The purse bid for the rematch between Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramírez will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024. This event will determine the rights to organize the rematch for the WBO featherweight title. The auction will begin at 11:00 a.m., Atlantic Standard Time, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) confirmed that the minimum bid is $150,000.

Espinoza surprised the boxing world last December by defeating Ramírez. In that bout, both boxers were knocked down, but Espinoza ultimately prevailed. This victory was unexpected, as Espinoza was a relatively unknown contender at the time. With a record of 25-0, including 21 knockouts, Espinoza has proven his power in the ring. His height of 1.85 meters also makes him a challenging opponent for anyone in the division.Since then, Espinoza has successfully defended his title. In his most recent fight earlier this year, he knocked out Sergio Chirino in the fourth round. His undefeated streak and aggressive style have positioned him as one of the most feared champions.

On the other hand, former Cuban champion Robeisy Ramírez has not been idle. Ramírez has a record of 14 wins and 2 losses, with 9 knockouts. Before losing his title to Espinoza, he made a successful defense of it. After his defeat, he returned to the ring with a knockout victory over Brandon León Benítez. Ramírez requested a rematch, eager to regain his title.

WBO President Paco Valcárcel will oversee the auction event. This rematch is highly anticipated by fans, as their first encounter left many shocked. Competitive bids are expected to organize the fight.

Both boxers are eager to return to the ring and prove who the true champion is. The date of the rematch will be determined once the winning promoter is announced.

Steel City Interactive confirmed the removal of Ryan Garcia from their upcoming boxing game, Undisputed. The news has sparked controversy within the gaming community. The official launch of Undisputed is scheduled for October 11, 2024, with early access for players on the Steam gaming store and platform starting on October 8.

The decision to remove Garcia follows a stance taken by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The boxer was expelled from the WBC earlier this year due to racist comments made on social media. Steel City Interactive, in solidarity with the WBC’s decision, announced Garcia’s removal from the roster of fighters in the game.

In an official Discord message, the Undisputed team explained that Ryan Garcia will no longer be available in various game modes:

“As part of the full launch update of Undisputed on October 8th, and following the lead of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Ryan Garcia’s character will no longer be playable in local, online, and prize fight game modes, and players won’t be able to create new career mode saves with the character”.

Starting October 8, players will no longer be able to use him in local, online, or prize fight modes. Players who have started career mode games with Garcia will be able to continue using him until December, when a final update will remove him.

The gaming community has not taken this decision well. Many users on Reddit and other platforms are criticizing Steel City Interactive for getting involved in issues unrelated to game development. Despite the criticism, the game’s development team stands by their decision.Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol card preview, date, time and how to watch

Undisputed has generated significant anticipation among boxing and gaming fans. The title, which launched in early access in January 2023, will officially release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on October 11. It will be the first major boxing game since Fight Night Champion, released in 2010. The game has also been praised for its realism and gameplay.

Despite the controversy, the game continues to receive mostly positive reviews on Steam. With a roster that includes legends like Tyson Fury, Canelo Álvarez, and Muhammad Ali, Undisputed promises to deliver an authentic and immersive boxing experience. However, Ryan Garcia’s removal leaves the game with one less fighter at launch, sparking debate over the implications of such decisions in video game development.Ryan Garcia canned from Undisputed boxing 😬 pic.twitter.com/GoUxF6kNzn

Recently, it was announced that Manny Pacquiao, the icon of Filipino boxing, leads the list of new nominees for the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF). The recent voting revealed his inclusion on the list of candidates eligible for induction in 2025. The induction ceremony will take place from June 5 to 8 in Canastota and at the nearby Turning Stone Casino in New York.

The voting for induction has been sent to voters worldwide. Alongside Pacquiao, other notable names have been added to the list of new candidates. Shawn Porter, Lucian Bute, and Mikey García are included in the Modern category. In the women’s category, Yessica Chávez from Mexico and Jessica Rakoczy from Canada appear for the first time on the ballot. The Italian Bruno Arcari has also been added to the veterans’ ballot.

The pioneer ballot also includes the English boxer Owen Swift. Meanwhile, veteran trainer and cutman Russ Anber may receive his plaque in the museum. Referee Kenny Bayless and Italian promoter Salvatore Cherchi are also nominated.

