After Oscar De La Hoya’s recent speech, Eddie Hearn described his statements as “objectively incoherent” amid their growing public dispute. De La Hoya, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, has repeatedly criticized Hearn on his show “Clapback Thursday,” mocking the recent losses of the British promoter’s fighters, including Anthony Joshua’s defeat against Daniel Dubois.

During his latest appearance, De La Hoya claimed that 14 of Hearn’s fighters had lost in 2024, accusing him of being a poor promoter and a “pathological liar.” He also highlighted losses by fighters such as Sandy Ryan, AJ, and Edgar Berlanga, while mentioning injuries to Shakur Stevenson.

“You must be the biggest pathological liar on the planet to try and convince us you’re good at your job. F***ing train wreck… Canelo dumped you because you’re incompetent and incapable of doing your job,” De La Hoya said.

A large part of the feud seems to stem from Canelo Álvarez’s departure from Golden Boy to Matchroom. De La Hoya defended his work with the Mexican fighter, claiming he helped build his career in the U.S. and accused Hearn of being incompetent.

In a recent story

“Factually all over the place but the time and effort is humbling thank you,” Hearn wrote in his IG stories. “The burn is very real,” he added.Shakur Stevenson comments on a possible fight against Ryan GarcíaOscar De La Hoya blasting back at Eddie Hearn today: “You must be the biggest pathological liar on the planet to try and convince us you’re good at your job. F***ing train wreck… Canelo dumped you because you’re incompetent and incapable of doing your job.”

[🎥 @OscarDeLaHoya] pic.twitter.com/Y2cGcqFb1E

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 3, 2024

Eddie Hearn’s reaction to Oscar De La Hoya’s recent clap back Thursday video

“Factually all over the place but the time and effort is humbling thank you”#Boxingpic.twitter.com/H5yXI2OA46

EddieHearn #OscarDeLaHoya #Boxing #Promoter #Matchroom #GoldenBoy #BoxingNews #Sports #News

British boxer Tyson Fury has once again insisted that a fight between him and Anthony Joshua is inevitable. In a recent interview with @PlayUndisputed, the veteran heavyweight champion expressed his optimism about the possibility of facing his longtime rival.

Fury assured that age won’t be an obstacle for this bout to happen at some point. The champion believes that, sooner or later, Joshua won’t be able to avoid facing him. He is fully confident that a fight between them will be a huge success, drawing thousands of fans.

Wembley Stadium, one of the UK’s most iconic venues, would be the ideal setting for this showdown between two of the best British boxers of the modern era. Fury is convinced the fight could attract a massive crowd, filling every available seat.

“Joshua knows he’s getting it. Even if we’re 50 years old he’s got to fight me. There’s no escaping it, he cannot escape me. Even if we are 50, we’re still gonna sell out Wembley,” Fury said.Tyson Fury’s expectations for his rematch against Usyk

In addition to talking about his rivalry with Joshua, Fury

In the interview, Tyson Fury mentioned that if he loses to Usyk, he would give up his spot on the cover of the Undisputed Deluxe Edition video game. However, the boxer showed full confidence in his abilities, stating that defeat is not part of his plans.

“It’s fantastic, but I’ll tell you what, if I don’t win this rematch, I’m going to relinquish that front cover and give it to Alexander. That’s what I’ll do with a front cover. I’ll relinquish my right to be on that front cover and give it to Alexander the Great. But if I do what I think I’m going to do, then I’ll keep the front cover,” Fury concluded.Ryan Garcia removed from video game

This rematch has generated great excitement in the boxing world, and it is expected to be a thrilling fight.Tyson Fury has insisted that the Anthony Joshua fight will still happen one day: “Joshua knows he’s getting it. Even if we’re 50 years old he’s got to fight me. There’s no escaping it, he cannot escape me. Even if we are 50, we’re still gonna sell out Wembley.” [@PlayUndisputed] pic.twitter.com/J6Hd6pTg7J

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 4, 2024

Tyson Fury says that he is going to relinquish being the cover of the boxing game Undisputed if he loses the rematch with Usyk pic.twitter.com/UCLOFi6O7M

#TysonFury #AnthonyJoshua #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #FightFans #Sports #News 

 

After Oscar De La Hoya’s recent speech, Eddie Hearn described his statements as “objectively incoherent” amid their growing public dispute. De La Hoya, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, has repeatedly criticized Hearn on his show “Clapback Thursday,” mocking the recent losses of the British promoter’s fighters, including Anthony Joshua’s defeat against Daniel Dubois.

During his latest appearance, De La Hoya claimed that 14 of Hearn’s fighters had lost in 2024, accusing him of being a poor promoter and a “pathological liar.” He also highlighted losses by fighters such as Sandy Ryan, AJ, and Edgar Berlanga, while mentioning injuries to Shakur Stevenson.

“You must be the biggest pathological liar on the planet to try and convince us you’re good at your job. F***ing train wreck… Canelo dumped you because you’re incompetent and incapable of doing your job,” De La Hoya said.

A large part of the feud seems to stem from Canelo Álvarez’s departure from Golden Boy to Matchroom. De La Hoya defended his work with the Mexican fighter, claiming he helped build his career in the U.S. and accused Hearn of being incompetent.

In a recent story

“Factually all over the place but the time and effort is humbling thank you,” Hearn wrote in his IG stories. “The burn is very real,” he added.Tyson Fury mocks Anthony Joshua on social mediaOscar De La Hoya blasting back at Eddie Hearn today: “You must be the biggest pathological liar on the planet to try and convince us you’re good at your job. F***ing train wreck… Canelo dumped you because you’re incompetent and incapable of doing your job.”

[🎥 @OscarDeLaHoya] pic.twitter.com/Y2cGcqFb1E

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 3, 2024

Eddie Hearn’s reaction to Oscar De La Hoya’s recent clap back Thursday video

“Factually all over the place but the time and effort is humbling thank you”#Boxingpic.twitter.com/H5yXI2OA46

— Muhammad Zain (@_muhammadzain1) October 4, 2024

Jack Catterall is preparing for Regis Prograis to roll back the years when the super-lightweight contenders meet at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena on October 26.

Whereas Catterall, 29-1 (13 KOs), is riding the momentum generated by February's exciting decision victory over his long-term rival Josh Taylor, Prograis, 29-2 (24 KOs), enters their fight from something of a standing start.

