promotions to put on some terrific fights.”
Lomachenko said, “God works in mysterious ways. I thought I would never step back into the ring again as a boxer. But our Lord Jesus Christ had other plans for me. I’m happy to be living this boxing life once again. I’m grateful to everyone who is once again part of this journey. “Special respect and gratitude to Egis [Klimas, Lomachenko's long-time manager] who, despite my firm belief that my boxing career was over, never stopped believing that we would step into the ring again. He put in a tremendous amount of work and effort to get us back in the race.”
Klimas said, “I’m so happy Vasiliy has decided to return to the ring. He still has unfinished business and a dream that means so much to him: becoming the undisputed champion. I’ve never stopped believing in him, and I’m proud to stand beside him as he gives to that dream everything he has, and I strongly believe his comeback will bring tremendous joy to his team and, most of all, to his fans.”
Lomachenko (24-3 including the World Series of Boxing) won titles at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight, claiming the latter with a May 2018 stoppage over Jorge Linares. His rise through the divisions established him as one of sport’s top pound-for-pound talents. Before entering the paid ranks, he compiled a 396-1 amateur record and won gold medals at two World Championships, in addition to his Olympic achievements.
After an unsuccessful bid for the undisputed 135-pound crown against Devin Haney in May 2023, Lomachenko stopped George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024 to capture the IBF title before retiring as champion the following year.
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Lomachenko back with Top Rank; eyes 2027 return
Vasiliy Lomachenko is back and will have his next bout in early 2027 according to Top Rank. The three-division champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist has ended his retirement and entered a multi-year co-promotional agreement with Top Rank through his newly formed Loma Power Promotions. Lomachenko was a 135 pounder when he announced his retirement in June 2025 but now plans to return to the 130-pound division to pursue the biggest fights in that division.
Top Rank has promoted the Ukrainian throughout his professional career, which began in 2013. “Vasiliy is one of the most gifted fighters I’ve ever promoted, and I’m delighted he’s returning to the ring,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “He’s accomplished so much, but he’s determined to become undisputed. There’s tremendous talent at super featherweight, and we’re looking forward to working with Loma Power Promotions to put on some terrific fights.”
Lomachenko said, “God works in mysterious ways. I thought I would never step back into the ring again as a boxer. But our Lord Jesus Christ had other plans for me. I’m happy to be living this boxing life once again. I’m grateful to everyone who is once again part of this journey. “Special respect and gratitude to Egis [Klimas, Lomachenko's long-time manager] who, despite my firm belief that my boxing career was over, never stopped believing that we would step into the ring again. He put in a tremendous amount of work and effort to get us back in the race.”
Klimas said, “I’m so happy Vasiliy has decided to return to the ring. He still has unfinished business and a dream that means so much to him: becoming the undisputed champion. I’ve never stopped believing in him, and I’m proud to stand beside him as he gives to that dream everything he has, and I strongly believe his comeback will bring tremendous joy to his team and, most of all, to his fans.”
Lomachenko (24-3 including the World Series of Boxing) won titles at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight, claiming the latter with a May 2018 stoppage over Jorge Linares. His rise through the divisions established him as one of sport’s top pound-for-pound talents. Before entering the paid ranks, he compiled a 396-1 amateur record and won gold medals at two World Championships, in addition to his Olympic achievements.
After an unsuccessful bid for the undisputed 135-pound crown against Devin Haney in May 2023, Lomachenko stopped George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024 to capture the IBF title before retiring as champion the following year.
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Triller at risk of $6.1M judgment |
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A federal magistrate judge in Florida has recommended that boxing promoter Triller pay about $6.16 million to Epic Sports and Entertainment, Inc. in a dispute arising from unpaid obligations connected to a 2022 boxing event and promises of future fights for two boxers. The two boxers were not identified in the ruling but were likely heavyweight Kubrat Pulev and his brother, cruiserweight Tervel Pulev. In a 25-page report issued November 2nd, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe recommended entering a default judgment against Triller Hold Co LLC and Triller Fight Club, LLC, jointly and severally, for $6,162,965.64. The ruling is not binding yet, as it is only a recommendation that remains subject to review by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. The dispute dates to May 2022, when Triller promoted a boxing event in California. According to the lawsuit, Triller owed approximately $1 million following the event. Rather than immediately pursuing litigation, Epic entered into a settlement agreement with the companies in July 2022.
Under that agreement, Triller was required to pay $1.1 million in installments and arrange two additional bouts by February 2023. One fighter was promised a Triad Combat appearance, while the other was to receive a tune-up fight paying at least $150,000. Triller made an initial $100,000 payment but failed to make the remaining $1 million payment by the contractual deadline. According to the complaint, Triller representatives subsequently issued two checks totaling $1 million knowing the account contained insufficient funds. The checks bounced, although Triller ultimately made the payment on August 19, 2022, nineteen days late.
Neither of the promised future fights materialized. Epic also alleged that Triller had already decided to abandon the combat sports business before entering into the settlement agreement and therefore never intended to fulfill its promises concerning future bouts.
In March 2026, Judge Cannon granted partial summary judgment in Epic's favor, awarding $1.7 million for breach of contract, including $400,000 in liquidated damages, $1.25 million relating to the canceled fight opportunities and $50,000 in contractual legal fees. Triller's attorneys subsequently withdrew from the case, and the companies failed to retain replacement counsel despite a court order to do so. A default was entered in June. In his latest recommendation, Judge McCabe concluded that Epic had sufficiently established a fraudulent inducement claim based on Triller's alleged promises to arrange fights despite having already decided to exit the business.
The judge recommended an additional $2.2 million in consequential damages, relying on testimony from boxing industry expert David Berlin concerning lost promotional and marketing opportunities for the two fighters. Epic requested $10 million in punitive damages, but McCabe recommended $1 million, finding that amount sufficient for punishment and deterrence given the economic nature of the harm. The recommended judgment also includes approximately $1.12 million in prejudgment interest, $142,000 in attorneys' fees and $2,034 in costs.
McCabe rejected Epic's separate negligent misrepresentation claim and its attempt to treat the bounced checks as an independent fraud claim. Triller has seven days to object to the recommendation.
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Triller at risk of $6.1M judgment
A federal magistrate judge in Florida has recommended that boxing promoter Triller pay about $6.16 million to Epic Sports and Entertainment, Inc. in a dispute arising from unpaid obligations connected to a 2022 boxing event and promises of future fights for two boxers. The two boxers were not identified in the ruling but were likely heavyweight Kubrat Pulev and his brother, cruiserweight Tervel Pulev. In a 25-page report issued November 2nd, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe recommended entering a default judgment against Triller Hold Co LLC and Triller Fight Club, LLC, jointly and severally, for $6,162,965.64. The ruling is not binding yet, as it is only a recommendation that remains subject to review by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. The dispute dates to May 2022, when Triller promoted a boxing event in California. According to the lawsuit, Triller owed approximately $1 million following the event. Rather than immediately pursuing litigation, Epic entered into a settlement agreement with the companies in July 2022.
Under that agreement, Triller was required to pay $1.1 million in installments and arrange two additional bouts by February 2023. One fighter was promised a Triad Combat appearance, while the other was to receive a tune-up fight paying at least $150,000. Triller made an initial $100,000 payment but failed to make the remaining $1 million payment by the contractual deadline. According to the complaint, Triller representatives subsequently issued two checks totaling $1 million knowing the account contained insufficient funds. The checks bounced, although Triller ultimately made the payment on August 19, 2022, nineteen days late.
Neither of the promised future fights materialized. Epic also alleged that Triller had already decided to abandon the combat sports business before entering into the settlement agreement and therefore never intended to fulfill its promises concerning future bouts.
In March 2026, Judge Cannon granted partial summary judgment in Epic's favor, awarding $1.7 million for breach of contract, including $400,000 in liquidated damages, $1.25 million relating to the canceled fight opportunities and $50,000 in contractual legal fees. Triller's attorneys subsequently withdrew from the case, and the companies failed to retain replacement counsel despite a court order to do so. A default was entered in June. In his latest recommendation, Judge McCabe concluded that Epic had sufficiently established a fraudulent inducement claim based on Triller's alleged promises to arrange fights despite having already decided to exit the business.
The judge recommended an additional $2.2 million in consequential damages, relying on testimony from boxing industry expert David Berlin concerning lost promotional and marketing opportunities for the two fighters. Epic requested $10 million in punitive damages, but McCabe recommended $1 million, finding that amount sufficient for punishment and deterrence given the economic nature of the harm. The recommended judgment also includes approximately $1.12 million in prejudgment interest, $142,000 in attorneys' fees and $2,034 in costs.
McCabe rejected Epic's separate negligent misrepresentation claim and its attempt to treat the bounced checks as an independent fraud claim. Triller has seven days to object to the recommendation.
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Big opportunity for Mosley in hostile territory |
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Shane Mosley Jr. made a good impression in his Zuffa Boxing debut. Now he wants to dethrone a former world champion to push himself towards a championship belt of his own. Matched against former interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk in May, Mosley showcased his full arsenal as he handled the Ukrainian’s high-pressure game, then dismantled him with crisp, accurate boxing en route to a sixth-round TKO stoppage. It was a world-class performance, and one that immediately thrust him into championship conversations in Zuffa Boxing’s middleweight division. “Oh man, it was incredible,” he admitted. “Obviously, it was a great win for me, a good feather in my cap, and I'm excited for this next one… I remember my family just being so proud. I remember everybody being so, so happy that I got the victory, and it was just incredible.”
Now Mosley faces England’s Denzel Bentley in a matchup he initially thought could be for the WBO version of the middleweight world title. However, the sanctioning body’s decision to strip Bentley of the title means there will be no belt on the line when they face off on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London. “Technically speaking, this is a title fight, right?” he said. “Yes, he's not on paper a champion, but he was the WBO middleweight champion, and he got stripped before our fight… I still view him as a champion. Zuffa wanted me to fight a champion. I'm here. Everybody was willing. Just the sanctioning bodies, unfortunately, don't have it as a championship fight. So, with that being said, this to me is a championship fight. I think he's a great opponent. He's obviously worthy of being a champion, and I think it's going to be a good fight.”
Bentley may have reached the middleweight summit to become a champion, but in terms of tangible physical advantages, they sit with Mosley, who stands two inches taller and, significantly with a five-inch edge in reach.
Mosley plans to put those advantages to good use, though when it came to specific tactics, he wisely chose to keep his cards close to his chest. “We definitely have been working on some stuff in the gym,” he hinted. “That's why I want everybody to come out and watch me put on a great performance on fight night.”
Mosley will be fighting in enemy territory against London’s Bentley, but he said he wasn’t convinced there would be a major issue with crowd support going to his opponent. He even recounted an incident during fight week where he was spotted in the street by some British boxing fans. “I'm not sure, but everybody's been pleasant,” he said. “I feel like, for the most part, people are respectful, and I think that's going to carry on in the fight. But we'll see… The UK's been great. Actually, I’ve been stopped by random people, like ‘[Are you] Shane Mosley Jr?’ And they're not involved with Zuffa Boxing or anything like that. They're just random fans, and it's strange for me. I didn't know that my reach was this far, so it's cool.”
Victory over Bentley will only see that reach grow, as he looks to cement himself as a bona fide championship-level fighter, and send himself into 2027 with real momentum. “There's a lot of great opportunities out there,” he explained. “Champions – Zuffa has two of them – and there's other opportunities that we can also do outside of that, so there's a lot of great things. I believe that 2027 is going to be a great year for me.”
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Big opportunity for Mosley in hostile territory
Shane Mosley Jr. made a good impression in his Zuffa Boxing debut. Now he wants to dethrone a former world champion to push himself towards a championship belt of his own. Matched against former interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk in May, Mosley showcased his full arsenal as he handled the Ukrainian’s high-pressure game, then dismantled him with crisp, accurate boxing en route to a sixth-round TKO stoppage. It was a world-class performance, and one that immediately thrust him into championship conversations in Zuffa Boxing’s middleweight division. “Oh man, it was incredible,” he admitted. “Obviously, it was a great win for me, a good feather in my cap, and I'm excited for this next one… I remember my family just being so proud. I remember everybody being so, so happy that I got the victory, and it was just incredible.”
Now Mosley faces England’s Denzel Bentley in a matchup he initially thought could be for the WBO version of the middleweight world title. However, the sanctioning body’s decision to strip Bentley of the title means there will be no belt on the line when they face off on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London. “Technically speaking, this is a title fight, right?” he said. “Yes, he's not on paper a champion, but he was the WBO middleweight champion, and he got stripped before our fight… I still view him as a champion. Zuffa wanted me to fight a champion. I'm here. Everybody was willing. Just the sanctioning bodies, unfortunately, don't have it as a championship fight. So, with that being said, this to me is a championship fight. I think he's a great opponent. He's obviously worthy of being a champion, and I think it's going to be a good fight.”
Bentley may have reached the middleweight summit to become a champion, but in terms of tangible physical advantages, they sit with Mosley, who stands two inches taller and, significantly with a five-inch edge in reach.
Mosley plans to put those advantages to good use, though when it came to specific tactics, he wisely chose to keep his cards close to his chest. “We definitely have been working on some stuff in the gym,” he hinted. “That's why I want everybody to come out and watch me put on a great performance on fight night.”
Mosley will be fighting in enemy territory against London’s Bentley, but he said he wasn’t convinced there would be a major issue with crowd support going to his opponent. He even recounted an incident during fight week where he was spotted in the street by some British boxing fans. “I'm not sure, but everybody's been pleasant,” he said. “I feel like, for the most part, people are respectful, and I think that's going to carry on in the fight. But we'll see… The UK's been great. Actually, I’ve been stopped by random people, like ‘[Are you] Shane Mosley Jr?’ And they're not involved with Zuffa Boxing or anything like that. They're just random fans, and it's strange for me. I didn't know that my reach was this far, so it's cool.”
Victory over Bentley will only see that reach grow, as he looks to cement himself as a bona fide championship-level fighter, and send himself into 2027 with real momentum. “There's a lot of great opportunities out there,” he explained. “Champions – Zuffa has two of them – and there's other opportunities that we can also do outside of that, so there's a lot of great things. I believe that 2027 is going to be a great year for me.”
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WBO orders Hernandez vs. Zerafa |
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Having stripped Denzel Bentley of its middleweight championship, the WBO has ordered negotiations between Yoenli Hernandez and Michael Zerafa for a fight to determine the vacant championship. In a November 3rd letter, WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas directed promoters Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing to begin negotiations for the 160-pound title bout. The parties have twenty days to reach an agreement, with a deadline of November 23rd. If no agreement is reached, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings, with a minimum bid of $200,000. Either promoter may request an immediate purse bid before the negotiation period expires. The decision to involve WBO #4 ranked Zerafa means that #2 ranked Vito Mielnicki likely passed on the world title opportunity. WBO #3 Tim Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. Zerafa is 35-5 overall, and 4-0 with a no contest since losing to Lara in 2024.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
NOV. 4, 2026: In the matter of Denzel Bentley, the WBO issued the following ruling: (1) Bentley's recognition as WBO middleweight champion has been withdrawn, effective immediately; (2) the WBO middleweight championship was declared vacant; and (3) there will be no automatic elevation of mandatory contender Yoenli Hernández to full champion status. Presumably, the WBO will require Hernandez to fight the leading available contender from the WBO rankings to determine the next champion. The current WBO rankings have Hernandez at #1, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. at #2, Tim Tszyu at #3 and Michael Zerafa at #4 and Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. With Hernandez a definite yes throughout this entire WBO process, it appears that the vacant title fight will fall to Hernandez vs. Zerafa. Bentley, who recently signed with Zuffa boxing, and has a fight scheduled this weekend vs. Shane Mosley Jr., but he retains the right to appeal the WBO's ruling.
