With two weeks until Tim Tszyu’s return from his first professional loss, he has been training with an outcome in mind .

Australia’s Tszyu, 29, is expected to slug it out with Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev, 31, for the latter’s IBF junior middleweight title on October 19 at Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida. Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) is looking to snatch a 154-pound belt from M urtazaliev (22-0, 17 KOs) after losing his WBO title to Sebastian Fundora seven months ago.

Tszyu said he has been faced with ups and downs since losing the unification bout to Fundora, in which Tszyu was cut early and clearly affected by the resulting blood flow throughout the remainder of the fight.

“It's been a little bit of a roller coaster because I did not know when I'm gonna fight and who I'm gonna fight next,” Tszyu told BoxingScene. “But the last three months have been good since I've found out that I've got a task ahead of me and I've gotta fight. And I've just been all in on this.”

Tszyu, who has been training feverishly for M urtazaliev, was never interested in taking a step back or a tune-up fight before wading back into the elite competition at junior middleweight.

“This is what you fight for – the world titles – and this is why any kid in my position dreams of a belt,” Tszyu said. “Look, when you're a Ferrari, you're not gonna be racing against little Toyota Corollas. You’re gonna go for the next Ferrari. That's how I see it.”

As for M urtazaliev, a hard-hitting 6-footer who has yet to be tested at the highest levels, Tszyu views him as a known threat – one that he hopes to overcome in convincing fashion.

“We were meant to fight at one stage, I remember, and then they came up with some sort of injury,” Tszyu said. “But I remember fighting and he was on the undercard. And he’s a tall boy, and I know him very well. I know he's certainly a top star, so it’s gonna be an interesting fight.

“I watched a little bit. I understand what he's about. I don't really like to get too involved with watching stuff. I prefer doing. Hopefully, I find the right shots and then take him out. That’s what I'm going for.”

M urtazaliev will be making his maiden title defense against Tszyu, six months after winning a vacant title against Germany’s Jack Culcay at Stadthalle Falkensee just outside Berlin. M urtazaliev walked away with the title after stopping Culcay in the 11th round.

“ He's like a dog – these are always tough fights,” Tszyu said of M urtazaliev and the challenge ahead. “He has a never-die attitude and comes in with good momentum, good punches and, of course, he's got a bit of power – a bit of crack in. So, yeah, that always presents as a tough one.”

Jack Rafferty still sends texts to his mom.

“On Thursday before my fight, I texted her at 38 minutes past three, saying: ‘I'm going to win that British title for you, Mum. I love you, I'm going to make you proud. Just watch, Red love heart. Your son's going to be British, Commonwealth and WBC silver champion.’

“I knew I was going to win. I had that feeling and it all came true.”

Rafferty, 24-0 (15 KOs), knows that he will never receive a reply. His mom died almost four years ago. Sending those text messages is the best way he can let her know that he has kept his promises to her. 

On Saturday night Rafferty wore down the undefeated Henry Turner in Liverpool to add the vacant British super-lightweight title to his Commonwealth belt.

For seven rounds, the talented Turner followed his pre-fight plan to a tee. After nine rounds, the fight was over. 

For most, it will have been their first glimpse of the fighter from Shaw who has battled away on the small hall circuit for years. 

Rafferty, 29, is known as “The Demolition Man”, but over the years his trainer Steve Maylett has refined his aggressive style. 

Rather than letting him loose with a sledgehammer, Maylett has steadily built Rafferty’s skill set and each fight is now a well-planned, controlled demolition.

Rafferty’s trust in Maylett was displayed by his total lack of panic as the rounds ticked by. Turner was boxing and moving well but he was moving too much. When he finally had to stop and hold his feet, Rafferty seized his moment. Turner’s corner pulled him out of the fight after a brutal end to round nine.

On Monday afternoon, his achievement still hadn’t sunk in. 

“No, nowhere near,” he said. “I woke up this morning and the first thing I said was, ‘I can’t believe I’m British champion’.

“I've not even watched the fight back. I’ve watched all the videos and I’ve watched the clips that have been put on Instagram. I haven’t watched it from start to finish.

“I'm pissed off with my performance and I'm pissed off how crap my hands were in a way, with letting some of those shots go. But you know, it leaves something to work on.

“I got a bicep injury in the third round and I suppose it’s alright saying I wasn’t that sharp but was he extra sharp?”

Rafferty floored the exhausted Turner, 24, heavily at the end of the ninth and when he sat down on his stool, he couldn’t help looking over Maylett’s shoulder to watch what was going on in the opposite corner. He realised what had happened before his trainer. 

“I knew,” he said. “I saw him put his head in the towel and I thought, ‘Oh, I don't want to say anything because I don't want to get a crack off Steve telling me to get my head on this fight’, but I did. I said, ‘Steve, he's going to pull, he's going to stop this’. He went, ‘Jack, get your head on this fight’. I went, ‘Steve, he stopped it’, and jumped up.

“Every British fighter has got to get to that British title. So, it's like stage one to stage five with stage five being a world title. Stage one to three, I can close that book. Boom. Then you're going on to the next stage.”

Reaching the next stage hasn’t been easy.

It is seven years since Rafferty turned professional and, until Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena, every one of those had been spent in leisure centres and small halls. Until June he had never even boxed on television; his stoppage of India’s Sabari Jaishankar was screened on DAZN.  

Rafferty’s mother may not be here to support him emotionally but she has continued to play a crucial part in helping him achieve his dreams. In 2022 Rafferty estimates he spent around £25,000 of his money as he desperately tried to stay active. A good portion of that came from the money she had left him. His chance finally arrived at the weekend. 

Turner was a multi-time national amateur champion and has worked hard to translate his style to the professional ranks. He has improved steadily and has grown accustomed to boxing on major shows and dealing with the accompanying media attention. 

It is very easy for a fighter on the B-side of a promotion – especially one unfamiliar with big events – to develop an inferiority complex, accept a bit part in the show, and retreat into their shell.

Aware that he would be unlikely to be given another chance if he allowed this one to slip away, Rafferty was determined to impose himself on the fight from the launch press conference and made sure that Turner and his team knew that although he was grateful for the opportunity, he was there to do much, much more than take part. 

“I felt like he respected me straight away,” Rafferty said. “I knew I was bigger and better than him and I thought to myself, ‘He's here because of me actually – yeah, I might be coming out last but he's fighting me because of what I've done’.

“He turned up late to the [final] press conference which I told him about at the weigh-in. I said, ‘Listen, you've turned up late to the press conference and you’ll be coming up runner-up’. I felt I won the press conference as well if that means anything. I felt I looked better than him, which doesn't mean nothing, but I felt more grown up; I felt more experienced. I felt like I'd done it before, which I hadn't.

“I wanted it. Like I said to the lady in the interview after the fight, I've closed my eyes and spoken in interviews. I’ve closed my eyes and spoken at the press conferences.

“I've envisioned stuff like that.

“If you look at me walking out into the venue, I have a look around at everyone. I shake my head and I’m thinking, ‘No, I deserve to be here’. I felt like I was in the right place at the right time.”

Winning the British title means the world to Rafferty, his brother, Tom [who is also an unbeaten professional], and his father, Dave, but there is absolutely no sense of the job being done. 

Before his first-round knockout victory over Lee Appleyard in December, Rafferty told me that he had sat down and calculated exactly how many days he needed to stay fully dedicated and focused for in order to accomplish everything he wanted to. 

