Surace back in play with win over Bednarek |
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Bruno Surace W10 Kamil Bednarek... Although it was a technical and methodical affair, France’s Bruno Surace outdueled previously undefeated Kamil Bednarek to take home a unanimous decision verdict in the super middleweight division. Surace is now 27-1-1 after splitting a pair of fights with current title holder Jaime Munguia in 2024 and 2025 but then going inactive for well over a year. Bednarek returns to Poland with his first defeat in eighteen pro fights. Surace and Bednarek started the fight with the familiar dance in an open-stance affair that is the battle for foot position, and the action stayed at a simmer while they sorted out timing and range. “Brunello” started opening up in the third round, waiting for openings and countering with technical combinations with some power. He also landed several well-timed uppercuts that rattled Bednarek ever so slightly while mixing in some work to the body as well. Bednarek picked up the pace in response, and while Surace maintained his composure in the pocket, Bednarek started finding more success giving less chances for Surace to respond. After a handful of closely contested rounds, Surace started to dig in at the start of the seventh round. The Frenchman started stringing together much longer combinations when Bednarek’s defense showed a crack, at a couple different points looking like he was set to overwhelm Bednarek. In the final round, Surace closed the night out well hurting Bednarek with stinging right hands and counters, stamping home a nice bounce-back win. Official scores were 98-92, 97-93, 96-94.
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Surace back in play with win over Bednarek
Bruno Surace W10 Kamil Bednarek... Although it was a technical and methodical affair, France’s Bruno Surace outdueled previously undefeated Kamil Bednarek to take home a unanimous decision verdict in the super middleweight division. Surace is now 27-1-1 after splitting a pair of fights with current title holder Jaime Munguia in 2024 and 2025 but then going inactive for well over a year. Bednarek returns to Poland with his first defeat in eighteen pro fights. Surace and Bednarek started the fight with the familiar dance in an open-stance affair that is the battle for foot position, and the action stayed at a simmer while they sorted out timing and range. “Brunello” started opening up in the third round, waiting for openings and countering with technical combinations with some power. He also landed several well-timed uppercuts that rattled Bednarek ever so slightly while mixing in some work to the body as well. Bednarek picked up the pace in response, and while Surace maintained his composure in the pocket, Bednarek started finding more success giving less chances for Surace to respond. After a handful of closely contested rounds, Surace started to dig in at the start of the seventh round. The Frenchman started stringing together much longer combinations when Bednarek’s defense showed a crack, at a couple different points looking like he was set to overwhelm Bednarek. In the final round, Surace closed the night out well hurting Bednarek with stinging right hands and counters, stamping home a nice bounce-back win. Official scores were 98-92, 97-93, 96-94.
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WBC convention results: Luis Nery wins easy |
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Luis Nery TKO3 Francisco Rodriguez... At the WBC Convention in Acapulco, Mexico, fomrer two-division champion Luis “Pantera” Nery battered Francisco Rodriguez (14-7-1) for two rounds of a junior lightweight contest and then Rodriguez called it a night. On his way to the ring for this all-Tijuana match-up, Nery was greeted by ex-champions Jose Luis Castillo and Erik “Terrible” Motales. Once in the ring, he jumped up and down, visibly energized. Nery’s powerful left hooks and uppercuts quickly took their toll. He closed the distance and trapped Rodriguez on the ropes. He then unloaded and unleashed with bludgeoning flurries. Referee Mark Lyson stopped it at the start of round three. An easy TKO victory for the still menacing and hard hitting Nery, who is now 38-3.
Camila Zamorano W10 Brenda Balderas... Atomweight champion Camila Zamorano retained her title by unanimous decision. Ahead on the WBC scores announced after four and eight rounds, Zamorano used her height and reach to good effect reddening Brenda Balderas’ face while milling on the retreat. But Balderas pursued her, and had some success at close range fighting out of clinches. The fight, however, was controlled by Zamorano's snaking left jabs and straight right plus some body punches. The judges saw it as: 98-92 (twice) and 100-90.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
Jonathan Fierro won his junior lightweight bout in a jiffy, landing a crashing left hook in round one that poleaxed Argentina's Sergio Sosa in just nineteen seconds. There was no ten count and the fight was immediately waved off. Sosa took some time to get up.
At flyweight, Esneidy Rodriguez won a convincing unanimous decision against Lucia Gutiérrez with all three judges scoring it 80-72. Lithe, fit and busy, Rodriguez peppered Gutiérrez with hooks to head and body, often trapping her on the ropes.
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WBC convention results: Luis Nery wins easy
Luis Nery TKO3 Francisco Rodriguez... At the WBC Convention in Acapulco, Mexico, fomrer two-division champion Luis “Pantera” Nery battered Francisco Rodriguez (14-7-1) for two rounds of a junior lightweight contest and then Rodriguez called it a night. On his way to the ring for this all-Tijuana match-up, Nery was greeted by ex-champions Jose Luis Castillo and Erik “Terrible” Motales. Once in the ring, he jumped up and down, visibly energized. Nery’s powerful left hooks and uppercuts quickly took their toll. He closed the distance and trapped Rodriguez on the ropes. He then unloaded and unleashed with bludgeoning flurries. Referee Mark Lyson stopped it at the start of round three. An easy TKO victory for the still menacing and hard hitting Nery, who is now 38-3.
Camila Zamorano W10 Brenda Balderas... Atomweight champion Camila Zamorano retained her title by unanimous decision. Ahead on the WBC scores announced after four and eight rounds, Zamorano used her height and reach to good effect reddening Brenda Balderas’ face while milling on the retreat. But Balderas pursued her, and had some success at close range fighting out of clinches. The fight, however, was controlled by Zamorano's snaking left jabs and straight right plus some body punches. The judges saw it as: 98-92 (twice) and 100-90.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
Jonathan Fierro won his junior lightweight bout in a jiffy, landing a crashing left hook in round one that poleaxed Argentina's Sergio Sosa in just nineteen seconds. There was no ten count and the fight was immediately waved off. Sosa took some time to get up.
At flyweight, Esneidy Rodriguez won a convincing unanimous decision against Lucia Gutiérrez with all three judges scoring it 80-72. Lithe, fit and busy, Rodriguez peppered Gutiérrez with hooks to head and body, often trapping her on the ropes.
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Undercard results from Saudi Arabia |
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Jakhongir Zokirov TKO2 Brandon Colantonio... One of the heavyweight divison’s bright young prospects added to his shine as Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Zokirov scored a first-round finish over Canada’s Brandon Colantonio to advance to 3-0. The 23 year-old “Jak Kong” hurt Colantonio to the body early. After the Canadian rose to his feet, Zokirov went back to the well, forcing Colantonio to a knee. However, Zokirov connected with a punch when Colantonio was on the canvas and was promptly deducted a point. It all felt academic, however, as Zokirov put some heavy finishing touches on the bout, leading to Colantonio’s corner stopping the fight before the start of the second round.
Alexander Castro W10 Radzhab Butaev... Experienced middleweights Alexander Castro and Radzhab Butaev went back and forth for ten rounds with Castro earning the bounce-back win on two of three scorecards. The Colombian Castro came out like he was smelling blood in the seventh round, pouncing on Butaev with a big flurry of punches although it did not deter Butaev [a former PED cheat] in any capacity. Even though Castro accepted the fight in late-October, he appeared the fresher fighter in the final quarter of the bout as the frequent work to Butaev’s body seemed to pay dividens in the final handful of rounds. In the end, Castro defeated Butaev by majority decision via scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 95-95.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Lightweights Ivan Ortiz and Dariial Kuchmenov went to battle over eight rounds with Kuchmenov earning the split decision nod. Official scores were 77-74 and 76-75 for Kuchmenov, with one tally of 76-75 for Ortiz. Kuchmenov opened the fight on the front foot, commanding the distance and range early with his jap and pressure. Two minutes into the opening frame, Kuchmenov dropped Ortiz for the first time in his career with a slick counter hook as Ortiz burst into range. Kuchmenov continued to stifle him with tight, technical shots that landed inside of Ortiz’s looped offerings. Ortiz started to settle into the fight midway through the third round, landing with more regularity and standing his ground more. That trend continued into the fourth, when Ortiz found some real success, including a cracking right hand in the waning moments of the round. Just when the momentum looked headed Ortiz’s direction, Kuchmenov started tagging Ortiz to the body a bit more, allowing the Russian to get back on the gas and dictating the terms of engagement. The final six minutes of the fight were a bit more back-and-forth, but Kuchmenov did enough to stay ahead of the pace and secure the win.
The action in Riyadh got started with a bang as Tulio Boymatov floored Moro Kanla 89 seconds into the fight. The light heavyweights went after each other from the opening bell, throwing heavy combinations early and often. Boymatov touched the canvas first although the referee called it a slip. Moments later, he connected with an overhand right to put Kanla down for the first time. The finishing shot would come not many seconds later when he touched Kanla with a flush left hook that rendered Kanla unable to continue.
Riyahd’s Rayan Awaji had a picture-perfect debut as he finished Sudais Lubega in the third round. Awaji overwhelmed Lubega on a few occasions although he was not able to drop Lubega before the Ugandan tied him up to halt the onslaught. At the end of the opening round, Lubega even took to literally running from Awaji to make it to the bell. The second round was one-way traffic in favor of the hometown fighter. Lubega seemed content to tie Awaji any chance he got, but Awaji stayed within himself and scored a pair of knockdowns. However, Lubega made it to the second bell, allowing Awaji to put the finishing touches on in the third. Awaji eventually scored the finish late in the third round as Lubega was resigned to tying up, leading the referee to call the bout.
Young featherweights clashed as Riyadh’s Abdulaziz Alotaibi scored a win in his professional debut over Uganda’s Ezra Ssali. All three scorecards had Alotaibi, age 24, winning by 40-35. Alotaibi got to work quickly and scored a knockdown midway through the opening frame with a thudding right hand to the body that forced Ssali to take a knee.
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Undercard results from Saudi Arabia
Jakhongir Zokirov TKO2 Brandon Colantonio... One of the heavyweight divison’s bright young prospects added to his shine as Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Zokirov scored a first-round finish over Canada’s Brandon Colantonio to advance to 3-0. The 23 year-old “Jak Kong” hurt Colantonio to the body early. After the Canadian rose to his feet, Zokirov went back to the well, forcing Colantonio to a knee. However, Zokirov connected with a punch when Colantonio was on the canvas and was promptly deducted a point. It all felt academic, however, as Zokirov put some heavy finishing touches on the bout, leading to Colantonio’s corner stopping the fight before the start of the second round.
Alexander Castro W10 Radzhab Butaev... Experienced middleweights Alexander Castro and Radzhab Butaev went back and forth for ten rounds with Castro earning the bounce-back win on two of three scorecards. The Colombian Castro came out like he was smelling blood in the seventh round, pouncing on Butaev with a big flurry of punches although it did not deter Butaev [a former PED cheat] in any capacity. Even though Castro accepted the fight in late-October, he appeared the fresher fighter in the final quarter of the bout as the frequent work to Butaev’s body seemed to pay dividens in the final handful of rounds. In the end, Castro defeated Butaev by majority decision via scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 95-95.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Lightweights Ivan Ortiz and Dariial Kuchmenov went to battle over eight rounds with Kuchmenov earning the split decision nod. Official scores were 77-74 and 76-75 for Kuchmenov, with one tally of 76-75 for Ortiz. Kuchmenov opened the fight on the front foot, commanding the distance and range early with his jap and pressure. Two minutes into the opening frame, Kuchmenov dropped Ortiz for the first time in his career with a slick counter hook as Ortiz burst into range. Kuchmenov continued to stifle him with tight, technical shots that landed inside of Ortiz’s looped offerings. Ortiz started to settle into the fight midway through the third round, landing with more regularity and standing his ground more. That trend continued into the fourth, when Ortiz found some real success, including a cracking right hand in the waning moments of the round. Just when the momentum looked headed Ortiz’s direction, Kuchmenov started tagging Ortiz to the body a bit more, allowing the Russian to get back on the gas and dictating the terms of engagement. The final six minutes of the fight were a bit more back-and-forth, but Kuchmenov did enough to stay ahead of the pace and secure the win.
The action in Riyadh got started with a bang as Tulio Boymatov floored Moro Kanla 89 seconds into the fight. The light heavyweights went after each other from the opening bell, throwing heavy combinations early and often. Boymatov touched the canvas first although the referee called it a slip. Moments later, he connected with an overhand right to put Kanla down for the first time. The finishing shot would come not many seconds later when he touched Kanla with a flush left hook that rendered Kanla unable to continue.
Riyahd’s Rayan Awaji had a picture-perfect debut as he finished Sudais Lubega in the third round. Awaji overwhelmed Lubega on a few occasions although he was not able to drop Lubega before the Ugandan tied him up to halt the onslaught. At the end of the opening round, Lubega even took to literally running from Awaji to make it to the bell. The second round was one-way traffic in favor of the hometown fighter. Lubega seemed content to tie Awaji any chance he got, but Awaji stayed within himself and scored a pair of knockdowns. However, Lubega made it to the second bell, allowing Awaji to put the finishing touches on in the third. Awaji eventually scored the finish late in the third round as Lubega was resigned to tying up, leading the referee to call the bout.
Young featherweights clashed as Riyadh’s Abdulaziz Alotaibi scored a win in his professional debut over Uganda’s Ezra Ssali. All three scorecards had Alotaibi, age 24, winning by 40-35. Alotaibi got to work quickly and scored a knockdown midway through the opening frame with a thudding right hand to the body that forced Ssali to take a knee.
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Cameron to fight Mayer instead of Shields |
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True to Nakisa Bidarian's word, world junior middleweight Chantelle Cameron has moved on from a proposed super fight vs. world middleweight / heavyweight champion Claressa Shileds. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced a rematch between the reigning unified WBO, WBA, and WBC 154-pound champion Chantelle Cameron (23-1, 8 KOs) and reigning WBO 147-pound champion Mikaela Mayer (22-3, 5 KOs). The two stars will meet again in a ten-round junior middleweight rematch in support of MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Cédric Doumbé Christmas Eve spectacle on December 24th (Thursday) card at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE.
Cameron vs. Mayer II follows their August showdown in Birmingham, England, where Cameron earned a unanimous decision victory to claim Mayer’s two titles and unify three world championships at 154 pounds. The closely contested battle immediately sparked calls for a rematch from both fighters, setting the stage for another showdown. Cameron enters determined to defend her unified crown and cement her place among boxing’s pound-for-pound elite, while Mayer looks to avenge her defeat and reclaim the titles she lost just four months earlier.
Also joining the card will be MVP’s undefeated U.S. Olympian and amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey (5-0, 4 KOs), who returns against Scotland’s Craig Morgan (15-1-1) in an eight-round lightweight bout.
Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron is also a former champion at 140 pounds, where she won the vacant WBC title in October 2020 before winning the IBF and WBA titles. Cameron successfully defended her titles against Katie Taylor in May 2023, before a November 2023 rematch resulted in a decision win for Taylor. Cameron stepped up to 154 to win the vacant WBO title in April 2026 on MVPW-01. She most recently faced then-WBC and WBA champion Mikaela Mayer in a major pound-for-pound clash in August 2026, winning by decision to become a unified champion in a second division.
She said, "I am genuinely excited to box in one of my favourite places on December 24 in Dubai. I cannot thank Jake, Nakisa and Mike enough for this opportunity to box on a huge show. They promised to keep me active in 2026 and my third fight in nine months proves just that. We agreed to the rematch before the first fight, so we both kept our word, and now the rematch is on the biggest stage in boxing."
A three-division champion and reigning WBO welterweight champion, Mikaela Mayer, 2016 U.S. Olympian, jumped out to a 17-0 record to begin her pro career while winning a pair of 130-pound titles and becoming a pound-for-pound mainstay. In January 2024, she contended for the IBF welterweight world title against Natasha Jonas, then seized her second opportunity to become a two-weight world champion in September 2024, when she defeated WBO welterweight champion Sandy Rya before besting her again in a rematch.
Mayer became a three-division champion with a defeat of Mary Spencer in October 2025 to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO 154-pound titles. She said, "Mayer vs. Cameron was a great fight that I truly hope everyone enjoyed. Although I don’t feel I performed to my highest potential, I’ve been working hard to fix the mistakes I made and I will 100% come back stronger! I’m taking my belts back on December 24th."
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Cameron to fight Mayer instead of Shields
True to Nakisa Bidarian's word, world junior middleweight Chantelle Cameron has moved on from a proposed super fight vs. world middleweight / heavyweight champion Claressa Shileds. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced a rematch between the reigning unified WBO, WBA, and WBC 154-pound champion Chantelle Cameron (23-1, 8 KOs) and reigning WBO 147-pound champion Mikaela Mayer (22-3, 5 KOs). The two stars will meet again in a ten-round junior middleweight rematch in support of MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Cédric Doumbé Christmas Eve spectacle on December 24th (Thursday) card at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE.
Cameron vs. Mayer II follows their August showdown in Birmingham, England, where Cameron earned a unanimous decision victory to claim Mayer’s two titles and unify three world championships at 154 pounds. The closely contested battle immediately sparked calls for a rematch from both fighters, setting the stage for another showdown. Cameron enters determined to defend her unified crown and cement her place among boxing’s pound-for-pound elite, while Mayer looks to avenge her defeat and reclaim the titles she lost just four months earlier.
Also joining the card will be MVP’s undefeated U.S. Olympian and amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey (5-0, 4 KOs), who returns against Scotland’s Craig Morgan (15-1-1) in an eight-round lightweight bout.
Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron is also a former champion at 140 pounds, where she won the vacant WBC title in October 2020 before winning the IBF and WBA titles. Cameron successfully defended her titles against Katie Taylor in May 2023, before a November 2023 rematch resulted in a decision win for Taylor. Cameron stepped up to 154 to win the vacant WBO title in April 2026 on MVPW-01. She most recently faced then-WBC and WBA champion Mikaela Mayer in a major pound-for-pound clash in August 2026, winning by decision to become a unified champion in a second division.
She said, "I am genuinely excited to box in one of my favourite places on December 24 in Dubai. I cannot thank Jake, Nakisa and Mike enough for this opportunity to box on a huge show. They promised to keep me active in 2026 and my third fight in nine months proves just that. We agreed to the rematch before the first fight, so we both kept our word, and now the rematch is on the biggest stage in boxing."
A three-division champion and reigning WBO welterweight champion, Mikaela Mayer, 2016 U.S. Olympian, jumped out to a 17-0 record to begin her pro career while winning a pair of 130-pound titles and becoming a pound-for-pound mainstay. In January 2024, she contended for the IBF welterweight world title against Natasha Jonas, then seized her second opportunity to become a two-weight world champion in September 2024, when she defeated WBO welterweight champion Sandy Rya before besting her again in a rematch.
Mayer became a three-division champion with a defeat of Mary Spencer in October 2025 to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO 154-pound titles. She said, "Mayer vs. Cameron was a great fight that I truly hope everyone enjoyed. Although I don’t feel I performed to my highest potential, I’ve been working hard to fix the mistakes I made and I will 100% come back stronger! I’m taking my belts back on December 24th."
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Pacheco vs. Fulghum tonight in Southern Cal. |
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Super middleweight Diego Pacheco returns to action on Saturday, live on DAZN. Returning to Dignity Health Sports Park just outside of Los Angeles, Pacheco faces fellow American Darius Fulghum (15-1-1). Pacheco fought at this venue in July when he knocked out Immanuwel Aleem. This feels like the final fight for Pacheco (26-0) before he lands a world title fight (he passed up a vacant title shot to fight Fulghum-- he was in line for a world title opportunity but elected this fight rather than face Janibek Alimkhanuly for the vacant WBO title). With this being his 27th professional contest, Pacheco needs to produce an eye-catching performance before finally making the jump to world level. According to DAZN, Pacheco is an overwhelming favorite to win at 1/11, while Fulghum is priced at 5/1 to get his hand raised.
The main event ring walks are scheduled for approximately 11.10pm ET / 8.10pm PT. Here is the full DAZN line-up:
Diego Pacheco vs. Darius Fulghum, super middleweights;
Anthony Olascuaga vs. Yuberjen Martinez, for Olascuaga's WBO flyweight title;
Charlie Sheehy vs. Gabriel Flores Jr., lightweights; and
David Adeleye vs. Alexander Flores, heavyweights.
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Pacheco vs. Fulghum tonight in Southern Cal.
Super middleweight Diego Pacheco returns to action on Saturday, live on DAZN. Returning to Dignity Health Sports Park just outside of Los Angeles, Pacheco faces fellow American Darius Fulghum (15-1-1). Pacheco fought at this venue in July when he knocked out Immanuwel Aleem. This feels like the final fight for Pacheco (26-0) before he lands a world title fight (he passed up a vacant title shot to fight Fulghum-- he was in line for a world title opportunity but elected this fight rather than face Janibek Alimkhanuly for the vacant WBO title). With this being his 27th professional contest, Pacheco needs to produce an eye-catching performance before finally making the jump to world level. According to DAZN, Pacheco is an overwhelming favorite to win at 1/11, while Fulghum is priced at 5/1 to get his hand raised.
