Opetaia will face Wilder on Dec. 11th |
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The heavyweight division is bracing for the arrival of cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0). He'll battle ex-champ Deontay Wilder (45-4-1), who possesses one of the most powerful right hands in boxin, on the Netflix card headlined by Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) vs. Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs). The fight night streams live globally on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 11th from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Wilder was one of the most feared punchers in heavyweight history. Opetaia (pictured) enters the fight unbeaten and widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Together, they bring a clash of power and precision to a historic night of boxing.
Wilder is an American heavyweight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and a bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games. He held the WBC heavyweight world title from 2015 to 2020, dominating as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. He also faced Tyson Fury in a three-fight rivalry between 2018 and 2021. [Since then he has lost to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang but defeated Derek Chisora].
Opetaia is an undefeated Australian cruiserweight and a 2012 Olympian at age 16. He won the IBF cruiserweight world title in 2022. He ha sbeen frustrated by boxing politics in attempts to unify the cruiserweight championship but is regarded as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Now, he moves up to heavyweight.
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Opetaia will face Wilder on Dec. 11th
The heavyweight division is bracing for the arrival of cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0). He'll battle ex-champ Deontay Wilder (45-4-1), who possesses one of the most powerful right hands in boxin, on the Netflix card headlined by Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) vs. Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs). The fight night streams live globally on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 11th from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Wilder was one of the most feared punchers in heavyweight history. Opetaia (pictured) enters the fight unbeaten and widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Together, they bring a clash of power and precision to a historic night of boxing.
Wilder is an American heavyweight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and a bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games. He held the WBC heavyweight world title from 2015 to 2020, dominating as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. He also faced Tyson Fury in a three-fight rivalry between 2018 and 2021. [Since then he has lost to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang but defeated Derek Chisora].
Opetaia is an undefeated Australian cruiserweight and a 2012 Olympian at age 16. He won the IBF cruiserweight world title in 2022. He ha sbeen frustrated by boxing politics in attempts to unify the cruiserweight championship but is regarded as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Now, he moves up to heavyweight.
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Lara to defend vs. Tszyu in Australia |
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WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will take on former junior middleweight title holder Tim Tszyu on Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) headlining action streaming live on DAZN from Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Cuba’s sharpshooter Lara will become the latest star to travel down under to challenge the power-punching Tszyu in Tszyu's home country. Lara is looking to make his fifth defense of his title against the hometown hero, who can cement his own status as an Australian legend by becoming a two-division champion. The lineup will also include the return of former undisputed 154-pound king Jermell Charlo battling the hard-hitting Brock Jarvis in the ten-round middleweight co-feature, with the action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. In a third featured bout, Elnur Samedov defends his WBA regular title at 130 pounds against Australia's Liam Wilson. [Samedov was apparently promoted from interim to regular champion by the WBA, with Anthony Cacace remaining above Saemdov in the WBA hierarchy]. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, and TGB Promotions.
“Saturday, December 12th will see one of the biggest middleweight fights in years as the long-reigning world champion Lara defends his title against the popular action fighter and former champion Tszyu live on DAZN, with the winner emerging as the clear fighter to beat at 160 pounds,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Jermell Charlo making his long-awaited return in the co-main event, plus a toss-up 130-pound title fight between Elnur Samedov and Liam Wilson, and December 12 promises more drama live on DAZN.”
“This is the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full stop,” said George Rose, CEO, No Limit Boxing. “A reigning world champion, a former undisputed world champion and two world titles, in a stadium on the Gold Coast. Nothing else comes close. Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the world and we got him. Jermell Charlo, a former undisputed world champion, is finally making his return and he’s coming to Australia. Liam Wilson gets his redemption shot at a world title on home soil. Every fight on this card matters.”
“Lara vs. Tszyu is a high-stakes world title showdown, with Tim Tszyu looking to make history on home soil,” said Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With 18 years in professional boxing, Erislandy Lara’s longevity and continued dominance are a testament to his remarkable career, adding even more significance to this title clash. With Jermell Charlo making his highly anticipated return, this is a stacked card from top to bottom. We’re proud to partner with PBC to bring another must-watch night of boxing to fans worldwide on DAZN.”
Both former champions at 154 pounds who’ve now made their way to middleweight, WBA champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will welcome Australia’s Tim Tszyu to his first 160-pound world title shot as each hope to score a signature victory in this twelve-round showdown. Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs) has been dominant in his run at 160, showing off his ability to go toe-to-toe and end a fight with one punch, after establishing himself as one of boxing’s best technical fighters throughout the first part of his career. He most recently defended his title against Johan Gonzalez in December after previously delivering one of the best performances of his career as he stopped the durable former two-division world champion Danny Garcia in September 2024. He captured his WBA title with a first-round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan and Michael Zerafa. Prior to his middleweight exploits, Lara was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. He faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Álvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position, and I’m blessed to have more opportunities like this to be a world champion and defend my title,” said Lara. “Traveling to Australia to fight Tszyu is something I’m really looking forward to. I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his home fans. But I’ve been in big fights my whole career and I know what it takes to win at this level. I’m grateful to be able to showcase my skills on DAZN in front of boxing fans all around the world, and I’m going to Australia with one goal…to defend my title, put on a great performance and give the fans a fight they’ll remember for a long time.”
The 31-year-old Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) will enter this fight off three consecutive victories, including a July triumph over former pound-for-pound great Errol Spence Jr. that saw Tszyu emerge from their clash with a unanimous decision victory. Tszyu’s winning streak has come after two memorable battles against WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu entered the first Fundora fight off a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
“This is what I live for. Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world. That is exactly why I wanted him,” said Tszyu. “Spence was the first step. This is the one that matters. This fight is about legacy. My dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the one thing he never did. That is what I am chasing, and it drives me every single day. Queensland and the Gold Coast have always backed me. I stopped Jeff Horn and defended my world title in Queensland stadiums and crowds and I can’t wait to feel that again. I’m ready to take that belt off Lara on the Gold Coast.”
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Lara to defend vs. Tszyu in Australia
WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will take on former junior middleweight title holder Tim Tszyu on Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) headlining action streaming live on DAZN from Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Cuba’s sharpshooter Lara will become the latest star to travel down under to challenge the power-punching Tszyu in Tszyu's home country. Lara is looking to make his fifth defense of his title against the hometown hero, who can cement his own status as an Australian legend by becoming a two-division champion. The lineup will also include the return of former undisputed 154-pound king Jermell Charlo battling the hard-hitting Brock Jarvis in the ten-round middleweight co-feature, with the action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. In a third featured bout, Elnur Samedov defends his WBA regular title at 130 pounds against Australia's Liam Wilson. [Samedov was apparently promoted from interim to regular champion by the WBA, with Anthony Cacace remaining above Saemdov in the WBA hierarchy]. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, and TGB Promotions.
“Saturday, December 12th will see one of the biggest middleweight fights in years as the long-reigning world champion Lara defends his title against the popular action fighter and former champion Tszyu live on DAZN, with the winner emerging as the clear fighter to beat at 160 pounds,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Jermell Charlo making his long-awaited return in the co-main event, plus a toss-up 130-pound title fight between Elnur Samedov and Liam Wilson, and December 12 promises more drama live on DAZN.”
“This is the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full stop,” said George Rose, CEO, No Limit Boxing. “A reigning world champion, a former undisputed world champion and two world titles, in a stadium on the Gold Coast. Nothing else comes close. Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the world and we got him. Jermell Charlo, a former undisputed world champion, is finally making his return and he’s coming to Australia. Liam Wilson gets his redemption shot at a world title on home soil. Every fight on this card matters.”
“Lara vs. Tszyu is a high-stakes world title showdown, with Tim Tszyu looking to make history on home soil,” said Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With 18 years in professional boxing, Erislandy Lara’s longevity and continued dominance are a testament to his remarkable career, adding even more significance to this title clash. With Jermell Charlo making his highly anticipated return, this is a stacked card from top to bottom. We’re proud to partner with PBC to bring another must-watch night of boxing to fans worldwide on DAZN.”
Both former champions at 154 pounds who’ve now made their way to middleweight, WBA champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will welcome Australia’s Tim Tszyu to his first 160-pound world title shot as each hope to score a signature victory in this twelve-round showdown. Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs) has been dominant in his run at 160, showing off his ability to go toe-to-toe and end a fight with one punch, after establishing himself as one of boxing’s best technical fighters throughout the first part of his career. He most recently defended his title against Johan Gonzalez in December after previously delivering one of the best performances of his career as he stopped the durable former two-division world champion Danny Garcia in September 2024. He captured his WBA title with a first-round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan and Michael Zerafa. Prior to his middleweight exploits, Lara was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. He faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Álvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position, and I’m blessed to have more opportunities like this to be a world champion and defend my title,” said Lara. “Traveling to Australia to fight Tszyu is something I’m really looking forward to. I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his home fans. But I’ve been in big fights my whole career and I know what it takes to win at this level. I’m grateful to be able to showcase my skills on DAZN in front of boxing fans all around the world, and I’m going to Australia with one goal…to defend my title, put on a great performance and give the fans a fight they’ll remember for a long time.”
The 31-year-old Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) will enter this fight off three consecutive victories, including a July triumph over former pound-for-pound great Errol Spence Jr. that saw Tszyu emerge from their clash with a unanimous decision victory. Tszyu’s winning streak has come after two memorable battles against WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu entered the first Fundora fight off a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
“This is what I live for. Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world. That is exactly why I wanted him,” said Tszyu. “Spence was the first step. This is the one that matters. This fight is about legacy. My dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the one thing he never did. That is what I am chasing, and it drives me every single day. Queensland and the Gold Coast have always backed me. I stopped Jeff Horn and defended my world title in Queensland stadiums and crowds and I can’t wait to feel that again. I’m ready to take that belt off Lara on the Gold Coast.”
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Jermell Charlo back for first time since 2023 |
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On Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) at Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast Australia, former undisputed world 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo will return to the ring for the first time since September 2023 as he looks to make a run at becoming a two-division champion. Jermell will kick off his comeback against the Australia's Brock Jarvis in a ten-round middleweight co-feature presented by PBC and streamed on DAZN. The main event that night has Erislandy Lara defending his WBA middleweight title against Kostya Tszyu.
Houston’s Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) unified super welterweight titles in emphatic fashion in May 2022, knocking out Brian Castaño in round 10 of their rematch, after they fought to a draw in a July 2021 slugfest. Charlo became a unified champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an eleventh-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights. Charlo won his first world title by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016, following up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning a decision over former champion Austin Trout. Charlo’s most recent action saw him come up short against then undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in their September 2023 showdown.
"I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him," said Charlo. "I appreciate Brock Jarvis stepping up, because a lot of these so-called top guys got cold feet. They use my name for clout but get quiet when it’s time to sign on that dotted line. I’m willing to fight on a co-main event all the way in Australia because that’s how hungry I am. I’ve got so much in me and I wasn’t going to let this year end without giving my fans what they’ve been waiting for. On December 12, I’m going to show everybody why I’m the most dangerous fighter from 154 to 160 pounds. I’m coming to take what’s mine. Lions Only!"
The 28-year-old Jarvis (23-2, 21 KOs) has risen up the rankings in his native Australia ever since turning pro in 2015 as a teenager. He’s shown tremendous power throughout his time in the pro ranks, with a 15-fight KO streak following his pro debut and a current run that’s seen him earn stoppages in each of his last six victories. His only defeats have come at the highest level, as he dropped a March 2025 showdown against former unified champion Keith Thurman and an October 2022 challenge of current welterweight world champion Liam Paro. Fighting out of Marrickville, New South Wales, Jarvis most recently bounced back from the loss to Thurman to stop the previously unbeaten Sam Beck in four rounds in August 2025.
“This is the fight I have waited my whole career for,” said Jarvis. “A former undisputed world champion, in a stadium, at home in Australia. It does not get bigger than this. Charlo thinks he’s coming to Australia to restart his career. I’m here to ruin his comeback.”
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Jermell Charlo back for first time since 2023
On Saturday, December 12th (U.S. date and time) at Cbus Super Stadium in Gold Coast Australia, former undisputed world 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo will return to the ring for the first time since September 2023 as he looks to make a run at becoming a two-division champion. Jermell will kick off his comeback against the Australia's Brock Jarvis in a ten-round middleweight co-feature presented by PBC and streamed on DAZN. The main event that night has Erislandy Lara defending his WBA middleweight title against Kostya Tszyu.
Houston’s Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) unified super welterweight titles in emphatic fashion in May 2022, knocking out Brian Castaño in round 10 of their rematch, after they fought to a draw in a July 2021 slugfest. Charlo became a unified champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an eleventh-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights. Charlo won his first world title by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016, following up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning a decision over former champion Austin Trout. Charlo’s most recent action saw him come up short against then undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in their September 2023 showdown.
"I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him," said Charlo. "I appreciate Brock Jarvis stepping up, because a lot of these so-called top guys got cold feet. They use my name for clout but get quiet when it’s time to sign on that dotted line. I’m willing to fight on a co-main event all the way in Australia because that’s how hungry I am. I’ve got so much in me and I wasn’t going to let this year end without giving my fans what they’ve been waiting for. On December 12, I’m going to show everybody why I’m the most dangerous fighter from 154 to 160 pounds. I’m coming to take what’s mine. Lions Only!"
The 28-year-old Jarvis (23-2, 21 KOs) has risen up the rankings in his native Australia ever since turning pro in 2015 as a teenager. He’s shown tremendous power throughout his time in the pro ranks, with a 15-fight KO streak following his pro debut and a current run that’s seen him earn stoppages in each of his last six victories. His only defeats have come at the highest level, as he dropped a March 2025 showdown against former unified champion Keith Thurman and an October 2022 challenge of current welterweight world champion Liam Paro. Fighting out of Marrickville, New South Wales, Jarvis most recently bounced back from the loss to Thurman to stop the previously unbeaten Sam Beck in four rounds in August 2025.
“This is the fight I have waited my whole career for,” said Jarvis. “A former undisputed world champion, in a stadium, at home in Australia. It does not get bigger than this. Charlo thinks he’s coming to Australia to restart his career. I’m here to ruin his comeback.”
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WBO strips Denzel Bentley |
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In the matter of Denzel Bentley, the WBO issued the following ruling: (1) Bentley's recognition as WBO middleweight champion has been withdrawn, effective immediately; (2) the WBO middleweight championship was declared vacant; and (3) there will be no automatic elevation of mandatory contender Yoenli Hernández to full champion status. Presumably, the WBO will require Hernandez to fight the leading available contender from the WBO rankings to determine the next champion. The current WBO rankings have Hernandez at #1, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. at #2, Tim Tszyu at #3 and Michael Zerafa at #4 and Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. With Hernandez a definite yes throughout this entire WBO process, it appears that the vacant title fight will fall to Hernandez vs. Zerafa. Bentley, who recently signed with Zuffa boxing, and has a fight scheduled this weekend vs. Shane Mosley Jr., but he retains the right to appeal the WBO's ruling.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 23, 2026: WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied Denzel Bentley’s appeal and required Bentley, as the WBO middleweight champion to make his next fight a mandatory title defense against Yoenli Hernández. "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT," wrote Olivieri. This presents a big problem for Bentley who is already booked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on a November 7th Zuffa show in London. The WBO required both Bentley and Hernandez to confirm their participation in the mandatory bout within 24 hours. Unless Bentley has an escape clause the Mosley bout, it appears he will be stripped of his middleweight title by the WBO.
OCT. 5, 2026: Zuffa Boxing announced on social media that WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7th at Copper Box Arena in London. Bentley has also signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Zuffa. The big question still to be resolved is whether Bentley's WBO world title will be at stake vs. Mosley or will he be stripped for failure to make his WBO mandatory title defense. Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) was ordered by the WBO to defend against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez, and Warriors Boxing won a purse bid for the bout last week. Bentley, however, is attempting to move forward with Mosley while retaining his title. "Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion," Bentley told Sky Sports News. "I know everything that's gone on online and all the rumours [that he could be stripped of belt]. My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too."
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Serhii Bohachuk. The 35 year-old son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has won six of his last seven bouts, with the lone defeat coming against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last December. He also owns a 2024 decision victory over former champion Daniel Jacobs. Bentley won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and was subsequently elevated to full champion as Zhanibek Alimkhnauly dealt with PED issues and decided to move up in weight. Bentley, a 31 year-old Londoner, previously challenged Alimkhanuly in 2022, losing a competitive unanimous decision.
SEPT. 30, 2026: On Tuesday, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. The WBO has has now received written confirmation from Herndanez that he accepts the terms and conditions of the purse bid and is ready, willing, and honored to proceed with the opportunity to challenge Bentley for the WBO middleweight championship. The WBO said it is still awaiting written confirmation from Bentley and his team that they will move ahead with the fight. (Failure to do so would mean he is vacating the title, but Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna).
SEPT. 29. 2026: In a purse bid held online from WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. Warriors, who promotes Hernandez, bid $200,000, which was the minimum bid. Warriors was able to win the auction proceeding for this low amount because Bentley's promoter, Queensberry, did not submit a bid. Warriors' proposed dates for the fight are December 12th or 19th with potential sites declared to be Phoenix, Orlando or Las Vegas. It will now be up to the boxers to sign the bout contracts once Warriors provides them. In the last WBO purse bid, Hamzah Sheeraz went thorugh the purse bid process but vacated his super middleweight title rather then sign for the amount yielded by the purse bid process. Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna, so it is possible he will vacate the WBO title rather than accpet this fight. Under WBO regulations, the winning bid in this case results in expected purses of $160,000 for Bentley and $40,000 for Hernandez (but it is possible Warriors and Hernandez have a private agreement for a different amount to Hernandez).
SEPT 23, 2026: The WBO World Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for the WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley to make a mandatory defense againsy Yoenli Hernandez. The purse bid is scheduled for September 29th, with the parties free to reach a deal before then. However, it was not clear whether Bentley would take the fight, as he was believed to be in negotiations for a unification fight with Aaron McKenna, the IBF champion. If Bentley refuses to fight Hernandez, he would be stripped by the WBO but could still pursue an IBF challenge vs. McKenna.
SEPT. 5, 2026: The WBO has ordered negotiations for a world title fight between its middleweight title holder, Denzel Bentley, and mandatory contender Yoenlis Hernandez. The news is a blow to 160-pound unification, as Bentley was in discussions to unify with IBF champion Aaron McKenna by year's end. The WBO's decision means that Bentley would likely be stripped if he elected to fight McKenna over Hernandez. The news broke through a September 2nd letter to representatives of both fighters from the WBO World Championship Committee. The letter ordered the parties to begin negotiations for the mandatory championship contest and gave them 20 days to reach an agreement. But the WBO also directed both sides to confirm in writing within the first ten days that they are ready, willing and available to proceed with the bout. If Bentley and Hernandez (should Bentley agree to make the mandatory) are unable to reach an agreement, the fight can proceed to a purse bid. The WBO established a minimum bid of $200,000 and said either party may request the commencement of purse-bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation period. Bentley is represented by manager Martin Bowers, while Hernandez is represented by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
SEPT. 3, 2026: According to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, the WBO received a formal communication from Team Yoenli Hernandez requesting enforcement of the mandatory title defense rule against WBO middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley. Olivieri stated, "the WBO World Championship Committee will convene immediately to review the matter and issue its determination in accordance with the applicable WBO Regulations. Bentley was elevated to WBO middleweight champion after Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. Hernandez is a Cuban middleweight who last week secured a majority decision victory over Francisco Daniel Veron. Hernandez's offensive bursts proved to be the difference in that bout. While one judge scored it a 95-95 draw, the remaining two widely favored Hernandez with lopsided tallies of 99-91 and 98-92. With the win, Hernandez improved to 11-0 with 9 KOs.
JULY 22, 2026: [Cynics will say this is an "e-mail championship" but] the WBO World Championship Committee has officially elevated Denzel Bentley to WBO world middleweight champion following Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. The IBF title remains vacant, with a new champion expected to be crowned on August 8th at the 3Arena in a bout between Ireland's Aaron McKenna and Italy's Etinosa Oliha.
FEB. 23, 2026: In a very disappointing ruling for those who want to punish drug cheats in boxing, the WBO has ruled that its middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, can keep his title despite testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead of striping the boxer, as was expected, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension and a series of conditions that stop short of stripping Alimkhnauly of the championship. The decision follows positive “A” and “B” sample tests collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in November 2025, which forced Alimkhanuly out of a scheduled unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December. Although not a party to this ruling, the IBF is just as culpable, as it also continues to recognize Alimhanuly as its world middleweight champion. A WBO interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra was ordered to keep the division active during his suspension.
In a lengthy written decision issued by its World Championship Committee, the WBO confirmed that the tests were conducted by recognized anti-doping authorities and verified by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leaving no dispute about the presence of the prohibited substance. Under the organization’s rules, the case fell under a “strict liability” standard, meaning intent or explanation was irrelevant once a positive test was confirmed. Despite that framework, the WBO declined to impose its most severe sanction — vacating Alimkhanuly's title — and instead opted for what it described as a “proportionate” response.
The ruling suspends Alimkhanuly for one year, retroactive to December 2nd, the date of official notification of the adverse test. He is also required to submit to year-round random drug testing under a WADA-certified program at his own expense, complete an anti-doping education course, and provide certified test results directly to the WBO. When the suspension ends, he will not be allowed a tune-up fight; his first bout must be against either the WBO interim champion or the organization’s mandatory challenger.
The WBO framed the outcome as balanced and fair. Others will see it differently — as a decision that does not meaningfully penalize a fighter who failed a drug test, and does little to deter future violations at the highest level of the sport.
So what is the end result? Alimkhanuly remains recognized as a two-belt champion, retains his title status, and faces no financial penalty. The suspension is time-limited, a year in name but effectively only ten months, and the conditions imposed largely amount to monitoring and compliance requirements rather than punitive measures. For a confirmed doping violation that canceled a major unification bout and disrupted the middleweight division, the consequences are relatively light.
The committee justified its approach by citing Alimkhanuly’s status as a first-time offender and the absence of prior anti-doping violations. It emphasized proportionality and the legal and commercial interests tied to championship recognition. In effect, the WBO treated the case as a regulatory issue to be managed rather than a breach warranting the strongest available punishment. For critics, that distinction matters. A positive test for a banned substance typically carries the expectation of severe sporting consequences, especially for a reigning world champion. By allowing Alimkhanuly to keep his title and return after a defined suspension, the ruling sends a message that a confirmed drug violation does not necessarily lead to the loss of a championship. It should be noted that Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, which is clearly banned in international competitions but is legally available for purchase in Kazakhstan, Russia and a few other countries.
DEC. 5, 2025: After a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, the WBO World Championship Committee has issued a “show cause notice” to WBO / IBF middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The notice stated, "It has been formally reported that on December 2nd, the WBO received an official communication from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) concerning an alleged anti-doping violation arising from the testing protocol enforced by said agency in preparation for the scheduled WBO/IBF unified middleweight championships contest against [WBA champion] Erislandy Lara to be held in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th.According to the notice, the “A” Sample of [Alimkhanuly's] urine specimen, collected on November 15th, in Porter Ranch, California, allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance at an estimated concentration greater than the minimum reported threshold.
Unlike the WBC, which lately has been giving virtually no penalties to boxers who test positive for banned substances [Conor Benn and Subriel Matias come to mind], WBO policy is that "in the event any WBO champion tests positive for any banned substances, the WBO doesn’t need to demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part. It is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter their body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body."
Alimkhanuly was directed by the WBO to show cause within ten days of issuance of this notice, stating why disciplinary action should not be imposed pursuant to the applicable sections in the governing WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests and all relevant WBO policies; including but not limited to: a) declaring the WBO middleweight championship “vacant”; b) withdrawing WBO world champion status from Alimkhanuly; c) banning him from all WBO world and/or regional championship contests; d) suspending him sion from al WBO world and/or regional championship contests; and e) issuing any other rulings necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies and intent of the WBO.
Alimkhanuly's response may include supporting documentation, statements, legal submissions, or any other relevant materials he wishes the WBO to consider. Failure to respond within the prescribed period may result in disciplinary action being taken without further notice and/or hearing, including but not limited to the vacating of your WBO Championship title, effective immediately.
DEC. 3, 2025: WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez as part of a four-fight PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video this Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was pulled from the fight after failing a VADA anti-doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight will follow the pay-per-view opener between Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view is headlined by former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. The showdown between two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and WBC 130-pound champion O’Shaquie Foster will now serve as the co-feature. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.
DEC. 2, 2025: Janibek Alimkhanuly, the two-belt middleweight champion, has tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance just days before a scheduled unification fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Journalist Dan Rafael reported that the substance was meldonium, which is commonly used in Russia. Alimkhanuly, from Kazakhstan, holds the WBO and IBF titles. He reacted to this development by tweeting, "I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, which was scheduled for this Saturday, December 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The WBO acknowledged the positive test as follows: "The WBO has confirmed an adverse analytical finding for WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly from VADA testing ahead of his scheduled bout vs. Erislandy Lara. An internal investigation is now underway, and a show cause notice will be issued. No further comments will be made until the process is complete.
OCT. 16, 2025: The WBO has ordered a purse bid for a WBO middleweight elimination bout between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra. Bentley is from England and holds the British and European titles. At 21-3, he's won three straight since a 2023 loss to Nathan Heaney. Bentley also has a loss against reigning WBO / IBF champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The little-known Saveedra is from Venezuela and boasts a 17-1-1 pro record that includes wins over Isaac Hardman and Mikkel Nielsen and a draw with unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia.
