Emiliano Vargas’ candidacy for Prospect of the Year gained a sharp boost Friday in the complete, varied showing he produced in knocking out Ireland’s Larry Fryers in the fifth round.

Vargas (12-0, 10 KOs) flashed skill not expected from a 20-year-old, including a big, stinging right hand, speedy punching delivery in both hands and relentless attention to the body and head.

“I was having success with the body shots,” he said. “I had to mix it up. I want to finish guys, but you can’t just go for it.”

An effective left uppercut helped bloody Fryers’ nose by the third round, and Vargas’ body punching set up combinations to the head that drained Fryers’ aggression and widened the scoring disparity.

Fryers began to bleed under the left eye in the fourth thanks to the ongoing barrage. If Vargas is still developing his knockout power, he has compensated with a varied attack and activity, which left Fryers pained by the body blows.

In the fifth, the knockout arrived from a right and left to the body followed by a punishing left hand to the side of the head that caused the referee to quickly wave the bout over.

“Those Irish guys are like Mexicans,” Vargas said. “They come with everything.”

The son of former champion Fernando Vargas, Emiliano Vargas said the night was nearly a complete success because he fought how he strives to.

“Never boring,” Vargas said. “What an amazing feeling to come out this early in my career and have this kind of night.”

Vargas did hurt his right hand because of all the landed punches.

“Gotta do what you gotta do to win. I’m a fighter,” he said. “Getting the experience … I’ve got to go through this test. There’s no book, no how-to video. You’ve got to go in and do it, get hit with a couple shots and experience things. This was one of my best fights, action-packed. I’m very excited.”

Following a stunning earlier undercard knockout of Top Rank prospect Alan Garcia by Spanish journeyman Ricardo Fernandez, the junior lightweight knockout victory that followed by the Philippines’ Charly Suarez over Texas’ Jorge Castaneda was anticlimactic.

Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) knocked down Castaneda (17-4) earlier in the third round before finishing him with another potent right hand at the 2:22 mark of the third.     

Junior lightweight DJ Zamora of Las Vegas showed why he’s tagged with the moniker “The War Machine,” artfully setting up repeated discouraging left hands thrown from the southpaw stance to defeat Gerardo Antonio Perez by unanimous decision scores of 80-72, 80-72, 79-73.

Argentina’s Perez (12-6-1) opened the third round with aggression that Zamora (14-0) weathered, returning to his effective pose. The success Perez experienced encouraged him to maintain his pressure, and he landed a head-jarring uppercut in the fourth.

But Zamora was more attentive to defense, defusing the impact of the slugfest Perez openly accepted. Zamora’s combinations to close the eighth were defining, and the pair embraced following the fun eight rounds, each raising an arm to the thankful crowd.

Junior bantamweight Steven Navarro of Los Angeles battered Oscar Arroyo with a merciless combination of head shots to induce a third-round technical knockout stoppage 2 minutes, 35 seconds into the round.

The 20-year-old Navarro (4-0, 2 KOs) first landed rapid-handed head shots to knock down Arroyo in the first half of the first round, then wobbled him again with power punches from the left-handed stance.

A combination capped by a right hand and power left to the top of the head dropped Virginia’s Arroyo (3-3) again near the close of the second.

Mexico’s Jorge Garcia Perez (31-4, 26 KOs) needed only 46 seconds to finish Germany’s Ilias Essaoudi (22-3), smashing him in the left side with a right hand. As Essaoudi grimaced in pain, Perez added two hard head shots to trigger the stoppage in the super middleweight bout.

Perez and a cornerman both said they believed Essaoudi broke a rib.

Tijuana’s Sebastian Hernandez (17-0, 16 KOs) punished Venezuela’s Yonfrez Parejo (24-7-1) through four rounds, forcing Parejo’s corner to stop the junior featherweight fight after four rounds.

#EmilianoVargas #LarryFryers #Boxing #BoxingNews #TopRank #Knockout 

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez may be said to be ducking David Benavidez, but the respected trainer Robert Garcia believes the super-middleweight king can do without him.

Alvarez, 34, successfully defended his WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight belts against Edgar Berlanga last Saturday, with a dominant unanimous decision win at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Alvarez-Berlanga fight reportedly recorded significant numbers despite many criticizing the match-up. Mexico’s Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) disappointed many observers by fighting Berlanga of Puerto Rico (22-1, 17 KOs) rather than Benavidez.

But Garcia believes Alvarez has continuously proved that he’s the face of boxing with incredible pay-per-view numbers irrespective of the opponent he fights.

“That just tells you, Canelo is a superstar,” he told FightHub TV. “He's the face of boxing right now. People kinda tease him about his choice of opponents, but when you look at the buys, when you look at the gate, does it look like he's kinda found the sweet spot? He doesn't give a fuck.

“He doesn't care. We would all love to see him fight Benavidez, but he doesn't have to. He's still doing great numbers with whoever he picks.”

The yet-to-be-staged bout between Alvarez and Benavidez has long been considered the most exciting the Mexican could agree to. With disappointment in his eyes, Benavidez moved up to 175lbs to fight Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June.

It is unclear if Alvarez would consider offering Benavidez an opportunity to fight him next – especially when the name of Terence Crawford keeps emerging as a potential opponent at 168lbs.

When asked who he thinks Alvarez should fight next, Garcia compared ‘Canelo’ to Floyd Mayweather, saying: “Mayweather was in that position too where no matter who he fights or who he does an exhibition with, he's still gonna do good numbers. 

“So, there's very few that could do that, and Canelo's one of them.”

#CaneloAlvarez #RobertGarcia #DavidBenavidez #EdgarBerlanga #SuperMiddleweight #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #FightFans #Mexico #FloydMayweatherJr

Throughout the month, we keep track of the rankings put forth by the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO. Those rankings can be found here .

Starting this month, we’ll more closely examine:

Who rose in the rankings?

Who dropped? 

Who’s new?

Who’s out? 
 

HEAVYWEIGHT

Aslanbek Makhmudov

Last month: #9

This month: off

Reason: Makhmudov lost to Guido Vianello in August.

Repercussions: Everyone formerly below Makhmudov moved up one slot, including Luis Ortiz (now #10), Otto Wallin (#11), Deontay Wilder (#12), Andy Ruiz (#13) and Jared Anderson (#14).

Guido Vianello

Last month: #34

This month: #15

Reason: Defeated Makhmudov in August
 

CRUISERWEIGHT

Mairis Briedis

Last month: #4

This month: off

Reason: Briedis has retired

Repercussions: Three fighters formerly below Briedis moved up one slot, including Brandon Glanton (now #4), Arsen Goulamirian (#5) and Richard Riakporhe (#6).

Cheavon Clarke

Last month: #14

This month: #7

Reason: Defeated Efetobor Apochi in August.

Repercussions: With Clarke departing the #14 slot, that moved Joe Smith up from #15 to #14 and brought in Mike Perez at #15.

Yves Ngabu

Last month: #10

This month: #8

Possible reason: No clue. Ngabu last fought in June.

Repercussions: Two fighters were pushed down a lot: Ilunga Makabu (now #9) and Mchunu (now #10).

Jack Massey

Last month: #13

This month: off

Reason: Massey will be fighting for the IBF title in October against Jai Opetaia. Sanctioning bodies don’t tend to keep fighters ranked when they’re competing for belts from other organizations.

Mateusz Masternak

Last month: #18

This month: #13

Possible reason: No clue why Masternak leapfrogged the other cruiserweights ahead of him to take this spot. He last fought in April.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Albert Ramirez

Last month: #4

This month: #2

Reason: Defeated Adam Deines in August

Repercussions: Two fighters were pushed down a slot: Callum Smith (now #3) and Anthony Yarde (#4).

Imam Khataev

Last month: #14

This month: #12

Reason: Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna in early September.

Repercussions: Strangely, Jesse Hart went from #12 to #14 while Yunior Menendez remained at #13.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT

Diego Pacheco

Last month: #4

This month: #3

Reason: Pacheco defeated Maciej Sulecki in August.

Repercussions: Because of Pacheco and Edgar Berlanga (see below), Kevin Lele Sadjo was dropped from the #3 slot down to #6, even though Osleys Iglesias retained the #5 slot. Also, Erik Bazinyan was pushed from #6 to #7.

Edgar Berlanga

Last month: #8

This month: #4

Reason: The WBC apparently rewarded Berlanga for his September loss to Canelo Alvarez.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko

This month: #10

Reason: Lost to Christian Mbilli in August.

Repercussions: Luka Plantic (now #8) and Lester Martinez (#9) each moved up one slot.

Vladimir Shishkin

Last month: #11

This month: off

Reason: Shishkin will be fighting for the IBF title in October against William Scull. Sanctioning bodies don’t tend to keep fighters ranked when they’re competing for belts from other organizations.

Repercussions: Bektemir Melikuziev was moved up from #13 to #11. Strangely, Demetrius Andrade remained in the #12 slot. With the #13 spot open, Ali Akhmedov entered the ratings, moving up from #16.

