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By Scott Shaffer | December 23, 2025

WBO wants Sheeraz vs. Pacheco for vacant title

WBO wants Sheeraz vs. Pacheco for vacant title
With world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announcing his retirement, the WBO has moved quickly to set up a vacant title fight. Over the weekend, Hamzah Sheeraz of Great Britain and Diego Pacheco of the United States were ordered to begin negotiations, with a twenty-day deadline before the purse bid process is started. Sheeraz might be able to opt for the WBC route, with a possible fight against Canada's Christian Mbilli for the WBC version of the 168-pound championship. Sheeraz is 22-0-1 and a former British middleweight champion. In February, he fought to a draw with Carlos Adames in a bid for Adames' WBC middleweight championship, although most thought Adames deserved the win. Sheeraz went on to knock out Edgar Berlanga in July. Pacheco is 25-0 and although he hasn't looked great in his last three fights, he holds victories over many qualified boxers.   
 
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
 
DEC. 17, 2025: Undefeated, multi-division champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement today. The future Hall of Famer posted a YouTube video saying, "Every fighter knows this moment will come. You just never know when... I've spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines, but that feeling you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and keep proving them wrong. This sport gave me everything... and I did it all my way. And I've made peace with what's next. Now, its time. Thank you... I'm stepping away from competition. Not because I'm done fighting but because I won a different kind of battle, the oen where you walk away on your own terms. This isn't goodbye, its just the end of one fight and the beginning of another." 
 
SEPT. 14, 2025:  On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Terence Crawford made boxing history, becoming an undefeated five-division champion by defeating Saul "Canelo" Álvarez in a battle of future Hall of Famers. Moving up two weight divisions since his last fight, Crawford won by unanimous decision in front of a roaring crowd at Allegiant Stadium. The official scores were 115-113 (twice) and 116-112. Alvarez did not dispute the outcome. The performance marked not just another win, but the kind of career-defining moment that puts Crawford firmly in the conversation as one of the greatest fighters of his era.
Source: WBC | December 23, 2025

Australia's Kaye Scott picks up two middleweight belts

Australia's Kaye Scott picks up two middleweight belts
Kaye Scott W10 Olivia Curry... At the age of 41, Australia's Kaye Scott won a ten-round majority decision over Chicago’s Olivia Curry to claim the vacant WBC and WBA middleweight titles at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. The fight was a rematch of one of the best women's bouts of the year, which had ended in a majority draw back in September. Scott started strong in the first round, extending her reach with the jab. In the second, an accidental clash of heads opened a cut over Curry’s right eye. Curry showed effective aggression in the fourth, applying constant pressure. However, Scott responded in the following rounds, meeting and tempering her opponent’s advances with power and precise punching. Unlike their first encounter, where Curry’s aggression became a salient factor late in the fight, Scott persisted in a punishing counter-punching style. At 41 years old, Scott became a unified world champion in her third attempt, moving to 5-1-1, while Curry fell to 7-3-2.
Source: WBC | December 23, 2025

WBC Grand Prix final results

WBC Grand Prix final results
One hundred and twenty eight fighters began an arduous journey toward glory in March of this year, but only four managed to realize their dream, taking home the José Sulaimán Trophy and the champion’s belt at the WBC Grand Prix Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here are the results of this weekend's final-round bouts:
 
Kevin Ramírez W8 Ahmed Krnjić... Argentina's Kevin Ramírez became the WBC Grand Prix heavyweight champion by defeating Bosnia’s Ahmed Krnjić via unanimous decision. A natural cruiserweight, Ramírez ended up dominating the heavyweight tournament. He controlled the fight from start to finish, which was reflected in the open scoring. Ramírez showcased great mobility, high volume, and excellent combinations. “I’ve gone through things no one knows about and I was on the verge of hanging up the gloves. Now I want to be the cruiserweight world champion,” said Ramírez.
 
Brandon Mejía W8 Muhamed Qamili... Mexico’s Brandon Mejía won the featherweight tournament, defeating Muhamet Qamili of Italy via a unanimous decision. This was the “heart” of the tournament, a true and veritable war in the ring where both avidly sought a knockout. Mejía landed the cleaner combinations and moved out of the line of fire, while Qamili focused on counter-punching. Despite a gritty performance from the Italian, Mejía took the win. “I faced a very resilient and complicated opponent… it is a tremendous pride to be the first WBC Grand Prix champion,” Mejía expressed.
 
Carlos Utria W8 Mujibillo Tursunov... Colombia’s Carlos Utria claimed the junior welterweight title by defeating Uzbekistan’s Mujibillo Tursunov. Utria’s technique and power were evident from the outset, making the Uzbek fighter retreat—something unseen previously in the tournament. Utria dominated the scorecards and used sharp uppercuts to secure the win. “This victory is for my people in Soplavientos. The cup is coming home!”
 
Dylan Biggs W8 Derek Pomerleau... Australian middleweight Dylan Biggs defeated Canada’s Derek Pomerleau via unanimous decision in a fight he controlled from the first bell. An early knockdown by Biggs set the tone for the strategic encounter. “This is what I’ve dreamed of since I was 10 years old. We finally got here and achieved our goal,” said Biggs. The fight was highly strategic, as both boxers were well aware of their opponent’s fight might. The first round began with great excitement; Biggs managed to land a punch that, while it didn’t seriously hurt Pomerleau, he did score a knockdown, setting the tone and creating a key difference in the bout.
 
 
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Introducing Eastern Ring Boxing
Press Release | December 23, 2025

Introducing Eastern Ring Boxing

Introducing Eastern Ring Boxing
The Middle East’s most successful and dominant amateur boxers have come from the kingdom of Jordan, with currently no outlet for a professional future in the region. That has now changed with the launch of Eastern Ring Boxing (ERB), a promotional company based in Amman, Jordan, with a high focus of cultivating a new professional boxing scene in the Kingdom.  “I am honored to announce the launch of Jordan’s first premier professional boxing promotion, East Ring Boxing (ERB),” said Hussein AlNayef, ERB CEO. “With the tremendous support of the Jordanian Boxing Federation, we are poised for an exciting launch in 2026 as we bring this vision to life. Jordan is home to exceptional talent, and this platform will empower our athletes to advance their careers and proudly enter the professional ranks. This marks a significant step forward for the sport in our nation, and we look forward to showcasing the very best of Jordanian boxing.’ 
 
With the recent support of Prince Nayif bin Asim, the newly appointed head of the Jordan Boxing Federation, the promotion is gaining momentum rapidly. His endorsement marks a significant step forward and adds tremendous credibility to the organization’s growth and future success.
 
“The initiative that ERB has taken is an exceptional one and I’m proud to support them in their vision of elevating Jordan boxing and Jordanian boxers to the next steps in their careers, and on a global stage,” His Highness Prince Nayif bin Asem, President Jordanian Boxing Federation stated. “They have an exceptional team of likeminded individuals, and I support their initiatives for the events they plan to do in the Kingdom and for our Jordanian champions” 
 
Last week, the promotion welcomed Global boxing advisor Amer Abdallah to the Kingdom, officially appointing him as a Key Strategic Advisor. Abdallah, recently named President of the newly launched MF Pro, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the role. In 2019, he made history by launching Dubai’s first-ever professional Kickboxing and Boxing promotion, laying the foundation for combat sports in the region. His influence has also been instrumental in the growth of Saudi Arabia’s boxing landscape.
 
In addition to his strategic work, Abdallah has represented some of the sport’s biggest names, including Mike Tyson, Badou Jack, Nico Ali Walsh, and many others. Recognized as one of the most influential figures in the Middle East boxing scene, his involvement marks a significant step forward for the sport's continued development in the region.
 
“Having collaborated with some of the world’s premier boxing promotions and global sporting events, I’m truly honored and excited to join ERB as their Boxing Advisor,” said Amer Abdallah, Global Boxing Advisor. “Hussein and his team have all the right ingredients to build something truly special on the international stage. With access to a deep pool of Jordanian talent and a clear vision in place, the potential is remarkable. After several productive meetings with the team and with His Highness Prince Nayif, the mission is clear, and now fully underway. Jordan, here we go!”
 
ERB is currently preparing for a mid-year launch of its inaugural event, which will kick off a series of annual boxing shows in the Kingdom, setting the stage for a dynamic new era in the region’s combat sports scene.
 
Source: CB Promotions | December 23, 2025

Trenton, NJ show back on for Jan. 15th

Trenton, NJ show back on for Jan. 15th
CB Promotions will now stage it's first fight card on Thursday night, January 15th at The War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey. After this Thursday night show, CB Promotions intends to settle into a monthly series of Tuesday night fights series palnned to take place in East Coast venues. In the main event, local favorite Shinard Bunch 21-3-1, 17 KOs of Hamilton, New Jersey takes on John Paul Manalong in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. Bunch, 26, is a six-year pro and has wins over Shyngyzkhan Tazhibay (9-0) and former contender Hank Lundy. Bunch is coming off a decision loss to Starling Castillo on August 15th in Plant City, Florida. Manalong of Colombia via the Philippines is 14-2 with eight-knockouts. The 37-year-old is a three year pro. He is coming off a loss to Mack Allison IV on December 14, 2024 in Baltimore.
 
In four-round Bouts
 
Daniel Bean (4-2, 2 KOs) of Old Bridge, NJ takes on Michael Cserenyi (1-0) of Brooklyn in a heavyweight bout
 
Jean Pierre Valencia (4-0, 2 KO) of Irvington, NJ takes on Kenneth James (5-0 2 KO's) of Phoenix in a middleweight fight.
 
Cornelius Mitchell (1-0-1) of Columbus, Ohio will battle Marquel McMillian (1-0, 1 KO) of Las Vegas in a heavyweight bout.
 
Calvary Harris of York, PA will make his debut against Ryan Mondala (0-3) of Colorado Springs in a junior lightweight bout.
 
