Josh Padley’s big win over Mark Chamberlain in September gave him two straight victories in the junior welterweight division.

“I’m not going to stay at 140, because them lads are definitely a bit bigger,” Padley (15-0, 4 KOs) said in an interview with Regan Slaymaker of International Boxing News . “We’ve made the decision to stay at 135 now. We’ve got rankings in pretty much everyone but the WBA after that win. I make it comfortably. I still feel strong in there.”

Padley vs. Chamberlain, which was on the undercard of Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium, was initially expected to be at lightweight, according to Padley. But then with a few weeks to go before the bout, he was notified that the weight limit instead would be 140.

But instead it was Padley, an 28-year-old from Armthorpe, Yorkshire, England, who scored a knockdown in the eighth round and took the win by unanimous decision. Now he is looking to capitalize on the victory. As Padley referenced, he is ranked within the top 15 — and therefore eligible for a title shot — with the WBO (No. 11) and IBF (No. 13). The WBC, meanwhile, has him just on the outside at No. 16.

The IBF titleholder is Vasiliy Lomachenko while the WBO belongs to Denys Berinchyk. As for the WBA and WBC, those are in the hands of Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson.

“There’s a lot of names in there now and a lot of eyes on the 135 weight division,” Padley said.. “It’s a stacked-out division. Good action from it. A lot of people watch it and follow it.”

Two potential names mentioned to Padley were lightweights Gary Cully (18-1, 10 KOs), who is scheduled to face Maxi Hughes in December; and Sam Noakes (15-0, 14 KOs), who finished Gianluca Ceglia in eight rounds in September.

Padley isn’t leaning in any direction at the moment.

“We just have to wait and see what’s best for us,” he said.

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

Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster really shouldn’t be doing this a second time. Their first fight, July 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, just wasn’t engaging enough to warrant a rematch.

It was similar in entertainment value to the main event that night, Shakur Stevenson’s unanimous points win over Artem Harutyunyan — and there’s no way in hell boxing’s power brokers are going to make us sit through Stevenson-Harutyunyan II.

But Conceicao-Foster II is happening. It has to, unfortunately. Because whereas the boxer who won Stevenson-Harutyunyan, ya know, won , the same was not true of Conceicao-Foster.

O’Shaquie Foster won that damned fight. But Robson Conceicao got his hand raised.

At least, that was the way I felt on July 6, watching from my couch, not scoring carefully round by round, casually agreeing with the commentary of ESPN’s Timothy Bradley and the unofficial scorecard of his broadcast mate Mark Kriegel. It appeared Foster had convincingly outboxed his relatively one-dimensional opponent, but two of the three judges held him up at pencil-point and stole his 130-pound belt from him by split decision.

The couch-and-chill method, however, is no way to render a verdict on a boxing match. You have to score it round by round and you have to do your best to ignore external influences such as broadcast commentary, or else you don’t really have a right to weigh in on whether the scorecards are fair. So before Conceicao and Foster run it back this Saturday at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, I decided to run it back myself.

It was time to form my own opinion. I had to know: Was this a robbery? Or was it just another of those countless close fights where the eye of the beholder decides the name of the beltholder?

I’ll spare you the suspense and cut straight to the answer (then I’ll double back for the details): Yes, this was a robbery.

Foster won that fight. Two of the judges flat out got it wrong (and got a couple of rounds blatantly wrong along the way) and consistently made the error of giving credit for ineffective aggression. If you only watched the directions the fighters’ feet were moving, you might have thought Conceicao won. If you paid proper attention to what their fists did and didn’t do, you knew this was Foster’s fight.

One important caveat, though: As someone who has sat directly along the ring apron to score bouts for a broadcast, I’ll note that a fight can look different from ringside than it does through the TV cameras. Specifically, watching on a big-screen TV at home tends to be more accurate in revealing exactly which punches land and which punches don’t. So if the judges at ringside failed to properly appreciate how many shots Foster blocked with his gloves or rolled with, it may not necessarily be their fault.

TV commentary can inject bias into an observer’s scoring, too. So you have to pick a poison: Either you watch on mute and miss out on the sounds of the punches, or you watch with the volume on and do your best not to let the on-air analysts influence you. I personally prefer to leave the sound on, and I trust myself not to let the broadcasters influence me—especially when I’m watching after the fact and can easily remove the emotion of the moment from my thought process.

So now you know my rewatch situation: HDTV, sound on, fully rested and caffeinated on a Sunday morning, no distractions, pausing playback between rounds to take notes but never during the round.

And I scored the fight 117-111, nine rounds to three, for Foster. (It’s hard to type a sentence like that without throwing in a “ Jim, I gotta tell ya. ”) There were seven rounds that I felt clearly belonged to Foster (even if some of them were close and competitive), two rounds that Conceicao definitely won (again, not necessarily lopsided rounds), and three that were close enough to reasonably score for either man (of which I gave two to Foster and one to Conceicao). So to my eyes, the range of acceptable scores was from 118-110 Foster to 115-113 Foster.

A 114-114 draw? Not acceptable. A Conceicao win? Even more unacceptable. Therefore, I do consider the decision that added a win to Conceicao’s record and a loss to Foster’s worthy of the “R” word .

Some noteworthy rounds along the way:

Round 2: I gave this round to Foster, but it was one of the two in his favor that could have gone either way. With about 30 seconds left on the clock, Conceicao appeared to land a clean right hand during an exchange—the best punch, seemingly, of the fight to that point. But Foster outboxed him for most of the round, so I gave it to him, as did judges Tony Lundy and Ron McNair, while Paul Wallace went for the Brazilian. Here’s the twist: On the replay shown at the start of the next round, we saw that Conceicao’s one forceful right hand was in fact a forearm/elbow follow-through on a punch that missed. Of course, judges score without the benefit of replay, as should viewers at home, so I take no issue with Wallace making it 10-9 in Conceicao’s favor.

Rounds 3 and 5: These were both rounds that I felt Foster won in a clear-cut manner … but both were scored for Conceicao by all three judges . In both rounds, Foster landed the better shots, outboxed his opponent, utilized sharp defense, and in the fifth, even landed his best punch of the fight to that point, a clever right uppercut early in the round. Conceicao outworked him in both rounds, yes. So if a judge ignored Foster’s defense (or couldn’t tell which punches were being blocked), and also ignored his superior offense, and was only interested in which man was coming forward, then, fine, these were Conceicao rounds. That requires a whole lotta ignoring, however. Or at least a lot of misperception, along with a decent helping of improperly applying the recommended scoring criteria.

Round 6: I gave this close round to Conceicao—the only stanza among the first 11 in which I disagreed with Kriegel’s unofficial ESPN scorecard—and it was the lone example I saw in which the punching was essentially even and thus I considered it correct to break the tie by giving it to the guy moving forward. Two of the judges, however, gave this one to Foster.

Round 8: In what had been a close round to that point, Foster landed a jab-jab-right combination in the final minute that backed Conceicao off and seemed to clinch the round. It was competitive, but not quite close enough to give to the man from Brazil — unless you couldn’t tell that Foster, who according to CompuBox threw half as many punches and landed twice as many, was rolling with and blocking shots. Still, two of the judges did favor Conceicao, with only McNair getting it right.

Rounds 10 and 11: These were both Foster rounds that I felt were not quite close enough to mistake for Conceicao rounds, unless a judge was fooled by good ol’ ineffective marching forward. In the 10th, only Wallace was fooled. In the 11th, only Wallace wasn’t fooled.

Round 12: Foster fought this round with no urgency, like he was certain he could lose the round and still comfortably retain his title, a perfectly logical thought given his success in the previous 11 stanzas. Conceicao didn’t land anything notable, but won the round without much doubt—though McNair and ESPN’s Kriegel both, perhaps locked into a pattern from previous rounds, awarded it to Foster.

In the end, McNair favored Foster 116-112, a perfectly fine tally, even if I thought he was off-base on a few rounds along the way. Wallace carded 115-113 for Conceicao. And Lundy had it 116-112 for Conceicao, incredibly giving Foster only four rounds. The judges only agreed unanimously on four of the 12 rounds — and as noted, I vehemently disagreed with them on two of those.

It is worth noting that this was not an experienced judging crew. McNair was the most established of the trio, with 26 previous alphabet title fights. Wallace had judged 10 title fights. Lundy had worked just two. Of course, every judge has to start somewhere, and the only way to become an experienced judge is to work fights of some significance while still inexperienced. So, I am inclined not to excoriate the New Jersey Athletic Control Board or the WBC for its judge selection. It’s simply worth pointing out that, on this night, the less experienced the judge was, the more disconnected from reality his final score was.