One of his major targets has been scratched off and he has plenty of time to realise the rest of his dreams.

On Sunday, Rafferty took his newly won titles to his mother’s grave. If things go to plan, he should be making many more similar visits in the future. 

“The plans are now just to grow and listen to Steve and dedicate my life now until I’m 34 years old,” he said.

“Steve said, ‘We’ll get you a British title and let's go for the world title then’. Everyone wants to win a world title but, like Steve said, let's cross the British title off first.

“I've not just got an easy opponent there. He's going to be dangerous in 24 months, that Henry Turner. He's going to be unbelievable. I beat a good opponent there. It wasn't just Henry Turner – it was a really good Henry Turner.

“I'm not going to say, ‘I want a world title next’. I'm going to work towards a world title. I'm going to grow at super lightweight and I'm going to stay there, not a problem.

“I'm going to graft now all the time. I'm away for a spa day for my girlfriend and that’s the only day I've got booked.

“The aeroplane's taken off now. It's landing when I'm retiring – 1,500 days and hopefully I never have to work again in my life. That's what I want to do.

“Hopefully these big-money fights are coming next. I’m going to graft hard for them. I'm going to get better in the gym. I'm going to do it. I know I’m going to do it and do you know what? One day when it's all said and done, I can sit back and think, ‘I couldn’t have done no more. That's all I could have done.’

“That's the feeling I want.  But I'm going to do it with a world title.”

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

As an observer and fan of boxing, I never thought I’d be as interested in hearing what Todd duBoef has to say as I am in listening to Wladimir Klitschko.

Maybe that’s the secret sauce of “The Fight Life.”

In the first installment of the new, five-episode ESPN Original Series, which premiers Monday on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET), “The Fight Life” attempts to offer not only a behind-the-curtain glimpse of the lead-up to a big fight – in this case, last May’s undisputed heavyweight championship epic between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury – but seemingly also provide viewers with a textured, visceral feel that is wholly unique to boxing.

The gauzy, slo-mo-heavy shots and cultivated sound bites from Teofimo Lopez Jr., Siniesa Estrada and Fury, among others – yes, this is a Top Rank joint – were to be expected. And, full credit, they’re well-executed. But where things actually get interesting are the fairly candid interviews and slices of life from Top Rank president duBoef, VP of operations and matchmaker Carl Moretti and director of communications Evan Korn.

“What I enjoy,” duBoef says, with perfectly delivered dramatic pauses, in what serves as the intro to Episode 1, “is a power that we in the sport have is the power to create goosebumps for the world.”

It’s actually a compelling thought – deeper analysis than we tend to get from a sport built on ego and artifice. And then, surprisingly – and delightfully – “The Fight Life” stays in this lane.

“This isn’t a normal world,” says Moretti. “Nobody wakes up and says, ‘I want to work in professional boxing.’ You’re dealing with guys that get punched in the face for a living – and that’s your business.”

The ridiculousness of the boxing business is confronted in Episode 1 by those on the inside in a way – head on – that I know I haven’t seen before. It’s refreshing, and it lends a bit more authenticity to the doc’s other scenes, which indeed pop from the screen.

“I have shame when I say I’m a promoter,” duBoef says with grim humor. “It’s like the bad word. They fucking say you’re the evil empire. That fucking bothers me.”

When duBoef steps into the back offices at Top Rank and shows off the promotion’s library of recorded fights – which dates back to 1966 and much of which was shot on 16mm reel that is packaged in old metal film cans stacked across rows of shelves – he appears genuinely touched by the opportunity to essentially walk through the aisles of boxing history.

More humility, a rarity in the sport:

While preparing French toast at his Aspen, Colorado, home for daughter Quinn, duBoef discusses his start in boxing and addresses his insecurities over being the stepson of the boss, Bob Arum. “I wanted to prove my worth,” he says.

From Arum himself, noting his own first steps in the sport, alongside heavyweight great Muhammad Ali: “I wouldn’t be in boxing – I wouldn’t be anything in this sport – if it wasn’t for Ali,” Arum said.

Korn is given the unenviable task of breaking the news to Top Rank fighter Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of “The Greatest,” that he would not be included on the Riyadh Season card for Fury-Usyk. Wryly, he asks the fighter, “Do you want the bad news or the bad news?”

Not to worry: “The Fight Life” cuts all those healthy, nourishing portions with the boxing equivalent of Jolt and cotton candy. The doc nearly crosses the line of glorifying the now-infamous incident in which John Fury, Tyson’s Falstaffian father, headbutts without provocation a member of Team Usyk who is half his size and a fraction of his age – and walked away with his own blood trickling down his face.

“No comment,” Fury says to the camera, after which, unprompted and in precisely the same breath, he offers further comment: “Listen, anybody gets in my face and disrespects my son – a heavyweight multi-world champion – they’re having it.”

Boxing, sometimes grandly described as the theater of the absurd, too often doubles as the theater of assholes.

Yet even when one of boxing’s witlessly fabricated, faux-alpha displays receives its undeservedly aggrandized moment in Episode 1, “The Fight Life” manages to tap a vein of raw humanity: After Tyson Fury emerges from a closed-door interview in the aftermath, smiling from ear to ear and pumping both fists high as chants of “Fury! Fury!” ring out, he immediately drops the vaudeville upon spotting his father: “Dad,” he says, his toothy grin replaced by genuine concern, “what’s happened to your head?”

It’s not the only time “The Fight Life” shows a different side of the father-son relationship than viewers are accustomed to seeing through the lens of boxing, When Ukraine’s Usyk phones back home in war-besieged Kiev two days before the Fury fight, the concern, pride and – yes – love visible on his face when he speaks to his wife and young son are laid bare for the camera. After casually asking whether his father cut his own hair ahead of fight night, Usyk’s son – himself under imminent threat from Vladimir Putin’s vanity and violence – tells him, “I have prayed for you once, and I will do that again later.”

Episode 1 goes on to share glorious footage of Usyk-Fury, along with interstitials of in-fight reactions from duBoef, both corners and others. And even if it’s a somewhat shameless plug for the fighters’ Dec. 21 rematch, back in Saudi Arabia, even cynical fans will be hard-pressed not to bite.

Promoters – a slander of sorts, in duBoef’s mind – are needed in boxing, no less so than the NFL relies on its commissioner or the NBA its league office. But in a sport with so many hangers-on and self-important side hustlers, the frank admissions and deflections back to the sacrifices of the men and women in the arena highlighted in the first episode of “The Fight Life” raise hopes for what’s to come over the remainder of the series.

“I don’t know that I have the understanding of what a boxer goes through the minute he walks into the ring,” duBoef said. “Where people are judging you on being the baddest man on the planet that night. And there’s no team. There’s no power forward. There’s no point guard. There’s no offensive linemen there. It’s you. You may have a corner, but at the end of the day, it’s you.”

Lamont Roach Sr., father and coach of WBA junior lightweight Lamont Roach Jr., knows his son faces a significant challenge in his December 14 bout against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis at the Toyota Center in Houston, but he believes the moment holds special meaning for both personal and regional reasons.

“Lamont and Tank have history and were amateur rivals,” Roach Sr. said. “Baltimore vs. D.C. is real. They fought and sparred many times. It’s always been great work on both sides. To see them now compete on the biggest stage is a special moment.”

The fight will mark Roach Jr.’s (25-1-1, 10 KOs) first time headlining a pay-per-view and his second official bout at lightweight, following a 2014 catchweight fight against Rafael Francis. Roach Jr., 29, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, will take on the undefeated Davis (30-0, 28 KOs), also 29, of Baltimore.