Tunde Fatiregun (3-2) of Elizabeth, NJ fighting DeJon Farrell Francis (4-3, 3 KOs) of South Toms River, NJ in a cruiserweight bout.
 
Juan Davilla (4-0, 2 KOs) of Franklinville, NJ fights Stephen Barbee (1-5) of Las Vegas in a lightweight bout.
 
In the co-feature, Arnold Gonzalez (18-1, 9 KOs) takes on an opponent to be named in a welterweight bout... In a six-round cruiserweight bout Mike Hilton (11-0, 7 KOs) takes on an opponent to be named.
 
Tickets are on sale now. 
By Charles Muniz | December 22, 2025

Jake Paul, the Psychology of Spectacle and the Cost of Being Watched

Jake Paul, the Psychology of Spectacle and the Cost of Being Watched
In every speculative boom, the mistake is never believing in the thing. The mistake is believing it has no ceiling. The dot-com era didn’t collapse because the internet wasn’t real. It collapsed because belief began compounding faster than reality could sustain. For a time, belief itself became the most valuable asset in the room — until the market quietly demanded something sturdier. Jake Paul’s boxing run belongs to that same tradition. Not as fraud. Not as delusion. But as a moment when belief — human, collective, emotionally rational belief — became the engine. If you’re unsure how to feel now — if you’re neither angry nor amused but oddly clear — you didn’t miss anything. You didn’t get fooled. You participated in a real experiment.
 
The Experiment Was Real
 
Jake Paul was never popular because he was an elite fighter. That was never the proposition. He was popular because he violated hierarchy in public and refused to ask permission. He stayed visible when mocked. He escalated challenges instead of smoothing narratives. He risked not just defeat, but humiliation under observation. That matters psychologically. Early dot-com companies weren’t popular because they were profitable. They were popular because they changed the conversation. They made people feel like the future was being rewritten in real time. Jake did the same in boxing. Belief followed not because people were naïve, but because the signals were real enough to justify attention.
 
Why Spectacle Works on Humans
 
Belief markets don’t run on logic alone. They run on human wiring. Humans are drawn to moments where three forces align at once: (a) Something genuinely new is entering the system; (b) Someone willing to risk identity in public; (c) Rules that appear, at least temporarily, to be suspended.
 
When those forces converge, belief accelerates faster than analysis can keep up. That doesn’t make belief foolish. It makes it human.
 
This is why people crossed oceans during the Gold Rush chasing rumors... This is why investors poured money into early internet companies.... And this is why audiences stayed with Jake Paul longer than logic alone would suggest. Belief thrives not because outcomes are guaranteed, but because the future remains unresolved.
 
Why the Middle Was Right to Stay Curious
 
The people who said “let’s see” weren’t casuals or marks. They understood the experiment. The question was never “Is he great?”  It was “How far can belief carry someone who keeps showing up?” That’s a legitimate question. Silicon Valley asked for it. Wall Street asked for it. History asks it over and over. Curiosity isn’t a flaw. It’s how moments — and sometimes movements — begin.
 
How Belief Was Sustained
 
Belief doesn’t renew itself. It has to be fed. Jake did four things exceptionally well: (a) He accepted ridicule publicly, never retreating into silence: (b) He escalated perceived risk, keeping the “what if?” alive; (c) He bypassed boxing’s gatekeepers rather than negotiating with them; (d) He kept the line between spectacle and legitimacy just blurry enough to sustain argument. Belief doesn’t require certainty. It requires unresolved tension. As long as debate lived, belief stayed liquid.
 
This Wasn’t Exposure — It Was a Correction
 
Those who always said “fraud” will feel vindicated. That doesn’t make them insightful. It makes them consistent. Exposure implies deception. This wasn’t deception.
 
The dot-com bubble didn’t invalidate the internet. It invalidated the valuations.
 
Jake Paul’s run didn’t invalidate what he achieved. It invalidated the scale at which belief could continue compounding.
 
Belief didn’t fail. It simply outran what could be sustained. That’s how belief markets end — not loudly, but quietly, with clarity.
 
Why Legitimacy Can’t Replace Spectacle
 
This is where much of the analysis goes wrong. Legitimacy does not replace spectacle. It normalizes it.
 
Spectacle thrives on ambiguity, escalation, and the risk of humiliation. Legitimacy resolves questions, manages risk, and creates continuity. Spectacle creates moments. Legitimacy creates careers.
 
Jake built a moment — a powerful one. Trying to convert that moment into an institution misunderstands the psychology that made it work. Normalization isn’t failure. It’s smaller.
 
The Gold Rush and the Price of Belief
 
History doesn’t remember the Gold Rush as a mistake. It remembers it as a time when people moved toward possibility before the map was complete. A few struck it rich. Most didn’t. Some returned home with nothing but the experience itself. History doesn’t mock them. It understands them.
 
Jake Paul’s boxing run belongs to that tradition. He didn’t invent the gold. He recognized when belief itself became valuable — and he was willing to walk into the wilderness publicly while others stayed safe. Belief always has a cost. Sometimes it’s money. Sometimes it’s reputation. Sometimes it’s the moment itself.
 
What Jake Built Along the Way
 
One truth deserves to be stated plainly. Jake wasn’t only extracting value. He was building some. In elevating women’s boxing — not as a sideshow, but as a centerpiece — he reallocated attention in a sport that had forgotten how powerful attention could be. That wasn’t charity. It was infrastructure. Infrastructure is what remains when spectacle fades.
 
The Fork in the Road
 
Once belief stops renewing itself automatically, only a few paths remain: Step away while the moment still feels intentional. Embrace spectacle honestly as entertainment.
Accept normalization and a conventional career. Or redirect belief into platform, ownership, and distribution. What no longer works is pretending these paths are the same. They aren’t.
 
Jake’s Second Act
 
In every rush — gold, internet, attention — the most durable fortunes weren’t made by those who dug the deepest, but by those who built what others needed once the digging slowed. Roads.
Tools. Railroads. Platforms.
 
A few dot-com companies survived not because they were louder, but because they stopped being stories and became utilities.
 
Jake Paul still holds something rare: distribution. A direct relationship with a global audience is not a consolation prize. It is leverage.
 
If he chooses to stop being the product and become the terrain — the place where fighters, stories, and audiences meet without monopoly constraints — he doesn’t need to defeat anyone head-on. He only needs to build where incumbents are structurally uncomfortable.
 
Most won’t make that pivot. The ego cost is too high. The spotlight dims. The work gets quieter. But that is how second acts are made.
 
Jake Paul doesn’t need to prove he was legitimate. He already proved something harder: that belief could be mobilized at scale in a sport that had forgotten how to do it.
 
This wasn’t the night belief was proven wrong.  It was the night belief finished paying its price. And like every rush before it, what remains isn’t shame — but understanding:
 
That belief is powerful, temporary, and costly —and that sometimes the real value lies not in what survives, but in what we were willing to believe together while it lasted.
 
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Watch: Yahir Alan Frank takes out Cortes in 14 seconds
By Scott Shaffer | December 22, 2025

Watch: Yahir Alan Frank takes out Cortes in 14 seconds

Watch: Yahir Alan Frank takes out Cortes in 14 seconds
Yahir Alan Frank KO1 Argi Cortes....  In Mexican super flyweight action, Yahir Alan Frank needed just fourteen seconds for a brutal knock out of the better-known Argi Cortes. Frank hooked off his jab and flattened Cortes (28-5-2) who had gone the distance in world title bids vs. Junto Nakatani and Juan Francisco Estrada. Frank, from Hemosillo, Mexico, is now 18-1. Frank was coming off a 2024 decision loss to Jayr Raquiel of the Philippines.
 
Source: DAZN | December 22, 2025

Easy work for Okolie in Nigeria

Easy work for Okolie in Nigeria
Lawrence Okolie TKO2 Ebenezer Tetteh... Lawrence Okolie finished 2025 with a stoppage win against heavyweight veteran Ebenezer Tetteh.  The pair clashed on a fight card in Lagos, Nigeria, and Okolie made it a quick night in his African debut.  Tetteh was wobbled twice in the opening round, before Okolie unloaded in round two. The fight was then waved off with Tetteh unable to continue at the end of the second session. Okolie (24-2 including the World Series of Boxing) is a two-division champion if you recognize the nascent 224-pound bridgerweight catrgory. Tetteh is now 23-4 with three straight losses. In the aftermath, Okolie called out Moses Itauma, who fights Jermaine Franklin on January 24, after the two were ordered to face each other in a final eliminator for the WBC heavyweight title. 
 
 
 
Source: DAZN | December 22, 2025

Watch: Tony Yoka dusts off with a win in Nigeria

Watch: Tony Yoka dusts off with a win in Nigeria

Tony Yoka KO1 Patrick Korte ... French heavyweight and Olympic champion Tony Yoka made easy work of Patrick Korte with a first round knockout in Lagos, Nigeria.  Meeting on the Lawrence Okolie vs. Ebenezer Tetteh undercard, this was Yoka's first time fighting since signing with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions.  From the opening bell, there was a clear gulf in class and Yoka put Korte out of his misery with a right uppercut in the opening session. Yoka has now won four straight since a shocking 2023 loss to Ryad Merhy. Korte, a 41 year-old German, is now 23-6-1 and does not even qualify as a gatekeeper.
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Roque wins battle of Swiss super middleweights
Source: WBC | December 22, 2025

Roque wins battle of Swiss super middleweights

Roque wins battle of Swiss super middleweights

Angel Roque W12 Yoann Kongolo ... In Zurich, Switzerland, super middleweight Angel Roque defeated the experienced Yoann Kongolo by majority decision.  ​The victory came after twelve rounds of pure intensity, with Roque confirming his technical superiority. After the all-Swiss battle was complete, Roque's record stood at 11-0-1, while Kongolo falls to 18-3-1.
From social media | December 21, 2025

Jake Paul tweets after surgery

Jake Paul tweets after surgery
In the wake of his knockout loss to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul tweeted: "Jaw broken. Heart and balls intact. Time to rest, recover and return to cruiserweight... Just got out of surgery. Everything went smooth. Thanks for all the love. Lots of pain and stiffness. Gotta eat liquids for seven days... Shout out to the amazing team at Miami University Hospital. Everyone was so gracious and caring."
 
