Chris Billam-Smith has upset the odds on multiple occasions to become an established and proven world champion but now he has the chance to etch his name further into the history books on the biggest of stages. Ahead of his biggest fight to date, the Bournemouth fan-favourite revealed that he is hoping to emulate.

‘The Gentleman’ shook up the cruiserweight division when he trumped the previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie and picked up the WBO world title in a showdown at the Vitality Stadium, home of his beloved A.F.C. Bournemouth, last May.

After a hard-fought win in a first defence against Mateusz Masternak, CBS returned to another U.K. football stadium when he rematched Richard Riakporhe on the away soil of Selhurst Park in an attempt to level the scores – Riakporhe being the only man to have defeated Billam-Smith during a 21-fight professional career.

Contrary to what the bookmakers predicted, Billam-Smith comfortably outpointed Riakporhe in London to reaffirm his status as a worthy world champion and set him up for potential unification showdowns.

In spite of rumours that he would take on IBF champion Jai Opetaia, who has knocked out three Britons in his last four outings, it was instead confirmed that Billam-Smith would meet WBA title-holder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez atop a Riyadh Season card billed as ‘Latino Night’.

As he has become accustomed to, Billam-Smith will step through the ropes as the underdog as he attempts to become the cruiserweight division’s eighth unified champion since its introduction in 1979.

Speaking with the BBC, the 34-year-old explained that he is hoping to match the achievements of the only other Brit to have held multiple titles at the weight, David Haye, and bring both belts home.Oleksandr Usyk accused of cheating

“I’m just glad it’s a unification fight. The last Brit to unify at cruiserweight was David Haye, who is someone I looked up to massively in terms of fighting style and how he dismantled his opponents.

“It would be an honour to be a British unified world champion.”

“I’m confident in fighting him [Ramirez] but I’m not that experienced in fighting southpaws. He brings lots of different attributes, he’s super-tough and has a really good punch output.

“I’d say I have more of an advantage being settled at the weight, but he has his advantages too as he’ll be used to faster guys as he’s come up through the weights.

“It makes for a really intriguing fight and it’s a massive challenge for me. [Trainer] Shane [McGuigan] and I are already working on a gameplan. People saw a different side of me in my last fight but this time there will be even more surprise in what people see.”

Ramirez-Billam-Smith will take place on November 16th at The Venue in Riyadh, topping a stellar undercard which features an additional world title unification contest.

If you were to ask somebody to name Nick Ball’s best qualities, it would be a pretty safe bet that they would instantly point to the WBA featherweight titleholder’s relentless work rate and clubbing power.

But the Liverpudlian’s biggest asset may just be his mental strength.

Over the past 12 months, few fighters in the world have been as active, at such a high level, as Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs).

This time last year, Ball was beginning preparations to take on Isaac Dogboe in a final eliminator for Rey Vargas’ WBC title. Now, he is established as one of the world’s best featherweights and is just days away from defending his WBA belt against Ronny Rios, from Compton, California.

Preparing for fights at the world level is grueling both physically and psychologically, but Ball hasn’t wavered throughout an exceptional 12 months.

In March, he traveled to Saudi Arabia for his shot at Vargas. Ball bullied the awkward, experienced Mexican over the second half of their fight but was forced to settle for a controversial draw despite dropping the tough Vargas twice.

Rather than crying about the result, Ball accepted a quick-fire offer to fight WBA titleholder Raymond Ford on the Queensberry vs. Matchroom “5 vs. 5” show and got back to work.

Ball produced an even better performance in his second attempt at winning a title and was awarded a deserved split decision victory.

Over the past 12 months, the 27-year-old Ball’s life has changed dramatically, but he knows he must maintain his focus.

“The money’s a bonus,” Ball said during Queensberry’s “Locked In” show. “As a kid, your dream is to become a world champion, isn’t it? That’s every boxer’s dream. That’s what everyone wants to do, but as I’ve said before, I haven’t worked this hard my whole life to get to this point and let someone take that from me now. It’s definitely not going to be happening.

“It’s frustrating what happened, but there are worse things going on in the world. It is what it is. I’m lucky enough to have a solid team around me and a promoter in Frank Warren who got me another opportunity for a world title. That took the edge off it as well. You can’t sit around feeling sorry for yourself.

It’s one of them things. It’s in the past, I can’t change it, so brush it off and on to the next. There’s always more to come, so focus on that rather than dwelling on the past.”

Ball will face an entirely different mental challenge Saturday against Rios. For the first time since last May’s victory over Ludumo Lamati, he enters a fight as a prohibitive favorite. Rios is a solid fighter who has acquitted himself well at the highest level of the junior featherweight division, but he couldn’t quite get over the hump and claim a world title – despite performing bravely against Vargas and Murodjon Akhmadaliev. On form, there isn’t a better featherweight in the world than Ball, and he is in no mood to let the prize he fought so hard for slip away.

“He’s just another opponent, to be honest,” Ball said. “He’s a fighter coming over – which I respect – to try and take my world title from me. It’s an opportunity for him, so he’s going to be trying to take it with both hands, but that’s not going to be happening when you’re facing me.”

#nickball #Boxing #boxingfans #FightFans #boxingnews #news

The undercard for the "Hollywood Fight Nights" event scheduled for Oct. 26 in Los Angeles has been announced by 360 Promotions .

The fight card,  headlined by Omar Trinidad vs. Hector Sosa at the Commerce Casino Events Center, will be  broadcast live globally on UFC Fight Pass.

Gor Yeritsyan (18-1, 14 KOs), of Los Angeles, will return to action in an eight-round welterweight bout against an opponent to be determined. Yeritsyan, trained by Freddie Roach, most recently lost a 10-round split decision to Aram Amirkhanyan in a controversially scored bout in July.

