Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have announced the three-bout preliminary card for the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor II event on Friday, November 15, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Headlining the preliminary card is MVP’s Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green against Melinda “The Whip” Watpool for the vacant WBO super middleweight world title in a 10-rounder.

Green (14-1, 11 KOs), a former college basketball star and Team USA boxing silver medalist, joined MVP in January 2023. She debuted with a TKO victory over former unified titleholder Elin Cederroos and secured a unanimous decision win over Olivia Curry in August 2023. In December, Green, 35, from Patterson, New Jersey, lost via unanimous decision to Franchon Crews-Dezurn in her bid for the vacant WBC super middleweight title. She rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Natasha Spence in July, reclaiming her position as the WBO’s No. 1 contender.

Watpool (7-0, 2 KOs) is the WBO No. 2 super middleweight who defeated Spence in September 2024, a rematch from the year prior. The five-time Canadian amateur champion from Pefferlaw, Ontario, Watpool has fought twice in 2024, winning both bouts via unanimous decision.

Undefeated lightweight Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) will face veteran Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight bout.

Bahdi, 30, from Niagara Falls, Ontario, shocked the world with a sixth-round knockout of Ashton Sylve in Tampa, Florida. He enters this fight on a four-fight knockout streak.

Marksman, a 24-year-old prospect from Orlando, Florida, has fought three times this year, including two bouts against Tony Aguilar. His first fight in February ended in a draw, but he won a majority decision over Aguilar in July to put him in position for this matchup.

Opening the preliminary card is a featherweight bout between Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (13-0, 8 KOs) and Dana “Deadly” Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs). Carrington, a rising featherweight from Brownsville, New York, is ranked No. 2 by the WBC and WBO. The 27-year-old began his career with a gold medal at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials and recently won a hard-fought majority decision over Sulaiman Segawa in September, snapping a three-fight knockout streak.

Coolwell, a 25-year-old from Australia, is on a six-fight win streak and will be fighting in the U.S. for the first time in his career.

Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, stated, “From start to finish, Paul vs. Tyson will deliver an exciting night of boxing to fans at AT&T Stadium and across the globe on Friday, November 15, beginning with an action-packed preliminary card.” He highlighted Green’s return to title contention and expressed excitement for the diversity and talent represented on the card.

The main event features Jake Paul against Mike Tyson in an eight-round heavyweight bout. In the co-main event, Katie Taylor defends her titles against Amanda Serrano in a highly anticipated rematch. Additionally, reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios faces Abel Ramos in a 12-round championship fight, while super middleweight Neeraj Goyat takes on Whindersson Nunes in a six-round fight. The card will be broadcast on Netflix.

Tim Tszyu has declared Saturday’s fight with Bakhram Murtazaliev as the start of his “comeback”.

On Saturday at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, Tszyu will challenge the IBF junior-middleweight champion on the occasion of the Russian’s first defense of his title.

The 31-year-old Murtazaliev won the vacant title in April when he stopped Jack Culcay, shortly after Tszyu was unfortunate in recording his first defeat.

Tszyu was the defending WBO champion when he agreed, at late notice, to fight Sebastian Fundora in a unification contest for the WBO and WBC titles after an injury had ruled Keith Thurman – a significantly different nature of opponent – out.

An elbow then opened a cut in Tszyu’s scalp during the second round, ensuring he would fight until the conclusion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as a bloody mess, before being declared the loser via split decision.

If to a degree his reputation and marketability were enhanced in a defeat that represented the launch of Premier Boxing Champions’ broadcast agreement with Amazon Prime – Tszyu was then offered the most appealing of contests against Vergil Ortiz Jnr but couldn’t accept it because his cut had yet to heal – he regardless spoke like a fighter with a point to prove.

PBC’s offering him an immediate title fight is a further reflection of the extent to which the dramatic defeat by Fundora isn’t being held against him, but at Thursday’s final press conference the 29 year old said: “I’s not just an ordinary fight, this is a vengeance fight. It’s not just a world title – it’s a comeback. I believe I am the man at 154lbs. I just need the time to prove it. One by one, I’m going to get rid of each and every one of them. 

“Bakhram, there’s nothing personal there. But I’m not no sideline fighter.

“I’m a young kid living his dream. The first guy to headline an Amazon Prime card, pay-per-view, and now the first free-to-air. It’s a big honor – as a young kid, this is what you wish for, and this is what I’m dreaming of and believing in, and working and living my dream. A lot of hard work goes into this.

“I’ve always wanted the biggest challenges out there. It was a no-brainer, this fight. I had no hesitation at all. I was actually hunting him down for quite some time. The [Jermell] Charlo fight – between him and Charlo – that’s when he first came on my radar, and then I started looking at him. I remember calling the boys as soon as the me and Charlo fight got not made. ‘Let’s get Bakhram.’ They didn’t want it. I’ve been chasing it – the big fights; big names; the toughest, scariest monsters out there. Unfortunately, they don’t frighten me.”

Shortly before the start of Thursday’s press conference, Tszyu’s father Kostya, the celebrated junior welterweight recognized as the finest Australian fighter of all time, arrived to attend his first fight since Tszyu made his professional debut in 2016.

In an additional change to his son’s setup, Joe Quiambo will deputize as cutman because Mark Gambin, who was criticized for his contributions to Tszyu-Fundora, was unavailable as a consequence of requiring an emergency appendectomy.

Murtazaliev remained largely reluctant to speak, and will have reminded some observers of the demeanor of his compatriot Artur Beterbiev in the days before his recent undisputed light-heavyweight title fight with Dmitry Bivol.

It was when Murtazaliev was asked about suggestions that he had previously been reluctant to fight Tszyu that he responded: “I’ve never hid from anybody. I wasn’t running from him. If he really wanted to fight me, he could have made an offer.”

Before then, with all of the stoicism for which Eastern European fighters are increasingly recognized, he had said: “I’m not going to talk much. I just want to thank everybody who helped to organize the fight and everybody who participated here. I’m not going to talk much. Let’s wait until Saturday.

“I’m very, very happy to be champion. I’m happy to be looking forward to this fight on Saturday night. God bless, everything is going to be okay.”

The first hint of any tension between them came when Tszyu responded to what Murtazaliev had previously said.

“Step-aside money and easy-risk opponents to keep that mandatory [challenger] spot is much easier than risking the big, bad monster,” Tszyu insisted. The monster was relishing playing with his prey, and preparing to bear his teeth.

Dmitry Bivol has lodged a protest to the four sanctioning bodies over the scoring that determined he lost a majority decision to Artur Beterbiev Saturday in their undisputed light-heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia.

The move, filed by Bivol attorney Pat English, isn’t expected to overturn the decision, but it does serve as added ammunition in Bivol’s effort to gain an immediate rematch with Russian countryman Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs).

In losing his World Boxing Association belt, Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) saw judges Manuel Oliver Palomo (114-114), Glenn Feldman (115-113) and Pawel Kardyni (116-112) award Beterbiev the majority decision triumph.

CompuBox punch stats reflected the narrow margin, with Bivol outlanding Beterbiev 142-137 in total punches and in jabs while Beterbiev rallied to win the final three rounds and outlanded Bivol, 90-84, in total power punches.

Saudi Arabia’s boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh has expressed interest in staging a rematch following the entertaining, competitive bout and Bivol wants the second crack given his ability to become the first man to go the distance with the now-39-year-old Beterbiev.