Serhat Guler

This month: out of the top 15 (now #24)

Reason: Guler lost in September to Martin Ezequiel Bulacio.

Repercussions: Shakeel Phinn (previously #18) was moved into this spot.

William Scull
 

This month: off

Reason: Scull will be fighting for the IBF title in October against Vladimir Shishkin. Sanctioning bodies don’t tend to keep fighters ranked when they’re competing for belts from other organizations.

Repercussions: Ihovsany Rafael Garcia was moved up from #19 to #15.
 

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Maciej Sulecki

Last month: #6

This month: out of the top 15, instead ranked at super middleweight at #18

Reason: Sulecki lost to super middleweight Diego Pacheco in August

Repercussions: Two fighters moved up one slot: Austin Williams (now #6) and Etinosa Oliha (#7), and without winning or losing a fight, Tyler Denny was moved from #10 to #8, bypassing the person in the #9 slot (see below).

Yoenli Hernandez

Last month: #12

This month: #9

Reason: Hernandez defeated Jose Sanchez Charles in September.

Repercussions: Bilal Jkitou went from #9 to #10, while four fighters moved up one slot: Troy Usley (now #12), Kyrone Davis (#13), Terrell Gausha (#14) and Julian Williams #15).

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT

Erickson Lubin

Last month: #7

This month: #11

Possible reason: Uncertain. Lubin hasn’t fought since his September 2023 win over Jesus Ramos (currently #5 on this list). Ramos since fought in May, defeating Johan Gonzalez.

Ermal Hadribeaj

Last month: #12

This month: #10

Reason: Hadribeaj defeated Younes Zarraa in September.

Repercussions: With this, and with Lubin arriving at #11, Josh Kelly dropped one spot to #12.

Brandon Adams

Last month: #17

This month: #14

Reason: Adams defeated Francisco Daniel Veron in August.

Repercussions: Takeshi Inoue was dropped one slot (now #15) and Jorge Garcia was moved out of the top 15 to #16.

WELTERWEIGHT

Jin Sasaki

Last month: #5

This month: #4

Reason: Sasaki defeated Qamil Balla in September.

Roman Villa

Last month: #9

This month: off

Reason: Villa was knocked out by Ricardo Salas Rodriguez in September

Repercussions: Five fighters moved up one slot into the #9-13 spots: Alexis Rocha, Giovani Santillan, Thulani Mbenge, David Avanesyan and David Papot.

Karen Chukhadzhian

Last month: #15

This month: off

Reason: Chukhadzhian has been named the IBF’s mandatory challenger.

Repercussions: Paddy Donovan moved up from #16 into the vacant #14 spot, while Aram Amirkhanyan went from #19 to #15.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT

Jose Angel Rosa

This month: #11

Reason: Rosa defeated Jovanni Straffon in August.

Repercussions: Three fighters were pushed down one slot: Pierce O’Leary (now #12), Regis Prograis (#13) and Michel Rivera (#14).

LIGHTWEIGHT

Isaac Cruz Jr.

Last month: off

This month: #4

Reason: With Cruz losing his WBA junior welterweight title in August, the WBC is now willing to rank him.

Repercussions: Several fighters each moved down a spot. From #5 to #10, we now have: Edwin De Los Santos, Mark Chamberlain, Andy Cruz, Zaur Abdullaev, Frank Martin and Gustavo Lemos. Meanwhile, Antonio Perez was dropped for some reason from #10 to #12, while Sam Noakes remained static at #11. 

Claudio Daneff

Last month: #12

This month: out of the top 15 (now #21)

Reason: Daneff lost to Khariton Agrba in September up at junior welterweight. But with Perez arriving at #12, the fighters below Daneff remained in the same positions.

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT

Mauricio Lara

This month: #13

Possible reason: Lara defeated a 11-12-1 opponent named Pedro Alejandro Delgado in August.

Repercussions: Albert Bell went from #13 to #14.
 

FEATHERWEIGHT

Stephen Fulton

This month: #4

Reason: Fulton won a close fight with Carlos Castro in September.

Repercussions: Pushed down one slot were Nathaniel Collins (now #5) and Castro (#6).

Joet Gonzalez

Last month: #6

This month: off

Possible reason: Gonzalez hasn’t fought in a year.

Repercussions: With Gonzalez gone from #6 and Fulton leaving the #7 slot, two fighters moved up one slot: Ruben Villa (now #7) and Reiya Abe (#8).

Victor Morales

Last month: #10

This month: #14

Possible reason: Morales hasn’t fought in a year.

Repercussions: With the other movements mentioned above, three fighters moved up two slots to occupy #9-11: Keisuke Matsumoto, Mirco Cuello and Tomoki Kameda.

Lerato Dlamini

Last month: #14

This month: out of the top 15 (now #16)

Reason: Dlamini lost a split decision to Kameda.

Repercussions: Omar Trinidad, previously #15, went up through the vacant slots to #12. Two other fighters moved into the top 15: Cristobal Lorente went from #17 to #13 and Luca Rigoldi went from #16 to #15.

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT

TJ Doheny

Last month: #7

This month: #15

Reason: Doheny lost to Naoye Inoue in September.

Repercussions: John Riel Casimero went from #8 to #7.
 

Toshiki Shimomachi

Last month: #10

This month: #8

Reason: Shimomachi defeated Ryuya Tsugawa in September.

Repercussions: Three fighters moved into the #10-12 spots: Jose Israel Ramirez, Dennis McCann and Fadhili Majiha.

Kazuki Nakajima

This month: #13

Reason: Nakajima defeated Shingo Wake in August

BANTAMWEIGHT

Seiya Tsutsumi

Last month: #10

Reason: Tsutsumi will be fighting Takuma Inoue for the WBA title in October.

Repercussions: Three fighters moved into the #10-12 slots: Charlie Edwards, Landi Ngxeke and Saul Sanchez.

Daigo Higa

Last month: off

This month #13

Reason: Having lost his WBO title fight in September to Yoshiki Takei, Higa is able to be ranked by the WBC again.

Other random movements: Riku Masuda went from #16 to #14 despite his last fight being in July, which pushed Victor Reyes (now #15) and Paul Butler (#16).

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT

Ricardo Malajika

Last month: #7

This month: #5

Reason: Malajika defeated Yanga Sigqibo in August.

Repercussions: Dropped one slot each were Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (now #6) and Argi Cortes (#7).
 

Phumelele Cafu

Reason: Cafu will fight Kosei Tanaka for the WBO title in October.

Kenbun Torres

Last month: #17

This month: #12

Reason: Torres defeated KJ Cataraja by split decision in August.
 

Yanga Sigqibo

Last month: #14

This month: off

Reason: Sigqibo lost to Malajika in August.

KJ Cataraja
 

Last month: #15

This month: out of the top 15, now #16

Reason: Cataraja lost a split decision to Torres in August.

Other random movements: Amid all of the above, Rene Calixto Bibiano went from #16 to #13, John “Scrappy” Ramirez went from #18 to #14 and Willibaldo Garcia went from #13 to #15.

FLYWEIGHT

Thananchai Charunphak

Last month: #7

This month: off

Reason: Charunphak will challenge Seigo Yuri Akui in October for the WBA title.

Tobias Reyes

Last month: #14

This month: #10

Reason: Reyes defeated Jackson Zapata in September.

Repercussions: With #14 open, Jay Harris moved up one spot, which allowed Juan Carlos Camacho to step in at #15.

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT

Shokichi Iwata, Jairo Noriega and Masamichi Yabuki

Last month: #3, #6 and #5, respectively

This month: off

Reason: Iwata and Jairo Noriega will fight for the vacant WBO belt in October, while Yabuki will challenge Sivenathi Nontshinga for the IBF title in October.

Repercussions: These three vacancies pushed everyone up in the rankings. #3-15 now are Erick Rosa, Thanongsak Simsri, Erik Badillo, Regie Suganob, Junior Zarate, Ivan Garcia, Toshiki Kawamitsu, Elwin Soto, Christian Arenta, Kyosuke Takami, Jayson Vayson, Azael Villar and Adrian Curiel.

MINIMUMWEIGHT

Daniel Valladares

This month: #10

Possible reasons: Perhaps this is because Valladares hasn’t fought at 105 since his October 2023 loss to Ginjiro Shigeoka, with two appearances since coming at flyweight. Given other movements listed below, that pushed four fighters into the #11-14 spots: Yuni Takada, Wilfredo Mendez, Vic Saludar and Jake Amparo.
 

Siyakholwa Kuse

Last month: #9

This month: #7

Reason: Kuse defeated Malakhi Sobolo in August.

Alex Winwood

This month: #8

Reason: With Winwood’s majority decision loss in September to WBA titleholder Thammanoon

Niyomtrong, the WBC has opted to rank Winwood again.

Repercussions: Goki Kobayashi was pushed from #8 to #9.