Yeritsyan had been scheduled to face Mylik Birdsong, who was tragically shot and killed Sunday night in Los Angeles. Birdsong will be honored with a ceremonial 10-count on fight night.

Additionally, junior bantamweight Daniel "Chucky" Barrera (7-0-1, 4 KOs), of Eastvale, California, will battle Angel Mesa Morales (8-1-3, 6 KOs), of Ensenada, Mexico, in a scheduled eight-round bout. Fighting for the fourth time this year, Barrera, 22, will attempt to follow up on his career-best performance against world title challenger Christian Robles in June. Morales hopes to add to his two-fight winning streak after a sixth-round knockout of Nelson Magalianes in May.

Light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov (9-0, 6 KOs), of Los Angeles, will face Eric Robles (10-4, 9 KOs), of Tijuana, Mexico, over eight rounds. Dzambekov stopped Edward Jeramie Ortiz in the fourth round on Aug. 31, while Robles knocked out Jesus Montenegro on June 22.

Fan favorite "Right Hook" Roxy Verduzco (2-0), of Los Angeles, will be back in a scheduled women’s six-rounder against Sarah Click (2-7). Verduzco, a former amateur standout, outboxed Colleen Davis in her "Hollywood Fight Nights" debut on July 26. Fighting on Aug. 20, Click won a unanimous decision over undefeated Lindsey Ellis.  

Lupe Medina (7-0, 2 KOs), of Maywood, California, will try to stay perfect in a six-round bout against Katherine Lindenmuth (6-3, 2 KOs), of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 20-year-old Medina will fight for the fourth time this year, having most recently defeated Ashley Felix in June. Lindenmuth is returning from a hard-fought 10-round contest against Kim Clavel in May in Montreal.

Also seeing action in separate bouts will be featherweight Abel Mejia (5-0, 4 KOs), of Orange, California, and San Diego bantamweight Adan Palma (9-0, 5 KOs).

#OmarTrinidad #HectorSosa #360Promotions #HollywoodFightNights #GorYeritsyan #FreddieRoach #MylikBirdsong #DanielBarrera #AngelMesaMorales #UmarDzambekov #EricRobles #RightHookRoxy #SarahClick #BoxingNews #UFCFightPass

Tragedy struck the boxing world when Mylik Birdsong, a 31-year-old emerging welterweight, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Birdsong, who turned professional in 2017, had a promising career ahead of him with a record of 15-1-1 and 10 knockouts. His next fight was scheduled for October 26 at Commerce Casino against Gor Yeritsyan.

The shooting happened at around 4:50 p.m. on 87th Street. According to the LAPD, Birdsong was standing outside a vehicle with his girlfriend when a car approached. Two suspects got out, chasing him while shooting. Birdsong was hit seven times and collapsed in a nearby driveway. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Birdsong was coming off a victory over Jerry Bradford in March, bouncing back after his only career loss in November 2023 to the unbeaten Jose Quintana. His future in boxing looked bright, but it was cut short in this tragic incident.

The police are still searching for the suspects and working to uncover the motive behind the attack. Birdsong's death has left the boxing community in shock, and many are mourning the loss of a fighter who had so much potential.

As the investigation continues, the boxing world reflects on the career that could have been.

#MylikBirdsong #GorYeritsyan #CommerceCasino #BoxingNews #JoseQuintana #JerryBradford #LAPD #LosAngelesShooting #Welterweight #BoxingCommunity #TragicLoss #DriveByShooting #BoxerKilled #InsideTheRopes #JusticeForBirdsong #BoxingWorld

For a coach, perhaps the only thing better than a fight going exactly as expected is for the same fight to end up being even easier than they expected, or indeed hoped. 

That was the experience of Don Charles and Kieran Farrell the night their man, Daniel Dubois, took on Anthony Joshua in front of around 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. It was a fight in which Dubois, despite holding the IBF heavyweight title, was not only made to walk to the ring first, but treated by most beforehand as no more than an underdog; an afterthought. He was, according to the script, the man Joshua was supposed to stop within a few rounds before positioning himself for a fight against the winner of the December 21 rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. 

As it turned, however, on September 21 Dubois was everything Charles and Farrell said he was. Within just 30 seconds he had steadied Joshua with a hard left jab and a couple of minutes later he had put the former heavyweight champion on the deck. By the end of round five the fight was over. 

“We did it relatively easier than we thought we would do it, I’ll be honest with you,” Farrell, who after the fight retired to his hotel room to drink tea and eat a chocolate brownie and some ice cream, told BoxingScene. “But we’ve been there every day, dedicated to this. We were on Don’s farm every day for 12 weeks and Daniel put the work in. You do something every day for that length of time and it can get boring, but the enthusiasm Daniel has for training – he doesn’t show that. It’s great. He enjoys it. They say a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter and you saw proof of that against Joshua.”

Another boxing adage along similar lines is that a hurt fighter is a dangerous fighter. This appeared to ring true in round five of the bout. That was the round in which Joshua had his first and only success, when landing a right hand out of nowhere, and yet rather than deter Dubois or swing the fight back in the Watford man’s favour all that punch conspired to do was make a focused man even more focused. Suddenly Dubois, whose power had already troubled Joshua, simply stepped back and allowed Joshua to get excited and have his moment. He then found the fight-ending shot – a right hand thrown short and with no small amount of power and conviction. 

It was, looking back, a sign once again of Dubois’ composure and his coolness under fire – something apparent as early as round one when he approached Joshua and shoved his first jab in his face. “The first thing we said to Daniel was ‘Go out and give him something so that he knows he’s in the ring with you’; that’s exactly what he did,” said Farrell. “He went out there and slammed that jab down and that jab is like a fucking back hand. It’s a powerful weapon.”

