Junior middleweight Vito Mielnicki Jr. won a majority decision over Khalil El Harraz in the marquee undercard bout Friday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Mielnicki (20-1, 12 KOs), ranked No. 4 by the WBA, was tested by Italy’s 33-year-old El Harraz (16-6-1, 2 KOs), who employed a patient counterpunching strategy, limiting Mielnicki’s options.

At the end of 10 rounds, judges scored the fight 95-95, 100-90 and 98-92 in favor of Mielnicki.

The first two rounds saw Mielnicki, a 22-year-old who fights out of Roseland, New Jersey, show superior athleticism, but El Harraz began to find his rhythm, landing a few right hands. Mielnicki maintained distance, fighting a calculated and patient bout, but El Harraz’s educated pressure made it clear he was there to win.

Mielnicki’s best work came at the end of the third round with a series of body shots. By the fourth, Mielnicki was more active, but El Harraz had already taken the crowd (many there to see the local favorite Mielnicki) out of the fight. The fifth round slowed to a sparring-like pace, with both fighters landing shots but neither seizing control.

El Harraz landed his best punch, an overhand right, in the sixth round, but the fight lacked intensity as it moved into the later rounds. In the final round, the crowd chanted “Let’s go Vito,” as both fighters had their moments. The overall pace, however, remained sluggish.

Mielnicki has called for a bout with fellow Top Rank middleweight Xander Zayas, who fought in the co-feature. Despite Mielnicki’s solid win, his performance fell short of igniting the crowd, as El Harraz proved to be a tough, durable opponent who had never been stopped – and which didn’t change on this night.

Bantamweight Floyd Diaz (13-0, 3 KOs) outlasted Mario Hernandez (12-5-1, 4 KOs), winning a unanimous decision with scores of 78-73, 78-73 and 77-74. Diaz, 21, nicknamed “Cashflow,” is a longtime Las Vegas resident, while Hernandez, 33, hails from Teocaltiche, Mexico.

Diaz has undergone significant changes in his training. No longer working with his father, Mike Diaz, he has transitioned from Brian “BoMac” McIntyre to now training with Cromwell Gordon, with assistance from his girlfriend, professional boxer Czarina McCoy.

In the ring, Diaz fought with composure, as the pressure fighter Hernandez continuously moved forward. Diaz landed sharp counters in the second round but found himself on the ropes toward the round’s end. Hernandez pressed forward, landing a solid right hand in the third, as Diaz retreated and focused on landing precise counters and pot shots. The clash of styles made for a unique fight, with Diaz relying on accuracy while Hernandez sought to overwhelm him with aggression.

Diaz dropped Hernandez in the fifth round with a counter right uppercut, leaving him visibly rocked. Though Hernandez beat the count, he was staggered twice more before the round ended.

In the final round, Diaz’s mouthpiece came out during an exchange, and after the break Hernandez pushed hard to the final bell – but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.

Junior welterweight Elvis Rodriguez (17-1-1, 13 KOs) secured a unanimous decision victory over veteran Kendo Castaneda (21-7, 9 KOs), with scores of 100-90, 100-90 and 99-91.

Rodriguez, 28, trained by Freddie Roach in Hollywood, California, found himself in a tentative bout with the 30-year-old Castaneda, from San Antonio. Known for their action-packed styles, both fighters started cautiously, with the pace ramping up by the end of the second round as Rodriguez's left hand became a key weapon. A left hook to the body in the third round set the tone for Rodriguez, who systematically targeted Castaneda’s body throughout the fight.

Normally a pressure fighter, Castaneda was on the back foot for most of the fourth round. He attempted to press forward in the fifth, but a sharp right uppercut from Rodriguez in the final minute forced him back and opened a cut under his left eye.

The eighth round saw the fighters exchange punches up close, though the pace of the bout, which was never fast, slowed even further. Castaneda landed a right hand that briefly got the attention of Rodriguez, who responded aggressively. Rodriguez attempted to pick up the pace in the ninth, but despite a strong left hook to Castaneda’s body in the final round, he couldn’t put together enough punches to score a stoppage.

Junior welterweight Delante “Tiger” Johnson (14-0, 6 KOs) earned a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico's Yomar Alamo (22-3-1, 13 KOs). Johnson, 26, from Cleveland, was tested by the 29-year-old Alamo. The judges scored the bout 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75 in favor of Johnson.

Alamo landed a glancing right hand in the second round that forced Johnson to tie up until the bell. Johnson rallied in the third, though Alamo continued pressing forward, making the round difficult to score. In the fourth, Alamo tested Johnson's power, staying aggressive and forcing exchanges. The fifth round saw both fighters trade punches at close range, with Johnson landing the cleaner shots in a rough, grueling contest.

By the sixth, Johnson showed signs of wear with an abrasion under his left eye. In the final round, Alamo threw more punches and appeared confident in victory, but Johnson's effective counterpunching secured the win.

In the opening bout, junior welterweight Rohan Polanco (14-0, 9 KOs), fighting at welterweight, stopped Marcelino Lopez (37-5-1, 22 KOs) in the sixth round at 2:08.

Polanco, 25, a 2020 Olympian from the Dominican Republic who trains with Hector Bermudez, beat down Argentina’s 38-year-old Lopez en route to an impressive victory. A left hook to the body hurt Lopez in the second round, forcing him on the defensive. Polanco dropped Lopez with a perfectly timed right uppercut at the end of the third and even helped him back to his corner after the bell rang.

In the fourth, an overhand right – partially blocked by Lopez – caused him to take a knee. The sixth round saw Lopez stumble from another overhand right, forcing him to take another knee. Referee Eddie Claudio halted the fight after Lopez took several more punches and went down again. 

Before the bout, Lopez had never been knocked down or stopped in a fight.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.

Featherweight Bruce Carrington secured the biggest win of his career Friday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, defeating Sulaiman Segawa by majority decision.

The judges scored the bout 95-95, 97-93 and 97-93 in Carrington’s favor.

The fight began with a feel-out round, as Carrington (13-0, 8 KOs) landed a significant right hand, though Segawa – who entered as the WBC's No. 3-ranked featherweight – outworked him with a higher punch output. In the second round, Carrington pressed forward but found himself buzzed by a series of hooks from Segawa (17-5-1, 6 KOs) – though Carrington responded with precise counterpunches toward the end of the round. Both fighters traded control in the third round, with Carrington’s counters slowing down Segawa’s volume.

