Former two-belt champion Murodjon ’s legal team is positioning for a battle as an October 29 IBF purse-bid process looms over the next fight for Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight and four-division champion, Naoya Inoue.

As the World Boxing Association’s mandatory challenger to Inoue, 28-0 (25 KOs), Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev, 12-1 (9 KOs), argues he’s next in line in the rotation of mandatory challengers an undisputed champion must face – in front of the foe Inoue intends to fight next, IBF mandatory Sam Goodman of Australia. 

“Two fights ago, (the WBA) gave (Inoue) a special exception (to fight someone other than Akhmadaliev (Mexico’s Luis Nery),” Akhmadaliev’s attorney, Pat English, told BoxingScene Tuesday. “It’s long since the WBA’s turn and we’re not going gently into that good night.

“Inoue either gives up that (WBA) title or there’s going to be litigation.”

English penned an email to the leaders of all four sanctioning bodies Tuesday, emphasizing that points minutes after the IBF scheduled a purse bid for the Inoue-Goodman bout following failed negotiations between the promoters for both unbeaten fighters.

“We object to this purse bid and … Mr. Goodman being the next bout of Mr. Inoue,” English wrote in the letter reviewed by BoxingScene. “Murodjon Akhmadaliev is the long-standing WBA mandatory and in order of sequence, the WBA mandatory (long overdue) is next in line. We have demanded that the WBA enforce the mandatory. We do not wish to threaten but we will take legal action if Mr. Inoue attempts to bypass his WBA mandatory.”

It’s unclear how deeply Inoue cares about the undisputed banner. He is believed to be planning for Goodman, then a bout against unbeaten bantamweight champion and countryman Junto Nakatani in 2025 before moving up to featherweight.

Earlier Tuesday, Akhmadaliev’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, posted on “X” that his fighter deserves the opportunity to fight Inoue next as the Inoue promoters, Teiken and Top Rank, failed to secure the Goodman deal. 

“They don’t want to fight their mandatories, now they are not even wanting to pay hand-picked opponents (who) are obviously (accepting) the fight as a payday only,” Kornilov wrote. “Send Akhmadaliev the offer that was sent to Goodman, and we will make every effort to accept as is.”

Inoue’s U.S. promoter, Bob Arum, has previously chided former WBA-IBF champion Akhmadaliev’s name recognition while most recently having Inoue take a one-sided bout in September versus veteran TJ Doheny in Japan.

And while that disinterest from the promotion is one thing, attorney English argues it’s up to the sanctioning bodies to ensure that undisputed or unified champions or following the proper order of their mandatory obligations.

“The WBA has skipped my guy twice,” English said. “It’s up to the ratings organizations to enforce their rules.

“It’s like in boxing where there’s certain borderline punches that a boxer will use if he can get away with it if a referee doesn’t call them on it. The other side has to object or the judge doesn’t police the situation.”

Akhmadaliev became champion by virtue of his 2020 victory over Daniel Roman and reigned until a disputed April 2023 split-decision loss to Marlon Tapales in which one judge scored the bout 118-110 for Akhmadaliev.

While Tapales proceeded to a 10th-round knockout loss to Inoue in December 2023, Akhmadaliev moved to No. 1 in the WBA ratings afterward.

“If Mr. Inoue wishes to vacate his WBA title, then we cannot object to him fighting someone other than Akhmadaliev, but, as it stands now, we object to anyone or any organization interfering with Mr. Akhmadaliev’s rights,” English wrote.

With Artur Beterbiev claiming the undisputed light-heavyweight championship with victory over Dmitry Bivol, unbeaten WBC interim champion David Benavidez officially stands as mandatory challenger, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed to BoxingScene Tuesday.

The issue – as it was while Benavidez waited three years as top-ranked and mandatory contender to undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez – is whether the power of that position equates to putting that fight on the calendar.

Benavidez’s father/trainer, Jose Benavidez Snr, remembers vividly that Alvarez-Benavidez was “never made” despite his son’s position, but he maintains hope that a new fight and a new division will result in a different outcome this time around.

Former super-middleweight champion David Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs), has signed to meet Cuba’s unbeaten World Boxing Association secondary champion David Morrell Jnr, 11-0 (9 KOs), on an expected Prime Video pay-per-view headliner in late January or early February in Las Vegas, according to the elder Benavidez.

“Everybody thought David (Benavidez) was running from David Morrell. But he was the one who called (Premier Boxing Champions head) Al Haymon and said he wanted that fight, and he got it,” Benavidez Snr said. “Morrell and David both have a lot of fans who think they’ll win the fight. David (Benavidez) has all the experience to hurt him and maybe even stop him.”

Doing so should strongly position Benavidez for the shot at Russia’s Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs), although because of the entertainment value of the first bout with countryman Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs), Saudi Arabia’s Sela, headed by Turki Alalshikh, could likely opt to push for a rematch that could keep Benavidez on a title-fight pause.

“That (title shot is) the reason we went up to 175: to fight the best: The winner of Beterbiev-Bivol,” Benavidez Snr said. “Right now, our focus is the upcoming fight with Morrell. We have to look impressive in order to get those big fights. That would be something that David is looking for. He would love that fight. Before that, we have a tough, young, strong fighter in front of us. We’re going to make that fight to see if we’re going to get Beterbiev.”

The history of being put off is certainly in mind, but until anything happens to indicate a repeat of the Canelo treatment, Team Benavidez is returning to its attitude of the early days of being the top contender at 168 pounds.

“We’ve just got to be consistent and hope that things change,” Benavidez Snr said. “I hope the same thing doesn’t repeat. We’ve got to stay positive, keep working, stay busy and hopefully we get the opportunity. We felt at 168 there was no opportunity. We hope at 175 there is. We keep struggling, keep working hard and we hope that opportunity is given to David.”

Bebavidez Snr said he was eagerly anticipating Beterbiev-Bivol, and watched it closely.

“It was a very close fight. I believe Beterbiev (at age 39) is not the same guy we used to see,” Benavidez Snr said. “I was expecting more from him. He has a big punch. He tried everything he could. He didn’t even (wobble) Bivol.

