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

Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has shown composure and respect in response to Tyson Fury’s recent taunts. After defeating the British fighter in May, Usyk became the first man to hand the “Gypsy King” a professional loss. The two fighters are set to face off again in December in what is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year.

Usyk’s victory in May, secured by a split decision, was a historic moment. At 37, the Ukrainian became the undisputed heavyweight champion, a title not claimed since Lennox Lewis in 1999. The most critical moment in the fight came in the ninth round, when Usyk landed several sharp blows that left Fury dazed. The British fighter was saved by the bell, with many believing the fight should have been stopped.

The announcement of the rematch has stirred excitement among boxing fans. The bout, scheduled for December 21, promises to be an epic event. Both Usyk and Fury were ringside at Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Daniel Dubois, and Fury has since ramped up the trash talk. Despite their polite exchange after Joshua’s fight, Fury has adopted a more aggressive tone on social media.

In a recent Instagram post, Fury

“You had your shot but couldn’t finish the job! mistake! now your about to feel the wrath of A menace! f*ck @usykaa fuck @klimasmanagement f*ck @alex.krassyuk & if your down with usyk then f*ck you2! Gypsy king 2024 coming for you! dec21 is mine🖕🏼me against the world 🌍 incoming 3x heavyweight champ!”, Fury declared.

Usyk’s response, however, surprised many. Instead of retaliating with insults, the Ukrainian remained respectful. In a story posted on his Instagram account, he simply replied:Teofimo Lopez makes shocking career earnings revelation

“You’re really cool, my friend”, said Usyk.

In a recent interview with Boxing King Media, Oleksandr Usyk also commented on his conversation with Fury after the Joshua fight. “Yes, we talked a little. He’s like my brother. But I will win in December,” Usyk stated confidently. The Ukrainian made it clear that his focus is on the rematch, after which he plans to spend time with his family.

Fury’s preparation, or lack thereof, has raised eyebrows. Despite the looming date, the British fighter admitted that he has yet to start his training camp. When asked about his physical condition, Fury revealed that he plans to begin training in about six weeks. According to him, that’s all the time he needs to be ready and deliver his best performance on December 21.

As the fight draws near, tension between the two fighters continues to rise. While Fury has resorted to taunts, Oleksandr Usyk has once again shown that he prefers to let his actions in the ring do the talking. The upcoming bout promises to be a memorable showdown that will define the future of the heavyweight division.

#OleksandrUsyk #TysonFury #HeavyweightBoxing #BoxingRematch #GypsyKing #UsykVsFury #BoxingChampion #December21Fight #SportsNews #BoxingMatchup #FightNight #UndisputedChampion #BoxingWorld #HeavyweightTitle #BoxingHistory

In an exciting development for boxing fans, Busta Rhymes has been confirmed as the special guest artist for the upcoming Beterbiev-Bivol event in Riyadh. This fight night promises not only a thrilling boxing match but also an entertaining concert, continuing the trend established by Turki Al-Alshikh over the past year.

The event, which will take place in the Kingdom Arena, features a highly anticipated matchup between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. This fight will determine who will become the first four-belt undisputed champion in the light-heavyweight division's history. With both fighters boasting impressive records and skills, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a historic night in boxing.

Al-Alshikh has made significant strides in revitalizing boxing in Saudi Arabia, hosting numerous major events that have captured global attention. His initiative to combine fight nights with live performances has been a game-changer, drawing in new audiences and creating a unique atmosphere. The recent events in Los Angeles and London featured star-studded performances from legends like Eminem and Liam Gallagher, respectively, setting high expectations for the Riyadh event.

As the countdown to the Beterbiev-Bivol fight continues, boxing enthusiasts are gearing up for what could be the highlight of the boxing calendar. In addition to the main event, there are plans for future events in the Riyadh Season, including a cruiserweight unification fight between Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith in November, followed by the heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in December.

With Busta Rhymes bringing his musical talents to the ring, the excitement surrounding this event is palpable. Fans can expect an unforgettable night of boxing and entertainment, showcasing the best of both worlds.

#BustaRhymes #ArturBeterbiev #DmitryBivol #RiyadhSeason #Boxing #TurkiAlAlshikh #SaudiArabia #GilbertoRamirez #ChrisBillamSmith #OleksandrUsyk #TysonFury #FightNight #BoxingEvents #FourBeltChampion #BoxingConcert

Gervonta Davis today dropped a rather large hint that his next fight, already confirmed to be against Lamont Roach, will take place in Houston, TX, with December the month in which it will take place.

"DECEMBER, Houston," the short but revealing post said. 

It had been reported that December 21, the night of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch in Saudi Arabia, was under consideration as the specific date. Further reports have speculated that December 14 is when the event will occur.

Davis, 30-0 (28 KOs), was last seen inside a boxing ring against Frank Martin in June, applying the knockout in round eight inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. 

Roach, 25-1-1 (10 KOs), would likely step up from his usual junior lightweight surrounds, where he currently holds the WBA title, to challenge for Davis' lightweight belt from the same organization. 

Roach would start as a huge underdog but has won six in a row since he was outpointed by Jamel Herring in a bid for the WBO title at 130lbs.

