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 

Bill Haney has hit back at Teofimo Lopez Sr’s claim that his son Devin Haney doesn’t want to fight Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Haney was responding to Lopez Sr’s recent claim that Devin (31-0, 15 KOs) avoided a fight with Lopez Jr. (21-1, 13 KOs) when Lopez Jr. held the IBF and WBO lightweight titles.

According to Bill, Devin is not afraid of facing the WBO 140-pound champ Lopez Jr.

“Every opportunity to fight, we put it on the table for you, including an opportunity with Turki Alalshikh and your company Top Rank just a couple of months ago,” said Bill on FightHype.

“I'm gonna let you know, and the people, Devin Haney wants to fight you whenever, wherever, including right now. So, let's see what your fat mom, Danny, got to say about that.”

San Francisco’s Devin, 25, is yet to return to the ring – six months after his junior welterweight fight with Ryan Garcia – was declared a no contest. Devin had initially lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Garcia at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but a random test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) found Garcia positive for the banned substance ostarine.

Despite denying the test results, Garcia was fined $1.1 million and suspended for a year with the fight changed to a no contest. Subsequently, Devin has sued Garcia for an alleged fraud, battery, and unjust enrichment against Garcia.

The lawsuit by Devin has led to many diverse opinions but Bill believes it is a justified part of the boxing business.

“And Oscar De La Hoya, everybody out. Gennadiy Golovkin sued you, and Ryan Garcia did threaten to sue you, and I don't need to sit down with you about nothing.

“I see you doing a lot of tweeting, but you ain't speaking. Maybe you're suffering from tweaking. The lawsuit stands.”

#BillHaney #TeofimoLopezJr. #DevinHaney #TurkiAlalshikh #GennadyGolovkin #OscarDeLaHoya #boxing #boxingnews        

Francis Ngannou has made a name for himself in two different sports.

The Cameroon fighter has main evented cards in both the MMA and boxing world.

A former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion, Ngannou is now signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

When he first made the transition from the UFC to boxing, many thought it was just a quick cash grab.

Whether that was the case or not, he put up a highly commendable performance against Tyson Fury – a fight that many thought the MMA star won.

Unfortunately, a dismantling by Anthony Joshua has put paid to his boxing career.

But for a while, he was being touted as a potential threat to the boxing heavyweight scene.

One of the factors that seemingly aided the career change of Francis Ngannou was due to money.

Boxing has become flush with cash since the interception of Saudi in the sport and, with both of Ngannou’s fights in being held in Saudi, it’s assumed that he made a lot of money to leave the UFC for those fights.

UFC CEO and president Dana White has responded to those claims and has stated that they’re not true.

Speaking to the press after the season premiere of Dana White’s Contender Series, White answered a question from an interviewer asking why he didn’t mention at the time that Ngannou would have made more fighting Jon Jones than going into boxing.

In a rather prickly response, White claims that he didn’t care enough about it at the time but it’s a fact.

This followed a video released by MMA reporter Kevin Iole in which White doubles down on the fact that Francis Ngannou would have made more in the UFC than boxing.

“That’s not necessarily true,” White said.Major opponent lined up for Nick Ball under one condition

“That’s the bulls*** publicly that people believe, but that’s not the truth. Total bulls***. Total bulls***.

“That’s that whole myth that makes everybody go, ‘Oh, let’s f*cking go to boxing!’ and all this bullshit.

“Boxing don’t work. Boxing does not work.

“What makes it work? You need a Saudi f*cking trillionaire to make f*cking fights.

“And even Saudi trillionaires get tired of the f*cking bullshit.

“It’s all a f*cking myth. It’s all a myth.

“Like the whole statement you just made is absolutely positively not true.

“It’s those types of f*cking statements and those type of quotes by the media that makes all this shit.

“All these fights are happening, it takes a Saudi f*cking trillionaire.

“Every f*cking guy that tries to do the boxing thing, they all end up losing shit-loads of f*cking money.

“The model doesn’t work.

“A Saudi unlimited amount of money pops up and that’s what makes these fights happen, and even guys with that kind of money get f*cking tired of the bullshit.”

Clearly, Dana White does not hold back on this.

Whether his claims are true or not, it seems that Francis Ngannou is content with his decision to move away from the UFC.

With a new start in the PFL, Ngannou seems to have found another space to fight that is not under the umbrella of White’s organisation.

#FrancisNgannou #DanaWhite #UFC #PFL #Boxing #TysonFury #JonJones #AnthonyJoshua #SaudiArabia #MMA #SportsNews #FighterLife #BoxingDebate #CombatSports #BoxingUpdate

There isn’t much that unites everybody in the partisan world of boxing, but Eddie Hearn’s announcement that Matchroom are considering the idea of starting main events at 9pm caused a joining of hands across the divides. 

No more 10.45pm video montages selling and promoting a fight you are already tuned in to watch. No more post-midnight finishes.

Earlier start times are a good thing and a step forward, but there is a balance to be struck, and it involves finding the sweet spot between keeping television viewers tuned in, ticket-buying fans engaged, and the right thing for the fighters.

Unless the cards are shortened significantly or start much earlier, a 9pm start time may be a little too early.

Yes, it will allow people at home to change channels and catch the start of Match of The Day, but, in the arena, it would have the effect of turning out the lights on fighters sat in the dressing rooms waiting to compete after the main event has finished.  

The YouTube army increasingly set up their tripods on press row the second the main event has been waved off, and getting instant reactions would take precedence over the action in the ring. Fans flock to ringside to pose for photos with fight figures, and casual fans would likely disappear off into the night. 

The fights would become background noise to the aftermath of a major main event.

I have been in arenas where undercard fighters have walked to the ring together and then boxed as the seating and lighting rigs are dismantled around them.

It must be heartbreaking for a young fighter who has spent the week believing their life was about to change to glance out of the ring whilst they are in a clinch and see the front row empty and the cameramen disassembling their equipment. 

The main-support bout used to be the plum spot on an undercard, but pushing the main event start time back further and further has turned some significant fights into glorified float bouts with those in attendance wishing the rounds away.

A 10pm start should provide the main-event fighters with an engaged crowd and primetime viewing figures, while also allowing plenty of time to get all of the undercard fights done. It would also allow the main event to bring the night to a natural conclusion. 

As changes seem to be afoot, here are a couple of other ideas.

‘I’ve Got Something Special Planned For My Ring walk’

If you can’t dance, nothing good has ever come from attempting it. 

It faces stern competition from shit-stirring pop-up YouTube channels and single use £1,000 fight kits but the introduction of the stage and ramp may just be my least favourite innovation in the way modern boxing is presented.

Boxing is increasingly becoming a star-driven sport, but if we are trying to create characters and help fighters to connect with the audience, giving them identikit ring entrances is a strange way to achieve it.

Boxing is a personal sport and each and every fighter has their own way of dealing with the final few moments before a fight.

Not every professional wants to learn awful choreography or awkwardly pace around while they wait for the floor manager to give them the nod to start a suddenly purposeful march to the ring.

Imagine Mike Tyson shadow boxing and shuffling while he waited for the beat to drop on Welcome To The Terrordome.

Ring walks are a major part of boxing, and no other sport can come close to replicating the tension and spectacle produced by that golden 15-minute spell before a major title fight, but the attention of a significant ring walk should be earned and a six-round catchweight contest with a late notice opponent isn’t worthy of such an elaborate build-up. 