“Bivol didn’t throw a lot of punches … he threw a lot of straight punches. Beterbiev was looking to cut the distance and catch him with a big shot. It was very close. David comes with a lot of combinations, uppercuts, body shots and is aggressive. David can be a different fighter. Young and hungry. And I think he’ll come out on top.”

He thought the same against Alvarez, and never had the chance to execute.

As the countdown to their IBF championship fight continues, Tim Tszyu has expressed doubts about Bakhram Murtazaliev’s weight status. This highly anticipated showdown will take place on Sunday, October 20, in Orlando, and Tszyu’s words have drawn attention.

The Russian-Australian boxer revealed that he has seen Murtazaliev training intensely. In a recent conversation, Tszyu mentioned having spotted the champion running at night wearing a hoodie. This image has led some to speculate that Murtazaliev might be struggling to make the required weight.

Bakhram Murtazaliev, an imposing 183 cm champion, has stated his intention to move up a weight class after his fight with Tim Tszyu. In an interview with Main Event Australia, the Russian champion mentioned that he could face WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara next. This statement has raised more questions about his approach to weight and his preparation for the fight.

With a joking tone, Murtazaliev included UFC megastar Conor McGregor on his list of possible opponents. The champion referred to Tszyu as a boxer with “many mistakes,” underlining his confidence before the fight. Despite his light-hearted remarks, Murtazaliev made it clear that he is focused on defending his title.As the fight draws closer, Murtazaliev has labeled Tim Tszyu as a fighter who “talks a lot online.”

The champion also emphasized that the presence of Tim’s father, Kostya Tszyu, will not affect the outcome. “It doesn’t matter who is going to be there. It makes no difference if Kostya Tszyu is there or not,” Murtazaliev stated.

Discussing his view of the fight, Murtazaliev pointed out that he has identified several openings in Tszyu’s fighting style. He also expects to add Tszyu to his list of victories, which includes 10 years of experience and 22 fights. “The easy option after this win would be a fight with Conor McGregor,” Murtazaliev joked.Jai Opetaia reveals future plans

However, the champion has more serious goals in mind. He has expressed his desire to unify belts and fight top names like Sebastian Fundora, Errol Spence, or Terence Crawford. He is also interested in moving up in weight to face Erislandy Lara.

The issue of weight will become more pressing this week in Orlando. According to IBF regulations, both boxers must weigh in twice, including the day of the fight. They must be within a 10-pound limit of the division’s weight for the bout.

In a conversation with Ben Damon of Main Event, Tszyu

When asked about the IBF stipulations, Tim Tszyu appeared confident. “I’ve done a little bit of training towards it,” he stated. “The morning of the fight I’m just a little over the rehydration limit so I’ll be sweet.”

The Japan Boxing Commission has banned John Riel Casimero for coming in overweight ahead of his first-round knockout win of Saul Sanchez on Sunday (October 13).

They fought in Yokohama, Japan, and Sanchez was beaten after 2:41 of the first round.

As a consequence, Casimero has been banned for a year by the JBC for his failure to make the 122lbs weight limit ahead of the 10-round bout.

Casimero had said after the contest that he hoped the victory would unlock big fights in 2025 at junior featherweight, even calling out Naoya Inoue.

The 35-year-old from the Philippines is 34-4-1 (23 KOs), and he came in at 123 1/4lbs in his final efforts to make 122lbs and the Japan Boxing Commission takes a dim view of fighters failing to make weight.

Mexican Luis Nery was persona non grata after missing weight but still stopping Shinsuke Yamanaka in Tokyo in 2018, but Japan eventually had him back for Inoue to – in essence – punish him, earlier this year.

Inoue stopped Nery in the sixth-round in May.

Anthony Yarde, a prominent light heavyweight boxer, returns to the ring on Saturday, October 19. He will face Ralfs “The Train” Vilcans at the Copper Box Arena in London. This fight will be part of the preliminary card for the match between Adam Azim and Ohara Davies.

“For me, it’s activity, getting back in the ring, being active, and entertaining boxing fans,” Yarde said in an interview with Sky Sports. With a record of 25 wins and 3 losses, Yarde is a former two-time world title challenger and ranks first in the WBO standings.

His last fight was against undefeated champion Artur Beterbiev in January 2023. Despite the loss, Yarde has achieved stoppage victories over Jorge Silva and Marko Nikolic. Yarde’s most recent bout was on February 10 against Nikolic in London, UK. He won in the 3rd round by Technical Knockout. Now, he aims to regain his place in the title contention.

Ralfs Vilcans, 30 years old with a record of 17-1, is a former WBC international light heavyweight. Known as “The Train,” he will seek to derail Anthony Yarde’s plans.

Additionally, the card features exciting matchups. Dan Azeez will face Lewis Edmondson in a crucial light heavyweight clash. Michael McKinson will compete for the vacant IBO world welterweight title against Tulani Mbenge. Also highlighted are the fights of Shannon Courtenay, Francesca Hennessy, and the professional debut of Sam Hickey.Shane Mosley compares Floyd Mayweather and Canelo AlvarezWho is Anthony Yarde fighting when he returns to the ring on Saturday? 👀 pic.twitter.com/qfOemcHGh5

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 15, 2024

Opponent 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 🦁✅@mranthonyyarde returns to the ring this Saturday at The Copper Box! Don’t miss it 🍿

Tickets at https://t.co/yt3WMVlLFj 🎟️#AzimDavies | 19.10.24 | @CopperBoxArena | @SkySportsBoxing | @peacock | @GoldenBoyBoxingpic.twitter.com/AyLfuSXMqU

— BOXXER (@boxxer) October 15, 2024

Ben Whittaker suffered an ankle sprain and might have aggravated an old neck injury while falling out of the ring on Saturday night, it has been reported.

The by now infamous incident, which saw the British starlet tightly grab hold of opponent Liam Cameron before they both tumbled over the top rope, led to the light heavyweight contest being stopped and going to the cards.

A draw was subsequently ruled as Whittaker, who indicated he could not continue, left the arena in a wheelchair. Cameron, a hefty underdog, has accused Whittaker of initiating the fall and then looking for a way out. 