Carrington landed a hard right hand in the fourth that energized the New York crowd, and he adjusted his approach by targeting the body. Segawa began retreating and looking for counters, while Carrington increased the pace, utilizing his superior conditioning. Segawa responded with aggression in the fifth, while a pattern emerged of Carrington waiting for the perfect punch as Segawa maintained his high punch output.

A head clash in the seventh round resulted in a noticeable knot on Carrington’s head. In the final two rounds, Carrington pressed forward but lacked an active jab, while Segawa threw awkward punches and fought defensively. The bout ended in a scrappy final round, with Segawa stumbling on a ring logo in the final seconds of the round and neither fighter taking full control.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.

Sandy Ryan was hit by a can of red paint in an "apparent coordinated attack" en route to Friday’s fight with Mikaela Mayer.

ESPN, the streaming broadcaster of the card, first reported the incident , whose impact left a long trail of crimson down Ryan’s hip and left leg, leaving her unharmed but visually reminiscent of a knife assault victim.

Ryan, 31, was attacked outside her hotel while making her way to Friday’s fight with Mayer, 34, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“It’s a physical attack as much as it is a psychological attack that the champion has suffered,” said ESPN commentator Bernardo Osuna during the broadcast of the Top Rank card.

The prelude to the Ryan-Mayer fight has been contentious, with Mayer, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, accusing Ryan, from Derby, England, of coming to the United States and joining her gym, which eventually led to Mayer’s departure. Ryan has since started working with Kay Koroma, Mayer’s former trainer, though she denies that she stole him away from Mayer.

Per Osuna, Koroma was furious in the locker room following the attack on Ryan, urging her not to fight.

“He knew what had happened to his fighter was unacceptable,” Osuna said. 

Koroma had worked with Mayer for eight years. Mayer has blamed him for playing both sides, expressing frustration at his lack of transparency surrounding his working relationship with Ryan. “Coach Kay has lost a handful of fighters, and I see why,” Mayer told Jared Schwartz in a Zoom interview.

Both fighters were interviewed about the incident on the ESPN broadcast. Ryan claimed the attack was a setup and affirmed that she was ready for a brutal fight.

“That’s crossing the line, that’s messed up,” Mayer said, insisting she had no involvement in the incident. “Gotta let it go,” she added, referring to the fight to come, which will be contested for Ryan’s WBO welterweight title.

With bad blood and now red paint spilled, both fighters figure to be intent on drawing real blood in the ring.

Mikaela Mayer became a two-division world champion on Friday, winning the WBO welterweight title with a majority decision victory over Sandy Ryan in the main event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The judges scored the bout 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95, giving Mayer the win and adding a second divisional title to her resume.

(Photos: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)

Junior middleweight Xander Zayas won a unanimous decision over Damian Sosa in the co-feature bout.

Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) outclassed Sosa (25-3, 12 KOs) over 10 rounds, with all three judges scoring the fight 100-90 in favor of Zayas. A 22-year-old New Yorker born in Puerto Rico, Zayas controlled the pace and showcased his skills throughout, handing Sosa his third career loss.

Featherweight Bruce Carrington secured a hard-fought majority decision victory over Sulaiman Segawa.

Junior welterweight Rohan Polanco stopped Marcelino Lopez via a sixth-round TKO.

Ryan Walsh travelled to Sheffield intent on finding a war. He ended up producing his most destructive performance for years. 

On Friday night, Walsh, 29-4-2 (13 KOs), blew through Reece Mould, 18-3 (6 KOs), dropping him three times and stopping him within two minutes of the opening round on GBM’s latest show.

It was a stunning performance from a fighter now 38 years old who enjoyed a long reign as British featherweight champion but has been scratching around for an opportunity since losing to Maxi Hughes two and a half years ago.

Now a lightweight, Walsh took great offense at Mould’s pre-fight prediction that he would knock him out and pledged to punish him. 

He certainly did that. Last November, Mould was extremely unlucky to drop a split decision to the highly rated Gary Cully but Walsh took the younger man apart in conclusive fashion. He has rarely looked better and the manner of the victory should earn him another, higher profile opportunity.

“I just wish I could fight more. That’s the top and bottom of it. I’ve been waiting to do this. My last fight was in a small dinner hall in Norwich. I’m not saying I’m better than that but if you want me to shine, put me under some big lights and I’ll shine,” he said.

“We kept looking back to my debut. My debut lasted 21 seconds. You get that version of me and anything can happen. He landed the best first shot, he jabbed me straight in the eye. I thought, ‘Nice one.’ Liam [Walsh’s brother] had been telling me to dictate with the jab but I thought, ‘Fucking hell, I’m already losing the jab.’ We’d talked about a counter and I think I’m quite fast. That was what changed the fight, my speed. If I just believe the results come from that. I’m lost for words to be honest. I’m not one to get tongue tied.”

Walsh describes himself as the owner and C.E.O of the Who Needs Him Club and he has waited patiently for an opportunity. He has been linked to fights with Henry Turner at junior welterweight and has made no bones about his desire to win the British lightweight title and claim a Lonsdale Belt at a second weight. Before his destruction of Mould, many would have wondered if, at 38, Walsh possessed the ability to challenge the younger generation but, over the years, he has never wavered in his belief that he has one more title run left in him. On Friday night, he proved himself. 

“I watched [Erislandy] Lara at 41 years old fighting at the highest level a week ago. B-Hop, 40 odd. I’ve got that because I’ve lived like a monk my whole life. I’ve very little amateur experience - under 30 - and very little pro experience - although in this case I had a lot - and it’s activity. Tell me to get ready for another fight now and I’m ready. I was really light tonight. I came in the ring at 10 stone 3lbs and there’s not another lightweight in the world doing that,” he said. 

“I wanna be part of the Riyadh Season and get paid. I’m glad I got the bonus, it’s a little bit less than my last bonus. If you’ve got any lightweights, I’m a mercenary now. I’ve got gloves, I’ll travel.”

Miyo Yoshida will defend her IBF bantamweight title against Shurretta Metcalf on Oct. 23 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The rematch, promoted by DiBella Entertainment, follows the fighters’ 2023 bout, which Metcalf won by unanimous decision. Yoshida, 36, a former two-time WBO junior bantamweight titleholder, captured the IBF title with a unanimous decision victory over Ebanie Bridges in December after her loss to Metcalf.

Yoshida (17-4), who now trains with Aureliano Sosa, is originally from Kagoshima, Japan, and now based in New York City. She will be seeking to avenge her previous loss to the 39-year-old Metcalf, who is on a three-fight win streak. Metcalf (13-4-1, 2 KOs) hasn’t fought since her victory over Yoshida in November 2023.