Garen Diagan

Last month: #14

This month: off

Possible reason: Diagan hasn’t fought since an August 2023 loss to Oscar Collazo.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod . He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast . David’s book, “ Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing ,” is available on Amazon.

#WBC #BoxingRankings #Heavyweight #BoxingNews #Cruiserweight #BoxingFans #BoxingUpdates #IBF #BoxingChampions #FightNight #Lightweight #Flyweight #JuniorBantamweight #Sports #News

Jaron “Boots” Ennis will defend his IBF welterweight title in a rematch with his mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9, when Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez will defend his WBC super-flyweight title against Pedro Guevara.

Ennis stopped David Avanesyan to make the first defence of his title in July at the Wells Fargo Center in his home city of Philadelphia, and he will return to the same venue for his rematch with Ukraine’s Chukhadzhian, 28 and who he eased to victory over in January 2023. 

Rodriguez in June stopped Juan Francisco Estrada to enhance his reputation as one of the world’s finest fighters; his fight with Guevara will be used to build the appeal of the match-up between Ennis and Chukhadzhian that Ennis and promoters Matchroom had hoped to avoid.

“I’m excited to be back headlining in my city again,” said the 27-year-old Ennis. “I’m ready to continue dominating the division, making a big statement and showing everyone why I’m the best welterweight in the world. 

“It’s time to have some fun, keep crushing whoever is in front of me, put on a beautiful, dominant, crushing performance in front of my family, friends and supporters, while defending and retaining my title in spectacular fashion. It’s my time.”

“I will have enough time to prepare and show a beautiful and spectacular fight,” said Chukhadzhian. “Champ, get ready for the battle, it will be hot.”

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn had hoped to deliver for the talented Ennis a unification fight with Brian Norman Jnr, who defends his WBO title against Derrieck Cuevas on November 8. 

“On November 9 tune in to DAZN, get your tickets and witness another exciting performance,” said Rodriguez, 24. “My belts aren’t going anywhere.”

Guevara is nine years Rodriguez’s senior, and he said: “I am very happy to have this opportunity to fight Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

“I am telling you right away that I am going to prepare to put on a war and a great show and to win on November 9 in Philadelphia. I am going with everything and for everything, Viva Mexico and Viva Mazatlan, Sinaloa.”

“Boots’ return to Philly in July was a spectacular night, the fans and the city got right behind him, and I can’t wait to return there and keep building this superstar on his doorstep,” said Hearn, who also recently agreed promotional terms with Shakur Stevenson.

“And what can you say about Bam? His win over Estrada will be one of the performances of the year when the awards are handed out, and he rightly landed in the top five of the pound-for-pound list after it. Jesse is a bonafide superstar in his own right, so to have him join Jaron on this card is a massive treat for Philly’s great fight fans – and there’s plenty more great talents to be added to a night that is not to be missed.”

There was a time when the phrase “British heavyweight” was universally accompanied, at least on the western side of the Atlantic, with the adjective “horizontal”: a barbed reference to British boxers’ repeated failures for almost a century to come close to the biggest prize in sports.

Since 1992, however, five Britons have held at least a share of the heavyweight crown (eight if the brief periods in which Michael Bentt, Henry Akinwande and Herbie Hide held the-then generally disregarded WBO belt are included). When Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois meet at Wembley Stadium this Saturday, September 21 st , it will be the latest chapter in a period in which British boxers have, alongside those from Ukraine, largely dominated the heavyweight scene.

Unsurprisingly, then, any list of the Top 10 British heavyweights of all time includes multiple representatives of this golden age, alongside others who flew the flag with varying degrees of success in the decades before British heavyweights forced the world to take them seriously. 

With apologies to Akinwande, Bentt and Hide (and to Dubois, Joe Joyce, Brian London, Gary Mason, Dillian Whyte, and others who don’t make the cut), here is one man’s list of the Top 10 heavyweights from the sceptered isle.

Don Cockell (66-14-1, 38 KOs)

After losing to Randolph Turpin, conqueror and victim of Sugar Ray Robinson, in a fight for the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles in 1952, Cockell moved up to heavyweight and soon ascended the rankings. Victories over Roland LaStarza and Harry “Kid” Matthews put him in line for a world title shot against Rocky Marciano, which took place in San Francisco on May 16, 1955. Cockell lost via ninth-round knockout; he would fight twice more – both times losing by knockout – before retiring. 
 

Tommy Farr (88-34-19, 25 KOs)

After a slow start to his career, with losses almost as frequent as wins, the “Tonypandy Terror” eventually found his feet; a spell of 17-0-2 between May 1935 and June 1937 included wins over Tommy Loughran and Max Baer and earned him a shot at champion Joe Louis. Prior to facing Farr on August 30 1937, Louis had knocked out eight of nine; subsequently, he would stop seven in a row. Farr, however, went the distance, and although referee Arthur Donovan awarded the champion 13 rounds, the other two judges saw it as a much closer contest.

David Haye (28-4, 26 KOs)

While Haye’s heavyweight career couldn’t match his excellence at cruiserweight, and the injury-riddled denouement to his time in the ring was disappointing, Haye’s best performances – including wins over Nicolay Valuev, Derek Chisora, John Ruiz, and Audley Harrison – were notable and frequently electric and earned him a share of the world title.

Henry Cooper (40-14-1, 25 KOs)

Cooper’s finest and most famous moment came when he decked and badly hurt a young Cassius Clay, only to lose on cuts. (His paper-thin skin also let him down in a rematch.) He was twice European champion and held the British and Commonwealth titles from 1959 to 1971, losing them controversially by a quarter of a point to Joe Bugner in what would be the final bout of Cooper’s career.
 

Frank Bruno (40-5, 38 KOs)

Along with Cooper and Ricky Hatton, probably the most beloved British boxer in modern history. Fell short in his first two attempts at a world title, falling to Tim Witherspoon and Mike Tyson, before outpointing Oliver McCall to win the WBC belt that McCall had ripped away from Lennox Lewis. Lost the belt in his first defense against a comebacking Tyson and retired.

Joe Bugner (69-13-1, 43 KOs)

Bugner’s relatively cautious style, combined with the controversy of his win over the popular Cooper, meant the Hungary-born boxer was never really embraced by the British public. But he was consistently ranked in the Top 10 in the 1970s Golden Era of Heavyweight Boxing, going the distance (twice) with Muhammad Ali and, in an atypically exciting bout, Joe Frazier. Retired and un-retired multiple times before hanging up the gloves for the final tine in 1999, aged 49.

Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs, still active)

After a relatively brief amateur career, Joshua took gold at the 2012 London Olympics and immediately became one of the faces of British boxing.  Won the IBF belt in February 2016 and unified it with a thrilling 11 th round TKO of Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium in November of that year. A shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2018, although avenged, appeared to knock the confidence out of him, and two losses to Oleksander Usyk cast doubt on his future as a top contender. But, since joining forces with trainer Ben Davison, he looks to have returned to his best form, which he will be aiming to continue against Dubois.

Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs, still active)

Like Joshua, Fury is still writing his colorful and controversial story and it is anyone’s guess where on this list he may reside when it is finally complete. Shocked the world with a win over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 to become lineal heavyweight champion, but did not fight again for two and a half years in the midst of mental health struggles, massive weight gain, and a pair of failed drug tests. Returned in 2018 and, later that year, climbed off the canvas to draw with Deontay Wilder, whom he subsequently defeated by stoppage twice.  Along with Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, one of only three boxers to twice be recognized as heavyweight champion by The Ring . Lost his crown to Oleksander Usyk earlier this year and will be aiming to retrieve it in December.

Bob Fitzsimmons (74-8-3, 30 NDs, 67 KOs)

The lightest man ever to be heavyweight champion, “Ruby Robert” weighed just 167 pounds when he knocked out Jim Corbett in March 1897 to become the man who beat the man who beat the man and claim the nascent heavyweight championship of the world. He lost the crown to James Jeffries two years later and then picked up the light-heavyweight belt to go with the middleweight and heavyweight titles he had already claimed. Regarded as one of the hardest punchers pound-for-pound in history and famed for his patented “solar plexus” punch.

Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs)

Arguably not just Britain’s greatest ever heavyweight but its best fighter, period, Lewis was born in London, moving at age 12 to Canada, for whom he won gold at the 1988 Olympics. Returning to the UK to turn professional, he was retroactively awarded the WBC belt after knocking out Razor Ruddock in October 1992, when title holder Riddick Bowe refused to defend against him. Shockingly lost to McCall in 1994, but regained his belt from his conqueror three years later when McCall suffered an emotional breakdown in the ring. Became undisputed champion with a win over Evander Holyfield in 1999, lost the title to and regained it from Hasim Rahman in 2002, and concluded his career with stoppages of Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko before retiring in February 2004 having beaten every opponent he ever faced.

#BritishBoxing #UKBoxing #Heavyweights #GOAT #LennoxLewis #BobFitszsimmons #TysonFury #AnthonyJoshua #JoeBugner #FrankBruno #HeneyCooper #DavidHaye #TommyFarr #DonCockell 

Anthony Joshua reminded Daniel Dubois of his sense of ambition when they weighed in for Saturday’s IBF heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium.