An Olympic silver medallist who has thrilled and annoyed fans in equal measure with his showboating antics, Whittaker was in the midst of the toughest fight of his 8-0-1 (5 KOs) career when the dramatic fall occurred. 

The 27-year-old's promoter, Ben Shalom, last night told Sky Sports: "Following the unprecedented incident that ended the match on Saturday night, Ben Whittaker is undergoing further assessments on his neck as a previous injury was aggravated by the fall.

"He also experienced an ankle sprain and will begin a rehab process as soon as he is cleared by doctors and is determined to be back in the ring as soon as possible."

Very much in the ascendency when the contest concluded, the 23-6-1 (10 KOs) Cameron is not convinced. "He 100 per cent quit," he told TalkSport today. "I was putting pressure on him but I thought, 'I'm not going to give him everything yet. I'm going to break his heart and show him this is pro boxing.'

"He basically dragged me onto the ropes. You can see him flip his head back... He was so exhausted. I hit him with a body shot before that happened. And I could feel it really take everything out of him."

The Ring magazine has recently revealed its prestigious list of the best Pound-for-Pound boxers in the world, with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk taking the top spot. This publication, known for its divisional rankings since 1925, is widely respected by boxing fans and experts globally. The selection was made by a panel of twelve experts, who debate and democratically decide the positions of each boxer.Oleksandr Usyk Tops the List

Oleksandr Usyk sits at number one of The Ring magazine’s ranking, boasting an impeccable record of 22-0 (14 KOs). Usyk, a gold medalist at the 2012 Olympics, dominated the cruiserweight division, defeating opponents such as Krzysztof Glowacki, Marco Huck, and Tony Bellew. In his transition to heavyweight, he stood out by beating Anthony Joshua twice, solidifying his reign as the undisputed champion of the division. Recently, Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois and defeated Tyson Fury in a closely contested split decision. His next challenge will be a rematch against Fury on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Naoya Inoue: The “Monster” from Japan in Second Place

Naoya Inoue, with an impressive record of 27-0 (24 KOs), holds the second position. Nicknamed “The Monster,” he has captured world titles in four different weight classes, from 108 to 122 pounds. Inoue gained worldwide recognition after his victories over Nonito Donaire in two thrilling bouts. Recently, Inoue became the undisputed junior bantamweight champion after defeating Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales. His next fight is expected to be against TJ Doheny in Tokyo, Japan.Terence Crawford: Master of the Ring

Terence Crawford, with a record of 41-0 (31 KOs), is in third place. This talented American boxer has been the undisputed champion in two weight classes, 140 and 147 pounds. Crawford made headlines by defeating Errol Spence Jr., unifying the welterweight world titles. His most recent victory was against Israil Madrimov, where he won the WBA junior middleweight title. Although he hoped to face Canelo Álvarez, Crawford seems to be exploring other options in the 154-pound division.Canelo Álvarez and His Undisputed Legacy

Canelo Álvarez is fourth of The Ring magazine’s ranking, with a record of 61-2-2 (39 KOs). The Mexican has defeated prominent boxing figures such as Shane Mosley, Gennadiy Golovkin, and Caleb Plant. Although he lost to Dmitry Bivol in 2022, Canelo has bounced back, defeating Jermell Charlo and Jaime Munguía in his most recent fights. His next opponent will be Edgar Berlanga, whom he will face in Las Vegas on September 14.Jesse Rodríguez: The Rising Young Talent

In fifth place is Jesse Rodríguez (20-0, 13 KOs). The American captured the attention of the boxing world by defeating Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his way to becoming world champion. Rodríguez has proven to be a formidable contender in the smaller divisions, and his future may include a showdown against Fernando Martínez later this year.Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol: The Light Heavyweight Giants

Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), in sixth place, remains undefeated and has knocked out all his opponents. His next fight will be a title unification against Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs), who ranks seventh. Both will face off on October 12 in Saudi Arabia to determine the undisputed light heavyweight champion.Gervonta Davis and Junto Nakatani: Power and Technique

Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) occupies the eighth spot. The charismatic American boxer is known for his incredible knockout power and ability to sell out arenas across the United States. In ninth place is Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs), the talented Japanese fighter who recently became the world bantamweight champion by defeating Vincent Astrolabio.Devin Haney Rounds Out the Top 10

In tenth place is Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), who at 25 has been the undisputed lightweight champion and recently captured the WBC super lightweight title by defeating Regis Prograis. Although he has gone through controversy with Ryan García, he remains one of the most promising young talents in the sport.Boxers on the Brink of the Top 10

Among the names that were close to entering the prestigious ranking are David Benavidez, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson, Jai Opetaia, and Kenshiro Teraji, who could appear in future editions of The Ring magazine’s ranking.📋 Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol have both now leapfrogged Canelo Alvarez in the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound top ten:

1️⃣🇺🇦 Oleksandr Usyk 2️⃣🇯🇵 Naoya Inoue 3️⃣🇺🇸 Terence Crawford 4️⃣🇷🇺 Artur Beterbiev 5️⃣🇷🇺 Dmitry Bivol 6️⃣🇲🇽 Canelo Alvarez 7️⃣🇺🇸 Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez 8️⃣🇺🇸…

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 15, 2024

In an interview with FightHype, legendary boxer Shane Mosley spoke about the punching power of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Álvarez. When asked about his experience facing both fighters, Mosley did not hesitate to compare the strength of their punches.

“When I fought Floyd, his power was really good. His power is actually around the same speed and power as Canelo’s” Mosley commented. This statement is relevant, as Mosley faced and was defeated by both boxers at crucial moments in their respective careers.The Mosley vs. Mayweather fight

Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather faced off on May 1, 2010, in a highly anticipated welterweight bout. The fight, promoted as “Who RU Picking?”, took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in front of a crowd of 15,117 people. Although no titles were at stake, the expectations were high, as two of the biggest figures in world boxing were going head-to-head.

Mayweather dominated the fight from the start. The judges awarded him a unanimous decision victory. Two judges scored the fight 119-109, and one scored it 118-110, reflecting the control that “Money” Mayweather maintained throughout most of the rounds. Mosley, who had been considered one of Mayweather’s most dangerous opponents, managed to land some significant punches, but it wasn’t enough to change the course of the fight.

