Bruno Escalante, a former professional boxer and the co-owner of Aloha Time Boxing, runs two gyms with trainer Mike Bazzel. They have an original location in San Mateo, and a second gym in Pleasant Hill which opened this year. The gyms were the brainchild of Escalante’s late manager and friend, Herb Stone, who passed away in 2017.

Escalante’s current focus is on his young fighters, particularly welterweight Steve Canela, who is scheduled to fight on October 12 at Stockton Arena in California.

“Herb always said, ‘I’ll do my best to look out for the fighter,’ putting the fighter’s best interests first,” Escalante recalled. “Bazzel and I adopted this philosophy, making it our guiding principle in managing and training fighters.”

Bazzel, a respected cutman in the boxing world, has already made his mark on the sport. “Bazzel was always great to me,” Escalante said. “When I first met him in 2009, he was very nice and supportive.”

Escalante’s career saw highs and lows. After early setbacks, he teamed up with Stone, who helped guide his boxing journey. But when a conflict arose involving another fighter that Stone managed, Escalante faced the fallout and had to take the show on the road as it was harder to get local fights. He suffered a controversial loss to Oscar Cantu in Texas and later endured a tough loss in his next fight against Michael Ruiz Jr. in West Oakland. Stone passed away suddenly in 2017, leaving Escalante and Bazzel to rebuild.

After a hiatus, Escalante returned to the ring and won key bouts, including victories over Javier Gallo and Diuhl Olguin in 2018. He then faced Alexandru Marin on the "Superfly III" card, losing a split decision that still stings. One that many felt Escalante should have been credited for one or two knockdowns, but neither were called. 

After his last career defeat, Escalante focused on the gym and the young fighters coming up – Canela was one of them.

Canela began boxing at age 22, which Escalante notes is “relatively late for a boxer.” Despite this, Canela has shown remarkable progress.

Canela, a former wrestler who transitioned to boxing after dabbling in MMA, described his shift to the sport stating: “I started with MMA, focusing on wrestling and jiu-jitsu, but after realizing my hands weren’t strong enough for MMA, I shifted my focus to boxing.” 

Initially, Canela thought he’d eventually return to MMA, but boxing captivated him.

Canela commutes from San Jose to train in both San Mateo and Pleasant Hill, making a roundtrip drive of more than two hours four to five times a week. His dedication to boxing is evident, as is his respect for the tough sparring sessions early in his career. 

“Early on, I sparred with tough people like Kristin Vazquez, Charlie Sheehy, and Arnold Dinong,” Canela recalled. “That made me realize that if I could take the punishment, I could give it back one day.”

Despite being relatively new to the sport, Steve Canela has already faced top competition in national tournaments under USA Boxing. Reflecting on the experience, Canela said, “The nerves were there, but my main concern was not letting anyone down.”

Now, he is set to make his professional debut on October 12, a moment he has long anticipated. Training under Escalante and Bazzel, Canela feels connected to a rich boxing tradition. 

“I’m blessed to be part of this system. Bazzel trained Bruno, and now Bruno trains me, along with Arnold, who came up through the same system,” Canela said. “It feels like a family tradition, and I’m grateful for the guidance.”

Featherweight Paolo “Pow” Barredo, a senior at Walnut High School, will make his professional debut on Saturday, two days after his 18th birthday. 

Barredo will face Mychaquell Shields (2-5) at the Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry, California. 

The bout not only marks his first pro fight but also the beginning of a pivotal chapter in his life, one that sees him balancing the demands of academics and the rigors of training as he embarks on his boxing career.

“It’s taken a lot of adjusting,” Barredo said of his packed schedule. “My days start at 6am. with school, followed by training in Riverside, sometimes up to five miles of running and strength conditioning.”

Barredo credits his longtime coach, Henry Ramirez, whom he describes as “more than just a trainer.”

Despite an impressive amateur record of 90 wins in 106 fights, Barredo never aimed for the Olympics, opting instead to turn professional. “I always saw boxing as a professional sport,” he explained. Barredo’s amateur career featured matchups with notable opponents such as Kaipo Gallegos and Izaiah Darden, but he chose to forgo the elite division in favor of an early pro start.

Barredo’s nickname, “Pow,” has familial origins and ties to his boxing persona. 

“It just happened naturally,” Barredo said with a grin. “It matches and goes with boxing.”

With his pro debut in his hometown looming, Barredo is unfazed by the pressure. He sees this moment as a culmination of years of hard work. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I work too hard to fear what's coming.”

As he prepares for graduation, Barredo looks forward to dedicating more time to his boxing career.

A major driving force behind Barredo’s journey is his father, Paul Barredo, who has been by his side every step of the way, taking him an hour each way to train each day.

“He’s sacrificed everything for me,” Barredo said. “Without him, none of this would be possible.” #PaoloBarredo #PowBarredo #BoxingDebut #HenryRamirez #MychaquellShields #FeatherweightBoxing #CityOfIndustry #BoxingTraining #AmateurBoxing #BoxingFamily #BoxingDream #PaulBarredo #BoxingProspect #BoxingFuture #YoungChampion

Keyshawn Davis has made a bold prediction. The 2020 Olympic silver medalist is confident that he will become the “Face of Boxing” within five years, achieving multi-world champion status and becoming a millionaire. While the 25-year-old Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) has undeniable talent, recent performances suggest his journey might not be as easy as he envisions. In tough fights against Miguel Madueno and Nahir Albright, Davis showed vulnerability when dealing with pressure – a flaw that could hold him back as he moves through the ranks.

Davis believes that by the time he’s in his late 20s, he’ll have a record of 20-plus wins with no losses, but critics are questioning his ability to live up to these expectations. Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, and Vasily Lomachenko are the type of opponents Keyshawn will need to beat to achieve his dream. However, it’s doubtful these top-tier fighters will face him before he’s forced to move up in weight. Additionally, Keyshawn has struggled with pressure throughout his career, an issue that could become a major roadblock as he faces tougher competition.

In a recent interview, Davis stated, “In five years, I’ll be the Face of Boxing, I’m dead serious.” Despite his confidence, many experts remain skeptical, pointing to his lackluster performance in his fight against Madueno, where Davis was visibly rattled by the pressure. Rather than outbox Madueno, Davis turned the fight into a rough, foul-filled contest. This led many to wonder if he has the mental fortitude to handle future challenges, especially in a more competitive welterweight division.