OCT. 23, 2026: WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied Denzel Bentley’s appeal and required Bentley, as the WBO middleweight champion to make his next fight a mandatory title defense against Yoenli Hernández. "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT," wrote Olivieri. This presents a big problem for Bentley who is already booked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on a November 7th Zuffa show in London. The WBO required both Bentley and Hernandez to confirm their participation in the mandatory bout within 24 hours. Unless Bentley has an escape clause the Mosley bout, it appears he will be stripped of his middleweight title by the WBO.
OCT. 5, 2026: Zuffa Boxing announced on social media that WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7th at Copper Box Arena in London. Bentley has also signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Zuffa. The big question still to be resolved is whether Bentley's WBO world title will be at stake vs. Mosley or will he be stripped for failure to make his WBO mandatory title defense. Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) was ordered by the WBO to defend against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez, and Warriors Boxing won a purse bid for the bout last week. Bentley, however, is attempting to move forward with Mosley while retaining his title. "Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion," Bentley told Sky Sports News. "I know everything that's gone on online and all the rumours [that he could be stripped of belt]. My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too."
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Serhii Bohachuk. The 35 year-old son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has won six of his last seven bouts, with the lone defeat coming against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last December. He also owns a 2024 decision victory over former champion Daniel Jacobs. Bentley won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and was subsequently elevated to full champion as Zhanibek Alimkhnauly dealt with PED issues and decided to move up in weight. Bentley, a 31 year-old Londoner, previously challenged Alimkhanuly in 2022, losing a competitive unanimous decision.
SEPT. 30, 2026: On Tuesday, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. The WBO has has now received written confirmation from Herndanez that he accepts the terms and conditions of the purse bid and is ready, willing, and honored to proceed with the opportunity to challenge Bentley for the WBO middleweight championship. The WBO said it is still awaiting written confirmation from Bentley and his team that they will move ahead with the fight. (Failure to do so would mean he is vacating the title, but Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna).
SEPT. 29. 2026: In a purse bid held online from WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. Warriors, who promotes Hernandez, bid $200,000, which was the minimum bid. Warriors was able to win the auction proceeding for this low amount because Bentley's promoter, Queensberry, did not submit a bid. Warriors' proposed dates for the fight are December 12th or 19th with potential sites declared to be Phoenix, Orlando or Las Vegas. It will now be up to the boxers to sign the bout contracts once Warriors provides them. In the last WBO purse bid, Hamzah Sheeraz went thorugh the purse bid process but vacated his super middleweight title rather then sign for the amount yielded by the purse bid process. Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna, so it is possible he will vacate the WBO title rather than accpet this fight. Under WBO regulations, the winning bid in this case results in expected purses of $160,000 for Bentley and $40,000 for Hernandez (but it is possible Warriors and Hernandez have a private agreement for a different amount to Hernandez).
SEPT 23, 2026: The WBO World Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for the WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley to make a mandatory defense againsy Yoenli Hernandez. The purse bid is scheduled for September 29th, with the parties free to reach a deal before then. However, it was not clear whether Bentley would take the fight, as he was believed to be in negotiations for a unification fight with Aaron McKenna, the IBF champion. If Bentley refuses to fight Hernandez, he would be stripped by the WBO but could still pursue an IBF challenge vs. McKenna.
SEPT. 5, 2026: The WBO has ordered negotiations for a world title fight between its middleweight title holder, Denzel Bentley, and mandatory contender Yoenlis Hernandez. The news is a blow to 160-pound unification, as Bentley was in discussions to unify with IBF champion Aaron McKenna by year's end. The WBO's decision means that Bentley would likely be stripped if he elected to fight McKenna over Hernandez. The news broke through a September 2nd letter to representatives of both fighters from the WBO World Championship Committee. The letter ordered the parties to begin negotiations for the mandatory championship contest and gave them 20 days to reach an agreement. But the WBO also directed both sides to confirm in writing within the first ten days that they are ready, willing and available to proceed with the bout. If Bentley and Hernandez (should Bentley agree to make the mandatory) are unable to reach an agreement, the fight can proceed to a purse bid. The WBO established a minimum bid of $200,000 and said either party may request the commencement of purse-bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation period. Bentley is represented by manager Martin Bowers, while Hernandez is represented by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
SEPT. 3, 2026: According to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, the WBO received a formal communication from Team Yoenli Hernandez requesting enforcement of the mandatory title defense rule against WBO middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley. Olivieri stated, "the WBO World Championship Committee will convene immediately to review the matter and issue its determination in accordance with the applicable WBO Regulations. Bentley was elevated to WBO middleweight champion after Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. Hernandez is a Cuban middleweight who last week secured a majority decision victory over Francisco Daniel Veron. Hernandez's offensive bursts proved to be the difference in that bout. While one judge scored it a 95-95 draw, the remaining two widely favored Hernandez with lopsided tallies of 99-91 and 98-92. With the win, Hernandez improved to 11-0 with 9 KOs.
JULY 22, 2026: [Cynics will say this is an "e-mail championship" but] the WBO World Championship Committee has officially elevated Denzel Bentley to WBO world middleweight champion following Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. The IBF title remains vacant, with a new champion expected to be crowned on August 8th at the 3Arena in a bout between Ireland's Aaron McKenna and Italy's Etinosa Oliha.
FEB. 23, 2026: In a very disappointing ruling for those who want to punish drug cheats in boxing, the WBO has ruled that its middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, can keep his title despite testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead of striping the boxer, as was expected, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension and a series of conditions that stop short of stripping Alimkhnauly of the championship. The decision follows positive “A” and “B” sample tests collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in November 2025, which forced Alimkhanuly out of a scheduled unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December. Although not a party to this ruling, the IBF is just as culpable, as it also continues to recognize Alimhanuly as its world middleweight champion. A WBO interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra was ordered to keep the division active during his suspension.
In a lengthy written decision issued by its World Championship Committee, the WBO confirmed that the tests were conducted by recognized anti-doping authorities and verified by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leaving no dispute about the presence of the prohibited substance. Under the organization’s rules, the case fell under a “strict liability” standard, meaning intent or explanation was irrelevant once a positive test was confirmed. Despite that framework, the WBO declined to impose its most severe sanction — vacating Alimkhanuly's title — and instead opted for what it described as a “proportionate” response.
The ruling suspends Alimkhanuly for one year, retroactive to December 2nd, the date of official notification of the adverse test. He is also required to submit to year-round random drug testing under a WADA-certified program at his own expense, complete an anti-doping education course, and provide certified test results directly to the WBO. When the suspension ends, he will not be allowed a tune-up fight; his first bout must be against either the WBO interim champion or the organization’s mandatory challenger.
The WBO framed the outcome as balanced and fair. Others will see it differently — as a decision that does not meaningfully penalize a fighter who failed a drug test, and does little to deter future violations at the highest level of the sport.
So what is the end result? Alimkhanuly remains recognized as a two-belt champion, retains his title status, and faces no financial penalty. The suspension is time-limited, a year in name but effectively only ten months, and the conditions imposed largely amount to monitoring and compliance requirements rather than punitive measures. For a confirmed doping violation that canceled a major unification bout and disrupted the middleweight division, the consequences are relatively light.
The committee justified its approach by citing Alimkhanuly’s status as a first-time offender and the absence of prior anti-doping violations. It emphasized proportionality and the legal and commercial interests tied to championship recognition. In effect, the WBO treated the case as a regulatory issue to be managed rather than a breach warranting the strongest available punishment. For critics, that distinction matters. A positive test for a banned substance typically carries the expectation of severe sporting consequences, especially for a reigning world champion. By allowing Alimkhanuly to keep his title and return after a defined suspension, the ruling sends a message that a confirmed drug violation does not necessarily lead to the loss of a championship. It should be noted that Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, which is clearly banned in international competitions but is legally available for purchase in Kazakhstan, Russia and a few other countries.
DEC. 5, 2025: After a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, the WBO World Championship Committee has issued a “show cause notice” to WBO / IBF middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The notice stated, "It has been formally reported that on December 2nd, the WBO received an official communication from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) concerning an alleged anti-doping violation arising from the testing protocol enforced by said agency in preparation for the scheduled WBO/IBF unified middleweight championships contest against [WBA champion] Erislandy Lara to be held in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th.According to the notice, the “A” Sample of [Alimkhanuly's] urine specimen, collected on November 15th, in Porter Ranch, California, allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance at an estimated concentration greater than the minimum reported threshold.
Unlike the WBC, which lately has been giving virtually no penalties to boxers who test positive for banned substances [Conor Benn and Subriel Matias come to mind], WBO policy is that "in the event any WBO champion tests positive for any banned substances, the WBO doesn’t need to demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part. It is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter their body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body."
Alimkhanuly was directed by the WBO to show cause within ten days of issuance of this notice, stating why disciplinary action should not be imposed pursuant to the applicable sections in the governing WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests and all relevant WBO policies; including but not limited to: a) declaring the WBO middleweight championship “vacant”; b) withdrawing WBO world champion status from Alimkhanuly; c) banning him from all WBO world and/or regional championship contests; d) suspending him sion from al WBO world and/or regional championship contests; and e) issuing any other rulings necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies and intent of the WBO.
Alimkhanuly's response may include supporting documentation, statements, legal submissions, or any other relevant materials he wishes the WBO to consider. Failure to respond within the prescribed period may result in disciplinary action being taken without further notice and/or hearing, including but not limited to the vacating of your WBO Championship title, effective immediately.
DEC. 3, 2025: WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez as part of a four-fight PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video this Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was pulled from the fight after failing a VADA anti-doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight will follow the pay-per-view opener between Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view is headlined by former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. The showdown between two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and WBC 130-pound champion O’Shaquie Foster will now serve as the co-feature. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.
DEC. 2, 2025: Janibek Alimkhanuly, the two-belt middleweight champion, has tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance just days before a scheduled unification fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Journalist Dan Rafael reported that the substance was meldonium, which is commonly used in Russia. Alimkhanuly, from Kazakhstan, holds the WBO and IBF titles. He reacted to this development by tweeting, "I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, which was scheduled for this Saturday, December 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The WBO acknowledged the positive test as follows: "The WBO has confirmed an adverse analytical finding for WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly from VADA testing ahead of his scheduled bout vs. Erislandy Lara. An internal investigation is now underway, and a show cause notice will be issued. No further comments will be made until the process is complete.
OCT. 16, 2025: The WBO has ordered a purse bid for a WBO middleweight elimination bout between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra. Bentley is from England and holds the British and European titles. At 21-3, he's won three straight since a 2023 loss to Nathan Heaney. Bentley also has a loss against reigning WBO / IBF champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The little-known Saveedra is from Venezuela and boasts a 17-1-1 pro record that includes wins over Isaac Hardman and Mikkel Nielsen and a draw with unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia.
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WBO orders Hernandez vs. Zerafa
Having stripped Denzel Bentley of its middleweight championship, the WBO has ordered negotiations between Yoenli Hernandez and Michael Zerafa for a fight to determine the vacant championship. In a November 3rd letter, WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas directed promoters Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing to begin negotiations for the 160-pound title bout. The parties have twenty days to reach an agreement, with a deadline of November 23rd. If no agreement is reached, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings, with a minimum bid of $200,000. Either promoter may request an immediate purse bid before the negotiation period expires. The decision to involve WBO #4 ranked Zerafa means that #2 ranked Vito Mielnicki likely passed on the world title opportunity. WBO #3 Tim Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. Zerafa is 35-5 overall, and 4-0 with a no contest since losing to Lara in 2024.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
NOV. 4, 2026: In the matter of Denzel Bentley, the WBO issued the following ruling: (1) Bentley's recognition as WBO middleweight champion has been withdrawn, effective immediately; (2) the WBO middleweight championship was declared vacant; and (3) there will be no automatic elevation of mandatory contender Yoenli Hernández to full champion status. Presumably, the WBO will require Hernandez to fight the leading available contender from the WBO rankings to determine the next champion. The current WBO rankings have Hernandez at #1, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. at #2, Tim Tszyu at #3 and Michael Zerafa at #4 and Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. With Hernandez a definite yes throughout this entire WBO process, it appears that the vacant title fight will fall to Hernandez vs. Zerafa. Bentley, who recently signed with Zuffa boxing, and has a fight scheduled this weekend vs. Shane Mosley Jr., but he retains the right to appeal the WBO's ruling.
OCT. 23, 2026: WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied Denzel Bentley’s appeal and required Bentley, as the WBO middleweight champion to make his next fight a mandatory title defense against Yoenli Hernández. "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT," wrote Olivieri. This presents a big problem for Bentley who is already booked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on a November 7th Zuffa show in London. The WBO required both Bentley and Hernandez to confirm their participation in the mandatory bout within 24 hours. Unless Bentley has an escape clause the Mosley bout, it appears he will be stripped of his middleweight title by the WBO.
OCT. 5, 2026: Zuffa Boxing announced on social media that WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7th at Copper Box Arena in London. Bentley has also signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Zuffa. The big question still to be resolved is whether Bentley's WBO world title will be at stake vs. Mosley or will he be stripped for failure to make his WBO mandatory title defense. Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) was ordered by the WBO to defend against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez, and Warriors Boxing won a purse bid for the bout last week. Bentley, however, is attempting to move forward with Mosley while retaining his title. "Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion," Bentley told Sky Sports News. "I know everything that's gone on online and all the rumours [that he could be stripped of belt]. My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too."
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Serhii Bohachuk. The 35 year-old son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has won six of his last seven bouts, with the lone defeat coming against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last December. He also owns a 2024 decision victory over former champion Daniel Jacobs. Bentley won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and was subsequently elevated to full champion as Zhanibek Alimkhnauly dealt with PED issues and decided to move up in weight. Bentley, a 31 year-old Londoner, previously challenged Alimkhanuly in 2022, losing a competitive unanimous decision.
SEPT. 30, 2026: On Tuesday, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. The WBO has has now received written confirmation from Herndanez that he accepts the terms and conditions of the purse bid and is ready, willing, and honored to proceed with the opportunity to challenge Bentley for the WBO middleweight championship. The WBO said it is still awaiting written confirmation from Bentley and his team that they will move ahead with the fight. (Failure to do so would mean he is vacating the title, but Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna).
SEPT. 29. 2026: In a purse bid held online from WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. Warriors, who promotes Hernandez, bid $200,000, which was the minimum bid. Warriors was able to win the auction proceeding for this low amount because Bentley's promoter, Queensberry, did not submit a bid. Warriors' proposed dates for the fight are December 12th or 19th with potential sites declared to be Phoenix, Orlando or Las Vegas. It will now be up to the boxers to sign the bout contracts once Warriors provides them. In the last WBO purse bid, Hamzah Sheeraz went thorugh the purse bid process but vacated his super middleweight title rather then sign for the amount yielded by the purse bid process. Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna, so it is possible he will vacate the WBO title rather than accpet this fight. Under WBO regulations, the winning bid in this case results in expected purses of $160,000 for Bentley and $40,000 for Hernandez (but it is possible Warriors and Hernandez have a private agreement for a different amount to Hernandez).
