Today marks the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali regaining the world heavyweight title when he knocked out George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” It’s a fight that has been endlessly written about since, so trying to uncover more than one or two facts that are not common knowledge was far from an easy task.
1. On April 1, 1974, Radio Cameroon celebrated April Fools’ Day with a spoof report that stated “Cassius Clay” was in Yaounde, the country’s capital, to start training camp for his contest with George Foreman. The joke was intended to be an obvious one – particularly when someone who had a deep African accent pretended to be Muhammad Ali – but when the station offered 50 free tickets to a bogus Ali exhibition, its offices were suddenly swamped with listeners eager to get their hands on one.
2. A vast number of media members were expected to descend on Zaire for the fight, which was originally scheduled to take place on September 25, 1974. Zairian officials established a procedure for applying for accreditation, with American and European journalists sending their requests to Murray Goodman in New York and journalists from the rest of the world to contact the Union of Journalists in Zaire. The media was invited to apply from July 10.
3. All members of the media who attended the contest were warned beforehand that should they “fabricate, print, sell, circulate or distribute” any of the publicity materials for the fight, they would be imprisoned for one year.
4. Ali was supposed to have an exhibition on June 10 in Libreville, Gabon. The Gabonese press reported, “One more proof of fruitful exchanges which characterize excellent relations between the US and Gabon.” However, with Ali packed and ready to head to Gabon, the exhibition was cancelled because his contract with the government of Zaire “precludes any fight in Africa prior to bout in Kinshasa.”
5. On June 22, at the Boxing Writers’ Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Foreman and Ali tangled on the podium in front of the 900 guests in attendance. As the fighters were separated, Ali picked up some drinking glasses from the dais and threw them at Foreman, shouting, “You tore my suit! You tore my suit!”
6. Foreman wasn’t in much better shape himself; by the time he entered an elevator with Joe Frazier, his shirt was torn almost completely off. The world heavyweight champion was heard to say to Don King as he left, “You’d better get me two bodyguards any time I’m going near him again.”
7. Video Techniques, a company owned by Henry Schwartz that filmed and distributed major sporting events, acted as the co-promoter alongside Hemdale Film Corporation. The Rumble in the Jungle would mark the first telecast from the former Republic of Zaire. Schwartz was a close ally of Don King, who gained the signatures of Foreman and Ali on the strength of a promise to pay them $5 million each.
8. King did not have $10 million, however. Fred Weymar, a U.S. advisor to Zaire’s dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, was used as the middleman to get the funding in place.
9. Recognizing the likelihood of problems that may arise due to staging such a huge event, the American embassy in Kinshasa sought advice from its equivalent in Caracas, Venezuela, the site of Foreman’s victory over Ken Norton. The response, via telegram, from the Caracas embassy read in part: “My recommendation is that both fighters and managers come with visas of equivalent validity. For example, Henry Schwartz skipped out of Venezuela the day after the fight, leaving behind a TV crew of 20 and a million-dollar TV van, to say nothing of the two fighters, one of whom, Foreman, languished about the hotel pool for a week until he could get permission to depart after his income tax was paid.”
10. The telegram concluded: “Having seen my mutual gentle friend Foreman hit, I should say that if Muhammad gets in the way of such a fist, he will be rapidly translated to his Muslim masters, either Allah or Shaitan.”
11. Prior to staging the Rumble in the Jungle, the Stade du 20 Mai played host to a soccer match in front of 38,000 spectators in May. Some rather ambitious plans for renovation were reported in August; increasing the capacity to 120,000 with 4,000 “ringside” seats to be sold for $250. There were hotel expansions planned alongside housing projects to accommodate the anticipated 12,000 foreign visitors, with an extra 200 buses to be added to the city’s existing fleet of 500. “Oh, well,” wrote Randy Neuman in The New York Times, “it’s cheaper than hosting the Olympics.”
12. On September 17, 1974, Foreman – during one his final sparring sessions – was caught by Bill McMurray’s elbow and left with a cut above his right eye that would need a reported 11 stitches. Suddenly, Foreman-Ali was in jeopardy.
13. Zaire 74, a three-day music festival designed to take place in the build-up to the fight, carried on regardless. The September 22-24 extravaganza included performances from James Brown, Celia Cruz, Fania All-Stars, B.B. King, Miriam Makeba, Bill Withers, the Spinners, the Crusaders and Manu Dibango.
14. On the afternoon of September 25, a press conference was called during which Foreman refused to confirm that he had agreed to the rescheduled date of October 30. Appearing somewhat agitated, Foreman responded to a reporter questioning him about the new date. “You want to fight now?” Big George said when asked if the fight would take place on October 30. “Come on up here and we’ll fight now. Otherwise, shut up.”
15. After being persuaded by Don King to stay in Africa and fight on October 30, reporters were called back in the evening to “clear up a few things.” Foreman, who claimed his earlier address was facetious, said: “The promoters say it will be the [30th], then I will have to fight on the [30th] if I want the money.”
16. Ali labelled the fight “the biggest event in the history of the world since Roman gladiators.”
17. Though Foreman had been only 10 rounds on three occasions and his previous eight fights had all ended before the third round, he said: “I’m made for 15 rounds, I’m the champion. I feel 100 per cent confident. I just feel I’m getting better and better.”
18. Angelo Dundee, Ali’s trainer, predicted a knockout victory for his charge. “My man is gonna knock out George Foreman in nine, 10 or 11. It’s not gonna be leg speed that wins this. It’s gonna be movement – head movement, hand movement, body movement.”
19. On October 26, it emerged that experienced official and chairman of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission Zack Clayton was the “foremost candidate” to be the referee. Dundee approved of Clayton but Dick Sadler complained that both Clayton and Ali were from Pennsylvania, alluding to the challenger’s Deer Lake training camp.
20. Asked whether he would lodge an official complaint about Clayton’s expected appointment, Sadler said with a smile, “[No] I don’t want to go to jail.” The only other official in the running to be the referee was Ghana’s Godfrey Amarteifio. The following day, Clayton was confirmed as the man in the middle.
21. The weigh-in took place late (11 p.m.) on October 27, three days before the contest. It was held at Stade du 20 Mai – the fight venue – in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 12,000. One excited local onlooker told The New York Times, “I will tell my children and their children of what I saw tonight.”
22. Ali, wearing a green shirt with a picture of Mobuto upon it, arrived at the weigh-in at 10:15 p.m., and Foreman – dressed in a long, brown African robe – showed up a little under 10 minutes later. By then, a carnival atmosphere had gripped the stadium as a band played and a male chorus sang, “George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, you are not foreigners but sons of Africa.”
23. Ali weighed 216.5lbs compared to Foreman’s 220.
24. Before the fight a confident Foreman claimed he had handed his trainer, Dick Sadler, $25,000 to give to referee Zack Clayton. This was not a bribe in the common sense of the word – he merely wanted to make sure that Clayton pulled Foreman away from Ali so that he wouldn’t hit him when he was down and get disqualified.
25. The scheduled 15-round contest, in which Foreman was reported as either a 3-1 or 4-1 betting favorite, began at 4 a.m. local time to accommodate American TV audiences. Ordinarily, at 4 a.m. in Zaire in 1974, only laborers at the textile factory would be up and working.
26. The undercard – designed purely for the television audience – took place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and featured victories for Terry Rondeau, Paul Osborne, Joey Hadley and Bobby Stewart. The only fight other than Ali-Foreman to take place in Zaire saw Shako Mamba knock out Antonio Oke in six rounds.
27. Foreman was driven from his Intercontinental Hotel to the stadium in a Citroen, whereas Ali was transported, alongside his sizable entourage, in a Mercedes-Benz bus on the 40-mile trip from his villa at the N’Sele Diplomatic Complex.