The observers include Argentine journalist Ernesto Cherquis Bialo. He

It is important to highlight that Pacquiao is recognized as one of the greatest boxers in history. Throughout his career, he conquered titles in eight weight categories within the sport. His professional journey was marked by famous bouts, including the four confrontations with Juan Manuel Márquez and the trilogy against Erik Morales. However, the most important fight of his career was against Floyd Mayweather in 2015. Although Pacquiao managed to defeat Márquez and Martínez, he would later be defeated by Mayweather by unanimous decision.

Today, talking about Manny Pacquiao is synonymous with discussing a legend in the boxing world. At 40 years old, he became the oldest welterweight champion. This happened in 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight title. His professional career ended in 2021 after a loss to Yordenis Ugas. Since his retirement, Pacquiao has participated in two exhibition matches. In the first, he faced DK Yoo on December 11, 2022, where he emerged victorious by unanimous decision.

On July 28 of this year, he had an exhibition against Rukiya Anpo at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. It is worth mentioning that, although it was not an official result, Pacquiao demonstrated his skill in the ring during the three rounds of the exhibition. Regarding his future, there was speculation about a possible return against the WBC welterweight champion, Mario Barrios. However, plans for a potential fight did not come to fruition. Barrios will face Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card on November 15.

Pacquiao was seen in the United Kingdom during the fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Reports suggest that he is seeking a fight in England. Amir Khan and Conor Benn are mentioned as possible opponents. This pursuit of new challenges showcases Pacquiao’s passion for boxing.

#MannyPacquiao #IBHOF2025 #BoxingLegend #HallOfFame #FilipinoPride #ShawnPorter #MikeyGarcia #LucianBute #Boxing

In the boxing world, a scenario where Tyson Fury collides in a ring battle against Anthony Joshua would be a dream match for fans. However, this anticipated duel does not seem to be close to materializing in the immediate future.

Despite this, Fury, the former WBC heavyweight champion, has not stopped provoking Joshua.

Currently, Fury and Joshua are positioned as two of the leading figures in British boxing on an international level. It is worth noting that the possibility of a matchup between these two titans has always been a common topic of discussion.

In that same vein, boxing fans remain eager for a future encounter between these two giants in the ring.

Fury used his Instagram account to compare their physiques and send a mocking message to Joshua. In the post, he included a photo of Joshua with an extensive message about his diet. The text read:

“My breakfast consist of yams, eggs and dates. Followed by a big bowl of porridge, a protein shake, a glass of orange juice and a glass of honey, lemon and ginger”.

Fury, for his part, contrasted his training approach with a humorous anecdote.

On his Instagram story, Tyson Fury recalled:Former undisputed champion announced for fight on U.K. undercard

“I remember one night I had 14 pints of Fosters & then sparred three top-ten heavyweights and battered them all”.

This provocative statement highlights Fury’s confidence and carefree lifestyle compared to Joshua’s disciplined regimen.

The expectation of a possible fight between Fury and Joshua persists.

However, it remains to be seen if this confrontation will eventually take place. Tyson Fury has a scheduled fight that could be crucial for his career.

On December 21, Fury will face unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. This matchup is considered a highly anticipated rematch and could influence the future of British boxing.

#TysonFury #AnthonyJoshua #OleksandrUsyk #HeavyweightBoxing #BattleOfBritain #BoxingNews #BritishBoxing #FuryVsJoshua #BoxingShowdown #BoxingRivalry

WBA super-welterweight champion Terence Crawford solidified his claim to the pound-for-pound throne with a victory over Israil Madrimov two months ago – that win seeing him become a four-division world champion. Now, as ‘Bud’ eyes up another fight to add to his legacy, he revealed a shocking sparring rumour about one of his potential opponents.

Crawford etched his name into the record books when he halted Errol Spence Jr. in a grudge match undisputed welterweight title showdown last year, becoming the first fighter to become a multi-divisional undisputed champion since the dawn of the four-belt era.

The Omaha-born sensation has achieved further success since stepping up to 154lbs and grinded out a unanimous-decision win over Madrimov on his debut at the weight, in what appeared to be the toughest test of his career to date.

Now the 37-year-old is hopeful of fighting for the undisputed crown at a third weight, whether that be a mammoth jump to super-middleweight to take on Canelo Alvarez, and whomever holds the vacant IBF belt at the time, or unification contests at super-welterweight.

