Liam Paro defends his IBF junior welterweight title against for the first time, against Richardson Hitchins on Saturday December 7 at the Roberto Clemente Coliseo in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Australian star Paro, 25-0 (15 KOs), won the crown with an upset decision over Subriel Matias in Manati, Puerto Rico, in June.

Mandatory challenger Hitchins, 18-0 (7 KOs), defeated Argentinian Gustavo Lemos in Las Vegas earlier this year, and the 27-year-old Brooklyn contender will be fighting for a world belt for the first time.

“All the so-called big guys at 140lbs lost their tongues so I decided to bring on my mandatory defense early against Hitchins and clear the path for 2025,” said Paro. “I can’t wait to fight and show again why I’m the top guy at 140. I’m coming to shine again in beautiful Puerto Rico.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that I’m the best 140lbs fighter on the planet,” countered Hitchins. “On December 7, I finally get the chance to solidify that.

“Hats off to Liam Paro, he beat the so-called boogeyman of the division, but I ain’t Subriel Matias. He’s never been in with a fighter like me before. He didn’t want this fight, and it’s for good reason.

“This is my division. I am the man at 140 and once I get this belt, I’m bringing it back to New York and everything runs through me.”

On the undercard, at junior lightweight, 19-0 (10 KOs) Henry Lebron meets Christopher Diaz, 29-5 (19 KOs). Lebron said: “I am very happy with this opportunity to fight again in Puerto Rico in front of my people. This is going to be a great card. We are ready to give a great show. I am counting on all my Puerto Rican Fans.”

Diaz stated: “As a proud Puerto Rican, fighting in front of my countrymen on December 7 means everything to me. There’s no greater feeling than representing my people and putting on a show for them. I’m coming into this fight fully prepared, and I’m ready to leave it all in the ring against Henry Lebron. This is for Puerto Rico, and I won’t let them down.”

Also, Puerto Rican Olympian Yankiel Rivera, 6-0 (2 KOs), is on the bill, which includes Jalil Hackett, 9-0 (7 KOs), and 13-1 (6 KOs) Jose Romans at welterweight and light Marc Castro, 13-0 (8 KOS), returns.

There is also an outing for Stephanie Pineiro, 7-0 (2 KOs), and Puerto Rican Juan Zayas, 10-0-1 (8 KOs), is in an eight-rounder at bantamweight against Dominican Marcelino Nieves, 19-0 (13 KOs), and Matchroom’s Puerto Rican talent William Ortiz (6-0 4 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten Puerto Rican Lionell Colon (6-0 3 KOs) over eight rounds at 140lbs.

“We are thrilled to be back in Puerto Rico with a brilliant main event and stacked undercard,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Liam was sensational when he ripped the strap from Subriel in June in a career-best performance against one of the most avoided fighters in the sport. Liam was happy to take on that challenge, and he’s happy to take on another difficult but very different challenge in Richardson. I’m fascinated to see how this fight plays out, and while it’s never easy to pit two of our fighters against each other, this is exactly what should be happening in the game – the best versus the best – and for both men it’s the chance to back up what they both say – that they are the man at 140lbs.

“The atmosphere in June in Manati was electric from the opening bell to the end, and we’ve got an undercard line-up that will have the fans on the edge of their seats like that once again. Lebron-Diaz will be a war, Yankiel is ready for a World title and he’ll show that in December, while Jalil has to be commended for taking on another challenge at such a young age.

Javier Bustillo, of Universal Promotions CEO, working with Matchroom on the event, said: “It’s a great honor for me to have the opportunity to partner with Eddie Hearn and our friends at Matchroom to bring World championship boxing to Puerto Rico, where we’re combining the best boxing from Puerto Rico with the best boxing in the world. “I’m grateful with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Municipality of San Juan, who did not hesitate to join us and support this event. It will be a great night of boxing from Puerto Rico to the whole world.”

Bernard Hopkins is cut from a different cloth and is old school through and through.

The Philadelphia-bred Hall of Fame fighter served nearly five years in jail before turning pro in 1988, winning titles in two weight classes throughout his career and becoming boxing history’s oldest belt-holder at 49 while fighting until he was 51.

Now a promoter and partner of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, “The Executioner” Hopkins, 59, is grooming the current generation.

The beau of Golden Boy’s stable is Ryan Garcia, who, along with Golden Boy, is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Devin Haney following their controversial April 20 fight. The bout has since been ruled a no contest after Garcia tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine. Garcia was also fined and suspended for a year as a result of the violation.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is suing the principals for battery and fraud, among other claims, after Garcia knocked him down three times in a fight that was originally ruled as a majority decision win for Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs).

Hopkins, who has long butted heads with Devin’s father, trainer, and manager Bill, expresses strong disapproval of how the 25-year-old Haney is navigating his career. He believes that Haney's lawsuit reflects a worrying trend in boxing, suggesting a shift away from the sport's gritty, confrontational roots.

“We're in America. You don't have to be right to sue,” Hopkins told BoxingScene. “When you get an opportunity to do something, most people will do it. The lawsuit doesn't mean you are guilty or innocent. But I question the mentality behind it. This isn't how we used to handle our business in the ring.”

“Look at what the fans are saying,” said Hopkins. “I don't have to buy a ticket to his fight. The fans are the ones who keep your lights on when you're fighting. I'm in the know, and I know what they are saying. And you know what they are saying. There comes a time when you have to move on, or you risk getting stuck in a cycle of trauma. I never thought I would see a fighter literally get his ass kicked and turn around to sue months later. I hope this isn’t a trend for this generation because I respect them to a point. But if this becomes contagious, it could tarnish the sport.”

De La Hoya described Haney’s claims as “frivolous,” adding that he believes Haney will be a “shot” fighter moving forward.

Hopkins stated that Haney should have sought to settle the beef in the ring, not in a courtroom.

“Maybe it will stick, maybe it won't,” said Hopkins. “But you have to reevaluate yourself and consider the mockery and foolishness of this approach. Boxing is about respect, and this feels like a departure from that ethos. Let's move on and keep the focus where it belongs: in the ring.”

#boxing #DevinHaney #RyanGarcia #lawsuit #BernardHopkins #GoldenBoyPromotions #sportsdrama #boxingnews #controversy #fightnight

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith faced off at a cordial introductory press conference on Wednesday at The Mayan, announcing their highly anticipated cruiserweight title unification clash.

Despite the friendly atmosphere, both fighters made bold statements as they prepared to headline Golden Boy Promotions’ “Latino Night” event on November 16 in Saudi Arabia.

“This is my division. I don't think he has any advantages over me. I'm the best cruiserweight,” proclaimed Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs), the WBA titleholder. “I'm really excited about this opportunity. I'll become the first Mexican unified cruiserweight champion. It’s exciting because my dream will come true. I've been putting in a lot of hard work with my training.”

Ramirez, a former 168-pound champion from 2016 to 2018, has rebounded well since his only career loss to light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in 2022. Last October, he moved up to cruiserweight and secured a unanimous decision victory against Joe Smith Jr. In March, Ramirez defeated Arsen Goulamirian unanimously to capture the WBA cruiserweight title.

Before their matchup, Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs), the WBO titleholder, had encouraged Ramirez to win against Goulamirian, setting the stage for their more marketable showdown.

“I wished him good luck for the Goulamirian fight. I rooted for him that night. It was a great performance from Zurdo,” Billam-Smith stated. “I'm a different fighter and am better than Goulamirian in many areas. My speed and intensity at this weight cause a lot of cruiserweights problems. I’ll get to prove it again versus Ramirez.”

Billam-Smith, 34, will be fighting outside the UK for the first time in his seven-year career. He became a world champion last year by defeating Lawrence Okolie via unanimous decision and successfully defended his title against Mateusz Masternak in December. In June, he avenged a 2019 split decision loss to Richard Riakporhe.

“This title unification opportunity for me is huge,” Billam-Smith said. “I've been written off many times before. Last time out [against Riakporhe], I was going into his backyard and it was all about him. It was supposed to be his night, and I spoiled the party. Unfortunately for the Latinos on November 16, I'll be doing exactly the same again. All respect.”

#GilbertoRamirez #ChrisBillamSmith #CruiserweightUnification #BoxingNews #GoldenBoyPromotions #LatinoNight #BoxingFans #SaudiArabia #FightNight #TitleFight

Lightweight Tevin Farmer knows the game all too well. As a tricky southpaw, he’s become a measuring stick for promoters trying to gauge how their fighters might fare against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. Farmer, with his slick defensive style and southpaw stance, sees the pattern, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than just a test for the next big name.

On Nov. 16, Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) returns to the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to face Mexico’s William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) in a fight that could make or break his career. 

Farmer, a former IBF junior lightweight titleholder, is coming off a close decision loss to Raymond Muratalla — a fighter who, like many, is eyeing a showdown with Stevenson. Now, Farmer faces Zepeda, an aggressive, high-output fighter riding a four-fight knockout streak.

