In this week’s mailbag, Philadelphia coach Stephen “Breadman” Edwards is asked about his thoughts on the upcoming light heavyweight undisputed fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, the December bout in Houston between Tank Davis and Lamont Roach, and he also weighs up how best to set up a fighter, looking at their physical attributes and fighting gifts

Hi Breadman.

I pray God is blessing and continues to bless you and your family and the fans of your mailbag and their families. Can’t wait for Bivol vs. Beterbiev. I don’t see anyway that this fight won’t be a classic confrontation. I like Beterbiev by late stoppage or UD, but I would be more confident if he wasn’t coming off of an injury. I see a lot of people still want to see Joshua vs Fury. Would you want to see that fight? I have absolutely no interest and that was a fight I was starving to see it years ago but now they both along with Andy Ruiz look like they are just about done in their careers. I wish fighters would fight each other when they are at their best and not their worst. I still feel boxing fans got robbed by Pac Man and Mayweather for not fighting that fight years earlier than when they did fight. Your fighter Plant should be all in the media calling out Crawford. Basically, saying that prove you deserve the fight with Canelo by fighting me first at 168. Boots should be calling out Crawford, too. That’s how fights get made. Sometimes you must come out of your comfort zone and shame people into fighting you. Tarver did it with Roy Jones and other fighters have done it. It’s like the scene with Mr. T in Rocky 3.  Plant, unlike Boots, seems to be a trashtalker so he might get under Crawford’s skin enough to make it happen. 

I don’t know who Lamont Roach is and I don’t want to see him vs Tank Davis. What the hell is going on with the business of boxing God bless and take care,                                                     Blood and Guts from Philly

Bread’s Response: I love the Beterbiev vs Bivol match up. Bivol has been looking great in training and Beterbiev’s injury bothers me. But I’m taking Beterbiev to get the win. I don’t know if he will stop him but I believe he will beat him. This is a historically significant match up. The winner becomes a HOF lock and an ATG at 175.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Joshua vs Fury within the next year. 

Taking fights when your opponent is depleted is part of the trickery of the era. Fight your opponent at his weakest and not at his best. It’s hard to go after greatness when just about everyone is doing it. Oh well. The only way it will change is if the world’s best and most popular fighter sets a trend where he goes after the best at their best on a consistent basis.

Caleb Plant is not going to call out a junior middleweight. That would look foolish and corny. Amir Khan who was an ex champion at 140lbs, never won a title at 147 or 154, got a shot at Canelo for the lineal MW crown. Crawford has had 10x better career than Khan. If they can justify Khan getting a shot, Crawford’s shot can be justified. 

Boots has already stated that he wanted to fight Crawford. If it’s not in his nature to be loud about those things then it’s not in his nature. Madrimov didn’t have to call Crawford out to get a shot. The A-side fighter can pretty much make a fight if he wants to… Crawford has stated he’s looking for bigger fights than Boots. And I understand that. I think Crawford is a special fighter and he was on the outside looking in for years. But that’s not on Boots. All Boots needs to do is keep being himself. And keep winning. And what’s for him will get to him.

I know who Lamont Roach is. He’s a solid fighter. And he’s a real champion at 130lbs. I don’t have an issue with this fight. But I do wish that Tank fought a superfight vs Shakur or Teofimo. Tank could justify a showcase fight here and there if he fought three times per year. I think this will be his second fight this year. When the fans don’t see you often, they want you to fight big fights every time out. Personally I’m just glad he wasn’t one and done for 2024. I enjoy seeing him fight. Along with Inoue, he’s the most dynamic KO puncher in boxing.

Hello Breadman,

Let’s say I have a guy who has solid fundamentals, good educated footwork although shows some vulnerability getting dropped every once in a while, has hammers for hands but is slow-twitch and not a one-punch knockout type of guy. Hypothetically what style would I need to keep him away from to get him to 20-0 with 20 knockouts?

He’s simply not the same guy now. Bivol has the IQ, the foot and handspeed, the chin, the athleticism, is fresher and has the style advantage and ability to fight more than one way. The power and the timing is with Beterbiev, but he relies on imposing his will on and breaking everybody he fights. Beterbiev’s best punch and a key to the way he breaks people down is his straight right to the body. He may be the best with this punch in all of boxing right now. Interestingly, I noticed that Canelo hit Bivol with a right to the body at the start of their fight then never landed it again. 

And therefore, maybe the thing that most tells me to pick Bivol is the way he reacted to getting hit by Joe Smith Jr. at the end of the 10th round, along with how disciplined a fight he fought on the biggest stage against Canelo. Bivol stayed completely calm and composed in both of those scenarios, which can itself be a form of imposing will. I like the younger faster Bivol to get it done, for Beterbiev to win he probably has to do it with one punch and he’s not really a one punch guy. Have you seen the Beterbiev-Koelling fight, and are you still picking Beterbiev over Bivol?

Bread’s Response: Everything you said is true. But I don’t let people talk me out of my picks. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But I’m picking Beterbiev. Bivol has not come close to losing. But I don’t feel like Beterbiev has either. He’s never been hopelessly down on the cards and needed a miracle comeback to win. He’s usually up or even on the cards and most importantly he’s been in control of the fights he’s won at the time of the stoppages. And he’s won them all. 

I don’t know who has the better chin. Just because we have seen Beterbiev down, doesn’t mean Bivol has the better chin. Beterbiev takes more risks, he fights differently. He’s in the danger zone more. I’ve always wondered about Bivol’s chin. He seems to allow inferior fighters to go the distance. And I wondered was it because he was a pure boxer. Or because he doesn’t like getting hit…

I don’t break down fights like you and neither of us is wrong. Checking boxes are for someone who is doing a camp or a hypothetical match up. Who wins head to head is simply about who is more effective at doing what he does. Tommy Hearns checks more boxes than Iran Barkley but yet lost to him. I’m not saying checking boxes doesn’t matter. But I’m saying Beterbiev has that Rocky Marciano type of way about him. Most of Marciano’s opponents checked more boxes than him. Yet none beat him. 

I also feel like Beterbiev can be a one punch KO guy. But he just tries to touch you, chip away at your resistance, then he stops you. It’s a form of discipline to not try to punch hard. But to just make solid contact. It’s a sign of reassurance and confidence. I have been around thousands of fighters. Most of the hard punchers scream and yell when they punch in a form of intimidation. Beterbiev just simply touches you. I think it’s a gift that’s in his favor, in terms of beating a boxer on the level of Bivol. Because not loading up allows you touch the target. 

However, stylistically I admit Bivol has an advantage. But I feel like Beterbiev has seen and overcame this style before, or he wouldn’t have been such a standout amateur. I’m taking Beterbiev.

Sup Breadman,

My question is about fighters’ physical attributes. As a trainer, do you consider certain fighters physical attributes advantageous, despite them not using them as such? For example, a fighter with a long reach, would push for them to fight at a distance? Would you like a more compact fighter to fight on the inside? Do physical attributes really make a difference? Thank you. 

Hope you and yours are doing well.

Bread’s Response: I am more inclined to evaluate a fighter’s physical gifts moreso than his attributes. Paul Williams was a 6ft 2ins welterweight with freakishly long arms. Everyone wanted him to be Tommy Hearns. If he had Hearns’s gift he wouldn’t have lost a fight. But he didn’t. In fact Pernell Whitaker was a better out fighter than Williams and Whitaker was 5ft 5ins with a 70 inch reach. 

In boxing, this mistake is made often. When we see a short muscular fighter, we expect him to fight like Mike Tyson or Joe Frazier. When we see a taller fighter we expect him to fight like Muhammad Ali or Tommy Hearns. And while true at times, I feel like what the fighter’s gifts are, should be valued over his physical attributes.

What are your thoughts on Tank fighting a guy from his hometown in Houston? I would assume they would fight in the DMV area. Also who would you favor in Tank vs Loma and do you consider it a duck that Loma didn’t want to fight at this moment?