SEPT 23, 2026: The WBO World Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for the WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley to make a mandatory defense againsy Yoenli Hernandez. The purse bid is scheduled for September 29th, with the parties free to reach a deal before then. However, it was not clear whether Bentley would take the fight, as he was believed to be in negotiations for a unification fight with Aaron McKenna, the IBF champion. If Bentley refuses to fight Hernandez, he would be stripped by the WBO but could still pursue an IBF challenge vs. McKenna.
SEPT. 5, 2026: The WBO has ordered negotiations for a world title fight between its middleweight title holder, Denzel Bentley, and mandatory contender Yoenlis Hernandez. The news is a blow to 160-pound unification, as Bentley was in discussions to unify with IBF champion Aaron McKenna by year's end. The WBO's decision means that Bentley would likely be stripped if he elected to fight McKenna over Hernandez. The news broke through a September 2nd letter to representatives of both fighters from the WBO World Championship Committee. The letter ordered the parties to begin negotiations for the mandatory championship contest and gave them 20 days to reach an agreement. But the WBO also directed both sides to confirm in writing within the first ten days that they are ready, willing and available to proceed with the bout. If Bentley and Hernandez (should Bentley agree to make the mandatory) are unable to reach an agreement, the fight can proceed to a purse bid. The WBO established a minimum bid of $200,000 and said either party may request the commencement of purse-bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation period. Bentley is represented by manager Martin Bowers, while Hernandez is represented by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
SEPT. 3, 2026: According to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, the WBO received a formal communication from Team Yoenli Hernandez requesting enforcement of the mandatory title defense rule against WBO middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley. Olivieri stated, "the WBO World Championship Committee will convene immediately to review the matter and issue its determination in accordance with the applicable WBO Regulations. Bentley was elevated to WBO middleweight champion after Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. Hernandez is a Cuban middleweight who last week secured a majority decision victory over Francisco Daniel Veron. Hernandez's offensive bursts proved to be the difference in that bout. While one judge scored it a 95-95 draw, the remaining two widely favored Hernandez with lopsided tallies of 99-91 and 98-92. With the win, Hernandez improved to 11-0 with 9 KOs.
JULY 22, 2026: [Cynics will say this is an "e-mail championship" but] the WBO World Championship Committee has officially elevated Denzel Bentley to WBO world middleweight champion following Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. The IBF title remains vacant, with a new champion expected to be crowned on August 8th at the 3Arena in a bout between Ireland's Aaron McKenna and Italy's Etinosa Oliha.
FEB. 23, 2026: In a very disappointing ruling for those who want to punish drug cheats in boxing, the WBO has ruled that its middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, can keep his title despite testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead of striping the boxer, as was expected, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension and a series of conditions that stop short of stripping Alimkhnauly of the championship. The decision follows positive “A” and “B” sample tests collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in November 2025, which forced Alimkhanuly out of a scheduled unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December. Although not a party to this ruling, the IBF is just as culpable, as it also continues to recognize Alimhanuly as its world middleweight champion. A WBO interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra was ordered to keep the division active during his suspension.
In a lengthy written decision issued by its World Championship Committee, the WBO confirmed that the tests were conducted by recognized anti-doping authorities and verified by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leaving no dispute about the presence of the prohibited substance. Under the organization’s rules, the case fell under a “strict liability” standard, meaning intent or explanation was irrelevant once a positive test was confirmed. Despite that framework, the WBO declined to impose its most severe sanction — vacating Alimkhanuly's title — and instead opted for what it described as a “proportionate” response.
The ruling suspends Alimkhanuly for one year, retroactive to December 2nd, the date of official notification of the adverse test. He is also required to submit to year-round random drug testing under a WADA-certified program at his own expense, complete an anti-doping education course, and provide certified test results directly to the WBO. When the suspension ends, he will not be allowed a tune-up fight; his first bout must be against either the WBO interim champion or the organization’s mandatory challenger.
The WBO framed the outcome as balanced and fair. Others will see it differently — as a decision that does not meaningfully penalize a fighter who failed a drug test, and does little to deter future violations at the highest level of the sport.
So what is the end result? Alimkhanuly remains recognized as a two-belt champion, retains his title status, and faces no financial penalty. The suspension is time-limited, a year in name but effectively only ten months, and the conditions imposed largely amount to monitoring and compliance requirements rather than punitive measures. For a confirmed doping violation that canceled a major unification bout and disrupted the middleweight division, the consequences are relatively light.
The committee justified its approach by citing Alimkhanuly’s status as a first-time offender and the absence of prior anti-doping violations. It emphasized proportionality and the legal and commercial interests tied to championship recognition. In effect, the WBO treated the case as a regulatory issue to be managed rather than a breach warranting the strongest available punishment. For critics, that distinction matters. A positive test for a banned substance typically carries the expectation of severe sporting consequences, especially for a reigning world champion. By allowing Alimkhanuly to keep his title and return after a defined suspension, the ruling sends a message that a confirmed drug violation does not necessarily lead to the loss of a championship. It should be noted that Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, which is clearly banned in international competitions but is legally available for purchase in Kazakhstan, Russia and a few other countries.
DEC. 5, 2025: After a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, the WBO World Championship Committee has issued a “show cause notice” to WBO / IBF middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The notice stated, "It has been formally reported that on December 2nd, the WBO received an official communication from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) concerning an alleged anti-doping violation arising from the testing protocol enforced by said agency in preparation for the scheduled WBO/IBF unified middleweight championships contest against [WBA champion] Erislandy Lara to be held in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th.According to the notice, the “A” Sample of [Alimkhanuly's] urine specimen, collected on November 15th, in Porter Ranch, California, allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance at an estimated concentration greater than the minimum reported threshold.
Unlike the WBC, which lately has been giving virtually no penalties to boxers who test positive for banned substances [Conor Benn and Subriel Matias come to mind], WBO policy is that "in the event any WBO champion tests positive for any banned substances, the WBO doesn’t need to demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part. It is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter their body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body."
Alimkhanuly was directed by the WBO to show cause within ten days of issuance of this notice, stating why disciplinary action should not be imposed pursuant to the applicable sections in the governing WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests and all relevant WBO policies; including but not limited to: a) declaring the WBO middleweight championship “vacant”; b) withdrawing WBO world champion status from Alimkhanuly; c) banning him from all WBO world and/or regional championship contests; d) suspending him sion from al WBO world and/or regional championship contests; and e) issuing any other rulings necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies and intent of the WBO.
Alimkhanuly's response may include supporting documentation, statements, legal submissions, or any other relevant materials he wishes the WBO to consider. Failure to respond within the prescribed period may result in disciplinary action being taken without further notice and/or hearing, including but not limited to the vacating of your WBO Championship title, effective immediately.
DEC. 3, 2025: WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez as part of a four-fight PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video this Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was pulled from the fight after failing a VADA anti-doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight will follow the pay-per-view opener between Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view is headlined by former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. The showdown between two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and WBC 130-pound champion O’Shaquie Foster will now serve as the co-feature. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.
DEC. 2, 2025: Janibek Alimkhanuly, the two-belt middleweight champion, has tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance just days before a scheduled unification fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Journalist Dan Rafael reported that the substance was meldonium, which is commonly used in Russia. Alimkhanuly, from Kazakhstan, holds the WBO and IBF titles. He reacted to this development by tweeting, "I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, which was scheduled for this Saturday, December 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The WBO acknowledged the positive test as follows: "The WBO has confirmed an adverse analytical finding for WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly from VADA testing ahead of his scheduled bout vs. Erislandy Lara. An internal investigation is now underway, and a show cause notice will be issued. No further comments will be made until the process is complete.
OCT. 16, 2025: The WBO has ordered a purse bid for a WBO middleweight elimination bout between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra. Bentley is from England and holds the British and European titles. At 21-3, he's won three straight since a 2023 loss to Nathan Heaney. Bentley also has a loss against reigning WBO / IBF champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The little-known Saveedra is from Venezuela and boasts a 17-1-1 pro record that includes wins over Isaac Hardman and Mikkel Nielsen and a draw with unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia.
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Zak Chelli signs with Zuffa |
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British light heavyweight Zak Chelli, the fighting schoolteacher from Fulham, London, has signed a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing. Chelli, age 28, joins Zuffa’s 175-pound roster riding a wave of momentum. In May, he authored a big upset, overcoming an early deficit to knock out David Morrell in the tenth round. Chelli’s Zuffa Boxing debut will be announced shortly.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I’m proud to be in that category,” Chelli said. “I’m thrilled that my fights will once again be shown on Sky Sports. I’ve fought on Sky many times, and they’ve always treated me well. I want to make the fights that the fans want to see. I’m ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. I’ve proven that throughout my career.”
Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) turned pro as a super middleweight in 2017, capturing English, British and Commonwealth honors before moving up to light heavyweight last year. He won the English title in his first fight at 175 pounds before accepting the fight with the heavily favored Morrell on two weeks’ notice.
Chelli, who works as a supply teacher at a secondary school in Surrey, stunned the boxing world with his KO, hurting Morrell in the ninth round before finishing the fight with a right hand with 36 seconds remaining in the tenth.
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Zak Chelli signs with Zuffa
British light heavyweight Zak Chelli, the fighting schoolteacher from Fulham, London, has signed a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing. Chelli, age 28, joins Zuffa’s 175-pound roster riding a wave of momentum. In May, he authored a big upset, overcoming an early deficit to knock out David Morrell in the tenth round. Chelli’s Zuffa Boxing debut will be announced shortly.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I’m proud to be in that category,” Chelli said. “I’m thrilled that my fights will once again be shown on Sky Sports. I’ve fought on Sky many times, and they’ve always treated me well. I want to make the fights that the fans want to see. I’m ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. I’ve proven that throughout my career.”
Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) turned pro as a super middleweight in 2017, capturing English, British and Commonwealth honors before moving up to light heavyweight last year. He won the English title in his first fight at 175 pounds before accepting the fight with the heavily favored Morrell on two weeks’ notice.
Chelli, who works as a supply teacher at a secondary school in Surrey, stunned the boxing world with his KO, hurting Morrell in the ninth round before finishing the fight with a right hand with 36 seconds remaining in the tenth.
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Elizondo bids for 4-0 this weekend |
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Let’s Get It On Promotions' junior lightweight Miguel “Tito” Elizondo makes the fourth ring appearance of his inaugural year as a professional when he travels to Klamath Falls, Oregon to take on Gary Anderson Jr. (0-1) in a four-round bout at the John Hancock Arena this coming Saturday night (November 7th). Elizondo (3-0, 1 KO) of Carson City, Nevada turned pro just after his 19th birthday back in March and scored his first professional stoppage before his home crowd in nearby Reno , Nevada last time out. Taking on his third consecutive previously unbeaten opponent, Elizondo let his combinations go and forced the hand of the referee, stopping the more experienced Smathy Silva Gonzalez (5-0-1, 4 KOs) in the fourth round of their August showdown.
“I wanted to get a KO on my books and doing it against somebody experienced like that and a guy that’s been in there and who has been around, it meant the world to me,” explains Elizondo. “It felt good. I was talking about it and telling everybody about it. It just felt good to get it. You could see my reaction. I was super hyped.”
Elizondo had been on the radar of Reno, Nevada-based fight promotion Let’s Get It On Promotions, headed by brothers Terry and Tommy Lane, as he progressed in his amateur career and claimed national titles. With just three fights under his belt, Elizondo has lived up to the promise of his amateur credentials thus far.
“Tito is one of the most talented fighters we’ve seen come out of Northern Nevada in recent memory,” says Tommy Lane. “His first three fights have been against tough, skilled opponents, and he’s risen to the occasion each time. Those are the kinds of performances that build a reputation and get the boxing world’s attention. To keep that momentum, he has to deliver every time he steps into the ring. There’s little room for a setback, and his next fight carries those same high stakes.”
Just getting going into his professional run after a stellar amateur career, Elizondo has also solidified his belief in himself and his abilities inside the squared circle.
“I’ve learned that what I have been telling myself and what I have been thinking is true,” explains the Carson City product. “That I am great and I am cut from a different cloth and that is something that I went out there to try and prove in my last fight and that is something that I learned about myself. I think I have learned a lot already, but I feel there is more to learn.”
Trained by his grandfather Jose Elizondo Sr., “Tito” comes from an extensive fighting family. His cousin Christian Avalos is active in the lightweight division, while uncles Diego and Jose “Chuy” Elizondo turned professional after successful amateur careers as well.
Tito and Elizondo Sr. recently took a short trip to boxing’s capital, Las Vegas, to get some top flight sparring at some of the city’s most noteworthy gyms in advance of bout number four this Saturday night. “I’ve been wanting to get out of town and get some sparring elsewhere since the beginning of this year, so it was good,” explains Elizondo, who sparred the likes of Angelo Pena, unbeaten Aidan Garcia and veteran Jaylan Phillips. “I got to spar some top guys and see what level I am on and where I need to be. It was a great trip and I made the most out of it. It was my first time visiting the Salas Boxing Academy and the Mayweather Gym. What really inspired me was the sparring and getting in the ring with some experienced guys.”
Elizondo will be well prepared when he steps in with Anderson this Saturday in Klamath Falls.
“My grandpa and I looked him over,” says the southpaw “Tito” off his orthodox opponent. “I saw a little clip of his first fight. We saw that he likes to lean back on the ropes and try and catch you coming in with his right hand. I think I have an advantage fighting as a southpaw versus an orthodox because I can move to my right to get away from their back hand, but either way, I have sparred plenty of southpaws and orthodox, so I am ready for whatever comes.”
The young 130 poundert has made two ringwalks before his vocal fanbase near home in Reno but Saturday will mark the second time Elizondo will ply his trade on road in his first year as a professional fighter. The chance to win over a whole new set of fans in Klamath Falls has “The Capital Kid” excited for the ring of the bell. “It is a great opportunity to build my name and get myself out there and for people to get to know me,” says Elizondo. “I haven’t been to Oregon in a while, so it will be nice to go and be over there. It is cool to see all these different places. It gives me an opportunity to travel and see different things.”
The former national amateur champion looks to wrap up his first calendar year as a professional in style on Saturday night. “It has been everything I dreamed of and everything I have been waiting for,” says Elizondo of his seven-plus month long pro experience. “It is hard to have these training camps, back-to-back. It can be a little difficult, but it will all be worth it in the end.”
First bell is at 7pm at the John Hancock Arena at the Klamath County Event Center 3531 S. 6th Street Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Matthew Phillips’ Arena Wars Fighting Series, are still available and can be purchased at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, the Epicenter, Dollars Candy Shack, Faded Rey’s, Summit 4100 or online at Aftontickets.com
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Elizondo bids for 4-0 this weekend
Let’s Get It On Promotions' junior lightweight Miguel “Tito” Elizondo makes the fourth ring appearance of his inaugural year as a professional when he travels to Klamath Falls, Oregon to take on Gary Anderson Jr. (0-1) in a four-round bout at the John Hancock Arena this coming Saturday night (November 7th). Elizondo (3-0, 1 KO) of Carson City, Nevada turned pro just after his 19th birthday back in March and scored his first professional stoppage before his home crowd in nearby Reno , Nevada last time out. Taking on his third consecutive previously unbeaten opponent, Elizondo let his combinations go and forced the hand of the referee, stopping the more experienced Smathy Silva Gonzalez (5-0-1, 4 KOs) in the fourth round of their August showdown.