Top Rank, Davis’s promoter, is heavily invested in his career, hoping he can become a major star. However, questions remain about how far Davis can go. Critics have also noted that Davis’s old amateur nemesis, Andy Cruz, is a potential threat. Cruz beat Davis multiple times in the amateurs and could derail his professional rise if they meet again. Gustavo Lemos, Davis’s next opponent, is another tough test, and a poor performance could further dent Keyshawn’s ambitions.

While Davis has a clear path laid out in his mind, he’ll need to prove himself in every fight if he’s to back up his bold prediction of becoming the “Face of Boxing” in five years. His ability to handle pressure, stay focused, and rise to the occasion will determine if he can reach the heights he’s aiming for.

#KeyshawnDavis #GervontaDavis #ShakurStevenson #VasilyLomachenko #AndyCruz #GustavoLemos #TopRankBoxing #FaceOfBoxing #OlympicSilverMedalist #WelterweightDivision #BoxingFuture #BoxingProspects #Boxing2024 #BoxingSuperstars #BoxingFans

Chris Algieri believes that Anthony Joshua may be past his prime, labeling him as "damaged goods" after his recent loss to Daniel Dubois. According to Algieri, the 34-year-old Joshua has lost the reflexes and timing that once made him a dominant force in the heavyweight division. The former two-time champion was knocked down four times by Dubois, highlighting his inability to dodge incoming shots effectively.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, mentioned that they’ll wait to see the outcome of the Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk rematch on December 21st before deciding Joshua’s next move. While Hearn hopes for a fight with Fury, Algieri doesn’t see Joshua competing at the championship level anymore. He believes that Joshua can no longer keep up with top heavyweights like Fury or Usyk and would likely struggle even in a rematch with Dubois.

Algieri points out that Joshua hasn’t been the same since his shocking knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. He suggests that Joshua has been declining for years and has only stayed competitive due to careful matchmaking by Hearn. In his fight against Dubois, Joshua misjudged Dubois’ reach and paid the price with a hard knockdown late in the first round. After that, Joshua’s game plan crumbled, and he was forced to fight defensively.

Despite these setbacks, Joshua’s team is weighing their options, but many experts, including Algieri, believe his days at the top may be over. At 34, Joshua’s reliance on his athleticism could be catching up to him, causing a faster decline than other fighters.

#AnthonyJoshua #ChrisAlgieri #DanielDubois #EddieHearn #TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #AndyRuizJr #JoshuaVsDubois #HeavyweightBoxing #AJ #BoxingNews #JoshuaDecline #BoxingFans #JoshuaVsFury #JoshuaVsUsyk #JoshuaComeback

It was a right hand thrown from so far out and with such an arced trajectory that Daniel Dubois’ black glove almost scraped the base of the famous Wembley arch.

It dropped Anthony Joshua heavily, causing the man with the physique of a Greek statue to crumble onto his haunches and woozily stand, like a sap in a zephyr. 

The bell saved Joshua the job of having to find his senses too rapidly as the first round closed but Dubois knew what he had in front of him and the predator clobbered Joshua’s head this way and that with an untamed violence through the second round.

The introverted and at times awkward Dubois was not the ungainly mass of muscles he is sometimes accused of being at press conferences. He was not the brooding, silent and disengaged participant of interviews; instead cranking up the volume with his fists while causing a stunned silence to descend upon an initially hushed and shaken Wembley.

Dubois sensed the early ending. Each pounding jab that walloped into Joshua’s face inched the youngster closer to the finish line and in the second – the only round of the five that Dubois failed to send Joshua to the canvas – Dubois outmatched Joshua with the jab. Joshua was too often out of range, and he carried his chin too high for Dubois to miss. And in a young, strong and ambitious Dubois, who had his tail up from the first round, Joshua met a physical equal who he could not push back in clinches. 

Don Charles, the head trainer of Dubois, who through fight week was the subject of rumors of a camp rift while bedridden with a cold, spoke to his charge between sessions and Dubois lumped away with both hammers early in the third.

Dubois is a serious hitter. While writing Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing, I took Dubois on the pads for a shoot for the then BT Sport.

Thinking Dubois and I would start softly with the odd jab or one-two, I held the pads for Daniel and he unleashed a left and right. I’m not a small guy. I have held a lot of pads. Searing pains shot down my shoulders and into each hand and my first thought was Damage, and how no one’s head and/or brain could possibly take that kind of trauma. I’ve thought that each time Dubois has fought since, and can’t equate how a human head – like Oleksandr Usyk’s – does not split like a watermelon, or cause a scene of devastation such as the death of Pedro Pascal as Oberyn in Game of Thrones. 

Needless to say, I barely survived the round before Bowers saved me, from myself, the BT cameras and Dubois.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said Joshua made it through the third round in Wembley in survival mode, too. Joshua at times loaded up big shots to change the direction of the one-way traffic he was rooted in but Joshua was also restricted to jabbing and holding or just holding in his bid to clear the falling cobwebs.

As the third neared its climax, Dubois fired a left hook into Joshua’s face and the 2012 Olympic gold medallist lurched uncomfortably backwards, his right ankle seemingly buckling beneath him as his back found the ropes. Joshua held his gloves high, trying to ride out the storm, but an avalanche of leather tumbled into his face and body and he hit the canvas once more. He climbed onto all fours to make it back to his feet, and referee Marcus McDonnell gave Joshua a count which, having survived that, allowed him to absorb a minute of quiet from the noise of pounding gloves between rounds. 

But almost immediately as the fourth opened, Joshua was sent sprawling once more, tagged by a slightly more innocuous looking left and right, but given what had already gone before, Joshua was likely concussed and not in true control of his behavior, senses, or his legs. His default setting of courage, and his inbuilt ability of addressing a crisis by fighting fire with fire, saw him step up and straight back to Dubois, but the mission was increasingly perilous. 

Fronting up, Joshua tapped his chest on both sides and waded back in, and when he tipped over again it was immediately unclear as to whether referee McDonnell was either waving the fight off or indicating he had felt Joshua had had enough. Either assessment would have been just fine.

As it was, Joshua was still in the fight that he was in reality already out of. It was ruled a slip. 

The stunned Wembley silence of the earliest rounds was long gone. The fever, awaiting the violent conclusion, had whipped the expectant audience into a frenzy. Ringsiders, from Conor McGregor to Tyson Fury to Guy Richie and Terence Crawford and Devin Haney and Rio Ferdinand bobbed up and down from their seats with each fusillade that threatened to close the show. 

And Dubois couldn’t miss with the big shots. Joshua was too upright. He was pulling back in straight lines, with his chin up and throwing big shots without teasing openings. That final faux pas would eventually cause his dramatic downfall amid the carnage.