Increasingly, a four-round novice can expect to be given a bells and whistles introduction at Wednesday’s open workout, and at Thursday’s press conference to answer 20 questions about the opportunity they are grateful to have been given. They are then welcomed to the scales to weigh-in on the Friday and then called to the ring like a world champion on Saturday. It is too much. 

For lower-profile shows, why not hold the pre-fight press conference in a local shopping centre rather than the widely disliked open workout? Giving passers-by a glimpse behind the curtain and letting them listen to fighters arguing and facing off would likely attract much more casual interest.

Ring walks for the entire card are here to stay but, surely, there has to be more imaginative ways of getting undercard fighters to connect with the crowd and get their story across rather than a stage-managed package?

Give the fighter a choice. Let them stamp their personality on the event. If a natural showperson wants to do an elaborate ring entrance, let them. It will work and feel more natural. If not, it isn’t beyond the realms of modern technology to piece together a one-minute long VT that either highlights the fighter’s character or tees up the upcoming fight. Play the video in the arena and on television and let them walk to the ring under their own steam. They can make their name once the bell rings. Promote individuality.

Yes, it is stealing a little from the UFC’s playbook, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

‘If You Aren’t Cheating, You Aren’t Trying To Win’

Skullduggery is part of every sport and, as long as it doesn’t involve the use of illegal substances – including red paint – or blatantly breaking the rules to alter the result, I’m all for it. 

In the 1990s, a football manager called John Beck was renowned for making life uncomfortable for opposing teams turning up to take on Cambridge United. Their warm-up balls would be soaked in water or under-inflated; the hot water in their dressing room would be turned off and the heating turned up and even the pitch was doctored to suit Beck’s preferred style of play, leaving the grass especially long in the corners. Great fun.

There are obviously potentially far, far more significant repercussions for bending the rules in boxing, but the sport would be a poorer place if it wasn’t for the wide array of characters and stories of them doing whatever they can to gain even the slightest advantage. 

We have all heard stories about promoters putting fighters in a hotel on the other side of town and then generously making sure they get a first-hand look at every set of roadworks as they are ferried around all week by a cab company that has suffered an unfortunate air-conditioning failure.

Promoters and managers will fight for days or weeks to try to secure the right sized ring for their fighter, the right number of ringside seats, and the biggest dressing room. We love the drama when pre-fight rumors fly around ringside that a fighter has been made to remove their handwraps.

The fun and games continue in the ring. We celebrate a journeyman beating a youngster by employing the dark arts. They clinch on the referee’s blindside. They hit the hips and jam uppercuts with their elbows. There are hundreds of ways an experienced fighter can make things difficult for a youngster and all are difficult – if not impossible – to police. They are part and parcel of a rough sport. 

But buying time by spitting out the mouthpiece is a clear form of cheating that can have a significant impact on the outcome of a fight. It is treated much less harshly than other blatant fouls like using the head or punching below the belt, but just ask Jose Luis Castillo about the effect it can have.

It also seems to be happening more and more regularly, yet there is a pretty simple and obvious way of stamping it out.

Why don’t we clip a water bottle on to the referee’s waistband? When a mouthpiece hits the canvas, they can quickly rinse it off and get the action back underway rather than leading the hurt fighter back to their corner where – if they know what they are doing – their trainer will accidentally drop it, forget where the water is and then struggle to get it back into their fighter’s mouth. 

.#Boxing #EddieHearn #SuperMiddleweight #MainEvents #FightNight #Undercard #CheatingInBoxing #RingWalk #BoxLife #Matchroom #Fighters #JoseLuisCastillo #MikeTyson #SportsNews #BoxingFans #BoxingUpdate

The WBA’s latest ratings update — released September 30 — includes the installation of two new top contenders, putting them in line for potential title shots.

The WBA’s latest ratings update — released September 30 — includes the installation of two new top contenders, putting them in line for potential title shots.

At super middleweight, Christian Mbilli replaced Edgar Berlanga as the number-one contender. 

Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) lost a unanimous decision to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September and is now ranked fourth. Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) was previously ranked second. In his past appearance, in August, he won a unanimous decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

The WBA super-middleweight titleholder is Canelo, who also has the WBC and WBO belts, and is the lineal champion.

At featherweight, Stephen Fulton replaced Bruce Carrington as the number-one contender.

Fulton was previously rated second. The former unified junior-featherweight titleholder otherwise officially arrived at 126lbs in September on the undercard of Canelo-Berlanga. He won a close split decision over Carlos Castro, and is now 22-1 (8 KOs).

Carrington (13-0, 8 KOs) dropped to second. He won a majority decision over Sulaiman Segawa.

The WBA featherweight titleholder is Nick Ball, who is scheduled to defend that belt on Saturday against Ronny Rios.

#ChristianMbilli #StephenFulton #CaneloAlvarez #EdgarBerlanga #BruceCarrington #NickBall #RonnyRios #BoxingNews #WBA #SuperMiddleweight #Featherweight #BoxingRankings #CarlosCastro #SergiyDerevyanchenko #SulaimanSegawa #WorldBoxing

Sunny Edwards has played down rumors that he will be trained by Adam Booth for his clash with Galal Yafai on November 30.

Edwards and Yafai will square off at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham for the WBC interim flyweight title, with the winner set to challenge for the full version. The pair have been longtime rivals after sharing the ring as amateurs and sparring countless rounds as professionals.

There have been suggestions that Edwards has made a big change heading into the must win clash -  splitting from his longtime trainer Grant Smith who has trained Edwards for the entirety of his professional career and the latter stages of his stint in the unpaid ranks.

The pair enjoyed significant success with Edwards winning the British title and the IBF world championship with Smith in his corner. Edwards had little to say on the rumors of a split: “Who knows? I might train myself for this fight,” when asked if Smith would be training him for his November fight with Yafai.

Edwards, however, had more to say on the rumors that he had linked up with Adam Booth ahead of the fight. “That’s rumors,” said Edwards. “When you hear rumors, when you assume, you make an arse out of you and me. So don’t be assuming.” 

#SunnyEdwards #GalalYafai #GrantSmith #AdamBooth #Boxing #Flyweight #WBC #IBF #BoxingNews #WorldChampionship #Rivalry #Birmingham #BoxingFight #Sports #WBCFlyweightTitle

Two-division world champion Teofimo Lopez recorded one of the most famous upset victories of the last decade and has since gone on to prove that the win was no fluke. Now, as ‘The Takeover’ hopes to secure another mammoth fight, he has made a shocking claim regarding his career earnings thus far.

Lopez dethroned unified lightweight champion and legendary amateur sensation Vasyl Lomachenko back in 2020 with a dominant win that shook the boxing world, bamboozling the supposedly unbeatable Ukrainian with a career-best display.

Although, the shoe was on the other foot in the fight that followed, as Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. sprung the upset on Lopez to put an early end to the New Yorker’s reign and prompt a move up to the super-lightweight division.

After two fights at 140lbs, Lopez earned himself a shot at the poster boy of the division in Scotland’s former undisputed champion Josh Taylor, who entered the bout as an undefeated champion but had vacated three of his four belts.

Once again, Lopez was able to pull off a surprising win, but he has failed to impress in two title defences against Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett since – despite claiming unanimous-decision wins on both occasions.