Although, the super-welterweight route appears to be the most likely option as interest in Canelo-Crawford continues to depreciate and therefore unified 154lb champion Sebastian Fundora finds himself in the firing line.Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol card preview, date, time and how to watch

Crawford has now been ordered to take on ‘The Towering Inferno’ and in an interview with Bernie Tha Boxer, the slick southpaw revealed that he is not afraid of a clash with Fundora, in spite of his gigantic frame and distinct physical advantages, because of rumours that the 6’5” WBC & WBO champion was knocked out in sparring by Madrimov.

“That’s a fight [that is] on the table.

“If Fundora’s licking his chops over my performance vs Israil Madrimov, then I should be licking my chops because Madrimov knocked Fundora out in sparring.

“So, who should be licking their chops? You know what I mean.”

The teams of both Crawford and Fundora now have just eight days to negotiate a fight contract after a ten day extension was granted, if they fail to do so, then the three-belt unification bout will go to purse bids.

#TerenceCrawford #SebastianFundora #BoxingNews #SuperWelterweight #IsrailMadrimov #BoxingRumors #PoundForPound #BoxingMatchup #BoxingDrama #LegacyFight

As boxing fans, watching the son of a great of the sport will always come with intrigue for both the right and wrong reasons. Can he match or surpass the legacy of his father? Has he undeservedly been skyrocketed onto a major card simply because of his surname? Every fight, round, punch is heavily scrutinised. However, there have been a handful of occasions where a son has followed in the footsteps of his father even more directly and fought the exact same opponent – some earning validation, some claiming vengeance, and some being vanquished.Phil/Harold Johnson vs Jersey Joe Walcott

Fresh from two knockout victories over former heavyweight world champion Primo Carnera, Leroy Haynes travelled to Philadelphia in 1936 to face Al Ettore in his hometown. On that undercard, New Jersey contender ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott was continuing to carve out a career for himself in the division and faced a fellow New Jerseyite in the form of Phil Johnson.

After two dull rounds, Walcott brought the fight to a close in the third with a vicious left-hook that broke the nose of his opponent and left Johnson down on the canvas, blood gushing from his beak.

Some 14 years later, Walcott had still not claimed heavyweight gold but had blossomed into a serious threat to Joe Louis’ throne despite losing twice to ‘The Brown Bomber’ – the first of which remains as one of the most contentious decisions of all-time.

A loss to eventual heavyweight world champion Ezzard Charles followed the heart-aching duology with Louis, but Walcott had bounced back with a knockout victory over Sweden’s Ollie Tandberg in Stockholm, before returning to Philadelphia to fight a 22-year-old Harold Johnson, son of Phil.

In the headline attraction of the bill, fight fans were left unsatisfied and also concerned. Walcott proved that he was still worthy of being in title contention with an early knockdown in the second, but it was in the third where Harold Johnson collapsed, just as his father did. Although, Harold fell without taking a punch, and made no attempt to beat the count of referee Dave Beloff.

The commission doctor, Dr. I. Joseph Levey later revealed that the youngster had suffered an injury to an intervertebral disc in his back.

Harold Johnson recovered from the setback and went on to be crowned light-heavyweight world champion in 1962 after dropping down in weight. Meanwhile, Walcott made history one year after his victory over Harold Johnson and became boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion when he defeated Charles in the third of their four meetings aged 37-years-old – a record that lasted a stunning 43 years until it was trumped by George Foreman in 1994.Joe/Marvis Frazier vs. Joe Bugner

During the 1970’s Joe Bugner attempted to become the first British heavyweight world champion of the 20th century, seven decades since the short reign of Bob Fitzsimmons, although the Brits were not so keen on Bugner due to the fact that he was born in Hungary and fled to the United Kingdom at a young age.

Still, Bugner earned the respect of fans around the globe for a courageous performance against Muhammad Ali, battling through a cut in the opening-round and lasting the full twelve rounds in a spirited display in 1973.

Just five months later, Joe Frazier would travel to London to face Bugner, looking to remind fans of his skills after he famously lost his WBA and WBC titles to George Foreman in the second-round of ‘The Sunshine Showdown’.

Once again, Bugner proved himself to be a genuine world title threat, recovering from a trademark Frazier left-hook to push ‘Smokin’ Joe’ to his limit, only to lose a razor-thin decision in what many believe to have been his greatest ever performance.