The protest follows the precedent of heavyweight Lennox Lewis’ 1999 protest to his first title fight against Evander Holyfield, which was universally panned as a “travesty” as judges Eugenia Williams (115-113 Holyfield) and Larry O’Connell (115-115) caused a split draw and ultimately apologized for their scorecards in a bout Lewis had seemingly won comfortably.

The outrage triggered a rematch just eight months later, which Lewis won by unanimous decision.

Bivol’s camp, including promoter Eddie Hearn, is most chafed by judge Kardyni. Few saw the bout by that wide of a disparity, and Hearn has said Kardyni should never work another title fight.

Michael McKinson has got used to being uncomfortable ahead of this weekend’s fight with Tulani Mbenge.

Before he flew off across the Atlantic to train with Jason ‘Boots’ Ennis, BoxingScene caught up with the 30-year-old welterweight in an industrial estate car park in Manchester. 

McKinson, 26-1 (4 KOs), knows how important Saturday night’s IBO title fight is and he kick started preparations with a lung bursting week of sparring with recently crowned British and Commonwealth champion, Jack Rafferty.

“I jumped at the opportunity. This morning, I got in my car early and drove four and a half hours up here,” he said.

“I'm up here for the week on my own as well. Like I said, I'm experienced and  I've been about the game a long time to know what I need and what's good for me. When I got this opportunity to come up here this week, I spoke to my dad who looks after me and  trains me and he said, ‘Go for it. Go up there.’

“I've been very frustrated. It's been a real slow year when I've had things promised to me and stuff, but I've kind of had to take the positives with everything and not be so negative about things. Every single time I've had a setback this year, I've just took the positives.

“Good things come to those who wait.”

McKinson has spent much of his career waiting.

He had to wait years for his first major opportunities. When he did step up, he did everything asked of him and reeled off comfortable decision victories over the likes of Chris Kongo and Przemyslaw Runowski.

The impressive performances only served to alert his rivals to just how awkward and difficult a night’s work McKinson would be and he had to be patient before he got a shot at unbeaten American, Vergil Ortiz. 

In the ring, McKinson has attracted criticism for the unique, elusive style he employs in the ring and his lack of stoppages but his clever, patient, counter punching style means that he spends much of his time waiting for his opponents to lead.

The aggressive Ortiz only knows one way to fight and pressed the action from the start. A combination of Ortiz’s hard, accurate shots and a hip injury brought an end to the fight in the ninth round but McKinson performed well under fire and assumed that his enhanced profile would lead to more top level openings.

Instead, he has been forced to spend the two years since the loss ticking over against second tier opposition, biding his time until another opportunity presented itself.

It has finally arrived and if he is going to return to the very highest level, McKinson knows that he must impress against the dangerous Mbenge, 20-2 (15 KOs), this weekend.

“I haven't been in many hard fights. I've had hard, tough opponents, but the way I box, it hasn't been a hard night's work. I feel like I can still go for a long time in this sport. As long as I'm still improving and as long as I'm still enjoying it, I'm happy,” he said.

“I’ve had it all my own way a lot of times in my career. Once they realize they're out of depth, they don't really want to commit. You use it as a compliment a little bit. For me, it's a bit of an ego boost because I know the level I should be competing at.

“I was always getting tougher and tougher opposition, which are obviously harder and harder to knock out. I was making it look easy as I was going up levels and I didn't need to knock people out.

“I've fought all tiers and I've dropped back down a couple of levels. These guys that I've been fighting, the last four opponents have  kind of been a walk in a park. I know I belong at world level.

“These are the important years of my career. In the back of my head, I know that I should be in with. They've all had good records and they've all been capable opponents, but I know the level I belong at. It's just a matter of time.”

Time is ticking by and McKinson has decided to seize the initiative.

He isn’t a shop worn, defeated fighter, casting around for one final opportunity. McKinson is a stylistic nightmare for almost every top welterweight and he would be able to box and move his way to win after win against domestic and fringe world level opposition for years to come.

McKinson is bored of doing that. After a decade as a professional, he has accepted that boxing and moving isn’t going to tempt the division’s biggest names into the ring.

Although it didn’t go his way, McKinson took confidence from his fight with Ortiz and he wants to continue fighting at the highest level. The time he has spent trying to remain relevant after the loss has persuaded him that it is time to take more chances. 

Mbenge is the type of puncher that, in the past, McKinson would have taken great pleasure in defusing and frustrating. Now, he is set on taking him apart.

“I've always had a chip on my shoulder, having to prove myself to people. Whether that be to opposition, whether that be to promoters, whether that be to the boxing fans. I've always got my back up against the wall proving to people. I probably wouldn't be the boxer I am today without that,” he said.

“When I lost to Ortiz, that was the end of my Matchroom deal and things like that.

“I sat back and thought, I could box on small hall shows again but everyone's going to forget about me. 

“I went into last year with a mission. I know on points I can outpoint a lot of people in this  world. For the casuals, I knew I'd drop down a level or two and I went into last year with the ambition to stop people and I did. Two of my three last year. I know I have got that.

“Where my boxing ability is so good, why would I take chances? Now I'm at the stage in my career where I will take chances because I know that's what's going to keep opportunities coming, keep my face there. Keep love from the fans and keep love from the promoters because, at the end of the day, it's show business, isn't it?”

Light-heavyweight title hopeful Anthony Yarde is set for a landmark fight this weekend and after witnessing Artur Beterbiev’s undisputed title win last Saturday, the Brit appears to have taken some inspiration.

Anthony Yarde gave the Canadian-Russian one of his toughest tests in the professional ring when they went toe-to-toe last January – losing via knockout whilst ahead on the cards against the undefeated mastermind.

Following that victory, Beterbiev moved on to another Briton and halted Liverpool’s former super-middleweight world champion Callum Smith to extend his 100% knockout record to 20 fights.

However, 39-year-old Beterbiev’s insane run of stoppages came to an end when he was tasked with Russian technician and fellow light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh on Saturday.

Although that is not to say that he was not happy with the result, where he edged a split-decision to become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

During the build-up to that legendary scrap, Beterbiev’s training methods went viral as he showed his brutal wrist exercises at the public workout for the event.Artur Beterbiev’s stunning wrist exercise at today’s public workout ahead of the Dmitry Bivol fight on Saturday night… pic.twitter.com/kOjH5j9bfP

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 9, 2024Dmitry Bivol’s team requests immediate rematch against Artur Beterbiev

Meanwhile, Yarde has fought twice since losing out to the pound-for-pound superstar, banking back-to-back stoppage wins of his own against Jorge Silva and Marko Nikolic – neither of those opponents being able to reach the fourth round against the Londoner.

Now, as Yarde’s pursuit for light-heavyweight gold continues, the 33-year-old is set to make his debut under Ben Shalom and BOXXER since leaving Frank Warren’s Queensberry promotions.

At the public workout, Yarde copied Beterbiev’s training techniques and smiled at the camera afterwards, paying homage to one of the modern greats of the sport, as per Sky Sports Boxing.Anthony Yarde channelling his inner Artur Beterbiev 😎 😂#AzimDavies | Saturday pic.twitter.com/JMeM6ArgED

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 17, 2024

Yarde (25-3) will take on Latvia’s Ralfs Vilcans (17-1) on the Azim-Davies undercard at the Copper Box Arena in London this weekend, with the full card being available to watch live on Sky Sports on Saturday October 19th.

The lightweight Omar Salcido revived his career by stopping Chris Colbert in nine rounds at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

Two fights ago at the same venue, Salcido had lost for the first time when he was dropped by Jose Nunez in the process of recording a unanimous decision defeat.

