WBC takes a stand against the Iranian government |
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The WBC has emphatically joined the international sporting community, including prominent Olympic athletes and medalists, in condemning the death sentence imposed on the Iranian boxing champion Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. Following a letter signed by more than 20 Olympic medalists, including legends like Martina Navratilova and Sharron Davies, the WBC expresses its deep concern over the use of capital punishment in Iran against athletes who have spoken out against that country's government. Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar, president of the WBC, stated: “Boxing is a discipline that inspires courage, respect, and the pursuit of self-improvement, not a reason for political punishment. The execution of a boxer, of a champion, for expressing his ideas is a direct attack on the fundamental values of sport and human dignity. From the WBC, we call on the Iranian authorities to reconsider and annul the death sentence against Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.”
Case Details
Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, 30, was arrested after participating in nationwide protests in 2019. He has remained in prison for five years, where he has reportedly been subjected to torture and solitary confinement. His trial has been described as “grossly unfair” by human rights organizations. This is not an isolated case, as seen in the recent execution of wrestling champion Navid Afkari in 2020.
The WBC makes an urgent appeal to the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, and all international sports federations and governments worldwide to exert their influence and act immediately to save the boxer’s life.
Help stop Mohammad’s execution: sign the petition at: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/stop_iran_execution_loc/
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WBC takes a stand against the Iranian government
The WBC has emphatically joined the international sporting community, including prominent Olympic athletes and medalists, in condemning the death sentence imposed on the Iranian boxing champion Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. Following a letter signed by more than 20 Olympic medalists, including legends like Martina Navratilova and Sharron Davies, the WBC expresses its deep concern over the use of capital punishment in Iran against athletes who have spoken out against that country's government. Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar, president of the WBC, stated: “Boxing is a discipline that inspires courage, respect, and the pursuit of self-improvement, not a reason for political punishment. The execution of a boxer, of a champion, for expressing his ideas is a direct attack on the fundamental values of sport and human dignity. From the WBC, we call on the Iranian authorities to reconsider and annul the death sentence against Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.”
Case Details
Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, 30, was arrested after participating in nationwide protests in 2019. He has remained in prison for five years, where he has reportedly been subjected to torture and solitary confinement. His trial has been described as “grossly unfair” by human rights organizations. This is not an isolated case, as seen in the recent execution of wrestling champion Navid Afkari in 2020.
The WBC makes an urgent appeal to the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, and all international sports federations and governments worldwide to exert their influence and act immediately to save the boxer’s life.
Help stop Mohammad’s execution: sign the petition at: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/stop_iran_execution_loc/
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Fabian Diaz headlines Rio Grande boxing show |
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GT Promotions is set to bring an exciting evening of professional boxing to Rio Grande Valley area of southern Texas. Seven fights in all are scheduled to take place. The cheif support will see Oscar Robledo (1-4-1) of Matamoras, Mexico against Nelson "Hot Hands" Hampton (11-9) from nearby Donna, Texas. That bout will be a four rounder in the junior welterweight division. The main event will be an all-Texas affair, pitting Juan Mata Jr. (3-3-1) of Laredo against Fabian "The Unknown Warrior" Diaz (9-0-1) of Edinburg against each other over six lightweight heats. Tickets are available by calling (956) 252-8000 or (956) 784-2638. The action kicks off at 7PM this Saturday November 15th at the Edinburg Activity Complex in Edinburg, Texas. Boxingtalk.com writer Christian Schmidt will be the ring announcer.
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Fabian Diaz headlines Rio Grande boxing show
GT Promotions is set to bring an exciting evening of professional boxing to Rio Grande Valley area of southern Texas. Seven fights in all are scheduled to take place. The cheif support will see Oscar Robledo (1-4-1) of Matamoras, Mexico against Nelson "Hot Hands" Hampton (11-9) from nearby Donna, Texas. That bout will be a four rounder in the junior welterweight division. The main event will be an all-Texas affair, pitting Juan Mata Jr. (3-3-1) of Laredo against Fabian "The Unknown Warrior" Diaz (9-0-1) of Edinburg against each other over six lightweight heats. Tickets are available by calling (956) 252-8000 or (956) 784-2638. The action kicks off at 7PM this Saturday November 15th at the Edinburg Activity Complex in Edinburg, Texas. Boxingtalk.com writer Christian Schmidt will be the ring announcer.
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Boxingtalk salutes Robert Garcia's sportsmanship |
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Boxingtalk salutes A-list trainer and ex-champ Robert Garcia for the sportsmanship he showed in Texas on Saturday. Garcia trains Vergil Ortiz, Jr., the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. Ortiz was defending his title against Erickson Lubin, who has earned his warrior stripes many times over. Against Ortiz, however, it quickly became apparent that Lubin's punch resistance is completely diminished and in round two, Ortiz had Lubin out on his feet when the referee stopped the fight. Lubin was about to topple over with his next step, but Garcia rushed in with a stool and saved Lubin the indignity of a trip to the canvas. and As pointed out by ex-champ Yordenis Ugas, it was "an incredibly kind gesture from one of the best trainers in the sport. It [Ortiz's punch combination] finished the fight, and instead of celebrating with his boxer, [Garcia] went to help Hammer and make sure he was okay, out of danger. Respect." Boxingtalk salutes Robert Garcia for his sportsmanship and concern for an opposing boxer
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Boxingtalk salutes Robert Garcia's sportsmanship
Boxingtalk salutes A-list trainer and ex-champ Robert Garcia for the sportsmanship he showed in Texas on Saturday. Garcia trains Vergil Ortiz, Jr., the WBC interim champion at 154 pounds. Ortiz was defending his title against Erickson Lubin, who has earned his warrior stripes many times over. Against Ortiz, however, it quickly became apparent that Lubin's punch resistance is completely diminished and in round two, Ortiz had Lubin out on his feet when the referee stopped the fight. Lubin was about to topple over with his next step, but Garcia rushed in with a stool and saved Lubin the indignity of a trip to the canvas. and As pointed out by ex-champ Yordenis Ugas, it was "an incredibly kind gesture from one of the best trainers in the sport. It [Ortiz's punch combination] finished the fight, and instead of celebrating with his boxer, [Garcia] went to help Hammer and make sure he was okay, out of danger. Respect." Boxingtalk salutes Robert Garcia for his sportsmanship and concern for an opposing boxer
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Welcome to Eubank vs. Benn II fight week |
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Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn meet again in a highly anticipated rematch this weekend, with the pair set to run it back one more time live on DAZN pay-per-view. The middleweight fight will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the same location of the pair's first bout. Eubank scored a unanimous decision victory against his rival as their fathers Chris Sr. and Nigel came together for the latest clash of a decades-long story for British boxing. On Saturday, they will dance once more, with Eubank Jr. seeking to keep the upper hand and Benn seeking revenge as he aims to break back from a first career loss.
This time around, the fighters are aware of what stands in front of them after pushing each other to the limit in a thrilling contest that was eventually won by Eubank Jr on the scorecards. Despite his best efforts, Benn faded down the stretch and his focus for the sequel will be on pacing himself and not giving too much of himself in the fight’s first half. If he can maintain a higher workrate in the latter stages then he has a chance to level the series, but Eubank Jr is no stranger to going full throttle over the full distance, and his industry in high-profile contests is one of his greatest assets.
UNDERCARD
Jack Catterall vs Ekow Essuman, welterweights;
Adam Azim vs Kurt Scoby, junior welterweights;
Richard Riakporhe vs Tommy Welch, heavyweights;
Sam Gilley vs Ishmael Davis, for the British and Commonwealth junior middleweight titles and
Mikie Tallon vs Fezan Shahid, flyweights.
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Welcome to Eubank vs. Benn II fight week
Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn meet again in a highly anticipated rematch this weekend, with the pair set to run it back one more time live on DAZN pay-per-view. The middleweight fight will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the same location of the pair's first bout. Eubank scored a unanimous decision victory against his rival as their fathers Chris Sr. and Nigel came together for the latest clash of a decades-long story for British boxing. On Saturday, they will dance once more, with Eubank Jr. seeking to keep the upper hand and Benn seeking revenge as he aims to break back from a first career loss.
This time around, the fighters are aware of what stands in front of them after pushing each other to the limit in a thrilling contest that was eventually won by Eubank Jr on the scorecards. Despite his best efforts, Benn faded down the stretch and his focus for the sequel will be on pacing himself and not giving too much of himself in the fight’s first half. If he can maintain a higher workrate in the latter stages then he has a chance to level the series, but Eubank Jr is no stranger to going full throttle over the full distance, and his industry in high-profile contests is one of his greatest assets.
UNDERCARD
Jack Catterall vs Ekow Essuman, welterweights;
Adam Azim vs Kurt Scoby, junior welterweights;
Richard Riakporhe vs Tommy Welch, heavyweights;
Sam Gilley vs Ishmael Davis, for the British and Commonwealth junior middleweight titles and
Mikie Tallon vs Fezan Shahid, flyweights.
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BKFC action comes to California this weekend |
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It’s BKFC Fight Week in California. On Saturday, bare knuckle fighting returns to The Golden State with BKFC 84 at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, live worldwide on DAZN. Two of the most dangerous men in BKFC will throw down in the main event as Josh “D-Day” Dyer defends his BKFC light heavyweight title for the first time against former two-division BKFCchampion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt. This is a rematch; Hunt and Dyer first met in 2021, with Hunt taking home the win by fifth-round TKO. Dyer is unbeaten since then, most recently striking gold against Mike “The Marine” Richman, and is hungry for his long-awaited shot at redemption. Hunt's resume includes 11 victories over a who’s who of the BKFC’s best fighters.
Saturday’s return to Cali also features the hotly anticipated BKFC premiere of former mixed martial artist Aspen Ladd, as well as the return of fan-favorite BKFC fighters Caleb “Panda” Avila, Shyanna Bintliff, Mark Culp, David “El Perro Necio” Diaz, Paulo “Ze Doido” Games, Dan “MAXBET” Godoy, Chase Gormley, Evgenii “The Sailor” Kurdanov, Justyn Martinez, Ryan “Ryu” Petersen, David Simpson, Drew “Wild Boy” Stuve, Rodney Thomas, Cody Vidal, Zeb “CWB” Vincent and Iman “Monstero” Williams.
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BKFC action comes to California this weekend
It’s BKFC Fight Week in California. On Saturday, bare knuckle fighting returns to The Golden State with BKFC 84 at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, live worldwide on DAZN. Two of the most dangerous men in BKFC will throw down in the main event as Josh “D-Day” Dyer defends his BKFC light heavyweight title for the first time against former two-division BKFCchampion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt. This is a rematch; Hunt and Dyer first met in 2021, with Hunt taking home the win by fifth-round TKO. Dyer is unbeaten since then, most recently striking gold against Mike “The Marine” Richman, and is hungry for his long-awaited shot at redemption. Hunt's resume includes 11 victories over a who’s who of the BKFC’s best fighters.
Saturday’s return to Cali also features the hotly anticipated BKFC premiere of former mixed martial artist Aspen Ladd, as well as the return of fan-favorite BKFC fighters Caleb “Panda” Avila, Shyanna Bintliff, Mark Culp, David “El Perro Necio” Diaz, Paulo “Ze Doido” Games, Dan “MAXBET” Godoy, Chase Gormley, Evgenii “The Sailor” Kurdanov, Justyn Martinez, Ryan “Ryu” Petersen, David Simpson, Drew “Wild Boy” Stuve, Rodney Thomas, Cody Vidal, Zeb “CWB” Vincent and Iman “Monstero” Williams.
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Interim title bout ends in technical draw |
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Gabriela Sánchez TD2 Tamara De Marco... Mexico’s Gabriela “La Bonita” Sánchez was unable to fulfill her dream of capturing the WBC interim flyweight title, after a technical draw against Argentina’s Tamara “Rebelde” De Marco on Saturday night at the GNP Auditorium in Puebla, Mexico. The bout had barely begun when an accidental clash of heads caused a deep cut over De Marco’s left eyebrow, forcing the referee to stop the fight in the second round. Since the minimum of four rounds required for scoring had not been completed, the scorecards were not opened and the result was ruled a technical draw, leaving the interim belt vacant. Sánchez, one of Puebla’s standout boxing figures, expressed frustration after the decision. “It leaves a bad taste. I wanted to keep fighting. I trained hard, and this doesn’t reflect my work,” she said after the fight.
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Interim title bout ends in technical draw
Gabriela Sánchez TD2 Tamara De Marco... Mexico’s Gabriela “La Bonita” Sánchez was unable to fulfill her dream of capturing the WBC interim flyweight title, after a technical draw against Argentina’s Tamara “Rebelde” De Marco on Saturday night at the GNP Auditorium in Puebla, Mexico. The bout had barely begun when an accidental clash of heads caused a deep cut over De Marco’s left eyebrow, forcing the referee to stop the fight in the second round. Since the minimum of four rounds required for scoring had not been completed, the scorecards were not opened and the result was ruled a technical draw, leaving the interim belt vacant. Sánchez, one of Puebla’s standout boxing figures, expressed frustration after the decision. “It leaves a bad taste. I wanted to keep fighting. I trained hard, and this doesn’t reflect my work,” she said after the fight.
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Sosulin KOs Fortea in Russia |
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Pavel Sosulin KO2 Jorge Fortea ... Russian junior middleweight Pavel Sosulin produced a winning performance to blow Jorge Fortea away inside two rounds on an IBA pro show in Samara, Russia. Sosulin wasted little time as he ripped through the defenses of Fortea (25-5-1) with ease, folding the Spaniard in half after a perfectly-placed right hand to the solar plexus in the second round. Sosulin (15-0 including IBA pro fights) flew out of the blocks in typically aggressive fashion, targeting the mid-section of Fortea with a series of spiteful hooks that had the Valencia man backing up in a one-sided opener. With the writing seemingly on the wall at the start of round two, Sosulin closed the show with a body-shot finish that brought the crowd to their feet.
Following the victory, Sosulin wasted little time in calling for a shot at WBA champion. “Abass Baraou: you’re next!” Sosulin beamed. On his stunning stoppage victory, Sosulin said: “We didn’t go out looking for the knockout: it just happened. My opponent was very sharp and very mobile, but I was able to land a punch that we were preparing and we got the job done.”
UNDERCARD
In the chief support, light heavyweight Ali Izmailov returned to the ring with a hard-fought unanimous decision win over rough-and-ready Iranian foe Meysam Gheshlaghi. In a back-and-forth bout that was high on drama and full of action, Izmailov’s composure and sharp punch-picking saw him awarded the unanimous decision victory via scores of 97-93 (twice) and 96-94. Following eight months of inactivity, Izmailov (14-0, 9 KOs) would settle into the fight as the rounds progressed, but the 32-year old was forced to work hard for victory by Gheshlaghi (5-3-1, 4 KOs), who continued to march forward in a bid to upset the heavily-favored home fighter.
Elsewhere on the card, junior welterweight Pavel Fedorov returned from his first career defeat with a comprehensive six-round decision win over Adilet Kurmetov in their six round IBA Pro contest. Fedorov (9-1 including IBA) used his superior boxing skill to outwork Kazakhstan’s Kurmetov (5-2 including IBA Pro) from the outside, booking a comfortable win on the judges scorecards and banishing memories of his stoppage loss to Georgii Chelokhsaev in March.
In arguably the standout fight of the evening, Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Sobirov triumphed in a super middleweight upset win over Egdard Moskvichev in their highly-entertaining ten round slugfest. After scoring a thudding knockdown in the opening round, courtesy of a counter left-hook, Sobirov (17-5, 10 KOs) would remain a step ahead of Moskvichev for the majority of the fight, surviving a late surge from the Russian to claim a deserved unanimous decision victory on the judges scorecards.
Heavyweight pair Basir Abakarov and Denis Gubarev produced an entertaining IBA Pro contest, with both men landing a series of heavy blows in a competitive six round showcase. In the end, it would be the cleaner shots of Abakarov (12-0 including IBA Pro) that would see him get the nod on the cards, much to the disappointment of fellow Russian opponent Gubarev (4-3 including IBA Pro).
Russian junior middleweight Igor Sviridchenkov sparkled over six with a dominant display against Congolese challenger Mardochee Kuvesa. Utilizing his superior skill-set and mastery of distance, Sviridchenkov (2-0, 1 KO) controlled proceedings throughout, stinging Kuvesa (17-9-1, 2 KOs) several times en route to a comfortable unanimous decision victory.
As previously reported, Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Davlat Boltaev continued his blistering start to life in the professional ranks as he made quick work of former world title challenger Dilan Prašović, dropping his man twice en route to a highlight reel, first round knockout victory. Boltaev (5-0, 3 KOs) is considered by many to be one of the hottest prospects in world boxing, and the Tajik star lived up to his lofty billing in a sharp-shooting display that saw Prašović (21-8, 18 KOs) simply overwhelmed from the opening bell.