Now, Lopez craves the big-name opponent that will motivate and bring the best out of him, and the pay day to match, calling for showdowns with the likes of Gervonta Davis, Terence Crawford and Devin Haney.Mike Tyson challenged by former undisputed world heavyweight champion

In an interview with the ‘It Is What It Is’ Podcast, Lopez shockingly revealed that he is yet to receive a million-dollar purse, despite defeating two pound-for-pound contenders.“Would you take less(money) to fight him(Gervonta Davis)”

Teofimo Lopez: “Ya, I’ve been doing that my last fights. I have yet to even make more than 1 million dollars in every fight. When I fought Loma I came home with 460K after everything(expenses). With Josh Taylor…I came… pic.twitter.com/9V1MaKSMrZ

— Danny (@dantheboxingman) October 1, 2024

“I have been doing that [accepting low offers to make big fights] in my last fights. I have yet to even make more than one million dollars in every fight.

“When I fought Lomachenko during Covid, everyone was talking about how he gave me $800k on top, no – never bid. I came home with about $460k after everything [expenses], fighting the number one pound-for-pound over [Terence] Crawford and Canelo [Alvarez].

“Then, when it came to Josh Taylor, I came home with around $700k – $800k.”

Jose Carlos Ramirez and Arnold Barboza are poised to battle it out for the position as WBO mandatory challenger on the November 16th ‘Riyadh Season’ card in Saudi Arabia, with the victor expected to become Teofimo Lopez’s next opponent for a fight in early 2025.

#TeofimoLopez #Boxing #Lomachenko #JoshTaylor #GervontaDavis #TerenceCrawford #DevinHaney #BoxingNews #Sports

Robert Smith has been a central figure in British boxing since he was appointed General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) in October 2008. While some promoters and broadcasters may seem more influential, Smith has maintained a pivotal role, especially after the BBBoC became the commission of choice for the General Entertainment Authority’s (GEA) Turki Alalshikh—arguably the most powerful figure in today’s boxing landscape.

Smith’s role has evolved significantly over the years. Reflecting on the past 16 years, it's clear that he has witnessed and overseen considerable change. Back in 2008, Alalshikh was just starting his career with the Saudi government; Eddie Hearn was still a poker promoter; Anthony Joshua was exploring a life of crime; and women were often seen as too delicate to fight. Pay-per-view was reserved for only the biggest fights, performance-enhancing drugs were seldom addressed, and press conferences attracted mainly traditional media rather than the social media spectacle we see today. Smith, who turned 62 on October 2, was relatively new to the boxing scene at that time.

After 16 years of navigating the complexities of boxing—from egotistical promoters and legal disputes to social media threats and the heartbreak of tragedies in the ring—Smith has developed a gruff, no-nonsense persona that’s essential in his line of work. As he reflects on his tenure, he candidly admits, “Common sense tells you I’ve got less time in the job than I’ve had.” He acknowledges that while he has been in the role longer than expected, the ongoing legal issues have made it less enjoyable. “I deal with more and more legal issues than ever before, which is very frustrating because I’m not a lawyer,” he states.

Born in England in 1962 to a Welsh mother and Scottish father, Smith has boxing in his blood. With a family history of boxing, including grandfathers who fought and a father who trained fighters, Smith’s connection to the sport was inevitable. Despite turning professional at just 18, injuries derailed his boxing career. He suffered multiple injuries, including dislocated shoulders and broken hands, which led him to reassess his path. After a brief stint in engineering in California, Smith returned to boxing but soon recognized he would not achieve the success he desired.

Smith’s record stands at 16 wins and 5 losses, with 11 KOs, before he left the ring in 1989. Following this, he returned to engineering, contributing to significant projects like the Canary Wharf development. However, he eventually took a pay cut to join the BBBoC, motivated by a desire to stay connected to the sport he loved.

In his current role, Smith has found his days filled with legal disputes and performance-enhancing drug issues. He admits he’s been criticized for how certain matters are handled, particularly the length of time it takes to resolve cases involving failed drug tests. He emphasizes that while the BBBoC handles fight bookings and testing through UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), the disciplinary process is beyond their control. “I will be the first to say it takes too long to get a decision,” he acknowledges.

The saga of Conor Benn illustrates the complexities involved. After two failed tests in October 2022, Benn's case remains unresolved, but Smith has remained steadfast in pursuing justice for the sport. He insists that the BBBoC is not intimidated by the financial clout of athletes who hire top lawyers, stating, “We’re either doing the job or we’re not.”

The emotional weight of his role intensifies when tragedy strikes in the ring. Smith has had to manage the aftermath of several fatalities, an experience he describes as the hardest part of his job. “Nothing is going to be any worse than that,” he reflects, highlighting the burden of informing families and dealing with the consequences of such tragedies.

The last year has also seen a remarkable shift in promoter relationships, particularly between Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, who have set aside their past grievances in light of the financial opportunities brought by Saudi investment. Smith had hoped for greater collaboration among promoters, and the recent cordiality between Hearn and Warren indicates progress in that direction.

Initially cautious about Saudi Arabia’s influence, especially regarding events like Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, Smith has since recognized the value of the partnership. The BBBoC has taken charge of medical and officiating standards at GEA events, ensuring safety and credibility in the new landscape.

Smith highlights the growth of boxing under the BBBoC’s jurisdiction, mentioning that they conducted 242 shows last year, with 80% of those being smaller events. He remains optimistic about the future, despite challenges like staffing. The BBBoC, with only 12.5 employees, is now increasing its staff due to the influx of events.

As he looks ahead, Smith admits he still has goals to achieve, particularly concerning ongoing legal cases. However, he expresses no immediate desire to step down, affirming, “I think we’re doing alright,” while acknowledging the realities of his position.

Ultimately, Robert Smith’s journey through the complexities of modern boxing reflects both the challenges and triumphs of governing a sport that remains as unpredictable as it is beloved.

#Boxing #BritishBoxing #RobertSmith #BoxingGovernance #PerformanceEnhancingDrugs #BoxingHistory #ConorBenn #BoxingNews #BoxingCommunity

The achievement of becoming an undisputed champion is one that is dreamt of by every fighter that laces up the gloves, but it is one only achieved by a select few. Now, one fighter from the elite group of four-belt undisputed champions is set to appear on an undercard in the United Kingdom next month.

Rising super-bantamweight contender and current IBO champion of the 126lb division, Liam Davies (16-0), was forced to pull out of his battle with fellow undefeated Brit Shabaz Masoud (13-0) back in July due to an illness. However, the pair have since rescheduled their meeting, and the Telford fan-favourite will now attempt to make a first defence of his IBO crown when he and Masoud go toe-to-toe next month.

A run of three consecutive stoppage victories has seen Davies rise in the world rankings in recent times, and the 28-year-old now sits as high as the #5 contender with both the WBC and IBF, hopeful of one day earning a shot at pound-for-pound number one and undisputed champion of the division, Naoya Inoue.

Yet, whilst Davies continues to call out one undisputed champion in ‘The Monster’, there is another previous holder of that mantle set to fight on his undercard. Queensberry Promotions has unveiled that Chantelle Cameron (19-1) will appear in the co-main event of the card. Cameron dethroned the legendary Katie Taylor in a famous win in Dublin last year but lost a controversial decision to the Irishwoman in their November rematch. This loss led to a fallout between Cameron and promoter Eddie Hearn, prompting a switch to sign for Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.

In her debut since signing with Warren, Cameron appeared on the same card that Davies-Masoud was originally scheduled for and secured the WBC super-lightweight interim title with a majority-decision win against Elhem Mekhaled. This also marked her first fight with new trainer Grant Smith since parting ways with Jamie Moore.

