Boxing News

Tim Tszyu has appointed Australian great Jeff Fenech as his new trainer after dramatically sacking his team for the second time in three fights, and he will meet with him on Friday to discuss Fenech also becoming his manager.

The junior middleweight had defeated Anthony Velazquez and Denis Nurja with the Cuban Pedro Diaz as his trainer, with Mike Altamura and Darcy Ellis as his co-managers, and with Fenech as his advisor.

He is also nearing a date with Errol Spence in July, but two fights on from sacking his uncle and long-term trainer Igor Goloubev and his previous manager Glenn Jennings – having just lost for the second time to Sebastian Fundora – he has decided to overhaul his team again.

Fenech, who alongside the 31-year-old Tim’s celebrated father Kostya is widely considered Australia’s finest ever fighter, had been critical of the direction he was being taken in. They will work together for Spence in Sydney, Australia and potentially in Thailand; it was in Miami that Tszyu had been training under Diaz.

“I’ve watched Tim train for years and years and years,” Fenech told BoxingScene. “I’m sure he will be fine. We just want to work hard. My first job is getting him mentally prepared; the physical part’s gonna be easy ‘cause Tim’s one of the hardest trainers that I’ve ever seen.

“It’s a combination of those two things. If we get him mentally right first, everything will fall into place.

“It was a big surprise. But I had – not criticism, because everyone does their own stuff – when I watched Pedro Diaz do the pads, you don’t have to move to punch somebody, and in the fight game you have to move your feet. Anybody can say it looked great making all these noises punching. Unless you’re moving your feet, in a real fight you’re not hitting anybody. I just said what’s true. 

“In that first fight [the victory in December over Velazquez] Tim threw over 500 punches; landed 100. That’s like giving a soccer ball to Ronaldo and saying ‘Here’, and he misses 400 shots – and Tim’s closer [to the target] than Ronaldo is. 

“I didn’t even ask him [why he decided to make a change]. I didn’t say ‘Why now?’. I just said ‘I would love to help you’. I only wanna help him ‘cause I know I can help him. If I thought that he was unfixable I would let him know that I think that he should do something else. But I know that he’s still got a whole lot of potential. He’s done all of this without anybody helping him or telling him what to do. 

“Every time he sits in the corner, nobody tells him what he’s done right or what he’s done wrong or what he has to do. Every fight he’s ever had he’s only ever had Plan A, and because it worked for so long he’s never had to change it. But now he’s at that level – he’s fighting guys like Errol Spence, who’ll be next, and he’s got to have levels; he’s got to have an A, B and C plan, and I plan to give him that.

“Tim’s made a decision; he’s asked me to help him. I’m very, very excited and I’m looking forward to it.”

Fenech chose against attending the fight with Velazquez, and walked out of the victory over Nurja, earlier in April, before the final bell. Tszyu suffered a significant cut under his left eye that it was feared might delay the proposed date with Spence – perhaps the biggest of his career – but Fenech believes that he can be ready for it in July.

“I’m talking to Tim about [being his manager] tomorrow – we’ve got a meeting – and I think I’ll be doing that job as well,” Fenech explained.

“I’m very, very confident in his ability, his fitness, and everything else, so I’m more than happy with it. They’re talking about [the fight with Spence] being in July in Australia somewhere, so we’re just waiting, but I’m really excited for Tim.

“The first and foremost thing I think anybody should do with him is watch the fights he was dropped in [the defeats by Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev]; knocked out in; let him know why. Sit him down and explain what happened. I’ve watched those fights 100 times so I know what to say to him. The first thing we work on is fixing those areas where he’s very open as he was throwing a punch, and open for the left hook and a few other punches. 

“It’s my job to put him in position and to make sure when we do the training, he gets the confidence where he’s doing it properly. He was just punching; coming straight back out in the middle of the ring. He’s giving people that opportunity [to punch him] and I want to make sure I fix that for him, and go from there.

“I’m really excited. I’m training a couple of boys – [Australian junior welterweight] Hass Hamdan, who’s a good prospect – and this is gonna make him better, because he’ll be one of Tim’s sparring partners. I’m really excited that I’ve got an opportunity to work with somebody that needs help, and I’m more excited about the challenge to make Tim a better fighter.

“We will train here in Australia, but I [also] have a training camp in Thailand where we can train.”

 

Harrow, London’s Mitchell Smith has been issued with a three-month ban from United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) after failing a post-fight drugs test following his 10-round points victory over Arnie Dawson in October 2025. The contest, which was for the WBO European lightweight title, was on the London O2 Arena undercard of Fabio Wardley’s victory over Joseph Parker, who also fell foul of testing.

BoxingScene understands the banned substance that returned Smith's adverse test is not being ruled as a performance enhancer following an investigation, hence why the suspension is a brief one. However, the result of the bout has been disqualified and ruled a No Contest. UKAD will announce details of their findings in May.

Smith, 33, was once the brightest of British boxing prospects until he was beaten over 10 rounds by George Jupp in one of the biggest upsets of 2015. Subsequent attempts to get his career back on track failed before Smith, who has been open about his out-of-the-ring problems, put together a three-fight win streak that culminated in the victory over Dawson.

The news came to light when Clacton, Essex’s Dawson, who thought he’d lost his unbeaten record that night, posted on social media Wednesday. “It is not in my nature to try to tarnish someone’s name or career and that is not the purpose of this statement and not what I aim to do,” he wrote.

“25th October (BIGGEST night of my career) I took my first professional defeat on the Parker v Wardley undercard live on DAZN PPV for the WBO European title against 18-1 highly rated Mitchell Smith on 11 days notice.

“After the fight both myself and Mitchell were tested by UKAD in the changing rooms and that was that.

“An adverse finding was then returned in my opponent’s test involving a banned substance. After an investigation by UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control it was deemed that our contest would be overturned to a No Contest and the loss removed from my record.

“I’ve spoke with Mitchell since the fight and have nothing but respect for Mitchell.

“However, after thousands of people seeing the contest and seeing me get beat I think it’s only right that I’m able to tell everyone that this contest will go down as a defeat on my record or in the history books.”

The 23-year-old Dawson, 8-1-1 NC (4 KOs), found out about Smith’s failed test and its consequences prior to his March 14 loss to Steven Cairns in Dublin. Smith’s record is now 18-1-1 NC (9 KOs).

The sound of the bullets inside Dublin’s Regency Hotel was the first warning. The second quickly followed via piercing screams as those in attendance ran for their lives. A third warning, widespread media coverage of death by shooting at a boxing weigh-in, should have been the last.

Daniel Kinahan, the alleged head of a violent drug cartel, was the man for whom those shots were designed on that grey February 2016 day. The Irishman fled the scene but boxing, Kinahan’s latest project, didn’t move nor hide. It remained fixed on the spot, in fact, and for the next six years chose to deny that anything out of the ordinary had occurred.

The arrest last week of Kinahan, one of the most influential figures in boxing until he was sanctioned by the US Treasury in April 2022, has left many wondering what may now happen to those in the sport who engaged in business with him and his associates.

“There will be people in boxing that are nervous now, there simply has to be,” Kieran Cunningham, an Irish journalist of high regard, told BoxingScene. “The reason that this story interests so many people, far more than other cartels, is the links to a sport like boxing. My [Shadow Boxing] podcast reached more than 120 countries, it was the most listened to outside of premier league football [podcasts]. That level of interest could trigger deep investigations.”

Kinahan co-founded MGM Marbella with Matthew Macklin in 2012. It would soon become MTK Global, a one-stop management and promotional shop, that attracted boxers in their droves. It was easy to see why, too; boxers, including plenty who were previously struggling for opportunities and pay, were suddenly getting both with certain purses higher than what would have been deemed market value.

Though it was later claimed Kinahan had sold his share in MTK, it was believed that the association continued until the company closed suddenly in 2022, days after a bounty of $5m was put on the Irishman’s head. Probellum, another promotional vehicle with links to Kinahan, didn’t last much longer.

He was by then living a luxurious life in Dubai, the haven where he would eventually be arrested, on Wednesday April 15, in accordance with a bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.

“The arrest followed the receipt of a judicial file from Irish authorities detailing the suspect’s alleged crimes and his involvement in an international criminal organisation,” said a spokesperson from Dubai police.

“Based on the file, Dubai public prosecution issued an arrest warrant to initiate legal procedures ahead of his extradition. Specialised teams immediately launched intensive search and surveillance operations, leading to the suspect’s capture within 48 hours of the warrant being issued.”

The work that went into such a smooth arrest was decades in the making, however. Work that, for a time, was centred in the world of boxing. There are numerous files detailing Kinahan’s movements in the sport, BoxingScene has been told. And it’s the paper trails – or indeed, lack of – that those who worked with him might now be thinking carefully about. For example, text conversations that occurred on crypted phones from the time of Kinahan’s peak within boxing have been cracked by authorities. It’s plausible that certain deals that were secured in boxing, and the financial terms of them, occurred while using those phones from which the authorities have already obtained details.

Nicola Tallant, an Irish investigative journalist who specialises in organised crime, told BoxingScene that she thinks “there is a huge focus on the money laundering by the Spanish police. That is where the boxing types would have a problem.”

For too long, too many in boxing acted like there was no problem at all. Within three years of that shooting in Dublin, Kinahan was among the fight game’s most important figures: brokering deals; guiding big-name boxers; schmoozing with the most influential. It was a curious situation, though. Because even though major promoters worked with him, and some of the finest fighters in the world employed him in a managerial/advisory capacity, nobody dared utter his name in public. Should his name come up in an interview, for example, the answer – if one came at all – would always be prefixed by ‘off record’. That alone should have said it all.

Then it happened. With the world in lockdown in June 2020, and with Kinahan seemingly yearning for some recognition as something other than a presumed gangster, his name was uttered by Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion for whom he had arranged a two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua. Fury’s by now infamous social media address thrust Kinahan, and his role in boxing, into the mainstream thanks to Fury’s 5.7m followers on Instagram. Fury, incidentally, would later claim that the relationship with Kinahan ceased soon afterwards.

According to a 2025 piece in respected magazine, the New Yorker, it was that post by Fury, which began, “I’m just after getting off the phone to Daniel Kinahan…” that piqued the interest of the United States Drugs Enforcement Administration. Chris Urben, then a DEA investigator, told the New Yorker: “I remember having the conversation, ‘This cannot happen. This has got to stop’.”

Ordinarily broadcasters would be eager to attach themselves to a contest as huge as Fury vs. Joshua but Sky Sports, then the leading distributor of live boxing in the UK, immediately stated they were not involved. TNT Sport, another British sports channel, quickly followed their rival’s lead.

The quest for acceptance continued regardless. Bob Arum, arguably then the world’s leading promoter, called him ‘Captain’ and praised his professionalism. IFLTV, the YouTube channel that was sponsored by MTK, became a propaganda machine for Kinahan as fighters, trainers and managers were invited to share tales about what a top bloke he was. Each were in some way earning money from him; the least they could do, it seemed, was spread the word.

A BBC documentary, broadcast in 2021, spelt out both the extent of Kinahan’s involvement in boxing and his connections with crime. Still, nobody seemed to care. “It won’t change a thing,” a top promoter told me back then about Panorama: Boxing and the Mob. “It didn’t tell us anything that everybody doesn’t already know, did it? As a promoter, I will continue to deal with whoever I’m instructed to deal with to get the best possible deal for the fighter.”

In March 2022, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, in a move he now regrets, stated in part: “…Daniel will have our full support in his quest to bring benefits to boxing.” Those words came in the same week it was revealed that 53 people connected to the Kinahan cartel had so far been jailed and a fortnight before it was officially announced that he was one of the world’s most wanted men.

With the sanctioning came awkward silence. Anyone who was now known to be doing business with him would face legal action; anyone who had done so before started to check the terms of their deals very carefully.

“It isn’t straightforward dealing with boxing post-Kinahan because he left so much residue,” said Cunningham. “I can’t prove it, but I’ve been told by several people that he was still involved [after the sanctions].” Without question, numerous people who were known colleagues of Kinahan have been seen at boxing events, including some big ones, since the sanctions.

It's likely, however, that the fighters who Kinahan represented will escape any charges because, though it can’t completely be ruled out, they surely won’t have been routing money or structuring deals to do so. In short, without proof of deep involvement or knowledge of the cartel, it would be hard for authorities to implicate them in crime.

It could be a different matter for managers and intermediaries who negotiated purses, benefited from the launch of certain businesses, directed money or utilised international payment structures to get the most from that money. The practices of some promoters, particularly those who represented MTK, might face scrutiny, too.

As for Kinahan, who is currently in a Dubai prison, Cunningham warned that those expecting a quick conclusion could be mistaken, citing the case of Sean McGovern, a senior member of the Kinahan cartel, as context. “His extradition [from Dubai to Ireland] took seven to eight months,” said Cunningham of McGovern, who engaged in a “secretive and complicated” legal battle in Dubai to prevent the extradition that eventually occurred in May 2025. “Kinahan will have the best lawyers working for him and fighting this.”

The waiting game is underway, regardless.

There’s some debate over exactly when May 4 became known as “Star Wars Day.” Written records of the play on words “May the fourth be with you” go as far back as 1979. Facebook groups began calling May 4 “Luke Skywalker Day” in 2008. The first known organized in-person celebration of the day took place in Toronto in 2011. And Disney as a company began officially observing the “holiday” in 2013.

At this point, it is entrenched. May the 4th is Star Wars Day.

I’ve never been a big Star Wars guy. But I’m fine with it getting celebrated for a day.

I am a big boxing guy. So I’m giving boxing a whole month. (Yes, I know there already is a Boxing Day, but that doesn’t count.)

It may or may not become an annual thing, but this May is Boxing Month, as far as I’m concerned.

With the announcement last week that O’Shaquie Foster vs. Raymond Ford is coming May 30, that bookends the month with the multiple major cards on May 2. Throw in the way the calendar aligns nicely to make this a five-Saturday month, with all five Saturdays offering at least one high-quality fight, and yeah, I’m declaring it: May the fights be with you.

The remainder of April is rather ho-hum, and there’s nothing terribly exciting on the schedule for June or beyond yet except Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Xander Zayas. But May is sexy. I look at it the same way coming-of-age me looked at Princess Leia in her Jabba’s-prisoner outfit.

In anticipation of Boxing Month, I offer a countdown of the 10 fights on the May calendar I’m looking forward to most:

10. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, May 23, DAZN PPV

On the one hand, it says something about how potentially farcical this matchup is that the legit heavyweight champion of the world is defending his title and the best I can do is rank it 10th. On the other hand, it says something about how stacked the month of May is that the legit heavyweight champion of the world is defending his title and the best I can do is rank it 10th.

It’s a gimmick fight, somewhat like Floyd Mayweather taking on MMA star Conor McGregor or Floyd Patterson defending the heavyweight title against Pete Rademacher in the latter’s pro debut. Verhoeven is apparently an all-time great kickboxer, which could be enough of a hook to make mainstream media perk up, while Usyk, who hasn’t gotten to enjoy a soft touch since Chazz Witherspoon in 2019, pockets some well-deserved easy money.

Verhoeven has had only one pro boxing match, back in 2014 when Usyk was just 3-0 as a pro, and the Dutchman’s opponent, Janos Finfera, was 0-5 with all five losses by stoppage. But the heavyweight championship of the world is on the line. Even if this proves a pointless and disgusting mismatch, as it most likely will, it’s still a chance to watch the king do his thing.

Plus, it’s taking place at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Sure, that figures to result in a setting as sterile as a COVID-bubble card or, say, a boxing event in a curtained-off corner of Times Square. But it’ll probably look cool on your television screen.