In front of a crowd that lightly booed Dubois at London’s Trafalgar Square, they spoke for the final time before their arrivals at Wembley on Saturday evening for the occasion that represents the biggest fight of Dubois’ career and one that could end Joshua’s at the highest level.

Plans exist for the 34-year-old Joshua to finally fight Tyson Fury should he succeed in dethroning Dubois, but if he loses to the IBF champion on the occasion of his first title defence, unlike after successive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua’s career would prove difficult to rebuild.

They had to be separated when the first came face to face to promote Saturday’s fight and the less experienced Dubois, 27 and increasingly recognised as dangerous, has never once appeared intimidated.

He, similarly, seemed unconcerned about Joshua’s status as favourite with the crowd that was present, but after weighing in narrowly heavier than his fellow Londoner, Joshua told DAZN: “I’m not a warrior in the garden yet. I’m not a warrior in the garden yet. I’m still on the battlefield. I’m not smelling any roses yet – just blood. 

“I look at myself as a gladiator and I’m about to step into an arena tomorrow to perform for the people who love to see blood, guts and glory. I’m pumped and I’m ready to perform for the people.”

Dubois – who despite his status as champion weighed in first – was described as “tense” by Joseph Parker, among Joshua’s former opponents, and his trainer Don Charles was again absent, but he said: “I’m ready to fight. It’s time to get in the ring and fight. Let’s go.

“We’ve been working hard. All I can say is I’m ready to fight.

“A lot of work’s gone into this. I’m just ready to go. The talking’s done.”

Willy Hutchinson had by then appeared the most confident of each of those scheduled to fight at Wembley, ahead of what represents his toughest fight, at light heavyweight against Joshua Buatsi.

Josh Warrington and Anthony Cacace, who will fight at super featherweight, were involved in a heating shouting match, and the lightweights Mark Chamberlain and Josh Padley exchanged shoves. 

#AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #WillyHutchinson #JoshWarrington #AnthonyCacace #WemblyStadium #JoshuaBuatsi #Heavyweights #MarkChamberlain #JoshPadley

Boxing is arguably as hot as it has ever been at the moment due to the number of huge fights that are occuring, and WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has named who he feels will be the future of the sport.

There have been plenty of massive bouts that have taken place over the last couple of years including Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence, and Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia.

Another big fight will be held tomorrow night at Wembley Stadium, as Anthony Joshua challenges Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title.

While Daniel may be the current member of the Dubois family in the spotlight, WBC President Sulaiman has heaped praise Daniel’s sister Caroline, after presenting her with the interim WBC lightweight title this week, alongside boxing legend Lennox Lewis.

Sulaiman said: “I’m extremely proud, I’m so happy, so excited. She is the future of boxing. A role model inside and outside the ring and today is a very special day for me to be able to present her with the green and gold belt in person. I can see she’s very disciplined, always in the gym, well prepared and ready for anything to come. When that bell rings she’s a different woman, she’s an unbelievable champion. I see a great bright future for Caroline.”

Caroline won the title last month after a dominant unanimous decision victory over Maira Moneo, taking her undefeated record to 10-0 in the process, and she was thrilled to receive the recognition from Sulaiman.Update On Daniel Dubois Trainer Situation Amid Rumours That Don Charles Has Been Sacked

“It’s amazing to have Mauricio come give me the belt. I looked up to Lennox Lewis, watching him as a young kid and obviously the WBC, the WBA, the IBF, the WBO, these are all the major belts and to now get almost a piece, it’s not the full belt which is what I will get but it’s a step in the right direction. This is not as far as I get, I go further than this. I want to touch the sky, I want to touch hearts, I want to do something that’s never been done before and I push and train every day.”

Boxxer CEO Ben Shalom added: “Caroline Dubois is one of the future faces of female boxing. Whether Katie Taylor decides to fight her or vacate, there are huge nights ahead for Caroline, who is still only 23 years old. We believe she will unify the lightweight division before moving up and becoming a multi-weight world champion and pound-for-pound star.”

Dubois is now hoping to land a showdown with WBC champion Katie Taylor in the near future, with Taylor first taking on Amanda Serrano on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson undercard in November.

#WBC #MauricioSulaiman #CarolineDubois #Future #Boxing #Boxingnews #President

The career of Daniel Dubois can be compared to Anthony Joshua’s in several ways: the vaunted fight-ending power; the suggestion of questionable punch resistance and stamina; the humbling defeats; the regular switching of training teams; the rebirths.

Yet Dubois’ journey, at least at the highest level, would seem to be just getting started – only since he defeated Filip Hrgovic six months ago could he boast victory over a genuine Top 10 contender. Therefore, when attempting to identify revealing moments, it’s a far easier task with Dubois’ opponent than it is with him – Joshua, after all, has been operating at world class level for almost a decade. 

Even so, there are clues to uncover and signposts to follow when it comes to Dubois’ progress thus far. And the good news, if trying to build a case for him to beat Joshua, is that many of the questions we had about Dubois in the recent past have been answered. Or at least they have for now. Though the resurgence of “DD” in the last 12 months has been enormously impressive, one should be careful not to draw too many conclusions, or at least emphatic ones, from his current form. 

Therefore, the (potential) bad news is this is an assignment against a heavyweight who has consistently performed at the highest level; something that can’t be said for Dubois’ two most recent opponents, Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic, or even Dubois himself.

Labouring past Kevin Johnson

There are benefits to being a hyped heavyweight prospect which are largely centred around the opportunities presented by such a status. There are downsides, too. Whereas certain young starlets might find it difficult to get the chances they feel their talent deserves, at least they learn to fly away from the glare of the limelight. Those who are signed to a major TV promoter – particularly young and hard-hitting heavyweights – generally develop in the public eye and thus any mistakes or sideways steps are roundly criticised. Dubois experienced such a thing in November 2018 when matched with Kevin Johnson, the former contender who realized he could make a much better living from guarding the gate; his USP became making an early assessment on his opponents and, if achieving victory would take too much effort, he would make sure he at least heard the final bell. Consequently, very few got through the gate while looking great. 

When faced with the spoiling and unwilling Johnson, Dubois appeared limited, he neglected the body, his jab clearly needed some work. He was, in short, still crude and raw. Worse, Joshua had walked through Johnson in two rounds some three years before.

Dubois shouldn’t be criticized for going 10 against seasoned opposition, however. Learning is what fights against the likes of Johnson are designed for. Yet it’s included here to illustrate that though Dubois was once a promising amateur, his experience at that level was comparatively limited. He was not the blue-eyed boy like Joshua had been in the vest and Dubois was still learning the fundamentals while punching for pay. 

A reminder, then, of how far he’s come and how far he may still need to go.

Capitulation against Joe Joyce

A fight that should act as a warning about how cruel the sport can be. And it’s not just the hurt inside the ring, of which Dubois absorbed plenty against a peak Joe Joyce, but also the sniping, relentless bullying-cum-criticism a defeat like this can attract.

Dubois could likely have continued in the 10 th round when he dropped to one knee, with his left eye swollen shut, and opted to rise only when the referee called ‘10’ above him. But the pain this young man felt, coupled with a sense of discombobulation and helplessness, can only be truly known by the young man himself. 

In the eyes of many bloodthirsty fans and, worse, fellow fighters, Dubois ‘quit’. Long before Dubois’ injury was confirmed as a fractured eye socket – and don’t pretend to know what that feels like – ringside analysts like Carl Frampton and David Haye were saying they’d rather ‘go out on a stretcher’ than surrender. It’s unlikely they’d rather do that because what they’re implying, when they say things like that, is they would rather die – leaving behind their children to grieve and grow up without them – than stop taking punches to the face. But that’s what boxers say, and I don’t doubt it’s what they’ve been conditioned to believe.

Whatever the truth of the matter, in November 2020, Dubois was labelled a coward by those he respected the most. 

Trouble early against Kevin Lerena

In what was beforehand deemed a straightforward defence of Dubois’ bogus WBA strap turned into near disaster in the opening moments. A blow from the underdog caught Dubois on the top of the head as he came in, momentarily wobbling him. Yet when that wobble became a tumble, and Dubois was taking a count, it was clear that something was wrong.

The wobble had caused his knee to buckle, and though the Londoner beat the count, he was having a hard time standing. Some observers understandably assumed that Dubois had been clumped dizzy but as he fell twice more it became apparent that the wobble, and then the buckle, had caused an injury. 

Dubois complained about the problem while on the stool but nonetheless came out for the second and by the end of the third he’d won by knockout. It did not come without controversy, however: the bell to end the first round came 10 seconds early, the WBA’s three-knockdown rule was not in effect in Britain, and when Dubois applied the finishing touches to his comeback victory it appeared as if the bell to end the third had already rung. Even so, two years after the loss to Joyce, Dubois proved he could emerge victorious from a crisis. 