Against a proven opponent for which he was the underdog, and having previously been dismissed as a fighter whose level was demonstrated when losing to Nunez, Salcido proceeded to gradually bully the 28-year-old Colbert, and to the extent that his opponent’s corner threw in the towel.

Salcido, 24 and of Mexico, sought to impose himself from the opening bell. His range contributed to him succeeding with a left hook to the body in the second round, shortly before they exchanged left hands and Colbert chose to attempt to fight on the back foot.

Colbert attempted to land his right uppercut and found the target with lefts to the body and head, and in the third round he started to succeed in outworking his opponent, largely because of his superior speed of hand.

After competitive fourth and fifth rounds, Colbert started the sixth with a combination that captured the extent to which Salcido was already becoming predictable. Salcido also briefly looked tired when his hands slowed as he attempted to fight with greater intensity, but he was then rewarded by finding Colbert to both body and head.

A right hand followed when Colbert was trapped in the corner, and Colbert responded by throwing a similar right to the head. When he was then attacked to the body and hurt and trapped towards the ropes, Salcido followed up with a right to the head that hurt Colbert, for the first time suggesting that he might not survive.

When in the seventh Salcido, with his consistent pressure, again trapped Colbert by the ropes, he followed doing so by again attacking to the body. If Colbert looked troubled, Salcido’s excessive confidence was shown by him throwing a sloppy right hand, but he then landed another right that again weakened his opponent. Though Colbert eventually threw a right in exchange, he already lacked the strength he had previously shown.

Where Colbert had appeared to have recovered in the eighth and impressed in landing a strong right hand, he again quickly started to tire in a way that suggested the previous seven-plus rounds were catching up with him. A left to the body made him hesitant; he was then caught twice more and hurt once again.

Salcido started the ninth detecting the possibility of the early finish, and watched Colbert then stumble with fatigue. When Colbert was again under attack and struggling to finish himself, his corner threw the towel in. The stoppage was recorded at one minute and two seconds of the ninth round; Colbert initially protested, but beneath the surface he knew that his team had made the right call.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol went toe-to-toe in an instant classic to crown the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the four-belt era on Saturday night – with Beterbiev edging a controversial split-decision. Since then, a rematch has been demanded, but it now appears Beterbiev will be forced to fight an alternate opponent.

After 12 rounds of high level action in Riyadh, a number of viewers felt as though Bivol had done enough to get the nod on the scorecards, but it was Beterbiev’s hand was raised – becoming an ironically disputed undisputed light-heavyweight champion.

Due to the controversy and quality of their first encounter, Dmitry Bivol and his team have requested that a rematch be ordered, believing that the uncertainty of the judges’ decision warrants a second affair.

Meanwhile, the next worthy candidates for the 175lb throne, David Benavidez and David Morrell, are scheduled to face one another in January – opening up the possibility for the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch to fight the winner of Benavidez-Morrell during 2025.

However, today it has been confirmed that the IBF has instead ordered Artur Beterbiev to defend his world title against 13-1 German contender, Michael Eifert, as per Michael Benson.The IBF have now officially ordered Artur Beterbiev to defend his undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO light-heavyweight world titles vs Michael Eifert next.

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 17, 2024EXCLUSIVE: The Return of KRONK – Brit dreams of revitalising boxing’s most respected gym

“The IBF have now officially ordered Artur Beterbiev to defend his undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO light-heavyweight world titles vs Michael Eifert next.”

Eifert defeated former unified light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal in March 2023 and has fought just once since, scoring a second-round knockout victory over 39-year-old Venezuelan Carlos Eduardo Jimenez back in August.

Although the clash between Beterbiev and Eifert has been ordered by the IBF, the likelihood is that the Canadian-Russian will instead opt to vacate his belt and go ahead with the much more fruitful rematch against Bivol.

As for the future of that world title if Beterbiev decides to vacate, Eifert will could be upgraded from mandatory challenger to world champion but the more likely scenario is that he will fight for the vacant title.

At #2 in the IBF rankings is Australia’s Conor Wallace (14-1) who will be licking his lips at the prospect of a showdown with Eifert for world honours.

The fallout from the surprise split between lightweight belt-holder Jose Valenzuela and Jose Benavidez Snr, his manager and trainer, was played out like a soap opera on Wednesday night.

It all began with Valenzuela, 25, addressing rumors on social media about his next fight. The southpaw, born in Mexico and based in Renton, Washington, claimed the WBA strap with a 12-round points victory over Isaac Cruz in August to take his record to 14-2 (9 KOs).

“Just wanted to clear some things I’ve been hearing lately about my next fight,” Valenzuela said. “But I’m no longer in a managing or training relationship with Jose Benavidez Snr or his team. It’s time to move forward. Stay tuned for the announcement of my next fight – it’s coming soon!”

At the time of the social media post, however, Benavidez Snr was tuned into Omar Salcido, another fighter he trains, during his upset victory over Chris Colbert on ProBoxTV.

Afterwards, Benavidez Jnr responded on social media, expressing surprise at the split and the nature of its announcement.

“I am just as confused as everyone else regarding Jose Valenzuela recent Instagram post [about] us not working together,” the trainer wrote. “I have not received any communication from Jose Valenzuela requesting to part ways.

“I have no problem going a different route or [him] choosing different people to work with. I took Rayo in before he turned pro and treated him like a son. Me and my sons always looked out for him and wanted the best for him. We worked our asses off together as a team to get where’s he’s at today. Success didn’t happen overnight.

“I knew deep down inside he would become a world champion even before he turned pro. So many times it seemed as if a title shot wasn’t going to come and I never gave up on him and the belt speaks for itself.

“With all the sacrifices I had to do not only on his end, but mine too, dealing with the behind the scenes bs, fighting for him to get the better fights, more money, bigger stages, etc. The list goes on.

“Jose Valenzuela could have at least been a man and talked to me first instead of sharing a post on Instagram. I am disappointed with his level of professionalism and hope he can communicate professionally.”

Valenzuela then returned to social media to respond.

“He’s lying,” he said. “He received a letter from my lawyer six days ago in his email, to his home address and to his gym.

There have been plenty of calls for fan-favourite heavyweight Derek Chisora to hang up the gloves in recent years, but a recent victory has put the ‘Del Boy’s’ retirement plan on ice.

Now, the front-footed Brit appears set to return in the ring in January 2025.

Chisora has twice challenged for heavyweight gold, with each of those unsuccessful title bids coming a decade apart – first losing a unanimous decision to Vitali Klitschko in 2012 before a bruising knockout defeat to Tyson Fury in 2022, which led to calls for the veteran to walk away from the sport.

Yet, almost two years on from his shortcomings against ‘The Gypsy King’, Chisora is still campaigning in the heavyweight division and recently secured an upset victory over Joe Joyce to remind fans that he is still a capable operator.

During the aftermath of that victory, the now 40-year-old declared that he will appear on two more occasions before retirement in order to reach the 50-fight landmark, outlining a desire to headline a card in Manchester.

And it appears that his dream has been accepted as a boxer has now confirmed that his team are in discussions to fight Chisora in Manchester in the next year.

‘Big Baby’ Jarrell Miller has confirmed to Boxing Scene that talks are ongoing for a fight between the pair to take place in January 2025.

And the venue is set to be Manchester.

“That’s the biggest one we’re talking about right now – Chisora. It’s not locked in yet; the deal’s not signed yet,” Miller confirmed.