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Sosulin KOs Fortea in Russia
Pavel Sosulin KO2 Jorge Fortea ... Russian junior middleweight Pavel Sosulin produced a winning performance to blow Jorge Fortea away inside two rounds on an IBA pro show in Samara, Russia. Sosulin wasted little time as he ripped through the defenses of Fortea (25-5-1) with ease, folding the Spaniard in half after a perfectly-placed right hand to the solar plexus in the second round. Sosulin (15-0 including IBA pro fights) flew out of the blocks in typically aggressive fashion, targeting the mid-section of Fortea with a series of spiteful hooks that had the Valencia man backing up in a one-sided opener. With the writing seemingly on the wall at the start of round two, Sosulin closed the show with a body-shot finish that brought the crowd to their feet.
Following the victory, Sosulin wasted little time in calling for a shot at WBA champion. “Abass Baraou: you’re next!” Sosulin beamed. On his stunning stoppage victory, Sosulin said: “We didn’t go out looking for the knockout: it just happened. My opponent was very sharp and very mobile, but I was able to land a punch that we were preparing and we got the job done.”
UNDERCARD
In the chief support, light heavyweight Ali Izmailov returned to the ring with a hard-fought unanimous decision win over rough-and-ready Iranian foe Meysam Gheshlaghi. In a back-and-forth bout that was high on drama and full of action, Izmailov’s composure and sharp punch-picking saw him awarded the unanimous decision victory via scores of 97-93 (twice) and 96-94. Following eight months of inactivity, Izmailov (14-0, 9 KOs) would settle into the fight as the rounds progressed, but the 32-year old was forced to work hard for victory by Gheshlaghi (5-3-1, 4 KOs), who continued to march forward in a bid to upset the heavily-favored home fighter.
Elsewhere on the card, junior welterweight Pavel Fedorov returned from his first career defeat with a comprehensive six-round decision win over Adilet Kurmetov in their six round IBA Pro contest. Fedorov (9-1 including IBA) used his superior boxing skill to outwork Kazakhstan’s Kurmetov (5-2 including IBA Pro) from the outside, booking a comfortable win on the judges scorecards and banishing memories of his stoppage loss to Georgii Chelokhsaev in March.
In arguably the standout fight of the evening, Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Sobirov triumphed in a super middleweight upset win over Egdard Moskvichev in their highly-entertaining ten round slugfest. After scoring a thudding knockdown in the opening round, courtesy of a counter left-hook, Sobirov (17-5, 10 KOs) would remain a step ahead of Moskvichev for the majority of the fight, surviving a late surge from the Russian to claim a deserved unanimous decision victory on the judges scorecards.
Heavyweight pair Basir Abakarov and Denis Gubarev produced an entertaining IBA Pro contest, with both men landing a series of heavy blows in a competitive six round showcase. In the end, it would be the cleaner shots of Abakarov (12-0 including IBA Pro) that would see him get the nod on the cards, much to the disappointment of fellow Russian opponent Gubarev (4-3 including IBA Pro).
Russian junior middleweight Igor Sviridchenkov sparkled over six with a dominant display against Congolese challenger Mardochee Kuvesa. Utilizing his superior skill-set and mastery of distance, Sviridchenkov (2-0, 1 KO) controlled proceedings throughout, stinging Kuvesa (17-9-1, 2 KOs) several times en route to a comfortable unanimous decision victory.
As previously reported, Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Davlat Boltaev continued his blistering start to life in the professional ranks as he made quick work of former world title challenger Dilan Prašović, dropping his man twice en route to a highlight reel, first round knockout victory. Boltaev (5-0, 3 KOs) is considered by many to be one of the hottest prospects in world boxing, and the Tajik star lived up to his lofty billing in a sharp-shooting display that saw Prašović (21-8, 18 KOs) simply overwhelmed from the opening bell.
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Jermaine Franklin to face the avoided Moses Itauma |
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Frank Warren is marking his 45th year as a licensed British boxing promoter by bringing the highly acclaimed Magnificent 7 series back to Manchester. The show ill be headlined by a heavyweight showdown between the avoided Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin (pictured) at the Co-op Live Arena on Saturday, January 24th, live and exclusive on DAZN, with ticket information for the show to be released shortly. World champion-in-waiting Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) is just 20 years old and will have his 14th professional fight against the accomplished American, following on Itauma's first-round destruction of Dillian Whyte last time out. Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs), age 32, from Michigan, comes into the fight off the back of three straight wins with his only career setbacks coming in the UK against Whyte and Anthony Joshua, both by decision. Franklin's last fight came in September, a win over former Olympic medal winner Ivcan Dychko.
UNDERCARD
The chief support is a domestic light heavyweight cracker, which sees Willy Hutchinson (19-2, 14 KOs) and Ezra Taylor (13-0, 9 KOs) go into battle. Hutchinson will come into the fight fresh from a big winagainst Mark Jeffers in October, while Taylor saw off Steed Woodall in his last outing, with both fighters inflicting stoppage defeats on their opponents.
There is also an all-British featherweight collision for the fans with British and Commonwealth champion Zak Miller (17-1, 3) going up against Liam Davies (17-1, 8). Telford Davies was previously the IBO world, British and European champion at super bantamweight.
Middleweight Shakiel Thompson (15-0, 11) will face former British champion Brad Pauls (20-2-1, 11). Thompson from Sheffield, a recent Queensberry recruit, won the belt with a defeat of River Wilson-Bent in late 2024.
Also, at 160 pounds, Stoke hero Nathan Heaney (19-1-1, 6) is back in the ring, no doubt supported by his army of fans from the Potteries, taking on the Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton (16-2-2, 2). Then, at lightweight, Alex Murphy (14-2) goes up against the English champion Josh Holmes (17-0, 6) while another lightweight clash sees Aqib Fiaz (14-1, 2) take on Jordan Flynn (12-1-1, 2).
“We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 bounty for the fans in our first UK show of 2026;” said promoter Frank Warren, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.” It is a statement of intent for the New Year and a sign of things to come.
“We are delighted with what we have put together across 2025 in tandem with our new broadcast partner DAZN, but we have the scope to go bigger and further in 2026, which we will do and make it a landmark year for the sport.
“This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion and I am very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses, topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermain Franklin."
Michael Ridout, EVP of Combat Sports & New Business at DAZN, paid tribute to Frank Warren’s remarkable impact on the sport and said: "We are proud to be partnering with Frank Warren and Queensberry to bring the Magnificent 7 back in such spectacular fashion. Frank’s 45 years as a promoter is an incredible milestone, and this event is a fitting tribute to his tremendous impact on the sport.
“The card is stacked with world-class talent and pulsating matchups, perfectly setting the tone for what promises to be a landmark year for British boxing on DAZN. Fans can look forward to a huge night of boxing at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, live and exclusive on DAZN, as we kick 2026 off with a bang."
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Jermaine Franklin to face the avoided Moses Itauma
Frank Warren is marking his 45th year as a licensed British boxing promoter by bringing the highly acclaimed Magnificent 7 series back to Manchester. The show ill be headlined by a heavyweight showdown between the avoided Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin (pictured) at the Co-op Live Arena on Saturday, January 24th, live and exclusive on DAZN, with ticket information for the show to be released shortly. World champion-in-waiting Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) is just 20 years old and will have his 14th professional fight against the accomplished American, following on Itauma's first-round destruction of Dillian Whyte last time out. Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs), age 32, from Michigan, comes into the fight off the back of three straight wins with his only career setbacks coming in the UK against Whyte and Anthony Joshua, both by decision. Franklin's last fight came in September, a win over former Olympic medal winner Ivcan Dychko.
UNDERCARD
The chief support is a domestic light heavyweight cracker, which sees Willy Hutchinson (19-2, 14 KOs) and Ezra Taylor (13-0, 9 KOs) go into battle. Hutchinson will come into the fight fresh from a big winagainst Mark Jeffers in October, while Taylor saw off Steed Woodall in his last outing, with both fighters inflicting stoppage defeats on their opponents.
There is also an all-British featherweight collision for the fans with British and Commonwealth champion Zak Miller (17-1, 3) going up against Liam Davies (17-1, 8). Telford Davies was previously the IBO world, British and European champion at super bantamweight.
Middleweight Shakiel Thompson (15-0, 11) will face former British champion Brad Pauls (20-2-1, 11). Thompson from Sheffield, a recent Queensberry recruit, won the belt with a defeat of River Wilson-Bent in late 2024.
Also, at 160 pounds, Stoke hero Nathan Heaney (19-1-1, 6) is back in the ring, no doubt supported by his army of fans from the Potteries, taking on the Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton (16-2-2, 2). Then, at lightweight, Alex Murphy (14-2) goes up against the English champion Josh Holmes (17-0, 6) while another lightweight clash sees Aqib Fiaz (14-1, 2) take on Jordan Flynn (12-1-1, 2).
“We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 bounty for the fans in our first UK show of 2026;” said promoter Frank Warren, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.” It is a statement of intent for the New Year and a sign of things to come.
“We are delighted with what we have put together across 2025 in tandem with our new broadcast partner DAZN, but we have the scope to go bigger and further in 2026, which we will do and make it a landmark year for the sport.
“This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion and I am very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses, topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermain Franklin."
Michael Ridout, EVP of Combat Sports & New Business at DAZN, paid tribute to Frank Warren’s remarkable impact on the sport and said: "We are proud to be partnering with Frank Warren and Queensberry to bring the Magnificent 7 back in such spectacular fashion. Frank’s 45 years as a promoter is an incredible milestone, and this event is a fitting tribute to his tremendous impact on the sport.
“The card is stacked with world-class talent and pulsating matchups, perfectly setting the tone for what promises to be a landmark year for British boxing on DAZN. Fans can look forward to a huge night of boxing at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, live and exclusive on DAZN, as we kick 2026 off with a bang."
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San Juan to host Zayas vs. Baraou unification in 2026 |
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WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas, boxing’s youngest male world champion, will kick off 2026 with a home soil event. The 23-year old Puerto Rican will face WBA king Abass Baraou in a title unification fight on Saturday, Jan. 31st at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. This will be only the second title unification bout to take place on Puerto Rican soil, following the 2010 light flyweight battle between Ivan Calderon and Giovani Segura. The Coliseo de Puerto Rico first hosted boxing with Miguel Cotto’s knockout over Kelson Pinto in 2004 and has since hosted world title events featuring Puerto Rican icons such as Calderon, Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, and Roman Martinez. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with ICON+, Move Concerts, and Noah Assad Presents, ticket on-sale information will be announced soon.
“From the moment Xander Zayas won his world title, it was clear that his first title defense had to take place in Puerto Rico,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “The fact that he’ll be facing a fellow champion in front of a packed arena in San Juan makes it that much more special. The Puerto Rican fans are passionate and loyal and deserve to see their champion return home. This is not a routine title defense. Abass Baraou is a determined champion, an experienced road warrior who will embrace the challenge of fighting on Xander’s home turf.”
Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) became a champion before his 23rd birthday. He made his way onto the world-level scene in August 2022 with a fifth-round stoppage of Mexican veteran Elias Espadas, then added another win that December by outpointing Alexis Salazar. He faced upset-minded Jorge Garcia in July at his home away from home in New York City. Zayas earned a one-sided decision just six weeks before turning 23 and less than six years after turning pro as a 17-year-old in Reno, Nevada.
“On January 31st, we'll fulfill another dream. This time, I'll be fighting on my island,” Zayas said. “I'm going to unify two world titles in front of my people at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. We're going to make history together. See you there!”
Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) spent his early childhood in his family’s native Togo before returning to Germany at age nine. A standout amateur, he won gold at the 2017 European Championships and bronze at that year’s World Championships, where he lost to two-time Olympic Gold medalist Roniel Iglesias. He turned pro in 2018 and has won eight since his lone defeat, a 2020 split decision loss to former world title challenger Jack Culcay. His breakout moment came in August when he upset Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez to capture the WBA interim title, scoring a knockdown in the closing seconds of the 12th round. He was elevated to full champion the following month after Terence Crawford vacated the title. Barou has won five consecutive fights outside of Germany, including a 2024 decision over Sam Eggington in England to capture the European title.
“Xander is a great talent, and I give him full credit for stepping up and accepting this fight. Not everyone would take that risk, especially at this stage, but that’s what makes this matchup special. He has his country behind him, and I respect that, because I know what it means to carry that responsibility into the ring,” Baraou said. “I’m preparing to go into Puerto Rico, bring some real heat, and show the world that I’m a true force in this division. I’m not coming just to show up. I’m coming to make a statement, leave with another belt, and maybe even earn a few new Puerto Rican fans on the way out. When it’s all said and done, the world will know who the top dog at 154 really is.”
The undercard will feature Puerto Rican second-generation hopeful Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (4-0, 2 KOs), the 19 year-old son of the aforementioned “Juanma.” He will see action in a six-round junior bantamweight tilt against an opponent to be named. Juanmita made his pro debut in February with a highlight-reel first-round knockout. He fought at home in April before returning on the undercard of Zayas’ world title triumph in July. Juanmita went the six-round distance for the first time in September, outpointing Luis Morales. His father notched five early-round knockouts at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, including a pair of world title defenses.
Juanmita said, "I am incredibly thankful to God for the chance to fight at home once again and to be able to showcase my talent in front of my people. On January 31, we will show the world that Puerto Rico has a great prospect coming straight from 'The Island of Enchantment' in 'Juanmita' López."
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San Juan to host Zayas vs. Baraou unification in 2026
WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas, boxing’s youngest male world champion, will kick off 2026 with a home soil event. The 23-year old Puerto Rican will face WBA king Abass Baraou in a title unification fight on Saturday, Jan. 31st at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. This will be only the second title unification bout to take place on Puerto Rican soil, following the 2010 light flyweight battle between Ivan Calderon and Giovani Segura. The Coliseo de Puerto Rico first hosted boxing with Miguel Cotto’s knockout over Kelson Pinto in 2004 and has since hosted world title events featuring Puerto Rican icons such as Calderon, Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, and Roman Martinez. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with ICON+, Move Concerts, and Noah Assad Presents, ticket on-sale information will be announced soon.
“From the moment Xander Zayas won his world title, it was clear that his first title defense had to take place in Puerto Rico,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “The fact that he’ll be facing a fellow champion in front of a packed arena in San Juan makes it that much more special. The Puerto Rican fans are passionate and loyal and deserve to see their champion return home. This is not a routine title defense. Abass Baraou is a determined champion, an experienced road warrior who will embrace the challenge of fighting on Xander’s home turf.”
Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) became a champion before his 23rd birthday. He made his way onto the world-level scene in August 2022 with a fifth-round stoppage of Mexican veteran Elias Espadas, then added another win that December by outpointing Alexis Salazar. He faced upset-minded Jorge Garcia in July at his home away from home in New York City. Zayas earned a one-sided decision just six weeks before turning 23 and less than six years after turning pro as a 17-year-old in Reno, Nevada.
“On January 31st, we'll fulfill another dream. This time, I'll be fighting on my island,” Zayas said. “I'm going to unify two world titles in front of my people at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. We're going to make history together. See you there!”
Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) spent his early childhood in his family’s native Togo before returning to Germany at age nine. A standout amateur, he won gold at the 2017 European Championships and bronze at that year’s World Championships, where he lost to two-time Olympic Gold medalist Roniel Iglesias. He turned pro in 2018 and has won eight since his lone defeat, a 2020 split decision loss to former world title challenger Jack Culcay. His breakout moment came in August when he upset Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez to capture the WBA interim title, scoring a knockdown in the closing seconds of the 12th round. He was elevated to full champion the following month after Terence Crawford vacated the title. Barou has won five consecutive fights outside of Germany, including a 2024 decision over Sam Eggington in England to capture the European title.
“Xander is a great talent, and I give him full credit for stepping up and accepting this fight. Not everyone would take that risk, especially at this stage, but that’s what makes this matchup special. He has his country behind him, and I respect that, because I know what it means to carry that responsibility into the ring,” Baraou said. “I’m preparing to go into Puerto Rico, bring some real heat, and show the world that I’m a true force in this division. I’m not coming just to show up. I’m coming to make a statement, leave with another belt, and maybe even earn a few new Puerto Rican fans on the way out. When it’s all said and done, the world will know who the top dog at 154 really is.”
The undercard will feature Puerto Rican second-generation hopeful Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (4-0, 2 KOs), the 19 year-old son of the aforementioned “Juanma.” He will see action in a six-round junior bantamweight tilt against an opponent to be named. Juanmita made his pro debut in February with a highlight-reel first-round knockout. He fought at home in April before returning on the undercard of Zayas’ world title triumph in July. Juanmita went the six-round distance for the first time in September, outpointing Luis Morales. His father notched five early-round knockouts at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, including a pair of world title defenses.
Juanmita said, "I am incredibly thankful to God for the chance to fight at home once again and to be able to showcase my talent in front of my people. On January 31, we will show the world that Puerto Rico has a great prospect coming straight from 'The Island of Enchantment' in 'Juanmita' López."