Bread’s Response: I thought Tank vs Roach would be in Washington DC. But if it’s not, then it’s not. I don’t really have an opinion on why it’s in Houston because there is so much that goes on behind the scenes, that I don’t even indulge in unless I’m directly involved. As the fight approaches, Tank and his team will explain why they went to Houston. I honestly don’t know and I haven’t really thought about it. Let’s wait and see what they say before we criticize the move. 

I don’t think Loma ducked Tank. Ukraine is in a bad place right now. Loma loves his country. Loma is also an older fighter. He’s 36 and he’s had some tough nights. After his last two fights, he was filled with indifferent emotions. I can see him not fighting again, period.

It’s not just about fighting Tank. It’s going into camp in a clear state of mind and then performing vs Tank. If he went in and got creamed, and brought up he wasn’t right mentally, then you all would say he’s making excuses. But he has had one foot out the door for the last two fights. Besides that, there was a time when Loma wanted to fight Tank and for whatever reasons, the fight didn’t happen. Now many years later the shoe is on the other foot. But I remember...

I’m never going to say a man ducked another man, when he wanted to fight him when he was at his peak. But now that he’s clearly past his best day, the fight gets revisited and he doesn’t want it. I think Loma respects Tank. He knows he has to be at his best to beat him. 

I would favor Tank at this point. I don’t see Loma beating Tank at 36 years old. I think a prime Loma would have had a tough night vs Tank and it would’ve been 50/50ish. And I think while this Loma is still very capable, he’s not the same guy that say, Nicholas Walters fought many years ago.

I can’t believe Devin Haney is suing Ryan Garcia. This is some bitch shit. Just fight him in a rematch and beat him. Real fighters don’t sue. Devin and his dad act like gangsters. But now they want to go to court and sue a fighter for cheating. There wasn’t enough of whatever was in Ryan’s system to have an effect on his performance. What has boxing come to?

Bread’s Response: Boxing has come to a place where people like you can say these stupid things without repent. Devin Haney is not a b****. During the fight he was hurt several times and never stopped trying to win. Did you watch it? 

And this is not about his dad. This is about Devin. Devin is an adult. I don’t care what his father has said or done. Devin is taking the punches. So he decided to sue. It’s his choice. When someone wrongs you in business, that’s what you do. Boxing is a business. So if Devin decided to get a baseball bat an exact revenge on Garcia, then you’re the same person who would call him a thug and say this is a business. 

I don’t have an opinion on if Devin should’ve sued or not. I have on opinion on his right to do what he wants to. If he chose not so sue, I would say the same thing. But everyone is clowning him for suing is just wrong in my opinion. 

Ryan Garcia tested positive for a banned substance. Period! People are trying to justify it by saying it wasn’t enough in his system. Or it doesn’t effect his performance. Or he wasn’t using it to get an advantage, he was using it to cut weight. 

All of these excuses are misguided. Here is why. None of them matter. The testing guidelines are what matters. And if there was enough of it in his system to trigger a positive result, then it was too much. And let’s not psychoanalyze Garcia. We can’t give him an excuse. Let him come up with his own. 

And how would anyone know if he took it just to cut weight? How could anyone know if it effected him in a positive way? And not only is it irresponsible to say it, it’s irrelevant. He took something he wasn’t supposed to take, he came back positive for it and that’s that. 

And one more thing, let’s say Devin does decide to fight Garcia again. How can he trust him to do the honorable thing and not take anything banned? Are Garcia’s ethics and morals so high that anyone can be sure he won’t take a banned substance. I don’t know either way. And surely Devin doesn’t know. 

All of the heat that Devin Haney is catching, proves exactly what I have already said. No one in boxing cares about PEDS. They only care of their favorite fighter gets caught. Devin is well within his rights to do what he feels he needs to do.

Hello Breadman, I can see Bud Crawford’s point of view. He is not interested in proving anything. He is interested in the Canelo fight for money and maybe legacy, but first and foremost money. He is ready to cash out. He mostly likely will not get the Canelo fight. So what is the second biggest cash out fight Bud could make? I think it would be to rematch Spence. I would love to see the rematch at a higher weight.

Also what is going on with Boots Ennis? Do we really need this rematch with Chukhadzhian? A fighter who never won a round. I am a big Boots fan, but look at his resume. Who is the best fighter he has faced? He is twenty seven years old and can’t get fights? Doesn’t seem the promoter change has helped much so far. Has to fight in his hometown like Crawford to get a crowd. I totally believe you when you say he is the goods but he should have had major fights and a title fight three or four years ago. He didn’t even win his title in the ring. Something has to give here. Brian Norman Jr and Stanionis don’t want to fight him, or there is not enough interest to raise the money. Boots needs SRL chrisma and management. I want to see Boots fight Crawford, Spence, Stanionis, Brian Norman Jr, Vergil Ortiz. How do you fight the best guy available and unify and clean out the division when no one will fight you? Something has to give. Time waits on no man.

Bread’s Response: I don’t think we can use the term cash out when it comes to Bud. He’s a winner. If he were a cash out guy, he would take the Conor McGregor money. Bud is an ATG and he’s undefeated. He wants to win and he thinks he can beat Canelo. I don’t remotely consider that a cash out.

I think Boots needs to be Boots. His team inherits his personality. However, I think a good blueprint to take is the one GGG used. Stay active. Fight the best available and top rated contender. Stay in the public’s eye. And even if you have to overpay opponents, do it. GGG became one of the biggest stars of the last 20 years and it didn’t start out that way. 

I want you to observe something very closely. The fighters from the class of 2016. Teofimo Lopez, Charles Conwell, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, Richardson Hitchins and Ryan Garcia. Even Tank Davis who is slightly older.

They all may trash talk each other. They all insult each other. Rarely do you hear them disrespect or say anything negative about Boots. There is a reason for that. They know how good he is! They have seen him up close and personal. Some have fought or sparred him. They know! Just like you don't hear fighters in Philly disrespect him. He’s not a bully. He doesn't try to intimidate fighters. He's just that good that in an era full of disrespect, he rarely gets disrespected. 

His team. And when I say team, I mean management, marketing, branding and promotion have to all raise their level of their games to match his talent. He’s doing his job...

What up Breadman?

Didn’t Roach call out Davis? I don’t see anything wrong with that fight. In Roach you have a fighter who is daring to be great and fight the best. By no means is this a Davis cherrypick. If it is then be prepared for the unexpected. As a boxing fan, this fight makes sense as Davis takes on another fluid style fighter. Roach appears hungry and not just a seat filler opponent. This can be “Danger”....

I like that. Time for David to face a legit threat. I can see upset. Nobody should be willing to face Roach, actually your "0" might go. No weight drain issues, bro is moving up to take the new “Face of Boxing” fighter’s crown. Roach may shake shit up and cause a “disturbance in the force”.

Respect,

Michael “Precise” Blount

Bread’s Response: Here is my objective take. I think Davis vs Roach is a decent match up. It’s not a great match up but it’s decent. Davis wants to stay busy. Loma is not available. Stevenson is injured. I guess Teofimo is around but you never know how those negotiations will go….. My point is there aren’t as many options for Davis as you would think. El Rayo is at 140 and he’s not ready to fight in December. 

If Davis vs Roach was in the DMV area it would be cool because Davis is from Baltimore and Roach is from DC. The fight looks like it’s in Texas. I don’t know why and I’m not criticizing because for all we know, they could be getting some money from someone to put it on down there. Who knows?

I don’t hate the fight. And I don’t love it. I’m glad Davis is staying busy. And I’m even more happy that Roach, who is a tough fighter, is getting a nice payday. I will be honest, however. I don’t think Roach will win. I think he’s going to fight hard and not lay down. But Davis is one of the 10 best fighters in the world. He’s also one of the three or four best punchers in the world. Roach can fight but in my opinion he doesn’t have the talent or physical attributes to move up in weight and beat a Davis. But listen, that’s why they fight the fights. I’m happy for Lamont and I wish him well. Let’s see what happens. You can’t win a fight that you don’t take. And he took the smoke.                        

