Many fans have labelled Artur Beterbiev’s undisputed light-heavyweight showdown against Dmitry Bivol as the biggest and most intriguing fight in boxing yet, despite the skill of both men, there will be plenty of eyes on the referee.

Artur Beterbiev remains as the only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio in the sport, scoring stoppage wins over the likes of Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith.BETERBIEV KNOCKS OUT SMITH TO KEEP HIS STREAK ALIVE

20 fights | 20 wins | 20 knockouts pic.twitter.com/szEsSqpkZA

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) January 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Bivol has proven himself as a slick, hard-to-pin down operator by banking unanimous-decision victories against Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.Nah Dmitry Bivol treated Canelo like a fly 😂

Canelo was trying his hardest to hurt Bivol and Bivol doesn't get affected at all then just lands like 10+ punch combos against him 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Wqc5VTUdR6

— Jack Alter (@JackAlter0) October 4, 2024

With Beterbiev hoping to turn the contest into a war and Bivol aiming to put on a boxing clinic, the refereeing appointment was a major one as a more lenient one would benefit the aggressor and a stricter referee would be desired by a technician such as Bivol.

Likely to the delight of Bivol, the man in the middle has now been confirmed as Thomas Taylor, who oversaw Erislandy Lara’s WBA middleweight title win over Danny Garcia and Jarrell Miller’s draw with Andy Ruiz on the Crawford-Madrimov bill back in August.

However, whilst Beterbiev will be hopeful that Taylor will allow additional work on the inside and be less keen to break up the action, eyes will looking towards Taylor for more reasons than just his officiating.

Instead, Taylor will receive attention due to his attire, donning a pink shirt on the big stage as Riyadh Season and each of the four sanctioning bodies support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as confirmed by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman on social media.All 4 organizations and Riyadh Season join #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth in #BeterbievBivol with the pink shirt of the referee. Early detection saves lives ! @ABeterbiev@bivol_d@WBCBoxing@RiyadhSeason@Queensberry@MatchroomBoxing 

Canelo Alvarez has already fought two light heavyweights, and Artur Beterbiev’s assistant trainer is hoping the current super middleweight champ makes a return to 175 pounds. However, he acknowledges that the size difference between Canelo and Beterbiev could be a big hurdle.

“I’d love to see Canelo come back up again,” John Scully shared in a recent interview, which will be released this week on United Boxing, a podcast I co-host. “I’m not one to call anyone a coward. I get that it’s a business and that fighters have to be strategic. He went to light heavyweight twice but didn’t choose to fight Artur. There’s clearly a reason for that.”

Canelo first stepped into the 168-pound division in December 2018, easily taking down Rocky Fielding. He then went back to 160 to defend his lineal championship against Daniel Jacobs in May 2019. Later that year, Canelo jumped all the way to 175, challenging Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title. He was narrowly ahead on two scorecards when he scored a knockout in the 11th round.

Now, Bivol, Beterbiev’s next opponent, is set to face him this Saturday, October 12, in the main event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their fight for the undisputed light heavyweight championship will air on ESPN+ in the United States.

Becoming the undisputed champion would be another feather in Beterbiev’s cap, but let’s not forget that boxing is also about prizefighting. Scully wants to see his fighter face Canelo for the fame and fortune it could bring.

“I’d love for Artur to get that fight so he can make the kind of money he deserves,” Scully said. “He should be way more well-known than he is. If I told you I’ve got this guy who has knocked out everyone he’s fought and wants to fight anyone, wouldn’t you want to watch him?”

But Scully also gets that Canelo, despite being just one division below at super middleweight, may not be big enough to take on Beterbiev.

Sure, Canelo fought Bivol, but Bivol is considered a smaller 175-pounder and has even said he’d be willing to drop weight for a rematch with Canelo. Meanwhile, Canelo's bout with Kovalev had contractual restrictions, meaning neither fighter could weigh more than 185 pounds the morning of the fight.

“I’d love the Canelo fight for Artur, but honestly? Yeah, he’s probably too small,” Scully admitted. “Canelo is much smaller than Artur. People often say, ‘Oh, he beat Kovalev,’ but they forget the details. Kovalev couldn’t gain much weight after the weigh-in. That stipulation made it way easier for Canelo.

“That’s why I don’t call someone a coward or anything, but when you fight for someone’s title and say, ‘I want to fight you, but here are my rules,’ it feels like you’re saying, ‘I think I can beat you, but I need some guarantees.’ If you beat the guy, are you really going to brag about that? You only managed to do it because you had the financial advantage, not because you’re the better fighter. That’s just not cool.

“Remember the fight with GGG? GGG made Canelo look small. At the weigh-in, I was surprised by how small Canelo looked. Imagine what he’d look like next to Artur. So, while I’d love to see that fight for the money and fame, I think the bigger matchup—probably for less money—would be Beterbiev vs. Benavidez at 175.”

Benavidez, who has long wanted to fight Canelo at 168, moved up to 175 in June and won a unanimous decision against former lineal light heavyweight champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

“It makes the most sense,” Scully said. “I know Benavidez is a solid fighter, but his style and mentality are perfect for Artur. If people are calling Benavidez ‘The Monster,’ let’s be real: Artur is the real monster now. He’s not matching strength with Artur—no chance.”

#Canelo #Beterbiev #Boxing #LightHeavyweight #ArturBeterbiev #DavidBenavidez #Prizefighting #FightNight #UndisputedChampion #BoxingNews

4o mini

At the start of 2024, David Benavidez and David Morrell were seen as the top contenders who could potentially stop Canelo Alvarez's super-middleweight reign. Now, they’ve surprisingly agreed to a deal, and their showdown could feature a world title as the co-main event on fight night.

Although both fighters were initially linked to the 168-pound division, they are now campaigning at light heavyweight, eyeing the world titles that are likely to become fragmented after the upcoming Beterbiev-Bivol undisputed showdown.

The hard-hitting duo made their debuts at 175 pounds in tough fights against Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Radivoje Kalajdzic, both winning by unanimous decision. However, their punching power seemed a bit less effective at this higher weight.

That said, both are still poised to capture world titles at light heavyweight soon. Benavidez holds the WBC interim title, putting him in a prime position to capitalize when belts become vacant, while Morrell boasts the WBA (Regular) title.

On Instagram, Benavidez confirmed the deal is set for him to face Morrell, and he revealed that his title will be on the line. He assured fans that more official details will be coming soon.

“There were a lot of names on the table, but I wanted to give my fans the best fight possible. I reached out to David Morrell and his team to make this happen, and we got the contract done. This fight is gonna be a banger!!! Two of the best in the division and two titles on the line. Let’s go!!!” Benavidez posted.