“I wanted to get a KO on my books and doing it against somebody experienced like that and a guy that’s been in there and who has been around, it meant the world to me,” explains Elizondo. “It felt good. I was talking about it and telling everybody about it. It just felt good to get it. You could see my reaction. I was super hyped.”
Elizondo had been on the radar of Reno, Nevada-based fight promotion Let’s Get It On Promotions, headed by brothers Terry and Tommy Lane, as he progressed in his amateur career and claimed national titles. With just three fights under his belt, Elizondo has lived up to the promise of his amateur credentials thus far.
“Tito is one of the most talented fighters we’ve seen come out of Northern Nevada in recent memory,” says Tommy Lane. “His first three fights have been against tough, skilled opponents, and he’s risen to the occasion each time. Those are the kinds of performances that build a reputation and get the boxing world’s attention. To keep that momentum, he has to deliver every time he steps into the ring. There’s little room for a setback, and his next fight carries those same high stakes.”
Just getting going into his professional run after a stellar amateur career, Elizondo has also solidified his belief in himself and his abilities inside the squared circle.
“I’ve learned that what I have been telling myself and what I have been thinking is true,” explains the Carson City product. “That I am great and I am cut from a different cloth and that is something that I went out there to try and prove in my last fight and that is something that I learned about myself. I think I have learned a lot already, but I feel there is more to learn.”
Trained by his grandfather Jose Elizondo Sr., “Tito” comes from an extensive fighting family. His cousin Christian Avalos is active in the lightweight division, while uncles Diego and Jose “Chuy” Elizondo turned professional after successful amateur careers as well.
Tito and Elizondo Sr. recently took a short trip to boxing’s capital, Las Vegas, to get some top flight sparring at some of the city’s most noteworthy gyms in advance of bout number four this Saturday night. “I’ve been wanting to get out of town and get some sparring elsewhere since the beginning of this year, so it was good,” explains Elizondo, who sparred the likes of Angelo Pena, unbeaten Aidan Garcia and veteran Jaylan Phillips. “I got to spar some top guys and see what level I am on and where I need to be. It was a great trip and I made the most out of it. It was my first time visiting the Salas Boxing Academy and the Mayweather Gym. What really inspired me was the sparring and getting in the ring with some experienced guys.”
Elizondo will be well prepared when he steps in with Anderson this Saturday in Klamath Falls.
“My grandpa and I looked him over,” says the southpaw “Tito” off his orthodox opponent. “I saw a little clip of his first fight. We saw that he likes to lean back on the ropes and try and catch you coming in with his right hand. I think I have an advantage fighting as a southpaw versus an orthodox because I can move to my right to get away from their back hand, but either way, I have sparred plenty of southpaws and orthodox, so I am ready for whatever comes.”
The young 130 poundert has made two ringwalks before his vocal fanbase near home in Reno but Saturday will mark the second time Elizondo will ply his trade on road in his first year as a professional fighter. The chance to win over a whole new set of fans in Klamath Falls has “The Capital Kid” excited for the ring of the bell. “It is a great opportunity to build my name and get myself out there and for people to get to know me,” says Elizondo. “I haven’t been to Oregon in a while, so it will be nice to go and be over there. It is cool to see all these different places. It gives me an opportunity to travel and see different things.”
The former national amateur champion looks to wrap up his first calendar year as a professional in style on Saturday night. “It has been everything I dreamed of and everything I have been waiting for,” says Elizondo of his seven-plus month long pro experience. “It is hard to have these training camps, back-to-back. It can be a little difficult, but it will all be worth it in the end.”
First bell is at 7pm at the John Hancock Arena at the Klamath County Event Center 3531 S. 6th Street Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Matthew Phillips’ Arena Wars Fighting Series, are still available and can be purchased at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, the Epicenter, Dollars Candy Shack, Faded Rey’s, Summit 4100 or online at Aftontickets.com
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Opetaia will face Wilder on Dec. 11th |
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The heavyweight division is bracing for the arrival of cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0). He'll battle ex-heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder (45-4-1), owner of one of the most powerful right hands in boxing, on the Netflix card headlined by Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. The fight night streams live globally on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 11th from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Wilder was one of the most feared punchers in heavyweight history. Opetaia (pictured) enters the fight unbeaten and widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Together, they bring a clash of power and precision to a historic night of boxing.
Wilder is an American heavyweight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and a bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games. He held the WBC heavyweight world title from 2015 to 2020, dominating as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. He also faced Tyson Fury in a three-fight rivalry between 2018 and 2021. [Since then he has lost to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang but defeated Derek Chisora].
Opetaia is an undefeated Australian cruiserweight and a 2012 Olympian at age 16. He won the IBF cruiserweight world title in 2022. He ha sbeen frustrated by boxing politics in attempts to unify the cruiserweight championship but is regarded as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Now, he moves up to heavyweight.
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Opetaia will face Wilder on Dec. 11th
The heavyweight division is bracing for the arrival of cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0). He'll battle ex-heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder (45-4-1), owner of one of the most powerful right hands in boxing, on the Netflix card headlined by Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. The fight night streams live globally on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 11th from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Wilder was one of the most feared punchers in heavyweight history. Opetaia (pictured) enters the fight unbeaten and widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Together, they bring a clash of power and precision to a historic night of boxing.
Wilder is an American heavyweight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and a bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games. He held the WBC heavyweight world title from 2015 to 2020, dominating as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. He also faced Tyson Fury in a three-fight rivalry between 2018 and 2021. [Since then he has lost to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang but defeated Derek Chisora].
Opetaia is an undefeated Australian cruiserweight and a 2012 Olympian at age 16. He won the IBF cruiserweight world title in 2022. He ha sbeen frustrated by boxing politics in attempts to unify the cruiserweight championship but is regarded as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Now, he moves up to heavyweight.
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Lara to defend vs. Tszyu in Australia |
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WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will take on former junior middleweight title holder Tim Tszyu on Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) headlining action streaming live on DAZN from Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Cuba’s sharpshooter Lara will become the latest star to travel down under to challenge the power-punching Tszyu in Tszyu's home country. Lara is looking to make his fifth defense of his title against the hometown hero, who can cement his own status as an Australian legend by becoming a two-division champion. The lineup will also include the return of former undisputed 154-pound king Jermell Charlo battling the hard-hitting Brock Jarvis in the ten-round middleweight co-feature, with the action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. In a third featured bout, Elnur Samedov defends his WBA regular title at 130 pounds against Australia's Liam Wilson. [Samedov was apparently promoted from interim to regular champion by the WBA, with Anthony Cacace remaining above Saemdov in the WBA hierarchy]. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, and TGB Promotions.
“Saturday, December 12th will see one of the biggest middleweight fights in years as the long-reigning world champion Lara defends his title against the popular action fighter and former champion Tszyu live on DAZN, with the winner emerging as the clear fighter to beat at 160 pounds,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Jermell Charlo making his long-awaited return in the co-main event, plus a toss-up 130-pound title fight between Elnur Samedov and Liam Wilson, and December 12 promises more drama live on DAZN.”
“This is the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full stop,” said George Rose, CEO, No Limit Boxing. “A reigning world champion, a former undisputed world champion and two world titles, in a stadium on the Gold Coast. Nothing else comes close. Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the world and we got him. Jermell Charlo, a former undisputed world champion, is finally making his return and he’s coming to Australia. Liam Wilson gets his redemption shot at a world title on home soil. Every fight on this card matters.”
“Lara vs. Tszyu is a high-stakes world title showdown, with Tim Tszyu looking to make history on home soil,” said Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With 18 years in professional boxing, Erislandy Lara’s longevity and continued dominance are a testament to his remarkable career, adding even more significance to this title clash. With Jermell Charlo making his highly anticipated return, this is a stacked card from top to bottom. We’re proud to partner with PBC to bring another must-watch night of boxing to fans worldwide on DAZN.”
Both former champions at 154 pounds who’ve now made their way to middleweight, WBA champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will welcome Australia’s Tim Tszyu to his first 160-pound world title shot as each hope to score a signature victory in this twelve-round showdown. Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs) has been dominant in his run at 160, showing off his ability to go toe-to-toe and end a fight with one punch, after establishing himself as one of boxing’s best technical fighters throughout the first part of his career. He most recently defended his title against Johan Gonzalez in December after previously delivering one of the best performances of his career as he stopped the durable former two-division world champion Danny Garcia in September 2024. He captured his WBA title with a first-round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan and Michael Zerafa. Prior to his middleweight exploits, Lara was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. He faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Álvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position, and I’m blessed to have more opportunities like this to be a world champion and defend my title,” said Lara. “Traveling to Australia to fight Tszyu is something I’m really looking forward to. I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his home fans. But I’ve been in big fights my whole career and I know what it takes to win at this level. I’m grateful to be able to showcase my skills on DAZN in front of boxing fans all around the world, and I’m going to Australia with one goal…to defend my title, put on a great performance and give the fans a fight they’ll remember for a long time.”
The 31-year-old Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) will enter this fight off three consecutive victories, including a July triumph over former pound-for-pound great Errol Spence Jr. that saw Tszyu emerge from their clash with a unanimous decision victory. Tszyu’s winning streak has come after two memorable battles against WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu entered the first Fundora fight off a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
“This is what I live for. Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world. That is exactly why I wanted him,” said Tszyu. “Spence was the first step. This is the one that matters. This fight is about legacy. My dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the one thing he never did. That is what I am chasing, and it drives me every single day. Queensland and the Gold Coast have always backed me. I stopped Jeff Horn and defended my world title in Queensland stadiums and crowds and I can’t wait to feel that again. I’m ready to take that belt off Lara on the Gold Coast.”
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Lara to defend vs. Tszyu in Australia
WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will take on former junior middleweight title holder Tim Tszyu on Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) headlining action streaming live on DAZN from Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Cuba’s sharpshooter Lara will become the latest star to travel down under to challenge the power-punching Tszyu in Tszyu's home country. Lara is looking to make his fifth defense of his title against the hometown hero, who can cement his own status as an Australian legend by becoming a two-division champion. The lineup will also include the return of former undisputed 154-pound king Jermell Charlo battling the hard-hitting Brock Jarvis in the ten-round middleweight co-feature, with the action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. In a third featured bout, Elnur Samedov defends his WBA regular title at 130 pounds against Australia's Liam Wilson. [Samedov was apparently promoted from interim to regular champion by the WBA, with Anthony Cacace remaining above Saemdov in the WBA hierarchy]. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, and TGB Promotions.
“Saturday, December 12th will see one of the biggest middleweight fights in years as the long-reigning world champion Lara defends his title against the popular action fighter and former champion Tszyu live on DAZN, with the winner emerging as the clear fighter to beat at 160 pounds,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Jermell Charlo making his long-awaited return in the co-main event, plus a toss-up 130-pound title fight between Elnur Samedov and Liam Wilson, and December 12 promises more drama live on DAZN.”
“This is the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full stop,” said George Rose, CEO, No Limit Boxing. “A reigning world champion, a former undisputed world champion and two world titles, in a stadium on the Gold Coast. Nothing else comes close. Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the world and we got him. Jermell Charlo, a former undisputed world champion, is finally making his return and he’s coming to Australia. Liam Wilson gets his redemption shot at a world title on home soil. Every fight on this card matters.”
“Lara vs. Tszyu is a high-stakes world title showdown, with Tim Tszyu looking to make history on home soil,” said Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With 18 years in professional boxing, Erislandy Lara’s longevity and continued dominance are a testament to his remarkable career, adding even more significance to this title clash. With Jermell Charlo making his highly anticipated return, this is a stacked card from top to bottom. We’re proud to partner with PBC to bring another must-watch night of boxing to fans worldwide on DAZN.”
Both former champions at 154 pounds who’ve now made their way to middleweight, WBA champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will welcome Australia’s Tim Tszyu to his first 160-pound world title shot as each hope to score a signature victory in this twelve-round showdown. Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs) has been dominant in his run at 160, showing off his ability to go toe-to-toe and end a fight with one punch, after establishing himself as one of boxing’s best technical fighters throughout the first part of his career. He most recently defended his title against Johan Gonzalez in December after previously delivering one of the best performances of his career as he stopped the durable former two-division world champion Danny Garcia in September 2024. He captured his WBA title with a first-round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan and Michael Zerafa. Prior to his middleweight exploits, Lara was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. He faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Álvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position, and I’m blessed to have more opportunities like this to be a world champion and defend my title,” said Lara. “Traveling to Australia to fight Tszyu is something I’m really looking forward to. I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his home fans. But I’ve been in big fights my whole career and I know what it takes to win at this level. I’m grateful to be able to showcase my skills on DAZN in front of boxing fans all around the world, and I’m going to Australia with one goal…to defend my title, put on a great performance and give the fans a fight they’ll remember for a long time.”
The 31-year-old Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) will enter this fight off three consecutive victories, including a July triumph over former pound-for-pound great Errol Spence Jr. that saw Tszyu emerge from their clash with a unanimous decision victory. Tszyu’s winning streak has come after two memorable battles against WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu entered the first Fundora fight off a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
“This is what I live for. Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world. That is exactly why I wanted him,” said Tszyu. “Spence was the first step. This is the one that matters. This fight is about legacy. My dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the one thing he never did. That is what I am chasing, and it drives me every single day. Queensland and the Gold Coast have always backed me. I stopped Jeff Horn and defended my world title in Queensland stadiums and crowds and I can’t wait to feel that again. I’m ready to take that belt off Lara on the Gold Coast.”
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Jermell Charlo back for first time since 2023 |
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On Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) at Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast Australia, former undisputed world 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo will return to the ring for the first time since September 2023 as he looks to make a run at becoming a two-division champion. Jermell will kick off his comeback against the Australia's Brock Jarvis in a ten-round middleweight co-feature presented by PBC and streamed on DAZN. The main event that night has Erislandy Lara defending his WBA middleweight title against Kostya Tszyu.
Houston’s Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) unified super welterweight titles in emphatic fashion in May 2022, knocking out Brian Castaño in round 10 of their rematch, after they fought to a draw in a July 2021 slugfest. Charlo became a unified champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an eleventh-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights. Charlo won his first world title by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016, following up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning a decision over former champion Austin Trout. Charlo’s most recent action saw him come up short against then undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in their September 2023 showdown.
"I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him," said Charlo. "I appreciate Brock Jarvis stepping up, because a lot of these so-called top guys got cold feet. They use my name for clout but get quiet when it’s time to sign on that dotted line. I’m willing to fight on a co-main event all the way in Australia because that’s how hungry I am. I’ve got so much in me and I wasn’t going to let this year end without giving my fans what they’ve been waiting for. On December 12, I’m going to show everybody why I’m the most dangerous fighter from 154 to 160 pounds. I’m coming to take what’s mine. Lions Only!"