Farmer is acutely aware of the stakes. He’s been here before, but this time, the pressure feels heavier.

“They say me and Shakur [Stevenson] got similar styles, and I'm the guy they want to see how good Zepeda does to see if he’s ready for Shakur,” Farmer said. “But I promise you, he will not make it to Shakur.”

Zepeda, 28, has looked unstoppable, with his last fight ending in a third-round knockout of Giovanni Cabrera. But Farmer, at 34, still sees himself as a force to be reckoned with, despite setbacks. After losing his title to Joseph Diaz Jr. in January 2020, Farmer took a three-year hiatus before returning to win three fights in the Northeast. His recent loss to Muratalla was razor-close, and now he’s determined to bounce back as he explained how he sees himself. 

“I feel like I'm a young veteran,” Farmer said. “I started boxing late, so I still feel young, but I’ve got a lot of fights in. I’ve got to go out there and beat the guy everyone’s afraid of, and that’s William Zepeda.”

For Farmer, this fight is about more than just another notch on his belt. It’s about reclaiming his place in the sport — or maybe walking away for good.

“Last fight was a do or die for me, but it didn’t go my way, unfortunately,” Farmer said. “This time, it’s do or die for real. We’re coming to put on a show.”

Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly is set for a defense against Andrei Mikhailovich in what has quickly developed into a grudge match. 

The fight will take place at The Star in Sydney, Australia, and will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) and Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs) represent stark contrasts in personality, adding a unique dynamic to the fight. The stoic Kazakh Alimkhanuly will face the outspoken Mikhailovich, who has not been shy in building up the fight.

“I am the most interesting fight you have had so far, and that is all because of me,” Mikhailovich, 26, said at the press conference. “So thank you, you’re welcome.”

The two were originally scheduled to fight in July, but the bout was canceled when Alimkhanuly was hospitalized. Mikhailovich’s promoter, No Limit Boxing, won the purse bid for the IBF title fight, quickly rescheduling it.

Alimkhanuly, who unified the WBO and IBF belts in a knockout win over Vincenzo Gualtieri last October, will be making his first title defense of 2024. Despite his accomplishments, he has struggled to generate excitement after a close fight with Denzel Bentley diminished some of the buzz surrounding his career.

“He talks a lot, but he’s just a fighter like me,” the 31-year-old Alimkhanuly said through a translator.

Mikhailovich, a New Zealand-based Russian, enters his first world title fight having fought exclusively in Australia and New Zealand. While most of his opponents are relatively unknown on the world stage, he’s won seven of his last eight fights by knockout and has confidently questioned Alimkhanuly’s readiness for the bout, even mocking his late arrival to Australia.

“Do you know what jet lag is?” Mikhailovich quipped. When asked for final words to his opponent, he boldly declared, “I am going to fucking kill you.”

Alimkhanuly remained calm in response: “The day after tomorrow is going to be a very hard day for you. I am going to show you.”

LOS ANGELES – As Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was searching for an opponent earlier this summer for his most recent fight (a matchup ultimately awarded to Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas), the 168-pound king contemplated a clash against Chris Eubank Jr. 

Eubank, who hasn’t fought as a super middleweight since 2019, was a surprise addition to Alvarez’s biannual sweepstakes. Still, a deal didn’t cross the finish line because Eubank demanded a bigger purse for taking a fight of that magnitude on short notice while coming off a one-year layoff. 

Eubank (33-3, 24 KOs) has since signed on to fight Kamil Szeremeta on October 12 in a middleweight fight in Saudi Arabia. 

Eubank’s promoter Ben Shalom, the head of Boxxer, is confident a deal with Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) will cross the finish line next year. 

“I genuinely believe that fight will happen next year, either in May or September,” Shalom told BoxingScene in an interview while promoting his cruiserweight titleholder Chris Billam-Smith’s Nov. 16 fight against Gilberto Ramirez. 

“Whether in Las Vegas or the UK, Chris is ready for the Canelo fight and hopefully it will happen next year. I really believe that. He was out of the ring for a year and was given a six-to-seven-weeks notice. He's a big star already and earns big money anyway. He's not the type that you can tempt into the ring for a payday. He's made a fortune in the sport. He wants to go into that fight to win. So he wants to go into that fight prepared. After the Kamil Szeremeta fight on October 12, it's big fights only, and Canelo is on top of the list. 

“I believe that is the one fight [that brings Alvarez to the UK]. If Canelo Alvarez wants to cement his legacy, because, believe me, British boxing fans absolutely adore him, he's beaten all of our guys, the fight against Eubank is the one that sells out Wembley Stadium. Let's see if it makes sense.

“I think so [that Eubank is next in line]. Eubank brings his own audience, and that's very rare for Canelo's opponents. Canelo is the A-side, but Eubank is a PPV star in his own right. One of the few, and probably the only one in British boxing outside of the heavyweights. That's a big sell. He has the history, and everyone knows his dad Chris Eubank Sr. You see how he talks up a fight. A press conference between them would be absolutely gold. I could see how it makes sense for both guys. It was very close to happening in September, and hopefully it can happen in May.”

If the framework of the previous deal was nearly set, and some of Eubank’s bargaining points were met, Alvarez could be inclined to fight Eubank, especially since he’s running out of credible opponents to face at 168 pounds. He has also long wanted to fight in locales around the world such as the United Kingdom and Japan. 

The four-division champion Alvarez has beaten many Brits over the last 13 years, including John Ryder, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Rocky Fielding, Liam Smith, Amir Khan, Matthew Hatton and Ryan Rhodes. 

The second-generation star Eubank, from Brighton, hasn’t fought since stopping Liam Smith in September 2023 in a rematch to avenge his knockout to Smith eight months prior. 

Eubank, 35, made headlines last week by bashing “scumbag” promoters while ramping up his fight against the underdog Szeremeta, which will take place on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. 

“He's been in the game a long time. He knows how to make headlines. He knows how to drop bombs,” said Shalom. “Was it helpful when all of the promoters are trying to work together? Probably not. But no one is going to tell Chris Eubank Jr. what to do, or what to say. He has the old-school British mentality. He's box office.” 

In this week’s mailbag, we tackle your thoughts on Devin Haney’s lawsuit against Ryan Garcia regarding Garcia’s use of performance-enhancing drugs, plus the potential fight between undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue and former unified titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev; featherweight prospect Bruce Carrington’s close win over Sulaiman Segawa; Oscar Collazo’s upcoming unification bout with fellow 105-pound titleholder Knockout CP Freshmart; whether Tony Yoka can compete at heavyweight; and Riyadh Season banning a BoxingScene.com staff writer.

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.

DEVIN HANEY’S LAWSUIT TARNISHES AN ALREADY POOR REPUTATION 

The lawsuit is an attempt at a quick money grab settlement and to get Ryan Garcia to settle so they can say he is admitting guilt. The case is frivolous.

Considering Garcia has already received the punishment given by the commission of the sport, who found it was accidentally ingested, maybe Garcia should find some people who will swear under oath that Haney illegally rehydrates with IVs? That would be interesting.

Devin Haney is already seen as a joke in the sport. He is now imploding his career totally. He could have said, ‘Yeah it's an unfortunate situation, but I plan on getting my revenge in the rematch and whipping Ryan.’ But instead he has been crying because he obviously can't beat Garcia, millionth of a gram of Ostarine or not.

All of the smack talking and insane boasting out of the Haneys is blowing up in their faces. They were majorly disliked before. Now? Even former Haney fans are cringing at this.

-Theshotyoudontsee

David Greisman’s response: Athletes using performance-enhancing drugs in any sport is wrong. Athletics using performance-enhancing drugs in boxing, a sport where the intention is to hurt your opponent, is even worse. 

That opinion shouldn’t change just because you don’t like the opponent.

Haney receives a ton of criticism, some warranted and some unwarranted, both for his performances in the ring and for what he has said or done outside of it. As I wrote in June , when Garcia accepted his suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission:

Contrary to your comment, the athletic commission never concluded that Garcia’s use of ostarine was accidental. Indeed, the commission had a case against Garcia that was ready to go forward, and it didn’t proceed only because Garcia chose to settle rather than fight the accusations.

Garcia’s one-year suspension and fine amount to greater punishment than some offenders have received in the United States, and it’s on par with other suspensions in America, but is still much less than athletes get in other sports or even that boxers have received in other countries. 

To me, one year is still not enough, especially in an era where plenty of boxers are regularly sitting on the sidelines for significant stretches of time. I’d like to see longer suspensions, the threat of which would hopefully deter more boxers from cheating. I’d also like to see strict liability, where fighters are held responsible for what is in their body unless contamination can be absolutely proven. Garcia did not prove that in this case, and it is also inaccurate to minimize the amount of ostarine that was in Garcia’s system and how that substance would have helped him train and cut weight.