As for the undercard, it’s been reported that Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela could rematch Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in an attempt to defend his WBA super-lightweight title, just months after their first bout. Valenzuela shocked fans with a split-decision victory over Cruz on the Crawford-Madrimov undercard back in August. However, due to Cruz's rematch clause, a second fight was almost inevitable.

Fernando Sabatini shared on social media that Benavidez's father confirmed they are working to include this rematch as part of his son's event.

“In an interview, José Benavidez Sr. has just confirmed that they are working so that the co-main event of @Benavidez300 vs. @OsvaryJ will be the rematch between @rayoboxing and @IsaacPitbull98,” he tweeted.

Reports suggest that the Benavidez-Morrell fight will take place on January 25th as a PBC pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, with the winner likely to challenge the victor of Beterbiev-Bivol in 2025.

#BenavidezMorrell #Boxing #LightHeavyweight #PPV #CaneloContenders #FightNight #ValenzuelaCruz #BoxingNews #LasVegasFights #PBC

Turki Al-Alshikh has quickly made a name for himself in boxing, known for delivering star-studded undercards and thrilling main events since diving into the sport last year. Now, with just two months to go before the intriguing rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, the full card has been announced. However, Al-Alshikh hasn't received the reaction he might have hoped for.

Usyk and Fury previously clashed in an instant classic earlier this year, where the Ukrainian emerged as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, solidifying his legacy while handing Fury his first career loss. Despite the defeat, Fury showcased his skills during that match, and he remains confident he can turn the tables in the rematch.

As anticipation for the rematch builds, fans are hoping the main event will be just as memorable, though some have expressed concerns about the undercard.

On that undercard, Serhii Bohachuk will face Israil Madrimov in a super-welterweight showdown. Both fighters impressed in their last outings, despite suffering respectable defeats to Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Terence Crawford, respectively.

Meanwhile, rising British heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma takes a significant leap in competition as he goes up against Australia’s Demsey McKean, who is eager to bounce back from the first loss of his 23-fight career.

Two other British heavyweights will also clash as fan-favorite Johnny Fisher returns following an impressive first-round stoppage of Alen Babic. He'll face another popular Brit, Dave Allen, who has served as a sparring partner for Usyk in the past.

Additionally, Dennis McCann and Peter McGrail are both looking to move closer to a super-bantamweight world title shot in what promises to be an evenly matched fight. Rounding out the card, Isaac Lowe and Lee McGregor will face off in a featherweight contest.

Despite the buzz, some fans on social media have claimed they feel “underwhelmed” by the undercard for such a blockbuster event. However, British boxing manager Sam Jones came to the bill's defense, asserting that every fight on the undercard is worthy of being a main event.

“Every fight on the undercard is a headline fight,” Jones tweeted.

He went on to highlight the excitement in specific matchups:

• “Bohachuk vs. Madrimov is an absolute war.”
• “Fisher vs. Allen is a headline fight at the Copper Box, no doubt.”
• “Itauma stepping up to face McKean is a great fight.”
• “McCann vs. McGrail is one of the best fights you can make in British boxing.”
• “McGregor vs. Lowe is also a brilliant fight.”

He even cheekily added, “Oh, and the main event isn’t bad either. How anyone can moan about this is absolutely baffling. Come on, in what world would a card like this ever take place?”

While the undercard may lack a superstar draw, each matchup looks to be well-matched, raising the question of whether Al-Alshikh has set expectations so high that fans will never be fully satisfied. Regardless, the event is expected to rake in significant pay-per-view sales due to the strength of the main attraction, as Fury and Usyk prepare for their historic showdown on December 21st.

#UsykFury #BoxingUndercard #HeavyweightBoxing #FuryVsUsyk #PBCBoxing #BoxingNews #FightNight #PayPerView #BoxingFans #MainEvent

Call it the ProBox TV bump! Junior middleweight Johan Gonzalez is the latest fighter to revamp his career through the Wednesday Night Fights series, joining the ranks of notable boxers like IBF featherweight titleholder Angelo Leo, super middleweight Trevor McCumby, and featherweight Ronny Rios.

Gonzalez is gearing up to face undefeated Cuban prospect Yoenis Tellez as part of the PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video card, set for Saturday, October 19, live from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

With a record of 35 wins, 3 losses, and 34 KOs, the 33-year-old Venezuelan power puncher has been on a roll since knocking out Ricardo Ruben Villalba in August 2023 and then edging out Guido Emmanuel Schramm by majority decision. Both bouts were showcased on ProBox TV’s Wednesday Night Fights. However, Gonzalez faced a hiccup in his career against top contender Jesus Ramos Jr., suffering a ninth-round technical knockout loss. Since then, he bounced back with a second-round stoppage win over Ivan Herrera in a tune-up fight and is eager to prove that one setback doesn’t define him.

“It means a lot for me to be in this position,” Gonzalez said. “I want to show everyone that I’ve improved since the fight with Jesus Ramos, and I’ll show it against Tellez.”

Gonzalez insists that he’s made significant improvements and that Tellez is mistaken if he thinks he’s facing the same fighter who lost to Ramos.

“Everyone watching is going to see a better Johan Gonzalez,” he declared. “I’m going to be aggressive like I always am, but I’ve added some new things that everyone is going to see on October 19.”

Tellez, who boasts a record of 8-0 with 6 KOs, is known for his punching power. His only fight in 2024 resulted in a unanimous decision win over Joseph Jackson, but it was his viral 10th-round knockout of Livan Navarro in December that truly showcased the strength the 24-year-old Cuban possesses. Gonzalez is excited about facing such a formidable opponent, a mindset shaped by competing on the ProBox TV circuit, where tough bouts prepare fighters for the big stage.

“We wanted to get right back into the ring after my recent win and keep pushing toward big fights like this,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the mindset of my team, and that’s what we’re looking to show on October 19.”

#ProBoxTV #JohanGonzalez #YoenisTellez #BoxingMatch #PBCBoxing #OrlandoFightNight #BoxingNews #FightNight #PowerPunchers #VenezuelanBoxers #CubanBoxing #KnockoutKings

Bakhram Murtazaliev just won his first world title earlier this year and, to make his name, will attempt to defend it against Tim Tszyu, who just lost his world title—and doesn’t want another fighter to make their name at his expense.

Those ingredients, plus the aggressive styles of the two junior middleweights, are why Murtazaliev’s promotional team expects the October 19 match with Tszyu to turn into a war.

Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) won the vacant IBF title in early April, traveling to Germany and defeating Jack Culcay in hostile territory. Murtazaliev was ahead on two of the three scorecards when he knocked Culcay out in the 11th round.