The 28-year-old Jarvis (23-2, 21 KOs) has risen up the rankings in his native Australia ever since turning pro in 2015 as a teenager. He’s shown tremendous power throughout his time in the pro ranks, with a 15-fight KO streak following his pro debut and a current run that’s seen him earn stoppages in each of his last six victories. His only defeats have come at the highest level, as he dropped a March 2025 showdown against former unified champion Keith Thurman and an October 2022 challenge of current welterweight world champion Liam Paro. Fighting out of Marrickville, New South Wales, Jarvis most recently bounced back from the loss to Thurman to stop the previously unbeaten Sam Beck in four rounds in August 2025.
“This is the fight I have waited my whole career for,” said Jarvis. “A former undisputed world champion, in a stadium, at home in Australia. It does not get bigger than this. Charlo thinks he’s coming to Australia to restart his career. I’m here to ruin his comeback.”
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Jermell Charlo back for first time since 2023
On Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) at Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast Australia, former undisputed world 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo will return to the ring for the first time since September 2023 as he looks to make a run at becoming a two-division champion. Jermell will kick off his comeback against the Australia's Brock Jarvis in a ten-round middleweight co-feature presented by PBC and streamed on DAZN. The main event that night has Erislandy Lara defending his WBA middleweight title against Kostya Tszyu.
Houston’s Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) unified super welterweight titles in emphatic fashion in May 2022, knocking out Brian Castaño in round 10 of their rematch, after they fought to a draw in a July 2021 slugfest. Charlo became a unified champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an eleventh-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights. Charlo won his first world title by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016, following up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning a decision over former champion Austin Trout. Charlo’s most recent action saw him come up short against then undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in their September 2023 showdown.
"I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him," said Charlo. "I appreciate Brock Jarvis stepping up, because a lot of these so-called top guys got cold feet. They use my name for clout but get quiet when it’s time to sign on that dotted line. I’m willing to fight on a co-main event all the way in Australia because that’s how hungry I am. I’ve got so much in me and I wasn’t going to let this year end without giving my fans what they’ve been waiting for. On December 12, I’m going to show everybody why I’m the most dangerous fighter from 154 to 160 pounds. I’m coming to take what’s mine. Lions Only!"
The 28-year-old Jarvis (23-2, 21 KOs) has risen up the rankings in his native Australia ever since turning pro in 2015 as a teenager. He’s shown tremendous power throughout his time in the pro ranks, with a 15-fight KO streak following his pro debut and a current run that’s seen him earn stoppages in each of his last six victories. His only defeats have come at the highest level, as he dropped a March 2025 showdown against former unified champion Keith Thurman and an October 2022 challenge of current welterweight world champion Liam Paro. Fighting out of Marrickville, New South Wales, Jarvis most recently bounced back from the loss to Thurman to stop the previously unbeaten Sam Beck in four rounds in August 2025.
“This is the fight I have waited my whole career for,” said Jarvis. “A former undisputed world champion, in a stadium, at home in Australia. It does not get bigger than this. Charlo thinks he’s coming to Australia to restart his career. I’m here to ruin his comeback.”
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WBO strips Denzel Bentley |
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In the matter of Denzel Bentley, the WBO issued the following ruling: (1) Bentley's recognition as WBO middleweight champion has been withdrawn, effective immediately; (2) the WBO middleweight championship was declared vacant; and (3) there will be no automatic elevation of mandatory contender Yoenli Hernández to full champion status. Presumably, the WBO will require Hernandez to fight the leading available contender from the WBO rankings to determine the next champion. The current WBO rankings have Hernandez at #1, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. at #2, Tim Tszyu at #3 and Michael Zerafa at #4 and Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. With Hernandez a definite yes throughout this entire WBO process, it appears that the vacant title fight will fall to Hernandez vs. Zerafa. Bentley, who recently signed with Zuffa boxing, and has a fight scheduled this weekend vs. Shane Mosley Jr., but he retains the right to appeal the WBO's ruling.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 23, 2026: WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied Denzel Bentley’s appeal and required Bentley, as the WBO middleweight champion to make his next fight a mandatory title defense against Yoenli Hernández. "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT," wrote Olivieri. This presents a big problem for Bentley who is already booked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on a November 7th Zuffa show in London. The WBO required both Bentley and Hernandez to confirm their participation in the mandatory bout within 24 hours. Unless Bentley has an escape clause the Mosley bout, it appears he will be stripped of his middleweight title by the WBO.
OCT. 5, 2026: Zuffa Boxing announced on social media that WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7th at Copper Box Arena in London. Bentley has also signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Zuffa. The big question still to be resolved is whether Bentley's WBO world title will be at stake vs. Mosley or will he be stripped for failure to make his WBO mandatory title defense. Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) was ordered by the WBO to defend against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez, and Warriors Boxing won a purse bid for the bout last week. Bentley, however, is attempting to move forward with Mosley while retaining his title. "Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion," Bentley told Sky Sports News. "I know everything that's gone on online and all the rumours [that he could be stripped of belt]. My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too."
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Serhii Bohachuk. The 35 year-old son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has won six of his last seven bouts, with the lone defeat coming against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last December. He also owns a 2024 decision victory over former champion Daniel Jacobs. Bentley won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and was subsequently elevated to full champion as Zhanibek Alimkhnauly dealt with PED issues and decided to move up in weight. Bentley, a 31 year-old Londoner, previously challenged Alimkhanuly in 2022, losing a competitive unanimous decision.
SEPT. 30, 2026: On Tuesday, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. The WBO has has now received written confirmation from Herndanez that he accepts the terms and conditions of the purse bid and is ready, willing, and honored to proceed with the opportunity to challenge Bentley for the WBO middleweight championship. The WBO said it is still awaiting written confirmation from Bentley and his team that they will move ahead with the fight. (Failure to do so would mean he is vacating the title, but Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna).
SEPT. 29. 2026: In a purse bid held online from WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. Warriors, who promotes Hernandez, bid $200,000, which was the minimum bid. Warriors was able to win the auction proceeding for this low amount because Bentley's promoter, Queensberry, did not submit a bid. Warriors' proposed dates for the fight are December 12th or 19th with potential sites declared to be Phoenix, Orlando or Las Vegas. It will now be up to the boxers to sign the bout contracts once Warriors provides them. In the last WBO purse bid, Hamzah Sheeraz went thorugh the purse bid process but vacated his super middleweight title rather then sign for the amount yielded by the purse bid process. Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna, so it is possible he will vacate the WBO title rather than accpet this fight. Under WBO regulations, the winning bid in this case results in expected purses of $160,000 for Bentley and $40,000 for Hernandez (but it is possible Warriors and Hernandez have a private agreement for a different amount to Hernandez).
SEPT 23, 2026: The WBO World Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for the WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley to make a mandatory defense againsy Yoenli Hernandez. The purse bid is scheduled for September 29th, with the parties free to reach a deal before then. However, it was not clear whether Bentley would take the fight, as he was believed to be in negotiations for a unification fight with Aaron McKenna, the IBF champion. If Bentley refuses to fight Hernandez, he would be stripped by the WBO but could still pursue an IBF challenge vs. McKenna.
SEPT. 5, 2026: The WBO has ordered negotiations for a world title fight between its middleweight title holder, Denzel Bentley, and mandatory contender Yoenlis Hernandez. The news is a blow to 160-pound unification, as Bentley was in discussions to unify with IBF champion Aaron McKenna by year's end. The WBO's decision means that Bentley would likely be stripped if he elected to fight McKenna over Hernandez. The news broke through a September 2nd letter to representatives of both fighters from the WBO World Championship Committee. The letter ordered the parties to begin negotiations for the mandatory championship contest and gave them 20 days to reach an agreement. But the WBO also directed both sides to confirm in writing within the first ten days that they are ready, willing and available to proceed with the bout. If Bentley and Hernandez (should Bentley agree to make the mandatory) are unable to reach an agreement, the fight can proceed to a purse bid. The WBO established a minimum bid of $200,000 and said either party may request the commencement of purse-bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation period. Bentley is represented by manager Martin Bowers, while Hernandez is represented by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
SEPT. 3, 2026: According to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, the WBO received a formal communication from Team Yoenli Hernandez requesting enforcement of the mandatory title defense rule against WBO middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley. Olivieri stated, "the WBO World Championship Committee will convene immediately to review the matter and issue its determination in accordance with the applicable WBO Regulations. Bentley was elevated to WBO middleweight champion after Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. Hernandez is a Cuban middleweight who last week secured a majority decision victory over Francisco Daniel Veron. Hernandez's offensive bursts proved to be the difference in that bout. While one judge scored it a 95-95 draw, the remaining two widely favored Hernandez with lopsided tallies of 99-91 and 98-92. With the win, Hernandez improved to 11-0 with 9 KOs.
JULY 22, 2026: [Cynics will say this is an "e-mail championship" but] the WBO World Championship Committee has officially elevated Denzel Bentley to WBO world middleweight champion following Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. The IBF title remains vacant, with a new champion expected to be crowned on August 8th at the 3Arena in a bout between Ireland's Aaron McKenna and Italy's Etinosa Oliha.
FEB. 23, 2026: In a very disappointing ruling for those who want to punish drug cheats in boxing, the WBO has ruled that its middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, can keep his title despite testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead of striping the boxer, as was expected, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension and a series of conditions that stop short of stripping Alimkhnauly of the championship. The decision follows positive “A” and “B” sample tests collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in November 2025, which forced Alimkhanuly out of a scheduled unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December. Although not a party to this ruling, the IBF is just as culpable, as it also continues to recognize Alimhanuly as its world middleweight champion. A WBO interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra was ordered to keep the division active during his suspension.
In a lengthy written decision issued by its World Championship Committee, the WBO confirmed that the tests were conducted by recognized anti-doping authorities and verified by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leaving no dispute about the presence of the prohibited substance. Under the organization’s rules, the case fell under a “strict liability” standard, meaning intent or explanation was irrelevant once a positive test was confirmed. Despite that framework, the WBO declined to impose its most severe sanction — vacating Alimkhanuly's title — and instead opted for what it described as a “proportionate” response.
The ruling suspends Alimkhanuly for one year, retroactive to December 2nd, the date of official notification of the adverse test. He is also required to submit to year-round random drug testing under a WADA-certified program at his own expense, complete an anti-doping education course, and provide certified test results directly to the WBO. When the suspension ends, he will not be allowed a tune-up fight; his first bout must be against either the WBO interim champion or the organization’s mandatory challenger.
The WBO framed the outcome as balanced and fair. Others will see it differently — as a decision that does not meaningfully penalize a fighter who failed a drug test, and does little to deter future violations at the highest level of the sport.
So what is the end result? Alimkhanuly remains recognized as a two-belt champion, retains his title status, and faces no financial penalty. The suspension is time-limited, a year in name but effectively only ten months, and the conditions imposed largely amount to monitoring and compliance requirements rather than punitive measures. For a confirmed doping violation that canceled a major unification bout and disrupted the middleweight division, the consequences are relatively light.
The committee justified its approach by citing Alimkhanuly’s status as a first-time offender and the absence of prior anti-doping violations. It emphasized proportionality and the legal and commercial interests tied to championship recognition. In effect, the WBO treated the case as a regulatory issue to be managed rather than a breach warranting the strongest available punishment. For critics, that distinction matters. A positive test for a banned substance typically carries the expectation of severe sporting consequences, especially for a reigning world champion. By allowing Alimkhanuly to keep his title and return after a defined suspension, the ruling sends a message that a confirmed drug violation does not necessarily lead to the loss of a championship. It should be noted that Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, which is clearly banned in international competitions but is legally available for purchase in Kazakhstan, Russia and a few other countries.
DEC. 5, 2025: After a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, the WBO World Championship Committee has issued a “show cause notice” to WBO / IBF middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The notice stated, "It has been formally reported that on December 2nd, the WBO received an official communication from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) concerning an alleged anti-doping violation arising from the testing protocol enforced by said agency in preparation for the scheduled WBO/IBF unified middleweight championships contest against [WBA champion] Erislandy Lara to be held in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th.According to the notice, the “A” Sample of [Alimkhanuly's] urine specimen, collected on November 15th, in Porter Ranch, California, allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance at an estimated concentration greater than the minimum reported threshold.
Unlike the WBC, which lately has been giving virtually no penalties to boxers who test positive for banned substances [Conor Benn and Subriel Matias come to mind], WBO policy is that "in the event any WBO champion tests positive for any banned substances, the WBO doesn’t need to demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part. It is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter their body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body."
Alimkhanuly was directed by the WBO to show cause within ten days of issuance of this notice, stating why disciplinary action should not be imposed pursuant to the applicable sections in the governing WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests and all relevant WBO policies; including but not limited to: a) declaring the WBO middleweight championship “vacant”; b) withdrawing WBO world champion status from Alimkhanuly; c) banning him from all WBO world and/or regional championship contests; d) suspending him sion from al WBO world and/or regional championship contests; and e) issuing any other rulings necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies and intent of the WBO.
Alimkhanuly's response may include supporting documentation, statements, legal submissions, or any other relevant materials he wishes the WBO to consider. Failure to respond within the prescribed period may result in disciplinary action being taken without further notice and/or hearing, including but not limited to the vacating of your WBO Championship title, effective immediately.
DEC. 3, 2025: WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez as part of a four-fight PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video this Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was pulled from the fight after failing a VADA anti-doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight will follow the pay-per-view opener between Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view is headlined by former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. The showdown between two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and WBC 130-pound champion O’Shaquie Foster will now serve as the co-feature. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.
DEC. 2, 2025: Janibek Alimkhanuly, the two-belt middleweight champion, has tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance just days before a scheduled unification fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Journalist Dan Rafael reported that the substance was meldonium, which is commonly used in Russia. Alimkhanuly, from Kazakhstan, holds the WBO and IBF titles. He reacted to this development by tweeting, "I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, which was scheduled for this Saturday, December 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The WBO acknowledged the positive test as follows: "The WBO has confirmed an adverse analytical finding for WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly from VADA testing ahead of his scheduled bout vs. Erislandy Lara. An internal investigation is now underway, and a show cause notice will be issued. No further comments will be made until the process is complete.
OCT. 16, 2025: The WBO has ordered a purse bid for a WBO middleweight elimination bout between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra. Bentley is from England and holds the British and European titles. At 21-3, he's won three straight since a 2023 loss to Nathan Heaney. Bentley also has a loss against reigning WBO / IBF champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The little-known Saveedra is from Venezuela and boasts a 17-1-1 pro record that includes wins over Isaac Hardman and Mikkel Nielsen and a draw with unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia.
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WBO strips Denzel Bentley
In the matter of Denzel Bentley, the WBO issued the following ruling: (1) Bentley's recognition as WBO middleweight champion has been withdrawn, effective immediately; (2) the WBO middleweight championship was declared vacant; and (3) there will be no automatic elevation of mandatory contender Yoenli Hernández to full champion status. Presumably, the WBO will require Hernandez to fight the leading available contender from the WBO rankings to determine the next champion. The current WBO rankings have Hernandez at #1, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. at #2, Tim Tszyu at #3 and Michael Zerafa at #4 and Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. With Hernandez a definite yes throughout this entire WBO process, it appears that the vacant title fight will fall to Hernandez vs. Zerafa. Bentley, who recently signed with Zuffa boxing, and has a fight scheduled this weekend vs. Shane Mosley Jr., but he retains the right to appeal the WBO's ruling.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 23, 2026: WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied Denzel Bentley’s appeal and required Bentley, as the WBO middleweight champion to make his next fight a mandatory title defense against Yoenli Hernández. "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT," wrote Olivieri. This presents a big problem for Bentley who is already booked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on a November 7th Zuffa show in London. The WBO required both Bentley and Hernandez to confirm their participation in the mandatory bout within 24 hours. Unless Bentley has an escape clause the Mosley bout, it appears he will be stripped of his middleweight title by the WBO.