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Sweden's Safar gets big cruiserweight win in Texas |
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Robin Safar W10 Derrick Miller... Sweden's Robin Sirwan Safar earned a commanding unanimous decision victory over Derrick Miller on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The 32 year-old cruiserweight contender turned in a near-perfect performance, outboxing Miller from start to finish and leaving no doubt on the scorecards, which read 99–90 (twice) and 98–91. For Safar, who ended the career of ex-world light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev in 2024, this win came against an undefeated opponent with a solid résumé. With the victory, Safar improved his professional record to 19-0 with 13 knockouts. Miller, meanwhile, suffered the first defeat of his career and now stands at 18–1 with 10 KOs.
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Sweden's Safar gets big cruiserweight win in Texas
Robin Safar W10 Derrick Miller... Sweden's Robin Sirwan Safar earned a commanding unanimous decision victory over Derrick Miller on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The 32 year-old cruiserweight contender turned in a near-perfect performance, outboxing Miller from start to finish and leaving no doubt on the scorecards, which read 99–90 (twice) and 98–91. For Safar, who ended the career of ex-world light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev in 2024, this win came against an undefeated opponent with a solid résumé. With the victory, Safar improved his professional record to 19-0 with 13 knockouts. Miller, meanwhile, suffered the first defeat of his career and now stands at 18–1 with 10 KOs.
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Wiggins and Colon stalemate in PA |
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Tresean Wiggins D10 Lionell Omar Colón... In a bout defined by tactical exchanges and contrasting styles, Tresean “Trigger” Wiggins (17-5-4, 10 KOs) and Puerto Rico’s Lionell Omar Colón Santana fought to a majority draw in Wiggins' hometown, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The official scorecards for this ten-round welterweight contest were 95–95, 96–94 for Wiggins and 96–94 for Colón. Wiggins, age 35, came in looking to solidify his regional standing after a string of knockout wins. From the opening bell, he pressed forward, applying constant pressure and trying to impose his pace with body and head combinations. Colón (8-1-1 with 3 KOs) was more technical and mobile. He countered effectively, relying on precision and timing to blunt Wiggins’ aggression throughout key moments of the fight. It was a cerebral, evenly matched contest—part tactical chess, part slugfest. Wiggins landed the heavier blows, while Colón showcased slick movement and sharp distance control. The 96–94 score for the American rewarded his offensive initiative; the identical card for the Puerto Rican recognized his cleaner punching. Both fighters showed respect after the majority draw verdict, and a rematch could be next.
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Wiggins and Colon stalemate in PA
Tresean Wiggins D10 Lionell Omar Colón... In a bout defined by tactical exchanges and contrasting styles, Tresean “Trigger” Wiggins (17-5-4, 10 KOs) and Puerto Rico’s Lionell Omar Colón Santana fought to a majority draw in Wiggins' hometown, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The official scorecards for this ten-round welterweight contest were 95–95, 96–94 for Wiggins and 96–94 for Colón. Wiggins, age 35, came in looking to solidify his regional standing after a string of knockout wins. From the opening bell, he pressed forward, applying constant pressure and trying to impose his pace with body and head combinations. Colón (8-1-1 with 3 KOs) was more technical and mobile. He countered effectively, relying on precision and timing to blunt Wiggins’ aggression throughout key moments of the fight. It was a cerebral, evenly matched contest—part tactical chess, part slugfest. Wiggins landed the heavier blows, while Colón showcased slick movement and sharp distance control. The 96–94 score for the American rewarded his offensive initiative; the identical card for the Puerto Rican recognized his cleaner punching. Both fighters showed respect after the majority draw verdict, and a rematch could be next.
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Ortiz steamrolls Lubin to set up possible super fight |
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Vergil Ortiz TKO2 Erickson Lubin ... Vergil Ortiz destroyed Erickson Lubin via second-round technical knockout on Saturday. It's sad to say, but Lubin (27-3, 19 KOs), a noble warrior, was completely shot coming into the fight. He had no movement and no punch resistance, and fighting off the ropes against a killer like Ortiz is not going to work out well for anyone. The fight was held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) walked out of the ring still the WBC interim champion at junior middleweight. Punchstat numbers showed Ortiz outlanding Lubin 25 punches to 3. The most exciting part of the night was the post-fight confrontation between Ortiz and former welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis. Both men looked each other in the eye and said they wanted to fight each other next.
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Ortiz steamrolls Lubin to set up possible super fight
Vergil Ortiz TKO2 Erickson Lubin ... Vergil Ortiz destroyed Erickson Lubin via second-round technical knockout on Saturday. It's sad to say, but Lubin (27-3, 19 KOs), a noble warrior, was completely shot coming into the fight. He had no movement and no punch resistance, and fighting off the ropes against a killer like Ortiz is not going to work out well for anyone. The fight was held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) walked out of the ring still the WBC interim champion at junior middleweight. Punchstat numbers showed Ortiz outlanding Lubin 25 punches to 3. The most exciting part of the night was the post-fight confrontation between Ortiz and former welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis. Both men looked each other in the eye and said they wanted to fight each other next.
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Holly Holm to challenge for Stephanie Han's title |
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San Juan, Puerto Rico, will host a high-stakes showdown for the WBA lightweight title as reigning champion Stephanie Han faces the legendary Holly Holm (pictured) on January 3rd. The Roberto Clemente Coliseum will be the stage, with Han looking to make the second defense of her crown, while Holm aims to become a world champion once again—twelve years after her last boxing appearance. Han captured the WBA belt on February 12th, stopping Hannah Terlep in El Paso, Texas. She made her first title defense in August, traveling to Orlando to face Colombia’s Paulina Ángel. Despite suffering a first-round knockdown, Han showed grit and composure, rallying back to secure a unanimous decision victory.
Holm, a multi-division champion and one of boxing’s most decorated female fighters, began her pro career in 2007 and competed until 2013, when she transitioned to mixed martial arts. There, she etched her name in combat sports history by defeating Ronda Rousey in one of MMA’s most iconic upsets. This year, Holm returned to the boxing ring, defeating the previously unbeaten Yolanda Vegas on June 28th in Anaheim, proving that her timing and technique remain sharp. Now, she’s stepping up to face a young, undefeated champion in Han.Han enters the bout with a record of 11–0 with 3 KOs, while Holm brings her vast experience and a boxing résumé that includes 34 wins, 2 losses, 3 draws, and 9 knockouts.
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Holly Holm to challenge for Stephanie Han's title
San Juan, Puerto Rico, will host a high-stakes showdown for the WBA lightweight title as reigning champion Stephanie Han faces the legendary Holly Holm (pictured) on January 3rd. The Roberto Clemente Coliseum will be the stage, with Han looking to make the second defense of her crown, while Holm aims to become a world champion once again—twelve years after her last boxing appearance. Han captured the WBA belt on February 12th, stopping Hannah Terlep in El Paso, Texas. She made her first title defense in August, traveling to Orlando to face Colombia’s Paulina Ángel. Despite suffering a first-round knockdown, Han showed grit and composure, rallying back to secure a unanimous decision victory.
Holm, a multi-division champion and one of boxing’s most decorated female fighters, began her pro career in 2007 and competed until 2013, when she transitioned to mixed martial arts. There, she etched her name in combat sports history by defeating Ronda Rousey in one of MMA’s most iconic upsets. This year, Holm returned to the boxing ring, defeating the previously unbeaten Yolanda Vegas on June 28th in Anaheim, proving that her timing and technique remain sharp. Now, she’s stepping up to face a young, undefeated champion in Han.Han enters the bout with a record of 11–0 with 3 KOs, while Holm brings her vast experience and a boxing résumé that includes 34 wins, 2 losses, 3 draws, and 9 knockouts.
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Takami and Santiago agree to unify at 108 |
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A unification bout at 108 pounds has been announced for Tokyo. Japan’s Kyosuke Takami will put his WBA light flyweight crown up against Puerto Rico’s René Santiago WBO version on December 17th at the iconic Kokugikan Arena. The event, promoted by Teiken Promotions, will also feature a WBA bantamweight world title clash between Seiya Tsutsumi and Nonito Donaire. Takami, just 23 years old, captured the black-and-gold belt last July 30th in Yokohama by stopping Erick Rosa via tenth-round technical knockout. The 33 year-old Santiago is a surprise champion who stunned the boxing world earlier this year when he traveled to Japan and upset Shokichi Iwata on March 13th, also at Kokugikan. Despite entering as the underdog, Santiago dominated the fight from start to finish, dethroning the defending champion by wide decision. Even with the win, Santiago's pro record is junst 14-4. Takami remains undefeated at 10–0. The other two 108-pound champions are Carlos "Triple C" Canizalez and Thaningsak Simsri, who hold the WBC and IBF titles respectively.
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Takami and Santiago agree to unify at 108
A unification bout at 108 pounds has been announced for Tokyo. Japan’s Kyosuke Takami will put his WBA light flyweight crown up against Puerto Rico’s René Santiago WBO version on December 17th at the iconic Kokugikan Arena. The event, promoted by Teiken Promotions, will also feature a WBA bantamweight world title clash between Seiya Tsutsumi and Nonito Donaire. Takami, just 23 years old, captured the black-and-gold belt last July 30th in Yokohama by stopping Erick Rosa via tenth-round technical knockout. The 33 year-old Santiago is a surprise champion who stunned the boxing world earlier this year when he traveled to Japan and upset Shokichi Iwata on March 13th, also at Kokugikan. Despite entering as the underdog, Santiago dominated the fight from start to finish, dethroning the defending champion by wide decision. Even with the win, Santiago's pro record is junst 14-4. Takami remains undefeated at 10–0. The other two 108-pound champions are Carlos "Triple C" Canizalez and Thaningsak Simsri, who hold the WBC and IBF titles respectively.
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Tiger Johnson punishes Nicklaus Flaz |
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Delante Johnson TKO4 Nicklaus Flaz... In Lakeland, Florida, the ProBox main event resulted in a big win for 2021 Olympian Delante “Tiger” Johnson who knocked out Puerto Rico's Nicklaus Flaz in round four. Johnson (17-0 with 8 KOs) looks strong since moving up to the welterweight division, and he punished Flas pretty badly. Johnson scored two knockdowns. Flaz (15-3 with 10 KOs) beat the count both times, but on the second knockdown, he wobbled badly as he stepped forward, leaving the referee with no choice other than to halt the bout. With the welterweight division low on depth, Johnson has to be considered a contender right now.
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Tiger Johnson punishes Nicklaus Flaz
Delante Johnson TKO4 Nicklaus Flaz... In Lakeland, Florida, the ProBox main event resulted in a big win for 2021 Olympian Delante “Tiger” Johnson who knocked out Puerto Rico's Nicklaus Flaz in round four. Johnson (17-0 with 8 KOs) looks strong since moving up to the welterweight division, and he punished Flas pretty badly. Johnson scored two knockdowns. Flaz (15-3 with 10 KOs) beat the count both times, but on the second knockdown, he wobbled badly as he stepped forward, leaving the referee with no choice other than to halt the bout. With the welterweight division low on depth, Johnson has to be considered a contender right now.
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Akitsugi takes big step forward at bantamweight |
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Katsuma Akitsugi KO7 Vincent Astrolabio... In the ProBox chief support in Lakeland, Florida, Japan's Katsuma Akitsugi is now a legitimate bantamweight contender, having punished Vincent Astrolabio over seven rounds. Akitsugi moved to 14-0 with 4 KOs by scoring five knockdowns of his Filipino foe. The referee halted the contest as soon as Astrolabio went down for the fifth time. Punchstats had Akitsugi outlanding Astrolabio by more than 100 punches, 163-61. There was a cost to Akitsugi, however, as he sustained a cut over his right eye. It was a quality accomplishment for Akitsugi, as Astrolabio (20-6 with 15 KOs) holds a win over former world 122-pound champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and narrowly lost a world title challenge to Jason Moloney.
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Akitsugi takes big step forward at bantamweight
Katsuma Akitsugi KO7 Vincent Astrolabio... In the ProBox chief support in Lakeland, Florida, Japan's Katsuma Akitsugi is now a legitimate bantamweight contender, having punished Vincent Astrolabio over seven rounds. Akitsugi moved to 14-0 with 4 KOs by scoring five knockdowns of his Filipino foe. The referee halted the contest as soon as Astrolabio went down for the fifth time. Punchstats had Akitsugi outlanding Astrolabio by more than 100 punches, 163-61. There was a cost to Akitsugi, however, as he sustained a cut over his right eye. It was a quality accomplishment for Akitsugi, as Astrolabio (20-6 with 15 KOs) holds a win over former world 122-pound champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and narrowly lost a world title challenge to Jason Moloney.
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A complex legacy: Rest In Peace Victor Conte |
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On Monday morning it was announced that the founder of SNAC Nutrition, Victor Conte, had passed away after a short but hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75 years old. Conte lived a long and productive life. No matter what you think of him, he made an impact and will be remembered. Those of us who counted him as a friend, just wish he was around a bit longer. My own personal history began with Victor at the beginning of 2010. I had written an article where I had stated that just because an athlete had continually tested clean for performance enhancing drugs that didn't mean that they necessarily 'clean'. After all, that was the purpose of taking such substances, of which, Conte and BALCO had become experts at concocting. If I recall correctly, that particular article on Maxboxing.com was about Shane Mosley, who was involved with Conte prior to his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya in 2003. Later the two would wage a legal battle that played out very publicly over the comments made by Mosley, who claimed he took those substances unknowingly. A day or two later after that article ran, I happened to get an email that had Victor's name attached to it. Being a rabid sports fan I was fully aware of who Victor was. The reality is that if you watched sports in the late 90's you understood the impact BALCO had on the world of sports [the Barry Bonds PED controversy]. I immediately asked if this was the supposedly notorious Victor Conte. He said he was, and within a few hours we were on the phone where we engaged in what would be the first of our long conversations. I have to admit, it was surreal talking to Victor. I wasn't necessarily star-struck, but this was different than talking to a boxer or promoter (something I had already done numerous times). This former bass player for the 'Tower of Power' had become a mainstream figure in the sports world for how he helped shape history -- and the record books. Let's face it, most people that I had interviewed had never been featured on 20/20. We quickly hit it off, and soon I would pen a piece featuring Victor's thoughts on PED's and drug testing in boxing. After a while it was my colleague at Maxboxing, Gabriel Montoya, that would more or less do most of the stories with him and this issue, that he had a keen interest in. Regardless, Victor, quickly became a great source of information and knowledge for many of us that covered the sport of boxing. He was an incredibly valuable resource for all of us. We learned a lot and we heard some incredible stories. Victor was one of the two or three most intelligent people I have ever met. His memory and recall was astounding. To some, he was a pariah, to others he was a pioneer. Both are probably true. After all, he did do a stint in federal prison for his role in BALCO, but as he regained his freedom, Victor vowed to become an agent of (positive) change, and an advocate for clean sports -- particularly boxing. Now, he was not universally embraced and some were suspicious of his intentions. But many others were staunchly in his corner and believed in him. I have no problems admitting that I was one of them. That came with some slings and arrows itself, but hey, you understood that came with the territory. People can be very hypocritical in that way, they are willing to forgive and forget only when it suits their agenda. His is a story of rehabilitation and redemption. They say that there are no second acts in American life, but with all due respect to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Victor showed that to be untrue. His was among the most unique and colorful lives in recent memory. Through it all, he was always unapologetically himself. Victor was a true renegade. He never ran from his past. Victor wasn't proud of it, but he understood the role he played with the likes of Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Barry Bonds and many other world-class athletes. The SNAC facility walls are plastered with pictures and posters of just about everyone he worked with. I even have two BALCO t-shirts that he gave me. (And yeah, I consider them valuable possessions. When I wear them it usually becomes the topic of some interesting conversations.) The one thing I truly admired about Victor is that he was not afraid to take a stand against anything or anybody. If you go to his Twitter timeline he did not hesitate to battle the most powerful figures in the sport of boxing (from sanctioning bodies to promoters). More than anybody, Victor understood that given his own past, he himself would be the subject of much derision. And he didn't care what the popular sentiment was, or how people perceived him. Victor was tough, pugnacious, stubborn, committed and steadfast in his beliefs. There were times when I thought he shouldn't be so out-spoken, or perhaps dial back some of the things he posted. Y'know, that whole thing about less being more. But he felt that the hard truth spoke the loudest. You can associate Victor for BALCO or SNAC. If you were honest about it, you'd understand that both are a vital part of his legacy. He'd be the first to tell you that. Talk to anyone that was close to Victor and they will tell you that he is among the best allies and friends you will ever have. Generous beyond belief, and loyal to the very end. I'm going to miss his late night texts, and the lengthy chats with him over the phone. It was always a good time with Victor. The dinners were good, the drinks flowed and the laughs went on throughout the night. I was lucky to have known him.