"He has achieved his goal of being a world champion. And now he wants to hold the title for a while. And then I would assume he’d move up to middleweight because he's awfully big for a junior middleweight,” Duva said. “He's reached his initial goal. He still has goals. And watching him with Culcay, I was there for that one: It was life and death as far as he was concerned. You know, this was it. He had to win this fight. There were opportunities he turned down for more money that didn't have a title attached. And it was, ‘No, I want that title fight. That's what I want. That's my goal right now.’”

Murtazaliev wants the big fights at junior middleweight, including a potential unification bout with Terence Crawford . To get there, he needs to get by Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs), who lost his WBO title and missed out on picking up the vacant WBC belt in late March — a week before Murtazaliev vs. Culcay — when he suffered a nasty cut from an accidental elbow and dropped a split decision to Sebastian Fundora.

Murtazaliev, meanwhile, grew up during the Chechen War and its aftermath.

“He did not have a comfortable upbringing. He's not wealthy,” Duva said. “He didn't have anything handed to him in his entire life. And he's willing to work hard for what he gets. And I just believe he's going to meet the moment.”

The moment will arrive in the main event at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida on Amazon’s Prime Video.

“Bakhram’s confident. He has power. Bakhram’s kind of unorthodox in there, too, if you watch him. His movements almost leave you unbalanced,” Rotonda said. “Tszyu’s a pretty underrated counterpuncher. I think at some point, maybe after the first or second round, these guys start throwing it around in there and we have a little bit of a war. At that point, we'll see who wants it more. The thing with Tszyu, too, is, is he ready for another war like he just had with Fundora? Maybe he is. I'm not saying he isn't. [...] You never know who bounces back from those and who doesn't. I think going in, I'd like to think Bakhram’s the fresher of the two, just based off that.”

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.

The bond between heavyweight prospect Dainier Pero and his coach Bob Santos was evident during a recent media workout, where Pero sported a T-shirt featuring his coach's name and achievements.

Pero is set to return to the ring on October 19 in a non-televised undercard fight at Caribe Royale Orlando. He is the only fighter on the card not featured in a televised matchup. Pero’s appreciation for Santos's guidance was clear, underscoring the trust that has developed between them.

Pero, 8-0 (6 KOs), has faced challenges in securing fights, with several bouts falling through in his short career. Santos has drawn comparisons between Pero and former two-division undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds three of the four major titles in the heavyweight division. “He is a bigger version of Usyk,” Santos told BoxingScene earlier this year. “He is physically bigger than Usyk, but he has the boxing skills of Usyk.”

This mentorship has been pivotal for Pero, who emphasized the importance of their relationship when he said: “It’s great to have someone like Bob Santos in my corner, because he’s someone who really trusts me, and I trust him as well. That’s what you need from a trainer.” 

As a professional, Pero has only gone 16 rounds in his eight fights. The 2020 Cuban Olympian is approaching his third year as a professional and recognizes that this fight represents a significant opportunity for his career, serving as a potential gateway to larger bouts.

“I'm very grateful to be on this amazing card,” Pero said. “People can expect that I’m going to give my best in the ring and represent myself and my people well.”

As he prepares for the challenge ahead, Pero maintains a grounded mindset, focusing on one fight at a time. He is currently on a four-fight knockout streak, with his most recent victory coming on July 26, when he knocked out James Evans in the fifth round. That was the first time he had gone beyond four rounds.

“I’m going to keep taking it one fight at a time,” Pero said. “No matter what happens, I’m never going to give up, and I’m going to keep fighting for what I want.”

Maybe in their fighting primes, Julio Cesar Chavez Snr would have been capable of roughing up Robert Garcia and forcing him to submit to defeat.

Not 30 years later. Not when defending one of his erratic sons. And not even in Mexico.

In a dressing-room showdown between the odds-on favorite as Trainer of the Year and the Mexican fighting legend, it was Garcia who proclaimed victory over the hostile Chavez Snr by insisting that the Garcia-trained Misael “Chino” Rodriguez (14-0, 7 KOs) was not going to risk his unbeaten record while venturing to Pachuca, Mexico, to fight Chavez Snr.’s overweight son, journeyman Omar Chavez (41-8-1, 28 KOs).

Omar Chavez was obligated by the fight contracted to make weight for the scheduled 168lbs clash by meeting a next-day weight limit. Instead, Chavez came in more than eight pounds heavier than that figure, prompting Garcia to dig in and say his boxer Rodriguez would not fight.

In a video interview recapping the events, Garcia said he at one point was threatened with arrest for not sending his fighter to the ring while also getting an earful from the elder Chavez.

“Only in Mexico could you be arrested for not taking a fight,” former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri said on Monday’s episode of ProBox TV’s “Top Stories.”

Algieri said he found the arguing between Garcia and Chavez Snr more interesting than the scrapped fight given the reputations of each man. Garcia has previously trained Algieri.

“He doesn’t care … he protects his fighter,” Algieri said of Garcia, who keeps super-flyweight Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, unbeaten junior-middleweight Vergil Ortiz, 140-pound champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela and former unified 140-pound champion Jose Ramirez in his Riverside, California, gym.

“If (Garcia) had a funny feeling that something was going awry, he has no problem walking away. You’re not going to bully a guy like Robert Garcia, who’s been around a long time and is a former world champion. Looking at being Trainer of the Year, he cares about his charges.”

Meanwhile, the “Top Stories” panel aimed mostly disgust at Chavez Snr’s enabling of his overweight son, the brother of notoriously reckless Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

“As far as the Chavez boys, there’s always drama – coming (to weigh in) late, blowing weight. That doesn’t surprise me. These are the things that usually happen with the Chavez boys.”

Former welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi said the depth of Garcia’s conviction in keeping his fighter safe shined in this moment.

Malignaggi said other trainers would’ve put their fighter in the ring with Omar Chavez to ensure purse money was coming in.

“Guys like Robert Garcia deserve a lot more credit than you think,” given the propensity to guarantee that everyone would get paid, Malignaggi said.

On the other hand … .

“This guy’s sons lived up to nothing,” Malignaggi said of Chavez Snr. “Stop eating, bro! You’re making a mockery of the last name. The fact (Senior) was arguing over this, he’s enabling his sons when he should’ve been shoving his boot up his son’s ass.”

Malignaggi said missing even the second-day weight check so badly was “bananas … but it doesn’t surprise me. They show up like fat slobs all over the place.”

However, “Top Stories” analyst Timothy Bradley Jnr said the fact that Chavez made the original weight limit should’ve been enough to make the fight happen.

“This (stuff) is soft,” Bradley said of Rodriguez’s withdrawal. “It’s not like it never happens.”