But in lieu of stronger punishments from the athletic commission, I am also OK with civil remedies. Returning again to my thoughts from earlier in the year, well before Haney ever filed this lawsuit.

“When Deontay Wilder’s fight with Alexander Povetkin was canceled due to Povetkin’s use of banned substances, Wilder sued Povetkin and won. The circumstances with Haney and Garcia are very different, but it is understandable that Haney would consider such measures to further punish Garcia beyond what’s come from the NYSAC. Fighters cheat because they think they can beat the testing, and because they think the penalties will be light if they are indeed caught.”

In this case, we need to disentangle our thoughts on the defendant (Garcia) from our thoughts on the plaintiff (Haney). If it was your favorite fighter who lost to someone who was subsequently found to have used performance-enhancing drugs, I have a feeling your position would be very different.

NAOYA INOUE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FACE AKHMADALIEV

Since when are champions required to fight the losers of the guys they already beat? It's one thing if Murodjon Akhmadaliev was undefeated or had a belt. But he already lost it to Marlon Tapales. And Inoue knocked out Tapales to become champion. Every boxing ranking has Tapales over MJ. And Inoue has also got other mandatories like Sam Goodman. Stand in line and wait your turn.

Kieran Mulvaney’s response: I can’t disagree with you. As I mentioned in my piece (“ Murodjon Akhmadaliev to Naoya Inoue: Fight me or step aside ”), had Akhmadaliev taken care of business against Tapales, he wouldn’t be in this position.

I do understand where Akhmadaliev is coming from, however. He believes strongly that he did more than enough to deserve that win, and apparently the sanctioning body saw enough merit in his claim that it ordered an immediate rematch. Akhmadaliev allowed Tapales to swerve that rematch to get his own shot at Inoue, and now Akhmadaliev is that organization’s mandatory and has been for a year or so. He pulled out of preparing for other fights in anticipation of getting that mandatory shot, only for it not to come to fruition. So I get his frustration.

But yes, you’re right: He was at the front of the line. He failed to convince two judges that he had beaten Tapales. And now he isn’t at the front of the line anymore. Given Inoue’s readiness to take on all challengers, I doubt very much that The Monster is ducking him. Rather, as you said, he has numerous mandatories to think about, and he’s frankly entitled to take relative gimmes such as TJ Doheny periodically. But MJ is also entitled to bang the drum for a shot — as is any other challenger — and I suspect he’ll get it.

AND BRUCE CARRINGTON DEFINITELY ISN’T READY FOR INOUE

Sulaiman Segawa made Bruce Carrington really think, work hard, and reconsider his impetuous talks that he could beat Naoya Inoue right now. There's a saying that goes something like this: “Calling out the devil isn't the same thing like seeing him coming at you.”

-Boricua181

Lucas Ketelle’s response: Let’s talk about desire. The stuff that makes people chase money without working, fame by being told how great they are, and those little indulgences we all love because they make us feel good. Enter Bruce Carrington: He got a taste of all of that this past weekend, except it came with a side of reality — Sulaiman Segawa. 

See, it’s all fun and games in boxing until someone punches you in the face, and your opponent doesn’t fold. This is where we as people are a generation obsessed with "clout." Call out the big names, get the followers, bask in the Instagram likes. Carrington, bless him, seemed above it all, but then he started calling for Naoya Inoue. 

Like... what? Did we really think Bruce was ready for "The Monster" yet? It was bold. Ambitious. Also a little delusional. But most fighters are.

Now, welcome to Act II: Humility. 

Carrington squeaked out a tough win, but now he will no longer be talked about as the next coming of Sugar Ray Robinson. He’s entered the “oh, now you’re just a normal prospect” phase of his career. It’s part of the natural evolution for any fighter, but it does make you wonder: How does this change his narrative? These are the fights that create forks in the road. Some guys take a hard shot and start questioning life decisions. Others? They get hungrier, stronger, and want to feel that pressure again.

Time’s a funny thing. It heals, sure, but it also exposes the truth. Segawa? Way better than anyone gave him credit for. Carrington? Yeah, he’s talented, but if he thinks he’s just going to stroll to undisputed featherweight champ without grinding it out first, well, life has a way of humbling you.

OSCAR COLLAZO CAN PROVE HIMSELF AGAINST KNOCKOUT CP FRESHMART

It's time to see how good Oscar Collazo really is. A win over Knockout CP Freshmart will establish that (“ Oscar Collazo-Knockout CP Freshmart prepared for strawweight unification Nov. 16 ”). Then if Collazo can win 10 more fights after that, we'll know just how great of a champion he really is. It's not an easy goal to obtain, but a goal that he can possibly obtain, because he appears to have exceptional fighting abilities.

-Boricua181

Jason Langendorf’s response: Collazo may have only 10 professional fights under his belt, but he is 10-0 and has already beaten four one-loss opponents and won six fights scheduled for 12 rounds against a variety of foes in a variety of fashions (four by knockout, two went the distance). 

I’m not sure that we need to hold our breath for another 10 fights to declare just how good he is, but the Knockout CP Freshmart fight is absolutely worth the price of admission and would give Collazo a win over two of the current titleholders in the division. The other is Melvin Jerusalem, who Collazo defeated last year for the WBO title. That win looks even better now that Jerusalem has upset Yudai Shigeoka for the WBC belt and outpointed undefeated Luis Castillo.

Quality can be a little difficult to measure at boxing’s lowest weight classes. At 27 years old, Collazo still has more to do in a relatively short time frame. But we certainly could be looking at an all-timer among the little guys.

TONY YOKA HAS HEART BUT TOO MANY RED FLAGS

Tony Yoka (“ ‘Brilliant technician’ Tony Yoka can still be a factor in the heavyweight division ”) faced some names early in his career and blew through them: Jonathan Rice, David Allen, Alexander Dimitrenko, Johann Duhaupas, etc. it was in the Christian Hammer fight, however, where he showed me some red flags. He was clearly flustered by the Romanian's rough tactics.

I thought Yoka was athletic and had some ability. He showed a lot of heart to stay upright in that Martin Bakole fight and go the distance. Martin really put a beating on him. There's something lacking when Tony needs to bite down on his gum shield and show some nastiness. Rather than get spiteful in the ring, he seems to wilt. Perhaps that's just a lack of the PEDs…

-PBR Streetgang

Tris Dixon’s response: Like you, I felt Yoka might have the goods. His win over Joe Joyce in the Olympics, however, was contentious and he never looked fully polished. I’d agree with the red flags, too. We weren’t privy to a lot of the chaos that was playing out behind the scenes with his old team, which I think has impacted him in many ways, but ultimately there are tried and tested methods, teams and promoters that can take you to the top, and it might have served him well to go to the USA, perhaps England, or even to Eye of the Tiger in Canada, to build from the start. 

I have no idea how he will get on from here on in, at the age of 33. But it sounds like Don Charles is energized working with him and Yoka won’t be short of sparring, working with Daniel Dubois in the same gym.

You’d hope he hasn’t reached his ceiling and might get closer to reaching his potential, and as has been written about plenty of times, this generation of heavyweights is nearer the end than the beginning, so there is room for some fresh blood to come in.  

It’s not over for Yoka, but he is facing an uphill task, and I’m sure he will be asking himself whether he really wants it enough. It could come down to that.

BOXINGSCENE WRITER BANNED BY RIYADH SEASON RESPONDS 

HE WROTE A FUCKING BOOK JUST TO SAY THAT TURKI HURT HIS FEELINGS

-BlackRobb.

Declan Warrington's response: My feelings (“ An inconvenient take on the night Anthony Joshua was stopped by Daniel Dubois ”) were no more hurt then than they are by the above. I've written — I'd like to think objectively — about what I consider to be the negative influence of Saudi Arabia's ambitions in boxing for months, and not only for BoxingScene. 

I was accredited to attend Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk, which was a terrific fight, in May. And while I remained in Riyadh, I wrote about what I considered to be the positives and negatives surrounding what I observed out there. In other words, whether or not I'm accredited won't motivate how I attempt to report on something. I'm very aware it won't matter at all if I never attend or report on a fight again. What’s actually important is that the sport continues to get covered with a sense of integrity (which, refreshingly, applies to each of my colleagues at BoxingScene).

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.

Shakur Stevenson has commented on a possible fight against Ryan García. The statements arise after recent comments from Bernard Hopkins. During the presentation of “Latino Night,” Hopkins suggested a matchup between the two boxers. He proposed that the fight take place at a catchweight between 135 and 143 pounds.

Although there are no confirmations yet, interest in this bout is growing among fans. Stevenson addressed the topic on his social media. On his X account, he wrote:

“I’m kinda scheduled to beat his other fighter in February I would love that fight too tho 😂.”It is important to note that both Shakur Stevenson and Ryan García are currently inactive.