The fight was significant not only because of Mayweather’s victory, but also due to the presence of boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, who attended the event. This fight materialized after Andre Berto, who was originally scheduled to fight Mosley, withdrew from their planned January 2010 bout.Shane Mosley vs. Canelo Álvarez

Two years later, on May 5, 2012, Shane Mosley faced a young Mexican prospect, Canelo Álvarez. This fight also took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Álvarez, who was defending his WBC super welterweight title, was already establishing himself as a future boxing superstar.

On this occasion, Mosley couldn’t do much against the power and skill of the young Canelo. The judges rendered a unanimous decision in favor of the Mexican, with scores of 119-109, 118-110, and 119-108. Álvarez’s decisive victory solidified his rise in the elite ranks of boxing, while Mosley, though resilient, could not match the intensity of the champion.

With these statements, Mosley offers a unique perspective on two of the most important boxers of the modern era. His experience facing both in the ring gives him an authoritative voice to compare their styles and skills, making it clear that, although different, both Mayweather and Canelo

— Ray Bama (@armoredmaybach) October 15, 2024

Welterweight Daniel "El Gallo" Gonzalez secured a unanimous decision victory over Michael "Slick" Anderson last Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Judges scored the bout 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91, all in favor of Gonzalez.

The 34-year-old Gonzalez (22-4-1, 7 KOs) from Queens, New York, extended his winning streak to two fights by defeating 43-year-old Anderson (24-4-1, 18 KOs) from Newark.

Gonzalez faced a challenging period in his career during 2021 and 2022, suffering setbacks with a majority decision loss to Petros Ananyan and a surprising split-decision defeat to Paulo Cesar Galdino in his hometown of Queens. Following these losses, Gonzalez rebounded with a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Keane McMahon before his recent win over Anderson.

For Anderson, this defeat marks his first loss since 2019 when Greg Vendetti defeated him by unanimous decision over 12 rounds. Anderson had previously enjoyed a seven-fight winning streak following the Vendetti fight.

Former WBO middleweight champion Armand Krajnc promoted his 11th show and it was, of course, billed as Armand Boxing Promotion 11. The event was staged at the plush Jazy's Hotel in Gothenburg (Sweden).

Australian-Swede Linn Sandstrom, 9-3-3 (2 KOs), triumphed in the main event with a unanimous 10-round points over brave but outclassed Bolivian Carla Camila Campos, 6-3 (5 KOs) and 23 years old. It was scored 100-90 on all cards. Sandstrom, 32, dominated the fight but didn't appear to hurt Campos. There was a WBA title at stake but as for which one, it really depended on who you asked, but from the ring they announced it as for the International title.

Veteran former WBC junior middleweight champion Mikaela Lauren, 33-7-1 (14 KOs), drew with Newcastle, England's Jordan Barker-Porter, 8-3-1 (1 KO), over six hard fought rounds. It was scored 58-56 both ways and 57-57. Barker-Porter, who at 30 is 18 years younger than Lauren, landed the with the cleaner punches but also instigated most of the holding and wrestling on the inside. Lauren, as brave and tough as she is, showed that time waits for no one.

Undercard fight of the night was between cruiserweight John Salomonsson, 3-0, and hard punching Czech Martin Sedlak, 5-4 (5 KOs). Salomonsson, who like his opponent is 34 years old, had some problems early on but closed out strongly for a unanimous points win on scores of 38-37 twice and 39-36.

...........................................

In Tallinn, Estonia, Fair Play Promotion and Lammi Boxing Management got a small pro-am show off the ground at the Warrior Fight Club. The pro fights were made up by three visiting Norwegians and all three won after good fights all scheduled for four. None, however, were recognized by BoxRec.

Heavyweight Brage Lange Hansen, 3-0, stopped local hero Aleksandr Bolsanovs, 1-1. Hansen, much taller than his opponent, caught Bolsanovs with his heavy right several times but Bolsanovs kept trying until hurt and floored in the third. He got up but was taking a beating along the ropes and it was stopped.

Lightweight Sayed Kazemi, 2-0, outscored tough Latvian Dinars Skripkins, 4-9-2, after a fast-paced fight. It was scored 40-36 from the three judges.

In the show opener, light heavyweight Adrian Hagen, 2-0, outscored last minute sub (he flew in from Germany on fight day) Serhii Ksendzov, 4-31. It was scored 39-37 twice and 38-38..

All three Norwegians will be back in action November 16 in Espoo (Finland) on Elite Boxing's big Scandinavian Showdown event.

Undefeated Cuban junior middleweight Yoenis Tellez is set to make his fifth appearance at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida as he enters his ninth professional fight. 

Tellez will take on Johan Gonzalez on Saturday in the co-main event of PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video, leading up to the IBF junior middleweight title clash between Bakhram Murtazaliev and Tim Tszyu.

Tellez, 24, has already found success at the Orlando venue, delivering a highlight-reel 10th-round knockout over Livan Navarro there last December. Now, the rising prospect faces his toughest test to date in Gonzalez, a matchup that could significantly boost his rankings. Tellez is currently ranked No. 5 by the WBA, No. 8 by the WBC, and No. 15 by the IBF. Gonzalez, 33, ranked No. 10 by the WBA, makes this a clash between two top-10 contenders in the division. The current WBA champion is Terence Crawford, while Jermell Charlo holds the ‘champion-in-recess’ designation.

“Ever since my first fight at Caribe, they’ve made me feel right at home,” Tellez said. “Orlando is like a second home to me, and I'm thrilled to fight there again.”

Tellez (8-0, 6 KOs) burst onto the scene in July 2023, stepping in on short notice to face veteran Sergio Garcia on the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford undercard. Despite the challenge, Tellez stunned Garcia, stopping him in the third round. Since then, Tellez has fought only twice.

“That was the biggest moment of my career, and I knew it going into the fight,” Tellez said. “Even though I stepped in on short notice, I knew I had to make the most of the opportunity. It was only my fifth fight, but I was ready for whatever came my way.”

Training under veteran coach Ronnie Shields, who has worked with fighters like fellow Cuban David Morrell, Tellez credits Shields for helping him quickly adapt to the professional ranks.