With 30 seconds remaining in the fourth, Joshua stuck his tongue out, spitting more psychological defiance than physical. 

Oddly in the next session, Joshua seemed to have found a second wind. Pop returned to his punches. There was a controlled ambition etched across his face, although his low hands were a cause of concern. They invited Dubois assaults.

Acting calm, Joshua stuck his tongue out once more, this time knowingly nodding to a ringsider in a clinch, painfully unaware that within 30 seconds he would be lying face down, fight over, with the shock of some 90,000 fans disappearing into the Wembley night sky.

Yet when the final demolition arrived, it caught everyone off guard. Because moments after sticking his tongue out and nodding, Joshua popped a jab between Dubois’ eyes and vaulted in with a right hand that caused Dubois to dance. An astonishing, historic turnaround was on. A second Joshua right hand. A third Joshua right hand.

Dubois was backing up – but he wasn’t reeling – and when Joshua tried to unfurl a right uppercut from distance, too far a distance, a Dubois chopping right hand – a shorter, faster punch – cut Joshua off at the source. The thudding blow cut Joshua’s legs from under him and the fight was over. Joshua landed in the recovery position, but he couldn’t recover. 

Joshua die-hards remained rooted to their chairs but the neutrals and fight fans leapt deliriously into the air. The fifth-round firefight, with Joshua seemingly about to turn things around and victory momentarily flashing in his eyes, proved a mere oasis, a mirage from the incessant pounding of the previous four rounds, respite before the final hammer blow that ended his evening and this rebuilding phase of Joshua’s astonishing career.

The occasion marked not only a new chapter for the fighters, whatever their trajectory might be, but for this era of heavyweights. Between them, the generation’s big four of Usyk, Fury, Joshua and Wilder only have a handful of fights left between them, and suddenly the sales pitch is as much nostalgia – certainly for Joshua-Wilder – as it is determining who is the best, in the case of Usyk and Fury.

And now it is the turn of Dubois to lead the charge of the new generation. Having turned pro young, with only a comparatively brief amateur career behind him, he had boxed just 90 pro rounds heading into Saturday’s fight. He not only has time on his side but a low mileage. He has learned plenty, too, particularly in defeat and the aftermath of his losses to Joe Joyce and Usyk. They have made him a far more rounded fighter than two more knock overs and a sparkling KO record ever could have.

There is plenty to be said for having to go back to the drawing board, be it tactically or mentally, and building on lessons learned – regardless of how harsh they were at the time. The negativity surrounding those defeats are likely what have fuelled plenty of subsequent training sessions, given him a devil-may-care attitude, and have set him up for walking through the fire that has allowed him to become a virtual lock for Fighter of the Year, with victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Joshua.

The light shone brightly on Joshua post-fight. The inquisition around tactics raged through the weekend, but whatever strategy is adopted pre-fight, it is hard to stick to that when Dubois is unleashing his heavy artillery, causing the life to leave your legs and your hands to hang low following the build-up of lactic acid in your shoulders. That, in combination with tingling neurological signals that might not even be your own any longer, and an already uphill task becomes mountainous. 

Joshua has left an indelible mark on British boxing, specifically, and his many plusses will long outweigh any perceived negatives.

The light should deservedly shine on Daniel Dubois, now. Joshua’s unravelling began with that arcing right hand, and it did not just signal the beginning of the end for the Watford A-lister on that Wembley eve, but it might have signalled the beginning of a new era of heavyweight boxing.

#DanielDubois #AnthonyJoshua #HeavyweightBoxing #Boxing #WembleyFight #TysonFury #ConorMcGregor #Usyk #JoeJoyce #FilipHrgovic #BoxingNews #NewHeavyweightEra #BoxingFans #YoungChampion #HeavyweightChampion #FightNight

Anthony Joshua remains determined to become a three-time heavyweight champion despite his recent loss to Daniel Dubois. Although Joshua was knocked out by Dubois in the fifth round after being hurt early on, the British boxer isn’t giving up on his goal. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has hinted at the possibility of a major showdown with Tyson Fury, regardless of the result of Fury’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on December 21st.

For Joshua, the ideal scenario would be Fury defeating Usyk, setting up a potential clash for three heavyweight titles. Fury’s unorthodox style and dangerous punching power present a challenge, but Joshua seems eager to face him. If Usyk wins the rematch, however, Joshua’s dreams of becoming a three-time champion may have to wait a little longer.

Joshua’s loss to Dubois marked a significant setback, but his resilience was on display as he managed to get up from three knockdowns. He admitted that his game plan fell apart after being hit early in the fight, but he remains focused on the future. Joshua reflected on his career, saying, “Look what we’ve achieved in the space of eleven years; it’s phenomenal. It’s far from over yet.”

Joshua’s optimism shows that he still believes in his ability to reclaim the heavyweight throne. Despite the tough road ahead, he is ready to make the necessary adjustments and work toward his goal of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.

#AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #EddieHearn #BoxingNews #HeavyweightBoxing #ThreeTimeChampion #JoshuaVsFury #JoshuaVsDubois #BoxingFans #JoshuaComeback #BritishBoxing #AJ #BoxingLegends #FuryVsUsyk

In a fight that had fans on their feet, James Bernadin claimed a hard-fought split decision victory over Matt Conway after eight grueling rounds at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The crowd witnessed one of the best club fights of 2024, with both fighters delivering a thrilling performance. The bout headlined a seven-fight card promoted by King’s Promotions.

The fight began with an intense pace, as Bernadin and Conway traded punches from the opening bell. Bernadin displayed his power early on, landing harder shots, but Conway proved to be a tough competitor, absorbing the punishment and fighting back with resilience. By the second round, Conway’s right eye began to swell, eventually closing as the fight progressed. However, Conway’s determination only grew stronger as he pushed forward, unleashing flurries of punches.

In the final rounds, the two fighters went toe-to-toe, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd. The eighth round was particularly electric, as both men gave it their all, earning a standing ovation from the fans in attendance. After a close contest, Bernadin was awarded the split decision, winning with scores of 78-74, 77-75, and 76-76, improving his record to 13-2-1.

Conway, who fought valiantly despite the injury, saw his record drop to 22-5. The fight will surely be remembered as a classic for both fighters and the fans who witnessed it live.