Source: DAZN | December 21, 2025

Craig Richards KOs Dan Azeez in Ghana

Craig Richards KOs Dan Azeez in Ghana
Craig Richards KO12 Dan Azeez... Craig Richards and Dan Azeez were at a crossroads heading into their light heavyweight main event for Matchroom Boxing's first event in Ghana, which was seen live on DAZN. Neither Richards nor Azeez could have afforded to lose, as a defeat would likely bring the curtain down on their respective careers. After a close tilt through five rounds, it was Richards who pulled away with the better overall boxing and wore Azeez down with each passing minute. Eventually, it culminated with a flush left hook at the 23-second mark of the twelfth round that sent Azeez to sleep. DAZN News had Richards up 108-101 at the time of the stoppage.
 
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Joshua starts slowly but KOs Paul in six
Source: Netflix | December 20, 2025

Joshua starts slowly but KOs Paul in six

Joshua starts slowly but KOs Paul in six
Anthony Joshua KO8 Jake Paul... Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defeated Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul on Friday night under the bright lights of Miami’s Kaseya Center and in front of a massive global audience on Netflix. The 36 year-old Joshua — hailing from Watford, UK and standing at 6-foot-6 started slowly but eventually dominated the 28 year-old Paul. Joshua ultimately earned the sixth round knockout after sending Paul to the mat four times throughout the fight. “It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua said at the end of the bout. “The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down, and hurt him. That was the request leading up, and that’s what was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand found its destination.”
 
Paul — typically a cruiserweight — held his own for the most part against the initially reluctant Joshua. He accomplished this by moving around the larger-than-average ring but his legs soon tired and Paul was unable to continue circling away from Joshua as the rounds wore on. The first three knockdowns were caused as much by Paul's failing legs as by Joshua's fists. The fourth knockdown was a solid right to the jaw that put Paul down for about eleven seconds. Paul diagnosed himself with a broken jaw after the fight.
 
Joshua improves to 29-4 with 25 KOs, returning to his winning ways after falling by  knockout at the hands of British rival Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September of 2024, while Paul falls to 12-2 with 7 KOs.
 
Just a month ago, the former Olympic gold medalist stepped in to face Paul after his matchup against Gervonta "Tank" Davis was canceled. Paul is now the latest Joshua foe to fall, following a long list of top contenders and champions such as Kubrat Pulev, Andy Ruiz Jr., Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko, among others.
 
Paul — boxing’s biggest disruptor who joined the professional ranks just five years ago — previously defeated Julio César Chávez Jr., Mike Tyson, Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.
 
Source: Tudum | December 20, 2025

Anderson Silva (50) KOs Tyron Woodley (43)

Anderson Silva (50) KOs Tyron Woodley (43)

Anderson Silva KO2 Tyron Woodley... In a boxing match between two former mixed martial arts stats, Brazilian legend Anderson Silva earned a stoppage victory over Tyron Woodley. The 50 year-old Silva dropped the former UFC champion with a right uppercut in their cruiserweight bout on the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua card at Miami’s Kaseya Center. After a cautious opening stretch, Silva found his moment in the following round, landing a sharp uppercut that sent Woodley, age 43, to the canvas. Woodley rose but appeared unsteady, prompting the referee to step in and halt the fight. The result marked a decisive finish for Silva, who capitalized on a brief opening to secure the stoppage.
Source: Netflix | December 20, 2025

Baumgardner goes twelve to defeat Beaudoin

Baumgardner goes twelve to defeat Beaudoin

Alycia Baumgardner W12 Leila Beaudoin ... World junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner defeated Leila Beaudoin by unanimous decision, defending her WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in Miami. The women fought twelve three-minute rounds, longer than the normal ten two-minute rounds for most women's title fights. The WBC refused to sanction a twelve rounder for women. From the opening rounds, Baumgardner controlled the pace with a sharp jab and patient counterpunching, gradually breaking Beaudoin (13-2) down with sustained pressure to the body and head. Beaudoin's eyes were soon bruised but she showed toughness throughout and found a few moments of success late in the fight. But Baumgardner’s command never wavered, punctuated by a knockdown in the seventh round. The judges returned tallies of 117–110 (twice) and 118–109, as Baumgardner improved her record to 17–1
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More women's championship results from Miami
Source: Tudum | December 20, 2025

More women's championship results from Miami

More women's championship results from Miami
World bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson defeated Amanda Galle over ten rounds by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93... WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois defeated Camilla Panatta via unanimous decision. All three judges scored the ten rounder 99-90 for Dubois...  Costa Rican star Yokasta Valle (34-3, 10 KOs) retained her WBC minimumweight title against Yadira “La Reina” Bustillos (11-2, 2 KOs), winning a ten-round bout. Valle took a majority decision by scores of 95-95, 98-92 and 96-94.
Source: Tudum | December 20, 2025

More undercard results from Miami

More undercard results from Miami

Jahmal Harvey W6 Kevin Cervantes... Jahmal Harvey controlled his second professional outing from start to finish, earning a unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Kevin Cervantes in their six-round junior lightweight weight bout on Netflix's Anthony Joshua-Jake Paul undercard at Miami’s Kaseya Center. Harvey (2-0) scored an early knockdown in the opening round and consistently outboxed Cervantes with speed, movement, and a steady jab, piling up points across every frame. Cervantes (5-1) showed toughness and stayed upright despite taking sustained punishment, but was largely limited to survival mode as Harvey dictated the pace and landed the cleaner, more effective shots throughout. All three judges scored the fight 60–53, reflecting Harvey’s complete command over the course of the bout.

ADDITIONAL RESULTS

Avious “Tha Underdog” Griffin (18-1, 16 KOs) stopped Justin “Stallion” Cardona (10-2, 5 KOs) in the first round of a welterweight bout. Originally from Chattanooga Griffin is now based in Las Vegas and trains with coaches Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, Esau Diéguez, and Larry Wade. Griffin fights with remarkable resilience shaped by personal tragedy, including the loss of his father and a wrongful conviction he later beat. His “TTD” — To The Death — mentality fuels his rise as one of boxing’s most compelling new forces. Raised in East Salinas, California Salinas was introduced to boxing by his mother, he turned pro at 18 and now trains with veteran coach Ruben Guerrero Sr., with mentorship from former world champ Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. A gym owner and marathon runner, the 25-year-old brings technical polish and real grit as he works toward his first title shot.

Two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley won his professional debut in the cruiserweight division. Marley outclassed American Diarra Davis Jr. (2-2, 1 KO) over rour rounds, winning a unanimous decision by three scores of 40-35. 
 

 
By Scott Shaffer | December 19, 2025

Watch: Olascuaga retains title via TKO

Watch: Olascuaga retains title via TKO
Anthony Olascuaga TKO4 Taku Kuwahara... In Tokyo, Anthony Olascuaga (11-1 with 9 KOs) retained his WBO flyweight championship with a fourth-round technical knockout of Taku Kuwahara (14-3 with 9 KOs). Olascuaga landed his jab at will, and then cornered a defenseless Kuwahara, peppering him with combinations until the referee stopped the fight. According to photos posted on X, a bruised Olascuaga took public transportation from the arena back to his hotel with his championship belt hanging from his arm.
 
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Jake Paul's moment of truth has arrived
Source: Netflix | December 19, 2025

Jake Paul's moment of truth has arrived

Jake Paul's moment of truth has arrived
Friday's big Netflix show fromMiami, Florida matches Jake Paul, the sport’s most-watched fighter whose showmanship has shattered records, with former two-time champion Anthony Joshua, who has headlined sold-out stadiums across the UK and beyond. But this didn’t come out of nowhere. In a previous interview with Netflix ahead of a since-canceled fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Paul floated Joshua’s name as the kind of test he eventually wanted. “Anthony Joshua,” Paul said when asked what fight he was manifesting next. “100%. I want a challenge. I want challenges always.”
 
Paul has spent the last five years transforming from a YouTube disruptor to a dedicated boxer. The American pride of Puerto Rico has picked off mixed martial artists like Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz in boxing matches. Paul’s leap into the heavyweight ranks last year, with a win over 58 year-old Mike Tyson, shattered viewership records with 108 million people tuning in. In June 2025, Paul followed that momentum with a unanimous-decision victory over former middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr.
 
Now Paul will test all of that progress against one of the most feared heavyweights of the modern era. “"This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day,” Paul told Netflix. “A professional heavyweight fight against an elite [former] champion in his prime. When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title. To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19th, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”
 
Joshua has spent the last decade building one of the most accomplished heavyweight résumés in modern boxing. After winning Olympic gold for Great Britain at London 2012, Joshua rocketed through the pro ranks, claiming his first world title in 2016 with a stoppage of Charles Martin. A year later, he delivered a career-defining moment: a war with Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium that unified the division and cemented his place as the sport’s newest superstar.
 
Joshua went on to collect and defend the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles, turning Wembley into his personal home arena and racking up victories over Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin. His unbeaten streak ended in his 2019 US debut against Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden, but Joshua returned six months later in Saudi Arabia to win the rematch and become a two-time unified heavyweight champion.
 
Even after setbacks, Joshua never shied away from elite competition. He scored a knockout of Kubrat Pulev, went 24 rounds over two losses to pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk, and rebuilt under trainer Derrick James in Dallas. Then he returned to London for a wide points win over Jermaine Franklin. He followed that with a short-notice knockout of Robert Helenius, a dominant performance against Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia, and a ferocious second-round knockout of Francis Ngannou — a finish that many considered 2024’s Knockout of the Year.
 