The Louisianan looked flat during a close, split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in June 2023 and then lost every round of a disastrous WBC super-lightweight title defence against Devin Haney in December. 

Although he got drawn into a fight with Taylor, Catterall is generally a master of controlling the pace and range of a fight, and if Prograis is to set himself up for another run towards a world title he will have to get himself much closer much more regularly than he managed against either Zorrilla or Haney. 

In his favour, Prograis is still an explosive puncher when he has time to set his feet, and he has always performed against his fellow southpaws. He holds wins over Terry Flanagan, Ivan Redkach, Tyrone McKenna and Jose Zepeda; many observers also believed he did enough to beat Taylor during their outstanding World Boxing Super Series final in 2019.

Catterall, 31, has regardless spent long enough watching Prograis to recognise the threat he is capable of posing and is preparing himself accordingly. 

“Me and Regis have bumped into each other a few times over the years,” he said during Matchroom Boxing’s Make the Days Count documentary. “There’s always been that mutual respect and you just never know with boxing how it’s going to unfold

“I think if you look at Regis now, his last two performances have probably been below par. I think the Regis that I’m fighting next is probably a hungry, driven Regis and that’s what I’m excited for. The fact that he’s been a world champion twice – he’s hungry to become three-time.

“He lost his belt in the last fight so I think he’ll be super motivated for this fight to get back on track and get a win. That gives me the fire in my belly and gets me excited – the fact that I’ve got a hungry, determined Regis coming to fight me in Manchester.”

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

Recently, it was revealed that 33-year-old boxer Anthony Yarde will return to the ring on October 19 at the Copper Box Arena in London. The fight will be promoted by Boxxer, marking his return after more than eight months of inactivity. Yarde stopped Marko Nikolic in three rounds in February and has remained out of action since then.

It’s important to mention that expectations were for his next fight to be against Joshua Buatsi. However, a dispute with Queensberry Promotions, the company that has managed his career from the beginning, changed the plans. Frank Warren, leader of Queensberry, even threatened legal action against Yarde. Nonetheless, Yarde’s inclusion in Boxxer’s roster rekindles hopes for a potential fight with Buatsi. Both fighters could meet if Yarde wins in the undercard of the Adam Azim-Ohara Davies fight.Anthony Yarde himself expressed his excitement about his return:

“On October 19, I’m back in my home city and I can’t wait,” said Yarde.

Although his opponent has not yet been announced, Yarde is eager to fight in a place he considers special.

“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,” said Yarde.

Following Yarde’s return announcement, Boxxer representative Ben Shalom praised the boxer’s addition to the event’s lineup. Shalom also highlighted that fans can expect an incredible atmosphere and a night full of action at the Copper Box Arena.

It’s important to note that the card includes other notable fights, such as the light heavyweight clash between Dan Azeez and Lewis Edmondson. Additionally, Michael McKinson will face Tulani Mbenge in a welterweight bout, Jeamie TKV will meet Franklin Ignatius in a heavyweight fight, and Francesca Hennessy will fight in a bantamweight bout.Shakur Stevenson comments on a possible fight against Ryan García

The situation with Buatsi also remains significant. Buatsi recently defeated Willy Hutchinson by split decision at Wembley Stadium on September 21. This victory keeps him on track to fight the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol bout for the undisputed title on October 12.

With Anthony Yarde’s return to the ring and a potential fight with Buatsi on the horizon, the upcoming months promise to be exciting for boxing fans in the UK.𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣 🦁🗣️

The electrifying @mranthonyyarde returns at The Copper Box, October 19th… Do not miss it 🍿⚡️

Tickets at https://t.co/yt3WMVlLFj 🎟️#AzimDavies | 19.10.24 | @CopperBoxArena | @SkySportsBoxing | @peacock | @GoldenBoyBoxingpic.twitter.com/F7RyJFrzLz

— BOXXER (@boxxer) October 4, 2024

As Ryan Garcia hopes for a return following his controversial clash against Devin Haney, his promoters are starting to piece the puzzle of his career back together. 

Garcia is currently sidelined due to a one-year suspension after testing positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine. Garcia knocked down Haney three times but his April 20 majority decision was changed to a no contest as a consequence of those failed tests. 

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) has since teased an exhibition match in Japan in December, but Golden Boy Promotions partner Bernard Hopkins is envisioning something even more significant once Garcia is sanctioned to fight again. 

“I’d like to see him fight Shakur Stevenson,” Hopkins told BoxingScene. “There are no advantages. Shakur has been sitting on a pond and fishing, right? Shakur hasn’t been active, correct? There should be a healing time between now and then for Shakur, correct?” 

Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) last beat Artem Harutyunyan in June and was supposed to make his Matchroom Boxing promotional debut on October 12 against Joe Cordina but suffered a hand injury that resulted in surgery. 

The WBC lightweight champion Stevenson is also supposed to fight the Golden Boy-promoted No. 1 challenger William Zepeda in February, but it remains to be seen if he’ll go straight into the Zepeda fight next. 

Stevenson got wind of Hopkins’ comments and took to social media to offer his thoughts on the potential pitting. 

“I’m kind of scheduled to beat his other fighter in February,” he wrote. “I would love that fight [against Garcia] too though. 

Stevenson fights at 135 pounds while Garcia last weighed in at 143 pounds for his fight against Haney and has teased a return at 147 and even 154 pounds. 

Hopkins, a Hall of Famer who ruled at middleweight and light heavyweight, said Garcia and Stevenson should figure out a comfortable catchweight, a notion both fighters have previously agreed to. 

“Meet in the middle,” said Hopkins. “We’re in a different era right now. No one talks about weight right now. You’re talking about [154-pounder] Bud Crawford wanting to fight [168-pounder] Canelo Alvarez.”

#RyanGarcia #ShakurStevenson #Boxing #BoxingNews #GoldenBoy #DevinHaney #Catchweight #SportsNews #FutureFights

Janibek Alimkhanuly called out the other middleweight champions after his ninth-round victory over the game Andrew Mikhailovich.

The unbeaten Kazakh southpaw is now 16-0 (11 KOs), having made his way to Sydney to defend his IBF title. The WBO crown was not on the line, with the WBO claiming the title would be declared vacant should Janibek win.

Janibek, who had Mikhailovich down and in real trouble in round two, said: “First of all, I wanted to thank all my fans here, who supported me. As far as the fight, please keep in mind I haven’t fought in the ring for a year and the last fight didn’t happen, so it was a good experience for me to come back and shake rust.”