Northampton-born ‘Il Capo’ will take on former WBC super-welterweight champion Patricia Berghult as the highlight of the Davies-Masoud undercard next month in a first defence of the WBC interim strap, which Cameron hopes will eventually land her a shot at a trilogy bout against Katie Taylor.

Also appearing on the undercard is light-heavyweight operator Ezra Taylor (9-0) and European welterweight champion Ekow Essuman (20-1), who will face Austria’s Driton Isenaj (10-0) and undefeated Ben Vaughan (10-0) respectively on the November 2nd card at the BP Pulse Live in Birmingham.

#LiamDavies #ChantelleCameron #BoxingUndercard #IBOChampion #WBCChampion #DaviesMasoud #QueensberryPromotions #BirminghamBoxing #BoxingNews #SuperBantamweight

The undisputed light-heavyweight showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol remains as arguably the most enticing clash in the world of boxing, with the power of Beterbiev and the technical skills of Bivol making for a stylistic match-up that has boxing fans and analysts eagerly speculating. Here, we take a deeper look into the full card of one of the most anticipated fight nights in the history of the 175lb division.

Mohammed Alakel (debut) is a name that is understandably unknown to the vast majority, but it is one that fans may become familiar with over the next twelve months. Turki Al-Alshikh has always been keen to include a Saudi fighter on his high-profile bills, usually Ziyad Almaayouf, in an attempt to grow boxing in the Kingdom, and Alakel appears to be his latest prospect to get behind.

Once a member of the Clovenstone Amateur Boxing Team in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alakel has picked up development and district titles as an amateur and was also a junior taekwondo champion before making the permanent switch to boxing. Now trained by Joe Gallagher, Alakel will face Colombia’s Jesus Gonzalez (3-2) to kick off the bill with a four-round super-featherweight contest—just four months after Gonzalez was stopped by a body shot against rising British lightweight, Ibraheem ‘Spider’ Sulaimaan.

Just eight fights into his professional career, Ben Whittaker (8-0) is fast becoming one of Britain’s superstars, regularly going viral for his consistent showboating and controversial fight style. However, it’s not all fun and games for the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, and ‘The Surgeon’ will be keen to ensure he keeps his eyes on the prize in his toughest test to date. Is he the most entertaining fighter right now?

Whittaker takes a considerable step up in competition as he fights former Commonwealth champion Liam Cameron (23-6), fresh from a controversial defeat to IBO light-heavyweight title-holder Lyndon Arthur. After a five-and-a-half-year absence from the ring, Cameron has returned with a newfound sense of vigour and steely determination to achieve further success in the sport and represents a serious banana skin if Whittaker dares to overlook him.

Australia’s Skye Nicolson (11-0) seemed destined for world titles ever since her 2022 debut, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion delivered on her potential earlier this year, outpointing Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC featherweight title back in April. Since then, Nicolson has made one additional defence of the strap and will fight for a third time this year as she makes history by taking part in the first women’s world title contest on Saudi soil.

Nicolson has been tasked with undefeated Brit Raven Chapman (9-0) in what is not only a battle between two undefeated fighters but a showdown between rival promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren—a rivalry that has been dominated by Warren thus far in 2024. Chapman will hope to upset the odds and continue Queensberry’s winning streak as she challenges for world honours for the first time in her career.

Polarising middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. (33-3) remains one of the biggest draws in the United Kingdom despite failing to secure a recognised world title thus far in his 14-year career. After recently signing with Boxxer, the 34-year-old finally appears keen to secure a second world title challenge and could collide with current unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly in the near future should a long-awaited meeting with Conor Benn or another lucrative opportunity not materialise.

In the opposing corner is Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta (25-2-2), whose duo of defeats have come solely against world champions in Gennadiy Golovkin and Jaime Munguia. Szeremeta’s most recent appearance was a draw against Abel Mina in a scrap for the Republic of Poland super-middleweight title, but he will drop back down to 160lbs to square off against Eubank as a sizeable underdog.

Another man with mammoth opportunities on the horizon is IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia (25-0), who has been vocal in his ambition to unify belts in the 200lb division before a move to heavyweight in the future. Knocking out three Brits in his last four outings, the Aussie has made a habit of delivering showstopping KOs and excelling on Turki Al-Alshikh cards of late. Opetaia will seek to continue that form and then move on to a three-belt unification bout against the victor of Riyadh Season’s November headliner, although he may have to fight again in the interim if he is to retain his belt.

The man hoping to spoil those plans is the game European champion Jack Massey (22-2), who remains confident of proving the bookmakers wrong in a first world title bid. Massey’s granite chin served him well in an unconventional step-up to heavyweight last year against Joseph Parker in a performance that is ageing like fine wine, but his career-best victory over Isaac Chamberlain is the one that has grabbed the most attention.

As many deem Opetaia as both the poster boy and most powerful puncher at cruiserweight, it remains to be seen whether Massey can do what Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro couldn’t and survive the inevitable early onslaught from the champion—in the hopes of capitalizing during the late rounds.

In the final and most intense scrap on the undercard, Fabio Wardley (17-0-1) and Frazer Clarke (8-0-1) will rematch for the British heavyweight title—six months on from their bloodied brawl on Easter Sunday, which will likely go down as one of 2024’s fight of the year contenders. In a traditionally contrasting match-up, the front-footed Wardley will seek to add to his 16 knockout victories to date and improve upon his finishing instincts after having Clarke hurt in their first encounter.

Meanwhile, challenging Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Clarke will hope that his amateur experience, of which Wardley has none, will shine through and that he can control the bout behind a strong jab—confident in the fact that he would have had his hand raised in his initial meeting with Wardley had he not suffered a point deduction for low blows.

Wardley-Clarke II will mark a second British heavyweight title clash in Riyadh within the last twelve months, but there lie further incentives this time around, as the victor will likely see instant progression to the world level, as well as the glory of a grudge match win.

Finally, we come to the main attraction, as Artur Beterbiev (20-0) and Dmitry Bivol (23-0) collide in an event that seemed near impossible to make until the intervention of Turki Al-Alshikh. The age-old head spinner of power versus skill, fans across the globe continue to struggle to pick a winner, and it is clear to see why.

The only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio, Artur Beterbiev is not just a hard-hitting brute but a masterful boxing mind, trumping the legendary Oleksandr Usyk as an amateur. Beterbiev claimed the IBF light-heavyweight world title in just his 12th outing as a professional and has since gone on to become a three-belt unified champion with stoppage victories over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Joe Smith Jr.

His last two performances have convinced the British public that he is a force to be reckoned with, twice stepping up a gear and making in-fight adjustments to defend his titles against Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith without the help of the judges.

One drawback for the Canadian-Russian is that he was forced to postpone the originally scheduled undisputed meeting with Bivol earlier this year due to a knee injury, and at 39 years old, there are fears that father time may finally be catching up with the 2009 amateur world champion—regardless of the fact that he has shown no such signs inside of the ring.

In spite of the well-deserved plaudits that Beterbiev has received in the last couple of years, it is WBA champion Dmitry Bivol who is poised to step through the ropes as the favourite for the undisputed crown, a famous win over Canelo Alvarez likely being enough to swing the odds.