“Ronnie has been crucial for me in adjusting to life in the US and transitioning to the highest level of professional boxing,” Tellez said. “He’s taught me a lot about the business of boxing and the importance of accountability, both inside and outside the ring.”

Gonzalez (35-3, 34 KOs), a 33-year-old Venezuelan now training in Las Vegas, aims to halt Tellez’s momentum. Tellez, however, welcomes the step-up in competition as he eyes a run toward title contention.

“I’m coming in with a 100 per cent positive mindset and determined to win,” Tellez said. “I’m eager to fight for a championship and I’m ready to face anyone.”

Artur Beterbiev’s light-heavyweight showdown with Dmitry Bivol delivered as the legendary encounter that many predicted beforehand but it was Fabio Wardley and Ben Whittaker who stole the show on the undercard – for both good and bad reasons. Now, with Wardley poised to make the jump to the world level, one of his countrymen has called for him to make one last defence of his British heavyweight title.

Wardley knocked out Nathan Gorman to pick up the vacant Lonsdale Belt back in November 2022 but since then he has proven himself to be worthy of the fabled trinket, despite entering the professional ranks without any amateur experience.

The Ipswich fan-favourite comfortably dominated and then halted David Adeleye on the Fury-Ngannou card in Riyadh last October, although it was a draw against Frazer Clarke that saw his superstardom reach new heights.

Wardley went to war with the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist in the headline attraction at the O2 Arena on Easter Sunday, representing boxers from a white-collar background and doing them proud in a gruelling display that will likely be a fight of the year candidate.

At the weekend, Wardley and Clarke stepped through the ropes for a salivating rematch but this time around the contest was far more one-sided, as Wardley cracked the jaw of his rival in the opening round with a devastating right-hook that left Clarke unconscious, mouth agape and requiring surgery.One of the most vicious KOs I’ve ever seen. Look at the side of Clarke’s head. Also, look at his mouth. Emphatic display by Fabio Wardley. Sheesh. 🎥 @DAZNBoxingpic.twitter.com/OxLPNSnp28

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 13, 2024

As a result, Wardley is now being left with the decision of whether he should opt to remain as the British champion and attempt the fourth championship contest victory that would see him the belt outright or alternatively attempt to capitalize on his newfound fame and make the jump to the world stage.

However, whilst many believe there to be a lack of remaining contenders for Wardley at the British level, English heavyweight champion Solomon Dacres told that he would relish the opportunity.Ben Whittaker is detained at airport

“He might go on and vacate but I am still trying to get on his tail, man.

“Hopefully [he is interested in winning the belt outright], I am all systems go for that one. Hopefully it would be something that we could get on.”

Although the Birmingham-born heavyweight is well poised for the belt if it were to be vacated, Dacres went on to admit that he would rather defeat the champion for the title, especially considering his belief that Wardley is tailor-made for his style.

“You’ve got to beat the champion to be the champion and that is what we want.”

“He is not the most technical boxer, but he can punch a bit and he is a game. He seems to have a bit of power, and he seems to have a bit of fighting spirit about him – which is something that you can’t take away from someone in the pro game.

“He is doing well for himself, especially coming from a white-collar background, but I just feel like I can be the one to give him a boxing lesson.”

Wardley has now been given an updated world ranking and it remains to be seen whether he will decline the allure of the biggest names in the division in favour of his goal to keep ahold of the illustrious British heavyweight title.

They say when it rains, it pours, and for light heavyweight Najee Lopez, it’s been more like a hurricane. With his Wednesday Night Fights bout delayed a week due to Hurricane Milton, Lopez (11-0, 8 KOs) has had to weather more than just the storm. 

Now, he's back in action, ready to face late-replacement Ismael Ocles (15-16-2, 3 KOs) in an eight-round contest on ProBox TV at the ProBox TV Events Center near Tampa, Florida.

Lopez, 25, is looking to make a statement and edge closer to contender status, but his road to this fight wasn’t smooth. Originally slated to fight last Wednesday, the storm forced him to take his camp on the road to Atlanta, where he mostly sparred with his brother, Hakim Lopez, while staying in touch with his Tampa-based trainer, Marc Farrait, who recently was the lead voice in Edgar Berlanga’s fight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

"I’ve had to move around a lot with the hurricane hitting Tampa," Lopez told BoxingScene. "It’s been a drag, man. I had to train two weeks in a row up in Atlanta, working with my brother and some guys up here. It’s been tough being away from Coach, but we made it work."

Ecuador's Ocles, 34, steps in as a late replacement, with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Lopez, originally from Atlanta but now training in Tampa, recounted the difficulties of his travel as he navigated the aftermath of a storm that battered the Tampa area.

“We hit the road right before everyone got evacuated,” Lopez said. “A six-hour drive to Atlanta turned into 13 hours, but we got it done.”

Lopez described this camp as a mental challenge, forcing him to be more self-disciplined than ever. With the fight delayed by a week, Lopez reflected on the grueling process.

“Maintaining my weight, still training to stay locked in like I’m getting ready for a fight, because that’s exactly what I am doing,” Lopez said. “Then the fight was pushed to the 16th, so it’s another week of pushing myself.”

This time last week, British fight fans were anticipating yet another fight of the year candidate from Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke who were scheduled to meet for a second time after their enthralling Easter Sunday encounter ended in a draw. Yet, the contest played out much different this time around and Wardley has received an updated world ranking as a result.

Wardley and Clarke famously battled to a split-draw when they met at the end of March, topping the bill at the O2 Arena in one of the most captivating British title contests within recent memory.

As a result, the announcement that the pair would meet again on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol undercard was met with jubilation, as domestic fans predicted a similarly close-fought affair – with the victor likely to progress to the world stage in the near future.