Of his opponent, the Russia-born Mikhailovich, who lost for the first time in 22 fights, Janibek added: “He’s a good boxer, he has a very good team, nice people, and I want to wish him luck.”

He then turned his attention to his future opponents and said: “I do have two titles and two titles are missing, any of them, [Carlos] Adames [WBC] or [Erislandy] Lara [WBA] – I’m ready any time. Send me the papers, I’ll sign it any time.” 

The top two spots in the IBF are presently vacant. Mikhailovich was rated third, Hamzah Sheeraz is fourth and Chris Eubank Jnr is fifth.

With the WBO, Frank Warren has Sheeraz at number one, Denzel Bentley second and Brad Pauls fifth.

Should there be problems between Janibek and the WBO, Sheeraz and Bentley could meet for the vacant title.

Mea Motu stayed on course for a showdown with Ellie Scotney when she stopped Shannon O’Connell at The Star in Sydney, Australia.

The anticipated Scotney-Motu fight, for Scotney’s IBF and WBO super-bantamweight titles, was scheduled to take place on the undercard of Jack Catterall-Regis Prograis in Manchester on October 26. However, an injury suffered by Scotney forced her withdrawal, leading to the Motu-O’Connell bout being scheduled on just 10 days' notice.

At a catchweight of 125 lbs, the 41-year-old O’Connell was inhibited from the first round when an accidental clash of heads left her bleeding heavily from her scalp. Motu immediately responded with aggression, and it seemed O’Connell was at risk of stoppage, but she managed to survive until the end of the opening two minutes.

Successive left hooks towards the end of the second round again threatened O’Connell’s participation, and she was hurt again in the third, with horrific swelling appearing over her right eye, making an early conclusion seem inevitable.

It ultimately came in the fourth round when O’Connell’s corner, witnessing their fighter under constant attack, rightly chose to throw in the towel, confirming victory for the 34-year-old Motu after just 66 seconds into the round.

In another bout, Charlie Kazzi stopped Lui Magaiva in the seventh round of their lightweight contest. The aggressive Kazzi, 19, first hurt Magaiva with a right hand in the third and, after landing two more in the fifth, began to pursue the stoppage more vigorously.

Magaiva, 36, took further right hands throughout the sixth round but can consider himself somewhat unfortunate to have been rescued by referee Will Soulos after 98 seconds of the seventh. For all that their fight was becoming one-sided, the Papa New Guinean’s punch resistance wasn’t in doubt, contributing to his protests at the outcome.

There was also a stoppage victory for Ahmed Reda, who won in the second round of his lightweight fight against Joe Kara in just his third professional bout.

#MeaMotu #ShannonOConnell #EllieScotney #BoxingNews #SydneyFightNight #SuperBantamweight #FightRecap #CharlieKazzi #LightweightBoxing #AhmedReda #Knockout #BoxingHighlights #FutureStars

Janibek Alimkhanuly retained his IBF middleweight title by stopping Andrei Mikhailovich in nine rounds, but questions regarding his future at 160lbs will persist.

He so nearly made an emphatic statement at The Star in Sydney, Australia by nearing victory in the second.

The resilient Mikhailovich instead narrowly survived, and remained upright until being rescued in the ninth.

More to follow…

Arthur Biyarslanov, also known as ‘The Wolf’, returns on October 17 against Argentine veteran Jonathan ‘El Potro’ Eniz. The bout is the co-main on a bill topped by Alexandre Gaumont, 11-0 (7 KOs), against Argentina’s 10-4 (3 KOs) Cristian Zarate.  

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I want a shot at the world title, one fight at a time but I know I will get that shot in 2025. October 17th will just bring me one step closer to my ultimate goal. I can’t wait,” said junior welterweight contender Biyarslanov (16-0, 14 KOs).

Jonathan Eniz, 35-20-1 (16 KOs), has boxed more that 340 rounds in the pros and has fought Steve Claggett, Subriel Matias, and holds a victory over Cesar Cuenca. Eniz will be aiming for his fifth career win over an undefeated fighter when he meets Biyarslanov.

Also on the bill, veteran Claggett – 38-8-2 (26 KOs) – returns to action for the first time since his June loss to Teofimo Lopez. He will box 16-3 (11 KOs) Eduardo Estela and Saint-André-Avellin’s pride, Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs), will hunt for a second world title, but first gas to get by Angelica Lopez Flores (14-2, 8 KOs).

On a deep bill, light heavyweight contender Mehmet Unal (10-0, 8 KOs) faces the German Armenak Hovhannisyan (14-4-1, 6 KOs), Montreal’s Luis Santana (12-0, 6 KOs) will look for his fifth consecutive knockout but faces his toughest challenge yet in Argentina’s Sebastian Aguire (19-5, 12 KOs) and EOTTM prospect Shamil Khataev (12-0-1, 3 KOs) meets veteran Juan Jose Velasco (24-6, 15 KOs). 

Gatineau warrior, Pascal Villeneuve (4-2-1, 2 KOs), makes his comeback after more than eight years away from the ring, taking on Roberto Dionicio Moreno (13-14-1, 2 KOs) and, kicking off the event, Moreno Fendero (7-0, 5 KOs), meets German Edison Demaj (13-3-1, 7 KOs).

Galal Yafai believes that his amateur boxing experience will hold him in good stead when he faces the tricky customer that is Sunny Edwards on November 30.

Yafai, an Olympic gold medal winner at Tokyo 2020, will take on Edwards for the WBC interim flyweight title in Birmingham. This, however, will not be the first time the pair have shared a ring with each other after first squaring off a decade ago in an ABA semifinal. Edwards walked away the winner that day and the pair went on to share countless rounds together during their time with Team GB.

It was on the GB boxing squad where their rivalry first took shape. Yafai was picked ahead of Edwards to go to a 2016 Olympic qualifier, a decision that Edwards feels was unfair because he had beaten his rival in the vest. Edwards then took a different route and turned professional, winning the IBF flyweight title while Yafai competed at the Rio and Tokyo Olympic games. Now the pair get the chance to face each other again, this time with a world title shot in 2025 on the line.

“I've known Sunny for a long time now, so there's a lot of history and what not,” Yafai told BoxingScene. “To be fair, he's quite respectful, but I'm waiting for him to try something, and I can just jump over. It's good, it builds a fight, there's a lot of history, people are interested. It's down to us now to put on a show, it's down to me to win.