Bugner would eventually challenge for world honours when he rematched Ali in 1975 but lost a more lopsided decision this time around, before being defeated by world title contenders Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers, putting an end to Bugner’s title hopes.

Still, Bugner carried the knockout power to be successful against fringe level opponents and in 1983 we saw him revisit his classic contest against a Frazier, this time taking on his son Marvis Frazier, off of the back of four consecutive stoppage wins.

Yet, the amateur pedigree and world champion genes of young Frazier shone through, outboxing a below-par Bugner for the full ten rounds of an uneventful clash and earning a shot at Larry Holmes’ Ring Magazine title for his troubles.

A true Mexican legend and one of the all-time-greats of our beautiful yet bloodied sport, Julio Cesar Chavez bowed out of boxing in 2005 when he faced Grover Wiley in his 118th professional contest – 25 years after Chavez’s debut. After losing out in a WBC super-lightweight title challenge against Kostya Tszyu, ‘El César del Boxeo’ had strung together four victories and was pitted up against Wiley in Phoenix, the latter having a youthful Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre in his corner.

Chavez had a solid start in the opening couple of rounds until his age began to show, his gas tank and possibly his will being visibly faded as opposed to his skills, Wiley managing to score with grunt-inducing blows to the body as a result. In the fifth, Wiley began to land a number of clean strikes as the 43-year-old Chavez marched forwards offering little in return before being pulled out in-between rounds – citing a broken right-hand as the reason for his early withdrawal – rather than the broken heart that Wiley still suspects to this day.

On that same card, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would extend his record to 22-0 (a sizeable distance short of his father’s fabled 90-fight unbeaten run,) against Corey Alarcon with a second-round stoppage win, before stating his intentions to avenge his father’s loss later that night.

True to his word, Chavez Jr. stepped through the ropes to take on Wiley less than two years later, during which time he had fought a further ten occasions and improved to 32-0-1 whilst Wiley had fought thrice and lost all three bouts.

Having learnt his craft on the job after just four amateur contests, Chavez Jr. looked to have finally found his style and appeared both confident and comfortable from the sound of the opening bell onwards, scoring a knockdown with a left-hook, left-uppercut combination with seconds remaining on the clock in the first-round.

An assured Chavez Jr. did not rush to finish the job but picked his shots well in both the second and third-round, using his superior size effectively in the face of the onrushing Wiley to continue to land hooks to the body, not dissimilar to those that his father was subject to against the same Florida-born 154lber.

Twice in the third-round, Chavez Jr. floored his opponent with signature body blows that his father would have been proud of, the last of which left Grover Wiley face down on the canvas and unable to beat the count – finally falling victim to the illustrious Chavez name.Elijah/Oliver McCall vs Marcin Rekowski

In 2013, Elijah McCall’s hopes of emulating his father’s success in the heavyweight division and securing a world title took a serious dent, as he suffered a second stoppage defeat of his career against eventual unified champion of the division, Andy Ruiz Jr.

In an attempt to get his career back on track, the 23-year-old ventured to eastern Europe to take on undefeated Polish contender Marcin Rekowski on away soil.

Behind on all three cards with claret sprayed across his face as well as onto the referee’s shirt, a battered McCall fell first to his knees and then into the ropes after feeling the full effect of Rekowski’s power in the fifth-round – leaving the referee with no choice but to call an end to the contest and leave a saddened Oliver McCall in the corner cleaning his son’s blood-sodden face.

Nine months later, almost two decades since he knocked out Lennox Lewis for the WBC title, a remarkably still active Oliver McCall made that same trip to Poland in the hopes of putting an end to Rekowski’s unbeaten run.

At 48-years-old and in his 70th professional bout, ‘The Atomic Bull’ edged out a tight split-decision victory despite being the away fighter, astonishingly negating the power of Rekowski with old-school defence and his renowned granite chin in a low-output affair.

Unfortunately for the McCall family, Rekowski would get his own back over the old bull, registering a dominant unanimous decision victory over Oliver McCall in a rematch which took place less than three months after their initial encounter.

Now as we enter the final quarter of 2024, it has been over a decade since a father and son duo have

As fights become more sparse and the days of fighting ten times a year appear long gone, the likelihood of witnessing this occurrence can only become lesser and lesser, at least on the world stage.