Roach Sr. emphasized that the significance of the fight goes beyond the ring. While the No Xcuses Boxing Gym, where Roach Jr. trains, has produced numerous professional fighters, its primary mission has always been to guide young people.

"It’s great for young kids in this area and young, aspiring boxers around the world," Roach Sr. said. "I was really hoping it would land in the DMV, but I guess we’re taking it to the great city and state of Houston, Texas."

The fight also highlights a historic rivalry between the two boxing clubs that shaped both fighters, NoXcuse Boxing and Upton Boxing.

“I mentioned the history between Tank and Lamont, but it’s also history between the two boxing clubs that produced these world champions,” Roach Sr. added.

Roach Jr., who has been boxing since the age of nine, has long been a standout at No Xcuses Boxing Gym. According to his father, this fight represents the culmination of years of hard work.

“We’ve been a top fighter since we started,” Roach Sr. said. “We accomplished a lot in the amateurs and the pro ranks. We’re a world champion, and we belong here. The world will see.”

Roach Jr. isn’t shying away from the challenge of moving up in weight to face Davis, widely regarded as one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters. Roach claimed the WBA junior lightweight title last November after defeating Hector Luis Garcia, a former Davis opponent. Earlier this year, he successfully defended his title at home, stopping the previously undefeated Feargal McCrory in the eighth round.

Davis, also has fought just once in 2024, delivering an eighth-round knockout of Frank Martin in June. Prior to that, Davis scored a high-profile stoppage of Ryan Garcia in a pay-per-view blockbuster in April 2023.

“We are very happy and excited for this opportunity to compete for another world title in a second weight division against what many consider one of the best in boxing right now,” Roach Sr. said.

Artur Beterbiev is 39 years old, which is past the prime years for most fighters. He has not been overly active, fighting once in 2022 and once in 2023. And ahead of his second fight of 2024, Beterbiev underwent knee surgery to repair a ruptured meniscus.

It’s understandable if you take that with more than a grain of salt. No member of a fighter’s camp is going to acknowledge that their boxer is declining, especially ahead of Beterbiev’s Oct. 12 fight with fellow titleholder Dmitry Bivol to crown an undisputed champion at 175 pounds. Still, Scully makes a case that the IBF, WBC and WBO titleholder is still performing at a high level.

“When I watch him, I never think about his age,” Scully told me in a recent interview, which will be broadcast in full on an upcoming episode of ”United Boxing,” a podcast I co-host . “And I find that it's kind of amusing, because I grew up in an era where when you were 32, that was considered the top of the hill.”

“With Artur, his mentality is so strong in the ring and out of the ring. I don't want to say he can go forever, but I don't think of his age,” Scully said. “People said, ‘Oh, what's he going to do? Is he going to retire after this fight?’ And I'm like, ‘I don't think so.’ I don't see any reason for him to retire.

“He's still going to come on strong all 12 rounds. If you think about it, watch his fights and tell me I'm wrong. How many guys do you know in the second half of their 30s who have improved, have gotten better? When you watch Artur’s last few fights, he's good. He's become a well-rounded, world-class champion, right? After the fight with Callum Smith [in January, eight days before Beterbiev turned 39], I told Artur, ‘That's the best you ever looked.’ How many people can say that at 38?

“How many people can say that was their best performance, against a high level of opposition? How many people have done their best performance [at] 38 or 39 years old? Nobody. No one. You know, maybe [Bernard] Hopkins. He was [36] when he fought [Felix] Trinidad. And then he had a couple of good fights in his mid-40s. So it's a different day. Fighters are lasting longer. Football players are bigger. They're lasting longer. It's a different world now.”

Beterbiev has had a few injuries in recent years . There was a shoulder injury in 2015 , a rib injury in 2020 and a leg procedure in 2022 . He also suffered an infection after dental surgery last year .

Premier Boxing Champions has confirmed the matchup between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach. The fight is scheduled for December 14 at the Toyota Center. This announcement has generated great excitement among boxing fans.

Both boxers have reacted on social media regarding this matchup. Davis’s response was strong and direct. In a tweet on the platform “X,” the champion said, “Y’all can try… but it’s not gonna go the way y’all want it to go.” In this way, reflecting his confidence in his ability to win.

On the other hand, Lamont Roach took a lighter approach. In his response, he used a simple emoji, hinting at his calmness in the face of the challenge. This contrast in their responses reflects the personalities of both fighters.Gervonta Davis, with an impressive record of 30 wins and 28 knockouts, will defend his WBA lightweight title.

The Baltimore fighter comes off a notable victory over Frank Martin, whom he knocked out in the eighth round in June. His ability to finish fights quickly makes him a formidable opponent.Lamont Roach Jr., for his part, has a record of 25 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw.

The challenger will move up in weight after defeating Feargal McCrory at 130 pounds. Roach Jr. holds the WBA gold title, adding an additional level of prestige to his challenge.

The announcement of the fight came shortly after the WBA granted Roach Jr. a special permit to move up in weight. This will undoubtedly be one of the greatest challenges of his career. Facing a puncher like Davis will demand the best of his skills.

The clash of styles between Davis and Roach Jr. promises to be fascinating. “Tank,” known for his devastating power, will face a stylistic boxer. Roach Jr. is known for his quick combinations and agility in the ring.Y’all can try..but it’s not gonna go the way y’all want it to go.. https://t.co/gshEXIi7w1

As the film “The Featherweight,” about the life of boxing great Willie Pep, enters wide release, this week a different BoxingScene contributor will reflect on a boxing biopic that resonates with them. Today: "The Hurricane."

“Give that man his Oscar!”

It was December 1999, and “The Hurricane” was in limited release – playing in “select cities” before going into wide distribution – and I was seeing it at a packed theater in New York City. We had arrived at the scene toward the end in which Denzel Washington, playing wrongly imprisoned former middleweight contender Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, meets with his lawyers and debates how and where to introduce new evidence that could prove his innocence.

Finally, the two lawyers shut up and let Denzel cook:

“I’m 50 years old. I’ve been locked up – and for 30 years. I put a lot of good people’s lives at risk. Now, either I get out of here … [whispers] get me out of here.”

The theater sat in silent awe. But one man couldn’t keep his feelings to himself. “Give that man his Oscar!” he yelled, to laughter that quickly turned into whooping agreement and applause.

Somehow, some way, about three months later, the Academy went full Adelaide Byrd and denied that man his Oscar, giving it instead to Kevin Spacey for “American Beauty.” (I bet the Academy wishes it could have that one back.) The general speculation at the time was that the negative campaign waged against “The Hurricane” for its many inaccuracies pushed voters not to reward Washington, even though one should have nothing to do with the other.

We can debate where Washington-as-Carter ranks among the best acting performances not to win the Oscar. For me, it’s No. 1, but hey, Al Pacino didn’t win for either of the first two “Godfather” movies or “Dog Day Afternoon,” Robert De Niro didn’t win for “Taxi Driver,” Samuel L. Jackson didn’t win for “Pulp Fiction,” so … it happens.

Anyway, two things can be true at once. The lead performance in a film can be absolutely lights-out, and that film can be flawed, uneven and full of creative license. For me, Denzel’s brilliance far outweighs whatever shortcomings “The Hurricane” carries. It’s not the best boxing biopic ever made. But it’s my favorite. It resonates emotionally, I find it endlessly rewatchable, and … Denzel, dammit. Den . Friggin’ . Zel .