“When he beat me in the amateurs, he beat me on a split decision,” he continued. “I pretty much won the fight. But yeah, it's when he beat me, then we had that rivalry, we got into GB, we started sparring more and more. I improved a lot, I got better, I went to the Olympics. He thought he should have gone to the Olympics, he became a pro, he won the world title, I won the Olympic gold. We've just been on our own paths, but he’s done his part of the bargain, I did my part of the bargain so now we can meet in the middle and it can be a big fight. I’ve just got to win it.”

Edwards has been seen by many of his opponents as a puzzle that can’t be solved – unless you’re Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. His fast feet and movement often leave fighters bewildered and punching air. However, this is not something Yafai is worried about after his experience sparring the former world champion.

“It was good sparring; it was 50-50 sparring,” he said. “Sunny's a good fighter. I’m not just going to batter him. But there were good spars in the case where I could see what he was all about. I know fighting and sparring is different. Sunny knows that I'm a serious fighter. We’ve sparred loads of rounds. If anyone's shared a lot of rounds with me, it's Sunny. Whether people don't, or they think it's too soon or whatnot, he knows. So, we'll see on November 30.

“I've sparred him loads so I'm used to his style now,” he continued. “Sunny's got a bit of an amateur style; he's on the back foot and whatnot. I'm used to fighting them back foot fighters as amateurs who are probably a little bit more awkward. But we'll see on fight night. I've got to be the best I can be. The best Galal should beat the best Sunny. But I've just got to be the best as I can be, and if I'm not good enough, then I'm not good enough.”

Yafai achieved what many only can dream of when he secured his gold medal at Tokyo 2020 with a standout performance against Carlo Paalam. Yafai now has a taste for glory and wants to achieve what only fellow Brits, James DeGale, Anthony Joshua, Nicola Adams and Lauren Price have done – winning both an Olympic gold and a world title.

“Being world champion is the only thing that there is to do,” said Yafai. “That's something I want to do. I know there's not many people that have been both world and Olympic champion. I think there's like two or three. So, if I can be in that list, then it's a big thing for me.”

Liam Paro defends his IBF junior welterweight title against for the first time, against Richardson Hitchins on Saturday December 7 at the Roberto Clemente Coliseo in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Australian star Paro, 25-0 (15 KOs), won the crown with an upset decision over Subriel Matias in Manati, Puerto Rico, in June.

Mandatory challenger Hitchins, 18-0 (7 KOs), defeated Argentinian Gustavo Lemos in Las Vegas earlier this year, and the 27-year-old Brooklyn contender will be fighting for a world belt for the first time.

“All the so-called big guys at 140lbs lost their tongues so I decided to bring on my mandatory defense early against Hitchins and clear the path for 2025,” said Paro. “I can’t wait to fight and show again why I’m the top guy at 140. I’m coming to shine again in beautiful Puerto Rico.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that I’m the best 140lbs fighter on the planet,” countered Hitchins. “On December 7, I finally get the chance to solidify that.

“Hats off to Liam Paro, he beat the so-called boogeyman of the division, but I ain’t Subriel Matias. He’s never been in with a fighter like me before. He didn’t want this fight, and it’s for good reason.

“This is my division. I am the man at 140 and once I get this belt, I’m bringing it back to New York and everything runs through me.”

On the undercard, at junior lightweight, 19-0 (10 KOs) Henry Lebron meets Christopher Diaz, 29-5 (19 KOs). Lebron said: “I am very happy with this opportunity to fight again in Puerto Rico in front of my people. This is going to be a great card. We are ready to give a great show. I am counting on all my Puerto Rican Fans.”

Diaz stated: “As a proud Puerto Rican, fighting in front of my countrymen on December 7 means everything to me. There’s no greater feeling than representing my people and putting on a show for them. I’m coming into this fight fully prepared, and I’m ready to leave it all in the ring against Henry Lebron. This is for Puerto Rico, and I won’t let them down.”

Also, Puerto Rican Olympian Yankiel Rivera, 6-0 (2 KOs), is on the bill, which includes Jalil Hackett, 9-0 (7 KOs), and 13-1 (6 KOs) Jose Romans at welterweight and light Marc Castro, 13-0 (8 KOS), returns.

There is also an outing for Stephanie Pineiro, 7-0 (2 KOs), and Puerto Rican Juan Zayas, 10-0-1 (8 KOs), is in an eight-rounder at bantamweight against Dominican Marcelino Nieves, 19-0 (13 KOs), and Matchroom’s Puerto Rican talent William Ortiz (6-0 4 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten Puerto Rican Lionell Colon (6-0 3 KOs) over eight rounds at 140lbs.

“We are thrilled to be back in Puerto Rico with a brilliant main event and stacked undercard,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Liam was sensational when he ripped the strap from Subriel in June in a career-best performance against one of the most avoided fighters in the sport. Liam was happy to take on that challenge, and he’s happy to take on another difficult but very different challenge in Richardson. I’m fascinated to see how this fight plays out, and while it’s never easy to pit two of our fighters against each other, this is exactly what should be happening in the game – the best versus the best – and for both men it’s the chance to back up what they both say – that they are the man at 140lbs.

“The atmosphere in June in Manati was electric from the opening bell to the end, and we’ve got an undercard line-up that will have the fans on the edge of their seats like that once again. Lebron-Diaz will be a war, Yankiel is ready for a World title and he’ll show that in December, while Jalil has to be commended for taking on another challenge at such a young age.

Javier Bustillo, of Universal Promotions CEO, working with Matchroom on the event, said: “It’s a great honor for me to have the opportunity to partner with Eddie Hearn and our friends at Matchroom to bring World championship boxing to Puerto Rico, where we’re combining the best boxing from Puerto Rico with the best boxing in the world. “I’m grateful with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Municipality of San Juan, who did not hesitate to join us and support this event. It will be a great night of boxing from Puerto Rico to the whole world.”

Bernard Hopkins is cut from a different cloth and is old school through and through.

The Philadelphia-bred Hall of Fame fighter served nearly five years in jail before turning pro in 1988, winning titles in two weight classes throughout his career and becoming boxing history’s oldest belt-holder at 49 while fighting until he was 51.

Now a promoter and partner of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, “The Executioner” Hopkins, 59, is grooming the current generation.