The main event ring walks are scheduled for approximately 11.10pm ET / 8.10pm PT. Here is the full DAZN line-up:
Diego Pacheco vs. Darius Fulghum, super middleweights;
Anthony Olascuaga vs. Yuberjen Martinez, for Olascuaga's WBO flyweight title;
Charlie Sheehy vs. Gabriel Flores Jr., lightweights; and
David Adeleye vs. Alexander Flores, heavyweights.
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Weigh-in report from Saudi Arabia |
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Zuffa Boxing 13 takes place Saturday, November 14th at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the first bout scheduled for 7:15 AM ET. The nine-fight card is headlined by a ten-round super middleweight bout between WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames of the Dominican Republic and Gerome Warburton of Wales. The main card also features Australia's former WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney against Mexico's Andres Teran and France's Bruno Surace against Poland's Kamil Bednarek. The event streams on Paramount+ and airs on Sky Sports. Here are the boxers' weights:
Carlos Adames, 165 pounds -vs.- Gerome Warburton, 165 (super middleweights, ten rounds);
Jason Moloney, 117.5 -vs.- Andres Teran, 119.5* (bantamweights, ten rounds); and
Bruno Surace, 168 -vs.- Kamil Bednarek, 167 (super middleweights, ten rounds).
Preliminary bouts:
Jakhongir Zokirov, 260 -vs.- Brandon Colantonio, 230 (heavyweights, six rounds);
Radzhab Butaev, 160 -vs.- Alexander Castro, 158.5 (middleweights, ten rounds);
Ivan Ortiz, 135 -vs.- Dariial Kuchmenov, 134.5 (lightweights, eight rounds);
Tullo Boymatov, 174.5 -vs.- Moro Kanla, 174 (light heavyweights, eight rounds);
Abdulaziz Alotaibi, 124 -vs.- Ezra Ssali, 128.5 *(featherweights, four rounds); and
Rayan Awaji, 144 -vs.- Sudais Lubega, 145.5 (welterweights, four rounds).
Note: Teran weighed in 1.5 pounds over the bantamweight limit, while Ssali weighed in 2.5 pounds over the featherweight limit.
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Weigh-in report from Saudi Arabia
Zuffa Boxing 13 takes place Saturday, November 14th at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the first bout scheduled for 7:15 AM ET. The nine-fight card is headlined by a ten-round super middleweight bout between WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames of the Dominican Republic and Gerome Warburton of Wales. The main card also features Australia's former WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney against Mexico's Andres Teran and France's Bruno Surace against Poland's Kamil Bednarek. The event streams on Paramount+ and airs on Sky Sports. Here are the boxers' weights:
Carlos Adames, 165 pounds -vs.- Gerome Warburton, 165 (super middleweights, ten rounds);
Jason Moloney, 117.5 -vs.- Andres Teran, 119.5* (bantamweights, ten rounds); and
Bruno Surace, 168 -vs.- Kamil Bednarek, 167 (super middleweights, ten rounds).
Preliminary bouts:
Jakhongir Zokirov, 260 -vs.- Brandon Colantonio, 230 (heavyweights, six rounds);
Radzhab Butaev, 160 -vs.- Alexander Castro, 158.5 (middleweights, ten rounds);
Ivan Ortiz, 135 -vs.- Dariial Kuchmenov, 134.5 (lightweights, eight rounds);
Tullo Boymatov, 174.5 -vs.- Moro Kanla, 174 (light heavyweights, eight rounds);
Abdulaziz Alotaibi, 124 -vs.- Ezra Ssali, 128.5 *(featherweights, four rounds); and
Rayan Awaji, 144 -vs.- Sudais Lubega, 145.5 (welterweights, four rounds).
Note: Teran weighed in 1.5 pounds over the bantamweight limit, while Ssali weighed in 2.5 pounds over the featherweight limit.
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Ex-champ Jason Moloney back in action on Saturday |
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Australia's Jason “Mayhem” Moloney is all set for his Zuffa Boxing debut as he looks to force his way back to the top of the bantamweight division. The former WBO champion, 29-4 for his career, has been operating at a world-class level for the last decade, and knows exactly what it takes to earn, and win, world title fights. Now he’s ready to return to the world stage in a bid to earn a second world title. “It’s been a couple of years since I've fought internationally,” said Moloney ahead of his matchup against Andres Teran in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this weekend. “I’m back overseas now, back fighting on big cards, and back where I want to be. Big fights, worldwide recognition, and a huge platform.”
After unsuccessful title tilts against IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2018, and unified WBA / IBF champion Naoya Inoue in 2020, Moloney finally achieved his dream of becoming a world champion in 2023 when he outpointed Vincent Astrolabio in Stockton, California, to capture the vacant WBO crown. However, after registering a successful title defense, he lost his title on the scorecards against Yoshiki Takei in Tokyo, Japan. Then, in his attempt to bounce back swiftly, he was edged out by former kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa.
After suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time, Moloney returned home to Australia and got back in the win column with successive victories over Herlan Gomez and Andre Donovan. Now Moloney has signed with Zuffa Boxing, and will make his promotional debut Saturday night, November 14th in Riyadh, where he’ll take on Mexico's Andres Teran (19-2) on Zuffa Boxing 13. “This is a very important fight for me,” he said. “It’s my first fight with Zuffa, fighting the WBA world number two, so a big win here will get me in line for another title shot.”
Moloney got the chance to watch his opponent from close quarters when he was in attendance at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas for Teran’s Zuffa Boxing debut. The Mexican was down on all three cards against the undefeated Floyd Diaz when he turned the fight on its head with a stunning sixth-round TKO finish. Now he’ll provide the opposition for Moloney’s Zuffa Boxing debut, and the Aussie knows he has to step up and deliver to keep his championship dream alive.
“I was actually at his last fight live, when I was in Las Vegas meeting the guys at Zuffa, and Teran obviously won the fight there when I was there, and they said, ‘This is most likely your opponent next,’” Moloney recalled. “So yeah, I've had my eye on him since then, and done a lot of study, and I know what he brings to the table. He's a dangerous opponent, but I'm going to really make sure I put on a great performance and look spectacular… This fight is do or die. Twenty-two years I’ve been boxing, dedicated to the sport since Day 1. This guy's trying to take away everything I've ever built and everything I've ever worked for… These Mexicans, they don't give up. For the whole fight, he'll be trying to put pressure on. But I think, with my experience and my skill, I should be able to break him down and tear him apart.”
“A win keeps my dream alive, and another world title gets that much closer. A loss? That could be the end of the road. That scares the s*** out of me. That pushes me to dig deep and push myself to my limits every day.”
With Moloney well aware of the high stakes heading into the contest, he’s thrown himself into the toughest training camp of his career, and said that he’s taken his preparation to new levels in a bid to ensure he’s at his peak on fight night. “I think I've trained harder for this fight than I have for any fight,” he said. “I marked a spot on my calendar 12 weeks out, and I've been pushing myself to the absolute limit and making sure that the version that I bring to the ring on November 14 is the best, most explosive, most aggressive, most exciting, most dangerous fighter I've ever been.”
It’s a chance for the 35-year-old New South Wales native to propel himself right back into championship contention, and potentially join his brother, IBF super-flyweight champion Andrew, as a world champion once again. For that to happen, he knows he needs to deliver in Riyadh to put himself within striking distance.
And as he gets ready to make the walk to the Zuffa Boxing ring for the first time, Moloney is ready to showcase a little bit of “Mayhem” by adopting an approach he says his opponent will have no answer for. “My style, it’s hard to deal with, because I can do a bit of everything,” he said. “When I’m fighting him out long and using my speed, but I’ll also come in there and fight him on the inside and break him down and hit him with shots he’s never felt before. So, trying to deal with everything I bring to the table, I don’t think he can handle it.”
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Ex-champ Jason Moloney back in action on Saturday
Australia's Jason “Mayhem” Moloney is all set for his Zuffa Boxing debut as he looks to force his way back to the top of the bantamweight division. The former WBO champion, 29-4 for his career, has been operating at a world-class level for the last decade, and knows exactly what it takes to earn, and win, world title fights. Now he’s ready to return to the world stage in a bid to earn a second world title. “It’s been a couple of years since I've fought internationally,” said Moloney ahead of his matchup against Andres Teran in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this weekend. “I’m back overseas now, back fighting on big cards, and back where I want to be. Big fights, worldwide recognition, and a huge platform.”
After unsuccessful title tilts against IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2018, and unified WBA / IBF champion Naoya Inoue in 2020, Moloney finally achieved his dream of becoming a world champion in 2023 when he outpointed Vincent Astrolabio in Stockton, California, to capture the vacant WBO crown. However, after registering a successful title defense, he lost his title on the scorecards against Yoshiki Takei in Tokyo, Japan. Then, in his attempt to bounce back swiftly, he was edged out by former kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa.
After suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time, Moloney returned home to Australia and got back in the win column with successive victories over Herlan Gomez and Andre Donovan. Now Moloney has signed with Zuffa Boxing, and will make his promotional debut Saturday night, November 14th in Riyadh, where he’ll take on Mexico's Andres Teran (19-2) on Zuffa Boxing 13. “This is a very important fight for me,” he said. “It’s my first fight with Zuffa, fighting the WBA world number two, so a big win here will get me in line for another title shot.”
Moloney got the chance to watch his opponent from close quarters when he was in attendance at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas for Teran’s Zuffa Boxing debut. The Mexican was down on all three cards against the undefeated Floyd Diaz when he turned the fight on its head with a stunning sixth-round TKO finish. Now he’ll provide the opposition for Moloney’s Zuffa Boxing debut, and the Aussie knows he has to step up and deliver to keep his championship dream alive.
“I was actually at his last fight live, when I was in Las Vegas meeting the guys at Zuffa, and Teran obviously won the fight there when I was there, and they said, ‘This is most likely your opponent next,’” Moloney recalled. “So yeah, I've had my eye on him since then, and done a lot of study, and I know what he brings to the table. He's a dangerous opponent, but I'm going to really make sure I put on a great performance and look spectacular… This fight is do or die. Twenty-two years I’ve been boxing, dedicated to the sport since Day 1. This guy's trying to take away everything I've ever built and everything I've ever worked for… These Mexicans, they don't give up. For the whole fight, he'll be trying to put pressure on. But I think, with my experience and my skill, I should be able to break him down and tear him apart.”
“A win keeps my dream alive, and another world title gets that much closer. A loss? That could be the end of the road. That scares the s*** out of me. That pushes me to dig deep and push myself to my limits every day.”
With Moloney well aware of the high stakes heading into the contest, he’s thrown himself into the toughest training camp of his career, and said that he’s taken his preparation to new levels in a bid to ensure he’s at his peak on fight night. “I think I've trained harder for this fight than I have for any fight,” he said. “I marked a spot on my calendar 12 weeks out, and I've been pushing myself to the absolute limit and making sure that the version that I bring to the ring on November 14 is the best, most explosive, most aggressive, most exciting, most dangerous fighter I've ever been.”
It’s a chance for the 35-year-old New South Wales native to propel himself right back into championship contention, and potentially join his brother, IBF super-flyweight champion Andrew, as a world champion once again. For that to happen, he knows he needs to deliver in Riyadh to put himself within striking distance.
And as he gets ready to make the walk to the Zuffa Boxing ring for the first time, Moloney is ready to showcase a little bit of “Mayhem” by adopting an approach he says his opponent will have no answer for. “My style, it’s hard to deal with, because I can do a bit of everything,” he said. “When I’m fighting him out long and using my speed, but I’ll also come in there and fight him on the inside and break him down and hit him with shots he’s never felt before. So, trying to deal with everything I bring to the table, I don’t think he can handle it.”
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Warburton in huge step-up fight vs. Adames |
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While the majority of eyes watching the headline bout of Zuffa Boxing 13 on Saturday will be focused on Carlos Adames, the WBC middleweight champion will have his gaze firmly focused on one man. That man is Wales’ Gerome Warburton (18-2-2), who comes into the fight off the back of an entertaining duology with English fan-favorite Nathan Heaney, and is threatening to derail Adames’ big plans for 2027. Faced with bouts against Heaney, a man blessed with significant fan support, Warburton had to knuckle down and stick to his task, and he did so admirably across both bouts as he claimed back-to-back unanimous decision victories earlier this year.
It proved that Warburton had the nerve and the temperament for the big occasion, and led to his latest assignment, a non-title affair set for this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a massive career leap for the 31-year-old southpaw, who worked his way up the British boxing ladder the old-school way, fighting in small-hall shows and building his experience before eventually earning himself a shot at the British and Commonwealth titles.
Warburton fell short on that occasion, as he was stopped in four rounds by Kieron Conway at the Copper Box, but after bouncing back with a shutout win against journeyman opposition, he faced Heaney twice, beating him on the scorecards on both occasions. Now Warburton will face current WBC middleweight champion Adames in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 13 in undoubtedly the biggest fight of his career.
With the bout taking place at super middleweight, it means Adames’ 160-pound world title isn’t up for grabs on the night, but victory for Warburton would open the doors to some potentially massive opportunities in 2027, with a host of world-class middleweights already in Zuffa Boxing’s stable.
Nicknamed “The Breadmaker” – a nod to the famous UK bakers Warburton’s – Warburton knows that his victories over Heaney have placed him on the verge of something big, and he plans to crash the party with victory over Adames in Riyadh.
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Warburton in huge step-up fight vs. Adames
While the majority of eyes watching the headline bout of Zuffa Boxing 13 on Saturday will be focused on Carlos Adames, the WBC middleweight champion will have his gaze firmly focused on one man. That man is Wales’ Gerome Warburton (18-2-2), who comes into the fight off the back of an entertaining duology with English fan-favorite Nathan Heaney, and is threatening to derail Adames’ big plans for 2027. Faced with bouts against Heaney, a man blessed with significant fan support, Warburton had to knuckle down and stick to his task, and he did so admirably across both bouts as he claimed back-to-back unanimous decision victories earlier this year.
It proved that Warburton had the nerve and the temperament for the big occasion, and led to his latest assignment, a non-title affair set for this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a massive career leap for the 31-year-old southpaw, who worked his way up the British boxing ladder the old-school way, fighting in small-hall shows and building his experience before eventually earning himself a shot at the British and Commonwealth titles.
Warburton fell short on that occasion, as he was stopped in four rounds by Kieron Conway at the Copper Box, but after bouncing back with a shutout win against journeyman opposition, he faced Heaney twice, beating him on the scorecards on both occasions. Now Warburton will face current WBC middleweight champion Adames in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 13 in undoubtedly the biggest fight of his career.
With the bout taking place at super middleweight, it means Adames’ 160-pound world title isn’t up for grabs on the night, but victory for Warburton would open the doors to some potentially massive opportunities in 2027, with a host of world-class middleweights already in Zuffa Boxing’s stable.
Nicknamed “The Breadmaker” – a nod to the famous UK bakers Warburton’s – Warburton knows that his victories over Heaney have placed him on the verge of something big, and he plans to crash the party with victory over Adames in Riyadh.
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USA Boxing opens Olympic pathway for pro boxers |
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Registration is now open for the 2026 USA Boxing Professional Pathway Tournament, which will take place Dec. 5–12 at the CajunDome in Lafayette, Louisiana. This will be a separate competition, administered by USA Boxing officials under Olympic-style rules, in which professional pathway boxers compete only against one another with a chance at a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. The first-place finisher in each Olympic weight class earns an invitation to the 2027 Elite Team Evaluation & Selection Camp in Colorado Springs in early 2027, where all invited athletes are evaluated under the same standards. Online registration for the event is available here and the registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 30th.
The criteria for eligibility to enter the Professional Pathway Tournament are:(a) a minimum of five professional boxing bouts, with all bouts scheduled for four or more rounds; (b) minimum winning percentage of 75% in all professional bouts; an (c) a professional bout within the past two years from the start of the 2026 Professional Pathway Tournament. If the athlete does not meet the professional-bout threshold and winning percentage, men must have at least fifty (50) USA Boxing bouts with a minimum 50% winning percentage in Olympic-style amateur bouts. Women must have at least thirty (30) USA Boxing bouts with a minimum 50% winning percentage in Olympic-style amateur bouts.
The traditional USA Boxing pathway remains in place for current amateur boxers to the High Performance Team and Squad, and nothing about it changes. In fact, the Professional Pathway Tournament will be held alongside the 2026 USA Boxing Elite National Championships. Current USA Boxing athletes continue to advance through the Elite National Championships and the established selection procedures.
This marks USA Boxing’s third time partnering with Lafayette in the past three years, including when the CajunDome hosted the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing.
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USA Boxing opens Olympic pathway for pro boxers
Registration is now open for the 2026 USA Boxing Professional Pathway Tournament, which will take place Dec. 5–12 at the CajunDome in Lafayette, Louisiana. This will be a separate competition, administered by USA Boxing officials under Olympic-style rules, in which professional pathway boxers compete only against one another with a chance at a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. The first-place finisher in each Olympic weight class earns an invitation to the 2027 Elite Team Evaluation & Selection Camp in Colorado Springs in early 2027, where all invited athletes are evaluated under the same standards. Online registration for the event is available here and the registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 30th.
The criteria for eligibility to enter the Professional Pathway Tournament are:(a) a minimum of five professional boxing bouts, with all bouts scheduled for four or more rounds; (b) minimum winning percentage of 75% in all professional bouts; an (c) a professional bout within the past two years from the start of the 2026 Professional Pathway Tournament. If the athlete does not meet the professional-bout threshold and winning percentage, men must have at least fifty (50) USA Boxing bouts with a minimum 50% winning percentage in Olympic-style amateur bouts. Women must have at least thirty (30) USA Boxing bouts with a minimum 50% winning percentage in Olympic-style amateur bouts.
The traditional USA Boxing pathway remains in place for current amateur boxers to the High Performance Team and Squad, and nothing about it changes. In fact, the Professional Pathway Tournament will be held alongside the 2026 USA Boxing Elite National Championships. Current USA Boxing athletes continue to advance through the Elite National Championships and the established selection procedures.
This marks USA Boxing’s third time partnering with Lafayette in the past three years, including when the CajunDome hosted the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing.
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Bernstein and Conte to call BiYu show on Nov. 20th |
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BiYu Promotions announced that International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein (pictured) and respected boxing journalist Cynthia Conte will call “Apex Empress,” an all-women’s professional boxing event on Friday, November 20th at BiYu Arena in Houston. The event will stream live worldwide on CombatVisionTV. Bernstein brings decades of experience analyzing championship fights, while Conte brings the perspective of a boxing reporter and interviewer who regularly covers the fighters and stories shaping women’s boxing.
Houston native Jewry “The Empress” Rodriguez (1-0) headlines the card against Chantal Sumrall (3-4-2) in a scheduled six-round bantamweight bout. A decorated USA Boxing champion, Rodriguez, who is on the fast track to a world title, returns to the ring looking to build on a successful professional debut in front of her hometown fans.
Former champion Yuliahn Luna Avila (29-5-1, 5 KOs) will face Thalia Joseline Limon (6-2, 4 KOs). The card also features Hawaii's Azariah Cottrell (1-0, 1 KO) faces Mexico’s Erika Abarca (3-10) and Stephanie Simon (6-0, 1 KO) against Susana Bolanos Lopez (3-1).
“Having legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein and the incredibly talented Cynthia Conte calling the action for Apex Empress is a tremendous honor for BiYu Promotions,” said Bobby Harrison, CEO of BiYu Promotions. “Al is one of the most respected voices in boxing history, and Cynthia brings tremendous knowledge, passion, and energy to the sport. Together, they make an outstanding broadcast team, and having them ringside speaks volumes about the importance of this event and what we're building here in Houston. Our vision is to make Apex Empress the premier platform for women's boxing, where the next generation of female superstars can showcase their talent on a world stage.”
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Bernstein and Conte to call BiYu show on Nov. 20th
BiYu Promotions announced that International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein (pictured) and respected boxing journalist Cynthia Conte will call “Apex Empress,” an all-women’s professional boxing event on Friday, November 20th at BiYu Arena in Houston. The event will stream live worldwide on CombatVisionTV. Bernstein brings decades of experience analyzing championship fights, while Conte brings the perspective of a boxing reporter and interviewer who regularly covers the fighters and stories shaping women’s boxing.
Houston native Jewry “The Empress” Rodriguez (1-0) headlines the card against Chantal Sumrall (3-4-2) in a scheduled six-round bantamweight bout. A decorated USA Boxing champion, Rodriguez, who is on the fast track to a world title, returns to the ring looking to build on a successful professional debut in front of her hometown fans.
Former champion Yuliahn Luna Avila (29-5-1, 5 KOs) will face Thalia Joseline Limon (6-2, 4 KOs). The card also features Hawaii's Azariah Cottrell (1-0, 1 KO) faces Mexico’s Erika Abarca (3-10) and Stephanie Simon (6-0, 1 KO) against Susana Bolanos Lopez (3-1).
“Having legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein and the incredibly talented Cynthia Conte calling the action for Apex Empress is a tremendous honor for BiYu Promotions,” said Bobby Harrison, CEO of BiYu Promotions. “Al is one of the most respected voices in boxing history, and Cynthia brings tremendous knowledge, passion, and energy to the sport. Together, they make an outstanding broadcast team, and having them ringside speaks volumes about the importance of this event and what we're building here in Houston. Our vision is to make Apex Empress the premier platform for women's boxing, where the next generation of female superstars can showcase their talent on a world stage.”