28. Foreman entered the arena and arrived in the carpeted dressing room situated underneath the stadium at 2:30 a.m. Ali would arrive 30 minutes later.
29. Zaire’s plans to host 120,000 fell substantially short. Even so, 60,000 was an impressive attendance and an estimated 50 million watched on television.
30. The reason for Ali’s tardiness was his robe. “Somebody forgot his robe,” a member of his entourage explained, “and they had to send back to get it.” In the meantime, Ali walked out to survey the swelling crowd, taking in the multitude of the occasion, albeit unseen to almost everyone.
31. Before the main event the national anthems of America and Zaire were played. During this time, Ali mocked an oblivious Foreman and, when the champion sat to have his gloves tied, the challenger swooped and taunted him, much to the delight of the pro-Ali crowd.
32. At the end of the first round, Ali sat on his stool and looked across at Foreman and winked at him.
33. After the third round, Ali took a detour to his stool via a closed-circuit TV camera and made a face.
34. Before the sixth round, an increasingly concerned Angelo Dundee hurried across the ring to confront a Zaire official who was trying to tighten the sagging top rope. Dundee told him, with obvious annoyance, that he was in fact loosening the boundary and making it worse. The trainer then told Ali to stay off the ropes – which he did for most of the round.
35. After Foreman was counted out in Round 8, Ali sat down in the ring for several moments. Almost immediately, fans swarmed around him, eager to congratulate their hero. It would take several minutes before the Zairian police and paratroopers could return a semblance of order to the scene.
36. Perhaps the greatest misconception regarding the fight was that Ali had taken a one-sided pasting before he burst from the ropes to score a knockout in the eighth. At the time of the stoppage, Ali led on all three scorecards: referee Zach Clayton had Ali leading by 68-66 (4-2-1 in rounds); Nourridine Adalla liked Ali by 70-67 (4-0-3); and James Taylor had the challenger 69-66 (4-1-2) in front.
37. In a program produced for Channel 4 in the U.K. in 2002, the fight between Ali and Foreman was named as the seventh-greatest sporting moment in history. For context, the rather British-centric list had Steve Redgrave winning his fifth Olympic gold medal at the top, Diego Maradona’s handball against England in 1986 as high as sixth and Torvill and Dean’s “Bolero” routine just below the Rumble in the Jungle at eighth.
38. In a nod to the fight’s significance, a photo of Foreman falling to the canvas with Ali standing over him was the lead image on the cover of several major American newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Daily News. This is even more remarkable when one considers that, on the same day, Richard Nixon (who had resigned from the American presidency less than three months before) was in critical condition in hospital after going into shock post-surgery – the lead story for The New York Times.
39. According to Ali’s biographer, Thomas Hauser, the tactics that would be immortalized as “rope a dope” were not preordained and were, in part, inspired by the great Archie Moore. “Against George, the ring was slow,” Ali told Hauser as they watched the fight together in 1989. “Dancing all night, my legs would have got tired. … In the first round, I used more energy staying away from him than he used chasing me. I was tired-er than I should have been with 14 rounds to go. … I decided to do what I did in training when I got tired. It was something Archie Moore used to do. He let younger men take their shots and blocked everything in scientific fashion. Then, when they got tired, Archie would attack. Not everyone can do that. It takes a lot of skill.”
40. On November 4, 1974, George Foreman demanded that the WBC and the WBA investigate the fight, citing three irregularities. One, the count was too quick. Two, the ropes had been tampered with. Three, the canvas was soggy and soft. The aim was not for the result to be overturned but for an immediate rematch to be ordered.
41. On the same day, Angelo Dundee responded to Foreman’s claims. He said that he and Bobby Goodman went to the stadium at 10 p.m. on the eve of the fight and worked on the ropes for five hours. “The ring was in terrible shape,” Dundee said. “The ropes were as loose as clotheslines. If they had been left like that, a fighter could have broken his neck. … Instead of complaining, Foreman should thank us.”
42. Also on November 4, referee Clayton’s memories of the fight were published by newspapers. They focused on Ali baiting Foreman throughout the contest. “During one of the clinches, Ali told Foreman that he looked tired,” Clayton remembered. “Then Ali said: ‘This is the worst place to get tired, young fella. You're here all by yourself and the referee can't help you.’”
43. Many years later, a mellowed and reflective Foreman said about Ali’s victory, “It was the performance of a lifetime. I just wish I’d been able to tell him right after it happened.”
44. At the time, however, Foreman struggled to cope. According to his brother, Roy, George spent $400,000 in three months after being knocked out by Ali, with much of the cash going on gifts for friends and family. “He was afraid people wouldn’t love him anymore,” Roy said.
45. Foreman focused on making his in-ring persona grow even more menacing. When he floored Joe Frazier in their 1976 rematch, he stood over him and sneered at the audience. “I was one step away from putting my foot on the man’s chest,” he said afterwards. “I thought if I killed a man, it would only make me more vicious. After I’d lost to Ali, I’d decided I needed more hate.”
46. In March 1977, a sequel between Ali and Foreman was close to being finalized. Thirteen million dollars were to be shared between them; all George had to do was beat Jimmy Young. Still haunted by losing in Zaire, Foreman cornered Young in Rounds 3 and 7 but later claimed he wanted to prove that he had the stamina required for a distance fight. In the end, Young deservedly won the decision, Foreman had his famous religious episode in the dressing room, and he wouldn’t fight again until 1987.
47. In 1978, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Foreman would admit – for the first time – that the loss to Ali was fair and square. “I just got beat,” he said. Thirty years later, he identified that interview as the moment he started to move on.
48. Foreman and Ali would become friends of sorts following the former’s first retirement. Foreman would worry about Ali, often urging him to retire. They squabbled about their religious beliefs, with Foreman futilely asking his old rival to embrace Christianity. Prior to the Larry Holmes fight in 1980, Foreman had visions that Ali would end up in a coma and called to warn him. “If that’s true, George,” Ali responded, “God’s gonna mess up a good man because I’m gonna give all my money to poor folks.”
49. In 1984, Ali and Foreman were reunited by ABC on a broadcast to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle. Foreman was disturbed by Ali’s deteriorating health. Afterwards, he said: “I’m trying to find the right words. He was a tough old boy – I’ll be honest – a better fighter than me. But now I just feel sorry for him. I just want him to have some dignity. … I’d like to teach Ali how to fish. He needs something so he don’t just sit there staring into space. I think that’s why my mind keeps going back to him. Deep down, me and him are the same kind of person.”
50. In 1994, Foreman sensationally regained the world heavyweight title at the age of 45 when he knocked out Michael Moorer. It was widely reported that he wore the same shorts that he sported in Zaire, 20 years previously. Foreman would later explain that they may not have been the exact pair: “Everlast had made a series of trunks for me when I was heavyweight champion the first time. There was a tag on them that said, ‘Specially made for George Foreman, heavyweight champion of the world.’ I had held on to a couple of pairs, and I said to myself, ‘When I go into the ring this time [against Moorer], even though I’ll be introduced as the challenger, I’m going to feel like the champ.’”
In this week’s mailbag, we tackle your thoughts on two potential fights (Canelo Alvarez vs. Chris Eubank Jr. and Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev) and on two fighters you feel should retire (Regis Prograis and Campbell Hatton).
Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.
NOT THRILLED AT THE THOUGHT OF CANELO VS. CHRIS EUBANK JR.
Canelo has earned the right to fight who he wants at this point (“ Talks restart about Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-Chris Eubank Jr. ”), and that's cool if you wanna take the fights where you're gonna be paid big money. But vacate the belts — because the 168-pound division is so stagnant and all these guys seem to just want to sit around and hopefully get picked by Canelo.