However, Fabio Wardley had other plans and took the fight to the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist from the sound of the opening bell onwards, landing a prodigious right-hook that cracked the jaw and dented the head of Clarke in the opening-round, rendering him unable to continue.One of the most vicious KOs I’ve ever seen. Look at the side of Clarke’s head. Also, look at his mouth. Emphatic display by Fabio Wardley. Sheesh. 🎥 @DAZNBoxingpic.twitter.com/OxLPNSnp28

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 13, 2024

The authoritative display has seen Wardley receive plenty of plaudits, not only for his aggression but for his punch power, with many believing him to be amongst the hardest punchers in the division – as supported by his record of 17 KOs in 18 victories.Junto Nakatani retains WBC bantamweight title as Naoya Inoue pursuit continues

Whilst Clarke left the ring requiring surgery, Wardley stepped outside of the squared circle pondering who is next and whether he should stick around to defend his British title on one more occasion to win the Lonsdale Belt outright or focus on positioning himself for the heavyweight world titles, which are expected to become vacated during the aftermath of Fury-Usyk II.

Regardless of the prestige of the fabled British heavyweight title, Wardley may find it difficult to refuse the allure of the world stage, especially now that he has entered the Ring Magazine rankings, coming in at #9.📋 Fabio Wardley has now entered the Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings:

👑🇺🇦 Oleksandr Usyk 1️⃣🇬🇧 Tyson Fury 2️⃣🇬🇧 Daniel Dubois 3️⃣🇳🇿 Joseph Parker 4️⃣🇨🇳 Zhilei Zhang 5️⃣🇩🇪 Agit Kabayel 6️⃣🇨🇩 Martin Bakole 7️⃣🇬🇧 Anthony Joshua 8️⃣🇭🇷 Filip Hrgovic 9️⃣🇬🇧 Fabio Wardley 🔟🇳🇬 Efe Ajagba

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 15, 2024

Amongst the other sanctioning bodies, Fabio Wardley is ranked #12 with the IBF, #8 with the WBC and WBO and with the WBA, although his position with the latter three has not yet been updated following his demolition of Clarke.

Ben Whittaker had taken to the professional scene like a duck to water since making the switch from the amateur ranks, both impressing inside of the ring but also showing his marketability outside of it. However, his latest display was a major cause for concern, as a questionable injury brought the bout to an early end. Now, Whittaker’s promoter has confirmed.

‘The Surgeon’ had won each of his first eight professional outings and has regularly gone viral on social media for both his showboating and his skills despite the one-sided nature of his fights.,

As such, Whittaker has been deemed as a ‘marmite’ character of British boxing, some appreciating his talent and personality whilst others label him as disrespectful and arrogant.

At the weekend, Whittaker faced his toughest test as he made his Saudi Arabia debut against game countryman Liam Cameron, who had lost an eyebrow-raising split-decision to the well-respected Lyndon Arthur a few months prior.

A fight on this platform was anticipated to be the beginning of a fruitful relationship between Whittaker and Saudi boxing catalyst Turki Al-Alshikh, assumably culminating in eventual world title opportunities for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist.

However, after finding the expected success in the opening two rounds against Cameron, the ‘Cannonball’ began to take control of he contest and appeared to win rounds three, four and five and was on the verge of pulling off the upset win against the visibly-tired favourite.Dmitry Bivol’s team files protest over Artur Beterbiev decision

Until, Whittaker and Cameron were sent soaring over the top rope and laid out on the canvas in pain – or hope, as some viewers believed.Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron has been stopped and can’t go on after both fighters fell over the top rope.. Whittaker seemingly injured his leg and can’t fight on 🥊#BeterbievBivolpic.twitter.com/tqjAxnI7uI

— What's Your Hustle? / BOXING, MMA, & LIFESTYLE (@whatsyourhustl) October 12, 2024

Whittaker and his team claimed that he was unable to continue and he left the arena in a wheelchair as the referee read out the controversial scorecards that resulted in a technical-decision draw, much to the disappointment of Cameron.

In the days that have followed, Whittaker has continued to make headlines for punching a hole in the wall at the Kingdom Arena and then proceeding to smash a fan’s phone at the airport.

Now, Ben Shalom has provided an update on the injury of the IBF International light-heavyweight champion, as per Sky Sports.

“Following the unprecedented incident that ended the match on Saturday night, Ben Whittaker is undergoing further assessments on his neck as a previous injury was aggravated by the fall.

“He also experienced an ankle sprain and will begin a rehab process as soon as he is cleared by doctors and is determined to be back in the ring as soon as possible.”Whilst Cameron is understandably gutted, It’s not all doom and gloom for the Yorkshireman, who has inked a first-ever promotional deal by partnering up with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, hoping to land the rematch with Whittaker and finish what he started on Saturday night.

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez has opened the door to a possible campaign at heavyweight in the future.

Cruiserweight Ramirez, 33, is preparing feverishly for his upcoming WBA and WBO 200lbs unification championship against Chris Billam-Smith in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 16.

Mexico’s Ramirez is hopeful of getting the job done in faraway Saudi Arabia.

“There must be a best performance in Saudi Arabia right now on November 16. And then probably two years, three years, I can move up in weight and be a heavyweight,” Ramirez told BoxingScene.

Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) held the WBO super middleweight title from 2016 to 2018 having decisioned Arthur Abraham to win the belt. The Mexican went on to make five successful defenses of his 168lbs title before moving up to 175.

Ramirez continued with his stellar career at light heavyweight, recording five consecutive wins en route to a WBA championship with champion Dmitry Bivol. That fight did not go Ramirez’s way, which saw the Mexican to move to cruiserweight.

“I had another fight after the Bivol defeat and I couldn't make weight. And I was like, ‘Okay. I'm done with 175 and I need to move on’.”

After making a successful 200-pound debut against Joe Smith Jnr last October, Ramirez landed a shot at Armenian Arsen Goulamirian ’s WBA crown, cruising to a 12-round unanimous decision win.

On November 16, Ramirez will have another opportunity to make history if he can unify the cruiserweight division against Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs).

Only time will tell, but Ramirez remains confident of an emphatic victory.

“I see my hands being raised that night. I think it would be a nice win for me and I can actually give the fans the best fight possible. I want people to remember me as a legend who gave everything to the fans.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com .

Whilst the undisputed light-heavyweight showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol captivated the sport this weekend, Japan played host to a number of intriguing encounters, featuring a phenomenal eight world title fights. However, one of the weekend’s best performers has been dealt with a devastating blow, being handed a one-year ban from the sport.