In a hard-fought matchup between seasoned welterweights, Quinton “Quickdraw” Randall, 33, from Houston, improved his record to 15-2-1 (3 KOs) with a unanimous decision victory (96-94, 97-93, 99-91) over Janelson “Jawbreaker” Bocachica, 25, who now stands at 17-3-1 (11 KOs). The bout headlined Red Owl Boxing’s BOXFEST XI, streamed on DAZN from the “Owl’s Nest” in Houston.

“I give myself a C+ performance,” Randall assessed. “It’s not my best, man. Not my best. He’s a dog. He’s a warrior. I knew he was coming to fight, and I appreciate him for even accepting the fight knowing he’s away from home. But honestly, no matter where we were, we were gonna get the same result."

Randall showcased his speed advantage early in the fight, effectively mixing up his attacks to the head and body while controlling the pace. As the rounds progressed, Bocachica struggled to find openings, growing visibly frustrated as he failed to establish a rhythm.

In the later rounds, Randall maintained the upper hand, applying pressure and utilizing a strong jab to set up powerful right hands, leading to his unanimous decision win and his second consecutive victory.

Tipton Walker Jr. Claims Decision Over Marquis Moore in Co-Main Event

In the co-main event, Tipton “Rose Gold” Walker Jr. (10-0-1, 6 KOs) secured a unanimous decision victory (77-75, 77-75, 78-74) against “Marvallis” Marquis Moore (11-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round contest. After a fast-paced first round, Walker began implementing his game plan, leveraging his height and reach advantages.

Walker, who had not fought since 2021 and had not competed in 2022 or 2023, started to pull away in the second half of the bout, landing significant body shots and searching for uppercuts. Moore continued to press forward, attempting to find openings, but ultimately fell short, as Walker emerged victorious.

“I could’ve done better,” Walker admitted. “I could’ve done more. But he’s a good fighter, so I don’t take anything from him. To get to the next level, I had to get past him, so back to the drawing board.”

Giovanni Marquez Shines in Hometown with TKO Victory

Rising super lightweight prospect Giovanni Marquez (11-0, 6 KOs) electrified the crowd with a second-round TKO victory over Thomas Guillemette (8-3, 4 KOs) at 140 lbs. The 23-year-old Houston native, son of former junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez, delivered a powerful performance.

“That’s what the fans want to see,” Marquez said after the fight. “I come to give the fans a show, and that’s what I did today. To be a star, you’ve got to do star stuff like this.”

Marquez began strong, establishing his jab, and finished the fight with a brutal right hand that floored Guillemette. Though Guillemette managed to get up, he was deemed unable to continue, prompting the referee to stop the bout. Marquez has called out Kurt Scoby and former world champion Ryan Garcia for future bouts.

Kumar Prescod Dominates in Professional Debut

Earlier on the DAZN card, 17-year-old Kumar “The Raw One” Prescod (1-0), a nine-time amateur champion, made a strong impression in his professional debut, scoring a second-round TKO victory over Skyler Mauller (0-2). Prescod showcased his superior skills, evading pressure and landing power shots.

The second round proved decisive as Prescod upped the tempo, dropping Mauller twice before forcing his corner to stop the fight.

Dayan Depestre Earns Unanimous Decision in Rematch

In the opening bout of the main card, Dayan “The Cuban Sniper” Depestre (5-0-1, 3 KOs) defeated Trevon Smith (2-4, 1 KO) in a rematch, scoring a unanimous decision victory (40-36, 39-37, 39-37).

Depestre started strong, landing impactful body shots and combinations, ultimately controlling the fight. Smith, who took the bout on short notice, showed heart but could not overcome Depestre’s skill, leaving the judges to declare Depestre the winner.

#QuintonRandall #JanelsonBocachica #BoxfestXI #TiptonWalkerJr #GiovanniMarquez #KumarPrescod #DayanDepestre #HoustonBoxing #DAZN

Anthony Yarde will return to the ring on October 19 at London’s Copper Box Arena, with a promotion organized by Boxxer. The 33-year-old light heavyweight has been inactive since his impressive third-round stoppage of Marko Nikolic back in February.

Yarde was originally slated to face Joshua Buatsi but found himself in a dispute with Queensberry Promotions, which had supported him throughout his career. This disagreement led to legal threats from Frank Warren, but Yarde’s upcoming fight under Boxxer’s banner has reignited hopes for a potential showdown with Buatsi, who is also a Boxxer fighter, should Yarde secure a win on the undercard of the Adam Azim-Ohara Davies bout.

“I’m back in my home city, and I can’t wait,” Yarde expressed, although an opponent for his comeback fight is still to be confirmed. “Everything about it – the occasion; the journey; the arena; the whole event – I’m very excited. The Copper Box Arena is a special venue for me. It’s near where I grew up, and I’ve had some great nights there. I’ve been training hard and waiting to get back in the ring to deliver another explosive knockout performance.”

Boxer’s Ben Shalom shared his enthusiasm for Yarde’s return, stating, “We are excited to introduce the electrifying talent of Anthony Yarde to our High Voltage fight night on Saturday, October 19. It’s a huge addition to an already stacked fight card. Fans can look forward to an incredible atmosphere and an action-packed night of boxing at the Copper Box Arena in London.”

Yarde’s divisional rival, Dan Azeez, will also be on the same undercard, fighting Lewis Edmondson. The card will feature several other exciting matchups, including Michael McKinson taking on Tulani Mbenge at welterweight, Jeamie TKV facing Franklin Ignatius at heavyweight, and Francesca Hennessy’s next bantamweight contest.

Meanwhile, Buatsi remains on track for a potential fight with the winner of the upcoming Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol matchup for the undisputed title on October 12, having recently defeated Willy Hutchinson via split decision at Wembley Stadium.

As Yarde prepares to make his highly anticipated return, the boxing world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver the explosive performance he promises.

#AnthonyYarde #BoxingReturn #CopperBoxArena #Boxxer #LightHeavyweight

Nick Ball and Ronny Rios have officially weighed in below the 126 lbs featherweight limit for their highly anticipated fight for the WBA title at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday.

Ball (20-0, 11 KOs), at just 27 years old, is set to make the first defense of his title in his home city. Rios (34-4, 17 KOs), aged 34, is seeking to capture a world title for the third time and his first at featherweight. Ball tipped the scales at 125.1 lbs, while Rios weighed in slightly heavier at 125.6 lbs.

Weigh-In Results:

WBA Featherweight Championship - 12 Rounds

• Nick Ball – 125.1 lbs
• Ronny Rios – 125.6 lbs

British and Commonwealth Junior Welterweight Title - 12 Rounds

• Henry Turner – 139.7 lbs
• Jack Rafferty – 139.7 lbs

Bantamweight - 10 Rounds

• Andrew Cain – 117.1 lbs
• Lazaro Casseres – 116.1 lbs

Lightweight - 10 Rounds

• Jadier Herrera – 134 lbs
• Oliver Flores – 134.6 lbs

Bantamweight - 6 Rounds

• Jack Turner – 120.1 lbs
• Gonzalo Corinaldesi – 118.1 lbs

Junior Welterweight - 6 Rounds

• Nelson Birchall – 130.5 lbs
• Mark Butler – 129.9 lbs

Welterweight - 4 Rounds

• Lucas Biswana – 145.1 lbs
• Jakub Laskowski – 144.1 lbs

Lightweight - 8 Rounds

• James McGivern – 135.1 lbs
• Requen Facundo Arce – 135.4 lbs

Middleweight - 4 Rounds

• Joe Cooper – 159.1 lbs
• Lukasz Barabasz – 159.1 lbs

Junior Featherweight - 4 Rounds

• Brad Strand – 122.5 lbs
• Marvin Solano – 125.7 lbs

Junior Middleweight - 4 Rounds

• Walter Fury – 156.1 lbs
• Dale Arrowsmith – 155.1 lbs

With both fighters making weight, the stage is set for an exciting night of boxing as they prepare to battle for the coveted WBA featherweight title. Will Ball successfully defend his championship in front of his hometown fans, or will Rios finally capture the world title he has long sought?