An opposite to the WBC, WBO & IBF champion, Bivol’s style is that of a smaller fighter, using his feet as much as his hands to comfortably defeat almost all of his opponents. A stoppage victory over the overmatched Malik Zinad on June 1st was a first win inside the distance since 2018 (nine fights) for Bivol, and the question mark for him is whether he will be able to keep Beterbiev off of him and not allow his fellow champion to cut off the ring and trap him in the corners—something Beterbiev does so well.

Still, Bivol’s footwork has been the basis of much of his success to date, and if the contest begins in a tense, tactical manner rather than the war that many hope to see, then he is the man you would have to favour—even if Beterbiev’s fear-striking training footage would convince many viewers otherwise.

When?

The card will take place in The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, October 12th, with the undercard expected to begin around 7pm (BST), whilst Beterbiev and Bivol are poised to take centre stage around 11:30pm (BST).

#BeterbievBivol #Boxing #UndisputedChampion #LightHeavyweight #BeterbievVsBivol #DAZN #RiyadhFightNight #BoxingFans #BoxingNews #BoxingLife #FightNight

As the film “The Featherweight,” about the life of boxing great Willie Pep, enters wide release, each day this week – Tuesday through Saturday – a different BoxingScene contributor will reflect on a boxing biopic that resonates with them.

As far as critical pedigree is concerned, not many boxing biopics match the double-Oscar-winning film documenting the life and times of Micky Ward and his brother Dicky Eklund, “The Fighter.”

It was nominated for Best Picture in 2011, and Christian Bale, as Dicky, and Melissa Leo, playing the family matriarch, Alice, earned the top awards for Best Supporting Actors.

It is hard to argue with the critics.

Mark Wahlberg plays Micky Ward, and the movie was his brainchild. The actor had reportedly always wanted to be in a boxing film, and he and Ward had known one another for years.

“The Fighter” charts a section of Ward’s life and the ups and downs of his relationship with his trainer and brother, as well as his life in and out of the ring.

Bale was the man who stole the show of the nearly two-hour-long film, and those who looked for faults from a boxing perspective had a field day.

It was Hollywood – not a documentary, after all – which seemed senseless as the story of Micky and Dicky was dramatic enough.

The period of time the film captured also drew criticism. For instance, it stopped after Ward won the lesser-known WBU title with a victory over Shea Neary in London. It didn’t cover the period when Ward hit the height of his fame towards the end of his career for, notably, the trilogy with Arturo Gatti that is burned into the fabric of boxing history as one of the great rivalries. There is some archived fight footage from those wild bouts in the end credits, but that’s it.

And the fact that the storytelling missed out on that time frame always left a grain of hope that a sequel would be made – something Ward was keen for and that Wahlberg teased on occasion.

Alas, it was never to be.

But what remains is a superb biopic, one that falls under the umbrella of “based on true events,” documenting Eklund’s battle with addiction and Ward’s career as a hard-luck contender all played out in front of a chaotic family backdrop.

Eklund is conveyed as a likeable if infuriating rascal, which might pass as fair comment.

The brothers’ relationship was one in which they would help one another as best as they could in their own ways. It was as if Micky’s routine and discipline helped give Dicky structure, while Dicky, who had learned some of life’s harshest lessons, was able to impart the lessons of some of his many mistakes onto his younger brother, with a “do as I say, not as I do” feel to the shared wisdom.

Wahlberg puts in an underrated and understated performance as Ward. He is flawless, and arguably his job in the film was the hardest. How does one go about portraying an everyday guy who still paves roads for a living? How do you make it believable without making him jump off the screen? That is a challenge in itself because for all of Micky’s celebrity and his Fights of the Year with the likes of Emanuel Augustus, Gatti, and Neary, and despite the movie and having been played by an A-lister, Ward has never changed.

I met Micky in 2001, a couple of weeks after the first Gatti fight, visiting him at his home in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Over the next 20 or so years, I’ve created many great memories with Micky. I’ve been back to his house in Lowell a few times. Despite everything – the accolades, the movies, the success – he never moved. He never changed his number. He remains everything you would hope the blue-collar idol would be – self-deprecating, modest, and honest.

If anyone has watched “The Fighter” and felt inspired, Ward is not in the never-meet-your-heroes category.

In fact, after I left Micky’s house one day – and with my long journey ahead – he insisted on taking me out for food and a coffee.

On another trip to Boston, I visited Micky to record my “Boxing Life Stories” podcast with him, and what we recorded is a fair reflection of our friendship over the years, with some laughs and somber moments along the way. While in the area, Dicky and I went for lunch, and he and I recorded another episode of the podcast. I thought Dicky would go on about his wild life and misspent youth, but he was actually tough to pry open. I do remember him telling me that he wasn’t that bad back in the day, and he argued: “In the newspapers, they made me out to be Al Capone.”

We often meet at the International Boxing Hall of Fame. One year, I took my wife there on vacation, and we met Micky and Dicky in the since-bulldozed Graziano’s.

Micky and I went and sat in a booth to talk, while Dicky was left to woo my wife.

Micky’s path also crossed with mine when I wrote “Damage,” and I had read in his excellent biography, “A Warrior’s Heart,” that he had pledged his brain for research when he passes as part of a vital brain study for athletes and fighters in Boston.

As he always quips: “It’s not like I used it much!”

Of course, Ward is selling himself short, but brains are one thing, and heart is another thing entirely, and it is the latter he is best known for.

And it is that that “The Fighter” best demonstrates of Ward, in and out of the ring. Micky Ward always has been all heart.

It is why the title has been so poignant, too. There are no airs and graces about Micky. Never have been. He was and always will be The Fighter.

#TheFighter #MickyWard #BoxingMovies #Biopic #MarkWahlberg #BoxingHistory #WilliePep #BoxingLifeStories

Over seven years ago, Conor McGregor stepped through the ropes to make his boxing debut in ‘The Biggest Fight in Combat Sports History’ against pound-for-pound legend Floyd Mayweather. Now, after years of inactivity in both boxing and the UFC, the ‘Notorious’ one is being linked with a comeback against a polarizing Brit.

Mayweather-McGregor remains memorable as one of the most hotly anticipated and well-promoted events of all time, registering the second-highest number of pay-per-view buys ever (4.3 million), trailing only behind Mayweather-Pacquiao. However, the fight itself was less eventful, as Mayweather dominated the action and put on a boxing clinic before halting the Irishman in the tenth round, with glimpses of quality from the debutant quickly fading from memory.

Since that 2017 loss, McGregor has not re-entered the squared circle and has fought only four times in the Octagon, suffering stoppage defeats in three of those bouts. Nonetheless, a return to the sport has always been a possibility for high-profile figures in combat sports, with Terence Crawford and Jake Paul being recent names mentioned for a potential McGregor comeback.

In a recent interview on the 5 Live Boxing Podcast, middleweight title hopeful Chris Eubank Jr. revealed that there have been talks about a boxing match with the two-division UFC champion. Eubank Jr. expressed his interest, stating, “You know, there’s actually been talks of me and him having a boxing match at some point. The fans have said that they want to see that. How interesting that would be. That’s definitely something that I’m open to exploring.”

However, before Eubank Jr. can fully focus on a potential clash with McGregor, he must first get past Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta, whom he faces on October 12th on the blockbuster Beterbiev-Bivol undercard.

This matchup could reignite interest in McGregor’s boxing career and showcase whether he can still compete at a high level after a lengthy hiatus. Will fans see the ‘Notorious’ back in the ring soon?