Fighters are not always obligated to make a second-day weight limit, and in some cases, they rehydrate more than 20 pounds from their day-before weight while standing on the scale.

“Nobody told (Chavez) to sign the contract … when they say there’s was a rehydration clause, you know if you’re getting too full,” Malignaggi argued. “What are we doing here? Why is the father upset at Robert Garcia?

“Good thing it was Robert Garcia there. He understands the culture,” Algieri said. “Robert has balls.”

Unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev is willing to talk about a possible fight with either Canelo Alvarez or David Benavidez only after his upcoming clash with Dmitry Bivol.

Thirty-nine-year-old Beterbiev, of Russia, is preparing to take on his fellow countryman Bivol for the undisputed 175lbs championship on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Despite considering a future bout with Alvarez and Benavidez, Beterbiev is only concentrating on going past Bivol.

“We'll see. Let's talk about it after,” said Beterbiev in response to a possible fight with Benavidez in the future. “To be honest, I’ve never seen him fight. I’ve never watched his fights because I'm not really a fan of boxing. When I’ve signed to fight with a boxer, I focus only on that fighter. I'm not that type of person to watch everyone’s fight.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will have his three light heavyweight titles on the line – WBC, IBF, and WBO – when he goes head to head with Bivol in the much-anticipated clash. Should the unified champion win, Beterbiev could go on to face Benavidez or Alvarez in what could be another mouthwatering clash.

While Benavidez is coming off a decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk in his debut 175-pound fight, Alavrez lost to Bivol two years ago in his second light heavyweight outing. Before facing Bivol, Alvarez had won his maiden 175-pound fight against Sergey Kovalev for the WBO championship.

Commenting on a possible fight with unified 168-pound titlist Alvarez, Beterbiev said that would be another matter altogether.

“It's a different movie. We need to watch this movie first and then we can talk about that after. I never predict the next fight. We'll see. I'm not someone who’ll predict my future fights. I'm a simple boxer, and I try to do my best. I will do my best.”

There’s no belt connected to this fight, and there doesn’t need to be.

Serhii Bohachuk versus Israil Madrimov – the fight crowned on Tuesday as the co-main event to the Dec. 21 Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury unified heavyweight title rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – is a prospect for pure action.

With both 154-pounders stewing from bitterly narrow losses on the scorecards – Bohachuk by majority decision to Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Aug. 10, one week after Madrimov surrendered his WBA junior-middleweight title to four-division champion Terence Crawford in a similarly narrow defeat – urgency will complement the fan-friendly fighting styles.

“There was no hesitation from either side. They’re both being compensated well. And these are the fights boxing needs – Bohachuk going straight back into a tough fight after feeling he beat Ortiz by knocking him down twice and Madrimov returning from his great showing against Crawford,” Bohachuk promoter Tom Loeffler said. 

“Both fighters deserve credit for taking this fight.”

Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) is expected to report to training camp in Indio, Calif., within days.

His manager, Vadim Kornilov, who is sending light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol to an undisputed title fight against Russian countryman Artur Beterbiev Saturday in Riyadh, says Sela, the strategic partner for Riyadh Season and its point man Turki Alalshikh, provided the impetus for the bout.

Alalshikh sat ringside in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, respectively, watching Crawford-Madrimov and Ortiz-Bohachuk, telling Loeffler he believed former WBC interim champion Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) won his fight while praising Madrimov for giving Crawford his fiercest test yet.

When Bohachuk expressed interest in fighting anyone on the Dec. 21 card, Madrimov reached out and requested to be the opponent, Loeffler said.

Kornilov is hopeful that the WBA, WBC or another sanctioning body makes the bout a title eliminator given the quality of the showdown. 

“It should be a good one … Madrimov is here to fight,” Kornilov said. “It doesn’t seem like either guy lost their last fight, and now they both want redemption.

“It’s about that and getting yourself right back on the map rather than just fighting anyone. (Madrimov) feels he didn’t lose to Crawford. So we can win this fight and push to fight Crawford again.

“These Riyadh cards are a big deal to us. It’s a lot of exposure and it shows our guys don’t just want a win. They want a challenge.”

Similarly, Ukraine’s Bohachuk is excited for his fight to lead to the main event headed by his countryman Usyk, whom Loeffler helps to promote.

“These are two of the top-five 154 in the world, no question,” Loeffler said in reference to a division that counts Crawford, Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev as champions with former champion Tim Tszyu fighting for Murtazaliev’s IBF belt Oct. 19 and the unbeaten Ortiz still looming.

“And this is not only one of the best fights that can be made in the division, but one of the best fights that can be made in boxing. You saw from both of them last time out: non-stop punches for all 12 rounds.”

David Benavidez announced on social media that his next fight will be against fellow super middleweight contender David Morrell, setting up a high-profile clash between two of the division's top fighters. 

Both Benavidez and Morrell have established themselves as top contenders in the super middleweight division, with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez regarded by some as the only fighter ranked above them due to his time spent as the undisputed champion. After mildly underwhelming distance fights in their debuts at light heavyweight, both fighters are aiming to make a stronger impression against even more difficult opposition.

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs), the 27-year-old Phoenix native who now trains near Seattle with his family, confirmed the fight via Instagram. “There was a lot of names on the table, but I wanted to give my fans the best fight possible," Benavidez wrote on Instagram. "I reached out to David Morrell and his team to make this happen, and we got the contract done. This fight really is going to be a banger! 2 of the best in the division and 2 titles on the line.”

Benavidez’s most recent outing was a 12-round unanimous decision win over former light heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June. That victory, on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin pay-per-view, marked Benavidez’s sole appearance in 2024. Benavidez ventured north to 175 pounds after repeatedly calling out Alvarez at 168 to no avail. 

A top advisor told BoxingScene that the fighter said, “I want to make my own legacy.”

Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), a 26-year-old Cuban fighter who trains under Ronnie Shields, also returned to the ring at light heavyweight in August, winning a unanimous decision over Radivoje "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic. Despite he and Benavidez failing to score stoppages in their first outings at light heavyweight, their aggressive styles figure to produce a crowd-pleasing action fight. 

Though a date and location for the fight are yet to be confirmed, a source close to the Benavidez team said target dates are Jan. 25 or Feb. 1 in Las Vegas.

Vanes Martirosyan didn’t flinch at the most rigorous tests a boxer of his size could sign up for over the past decade-plus.

Martirosyan went the distance with undisputed junior-middleweight champion Jermell Charlo and middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade, battled current middleweight champion Erislandy Lara to a draw and decision loss in two bouts, and even volunteered to take a short-notice middleweight-title assignment versus a prime Gennadiy Golovkin.