Two things we can all agree on: CompuBox stats don’t determine who won a fight, and commentary crews don’t determine who won a fight. So if you’re playing the backlash-to-the-backlash game, as promoter Bob Arum did shortly after the fight in arguing that it was a close fight and not a robbery, it’s natural to make those two points.

According to CompuBox, Foster decisively outlanded Conceicao, 109 to 76, while Conceicao threw far more punches, 698 to 435. The connect percentages were thus severely lopsided, 25% for Foster and a paltry 11% for Conceicao. But the judges don’t have access to the stats, and they may have been at the wrong angles at times to appreciate just how few Conceicao punches were actually getting through. (CompuBox happened to be working this fight off TV rather than live.)

As for the commentary, yes, Bradley was painting a one-sided picture. But he was justified in doing so because this just wasn’t all that close of a fight. He declared it a “boxing clinic” from Foster at the midway point, said during the ninth round that Conceicao is “not in this fight, he needs a knockout to win,” and in the 10th professed, “This is easy. This is easy for the champion.”

I’ve seen some commentator-made controversies over the years—Vernon Forrest vs. Ike Quartey always springs to mind, a fight I scored closely for Forrest while the HBO crew insisted from start to finish that Quartey was dominating—but this wasn’t one of them. The fight Bradley saw is the same fight I saw. Two of the judges just didn’t appreciate the “boxing clinic.”

So what does any of this mean for Saturday’s rematch? Specifically, will Foster fight differently than he did the first time because the way he fought in July didn’t get him the result he desired?

“We ain’t giving away no game plans, but I know what I need to do,” Foster told Dan Rafael last week on the “Big Fight Weekend” podcast. “That fight was easy, no matter how the judges seen it, they should’ve seen it as a unanimous decision. So I shouldn’t have to go in there and change anything up, but I will turn it up.”

When asked on “The Brian Campbell Experience” whether he would throw more punches in the rematch, Foster replied, “We gonna be more active. I’m looking to come in and put on a show.”

It’s a tricky spot for Foster. He would be foolish to turn more aggressive in the rematch, because Conceicao’s best moments almost all came in the rare spots where Foster stood and traded; when Foster was boxing and counterpunching, he was in total control. However, he would also be foolish not to turn more aggressive in the rematch because, well, he learned in the first fight what can happen if you trust the judges to appreciate your style and its subtleties.

If the judges had appreciated the way Foster fought, there wouldn’t even be a rematch. But there is one, and Foster has to determine how stubborn he wants to be.

Rob me once, shame on you. Here’s hoping we don’t have to decide what shame-ascribing phrase comes after “rob me twice.”

Eric Raskin is a veteran boxing journalist with more than 25 years of experience covering the sport for such outlets as BoxingScene, ESPN, Grantland, Playboy, Ringside Seat, 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 or LinkedIn , or via email at RaskinBoxing@yahoo.com.

Joseph Parker, former WBO heavyweight world champion, has set his sights on a possible matchup with Daniel Dubois. According to his trainer, Andy Lee, Parker is ready to fight for the IBF world title in February 2025. This option comes as a potential rematch between Dubois and Anthony Joshua is being considered.

Andy Lee, Joseph Parker’s trainer, recently confirmed that his team is prepared to face Daniel Dubois. This IBF title bout could take place on February 22, 2025. Parker wants to seize the opportunity in case the rematch with Anthony Joshua doesn’t go ahead.

Dubois, 27, defeated Joshua on September 21 in London. Although there has been talk of a rematch, plans are currently on hold due to Joshua’s physical condition.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed that the British boxer is not yet at 100%. Hearn mentioned that Joshua needs more time to recover from his recent loss to Dubois. Although the former champion desires a rematch, Hearn admits this isn’t an immediate possibility. Joshua, who is still experiencing physical discomfort, may not be ready by February 22, which could allow Parker to take his place.

Additionally, Hearn explained that Joshua prefers to wait to see the outcome of the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. This fight between the heavyweight champions is scheduled for December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Joseph Parker, 32, holds a solid record of 35 wins, 3 losses, and 0 draws. He has knocked out 23 of his opponents and is seeking a new shot at the world title. His last fight was on March 8, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he faced China’s Zhilei Zhang. Parker won by majority decision after 12 tough rounds.Turki Alalshikh reacts to Manchester United’s sacking of Erik Ten Hag

Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois has a record of 22 wins, 2 losses, and 0 draws. Known for his knockout power, Dubois has ended 21 of his fights before the final bell. In his last bout, he knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round, marking his first defense of the IBF title and establishing himself as a threat in the division.

Although the potential rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois remains the main objective, Joshua’s quick recovery is uncertain. If this fight doesn’t materialize, Joseph Parker and his team are ready to seize the opportunity.Joseph Parker’s trainer Andy Lee has declared that they would be ready to challenge Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight world title on Feb 22nd, if the Anthony Joshua rematch doesn’t happen.

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 29, 2024

The career of Tim Tszyu has taken a downward spiral in 2024 after suffering the first and second defeats of his career, costing him his super-welterweight world title. Now, only one man seems to remain as a viable opponent for his next fight—and it’s an opportunity close to home.

Tszyu became the darling of Australian boxing when he claimed the WBO super-welterweight championship and defended it against Brian Mendoza, seemingly setting up an eventual showdown with either Jermell Charlo or Terence Crawford.

Yet, before either of those fights could materialise, ‘The Soul Taker’ accepted a showdown with Keith Thurman – who was then later replaced by the lanky and unorthodox contender, Sebastian Fundora.

With the help of an early cut, Fundora was able to capitalize on a seemingly unprepared performance from Tszyu, pulling off an upset to win the unified WBO and WBC world titles via split-decision.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Tszyu, as he was subsequently presented with an opportunity to reclaim the 154-lb throne against the relatively unknown IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev.

In a shocking turn, it was Murtazaliev who was able dominate Tszyu earlier this month and score an emphatic third-round TKO victory and hand Tszyu a second consecutive defeat in the United States.

Tszyu now finds himself in no-man’s-land within the super-welterweight division, with many suggesting he return home to Australia to regain form, confidence, and momentum.

Aside from his brother Nikita, however, there are few notable names in the domestic super-welterweight division to create an intriguing contest. Instead, Tszyu appears likely to target former middleweight world title challenger – and Australian pantomime villain – Michael Zerafa in a potential catchweight bout.

Zerafa bounced back from an unsuccessful world title bid against Erislandy Lara with a first-round victory over Tommy Browne in August—an injury forced Browne to withdraw after the opening round. Despite having fought only three rounds since 2022, Zerafa told that the timing of Tszyu’s shortcomings is ideal.

“Between me and Tszyu, there has always been bad blood. He thinks that he is the best, I think that I am the best in our divisions. Obviously, he is in a lighter division, but he thinks that he is the best in the country and I think that I am the best in the country and there is only one way to settle that and that is to fight.

“We have both cleaned out our backyards and then there is just that competitiveness that we have between each other and our personalities clash. There is nothing personal towards him.

“We are very similar, we’ve cleaned out our backyards and there is nobody left for us but each other. For me, I’m keen to fight whenever he wants to fight and I think we will be in negotiations pretty soon. His promoters are getting back from America, so I am just waiting.IBF sets purse bid for Anthony Cacace vs. Eduardo Núñez

“I believe that timing plays a huge role in boxing and Zerafa vs. Tszyu is now. He is coming off of two losses, whereas I’m getting my momentum back.”

Whispers of a Tszyu vs. Zerafa fight have been circulating in Australian boxing circles since their cancelled bout in 2021. Rumours that the pair could finally meet had already surfaced before the Murtazaliev defeat. However, it was previously believed that ‘Pretty Boy’ would need to defeat Tszyu’s brother, Nikita, before earning a shot at Tim.

Zerafa went on to reveal that this plan was indeed in place but that it has since gone out of the window ‘now that everything has gone sour for Tim’, before adding that he believes himself to be hungrier than the former WBO world champion.

“We didn’t actually want Nikita, they were basically shielding Tim with Nikita. They gave me Nikita and promised that if I beat Nikita then they were going to give me Tim, but now that everything has gone sour for Tim, we are going straight for him.

“Styles make fights and we are stylistically perfect for each other. I believe I bring more hunger and grit, I have a lot more to prove and that motivates me.”