OCT. 5, 2026: Zuffa Boxing announced on social media that WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7th at Copper Box Arena in London. Bentley has also signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Zuffa. The big question still to be resolved is whether Bentley's WBO world title will be at stake vs. Mosley or will he be stripped for failure to make his WBO mandatory title defense. Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) was ordered by the WBO to defend against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez, and Warriors Boxing won a purse bid for the bout last week. Bentley, however, is attempting to move forward with Mosley while retaining his title. "Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion," Bentley told Sky Sports News. "I know everything that's gone on online and all the rumours [that he could be stripped of belt]. My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too."
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Serhii Bohachuk. The 35 year-old son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has won six of his last seven bouts, with the lone defeat coming against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last December. He also owns a 2024 decision victory over former champion Daniel Jacobs. Bentley won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and was subsequently elevated to full champion as Zhanibek Alimkhnauly dealt with PED issues and decided to move up in weight. Bentley, a 31 year-old Londoner, previously challenged Alimkhanuly in 2022, losing a competitive unanimous decision.
SEPT. 30, 2026: On Tuesday, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. The WBO has has now received written confirmation from Herndanez that he accepts the terms and conditions of the purse bid and is ready, willing, and honored to proceed with the opportunity to challenge Bentley for the WBO middleweight championship. The WBO said it is still awaiting written confirmation from Bentley and his team that they will move ahead with the fight. (Failure to do so would mean he is vacating the title, but Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna).
SEPT. 29. 2026: In a purse bid held online from WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. Warriors, who promotes Hernandez, bid $200,000, which was the minimum bid. Warriors was able to win the auction proceeding for this low amount because Bentley's promoter, Queensberry, did not submit a bid. Warriors' proposed dates for the fight are December 12th or 19th with potential sites declared to be Phoenix, Orlando or Las Vegas. It will now be up to the boxers to sign the bout contracts once Warriors provides them. In the last WBO purse bid, Hamzah Sheeraz went thorugh the purse bid process but vacated his super middleweight title rather then sign for the amount yielded by the purse bid process. Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna, so it is possible he will vacate the WBO title rather than accpet this fight. Under WBO regulations, the winning bid in this case results in expected purses of $160,000 for Bentley and $40,000 for Hernandez (but it is possible Warriors and Hernandez have a private agreement for a different amount to Hernandez).
SEPT 23, 2026: The WBO World Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for the WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley to make a mandatory defense againsy Yoenli Hernandez. The purse bid is scheduled for September 29th, with the parties free to reach a deal before then. However, it was not clear whether Bentley would take the fight, as he was believed to be in negotiations for a unification fight with Aaron McKenna, the IBF champion. If Bentley refuses to fight Hernandez, he would be stripped by the WBO but could still pursue an IBF challenge vs. McKenna.
SEPT. 5, 2026: The WBO has ordered negotiations for a world title fight between its middleweight title holder, Denzel Bentley, and mandatory contender Yoenlis Hernandez. The news is a blow to 160-pound unification, as Bentley was in discussions to unify with IBF champion Aaron McKenna by year's end. The WBO's decision means that Bentley would likely be stripped if he elected to fight McKenna over Hernandez. The news broke through a September 2nd letter to representatives of both fighters from the WBO World Championship Committee. The letter ordered the parties to begin negotiations for the mandatory championship contest and gave them 20 days to reach an agreement. But the WBO also directed both sides to confirm in writing within the first ten days that they are ready, willing and available to proceed with the bout. If Bentley and Hernandez (should Bentley agree to make the mandatory) are unable to reach an agreement, the fight can proceed to a purse bid. The WBO established a minimum bid of $200,000 and said either party may request the commencement of purse-bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation period. Bentley is represented by manager Martin Bowers, while Hernandez is represented by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
SEPT. 3, 2026: According to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, the WBO received a formal communication from Team Yoenli Hernandez requesting enforcement of the mandatory title defense rule against WBO middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley. Olivieri stated, "the WBO World Championship Committee will convene immediately to review the matter and issue its determination in accordance with the applicable WBO Regulations. Bentley was elevated to WBO middleweight champion after Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. Hernandez is a Cuban middleweight who last week secured a majority decision victory over Francisco Daniel Veron. Hernandez's offensive bursts proved to be the difference in that bout. While one judge scored it a 95-95 draw, the remaining two widely favored Hernandez with lopsided tallies of 99-91 and 98-92. With the win, Hernandez improved to 11-0 with 9 KOs.
JULY 22, 2026: [Cynics will say this is an "e-mail championship" but] the WBO World Championship Committee has officially elevated Denzel Bentley to WBO world middleweight champion following Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. The IBF title remains vacant, with a new champion expected to be crowned on August 8th at the 3Arena in a bout between Ireland's Aaron McKenna and Italy's Etinosa Oliha.
FEB. 23, 2026: In a very disappointing ruling for those who want to punish drug cheats in boxing, the WBO has ruled that its middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, can keep his title despite testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead of striping the boxer, as was expected, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension and a series of conditions that stop short of stripping Alimkhnauly of the championship. The decision follows positive “A” and “B” sample tests collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in November 2025, which forced Alimkhanuly out of a scheduled unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December. Although not a party to this ruling, the IBF is just as culpable, as it also continues to recognize Alimhanuly as its world middleweight champion. A WBO interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra was ordered to keep the division active during his suspension.
In a lengthy written decision issued by its World Championship Committee, the WBO confirmed that the tests were conducted by recognized anti-doping authorities and verified by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leaving no dispute about the presence of the prohibited substance. Under the organization’s rules, the case fell under a “strict liability” standard, meaning intent or explanation was irrelevant once a positive test was confirmed. Despite that framework, the WBO declined to impose its most severe sanction — vacating Alimkhanuly's title — and instead opted for what it described as a “proportionate” response.
The ruling suspends Alimkhanuly for one year, retroactive to December 2nd, the date of official notification of the adverse test. He is also required to submit to year-round random drug testing under a WADA-certified program at his own expense, complete an anti-doping education course, and provide certified test results directly to the WBO. When the suspension ends, he will not be allowed a tune-up fight; his first bout must be against either the WBO interim champion or the organization’s mandatory challenger.
The WBO framed the outcome as balanced and fair. Others will see it differently — as a decision that does not meaningfully penalize a fighter who failed a drug test, and does little to deter future violations at the highest level of the sport.
So what is the end result? Alimkhanuly remains recognized as a two-belt champion, retains his title status, and faces no financial penalty. The suspension is time-limited, a year in name but effectively only ten months, and the conditions imposed largely amount to monitoring and compliance requirements rather than punitive measures. For a confirmed doping violation that canceled a major unification bout and disrupted the middleweight division, the consequences are relatively light.
The committee justified its approach by citing Alimkhanuly’s status as a first-time offender and the absence of prior anti-doping violations. It emphasized proportionality and the legal and commercial interests tied to championship recognition. In effect, the WBO treated the case as a regulatory issue to be managed rather than a breach warranting the strongest available punishment. For critics, that distinction matters. A positive test for a banned substance typically carries the expectation of severe sporting consequences, especially for a reigning world champion. By allowing Alimkhanuly to keep his title and return after a defined suspension, the ruling sends a message that a confirmed drug violation does not necessarily lead to the loss of a championship. It should be noted that Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, which is clearly banned in international competitions but is legally available for purchase in Kazakhstan, Russia and a few other countries.
DEC. 5, 2025: After a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, the WBO World Championship Committee has issued a “show cause notice” to WBO / IBF middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The notice stated, "It has been formally reported that on December 2nd, the WBO received an official communication from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) concerning an alleged anti-doping violation arising from the testing protocol enforced by said agency in preparation for the scheduled WBO/IBF unified middleweight championships contest against [WBA champion] Erislandy Lara to be held in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th.According to the notice, the “A” Sample of [Alimkhanuly's] urine specimen, collected on November 15th, in Porter Ranch, California, allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance at an estimated concentration greater than the minimum reported threshold.
Unlike the WBC, which lately has been giving virtually no penalties to boxers who test positive for banned substances [Conor Benn and Subriel Matias come to mind], WBO policy is that "in the event any WBO champion tests positive for any banned substances, the WBO doesn’t need to demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part. It is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter their body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body."
Alimkhanuly was directed by the WBO to show cause within ten days of issuance of this notice, stating why disciplinary action should not be imposed pursuant to the applicable sections in the governing WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests and all relevant WBO policies; including but not limited to: a) declaring the WBO middleweight championship “vacant”; b) withdrawing WBO world champion status from Alimkhanuly; c) banning him from all WBO world and/or regional championship contests; d) suspending him sion from al WBO world and/or regional championship contests; and e) issuing any other rulings necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies and intent of the WBO.
Alimkhanuly's response may include supporting documentation, statements, legal submissions, or any other relevant materials he wishes the WBO to consider. Failure to respond within the prescribed period may result in disciplinary action being taken without further notice and/or hearing, including but not limited to the vacating of your WBO Championship title, effective immediately.
DEC. 3, 2025: WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez as part of a four-fight PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video this Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was pulled from the fight after failing a VADA anti-doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight will follow the pay-per-view opener between Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view is headlined by former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. The showdown between two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and WBC 130-pound champion O’Shaquie Foster will now serve as the co-feature. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.
DEC. 2, 2025: Janibek Alimkhanuly, the two-belt middleweight champion, has tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance just days before a scheduled unification fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Journalist Dan Rafael reported that the substance was meldonium, which is commonly used in Russia. Alimkhanuly, from Kazakhstan, holds the WBO and IBF titles. He reacted to this development by tweeting, "I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, which was scheduled for this Saturday, December 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The WBO acknowledged the positive test as follows: "The WBO has confirmed an adverse analytical finding for WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly from VADA testing ahead of his scheduled bout vs. Erislandy Lara. An internal investigation is now underway, and a show cause notice will be issued. No further comments will be made until the process is complete.
OCT. 16, 2025: The WBO has ordered a purse bid for a WBO middleweight elimination bout between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra. Bentley is from England and holds the British and European titles. At 21-3, he's won three straight since a 2023 loss to Nathan Heaney. Bentley also has a loss against reigning WBO / IBF champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The little-known Saveedra is from Venezuela and boasts a 17-1-1 pro record that includes wins over Isaac Hardman and Mikkel Nielsen and a draw with unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia.
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Raito Kataoka moving up quickly at light flyweight |
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Raito Kataoka TKO9 Ar Ar Andales... Korakuen Hall in Tokyo served as the venue for an Ohashi Promotions show feturing three Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights. In the clash for the vacant OPBF light flyweight championship, Japan's Raito Kataoka (3-0) became the regional ruler after a strong performance against experienced Filipino contender Ar Ar Andales (19-3-3). Kataoka took control of the contest from the opening bell, showcasing exceptional footwork, sharp jabs, and quick combinations that effectively neutralized his opponent’s attack. At the end of the fifth round, all three judges’ scorecards reflected total dominance in favor of the local fighter at 50-45. Kataoka’s control continued in the second half of the bout thanks to a mix of body and head strikes. In the ninth round, following a brief exchange after an accidental clash of heads, Kataoka unleashed a combination that forced referee Shuji Tereyama to halt the action at 2 minutes and 56 seconds. The bout was officially supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Kazutoshi Yoshida, Koji Tanaka, and Gil Co serving as judges.
Shogo Tanaka TKO8 Sho Nogami... Meanwhile, the flyweight division delivered a dramatic twist in the mandatory championship clash between defending Japanese monarch Sho Nogami and contender Shogo Tanaka. Nogami (8-1) started strong, scoring an early knockdown with a left hook to the body followed by a right hand to the head. Controlling the opening rounds with rhythm and precision, the champion remained ahead on the scorecards after five rounds with identical scores of 48-46. However, Tanaka steadily increased the pressure, closing the distance and landing with greater impact. His perseverance paid off in the eighth round when he floored Nogami with a short right hand before launching a relentless follow-up attack that forced referee Tetsuya Iida to stop the contest at 1 minute and 26 seconds. With this spectacular comeback TKO victory, Tanaka (6-0-1) sealed an unforgettable performance to become the new OPBF flyweight champion. The match was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Tetsuya Iida refereeing and scorecards rendered by Koji Tanaka, Takeshi Okaniwa, and Katsuhiko Nakamura.
Toshiya Ishii W10 Ryuya Nihei ... Finally, in super bantamweight bout, Japanese titleholder Toshiya Ishii successfully completed the first defense of his regional crown by outpointing countryman Ryuya Nihei via unanimous decision. Ishii set the pace from distance behind accurate jabs, left hooks to the body, and crisp combinations, while Nihei attempted to respond with overhand rights and hooks from unorthodox angles. By the midpoint of the contest, open scoring showed the champion leading on two cards at 50-45, while one judge scored it 48-47 for the challenger. Maintaining relentless pressure down the stretch with body work and sharp one-two combinations, Ishii neutralized Nihei’s brave efforts through the final bell to secure the victory with official scores of 97-93 and 100-90 (twice). The bout was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Koji Tanaka refereeing and judges Kazutoshi Yoshida, Shuji Tereyama, and Tetsuya Iida scoring the contest.
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Raito Kataoka moving up quickly at light flyweight
Raito Kataoka TKO9 Ar Ar Andales... Korakuen Hall in Tokyo served as the venue for an Ohashi Promotions show feturing three Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights. In the clash for the vacant OPBF light flyweight championship, Japan's Raito Kataoka (3-0) became the regional ruler after a strong performance against experienced Filipino contender Ar Ar Andales (19-3-3). Kataoka took control of the contest from the opening bell, showcasing exceptional footwork, sharp jabs, and quick combinations that effectively neutralized his opponent’s attack. At the end of the fifth round, all three judges’ scorecards reflected total dominance in favor of the local fighter at 50-45. Kataoka’s control continued in the second half of the bout thanks to a mix of body and head strikes. In the ninth round, following a brief exchange after an accidental clash of heads, Kataoka unleashed a combination that forced referee Shuji Tereyama to halt the action at 2 minutes and 56 seconds. The bout was officially supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Kazutoshi Yoshida, Koji Tanaka, and Gil Co serving as judges.
Shogo Tanaka TKO8 Sho Nogami... Meanwhile, the flyweight division delivered a dramatic twist in the mandatory championship clash between defending Japanese monarch Sho Nogami and contender Shogo Tanaka. Nogami (8-1) started strong, scoring an early knockdown with a left hook to the body followed by a right hand to the head. Controlling the opening rounds with rhythm and precision, the champion remained ahead on the scorecards after five rounds with identical scores of 48-46. However, Tanaka steadily increased the pressure, closing the distance and landing with greater impact. His perseverance paid off in the eighth round when he floored Nogami with a short right hand before launching a relentless follow-up attack that forced referee Tetsuya Iida to stop the contest at 1 minute and 26 seconds. With this spectacular comeback TKO victory, Tanaka (6-0-1) sealed an unforgettable performance to become the new OPBF flyweight champion. The match was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Tetsuya Iida refereeing and scorecards rendered by Koji Tanaka, Takeshi Okaniwa, and Katsuhiko Nakamura.