In September 2024, Joshua fought for the IBF title again, but lost to fellow Brit Daniel Dubois. Now, still chasing his goal of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion, he meets Jake Paul in Miami, bringing with him one of the most explosive knockout records of his era.
 
“Jake or anyone can get this work,” says Joshua. “No mercy. I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected. Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”
 
Press Release | December 19, 2025

122-pound contender Cardenas KOs Robles in five

122-pound contender Cardenas KOs Robles in five
 Ramon Cardenas KO5 Erik Robles... Super bantamweight contender Ramon “Dinamita” Cardenas ended the year in style by scoring a one-punch “walk-off” fifth-round knockout over Erik “Terrible” Robles in the main event at the the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event was presented by ProBox Promotions and Sampson Boxing. After a careful first round, Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas, started landing hard body shots to the midsection of the taller southpaw Robles (16-3, 10 KOs) of Baja California, Mexico, that noticeably altered the Mexican’s original fight plan. Cardenas landed a sharp right hand to the chin dropped a careless Robles for an eight count in round three and then a huge walk off right hand to the chin on an advancing Robles in round five ended matters at 1:21. “The confidence I had in myself, I knew I could get him out of there. I’m not blowing smoke up my ass, but I knew I was at another level,” said Cardenas, post-fight. “I owe this performance to my new team. In training, I made sure I was focused when I was hitting the bag or even running. I used to catch myself dozing off. I learned to stay focused from my new trainers. I kept that in my head during the fight. I’m just finishing my work to become a world champion. I know Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani have their plans. I’d like the winner. I want a title shot against either/or. I want to fight the best competition. Coming up in ProBox, you’re used to fighting tough guys, so when you get to that level, you’re ready. When you come back, you must show you belong at that level and I think I showed that tonight.”
 
Hebert Conceicao W10 Elias Espadas... In the ten-round middleweight co-feature, Olympic champion Hebert Conceicao (10-0, 5 KOs) of Brazil had things all his way while scoring a dominating unanimous decision over Mexico's Elias “Latin Kid” Espadas (23-8-1, 16 KOs). Conceicao showed off his world-class arsenal to the head and body of Espadas throughout, including landing five consecutive uppercuts to the head of the iron-chinned Mexican. As tough as they come, the durable Espadas clearly came to win but had no answers for Conceicao’s other-level offensive and defensive gifts. Espadas was cut over the left eye from a punch in round eight. Conceicao looked to have hurt his right hand during the action. Referee Michael DeJesus called a questionable knockdown of Espadas in round 10 to further bury his hopes. The scores were an academic 98-91 and two scores of 100-90. 
 
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
 
In a wild eight-round middleweight slugfest, Joeshon “Shontime” James (10-1-2, 5 KOs) of Sacramento scored a majority decision over Las Vegas-based Cuban Yojanler Martinez (5-1-1, 2 KOs). A wild, chippy slugfest that could have gone anywhere at any time, Martinez got dropped for a flash knockdown from a left hook in round one but then rocked James with a series of strong right hands in round two. However, the Cuban placed several of his follow-up punches behind James’ head, which prompted Referee Tyrone Parker to penalize him a point. A frustrated Martinez threw James to the canvas during a clinch moments later. Although both men weren’t previously considered big punchers, two simultaneous right hands produced a rare double knockdown in round three, with Martinez looking a lot more dazed than James. After both fighters rose before the ten count, a confused Referee Parker needed several seconds to decide on a course of action to continue the fight. The pair settled into a rhythm of landing huge punches on each other the rest of the way in a fun fight that epitomized the ProBox TV philosophy. A score of 75-75 was overruled by scores of 77-74 and 77-73 for James.
 
Junior welterweight “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (23-1-2, 12 KOs) scored a fourth-round retirement stoppage of late-sub opponent George “El Lion” Pardo (11-6, 9 KOs) from Colombia. Looking sharp from the start of the fight, Williams flashed his fast, educated jab and worked well to the body, ripping “Micky Ward-like” left hooks to Pardo’s ribcage. In a bit of a strange occurrence, Pardo appeared to voluntarily take a knee out of nowhere in round two and didn’t seem to realize that such a move constitutes a knockdown. Williams hurt the game, but outgunned, Pardo with a series of left hooks to the liver in round three and upped the slaughter in round four. After being battered relentlessly by the fast and powerful Williams, Pardo elected not to come out for the fifth round, making the official verdict a TKO 4 for Williams.
 
Detroit junior middlerweight Marlon “The Savage” Harrington (13-2, 11 KOs) scored an upset first-round one-punch knockout over formerly undefeated southpaw Bryan “The Hunter” Polaco (7-0, 5 KOs) of Las Vegas via Puerto Rico. The two fighters came out swinging freely. Harrington attempted to blitz Polaco early, Polaco stayed poised and inflicted a cut over the Detroiter’s left eye a minute into the fight. Suddenly, at 2:53 of round one, Harrington caught Polaco with a short right hook that left Polaco unconscious before he hit the canvas. Referee Tyrone Parker didn’t bother to count and immediately waved it off.
 
In the night’s opening televised bout, super bantamweight newcomer Kenyan Valle (2-0, 1 KO) got his second career victory with a first-round stoppage of Taran Ward (5-15, 3 KOs). The pair were fighting equally for the first two minutes before Valle dropped Ward with a strong right hand. The well-schooled youngster moved in and finished Ward with an extended two-fisted salvo that forced Referee Michael DeJesus to wave it off at 2:58 of the opening round.
Press Release | December 19, 2025

BKFC wraps up a successful 2025 on Saturday

BKFC wraps up a successful 2025 on Saturday
It’s the final BKFC Fight Week of 2025 on Saturday (Dec. 20th) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. New England is quickly establishing itself as a hotbed for bare knuckle fighting in the United States, and Saturday’s action will be aired live worldwide on The BKFC App. Two of the sport’s best undefeated heavyweight knockout artists — Anthony “The Warrior of Christ” Garrett and Parker Porter — clash in the main event. Garrett is 3-0 in the squared circle. All of the Dallas product’s wins have come in the first round, and he holds the records for the fastest and second-fastest knockouts in the history of BKFC’s heavyweight division (12 seconds and 16 seconds, respectively). From Connecticut,  Porte is looking to smash his way to 3-0 with a third straight, first-round stoppage.
 
Heavy-handed Rhode Island middleweight Gary “Batman” Balletto Jr., returns to BKFC in the co-feature. Balletto is the son of New England gloved boxing legend Gary “Tiger” Balletto, and is trying to up his BKFC record to 2-0 with a second straight, first-round finish. He'll fight Skyler Mauller (1-1, 1 KO) of Ohio, who hopes to live up to his last name with a second first-round finish under the BKFC banner.
 
Saturday’s action at the legendary Mohegan Sun features a full slate of established fan-favorite BKFC fighters, like Boston’s Peter “Slippery Pete” Barrett, Springfield, MA’s Pat “The Gorilla Ninja” Casey, Peabody, MA’s Rico DiSciullo, Worcester, MA’s “Slick” Sito Navarro, Tewksbury, MA’s Joseph “JGP” Peters, Perth Amboy, NJ’s Gabrielle Roman, Midland, TX’s Anthony Sanchez, Hurricane, UT’s David “The Sandman” Sanchez and Crystal “The Lovely” Van Wyk of Cape Town, South Africa, all LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
 
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Rohan Polanco added to Jan. 31st show
Source: Top Rank | December 19, 2025

Rohan Polanco added to Jan. 31st show

Rohan Polanco added to Jan. 31st show
Rohan “El Rayo” Polanco, the Dominican welterweight with championship aspirations, will kick off his 2026 campaign against Mexican puncher Christian Gomez in a ten-round battle on Saturday, Jan. 31st at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Polanco-Gomez will serve as the co-feature to the junior middleweight world title unification showdown between WBO champ Xander Zayas and WBA king Abass Baraou. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased via Ticketera.com. Polanco (17-0, 10 KOs) represented his country at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and signed with Top Rank the following year. Initially campaigning as a junior welterweight, he stopped the likes of Keith Hunter and Cesar Francis before moving to 147 pounds. His 2025 run saw victories over Fabian Maidana and Quinton Randall. 
 
Polanco said, “I’m not coming to play on January 31st. I'm coming to send a strong message to the division. Fighting as the co-main event at Coliseo de Puerto Rico is a great opportunity that I intend to take advantage of. I represent Dominican boxing. I'm hungry, fearless, and determined to get closer to a world title opportunity.”
 
Gomez (23-6-1, 21 KOs), a twelve-year pro, has earned nearly all of his victories by knockout. His biggest test came in May 2022, when he went the distance in a loss to world contender Shakhram Giyasov. The 32-year-old veteran is coming off consecutive decision losses to Nicklaus Flaz and Alberto Palmetta.
 
The undercard will also include the junior middleweight debut of Giovani Santillan (34-1, 18 KOs), as well as the return of Dominican middleweight Euri Cedeño (13-0-1, 12 KOs), in separate ten-rounders. 
 
Santillan, a welterweight contender, faces Courtney Pennington. The San Diego native bounced back from his May 2024 loss to Brian Norman Jr. by defeating Fredrick Lawson and Angel Beltran. The Brooklyn-born Pennington (17-11-3, 7 KOs) is a thirteen-year pro who has given stern tests to the likes of American Olympian Charles Conwell and Canadian contender Custio Clayton.
 
Cedeño steps up to take on Ivory Coast native Etoundi Michel William (16-2, 12 KOs). The 26-year-old signed with Top Rank in May and has won his last six via the fast route. William broke onto the scene with a victory over eventual world title challenger Jorge Garcia in January 2023, remaining undefeated until an October 2024 loss to Mexico’s Jose Miguel Borrego. He last fought in June, dropping a ten-round decision to top American contender Troy Isley. Additional undercard fights will be announced in due course.
 