“But there are definitely talks.

“We’re gonna see; we’re gonna see.

“We don’t have the arena locked down yet, but it’s looking like Manchester in January.

“I love it. I think it’s a great fight.

“I don’t think it’s an easy one but I think it’s a win.

“I’ve gotta go in there and beat my boy up.

“It’s so funny – as you get older in the sport of boxing, your fellow boxers become mates, I would say.Fabio Wardley gloves under investigation after brutal Frazer Clarke KO

“It’s hard to avoid everybody at the top eventually [even if you like them] – some of us have gotta fight.

“I’ve a level of respect for Chisora.

“I like him, as much as I like Andy [Ruiz], so hopefully I can fight him.

“I told people, ‘If Chisora’s in shape, and his chin can stand up, I think he can beat Joe Joyce; Joe Joyce is very slow, he’s not very active, and so Derek could get rid of him’.

“Chisora’s a little past his prime, but sometimes an old dog got tricks, man.

“He’s an old dog that got tricks.

“I worry about him.

“He got two hands and two feet like me, so I’m worried about Chisora [fighting on].

“But I’ma train my ass off ‘cause if you give a dog a chance, he gonna bite you.

“The whole point is to go in there, and put a dog down.

“You might hear about it real soon, but the contract’s not signed yet.”

So there you have it.

It seems that Derek Chisora is going to get his wish to have his next fight in Manchester.

Once all the details are finalised, it’s sure to be a fight that boxing fans will be looking forward to.

But the sheer fact that Jarrell Miller is openly talking about it seems to indicate that an announcement could be made sooner rather than later.

Jarrell Miller has confirmed that he is in discussions to fight Derek Chisora in January.

The 40-year-old Chisora revived his career when in July he so unexpectedly outpointed Joe Joyce.

The following month Miller, previously stopped by Daniel Dubois, drew with Andy Ruiz, leaving him on course to fight Chisora in Manchester in their combined attempts to return to contention in a heavyweight division in a relative state of flux. 

That there is so little suggestion of them again joining promotions associated with the powerbrokers of Saudi Arabia demonstrates that they remain far from considered among the elite, but at 36 Miller, unlike Chisora, is perhaps a fighter close to the peak of his powers, and he told BoxingScene: “That’s the biggest one we’re talking about right now – Chisora. It’s not locked in yet; the deal’s not signed yet. But there are definitely talks. 

“We’re gonna see; we’re gonna see. We don’t have the arena locked down yet, but it’s looking like Manchester in January. 

“I love it. I think it’s a great fight. I don’t think it’s an easy one but I think it’s a win. I’ve gotta go in there and beat my boy up.

“It’s so funny – as you get older in the sport of boxing, your fellow boxers become mates, I would say. It’s hard to avoid everybody at the top eventually [even if you like them] – some of us have gotta fight. I’ve a level of respect for Chisora. I like him, as much as I like Andy [Ruiz], so hopefully I can fight him.

“I told people, ‘If Chisora’s in shape, and his chin can stand up, I think he can beat Joe Joyce; Joe Joyce is very slow, he’s not very active, and so Derek could get rid of him’. Chisora’s a little past his prime, but sometimes an old dog got tricks, man. He’s an old dog that got tricks.

“I worry about him. He got two hands and two feet like me, so I’m worried about Chisora [fighting on]. But I’ma train my ass off ‘cause if you give a dog a chance, he gonna bite you. The whole point is to go in there, and put a dog down.

“You might hear about it real soon, but the contract’s not signed yet.”

Miller has been working under Derek “Bozy” Ennis, the respected trainer and father of Jaron “Boots” Ennis, at his Philadelphia-based gym.

For a fighter who has served three drug bans his recruitment of Ennis – also recognised for his progress with the talented Cuban lightweight Andy Cruz – perhaps represents a new start, and he said: “It’s great. Bozy Ennis – it’s good, man. I like it. He’s one of the coaches on my team now. Bozy’s a good guy, man. I love the atmosphere – Philly and Brooklyn are very close by.

“Bozy’s a great addition to the team, man. Hard work; no bullshit. That’s the shit I like, man. I don’t like trainers that are trying to play it safe or are intimidated to throw it to a fighter ‘cause they’re afraid of losing their job. I’m from Brooklyn – if we ain’t cussing, ‘Motherfucker you gotta run’, that don’t hit with me very well. 

“It’s great. Feeding off their energy. It’s fun – the atmosphere’s fun – and it’s hard work. Those guys hitting the bag; I gotta hit the bag. They doing 10 rounds; I gotta do 12. It’s a great gym; a great atmosphere, man.

“Philly and Brooklyn are very similar, man. The only thing that changes is Philly cheesesteak and pizzas. 

“One hundred per cent [it’s good for me to be in a different environment]. I drive an hour to be where I stay. I go to the Poconos [Mountains], and then an hour to the gym.”

Chris Colbert has been a name that American fans have been routing for in recent years although despite his relatively young age. However, there are now many who feel that the former WBA interim super-featherweight champion will never get his hands on a world title, after last night’s surprise defeat.

‘Prime Time’ starred in the 2017 documentary named ‘CounterPunch’ alongside Peter Quillan and Cam F. Awesome, tracking the development of three of the United States’ top prospects, although it was Colbert who showed the most potential.

By 2021, Colbert had built up a record of 16-0 and was the reigning WBA interim super-featherweight champion in hot pursuit of the now self-proclaimed ‘face of boxing’ Gervonta Davis – who held the full WBA world title at 130lbs at the time.

Colbert had scored wins over two former world champions in Jezreel Corrales and Tugstsogt Nyambayar and the possibility of him being able to hand ‘Tank’ a first career defeat was one that was not being disregarded.

Yet, Colbert would then lose his undefeated record to Hector Luis Garcia and move up to the lightweight division where he registered an impressive but controversial win over current WBA super-lightweight champion Jose Valenzuela on his debut at the weight.

In their rematch, ‘Rayo’ was far less forgiving and didn’t allow the judges to intervene this time around – knocking Colbert out with a late knockout of the year contender last December.British former world title challenger retires aged just 32-years-oldJose 'El Rayo' Valenzuela is coming up on his first world title shot as he attempts to take out WBA 140lb champion, Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz.

Here he is avenging his controversial defeat to Chris Colbert with one of the best knockouts of the decade so far. pic.twitter.com/cbxNEyYgh1

— 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒔 (@KOJournals) August 2, 2024

Last night, Colbert attempted to bounce back from the devastating stoppage but Omar Salcido was able to capitalise and the damaged goods left behind by Valenzuela and dominate the bout, until Colbert’s corner opted to throw in the towel in the ninth round.💥SALCIDO STOPS COLBERT!

Omar Salcido beats up Chris Colbert for almost the entirety of the fight, before the Colbert corner stops the fight a minute into Round 9 in Plant City, Florida

Salcido was a 2/1 (+200) underdog! pic.twitter.com/OpYJgklsce

— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) October 17, 2024

Salcido’s victory marks a third defeat in four outings for Colbert, with the win that separates his shortcomings being an eyebrow-raising one.

At 28-years-old, Colbert still has time on his side but he will need to show vast improvements in his next performance if he is to ever fulfil the promise that he showed in the early days of his professional career and bring a world title back to Brooklyn.

The relationship between a fighter and their trainer always has and always will be a special one – especially when a pair begin their career together and achieve that illustrious goal of becoming a world champion. However, one reigning champion in the world of boxing has made the decision to split from the man who has guided them to success on the world stage and he has done so in a controversial fashion.