There’s a title card at the start of the movie that states the film is based on a true story but contains fictionalizations and composite characters. I don’t remember seeing that disclaimer in the theater nearly 25 years ago. Maybe it was there and I forgot. Or maybe it was added after former middleweight champ Joey Giardello sued the producers for the movie’s depiction of his 1964 defense against Carter as a blatant robbery.

Either way, audiences should inherently understand that adapting a true story to the big screen (or the small screen) always comes with decisions to manipulate the details for the viewer’s benefit. We witnessed this recently with another “combat sports” biopic, “The Iron Claw,” about pro wrestling’s Von Erich family, in which one son who committed suicide was left out of the story entirely because the film was already depressing enough, and one more tragedy – though real – would have felt unrealistic.

In his review of “The Hurricane,” pushing back on the criticisms of the fictionalized elements, film critic Roger Ebert wrote , “‘The Hurricane’ is not a documentary but a parable, in which two lives are saved by the power of the written word.”

What matters is not whether Carter’s story was told with note-for-note accuracy. What matters is the artistic quality of the storytelling.

And, much as I love this movie, I will admit that’s a mixed bag.

Take the Giardello vs. Carter scene. For dramatic purposes, it makes sense to depict our protagonist as a man who got hosed in his one shot at the title – and it helps align with the Bob Dylan lyric we hear in his song about Carter: “Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been the champion of the world.” The decision to set the black-and-white fight action to Gil Scott-Heron’s jazz/funk spoken-word track “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is exquisite. But the crowd reactions to the decision in Giardello’s favor are a mess. They’re cartoonish, and so poorly acted that it’s alarming director Norman Jewison chose to use them. That scene is the best and worst of “The Hurricane” all crammed into one sequence.

Much of the plotting and the script is paint-by-numbers. Carter’s relationship with his wife is underdeveloped; we’re just supposed to assume their love and her pain. The racist detective played by Dan Hedaya – an invented character standing in for numerous people within the system who failed and/or framed Carter throughout his life – hits you over the head with his bias and bigotry.

And then there are the Canadians. For those who’ve forgotten the story or never saw the movie, Carter and another man, John Artis, are convicted of a triple homicide they insist they know nothing about, and while in prison, Carter writes his autobiography, “The Sixteenth Round.” A Brooklyn teen named Lesra Martin who is living in Toronto with a foster family of sorts reads the book, grows inspired and becomes pen pals with Carter, and eventually Lesra and the trio of Canadians set out to prove Carter’s innocence. That becomes the subject of a later book written by two of those Canadians, “Lazarus and the Hurricane.” (The two books together are the foundation of the story told in Jewison’s film.)

In the movie, the Rubin-Lesra relationship is powerful – those are the two lives “saved by the power of the written word” to which Ebert was referring. But any scene with the Canadians is clunky to the point of cringeworthiness. Of the film’s 146-minute run time, I’d estimate Carter is the main character for about 115, and those scenes are mostly gripping; Lesra and the Canadians are the main characters for the other half-hour or so, and those scenes can be a slog.

But it’s all a means to an end. Liberties are taken to deliver the drama without the movie lasting 10 hours. (If they were making “The Hurricane” in 2024, it may well be a 10-episode streaming series that allows time to bring nuance to the various roles and plot developments.) I suppose the Canadians could have been written out entirely and Lesra could have saved Carter on his own, but then the film would have taken even more criticism for twisting the facts.

When “The Hurricane” is clicking, it’s basically “The Shawshank Redemption” without Rita Hayworth or Raquel Welch. (But with Clancy Brown as a prison guard once again!) Carter’s story of false conviction and the broken system that enabled it has, unfortunately, a timeless resonance (see Marcellus Williams’ execution just last week despite seemingly reasonable doubts about his guilt). And putting that drama – the pain, the desperation, the hope, the defiance – in the hands of Washington elevated it to a remarkable level, bringing Ebert to tears and making grown men shout out about Oscar recognition in a crowded theater.

Around the time of the movie’s release, Carter himself revealed that others who auditioned to play him included Wesley Snipes, Samuel L. Jackson and some Italian B-movie star named Marvin Hagler. The right guy got the role. Washington became Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. He developed not just the physique of a fighter but the authentic emotional hardness of so many professional boxers.

And for what it’s worth, the three fight scenes – Carter against Emile Griffith, Joey Cooper and Giardello – are as realistically shot as any I’ve ever seen on film. The “Rocky” movie fights are thrilling but absurd. The “Creed” movie fights are fun, but they look too much like a video game. In “The Hurricane,” the boxing – if a bit flattering to Carter – looks like boxing.

Real and realistic are two different things. “The Hurricane” is based on a true story, and the story it tells hits hard in all the ways it’s supposed to. And it’s Washington’s performance that gets it there.

When I someday write my script for a movie about the movie “The Hurricane,” I’m taking some creative liberties and saying that Denzel won that Oscar.

For many, Saturday’s undisputed light-heavyweight championship fight is the center of the boxing calendar.

Whether or not the heavyweight carnage of the past 12 months has tickled your tastebuds, and with the promise of a second helping of Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury looming in December, many still have the bout between WBC, WBO and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA king Dmitry Bivol as the must-see fight of 2024.

It has just about everything, including – most importantly – a delicate balance between who might win and how when weighing up who could have their hand raised as the best 175-pounder of this generation. 

It is a fight boxing needs. It does represent the best versus the best in their weight division, and by a significant margin, and that is something that is all too rare today, despite the volume of unification fights and the cries that the best in each weight class are fighting each other with more regularity than in previous years.

There has indeed been some good action fights in 2024, but the theory that a boatload of new money has unlocked the fights we all have wanted is a fallacy because we seem no nearer to Shakur Stevenson fighting “Tank” Davis, David Benavidez landing the “Canelo” Alvarez bout, or Terence Crawford fighting “Boots” Ennis.

Assertions like these are always divisive; some fall into the same moaning bracket as me, and others are grateful for what we have had, rather than what we have not.

But here, with Beterbiev-Bivol, is where (for a change) we almost all unanimously agree. This is a badass fight that is one of, if not the, best fights that can be made in the sport – and it has been for some time.

“People want to make everything simple,” Bivol told me a few weeks ago. 

Just about everything about the contest, when you pair down the fighters and look at their records, styles and attributes, makes it appealing. 

Both were top amateurs and have converted that pedigree into world honors as professionals and pound-for-pounders. Beterbiev has caused more excitement and carnage, and his 20-0 (20 KOs) ledger dazzles more imposingly than Bivol’s 23-0 (12 KOs).

As Beterbiev’s statistics indicate, he is an absolute brute. Those who get hit by him stay hit. His highlight reel of destruction stacks up alongside the great and the good historically at 175, while Bivol performs his surgery with a different type of methodology but no less precision. 

It’s too easy to condemn Beterbiev for his blunt-force trauma. That does a disservice to his distance, timing, generalship and patience. He hasn’t beaten the people he has defeated so far simply by marching forwards and not stopping until they concede.

To work at the level he does and how he does it does mean he has to operate in harm’s way. It means he’s been dropped and he’s been caught. There is no disgrace in that. Jeff Page put him over with a right hand that he sprung back up from. Callum Johnson decked him with a short left hook that made him woozy. Others have had their successes, too, but inevitability creeps in and the walls soon begin to close. 