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Weigh-in report from Atlantic City, NJ |
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All fourteen boxers made weight Thursday at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey and all seven bouts have been cleared by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for Friday night's Boxing Insider Promotions card at The Showroom. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the first fight is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the live event can be purchased here. The show will be freestreamed on BoxingInsider.com and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bt7cMW7Yv0. Here are the boxers' weights:
Justin Figueroa (160 pounds) vs. Luis Caraballo Ramos (160), eight rounds, middleweights.
Atlantic City's Justin "Mr. AC" Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) and Luis Caraballo Ramos (8-10-1, 8 KOs) of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, both came in at 160 pounds for the main event. It is a rematch of their March fight in the same room, which ended in a no contest;
John Leonardo (121) vs. Kevin Nunez (121), eight rounds, super bantamweights.
John "Body Shot" Leonardo (13-1-1, 6 KOs) of Manalapan Township and Kevin Nunez (6-4, 3 KOs) of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, each weighed 121 pounds. Leonardo headlined the first Boxing Insider card at the Tropicana in 2024;
JJ Alvarez (147) vs. Larry Fryers (146), six rounds, welterweights.
JJ Alvarez (11-3-1, 2 KOs), who fights out of New York by way of Madrid, Spain, weighed 147 pounds. Larry Fryers (13-8-1, 5 KOs) of Albany, New York, weighed 146. Alvarez is a trainer at Mendez Boxing in New York and Fryers is a former trainer at the same gym;
George Arias (251) vs. Joe Jones (234.5), eight rounds, heavyweights.
George Arias (19-1-1, 7 KOs) of the Bronx weighed 251 pounds. Joe Jones (16-15-2, 10 KOs) of Lynchburg, Virginia, weighed 234.5;
Julio Sanchez III (140) vs. Skyler Bray (139), six rounds, junior welterweights.
Pleasantville's Julio Sanchez III (5-1, 3 KOs) weighed 140 pounds for his first scheduled six-round bout. Skyler Bray (3-3-1, 3 KOs) of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, weighed 139;
Iman Lee (128.5) vs. Dannis Aguero Arias (129), eight rounds, junior lightweights.
Iman Lee (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Yonkers, New York, weighed 128.5 pounds for his Atlantic City debut. Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6, 17 KOs) of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, weighed 129. The bout was agreed at a catchweight of 130 pounds; and
Koby Khalil Williams (134) vs. Salvatore Di Stefano (134), six rounds, lightweights.
Brooklyn's Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, 6 KOs) and Salvatore Di Stefano (4-2, 2 KOs) of Palermo, Sicily, both weighed 134 pounds.
"We have seven fights," said promoter Larry Goldberg. "We have a main event with serious bad blood, a rematch of a fight from March that nobody felt was settled. We have two legitimate prospects in Iman Lee and George Arias who we are excited to bring to Atlantic City. We have John Leonardo coming back to put on a show, and Julio Sanchez in his first six-round fight. It is a strong New York and New Jersey card, and tickets start at under $50. This is old school throwback boxing, and it is going to be a lot of fun. If you cannot make it to Atlantic City, watch the stream. It is free, with no barriers, the way boxing is supposed to be."
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Weigh-in report from Atlantic City, NJ
All fourteen boxers made weight Thursday at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey and all seven bouts have been cleared by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for Friday night's Boxing Insider Promotions card at The Showroom. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the first fight is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the live event can be purchased here. The show will be freestreamed on BoxingInsider.com and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bt7cMW7Yv0. Here are the boxers' weights:
Justin Figueroa (160 pounds) vs. Luis Caraballo Ramos (160), eight rounds, middleweights.
Atlantic City's Justin "Mr. AC" Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) and Luis Caraballo Ramos (8-10-1, 8 KOs) of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, both came in at 160 pounds for the main event. It is a rematch of their March fight in the same room, which ended in a no contest;
John Leonardo (121) vs. Kevin Nunez (121), eight rounds, super bantamweights.
John "Body Shot" Leonardo (13-1-1, 6 KOs) of Manalapan Township and Kevin Nunez (6-4, 3 KOs) of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, each weighed 121 pounds. Leonardo headlined the first Boxing Insider card at the Tropicana in 2024;
JJ Alvarez (147) vs. Larry Fryers (146), six rounds, welterweights.
JJ Alvarez (11-3-1, 2 KOs), who fights out of New York by way of Madrid, Spain, weighed 147 pounds. Larry Fryers (13-8-1, 5 KOs) of Albany, New York, weighed 146. Alvarez is a trainer at Mendez Boxing in New York and Fryers is a former trainer at the same gym;
George Arias (251) vs. Joe Jones (234.5), eight rounds, heavyweights.
George Arias (19-1-1, 7 KOs) of the Bronx weighed 251 pounds. Joe Jones (16-15-2, 10 KOs) of Lynchburg, Virginia, weighed 234.5;
Julio Sanchez III (140) vs. Skyler Bray (139), six rounds, junior welterweights.
Pleasantville's Julio Sanchez III (5-1, 3 KOs) weighed 140 pounds for his first scheduled six-round bout. Skyler Bray (3-3-1, 3 KOs) of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, weighed 139;
Iman Lee (128.5) vs. Dannis Aguero Arias (129), eight rounds, junior lightweights.
Iman Lee (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Yonkers, New York, weighed 128.5 pounds for his Atlantic City debut. Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6, 17 KOs) of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, weighed 129. The bout was agreed at a catchweight of 130 pounds; and
Koby Khalil Williams (134) vs. Salvatore Di Stefano (134), six rounds, lightweights.
Brooklyn's Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, 6 KOs) and Salvatore Di Stefano (4-2, 2 KOs) of Palermo, Sicily, both weighed 134 pounds.
"We have seven fights," said promoter Larry Goldberg. "We have a main event with serious bad blood, a rematch of a fight from March that nobody felt was settled. We have two legitimate prospects in Iman Lee and George Arias who we are excited to bring to Atlantic City. We have John Leonardo coming back to put on a show, and Julio Sanchez in his first six-round fight. It is a strong New York and New Jersey card, and tickets start at under $50. This is old school throwback boxing, and it is going to be a lot of fun. If you cannot make it to Atlantic City, watch the stream. It is free, with no barriers, the way boxing is supposed to be."
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Ennis and Kelly unification bout set for Feb. 27th |
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Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (pictured) and Josh Kelly will clash in a junior middleweight unification blockbuster on Saturday, February 27th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, the latest headline bout of TNT Sports and DAZN’s “The Fight”, the monthly live boxing series, and will be broadcast co-exclusively in the U.S. on TNT, truTV and DAZN and worldwide on DAZN. Ennis (36-0 32 KOs) became a two-time, two-weight unified champion in June with a stoppage win over Xander Zayas in Brooklyn. The result was that Ennis, a Philadelphian, owned the WBO and WBA straps. Ennis moved up to 154 pounds in October 2025 after becoming a two-belt champion at welterweight with a dominant win over previously undefeated Eimantas Stanionis.
Kelly (19-2-1 9 KOs including the World Series of Boxing) won the IBF title by taking on Bakhram Murtazaliev in January in Newcastle, England. The Sunderland slickster defended the crown against Caoimhin Agyarko in Saudi Arabia in July. The 32-year old, who represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics, comes to the States for the third time for the biggest night of his career to date, having already boxed twice in the States in New York and Arizona.
Boots and Kelly’s showdown will bring the 154-pound division closer to having an undisputed champion, with WBC ruler Sebastian Fundora lying in wait for the winner, and both men are confident that they will emerge victorious in Matchroom’s first event in Atlanta.
“What a fantastic unification fight this is,” said Eddie Hearn. “Boots and Josh are both brilliant World champions and this was not a difficult fight to make when you lay out what is there for the winner – three belts around your waist and just one more to collect to become undisputed at 154 and lay the foundations to a legacy in the sport. There’s so much incredible action still to come in 2026, but I already cannot wait for February 27, when one of these fantastic champions will take a giant step to landing a shot at becoming an undisputed World ruler in our first ever event in Atlanta. This is a night not to miss in person or live on TNT and DAZN.”
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Ennis and Kelly unification bout set for Feb. 27th
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (pictured) and Josh Kelly will clash in a junior middleweight unification blockbuster on Saturday, February 27th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, the latest headline bout of TNT Sports and DAZN’s “The Fight”, the monthly live boxing series, and will be broadcast co-exclusively in the U.S. on TNT, truTV and DAZN and worldwide on DAZN. Ennis (36-0 32 KOs) became a two-time, two-weight unified champion in June with a stoppage win over Xander Zayas in Brooklyn. The result was that Ennis, a Philadelphian, owned the WBO and WBA straps. Ennis moved up to 154 pounds in October 2025 after becoming a two-belt champion at welterweight with a dominant win over previously undefeated Eimantas Stanionis.
Kelly (19-2-1 9 KOs including the World Series of Boxing) won the IBF title by taking on Bakhram Murtazaliev in January in Newcastle, England. The Sunderland slickster defended the crown against Caoimhin Agyarko in Saudi Arabia in July. The 32-year old, who represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics, comes to the States for the third time for the biggest night of his career to date, having already boxed twice in the States in New York and Arizona.
Boots and Kelly’s showdown will bring the 154-pound division closer to having an undisputed champion, with WBC ruler Sebastian Fundora lying in wait for the winner, and both men are confident that they will emerge victorious in Matchroom’s first event in Atlanta.
“What a fantastic unification fight this is,” said Eddie Hearn. “Boots and Josh are both brilliant World champions and this was not a difficult fight to make when you lay out what is there for the winner – three belts around your waist and just one more to collect to become undisputed at 154 and lay the foundations to a legacy in the sport. There’s so much incredible action still to come in 2026, but I already cannot wait for February 27, when one of these fantastic champions will take a giant step to landing a shot at becoming an undisputed World ruler in our first ever event in Atlanta. This is a night not to miss in person or live on TNT and DAZN.”
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WBA chooses Valenzuela over Bahdi as lightweight mandatory contender |
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In two separate but related rulings, the WBA ordered a mandatory bout between its reigning lightweight champion Floyd Schofield and José Valenzuela and also denied a request for a rematch by Lucas Bahdi, who lost a controversial decision to Schofield when they fought for the vacant WBA title on October 10th in Chicago. Bahdi protested the referee's rulings concerning several knockdowns / slips. After reviewing the challenged calls, the WBA determined that there were "significant" officiating errors that fell below the standards expected in a world championship bout. Nevertheless, the WBA concluded that these irregularities did not provide sufficient grounds to overturn the official result.
The WBA Officials Committee conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the bout, which included the participation of seven international referees and an independent panel of judges. The review focused primarily on the controversial actions in the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh rounds, as well as their potential impact on the official scorecards.
The review determined that the referee failed to count two legitimate knockdowns of Schofield, caused by Bahdi’s punches in the sixth and ninth rounds. All seven international referees unanimously agreed that both instances should have been ruled knockdowns.
Regarding the third round, opinions were divided over a knockdown of Bahdi near the ropes. Four of the seven referees supported the original official’s ruling, leading the Committee to uphold that determination. The Committee also concluded that Schofield’s fall in the eleventh round resulted from a stumble after stepping on his opponent’s foot, rather than from the impact of a legal punch. Therefore, it should not have been scored as a knockdown.
The Committee also reviewed the judges’ scorecards and conducted a revised scoring exercise, awarding the sixth and ninth rounds to Bahdi as 10-8 rounds in recognition of the knockdowns that were not called during the fight.
However, even after these adjustments, two of the three original scorecards still had Schofield winning, while the third resulted in a draw. An additional evaluation by an independent panel of judges also failed to establish a majority victory for Bahdi. Although some judges maintained Schofield as the winner and one favored the Canadian, the majority scored the bout a draw.
Consequently, the organization upheld Floyd Schofield’s unanimous decision victory, confirming his status as WBA lightweight champion, and denied the request for an immediate rematch submitted by MVP on behalf of Bahdi.
As part of the resolution, the findings regarding the referee’s performance will be referred to the appropriate WBA authorities for administrative review and consideration of any measures deemed appropriate concerning his performance and future assignments.
As for Valenzuela, the WBA ruled Schofield must now fulfill his first mandatory title defense and Valenzuela, a former junuor welterweight title holder, is the mandatory challenger.
The representatives of Schofield and Valenzuela will have a thirty-day period to reach an agreement, extending through December 11th. If an agreement is not reached within the negotiation period, or either party expresses its unwillingness to negotiate or participate in the mandatory bout, the Championships Committee reserved the right to call for a purse bid.
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WBA chooses Valenzuela over Bahdi as lightweight mandatory contender
In two separate but related rulings, the WBA ordered a mandatory bout between its reigning lightweight champion Floyd Schofield and José Valenzuela and also denied a request for a rematch by Lucas Bahdi, who lost a controversial decision to Schofield when they fought for the vacant WBA title on October 10th in Chicago. Bahdi protested the referee's rulings concerning several knockdowns / slips. After reviewing the challenged calls, the WBA determined that there were "significant" officiating errors that fell below the standards expected in a world championship bout. Nevertheless, the WBA concluded that these irregularities did not provide sufficient grounds to overturn the official result.
The WBA Officials Committee conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the bout, which included the participation of seven international referees and an independent panel of judges. The review focused primarily on the controversial actions in the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh rounds, as well as their potential impact on the official scorecards.
The review determined that the referee failed to count two legitimate knockdowns of Schofield, caused by Bahdi’s punches in the sixth and ninth rounds. All seven international referees unanimously agreed that both instances should have been ruled knockdowns.
Regarding the third round, opinions were divided over a knockdown of Bahdi near the ropes. Four of the seven referees supported the original official’s ruling, leading the Committee to uphold that determination. The Committee also concluded that Schofield’s fall in the eleventh round resulted from a stumble after stepping on his opponent’s foot, rather than from the impact of a legal punch. Therefore, it should not have been scored as a knockdown.
The Committee also reviewed the judges’ scorecards and conducted a revised scoring exercise, awarding the sixth and ninth rounds to Bahdi as 10-8 rounds in recognition of the knockdowns that were not called during the fight.
However, even after these adjustments, two of the three original scorecards still had Schofield winning, while the third resulted in a draw. An additional evaluation by an independent panel of judges also failed to establish a majority victory for Bahdi. Although some judges maintained Schofield as the winner and one favored the Canadian, the majority scored the bout a draw.
Consequently, the organization upheld Floyd Schofield’s unanimous decision victory, confirming his status as WBA lightweight champion, and denied the request for an immediate rematch submitted by MVP on behalf of Bahdi.
As part of the resolution, the findings regarding the referee’s performance will be referred to the appropriate WBA authorities for administrative review and consideration of any measures deemed appropriate concerning his performance and future assignments.
As for Valenzuela, the WBA ruled Schofield must now fulfill his first mandatory title defense and Valenzuela, a former junuor welterweight title holder, is the mandatory challenger.
The representatives of Schofield and Valenzuela will have a thirty-day period to reach an agreement, extending through December 11th. If an agreement is not reached within the negotiation period, or either party expresses its unwillingness to negotiate or participate in the mandatory bout, the Championships Committee reserved the right to call for a purse bid.
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WBA tells Lopez: fight Catterall or give up title |
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The WBA has issued its decision regarding the request for reconsideration submitted by WBA welterweight super champion Teofimo Lopez, reaffirming that Lopez must face WBA regular champion Jack Catterall (pictured) next. Lopez was seeking to get an exception to the WBA mandatory defense rule so that he could enter into a unification bout vs. WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia. Lopez now has three choices: fight Catterall next, vacate the WBA title and fight Garcia for the WBC title only (assuming Garcia is willing), or negotiate a step-aside deal with Catterall, although Catterall has said in no uncertain terms he would not make such an agreement.
In a resolution issued on Wednesday, November 11th, the WBA requested that representatives of Lopez and Catterall resume negotiations and submit, within ten days, an agreement that would allow the mandatory bout to take place on a date acceptable to both parties. The WBA said the boxers "may also propose an alternative solution to resolve the differences between them" -- in other words, a step-aside agreement. If no agreement is submitted within that period, or if either party decides not to participate in the negotiations, either side may request a purse bid.
According to the WBA:"The situation stems from the resolution issued on May 20, 2026, when the WBA elevated Rolando Romero to WBA super champion status and approved a bout for the vacant WBA [regular] championship between Shakhram Giyasov, who was ranked #1 at the time, and Jack Catterall, then ranked #6. That resolution stipulated that Romero would have to face the winner of the bout within 180 days. Catterall defeated Giyasov on May 23rd to capture the WBA [regular] championship. Subsequently, on August 22nd, Teofimo Lopez defeated Romero in a voluntary title defense and became the WBA super champion. Following that result, the American inherited the obligations previously established for the title, including the mandatory defense against Catterall."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
SEPT. 23, 2026: The WBA Championship Committee has ordered a mandatory bout between WBA welterweight super champion Teófimo López (pictured) and Jack Catterall, the WBA regular welterweight champion.[Editor's note: Lopez has been rumored to be negotiating a unification fight vs. his WBC counterpart, Ryan Garcia. Lopez remains free to vacate the WBA title and challenge Garcia for the WBC version].The WBA decision stems from the conditions established by the WBA Championship Committee when Rolando “Rolly” Romero was elevated to WBA super champion. At that time, it was determined that the winner of the WBA regular title bout between Shakhram Giyasov and Jack Catterall would subsequently face Romero, who would be permitted to make one optional defense during that period. On August 22nd, Teófimo López defeated Romero by majority decision to become the WBA super champion (and a three-division champion as well). The WBA has now confirmed that López has assumed the champion's obligations previously established by the Championship Committee. As a result, the WBA has ordered the bout between López and Catterall.
SEPT. 22, 2026: Jack Catterall wants to face Teofimo Lopez next, and he saved a receipt to prove his entitlement to do so. Catterall (pictured) became the WBA interim welterweight champion in May when he defeated Shakhram Giyasov in Egypt. In July, as then-WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero was preparing to defend against Teofimo Lopez, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza tweeted that Caterall was in line for the next title shot: "Romero vs. Lopez winner must box Catterall in their next fight." Lopez went on to defeat Romero, but is now talking about unifying vs. WBC champion Ryan Garcia. Catterall is doing everything he can to block Lopez-Garcia until he gets his shot at the full title. This weekend Catterall reposted the July Mendoza tweet, adding, "I expect the WBA and Gilberto Mendoza to stand on business, keep their word and honor what was agreed. Like I say, I don’t ask for favors, just what was agreed and what I deserve"
MAY 23, 2026: Jack Catterall defeated Shakram Giyasov via unanimous twelve-round decision to gain the vacant WBA regular welterweight title in Egypt. It was an emotional win for Catterall, who in 2022 appeared to have defeated Josh Taylor to become world junior welterweight champion, only to get shortchanged on the official scorecards. This time, Catterall (33-2) suffered no surprises when the scores were read. After scoring an early knockdown, Catterall went on to defeat Giyasov by a wide margin: 118-109, 119-108 and 116-111.
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WBA tells Lopez: fight Catterall or give up title
The WBA has issued its decision regarding the request for reconsideration submitted by WBA welterweight super champion Teofimo Lopez, reaffirming that Lopez must face WBA regular champion Jack Catterall (pictured) next. Lopez was seeking to get an exception to the WBA mandatory defense rule so that he could enter into a unification bout vs. WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia. Lopez now has three choices: fight Catterall next, vacate the WBA title and fight Garcia for the WBC title only (assuming Garcia is willing), or negotiate a step-aside deal with Catterall, although Catterall has said in no uncertain terms he would not make such an agreement.
In a resolution issued on Wednesday, November 11th, the WBA requested that representatives of Lopez and Catterall resume negotiations and submit, within ten days, an agreement that would allow the mandatory bout to take place on a date acceptable to both parties. The WBA said the boxers "may also propose an alternative solution to resolve the differences between them" -- in other words, a step-aside agreement. If no agreement is submitted within that period, or if either party decides not to participate in the negotiations, either side may request a purse bid.
According to the WBA:"The situation stems from the resolution issued on May 20, 2026, when the WBA elevated Rolando Romero to WBA super champion status and approved a bout for the vacant WBA [regular] championship between Shakhram Giyasov, who was ranked #1 at the time, and Jack Catterall, then ranked #6. That resolution stipulated that Romero would have to face the winner of the bout within 180 days. Catterall defeated Giyasov on May 23rd to capture the WBA [regular] championship. Subsequently, on August 22nd, Teofimo Lopez defeated Romero in a voluntary title defense and became the WBA super champion. Following that result, the American inherited the obligations previously established for the title, including the mandatory defense against Catterall."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
SEPT. 23, 2026: The WBA Championship Committee has ordered a mandatory bout between WBA welterweight super champion Teófimo López (pictured) and Jack Catterall, the WBA regular welterweight champion.[Editor's note: Lopez has been rumored to be negotiating a unification fight vs. his WBC counterpart, Ryan Garcia. Lopez remains free to vacate the WBA title and challenge Garcia for the WBC version].The WBA decision stems from the conditions established by the WBA Championship Committee when Rolando “Rolly” Romero was elevated to WBA super champion. At that time, it was determined that the winner of the WBA regular title bout between Shakhram Giyasov and Jack Catterall would subsequently face Romero, who would be permitted to make one optional defense during that period. On August 22nd, Teófimo López defeated Romero by majority decision to become the WBA super champion (and a three-division champion as well). The WBA has now confirmed that López has assumed the champion's obligations previously established by the Championship Committee. As a result, the WBA has ordered the bout between López and Catterall.