-Boxing2695
David Greisman’s response: You really got to the heart of the matter here. Canelo wants to have complete control of his career, even if that means selecting opponents who go over like a fart in church. And he also wants to be seen as the best super middleweight in the world. Which he still is. But being the best comes with a responsibility to take on your top contenders.
WE CAN STILL GET NAOYA INOUE VS. MURODJON AKHMADALIEV
If this (“ Murodjon Akhmadaliev tops doubleheader in Monte Carlo ”) is what makes MJ take a stay-busy fight, then sure, why not. It also keeps the April match [potentially against Naoya Inoue] possible. I give up on MJ if he gets injured or god forbid loses to Ricardo Espinoza Franco — not worth it at that point.
David Greisman’s response: This feels like a reasonable compromise given the situation at junior featherweight.
Ten days after Akhmadaeliv-Franco, Inoue will face Goodman. And Top Rank is hoping to bring Inoue to Las Vegas in April 2025. Inoue vs. Akhmadaliev would be ideal for that date. The plan, if Inoue wins, would then be to bring Inoue back to Japan, potentially for a super-fight with bantamweight titleholder Junto Nakatani.
AFTER LOSS TO JACK CATTERALL, TIME FOR REGIS PROGRAIS TO RETIRE
Regis Prograis is a ruined fighter now. Both his reflexes and reaction time are a split second slower now. He has been dropped a total of four times in his past three previous fights and has had trouble getting his punches off, which are telltale signs of an aging fighter.
Moreover, he injured both his ankle and knee in this fight, and he even admitted that he got tired and winded in those championship rounds. In this case, I must err on the side of caution for both his well-being and the sake of his health by saying that it is time for Prograis to retire. He doesn't have to be a gatekeeper for these young, up-and-coming fighters.
David Greisman’s response: On the one hand, Regis Prograis has lost to three good fighters: Josh Taylor, Devin Haney and Jack Catterall. On the other hand, those losses show that Prograis can’t succeed at the highest level.
Prograis has gone back and forth with his decision in the few days since being defeated by Catterall. He’s mentioned retiring from traditional boxing and taking up bare-knuckle fights. And he’s since said that he’ll go on. He’s mentioned a potential move to welterweight.
If he’s going to return, that’s going to mean diminishing returns.
That doesn’t mean these opportunities, and those paydays, are worth it.
TIME TO CLOSE THE BOOK ON CAMPBELL HATTON AFTER SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS
Campell Hatton has no real future anyway (“ Jimmy Joe Flint doubles Campbell Hatton's agony to threaten Hatton's future ”). He’s nothing but a journeyman with a famous father.
-deathofaclown
David Greisman’s response: Sometimes cliches are grounded in truth. But when it comes to professional sports, it’s hard to agree that the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.
It was always going to be difficult for the children to try to follow in their famed family members’ footsteps. We can get annoyed at the fact they are receiving airtime and attention that would be better invested in other prospects and contenders who are more likely to succeed in the sweet science.
Then again, we the viewers are enabling the promoters, manager and networks. We tune in out of curiosity, the same way that we’ve propped up Jake Paul’s foray into the sport.
Indeed, as the song said: There’s only one Ricky Hatton.
Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.
BELFAST – Padraig McCrory and Leonard Carillo met for the penultimate time today at the final press conference ahead of their bout at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The contest that will be televised live on ProBox TV, in association with Conlan Boxing, and it will be the broadcaster’s first boxing event in the United Kingdom. Head of Conlan Boxing, Jamie Conlan, is thrilled to be working with ProBox TV and is excited to bring more opportunities to more fighters from the UK.
“The ProBox TV setup mirrors our ethos,” said Conlan. “50/50 fights and giving everybody an opportunity. Trying to build prospects and putting them in career-defining fights and trying to create champions. This is where we get our bread and butter. Belfast is our home, and we believe in Belfast fighters.
“We believe in the man to the right of me, who is Padraig McCrory. He’s become a cult figure here in Belfast, come through the small hall scene, built his following. Lives and breathes the sport but has phenomenal punch power in both hands. On Friday, he’s in with a real risky, tricky, awkward Leonard Carillo. It’s a real 50/50 fight and I don’t believe this fight goes past six rounds – it’s a real shootout, as we said [Edgar] Berlanga was going to be, but this time hopefully in our favor.”
McCrory will be fighting in his first contest since suffering defeat to Berlanga earlier this year. The fighter is delighted to be boxing in front of a packed out SSE Arena after spending the majority of his career on the small hall circuit and on undercards.
“I’ve been pro now about seven years and it’s all come down to this,” said McCrory. “Main event at the SSE Arena – where I made my debut and had my second fight in an empty stadium. Now to get to here has been a great journey, I’m very humbled by the support, it’s been a great turnout.
“I’m fighting a guy who’s got a 94 per cent knockout ratio, and he’s very dangerous, but it’s a fight I must win to get back to big-time boxing. I would love to bring it back to Belfast because every time I come here, I perform, I show up, and people come out to watch.”
Carillo will making his ProBox TV debut. The puncher, who has scored 16 stoppages in 17 victories as a professional, is looking forward to showcasing his skills to the Irish crowd.
“I feel very grateful to be here and to have the opportunity on ProBox TV,” said Carillo. “I’m grateful to be on an app like this that’s putting real talent out there. I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills and show how I’m built as a fighter.”
You can catch all Friday night’s action by downloading the ProBox TV app or watching live on the ProBox TV YouTube channel using this link . Tickets for the event can be purchased here .
On November 15, women’s boxing will witness a historic moment as Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano face each other once again. The fight will take place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, and is set as the co-main event on a stellar card that features Mike Tyson and Jake Paul in the main event.
Taylor and Serrano previously clashed on April 30, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York. In that initial encounter, Taylor claimed victory by split decision in a nail-biting fight that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. It was an even match, with both boxers showcasing their skill and dedication in the ring.
For this rematch, Taylor and Serrano will compete at a contracted weight of 138 pounds, adding intrigue to the bout. In a recent interview with the Irish Mirror, Taylor explained the weight change. “I think we’re probably the same size, to be honest,” Taylor told the Irish Mirror on a call with media members on Tuesday. “The fight has actually been made at 138; it’s a catchweight. But I think if you look at myself and Serrano, we’re the same size. I could make 126 pounds as well if I tried. I don’t think she’s looked too well at that weight for the last few fights,” the Irish boxer mentioned.Katie Taylor also expressed feeling comfortable at this weight, stating she feels strong and prepared for the challenge.
“She looks drained from making that weight, so I don’t know if it’s any advantage or not, but I certainly feel good at this weight; I feel strong at this weight,” noted Taylor.
For her part, Amanda Serrano has maintained an impressive record (47-2-1) since her first fight with Taylor. Following that loss, Serrano has secured five consecutive victories, including her most recent bout, where she defeated Stevie Morgan by stoppage in the second round on July 20 in Tampa. This winning streak showcases Serrano’s excellent form and renewed focus, as she seeks to avenge her only recent defeat and claim victory.