“Fighting isn’t dangerous to me, it’s fun,” Martirosyan told BoxingScene. “I’d fight ‘GGG’ (Golovkin) tomorrow. I’d do that any day.”

If only he could … .

Following six months of intense pain and antibiotics treatment, Martirosyan, 38, underwent a biopsy that left him diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma cancer.

Upon consultations with doctors at cancer institutes at USC, UCLA, the City of Hope and Houston’s prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center, Martirosyan, of Glendale, California, was told soberly by two of the specialists that the cancer was spreading toward his lymph nodes, assessing, “If you want to save your life, you’ll need to undergo surgery right now,” he recalled.

The news stopped Martirosyan in his tracks.

Married for 20-plus years to Gaby Tsao and readying for the October birthdays of his son, Andrew (13), and daughter, Arianna (12), Martirosyan couldn’t shake what this meant: chemotherapy, surgery and the end of life as he knew it.

“I couldn’t help it … I started crying and visualized my funeral – what about my kids, all the people I’d leave behind? It’s very scary,” Martisroyan said.

“You know, in fighting, we have protection – the ringside doctor, an ambulance on standby, the referee. With cancer, we don’t have any protection. What if it gets worse? I have no control over this.”

Martirosyan and his wife resolved they would exert whatever control they have by devoting themselves to the study of his cancer, including treatment options.

Something about one doctor scheduling surgery for son Andrew’s birthday on October 24 stood as a bad omen to Martirosyan while Gaby investigated a rigorous course of treatments including 10 “rounds” of weekly chemotherapy treatments at a Mexico facility in Tijuana known as “Hope 4 Cancer.”

Martisroyan underwent Round 1 Wednesday and is scheduled for Round 2 next Wednesday.

“If I did surgery right now, they’d go in there and cut out all my cancer – everything they see,” he said. “Here in Tijuana, they start with medicine and treatments. We read a lot of stories and know people who went this route.

“From my way of thinking, my body made the cancer. Now, my body can get rid of it. It’s just like a 12-round fight. I take things day by day, round by round.”

Martirosyan said he experienced minimal discomfort after last week’s chemotherapy session and is hopeful the strength he built through boxing gives him the health required for this intense battle.

Martirosyan retired following his second-round knockout loss to Golovkin in 2018, when he stepped in for a replacement spring fight that the then-middleweight champion wanted after the performance-enhancing-substance suspension of Canelo Alvarez following he and Golovkin’s September 2017 draw.

“I’m sorry for how I looked in my last fight … it wasn’t my best. I really only had two weeks to prepare,” Martirosyan said. “But I think it’s fair to say I always tried to give the fans a show.”

Born in Russia and moved to California by his amateur-boxer father at age four, Martirosyan became a 2004 US Olympian at age 18 alongside gold-medalist and fellow Californian Andre Ward.

Nicknamed “The Nightmare,” he attracted wide support from the Armenian community around Glendale and Top Rank used him to headline local shows as Martirosyan climbed the ranks by getting off the canvas to defeat Kassim Ouma in 2010 and Saul Roman in 2011, advancing to meet Lara in 2012.

The bout was called a technical draw after Martirosyan was badly cut over the left eye by an accidental head butt in the WBC junior-middleweight eliminator.

Martirosyan returned in 2013 to knock down eventual middleweight champion Andrade in the first round of their bout before losing the WBO title fight by split-decision.

In Glendale, he trained under Edmond Tarverdyan, who also cornered Martirosyan’s high-profile friend and stablemate, then-UFC champion Ronda Rousey.

Martirosyan called it quits with a 36-4-1 record that included 21 knockouts.

Thanks to a series of good investments earned from bouts held by Top Rank, Premier Boxing Champions and Don King, Martirosyan said he has already funded the Tijuana cancer treatment and is hopeful he can weather the medical bills.

World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman of Mexico called Martirosyan over the weekend to check on him and said he would work to secure funds from a WBC fund to help the boxer with his medical expenses.

Martirosyan is itching to return to his son’s side to continue helping him train in boxing and jiu jitsu, while exploring the dream of opening his Vanes Martirosyan Boxing Academy.

“Once I’m healed, that will happen,” he said. “Financially, I’m OK. I have enough money. Money doesn’t bother me. It’s time. I’m trying to buy time.

“This fight sucks.”

He’s struggling to sleep, waking often in the dark of night to look out his facility window to an ocean view, listening to the repeating crash of the waves.

“I just pray to God to cure me … I pray for a miracle. The doctors tell me this is so rare, that it afflicts only one per cent of people,” Martirosyan said. ”You know, my brother died of a heart attack at 40 last year. My mom and dad have already reserved their (burial) places to be next to him. I told them I don’t want to be the next one in there.”

If the chemotherapy and treatment prove ineffective, Martirosyan said he will then consider surgery.

When Sulaiman broke the news of Martirosyan’s plight by posting a photo of him mid-treatment on social media, it opened a flood of support from the boxing family.

Australian boxer Billy Dib, who was stricken with stomach cancer two years ago, reached out with best wishes, and an onslaught of fans sent supportive thoughts.

“Those messages keep me going,” Martirosyan said. “It’s good to know people care. I wish everyone out there the best, especially any of those going through an illness.”

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has officially ordered a final eliminator between Martin Bakole and Agit Kabayel. The winner of this bout will become the next mandatory challenger for heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois. Although the fight date has not yet been determined, anticipation is already building among fans.Martin Bakole: Powerful Puncher with Big Stage Experience

Martin Bakole Ilunga enters this fight with an impressive record of 21 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws. Of those 21 victories, 16 have come by knockout, giving him a knockout ratio of 76%. Bakole has fought a total of 85 rounds in his professional career, meaning his fights last an average of 3.9 rounds. His only loss came by knockout, adding a slight vulnerability to his profile, though he has rebounded successfully.

Bakole’s last appearance in the ring was on August 3, 2024, in Los Angeles, where he faced Jared Anderson. In that fight, Bakole secured a commanding fifth-round knockout, reaffirming his punching power and solidifying his status as one of the most dangerous contenders in the division.Agit Kabayel: Undefeated with a Methodical Style

On the other hand, Agit Kabayel enters the ring with a flawless record of 25 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. He has proven to be an undefeated and highly competitive fighter in each of his 25 bouts. Kabayel has knocked out 17 of his opponents, giving him a respectable knockout ratio of 68%. With a total of 125 rounds under his belt, his fights last an average of 5 rounds, suggesting he is a methodical fighter who prefers to extend his bouts before seeking the knockout.