Source: WBC | December 19, 2025

Saturday: WBC Grand Prix finals

Saturday: WBC Grand Prix finals

On Saturday, December 20th, the finals of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here are the bouts:

Featherweight: Muhamet Qamili vs. Brandon Mejía. Both demonstrated that the knockout is their language. Qamili blasted Yoni Valverde Jr. with a precise and devastating combination, while Mejía did the same with a demolishing liver shot on Maite. 
 
Junior middleweight: Mujibillo Tursunov vs Carlos Utria. One of the most anticipated fights of the tournament will pit Uzbek discipline against Colombian grit. Tursunov overcame the always complicated Danylo Lozan by majority decision in a technical and physical war. In contrast, Utria ignited the arena with an explosive first-round knockout over Ntethelelo Nkosi. Maximum anticipation for a battle that could steal the show.
 
Middleweight: Derek Pomerleau vs Dylan Biggs Intelligence and resistance will be tested in a final that promises to be a boxing clinic. Pomerleau survived a tough contest against the Colombian Carlos Sinisterra, taking the victory by majority decision. Biggs, for his part, convinced all five judges —a WBC innovation in this tournament— and authoritatively defeated the Frenchman Lancelot de la Chappelle by unanimous decision. 
 
Heavyweight: Ahmed Krnjic vs Kevin Ramirez. The giants of the Grand Prix closed the semi-finals with pure fire. Krnjic imposed his power and control over the South African Keaton Gomes, taking a hard-fought split decision. But the story of the day was the Argentine Kevin Ramirez, who surprised everyone by defeating the American Dante Stone, also by split decision. A high-voltage final between two colossuses who do not know the meaning of “backing down.” The cards are on the table and the countdown has begun. This December 20th, the world will witness the outcome of this historic tournament. Only four names will be engraved on the José Sulaimán Trophy… and the rest, in the memory of all boxing fans.
 
 
Source: Netflix | December 18, 2025

Cherneka Johnson title defense heads up Friday's Tudum stream

Cherneka Johnson title defense heads up Friday's Tudum stream
UPDATE: The preliminary card will stream live on Tudum on Dec. 19  at 4:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. PT. Then, head over to watch Jake vs. Joshua live on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.  On Friday, December 19th from Miami, Florida, the following preliminary bouts will stream live on Tudum.com ahead of the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul main card: Australia’s undisputed bantamweight world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson (18-2, 8 KOs) will defend her WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBF titles against Canada’s Amanda “Bambola” Galle (12-0-1, 1 KO)...  Britain’s undefeated WBC lightweight champion and 2021 Olympian “Sweet” Caroline Dubois (11-0-1, 5 KOs) returns to defend her title in a ten-round showdown against Italy’s seasoned southpaw contender Camilla Panatta (8-2-1, 1 KO)... Costa Rican star Yokasta Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) will defend her WBC minimumweight title against Yadira “La Reina” Bustillos (11-1, 2 KOs) in a ten-round championship bout... Avious “Tha Underdog” Griffin (17-1, 16 KOs) will face Justin “Stallion” Cardona (10-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight bout... Two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley will make his professional debut over four rounds in the cruiserweight division against American Diarra Davis Jr. (2-1, 1 KO). 
 
 
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Road warrior Rene Santiago edges Kyosuke Takami in unification bout
Source: WBA | December 18, 2025

Road warrior Rene Santiago edges Kyosuke Takami in unification bout

Road warrior Rene Santiago edges Kyosuke Takami in unification bout
Rene Santiago W12 Kyosuke Takami... Puerto Rico’s Rene Santiago delivered one of the most significant victories of his career, edging Japan’s Kyosuke Takami by split decision to capture the WBA light flyweight in a hard-fought battle at the  Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The scorecards reflected the razor-thin margins of the contest: 117-111 and 115-113 for Santiago, while one judge saw it 116-112 for Takami. The bout unified Santiago’s WBA crown with the WBO title already in his possession. It was a clash of styles from the opening bell. Takami, unbeaten going in and widely regarded as one of Japan’s emerging talents, sought to impose his trademark aggression, pressing forward behind a stiff jab and digging combinations to the body. Santiago, however, displayed poise and tactical maturity, relying on footwork, rhythm changes, and sharp counterpunching to blunt the local favorite’s advances.
 
Takami attempted to cut off the ring and force exchanges, but the Puerto Rican answered with straight shots upstairs and well-timed hooks that repeatedly checked the champion’s momentum. The fight remained competitive through the early rounds, though Santiago began to seize control from the sixth onward by capitalizing on defensive lapses and landing the cleaner, more eye-catching punches.
 
In the championship rounds, Santiago returned to his original blueprint: lateral movement, straight punches, and tempo control. That tactical discipline ultimately made the difference on the scorecards, rewarding his ability to adapt and execute more effective boxing when it mattered most. With the win, Santiago capped off a stellar year, earning his second victory of the year in Japan, both over previously unbeaten champions. (He defeated Shokichi Iwata in March to become WBO champion).  Despite his 16-4 record, this win cemented Santiago's status as a major player in the 108-pound division. Takami (10-1), despite the setback, showed grit and quality, and his youth suggests a swift return to the upper tier of the division.
 
Compiled By Scott Shaffer | December 18, 2025

Donaire reflects on loss to Tsutsumi

Donaire reflects on loss to Tsutsumi
Seiya Tsutsumi W12 Nonito Donaire In Tokyo over the weekend, Seiya Tsutsumi defeated 43 year-old future Hall of Fame Nonito Donaire to retain WBA bantamweight championship. Tsutsumi won the fight, which was described by many as a war, via split decision. The official scores were 115-113 and 117-111 for Tsutsumi and 116-112 for Donaire. Tsutsumi (13-0-3) became champion last year by defeating Takuma Inoue, who now holds the WBC version of the title. If anything, Donaire, a former four-division champion, added to his legacy with this amazing effort. His record is now 43-9, and although age and the punshment he has taken over the course of his career is a big concern, his skills undeniably remain at the world level. The most dangerous moment for Tsutsumi came in the fourth round, when Donaire rocked him with a powerful right hand that left the champion visibly hurt and unsteady on his legs. Tsutsumi returned to his corner showing clear signs of distress as the crowd held its breath, sensing the possibility of a historic comeback by the Filipino icon. However, the champion responded with resilience and key tactical adjustments.

Donaire had this to say after the fight:

To my fans—

First and foremost, respect to Seiya Tsutsumi. He came prepared, fought with heart, and shared the ring with me in true warrior spirit. Thank you for the battle and the respect shown throughout fight week and on fight night. I gave everything I had in that ring. I prepared with intention, discipline and pride and I leave with my head held high. While  scorecards don’t reflect how I experienced that fight, I accept the result with professionalism and gratitude for the opportunity to compete at this level. From the heart, I want to thank the people who carried me through this camp. Omega Boxing—Pio Castillo and Paulo—you are the boxing family I always needed. Your belief, guidance, and care mean more to me than I can ever put into words. To my boys, thank you for your patience and for understanding my love for this game. You are my greatest motivation. To Gerry and Becky, thank you for taking care of our boys as if they were your own. Your love and support allowed us to focus and breathe. 
 
To Jelena, an eight-time world champion who remained humble enough to be right there beside me, hitting the bag and pushing me: your time, effort, and example are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten. And to SugarHill, thank you for showing me a different perspective and for believing in what I know I am capable of.
 
Diego Bandido, your photos and videos tell a beautiful story—one that captures my deepest and most cherished moments in this sport. Thank you for preserving the memories that words can’t always express. And Fuego, the outfit was absolutely amazing. You made me feel like a king when I stepped out there, and that confidence meant everything. 
 
And to the fans, thank you for your unwavering love, respect, and belief. I stepped into that ring with honor, for my family and for all of you. To me, boxing is growth. When you stop moving, life catches up to you. Stagnation is the death of the soul and the spirit. I continuously grow, and I will continuously reach for the stars, because moving forward is my warrior’s spirit. Growing is my way of life. I am what I will myself to be, and the strength of my heart comes from all the people who love me. With gratitude, I am powerful—and I am grateful.
 
With respect and honor -- Mandirigma  
Source: WBC | December 18, 2025

Curry and Scott discuss next week's unification rematch

Curry and Scott discuss next week's unification rematch
Three months after their first fight ended in a majority draw, Olivia Curry and Kaye Scott return to the ring to face off once again for the vacant WBC and WBA middleweight titles. This time, their ten-round unification bout will headline a Salita Promotions card, broadcast on DAZN this December 20th at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. Given that the circumstances remain largely the same, Curry expects the rematch to be a continuation of their first clash. “I think they can expect another war. I don’t think either of us is going to sit back. Even if it’s a bit more technical, I don’t see a world in which this isn’t just as explosive as the first one. I think it’s going to become that, and I’m going to make it that, because that’s my style,” Curry told The Ring in an interview.
 
Both fighters stayed in the pocket and traded shots for much of their first fight on September 19th. Scott, age 41, got off to a fast start and controlled much of the first half of the bout with her ability to land sharper punches compared to Curry (7-2-2, 2 KOs). In the second half, Curry’s high volume and inside work tipped the scales in her favor as the action and pace reached a fever pitch. Once the final bell rang, there was very little to separate the two, and the final scorecards reflected that. Due to the “give-and-take” nature of their ten-round duel, Curry, age 36, was not surprised that the fight was ruled a draw.
 
“I knew it was close,” said Curry. “I don’t like it when boxers talk like, ‘Oh yeah, for sure, I won.’ I know there’s a narrative that you’re supposed to always paint yourself in the best possible light. But no, to be honest, I went back to my corner and said, ‘I don’t know, guys. I didn’t feel like I lost, but I didn’t really feel like I won.’ Usually, if you’re truly dominating someone, you can feel it, and I didn’t feel that way. I thought, ‘I don’t know how this is going to go,’ and when I watched the tape back, I thought the draw was very fair.”
 
Now, armed with 20 minutes of experience against Scott, Curry believes that small adjustments from the first fight will make the difference and help her become the unified middleweight champion in the rematch.
 