SEPT. 22, 2026: Jack Catterall wants to face Teofimo Lopez next, and he saved a receipt to prove his entitlement to do so. Catterall (pictured) became the WBA interim welterweight champion in May when he defeated Shakhram Giyasov in Egypt. In July, as then-WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero was preparing to defend against Teofimo Lopez, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza tweeted that Caterall was in line for the next title shot: "Romero vs. Lopez winner must box Catterall in their next fight." Lopez went on to defeat Romero, but is now talking about unifying vs. WBC champion Ryan Garcia. Catterall is doing everything he can to block Lopez-Garcia until he gets his shot at the full title. This weekend Catterall reposted the July Mendoza tweet, adding, "I expect the WBA and Gilberto Mendoza to stand on business, keep their word and honor what was agreed. Like I say, I don’t ask for favors, just what was agreed and what I deserve"
MAY 23, 2026: Jack Catterall defeated Shakram Giyasov via unanimous twelve-round decision to gain the vacant WBA regular welterweight title in Egypt. It was an emotional win for Catterall, who in 2022 appeared to have defeated Josh Taylor to become world junior welterweight champion, only to get shortchanged on the official scorecards. This time, Catterall (33-2) suffered no surprises when the scores were read. After scoring an early knockdown, Catterall went on to defeat Giyasov by a wide margin: 118-109, 119-108 and 116-111.
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Carlos Adames: a look back and ahead |
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The fighting pride of Elías Piña, Dominican Republic, Carlos Adames has reached the heady heights of the WBC middleweight championship. Now he is set to embark on the next chapter of his career with Zuffa Boxing as he looks to underscore his legacy. Adames’ career started out in the amateur ranks, where he logged more than 200 wins, including a gold medal in the 2012 Pan American Youth Championships. The young Adames eventually turned professional in 2015 and claimed victory with a unanimous decision victory inside Brooklyn Masonic Temple. After that win, Adames wouldn’t see another scorecard until his 12th fight, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Molina.
Throughout Adames’ pro boxing apprenticeship, he shared the ring with seasoned campaigners, with all of his opponents from his fourth fight on boasting significant experience advantages over him, as well as winning records. But, one by one, Adames defeated them as his record, and reputation, grew. By November 2019, he had picked up regional titles and put himself in line for a world title shot.
His first world title opportunity came against Patrick Teixeira in Las Vegas, where he was edged out by unanimous decision for the WBO interim junior middleweight title after a closely contested battle, with only one point separating the pair on two of the judges’ scorecards. Following that defeat, Adames went back to the drawing board and bounced back with a sixth-round knockout of Brahian Jose Medina, after which he moved up to middleweight. It proved to be the best decision of his career.
Fighting in the 160-pound division, Adames claimed back-to-back victories as he rounded off 2021 with a TKO stoppage of Alexis Salazar Flores and a ten-round majority decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Those wins earned him a crack at the WBC interim middleweight crown, and a third-round knockout of Juan Macias Montiel saw Adames earn [interim] championship honors for the first time in his professional career. He defended that interim belt once, with a ninth-round stoppage of former unified junior middleweight champion Julian Williams in June 2023 before he was eventually elevated to full champion status 11 months later.
His first defense of the crown saw him taken the distance by Terrell Gausha, but Adames was just too good on the night as he dominated the scorecards for a landslide unanimous decision victory. Adames then held onto his title by the slimmest of margins as he battled to a split draw with Hamza Sheeraz in February 2025 in Riyadh, but he returned to his dominant best in his most recent outing in Orlando in March as he dropped Austin “Ammo” Williams in the second round en route to a unanimous decision victory to maintain his firm grip on championship gold.
Following that victory earlier this year, and with a career record of 25-1-1 (18 KOs), Adames announced he had signed with Zuffa Boxing as he gets set to embark on the next chapter of his career. “This is a new chapter in my career, and I’m here to make history. Zuffa Boxing is building something special, and I want to be part of it,” said Adames upon signing. “I’m ready to face the best fighters in the world on the biggest stage. The best of ‘Caballo Bronco’ is yet to come.”
With Adames joining a Zuffa middleweight cohort that includes IBF champion Aaron McKenna and former WBO champ Denzel Bentley, as well contenders Callum Walsh and Shane Mosley Jr., the Zuffa Boxing 160-pound division is loading up with top-tier talent.
And on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Adames will get the chance to showcase his skills in a non-title super-middleweight showcase before his next middleweight championship outing. He’ll take on Wales’ Gerome Warburton, who has championship ambitions of his own following back-to-back wins over England’s Nathan Heaney earlier this year. Victory for Adames opens the door to some mouth-watering matchups in 2027, with the Las Vegas-based champion is determined to prove he’s the cream of the middleweight crop.
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Carlos Adames: a look back and ahead
The fighting pride of Elías Piña, Dominican Republic, Carlos Adames has reached the heady heights of the WBC middleweight championship. Now he is set to embark on the next chapter of his career with Zuffa Boxing as he looks to underscore his legacy. Adames’ career started out in the amateur ranks, where he logged more than 200 wins, including a gold medal in the 2012 Pan American Youth Championships. The young Adames eventually turned professional in 2015 and claimed victory with a unanimous decision victory inside Brooklyn Masonic Temple. After that win, Adames wouldn’t see another scorecard until his 12th fight, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Molina.
Throughout Adames’ pro boxing apprenticeship, he shared the ring with seasoned campaigners, with all of his opponents from his fourth fight on boasting significant experience advantages over him, as well as winning records. But, one by one, Adames defeated them as his record, and reputation, grew. By November 2019, he had picked up regional titles and put himself in line for a world title shot.
His first world title opportunity came against Patrick Teixeira in Las Vegas, where he was edged out by unanimous decision for the WBO interim junior middleweight title after a closely contested battle, with only one point separating the pair on two of the judges’ scorecards. Following that defeat, Adames went back to the drawing board and bounced back with a sixth-round knockout of Brahian Jose Medina, after which he moved up to middleweight. It proved to be the best decision of his career.
Fighting in the 160-pound division, Adames claimed back-to-back victories as he rounded off 2021 with a TKO stoppage of Alexis Salazar Flores and a ten-round majority decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Those wins earned him a crack at the WBC interim middleweight crown, and a third-round knockout of Juan Macias Montiel saw Adames earn [interim] championship honors for the first time in his professional career. He defended that interim belt once, with a ninth-round stoppage of former unified junior middleweight champion Julian Williams in June 2023 before he was eventually elevated to full champion status 11 months later.
His first defense of the crown saw him taken the distance by Terrell Gausha, but Adames was just too good on the night as he dominated the scorecards for a landslide unanimous decision victory. Adames then held onto his title by the slimmest of margins as he battled to a split draw with Hamza Sheeraz in February 2025 in Riyadh, but he returned to his dominant best in his most recent outing in Orlando in March as he dropped Austin “Ammo” Williams in the second round en route to a unanimous decision victory to maintain his firm grip on championship gold.
Following that victory earlier this year, and with a career record of 25-1-1 (18 KOs), Adames announced he had signed with Zuffa Boxing as he gets set to embark on the next chapter of his career. “This is a new chapter in my career, and I’m here to make history. Zuffa Boxing is building something special, and I want to be part of it,” said Adames upon signing. “I’m ready to face the best fighters in the world on the biggest stage. The best of ‘Caballo Bronco’ is yet to come.”
With Adames joining a Zuffa middleweight cohort that includes IBF champion Aaron McKenna and former WBO champ Denzel Bentley, as well contenders Callum Walsh and Shane Mosley Jr., the Zuffa Boxing 160-pound division is loading up with top-tier talent.
And on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Adames will get the chance to showcase his skills in a non-title super-middleweight showcase before his next middleweight championship outing. He’ll take on Wales’ Gerome Warburton, who has championship ambitions of his own following back-to-back wins over England’s Nathan Heaney earlier this year. Victory for Adames opens the door to some mouth-watering matchups in 2027, with the Las Vegas-based champion is determined to prove he’s the cream of the middleweight crop.
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Heavyweight bouts added to Fury vs. Joshua show: Bakole vs. Adebayo and Vanhouter vs. Essomba |
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The heavyweight division will be busy in December. The Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua card no consists of four heavyweight bouts. Streaming live globally on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 11 in Cardiff, Wales' Principality Stadium, the show has two newly announced bouts. One is Martin Bakole (21-2-1), who returns from a 2025 draw to face Solomon Adebayo (15-0) of Nigeria. This will be Adebayo's first fight outside of Africa. The other newly announced fight is Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs. Michael Essomba. Vanhouter (14-0) just fought last weekend and is being pushed aggressively by Zuffa Boxing. The Belgian-based Essomba (11-2) is comingoff a points loss to Angelo Morejon.
The chief support will see Deontay Wilder (45-4-1), who possesses one of the most powerful right hands boxing has ever seen, against undefeated cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0), who will be making his heavyweight debut.
The card will be headlined by the all-British battle between two tremendously popular ex-champs: Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) vs. Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs).
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Heavyweight bouts added to Fury vs. Joshua show: Bakole vs. Adebayo and Vanhouter vs. Essomba
The heavyweight division will be busy in December. The Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua card no consists of four heavyweight bouts. Streaming live globally on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 11 in Cardiff, Wales' Principality Stadium, the show has two newly announced bouts. One is Martin Bakole (21-2-1), who returns from a 2025 draw to face Solomon Adebayo (15-0) of Nigeria. This will be Adebayo's first fight outside of Africa. The other newly announced fight is Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs. Michael Essomba. Vanhouter (14-0) just fought last weekend and is being pushed aggressively by Zuffa Boxing. The Belgian-based Essomba (11-2) is comingoff a points loss to Angelo Morejon.
The chief support will see Deontay Wilder (45-4-1), who possesses one of the most powerful right hands boxing has ever seen, against undefeated cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0), who will be making his heavyweight debut.
The card will be headlined by the all-British battle between two tremendously popular ex-champs: Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) vs. Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs).
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Friday is fight day in Atlantic City |
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Friday, November 13th is fight day at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Local junior middleweight Justin "Mr. AC" Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) headlines the seven-bout card against Luis Caraballo Ramos (8-10-1, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico, in a rematch of their March fight that ended in a no contest. In the heavyweight co-feature, George Arias of the Bronx (19-1-1, 7 KOs) meets Joe Jones (16-15-2, 10 KOs) of Virginia over eight rounds. Arias' lone pro loss came in 2023 and he is looking for an explosive return to push back toward the top of the division.
Junior lightweight Iman Lee (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Yonkers, NY, a WBC Grand Prix veteran, makes his Atlantic City debut against Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6).
John "Body Shot" Leonardo (13-1-1, 6 KOs) of Manalapan Township, NJ faces Kevin "El Gallo" Nunez (6-4, 3 KOs) of Puerto Rico over eight rounds at 122 pounds. Leonardo, trained by his father Donald, is coming off a hard-fought March decision over Edgar Joe Cortes.
In a true club fight, JJ Alvarez takes on New York's Larry Fryers at 144 pounds. A current and a former trainer at Mendez Boxing, these two guys know each other's game and agreed to settle it in the ring. That is how great club fights get made.
Brooklyn's Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, 6 KOs) faces Italy's Salvatore Di Stefano over six rounds at 135 pounds.
Julio Sanchez III, a product of the Pleasantville rec center, meets Skyler Bray over six rounds.
"Everybody on this card is a free agent, and every one of them is looking to make moves in 2027," said promoter Larry Goldberg. "This is blood and guts boxing the way it was done in this city twenty years ago. Come out Friday night and support it."
Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster
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Friday is fight day in Atlantic City
Friday, November 13th is fight day at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Local junior middleweight Justin "Mr. AC" Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) headlines the seven-bout card against Luis Caraballo Ramos (8-10-1, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico, in a rematch of their March fight that ended in a no contest. In the heavyweight co-feature, George Arias of the Bronx (19-1-1, 7 KOs) meets Joe Jones (16-15-2, 10 KOs) of Virginia over eight rounds. Arias' lone pro loss came in 2023 and he is looking for an explosive return to push back toward the top of the division.
Junior lightweight Iman Lee (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Yonkers, NY, a WBC Grand Prix veteran, makes his Atlantic City debut against Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6).
John "Body Shot" Leonardo (13-1-1, 6 KOs) of Manalapan Township, NJ faces Kevin "El Gallo" Nunez (6-4, 3 KOs) of Puerto Rico over eight rounds at 122 pounds. Leonardo, trained by his father Donald, is coming off a hard-fought March decision over Edgar Joe Cortes.
In a true club fight, JJ Alvarez takes on New York's Larry Fryers at 144 pounds. A current and a former trainer at Mendez Boxing, these two guys know each other's game and agreed to settle it in the ring. That is how great club fights get made.
Brooklyn's Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, 6 KOs) faces Italy's Salvatore Di Stefano over six rounds at 135 pounds.
Julio Sanchez III, a product of the Pleasantville rec center, meets Skyler Bray over six rounds.
"Everybody on this card is a free agent, and every one of them is looking to make moves in 2027," said promoter Larry Goldberg. "This is blood and guts boxing the way it was done in this city twenty years ago. Come out Friday night and support it."
Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster
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Walker hosts Gonzalez in South Dakota on Friday |
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South Dakota will host a welterweight battle on Friday, November 13th as local man Deonte Walker (23-1) squares off against Arnold Gonzalez (18-2) of New York. Walker's only loss came in a four rounder back in 2022. He will look to make the most of his combination speed and footwork. He typically uses his jab to create openings in his opponent’s guard before unleashing quick flurries of punches from mid-range. His success will depend on avoiding being trapped in the corners and resisting the temptation to engage in premature toe-to-toe exchanges against a formidable puncher.
In the opposite corner stands Gonzalez, coming off a decision loss in July against Emiliano Moreno. Gonzalez is a rugged fighter whose approach revolves around relentless pressure and powerful hooks. He will look to cut off the ring from the opening bell, close the distance, and work the body to gradually take away Walker’s mobility as the fight progresses.
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Walker hosts Gonzalez in South Dakota on Friday
South Dakota will host a welterweight battle on Friday, November 13th as local man Deonte Walker (23-1) squares off against Arnold Gonzalez (18-2) of New York. Walker's only loss came in a four rounder back in 2022. He will look to make the most of his combination speed and footwork. He typically uses his jab to create openings in his opponent’s guard before unleashing quick flurries of punches from mid-range. His success will depend on avoiding being trapped in the corners and resisting the temptation to engage in premature toe-to-toe exchanges against a formidable puncher.
In the opposite corner stands Gonzalez, coming off a decision loss in July against Emiliano Moreno. Gonzalez is a rugged fighter whose approach revolves around relentless pressure and powerful hooks. He will look to cut off the ring from the opening bell, close the distance, and work the body to gradually take away Walker’s mobility as the fight progresses.
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Tony Yoka to face Jarrell Miller in Ghana |
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Matchroom Boxing returns to Ghana this Christmas for ‘The Showdown II’ with a blockbuster Heavyweight showdown as Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller takes on former Olympic champion Tony Yoka (pictured) at The Grand Arena, Accra International Conference Centre, on Sunday, December 20th – live worldwide on DAZN. Promoted alongside Legacy Rise Sports, in association with BXG and Queensberry Promotions, the event marks Matchroom’s second venture to the African continent as it heads back to the vibrant capital of Accra.
Also on the show, junior middleweight Odel Kamara continues his professional journey on the undercard in Ghana, where he has roots from his mother. The Liverpool fighter, age 22, started life in the paid ranks last month with a third-round stoppage victory over Thodoris Ritzakis. A seven-time National Amateur Champion, Kamara will now look to build on his exciting start and gain further experience on the international stage.
And fresh from his emphatic knockout victory on debut in Sheffield last month, rising North-East cruiserweight Divine Omojor joins Kamara on the card, alongside an exciting contingent of homegrown talent.
Ghanaian light heavyweights Jonathan Tetteh (12-0, 11 KOs) and Elvis Ahorgah (15-4, 13 KOs) will collide on the show.
Also scheduled are Ghana’s unbeaten lightweight contender Samuel Takyi (9-0, 9 KOs) -- a 2021 Olympic medal winner- and super flyweight hopeful Theo Allotey (15-0, 11 KOs). Plus, undefeated Dutch lightweight Jursly Vargas returns to Accra, where he stopped Isaac Dowuona back in April, as he bids to extend his flawless resumé.
All eyes, of course, will be on a compelling Heavyweight clash between hard-hitting American Miller and France’s 2016 Olympic Champion Yoka. Enjoying a run of form in 2026, with back-to-back victories over Lenier Pero and Kingsley Ibeh, 37-year-old Miller sits atop the WBA heavyweight rankings and is firmly in contention for a shot at reigning holder Murat Gassiev next.
Standing in the Brooklyn bulldozer’s way on December 20th is a formidable opponent in the shape of ‘The Artist’ Yoka. The 34-year-old Paris native (15-3, 12 KOs), who is represented by Queensberry Promotions, has won his last four fights, three inside the distance, and will be determined to upset the odds in Accra. Yoka is no stranger to fighting on the continent, having secured an impressive first-round stoppage of Germany’s Patrick Korte in Nigeria in his last outing a year ago.
It promises to be a December to remember in boxing’s blue-riband division, with Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn confident that Miller and Yoka will deliver a festive spectacle for fight fans around the world. “What a way to end the year. This is a serious fight and one that will cap an incredible month of Heavyweight boxing,” said Hearn. "With AJ versus Fury to look forward to the weekend before, alongside David Adeleye and Leo Atang both in action the following night in Monte-Carlo, we are closing the year in style with the heavy hitters – and the main event in Ghana will not disappoint. Jarrell Miller is ranked #1 in the [WBA], and a win over a tough, former Olympic Champion in Tony Yoka will undoubtedly set him up for some major nights ahead in 2027. It will be an absolute war. We are proud to return to Ghana with a brilliant card which is absolutely stacked from top to bottom, which includes another exciting glimpse of Odel Kamara and Divine Omojor.”
Ghana, of course, boasts a proud and storied boxing heritage, having produced generations of exceptional fighters, including the legendary former two-weight World Champion, Azumah Nelson.
And Legacy Rise Sports Chief Executive Officer, Sharaf Mahama, added: “This is a blockbuster heavyweight clash, complemented by an exciting next-generation undercard that showcases the depth of boxing talent Ghana has to offer.
“We are delighted to welcome Matchroom Boxing back to Ghana for what promises to be another spectacular night of boxing. Miller versus Yoka is a huge Heavyweight contest, and we are proud to bring a fight of this calibre to Accra. The atmosphere and appetite for boxing in Ghana are incredible, and we want to continue showcasing that passion to the world.
“Ghana has a proud boxing heritage, built by legends such as Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey and D.K Poison. At Legacy Rise Sports, we want to build on that legacy and help establish Ghana as a major hub for international boxing, attracting world-class fighters and events to Africa.
“We look forward to putting together another blockbuster on DAZN alongside our partners at Matchroom Boxing and BXG and giving Ghanaian, and worldwide, fans a night to remember.”
Further announcements regarding the undercard and ticket information will be made shortly.
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Tony Yoka to face Jarrell Miller in Ghana
Matchroom Boxing returns to Ghana this Christmas for ‘The Showdown II’ with a blockbuster Heavyweight showdown as Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller takes on former Olympic champion Tony Yoka (pictured) at The Grand Arena, Accra International Conference Centre, on Sunday, December 20th – live worldwide on DAZN. Promoted alongside Legacy Rise Sports, in association with BXG and Queensberry Promotions, the event marks Matchroom’s second venture to the African continent as it heads back to the vibrant capital of Accra.
Also on the show, junior middleweight Odel Kamara continues his professional journey on the undercard in Ghana, where he has roots from his mother. The Liverpool fighter, age 22, started life in the paid ranks last month with a third-round stoppage victory over Thodoris Ritzakis. A seven-time National Amateur Champion, Kamara will now look to build on his exciting start and gain further experience on the international stage.
And fresh from his emphatic knockout victory on debut in Sheffield last month, rising North-East cruiserweight Divine Omojor joins Kamara on the card, alongside an exciting contingent of homegrown talent.
Ghanaian light heavyweights Jonathan Tetteh (12-0, 11 KOs) and Elvis Ahorgah (15-4, 13 KOs) will collide on the show.
Also scheduled are Ghana’s unbeaten lightweight contender Samuel Takyi (9-0, 9 KOs) -- a 2021 Olympic medal winner- and super flyweight hopeful Theo Allotey (15-0, 11 KOs). Plus, undefeated Dutch lightweight Jursly Vargas returns to Accra, where he stopped Isaac Dowuona back in April, as he bids to extend his flawless resumé.
All eyes, of course, will be on a compelling Heavyweight clash between hard-hitting American Miller and France’s 2016 Olympic Champion Yoka. Enjoying a run of form in 2026, with back-to-back victories over Lenier Pero and Kingsley Ibeh, 37-year-old Miller sits atop the WBA heavyweight rankings and is firmly in contention for a shot at reigning holder Murat Gassiev next.
Standing in the Brooklyn bulldozer’s way on December 20th is a formidable opponent in the shape of ‘The Artist’ Yoka. The 34-year-old Paris native (15-3, 12 KOs), who is represented by Queensberry Promotions, has won his last four fights, three inside the distance, and will be determined to upset the odds in Accra. Yoka is no stranger to fighting on the continent, having secured an impressive first-round stoppage of Germany’s Patrick Korte in Nigeria in his last outing a year ago.