#GervontaDavis #LamontRoach #Boxing #Houston #DecemberFight #MGMGrand #WBA #LightweightTitle #Knockout #BoxingFans #FightNight #BoxingMatch #BoxingNews #TitleFight #BoxingCommunity

Junior welterweight contender Kenneth Sims Jr. has struggled with inactivity in recent years, but 2024 is shaping up to be a turning point for the Chicago native. 

Sims will step into the ring again on Nov. 16, facing Oscar Duarte as part of “Latino Night” during Riyadh Season at The Venue in Saudi Arabia.

After announcing himself as a serious contender with a majority decision victory over Elvis Rodriguez in 2021, Sims (21-2-1, 8 KOs) found himself on the regional fight circuit, battling to stay active. Between 2021 and 2023, Sims fought four times, including a potential Fight of the Year against Botirzhon Akhmedov that was broadcast on Showtime. This year, the 30-year-old Sims, now training in Las Vegas, signed with Golden Boy Promotions and made his promotional debut in August, stopping Jonathan Romero in five rounds.

His opponent, Mexico’s Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs), might have been stopped by Ryan Garcia in December 2023, but he bounced back under the guidance of trainer Robert Garcia, knocking out Joseph Diaz Jr. in his only fight of 2024. Duarte, 28, is a hard-hitting puncher, while Sims is known for his slick boxing skills, making for an intriguing clash of styles.

For Sims, this fight represents a crucial opportunity to stay active and showcase his best form.

“I’m just excited to be right back [in the ring],” Sims said. “It had been a long time, and this is two fights back to back — that's when I'm at my best, when I'm active. I just appreciate Golden Boy keeping me busy, and I’m ready to put on an amazing performance.”

Sims is well aware of the challenge that Duarte presents but is confident in his preparation and mindset. Sims also knows a win could propel him into the title picture at the top of the division

“Oscar Duarte is a tough opponent, so I got to bring my best, which I plan to do every time I step into the ring. I train like it’s the last fight I’ll ever have, so I plan to put on an amazing performance and give you guys a great show,” Sims said.

#KennethSimsJr #OscarDuarte #JuniorWelterweight #BoxingMatch #RiyadhSeason #GoldenBoyPromotions #Boxing #FightNight #LasVegas #ChicagoBoxer #KnockoutPower #SlickBoxer #TitleContention #ActiveFighter #BoxingFans

Janibek Alimkhanuly successfully weighed in below the middleweight limit for his unified title defense on Friday. The bout, which headlines an ESPN+ event at The Star in Sydney, Australia, will see Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) face IBF mandatory challenger Andrei Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs).

Alimkhanuly came in at 159.5 pounds, while Mikhailovich weighed 159.9 pounds. Both fighters must now comply with the IBF’s second-day rehydration limit, requiring them to weigh no more than 170 pounds on fight day at an arranged time, typically in the morning. 

Alimkhanuly holds both the IBF and WBO titles, though Mikhailovich is only eligible to win the IBF belt after declining the WBO challenge. This fight was rescheduled from July, when the original bout was canceled due to Alimkhanuly’s hospitalization for dehydration. He will make his first defense of the IBF title after unifying the belts in October with a knockout win over Vincent Gualtieri.

#JanibekAlimkhanuly #AndreiMikhailovich #MiddleweightChampionship #IBFChampion #WBOChampion #Boxing #FightNight #ESPNPlus #UnbeatenRecord #Sydney #BoxingFans #TitleFight #Knockout #BoxingEvent #BoxingNews

WBC Interim super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (19-1) will defend her title against Sweden's Patricia Berghult (17-1) November 2 in Birmingham on a Queensberry Promotion.

Topping the bill are Liam Davies (16-0) and Shabaz Masoud (13-0) in an IBO title fight at super bantamweight.

Berghult previously held the WBC super welterweight title but lost to Natasha Jonas in September of 2022 and has only fought twice since then. She is managed by Kamran Kabinejad and trained by her father Joakim. Patricia returned September 7 after 18 months out and beat Vaida Masiokaite (10-25-5).

Cameron went 1-1 with Katie Taylor last year and then beat Elhem Mekhaled and won the WBC interim title.

No doubt about it; Patricia is up against it but is also in a position where there is nothing to lose and everything to win.

#ChantelleCameron #PatriciaBerghult #WBC #Boxing #SuperLightweight #QueensberryPromotions #LiamDavies #ShabazMasoud #FightNight #Birmingham #WomenInBoxing #BoxingNews #ChampionshipFight #IBO #Undefeated

LOS ANGELES –  After years of crossing each other’s paths and climbing through the ranks together, junior welterweights Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza Jr. will finally square off in the squared circle. 

Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs), a former unified 140-pound titlist, and Barboza (30-0, 11 KOs) had both been signed to Top Rank and manager Rick Mirigian in recent years. 

But a fight never came to fruition between the 32-year-old Californian combatants.

On Wednesday at The Mayan, both fighters, who are now promoted by Oscar De La Hoya, finally came to a head, respectfully, to announce their bout on November 16 as the co-main event of the Golden Boy Promotions “Latino Night” event in Saudi Arabia. 