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WBO strips Denzel Bentley
In the matter of Denzel Bentley, the WBO issued the following ruling: (1) Bentley's recognition as WBO middleweight champion has been withdrawn, effective immediately; (2) the WBO middleweight championship was declared vacant; and (3) there will be no automatic elevation of mandatory contender Yoenli Hernández to full champion status. Presumably, the WBO will require Hernandez to fight the leading available contender from the WBO rankings to determine the next champion. The current WBO rankings have Hernandez at #1, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. at #2, Tim Tszyu at #3 and Michael Zerafa at #4 and Tszyu just announced he will be fighting WBA champion Erislandy Lara next, so he is unavailable. With Hernandez a definite yes throughout this entire WBO process, it appears that the vacant title fight will fall to Hernandez vs. Zerafa. Bentley, who recently signed with Zuffa boxing, and has a fight scheduled this weekend vs. Shane Mosley Jr., but he retains the right to appeal the WBO's ruling.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 23, 2026: WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied Denzel Bentley’s appeal and required Bentley, as the WBO middleweight champion to make his next fight a mandatory title defense against Yoenli Hernández. "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT," wrote Olivieri. This presents a big problem for Bentley who is already booked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on a November 7th Zuffa show in London. The WBO required both Bentley and Hernandez to confirm their participation in the mandatory bout within 24 hours. Unless Bentley has an escape clause the Mosley bout, it appears he will be stripped of his middleweight title by the WBO.
OCT. 5, 2026: Zuffa Boxing announced on social media that WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7th at Copper Box Arena in London. Bentley has also signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Zuffa. The big question still to be resolved is whether Bentley's WBO world title will be at stake vs. Mosley or will he be stripped for failure to make his WBO mandatory title defense. Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) was ordered by the WBO to defend against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez, and Warriors Boxing won a purse bid for the bout last week. Bentley, however, is attempting to move forward with Mosley while retaining his title. "Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion," Bentley told Sky Sports News. "I know everything that's gone on online and all the rumours [that he could be stripped of belt]. My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too."
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Serhii Bohachuk. The 35 year-old son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has won six of his last seven bouts, with the lone defeat coming against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last December. He also owns a 2024 decision victory over former champion Daniel Jacobs. Bentley won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra in April and was subsequently elevated to full champion as Zhanibek Alimkhnauly dealt with PED issues and decided to move up in weight. Bentley, a 31 year-old Londoner, previously challenged Alimkhanuly in 2022, losing a competitive unanimous decision.
SEPT. 30, 2026: On Tuesday, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. The WBO has has now received written confirmation from Herndanez that he accepts the terms and conditions of the purse bid and is ready, willing, and honored to proceed with the opportunity to challenge Bentley for the WBO middleweight championship. The WBO said it is still awaiting written confirmation from Bentley and his team that they will move ahead with the fight. (Failure to do so would mean he is vacating the title, but Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna).
SEPT. 29. 2026: In a purse bid held online from WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Warriors Boxing Promotions won the right to promote a WBO middleweight championship defense by Denzel Bentley against mandatory contender Yoenli Hernandez. Warriors, who promotes Hernandez, bid $200,000, which was the minimum bid. Warriors was able to win the auction proceeding for this low amount because Bentley's promoter, Queensberry, did not submit a bid. Warriors' proposed dates for the fight are December 12th or 19th with potential sites declared to be Phoenix, Orlando or Las Vegas. It will now be up to the boxers to sign the bout contracts once Warriors provides them. In the last WBO purse bid, Hamzah Sheeraz went thorugh the purse bid process but vacated his super middleweight title rather then sign for the amount yielded by the purse bid process. Bentley has been linked to a potential fight with IBF champion Aaron McKenna, so it is possible he will vacate the WBO title rather than accpet this fight. Under WBO regulations, the winning bid in this case results in expected purses of $160,000 for Bentley and $40,000 for Hernandez (but it is possible Warriors and Hernandez have a private agreement for a different amount to Hernandez).
SEPT 23, 2026: The WBO World Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for the WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley to make a mandatory defense againsy Yoenli Hernandez. The purse bid is scheduled for September 29th, with the parties free to reach a deal before then. However, it was not clear whether Bentley would take the fight, as he was believed to be in negotiations for a unification fight with Aaron McKenna, the IBF champion. If Bentley refuses to fight Hernandez, he would be stripped by the WBO but could still pursue an IBF challenge vs. McKenna.
SEPT. 5, 2026: The WBO has ordered negotiations for a world title fight between its middleweight title holder, Denzel Bentley, and mandatory contender Yoenlis Hernandez. The news is a blow to 160-pound unification, as Bentley was in discussions to unify with IBF champion Aaron McKenna by year's end. The WBO's decision means that Bentley would likely be stripped if he elected to fight McKenna over Hernandez. The news broke through a September 2nd letter to representatives of both fighters from the WBO World Championship Committee. The letter ordered the parties to begin negotiations for the mandatory championship contest and gave them 20 days to reach an agreement. But the WBO also directed both sides to confirm in writing within the first ten days that they are ready, willing and available to proceed with the bout. If Bentley and Hernandez (should Bentley agree to make the mandatory) are unable to reach an agreement, the fight can proceed to a purse bid. The WBO established a minimum bid of $200,000 and said either party may request the commencement of purse-bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation period. Bentley is represented by manager Martin Bowers, while Hernandez is represented by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.
SEPT. 3, 2026: According to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri, the WBO received a formal communication from Team Yoenli Hernandez requesting enforcement of the mandatory title defense rule against WBO middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley. Olivieri stated, "the WBO World Championship Committee will convene immediately to review the matter and issue its determination in accordance with the applicable WBO Regulations. Bentley was elevated to WBO middleweight champion after Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. Hernandez is a Cuban middleweight who last week secured a majority decision victory over Francisco Daniel Veron. Hernandez's offensive bursts proved to be the difference in that bout. While one judge scored it a 95-95 draw, the remaining two widely favored Hernandez with lopsided tallies of 99-91 and 98-92. With the win, Hernandez improved to 11-0 with 9 KOs.
JULY 22, 2026: [Cynics will say this is an "e-mail championship" but] the WBO World Championship Committee has officially elevated Denzel Bentley to WBO world middleweight champion following Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s voluntary relinquishment of the title. Bentley, from the United Kingdom, has a pro record of 22-3-1. He won the vacant WBO interim belt by stopping little-known Endry Saavedra in April. Alimkhanuly, who also held the IBF title, tested positive for banned, performance enhancing substances, but unlike the IBF, the WBO did not immediately strip Alimkhanuly. The IBF title remains vacant, with a new champion expected to be crowned on August 8th at the 3Arena in a bout between Ireland's Aaron McKenna and Italy's Etinosa Oliha.
FEB. 23, 2026: In a very disappointing ruling for those who want to punish drug cheats in boxing, the WBO has ruled that its middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, can keep his title despite testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead of striping the boxer, as was expected, the WBO imposed a one-year suspension and a series of conditions that stop short of stripping Alimkhnauly of the championship. The decision follows positive “A” and “B” sample tests collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in November 2025, which forced Alimkhanuly out of a scheduled unification bout against Erislandy Lara in December. Although not a party to this ruling, the IBF is just as culpable, as it also continues to recognize Alimhanuly as its world middleweight champion. A WBO interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra was ordered to keep the division active during his suspension.
In a lengthy written decision issued by its World Championship Committee, the WBO confirmed that the tests were conducted by recognized anti-doping authorities and verified by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leaving no dispute about the presence of the prohibited substance. Under the organization’s rules, the case fell under a “strict liability” standard, meaning intent or explanation was irrelevant once a positive test was confirmed. Despite that framework, the WBO declined to impose its most severe sanction — vacating Alimkhanuly's title — and instead opted for what it described as a “proportionate” response.
The ruling suspends Alimkhanuly for one year, retroactive to December 2nd, the date of official notification of the adverse test. He is also required to submit to year-round random drug testing under a WADA-certified program at his own expense, complete an anti-doping education course, and provide certified test results directly to the WBO. When the suspension ends, he will not be allowed a tune-up fight; his first bout must be against either the WBO interim champion or the organization’s mandatory challenger.
The WBO framed the outcome as balanced and fair. Others will see it differently — as a decision that does not meaningfully penalize a fighter who failed a drug test, and does little to deter future violations at the highest level of the sport.
So what is the end result? Alimkhanuly remains recognized as a two-belt champion, retains his title status, and faces no financial penalty. The suspension is time-limited, a year in name but effectively only ten months, and the conditions imposed largely amount to monitoring and compliance requirements rather than punitive measures. For a confirmed doping violation that canceled a major unification bout and disrupted the middleweight division, the consequences are relatively light.
The committee justified its approach by citing Alimkhanuly’s status as a first-time offender and the absence of prior anti-doping violations. It emphasized proportionality and the legal and commercial interests tied to championship recognition. In effect, the WBO treated the case as a regulatory issue to be managed rather than a breach warranting the strongest available punishment. For critics, that distinction matters. A positive test for a banned substance typically carries the expectation of severe sporting consequences, especially for a reigning world champion. By allowing Alimkhanuly to keep his title and return after a defined suspension, the ruling sends a message that a confirmed drug violation does not necessarily lead to the loss of a championship. It should be noted that Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, which is clearly banned in international competitions but is legally available for purchase in Kazakhstan, Russia and a few other countries.
DEC. 5, 2025: After a positive test for the banned substance meldonium, the WBO World Championship Committee has issued a “show cause notice” to WBO / IBF middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The notice stated, "It has been formally reported that on December 2nd, the WBO received an official communication from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) concerning an alleged anti-doping violation arising from the testing protocol enforced by said agency in preparation for the scheduled WBO/IBF unified middleweight championships contest against [WBA champion] Erislandy Lara to be held in San Antonio, Texas on December 6th.According to the notice, the “A” Sample of [Alimkhanuly's] urine specimen, collected on November 15th, in Porter Ranch, California, allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance at an estimated concentration greater than the minimum reported threshold.
Unlike the WBC, which lately has been giving virtually no penalties to boxers who test positive for banned substances [Conor Benn and Subriel Matias come to mind], WBO policy is that "in the event any WBO champion tests positive for any banned substances, the WBO doesn’t need to demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part. It is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter their body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body."
Alimkhanuly was directed by the WBO to show cause within ten days of issuance of this notice, stating why disciplinary action should not be imposed pursuant to the applicable sections in the governing WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests and all relevant WBO policies; including but not limited to: a) declaring the WBO middleweight championship “vacant”; b) withdrawing WBO world champion status from Alimkhanuly; c) banning him from all WBO world and/or regional championship contests; d) suspending him sion from al WBO world and/or regional championship contests; and e) issuing any other rulings necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies and intent of the WBO.
Alimkhanuly's response may include supporting documentation, statements, legal submissions, or any other relevant materials he wishes the WBO to consider. Failure to respond within the prescribed period may result in disciplinary action being taken without further notice and/or hearing, including but not limited to the vacating of your WBO Championship title, effective immediately.
DEC. 3, 2025: WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez as part of a four-fight PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video this Saturday, December 6th from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was pulled from the fight after failing a VADA anti-doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight will follow the pay-per-view opener between Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and Shane Mosley Jr. for the WBC interim middleweight title beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view is headlined by former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking on reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. The showdown between two-division champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and WBC 130-pound champion O’Shaquie Foster will now serve as the co-feature. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.
DEC. 2, 2025: Janibek Alimkhanuly, the two-belt middleweight champion, has tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance just days before a scheduled unification fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Journalist Dan Rafael reported that the substance was meldonium, which is commonly used in Russia. Alimkhanuly, from Kazakhstan, holds the WBO and IBF titles. He reacted to this development by tweeting, "I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." Alimkhanuly vs. Lara, which was scheduled for this Saturday, December 6th in San Antonio, Texas. The WBO acknowledged the positive test as follows: "The WBO has confirmed an adverse analytical finding for WBO middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly from VADA testing ahead of his scheduled bout vs. Erislandy Lara. An internal investigation is now underway, and a show cause notice will be issued. No further comments will be made until the process is complete.
OCT. 16, 2025: The WBO has ordered a purse bid for a WBO middleweight elimination bout between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra. Bentley is from England and holds the British and European titles. At 21-3, he's won three straight since a 2023 loss to Nathan Heaney. Bentley also has a loss against reigning WBO / IBF champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. The little-known Saveedra is from Venezuela and boasts a 17-1-1 pro record that includes wins over Isaac Hardman and Mikkel Nielsen and a draw with unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia.
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Raito Kataoka moving up quickly at light flyweight |
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Raito Kataoka TKO9 Ar Ar Andales... Korakuen Hall in Tokyo served as the venue for an Ohashi Promotions show feturing three Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights. In the clash for the vacant OPBF light flyweight championship, Japan's Raito Kataoka (3-0) became the regional ruler after a strong performance against experienced Filipino contender Ar Ar Andales (19-3-3). Kataoka took control of the contest from the opening bell, showcasing exceptional footwork, sharp jabs, and quick combinations that effectively neutralized his opponent’s attack. At the end of the fifth round, all three judges’ scorecards reflected total dominance in favor of the local fighter at 50-45. Kataoka’s control continued in the second half of the bout thanks to a mix of body and head strikes. In the ninth round, following a brief exchange after an accidental clash of heads, Kataoka unleashed a combination that forced referee Shuji Tereyama to halt the action at 2 minutes and 56 seconds. The bout was officially supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Kazutoshi Yoshida, Koji Tanaka, and Gil Co serving as judges.
Shogo Tanaka TKO8 Sho Nogami... Meanwhile, the flyweight division delivered a dramatic twist in the mandatory championship clash between defending Japanese monarch Sho Nogami and contender Shogo Tanaka. Nogami (8-1) started strong, scoring an early knockdown with a left hook to the body followed by a right hand to the head. Controlling the opening rounds with rhythm and precision, the champion remained ahead on the scorecards after five rounds with identical scores of 48-46. However, Tanaka steadily increased the pressure, closing the distance and landing with greater impact. His perseverance paid off in the eighth round when he floored Nogami with a short right hand before launching a relentless follow-up attack that forced referee Tetsuya Iida to stop the contest at 1 minute and 26 seconds. With this spectacular comeback TKO victory, Tanaka (6-0-1) sealed an unforgettable performance to become the new OPBF flyweight champion. The match was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Tetsuya Iida refereeing and scorecards rendered by Koji Tanaka, Takeshi Okaniwa, and Katsuhiko Nakamura.
Toshiya Ishii W10 Ryuya Nihei ... Finally, in super bantamweight bout, Japanese titleholder Toshiya Ishii successfully completed the first defense of his regional crown by outpointing countryman Ryuya Nihei via unanimous decision. Ishii set the pace from distance behind accurate jabs, left hooks to the body, and crisp combinations, while Nihei attempted to respond with overhand rights and hooks from unorthodox angles. By the midpoint of the contest, open scoring showed the champion leading on two cards at 50-45, while one judge scored it 48-47 for the challenger. Maintaining relentless pressure down the stretch with body work and sharp one-two combinations, Ishii neutralized Nihei’s brave efforts through the final bell to secure the victory with official scores of 97-93 and 100-90 (twice). The bout was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Koji Tanaka refereeing and judges Kazutoshi Yoshida, Shuji Tereyama, and Tetsuya Iida scoring the contest.
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Raito Kataoka moving up quickly at light flyweight
Raito Kataoka TKO9 Ar Ar Andales... Korakuen Hall in Tokyo served as the venue for an Ohashi Promotions show feturing three Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights. In the clash for the vacant OPBF light flyweight championship, Japan's Raito Kataoka (3-0) became the regional ruler after a strong performance against experienced Filipino contender Ar Ar Andales (19-3-3). Kataoka took control of the contest from the opening bell, showcasing exceptional footwork, sharp jabs, and quick combinations that effectively neutralized his opponent’s attack. At the end of the fifth round, all three judges’ scorecards reflected total dominance in favor of the local fighter at 50-45. Kataoka’s control continued in the second half of the bout thanks to a mix of body and head strikes. In the ninth round, following a brief exchange after an accidental clash of heads, Kataoka unleashed a combination that forced referee Shuji Tereyama to halt the action at 2 minutes and 56 seconds. The bout was officially supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Kazutoshi Yoshida, Koji Tanaka, and Gil Co serving as judges.
Shogo Tanaka TKO8 Sho Nogami... Meanwhile, the flyweight division delivered a dramatic twist in the mandatory championship clash between defending Japanese monarch Sho Nogami and contender Shogo Tanaka. Nogami (8-1) started strong, scoring an early knockdown with a left hook to the body followed by a right hand to the head. Controlling the opening rounds with rhythm and precision, the champion remained ahead on the scorecards after five rounds with identical scores of 48-46. However, Tanaka steadily increased the pressure, closing the distance and landing with greater impact. His perseverance paid off in the eighth round when he floored Nogami with a short right hand before launching a relentless follow-up attack that forced referee Tetsuya Iida to stop the contest at 1 minute and 26 seconds. With this spectacular comeback TKO victory, Tanaka (6-0-1) sealed an unforgettable performance to become the new OPBF flyweight champion. The match was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Tetsuya Iida refereeing and scorecards rendered by Koji Tanaka, Takeshi Okaniwa, and Katsuhiko Nakamura.
Toshiya Ishii W10 Ryuya Nihei ... Finally, in super bantamweight bout, Japanese titleholder Toshiya Ishii successfully completed the first defense of his regional crown by outpointing countryman Ryuya Nihei via unanimous decision. Ishii set the pace from distance behind accurate jabs, left hooks to the body, and crisp combinations, while Nihei attempted to respond with overhand rights and hooks from unorthodox angles. By the midpoint of the contest, open scoring showed the champion leading on two cards at 50-45, while one judge scored it 48-47 for the challenger. Maintaining relentless pressure down the stretch with body work and sharp one-two combinations, Ishii neutralized Nihei’s brave efforts through the final bell to secure the victory with official scores of 97-93 and 100-90 (twice). The bout was supervised by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with Koji Tanaka refereeing and judges Kazutoshi Yoshida, Shuji Tereyama, and Tetsuya Iida scoring the contest.
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BKFC in Glasgow this weekend |
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Bare knuckle fighting comes to Scotland this weekend, with a BKFC show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday, live on The BKFC App. Light heavyweight (185 pounds) Conor “Da Crook” Cooke will headlined against undefeated Sean “The Butcher” Weir. From Ireland, Cooke boasts a 6-1 record. In the chief support, Danny “The Bastard” Christie returns to action, welcoming one of Scotland’s biggest mixed martial arts stars, UFC veteran Stevie “Braveheart” Ray to BKFC's squared circle. Also on the show, former World Wrestling Entertainment star Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani — known in wrestling as “Rezar” — looks to smash his way to 2-0 under the BKFC banner at the expense of the battle-tested Reece Heer.
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BKFC in Glasgow this weekend
Bare knuckle fighting comes to Scotland this weekend, with a BKFC show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday, live on The BKFC App. Light heavyweight (185 pounds) Conor “Da Crook” Cooke will headlined against undefeated Sean “The Butcher” Weir. From Ireland, Cooke boasts a 6-1 record. In the chief support, Danny “The Bastard” Christie returns to action, welcoming one of Scotland’s biggest mixed martial arts stars, UFC veteran Stevie “Braveheart” Ray to BKFC's squared circle. Also on the show, former World Wrestling Entertainment star Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani — known in wrestling as “Rezar” — looks to smash his way to 2-0 under the BKFC banner at the expense of the battle-tested Reece Heer.
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Mayweather announces Floyd vs. Floyd exhibition |
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Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather announced on social media that he will face Australia's Matty Floyd on December 19th in Bangkok. No additional details were provided concerning the rules, scheduled number of rounds or broadcast details, if any. Mayweather also indicated that the exhibition will serve as preparation for a potential showdown with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in February 2027, although any claims of Mayweather vs. Garcia should be taken with a grain of salt. "This is a lil tune up before me and Ryan Garcia lock up Feb. 2027," Mayweather wrote on Instagram. Matty Floyd is credited with a 15-2 record and fights around the light heavyweight division. But after a low-level loss, he has veered off the traditional boxing path, losing a 2025 bare knuckles fight to ex-super middleweight champ James DeGale and then winning a 2026 Misfits crossover exhibition against Anthony Taylor. Mayweather, age 49, retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record following his tenth-round stoppage of UFC star Conor McGregor. Since then, the Hall of Famer is reputed to be in financial difficutlies and has participated in a series of exhibitions against opponents from both inside and outside the boxing world. The December event is being promoted as "Australia vs. The World" and "The Goat vs. The Jedi," referring to the nicknames of Mayweather and Matty Floyd.
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Mayweather announces Floyd vs. Floyd exhibition
Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather announced on social media that he will face Australia's Matty Floyd on December 19th in Bangkok. No additional details were provided concerning the rules, scheduled number of rounds or broadcast details, if any. Mayweather also indicated that the exhibition will serve as preparation for a potential showdown with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in February 2027, although any claims of Mayweather vs. Garcia should be taken with a grain of salt. "This is a lil tune up before me and Ryan Garcia lock up Feb. 2027," Mayweather wrote on Instagram. Matty Floyd is credited with a 15-2 record and fights around the light heavyweight division. But after a low-level loss, he has veered off the traditional boxing path, losing a 2025 bare knuckles fight to ex-super middleweight champ James DeGale and then winning a 2026 Misfits crossover exhibition against Anthony Taylor. Mayweather, age 49, retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record following his tenth-round stoppage of UFC star Conor McGregor. Since then, the Hall of Famer is reputed to be in financial difficutlies and has participated in a series of exhibitions against opponents from both inside and outside the boxing world. The December event is being promoted as "Australia vs. The World" and "The Goat vs. The Jedi," referring to the nicknames of Mayweather and Matty Floyd.
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Collazo vacates WBO title; still holds WBA version |
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The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 20, 2026: With Oscar Collazo's flyweight title shot called off due to his injury, he must now decide whether he wants to return to minimumweight. Collazo holds both the WBO and WBA titles at minimumweight (105 pounds).The WBO World Championships Committee has formally ordered negotiations between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto (9-0) of Japan to fulfill the mandatory championship obligation and promptly terminate the interim championship status. Matsumoto becam einterim champion last month by defeating Russell Acosta Sivleira in a battle of unbeatens. Representatives of Collazo and Matsumto have fifteen days to reach an agreement. Should negotiations prove unsuccessful, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
SEPT 19, 2026: Puerto Rico's Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo, who holds two of the four world titles at miniumweight has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight title challenge due to a rib injury sustained in training camp. Collazo was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge another two-belt champion, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval, on October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to Collazo's promoter, Golden Boy, the show will proceed with undefeated lightweights Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield III (19-0, 13 KOs) and “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) meeting in the main event for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions said additional details concerning the October 10th undercard will be announced once confirmed.
SEPT. 15, 2026: The flyweight division takes center stage on Saturday, October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as Mexico’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval puts his WBC / WBA unified championship on the line in against undefeated minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, with the action broadcasting live worldwide on DAZN. Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) enters this fight ain his boxing prime. The Mexican warrior reached the summit last July after traveling to Japan and dethroning Kenshiro Teraji on his home turf. Coming in as the favorite thanks to his natural height, reach, and power advantages at 112 pounds, Sandoval aims to prove he remains the man to beat in the division. It won’t be an easy night, however, as standing in his way is Óscar “El Pupilo” Collazo. The Puerto Rican star, a WBO/WBA champion at 105 pounds, is making a daring jump up two weight classes to etch his name into the history books of boxing. He is moving up in weight after attempts to make a big fight at minimumweght fell through. Collazo relies on his speed, refined technique, and sharp precision to offset Sandoval’s physical strength in what promises to be an action-packed tactical battle full of explosive combinations. Collazo enters the ring with an unbeaten record.
JUNE 22, 2026: Oscar Collazo made an unplanned move up to flyweight and came away with a second-round knockout win over Neider Valdez. Collazo was originally set to defend his two minimumweight world titles against Joey Canoy, but visa issues stopped Canoy from entering the country. The resulted in Valdez being brought in as a replacement with the fight being held at 112 pounds instead of 105. There was a big gulf in class between the two fighters with Valdez being knocked down three times before he was pulled out of the fight by his corner in the second round.
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Collazo vacates WBO title; still holds WBA version
The WBO Championship Committee has received formal notice from Miguel Cotto Promotions that Oscar Collazo has relinquished his WBO 105-pound championship. Accordingly, the WBO canceled a scheduled purse bid for a fight between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto of Japan. Matsumoto is expected to be immediately elevated to full WBO minimumweight champion status in accordance with WBO Rule. Collazo remains the WBA minimumweight champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri commented on social media, "The doors will always be open for Oscar Collazo. All the best to Team Collazo going forward."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
OCT. 20, 2026: With Oscar Collazo's flyweight title shot called off due to his injury, he must now decide whether he wants to return to minimumweight. Collazo holds both the WBO and WBA titles at minimumweight (105 pounds).The WBO World Championships Committee has formally ordered negotiations between Collazo and WBO interim champion Ryusei Matsumoto (9-0) of Japan to fulfill the mandatory championship obligation and promptly terminate the interim championship status. Matsumoto becam einterim champion last month by defeating Russell Acosta Sivleira in a battle of unbeatens. Representatives of Collazo and Matsumto have fifteen days to reach an agreement. Should negotiations prove unsuccessful, the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
SEPT 19, 2026: Puerto Rico's Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo, who holds two of the four world titles at miniumweight has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight title challenge due to a rib injury sustained in training camp. Collazo was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge another two-belt champion, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval, on October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to Collazo's promoter, Golden Boy, the show will proceed with undefeated lightweights Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield III (19-0, 13 KOs) and “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) meeting in the main event for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions said additional details concerning the October 10th undercard will be announced once confirmed.