It promises to be a December to remember in boxing’s blue-riband division, with Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn confident that Miller and Yoka will deliver a festive spectacle for fight fans around the world. “What a way to end the year. This is a serious fight and one that will cap an incredible month of Heavyweight boxing,” said Hearn. "With AJ versus Fury to look forward to the weekend before, alongside David Adeleye and Leo Atang both in action the following night in Monte-Carlo, we are closing the year in style with the heavy hitters – and the main event in Ghana will not disappoint. Jarrell Miller is ranked #1 in the [WBA], and a win over a tough, former Olympic Champion in Tony Yoka will undoubtedly set him up for some major nights ahead in 2027. It will be an absolute war. We are proud to return to Ghana with a brilliant card which is absolutely stacked from top to bottom, which includes another exciting glimpse of Odel Kamara and Divine Omojor.”
Ghana, of course, boasts a proud and storied boxing heritage, having produced generations of exceptional fighters, including the legendary former two-weight World Champion, Azumah Nelson.
And Legacy Rise Sports Chief Executive Officer, Sharaf Mahama, added: “This is a blockbuster heavyweight clash, complemented by an exciting next-generation undercard that showcases the depth of boxing talent Ghana has to offer.
“We are delighted to welcome Matchroom Boxing back to Ghana for what promises to be another spectacular night of boxing. Miller versus Yoka is a huge Heavyweight contest, and we are proud to bring a fight of this calibre to Accra. The atmosphere and appetite for boxing in Ghana are incredible, and we want to continue showcasing that passion to the world.
“Ghana has a proud boxing heritage, built by legends such as Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey and D.K Poison. At Legacy Rise Sports, we want to build on that legacy and help establish Ghana as a major hub for international boxing, attracting world-class fighters and events to Africa.
“We look forward to putting together another blockbuster on DAZN alongside our partners at Matchroom Boxing and BXG and giving Ghanaian, and worldwide, fans a night to remember.”
Further announcements regarding the undercard and ticket information will be made shortly.
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Haney: "I'm levels above Paro" |
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Bay Area native and WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney is ready to bring another championship night to his native home. Haney will face IBF king Liam Paro in a world title unification showdown Saturday, Dec. 19th at Chase Center in San Francisco. The two met face-to-face for the first time Tuesday in San Francisco at the official kickoff press conference. Haney (33-0, 15 KOs), a three-division world champion, returns to the building where he dominated Regis Prograis in December 2023 to capture a title in his second weight class. Paro (28-1, 16 KOs), a two-division champion, also fought on that card, stopping Montana Love. In the ten-round welterweight co-feature, former champion Brian Norman Jr. (29-1, 23 KOs) takes on Abel Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs). Haney-Paro, Norman-Ramos and two additional fights will be streamed LIVE on DAZN PPV beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. This is what Haney and Paro had to say at Tuesday’s kickoff press conference:
Devin Haney
"It feels good to be back. I'm super excited. It's been a long layoff. We tried to make numerous fights happen, but Allah is the perfect planner. Liam Paro is the opponent, so I look forward to it."
"Like I said, I'm levels above him. I'm levels above those guys that he's been in the ring with, that he's beaten, that he's lost to. And I must show him on December 19 that Devin Haney is a special fighter. Like I told Brian Norman Jr., like I'm telling him, I am a special fighter, and I will show the world on December 19th."
"Liam Paro is somebody who I shared numerous rounds with in sparring. We know the things that Liam Paro has said, and I must make him pay for that. We know that he has said things about Richardson Hitchins and Ryan Garcia, and I must show him that I'm a different animal. Under those lights, I'm a different fighter, and I must show him that it's levels."
Liam Paro
“I’m used to being the underdog, and there’s less pressure on me, but this is as big as it gets. I know the challenge ahead of us, and I’m keen to share the ring with Devin. We’ve shared it in the gym, but this is a fight that’s for all the cookies. The winner of this fight will be the king of the welterweight division. I believe these are the two best fighters here.
“Haney is good. I’ll give Devin his cookies. He’s where he is for a reason. He’s a multiple-division world champion. You’ve got to give him respect. But sparring’s sparring. It’s four years since then. I’ve won two world titles. I’ve fought elite fighters since then. I’m ready to come in and shock the world again. I tend to rain on parades, so I’m ready to go.”
“I just believe we've got the tools to get it done if I follow the game plan. I'm familiar with him, but four years is a long time {since we sparred}. And if the opportunity's there {to stop him}, I'm going to try to close the show. We don't get paid overtime in this game, so if the opportunity's there, I'll close the show. You saw me do it last time here at Chase Center. We'll just have to wait and see. That's it.”
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Promoted by Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions, in association with No Limit Boxing and TGB Promotions, tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 13th, at noon PT via Ticketmaster.com. Additional undercard information will be announced shortly.
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Haney: "I'm levels above Paro"
Bay Area native and WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney is ready to bring another championship night to his native home. Haney will face IBF king Liam Paro in a world title unification showdown Saturday, Dec. 19th at Chase Center in San Francisco. The two met face-to-face for the first time Tuesday in San Francisco at the official kickoff press conference. Haney (33-0, 15 KOs), a three-division world champion, returns to the building where he dominated Regis Prograis in December 2023 to capture a title in his second weight class. Paro (28-1, 16 KOs), a two-division champion, also fought on that card, stopping Montana Love. In the ten-round welterweight co-feature, former champion Brian Norman Jr. (29-1, 23 KOs) takes on Abel Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs). Haney-Paro, Norman-Ramos and two additional fights will be streamed LIVE on DAZN PPV beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. This is what Haney and Paro had to say at Tuesday’s kickoff press conference:
Devin Haney
"It feels good to be back. I'm super excited. It's been a long layoff. We tried to make numerous fights happen, but Allah is the perfect planner. Liam Paro is the opponent, so I look forward to it."
"Like I said, I'm levels above him. I'm levels above those guys that he's been in the ring with, that he's beaten, that he's lost to. And I must show him on December 19 that Devin Haney is a special fighter. Like I told Brian Norman Jr., like I'm telling him, I am a special fighter, and I will show the world on December 19th."
"Liam Paro is somebody who I shared numerous rounds with in sparring. We know the things that Liam Paro has said, and I must make him pay for that. We know that he has said things about Richardson Hitchins and Ryan Garcia, and I must show him that I'm a different animal. Under those lights, I'm a different fighter, and I must show him that it's levels."
Liam Paro
“I’m used to being the underdog, and there’s less pressure on me, but this is as big as it gets. I know the challenge ahead of us, and I’m keen to share the ring with Devin. We’ve shared it in the gym, but this is a fight that’s for all the cookies. The winner of this fight will be the king of the welterweight division. I believe these are the two best fighters here.
“Haney is good. I’ll give Devin his cookies. He’s where he is for a reason. He’s a multiple-division world champion. You’ve got to give him respect. But sparring’s sparring. It’s four years since then. I’ve won two world titles. I’ve fought elite fighters since then. I’m ready to come in and shock the world again. I tend to rain on parades, so I’m ready to go.”
“I just believe we've got the tools to get it done if I follow the game plan. I'm familiar with him, but four years is a long time {since we sparred}. And if the opportunity's there {to stop him}, I'm going to try to close the show. We don't get paid overtime in this game, so if the opportunity's there, I'll close the show. You saw me do it last time here at Chase Center. We'll just have to wait and see. That's it.”
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Promoted by Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions, in association with No Limit Boxing and TGB Promotions, tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 13th, at noon PT via Ticketmaster.com. Additional undercard information will be announced shortly.
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AWE network to air South African fight |
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A Wealth of Entertainment network (Awe), announced that on Saturday, November 21st it will broadcast live the IBO bantamweight title from Kempton Park, South Africa featuring Charlton Malajika (9-1-1) versus Landile Ngxeke (17-2-1). The vacant IBO title fight starts at noon Eastern time. Malajika is coming off a draw decision against Bundefeatred David Mwale of Zambia. Mwale was lucky to walk away from the bout still undefeated. Ngxeke turned pro in June 2018 and holds a solid 17-2-1 record. Yet Ngxeke came up short against IBF champion Jose Salas Reyes in December 2025. Ngxeke did earn a win over Jonas Matheus in a March 2026 comeback bout, but Matheus isn’t a world-class boxer, sporting a 16-9-1 record. "We’re thrilled to bring another world title fight featuring two talented boxers to AWE viewers," stated Charles Herring, president of AWE. “These two rising world-class fighters haven’t been in the same ring before and it’s time to determine who is the world champ. Both boxers have much to prove. We expect an all-out brawl for the vacant IBO bantamweight title.”
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AWE network to air South African fight
A Wealth of Entertainment network (Awe), announced that on Saturday, November 21st it will broadcast live the IBO bantamweight title from Kempton Park, South Africa featuring Charlton Malajika (9-1-1) versus Landile Ngxeke (17-2-1). The vacant IBO title fight starts at noon Eastern time. Malajika is coming off a draw decision against Bundefeatred David Mwale of Zambia. Mwale was lucky to walk away from the bout still undefeated. Ngxeke turned pro in June 2018 and holds a solid 17-2-1 record. Yet Ngxeke came up short against IBF champion Jose Salas Reyes in December 2025. Ngxeke did earn a win over Jonas Matheus in a March 2026 comeback bout, but Matheus isn’t a world-class boxer, sporting a 16-9-1 record. "We’re thrilled to bring another world title fight featuring two talented boxers to AWE viewers," stated Charles Herring, president of AWE. “These two rising world-class fighters haven’t been in the same ring before and it’s time to determine who is the world champ. Both boxers have much to prove. We expect an all-out brawl for the vacant IBO bantamweight title.”
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All-women's show set for Nov. 20th in Houston |
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BiYu Promotions, led by CEO Bobby Harrison, announced an all-women's professional boxing event scheduled for Friday, November 20th at BiYu Arena in Houston that will stream live worldwide on CombatVisionTV. Headlining will be local hero Jewry Rodriguez (1-0), who will face Chantal Sumrall (3-4-2) in a scheduled six-round bantamweight matchup... Among the featured fighters will be former champion Yuliahn Luna Avila (29-5-1, 5 KOs) from Durango, Mexico, who is scheduled to compete in an eight-round super bantamweight contest against Thalia Joseline Limon (6-2, 4 KOs), from Eagle Pass, Texas. Luna has won two straight since a 2025 loss to Skye Nicolson... In the co-feature, Hawaiian super bantamweight Azariah Cottrell (1-0, 1 KO) will compete in a six-round bout against Erika Abarca (3-10) from Michoacan, Mexico. For tickets please visist www.biyupromotions.com
Another match-up will feature Southern California's junior welterweight Stephanie Simon (6-0, 1 KO) putting her undefeated record on the line against Susana Bolanos Lopez (3-1) from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in a scheduled six-round contest...
The undercard will also feature Issabel Vasquez (2-0) from Orlando, Florida who will compete in a four-round super flyweight bout against Yadira Alonso (2-1, 2 KOs), from Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico...
Hometown flyweight Jennifer Nicole Morales (3-3, 3 KOs) is booked for a four rounder against Karen Moreno (1-3, 1 KO), from Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico...
In junior lightweight action, Houston's Nathalia Dinis (1-2) will square off against Leanne Calderon (2-4-1, 1 KO) from Kyle, TX, in a scheduled four-round bout...
Lightweight Samantha Ginithan (1-0-1, 1 KO) will take on Brittney Cloudy, who will be making her professional debut..
Rounding out the announced lineup, Shanecqua Paisley Davis (3-2) will face professional debutant Nicole Porter in a four-round lightweight matchup.
The event will provide a platform for emerging talent to gain valuable experience, build their professional resumes, and showcase their abilities in front of boxing fans. Under the leadership of Bobby Harrison, BiYu Promotions continues to strengthen its presence in Houston by staging consistent events and creating meaningful opportunities for fighters at various stages of their careers. “BiYu Promotions is the home for the next generation of female boxing superstars,” said Bobby Harrison, CEO of BiYu Promotions. “With Apex Empress, we aren’t just putting on fights, we’re building the future of the sport. When you have elite talent like Stephanie Simon alongside hungry young, up and coming prodigies like Jewry Rodriguez and Azariah Cottrell on the same card, you’re looking at the future champions of women's boxing right here in our ring.”
“Apex Empress” reflects the promotion's commitment to helping female athletes pursue their goals while bringing exciting professional boxing to the Houston community. All bouts are scheduled for two-minute rounds. The fight card is subject to change. Additional information regarding remaining opponents and broadcast details will be announced as the event approaches. Fans can look forward to an exciting night of women's professional boxing when “Apex Empress” takes center stage at BiYu Arena in Houston, Texas, on Friday, November 20, 2026.
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All-women's show set for Nov. 20th in Houston
BiYu Promotions, led by CEO Bobby Harrison, announced an all-women's professional boxing event scheduled for Friday, November 20th at BiYu Arena in Houston that will stream live worldwide on CombatVisionTV. Headlining will be local hero Jewry Rodriguez (1-0), who will face Chantal Sumrall (3-4-2) in a scheduled six-round bantamweight matchup... Among the featured fighters will be former champion Yuliahn Luna Avila (29-5-1, 5 KOs) from Durango, Mexico, who is scheduled to compete in an eight-round super bantamweight contest against Thalia Joseline Limon (6-2, 4 KOs), from Eagle Pass, Texas. Luna has won two straight since a 2025 loss to Skye Nicolson... In the co-feature, Hawaiian super bantamweight Azariah Cottrell (1-0, 1 KO) will compete in a six-round bout against Erika Abarca (3-10) from Michoacan, Mexico. For tickets please visist www.biyupromotions.com
Another match-up will feature Southern California's junior welterweight Stephanie Simon (6-0, 1 KO) putting her undefeated record on the line against Susana Bolanos Lopez (3-1) from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in a scheduled six-round contest...
The undercard will also feature Issabel Vasquez (2-0) from Orlando, Florida who will compete in a four-round super flyweight bout against Yadira Alonso (2-1, 2 KOs), from Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico...
Hometown flyweight Jennifer Nicole Morales (3-3, 3 KOs) is booked for a four rounder against Karen Moreno (1-3, 1 KO), from Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico...
In junior lightweight action, Houston's Nathalia Dinis (1-2) will square off against Leanne Calderon (2-4-1, 1 KO) from Kyle, TX, in a scheduled four-round bout...
Lightweight Samantha Ginithan (1-0-1, 1 KO) will take on Brittney Cloudy, who will be making her professional debut..
Rounding out the announced lineup, Shanecqua Paisley Davis (3-2) will face professional debutant Nicole Porter in a four-round lightweight matchup.
The event will provide a platform for emerging talent to gain valuable experience, build their professional resumes, and showcase their abilities in front of boxing fans. Under the leadership of Bobby Harrison, BiYu Promotions continues to strengthen its presence in Houston by staging consistent events and creating meaningful opportunities for fighters at various stages of their careers. “BiYu Promotions is the home for the next generation of female boxing superstars,” said Bobby Harrison, CEO of BiYu Promotions. “With Apex Empress, we aren’t just putting on fights, we’re building the future of the sport. When you have elite talent like Stephanie Simon alongside hungry young, up and coming prodigies like Jewry Rodriguez and Azariah Cottrell on the same card, you’re looking at the future champions of women's boxing right here in our ring.”
“Apex Empress” reflects the promotion's commitment to helping female athletes pursue their goals while bringing exciting professional boxing to the Houston community. All bouts are scheduled for two-minute rounds. The fight card is subject to change. Additional information regarding remaining opponents and broadcast details will be announced as the event approaches. Fans can look forward to an exciting night of women's professional boxing when “Apex Empress” takes center stage at BiYu Arena in Houston, Texas, on Friday, November 20, 2026.
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Kabayel undercard reveal |
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London cruiserweight Aloys Jr will return to the ring in Dusseldorf on Saturday, November 26th on the undercard of Agit Kabayel defending his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa, live on DAZN. ‘The Animal’ will get the chance to showcase his talents at the 66,000 capacity Merkur Spiel Arena, home of Fortuna Dusseldorf, which has a fully retractable roof and is one of the most advanced stadiums in Europe. The 23-year old will go up against a gatekeeper, Germany's Artur Mann, who resides in Hannover and will enjoy the local support. Aloys Jr (12-1, 9 KOs) was supposed to have taken on Mike Perez in a step-up test last time out at the end of August, but the Cuban-Irishman withdrew due to injury and Aloys remained on the card against Sherif Musah, who he defeated over six rounds. Mann (23-6, 14KOs) was stopped by the undefeated heavyweight Artem Suslenkov last time out in April and also campaigned at cruiserweight in 2025, but could not overcome ex-light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.
The heavyweight theme of the card is maintained by Germany’s Kevin Saszik (11-0, 5KOs) facing his compatriot Patrick Korte (24-6-1, 20KOs) over eight rounds. There is also a six-round attraction between German pair Daniel Baer (15-2-1, 14KOs) and Arman Khudoyan (9-0, 3KOs). Munich heavyweight Granit Shala (18-2, 7KOs) will also feature in ten-round action.
Australian Olympian Charlie Senior (5-0, 2KOs) will take on James Chereji (22-3, 10KOs) over six rounds at junior lightweight, the same weight where Queensberry’s Swiss recruit Arbnor Jashari (10-0, 3KOs) will fight over eight rounds on the card, following on from his winning London debut in August over Numan Hussain.
In middleweight action, German Serkay Comart (10-0, 8KOs) is matched with Willi Knorpp (9-0, 6KOs), also hailing from Germany. Serbia’s Gleb Bakshi (7-0, 5KOs) goes up against Germany’s Serhat Parlak (8-1, 3KOs). Both fights are over the ten-round distance.
At super middleweight, there is another all-German match-up between Simon Zachenhuber (29-2, 18KOs) and Kamer Maloku (22-4, 18KOs) over ten rounds. Zachenhuber was defeated by Hamzah Sheeraz in a world title challenge back in July.
Fighting over six rounds are Germany's Ayman Oudriss (5-0, 3KOs) and Antonio Fechner (8-3, 2KOs). In four-round action lightweight is Ozan Karadogan (4-0, 1KO) against Max Schultz (5-0, 1KO) from Billericay, along with Illias Beniamlih (4-0, 3KOs) fighting at light heavyweight.
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Kabayel undercard reveal
London cruiserweight Aloys Jr will return to the ring in Dusseldorf on Saturday, November 26th on the undercard of Agit Kabayel defending his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa, live on DAZN. ‘The Animal’ will get the chance to showcase his talents at the 66,000 capacity Merkur Spiel Arena, home of Fortuna Dusseldorf, which has a fully retractable roof and is one of the most advanced stadiums in Europe. The 23-year old will go up against a gatekeeper, Germany's Artur Mann, who resides in Hannover and will enjoy the local support. Aloys Jr (12-1, 9 KOs) was supposed to have taken on Mike Perez in a step-up test last time out at the end of August, but the Cuban-Irishman withdrew due to injury and Aloys remained on the card against Sherif Musah, who he defeated over six rounds. Mann (23-6, 14KOs) was stopped by the undefeated heavyweight Artem Suslenkov last time out in April and also campaigned at cruiserweight in 2025, but could not overcome ex-light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.
The heavyweight theme of the card is maintained by Germany’s Kevin Saszik (11-0, 5KOs) facing his compatriot Patrick Korte (24-6-1, 20KOs) over eight rounds. There is also a six-round attraction between German pair Daniel Baer (15-2-1, 14KOs) and Arman Khudoyan (9-0, 3KOs). Munich heavyweight Granit Shala (18-2, 7KOs) will also feature in ten-round action.
Australian Olympian Charlie Senior (5-0, 2KOs) will take on James Chereji (22-3, 10KOs) over six rounds at junior lightweight, the same weight where Queensberry’s Swiss recruit Arbnor Jashari (10-0, 3KOs) will fight over eight rounds on the card, following on from his winning London debut in August over Numan Hussain.
In middleweight action, German Serkay Comart (10-0, 8KOs) is matched with Willi Knorpp (9-0, 6KOs), also hailing from Germany. Serbia’s Gleb Bakshi (7-0, 5KOs) goes up against Germany’s Serhat Parlak (8-1, 3KOs). Both fights are over the ten-round distance.
At super middleweight, there is another all-German match-up between Simon Zachenhuber (29-2, 18KOs) and Kamer Maloku (22-4, 18KOs) over ten rounds. Zachenhuber was defeated by Hamzah Sheeraz in a world title challenge back in July.
Fighting over six rounds are Germany's Ayman Oudriss (5-0, 3KOs) and Antonio Fechner (8-3, 2KOs). In four-round action lightweight is Ozan Karadogan (4-0, 1KO) against Max Schultz (5-0, 1KO) from Billericay, along with Illias Beniamlih (4-0, 3KOs) fighting at light heavyweight.