Oleksandr Usyk breaks his heart

The revealing moment here is twofold and does not warrant yet another debate about whether the blow that felled Usyk in round five was legal or not. Please, let’s not waste our time starting an argument that nobody can win – life is far too short for any of that.

The first point worth considering is the amount of respect that Usyk, after tasting an early blow from the challenger, afforded Dubois. In fact, before that headline-making fall in the fifth, Usyk boxed exceptionally patiently and carefully, more so than he had against Anthony Joshua and more than he would against Tyson Fury. In addition, whether low or not, the blow that put him on his backside in the fifth clearly hurt. And Usyk being ‘clearly hurt’ is rare indeed.

The second is how much Dubois then struggled to compose himself after the incident. Upon rising, and after being in discomfort, it was Usyk and not Dubois pressing the action. It was Usyk and not Dubois who then found the contest much easier to navigate. And it was Usyk and not Dubois who scored the knockdowns to win the fight.

It is of course important to reference that this is Usyk we’re talking about, a modern-day fighting genius. But the sense that Dubois had let him off the hook, perhaps after being given too much time in his own head, was hard to shake.

All steam ahead vs Filip Hrgovic

Fighters – like the rest of humankind – should not be judged on the inevitable mistakes they make but how they react to them. Though Dubois’ victory over Jarrell Miller was an exceptionally impressive response to being humbled by Usyk, and proved his stamina at a certain level, it’s what the Briton then did to Hrgovic that is worthy of the highest praise.  

Though under the cosh in the early going, there was not a solitary hint that Dubois was going to yield like he had in the past. There were no concerns about self-preservation nor any hint of self-doubt as he walked through a storm of right hands. Never had Dubois looked so incredibly bullet-proof under fire nor so dangerous when on the attack.

This should be both a concern and source of inspiration for Saturday night’s opponent. Joshua is at his best when his rivals come at him and open themselves up to be countered by his bombastic right hand. However, he’s at his worst when it becomes clear he’s going to need more than his trusty one-two to win.

Which in turn presents Dubois with the most difficult of choices to make: Does he do what’s worked so well for him recently and in turn offer Joshua his most direct route to victory or does he apply the kind of care and attention that risks compromising what he himself does best?

#DanielDubois #AnthonyJoshua #Journey #boxing #boxingnews #Career #OleksandrUsyk #FilipHrgovic #KevinLerena #KevinJohnson #JoeJoyce

Former Olympic champion Estelle Mossely is a candidate to become the president of the French Boxing Federation. The existing president is Dominique Nato, once a very good boxer and who is seeking to be re-elected when the elections are held on December 14.

Mossely won gold at Rio 2016 and then turned professional. She is 11-0-1 and, remains active. She returned to amateur boxing for Paris 2024 this year but struggled with injuries and lost in the first round. 

*The Italian champion Gianmarco Cardillo (12-0-2) and Swedish titlist Pezhman Seifkhani (17-1) are on course to fight at heavyweight. Cardillo will defend his title September 27 against Eduardo Gustini, and in the event of victory is expected to fight Seifkhani next.

*The Danish Fight Night in Copenhagen on October 12 will feature British fighters Jordan Withers and Mark Davies.

*Withers (7-0) fights for the second time in Denmark, against Under Ozgul (13-0-1), the England-based Turk. Davies (6-0) fights Poland’s Mateusz Pawlowski (2-1).

*The super middleweight Oliver Zaren (13-0), who is promoted by Wasserman, also fights – against an opponent to be confirmed.

*Sarah Mahfoud-Danil Ramos, at featherweight, is top of the bill. Part of Mahfoud’s preparations will take her to Wales to spar Elisabeth Oshoba.

*The EBU super-featherweight champion Khalil El Hadri (19-2) defends the title against Salvador Jimenez (13-0-1) on December 21 in Les Mureaux, France.

*El Hadri won the title in victory over Juanfe Gomez, who drew with Jiminez in an all-Spanish match-up in 2023.

*EC Boxing's Ukrainian heavyweight Viktor Faust (12-1) fights on Saturday in Hamburg, on P2M's promotion at the Sporthalle. Faust fights Bosnia’s Mirko Tintor (16-9), on the undercard of Nina Meinke-Daniela Bermudez for the vacant IBF featherweight title.

*German light heavyweights Tom Dzemski (21-2) and Nick Hannig (13-1-1) will fight on November 2 in Chemnitz, Germany. Their fight headlines a SES and Blanko Sports co-promotion. The cruiserweight Roman Fress (21-1) also features.

#EstelleMossely #FrenchBoxingFederation #Boxing #Boxingnews

Osleys Iglesias is to fight Petro Ivanov at the Cabaret du Casino de Montreal in Montreal, Canada on November 7.

The Cuban super middleweight, 26, who stopped Sena Agbeko in August, said: “I’m happy to be fighting so often. Petro Ivanov is an undefeated guy who dreams of becoming a world champion. 

“Most importantly, he’s brave enough to step into the ring with me. I respect that, but I’ll make sure to deliver yet another electrifying performance for the fans in Montreal and worldwide.”

Ivanov, 28 and of Ukraine, said: “I’m looking forward to November 7. It’s an incredible opportunity to make my mark on the global stage. I know Iglesias is strong and hits hard, but in our sport, everyone is beatable. I’m going to train hard to ensure he’s no exception.”

Steven Butler will fight Diego Chaves at middleweight in the chief support, by when Leila Beaudoin and Edith Soledad Matthysse will have fought at 130lbs, Dzmitry Asanau-Matias Rueda will have taken place at lightweight, Wilkens Mathieu and Marcos Karalitzky will have shared the ring at light heavyweight, and Thomas Chabot-Jhon Orobio will have met at super featherweight.  

#OsleyIglesias #PetroIvanov #November #boxingfans #boxingnews #sports

While preparing to fight Anthony Joshua on Saturday, Daniel Dubois celebrated his 27th birthday. That is an age of little significance, true, yet it is interesting all the same to consider how, in the context of Daniel Dubois, a heavyweight, it is considered especially young, while for others it is considered old – for some, The End. 

Twenty-seven, of course, is the age at which the following music icons died: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse. 

When thinking of each of them, we think of not only a life cut short but also a life well lived. After all, in those 27 years they each managed to achieve success and create a legacy, which served to make their passing so culturally important. Not just that, they seemed, for better or worse, to be adults; functioning or otherwise. They danced to the beat of their own drum and they made their own calls, then sadly suffered the consequences. 

In contrast to this, Daniel Dubois, also now 27, is someone whose father, Dave (birth name Stan), must be approached for Daniel to so much as be interviewed. He possesses a phone, yes, but one without all the bells and whistles “enjoyed” by other twentysomethings, and he still lives at home, despite, unlike most twentysomethings, boasting the financial muscle to change that. 

He is, in other words, a bit of an anomaly. He is an anomaly not only in terms of 27 year olds and the freedom they covet, but in boxing, too, where so much emphasis is placed on being strong and independent and taking matters into your own hands. Most boxers will have a team, of course, but it is ultimately on the shoulders of just one man – the boxer – that everything rests. Moreover, so accustomed are we to seeing boxers desperate to be the centre of attention and the loudest voice in the room that it is unusual, and to some degree endearing, to discover there are still boxers like Dubois who see no issue with staying silent; or, indeed, giving dad permission to play the buffer. 

“He’s a fine young man,” said Don Charles, Dubois’ coach. “He’s a very, very unique young man. A unique personality. A unique fighter. What more can I say? He’s a very pleasant person to work with. 

“Daniel is a very regimented individual. For a young man he has great discipline in the way he approaches what he does. He has a no-nonsense sort of attitude. He comes to train. There is no chit-chat or messing around. He just wants to work and put a shift in. I like that. I’m a guy with great discipline. I grew up like that. Away from boxing I’m very disciplined and I apply that to the boxing. Coincidentally Daniel also comes from a very strict background. All the [Dubois] children have discipline; they have manners. When you apply that to your profession, no matter what it is, it works out well, and that discipline and that focus stands you in good stead. It’s refreshing, to be quite honest.”

While on the cusp of making a fortune from his chosen profession, it would be imprudent of anyone to question too vigorously Dubois’ upbringing or approach to getting here. Where he may have lost in the sense of being a young man, he has clearly gained in other areas, chiefly those pertaining to his boxing career; his first love. 

In a superb piece about the Dubois family written for The Times by Tom Kershaw, Dubois said: “I was so busy in the gym thinking about my tournaments and stuff, so the outside world sort of passed me by. I’ve never tried a beer. It’s just the way life is. You’re competing for England, then you go straight into the pro game. I’ve been an athlete my whole life. Why change now? I’m content with what I’m doing.”

When reading this piece, you get a real feeling that Dubois has been cocooned for 27 years. You also start to wonder whether being cocooned, despite all the negative connotations, is perhaps not a bad thing for someone in the public eye, particularly when you consider what has happened to the maladjusted by the time they hit that age. 