Summarising the Murtazaliev battering, Zerafa then declared his belief that Tim Tszyu has a habit of overlooking his opponents and thinking too far ahead – warning that he will be handed a third successive loss if he does the same when the Aussie duo go toe-to-toe.

“Plain and simple – he [Tszyu] overlooked him. He does that every fight. He always worries about what is coming next.

“He was making t-shirts with Crawford and Canelo and Charlo’s names on it, it is clear to see that he doesn’t focus on the task ahead and just overlooked his opponent.

“I don’t think that he is arrogant, he is just over-confident and worries about the media too much and what is happening next. I just focus on what the task it and it is looking like all roads are leading towards Tim. Hopefully he focusses on me, if not, he is going to have another loss next to his name.”

It remains uncertain when Tszyu-Zerafa will take place, with many advising that Tszyu take time away from the ring to recover. However, when the 29-year-old decides he’s ready for a comeback, Zerafa will be waiting.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Frazer Clarke spoke about the injuries he suffered in his defeat to Fabio Wardley. The rematch took place on October 12, 2024, as part of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol card. The event was held at Riyadh Season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Clarke lost by technical knockout in the first round.

Frazer Clarke, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now holds a record of 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. Out of his 8 wins, he has managed to knock out 6 of his opponents. After his defeat to Wardley, Clarke underwent surgery for a fractured jaw. This injury was caused by a punch he received during the first round of the fight.

During the interview, the Sky Sports host began by thanking Clarke for his time, especially during his recovery. Clarke responded: “I’m good. Recovering well and just glad to be here speaking to you guys. It’s been a difficult night for me and definitely a challenging few weeks, both as a fighter and as a person. But I’m recovering well and looking forward to the future now,” Clarke said.The host continued by asking how Frazer Clarke has processed what happened in the fight.

Clarke acknowledged the difficulty of the process, although he claims he is not one to make excuses: “I have to congratulate Fabio Wardley on a great performance. In terms of processing, it’s been very difficult. I’m not one for making excuses, and I never will.”

Frazer Clarke reflected on his performance in the fight. “Maybe a slow start on my part. Heavyweight boxing is tough; I got hit with a shot, and after that, it was really difficult to recover. I felt like I was in the best mental and physical shape of my life, and then, in a second, it was over,” Clarke said.

The boxer also expressed his gratitude for the support he has received. “I’ve had great support from former teammates, friends, and really everyone in the community. Everyone’s been wishing me well, and I appreciate all those people who have shown me so much love. I can’t get back to everyone, but a massive thank you to all of them,” Clarke expressed.

Sky Sports asked about the importance of the physical aspect of his recovery compared to the psychological one. Clarke was clear in his response while explaining his previous experience with injuries: “The quick answer is, in my opinion, no. I’ve been injured before; I’ve broken bones in my face before, and now I have another one. I’ll get past this; I’ll get through it with no problem,” Clarke said.

Frazer Clarke also highlighted the support he received at the event from the medical team. Likewise, he expressed gratitude for the attention he received and noted that even the Sheikh personally ensured Clarke received proper care during the surgery.Paris 2024 Olympic medallist joins Team Canelo ahead of switch to professional ranks

“I have another check-in with the medical staff in a few weeks, and I just want to give a big shout-out to them and to the doctors over in Saudi. The ringside staff and everyone who was there, the security, they really took care of me, and the Sheikh personally got the best surgeon out of bed to look after me. Big shout-out to them,” Clarke thanked.

Finally, Clarke expressed that he is doing well and noted that, regardless of the adversities, he will recover and is ready to take on the upcoming challenges.

“I’ll be fine. This is part and parcel of my job, and I knew that going into it. It’s hard to take; my pride is hurt, but physically I’m fine, and mentally, I’m up for the challenge once again. I have a few more people to prove wrong now”, Clarke concluded.

With a strong mindset to get back into action, Frazer Clarke is preparing for his next stage in boxing. It’s worth noting that boxer Johnny Fisher recently wished Clarke a speedy recovery with a view to a possible matchup between them in 2025.

Retire as a champion or pursue a unification against Gervonta “Tank” Davis next year?

The decision remains in possession of Vasiliy Lomachenko.

As his 37th birthday nears in February, Lomachenko 18-3 (12 KOs) is settled in war-torn Ukraine with his wife and two children, nearly six months removed from his 11th-round TKO victory over George Kambosos Jnr in Australia to claim the WBF lightweight belt and just more than three months since deciding not to meet unbeaten WBA champion Davis this year.

“There’s absolutely no way to know what he’ll do and if you asked me right now what he’s doing, I’d say, ‘I don’t know,’” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said of Lomachenko’s choice between retiring or coming back.

Lomachenko manager Egis Klimas revealed to BoxingScene Monday that Lomachenko has experienced back pain in recent weeks and is going to be examined by a physician this week.

“The decision (to retire or fight again) hasn’t been made yet, but if there’s one thing I can tell you, money is not the motivation for Lomachenko,” Klimas said.

While Arum remains firmly on the fence, there is increasing sentiment within the Top Rank walls that Lomachenko is leaning toward retirement.

The matter was brought to light last week as two other Top Rank representatives discussed the futures of the company’s unbeaten lightweight contenders, Keyshawn Davis and Raymond Muratalla.

As Muratalla 21-0 (16 KOs) heads to Saturday’s ESPN+ bout against Jesus Antonio Perez Campos in Verona, New York, and Davis 11-0 (7 KOs) stages a November 8 hometown main event against Gustavo Lemos in Norfolk, Virginia, Muratalla, at No. 2, is ranked over No. 3 Davis in the WBO lightweight rankings under champion Denys Berinchyk.

And Davis is No. 3 to No. 4 Muratalla in the IBF ratings.

With unbeaten William Zepeda ranked No. 1 by all four sanctioning bodies and angling for a WBC title shot against three-division champion Shakur Stevenson should Zepeda defeat Tevin Farmer November 16 in Saudi Arabia, that opens the title-fight opportunities for Davis and Muratalla.

And a Top Rank official told BoxingScene that if Lomachenko retires, Davis will likely go after Berinchyk and the WBO belt and Muratalla would seek the vacated IBF belt against fellow contender Zaur Abdullaev, who’s ironically managed by Klimas.

The manager said Lomachenko feels the tug of remaining home – to be present for his family as Ukraine stands as a “war zone” as a result of the Russian invasion. Lomachenko still has “war duties in the army” to honor, and he finds fleeting peace by fishing in his homeland.

Arum declined knowledge of the Davis-to-WBO, Muratalla-to-IBF strategy, but he praised both fighters.

“Muratalla is a courageous warrior. Keyshawn will be the face of boxing, as you’ve seen from his two-day sellout in Norfolk,” Arum said.

Those reading the tea leaves around Lomachenko say he looked drained and content while defeating Kambosos to possibly cap a career that included 397 amateur fights – including two Olympic gold medals – and a decade-long pro career that forced him to prepare for 20 of 21 bouts that were scheduled to go 12 rounds.

On the heels of narrow title losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney – the latter of which left him emotionally crushed – Lomachenko could opt to leave his beloved sport on top, wearing a belt rather than risk a night with the powerful Davis 30-0 (28 KOs).

Lomachenko has sought a bout with Davis since 2019, but was rebuffed. Some of that was likely the result of the disinterest in making Top Rank-Premier Boxing Champions fights, and some blame was cast at Davis, who wouldn’t publicly say he wanted to fight Lomachenko until after stopping Frank Martin in June. 

“If Loma retires, there’s a part of me that’ll be happy he didn’t fight ‘Tank,’” one boxing official said. “It was kind of a bitch move by ‘Tank,’ to refuse to fight ‘Loma’ for so long and then cherry pick him at 36, almost 37. It’s like (Lomachenko) saying, ‘No, you had your chance.’”

Davis has settled for longshot junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach Jnr instead in a pay-per-view bout that will move off its originally discussed December 14 spot in Houston, according to multiple sources who say fan disinterest is one of the reasons for the shift.

Klimas said guessing what Lomachenko will do is an exercise in speculation, “even for me.

“Maybe he’ll change his mind and fight … last time (against Kambosos), people were saying he’d retire and he changed his mind, called me and told me he wants to fight. It’s hard to say what will happen.”

Arum said he’s going to remain flexible until he hears from Lomachenko.

“He’s done extremely well in keeping his money, taking care of his family and he has all of his faculties – he’s accomplished all he wants from a professional career,” Arum said. “I’m very happy with that.