SEPT. 15, 2026: The flyweight division takes center stage on Saturday, October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as Mexico’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval puts his WBC / WBA unified championship on the line in against undefeated minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, with the action broadcasting live worldwide on DAZN. Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) enters this fight ain his boxing prime. The Mexican warrior reached the summit last July after traveling to Japan and dethroning Kenshiro Teraji on his home turf. Coming in as the favorite thanks to his natural height, reach, and power advantages at 112 pounds, Sandoval aims to prove he remains the man to beat in the division. It won’t be an easy night, however, as standing in his way is Óscar “El Pupilo” Collazo. The Puerto Rican star, a WBO/WBA champion at 105 pounds, is making a daring jump up two weight classes to etch his name into the history books of boxing. He is moving up in weight after attempts to make a big fight at minimumweght fell through. Collazo relies on his speed, refined technique, and sharp precision to offset Sandoval’s physical strength in what promises to be an action-packed tactical battle full of explosive combinations. Collazo enters the ring with an unbeaten record.
JUNE 22, 2026: Oscar Collazo made an unplanned move up to flyweight and came away with a second-round knockout win over Neider Valdez. Collazo was originally set to defend his two minimumweight world titles against Joey Canoy, but visa issues stopped Canoy from entering the country. The resulted in Valdez being brought in as a replacement with the fight being held at 112 pounds instead of 105. There was a big gulf in class between the two fighters with Valdez being knocked down three times before he was pulled out of the fight by his corner in the second round.
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Bormann retains her minimumweight title |
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Sarah Bormann W10 Chaima Bounouar... In Karlsruhe, Germany, local hero Sarah “Babyface” Bormann successfully defended her WBA 105-pound title, earning a split decision victory over Chaima Bounouar of Spain. The fight lived up to expectations as a closely contested matchup. The official scorecards reflected the judges’ differing views, with scores of 97-92 and 95-94 in favor of Bormann (22-1), while the third judge scored the bout 95-94 for Bounouar, who suffers her first pro defeat after seven wins. Bounouar came out with an aggressive approach, applying pressure and looking to target the German champion’s body with hooks. However, Bormann’s experience and precision proved decisive at key moments. The German used a consistent jab and effective lateral movement to neutralize her challenger’s advances and accumulate valuable points from mid and long range.
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Bormann retains her minimumweight title
Sarah Bormann W10 Chaima Bounouar... In Karlsruhe, Germany, local hero Sarah “Babyface” Bormann successfully defended her WBA 105-pound title, earning a split decision victory over Chaima Bounouar of Spain. The fight lived up to expectations as a closely contested matchup. The official scorecards reflected the judges’ differing views, with scores of 97-92 and 95-94 in favor of Bormann (22-1), while the third judge scored the bout 95-94 for Bounouar, who suffers her first pro defeat after seven wins. Bounouar came out with an aggressive approach, applying pressure and looking to target the German champion’s body with hooks. However, Bormann’s experience and precision proved decisive at key moments. The German used a consistent jab and effective lateral movement to neutralize her challenger’s advances and accumulate valuable points from mid and long range.
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Welcome to Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II fight week |
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Two years after their first match-up, Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will fight again, but now the stakes are sky-high, with the vacant WBC light heavyweight belt there for the taking. The setting for this encounter is the AO Arena on Saturday, November 7th, in Manchester, England. The title was vacated by David Benavidez to move up to cruiserweight and fight Michał Cieślak for that WBC title on December 5th. Hutchinson, who is nicknamed “Braveheart” and even more appropriately “The Hutch Train,” is brash and flash, which is the same way he fights, delivering quips such as: “For this one, I’m older, wiser, stronger, and handsomer. I need to put a wrong right, and if I’m right, I’ll smash him to pieces.”
Joshua, who graduated with a degree in management with sports science from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, is nicknamed “Just Business.” He declares: “With this rematch, something very important is on the line and I’m on board. I will get into the ring for everything, so I’m willing and I’m ready.”
Prior to turning pro in 2017, Hutchinson, from Carstairs in Scotland, won the European Junior Amateur Championship gold medal in 2014. Two years later, he won the Youth World Championships at middleweight. Joshua, who has lived most of his life in London, won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2016 and another bronze at the Olympics in that same year. He too turned pro in 2017. It’s been a steady and graduated climb to reach this point for him, including a fourth-round KO of Ezequiel Maderna and then defeating Craig Richards via decision in Riyadh, before fighting Joshua Buatsi.
Their first fight on September 21st, 2024, at Wembley Stadium—which Buatsi won by split decision—was a barn burner. Hutchinson glowed while throwing clusters of long-range hooks, while the sturdy and steady Buatsi met the onslaught with crunching body shots that assuredly sank in and took their toll. In round five, an accidental clash of heads left Hutchinson with a gash over his right eye. One round later, a hard right to his head was followed by a power-driver left to his midriff, and down Hutchinson went, badly hurt; but the bell saved him. Typical of the man and his superb condition, plus true grit, he fought back tenaciously.
But in round nine, another yet shorter left to his solar plexus found the exact spot. Hutchinson winced, gasped, and went down in great discomfort, but beat the count and yet again fought back with the fire of desire. In the championship rounds, he gained his second wind, and with it, momentum, while Buatsi seemed to be ebbing rather than flowing, noticeably tiring.
With the two knockdowns and the referee deducting one point from Hutchinson in round seven for a rash, foolish and reckless use of the head, it seemed like a clear win for Buatsi, but it ended up as a split-decision victory for him. In this fight, Hutchinson hadn’t been difficult to hit—clearly, he was too easy a target. But his desire and firepower were evident. Every time the tide turned against him, he surged back with ferocity.
Since that thrilling fight night, Buatsi has lost to ex-super middleweight champion Callum Smith and won a gruelling majority decision over Zach Parker. Hutchinson claims Buatsi has now seen better days and he’s spent. We shall see. Meanwhile, Hutchinson has stopped Mark Jeffers via a seventh-round TKO and won by decision over Ezra Taylor.
Hutchinson is still only twenty-eight with a record of 20-2, 14 KOs, while Buatsi is five years older with a record of 20-1, 14 KOs.
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Welcome to Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II fight week
Two years after their first match-up, Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will fight again, but now the stakes are sky-high, with the vacant WBC light heavyweight belt there for the taking. The setting for this encounter is the AO Arena on Saturday, November 7th, in Manchester, England. The title was vacated by David Benavidez to move up to cruiserweight and fight Michał Cieślak for that WBC title on December 5th. Hutchinson, who is nicknamed “Braveheart” and even more appropriately “The Hutch Train,” is brash and flash, which is the same way he fights, delivering quips such as: “For this one, I’m older, wiser, stronger, and handsomer. I need to put a wrong right, and if I’m right, I’ll smash him to pieces.”
Joshua, who graduated with a degree in management with sports science from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, is nicknamed “Just Business.” He declares: “With this rematch, something very important is on the line and I’m on board. I will get into the ring for everything, so I’m willing and I’m ready.”
Prior to turning pro in 2017, Hutchinson, from Carstairs in Scotland, won the European Junior Amateur Championship gold medal in 2014. Two years later, he won the Youth World Championships at middleweight. Joshua, who has lived most of his life in London, won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2016 and another bronze at the Olympics in that same year. He too turned pro in 2017. It’s been a steady and graduated climb to reach this point for him, including a fourth-round KO of Ezequiel Maderna and then defeating Craig Richards via decision in Riyadh, before fighting Joshua Buatsi.
Their first fight on September 21st, 2024, at Wembley Stadium—which Buatsi won by split decision—was a barn burner. Hutchinson glowed while throwing clusters of long-range hooks, while the sturdy and steady Buatsi met the onslaught with crunching body shots that assuredly sank in and took their toll. In round five, an accidental clash of heads left Hutchinson with a gash over his right eye. One round later, a hard right to his head was followed by a power-driver left to his midriff, and down Hutchinson went, badly hurt; but the bell saved him. Typical of the man and his superb condition, plus true grit, he fought back tenaciously.
But in round nine, another yet shorter left to his solar plexus found the exact spot. Hutchinson winced, gasped, and went down in great discomfort, but beat the count and yet again fought back with the fire of desire. In the championship rounds, he gained his second wind, and with it, momentum, while Buatsi seemed to be ebbing rather than flowing, noticeably tiring.
With the two knockdowns and the referee deducting one point from Hutchinson in round seven for a rash, foolish and reckless use of the head, it seemed like a clear win for Buatsi, but it ended up as a split-decision victory for him. In this fight, Hutchinson hadn’t been difficult to hit—clearly, he was too easy a target. But his desire and firepower were evident. Every time the tide turned against him, he surged back with ferocity.
Since that thrilling fight night, Buatsi has lost to ex-super middleweight champion Callum Smith and won a gruelling majority decision over Zach Parker. Hutchinson claims Buatsi has now seen better days and he’s spent. We shall see. Meanwhile, Hutchinson has stopped Mark Jeffers via a seventh-round TKO and won by decision over Ezra Taylor.
Hutchinson is still only twenty-eight with a record of 20-2, 14 KOs, while Buatsi is five years older with a record of 20-1, 14 KOs.
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Welcome to Baumgardner vs. Turhan fight week |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and ESPN announced the fight week schedule for Sunday's MVPW-07: Turhan vs. Baumgardner in Arlington, Texas featuring five championship bouts. The event is headlined by Turkey’s undefeated IBF lightweight world champion, the “Golden Turkish Warrior” Elif Nur Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs) vs. unified junior lightweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), who will step up to 135 pounds in a bid to become a two-division champion. This fight will be a ten rounder, although it will feature three-minute rounds. In the cofeature, Somali-British boxer and activist Ramla Ali (11-2, 3 KOs) will face New York’s undefeated Mikiah Kreps (11-0, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO and IBF super bantamweight world titles at 122 pounds. As part of the buildup, MVP will host three fight week events. Opening the week will be the open workout followed by the press conference and weigh-in, all at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. All fight week events will be free and open to the public to attend on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets for MVPW-07 are on sale at AXS.com.
On Thursday, November 5, the Open Workout will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, Skye Nicolson, and various undercard fighters, as well as a surprise open workout from a new, to-be-announced MVP athlete.
On Friday, November 6, the MVPW-07 Press Conference will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature the final war of words between Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, undercard fighters, and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian.
On Saturday, November 7, the MVPW-07 Public Weigh-In will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature all fighters and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian and will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The weigh-in will stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and the ESPN App.
On Sunday, November 8, MVPW-07 streams live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US and Sky Sports in the UK from College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The preliminary card will air on the ESPN App in the US and will begin at 5:15pm ET / 4:15pm CT, with the main card starting at 8:30pm ET / 7:30pm CT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US. The main card airs at 12:30am GMT on Sky Sports in the UK.
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Welcome to Baumgardner vs. Turhan fight week
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and ESPN announced the fight week schedule for Sunday's MVPW-07: Turhan vs. Baumgardner in Arlington, Texas featuring five championship bouts. The event is headlined by Turkey’s undefeated IBF lightweight world champion, the “Golden Turkish Warrior” Elif Nur Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs) vs. unified junior lightweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), who will step up to 135 pounds in a bid to become a two-division champion. This fight will be a ten rounder, although it will feature three-minute rounds. In the cofeature, Somali-British boxer and activist Ramla Ali (11-2, 3 KOs) will face New York’s undefeated Mikiah Kreps (11-0, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO and IBF super bantamweight world titles at 122 pounds. As part of the buildup, MVP will host three fight week events. Opening the week will be the open workout followed by the press conference and weigh-in, all at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. All fight week events will be free and open to the public to attend on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets for MVPW-07 are on sale at AXS.com.
On Thursday, November 5, the Open Workout will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, Skye Nicolson, and various undercard fighters, as well as a surprise open workout from a new, to-be-announced MVP athlete.
On Friday, November 6, the MVPW-07 Press Conference will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature the final war of words between Elif Turhan, Alycia Baumgardner, Ramla Ali, Mikiah Kreps, undercard fighters, and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian.
On Saturday, November 7, the MVPW-07 Public Weigh-In will take place at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas starting at 6:00pm CT. The event will feature all fighters and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian and will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The weigh-in will stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and the ESPN App.
On Sunday, November 8, MVPW-07 streams live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US and Sky Sports in the UK from College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The preliminary card will air on the ESPN App in the US and will begin at 5:15pm ET / 4:15pm CT, with the main card starting at 8:30pm ET / 7:30pm CT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US. The main card airs at 12:30am GMT on Sky Sports in the UK.
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New Hampshire's Fontanez working his way back from adversity |
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Michael "The Blessed Southpaw" Fontanez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) spent much of the past year fighting battles that had nothing to do with the opponent across the ring. An injury derailed his plans to headline a show in March. Without a fight on the horizon, financial pressures had him scrambling to make ends meet. Through it all, the unbeaten Nashua, New Hampshire middleweight kept training, determined to get back the momentum he had worked so hard to build. On Saturday, November 7th, Fontanez finally gets that opportunity when he faces Alfred Raymond (6-17-4) at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts. The matchup is part of Boston Harbor Fight Night 3, presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets can be purchased now at CESFights.com.
"It’s been a long year, but the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here," said Fontanez. "I’m ready to dominate and put on a show. I want to get back to my fundamentals and show why I’m on that level."
The return comes more than a year after Fontanez battled Esneiker Correa to an eight-round draw in September 2025. Seven months earlier, the southpaw scored the biggest victory of his career, stopping Ray Oliveira Jr. in the sixth round in February 2025.
The Correa fight provided a different kind of milestone. Faced with a late opponent change and a nasty cut during the contest, Fontanez discovered both the depth of his fighting spirit and the importance of sticking to his strengths. "I started off well. I was boxing great," recalled Fontanez. "Then, once I got cut, I thought, ‘I’ve got to knock him out.’ Next thing you know, I’m fighting his fight. That’s something you can only learn through experience."
Fontanez fought through the adversity to preserve his undefeated record, but left knowing that his next performance would require a more disciplined approach. "My heart got tested," said Fontanez. "Everybody knows me as the smiling pretty boy, but they saw that when it comes down to it, I’m willing to bang it out. I’m not afraid to go out on my shield."
Fontanez hoped to put those lessons into practice in March. Instead, a shoulder injury forced him to put his comeback on hold and confront the uncertainty of life away from the ring. "I ended up doing DoorDash and Uber Eats in a sling, just trying to make ends meet while still running in the mornings and training with one arm," said Fontanez. "People don’t know that part. It was humbling. There were times I was sitting in my car almost in tears, thinking, ‘What am I doing? I was supposed to fight in a main event.’"
Rather than allow the setback to demoralize him, Fontanez focused on what he could control. He logged miles on the road, trained around his limitations and began firefighter school with support from sponsor FireMed. He also assembled a new training team, working with lead trainer Gabe Galindo and adding Marc Gargaro at Nonantum Boxing in Newton, Massachusetts. With work, school and training competing for his time, preparation has sometimes meant late-night gym sessions followed by a 4am wake-up call. "You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do," said a resolute Fontanez. "It gives me a mental edge. I might be cranky, but it’s worth it."
Now comes the opportunity to show what that persistence has produced. Standing in his way is Raymond, a 36 year-old Rhode Island veteran whose record tells only part of his story. Raymond has tested a number of New England prospects. His experience and awkward style make him an opponent Fontanez refuses to overlook. "People might judge him by his record, but look at everybody he’s fought. The guy’s a dog," said Fontanez. "This is boxing. One punch changes everything. On any given night, it can be anybody’s night. I have to beat the guy in front of me before I look for bigger fish."
For his first appearance at Encore Boston Harbor, Fontanez intends to pair the toughness he displayed against Correa with the boxing skills that carried him through his first 12 victories. "I want to showcase my skills. I want to fight with my smarts instead of letting my heart take over," said Fontanez. "I’ve already shown that I have heart and that I can fight through adversity. Now it has to be a dominant performance. That’s what I’m expecting from myself."
A victory would put Fontanez in position to pursue the busy 2027 he envisions: four or five fights against increasingly demanding opposition, capping the year with a regional title. For now, however, his focus remains on Raymond and the supporters who have waited more than a year to see him back in action. "Thank you to everyone who shows up and buys a ticket," said Fontanez. "I know it’s not cheap. Life is hard right now, and every dollar you spend supporting me means a lot. I’m grateful, and I can’t thank you enough."
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New Hampshire's Fontanez working his way back from adversity
Michael "The Blessed Southpaw" Fontanez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) spent much of the past year fighting battles that had nothing to do with the opponent across the ring. An injury derailed his plans to headline a show in March. Without a fight on the horizon, financial pressures had him scrambling to make ends meet. Through it all, the unbeaten Nashua, New Hampshire middleweight kept training, determined to get back the momentum he had worked so hard to build. On Saturday, November 7th, Fontanez finally gets that opportunity when he faces Alfred Raymond (6-17-4) at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts. The matchup is part of Boston Harbor Fight Night 3, presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets can be purchased now at CESFights.com.
"It’s been a long year, but the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here," said Fontanez. "I’m ready to dominate and put on a show. I want to get back to my fundamentals and show why I’m on that level."
The return comes more than a year after Fontanez battled Esneiker Correa to an eight-round draw in September 2025. Seven months earlier, the southpaw scored the biggest victory of his career, stopping Ray Oliveira Jr. in the sixth round in February 2025.
The Correa fight provided a different kind of milestone. Faced with a late opponent change and a nasty cut during the contest, Fontanez discovered both the depth of his fighting spirit and the importance of sticking to his strengths. "I started off well. I was boxing great," recalled Fontanez. "Then, once I got cut, I thought, ‘I’ve got to knock him out.’ Next thing you know, I’m fighting his fight. That’s something you can only learn through experience."
Fontanez fought through the adversity to preserve his undefeated record, but left knowing that his next performance would require a more disciplined approach. "My heart got tested," said Fontanez. "Everybody knows me as the smiling pretty boy, but they saw that when it comes down to it, I’m willing to bang it out. I’m not afraid to go out on my shield."
Fontanez hoped to put those lessons into practice in March. Instead, a shoulder injury forced him to put his comeback on hold and confront the uncertainty of life away from the ring. "I ended up doing DoorDash and Uber Eats in a sling, just trying to make ends meet while still running in the mornings and training with one arm," said Fontanez. "People don’t know that part. It was humbling. There were times I was sitting in my car almost in tears, thinking, ‘What am I doing? I was supposed to fight in a main event.’"
Rather than allow the setback to demoralize him, Fontanez focused on what he could control. He logged miles on the road, trained around his limitations and began firefighter school with support from sponsor FireMed. He also assembled a new training team, working with lead trainer Gabe Galindo and adding Marc Gargaro at Nonantum Boxing in Newton, Massachusetts. With work, school and training competing for his time, preparation has sometimes meant late-night gym sessions followed by a 4am wake-up call. "You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do," said a resolute Fontanez. "It gives me a mental edge. I might be cranky, but it’s worth it."
Now comes the opportunity to show what that persistence has produced. Standing in his way is Raymond, a 36 year-old Rhode Island veteran whose record tells only part of his story. Raymond has tested a number of New England prospects. His experience and awkward style make him an opponent Fontanez refuses to overlook. "People might judge him by his record, but look at everybody he’s fought. The guy’s a dog," said Fontanez. "This is boxing. One punch changes everything. On any given night, it can be anybody’s night. I have to beat the guy in front of me before I look for bigger fish."
For his first appearance at Encore Boston Harbor, Fontanez intends to pair the toughness he displayed against Correa with the boxing skills that carried him through his first 12 victories. "I want to showcase my skills. I want to fight with my smarts instead of letting my heart take over," said Fontanez. "I’ve already shown that I have heart and that I can fight through adversity. Now it has to be a dominant performance. That’s what I’m expecting from myself."
A victory would put Fontanez in position to pursue the busy 2027 he envisions: four or five fights against increasingly demanding opposition, capping the year with a regional title. For now, however, his focus remains on Raymond and the supporters who have waited more than a year to see him back in action. "Thank you to everyone who shows up and buys a ticket," said Fontanez. "I know it’s not cheap. Life is hard right now, and every dollar you spend supporting me means a lot. I’m grateful, and I can’t thank you enough."
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Ortega wins interim belt via home-country majority decision |
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Eveling Ortega W10 Alma Meraz. ... The Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua, Nicaragua saw Eveling “La Colocha” Ortega (14-5) reach the pinnacle of her career with a majority decision victory over Mexico’s Alma “La Leona” Meraz. The win brought Ortega the WBA interim light flyweight title. (Estefany Alegria Osorio holds the full WBA 108-pound championship]. The judges’ scorecards after ten rounds reflected the competitive nature of the bout. Two officials scored it 97-93 in favor of the hometown fighter, while the third judge had it even at 95-95, sealing Ortega’s victory to the delight of the local crowd. Meraz (12-5-2) looked to impose her aggressive Mexican-style pressure, cutting off the ring and targeting the body with tight hooks. Ortega, however, responded with a more tactical approach. She relied on superior footwork and mobility, countered with quick two- and three-punch combinations to the head, and used her left jab to escape dangerous exchanges whenever the visiting fighter attempted to trap her against the ropes. Down the stretch, fueled by the support of the crowd, Ortega picked up the pace in the center of the ring and traded punches at close quarters, securing the crucial rounds that ultimately swung the scorecards in her favor.
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Ortega wins interim belt via home-country majority decision
Eveling Ortega W10 Alma Meraz. ... The Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua, Nicaragua saw Eveling “La Colocha” Ortega (14-5) reach the pinnacle of her career with a majority decision victory over Mexico’s Alma “La Leona” Meraz. The win brought Ortega the WBA interim light flyweight title. (Estefany Alegria Osorio holds the full WBA 108-pound championship]. The judges’ scorecards after ten rounds reflected the competitive nature of the bout. Two officials scored it 97-93 in favor of the hometown fighter, while the third judge had it even at 95-95, sealing Ortega’s victory to the delight of the local crowd. Meraz (12-5-2) looked to impose her aggressive Mexican-style pressure, cutting off the ring and targeting the body with tight hooks. Ortega, however, responded with a more tactical approach. She relied on superior footwork and mobility, countered with quick two- and three-punch combinations to the head, and used her left jab to escape dangerous exchanges whenever the visiting fighter attempted to trap her against the ropes. Down the stretch, fueled by the support of the crowd, Ortega picked up the pace in the center of the ring and traded punches at close quarters, securing the crucial rounds that ultimately swung the scorecards in her favor.
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Jake Paul to box France's Cedric Doumbe |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that cruiserweight Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) will face multi-time kickboxing champion Cédric Doumbé (75-7-1, 45 KOs kickboxing; 6-1, 6 KOs MMA; 1-0 boxing) of France in a boxing showdown on Thursday, December 24th at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Paul vs. Doumbé will be an eight-round bout contested at 200 pounds with ten ounce gloves. An exclusive presale for PFL Dubai ticket purchasers will begin Friday, November 6th at 12 pm GST/9am CET. The kickoff press conferences take place Tuesday, November 10th in Paris and Thursday, November 12th in Dubai. Both kickoff press conferences will be free and open to the public, giving fans in Paris and Dubai the opportunity to see Paul and Doumbé face off ahead of their highly anticipated showdown.
The Christmas Eve matchup marks Paul’s first professional fight in Dubai and pits one of boxing’s biggest commercial attractions against one of Europe’s most accomplished and recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time Glory kickboxing champion and a PFL mixed martial arts contender, Doumbé brings elite striking credentials, championship experience and knockout power into the boxing ring. The matchup unites two athletes who have built their careers on high-profile performances, outspoken personalities and an ability to command attention well beyond their respective sports.
The event is being brought to Dubai through a cooperation agreement between MVP, Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), building on the city’s established relationship with PFL and a shared commitment to delivering world-class sporting and entertainment experiences. The partnership reinforces Dubai’s position as a leading international destination for major sporting events and represents another significant milestone in MVP’s global expansion following its merger with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Since making his professional boxing debut in 2020, Paul has become one of the sport’s biggest commercial attractions, headlining record-breaking events and drawing massive global audiences. His November 2024 showdown with Mike Tyson (age 59 at the time) drew 125 million Live+1 viewers globally on Netflix, while his December 2025 event against former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua drew 33 million Live+1 viewers worldwide. Throughout his career, Paul has faced high-profile opponents from across boxing and combat sports, earning victories over former MMA superstars Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz before defeating former boxing world champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in June 2025. His matchup with Doumbé adds another accomplished international combat sports star to that list.
Paul said: “Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. Well Douchebag, now you get your chance. I’m rusty, my jaw is janky and I don’t have kickboxing world titles like you do. But guess what, this isn’t kickboxing mon ami. This is boxing. Just like Usyk feasted on Rico Verhoeven, I am going to eat you for dinner in Dubai on Christmas Eve and have a Coca-Cola at the arena to celebrate. You like to talk a lot, so let’s see what you have to say in person at the press conferences next week in Paris and Dubai. To the proud people of France, excuse-moi for what I am about to do, but your son has been naughty and he’s going to get punished. To all the fans in Dubai and all of MENA…we are doing this and we are doing it big, like Dubai always does. I’m baaaaaccccccccck.”
Born in Cameroon and raised in France, Doumbé is one of Europe’s most recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time GLORY welterweight world champion with a 75-7-1 kickboxing record and 45 knockouts, Doumbé transitioned to MMA, recording six knockout victories in his first seven professional bouts. His explosive nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo in his September 2023 PFL Europe debut in Paris cemented his reputation as a sporting attraction in France. Known for his outspoken personality, showmanship and passionate following, Doumbé now returns to professional boxing to face Paul in a high-profile international showdown uniting two of combat sports’ biggest personalities.
Doumbé said: “Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he’s never faced a problem like me. He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of, and on Thursday, December 24th in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ for dinner. Jake loves to talk, and so do I, but after what Joshua did to his jaw, I’m not sure how much talking he has left. I’m going to finish the job Joshua started. Dubai is a special city to me, and on Christmas Eve, I’ll be waving le Tricolore over his unconscious body. France, this one’s for you.”