#NickBall #RonnyRios #WBAChampionship #Boxing #FightNight #LiverpoolBoxing

The European super-welterweight champion Abass Baraou (16-1) has seen Milan Prat (24-1) installed as his mandatory challenger. The EBU has set a deadline of October 16 for purse bids, or for an agreement to be made.

The roles were reversed when Prat was champion and Baraou his challenger; they were set to meet in November 2022, until a postponement. Prat then lost to Slawa Spomer, and Baraou beat Sam Eggington to finally become champion. 

Prat has recorded four straight wins since the loss to Spomer, but against inferior opposition.

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Mahmoud Charr (33-4) will defend his version of the WBA heavyweight title against Kubrat Pulev (31-3) on December 7 in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

Their fight was first set for March 30, before Charr suffered an injury. 

Charr will turn 40 by the time they enter the ring, should they do so as scheduled. Pulev is 43.

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Former IBF featherweight champion Sarah Mahfoud (14-2) has been sidelined with pneumonia, contributing to her fight against Danila Ramos (13-3) that was set for October 12 in Copenhagen, Denmark being postponed. A new date for the entire promotion will be announced soon. 

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Former IBF middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri (22-1-1) will fight on October 19 in Falkensee, Germany. His opponent is to be confirmed. On the same Agon Sports-Kuc Boxing promotion are the heavyweights Dusan Veletic (8-1-1) and Sanel Hasanovic (7-1-1). Veletic fights Tomas Salek; Hasanovic has been matched against Christian Demaj (7-3).

William Scull-Vladimir Shishkin headlines contest the vacant IBF super-middleweight title in the main event.

While it is not unusual to hear that an amateur boxer about to turn pro has options from which to choose, rarely do these options include a completely new direction; a handbrake turn so sharp it would lead not only to whiplash but the end of one career and the start of another. 

Then again, perhaps the difference between boxer and professional wrestler is minimal these days. Perhaps in recent years the lines between the two have blurred, with boxing veering more and more into pro wrestling territory and boxers in turn developing a kinship with their Lycra-clad counterparts. 

Whatever it is, to hear Delicious Orie, Britain’s next heavyweight hope, reveal that he is considering a move to the WWE rather than turn professional as a boxer should be more surprising than it is. Suddenly, though, it seems almost sensible, at least to consider it, and logical for this option to now exist for a boxer in 2024. 

Indeed, should Orie take up the WWE on their offer, he would not be the first to curtail a boxing career in favor of choreographed fights. Anthony Ogogo, another boxer who represented Great Britain at the Olympics, also made the same move, albeit his move to pro wrestling was largely the result of an eye injury he sustained while boxing. 

In the case of Orie, the motivating factor here is quite different. Here, the motivation to wrestle is presumably to safeguard his future, lower the risk of damage, and express his personality, or a version of it, with the aim of becoming a star. It is a path not without its own difficulties, nor indeed the potential for damage, yet, when weighed up against all that is at stake when a boxer enters the ring, it is easy to see its appeal. 

“I’ve been invited to potentially join the WWE, as mad as that sounds,” Orie said on Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe podcast. “I just went out there to see what it’s all about and it was a fantastic experience. I learnt so much over the few days I was there. It’s definitely something that I have got on the table as an option.”

Asked by presenter Andy Scott if the offer was serious, Orie then said, “It’s real. I got the message during the Olympic Games and at the time I wasn’t really looking at my messages or anything like that. I was purely focused on the Games. 

“Afterwards I was on holiday and that was when I saw the message. Initially I just thought it was a scam. Then I looked more into it and it was legit. They said, ‘We see your potential and we would like to work with you.’”

Orie, born in Moscow, Russia to a Russian mother and Nigerian father, moved to England at the age of seven, later to settle in Wolverhampton. He was a good student, by all accounts, and graduated with a degree in Economics and Management from Aston University in 2020. He also boxed alongside his studies, winning gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 European Games. 

The big one, of course, was the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with Orie tipped to go far in the tournament and bag a lucrative professional contract off the back of it. However, that dream would end in disappointment when Orie, one of the favorites, was beaten by Amenia’s Davit Chaloyan in the first round. 

Now 27, Orie is a good age for a professional heavyweight, yet will no doubt feel that he has little time to waste. Had he a chunk of gold around his neck, his decision as far as turning pro would have been a quicker one, but still a decision will soon need to be made. 

“Ultimately I do have a decision to make,” he said. “It’s not a decision I’m taking lightly. It’s something I’ve got to really take my time with. At the end of the day this will shape my whole career and influence it. It’s going to be huge. 

“I’m at the stage now where I am waiting for the offers, including the WWE as well, and looking at the contract and seeing what is expected from me from the (boxing) promoters and the WWE side. I just want to have all the options on the table so I can then make my full decision. Whatever it is I decide to do, I’m going to put my 100 per cent commitment into it and will sacrifice everything to be the best.”

Although Orie speaks with a maturity and intelligence, and although he is sensible to assess his options and not count any out, one could argue, perhaps, that the answer for Orie lies in the very fact he is even taking the time to deliberate. In other words, given that the sport in which he currently competes is a sport rife with uncertainty and danger, surely the last thing you want is to be uncertain yourself or distracted by outside influences. It is, after all, neither a part-time job nor a hobby, this boxing lark. It is instead something that demands from its participants full commitment and focus. It is not something you choose to do necessarily, but rather something that chooses you; something you absolutely have to do. 

For Delicious Orie, maybe there isn’t quite the same burning need or desire. Maybe, by virtue of him even considering another option, he has inadvertently arrived at his decision and should be led now as much by his gut as either his head or heart. 

For all his talent, he won’t want to become the latest amateur star to turn professional simply because it is deemed the prescribed next step in a fighting life. Do that and you are falling into the trap of the student who enrolls at university without a clue as to what they want to study or do in the future. You instead go for the experience, then come away with that, a student loan debt, and potentially a drink problem, as well as the feeling of being even more lost upon graduating than you were when you enrolled. 

Besides, if you don’t need to box, why on earth would you?

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: "Bleed for This."

At a cinema in the West End of London in 2016, Vinny Pazienza – or Vinny Paz, as he was by then known – was the guest of honor at the British premiere of “Bleed For This,” the biopic that charted his scarcely believable comeback from a broken spine.

“I didn’t think it was going to turn out that good,” Paz told me back then. “It’s a fabulous movie. It’s 99 per cent on the money. In fact, they had to under-exaggerate things because my life is so crazy, you wouldn’t even believe it.”

Indeed, without the “based on true events” prefix, “Bleed For This” would seem so far-fetched, and so plainly ridiculous, that the scriptwriters would still be trying to escape from their straightjackets.

I mean, imagine trying to get that story over the line.

“OK, tell me again – he has what fitted to his head?”

“A halo, essentially a big metal cage.”

“Right, right. And how does that stay in place?”

“Screws.”

“Screws?”

“Yep. Four long ones that are drilled into his skull.”

“Right. And then what happens?”

“He starts weightlifting in secret.”

“In secret?”

“Yep. In his basement.”

“What, with a cage screwed to his head?”

“Big time.”

“Right. And then he has the cage unscrewed from his head?”

“Yep. While refusing to take a single painkiller.”

The movie begins with a naked woman watching a clingfilmed Paz working out on an exercise bike – as good a place to start as any – while he struggles to make the junior welterweight 140-pound limit ahead of his 1988 loss to Roger Mayweather. It then focuses on his alliance with Kevin Rooney (played by Aaron Eckhart) and the 1991 leap to junior middleweight, after which he beat Gilbert Dele to win the WBA title. (By the way, seemingly fading fast at 140 and then jumping up two weight classes to win a second world title is an impressive resurrection all on its own).