The beau of Golden Boy’s stable is Ryan Garcia, who, along with Golden Boy, is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Devin Haney following their controversial April 20 fight. The bout has since been ruled a no contest after Garcia tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine. Garcia was also fined and suspended for a year as a result of the violation.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is suing the principals for battery and fraud, among other claims, after Garcia knocked him down three times in a fight that was originally ruled as a majority decision win for Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs).

Hopkins, who has long butted heads with Devin’s father, trainer, and manager Bill, expresses strong disapproval of how the 25-year-old Haney is navigating his career. He believes that Haney's lawsuit reflects a worrying trend in boxing, suggesting a shift away from the sport's gritty, confrontational roots.

“We're in America. You don't have to be right to sue,” Hopkins told BoxingScene. “When you get an opportunity to do something, most people will do it. The lawsuit doesn't mean you are guilty or innocent. But I question the mentality behind it. This isn't how we used to handle our business in the ring.”

“Look at what the fans are saying,” said Hopkins. “I don't have to buy a ticket to his fight. The fans are the ones who keep your lights on when you're fighting. I'm in the know, and I know what they are saying. And you know what they are saying. There comes a time when you have to move on, or you risk getting stuck in a cycle of trauma. I never thought I would see a fighter literally get his ass kicked and turn around to sue months later. I hope this isn’t a trend for this generation because I respect them to a point. But if this becomes contagious, it could tarnish the sport.”

De La Hoya described Haney’s claims as “frivolous,” adding that he believes Haney will be a “shot” fighter moving forward.

Hopkins stated that Haney should have sought to settle the beef in the ring, not in a courtroom.

“Maybe it will stick, maybe it won't,” said Hopkins. “But you have to reevaluate yourself and consider the mockery and foolishness of this approach. Boxing is about respect, and this feels like a departure from that ethos. Let's move on and keep the focus where it belongs: in the ring.”

#boxing #DevinHaney #RyanGarcia #lawsuit #BernardHopkins #GoldenBoyPromotions #sportsdrama #boxingnews #controversy #fightnight

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith faced off at a cordial introductory press conference on Wednesday at The Mayan, announcing their highly anticipated cruiserweight title unification clash.

Despite the friendly atmosphere, both fighters made bold statements as they prepared to headline Golden Boy Promotions’ “Latino Night” event on November 16 in Saudi Arabia.

“This is my division. I don't think he has any advantages over me. I'm the best cruiserweight,” proclaimed Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs), the WBA titleholder. “I'm really excited about this opportunity. I'll become the first Mexican unified cruiserweight champion. It’s exciting because my dream will come true. I've been putting in a lot of hard work with my training.”

Ramirez, a former 168-pound champion from 2016 to 2018, has rebounded well since his only career loss to light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in 2022. Last October, he moved up to cruiserweight and secured a unanimous decision victory against Joe Smith Jr. In March, Ramirez defeated Arsen Goulamirian unanimously to capture the WBA cruiserweight title.

Before their matchup, Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs), the WBO titleholder, had encouraged Ramirez to win against Goulamirian, setting the stage for their more marketable showdown.

“I wished him good luck for the Goulamirian fight. I rooted for him that night. It was a great performance from Zurdo,” Billam-Smith stated. “I'm a different fighter and am better than Goulamirian in many areas. My speed and intensity at this weight cause a lot of cruiserweights problems. I’ll get to prove it again versus Ramirez.”

Billam-Smith, 34, will be fighting outside the UK for the first time in his seven-year career. He became a world champion last year by defeating Lawrence Okolie via unanimous decision and successfully defended his title against Mateusz Masternak in December. In June, he avenged a 2019 split decision loss to Richard Riakporhe.

“This title unification opportunity for me is huge,” Billam-Smith said. “I've been written off many times before. Last time out [against Riakporhe], I was going into his backyard and it was all about him. It was supposed to be his night, and I spoiled the party. Unfortunately for the Latinos on November 16, I'll be doing exactly the same again. All respect.”

#GilbertoRamirez #ChrisBillamSmith #CruiserweightUnification #BoxingNews #GoldenBoyPromotions #LatinoNight #BoxingFans #SaudiArabia #FightNight #TitleFight

Lightweight Tevin Farmer knows the game all too well. As a tricky southpaw, he’s become a measuring stick for promoters trying to gauge how their fighters might fare against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. Farmer, with his slick defensive style and southpaw stance, sees the pattern, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than just a test for the next big name.

On Nov. 16, Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) returns to the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to face Mexico’s William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) in a fight that could make or break his career. 

Farmer, a former IBF junior lightweight titleholder, is coming off a close decision loss to Raymond Muratalla — a fighter who, like many, is eyeing a showdown with Stevenson. Now, Farmer faces Zepeda, an aggressive, high-output fighter riding a four-fight knockout streak.

Farmer is acutely aware of the stakes. He’s been here before, but this time, the pressure feels heavier.

“They say me and Shakur [Stevenson] got similar styles, and I'm the guy they want to see how good Zepeda does to see if he’s ready for Shakur,” Farmer said. “But I promise you, he will not make it to Shakur.”

Zepeda, 28, has looked unstoppable, with his last fight ending in a third-round knockout of Giovanni Cabrera. But Farmer, at 34, still sees himself as a force to be reckoned with, despite setbacks. After losing his title to Joseph Diaz Jr. in January 2020, Farmer took a three-year hiatus before returning to win three fights in the Northeast. His recent loss to Muratalla was razor-close, and now he’s determined to bounce back as he explained how he sees himself. 

“I feel like I'm a young veteran,” Farmer said. “I started boxing late, so I still feel young, but I’ve got a lot of fights in. I’ve got to go out there and beat the guy everyone’s afraid of, and that’s William Zepeda.”

For Farmer, this fight is about more than just another notch on his belt. It’s about reclaiming his place in the sport — or maybe walking away for good.

“Last fight was a do or die for me, but it didn’t go my way, unfortunately,” Farmer said. “This time, it’s do or die for real. We’re coming to put on a show.”

Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly is set for a defense against Andrei Mikhailovich in what has quickly developed into a grudge match. 

The fight will take place at The Star in Sydney, Australia, and will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) and Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KOs) represent stark contrasts in personality, adding a unique dynamic to the fight. The stoic Kazakh Alimkhanuly will face the outspoken Mikhailovich, who has not been shy in building up the fight.

“I am the most interesting fight you have had so far, and that is all because of me,” Mikhailovich, 26, said at the press conference. “So thank you, you’re welcome.”