John Riel Casimero was upgraded from interim champion to fill IBF light-flyweight champion back in 2012 and defended the belt on three occasions, including a win over upcoming Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez opponent Pedro Guevara.

Ahead of a fourth defence against Mauricio Fuentes, Casimero astonishing hit the scales at almost 114lbs, nearly six pounds over the light-flyweight limit, and was consequently stripped of his world title – but went on to score a first-round knockout win.

The Filipino then moved up to flyweight and after an unsuccessful title bid against Amnat Ruenroeng, Casimero scored a knockout win in the rematch to claim the IBF flyweight crown, despite the fact that both Casimero and Ruenroeng missed weight.

After famously halting Charlie Edwards in his lone defence of the title, ‘Quadro Alas’ once again moved up in weight and three years later he would stop Zolani Tete within three rounds to add the WBO bantamweight title to his collection.

At 118lbs, Casimero registered wins over Duke Micah and the legendary Guillermo Rigondeaux to seeming tee-up an undisputed showdown with arguable pound-for-pound number one Naoya Inoue – with Liverpool’s Paul Butler being the only stumbling block.

However, Casimero was once again stripped of his world title after difficulties making the weight for his fight with Butler, who then replaced him as the WBO champion and went on to lose to Inoue in late 2022.

Since then, the 35-year-old has moved up to super-bantamweight and remains in pursuit of a battle with Inoue, hoping to land the fight with the Japanese sensation before his inevitable move up to featherweight.Who next for Fabio Wardley? – Five options following first-round knockout of Clarke

This weekend, Casimero was tasked with Mexico’s former world title challenger Saul Sanchez, but confusion was rife at the weigh-in one again, as Casimero seemingly attempted to tamper with the scales, before official confirmation that he had missed weight once again.John Riel Casimero tried to make weight by holding the scales yesterday. The officials noticed it and he then missed weight.

📽️ @ajoaquinarietapic.twitter.com/dJtV4Jml2x

— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) October 12, 2024

The fight went ahead regardless and Casimero dismissed Sanchez with ease, a surprisingly comfortable first-round knockout shocking those in attendance.NO WAY!!! JOHN RIEL CASIMERO DESTROYS THE EVER-DURABLE SAUL SANCHEZ IN ROUND 1!!!

IS NAOYA INOUE NEXT?!?!? pic.twitter.com/hr9sqS9ehC

— 𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 (@phillikesfights) October 13, 2024

Yet, the Japanese Boxing Commission have now decided to hand Casimero with a one-year ban, seemingly ending all hopes of a meeting with Inoue, as per Anthony Joaquin Arieta.BREAKING NEWS:

Overweight John Riel Casimero is SUSPENDED for 1 YEAR by the Japanese Boxing Commission.

Expect respective organizations like @WorldBoxingOrg@WBCBoxing@wbcmoro@PacoValcarcel@OlivieriLaw to act on his ratings as well. pic.twitter.com/0zM3B5aM4R

— OLE (@ajoaquinarieta) October 15, 2024

Inoue is expected to proceed with a defence of his undisputed super-bantamweight titles against Australia’s Sam Goodman on December 24th – a featherweight title challenge on the horizon if he comes through Goodman unscathed.

Jai Opetaia expects Tim Tszyu to emerge from the lessons learned against Sebastian Fundora by dethroning Bakhram Murtazaliev as the IBF junior-middleweight champion.

The 29-year-old lost for the first time in March when, in a fight for the WBO and vacant WBC titles, Tszyu suffered a significant cut caused by Fundora’s elbow that inhibited his vision and performance from the second round.

He had agreed to fight the awkward Fundora at late notice after an injury suffered by his previous, and significantly different, opponent Keith Thurman. It was also suggested, after the fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas that he lost via decision, that after seeing the cut Tszyu’s corner should not have allowed him to carry on.

Having sacrificed his title and undefeated record he seeks to win another at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, where Murtazaliev makes the first defence of the vacant title he won in April by stopping Jack Culcay. 

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the defeat by Fundora, a second in succession would prove damaging for the Australian’s career – Fundora is also nearing being rewarded for victory with a lucrative fight against Errol Spence – but Tszyu’s compatriot is ultimately backing him to succeed.

It has been a significant period for Australian boxing. On Saturday – on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Opetaia stopped Jack Massey to defend his IBF cruiserweight title and Skye Nicolson outpointed Raven Chapman to defend her WBC title at featherweight. 

Off the back of the announcement that Liam Paro will defend his IBF junior-lightweight title against Richardson Hitchins on December 7, it is possible that an often-neglected fighting culture could be celebrating the existence of four world champions by the conclusion of 2024.

“He had a bit of bad luck – he got unlucky with the cut and stuff like that,” Opetaia told BoxingScene. “But it’s all part of learning. I’m sure they’ve learned a lot, and I’m looking forward to his bounce back. I’m backing him all the way. 

“It’s good to see a fellow Aussie on the world stage. There’s not many of us that make it up here; it’s common for Poms [Britons] and Europeans and Americans, but for people down our neck of the woods it’s a long route to get here. I’m backing him all the way.

“It’s a great fight. I’ll be backing Tim.

“I just hope Tim wins. He’s a fucking Australian – we back each other. Once it’s in-house, we want to take each other’s heads off. But once it’s our nation, and he’s flying our flag, and he’s one of us, we’re supporting him all the way. I hope he fucking beats everyone.

“It would be such a good thing if the Australian market would work as a whole team. You got all these Poms; you’ve got so many Pommies fighting on the same card, and they build up the Matchrooms and stuff like that. 

“With us it’s a bit different, because if we were to have an Australian fight night, kind of like what the UFC do – they put all the Australians on the fucking same card – if we did something like that I would be honoured to be a part of that. I’d even take the pay cut to be a part of it, ‘cause it would just be such a historic thing for Australia, and that’s what it’s all about – being a part of things like that.

“We were in the fucking pub cheersing margaritas [when Paro defeated Subriel Matias]. We had a mad day, that day. That was awesome. We fucking celebrated for him.”