Toshiya Ishii W10 Ryuya Nihei ... Finally, in super bantamweight bout, Japanese titleholder Toshiya Ishii successfully completed the first defense of his regional crown by outpointing countryman Ryuya Nihei via unanimous decision. Ishii set the pace from distance behind accurate jabs, left hooks to the body, and crisp combinations, while Nihei attempted to respond with overhand rights and hooks from unorthodox angles. By the midpoint of the contest, open scoring showed the champion leading on two cards at 50-45, while one judge scored it 48-47 for the challenger. Maintaining relentless pressure down the stretch with body work and sharp one-two combinations, Ishii neutralized Nihei’s brave efforts through the final bell to secure the victory with official scores of 97-93 and 100-90 (twice). The bout was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Koji Tanaka refereeing and judges Kazutoshi Yoshida, Shuji Tereyama, and Tetsuya Iida scoring the contest.
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BKFC in Glasgow this weekend |
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Bare knuckle fighting comes to Scotland this weekend, with a BKFC show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday, live on The BKFC App. Light heavyweight (185 pounds) Conor “Da Crook” Cooke will headlined against undefeated Sean “The Butcher” Weir. From Ireland, Cooke boasts a 6-1 record. In the chief support, Danny “The Bastard” Christie returns to action, welcoming one of Scotland’s biggest mixed martial arts stars, UFC veteran Stevie “Braveheart” Ray to BKFC's squared circle. Also on the show, former World Wrestling Entertainment star Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani — known in wrestling as “Rezar” — looks to smash his way to 2-0 under the BKFC banner at the expense of the battle-tested Reece Heer.
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BKFC in Glasgow this weekend
Bare knuckle fighting comes to Scotland this weekend, with a BKFC show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday, live on The BKFC App. Light heavyweight (185 pounds) Conor “Da Crook” Cooke will headlined against undefeated Sean “The Butcher” Weir. From Ireland, Cooke boasts a 6-1 record. In the chief support, Danny “The Bastard” Christie returns to action, welcoming one of Scotland’s biggest mixed martial arts stars, UFC veteran Stevie “Braveheart” Ray to BKFC's squared circle. Also on the show, former World Wrestling Entertainment star Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani — known in wrestling as “Rezar” — looks to smash his way to 2-0 under the BKFC banner at the expense of the battle-tested Reece Heer.
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Mayweather announces Floyd vs. Floyd exhibition |
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Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather announced on social media that he will face Australia's Matty Floyd on December 19th in Bangkok. No additional details were provided concerning the rules, scheduled number of rounds or broadcast details, if any. Mayweather also indicated that the exhibition will serve as preparation for a potential showdown with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in February 2027, although any claims of Mayweather vs. Garcia should be taken with a grain of salt. "This is a lil tune up before me and Ryan Garcia lock up Feb. 2027," Mayweather wrote on Instagram. Matty Floyd is credited with a 15-2 record and fights around the light heavyweight division. But after a low-level loss, he has veered off the traditional boxing path, losing a 2025 bare knuckles fight to ex-super middleweight champ James DeGale and then winning a 2026 Misfits crossover exhibition against Anthony Taylor. Mayweather, age 49, retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record following his tenth-round stoppage of UFC star Conor McGregor. Since then, the Hall of Famer is reputed to be in financial difficutlies and has participated in a series of exhibitions against opponents from both inside and outside the boxing world. The December event is being promoted as "Australia vs. The World" and "The Goat vs. The Jedi," referring to the nicknames of Mayweather and Matty Floyd.
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Mayweather announces Floyd vs. Floyd exhibition
Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather announced on social media that he will face Australia's Matty Floyd on December 19th in Bangkok. No additional details were provided concerning the rules, scheduled number of rounds or broadcast details, if any. Mayweather also indicated that the exhibition will serve as preparation for a potential showdown with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in February 2027, although any claims of Mayweather vs. Garcia should be taken with a grain of salt. "This is a lil tune up before me and Ryan Garcia lock up Feb. 2027," Mayweather wrote on Instagram. Matty Floyd is credited with a 15-2 record and fights around the light heavyweight division. But after a low-level loss, he has veered off the traditional boxing path, losing a 2025 bare knuckles fight to ex-super middleweight champ James DeGale and then winning a 2026 Misfits crossover exhibition against Anthony Taylor. Mayweather, age 49, retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record following his tenth-round stoppage of UFC star Conor McGregor. Since then, the Hall of Famer is reputed to be in financial difficutlies and has participated in a series of exhibitions against opponents from both inside and outside the boxing world. The December event is being promoted as "Australia vs. The World" and "The Goat vs. The Jedi," referring to the nicknames of Mayweather and Matty Floyd.
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Collazo vacates WBO title; still holds WBA version |
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The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 20, 2026: With Oscar Collazo's flyweight title shot called off due to his injury, he must now decide whether he wants to return to minimumweight. Collazo holds both the WBO and WBA titles at minimumweight (105 pounds).The WBO World Championships Committee has formally ordered negotiations between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto (9-0) of Japan to fulfill the mandatory championship obligation and promptly terminate the interim championship status. Matsumoto becam einterim champion last month by defeating Russell Acosta Sivleira in a battle of unbeatens. Representatives of Collazo and Matsumto have fifteen days to reach an agreement. Should negotiations prove unsuccessful, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
SEPT 19, 2026: Puerto Rico's Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo, who holds two of the four world titles at miniumweight has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight title challenge due to a rib injury sustained in training camp. Collazo was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge another two-belt champion, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval, on October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to Collazo's promoter, Golden Boy, the show will proceed with undefeated lightweights Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield III (19-0, 13 KOs) and “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) meeting in the main event for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions said additional details concerning the October 10th undercard will be announced once confirmed.
SEPT. 15, 2026: The flyweight division takes center stage on Saturday, October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as Mexico’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval puts his WBC / WBA unified championship on the line in against undefeated minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, with the action broadcasting live worldwide on DAZN. Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) enters this fight ain his boxing prime. The Mexican warrior reached the summit last July after traveling to Japan and dethroning Kenshiro Teraji on his home turf. Coming in as the favorite thanks to his natural height, reach, and power advantages at 112 pounds, Sandoval aims to prove he remains the man to beat in the division. It won’t be an easy night, however, as standing in his way is Óscar “El Pupilo” Collazo. The Puerto Rican star, a WBO/WBA champion at 105 pounds, is making a daring jump up two weight classes to etch his name into the history books of boxing. He is moving up in weight after attempts to make a big fight at minimumweght fell through. Collazo relies on his speed, refined technique, and sharp precision to offset Sandoval’s physical strength in what promises to be an action-packed tactical battle full of explosive combinations. Collazo enters the ring with an unbeaten record.
JUNE 22, 2026: Oscar Collazo made an unplanned move up to flyweight and came away with a second-round knockout win over Neider Valdez. Collazo was originally set to defend his two minimumweight world titles against Joey Canoy, but visa issues stopped Canoy from entering the country. The resulted in Valdez being brought in as a replacement with the fight being held at 112 pounds instead of 105. There was a big gulf in class between the two fighters with Valdez being knocked down three times before he was pulled out of the fight by his corner in the second round.
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Collazo vacates WBO title; still holds WBA version
The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 20, 2026: With Oscar Collazo's flyweight title shot called off due to his injury, he must now decide whether he wants to return to minimumweight. Collazo holds both the WBO and WBA titles at minimumweight (105 pounds).The WBO World Championships Committee has formally ordered negotiations between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto (9-0) of Japan to fulfill the mandatory championship obligation and promptly terminate the interim championship status. Matsumoto becam einterim champion last month by defeating Russell Acosta Sivleira in a battle of unbeatens. Representatives of Collazo and Matsumto have fifteen days to reach an agreement. Should negotiations prove unsuccessful, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
SEPT 19, 2026: Puerto Rico's Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo, who holds two of the four world titles at miniumweight has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight title challenge due to a rib injury sustained in training camp. Collazo was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge another two-belt champion, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval, on October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to Collazo's promoter, Golden Boy, the show will proceed with undefeated lightweights Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield III (19-0, 13 KOs) and “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) meeting in the main event for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions said additional details concerning the October 10th undercard will be announced once confirmed.
SEPT. 15, 2026: The flyweight division takes center stage on Saturday, October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as Mexico’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval puts his WBC / WBA unified championship on the line in against undefeated minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, with the action broadcasting live worldwide on DAZN. Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) enters this fight ain his boxing prime. The Mexican warrior reached the summit last July after traveling to Japan and dethroning Kenshiro Teraji on his home turf. Coming in as the favorite thanks to his natural height, reach, and power advantages at 112 pounds, Sandoval aims to prove he remains the man to beat in the division. It won’t be an easy night, however, as standing in his way is Óscar “El Pupilo” Collazo. The Puerto Rican star, a WBO/WBA champion at 105 pounds, is making a daring jump up two weight classes to etch his name into the history books of boxing. He is moving up in weight after attempts to make a big fight at minimumweght fell through. Collazo relies on his speed, refined technique, and sharp precision to offset Sandoval’s physical strength in what promises to be an action-packed tactical battle full of explosive combinations. Collazo enters the ring with an unbeaten record.
JUNE 22, 2026: Oscar Collazo made an unplanned move up to flyweight and came away with a second-round knockout win over Neider Valdez. Collazo was originally set to defend his two minimumweight world titles against Joey Canoy, but visa issues stopped Canoy from entering the country. The resulted in Valdez being brought in as a replacement with the fight being held at 112 pounds instead of 105. There was a big gulf in class between the two fighters with Valdez being knocked down three times before he was pulled out of the fight by his corner in the second round.
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Bormann retains her minimumweight title |
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Sarah Bormann W10 Chaima Bounouar... In Karlsruhe, Germany, local hero Sarah “Babyface” Bormann successfully defended her WBA 105-pound title, earning a split decision victory over Chaima Bounouar of Spain. The fight lived up to expectations as a closely contested matchup. The official scorecards reflected the judges’ differing views, with scores of 97-92 and 95-94 in favor of Bormann (22-1), while the third judge scored the bout 95-94 for Bounouar, who suffers her first pro defeat after seven wins. Bounouar came out with an aggressive approach, applying pressure and looking to target the German champion’s body with hooks. However, Bormann’s experience and precision proved decisive at key moments. The German used a consistent jab and effective lateral movement to neutralize her challenger’s advances and accumulate valuable points from mid and long range.
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Bormann retains her minimumweight title
Sarah Bormann W10 Chaima Bounouar... In Karlsruhe, Germany, local hero Sarah “Babyface” Bormann successfully defended her WBA 105-pound title, earning a split decision victory over Chaima Bounouar of Spain. The fight lived up to expectations as a closely contested matchup. The official scorecards reflected the judges’ differing views, with scores of 97-92 and 95-94 in favor of Bormann (22-1), while the third judge scored the bout 95-94 for Bounouar, who suffers her first pro defeat after seven wins. Bounouar came out with an aggressive approach, applying pressure and looking to target the German champion’s body with hooks. However, Bormann’s experience and precision proved decisive at key moments. The German used a consistent jab and effective lateral movement to neutralize her challenger’s advances and accumulate valuable points from mid and long range.
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Welcome to Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II fight week |
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Two years after their first match-up, Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will fight again, but now the stakes are sky-high, with the vacant WBC light heavyweight belt there for the taking. The setting for this encounter is the AO Arena on Saturday, November 7th, in Manchester, England. The title was vacated by David Benavidez to move up to cruiserweight and fight Michał Cieślak for that WBC title on December 5th. Hutchinson, who is nicknamed “Braveheart” and even more appropriately “The Hutch Train,” is brash and flash, which is the same way he fights, delivering quips such as: “For this one, I’m older, wiser, stronger, and handsomer. I need to put a wrong right, and if I’m right, I’ll smash him to pieces.”
Joshua, who graduated with a degree in management with sports science from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, is nicknamed “Just Business.” He declares: “With this rematch, something very important is on the line and I’m on board. I will get into the ring for everything, so I’m willing and I’m ready.”
Prior to turning pro in 2017, Hutchinson, from Carstairs in Scotland, won the European Junior Amateur Championship gold medal in 2014. Two years later, he won the Youth World Championships at middleweight. Joshua, who has lived most of his life in London, won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2016 and another bronze at the Olympics in that same year. He too turned pro in 2017. It’s been a steady and graduated climb to reach this point for him, including a fourth-round KO of Ezequiel Maderna and then defeating Craig Richards via decision in Riyadh, before fighting Joshua Buatsi.
Their first fight on September 21st, 2024, at Wembley Stadium—which Buatsi won by split decision—was a barn burner. Hutchinson glowed while throwing clusters of long-range hooks, while the sturdy and steady Buatsi met the onslaught with crunching body shots that assuredly sank in and took their toll. In round five, an accidental clash of heads left Hutchinson with a gash over his right eye. One round later, a hard right to his head was followed by a power-driver left to his midriff, and down Hutchinson went, badly hurt; but the bell saved him. Typical of the man and his superb condition, plus true grit, he fought back tenaciously.
But in round nine, another yet shorter left to his solar plexus found the exact spot. Hutchinson winced, gasped, and went down in great discomfort, but beat the count and yet again fought back with the fire of desire. In the championship rounds, he gained his second wind, and with it, momentum, while Buatsi seemed to be ebbing rather than flowing, noticeably tiring.
With the two knockdowns and the referee deducting one point from Hutchinson in round seven for a rash, foolish and reckless use of the head, it seemed like a clear win for Buatsi, but it ended up as a split-decision victory for him. In this fight, Hutchinson hadn’t been difficult to hit—clearly, he was too easy a target. But his desire and firepower were evident. Every time the tide turned against him, he surged back with ferocity.
Since that thrilling fight night, Buatsi has lost to ex-super middleweight champion Callum Smith and won a gruelling majority decision over Zach Parker. Hutchinson claims Buatsi has now seen better days and he’s spent. We shall see. Meanwhile, Hutchinson has stopped Mark Jeffers via a seventh-round TKO and won by decision over Ezra Taylor.
Hutchinson is still only twenty-eight with a record of 20-2, 14 KOs, while Buatsi is five years older with a record of 20-1, 14 KOs.
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Welcome to Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II fight week
Two years after their first match-up, Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will fight again, but now the stakes are sky-high, with the vacant WBC light heavyweight belt there for the taking. The setting for this encounter is the AO Arena on Saturday, November 7th, in Manchester, England. The title was vacated by David Benavidez to move up to cruiserweight and fight Michał Cieślak for that WBC title on December 5th. Hutchinson, who is nicknamed “Braveheart” and even more appropriately “The Hutch Train,” is brash and flash, which is the same way he fights, delivering quips such as: “For this one, I’m older, wiser, stronger, and handsomer. I need to put a wrong right, and if I’m right, I’ll smash him to pieces.”
Joshua, who graduated with a degree in management with sports science from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, is nicknamed “Just Business.” He declares: “With this rematch, something very important is on the line and I’m on board. I will get into the ring for everything, so I’m willing and I’m ready.”