9. Takuma Inoue vs. Kazuto Ioka, May 2, DAZN

Spoiler: There’s another fight starring an Inoue at the Tokyo Dome on the first weekend of May still to come on this list. But as co-features go, younger bro Takuma defending his bantamweight strap against the veteran Ioka ain’t bad.

Ioka appears to be fading somewhat at age 37, having lost decisions to Fernando Martinez in his last two title fights. But he’s a four-division beltholder with a chance to become Japan’s first-ever male five-division titlist. And while Inoue isn’t fighting to make any such history, he is looking to build on the momentum of his win last November over Tenshin Nasukawa.

The betting line reflects the likely competitiveness of the bout, with FanDuel tabbing Inoue as a -230 favorite and Ioka a +176 underdog. (For comparison, Usyk is -3000 to beat +1360 ’dog Verhoeven.)

8. Jose Armando Resendiz vs. Jaime Munguia, May 2, Prime Video PPV/DAZN PPV/PPV.com

Speaking of outstanding May 2 co-features with close odds (in this case, Munguia is -215 and Resendiz +164), this all-Mexican battle serves as a reminder that boxers don’t need to be pound-for-pound elite to make them worth watching.

Resendiz has been sidelined for a year, waiting for something to come together, since his 2025 Upset of the Year over Caleb Plant. Well, something came together. Munguia has also been out of action for a year, since avenging his loss to Bruno Sarace in 2024’s Upset of the Year.

If these guys were a couple of cuties who relied heavily on rhythm and timing, I’d be concerned about ring rust having a negative impact on the entertainment value. But they aren’t, and I’m not.

Sure, Resendiz can make clever moves and has sharpened his skills nicely of late under trainer Manny Robles, but he’s still more slugger than stylist.

And unless he’s cutting hair on the side and I don’t know about it, Munguia has never in his life been called a stylist.

Perhaps more than any other May fight, Resendiz-Munguia does not appear to have the word “boring” anywhere in its range of outcomes.

7. Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jnr, May 23, DAZN PPV

Usyk is the chief attraction, but this is the most intriguing bout taking place in the shadow of those Egyptian pyramids, as we’re about to find out what 2020 U.S. Olympian Torrez is made of.

We got some answers last April when Torrez won comfortably over the 10-round distance against Guido Vianello, but most of the rest of his fights have been over in a round or two or three. If that’s also the case with Sanchez, it will mean Torrez is a legit title contender.

The Cuban-born Sanchez represents far and away Torrez’ toughest test. Sanchez is the only man to defeat Efe Ajagba and his only loss came against the outstanding Agit Kabayel. He’s sturdier and more dangerous than anyone Torrez has shared the ring with yet, and he’s a legit threat to upset the mustachioed American.

At the very least, he’s a measuring stick. If Torrez is able to duplicate what Kabayel did, then a heavyweight division where the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board’s ratings are somehow currently devoid of Americans ought to instantly feature one again.

6. Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright II, May 16, DAZN

If there were no subplots – if this were just a rematch to a mega-prospect turned elite contender’s toughest professional bout – it would be must-see. Davis is seen by many as a future pound-for-pounder, but in October 2023, he stumbled against Albright, eking out a 10-round majority decision that was later changed to a no-contest when Davis tested positive for marijuana.

But how’s this for a subplot: Albright went on in 2025 to upset Keyshawn’s then-undefeated brother Kelvin in the Davis family’s hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, and in the aftermath, Keyshawn and another brother, Keon, allegedly attacked Albright backstage.

This isn’t just a rematch. It’s a grudge match.

And for good measure, it’s the headliner of Top Rank’s debut DAZN card.

This is the ultimate test of whether Davis has matured as a fighter since 2023 and as a person since 2025, and it comes against a tough Philly fighter who might just have the Davis family’s number.

5. O’Shaquie Foster vs. Raymond Ford, May 30, DAZN

The FanDuel odds are again very telling here, with Foster just a -190 favorite over +148 underdog Ford in a meeting of TBRB’s No. 1 (Foster) and No. 4 (Ford) junior lightweights. They may be the two best at 130lbs, and at the very least, they’ll be fighting for the unofficial title of best American at the weight (they’re the only two from the U.S. in the TBRB top 10).

Foster looked better than ever in schooling Stephen Fulton last time out, and his only loss since July 2016 was a highly disputed (and subsequently avenged) decision to Robson Conceicao. The Houston fighter is peaking at 32 and may well be the class of the division.

But 27-year-old New Jersey southpaw Ford figures to have something to say about that. The only loss on his record was a coulda-gone-either-way decision to Nick Ball at featherweight two years ago, and he’s since won three in a row, all at junior lightweight.

Both of these guys are highly skilled but they can certainly be lured – or lure themselves – into brawls, and each has a dramatic come-from-behind 12th-round KO win on his resume. It’s almost as can’t-miss from a matchup perspective as Resendiz-Munguia, with considerably more craft mixed in.

4. Angelo Leo vs. Ra’eese Aleem, May 9, DAZN

Full disclosure: Leo is a ProBox TV fighter, and BoxingScene has the same owner as ProBox. So, be as suspect as you want to be of me ranking this featherweight title fight so high.

But the truth is, I followed the careers of both Leo and Aleem closely when they fought regularly on ShoBox and I was podcasting for Showtime, and I have been high on the potential of both since before either they or I had any connection to ProBox.

Enough disclosures and disclaimers. The simple truth is, these are two first-rate one-loss boxers, both into their 30s now and at risk of significant setback with a second defeat. And they’re both action-oriented and evenly enough matched that this is yet another fight on this list all but guaranteed to deliver.

Fights and fighters like this are why ProBox exists and why ShoBox once did – to test future champs and give them the experience and exposure they need to make an eventual showdown such as this worthy of our attention.

3. Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois, May 9, DAZN PPV

What can I say? I love me some big-punching heavyweights, especially when they’re meeting in a clash with massive consequences for the entire championship picture.

It wasn’t so long ago that there was a debate over who was most deserving of a shot at Usyk – Dubois or Joseph Parker. If Wardley turns away his countryman Dubois in Manchester, he will have beaten both of them and will be, without question, the top contender to the lineal championship.

And if Dubois wins, well, he already had two cracks at Usyk and was stopped both times, so a Wardley loss clears the path for Kabayel to declare himself next in line for a shot at Usyk.

Future implications aside, this is just a massively intriguing clash of big men who can throw bombs. And the oddsmakers agree that it’s intriguing, as this is the closest matchup on the board in May, with Wardley favored at -136 and Dubois sitting at +106.

2. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez vs. David Benavidez, May 2, Prime Video PPV/DAZN PPV/PPV.com

Want to know who Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s last three Cinco de Mayo weekend opponents were? John Ryder, Munguia and William Scull. If that’s how it’s going to be, it’s time to hand the holiday over to someone else – and Ramirez-Benavidez sounds like a perfect alternative to a Canelo mismatch.

It’s a Mexican vs. a Mexican-American (who’s known as “The Mexican Monster”) with the aforementioned all-Mexico Resendiz-Munguia clash on the undercard, so we’re covered on the Me-hee-co front.

There’s the potentially interesting question of how much difference 25lbs makes, as light heavyweight beltholder Benavidez is moving up to take on unified cruiserweight titlist Ramirez. 

And there’s simply the chance to see Benavidez, one of the world’s best and most consistently entertaining fighters, putting his talents on display against an opponent who has won 48 of his 49 fights and looks more comfortable just under 200 lbs than he ever did at 175.

Ramirez vs. Benavidez ought to be more than enough to tide us over until Canelo gets back in the ring in September.

1. Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani, May 2, DAZN

How could the No. 1 spot possibly go to anything else? This is the centerpiece of the month for serious fight fans – a top-two pound-for-pounder against an opponent firmly in the back half of the P4P top 10, the undisputed junior featherweight championship on the line, in the biggest all-Japanese fight ever.

On this countdown, we go from the Mexican Monster to a Monster who needs no modifier. Inoue is one of a handful of fighters who is arcing toward going down as not just a standout of his era but as an all-time great – although the case that he belongs somewhere in the Floyd Mayweather/Terence Crawford/Manny Pacquiao conversation would take a serious hit if +310 underdog Nakatani were to knock him off.

It's perhaps a mild shame that Nakatani is coming off a disappointing, too-close-for-comfort showing against Sebastian Hernandez last December, but that just means our excitement level for his battle with Inoue dipped from a 100 out of 100 to perhaps a 99.5. Nakatani had stopped five straight before that, all within six rounds, and if he’s a little more comfortable for his second fight at 122lbs than he was for his first, Inoue should be in for a rare test.

The month of May is set to begin with one hell of a bang.

And that will be followed by four more weekends of bangs and not a single whimper (save for the anguished noises made by some beaten fighters).

And the best part is all the action is taking place right here on Earth and not in some galaxy far, far away.

Eric Raskin is a veteran boxing journalist with nearly 30 years of experience covering the sport for such outlets as BoxingScene, ESPN, Grantland, Playboy, and The Ring (where he served as managing editor for seven years). He also co-hosted The HBO Boxing Podcast, Showtime Boxing with Raskin & Mulvaney, The Interim Champion Boxing Podcast with Raskin & Mulvaney, and Ring Theory. He has won three first-place writing awards from the BWAA, for his work with The Ring, Grantland, and HBO. Outside boxing, he is the senior editor of CasinoReports and the author of 2014’s The Moneymaker Effect. He can be reached on X, BlueSky, or LinkedIn, or via email at RaskinBoxing@yahoo.com.

Vergil Ortiz Jnr and Golden Boy Promotions are scheduled to begin their mediation process in Las Vegas on July 14, with the unbeaten junior-middleweight seeking to extricate himself from a once-tight connection with Oscar De La Hoya.

Amid opposing lawsuits – with Texas’ Ortiz 24-0 (22 KOs) claiming his earning-power for an anticipated showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis was diminished while Golden Boy argues Ortiz manager Rick Mirigian sought to move the fighter toward another promoter – the matter is on track for a resolution by September.

Nevada District Judge Cristina D. Silva last month sent the case to arbitration and issued an injunction forbidding WBC interim champion Ortiz, 27, from dealing with third parties until a resolution was struck.

According to documents revealed in Ortiz’s lawsuit, he could have earned a minimum $16 million to fight Philadelphia’s former unified welterweight champion Ennis 35-0 (31 KOs) while Golden Boy offered him $3 million.

Ennis personally attended Ortiz’s second-round knockout of Erickson Lubin in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and the pair – who both fight on DAZN – were in talks to fight later this spring.

Those talks crumbled as the Ortiz-Golden Boy relationship deteriorated, and Ennis has since moved on to accept a WBO/WBA unified 154lbs title shot at unbeaten champion Xander Zayas June 27 at Barclays Center in New York.

The arbitration hearing is expected to be a three-day affair, with each side allowed to submit written closing statements by early August.

The arbitrator will then consider the arguments and issue a ruling to Judge Silva by early September, when she would likely confirm the ruling. Silva had requested the sides to conclude the process by September.

When Argentina’s Braian Suarez said on Thursday that it would soon be “all over” he was referring to the hype that surrounds Ben Whittaker, his next opponent. He meant the project; he meant the noise. He believed, or at least said he believed, that he possessed the power to apply the first loss to Whittaker’s unbeaten record and in turn derail the former 2020 Olympic silver medallist at the point at which his hype machine is starting to gather pace. 

The truth is, such is Whittaker’s hype, Suarez didn’t even need to win last night in Liverpool to achieve his goal. A win, for him, would have been the ideal result, of course, but there were other ways of achieving what Suarez aimed to achieve. Take Whittaker the distance, for example, and many would have referenced the fact that Suarez is a light-heavyweight accustomed to being stopped and therefore Whittaker, in failing to stop him, must not be all he is cracked up to be. Similarly, if Suarez had managed to hurt Whittaker or perhaps even drop him, suddenly then questions would have been asked regarding Whittaker’s punch resistance and all-round durability. 

In short, all Suarez had to do to live up to his pre-fight boasts was put up a show; give it a go; ask Whittaker questions he has not yet been asked. Do that and we would have seen the point in bringing Suarez over from Argentina for last night’s assignment. Do that and we may have been forced to rethink our very high opinion of Ben Whittaker. 

As it turned out, Suarez did the complete opposite of what he promised. Instead of derailing Whittaker, or silencing the noise around him, all he did, by collapsing to the canvas following a right hand in round one, was crank up the volume and volunteer his image for Whittaker’s ever-growing highlight reel. Rather than end Whittaker’s hype, or his journey, he simply fanned the flames. He added to it. He went down so quickly that Whittaker’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, was on the brink of exploding in the ring after the fight. “What you are seeing is the evolution of the next true British great superstar of boxing in Ben Whittaker,” he said on DAZN. “Some might like it; some might not like it. Tough. You’ve got to get used to it. Because I watch him walk to the ring and I’m thinking, Superstar, superstar, superstar. He’s got the swag, and it’s almost annoying how slick and cool he is.”

As if to prove it, Whittaker listened to Hearn proclaim his greatness while resting up against the ring ropes, looking more the observer than participant. It was hard to see if he had broken sweat, but chances are it was unlikely. The fight, after all, lasted all of two minutes and twenty-four seconds. That was all it took for Whittaker to find his range, back Suarez up, sink a left hook into his body, and then discombobulate him with a wild right hand to the top of his head. After that, the fight was over and the noise began. Or simply continued.

The only difference now was that the talk was louder and even more excitable – if you can imagine such a thing. “That was good, innit,” said Whittaker afterwards. “That was good, baby.” He wasn’t wrong. “I had my two best friends, Des and Troy” – he now presented his fists – “and what do they make? Destroy, baby. You saw what happened. Don’t get it twisted, he’s a very good fighter. I was expecting a couple of rounds. I can still play, I was just starting to get into my rhythm, showboating and having a bit of fun, but I’m hitting now. I’m hitting.”

He certainly is. In fact, much of the reason why Whittaker’s hype has gone to a new level in the past 12 months has been because he is now finishing his food rather than just playing with it. In the past 12 months he has impressively stopped Liam Cameron in two rounds, and both Benjamin Gavazi and now Braian Suarez in one. If looking to accelerate a fighter’s hype, there is no better way of doing it than that. What is more, his promoter is not lying when he says that Whittaker has star potential. We see this in the way Whittaker carries himself, the way he talks, and the way he effortlessly divides opinion. He is watchable, of that there is no doubt, and the only concern now is that we are not seeing enough of him; that is, he is winning fights at this level much too easily. 

“That was actually a step up,” argued Whittaker, now 11-0-1 (9 KOs). “But you see what I’m doing. They can all call me out, but they’re calling me out for a reason. Because the more I get in this ring, the more experience I get, the more I get comfortable in this ring, it’s dangerous for them.”

Whittaker, of course, has little say on his opposition at this embryonic stage of his career. He has, in fairness to him, been dealing with opponents exactly how one would hope a “superstar” would deal with them in the role of heavy favourite. Which is to say, he knows that he must do more than simply win these kinds of fights and that he must win them in a way that is eye-catching. In the case of Suarez, last night’s foe, he knew he had to made quick work of him, if only because Suarez had been stopped in two rounds by Sharabutdin Ataev in 2024, inside 10 by Lyndon Arthur in 2023, and in one round by Albert Ramirez in 2022. In that respect, beating Suarez, whatever the method or speed, was a thankless task, yet still Whittaker managed to get the job done in a manner that can be considered impressive. 