The two were originally scheduled to fight in July, but the bout was canceled when Alimkhanuly was hospitalized. Mikhailovich’s promoter, No Limit Boxing, won the purse bid for the IBF title fight, quickly rescheduling it.

Alimkhanuly, who unified the WBO and IBF belts in a knockout win over Vincenzo Gualtieri last October, will be making his first title defense of 2024. Despite his accomplishments, he has struggled to generate excitement after a close fight with Denzel Bentley diminished some of the buzz surrounding his career.

“He talks a lot, but he’s just a fighter like me,” the 31-year-old Alimkhanuly said through a translator.

Mikhailovich, a New Zealand-based Russian, enters his first world title fight having fought exclusively in Australia and New Zealand. While most of his opponents are relatively unknown on the world stage, he’s won seven of his last eight fights by knockout and has confidently questioned Alimkhanuly’s readiness for the bout, even mocking his late arrival to Australia.

“Do you know what jet lag is?” Mikhailovich quipped. When asked for final words to his opponent, he boldly declared, “I am going to fucking kill you.”

Alimkhanuly remained calm in response: “The day after tomorrow is going to be a very hard day for you. I am going to show you.”

LOS ANGELES – As Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was searching for an opponent earlier this summer for his most recent fight (a matchup ultimately awarded to Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas), the 168-pound king contemplated a clash against Chris Eubank Jr. 

Eubank, who hasn’t fought as a super middleweight since 2019, was a surprise addition to Alvarez’s biannual sweepstakes. Still, a deal didn’t cross the finish line because Eubank demanded a bigger purse for taking a fight of that magnitude on short notice while coming off a one-year layoff. 

Eubank (33-3, 24 KOs) has since signed on to fight Kamil Szeremeta on October 12 in a middleweight fight in Saudi Arabia. 

Eubank’s promoter Ben Shalom, the head of Boxxer, is confident a deal with Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) will cross the finish line next year. 

“I genuinely believe that fight will happen next year, either in May or September,” Shalom told BoxingScene in an interview while promoting his cruiserweight titleholder Chris Billam-Smith’s Nov. 16 fight against Gilberto Ramirez. 

“Whether in Las Vegas or the UK, Chris is ready for the Canelo fight and hopefully it will happen next year. I really believe that. He was out of the ring for a year and was given a six-to-seven-weeks notice. He's a big star already and earns big money anyway. He's not the type that you can tempt into the ring for a payday. He's made a fortune in the sport. He wants to go into that fight to win. So he wants to go into that fight prepared. After the Kamil Szeremeta fight on October 12, it's big fights only, and Canelo is on top of the list. 

“I believe that is the one fight [that brings Alvarez to the UK]. If Canelo Alvarez wants to cement his legacy, because, believe me, British boxing fans absolutely adore him, he's beaten all of our guys, the fight against Eubank is the one that sells out Wembley Stadium. Let's see if it makes sense.

“I think so [that Eubank is next in line]. Eubank brings his own audience, and that's very rare for Canelo's opponents. Canelo is the A-side, but Eubank is a PPV star in his own right. One of the few, and probably the only one in British boxing outside of the heavyweights. That's a big sell. He has the history, and everyone knows his dad Chris Eubank Sr. You see how he talks up a fight. A press conference between them would be absolutely gold. I could see how it makes sense for both guys. It was very close to happening in September, and hopefully it can happen in May.”

If the framework of the previous deal was nearly set, and some of Eubank’s bargaining points were met, Alvarez could be inclined to fight Eubank, especially since he’s running out of credible opponents to face at 168 pounds. He has also long wanted to fight in locales around the world such as the United Kingdom and Japan. 

The four-division champion Alvarez has beaten many Brits over the last 13 years, including John Ryder, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Rocky Fielding, Liam Smith, Amir Khan, Matthew Hatton and Ryan Rhodes. 

The second-generation star Eubank, from Brighton, hasn’t fought since stopping Liam Smith in September 2023 in a rematch to avenge his knockout to Smith eight months prior. 

Eubank, 35, made headlines last week by bashing “scumbag” promoters while ramping up his fight against the underdog Szeremeta, which will take place on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. 

“He's been in the game a long time. He knows how to make headlines. He knows how to drop bombs,” said Shalom. “Was it helpful when all of the promoters are trying to work together? Probably not. But no one is going to tell Chris Eubank Jr. what to do, or what to say. He has the old-school British mentality. He's box office.” 

In this week’s mailbag, we tackle your thoughts on Devin Haney’s lawsuit against Ryan Garcia regarding Garcia’s use of performance-enhancing drugs, plus the potential fight between undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue and former unified titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev; featherweight prospect Bruce Carrington’s close win over Sulaiman Segawa; Oscar Collazo’s upcoming unification bout with fellow 105-pound titleholder Knockout CP Freshmart; whether Tony Yoka can compete at heavyweight; and Riyadh Season banning a BoxingScene.com staff writer.

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.

DEVIN HANEY’S LAWSUIT TARNISHES AN ALREADY POOR REPUTATION 

The lawsuit is an attempt at a quick money grab settlement and to get Ryan Garcia to settle so they can say he is admitting guilt. The case is frivolous.

Considering Garcia has already received the punishment given by the commission of the sport, who found it was accidentally ingested, maybe Garcia should find some people who will swear under oath that Haney illegally rehydrates with IVs? That would be interesting.

Devin Haney is already seen as a joke in the sport. He is now imploding his career totally. He could have said, ‘Yeah it's an unfortunate situation, but I plan on getting my revenge in the rematch and whipping Ryan.’ But instead he has been crying because he obviously can't beat Garcia, millionth of a gram of Ostarine or not.

All of the smack talking and insane boasting out of the Haneys is blowing up in their faces. They were majorly disliked before. Now? Even former Haney fans are cringing at this.

-Theshotyoudontsee

David Greisman’s response: Athletes using performance-enhancing drugs in any sport is wrong. Athletics using performance-enhancing drugs in boxing, a sport where the intention is to hurt your opponent, is even worse. 

That opinion shouldn’t change just because you don’t like the opponent.

Haney receives a ton of criticism, some warranted and some unwarranted, both for his performances in the ring and for what he has said or done outside of it. As I wrote in June , when Garcia accepted his suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission:

Contrary to your comment, the athletic commission never concluded that Garcia’s use of ostarine was accidental. Indeed, the commission had a case against Garcia that was ready to go forward, and it didn’t proceed only because Garcia chose to settle rather than fight the accusations.