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn has made little secret of his desire to in future stage a homecoming fight for Paro in Australia, and to potentially feature Nicolson, Opetaia and the heavyweight Justis Huni on the undercard. Tszyu, in the event of victory over Russia’s 31-year-old Murtazaliev, is expected to retain the fierce sense of independence that contributed to him angering the influential Turki Alalshikh.

“It’s always high stakes,” Opetaia continued. “Me; Tim; we’re in the peak of our careers. Every fight is high stakes. We don’t go into fights thinking, ‘Fuck – you know…’. It’s all risky business. One punch can change it all. We’re in this; putting our lives on the line; sacrificing every day. It’s all high stakes. 

“For someone outside the ring watching, it might be different to them. ‘He can do this; he can do that’. But when you’re walking in that ring, and you’re punching on in that ring, anything can happen, so we’ve gotta take this shit serious – and I’m sure he does. He always does. He always delivers. 

“[Tszyu’s independence is] good. He’s had Australia behind him – the pathways have been completely different for us. With Tim Tszyu, he’s with No Limits, who had the contract at [broadcasters] Fox, and Fox still controls everything in the boxing world in Australia, so it’s easier to market him, and especially having the Tszyu name. 

“I’m not trying to discredit him at all – he obviously does the hard work and he wins the fights. He’s a great fighter. I’ve seen him as a young kid come up through the rankings; we used to be on New South Wales teams, all the way up as teenagers, so I’ve seen his hard work. I know it’s a long process, and he deserves a bit of that build-up, and to be able to sell a fight in Australia – I’ve been on the scene for a couple of years, and that Tszyu name, that’s two generations. It’s good for Australian boxing; it’s giving other Aussies big fights; they’re big cards. It’s all positive.” 

Controversy nearly always follows a close fight, particularly when it’s watched by a lot of people – as the verdict that favored Artur Beterbiev over Dmitry Bivol proved.  

Let’s get this out of the way early: I scored the contest 115-113 for Beterbiev; I watched on a screen alongside three boxers and a broadcaster, all of whom were vocal, so my concentration was nowhere near as intense as those employed (and trained) to fill in the official scorecards; I have seen the fight only once.  

Should I watch it again I wouldn’t be surprised, not even the tiniest bit, if my score changed. Certainly, I have no issue whatsoever with Bivol winning by the same margin, and I don’t believe the 116-112 tally for Beterbiev, handed in by Polish judge Pawel Kardyni, is as remotely outrageous as some educated people are making out. There were several ‘swing’ rounds, a term that means the round could have gone either way; one could even argue that most of the 12 were swing rounds given CompuBox stats reveal, in eight of the rounds, four or less punches was the difference between them.

However, for context here, let’s say there were only three. That means if you don’t have a strong opinion on who won those three rounds and can therefore understand why a judge – or that stranger with whom you’re squabbling on social media – might have scored them for either Beterbiev or Bivol, there’s a feasible six-point ‘swing’ from your card to theirs. To explain that further and taking my (completely unimportant) scorecard as an example, if you change three close rounds from Beterbiev rounds to Bivol rounds, the 115-113 for Artur becomes 116-112 for Dmitry. If there were more close rounds, and on this occasion, I believe there were, that potential for discrepancy becomes even greater. 

Something else to consider is the view to which we’re privy. According to an impartial figure in Saudi Arabia, those who watched from one side of the ring preferred the work of Beterbiev and those who watched from the opposite side liked Bivol’s. That’s not unusual in a close encounter and is exactly why judges sit in different positions, with unique vantage points, at ringside. Furthermore, though some people are so wise and headstrong they couldn’t possibly be swayed by the opinion of others – like companions, commentators, analysts or the social media feeds that are repeatedly checked – plenty are, albeit subliminally. Considering there were three different outlets showing the fight in the UK alone, with each using different commentary teams, fans from all over the world would have heard a multitude of conflicting opinions.

It's not just what we hear or read, either. The replays at the end of seven of the 12 rounds focused only on Bivol, even though Beterbiev landed several punches in those rounds and threw more than his rival in 10 of them. It creates the illusion that the slicker Bivol has won the round the replays follow, when, in truth, his moments of success were cleaner and therefore easier for those in charge of those slow-motion replays to identify, and then edit, in a very short space of time. It follows that the commentators will then spend even more time talking about those passages of the fight. It can all play a part in our perception of the action. Additionally, when watching replays that did identify moments of success for Beterbiev, it was interesting to note how many punches that initially appeared to hit the gloves actually got through. Then consider the tiny proportion of his work we got to see in slow motion.

To be clear, this writing is not designed to change your opinion on who won because my opinion, much like yours, is far from definitive. I accept it could have gone either way while increasingly believing a draw might have been the fairest decision – considering the elite levels of skill and gameplay on display, it’s difficult to say either of them deserved to lose. It is for that reason, after a contest so plainly close, why it is surprising when certain observers scream robbery when official scorecards don’t match their own.

Eighteen-year-old Las Vegas junior lightweight prospect Curmel Moton continued his impressive rise, securing his fourth win of the year with a first-round knockout over Hilario Martinez Moreno last Saturday at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

Moton (6-0, 5 KOs) delivered a body shot followed by a sharp left hook to the head, causing Moreno to spit out his mouthpiece and drop to his knees. Referee Eric Dali counted out the 25-year-old Mexican at 1:35 of the opening round of the bout.

The victory marks Moton’s third stoppage win of 2024, with his only decision coming against the undefeated Anthony Cuba on the Amazon Prime prelims of the Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora undercard. Endorsed and promoted by Floyd Mayweather, Moton has captured attention not only for his association with one of boxing’s greats but also for his maturity in taking on credible opposition at a young age.

“I’m really thankful to everyone who came out – shoutout to South Philly and shoutout to my opponent. It takes two people to put on a show,” Moton said post-fight.

The event’s promoter, former titleholder Danny Garcia, praised the young fighter. “Curmel is the future of boxing,” Garcia said. “He’s signed to Floyd Mayweather, and Floyd knows talent, and Floyd knows how to make a star. When I saw what he could do, I knew I had to get him here in Philly.”

Garcia also announced that Moton will return to the ring on November 30 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.