The mission now is to get him opponents against whom a stoppage win, of any variety, will be deemed a standout result. Look, for instance, at how Moses Itauma, a man seven years Whittaker’s junior, has been moved in the past 12 months. Look at how his recent five-round demolition of Jermaine Franklin, a heavyweight gatekeeper, was received all around the world. He was praised that night, Itauma, not only because he looked quite brilliant breaking Franklin apart and knocking him out, but because he had aced his toughest test to date by stopping a man who had never before been stopped. 

To see something similar from Whittaker would represent the ticking of the next box. It wouldn’t tell us everything about the light-heavyweight from Wolverhampton, no, but it would go a long way to helping us understand the vision and the extent of his potential. It would also allow us to better understand the evolution of “the next true British great superstar of boxing” and what that actually means.

 

NEW YORK – Alycia Baumgardner walked to the ring with “Queen B” Lil’ Kim on Saturday and then showed why she’s boxing’s queen at 130lbs.

In a fight that started well after midnight Saturday morning, Baumgardner, a 31-year-old from Detroit, retained her IBF, WBO and WBA junior lightweight belts in a hard-fought decision win over South Korea’s Bo Mi Re Shin at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The scores were 99-91 on one card and 98-92 on the other two, as Baumgardner maintained her unified status in the division where she has held a belt since 2021.

The 10-round fight, which headlined Most Valuable Promotions’ first US card in its new ESPN broadcast deal, was Baumgardner’s second straight bout of three-minute rounds, while Shin was fighting at that round length for the first time.

Baumgardner raised her record to 18-1 (7 KOs), while Shin dropped to 19-4-3 (10 KOs).

Baumgardner had a sharp beginning to the fight, landing with her right hands repeatedly in the first, thanks in part to her jabs. Baumgardner continued to take advantage of Shin’s lack of head movement, targeting combinations up the middle. Shin got back into the fight in a meaningful way in the third, landing several clubbing shots behind the ears that Baumgardner had to weather – and she did – before landing big power shots of her own. Baumgardner’s technical advantages were more clear in the fourth as she began to better establish her distance by stepping clockwise behind her jab and using that distance to land punches with full force.

As the fight wore on, the technical gap became more consequential. Shin’s tenacity kept her arms moving in close, but it was Baumgardner’s superior form that enabled her to land shots with full torque, rocking Shin back in the fifth round with uppercuts and hooks. Shin began to betray how the punches were affecting her as Baumgardner’s feints produced noticeable reactions.

Just as the fight was starting to get away from her, Shin’s nonstop pressure began to pay dividends. She forced Baumgardner into exchanges, getting the better of them and sending a tired Baumgardner walking slowly back to her corner. Shin continued to press the action in the seventh, not landing much cleanly but dictating the pace. Baumgardner’s footwork came back to life midway through the seventh as Shin, walking straight forward while not jabbing or cutting off the ring, allowed Baumgardner to potshot with light but accurate shots. Shin closed the round strongly with a flurry.

Baumgardner reasserted herself in the eighth round by picking off Shin down the middle and stepping around to her left as Shin followed her around the ring. The two brawled to the final bell, bringing the fans out of their seats.

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.

Conor Benn is a mercenary no more. Call him a Zuffa company man.

After walking away from longtime promoter Matchroom Boxing to sign a one-fight deal that he parlayed into a win over Regis Prograis in April, Benn has locked into a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing that should carry the 29-year-old through much of the prime of his remaining career.

Benn, 25-1 (14 KOs), a welterweight from Essex, England, and son of two-weight titleholder Nigel Benn, signed a reported five-fight deal that was announced on Zuffa Boxing’s social media channels Friday.

“Our visions were aligned,” Conor Benn said of the new promotional union. “Our goal remains the same – to get that world title, but more importantly, to get people the fights that they want. Give people the megafights. If you guys want it, you guys can get it.”

Public details of the contract and immediate plans for Benn were limited, though in a joint appearance with Benn on ESPN’s “First Take” on Friday, Zuffa Boxing CEO and president Dana White described it as “a two-and-a-half-year, five-fight deal.”

White, who, along with Saudi Arabian financier and General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh, launched Zuffa Boxing in January, has vowed to create the new boxing promotion in the image of the UFC – the other major combat sports interest he presides over – and continues to steadily building the promotion’s roster.

“We’re ready to put on some big fights,” White said in the video announcement of Benn’s deal on Zuffa Boxing’s socials.

Precisely what that means for Benn isn’t yet known, but it’s clear what he wants. After rebounding from a unanimous decision loss with a win in the rematch with fellow scion of British boxing royalty Chris Eubank Jnr, Benn rode his rising fame to a surprise one-fight deal with Zuffa, a solid win over a shopworn former titleholder in Prograis, and is now hoping to speak into existence a matchup with current WBC welterweight titleholder Ryan Garcia.

“Of course it’s the priority, getting that Garcia fight done,” Benn said in a Friday interview with Sky Sports. “But, listen, I’m not short of options. There’s a lot of fighters calling me out, big names calling me out.

“So, God willing, we get the Garcia fight done for the WBC world title. You know, I’m mandatory now – I’m in the No. 1 position for that belt, and I’ve worked extremely hard to get to that position. But again, if Ryan don’t want it, then there’s plenty of fish out there.”

Conor Benn explains what his priorities are, having signed with Zuffa Boxing 🥊 pic.twitter.com/MYc7hE5L2k

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) April 17, 2026

Benn may already be fishing when it comes to targeting Garcia, 25-2 (20 KOs). Garcia is aligned with Golden Boy Promotions, whose CEO and chairman Oscar De La Hoya has frequently feuded with White. But, according to reports, negotiations for a contest are at an advanced stage but they might be left with a sanctioning body problem to solve.

As part of his UFC-style vision, White has attempted to build Zuffa as an independent ecosystem, ignoring boxing’s traditional four major sanctioning bodies. But White has tried to both have and eat his cake, the best example being a Zuffa bait-and-switch that resulted in the IBF stripping cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia after his March win over Brandon Glanton.

If the WBC reacts similarly, and if White doesn’t play nice with De La Hoya – which he has rarely deigned to do with anyone he considers a rival – a Benn-Garcia fight may be dead on arrival.

Benn has his big contract. But whether the big fights White is promising him are also on the way is far less certain.

Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California – It’s expected to be a collision of power and flash versus sophistication and smarts when light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez meets unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez May 2 in Las Vegas.

Ramirez and his trainer made clear at Thursday’s media workout that they hope there’s proper appreciation for the two-division champion’s techniques.

“One of the biggest things with this fight is that the things ‘Zurdo’ does are very subtle – the way he blocks shots, rolls shots, slips shots, the way he gets away from things,” Ramirez trainer Julian Chua told BoxingScene at Brickhouse Boxing.

Chua emphasized that Ramirez, 48-1 (30 KOs), was not properly credited for his evasiveness and savvy in his only loss, a 2022 unanimous-decision loss to three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.

 “A lot of people think the Bivol loss was [convincing]. Look back at that fight, he got away from a lot of those shots. I was with him after, he didn’t have a mark – wasn’t swollen at all,” Chua said.

With Mexico’s Ramirez describing his ring acumen as the most important factor in the showdown, the appreciation for his skill is essential considering his last five bouts have been decided on the judges’ scorecards.

“Boxing is the great key for me in this fight,” Ramirez told BoxingScene of the Prime Video-DAZN pay-per-view bout at T-Mobile Arena. 

That concern is compounded by the fact Benavidez, 31-0 (25 KOs), so convincingly sells his offensive style, Chua said. 

“A lot of what Benavidez does is flashy – he shoeshines. The tenacity he throws his shots can be optically appealing,” Chua said. “So I’m hoping people – the judges, most importantly – can see that subtlety.” 

Ramirez said at the workout he’s “ready” for the bout, thrilled to participate in a bout that follows the Cinco de Mayo weekend tradition carried on previously by Canelo Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather Jnr, Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez Snr.

“There’s a lot of motivation for me, because only the legends fight on Cinco de Mayo. It will be a war this fight,” Ramirez said of his former sparring partner who’ve combined for an estimated 100-plus practice rounds.

Although Benavidez has not lost and not been in any great peril of defeat during his career, Chua said he has diligently studied Benavidez’s showings against fellow left-handers David Morrell, Demetrius Andrade and even Dennis Douglin in 2016.

“For my guys, I’m always in there, always watching whatever I can,” Chua said. “[Benavidez] has had success, but southpaws have had success with him, as well. We need to apply what we can apply.”

“There are some [vulnerabilities], just like there are some in ‘Zurdo’s’ game. A lot of people with Benavidez are not willing to risk where he’s most vulnerable … he’s still unbeaten for a reason, but I’d like to see what adjustments he can make to the adjustments we’re going to apply. We’ve done our due diligence in watching him and studying and understanding him and it’s just going to come down to execution.”

Ramirez was asked if he had anything to say to Benavidez and remarked, “Be ready.”

While Benavidez is a -430 betting favorite, one benefit for 3/1 underdog Ramirez is his comfort in the 200lbs weight class that Benavidez is debuting at – a 25lbs move up from light-heavyweight.

Chua, however, said he’s not expecting Ramirez’s added rehydration weight to allow him to impose his will on Phoenix’s two-division champion Benavidez.

“With this level of skill, I don’t think the size is that big of a factor,” Chua said. “Zurdo’ has been the smaller guy against giants like [Yuniel] Dorticos. You’ve just got to out-skill them. It’s about the skills we bring to the ring, not the size.

“I don’t think that punch for punch Benavidez hits harder than ‘Zurdo.’”

With Ramirez and Chua affirming their readiness, the trainer said he expects Benavidez to be fully prepared despite his hopscotching from gyms in Miami to Las Vegas.

“I’m prepared for and want the best out of him, because when we pull out of here as the winner, I don’t want to hear any excuses,” Chua said. “We won’t have any excuses on our end. We’re giving our all. I hope we give the fight fans what they deserve with this one.”

 

A lot was said on Saturday night, the night of Tyson Fury’s comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov. There was plenty said by Fury and Anthony Joshua – watching from ringside – and plenty said by Turki Alalshikh, who suggested, prematurely, that a fight between Fury and Joshua had been agreed. As it turned out, of course, that wasn’t strictly true. But why let the truth get in the way of a good story?

Likewise, the approach on Netflix seemed to be something along the lines of “Why use only 10 words when you can use 10,000?” That was certainly the ethos of its commentary team, particularly Mauro Ranallo, who is presumably still mamma-mia’ing his way through the action now, almost a week later.  

There was in fact only one real moment of calm on Saturday night; one moment of insight; one moment worth remembering. It arrived between rounds eight and nine of a heavyweight fight between Justis Huni and Frazer Clarke and lasted no more than 60 seconds. That, in the end, was all it took to shatter the wall of sound and provide those watching on Netflix with a chance to breathe and to think. 

For this, we had Joe Gallagher, Frazer Clarke’s trainer, to thank. It was his voice we heard between rounds eight and nine and the second we heard it we listened to his words as intently as Clarke, his heavyweight. In fact, so inspiring was Gallagher’s pep talk ahead of round nine, even those who had earlier fought so obstinately to have their voice heard now had no option but to quieten down. “Save me, Joe Louis,” said a black man on death row in the 1930s. But this was more a case of “Save us, Joe Gallagher.” Save us from the noise. Save us from the bullshit. Restore us to sanity. 

“Two rounds left, okay?” he said to start, with Clarke breathing heavily on his stool. “Listen, I’ve got you two behind, all right? Big breaths. You need these two rounds, Frazer. You need them. Honest to God, you need them. He’s just coming on with big shots, you’re holding, he’s nicking. Let your hands go. You keep leading with that right hand. You can’t lead with the right hand, son. He’s coming with that left hook. Right hand-left hook, and jab-right hook. You landed it lovely there, boom-boom. Next time, jab-right uppercut and bring it over, son. You’ve been in Manchester for four months, three months. I need to see a bit of grit, a bit of desire, a bit of determination. You want this. You sacrificed everything. You’ve only got six minutes to do it. That doesn’t mean go out like a headless chicken, but reset, round one, chin down, good basics, all right? Do you hear me? Punch to hurt, not punch to survive, all right?”

It was only fair to transcribe that speech and include it in full. For though he had just 60 seconds to deliver it, Gallagher wasted not a single word and managed to convey both a sense of urgency and an appreciation for hard work often in the same breath. Not only that, when a speech like this is heard on a night of hysterics and hyperbole, it resonates even more, sounding to abused ears like an alien language; a language in which we were once fluent but, due to amnesia or some catastrophic accident, have all forgotten. 

If nothing else, Gallagher’s words, the sincerity of them, reminded us of what really matters: fights, fighters, the truth. Whereas everywhere else you looked on Saturday night people were tripping over each other to genuflect at the feet of His Excellency, Gallagher alone returned the collective focus to what is important: those small but crucial moments between fighter and coach in the heat of battle. There was, for once, no dressing up, no lying, no gaslighting. This was instead good old-fashioned real talk, the very language the sport has in recent times lost. 

Even when it comes to coaches and fighters, it is rare to hear such honesty in the corner these days. With there being so much at stake, many coaches, big names included, struggle to tell their fighter exactly what they are thinking, how they see the fight, and what they must change. 

That, you might argue, is a dereliction of duty, to look the other way. Yet still it happens. It happens not only because emotions run high and the coach feels the pressure, but also because there is the small matter of their relationship, which a coach aims to protect at all costs. That is why so many of them avoid the tough, difficult moments between rounds. It is why, when a fighter sits down on their stool, they prefer to let the noise of the crowd drown out their honest thoughts and count down the 60 seconds in their head. Suddenly they hear “Seconds out!” and it’s time for the fighter to stand up again and go back to work. Suddenly the moment has passed. Oh well. 

Worse than just saying nothing is when a coach blatantly lies to their fighter. You see this a lot, especially if a fight is close on the scorecards or their fighter has just clearly lost a round. In those two scenarios, you will sometimes hear a coach feed the delusion of their fighter, either by telling them they had just won the round they had lost or that they are leading a fight that could still go the other way. 

Typically, this is an attempt to maintain the status quo and safeguard their position. It is the easy option. The safe option. By staying on side, you see, a coach can remain confident of getting invited back and remaining in the fighter’s good books. It is only by going against them, or disagreeing with them, that they run the risk of upsetting them and losing their job. This is something true of not only coaches in corners but many of the people who were sitting around the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. 

In fact, as is often the case, it was only inside the ring that night that any real honesty was detected. It was detected in the actions of the numerous boxers giving their all in each fight and it was detected in the work of Joe Gallagher between rounds eight and nine of a fight his man ultimately lost.

 

MORENO VALLEY, California – If it’s not a challenge, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez isn’t interested.

So with Matchroom Boxing formally announcing Friday that San Antonio’s two-division unified champion Rodriguez, 23-0 (16 KOs), will move to bantamweight on June 13 to fight WBA secondary titleholder Antonio Vargas, 19-1-1 (11 KOs), at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, the latest test arrives.

“That’s exactly what this is: always challenging myself and trying to prove myself every time,” Rodriguez told BoxingScene on Wednesday in his first public comments on the DAZN main event.

It marks the 26-year-old Rodriguez’s fourth bout in the Valley of the Sun after he won his first belt there by defeating former belt holder Carlos Cuadras by unanimous decision, then returned to win a unified flyweight title by stopping England’s Sunny Edwards before knocking out two-division champion Juan Francisco Estrada in 2024.

“It’s like a second hometown of mine, and I’m very excited to go back,” Rodriguez said following a two-hour training session during his second week in camp.