As ever, fans will judge those both fortunate and unfortunate offspring of the heroes of yesteryear and quickly determine whether they are fit to lace the boots of their fathers, wielding that double-edged sword of intrigue and showing little patience before casting a damning verdict – rarely being able to witness that direct comparison of a familiar foe.

#BoxingLegends #JoeBugner #JoeFrazier #JerseyJoeWalcott #JulioCesarChavez #JulioCesarChavezJr #McCall #GroverWiley #PhilJohnson #HaroldJohnson #MarcinRekowski #MarvisFrazier #BoxingHistory #LegacyFights #FatherAndSon #BoxingComparisons

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

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

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

In a recent Instagram post, Fury

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The model doesn’t work.

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

Clearly, Dana White does not hold back on this.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Danny (@dantheboxingman) October 1, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There has been a lot of speculation in regards to what happens next with Terence Crawford.

Promoter Eddie Hearn speculated recently that the 37-year-old may never fight again.

Canelo Alvarez refused to rule ‘Bud’ Crawford out for his next opponent.

In the meantime, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) mandated Sebastian Fundora as the next opponent.

Terence Crawford is the reigning WBO Interim Jr. Middleweight Champion.

Fundora, on the other hand, is the WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion.

The fight was to terminate the interim status and determine who would emerge as the king of the middleweight scene.

But now it seems that the wait will go on a little while longer.

The WBO have

On August 28, the WBO ordered the fight and gave both sides 30 days to strike a deal.

It’s notoriously difficult at times to get boxers to negotiate what the split will be on the revenue for each fighter.

That date would have run out on September 28.

However, according to the communications from the WBO, an email communication by Attorney Mr. Harrison Whitman, on behalf of Terrence Crawford, requested a 10 day extension of the negotiation period to continue discussion on the matter.

On the same day, Fundora’s promoter Mr. Sampson Lewkowicz agreed to the extension.

Therefore, there is now an additional 10 days for the two sides to come to an agreement.

The release is signed by the chairman of the WBO, Luis Batista Salas.

So it seems that both fighters need a little more time to work out the details for the fight.

With the 10 day extension now in place, the date for the fight will likely be available in just over a week’s time.  

#TerenceCrawford #SebastianFundora #WBO #BoxingNews #MiddleweightBoxing #BoxingFans #FightNight #TitleUnification #CrawfordFundora #BoxingUpdates #BoxingShowdown #NegotiationExtension #WBOChampion #CrawfordVsFundora #BoxingHype

Jake Paul has a lot on his plate right now.

The YouTuber is gearing up for his clash with boxing legend Mike Tyson in November.

Promotion is building for that clash as viewers gear up to see what will happen when the two set into the ring.

But that’s not the only thing that Jake Paul has to worry about right now.

There’s also the little case of a defamation lawsuit that he’s also got in the background.

Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn is currently in the midst of suing the Cleveland native.

London based Hearn did not take too kindly to some of the accusations that came his way from Paul.

For those unaware, Eddie Hearn sued Jake Paul in September 2022.

That’s due to Paul accusing the promoter of bribing boxing judge Glenn Feldman to score fights in favour of his boxers.

The two specific boxers and fights that Paul referred to were Katie Taylor against Amanda Serrano and Anthony Joshua against Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch bout.Mike Tyson challenged by former undisputed world heavyweight champion

Needless to say, Eddie Hearn did not take too kindly to these words and subsequently sued.

In response, Jake Paul and his legal team filed a motion to get the suit dismissed.

However, that has not been successful.

According to ESPN reporter Mike Coppinger, a New York judge has denied this motion and has said it needs to move ahead.

The judge has now set the date for the lawsuit hearing to October 16.

That’s less than a month from when Jake Paul faces ‘Iron’ Mike for their clash.

Not ideal preparation.

As things stand right now, the next two months are going to be very busy for Jake Paul both in and out of the ring.A New York judge denied Jake Paul’s motion to dismiss a defamation suit filed by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, per records obtained by ESPN.