Those early plot lines give us a taster of Paz’s mischievous and always-loveable character, of which Miles Teller does a terrific job depicting. Facially, Teller and Paz are not hugely similar, but squint during certain scenes – particularly those in which sunglasses are worn – and it’s easy to make the leap. What Teller struggles with, however, is looking like a fighter. The stance is wrong, the way he holds his hands is wrong, the way his arms flail when he throws punches is wrong, and even the way his eyes swell is wrong. Teller is likely not helped by the fact he shares a ring with real boxers in every fight scene (Peter Quillin plays Roger Mayweather, Jean Pierre Augustin plays Gilbert Dele, and Edwin Rodriguez plays Roberto Duran).

He’s not the first actor to have those issues, of course, but when boxing is on screen, this film is at its weakest. Or at least it is for the likes of you and me. That’s the curse of being a boxing fan watching a boxing movie. Very simply, we know too much. That’s also why boxing fans are not generally the target audience for boxing movies. If we were, we’d also have an issue with the factual inaccuracies and misrepresentation of “true events.”

Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of that here. We go straight from the Roger Mayweather fight to the Gilbert Dele fight as if mere months have passed, when, in reality, those two contests took place three years and seven fights apart. There’s no mention, for example, of Pazienza tuning up at 154 before he took on Dele. That is completely forgivable, however. Things on screen need to zip along at a good pace. The last thing we need is a cinematic reproduction of Paz outpointing Ron Amundsen.

Not so forgivable, however, is turning a podgy 43-year-old Roberto Duran, who hasn’t won a meaningful fight in years, into some kind of indestructible monster in the final scenes. Not only was Duran far from an indestructible monster when he took on Paz, he was certainly not Pazienza’s first comeback opponent. Worse is when Lou Duva, who is depicted throughout like a heartless mobster boss, proudly tells Paz the fight is for the “IBC world super middleweight title” and Paz reacts like he has just been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. For us grizzled boxing fans, that’s when everything that was so very good and so wholesome about the previous 88 minutes is almost undone. Thankfully, everything before that is indeed so good and so wholesome that even the wisest of wiseasses should be able to get over it.

There are other inaccuracies dotted around, but it seems churlish – just too wiseass-ish – to list them all here. Because what this film is really about is not dates and times and titles but the lengths to which the human spirit can stretch. And what Paz achieved in those days, weeks and months after his car crash is heroic in the extreme.

“I never once considered giving up,” he said at the premiere. “I looked in the mirror, I cried quite a bit. I said, ‘What are you doing, Vinny Paz?’ The same second after, I said, ‘You’re gonna do this or you’re gonna die trying,’ and that’s how I felt.”

By some distance, the most terrifying character in “Bleed For This” is not Roger Mayweather or Gilbert Dele or Roberto Duran, or even Lou Duva, but that steel halo that Paz has screwed into his head following a car accident that left doctors uncertain if he would be able to walk again, let alone fight.

He chose the halo over any other treatment because it was the only option that offered any hope of returning to the ring, and the fitting and removal of it – not reenactments for the squeamish – look more like something from the “Saw” franchise than a biopic. Scenes of him banging the halo on a car door, weeping with despair and refusing a wheelchair as he shuffles to the house where his family will see this hellish contraption for the first time, are genuinely moving because we know, from photographs and home videos from the time, they must depict something very close to real-life events.

Very strictly told to not exercise, Paz then sets his alarm for 3:30 a.m. every day so he can do so without his family hearing. This road to recovery, and the impossible nature of it, is every bit as uplifting as Rocky training in the snow in “Rocky IV,” and the relationship between Paz and Rooney every bit as charming as Rocky and Mick. Eckhart, thanks in no small part to dutifully having a sizable chunk of his hairline hacked off, does a solid job of representing Rooney at a time in his life when alcoholism was threatening to take over. After six months, a fit and ready Paz then has the halo removed, refusing to take painkillers as they unscrew it from his skull.

“I was an idiot for doing that,” Paz later reflected. “If I knew what it was going to be like, I’d have been shot up with morphine. I had screws in my head for months and months, and then they had to take them out – it was a crazy moment.”

So crazy and downright wondrous is Paz’s recovery, in fact, that the film didn’t need to go any further than that. It didn’t need an IBC title, and it didn’t need Roberto Duran. Paz alone is more than inspiration enough.

Welterweight Quinton Randall is eager to climb into contender status as he prepares to face Janelson Figueroa Bocachica in his hometown of Houston tomorrow. At 34 years old, Randall has longed for this opportunity since watching Bocachica battle a previous opponent, Brian Norman Jr.

The bout, which will headline a DAZN broadcast, takes place at the Red Owl Boxing Arena.

Randall (14-2-1, 3 KOs) usually heads out of town for training camps, but this time, he opted to stay in Houston, collaborating with coaches Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro. The Houston-based team has an action-packed month ahead, with Austin Trout competing in a bare-knuckle fight, Regis Prograis facing Jack Catterall in the U.K. on October 26, and O’Shaquie Foster looking to reclaim his WBC junior lightweight title from Robson Conceição on November 2.

“This by far has been one of my better camps, probably the best camp I've ever had at home,” Randall said. “I usually leave for camp to avoid distractions, but this time, everything has been full-fledged, down to the science — the road work, swimming, strength and conditioning, boxing training, sparring, yoga, recovery, food, and hydration. Everything has been perfect. I’ve been stress-free.”

Randall faced setbacks with a unanimous decision loss to then-titleholder Norman last November, followed by another unanimous decision defeat to Gor Yeritsyan in February. He bounced back with a local win in Humble, Texas, in May and is now determined to show that those defeats were merely lessons on his journey.

“I learned a lot, man,” Randall reflected. “I learned to take care of my body. If you're not feeling well, don't fight. That loss will set you back. I’ve got a new coach, Bobby Benton, and everything’s been going great. I haven’t lost faith in myself.”

Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs), 25, from Detroit, enters this fight following a no-contest against Norman in March due to an accidental foul that halted the bout before the end of the fourth round. Prior to that, Bocachica faced challenges, losing consecutive unanimous decisions to Alberto Palmetta and Roiman Villa and drawing with Shinard Bunch in a match many believed Bunch won.

“I see him as a solid, tough guy,” Randall said of Bocachica. “As far as him having a lot of skills, I don’t see a lot. But his style can upset someone like me if I don’t stay sharp and take him seriously.”

Randall's match against Bocachica comes after his scheduled October 6 bout in Dallas was postponed due to ticket issues. With his coaches unavailable for the rescheduled October 26 date, Randall seized the chance to face Bocachica.

“I wanted to fight him after seeing his performance against Brian Norman Jr.,” Randall said. “Lo and behold, I’m fighting him. Everything happened for a reason.”

#QuintonRandall #JanelsonFigueroaBocachica #Welterweight #HoustonFightNight #Boxing #DAZN #FightPreparation #BoxingNews #BoxingCommunity

Australian junior middleweight star Tim Tszyu has been honing his skills in Thailand alongside his Hall of Fame father, Kostya Tszyu, as he gears up for a significant matchup. Tim is set to face former 154 lbs champion Bakhram Murtazaliev on October 19 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

Kostya, a legendary former 140 lbs champion, has played a pivotal role in Tim's training camp, helping him prepare for this crucial fight. He will be observing ringside in Orlando, marking the first time he’s seen his son compete in person since Tim’s professional debut. Leading Tim’s corner will be his uncle and lifelong coach, Igor Golubev.

#TimTszyu #KostyaTszyu #BakhramMurtazaliev #Boxing #JuniorMiddleweight #OrlandoFightNight #AustralianBoxing #FightPrep #BoxingFans

In April, Dennis McCann added the European junior featherweight title to his British and Commonwealth straps by outclassing the dangerous Ionut Baluta over 12 rounds. Last August, McCann and Baluta engaged in a bloody, technical draw after battling through nine intense rounds.

The way McCann, now 16-0-1 (8 KOs), approached and dominated the rematch demonstrated his growth both personally and professionally. At just 23 years old, he is eager to continue gathering experience and knowledge.

McCann has set his sights on a couple of veteran former champions whom he believes could help him reach the next level. “I’d like to fight TJ Doheny. I think that’s the fight to make. It would be well-paid for both of us. Out with the old and in with the new,” McCann told BoxingScene.