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Benavidez: "Me being undisputed is inevitable" |
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WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez showed off his skills in his hometown of Phoenix on Saturday at an open to the public media workout before he faces WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak in a unification clash on Saturday, December 5th headlining a PBC pay-per-view event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. One of boxing’s pound-for-pound best and most exciting champions, Benavidez’s Arizona homecoming event will see the 29-year-old look to capture a third cruiserweight world championship against the bruising WBC champion Cieslak. The showdown will mark Benavidez’s first fight back in Arizona since a 2022 destruction of David Lemieux. Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) made his cruiserweight debut in style this past Cinco de Mayo Weekend, dominating then champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on his way to a sixth-round stoppage. The victory followed up a 2025 campaign that saw him best rival and then-unbeaten David Morrell Jr. by unanimous decision to add the WBA light heavyweight championship to the WBC title he’d earned in 2024 against former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk Here is what Benavidez had to say at the media workout that took place at the Gila River Resorts and Casino at Vee Quiva on Saturday:
“The is ‘Monstro’s’ world. I have arrived, and I’m not going anywhere. Greatness isn’t given, it’s taken. And I’m gonna take my greatness.
“I’m really grateful for the people of Arizona. Having a Phoenix-native getting into the ring here in a three-belt unification is historic. I’m happy to be representing Phoenix just like I always do no matter where I am.
“My mindset and my focus is the same for every fight. I’m attacking every training camp with ferocity and viciousness. Because that’s what I want to show in the fight. I want to take these fighters apart and make a statement to everybody. I’m not playing with anyone.
“I got two belts in my first fight at cruiserweight and now I’m going for a third. Me being undisputed is inevitable. I’m going to make my way to the top of the pound-for-pound list very soon. I will be number one.
“The past three years, because I’ve been facing top opposition, I’ve been able to sharpen up my style and my skills. I’m working a lot on combinations, defense and body shots, but particularly the jab. The jab opens doors, but it closes doors as well.
“I’m always the kind of fighter who has plans A, B and C. So if he wants to complicate things in the first couple of rounds, then I have plans to stop whatever it is that he’s doing well.
“The biggest challenge with Cieslak is that he’s coming into this fight defending his title for the first time. Every fighter has that motivation after winning the title that you really don’t wanna let it go. He’s gonna come in strong, but I don’t run away from any competition.
“This workout is a way for me to give back to the community and show love to the people here. It’s something fun that we don’t do every day. I’m thrilled we were able to make this happen for the people.”
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Benavidez: "Me being undisputed is inevitable"
WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez showed off his skills in his hometown of Phoenix on Saturday at an open to the public media workout before he faces WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak in a unification clash on Saturday, December 5th headlining a PBC pay-per-view event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. One of boxing’s pound-for-pound best and most exciting champions, Benavidez’s Arizona homecoming event will see the 29-year-old look to capture a third cruiserweight world championship against the bruising WBC champion Cieslak. The showdown will mark Benavidez’s first fight back in Arizona since a 2022 destruction of David Lemieux. Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) made his cruiserweight debut in style this past Cinco de Mayo Weekend, dominating then champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on his way to a sixth-round stoppage. The victory followed up a 2025 campaign that saw him best rival and then-unbeaten David Morrell Jr. by unanimous decision to add the WBA light heavyweight championship to the WBC title he’d earned in 2024 against former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk Here is what Benavidez had to say at the media workout that took place at the Gila River Resorts and Casino at Vee Quiva on Saturday:
“The is ‘Monstro’s’ world. I have arrived, and I’m not going anywhere. Greatness isn’t given, it’s taken. And I’m gonna take my greatness.
“I’m really grateful for the people of Arizona. Having a Phoenix-native getting into the ring here in a three-belt unification is historic. I’m happy to be representing Phoenix just like I always do no matter where I am.
“My mindset and my focus is the same for every fight. I’m attacking every training camp with ferocity and viciousness. Because that’s what I want to show in the fight. I want to take these fighters apart and make a statement to everybody. I’m not playing with anyone.
“I got two belts in my first fight at cruiserweight and now I’m going for a third. Me being undisputed is inevitable. I’m going to make my way to the top of the pound-for-pound list very soon. I will be number one.
“The past three years, because I’ve been facing top opposition, I’ve been able to sharpen up my style and my skills. I’m working a lot on combinations, defense and body shots, but particularly the jab. The jab opens doors, but it closes doors as well.
“I’m always the kind of fighter who has plans A, B and C. So if he wants to complicate things in the first couple of rounds, then I have plans to stop whatever it is that he’s doing well.
“The biggest challenge with Cieslak is that he’s coming into this fight defending his title for the first time. Every fighter has that motivation after winning the title that you really don’t wanna let it go. He’s gonna come in strong, but I don’t run away from any competition.
“This workout is a way for me to give back to the community and show love to the people here. It’s something fun that we don’t do every day. I’m thrilled we were able to make this happen for the people.”
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Lerena snaps two-fight losing streak |
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Kevin Lerena W10 Scott Forrest ... South Africa’s Kevin Lerena got back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Scotland’s Scott Forrest on Saturday, November 7th at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. After ten rounds, the judges returned scores of 97-92 (twice) and 98-91, all in favor of the former bridgerweight champion. Now 32-4, Lerena was coming off back-to-back losses to Lawrence Okolie and Ryad Merhy. Lerena used his considerable experience and southpaw stance to create openings against an opponent who remained competitive and withstood his best attacks. In the ninth round, the South African dropped Forrest with a right hook, but the Scotsman rose to his feet and made it to the final bell. The bout headlined “Knockout Chaos 3: The Return” and marked a successful return to cruiserweight for Lerena following campaigns at heavyweight and bridgerweight. His prior campaign at 200 pounds included the IBO crierweight title.
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Lerena snaps two-fight losing streak
Kevin Lerena W10 Scott Forrest ... South Africa’s Kevin Lerena got back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Scotland’s Scott Forrest on Saturday, November 7th at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. After ten rounds, the judges returned scores of 97-92 (twice) and 98-91, all in favor of the former bridgerweight champion. Now 32-4, Lerena was coming off back-to-back losses to Lawrence Okolie and Ryad Merhy. Lerena used his considerable experience and southpaw stance to create openings against an opponent who remained competitive and withstood his best attacks. In the ninth round, the South African dropped Forrest with a right hook, but the Scotsman rose to his feet and made it to the final bell. The bout headlined “Knockout Chaos 3: The Return” and marked a successful return to cruiserweight for Lerena following campaigns at heavyweight and bridgerweight. His prior campaign at 200 pounds included the IBO crierweight title.
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Welcome to Riley vs. Coupe fight week |
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Viddal Riley is set to make the first defense of his European cruiserweight title on Saturday night, live on DAZN. He will be facing undefeated Frenchman Seydi Coupe, and the fight is set to be held at the OVO Arena in London. Both men have records of 14-0 but Riley is the heavy favorite to retain his title with odds according to DAZN favoring the champ at 1/12. Coupe, priced at 11/2 to produce an upset, has ended three of his last five fights within the scheduled distance. DAZN's coverage will begin at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm GMT. Here are the featured bouts for Saturday's show:
Viddal Riley vs. Seydi Coupe for Riley's European cruiserweight title;
Zelfa Barrett vs. Gavin Gwynne, lightweights;
Yaser Al Ghena vs. Ben Marksby, junior welterweights;
Dan Toward vs. Jak Corrie, junior middleweights; and
Tom Welland vs. Jack Dillingham, featherweights.
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Welcome to Riley vs. Coupe fight week
Viddal Riley is set to make the first defense of his European cruiserweight title on Saturday night, live on DAZN. He will be facing undefeated Frenchman Seydi Coupe, and the fight is set to be held at the OVO Arena in London. Both men have records of 14-0 but Riley is the heavy favorite to retain his title with odds according to DAZN favoring the champ at 1/12. Coupe, priced at 11/2 to produce an upset, has ended three of his last five fights within the scheduled distance. DAZN's coverage will begin at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm GMT. Here are the featured bouts for Saturday's show:
Viddal Riley vs. Seydi Coupe for Riley's European cruiserweight title;
Zelfa Barrett vs. Gavin Gwynne, lightweights;
Yaser Al Ghena vs. Ben Marksby, junior welterweights;
Dan Toward vs. Jak Corrie, junior middleweights; and
Tom Welland vs. Jack Dillingham, featherweights.
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Pitufo Diaz to face Alan Chaves at IBF / WBO convention |
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Lightweight Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz will face Alan Chaves at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida on Thursday December 10th, live worldwide on DAZN as part of Matchroom's Project Series. The event will coincide with the first WBO / IBF unified convention taking place at Caribe Royale that week. It’s a critical clash for three-time title challenger Diaz (30-6, 19 KOs), who needs a victory to prove that he still belongs at the sport's top level. As for Chaves (22-1, 19 KOs), he's looking to get back to winning ways after defeat in his last outing in New Jersey in September. In the ten-round co-feature, Angel Barrientes (15-1, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas will square off against Nicaragua's Alex Vallecillo (16-1, 13 KOs) in a featherweight bout.
Back to the main event, Diaz said, “every fight is an opportunity to prove that I still belong among the best in the world, and this fight with Alan Chaves means I must perform at my absolute best,” said Diaz. “I've been through the highs and lows of this sport, and every experience has made me stronger, wiser, and hungrier than ever. I know Chaves is a dangerous fighter with a lot of power, but I've faced adversity before, and I've never backed down from a challenge. I fight for my family, my people, and everyone who has believed in me throughout my journey. On December 10, it's another chance to show the world that my story is far from over, and I'm ready to give the fans a performance they'll never forget.”
“He’s experienced, he’s dangerous, and that’s exactly the challenge I need right now,” said Chaves. “My last fight taught me a lot. Now it’s on me to show how much I’ve grown, and what I’m made of.”
As for the co-feature, Barrientes said, “the time is now for me to show the world all the hard work I’ve been putting in to get ready for this fight. My hunger to win these belts will not be denied. A victory against Vallecillo will get me closer to a world tile shot, and that is my ultimate goal.”
Valecillo replied, “I have the power and the will to win this fight. Barrientes is in trouble and he knows it. I’m bringing these belts back home to Nicaragua.”
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Florida fight fans will also see undefeated Roberto Gomez (9-0, 3 KOs) of Dade City take on Jeremy Adorno (11-1, 6 KOs) of Kissimmee in a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight contest. With both fighters representing Central Florida, the matchup adds an exciting local rivalry to the event.
Junior middleweight Quincey Williams (7-0, 6 KOs) of Washington, D.C. will compete in an eight-round bout against Purto Rico's Eric Sanchez (8-0, 6 KOs).
Orlando's Brandon Ortiz (1-0, 1 KO) will look to build on his successful professional debut in a four-round super bantamweight bout against Martel Washpun (4-0, 1 KO), from Baytown, Texas.
Cuban middleweight Pedro Veitia (8-0-1, 8 KOs) will also be featured in a scheduled six-round bout against Willie Jones (10-3, 7 KOs), from North Carolina.
Welterweight Kelvin Davis (16-1, 8 KOs) of Norfolk, Virginia, is also scheduled to compete in a ten-round contest, while his younger brother, junior middleweight Keon Davis (5-0, 3 KOs), will see action in a scheduled six-round bout, as will Orlando lightweight Julio Solis (11-0, 8 KOs), with all three fighters to have opponents announced soon.
“The IBF’s commitment to the sport extends beyond recognizing champions. It also means recognizing the promise of developing fighters and supporting opportunities for them to grow. Working alongside the WBO, we want this series to give emerging talent a platform to be seen, tested, and recognized as they pursue their ambitions. Championship titles represent dedication and achievement at every stage of a boxer’s career. By investing in prospects and strengthening the opportunities available through regional championships, we are helping develop the fighters, and the sport, of tomorrow.” - Daryl Peoples, International Boxing Federation, Inc. (IBF)
“I am delighted that the latest Project Series event is a big part of the first unified convention between the WBO and IBF and is another great night of boxing on what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of boxing,” said Eddie Hearn. “The first editions of the Project Series have been fantastic and done exactly what they were meant to do; showcase young talents and provide real excitement - and this show on December 10 at Caribe Royale will deliver that once again, with a make-or-break main event with the careers of Pitufo and Alan on the line, plus a host of young rising stars in 50-50 showdowns.”
“On behalf of Caribe Royale Resort and Boxlab Promotions, I’m proud to welcome the WBO and IBF to Orlando for their historic first-ever unified convention. We’re excited to host guests from around the world and help make this event a tremendous success. We’re also looking forward to our Prospect Series - Special Edition on December 10, featuring established fighters, rising stars and multiple WBO and IBF title bouts in both men’s and women’s boxing. We thank both organizations for their support and look forward to delivering an unforgettable night of boxing for fans and visitors alike. Don’t miss this stacked card! - Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions
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Pitufo Diaz to face Alan Chaves at IBF / WBO convention
Lightweight Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz will face Alan Chaves at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida on Thursday December 10th, live worldwide on DAZN as part of Matchroom's Project Series. The event will coincide with the first WBO / IBF unified convention taking place at Caribe Royale that week. It’s a critical clash for three-time title challenger Diaz (30-6, 19 KOs), who needs a victory to prove that he still belongs at the sport's top level. As for Chaves (22-1, 19 KOs), he's looking to get back to winning ways after defeat in his last outing in New Jersey in September. In the ten-round co-feature, Angel Barrientes (15-1, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas will square off against Nicaragua's Alex Vallecillo (16-1, 13 KOs) in a featherweight bout.
Back to the main event, Diaz said, “every fight is an opportunity to prove that I still belong among the best in the world, and this fight with Alan Chaves means I must perform at my absolute best,” said Diaz. “I've been through the highs and lows of this sport, and every experience has made me stronger, wiser, and hungrier than ever. I know Chaves is a dangerous fighter with a lot of power, but I've faced adversity before, and I've never backed down from a challenge. I fight for my family, my people, and everyone who has believed in me throughout my journey. On December 10, it's another chance to show the world that my story is far from over, and I'm ready to give the fans a performance they'll never forget.”
“He’s experienced, he’s dangerous, and that’s exactly the challenge I need right now,” said Chaves. “My last fight taught me a lot. Now it’s on me to show how much I’ve grown, and what I’m made of.”
As for the co-feature, Barrientes said, “the time is now for me to show the world all the hard work I’ve been putting in to get ready for this fight. My hunger to win these belts will not be denied. A victory against Vallecillo will get me closer to a world tile shot, and that is my ultimate goal.”
Valecillo replied, “I have the power and the will to win this fight. Barrientes is in trouble and he knows it. I’m bringing these belts back home to Nicaragua.”
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Florida fight fans will also see undefeated Roberto Gomez (9-0, 3 KOs) of Dade City take on Jeremy Adorno (11-1, 6 KOs) of Kissimmee in a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight contest. With both fighters representing Central Florida, the matchup adds an exciting local rivalry to the event.
Junior middleweight Quincey Williams (7-0, 6 KOs) of Washington, D.C. will compete in an eight-round bout against Purto Rico's Eric Sanchez (8-0, 6 KOs).
Orlando's Brandon Ortiz (1-0, 1 KO) will look to build on his successful professional debut in a four-round super bantamweight bout against Martel Washpun (4-0, 1 KO), from Baytown, Texas.
Cuban middleweight Pedro Veitia (8-0-1, 8 KOs) will also be featured in a scheduled six-round bout against Willie Jones (10-3, 7 KOs), from North Carolina.
Welterweight Kelvin Davis (16-1, 8 KOs) of Norfolk, Virginia, is also scheduled to compete in a ten-round contest, while his younger brother, junior middleweight Keon Davis (5-0, 3 KOs), will see action in a scheduled six-round bout, as will Orlando lightweight Julio Solis (11-0, 8 KOs), with all three fighters to have opponents announced soon.
“The IBF’s commitment to the sport extends beyond recognizing champions. It also means recognizing the promise of developing fighters and supporting opportunities for them to grow. Working alongside the WBO, we want this series to give emerging talent a platform to be seen, tested, and recognized as they pursue their ambitions. Championship titles represent dedication and achievement at every stage of a boxer’s career. By investing in prospects and strengthening the opportunities available through regional championships, we are helping develop the fighters, and the sport, of tomorrow.” - Daryl Peoples, International Boxing Federation, Inc. (IBF)
“I am delighted that the latest Project Series event is a big part of the first unified convention between the WBO and IBF and is another great night of boxing on what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of boxing,” said Eddie Hearn. “The first editions of the Project Series have been fantastic and done exactly what they were meant to do; showcase young talents and provide real excitement - and this show on December 10 at Caribe Royale will deliver that once again, with a make-or-break main event with the careers of Pitufo and Alan on the line, plus a host of young rising stars in 50-50 showdowns.”
“On behalf of Caribe Royale Resort and Boxlab Promotions, I’m proud to welcome the WBO and IBF to Orlando for their historic first-ever unified convention. We’re excited to host guests from around the world and help make this event a tremendous success. We’re also looking forward to our Prospect Series - Special Edition on December 10, featuring established fighters, rising stars and multiple WBO and IBF title bouts in both men’s and women’s boxing. We thank both organizations for their support and look forward to delivering an unforgettable night of boxing for fans and visitors alike. Don’t miss this stacked card! - Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions
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Abraham Perez continues his flyweight ascent |
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Abraham Pérez W12 Yankiel Rivera... Fighting in front of his hometown fans in Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexic, Abraham “Super” Pérez successfully defended his WBA interim flyweight title with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rican challenger Yankiel “El Doctor” Rivera. The interim champion’s dominance throughout the twelve-round contest was reflected emphatically on the official scorecards, with the judges turning in scores of 120-107 and 118-109 (twice) in favor of Pérez. The WBA flyweight champion is Sergio Mendoza, who recently defeated Ricardo Sandoval for both the WBA and WBC 112-pound titles. Now 16-0, Pérez established control from the opening bell with sharp footwork and a consistent jab, preventing Rivera from settling into a rhythm and putting together his power combinations. Rivera (8-2-1) tried to apply pressure on the inside and cut off the ring, but repeatedly ran into Pérez’s quick counterpunching, as the champion punished his advances with body hooks and uppercuts whenever Rivera attempted to force exchanges. As the fight progressed, the physical toll began to slow Rivera’s attacks, while Pérez remained composed and fresh, controlling the challenger’s entries, finishing rounds with a higher punch output, and confidently taking command of the championship rounds.
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Abraham Perez continues his flyweight ascent
Abraham Pérez W12 Yankiel Rivera... Fighting in front of his hometown fans in Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexic, Abraham “Super” Pérez successfully defended his WBA interim flyweight title with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rican challenger Yankiel “El Doctor” Rivera. The interim champion’s dominance throughout the twelve-round contest was reflected emphatically on the official scorecards, with the judges turning in scores of 120-107 and 118-109 (twice) in favor of Pérez. The WBA flyweight champion is Sergio Mendoza, who recently defeated Ricardo Sandoval for both the WBA and WBC 112-pound titles. Now 16-0, Pérez established control from the opening bell with sharp footwork and a consistent jab, preventing Rivera from settling into a rhythm and putting together his power combinations. Rivera (8-2-1) tried to apply pressure on the inside and cut off the ring, but repeatedly ran into Pérez’s quick counterpunching, as the champion punished his advances with body hooks and uppercuts whenever Rivera attempted to force exchanges. As the fight progressed, the physical toll began to slow Rivera’s attacks, while Pérez remained composed and fresh, controlling the challenger’s entries, finishing rounds with a higher punch output, and confidently taking command of the championship rounds.
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MVP inks junior welterweight Albina Moldazhanova |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of big-punching Russian standout Albina “The Lion” Moldazhanova (6-0, 6 KOs), a decorated amateur champion and one of the most promising rising talents in women’s boxing. Moldazhanova’s signing follows her win over Kirstie Bavington (10-6-2) at MVPW-07 on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Competing at 140 pounds, the 25-year old stopped Bavington just 44 seconds into the fourth round, extending her perfect professional record to six wins, all by knockout. Hailing from Demyanka, a small settlement in Siberia, Moldazhanova developed her boxing skills far from the sport’s traditional international spotlight before moving to Tyumen and earning selection to Russia’s national boxing team. She compiled an accomplished amateur career, capturing Russian Youth, Russian national and European Youth championship titles, along with a silver medal at the European Championships. In 2025, she added a World Championships medal to her résumé before making the transition to the professional ranks.
Moldazhanova's relentless power was on full display on August 21st when she delivered a first-round body-shot knockout of previously undefeated Sheila Liesegang just 1:21 into the opening round. Her latest performance at MVPW-07 further demonstrated her potential to emerge as a major contender in the women’s super lightweight division at 140 lbs.
Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, Founders of MVP, said: “Albina ‘The Lion’ Moldazhanova is a special talent with the kind of explosive power that can change a fight in an instant. She’s come a long way from a small town in Siberia to the international stage, and her journey is just getting started. Six fights, six knockouts speaks for itself, but what makes Albina especially exciting is the contrast between her infectious personality outside the ring and the relentless aggression she brings inside it. She’s charismatic, entertaining and knows how to put on a show. Her performances on our cards have already demonstrated why she’s a fighter fans should be paying attention to. We see tremendous upside in Albina and are excited to officially welcome her to MVP as we work toward establishing her as a major force in the 140-pound division.”
Albina Moldazhanova said: “I come from a small village in Siberia called Demyanka, and boxing has taken me further than I ever could have imagined. From moving to Tyumen to pursue my dreams, to representing my country on the international stage, every step of my journey has taught me that anything is possible with hard work, determination and belief in yourself. Now, with six professional fights and six knockouts, I’m ready for the next chapter of my career. Signing with MVP is an incredible opportunity to showcase my skills on the biggest stages in boxing, continue my knockout streak and show the world the strength of the Siberian spirit. I want to become undisputed world champion and inspire others to believe that the impossible is possible. I’m grateful to MVP and SmartLab Boxing Promotions for believing in me and supporting my journey. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to show the world what I’m capable of.”