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A complex legacy: Rest In Peace Victor Conte
On Monday morning it was announced that the founder of SNAC Nutrition, Victor Conte, had passed away after a short but hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75 years old. Conte lived a long and productive life. No matter what you think of him, he made an impact and will be remembered. Those of us who counted him as a friend, just wish he was around a bit longer. My own personal history began with Victor at the beginning of 2010. I had written an article where I had stated that just because an athlete had continually tested clean for performance enhancing drugs that didn't mean that they necessarily 'clean'. After all, that was the purpose of taking such substances, of which, Conte and BALCO had become experts at concocting. If I recall correctly, that particular article on Maxboxing.com was about Shane Mosley, who was involved with Conte prior to his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya in 2003. Later the two would wage a legal battle that played out very publicly over the comments made by Mosley, who claimed he took those substances unknowingly. A day or two later after that article ran, I happened to get an email that had Victor's name attached to it. Being a rabid sports fan I was fully aware of who Victor was. The reality is that if you watched sports in the late 90's you understood the impact BALCO had on the world of sports [the Barry Bonds PED controversy]. I immediately asked if this was the supposedly notorious Victor Conte. He said he was, and within a few hours we were on the phone where we engaged in what would be the first of our long conversations. I have to admit, it was surreal talking to Victor. I wasn't necessarily star-struck, but this was different than talking to a boxer or promoter (something I had already done numerous times). This former bass player for the 'Tower of Power' had become a mainstream figure in the sports world for how he helped shape history -- and the record books. Let's face it, most people that I had interviewed had never been featured on 20/20. We quickly hit it off, and soon I would pen a piece featuring Victor's thoughts on PED's and drug testing in boxing. After a while it was my colleague at Maxboxing, Gabriel Montoya, that would more or less do most of the stories with him and this issue, that he had a keen interest in. Regardless, Victor, quickly became a great source of information and knowledge for many of us that covered the sport of boxing. He was an incredibly valuable resource for all of us. We learned a lot and we heard some incredible stories. Victor was one of the two or three most intelligent people I have ever met. His memory and recall was astounding. To some, he was a pariah, to others he was a pioneer. Both are probably true. After all, he did do a stint in federal prison for his role in BALCO, but as he regained his freedom, Victor vowed to become an agent of (positive) change, and an advocate for clean sports -- particularly boxing. Now, he was not universally embraced and some were suspicious of his intentions. But many others were staunchly in his corner and believed in him. I have no problems admitting that I was one of them. That came with some slings and arrows itself, but hey, you understood that came with the territory. People can be very hypocritical in that way, they are willing to forgive and forget only when it suits their agenda. His is a story of rehabilitation and redemption. They say that there are no second acts in American life, but with all due respect to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Victor showed that to be untrue. His was among the most unique and colorful lives in recent memory. Through it all, he was always unapologetically himself. Victor was a true renegade. He never ran from his past. Victor wasn't proud of it, but he understood the role he played with the likes of Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Barry Bonds and many other world-class athletes. The SNAC facility walls are plastered with pictures and posters of just about everyone he worked with. I even have two BALCO t-shirts that he gave me. (And yeah, I consider them valuable possessions. When I wear them it usually becomes the topic of some interesting conversations.) The one thing I truly admired about Victor is that he was not afraid to take a stand against anything or anybody. If you go to his Twitter timeline he did not hesitate to battle the most powerful figures in the sport of boxing (from sanctioning bodies to promoters). More than anybody, Victor understood that given his own past, he himself would be the subject of much derision. And he didn't care what the popular sentiment was, or how people perceived him. Victor was tough, pugnacious, stubborn, committed and steadfast in his beliefs. There were times when I thought he shouldn't be so out-spoken, or perhaps dial back some of the things he posted. Y'know, that whole thing about less being more. But he felt that the hard truth spoke the loudest. You can associate Victor for BALCO or SNAC. If you were honest about it, you'd understand that both are a vital part of his legacy. He'd be the first to tell you that. Talk to anyone that was close to Victor and they will tell you that he is among the best allies and friends you will ever have. Generous beyond belief, and loyal to the very end. I'm going to miss his late night texts, and the lengthy chats with him over the phone. It was always a good time with Victor. The dinners were good, the drinks flowed and the laughs went on throughout the night. I was lucky to have known him.
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DAZN unveils "Ultimate Tier" pricing at $45 per month |
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DAZN has launched a new pricing plan known as DAZN Ultimate Tier. DAZN Ultimate Tier will be available as an annual subscription in 170 countries, including the United States for $44.99 per month, and in the United Kingdom for £25 per month. Yearly prices are $450 in the United States and £250 in the United Kingdom. The new subscription level will continue to give fight fans a smorgasbord of bouts with 185+ fight nights but rolled into the package will be a minimum of 12 pay-per-views (PPV) per year. The move means more choice and flexibility in how viewers buy and watch world-class events, with pay monthly and up-front annual subscription options available. DAZN Ultimate promises to give fans access to the most comprehensive lineup of live boxing and on-demand content in a single plan. DAZN's standard subscription members and non DAZN subscribers can still buy PPV events at separate one-off costs. Additionally, Ultimate subscribers in the UK and US get every Serie A match included in the offering and will also benefit from an enhanced viewing experience with HDR and Dolby 5.1 surround sound available for select events. The launch is timed with a host of fights coming in the next two months exclusively on DAZN. That includes the PPV events Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, November 15th, and The Ring IV: Night of Champions, November 22nd, with David Benavidez, Anthony Yarde and Devin Haney in action. Following on December 27 is Ring V: Night of the Samurai, featuring Naoya Inoue. All three will be part of the new DAZN Ultimate plan. In boxing, DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, is home to the top promotions and partnerships in the world, including Riyadh Season, Ring Magazine, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, while also regularly partnering with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. DAZN Ultimate plan launches in more than 170 countries, including the US and UK. Current and new subscribers can join via the DAZN app, website, and most connected devices. Top bouts coming to DAZN through the remainder of the year, all included in the Ultimate plan are: November 8 - Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Erickson Lubin November 15 – Exclusive Pay Per View: Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 November 22 – Exclusive Pay Per View: Ring IV: Night of Champions: David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde November 29 – Ben Whittaker vs. Benjamin Gavazi December 13 – Shabaz Masoud vs. Peter McGrail December 13 – Diego Pacheco vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo December 27 – Exclusive Pay Per View: Ring V Night of the Samurai: Naoya Inoue vs. David Picasso January 3 – Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz
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DAZN unveils "Ultimate Tier" pricing at $45 per month
DAZN has launched a new pricing plan known as DAZN Ultimate Tier. DAZN Ultimate Tier will be available as an annual subscription in 170 countries, including the United States for $44.99 per month, and in the United Kingdom for £25 per month. Yearly prices are $450 in the United States and £250 in the United Kingdom. The new subscription level will continue to give fight fans a smorgasbord of bouts with 185+ fight nights but rolled into the package will be a minimum of 12 pay-per-views (PPV) per year. The move means more choice and flexibility in how viewers buy and watch world-class events, with pay monthly and up-front annual subscription options available. DAZN Ultimate promises to give fans access to the most comprehensive lineup of live boxing and on-demand content in a single plan. DAZN's standard subscription members and non DAZN subscribers can still buy PPV events at separate one-off costs. Additionally, Ultimate subscribers in the UK and US get every Serie A match included in the offering and will also benefit from an enhanced viewing experience with HDR and Dolby 5.1 surround sound available for select events. The launch is timed with a host of fights coming in the next two months exclusively on DAZN. That includes the PPV events Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, November 15th, and The Ring IV: Night of Champions, November 22nd, with David Benavidez, Anthony Yarde and Devin Haney in action. Following on December 27 is Ring V: Night of the Samurai, featuring Naoya Inoue. All three will be part of the new DAZN Ultimate plan. In boxing, DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, is home to the top promotions and partnerships in the world, including Riyadh Season, Ring Magazine, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, while also regularly partnering with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. DAZN Ultimate plan launches in more than 170 countries, including the US and UK. Current and new subscribers can join via the DAZN app, website, and most connected devices. Top bouts coming to DAZN through the remainder of the year, all included in the Ultimate plan are: November 8 - Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Erickson Lubin November 15 – Exclusive Pay Per View: Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 November 22 – Exclusive Pay Per View: Ring IV: Night of Champions: David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde November 29 – Ben Whittaker vs. Benjamin Gavazi December 13 – Shabaz Masoud vs. Peter McGrail December 13 – Diego Pacheco vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo December 27 – Exclusive Pay Per View: Ring V Night of the Samurai: Naoya Inoue vs. David Picasso January 3 – Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz
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Omar Colon steps up to face Tresean Wiggins |
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Today (Saturday, November 8th) welterweight Tresean “Trigger” Wiggins (17-5-3, 10 KOs) will square off against Puerto Rico’s Leonel Omar Colón (8-1, 3 KOs) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Wiggins, a 35 year-old New Yorker comes into this bout riding a solid wave of momentum, with recent knockout wins over Dakota Linger and Chris Howard. With more than a decade in the professional ranks, Wiggins is known for his aggressive, pressure-heavy style and his ability to finish fights inside the distance. His most recent outing came in June, when he stopped Linger via fourth-round TKO. Though less experienced, Colón and his team believes in his agility, sharp accuracy, and ability to adapt will help him pull off an upset on U.S. soil. Nicknamed “Taz,” the 20-year old will be making his first appearance in a scheduled ten-round fight.
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Omar Colon steps up to face Tresean Wiggins
Today (Saturday, November 8th) welterweight Tresean “Trigger” Wiggins (17-5-3, 10 KOs) will square off against Puerto Rico’s Leonel Omar Colón (8-1, 3 KOs) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Wiggins, a 35 year-old New Yorker comes into this bout riding a solid wave of momentum, with recent knockout wins over Dakota Linger and Chris Howard. With more than a decade in the professional ranks, Wiggins is known for his aggressive, pressure-heavy style and his ability to finish fights inside the distance. His most recent outing came in June, when he stopped Linger via fourth-round TKO. Though less experienced, Colón and his team believes in his agility, sharp accuracy, and ability to adapt will help him pull off an upset on U.S. soil. Nicknamed “Taz,” the 20-year old will be making his first appearance in a scheduled ten-round fight.
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Strong ProBox card goes off tonight |
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ProBox TV heads back to Lakeland, Florida today (Friday, November 7th) for a ten-round welterweight fight between Delante “Tiger” Johnson and Nicklaus Flaz at the RP Funding Center. From Cleveland, Johnson (16-0 with 7 KOs) is coming off a quality victory, via unanimous decision over Janelson Figueroa Bocachica in June. He was a 2021 U.S. Olympian, making it to the quarterfinals in Tokyo. He will be facing his most difficult test in Flaz (15-2 with 10 KOs) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. The dangerous Flaz has won six straight, including upset victories over Brian Ceballo and Jahi Tucker.
In the chief support, Katsuma Akitsugi faces Vincent Astrolabio in battle that will produce a bantamweight contender. Akitsugi (13-0 with 3 KOs), of Wakayama, Japan is seeking his third straight victory over a Filipino former title challenger, having beaten Jonas Sultan and Aston Palicte in his last two fights. Astrolabio, age 28, of General Santos City, Philippines represents the most dangerous challenge of Akitsugi's career. Astrolabio (20-5 with 15 KOs) defeated former champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2022 and lost world title challenges to Jason Moloney and Junto Nakatani. Other fighters slated for action include Dominic Valle, Emilio Garcia, Xavier Bocanegra and Ranulfo Bocanegra.
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Strong ProBox card goes off tonight
ProBox TV heads back to Lakeland, Florida today (Friday, November 7th) for a ten-round welterweight fight between Delante “Tiger” Johnson and Nicklaus Flaz at the RP Funding Center. From Cleveland, Johnson (16-0 with 7 KOs) is coming off a quality victory, via unanimous decision over Janelson Figueroa Bocachica in June. He was a 2021 U.S. Olympian, making it to the quarterfinals in Tokyo. He will be facing his most difficult test in Flaz (15-2 with 10 KOs) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. The dangerous Flaz has won six straight, including upset victories over Brian Ceballo and Jahi Tucker.
In the chief support, Katsuma Akitsugi faces Vincent Astrolabio in battle that will produce a bantamweight contender. Akitsugi (13-0 with 3 KOs), of Wakayama, Japan is seeking his third straight victory over a Filipino former title challenger, having beaten Jonas Sultan and Aston Palicte in his last two fights. Astrolabio, age 28, of General Santos City, Philippines represents the most dangerous challenge of Akitsugi's career. Astrolabio (20-5 with 15 KOs) defeated former champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2022 and lost world title challenges to Jason Moloney and Junto Nakatani. Other fighters slated for action include Dominic Valle, Emilio Garcia, Xavier Bocanegra and Ranulfo Bocanegra.
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Tickets on sale now for Kabayel vs. Knyba |
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Queensberry Promotions states that the pre-sale for the homecoming fight of heavyweight star Agit Kabayel has been a resounding success, illustrating the appetite for major heavyweight boxing in the region. The fight between Kabayel, the WBC interim titlist, and undefeated Damian Knyba of Poland, is scheduled for Saturday, January 10th and will take place at the Rudolf-Weber Arena in Oberhausen. The ticket pre-sale launched on Wednesday for the entry of Queensberry into the German market. Tickets for this heavyweight showdown are now on general sale and the event is expected to sell-out quickly. Kabayel and his opponent Knyba met at the opening press conference close to Dusseldorf on Wednesday, sparking an enormous interest from the German media. “The reaction to our announcement of bringing big-time heavyweight boxing back to Germany has been incredible,” said Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren. “Agit Kabayel is a genuine star of boxing and now he will get the recognition he deserves in his homeland, where the sport has traditionally always been a major draw. Germany will represent an important market for Queensberry from the beginning of 2016 and Agit will spearhead our campaign as he moves towards his shot at becoming undisputed world champion.”
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Tickets on sale now for Kabayel vs. Knyba
Queensberry Promotions states that the pre-sale for the homecoming fight of heavyweight star Agit Kabayel has been a resounding success, illustrating the appetite for major heavyweight boxing in the region. The fight between Kabayel, the WBC interim titlist, and undefeated Damian Knyba of Poland, is scheduled for Saturday, January 10th and will take place at the Rudolf-Weber Arena in Oberhausen. The ticket pre-sale launched on Wednesday for the entry of Queensberry into the German market. Tickets for this heavyweight showdown are now on general sale and the event is expected to sell-out quickly. Kabayel and his opponent Knyba met at the opening press conference close to Dusseldorf on Wednesday, sparking an enormous interest from the German media. “The reaction to our announcement of bringing big-time heavyweight boxing back to Germany has been incredible,” said Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren. “Agit Kabayel is a genuine star of boxing and now he will get the recognition he deserves in his homeland, where the sport has traditionally always been a major draw. Germany will represent an important market for Queensberry from the beginning of 2016 and Agit will spearhead our campaign as he moves towards his shot at becoming undisputed world champion.”
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Canizalez to defend vs. Niyomtrong in Bangkok |
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During the WBC Annual Convention in Bangkok next month, Venezuela's Carlos “CCC” Cañizales (28-3-1, 20 KOs) will defend his WBC light flyweight title against Thailand’s Thammanoon “Knockout CP Freshmart” Niyomtrong (28-1-0, 11 KOs). Niyomtrong was a longtime WBA minimumweight champion. Cañizales, who captured the WBC belt on August 1st in Caracas with a spectacular fifth-round technical knockout over Panya Pradabsri, the defending champion at the time, in a dramatic rematch. Pradabsri had dropped the Venezuelan in the fourth round, but Cañizales responded with a devastating body shot that ended the fight and crowned him as the new WBC world champion. Scheduled as one of the main events of the convention, which starts on December 3rd, the fight represents a new chapter in the rivalry between two of the world’s top 108 pounders. Niyomtrong has won three straight since losing his 105-pound title to Oscar Collazo.
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Canizalez to defend vs. Niyomtrong in Bangkok
During the WBC Annual Convention in Bangkok next month, Venezuela's Carlos “CCC” Cañizales (28-3-1, 20 KOs) will defend his WBC light flyweight title against Thailand’s Thammanoon “Knockout CP Freshmart” Niyomtrong (28-1-0, 11 KOs). Niyomtrong was a longtime WBA minimumweight champion. Cañizales, who captured the WBC belt on August 1st in Caracas with a spectacular fifth-round technical knockout over Panya Pradabsri, the defending champion at the time, in a dramatic rematch. Pradabsri had dropped the Venezuelan in the fourth round, but Cañizales responded with a devastating body shot that ended the fight and crowned him as the new WBC world champion. Scheduled as one of the main events of the convention, which starts on December 3rd, the fight represents a new chapter in the rivalry between two of the world’s top 108 pounders. Niyomtrong has won three straight since losing his 105-pound title to Oscar Collazo.