Prior to turning pro in 2017, Hutchinson, from Carstairs in Scotland, won the European Junior Amateur Championship gold medal in 2014. Two years later, he won the Youth World Championships at middleweight. Joshua, who has lived most of his life in London, won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2016 and another bronze at the Olympics in that same year. He too turned pro in 2017. It’s been a steady and graduated climb to reach this point for him, including a fourth-round KO of Ezequiel Maderna and then defeating Craig Richards via decision in Riyadh, before fighting Joshua Buatsi.
Their first fight on September 21st, 2024, at Wembley Stadium—which Buatsi won by split decision—was a barn burner. Hutchinson glowed while throwing clusters of long-range hooks, while the sturdy and steady Buatsi met the onslaught with crunching body shots that assuredly sank in and took their toll. In round five, an accidental clash of heads left Hutchinson with a gash over his right eye. One round later, a hard right to his head was followed by a power-driver left to his midriff, and down Hutchinson went, badly hurt; but the bell saved him. Typical of the man and his superb condition, plus true grit, he fought back tenaciously.
But in round nine, another yet shorter left to his solar plexus found the exact spot. Hutchinson winced, gasped, and went down in great discomfort, but beat the count and yet again fought back with the fire of desire. In the championship rounds, he gained his second wind, and with it, momentum, while Buatsi seemed to be ebbing rather than flowing, noticeably tiring.
With the two knockdowns and the referee deducting one point from Hutchinson in round seven for a rash, foolish and reckless use of the head, it seemed like a clear win for Buatsi, but it ended up as a split-decision victory for him. In this fight, Hutchinson hadn’t been difficult to hit—clearly, he was too easy a target. But his desire and firepower were evident. Every time the tide turned against him, he surged back with ferocity.
Since that thrilling fight night, Buatsi has lost to ex-super middleweight champion Callum Smith and won a gruelling majority decision over Zach Parker. Hutchinson claims Buatsi has now seen better days and he’s spent. We shall see. Meanwhile, Hutchinson has stopped Mark Jeffers via a seventh-round TKO and won by decision over Ezra Taylor.
Hutchinson is still only twenty-eight with a record of 20-2, 14 KOs, while Buatsi is five years older with a record of 20-1, 14 KOs.
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Welcome to Baumgardner vs. Turhan fight week |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and ESPN announced the fight week schedule for Sunday's MVPW-07: Turhan vs. Baumgardner in Arlington, Texas featuring five championship bouts. The event is headlined by Turkey’s undefeated IBF lightweight world champion, the “Golden Turkish Warrior” Elif Nur Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs) vs. unified junior lightweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), who will step up to 135 pounds in a bid to become a two-division champion. This fight will be a ten rounder, although it will feature three-minute rounds. In the cofeature, Somali-British boxer and activist Ramla Ali (11-2, 3 KOs) will face New York’s undefeated Mikiah Kreps (11-0, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO and IBF super bantamweight world titles at 122 pounds. As part of the buildup, MVP will host three fight week events. Opening the week will be the open workout followed by the press conference and weigh-in, all at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. All fight week events will be free and open to the public to attend on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets for MVPW-07 are on sale at AXS.com.
On Thursday, November 5, the Open Workout will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, Skye Nicolson, and various undercard fighters, as well as a surprise open workout from a new, to-be-announced MVP athlete.
On Friday, November 6, the MVPW-07 Press Conference will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature the final war of words between Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, undercard fighters, and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian.
On Saturday, November 7, the MVPW-07 Public Weigh-In will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature all fighters and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian and will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The weigh-in will stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and the ESPN App.
On Sunday, November 8, MVPW-07 streams live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US and Sky Sports in the UK from College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The preliminary card will air on the ESPN App in the US and will begin at 5:15pm ET / 4:15pm CT, with the main card starting at 8:30pm ET / 7:30pm CT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US. The main card airs at 12:30am GMT on Sky Sports in the UK.
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Welcome to Baumgardner vs. Turhan fight week
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and ESPN announced the fight week schedule for Sunday's MVPW-07: Turhan vs. Baumgardner in Arlington, Texas featuring five championship bouts. The event is headlined by Turkey’s undefeated IBF lightweight world champion, the “Golden Turkish Warrior” Elif Nur Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs) vs. unified junior lightweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), who will step up to 135 pounds in a bid to become a two-division champion. This fight will be a ten rounder, although it will feature three-minute rounds. In the cofeature, Somali-British boxer and activist Ramla Ali (11-2, 3 KOs) will face New York’s undefeated Mikiah Kreps (11-0, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO and IBF super bantamweight world titles at 122 pounds. As part of the buildup, MVP will host three fight week events. Opening the week will be the open workout followed by the press conference and weigh-in, all at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. All fight week events will be free and open to the public to attend on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets for MVPW-07 are on sale at AXS.com.
On Thursday, November 5, the Open Workout will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, Skye Nicolson, and various undercard fighters, as well as a surprise open workout from a new, to-be-announced MVP athlete.
On Friday, November 6, the MVPW-07 Press Conference will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature the final war of words between Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, undercard fighters, and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian.
On Saturday, November 7, the MVPW-07 Public Weigh-In will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature all fighters and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian and will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The weigh-in will stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and the ESPN App.
On Sunday, November 8, MVPW-07 streams live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US and Sky Sports in the UK from College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The preliminary card will air on the ESPN App in the US and will begin at 5:15pm ET / 4:15pm CT, with the main card starting at 8:30pm ET / 7:30pm CT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US. The main card airs at 12:30am GMT on Sky Sports in the UK.
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New Hampshire's Fontanez working his way back from adversity |
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Michael "The Blessed Southpaw" Fontanez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) spent much of the past year fighting battles that had nothing to do with the opponent across the ring. An injury derailed his plans to headline a show in March. Without a fight on the horizon, financial pressures had him scrambling to make ends meet. Through it all, the unbeaten Nashua, New Hampshire middleweight kept training, determined to get back the momentum he had worked so hard to build. On Saturday, November 7th, Fontanez finally gets that opportunity when he faces Alfred Raymond (6-17-4) at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts. The matchup is part of Boston Harbor Fight Night 3, presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets can be purchased now at CESFights.com.
"It’s been a long year, but the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here," said Fontanez. "I’m ready to dominate and put on a show. I want to get back to my fundamentals and show why I’m on that level."
The return comes more than a year after Fontanez battled Esneiker Correa to an eight-round draw in September 2025. Seven months earlier, the southpaw scored the biggest victory of his career, stopping Ray Oliveira Jr. in the sixth round in February 2025.
The Correa fight provided a different kind of milestone. Faced with a late opponent change and a nasty cut during the contest, Fontanez discovered both the depth of his fighting spirit and the importance of sticking to his strengths. "I started off well. I was boxing great," recalled Fontanez. "Then, once I got cut, I thought, ‘I’ve got to knock him out.’ Next thing you know, I’m fighting his fight. That’s something you can only learn through experience."
Fontanez fought through the adversity to preserve his undefeated record, but left knowing that his next performance would require a more disciplined approach. "My heart got tested," said Fontanez. "Everybody knows me as the smiling pretty boy, but they saw that when it comes down to it, I’m willing to bang it out. I’m not afraid to go out on my shield."
Fontanez hoped to put those lessons into practice in March. Instead, a shoulder injury forced him to put his comeback on hold and confront the uncertainty of life away from the ring. "I ended up doing DoorDash and Uber Eats in a sling, just trying to make ends meet while still running in the mornings and training with one arm," said Fontanez. "People don’t know that part. It was humbling. There were times I was sitting in my car almost in tears, thinking, ‘What am I doing? I was supposed to fight in a main event.’"
Rather than allow the setback to demoralize him, Fontanez focused on what he could control. He logged miles on the road, trained around his limitations and began firefighter school with support from sponsor FireMed. He also assembled a new training team, working with lead trainer Gabe Galindo and adding Marc Gargaro at Nonantum Boxing in Newton, Massachusetts. With work, school and training competing for his time, preparation has sometimes meant late-night gym sessions followed by a 4am wake-up call. "You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do," said a resolute Fontanez. "It gives me a mental edge. I might be cranky, but it’s worth it."
Now comes the opportunity to show what that persistence has produced. Standing in his way is Raymond, a 36 year-old Rhode Island veteran whose record tells only part of his story. Raymond has tested a number of New England prospects. His experience and awkward style make him an opponent Fontanez refuses to overlook. "People might judge him by his record, but look at everybody he’s fought. The guy’s a dog," said Fontanez. "This is boxing. One punch changes everything. On any given night, it can be anybody’s night. I have to beat the guy in front of me before I look for bigger fish."
For his first appearance at Encore Boston Harbor, Fontanez intends to pair the toughness he displayed against Correa with the boxing skills that carried him through his first 12 victories. "I want to showcase my skills. I want to fight with my smarts instead of letting my heart take over," said Fontanez. "I’ve already shown that I have heart and that I can fight through adversity. Now it has to be a dominant performance. That’s what I’m expecting from myself."
A victory would put Fontanez in position to pursue the busy 2027 he envisions: four or five fights against increasingly demanding opposition, capping the year with a regional title. For now, however, his focus remains on Raymond and the supporters who have waited more than a year to see him back in action. "Thank you to everyone who shows up and buys a ticket," said Fontanez. "I know it’s not cheap. Life is hard right now, and every dollar you spend supporting me means a lot. I’m grateful, and I can’t thank you enough."
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New Hampshire's Fontanez working his way back from adversity
Michael "The Blessed Southpaw" Fontanez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) spent much of the past year fighting battles that had nothing to do with the opponent across the ring. An injury derailed his plans to headline a show in March. Without a fight on the horizon, financial pressures had him scrambling to make ends meet. Through it all, the unbeaten Nashua, New Hampshire middleweight kept training, determined to get back the momentum he had worked so hard to build. On Saturday, November 7th, Fontanez finally gets that opportunity when he faces Alfred Raymond (6-17-4) at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts. The matchup is part of Boston Harbor Fight Night 3, presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets can be purchased now at CESFights.com.
"It’s been a long year, but the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here," said Fontanez. "I’m ready to dominate and put on a show. I want to get back to my fundamentals and show why I’m on that level."
The return comes more than a year after Fontanez battled Esneiker Correa to an eight-round draw in September 2025. Seven months earlier, the southpaw scored the biggest victory of his career, stopping Ray Oliveira Jr. in the sixth round in February 2025.
The Correa fight provided a different kind of milestone. Faced with a late opponent change and a nasty cut during the contest, Fontanez discovered both the depth of his fighting spirit and the importance of sticking to his strengths. "I started off well. I was boxing great," recalled Fontanez. "Then, once I got cut, I thought, ‘I’ve got to knock him out.’ Next thing you know, I’m fighting his fight. That’s something you can only learn through experience."
Fontanez fought through the adversity to preserve his undefeated record, but left knowing that his next performance would require a more disciplined approach. "My heart got tested," said Fontanez. "Everybody knows me as the smiling pretty boy, but they saw that when it comes down to it, I’m willing to bang it out. I’m not afraid to go out on my shield."
Fontanez hoped to put those lessons into practice in March. Instead, a shoulder injury forced him to put his comeback on hold and confront the uncertainty of life away from the ring. "I ended up doing DoorDash and Uber Eats in a sling, just trying to make ends meet while still running in the mornings and training with one arm," said Fontanez. "People don’t know that part. It was humbling. There were times I was sitting in my car almost in tears, thinking, ‘What am I doing? I was supposed to fight in a main event.’"
Rather than allow the setback to demoralize him, Fontanez focused on what he could control. He logged miles on the road, trained around his limitations and began firefighter school with support from sponsor FireMed. He also assembled a new training team, working with lead trainer Gabe Galindo and adding Marc Gargaro at Nonantum Boxing in Newton, Massachusetts. With work, school and training competing for his time, preparation has sometimes meant late-night gym sessions followed by a 4am wake-up call. "You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do," said a resolute Fontanez. "It gives me a mental edge. I might be cranky, but it’s worth it."
Now comes the opportunity to show what that persistence has produced. Standing in his way is Raymond, a 36 year-old Rhode Island veteran whose record tells only part of his story. Raymond has tested a number of New England prospects. His experience and awkward style make him an opponent Fontanez refuses to overlook. "People might judge him by his record, but look at everybody he’s fought. The guy’s a dog," said Fontanez. "This is boxing. One punch changes everything. On any given night, it can be anybody’s night. I have to beat the guy in front of me before I look for bigger fish."
For his first appearance at Encore Boston Harbor, Fontanez intends to pair the toughness he displayed against Correa with the boxing skills that carried him through his first 12 victories. "I want to showcase my skills. I want to fight with my smarts instead of letting my heart take over," said Fontanez. "I’ve already shown that I have heart and that I can fight through adversity. Now it has to be a dominant performance. That’s what I’m expecting from myself."
A victory would put Fontanez in position to pursue the busy 2027 he envisions: four or five fights against increasingly demanding opposition, capping the year with a regional title. For now, however, his focus remains on Raymond and the supporters who have waited more than a year to see him back in action. "Thank you to everyone who shows up and buys a ticket," said Fontanez. "I know it’s not cheap. Life is hard right now, and every dollar you spend supporting me means a lot. I’m grateful, and I can’t thank you enough."
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Ortega wins interim belt via home-country majority decision |
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Eveling Ortega W10 Alma Meraz. ... The Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua, Nicaragua saw Eveling “La Colocha” Ortega (14-5) reach the pinnacle of her career with a majority decision victory over Mexico’s Alma “La Leona” Meraz. The win brought Ortega the WBA interim light flyweight title. (Estefany Alegria Osorio holds the full WBA 108-pound championship]. The judges’ scorecards after ten rounds reflected the competitive nature of the bout. Two officials scored it 97-93 in favor of the hometown fighter, while the third judge had it even at 95-95, sealing Ortega’s victory to the delight of the local crowd. Meraz (12-5-2) looked to impose her aggressive Mexican-style pressure, cutting off the ring and targeting the body with tight hooks. Ortega, however, responded with a more tactical approach. She relied on superior footwork and mobility, countered with quick two- and three-punch combinations to the head, and used her left jab to escape dangerous exchanges whenever the visiting fighter attempted to trap her against the ropes. Down the stretch, fueled by the support of the crowd, Ortega picked up the pace in the center of the ring and traded punches at close quarters, securing the crucial rounds that ultimately swung the scorecards in her favor.
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Ortega wins interim belt via home-country majority decision
Eveling Ortega W10 Alma Meraz. ... The Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua, Nicaragua saw Eveling “La Colocha” Ortega (14-5) reach the pinnacle of her career with a majority decision victory over Mexico’s Alma “La Leona” Meraz. The win brought Ortega the WBA interim light flyweight title. (Estefany Alegria Osorio holds the full WBA 108-pound championship]. The judges’ scorecards after ten rounds reflected the competitive nature of the bout. Two officials scored it 97-93 in favor of the hometown fighter, while the third judge had it even at 95-95, sealing Ortega’s victory to the delight of the local crowd. Meraz (12-5-2) looked to impose her aggressive Mexican-style pressure, cutting off the ring and targeting the body with tight hooks. Ortega, however, responded with a more tactical approach. She relied on superior footwork and mobility, countered with quick two- and three-punch combinations to the head, and used her left jab to escape dangerous exchanges whenever the visiting fighter attempted to trap her against the ropes. Down the stretch, fueled by the support of the crowd, Ortega picked up the pace in the center of the ring and traded punches at close quarters, securing the crucial rounds that ultimately swung the scorecards in her favor.
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