“Of course if he wants to come back and fight, God love him, and we will help him with his next fight.”

Queensberry Promotions has strengthened its commitment to some of its top talents. The company, led by renowned promoter Frank Warren, has renewed long-term contracts with six high-profile boxers who have demonstrated great potential in the ring. This move ensures that these fighters, some champions and others notable prospects, will continue building their careers under the Queensberry umbrella.

WBA featherweight world champion Nick Ball has recommitted to Queensberry Promotions after successfully defending his title against Ronny Ríos in Liverpool on October 5. Ball has become a key player within the Queensberry team and a fan favorite.

Another world champion renewing his contract is Anthony Cacace, who currently holds the IBO super featherweight world title. Cacace, who recently defended his title successfully against the experienced Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium, has solidified his position as one of the strongest champions in his division.

IBO super bantamweight world champion Liam Davies has also decided to continue his career under Queensberry’s mantle. Davies is preparing to defend his title against Shabaz Masoud in Birmingham on November 2. With an upward trajectory that includes British and European titles, as well as international WBC and WBO titles, Davies continues to establish himself as a serious contender in his category and aims to demonstrate he can defend his championship on high-level stages.

Hamzah Sheeraz, one of the strongest contenders in the middleweight division, has also signed an extension. Sheeraz boasts an impressive streak of 15 consecutive knockout victories. The WBC Silver and Commonwealth champion has been a prominent figure on the Queensberry team, and his recent win over Tyler Denny at Wembley has further elevated his profile.

Among the signees is also Moses Itauma, a promising heavyweight who has attracted attention since his transition to the professional ranks early last year. Represented by Francis Warren, Itauma has accumulated an undefeated record of 10-0 in just a few months. This young talent is scheduled for his next fight on the preliminary card of the anticipated Usyk vs. Fury rematch, where he will face Demsey McKean, an experienced opponent with a record of 22-1.

Finally, Commonwealth, British, and European lightweight champion Sam Noakes has also renewed his contract. With a professional record of 15-0 and 14 wins by knockout. Noakes’ last fight took place against Gianluca Ceglia on September 6, 2024, in Bethnal Green, United Kingdom. He won by technical knockout in the 8th round.Frank Warren, the promoter of Queensberry Promotions, expressed his satisfaction with the recent extensions.

“I am thrilled to secure the futures of six such richly talented fighters,” said Warren.Andy Lee promises clarity in Tyson Fury’s corner for rematch against Oleksandr Usyk

“We have worked with nearly all of them right from the beginning or very early in their careers, and the faith we have shown in each other has been rewarded by them realizing their potential and justifying the belief we had in them.”

“That Nick Ball, Anthony Cacace, and Liam Davies have reached world title status is a particular joy, and the good news is that I am certain there are more world champions to come from this group, who are all set for further exciting developments in the coming months,” Warren concluded.

With these renewals, Queensberry Promotions demonstrates its commitment to the long-term development of its boxers. The promoter continues to establish itself as a solid platform for professional boxing, ensuring the continuity of its elite team and projecting a promising future in the industry.Six of the world’s most exciting fighters re-sign long-term contracts with Queensberry! 🥊

The future is bright!

Read the full story here: https://t.co/bM3aHV8Igzpic.twitter.com/TkROwOvImg

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) October 29, 2024

Despite only just moving up to heavyweight after vacating his WBC bridgerweight title , Lawrence Okolie has announced that he has no intentions of just taking part in his new division.

This comes after the surprising news that the WBC has entered Okolie into their rankings at number five.

Moreover, he has recently signed a new promotional deal with Queensbury Promotions and Frank Warren.

This is significant as Warren’s heavyweight stable is arguably better than any other promoters in the world.

Okolie joins the likes of Fury, Dubois, Parker, Zhang, Itauma and Wardley.

The former two-weight world champion has struggled with momentum in his career.

After leaving Matchroom in 2022, he joined up with Boxxer after a falling out with promoter Eddie Hearn.

Okolie then went on to lose his WBO cruiserweight world title against former stable-mate Chris Billam-Smith.

Since then, he moved up to bridgerweight where he won the WBC bridgerweight title after knocking out Łukasz Różański in the first round.Turki Alalshikh reacts to Manchester United’s sacking of Erik Ten Hag

At 6’5 Okolie has always had to cut weight, so now after announcing his move up to heavyweight he is relishing the opportunity to finally fight at his natural weight.

Speaking to talkSPORT he has revealed his plans for his career moving forward.

”I hope to have a fight before the end of the year because I need to have a fight as I haven’t fought since May,” he said.

”Straight after that I want to face someone in the top five and then we will go straight into a world heavyweight title fight.”

”I’m looking at summer next year to be a world champion again, three-weight world champion, why not?”.

This shows that Okolie is not short of any confidence and is keen to accelerate his career after struggling to find any rhythm previously.

The heavyweight landscape is set to change again come December 21st when Tyson Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk in their much anticipated rematch.

With Anthony Joshua carrying an apparent injury, it will be interesting to see who IBF world champion Daniel Dubois fights next.

Lawrence Okolie certainly is ambitious and if he can find some momentum, he could be a real problem within the division.

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has scheduled the purse bid for the anticipated fight between super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace and mandatory challenger Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Núñez. This matchup had previously been ordered by the IBF but was postponed when both parties chose separate paths for different commitments. However, with the order back in effect, Cacace will need to accept the fight or relinquish his title.

Now, the bid will take place on Thursday, November 7, where it will be decided which promoter will host the event.

Anthony Cacace, the current IBF super featherweight champion, holds a professional record of 23 wins, 1 loss, and no draws. In his most recent fight on September 21, 2024, he defeated Josh Warrington in London, UK. Cacace won by unanimous decision after 12 intense rounds, once again showcasing his solid technique and resilience.

On the other hand, Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Núñez, who aims to dethrone Cacace, boasts a professional record of 27 wins, 1 loss, and no draws. Núñez stood out in his last fight by defeating Miguel Marriaga by technical knockout in the sixth round on August 31, 2024, in Carson, USA. This decisive victory highlighted his dangerous punching power and ability to finish fights quickly.Notably, Anthony Cacace was ordered to defend his title against Eduardo Núñez just days after claiming the crown.

On May 18, 2024, on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury card, Cacace surprised the world by dethroning British champion Joe Cordina. In a fight few expected him to win, Cacace prevailed by knockout in the eighth round, securing the IBF super featherweight title.

Regarding their respective careers, both boxers are backed by major promoters. Cacace is supported by Queensberry Promotions, the prestigious company of Frank Warren, a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. Recently, Cacace renewed his contract with the promoter, reaffirming his commitment to the company. Núñez, for his part, signed with Matchroom Boxing in May 2024, securing the backing of one of boxing’s most influential promoters.The IBF have now scheduled purse bids for Anthony Cacace vs Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez on Thursday, Nov 7th. Fight ordered as a mandatory defence of Cacace’s IBF super-featherweight world title.

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 29, 2024

On Friday night, Tommy Hyde recorded his 10th professional victory by stopping Germany’s Aro Schwartz in Boston. The picture-perfect right hand that dropped Schwartz in the third round gave the Irishman his third knockout win of the year and got his relationship with his new trainer, Lee Beard, off to a flying start.

Ten days earlier, the unbeaten super middleweight spent a cold Thursday morning in Manchester finishing up his preparations by sparring six rounds with his new gym mate, the unbeaten English light-heavyweight champion Troy Jones. 

As exciting a time as this is for Hyde, 10-0 (7 KOs), it is just as stimulating for Beard. Hyde is clearly talented and dedicated, and his arrival means that Beard suddenly has two competitive, talented fighters who can work together and help each other to improve.

For a trainer with as firm a grasp on the details as Beard, Hyde’s arrival offers a multitude of options and ideas. 

“He's doing a lot of good things in there that I've been working with him on and he's trying out,” Beard told BoxingScene after the sparring had finished. “Today he was doing well with   locking on with the stiff arms and stuff which will add to his game, especially with   him being a big, tall, rangy fighter, so I think them two blend well together

“Troy can mix things up. He can go from back foot to front foot. He goes for a walk; slows it down; speeds it up.  H e knows how to create momentum. If he’s not feeling it, he just has a little walk around   and regathers things.

“Just trying new things has got to be a process of thought for Tommy –   not just for me as a coach. Obviously, I'm there to help guide him through things, but   you want your boxers to be able to see things themselves and pick up on   that themselves. He’s got   lovely footwork. He’s very fluid; he's got loose hands; he can punch and he’s got nice head movement.”