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Weigh-in report from Atlantic City, NJ |
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Boxing Insider Promotions brings its largest card to date to the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey tonight (Friday, November 7th). The ten-fight lineup is highlighted by three heavyweight clashes and will be streamed live and in full on DAZN, starting at 7PM EST. Headlining will be local junior middleweight Justin Figueroa (13-0 with 9 KOs), who will battle Jose Perdomo (9-7 with 5 KOs). The three heavyweight bouts will be: Otto Wallin (250 lbs) vs. Chris Thomas (241 lbs): The battle-tested Swedish powerhouse Wallin (27-3, 15 KOs) has gone the distance with Tyson Fury and faced Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora.... Bruce Seldon Jr. (240 lbs) vs. Jose Medina (278 lbs): From New Jersey, the undefeated Seldon is carrying on his father's legacy (former WBA heavyweight title holder Bruce Seldon)... Josh Popper (238.5 lbs) vs. Trevor Kotera (229 lbs): New York heavyweight Popper, a former standout football player from Atlantic City (Holy Spirit High School, state champs) turned pro with a bang after dominating amateurs, winning the 2023 New York Ring Masters and Boxing Tournament titles. ADDITIONAL BOUTS Lia Lewandowski (122 pounds) vs. Chantel Sumral (122); Julio Sanchez (140) vs. Mike Randolph (140); Nathan Lugo (170) vs. Diego Lablonski (168); Yoel Angeloni (150) vs. Brandon Campos (150); Elijiah Lugo (160) vs. Jose Silva (160); and Patrick O’Conner (200) vs. Anthony Trejo (186). Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.
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Weigh-in report from Atlantic City, NJ
Boxing Insider Promotions brings its largest card to date to the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey tonight (Friday, November 7th). The ten-fight lineup is highlighted by three heavyweight clashes and will be streamed live and in full on DAZN, starting at 7PM EST. Headlining will be local junior middleweight Justin Figueroa (13-0 with 9 KOs), who will battle Jose Perdomo (9-7 with 5 KOs). The three heavyweight bouts will be: Otto Wallin (250 lbs) vs. Chris Thomas (241 lbs): The battle-tested Swedish powerhouse Wallin (27-3, 15 KOs) has gone the distance with Tyson Fury and faced Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora.... Bruce Seldon Jr. (240 lbs) vs. Jose Medina (278 lbs): From New Jersey, the undefeated Seldon is carrying on his father's legacy (former WBA heavyweight title holder Bruce Seldon)... Josh Popper (238.5 lbs) vs. Trevor Kotera (229 lbs): New York heavyweight Popper, a former standout football player from Atlantic City (Holy Spirit High School, state champs) turned pro with a bang after dominating amateurs, winning the 2023 New York Ring Masters and Boxing Tournament titles. ADDITIONAL BOUTS Lia Lewandowski (122 pounds) vs. Chantel Sumral (122); Julio Sanchez (140) vs. Mike Randolph (140); Nathan Lugo (170) vs. Diego Lablonski (168); Yoel Angeloni (150) vs. Brandon Campos (150); Elijiah Lugo (160) vs. Jose Silva (160); and Patrick O’Conner (200) vs. Anthony Trejo (186). Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.
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Tyrone James headlines Nov. 22nd New York show |
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Star Boxing announced that its “Rockin’ Fights” series will return to The Paramount in Huntington (Long Island), New York on Saturday, November 22nd for its 52nd edition. Headlining the night’s action will be Elmont, New York middleweight Tyrone “Pretty Boy” James (13-0, 10 KOs), who returns to The Paramount, this time facing Braulio Matias Ferreira (7-1, 2 KOs) of Uruguay. Also featured will be Yonkers’ knockout artist Harley Burke (10-0, 7 KOs) against the old but still dangerous Avtandil Khurtsidze (34-2-3, 23 KOs) of the Republic of Georgia. Uniondale’s Emmanuel Etienne (10-1, 5 KOs) faces Canada’s Hassan Oseni (2-1, 1 KO) in a cruiserweight showdown. In separate bouts, New York City firefighter Lou Maietta continues his inspirational run while Ireland’s Ryan O’Rourke (13-0, 3 KOs) returns to Huntington bringing his slick, crowd-pleasing style back to The Paramount. “Rockin’ Fights has become one of the most electric boxing experiences anywhere where fans see REAL pro boxing, with competitive matchups, passionate fighters and fans, and Long Island pride,” said Joe DeGuardia, President and CEO of Star Boxing. “Tyrone James has grown up under these lights, Harley Burke keeps proving he’s one of New York’s toughest prospects, and the rest of this lineup continues our tradition of giving fans nonstop action and great entertainment. November 22 will be another special night at The Paramount, be sure to join us” Tickets for Rockin’ Fights 52 are available now at: StarBoxing.com, Ticketmaster.com or through The Paramount Box Office.
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Tyrone James headlines Nov. 22nd New York show
Star Boxing announced that its “Rockin’ Fights” series will return to The Paramount in Huntington (Long Island), New York on Saturday, November 22nd for its 52nd edition. Headlining the night’s action will be Elmont, New York middleweight Tyrone “Pretty Boy” James (13-0, 10 KOs), who returns to The Paramount, this time facing Braulio Matias Ferreira (7-1, 2 KOs) of Uruguay. Also featured will be Yonkers’ knockout artist Harley Burke (10-0, 7 KOs) against the old but still dangerous Avtandil Khurtsidze (34-2-3, 23 KOs) of the Republic of Georgia. Uniondale’s Emmanuel Etienne (10-1, 5 KOs) faces Canada’s Hassan Oseni (2-1, 1 KO) in a cruiserweight showdown. In separate bouts, New York City firefighter Lou Maietta continues his inspirational run while Ireland’s Ryan O’Rourke (13-0, 3 KOs) returns to Huntington bringing his slick, crowd-pleasing style back to The Paramount. “Rockin’ Fights has become one of the most electric boxing experiences anywhere where fans see REAL pro boxing, with competitive matchups, passionate fighters and fans, and Long Island pride,” said Joe DeGuardia, President and CEO of Star Boxing. “Tyrone James has grown up under these lights, Harley Burke keeps proving he’s one of New York’s toughest prospects, and the rest of this lineup continues our tradition of giving fans nonstop action and great entertainment. November 22 will be another special night at The Paramount, be sure to join us” Tickets for Rockin’ Fights 52 are available now at: StarBoxing.com, Ticketmaster.com or through The Paramount Box Office.
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The road Vergil Ortiz took to get to Erickson Lubin |
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Boxing fans hope that Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis are on a collision course for a mega-fight in 2026. But in order for Ortiz to make it happen, he will need to defeat a rugged Erickson Lubin first. The undefeated Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) will put his WBC interim junior middleweight title on the line against Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and live on DAZN, on Saturday night. Fans can watch it live with a DAZN subscription. Monthly and annual options available With this showdown packing high stakes, DAZN tool a look at how 27 year-old Ortiz has fared in his last five fights.
Ortiz defeats Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision; February 22, 2025: Israil Madrimov had lost to Terence Crawford via unanimous decision months prior, so Vergil Ortiz Jr. wanted to see if he could dispose of the Uzbek fighter sooner. He couldn’t but Ortiz did earn another hard-fought unanimous decision, landing enough clean, eye-opening shots against a shifty Madrimov to retain his interim title.
Ortiz gets off canvas to edge Serhii Bohachuk; August 10, 2024: Prior to this bout, all of Ortiz’ 21 victories had been produced by knockout. But this fight against Bohachuk was different. Five months before, the Ukrainian had defeated Brian Mendoza via unanimous decision to claim the WBC interim 154-pound title, so Ortiz was expecting a hard-fought battle ... and he got just that. In his first time going the distance, Ortiz overcame two flash knockdowns — one in the first round, the second in the eighth — to fight effectively and furiously enough to secure a razor-thin majority decision. Judges scored it 113-113 and 114-112 (twice) to grant him the interim title in a “Fight of the Year” candidate and his toughest test to date.
Ortiz blasts Thomas Dulorme in first-round KO; April 27, 2024: Ortiz detonating a vicious left hook to the body was all it took to crumble Dulorme in a heap of pain toward a rousing first-round TKO. Having hardly broken a sweat, Ortiz used the spotlight to call out Tim Tszyu during his post-fight interview in the ring.
Ortiz destroys Fredrick Lawson in first-round TKO; January 6, 2024: Undefeated through 19 professional fights at the time, Ortiz made the leap up from welterweight and [against a cherry-picked opponent,] he did not waste time in proving that his power transfers over quite well. A stiff power jab followed by a barrage of unanswered punches against a cornered Lawson and the ref had seen enough to step in and stop the bout for an electric first-round stoppage. [Ortiz was coming off a long period of inactivity caused by rhabdomyolysis, a condition where damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins and electrolytes into the blood, which can cause organ damage. He has also experienced multiple bouts of the corona virus].
Ortiz produces ninth-round TKO over Michael McKinson; August 6, 2022: Middle-round adjustments helped Ortiz mash the gas pedal in crumpling McKinson to the canvas with a crippling body shot in the eighth round before blasting him to the body for another knockdown in the ninth and subsequent TKO as the bulldozing Ortiz continued to gain steam in his upward trajectory.
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The road Vergil Ortiz took to get to Erickson Lubin
Boxing fans hope that Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis are on a collision course for a mega-fight in 2026. But in order for Ortiz to make it happen, he will need to defeat a rugged Erickson Lubin first. The undefeated Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) will put his WBC interim junior middleweight title on the line against Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and live on DAZN, on Saturday night. Fans can watch it live with a DAZN subscription. Monthly and annual options available With this showdown packing high stakes, DAZN tool a look at how 27 year-old Ortiz has fared in his last five fights.
Ortiz defeats Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision; February 22, 2025: Israil Madrimov had lost to Terence Crawford via unanimous decision months prior, so Vergil Ortiz Jr. wanted to see if he could dispose of the Uzbek fighter sooner. He couldn’t but Ortiz did earn another hard-fought unanimous decision, landing enough clean, eye-opening shots against a shifty Madrimov to retain his interim title.
Ortiz gets off canvas to edge Serhii Bohachuk; August 10, 2024: Prior to this bout, all of Ortiz’ 21 victories had been produced by knockout. But this fight against Bohachuk was different. Five months before, the Ukrainian had defeated Brian Mendoza via unanimous decision to claim the WBC interim 154-pound title, so Ortiz was expecting a hard-fought battle ... and he got just that. In his first time going the distance, Ortiz overcame two flash knockdowns — one in the first round, the second in the eighth — to fight effectively and furiously enough to secure a razor-thin majority decision. Judges scored it 113-113 and 114-112 (twice) to grant him the interim title in a “Fight of the Year” candidate and his toughest test to date.
Ortiz blasts Thomas Dulorme in first-round KO; April 27, 2024: Ortiz detonating a vicious left hook to the body was all it took to crumble Dulorme in a heap of pain toward a rousing first-round TKO. Having hardly broken a sweat, Ortiz used the spotlight to call out Tim Tszyu during his post-fight interview in the ring.
Ortiz destroys Fredrick Lawson in first-round TKO; January 6, 2024: Undefeated through 19 professional fights at the time, Ortiz made the leap up from welterweight and [against a cherry-picked opponent,] he did not waste time in proving that his power transfers over quite well. A stiff power jab followed by a barrage of unanswered punches against a cornered Lawson and the ref had seen enough to step in and stop the bout for an electric first-round stoppage. [Ortiz was coming off a long period of inactivity caused by rhabdomyolysis, a condition where damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins and electrolytes into the blood, which can cause organ damage. He has also experienced multiple bouts of the corona virus].
Ortiz produces ninth-round TKO over Michael McKinson; August 6, 2022: Middle-round adjustments helped Ortiz mash the gas pedal in crumpling McKinson to the canvas with a crippling body shot in the eighth round before blasting him to the body for another knockdown in the ninth and subsequent TKO as the bulldozing Ortiz continued to gain steam in his upward trajectory.
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Matias vs. Smith lands in Brooklyn, Jan. 10th |
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The WBC junior welterweight championship bout between the Puerto Rican champion Subriel Matías (pictured) and the top-ranked British challenger Dalton Smith will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, January 10th. It will be promoted by Juan Orengo's Fresh Productions. A press conference t formally announce the event will take place at the venue itself and will be open to the public on Monday, November 10th beginning at 12 noon. Matías and Smith will both be in attendance and the press conference conference will also be streamed live on Fresh Productions Boxing’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCTOBER 3, 2025: The WBC reports that Puerto Rico's Subriel Matías will defend his WBC junior welterweight title against Britain’s Dalton Smith on January 10th in New York at a venue still to be confirmed. Matías (23-2, 22 KOs) captured the WBC belt on July 12th when he defeated Dominican Alberto Puello by majority decision. It was the first time in his career that the Puerto Rican secured a victory on the scorecards as all his other wins came by way of KO. Smith (18-0, 13 KOs), on the other hand, arrives undefeated and on a rapid rise in the division. The Englishman reached world level in 2024 by knocking out José Zepeda, and in 2025 he added further international experience.
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Matias vs. Smith lands in Brooklyn, Jan. 10th
The WBC junior welterweight championship bout between the Puerto Rican champion Subriel Matías (pictured) and the top-ranked British challenger Dalton Smith will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, January 10th. It will be promoted by Juan Orengo's Fresh Productions. A press conference t formally announce the event will take place at the venue itself and will be open to the public on Monday, November 10th beginning at 12 noon. Matías and Smith will both be in attendance and the press conference conference will also be streamed live on Fresh Productions Boxing’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCTOBER 3, 2025: The WBC reports that Puerto Rico's Subriel Matías will defend his WBC junior welterweight title against Britain’s Dalton Smith on January 10th in New York at a venue still to be confirmed. Matías (23-2, 22 KOs) captured the WBC belt on July 12th when he defeated Dominican Alberto Puello by majority decision. It was the first time in his career that the Puerto Rican secured a victory on the scorecards as all his other wins came by way of KO. Smith (18-0, 13 KOs), on the other hand, arrives undefeated and on a rapid rise in the division. The Englishman reached world level in 2024 by knocking out José Zepeda, and in 2025 he added further international experience.
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WBC standing firm on two-minute rounds for women |
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WBC social media statement: "The WBC is maintaining two-minute rounds for women's boxing, a standard backed by independent clinical science! Our commitment to safety is paramount. Studies show greater concussion susceptibility for female athletes, guiding our policy. Protecting fighters always comes first."
In a separate tweet, the WBC wrote: "Why two-minute rounds? The WBC’s decision is backed by clinical science from PINK Concussion. Research shows female athletes have greater susceptibility to concussion and longer recovery times. Safety guides boxing's evolution—just like moving from 15 to 12 rounds with men."{
But the WBC left the door open to further argument, stating, "If you have a medical article that you want to share to keep the discussion open, please send it to us. We are open to discuss it with facts and scientific findings." FULL WBC STATEMENT:
The WBC remains committed to the safety and well-being of all fighters, while continuing to engage thoughtfully in the ongoing evolution of the sport of boxing. The WBC reaffirms its leadership in upholding the highest standards of safety and competition within the sport of boxing. In keeping with that mission, the WBC stands by its policy establishing two-minute rounds for women’s boxing—consistent with the ABC Unified Rules and regulations —and supported by findings from a comprehensive clinical study conducted by medical experts. The WBC strongly supports equality and opportunity for women, both inside and outside of the ring. However, that pursuit must never compromise the physical safety of any athlete.
STATEMENT FROM MAURICIO SULAIMÁN: Earlier this month, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán addressed this topic in his weekly op-ed published on the WBC website. He referenced examples from other major sports—such as women’s tennis adopting best-of-three sets in Grand Slam events, and cycling reducing race distances for female competitors—where differences are designed to enhance safety, performance quality, and athletic longevity.
“The WBC was the first organization to implement the Women’s Boxing Championship,” Sulaimán wrote. “We have supported women’s boxing through many initiatives—but most importantly, through our commitment to safety. This is not about equality, sexism, or discrimination; it is purely about protecting athletes.”
THE CLINICAL BASIS: According to an independent clinical study by PINK Concussion, “Scientific research consistently demonstrates that female athletes experience greater susceptibility to concussion, higher symptom severity, and longer recovery durations compared to males. These differences are believed to result from multiple factors, including variations in cervical strength, hormonal influences, neuroanatomy, and symptom reporting behaviors.”
PINK Concussion is a conglomerate of international and independent medical doctors and attorneys specializing in neurological studies pertaining to women in sports, both combat and otherwise, domestic violence, and accidents. PINK approached the WBC back in 2017, the year when the first ever 3-minute, 12-round female fight took place, and the following decade has seen both entities striving to achieve a mutual understanding of this subject for the betterment of the sport and the safety of its participants.
The WBC’s position is grounded in clinical science and evidence-based best practices by this independent organization. Should new, credible research emerge that challenges or advances current understanding, the WBC will reassess its position accordingly. The Council’s commitment to both progress and safety is unwavering—protecting fighters while supporting the continued growth and recognition of women in the sport.
SAFETY AND EVOLUTION OF THE SPORT: Safety has always guided boxing’s evolution. Historically, world championship bouts were contested over 15 rounds. Today, they are limited to 12 rounds—with regional title fights typically set for 8 to 10 rounds. These adjustments were not made because today’s fighters are any less capable, but because the sport continues to evolve toward safer, more sustainable standards for athletes and audiences alike.
ONGOING COMMITMENT: The WBC takes great pride in its stewardship of the sport and recognizes the responsibility that comes with it. The organization and its executive leadership continuously evaluate and implement new initiatives that promote safety, fairness, and progress—ensuring that boxing continues to grow responsibly for future generations.