#ConorMcGregor #ChrisEubankJr #BoxingComeback #MayweatherVsMcGregor #CombatSports #BoxingNews #UFC #BoxingFans

The picture-perfect left hand that Peter McGrail sunk into Brad Foster’s body last weekend couldn’t have been timed any better. The shot caught Foster in the worst possible place at the worst possible time, bringing a swift end to the junior featherweight fight and reminding fans exactly what the 28-year-old Liverpudlian is capable of.

McGrail, an outstanding amateur, has seen his talent overshadowed by fans who quickly began taking his victories for granted. Last December’s shocking loss to the relatively unknown Ja’Rico O’Quinn was a major upset that raised eyebrows.

In April, McGrail (10-1, 6 KOs) returned from the defeat by outpointing the tricky Marc Leach in a comprehensive but cautious manner. He needed an eye-catching result, and he certainly delivered against Foster, a former British and Commonwealth champion who has been struggling lately.

The red ‘L’s’ on a fighter’s BoxRec page don’t allow much room for nuance, failing to capture how closely Foster lost to Jason Cunningham and Rhys Edwards. No one has come remotely close to doing what McGrail did to him.

“I felt it was on the cards, you know what I mean? He’s been body punching well lately in the spars, so it was good,” McGrail’s trainer, Paul Stevenson, told BoxingScene. “It was always going to be quite a hard fight because he [Foster] is good and he’s big at the weight and he's strong. He has good tactics. He’s clever and experienced and no one has done it to him before. And he was up for it.”

With this victory, McGrail has reignited interest in potential matchups against British and European champion Dennis McCann, who has been mandated to defend his titles against McGrail. Given McGrail’s amateur pedigree, the decision was quickly made to fast-track him through the world rankings, focusing on climbing the WBA ladder instead of navigating the British scene.

The prospect of domestic rivalries is suddenly much more appealing for McGrail. Not only would bragging rights be at stake, but fights with McCann and Liam Davies would have implications at the world level.

“With Riyadh Season, you can pay them properly, so it makes sense for everyone. Well, certainly for us,” Stevenson noted. “You can go on the British route, and you can have really hard life-and-death fights for not much advancement in the world rankings, and I’ve just never really loved that as a route.”

Stevenson believes they have the best fighter among the contenders mentioned, and they are willing to pursue whatever route offers the best advancements and finances for McGrail.

As Stevenson alluded to, Riyadh Season is becoming the place to be, and a fight between McGrail—represented by Matchroom—and Queensberry’s McCann appears to be a strong candidate for the next installment of the 5 Vs. 5 series, which pits fighters from promotional giants against each other.

“I don't think they want it. I think he was making a few noises because Pete didn't look on fire in his last fight, and he got beat the one before that,” Stevenson said. “But then, obviously, when he's seen him do that [to Foster], now Dennis McCann's making different noises.”

Regardless of the opponent, McGrail’s team is focused on advancing. “If not them, it'll be someone else. If it's not Saudi, it'll be somewhere else, but we’ll just keep advancing, and Pete can be a world champion in 12 to 18 months. Just see what happens.”

#PeterMcGrail #Boxing #RiyadhSeason #BritishBoxing #WBA

Women's boxing historian Malissa Smith offered her perspective on Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the sport and its implications for female fighters as the country prepares to host another bout featuring women on October 12.

The presence of Riyadh Season in boxing is growing—some are delighted, and some are skeptical. Skye Nicolson and Raven Chapman agreed to fight there in the first women’s title fight, with Nicolson’s WBC featherweight title on the line, marking only the second women's fight in Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol.

Smith is skeptical about the future of women’s boxing on these cards.

“It sometimes feels like a token gesture, like they’re saying, ‘Look, we have women on the card,’ but the bigger picture is concerning,” Smith told BoxingScene. “We’ve seen some women’s bouts, like when Ramla Ali fought on an Anthony Joshua card.”

Smith questioned whether this involvement would genuinely support women’s boxing, expressing concerns that those believing the Saudi Arabian influx of capital could run boxing in the short term might overlook the future of female fighters.

“The Saudis are talking about launching a boxing league, signing major promoters, and putting the sport on the map,” Smith said. “Where are the women in these discussions? This league is all about men. There’s no mention of women at all.”

The world has always been tougher for women, but it’s even harder for those who are fighters. Smith raised concerns about the impact on female fighters.

“What happens when all the top male fighters are fighting under this league, and the women who typically share fight cards with them are left out?” Smith asked. “Will promoters step up and give women their own platforms as main events? I doubt it.”

Reflecting on the broader challenges for women's boxing, Smith pointed to the limited opportunities for marquee female bouts. She noted that the U.S. boxing schedule isn’t the most plentiful in 2024.

“Even with fights like Claressa Shields versus Savannah Marshall, which was one of the most exciting match-ups we’ve seen, getting a rematch has been a struggle,” Smith said. “If promoters cared about women’s boxing, we’d see a woman on every fight card.”

Smith concluded by expressing frustration with the current state of the sport, pointing out that Daniel Dubois stopping Joshua is another missed opportunity for a talented fighter to get a major chance.

“Take Daniel Dubois’ sister Caroline—she’s an incredible talent, a future Hall of Famer, but she wasn’t on the same card as her brother's big fight,” Smith said. “That makes no sense. The truth is, they don’t care about women’s boxing. If they did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” 

#WomensBoxing #SaudiArabia #RiyadhSeason #BoxingHistory #FemaleFighters #BoxingConcerns

LOS ANGELES – Junto Nakatani will defend his WBC 118-pound title for a second time against Petch Sor Chitpattana as the last leg of a two-day Tokyo card featuring a combined seven title fights on ESPN+ on October 14.

A much more meaningful master plan, however, could be there for the taking for Nakatani should the three-division world champion remain undefeated.

Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) co-promoter Top Rank plans to pit the power-punching Japanese southpaw on the undercard of a Naoya Inoue showcase event in the United States next year, followed by a super fight between Inoue and Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.

The undisputed junior featherweight champion Inoue has indicated that Nakatani should first fight his younger brother Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KOs), a bantamweight contender and former 118-pound titlist, before he considers moving up in weight to fight him.

Nakatani agrees with the idea.

"I'm going to do what I have to do for now,” Nakatani told BoxingScene through a translator after a recent training session at the LA Boxing Gym. "If there is a chance, I will. I would like first to fight his brother Takuma and then Naoya.”

The 26-year-old Nakatani believes a fight against the elder, more dominant Naoya, 31, will be the biggest fight in Japanese history.

“TJ Doheny was a high-class opponent in his last fight and Naoya still knocked him out, so we have to give him credit,” said Nakatani. "We're going to try to make that fight happen.”

Nakatani – No. 10 on BoxingScene’s pound-for-pound list – said he considers the four-division champion Inoue the No. 1 P4P fighter in the world.

Nakatani, who is trained by career-long coach Rudy Hernandez in Los Angeles, plans on sticking around at 118 pounds to unify titles in the division and move up to 122 pounds sometime next year once the Inoue fight becomes available.

His ultimate plan is to become a six-division champion by winning additional titles at 122, 126, and 130 pounds. He would even welcome a bout against Jesse Rodriguez in the interim if “Bam” decided to move up to 118 pounds.

But before the mouthwatering matchups can materialize, Nakatani must first step past Sor Chitpattana (76-1, 53 KOs), a 30-year-old southpaw who has fought just once outside of his native Thailand, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Takuma Inoue in 2018 for the WBC interim bantamweight title.