“This is a fight I've been wanting since 2019 but for whatever reason it never happened,” said Barboza. “I was treated like a stepchild, watching Ramirez get main event fights, big fights and promoted right while I was scratching and clawing and banging on the door. 

“I tried every forum and even signed with the same thief manager. I'm not with him anymore, and the fight happens. Thanks to Oscar De La Hoya. He's a man of his word. When I signed with Golden Boy, he said I was going to get this fight, and he was a man of his word.

“I respect Jose Ramirez as a fighter and person. I know he's not scared of anybody. But this is personal. I'm coming with everything. I'm training in Big Bear, California harder than ever. I'm going to give it my all and come out on top November 16.” 

After moving on from Mirigian, Barboza signed an advisory deal with respected boxing broker Steve Bash to better guide his career. 

In April, Barboza sneaked by with a split decision win against tricky southpaw Sean McComb to keep his undefeated record intact. It was the second fight of Barboza’s Golden Boy deal. During his promotional debut in January, when Barboza stopped Xolisani Ndongeni in eight rounds, Ramirez was again front and center and in the spotlight, as it was announced at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas and on air on DAZN that Ramirez had signed a promotional deal with Golden Boy. 

“Arnold Barboza said he was chasing me but I was trying to unify titles and become undisputed,” said Ramirez. “I got busy. But now he stands in the way for me to reclaim my titles. It's time to get it on. I'm grateful for the opportunity. It's going to be a great show. It will be the kind of fight to get everyone in Saudi Arabia excited about boxing.” 

Ramirez first became a 140-pound WBC titleholder in 2018 against Amir Imam, and defended the belt against Antonio Orozco and Jose Zepeda before stopping then-WBO titleholder Maurice Hooker in 2019 in six rounds to unify titles in the division. After a majority decision win against Viktor Postol in 2020, Ramirez was dropped twice and lost the chance to become an undisputed junior welterweight champion against Josh Taylor in 2021.

“My biggest enemy in the sport of boxing has been my inactivity,” said Ramirez, who will be fighting twice in the same calendar year for the first time since 2019. 

“I respect Barboza as a fighter and this is one of the fights that excited me and motivates me. It pushes me to train hard. 

“It's a great fight and it's time for me to make a statement. I've been under the big lights and have the experience. I'm ready.”

#JoseRamirez #ArnoldBarbozaJr #GoldenBoyPromotions #LatinoNight #SaudiArabiaBoxing #JuniorWelterweight #BoxingShowdown #BigBearCalifornia #RickMirigian #OscarDeLaHoya

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball is bringing big-time boxing to Liverpool on Saturday when he defends his crown against visiting Californian veteran Ronny Rios.

Ball, 20-0-1 (11 KOs), is following in the footsteps of the likes of Alan Rudkin, John Conteh and Tony Bellew in a city with rich fighting tradition and is an in-form fighter.

Ball’s last two fights have been in Saudi Arabia, a contentious draw against Rey Vargas and his title winning effort against Raymond Ford.

“I’m glad to be back, fighting in my home city, where it all started, fighting as a world champion,” said Ball, who this week has been featured on Liverpool FC’s socials and has felt the support of the city getting behind him. 

“That’s how it should be and that’s what it is,” added Ball. “We get behind our own. You see someone putting the hard work in, it pays off.”

Rios is more experienced, but Ball is on a roll. 

“He thinks he’s gonna go in there and push me back, that’s not gonna happen,” insisted Ball. “Once you get in the ring, it’s a different story. So good luck with that… It will be all-action from me.”

At today’s press conference, which was respectful all the way through, Rios said he knew he had a big task ahead of him.

“This is my third attempt, we’ve got a good fighter in front of us,” said the Californian. “These are the fights that I get up for. I have always wanted to test myself, and in my eyes Nick Ball is one of the best fighters at 126. I’m excited to test myself. We’ve had a great camp. Two more days and it’s here.” 

Rios, 34-4 (17 KOs), pledged to go forward and meet Ball head-on.

Rios is in town with famed manager/matchmaker Robert Diaz, who insisted Rios came back after a two-year break to return to the ring in April for the right reasons – to win a world title.

“You guys have a great champion, he’s undefeated, he’s done things right, he deserves his homecoming, unfortunately for him, they picked the wrong opponent,” said Diaz.

“You can’t fast-forward into experience… They’ll come straight at each other and the fans will get a great fight.”

Promoter George Warren, who also talked about the possibility of Naoya Inoue moving up to fight Ball, spoke highly of Ball and the potential of his impact on the city.

“He has taken the opportunities presented to him with both hands, and constantly shown what a world-class operator he is,” Warren said. “Some of those performances, people forget even before the fights in Riyadh, against [Isaac] Dogboe, and the performance in Riyadh against Vargas when he was robbed and deserved to come away with the WBC title that night, I think the judges got that seriously wrong, and to overcome that and, at 10 week’s notice, go in against a legit, quality world-class like Ray Ford and put on the performance that he did, this guy, is not just one of the most exciting boxers not just in this country but in the world.

#NickBall #RonnyRios #LiverpoolBoxing #WBAFeatherweightTitle #BoxingShowdown #BigTimeBoxing #FeatherweightBattle #LiverpoolFighter #GeorgeWarren #NaoyaInoue

On paper, Janibek Alimkhanuly has to be considered the best middleweight in the world.