To launch this weapon is often easier said than done, of course. Against Joshua, Dubois had to first get himself into position to fire it and do so without taking anything in return. Before that, and before even entering the ring, he had to manage the nerves with which all fighters are riddled when awaiting the first bell. This time, too, there were more eyeballs on Dubois than ever – enough to cause some fighters to shrink beneath the pressure. Not Dubois, though. Too big and seemingly unflappable for that, he stood tall and wore throughout the fight a mask of total indifference; blank in the very best way. 

“It was relaxation,” said Farrell. “It sounds simple and it is. I don’t want to make it over-complicated. If you look at the body language of both lads going into that fight, you’ll see the difference. ‘AJ’ looked like it was his first time going into the ring in front of 98,000 fans. Daniel was fired up; he was loose. We kept reminding him to stay loose and never stand still. We wanted him moving and on his toes before going out there and then we wanted him to keep the same thing going when AJ was doing his big ring walk and the introductions were going on. 

“We were expecting the ring walk to be about 20 minutes long but it was pretty short and sharp in the end. Then, once in the ring, AJ stood still. I wouldn’t say he looked scared but he looked very nervous. 

“When we then caught him with a back hand over the top in the first round, and he went down, I was like, ‘Wow, this is mental’. Everyone thought Daniel was going to be the one getting caught by the back hand and it’s turned out Joshua is getting caught with it. It was a nice moment really. We couldn’t have got off to a better start. Now we just had to keep it going and force the finish – and we did it. Daniel boxed perfectly.”

Now, with Joshua defeated, comes the small matter of a rematch. This, for Joshua, will give him the chance to get his revenge and prove the first fight was merely an aberration, whereas for Dubois it should give him the opportunity to play in this fight the role he should perhaps have played first time around. He will also go into any potential rematch as a man who not only believes he can beat Anthony Joshua, as was the case before, but as a man who in fact knows he can beat Anthony Joshua. 

It is for this reason, among many others, Farrell suggests that rematching Dubois could be the biggest mistake Joshua can make at this juncture in his career. 

“If I was advising Joshua, I wouldn’t be telling him to jump back in with Daniel Dubois – a young, hungry, 27-year-old lion,” he said. “What I see day in, day out, I know what he is capable of, and Joshua does too now. If Daniel has somebody hurt, they ain’t going to see the final bell. He’s a devastating puncher and I’m only talking facts here. He’s like a modern-day Mike Tyson. But a bigger version. 

“There are other fights there for Joshua. He can do the [Deontay] Wilder fight. That would be a good fight between two massive names who both need a big win right now. A win for either of them in that fight would give them a load of confidence. They’ve been linked together for a long time and are both now coming off defeats. It would make sense to do that fight.” 

#DanielDubois #AnthonyJoshua #KieranFarrell #DonCharles #BoxingNews #WembleyStadium #HeavyweightBoxing #IBFChampion #DeontayWilder #AJVsDubois #BoxingCommunity #HeavyweightFight #BoxingCoach #KnockoutWin #FightNight #Rematch

This weekend promises to deliver exciting boxing action, as JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY and NICK BALL put their world titles on the line. On Friday, Alimkhanuly faces undefeated challenger ANDREI MIKHAILOVICH in Sydney, Australia, while Ball defends his WBA featherweight belt against veteran RONNY RIOS on Saturday in Liverpool. These two title fights are the must-watch highlights of the week.

Alimkhanuly, who holds both the IBF and WBO middleweight titles, is coming off a dominant performance against Vincenzo Gualtieri. However, only the IBF title will be at stake in his bout against Mikhailovich. The Kazakh fighter will look to remain undefeated and move closer to potential unification bouts with CARLOS ADAMES or ERISLANDY LARA. His opponent, Mikhailovich, brings an undefeated record of 21-0 (13 KOs) and hopes to cause an upset.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Nick Ball looks to defend his WBA featherweight title for the first time against Ronny Rios. Ball is fresh off a split-decision win over RAYMOND FORD in June and is eager to prove himself as a dominant force in the division. Rios, making his second comeback after retiring briefly, will seek redemption after suffering defeats against top competition, including MURODJON AKHMADALIEV and REY VARGAS.

Fans can expect these bouts to be packed with high stakes and excitement as the fighters aim to solidify their status in the boxing world.

 #JANIBEKALIMKHANULY #NICKBALL #RONNYRIOS #ANDREIMIKHAILOVICH #CARLOSADAMES #ERISLANDYLARA #RAYMONDFORD #MURODJONAKHMADALIEV #REYVARGAS #WBA #IBF #BOXING #TITLEFIGHT #FEATHERWEIGHT #MIDDLEWEIGHT #SYDNEYBOXING

Twenty-three years ago, Bernard Hopkins delivered a masterclass performance by defeating Felix Trinidad to become the undisputed middleweight champion. At 36 years old, Hopkins stunned the world by taking apart the previously unbeaten Trinidad, who was considered a powerhouse after his domination in the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions. Hopkins' victory, in front of a grief-stricken crowd still recovering from the 9/11 attacks, marked a turning point in both fighters' careers.

The fight had a heated build-up, with Hopkins instigating chaos by disrespecting the Puerto Rican flag at a press conference, nearly causing a riot in San Juan. He knew how to play the mind games and used that tension to his advantage, ensuring that the pressure was on Trinidad heading into the fight. Despite the tension, the fight was delayed after the attacks of September 11, but it was rescheduled two weeks later.

On fight night at Madison Square Garden, Hopkins executed a near-perfect strategy. He used his experience and intelligence to counter Trinidad’s aggressive style, staying calm under pressure. Throughout the fight, Hopkins maintained control, landing precise punches while avoiding Trinidad’s powerful combinations. The bout ended in the 12th round when Hopkins knocked Trinidad down, forcing the stoppage.