Stevenson suffered a hand injury in early September. The injury occurred while he was preparing for his fight against Joe Cordina. He is expected to return to the ring in early 2025. However, his first opponent will be William ‘Camarón’ Zepeda.

On the other hand, García is facing a different situation. The Californian was suspended for a year after testing positive for Ostarine. This substance is banned and enhances performance. The result of his fight with Devin Haney, held in April, was changed to a no contest. Despite this, García had displayed a dominant performance before the suspension.

Both boxers are projecting their return for the first half of 2025. This opens up the possibility of a fight between them materializing. However, their plans for a comeback are different.

Ryan García, 26, shocked the boxing world by capitalizing on a victory over Haney, marking a milestone in his career. However, the result was affected by his positive test for PED. To date, García has a record of 24 wins, with 20 by knockout, one loss, and one no contest.Terence Crawford claims rival was knocked out by recent opponent in sparring

Similarly, Shakur Stevenson, also 26, comes off a recent victory. He defeated Artem Harutyunyan by unanimous decision. Despite his win, the boxer was booed for his fighting style, which some critics deemed boring. Currently, Stevenson boasts an impressive record of 21 wins, with 10 by knockout and no losses.

As both boxers prepare for their return, interest in their potential matchup grows. The combination of styles and personalities promises an exciting fight if it comes to fruition. The boxing community eagerly awaits further updates on this anticipated showdown.I’m kinda scheduled to beat his other fighter in February I would love that fight too tho 😂

Recently, renowned boxer Shawn Porter was inducted during the 66th induction ceremony and banquet of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio. The two-time world champion expressed that this honor means a lot to him. At the same time, he remarked during the induction ceremony that the experience is “surreal.”

Porter, a native of Cleveland, is an example of success in boxing. He graduated from Stow High School and attended Cuyahoga Falls High School. Throughout his career, he compiled an impressive record of 31 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Additionally, he achieved 17 knockouts and won welterweight world titles, capturing the IBF title in 2013 and the WBC title in 2018.During his speech, Shawn Porter highlighted the support from his fans in northeastern Ohio. “I never realized how much it was hitting home,” he stated about his career. “I want to say thank you for this induction”, said Porter.

The boxer also spoke about his efforts to change the perception of fighters. “Boxing is the bad boy of sports,” he indicated. “I’ve done my best to be one of the good guys in the sport.”

Porter emphasized that boxers are more than just “punches, knockouts, and blood.” “We have common sense. We have education. We have goals,” he affirmed. He also underscored the importance of ambition and drive in a boxer’s life.

“I stand up here right now with you guys as a winner,” Porter said. “someone who’s extremely goal-oriented and full of faith” He thanked his parents, who were present at the ceremony. “My mom and my dad over here have really led me to becoming everything that I’ve been both inside of and outside of the ring”

Porter’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication and passion for boxing. Likewise, the boxer’s legacy will endure among fans and new talents in the sport.Summit County (Akron, OH) Sports HOF inductee for 2024. Honored to be inducted, especially with this superb athlete Antoine Winfield Sr, as well as the other inductees!! pic.twitter.com/XiRwp5KhV4

LOS ANGELES – Devin Haney sued Ryan Garcia for battery and fraud on Friday following their controversial April 20 matchup. 

Golden Boy Promotions was named in the lawsuit as well, as Haney demanded a full review and adjustment of the accounting around the pay-per-view event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

For the fight, after a tumultuous promotion, Garcia came in 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound contracted weight limit and knocked Haney down three times to win a majority decision. After the fight, it was revealed that Garcia tested positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine. The result of the fight was later changed to a no contest and Garcia was fined and suspended for one year due to the violation. 

On Wednesday, Oscar De La Hoya met the media for the first time since Haney’s lawsuit was filed while promoting his November 16 “Latino Night” event in Saudi Arabia. Away from the introductory press conference, the main topic of conversion was focused on Haney’s lawsuit and Garcia’s future. 

“There are big plans for Ryan coming back,” De La Hoya told BoxingScene. “Obviously we have to deal with this frivolous lawsuit that they slapped on us, but that's all it is. It's noise. How can you sue somebody that beat the crap out of you? It just doesn't make sense.

“I don't think anything about it because when we're always in the right, you have no worries whatsoever.

“When you do the right thing, when you are positive, and honest to your fighters, when you're transparent – guess what? At the end of the day, the good guys always win.” 

De La Hoya said he met Garcia at his Golden Boy Promotions headquarters in downtown LA on Wednesday to outline the next steps for Garcia’s return. 

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) has teased a December fight in Japan in recent months. 

“Don't know yet. We are figuring it out as we speak,” said De La Hoya. “First things first, we have to get Ryan back to where he belongs in the gym. He was in great spirits when we saw him. He's doing awesome. He's focused. He's learned from what happened in the past. He's grown as a young man and I gave him a good, nice little speech today on my experiences on how I've been through hell and back and survived it. I'm a man who has the experience who can tell Garcia 'it's OK. You're going to be OK.'” 

De La Hoya believes Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will never be the same fighter ever again after absorbing the kind of beating that he did from Garcia. 

“I don't think [that the rematch is the biggest fight of 2025] because I believe that Devin Haney is a shot fighter,” said De La Hoya. “Of course [he'll take the fight if it's offered.] It's a lot of money. 

“What I would do [instead of suing] is call that fighter out, get back in the ring, and beat his ass.” 

#DevinHaney #RyanGarcia #OscarDeLaHoya #boxing #BoxingNews

The purse bid for the rematch between Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramírez will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024. This event will determine the rights to organize the rematch for the WBO featherweight title. The auction will begin at 11:00 a.m., Atlantic Standard Time, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) confirmed that the minimum bid is $150,000.

Espinoza surprised the boxing world last December by defeating Ramírez. In that bout, both boxers were knocked down, but Espinoza ultimately prevailed. This victory was unexpected, as Espinoza was a relatively unknown contender at the time. With a record of 25-0, including 21 knockouts, Espinoza has proven his power in the ring. His height of 1.85 meters also makes him a challenging opponent for anyone in the division.Since then, Espinoza has successfully defended his title. In his most recent fight earlier this year, he knocked out Sergio Chirino in the fourth round. His undefeated streak and aggressive style have positioned him as one of the most feared champions.

On the other hand, former Cuban champion Robeisy Ramírez has not been idle. Ramírez has a record of 14 wins and 2 losses, with 9 knockouts. Before losing his title to Espinoza, he made a successful defense of it. After his defeat, he returned to the ring with a knockout victory over Brandon León Benítez. Ramírez requested a rematch, eager to regain his title.

WBO President Paco Valcárcel will oversee the auction event. This rematch is highly anticipated by fans, as their first encounter left many shocked. Competitive bids are expected to organize the fight.

Both boxers are eager to return to the ring and prove who the true champion is. The date of the rematch will be determined once the winning promoter is announced.

As the film “The Featherweight,” about the life of boxing great Willie Pep, enters wide release, this week a different BoxingScene contributor will reflect on a boxing biopic that resonates with them. Today: "Cinderella Man."

“In all the history of the boxing game, you find no human interest story to compare with the life narrative of James J Braddock.”

The citation, from the great storyteller and journalist Damon Runyon, is certainly up for debate (even just among fighters from recent memory, Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, Danny Jacobs and Dewey Bozella would probably like a word). But Runyon’s assessment, the marrow of it – that Braddock lived an implausible, larger-than-life existence – can’t be denied.

It’s also a helluva way to kick off a film.

And “Cinderella Man," the 2005 blockbuster featuring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger and directed by Ron Howard, is nothing if not a series of big swings. From the actors and the hitmaker behind the camera to the dramatic boxing set pieces and soaring score to the broader, uniquely human themes of struggle, self-belief, love and redemption, the movie follows familiar formulas – those we’ve seen before not only in numerous sports flicks but also as a staple of Howard’s blockbuster canon. Yet when it comes to scratching the fundamental itch of moviegoers, “Cinderella Man” delivers as effectively (and occasionally refreshingly) as any boxing film you’ll find.

Set in 1930s New York, Jim Braddock (Crowe) is a former light-heavyweight contender who has fallen on hard times after a broken right hand essentially retired him from boxing. We get a glimpse of Braddock’s relatively well-to-do pre-Depression life, but in a heartbeat we leap with the fighter and his family from $850 fight purses and a warm homestead in New Jersey to a ramshackle tenement, a rising stack of overdue bills and dwindling work as a longshoreman.

Braddock’s wife Mae (Zellweger) is a dream, unflagging in her support of her husband and a stalwart source of sweetness and optimism for their three children in the face of relentlessly bleak circumstances. She’s a beacon in good times and bad, even after one of the children falls ill. In the same vein, Braddock is a proper protagonist-hero – a selfless family man who, at varying points in the narrative, convinces his hungry daughter that she’ll be helping him out by finishing his meager dinner and who parents with patience and understanding when his son steals food for the struggling family.