Jose Valenzuela turned professional during 2018 and showed promise during the early stages of his career but back-to-back defeats to Edwin De Los Santos and Chris Colbert derailed his title challenge.

Still, a knockout of the year candidate in the Mexican’s rematch with Colbert thrust ‘Rayo’ back into the title picture and earlier this year he was able to spring the upset over WBA super-lightweight champion Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.

Since the victory, rumours have suggested that Cruz will activate a rematch clause and enforce a second encounter with Valenzuela in an attempt to regain his 140lb throne, although official confirmation of Valenzuela’s next fight is not yet announced.

On social media, the 25-year-old southpaw declared that fight news for his first defence of the WBA crown was coming soon but also revealed that he had split from long-term trainer Jose Benavidez Sr., who is also the father and coach of fan-favourite light-heavyweight, David Benavidez.Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing good. Just want to clear up some things I’ve been hearing lately about my next fight. But I’m no longer in a managing or training relationship with José Benavidez Sr. or his team. It’s time to move forward. Stay tuned for the announcement of my…

— Jose el Rayo Valenzuela (@rayoboxing) October 17, 2024

“Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing good. Just want to clear up some things I’ve been hearing lately about my next fight. But I’m no longer in a managing or training relationship with Jose Benavidez Sr. or his team. It’s time to move forward. Stay tuned for the announcement of my next fight – it’s coming soon!:”

However, Benavidez Sr. has since taken to Instagram to admit that this is the first he is hearing of his split from Valenzuela – saddened by the fact that the WBA title-holder told the world of social media before having a private conversation.British former world title challenger retires aged just 32-years-old

“I am just as confused as everyone else regarding Jose Valenzuela recent Instagram post of us not working together. I have not received any communication from Jose Valenzuela requesting to part ways.

“I have no problem with him going a different route or choosing different people to work with. I took Rayo in before he turned pro and treated him like a son. Me and my sons always looked out for him and wanted the best for him. We worked our asses off together as a team to get where he’s at today. Success didn’t happen overnight.

“I knew deep down inside he would become a world champion even before he turned pro. So many times, it seemed as if a title shot wasn’t going to come but I never gave up on him and the belt speaks for itself.

“With all the sacrifices I had to do not only on his end, but mine too dealing with the behind-the-scenes bulls**t, fighting for him to get the better fights, more money, bigger stages, etc.

“The list goes on. Jose Valenzuela could have at least been a man and talked to me first instead of sharing post on Instagram. I am disappointed with his level of professionalism and hope he can communicate professionally.”

The rematch between Valenzuela and Cruz had been expected to take place on the undercard of David Benavidez’s intriguing showdown with David Morrell (touted for January 25th in Las Vegas), although an assumably sour relationship between ‘Rayo’ and the Benavidez family may well have put an end to that possibility.

Fabio Wardley produced one of the knockouts of the year this past Saturday.

Taking on Frazer Clarke for a second time after their first fight in March ended in a draw, there was no mistaking who came out victorious in this fight.

The image of the effect on Clarke’s face after the punch was

Clarke subsequently had to have surgery as it was diagnosed that he’d broken his jaw in the fight.

But the devastating effect of the punch is now seemingly being investigated according to Ben Shalom.

Shalom, the promoter for Frazer Clarke, was speaking to YouTube channel Sportsman Boxing and has lifted the lid of the current state of play.

BOXXER founder Shalom has stated that he and his team are investigating and looking very closely at the gloves worn by Fabio Wardley for the Clarke fight.

“We’ll look at what the gloves situation was there – I won’t get too much into it…

“But there was a lot of talk during the week as to the gloves that were being worn by Fabio Wardley.

“A doctor said to me that there’s no way in hell any boxing glove should be able to have that level of damage.

“But it was a clinical, clinical and to the fight by Fabio Wardley.

“But as I say, anything can happen in heavyweight boxing – Frazer will learn from it and he has a massive career ahead”.

Just in that gambit, Ben Shalom implies that there were murmurings around the gloves that Fabio Wardley that was planning on wearing in the week running up to the fight.EXCLUSIVE: Ben Shalom puts Frank Warren on blast after viral outburst

What that talk was isn’t clear.

So the presenter asked the BOXXER supremo to provide more detail on what exactly they’re looking at with the gloves situation.

“Yes. It’s something that we are looking at very carefully at the moment with our team.

“Not just for big Frazer’s sake, but these customised gloves that are starting to get introduced… The word customised, the fact that they’re different, you’ve got to look into it.

“And as I mentioned, I’m not going to get too much into it because it’s an ongoing process but during the week we were warned repeatedly by Frazer’s team around what gloves could be being used.

“That’s no excuse.

“Frazer lost the fight fair and square.

“It’s the damage that that can cause and that will have to be looked at”.

This is likely to turn into quite an intriguing situation.

Although Shalom is clear that there are no excuses from Frazer Clarke and that Fabio Wardley won the fight fairly, it seems that the state of boxing gloves used by fighters may get brought into the spotlight after that display.

Whether that will have implications on future fights remains to be seen.

To be clear, there are no suggestions that Wardley has done anything wrong or illegal and it may be that the review from Shalom’s team may not bring out anything untoward.

But it looks as though there will be some type of microscope put onto customised gloves in the future.

In last Saturday’s “Brick City Fight Night Series” in Newark, New Jersey, Daniel Gonzalez took a unanimous decision over Michael Anderson in the main event, as previously reported .

In the co-main event, Khalid Twaiti dropped Emmanuel Rodriguez once en route to a unanimous decision in their 10-round bantamweight contest. Twaiti, 14-0 (5 KOs), from Brooklyn, New York, won by scores of 99-91 (twice) and 98-91, while Rodriguez, 15-3 (8 KOs), saw his two-fight win streak come to an end.

One of the night’s most explosive finishes came from Danny Gonzalez, 4-0 (4 KOs) of Iselin, New Jersey, who stopped Gabriel Gerena, 6-1 (5 KOs), from Piscataway, New Jersey, with a powerful left hook for a first-round stoppage.

Heavyweight Kristian Prenga, 16-1 (16 KOs) kept his perfect knockout record intact, stopping veteran Joey Dawejko, 28-13-4 (16 KOs) in the fifth round of a scheduled eight. The bout was halted when Dawejko complained of a left bicep injury after throwing a punch, leading the ringside doctor to call an end to the contest.

Anthony Johns, 9-1 (6 KOs), gave his hometown crowd a show, earning a majority decision over journeyman Edwin Reyes, 8-9-3 (5 KOs), in a six-round bout. The scores were 60-54 and 59-55 for Johns, while one judge had it 57-57.

In the night’s opening fight, junior middleweight prospect Jean Pierre Valencia, 2-0 (2 KOs), of Irvington, New Jersey, delivered a body-shot knockout, dropping Cody Jenkins, 0-4, for the count with a left hook to the liver in the first round.

"It was a night full of upsets, knockouts and young fighters taking risks,” said Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna, whose Rising Star Promotions put on the event in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and the Prudential Center. “That’s what boxing is all about.”

Joshua James Pagan is set to face Haskell Rhodes in a 10-round lightweight bout Friday at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of the “Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” event.

The co-feature will showcase Argentina’s Juan Carrillo in the light heavyweight division against Miami's Lenin Castillo.