For Trinidad, the loss marked the beginning of the end of his illustrious career. While he went on to fight a few more times, he was never the same fighter. Hopkins, on the other hand, solidified his place as one of the greatest middleweights of all time. He went on to have a legendary career, fighting until the age of 51 and adding more titles to his collection.

This victory for Hopkins remains one of the greatest moments in his career, showcasing his ability to outthink and outfight a prime opponent. The fight will forever be remembered as a defining moment in the middleweight division.

#BernardHopkins #FelixTrinidad #BoxingHistory #UndisputedChampion #MadisonSquareGarden #BoxingMasterclass #DonKing #OscarDeLaHoya #KeithHolmes #WilliamJoppy #September11 #MindGames #SugarRayRobinsonTrophy #KnockoutVictory #MiddleweightChampions #HallOfFame

It has been 10 months since Chris Colbert last fought, but the lightweight contender is working tirelessly to make a successful return – and to leave the recent past behind him.

In his previous outing, Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs) suffered a sixth-round stoppage defeat against Jose Valenzuela in a tense lightweight rematch last December at The Armory in Minneapolis.

The 28-year-old Colbert is scheduled to fight for the first time on ProBox TV on Oct. 9 against Mexico's Omar Salcido Gamez (19-1, 13 KOs). He is relishing his comeback after a lengthy break.

“It's not even close to a year,” Colbert told BoxingScene. “But, I mean, I needed this for a little while to get my mind right.

“I've been through a lot in my career against a lot of tough guys. In my last three fights, I've been through a lot of wars. So I needed a little break. But I'm feeling back. I'm feeling better, and I'm ready to do what I do best come October 9.”

Colbert is looking to return to winning ways against Gamez, 24, after that devastating knockout defeat. The rematch with Valenzuela was highly anticipated because of the controversy that surrounded their first fight on the undercard of David Benavidez-Caleb Plant in Las Vegas in March 2023. 

Valenzuela had complained about Colbert being scored the winner via unanimous decision at the end of their 10-round contest, leading to Colbert offering a rematch. Valenzuela then stopped Colbert nine months later.

“This is called boxing,” Colbert said. “You gotta land more punches than throwing harder shots, and I definitely did that. Of course, it didn't go in his favor because he didn't win. Everybody got their own opinion. It’s like an asshole. We all have one.

“In the rematch, what happened was I made the No. 1 rule that you're not supposed to make in boxing. Never pull back with your hands down, and I got caught. I paid the price.”

Colbert has since turned his attention to Gamez. The Brooklyn, New York, native is not underestimating his opponent, despite knowing little about him.

“I watch his fights,” Colbert said. “I've seen him fight, but I don't know him besides watching him fight. It's been a long camp. I was supposed to fight a month ago, but I postponed it because of mental health issues. But I'm feeling much better, and I'm in a better place in life.”

Gamez, on the other hand, hopes to make it two wins in succession when he faces Colbert, having secured a unanimous decision victory over Luis Coria last December in his most recent ring outing. Two months prior to that victory, Gamez had lost for the first time, to Jose Nunez.

When asked what a win over Gamez would mean to his career, Colbert responded: “It means a lot as a giveback fight coming off a big, big loss.”

 #ChrisColbert #OmarSalcidoGamez #JoseValenzuela #ProBoxTV #BoxingComeback #LightweightBoxing #BrooklynBoxer #MentalHealth #FightNight #ComebackFight #ColbertVsGamez #ColbertVsValenzuela #Comeback #ValenzuelaRematch #BoxingNews

Former IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto Lopez was on the wrong side of one of the upsets of the year last month, but the belt was the least of the Mexican’s concerns during the aftermath. Seven weeks after the brutal defeat, Lopez’s team have spoken out in disgust.

‘El Venado’ upset the odds when he outpointed Josh Warrington on away soil in Leeds to pick up the featherweight strap in December 2022, but since then he has proven himself to be a worthy champion.

Lopez knocked out Michael Conlan in a first defence of his world title and would make a third defence in ten months when he stopped Reiya Abe back in March – a unanimous decision victory against Joet Gonzalez taking place in between.

Last month, Lopez headlined a card in New Mexico against former WBO super-bantamweight title-holder Angelo Leo and the fact that Leo had just eleven stoppages in 26 fights meant Lopez entered the contest as a heavy favourite – many believing Leo lacked the knockout power to be successful at 126lbs.

However, those assumptions were proved to be false when Leo landed a prodigious left-hook onto the chin of the champion and sent ‘Venado’ crashing into the canvas, unable to get back to his feet and beat the referee’s count, resulting in a contender for the both the upset and knockout of the year.LOOK AT THIS BRUTAL KO BY ANGELO LEO ONE MORE TIME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aPy9PW697g

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 11, 2024

Shortly afterwards it was confirmed that Lopez has suffered a bleed on the brain as a consequence of the almighty blow, possibly ending the career of the 31-year-old but causing a significant time away from the ring as a minimum.

Speaking with Boxing Scene, Lopez’s co-manager Hector Fernandez de Cordova labelled Ernie Sharif, the referee of the clash with Leo, as a ‘butcher’, before revealing that the New Mexico Athletic Commission were reluctant to aid Lopez and his team with hospital treatment.

“It was one of the worst referees I’ve seen in my life in boxing,”

“A guy like that does not deserve to be in the ring at a world title level – or even with amateurs. He’s a butcher. As a referee, you need to protect fighters from each other and from themselves.”

“The commission was trying to convince me not to take him to the hospital,”

“They were like, ‘You don’t need to.’ But I was thinking, ‘If you guys don’t want to pay for it, it’s OK. I’ll pay for it. But we’re talking about my fighter’s health.’ He didn’t even know the fight was over.”