“He’s a former world champion and everything. I’m also looking to fight Nonito Donaire in the middle of next year. He’s still very dangerous and a legend in boxing. It would be great to share the ring with him.”

This ambition seems to contradict rumors that McCann is set to defend his British and European titles against Peter McGrail on another Queensberry Vs. Matchroom 5 Vs. 5 show.

Last weekend, McGrail, now 10-1 (6 KOs), recorded arguably the most impressive win of his career by defeating former British champion Brad Foster in two rounds with a picture-perfect left hook to the body. The former Olympian has rebounded from a shocking knockout loss to Ja’Rico O’Quinn last November and has been mandated for a shot at McCann’s titles by both the British Boxing Board of Control and the EBU.

“Yeah, well, obviously if they pay right, no problem at all. I’ll happily knock him out; I really believe I’ll knock him straight out,” McCann said. “He just got knocked out by a journeyman. He has nowhere to go. He needs me; I don’t need him. What’s he got to offer me? No one even knows who he is. But listen, as I said, money talks. If the money's right, no problem at all. I’d knock him straight out, and I’d be happy to do so.”

While McCann waits for his next move to be finalized and McGrail enjoys a couple of weeks of celebration, two more of Britain’s leading junior featherweights are getting closer to meeting in the ring.

On November 2, Liam Davies and Shabaz Masoud will headline a TNT show at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena.

Davies, now 16-0 (8 KOs), has put together an impressive run of form over the past couple of years, elevating himself to the top of the domestic pile at 122 lbs. A series of clinical stoppage victories over competitive opponents has earned Davies the fringe IBO title and underscored his aspirations for genuine world-level competition.

The unbeaten Masoud, 13-0 (4 KOs), is a talented and strategic fighter who holds two amateur victories over Davies. However, he will need to elevate his game to pose a significant threat to the man from Donington. There is considerable intrigue surrounding this matchup, as Masoud has shown flashes of ability that suggest he could be capable of more.

McCann, however, is not among those who doubt Davies’ capabilities.

“I fancy Liam Davies,” he said. “I’d like to see how Liam performs as the rounds go on because I know he’s tight at the weight. I’d like to see if he holds the power and the engine late in the fight, but I think he could get the stoppage.

“Shabaz is a bit flashy; he’s a solid fighter, but nothing I haven’t seen before in my whole career, to be honest. I’m not writing him off, but I have to fancy Davies, 100 percent.”

#DennisMcCann #Boxing #JuniorFeatherweight #TJDohety #NonitoDonaire #LiamDavies #ShabazMasoud #BritishBoxing #FightNight #BoxingFans

Trainer Adam Booth was satisfied with Josh Kelly’s recent victory over Ishmael Davis at Wembley Stadium, which took place a fortnight ago. He hopes this win will pave the way for Kelly to secure significant domestic fights or even pursue world titles.

Originally, Kelly was scheduled to face Liam Smith, but the Liverpool star withdrew just a week before the bout due to illness. Davis, previously undefeated, stepped in on short notice. Kelly's record improved to 16-1-1 (8 KOs), and although he was largely impressive, he had to fend off a late charge from Davis. The majority decision in Kelly’s favor raised eyebrows, with Booth fuming at the narrow margin of victory; the decisive scorecards read 115-113 and 115-114 for Kelly.

“He did okay, but he beat a very good fighter in first and second gear. I scored it 9-3,” Booth stated.

Booth expressed particular satisfaction with Kelly’s mindset throughout fight week, emphasizing how the fighter remained focused despite the change in opponents.

“That was the most impressive thing of all—he’s now proved that all these mental problems that he had in the past, which were affecting him in his profession, have been dealt with. He didn’t blink once,” Booth added. “He really didn’t, in terms of, ‘If it’s not him, it’s him.’ That was genuine. It wasn’t bravado. It wasn’t just an act. He genuinely believes in himself now and that he’s got the skills to deal with any style. That was probably the most pleasing thing for me because we’d completed the training. We were about to do the last session when we got the news about Liam. I’m really impressed with him and how he stayed the consummate professional.”

While Booth had long wanted the Smith fight for Kelly, he now considers the Liverpool man too “unreliable.”

“We were left, having trained… It wasn’t just the pull-out; the fight itself took ages to put together, and the communication wasn’t flowing. We weren’t getting answers on whether the fight was happening or not. We committed to it, but he wasn’t reliable at the start. We were told it was March, then April, then May, and it just dragged on until Spencer Brown put it together for September and got it contracted.

“Had Spencer not got Ishmael Davis approved, then Josh wouldn’t have fought on the Wembley show, and we would have trained for eight, nine months for nothing. That’s the hard thing to stomach. I’m well aware injuries happen, but the whole situation has left a bad taste. Ideally, I’d like Smith to be in the rear-view mirror and focus on bigger names and fights.”

Booth remains confident that Kelly, a 2016 Olympian, will fulfill his potential. When asked how much more there is to see from his talented contender, Booth explained: “If you look at his career and even the last fight, if you take the highlights from each round and put them together, you can see a selection of a lot of stuff because he has so many different styles. He spins a lot of plates, and the game plan for Liam Smith was really set and wouldn’t have looked the same as it did for Ishmael Davis.”

Booth is also working with David Adelaye, who could potentially be paired with Solomon Dacres in a fight that was supposed to take place earlier this year. He believes Kelly could secure a significant fight that will allow him to deliver on his potential.

“The big domestic fights, as well as the title fights,” Booth stated regarding what he hopes for next. “Josh can do anything between 154 and 160. We all love the big domestic names: [Chris] Eubank, [Conor] Benn, [Hamzah] Sheeraz. I keep hearing rumors about Kell Brook wanting to get back in the mix. Then there are the world champions and the elites. He [Kelly] is in his prime at 30 years old, and it’s time for him to take these big fights, the ones he can’t just win in first and second gear.”

#JoshKelly #BoxingNews #WembleyVictory #DomesticFights #TitleContention #AdamBooth #LiamSmith #BoxingFuture #KellyVsDavis #BoxingFans

Tyson Fury has set his sights firmly on Oleksandr Usyk, aiming to settle unfinished business after suffering his first professional defeat in their May 2024 clash. That fight crowned Usyk as the division’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, with the Ukrainian taking a split decision win, largely thanks to a dominant ninth round.

Despite the loss, Fury is confident heading into the rematch and told Undisputed that he believes he did enough to win the first bout. He’s now embracing the mindset of a challenger, which he says fuels his drive to reclaim the titles.

“For the first time in years, I’m going in there as a challenger, not a champion,” Fury said. “I’ve got a goal again, and it’s giving me that fire I needed.”

Fury also predicted a trilogy fight with Usyk, drawing parallels to legendary rivalries like Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney. He believes that a third showdown is inevitable after he secures victory in the rematch.

“I think this will be one of the great trilogies, me and Usyk. One each, and then the trilogy,” Fury stated.

Fury has also left the door open to future bouts with other heavyweight contenders, including Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, with both fighters eyeing their own shot at the undisputed crown.

#TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #BoxingNews #Undisputed #HeavyweightChampion #BoxingFans #AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #FuryVsUsyk #BoxingUpdates

Legendary heavyweight George Foreman, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, is widely regarded as one of the best boxers in history. Though he faced many iconic opponents, his 1974 bout against Muhammad Ali—known as ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’—remains his most famous.

In that fight, Ali's famous rope-a-dope strategy led him to an eighth-round stoppage, securing the WBC and WBA heavyweight titles and cementing his legacy as 'The Greatest.' Despite Ali’s legendary status, Foreman named someone else as the greatest boxer of all time during an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

“They ask me who is the best boxer of all time—Joe Louis,” Foreman declared.

Louis, known as the ‘Brown Bomber,’ dominated the ring from 1934 to 1951, amassing a record of 66 wins (52 by knockout) and just 3 losses. As heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, Louis defended his title an astounding 25 times.