I stress “on paper”, because it’s been a while since he’s made the nature of statement that earns a fighter that sort of title – which is partly due to a year passing since he last fought, because earlier in 2024 he failed to make weight.

It was in July when he was withdrawn from a fight scheduled with Andrei Mikhailovich, for the IBF and WBO 160lbs titles, in Las Vegas, because according to his manager Egis Klimas: “While the scans showed no kidney damage, he was severely dehydrated and in no condition to fight.”

Alimkhanuly-Mikhailovich is on course to instead happen on Friday, and in Sydney, Australia. There was a time Alimkhanuly looked excellent, but that struggle to make weight has to be a concern, and makes me wonder if the time’s approaching when we’ll see him campaigning at 168lbs instead – not least because he’s from Kazakhstan, and Eastern European fighters are typically among the most disciplined of all.

I commentated on a lot of his early fights on the undercards of Top Rank promotions. He methodically took opponents apart – even good journeymen, at that early stage. He was matched with opponents who were supposed to test him, but he’d tactfully disarm them, dismantle them, and break them down. He also recorded some good knockouts, but it was the way he took opponents apart, with a high boxing IQ, that most impressed. 

He’s also a southpaw, with a lengthy 71.5ins reach, and awkward. He looked excellent.

Even today, I’d make him the favourite against any other active middleweight. But not in the way I once would have. And if the time comes when we do see him at 168lbs, I’m also not convinced he has the frame to succeed there. 

Where he was once on course to be the world’s leading middleweight, at super middleweight he’d be beneath the elite. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez remains the number one; there’s also physical fighters like Jaime Munguia, Christian Mbilli and Edgar Berlanga. If they didn’t want to be in a boxing match with Alimkhanuly they could force their size on him, and he doesn’t have enough power to keep them off.

The Australian market strikes me as increasingly important to some of the world’s leading promoters, based on the way they appear to be attempting to stage a fight there or to sign a leading Australian fighter – which will be partly because of the untapped fan base that exists there. Mikhailovich might be from nearby New Zealand but Friday’s fight, which was announced at relatively late notice, doesn’t seem likely to make Alimkhanuly a crossover star, so it’s hard to define what it does for him from a business perspective.

In 2024 the middleweight division, which has for so long been one of the most celebrated of all, is unusually weak, contributing to Alimkhanuly continuing to be considered the number one. It’s when a weight division has more than one superstar that a unification fight is tough to make; in 2024 there are none – Hamzah Sheeraz seems the likeliest to change that – which should make the most appealing fights easier for all concerned. 

Also at 160lbs I respect Carlos Adames, and his physicality, but it’s Sheeraz who’s really caught my eye. Sheeraz not only has the physical gifts of his frame, length, strength, and power – as he showed when he stopped Tyler Denny in two rounds on the undercard of Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua, he’s continuing to improve. He looked excellent in June when he defeated Austin “Ammo” Williams – and Williams is another fighter I liked the look of. 

I’d be interested in Sheeraz fighting any of his divisional rivals, and based on his talent, the only reason he might lose at this stage is a lack of experience at the highest level – and even that might not be enough to hold him back. If he proves to have the mettle to complement his technique and athleticism, the time will come when he’ll beat them all.

Sheeraz’s fellow Briton Chris Eubank Jnr has crossover appeal in the UK, but a small profile in the US. It’s also difficult to truly consider him a leading middleweight, because even if it’s his natural weight division he seems most interested in fighting Conor Benn at a catchweight beneath 160lbs, or Canelo at 168lbs for the biggest paydays he can earn.

He sells a fight terrifically, and he also has talent. On October 12 he fights Kamil Szeremeta – who I’ve seen in the flesh against Gennady Golovkin – and I expect him to win convincingly, because he’s far too dynamic, skilled and strong for such a one-dimensional opponent who’s so easy to hit.

It concerns me that Alimkhanuly’s fighting in Australia because of his previous struggles to make 160lbs – travelling that far brings a lot of other factors into play. We’ve also seen strange things happen in fights in Australia before – including, relatively recently, Manny Pacquiao, one of the sport’s biggest ever figures, undeservedly losing via decision to Jeff Horn.

But if Alimkhanuly can make weight safely, he retains the potential to remind everyone why not so long ago he was so highly thought of. If he fights to the best of his abilities, he’s capable of dominating the undefeated Mikhailovich. Friday’s fight will tell us which weight division he belongs in – but it’s the middleweight division he ideally needs to be in, and which also needs him.

#ZhanibekAlimkhanuly #MiddleweightDivision #ChrisAlgieri #AndreiMikhailovich #HamzahSheeraz #BoxingShowdown #KazakhBoxing #SydneyFight #TopRankBoxing #BoxingComeback

Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao leads the way for the new names eligible for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025.

Ballot papers have been sent to voters around the world and the announcement of inductees will be made in December ahead of the annual induction weekend between June 5-8 in Canastota and at the Turning Stone Casino nearby in upstate New York.

Along with Pacquiao, the names of Shawn Porter, Lucian Bute and Mikey Garcia have been added to the list in the Modern Category.