In boxing, too, we see this cocooning all the time, just maybe not as overtly as in the case of Dubois. With Joshua, for instance, Dubois’ next opponent, there has been a protective barrier around him since the day he turned pro in 2013. 

Prior to turning pro, I can recall seeing Joshua in a boxing gym on his way to a meeting with a potential manager/promoter and was impressed that day by how he conversed with everybody in the gym, utterly at ease in the company of strangers. And yet, fast-forward just a few years and when I, and other members of the British press pack, visited Joshua at his Sheffield gym ahead of a world-title fight, the dynamic could not have been more different. Herded like cattle, there were pens – not the kind used to write – and an inspection typically reserved for those about to interview figures of great importance. Perhaps, given how big he had become in the sporting world, it had to be this way. Perhaps, for his team, there was no other way for things to be done. However, to protect Joshua with such intensity that it both restricted access to him and stunted his ability to fully express himself and say anything remotely interesting seemed, from the outside, rather counterproductive. “My team, we don’t do interviews,” Joshua said this week. “We keep our head down.”

With Dubois, meanwhile, you are dealing with a different character altogether. Protected not by a gang of publicists but a father, Dubois is a 27 year old who has been home-schooled and, by his own admission, knows very little about the world that exists beyond the walls of his home and those of the boxing gym. He reaps the benefits of this, yet also shows signs of the drawbacks. 

“I took Daniel to a few markets,” said his father in the Times piece. “He worked with me in Bristol. We got there at 8am and finished at 10pm, but he’s not cut out for that. He was a bit shy when he was young. I said, ‘Daniel, start calling them in, two pounds each, three pounds, four pounds, five pounds…’ He would just stare at me and he wouldn’t say a word.”

It is a scene easy to imagine: Dubois standing there, blank expression, wanting his gregarious father to make some noise on his behalf. We have, in fact, witnessed similar scenes whenever Dubois has been asked to talk at a press conference and then struggled to find the words to articulate whatever is going on in his head. “I haven’t got too much to say right now,” he said on Thursday. “I’m just ready to go on Saturday.”

Still, it is to his credit, that a fear of silence, or awkwardness, has never led to a Dubois double act. Meaning: unlike the Furys or the Eubanks, Dan and Dave do not present themselves as a team, at least not publicly, and therefore our view is not spoiled. Though interviews are hard to come by, and harder to conduct, we are free to watch a young man not only develop professionally in real time, but also emotionally and psychologically. We are seeing Dubois learn to express himself, both with punches and with words, and it is oddly fascinating, too; particularly when it takes place in a male-dominated sport, one in which so many pretend they are tougher than they are, more intelligent than they are, and more mature than they are. He is a boy in a man’s suit, absolutely, but so long as he can stand up for himself, and so long as he doesn’t let his father become an overbearing presence, Daniel Dubois has every chance of one day growing into it.

#DanielDubois #Boxing #AnthonyJoshua #sports #boxingnews #boxingfans #fightnight 

Kalle Sauerland has spent years rebuilding Josh Kelly’s confidence and standing in the sport and then cajoled and campaigned to secure him the right opportunity – and the ideal opponent – to belatedly prove he is a world-level talent. 

The best-laid plans regularly go to waste in boxing, and Liam Smith’s late withdrawal from his and Kelly’s proposed middleweight fight at Wembley Stadium on Saturday meant that years of plotting and manoeuvring devolved into a mad scramble.

Ordinarily, Kelly, 15-1-1 (8 KOs), would have been withdrawn from the promotion or matched with an opponent capable of standing on a set of scales and walking to the ring and little else, but Riyadh Season shows are anything but ordinary. 

There were plenty of names willing to replace Smith, but the magnitude of Saturday’s show at Wembley required that they were also able.

Enter Ishmael Davis, 13-0 (6 KOs).

“Josh says he’s a similar style of fighter,” Sauerland said. “I’ll be totally honest, I still don’t know that much about Ishmael Davis, apart from the fact that he’s a hot prospect with a very good record

“Josh says he’s stylistically quite similar to Liam but, mentally, he’s coming in that ring with a totally different MO. He was supposed to be boxing in a couple of weeks’ time. He’ll be fit. He’ll know exactly why he dropped out of the other fight to take this fight. It wasn’t like he was sitting around waiting for a payday; he was fighting in a couple of weeks’ time. He will be very confident but it’s our time on Saturday night.”

Davis is a talented, improving fighter who recently matched Kelly’s best career victory by outpointing Troy Williamson, and certainly he isn’t overawed at the prospect of taking on the 30 year-old.

In the past this particular set of circumstances may have triggered all kinds of worries and fears in Kelly but Sauerland insists that these days he is a much more relaxed figure and believes that the way he dealt with the disappointment of the Smith fight falling out proves his increased level of self-belief. Sauerland expects the confident Kelly to revel under the weight of expectation.

“I’ve seen quite a few locker rooms over the years,” he said. “You’ve gotta see that on Saturday night, what goes on in this locker room. It’s a very relaxed vibe. I went in there once and was very embarrassed because they asked me to dance.

“One thing I definitely can’t do is dance. Especially when I’m nervous, two minutes before walking. It was actually before the Troy Williamson fight so a pretty big fight for him. 

“We say, ‘Ok, just find an opponent’, but he had to agree to the opponent – he had to agree to a certain level of opponent too – so I think that tells me a lot. Ultimately the stage is set for Saturday night and it’s a big stage. If there are question marks, they’ll be answered Saturday. 

“I do think that a lot of the question marks for me were answered when he beat Troy Williamson. It was a big night and I think Saturday night is different challenges but he’s in a great space.”

#IshmaelDavis #JoshKelly #boxing #boxingnews #KellyDavis #RiyadhSeason #JoshuaDubois #LiamSmith #KalleSaurland

Dillian Whyte, a long-time rival of Anthony Joshua, has given his candid thoughts on the highly anticipated Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois clash for the IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium. Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Whyte cautioned Dubois about the danger he faces in the ring, saying, “He don’t want to stand in front of ‘AJ’ and take too many right hands or he’s going to sleep.” He also compared the two heavyweights' punching styles, remarking that while Joshua is “a pig puncher,” he tends to rely more on sharp combination shots, whereas Dubois is a “slow and methodical, clubbing puncher.” However, Whyte warned that with 10oz gloves on, “anyone over 15 stone is a big puncher” and predicted the fight as a genuine 50-50 contest.

Recalling their past sparring sessions, Whyte mentioned, “Apparently Daniel bashed ‘AJ’ up in sparring,” but stressed the need for Dubois not to be overconfident as this fight could turn out very differently. According to Whyte, “If he stands in front of ‘AJ’ and takes too many right hands, he’s going to sleep.”

This title fight presents a major moment in heavyweight boxing, with Joshua eyeing a return to glory and Dubois looking to secure his first title defense. Whyte's honest assessment has added further intrigue, making this a showdown fans won’t want to miss.

#JoshuaDubois #DillianWhyte #AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #boxing #boxingnews #boxingfans #fightfans #predictions 

Anthony Joshua will attempt to become boxing’s fifth three-time heavyweight champion when he steps through the ropes against fellow Brit and newly crowned IBF title-holder Daniel Dubois this weekend in one of the boxing events of the year. Now, famed trainer, commentator and fight analyst Teddy Atlas has offered his verdict on the match-up.

‘AJ’ has honed his skills and discovered a style that suits him best since partnering up with former Tyson Fury trainer Ben Davison late last year, scoring sensational stoppage wins over both Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou since teaming up. As a result, Joshua now finds himself competing at the top table once again and could etch his name into the history books if he is able to pull off the victory.

Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois has hit similar form since appointing Don Charles last year, bouncing back from defeat to Oleksandr Usyk with career-best displays and knockouts against Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic – the latter earning him the position of interim champion which was later upgraded to full IBF world champion.

Now Dubois has the chance to prove that he is worthy of the mantle of a world champion in boxing’s glamour division. However, speaking on his podcast, ‘The Fight’, Atlas – who guided Michael Moorer to the heavyweight throne in 1994, predicted that Dubois will not make it to the third-round against this improved version of Joshua.

“I think that Anthony Joshua is in the best place that he has been since he beat [Wladimir] Klitschko for the title and was a young heavyweight champion after being an Olympic champion. I think that he is in a real good place with his trainer, [Ben] Davison.

“Dubois was tremendous in his last fight with Hrgovic, he overcame, he broke Hrgovic down, he evaporated him like a hot summer’s day evaporating a puddle – right in front of your eyes, with his toughness and physicality. He is strong, he is a good puncher, he can now impose the will that he didn’t have earlier [in his career], he has got that will now.Update On Daniel Dubois Trainer Situation Amid Rumours That Don Charles Has Been Sacked

“If he hits Joshua, he can hurt him, but if he gets hit with the kind of right-hand’s that he overcame against Hrgovic, who doesn’t punch as hard or concise as Joshua, then he won’t be around to overcome it. He won’t be around to impose his will. He won’t be around to hurt Joshua with his physical presence and power. He won’t be there – he will get knocked out.