Can the 33-year-old Bivol keep Beterbiev off him, and can the WBA champion stay out of the danger zone for 12 rounds? Those are among the many questions that will be answered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Historically, this fight really does matter. It’s not hyperbole or hoopla. It is not a line delivered with the promise of a bounty from the Saudi sovereign fund. This contest will spawn a true descendent to Tommy Loughran, Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Bob Foster, Michael Spinks and Roy Jones. 

Commercially, how big a fight is between two Russians in Saudi Arabia, regardless of the caliber of the boxers or the intricacies and proposed violence in the actual fight, is another matter entirely.

Many felt Crawford’s Las Vegas showpiece with Errol Spence at the T-Mobile in Las Vegas in 2023 did not grow outwards, beyond the boxing bubble, and this is certainly no bigger than that. It is a must-see fight for the hardcore fans and a trade fight of the highest order. Time will tell if it is, in any way, a commercial juggernaut. 

Some felt that Spence went into the Crawford fight as damaged goods – perhaps even Spence would agree  – and while some say Beterbiev has displayed no signs of slowing in the ring, and he looked as destructive as ever in his past fight, the emphatic win over Callum Smith in Montreal, questions persist over whether his knee has had time to properly heal (this fight was delayed from June 1 after he ruptured his meniscus), whether inactivity will eventually play a role in his downfall or if, at nearly 40, Father Time has knocked on a door Beterbiev is standing on the other side of, hand outstretched, ready to open.

As with Spence, that will likely only become relevant if Bivol – already the conqueror of the aforementioned Canelo – wins decisively or emphatically.

According to the light-heavyweight contender Jesse Hart, a clear-cut winner would be a surprise. Instead, a fight that will take a lot out of both is what is both expected and desired.

“I think that’s going to be a war in itself,” he told me earlier this year. “And I believe that that fight – you’re going to get leftovers out of those two guys, as far as they’re not going to be at their peak after that fight. 

“After that fight, I think that’s going to take a lot out of both of them. Because they both fight so hard and they’re both from Russia, they’ve both got that pedigree in them. So it’s not just about the world title, it’s about ‘Who’s the best in our country?’ This is Russia versus Russia; this is a personal thing as well. They want to be respected as the best. In Russia, people say Bivol is the best; people say Beterbiev is the best. Now they meet and figure out who really is the best over here [at 175 lbs], and it’s out of those two guys. So I believe that’s going to take a lot out of both of them.”

Will either fighter be the same afterwards?

“No, absolutely not. That’s why I say David Benavidez moved up [in weight] at the right time. He knows what he’s doing – there’s a reason why he went up to light heavyweight to fight [Oleksandr] Gvozdyk; he gets the leftovers of them two beating the hell out of each other, because that’s what it’s going to be. 

“I think this fight is going to take a lot out of both fighters, whoever wins. I believe the fans are going to get their money’s worth, but I believe it’s going to take a lot out of both guys because they’re both resilient.”

Entering the fight, while it is worth weighing up every possible alternative, it is also worth appreciating what we finally have. Beterbiev-Bivol is a fight we’ve longed for for long enough. Now it is down to them to show us why, and to indulge our cravings as fight fans who are too often denied this magical feeling.

In a training session

“I was very impressed with your fight, and said, ‘Second time around, just fix a couple of things,” Lewis said, emphasizing that these adjustments could make the difference in the rematch.

Clarke, who was knocked down in the fifth round of his previous fight, acknowledged his shortcomings. “Since that day, I’m not a big fan of watching myself back, but I’ve been hammered, I’ve seen so much of myself from my last fight, and I’ve not looked at me doing anything correct. All we’ve looked at is the mistakes I made,” he said.

He also discussed the high expectations following his professional debut after winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Lewis, who won Olympic gold in 1988, agreed that the transition from amateur to professional is like a reset.

“If you’re boxing and your feet are in quicksand, that’s no way to box. You’re not going to get too far that way”. “All great heavyweights had great jabs, so you’ve got to develop that jab. Very important,” the former champion concluded.

With this guidance, Clarke hopes to be ready to claim the titles in his rematch against Wardley.

The undefeated lightweight Floyd Schofield Jr. returns to the ring on November 2 to face René “El Bravo” Téllez Girón. The 12-round fight will take place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Schofield, with a record of 17-0 (12 KOs), enters as the favorite after a series of impressive victories.

The boxer from Austin, Texas made his debut in 2020 with a knockout and recently won by disqualification against Esteuri Suero. “I am beyond excited for my return to the ring as the official main event, and to show the world what I’ve been working on,” said the Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr.Floyd Schofield has a clear goal: to become a world champion.

For his part, Girón, with a record of 20-3 (13 KOs), is determined to surprise. “I’m so excited about this fight, like none other so far in my career.” He added, “I will win, my preparation is always great,” declared the Mexican, who comes off a knockout victory over Alex Dilmaghani.

Oscar De La Hoya, from Golden Boy Promotions, highlighted that Floyd Schofield always seeks the knockout but warned that Tellez Girón has never been knocked out, making this fight a real test.

“Everyone knows that Schofield goes for the KO every time, but Girón has never been knocked out,” said De La Hoya.

In addition to the main event, the card will feature a bout between Bektemir Melikuziev and David Stevens in a WBA eliminator at 168 pounds. There will also be an undisputed female flyweight title fight between Gabriela Fundora and Gabriela Alaniz, along with other exciting matchups.𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌‼️ Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield returns November 2nd 🆚 Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Giron. He puts his undefeated record on the line in Las Vegas at The Theater at Virgin Hotels. Pre-Sale tickets available 𝐍𝐎𝐖.#SchofieldGiron | LIVE on DAZN Nov. 2 pic.twitter.com/zyO2JTwSEt

Troy Isley’s 10-round bout with Tyler “Hercules” Howard will instead be the co-main event on the bill headlined by Keyshawn Davis-Gustavo Lemos on November 8. Middleweights Isley and Howard clash at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia after the original co-feature, which had been due to involve the WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr defending his title against Derrieck Cuevas, was postponed after Norman suffered a hand injury.

“Transformer” Isley is 13-0 (5 KOs), and comes from Alexandria, Virginia. He won the vacant NABO belt in his past fight, defeating his former amateur rival Javier Martinez on points over 10 rounds.

Isley, 26, turned professional in February 2021 having represented Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

Crossville, Tennessee’s 30-year-old Howard, 20-1 (11 KOs), last boxed in August 2023, when he won a majority decision over Raul Salomon.

On the undercard, the brother of the promising lightweight Keyshawn Davis, the junior welterweight Kelvin, 13-0 (7 KOs), boxes in an eight-rounder against 15-3 (10 KOs) Yeis Solano, and his younger brother Keon Davis makes his professional debut over four rounds at welterweight.

The unbeaten lightweight Abdullah Mason, 15-0 (13 KOs), fights over eight rounds against Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs), and the 19-year-old prospect Robert Meriwether III (7-0, 3 KOs) faces Eric Howard (6-2, 1 KO) in a six round junior-contest. Finally, Virginia’s Austin Deanda (15-0, 10 KOs) and South Carolina’s DeAundre Pettus (12-2, 7 KOs) clash over eight-rounds at middleweight.

Tyson Fury, known for his imposing presence in boxing, has revealed a key strategy for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. The British champion has hinted that he will gain weight ahead of their second bout. According to his statements, he could weigh up to 190 kilograms for the fight. Fury and Usyk will face off on December 21 in Saudi Arabia, seven months after the Ukrainian handed Fury his first professional defeat.