Katie Taylor, with a record of 23 wins and only one loss, has also sustained her competitive momentum. Her last fight was against Chantelle Cameron on November 25, 2023, in Dublin, Ireland, where Taylor won by majority decision in the tenth round. This victory underscores Taylor’s tenacity, as she aims to further solidify her position as one of the greatest boxers in history.3 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE BIGGEST FIGHT NIGHT IN HISTORY!🥊
Main Card: 🇺🇸🇵🇷 Jake Paul vs. 🇺🇸 Mike Tyson 🇮🇪 Katie Taylor vs. 🇵🇷 Amanda Serrano 🇲🇽 Mario Barrios vs. 🇲🇽 Abel Ramos 🇮🇳 Neeraj Goyat vs. 🇧🇷 Whindersson Nunes @boxer_barrios
Prelims: 🇺🇸 Shadasia Green vs. 🇨🇦 Melinda… pic.twitter.com/dPoSz3O2f8
— Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) October 25, 2024
Marco Verde, a 2024 Olympic silver medalist, announced he will not wait to see the future of Olympic boxing and will instead enter professional boxing, enlisting Eddy Reynoso – the manager and trainer of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez – as his manager.
However, Reynoso will not be training Verde.
At last summer’s Paris Games, Verde, 22, lost in the 71kg gold medal match to Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev, settling for silver. Before the 2024 Olympics, Verde claimed a gold medal at the Pan-Am Games.
Entering the professional ranks, Verde – from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico – stood as his country’s most promising Olympic men’s boxer since Oscar Valdez. (Misael Rodriguez earned a bronze in 2016.)
“I am very pleased to share that Eddy Reynoso will be my manager and representative as I begin my journey in professional boxing,” Verde wrote on X, translated from Spanish. “I fully trust his experience and vision. Radames Hernandez is my coach, and I will continue training in Mazatlan. I’ll wait until 2025 to see if Olympic boxing continues.”
Reynoso posted on X (also translated): “It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with a successful and disciplined athlete. In Marco Verde, Mexico has a future world champion.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
Heavyweight great Lennox Lewis was so inspired by the Rumble in the Jungle, he went about his own way trying to emulate it.
Muhammad Ali famously toppled the previously indestructible George Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Africa, 50 years ago today.
In April 2001, Lewis travelled to South Africa to defend his title against Hasim Rahman, but the American was in the underdog role and stopped Lewis with a crashing right hand in five rounds.
Lewis avenged the loss with an even more emphatic right hand seven months later in Las Vegas. Still, Ali-Foreman has remained a source of inspiration for the former champion.
“Absolutely, let me tell you why it’s so meaningful to me,” Lewis said. “Because I had a fight in Africa as well, and in my career, I said, ‘Yeah, Muhammad Ali went and had a fight in Africa,’ so when I had the opportunity, I took it. It didn’t work out as well for me as it did for Muhammad Ali, but the rematch definitely worked out for me.”
Lewis also said that the bout in Zaire would be one of the fights that he would have always liked to have been ringside for. Then, just a nine-year-old living in Canada having moved from London, Lewis had not yet thrown a punch in anger, but he would learn about what happened in Zaire in time.
“Oh yeah, even hearing all the stories about ‘Ali Bom-aye’, and them calling that out to him when he got into the country, and how Africans deal with superstars, they’re happy, they’re excited. They’re full of joy.”
Ahead of a UK speaking tour that starts this week, Lennox talked about the night Muhammad Ali – whom Lewis was a pallbearer for at Ali’s funeral – and Foreman shared history in Kinshasa. Lewis spent time with both fighters in the ensuing years.
“Absolutely, Muhammad Ali is my hero, George Foreman is a hero of mine,” Lewis added. “Both guys, I learned different things off. Obviously Muhammad Ali’s movement – float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, hit and don’t get hit. George Foreman helped me with the hands [positioning] and defense and throwing some punches. And he used to commentate on my fights [for HBO], and I used to listen to him all the time. This is why when you listen to people commentate and talk about you, you can learn things.”
Lewis’ tour takes in Wolverhampton, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Maidstone, Sheffield, Great Yarmouth and Blackpool and tickets can be purchased at goldstarpromotions.co.uk/events.
Queensberry Promotions has unveiled the official card for the highly anticipated show, “The Magnificent 7,” set to take place on December 7 at the OVO Arena in Wembley. The night will be headlined by an exciting middleweight title defense, where British champion Brad Pauls will face Denzel Bentley, the current WBO international champion, in a battle that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats.Brad Pauls vs. Denzel Bentley
Brad Pauls, known as the “Newquay Bomb,” will make his first defense of the British middleweight belt. Pauls, who also holds the WBA Continental title, comes with an impressive record of 19-1-1, including 4 knockouts. In July, Pauls claimed the title by knocking out Nathan Heaney, marking a strong comeback after a draw in their first encounter.
He will face Denzel Bentley, an experienced challenger with a record of 20-3-1 and 17 wins by knockout. Bentley has established himself as a force in the division, recording two consecutive second-round wins since losing his British title in 2023. Bentley currently ranks second in the WBO standings, bringing him closer to a potential world title shot.Sam Noakes vs. Ryan Walsh
The card also includes a lightweight clash for the British, Commonwealth, and WBO International titles, in which Sam Noakes (15-0, 14 KOs) will face Ryan Walsh, a veteran with a record of 29-4-2. Known for his explosive power, Noakes is one of the most exciting names in the division and will defend his European crown after stopping Gianluca Ceglia in his last appearance. Walsh, 38, showed his resilience by defeating Reece Mould, adding tension to this clash of styles.Solomon Dacres vs. David Adeleye
The English heavyweight title will be on the line in a showdown between Solomon Dacres (9-0, 3 KOs) and David Adeleye (12-1, 11 KOs). Dacres, who has successfully defended his title against opponents like Michael Webster, will now face Adeleye, returning to the ring after a loss to Fabio Wardley. Both fighters aim to establish themselves on the British heavyweight scene in what is expected to be one of the most intense fights of the night.Lawrence Okolie’s Heavyweight Debut
World champion Lawrence Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs) will make his heavyweight debut against Germany’s Hussein Muhamed (18-1, 14 KOs) in a championship bout. Former cruiserweight champion Okolie is ready to make an impact in the premier weight class, in what will be one of the night’s key moments.
Pierce O’Leary (15-0, 8 KOs), WBC International super lightweight champion, will aim to make his fifth title defense while aspiring to a future world championship opportunity. Sean Noakes (8-0, 4 KOs) will also defend his English welterweight title against Mathew Rennie (13-0-1, 1 KO), a southpaw undefeated fighter from Douglas, Isle of Man.
In another matchup, young Aloys Jr (8-1, 7 KOs) and Lewis Oakford (6-1) will battle for the WBA Continental and Commonwealth Silver cruiserweight belts. Aloys Jr, one of Britain’s most promising talents, recently defeated Oronzo Birardi, while Oakford seeks to reaffirm himself after his victory over Deevorn Miller.Statements from Frank Warren, Promoter at Queensberry Promotions
Frank Warren expressed his enthusiasm for the event: “This is yet another thrilling card, fully in keeping with our Magnificent Seven series, where once again our fighters step up into serious title action in largely even-money fights. There is something for everyone on this card and I am delighted to transport the Magnificent Seven concept to London for the first time,” Warren concluded.
The night of December 7 in Wembley is set to be an event full of excitement and action across every division. The “Magnificent 7” series marks a new milestone in British boxing, with bouts that could change the course of these fighters’ careers.The Magnificent 7 Heads to London.
It is an early December boxing cracker with a card packed full of action and titles on the line. 😤
Tickets on sale tomorrow @AXS_UK and @TicketmasterUKpic.twitter.com/SUsLQWeaO0
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) October 30, 2024
As the boxing world eagerly anticipates Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, a consensus is forming among boxing experts and former champions, including Lennox Lewis and Daniel Dubois, that Fury must adopt a more aggressive approach to secure victory. However, the crucial question remains: could this aggressive strategy ultimately backfire?
Aggression, while often viewed as a pathway to success in the ring, comes with inherent risks, especially when facing a fighter of Usyk’s caliber. Known for his exceptional footwork and tactical acumen, Usyk excels at creating angles and exploiting openings. An all-out offensive may appear appealing, but it may lead Fury directly into a carefully laid trap.