Integrating a fighter into a gym isn’t always straightforward. Boxers are generally friendly and welcoming towards new arrivals but the trainer has to work out how to dedicate enough time to them without taking time away from his existing fighters, and also has to figure out if and how the whole gym can benefit from the qualities the new fighter can bring.

Beard didn’t have any issues whatsoever in slotting Hyde in alongside Jones. 

Jones, 11-0 (6 KOs), is the type of big confident character that every gym needs, whereas Hyde is the quieter of the two, but is clearly growing more and more comfortable in his new set-up.

Hyde stands 6ft 4in tall and is a technically correct fighter who does the fundamentals very well. Jones has a style of his own. The 26 year old is more than happy to stand and trade but is still desperate to learn and improve himself and likes to try things during sparring, constantly giving different looks and posing different problems. 

Both fighters quickly realised that they can benefit immeasurably from working together and hit it off from the start. 

Beard sees the potential Hyde possesses and is looking forward to opening up his arsenal and seeing exactly what he is capable of.

“Tommy can box and fight,” Beard said. “He’s very correct, isn't he?   That is kind of a good thing, but you don't want to   be trying to be too correct because you end up sitting and waiting on a lot of things instead of making it happen

“As Tommy has said, Troy's a big presence in the    ring. He’s busy; long; he throws his jab really well; he closes the space quickly. He’s physically very strong; mentally very strong; so you've got your work cut out anyway.

“Tommy's got that bite about him. He's had a trainer before where he was trying to   be more on the front foot and one of his other coaches was more on the back foot, so he said he felt a bit confused with that. I said it's not a bad thing though, because that's my sort of system anyway – to be good at   everything.

“Nothing that he does is bad.”

Tommy’s father Gary is a well-known manager who famously spent years working with top-level Cuban fighters. The great Guillermo Rigondeaux was his most notable success story, but Hyde’s well documented travels and travails resulted in him looking after some quality fighters. 

Back in 2010 Beard began working with a group of those fighters – Alexei Acosta, Mike Perez and Luis Garcia – and his efforts clearly left a mark on the Hyde family. When Hyde decided to leave his training base in California and move back closer to his hometown of Cork in south-west Ireland, the Mancunian’s name sprang immediately to mind.

Not every fighter clicks with every trainer and both parties agreed to have a look at each other before committing to any relationship. It didn’t take long for both to realise that the partnership held plenty of potential. 

“I've known Gary for years,” Beard said. “I remember Tommy being in the amateurs, because I was living in Cork for a while and then Tommy was only a kid himself at the time.

“I used to see Gary on the shows and on the circuit in America and sometimes we had lads on the same shows. I’d always go over and say hello and that type of thing. We were just doing our thing and then he just messaged me out of the blue. He knows I've been around a little   bit. 

“It's got to work for the fighter as well, doesn't it? But, for me, I can tell in a day. You’ve got to see a few things. As a coach you have a few little   things that you touch base upon when you're first working with them. You put them on certain little things. Shadow boxing to watch how they move or on the pads or on the bags but just general talking as well. You can click on to their IQs and   the way that they've thinking and look at things and assess things.  H e came over initially for a couple of days   and we just clicked quickly.

“I can see a lot in him. It’s early doors and some kids just need to be brought out of the shell, you know what I mean? He's a lovely kid but I think he's a   bit reserved. He’s very correct; very precise; very disciplined, but I know he can punch a bit   harder than he does as well.”

It is early days but the team’s trip across the Atlantic will have taught Beard lots about Hyde.

Having been due to box an aggressive orthodox fighter, Hyde ended up fighting a tall southpaw, but he took a late change of opponent in his stride and did his job calmly and cleanly.

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79

Moses Itauma and Hamzah Sheeraz are among six fighters to have signed contract extensions with Queensberry Promotions.

Nick Ball and Anthony Cacace, two of Queensberry’s world champions, have also extended their commitment to the promoter. Liam Davies and Sam Noakes are the two others.

Itauma, 19, is widely regarded as the world’s most promising young heavyweight. He fights Demsey McKean on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21.

The 25-year-old Sheeraz is similarly considered the middleweight with the greatest potential, as he most recently again demonstrated in September when stopping Tyler Denny.

“I am thrilled to secure the futures of such richly talented fighters,” said Queensberry’s Frank Warren. “We have worked with nearly all of them right from the beginning or very early in their careers and the faith we have shown in each other has been rewarded by them realising their potential and justifying the belief we had in them.

“That Nick Ball, Anto Cacace and Liam Davies have reached world-title status is a particular joy, and the good news is that I am certain there are more world champions to come from this group, who are all set for further exciting developments in the coming months.”

The WBA featherweight champion Ball, 27, earlier in October made the first defence of his title when he defeated Ronny Rios in Liverpool. Cacace, 35 and the IBF super-featherweight champion, in September defeated Josh Warrington.

On Saturday at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena the super bantamweight Davies, 28, fights Shabaz Masoud. 

The 27-year-old Noakes, who like Itauma is managed by Warren’s son Francis, is the British, Commonwealth and European lightweight champion.

Japanese legend Naoya Inoue, known as “The Monster,” will defend his undisputed super bantamweight title next Tuesday, December 24. The fight will take place at the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. This bout marks Inoue’s third title defense within a single calendar year, an unprecedented achievement in super bantamweight boxing history.

Inoue, 31, with an impressive record of 28 wins, 25 by knockout, has built a remarkable legacy. His dominance began in December 2022, when he unified the bantamweight titles by defeating Paul Butler. Then, in July 2023, Naoya Inoue knocked out champion Stephen Fulton to claim the WBC and WBO titles, and in December, he completed the feat by defeating WBA/IBF champion Marlon Tapales, cementing his status as the undisputed champion in two weight classes.

In May this year, Inoue headlined the first boxing card at the Tokyo Dome since the historic Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas fight in 1990. In that event, Inoue overcame a first-round knockdown to defeat former two-division world champion Luis Nery in the sixth round. In September, he continued his impressive streak with a seventh-round TKO over former junior featherweight champion TJ Doheny. Inoue’s career has been a showcase of skill and power, placing him among boxing’s greats.

Now, Naoya Inoue will defend his undisputed super bantamweight title against the undefeated Australian Sam Goodman. Notably, Inoue will be aiming for his tenth consecutive knockout, in an attempt to reaffirm his dominance in the division and his position as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters.

For his part, Goodman, 26, enters this fight with an undefeated record of 19 wins, 8 by knockout. Since his professional debut in 2018, the Australian has quickly risen through the professional ranks, achieving a solid 4-0 record in 2023. His recent victories include decision wins over former champion TJ Doheny, as well as triumphs over undefeated talents Ra’eese Aleem and Zhong Liu. In March, Goodman scored a fourth-round TKO against Mark Schleibs, followed by a decision victory over Thatchana Luangphon in July, maintaining his unbeaten streak and showcasing his potential in the division.Donald Trump believes that boxing feels ‘unimportant’ right now

Goodman arrives in Tokyo determined to claim the title and become the first to defeat the feared Inoue. The Australian has expressed his confidence and assures he is prepared for the challenge, though he acknowledges the difficulty of facing one of today’s most dominant boxers.Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman – Card:

The preliminary card for the Inoue-Goodman event is packed with local talent. Notable fights include the bout between Goki Kobayashi (8-1) and Yuni Takada (15-8-3), as well as the clash between Jin Sasaki (18-1-1) and Shoki Sakai (29-14-3). In the co-main event, Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight title against an opponent yet to be determined. Other bouts feature Tsubasa Narai (14-2) facing Kai Watanabe (13-1-1), along with a showdown between Toshiki Shimonamachi (19-1-3) and Misaki Hirano (11-1).𝐁𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞! 🎄

Naoya Inoue will defend his world titles against Sam Goodman on December 24, live on Sky Sports 🔥#InoueGoodman | @trboxingpic.twitter.com/sGRQUdTDlY

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 29, 2024

Trainer Mark DeLuca knows junior welterweight Mike Ohan Jnr’s reality in the ring. Two obvious options exist for the Massachusetts boxer: he can fight hand-picked local opponents for little reward, or he can take on top-tier talent, often with more experience and backing than he has. 

On Saturday at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, Ohan will try his luck at a third option: a competitive matchup against regional ticket-seller Bryce Mills of Liverpool, New York. 