During the workout, Rodriguez went through a light shadowboxing session while ducking his head under ropes attached to all four corners of the ring, then battered the padded body of an assistant trainer while grunting through hellacious punches before finally pressing through a routine of stationary bike, medicine-ball upward throws and rope whipping.

“It’s the same thing: working hard, pushing myself past my limits so I know I’m more than ready on fight night,” Rodriguez said.

Against Florida’s Vargas, Rodriguez will meet a secondary titlist who has fought out of his home state only twice, blemished by a draw in Japan versus Daigo Higa on July 30.

The bout launches Rodriguez’s new, lucrative contract with promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, a multi-year deal that has room for the fighter to go after a showdown with Japan’s undisputed junior featherweight and pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue, who is headed to an expected difficult defense May 2 versus recent bantamweight champion and countryman Junto Nakatani in front of an expected crowd of 55,000 at Tokyo Dome.

Rodriguez trainer Robert Garcia said he and Rodriguez plan to watch the bout, and will be in position to meet the winner – Inoue is a -450 betting favorite – in 2027 after some unfinished business of standing as undisputed junior bantamweight champion.

Three-belt 115lbs champ Rodriguez has to wait out IBF titleholder Willibaldo Garcia’s mandatory title defense versus Australia’s Andrew Moloney on June 6 in Japan before seeking that winner later this year.

“It’s a fight that definitely needs to happen, and will happen,” Garcia said of Rodriguez versus the Inoue-Nakatani winner. “We’ve had conversations about it. The fight will happen after this year. When the right time comes, I know ‘Bam’ will jump on it.”

Because of Inoue’s drawing power, there’s a rooting interest in the four-division champion.

“It’s not an easy fight for Inoue,” Garcia said. “Nakatani’s a tough guy. I still pick Inoue to win.”

That tracks with Rodriguez’s fight mentality, and it’s why he’s on the fast track up the mythical pound-for-pound rankings.

“When you see him fight, that’s the best challenge available to him,” Garcia said. “He’s had a couple fights where the opponents are not that challenging for him – not a big name, not a big meaning – and he hasn’t performed well. He wants a new title, to be undisputed or to take a unification. … He’d rather not do a stay-busy fight.”

Becoming a three-division champion against Vargas is the incentive this time.

Rodriguez said not needing to shed the extra weight before this bout should have a major benefit.

“I feel a lot stronger not having to lose the three pounds,” he said. “Coming in as a 118-pounder should make me stronger for fight night.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.

“Hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter!”

“You got peanut butter on my chocolate!”

If you’re of a certain age, those two lines transport you back to a simpler time. (A time when you couldn’t fast-forward through commercials.)

The advertisement suggested that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were invented by accident after a man holding a chocolate bar bumped into a woman holding a tub of peanut butter. Is that really how it happened? Of course not. But it’s a fun fiction to believe.

Which brings us to pro wrestling.

For every person rolling their eyes and dismissing rasslin’ as fake, there’s another person declaring, “It’s still real to me, damn it!”

WrestleMania 42 is this weekend, and no, I don’t know what any of the matches are, and no, I haven’t watched wrestling with any regularity in about a decade, but yes, I will be heading over to a friend’s house to watch some of it. What can I say? WrestleMania is a great excuse to get together. And it’s a fun fiction to believe. And, at least in small doses, it’s still entertaining to me, dammit.

And over the years, wrestling and boxing have dipped their chocolate in each other’s peanut butter quite a few times. Unlike the Reese’s product, the flavors haven’t always combined with delicious results. But it’s nevertheless worthwhile, on the eve of WrestleMania, to look back at some of those times that wrestling and boxing collided and got all mixed together in the same spit bucket.

Here's a brief history, broken down by category:

Real (we think) fights

On June 26, 1976, at Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan, Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki met in “The War of the Worlds” – the most famous boxer-vs.-wrestler match ever (with one arguable exception coming up later in this article), and also the most dreadfully boring boxer-vs.-wrestler match ever.

After months of back and forth over what the rules would be and varied speculation over whether it would be a “work” (scripted performance) or a “shoot” (real athletic competition), Ali and Inoki got in the ring, and Inoki spent almost the entirety of the 15 rounds on his back, kicking at Ali’s legs.

It was scored a split draw, meaning there were no losers. Except for everyone watching.

Twenty-three years later, at WrestleMania 15, with Vinny Paz as the guest referee, pro boxer Butterbean took on pro wrestler Bart Gunn in an actual fight under boxing rules. And, like Inoki, Gunn ended up on his back. Just not by his choice.

Butterbean delivered a vicious right-hand knockout after 36 seconds of action, a reminder that fights held under boxing rules tend to favor the guy who knows how to box.

Fake (we’re pretty sure) fights

Probably the most high-profile example here is Floyd Mayweather meeting Paul “Big Show” Wight at WrestleMania 24 in 2008, giving away nearly a foot-and-a-half in height and some 250 lbs in weight. Mayweather won their scripted match with the help of some brass knuckles. (Insert your own Antonio Margarito joke here.)

But the real highlight came about six weeks earlier on the No Way Out pay-per-view in Las Vegas, when the WrestleMania match was set up by Floyd breaking Wight’s nose with a combination of punches. Wight later explained that the broken nose was legit, but it was planned – he told Mayweather to pop him hard enough to make it bleed in order to sell the feud to come.

That was a case of boxing’s top star at the peak of his powers crossing over without particularly embarrassing himself. They aren’t always this high-profile, and they don’t always go this smoothly.

Tyson Fury trained as a wrestler and performed competently enough in his 2019 match against Braun Strowman in Saudi Arabia. The man to whom Fury just paid tribute last weekend, Ricky Hatton, was a little more iffy in his 2009 match on an episode of Raw in Sheffield, England, against Chavo Guerrero, winning by knockout with the least convincing right hand “The Hitman” ever threw. The punches with which Evander Holyfield prevailed in his scripted boxing match against Matt Hardy in 2007 were of comparable quality and, of course, when the wrestler known as MVP stuck his nose in, he got a taste of the softest right hand Holyfield could throw.

Far tougher to watch than those phony punches was the boxing match between Mr. T (not a pro boxer, but he played one in a movie and served as a bodyguard for others) and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 2. Piper had Lou Duva in his corner and T had Joe Frazier in his – futile attempts to lend boxing legitimacy to the proceedings. The match offered few highlights and ended when Piper was disqualified in round four for bodyslamming Mr. T and shoving the ref.

Some believe there were “shoot” elements to the T vs. Piper affair, and the same is true of a boxer-vs.-wrestler match that took place the same day as Ali-Inoki in the summer of ’76. The mixed-rules bout between Chuck Wepner and Andre the Giant at Shea Stadium is widely believed to have been a “work,” but there has always been a degree of debate over that. It ended in the third round when Andre tossed Wepner out of the ring and “The Bayonne Bleeder” was counted out, which one presumes was the outcome agreed upon in advance.

Fake almost-fights
Again Ali stands out in this category for a bit of promotion 25 days before his farce against Inoki. He was seated ringside in Philadelphia for a TV taping for what was then the WWWF, and from that seat he jawed with Gorilla Monsoon (one Ali adversary who didn’t mind being called “Gorilla”).

That led to Ali jumping into the ring during Monsoon’s match and taking off his shirt, then circling Gorilla and tossing out several jabs that (intentionally) fell short, which prompted Monsoon to lift Ali across his shoulder, give the boxing champ an airplane spin and slam him to the canvas.

On the June 23, 1997 episode of WWF’s Raw in Detroit, the planned trash talk and pretend violence reached a similar level. In that case, Bret “The Hitman” Hart spotted Tommy “Hitman” Hearns in the front row, declared “There’s only room for one Hitman in Detroit,” and accused Hearns of stealing his nickname. (As best I can tell, Hart first started using that monicker in 1985, so, nope, his case wouldn’t quite hold up in court.)

Hearns entered the ring and took down Hart’s longtime tag team partner Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart with a body shot, but he and Hart were (clumsily) separated before they could come to blows.

Fake and fictional fights

This was the one I was hinting earlier when I questioned whether Ali-Inoki was the most famous boxer-vs.-wrestler match ever. It’s entirely possible that more people are familiar with Rocky Balboa vs. Thunderlips.

The scene from Rocky III never made much sense, as surely in real life the heavyweight champs of these respective sports would be on the same page about whether it’s a work or a shoot. But the absurdity was fitting, as this was the movie in which the Rocky franchise transitioned from capturing a degree of boxing’s realism to leaning into wrestling’s over-the-top approach.

In any case, this was the most impactful boxer-vs.-wrestler encounter ever for the wrestling business, as it launched Hulk Hogan to a new level of fame and paved the way for Vince McMahon to push him to the top of the business.

Career transitions

Quite a few boxers have gone into pro wrestling as more than just a one-off appearance, with mixed results.

Joe Louis was surely the saddest case, turning to wrestling shortly after his 40th birthday due to financial troubles. “The Brown Bomber” wrestled on and off through the 1950s, then came back for a few more matches in the ‘60s and continued until 1973, when he was nearly 60 years old.

Fellow heavyweight champ and one-time Louis knockout victim Primo Carnera had a much more fruitful wrestling career, making a living at it from 1946-’62. He was a legit wrestling star and challenged for a major singles title and won a major tag team title en route to posthumous induction in 2019 into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Junior lightweight champ Alfredo Escalera was a particularly odd case, as he retired from boxing in 1979, bulked up to a reported 210 lbs to hit the Puerto Rican pro wrestling circuit, did that for a year or so, then dropped back down to 140 lbs and returned to boxing for another two years.

Most recently, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Ogogo of England followed a boxing career cut short by an eye injury with a transition to wrestling. He made his debut in 2019, worked his way up to AEW (the biggest competitor to WWE) and remains on the AEW roster.

Heavyweight champs as guests referees

Jack Dempsey was the trendsetter here, refereeing numerous matches over a span of 27 years following his retirement from boxing – including a Carnera match in 1950.

Since Dempsey paved the way, it has become almost a rite of passage for heavyweight champions to play the role of guest wrestling referee once.

Joe Frazier was the guest ref between Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes at Starrcade in 1984, and he mostly did a lousy job and got in the way, but his boxing background played into the script when they had Frazier controversially stop the bout in Flair’s favor on account of a cut.

Ali didn’t wait long to try to one-up Frazier, serving as guest referee in 1985 for the main event of the first WrestleMania. His role was limited – Pat Patterson did the heavy lifting as referee inside the ring, while Ali was the outside-the-ring ref. But Ali set a guest-refereeing template by taking a few swings at the heels.

James “Buster” Douglas took it a step further in 1990 in an NBC-televised match between Hogan and Randy Savage just days after he upset Mike Tyson for the title. Douglas, like Ali, was assigned as the second ref, outside the ring – but his services were needed when the other referee lost consciousness at a critical moment in the match, as rasslin’ refs often do. Douglas came in and made the count and declared Hogan the winner, and when Savage expressed his displeasure, Buster knocked him out with a right hand that would have made Sonny Corleone proud.

In 1998, it was Tyson’s turn, refereeing the WrestleMania 14 main event between Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. Tyson was thought to be in the bag for Michaels, but it turned he wasn’t. He made the three-count in Austin’s favor and – well, you should know how this goes by now. Tyson’s right hand served Michaels some sweet chin music.

At least the writers stopped short of having Tyson bite Michaels’ ear, the sort of thing you would never put past a wrestling booker – but perhaps not the card Tyson wanted to play while waiting for the Nevada commission to re-license him.

Eric Raskin is a veteran boxing journalist with nearly 30 years of experience covering the sport for such outlets as BoxingScene, ESPN, Grantland, Playboy, and The Ring (where he served as managing editor for seven years). He also co-hosted The HBO Boxing Podcast, Showtime Boxing with Raskin & Mulvaney, The Interim Champion Boxing Podcast with Raskin & Mulvaney, and Ring Theory. He has won three first-place writing awards from the BWAA, for his work with The Ring, Grantland, and HBO. Outside boxing, he is the senior editor of CasinoReports and the author of 2014’s The Moneymaker Effect. He can be reached on X, BlueSky, or LinkedIn, or via email at RaskinBoxing@yahoo.com.

Eddie Hearn today confirmed that he's under "instructions" from Anthony Joshua to make the fight with Tyson Fury this year. 

On Saturday, the 35-2-1 (24 KOs) Fury outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds to end a 16-month hiatus. Immediately afterwards he called out Joshua, who was ringside, and demanded the fight be signed and sealed there and then. Joshua neither obliged nor turned down the offer of the long awaited showdown.

The 36-year-old last fought in December, knocking out Jake Paul in six rounds. It was then expected that Joshua, 29-4 (26 KOs), would engage entertain Rico Verhoeven in March this year before taking on Fury in August. Tragedy quickly followed, however, when Joshua was injured in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends. 

According to Hearn, Joshua is awaiting clearance from doctors to return to full-time training.

"My instructions [from Joshua] are 'make the [Fury] fight'," Hearn said.

"We all know that, around the [time of the] Jake Paul fight, the fight was virtually done. We were going to fight in March [in a warm-up] and fight [Fury] in August. But with everything that has happened, it's been a very difficult time, and that plan has been delayed. 

"The same plan still exists. The offer that we received from [Turki Alalshikh] is to fight in July and fight Tyson Fury around November. We're up for that.

"We need to make sure of the timings. The last Saturday of July is 14 weeks away. We need to get that all clear, physically, to return to full-time training, to sparring, which is a different kettle of fish versus getting on a treadmill. This is intense full-time training. 

"We believe we're going to be given the all-clear to do that because 'AJ' feels like he's ready. 

"If we do that, get everything locked up, I'm fully confident that this fight happens."

Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are “far along” on negotiations to stage a late-summer first WBC welterweight title defense by Garcia versus his top-ranked contender, an official connected to negotiations told BoxingScene Wednesday.

A date and venue have yet to be established, according to the official, although August is being targeted. The bout will either be streamed by Netflix or DAZN.

Benn’s unanimous-decision victory over former 140lbs champion Regis Prograis Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium allowed conversations to intensify with Garcia, who defeated Mario Barrios by wide decision February 21 in Las Vegas to win his first world-title belt after three prior attempts.

The 27-year-old Garcia 25-2 (20 KOs) posted his interest in fighting England’s Benn 25-1 (14 KOs) after Benn called Garcia out following Saturday’s bout, writing on “X,” “I’m down GARCIA VS BENN Let’s do it!!!!!”

Benn defeated Prograis by three 98-92 scorecards, but his performance against the now-retired fighter did not impress many who assess he’s better off fighting at junior-middleweight or middleweight.

Garcia then elaborated: “Mark my words: His corner or the ref stops my fight with Conor in the 6-7 round.”

Both fighters bring immense global popularity to the bout, and since Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh spoke recently of staging a Garcia fight in the summer, it’s likely the bout will be presented by The Ring.

Benn fought Prograis after signing a one-fight, $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing, which is partially backed by Alalshikh.

LOS ANGELES – The respect is deep. The intention to achieve victory is fiercer.

As the days dwindle leading up to the most massive bout ever to be staged in Japan, waged between two of the country’s most accomplished champions, the cultural knack to keep things simple and humble can effectively be reduced to the above sentences.

Naoya Inoue is hailed by Junto Nakatani trainer Rudy Hernandez as the world’s best fighter and the top Japanese boxer of all time. But after guiding the younger, taller and rising Nakatani through his training camp here, Hernandez made clear two things can be true at once.

“It’s one thing to respect the fighter, but when the bell rings, we’re going to go in there and try to knock his head off,” Hernandez said. “We can’t settle for anything less than winning. Winning, to us, means everything.”