In the women’s category, Mexican Yessica Chavez and Canada’s Jessica Rakoczy appear on the ballot for the first time and in the “late era” old timer ballot, Italy’s Bruno Arcari, a 70-2-1 (38 K0s) junior welterweight and former junior flyweight champion Luis Estaba, from Venezuela, have been added.

On the women’s trailblazer list, undefeated bantamweight Shirley Tucker, 16-0 (10 KOs), is added, and English bareknuckler Owen Swift has been included on the pioneer ballot.

As non-participants, there is now the opportunity for veteran trainer/cutman Russ Anber to have his plaque on the museum wall, as well as referee Kenny Bayless and Italian promoter Salvatore Cherchi while, in the observer ranks, Argentine journalist Ernesto Cherquis Bialo is joined on the paper by Randy Gordon and Kevin Iole.

#MannyPacquiao #ShawnPorter #LucianBute #MikeyGarcia #YessicaChavez #JessicaRakoczy #BrunoArcari #LuisEstaba #ShirleyTucker #OwenSwift #RussAnber #KennyBayless #SalvatoreCherchi #ErnestoCherquisBialo #RandyGordon #KevinIole

There’s too damned much negativity in boxing columns. (Thank goodness you’ll never find a critical word said in any of mine .) So in this particular piece, I’m defying convention and propagating positivity. Three active boxers have caught my eye recently with the way they’ve conducted themselves and the decisions they’ve made, and I’m going to heap praise upon them.

(But be forewarned that I may graze some other boxers with negative shrapnel along the way. There are limits to one’s ability to exclusively spread sunshine and rainbows while covering this sport.)

I now heartily extend two thumbs all the way up for these three warriors:

Devin Haney

Many a boxer over the years has balled up his fists and described one as the judge and the other as the jury . This is a sport where athletes have the opportunity to settle business in the most old-fashioned of ways, where legal teams don’t need to be called in if left hooks can get the job done.

But Haney has gone the litigation route. He has sued Ryan Garcia for battery, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

It’s not the most “boxer-ly” thing to do. But it is entirely warranted and appropriate.

Nobody but Garcia knows his intent. He tested positive for Ostarine, and it’s not inconceivable that it got into his system without his knowledge. All we can say for sure is that he had a banned performance-enhancing drug in his system and he put a physical beating on Haney.

Boxers sign up for a form of battery, but within a certain framework of rules. Once those rules are breached, it is not the risk of battery they agreed to.

Haney is doing the right thing by taking legal action against Garcia — not just for himself, but for all of boxing. If we want to ever rid this sport of PEDs, the punishment for taking them has to go beyond a fine and a suspension.

Granted, this is a civil lawsuit, not a criminal suit. Garcia is not going to do jailtime even if found guilty. But Haney is pursuing consequences beyond the relative slap on the wrist every boxer who’s ever tested positive has received. It makes a statement merely to accuse Garcia of battery and fraud, and to open the door for him to be found liable. Maybe, just maybe, by pursuing legal recourse, Haney will discourage some other boxer down the road from opting to give himself or herself that most dangerous of unfair advantages.

The worst possible scandal the sport of boxing could ever confront would be if a ring fatality occurred and the winning fighter was found to have been on PEDs. Garcia — whether intentionally or not — flirted with that on April 20.

The world saw the way Haney reacted to his punches throughout the fight. He was hurt in the opening round. He was dropped in the seventh, 10th, and 11th rounds.

What part of the effect of Garcia’s punches owes to artificial enhancement? It’s impossible to say. Just as it’s impossible to say how much him blowing off the agreed-upon weight limit and buying a size advantage was a factor. There is no handy-dandy pie chart to break down what segments of Garcia’s success were due to legitimate factors and what segments were due to it not being a fair fight.

By the same token, when Haney’s father, Bill, told BoxingScene last week that the filing of the lawsuit “is all for the good of the sport,” we can’t quantify how true that is. Presumably, there are some selfish motivations at play here alongside any possibly altruistic ones.

Regardless, it was the right thing to do. Devin Haney is not satisfied with merely getting the loss erased from his record — nor should he be.

David Benavidez

If Saul “Canelo” Alvarez wants to keep finding excuses not to take on Benavidez, that’s his prerogative. And it’s Benavidez’s prerogative to shame Canelo for that.

He’s gone as far as he could in terms of verbal shaming. Now he’s taking the next step: shaming Canelo by example.

By making a fight offer to David Morrell, Benavidez is giving the most dangerous opponent one rung below him on the star scale precisely what Alvarez refuses to give Benavidez: an opportunity. The contrast speaks for itself. Benavidez is more deserving than any other fighter of a shot at Canelo … and Alvarez put his hand on the hot door and walked away. Morrell is more deserving than any other fighter of a shot at Benavidez … and Benavidez turned the knob and walked into the burning building.

We haven’t seen the offer sheet and the terms therein, so we can’t say for sure how serious and fair an offer it is. But, assuming it’s a legit offer that reflects an actual desire to make the fight, Benavidez is doing right by boxing fans — and potentially doing right by himself long-term. If he beats Morrell, he will have done at light heavyweight what he did at super middleweight, making himself the unofficial mandatory challenger to the lineal champ.