A bit too saccharine for your tastes? Without a doubt, the script occasionally sends even our better angels into eye-rolling fits. Propping up the plot are the occasional and unnecessary patches of exposition, and every so often, “Cinderella Man” seems a bit too intent on reminding us that this is a period piece, with deliveries that stir the ghosts of Jimmy Cagney and Joan Blondell. “Every time you get hit,” Mae pleads with Jim, “it feels like I’m getting hit, too.”

Howard has been known to traffic in the treacly, but critics have said as much about Steven Spielberg. And lest we forget, there’s an all-time cinematic boxing classic that won Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards – and was also nominated for Best Screenplay – that featured more than its share of heartfelt speechifying, even if that dialogue was sometimes Sly-ly slurred.

“Cinderella Man” sprinkles healthy doses of grit into the sugar, with Jim reaching a breaking point of sorts and storming out on Mae after she sends their children to live with relatives. Their poverty is visceral, and Crowe – who also gave us ultra-alphas Bud White and Maximus Decimus Meridius – nails the quiet sweet spot between pride and exhaustion when, literally hat in hand and fresh from the relief office, he humbles himself to Madison Square Garden’s boxing power brokers. When Braddock tells them, “You know me well enough to know if I had anywhere else to go, I wouldn’t be here," you believe it.

Then there’s Paul Giamatti, who brings a prickly humor to the proceedings as Braddock’s manager, Joe Gould. He busts balls with Crowe – “You gotta stop some of those lefts!” Gould implores between rounds in one fight, to which Braddock responds, “You see any getting past my head?” – and jousts repeatedly with Craig Bierko’s amped and murderous version of Max Baer. “You gonna punch him or pork him?” Gould shouts at Baer while the champ grimly toys with Braddock. Baer, firing back: “That’s your job, asshole!”

Not exactly the stuff of Disney. Like some of Howard’s other best work – “Apollo 13,” “Frost/Nixon” and “Rush” – the grand storytelling in “Cinderella Man” is effectively cut with high stakes, brisk pacing and strong performances. And as the conversations around boxing films inevitably turn, it’s worth noting that the fighting scenes check in somewhere between above average and quite good. Crowe is as fit as he has ever been, he and Bierko give solid accounts of themselves as prizefighters inside the ring, and Howard paints a textured picture of an era-specific boxing environment that doesn’t simply toss fedoras and cigar smoke at the audience.

After all this, you might ask, is “Cinderella Man” actually good ? The answer, objectively, is “yes." If not quite a critical masterpiece, the film has a built-in, big-screen story that is well executed and features clever and compelling performances. If your mood calls for the modern edge of “Bleed for This” or the relentless darkness of “Raging Bull," this isn’t it. But if you can’t help soaking in the early-century setting of “The Great White Hope” and fall hard for the highs, lows and hints of delicious hamminess from “Rocky," then “Cinderella Man” is two hours and 24 minutes very well spent.

Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, has contributed to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Chicago Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be followed on X and LinkedIn, and emailed at dorf2112@hotmail.com.

Steel City Interactive confirmed the removal of Ryan Garcia from their upcoming boxing game, Undisputed. The news has sparked controversy within the gaming community. The official launch of Undisputed is scheduled for October 11, 2024, with early access for players on the Steam gaming store and platform starting on October 8.

The decision to remove Garcia follows a stance taken by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The boxer was expelled from the WBC earlier this year due to racist comments made on social media. Steel City Interactive, in solidarity with the WBC’s decision, announced Garcia’s removal from the roster of fighters in the game.

In an official Discord message, the Undisputed team explained that Ryan Garcia will no longer be available in various game modes:

“As part of the full launch update of Undisputed on October 8th, and following the lead of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Ryan Garcia’s character will no longer be playable in local, online, and prize fight game modes, and players won’t be able to create new career mode saves with the character”.

Starting October 8, players will no longer be able to use him in local, online, or prize fight modes. Players who have started career mode games with Garcia will be able to continue using him until December, when a final update will remove him.

The gaming community has not taken this decision well. Many users on Reddit and other platforms are criticizing Steel City Interactive for getting involved in issues unrelated to game development. Despite the criticism, the game’s development team stands by their decision.Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol card preview, date, time and how to watch

Undisputed has generated significant anticipation among boxing and gaming fans. The title, which launched in early access in January 2023, will officially release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on October 11. It will be the first major boxing game since Fight Night Champion, released in 2010. The game has also been praised for its realism and gameplay.

Despite the controversy, the game continues to receive mostly positive reviews on Steam. With a roster that includes legends like Tyson Fury, Canelo Álvarez, and Muhammad Ali, Undisputed promises to deliver an authentic and immersive boxing experience. However, Ryan Garcia’s removal leaves the game with one less fighter at launch, sparking debate over the implications of such decisions in video game development.Ryan Garcia canned from Undisputed boxing 😬 pic.twitter.com/GoUxF6kNzn

Gervonta “Tank” Davis pushed for Vasiliy Lomachenko and engaged with Shakur Stevenson and when those plans went astray, he is now finalizing a deal with junior lightweight titleholder Lamont Roach.

Baltimore’s Davis today confirmed the contest will take place in Houston, with December named as the date. It has been reported that Dec. 14 is the focus for the pay-per-view defense of his WBA lightweight belt.

The 29-year-old Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) is coming off an eighth-round TKO of Feargal McCrory on June 28 on a ProBox TV main event from his hometown, Washington D.C. Roach became champion by virtue of his November 2023 split decision triumph over Hector Luis Garcia.

In an extended discussion about the near finality of Davis-Roach, ProBox TV’s Paulie Malignaggi said Tuesday that the fight represents “an opportunity” for Roach to build his name recognition and explore a restricted path to victory against the bigger knockout artist Davis (30-0, 28 KOs).

“Roach has been a solid fighter, but he hasn’t been at the level of notoriety to be in a fight like this … I don’t think this is a fight that should go on pay-per-view,” said Malignaggi, a former welterweight champion. “If Roach had been a bona fide champion who’s made five-six title defenses … .”

Instead, Malignaggi said, the bout represents a “cement your brand kind of thing … keep [Davis] winning so he can look like a winner. But people want to see more.”

That’s not all Davis’ fault. The 29-year-old expressed willingness to fight veteran three-division champion Lomachenko only to see the Ukrainian announce he wanted to be with his family as his war-torn country confronts its war with Russia this year.

And then WBC lightweight titleholder Stevenson turned away from social media chatter with Davis to pursue bouts linked to Saudi Arabia, ultimately signing with promoter Eddie Hearn before suffering an injury that scrapped Stevenson’s planned Oct. 12 return.

Beyond the head-scratching move of taking a D.C.-area bout to Texas and placing it on pay-per-view, ProBox TV’s Chris Algieri said Davis missed an opportunity to select a more qualified lightweight contender rather than picking new titlist Roach.

The cast of qualified 135-pounders includes top-ranked William Zepeda and WBA No. 2-ranked Floyd Schofield of Golden Boy Promotions, top-three contenders Keyshawn Davis and Raymond Muratalla of Top Rank and WBO titleholder Denys Berinchyk, who hasn’t locked in his first title defense. Zepeda and Davis are now fighting on separate cards in November.

“The fight itself is a hard pill to swallow,” Algieri said on Tuesday’s edition of ProBox TV’s “Top Stories.”

Malignaggi elaborated, “When you look at the lightweight division from a boxing perspective, why pull up a guy from other weight classes when there are fresh, young lightweights [and] lots of viable fights for [Davis]?”

Malignaggi praises Roach as a “crafty, little veteran … It’s a springboard for ProBox. [Roach] has showed a solid chin. … If he can bring those skill sets, he can be a problem.”

Algieri said if Roach can stack up early rounds on the scorecards, because Davis usually starts slow and puts “all his eggs in the basket, that he’ll score a knockout,” Roach could “outhustle, out-finesse [Davis] and survive late … yes, it’s possible we can see an upset.”

That moved Malignaggi.

#GervontaDavis #LamontRoach #BoxingMatchup #HardPillToSwallow #Undefeated

Recently, it was announced that Manny Pacquiao, the icon of Filipino boxing, leads the list of new nominees for the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF). The recent voting revealed his inclusion on the list of candidates eligible for induction in 2025. The induction ceremony will take place from June 5 to 8 in Canastota and at the nearby Turning Stone Casino in New York.

The voting for induction has been sent to voters worldwide. Alongside Pacquiao, other notable names have been added to the list of new candidates. Shawn Porter, Lucian Bute, and Mikey García are included in the Modern category. In the women’s category, Yessica Chávez from Mexico and Jessica Rakoczy from Canada appear for the first time on the ballot. The Italian Bruno Arcari has also been added to the veterans’ ballot.