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, said: “This Christmas Eve, Jake Paul returns to the ring after a year of uncertainty about his jaw and boxing career. Well in typical El Gallo fashion, he’s charging all the way back in and facing a multi-time world kickboxing champion. Cédric Doumbé has been calling to fight Jake Paul for several years and the timing of this matchup makes perfect sense. Both men understand how to command an audience, and both have built careers by delivering when the spotlight is brightest. And nowhere is brighter than Dubai, one of the world’s most extraordinary cities, a global destination that has established itself as a leader in sports, entertainment and hospitality. Having spent my teenage years in Dubai, I am very grateful to be bringing an MVP event of this magnitude to the city I fell in love with as a boy. Thank you to Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism for their leadership and partnership in making this event possible.”
Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council was thrilled to have such a high-profile event at a perfect time in Dubai. “Dubai continues to strengthen its position as the world’s preferred destination for sport, bringing together exceptional athletes, leading promoters and fans from across the globe. Our growing calendar of major international events reflects both the city’s rising stature and thirst in global sport and the confidence organisers place in our ability to deliver outstanding experiences. Welcoming Jake Paul’s return to the ring adds another compelling occasion to that calendar. Through our collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Most Valuable Promotions, we look forward to delivering an event that captures global attention and reinforces Dubai’s ambition to shape the future of sport,” His Excellency Belhoul noted.
Dubai has established itself as a premier global destination for major sporting events and live entertainment, attracting world-class athletes, international audiences and fans from around the world. With its iconic skyline, world-renowned hospitality and reputation for hosting major international events, the city provides a fitting stage for Jake Paul’s highly anticipated return.
The event builds on PFL’s established presence in Dubai and the broader Middle East, where the promotion has staged major MMA events and developed relationships with regional partners. Through its previous events, PFL has helped introduce international audiences to combat sports in the UAE, providing a foundation for MVP to further expand its presence in the market. Paul vs. Doumbé represents a new chapter in that relationship, bringing together one of boxing’s biggest global stars and one of PFL’s most recognizable international athletes under the MVP banner.
Paul vs. Doumbé is sponsored by FanDuel, Fansly and Event Tickets Center and comes as MVP continues its global expansion following its merger with PFL, bringing together hundreds of elite athletes from around the world under one promotional banner. The combined organization operates across boxing, mixed martial arts, premium live events, athlete development and global media distribution, with a portfolio of leading combat sports properties and partnerships reaching audiences in more than 170 countries. The Christmas Eve event reflects MVP’s strategy of creating major international sports and entertainment moments by connecting established global audiences across different combat sports disciplines.
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Jake Paul to box France's Cedric Doumbe
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that cruiserweight Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) will face multi-time kickboxing champion Cédric Doumbé (75-7-1, 45 KOs kickboxing; 6-1, 6 KOs MMA; 1-0 boxing) of France in a boxing showdown on Thursday, December 24th at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Paul vs. Doumbé will be an eight-round bout contested at 200 pounds with ten ounce gloves. An exclusive presale for PFL Dubai ticket purchasers will begin Friday, November 6th at 12 pm GST/9am CET. The kickoff press conferences take place Tuesday, November 10th in Paris and Thursday, November 12th in Dubai. Both kickoff press conferences will be free and open to the public, giving fans in Paris and Dubai the opportunity to see Paul and Doumbé face off ahead of their highly anticipated showdown.
The Christmas Eve matchup marks Paul’s first professional fight in Dubai and pits one of boxing’s biggest commercial attractions against one of Europe’s most accomplished and recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time Glory kickboxing champion and a PFL mixed martial arts contender, Doumbé brings elite striking credentials, championship experience and knockout power into the boxing ring. The matchup unites two athletes who have built their careers on high-profile performances, outspoken personalities and an ability to command attention well beyond their respective sports.
The event is being brought to Dubai through a cooperation agreement between MVP, Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), building on the city’s established relationship with PFL and a shared commitment to delivering world-class sporting and entertainment experiences. The partnership reinforces Dubai’s position as a leading international destination for major sporting events and represents another significant milestone in MVP’s global expansion following its merger with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Since making his professional boxing debut in 2020, Paul has become one of the sport’s biggest commercial attractions, headlining record-breaking events and drawing massive global audiences. His November 2024 showdown with Mike Tyson (age 59 at the time) drew 125 million Live+1 viewers globally on Netflix, while his December 2025 event against former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua drew 33 million Live+1 viewers worldwide. Throughout his career, Paul has faced high-profile opponents from across boxing and combat sports, earning victories over former MMA superstars Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz before defeating former boxing world champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in June 2025. His matchup with Doumbé adds another accomplished international combat sports star to that list.
Paul said: “Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. Well Douchebag, now you get your chance. I’m rusty, my jaw is janky and I don’t have kickboxing world titles like you do. But guess what, this isn’t kickboxing mon ami. This is boxing. Just like Usyk feasted on Rico Verhoeven, I am going to eat you for dinner in Dubai on Christmas Eve and have a Coca-Cola at the arena to celebrate. You like to talk a lot, so let’s see what you have to say in person at the press conferences next week in Paris and Dubai. To the proud people of France, excuse-moi for what I am about to do, but your son has been naughty and he’s going to get punished. To all the fans in Dubai and all of MENA…we are doing this and we are doing it big, like Dubai always does. I’m baaaaaccccccccck.”
Born in Cameroon and raised in France, Doumbé is one of Europe’s most recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time GLORY welterweight world champion with a 75-7-1 kickboxing record and 45 knockouts, Doumbé transitioned to MMA, recording six knockout victories in his first seven professional bouts. His explosive nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo in his September 2023 PFL Europe debut in Paris cemented his reputation as a sporting attraction in France. Known for his outspoken personality, showmanship and passionate following, Doumbé now returns to professional boxing to face Paul in a high-profile international showdown uniting two of combat sports’ biggest personalities.
Doumbé said: “Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he’s never faced a problem like me. He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of, and on Thursday, December 24th in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ for dinner. Jake loves to talk, and so do I, but after what Joshua did to his jaw, I’m not sure how much talking he has left. I’m going to finish the job Joshua started. Dubai is a special city to me, and on Christmas Eve, I’ll be waving le Tricolore over his unconscious body. France, this one’s for you.”
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, said: “This Christmas Eve, Jake Paul returns to the ring after a year of uncertainty about his jaw and boxing career. Well in typical El Gallo fashion, he’s charging all the way back in and facing a multi-time world kickboxing champion. Cédric Doumbé has been calling to fight Jake Paul for several years and the timing of this matchup makes perfect sense. Both men understand how to command an audience, and both have built careers by delivering when the spotlight is brightest. And nowhere is brighter than Dubai, one of the world’s most extraordinary cities, a global destination that has established itself as a leader in sports, entertainment and hospitality. Having spent my teenage years in Dubai, I am very grateful to be bringing an MVP event of this magnitude to the city I fell in love with as a boy. Thank you to Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism for their leadership and partnership in making this event possible.”
Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council was thrilled to have such a high-profile event at a perfect time in Dubai. “Dubai continues to strengthen its position as the world’s preferred destination for sport, bringing together exceptional athletes, leading promoters and fans from across the globe. Our growing calendar of major international events reflects both the city’s rising stature and thirst in global sport and the confidence organisers place in our ability to deliver outstanding experiences. Welcoming Jake Paul’s return to the ring adds another compelling occasion to that calendar. Through our collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Most Valuable Promotions, we look forward to delivering an event that captures global attention and reinforces Dubai’s ambition to shape the future of sport,” His Excellency Belhoul noted.
Dubai has established itself as a premier global destination for major sporting events and live entertainment, attracting world-class athletes, international audiences and fans from around the world. With its iconic skyline, world-renowned hospitality and reputation for hosting major international events, the city provides a fitting stage for Jake Paul’s highly anticipated return.
The event builds on PFL’s established presence in Dubai and the broader Middle East, where the promotion has staged major MMA events and developed relationships with regional partners. Through its previous events, PFL has helped introduce international audiences to combat sports in the UAE, providing a foundation for MVP to further expand its presence in the market. Paul vs. Doumbé represents a new chapter in that relationship, bringing together one of boxing’s biggest global stars and one of PFL’s most recognizable international athletes under the MVP banner.
Paul vs. Doumbé is sponsored by FanDuel, Fansly and Event Tickets Center and comes as MVP continues its global expansion following its merger with PFL, bringing together hundreds of elite athletes from around the world under one promotional banner. The combined organization operates across boxing, mixed martial arts, premium live events, athlete development and global media distribution, with a portfolio of leading combat sports properties and partnerships reaching audiences in more than 170 countries. The Christmas Eve event reflects MVP’s strategy of creating major international sports and entertainment moments by connecting established global audiences across different combat sports disciplines.
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Azim to face Gollaz Valenzuela in eliminator |
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Great Britain's Adam Azim faces the biggest test of his career when he takes on Mexico’s Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in an IBF junior welterweight eliminator on Friday, December 4th at the Copper Box Arena in London. At just 24 years old, Azim has established himself as one of Brtiain's brightest young stars. This fight follows a third-round stoppage victory over Steve Claggett in May. Standing in his way is the battle-hardened Valenzuela, a dangerous Mexican who is 32-5-1 overall but has split his last four fights. Valenzuela went toe-to-toe with former champion Subriel Matías in March last year before suffering a controversial split-decision defeat to fellow Mexican Lindolfo Delgado in another IBF world title eliminator in November. The 32-year old from Guadalajara is no stranger to fighting on British soil, having defeated Azim’s former stablemate Robbie Davies Jr. in London in February 2021.
Azim vs Valenzuela will be broadcast globally, with DAZN confirmed as the international broadcast partner and the free-to-air broadcast partner for the UK and Ireland set to be announced shortly.
Azim said: “This is the biggest fight of my career. I’ve put in the hard work to get to this position and now it’s time to show everyone what I can do. Valenzuela is a tough, experienced fighter and I’m preparing for the very best version of him. I know what’s at stake and I’m ready to deliver. My dream has always been to become world champion. This is the final test standing between me and that opportunity, and I’m not going to let anything get in my way.”
Gollaz Valenzuela said: “This is a massive opportunity for me. Adam Azim is a talented young fighter with a big future, but he has never faced anyone like me before. I’ve shared the ring with some of the best fighters in the world and that experience will make the difference on fight night. I know what it takes to compete at this level and I’m ready to show everyone what I can do. I’m coming to London to win. Victory will be coming home to Mexico with me.”
Boxxer Founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “This is a huge moment in Adam Azim’s career and a massive opportunity for him to take another step towards becoming world champion. Adam has established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in world boxing, but this is a serious test. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela is a dangerous, experienced opponent who has competed at the highest level and will be coming to London determined to secure his own world title opportunity. We’ve always believed Adam has the talent to become a superstar of the sport, and now he has the chance to prove he belongs among the very best in the division.”
Fans can look forward to a stacked undercard at the Copper Box Arena, featuring some of British boxing’s most exciting talents looking to make their mark on the sport’s biggest stage.
Francesca Hennessy, one of the brightest young stars in women’s boxing, continues her meteoric rise as she faces France’s unbeaten Johanna Wonyou for the WBC interim bantamweight title.
In a battle of unbeaten welterweights, Elliot Whale and Bobby Faulkner put their perfect records on the line.
Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke returns to action, while unbeaten Hassan Azim, the older brother of headliner Adam Azim, faces undefeated Ruben Torres.
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Azim to face Gollaz Valenzuela in eliminator
Great Britain's Adam Azim faces the biggest test of his career when he takes on Mexico’s Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in an IBF junior welterweight eliminator on Friday, December 4th at the Copper Box Arena in London. At just 24 years old, Azim has established himself as one of Brtiain's brightest young stars. This fight follows a third-round stoppage victory over Steve Claggett in May. Standing in his way is the battle-hardened Valenzuela, a dangerous Mexican who is 32-5-1 overall but has split his last four fights. Valenzuela went toe-to-toe with former champion Subriel Matías in March last year before suffering a controversial split-decision defeat to fellow Mexican Lindolfo Delgado in another IBF world title eliminator in November. The 32-year old from Guadalajara is no stranger to fighting on British soil, having defeated Azim’s former stablemate Robbie Davies Jr. in London in February 2021.
Azim vs Valenzuela will be broadcast globally, with DAZN confirmed as the international broadcast partner and the free-to-air broadcast partner for the UK and Ireland set to be announced shortly.
Azim said: “This is the biggest fight of my career. I’ve put in the hard work to get to this position and now it’s time to show everyone what I can do. Valenzuela is a tough, experienced fighter and I’m preparing for the very best version of him. I know what’s at stake and I’m ready to deliver. My dream has always been to become world champion. This is the final test standing between me and that opportunity, and I’m not going to let anything get in my way.”
Gollaz Valenzuela said: “This is a massive opportunity for me. Adam Azim is a talented young fighter with a big future, but he has never faced anyone like me before. I’ve shared the ring with some of the best fighters in the world and that experience will make the difference on fight night. I know what it takes to compete at this level and I’m ready to show everyone what I can do. I’m coming to London to win. Victory will be coming home to Mexico with me.”
Boxxer Founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “This is a huge moment in Adam Azim’s career and a massive opportunity for him to take another step towards becoming world champion. Adam has established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in world boxing, but this is a serious test. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela is a dangerous, experienced opponent who has competed at the highest level and will be coming to London determined to secure his own world title opportunity. We’ve always believed Adam has the talent to become a superstar of the sport, and now he has the chance to prove he belongs among the very best in the division.”
Fans can look forward to a stacked undercard at the Copper Box Arena, featuring some of British boxing’s most exciting talents looking to make their mark on the sport’s biggest stage.
Francesca Hennessy, one of the brightest young stars in women’s boxing, continues her meteoric rise as she faces France’s unbeaten Johanna Wonyou for the WBC interim bantamweight title.
In a battle of unbeaten welterweights, Elliot Whale and Bobby Faulkner put their perfect records on the line.
Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke returns to action, while unbeaten Hassan Azim, the older brother of headliner Adam Azim, faces undefeated Ruben Torres.
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Connecticut Hall of Fame highlights |
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The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame celebrated its twentieth anniversary at Mohegan Sun with a sold-out gala event, as well as a new president, boxing judge Peter Hary Jr., taking the helm. The Hall had a record induction class this year, having raised the number of honorees from its standard six to eight this year. In addition, “we broke a record on the silent auction,” said Hary. “More than $4,000.” The 50/50 raffle saw an additional $1,000 in sales. Leading the inductees was the late Melio Bettina, 83-14 (36), a Bridgeport-born 1930s and ‘40s era light heavyweight who won the New York State Athletic Commission 175-pound title with a stoppage of Tiger Jack Fox at Madison Square Garden. Boxing judge Don Trella accepted the induction plaque for Bettina, noting that his family was unable to attend due to a family wedding.
Also inducted were New England promoter Rich Cappiello, a second cousin of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano; the late timekeeper Lou Dell “At the Bell”; referee Ken Ezzo, who has worked nearly 400 pro bouts; former heavyweight contender Fernely Feliz Sr, who now runs Champs Boxing Club in Danbury; Brooklyn-native turned Bridgeport resident Joey Negron, who defeated Cappiello’s brother, Mike Cappiello, in the early 1990s to win the USA New England 130-pound title; New London-based trainer Kent Ward, who established a successful program called Championship Rounds, which helps individuals with disabilities like Parkinson’s Disease; and Luis Rosa Sr., who ran Boxing In Faith Gym (BIF) in New Haven’s Fair Haven section for years.
After the death of his professional boxer son, Luis Rosa Jr., in a 2018 auto accident, Rosa and his wife Marilyn opened a new gym in nearby East Haven called KO King Boxing and Fitness, which pays tribute to their son, Luis Rosa, Jr., and features his image on the gym’s sign out front. Rosa uses faith-based principles in training, but admits he wasn’t always on the right path in life. He acknowledged this in his induction speech. “I didn’t want to be a boxing coach actually,” said Rosa, adding, “I wanted to make a lot of money and become famous, and very rich, but nor for the right reasons. My intentions were to become like a Godfather, a mafioso, but God didn’t allow me to do that. He took me down a different path. He took me out of the darkness.”
A humble man, Rosa said, “this award is not for me.” “This award belongs to my fighters,” he said. “Thank you my fighters for doing what you do, for listening to me, for obeying my instructions even when you didn’t want to. You guys are the ones that made me a Hall of Famer.”
Different generations of family members of Lou Dell “At the Bell” filled the stage for his induction. Jeff Ferone, Dell’s grandson, took to the microphone and listed various highlights of his life, such as serving in the United States Navy, and key aspects of a life in boxing. As a youth, he had more than 200 bouts in New England and New York areas. Ferrone said his grandfather loved to tell everyone that would a listen a story how George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins weren’t the oldest men to fight in Atlantic City. His grandfather, he said, has that distinction, because he was 82 “when he landed several blows on a mugger” when said individual grabbed Dell’s wife’s purse. Besides fighting at 82, Dell - a regular face at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods - remained a timekeeper until the age of 90. He passed away in 2007 at age 93.
Fernely Feliz, 23-9 (16), who fought the likes of John Ruiz and Oleg Maskaev during his career, may have been the crowd favorite with his outpouring of emotions, true happiness reflected in a joyful smile, and also sadness at times, reflecting on a brother that passed away last year at 50 and couldn’t witness Feliz’ special night. “He was a part of my journey,” said Feliz of Christian, who also served as a trainer at Champs Boxing Club. As he spoke about him, he couldn’t hold back the tears. “I promised I wasn’t going to cry,” he said, and added about his brother, “You’re always going to be in our corner.” Trying to compose himself, Feliz went on, “Wow. I’m so grateful. Boxing changed my life. Being around in Danbury, I remember coming from the Dominican Republic as a kid, no English. It was rough. I was bullied many times as a kid.” He added that boxing put him around so many good people. “That table over there, so many people that have come to support me,” he said. “I’ve got my friend from the Dominican Republic. I’ve got my whole crew here.”
He pointed out, among others, his wife, Iliana, his mother, his boxer sons, Ali Feliz and Fernely Jr., who is currently 8-0 (6) as a pro. “You know, as a coach, we have to go through some things,” Fernely Sr. said. “We have to be a coach, you need to be a psychologist. It takes a lot.” Then, pivoting back to his night of honor, he said, “Wow. I can’t believe that I’m here at this moment, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. Thank you so much.” When it seemed he was done, he continued on just a few minutes more, trying to extend his moment, his utmost career highlight.
“If the ref (who spoke before him) talked three hours (cracking the room up), I can talk a little more,” he said. “I’m going to start jumping rope.” He then mimicked skipping rope and began throwing combinations. “This only happens one time in life,” said Feliz. He wrapped up his time by noting he tells his sons, as well as other aspiring boxers, “If you want to be a great champion, you’ve got to put the work in, give everything you have. Don’t leave nothing behind.”
Ezzo was a longtime referee before more recently becoming a judge. His speech went about 20 minutes but the 400-plus in attendance were patient, as Ezzo spoke from the heart and tried not to leave anyone out who helped him along the way to this career milestone. He refereed more than 1,000 amateur bouts, went pro in 1992 and refereed more than 500 bouts in New England, New York and overseas. Ezzo is now a respected pro boxing judge with more than 400 bouts to his credit. There was a time in Connecticut, decades back, when officials were not plenty, where Ezzo was “the only referee for four years.” Included among the many Ezzo listed off in his speech were veteran pro referees Steve Smoger and Frank Capuccino. “They were not just friends. They were not just fellow referees. They were teachers,” said Ezzo. “They taught me the ins and outs of what it means to be a referee. And let me tell you, refereeing is an art. It really is. You don’t just go be a referee. You work at it. You’re in the gym. You’re watching films. You’re doing everything because it’s you out there.”
One poignant moment of Ezzo’s speech was when he thanked his ex-wife, Cynthia. “She was there for me for 20-plus years,” he said. “Every responsibility that I needed, she took it off the table. I didn’t have to worry about haircuts. I didn’t have to worry about getting my uniforms clean. Whatever I had to do, she was [right there], so I’d like to publicly thank her, because even though things didn’t work out right, it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what you’ve done. Thank you.”
Former USA New England featherweight and junior lightweight champion Joey Negron, originally from Brooklyn, NY, was a ball of energy during his induction speech. He began by noting there’s a lot of good solid boxers in every state, but not all can become world champions like Marlon Starling and Jose Antonio Rivera, who were seated out in the crowd. “There’s a lot of fighters that just don’t make it,” he said. “Whether it was due to injury, or because they have to go work for the family, or even addiction. It runs in the sport.” Negron, 14-7 (7), never won that world championship he may have desired, but he seemed to beam with pride when vocalizing that he’s “in the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame... I did what I had to do. I paid my dues in this boxing game,” he said. “Some don’t make it. I’m here today. I’m going to name some names.”
He said those in the crowd may have no clue who they are, but out of respect, he was going to mention them. After doing that, he gave props to all of the trainers out there, including the ones from Bridgeport’s Ortiz Boxing Gym that came to lend their support. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep making a difference. Keep helping these young kids stay in the gym…It’s not easy being a trainer. There’s a lot of time put in, and sometimes you don’t get back what you put in. So if you’re a trainer, thank you for your service.”
Trainer Kent Ward, out of New London’s Whaling City Athletic Club, was given an epic introduction by referee and boxing coach Johnny Callas. At one point, Callas said, “Look at this guy. 78 years young. It’s like he walked off the cover of GQ magazine. He’s a monster. Unbelievable. A true debonair.” Callas added, “And if you mention the name Kent Ward to anybody in New London, in Connecticut, in the Northeast, they will shower you with words of reverence, and references of greatness. Kent Ward. Legend. Cornerstone. Yoda. The G.O.A.T. The original heavy hitter. Community leader. Mentor. Work ethic. Moral compass. Respect for oneself. The Iron Man (as Ward was an iron worker). And my favorite, Sir Kent of Ward…” Callas added that what makes Kent Ward “royalty” amongst boxing coaches throughout Connecticut is “this compassionate strength for working with all ages of people, in all life circumstances, in helping better their lives through combat sports.”
Ward came to the podium noting, “Wow…That was an extraordinary introduction.” Like Callas, Ward said he believes in making individuals champions in life, not just champions in the ring. “If you make these young people champions in life and champions in the arena, that’s like the Super Bowl,” he said. “But if you have once choice, it needs to be champions in life. That’s forever.” He added, “that’s you taking care of your family. That’s you helping in the community. That goes on forever. A champion in the arena, that’s wonderful but if you’re not solid, and aware of all the things you need to do, like conduct yourself properly, then we’re not doing our jobs as coaches.”
Ward said his career in boxing has been “unbelievably rewarding.” “This has been a long run,” he said, adding, “It has been a very enormously rewarding life for me. To be involved in boxing, to be invested in boxing, to help as many people as I could help with the neurological disorder program, and everything that we have done since that time.” Ward also thanked his wife, a former physical education teacher at New London High School , for being very understanding of his efforts. “My wife had the finger on the pulse of what it took to help these kids,” he said. “So when I’m working overtime on jobs, coming home and going to the gym, she was doing homework with the kids, giving them dinner, eating dinner by herself, and never said a word to me, because she knew what it was all about…It’s been the most amazing journey with this woman.”
Promoter Rich Cappiello was taken aback by the induction gala turnout. He began his speech, “I thought there was going to be three or four tables. I walked into this (400-plus in attendance). I can’t believe it. This is quite an honor.” Noting that his second cousin, Rocky Marciano, always instilled in him and his brother Mike to “always work your hardest to be successful,” Cappiello said he always followed that rule. “I just gave 100 percent of myself, always,” he said. Cappiello noted some highlights of his career, which included the Mohegan Sun Fight Night USA boxing series and promoting the show on which Massachusetts-based Kevin McBride defeated former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Cappiello was also behind Micky Ward challenging Vince Phillips for the IBF junior welterweight title at The Roxy in Boston in 1997 and was matchmaker for the first two seasons of NBC’s The Contender. He later joined forces with Jimmy Burchfield to create a powerhouse promotional team. “Jimmy was one of the guys that when I started promoting, I paid attention to him,” said Cappiello. “He doesn’t know it, but I shadowed him for many, many years. I’d go to his shows and I’d watch what he did.” He added, “He totally motivated me to be successful in this business, cause this guy does it right, and that’s the way he is, and I love him for it.”
Cappiello also said he learned a lot from his partner Joe Lake. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years,” said Cappiello, adding about Lake, “I think he’s one of the smartest guys in boxing, and he’s one of the guys that really taught me everything I know in this business, and he’s currently working with me on this new project, doing the management thing.” He said the award should be half his and half Lake’s, because “without him and all the education I got from him all these years, I would never be up here tonight.”
Queried by BoxingTalk.com days later as to what the induction truly meant to him, Cappiello responded, “It just reminds me of all the hard work and effort that I put in to get in there that night. I do this for the passion of the sport. I truly love boxing like no other.” He added, “I feel I’ve mastered the game. I’ve done it all and to be recognized at that level was a great experience, something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
In addition to the inductees, seven individuals were honored for their achievements and dedication to the sport. Kamaree Kemp, fighting out of Manchester Ring of Champions Society, was recognized as The Roland Roy Amateur Boxer of the Year; Chordale Booker, 25-2 (13), was honored with the Marlon Starling (Professional) Boxer of the Year Award, multi-decade writer Kirk Lang received the George Smith Contribution to Boxing Award; Marilyn Rosa, wife of inductee Luis Rosa Sr., received the Amateur Official of the Year Award; Phyllis Roy -who took over USA Boxing (Region 1) following her husband Roland’s death eight years ago – received the William Hutt Official of the Year Award; Paul Cichon, founder of the Manchester Ring of Champions Society, was honored with the Brian Clark Trainer of the Year Award; and Marcky “The Fighter” Foster, who battled an embryonal tumor with multi-layered rosettes (ETMR), and passed in June ahead of his 5th birthday, received The Willie Pep Courage Award. Foster’s aunt and uncle accepted for him.