A sellout crowd of 55,000 is expected at the Tokyo Dome on May 2 when four-division champion and mythical pound-for-pound king Inoue, 32-0 (27 KOs), meets three-division champion Nakatani, 32-0 (24 KOs), for the undisputed junior featherweight championship on DAZN.

On Monday, the left-handed Nakatani, 28, worked through a series of movements and rapid positioning and punching drills all aimed to penetrate the shield and complicate the bout for the older Inoue, 33, who has been knocked down in two of his past six bouts.

“The advantage [Nakatani] has is his height and reach, and the fact he’s a little younger,” Hernandez said. “Other than that, it’s about who’s going to land first, who’s the quicker of the two, and who’s going to be able to better take the punches.”

Nakatani demonstrated complete control during his positioning drills, flashing a smile to Hernandez during the sequence as if to confirm full readiness for the bout as they prepare to leave L.A. for Tokyo on Friday.

“I’m very much looking forward to it, and I believe I can deliver a performance that will satisfy all 55,000 spectators,” Nakatani told BoxingScene after his workout.

“I believe boxing is a sport that can move people’s hearts deeply, and for me, there's a significant meaning to that.”

Nakatani has trained with Hernandez in Los Angeles since the age of 14, fulfilling the veteran cornerman’s lifelong ambition to guide a young amateur all the way to a million-dollar purse, which Nakatani accomplished in December by defeating Mexico’s Sebastian Hernandez in a surprisingly competitive bout in Saudi Arabia.

Hernandez has trained fighters since the 1980s, when he cornered his late brother, Genaro Hernandez, to two junior lightweight title reigns during the 1990s.

In this camp, Nakatani has worked on advancing his movement and boosting his versatility, which features crisp power, rapid footwork and lightning-fast hand speed, in the effort to solve the amazingly fast destructive power puncher Inoue. With 3ins height and 1in reach advantages, the upgrades could prove consequential, with Inoue being a -450 betting favorite and Nakatani a 3-to-1 underdog.

A few weeks ago, others in the gym expressed some concerns to Hernandez that Nakatani was slow to mix in the changes to effectively strengthen his repertoire.

Hernandez has told those same people, “When you’re working on something, it takes some time. … On fight night, that’s when you have to perform. Not in the gym.”

And Hernandez declared this in talking to BoxingScene on Monday: “He’s ready. I’m looking for Junto to react to everything that Inoue does in the ring. Timing is everything. I believe Inoue to be the greatest fighter in the world nowadays, and we have our hands full. There’s a reason why he’s the favorite and why he’s the No. 1 fighter in the world, in my book.”

Asked about his training camp development, Nakatani said, “My training has been progressing smoothly, and I feel it's coming along very well. In terms of range, I feel the things that I can do have expanded, and I want to make full use of that in the fight.”

Nakatani and Inoue are peers, not friends. Hernandez knows of only one interaction of substance between the pair, when they both fought on the Saudi Arabia card.

Inoue has kept his distance, Hernandez said, the trainer speculating that’s because the proud champion has viewed Nakatani as “a threat.”

That’s why there’s deference to Inoue’s accomplishments and talent – but also a yearning to shatter the mystique.

“Of course we can win … everything that has a beginning has an ending,” Hernandez said. “Once you’ve made it to the top, you can’t go no further than that. Today, you’re No. 1. Tomorrow, someone else will be No. 1.”

The odds might reflect that Nakatani had such difficulty with the heavy-handed Sebastian Hernandez, who was edged by two 115-113 scorecards.

Trainer Hernandez said two things should be noted about that outcome, including the fact Sebastian Hernandez is a career-long junior featherweight, not a career-starting minimumweight fighter making his debut in the weight class, as Nakatani was.

Additionally, Rudy Hernandez revealed this: “A lot of people don’t know Sebastian Hernandez was there training in Japan with Naoya Inoue for one week, and they got rid of him, supposedly saying he was not that good.

“You think he wasn’t good? Maybe he was too damn good. So why take the risk against a guy as good as he is? Sebastian Hernandez could be fighting tomorrow as a 135-pounder. Junto has moved up from 108lbs … there’s a big difference.

“I watched the fight to see what we could do better. Being as honest as I can, I had it 7-5 Junto. He landed the punch that stood out in the close rounds. He won the fight.”

Nakatani made clear he’s moving on to the greater task.

“The last fight is out there in the public … so I don’t have any comments on that, but I'll let the next fight speak for itself,” Nakatani said. “I’m in great shape, so I’ll do everything I can to perform at more than 100 per cent. Ultimately, we’ll find out in May.”

Away from the ring and this current obsession of Inoue, Nakatani takes joy in ocean fishing, reeling in rockfish amid the quiet.

“I like fishing because it’s something that allows me to clear my mind,” he said.

That silence contrasts so severely with the coming din of walking to the ring for Inoue, with 55,000 roaring for the expected firefight on a global stage.

“Everybody knows this is going to be the biggest fight in Japan’s history. We’re going in with intention to knock him out, just like Inoue wants to do to Junto. When the bell rings, it will be Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani fighting it out, and that’s what we want,” said Hernandez, expressing confidence in his fighter’s ability to thrive in the moment. “He’s really good at it. Nobody challenges himself more than he does. I’m sure Inoue feels the same. I feel, at the end of the day, it’s all about who can execute first.”

And although the respectful and humble approach are profound by comparison to some prizefights, make no mistake about how immense this pursuit of victory has become. 

“If we can knock out Inoue and beat him, I can die the next day and life does not owe me anything,” Hernandez said. “Everything that I have looked to be or accomplish, I will have accomplished.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.

Manny Pacquiao told BoxingScene on Tuesday that Floyd Mayweather Jnr has formally agreed that their September 19 rematch will be a bona fide professional match, imperiling Mayweather’s cherished unblemished record.

“The fight is on,” Pacquiao texted BoxingScene after Mayweather told reporters in late March that the Netflix-streamed bout at The Sphere in Las Vegas would be an exhibition, with venue arrangements still unfinalized.

In fact, argued the Pacquiao camp, Mayweather, 50-0 (27 KOs), had signed multiple contracts for the fight to be a legitimate professional bout, and had even taken cash advances on the agreements.

Jas Mathur, the president of Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told “Inside the Ring” on Monday that Mayweather faced an end-of-business Tuesday deadline to confirm he was participating in a pro fight or risk repercussions from Pacquiao, Netflix and others.

Pacquiao urged Mayweather to drop the gamesmanship in a recent interview with BoxingScene.

“You need to honor your commitment,” said Pacquiao, 62-8-3 (39 KOs). “This time, there’s no reason for alibis or excuses.”

Mayweather, 49, defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in their first clash, the long-delayed 2015 bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas that still stands as the richest prizefight in history.

Pacquiao, 47, returned to the professional ring in impressive fashion last year, fighting then-WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios to a draw, reviving talk of another showdown with the famously fit Mayweather.

Pacquiao has spent April promoting the event, appearing at multiple sporting events, including throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium and speaking to reporters, including BoxingScene.

Pacquiao told BoxingScene at a dinner last week that participating in a high-stakes fight so recently and coming to the fight completely healthy this time, after fighting in 2015 with an injured right shoulder, is “to my advantage because I worked so hard, I had that championship fight. [The Mayweather bout is a] definite victory.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.

Oleksandr Usyk’s next defense of his WBC heavyweight title, which occurs in Giza, Egypt, on May 23, was today described as “iconic”, “an absolute spectacle”, “record-breaking” and a “fantasy that’s come to life”.

Some of the hyperbole was, of course, a nod to the setting as opposed to the fight which, if all goes to plan, will take place at the foot of the famous pyramids.

There was also a lot of tiptoeing around the truth, at a media event designed to drum up interest in a blatant mismatch, that the Ukrainian legend’s opponent, Rico Verhoeven, has next to no chance of winning.

The career kickboxer has boxing experience of sorts, however. Most famously, he used to regularly spar an up-and-coming Tyson Fury. He’s also had a professional contest but that it occurred in 2014, against an 0-5 Janos Finfera, makes the 37-year-old’s 1-0 (1 KO) record somewhat inconsequential. The Dutchman is here purely for his, admittedly considerable, prowess in another combat discipline.

Since Verhoeven's debut, Usyk has cleaned out the cruiserweight class to achieve ‘undisputed’ status and repeated the feat twice at heavyweight, a division in which he can boast two wins over each of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

Peter Fury, Verhoeven’s trainer, talked up his charge’s chances against the 24-0 (15 KOs) pound-for-pound leader of the sport.

“We go back a long way, about 15 years, I’ve always done the boxing-side of his training,” Fury said of Verhoeven at the London press conference.

“If ever there is a guy that likes to climb Mount Everest, it is Rico Verhoeven. He’s a phenomenal person, like Usyk. Of course it’s a difficult challenge.”

Eddie Hearn, there on the side of the challenger who had previously signed to fight Anthony Joshua prior to the Englishman surviving a tragic car crash, took the baton from Fury and ran with it. “What [Verhoeven] has is dynamite in both hands and hands like shovels,” said the natural-born promoter. “This man has a pyramid to climb. But I look in his eyes and he’s coming to win.”

Usyk, typically mischievous and charismatic, explained why – as the world heavyweight champion – he accepted this fight when other opponents, like Agit Kabayel and Fabio Wardley, were overlooked.

“I feel good,” said the 39-year-old. “For me, it’s a challenge. A lot of people say, ‘why are you not fighting a boxer?’ Please, one time, I want to do what I want not what is needed. Always I do what is needed. But now I do what I want.

“He’s a fighter, I feel serious for this fight… There is no pressure for me, this is just a boxing fight. I will prepare for this fight. Everything [will be] okay.

“I love boxing, [but] more [I love] my life. I love boxing because it’s an instrument that God gave me. It helped me look for friends, team, a lot of people who now help each other. Boxing is great. But I love life. Life is great.”

Verhoeven, showing no fear, is enjoying his time here, too.

“What an opportunity we have to upset the world and write history,” he said. “To be the very best at what you’re doing you have to be a little bit crazy and obsessed with what you’re doing.

“I love it, I do it with so much passion and I’m crazy happy to be here. We’re bringing new eyeballs to combat sports and bring two worlds colliding together, boxing and kickboxing.”

So how exactly does he plan to achieve the impossible?

“The puzzle of boxing, Oleksandr solves multiple times, too many times,” Verhoeven said. “But he hasn’t solved this puzzle yet. I am going to bring different angles, kickboxing angles.”

Warming to the task of talking up his chances, Verhoeven added: “When I land my best punch on him, of course he will go down. If I land my best punch clean, he is a built-up cruiserweight, there is a 20-kilo weight difference.”

When asked for a response to his opponent’s foresight, Usyk made the most telling statement of the entire event. “We’ll see,” he said.

There’s deadlines and then there’s Floyd Mayweather Jnr time.

The two are nearing a collision course with the president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions reporting Mayweather confronts an end-of-business Tuesday finish line to commit to the Pacquiao rematch being a professional boxing match, not an exhibition.

On Monday’s “Inside The Ring,” television show, MP Promotions’ Jas Mathur said Mayweather faces the Tuesday deadline to commit to the real fight putting his perfect 50-0 record on the line after telling reporters in late March that the bout would be an exhibition and he was not sure if it would be where it is signed to occur, The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Another figure connected to the deal told BoxingScene the window is tightening for Mayweather, 49, to officially clarify his involvement after signing to participate in a legitimate prizefight September 19 on Netflix.

What will transpire Tuesday is unknown. Anyone who’s spent significant time around Mayweather knows he moves to his own schedule.

Pacquiao said on “Inside The Ring” that Mayweather is “scared” to risk his perfect record after leveraging it so many times in lucrative exhibition bouts, including one against Logan Paul.

In his late-March interview, Mayweather intimated the fact that he and Pacquiao are already Hall of Famers means they don’t need to stage a real fight that will count against their records.

But Pacquiao, coming off a July WBC welterweight title draw versus former champion Mario Barrios, yearns to avenge defeat in the richest prizefight in history, when he fought through a right shoulder injury that required surgery and lost a unanimous decision to Mayweather at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao has honored his commitment, appearing at several major sporting events – baseball, hockey and soccer – while throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium and meeting with several reporters, including BoxingScene, to promote the fight.

Pacquiao associate David Sisson told BoxingScene the fans’ reaction to seeing Pacquiao, 47, has been incredibly supportive this time around, as it seems he will be the wide fan favorite when the fight occurs.

First, Mayweather has to meet his deadline.

If he rejects the real fight and insists on an exhibition, Pacquiao told BoxingScene Mayweather will experience “problems” as a result of the contracts he has already signed. 

Tick, tick, tick.

I’m handing the lead of this boxing column over to Linda Richman, the Mike Myers Saturday Night Live character who hosted the “Coffee Talk” sketches. Take it away, Linda …

Talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic: Turki Alalshikh’s surprise announcement teased during Saturday’s Netflix broadcast of the Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov fight was neither a surprise nor an announcement. Discuss.

In Alalshikh’s mind and according to his script, the fight card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was going to end with Fury calling out Anthony Joshua and Joshua agreeing on the spot to that British heavyweight mega-fight, to the shock and delight of fight fans worldwide.

There were just two little problems.

First, the fact that Fury-Makhmudov was designed as a tune-up for Fury-Joshua was the worst-kept secret in boxing. Of course these two ex-champions are on a potential collision course. They’ve been on a potential collision course for the last several months (and off and on for years). Alalshikh promised a big surprise, but for us to be surprised, Fury would have had to say he intended to next face … well, literally any human not named Anthony Joshua.

Instead, when Fury took the microphone, he did the one thing that could not possibly be described as a surprise.

Then came the bigger problem: There was nothing to announce, surprise or otherwise. Fury and Joshua have no agreement in place. Alalshikh and Eddie Hearn have no agreement in place.

A call-out is not an announcement. A call-out is, at best, a possible prelude to an announcement.

But there was nothing to announce on Saturday in response to Fury’s call-out. AJ made damned sure of that.

Joshua couldn’t be bothered to so much as stand up from his ringside folding chair. In pro wrestling parlance, he “no-sold” Fury.

There would be no nose-to-nose photo op in the ring, no fake fracas with cornermen and security guards holding the heavyweights back. Just Joshua, sitting on a chair, barely expressive, flipping Fury the bird, declaring himself the landlord.

If you ask me, he played it perfectly. While sitting still with a mic in his hand, he put up more threatening resistance to Fury than Makhmudov did standing and stalking with gloves on his hands for 36 minutes.

It was Fury who earned his 35th career victory in London over the weekend, shaking off 16 months of rust and enjoying the feeling of having his hand raised for the first time in two-and-a-half years. 

But it was Joshua, who had 29 victories on his record at the start of the evening and still had 29 at the end of it, who was the biggest winner of the day.

This couldn’t have gone more perfectly for AJ – both because of things he couldn’t control (what Fury did in the ring) and things he could (his refusal to let Fury dictate terms).

If we make the assumption that Joshua does indeed want to fight Fury and would like that fight to be as massive as possible, as meaningful as possible and as winnable as possible, Fury’s 12 rounds with Makhmudov delivered precisely what AJ needed.

For starters: Fury won. If he hadn’t, the conversation afterward would have been “should Fury fight again?” rather than “who will Fury fight next?”

So, with that most basic of boxes checked, the focus shifts to how Fury performed and what that performance told us about how much he has left at age 37.

The short answer there is that he looked, more or less, like the boxer we’ve long known him to be. Fury is most definitely not a shot fighter. He still moves with fluidity, can keep up a half-decent pace and can take a pop on the chin without crumbling.