While Foreman praised Louis’s boxing prowess, he also recognized Ali’s unparalleled influence outside the ring.

“But I tell you, the best man to ever do anything was Muhammad Ali,” Foreman added, acknowledging Ali’s activism and refusal to be drafted into the military during the Vietnam War.

In addition to Ali and Louis, Foreman mentioned another opponent from his career whom he believes surpassed Ali’s skill in the ring, though he did not disclose the name.

#GeorgeForeman #JoeLouis #MuhammadAli #BoxingLegends #GOAT #BoxingHistory #Heavyweight #SportsNews #BoxingFans #TheGreatest

Jahi Tucker-Quilisto Madera and Damian Knyba-Richard Lartey have been confirmed for the undercard of the rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster on November 2 at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Conceicao and Foster again contest the WBC junior-lightweight title controversially awarded via split decision to Conceicao when they fought in July, and Raymond Muratalla fights Jesus Perez over 10 rounds at lightweight.

The eight-round middleweight fight between the promising Tucker and Madera, and the heavyweight contest between Knyba and Lartey, also over eight rounds, will be complemented by a further heavyweight contest, over six rounds between Ali Feliz and Rashad Coulter.

A 10-round fight at featherweight will also take place, between Yan Santana and Eduardo Baez.

#JahiTucker #RichardLartey #RobsonConceicao #OshaquieFoster #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #Boxing #Sports #News #RaymondMuratalla #JesusPerez #Lightweight 

Arthur Biyarslanov, known as “The Wolf,” returns to the ring in October 17. The undefeated Canadian (16-0, 14 KOs) will face veteran Argentine Jonathan “El Potro” Eniz (35-20-1, 16 KOs). This fight will be the co-main event on a card headlined by Alexandre Gaumont versus Cristian Zárate.Arthur Biyarslanov, a junior welterweight contender, is seeking a world title opportunity in 2025.

“October 17th will just bring me one step closer to my ultimate goal. I can’t wait,” Biyarslanov declared.

However, the Russian-Canadian boxer will first have to face Eniz, who has fought over 340 rounds. Notably, the Argentine boxer will be looking for his fifth victory against an undefeated opponent.

Also on the card, Steve Claggett returns after his loss to Teofimo López to face Eduardo Estela. Vanessa Lepage Joanisse is aiming to overcome Angélica López Flores to contend for her second world title.

Other matchups include Mehmet Unal versus Armenak Hovhannisyan. Likewise, Luis Santana will take on Sebastián Aguirre, and Shamil Khataev will face Juan José Velasco. Pascal Villeneuve will make his return after eight years out of the ring, going up against Roberto Dionicio Moreno.

The night could mark an important step for Arthur Biyarslanov in his career toward the world title.Ver esta publicación en Instagram

#ArthurBiyarslanov #JonathanEniz #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #FightFans #FightNews #Sports #News

There’s a scene in the Will Ferrell film “Kicking and Screaming” where Robert Duvall’s character is trying to compare his manhood and success with Mike Ditka’s.

“I can’t hear you,” Ditka responds, flashing his Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl season memento, “my ring is making too much noise.”

Brazil’s Robson Conceicao similarly wears his World Boxing Council super-featherweight belt to drown out the yelps from those criticizing the validity of the 35-year-old’s position as a world champion.

In case you forgot, two-time Olympic gold medalist Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) was dismissed mightily by observers including the ESPN broadcast crew when he pulled out a July 6 split-decision victory (116-112, 112-116, 115-113) over then-champion O’Shaquie Foster in Newark, N.J., to capture the title.

A belt had evaded Conceicao through losses to champions Oscar Valdez (2021), Shakur Stevenson (2022) and a draw to Emanuel Navarrete (2023) before that.

When the breakthrough title victory arrived, many were aghast. ESPN analyst Mark Kriegel scored the bout 11 rounds to one for Foster, as play-by-play broadcaster Joe Tessitore pointed to CompuBox numbers saying Conceicao landed only 11 percent of his 701 punches and only landed 10 or more punches in two of the rounds.

“I don’t focus on criticism. My goal is to train with my team and get ready for the next fight. I don’t pay attention to (negativity),” Conceicao told BoxingScene Thursday. 

Immediately after the first bout, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum defended Conceicao, noting that the new champion threw more than 250 more punches, with Conceicao responding that Houston’s Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) lost because he ran from toe-to-toe action.

“I just hope (Foster) will come to fight and not shy away,” Conceicao said. I’m sure he’s coming to take the title back for himself. It’s not going to happen. Don’t shy away, because I’m ready.

Nothing in my life has ever been easy and this is no exception. Now, as a world champion, I’m expecting things to be a little bit harder, but I am training and I am confident and looking forward to it.”

Going unbothered through the controversy requires a tenacity Conceicao built in winning the consecutive gold medals in 2012 and 2016.

His embrace for the toughest pro fights possible is an extension of that willingness to take on the best to prove he reigns supreme.

“I’ve never had the opportunity to choose my fights,” Conceicao said. “These opportunities arise and I’ve taken them on and done my best.”

Knowing the best possible opponent is likely going to be summoned in each assignment has enabled Conceicao to search for a more convincing display of his title worthiness.

Preparation “is very focused and disciplined. I never give up. I’m very determined. When you focus on something, you will continually work to accomplish what you want, and this will not be any different,” he said.

The timing of his bout leaves him positioned to meet the winner of the Dec. 7 WBO super-featherweight title fight in Arizona between WBO champion Navarrete and WBO interim champion Valdez.

Both fighters are promoted by Top Rank.

Valdez defeated Conceicao on the scorecard (117-110, 115-112, 115-112) after testing positive for a banned substance, phentarmine, and Stevenson beat him by wider scores after missing weight. 

“I’d like to fight Navarrete because that was not a convincing loss,” Conceicao said of the majority draw in which one judge scored the bout for Navarrete.

With less than one month to go before the Foster sequel, Conceicao is braced to answer the critics he’s never listened to.

“(Foster) will be different this time. He will fight for the title. I am ready. That’s what I want – somebody who comes to fight and not run away,” Conceicao said. “Come to fight. I am persistent in accomplishing my goal of winning.”

#RobsonConceicao #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #News #Sports #WBC #Featherweight #RobertDuvall

Nick Ball was in a confident mood at today’s final press conference ahead of his first defense of his WBA featherweight title against Ronny Rios.  

Ball will take on Rios this Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in front of a roaring home crowd. Ball will be back boxing in his home city for the first time since 2020 and he’s spent his last two fights in Saudi Arabia – his first a controversial draw against WBC champion Rey Vargas, followed by victory over Raymond Ford for his world title. 

Ball is thrilled to be fighting in front of his beloved Liverpool crowd and will be sharing the stage with four of his stablemates from the thriving Everton Red Triangle gym. 

“It’s massive isn’t it because it’s in Liverpool, my home city,” Ball told BoxingScene. “Everyone’s behind me, come out to support me, and in previous fights, they haven’t been able to come. So this one they can, so I need to be putting a show on for them.

“The gym’s flying, we’re all flying in the gym together, and we’re going to be putting on a show for everyone that’s coming out. It’s going to be a special night.” 

Ball has emerged as one of the biggest talents in British boxing in recent years and his promoter, Frank Warren, has plans for him to become one of the leading stars in the UK. Such plans could go up in smoke if Ball was to lose to Rios on Saturday night. 

Rios, now 34, is a veteran and will be having his third attempt at winning a world title. At today’s press conference, Rios was vocal about how his experience would be key to victory. Ball, however, is not worried about that.

“Every opponent’s dangerous,” said Ball. “Boxing is boxing, and when you get in there it's dangerous you know. We all know that’s what we signed up for but I’m not really too focused on how dangerous he can be, I’m the one to be worried about, not him.”

Ball and many boxing fans feel that he should be defending two world titles on Saturday night after he was awarded only a draw against Vargas for the WBC title. The now WBA champion has plans to capture the famous green belt he was denied, and the other titles should he beat Rios on Saturday.