“Unless he has improved his defence and his ability to get away from right-hand’s, which he did not do against Hrgovic, unless he has done that in the last couple of months since that fight – Joshua is going to knock him out in one or two rounds.”

Joshua-Dubois takes place on Saturday night at Wembley Stadium in London as Turki Al-Alshikh stages a first Riyadh Season card on British soil with a must-watch event for boxing fans around the globe.

#TeddyAtlas #AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #JoshuaDubois #Predictions #Knockout #boxingnews

Junior middleweight Callum Walsh made weight ahead of his return to Ireland, where he will face Przemyslaw Runowski in a 10-round main event Friday at the 3Arena.

Walsh (11-0, 9 KOs), a native of Cork, Ireland, who trains under Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, weighed in at 153.8 pounds. Runowski (22-2-1, 6 KOs), from Poland, came in slightly lighter at 152.8 pounds.

At 23 years old, Walsh is seven years younger than the 30-year-old Runowski, who is unbeaten in his last four fights. Walsh enters the bout on a two-fight knockout streak, while Runowski’s only losses came via unanimous decision to Michael McKinson and Josh Kelly; he has never been stopped.

In the co-feature, super middleweight contender Ali Akhmedov (21-1, 16 KOs) and Pierre Hubert Dibombe (22-1-1, 12 KOs) both weighed in at 169.2 pounds for their bout, contracted at 170 pounds.

Akhmedov, 29, has won five straight fights — four by stoppage — since being halted by Carlos Gongora in December 2020, a loss that steadied his career momentum. The Kazakhstan native Akhmedov is promoted by Gennadiy Golovkin’s GGG Promotions. Dibombe, 32, of France, is coming off his first career loss, a defeat to Bektemir Melikuziev in April on the undercard of the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia event.

The show weights are below: 

Junior middleweight - 10 rounds 

Callum Walsh (153.8 pounds) vs. Przemyslaw Runowski (152.8 pounds)

Super middleweight - 10 rounds 

Ali Akhmedov (169.2) vs. Pierre Hubert Dibombe (169.2)

Super middleweight - eight rounds 

Emmett Brennan (167) vs. Kevin Cronin (167.2)

Heavyweight - eight rounds 

Thomas Carty (258.8) vs. Jonathan Vergara (233.4)

Women’s lightweight - six rounds 

Shauna O’Keefe (134) vs. Valgerdur Gudsteinsdottir (134.4)

Junior middleweight  - eight rounds 

Craig O’Brien (153.2) vs. Edward Donovan (153.6)

Welterweight - four rounds 

Gareth Dowling (145.8) vs. Daniel Nowak (147.8)

#CallumWalsh #PrzemyslawRunowski #AliAkhmedov #PierreHubertDibombe #EmmettBrennan #KevinCronin #ThomasCarty #JonathanVergara #ShaunaOKeeffe #ValgerdurGudsteinsdottir #Boxing #FightNight #Dublin #3Arena #KnockoutStreak

David Haye believes that Daniel Dubois is in for a tough Saturday night as he stated the current version of Anthony Joshua would knock out the old version in a round.

Joshua faces Dubois in an all-British IBF heavyweight fight this Saturday at Wembley Stadium. This will be Joshua’s first title fight since losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in 2022 after initially losing his belts to the Ukrainian a year earlier.

Joshua came under a lot of criticism after those defeats and that continued after two lackluster performances to Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius. This prompted him to make a switch to Tyson Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison ahead of his contest with Otto Walin. Davison was also in the corner for Joshua’s fight against Francis Ngannou. The former champion was heavily praised for his performances under Davison, stopping both his men inside the scheduled distance – something his fierce rival Fury could not do.

Haye, a former heavyweight champion himself, also fought in an all-British battle when he defended his WBA heavyweight title against Audley Harrison in 2013 – stopping him in the third round. Haye believes that Joshua’s two defeats to Usyk and his subsequent switch to trainer Davison have helped evolve him as a fighter and that this current version is the best one yet.

“I never thought Anthony Joshua was finished,” Haye told  William Hill . “Some people just need to learn from getting it wrong – not everyone is like Oleksandr Usyk who gets it right every time.

“AJ is a much better fighter now having lost those two fights than he would’ve been if he’d won – he’s learnt from his mistakes. The new Anthony Joshua would smoke the old Anthony Joshua in one round, plain and simple. Everything is strategized and sequenced now, and that’s the Ben Davison effect. He’s starting to understand his strengths and implement them.

“Stylistically and technically, Joshua is superior but, up until he started working with Ben Davison, he didn’t mould his style around his strengths,” he continued. “He’s now got some pre-determined punch sequences that are absolutely devastating, he just waits for the right time until he needs to pull the trigger – then people go to sleep.”

Dubois picked up the biggest win of his career last time out against Filip Hrgovic, a victory that later saw him elevated to IBF boss when Usyk relinquished. Dubois took big shots early on from Hrgovic but battled it out to stop the Croatian in the eighth round.

Haye believes that Dubois is in for a ‘tough time’ if he shows up on Saturday with the same attitude and takes heavy shots off Joshua early.

“If the version of Daniel Dubois who fought Filip Hrgovic turns up against AJ on Saturday who was eating right hands all night, I think he’ll have a really tough time,” said Haye. “He’s got a great chin though, no one can question that.”

#DavidHaye #AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #JermaineFranklin #RobertHelenius #BenDavison #FilipHrgovic #Boxing #FightNight #WembleyStadium #Heavyweight #IBF #Knockout

Jaime Munguia and Erik Bazinyan both made weight ahead of their highly anticipated clash for the vacant WBO International Super Middleweight Title. Munguia weighed in at 167.7 pounds, while Bazinyan was just slightly heavier at 167.9 pounds. This 12-round bout is set to take place soon, and both fighters are eager to claim the title.

Munguia, known for his power and aggressive style, is coming into this fight with a strong record and a lot of momentum. He aims to prove he is one of the top contenders in the super middleweight division. On the other hand, Bazinyan, who has been steadily rising in the ranks, will look to showcase his skills and upset Munguia. This matchup promises to be an exciting encounter for boxing fans.

The undercard features several intriguing bouts as well. Richard Torrez Jr. will face Joey Dawejko in an 8-round heavyweight fight, where Torrez weighs in at 232.6 pounds and Dawejko at 244.1 pounds. This heavyweight clash adds to the anticipation of the evening's fights.

In junior welterweight action, Emiliano Fernando Vargas comes in at 139.2 pounds, facing Larry Fryers, who weighed 138.2 pounds. Additionally, Charly Suarez and Jorge Castaneda will compete for the vacant WBO International Junior Lightweight Title, both weighing in just under 130 pounds.

With a stacked card and fighters eager to make their mark, the excitement is building for this fight night. Fans are looking forward to seeing if Munguia can secure the title against Bazinyan or if the challenger will pull off a stunning upset.

.#JaimeMunguia #ErikBazinyan #WBO #SuperMiddleweight #RichardTorrez #JoeyDawejko #EmilianoVargas #LarryFryers #CharlySuarez #JorgeCastaneda #Boxing #FightNight #Heavyweight #JuniorWelterweight #JuniorLightweight

Junior welterweight Mike Kimbel made a successful transition from mixed martial arts to professional boxing under the guidance of former light heavyweight titleholder Chad Dawson. 

On Sept. 7 at Foxwoods Resort, Kimbel (7-0, 5 KOs) delivered a first-round knockout against Anthony Mora (4-3-1, 3 KOs). However, that victory is only part of his journey.

Kimbel, 27, of Waterbury, Connecticut, credits Dawson with teaching him valuable lessons, the kind one normally receives in school. “I treat sparring and training as quizzes," Kimbel said. "When it’s time to fight, that’s when I take my test.”

Kimbel's switch to boxing came after a frustrating stint in MMA. Despite signing a six-fight deal with Bellator, fight opportunities dried up, leaving him at a crossroads, especially with his partner’s pregnancy adding pressure to his situation. "I couldn’t get booked, couldn’t get fights," Kimbel said. "I really didn’t know what I was going to do."

That’s when his agent, Paul Guarino, suggested boxing and introduced him to Dawson. Two days after Kimbel made his pro boxing debut in January 2023, his son was born, marking a new chapter in both his career and life.

Kimbel holds Dawson in high regard, not only for his boxing success but also for his laid-back personality. "He’s chill, almost shy," Kimbel said. "We’ll be in the car heading to sparring, and he’ll put his headphones in. I’m like, ‘Coach, we can play it on the radio,’ but he’ll say, ‘You don’t like my music.’"

Balancing his boxing career with both fatherhood and a full-time job as a commercial roofer, Kimbel’s daily routine is intense. "I’m up at 4:45, work by 6 a.m., finish around 3, and head straight to the gym," he said. 