The fighters participated in a press conference on Tuesday and a media workout on Wednesday at the Felix Pagan Pintor Boxing Gym, hosted by International Boxing Hall of Famer Ivan Calderon.

Pagan, 10-0 (4 KOs), from Grand Rapids, Michigan, turned pro in January 2023 and has remained highly active under Salita Promotions. This bout marks his 11th professional fight and his first at the 10-round distance.

“I see this as the hard part,” the 24-year-old Pagan said of a Thursday press conference. “I just love fighting and training; that’s the easy part. It’s my full-time job and what I love to do, and what I’ve been doing my entire life. Camp’s been great, and I went to [Las] Vegas for about a week and a half and got some good sparring from Bruce Carrington before finishing camp here last week.”

A former multiple-time national champion in the USA Boxing system, Pagan expressed gratitude toward his opponent.

“I want to thank Haskell Rhodes for accepting the fight,” he said. “I have no doubt in my mind that we have a great fight on our hands for everyone here. Growing up, I always dreamed of fighting in Puerto Rico, let alone the main event. It’s truly a blessing to be here. I used to watch Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, and they inspired me to be the next great fighter with Puerto Rican lineage.”

Rhodes, 31-6, (16 KOs), a 37-year-old from Las Vegas, enters the ring on a two-fight win streak after losing to undefeated Antonio Perez last year in Miami. His most notable recent bout was a unanimous decision loss to unbeaten lightweight Floyd Schofield in July 2023.

Fighting in Puerto Rico for the first time, Rhodes noted his own inspiration from a legendary Puerto Rican fighter.

“If you’ve ever seen me fight or the way I dress, it’s definitely influenced by Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, down to my red-and-black shoes with all the sparkles,” Rhodes said. “I’m bringing a heavy vibe of Hector Camacho on Friday night!”

In the co-feature, Carrillo, 12-0 (9 KOs) will face Castillo, 25-5-1 (19 KOs), in a competitive light heavyweight matchup. Carrillo, a 32-year-old from Colombia, previously defeated unbeaten prospect Richard Vansiclen in June 2023 and has fought only once since, stopping Quinton Rankin in the third round.

“I have confidence that I will win this fight on Friday night,” Carrillo said.

Said Castillo, a 36-year-old Dominican: “There is a lot of attention right now on the light heavyweight division, which is very deep in talent.”

Also on the bill will be middleweight prospect Da’velle Smith, 9-0 (7 KOs), from Taylor, Michigan, and Puerto Rico’s 34-year-old Kiria Tapia, 4-0, who shared their excitement about fighting in Puerto Rico.

Said Smith: “I’ve been here since Monday and just can’t wait for Friday night. I have Puerto Rico in my heart, and I’ve been trying to get here for 16 years. Hopefully, what’s next for me are bigger fights and showing everyone that I’m ready to put my foot on the gas and become a world champion.”

Said Tapia: “I grew up watching great women’s champions like Laila Ali and Christy Martin. They inspired me to be the fighter I am, and I hope I can be the one to show future girls and women what it takes to become a world champion boxer.”

Tsendbaatar Erdenebat edged closer to a shot at a junior-lightweight title when he earned his 11th professional victory via a unanimous decision over Francy Fortunato at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

Erdenebat, 11-0 (5 KOs), imposed a high work rate on Fortunato, 15-2 (11 KOs), and also largely dictated the range at which their fight unfolded, and in so doing inflicted on the Dominican his second defeat.

It was in the second round when Erdenebat first made a significant impression on both Fortunato and the judges, when he trapped his opponent towards the ropes and started targeting his body.

Another punch to the body curiously led to Fortunato clutching his head and complaining, which in turn led to one member of the crowd present comparing him to Ben Whittaker, so recently accused of seeking a way out of his fight with Liam Cameron on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol – and before the round concluded Fortunato was again under assault on the ropes.

When the third followed a similar pattern, Fortunato, 26, responded by instead attempting to pick cleaner punches but did so like a fighter who may have struggled to make weight.

They exchanged right hands in the fourth, before Erdenebat again hurt Fortunato to the body and in turn was punished by taking a straight right hand. The Dominican’s struggles, regardless, were captured by him bleeding from his bottom lip and by him showing signs of fatigue.

It was from the sixth when Mongalia’s Erdenebat, as a consequence of the intensity with which he had been seeking to fight, started to do so in bursts, as he did towards the round’s end.

He succeeded with a straight left in the seventh, following another burst of activity, and then another left hand at the end of another burst.

Three further left hands followed in quick succession in the eighth, and when in the ninth they continued to fight at the 28-year-old Erdenebat’s favored range but Fortunato attempted to fight back, it served only to show how little that range did for the power of the longer Fortunato’s punches.

In a reversal of roles, it was the tiring Erdenebat who found himself trapped towards the ropes in the 10th and final round, but with Fortunato’s left eye swelling up, the judges’ decision appeared a near-certainty, as the scores then confirmed.

The Puerto Rican light heavyweight Najee Lopez had by then impressed by dismantling Ismael Ocles inside three rounds.

He caught the eye as early as the first, via his body work and when landing a right hand to the head.

Ocles, from Ecuador, was already showing signs of being broken down in the second round because of a succession of right hands that forced him back towards the ropes, where further right hands again made an impression.

The stoppage came after 38 seconds of the third, when Lopez, 12-0 (9 KOs), threw a vicious right to the body, and after a delayed reaction Ocles, 15-17 (3 KOs), went down, clearly hurt, and was counted out.

David Navarro earlier recorded the first defeat of Mykell “G Baby” Gamble’s career when he outworked him to earn scores of 78-73, 78-73 and 77-74 at the conclusion of their featherweight contest.

The time will likely come when Gamble, 7-1 (4 KOs), is frustrated about the relative ease with which he allowed Navarro, 7-1 (3 KOs), to largely dictate the pace at which they fought.

In the opening round, Gamble landed a straight left to Navarro’s chin that demonstrated a hole in his defense, and while he didn’t hurt his opponent, Gamble was presented with further opportunities to do so and struggled to take them.

From as early as the third, their fight became a battle between Navarro’s hand speed and Gamble’s speed of foot, but for all that Navarro presented Gamble with opportunities to time him and counter him, he fought with a lack of spite and was therefore gradually outscored.

Navarro caught the eye in the fourth when he landed a right hand. He then swung and missed with a left, before landing another right in close while Gamble was off-balance.

He appeared to hurt Gamble in the fifth, and in the sixth landed another strong right hand before absorbing a counter left and then watching Gamble make him miss.

A familiar pattern unfolded in the seventh – Navarro landing, this time with a left hand to the chin, then becoming overeager, swinging with a right hand and missing the target. He continued to swing, and Gamble’s punch resistance meant that he continued to absorb the punishment that came his way – but without the activity he required to be more than a competitive loser.

In Las Cruces, New Mexico, five-year-old Joscelyn Olayo-Munoz discovered boxing in her living room with stepdad Danny Melendrez, a boxing coach since 2002. Under Melendrez’s guidance, Olayo-Munoz embraced the sport, dedicating herself to becoming a rising star on Team USA.

Balancing school and boxing can prove challenging, yet Olayo-Munoz, also a track athlete for Las Cruces High School, thrives on the competition. Beyond sports, she cherishes time with friends and family, enjoying a well-rounded life that includes her newfound passion for track.

"Outside of sports, I'm a girly girl," Joscelyn shares. "My mom encourages me to have a life beyond boxing. After training, I love mall outings, shopping, hanging out with friends, getting my nails done, and Starbucks. I enjoy being myself and having fun."