It must be noted, however, that Makhmudov got this gig for a reason. He’s as ponderous and predictable a heavyweight as could be found in the BoxRec top 50. This fight was never going to prove anything about Fury’s upside; it could only disprove fears about his downside.

And it did that. The bellowing behemoth revealed himself to still be competent in the boxing ring.

And that’s all that was needed to keep Fury vs. Joshua meaningful.

This isn’t Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao II, a fight that, whether it counts on their records or not, counts toward their legacies about as much as Tom Brady playing flag football counts toward his.

Fury vs. Joshua, even if it would have meant more five years ago, even if the window for it to be for the legit heavyweight championship has closed, is still a fight between two viable contenders.

And that’s crucial for Joshua in particular. Because as it stands right now, if these two never face each other, Fury, who won the lineal championship in 2015 and didn’t lose it in the ring until 2024, will go down as the top British heavyweight of the era.

He beat Wladimir Klitschko before Joshua did. He topped Deontay Wilder in the greatest heavyweight trilogy since Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield. And he never got knocked out by any massive underdogs.

That’s not to say there isn’t room for some degree of debate. Joshua fought slightly better competition overall. He fared better against Francis Ngannou than Fury did. And he didn’t spend chunks of his prime in semi-retirement.

But still, ask 100 boxing historians, and at least 90 of them are going to rank Fury higher on the all-time list.

If these two never square off against each other.

And that’s a big part of the reason AJ should very much want this showdown to happen. Fury revealed himself against Makhmudov to be credible enough that defeating him still means something. And that, in turn, means that with a single victory, Joshua can flip those rankings.

Pacquiao defeating Mayweather in 2026 doesn’t make Pacquiao greater than Mayweather overall. Joshua beating Fury in 2026 does change the historical pecking order.

And here’s the capper for Joshua: Despite all his own flaws, he can absolutely beat Fury.

Joshua has long had confidence issues, but they seem mostly to stem from a lack of trust in his chin and his stamina.

That doesn’t mean things always go well for him when he steps forward with confidence. It worked out nicely for AJ against Ngannou, but not so much in the first fight with Andy Ruiz nor against Daniel Dubois.

Fury, though, is not a puncher. His knockout rate is respectable, but most of those KOs have come in the later rounds, more often through accumulation and attrition than pure power. At no point did he badly hurt Makhmudov, who’d been stopped in both of his previous losses.

And Fury will not force Joshua and his heavy muscles to fight at an exhausting pace. In his last three fights, all of which went the full 12 rounds, Fury threw 496, 509 and 498 punches. So he’s always right around 41 or 42 per round. It’s a steady work rate, but it’s far from overwhelming.

Fury is always in better condition than those two jiggly protrusions on his lower back would have you believe, but he’s also in the back half of his 30s and will be looking to buy time with a little clinching and mauling every bit as much as Joshua will.

Lennox Lewis often said he preferred those rare occasions when he got to punch up against a taller opponent rather than having to punch down. I suspect the same is true of Joshua, whose four defeats have come against three men shorter than he is.

Joshua has always been more of an overhand-right guy than an uppercut guy.

It’s all guesswork until the opening bell rings, but I suspect the styles-make-fights of it all will be slightly to AJ’s benefit.

And he is absolutely right to make Fury work for a deal. If Joshua had said, “Yeah, let’s do it, I’m ready” into that microphone on Saturday without the terms for the fight all worked out, he would have given away most of his leverage.

Obviously, it wouldn’t be wise for him to negotiate and marinate this thing past the point of no return. Joshua needs to ultimately sign on the dotted line.

But if and when he does, when they’re putting together video packages hyping Fury vs. Joshua, those clips of Joshua sitting on a chair, staring blankly at Fury, will actually serve the promotion quite well.

Those verbal exchanges after Fury-Makhmudov were, frankly, more memorable than any fistic exchanges during Fury-Makhmudov.

Joshua no-sold Fury. And I think that helps sell Fury-Joshua.

There will be no surprise announcement anytime soon. Either there will be an announcement of a fight or there will be the surprise that there is no fight, but there can’t be both.

Until we know which it is, just talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic: Sometimes the best way to stake your claim to the throne is just to stay seated on your chair. Discuss.

Eric Raskin is a veteran boxing journalist with nearly 30 years of experience covering the sport for such outlets as BoxingScene, ESPN, Grantland, Playboy, and The Ring (where he served as managing editor for seven years). He also co-hosted The HBO Boxing Podcast, Showtime Boxing with Raskin & Mulvaney, The Interim Champion Boxing Podcast with Raskin & Mulvaney, and Ring Theory. He has won three first-place writing awards from the BWAA, for his work with The Ring, Grantland, and HBO. Outside boxing, he is the senior editor of CasinoReports and the author of 2014’s The Moneymaker Effect. He can be reached on X, BlueSky, or LinkedIn, or via email at RaskinBoxing@yahoo.com.

Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs), 39 years old

Strengths: A master boxer with exceptional ring generalship, Usyk has exhibited supersonic intelligence against significantly bigger men. His shot selection is on point, his feet are always in time and – perhaps most importantly – he can shift his approach quickly should he endure a period where it appears he’s lost control.

Weaknesses: Very simply, his age and size. That said, he’s repeatedly proven that being a ‘small’ heavyweight is only to the detriment of his opponent. One thing even Usyk won’t be able to beat is Father Time, however.

What’s next: That he fights a kickboxer, Rico Verhoeven, on May 23 in Egypt has been widely derided and assumed to be an easy night's work. As such, whatever happens, he can expect criticism in the aftermath: win at a canter and it will be labelled a waste of time; make hard work of it and his untouchable peak years might be deemed all over.

Tyson Fury, 35-2-1 (24 KOs), 37 years old

Strengths: Usyk aside, Fury might be the best technician in the division. It still defies belief that he moves so well and so frequently for a man of his dimensions. He’s crafty, tough, a terrific counterpuncher, and can make all but the very best look ordinary. No longer seems to possess the power he did during his peak but thumps hard enough to gain the respect of all.

Weaknesses: Though elusive at times, he’s always been hittable. He barely lost a round against Arslanbek Makhmudov last weekend, but it’s clear he’s slowing down. Against a world-class puncher, his once-famed durability will undoubtedly be tested.

What’s next: The efforts to lure Anthony Joshua into a super-fight were as crude and clumsy as Makhmudov proved to be during the fight that preceded the callout. Fury says if it doesn’t happen next he will retire for the sixth time.

Fabio Wardley, 20-0-1 (19 KOs), 31 years old

Strengths: Though one of the hardest hitters in the division, Wardley’s bloody-mindedness is surely the biggest ace up his sleeve. His lack of formal education – he came straight from the white-collar circuit – has been well-documented but his ability to bite down on his gum-shield and fight like hell until the other guy falls over is simply unteachable.

Weaknesses: Go back and watch sections of his fights with Frazer Clarke (first bout), Justis Huni, and Joseph Parker for all you need in this category. Thought it’s always been suggested that he can be outboxed, it’s a fact that nobody has done it for long enough to actually beat him.

What’s next: An unmissable dingdong with Daniel Dubois on May 5.

Moses Itauma, 14-0 (12 KOs), 21 years old

Strengths: The youngster appears to have it all. He fights with real spite, is always beautifully poised, he carries significant potency in his fists and, oh so admirably, always exudes patience that is belying of his years, even when he’s machine gunning his foes into oblivion. 

Weaknesses: Still to fight a genuine contender so, as much as we’re falling all over ourselves to pay him compliments, the truth remains that he’s yet to prove himself at the top table. So, let’s try to – and it’s not easy – not get carried away until we know more about his chin, his stamina, and his ability to stay disciplined when his purses go stratospheric.

What’s next: For now unknown but there are whispers that someone like Martin Bakole – and maybe even Filip Hrgovic – might come next in July.

Daniel Dubois, 22-3 (21 KOs), 28 years old

Strengths: Each of his many trainers have spoken of his cannonball-like power; taking this dude on the pads is apparently a risky business. More so is sampling one of his full-blown blasts to the chin. Dubois, when in the mood, is difficult to budge and, even though he’s been criticised for each of his defeats, that he bounced back so majestically from the first Usyk loss – to hammer Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua – suggests he has enough about him to do so again.

Weaknesses: Dubois is a tough cat to judge. He seemed to go down easy against Joe Joyce and Usyk but stood tall when swallowing blows from Joshua and Hrgovic. He’s not the most fluid of assassins and, when the going gets tough, his desire has been called into question.

What’s next: A wonderfully poised shootout with Fabio Wardley on May 9.

Agit Kabayel, 27-0 (19 KOs), 33 years old

Strengths: For those unaware of the swarming Kabayel, and how good he is, should compare the German’s dismantling of Arslanbek Makhmudov in 2023 with Tyson Fury’s performance against the same opponent. Excellent infighter who hooks with the best of them, Kabayel – at 33 – has done more than enough to earn a title shot.

Weaknesses: Appears to have shaken his old habit of coasting through sections of fights (as per his points wins over Kevin Johnson and Derek Chisora) but one suspects he might lose his way in a contest in which his opponent – like a Usyk, for example – is controlling the pace and range of the combat.

What’s next: Though a summer clash in Germany was originally planned, it’s understood he’s now keen to see if Usyk will at last answer his call after he’s dealt with Verhoeven next month.

Anthony Joshua, 29-4 (26 KOs), 36 years old

Strengths: The crack in Jake Paul’s jaw proves that Joshua can still whack with the best of them; his trusty one-two, in fact, might be the most devastating combination amongst the heavyweights. He’s a better boxer than ever given credit for – he gave Usyk plenty of problems in their rematch – and is one of the best finishers in the sport.

Weaknesses: At 36 his best days are surely behind him, and he looked vulnerable when he last faced a top heavyweight, Daniel Dubois, in 2024. Has been accused of being too upright and robotic. Quite what the horror car crash he survived at the end of last year has done to his in-ring psyche is yet to be discovered.

What’s next: Eddie Hearn has said we’ll know more in the coming weeks. A showdown with Fury remains a possibility – if not the foregone conclusion Turki Alalshikh would have us believe – for later in the year.

Joseph Parker, 36-4 (24 KOs), 34 years old

Strengths: The archetypal perennial contender, plenty of Parker’s opponents have been fooled into believing the New Zealander is nothing special. But he does pretty much everything well, which is what makes him so difficult to beat. A neat and tidy boxer with a decent dig, Parker has a solid engine and is one of the most experienced and canny campaigners in the land of the giants.

Weaknesses: His reputation as the most-deserving heavyweight contender was wrecked when he was stopped by Fabio Wardley in October and news of a failed test broke shortly thereafter. Though not ‘old’ at 34, Parker, who can be too careless when on the attack, has a long career behind him that will soon surely catch up.

What’s next: Parker and his team are in the process of resolving the drug charges against him. He recently called out Dillian Whyte, of all people, for a rematch.

Filip Hrgovic, 19-1 (14 KOs), 33 years old

Strengths: The Croatian has morphed from long-time prospect to seasoned campaigner in recent years. A terrific puncher with a cultured style that speaks to his extensive education, Hrgovic – who has a big heart – has also proven the hardiness of his whiskers several times. He can boast top-10 placements in all four sanctioning body rankings.

Weaknesses: For someone so skilled, he takes far too many punches. His face is susceptible to cuts and, at the highest level, seems to lack the required oomph to thrive.

What’s next: He should be far too good for the war-torn Dave Allen on May 16. Don’t be surprised to see him thrown in with Moses Itauma in the summer if he gets past Allen injury-free.

Martin Bakole, 21-2-1 (16 KOs), 34 years old

Strengths: What a difference a winless 2025 campaign makes. It’s not so long ago that Bakole was regarded as the division’s dangerman but after a badly judged late notice fight with Joseph Parker ended in a KO defeat, and a scrappy affair with Efe Ajagba finished a draw, Bakole’s strengths have been called into question. But when in form he is seriously effective; his old-school style sees him throw crisp combinations, he has fight-ending one-punch power and, when fit, is adept at cutting off the ring.

Weaknesses: The manner of his defeat to Parker left questions marks about his punch resistance, he can appear ponderous at times and there are doubts about his fitness, dedication, and stamina.

What’s next: Recently took to social media to criticise Boxxer, his current promoter, about the lack of opportunities he’s received. That’s certainly a story where both sides should be heard. But if he can return to fitness, he’ll be an attractive, and dangerous, foe for someone of note.

Efe Ajagba, 21-1-1 (15 KOs), 31 years old 

Strengths: The Nigerian possesses a stiff jab and the power to trouble anyone else on this list. Though thought fortunate to get the nod over Guido Vianello in 2024, he seemed to outwork Bakole last year before showing off his continued improvement by walking through Charles Martin on a Zuffa Boxing card earlier this year.

Weaknesses: He can be outfoxed by slick operators and, though he’s yet to be stopped, his desire to march ahead has left him wide open. Frank Sanchez dropped him en route to a wide points success in 2021 and Ajagba, though tough and strong, would surely struggle against the division leaders.

What’s next: Ajagba, Zuffa Boxing’s first heavyweight signing, last year decided against rematching Sanchez and there is talk that Otto Wallin – also on Zuffa’s books – might now come next. 

Lawrence Okolie, 23-1 (17 KOs), 33 years old

Strengths: Spidery and awkward, Okolie – the No. 1 contender at heavyweight according to the WBC – has had problems attracting worthwhile opponents since joining the division late in 2024. Okolie might not be the prettiest of boxers but, when he gets his feet right, is a hellacious hitter who can box effectively from distance.

Weaknesses: Chris Billam-Smith, while handing Okolie his only loss down at cruiserweight in 2023, took the fight to Okolie who struggled to adjust to the bullish tactics. He’s been accused of being a spoiler and a coaster – he can appear to lack urgency – who isn’t known for swift gear changes mid-fight.

What’s next: After trying and failing to persuade Kabayel to dance, Okolie heads to Paris to tango with Tony Yoka on April 25.

Murat Gassiev, 33-2 (26 KOs), 32 years old

Strengths: Though outhustled by Otto Wallin in a 2023 loss that seemed to highlight his ceiling in the banner division, Gassiev showcased his one-punch power when he flattened the aging Kubrat Pulev in December. Gassiev is excellent on the front foot, he has good variety – his left hook downstairs is particularly impressive – and his punch resistance appears sound.

Weaknesses: He can be outslicked, and his forward motion exposed, like during his 2018 cruiserweight loss to Usyk. Not a huge heavyweight, Gassiev doesn’t appear to have the versatility required to overcome what his 6ft 2ins frame will encounter if he targets the big men.

What’s next: Moses Itauma was once interested in Gassiev’s WBA ‘regular’ title, but proposed changes to the cluttered championship system could render that belt obsolete. However, though Itauma is exceptionally unlikely to entertain an away day with Gassiev, with backing from the IBA, it’s likely an opportunity against a name of sorts will be found for the Russian.

Deontay Wilder, 45-4-1 (43 KOs), 40 years old

Strengths: When it comes to earning big money, his name remains an attractive proposition. Though fading, Wilder can still muster plenty of force even if some of his power of old has been lost with the dulling of his reflexes. Gutsy and hard to read, Wilder would still have the proverbial puncher’s chance with anyone.

Weaknesses: He’s more hittable than ever before and, though he may claim to be back to his best, the punishing fights with Tyson Fury – on top of the brutal KO loss to Zhilei Zhang – only added miles to the 40-year-old’s clock. Though far from ‘chinny’ Wilder has never possessed an iron-clad jaw.