Hary, presiding over an induction gala for the first time – having been promoted from first vice president - said the event was “pretty flawless.” Famed boxing judge Glenn Feldman, the Hall’s founding president, who preceded Hary and attorney John Laudati, concurred. He said Hary “did a great job putting the event together.” Feldman added, “It was the first time in 20 years where I got to sit back and enjoy the night. The future of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is in great hands.”
Hary had a great support system. He told BoxingTalk.com, “ It was a spectacular evening celebrating the rich history of boxing in Connecticut. I couldn’t be happier with our dedicated Board of Directors. It takes a village to put on an event of this magnitude and everyone really stepped up. The Class of 2026 was a tremendous class. We really have our work cut out for us to top this one.”
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Connecticut Hall of Fame highlights
The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame celebrated its twentieth anniversary at Mohegan Sun with a sold-out gala event, as well as a new president, boxing judge Peter Hary Jr., taking the helm. The Hall had a record induction class this year, having raised the number of honorees from its standard six to eight this year. In addition, “we broke a record on the silent auction,” said Hary. “More than $4,000.” The 50/50 raffle saw an additional $1,000 in sales. Leading the inductees was the late Melio Bettina, 83-14 (36), a Bridgeport-born 1930s and ‘40s era light heavyweight who won the New York State Athletic Commission 175-pound title with a stoppage of Tiger Jack Fox at Madison Square Garden. Boxing judge Don Trella accepted the induction plaque for Bettina, noting that his family was unable to attend due to a family wedding.
Also inducted were New England promoter Rich Cappiello, a second cousin of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano; the late timekeeper Lou Dell “At the Bell”; referee Ken Ezzo, who has worked nearly 400 pro bouts; former heavyweight contender Fernely Feliz Sr, who now runs Champs Boxing Club in Danbury; Brooklyn-native turned Bridgeport resident Joey Negron, who defeated Cappiello’s brother, Mike Cappiello, in the early 1990s to win the USA New England 130-pound title; New London-based trainer Kent Ward, who established a successful program called Championship Rounds, which helps individuals with disabilities like Parkinson’s Disease; and Luis Rosa Sr., who ran Boxing In Faith Gym (BIF) in New Haven’s Fair Haven section for years.
After the death of his professional boxer son, Luis Rosa Jr., in a 2018 auto accident, Rosa and his wife Marilyn opened a new gym in nearby East Haven called KO King Boxing and Fitness, which pays tribute to their son, Luis Rosa, Jr., and features his image on the gym’s sign out front. Rosa uses faith-based principles in training, but admits he wasn’t always on the right path in life. He acknowledged this in his induction speech. “I didn’t want to be a boxing coach actually,” said Rosa, adding, “I wanted to make a lot of money and become famous, and very rich, but nor for the right reasons. My intentions were to become like a Godfather, a mafioso, but God didn’t allow me to do that. He took me down a different path. He took me out of the darkness.”
A humble man, Rosa said, “this award is not for me.” “This award belongs to my fighters,” he said. “Thank you my fighters for doing what you do, for listening to me, for obeying my instructions even when you didn’t want to. You guys are the ones that made me a Hall of Famer.”
Different generations of family members of Lou Dell “At the Bell” filled the stage for his induction. Jeff Ferone, Dell’s grandson, took to the microphone and listed various highlights of his life, such as serving in the United States Navy, and key aspects of a life in boxing. As a youth, he had more than 200 bouts in New England and New York areas. Ferrone said his grandfather loved to tell everyone that would a listen a story how George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins weren’t the oldest men to fight in Atlantic City. His grandfather, he said, has that distinction, because he was 82 “when he landed several blows on a mugger” when said individual grabbed Dell’s wife’s purse. Besides fighting at 82, Dell - a regular face at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods - remained a timekeeper until the age of 90. He passed away in 2007 at age 93.
Fernely Feliz, 23-9 (16), who fought the likes of John Ruiz and Oleg Maskaev during his career, may have been the crowd favorite with his outpouring of emotions, true happiness reflected in a joyful smile, and also sadness at times, reflecting on a brother that passed away last year at 50 and couldn’t witness Feliz’ special night. “He was a part of my journey,” said Feliz of Christian, who also served as a trainer at Champs Boxing Club. As he spoke about him, he couldn’t hold back the tears. “I promised I wasn’t going to cry,” he said, and added about his brother, “You’re always going to be in our corner.” Trying to compose himself, Feliz went on, “Wow. I’m so grateful. Boxing changed my life. Being around in Danbury, I remember coming from the Dominican Republic as a kid, no English. It was rough. I was bullied many times as a kid.” He added that boxing put him around so many good people. “That table over there, so many people that have come to support me,” he said. “I’ve got my friend from the Dominican Republic. I’ve got my whole crew here.”
He pointed out, among others, his wife, Iliana, his mother, his boxer sons, Ali Feliz and Fernely Jr., who is currently 8-0 (6) as a pro. “You know, as a coach, we have to go through some things,” Fernely Sr. said. “We have to be a coach, you need to be a psychologist. It takes a lot.” Then, pivoting back to his night of honor, he said, “Wow. I can’t believe that I’m here at this moment, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. Thank you so much.” When it seemed he was done, he continued on just a few minutes more, trying to extend his moment, his utmost career highlight.
“If the ref (who spoke before him) talked three hours (cracking the room up), I can talk a little more,” he said. “I’m going to start jumping rope.” He then mimicked skipping rope and began throwing combinations. “This only happens one time in life,” said Feliz. He wrapped up his time by noting he tells his sons, as well as other aspiring boxers, “If you want to be a great champion, you’ve got to put the work in, give everything you have. Don’t leave nothing behind.”
Ezzo was a longtime referee before more recently becoming a judge. His speech went about 20 minutes but the 400-plus in attendance were patient, as Ezzo spoke from the heart and tried not to leave anyone out who helped him along the way to this career milestone. He refereed more than 1,000 amateur bouts, went pro in 1992 and refereed more than 500 bouts in New England, New York and overseas. Ezzo is now a respected pro boxing judge with more than 400 bouts to his credit. There was a time in Connecticut, decades back, when officials were not plenty, where Ezzo was “the only referee for four years.” Included among the many Ezzo listed off in his speech were veteran pro referees Steve Smoger and Frank Capuccino. “They were not just friends. They were not just fellow referees. They were teachers,” said Ezzo. “They taught me the ins and outs of what it means to be a referee. And let me tell you, refereeing is an art. It really is. You don’t just go be a referee. You work at it. You’re in the gym. You’re watching films. You’re doing everything because it’s you out there.”
One poignant moment of Ezzo’s speech was when he thanked his ex-wife, Cynthia. “She was there for me for 20-plus years,” he said. “Every responsibility that I needed, she took it off the table. I didn’t have to worry about haircuts. I didn’t have to worry about getting my uniforms clean. Whatever I had to do, she was [right there], so I’d like to publicly thank her, because even though things didn’t work out right, it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what you’ve done. Thank you.”
Former USA New England featherweight and junior lightweight champion Joey Negron, originally from Brooklyn, NY, was a ball of energy during his induction speech. He began by noting there’s a lot of good solid boxers in every state, but not all can become world champions like Marlon Starling and Jose Antonio Rivera, who were seated out in the crowd. “There’s a lot of fighters that just don’t make it,” he said. “Whether it was due to injury, or because they have to go work for the family, or even addiction. It runs in the sport.” Negron, 14-7 (7), never won that world championship he may have desired, but he seemed to beam with pride when vocalizing that he’s “in the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame... I did what I had to do. I paid my dues in this boxing game,” he said. “Some don’t make it. I’m here today. I’m going to name some names.”
He said those in the crowd may have no clue who they are, but out of respect, he was going to mention them. After doing that, he gave props to all of the trainers out there, including the ones from Bridgeport’s Ortiz Boxing Gym that came to lend their support. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep making a difference. Keep helping these young kids stay in the gym…It’s not easy being a trainer. There’s a lot of time put in, and sometimes you don’t get back what you put in. So if you’re a trainer, thank you for your service.”
Trainer Kent Ward, out of New London’s Whaling City Athletic Club, was given an epic introduction by referee and boxing coach Johnny Callas. At one point, Callas said, “Look at this guy. 78 years young. It’s like he walked off the cover of GQ magazine. He’s a monster. Unbelievable. A true debonair.” Callas added, “And if you mention the name Kent Ward to anybody in New London, in Connecticut, in the Northeast, they will shower you with words of reverence, and references of greatness. Kent Ward. Legend. Cornerstone. Yoda. The G.O.A.T. The original heavy hitter. Community leader. Mentor. Work ethic. Moral compass. Respect for oneself. The Iron Man (as Ward was an iron worker). And my favorite, Sir Kent of Ward…” Callas added that what makes Kent Ward “royalty” amongst boxing coaches throughout Connecticut is “this compassionate strength for working with all ages of people, in all life circumstances, in helping better their lives through combat sports.”
Ward came to the podium noting, “Wow…That was an extraordinary introduction.” Like Callas, Ward said he believes in making individuals champions in life, not just champions in the ring. “If you make these young people champions in life and champions in the arena, that’s like the Super Bowl,” he said. “But if you have once choice, it needs to be champions in life. That’s forever.” He added, “that’s you taking care of your family. That’s you helping in the community. That goes on forever. A champion in the arena, that’s wonderful but if you’re not solid, and aware of all the things you need to do, like conduct yourself properly, then we’re not doing our jobs as coaches.”
Ward said his career in boxing has been “unbelievably rewarding.” “This has been a long run,” he said, adding, “It has been a very enormously rewarding life for me. To be involved in boxing, to be invested in boxing, to help as many people as I could help with the neurological disorder program, and everything that we have done since that time.” Ward also thanked his wife, a former physical education teacher at New London High School , for being very understanding of his efforts. “My wife had the finger on the pulse of what it took to help these kids,” he said. “So when I’m working overtime on jobs, coming home and going to the gym, she was doing homework with the kids, giving them dinner, eating dinner by herself, and never said a word to me, because she knew what it was all about…It’s been the most amazing journey with this woman.”
Promoter Rich Cappiello was taken aback by the induction gala turnout. He began his speech, “I thought there was going to be three or four tables. I walked into this (400-plus in attendance). I can’t believe it. This is quite an honor.” Noting that his second cousin, Rocky Marciano, always instilled in him and his brother Mike to “always work your hardest to be successful,” Cappiello said he always followed that rule. “I just gave 100 percent of myself, always,” he said. Cappiello noted some highlights of his career, which included the Mohegan Sun Fight Night USA boxing series and promoting the show on which Massachusetts-based Kevin McBride defeated former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Cappiello was also behind Micky Ward challenging Vince Phillips for the IBF junior welterweight title at The Roxy in Boston in 1997 and was matchmaker for the first two seasons of NBC’s The Contender. He later joined forces with Jimmy Burchfield to create a powerhouse promotional team. “Jimmy was one of the guys that when I started promoting, I paid attention to him,” said Cappiello. “He doesn’t know it, but I shadowed him for many, many years. I’d go to his shows and I’d watch what he did.” He added, “He totally motivated me to be successful in this business, cause this guy does it right, and that’s the way he is, and I love him for it.”
Cappiello also said he learned a lot from his partner Joe Lake. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years,” said Cappiello, adding about Lake, “I think he’s one of the smartest guys in boxing, and he’s one of the guys that really taught me everything I know in this business, and he’s currently working with me on this new project, doing the management thing.” He said the award should be half his and half Lake’s, because “without him and all the education I got from him all these years, I would never be up here tonight.”
Queried by BoxingTalk.com days later as to what the induction truly meant to him, Cappiello responded, “It just reminds me of all the hard work and effort that I put in to get in there that night. I do this for the passion of the sport. I truly love boxing like no other.” He added, “I feel I’ve mastered the game. I’ve done it all and to be recognized at that level was a great experience, something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
In addition to the inductees, seven individuals were honored for their achievements and dedication to the sport. Kamaree Kemp, fighting out of Manchester Ring of Champions Society, was recognized as The Roland Roy Amateur Boxer of the Year; Chordale Booker, 25-2 (13), was honored with the Marlon Starling (Professional) Boxer of the Year Award, multi-decade writer Kirk Lang received the George Smith Contribution to Boxing Award; Marilyn Rosa, wife of inductee Luis Rosa Sr., received the Amateur Official of the Year Award; Phyllis Roy -who took over USA Boxing (Region 1) following her husband Roland’s death eight years ago – received the William Hutt Official of the Year Award; Paul Cichon, founder of the Manchester Ring of Champions Society, was honored with the Brian Clark Trainer of the Year Award; and Marcky “The Fighter” Foster, who battled an embryonal tumor with multi-layered rosettes (ETMR), and passed in June ahead of his 5th birthday, received The Willie Pep Courage Award. Foster’s aunt and uncle accepted for him.
Hary, presiding over an induction gala for the first time – having been promoted from first vice president - said the event was “pretty flawless.” Famed boxing judge Glenn Feldman, the Hall’s founding president, who preceded Hary and attorney John Laudati, concurred. He said Hary “did a great job putting the event together.” Feldman added, “It was the first time in 20 years where I got to sit back and enjoy the night. The future of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is in great hands.”
Hary had a great support system. He told BoxingTalk.com, “ It was a spectacular evening celebrating the rich history of boxing in Connecticut. I couldn’t be happier with our dedicated Board of Directors. It takes a village to put on an event of this magnitude and everyone really stepped up. The Class of 2026 was a tremendous class. We really have our work cut out for us to top this one.”
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New Mexico action booked for Saturday |
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Cris Frizzell and Sarah Kazhe are putting together an exciting evening of professional boxing for Saturday night, November 7th, at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico. Dubbed "Saturday Nights IV," the card is set for six evenly matched bouts. "Apache" Jesus Ariel Moreno Arias (11-2-1, 8 KOs) will come in from El Paso, Texas to battle Yoruba Emilio Moreau II (3-0, 3 KOs) of Albuquerque, NM in a six rounder in the super bantamweight division. There will also be a a women's featherweight contest featured, with Ayanna "La Asesina" Vasquez (8-2-1, 1 KO) of Las Cruces, NM facing Colombia's Yeni Arias (2-0-1, 2 KOs) in a six rounder. Undefeated Rolyn Nez, Pedro Rodarte are Jack Banzoy Sambiaku are all set to compete in separate bouts. Tickets are available by going here www.innofthemountaingods.com. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will be the announcer.
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New Mexico action booked for Saturday
Cris Frizzell and Sarah Kazhe are putting together an exciting evening of professional boxing for Saturday night, November 7th, at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico. Dubbed "Saturday Nights IV," the card is set for six evenly matched bouts. "Apache" Jesus Ariel Moreno Arias (11-2-1, 8 KOs) will come in from El Paso, Texas to battle Yoruba Emilio Moreau II (3-0, 3 KOs) of Albuquerque, NM in a six rounder in the super bantamweight division. There will also be a a women's featherweight contest featured, with Ayanna "La Asesina" Vasquez (8-2-1, 1 KO) of Las Cruces, NM facing Colombia's Yeni Arias (2-0-1, 2 KOs) in a six rounder. Undefeated Rolyn Nez, Pedro Rodarte are Jack Banzoy Sambiaku are all set to compete in separate bouts. Tickets are available by going here www.innofthemountaingods.com. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will be the announcer.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo shines at IBA Africa Elites |
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Host nation the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed 17 of the 25 gold medals at the 2026 IBA Africa Elite Championships, which concluded at the Stade des Martyrs Gymnasium in Kinshasa on October 31st. The Congolese team won eight men’s and nine women’s titles, finishing with 24 medals overall. The result marked a major achievement for the hosts, who had finished runners-up at the previous two editions in 2023 and 2024. Cameroon and Zambia won three titles each, with Cameroon taking second place in the standings thanks to 14 medals overall. Congo-Brazzaville and Mozambique claimed one title each.
“These championships were a celebration of African boxing. DR Congo delivered on home soil in spectacular fashion, but every nation that reached the podium can be proud of what their boxers achieved in Kinshasa. The standard of competition shows that Africa continues to produce world-class talent, and IBA is committed to giving these athletes the opportunities they deserve,” IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE said.
Among the Congolese champions were Gloire Kolongo Bakora, who defeated Cape Verde’s Daniel David in the men’s 54 kg division, and David Tshama, who claimed the 75 kg title... Peter Pita Kabesi added another gold for the hosts in the men’s 92 kg category, defeating Uganda’s Emmy Abel Ebong by unanimous decision... Joseph Disashi Yenge also claimed gold in the 71 kg division, defeating Mauritius’ Mervin Clair following a bout review...
The women’s team delivered nine gold medals, including victories for defending champions Benedicte Diyoka and Merveille Mbalayi Mbamba. Diyoka defeated Congo-Brazzaville’s Benie Ndoudi Doudou in the 48 kg division, while Mbamba beat Senegal’s Maimouna Ka at 63 kg... Sarah Enduwa Mongayi also claimed gold for DR Congo, defeating Mozambique’s Alcinda Lucas dos Santos 4–1 in the 70 kg final.
Cameroon’s three gold medals included victories for Reine Loure Ngoune in the women’s 52 kg division and Odetie Nicole Moudjongue at 50 kg. Zacharie Mvogo Amouggou completed the country’s tally by defeating Angola’s Fransisco Kazima Kabasu in the men’s +92 kg final.
Zambia secured all three of its titles in the men’s competition. Mwengo Mwale won the 57 kg division, Albert Ngulube took gold at 60 kg and Gerald Kabinda triumphed at 67 kg.
Mozambique’s Rady Gramane claimed the women’s 75 kg title, defeating Cape Verdean Olympian Ivanusa Moreira in the final.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo shines at IBA Africa Elites
Host nation the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed 17 of the 25 gold medals at the 2026 IBA Africa Elite Championships, which concluded at the Stade des Martyrs Gymnasium in Kinshasa on October 31st. The Congolese team won eight men’s and nine women’s titles, finishing with 24 medals overall. The result marked a major achievement for the hosts, who had finished runners-up at the previous two editions in 2023 and 2024. Cameroon and Zambia won three titles each, with Cameroon taking second place in the standings thanks to 14 medals overall. Congo-Brazzaville and Mozambique claimed one title each.
“These championships were a celebration of African boxing. DR Congo delivered on home soil in spectacular fashion, but every nation that reached the podium can be proud of what their boxers achieved in Kinshasa. The standard of competition shows that Africa continues to produce world-class talent, and IBA is committed to giving these athletes the opportunities they deserve,” IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE said.
Among the Congolese champions were Gloire Kolongo Bakora, who defeated Cape Verde’s Daniel David in the men’s 54 kg division, and David Tshama, who claimed the 75 kg title... Peter Pita Kabesi added another gold for the hosts in the men’s 92 kg category, defeating Uganda’s Emmy Abel Ebong by unanimous decision... Joseph Disashi Yenge also claimed gold in the 71 kg division, defeating Mauritius’ Mervin Clair following a bout review...
The women’s team delivered nine gold medals, including victories for defending champions Benedicte Diyoka and Merveille Mbalayi Mbamba. Diyoka defeated Congo-Brazzaville’s Benie Ndoudi Doudou in the 48 kg division, while Mbamba beat Senegal’s Maimouna Ka at 63 kg... Sarah Enduwa Mongayi also claimed gold for DR Congo, defeating Mozambique’s Alcinda Lucas dos Santos 4–1 in the 70 kg final.
Cameroon’s three gold medals included victories for Reine Loure Ngoune in the women’s 52 kg division and Odetie Nicole Moudjongue at 50 kg. Zacharie Mvogo Amouggou completed the country’s tally by defeating Angola’s Fransisco Kazima Kabasu in the men’s +92 kg final.
Zambia secured all three of its titles in the men’s competition. Mwengo Mwale won the 57 kg division, Albert Ngulube took gold at 60 kg and Gerald Kabinda triumphed at 67 kg.
Mozambique’s Rady Gramane claimed the women’s 75 kg title, defeating Cape Verdean Olympian Ivanusa Moreira in the final.
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Alvarez makes history by starting a new reign |
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Canelo Alvarez W12 Christian Mbilli... Saul "Canelo" Alvarez added one more major accomplishment to his already illustrious career. The four-division champ and guaranteed Hall of Famer recaptured a piece of the world super middleweight champion by taking the WBC belt from Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 in favor of Alvarez. There wew no knockdowns in the fight but Mbilli was peanlized one point for rabbit punching in round eight. Thankfully, the deduction had no affect on the outcome of the bout. Mbilli (29-1-1) was not busy enough, in part because of Alvarez's counterpunching skills. Alvarez really shifted the tide of the fight in his favor from the sixth round on.
The 36 year-old Alvarez (64-3-2, 39 KOs) has won titles at 154, 160, 168 and 175 pounds. He unified the super middleweight division in recent years but hadn't fought since suffering a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Terence Crawford in September 2025. He followed that loss of his undisputed world championship by getting arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow. Meanwhile, Crawford retired after defeating Alvarez and Mbilli picked up the vacant WBC belt. In returning from the longest layoff of his career, Alvarez came right back against a champion without the luxury of a tune-up bout.
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Alvarez makes history by starting a new reign
Canelo Alvarez W12 Christian Mbilli... Saul "Canelo" Alvarez added one more major accomplishment to his already illustrious career. The four-division champ and guaranteed Hall of Famer recaptured a piece of the world super middleweight champion by taking the WBC belt from Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 in favor of Alvarez. There wew no knockdowns in the fight but Mbilli was peanlized one point for rabbit punching in round eight. Thankfully, the deduction had no affect on the outcome of the bout. Mbilli (29-1-1) was not busy enough, in part because of Alvarez's counterpunching skills. Alvarez really shifted the tide of the fight in his favor from the sixth round on.
The 36 year-old Alvarez (64-3-2, 39 KOs) has won titles at 154, 160, 168 and 175 pounds. He unified the super middleweight division in recent years but hadn't fought since suffering a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Terence Crawford in September 2025. He followed that loss of his undisputed world championship by getting arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow. Meanwhile, Crawford retired after defeating Alvarez and Mbilli picked up the vacant WBC belt. In returning from the longest layoff of his career, Alvarez came right back against a champion without the luxury of a tune-up bout.
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Munguia survives tough sixth round to decision Zon |
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Jaime Munguia W12 Nikita Zon.... Jaime Munguia retained his WBA super middleweight title in tougher than anticipated bout against Nikita Zon. After twelve rounds, judges sscored it 116-112 and 117-111 (twice), a unanimous decision in favor of Munguia. The champion, from Mexico, survived a nightmarish sixth round, but got it done in this harder-than-expected victory. Zon, who had Munguia on the ropes in that sixth, can only grow from here. Round six is being tabbed a round of the year candidiate. It appeared that Zon was on the verge of a huge upset as he repeatedly hurt Munguia, but the Mexican rallied to have huge moments of his own as the pair left every thing in the ring.
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Munguia survives tough sixth round to decision Zon
Jaime Munguia W12 Nikita Zon.... Jaime Munguia retained his WBA super middleweight title in tougher than anticipated bout against Nikita Zon. After twelve rounds, judges sscored it 116-112 and 117-111 (twice), a unanimous decision in favor of Munguia. The champion, from Mexico, survived a nightmarish sixth round, but got it done in this harder-than-expected victory. Zon, who had Munguia on the ropes in that sixth, can only grow from here. Round six is being tabbed a round of the year candidiate. It appeared that Zon was on the verge of a huge upset as he repeatedly hurt Munguia, but the Mexican rallied to have huge moments of his own as the pair left every thing in the ring.
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Zuffa books Adames for non-title bout in Riyadh |
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WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (pictured) will face Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton in a ten-round non-title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 14th. It will be contested at a contract weight of 165 pounds. Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) returns to action less than eight months after his dominant title defense against Austin “Ammo” Williams. That marked the third title defense for Adames, a native of the Dominican Republic, who is unbeaten in his last eight bouts. Warburton (18-2-2, 2 KOs) reignited his career in 2026, earning back-to-back decision victories over former British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney. The 31-year old from Colwyn Bay, Wales, is a former Welsh middleweight champion who has challenged for British and Commonwealth honors.
The ten-round bantamweight co-feature will see former champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (29-4, 20 KOs) of Australia make his Zuffa Boxing debut against Mexico’s Andres Teran (19-2, 14 KOs). Moloney has won two consecutive bouts in Australia to position himself for another championship run. Teran turned heads in June, knocking out previously undefeated Floyd Diaz in the sixth round.
Super middleweight contender Bruno Surace (26-1-2, 5 KOs), two fights removed from his Upset of the Year knockout victory over Jaime Munguia, takes on Poland’s unbeaten Kamil Bednarek (17-0, 10 KOs) in a ten-rounder.
In an eight-round tilt featuring unbeaten lightweights, Mexico’s Ivan Ortiz (13-0-2, 9 KOs) will battle Dariial Kuchmenov (10-0, 8 KOs). Ortiz upset the previously unbeaten Justin Viloria in his last outing, while Kuchmenov upped his KO streak to five with a fourth-round blitzing of Jorge Lagunas.
Middleweight Radzhab Butaev (16-2, 12 KOs) looks to get back on the winning track against Colombian puncher Alexander Castro (15-2, 12 KOs) in a ten-rounder.