 
 
Press Release | December 18, 2025

Tonight: Olympic champion featured on ProBox TV

Tonight: Olympic champion featured on ProBox TV
Tonight (Thursday, December 18th) at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ProBox TV will stream a ten-round main event featuring knockout artist Ramon Cardenas returning to US soil to face Mexico’s Erik Robles in a “don’t blink” shootout. Also, Olympic Gold Medalist Hebert Conceicao of Brazil takes on Mexico's Elias Espadas in the co-feature. There will also be ten  rounds of junior welterweight action between “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams and Jair Valtierra and an eight-round middleweight battle between Yojanler Martinez and Joeshon James. The festivities begin with Puerto Rico’s undefeated Bryan Polaco running into hard-rock Marlon Harrington from Detroit. Watch it all free this Thursday night at 7 pm on Amazon, Fubo, Tubi, or Pluto TV.
 
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
 
Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas , is best known for his most recent fight, a valiant stand against world super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in May of this year, where he ultimately lost by technical knockout in the eighth round but famously knocked down the formidable champion in the second. “It’s an ideal comeback fight for Ramon,” said ProBoxTV's founder and CEO, Garry Jonas. “We don’t give tune-up fights, so it’s no walk in the park either. Ramon is a super entertaining fighter and a test like this will keep him ready. It will be a typical ProBoxTV high-action fight while it lasts!” Robles is 16-3 with 10 KOs.
 
Cardenas had won 14 consecutive fights before facing Inoue, including three consecutive on ProBoxTV: a TKO 6 over Israel Rodriguez Picazo (then 30-5) in February of last year, a KO 9 over Jesus Ramirez Rubio (then 22-2-3) in April of last year, and a unanimous decision over Bryan Acosta in February of this year. Cardenas also famously knocked out out formerly undefeated Panamanian Rafael Pedroza in the second round in one of the final ShoBox: The New Generation episodes.
 
“Training is going great,” said Cardenas. “I’m training with Manny Robles in LA and he’s a great match for me. We are fixing mistakes I’ve been making in the past, patching them up. I don’t really like watching tape of my opponents, so I don’t know much, but he has to adjust to me like I have to adjust to him. I’ve always said you can fight the same guy 100 times and every time will be different any way. People are expecting me to do good now, so I have a responsibility to show the fans that my fight with Inoue wasn’t a ‘one hit wonder.’”
 
Against Cardenas, 25-year-old Erik Robles will be having his first fight in the United States after turning professional in 2019 and spending his career in Mexico and the UK. The powerful slugger is best known for winning the IBO super bantamweight title against Lee McGregor (then 12-0-1) via unanimous decision in July 2023 and then registering a unanimous ten-round decision win over Cesar Vaca Espinoza (then 16-0-1) in his very next fight in December 2023.
 
“Training's going great,” said Robles. “We've been sparring with boxers like Christian Cruz, Logan Hernandez, Chino Quintana, and others. We've also added pool training to our preparation, which is a bonus and something different from what we normally do. We know Cardenas is an elite fighter with excellent technique and tremendous power. We all saw his performance against Inoue, and that's keeping us on high alert to continue preparing for what's coming on December 18th. It's a fight where anything can happen. He's a dangerous fighter, and so am I. The difference between us is that I have nothing to lose.”
 
Before turning professional in 2022, Conceicao won a middleweight gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and took bronze in the 2019 World Amateur Championships. In just nine professional fights, Conceicao has already beaten two Brazilian countrymen and 2012 London Olympics medal-winning brothers, Esquiva and Yamaguchi Falcao. In June 2024, in just his sixth fight, Conceicao won a unanimous ten-round decision over younger brother and Silver Medalist Esquiva Falcao and, in his most recent ring appearance in September of this year, repeated the feat against older brother and bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao to win the Brazilian (CNB) title. In his lone ProBoxTV appearance to date in May of this year, Conceicao stopped Rowdy Legend Montgomery in two one-sided rounds.
 
The 35 year-old Espadas hails from Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. A 13-year professional, Espadas defeated Alan Carrillo via KO 2 in 2017. In his very next fight the following year, he KO'd Felipe Santos Pedroso in three rounds. Most recently, Espadas fought to a ten-round majority draw with undefeated Sadriddin Akhmedov in April and then lost an abbreviated five-round technical decision to streaking Irish prospect Callum Walsh in June, when the fight was stopped before it really got started in the fifth round, due to an accidental headbutt.
 
The night’s televised undercard will consist of a ten-round junior welterweight battle between “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (22-1-2, 11 KOs) of Connecticut, and Jair “Kaiser” Valtierra (18-3, 9 KOs) of Mexico, as well as an eight-round middleweight slugfest Cuba’s Yojanler Martinez (5-0-1, 2 KOs) and Joeshon “Shontime” James (9-1-2, 5 KOs) of Sacramento, California.
 
“It’s a deep card overall,” said Garry Jonas. “Mykquan Williams vs. Jair Valtierra could be the co-main event. That’s a hell of a fight. Williams will be looking to come back from his first career loss, so Valtierra will tell the tale if he’s got what it takes. It’s ‘do or die’ for Mykquan. Is he a contender or not? And Yojanler Martinez vs. Joeshon James is a fun fight. Martinez is a ‘balls to the wall’ kind of fighter, while James is also back from his first loss. It’ll be a classic ProBoxTV crossroads battle.”
 
The action will start with Puerto Rico’s undefeated Bryan Polaco (7-0, 5 KOs) running into hard-rock Marlon Harrington (12-2, 10 KOs) from Detroit.
 
 
Source: IBA | December 18, 2025

IBA amateur world championship roundup

IBA amateur world championship roundup
The final contests of the IBA 2025 men's amateur boxing world championships in Dubai closed with thirteen gold medal-deciding bouts. In an opening battle of youth vs experience, it was youth that won the day, as Subhan Mamedov (Azerbaijan) secured gold at minimumweight following a 4-3 win over Edmond Khudoian (Russia). Eschewing the usual jab and move tactics associated with the amateur code, Khudoian used frenzied blasts of activity from both stances to try and throw the youngster off his stride. It worked to some degree in the first as Khudoian claimed a 3-2 split. Mamedov came out with the bit between his teeth in the second, not giving up as much ground, letting the double jab-right hands flow. The added impetus was rewarded in a 4-1 second-round split to Mamedov. Both men let their hands go with ferocious intent in the final round. The judges preferred Mamedov’s work much to the shock of Khudoian, who wandered the ring in confusion at a mere silver medal.
 
Hasanboy Dusmatov (Uzbekistan) is the flyweight gold medallist after defeating a brave but outgunned Bair Batlaev (Russia) 4-1. Dusmatov, an accomplished contender as a pro, has faced every challenge in a style befitting a decorated boxer and consummate professional. The smaller Dusmatov, also an Olympic champion no less, soaked up most of what the taller Russian offered, on the gloves, and fired back between the gaps. It was enough to earn the Uzbek a 4-1 split. Batlaev tried to change tack in the second and lead off before stepping back as Dusmatov swarmed and countered the counters. It worked to a point, until the quality shone through as the second round progressed and the Uzbekistan fighter picked up another 4-1 split. Batlaev lashed away with long-levered attacks in the final round. Dusmatov used his smarts to find gaps, pick away and win a 4-1 final decision despite conceding the last round by the same margin.
 
Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan picked up the bantamweight gold medal over a distraught Viacheslav Rogozin (Russia), who never stopped punching for three minutes. The ultra-confident Russian came blazing out of the traps, launching hooks and uppercuts to head and body from both hands. Bibossinov’s only moments of respite came from the referee admonishing him for low blows or pushing.  Seemingly sweeping the opening round 10-9 across the board, Rogozin had to make do with a baffling 3-2 split. The 2024 youth champion took that slight personally and entered the second with another rapid-fire round.  It was tempered at the close of the second when Bibossinov landed a right uppercut, which not only stopped the rampant Rogozin in his tracks but invited the ref to call a standing count. Bibossinov won the second round unanimously. Rogozin was relentless in the final round, sending the contest to a bout review, ending in the Kazakh’s favour. The Russian took his defeat with grace but looked understandably close to tears during the post-fight ceremony.
 
Kazakhstan’s Orazbek Assylkulov has a gold medal around his neck after posting a 5-0 UD victory over Khusravkhon Rakhimov of Tajikistan at featherweight. There was no feeling-out process as they got down to business immediately. After conceding the first session unanimously, Rakhimov aggressively started the second. His toil was scantly rewarded as Assylkulov claimed it 3-2. Boxing with a nick around the right cheek, the third round got messy, which did not help Rakhimov’s cause as the clock ran away from him.
 
Vsevolod Shumkov of Russia forced his lightweight bout with Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov to a bout review and grabbed gold with both hands, courtesy of a 4-3 victory fueled through pure will to win. After a rought-and-tumble opening round, Khalokov cleaned up with 10-9s. The onus was on Shumkov in the second and he responded with two-fisted pumping pressure as Khalokov scrapped to push him off. Khalokov still won it 3-2. Shumkov put it all on the line in the final round, launching wide hooks as Khalokov walked a time-wasting tightrope of holding and grappling. Former world champion Denis Lebedev jumped to his feet at the conclusion, roaring his approval at the efforts of both men, particularly his compatriot, who pushed himself over the line.
 
Ilia Popov of Russia outworked Omar Livaza (Kyrgyzstan) to take gold at junior welterweight. An all-action first ended with Popov washing all five cards 10-9. Backfoot mover Livaza needed some front-foot motion to grab some love on the cards in round two. Popov suffered a cut to the right eye in round two as Livaza upped the offensive output even more. A tight second round between the two southpaws saw Popev maintain his advantage with a 4-1 split. Livaza needed final-round urgency, but his refusal to abandon basic boxing fundamentals cost him any chance of top podium placement at light-welterweight.
 