Fernandez went on to reveal his belief that the injury was caused by a punch to the back of the head from Leo rather than a trademark left-hook.

Whilst Lopez’s career is up in the air, Angelo Leo may well be poised for the opportunity of a lifetime, once again proving the drastic impact that a singular punch can have on the life of a boxer.

#LuisAlbertoLopez #AngeloLeo #BoxingUpset #KnockoutOfTheYear #BoxingInjury #FeatherweightChampion #IBF #BoxingNews #BrainInjury #HectorFernandezDeCordova #ErnieSharif #NewMexicoAthleticCommission #FightNight #BoxingControversy #BoxingFuture #TopRankBoxing

Gervonta “Tank” Davis will take on Lamont Roach Jnr for the WBA lightweight title on December 14. Roach has received special permission to move up from junior lightweight to challenge Davis without losing his title. This match promises to be a defining moment in Roach's career.

Roach, the current WBA champion at 130lbs, had his promoters submit a request to the WBA for this opportunity. The WBA confirmed they received the request on September 13 and consulted with the team of Albert Batyrgaziev, the mandatory challenger at 130lbs. The organization has granted Roach permission to proceed with this significant fight under specific conditions.

If Roach manages to defeat Davis, he will have five days to decide which title he wants to keep and defend. Conversely, if he loses, Roach must fight the official 130lbs challenger within 120 days of the bout with Davis. The WBA has flexibility in its rules, allowing for modifications based on special circumstances, such as participating in an important title defense.

Roach’s last fight was in June, where he successfully defended his title by stopping Feargal McCrory. Prior to that, he won the title from Hector Garcia. Similarly, Davis had an impressive victory in June, stopping Frank Martin in Las Vegas, making this matchup highly anticipated by boxing fans.

As the fight approaches, both fighters are gearing up for what could be a thrilling night of boxing, with Roach looking to make history and Davis aiming to solidify his legacy.

#GervontaDavis #LamontRoachJnr #WBALightweightTitle #BoxingMatch #ProBoxTV #TankDavis #RoachVsDavis #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #FightNight #WBA #LightweightBoxing #JuniorLightweight #ChampionshipFight #BoxingHistory

We want the steak, but it looks like we may have to settle for the fish.

It’s not the main course we were hoping for, but it shouldn’t leave a bad taste in our mouths. Not given the circumstances, at least. And it’s certainly better than going hungry.

That’s the situation with Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ next fight, which could wind up putting the WBA lightweight titleholder against WBA junior lightweight titleholder Lamont Roach Jr. Nothing is official yet, but boxing reporter Dan Rafael recently said it is possible for a December 21 pay-per-view, while Mike Coppinger of ESPN said Roach is the frontrunner for landing the fight .

It’s fair to be disappointed in that news. 

It’s fair to want better opponents for Davis. 

It’s unfair to blame Davis — at least not this time.

Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) has become one of the biggest stars in boxing by virtue of his obvious talent and captivating performances where his skills and ring savvy and fight-changing power are on display. A video of Davis’ eighth-round win over Frank Martin on June 15, posted by Premier Boxing Champions on July 15, has racked up 5.8 million views on YouTube .

Martin was undefeated and ranked in the top 10 in the lightweight division going into that bout. There have been other respectable foes taken on and taken out by Davis in the past few years, some of which look even better in hindsight, such as Tank’s 11th-round technical knockout of Mario Barrios in June 2021 and a unanimous decision over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in December 2021. 

Barrios, a junior welterweight at the time, has since moved up to 147, defeated Yordenis Ugas, and been bestowed a world title. Cruz went up to 140 and dethroned Rolando Romero, another past Davis victim, for the WBA belt. Cruz recently lost that title to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela. (More on Valenzuela a little later in this column.)

The other world titles belong to Vasiliy Lomachenko (IBF), Shakur Stevenson (WBC) and Denis Berinchyk (WBO). Negotiations between Davis and Lomachenko came to an end when Lomachenko’s team said he didn’t want to get back in the ring for the remainder of the year , that he didn’t feel motivated to fight and preferred to spend time with his family. 

That news was disappointing though not completely surprising, given Lomachenko’s lengthy career dating back to his extended time in the amateurs, given what we’d heard from him and also what little we’d seen of him.

Lomachenko fought just once in 2022, winning a decision over Jamaine Ortiz. He fought just once in 2023, challenging Devin Haney for the undisputed lightweight championship and dropping a close decision that some feel could have gone Lomachenko’s way. And he will end 2024 having fought just once, stopping George Kambosos Jr. in May for the vacant IBF belt.

Stevenson, a free agent after departing from Top Rank, ultimately signed with Matchroom and announced a fight with former junior lightweight titleholder Joe Cordina on the October 12 undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitriy Bivol. Stevenson then got hurt in training and had to pull out of the Cordina fight. He’s expected back in 2025.

Berinchyk doesn’t carry the name value or appear to have the attributes that Lomachenko and Stevenson do.

William Zepeda, who is ranked as the No. 1 contender for all four major world titles, initially turned down a fight with Stevenson, reportedly because his wife was due to give birth . But Zepeda has since signed for a November fight with former junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer.

Some thought Cruz would get a rematch with Davis. Cruz was competitive with Davis in their first bout and is one of only two men to last the distance with Tank. (It should be noted here that Davis was fighting through a hand injury.)

That belief disappeared the moment Cruz lost to Valenzuela in August. Would Valenzuela not only seize Cruz’s title, but also inherit the opportunity?

Valenzuela had fought in the 135-pound weight class for most of his career, and he was a lightweight as recently as last December. But he cannot be faulted if he feels junior welterweight is better for his body. Nor can Davis be faulted if he wishes to remain a lightweight right now, even though he went up to 140 before for the Barrios bout.