Kabayel’s most recent victory came against Frank Sánchez on May 18, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he won via a seventh-round knockout. This win further cemented his reputation as a tough fighter to beat.Daniel Dubois and His Uncertain Future

Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois, the reigning heavyweight world champion with a record of 22 wins and 2 losses, is still waiting for news about his future. Dubois shocked the boxing world when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round on September 21, 2024, in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium. However, it is still unclear whether Joshua will accept a rematch.

If Joshua agrees to the rematch, the fight is expected to take place in February 2025. However, there is a high possibility that Joshua will decline, given the decisive nature of his loss to Dubois. This leaves Dubois in an uncertain position, awaiting the outcome of the eliminator between Bakole and Kabayel to determine his next opponent.High Stakes for Bakole and Kabayel

Martin Bakole enters the fight with a reputation as an explosive puncher, while Agit Kabayel is known for his undefeated record and methodical approach in the ring. With Dubois waiting to meet his next challenger, this eliminator will be crucial for the future of the heavyweight division.

The result of this bout could change the landscape of world boxing, especially if the winner becomes Dubois’ mandatory challenger. Although the date has yet to be confirmed, fans are already eager to see who will emerge victorious in this important eliminator.‼️ Told that the IBF have now officially ordered Martin Bakole vs Agit Kabayel as a final eliminator to determine the next mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight world title.

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 8, 2024

It was recently revealed that the WBO has officially ordered a world title fight between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Hamzah Sheeraz. The announcement has generated great anticipation in the middleweight division. This decision marks a showdown between two undefeated fighters, both looking to establish themselves as the top figures in the category.

After hearing the news, Janibek Alimkhanuly took to his official “X” account, formerly known as Twitter. The Kazakh boxer stated that he and his team are ready for the fight. “See, this is official! Me and my team are ready! Now we are waiting for a response from brother Hamzah!” Alimkhanuly wrote, making his readiness for the bout clear.

The WBO has set a 15-day deadline for both teams to reach an agreement, with the deadline being October 23. If no agreement is reached, the fight will go to purse bid. This information was revealed in a letter issued by the WBO last Tuesday. However, either team can request that the fight be sent to purse bid before the deadline if they choose to do so. The minimum bid for the fight has been set at $200,000.

Janibek Alimkhanuly, holding an undefeated record of 16 wins, 11 by knockout, is a 31-year-old Kazakh who lives in Oxnard, California. In his most recent fight, he successfully defended his IBF and WBO titles with a ninth-round technical knockout against Andrei Mikhailovich.

On the other hand, Hamzah Sheeraz, also undefeated with a record of 21-0 and 17 knockouts, is a 25-year-old from London. In his latest bout, Sheeraz impressively stopped Tyler Denny in just two rounds on the undercard of the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua event. His performance has established him as a serious contender in the middleweight division, which currently lacks depth.

In addition to being ranked number one by the WBO, Sheeraz also holds the top spot in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings. The current WBC champion is Dominican Carlos Adames. Sheeraz has shown that he is ready to take on bigger challenges, and this fight against Alimkhanuly could be his opportunity to make a significant leap in his career.

The clash between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Hamzah Sheeraz promises to be one of the most exciting matchups in a division that has seen a lack of dominant figures in recent years. Sheeraz’s youth and Alimkhanuly’s experience will create a stylistic battle that boxing fans are eagerly awaiting. As both teams work toward reaching an agreement, time is running out, and the boxing world will be watching the developments closely.Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach react differently to fight announcement

The winner of this fight could solidify themselves as one of the most important figures in the middleweight division and move closer to title unification, a goal both fighters have expressed in the past. With the October 23 deadline fast approaching, the coming days will be crucial in determining the future of this highly anticipated bout.See, this is official! Me and my team are ready! Now we are waiting for a response from brother Hamza!

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol spoke about the weight of history at the grand arrivals for their undisputed light-heavyweight title fight.

The Russians fight on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in an occasion that will define their decorated careers.

They fight not only to prove themselves the finest of Russia’s light heavyweights, but the finest in the world and of their generation. Beterbiev, the IBF, WBO and WBC champion at 175lbs, is widely recognised as the finest light heavyweight since the retired Andre Ward, but recognises that in the event of defeat, Bivol, the WBA champion, will instead come to be regarded as the best.

Bivol, 33, enters an even more significant fight than that in May 2022 when he so convincingly inflicted the second of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s defeats. When he spoke in Riyadh he referenced the great Roy Jones Jnr; he also spoke of the fact that a quarter of a century has passed since Jones Jnr outpointed Reggie Johnson to become the undisputed champion at 175lbs.

“Everything was for this,” he told DAZN of his 23-fight career. “I’m trying to not think about it. The first fight, after 25 years, when Roy Jones was fighting – historical fight; undisputed; amazing fight – but finally, just a fight between two guys.

“This is the hardest part – when you should forget about everything; about everybody who’s bothering you; about all opinions in the world, and you have to be only with yourself, with your positive side, not with your negative side. You should find some arguments that you are better.

“This is a dream fight for all fighters, and I’m so delighted that I have this chance. A lot of great fighters couldn’t get this chance and I got it. I was working hard, and now I need to work in the ring.

“I don’t care about 50-50; 60-40. It’s just some numbers. I’m just focused only on my task in the ring. 

“People have been waiting for this fight for many years. Two different styles; two different boxers. I’m waiting. It’s a great fight.

“I just need to be my best version. I just need to do my work. I just need to be focused every second, and use all my skills, 100 per cent.

“I have this chance and thank God that I have this chance. I thank everybody in my life, and thank you to Riyadh Season and His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, for making this fight. I’m so happy that I have this chance.

“I hope it will be a great fight and I hope I will win. I will try my best.”

Beterbiev, 39, enters Saturday’s fight – perhaps the most appealing, competitive and essential that can be made in any weight division – having forced a postponement from June 1 after rupturing his meniscus in training.

He has won all 20 of his professional fights inside the distance, and said: “Every good boxer wants to have this fight; an opportunity like this, and I’m really happy to have it.

“I’m not thinking about it, but I’m going towards this goal every day. 

“I’m good. My knee is good too.

“I’m not thinking about [the prospect of winning] now, but it’s going to happen, I hope.”

Ryan Garcia's hotel vandalism charge and case stemming from a June 8 incident at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills was dismissed on Tuesday, his attorneys told BoxingScene.

During the incident at the upscale Los Angeles hotel, footage showed a shirtless Garcia, 26, being taken into custody in handcuffs and arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism for allegedly damaging property in his hotel room and a hallway.

Garcia's attorney Michael A. Goldstein shared the following statement with BoxingScene on Tuesday.