Two of Uzbekistan’s top emerging talents – heavyweight Jakhongir Zokirov (2-0, 2 KOs) and light heavyweight Tullo Boymatov (1-0, 1 KO) – return following standout Zuffa Boxing debuts earlier this year. Zokirov stopped Zachary Spiller in two rounds, while Boymatov breezed past Caleb Hall in May.
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Zuffa books Adames for non-title bout in Riyadh
WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (pictured) will face Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton in a ten-round non-title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 14th. It will be contested at a contract weight of 165 pounds. Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) returns to action less than eight months after his dominant title defense against Austin “Ammo” Williams. That marked the third title defense for Adames, a native of the Dominican Republic, who is unbeaten in his last eight bouts. Warburton (18-2-2, 2 KOs) reignited his career in 2026, earning back-to-back decision victories over former British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney. The 31-year old from Colwyn Bay, Wales, is a former Welsh middleweight champion who has challenged for British and Commonwealth honors.
The ten-round bantamweight co-feature will see former champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (29-4, 20 KOs) of Australia make his Zuffa Boxing debut against Mexico’s Andres Teran (19-2, 14 KOs). Moloney has won two consecutive bouts in Australia to position himself for another championship run. Teran turned heads in June, knocking out previously undefeated Floyd Diaz in the sixth round.
Super middleweight contender Bruno Surace (26-1-2, 5 KOs), two fights removed from his Upset of the Year knockout victory over Jaime Munguia, takes on Poland’s unbeaten Kamil Bednarek (17-0, 10 KOs) in a ten-rounder.
In an eight-round tilt featuring unbeaten lightweights, Mexico’s Ivan Ortiz (13-0-2, 9 KOs) will battle Dariial Kuchmenov (10-0, 8 KOs). Ortiz upset the previously unbeaten Justin Viloria in his last outing, while Kuchmenov upped his KO streak to five with a fourth-round blitzing of Jorge Lagunas.
Middleweight Radzhab Butaev (16-2, 12 KOs) looks to get back on the winning track against Colombian puncher Alexander Castro (15-2, 12 KOs) in a ten-rounder.
Two of Uzbekistan’s top emerging talents – heavyweight Jakhongir Zokirov (2-0, 2 KOs) and light heavyweight Tullo Boymatov (1-0, 1 KO) – return following standout Zuffa Boxing debuts earlier this year. Zokirov stopped Zachary Spiller in two rounds, while Boymatov breezed past Caleb Hall in May.
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Garcia gives Mayweather last call |
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WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (pictured) seems poised to move on from a potential generation-spanning fight vs. Floyd Mayweather, even though Garcia was the one who was touting the match-uppublicly. Garcia tweeted, "Attention! Red Alert! Floyd Mayweather: you called me and wanted this fight and I agree this is a big fight. But I am fighting on February 6th regardless, so unless you actually make this happen then this fight is gone. You can go fight whoever but this is for a championship t]. I will take your 0 [undefeated record] with pleasure. Final warning... no more games let’s make it happen."
A little more than a week ago, Garcia claimed there was an agreement to fight the multi-division but 49 year-old champion, tweeting: "Trust me at first I thought this was bull***. But it’s real Floyd and I agree to a fight. 147 for the WBC welterweight championship of the world. 50-0 vs. the current champ."
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Garcia gives Mayweather last call
WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (pictured) seems poised to move on from a potential generation-spanning fight vs. Floyd Mayweather, even though Garcia was the one who was touting the match-uppublicly. Garcia tweeted, "Attention! Red Alert! Floyd Mayweather: you called me and wanted this fight and I agree this is a big fight. But I am fighting on February 6th regardless, so unless you actually make this happen then this fight is gone. You can go fight whoever but this is for a championship t]. I will take your 0 [undefeated record] with pleasure. Final warning... no more games let’s make it happen."
A little more than a week ago, Garcia claimed there was an agreement to fight the multi-division but 49 year-old champion, tweeting: "Trust me at first I thought this was bull***. But it’s real Floyd and I agree to a fight. 147 for the WBC welterweight championship of the world. 50-0 vs. the current champ."
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More results from Riyadh: Espinoza retains title |
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Rafael Espinoza TKO3 Ricardo Blandon... Rafael Espinoza, the WBO featherweight champion, stopped Nicaraguan journeyman Ricardo Blandon (21-7) in round three to retain his title. Espinoza opened a gash on Blandon's left eyebrow with DAZN reporting that the cut didn't look too bad. However, a ringside physician didn't see it that way, and instructed the referee to end the bout, giving Espinoza a third-round TKO. Espinoza is 29-0 but hadn't fought in eleven months. Predictably, he called out Naoya Inoue, the superstar who hasn't even fought as a featherweight yet. ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Reito Tsutsumi destroys Raymundo Rojas via second-round TKO; junior lightweights;
Carl Jammes Martin ekes past David Picasso in split decision; featherweights;
Sultan Almohammed dominates Erick Villegas by unanimous decision; lightweights;
Bek Nurmaganbet sleeps Marcos Vazquez via first-round KO; light heavyweights;
Emiliano Rojo overwhelms Flavius Biea with fourth-round TKO; super middleweights; and
Brayan Leon defeats Hector Aguirre via unanimous decision; super middleweight.
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More results from Riyadh: Espinoza retains title
Rafael Espinoza TKO3 Ricardo Blandon... Rafael Espinoza, the WBO featherweight champion, stopped Nicaraguan journeyman Ricardo Blandon (21-7) in round three to retain his title. Espinoza opened a gash on Blandon's left eyebrow with DAZN reporting that the cut didn't look too bad. However, a ringside physician didn't see it that way, and instructed the referee to end the bout, giving Espinoza a third-round TKO. Espinoza is 29-0 but hadn't fought in eleven months. Predictably, he called out Naoya Inoue, the superstar who hasn't even fought as a featherweight yet. ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Reito Tsutsumi destroys Raymundo Rojas via second-round TKO; junior lightweights;
Carl Jammes Martin ekes past David Picasso in split decision; featherweights;
Sultan Almohammed dominates Erick Villegas by unanimous decision; lightweights;
Bek Nurmaganbet sleeps Marcos Vazquez via first-round KO; light heavyweights;
Emiliano Rojo overwhelms Flavius Biea with fourth-round TKO; super middleweights; and
Brayan Leon defeats Hector Aguirre via unanimous decision; super middleweight.
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Mbilli: "I've been waiting five years for this" |
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This Saturday, WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli will finally step into the ring with Mexican legend and former multi-division champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Mbilli's promoter, Eye of the Tiger Management calls this the biggest fight in the history of a Quebec-born boxer. It will be broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view. Mbilli said, “I've been asking for this fight for five years, not because I want to face Canelo, but because I want to defeat Canelo. The world title is already in Montreal, but on October 31st, I'll be coming back with his title of the Face of Boxing!” The highly anticipated main event is scheduled for approximately 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time), with the first of the nine scheduled bouts getting underway at 10:00 a.m. on DAZN.
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Mbilli: "I've been waiting five years for this"
This Saturday, WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli will finally step into the ring with Mexican legend and former multi-division champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Mbilli's promoter, Eye of the Tiger Management calls this the biggest fight in the history of a Quebec-born boxer. It will be broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view. Mbilli said, “I've been asking for this fight for five years, not because I want to face Canelo, but because I want to defeat Canelo. The world title is already in Montreal, but on October 31st, I'll be coming back with his title of the Face of Boxing!” The highly anticipated main event is scheduled for approximately 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time), with the first of the nine scheduled bouts getting underway at 10:00 a.m. on DAZN.
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Mbilli and Alvarez hold final presser in Riyadh |
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Christian Mbilli and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the press conference ahead of their WBC super middleweight championship fight this Saturday, October 31st. Both the champion, Mbilli, and challenger, Alvarez, expressed confidence before a bout that represents an important moment in their respective careers. Álvarez, the fomrer multi division champ, requested an early start for the fight so children could go trick-or-treating on Halloween and, as his team predicted, celebrate a victory for the Mexican star. Mbilli expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and his team’s work. He said he had completed the best training camp of his life and was physically and mentally prepared to defend the WBC belt.
The champion voiced respect for Canelo’s career but made it clear that he expects to win on Saturday. He also promised surprises during the fight and said this was the opportunity he had been preparing for throughout his career. “Good luck. See you on Saturday,” was his final message to the Mexican challenger.
Mbilli's trainer, Marc Ramsay, thanked the hosts for their welcome in Saudi Arabia and emphasized that the team had completed an intense, injury-free camp. He said they were ready to deliver a great fight and secure the victory.
Canelo, meanwhile, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to continue competing after more than two decades as a professional. He thanked Mauricio Sulaimán and remembered José Sulaimán, acknowledging the important roles both have played in his career.
Canelo recognized that he enters as the challenger but said that, in his mind, he remains a champion. He explained that he prefers to face the best and challenge the reigning titleholder directly, believing that is the way back to the top. “See you on Saturday,” he said in his final message to Mbilli.
Alvarez's trainer Eddy Reynoso noted that the press conference coincided with the 21st anniversary of Canelo’s professional debut and asked for a round of applause for his fighter. The trainer said a victory would strengthen Álvarez’s place in Mexican boxing history and highlighted the significance of pursuing the Green and Gold belt again—the first world championship belt Canelo won.
The press conference also featured David Picasso and Carl Martin, who will meet in a featherweight bout. Picasso, the Mexican fighter, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and said being part of his team was both an honor and a responsibility. He stated that he intends to dominate the fight and bring the victory home to Mexico, showcasing the quality of his country’s boxing.
Martin expressed respect for Picasso but said he had come to win and was prepared to go the distance and deliver a spectacular fight. The presentation concluded with Canelo and Mbilli facing off to music from Rocky ahead of their battle for the WBC super middleweight crown.
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Mbilli and Alvarez hold final presser in Riyadh
Christian Mbilli and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the press conference ahead of their WBC super middleweight championship fight this Saturday, October 31st. Both the champion, Mbilli, and challenger, Alvarez, expressed confidence before a bout that represents an important moment in their respective careers. Álvarez, the fomrer multi division champ, requested an early start for the fight so children could go trick-or-treating on Halloween and, as his team predicted, celebrate a victory for the Mexican star. Mbilli expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and his team’s work. He said he had completed the best training camp of his life and was physically and mentally prepared to defend the WBC belt.
The champion voiced respect for Canelo’s career but made it clear that he expects to win on Saturday. He also promised surprises during the fight and said this was the opportunity he had been preparing for throughout his career. “Good luck. See you on Saturday,” was his final message to the Mexican challenger.
Mbilli's trainer, Marc Ramsay, thanked the hosts for their welcome in Saudi Arabia and emphasized that the team had completed an intense, injury-free camp. He said they were ready to deliver a great fight and secure the victory.
Canelo, meanwhile, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to continue competing after more than two decades as a professional. He thanked Mauricio Sulaimán and remembered José Sulaimán, acknowledging the important roles both have played in his career.
Canelo recognized that he enters as the challenger but said that, in his mind, he remains a champion. He explained that he prefers to face the best and challenge the reigning titleholder directly, believing that is the way back to the top. “See you on Saturday,” he said in his final message to Mbilli.
Alvarez's trainer Eddy Reynoso noted that the press conference coincided with the 21st anniversary of Canelo’s professional debut and asked for a round of applause for his fighter. The trainer said a victory would strengthen Álvarez’s place in Mexican boxing history and highlighted the significance of pursuing the Green and Gold belt again—the first world championship belt Canelo won.
The press conference also featured David Picasso and Carl Martin, who will meet in a featherweight bout. Picasso, the Mexican fighter, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and said being part of his team was both an honor and a responsibility. He stated that he intends to dominate the fight and bring the victory home to Mexico, showcasing the quality of his country’s boxing.
Martin expressed respect for Picasso but said he had come to win and was prepared to go the distance and deliver a spectacular fight. The presentation concluded with Canelo and Mbilli facing off to music from Rocky ahead of their battle for the WBC super middleweight crown.
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Bormann to defend her title this weekend |
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Karlsruhe, Germany will take center stage in the 105-pound division on October 31th, when hometown champion Sarah “Babyface” Bormann puts her WBA minimumweight world title on the line against undefeated Spanish challenger Chaima Bounouar (7-0). Bormann (27-1) is a disciplined boxer with a solid work rate who typically builds her victories by controlling distance behind her lead left hand and managing the rounds with veteran composure. The German champion will look to establish her rhythm from the opening bell, preventing the challenger from gaining confidence while dictating the pace with crisp, straight-punch combinations.
Across the ring, Bounouar faces the biggest challenge of her professional career. She arrives in Germany with the confidence, hunger, and momentum that come with an unblemished record. She knows there is little room for a cautious approach on the road. Her strategy will revolve around closing the distance aggressively, applying steady pressure to breach the champion’s guard, and targeting the body to wear down Bormann and limit her mobility in the middle rounds.
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Bormann to defend her title this weekend
Karlsruhe, Germany will take center stage in the 105-pound division on October 31th, when hometown champion Sarah “Babyface” Bormann puts her WBA minimumweight world title on the line against undefeated Spanish challenger Chaima Bounouar (7-0). Bormann (27-1) is a disciplined boxer with a solid work rate who typically builds her victories by controlling distance behind her lead left hand and managing the rounds with veteran composure. The German champion will look to establish her rhythm from the opening bell, preventing the challenger from gaining confidence while dictating the pace with crisp, straight-punch combinations.
Across the ring, Bounouar faces the biggest challenge of her professional career. She arrives in Germany with the confidence, hunger, and momentum that come with an unblemished record. She knows there is little room for a cautious approach on the road. Her strategy will revolve around closing the distance aggressively, applying steady pressure to breach the champion’s guard, and targeting the body to wear down Bormann and limit her mobility in the middle rounds.
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Dylan Biggs to face Dan Catlin next week |
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Australia’s Dylan Biggs, winner of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix middleweight tournament, will return to action on November 7th in Toowoomba, Australia, where he will face Dan Catlin. Biggs (19-1) was originally scheduled to meet Uzbekistan’s Kudratillo Abdukakhorov. The change of opponent presents a different challenge, as the Australian prepares for another appearance in front of his home supporters. Catlin is 10-2 but has not fought in two years or won in three years. The event will take place at Rumours International under the promotion of TGW & Smithy’s Promotions, giving Biggs an opportunity to maintain his momentum in the middleweight division.
Known as “The Beaudesert Storm,” Biggs won the WBC Boxing Grand Prix by defeating Canada’s Derek Pomerleau by unanimous decision in the final on December 20, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That victory capped a run of five wins throughout the tournament, which brought together prospects from around the world and tested his ability to adapt to different styles. Following his Grand Prix triumph, Biggs returned to action in Australia and stopped Kenan Guzel on August 30th at the Ipswich Turf Club.
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Dylan Biggs to face Dan Catlin next week
Australia’s Dylan Biggs, winner of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix middleweight tournament, will return to action on November 7th in Toowoomba, Australia, where he will face Dan Catlin. Biggs (19-1) was originally scheduled to meet Uzbekistan’s Kudratillo Abdukakhorov. The change of opponent presents a different challenge, as the Australian prepares for another appearance in front of his home supporters. Catlin is 10-2 but has not fought in two years or won in three years. The event will take place at Rumours International under the promotion of TGW & Smithy’s Promotions, giving Biggs an opportunity to maintain his momentum in the middleweight division.
Known as “The Beaudesert Storm,” Biggs won the WBC Boxing Grand Prix by defeating Canada’s Derek Pomerleau by unanimous decision in the final on December 20, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That victory capped a run of five wins throughout the tournament, which brought together prospects from around the world and tested his ability to adapt to different styles. Following his Grand Prix triumph, Biggs returned to action in Australia and stopped Kenan Guzel on August 30th at the Ipswich Turf Club.
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Nicaragua's Ortega gets interim title shot |
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The Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua, Nicargua will be the focal point of the 108-pound division on October 30th when Mexican champion Alma “La Leona” Meraz defends her WBA interim light flyweight title against hard-nosed local favorite Eveling “La Colocha” Ortega. For Meraz (12-4-2), this will be a test of character and championship pedigree in hostile territory. She arrives in Nicaragua’s capital with the experience and composure associated with the traditional Mexican boxing school, built around relentless forward pressure, compact combinations at close range, and sustained body work designed to wear down opponents as the rounds progress.
Her game plan will center on establishing her presence in the middle of the ring, cutting off the angles to keep the challenger from finding her rhythm and using her championship experience to dictate the pace of the fight.
In the opposite corner stands Ortega (13-5). Backed by the support of the home crowd at the Olof Palme Convention Center, “La Colocha” will step into the ring knowing she has a historic opportunity in front of her. The Nicaraguan fighter is known for her foot speed, high-tempo approach, and unwavering willingness to stand and trade punches.
Ortega will need to execute with precision, using her mobility to dart in and out with quick two- and three-punch combinations, keeping her left jab active to disrupt Meraz’s forward march, and avoiding prolonged exchanges along the ropes.
The matchup will hinge on the Mexican champion’s power and strength on the inside against the Nicaraguan challenger’s speed, movement, and overwhelming motivation in front of her home fans.
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Nicaragua's Ortega gets interim title shot
The Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua, Nicargua will be the focal point of the 108-pound division on October 30th when Mexican champion Alma “La Leona” Meraz defends her WBA interim light flyweight title against hard-nosed local favorite Eveling “La Colocha” Ortega. For Meraz (12-4-2), this will be a test of character and championship pedigree in hostile territory. She arrives in Nicaragua’s capital with the experience and composure associated with the traditional Mexican boxing school, built around relentless forward pressure, compact combinations at close range, and sustained body work designed to wear down opponents as the rounds progress.
Her game plan will center on establishing her presence in the middle of the ring, cutting off the angles to keep the challenger from finding her rhythm and using her championship experience to dictate the pace of the fight.
In the opposite corner stands Ortega (13-5). Backed by the support of the home crowd at the Olof Palme Convention Center, “La Colocha” will step into the ring knowing she has a historic opportunity in front of her. The Nicaraguan fighter is known for her foot speed, high-tempo approach, and unwavering willingness to stand and trade punches.
Ortega will need to execute with precision, using her mobility to dart in and out with quick two- and three-punch combinations, keeping her left jab active to disrupt Meraz’s forward march, and avoiding prolonged exchanges along the ropes.
The matchup will hinge on the Mexican champion’s power and strength on the inside against the Nicaraguan challenger’s speed, movement, and overwhelming motivation in front of her home fans.
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Jake Paul planning Christmas eve comeback |
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Jake Paul (12-2), last seen getting his jaw broken by Anthony Joshua in December 2025, announced a comeback to active boxing: "All I want for Christmas Eve is boxing in Dubai. I've spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I'd face. Nothing that's happened has changed my belief in myself or what I'm working toward. I'm hungrier than ever, and on Thursday, December 24, I'm returning to the ring in Dubai to start the next chapter of my journey. Dubai is a city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and doesn't believe in limits. That's exactly the kind of place I want to make my comeback. We've got plenty of names on the list, let’s see who signs the contract. Merry Christmas, Dubai. Santa Paul is coming to town, and somebody's getting knocked out."
About a week ago, Paul's business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, wrote "Jake Paul update: We are actively negotiating with 4 potential opponents."
The Twitter (X) account for Paul's MVP Promotions added: "Jake Paul was always coming back. and Dubai is the city where big dreams become reality. This Christmas Eve, Jake Paul returns....Dubai, we're coming for you. A city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and knows no limits. The perfect stage for Jake Paul’s next chapter. Jake Paul and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian share their excitement for a historic Christmas Eve spectacle, made possible alongside Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
DEC 20, 2025: Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defeated Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul on Friday night under the bright lights of Miami’s Kaseya Center and in front of a massive global audience on Netflix. The 36 year-old Joshua — hailing from Watford, UK and standing at 6-foot-6 started slowly but eventually dominated the 28 year-old Paul. Joshua ultimately earned the sixth-round knockout after sending Paul to the mat four times throughout the fight. “It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua said at the end of the bout. “The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down, and hurt him. That was the request leading up, and that’s what was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand found its destination.”
Paul — typically a cruiserweight — held his own for the most part against the initially reluctant Joshua. He accomplished this by moving around the larger-than-average ring but his legs soon tired and Paul was unable to continue circling away from Joshua as the rounds wore on. The first three knockdowns were caused as much by Paul's failing legs as by Joshua's fists. The fourth knockdown was a solid right to the jaw that put Paul down for about eleven seconds. Paul diagnosed himself with a broken jaw after the fight.
Joshua improves to 29-4 with 25 KOs, returning to his winning ways after falling by knockout at the hands of British rival Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September of 2024, while Paul falls to 12-2 with 7 KOs.
Just a month ago, the former Olympic gold medalist stepped in to face Paul after his matchup against Gervonta "Tank" Davis was canceled. Paul is now the latest Joshua foe to fall, following a long list of top contenders and champions such as Kubrat Pulev, Andy Ruiz Jr., Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko, among others.
Paul — boxing’s biggest disruptor who joined the professional ranks just five years ago — previously defeated Julio César Chávez Jr., Mike Tyson, Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.
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Jake Paul planning Christmas eve comeback
Jake Paul (12-2), last seen getting his jaw broken by Anthony Joshua in December 2025, announced a comeback to active boxing: "All I want for Christmas Eve is boxing in Dubai. I've spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I'd face. Nothing that's happened has changed my belief in myself or what I'm working toward. I'm hungrier than ever, and on Thursday, December 24, I'm returning to the ring in Dubai to start the next chapter of my journey. Dubai is a city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and doesn't believe in limits. That's exactly the kind of place I want to make my comeback. We've got plenty of names on the list, let’s see who signs the contract. Merry Christmas, Dubai. Santa Paul is coming to town, and somebody's getting knocked out."
About a week ago, Paul's business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, wrote "Jake Paul update: We are actively negotiating with 4 potential opponents."
The Twitter (X) account for Paul's MVP Promotions added: "Jake Paul was always coming back. and Dubai is the city where big dreams become reality. This Christmas Eve, Jake Paul returns....Dubai, we're coming for you. A city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and knows no limits. The perfect stage for Jake Paul’s next chapter. Jake Paul and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian share their excitement for a historic Christmas Eve spectacle, made possible alongside Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
DEC 20, 2025: Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defeated Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul on Friday night under the bright lights of Miami’s Kaseya Center and in front of a massive global audience on Netflix. The 36 year-old Joshua — hailing from Watford, UK and standing at 6-foot-6 started slowly but eventually dominated the 28 year-old Paul. Joshua ultimately earned the sixth-round knockout after sending Paul to the mat four times throughout the fight. “It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua said at the end of the bout. “The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down, and hurt him. That was the request leading up, and that’s what was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand found its destination.”
Paul — typically a cruiserweight — held his own for the most part against the initially reluctant Joshua. He accomplished this by moving around the larger-than-average ring but his legs soon tired and Paul was unable to continue circling away from Joshua as the rounds wore on. The first three knockdowns were caused as much by Paul's failing legs as by Joshua's fists. The fourth knockdown was a solid right to the jaw that put Paul down for about eleven seconds. Paul diagnosed himself with a broken jaw after the fight.
Joshua improves to 29-4 with 25 KOs, returning to his winning ways after falling by knockout at the hands of British rival Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September of 2024, while Paul falls to 12-2 with 7 KOs.
Just a month ago, the former Olympic gold medalist stepped in to face Paul after his matchup against Gervonta "Tank" Davis was canceled. Paul is now the latest Joshua foe to fall, following a long list of top contenders and champions such as Kubrat Pulev, Andy Ruiz Jr., Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko, among others.
Paul — boxing’s biggest disruptor who joined the professional ranks just five years ago — previously defeated Julio César Chávez Jr., Mike Tyson, Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.
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Brandon Adams signs with Golden Boy |
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Golden Boy Promotions announced the signing of middleweight contender Brandon “The Cannon” Adams (26-4, 16 KOs) of Watts, California. “I’m extremely excited to begin this next chapter with Golden Boy Promotions,” Adams said. “At this point in my career, I know exactly what I want to accomplish, and I truly believe Golden Boy has the experience, the relationships and the tools to help me reach my ultimate goal of becoming a world champion. I want to sincerely thank Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Closing out my career with one of the most respected promotional companies in the world means a lot to me. I’ve worked my entire life for this moment, and I’m more motivated than ever to finish what I started and leave my mark on this sport.”
“Brandon Adams is a battle-tested veteran who has proven he can compete with and beat some of the best fighters in the division,” said Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “He’s dangerous, experienced and always comes ready to fight, and we’re excited to give ‘The Cannon’ the platform to make another statement.”
A native of Watts, California, Adams grew up idolizing Mike Tyson and earned the nickname “The Cannon” for his explosive, fight-ending power. A world title challenger, Adams lost to Jermall Charlo for the WBC middleweight world title in June 2019. Rather than let that setback define him, he used the experience to fuel his growth and came back stronger. In March 2021, he stopped the durable Serhii Bohachuk in the eighth round at junior middleweight. He added to his resume by besting then-undefeated Francisco Veron. Adams later won a unanimous decision over Bohachuk in a rematch, reinforcing that he can win against top-level opposition. Adams has not fought since that win, which was a little over a year ago.
Outside the ring, Adams is committed to developing the next generation of fighters. In October 2022, he opened Cannonnation Boxing Gym in Santa Fe Springs, California, where he is a part owner and coach. Balancing his fighting career with his role as a mentor, Adams is driven to help others grow through boxing, developing not only their skills but also their confidence, discipline and character.