Known as “The Bad Man,” Ohan, 19-3 (9 KOs), aims to rebound from his second-round TKO loss to lauded, unbeaten rising star Abdullah Mason. Ohan’s setback snapped a three-fight win streak that began after his December 2022 defeat to 2020 U.S. Olympian Delante “Tiger” Johnson. The 16-1 (5 KOs) Mills, meanwhile, is on a 10-fight win streak since taking the only loss of his career to Ryan Pino in 2021 by split decision. Both Northeastern fighters are seeking significant opportunities in the future, but first, they have something to prove.

“Bryce is tough – he’s a scrappy little fighter and comes with a full tank of gas,” said DeLuca. “Mike’s been training alongside Abraham, and he’s been putting in the work. Hopefully, he can put the memory of that Abdullah Mason loss behind him.”

Ohan has typically fought either brutal opponents like Mason and Johnson or easy foes at home, without a lot in between. But this time, DeLuca sees an opening. “Up until now, it was either you fight some scrub or you fight Abdullah Mason or Tiger Johnson—there were no 50/50, winnable fights with a decent paycheck. After Abdullah, Mike got right back in the gym, and then this Bryce Mills fight came up. He was ready to take it.”

Physically, the 30-year-old Ohan is still in form, DeLuca notes, but questions linger about his passion for the sport. “He’s been sparring tons, still sharp. But I don’t know if that fire’s still burning like it was two or three years ago. He’s got the skills, and he’s very game: gets hit with one, wants to return with three. But if he loses, it might be discouraging.”

Despite tough losses, Ohan hasn’t suffered extensive wear and tear. “With Tiger and Abdullah, he didn’t take a beating. He got stopped on his feet, but he’s as fresh as he can be at 30 with 22 fights,” DeLuca said.

DeLuca also sees the real-world struggle of balancing boxing with financial demands. 

“He’s a small business owner, got a painting and contracting company, so he’s tasted a bit of real-world money,” DeLuca said. “Getting up for 10 grand is tough. If he wins, that flame stays lit. But to lose and rebuild for another chance like this, how many times can someone go through that? Only Mike can answer.”

North American boxer Regis Prograis has dismissed any doubts about retiring following his October 26, 2024, loss to Jack Catterall. After the fight, Prograis posted on social media that he does not plan to retire, making it clear that he intends to return to boxing. In a message on X, Prograis wrote, “No I’m not retiring. I will be a champion again,” expressing his ambition to reclaim a championship and bounce back from his recent setbacks.

Prograis also addressed his situation in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV. During the conversation, he thanked his fans for their continued support and emphasized that he still has much to offer in the ring. “I just want to say thank you. Thank you for supporting me and believing in my brand. I’m not done yet, definitely not,” Prograis said, adding that he is considering his next moves, whether to stay at 140 pounds, move up to 147, or explore opportunities in Bare Knuckle. Regis Prograis encouraged his followers to stay tuned for important updates in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Devin Haney, Prograis’ former rival, took advantage of his recent loss to mock him publicly. Haney, who defeated Prograis on December 9, 2023, claimed that his win was more devastating than Catterall’s and suggested he had already “ended” Prograis’ career. Haney also expressed his desire for Turki Alalshikh to promote a fight against Jack Catterall, who has shown interest in the matchup.

Prograis, however, responded calmly to Haney’s provocations. In the same interview with Fight Hub TV, he was asked about Haney’s comments and compared the fighting styles of his two opponents. According to Prograis, although he believes Haney has more technical skills, he said Catterall displayed a more precise approach in their fight. “On Saturday night, I was better as a fighter than I was in the fight with Devin. In that fight, I just wasn’t myself at all,” Prograis stated. He explained that he felt entirely focused and present against Catterall, unlike in his fight with Haney, where he claims he “mentally” wasn’t there.Regarding the quality of his opponents’ styles, Regis Prograis noted distinct differences.

“Devin, on the other hand, has a good jab, a good one-two, a solid hook, and good footwork,” he mentioned. However, he opined that Catterall lacks a good right hand and a strong jab, though he praised the speed and deception in the Brit’s left hand. Prograis made it clear that both are good boxers but with significantly different styles.

Seeing Prograis’ comments, Haney continued his taunts on social media, claiming their fight had “ruined” Prograis as a fighter. In response, Prograis calmly remarked that although his endurance might have declined over the years, he attributed his loss to Catterall to a well-placed punch rather than a lack of stamina.

Previously, Haney suggested on X that Prograis should “retire.” However, after seeing Prograis’ comments in the interview, he seemed to change his mind, posting the following message: “Ok Regis don’t retire.. come to camp when I fight Catterall,” Haney wrote.

Regis Prograis reacted with irony, saying, “I think you might be bipolar bruh 😂,” to which Haney replied with laughing emojis. However, Prograis has chosen to focus on his boxing future, staying away from childish and meaningless online exchanges, saying he won’t waste his time on them.“My career IS NOT OVER”

Regis Prograis speaks on if he will retire from boxing as he states that he move instead due a move to 147 or try @bareknucklefc@TheNotoriousMMA

Watch the full interview via @FightHubTV ‘s YouTube! pic.twitter.com/J0X19cqUCt

— Marcos Villegas (@heyitsmarcosv) October 29, 2024Junaid Bostan comments on his victory over Maico Sommariva

Regis.. retire bro https://t.co/JrQZj42MOa

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) October 28, 2024

Ok Regis don’t retire.. come to camp when I fight Catterall https://t.co/yIwVVBuexC

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) October 29, 2024

😂😂😂 https://t.co/y7QQWU1p6w

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) October 29, 2024

The WBO’s latest ratings update includes four new fighters who have been named the number-one contenders in their respective divisions.

That led to Zayas 20-0 (12 KOs) moving up from third to first on the strength of his decision win on September 27 over the unranked Damian Sosa. Zayas leapfrogged Josh Kelly, who remains second.

The WBO’s junior-middleweight titleholder is Sebastian Fundora. Its interim titleholder is Terence Crawford, who therefore is ahead of Zayas in line for a title shot.

( The Japan Boxing Commission ruled that the ringside physician had decided that Gonzalez could continue, but that Gonzalez declared he couldn’t go on shortly afterward.)

At junior flyweight: The fight on October 13 for the vacant WBO title led to some changes in the rankings at 108lbs. Shokichi Iwata, previously ranked first, defeated Jairo Noriega, previously ranked second, for the belt.

Noriega is now wholly off the list. All of this means that Regie Suganob, 15-1 (5 KOs), previously ranked third, has moved up to first.

At strawweight: Masataka Taniguchi, 19-4 (13 KOS) had been ranked second but moved up to the number-one spot — apparently because of his knockout on October 13 of Phai Pharob. That’s even though Pharob was unranked at 105, and even though the fight took place at flyweight. Taniguchi hasn’t fought at strawweight since losing his title to Melvin Jerusalem in January 2023.

Still, the WBO deigned to have Taniguchi trade spots with Victorio Saludar, 25-6 (15 KOs), who is now second.

The WBO titleholder at 105lbs is Oscar Collazo, 10-0 (7 KOs), who has a unification bout scheduled for November 16 against the WBA titleholder Knockout CP Freshmart 25-0 (9 KOs).

The WBO’s titleholders and number-one contenders in each weight class are:

Heavyweight: Oleksandr Usyk has the world title; Joseph Parker has the interim belt; Tyson Fury is the number-one contender. Usyk and Fury are scheduled to have a rematch on December 21.

Cruiserweight: Chris Billam-Smith has the world title; Michal Cieslak is his number-one contender. Billam-Smith is scheduled for a unification fight with the WBA titleholder Gilberto Ramirez on November 16.

Light heavyweight: Artur Beterbiev has the world title; Joshua Buatsi is the interim titleholder; Anthony Yarde is the number-one contender.

Super middleweight: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has the world title; Diego Pacheco is his number-one contender.

Middleweight: Janibek Alimkhanuly has the world title; Hamzah Sheeraz is his number-one contender.

Junior middleweight: Sebastian Fundora has the world title; Terence Crawford is the interim titleholder; Xander Zayas is the number-one contender.

Welterweight: Brian Norman Jnr has the world title; Shakhram Giyasov is his number-one contender.

Junior welterweight: Teofimo Lopez has the world title; Arnold Barboza is his number-one contender. Barboza is scheduled to face the fourth-ranked Jose Ramirez on November 16.

Lightweight: Denys Berinchyk has the world title; William Zepeda is his number-one contender. Zepeda is scheduled to face Tevin Farmer on November 16.