That leaves Davis with few options, and none particularly alluring among lightweights. Once you get past the three other titleholders and Zepeda, the rest of the rankings from The Ring magazine and the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board are mostly made up of prospects who are still developing (Raymond Muratalla, Keyshawn Davis, Andy Cruz, Zaur Abdullaev), or guys who recently fell short (Kambosos and Martin).

Edwin De Los Santos is unranked by those observers, but he’s rated by the WBA and would therefore be allowed to challenge for the belt. De Los Santos scored a knockout over Valenzuela in 2022 — though he’d also hit a downed Valenzuela one round earlier. His last fight, however, was a decision loss to Stevenson in November 2023.

With not much available at 135, that leaves room for Roach to enter from just down the road at 130. And from down the road in Washington, D.C.

That’s one more reason to make this fight.

If Tank can’t get a match made with any of the top lightweights, and if he doesn’t want to remain inactive for the remainder of 2024, then a bout with Roach is an acceptable substitute. Or it’s at least as good as we’re going to be able to get, even if it isn’t going to satisfy us the same way that the steak dinner would have.

Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) has won six straight since his lone loss, a decision dropped to Jamel Herring in 2019. His biggest victory came last November, when Roach topped Hector Garcia by split decision to win a world title. Garcia is another former foe of Tank’s; Davis stopped him in nine rounds in January 2023 up at lightweight, about 10 months before Garcia lost to Roach.

Pay-per-view is another question. Davis is one of the biggest stars in the United States. Some may purchase the broadcast just to see him perform; the opponent factors less, if not at all, into their consideration. For others, the prospect of Davis vs. Roach may be intriguing enough to tune in but not enough to shell out.

Boxing fans can and should speak with their wallets. Just because a fight is on doesn’t mean you have to buy it. If you really don’t want the fish, you can choose not to eat in the restaurant until the steak is available again.

As for Davis, just because a big fight isn’t available doesn’t mean he should wait on the sidelines. I’d rather Tank get back on the battlefield, even if it’s just to blow through and roll over an outgunned foe. That’s better than sitting around and collecting rust.

#GervontaDavis #LamontRoach #Boxing #PPV #FightNight #BoxingFans #WBA #TankDavis #RoachJr #BoxingNews #MMA #FreddieRoach #Lomachenko #ShakurStevenson #HectorGarcia #MarioBarrios

Mike Tyson was one of the biggest names in the world during the ’90s.

Forget about just boxing, ‘Iron’ Mike was one of the most recognisable names in the whole of the sports and entertainment worlds.

Due to that, anything that the boxer was associated with was big news.

His fights with the likes of Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis were probably the biggest fights in that decade.

That popularity is what has spawned such interest in his upcoming fight against YouTuber Jake Paul.

Despite being close to 60, folks fro around the world are looking forward to see the legendary boxer step into the ring once again.

One person who hasn’t faced off with Tyson is Hasim Rahman.

In 2021, Rahman shocked the boxing world when he knocked out Tyson’s previous conqueror Lennox Lewis and was crowned the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

The reign didn’t last long as Lewis won the titles back in the rematch and Rahman subsequently went on to lose to Evander Holyfield.

Hasim Rahman did go on to be win the vacant WBC heavyweight championship in 2005, but he never quite got back to the heights he hit in 2001.

In that list of 62 opponents for Hasim Rahman, the name of Mike Tyson is conspicuous by its absence.Hamzah Sheeraz next fight date revealed

Both boxers were active at around the same time, but they never crossed paths in their careers.

But it seems that Rahman is open to the idea and has indeed challenged Tyson for a fight.

Speaking on the FightHype YouTube channel, Hasim Rahman openly declares his wish for the bout.

“No doubt, there is only one name that comes to mind and that’s Mike Tyson,” said Rahman.

“That’s just one of the only fights that I didn’t get to fight in my era.

“I was supposed to fight Mike Tyson but it didn’t work out that way but I’m still hoping for the fight, yeah, I’m still hoping for the fight, Mike!

“So when you finish with Jake, when he’s finished with ‘Fake Paul’ then I’m available.

“I think it would still be a great fight, I’m in terrific shape, so let’s see how Mike do with Jake and I’m available”.

Could we see this fight take place between both men?

Never say never in this crazy new age of boxing exhibition matches.

It’s clear that, at least from his side, Hasim Rahman is keen to give it a go.

#MikeTyson #HasimRahman #JakePaul #Boxing #HeavyweightChampion #BoxingNews #FightAnnouncement #BoxingFans #ExhibitionFight #SportsNews #TysonVsRahman #LegendaryFighters #ReturnToTheRing #FightHype #BoxingLegends

Daniel Kinahan has been ordered to pay $9.7 million in damages to promoter Moses Heredia.

At the District Court of California, Heredia argued that Kinahan and his former organization, MTK Global, poached his fighter Jo Jo Diaz with money made from the drugs trade. The ruling by the judge marks the end of a four-year legal battle.

“Justice has been done,” Heredia stated.

“We are tremendously grateful and blessed that the court recognized the harm that Kinahan and his business caused us,” he told The Mirror. “We are thankful our attorney Eric Montalvo stayed by our side and believed we could hold him accountable. We are also thankful to people in boxing who saw through the lies and know that my brother [Ralph] and I are champions for our fighters and the profession. We look forward to what comes next.”

Heredia also acknowledged those who have suffered greatly at the hands of the Kinahan organization, including the great Barry McGuigan. “Now is a time for healing for us. We have been heard, and justice has been done,” he added.

In July, a magistrate recommended to Judge John W. Holcomb that damages be paid to Heredia. Kinahan and MTK Global neglected to defend themselves, leading to the order of a default judgment. Holcomb ruled that Kinahan, MTK Global, and Paul D. Gibson, once the chief strategy officer for MTK Global, pay the damages.