The event, titled “Heroes on the Hudson 2,” will donate a portion of its proceeds to organizations supporting the United States Armed Forces, including the West Point Society of New York, Merging Vets & Players and The Headstrong Project.

Maxi Hughes got back to winning ways on Friday night but had to work hard for his victory.

Hughes lost a world title eliminator to William Zepeda in March and hasn’t boxed since. Without a date and desperate to stop the rust from accumulating, Hughes, 34, asked GBM’s Izzy Asif for a slot on Friday night’s show and was matched with Greece’s Efstathios Antonas over six rounds at lightweight.

Hughes (27-7-2, 6 KOs) wasn’t matched with a compliant opponent willing to play the game and allow him to feel his way back. On paper, Antonas (7-3-2, 2 KOs) didn’t appear to be in Hughes’ class, but he came to win and made Hughes work for every second the fight lasted.

Hughes was stung by Antonas’ long, straight shots in the opening round and looked uncomfortable on a couple of other occasions as the relatively unknown Greek fighter tried desperately to spring a massive upset.

Hughes’ quality kept him half a step ahead throughout, but he certainly felt the pace and told his corner as much before answering the bell for the sixth and final round.

Hughes brought a swift end to what could have been a tricky final three minutes. A massive right hook floored Antonas heavily, and after he clambered to his feet, Hughes ended matters with a clean left.

It wasn’t the prettiest or cleanest win of Hughes’ career, but it was a very important night’s work.

“He was up for that and he was trying,” Hughes said of Antonas. “I got off to a bit of a rocky start and I thought my feet weren’t in place. He caught me on the top of the head. It buzzed me for a couple of seconds, but I thought, ‘I know where I am, get back on the jab and get working.’ That obviously gave him confidence, and he pressed the fight.

“I felt his power and felt his strength, but I had to show my class. I had to dig in there. I was feeling the pace and feeling his size. He made me work for it. Sean [O’Hagan, my coach] sent me out for the last round and said he was tiring, and not to stand and fight with him. My instinct was to stand and fight. I think it was a right hook that caught him on the button which sent him down. He never recovered, and the straight left ended it.”

Hughes battled away on the British scene for years before earning a shot at the big time.

Last summer, he traveled to Oklahoma and appeared to outbox Australia’s former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos, but Hughes lost a controversial majority decision.

Whilst Kambosos went on to fight the brilliant Vasyl Lomachenko for the vacant IBF title, Hughes was rewarded with a trip to Las Vegas and a final eliminator with the ferocious William Zepeda, and was stopped after four brutal rounds.

Hughes’ American experiences haven’t dampened his enthusiasm or self-belief, and he still harbors hopes of a return to world level. After beating Antonas, he called for a rematch with Kambosos. 

“I’m as ambitious as ever,” Hughes said. “I know my age – on paper, I’m a veteran – but I feel as young as ever. I feel like I’m in the prime of my life. Much to my wife and my mum’s dismay, I’ve got another run in me. I feel I can get back to world level and challenge myself in the best fights, so that was a good stepping stone. We’ve now got a win in a good fight, so let’s see what happens in the future.

“There’s a certain Australian watching this fight. That’s what a real Greek warrior is like. George ‘Kambozo,’ that’s a real Greek warrior, not no phony. If George is going to be man enough, I’ve been calling for you since our fight, so come over here. You said you want to come to the U.K. Let’s get over. See if you can handle one of them.”

#MaxiHughes #GeorgeKambos #Rematch #Boxing #boxingnews #boxingfans

Xander Zayas delivered a dominant unanimous decision victory over Damian Sosa on Friday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

All three judges scored the bout 100-90 in favor of Zayas.

Zayas, 22, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, took control from the opening round. Sosa, 27, of Tijuana, Mexico, usually known for his pressure-fighting style, surprisingly fought off his back foot. Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs), returning to the same venue where he headlined earlier this year, dictated the pace with sharp, clean punches. By the second round, Zayas' accuracy and willingness to exchange were on full display, slowing Sosa’s attack.

Sosa (25-3, 12 KOs) tried to mount more offense in the third round, but Zayas was precise with his left hook, and he continued to land clean shots while Sosa pushed forward sporadically. The fourth round saw Zayas turn the fight into a showcase of his technical skills, leaving Sosa struggling to land anything significant as he remained on the defensive.

In the fifth, Zayas’ dominance continued. While Sosa had minor success toward the end of the round, it wasn’t enough to alter the momentum. By the sixth, Zayas targeted Sosa’s body, landing powerful shots that energized the New York crowd, which cheered as the blows landed.

Sosa, coming off a win against prospect Marques Valle in his previous fight, found himself outclassed, as Zayas remained one step ahead. By the eighth round, Zayas was fully in control, with Sosa offering little more than his trademark toughness. Zayas continued to outwork Sosa, landing eye-catching combinations that highlighted his offensive variety.

In the final rounds, Zayas made what was billed as a tough test look like a tune-up, outclassing Sosa and leaving no doubt about who was the better fighter on this evening.

Zayas now faces the question of what’s next. He has surpassed the prospect phase, but the junior middleweight division is stacked with talent (Vergil Ortiz Jr., Tim Tszyu and now Terence Crawford, for starters). Zayas will likely aim for higher-level opposition in the coming year as he inches closer to a world title opportunity.

Notably, four of Zayas' past six wins, dating back to December 2022, have come via unanimous decision, showing his ability to consistently control fights at a high level.

#XanderZayas #DamianSosa #UnanimousDecision #BoxingNews #PuertoRicanPride #JuniorMiddleweight #FutureChampion #MSG

Junior lightweight undisputed champion Alycia Baumgardner’s return to the ring ended in a disappointing no-contest after a head clash in the fourth round of her bout against Delfine Persoon at Lux Studio in Atlanta.

Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs), from Detroit, had been dominant until the accidental collision, which occurred before the conclusion of the fourth round and resulted in the lack of an official decision.

With a new lead trainer, Ramon Matthews Jr., in her corner, Baumgardner, 30, looked sharp from the outset. She kept Belgium’s 39-year-old Persoon (49-3, 19 KOs) at bay with her jab in the first round and scored a knockdown with a left hook that caused Persoon’s glove to touch the canvas.