Junior lightweight: Emanuel Navarrete has the world title; Oscar Valdez is the interim titleholder; Charly Suarez is the number-one contender. Navarrete and Valdez are scheduled to have their rematch on December 7.

Featherweight: Rafael Espinoza has the world title; Robeisy Ramirez is his number-one contender. Espinoza and Ramirez are scheduled to have their rematch on December 7.

Junior featherweight: Naoya Inoue has the world title; Sam Goodman is his number-one contender. Inoue and Goodman are scheduled to fight on December 24.

Bantamweight: Yoshiki Takei has the world title; David Cuellar is his number-one contender.

Junior bantamweight: Phumelele Cafu has the world title; Roman Gonzalez is his number-one contender. 

Flyweight: Anthony Olascuaga has the world title; Sunny Edwards is his number-one contender

Junior flyweight: Shochiki Iwata has the world title; Regie Suganob is his number-one contender.

Minimumweight: Oscar Collazo has the world title; Masataka Taniguchi is his number-one contender. Collazo is scheduled for a unification fight with the WBA titleholder Knockout CP Freshmart on November 16.

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

2024 has seen boxing host some of the most salivating possible match-up’s in the sport, with undisputed heavyweight and light-heavyweight champions finally being crowned. Yet, American presidential candidate Donald Trump has admitted that he still feels as though the sport seems ‘unimportant’.

Earlier this year, Oleksandr Usyk put together the performance of a lifetime to hand Tyson Fury a first career defeat and become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Meanwhile, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol engaged in tactical warfare as they displayed near-perfect foundations, footwork and minds in a contest for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown – with Beterbiev getting the controversial nod on the scorecards.

However, despite the success that the Saudi’s have brought to boxing this year, Trump told Joe Rogan that the sport seems ‘unimportant’ in comparison to the UFC at present, during a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.

“It seems to be so unimportant now by comparison to UFC, don’t you think?”

In response, UFC-obsessed boxing-fan Rogan defended the work of the Saudi’s and added that boxing is likely to improve further once UFC president Dana White becomes more involved – a notion that the 45thpresident of the United States agreed with.

[Rogan] – “Dana is working with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia – they’re going to start promoting boxing now and with Dana at the helm I think boxing could return.”Regis Prograis hints at shock career change

[Rogan] – “Because the thing is, they want to make fights perhaps promoters don’t want to make because they want to protect their fighter; controversial fights where it’s dangerous. You don’t know, this guy could lose.

[Rogan] – “So, the Saudis are smart. They just offer a tremendous amount of money and they’re putting together fights no one else could put together. They’re doing that in boxing.

[Trump] – “If Dana is involved, he will probably make it good.”

After acknowledging the added dangers beforehand, Trump went on to reminisce of the times where fights were 15-rounds.

“I am not the fighter, but those 15-round fights were unbelievable. In terms of entertainment, those were the greatest fights ever. That was brutal.”

The 78-year-old Republican later detailed his respect for boxing legend James ‘Lights Out’ Toney – impressed by the success that the Michigan-born superstar accomplished across multiple weight divisions.

Like any name given to a newborn, the name Campbell would have started its life on a shortlist, deliberated over, and measured against other contenders before then being assigned to the child. They at that point would have said: “Yes, he looks like a Campbell. It suits him.”

In that, there was at least an element of choice. It was Campbell they chose but it could have been any other name. Each would have gone through the same vetting process and led to someone eventually saying: “Yes, he looks like a _________. It suits him.”

As for Hatton, the boy’s surname, over this the boy’s father had no say. It was the one identity tag on the newborn’s chest that could not be removed, or erased, and would travel with him throughout the hospital, the early days of life, childhood, adulthood, and finally into old age. It would be the name they stuck on all official forms, the name they printed on licences and certificates, and the name he passed on to children of his own if deciding that was his aim. It would also be the name you would find on his gravestone when that branch of the Hatton tree one day snapped off. 

With this name, of course, came certain perks and guarantees. Associated with popularity, success, and fame, it was the surname of the boy’s father, Ricky, who was a well-known world champion boxer whose success was never just his own. Implicit in Ricky’s success, at both super lightweight and welterweight, was a fast-track ticket for any offspring he might later produce and a clear pathway for them to continue his legacy, if they so wished. As their father’s child, this boy, or girl, would have a potential career mapped out and they would be able to call upon favours by virtue of simply carrying the family name. 

It had a power, that name – particularly in British boxing. It used to be plastered on posters in the Manchester area and then, on fight night, tens of thousands of fans would descend on the Manchester Arena to watch Hatton perform. They would chant his name. They would tell the world there was only one of them. Only one Ricky Hatton. 

While that was at least true, there were of course Hattons before Ricky and there would be other Hattons after Ricky. There was even at the time a brother, Matthew, who also had a boxing career of his own, albeit one playing out in the sizeable shadow of Ricky’s popularity and success. 

Matthew, in fact, would get an early taste of what Ricky’s son Campbell would encounter during his own career. There was, it seemed, an acceptance from the outset that Matthew would never match his older brother’s achievements, but an acceptance, too, that his brother’s achievements would open certain doors for Matthew, as well as bring to his own door a fanbase he would have perhaps struggled to accrue had his name not been Hatton. 

In 2024, with Matthew his former trainer, Campbell Hatton is being forced to make peace with the terms of the same head-scratching deal. Helped on the one hand, but hindered on the other, Campbell turned professional in 2021 at the age of just 20 and was immediately thrust beneath a spotlight far too bright for both his porcelain skin and innocent eyes. It was a spotlight reserved for and indeed associated with a Hatton, but just not this one – not one so young. Even Ricky, for example, was never subjected to that kind of scrutiny at such a tender age. He, after all, was a relative unknown at that stage in his career – someone with the freedom to build, learn and grow without the ball and chain of a famous surname. He had to work harder than Campbell to make it, of that there is no question, but he enjoyed the freedom of a novelist writing their first book, writing it not for the world but for themselves, laden by no deadline, pressure, or the public’s expectation. 

Campbell Hatton, in stark contrast, has been trying to create something in the past three years without first learning how to write more than just his name. At 23, he is 14-2 (5), and on Saturday lost for the second time to the same man: James Flint. It was, given the context, a deflating kind of defeat, the harshest of reality checks. To lose once to Flint had been bad, and at the time viewed as a setback, but to lose twice to the same opponent is often the clearest indication of a boxer’s ceiling. 

In this case, too, Campbell Hatton had lost not to a world champion, or someone who holds even a major domestic title. He had instead lost to a man in Flint who, although extremely capable, had previously fallen short in a central area title fight. 

“If the guy [Hatton] was 29 or 30, you’d say, ‘That’s your lot,’” said Eddie Hearn, the fight’s promoter. “But when you’re enjoying what you do… I think right now Campbell Hatton’s level is area and English title level – that’s no disgrace, a lot of fighters don’t even reach that level. But obviously, with our stable, and where we are looking to take fighters, we don’t really work with and continuously back – after back-to-back defeats – area title and English level fighters.

“Campbell is a little bit different,” Hearn continued. “One, because he’s a really good kid. Two, because he works his nuts off. Three, because he’s given us back-to-back brilliant fights and he’s still young. So, Campbell has got to look at himself and say, ‘If that’s my level, am I happy to continue?’ And if he’s happy to continue, he should absolutely continue. Whether that’s to go and get a few more fights on small hall shows without the pressure – he ends up being co-main event tonight in front of like 8,000, it’s not easy.”

In addition to pressure being a natural byproduct of the Hatton surname, Campbell Hatton also learns on the job at a time when it is no longer acceptable to be mediocre or just fine . The world, as it has always been, is full of mediocre people and they remain the majority, yet there are myriad platforms to now fuel the delusion that we are something more than mediocre. Now, mediocre people either genuinely think they are special or try to convince others they are special, and do so with such obstinance and conviction some even believe them. 

In boxing, it is clearly not enough to just be enough. In fact, with our domestic scene in danger of dying out completely on account of everything now being outsourced to Riyadh Season, there is a very real concern that there will no longer even be a place for boxers whose skills or personality cannot take them into the warm embrace of Turki Alalshikh. In other words, if, as a boxer, your ambition extends no further than an area title, or, at best, a British title, what are you even doing here? 