Hearn sued Paul in September 2002 after he was accused of bribing Glen Feldman to score fights in favor of Katie Taylor (vs.…

#JakePaul #EddieHearn #MikeTyson #BoxingLawsuit #DefamationSuit #GlennFeldman #KatieTaylor #AmandaSerrano #AnthonyJoshua #OleksandrUsyk #BoxingNews #BoxingPromotion #MatchroomBoxing #MikeCoppinger #BoxingUpdates

Fabio Wardley went toe-to-toe in one of 2024’s fights of the year when they met on Easter Sunday under the spotlights of the O2 Arena – battling to a draw upon a blood-stained canvas. Now, the pair are set to meet again, and both men appear confident that they can make the necessary adjustments to come out on top this time around.

After turning professional without any amateur fights to his name, Wardley went the distance on his debut but knocked out all 16 of his opponents thereafter and claimed the British heavyweight title with a victory over Nathan Gorman before an impressive stoppage win in a defence against David Adeleye.

The Ipswich fan-favourite was then tasked with his toughest opponent when he was matched up against Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Frazer Clarke and the pair went to war in an instant classic that was scored as a split-draw.

Ahead of their rematch next weekend, a confident Wardley told BoxNation that he will have improve finishing instincts on this occasion and that he will stop ‘Big Fraze’ within six rounds.

“[I will end the fight] within six [rounds], I think.

“I have just analysed the fight, I hurt him countless, countless times. It was just my follow up that was wrong, that was all. No big deal.

“I put a lot of work in and damaged him in a lot of different areas and then I saw it [the opening], chased him the wrong way and just kind of let him off of the hook.

“When I knocked him down in the fifth round, if that is the first minute of the round and not the third – I will get him out of there.

“There is no time in my career where you have seen someone hurt and I have knocked them down and I have not got rid of them. You have never seen that from me.

“Every opponent that I have ever faced has hit the canvas, so that speaks for itself in terms of being able to get people out of there.Luis Alberto Lopez’s team fume after severe injury: “He is a butcher.”

“It’s perfectly within my realm, it is perfectly within my capabilities. I just need to be a bit more tidier in a couple of places and I have got it covered.”

In response, Clarke dismissed Wardley’s prediction and believed it to be nothing more than arrogance.“𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗝𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗**𝗞𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗!”

“He is a jarring d***head, you know.

“I can tolerate it at times but I just feel like he think he is world level. He thinks he is way above the level which he is at.

“I don’t know where it has come from – yeah he has knocked over a few people and he has done a good job but he is not as good as he thinks he is.”

“He thinks he can just walk in there and take me out in six rounds? Not a prayer. He is delusional.”

Wardley-Clarke II will take place on October 12th on the blockbuster Beterbiev-Bivol undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and will be available to watch live on DAZN PPV.

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball is preparing for a homecoming fight in Liverpool this weekend, making a voluntary defence of his title against California’s Ronny Rios. Should he win that contest and make a first defence of the belt, there is now a mammoth opportunity around the corner.

Ball announced himself onto the featherweight scene when he knocked out Isaac Lowe on the Fury-Whyte undercard at Wembley Stadium in April 2022 but since then his reputation has grown ten-fold.

A string of stoppage victories for the small but fearsome scouser saw 5’2” Ball rise up the rankings and a points win over Isaac Dogboe granted Ball the chance to challenge for world honours.

A contentious draw with WBC champion Rey Vargas on the Joshua-Ngannou bill impressed viewers and the world stage but it was against America’s Raymond Ford where Ball finally got his hands on a world title – edging a razor-thin split-decision.

Now, as world champion, Ball finds himself with a target on his head and the imminent move up in weight from pound-for-pound number one Naoya Inoue has got British fight fans hopeful of seeing ‘The Monster’ travel to fight in Old Blighty.

Meanwhile, Stephen Fulton, who lost his super-bantamweight titles to Inoue last year, has also recently made the move up and was victorious on his 126lb debut against Carlos Castro last month.

Today, the WBA have confirmed that ‘Cool Boy Steph’ has been installed as the #1 contender and the mandatory challenger for Ball’s title – teeing up a showdown between the front-footed ‘Wrecking’ Ball and the slick Philadelphian, as per Boog Williams.@coolboysteph is the new WBA #1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger Featherweight

— Boog Williams (@Ovajay) October 1, 2024Terence Crawford makes shock allegations that airline stole clothes

“@Coolboysteph is the new WBA #1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger Featherweight”

Speaking with Boxing News, before his split-decision win against Castro, Fulton outlined that Ball was his target and admitted that he felt the aggressive style of the WBA champion was a perfect match-up.