Baumgardner continued her aggressive pace in the second round, pinning Persoon on the ropes and landing flurries, including a right hand that visibly rocked her opponent. Despite Persoon’s trademark pressure in the third round, Baumgardner’s power and timing limited Persoon’s output, making it clear that Baumgardner was in control.

The fourth round saw Baumgardner land more clean right hands and showcased her superior speed and sharpness. However, the decisive clash of heads occurred after Baumgardner threw a right hand and Persoon tried to counter. The resulting cut on Persoon’s face led the ringside physician to stop the fight, ruling Persoon unable to continue.

The bout was Baumgardner’s first after a year-long absence following a positive test for a banned substance in July 2023. Baumgardner denied any wrongdoing, and after an investigation, the WBC cleared her of intentional ingestion. The Association of Boxing Commissions lifted Baumgardner’s suspension in March 2024, allowing her return to the ring.

#AlyciaBaumgardner #DelfinePersoon #boxing #boxingnews #boxing

Devin Haney on Friday filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia alleging battery, fraud and unjust enrichment while also naming Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, in the lawsuit demanding a full review and adjustment of accounting for their controversial bout that now stands as a no-contest.

In the April 20 fight against WBC 140-pound champion Haney, Garcia came in overweight, then proceeded to stunningly batter Haney with three knockdowns and prevail on the scorecards.

Days later, Garcia was found by the Voluntary Anti Doping Association and the New York State Athletic Commission to have the banned performance-enhancing substance Ostarine in his system, and his victory was later converted to the no-contest while Garcia was slapped with a year-long suspension and fines.

Haney attorney Pat English wrote in the 16-page filing that Haney is seeking punitive damages for the transgressions committed by Garcia.

“Devin is a consummate professional and Ryan Garcia has shown no respect for himself, the business or the sport,” Haney’s father-trainer, Bill Haney, told BoxingScene minutes after the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, the venue where Garcia and Devin Haney fought at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

“Devin is the face of boxing because he has challenged the franchise in many ways – by working with multiple promoters, by crossing the sides of the street (among broadcasters), and now he’s challenging PED use. This is all for the good of the sport.”

As he did in petitioning the New York commission to suspend Garcia and vacate his victory, attorney English noted in Friday’s civil lawsuit that Garcia had signed documents vowing he had not used performance-enhancing drugs.

In the bout, Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) was immediately rocked and dazed by Garcia left hooks and then hit the canvas in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds before Garcia’s hand was raised in victory by majority decision scores of 112-112, 114-110, 115-109.

Haney’s lawsuit repeats how Garcia was behaving erratically throughout the lead-up to the fight, talking incessantly on social media about conspiracy theories, acting strangely at their Hollywood news conference and finally missing weight by 3.5 pounds, swigging from a beer bottle while standing on the ceremonial scale.

In addition to three positive Ostarine results backed up by positive tests on the “B” samples, the Haney camp attached a YouTube video of Garcia taking an IV of fluid with a “yellowish tinge” before the bout. 

“At no time did Devin Haney consent to engage in a bout against a boxer who was positive for a performance-enhancing drug, performance enhancing-procedure or masking agent and would not have proceeded with the bout had he known,” English wrote in the lawsuit. “The New York State Athletic Commission would not have permitted the bout had it known of the positive finding or of Garcia’s IV use.

“Adding insult to the Commission and to the sport of boxing, Mr. Garcia has

alleged that he was ‘high as f*ck during’ his bout with Mr. Haney. This very clearly brings disrepute on the sport of boxing and by derivation on the New

York State Athletic Commission.”

After Garcia named one individual for supplying him with Ostarine, Haney’s legal team wants to hold any such people responsible.

“The Actions of Ryan Garcia and those who assisted him evince a high degree of moral turpitude and demonstrate wonton dishonesty as to imply criminal indifference to his civil obligations as well as willful or wanton negligence, or recklessness, or where there is a conscious disregard of the rights of others or conduct so reckless as to amount to such disregard,” English wrote in the lawsuit.

In the battery count, Haney “at no time agreed to engage in a bout against an individual who had taken a performance-enhancing drug. His consent was limited to a bout held fairly and under the rules and prohibitions set forth above. Thus, the fighting (touching) by Garcia was non consensual. Devin Haney suffered damages in that he suffered physical injury, reputational damage which will amount to millions of dollars, and emotional and mental distress,” the lawsuit alleges.

Haney ultimately withdrew from defending his belt against WBC mandatory foe Sandor Martin, relinquishing his belt. 

The fraud count is connected to Garcia’s signed claims that he would fight drug-free and that he would make weight for the title fight.

As for the unjust enrichment count, Haney’s legal team says Garcia does not deserve to keep his purse and pay-per-view cut.

“By virtue of his actions Ryan Garcia was enriched, at the expense of Devin Haney, to the tune of millions of dollars,” English wrote. “Specifically, Ryan Garcia advanced his reputation at the expense of Devin Haney. This translates to significant loss of future earnings for Devin Haney.

“Ryan Garcia additionally received millions of dollars to which he was not entitled. It is against equity and good conscience to permit Ryan Garcia to retain what is sought to be recovered in this action.”

As for Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Haney claims he’s been deprived of funds demanded by a June 20 New York commission consent order.

“Under the terms of that consent order, Ryan Garcia must

return the (guaranteed, non-pay-per-view earnings) purse he has been paid to his promoter, Golden Boy. Devin Haney and Devin Haney Inc. are contractually entitled to 47% of all profits for the bout and is thus entitled to 47% of the funds required to be returned … Golden Boy has asserted that it will not share its extra profits from the bout as a result of the forfeiture ordered by the New York Athletic Commission. This constitutes a breach of contract by Golden Boy and /or and /or unjust enrichment to Golden Boy,” the lawsuit alleges.

Haney’s legal team is requesting further funds from Golden Boy due to Garcia to be placed in an escrow account.

Bill Haney said Friday that his son will still accept a rematch against Garcia as long as the purse money is acceptable and that Garcia is held to the most stringent of drug-testing screening.

#DevinHaney #RyanGarcia #BillHaney #boxing #BoxingNews

In a past life Terri Harper used to work in a chip shop. Sensing that women’s boxing was about to explode in popularity, she turned professional, moved quickly and won a world title in her 10th fight.

Before she became a world champion, Rhiannon Dixon was a pharmacist. A white collar fighter, she saw the opportunities being created by fighters like Harper and turned professional. She also won a world title in her 10th fight. 

Both are friendly characters and although shocked would be the wrong word, both seemed somewhat taken aback by the speed at which they reached the top of the sport. 