#JamesBernadin #MattConway #KingsPromotions #BethlehemPA #WindCreekEventCenter #BoxingNews #SplitDecision #ClubFights #BoxingFans #FightOfTheYear #BoxingAction #ToeToToe #FightNight #BoxingBattle #LancasterPA

Former boxing rivals Ricardo “Finito” Lopez and Hideyuki Ohashi are set to reunite in a special ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, after 34 years. This reunion will take place today, a day before a unique promotion featuring all minimumweight and strawweight competitions at the Korakuen Hall. This special moment marks their iconic clash in 1990, when Lopez dethroned WBC 105-pound titleholder Ohashi at the same venue.

After their historic bout, Lopez went on to defend his title 21 times, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the sport. On the other hand, Ohashi transitioned into a successful boxing promoter, establishing his own gym and training five world champions, including the formidable Naoya “The Monster” Inoue.

The reunion ceremony is organized by Hachioji Nakaya Promotions, and the event will feature prominent figures from the boxing world. The reunion is not just a reflection on the past but a celebration of both fighters’ contributions to the sport, particularly Ohashi's role in shaping Japan’s boxing scene.

The event will also honor their respective achievements, with Lopez's incredible defense record and Ohashi's success as a trainer and promoter. Fans from around the world will witness this emotional reunion, marking a significant moment in boxing history.

#RicardoLopez #FinitoLopez #HideyukiOhashi #NaoyaInoue #KorakuenHall #TokyoBoxing #HachiojiNakayaPromotions #BoxingLegends #MinimumweightChampions #WBCChampions #BoxingReunion #BoxingHistory #StrawweightChampionship #LegendaryRivalry #BoxingPromoter

Several times, Joey Dawejko’s mouthpiece came out in his fight with heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr. last week. And several times, Dawejko was warned, then docked points, then ultimately disqualified, giving Torrez the fifth-round victory.

Dawejko says he wasn’t looking for relief — for extra time to recover while the mouthpiece was cleaned and replaced — or for a way out of the bout.

During the broadcast, commentator Tim Bradley questioned whether Dawejko had purchased a store-bought, do-it-yourself mouthpiece that you boil in water and imprint with your teeth. Bradley said that professionally made mouthpieces, including those done by dentists, would not be coming out as easily or as regularly as Dawejko’s was.

Torrez, the super heavyweight silver medalist in the 2020/2021 Olympics, moved to 11-0 (10 KOs). This was his first fight that didn’t end by knockout, and only the third time he saw the fifth round. Torrez stopped Curtis Harper in eight last December.

.#JoeyDawejko #RichardTorrezJr #TimBradley #BoxingNews #SportsNews #BoxingControversy #FightNight #HeavyweightBoxing #KnockoutArtist #OlympicSilverMedalist

Responding forcefully from his Canelo Alvarez loss to post a Friday night knockout victory, Jaime Munguia is reportedly moving toward taking another fight by year’s end – back home in Tijuana.

Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) has expressed interest in fighting former super-middleweight title challenger Ronald Gavril (25-3, 20 KOs) of Romania December 14 at Tijuana’s Caliente Stadium, according to a report by ESPN.com’s Salvador Rodriguez.

That would be Munguia’s fourth bout of 2024 after opening the year by stopping veteran former 168-pound title challenger John Ryder of England in January in Phoenix.

Munguia, 27, fought under the Top Rank promotional banner Friday after previously being contracted to Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, and Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum told BoxingScene last week that he was planning to stage a series of fights in Mexico with Munguia serving as a lynchpin attraction.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef told BoxingScene Monday that his company, Munguia and the fighter’s Mexican promoter, Fernando Beltran, expressed joint appreciation over how the Top Rank debut show went, with Munguia capping a closely contested fight against previously-unbeaten Canadian Erik Bazinyan with a 10th-round knockout.

duBoef said he was informed Munguia wanted to stage a homecoming fight in December, adding Top Rank is “in conversations” with Munguia’s team to extend their working relationship “with more talks to follow.”

“They communicated they were very happy with the event, the attention he received, the shoulder programming, the socials, and my team had an incredible experience with them,” duBoef said. “We love that they (took satisfaction) in our content. It was a very positive experience.”

Another Top Rank official said flatly, “The kid (Munguia) wants to be with us.”

While Munguia was held up to some criticism for having some mid-round difficulties with Bazinyan, that tension made for a dramatic fight and he was leading on all three scorecards at the time of the knockout.

“(Arturo) Gatti was flawed, (Miguel) Cotto got hit by right hands … the heavyweight fight we just saw (Saturday between IBF champion Daniel. Dubois and Anthony Joshua) had flaws, but the give and take, and (Munguia’s) willingness to risk to land big punches is compelling and it’s what makes this sport beautiful,” duBoef said.

“If you’re going to take risks, you’re going to get hit. I’d rather see that than a guy doing pirouettes in the ring all night. This was more compelling TV, and you saw it in the arena, with the fans erupting multiple times.”

Arum said previously he’s enthused about taking fights to Mexico so his promotion can effectively capture the passion of the sport’s richest fan base, conveying that generations-deep interest to global television audiences.

In Gavril, Munguia will confront a now-38-year-old fighter who lost a split-decision to then-20-year-old David Benavidez for the WBC super-middleweight title in 2017 before Benavidez handed him a more convincing defeat by unanimous decision five months later.

Gavril has fought far more anonymous foes since, most recently getting in the ring on May 17.

Cuban junior middleweight prospect Yoenis Téllez will face big-punching Johan González on the October 19 bill topped by the IBF title fight between Bakhram Murtazaliev and Tim Tszyu.

The show, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, will also feature a bout between middleweights Mateo Tapia and Endry Saavedra.

The Ronnie Shields-trained Téllez is fighting at the venue for the fifth time, and the 24-year-old is 8-0 (6 KOs).

Téllez defeated Sergio Garcia last July and has twice won bouts at Caribe Royale since.

“Fighting an experienced fighter like Johan González is a great opportunity to show the world what I’m made of,” said Téllez. “He’s fought at the elite level and I’m expecting a tough fight. I’m going to leave everything in the ring.”

Gonzalez, originally from Valencia, Venezuela, now trains in Las Vegas and is 34-3 (33 KOs). He made his US debut last year but in 2022 suffered a decision defeat to former world title challenger Magomed Kurbanov. González turned over in 2017 and won his first 22 bouts before dropping a split decision in 2018.

“This fight is everything for me, it’s a must-win,” said González. “I’m working hard every day to make sure I leave with my hand raised. My only focus right now is doing everything possible to keep pushing my career forward.”

Tapia is a friend and sparring partner of main eventer Tszyu while Saavedra has scored seven stoppages in his last seven victories.