“That [Ball] is the one that I want because that is the weight-class that I am number one for and this is an eliminator for that belt.

“They were close fights [against Rey Vargas and Ray Ford], close fights should go to the champion but it happens. S**t happens.

“We will see, once we get past this, if we can line that up.

“[We would match up] perfect [stylistically] because he comes off as an aggressive, strong fighter and what we have been working on in camp is perfect for that.”

Before Ball can look towards a scrap with Fulton, he must overcome Rios this Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool – where he tops a bill featuring a host of domestic talent that can be watched live on TNT Sports.

As for Inoue, the Japanese sensation could look towards IBF featherweight champion Angelo Leo, before a potential unification bout against the victor of Ball-Fulton in late 2025.

The status of a unified champion is one that is craved by so many fighters but achieved by so few, whilst that of an undisputed champion is one that can define a legacy. Now, there is one man closing in on the undisputed crown after picking up two belts with ease, although he has put himself at a major risk of losing it all.

The skill of Janibek Alimkhanuly was realised years ago and the Kazakh was quickly deemed as the bogeyman of the middleweight division despite limited experience as a professional.

However, in recent times, the middleweight division has been blown wide open after the reigns of Jermall Charlo, Demetrius Andrade and Gennadiy Golovkin were each brought to a close by the respective sanctioning bodies rather than worthy opponents.

That left ‘Qazaq’ style well poised in a position to capitalize and pick up the world titles and that is exactly what he has done, being elevated to WBO world champion and then knocking out Vincenzo Gualtieri to add the IBF trinket to his collection.

Yet, Alimkhanuly has ran into a new issue that may prevent him from becoming the undisputed champion – his weight.

The 2013 amateur world champion fainted ahead of a title defence against Russian-New Zealander Andrei Mikhailovich due to a strenuous weight cut back in July and caused the bout to be rescheduled for this Friday night in Sydney.

Now, the undefeated southpaw is tasked with an additional concern after it was revealed that he will only arrive in Australia on Wednesday, failing to allow his body to adjust to the 17-hour time difference between Sydney and his residence in California.

Mikhailovich’s promoter, Marco Rose, admitted that news Alimkhanuly’s seemingly ill-prepared travel arrangements was a ‘shock’, speaking with Fox Sports.Oleksandr Usyk accused of cheating

“I don’t know if it’s over confidence or a lack of respect for Andrei but I’ve never had an international fighter request to fly here so late.

“(Laughs) Normally, they’re arguing with us about trying to get Down Under weeks earlier so that they can shake the jet lag and acclimatise. So I’m absolutely shocked Janibek is only arriving on Wednesday.”

“Especially given the fact that he’s coming off those issue where he didn’t make weight last time.

“You’d think you would be doing everything possible to make sure his weight is right this time around because I can assure him, Australia’s scales are the same as the ones he missed on in the US.

“They don’t change here.”.

“Janibek will be dealing with all that jet lag while also trying to cut weight.

“That’s not a preparation I’d be advising for any of my fighters.”

Whilst Alimkhanuly reigns as the unified WBO & IBF champion, it will only be his IBF crown on the line when he takes on Andrei Mikhailovich on Friday at The Star in Sydney, in an event that can be watched live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom with ringwalks expected around 13:00 BST.

Chris Billam-Smith has upset the odds on multiple occasions to become an established and proven world champion but now he has the chance to etch his name further into the history books on the biggest of stages. Ahead of his biggest fight to date, the Bournemouth fan-favourite revealed that he is hoping to emulate.

‘The Gentleman’ shook up the cruiserweight division when he trumped the previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie and picked up the WBO world title in a showdown at the Vitality Stadium, home of his beloved A.F.C. Bournemouth, last May.

After a hard-fought win in a first defence against Mateusz Masternak, CBS returned to another U.K. football stadium when he rematched Richard Riakporhe on the away soil of Selhurst Park in an attempt to level the scores – Riakporhe being the only man to have defeated Billam-Smith during a 21-fight professional career.

Contrary to what the bookmakers predicted, Billam-Smith comfortably outpointed Riakporhe in London to reaffirm his status as a worthy world champion and set him up for potential unification showdowns.