“As stated back in July, we expected a favorable resolution of this matter and always viewed this through the lens of a civil case. This incident occurred a day after Mr. Garcia learned of his mother’s significant health issues and was under a tremendous amount of stress. He destroyed property that was ultimately paid for. We appreciate the professionalism of the Beverly Hills Police Department, the Waldorf Astoria and the court for granting our motion to dismiss the charges. Mr. Garcia continues to work on his own health and will be ready to get back into the ring soon enough.”

After the incident, Garcia reimbursed the luxury hotel for approximately $15,000 in damages, and the Waldorf Astoria didn't want to pursue the matter any further.

Garcia's co-counsel Darin Chavez told BoxingScene that the star fighter is ready to show a new and improved version of himself following his April 20 fight and fallout against Devin Haney. 

"We've all seen a much different Ryan over the last few months, and we can't wait for the world to see version 2.0 of Ryan as well as he begins the second chapter of his career," Chavez told BoxingScene. 

Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) is currently serving a one-year suspension for testing positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine and has been teasing an exhibition fight in December in Japan. Garcia is eligible to return in April for a sanctioned fight. 

Haney sued Garcia last month for battery and fraud after suffering three knockdowns during the majority decision loss. The fight has since been changed to a no contest after it was ruled that Garcia tested positive for the banned substance. 

The super middleweight Giovanni De Carolis has announced his retirement at the age of 40.

Italy’s De Carolis (33-11-1) turned professional in 2007. In 2015 he lost a close, controversial decision to Vincent Feigenbutz, then the WBA interim champion, but he beat him in a rematch and then drew with Tyron Zeuge to retain the title – before losing their rematch. De Carolis also lost to Lerrone Richards and Kevin Lele Sadjo in European title fights.

*

The heavyweight Daniel Dietz (13-0) fights fellow German Granit Shala (15-1) on December 14 in Karlsruhe, Germany. On the undercard Sarah Bormann (18-1) will fight at minimumweight against an opponent to be confirmed.

*

French super welterweight Bakary Samake (16-0) will fight Wade Ryan (22-11-1) of Australia on November 23 at the Westfield Forum des Halles in Paris, France.

*

Polish Knockout Promotion will promote the fight for the vacant EBU cruiserweight title between Michal Cieslak (26-2) and Leonardo Mosquera (15-0). A date and site is to be confirmed.

*

Elite Boxing in Finland promotes Scandinavian Showdown, a bill on November 16 in Espoo. There will be 10 fights also involving fighters from Sweden and Norway, who are yet to be revealed.

The Finnish side is represented by super middleweight Ilari Kujala (8-0), heavyweight Keni Aliu (6-0), and welterweight Elias Okkonen (8-0-1).

British boxer Lawrence Okolie has vacated his WBC bridgerweight world title. The decision reflects his intention to move up to the heavyweight division. With this move, Kevin Lerena, who was previously the interim champion, has been upgraded to full world champion.

Okolie had previously anticipated this shift in his career. His goal is to establish himself as a world champion in three different divisions before retiring. The British boxer aims to further enhance his legacy in the sport of boxing.

The British boxer’s current record stands at 20 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws. Out of those victories, 15 have come by knockout, giving him a knockout ratio of 75%. His sole loss came by judges’ decision on the scorecards. Lawrence Okolie has fought a total of 109 rounds, averaging 5.2 rounds per fight.

His last fight took place on May 24, 2024, in Rzeszow, Poland. In that match, he defeated Lukasz Rozanski by technical knockout in the first round. This dominant win reaffirmed his prowess in the ring and closed a chapter before his move to the heavyweight division.

On the other hand, Kevin Lerena holds a record of 30 wins, 3 losses, and 0 draws. Of his 30 victories, he has knocked out 14 opponents, giving him a knockout ratio of 47%. Of his three losses, one came by knockout, and he has fought a total of 229 rounds in his career. This means his fights last an average of 6.9 rounds.Artur Beterbiev comments on his Muslim faith

Lerena has won 3 of his last 5 fights. However, in his last bout on March 8, 2024, he lost to Justis Huni by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. This fight took place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.🚨 OKOLIE VACATES BRIDGERWEIGHT BELT

Lawrence Okolie has now officially vacated his WBC Bridgerweight title that he won with a first round TKO over Lukasz Rozanski in Poland in May. South Africa’s Kevin 

On this day (October 8) two years ago Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jnr were supposed to fight each other at The O2 Arena in London. To try to imagine this now, one can’t help but think a venue like that, which holds just shy of 20,000 people, would be a venue too small for a fight so big. Yet that is the power of both time and controversy. Whereas two years ago Benn vs. Eubank Jnr was just a fight predicated on the fame of both fighters’ fathers, now, in 2024, it is considered not only a talking point but a tipping point in British boxing. 

In fact, when you look at the sport in Britain today, there is a clear distinction between what came before Benn-Eubank Jnr and what came after it. In 2022, the pre-Benn-Eubank Jnr era, we could, as fans, cope with a cynical cash-grab fight between a welterweight and a super-middleweight, but what we didn’t like was what we experienced during fight week. What we didn’t like was to be told that one of the boxers, in this case Conor Benn, had failed a performance-enhancing drug test – two of them [for clomiphene] – and yet could still possibly fight. For most people, the idea of that didn’t fly, and even so much as entertaining it hinted at a lawlessness in boxing we each try to convince ourselves doesn’t exist. 

Indeed, who can forget that Wednesday media workout? It was there, just 24 hours after the news was broken by the Daily Mail’s Riath Al-Samarrai, that both Benn and Eubank Jnr, as well as their respective promoters, feigned ignorance and expressed a desire to continue as before, business as usual. It was there, too, that various pundits were tasked with discussing the fight as though it could still happen, with a certain sadness – or death – in their eyes the rest had managed to conceal. Perhaps closing your eyes will enable you to do that. Perhaps opening them is where the pundits went wrong. 

At any rate, the fight at that stage was not Benn vs. Eubank Jnr but more to do with ensuring that it went ahead; a concept as ludicrous now as it appeared back then. Back then, the people involved had to some extent taken the failed drug test personally and now wanted to wield and reaffirm their own power in the situation. An injury is one thing, as far as reasons to cancel, but to be told by another authority figure that there is a problem and that the fight should not happen was, to some, tantamount to disrespect. It is then that pride and ego enters the equation. It is then small print is studied. It is then everybody is liable to lose sight of what really matters: the health of two boxers. 

The health of a boxer is at stake every time they enter a ring, of course, but also at stake here was a lot of money, even a potential franchise. Already they had the posters, the taglines, and the then-and-now montages. Already they were thinking about the rematch, and the trilogy fight, and events in great big stadiums. 