“Plaintiff Moses Heredia,” the judge wrote, “shall have judgment in his favor and against MTK Global Sports Management LLC, Paul D. Gibson, Daniel Kinahan, and MTK Global USA LLC, jointly and severally, in the total amount of $9,517,500.”

Montalvo, the Heredias’ lawyer, can now formally target Kinahan’s assets and hopes to acquire those already seized to recover the damages. Kinahan was sanctioned by the US government in 2022, and there exists a potential $15 million reward for information that could lead to the Kinahans’ prosecution.

#DanielKinahan #MosesHeredia #MTKGlobal #boxingnews #justice #courtcase #Boxing #boxingfans #FightFans #boxingnews #news

Hamzah Sheeraz will be a world champion one day, and that’s something you can take to the bank. The 25-year-old sensation is currently undefeated at 21-0 and has held the Commonwealth middleweight title since 2022. But it seems this is just the beginning of what could be an extraordinary career in boxing.

In his last fight, Sheeraz stopped Tyler Denny to claim the European middleweight title while successfully defending his Commonwealth and WBC Silver middleweight titles. The buzz around Sheeraz is undeniable, and it looks like his next bout may finally be for that coveted world title.

Recently, it was revealed that Sheeraz is being advised by Gold Star Promotions, the same team behind Tyson Fury. With Gold Star backing him and Spencer Brown, who confirmed a fight date is already set for just after Christmas, Sheeraz is poised for a huge leap forward. Brown also mentioned in a recent interview with Boxing King Media that the next step is securing a world title fight, something Sheeraz’s promoter, Frank Warren, and his team feel is the natural progression.

Sheeraz, one of Queensbury Promotions' rising stars, has made it clear that 2024 could end with him vying for a world title. If that’s the case, it would be an epic conclusion to the year for this talented young fighter, who continues to prove himself as a dominant force in the middleweight division. The anticipation is building—#boxing fans everywhere are wondering if we’re witnessing the next big name in the sport.

Can Sheeraz claim a world title and cement his place among boxing’s elite? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: he’s on a path that could shake up the entire #middleweight division.

#KO, #HamzahSheeraz, #worldchampions,#BritishBoxing #Boxing #boxingfans #FightFans

Wearing his signature white sports cap, Don Charles couldn’t hide his smile as he reflected on Daniel Dubois’ biggest triumph to date. Despite battling illness during fight week, Dubois' coach stood by his fighter, helping him secure a career-defining victory against Anthony Joshua in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium.

Rumors of a rift in the camp circulated during fight week, but Charles laughed off the speculation, attributing his absence to the flu. "It’s laughable," Charles said, dismissing the rumors. "I was ill, but I summoned enough mental energy to be there for my guy. We would not be denied.”

Dubois, known for his power and endurance, delivered a stunning knockout in the first round, which Charles believes would have dropped anyone. "It doesn’t matter who was in the ring that night. Daniel is a dangerous puncher. If he connects cleanly, he can take you out at any time," Charles stated.

Although Dubois has already achieved significant success, Charles believes the 27-year-old is only operating at 70% of his potential. With a short amateur career and just 95 pro rounds under his belt, the coach sees much room for growth. “He’s developing. We’re putting layers on him. There’s so much more to come," Charles explained.

Looking ahead, Charles envisions Dubois becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion, stating confidently, "The future is bright for Daniel. He’s already dangerous, but when he fully understands the art of boxing, he’ll be unstoppable."

Despite setbacks, including a controversial loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Charles insists that Dubois is learning and improving with every fight. "We didn’t get the result in Poland, but I never discount that fight. Daniel broke him up, and he’ll only get better."

As for what’s next, Charles remains open to any challenge, whether it’s a rematch with Joshua, Usyk, or even Tyson Fury. "We relish the opportunity to right that wrong," Charles said of a potential Usyk rematch. "Daniel knows he can hurt him."

Charles is confident that Dubois is on a path to greatness and believes his student deserves consideration for Fighter of the Year honors after a grueling but successful year in the ring.

“Y.E.S,” Charles grinned, full of pride for his fighter’s incredible achievements.

#DanielDubois #DonCharles #HeavyweightChampion #BoxingChampion #UndisputedChampion #JoshuaVsDubois #DuboisVsUsyk #BoxingFuture

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is set to make his second appearance of the year this December, with his opponent now officially confirmed. After being elevated from WBA (Regular) lightweight champion to full world champion last year, Davis made his first title defense in June, stopping Frank Martin in a knockout performance that earned wide acclaim.

While fans eagerly anticipated potential unification bouts against WBC champion Shakur Stevenson or IBF champion Vasyl Lomachenko, both fights appear to be off the table. Stevenson is gearing up to face mandatory challenger William Zepeda, and Lomachenko has declined the fight with Davis, citing a lack of motivation.

This left Davis searching for an opponent, and rumors swirled that WBA super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach would step up to the challenge. Today, the WBA confirmed that Roach has been granted special permission to move up to 135 lbs and face Davis on December 14th. Should Roach emerge victorious, he will have five days to decide whether to continue campaigning at super-featherweight or permanently move up to lightweight and keep his title.

This event, taking place on Amazon Prime Video PPV, will also feature David Benavidez’s confirmed undercard showdown against Jesse Hart.

#GervontaDavis #TankVsRoach #LightweightTitleFight #BoxingShowdown

Welterweight boxer Mylik Roashun Birdsong (15-1-1, 10 KOs) tragically passed away on Sunday, September 28, after being fatally shot outside his home in Los Angeles.