The WBC donated over one million dollars to support research at UCLA, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, and we invite all those who feel inspired to get involved and contribute to this cause to reach out to the WBC without hesitation.
Let us promote open dialogue, so that scientific progress may help us evolve as a united sports community.
Signatories of Supporting Medical Professionals and PINK Concussion’s Professional Advisory Board Members
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
NOV. 4, 2025: The WBC has received official notification that Chantelle Cameron has decided to vacate its 140-pound world title. The BBC reported that Cameron was relinquishing the title in protest over the WBC's insistence that women stick to two-minute rounds instead of the three-minute rounds that are standard for men's fights.
Born on May 14, 1991, in Northampton, England, Cameron has had a remarkable career. In October 2020, she captured the WBC title by defeating Adriana dos Santos Araújo. She went on to unify all four major titles and become the true 140-pound world champion. In 2023, she suffered a narrow loss to Katie Taylor, whom she had previously defeated. In July 2024, she regained the WBC interim title and successfully defended it in 2025. She was apparently "e-mailed" the full championship by the WBC some time this year. The WBC said it deeply appreciates Cameron’s professionalism, courage, and contributions to their organization, and wishes her the very best in all her future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring.
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WBC standing firm on two-minute rounds for women
WBC social media statement: "The WBC is maintaining two-minute rounds for women's boxing, a standard backed by independent clinical science! Our commitment to safety is paramount. Studies show greater concussion susceptibility for female athletes, guiding our policy. Protecting fighters always comes first."
In a separate tweet, the WBC wrote: "Why two-minute rounds? The WBC’s decision is backed by clinical science from PINK Concussion. Research shows female athletes have greater susceptibility to concussion and longer recovery times. Safety guides boxing's evolution—just like moving from 15 to 12 rounds with men."{
But the WBC left the door open to further argument, stating, "If you have a medical article that you want to share to keep the discussion open, please send it to us. We are open to discuss it with facts and scientific findings." FULL WBC STATEMENT:
The WBC remains committed to the safety and well-being of all fighters, while continuing to engage thoughtfully in the ongoing evolution of the sport of boxing. The WBC reaffirms its leadership in upholding the highest standards of safety and competition within the sport of boxing. In keeping with that mission, the WBC stands by its policy establishing two-minute rounds for women’s boxing—consistent with the ABC Unified Rules and regulations —and supported by findings from a comprehensive clinical study conducted by medical experts. The WBC strongly supports equality and opportunity for women, both inside and outside of the ring. However, that pursuit must never compromise the physical safety of any athlete.
STATEMENT FROM MAURICIO SULAIMÁN: Earlier this month, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán addressed this topic in his weekly op-ed published on the WBC website. He referenced examples from other major sports—such as women’s tennis adopting best-of-three sets in Grand Slam events, and cycling reducing race distances for female competitors—where differences are designed to enhance safety, performance quality, and athletic longevity.
“The WBC was the first organization to implement the Women’s Boxing Championship,” Sulaimán wrote. “We have supported women’s boxing through many initiatives—but most importantly, through our commitment to safety. This is not about equality, sexism, or discrimination; it is purely about protecting athletes.”
THE CLINICAL BASIS: According to an independent clinical study by PINK Concussion, “Scientific research consistently demonstrates that female athletes experience greater susceptibility to concussion, higher symptom severity, and longer recovery durations compared to males. These differences are believed to result from multiple factors, including variations in cervical strength, hormonal influences, neuroanatomy, and symptom reporting behaviors.”
PINK Concussion is a conglomerate of international and independent medical doctors and attorneys specializing in neurological studies pertaining to women in sports, both combat and otherwise, domestic violence, and accidents. PINK approached the WBC back in 2017, the year when the first ever 3-minute, 12-round female fight took place, and the following decade has seen both entities striving to achieve a mutual understanding of this subject for the betterment of the sport and the safety of its participants.
The WBC’s position is grounded in clinical science and evidence-based best practices by this independent organization. Should new, credible research emerge that challenges or advances current understanding, the WBC will reassess its position accordingly. The Council’s commitment to both progress and safety is unwavering—protecting fighters while supporting the continued growth and recognition of women in the sport.
SAFETY AND EVOLUTION OF THE SPORT: Safety has always guided boxing’s evolution. Historically, world championship bouts were contested over 15 rounds. Today, they are limited to 12 rounds—with regional title fights typically set for 8 to 10 rounds. These adjustments were not made because today’s fighters are any less capable, but because the sport continues to evolve toward safer, more sustainable standards for athletes and audiences alike.
ONGOING COMMITMENT: The WBC takes great pride in its stewardship of the sport and recognizes the responsibility that comes with it. The organization and its executive leadership continuously evaluate and implement new initiatives that promote safety, fairness, and progress—ensuring that boxing continues to grow responsibly for future generations.
The WBC donated over one million dollars to support research at UCLA, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, and we invite all those who feel inspired to get involved and contribute to this cause to reach out to the WBC without hesitation.
Let us promote open dialogue, so that scientific progress may help us evolve as a united sports community.
Signatories of Supporting Medical Professionals and PINK Concussion’s Professional Advisory Board Members
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
NOV. 4, 2025: The WBC has received official notification that Chantelle Cameron has decided to vacate its 140-pound world title. The BBC reported that Cameron was relinquishing the title in protest over the WBC's insistence that women stick to two-minute rounds instead of the three-minute rounds that are standard for men's fights.
Born on May 14, 1991, in Northampton, England, Cameron has had a remarkable career. In October 2020, she captured the WBC title by defeating Adriana dos Santos Araújo. She went on to unify all four major titles and become the true 140-pound world champion. In 2023, she suffered a narrow loss to Katie Taylor, whom she had previously defeated. In July 2024, she regained the WBC interim title and successfully defended it in 2025. She was apparently "e-mailed" the full championship by the WBC some time this year. The WBC said it deeply appreciates Cameron’s professionalism, courage, and contributions to their organization, and wishes her the very best in all her future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring.
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A few words with O'Shaquie Foster |
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WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster will have the biggest fight of his career to date on Saturday, December 6th at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Foster will defend his title against reigning WBC featherweight champion Stephen Fulton Jr. as Fulton bids to become a three-division champion. The fight was originally scheduled for October, but was cancelled when the main event for that night fell apart. Foster-Fulton will now take place on a December 6th pay-per-view show headlined by Isaac Cruz, a former title holder, against Lamont Roach, the reigning WBA 130-pound champion moving up to 140 pounds for the Cruz fight. Here is what Foster had to say at this week's virtual press conference: “I’m glad this fight is happening. It’s supposed to have happened a couple of times. We’re fighting, so there’s animosity period. It’s not personal, but he’s trying to take something off my plate. “This last time when the fight got pushed back it definitely pissed me off because we were so close. But it just gave me more time to prepare. I don’t ever have problems with weight, so that wasn’t affected. I’m just more prepared mentally and physically. “All of this talk is motivation to me. I can’t lie to you. I’m having fun with it and I’m just ready to put on a show. “We’ve said a lot, but December 6th, we’re coming out there to put on a great show. This fight has been coming for the longest and I’m ready to dominate. He’s coming into my stomping grounds and I feel good about it. “I know he made a mistake trying to make this fight period. I’m gonna go in there and dominate and show the world why he doesn’t belong in the ring with me.”
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A few words with O'Shaquie Foster
WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster will have the biggest fight of his career to date on Saturday, December 6th at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Foster will defend his title against reigning WBC featherweight champion Stephen Fulton Jr. as Fulton bids to become a three-division champion. The fight was originally scheduled for October, but was cancelled when the main event for that night fell apart. Foster-Fulton will now take place on a December 6th pay-per-view show headlined by Isaac Cruz, a former title holder, against Lamont Roach, the reigning WBA 130-pound champion moving up to 140 pounds for the Cruz fight. Here is what Foster had to say at this week's virtual press conference: “I’m glad this fight is happening. It’s supposed to have happened a couple of times. We’re fighting, so there’s animosity period. It’s not personal, but he’s trying to take something off my plate. “This last time when the fight got pushed back it definitely pissed me off because we were so close. But it just gave me more time to prepare. I don’t ever have problems with weight, so that wasn’t affected. I’m just more prepared mentally and physically. “All of this talk is motivation to me. I can’t lie to you. I’m having fun with it and I’m just ready to put on a show. “We’ve said a lot, but December 6th, we’re coming out there to put on a great show. This fight has been coming for the longest and I’m ready to dominate. He’s coming into my stomping grounds and I feel good about it. “I know he made a mistake trying to make this fight period. I’m gonna go in there and dominate and show the world why he doesn’t belong in the ring with me.”
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Mescalero, NM show takes place this Saturday |
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Professional boxing makes it way to the scenic Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico this Saturday night (November 8th). Six professional bouts are scheduled to take place. The main event will see highly touted Jorge Tovar (12-0, 9 KOs) of El Paso, Texas laying his undefeated record on the line against Georgia's Eric Moon (11-6-1, 6 KOs). That fight is scheduled for six ronds in the middleweight division. KO artist Victor Aranda (5-0, 5 KOs) also set to be in action. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or on location. Doors open at 6PM and the opening bell is set for 7:30PM. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt set to be the ring announcer.
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Mescalero, NM show takes place this Saturday
Professional boxing makes it way to the scenic Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico this Saturday night (November 8th). Six professional bouts are scheduled to take place. The main event will see highly touted Jorge Tovar (12-0, 9 KOs) of El Paso, Texas laying his undefeated record on the line against Georgia's Eric Moon (11-6-1, 6 KOs). That fight is scheduled for six ronds in the middleweight division. KO artist Victor Aranda (5-0, 5 KOs) also set to be in action. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or on location. Doors open at 6PM and the opening bell is set for 7:30PM. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt set to be the ring announcer.
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Late result: De Leon Castro gets the TKO |
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Carlos De Leon Castro TKO4 Wilner Soto ... Puerto Rican featherweight Carlos De Leon Castro (6-0, 5 KOs) delivered a winning performance on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, stopping Wilner Soto (24-22, 13 KOs) in a scheduled four‑round bout. It was Soto's ninth loss in his last ten bouts. The event was televised live on DAZN, giving De Leon a national platform to showcase his talent. Under the bright lights, the twenty-year old electrified the crowd, overwhelming Soto with speed, aggression, and pinpoint power that forced the referee to halt the contest. From the moment the bell rang, De Leon, who is promoted by Boxlab Promotions, fought with confidence and control, walking down the veteran and landing clean power shots round after round. Even against a fighter with more than 45 professional bouts, De Leon looked like the seasoned pro, closing the distance and firing combinations that Soto could not withstand.
After the bout, a confident—but still hungry—De Leon shared his excitement about putting on a show for fans watching around the world. “I wanted to give everyone watching something to remember,” De Leon said. “Fighting live on DAZN, I knew I had to make it special. When I saw him hurt, I closed the show. Fight fans want knockouts—and I showed them the power I’m bringing.”
De Leon, who proudly carries the Puerto Rican flag into every fight, also spoke about his dreams and the weight of the boxing legacy from his island. “As I’ve said before, Puerto Rico has produced legends like Cotto and Trinidad, and I want to be the next name on that list,” he stated. “I fight for my island every time I step into the ring. I want the world to know there’s a new star coming out of Puerto Rico.”
With five knockouts in his last six wins, De Leon believes this victory was a major step forward. “This was a huge night for me,” De Leon Castro continued. “Beating a veteran like Soto shows people I’m not just knocking out beginners…I’m taking out experienced fighters too. Now the division has to pay attention. I’m coming, and I’m coming fast.”
De Leon made it clear he doesn’t plan on slowing down. “I’m ready to go right back to work,” he concluded. “Let me rest for a week and then put me back in camp. I want bigger fights, tougher names, and more chances to prove I’m the real deal. I’m just getting started.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, was pleased with De Leon’s performance and the maturity he showed against a battle-tested opponent. “Carlos has every ingredient you look for in the next great Puerto Rican star,” Piedra said. “He fights with passion, intelligence, and real power. Even against a veteran with more than 45 professional fights, he remained composed, calculated, and dangerous from start to finish. Puerto Rico has a rich boxing legacy, and Carlos has the talent to carry that torch. He has the charisma, the fan‑friendly style, and the work ethic to go a very long way. Boxing fans should pay close attention—this young man is special. Performances like this remind us why he’s one of the most exciting young prospects in boxing.”
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Late result: De Leon Castro gets the TKO
Carlos De Leon Castro TKO4 Wilner Soto ... Puerto Rican featherweight Carlos De Leon Castro (6-0, 5 KOs) delivered a winning performance on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, stopping Wilner Soto (24-22, 13 KOs) in a scheduled four‑round bout. It was Soto's ninth loss in his last ten bouts. The event was televised live on DAZN, giving De Leon a national platform to showcase his talent. Under the bright lights, the twenty-year old electrified the crowd, overwhelming Soto with speed, aggression, and pinpoint power that forced the referee to halt the contest. From the moment the bell rang, De Leon, who is promoted by Boxlab Promotions, fought with confidence and control, walking down the veteran and landing clean power shots round after round. Even against a fighter with more than 45 professional bouts, De Leon looked like the seasoned pro, closing the distance and firing combinations that Soto could not withstand.
After the bout, a confident—but still hungry—De Leon shared his excitement about putting on a show for fans watching around the world. “I wanted to give everyone watching something to remember,” De Leon said. “Fighting live on DAZN, I knew I had to make it special. When I saw him hurt, I closed the show. Fight fans want knockouts—and I showed them the power I’m bringing.”
De Leon, who proudly carries the Puerto Rican flag into every fight, also spoke about his dreams and the weight of the boxing legacy from his island. “As I’ve said before, Puerto Rico has produced legends like Cotto and Trinidad, and I want to be the next name on that list,” he stated. “I fight for my island every time I step into the ring. I want the world to know there’s a new star coming out of Puerto Rico.”
With five knockouts in his last six wins, De Leon believes this victory was a major step forward. “This was a huge night for me,” De Leon Castro continued. “Beating a veteran like Soto shows people I’m not just knocking out beginners…I’m taking out experienced fighters too. Now the division has to pay attention. I’m coming, and I’m coming fast.”
De Leon made it clear he doesn’t plan on slowing down. “I’m ready to go right back to work,” he concluded. “Let me rest for a week and then put me back in camp. I want bigger fights, tougher names, and more chances to prove I’m the real deal. I’m just getting started.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, was pleased with De Leon’s performance and the maturity he showed against a battle-tested opponent. “Carlos has every ingredient you look for in the next great Puerto Rican star,” Piedra said. “He fights with passion, intelligence, and real power. Even against a veteran with more than 45 professional fights, he remained composed, calculated, and dangerous from start to finish. Puerto Rico has a rich boxing legacy, and Carlos has the talent to carry that torch. He has the charisma, the fan‑friendly style, and the work ethic to go a very long way. Boxing fans should pay close attention—this young man is special. Performances like this remind us why he’s one of the most exciting young prospects in boxing.”
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Gladiator Boxing prepping Chris Thomas for big fight this week |
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New Jersey’s Gladiator Boxing Management is still going strong after twenty years. Owner Shawn Darling from Gladiator Gym is keeping his current crop of professionals busy. The roster includes heavyweight Chris “Sandman” Thomas (15-2-2, 10 KOs), super middleweight Cali “Ninja” Box (5-0, 2 KOs), light heavyweight Tyler “Ghost” Vanorden (4-0, 2 KOs), cruiserweight Dejon Farrell Francis (3-3, 1 KO) and junior middleweight Eduardo “The Mexican Bully” Corona (1-0). Francis and Corona are both coming off TKO victories this past Saturday night at Harrahs Philadelphia. Thomas is fighting fringe contender Otto Wallin this Friday at The Tropicana in Atlantic City. Box and Francis are scheduled for November 22nd at the Atlantic City at The Hard Rock. Darling has also led Dan Pasciolla and Hafiz Montgomery to regional championships previously.
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Gladiator Boxing prepping Chris Thomas for big fight this week
New Jersey’s Gladiator Boxing Management is still going strong after twenty years. Owner Shawn Darling from Gladiator Gym is keeping his current crop of professionals busy. The roster includes heavyweight Chris “Sandman” Thomas (15-2-2, 10 KOs), super middleweight Cali “Ninja” Box (5-0, 2 KOs), light heavyweight Tyler “Ghost” Vanorden (4-0, 2 KOs), cruiserweight Dejon Farrell Francis (3-3, 1 KO) and junior middleweight Eduardo “The Mexican Bully” Corona (1-0). Francis and Corona are both coming off TKO victories this past Saturday night at Harrahs Philadelphia. Thomas is fighting fringe contender Otto Wallin this Friday at The Tropicana in Atlantic City. Box and Francis are scheduled for November 22nd at the Atlantic City at The Hard Rock. Darling has also led Dan Pasciolla and Hafiz Montgomery to regional championships previously.