In 2015, Olayo-Munoz debuted in competitive boxing, securing a split-decision victory. Now a dominant force in USA Boxing, she will represent Team USA in the 48 kg weight class at the World Boxing U19 Championships in Pueblo, Colorado.

"Overcoming losses is my biggest challenge," Joscelyn admits. "I learn from every defeat, seeking ways to improve. Dwelling on losses isn't productive; I focus on moving forward."

With 15 USA Boxing amateur titles, including the 2023 National Championships, Olayo-Munoz impresses with her ring prowess and fierce determination. Once in the ring, the 'girly girl' transforms into a relentless competitor focused solely on victory.

For Joscelyn, boxing transcends competition—it’s personal. Honoring her grandmother, a breast cancer survivor, she wears custom trunks with a breast cancer ribbon at national events, donning pink socks in Pueblo as a tribute.

"Each time I step into the ring, I carry my grandmother's strength," she says, her voice filled with emotion.

"I’m focused," Joscelyn declares. "I’m here to win gold. Whoever steps into the ring with me will face my best effort, regardless of size, stature, or nationality."

As the World Boxing U19 Championships approach, Joscelyn Olayo-Munoz stands on the brink of realizing her dreams. With her stepdad’s support and her grandmother's spirit, she’s prepared to leave everything in the ring. Her fight isn’t just for herself—it’s for family, heritage, and future.

In this week’s mailbag, we tackle your thoughts on Artur Beterbiev’s majority decision victory over Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight championship, including how Beterbiev and Bivol felt about their own performances, as well as the idea of a rematch given that, well, there remains some dispute about who deserves to be undisputed.

We also tackle a dream fight between two of the top talents in the world, both of whom are from Japan: undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue and bantamweight titleholder Junto Nakatani.

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.

Beterbiev may have been unhappy with how he won, but he still won

Artur Beterbiev is not happy unless he gets the stoppage. As his record reflects. He is always looking to improve. The punch stats [in the Dmitry Bivol fight] were basically even, with Artur landing harder shots and controlling the fight. He was the aggressor and he made the fight.

You can't win a fight running all night unless you barely get touched. Bivol got beat up. His entire plan was to not get stopped. It was obvious. It isn't amateur boxing. More touches don't win a pro fight. The criteria is a lot different.

-Theshotyoudontsee

Eric Raskin’s response: There are certain words and phrases here that I just can’t get behind, even though I am in agreement with you – and in disagreement with the majority of the internet – that Beterbiev won the fight.

I scored it 115-113 for Beterbiev. There were far too many close rounds to insist with any conviction that the right guy won. But I will say, without conviction, that if somebody had to win (though a draw would have been perfectly acceptable), it was the fighter whose hand was indeed raised.

Still, I wouldn’t call what Bivol did “running.” I wouldn’t say he “got beat up.” I definitely don’t feel he fought not to get stopped. He fought to try to keep Beterbiev at bay, pushing out that jab as often as he possibly could. It’s exactly the game plan Bivol used to defeat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and the difference was that in the later stages of that fight, Canelo accepted his fate rather than going all-out for a come-from-behind KO.

Canelo relented in the face of Bivol’s disciplined boxing. Beterbiev was relentless in the face of that same execution. He grew more aggressive as the fight wore on, and it was his superior work in the final three rounds that pulled him ahead on my scorecard and on the official cards.

Bivol didn’t fight to survive. He fought to win a boxing match, and he was doing so until he found himself slightly overmatched when a fight broke out.

Here’s what Bivol needs to do differently in a rematch 

Neither man has any reason to be ashamed of his performance. I would like to have seen Bivol get the decision, but it didn’t work out that way. 

I thought Bivol put enough force on Beterbiev to leave his ears ringing all day Sunday, but in the end, Beterbiev seemed to have landed the harder shots; he was the aggressor almost all the time, and toward the end of the fight he (very surprisingly) seemed to have more gas left in his tank. Those things are what counts when a fight is close enough for people to quarrel about the decision.

For Bivol to win next time, he will need to strike with more authority, stand and trade a bit more and – almost unbelievably for Bivol – take his endurance up a notch. He might also help levelize the endurance by taking the fight to Beterbiev’s frequently exposed liver. If I were on his coaching team, I’d suggest watching some videos of Vasiliy Lomachenko and develop techniques for working angles on Beterbiev to get past his guard, and especially on Beterbiev’s right side.

Great contest. The correct decision seems to have been rendered. Here’s hoping for a different outcome in the rematch.

-Bro. Steve

David Greisman’s response: You make an astute observation by bringing up the topic of endurance. There are a couple of things that might have done Bivol in on the scorecards, and both might be endurance-related. (Spoiler alert: Bivol thinks it was something else within his control. More on that in a moment.)

There were a few swing rounds in which Bivol controlled the first half, or the first two minutes, but then Beterbiev finished stronger and landed enough punches – and with enough emphasis – that they stuck in the minds of the judges once the bell rang.

And there were those final rounds when the fight was on the line. Going into the 11th round, one judge had Bivol up 96-94, one judge had it even at 95-95, and one judge had Beterbiev ahead 96-94.

Beterbiev swept those final two rounds, leaving us with the final scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112. Had Bivol won just one of those rounds, the fight would have been a split draw: 115-113 for Bivol, 114-114 and 115-113 for Beterbiev. Had Bivol won those final two rounds, the result would have been a majority decision in his favor.

Bivol says it’s not a matter of endurance, though, that he wasn’t fading or tired.

“I didn’t do these [final] three rounds perfect. I was just trying to find perfect moment,” Bivol said in an interview with Marcos Villegas of FightHub . “I was trying, but I couldn't. I just had to act. Not just waiting. I just had to act, but I didn’t. Maybe I wasn’t sure it’s right moment, but the time passed very fast, to be honest. Every round for me was like one minute.”

Here’s what else Bivol said he would need to do in a rematch:

“I want to improve more with my movements. I didn’t move enough. I felt I had to move more. More counterpunches. I just need to add more. I felt some moments where I could do it, but I was a little bit careful.”

Rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol isn’t a given

Turki Alalshikh says right now that he wants the rematch between Beterbiev vs Bivol, but nothing is concrete in this business. Promoters talk fantasy scenarios, but it doesn't always come off (Canelo vs Crawford). What's good for the fans, and good for the sport, sometimes doesn't materialize – in this case, the rematch.

It wouldn't be a shock if Beterbiev moves up to cruiserweight, leaving all the light heavyweight belts behind for one last shot at further glory by facing a 200lbs beltholder. He's probably too old and too small to make that leap successfully, but these elite boxers always stretch themselves to unrealistic heights for the challenge.

-Scotland The Brave

Lucas Ketelle’s response: In the rollercoaster world of Saudi Arabian boxing, there was a time when it seemed like anything was possible – one superfight after another shaking up the sport. Now that Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season crew are digging deeper into the boxing business, they’re getting a reality check on why this sport has always been operating how it has.

Look at Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol – a fight that could have crowned the top light heavyweight of this generation, but the debate over the decisions overshadows the big picture. It had all the hype. We all wanted it. We still want the rematch, and you probably do, too. Does everyone else? Will the TV networks think it’s worth the investment? Will fans even care enough to tune in?

Beterbiev-Bivol is a purist’s dream: a real chess match in a sport leaning more toward flashy Instagram moments than serious substance. These two aren’t just chasing greatness, however. They’re obsessed with it. Beterbiev, at 39, doesn’t have time on his side. He has maybe three years and a handful of fights left in him, if that. The clock is ticking, and if this rematch doesn’t happen soon, it may never happen at all.