Harper, 14-2-2 (6 KOs), has been in the exact position Dixon, 10-0 (1 KO), finds herself in. 

Although she seems to have been around forever, Harper will be the younger woman when she challenges Dixon for the WBO lightweight title this weekend. The 27-year-old recognizes plenty of herself in Dixon and experience has taught her to make her opponent question herself when the first bell rings in Sheffield. 

“Yeah, I've said it before, I like Rhiannon as a fighter. There’s no ego with her, she's just here to box and do the sport, really. There's no beef between us or anything like that,” Harper told BoxingScene.

“She’s come from white collar, I've come from an amateur background - not really on GB or anything like that - and here we are, us paths have crossed and I think it's a great fight for both of us.

“I've spoken with Rhiannon a few times and I think she's a great girl, she's a great laugh. She’s got a good banter and stuff and she's just very light-hearted and she's just a nice girl. I think there's a lot of fighters that go through this point in their career and think, ‘Do I belong at this level, on this stage and stuff?’ I'd be lying if I'd say I've not ever had that thought myself but it's something we all go through and these are the fights that cement it for you and make you realize that, yeah, you do belong.”

Harper made her name at junior lightweight but a loss to Alycia Baumgardner led her to seek out opportunities further up the weight scale. 

Lots of fighters have taken advantage of the lack of depth in female boxing to jump up through the weight divisions and reinvigorate their careers but rather than navigating her way to a straightforward title belt, Harper sought out the toughest challenges available. 

She jumped straight up to junior middleweight where she drew with Cecilia Braekhus and then came down to welterweight where she was stopped in four rounds by Sandy Ryan.

The defeat to Ryan was comprehensive and persuaded Harper to return to a more natural weight. She rebounded well mentally after Baumgardner tore her WBC title away but the circumstances surrounding the losses mean that there is far more riding on a successful comeback this time around. 

“I feel like with the Alycia fight, I was at a point in my career where you can come back and you can rebuild,” Harper said.

“Whereas now, obviously, the loss to Sandy, it's kind of... I feel like my back's really on the ropes this time and there's no room for error. If this fight doesn't go the way I want it to go, where do I go from there? Do I go back to small hall and rebuild or do I not even want to do that? Or is this when I call it a day and look at my next chapter in life? But I've pushed all that to one side and I'm not thinking about that. I'm fully focused on the fight and the job I've got to do that night and get a good win.

“It puts me right back up there and opens many more doors for me.”

Although she is treating it as a make or break fight, Harper does have some comforts to fall back on.

The 135lbs weight limit is an obvious benefit and after injury ruled both Dalton Smith and Johnny Fisher out of headline slots, the fight with Dixon will now top the bill at Sheffield’s Park Community Arena which is just 15 miles from Harper’s Denaby home.

Not many fighters jump for joy at the thought of boxing a southpaw but Harper is more than happy to face the left handed Dixon.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “It's a bit weird because I know there's a lot of fighters out there that hate a southpaw but there's something about it that I really enjoy. I think it's because it really engages me and gets me thinking.

“There's little shots that they can throw and there's little shots that I can throw as an orthodox. I find it exciting and I've always enjoyed fighting a southpaw. 

“Coming back down to these weights and stuff, it's another advantage I have because I am a tall fighter and I'm big for the weight. I need to get myself a smaller wardrobe because my clothes are a little bit too big for me at the minute.”

Although she has been a mainstay of female boxing during its rise to prominence, other high profile fighters have often been given more attention than the quietly spoken Harper.

Returning from a stoppage defeat to take a world title from an undefeated and improving fighter like Dixon would be an achievement which, surely, would see her finally given the respect she deserves but future accolades haven’t crossed her mind. All that matters is Saturday night. 

“It's purely about winning the fight,” she said.

“Just a good win and a dominant performance, just to really put me back out there because I feel like I've gone under the radar now for long enough and I feel like I need to come back and show everyone who I am and what I was.”

#TerriHarper #RhiannonDixon #WBO #Boxing #WomensBoxing #MakeOrBreak #FightNight #Sheffield #FemaleBoxers #BoxingNews

The next fight for Daniel Dubois depends wholly on whether Anthony Joshua wants to avenge the destructive knockout loss he suffered this past weekend.

If that doesn’t happen, there are many other notable heavyweights available. One name in particular stands out to Tony Bellew, a former cruiserweight titleholder who now provides boxing commentary.

“That’s Joseph Parker,” Bellew said in an interview with Liam Solomon of Instant Casino . “Nobody in the heavyweight division has taken the people on that Joseph Parker has. Nobody. Joseph Parker has faced two boogeymen who no one wants to go near, back-to-back. He fought Deontay Wilder and literally beat him up. And then he went in with Zhilei Zhang against all the doubters. Listen, I thought he’d lose twice.”

Parker was once a heavyweight titleholder himself, picking up the vacant WBO belt in 2016 with a majority decision win over Andy Ruiz. Parker won defenses over Razvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury before losing a unification bout against Joshua in March 2018. Next came a second defeat, four months later against Dillian Whyte.

“For Joseph Parker, he deserves that date with destiny,” Bellew said. “I’ve written off Joseph Parker in his last two fights, and I’ve written Daniel Dubois off in his last two fights. It’s the battle of the write-offs! I don’t know which way to go, but what I will say is Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker would make for an amazing fight. This could be Ike Ibeabuchi vs, David Tua all over again. They would throw that many punches between the two of them. It would be an absolute slugfest.”

#DanielDubois #JosephParker #HeavyweightBoxing #TonyBellew #BoxingNews #FightNight #BoxingFans #Slugfest #BoxingCommentary

The drama between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney began during 2023 but throughout 2024 it has blossomed into one of if not the fiercest rivalry in the sport, as a result of their controversial encounter back in April. Now, Haney has decided to take legal action against his foe, suing Garcia for battery, fraud and unjust enrichment.

Haney signed for the contest as the undefeated WBC super-lightweight champion and as one of the pound-for-pound superstars of the sport – largely expected to dominate against Garcia, who had acted in a concerning manner during the build-up, some suggesting that he had been admitted into a mental health institute just weeks prior to the fight.

At the weigh-in for the event, Garcia’s preparation was brought further into question as he hit the scales four pounds heavier than the super-lightweight limit, forgoing the opportunity to challenge for the WBC strap and being forced to pay a significant fee to Haney.

However, Garcia silenced his doubters inside the ring as he dropped Haney for the first, second and third time of his career on his way to a jaw-dropping majority-decision win in what many assumed would be named as the performance of the year.