“This fight is a huge opportunity for me and I’m here to take it with both hands,” said Tapia. “I’m thrilled to be fighting on Tim Tszyu’s card and I’m thankful to my team for making this happen. It’s been a long camp and I’ll definitely be ready when that bell rings on October 19. I’m looking forward to displaying my skills and proudly representing both Australia and Mexico on the world stage.”

Saavedra (16-1, 13 KOs), a Venezuelan who fights out of Tijuana, Mexico, enters the contest having knocked out his last three opponents since the only defeat of his career, an October 2022 decision against Etoundi Michel William.

The 33-year-old turned pro in 2018 and won his first 13 bouts after an extensive amateur career. He most recently traveled to Australia in March, stopping Isaac Hardman on his home turf in round eight of a fight he trailed on two of three scorecards.

“I can’t wait to take advantage of what’s in front of me on October 19,” said Saavedra. “I plan on showing the world why I belong at the top of the middleweight division. I’m facing a tough Australian fighter who represents Mexico, so I’m expecting a war, just like I bring to every fight.”

Daniel Dubois’ stunning fifth-round demolition of Anthony Joshua produced the type of images that stay at the forefront of the mind for days and provoke an almost endless stream of questions, suspicions and opinions.

Most people will have spent the last 36 hours wondering at the IBF heavyweight champion’s mental toughness or asking themselves whether Joshua’s time at the very highest level has come to an end.

How many genuinely thought, “We need to see that again?”

Still, these days, major heavyweight fights seem to come packaged with a pre-ordained sequel and although Joshua left Wembley without making a definitive statement on his future intentions, the word from Eddie Hearn and those around him was that he would, in all likelihood, pursue a rematch.

This time last year, Dubois, 22-2 (21 KOs), was looking for a way back into the heavyweight mix. In August, he earned respect for the way he held himself together and competed with Oleksandr Usyk for eight rounds of their unified heavyweight title fight. 

The way he sank to a knee and allowed himself to be counted out in the ninth overshadowed the good work and gave extra fuel to those who wrote him off after he submitted to the discomfort and worry caused by a badly damaged eye socket – and Joe Joyce’s ramrod jab – back in 2020.

How things change. While others laid waste to his career, Dubois found some hope in the wreckage. Over the course of nine months he has fought – and stopped – Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Joshua. 

Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, suddenly has the heavyweight division’s hottest property on his hands but after successfully guiding the 27-year-old through the type of gauntlet which should make him a front runner for Fighter of the Year honors, he wants Dubois to take a moment to breathe and enjoy the spoils of war before they sit down and commit to his next step. 

“He doesn’t have a rematch in his contract. There is one in AJ’s contract but I haven’t got a problem with a rematch if they want to do it. If the terms are all okay, we’ll sit down and talk about it but it’s all too soon to say who he's going to be fighting next,” Warren told talkSport this morning.

“He [Dubois] needs to now savor the moment. He had some stick in the past from a couple of fellow professionals – which I thought was a liberty – but he’s shown now what he’s all about. He gritted his teeth in that fight. He gritted his teeth in the two fights previous to that when he was an underdog in each of them.

“He went in with three undefeated fighters, one after the other. Ranked fighters. He’s had four fights this year and those fighters are all world ranked including one champion and one two-time former world champion.

"How many fighters have done that?”

Dubois was working to his own agenda on Saturday night but his win – and the emphatic nature of it – ransacked the latest tentative plans for a fight between Joshua and former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. 

Although the heavyweight division seems to operate according to its own rules these days – unless the IBF are involved, of course – a Fury victory in December’s rematch with Usyk would surely lay the table for a trilogy fight with the great Ukrainian or an undisputed title showdown with Dubois.

Another Usyk win may just open a window for the two to finally climb between the ropes and whether a title belt is on the line or not, a large audience would still tune in to watch the two best British heavyweights of their generation box for personal pride and – as Jerry Izenberg once said of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier - ‘the heavyweight championship of each other.’ 

“I don't know. I think people may still buy it. If he [Joshua] comes back and has a win, who knows?” Warren said.

“Tyson’s got his rematch first of all with Usyk on the 21st December as a part of Riyadh Season and that’s a tough fight.

“I fancy him to come through it but this division at the moment is alive. Losers fighting losers, winners fighting winners. There’s such a combination of great fights. The heavyweight division has never been so lively and that's basically because of the last year of the involvement of the Saudi Riyadh season.”

#DanielDubois #AnthonyJoshua #FrankWarren #TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #BoxingNews #HeavyweightBoxing #BoxingChampions #BoxingRematch #BoxingFans #JarrellMiller #FilipHrgovic #BoxingComeback #BoxingDrama #RiyadhSeason

The proposed Anthony Joshua coronation soon turned to a night of despair for the two-time world champion, his team and his backers as Daniel Dubois stamped his authority onto both his domestic rivals and the heavyweight division as a whole with a show-stopping knockout against Great Britain’s long-standing poster boy.

However, ‘AJ’ has now confirmed that his time in the ring is not over yet and as a result there are already names being touted for his next outing and William Hill have now released their odds for whom his next opponent may be.1. Daniel Dubois – Evens

After Joshua suffered a shock defeat to a third opponent of his career, the immediate assumption was that he would once again force a second meeting with his rival, as he did with both Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk following those other shortcomings. As expected, Eddie Hearn confirmed that there was a rematch clause in the fight contract and that he expects his man to trigger it, but Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren has since suggested otherwise – thrusting what was originally an inevitable rematch into doubt, although it remains as the most likely outcome.

Defeats are no longer a new experience for Joshua but the brutal manner of the damning loss to ‘Triple D’ presents him with a new mental obstacle to overcome – this being the first time he was truly knocked out and not halted on his feet. That fresh hurdle could act as motivation for Joshua and whet his appetite or it could convince him to steer clear of a man who could simply be his hard-hitting kryptonite.2. Deontay Wilder – 4/1

The one that got away. Hopes of Deontay Wilder seemed dead once ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was trumped in back-to-back outings against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang – not just losing but failing to come close in either contest. Like Joshua, Wilder has refused to hang up the gloves and with both men coming into what was recently deemed as ‘the biggest fight in boxing’ off of the back of defeats, the long-awaited encounter would be seen in a different light but would be a captivating one nonetheless.