After the loss, Fury claimed he was in the “best shape of his life” in May. However, he now suggests a significant change in his physical preparation. He posted a story on his official Instagram account, showing a picture of himself before his loss to Usyk. In the image, he added a caption that read: “Was in the shape of my life, but this is not the GK [Gypsy King].” In a second image, corresponding to an earlier fight, he wrote: “This is him, 19:11lb, bruiser.”If Tyson Fury reaches that weight in December, he will have gained 15 pounds since his most recent fight with Usyk.

This could give him a 50-pound weight advantage over his rival. Fury’s decision to gain weight seems aligned with his strategy to knock Usyk out in this rematch. In a recent interview with Undisputed, Fury stated that he won’t be aiming for a points victory this time.

“I’m going to go in there with destroy mode,” Fury asserted confidently. “Last time I went to box him; I was being cautious.” “But this time I’m not going for a points decision.” Fury emphasized that his focus will be to knock Usyk out and avoid the risk of losing by points. “I’m going to knock that m0therfckr out,” the Briton added, alluding to his conviction to take the initiative in the fight.

The British boxer also pointed out that, for the first time in years, he doesn’t feel like the champion. “I’m going in there as a challenger, not a champion,” Fury explained to @PlayUndisputed. This mindset, according to him, gives him extra motivation, as he feels he has a clear goal to fight for. For Fury, being the challenger this time reignites his motivation to secure victory.

The clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has captured the attention of the boxing world. Usyk, who took the undisputed title from Fury in May, remains confident in his technical skill and speed. However, Fury believes that the weight gain and a more aggressive approach will be key factors in reversing the outcome of their first fight.Lamont Roach comments on Gervonta Davis weight difference

The rematch on December 21 will not only determine who the undisputed heavyweight world champion is but also whether Fury’s strategy of gaining weight and adopting a more aggressive attitude will be enough to overcome the clever and skillful Usyk.According to what Tyson Fury

Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. vs. Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Girón: What to Expect on November 2

When to Watch: The main event is set for Saturday, November 2, at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

How to Watch: Details on streaming options will be available closer to the fight date.

Why to Watch: This highly anticipated bout features undefeated lightweight contender Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. (17-0, 12 KOs) going head-to-head against the tough Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Girón (20-3, 13 KOs). With Schofield aiming to solidify his position as a future world champion, this fight promises high stakes and excitement.

Fight Preview: Schofield, training out of Davies Boxing and Fitness in San Antonio, Texas, made his professional debut on October 9, 2020, and has quickly built an impressive record with multiple stoppage victories. His last fight ended controversially when Esteuri Suero was disqualified in the fifth round due to a low blow and other infractions. Schofield expressed his eagerness to return to the ring, stating, “I am beyond excited for my return to the ring as the official main event and to show the world what I’ve been working on.”

On the other side of the ring, Girón comes in hot, fresh off a strong performance where he scored a seventh-round stoppage against Alex Dilmaghani. He sees this matchup as a chance to make a statement in the lightweight division: “Floyd Schofield is just another big-name guy in my way to the top. I will win; my preparation is always great… I’m a proud fighter of Mexico, and I will win this fight for my country.”

Oscar De La Hoya, founder of Golden Boy Promotions, highlighted Schofield's potential, saying, “I’ve always said that ‘Kid Austin’ has the ‘it’ factor to not only be a champion but to be a global superstar.” This clash will be a significant test for Schofield as he looks to continue his rise through the ranks.

Co-Main Event and More Fights to Watch: The co-main event features Bektemir “Bek” Melikuziev (14-1, 10 KOs) facing off against David “Dynamite” Stevens (14-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round WBA 168lbs eliminator.

Additionally, fans can look forward to a fight for the undisputed female flyweight title between IBF champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) and WBA, WBC, and WBO champion Gabriela “LA Chuky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs), who will also compete for the Ring Magazine crown.

Also on the card, super-middleweight prospect Darius “DFG” Fulghum (12-0, 10 KOs) will take on Christopher Pearson (17-4-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout, while Joel Iriarte (4-0, 4 KOs) will face an opponent to be confirmed over six rounds.

Final Thoughts: With both fighters bringing their unique styles and determination to the ring, this matchup is poised to be a thrilling encounter that could shape the future of the lightweight division. Don’t miss the chance to witness the action on November 2!

#FloydSchofield #ReneTellezGiron #LightweightDivision #BoxingMatch #MainEvent #FightNight #GoldenBoyPromotions #BoxingNews #LasVegasFights #UndisputedChampion #BoxingHighlights #Knockout

When to Watch: The main event broadcast will air on Saturday, October 12, at 6 PM Eastern Time (11 PM BST). The undercard broadcast will begin at noon Eastern Time (5 PM BST).

How to Watch: In the United States, the main event will stream on ESPN+, while the undercard will be on DAZN. In the United Kingdom, this will be a pay-per-view event available via DAZN, Sky Sports, and TNT.

Why to Watch: This is a fight between the two best light heavyweights in the world. It features a heavy-handed puncher who has knocked out everyone he’s faced against a skilled boxer who stymied an all-time great. Beterbiev vs. Bivol will also decide the undisputed champion of the 175 lbs division.

This long-awaited bout will finally take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In Bivol’s last appearance, he remained busy after the fight with Beterbiev was postponed from their original June date due to Beterbiev's surgery. Bivol scored a sixth-round technical knockout of Malik Zinad, maintaining his perfect record of 23-0 (12 KOs). The 33-year-old Russian, born in Kyrgyzstan and now living in Indio, California, looks to solidify his legacy in this match.

Beterbiev, on the other hand, has dominated his opponents, winning the vacant IBF belt against Enrico Koelling and knocking out notable fighters like Callum Johnson (KO4), Radivoje Kalajdzic (TKO5), and Oleksandr Gvozdyk (TKO10). His impressive knockout streak has propelled him to a record of 19-0 (19 KOs).

Beyond the immediate clash, this fight holds significant implications for the future. Will the winner defend against contenders like David Benavidez, Joshua Buatsi, or David Morrell? Could Canelo Alvarez step up from super middleweight for a rematch with Bivol? And regardless of the outcome, will Bivol consider moving down to a catchweight for a lucrative fight against Canelo?

The undercard also promises excitement:

Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey: Opetaia is making a voluntary defense of his IBF and lineal cruiserweight titles against Massey, who is 22-2 (12 KOs) and looking to upset Opetaia’s plans.

Skye Nicolson vs. Raven Chapman: This will be the first-ever women’s title fight in Saudi Arabia. Nicolson, who won the WBC interim featherweight title, is 11-0 (1 KO), while Chapman comes in at 9-0 (2 KOs).

Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke: A rematch of their entertaining draw in March. Wardley, 17-0-1 (16 KOs), and Clarke, 8-0-1 (6 KOs), are both looking to elevate their careers in the competitive heavyweight division.

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Kamil Szeremeta: A win for Eubank could lead to various title shot opportunities, as he looks to bounce back from his recent victory over Liam Smith.

Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron: Whittaker, an Olympic silver medalist, faces Cameron, who is coming off a split-decision loss. Whittaker holds a record of 8-0 (5 KOs), while Cameron is 23-6 (10 KOs).

More Fights to Watch:

Friday, October 11: Jan Paul Rivera-Pizarro vs. Andy Beltran (DAZN) at 7 PM Eastern Time.

Saturday, October 12: Hector Camacho Jr. vs. Andrew Hernandez (CombatSportsNow) at 10 AM Eastern Time.