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Brandon Adams signs with Golden Boy
Golden Boy Promotions announced the signing of middleweight contender Brandon “The Cannon” Adams (26-4, 16 KOs) of Watts, California. “I’m extremely excited to begin this next chapter with Golden Boy Promotions,” Adams said. “At this point in my career, I know exactly what I want to accomplish, and I truly believe Golden Boy has the experience, the relationships and the tools to help me reach my ultimate goal of becoming a world champion. I want to sincerely thank Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Closing out my career with one of the most respected promotional companies in the world means a lot to me. I’ve worked my entire life for this moment, and I’m more motivated than ever to finish what I started and leave my mark on this sport.”
“Brandon Adams is a battle-tested veteran who has proven he can compete with and beat some of the best fighters in the division,” said Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “He’s dangerous, experienced and always comes ready to fight, and we’re excited to give ‘The Cannon’ the platform to make another statement.”
A native of Watts, California, Adams grew up idolizing Mike Tyson and earned the nickname “The Cannon” for his explosive, fight-ending power. A world title challenger, Adams lost to Jermall Charlo for the WBC middleweight world title in June 2019. Rather than let that setback define him, he used the experience to fuel his growth and came back stronger. In March 2021, he stopped the durable Serhii Bohachuk in the eighth round at junior middleweight. He added to his resume by besting then-undefeated Francisco Veron. Adams later won a unanimous decision over Bohachuk in a rematch, reinforcing that he can win against top-level opposition. Adams has not fought since that win, which was a little over a year ago.
Outside the ring, Adams is committed to developing the next generation of fighters. In October 2022, he opened Cannonnation Boxing Gym in Santa Fe Springs, California, where he is a part owner and coach. Balancing his fighting career with his role as a mentor, Adams is driven to help others grow through boxing, developing not only their skills but also their confidence, discipline and character.
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Zuffa Boxing 12 card revealed |
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Boxing returns to London on Saturday, November 7th as Zuffa Boxing 12 takes over the Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports and Paramount+. Former WBO cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith (pictured) headlines in a ten-round all-British clash with Chev Clarke, a matchup that tests whether the experienced Bournemouth man can hold off a hungry domestic rival and stay in the title picture. In the co-feature, recently stopped WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley meets Shane Mosley Jr. over ten rounds, pairing Bentley’s home-crowd power against the son of a Hall of Famer. The heavyweights open the main card as Da’Mazion Vanhouter and Ivan Balaz meet over eight rounds, with both men aiming to climb in a crowded division. With six bouts on the main card and Zach Parker leading the prelims, Z12 offers big time fights from top to bottom.
MAIN CARD
Cruiserweight — 10 rounds: Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke;
Middleweight — 10 rounds: Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.;
Heavyweight — 8 rounds: Da'Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz;
Middleweight — 8 rounds: Sam Hickey vs Troy Coleman;
Super Lightweight — 6 rounds: Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel; and
Cruiserweight — 8 rounds: Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald.
PRELIMS
Light Heavyweight — 10 rounds: Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov;
Middleweight — 4 rounds: Vinnie Kemp vs TBA; and
Featherweight — 8 rounds: Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma.
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Zuffa Boxing 12 card revealed
Boxing returns to London on Saturday, November 7th as Zuffa Boxing 12 takes over the Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports and Paramount+. Former WBO cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith (pictured) headlines in a ten-round all-British clash with Chev Clarke, a matchup that tests whether the experienced Bournemouth man can hold off a hungry domestic rival and stay in the title picture. In the co-feature, recently stopped WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley meets Shane Mosley Jr. over ten rounds, pairing Bentley’s home-crowd power against the son of a Hall of Famer. The heavyweights open the main card as Da’Mazion Vanhouter and Ivan Balaz meet over eight rounds, with both men aiming to climb in a crowded division. With six bouts on the main card and Zach Parker leading the prelims, Z12 offers big time fights from top to bottom.
MAIN CARD
Cruiserweight — 10 rounds: Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke;
Middleweight — 10 rounds: Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.;
Heavyweight — 8 rounds: Da'Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz;
Middleweight — 8 rounds: Sam Hickey vs Troy Coleman;
Super Lightweight — 6 rounds: Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel; and
Cruiserweight — 8 rounds: Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald.
PRELIMS
Light Heavyweight — 10 rounds: Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov;
Middleweight — 4 rounds: Vinnie Kemp vs TBA; and
Featherweight — 8 rounds: Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma.
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Benavidez vs. Cieslak presser quotes |
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A slew of boxers competing on the David Benavidez vs. Michael Cieslak event previewed their respective showdowns during a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, as undefeated WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez takes on WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak on Saturday, December 5th topping a PBC pay-per-view event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Cieslak appeared at the event virtually from Poland as he nears his showdown against one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the sport in Phoenix’s Benavidez, who will look to make more history in his Arizona homecoming bout on December 5th. Undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. and former welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will meet in the chief support.
The press conference also unbeaten Emiliano “El General” Vargas and Omar Juarez, who battle in a ten-round junior welterweight attraction, as well as middleweight Marco “El Tiburon” Romero, who meets Cruse Stewart in the eight-round opening bout at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The card also includes unbeaten Australian Nikita Tszyu taking on Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a ten-round junior middlwweight tussle. Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from Avalon Hollywood:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“We’ve been working extremely hard. We’ve already had 13-weeks of training camp. I come hard no matter who I’m facing. Cieslak is coming ready, because he knows it’s a great opportunity for him. I’m not taking anything for granted.
“I’m finally in the position to make myself the king at this weight class. Nothing is gonna stand in my way.
“My last fight was probably the best fight I’ve had in my whole career. It was the heaviest I’ve been and the fastest and strongest I’ve felt. Fighting the guys at lower weight classes has helped make this transition to cruiserweight easier. I feel like my combinations and punch output is gonna be too much for anyone in this division.
“I want to have the best performance of the night in front of my fans, and there’s a lot of competition for that on this card.
“I can adapt to anything and I’m very accurate with my attack. I’m ready for anything that comes my way.
“At the end of the day the accolades are important. This was the only thing standing in the way of making my next fight even bigger.
“I’m not looking past Cieslak. He’s a great fighter, but I’ve been fighting for my opportunities and now I have the chance to unify another title.
“I’m not willing to just say I’m the best, I’d rather earn it. I’m the best fighter in all of boxing, but I have to prove it.
“Cieslak is at this level for a reason. He’s got good combinations, but if he wants to give me a hard time, that’s when ‘El Monstro’ comes out.
“All these fighters here have that dog in us. We’re all trying to steal the show. I can’t wait to bring these fights to Phoenix, Arizona.”
MICHAL CIESLAK
“I’m very happy and cannot wait for this fight. I’m excited to come to the United States and share the ring with David Benavidez.
“My level of confidence is very high. I’ve been working my whole life for a fight like this. I can’t wait to show everyone all that I can do.
“I’ve watched a lot of David’s fights. He’s a great fighter who throws a lot of punches. But we’re both warriors. We’ve both been working toward a fight like this and I know we’ll give everyone a great show.
“I’ve seen David’s last fight and I thought Zurdo was fighting pretty well. You’ll see on December 5 what he could have done better.
EMILIANO VARGAS
“It’s a beautiful thing to see everyone come together to make this event. Every time I’ve fought in Arizona it’s been nothing but fireworks. The energy from that crowd is only going to make me fight harder.
I’m looking to close the year strong and move on to a big main event, but I can’t do any of that without getting past Omar Juarez. He’s a tough fighter who’s gonna bring the resilience out of me. It’s gonna be a great night for the fans.
“In order to make my dreams a reality, I have to crush Juarez’s. That’s what this sport is about. My dream has always been to become a world champion, and I’m knocking at the doorstep.
“Juarez has great experience and he’s never been stopped before. I believe I’m the guy to do that.
“We’re always getting better. I’m my biggest critic. I want to be the best fighter I can possibly be. I’m pushing my limits. Nothing is gonna stop me from closing the year out strong.
“Omar is a strong, tough fighter. His team knows what I can do. They’ve been in there first hand. Bob Santos has seen me grow up and go through the ranks. I’m ready to do whatever is necessary to win.”
OMAR JUAREZ
“I’m extremely excited to be back on the big stage. I can’t wait to deliver a spectacular fight. Expect nothing but fireworks.
“I’ve just been staying ready and staying active. I’ve been away from my home and working with Bob Santos in Las Vegas getting the best work and the best sparring.
“I want to become a world champion, so I know that I need to fight the big names. Emiliano is one of the biggest names in the division. I’m a competitor and I want to test myself in there.
“I’ve learned a lot from training in Las Vegas. Most important is that I’m made to be a prizefighter. I just can’t wait to demonstrate all my blood, sweat and tears and do what I love.
“Vargas is a good fighter. I won’t take anything away from him. I’m looking forward to getting competitive in there on fight night. It’s gonna be fan-friendly. We’re both coming to prove something.”
MARCO ROMERO
“I’m thankful for this opportunity. I’m super grateful. I’ve just been on two great cards and I’m just staying focused on delivering another knockout, especially with all these great champions. It’s gonna be nothing but action on December 5.
“As soon as we got out of the ring I told everyone I was ready. I was ready to go again the next day.
“This has been my statement year. I’m demonstrating that with every performance. I’m ready to stamp my name in the history books of boxing.
“We’ll see if Stewart can push me on December 5th. Just remember, once I see the opening, the shark bites.
“We’ve gotta steal the night and get that Prospect of the Year. I’ve been knocking guys out with my right, but I’ve got that left hook too that I’m looking to demonstrate.”
JOSE BENAVIDEZ SR., David’s Father & Trainer
“I’m super excited about this fight and to have all these great young champions on the card as well.
“I can’t wait to be fighting in front of our crowd. Phoenix is where everything started for us. All I can tell you is that David Benavidez is ready and super motivated. He always brings excitement. December 5th, don’t miss it.”
SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ, Sampson Boxing
“This is a tremendous card from top to bottom and we’re looking to sell out this event in David’s hometown. Make sure you don’t miss this one.”
“Cieslak has been training for five months, so I know that he will come bring the fight to David on December 5.”
BRITTON HARDIN, Head of Boxing, North America, DAZN
“I can’t help but smile at these press conferences because I’m just so enthusiastic about the future of this sport. When I look at this stage today, it looks like our vision is taking shape.
“Something tells me that Keith Thurman has a few more thrilling nights in him, but it won’t come easy against one of the most exciting fighters today in Vergil Ortiz Jr. I know he’s gonna try to come and steal the show.
“On December 5th, David Benavidez is gonna put the boxing world on notice that this is ‘El Monstro’s’ era.
“You’re seeing the future of the sport unfold in front of your eyes, and the only place to see it is on the global home of boxing DAZN.”
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Benavidez vs. Cieslak presser quotes
A slew of boxers competing on the David Benavidez vs. Michael Cieslak event previewed their respective showdowns during a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, as undefeated WBA / WBO cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez takes on WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak on Saturday, December 5th topping a PBC pay-per-view event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Cieslak appeared at the event virtually from Poland as he nears his showdown against one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the sport in Phoenix’s Benavidez, who will look to make more history in his Arizona homecoming bout on December 5th. Undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. and former welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will meet in the chief support.
The press conference also unbeaten Emiliano “El General” Vargas and Omar Juarez, who battle in a ten-round junior welterweight attraction, as well as middleweight Marco “El Tiburon” Romero, who meets Cruse Stewart in the eight-round opening bout at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The card also includes unbeaten Australian Nikita Tszyu taking on Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a ten-round junior middlwweight tussle. Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from Avalon Hollywood:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“We’ve been working extremely hard. We’ve already had 13-weeks of training camp. I come hard no matter who I’m facing. Cieslak is coming ready, because he knows it’s a great opportunity for him. I’m not taking anything for granted.
“I’m finally in the position to make myself the king at this weight class. Nothing is gonna stand in my way.
“My last fight was probably the best fight I’ve had in my whole career. It was the heaviest I’ve been and the fastest and strongest I’ve felt. Fighting the guys at lower weight classes has helped make this transition to cruiserweight easier. I feel like my combinations and punch output is gonna be too much for anyone in this division.
“I want to have the best performance of the night in front of my fans, and there’s a lot of competition for that on this card.
“I can adapt to anything and I’m very accurate with my attack. I’m ready for anything that comes my way.
“At the end of the day the accolades are important. This was the only thing standing in the way of making my next fight even bigger.
“I’m not looking past Cieslak. He’s a great fighter, but I’ve been fighting for my opportunities and now I have the chance to unify another title.
“I’m not willing to just say I’m the best, I’d rather earn it. I’m the best fighter in all of boxing, but I have to prove it.
“Cieslak is at this level for a reason. He’s got good combinations, but if he wants to give me a hard time, that’s when ‘El Monstro’ comes out.
“All these fighters here have that dog in us. We’re all trying to steal the show. I can’t wait to bring these fights to Phoenix, Arizona.”
MICHAL CIESLAK
“I’m very happy and cannot wait for this fight. I’m excited to come to the United States and share the ring with David Benavidez.
“My level of confidence is very high. I’ve been working my whole life for a fight like this. I can’t wait to show everyone all that I can do.
“I’ve watched a lot of David’s fights. He’s a great fighter who throws a lot of punches. But we’re both warriors. We’ve both been working toward a fight like this and I know we’ll give everyone a great show.
“I’ve seen David’s last fight and I thought Zurdo was fighting pretty well. You’ll see on December 5 what he could have done better.
EMILIANO VARGAS
“It’s a beautiful thing to see everyone come together to make this event. Every time I’ve fought in Arizona it’s been nothing but fireworks. The energy from that crowd is only going to make me fight harder.
I’m looking to close the year strong and move on to a big main event, but I can’t do any of that without getting past Omar Juarez. He’s a tough fighter who’s gonna bring the resilience out of me. It’s gonna be a great night for the fans.
“In order to make my dreams a reality, I have to crush Juarez’s. That’s what this sport is about. My dream has always been to become a world champion, and I’m knocking at the doorstep.
“Juarez has great experience and he’s never been stopped before. I believe I’m the guy to do that.
“We’re always getting better. I’m my biggest critic. I want to be the best fighter I can possibly be. I’m pushing my limits. Nothing is gonna stop me from closing the year out strong.
“Omar is a strong, tough fighter. His team knows what I can do. They’ve been in there first hand. Bob Santos has seen me grow up and go through the ranks. I’m ready to do whatever is necessary to win.”
OMAR JUAREZ
“I’m extremely excited to be back on the big stage. I can’t wait to deliver a spectacular fight. Expect nothing but fireworks.
“I’ve just been staying ready and staying active. I’ve been away from my home and working with Bob Santos in Las Vegas getting the best work and the best sparring.
“I want to become a world champion, so I know that I need to fight the big names. Emiliano is one of the biggest names in the division. I’m a competitor and I want to test myself in there.
“I’ve learned a lot from training in Las Vegas. Most important is that I’m made to be a prizefighter. I just can’t wait to demonstrate all my blood, sweat and tears and do what I love.
“Vargas is a good fighter. I won’t take anything away from him. I’m looking forward to getting competitive in there on fight night. It’s gonna be fan-friendly. We’re both coming to prove something.”
MARCO ROMERO
“I’m thankful for this opportunity. I’m super grateful. I’ve just been on two great cards and I’m just staying focused on delivering another knockout, especially with all these great champions. It’s gonna be nothing but action on December 5.
“As soon as we got out of the ring I told everyone I was ready. I was ready to go again the next day.
“This has been my statement year. I’m demonstrating that with every performance. I’m ready to stamp my name in the history books of boxing.
“We’ll see if Stewart can push me on December 5th. Just remember, once I see the opening, the shark bites.
“We’ve gotta steal the night and get that Prospect of the Year. I’ve been knocking guys out with my right, but I’ve got that left hook too that I’m looking to demonstrate.”
JOSE BENAVIDEZ SR., David’s Father & Trainer
“I’m super excited about this fight and to have all these great young champions on the card as well.
“I can’t wait to be fighting in front of our crowd. Phoenix is where everything started for us. All I can tell you is that David Benavidez is ready and super motivated. He always brings excitement. December 5th, don’t miss it.”
SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ, Sampson Boxing
“This is a tremendous card from top to bottom and we’re looking to sell out this event in David’s hometown. Make sure you don’t miss this one.”
“Cieslak has been training for five months, so I know that he will come bring the fight to David on December 5.”
BRITTON HARDIN, Head of Boxing, North America, DAZN
“I can’t help but smile at these press conferences because I’m just so enthusiastic about the future of this sport. When I look at this stage today, it looks like our vision is taking shape.
“Something tells me that Keith Thurman has a few more thrilling nights in him, but it won’t come easy against one of the most exciting fighters today in Vergil Ortiz Jr. I know he’s gonna try to come and steal the show.
“On December 5th, David Benavidez is gonna put the boxing world on notice that this is ‘El Monstro’s’ era.
“You’re seeing the future of the sport unfold in front of your eyes, and the only place to see it is on the global home of boxing DAZN.”
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Ortiz: "People are overlooking Thurman because he got stopped" |
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On Saturday, December 5th, as part of a PBC pay-per-view event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, all-action undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. (pictured) and former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman meet in the chief supporting bout, to be held in the middleweight division. Here is what they had top say at the opening press conference on Wednesday:
VERGIL ORTIZ JR.
“I’m just very happy to be back in my element. All I know is boxing. I’m facing a very game opponent in Keith Thurman. He was my favorite welterweight in 2017 and I picked him over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.
“I just want the best fights. I’m really excited to part of this David Benavidez card, especially in Arizona. It’s gonna be a movie. I know that this fight is gonna be one that you don’t want to miss.
“There’s no better feeling than having a big fight coming up. People are overlooking Thurman because he got stopped by a world champion [Sebastian Fundora] who can tie his shoes standing up.
“I just want to be in exciting fights. That’s the point of boxing. I want to be remembered as a guy who never said no to a fight.
“I don’t go in with the mentality to get someone out right away. I’ll feel him out and download information. Obviously I’m familiar with Thurman, but we’re not gonna take anyone lightly.”
KEITH THURMAN
“I have a lot of beautiful boxing history on my resume and I’m definitely looking to add another piece of history on December 5th.
“I’m fighting one of the young guys who wants to be the future of boxing. But I’ve faced undefeated fighters in the past and I’ve delivered some upsets. That’s what I’m planning to do.
“I know some people are doubting me after my last performance, but styles make fights. This is a great fight that you’re not gonna want to miss. Don’t blink.
“This is a redemption fight. I always want to fight the best and be on the biggest stages. At the end of the day, it’s another part of boxing history.
“This fight made sense for me when it presented itself. I’m active and I’m gonna do my best to keep staying active.
“Tune in December 5th. My last performance just wasn’t my night. I did feel I started to settle into the fight. I ultimately couldn’t show the world how much of a dog Keith Thurman is.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what Ortiz brings to the table. I’m gonna do everything in my arsenal to break up his rhythm. This reminds me of when I fought Diego Chaves. I’m looking forward to upsetting the apple cart and re-establishing my name.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman & CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“On December 5th, Thurman, is facing a hard-hitter with the heart of a lion in Vergil Ortiz Jr. Thurman wants to derail Vergil’s plans, and Vergil wants to fight the best. Thurman wants to knock him off track. This is quite a fight in the co-main event.
“I know exactly what Keith Thurman brings to the table and exactly what his style and resume is. He brings heart to the ring every single fighter. I know he’s hungry, and when you have a hungry fighter with experience and IQ, he can upset quite a few fighters.”
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Ortiz: "People are overlooking Thurman because he got stopped"
On Saturday, December 5th, as part of a PBC pay-per-view event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, all-action undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. (pictured) and former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman meet in the chief supporting bout, to be held in the middleweight division. Here is what they had top say at the opening press conference on Wednesday:
VERGIL ORTIZ JR.
“I’m just very happy to be back in my element. All I know is boxing. I’m facing a very game opponent in Keith Thurman. He was my favorite welterweight in 2017 and I picked him over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.
“I just want the best fights. I’m really excited to part of this David Benavidez card, especially in Arizona. It’s gonna be a movie. I know that this fight is gonna be one that you don’t want to miss.
“There’s no better feeling than having a big fight coming up. People are overlooking Thurman because he got stopped by a world champion [Sebastian Fundora] who can tie his shoes standing up.
“I just want to be in exciting fights. That’s the point of boxing. I want to be remembered as a guy who never said no to a fight.
“I don’t go in with the mentality to get someone out right away. I’ll feel him out and download information. Obviously I’m familiar with Thurman, but we’re not gonna take anyone lightly.”
KEITH THURMAN
“I have a lot of beautiful boxing history on my resume and I’m definitely looking to add another piece of history on December 5th.
“I’m fighting one of the young guys who wants to be the future of boxing. But I’ve faced undefeated fighters in the past and I’ve delivered some upsets. That’s what I’m planning to do.
“I know some people are doubting me after my last performance, but styles make fights. This is a great fight that you’re not gonna want to miss. Don’t blink.
“This is a redemption fight. I always want to fight the best and be on the biggest stages. At the end of the day, it’s another part of boxing history.
“This fight made sense for me when it presented itself. I’m active and I’m gonna do my best to keep staying active.
“Tune in December 5th. My last performance just wasn’t my night. I did feel I started to settle into the fight. I ultimately couldn’t show the world how much of a dog Keith Thurman is.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what Ortiz brings to the table. I’m gonna do everything in my arsenal to break up his rhythm. This reminds me of when I fought Diego Chaves. I’m looking forward to upsetting the apple cart and re-establishing my name.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman & CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“On December 5th, Thurman, is facing a hard-hitter with the heart of a lion in Vergil Ortiz Jr. Thurman wants to derail Vergil’s plans, and Vergil wants to fight the best. Thurman wants to knock him off track. This is quite a fight in the co-main event.
“I know exactly what Keith Thurman brings to the table and exactly what his style and resume is. He brings heart to the ring every single fighter. I know he’s hungry, and when you have a hungry fighter with experience and IQ, he can upset quite a few fighters.”
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Atlantic City show set for Nov. 13th |
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Boxing Insider Promotions closes out its 2026 season at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, November 13 with seven professional bouts built almost entirely out of New Jersey and New York. It is a throwback to the cards this city grew up on. "We are bringing one last show to the Trop this year and we are stacking it with many of the best New Jersey and New York fighters," said Larry Goldberg of Boxing Insider Promotions. "This is our 21st club boxing show since 2022, at our home venue, and it is an action packed night." Atlantic City's own Justin "Mr. AC" Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) headlines against Luis Caraballo Ramos of Puerto Rico (8-10-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their March fight which was ruled a no contest. Tickets can be purchased here.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Heavyweights go eight underneath. George Arias of the Bronx (19-1-1, 7 KOs) has one loss in 21 professional fights. Joe Jones of Virginia (16-15-2, 10 KOs) brings 33 fights and has never been easy to move...
John "Bodyshot" Leonardo returns. The Manalapan Township super bantamweight (13-1-1, 6 KOs) won a decision in June that people in this market are still arguing about, built almost entirely on work downstairs. He meets Kevin Nunez of Bayamon, Puerto Rico (6-4, 3 KOs) over eight.
Iman Lee of Yonkers (15-0-1, 8 KOs) has not lost in sixteen professional fights. He faces Dominican veteran Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6, 17 KOs).
It will be New York against New York at 144 pounds as JJ Alvarez (11-3-1) who fights out of Harlem by way of Madrid and trains fighters at Mendez Boxing faces Larry Fryers (13-8-1) who will be coming down from Albany with 105 rounds on his pro resume. It is the kind of club fight people circle on a card...
Brooklyn's Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, 6 KOs) goes six at 135 against Salvatore Di Stefano of Palermo, Sicily (4-2, 2 KOs)... and
Pleasantville's Julio Sanchez III (5-1, 3 KOs) goes six against Skyler Bray of Reynoldsburg, Ohio (3-3-1, 3 KOs). Sanchez came out of the Pleasantville Rec Center, turned professional on a Boxing Insider card, and has fought on this series ever since.
"There is so much talk about international boxing and what the big companies are doing or not doing," Goldberg said. "This reminds me of the shows of the 70s and 80s. It is all grit and for the love of the game. This is the kind of boxing your grandfather loved. Casino ballrooms, gritty club fighters fighting to get to the next level. Many of these fighters will move on to bigger shows in 2027."
Doors open at 7:00 PM at The Showroom, 3rd Floor North Tower, Tropicana Atlantic City. The card streams free on Boxing Insider.
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Atlantic City show set for Nov. 13th
Boxing Insider Promotions closes out its 2026 season at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, November 13 with seven professional bouts built almost entirely out of New Jersey and New York. It is a throwback to the cards this city grew up on. "We are bringing one last show to the Trop this year and we are stacking it with many of the best New Jersey and New York fighters," said Larry Goldberg of Boxing Insider Promotions. "This is our 21st club boxing show since 2022, at our home venue, and it is an action packed night." Atlantic City's own Justin "Mr. AC" Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) headlines against Luis Caraballo Ramos of Puerto Rico (8-10-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their March fight which was ruled a no contest. Tickets can be purchased here.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Heavyweights go eight underneath. George Arias of the Bronx (19-1-1, 7 KOs) has one loss in 21 professional fights. Joe Jones of Virginia (16-15-2, 10 KOs) brings 33 fights and has never been easy to move...
John "Bodyshot" Leonardo returns. The Manalapan Township super bantamweight (13-1-1, 6 KOs) won a decision in June that people in this market are still arguing about, built almost entirely on work downstairs. He meets Kevin Nunez of Bayamon, Puerto Rico (6-4, 3 KOs) over eight.
Iman Lee of Yonkers (15-0-1, 8 KOs) has not lost in sixteen professional fights. He faces Dominican veteran Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6, 17 KOs).
It will be New York against New York at 144 pounds as JJ Alvarez (11-3-1) who fights out of Harlem by way of Madrid and trains fighters at Mendez Boxing faces Larry Fryers (13-8-1) who will be coming down from Albany with 105 rounds on his pro resume. It is the kind of club fight people circle on a card...