This, you see, was not a one-night thing. It had been years in the making, it had been thoroughly planned out, and even if the ones doing most of the legwork and heavy lifting were Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, two retired men in their fifties, this had no bearing on the hunger of those involved in this latest iteration to make obscene amounts of money. The promoters wanted it, the managers wanted it, the trainers wanted it, and the fighters wanted it. It was all there in front of them, so close they could smell it, and yet suddenly the shell had cracked and it was rotten inside, the stench unbearable. Worse than that, everyone involved in the clean-up operation soon came to realise how difficult it is to scrub spilled egg yolk from either a counter or a floor, or indeed people’s minds. You need salt, that’s the trick. Salt provides a surface for the gooey egg to stick to, and makes gathering the egg a lot easier.

Here, though, salt was being used for a different purpose. It wasn’t being used to fix but was instead rubbed into the open wound on the knee of British boxing. A little more was then added each time one of the men involved in the fight opened their mouth in an interview and proceeded to tell us things were going to be okay. It was, in those moments, not only being rubbed in an open wound but being thrown at us, our eyes the target. 

The aim, perhaps, was to blind us to the machinations and hope we were so invested in the fight itself that we wouldn’t care how it came about or what dispensations had to be made in order for it to still go ahead. But, of course, this was missing the point entirely. The fight, regardless of its size and its earning potential, simply could not go ahead, regardless of the effort. For it to go ahead the men involved would have to risk far more than just their money and pride. They would have to run the risk of it all going wrong on the night and one of the two boxers getting seriously injured or killed. The answer to that inevitable question is the one answer each of the men involved lacked and no amount of talking, or conferring, could hide this. Similarly, even if the fight did go off without incident, by circumnavigating certain authorities and discarding certain results, the people behind Benn vs. Eubank Jnr would have both set a worrying precedent and undermined the fragile scaffolding that just about keeps everything in British boxing in place. 

Which is why, when Benn vs. Eubank Jnr was finally cancelled, the collective sigh of relief was as loud and profound as the initial groan which greeted news of the failed drug test. It was disappointing, yes, to see British boxing receive another black eye, but the sheer relief of knowing we could continue to see this thing as a sport was greater than any disappointment. If, after all, the fight had gone ahead, it would have been incredibly difficult to view boxing in a post-Benn-Eubank Jnr world the same way we viewed it in a pre-Benn-Eubank Jnr world. 

That said, still it has been different, both for us and for them. In terms of the fighters, Conor Benn has watched his career as an exciting welterweight contender descend into one of Piers Morgan interviews, basic motivational quotes/threats, and call-outs to fighters either retired or, for now, out of his league. He has boxed just twice in the last two years, beating Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson over 10 rounds, but has yet to box in Great Britain. 

Eubank Jnr, meanwhile, has been just as aimless of late. He has split two fights with Liam Smith, losing one and winning one, and this weekend boxes the unheralded Kamil Szeremeta in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, too, it was during the promotion for this weekend’s fight that he decided to use a press conference as an opportunity to label various promoters, including those connected with the ill-fated fight with Conor Benn, “scumbags”. He called Benn’s promoter a “scumbag” and he also called his own promoter at the time a “scumbag”. He later retracted these statements, it should be noted, but by that time Conor Benn had taken to social media and written the following: “ This is coming from the same tit that tried to blackmail me for a mil to get the fight to go ahead. You’ve had numerous different promoters for one reason and that’s because you are a prize prick and I cannot wait to knock that big satsuma head clean off your neck .”

Alas, with those words we are reminded of not only how deep the bad blood between Benn and Eubank Jnr runs, but also of how dirty and unseemly that aborted fight two years ago turned out to be. As ugly as any fight in recent memory, it was a child conceived between warring partners desperate to feel something and yet its birth fixed absolutely nothing whatsoever. Instead, it contrived to do the opposite. It simply shone a light on everything that was wrong with the sport, creating in turn an even greater desperation to compensate for what had been lost. 

If a baby, it was Rosemary’s, and now, to make it right, we look back at Benn vs. Eubank Jnr two years on as a kind of necessary sacrifice. Meaning that for all the misery and doom-mongering that surrounded it, look at what Benn vs. Eubank Jnr has ultimately brought us all. Look at the big fights being made left, right, and centre. Look at all the new revenue streams. Look at how all the promoters now get along, join hands, and chant the same tune.

“Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good… [So good! So good!]”

Tommy Fury has expressed his dissatisfaction with the scheduled fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. The bout, set for November 15, has drawn criticism from several boxers and media personalities. Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, will face Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

This fight will take place despite the fact that Tyson, the legendary 58-year-old boxer, suffered a health issue earlier this year. This incident led to the initial postponement of the fight, which was originally scheduled for July. Although doctors have declared Tyson fit to compete, controversy remains.

The fight has been heavily criticized, mainly due to the significant age gap between the two fighters. Highlighting the fact that Mike Tyson is 58, 31 years older than Jake Paul, who is 27. Tommy Fury, the younger brother of famous boxer Tyson Fury, has lashed out at Paul, a prominent figure in social media.

In an interview with Boxing News, Fury referred to the fight as “absolutely terrible.” He also mentioned that he is not convinced nor interested in seeing a man nearly 60 years old fight someone who is 27.Tommy Fury added that Tyson’s age is concerning to him, stating:

“Mike Tyson is the same age as my dad, like I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. I’m not interested in that fight at all.” Fury also commented on Paul’s career, pointing out that although he has managed to stay in the game, his results are unimpressive. “He couldn’t beat me, so he has to fight a 60-year-old now. So, he’s definitely gone in the right direction,” Fury said.

Jake Paul began his boxing journey in 2020 after gaining fame on YouTube. His first match was against fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib. Since then, he has fought former MMA stars and NBA players, earning 10 victories in 11 fights. However, his only defeat came against Tommy Fury, who beat him by split decision.Missy Elliott announced for Riyadh Season

For the upcoming fight against Tyson, Paul is considered the slight favorite, largely due to the age difference. Despite this, there is a possibility that Tyson could reclaim the power that made him famous in the boxing world. Shane Mosley, a boxing coach who has worked with Paul,

“If Mike really hits Jake, Mike can really hurt Jake,” warned Mosley. “I know what Mike can do and what Jake can do. I don’t think Jake really understands how hard Mike can hit. Mike is 58, but these are two-minute rounds, and all fighters have pride.”

Mosley also emphasized that Tyson will not go into the fight with the intention of losing. “Jake will have to tire Mike out. Jake will need to understand how these punches will come at him,” the coach concluded. The anticipation around this fight continues to build as the fight date approaches.