In spite of rumours that he would take on IBF champion Jai Opetaia, who has knocked out three Britons in his last four outings, it was instead confirmed that Billam-Smith would meet WBA title-holder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez atop a Riyadh Season card billed as ‘Latino Night’.

As he has become accustomed to, Billam-Smith will step through the ropes as the underdog as he attempts to become the cruiserweight division’s eighth unified champion since its introduction in 1979.

Speaking with the BBC, the 34-year-old explained that he is hoping to match the achievements of the only other Brit to have held multiple titles at the weight, David Haye, and bring both belts home.Oleksandr Usyk accused of cheating

“I’m just glad it’s a unification fight. The last Brit to unify at cruiserweight was David Haye, who is someone I looked up to massively in terms of fighting style and how he dismantled his opponents.

“It would be an honour to be a British unified world champion.”

“I’m confident in fighting him [Ramirez] but I’m not that experienced in fighting southpaws. He brings lots of different attributes, he’s super-tough and has a really good punch output.

“I’d say I have more of an advantage being settled at the weight, but he has his advantages too as he’ll be used to faster guys as he’s come up through the weights.

“It makes for a really intriguing fight and it’s a massive challenge for me. [Trainer] Shane [McGuigan] and I are already working on a gameplan. People saw a different side of me in my last fight but this time there will be even more surprise in what people see.”

Ramirez-Billam-Smith will take place on November 16th at The Venue in Riyadh, topping a stellar undercard which features an additional world title unification contest.

Former IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto Lopez was on the wrong side of one of the upsets of the year last month, but the belt was the least of the Mexican’s concerns during the aftermath. Seven weeks after the brutal defeat, Lopez’s team have spoken out in disgust.

‘El Venado’ upset the odds when he outpointed Josh Warrington on away soil in Leeds to pick up the featherweight strap in December 2022, but since then he has proven himself to be a worthy champion.

Lopez knocked out Michael Conlan in a first defence of his world title and would make a third defence in ten months when he stopped Reiya Abe back in March – a unanimous decision victory against Joet Gonzalez taking place in between.

Last month, Lopez headlined a card in New Mexico against former WBO super-bantamweight title-holder Angelo Leo and the fact that Leo had just eleven stoppages in 26 fights meant Lopez entered the contest as a heavy favourite – many believing Leo lacked the knockout power to be successful at 126lbs.

However, those assumptions were proved to be false when Leo landed a prodigious left-hook onto the chin of the champion and sent ‘Venado’ crashing into the canvas, unable to get back to his feet and beat the referee’s count, resulting in a contender for the both the upset and knockout of the year.LOOK AT THIS BRUTAL KO BY ANGELO LEO ONE MORE TIME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aPy9PW697g

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 11, 2024

Shortly afterwards it was confirmed that Lopez has suffered a bleed on the brain as a consequence of the almighty blow, possibly ending the career of the 31-year-old but causing a significant time away from the ring as a minimum.

Speaking with Boxing Scene, Lopez’s co-manager Hector Fernandez de Cordova labelled Ernie Sharif, the referee of the clash with Leo, as a ‘butcher’, before revealing that the New Mexico Athletic Commission were reluctant to aid Lopez and his team with hospital treatment.

“It was one of the worst referees I’ve seen in my life in boxing,”

“A guy like that does not deserve to be in the ring at a world title level – or even with amateurs. He’s a butcher. As a referee, you need to protect fighters from each other and from themselves.”

“The commission was trying to convince me not to take him to the hospital,”

“They were like, ‘You don’t need to.’ But I was thinking, ‘If you guys don’t want to pay for it, it’s OK. I’ll pay for it. But we’re talking about my fighter’s health.’ He didn’t even know the fight was over.”

Fernandez went on to reveal his belief that the injury was caused by a punch to the back of the head from Leo rather than a trademark left-hook.

Whilst Lopez’s career is up in the air, Angelo Leo may well be poised for the opportunity of a lifetime, once again proving the drastic impact that a singular punch can have on the life of a boxer.

#LuisAlbertoLopez #AngeloLeo #BoxingUpset #KnockoutOfTheYear #BoxingInjury #FeatherweightChampion #IBF #BoxingNews #BrainInjury #HectorFernandezDeCordova #ErnieSharif #NewMexicoAthleticCommission #FightNight #BoxingControversy #BoxingFuture #TopRankBoxing