“Sor Chitpattana is a good contender, but I’m focused on training and what I am doing,” said Nakatani. “I feel stronger at 118 pounds since I don't have to cut the extra weight. My speed helps trigger knockouts.”

#NakataniVsSorChitpattana #BoxingTitles #SuperFight #InoueNakatani #WBCChampion #FightNight

Chris Colbert has a plan to become a world champion by moving down in weight to 130lbs.

The Brooklyn native, 28, is scheduled to fight on ProBox TV for the first time against the 24-year-old Omar Salcido Gamez of Mexico in a lightweight contest 10 months after suffering a sixth-round knockout loss to Jose Valenzuela. The defeat by Valenzuela came in the rematch that followed him previously winning a unanimous decision over 10 rounds.

Colbert came close to fighting for the WBA junior-lightweight title against the then-champion Roger Gutierrez in February 2022, but the titleholder pulled out two weeks before fight night due to a positive COVID-19 test. Gutierrez was replaced by the underdog Hector Luis Garcia in what became a WBA 130lbs title eliminator.

In an upset, Garcia dominated the favorite Colbert and won a 12-round unanimous decision via scores of 119-108, 118-109, and 118-109.

Ahead of the fight with Gamez (19-1, 13 KOs), Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs) says he’s ready to prove his worth on his return to the ring.

“I was supposed to have been a world champion if I could afford the guy I was supposed to fight and then take a last-minute replacement, but it's life,” Colbert told BoxingScene.

“Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes in life, they say when you want something, God might not give it to you because you might not know how to handle it when he gives it to you. He’s gonna give it to you when he's ready, and this is just a part of it.

“I'm not complaining. I'm going down in weight to 130 to challenge for honors there.”

Colbert has spent most of his professional career at junior lightweight. His only lightweight outing came in the two fights with Jose Valenzuela. On October 9, he’s billed to face Gamez at 135, but Colbert believes the 130lbs division remains his surest bet at realizing his world-title dream.

“I've been off the ring for too long, and I can’t jump back down just a bit to 130,” he said. “I will be fighting at 135 on October 9 but will surely move down.” 

#ColbertVsGamez #BoxingDreams #MoveTo130 #ProBoxTV #BoxingNews #FutureChampion

An undisputed women’s flyweight bout is set for November 2 in Las Vegas, pitting IBF flyweight titleholder Gabriela Fundora against WBC, WBO, and WBA titlist Gabriela Celeste Alaniz.

The fight was announced on the WBA Boxing website as part of its upcoming schedule.

Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs), 22, from Coachella, California, and the sister of junior middleweight titleholder Sebastian Fundora, will be making her third appearance of the year. She scored a stoppage victory over Christina Cruz in January and followed it with a unanimous decision win against Daniela Asenjo in August.

Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs), 28, from Argentina, unified her titles in April with a split decision win in a rematch against Marlen Esparza. Alaniz avenged a majority decision loss to Esparza in July, securing her belts in Fresno, California. She has not fought since.

Golden Boy Promotions will promote the event, which is expected to land on the undercard of a Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield-Rene Tellez Giron bout. Fundora is signed to Golden Boy, while Alaniz has appeared on Golden Boy cards in her last two outings

#WomenInBoxing #UndisputedChampionship #FlyweightFury #FundoraVsAlaniz #BoxingMatch #GoldenBoyPromotions

ProBox TV CEO Garry Jonas and Jamie Conlan will be working together to bring the ProBox TV ethos of “evenly-matched action fights” to the UK, starting on November 1, with a big show in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Another event will follow a month later in Waterford, Ireland, on December 7, before Jonas and Conlan head to the England and Scotland in 2025.

The first show, at the SSE Arena, sees 18-1 (9 KOs) Irish light heavyweight Padraig McCrory meet Spain-based Colombian Leonard Carrillo, 17-5 (6 KOs), former Irish amateur star Kurt Walker, 11-0 (2 KOs), takes on Rudy Garcia, 13-1 (2 KOs), from Los Angeles, and Liverpool’s Robbie Davies, 23-5 (15 KOs), coming off a 10-round decision loss to Sergey Lipinets on ProBox TV earlier in the year, takes on 38-4-1 (27 KOs) Dominican southpaw Javier Fortuna at junior middleweight.

There is more to come on the bill, and in the future between ProBox TV, a US-based boxing channel that streams globally – and owns BoxingScene – and Conlan Boxing.

“From day one, it’s been in our plans to go to the UK market,” Jonas said. “It’s the home of boxing. These are the best and most knowledgeable fans in the world. The USA may be the best market for the biggest fights due to the sheer population but per Capita the UK is by far the best English speaking boxing market in the world.”

Jonas said the 2025 plans are due to begin in Liverpool, as they then start to make their way through the United Kingdom.

“We are a boxing channel not a promoter,” Jonas explained, “with a very distinct philosophy about the type of fights we make. Evenly matched action fights is what the true fan really wants to see; good fighters in great fights. We don’t back a certain fighter; every fighter has a fair shot to win. We had to seek out a promoter in the UK willing to adhere to these guidelines and we are very pleased to announce that Conlan Boxing will be that promoter for us across the pond. Jamie and Michael Conlan are amongst the best young promoters in Europe, and we are confident they are the right people to help us develop the ProBox TV fight series throughout Europe.” 

Jamie Conlan, former pro and now Conlan Boxing boss, said he had no hesitation linking up with the Florida-based network.

“I’ve been very aware of ProBox TV for a while now,” said Conlan. “Their fortnightly midweek boxing has been constantly impressing me, all-action competitive fights with notable names. So I got to listen to Garry’s vision for moving the ProBox TV model to the UK/Ireland and wider Europe I jumped in. Consistent competitive fights that gave fans value for their money, sign me up.”

It begins on Friday, November 1

“Starting in Belfast with Pody McCrory in a complete shootout with Leonard Carrillo and Robbie Davies Jnr-Javier Fortuna in a real 50/50 crossroads fight, throw in undefeated former Olympian Kurt Walker the toughest test of his career against Rudy Garcia and a rematch of the Irish Fight of the Year in Rudy Farrell vs Conor Kerr, this is a great way to kick off the series in Belfast.

“Then onward to Waterford in December with an intriguing all-Irish affair between Dylan Moran and Tyrone McKenna.”

Conlan said there are plans in place “to move hot and heavy next year” with the new collaboration targeting monthly shows, producing “a steady stream of competitive fights that everyone will appreciate.”

For those wanting to tune in on November 1, the ProBox TV app is available in all app stores and also on smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku – and it’s free. Visit probotv.com for more details.

Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai faced off today at the launch press conference of their November 30 fight in Birmingham.

The contest, which will be held at the Resorts World Arena, will be for the WBC interim flyweight title, with the winner fighting for the vacant title in 2025. Edwards and Yafai are familiar foes, having shared the ring with each other 10 years ago as amateurs and spending years on the GB squad sparring countless rounds.  

Since the pair's first meeting a decade ago, both men have been on a collision course. Edwards took the professional route and picked up the IBF title with a standout win over Moruti Mthalane, while Yafai stuck around on the GB setup and won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“People don’t really know but we fought 10 years ago, this has been bubbling for years,” Yafai said. “He went on to win a world title, I went on to win Olympic gold. We both did our bit, and we are here now at a crossroads. Trust me, I don’t want to lose to Sunny Edwards, and he doesn’t want to lose to Galal Yafai.”  