And that means whoever wins the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol fight can either defend against Benavidez soon thereafter or be branded a Canelo. (As great as Canelo is, in this case, that’s not a compliment.)

Benavidez is behaving as we wish all boxers would behave. He’s putting the zero on his record at risk and giving someone lower on the food chain a chance. He knows what it’s like to be on the opposite side of this dynamic and get snubbed. So he’s doing unto others as he’d have done to him, rather than as he has had done to him. That deserves to be celebrated.

Tim Tszyu

This is partially a retroactive heaping of praise, dating back to March, when Tszyu could have taken the easy way out of a fight with a no-contest, only to instead fight on and take his first “L.” But it’s timely some six months later because last week, on a media conference call, Tszyu doubled down on his decision to go down swinging (and bleeding) against Sebastian Fundora rather than make the prudent choice.

“For me it was: If you’re going to lose, you’re going to lose that way,” Tszyu said on the call . “I’m not going to try and survive. I was there to win, and the only way to win for me was trying to smash my opponent. To just pull out and forfeit, that’s not my thing. It’s not in my blood. I’d rather die in that ring. That’s the mentality I’ve got.”

Yeah, we know. This is a guy who was in a mandatory position to challenge Jermell Charlo and, instead of sitting on the ranking, fought three times in 2023 while waiting for Charlo, with two of the three opponents extremely dangerous on paper (Tony Harrison and Brian Mendoza). And after he lost his perfect record against Fundora thanks to Paul Bunyan dropping his axe on Tszyu’s head, the Aussie immediately signed to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (a bout called off because the canyon in his cranium wasn’t healed in time)

Tszyu is the ultimate anyone-anytime-anywhere guy, and if, while looking like Carrie on prom night, he should lose a close fight that he could have wriggled out of before the end of the fourth round, hey, no regrets. He wouldn’t change a thing.

Boxing needs more Tszyus. It needs more Benavidezes. It needs more Haneys (even if some of the many tough guys who reside on the internet would dispute that last one).

Are any of them as heroic as Eddie Hearn, who over the weekend proposed starting all main events at 9 p.m. local time ? Probably not (unless Haney, Benavidez, or Tszyu pulled the “ seven-minute abs ” move and suggested an 8pm start time for main events).

Still, all three have my respect and admiration. They’ve made decisions that can benefit the sport of boxing and its fans. Hopefully, despite the risk involved, these three fighters will each share in that benefit as well in the end.

 #DevinHaney #RyanGarcia #DavidBenavidez #DavidMorrell #TimTszyu #SebastianFundora #CaneloAlvarez #Boxing #BoxingFans #PositiveBoxing #FightingSpirit #IntegrityInBoxing #Champions #BoxingCommunity #WinningMentality

LOS ANGELES – Surely you’ve heard of the insulting diss by now: “So-and-so has only beaten cab drivers.” 

Well, up until his most recent fight, Anthony Olascuaga was a cab driver – and a barber, to boot, to support his burgeoning boxing career.

But no more.

Olascuaga, a 25-year-old flyweight from Los Angeles, has pumped the brakes and cut both jobs from his life as he heads into his title fight against Jonathan Gonzalez on Oct. 14 in Japan.

That’s because Olascuaga is now a world titleholder, having won the WBO 112-pound belt after knocking out Riku Kano inside three rounds for the vacant crown in July. 

Although Olascuaga (7-1, 5 KOs) has challenged for a title before, losing to then-108-pound Kenshiro Teraji in April 2023, he is still not a known commodity in the sport, with just eight fights under his belt.

With Olascuaga notching a win against the always-game and reigning WBO junior flyweight titleholder Gonzalez (28-3-1, 14 KOs), that will undoubtedly change.

“I need to solidify my name as a champion,” Olascuaga told BoxingScene during a recent training session at the LA Boxing Gym.

“I'm a little timid. I'm a little shy. I don't take the belt out of the house. I feel like after this fight, I will own my championship status. I feel like I’m coming into this fight still as a challenger. I see a great opponent like Gonzalez in front of me as the champion. But once I beat Gonzalez by knockout, it's going to be my real breakthrough and I’m going to feel like a champion. I'm ready to be a champion moving forward, and to tell everyone at 112 pounds that I’m here to stay.”

Olascuaga said he hasn’t yet experienced much of a difference in his life now that he is an active world champion – especially because he hasn’t yet cracked six-figure purses. He’s hoping promoter Tuto Zabala Jr. of All Star Boxing will change that as the wins keep mounting.

“I quickly went back into camp mode since beating Kano,” said Olascuaga. “I'm staying dedicated and focused on what got me here in the first place. I'm more zoned in now and dedicating my life to boxing full-time, instead of working Uber and seeing where my next meal is going to come from. It's put me in a better position to only focus on my boxing career.”

With just 25 amateur fights under his belt, Olascuaga has enjoyed world-class sparring as his baptism by fire into boxing throughout the years, facing the likes of Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Carlos Caudras, teammate Junto Nakatani and even Teraji before he eventually fought him. 

Olascuaga got the Teraji fight as a late-replacement opponent simply due to the fact he was already in Japan training for another fight in South Korea. Olascuaga was knocked down twice and stopped in the ninth, suffering a TKO loss in the 108-pound title fight. 