What’s next: Fresh off a win over Derek Chisora, Wilder – to his credit – is back in the shop window.

BEST OF THE REST: Richard Torrez Jnr or Frank Sanchez can join the queue to face Usyk when they clash on the Ukrainian’s May 23 undercard in an IBF eliminator… The powerful Richard Riakporhe lost his way at cruiserweight but his recent win over Jeamie TKV, to win the British heavyweight title, showcased this division might be more to his liking… Justis Huni edging Frazer Clarke last weekend saw him retain his status as a fringe contender… Will Bakhodir Jalolov fulfil his immense amateur promise? His recent form suggests not… Italy’s Guido Vianello is currently the division’s sturdiest gatekeeper… Inactive since 2024, and ineffective since stunning Joshua in 2019, Andy Ruiz Jnr might still be just about young enough for one more title charge if he can get his head back in the game.

Cruiserweight contender Chris Billam-Smith has signed with Zuffa Boxing which, by association, means that his next fight will be broadcast by Sky Sports.

Bournemouth, England's Billam-Smith, 21-2 (13 KOs), is a former WBO beltholder, winning the title with an upset points win over Lawrence Okolie in May 2023. He would make two successful defenses, beating Mateusz Masternak and Richard Riakporhe, before losing his title to Gilberto Ramirez in a 2024 unification. His only action since then saw him outpoint Brandon Glanton 12 months ago.

The 35-year-old, formerly with Boxxer, stated: "I'm really excited by this opportunity to work with Zuffa," Billam-Smith told Sky Sports. "They're entertainment powerhouses and that's what I'm about: entertaining. It was a no-brainer.

"The move is about proving I am the best in the world. I can't wait to get back in the ring, headlining shows live on Sky Sports."

The inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight belt was contested in March, won by Jai Opetaia - a longtime target of Billam-Smith - when he too outpointed Glanton over 12 rounds. 

“Boxing at the level I’ve boxed at and seeing what I see I don’t think he [Opetaia]’s ever looked invincible,” Billam-Smith told BoxingScene earlier this year. “I think he’s looked very, very, very good and no one could doubt his talent, but no one’s invincible and I think he’s shown that a few times."

Billam-Smith's recent inactivity coincided with his contract with Boxxer, which expired at the end of 2025, winding down. He was ordered by the WBO to take on Roman Fress in an eliminator of sorts but when the German's team won the purse bids by tabling $150,000, the Englishman's interest in the contest waned.

Billam-Smith, known as one of Britain's most exciting fighters, has signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa. The first outing under his new promoters is expected to be announced later this month.

 

Tyson Fury’s unanimous decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov last night in London was a tax return of a heavyweight fight, something that needed to be checked off, but ideally should have been done in private. 

For Fury, the one returning, all that really mattered was that he won and that he got some rounds under his belt having had 16 months away. In Makhmudov, we know now that he had the perfect opponent to achieve both these things. Better yet, he had an opponent whose gratitude was equal to his resilience; an opponent who, 10 years ago, was so much of a fan of Fury that he requested a picture with the former world heavyweight champion at an event. 

Even if Fury had had the luxury of designing his own comeback opponent, he would have done no better than Makhmudov. His kind of guy, he was big, tough, basic, and obedient. He made Fury feel comfortable in the buildup, when sometimes nerves can creep in following an extended absence, and he made him feel just as comfortable in the ring on fight night, when the Russian’s rudimentary style and crude swings allowed Fury to quickly get into his groove and feel as though he had never been away. 

This, you see, was a treat for Fury – a sparring session in all but name. That it took place in front of an apparently sold-out crowd of 50,000 said as much about the Fury brand as the quality of the fight, and the longer the fight went on, the more it became apparent that this was an exercise meant for the gym rather than a football stadium. 

The only consolation, for the fans, came from the knowledge that this fight, Fury vs. Makhmudov, was being watched by Anthony Joshua, who filmed all 12 rounds on his phone from ringside. Joshua, of course, has long been linked with a fight against Fury – for the best part of a decade, in fact – and last night, before Fury had even stepped into the ring, the Saudi Arabian financier, Turki Alalshikh, was close to announcing Fury vs. Joshua during an interview with Netflix. He did, however, stop short of doing so, perhaps because the fight is not as close as he would like, or perhaps because he didn’t want to tempt fate with Fury yet to box. Either way, Joshua refused to enter the ring following Fury’s lopsided victory over Makhmudov and instead remained in his ringside seat as Fury took the mic and called him out. 

“Like I said, let me get Arslanbek Makhmudov out of the way and then we’ll talk next. Next we’ll give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for,” said Fury, leaning over the ropes. “I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fight fans what they want: The Battle of Britain. And here’s my challenge: I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King, next. Do you accept my challenge? Come on, you big shithouse. Are you going to fight or not?”

Seemingly, if Makhmudov was a fight for Fury, Joshua was one for us. All we needed now was for Joshua to demonstrate a similar level of desire and urgency to get the fight made. 

“Tyson, you’re a clout-chaser,” he said to start. “I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you up when we were kids and, after watching you here tonight, I’ll punch you up again. 

“With all due respect, tonight is your night, and you know I’ll stand across that ring from you in due time. You’re not going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions, and I’ll have you in the ring when I’m ready. You work for me. I’m the landlord. Remember that.”

If Joshua is indeed the landlord, or simply Fury’s neighbor or nemesis, the prospect of Fury fighting him would be a logical next step after last night’s fight against a fan. Whereas against Makhmudov, the goal was to simply go rounds, shed rust, and reintroduce himself on the world stage, the stakes in any fight with Joshua would be considerably higher. Ergo, the interest in the fight, on the part of fans, would be considerably higher, too. It would not, unlike the Makhmudov fight, be a vanity exercise or something best done behind closed doors. Instead, despite it coming years too late, we would, with Fury vs. Joshua, see two men nervous, perhaps even fearful. It is usually then, in that scenario, we see the best in fighters. It is usually then we see a fight worth watching. 

Unfortunately, the same could not be said about last night’s 12 rounds between Fury and Makhmudov. According to the three ringside judges, Makhmudov won only one of those 12 rounds – on one of the three judges’ scorecards – while each of the other 11 went to Fury. The round he won, presumably the first, he won by virtue of landing the single notable punch – an overhand right – and huffing and puffing a little louder than Fury for its duration. It was, given the lack of output from Fury, just about enough. 

For the next 11 rounds, however, Makhmudov was reduced to solely huffing and puffing. He would, round after round, go in search of Fury, only to often fall over his own feet and end up in a clinch following a wild and typically wayward swing of his left or right glove. His problem, one of many, was that he would lead with his hands and then let his feet follow, which resulted in Makhmudov time and time again falling over his front foot and into some kind of embrace. It was crude stuff, truly, and coming so early in the fight not even fatigue could be used as an excuse. This was simply how Makhmudov operated. He was big, and he was tough, and he was willing. But he just lacked any sort of guile or technique. 

Fury, by contrast, was the embodiment of those things after the opening round. He used his guile to make Makhmudov miss and sometimes tumble into the ropes, and he used his technique to line up and land scything uppercuts thrown from both an orthodox and southpaw stance. In round four, having taken a solid left from Makhmudov out of a clinch, Fury even started getting physical with his opponent, pushing him back and making him feel the ropes on his skin. In fact, with 30 seconds left to go in that round, it was Fury who was the aggressor, nailing Makhmudov with a right cross after turning him on the ropes. 

Now Fury knew he had him under complete control. Depending on his mood, he could either outbox him or, if it came to that, even outfight him up close. Of those two options, Fury preferred the former, of course, if only because it was less of a risk, and so in round five he employed his jab a lot more – flicking it in the face of Makhmudov – and he continued to frustrate Makhmudov by being in range one moment and then someone else the next. Fed up of missing, Makhmudov at one stage dropped his hands and beckoned Fury in, whereupon Fury smiled and touched gloves. Now we had proof, if ever it was needed, of what kind of fight this was going to be. It would be more fun for them, the fighters, than it would for us, the audience. 

The fight’s second half bore this out. Makhmudov had his moments, including a left hook-right hook combination in round seven, but it was mostly one-way traffic, with uppercuts a feature of Fury’s work. In round 10, he landed a peach of a right uppercut, which sent the gum shield flying from Makhmudov’s mouth. He then went to touch gloves with Makhmudov upon the restart – Makhmudov having had his gum shield reinserted – only to think better of it and instead fire a short right hand into the Russian’s face. That shot didn’t only buckle Makhmudov’s legs for the first time in the fight, but it offered the first indication that this was something more than just a friendly knockabout for these two heavyweights. Suddenly there was a sense, albeit brief, that Fury wouldn’t mind ending this fight inside the distance. Maybe the peacemaking had all been a ruse; a tactic to soften Makhmudov up. 

But no, that wasn’t the case. In the final round, Fury, 35-2-1 (24 KOs), was as relaxed as he had ever been – boxing well, moving well, jabbing well – and Makhmudov, 21-3 (19 KOs), was just desperate to stay upright. A win, to him, was now hearing the final bell, and Fury, aware of this, wasn’t about to spoil his big day in London. 

When it came, the final bell, they fell into each other’s arms, both grateful to have got exactly what they wanted from this exercise. Fury then kissed his beaten foe on the head to show his respect and his compassion. He did so at around the same time Anthony Joshua, his British rival, stopped recording on his phone and started to imagine, with his fists now clenched, the damage he might do to Fury in the future. 

By the time the decision was announced, love had made way for hate and nobody, not a single soul, was about to complain. In fact, the switch in tone was encouraged. The fans in the stadium encouraged it and Fury himself encouraged it. It would seem he is ready now. He has had his fun.

Tyson Fury marked his return to the ring with a convincing victory over Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov.

At London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he often toyed with his overmatched opponent, and after 16 months of inactivity and his first defeats showed that he retains the abilities to remain the second finest heavyweight in the world.

At the conclusion of 12 largely one-sided rounds he was awarded a unanimous decision via scores of 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109.

He may never earn the third fight he craves with Oleksandr Usyk and cannot argue that he is his most deserving challenger, but he will be the favourite if he finally fights Anthony Joshua – a fight that may never happen if it doesn’t take place in 2026.

Saturday’s fight was Fury’s first since his successive defeats by Usyk, the second of which came in December 2024. He had often insisted that he was retired but his comeback was ultimately inevitable, and while he eased to victory over the 36-year-old Makhmudov it was tempting to conclude that he would have stopped him had he remained at his peak.

The fight with Makhmudov was also Fury’s first since the death of his friend and former assistant trainer Ricky Hatton. To that end he paid tribute to him while he made his ring walk and cut an emotional figure – but shortly after the opening bell he appeared to rediscover the sense of joy he gets from being in the ring.

Makhmudov had been chosen as his opponent on account of the profile of his victory in October over Fury’s popular fellow Englishman David Allen. He represented a durable but limited opponent and therefore suitable for Fury to shed the rust he had developed – and perhaps even to rebuild his confidence after two-and-a-half years since his most recent win.

The Russian, as he had been expected to, started with aggression and by trying to land his right hand. He often over-reached while charging forward and Fury calmly sought to counter and jab him; he again reached with a right but Fury then tied him up.

A left-right combination and then left uppercut in the second round showed Fury’s edge in speed and sharpness. A further left-right and then a counter left-right after Makhmudov’s right hand fell short then demonstrated that the one-dimensional Makhmudov was already at risk of running out of ideas.

Fury continued to lead with his jab in the third in which he also adopted a southpaw stance and appeared to be enjoying himself. He succeeded with a left hook from close range, then lefts to the head and body and then a left-right.

Makhmudov caught him with a right hand in the fourth but achieved little beyond wasting his energy when he continued to wildly swing and continued to miss his target. Fury continued to prioritise his jab and to succeed with his left-right combination; Makhmudov’s punch resistance remained firm.

It will perhaps have been a relief to the teams of both fighters that their fight required relatively little officiating. The referee was none other than Mark Bates, so heavily criticised for his contributions to Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora the previous week.

Makhmudov twice more fell short with right hands in the fifth round, and in the sixth was punished by Fury patiently again prioritising his jab and showboating via his facial expressions.

Successive right hands from the Russian in the seventh were followed by a left-right to the body from Fury and a return to his authoritative jab; Makhmudov missed with a further right hand and was again punished with successive jabs.

A well-timed, counter left hook to the chin caught the eye and hurt Makhmudov in the eighth round. A right uppercut then followed, and hurt Makhmudov once again.

With greater urgency it remains possible that Fury could have succeeded in recording his 25th stoppage, but he may well instead have been prioritising the activity.  A left uppercut was followed by him letting his hands go in the 11th, when he also turned Makhmudov into a corner and started freely throwing again.

A stoppage, thereafter, never appeared likely to follow. A right uppercut from in close then helped him see out the final round, which he finished with his hands almost behind his back and using his head and body movement to stay away from harm.

Pre-fight, Turki Alalshikh had teased that the overdue date between Fury and Joshua is imminent.

At 37 – a year older than Joshua – time is perhaps finally running out for Fury to fight his long-term rival. He and Joshua again exchanged words, post-fight, but they and almost everyone else has already been there before, making their meeting both tiring and familiar. But if they don’t finally agree terms to fight each other, is there even any point in Fury being back?

Conor Benn defeated Regis Prograis via unanimous decision after 10 rounds at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

 

The 150lbs catchweight bout was expected to be straightforward for Benn, but the former two-time junior welterweight champion Prograis proved a tougher opponent than expected. After 10 competitive rounds, all three scorecards regardless read 98-92 in favour of Benn, likely taking him closer to his shot as mandatory challenger at the WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia.

 

The talk before the fight was not of the fight, but of Benn’s reported $15million switch from his long-time promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom to rivals Zuffa Boxing and Dana White. That talk consumed the build up, with many forgetting that Benn was in with an experienced operator in Prograis. Despite Prograis’ accolades, Benn was expected to deliver a straightforward knockout under his new promotional banner. However, despite rising to 25-1 (14 KOs) with victory, he looked one-dimensional and failed to deliver a performance to be proud of.  

 

There had been rumours of an injury to Prograis, and his legs did not look under him from the opening bell. Benn, 29, landed a right hand over his guard that shook the 37 year old. The Englishman would jump in recklessly to land his right hand but Prograis was able to time him and land his southpaw left. The round was a competitive one but Benn landed a right hand on the bell that rocked Prograis badly.

 

Prograis was down again in the second, but this time from stumbling as he threw a jab. It seemed that he was having trouble with his right leg, and it looked inevitable that he would be taking another trip to the canvas.

 

Benn was in control in third, yet struggling to land anything meaningful on his experienced opponent. The crafty southpaw slipped and slid Benn’s sharp punches, but offered little in return. Prograis finally landed his first telling shot when he fired in a left hand that cut Benn’s right eye early in the fourth. Prograis took confidence from the shot and started to press forwards. 

 

Benn appeared offended by Prograis' success in the previous session and started the fifth strongly. He fired in his sharp shot, but little landed, Prograis was just too clever and there was little thought to Benn’s work. Benn finally caught Prograis with a right hand; Prograis shook his head and returned fire with a left to the midsection.

 

Benn was increasingly getting frustrated. It wasn’t just about beating Prograis, it was also looking good, and thus far he had not. Another cut opened on Benn, this time above his left eye in the sixth. Benn, seemingly angered by the cuts, thumped in a body shot before taunting Prograis, and was politely told to shut up by the referee Kieran McCann.

 

Benn was breathing heavily in his corner ahead of the seventh, but started the round quickly by firing in a left hand, followed by a right, to Prograis’ midsection. Benn continued his assault on Prograis’ body, swinging in hooks as the pair locked horns in center ring. Prograis was shaking his head in response, but he was certainly feeling the shots downstairs.