Garcia’s one-year suspension and fine amount to greater punishment than some offenders have received in the United States, and it’s on par with other suspensions in America, but is still much less than athletes get in other sports or even that boxers have received in other countries. 

To me, one year is still not enough, especially in an era where plenty of boxers are regularly sitting on the sidelines for significant stretches of time. I’d like to see longer suspensions, the threat of which would hopefully deter more boxers from cheating. I’d also like to see strict liability, where fighters are held responsible for what is in their body unless contamination can be absolutely proven. Garcia did not prove that in this case, and it is also inaccurate to minimize the amount of ostarine that was in Garcia’s system and how that substance would have helped him train and cut weight.

But in lieu of stronger punishments from the athletic commission, I am also OK with civil remedies. Returning again to my thoughts from earlier in the year, well before Haney ever filed this lawsuit.

“When Deontay Wilder’s fight with Alexander Povetkin was canceled due to Povetkin’s use of banned substances, Wilder sued Povetkin and won. The circumstances with Haney and Garcia are very different, but it is understandable that Haney would consider such measures to further punish Garcia beyond what’s come from the NYSAC. Fighters cheat because they think they can beat the testing, and because they think the penalties will be light if they are indeed caught.”

In this case, we need to disentangle our thoughts on the defendant (Garcia) from our thoughts on the plaintiff (Haney). If it was your favorite fighter who lost to someone who was subsequently found to have used performance-enhancing drugs, I have a feeling your position would be very different.

NAOYA INOUE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FACE AKHMADALIEV

Since when are champions required to fight the losers of the guys they already beat? It's one thing if Murodjon Akhmadaliev was undefeated or had a belt. But he already lost it to Marlon Tapales. And Inoue knocked out Tapales to become champion. Every boxing ranking has Tapales over MJ. And Inoue has also got other mandatories like Sam Goodman. Stand in line and wait your turn.

Kieran Mulvaney’s response: I can’t disagree with you. As I mentioned in my piece (“ Murodjon Akhmadaliev to Naoya Inoue: Fight me or step aside ”), had Akhmadaliev taken care of business against Tapales, he wouldn’t be in this position.

I do understand where Akhmadaliev is coming from, however. He believes strongly that he did more than enough to deserve that win, and apparently the sanctioning body saw enough merit in his claim that it ordered an immediate rematch. Akhmadaliev allowed Tapales to swerve that rematch to get his own shot at Inoue, and now Akhmadaliev is that organization’s mandatory and has been for a year or so. He pulled out of preparing for other fights in anticipation of getting that mandatory shot, only for it not to come to fruition. So I get his frustration.

But yes, you’re right: He was at the front of the line. He failed to convince two judges that he had beaten Tapales. And now he isn’t at the front of the line anymore. Given Inoue’s readiness to take on all challengers, I doubt very much that The Monster is ducking him. Rather, as you said, he has numerous mandatories to think about, and he’s frankly entitled to take relative gimmes such as TJ Doheny periodically. But MJ is also entitled to bang the drum for a shot — as is any other challenger — and I suspect he’ll get it.

AND BRUCE CARRINGTON DEFINITELY ISN’T READY FOR INOUE

Sulaiman Segawa made Bruce Carrington really think, work hard, and reconsider his impetuous talks that he could beat Naoya Inoue right now. There's a saying that goes something like this: “Calling out the devil isn't the same thing like seeing him coming at you.”

-Boricua181

Lucas Ketelle’s response: Let’s talk about desire. The stuff that makes people chase money without working, fame by being told how great they are, and those little indulgences we all love because they make us feel good. Enter Bruce Carrington: He got a taste of all of that this past weekend, except it came with a side of reality — Sulaiman Segawa. 

See, it’s all fun and games in boxing until someone punches you in the face, and your opponent doesn’t fold. This is where we as people are a generation obsessed with "clout." Call out the big names, get the followers, bask in the Instagram likes. Carrington, bless him, seemed above it all, but then he started calling for Naoya Inoue. 

Like... what? Did we really think Bruce was ready for "The Monster" yet? It was bold. Ambitious. Also a little delusional. But most fighters are.

Now, welcome to Act II: Humility. 

Carrington squeaked out a tough win, but now he will no longer be talked about as the next coming of Sugar Ray Robinson. He’s entered the “oh, now you’re just a normal prospect” phase of his career. It’s part of the natural evolution for any fighter, but it does make you wonder: How does this change his narrative? These are the fights that create forks in the road. Some guys take a hard shot and start questioning life decisions. Others? They get hungrier, stronger, and want to feel that pressure again.

Time’s a funny thing. It heals, sure, but it also exposes the truth. Segawa? Way better than anyone gave him credit for. Carrington? Yeah, he’s talented, but if he thinks he’s just going to stroll to undisputed featherweight champ without grinding it out first, well, life has a way of humbling you.

OSCAR COLLAZO CAN PROVE HIMSELF AGAINST KNOCKOUT CP FRESHMART

It's time to see how good Oscar Collazo really is. A win over Knockout CP Freshmart will establish that (“ Oscar Collazo-Knockout CP Freshmart prepared for strawweight unification Nov. 16 ”). Then if Collazo can win 10 more fights after that, we'll know just how great of a champion he really is. It's not an easy goal to obtain, but a goal that he can possibly obtain, because he appears to have exceptional fighting abilities.

-Boricua181

Jason Langendorf’s response: Collazo may have only 10 professional fights under his belt, but he is 10-0 and has already beaten four one-loss opponents and won six fights scheduled for 12 rounds against a variety of foes in a variety of fashions (four by knockout, two went the distance). 

I’m not sure that we need to hold our breath for another 10 fights to declare just how good he is, but the Knockout CP Freshmart fight is absolutely worth the price of admission and would give Collazo a win over two of the current titleholders in the division. The other is Melvin Jerusalem, who Collazo defeated last year for the WBO title. That win looks even better now that Jerusalem has upset Yudai Shigeoka for the WBC belt and outpointed undefeated Luis Castillo.

Quality can be a little difficult to measure at boxing’s lowest weight classes. At 27 years old, Collazo still has more to do in a relatively short time frame. But we certainly could be looking at an all-timer among the little guys.