Uzbek boxing royalty Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev will need to clear some more space in his trophy cabinet after defeating Evgenii Kool (Russia) by a 5-0 shutout at welterweight. Muydinkhujaev seized every card in the opener, despite Kool enjoying brief moments of success. Kool pushed the pace in round two, pinning the Uzbek as best as he could, trying to find a space to land the same body punches that caused his previous tournament victims so much trouble.  Swift-moving Muydinkhujaev was skilled in the art of evading such attacks. Muydinkhujaev scored another 5-0 mop-up in the second as the experienced champion’s round management paid dividends. A pro winner yesterday, Nico Ali Walsh, handed out the awards.
 
Ablaikhan Zhussupov (Kazakhstan) turned his string of bronze medals into a gold, defeating Russia’s Sergei Koldenkov 4-1 in the middleweight final. After 90 seconds of feeling out, Zhussupov discovered his timing to tonk the Russian as Koldenkov tried to find a little encouragement. The Kazakh won 4-1 to start off. Koldenkov seemed wary of opening up as Zhussupov’s hand speed proved superior. Unable to go punch-for-punch, the Russian’s timing needed to be perfect. His second round lifeline was removed as Zhussupov won 4-1 again. Koldenkov raised the pace at the close of the final round, trying to pin down Zhussupov, who decided to jump on his bicycle and see out the contest. He had done enough by split decision to become the champ, despite losing the third by a 5-0 margin.
 
Yet another Russia vs. Kazakhstan, southpaw versus southpaw contest, this time at super middleweight, saw Russia’s Ismail Mutsolgov prevail 5-0 over Sabyrzhan Akkalykov to become world champion. Artur Beterbiev awarded the winner his spoils. Akkalykov was intent on making a first-round impression on his bearded foe. The Kazakh fighter would’ve been pleased with his output, only to suffer a deflation as the judges totalled 5-0 across the board in favour of Mutsolgov. At the close of the second round, Mutsolgov opened his arms in exasperation, willing his red-vested opponent to engage. Mutsolgov need not worry as he got the second 4-1 anyway. Needing something gigantic in the final round, Akkalykov required a rapid-motion delivery and a pile of 10-8 totals to swing it to bout review. Try as he might, the Kazakhstan boxer couldn’t manage that feat. The scoring in the first session killed any competitive momentum. 
 
One of the tournament standouts, Javokhir Ummataliev (Uzbekistan), had taken a notable semi-final scalp by eliminating Arlen Lopez of Cuba. His task was to follow up on that success against Dzhambulat Bizhamov, Russia, at light heavyweight. Ummataliev was smiling around the 45-second remaining mark of round one, indicating how pleased he was with the opening round. It was an untidy first session.  The Uzbek landed all of the eye-catching blows, taking the opener 3-2, which was kind to Bizhamov as his opponent’s shots appeared to find a home whether delivered straight or curved. Bizhamov swayed the advantage in his favour with a strong second round. There was not much to chew on from either fighter, leaving rounds open to the five judges’ interpretation. Ummataliev tagged the torso as Bizhamov’s nose oozed blood. Bizhamov claimed world championship status by a 5-0 unanimous after a lot of tangled exchanges that were open to interpretation.
 
The new IBA cruiserweight king is Sharabutdin Ataev (Russia), who achieved back-to-back world championship golds by toppling Aleksei Alfiorau (Belarus) by a 5-0 unanimous decision. The confident and accomplished Ataev made it his business to pin Alfiorau against the ropes and let the heavy shots rip. There was plenty of leather landed, much to the delight of the vocal Russian faithful. The Belarusian southpaw wandered around the ring waiting for a moment to attack that never arrived. Patient Ataev controlled the opener, scoring a 4-1 split success. It was left all for Alfiorau to do in the following two rounds. Ataev’s slow and steady pressure served him well in the second, as the Russian covered up when necessary and let his shots go at the right moments, picking up more points with his compact style.
 
In a heavyweight battle of the big men, Muslim Gadzhimagomedov of Russia [the WBA bridgerweight champion as a pro] kept on rumbling towards his Uzbek opponent, Turabek Khabibullaev, to snatch a 5-0 unanimous decision victory. After an untidy first three minutes, Gadzhimagomedov went to the corner 4-1 up, even though much of his forward stalking appeared to bear little fruit. Khabibullaev’s arcing left hand landed on a couple of occasions, but it was not enough to please the five scorers. The Russian’s big frame sagged to the canvas more than once as Khabibullaev tried to use his extra hand speed. While not much of Gadzhimagomedov’s front-foot marching was effective, a final-second step-up grabbed him a clean sweep in the second session. These two big units tired in the third as they wrestled, understandably unable to replicate the heat and intensity of their smaller boxing counterparts earlier in the evening. Gadzhimagomedov’s lumbering squeeze won out across the whole nine minutes to become a three-time world titlist.
 
In the final Dubai throwdown, at super-heavyweight, David Surov (Russia) set a pace that Arman Makhanov (Uzbekistan) could not match. Surov won by second-round stoppage. Taller Makhanov was struggling to get his timing down, finding his punches sliding around shoulders and off into the air. Surov’s grinding pressure told. Once he got his right hand going, he appeared to have discovered a replicable honey punch. A clipping right prompted the referee to issue a round one count, securing a 5-0 brush up. Needing a big second round in this battle, Makhanov’s woes continued when he was dished up another couple of standing counts. It was enough to end the contest, providing the first and only stoppage of the finals, as the Uzbek corner decided their man needed saving.
 
Source: ProBox TV | December 17, 2025

Weigh-in report from Ft. Lauderdale

Weigh-in report from Ft. Lauderdale
Here are the boxers' weights for ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Thursday night at 7 pm ET:
 
Ramon Cardenas 124 pounds -vs.- Erik Robles 123.6; 
Hebert Conceicao 160.4  -vs.- Elias Espadas 160.2; 
Joeshon James 163.4 lbs -vs.- Yojanler Martinez 165.4; 
Mykquan Williams 141.6  -vs.- Camilo Rodriguez Pardo 141.5;  
Bryan Polaco 153.2  -vs.- Marlon Harrington 153.2; and 
Kenyan Valle 123.6  -vs.- Teran Ward 128. 
 
TV: ProBoxTV 7:00 pm EST 
Promoters: Garry Jonas (ProBox Promotions) Sampson Lewkowicz (Sampson Boxing)
Matchmakers: Ramiro Hernandez, Daniel Rubin
Tickets: available from the ProBoxTV website or directly from Seat Geek.
 
By Scott Shaffer | December 17, 2025

Terence Crawford says he's "stepping away from competition"

Terence Crawford says he's "stepping away from competition"
Undefeated, multi-division champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement today. The future Hall of Famer posted a YouTube video saying, "Every fighter knows this moment will come. You just never know when... I've spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines, but that feeling you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and keep proving them wrong. This sport gave me everything... and I did it all my way. And I've made peace with what's next. Now, its time. Thank you... I'm stepping away from competition. Not because I'm done fighting but because I won a different kind of battle, the oen where you walk away on your own terms. This isn't goodbye, its just the end of one fight and the beginning of another." 
 
 
 
Source: WBC | December 17, 2025

Andrew Cain gets elimination shot in his hometown

Andrew Cain gets elimination shot in his hometown
British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion Andrew Cain and Mexico City's Alejandro González (19-6-3) are set to collide on February 7th in a WBC final eliminator at 118 pounds. (The WBC bantamweight title is currently held by Takuma Inoue of Japan). Cain will be fighting in his hometwon, in support of a main event featuring another local hero, Nick Ball, defending the WBA featherweight championship. Cain (14-1) is known for his aggression and punching power, and will seek to use his home advantage to secure his first world title shot. Although he has never been in a scheduled twelve rounder, González will not be an easy opponent. Mexican fighters are known for their bravery, technique and ability to withstand punishment, qualities that “Azteca” will put to the test on hostile territory.  
 
Source: boxingnews.jp | December 17, 2025

Ex-champ Akui returns with KO in Tokyo

Ex-champ Akui returns with KO in Tokyo
Seigo Yuri Akui KO3  Vincent Lacar... At the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, former WBA flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui competing in an eight-round bout at super flyweight, secured a knockout victory over Vincent Lacar of the Philippines in the third round. He successfully rebounded from his loss to Kenjiro Teraji in March. The fight was decided in the third round. Akui cornered Lakal on the ropes and landed a right, and Lakal went down without needing a left counter. Lakal got back up, but the ten count was reached. Akui's record is 22 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. His opponent, Lakal, who lost, has a record of 10 wins and 2 losses.
 
Source: Netflix | December 16, 2025

Welcome to Joshua vs. Paul fight week

Welcome to Joshua vs. Paul fight week
On Friday, Dec. 19th, boxing disruptor Jake Paul challenges former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a career-defining fight from Most Valuable Promotions that will stream exclusively on Netflix. The fight, which is scheduled for eight rounds, takes place at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Prelims begin at 4:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. PT, streaming live on Tudum. The main card will stream live globally on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (included in all plans).  Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions have finalized the full fight card. The latest addition brings a major spotlight opener to the main card: U.S. Olympian and amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey will face undefeated Kevin Cervantes in a six-round junior lightweight bout. Harvey, coming off a knockout win in his pro debut, now steps onto the global stage on Netflix. The main card will also feature Anderson Silva vs. Tyron Woodley, plus a stacked lineup of world-class women’s bouts. 
Source: WBC | December 16, 2025

WBC findings re: Matias positive ostarine test

WBC findings re: Matias positive ostarine test
On November 15th, VADA notified WBC junior welterweight champion Subriel Matías and the WBC of an adverse analytical finding consistent with the presence of Ostarine in a urine sample collected from him on November 9th. Several anti-doping result management authorities have set thresholds for the presence of Ostarine under which a positive result is not considered an adverse finding.  Findings under the threshold are considered atypical, whereupon the athlete is cleared after a cursory review. For example, the New York State Athletic Commission, which is the jurisdiction where the upcoming Matías v. Smith WBC championship bout will take place on January 10th, does not consider a concentration below 0.1 ng/ML to be an adverse finding.  The reported concentration of Ostarine in Matías’ sample was 0.085 ng/mL, which is below that threshold.
 