Edwards believes that it is the experience that both men have picked up since they last fought has prepared them for such an occasion and after sharing the ring countless times in sparring, believes the fans are in for a treat on November 30.  

“We’ve both spent the last decade going around the world and facing the best challengers,” Edwards said. “I don’t fear losing, I don’t fear the harm another person can do to my body – especially not someone my size. Galal is probably one of the best and has been for a few years now. He’s shown that he’s taken the pro game like a duck to water.

“My footwork, my IQ, my decision making, my engine, my activity during rounds [will win me this fight],” he continued. “I’m very hard to win rounds against. He’s a fantastic fighter, and operator. The best thing about this fight is it’s going to give the fans something to watch back. The only fight that I’ve had is when I lost against Bam [Rodriguez]. I’m trying to have that fight worth watching back that I win. Against Galal we just start having it out straight away, we’re never too far away from each other.”  

Yafai was asked what the fans could expect from the fight after sharing the ring with Edwards in sparring over the years and agreed with his rival that the fight would deliver an entertaining affair.

“If anyone has seen the spars, they know it’s a proper fight,” Yafai replied. “This is no bullshit fight. I know we’re flyweights, we’re small and people don’t care as much about our weights. But this is a proper fight, I’ve not come to lie down and take the money and run.  

“I’m stubborn. Do you think I’m going to let Sunny come to Birmingham and run rings around me? Do you think he’s going to let me pressure him and beat him up? It ain’t going to happen. We’re both going to do what we can to win.”  

During Yafai and Edwards’ time on the GB squad their rivalry first took shape. Yafai was selected to fight in a 2016 Olympic qualifier ahead of Edwards, a decision Edwards believes GB head coach and Yafai’s now trainer, Rob McCracken, made because of external factors and not based on talent. Yafai would go on to qualify for the 2016 Olympics and eventually win a gold medal at Tokyo 2020.

“My questions [of the decision] was never whether Galal was good enough or should have gone or shouldn’t of,” said Edwards. “My questions were more about the system. The same person who was training his brother [Kal Yafai] was making the decision about who got to go where and when during the Olympics, to qualifiers, and whatnot.

“It’s also the same person who’s negotiating with Eddie Hearn about this fight and the same person who’s going to be in the ring on fight night and they’re still training in the same gym. To me, it just seems like the game is a bit skewed.”

“It paid off, I won gold,” Yafai jokingly responded.

#SunnyEdwards #GalalYafai #EdwardsYafai #WBCFlyweight #FlyweightTitle #BoxingShowdown #OlympicGold #IBFChampion #BoxingRivals #ResortsWorldArena #BirminghamBoxing #UKBoxing #BoxingLife #FightNight #BoxingNews

It was the best New Year’s Eve ever. Chris van Heerden and his lady, Ksenia Karelina, were in Istanbul, not just celebrating 2024’s arrival, but a love that had blossomed in the previous months. It’s not easy in this day and age, but the couple was happy.

Van Heerden, then 36, was on the verge of retirement, thinking about one more fight after a loss in April 2022 to Conor Benn, and for Ksenia’s 33 rd birthday he bought her a ticket to see her family in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

By January, all good thoughts of their time in Turkey had vanished when she was arrested. The charge? Treason. The reason? She made a $50 donation to a New York-based charity aiding Ukraine.

The sentence? Twelve years in a Russian penal colony.

It’s been the nightmare neither of them has been able to wake up from.

“I think, ‘What world am I living in?’” Van Heerden told BoxingScene. “How did everything go from being so amazing? We were together for New Year's in Istanbul, and we had the best couple of days there as a couple. And it was magical. And now I catch myself and I say, is this a dream? What am I living right now? What are the chances? I'm just a boxer. I'm not into politics. I'm not into any of that. What are the chances that I'm living this dream?”

It baffles the mind, but it not making sense doesn’t help resolve the situation in a positive manner. So Van Heerden has done the only thing he knows – he fights. And the fight now is to get Karelina declared wrongfully detained on the United States side. Once that happens, she becomes a priority when and if there’s a prisoner swap between the US and Russia, and the hope is that her status gets upgraded as soon as possible.

“We've met all the criteria, and right now I'm in conversation with the State Department and they say, ‘Okay, we need nothing else from you,’” said Van Heerden.

So now, they wait. 

“Right now, we've done everything,” he said. “All I need to do is pray, and all we need is just to share what I share on my social media and keep this story alive. That's the best thing we can do.”

As for Karelina, a dual citizen, her sentence was appealed, so she hasn’t been transferred to the penal colony yet, and she is able to receive visits from her family and letters from Van Heerden.

“We can write letters to each other twice a month,” he said. “So I write a letter to the prison, they read it, they scan it, they give it to her, she writes back, they read it, they scan it, they send it back to me.”

Any way you slice it, it’s a horrible way to have a relationship, and with everything going on, it sped up Van Heerden’s decision to retire in August.

“I wanted to have one more fight this year, but a big part of why I retired is because this is the toughest fight I've been in, fighting for this girl's freedom,” he said. “It's taking so much of my time, it's taking so much of my energy that I have no time to really focus on boxing right now. I just don't. Someone is depending on me, and I'm in a tough fight right now, but it’s one I'm very confident we're going to win, and soon we'll celebrate and soon she'll be back, and we'll be able to share our story. It's a beautiful love story.” 

Van Heerden tries to stay positive, but it’s a situation where he’s helpless to solve this on his own. It’s the same thing as when his father, Daniel, was tragically murdered in 2018. He fights on, though, putting his own grief to the side in order to push forward. And it’s given him a drive he hasn’t had since 2018.

“Every single day, I have something to do, emails to get back to, I'm on a call with either the state department or my team,” he said. “I'm busy fighting for this girl’s freedom. When I lost my father, I lost my fire. I lost my passion. I lost my will to win. I lost my love for boxing, but I still went on fighting. Now when I lost to Conor Benn in 2022, I made peace with it. I said, ‘You know what? I'm 35 years old, I don't want to do this. I’m not lying to everyone’. And I woke up every single morning and I asked myself, what is my purpose? 

“Fast forward to January 27th when my girlfriend was arrested. I wake up every single morning with a purpose now. I'm alive. I'm fighting for someone's freedom. It's a horrible situation, but I'm alive and I feel like I have a purpose and that is, I got to get this girl out. And then people say, but Chris, how much can you do? Let me tell you how much I'm doing. I am literally the one guy that can help getting Ksenia out.” 

That’s because, as of last week, there’s been no contact with her by US officials, despite Karelina having been a citizen of the United States since 2021.

“Russia does not recognize the dual citizenship,” said Van Heerden. “Russia says she's not an American because she's Russian, and they are blocking all Americans to see her. So, the State Department, the White House, they get the information from me because I am in contact with her lawyer and I'm in contact with her mom and dad every day. I am literally the guy in the middle connecting these dots and it's exhausting. But, like I said, I feel more alive and I have a purpose.” 

As for Karelina, Van Heerden recognizes that there were, understandably, some rough moments over the past several months, but now she’s optimistic that this nightmare will eventually be coming to an end. Once she gets that wrongfully detained status, then it could just be a matter of a phone call with little notice that says a swap is taking place. And the couple is hopeful that the call comes sooner rather than later, making New Year’s 2025 even better than 2024.

“I’ve got fight in me, and I know I'm going to push through it,” said Van Heerden. “And I believe that, at the end of the day, we're going to have something to celebrate and that some good will come out of it. I believe it.” 

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