Until a failed drugs test tainted all fond memory of the fight.

The result of the battle was eventually altered to a no-contest after it was confirmed that ‘King Ry’ had tested positive for Ostarine on both the day of the weigh-in and on the day of the fight – the perception of the brutal beatdown of Haney changing overnight from an offensive masterclass to a stomach-churning what-if.

We are now five months on from the bout but today it has been announced that Devin Haney has decided to sue Ryan Garcia for battery, fraud and unjust enrichment. In a 16-page document, Haney’s attorney Pat English explained his client’s case, as per Boxing Scene.Oscar De La Hoya Guns For Shane Mosley Ahead Of Return To Boxing This Weekend“[Haney] at no time agreed to engage in a bout against an individual who had taken a performance-enhancing drug. His consent was limited to a bout held fairly and under the rules and prohibitions set forth above. Thus, the fighting (touching) by Garcia was non-consensual. Devin Haney suffered damages in that he suffered physical injury, reputational damage which will amount to millions of dollars, and emotional and mental distress,”

“Specifically, Ryan Garcia advanced his reputation at the expense of Devin Haney. This translates to significant loss of future earnings for Devin Haney.

“Ryan Garcia additionally received millions of dollars to which he was not entitled. It is against equity and good conscience to permit Ryan Garcia to retain what is sought to be recovered in this action.”

Meanwhile, Bill Haney, father and trainer of the former two-division world champion and plaintiff, who vacated his belt earlier this year, added that this lawsuit is “for the good of the sport”.

“Devin is the face of boxing because he has challenged the franchise in many ways – by working with multiple promoters, by crossing the sides of the street (among broadcasters), and now he’s challenging PED use. This is all for the good of the sport.”

Ryan Garcia is yet to comment on the lawsuit but is already being linked to a return to the ring once his backdated 12-month ban ends on April 21, 2025.

#DevinHaney #RyanGarcia #BoxingLawsuit #PEDs #BoxingIntegrity #BoxingNews #NoContest #LegalBattle

A few months ago, Brian Norman Jr. was being heavily linked to a unification showdown against welterweight poster boy Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis but the fight failed to materialize. Instead, the undefeated WBO champion opted to move on and fight an alternate opponent, although it appears as though that fight may not happen either.

IBF world champion, Ennis, appears to be the man to beat at 147lbs at the moment – supported by both a significant promotional backing and global respect from fans. However, when Norman Jr. was upgraded to full WBO champion it seemed as though he would be the welterweight to put this theory to the test and attempt to expose his ‘overrated’ fellow title-holder.

Talks between the American duo commenced shortly after, but Matchroom Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Norman Jr. was asking for too much money for the clash, amazed that the 23-year-old would turn down such an opportunity if his beliefs regarding Ennis’ ability were sincere.“It’s frustrating. You hear everything that Brian Norman Sr. his saying and none of it really makes sense. This is a really simple situation, the first offer that was made to Brian Norman Jr. was nicely over $1 million, they said that was ‘nowhere near’.

“We’ve made two more offers, quarter of a million dollars [more] every time now, to levels that Brian Norman will never see. We keep getting told that we are close, then we go back and make another offer, then we are told by his team that we are not that close and I start to think ‘Brian Norman, do you want this fight? Or are you clout-chasing, or as the others might say over here, capping?’.

“Do you want to be great, Brian Norman? I’m not being funny but who is Brian Norman? I know that Brian Norman is a good fighter, but nobody knows who Brian Norman is. We are giving you a bucket load of money and the opportunity for you to unify the division against [someone who is], in my opinion, one of the top pound-for-pounders in the world.

“You say that Boots is overrated, you say that he’s not the bogeyman, so why would you not take this bucket load of money to prove that you’re the best welterweight in the world?”

Shortly after Hearn’s comments, the IBF ordered Ennis to fulfil his mandatory defence and rematch Karen Chukhadzhian for an event that has since been officially announced, whilst Norman Jr. moved on for a supposed first defence of his world title against Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas.

Yet, it appears as though Norman Jr.’s first outing as a world champion may have to wait, after Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix declared that ‘The Assassin II’ has suffered a hand injury – throwing the contest into doubt.Tony Bellew Confident That Anthony Joshua Trumps Daniel Dubois In Rematch Despite Damning DefeatBrian Norman, who is scheduled to defend his 147-pound title on November 8th, has a hand injury and his status for a scheduled fight against Derrieck Cuevas is questionable, sources told @SInow.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) September 27, 2024

“Brian Norman, who is scheduled to defend his 147-pound title on November 8th, has a hand injury and his status for a scheduled fight against Derrieck Cuevas is questionable, sources told @SInow .”

Mannix went on to detail that the November 8th event has sold well and would be expected to go ahead without Norman-Cuevas, with Keyshawn Davis’ lightweight clash with Gustavo Lemos being the headline attraction.

#BrianNormanJr #DerrieckCuevas #JaronEnnis #BoxingNews #WBOChampion #Welterweight #BoxingCommunity

Shane Mosley

De La Hoya collided with ‘Sugar’ when he was the reigning WBC welterweight champion back in June 2000 but it was the American who came out on top and edged a split-decision victory to claim a famous win between two of the sport’s most respected pound-for-pound contenders.

Feeling as though he had done enough to win in their first encounter, De La Hoya demanded a rematch with Mosley and would get his shot three years later. Mosley stepped through the ropes without a win to his name in his last three contests but challenged for De La Hoya’s world titles once again – the Mexican holding the WBA, WBC and The Ring super-welterweight marbles at the time.

Once again, De La Hoya felt as though he was hard done by on the judges’ scorecards as he lost a unanimous-decision this time around, although the decision was deemed even more controversial than that of their first affair.

It was later revealed that Shane Mosley had taken performance enhancing drugs during the build-up to the rematch, although the 1998 Fighter of the Year maintained that he believed he was taking vitamins.

Mosley would eventually hang up the gloves in some 14 years later in 2017, following a forced cancellation of a bout against Russia’s Magomed Kurbanov due to a botched elbow surgery, as per ESPN.