Envision Fury charging forward, determined to overwhelm Usyk with a barrage of punches. In doing so, he risks exposing himself to Usyk's counterattacks, an area where the Ukrainian fighter particularly thrives. Usyk’s ability to pivot and respond with precision could leave Fury vulnerable, turning his aggression against him.
History is replete with examples of fighters who have fallen victim to the seductive lure of aggression, only to find themselves outmaneuvered and outsmarted. As Fury seeks to impose his will on the fight, will he inadvertently compromise his defense? A singular focus on aggression could also lead to fatigue, especially over the course of a 12-round bout. If Fury finds himself exhausted from relentless pursuit, Usyk could capitalize, showcasing his superior stamina and adaptability.
Beyond strategic considerations, the effectiveness of Fury’s aggressive approach will largely depend on his conditioning and preparation. Will he weigh in at the same weight as their first encounter, or will he come in heavier or lighter? His weight can significantly impact his mobility and endurance in the ring. A heavier Fury might bring more power but could sacrifice speed and stamina. Conversely, a lighter Fury may enhance his agility but risk losing the strength needed to assert his dominance.
Furthermore, the mental and physical preparation Fury undergoes leading up to this rematch will be critical. Conditioning is paramount; if he hasn’t maintained peak fitness, the aggressive strategy could quickly lead to exhaustion, leaving him vulnerable to Usyk’s calculated counters.
Ultimately, the central question is whether Fury can effectively balance aggression with strategy and conditioning. It is not enough to simply adopt an aggressive stance; he must be astute in how he applies that aggression. Will Fury heed this multifaceted warning, or will he risk falling into the traps that have ensnared others before him?
As fight night approaches, the stakes could not be higher. Aggression may very well become Fury’s greatest ally—or his most significant downfall. The boxing community will watch closely to see if Fury’s strategy proves wise or reckless against the cunning Usyk.
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Anthony Olascuaga’s first defense of his WBO flyweight world title had ended abruptly and anticlimactically. More than a week later, it has now officially gone down as an Olascuaga victory.
Olascuaga, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, won the vacant title in July by knocking out Riku Kano in three rounds in Japan. He returned to Tokyo to defend it on October 14 against his top-rated contender, Jonathan Gonzalez.
The two fighters clashed heads about 1 minute and 50 seconds into the first round, opening a cut over Gonzalez’s left eye. The referee brought Gonzalez to a ringside physician, who examined the wound and indicated that the bout could continue.
After another 20 seconds of action, the fighters clinched, and Gonzalez motioned toward his left eye. After a brief exchange between Gonzalez and referee Robert Hoyle, Hoyle waved off the bout.
Not long afterward, Olascuaga’s team appealed to the Japan Boxing Commission, according to Jake Donovan of RingTV.com . They argued that the decision to end the fight came from Gonzalez, not from the ringside physician.
The appeal succeeded, according to a letter from the Japan Boxing Commission to the WBO, which was reported by boxing writer Carlos Linares .
“Gonzalez had expressed that he was not able to see, so that referee thought he had an intention to quit, decided that Gonzalez would lose by TKO and notified the ring announcer,” the letter said.
The commission said the fight’s supervisor initially recommended the bout instead be a “no decision.” A few days ago, the commission overturned the supervisor’s ruling.
“The referee has the sole authority to stop the bout, and the referee claims that Gonzalez abandoned the bout,” the letter to the WBO said. “Therefore, I would like to kindly inform you the result of this bout could be changed from a no-decision to a TKO loss for Gonzalez.”
Olascuaga is now 8-1 (6 KOs). Gonzalez is now 28-4-1 (14 KOs).
Olascuaga and his trainer spoke with Lucas Ketelle of BoxingScene.com on October 28:
“He had the choice to continue the fight. The doctor had checked him, said he was OK, and then [Gonzalez] went on and started complaining that he could not see when the cut wasn’t in his eyes,” Olascuaga said. “It was above his eyes. So, for him to say that he can't see it, it was a lie. The referee did what he had to. He stopped the fight. But I was confused on why it was a no-contest if he had quit, because he said that he could not see. I'm glad that the decision was overturned, and it was a TKO victory for me.”
“The right decision has been made,” said trainer Rudy Hernandez. “He quit thinking he’d get another fight, and a payday would come with it. He's had a track record of complaining [and] crying in fights. Finally, it caught up to him. He has to live with that decision he made.”
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod . He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast . David’s book, “ Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing ,” is available on Amazon.
In a recent interview with Boxing News, legendary former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis
During the interview, the journalist asked Lennox Lewis whether Fury should make any changes to his strategy for the upcoming fight. Fury had previously stated that he doesn’t see the need to change his approach, asserting that he simply needs to “do more of the same” without getting caught. On this, Lewis was emphatic in his response, pointing out that Fury cannot afford to stick to exactly the same tactic.
“No, it’s not as simple as that,” Lewis said. “He does need to make some adjustments. If he didn’t make any adjustments, then he would lose the fight again,” the former champion asserted, emphasizing that Fury needs to step into the ring with a clear approach and be ready to throw far more punches than in the first bout.For Lennox Lewis, the key lies in a more aggressive and focused Fury, able to adapt to Usyk’s speed and precision—factors that challenged Fury’s style in their first encounter.
The journalist also asked Lennox Lewis if Fury was perhaps being reserved with his response, suggesting that the British champion might just be hiding his true strategy. At this, Lewis opined that Fury likely doesn’t want to reveal too many details before the rematch, a common tactic among elite-level fighters.
“I don’t think he wants to give too much away, and I think we’re going to get a different Tyson for this fight,” Lewis explained. According to the former champion, Fury is aware of the mistakes he made in his first fight against Usyk, which could give him a strategic edge if he can correct them in the ring.
It’s worth noting that the first bout between Fury and Usyk was decided by a split decision in favor of Usyk, who won after 12 intense rounds. At the time, fans and critics questioned the clarity of the instructions Fury received from his corner, and in a recent statement, trainer Andy Lee acknowledged that “there were probably too many voices” during the fight.
This confusion in Fury’s corner, according to Lee, might have affected his performance, although he stated that, for the rematch, SugarHill Steward’s voice will be the primary one guiding Fury’s instructions, aiming to avoid distractions.
Justis Huni is to fight Leandro Robutti of Argentina on the undercard of Conor Wallace-Asemahle Wellem on December 11 at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Australia.
The heavyweight, 25, is emerging as one of Australia’s most promising fighters, and fights for the 11th time as a professional just four days after his compatriot Liam Paro defends his IBF junior-welterweight title against Richardson Hitchins in Puerto Rico.
“I’m excited to be back,” said Huni, who at the same venue in July stopped Troy Pilcher. “I’m ready to build more momentum with each fight.”
Robutti is 38, and ahead of the eight-round contest Huni’s promoter Mark Francis of Tazman Fighters said: “We need Justis to stay active and keep honing his skills. An active boxer is a happy boxer.”
The light-heavyweight contest between Wallace and Wellem has been scheduled for 10 rounds.
“I’m ready for a world-title shot, but I’m not looking past Wellem,” Wallace said. “He’s dangerous, and I don’t see this fight going the distance.”
There will be a further fight at 175lbs, over eight rounds, between Austin Aokuso and Lucas Miller. Danny Keating, Tyler Blizzard, Xavier Fletcher, and Max McIntyre are also scheduled to feature on the undercard.
American boxer Alycia Baumgardner, 30, has expressed her willingness to fight Claressa Shields, as she stated to Boxing Kingdom. The World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight champion showed confidence and readiness to face the undefeated Shields.