“I won more than I lost in the Teraji fight because I made my name known,” said Olascuaga. “My promoter has since had more confidence in me, and I made a lot of fans. I thought I was already at a champion level, but losing to Teraji helped me want to get better. Teraji proved to me otherwise to have my tools ready.”

Olascuaga versus Gonzalez will be featured on teammate Nakatani’s undercard as part of a two-day Tokyo card featuring a combined seven title fights on ESPN+. The fight will mark Olascuaga’s fourth consecutive contest in Japan. 

“I have a lot of experience,” said Olascuaga. “I put in so much work with my head coach Rudy Hernandez, and he's given me that champion mentality since the first day I worked with him. I've lived with him since the age of 15. He's been a great example in my life. I have faith in him and am very appreciative for what he’s done for me and my career.” 

Olascuaga’s career-long coach Hernandez, who also trains Nakatani, has bestowed the peculiar nickname of “Princesa" on his blonde-haired charge. 

“It's because I always have to be looking pretty,” said Olascuaga. “I do my eyebrows and nails, and color my hair. He's old school, but I don't mind the nickname.”

Olascuaga was planning to dye his hair pink for his first title defense, but he ran out of time because he had to move camp to Japan for the last stretch of preparation.

Some passions away from boxing are just too hard to quit, but a highlight win against Gonzalez will put Olascuaga in the driver’s seat to better control his career moving forward.

#anthonyolascuaga #jonathangonzalez #wboflyweightchampion #losangelesboxing #cabdrivertochampion #flyweightboxing #boxingtitledefense #tokyofight #worldchampionshipboxing #rudyhernandez #rikukano #boxingnews #fightnight #espn #boxing

Former rivals Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez met for the first time since their two fights at the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame last weekend.

The event, which is becoming one of boxing’s annual must-attend attractions, saw the fighters reunite and embrace 15 years on from Martinez edging Williams by a majority decision in their first bout before the Argentine great scored one of the best knockouts of 2010 – if not all time – to stop Williams in two rounds in their 2010 return. Both fights were at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.  

Williams had just two more contests before he was left wheelchair-bound following a motorcycle accident.

Fight fan Donovan Kasp attended the event. A regular at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota each year, Kasp said one of the highlights was meeting Marvin Hagler’s son, James Hagler, and then getting a candid picture of the son of the Marvelous one embracing former Hagler rival Roberto Duran and his daughter. 

“There were so many memorable things,” Kasp said of the weekend. “Hanging out with Nate Campbell, who broke my heart when he destroyed Kid Diamond, hanging out with Roberto Duran and stopping him from trying one of the world’s hottest sauces during our group challenge! Joking around with James Toney, but also having a personal conversation about both of our fathers passing away at the same age of 65. Playing the slot machine with Vito Antufermo, driving Michael Spinks and his wife, Flo, in my car. Sharing so many laughs with my boxing crew, making new friends and memories.”

Those inducted this year included Mario Maldonado, Martinez, Sharmba Mitchell, Mark Breland, Buster Douglas, Eva Jones-Young, Gerry Cooney, Tyrone Frazier, and Williams.

Special contributors who were enshrined included Randy Gordan, Sampson Lewkowicz, Buddy McGirt, Bruce Blair, Eric Bottjer and Guy Gargan, posthumous inductees were Howard Davis Jnr, referee Eddie Cotton and Jay Larkin and the Pioneers were Eric Seelig, George Godfrey and Joey Giardello.

It was the eighth annual Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame and was held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

#PaulWilliams #SergioMartinez #AtlanticCity #HallofFame #Boxing #boxingnews

It is a short walk from the dressing room to the ring at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.

After receiving the knock on the door and being told that it is time to go, the home fighters generally walk down a corridor, turn left and are then held behind a pair of double doors.

The corridors are usually filled with shouts and encouragement but those final seconds behind the door are quiet. There is nothing left to do but wait. 

Eventually, after another signal, the doors open wide and the fighter enters the arena.

This weekend WBA featherweight champion, Nick Ball, will make that walk and just behind him, as ever, will be his trainer, Paul Stevenson.

It appears that Stevenson is the first Liverpool born trainer to train a world champion. Not only that,  but Ball lives a short walk from the arena and they get to make the first defense of their world title in front of their own people. 

Stevenson isn’t the type of trainer to get taken in by the moment and allow his attention to drift from Ronny Rios and the task at hand but he must be anticipating being hit by a wave of pride and a feeling of personal accomplishment when those doors swing open. 

“Oh, no, no, I haven't even thought about that,” he told BoxingScene. 

“I don't think of it like that but I know what you're saying, and it is sort of big for me. TNT came down the other day .They asked something similar. They said, ‘What do you take out of it? You must have a lot of personal pride?’

“I said, ‘You know what, I don't really think of it like that, but then I said ‘Somebody said to me that I might be the first Liverpool-born trainer to train a world champion.’ So that sounds like a bit of history. That's good. 

“We're all doing things like that. Pride? Yeah, definitely, and at walking out with Nick. Our club's bringing championship boxing - world championship boxing -  right back to the city. We've done a lot of work. We haven't been given nothing and had to fight for everything.