A below-par Wilder could represent the perfect route back to the forefront of the division for ‘AJ’ and tick off a name that has long been on both his and Hearn’s hit-list. Yet, the fearsome punch power of the American could also be a recipe for disaster.3. Tyson Fury – 5/1

Tyson Fury fumed that Dubois’ demolition of Joshua had cost him £150 million shortly after his promotional stablemate had been declared the victor but that may not prove to be the case. Eddie Hearn has maintained that the illusive all-British dust-up could still happen despite the Saturday night blow out, alluding to a similar scenario to that of the possible Wilder clash mentioned above.

‘The Gypsy King’ is scheduled to meet with unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk in December in the sequel to what was an instant classic earlier in the 2024 calendar but he will step through the ropes as the underdog and will find himself on a two-fight winless streak if he cannot crack the code of the pound-for-pound number one.

The Fury-Joshua rivalry will never truly be settled until a victor is resolved and a grudge match could ensure either in the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia could be around the corner if Fury is unable to reclaim the heavyweight marbles later this year.4. Jarrell Miller – 10/1

Joshua’s rivalries with both Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are ones that are often glorified and encouraged by the masses to season what would already be a salivating event. Jarrell Miller on the other hand, is a rival that is truly hated by ‘AJ’ on a personal level.

‘Big Baby’ Miller was poised to take on the Briton and after an intense build-up, it was clear to see that the loudmouthed American had brought a different side out of Joshua than the polished professional that we have become accustomed to – instead Joshua simply wanted to take his head off and silence the New Yorker for good.

Unfortunately, the then lauded knockout artist that was a rising Anthony Joshua never got the opportunity to put his pitiless plan into action as Miller failed a drugs test and faced a four-year ban from the sport. Meanwhile, Joshua moved on and was matched with Andy Ruiz Jr. – becoming the victim of one of boxing’s most famous upset wins.

Miller has now served his ban and his back boxing on the big stage, putting up a respectable display in a defeat to Dubois that has aged like a fine wine and then controversially drawing with Ruiz, with many viewers feeling as though he had done enough to get his hand raised. Eddie Hearn has previously ruled out the prospect of staging Joshua-Miller but now that fight could be the best option to rebuild his fighter.5. Manuel Charr – 12/1

Finally, Syrian-German Manuel Charr has long called for the opportunity to face Joshua and was named as Regular heavyweight world champion in an eyebrow-raising move from the WBA – considering Charr has not fought since 2022 and just thrice since 2017. Still, with a unified title contest on the horizon, it is likely that belts will be vacated during 2025 either through a lack of interest in fighting mandatory challengers or through retirements, leaving Charr well poised for an unlikely title shot.

As a result, Joshua may opt to challenge for Charr’s WBA (Regular) strap in the hopes of being upgraded to world champion shortly afterwards or to position himself for a vacant title fight against heavyweight bogeyman Martin Bakole, who is ranked as the number one contender with the sanctioning body.

All will likely become clear within the next few weeks as further details surrounding a possible rematch between Joshua and Dubois are confirmed but it has been revealed that ‘AJ’ is not ready to walk away from the sport just yet, in spite of the uphill battle that he faces if he desires to mount a return to the heavyweight throne.Daniel Dubois Knocks Out Anthony Joshua In Stunning Victory To Retain IBF Heavyweight TitleOther Options:

Michael Hunter – 10/1

Filip Hrgovic – 10/1

Joseph Parker II – 14/1

Andy Ruiz Jr. III – 14/1

Zhilei Zhang – 16/1

Martin Bakole – 16/1

Derek Chisora – 16/1

Jared Anderson – 20/1

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Two-time featherweight world champion Josh Warrington has made a career out of relentless pressure and aggression but struggled to cause too much trouble to Anthony Cacace at the weekend. As a result, many have suggested that it was time for Warrington to hang up the gloves and he seemed to agree on Saturday night.

‘The Leeds Warrior’ has brought plenty of phenomenal fights to his hometown in recent years, outpointing both Lee Selby and Kid Galahad in front of his faithful followers in West Yorkshire, as well as getting the nod over Carl Frampton in Manchester. The now 33-year-old has brought eyes to the 126lb scene throughout his career and made the division one of the most-watched weights domestically and achieved tremendous success, but his struggles of late have been there for all to see.

Warrington was famously knocked out by Mauricio Lara in one of the most stunning upsets witnessed on British soil back in 2021 before the pair fought two rounds of a disappointing technical-decision draw a few months later but a win over Spain’s Kiko Martinez saw Warrington reclaim his IBF world title.

Although, he later lost that belt to Luis Alberto Lopez in late 2022, failed in a WBA title challenge against Leigh Wood in 2023 and then was on the wrong side of a one-sided decision on Saturday night’s Wembley card following an uncharacteristic performance.

After one win in six, Warrington left his gloves in the ring to signify that his time in the ring has come to an end. In an interview with DAZN, the Yorkshireman refused to announce an official decision on his retirement but admitted that he is ready to spend more time with his family ahead of a new addition to the Warrington family.

“I don’t know [if I will continue], it is one of them where if I was [to fight again], I would have to get out sooner rather than later. I couldn’t wait another year. I just need to go home, my missus is 25 weeks pregnant so I just want to get ready for another baby coming into the family and see where we go from there.”

Meanwhile, in-form Anthony Cacace has now triumphed over world champions in consecutive fights after halting Joe Cordina earlier this year. Full of confidence, the Northern-Irishman looked ahead to more fights on the big stage and hinted that he may move up to the lightweight division in the near future, Cacace told BBC Sport NI.Joshua vs. Dubois Undercard Results: Wins For Sheeraz, Buatsi, Cacace, Kelly And Padley

“I’m on cloud nine and so are my team, it was a hard fight, take nothing away from Josh.

“That is back-to-back world champions I have defeated, and I never thought my life would come to this, so it is overwhelming.”

“Whatever happens, happens. I could go to America, I could come to headline the SSE in Belfast, I would love to, but everything that comes from here is a bonus for me,”

“I want to cement my name in Irish boxing some way or other. I would love to do something out of the ordinary, if that was winning another belt or moving up a weight to win a belt, I want to go down as one of the greatest from this country.”

Cacace went on to declare that he will rest for the remainder of 2024 before hopefully securing a major fight in 2025, whilst Warrington’s fans await a more concrete decision on his future in the ring.

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Ryan Walsh knows that his time in the sport is coming to an end. He just can’t bring himself to say goodbye until he finds the man capable of standing toe to toe with him and trying to beat haim in a fight.

Although Walsh, 28-4-2 (12 KOs) reigned as the British featherweight champion for five years and made six defenses of his title, the 38-year-old insists that he has yet to meet an opponent who has made him dip into previously untapped reserves. Walsh doesn’t want to leave boxing without finding out if he is capable of doing so. 