The pioneer ballot also includes the English boxer Owen Swift. Meanwhile, veteran trainer and cutman Russ Anber may receive his plaque in the museum. Referee Kenny Bayless and Italian promoter Salvatore Cherchi are also nominated.

The observers include Argentine journalist Ernesto Cherquis Bialo. He

It is important to highlight that Pacquiao is recognized as one of the greatest boxers in history. Throughout his career, he conquered titles in eight weight categories within the sport. His professional journey was marked by famous bouts, including the four confrontations with Juan Manuel Márquez and the trilogy against Erik Morales. However, the most important fight of his career was against Floyd Mayweather in 2015. Although Pacquiao managed to defeat Márquez and Martínez, he would later be defeated by Mayweather by unanimous decision.

Today, talking about Manny Pacquiao is synonymous with discussing a legend in the boxing world. At 40 years old, he became the oldest welterweight champion. This happened in 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight title. His professional career ended in 2021 after a loss to Yordenis Ugas. Since his retirement, Pacquiao has participated in two exhibition matches. In the first, he faced DK Yoo on December 11, 2022, where he emerged victorious by unanimous decision.

On July 28 of this year, he had an exhibition against Rukiya Anpo at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. It is worth mentioning that, although it was not an official result, Pacquiao demonstrated his skill in the ring during the three rounds of the exhibition. Regarding his future, there was speculation about a possible return against the WBC welterweight champion, Mario Barrios. However, plans for a potential fight did not come to fruition. Barrios will face Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card on November 15.

Pacquiao was seen in the United Kingdom during the fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Reports suggest that he is seeking a fight in England. Amir Khan and Conor Benn are mentioned as possible opponents. This pursuit of new challenges showcases Pacquiao’s passion for boxing.

#MannyPacquiao #IBHOF2025 #BoxingLegend #HallOfFame #FilipinoPride #ShawnPorter #MikeyGarcia #LucianBute #Boxing

A purse bid for the rematch between WBO featherweight titleholder Rafael Espinoza and challenger Robeisy Ramirez will be held on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time, the WBO announced. 

The bid will take place at the WBO's main offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The rematch follows their clash in December clash when Espinoza, a relatively unknown challenger at the time, upset Ramirez to win the WBO title in a fight that saw both fighters hit the canvas. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs), known for his impressive 6 '1 frame, has since defended his title with a fourth-round stoppage of Sergio Chirino earlier this year.

Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), the 30-year-old Cuban former champion, made one successful defense before losing to Espinoza. He returned to action with a stoppage victory over Brandon Leon Benitez and called for the rematch.

The minimum bid for the WBO featherweight title bout is $150,000. WBO President Paco Valcárcel, Esq., will preside over the proceedings.

#RafaelEspinoza #RobeisyRamirez #WBOTitle #FeatherweightDivision #BoxingRematch #PuertoRico #PurseBid #BoxingNews #FeatherweightChampionship #SanJuanBoxing #WBOFeatherweight #Boxing

When Harry Simon won his first amateur bout at 10 years of age, his reward for winning was an orange. Not an orange sash, or an orange rosette, but an actual orange; one he could peel and eat. Harry’s next challenge, in fact, was to try to resist the temptation to eat this orange and take it home, where it could then be showcased like any other trinket a boxer might earn in victory. 

For seven days that orange had pride of place, just not on a mantelpiece but on top of a fridge. It was there, on the fridge, Harry could find it whenever he entered the kitchen looking for a reminder of what he had achieved in the ring. It was also there that the orange would change, both in color and shape, and somehow become the perfect metaphor for Harry Simon’s boxing career and indeed his life. 

Unlike a trophy, you see, the orange on the fridge was forever altering and deteriorating. Even as a token of success, its shelf life was short, indeterminate. One day it was fresh and fine to eat, the next it was rotting, no good. “After two or three days it had changed color,” Simon recalls. “It was going green. I’ll never forget that.” In the end it would wither and die, as expected, yet the memory of it has sustained. So too has the memory of the success the orange represented. “I remember it was a three-rounder or a four-rounder and it was against someone who was 14,” says Simon. “He had been a boxer as an amateur for maybe two or three years. I beat him on points.”

Born in Walvis Bay, Namibia in 1971, Harry Simon was the last of 11 children. He grew up without a father and often found himself surrounded by older boys and girls, the impact of which seems, on reflection, to have been almost as great as having no father figure. 

“I would say I was a naughty boy,” he says. “I was a naughty boy and I would get in trouble a lot. I would always be fighting everywhere. I would fight at school and also when I wasn’t at school.” He then pauses to make room for a greater degree of honesty. “I would say I was a bully,” he now says. “As a child I would bully other children. Some of them were older than me, but I still bullied them. I didn’t have any fear. None at all. I don’t know why that was. I had 10 siblings and I’m the last born – the 11th. It was a difficult childhood for me because I had to grow up without a father. I felt his absence. Every boy needs a father. I was not taught well. If my dad was there, he would teach me not to bully other people. He would teach me to do the right thing. I was not disciplined at all.”

When I speak with Simon, he is in Walvis Bay and has just been to the boxing gym, where he continues to find the solace he requires in adulthood and the discipline he lacked during his childhood. He is now 52 years of age. He will box again on November 2 in an exhibition in Namibia and is still getting from boxing the same things he got from it growing up. It is still, for him, a home away from home and a sanctuary. It still teaches him the lessons and provides him with gifts he didn’t receive as a child. “Boxing gave me discipline, one hundred per cent,” he says. “It is the same for other people in Namibia, too. In Namibia, boxing is very popular. I could be wrong, but I would say it is the number one sport in Namibia. In the gym today I was training with a lot of kids. There may have been 60 kids in the gym.”

He says of his own training: “I don’t feel fit yet but I feel good to get back in the ring. I’ll be ready. I’m training every day except Sunday. I’m doing my roadwork in the morning and then I do boxing in the afternoon. I never thought I would be boxing at this age, no, but I still enjoy it very much.”

For the younger ones, boxing is a way to learn, to find discipline, to find strength. For Simon, on the other hand, one gets the impression that the gym is now, at 52, more akin to a time machine, something he can use in the hope of feeling youthful again. Not only that, boxing, as a discipline, is all he has ever known, with the ring often the safest place for him. “I had over 200 amateur fights,” he says, “and lost maybe two or three or four.”

With this kind of success rate, it stands to reason that Simon associates the ring with progress and, for the most part, happiness. As a pro, it was the boxing ring that brought him money and acclaim and even as an amateur his exploits inside it led to Simon representing Namibia at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. 

“For me, I don’t want to lie, that was not a good experience at all,” he recalls. “It was 1992 and they had the computer scoring. Many people could see that this boy won but the computer would say no, this boy lost. It made me angry. You see it all the time in amateur boxing. Just because the boy is from Great Britain or America, and he fought a guy from Zimbabwe or somewhere else in Africa, they say they won even if they didn’t. A lot of superstars have lost at the Olympics because of the scoring. Roy Jones lost against a Korean (Park Si-Hun) in Korea (at the 1988 Olympics). Also, Floyd Mayweather lost (against Serafim Todorov in ’96).”

Like any boxer, Simon, outpointed by Aníbal Acevedo in the first round, wanted a win to feel like a win; just as a loss should feel like a loss. He wanted fights to be decided by his own physical prowess rather than politics or popularity. It was for this reason, among others, he turned professional in 1994.

“I was working at the time in sports and recreation and I had to give that up to become a professional,” he says. “I had to leave my job to go to South Africa because there was no professional boxing in Namibia. It was very difficult. I had to go look for a place to stay. I didn’t know anybody in South Africa. I had to show everybody in the gym how good I was. Everybody was asking, ‘Who is that boy? Who is that boy?’ I had to prove myself in the gym. That’s what happened. As time went on, I enjoyed living there. It became my second home.”

While in South Africa, Simon, known as “The Terminator”, won nine fights and only went the distance once. Then, having boxed on several occasions in Great Britain, he received a shot at the WBO junior middleweight title in 1998. The owner of this belt at the time was Ronald “Winky” Wright, one of the most technically proficient fighters of the modern era and already someone most junior middleweights were eager to avoid. He, too, had impressed in Britain, beating the likes of Ensley Bingham, Steven Foster, and Adrian Dodson, and seemingly had no problem travelling around the world to make money and beat up opponents in hostile territory. The idea of going to South Africa to fight Simon therefore was deemed no more than the continuation of a theme for Wright.

“That was a dangerous fight for me,” recalls Simon. “That one opened my eyes. If I had lost to Winky that night, my life was never going to be the same. I was maybe going to retire after one more fight, or maybe have no more fights. But I fought my heart out against him. If I couldn’t win after fighting my heart out, what would be the point? I gave everything in that fight. I was also a very inexperienced man. I learned a lot from that fight.”