Baumgardner, with a current record of 15 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws, has proven her power in the ring, with seven of her 15 victories coming by knockout. Her last fight took place on September 27, 2024, against Delfine Persoon in Atlanta, USA.In the first round of the fight against Persoon, Alycia Baumgardner managed to knock down the experienced Belgian, tipping the scales in her favor.
However, Persoon stayed in the fight, looking to capitalize on every opportunity to land effective punches. The intense action continued until a head clash shifted the course of the match. The accidental headbutt between the two boxers caused a cut on Persoon’s eyebrow, prompting medical intervention.
After a medical review, it was recommended to stop the fight, and the referee declared the match a no-decision. This outcome left Baumgardner with her championship belt, maintaining her position in the WBA super featherweight division.
For her part, Claressa Shields, another undefeated American champion, holds a record of 15 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. Shields has dominated all her fights, with three of those wins by knockout. Her last bout took place on July 27, 2024, in Detroit, where she defeated Vanessa Lepage Joanisse by technical knockout in the second round.
Alycia Baumgardner’s willingness to face Claressa Shields in her next fight adds even more interest to a potential showdown between these two prominent figures in women’s boxing.EXCLUSIVE: Alycia Baumgardner has informed Boxing Kingdom that she will happily fight Claressa Shield’s next. pic.twitter.com/j8L7ycdtiN
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) October 30, 2024
They’ve always been linked by Zaire and forever will be.
U.S. Olympic gold medalists. Repeat heavyweight champions. Men of deeply religious conviction.
American treasures.
It was 50 years ago today when they each stepped in that ring in Africa as adversaries, when 4-to-1 underdog Muhammad Ali stopped in his tracks and assured his cornermen this ring walk to meet the scowling George Foreman was not a funeral procession but a trek to immortality.
Solving the unsolvable and withstanding the might of Foreman’s destructive power punches for more than seven rounds, Ali executed the rope-a-dope by letting Foreman punch himself out before letting go with a beautiful, crushing onslaught that sent the giant to the canvas for good in the eighth round.
For Ali, the victory was vindication for his lonely, lengthy, principled, highly criticized – but just – stand against the Vietnam War, which left him absent from the ring during three of his prime years.
Add the “Thrilla in Manila” trilogy stoppage of Joe Frazier one year after this landmark “Rumble in the Jungle” triumph over Foreman, and Ali had sealed his reign as sportsman of the century and the best-known human on the planet.
Leaving the ring as the loser that night was foreboding.
A deep cut over an eye that Foreman suffered during sparring in Zaire for the fight changed everything.
Because of a lengthy postponement, Foreman had to stay in Africa and endure another two months of Ali’s mind games that had endeared the challenger to the locals and moved them to incessant cheers of “Ali, bomaye !” (“Ali, kill him!”)
Beyond that, Foreman trainer Dick Sadler instructed all of the quality sparring partners to avoid hitting Foreman in the head for the six-week training period, meaning Ali’s fight-night salvos would be the first real punches sent that direction.
“He ran and trained, but the sparring was not real sparring,” Foreman’s longtime publicist and International Hall of Fame member Bill Caplan told BoxingScene.
Watching the Rumble in the Jungle from ringside, Caplan saw Foreman exhausted after throwing so many punches in the first two rounds.
“George’s style was to unload and go for early knockouts, and he’d destroyed the guys that had beaten Ali – Frazier and Ken Norton,” Caplan said. “But in this one, I said to the photographer next to me, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to blow this fight.’ I could see George starting to gas out.”
In defeat, Foreman was tasked with the unimaginable position that threatened to forever rank him as lesser than.
Ali and Don King wouldn’t grant a rematch – even after Foreman fought five men on one evening with “The Greatest” looking on in amusement.
Something inside Foreman ultimately cracked following a unanimous decision loss to Jimmy Young in 1977. He called it a religious awakening and made a lifelong conversion to preaching the gospel.
“I would say he was in depression, not knowing the time [it lasted] afterward … and when he had the religious epiphany and devoted himself to the church, he retired from boxing at 27 for 10 years,” Caplan said.
Caplan attended a few sermons of Foreman’s during the retirement, taking heart that Foreman was “in great spirits” by exchanging purse money for the lifting of souls.
Then, around 1986, Caplan’s late reporter friend, Allan Malamud of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, penned a story revealing that Foreman was back in the gym and training. That moved Caplan to board a flight to Houston and knock on Foreman’s door, to be greeted by the widely smiling former champion, who asked, “What took you so long?”
To think Foreman was going to fight again brought both joy and worry to Caplan. Was this a pie-in-the-sky venture? A novelty? What was the end game here?
Foreman, 37, weighed in at 267 for his March 1987 return bout, almost 10 years to the day of the Young loss. He fought Steve Zouski at Arco Arena in Sacramento.
Caplan assisted with the promotion and served as ring announcer, just as he had done when Foreman fought as an amateur in the Bay Area, exactly 20 years earlier and one year before winning gold in Mexico City.
“I was in charge of doing the hullabaloo announcing and caught myself saying, ‘In this corner, wearing red trunks with the blue stripe, weighing 267 pounds, former Olympic gold medalist, former heavyweight champion of the world …’ and as I’m saying that, I felt like it was a ‘Twilight Zone’ episode. Because I believed, after all those years, George was never going to fight again,” Caplan said.
“It was such a strange feeling … so absolutely happy. I never believed this would be happening.”
Foreman found Caplan afterward and said, “Well, I guess I can do it again,” after winning by fourth-round knockout and needing a one-fight provisional license just to get in the ring that night.
Following the bout, Foreman signed to be promoted by Bob Arum and proceeded on a routine schedule of fighting – nine bouts in 1988 alone – before landing (and losing) a competitive 1991 heavyweight title fight against Evander Holyfield.
It was a scintillating showing, a stirring preview of what was to come – the authoring of the most inspired athletic comeback for the ages.
“No world-class athlete has ever been retired for 10 years, come back and then competed at the championship level,” Caplan said.
On Nov. 5, 1994 – an astounding 20 years and six days after the “Rumble in the Jungle,” Foreman entered the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas after telling his HBO broadcast colleague Jim Lampley that he was convinced he could throw body punches that would force then-heavyweight champion Michael Moorer to shift his body in position for Foreman to deliver a straight right to the face.
In the 10th round, Lampley exclaimed, “It happened!” as Foreman delivered a sudden right that dropped the young champion and made the 45-year-old Foreman the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
As Moorer was being counted out, Foreman peered upward to the heavens and then turned and sank to his knees in prayer.
Caplan, with a ringside seat to all of it, said he leaped to enter the ring right as Moorer hit the canvas, only to be withheld by two MGM Grand security guards.
Referee Joe Cortez counted, “Eight … nine … 10.”
“Now you can go,” one of the guards told the elated Caplan.
“Twenty years later! No athlete has ever done that,” Caplan reminded. “Whatever I say next will not come across as profound and probably be read as cliched, but any one of us can do amazing things if you have your health and you believe in yourself.
“People might discourage you for one reason or another, but you can do it. And that was your proof.”
Foreman fully transformed from the scowling, destructive killer who battered Frazier – inspiring Howard Cosell’s unforgettable “Down goes Frazier!” chorus – and maintained a demeanor learned from former training partner Sonny Liston.
And then he converted to his true self – the lovable, jovial champ who made a fortune by hawking greaseless hamburger grills with humor and smiles.
He became close friends with Ali, exchanging regular phone calls through Ali’s battle with Parkinson’s before “The Greatest” died on June 3, 2016.
Foreman turned 75 on January 10, and he resides with his wife in Marshall, Texas. Both he and Ali had full-length feature films made about their lives.