“I want whoever’s got the belts,” he said. “Yeah get the [WBC] belt, become unified and undisputed, so yeah, the top spot. Obviously, I’m world champion now, there’s three more belts out there, I need to get them.”

#NickBall #WBA #Featherweight #RonnyRios #Liverpool #Boxing #BoxingFans #BoxingNews #WBC #ReyVargas #News #Sports

Terence Crawford seems to have a single-minded pursuit of Canelo Alvarez in progress for now, but the pound-for-pound elite and unbeaten four-division champion is finding it hard to deny that he, too, is being targeted.

The past week has seen WBA junior-middleweight champion Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) called out by former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor for a dual boxing-MMA series, by social-media wonder Ryan Garcia all while the mandatory fight that Crawford has earned against WBO/WBC 154-pound champion Sebastian Fundora looms.

Both McGregor and Crawford acknowledged the interest from Saudi Arabia boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh in staging the two-fight boxing-MMA series between the pair.

McGregor said on a video blog that Crawford told him, “I don’t fancy taking a kick.”

Crawford responded, “I’m not getting in no Octagon so you can start kicking and elbowing me. We’d make a shit-ton of money, but (McGregor) ain’t about to be kicking me.”

McGregor in 2017 participated in the second-most lucrative pay-per-view fight of all time when he was stopped in the 10th round by Floyd Mayweather Jr.

McGregor, 36, hasn’t fought in the UFC since he suffered a second consecutive loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021, and a push for him to fight Michael Chandler has crumbled through injuries and drug-testing requirements.

He’s previously attempted to box new International Boxing Hall of Fame candidate Manny Pacquiao.

“Conor McGregor is basically the prostitute of combat sports – you get to beat his ass anytime you want, and he’ll let you beat his ass. He’s into it,” former welterweight boxing champion and McGregor’s former sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi said on Thursday’s edition of ProBox TV’s “Top Stories.”

“I start to question if there’s a sadism, masochism to it: He likes it as long as he gets paid.”

Mentioning Crawford’s name is a hazardous undertaking, former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri said on “Top Stories.”

“Crawford is much meaner than Mayweather. With his killer instinct, he will really hurt you. And he’s the active No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter,” Algieri said.

Malignaggi said McGregor is demeaning his sport by rushing to participate in such a one-sided affair in the boxing ring.

“Aren’t you embarrassed, dude?” Malignaggi asked, calling McGregor’s proposal a “clown show.”

Algieri, meanwhile, referred to Crawford’s disinterest in the MMA portion as shrewd.

“Terence has obviously been kicked … if they did one (fight) in the ring and one in the cage, as long as they did the one in the ring first … because Terence is going to beat (McGregor’s) ass,” Algieri said.

The request from the suspended Garcia, who was sued in New York last week by his April 20 opponent Devin Haney, is a non-starter, theorizes Algieri, because Crawford is obviously searching for a foe who will inspire him to train fervently while seeking a record purse as his career nears a finish line at age 37.

Fundora, meanwhile, is a fascinating foe because the fight could take place by the early winter and a victory would make Crawford a three-belt junior-middleweight champion one win shy of becoming the first three-time undisputed champion of the four-belt era.

Crawford on Monday requested a 10-day extension for the negotiating period with Fundora which will end around the time of the October 12 undisputed light-heavyweight championship fight between Russia’s Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

Alvarez has expressed interest in a rematch with Bivol, who defeated him by unanimous decision in 2022. If Beterbiev wins, it’s unclear if Alvarez would want that fight or a money grab against the far lighter Crawford, a favorite fighter of the enriched Alalshikh.

Going to Fundora now seems ideal for Crawford.

“It’s a very winnable fight,” Malignaggi said. “You see the road to build on it. All of a sudden, (becoming undisputed champion again) starts to look more realistic and there’s a big reward as far as legacy is concerned.”

If he defeated Fundora, Crawford would only lack the IBF belt being contested October 19 between former champion Tim Tszyu and new IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.

And unlike with Canelo Alvarez, who will choose whom he fights next, “Terence Crawford’s in the driver’s seat” with the others.

It’s the best thing for the sport for Crawford to stay at 154, to either rule the division after doing so at 140 pounds and welterweight, or to give October 19’s favored Tszyu the opportunity to replace Crawford because he offers the ability to carry “superstar potential into a new generation.”

#TerenceCrawford #ConorMcGregor #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #FightFans #News #Sports

UFC icon Nate Diaz has revealed who he wants to face in his next fight. Despite mixed results in his first two boxing matches, Diaz is aiming to fight a champion. After losing his boxing debut to Jake Paul and securing a majority decision win over fellow MMA star Jorge Masvidal in July, the 39-year-old fighter now has his sights set on four-division boxing champion Terence Crawford.

In a recent post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Diaz made his intentions clear for the future. “I’ll box Crawford and fight Conor at 168 lfg,” he wrote alongside a photo showcasing his slim physique.

The statement quickly caught the attention of boxing and MMA fans, sparking speculation about a possible showdown with Terence Crawford.

Crawford, considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, has previously been linked to cross-discipline fights. Conor McGregor, another UFC star, has already shown interest in fighting Crawford. In fact, McGregor offered him a two-fight deal, one in boxing and the other in MMA, but Crawford initially turned down the proposal. However, recent signs suggest he may reconsider, especially after McGregor’s nine-figure offer.Nate Diaz has not hidden his desire for a trilogy with Conor McGregor, his historic rival in the UFC.

The two fighters faced each other twice in 2016 in memorable bouts. Diaz won the first meeting by submitting McGregor, but the Irishman avenged the loss in the second fight, taking a close decision victory. Their rivalry remains alive, and Diaz doesn’t rule out a third match, this time in the MMA octagon.

As for Crawford, while there’s no history between him and Diaz, the former UFC star’s post suggests he’s ready to take on one of the most dominant champions in boxing today.Espinoza vs. Ramírez rematch: purse bids to be held on Friday

For now, there’s no official confirmation of the potential bout, but rumors of these two big fights are already circulating. Known for his fighting spirit, Diaz doesn’t seem afraid to aim high, regardless of the sport.

The future of Nate Diaz in boxing and MMA is filled with expectations. If he secures a fight with Crawford, it would be one of the most anticipated showdowns of the year. Additionally, a potential rematch with McGregor in MMA would be explosive for fans. At 39, Diaz remains a relevant figure in the fight world, proving he still has much to offer in both the ring and the cage.I Box Crawford and fight conor next 168 lfg 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/pLzj7zpEaR

#NateDiaz #JakePaul #JorgeMasdival #MMA #Boxing #TerenceCrawford #ConorMcGrefor #News #Sports #BoxingNews #UFC 

The rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight title is fast approaching. The second bout between these two boxing titans will take place on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a recent interview with @PlayUndisputed, Fury stated that this time he will knock out the Ukrainian boxer.

“There’s no secret – I’m going in there to knock him out because I don’t think I’m gonna get a decision no matter what I do. So I have to take it out of the judges’ hands. I believe I have to get him out of there,” Fury affirmed.

Regardless of the outcome of this second match between both fighters, Tyson Fury expressed interest in a trilogy with Usyk. He confidently stated that he will win the rematch, and the ideal circumstances for a third fight would be if they are tied 1 to 1.

“I believe it’ll be one of the great trilogies, me and Usyk. I believe when I beat him, I’ll definitely do a trilogy with him, 100%. One each and we’ll do a trilogy,” Fury said.

On the other hand, the British boxer confirmed that he will not be making any changes to his Corner Team. Notably, Fury expressed confidence in the team that supports him, his preparation, and training. He also mentioned that he knows the key role he must play in his bout against Usyk.The team that will accompany Tyson Fury in his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk includes SugarHill Steward, Andy Lee, and his father, John Fury.

“People can say, ‘Oh, I want to change trainers or I blame it on my conditioning coach or my cook.’ I’m not interested in all that, same team, same everything. I know what I’ve got to do,” Fury concluded.

#TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #Trilogy #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #News #heavyweight #Sports #News Rematch