“Another close one for the lad last night,” wrote Ricky Hatton on social media the day after his son’s defeat. “Everyone has their view. I thought he lost the first fight by the narrowest of margins, [but] thought he won the second fight last night by the narrowest of margins. But one thing for certain is that they were both great, close fights that could’ve probably gone either way. 

“As for my son, chin up, son. Have a rest. Have a think. Don’t think you’ll ever know how much I love you and how proud we all are of you. No father could be more blessed and I feel proud that every day I get the chance to say to people, ‘That’s my boy.’ Love, Dad.”

It is easy in all this to lose sight of the personal element, something demonstrated rather poignantly by the father’s public display of affection. At 23 Campbell Hatton, his son, still has a lot of growing to do, as both a boxer and a man, and his reputation and mental state should not be dictated by how valuable he is to a promoter in the boxing arena, the world’s most abusive playground. He should instead be allowed to grow at his own rate and take his own path. 

He should also be celebrated for what he is rather than castigated for what he is not. He is not Ricky Hatton – this we all realise – but to so much as attempt to emulate what his father did in the ring is an achievement in itself; something not all sons of famous fighters would have the courage to try. What is more, when we think of sons of famous fighters, particularly those in Great Britain, we tend to these days think of boxers whose surname has been blackened by failed drugs tests or ones whose single-minded pursuit of fame and wealth has them appearing only half-human. These men promoters back and these men we, as fans, celebrate, and make famous. We, like them, see success as the be-all and end-all and we forgive their transgressions and flaws as human beings because they tell you they are special, not mediocre. We then reward them with attention and money. We create a game in which they feel normal and can flourish. 

In this game, it is true, they stand to make more money than Campbell Hatton, and they will doubtless achieve far more in the ring. But if there’s one thing we can say for Campbell Hatton it is this: he has never blackened his family name and his dad will never be anything other than proud.

It may not grab many headlines, but the routine way in which Junaid Bostan swept aside Argentina’s Maico Sommariva inside three rounds in Manchester on Saturday night was quietly impressive.

Of course, Bostan, 10-0 (8 KOs), was expected to win but he had the fight in hand from the start and brought matters to a conclusive finish with a well-placed left uppercut under the ribcage in the third round.

It was the junior middleweight's first appearance since April but the way he boxed and spoke afterwards indicates just how much he has matured and grown since he allowed himself to get involved in a fractious build up and a give-and-take war with Gordie Russ II in Arizona last December.

The self-styled "Star Boy" is learning and improving at a rapid pace, and has set his sights on attacking 2025 head on. 

“I’m 22 years of age” Bostan told DAZN. “One thing I've got is time. I’m not here to build fights, I'm here to build myself. God willing, there's two belts I want in this career; a British title and the world title.

"Inshallah, by the end of next year I'll have a British title. Domestically, I'll become the man by the end of 2025 regardless who's there.”

Competing for the vacant English title would be a sensible next step for Bostan but a bigger fight is beginning to gather steam. 

His promotional stablemate, Ishmael Davis, 13-1 (6 KOs), was watching the fight from ringside. In September, the fast-rising 29 year old leapt at a very short notice opportunity to replace Liam Smith and box Josh Kelly at middleweight on the undercard of Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua. 

Rather than putting his all into an all-or-nothing attempt to score a shock victory, Davis boxed sensibly and safely negotiated the 12 rounds before losing a wide decision.

The cautious performance wasn’t indicative of what we have seen of Davis since he burst on to the scene this time last year. Back down at 145lbs, he has proven to be a slick, sharp operator and an accurate short puncher.

Twelve months ago, their fight would have been an intriguing battle of prospects. In six months' time, it could have much more significance.

“Not but respect for Junaid, top talent but, listen, I'm past the English title,” Davis said after watching Bostan complete his business. "Me and Juniad are definitely a headline fight or co-main and we need to be doing it for no less than the British so, Eddie, get me them fights. Let me get that British."

“Eddie [Hearn], you’ve got two bad men here. You already know what I’m on. You know what Junaid’s on. It’s a big fight.”

The former sparring partners ultimately seem to have reached an unofficial agreement that they will fight.  Sam Gilley or Louis Greene are set to contest the vacant British title in the coming months, and either will present a fairly large hurdle that will need to be cleared before any fight between Bostan and Davis can have the same title attached to it. If  both continue to progress at their current rate, it certainly isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. 

“Nothing needs to be said,” Bostan said. “Less is more. With me and Ish, you’re gonna get a brilliant fight when it happens. 

“The first time me and Ish sparred, we touched gloves and laughed at each other and said, ‘When we fight, let’s get paid.’”

“I want the British and then we can do it,” Davis added. “Let’s do this.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and his trainer, Eddy Reynoso, have one of the strongest fighter-trainer relationships in the sport, as well as an impressive stable at their San Diego gym. Now, Reynoso appears to be partnering up with a new contender and it is one with eye-catching amateur pedigree.

Reynoso has trained and managed Alvarez throughout his legendary career, guiding his protégé to become a four-weight world champion and an undisputed super-middleweight champion – although Canelo is not his only success story.

Additionally, the 2021 The Ring Trainer of the Year oversaw Oscar Valdez’s victory over Miguel Berchelt, where Valdez became a two-division world champion and will be hopeful that Valdez can regain a world title at 130lbs when he rematches Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO super-featherweight crown later this year.

The Mexican trainer also boasts success with the likes of Julio Cesar Martinez and Frank Sanchez and has previously trained names such as Andy Ruiz Jr. and Ryan Garcia, yet as Canelo’s time in the spotlight begins to dwindle and retirement edges closer, Reynoso needed a new prospect to guide.

On social media, Mexico’s Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist, Marco Alonso Verde, announced that he has appointed Reynoso as his manager, with Radames Hernandez will remain as his coach, ahead of an eventual switch to professional boxing.Un honor tener la oportunidad de trabajar con un deportista triunfador y disciplinado. En Marco Verde, México tiene un futuro campeón mundial 👊🏼🇲🇽👊🏼 #TeamGreenhttps://t.co/kc4gVoEGud

— EDDY REYNOSO (@CANELOTEAM) October 28, 2024

“I am very pleased to

“Radames Hernández is my coach and I will continue my training in Mazatlán; I will wait until 2025 to find out whether Olympic boxing continues or not. #TeamGreen @caneloteam.”

In response, Reynoso

“It is an honour to have the opportunity to work with a successful and disciplined athlete. In Marco Verde, Mexico has a future world champion #TeamGreen.”

Verde has picked up gold medals at both the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 2023 Pan American Games but the 22-year-old welterweight came up short against Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev in the final of Paris 2024, after defeating Britain’s Lewis Richardson in the semi-final.🇲🇽Marco Verde. Not your typical Mexican pic.twitter.com/pyP7JLNCpw

— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) October 28, 2024

The flyweight division is one that has been blown wide open following Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’s move up to 115lbs earlier this year, with plenty of men hoping to become the new poster boy at 112lbs. However, the United Kingdom has a serious contender who could overcome some of the biggest names at the weight and there is every chance that a world title shot is around the corner.

‘Bam’ dropped down from super-flyweight in 2023 to defeat Cristian Gonzalez for the WBO flyweight crown and become a two-division world champion before a high-profile showdown with Sunny Edwards saw him become the unified WBO & IBF title-holder, as well as a recognised pound-for-pound talent.

However, Rodriguez moved back up in weight after he stopped Edwards and now reigns as the WBC super-flyweight champion.

As for his previous belts at flyweight, Angel Ayala knocked out Dave Apolinario to pick up the vacant IBF strap back in August, whilst well-respected Anthony Olascuaga halted Riku Kano in just his eighth professional contest to become WBO champion.

Alongside Ayala and Olascuaga as flyweight champions are Japanese duo Kenshiro Teraji (WBC) and Seigo Yurki Akui (WBA) in a division where it is unclear who the supreme talent may be.British heavyweight wants Frazer Clarke fight

Yet, it is not just the champions who are eyeing up unifications, with Sunny Edwards now well and truly back in the mix after his WBO ranking has been updated, being placed as the number one contender four months after his technical-decision win over Adrien Curiel got him back into the winning column.

Although, despite receiving a favourable world ranking, ‘Showtime’ would be wise to not look beyond his upcoming showdown with amateur rival and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist, Galal Yafai.

Edwards-Yafai takes place on November 30th in Birmingham for the vacant WBC interim title, topping a bill that features a salivating welterweight battle between Conah Walker and Lewis Ritson, as well as an intriguing step-up for amateur standout Cameron Vuong – who fights former British and European lightweight champion Gavin Gwynne.