Fighting at a frenetic pace throughout, Simon learned as much about himself as he did Wright that night in Hammanskraal. He had, at the time, only 16 pro fights to his name whereas Wright was 38-1 and accustomed by now to beating world-class challengers on the road. Nevertheless, Simon ultimately came out on top, beating Wright by majority decision, and now joined the same rarified club in which “Winky” himself could be found. Suddenly Simon, Namibia’s first ever world champion, was both a marked man and a man any astute fighter would look to avoid. 

“I love Winky; I love that boy,” he says. “I named my son after him. Winky is not a popular name. It is only known to the people who know Winky Wright. But I have a tattoo of Winky on my arm; I have the names of all my children on my arm.”

Of the two it was of course Wright who would go on to find both fame and the kind of paydays that would forever and for good reason elude Harry Simon. Yet, by virtue of him beating Wright, still Simon remained a feared, dangerous man, his quality plain for all to see. 

After beating Wright, he went on to defend his belt against Kevin Lueshing, whom he stopped in three rounds, Enrique Areco, whom he stopped in 10, and Rodney Jones, with whom Simon went 12 rounds in Canada, retaining the belt the same way it was won: by majority decision. In his next fight he returned to Britain to face Wayne Alexander, a heavy-handed fighter unbeaten in 16 fights. 

“It was a great fight,” Simon remembers. “Before the fight I told everybody that it was going to be my easiest fight. But I didn’t know he had that much courage. He was also the biggest puncher I faced.” He pauses and laughs, perhaps remembering the stoppage in round five. “Still it was an easy fight for me, though.”

It would also be Simon’s last fight as a 154-pound junior middleweight. Afterwards, he would signal his intention to vacate his WBO belt and move up to middleweight, which is where, in 2001, he beat Hacine Cherifi to claim the WBO interim strap and then Armand Krajnc to win the full version of that title the following year. Both those fights went the distance, with Simon taking unanimous decisions, and both would be considered mere afterthoughts given all that was to happen to Simon in 2002. 

In truth, the only names that really matter at this point are the following: Frederick de Winter, a 31-year-old father, Michelle de Clerck, a 29-year-old mother, and Ibe de Winter, a 22-month-old baby. Those are the names of the three Belgians killed by Harry Simon’s Mercedes-Benz ML500 in a head-on collision at Langstrand, just between his birthplace Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, in November of 2002. 

Nothing was ever the same after that. One life had changed, three lives had ended, and yet it wasn’t until August 5, 2005, almost three years after the crash, that Simon was found guilty of culpable homicide and handed a two-year jail sentence. He appealed this decision but to no avail, then started to serve his sentence on July 9, 2007. By that time, he had, he says, lost everything. He had lost the ability to box on account of his injuries – a broken right arm and a broken right leg – and he had lost both his freedom and peace of mind.

“It took me five years to recover,” he says of the injuries, aware that a loss of time is incomparable to the loss experienced by three Belgians visiting a Namibian beach resort one day in November. “It was up and down. I had to go to America for surgery, go to London for surgery, come back to South Africa for surgery… it was tough. That whole period was very difficult for me. I just took one day at a time and tried to get through it. I wondered if I would box again and I was worried that would never be possible. I was in my prime at that time in my life and I actually lost everything. I was supposed to fight guys like Felix Trinidad and Bernard Hopkins for big money but that couldn’t happen. Everything I wanted to happen could not happen anymore. I accepted it. I pray a lot and that has helped. I had to go to church. There were a lot of people encouraging me as well. This is life and I have to accept it.”

In total, Simon was out of the ring for five years. These were meant to have been the best and most productive – both athletically and financially speaking – five years of his life, yet still he is lucky; lucky to have rediscovered freedom and a new perspective and lucky to have even been able to box again. 

“That was one of the hardest things I have ever done,” he says, speaking now of jail. “You lose everything and still they put you in jail. It was like being buried alive. That is what it felt like. 

“I was training while I was in jail, so I always hoped to box again. When I came out, I was almost 100 per cent and ready to box. I wanted to be a world champion again.”

While Simon may have fallen short of that, he did continue to box and make some sort of living from the sport in the subsequent years. In November 2018, some 16 years after the crash, he even shared a bill in Namibia with his son, Harry Simon Jnr, a boxer currently 22-0. “That doesn’t happen every day, so it was a very proud moment for me,” he says. “I have 10 children and I am in their lives. That is the most important thing.”

One gets the sense he is forever making up – either for lost time or an absence, be it his own or his father’s. It is why, perhaps, Simon continues to box at 52 and why, even though content with his achievements, there remains an urge on his part to do more. 

“I am proud of what I have achieved in the ring,” he says. “What I have done is something special for me. If you look at my record, it’s 31-0 and I’m 30 years undefeated. Do you know why I’m saying that? Because I’m still active. There’s nobody on this planet who has been undefeated that long. I’m the first to do that and I’m the only one. I don’t know why people don’t mention it. Maybe it’s because I’m from Africa. I look around at all the people and there is nobody else who has done what I have done.”

He adds: “I’m doing many exhibitions in Namibia and South Africa and I want to do an exhibition against (Floyd) Mayweather. Mayweather is also undefeated. I remember he did an exhibition with Jake Paul’s brother (Logan Paul) and Jake Paul’s brother was a cruiserweight. If I can get my weight down, we can do an exhibition. That will be an exhibition between two fighters with a combined 81 fights without a loss. He beat good world champions; I also beat good world champions. So we can do an eight-rounder or a six-rounder. Let’s give the fans a great show: two super world champions who can’t remember how it feels to lose.”

That, of course, is not strictly true. Harry Simon, more than anyone, knows exactly what it means to win and exactly how it feels to lose. He is in fact a man well-versed in the extremities of both winning and losing. He knows now that just as a decaying orange is not an adequate representation of victory, nor does losing a boxing match against another boxer do any sort of justice to the feeling of loss. 

#HarrySimon #NamibianBoxer #UndisputedChampion #WinkyWright #BoxingLegend #BoxingComeback #NeverDefeated #TragicAccident #UndefeatedChamp #Boxing

In the boxing world, a scenario where Tyson Fury collides in a ring battle against Anthony Joshua would be a dream match for fans. However, this anticipated duel does not seem to be close to materializing in the immediate future.

Despite this, Fury, the former WBC heavyweight champion, has not stopped provoking Joshua.

Currently, Fury and Joshua are positioned as two of the leading figures in British boxing on an international level. It is worth noting that the possibility of a matchup between these two titans has always been a common topic of discussion.

In that same vein, boxing fans remain eager for a future encounter between these two giants in the ring.

Fury used his Instagram account to compare their physiques and send a mocking message to Joshua. In the post, he included a photo of Joshua with an extensive message about his diet. The text read:

“My breakfast consist of yams, eggs and dates. Followed by a big bowl of porridge, a protein shake, a glass of orange juice and a glass of honey, lemon and ginger”.

Fury, for his part, contrasted his training approach with a humorous anecdote.

On his Instagram story, Tyson Fury recalled:Former undisputed champion announced for fight on U.K. undercard

“I remember one night I had 14 pints of Fosters & then sparred three top-ten heavyweights and battered them all”.

This provocative statement highlights Fury’s confidence and carefree lifestyle compared to Joshua’s disciplined regimen.

The expectation of a possible fight between Fury and Joshua persists.

However, it remains to be seen if this confrontation will eventually take place. Tyson Fury has a scheduled fight that could be crucial for his career.

On December 21, Fury will face unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. This matchup is considered a highly anticipated rematch and could influence the future of British boxing.

#TysonFury #AnthonyJoshua #OleksandrUsyk #HeavyweightBoxing #BattleOfBritain #BoxingNews #BritishBoxing #FuryVsJoshua #BoxingShowdown #BoxingRivalry

WBA super-welterweight champion Terence Crawford solidified his claim to the pound-for-pound throne with a victory over Israil Madrimov two months ago – that win seeing him become a four-division world champion. Now, as ‘Bud’ eyes up another fight to add to his legacy, he revealed a shocking sparring rumour about one of his potential opponents.

Crawford etched his name into the record books when he halted Errol Spence Jr. in a grudge match undisputed welterweight title showdown last year, becoming the first fighter to become a multi-divisional undisputed champion since the dawn of the four-belt era.

The Omaha-born sensation has achieved further success since stepping up to 154lbs and grinded out a unanimous-decision win over Madrimov on his debut at the weight, in what appeared to be the toughest test of his career to date.

Now the 37-year-old is hopeful of fighting for the undisputed crown at a third weight, whether that be a mammoth jump to super-middleweight to take on Canelo Alvarez, and whomever holds the vacant IBF belt at the time, or unification contests at super-welterweight.

Although, the super-welterweight route appears to be the most likely option as interest in Canelo-Crawford continues to depreciate and therefore unified 154lb champion Sebastian Fundora finds himself in the firing line.Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol card preview, date, time and how to watch

Crawford has now been ordered to take on ‘The Towering Inferno’ and in an interview with Bernie Tha Boxer, the slick southpaw revealed that he is not afraid of a clash with Fundora, in spite of his gigantic frame and distinct physical advantages, because of rumours that the 6’5” WBC & WBO champion was knocked out in sparring by Madrimov.