“I went in for a minor arthroscopic surgery to remove a couple loose bone fragments from my elbow and the surgery turned into a whole ordeal after the surgeon admittedly ‘accidentally’ burned me on my forearm, leading to a sick infection and needing like four or five days of IV antibiotics and two weeks of antibiotics at home. It was crazy and surreal to learn that I could never fight again.”Tony Bellew Confident That Anthony Joshua Trumps Daniel Dubois In Rematch Despite Damning Defeat

However, it was recently revealed that Mosley would return to the ring in a Celebrity Boxing event in Philadelphia – which is set to take place this weekend. On social media, Oscar De La Hoya offered to buy out the whole arena and showed pity towards his former dance partner.🚨‼️Clap back Thursday‼️🚨

Oscar goes in on Sugar Shane.

“He looks like he bathed in Diddy’s baby oil!”#Boxing#BOXINGnBBQpic.twitter.com/kZT2RZUJnc

— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) September 26, 2024“Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Sr. is returning to the ring this weekend at Harrah’s in Philly for a Celebrity Boxing match. You look like you have been bathed in [P] Diddy’s baby oil! What the f**k?

“Shane, you talk so much s**t about me but, because I feel so bad for you dude, I want to buy out the arena that you are fighting in. Let me know who I can contact so that I can make this happen and by the way, keep my name out of your f***ing mouth.”

Mosley will fight local boxing trainer Bob Kofroth tomorrow night at The Event Center in Harrah’s Casino, Philadelphia, topping a bill which also features former WBO super-lightweight challenger Hank Lundy, as well as local rapper ‘Freeway’ and Kimbo Slice Jr., son of the fan-favourite martial-artist of the same name.

#ShaneMosley #OscarDeLaHoya #CelebrityBoxing #BoxingLegends #ReturnToTheRing #BoxingNews #SportsEntertainment

Former world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin has been appointed as the chair of World Boxing as the burgeoning commission seeks to establish itself as amateur boxing’s recognized international federation.

World Boxing has quickly risen to prominence and become something of a beacon of hope for boxing’s future as an Olympic sport, following the International Boxing Association (IBA) being stripped of recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023. The sport has not yet been included in the Los Angeles 2028 Games program as the IOC continues to urge national bodies to embrace the creation of a new global body.

Golovkin, a 2004 Olympic silver medallist while representing Kazakhstan, has not fought since losing his third fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2022. Though there was no official retirement from one of the sport’s biggest stars, his appointment this year as the president of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee suggested that the 42-year-old’s fighting days were over.

“As well as for all the sports world, it is important to preserve boxing as an Olympic sport and this will be my top priority,” Golovkin said. “I also intend to work closely with the IOC on issues of boxing’s commitment to the Olympic values of honesty, fairness and transparency.

“I am confident that my experience as a professional athlete will help build systemic work within World Boxing and through joint efforts we will be able to give boxing a new impetus to its development, but there is still much to be done.”

World Boxing, who have reaffirmed their commitment tom adding to their current 44 members and will host its inaugural world championships in Liverpool next year, are keen to establish evidence of uniformity and financial stability.

“Golovkin will work closely with World Boxing’s leadership to manage the organisation’s relationship with the IOC and oversee the pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the sport programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Games,” World Boxing stated on Golovkin’s appointment. “Other members of the commission will be added in the coming weeks to ensure it is diverse and representative of the global boxing community.”

#GennadyGolovkin #WorldBoxing #OlympicBoxing #BoxingFuture #AmateurBoxing #LosAngeles2028 #BoxingCommunity

David Benavidez woke up Wednesday with an epiphany.

“I don’t want to fight somebody who doesn’t mean something for my career. I only want to fight the best available. The best out there now is David Morrell.”

With that, unbeaten WBC interim light-heavyweight champion Benavidez connected with a representative of his team and requested that he offer Cuba’s unbeaten light-heavyweight Morrell a fight.

A boxing official connected to the situation told BoxingScene Thursday that an offer from Phoenix’s Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) has been sent over to representatives of Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), and they are waiting to hear back.

“What’s so nice about this is that it’s the boxer making the decision … he’s the one reaching out to make the fight,” the boxing official said.

Both boxers fight under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Messages left to PBC were not immediately returned Thursday.

Benavidez was previously considering a proposal to fight Philadelphia’s 35-year-old Jesse Hart (31-3, 25 KOs).

“PBC loves the (Benavidez-Morrell) fight, everybody loves the fight … because it’s the best possible (light-heavyweight) fight,” the official said. “Morrell has a big mouth, and he’s said things before, things like (Benavidez) has chickened out from fighting him. So we expect this offer to be accepted.”

Benavidez, 27, and Morrell, 26, both opted this year to leave the super-middleweight division because they couldn’t land a title fight against then-undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.

The light-heavyweight division is bracing for its ultimate showdown, the Oct. 12 undisputed title fight between unbeaten Russians Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

“After that fight, there’s no way the WBC champion can fight anyone other than (a victorious) Benavidez or he will be stripped,” the official said. “Benavidez is doing everything – including pursuing this fight against Morrell – like a real champion.” 

Former WBC super-middleweight champion Benavidez defeated former light-heavyweight Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, and Morrell was less impressive in his light-heavyweight debut, but still won, defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic by unanimous decision Aug. 3 in Los Angeles.

“I imagine Benavidez will get more money. He’s the ‘A’ fighter,” the official said. “But I think both guys will do well. It’ll be a good pay-per-view.”

The issue beyond Morrell’s response is figuring out when and where to place the fight.

Putting it on Dec. 14 would put it in competition with two lesser bouts: Jaime Munguia fighting in Tijuana and welterweight Alexis Rocha heading a Golden Boy Promotions/DAZN card in Ontario, Calif.

If they wait until Dec. 21, the pay-per-view heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will stream earlier that day.

Initially, the Benavidez side likes the idea of placing the bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If the December dates don’t work out, they will also consider early 2025.

#DavidBenavidez #DavidMorrell #LightHeavyweight #BoxingNews #PBC #UnbeatenChampions #FightAnnouncement

The heavyweight division has always been the land of opportunity but there has never been a better time to be a young, talented big man. 

And, although he seems to have been around for years, at 30 years old, Hughie Fury remains young in heavyweight terms. 

Fury, 28-3 (16 KOs), boxes Germany’s Christian Thun, 9-1 (7 KOs), on GBM’s latest show on Friday night and knows that he is with touching distance of a return to the big time. 

Whether a high profile prospect like a Moses Itauma or Johnny Fisher decides his reputation is worth the risk of facing him or whether his reputation gets him a shot at one of the many fringe contenders clamoring for a high profile fight, Fury seems certain to enter the mix before too long.

However, he knows that it won’t happen if he can’t get past Thun. 