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Espinoza title defense to be streamed on Top Rank's website |
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Top Rank Classics FAST channel will stream a world title fight on Saturday, November 15th when Mexico’s WBO featherweight champion Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (pictured) defends his strap against Ukraine’s Arnold Khegai at Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. To watch on mobile or desktop, visit trboxing.co/TopRankClassics. To watch on your smart TV, check the availability of FAST channel apps and look for Top Rank Classics on The Roku Channel, Tubi, or Vizio. The Espinoza-Khegai stream is scheduled to feature a twelve-round IBF junior welterweight eliminator as Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (23-0, 16 KOs) fights countryman Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (31-4-1, 17 KOs). Also on the card, second-generation standout Emiliano Fernando Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs) takes on Jonathan Montrel (19-3, 13 KOs) in a ten-rounder at junior welterweight... Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (13-0, 11 KOs) hopes to start a new knockout streak in a scheduled heavyweight ten-rounder versus Tomas Salek (23-7, 14 KOs) and... seventeen year-old Julian Montalvo (4-0, 3 KOs) looks to impress in a six-rounder at junior lightweight against Nicolas Patron (3-2, 1 KO). Also coming on Top Rank's FAST channel will be a November 24th show from Japan in which former kickboxing champ Tenshin Nasukawa (7-0, 2 KOs) aims for his first boxing world title against a former title holder, Takuma Inoue (20-2, 5 KOs), for the vacant WBC bantamweight crown. The action is scheduled for Toyota Arena in Tokyo, with a stream that begins at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT.
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Espinoza title defense to be streamed on Top Rank's website
Top Rank Classics FAST channel will stream a world title fight on Saturday, November 15th when Mexico’s WBO featherweight champion Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (pictured) defends his strap against Ukraine’s Arnold Khegai at Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. To watch on mobile or desktop, visit trboxing.co/TopRankClassics. To watch on your smart TV, check the availability of FAST channel apps and look for Top Rank Classics on The Roku Channel, Tubi, or Vizio. The Espinoza-Khegai stream is scheduled to feature a twelve-round IBF junior welterweight eliminator as Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (23-0, 16 KOs) fights countryman Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (31-4-1, 17 KOs). Also on the card, second-generation standout Emiliano Fernando Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs) takes on Jonathan Montrel (19-3, 13 KOs) in a ten-rounder at junior welterweight... Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (13-0, 11 KOs) hopes to start a new knockout streak in a scheduled heavyweight ten-rounder versus Tomas Salek (23-7, 14 KOs) and... seventeen year-old Julian Montalvo (4-0, 3 KOs) looks to impress in a six-rounder at junior lightweight against Nicolas Patron (3-2, 1 KO). Also coming on Top Rank's FAST channel will be a November 24th show from Japan in which former kickboxing champ Tenshin Nasukawa (7-0, 2 KOs) aims for his first boxing world title against a former title holder, Takuma Inoue (20-2, 5 KOs), for the vacant WBC bantamweight crown. The action is scheduled for Toyota Arena in Tokyo, with a stream that begins at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT.
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Olympic medalist Davlat Boltaev competing at bridgerweight |
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Samara, Russia will host a bridgerweight fight on November 6th as Tajikistan’s Davlat Boltaev (17-5, 5 KOs) squares off against Montenegro’s Dilan Prasovic (21-7, 18 KOs). Age 26, Boltaev is a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist who has good punching power. With a record of 7-0-1 including IBA pro fights, he brings aggression, ambition, and a knack for imposing his power. Prasovic arrives with a far deeper professional résumé but a lower reputation. The Montenegrin has been active in 2025, entering with six bouts this year, four wins and two losses, both by knockout. Determined to reignite his career at bridgerweight, the 30-year old is fresh off back-to-back wins over Ferenc Zsalek (21-87-7) and former title challenger Ali Ismailov.
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Olympic medalist Davlat Boltaev competing at bridgerweight
Samara, Russia will host a bridgerweight fight on November 6th as Tajikistan’s Davlat Boltaev (17-5, 5 KOs) squares off against Montenegro’s Dilan Prasovic (21-7, 18 KOs). Age 26, Boltaev is a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist who has good punching power. With a record of 7-0-1 including IBA pro fights, he brings aggression, ambition, and a knack for imposing his power. Prasovic arrives with a far deeper professional résumé but a lower reputation. The Montenegrin has been active in 2025, entering with six bouts this year, four wins and two losses, both by knockout. Determined to reignite his career at bridgerweight, the 30-year old is fresh off back-to-back wins over Ferenc Zsalek (21-87-7) and former title challenger Ali Ismailov.
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WBA approves undeserving drug cheat to fight for interim title |
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On Saturday, December 13th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, during 104th Annual World Boxing Association (WBA) Convention, Cuba's Kevin “Alfa” Brown (10-0 including the World Series of Boxing) against the Cletus “Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (29-1, 23 KOs) for the WBA interim junior welterweight title. The event will be streamed live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. According to Wikipedia, "On April 6, 2017, Seldin tested positive for anabolic steroid use for a second time showing an increased level of testosterone and anabolic steroid Stanozolol also known as Winstrol , which forced his June 15 fight to be canceled. His testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) was 21.02 to 1, which far exceeded the allowable threshold of 4 to 1 under World Anti-Doping Agency standards."
Brown, known for his technical precision and fluid footwork, sees this opportunity as his breakout moment. “This is the fight I’ve been waiting for,” he said. “Seldin is a tough, experienced warrior, but I believe my skills, my speed, and my mindset will prove I’m ready for the world stage... I plan to make a statement and show the boxing world that a new star is rising in the [140-pound] division.”
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WBA approves undeserving drug cheat to fight for interim title
On Saturday, December 13th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, during 104th Annual World Boxing Association (WBA) Convention, Cuba's Kevin “Alfa” Brown (10-0 including the World Series of Boxing) against the Cletus “Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (29-1, 23 KOs) for the WBA interim junior welterweight title. The event will be streamed live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. According to Wikipedia, "On April 6, 2017, Seldin tested positive for anabolic steroid use for a second time showing an increased level of testosterone and anabolic steroid Stanozolol also known as Winstrol , which forced his June 15 fight to be canceled. His testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) was 21.02 to 1, which far exceeded the allowable threshold of 4 to 1 under World Anti-Doping Agency standards."
Brown, known for his technical precision and fluid footwork, sees this opportunity as his breakout moment. “This is the fight I’ve been waiting for,” he said. “Seldin is a tough, experienced warrior, but I believe my skills, my speed, and my mindset will prove I’m ready for the world stage... I plan to make a statement and show the boxing world that a new star is rising in the [140-pound] division.”
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WBC reinstates Ryan Garcia |
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The WBC announced that its Board of Governors has voted to lift the suspension imposed upon boxer Ryan Garcia for his use pf performance enhancing substances in his last fight, which was against two-division champion Devin Haney. The WBC claimed the decision came after a "successful and properly documented process that has been thoroughly evaluated." Garcia appeared to hand Haney his first pro loss in April of 2024 but the result was changed to a no contest after the positive test. Garcia was rewarded for his cheating with a WBA welterweight title shot earlier this year, but lost that to Rollie Romero.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán shared the following statement regarding the resolution: “The WBC Board of Governors has voted in favor of lifting the suspension on Ryan Garcia after his successful and documented process. The WBC has been very close to Ryan, his family, his management team, and promoter, and we are confident that he will start a new life inside and outside the ring. We welcome you with open arms and trust that you will be an ambassador for the new generation.”
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WBC reinstates Ryan Garcia
The WBC announced that its Board of Governors has voted to lift the suspension imposed upon boxer Ryan Garcia for his use pf performance enhancing substances in his last fight, which was against two-division champion Devin Haney. The WBC claimed the decision came after a "successful and properly documented process that has been thoroughly evaluated." Garcia appeared to hand Haney his first pro loss in April of 2024 but the result was changed to a no contest after the positive test. Garcia was rewarded for his cheating with a WBA welterweight title shot earlier this year, but lost that to Rollie Romero.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán shared the following statement regarding the resolution: “The WBC Board of Governors has voted in favor of lifting the suspension on Ryan Garcia after his successful and documented process. The WBC has been very close to Ryan, his family, his management team, and promoter, and we are confident that he will start a new life inside and outside the ring. We welcome you with open arms and trust that you will be an ambassador for the new generation.”
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Alimkhanuly vs. Lara presser quotes |
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WBO / IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (pictured) and his WBA counterpart Erislandy Lara will have a unfication battle on the pay-per-view undercard of the Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Lamont Roach PBC pay-per-view event on December 6th, previewed their matchup during a virtual press conference on Tuesday. Tickets for the live event at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio are on sale now through Ticketmaste. Here is what the two 160-pound champions had to say on Tuesday:
JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY “In the past I’ve fought a lot of southpaws. As an amateur I was watching Lara fight in the pros. I know his style, I know what he can do, and I know what he cannot do. I don’t think this is going to be a difficult fight for me. “Everything is going very well and we’re just waiting for fight night. Preparation is going very well and we can’t wait for December 6th. “I’m thankful to Lara for taking this fight. It’s a big honor to fight a boxer like him who’s been a two-division champion. He’s very well-known and he’s a very good fighter. It’s an honor to share the ring with him. “Everyone knows that I want to be undisputed. Lara is holding one of the belts, so I’m just waiting for December 6 to give everyone a good show. “I’ve studied Lara and I know his style. He’s not the first fighter I’ve faced with talent and good skills in the ring. “When I was an amateur I fought Cuban boxers, and more recently I’ve sparred Cuban boxers. I’ve even gone to Cuba to fight before. “ ERISLANDY LARA “Janibek can think whatever he wants. We’ll see if he’s ready on December 6 and if it’s as easy as he thinks it’s gonna be. He’s gonna be in for a big surprise. “Getting a win would mean so much for my career. Janibek is a tough opponent who represents a country with great fighting history. I haven’t faced a fighter from Kazakhstan since the amateurs, but I can’t wait. “Boxing is everything to me and I’m still very motivated to keep climbing the ladder and reach the top. I do this for my family and for my legacy. I want to show that I’m still on top of my game. “I’m only focused on December 6th. Janibek is a tough opponent, so I’m not going to think about any other opponents. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got on December 6th and then I’ll see where we’re at. I’ll see you on December 6th Janibek. I’ll be ready for whatever you bring, so you better be ready too. “I knew that I just had to wait patiently for this fight to happen. No matter what happened, I was gonna be ready for whatever came next. Whether it was me or (WBC Middleweight Champion) Carlos Adames fighting Janibek, either one of us was gonna be ready to represent Latin America.”
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Alimkhanuly vs. Lara presser quotes
WBO / IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (pictured) and his WBA counterpart Erislandy Lara will have a unfication battle on the pay-per-view undercard of the Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Lamont Roach PBC pay-per-view event on December 6th, previewed their matchup during a virtual press conference on Tuesday. Tickets for the live event at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio are on sale now through Ticketmaste. Here is what the two 160-pound champions had to say on Tuesday:
JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY “In the past I’ve fought a lot of southpaws. As an amateur I was watching Lara fight in the pros. I know his style, I know what he can do, and I know what he cannot do. I don’t think this is going to be a difficult fight for me. “Everything is going very well and we’re just waiting for fight night. Preparation is going very well and we can’t wait for December 6th. “I’m thankful to Lara for taking this fight. It’s a big honor to fight a boxer like him who’s been a two-division champion. He’s very well-known and he’s a very good fighter. It’s an honor to share the ring with him. “Everyone knows that I want to be undisputed. Lara is holding one of the belts, so I’m just waiting for December 6 to give everyone a good show. “I’ve studied Lara and I know his style. He’s not the first fighter I’ve faced with talent and good skills in the ring. “When I was an amateur I fought Cuban boxers, and more recently I’ve sparred Cuban boxers. I’ve even gone to Cuba to fight before. “ ERISLANDY LARA “Janibek can think whatever he wants. We’ll see if he’s ready on December 6 and if it’s as easy as he thinks it’s gonna be. He’s gonna be in for a big surprise. “Getting a win would mean so much for my career. Janibek is a tough opponent who represents a country with great fighting history. I haven’t faced a fighter from Kazakhstan since the amateurs, but I can’t wait. “Boxing is everything to me and I’m still very motivated to keep climbing the ladder and reach the top. I do this for my family and for my legacy. I want to show that I’m still on top of my game. “I’m only focused on December 6th. Janibek is a tough opponent, so I’m not going to think about any other opponents. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got on December 6th and then I’ll see where we’re at. I’ll see you on December 6th Janibek. I’ll be ready for whatever you bring, so you better be ready too. “I knew that I just had to wait patiently for this fight to happen. No matter what happened, I was gonna be ready for whatever came next. Whether it was me or (WBC Middleweight Champion) Carlos Adames fighting Janibek, either one of us was gonna be ready to represent Latin America.”
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Barthelemy vs. Martin rescheduled for Dec. 6th |
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Frank “The Ghost” Martin will make his return to the ring against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a ten-round junior welterweight showdown that tops a three-fight PBC on Prime Video lineup, streaming live and for free on Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The streaming presentation will also feature undefeated junior middleweight Isaac “La Bestia” Lucero dueling hard-hitting Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a ten-round all-Mexican showdown, plus unbeaten junior lightweight Luis “The Twist” Nunez facing Argentinian contender Hector Sosa in the ten-round opening bout at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. These matchups, rescheduled from a cancelled October show, lead into a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video headlined by Mexican star and former champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz step into the ring against reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim 140-pound title. The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara take on unified WBO / IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. The pay-per-view action will also feature two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. challenging reigning WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster for Foster's title and Mexico's Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. dueling Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title opening the pay-per-view. After a strong run at 135 pound that ended with a loss to Gervonta "Tank" Davis but established him as one of the slickest fighters in the sport, Frank “The Ghost” Martin will look to begin a run in the stacked junior welterweight division as he faces Cuba’s former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a ten-round attraction. Prior to the Davis fight, the 30-year-old Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) had most recently shown that his power can last through a twelve-round fight as he dropped the previously unbeaten Artem Harutyunyan in the final frame to clinch a unanimous decision victory in July 2023. His previous outing saw him drop and dominate then-unbeaten Michel Rivera on his way to a unanimous decision in December 2022. Martin’s initial ascent at 135 pounds began with a stoppage of then unbeaten Jerry Perez in April 2021 before dispatching of tough contenders Jackson Marinez, Romero Duno and Ryan Kielczweski. “I’m excited to be back after people tried to bash me for taking one loss,” said Martin. “I took it as a lesson learned and I’m back mentally and physically at the top of my game. Rances is gonna have to deal with everything I went through, and he’s gonna feel it on every punch. I’m back and I’m pissed off and dangerous.” A native of Havana now fighting out of Las Vegas, Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) steps back into action after dropping a decision to former unified champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in April 2024. His previous two outings saw him best contender Omar Juarez in May 2023 after a July 2022 defeat to Gary Antuanne Russell in which many believed the referee waived off the fight prematurely. A champion at 130 and 135 pounds, Barthelemy owns notable victories over Argenis Mendez, Antonio DeMarco, Mickey Bey and Denis Shafikov. His only other professional loss came in a 2018 rematch against Kiryl Relikh. Barthelemy comes from a fighting family, as he is the middle brother between the younger Leduan and the older Yan, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. “December 6th is the night I remind everyone who Rances Barthelemy is,” said Barthelemy. “Frank Martin is a talented fighter, but I’ve been in deep waters before, and experience counts when the lights are brightest. I’m coming with new hunger, sharper focus, and the fire of a man chasing one more world title run. Fans tuning in are going to see me determined to leave everything in the ring. I’m not here to survive, I’m here to dominate and make sure my name is back on everyone’s radar.”
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Barthelemy vs. Martin rescheduled for Dec. 6th
Frank “The Ghost” Martin will make his return to the ring against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a ten-round junior welterweight showdown that tops a three-fight PBC on Prime Video lineup, streaming live and for free on Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The streaming presentation will also feature undefeated junior middleweight Isaac “La Bestia” Lucero dueling hard-hitting Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a ten-round all-Mexican showdown, plus unbeaten junior lightweight Luis “The Twist” Nunez facing Argentinian contender Hector Sosa in the ten-round opening bout at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. These matchups, rescheduled from a cancelled October show, lead into a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video headlined by Mexican star and former champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz step into the ring against reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim 140-pound title. The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara take on unified WBO / IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. The pay-per-view action will also feature two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. challenging reigning WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster for Foster's title and Mexico's Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. dueling Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title opening the pay-per-view. After a strong run at 135 pound that ended with a loss to Gervonta "Tank" Davis but established him as one of the slickest fighters in the sport, Frank “The Ghost” Martin will look to begin a run in the stacked junior welterweight division as he faces Cuba’s former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a ten-round attraction. Prior to the Davis fight, the 30-year-old Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) had most recently shown that his power can last through a twelve-round fight as he dropped the previously unbeaten Artem Harutyunyan in the final frame to clinch a unanimous decision victory in July 2023. His previous outing saw him drop and dominate then-unbeaten Michel Rivera on his way to a unanimous decision in December 2022. Martin’s initial ascent at 135 pounds began with a stoppage of then unbeaten Jerry Perez in April 2021 before dispatching of tough contenders Jackson Marinez, Romero Duno and Ryan Kielczweski. “I’m excited to be back after people tried to bash me for taking one loss,” said Martin. “I took it as a lesson learned and I’m back mentally and physically at the top of my game. Rances is gonna have to deal with everything I went through, and he’s gonna feel it on every punch. I’m back and I’m pissed off and dangerous.” A native of Havana now fighting out of Las Vegas, Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) steps back into action after dropping a decision to former unified champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in April 2024. His previous two outings saw him best contender Omar Juarez in May 2023 after a July 2022 defeat to Gary Antuanne Russell in which many believed the referee waived off the fight prematurely. A champion at 130 and 135 pounds, Barthelemy owns notable victories over Argenis Mendez, Antonio DeMarco, Mickey Bey and Denis Shafikov. His only other professional loss came in a 2018 rematch against Kiryl Relikh. Barthelemy comes from a fighting family, as he is the middle brother between the younger Leduan and the older Yan, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. “December 6th is the night I remind everyone who Rances Barthelemy is,” said Barthelemy. “Frank Martin is a talented fighter, but I’ve been in deep waters before, and experience counts when the lights are brightest. I’m coming with new hunger, sharper focus, and the fire of a man chasing one more world title run. Fans tuning in are going to see me determined to leave everything in the ring. I’m not here to survive, I’m here to dominate and make sure my name is back on everyone’s radar.”