“That’s a fight [that is] on the table.

“If Fundora’s licking his chops over my performance vs Israil Madrimov, then I should be licking my chops because Madrimov knocked Fundora out in sparring.

“So, who should be licking their chops? You know what I mean.”

The teams of both Crawford and Fundora now have just eight days to negotiate a fight contract after a ten day extension was granted, if they fail to do so, then the three-belt unification bout will go to purse bids.

#TerenceCrawford #SebastianFundora #BoxingNews #SuperWelterweight #IsrailMadrimov #BoxingRumors #PoundForPound #BoxingMatchup #BoxingDrama #LegacyFight

As boxing fans, watching the son of a great of the sport will always come with intrigue for both the right and wrong reasons. Can he match or surpass the legacy of his father? Has he undeservedly been skyrocketed onto a major card simply because of his surname? Every fight, round, punch is heavily scrutinised. However, there have been a handful of occasions where a son has followed in the footsteps of his father even more directly and fought the exact same opponent – some earning validation, some claiming vengeance, and some being vanquished.Phil/Harold Johnson vs Jersey Joe Walcott

Fresh from two knockout victories over former heavyweight world champion Primo Carnera, Leroy Haynes travelled to Philadelphia in 1936 to face Al Ettore in his hometown. On that undercard, New Jersey contender ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott was continuing to carve out a career for himself in the division and faced a fellow New Jerseyite in the form of Phil Johnson.

After two dull rounds, Walcott brought the fight to a close in the third with a vicious left-hook that broke the nose of his opponent and left Johnson down on the canvas, blood gushing from his beak.

Some 14 years later, Walcott had still not claimed heavyweight gold but had blossomed into a serious threat to Joe Louis’ throne despite losing twice to ‘The Brown Bomber’ – the first of which remains as one of the most contentious decisions of all-time.

A loss to eventual heavyweight world champion Ezzard Charles followed the heart-aching duology with Louis, but Walcott had bounced back with a knockout victory over Sweden’s Ollie Tandberg in Stockholm, before returning to Philadelphia to fight a 22-year-old Harold Johnson, son of Phil.

In the headline attraction of the bill, fight fans were left unsatisfied and also concerned. Walcott proved that he was still worthy of being in title contention with an early knockdown in the second, but it was in the third where Harold Johnson collapsed, just as his father did. Although, Harold fell without taking a punch, and made no attempt to beat the count of referee Dave Beloff.

The commission doctor, Dr. I. Joseph Levey later revealed that the youngster had suffered an injury to an intervertebral disc in his back.

Harold Johnson recovered from the setback and went on to be crowned light-heavyweight world champion in 1962 after dropping down in weight. Meanwhile, Walcott made history one year after his victory over Harold Johnson and became boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion when he defeated Charles in the third of their four meetings aged 37-years-old – a record that lasted a stunning 43 years until it was trumped by George Foreman in 1994.Joe/Marvis Frazier vs. Joe Bugner

During the 1970’s Joe Bugner attempted to become the first British heavyweight world champion of the 20th century, seven decades since the short reign of Bob Fitzsimmons, although the Brits were not so keen on Bugner due to the fact that he was born in Hungary and fled to the United Kingdom at a young age.

Still, Bugner earned the respect of fans around the globe for a courageous performance against Muhammad Ali, battling through a cut in the opening-round and lasting the full twelve rounds in a spirited display in 1973.

Just five months later, Joe Frazier would travel to London to face Bugner, looking to remind fans of his skills after he famously lost his WBA and WBC titles to George Foreman in the second-round of ‘The Sunshine Showdown’.

Once again, Bugner proved himself to be a genuine world title threat, recovering from a trademark Frazier left-hook to push ‘Smokin’ Joe’ to his limit, only to lose a razor-thin decision in what many believe to have been his greatest ever performance.

Bugner would eventually challenge for world honours when he rematched Ali in 1975 but lost a more lopsided decision this time around, before being defeated by world title contenders Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers, putting an end to Bugner’s title hopes.

Still, Bugner carried the knockout power to be successful against fringe level opponents and in 1983 we saw him revisit his classic contest against a Frazier, this time taking on his son Marvis Frazier, off of the back of four consecutive stoppage wins.

Yet, the amateur pedigree and world champion genes of young Frazier shone through, outboxing a below-par Bugner for the full ten rounds of an uneventful clash and earning a shot at Larry Holmes’ Ring Magazine title for his troubles.

A true Mexican legend and one of the all-time-greats of our beautiful yet bloodied sport, Julio Cesar Chavez bowed out of boxing in 2005 when he faced Grover Wiley in his 118th professional contest – 25 years after Chavez’s debut. After losing out in a WBC super-lightweight title challenge against Kostya Tszyu, ‘El César del Boxeo’ had strung together four victories and was pitted up against Wiley in Phoenix, the latter having a youthful Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre in his corner.

Chavez had a solid start in the opening couple of rounds until his age began to show, his gas tank and possibly his will being visibly faded as opposed to his skills, Wiley managing to score with grunt-inducing blows to the body as a result. In the fifth, Wiley began to land a number of clean strikes as the 43-year-old Chavez marched forwards offering little in return before being pulled out in-between rounds – citing a broken right-hand as the reason for his early withdrawal – rather than the broken heart that Wiley still suspects to this day.

On that same card, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would extend his record to 22-0 (a sizeable distance short of his father’s fabled 90-fight unbeaten run,) against Corey Alarcon with a second-round stoppage win, before stating his intentions to avenge his father’s loss later that night.

True to his word, Chavez Jr. stepped through the ropes to take on Wiley less than two years later, during which time he had fought a further ten occasions and improved to 32-0-1 whilst Wiley had fought thrice and lost all three bouts.

Having learnt his craft on the job after just four amateur contests, Chavez Jr. looked to have finally found his style and appeared both confident and comfortable from the sound of the opening bell onwards, scoring a knockdown with a left-hook, left-uppercut combination with seconds remaining on the clock in the first-round.

An assured Chavez Jr. did not rush to finish the job but picked his shots well in both the second and third-round, using his superior size effectively in the face of the onrushing Wiley to continue to land hooks to the body, not dissimilar to those that his father was subject to against the same Florida-born 154lber.

Twice in the third-round, Chavez Jr. floored his opponent with signature body blows that his father would have been proud of, the last of which left Grover Wiley face down on the canvas and unable to beat the count – finally falling victim to the illustrious Chavez name.Elijah/Oliver McCall vs Marcin Rekowski

In 2013, Elijah McCall’s hopes of emulating his father’s success in the heavyweight division and securing a world title took a serious dent, as he suffered a second stoppage defeat of his career against eventual unified champion of the division, Andy Ruiz Jr.

In an attempt to get his career back on track, the 23-year-old ventured to eastern Europe to take on undefeated Polish contender Marcin Rekowski on away soil.

Behind on all three cards with claret sprayed across his face as well as onto the referee’s shirt, a battered McCall fell first to his knees and then into the ropes after feeling the full effect of Rekowski’s power in the fifth-round – leaving the referee with no choice but to call an end to the contest and leave a saddened Oliver McCall in the corner cleaning his son’s blood-sodden face.

Nine months later, almost two decades since he knocked out Lennox Lewis for the WBC title, a remarkably still active Oliver McCall made that same trip to Poland in the hopes of putting an end to Rekowski’s unbeaten run.

At 48-years-old and in his 70th professional bout, ‘The Atomic Bull’ edged out a tight split-decision victory despite being the away fighter, astonishingly negating the power of Rekowski with old-school defence and his renowned granite chin in a low-output affair.

Unfortunately for the McCall family, Rekowski would get his own back over the old bull, registering a dominant unanimous decision victory over Oliver McCall in a rematch which took place less than three months after their initial encounter.

Now as we enter the final quarter of 2024, it has been over a decade since a father and son duo have

As fights become more sparse and the days of fighting ten times a year appear long gone, the likelihood of witnessing this occurrence can only become lesser and lesser, at least on the world stage.

As ever, fans will judge those both fortunate and unfortunate offspring of the heroes of yesteryear and quickly determine whether they are fit to lace the boots of their fathers, wielding that double-edged sword of intrigue and showing little patience before casting a damning verdict – rarely being able to witness that direct comparison of a familiar foe.

#BoxingLegends #JoeBugner #JoeFrazier #JerseyJoeWalcott #JulioCesarChavez #JulioCesarChavezJr #McCall #GroverWiley #PhilJohnson #HaroldJohnson #MarcinRekowski #MarvisFrazier #BoxingHistory #LegacyFights #FatherAndSon #BoxingComparisons