Despite the challenges, Kimbel is determined to rise to the top. He attributes his rapid success in boxing to his deep respect for the sport. "A lot of MMA fighters think they can walk into boxing, and they don’t understand the science behind it," Kimbel said. He then recalled being mocked by a lifelong boxer during a weigh-in, who dismissed him as "just another MMA guy."

"He told me, ‘This is boxing, not MMA,’" Kimbel said with a laugh. In the second round, Kimbel delivered a knockout, proving his doubters wrong. As he approaches his third year as a pro in January, Kimbel is determined to keep proving he belongs in the boxing ring.”

#MikeKimbel #ChadDawson #Boxing #MMA #Knockout #MixedMartialArts #Waterbury #JuniorWelterweight #ProBoxing #Fighter #BoxingLife #BoxingTraining #Success #Determination #Resilience

It was a November lunchtime and I was chasing Daniel Dubois down Caxton Street in East London.

Hanging around the old Peacock Gym was never a chore. An endless stream of characters would pass through, the rings were in constant use and there was always a good old fashioned cup of coffee and a decent sandwich available at the café.

Still, although we are lucky enough to mix business with pleasure, there was work to be done and a promo for one of Dubois’ sponsors to be filmed. The standard footage of the young heavyweight hitting the pads and bags was safely stored on memory cards. We still needed the all important and, let’s be honest, equally standard quotes.

The sight of his giant frame - bedecked in his brown flight jacket and carrying an old school gym bag - escaping out of the door and sauntering off into Canning Town was cause for concern.

After a brief pursuit, Dubois came back, completed his obligations and then left again.  

A few weeks later he knocked out the colorful Kyotaro Fujimoto in a couple of rounds.

There was never anything surly about the quiet Dubois’ demeanor. If anything, it was endearing. Dubois would happily chat away and the job would always get done but, when it came to boxing, he genuinely had no interest in anything other than his business in the ring.

As bizarre as it may sound for somebody who needed to wring quotes out of the encounters, I loved those early days with Dubois. In an era where fighters recognise that one soundbite can move them further along in their career than a couple of solid wins, a world class prospect with a real aversion to cameras and publicity was a refreshing change and provided a unique challenge.

Over time, Dubois began to relax and felt happy enough to give a ‘Through the Keyhole’ style tour of his Essex home and engage in ‘Mr and Mr’ type games with his gym mates. Still, he was always happy to share the spotlight and happier to avoid it.

He doesn’t have that option this weekend. Dubois will be at the center of the sporting world when he defends his IBF heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. 

Dubois is still only 27 years old but has been involved in more than his share of high pressure situations. His first real step up came against Joe Joyce in a high stakes, behind closed doors British title fight. Dubois eventually sinking to a knee after Joyce’s ramrod jab cracked his orbital bone.

From that point on, Dubois boxed with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Aware that he had been labeled a quitter and that a repeat could all but spell the end of his career, he plugged away and eventually earned himself a shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s unified heavyweight titles.

Dubois was a bit part player in the promotion but handled the occasion well until Usyk began to accelerate through the gears and fatigue - and panic stations - set in during the mid rounds of the fight. Again, he sank to one knee and allowed himself to be counted out.

At that point, Dubois’ shortcomings had been laid out for all to see. A supremely talented young heavyweight with every physical gift imaginable but without the mental toughness to force himself through the difficult moments every true champion must do in order to reach the top.

To his eternal credit, he went away and reinvented himself.

Saudi Arabia’s emergence as the most powerful force in heavyweight boxing allowed Dubois to rebuild both his career and confidence. Last December he bullied the bully and stopped Jarrell Miller in ten rounds and then, in June, he put in an outstanding show of grit to grind down and stopped the previously unbeaten Filip Hrgovic to win the interim IBF belt, a belt which was upgraded when Usyk decided to vacate his full title.

Working with Don Charles seems to have awakened something new inside of him and Dubois appeared to be physically and mentally bulletproof throughout the build up and fight with Hrgovic. 

Fighting Joshua represents an entirely different task. Joshua is used to shouldering the weight and expectation of a massive promotion and over the years he has proven adept at treating extremely uncommon scenarios like Saturdays as if they are perfectly routine.

Dubois is now a world champion and must prove that he can do the same. On Saturday night he will leave his dressing room and emerge into a sea of illuminated mobile phones. Riyadh Season has taught us to expect the unexpected, but if past stadium events are anything to go by, he will slowly walk around the perimeter of the pitch with a high definition camera just a couple of feet from his face. He will then climb a few small steps and step onto a raised platform where he will need to awkwardly shadow box in front of the world for a few moments.

It is during these minutes that Dubois will either revert back to the quiet, shy youngster and retreat into his shell or whether he revels in the atmosphere and uses the energy in the stadium to elevate him to a new level.

Dubois will fight - there is no doubt about that - but how he handles those crucial moments before the first bell could dictate just what type of fight he will end up in. Will he be happy to play his part in the event, share the spotlight and react to whatever Joshua is doing or will he decide that the time has come to claim center stage and impose himself from the first bell and prove himself a true champion.

Should he do it, it would cap a remarkable turnaround both personally and professionally.

Unfortunately, it will also mean that he won’t be able to avoid the cameras.

#DanielDubois #AnthonyJoshua #IBFHeavyweightTitle #BoxingChampion #HeavyweightFight #WembleyStadium #JoeJoyce #OleksandrUsyk #DonCharles #JarrellMiller #FilipHrgovic #BoxingLife #BoxingFans #FightNight #BritishBoxing

At just 21, lightweight boxer Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia has endured more hardship than many experience in a lifetime. 

Garcia returns Friday in Glendale, Arizona, on the undercard of Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan. He faces Ricardo Fernandez (15-13, 1 KO), a 31-year-old Spaniard, in an eight-round bout at Desert Diamond Arena.

Raised in Ulysses, a small rural town on the southwest side of Kansas, Garcia (14-0, 11 KOs) began boxing at age seven. Despite his love for the sport, he knew his future couldn't flourish in Kansas.

“I’ve been boxing since I was seven years old, but when I turned 17, I moved to Los Angeles to train with Coach G, and I’ve been with her ever since I went pro,” Garcia said. If I had stayed in Kansas, I wouldn’t be where I am today. There’s no opportunity there.”

Garcia’s move to L.A. wasn’t just about boxing; it was about chasing a future. His coach, Gloria Alvarado, known as “Coach G,” had promised to turn him into a star. She saw potential in him from the moment she watched him fight at Nationals when he was either 13 or 14 years old. “A lot of people get nervous at Nationals,” Alvarado said. “But this kid, he was always one punch away from winning, and he never gave up. He had a smile on his face, proud of his performance, even when the politics in the amateurs didn’t give him the decision.”

Their bond grew over time. Alvarado’s daughter, Roxy Verduzco, had introduced her to Garcia, and after watching him fight in the Olympic trials and lose a decision she felt he deserved, Alvarado knew she had to help. “I told him, ‘I’ll make you a superstar, but you’ve got to be patient,’” Alvarado recalled. Garcia took the leap, moving to L.A. at 17, where Alvarado took legal guardianship of him since he had yet to turn 18.

Garcia’s journey isn’t just one of sacrifice, but also of struggles. In his second year in Los Angeles, his younger brother, Christopher Garcia, was shot at a park in Kansas on April 28, 2021. He was only 14 at the time of his death. Garcia had just returned home to visit after a fight. Christopher survived for six days before passing away. “It threw life sideways for me,” Garcia said. “I was going through it like anyone would. But I found myself on the right path again, and I chose to keep going; to keep doing what I’m doing.”

The losses didn’t stop there. During fight week for his last fight in August, Garcia received a call from his sister informing him that his friend, Xavier Castaneda, had been stabbed to death at a house party in Kansas. The grief weighed heavily on Garcia, though he tried to stay focused on the fight. “I was focused, but subconsciously it was there. I think I was throwing every punch with emotion,” Garcia said.

Alvarado, who has been by his side through it all, knows Garcia fights with more than just skill—he fights with heart. “We’re very close, and he trusts me,” Alvarado said. “I know when he’s fighting out of emotion or anger, and I can see it in his eyes. But once he hears my voice in the corner after the first round, he pulls it together. He’s so disciplined, and he’s got that intensity and pace that can carry him from round one to round twelve if I let him.”

For Alvarado, Garcia’s potential is limitless. “He’s focused, disciplined, and he wants it more than anything,” she said. “He’s got the same dream every time he wakes up—to be a champion. And he’s on the right path.”

Now signed with Top Rank Inc., Garcia is steadily climbing the ranks of the lightweight division. Despite his rise, the memories of his loved ones, especially Christopher, fuel his every step. “I miss him every day,” Garcia said. “But I know I have to keep going. I have to make sure his memory lives on with every fight I win.”

#AlanGarcia #KidKansas #BoxingJourney #TopRank #LightweightChampion #BoxingFuture #FightForFamily #BoxingDedication #CoachG #BoxingSuccess #DesertDiamondArena #JaimeMunguia #ErikBazinyan #GlendaleBoxing #FightForChristopher