Saturday, October 12: Acelino Freitas vs. Jorge “El Chino” Miranda (TrillerTV.com) at 5 PM Eastern Time.

#BeterbievBivol #LightHeavyweightChampionship #BoxingPreview #UndisputedChampion #BoxingNews #FightNight #SaudiArabia #Beterbiev #Bivol #SkyeNicolson #JaiOpetaia #ChrisEubankJr #FabioWardley #BoxingFans #PPV

Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has labeled the upcoming fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, scheduled for November in Texas, as “dangerous, irresponsible, and disrespectful to boxing.” Hearn expressed his concerns regarding the return of Tyson, 58, who hasn’t fought professionally since 2005. In contrast, Jake Paul, 27, boasts a record of 10 wins out of 11 professional bouts.

While Hearn will attend the event to support Katie Taylor in her rematch against Amanda Serrano, he plans to leave before the main fight.

“The reality is that 20 years ago, when Mike Tyson retired from the sport, he was shot, completely finished,” Hearn noted. “It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago.”

In an interview with BBC Sports, Hearn reiterated his belief that it is risky for Tyson to return to the ring for a professional fight. Notably, Tyson participated in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.

“I’m in awe of him. He’s one of my favorite fighters ever, one of the greatest of all time, but he’s a 58-year-old man,” Hearn added. “You only need to speak to him and look at him to know this guy should not be in a ring again.”

The fight between Tyson and Paul, set to take place at the Dallas Cowboys stadium, has faced widespread criticism due to the age and experience gap. Jake Paul has defended the matchup, claiming that Tyson’s experience levels the playing field. However, Hearn disagrees. “If I was Jake Paul, I’d just feel a bit embarrassed, to be honest with you,” he stated. “This is dangerous, irresponsible, and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing.”

Hearn also pointed out that the fight was previously postponed due to Tyson’s health issues, which should have been a warning sign. He remarked that financial incentives can sometimes lead to poor decisions, referencing the Tyson vs. Paul fight.

“Everybody loves a dollar bill, including me, but sometimes the green-eyed monster can make you make bad decisions—and I think this is one of them,” Hearn commented.

Despite his criticisms, Hearn will attend the event to support Katie Taylor in her rematch against Serrano. Taylor, 38, is set to face Serrano in one of the most significant fights in women’s boxing, which Hearn highlighted as the biggest payday of Taylor’s career. However, he confirmed that he will not stay for the Tyson vs. Paul bout, stating, “I won’t be watching the main event. We’ll be there defending the belts, and then I’ll be off.”

#EddieHearn #MikeTyson #JakePaul #BoxingNews #TysonVsPaul #DangerousFight #BoxingCritique #KatieTaylor #AmandaSerrano #DallasCowboysStadium #SportsIntegrity #BoxingPromoter #BoxingEvents

On December 14, junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. will step into the ring against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in Houston. While critics have raised concerns about the weight difference between the two fighters, Roach remains confident that it will not impact the outcome of the bout, which will be contested for Davis’ WBA title in a pay-per-view event (PPV).

In an interview with Naji Grampus of Cigar Talk, Roach stated that despite the critics’ opinions, he doesn’t view Davis as the biggest lightweight. “Everybody he fights is damn near bigger than him,” Roach pointed out. “The only person that was smaller than him was Isaac Cruz. And that’s just in height.” Although Roach currently competes in the 130-pound division, he has always planned to move up to 135 pounds to capture another title.

“I fight at 130 because that’s where I campaign at. That’s where I started my career. That’s where I worked my way up to a world title,” Roach explained. He acknowledged that his decision to move up in weight came earlier than anticipated but feels ready to take on Davis in this new class.

With a record of 25 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, Roach has fought at the 130-pound limit since 2017. Before that, he typically weighed around 131 or 132 pounds, though he weighed more than 134 pounds in some of his early professional bouts. “When a boxer is starting their career, they don’t necessarily have to make 130 pounds because we’re not in title contention or none of that,” Roach elaborated.

Conversely, Gervonta Davis, a 29-year-old from Baltimore, has had a noteworthy career, competing across multiple divisions. He began as a featherweight in 2013 but made his mark in the junior lightweight division in 2017, when he knocked out José Pedraza to win a world title. Since then, Davis has fought in several weight classes, including lightweight and junior welterweight, before returning to 135 pounds.

Both fighters have a slight height difference, with Roach standing at 1.70 meters and Davis at 1.65 meters. This reinforces Roach's belief that physical differences will not play a decisive role in the fight. He emphasized that while Davis feels comfortable at 135 pounds, he doesn’t view him as a particularly big lightweight.

#LamontRoach #GervontaDavis #Boxing #PPV #WBAChampionship #HoustonFightNight #JuniorLightweight #BoxingConfidence #FightPreview #DavisVsRoach #TitleFight #BoxingProspects #CigarTalk

Martin Bakole is poised to receive a significant opportunity following his impressive summer knockout of Jared Anderson, as he is expected to fight on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II rematch. This was confirmed by his promoter, Ben Shalom.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a big fight to announce in December,” Boxxer’s Shalom told BoxingScene. “I’m aiming for it to be on the undercard of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on December 21.”

When asked whether Bakole’s opponent would be Zhilei Zhang, who recently defeated Deontay Wilder in June, Shalom refrained from giving specifics.

“I don’t want to reveal too much,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. It’s been a whirlwind for Martin. We’ve had to be very patient. In my opinion, he’s the most feared man in the division—someone that no one wants to fight.

“Riyadh Season has made previously impossible fights possible. Thank God the fight against Anderson happened. It was a statement win on a big platform. We knew this moment would come, but he truly announced himself to the world that night. I believe he can beat anyone in the division.”

Congo’s Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs), 31, fought for the first time in the United States in August, where he delivered a dominant performance against Anderson, knocking him down three times en route to a fifth-round technical knockout victory.

#MartinBakole #UsykFuryII #BoxingNews #HeavyweightDivision #Knockout #BoxingPromotions #FutureChamp #BoxingFans

Scottish middleweight Sam Hickey is poised to make his professional debut on October 19 at London’s Copper Box Arena, featured on the undercard of the highly anticipated matchup between Adam Azim and Ohara Davies.

At just 24 years old, Hickey boasts an impressive amateur pedigree, having won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he was also named the tournament’s Best Male Boxer. Additionally, he secured a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships, marking him as the first Scottish athlete in 16 years to achieve a senior European medal.

Hickey's decision to turn professional comes after he missed out on the Paris 2024 Olympics due to the removal of his weight division. Despite struggling to qualify as a light heavyweight, he is optimistic about this new chapter in his boxing career.

“I’m looking forward to making my professional debut on a great card and on a huge platform. It’s been a long time coming,” Hickey expressed. “I decided to turn pro as I think my style suits the pro game. I’ve done my bit in the amateurs, which sets me in good stead to go on and do great things in the pro game. I want to go all the way while becoming a big name in British and Scottish boxing and bringing big shows and fights up to Scotland.”

Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom praised Hickey’s potential, stating, “Sam Hickey is one of the most exciting prospects in British boxing. He has had an incredible amateur career so far, and I’m sure he will go on to emulate this success in the professional game. This can be the start of something special for Sam and for Scottish boxing.”

Hickey will be part of an undercard that includes notable fights such as Anthony Yarde against an opponent yet to be confirmed, and Dan Azeez’s matchup with Lewis Edmondson. Additionally, former WBA bantamweight champion Shannon Courtenay returns to the ring for the first time since December 2022, also awaiting an opponent.