Brooklyn's Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, 6 KOs) goes six at 135 against Salvatore Di Stefano of Palermo, Sicily (4-2, 2 KOs)... and
Pleasantville's Julio Sanchez III (5-1, 3 KOs) goes six against Skyler Bray of Reynoldsburg, Ohio (3-3-1, 3 KOs). Sanchez came out of the Pleasantville Rec Center, turned professional on a Boxing Insider card, and has fought on this series ever since.
"There is so much talk about international boxing and what the big companies are doing or not doing," Goldberg said. "This reminds me of the shows of the 70s and 80s. It is all grit and for the love of the game. This is the kind of boxing your grandfather loved. Casino ballrooms, gritty club fighters fighting to get to the next level. Many of these fighters will move on to bigger shows in 2027."
Doors open at 7:00 PM at The Showroom, 3rd Floor North Tower, Tropicana Atlantic City. The card streams free on Boxing Insider.
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Amanda Serrano farewell fight set for Jan. 9, 2027 |
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Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced “The Last Walk,” the final chapter in the legendary career of Amanda Serrano (50-4-1, 32 KOs), the seven-division champion, Puerto Rico’s first and only undisputed boxing world champion and one of the most accomplished and influential athletes in boxing history. Serrano will make her final walk to the ring on Saturday, January 9, 2027 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, live on DAZN. Serrano will defend her unified WBO and WBA featherweight world titles against Australia’s Skye Falzon (12-2, 7 KOs) over twelve three-minute rounds, under equal championship rules to men. She will also be seeking to break the all-time women’s knockout record. Tickets for The Last Walk: Serrano vs. Falzon will go on sale Tuesday, November 3 at 12:00pm AST at Ticketera.com.
After a career that has taken her to the world’s biggest stages, from Madison Square Garden to record-breaking global events on DAZN and Netflix, the Carolina, Puerto Rico and Brooklyn, New York native Serrano will return to Puerto Rico for one final fight in front of her home fans, bringing her legendary career full circle at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The farewell will celebrate not only one of the greatest careers in boxing history, but a Puerto Rican sporting icon whose impact has extended far beyond the ring. A Guinness World Record holder for winning world titles across seven weight divisions and the first and only Puerto Rican boxer, male or female, to become undisputed world champion, Serrano made history alongside Katie Taylor in the first women’s boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden in 2022, live on DAZN. Their historic rivalry continued with a record-breaking rematch in 2024, which averaged 74 million live viewers globally, followed by a trilogy fight that headlined an all-women’s card at Madison Square Garden in 2025. A leading advocate for choice and equality in women’s boxing, Serrano made history in 2023 by competing in the first women’s unified world championship bout over 12 three-minute rounds, later voluntarily vacating her WBC title rather than abandon her commitment to competing under equal rules to male champions.
Serrano said: “Boxing has been my life, and I never could have imagined the journey it would take me and my family on. From the early days when women’s boxing was fighting for recognition in small theater shows, to headlining Madison Square Garden in New York, reaching millions of fans around the world on the biggest shows, and helping open doors for the next generation of female fighters, Jordan and I always believed and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished. But none of it happened alone. Nakisa, Jake and MVP believed in me and in women’s boxing, and together we’ve helped change what’s possible for women in this sport. We’ve fought for respect, equal opportunities, fair pay, and the choice to compete under the same rules as men. There’s still more work to do, and I’ll continue fighting for the next generation long after I hang up my gloves. To close my career at home in Puerto Rico, in front of the people who have supported me from the beginning, means everything. On Saturday, January 9, I’m going to give the fans one final night to remember. This is The Last Walk of my boxing career, and I hope everyone who has been part of this journey, from Puerto Rico and New York to fans watching around the world on DAZN, will be there to share it with me.”
Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, Founders of Most Valuable Promotions, said: “Amanda Serrano is the MOAT. The Most Of All Time. The most accomplished female boxer of all time, the most watched, the most paid, and one of the most influential athletes this sport has ever seen. When Amanda became MVP’s first signee, we made a commitment to build a platform where the greatest female fighters in the world could receive the recognition, compensation and opportunities they deserve. Amanda has been the foundation of that vision, and her success has helped change the entire landscape of women’s boxing. Together, we’ve shattered records, delivered some of the biggest events in combat sports history and proven that women’s boxing belongs on the world’s biggest stages. The Last Walk is a celebration of an athlete who changed the sport forever, and alongside DAZN who has supported women’s boxing’s biggest events time and time again, we’re proud to give Amanda the farewell she deserves. Saturday, January 9, will mark the end of an extraordinary career inside the ring, but Amanda’s legacy will live on through every female fighter who follows in her footsteps.”
Skye Falzon said: “After 14 years as a professional boxer, I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to step into the ring with the best female boxer in the world. This is more than just a fight; it represents years of sacrifice, dedication, setbacks and an unwavering belief in myself. Opportunities like this are what fighters dream of, and I have worked my entire career for this moment. I have nothing but respect for Amanda Serrano. She is a pioneer, but I am not stepping into that ring just to share it with greatness. I am stepping in to prove that I belong there and to give everything I have to create my own piece of boxing history.”
Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN said: “Amanda Serrano has not only made history in boxing, she has helped redefine the sport for generations to come. From her historic night headlining Madison Square Garden live on DAZN to her lasting impact beyond the ring, Amanda’s legacy is undeniable. Alongside MVP, DAZN is honored to celebrate her remarkable legacy and bring her final fight to fans around the world as she returns home to Puerto Rico for one last historic moment, closing an extraordinary career in the very place where her story began.”
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Amanda Serrano farewell fight set for Jan. 9, 2027
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced “The Last Walk,” the final chapter in the legendary career of Amanda Serrano (50-4-1, 32 KOs), the seven-division champion, Puerto Rico’s first and only undisputed boxing world champion and one of the most accomplished and influential athletes in boxing history. Serrano will make her final walk to the ring on Saturday, January 9, 2027 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, live on DAZN. Serrano will defend her unified WBO and WBA featherweight world titles against Australia’s Skye Falzon (12-2, 7 KOs) over twelve three-minute rounds, under equal championship rules to men. She will also be seeking to break the all-time women’s knockout record. Tickets for The Last Walk: Serrano vs. Falzon will go on sale Tuesday, November 3 at 12:00pm AST at Ticketera.com.
After a career that has taken her to the world’s biggest stages, from Madison Square Garden to record-breaking global events on DAZN and Netflix, the Carolina, Puerto Rico and Brooklyn, New York native Serrano will return to Puerto Rico for one final fight in front of her home fans, bringing her legendary career full circle at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The farewell will celebrate not only one of the greatest careers in boxing history, but a Puerto Rican sporting icon whose impact has extended far beyond the ring. A Guinness World Record holder for winning world titles across seven weight divisions and the first and only Puerto Rican boxer, male or female, to become undisputed world champion, Serrano made history alongside Katie Taylor in the first women’s boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden in 2022, live on DAZN. Their historic rivalry continued with a record-breaking rematch in 2024, which averaged 74 million live viewers globally, followed by a trilogy fight that headlined an all-women’s card at Madison Square Garden in 2025. A leading advocate for choice and equality in women’s boxing, Serrano made history in 2023 by competing in the first women’s unified world championship bout over 12 three-minute rounds, later voluntarily vacating her WBC title rather than abandon her commitment to competing under equal rules to male champions.
Serrano said: “Boxing has been my life, and I never could have imagined the journey it would take me and my family on. From the early days when women’s boxing was fighting for recognition in small theater shows, to headlining Madison Square Garden in New York, reaching millions of fans around the world on the biggest shows, and helping open doors for the next generation of female fighters, Jordan and I always believed and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished. But none of it happened alone. Nakisa, Jake and MVP believed in me and in women’s boxing, and together we’ve helped change what’s possible for women in this sport. We’ve fought for respect, equal opportunities, fair pay, and the choice to compete under the same rules as men. There’s still more work to do, and I’ll continue fighting for the next generation long after I hang up my gloves. To close my career at home in Puerto Rico, in front of the people who have supported me from the beginning, means everything. On Saturday, January 9, I’m going to give the fans one final night to remember. This is The Last Walk of my boxing career, and I hope everyone who has been part of this journey, from Puerto Rico and New York to fans watching around the world on DAZN, will be there to share it with me.”
Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, Founders of Most Valuable Promotions, said: “Amanda Serrano is the MOAT. The Most Of All Time. The most accomplished female boxer of all time, the most watched, the most paid, and one of the most influential athletes this sport has ever seen. When Amanda became MVP’s first signee, we made a commitment to build a platform where the greatest female fighters in the world could receive the recognition, compensation and opportunities they deserve. Amanda has been the foundation of that vision, and her success has helped change the entire landscape of women’s boxing. Together, we’ve shattered records, delivered some of the biggest events in combat sports history and proven that women’s boxing belongs on the world’s biggest stages. The Last Walk is a celebration of an athlete who changed the sport forever, and alongside DAZN who has supported women’s boxing’s biggest events time and time again, we’re proud to give Amanda the farewell she deserves. Saturday, January 9, will mark the end of an extraordinary career inside the ring, but Amanda’s legacy will live on through every female fighter who follows in her footsteps.”
Skye Falzon said: “After 14 years as a professional boxer, I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to step into the ring with the best female boxer in the world. This is more than just a fight; it represents years of sacrifice, dedication, setbacks and an unwavering belief in myself. Opportunities like this are what fighters dream of, and I have worked my entire career for this moment. I have nothing but respect for Amanda Serrano. She is a pioneer, but I am not stepping into that ring just to share it with greatness. I am stepping in to prove that I belong there and to give everything I have to create my own piece of boxing history.”
Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN said: “Amanda Serrano has not only made history in boxing, she has helped redefine the sport for generations to come. From her historic night headlining Madison Square Garden live on DAZN to her lasting impact beyond the ring, Amanda’s legacy is undeniable. Alongside MVP, DAZN is honored to celebrate her remarkable legacy and bring her final fight to fans around the world as she returns home to Puerto Rico for one last historic moment, closing an extraordinary career in the very place where her story began.”
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Report: Berlanga charged with felony battery |
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ESPN reports that popular super middleweight Edgar Berlanga was arrested and charged with a a felony, aggravated battery. Berlanga in a native New Yorker with Puerto Rican roots but the arrest was made in Polk County, Florida's based on a incident that allegedly took place on October 18th. Berlanga's bail was set relatively low and he is due back in court on November 17th according to the report. No further details were immediately released. Berlanga has a 24-2 record, and his last fight was a July win over Steven Butler.
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Report: Berlanga charged with felony battery
ESPN reports that popular super middleweight Edgar Berlanga was arrested and charged with a a felony, aggravated battery. Berlanga in a native New Yorker with Puerto Rican roots but the arrest was made in Polk County, Florida's based on a incident that allegedly took place on October 18th. Berlanga's bail was set relatively low and he is due back in court on November 17th according to the report. No further details were immediately released. Berlanga has a 24-2 record, and his last fight was a July win over Steven Butler.
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Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II will decide vacant WBC title |
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With David Benavidez moving up to challenge for a cruiserweight title, the WBC has declared its light heavyweight title to be vacant. Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will share the ring once again on November 7th at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, in a rematch for the vacant title. More than two years after their first encounter, the two fighters will have the opportunity to write a new chapter in their rivalry. Buatsi will look to repeat his victory, while Hutchinson will seek to reverse the result and capture the WBC belt. The fight will be broadcast live on DAZN. Their first fight took place on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London. After twelve rounds, Buatsi claimed a split decision victory, with scores of 117-108 and 115-110 in his favor, while the third judge scored the fight 113-112 for Hutchinson.
Buatsi’s knockdowns in the sixth and ninth rounds proved decisive. However, Hutchinson got back to his feet on both occasions and continued fighting hard until the final bell, showing the determination that helped set the stage for a rematch.
Hutchinsonm from Scotland, enters the contest with a record of 20 wins, two losses and 14 knockouts.
Buatsi, who was born in Ghana and represents Great Britain, holds a record of 20 wins, one loss and 13 knockouts. In Manchester, he will have the opportunity to earn another victory over a familiar opponent and claim his first WBC world championship.
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Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II will decide vacant WBC title
With David Benavidez moving up to challenge for a cruiserweight title, the WBC has declared its light heavyweight title to be vacant. Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will share the ring once again on November 7th at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, in a rematch for the vacant title. More than two years after their first encounter, the two fighters will have the opportunity to write a new chapter in their rivalry. Buatsi will look to repeat his victory, while Hutchinson will seek to reverse the result and capture the WBC belt. The fight will be broadcast live on DAZN. Their first fight took place on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London. After twelve rounds, Buatsi claimed a split decision victory, with scores of 117-108 and 115-110 in his favor, while the third judge scored the fight 113-112 for Hutchinson.
Buatsi’s knockdowns in the sixth and ninth rounds proved decisive. However, Hutchinson got back to his feet on both occasions and continued fighting hard until the final bell, showing the determination that helped set the stage for a rematch.
Hutchinsonm from Scotland, enters the contest with a record of 20 wins, two losses and 14 knockouts.
Buatsi, who was born in Ghana and represents Great Britain, holds a record of 20 wins, one loss and 13 knockouts. In Manchester, he will have the opportunity to earn another victory over a familiar opponent and claim his first WBC world championship.
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Battle of unbeatens: Cedeno vs. Orobio in Montreal |
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Junior welterweight Hendri Cedeno (16-0, 12 KOs) is gearing up for the biggest fight of his professional career as he prepares to face fellow unbeaten Jhon Orobio (19-0, 17 KOs) in a ten rounder on Thursday, November 12th at the Montreal Casino. The show will be prmoted by Eye of the Tiger Promotions.
Cedeno, who is co-promoted by Kings Promotions and Boxlab Promotions, knows this is an opportunity that can change the direction of his career. After building an undefeated record, he'll now face an opponent who has been just as successful.
Orobio enters the fight with 17 knockouts in 19 victories, but Cedeno is confident that his skills, experience, and preparation will give him the edge. With both fighters putting their undefeated records on the line, Cedeno understands there's little room for mistakes. “This is a big moment for me, and I'm excited about the opportunity,” said Cedeno. “I've worked hard to get to this point in my career, and these are the types of fights I've been asking for. Orobio is a good fighter with a lot of power. But I believe in myself and what I bring to the ring. I'm confident in my abilities, and I'm going to do everything I can to come out with the victory.”
Cedeno has been putting in the work during training camp, focusing on being prepared for a tough, competitive fight. While Orobio's knockout percentage speaks for itself, Cedeno believes his ability to box, make adjustments, and stay composed will play a big role in the outcome. “I know he's going to come forward and try to impose his power, but I'm ready for that,” Cedeno continued. “My plan is to be smart, use my jab, control the distance, and not get caught up in fighting his fight. I've got power too, but I don't need to go looking for a knockout. If the opportunity comes, I'll take it. The most important thing is getting my hand raised at the end of the night.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, believes this is the right time for Cedeno to take on a challenge of this magnitude. “This is a huge fight for Hendri, and we're excited to see him get this opportunity,” said Piedra. “You don't often see two undefeated fighters with this kind of punching power facing each other at this stage of their careers. Hendri has worked extremely hard to get here, and we believe he's ready for this challenge. He's got the talent, the power, and the mindset to compete with the best fighters at 140 pounds. A win over Orobio would be a big statement and could put him in a great position moving forward. This is the kind of fight that can really open doors for him, and we're confident he's going to rise to the occasion.”
With November 12th approaching, Cedeno is keeping his focus on the task at hand. He knows a victory over another undefeated fighter would be a significant accomplishment, but he's not looking past Orobio or thinking too far ahead. “Right now, all I'm thinking about is November 12,” Cedeno concluded. “I know what's at stake, and I know this fight can lead to bigger things for me and my family. I've put in too much work to let this opportunity pass me by. I'm going to leave everything in the ring, and I believe I'll be the one walking away with the belt. This is my chance to show people that I'm ready for the next level.”
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Battle of unbeatens: Cedeno vs. Orobio in Montreal
Junior welterweight Hendri Cedeno (16-0, 12 KOs) is gearing up for the biggest fight of his professional career as he prepares to face fellow unbeaten Jhon Orobio (19-0, 17 KOs) in a ten rounder on Thursday, November 12th at the Montreal Casino. The show will be prmoted by Eye of the Tiger Promotions.
Cedeno, who is co-promoted by Kings Promotions and Boxlab Promotions, knows this is an opportunity that can change the direction of his career. After building an undefeated record, he'll now face an opponent who has been just as successful.
Orobio enters the fight with 17 knockouts in 19 victories, but Cedeno is confident that his skills, experience, and preparation will give him the edge. With both fighters putting their undefeated records on the line, Cedeno understands there's little room for mistakes. “This is a big moment for me, and I'm excited about the opportunity,” said Cedeno. “I've worked hard to get to this point in my career, and these are the types of fights I've been asking for. Orobio is a good fighter with a lot of power. But I believe in myself and what I bring to the ring. I'm confident in my abilities, and I'm going to do everything I can to come out with the victory.”
Cedeno has been putting in the work during training camp, focusing on being prepared for a tough, competitive fight. While Orobio's knockout percentage speaks for itself, Cedeno believes his ability to box, make adjustments, and stay composed will play a big role in the outcome. “I know he's going to come forward and try to impose his power, but I'm ready for that,” Cedeno continued. “My plan is to be smart, use my jab, control the distance, and not get caught up in fighting his fight. I've got power too, but I don't need to go looking for a knockout. If the opportunity comes, I'll take it. The most important thing is getting my hand raised at the end of the night.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, believes this is the right time for Cedeno to take on a challenge of this magnitude. “This is a huge fight for Hendri, and we're excited to see him get this opportunity,” said Piedra. “You don't often see two undefeated fighters with this kind of punching power facing each other at this stage of their careers. Hendri has worked extremely hard to get here, and we believe he's ready for this challenge. He's got the talent, the power, and the mindset to compete with the best fighters at 140 pounds. A win over Orobio would be a big statement and could put him in a great position moving forward. This is the kind of fight that can really open doors for him, and we're confident he's going to rise to the occasion.”
With November 12th approaching, Cedeno is keeping his focus on the task at hand. He knows a victory over another undefeated fighter would be a significant accomplishment, but he's not looking past Orobio or thinking too far ahead. “Right now, all I'm thinking about is November 12,” Cedeno concluded. “I know what's at stake, and I know this fight can lead to bigger things for me and my family. I've put in too much work to let this opportunity pass me by. I'm going to leave everything in the ring, and I believe I'll be the one walking away with the belt. This is my chance to show people that I'm ready for the next level.”
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Results from Korea |
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Bo-Mi-Re Shin TKO5 Adelina Satybaldieva ... Yong-In, South Korea played host to a fight card that required no scorecards. In the women’s lightweight division, South Korean star Bo-Mi-Re Shin delivered a masterclass against Adelina Satybaldieva (0-2). Shin took control of the center of the ring from the opening bell, mixing straight punches to the head with a relentless body attack that gradually wore down the visitor from Kyrgyzstan. Shin is best known for a failed title challenge vs. Alycia Baumgardner earlier this year. The finish came in the fifth round, when the hometown fighter turned up the pressure and unleashed an unanswered flurry against the ropes, forcing the referee to step in and stop the contest. .
Isroilzhon Sultonov TKO9 Hu Xiong... Meanwhile, the men's junior welterweight fight turned out better for Kyrgyzstan. It featured a grueling battle of attrition between Isroilzhon Sultonov (5-1) and durable Chinese fighter Hu Xiong (9-2). Although Xiong put up a fight in the early rounds by pressing the action at close range, Sultonov gradually took control with superior accuracy and counterpunching. After breaking down his opponent over the championship rounds, Sultonov sealed the deal in the ninth, unleashing a decisive barrage that forced the referee to stop the contest and award him the technical knockout victory.
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Results from Korea
Bo-Mi-Re Shin TKO5 Adelina Satybaldieva ... Yong-In, South Korea played host to a fight card that required no scorecards. In the women’s lightweight division, South Korean star Bo-Mi-Re Shin delivered a masterclass against Adelina Satybaldieva (0-2). Shin took control of the center of the ring from the opening bell, mixing straight punches to the head with a relentless body attack that gradually wore down the visitor from Kyrgyzstan. Shin is best known for a failed title challenge vs. Alycia Baumgardner earlier this year. The finish came in the fifth round, when the hometown fighter turned up the pressure and unleashed an unanswered flurry against the ropes, forcing the referee to step in and stop the contest. .
Isroilzhon Sultonov TKO9 Hu Xiong... Meanwhile, the men's junior welterweight fight turned out better for Kyrgyzstan. It featured a grueling battle of attrition between Isroilzhon Sultonov (5-1) and durable Chinese fighter Hu Xiong (9-2). Although Xiong put up a fight in the early rounds by pressing the action at close range, Sultonov gradually took control with superior accuracy and counterpunching. After breaking down his opponent over the championship rounds, Sultonov sealed the deal in the ninth, unleashing a decisive barrage that forced the referee to stop the contest and award him the technical knockout victory.
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USA gets two golds at World Boxing's Under-19 championship |
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The 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships, held in Budva, Montenegro, concluded on October 27th. Team USA sent fifteen boxers (eight men and seven women) to the World Boxing Championships, and the competition ended with the Stars and Stripes earning two gold medals. On Tuesday, three women stepped into the ring for Team USA, including team captain Lauryn Elmore (women’s 143 pounds) and Marley McNealy (women’s 154 pounds). McNealy was the first of the three to enter the ring, and she got the day started with a gold medal, defeating Uzbekistan’s Maftuna Yangieva by a 4:1 split decision. The San Francisco native won the first round 5:0 and never looked back, winning the second round 4:1 and the final round 3:2. In her gold medal run, she earned four dominant victories, including two unanimous decision wins, one RSC (referee stopped contest) victory, and then her 4:1 split decision victory in the gold medal round. This marks her second international medal, as she won bronze earlier this year at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Thailand. Rounding out the day, Team USA saw Elmore enter the ring, and she ended her impressive run with her second gold medal of the year. The Sacramento native defeated Russia’s Bella Zueva by unanimous decision, 5:0, after a gritty and resilient comeback. Elmore lost the first round 5:0, but answered by sweeping the final two rounds, winning each 5:0. She went on to win four bouts in Montenegro, including two by unanimous decision and two by 3:2 split decision. She ends her 2026 international campaign 7-0, with two gold medals. She now has three international medals, including a bronze in 2025 at the 2025 Brandenburg Cup in Germany. In addition to Team USA’s two gold medals, Ruby Lopez (women’s 112 pounds) also earned a silver medal. On Tuesday, she entered the ring for the fifth time, but fell short, losing by a 4:1 split decision to Uzbekistan’s Nazokat Mardonova. Lopez won four matches on her silver-medal run, including a 4:0 semifinal win to reach the final, a 3:2 win over China to secure the medal, and a unanimous decision and RSC win in the preliminary rounds. Team USA earned five medals in Budva, Montenegro, at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships. Asaan Jenkins (men’s 143 pounds) and Guadalupe Ruiz (women’s 119 pounds) secured bronze medals for Team USA, with Jenkins winning four bouts and Ruiz winning two. Jenkins' bronze medal marks his second bronze of the year, while Ruiz's marks her second medal, after she won gold in Thailand. All medalists are listed below. After the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships, Team USA has closed out its international competition schedule for the year. The USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team will now turn its attention to the 2027 calendar year.
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USA gets two golds at World Boxing's Under-19 championship
The 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships, held in Budva, Montenegro, concluded on October 27th. Team USA sent fifteen boxers (eight men and seven women) to the World Boxing Championships, and the competition ended with the Stars and Stripes earning two gold medals. On Tuesday, three women stepped into the ring for Team USA, including team captain Lauryn Elmore (women’s 143 pounds) and Marley McNealy (women’s 154 pounds). McNealy was the first of the three to enter the ring, and she got the day started with a gold medal, defeating Uzbekistan’s Maftuna Yangieva by a 4:1 split decision. The San Francisco native won the first round 5:0 and never looked back, winning the second round 4:1 and the final round 3:2. In her gold medal run, she earned four dominant victories, including two unanimous decision wins, one RSC (referee stopped contest) victory, and then her 4:1 split decision victory in the gold medal round. This marks her second international medal, as she won bronze earlier this year at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Thailand. Rounding out the day, Team USA saw Elmore enter the ring, and she ended her impressive run with her second gold medal of the year. The Sacramento native defeated Russia’s Bella Zueva by unanimous decision, 5:0, after a gritty and resilient comeback. Elmore lost the first round 5:0, but answered by sweeping the final two rounds, winning each 5:0. She went on to win four bouts in Montenegro, including two by unanimous decision and two by 3:2 split decision. She ends her 2026 international campaign 7-0, with two gold medals. She now has three international medals, including a bronze in 2025 at the 2025 Brandenburg Cup in Germany. In addition to Team USA’s two gold medals, Ruby Lopez (women’s 112 pounds) also earned a silver medal. On Tuesday, she entered the ring for the fifth time, but fell short, losing by a 4:1 split decision to Uzbekistan’s Nazokat Mardonova. Lopez won four matches on her silver-medal run, including a 4:0 semifinal win to reach the final, a 3:2 win over China to secure the medal, and a unanimous decision and RSC win in the preliminary rounds. Team USA earned five medals in Budva, Montenegro, at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships. Asaan Jenkins (men’s 143 pounds) and Guadalupe Ruiz (women’s 119 pounds) secured bronze medals for Team USA, with Jenkins winning four bouts and Ruiz winning two. Jenkins' bronze medal marks his second bronze of the year, while Ruiz's marks her second medal, after she won gold in Thailand. All medalists are listed below. After the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships, Team USA has closed out its international competition schedule for the year. The USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team will now turn its attention to the 2027 calendar year.
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