 

Benn was feeling more comfortable; his work to the body had made a dent in Prograis and he was able to dominate the eighth. He continued to fire in shots to the midsection, bringing them up to the head occasionally, but Prograis stood firm. Prograis was wearing the effects of Benn’s shots in the previous two sessions in the ninth, and there was a sense he was starting to come apart. Blood trickled from Prograis’ left eye as Benn again belted in a wild hook, but still Prograis shook his head. It had become about finishing on his feet for the ageing Prograis. He knew his best years were behind him, but having never been stopped before, he was determined to not give Benn that honour.

 

Prograis fought bravely throughout the 10th and final round. Benn continued to fire in sharp right hands, but Prograis dug in and fired back. Prograis waved his opponent in as he played possum in the corner, and seemed to catch Benn with his head as he fired in a left to Benn’s body. Benn tried frantically to get his man out of there in the closing seconds, but Prograis was too smart, and tough, and the bell sounded. 

 

Benn looked displeased, his face bloodied and bruised, as he awaited the official verdict and Prograis gave him respect as Benn was awarded the win. Prograis fell to 30-4 (24 KOs) with the defeat, and despite losing gave a good account of himself in what could be his final professional bout.

Australia’s Justis Huni started the process of moving on from the most difficult period of his career when he earned a majority decision over Frazer Clarke.

At London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov he fought to scores of 95-95, 96-94 and 96-94 in his first contest since his first defeat.

As with England’s Clarke, it was the WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley who dramatically ended Huni’s undefeated record. He then endured the tragic death to a heart attack of his trainer Keri Fiu, contributing to it taking 10 months for him to return to the ring.

Clarke, like Huni – working for the first time under Josh Arnold – was entering his first fight under his new trainer, Joe Gallagher. His unexpected defeat in his past fight by Jeamie Tshikeva ultimately meant that, far more so than Huni, his career was under threat.

Aged 34 he was 10lbs lighter than he was for November’s date with Tshikeva. His punch resistance and decline had since been widely questioned, but even in defeat, against a proven, youthful opponent – Huni is 27 – his improved conditioning complemented an improved performance and proof that he can continue to rebuild.

The jeopardy involved in the picture of Clarke’s career meant that accepting a fight with an opponent of Huni’s calibre represented a considerable risk.

Throughout the opening three rounds Huni’s abilities and edge in speed repeatedly tested Clarke, and allowed him to regularly succeed with his favoured left hand.

It was in the second when Huni landed with a left to the body and Clarke fell short with a jab. Huni then landed a further left to the body before Clarke fell short with a left and then Huni doubled up again with his left hand.

Clarke, clearly, was tempted to load up on his one-time sparring partner and to test the punch resistance that Wardley had conquered. He also then started to succeed to the body, in an attempt to slow Huni down.

A left uppercut on the inside from Huni then followed, as did the Australian jabbing with more consistency. There, similarly, followed a left to the body before he narrowly moved out of range.

In the fourth when they traded at close range an uppercut from Clarke snapped Huni’s head back. A right-left combination then hurt and wobbled Huni. Clarke then followed up with a straight right hand as Huni tucked up.

The sharper, leaner Clarke – largely fighting with a consistent work-rate – then had his most successful period of the fight until, after a right uppercut on the inside in the seventh, Huni’s sense of momentum was rebuilt.

Left hands to head and body followed in the eighth from Huni. Clarke, despite having taken punishment to the body, retained a consistent a form. They exchanged right hands, and this time Clarke’s head snapped back. A left uppercut and left hook followed from Huni, but Clarke again impressively stood firm.

An overhand right in the ninth from Huni, followed by a left hook and a right uppercut and a leaping right hand in the 10th contributed to him closing out victory.

He and his team will recognise that he is ready to return to world level. Clarke and his will also know that he can continue to improve.

NEWARK, N.J. – Hebert Conceicao kept his undefeated record intact Friday, but he had to get off the canvas to do it.

A 2020 Olympic gold medalist from Brazil, Conceicao boxed his way to a unanimous decision over former title challenger Johan Gonzalez, winning the 10-round middleweight fight at Prudential Center by the scores of 96-93 on two cards and 95-94 on the third.

The win, which came in a ProBox main event, was the third straight by decision for Conceicao, who improved to 11-0 (5 KOs), and his third overall against a former title challenger. Gonzalez, 36-6 (34 KOs), of Valencia, Venezuela, lost his third of his past four fights.

Conceicao boxed smoothly in the first round, landing hooks to the head and body in combination while pivoting away from Gonzalez’s offensive lunges, shoulder rolling Gonzalez’s right hands and landing his own rights.

If it was looking too easy for Conceicao early on, that impression changed in the third when Gonzalez timed one of Conceicao’s shoulder rolls, getting him to turn into a right hand, the Brazilian going to the canvas for the first time as a pro. Conceicao, though swollen under his left eye, tried to feign confidence as he smiled and looked to land counters on the aggressive Gonzalez.

Conceicao rebounded well in the fourth, returning to his boxing approach and scoring points, though Gonzalez was narrowly missing with the same right hand that had scored the knockdown earlier. The primary weapon for Conceicao was his jab, which scored consistently through the middle rounds and kept Gonzalez from getting set to land his power shots.

Conceicao reasserted dominance in the fight in the seventh, as his control of distance and shorter punches connected with the increasingly one-dimensional Gonzalez, whose whole approach was to look for another big overhand right. Conceicao continued to box from long range in the eighth and ninth, taking advantage of Gonzalez’s lack of a jab to outbox his opponent.

With the fight now firmly in his control, Conceicao had fun in the 10th, doubling and tripling his jab while smiling and countering before dancing out of range.

Conceicao is ranked No. 15 by the WBO at 160lbs.

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.

NEWARK, N.J. – Francisco Veron had to go deep into his bag of boxing skills on Friday to score a unanimous decision victory over Raul Garcia at Prudential Center.

The scores were 98-92 on two cards and 97-93 on the third, all for Argentina’s Veron, 17-1-1 (10 KOs), in the junior middleweight co-main event of a ProBox TV card. Garcia, of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, dropped to 15-3-1 (12 KOs) with the loss.

Veron’s greater accuracy gave him the advantage early as his jab lined up Garcia for uppercuts and body shots. Garcia was the stronger of the two, but his lack of upper-body movement kept him on the center line for straight shots down the middle while Veron was able to angle his body to avoid Garcia’s heavy blows. Veron drew blood from Garcia’s nose in the third, but Garcia’s nonstop pressure began to pay dividends in the fifth and sixth rounds as he connected with hooks to the head and body. Veron began to move more, and though he still landed cleanly to the head, it was Garcia pushing the fight.

Veron rediscovered his jab in the seventh, which enabled him to beat Garcia to the punch with his right hand more frequently. Garcia wouldn’t be discouraged, as he continued to target Veron’s midsection with right hands. Garcia found his target upstairs in the ninth round, rocking Veron with a right hand. Veron steadied himself and used Garcia’s aggression against him, landing check-hook right hands as Garcia rushed in.

That pattern made for a difficult fight to score, as Veron was the most consistent and accurate fighter while Garcia would come forward and land single heavy blows.

The two traded blows to the final bell in a competitive 10th round, which highlighted Veron’s more accurate shots.

Veron, a 2020 Olympian, has now won three in a row since his lone defeat, a unanimous decision to Brandon Adams in 2024. Garcia’s loss snaps a two-fight winning streak, which included a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Emiliano Moreno.

In a bloodbath that would have made Yaqui Lopez feel squeamish, Joshafat Ortiz and William Foster III fought to a no-contest after three rounds. The fight was stopped after the third round due to damage over Foster’s left eye, which frustrated Ortiz, whose own cut initially appeared the more devastating but was finally under control.

The fight between hard-luck underdogs was still taking shape as Foster, 19-3 (11 KOs), of New Haven, Connecticut, and Ortiz, 13-2 (6 KOs), of Reading, Pennsylvania, traded right hands. The close-range exchanges brought the two boxers’ heads into close contact, with both suffering serious cuts over their left eyes by the middle of the second round. The blood was so excessive that it quickly became difficult to separate the two fighters to determine who was landing what.

Both junior lightweights were looking to bounce back from disappointing decision losses in their previous bouts.

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.

NEWARK, N.J. – Emmanuel Chance had been looking forward to his first bout in his home state since he was 10 years old. After six rounds, his homecoming turned into the scare of a lifetime.

The former USA Boxing national team member started strongly, scoring a second-round knockdown, but had to eke out a split decision win over Angel Munoz on Friday at Prudential Center. One judge had the bantamweight bout 58-56 for Munoz but was overruled by the other two who scored it 57-56 for Chance, with the knockdown being the margin of victory for the 19-year-old from nearby East Orange, N.J.

Chance, who is promoted by Top Rank, raised his record to 4-0 (1 KOs), while Munoz dropped to 3-3 (2 KOs) with the bout, which punctuated the undercard action on a ProBox TV card.

Chance, who earned a silver at the Youth World Championships in 2024, looked every bit like a future star in the first round rounds, pinpointing left-hand counters and lunging right hooks that left Munoz, 20, of Baldwin Park, California, looking lost in the first round. Chance appeared every bit the future star he has been pegged as in the second round, landing a left hand that put Munoz on the canvas. Munoz beat the count and took advantage of Chance’s overanxiousness as he sought a knockout, landing counters while Chance tried to force his offense.

World junior welterweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson, who came up with Chance at Newark’s Elite Heat Boxing in the amateurs, urged Chance to “set it up” and “keep looking for your shots.” When he noticed Chance breathing with his mouth open later in the round, Stevenson’s advice turned to “deep breaths in there.”

Chance's older brother, featherweight Rajon Chance, laid the stakes out there clearly: "You’re a national champion, it’s time to use your experience," said Rajon Chance.

Chance, now gassed from his offensive explosion, began to get outworked by Munoz, who started putting punches together to the head and body while Chance tried to roll away from them. Munoz’s momentum continued through the fourth as Chance’s offense was limited to one punch at a time, often with the jab to the body. Munoz switched to southpaw in the fifth to take away that opening, and began to find openings with right hooks and uppercuts up the middle. With just three minutes left in the fight, Chance went back to being aggressive, opening up with power shots to begin the round. But it was Munoz who made the final statement, knocking Chance’s head back with an uppercut with 30 seconds remaining in the fight.

Erick Kedar Gainous, 9-0 (6 KOs), kept his unbeaten record intact, scoring a third-round stoppage of fellow Denver resident Alejandro Ibarra, 8-4 (2 KOs), in a six-round super middleweight fight. The end came at the 2:48 mark as Gaionous, 26, landed repeated unanswered blows that had the 32-year-old Ibarra reeling.

Elijah “Macho” Gonzalez, 4-0 (3 KOs), of Brooklyn, New York, scored a fourth-round stoppage against his most experienced opponent to date, finishing off Danny Murray, 8-11, at 1:05 of the final round. Gonzalez, 19, knocked his opponent out of the ring in the second and cut him with a hook in the third before a right hand to the ear finished off Murray, 34, of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey.

It was a disappointing night for Ofacio Falcon, a lightweight prospect from The Bronx, New York, as he was on his way to a stoppage victory when an errant punch resulted in a no-contest. Falcon, 14-0 (8 KOs), had already dropped Ghana’s Tackie Annan, 20-13 (18 KOs), with a right hand to the head, and as Falcon pushed for the stoppage, a jab to the body strayed beneath the cup. Annan dropped to his knees and wasn’t moving, as if he had been knocked unconscious, prompting the referee to stop the fight after about 20 seconds.

Annan walked out of the ring on his own power moments later, having ended his streak of four knockout losses in bouts on US soil.

In a featherweight bout, Keith Colon scored a first-round knockout of Luis Almendarez Morales at the 2:38 mark.

Opening the card, Alex De Jesus, 2-0 (1 KO), and Gregory Lee, 0-3-1, boxed to a draw in a four-round lightweight bout. One judge had it for De Jesus at 39-37, while the other two had it even at 38-38.

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.

Conor Benn enters Saturday’s fight with Regis Prograis armed with the conviction that comes from his two fights against Chris Eubank Jnr.

Their date at a catchweight of 150lbs on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is his first since successive dates with Eubank Jnr at middleweight – one on which he endured his first defeat and the other his biggest win.

Before his rivalry with Eubank Jnr, Benn had been a career welterweight, and Eubank Jnr had succeeded in high-profile fights as heavy as at 168lbs. They largely fought toe-to-toe throughout the first fight that was edged by Eubank Jnr – when Benn found answers to many of the questions he had asked himself – and, by comparison, the extent of Eubank Jnr’s decline meant that Benn then won their rematch with ease.

The date with the 37-year-old Prograis is one for which Benn is the significant favourite, but more relevant to him than the former junior welterweight Prograis’ size and age is the increasing self-belief that he will take into the ring.

“You don’t know you’ve got it until you’ve got to go through it,” the 29-year-old told BoxingScene. “It’s delusional until you’ve done it. For me to say ‘I can jump up to middleweight and have a war with a middleweight…’. I’m not no middleweight. I’m definitely not a middleweight. But you sit there and you go ‘Am I delusional, or is everyone else right?’ ‘Is the population right or am I delusional?’ It sat with me for ages. ‘But I can’t be delusional.’ And I was right. You’ve got to back yourself.

“The first fight, for me, was sweeter than the second. The first fight, it took a part of my soul. I left a lot of my soul in there. I gave everything I had. Blood, sweat, tears – not just in the fight but in the camp. And I come away feeling proud, but also a sense of disappointment. It was so mixed. I was happy that I had that fight but I was so disappointed I lost. Then, the second fight again, was like, ‘I need to show that I can adapt and learn and come back from this, and lick my wounds and come back a better fighter,’ and that’s exactly what I done.

“I don’t think winning a world title will trump that night. Family pride; family legacy; family feud, and generations, and it felt like the country come to a standstill for the two fights, and it’s a pleasure to be involved in them two fights and do what we said we was gonna do. 

“A lot of fighters can’t adapt. They can’t learn; they can’t change; they can’t grow. That was what I wanted to show in the second fight, that I can go back, lick my wounds and cry – of course I cried – and just try and be better and do better. That was my goal, and I done that.”

Eubank Jnr had previously demonstrated his heart during the course of a one-sided defeat by the heavy-handed George Groves and also in the way that he responded to some of his other defeats.

Benn, by comparison – not unlike Eubank Jnr, thriving off the back of the profile delivered to him via his association with his famous father – had confronted far fewer tests of his abilities and mental strength.

“People said ‘nepo kids’, ‘silver-spoon kids’ – to be able to win Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine and the British [Boxing] Board of Control is an accomplishment in itself, ‘cause if you look at the statistics and the odds, we weren’t raised in poverty,” the Englishman said, perhaps aware of the extent to which the young Prograis’ life was changed by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. “We weren’t raised in difficulty. We weren’t raised in the setbacks people have in life that make them the champions that they are. It just goes to show being a champion comes from something deep inside you, not just winning a title. A champion comes from being a champion in life. 

“Every fight presents a different test. Every fight presents different questions you need to answer. I’m excited to be fighting back at my weight, but I think it’s going to present different questions. Completely different style; different ring size; different everything. I’m excited for the challenge that I think he’ll bring. But I’m feeling very sharp; explosive; very strong, at this weight. In terms of confidence, I feel less nerves fighting in a stadium. It’s my third stadium show in a row now, back in the UK. It’s a blessing.”