#SamHickey #BoxingDebut #ScottishBoxing #AmateurToPro #CopperBoxArena #AdamAzim #OharaDavies #BoxingProspects #BenShalom #FightNight #BritishBoxing #CommonwealthGames #EuropeanChampionships #FutureChampion #BoxingLife

Just as there are various ways for a fighter to win a fight, there are also numerous ways to lose. Some fighters sense their inferiority in the ring early on and do everything they can to survive or merely give the impression of trying to win, aware of the inherent danger in actually doing so. Others, however, might sense this inferiority but choose to ignore it or power through, often giving more of themselves than anyone would expect.

It is these fighters we tend to call “warriors.” They often evoke concern, both during the fight and later, as the damage they incur in their pursuit of an unlikely victory catches up with them, prompting us to question what it truly means to be brave.

In the case of New Zealand’s Andrei Mikhailovich, this is what bravery looked like on Friday. Just 90 seconds into his 22nd pro fight, he was rocked by a left hand from Janibek Alimkhanuly, the IBF middleweight champion. It was a punch powerful enough to change the course of any fight, and yet this bout, the toughest of Mikhailovich’s career, was still in its infancy—still in round one.

That punch merely set the stage for more shots to come, including a bigger left hand in the following round that sent Mikhailovich reeling after he threw a sloppy right lead. This old-fashioned counter punch from Alimkhanuly underscored Mikhailovich’s limitations, suggesting the fight wouldn’t last long.

Indeed, it seemed like two rounds would be the extent of the punishment. Already hurt multiple times, Mikhailovich endured a barrage of left uppercuts in round two, wobbling around the ring and into the ropes. While he did well to initiate a clinch at one point, he was largely a defenseless target for Alimkhanuly, whose confidence was evident both in his demeanor and his posture.

With 30 seconds left in the second round, Alimkhanuly snapped Mikhailovich’s head back with a combination, landing every shot he threw. A final left sent Mikhailovich into a corner, where the ropes helped keep him upright. Another right hook and left uppercut sent him stumbling, as he seemed unsure of whether to retreat or press forward—uncertain and overwhelmed.

When Mikhailovich finally attempted to throw punches, he only hit air, while Alimkhanuly smiled back at him. Presumably unnerved, Mikhailovich raised his hands defensively and braced himself for another onslaught. Alimkhanuly landed a left against Mikhailovich’s glove, yet the sheer force of it sent the 26-year-old to the canvas.

On the canvas, Mikhailovich struggled to get his legs under him before rising too quickly and assuring his coach between rounds, “Yeah, I’m good.” This was, of course, a fib—an example of the self-deception all fighters employ as a shield when entering the ring. Mikhailovich was far from “good,” and the thought of him entering round three was concerning for many watching. As brave as he was, it was clear he was out of his depth technically, relying solely on his courage to prevent a swift blowout.

Those thoughts are what observers have, but fighters themselves rarely entertain such notions, allowing them to continue in challenging fights. Mikhailovich, for instance, wiped the previous round from his mind and came out defiant in the third, landing two solid rights. You wondered if he could capitalize on Alimkhanuly’s confidence and turn it against him, but the fanciful notion was quickly quashed as Alimkhanuly stung him again.

By the sixth round, Mikhailovich clung to Alimkhanuly, attempting to prevent him from gaining space to punch. Yet, he was met with hellacious left uppercuts whenever he leaned forward and a right hook that staggered him back to his corner at the end of the round. The combination of Alimkhanuly’s accuracy and Mikhailovich’s defensive shortcomings created a grim spectacle, one that many wished had ended long before it did.

That the fight lasted until round nine is as much a testament to Mikhailovich’s heart as it is a critique of Alimkhanuly’s nonchalance. It could have ended much earlier, yet a combination of these factors ensured it dragged on longer than was necessary or healthy, finally stopping when Alimkhanuly unleashed consecutive uppercuts that nearly knocked Mikhailovich out.

Without wanting to sound squeamish, it was a tough way to lose and a difficult sight to witness. It’s the type of fight that leaves you both admiring the loser’s resilience while questioning whether a different, safer approach to losing might be wiser. While it may not be brave to consider, the fighter's perspective during such battles is always different from that of an onlooker.

This thought process likely separates observers from fighters, as well as fighters like Mikhailovich and Ronny Rios from those who recognize when to exit the ring.

Rios faced Nick Ball on Saturday, shortly after Mikhailovich endured a painful loss, and had a similarly challenging experience. Though not as one-sided as Mikhailovich’s fight, there was still an element of target practice for Ball, the WBA featherweight champion, as Rios sustained significant punishment in a bid to “challenge” in any way possible.

In round three, Rios was dropped by a left uppercut from Ball, the final shot of a multi-punch combination, and he was never truly given the opportunity to breathe, let alone thrive. Ball, relentless in his assault, forced Rios, 34, to work at a pace detrimental to his safety. The more passive Rios became, the easier it was for Ball, 27, to unload punches without fear of retaliation. Conversely, when Rios attempted to be active, he opened himself up to more significant shots, as seen in round three.

By round ten, where the fight ended, Rios had been dropped twice—once in the third round and once in the seventh. He hadn’t won a single round to that point, despite his efforts, and for nine rounds, the sound of Ball’s punches on Rios’ flesh echoed throughout the arena. The sound of Rios’ labored breaths followed each of Ball’s strikes, creating a haunting soundtrack throughout the fight. The only sound louder was the crowd's reaction when Ball pummeled Rios through the ropes in round ten, ending the bout swiftly.

To his credit, Rios, like Mikhailovich, audaciously attempted to carry on. He rolled under the bottom rope to re-enter the ring and even stood up, breathing heavily as referee Bob Williams counted. However, a white towel waved in the opposing corner ultimately saved the courageous Californian from himself, sparing the spectators from witnessing further punishment for a foregone conclusion.

#BoxingWarriors #AndreiMikhailovich #RonnyRios #JanibekAlimkhanuly #BraveryInBoxing #FightNight #BoxingAnalysis #HeartOfAFighter #BoxingCourage #WBAFeatherweight

Many of Gervonta Davis’ critics have long wanted to see him face top lightweights, so there's disappointment that his next bout will be against junior lightweight titleholder Lamont Roach Jr.

“Tank isn’t the biggest 135-pounder. Everybody he fights is damn near bigger than him,” Roach said in an interview with Naji Grampus of Cigar Talk. “I think the only person that was smaller than him was Pitbull [Isaac Cruz]. And that’s just in height. In stature, he was technically bigger than Tank, too.”

“When a boxer is starting their career, they don’t necessarily have to make 130 pounds because we're not in title contention or none of that,” said the 29-year-old from Washington, D.C. “The opponents I was getting, the opponents that were selected for me were probably bigger or they just couldn’t make weight. The fight [...] that occurred at 140, I was supposed to fight at 132. He was eight pounds overweight. I went and ate breakfast and weighed in.”

Roach is listed at 5-foot-7, while Davis, a 29-year-old from Baltimore, stands at 5-foot-5.5.

Davis had one fight at lightweight in 2019 against Yuriorkis Gamboa, returned to junior lightweight to beat Leo Santa Cruz in 2020, jumped up to junior welterweight to defeat Mario Barrios in 2021, and came back to 135 by the end of that year for the Cruz fight. He has remained at lightweight ever since.

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.

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