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Lacey-Pierce defeats Pennington in Detroit action |
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Justin Lacey-Pierce W8 Courtney Pennington... Last Saturday night, Justin Lacey-Pierce (13-0, 7 KOs) pulled ahead in the later rounds to win an entertaining eight-round unanimous decision over still-capable veteran Courtney Pennington (17-11-3, 7 KOs) of Brooklyn. The junior middleweight bout was part of Carlos Llinas and CLIP Boxing’s “Night of Knockouts XXXVII (37),” event at Sound Board in MotorCity Casino Hotel in Downtown Detroit. In the second of two shows in just eight days presented by Llinas at the same venue, Lacey-Pierce and Pennington spent the opening round sizing each other up and then went to war in a solidly fought battle that featured back-and-forth action throughout. Both fighters had their moments in the fight, pushing the other back and unloading. With trainer Ronnie Shields urging him on from the corner, Lacey-Pierce’s superior conditioning allowed him to pull ahead in the exchanges as the fight went on. All three judges scored it 79-73 for Lacey-Pierce in a fight that was much closer than the final scores suggest. ADDITIONAL BOUTS Detroit junior welterweight Lance Smith (4-0, 4 KOs) kept his record perfect with a dominant fifth-round stoppage of Guadalupe Jimenez (7-18-3, 4 KOs). Smith wore down the durable Jimenez with steady pressure until the Illinois veteran elected not to come out for the penultimate round. Per Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission rules, the official result is a TKO 5 at 0:00. Pro-debuting Detroit super middleweight James Ashley (0-1) survived two knockdowns from Benton Harbor, Michigan’s undefeated Ardarrieon Daigle-Williams (3-0, 2 KOs) in the opening round to come on strong in the final two rounds of their exciting four-round slugfest. With the sold-out crowd on their feet throughout, the knockdowns made the difference in the end, with Daigle-Williams getting the unanimous nod by scores of 35-39, 36-38 and 36-39. In other results, Detroit featherweight Tommy Robinson (2-0) returned from a six-year layoff to score a unanimous four-round decision over Rashad Hicks (2-5-1, 1 KO) and... Grand Rapids welterweight Ulysses Campos (4-0, 4 KOs) dominated Deonta Williamson (2-5, 2 KOs) before stopping him at 2:55 of round two.
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Lacey-Pierce defeats Pennington in Detroit action
Justin Lacey-Pierce W8 Courtney Pennington... Last Saturday night, Justin Lacey-Pierce (13-0, 7 KOs) pulled ahead in the later rounds to win an entertaining eight-round unanimous decision over still-capable veteran Courtney Pennington (17-11-3, 7 KOs) of Brooklyn. The junior middleweight bout was part of Carlos Llinas and CLIP Boxing’s “Night of Knockouts XXXVII (37),” event at Sound Board in MotorCity Casino Hotel in Downtown Detroit. In the second of two shows in just eight days presented by Llinas at the same venue, Lacey-Pierce and Pennington spent the opening round sizing each other up and then went to war in a solidly fought battle that featured back-and-forth action throughout. Both fighters had their moments in the fight, pushing the other back and unloading. With trainer Ronnie Shields urging him on from the corner, Lacey-Pierce’s superior conditioning allowed him to pull ahead in the exchanges as the fight went on. All three judges scored it 79-73 for Lacey-Pierce in a fight that was much closer than the final scores suggest. ADDITIONAL BOUTS Detroit junior welterweight Lance Smith (4-0, 4 KOs) kept his record perfect with a dominant fifth-round stoppage of Guadalupe Jimenez (7-18-3, 4 KOs). Smith wore down the durable Jimenez with steady pressure until the Illinois veteran elected not to come out for the penultimate round. Per Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission rules, the official result is a TKO 5 at 0:00. Pro-debuting Detroit super middleweight James Ashley (0-1) survived two knockdowns from Benton Harbor, Michigan’s undefeated Ardarrieon Daigle-Williams (3-0, 2 KOs) in the opening round to come on strong in the final two rounds of their exciting four-round slugfest. With the sold-out crowd on their feet throughout, the knockdowns made the difference in the end, with Daigle-Williams getting the unanimous nod by scores of 35-39, 36-38 and 36-39. In other results, Detroit featherweight Tommy Robinson (2-0) returned from a six-year layoff to score a unanimous four-round decision over Rashad Hicks (2-5-1, 1 KO) and... Grand Rapids welterweight Ulysses Campos (4-0, 4 KOs) dominated Deonta Williamson (2-5, 2 KOs) before stopping him at 2:55 of round two.
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Late result: L. Pero defeats J. Thompson |
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Lenier Peró W10 Jordan Thompson ... Cuban heavyweight Lenier Peró grinded out a unanimous decision over Britain’s Jordan Thompson at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida over the weekend. Peró had to dig deep against an opponent who refused to give him an easy night. But as the rounds ticked by, the Cuban’s poise and class separated him, earning a scorecard win by tallies of 96–93 (twice) and 97–93. It was a spirited main event, with both big men having their moments and trading momentum through stretches of the fight. Peró’s sharper execution and ability to bank rounds proved decisive. Peró stays unbeaten at 13–0 with 8 knockouts, while Thompson slips to 15–2 with 12 wins by stoppage.
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Late result: L. Pero defeats J. Thompson
Lenier Peró W10 Jordan Thompson ... Cuban heavyweight Lenier Peró grinded out a unanimous decision over Britain’s Jordan Thompson at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida over the weekend. Peró had to dig deep against an opponent who refused to give him an easy night. But as the rounds ticked by, the Cuban’s poise and class separated him, earning a scorecard win by tallies of 96–93 (twice) and 97–93. It was a spirited main event, with both big men having their moments and trading momentum through stretches of the fight. Peró’s sharper execution and ability to bank rounds proved decisive. Peró stays unbeaten at 13–0 with 8 knockouts, while Thompson slips to 15–2 with 12 wins by stoppage.
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IBF schedules purse bid for Dubois vs. Sanchez |
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The IBF is continuing in its efforts to schedule a heavyweight elimination bout. In August, a purse bid was held for a fight between Frank Sanchez and Efe Ajagba, but the bids were not high enough to entice the boxers to accept, particularly Ajagba. The IBF moved on to a fromer champion, ordering Sanchez to begin negotiations with Daniel Dubois on October 7th. Dubois' last fight was a KO loss in a unification fight vs. the true world champion Oleksandr Usyk. Normally, the IBF does not invite a boxer coming off a knockout loss to take part in an eliminator, but apparently an exception was made for Dubois. In any event, no agreement was reached between Sanchez and Dubois so the IBF has scheduled a purse bid for November 13th. It remains to be seen whether Dubois will be interested in a fight vs. the Cuban Sanchez. After a 2024 loss to Agit Kabayel, Sanchez had one very low-level fight in 2025, beating a man with a losing record in February.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE AUG 26, 2025: Sampson Boxing won a purse bid today and now has the right to promote an IBF heavyweight elimination bout between Cuba's Frank Sanchez and Nigeria's Efe Ajagba. Sampson's winning bid was $302,000, which will be split 60% for Ajagba and 40% for Sanchez, assuming both men accept the fight. A decision from the boxers to accept or decline is due in fifteen days. Top Rank, Ajagba's promoter, put up a losing bid for $210,000. Under IBF rules, Sampson must schedule the bout to take place within 28 and 90 days and not more than 90 days from today, which is Monday, November 24th. This will be a rematch of a ten-round fight in 2021 that Sanchez won by unanimous decision. The winner becomes the IBF mandatory contender for undefeated world champion Oleksandr Usyk, but the path to an actual title shot is unclear because Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles which puts him in a position to pick and choose his fights. Sanchez (25-1 with 18 KOs) last fought in February, when he bounced back from his first career loss with a third-round knockout of Ramon Olivas Echeverria (18-25 with 12 KOs). Echeverria was once on the losing end of a fixed fight. Sanchez was fighting for the first time since his seventh-round knockout loss to Agit Kabayel in May of 2024. Though the win was hardly a challenge for Sanchez, it got him back into position for the IBF eliminator. Ajagba (20-1-1) last fought in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia against 299-pound Martin Bakole. After ten rounds, Bakole was fortunate to come away with a draw against Efe Ajagba (pictured). After ten rounds, the judges adjudicated the bout 96-94 for Ajagba, 95-95 and 95-95, making it a majority draw. It wasn't a robbery, but Ajagba was more active, had superior ring generalship and seemed to land more punches. Bakole landed a few harder punches, and that was enough to convince two judges to award a stalemate. AUG. 19, 2025: A purse bid for an IBF heavyweight eliminator is back on the books after a few previous postponements.. The promotional rights to a potential Frank Sanchez vs. Efe Ajagba rematch is scheduled to be auctioned off on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 12 noon. Sanchez defeated Ajagba by unanimous decision in 2021, but with heavyweight contenders Filip Hrgovic and Derek Chisora jockeying for bigger fights, Sanchez and Ajagba are the two highest ranked fighters in the IBF ratings to enter the elimination process. Undefeated world champion Oleksandr Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles, including the IBF version. AUG. 11, 2025: The IBF announced that the Efe Ajagba vs. Frank Sanchez purse bid has been postponed until further notice. AUG. 4, 2025: When Filip Hrgovic pulled out of the IBF heavyweight elimination process, on July 24th, the IBF ordered #3 ranked Efe Ajagba and #4 ranked Frank Sanchez to begin negotiations for an eliminator for the vacant #1 position. Derek Chisora sits at #2. Carl Moretti of Top Rank, representing Ajagba, confirmed that Ajagba would like to proceed straight to a purse bid, which is permitted under IBF rules. The IBF initially scheduled a purse for Tuesday, August 5th but that has now been pushed back one week until August 12th. Oleksandr Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles, including the IBF version. MAY 19, 2024: In a WBC heavyweight eliminator held on the big Riyadh, Saudi Arabia show, Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) made a huge career move forward, stopping the favored and previously undefeated Frank Sanchez (24-1, 17 KOs) in round seven. Kabayel defeated Sanchez with a strong body attack. The normally mobile Sanchez fought with a brace on his right knee. Kabayel is Kurdish but lives in Germany. OCT. 10, 2021: Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) scored one knockdown on his way to a comfortable, ten-round unanimous decision win over Efe Ajagba. Sanchez used his superior boxing skills to keep the hard-hitting Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) off-balance for the entire fight. The “Cuban Flash” displayed his power as well, flooring Ajagba with a hard right in the seventh. A follow-up left hook which landed a tick after Ajagba’s knee hit the canvas Ajagba made it to his feet and survived the round but never seriously threatened on his way to the first defeat of his career. Sanchez said afterwards, "I knew I was going to win all the rounds because I’m much better than him technically. I knew that if I connected, he would fall and he did fall. My game plan was always to frustrate him and go in for the attack."
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IBF schedules purse bid for Dubois vs. Sanchez
The IBF is continuing in its efforts to schedule a heavyweight elimination bout. In August, a purse bid was held for a fight between Frank Sanchez and Efe Ajagba, but the bids were not high enough to entice the boxers to accept, particularly Ajagba. The IBF moved on to a fromer champion, ordering Sanchez to begin negotiations with Daniel Dubois on October 7th. Dubois' last fight was a KO loss in a unification fight vs. the true world champion Oleksandr Usyk. Normally, the IBF does not invite a boxer coming off a knockout loss to take part in an eliminator, but apparently an exception was made for Dubois. In any event, no agreement was reached between Sanchez and Dubois so the IBF has scheduled a purse bid for November 13th. It remains to be seen whether Dubois will be interested in a fight vs. the Cuban Sanchez. After a 2024 loss to Agit Kabayel, Sanchez had one very low-level fight in 2025, beating a man with a losing record in February.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE AUG 26, 2025: Sampson Boxing won a purse bid today and now has the right to promote an IBF heavyweight elimination bout between Cuba's Frank Sanchez and Nigeria's Efe Ajagba. Sampson's winning bid was $302,000, which will be split 60% for Ajagba and 40% for Sanchez, assuming both men accept the fight. A decision from the boxers to accept or decline is due in fifteen days. Top Rank, Ajagba's promoter, put up a losing bid for $210,000. Under IBF rules, Sampson must schedule the bout to take place within 28 and 90 days and not more than 90 days from today, which is Monday, November 24th. This will be a rematch of a ten-round fight in 2021 that Sanchez won by unanimous decision. The winner becomes the IBF mandatory contender for undefeated world champion Oleksandr Usyk, but the path to an actual title shot is unclear because Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles which puts him in a position to pick and choose his fights. Sanchez (25-1 with 18 KOs) last fought in February, when he bounced back from his first career loss with a third-round knockout of Ramon Olivas Echeverria (18-25 with 12 KOs). Echeverria was once on the losing end of a fixed fight. Sanchez was fighting for the first time since his seventh-round knockout loss to Agit Kabayel in May of 2024. Though the win was hardly a challenge for Sanchez, it got him back into position for the IBF eliminator. Ajagba (20-1-1) last fought in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia against 299-pound Martin Bakole. After ten rounds, Bakole was fortunate to come away with a draw against Efe Ajagba (pictured). After ten rounds, the judges adjudicated the bout 96-94 for Ajagba, 95-95 and 95-95, making it a majority draw. It wasn't a robbery, but Ajagba was more active, had superior ring generalship and seemed to land more punches. Bakole landed a few harder punches, and that was enough to convince two judges to award a stalemate. AUG. 19, 2025: A purse bid for an IBF heavyweight eliminator is back on the books after a few previous postponements.. The promotional rights to a potential Frank Sanchez vs. Efe Ajagba rematch is scheduled to be auctioned off on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 12 noon. Sanchez defeated Ajagba by unanimous decision in 2021, but with heavyweight contenders Filip Hrgovic and Derek Chisora jockeying for bigger fights, Sanchez and Ajagba are the two highest ranked fighters in the IBF ratings to enter the elimination process. Undefeated world champion Oleksandr Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles, including the IBF version. AUG. 11, 2025: The IBF announced that the Efe Ajagba vs. Frank Sanchez purse bid has been postponed until further notice. AUG. 4, 2025: When Filip Hrgovic pulled out of the IBF heavyweight elimination process, on July 24th, the IBF ordered #3 ranked Efe Ajagba and #4 ranked Frank Sanchez to begin negotiations for an eliminator for the vacant #1 position. Derek Chisora sits at #2. Carl Moretti of Top Rank, representing Ajagba, confirmed that Ajagba would like to proceed straight to a purse bid, which is permitted under IBF rules. The IBF initially scheduled a purse for Tuesday, August 5th but that has now been pushed back one week until August 12th. Oleksandr Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles, including the IBF version. MAY 19, 2024: In a WBC heavyweight eliminator held on the big Riyadh, Saudi Arabia show, Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) made a huge career move forward, stopping the favored and previously undefeated Frank Sanchez (24-1, 17 KOs) in round seven. Kabayel defeated Sanchez with a strong body attack. The normally mobile Sanchez fought with a brace on his right knee. Kabayel is Kurdish but lives in Germany. OCT. 10, 2021: Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) scored one knockdown on his way to a comfortable, ten-round unanimous decision win over Efe Ajagba. Sanchez used his superior boxing skills to keep the hard-hitting Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) off-balance for the entire fight. The “Cuban Flash” displayed his power as well, flooring Ajagba with a hard right in the seventh. A follow-up left hook which landed a tick after Ajagba’s knee hit the canvas Ajagba made it to his feet and survived the round but never seriously threatened on his way to the first defeat of his career. Sanchez said afterwards, "I knew I was going to win all the rounds because I’m much better than him technically. I knew that if I connected, he would fall and he did fall. My game plan was always to frustrate him and go in for the attack."
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