This weekend, Walsh takes on Reece Mould, 18-2 (6 KOs), on GBM’s latest show on Friday night and the 29-year-old from Doncaster has promised that he will meet fire with fire. Walsh isn’t willing to take him at his word, however.

“Even Lee Selby, after four rounds decided, ‘You know what, I'm going to use my longer [boxing].’ I'm not a dirty fighter, but I stay tight,” Walsh told BoxingScene. “He ended up with two cuts after four rounds. I remember feeling, ‘This is where we need it. Right in the box, right close, right up tight.’

“I’ve got little arms for fucks sake and quite quickly, within four rounds, he adapted and kept it long, whipping in these lovely body shots but I don’t think Reece has got the ability to adapt when it goes wrong. He’ll go out on his shield.”

Selby, Jazza Dickens and Maxi Hughes were all able to defuse Walsh by using their slick, smart southpaw skills to keep him offset and prevent him from gaining any momentum. Walsh is an honest fighter and although he did lose a European featherweight title fight to Dennis Ceylan eight years ago, he refuses to accept that the Danish fighter deserved the split decision victory he was awarded.

Having lost a debatable split decision to Gary Cully last November, Mould will know that he would struggle to recover from a defeat to Walsh and, for that reason, Walsh thinks that Mould’s team will preach to him the sense in boxing sensibly and exchanging when it is safe to do so. 

He believes that Mould will soon determine that they are recommending the correct course of action, he just isn’t sure whether Mould is good enough to follow it. 

“This is what I’m saying to them,” he said. “They’re going to try to get you to box. You’re going to quite quickly realize that is going to be the best way but you probably won’t have the skill set to do what they're going to ask you to do. You’re no slick southpaw. You’re no southpaw on a tear. You’re no Maxi Hughes. You’re not Jazza Dickens and you’re not Lee Selby. And I’m not even going to talk about Dennis Ceylan because I never lost that fight.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79

Anthony Joshua had the chance to write his name into the history books and become boxing’s fifth three-time heavyweight champion on Saturday night in a record-breaking event at Wembley Stadium – but ultimately, he fell short. Now, as fans question whether the Joshua era of British boxing has passed – ‘AJ’ has addressed the fans across the country.

Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois exploded onto Joshua from the opening bell onwards at the weekend, scoring four knockdowns in five rounds – the last of which saw a dazed Joshua unable to rise from the canvas and left falling flat on his face. Shortly afterwards, a disappointed Eddie Hearn admitted that he expects the Matchroom poster boy to rematch his younger domestic rival, although at present it remains unclear how the heavyweight division will pan out.

Despite immediate rumours of a rematch, many established figures in boxing have advised Joshua to hang up the gloves but in a video posted onto his social media, the London 2012 gold medallist told fight fans that his journey ‘is far from over yet’.🫡 pic.twitter.com/RtdLgCIu8p

— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 23, 2024

“Yesterday night we came up short but we have got to look at the positives. That is the mindset, that is the perspective that we have to have – a positive one, always. Look at what we have achieved in the space of eleven years – it is phenomenal. I want to thank every single one of you that has been riding with me, what a rollercoaster journey, but you know what the problem is? It is that it is far from over yet.

“We have done it once, we have done it twice, doing it a third time hasn’t been easy, but I believe that it is something that I can achieve. It is about making the right steps forward, working hard, improving and it has got to come from here [the heart] more than anything. It can’t come from any external voices or influences, it has got to come from here [heart].Joshua vs. Dubois Undercard Results: Wins For Sheeraz, Buatsi, Cacace, Kelly And Padley

“It has only been a day but when I am sat back and I am thinking, I have got a lot of this [heart], man. I know that I have got a lot of this.

“This is just a video to say thanks for your support, thanks for being on this rollercoaster journey with me. Keep your seatbelts tight because deep down in here [my heart], I know we have got a lot more to bring to the game and long may it continue. British boxing, I appreciate you, we rise up together – let’s go!”

It remains unclear whether Joshua has a definitive rematch-clause in his contract to trigger a second showdown with the IBF world champion, with Hearn claiming that he does and Frank Warren believing that he doesn’t. However, should such a clause not be present in the deal, Dubois could instead opt to wait to fight the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s rematch in a second battle for the undisputed heavyweight crown in as many years.

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Legendary “Iron” Mike Tyson is not interested in seeing Canelo Alvarez fight Terence Crawford despite the many calls for the bout.

Omaha’s Crawford, 36 and 41-0 (31 KOs), has continuously spoken of his desire to face superstar Alvarez at 168, following a keenly-contested unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles last month.

Tyson, a former undisputed heavyweight fighter from 1987 to 1990, thinks Crawford’s performance against Madrimov at 154 proved that a 168-pound clash with Alvarez would be a tall order for the newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight champ.

In an interview on the Come And Talk 2 Me podcast, Tyson said he was not in favor of a potential Alvarez-Crawford fight happening.

“I don't like that fight,” said Tyson. “It's just too much weight. And he had a close fight with the last guy [Madrimov] he fought because this guy was big, and he was awkward. He was really awkward.

“He shouldn't have fought that guy. He should have fought a guy that would’ve come straight at him. The guy was too awkward. He was hurt.”

Alvarez of Mexico, 34, is yet to announce his next opponent after a dominant unanimous decision win over Edgar Berlanga a week ago at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs), who could return early next year, had said he preferred a rematch with undefeated light heavyweight Russian titlist Dmitry Bivol next. The duo – Alvarez and Bivol – slugged it out two years ago at 175 with the Russian triumphing with a unanimous decision. 

But Tyson wants Alvarez to fight David Benavidez in what he believes is the biggest showdown in the sport at the moment. When asked why he thinks Alvarez is yet to fight Benavidez, Tyson said: “Well, I don't know. I think we need to bring him in and ask him that because that's a big fight for him. He doesn’t wanna fight him. I don't know. I have to talk to Canelo about that”.

To Tyson, Alvarez’s attitude towards the Benavidez fight implies only one thing.

“Well, it appears that way to everybody in the world as he's running from the guy. He's not gonna fight the guy, he doesn't wanna fight the guy.”

#TerenceCrawford #CaneloAlvarez #MikeTyson #DavidBenavidez #Mexico #Boxing #BoxingNews #BoxingFans

The journey is not over for Anthony Joshua, who has declared he “has a lot more to bring”.

The popular Londoner, who drew another huge crowd to Wembley Stadium last weekend where he lost in five rounds to Daniel Dubois, has pledged to fight on and continue with his attempts to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.