The WBC conducted an expedited but thorough investigation following the prescriptions of its Clean Boxing Program protocol. Matías and his team were fully cooperative with every aspect of the process.  The process concluded with the WBC and Matías entering into an Adjudication Agreement which requires him to comply with the following conditions:
 
A.        Probation for one (1) year from the date of the sample collection;
 
B.         Undergo additional random anti-doping testing during the probationary period at his own expense;
 
C.        Participate in a nutrition education program designed and conducted by the WBC Nutrition Committee;
 
D.        Participate in social responsibility activations such as visiting boxing gyms to speak about the dangers of consuming potentially contaminated nutritional supplements; and
 
E.        Be suspended indefinitely without further inquiry if a sample collected from him results in an adverse finding  during his probationary period.
 
Unfortunate, inaccurate, and speculative information was reported last week regarding Matías when the results of his B sample became available.  It is important that the public recognizes that, in the anti-doping testing context, B sample results are overwhelmingly the same the A sample ones. The contents of the A sample container and those of the B sample are exactly the same.  The testing of the B sample contents is just confirmatory of the A Sample one.  The B sample test results, therefore, do not represent a new or additional adverse finding nor a new violation of any rules.
 
During its annual convention, the WBC ruled to modify  the Clean Boxing Program Protocol.  The modifications are necessary due to the fact that there is a definite link between most of the adverse finding results and actual or alleged contamination of supplements boxers use.  The WBC will publish and implement its new Clean Boxing Program Protocol starting in February of 2026.
 
Source: WBA | December 16, 2025

WBA reelects Mendoza to a five-year term

WBA reelects Mendoza to a five-year term
In a surprise to no one, the WBA’s 104th Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida saw the reelection of Gilberto Jesús Mendoza as president of the organization for a new five-year term. With this mandate, Mendoza extends a leadership run that now spans a full decade at the helm of boxing’s oldest sanctioning body. According to the WBA: "The election unfolded in an atmosphere of total consensus. There were no opposing candidates and no formal objections. Board members, commission representatives, promoters, officials, and international delegates all voiced unanimous support for the president’s continued tenure. [The] institutional unity reflected the organization’s confidence in the direction Mendoza has charted for the WBA in recent years.
 
"In his remarks following the proclamation, Mendoza expressed his gratitude for the support and emphasized that the WBA is in a period of modernization, global expansion, and internal strengthening. He highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in officials’ education programs, social initiatives such as KO to Drugs, and the consolidation of regional titles as a development pathway for emerging talent around the world.... With unanimous backing, Gilberto Jesús Mendoza begins his third presidential term with a defined roadmap and a renewed commitment to guiding the WBA through an increasingly competitive global landscape."
 
Source: WBA | December 16, 2025

Artiga retains title by defeating Silva

Artiga retains title by defeating Silva
Jasmine Artiga W10 Stephanie Silva... In Orlando as part of the WBA’s 104th annual convention, Jasmine Artiga (15-0-1) successfully defended her WBA  super flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Venezuela’s Stephanie Silva (10-2). The scorecards were 99-91, 97-93 and a lopsided 100-90. From the opening bell, Artiga set a brisk pace, built around a sharp jab, intelligent footwork, and a precise sense of timing. Her game plan was clear: control the distance, avoid unnecessary exchanges and wear Silva down with clean, consistent punches. The American champion showed notable maturity, managing her energy efficiently while maintaining the initiative in every round. Silva entered the fight with a reputation as an aggressive pressure fighter capable of shifting momentum through sheer intensity. Instead, she ran into an opponent who neutralized her from the outset. Every attempt by the Venezuelan to close the gap was met with accuracy from Artiga, who countered with combinations to the head and body, forcing Silva to operate in reverse far more than usual.
 
As the rounds progressed, the gap between the two became increasingly evident. Artiga not only landed more often, but did so with greater clarity and authority. Her defense—anchored by subtle waist movement and lateral steps—frustrated Silva’s attacks, preventing her from ever establishing a sustained rhythm. Even in moments when Silva tried to force exchanges, the champion responded calmly, selecting the right shots and refusing to be drawn into disorder.
 
The final stretch of the bout was a showcase of complete control by Artiga. Fully aware of her advantage, she stayed tactically disciplined, taking no unnecessary risks. Silva, game until the final bell, searched for a rally that never materialized, limited by the champion’s precision and defensive structure.
 
When the final bell sounded, there was no debate inside the venue. 
Press Release | December 16, 2025

Cardona talks about this weekend's Netflix fight

Cardona talks about this weekend's Netflix fight
Justin “The Stallion” Cardona (10-1, 5 KOs) has wrapped up training camp as he readies himself for the biggest opportunity of his professional career. Cardona will face dangerous Avious Griffin (17-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight bout on Friday, December 19th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The bout will take place on the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul card promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and broadcast live globally on Netflix. Cardona emphasized that consistency and preparation have been the foundation of his growth, noting that the camp has sharpened his conditioning, timing, and confidence heading into fight night. Reflecting on the work he’s put in behind closed doors, Cardona expressed gratitude for the process and the people around him. “This camp has probably been the most focused and disciplined of my career,” said Cardona on his recent training camp. “Every day, my team pushed me to get better — not just physically, but mentally. We didn’t cut corners. We studied, we worked, and we stayed humble. I’m thankful to have a team that believes in me and holds me accountable, because that’s what prepares you for moments like this.”
 
Acknowledging the challenge Griffin presents while remaining confident in his own preparation, Cardona spoke respectfully of his opponent. Rather than overlooking the danger, Cardona made it clear that respect and readiness are central to his mindset heading into the bout. “Avious Griffin is a strong, explosive fighter with a lot of knockouts, and I respect what he’s done in the ring,” Cardona said regarding Avious Griffin and his power. “Anyone with that record deserves respect. At the same time, I trust my preparation and my skills. I’ve trained for every scenario, and I’m ready to go in there and compete at the highest level.”
 
Focused on performance rather than outcomes, trusting that results will follow, Cardona added that he remains grounded. For Cardona, this fight represents more than just another victory, it’s a defining opportunity. “A win on this stage would mean everything,” Cardona explained on what a win would mean for his career. “I’ve worked my whole life for opportunities like this. It would show that the sacrifices, the setbacks, and the long nights were worth it. But more than anything, it would open the door to bigger opportunities and allow me to keep building toward my goals the right way.”
 
Cardona concluded by emphasizing that he plans to make the most of the moment — not with words, but with performance. “I’m extremely grateful to MVP for believing in me and giving me this platform,” said Cardona on fighting on MVP’s global Netflix event. “Fighting on a global event like this, on Netflix, is something most fighters only dream about. I don’t take it for granted. I’m proud to represent myself, my family, and my team on a stage that reaches fans all over the world.”
 
Source: Boxlab Promotions | December 16, 2025

Brown and Tellez post wins in Orlando

Brown and Tellez post wins in Orlando
Kevin Brown W10 Amos Cowart ... On Saturday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, Kevin Brown (9-0, 3 KOs) junior welterweight Kevin Brown cruised to a unanimous decision victory over lte replacement Amos Cowart (13-3-1, 10 KOs) [after repeat offender Cletus Seldin reportedy failed yet another drug test]. The judges scored the bout 100-90 across the board, as Brown controlled the pace from start to finish, using sharp footwork, slick defense, and pinpoint combinations to neutralize Cowart’s offense. After the fight, Brown reflected confidently on his dominant performance. “I felt in control from the opening bell,” Brown said. “Cowart's a tough veteran, but I knew if I stuck to my fundamentals, stayed sharp, and dictated the tempo, I could shut him down, and that’s exactly what I did. This was another step forward for me. Staying undefeated and defending my title in a clean sweep just shows that I’m on the right path. I want to be back in the ring as soon as possible, maybe early spring 2026. I’m hungry to keep pushing up the ranks and proving I belong at the top.”
 
Yoenis Tellez TKO5 Kendo Castaneda...  In a scheduled eight-round bout, junior middleweight Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (11-1, 8 KOs) bounced back from his first career loss, stopping the always-game Kendo Castaneda (21-13, 9 KOs) in the fifth round. From the opening bell, Tellez, who is co-promoted by Boxlab and Warriors Boxing, imposed his will, applying consistent pressure and walking Castaneda down with a mix of power shots and relentless body work. By round five, the accumulation proved too much, prompting the referee to step in and wave off the contest. “I needed this one, not just for my record, but for my spirit,” Tellez said. “After my last fight, I went back to the gym with a chip on my shoulder. I made adjustments, put in the hard work, and it all paid off. Getting the knockout felt great, but more than that, I felt like myself again. I’m still one of the best in this division, and this was just the beginning of my comeback. I want to stay active and be back in the first quarter of 2026. The goal is a world title — nothing less.”
 
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, praised both fighters for their impressive performances and potential to lead the next generation of contenders. “Kevin Brown showed why he’s one of the most technically sound prospects in the sport,” said Piedra. “He made a quality opponent look outclassed, and that’s not easy to do. As for Tellez…what a comeback. He showed the heart of a real warrior... Both of these young men have incredibly bright futures, and we at Boxlab are proud to be part of their journeys.”
 
Source: WBC | December 16, 2025

Croatia's Marko Calic gets big road win in Poland

Croatia's Marko Calic gets big road win in Poland
Marko Čalić W10 Nikodem Jezewski ... Croatia's Marko Čalić (17-2, 10 KOs) got a big road win at the Hala 100-lecia Sopotu, Poland. The bridgerweight defeated the hometown fighter Nikodem Jezewski (26-3-1, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision after ten rounds, via scorecards of 98-92, 98-93 and 96-94.
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