In 1997, when the documentary feature, “When We Were Kings” – about the Rumble in the Jungle – won the Academy Award, both Ali and Foreman attended the ceremony and were ultimately summoned onto the stage by director Leon Gast.
Ali walked up first, hesitantly, with Foreman supporting him from behind by placing his right hand near Ali’s back.
“Ali’s shirttail had come out in the back, and as they were standing up there, George tucked Ali’s shirt in,” Caplan recalled. “Just such a sweet thing to do … something you would do for a friend.”
Teofimo Lopez has made a name for himself as a pound-for-pound contender, highlighted by his notable victories over Vasyl Lomachenko and Josh Taylor. However, there are growing rumors that the WBO super-lightweight champion might vacate his title and move up to the welterweight division, which could further solidify his place among the best in boxing.
In 2020, Lopez pulled off a stunning upset by defeating unified lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, a victory that remains a highlight of his career. Yet, his reign was abruptly halted by a surprising loss to George Kambosos Jr., marking a significant setback for the young fighter.
After that defeat, Lopez shifted his focus to the super-lightweight division, quickly making a splash by defeating Taylor in just his second fight at 140 lbs. Once again, he proved his critics wrong.
Despite these achievements, Lopez’s recent unanimous-decision wins over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett have raised eyebrows and led some to question his status as a champion. Nevertheless, he continues to call out other champions for unification bouts.
Now, Lopez is feeling the pressure from challengers in the WBO rankings. Jack Catterall has recently expressed interest in a title shot, revealing in an interview that he has heard Lopez may be planning to vacate his belt, especially after his latest victory against Regis Prograis.
“I’ve been told that Liam Paro, who holds the IBF title, is set to fight Richardson Hitchins on December 7th, and that could open doors for me,” Catterall explained. “As for the WBO, I’m hearing Teofimo is moving up to 147 lbs. We would love to face him, whether at 140 or 147. If he vacates, the winner of the Ramirez-Barboza fight on November 16th might get a shot at the title.”
Catterall is hopeful that his manager, Sam Jones, will push for a title opportunity at the upcoming WBO convention, especially with the possibility of Lopez vacating his title looming. The next few weeks could be pivotal in determining the future of the WBO championship.
Daniel Dubois, the IBF heavyweight champion, has been given the go-ahead for a voluntary title defense. He must still meet a mandatory defense deadline by April 22, 2025.
Many expected Dubois to take on Anthony Joshua again after stopping him in four rounds last month. However, with Eddie Hearn stating that Joshua will wait for the December 21 fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury before making his next move, Dubois could be left without a dance partner.
Fabio Wardley, fresh off a knockout win over Frazer Clarke on October 12, has been mentioned as a potential opponent. When asked about the possibility, IBF president Darryl People's told Sky Sports that Dubois "can make an optional defense against any ranked fighter before April 22."
Wardley is currently ranked No. 12 in the latest IBF rankings released on October 11. Frank Warren, who promotes both fighters, confirmed that Dubois will defend his title in February, regardless of whether Joshua is in the ring with him. Meanwhile, Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole, ranked three and four respectively, have been ordered by the IBF to fight in an eliminator for the vacant mandatory position.
Junior featherweight Chavez Barrientes is set to put his unblemished record on the line when he faces Noah Contreras at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida on Friday.
The eight-round bout between Las Vegas’ Barrientes, 9-0 (6 KOs), and Noah, 9-1 (4 KOs), of Fort Mohave, AZ, will be part of a card headlined by Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz versus Christian Rubio Mino’s 10-round junior welterweight contest.
According to Barrientes, he recognizes the challenge that Contreras presents but is confident and ready to prove that the bout is more than just maintaining his invincibility in the ring.
“I’m expecting a challenging fight against Contreras,” said Barrientes. “He’s a tough competitor, and I know he’s coming to win. That’s the kind of fight I want to show everyone that I can handle pressure and rise to the occasion. I’m excited to finally be back fighting at my preferred weight of 122 pounds.
“In my last couple of fights, I was fighting above my weight class, and while I was still successful, I feel fighting in my natural weight class will be a big difference. This fight is different—I’m at the weight where I’m strongest.”
President of Boxlab Promotions Amaury Piedra expects to see Barrientes shine at the biggest stage of his career against Contreras.
“We’re looking forward to seeing Chavez perform on this big stage. He’s been working hard and improving with each fight, and a win on Friday could set the stage for an opportunity to fight for a regional title soon. We believe he has all the tools to become a major player in the super bantamweight division.”
A win on Friday could be a pivotal moment in Barrientes’ young career as he aims to take the next big step towards a championship opportunity.
“A win here will definitely help push my career forward,” the 22-year-old Barrientes said. “It’s all about making statements, and I believe a victory against a tough guy like Contreras can show people that I’m ready for bigger fights. Looking impressive is very important, especially in fights like this. People want to see that I’m more than just a young, undefeated fighter—they want to see a future world champion in the making. My goal is to give them that kind of performance.”
One of the world’s foremost neurologists has paid tribute to the former middleweight champion Paul Pender for the role he has played in advancing knowledge about brain trauma and the disease it causes.
Dr Ann McKee, who works out of Boston University, has played a key role in studying CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] and its relationship with contact sports, and Dr McKee, in 2018, was ranked in TIME magazine’s list of their 100 most influential people in the world.
On The Diary of a CEO podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett, Dr McKee, head trauma neurologist at BU, recalled seeing CTE in a brain for the first time, and revealed that it was Pender’s.
“I was studying Alzheimer’s Disease – I’d been looking at Alzheimer’s Disease brains and we had a man that came into the bank in 2003 who was named Paul Pender,” explained McKee. “He was a boxer – a famous boxer in the Boston area, and he twice fought ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson for the world title.
The brain bank in Boston, which Dr McKee is in charge of, has gone on to examine the brains of football players, soccer stars, combat sports athletes, hockey players and far more in trying to learn more about CTE. McKee has since studied thousands of other brains.
“I scientifically became extremely interested in finding out more about how boxing could promote this kind of neurodegeneration,” Dr McKee continued. “And then it was five years later that I had the opportunity to look at an American footballer’s brain, so I looked at the first case, [NFL linebacker] John Grimsley, 45 when he died, and I couldn’t believe my eyes – that a 45-year-old man could have this amount of tau in his brain; could have this amount of degeneration. It just doesn’t happen this early. Neurodegenerative diseases are generally diseases of ageing, so 70s, 80s – unless you have a genetic component it comes on in your 50s – but 45 is extraordinarily early and I couldn’t let go of it. It was monumentally interesting from a scientific point of view that an exposure to trauma could cause this kind of brain damage.”
Tau protein can only be discovered during autopsies – samples are viewed on slides under microscopes – meaning that CTE cannot be diagnosed in living people.
Dr McKee famously faced a wall of denial from the NFL but still battles to help sports become safer environments for their participants. More than 20 years on from Pender, she is also still trying to do what she can to help families who are struggling for answers.
“I realized very quickly that if I didn’t speak out for these families who were experiencing this tragedy, this devastation, the death of a loved one who had changed before their eyes, nobody else was,” she said.
Last week, October 24, Brazilian heavyweight Adilson Rodriguez passed away, and he had CTE, which was formerly known as punch drunk syndrome and dementia puglisitica. He was 66.
Daniel Dubois’ emphatic knockout of Anthony Joshua last month proved that he is worthy of being a heavyweight world champion. Despite initial assumption that a rematch between the British duo would be around the corner, it appears as though the likelihood of ‘AJ’ being ready for the rematch is becoming lesser and lesser. As a result, a number of new candidates are hopeful of a shot at dethroning Dubois in February.