In the next few weeks, we’ll see if there’s enough buzz, both online and behind the scenes, to make the rematch a reality. Hints will drop, rumors will swirl. If it falls through? Don’t act shocked. Boxing’s always been about the money, no matter how much we wish it weren’t.

Remember how Erik Morales vs Marco Antonio Barrera kicked off a legendary rivalry? Sometimes it takes a little chaos to create something great. So will Beterbiev and Bivol revive the sport’s golden days? Or are they just another example of how boxing has become a business-first game?

Forecasting Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani

I'm not willing to say just yet that Junto Nakatani is better than Naoya Inoue. People gotta remember: Naoya Inoue at 118lbs destroyed opponents even more ruthlessly than Nakatani. But due to his physical attributes, Nakatani is more likely to be able to fight at a heavier weight than Inoue when both their careers are over. However, given their current skills, age, experience and competition, If they were to fight in 2025 at 122lbs, I'd say Inoue will still win.

In terms of passing the baton, it would be quite dramatic if during the second half of next year, Inoue (age 32) and Nakatani (age 27) fight at 122, then rematch a few years in the future at featherweight as the undisputed 126lbs Inoue (age 35) vs the undisputed 122lbs Nakatani (age 30) for possibly the final fight of Inoue’s career.

Of course, I certainly won't be looking forward to Inoue losing, and I think he'll still go undisputed, but if it is going to happen, given the age difference, I feel like it will be Nakatani.

-Elheath

Jason Langendorf’s response: I don’t disagree with any of the analysis here, which I think is accurate and measured. And you’d better believe I agree with the idea, on principle, of an Inoue-Nakatani matchup – even just one fight at 122, let alone a rematch at 126.

Do I think either will happen? A lot still has to fall into place, including the usual business details, favorable health and continued (convincing) winning on the part of both fighters between now and then. I’m not among those who believe Inoue has fallen off, so I think he should have enough left in the tank to compete in a theoretical rematch with Nakatani.

Much of that, though, depends on Inoue’s future activity and choice of opponents. Are we talking more TJ Dohenys biannually? Or will it be a series of Luis Nerys 3-4 times a year? In any case, the variables that can scuttle Inoue-Nakatani – and certainly Inoue-Nakatani II – in the interim are too numerous to count.

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.

Premier Boxing Champions recognized Tim Tszyu had saved the launch of its partnership with Amazon Prime when he agreed to fight Sebastian Fundora at late notice.

Australia’s Tszyu sacrificed his undefeated status and his WBO junior middleweight title when in March he lost to Fundora via split decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

He had prepared to fight Keith Thurman, a considerably different nature of fighter, until an injury suffered by Thurman ruled him out. If the safe option would have been to refuse to fight Fundora, and therefore jeopardize the PBC-Amazon launch that was somewhat reliant on his reputation but that wasn’t his responsibility to save, he then fought on from the second round with a significant cut that transformed the nature of the fight.

Where in different circumstances PBC would have delivered a considerably less appealing main event, or one that stopped at the conclusion of the second round, the promoters instead witnessed Tszyu battle through the blood pouring from his head throughout the majority of the 12 bruising and dramatic rounds that unfolded.

It is tempting to interpret his being matched with IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, in his following fight, as a reward from PBC at a time when the loss of its broadcast agreement with Showtime had the potential to be so damaging.

Most recently, Tszyu learned that his long-term cutman Mark Gambin will be absent on fight night because of his needing to undergo emergency surgery on an inflamed appendix that had to be removed. But asked if PBC had recognized his contribution to their new business plan, Tszyu told BoxingScene: “Yeah. They said to me after that … which means a lot, you know.

“It means a lot, man, to me, when people say that kind of stuff. That’s why I’ve stayed loyal – it’s quite simple.

“They just said they were very appreciative of the way I handled things, and the way things went to plan. 

“I wouldn’t want my corner to – I’d be pretty dirty on them if they pulled me out, so that’s why it’s never been discussed [with my corner], because I’ve never thought of it that way.

“[And] it sort of plays down [Fundora’s] victory. At the end of the day – but we did go to a split decision; it was a close, close fight – but at the end of the day, he won. And cut or no cut, would have, should have, could have, that’s all in the past. He got the victory, and he’s the champ.

“I lived my childhood dream, to be fighting in Vegas, in the gladiator’s stadium. Things didn’t go according to plan, but life doesn’t always go to plan.”

Murtazaliev, 31 and of Russia, won the vacant IBF title in April when he stopped Jack Culcay. He represents another significant test for Tszyu, who came close to agreeing to an even more difficult contest against the dangerous Vergil Ortiz Jr., until the time it took for his cut to heal delayed his return to the ring.

“It was more about the preparation, because with Ortiz – you’ve got to be 100 per cent ready for that fight,” Tszyu continued. “You can’t really have two weeks of sparring and then [fight someone of that caliber]. It was more about being professional and being 100 per cent ready – for everybody now, no matter who the opponent is.

“It’s just on top of the head, but it’s all nice and smooth now. I sort of needed that extra time, for the cut to heal, so I’m glad I didn’t just go in like a maniac.”

Turki Al-Alshikh’s plunge into the world of boxing has undeniably aided the sport and it’s promoters by making rivals work together and thus creating the biggest possible fights. However, the result of Al-Alshikh’s blockbuster events has also seen BOXXER’s Ben Shalom enter the supposed ‘inner circle’ of British boxing promotion and now the youngster has fired back at comments made by his older competitors.

Shalom made headlines during the Beterbiev-Bivol fight week after he was seen arguing with Frank Warren on stage, attempting to ensure that he was in the spotlight for the face-off’s and weigh-in’s for the fighters who he promotes – Ben Whittaker, Frazer Clarke and Chris Eubank Jr.

On fight night, only Eubank Jr. proved to be successful, as Clarke and Whittaker were both dealt with injuries – one seemingly more serious than the other.

During the aftermath, Frank Warren told Boxing King Media that he believes Shalom’s shortcomings came as a result of karma.

“Karma always happens, I’m a big believer in karma. All that nonsense with Mr. Shalom, we all see what happened.”

Meanwhile, in a separate interview with Box Nation, Warren added his belief that Shalom had been disrespectful throughout the entirety of fight week.Chris Colbert suffers shock defeat as title plans derailed once again

“All you got from him all week was “Where am I sitting? Am I on the camera side of the TV?” Sending contracts through, “I must be in the middle of the photograph. I don’t want Eddie Hearn in a photograph with my fighter.” Had he done it (again), I would’ve (physically) thrown him off the stage. He was just so disrespectful to everybody, everybody had enough of him. Just hard work.”

Today, speaking exclusively with , Ben Shalom hit back at Warren and outlined his concern at the inhumane labelling that Warren uses to speak about fighters whom he works with.

“First of all, they are not property, They are not my fighter or your fighter, they are individuals in their own right and they are individuals that have worked very hard. To say that it is karma for someone to be hospitalized and lose the fight, I think that is very bad.”

“He says I have been giving it [large] all week? Giving it all week in terms of one time, deciding ‘you know what? I will stand where I am supposed to’ having been blocked out of every single event that I have been to.”

The drama between Warren and Shalom is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon and only time will tell whether their poor relationship proves to be a stumbling block for future contests or if it will intensify a possible five versus down the line.