TONY YOKA HAS HEART BUT TOO MANY RED FLAGS

Tony Yoka (“ ‘Brilliant technician’ Tony Yoka can still be a factor in the heavyweight division ”) faced some names early in his career and blew through them: Jonathan Rice, David Allen, Alexander Dimitrenko, Johann Duhaupas, etc. it was in the Christian Hammer fight, however, where he showed me some red flags. He was clearly flustered by the Romanian's rough tactics.

I thought Yoka was athletic and had some ability. He showed a lot of heart to stay upright in that Martin Bakole fight and go the distance. Martin really put a beating on him. There's something lacking when Tony needs to bite down on his gum shield and show some nastiness. Rather than get spiteful in the ring, he seems to wilt. Perhaps that's just a lack of the PEDs…

-PBR Streetgang

Tris Dixon’s response: Like you, I felt Yoka might have the goods. His win over Joe Joyce in the Olympics, however, was contentious and he never looked fully polished. I’d agree with the red flags, too. We weren’t privy to a lot of the chaos that was playing out behind the scenes with his old team, which I think has impacted him in many ways, but ultimately there are tried and tested methods, teams and promoters that can take you to the top, and it might have served him well to go to the USA, perhaps England, or even to Eye of the Tiger in Canada, to build from the start. 

I have no idea how he will get on from here on in, at the age of 33. But it sounds like Don Charles is energized working with him and Yoka won’t be short of sparring, working with Daniel Dubois in the same gym.

You’d hope he hasn’t reached his ceiling and might get closer to reaching his potential, and as has been written about plenty of times, this generation of heavyweights is nearer the end than the beginning, so there is room for some fresh blood to come in.  

It’s not over for Yoka, but he is facing an uphill task, and I’m sure he will be asking himself whether he really wants it enough. It could come down to that.

BOXINGSCENE WRITER BANNED BY RIYADH SEASON RESPONDS 

HE WROTE A FUCKING BOOK JUST TO SAY THAT TURKI HURT HIS FEELINGS

-BlackRobb.

Declan Warrington's response: My feelings (“ An inconvenient take on the night Anthony Joshua was stopped by Daniel Dubois ”) were no more hurt then than they are by the above. I've written — I'd like to think objectively — about what I consider to be the negative influence of Saudi Arabia's ambitions in boxing for months, and not only for BoxingScene. 

I was accredited to attend Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk, which was a terrific fight, in May. And while I remained in Riyadh, I wrote about what I considered to be the positives and negatives surrounding what I observed out there. In other words, whether or not I'm accredited won't motivate how I attempt to report on something. I'm very aware it won't matter at all if I never attend or report on a fight again. What’s actually important is that the sport continues to get covered with a sense of integrity (which, refreshingly, applies to each of my colleagues at BoxingScene).

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.

Shakur Stevenson has commented on a possible fight against Ryan García. The statements arise after recent comments from Bernard Hopkins. During the presentation of “Latino Night,” Hopkins suggested a matchup between the two boxers. He proposed that the fight take place at a catchweight between 135 and 143 pounds.

Although there are no confirmations yet, interest in this bout is growing among fans. Stevenson addressed the topic on his social media. On his X account, he wrote:

“I’m kinda scheduled to beat his other fighter in February I would love that fight too tho 😂.”It is important to note that both Shakur Stevenson and Ryan García are currently inactive.

Stevenson suffered a hand injury in early September. The injury occurred while he was preparing for his fight against Joe Cordina. He is expected to return to the ring in early 2025. However, his first opponent will be William ‘Camarón’ Zepeda.

On the other hand, García is facing a different situation. The Californian was suspended for a year after testing positive for Ostarine. This substance is banned and enhances performance. The result of his fight with Devin Haney, held in April, was changed to a no contest. Despite this, García had displayed a dominant performance before the suspension.

Both boxers are projecting their return for the first half of 2025. This opens up the possibility of a fight between them materializing. However, their plans for a comeback are different.

Ryan García, 26, shocked the boxing world by capitalizing on a victory over Haney, marking a milestone in his career. However, the result was affected by his positive test for PED. To date, García has a record of 24 wins, with 20 by knockout, one loss, and one no contest.Terence Crawford claims rival was knocked out by recent opponent in sparring

Similarly, Shakur Stevenson, also 26, comes off a recent victory. He defeated Artem Harutyunyan by unanimous decision. Despite his win, the boxer was booed for his fighting style, which some critics deemed boring. Currently, Stevenson boasts an impressive record of 21 wins, with 10 by knockout and no losses.

As both boxers prepare for their return, interest in their potential matchup grows. The combination of styles and personalities promises an exciting fight if it comes to fruition. The boxing community eagerly awaits further updates on this anticipated showdown.I’m kinda scheduled to beat his other fighter in February I would love that fight too tho 😂

Recently, renowned boxer Shawn Porter was inducted during the 66th induction ceremony and banquet of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio. The two-time world champion expressed that this honor means a lot to him. At the same time, he remarked during the induction ceremony that the experience is “surreal.”

Porter, a native of Cleveland, is an example of success in boxing. He graduated from Stow High School and attended Cuyahoga Falls High School. Throughout his career, he compiled an impressive record of 31 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Additionally, he achieved 17 knockouts and won welterweight world titles, capturing the IBF title in 2013 and the WBC title in 2018.During his speech, Shawn Porter highlighted the support from his fans in northeastern Ohio. “I never realized how much it was hitting home,” he stated about his career. “I want to say thank you for this induction”, said Porter.

The boxer also spoke about his efforts to change the perception of fighters. “Boxing is the bad boy of sports,” he indicated. “I’ve done my best to be one of the good guys in the sport.”

Porter emphasized that boxers are more than just “punches, knockouts, and blood.” “We have common sense. We have education. We have goals,” he affirmed. He also underscored the importance of ambition and drive in a boxer’s life.

“I stand up here right now with you guys as a winner,” Porter said. “someone who’s extremely goal-oriented and full of faith” He thanked his parents, who were present at the ceremony. “My mom and my dad over here have really led me to becoming everything that I’ve been both inside of and outside of the ring”

Porter’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication and passion for boxing. Likewise, the boxer’s legacy will endure among fans and new talents in the sport.Summit County (Akron, OH) Sports HOF inductee for 2024. Honored to be inducted, especially with this superb athlete Antoine Winfield Sr, as well as the other inductees!! pic.twitter.com/XiRwp5KhV4