‘Triple D’ needed just five rounds to pull off the upset and halt Joshua, making a first successful defence of the IBF crown and becoming recognised as potentially the future of the division, once Joshua, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk hang up the gloves.
Nevertheless, Joshua was itching for the opportunity to avenge the defeat, and the proposed date of February 22nd provided an ideal opportunity for the victor of the rematch to align themselves for a shot at Fury or Usyk, with the pair scheduled for their own rematch on December 21st.
However, Eddie Hearn has since admitted that the February date could be too soon for Joshua, who has not fully recovered from his devastating defeat and is still suffering from injuries.
With the IBF confirming that Dubois is free to make an optional defence of his belt before April 22nd, when either Martin Bakole or Agit Kabayel will be called for a mandatory defence, there are a number of candidates who could land themselves a surprise shot at world honours in four months’ time.Joseph Parker
Joseph Parker holds the WBO interim heavyweight title and as such is not ranked by the IBF, although that hasn’t stopped the New Zealander’s trainer from calling for the title challenge.
The 32-year-old has impressed on Saudi shows over the last twelve months with three increasingly difficult wins, stopping Simon Kean before decision wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang thrust him back into the world title picture.
After an extremely active five months spell, Parker has not fought since March and will likely hope to secure a fight date soon rather than put all of his eggs into the WBO basket and he may even vacate the belt if it opens the door for a shot at Dubois’ throne.Zhilei ZhangDonald Trump believes that boxing feels ‘unimportant’ right now
Although China’s Zhilei Zhang lost out to Parker at the beginning of the year, the 41-year-old veteran was able to bounce back and knock Wilder out in June to get back to winning ways and revitalise hopes of a world title shot.
‘Big Bang’ is the next available challenger after Kabayel and Bakole and would likely be seen as the most dangerous but most exciting candidate for Dubois, given how Zhang twice dismantled Joe Joyce – one of two men to hold a win over the current IBF champion.
The hard-hitting southpaw predicted a Dubois knockout prior to his showdown with Joshua but asked for a title challenge of his own during the aftermath, and he finds himself well positioned to capitalise on his world ranking if Dubois is willing to roll the dice and attempt that he is worthy of champion status once again.Fabio Wardley
If Dubois cannot fight one fan-favourite Briton in Joshua, why not take on another in Wardley? An in-house Queensberry contest would be one that Frank Warren would either love or hate but the hype surrounding right now Wardley makes him one of the most talked about heavyweights on the planet and he is hopeful of a world title shot next year.
Wardley ran through Frazer Clarke in just one-round in their rematch last month and now sits at #12 in the IBF rankings. The undefeated Ipswich sensation sticks out as a high-profile opponent for a fight in which Dubois would presumably enter the ring as a strong favourite, meaning Wardley could be a lower risk option than other potential dance-partners ahead of a fruitful clash with either Usyk, Fury or Joshua later on in 2025.
Whether Anthony Joshua will be ready for February 22nd remains to be seen but it seems as though Dubois will attempt a second defence of his belt on that date regardless of whom may be in the opposing corner – showing the true ‘take on all comers’ attitude that many great heavyweight champions have portrayed in the past.
Junior bantamweight John Ramirez is working tirelessly to come back stronger from his only career loss to Fernando David Jimenez last June.
Los Angeles’ Ramirez, 28, lost a 12-round unanimous decision to 32-year-old Jimenez of Costa Rica for the vacant WBA junior bantamweight championship. Ramirez, 13-1 (9 KOs), is looking to return to the ring with a new outlook in his quest to become a champion in the future.
“I learned I have what it takes to be world champion,” Ramirez said. “I took the loss and, instead of complaining, right after that fight I started to think about what had happened and why. I have the skills and I’m capable of being world champion, but I fought his (Jimenez) fight. In my next fight, I won’t be fighting on emotion, I’ll be using my brain. I need to use my brain, not my heart.
“It was a good fight and entertaining, but it wasn’t my night. Personally, I gained confidence, as crazy as that may sound in a loss. I know I belong here.”
Ramirez admitted he needs time to master his craft and was willing to continue training harder to achieve that. The Los Angeles native revealed that he has been studying old-school fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns to fine-tune his skills in the ring.
“No drastic changes in my training, though. I’m working on throwing more counters. I’m a big 115-pounder who just walked down my opponent. I’m going to use my jab – I have a good one – and my feet instead of sitting in the pocket and catching everything.
“It’s all part of the process. I’m not happy the loss happened. I lost my first world title fight and in my second I’ll be the winner and show everybody the type of character I have as a man. I’ll take the next opportunity to show my growth”
According to Ramirez, the plan is for him to have two more fights – hopefully one by the end of the year – before he opts for a rematch with Jimenez.
“I want a rematch with this guy (Jimenez), partly because he has the belt, but to prove to myself I can beat him. He did everything we saw on film: he came forward and didn’t tire. No surprises. I need to fight my fight, not his, to prove myself to the world. “I’ve reflected on that fight, and I was capable of beating him. He has a big amateur pedigree, so it was a confidence builder for me in defeat.”
“I’m not running away from this situation, and I’ll handle it the next time I fight for the world title. I can’t blame anybody for what happened, because once I step into the ring, it’s just me and my opponent. I screwed up but the next world title shot I’ll get it right.”
Campbell Hatton suffered a second consecutive defeat at the weekend and now his abilities inside of the ring are being questioned more than ever. Following the loss, Hatton’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, provided an update on the 23-year-old’s future at Matchroom Boxing.
Son of legendary British boxing icon Ricky Hatton, Campbell debuted back in 2021 and has been extremely active since, winning his first 14 professional contests and scoring some eye-catching body shot stoppage victories.
Back in March, ‘The Hurricane’ challenged for his first professional title as he sought to step up the level of opposition and claim the vacant Central Area super-lightweight strap, but he was left wanting, as Jimmy Joe Flint was able to hand the youngster a first career defeat.
Just seven months later, Hatton went to battle with Flint once again, with his rival also going into the contest off of the back of a defeat, having been trumped by Kyle Boyd during the interim.
Yet, despite facing Flint in front of his Mancunian faithful, Hatton was once again unable to get the better of the Yorkshireman and lost another unanimous-decision in a closely fought and bloodied affair.
Consequently, fans have begun to question whether Hatton has a future in the sport beyond the English level and in an interview with Boxing UK, Eddie Hearn offered his verdict.
“It is difficult because he is very young. If the guy was 29/30 then maybe you would say ‘that is your lot’.Andy Lee promises clarity in Tyson Fury’s corner for rematch against Oleksandr Usyk
“I think that right now, Campbell Hatton’s level is Area and English level – that is no disgrace, a lot of fighters don’t even reach that level.
“Obviously, with our stable and where we are looking to take fighters, we don’t really work with and continuously back, after back-to-back defeats, Area title and English level fighters.
“Campbell is a little bit different. One – because he is a really good kid, two – because he works his nuts off and three – because he has given us back-to-back brilliant fights and he is still young.
“So, Campbell has got to look at himself and say ‘if that is my level, am I happy to continue?’. If he is happy to continue, then he should absolutely continue. Whether that means to go and have a couple of fights on the smaller shows and without the pressure, he ended up being a co-main event tonight in front of about 8,000, it is not easy.
“Again, he gave us a brilliant fight but it just wasn’t good enough and he is not really progressing. The performance wasn’t really much better, in my opinion, than the last performance. But, he is young and if he is enjoying the game and wants to stay at it, then he absolutely should.”
Whether Hatton will decide to appear on some small hall shows to gain some confidence remains to be seen but his time in the Matchroom spotlight does appear to be over – at least for now.