“So, yeah, pride for us all.” 

Stevenson will make that walk more than once on Saturday night. Five fighters from his Everton Red Triangle Gym are competing on the bill. Ball is the leader of the group but dangerous British bantamweight champion, Andrew Cain, makes his latest appearance and Brad Strand and heavyweight hope Boma Brown, will get rounds under their belts. ABA champion, Lucas Biswana, will also make an eagerly awaited debut. Apparently, Biswana is vicious. 

Stevenson has produced a tight, uncompromising group of fighters who go about their business with mean intentions. With the exception of Peter McGrail who turned professional after competing at the 2020 Olympic Games, all of them have spent a good portion of their career in the shadows and Stevenson is delighted that they are now being given the platform to show what they can do. 

“We were all in the gym this morning and the gym was buzzing.,” Stevenson said. “Me and Anthony [Hamilton, his assistant] were in the office and we sent the lads out after they'd wrapped up. They’re all on the floor, and they're all in fight week. They’re all prowling and shadowboxing and getting ready for the session and I just said, ‘Look at that fucking group out there.’ 

“It was great to see. All of them ready. It was good.”

Ball turned up at ERT as an 18-year-old. He hadn’t boxed for three years but it quickly became apparent that he had chosen the right gym to fight professionally out of.

Over the years, he and Stevenson have perfected his style. Most people focus on Ball’s height and stocky build and immediately cast aspersions on his boxing ability but his size and aggressive style camouflage his skills. Opponents get into the ring with Ball fully aware of what he wants to do but they appear unprepared for how he goes about it. 

Ball has been effective throughout the levels. He figured out how to impose himself on the tall, experienced Rey Vargas in their WBC title fight and although Ray Ford offered a different type of challenge, Ball again found a way to force the clever southpaw to fight his kind of fight and snatched away his WBA belt.

“He's definitely getting better and better with each fight as he's getting that confidence. You’ll see a difference, Obviously, he's worked 100% anyway. I wouldn't say he's working any harder but he just improves with every fight,” Stevenson said.

“Every fight we give him different tactics. He has different sparring and he has had excellent opposition in the last couple of years, one after another, and he's just been learning and learning. He’s ready to be the king of that division now and dominate it and have a great reign.

“I'd say a lot of people have preconceived ideas about Nick and about what will work against him and they always get surprised. Nick is very, very clever at the inside game. Not just the strength, it's how he's doing it. It's taught and then he’s great on the outside.

“Look, I’m not saying any fighter's unbeatable - they said the Titanic was unsinkable and all that shit - but he's got a very difficult style to box against. I think a lot of people - Vargas, Ray Ford, top world level operators - thought, ‘I'll try this and I'll try that' and I think they found themselves wanting in the skill set department.”

On Saturday, Ronny Rios, 34-4 (17 KOs) will try to solve the problem. Rios is two-time world title challenger at super bantamweight although he is a whole hearted fighter, he will need to reach a level he has previously been unable to if he is to pull off a massive shock. 

“Do you know, this isn't the first time I've sat opposite Ronny Rios,” Stevenson said.

“It turns out that when I was coaching for England in 2007, we go on a trip to Minnesota. Britain versus America. I’m in the corner and one of the lads on the England team was an ABA champ called Brad Evans. He messaged me the other day and says, ’Paul, I don't know if you remember this trip. You were in my corner in America’  He said, ‘You know who we boxed? Ronnie Rios.’ He beat Brad on points, I think. So that wasn't the first time we've met.

“I like coincidences. It’s like the universe telling you that everything's good.” 

#NickBall #PaulStevenson #AndrewCain #BradStrand #RonnyRios #LiverpoolBoxing #BoxingNews #FeatherweightBoxing #WorldTitleDefense #BritishBoxing #EvertonRedTriangle #M&SBankArena #BoxingTrainer #ChampionshipBoxing #WBAFeatherweightChampion

Lightweight prospect Curmel Moton is preparing for his next fight on Oct. 12 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The 18-year-old protege of Floyd Mayweather is still awaiting confirmation of his opponent, though he hinted that his opponent will be from Mexico. Moton originally hoped to face an unbeaten fighter with nine wins.

Moton (5-0, 4 KOs) will be stepping into the ring for the fourth time in 2024. Despite the short notice, he remains confident. "It's been great," Moton said in a YouTube interview with GHBTV about his training camp. "The fight came together quickly, but I stay in the gym, I stay ready."

Having fought on high-profile undercards for both Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez, Moton is accustomed to the big stage. The smaller venue for his upcoming fight doesn't concern him. "I feel relaxed," Moton said. Elite sparring in Las Vegas and fighting on major stages seem to have helped him mature quickly, despite his young age.

Moton’s most recent fight took place in August, when he scored a first-round knockout in Mexico over Victor Vazquez (5-3-1) on the undercard of Mayweather’s exhibition bout against John Gotti III, the grandson of the infamous mobster.

While the upcoming event may not be as grand, Moton remains focused on delivering another standout performance. "I’m going to perform regardless," Moton said. "The big crowds get me ready to put on a good show, but I feel like this crowd will be passionate, and that’ll do the same."

#CurmelMoton #FloydMayweatherJr #boxing #boxingnews