According to LAPD, Birdsong was standing outside his residence in the Florence-Graham area when a dark-colored SUV drove by and opened fire. The boxer attempted to run toward his home, but two suspects exited the vehicle and chased him, continuing to shoot. Birdsong was found by first responders in his driveway, having sustained seven gunshot wounds to the torso. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Nicknamed "Gifted Black Sheep," Birdsong held a solid record and had won a WBF International title. He was set to face Armenian Gor Yeritsyan on October 26 at Commerce Casino in LA. Just a day before his death, he had posted a video on Instagram, proudly showing off his new puppy.

The suspects fled the scene in the SUV, and the investigation is ongoing.

#MylikBirdsong #BoxingNews #TragicLoss #LAPD #BoxingCommunity #CombatSports #Welterweight 

Haney, 25, suffered a defeat to Ryan Garcia in their WBC junior-welterweight title fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, in April. Haney was knocked down three times before the judges scored the bout 112-112, 114-110, and 115-109 in favor of Garcia.

It was later revealed that Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Despite his insistence of being a clean fighter, the fight was ruled a no contest, and Garcia was fined $1.1 million and suspended for a year.

“I don't believe that Haney wants to fight us,” Lopez Sr. told Fight Hub TV. “You can’t have a guy that just got ripped apart the way Ryan did and then come and fight my son.” He added that Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) avoided fighting Lopez Jr. (21-1, 13 KOs) when Lopez held the IBF and WBO lightweight titles. Thus, he is skeptical that Haney would risk a bout with his son following a loss.

“But could I entertain it?” he continued. “Of course I can. If the money's right, we'll make it happen.”

Lopez Jr. retained his WBO 140 lbs title in June with a unanimous decision victory over Canada’s Steve Claggett. That win marked his fifth consecutive victory after losing his unified IBF and WBO lightweight titles to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021.

Speculation about a potential fight with four-division champion Terence Crawford has also surfaced. Crawford recently won the WBA 154 lbs title by earning a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in August but has expressed a preference for a super-middleweight showdown with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

When asked if Lopez, 27, would consider fighting Crawford, Lopez Sr. replied: “We want the Haney fight, and a Crawford fight is definitely something we want for legacy. But that boy [Crawford] isn’t beating up my son, and he knows it. He’s too slow. His legs are gone.

“I've been in this game for 25 years. You think I'm stupid? I know what I'm saying. That boy is weak and scared because if he loses to Teofimo Lopez, his career is done.”

#TeofimoLopez #DevinHaney #BoxingNews #LopezVsHaney #HaneyVsLopez #CrawfordVsLopez #BoxingTalk #WBC #WBA 

Leigh Wood has established himself as a fan-favorite and a deserving featherweight world champion, showcasing some of the UK's most thrilling fight nights. As he prepares to move up to super-featherweight, a rising star has made ominous threats against the Nottingham-born fighter.

Initially seen as a contender stuck at the British and European levels, Wood’s impressive victories over Reece Mould and Xu Can propelled him to the position of WBA (Regular) champion, setting the stage for a bout with Leo Santa Cruz. However, the real hurdle was Ireland’s Michael Conlan. In March 2022, the two faced off in an unforgettable fight that earned the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year award, culminating in a dramatic final-round knockout for Wood despite being behind on the scorecards.

Wood's elevation to full champion came after Santa Cruz struggled to meet the weight limit. He controversially opted for a voluntary defense against the dangerous Mauricio Lara, known for his knockout of Josh Warrington. Unfortunately, Wood suffered a significant knockout defeat in that match but reclaimed his title in a rematch just three months later. Most recently, he demonstrated his resilience again with a knockout win over Josh Warrington, only to vacate his title later that month.

Now set to jump to 130 lbs, Wood aims to become a two-weight world champion. However, 22-year-old rising star Jadier Herrera (15-0), a recent signing with Queensberry Promotions, has issued a chilling challenge to Wood. Speaking to iFL TV, Herrera said, "I am ready for Leigh Wood. Send me a contract, bro, I will fing kill you. I will fing destroy your life, bro. Remember my f***ing name."

After previously fighting in Dubai, Herrera is looking to make a statement in Liverpool on the undercard of the Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios fight. Currently ranked #15 by the WBC, he hopes to climb higher with a win against Oliver Flores (31-5-2) this Saturday.

#LeighWood #JadierHerrera #BoxingRivalry #Featherweight #SuperFeatherweight #Knockout #FightNight #BoxingNews #BoxingLife #CombatSports

Bare-knuckle boxing is poised for a resurgence, thanks in part to Conor McGregor's recent involvement with the sport. The former UFC star's ownership stake in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) aims to elevate the sport's profile and compete with traditional boxing and the UFC.

One fighter making headlines is former WBA welterweight champion Austin Trout, who will defend his BKFC welterweight title for the first time next month against Rico "BonBon" Franco. Trout secured the title earlier this year with a fourth-round knockout of Diego Sanchez.

On October 12th, the BKFC will host an event in Spain for the first time at the Marbella Arena, traditionally a venue for bullfighting. The card features three world title fights, including a light-heavyweight bout between David Mundell and Danny Christie, alongside a lightweight title clash involving Franco Tenaglia and Tony "Loco" Soto, which is expected to headline the event.

Trout won't be the only boxing champion on the card; Scotland's Hannah Rankin, a former WBA and IBO super-welterweight champion, is set to make her BKFC debut against Iranian kickboxer Sahey Bayat. Known as "The Classical Warrior," Rankin hopes to follow in Trout's footsteps and aim for the BKFC featherweight title if she secures victory.

Fans can catch all the action live on DAZN as the BKFC continues to carve out its place in the combat sports landscape.

#BareKnuckleBoxing #BKFC #FightNight #ConorMcGregor #Boxing #BoxingNews #FightFans