“We came up short, but we’ve got to look at all the positives. That’s the perspective and the mindset that we have to have,” said Joshua. “A positive one. Always. Look at what we’ve achieved in the space of 11 years. It’s phenomenal. And I want to thank each and every one of you that’s been riding with me.

“What a roller coaster journey. But you know what the problem is? It’s that it’s far from over yet. We’ve done it once. We’ve done it twice. Doing it a third time hasn’t been easy, but I believe it’s something that I can achieve. It’s about making the right steps forward, working hard, improving, and it’s got to come from here [he tapped his heart] more than anything. It can’t come from any external voices or influences. It’s got to come from here.

“And it’s only been a day, but when I sit back and I’m thinking, I know I’ve got a lot of this [heart], man. I know I’ve got a lot of this.”

The 2012 London Olympic gold medallist is now 28-4 (25 KOs) and remains a huge attraction in the UK. As well as express his desire to carry on, he also took a moment to let his fans know he was grateful.

“Just a video to say, thanks for your support,” Joshua, 34, added. “Thanks for being on this roller coaster journey with me. Keep your seatbelts tight, because deep, deep, deep down in here [pointed to his heart again], I know we’ve got a lot more to bring to the game. And long may it continue. British boxing, I appreciate you. We rise up together. Let’s go.”

#AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #Boxing #Heavyweights #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #WemblyStadium

Josh Warrington’s gloves remained in the center of the ring long after he and Anthony Cacace had begun the trek back to the dressing rooms at Wembley Stadium. 

The center spot of the national stadium may seem a very public setting for such a personal moment yet the small but symbolic gesture will have been missed by most. Those seated in the far reaches of Wembley Stadium will have needed binoculars to spot a pair of broken down, sweat soaked 8ozs Cleto Reyes laid out on the canvas while those in the plush seats quickly turned away from the ring to take in the scene or spot the next celebrity. 

The super featherweight fight never quite caught fire but, for Cacace, the scrappy nature of his unanimous decision victory meant little and he floated away, secure in the knowledge that his future was secure. 

Two-time featherweight world champion, Warrington, will have barely noticed the consoling pats on the back from strangers or well meaning friends telling him that he had been robbed. His mind was elsewhere. 

A couple of hours later, the 33-year-old made his way back onto the pitch to watch Daniel Dubois’ dominant victory over Anthony Joshua.

Warrington has been responsible for filling stadiums himself in the past but only he will know whether the thrilling spectacle motivated him to commit himself to one final effort or whether it hammered home to him that his own days as a headline attraction are over. 

“Frustrated, a lot of questioning. I need to go away and do a lot of questioning and speak to my family about what I want to do now for the future. Do I end the journey here or do I come away and carry on? If I do, then I’d need to be out sooner. I feel that the ring rust showed out there,” Warrington told Matchroom in the dressing room after the fight.

Inactivity has killed many careers but for a fighter who thrives on momentum, it is an especially cruel way to go.

Now 33, Warrington has boxed just twice in two years and won just one fight since 2019. After losing his IBF title to Luis Alberto Lopez and then suffering a shattering stoppage loss to Leigh Wood last October, last night was his third consecutive defeat.

Despite the results, Warrington remains a more than capable fighter and tough work for almost anyone but there has been a slow erosion of the qualities that made him special. 

The hope was that after spending his entire professional career campaigning at featherweight, the belated move to 130lbs would reinvigorate him and provide him with the chance to end an outstanding career on a high. 

On Saturday, at least, it wasn’t to be. His performance was reminiscent of the first half of his unanimous decision loss to Lopez back in 2022. Warrington just couldn’t muster his trademark ferocity. Despite eventually losing a close majority decision, he was able to find a thread of hope and drag himself back into the fight against the awkward Mexican but he readily admits that he found hope hard to come by against Cacace.

Warrington is a smart fighter and an intelligent, proud man. He understands boxing and wasn’t oblivious to what went on against Cacace. He now needs to decide whether inactivity or time have sapped his reserves.

“Taking nothing away from Anto but you know how I fight, that was a shocking fight from me,” he said. “Slow pace and everything we worked on. Credit to my dad again, [the] gameplan, down to a tee. We knew what he was going to do and the shots he was going to throw and he did exactly that but I didn’t react to the gameplan. I didn’t do what I’d been asked to and what I’ve been working on for the last 12 weeks and it was frustrating and after six rounds it's as though my head started dipping and I started saying, ‘I’m getting frustrated’ in the corner. I shouldn’t have been. It’s just going to be one of them where I come away, I have a chat with my dad and my team and then we go from there.”

#JoshWarrington #Boxing #AnthonyCacace #BoxingNews #BoxingFans #FightFans #FightNews #Sports #JoshuaDubois

A trio of high-stakes women's world title fights headlines the boxing action this week, showcasing fierce talent in the ring. On Friday, September 27, fans will witness two marquee showdowns: Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer for the WBO welterweight title and Alycia Baumgardner vs. Delfine Persoon for the WBC junior lightweight belt. Capping off the weekend, Rhiannon Dixon will defend her WBO lightweight title against Terri Harper on Saturday, September 28.

In the highly anticipated clash between Ryan and Mayer, Sandy Ryan looks to solidify her place as one of the top fighters in the welterweight division after stopping Terri Harper earlier this year. With a 7-1-1 record, Ryan is eager to maintain momentum against Mikaela Mayer, who brings a wealth of experience from her time as a unified junior lightweight champion. Mayer aims to rebound from her loss to Alycia Baumgardner and re-establish herself at this higher weight class.

Meanwhile, Baumgardner, the undisputed junior lightweight champion, faces a dangerous veteran in Delfine Persoon. Despite a doping controversy that threatened her reign, Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) remains focused on defending her WBC crown. Persoon, a former lightweight champion with a 49-3 record, hopes to upset the Detroit native and reclaim championship glory.

On Saturday, the action continues as Rhiannon Dixon (10-0) defends her lightweight belt against Terri Harper (14-2-2). Harper has moved up in weight after losses and aims to claim another world title after her 2022 victory over Hannah Rankin.

With these thrilling matchups, this weekend's bouts are set to deliver high-octane action in women's boxing. 

#SandyRyan #MikaelaMayer #AlyciaBaumgardner #DelfinePersoon #RhiannonDixon #TerriHarper #WomensBoxing #Boxing #TitleFight #Welterweight #Lightweight #JuniorLightweight #WBC #WBO #FightNight #BoxingChampions