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MVP inks junior welterweight Albina Moldazhanova
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of big-punching Russian standout Albina “The Lion” Moldazhanova (6-0, 6 KOs), a decorated amateur champion and one of the most promising rising talents in women’s boxing. Moldazhanova’s signing follows her win over Kirstie Bavington (10-6-2) at MVPW-07 on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Competing at 140 pounds, the 25-year old stopped Bavington just 44 seconds into the fourth round, extending her perfect professional record to six wins, all by knockout. Hailing from Demyanka, a small settlement in Siberia, Moldazhanova developed her boxing skills far from the sport’s traditional international spotlight before moving to Tyumen and earning selection to Russia’s national boxing team. She compiled an accomplished amateur career, capturing Russian Youth, Russian national and European Youth championship titles, along with a silver medal at the European Championships. In 2025, she added a World Championships medal to her résumé before making the transition to the professional ranks.
Moldazhanova's relentless power was on full display on August 21st when she delivered a first-round body-shot knockout of previously undefeated Sheila Liesegang just 1:21 into the opening round. Her latest performance at MVPW-07 further demonstrated her potential to emerge as a major contender in the women’s super lightweight division at 140 lbs.
Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, Founders of MVP, said: “Albina ‘The Lion’ Moldazhanova is a special talent with the kind of explosive power that can change a fight in an instant. She’s come a long way from a small town in Siberia to the international stage, and her journey is just getting started. Six fights, six knockouts speaks for itself, but what makes Albina especially exciting is the contrast between her infectious personality outside the ring and the relentless aggression she brings inside it. She’s charismatic, entertaining and knows how to put on a show. Her performances on our cards have already demonstrated why she’s a fighter fans should be paying attention to. We see tremendous upside in Albina and are excited to officially welcome her to MVP as we work toward establishing her as a major force in the 140-pound division.”
Albina Moldazhanova said: “I come from a small village in Siberia called Demyanka, and boxing has taken me further than I ever could have imagined. From moving to Tyumen to pursue my dreams, to representing my country on the international stage, every step of my journey has taught me that anything is possible with hard work, determination and belief in yourself. Now, with six professional fights and six knockouts, I’m ready for the next chapter of my career. Signing with MVP is an incredible opportunity to showcase my skills on the biggest stages in boxing, continue my knockout streak and show the world the strength of the Siberian spirit. I want to become undisputed world champion and inspire others to believe that the impossible is possible. I’m grateful to MVP and SmartLab Boxing Promotions for believing in me and supporting my journey. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to show the world what I’m capable of.”
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BKFC results from Glasgow |
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made its Scottish premiere with BKFC 96 on Saturday at the sold-out OVO Hydro in Glasgow. With combat sports legend/BKFC Partner Conor McGregor front and center, undefeated local light heavyweight (185 pounds) Sean “The Butcher” Weir took just 101 seconds to improve to 4-0 at the expense of Leigh “The Boom” Cohoon. Wishaw sent Cohoon to the canvas three times en route to the first-round TKO victory. Cohoon, who hails from Manchester, England, is now 4-2. “I want the 185-title and I want it right now,” Weir said to the uproarious approval of his hometown crowd in his post-fight interview.
At 175 pounds (which BKFC refers to as middleweight) Danny “The Bastard” Christie stopped former mixed martial arts (MMA) standout Stevie “Braveheart” Ray in the second round. Christie floored Ray twice before their fight was called to a halt with just one second left in the second stanza. Christie, who hails from Carlisle, England, is now 6-3. The Kirkcaldy, Scotland product Ray, an eleven-time UFC vet, was making his BKFC premiere. Christie was asked in his post-fight interview. “That’s up to Mr. Feldman and Mr. McGregor,” he replied. “I just want to go over and hug my kids. I’ve got five kids and I love all of you. I’m a grandad now. Let’s (expletive) go!”
Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Gzim Selmani climbed to 2-0 with a hard-fought decision against Reece “The Giant Slayer” Heer in heavyweight action. Selmani, known as “Rezar” during his professional wrestling days, recorded a pair of knockdowns in the fight, leading all three judges to score the contest 50-43 in his favor. The Blackpool, England fighter Heer was making his BKFC debut. “I’m on my way to the most prestigious championship in combat sports — the BKFC world heavyweight title,” Semani yelled in his post-fight interview. “This is just the start. I’ll take out all of you (expletives) one by one.”
Dundee, Scotland’s Scott “Boom Boom” Malone shined in his BKFC debut, overcoming a pair of knockdowns to edge out Kieron Sewell for the decision victory in the sudden-death overtime round of their back-and-forth bantamweight battle. All three judges agreed on the 10-9 verdict for the winner Malone, who logged one knockdown on the night. Sewell, who represents Carlisle, England, is now 1-2.
Glasgow’s Barry “The Pitbull” Boyle earned his first victory by knocking out Kaseem Saleem in the second round of their heavyweight clash. Boyle, now 1-1, floored Saleem twice before the fight was stopped 44 seconds into the second round. The Dumfries, Scotland product Saleem is now 1-3.
Northumberland, England fighter KJ Metcalfe cruised to 3-0 by stopping Doalty “Roadhouse” Torrance in the second round of their welterweight matchup. Metcalfe recorded a pair of knockdowns before the fight was stopped 74 seconds into the second round. Torrance, who hails from Glasgow, Scotland, is now 1-1.
Middlesbrough, England’s Cory “El Chapo” Chapman needed just 40 seconds to surge to 3-0 with a one-punch knockout over Lewis “Dynamite” Dixon in the bantamweight division. Chapman, who hails from Carlisle, England, is now 1-1.
Wishaw, Scotland featherweight Dan “The Man” Morel climbed to 3-0 with a come-from-behind stoppage victory over Owen “Bam Bam” Webster. Morel picked himself up off the canvas and notched five knockdowns of his own en route to the TKO finish at 1:17 of the fourth round. Webster, who represents Rochdale, England, is now 0-2.
Edinburgh’s Lewis “The Leith Warrior” Knox climbed to 6-2 with a fourth-round TKO at the expense of Tommy “Chaos” Carus in the featherweight division. Knox logged three knockdowns before Carus’ corner called a stop to the fight at 1:27 of the penultimate round. Carus, who represents Liverpool, is now 0-2.
Ayrshire, Scotland’s Rhys “Crazy Horse” Pagan smashed his way to 2-0 by taking out Danny “The Destroyer” Moir in the opening round of their light-heavyweight matchup. Pagan previously fought for a World Boxing Organization European championship in his gloved boxing career. The Scarborough, England fighter Moir is now 8-3-1.
Carlisle, England’s Charlie “The Hitman” Thomson climbed to 5-1 in his bare knuckle fighting career with a fourth-round TKO over Ian “Jock” Mulroy in middleweight action. Thomson picked himself up off the canvas and floored Mulroy six times before the fight was stopped at 1:26 of Round 4. Mulroy, who hails from Inverness, Scotland, was making his BKFC debut.
BKFC 96 Results
Sean Weir def. Leigh Cohoon via TKO in Round 1 (1:41);
Danny Christie def. Stevie Ray via TKO in Round 2 (1:59) (performance of the night;
Gzim Selmani def. Reece Heer via unanimous decision (50-43 on three scorecards);
Scott Malone def. Kieron Sewell via unanimous decision after overtime round (Fight of the Night);
Barry Boyle def. Kaseem Saleem via KO in Round 2 (0:44);
KJ Metcalfe def. Doalty Torrance via TKO in Round 2 (1:14);
Cory Chapman def. Lewis Dixon via KO in Round 1 (0:40) (KO of the night);
Dan Morel def. Owen Webster via TKO in Round 4 (1:17);
Lewis Knox def. Tommy Carus via TKO in Round 4 (1:27);
Rhys Pagan def. Danny Moir via TKO in Round 1 (1:22); and
Charlie Thomson def. Ian Mulroy via TKO in Round 4 (1:26).
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BKFC results from Glasgow
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made its Scottish premiere with BKFC 96 on Saturday at the sold-out OVO Hydro in Glasgow. With combat sports legend/BKFC Partner Conor McGregor front and center, undefeated local light heavyweight (185 pounds) Sean “The Butcher” Weir took just 101 seconds to improve to 4-0 at the expense of Leigh “The Boom” Cohoon. Wishaw sent Cohoon to the canvas three times en route to the first-round TKO victory. Cohoon, who hails from Manchester, England, is now 4-2. “I want the 185-title and I want it right now,” Weir said to the uproarious approval of his hometown crowd in his post-fight interview.
At 175 pounds (which BKFC refers to as middleweight) Danny “The Bastard” Christie stopped former mixed martial arts (MMA) standout Stevie “Braveheart” Ray in the second round. Christie floored Ray twice before their fight was called to a halt with just one second left in the second stanza. Christie, who hails from Carlisle, England, is now 6-3. The Kirkcaldy, Scotland product Ray, an eleven-time UFC vet, was making his BKFC premiere. Christie was asked in his post-fight interview. “That’s up to Mr. Feldman and Mr. McGregor,” he replied. “I just want to go over and hug my kids. I’ve got five kids and I love all of you. I’m a grandad now. Let’s (expletive) go!”
Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Gzim Selmani climbed to 2-0 with a hard-fought decision against Reece “The Giant Slayer” Heer in heavyweight action. Selmani, known as “Rezar” during his professional wrestling days, recorded a pair of knockdowns in the fight, leading all three judges to score the contest 50-43 in his favor. The Blackpool, England fighter Heer was making his BKFC debut. “I’m on my way to the most prestigious championship in combat sports — the BKFC world heavyweight title,” Semani yelled in his post-fight interview. “This is just the start. I’ll take out all of you (expletives) one by one.”
Dundee, Scotland’s Scott “Boom Boom” Malone shined in his BKFC debut, overcoming a pair of knockdowns to edge out Kieron Sewell for the decision victory in the sudden-death overtime round of their back-and-forth bantamweight battle. All three judges agreed on the 10-9 verdict for the winner Malone, who logged one knockdown on the night. Sewell, who represents Carlisle, England, is now 1-2.
Glasgow’s Barry “The Pitbull” Boyle earned his first victory by knocking out Kaseem Saleem in the second round of their heavyweight clash. Boyle, now 1-1, floored Saleem twice before the fight was stopped 44 seconds into the second round. The Dumfries, Scotland product Saleem is now 1-3.
Northumberland, England fighter KJ Metcalfe cruised to 3-0 by stopping Doalty “Roadhouse” Torrance in the second round of their welterweight matchup. Metcalfe recorded a pair of knockdowns before the fight was stopped 74 seconds into the second round. Torrance, who hails from Glasgow, Scotland, is now 1-1.
Middlesbrough, England’s Cory “El Chapo” Chapman needed just 40 seconds to surge to 3-0 with a one-punch knockout over Lewis “Dynamite” Dixon in the bantamweight division. Chapman, who hails from Carlisle, England, is now 1-1.
Wishaw, Scotland featherweight Dan “The Man” Morel climbed to 3-0 with a come-from-behind stoppage victory over Owen “Bam Bam” Webster. Morel picked himself up off the canvas and notched five knockdowns of his own en route to the TKO finish at 1:17 of the fourth round. Webster, who represents Rochdale, England, is now 0-2.
Edinburgh’s Lewis “The Leith Warrior” Knox climbed to 6-2 with a fourth-round TKO at the expense of Tommy “Chaos” Carus in the featherweight division. Knox logged three knockdowns before Carus’ corner called a stop to the fight at 1:27 of the penultimate round. Carus, who represents Liverpool, is now 0-2.
Ayrshire, Scotland’s Rhys “Crazy Horse” Pagan smashed his way to 2-0 by taking out Danny “The Destroyer” Moir in the opening round of their light-heavyweight matchup. Pagan previously fought for a World Boxing Organization European championship in his gloved boxing career. The Scarborough, England fighter Moir is now 8-3-1.
Carlisle, England’s Charlie “The Hitman” Thomson climbed to 5-1 in his bare knuckle fighting career with a fourth-round TKO over Ian “Jock” Mulroy in middleweight action. Thomson picked himself up off the canvas and floored Mulroy six times before the fight was stopped at 1:26 of Round 4. Mulroy, who hails from Inverness, Scotland, was making his BKFC debut.
BKFC 96 Results
Sean Weir def. Leigh Cohoon via TKO in Round 1 (1:41);
Danny Christie def. Stevie Ray via TKO in Round 2 (1:59) (performance of the night;
Gzim Selmani def. Reece Heer via unanimous decision (50-43 on three scorecards);
Scott Malone def. Kieron Sewell via unanimous decision after overtime round (Fight of the Night);
Barry Boyle def. Kaseem Saleem via KO in Round 2 (0:44);
KJ Metcalfe def. Doalty Torrance via TKO in Round 2 (1:14);
Cory Chapman def. Lewis Dixon via KO in Round 1 (0:40) (KO of the night);
Dan Morel def. Owen Webster via TKO in Round 4 (1:17);
Lewis Knox def. Tommy Carus via TKO in Round 4 (1:27);
Rhys Pagan def. Danny Moir via TKO in Round 1 (1:22); and
Charlie Thomson def. Ian Mulroy via TKO in Round 4 (1:26).
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Shields makes Cameron a seven-figure offer |
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World middleweight (and heavyweight) champion Claressa Shields and her promoter Dmitriy Salita made a large offer to world junior middleweight champion Chantelle Cameron and Cameron's promoter Most Valuable Promotions, but a deal was not reached, and it appears from tweets issued by MVP's Nakisa Bidarian that Cameron has moved on. Here is the chain of tweets showing how it fell apart, starting from latest to earliest: Salita: "A personal grudge and a demand for an apology are getting in the way of a life-changing opportunity and a seven-figure payday for your fighter, Chantelle Cameron, who has made it clear she wants the fight. Which should matter more? Is that fighter first, or is a personal agenda getting in the way of what’s best for the fighter and, ultimately, women’s boxing?" Bidarian [on video]: "They don't understand the bigger picture... they should be doing anything they can to get Chantelle to accept the fight. They put out that they offered her $1.1 million dollars, but the last time the #1 and #2 pound-for-pound fought, they walked away with over ten million dollars. But we're not making the offer because you haven't apologized or shown the respect to rest of the women in the sport boxing. So you make us the offer... Chantelle wants the fight." Salita: "By taking these negotiations public, you showed that you were looking for a way to say no, not a way to make this fight. If you genuinely wanted to make the fight, the negotiations would have stayed private and constructive. Since you chose to make them public, I’m putting the facts on the record: We offered $1.1 million, plus an escalating percentage of ticket sales from the first dollar. Claressa has consistently generated seven-figure gates, and that percentage would have added significant revenue to total compensation. MVP insisted on a $25,000 liquidated-damages payment each time Claressa made a statement they viewed as negative toward Jake Paul or MVP. We would not agree to terms that put a price on a fighter’s speech. We did agree to a standard, mutual non-disparagement clause. We agreed to neutral judges and industry-standard accommodations for a fight of this magnitude. There are always granular details to work through. In more than 30 years as a fighter and promoter, I’ve never seen a million-dollar fight defined by a per diem disagreement. As we say in boxing, there are a million ways to say no and one way to say yes. We are fighter-first and fan-first. We have a responsibility to the fighters, whose careers are finite, and to the fans to make the biggest fights possible. We have always wanted Claressa vs. Chantelle, and we remain ready to work with MVP to make it happen. Taking negotiations public does not move us closer to the ring. We’re ready to return to the table and get this fight done." Bidarian: "MVP has demonstrated we will make the biggest fights and put the wishes of our fighters first. We worked with Eddie Hearn even when he was suing Jake Paul. We worked with Misfits whose CEO is Jake Paul’s longest running feud. And we agreed for a guaranteed deal for Chantelle Cameron to fight Claressa Shields on the basis of no involvement from MVP, because it was a great opportunity for our fighter and exciting for the fans. Unfortunately, we are not dealing with professional people. That guaranteed pay for our fighter was then reneged on by them and reduced by 27%. Moreover, the offer was below market rates on per diems, security, etc. which was ridiculous given this is the #1 vs #2 fight. It felt like we were agreeing to a low-budget production, which is not how we present our athletes. Most importantly the offer was not more than our fighter has made in previous fights; it was consistent with her previous biggest fights. We gave them one last opportunity to go back to their original offer 5 days ago. They passed. We have moved on. Next time do not put an offer on the table and then change your mind. One day I hope Claressa gets the right advisors around her, apologizes for attacking our fighter in an event where she was our guest, and truly reaches her potential. She has achieved a lot but it can be so much more."
Salita: "We all want to make this fight, and I believe it’s our shared responsibility—to you, the fighters, and the fans—to get it done. You and Claressa are at the peak of your careers and ranked #1 and #2 pound for pound. We have no problem with the two of you getting on a call or sitting down together to make this fight happen."
Bidarian: "The ship has sailed. The train has left the station. The plane has left the gate."
Cameron: "The fight with Claressa is about legacy and taking on the biggest challenges. There have been some changes during negotiations that made this fight not move forward at this time, but my position is clear: I will fight Claressa. It’s a matter of when. Not if."
Shields: "You know the $$$ offer. Me and my team made sure we came with a bag, neutral judges, refs, even playing ground. If you want this fight let’s make it happen!"
Cameron: "Happily would step in and fight the best of the best, this is why I box, to challenge myself against a greatest. If the teams can make this happen, let’s rumble. What an honor to make history again."
Shields: "Claressa Shields (P4P #1) vs. Chantelle Cameron (P4P #2) is the fight to make! What is the hold up! 160 [pound] champion vs 154 champion! We have made a huge offer to the champ and [her promoter] Most Valuable Promotions! And she also accepts and wants the fight for 2027 first quarter."
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Shields makes Cameron a seven-figure offer
World middleweight (and heavyweight) champion Claressa Shields and her promoter Dmitriy Salita made a large offer to world junior middleweight champion Chantelle Cameron and Cameron's promoter Most Valuable Promotions, but a deal was not reached, and it appears from tweets issued by MVP's Nakisa Bidarian that Cameron has moved on. Here is the chain of tweets showing how it fell apart, starting from latest to earliest: Salita: "A personal grudge and a demand for an apology are getting in the way of a life-changing opportunity and a seven-figure payday for your fighter, Chantelle Cameron, who has made it clear she wants the fight. Which should matter more? Is that fighter first, or is a personal agenda getting in the way of what’s best for the fighter and, ultimately, women’s boxing?" Bidarian [on video]: "They don't understand the bigger picture... they should be doing anything they can to get Chantelle to accept the fight. They put out that they offered her $1.1 million dollars, but the last time the #1 and #2 pound-for-pound fought, they walked away with over ten million dollars. But we're not making the offer because you haven't apologized or shown the respect to rest of the women in the sport boxing. So you make us the offer... Chantelle wants the fight." Salita: "By taking these negotiations public, you showed that you were looking for a way to say no, not a way to make this fight. If you genuinely wanted to make the fight, the negotiations would have stayed private and constructive. Since you chose to make them public, I’m putting the facts on the record: We offered $1.1 million, plus an escalating percentage of ticket sales from the first dollar. Claressa has consistently generated seven-figure gates, and that percentage would have added significant revenue to total compensation. MVP insisted on a $25,000 liquidated-damages payment each time Claressa made a statement they viewed as negative toward Jake Paul or MVP. We would not agree to terms that put a price on a fighter’s speech. We did agree to a standard, mutual non-disparagement clause. We agreed to neutral judges and industry-standard accommodations for a fight of this magnitude. There are always granular details to work through. In more than 30 years as a fighter and promoter, I’ve never seen a million-dollar fight defined by a per diem disagreement. As we say in boxing, there are a million ways to say no and one way to say yes. We are fighter-first and fan-first. We have a responsibility to the fighters, whose careers are finite, and to the fans to make the biggest fights possible. We have always wanted Claressa vs. Chantelle, and we remain ready to work with MVP to make it happen. Taking negotiations public does not move us closer to the ring. We’re ready to return to the table and get this fight done." Bidarian: "MVP has demonstrated we will make the biggest fights and put the wishes of our fighters first. We worked with Eddie Hearn even when he was suing Jake Paul. We worked with Misfits whose CEO is Jake Paul’s longest running feud. And we agreed for a guaranteed deal for Chantelle Cameron to fight Claressa Shields on the basis of no involvement from MVP, because it was a great opportunity for our fighter and exciting for the fans. Unfortunately, we are not dealing with professional people. That guaranteed pay for our fighter was then reneged on by them and reduced by 27%. Moreover, the offer was below market rates on per diems, security, etc. which was ridiculous given this is the #1 vs #2 fight. It felt like we were agreeing to a low-budget production, which is not how we present our athletes. Most importantly the offer was not more than our fighter has made in previous fights; it was consistent with her previous biggest fights. We gave them one last opportunity to go back to their original offer 5 days ago. They passed. We have moved on. Next time do not put an offer on the table and then change your mind. One day I hope Claressa gets the right advisors around her, apologizes for attacking our fighter in an event where she was our guest, and truly reaches her potential. She has achieved a lot but it can be so much more."