“I’m looking forward to it. The heavyweight division is wide open and it’s a good division to be a part of at the minute,” he said at the pre-fight press conference. “First of all, I’ve got to get past my fight on Friday night and after that, whatever comes.”

The fight with Thun is the third of Fury’s comeback after a near three-year lay-off. For years, Fury fought with an energy sapping condition called acne conglobata which turned every training session into a battle and resulted in some lethargic performances. No sooner had he finally got to the root of that issue than he contracted long Covid and once again found himself drained of life and contemplating retirement.

Fury persisted and looks healthier and stronger than he has for some time. In April he eased his way back into action by outboxing trialhorse Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko and followed that up by getting rid of the veteran Patrick Korte, who is flattered by his glossy 23-4-1 (18 KOs) record.

Fury has recognized a legitimate threat in the 6ft 9in tall Thun, who will see a victory over the Englishman as his own ticket to the big time. 

“I’m excited. I’ve had two fights as warm ups and now this is it. A fight,” Fury said. “I’m over the moon. We’re two fighters, he’s a good opponent and we’re going to get in there and there’s going to be a fight. Trust me.

“The hard part is done, the training. This is the easy part for me. Enjoy the moment. I do not give two fucks who i’m in the ring with. At the end of the day, it’s a fight. Simple.”

#HughieFury #ChristianThun #HeavyweightBoxing #BoxingFightNight #GBM #BoxingNews #Comeback

Middleweight prospect Euri Cedeno delivered a dominant performance by stopping veteran Aro Schwartz via second-round TKO on Friday at the Wind Creek Events Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Cedeno (10-0-1, 9 KOs), of La Romana, Dominican Republic, asserted his dominance early, showcasing his power and precision from the opening bell. In the second round, Cedeno overwhelmed Schwartz (23-7-1, 15 KOs) from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, prompting the referee to intervene and halt the contest with 43 seconds left in the round.

“I came into this fight with the mindset to finish it early,” Cedeno said. “I had an excellent training camp, and I felt sharp from the moment the bell rang. Each fight, I’m improving, and tonight was a reflection of that. I believe I’m one of the top up-and-coming middleweights in the world, and this win is just the beginning. It’s going to open a lot of doors for me in the division.”

“Euri showed tonight that he’s ready to take on tougher challenges, by taking out an experienced fighter like Schwartz in such dominating fashion,” said Amaury Piedra, president of Boxlab Promotions. “His power and poise in the ring are incredible, and with my partner Marshall Kauffman of Kings Promotions, we’re confident we can guide Euri to the top of the middleweight division.”

Said Cedeno: “I’m ready to step up and fight the best middleweights in the world. My time is coming, and I’m ready to take on all challenges. The boxing world will know my name sooner or later.” 

#ScottPemberton #MargaretSylvia #OmarSheika #ESPN2FridayNightFights #TheSandman #BoxingLife #BoxingCareer #MadisonSquareGarden #BoxingFamily #SethPemberton #JarelPemberton #CapitolWasteManagement #BoxingJourney #BoxingChampion #BoxingLegacy

Former welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz recently recounted how he once entered into a fight without knowing the identity of his opponent, Emmanuel Clottey.

Ortiz, 37, slugged it out with Ghana’s Clottey in August 2007 in a junior welterweight matchup, recording a 10-round TKO victory in Houston.

Seventeen years after the fight, Ortiz revealed that he only discovered that it was Clottey he was fighting after he entered the ring to face him.

“He was good and an amazing champion,” Ortiz told VLAD TV of Clottey (29-10, 17 KOs), who never won a major title but once contended for the IBF 140-pound belt. “I got a notice about two weeks before the fight.

“‘Ortiz, they need you to fight in a couple we eks.’ ‘Yeah, no problem.’ ‘You don't wanna know with who?’ ‘No. What weight class?’ ‘One-thirty, 133? What’s your weight right now?’ I’m like, ‘About 150.’ ‘I need you at 133 in two weeks.’ I go, like, ‘Oh, sure. No problem.’

“‘You don't want the guy's name?’ ‘No.’ ‘You don't wanna study him?’ ‘No. We got – what is it? – 10, 12 rounds? Don't worry about it. I got it.’”

Ortiz (33-7-3, 25 KOs) said his insistence on knowing his opponent during the weigh-in session didn’t matter to his promoters at the time. The Kansas native said he only learned that his opponent would be Clottey during the fighter introductions from ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.

Ortiz said he felt the promoters of the bout tried to set him up to lose to Clottey.

“So I went down to Laughlin, Nevada, and I just remembered, I'm in the ring and I still don't know who I'm fighting,” Ortiz said. “They didn't tell me. I went on the scales, I weighed in and made my way. I still don't know who I'm fighting. They told me, ‘Vic, go and eat.’ I responded, ‘But I wanna see whom I'm fighting against.’ ‘Don't worry about it. Just go and eat.’ ‘Alright.’

“I told them to make sure he’s not overweight because I made my weight. I went to eat. It's almost 9 p.m. I asked, ‘Did we ever figure out who I'm fighting?’ The only response that came was, ‘Vic, they know who you're fighting. Just relax, man. You think too much. Alright.’

“I'm walking into the ring and I still don't know who I'm fighting. Now they're announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, Jimmy Leonard Jr. ... ‘It's Showtime!’ I'm like, ‘Oh my goodness. This is so cool.’ And the announcement continued, “From the red corner, the challenger,” and I'm like, ‘Challenger? What are you guys talking about?’

“Wait. What? The challenger? ‘And here in the blue corner, the reigning, defending …’ I'm like, ‘Oh, no. Oh, OK. I see what's going on. Alright. So the promoters are trying to set me up. Alright. I got you. Not today.’

“So I went to the center of the ring, shook hands,” Ortiz continued. “Hey, champ. I love you, but you're done. Boom. I came in, pulled off the victory. I was like, ‘Yeah.’ I was so happy. I was like, ‘Wow.’”

After the fight, Ortiz said Clottey congratulated him and the fighters became good friends.

“Yeah, he was like, ‘You hit very hard,’ and I said, ‘You hit hard, too.’ But his eyes were all messed up and he's all closed. The next morning, I'm in the elevator going home and I saw him all bruised up with glasses on. So we just took a big picture.”

#VictorOrtiz #EmmanuelClottey #BoxingStories #Welterweight #FightNight #TKOVictory #JimmyLennonJr #RingAnnouncement #BoxingLife #WeighIn #JuniorWelterweight #FightSetup #PromotersChallenge #ClotteyVsOrtiz #BoxingHistory #FightSuccess