Salita: "We all want to make this fight, and I believe it’s our shared responsibility—to you, the fighters, and the fans—to get it done. You and Claressa are at the peak of your careers and ranked #1 and #2 pound for pound. We have no problem with the two of you getting on a call or sitting down together to make this fight happen."
Bidarian: "The ship has sailed. The train has left the station. The plane has left the gate."
Cameron: "The fight with Claressa is about legacy and taking on the biggest challenges. There have been some changes during negotiations that made this fight not move forward at this time, but my position is clear: I will fight Claressa. It’s a matter of when. Not if."
Shields: "You know the $$$ offer. Me and my team made sure we came with a bag, neutral judges, refs, even playing ground. If you want this fight let’s make it happen!"
Cameron: "Happily would step in and fight the best of the best, this is why I box, to challenge myself against a greatest. If the teams can make this happen, let’s rumble. What an honor to make history again."
Shields: "Claressa Shields (P4P #1) vs. Chantelle Cameron (P4P #2) is the fight to make! What is the hold up! 160 [pound] champion vs 154 champion! We have made a huge offer to the champ and [her promoter] Most Valuable Promotions! And she also accepts and wants the fight for 2027 first quarter."
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Baumgarnder conquers Turhan for IBF lightweight title |
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Alycia Baumgardner W10 Elif Turhan ... Alycia Baumgardner is now a two-division champion. Fighting in Arlington, Texas in an ESPN-televised main event, Baumgardner shut out Elif Turhan to capture Turhan's IBF lightweight bout. All three scorecards read 100-90. Now 19-1, Baumgardner controlled the distance from the opening bell with her jab and straight punches. She had Turhan (14-1) hurt late in the third before the action was halted when the ten-second clapper was mistaken for the bell. Turhan had her best moments with hooks and uppercuts in the fifth and ninth, but Baumgardner kept beating her to the punch and swept all three cards. Baumgardner is the world champion at junior lightweight, still holding three of the four major belts in that division. The other two lightweight champions, Caroline Dubois (14-0-1, 5 KOs) and Stephanie Han (13-0, 3 KOs), will clash in a three-belt unification showdown on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027.
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Baumgarnder conquers Turhan for IBF lightweight title
Alycia Baumgardner W10 Elif Turhan ... Alycia Baumgardner is now a two-division champion. Fighting in Arlington, Texas in an ESPN-televised main event, Baumgardner shut out Elif Turhan to capture Turhan's IBF lightweight bout. All three scorecards read 100-90. Now 19-1, Baumgardner controlled the distance from the opening bell with her jab and straight punches. She had Turhan (14-1) hurt late in the third before the action was halted when the ten-second clapper was mistaken for the bell. Turhan had her best moments with hooks and uppercuts in the fifth and ninth, but Baumgardner kept beating her to the punch and swept all three cards. Baumgardner is the world champion at junior lightweight, still holding three of the four major belts in that division. The other two lightweight champions, Caroline Dubois (14-0-1, 5 KOs) and Stephanie Han (13-0, 3 KOs), will clash in a three-belt unification showdown on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027.
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Trump was joking about offering Dana White a job |
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UPDATE: On Sunday, President Donald Trump told repoprters, "I was only kidding" about offering the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC.
NOV. 7, 2026 In a Truth Social post, United States president Donald Trump offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC. Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people [all MMA fighters] to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
At the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, White acknowledged the offer, saying: "I'm flying to Washington D.C. right now. I'm going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."
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Trump was joking about offering Dana White a job
UPDATE: On Sunday, President Donald Trump told repoprters, "I was only kidding" about offering the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC.
NOV. 7, 2026 In a Truth Social post, United States president Donald Trump offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC. Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people [all MMA fighters] to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
At the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, White acknowledged the offer, saying: "I'm flying to Washington D.C. right now. I'm going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."
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Nicolson and Ali win 122-pound title fights |
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Skye Nicolson W10 Miyo Yoshida... Skye Nicolson (pictured) used her size and reach advantages against former two-division champion Miyo Yoshida en route to a wide unanimous decision win. Nicolson retained here WBC super bantamweight title via scores of 98-92, 100-90 and 99-91. Nicolson boxed from range and kept circling while Yoshida pressed forward looking for overhands. Yoshida had her moments in close, landing rights in the clinches of the sixth and eighth rounds, but Nicolson kept answering with straight rights and lefts. Nicolson saved her best for last, landing uppercuts and a three-punch combination in the tenth to keep the.
Ramla Ali W10 Mikiah Kreps ... With the vacant WBO and IBF 122-pound titles at stake, Ramla Ali defeated Mikiah Kreps via split decision. Official scores were 97-92, 91-98 and 96-93. UPDATE: Former promoter Lou DiBella wrote, "there should be an investigation of that fight. Mikiah Kreps won that fight and it wasn't close. Stevie Wonder could see that. Boxing can't get out of its own way. I am appalled at that decision."
Kreps pressed forward from the opening bell, but Ali found her openings early, working a cut on Kreps in the second and dropping her with a left hand in the third. Kreps took over the middle and late rounds with nonstop combinations to the head and body, while Ali was warned twice for holding. Ali answered with big rights in a wild tenth and held on to two of the three cards. The two titles had been vacated by Ellie Scotney.
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Nicolson and Ali win 122-pound title fights
Skye Nicolson W10 Miyo Yoshida... Skye Nicolson (pictured) used her size and reach advantages against former two-division champion Miyo Yoshida en route to a wide unanimous decision win. Nicolson retained here WBC super bantamweight title via scores of 98-92, 100-90 and 99-91. Nicolson boxed from range and kept circling while Yoshida pressed forward looking for overhands. Yoshida had her moments in close, landing rights in the clinches of the sixth and eighth rounds, but Nicolson kept answering with straight rights and lefts. Nicolson saved her best for last, landing uppercuts and a three-punch combination in the tenth to keep the.
Ramla Ali W10 Mikiah Kreps ... With the vacant WBO and IBF 122-pound titles at stake, Ramla Ali defeated Mikiah Kreps via split decision. Official scores were 97-92, 91-98 and 96-93. UPDATE: Former promoter Lou DiBella wrote, "there should be an investigation of that fight. Mikiah Kreps won that fight and it wasn't close. Stevie Wonder could see that. Boxing can't get out of its own way. I am appalled at that decision."
Kreps pressed forward from the opening bell, but Ali found her openings early, working a cut on Kreps in the second and dropping her with a left hand in the third. Kreps took over the middle and late rounds with nonstop combinations to the head and body, while Ali was warned twice for holding. Ali answered with big rights in a wild tenth and held on to two of the three cards. The two titles had been vacated by Ellie Scotney.
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Age 45, Garcia becomes unified champion |
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Irma Garcia W10 Nataly Delgado... The 45 year-old Irma Garcia became a unified super flyweight champion by defeating Nataly Delgado via unanimous decision on Most Valuable Promotions' ESPN show. The win combined Delgado's WBA title with the IBF version Garcia already owned All three judges scored the fight 97-92. Both women traded right hands and body shots through the early rounds, with Delgado (21-8-2) busy downstairs and Garcia answering with straight lefts. Garcia (27-5-1) hurt Delgado with a counter late in the fifth and dropped her with a left hand in the sixth, a knockdown Delgado protested as a trip. Delgado kept coming with right hands and body work, but Garcia’s left landed cleaner down the stretch and shook her again in the tenth. Garcia is a two-division champ, having previously held a bantamweight title.
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Age 45, Garcia becomes unified champion
Irma Garcia W10 Nataly Delgado... The 45 year-old Irma Garcia became a unified super flyweight champion by defeating Nataly Delgado via unanimous decision on Most Valuable Promotions' ESPN show. The win combined Delgado's WBA title with the IBF version Garcia already owned All three judges scored the fight 97-92. Both women traded right hands and body shots through the early rounds, with Delgado (21-8-2) busy downstairs and Garcia answering with straight lefts. Garcia (27-5-1) hurt Delgado with a counter late in the fifth and dropped her with a left hand in the sixth, a knockdown Delgado protested as a trip. Delgado kept coming with right hands and body work, but Garcia’s left landed cleaner down the stretch and shook her again in the tenth. Garcia is a two-division champ, having previously held a bantamweight title.
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MVP undercard results from Arlington, TX |
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Brittany Sims W10 Shera Mae Patricio... In Arlington, Texas, Brittany Sims and Shera Mae Patricio fought to a split draw. The scores were an irreconcilable 90-100, 97-93 and 95-95). According to MVP, it was close and busy from the opening bell, with both women trading in the center and Patricio pressing with fast combinations to the body. Sims answered with uppercuts and right hands on the inside, and a hematoma grew over Patricio’s left eye from the fourth, partly from head clashes. Patricio rallied in the eighth and ninth, Sims landed the heavier right hands late, and the judges saw three completely different fights. The WBA's regular bantamweight title remains vacant; Dina Thorslund remaining the undisputed world champion.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
In the junior welterweight division, Albina Moldazhanova of Russia (6-0 with 6 KOs) stopped Kirstie Bavington in the fourth round. Moldazhanova hurt Bavington (10-7-2) with a left hand in the first round and spent the next two working her body, landing heavy left hands every time Bavington tried to come forward. Bavington held on and had moments with her jab and right hands in the third. Early in the fourth a combination capped by a left put her down, and although she beat the count the referee waved it off at 0:44.
In a minor upset, Nayeli Rodriguez of Texas edged Philadelphia's Natalie Dove via split decision. Two judges favored Rodriguez five rounds to three, overruling one judge who had it five to three the other way. Dove had the better of the early rounds, working behind the jab and digging to the body through the first three. Rodriguez grew into the fight from the fourth, answering with combinations upstairs and down, and the middle rounds were close and busy. She finished stronger in the sixth and eighth with quick combinations, and two of the three judges had her ahead.
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MVP undercard results from Arlington, TX
Brittany Sims W10 Shera Mae Patricio... In Arlington, Texas, Brittany Sims and Shera Mae Patricio fought to a split draw. The scores were an irreconcilable 90-100, 97-93 and 95-95). According to MVP, it was close and busy from the opening bell, with both women trading in the center and Patricio pressing with fast combinations to the body. Sims answered with uppercuts and right hands on the inside, and a hematoma grew over Patricio’s left eye from the fourth, partly from head clashes. Patricio rallied in the eighth and ninth, Sims landed the heavier right hands late, and the judges saw three completely different fights. The WBA's regular bantamweight title remains vacant; Dina Thorslund remaining the undisputed world champion.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
In the junior welterweight division, Albina Moldazhanova of Russia (6-0 with 6 KOs) stopped Kirstie Bavington in the fourth round. Moldazhanova hurt Bavington (10-7-2) with a left hand in the first round and spent the next two working her body, landing heavy left hands every time Bavington tried to come forward. Bavington held on and had moments with her jab and right hands in the third. Early in the fourth a combination capped by a left put her down, and although she beat the count the referee waved it off at 0:44.
In a minor upset, Nayeli Rodriguez of Texas edged Philadelphia's Natalie Dove via split decision. Two judges favored Rodriguez five rounds to three, overruling one judge who had it five to three the other way. Dove had the better of the early rounds, working behind the jab and digging to the body through the first three. Rodriguez grew into the fight from the fourth, answering with combinations upstairs and down, and the middle rounds were close and busy. She finished stronger in the sixth and eighth with quick combinations, and two of the three judges had her ahead.
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New champion alert: Hutchinson gains title at 175 |
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Willy Hutchinson W12 Joshua Buatsi... Willy Hutchinson was crowned WBC light heavyweight champion on Saturday night at AO Arena in Manchester, England, and live on DAZN. Hutchinson won the vacant titke by defeating Joshua Buatsi via unanimous decision in their rematch. Judges scored it 117-112 and 115-113 (twice). Buatsi (21-4 including the Wolrd Series of Boxing)had won their first encounter back in 2024. Though his activity slowed late, 'The Hutch Train' ran express for most of the fight, setting the tone with his jab, hooks wrapped around the guard and slick movement out of harm's way. His output was crisp, clean and effective, while Buatsi fell flat in the biggest opportunity of his career after defeating Hutchinson by split decision back in September 2024. Buatsi looked sluggish over large stretches of the fight, increasing his urgency in the 11th round when it was too little, too late. Hutchinson won the title vacated by David Benavidez in a move up to cruiserweight.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Jack Rafferty imposes his will on Hovhannes Martirosyan with a unanimous decision at welterweight;
Light heavyweight Brad Rea obliteratd Ezra Taylor via second-round TKO; and
Gully Powar defeats Zak Miller by technical unanimous decision (doctor's stoppage) in featherweight decision.
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New champion alert: Hutchinson gains title at 175
Willy Hutchinson W12 Joshua Buatsi... Willy Hutchinson was crowned WBC light heavyweight champion on Saturday night at AO Arena in Manchester, England, and live on DAZN. Hutchinson won the vacant titke by defeating Joshua Buatsi via unanimous decision in their rematch. Judges scored it 117-112 and 115-113 (twice). Buatsi (21-4 including the Wolrd Series of Boxing)had won their first encounter back in 2024. Though his activity slowed late, 'The Hutch Train' ran express for most of the fight, setting the tone with his jab, hooks wrapped around the guard and slick movement out of harm's way. His output was crisp, clean and effective, while Buatsi fell flat in the biggest opportunity of his career after defeating Hutchinson by split decision back in September 2024. Buatsi looked sluggish over large stretches of the fight, increasing his urgency in the 11th round when it was too little, too late. Hutchinson won the title vacated by David Benavidez in a move up to cruiserweight.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Jack Rafferty imposes his will on Hovhannes Martirosyan with a unanimous decision at welterweight;
Light heavyweight Brad Rea obliteratd Ezra Taylor via second-round TKO; and
Gully Powar defeats Zak Miller by technical unanimous decision (doctor's stoppage) in featherweight decision.
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Chev Clarke stops Chris Billam-Smith |
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Chev Clarke TKO7 Chris Billam-Smith... The Zuffa Boxing 12 main event at Copper Box Arena in London saw a career-changing victory for Chev “C4” Clarke, who rang up a stunning seventh-round TKO of ex-cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith. After six rounds, the fight was even on two official scorecards. Then in round sevem, Clarke sent “CBS” to the canvas twice – the only times Billam-Smith had been dropped in his career – as he claimed the biggest victory of his professional career. The bout started off with both men landing heavy shots early, with Billam-Smith pushing forward, ripping heavy shots to the body, while Clarke looked to counter upstairs with heavy punches over the top. It set the scene for a tough, gritty encounter that eventually saw Clarke close the show with his fight-altering punch power.
Throughout the contest, Clarke looked to have the faster hands, but Billam-Smith’s relentless forward pressure and heavier punches, particularly to the body, ensured he kept on scoring from round to round. However, the first warning shot came early in the fifth round, as a huge shot from Clarke early in the round forced Billam-Smith to hold on. That power would show itself again two rounds later in round seven, and it proved decisive as a massive right hand from Clarke sent Billam-Smith to the canvas for the first time in his career. “CBS” took an eight-count, but looked far from steady after returning to his feet. Then another barrage of shots sent Billam-Smith spinning into the ropes, and down to the mat again. Billam-Smith battled back to his feet again, but the end was near, and Clarke poured on the pressure to hurt his man again and force the referee to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:24 mark.
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Chev Clarke stops Chris Billam-Smith
Chev Clarke TKO7 Chris Billam-Smith... The Zuffa Boxing 12 main event at Copper Box Arena in London saw a career-changing victory for Chev “C4” Clarke, who rang up a stunning seventh-round TKO of ex-cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith. After six rounds, the fight was even on two official scorecards. Then in round sevem, Clarke sent “CBS” to the canvas twice – the only times Billam-Smith had been dropped in his career – as he claimed the biggest victory of his professional career. The bout started off with both men landing heavy shots early, with Billam-Smith pushing forward, ripping heavy shots to the body, while Clarke looked to counter upstairs with heavy punches over the top. It set the scene for a tough, gritty encounter that eventually saw Clarke close the show with his fight-altering punch power.
Throughout the contest, Clarke looked to have the faster hands, but Billam-Smith’s relentless forward pressure and heavier punches, particularly to the body, ensured he kept on scoring from round to round. However, the first warning shot came early in the fifth round, as a huge shot from Clarke early in the round forced Billam-Smith to hold on. That power would show itself again two rounds later in round seven, and it proved decisive as a massive right hand from Clarke sent Billam-Smith to the canvas for the first time in his career. “CBS” took an eight-count, but looked far from steady after returning to his feet. Then another barrage of shots sent Billam-Smith spinning into the ropes, and down to the mat again. Billam-Smith battled back to his feet again, but the end was near, and Clarke poured on the pressure to hurt his man again and force the referee to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:24 mark.
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Dana White offered press secretary position in the Trump administration [Is Trump trolling???] |
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![Dana White offered press secretary position in the Trump administration [Is Trump trolling???]](/Images/Fighters/White. Dana. Zuffa FINAL639166264844995463.jpeg "Dana White offered press secretary position in the Trump administration [Is Trump trolling???]")
UPDATE: On Sunday, President Trump told repoprters, "I was only kidding" about offering the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC.
In a Truth Social post, United States president Donald Trump offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC. Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people [all MMA fighters] to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
At the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, White acknowledged the offer, saying: "I'm flying to Washington D.C. right now. I'm going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."
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Dana White offered press secretary position in the Trump administration [Is Trump trolling???]
UPDATE: On Sunday, President Trump told repoprters, "I was only kidding" about offering the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC.
In a Truth Social post, United States president Donald Trump offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing and the UFC. Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris. We need these people [all MMA fighters] to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
At the Zuffa Boxing press conference in London, White acknowledged the offer, saying: "I'm flying to Washington D.C. right now. I'm going to meet with him, we have a meeting on Monday. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."
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Ex-champ Bentley edges Mosley |
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In the Zuffa co-feature in London, recently stripped WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley came close to finishing Shane Mosley Jr, but eventually had to dig deep to turn back his opponent’s late charge. Bentley claimed a unanimous decision victory over ten competitive rounds. Bentley made the breakthrough in round two when a swift lead right hand found its mark and snapped back Mosley’s head. Then, in the next exchange, the Englishman decked Mosley with another rapid-fire right hand that forced the American to take a count for the first time in his career. Bentley put his foot on the gas in an attempt to finish the fight, but despite landing several big shots, Mosley managed to survive the onslaught before coming back strongly at the end of the round.
Despite being dropped and close to finished in round two, Mosley took the fight to Bentley and pushed the pace through the middle portion of the fight, while Bentley seemed content to drop his output, stay defensively tight, and look to connect with clean, explosive shots. By the sixth round, Bentley’s corner was starting to get concerned with their man, and delivered a clear instruction to pick up the pace, as Mosley continued to box more smoothly and score more consistently. Then, in the seventh, with Mosely seemingly cruising, Bentley came alive late in the round and connected with big shots, including a superb left uppercut that spun the American’s chin in the closing seconds.
As the fight entered round nine, Mosley seemed to sense that the decision win he predicted during fight week was within reach, and he kept the pressure on, looking to outwork Bentley. But the Englishman switched back and forth between stances and landed the heavier, cleaner shots off the back foot. And, after a closely contested final three minutes, the judges were called into action to determine the victor, with Bentley picking up the decision win with scores of 96-94, 96-93, 95-94.
With a hard-earned win in the bank, Bentley turned his attention to the future, as he made clear his desire to fight for championship gold once again. But then he teased a possible all-British fight with Conor Benn, who was an interested spectator at ringside. “The Destroyer’s” reaction suggested making that matchup would be very easy indeed.
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Ex-champ Bentley edges Mosley
In the Zuffa co-feature in London, recently stripped WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley came close to finishing Shane Mosley Jr, but eventually had to dig deep to turn back his opponent’s late charge. Bentley claimed a unanimous decision victory over ten competitive rounds. Bentley made the breakthrough in round two when a swift lead right hand found its mark and snapped back Mosley’s head. Then, in the next exchange, the Englishman decked Mosley with another rapid-fire right hand that forced the American to take a count for the first time in his career. Bentley put his foot on the gas in an attempt to finish the fight, but despite landing several big shots, Mosley managed to survive the onslaught before coming back strongly at the end of the round.
Despite being dropped and close to finished in round two, Mosley took the fight to Bentley and pushed the pace through the middle portion of the fight, while Bentley seemed content to drop his output, stay defensively tight, and look to connect with clean, explosive shots. By the sixth round, Bentley’s corner was starting to get concerned with their man, and delivered a clear instruction to pick up the pace, as Mosley continued to box more smoothly and score more consistently. Then, in the seventh, with Mosely seemingly cruising, Bentley came alive late in the round and connected with big shots, including a superb left uppercut that spun the American’s chin in the closing seconds.
As the fight entered round nine, Mosley seemed to sense that the decision win he predicted during fight week was within reach, and he kept the pressure on, looking to outwork Bentley. But the Englishman switched back and forth between stances and landed the heavier, cleaner shots off the back foot. And, after a closely contested final three minutes, the judges were called into action to determine the victor, with Bentley picking up the decision win with scores of 96-94, 96-93, 95-94.
With a hard-earned win in the bank, Bentley turned his attention to the future, as he made clear his desire to fight for championship gold once again. But then he teased a possible all-British fight with Conor Benn, who was an interested spectator at ringside. “The Destroyer’s” reaction suggested making that matchup would be very easy indeed.
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