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Oleksandr Usyk weighed in at a career-highest 221lbs on Friday – 55 pounds lighter than Tyson Fury – though while plenty was said in the build-up, whether it be judging replacements, rules meeting disputes and more drama besides, the Ukrainian did as he always does: win. Fury’s flashes of vigour and encouragement ultimately weren’t enough during their immediate rematch. Continue reading “Usyk weaves his magic to leave Fury flat, retains unified world heavyweight titles”
On an eight-fight undercard preceding the much-anticipated heavyweight rematch, it felt fitting Moses Itauma wasted no time with a career-best victory in the night’s co-feature just days before he turns 20 after Serhii Bohachuk capped an unforgettable 2024 campaign with another all-action showing against a brave short-notice opponent, showing the difference in levels. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2 undercard: Itauma blasts McKean in a round, Bohachuk bullies Davis”
Fernando Barbosa, one of the agreed upon judges for this weekend’s much-anticipated heavyweight rematch, has fallen ill and needs replacing. The problem? Both camps want separate replacements to take his place and two US-based judges have flown to Riyadh as they seek every possible advantage… Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Judge Barbosa falls ill, rival camps in dispute over replacement official”
Press conference delays and an 11-minute staredown wasn’t exactly on the bingo card for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2, deep into the depths of an eagerly-anticipated fight week, but at this stage nothing should come as a surprise. Jostling for heavyweight gold this weekend, it was advantage Usyk. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Tyson blinks first in 11-minute staring contest to finish presser”
Nine months on from a defiant display on the Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke undercard, skilfully outpointing then-unbeaten contender Florian Marku, career welterweight Chris Kongo (17-2, 7 KOs) has returned on two Riyadh Season midweek shows against unheralded opposition and failed to kick on from a career-best win. 2025 must feature better matchmaking than this. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Chris Kongo leaves you wanting more to close midweek show”
Much has been said about the inclusion of a rematch clause if, in the event of a disastrous outcome, they want to run it back. Frank Warren is hopeful that they aren’t making a mistake, thrusting his prodigious teenage heavyweight into the evening’s co-feature against a world-level operator who boxed in an IBF final eliminator for world championship honours last August. Time will tell… Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Warren hopeful they haven’t pulled the trigger too early with Itauma”
Having seen Tyson Fury narrowly miss out on undisputed heavyweight gold seven months ago today, Queensberry chief Frank Warren believes his man doesn’t have to make as many adjustments as some might think before his immediate rematch with Oleksandr Usyk this weekend. Instead, he told me, the outcome of their second Saudi showdown will come down to two factors. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Warren believes rematch is about attrition, who lost more in May?”
Two-time WBC interim heavyweight world champion Dillian Whyte had a rugged evening’s work, but got the job done after seven exhausting rounds against former Daniel Dubois opponent Ebenezer Tetteh, finishing his 2024 campaign with a second successive stoppage victory – though signs of physical decline leave the 36-year-old with difficult matchmaking decisions coming. Continue reading “Dillian Whyte closes 2024 with R7 TKO win vs. Ebenezer Tetteh in Gibraltar headliner”
Not for the first time, WBA lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis has revealed a readiness to step away from the sport at the peak of his powers. 30 this year, a young father and aware of the sport’s tolls on his mental health – not to mention the physical sacrifices – this show of maturation has been long overdue. It doesn’t mean anyone’s ready to see him retire just yet, though. Continue reading “Gervonta Davis’ maturation feels long overdue – retiring in 2025 feels premature”
Richardson Hitchins declared he was on another level to Liam Paro, but needed to go prove it. That’s exactly what he did, earning a deceptively comfy SD12 (116-112 x 2, 111-117) victory over the now-former light-welterweight champion to seize the IBF world title and realise his championship aspirations three weeks before Christmas. Now though, comes the hard part heading into 2025. Continue reading “Hitchins humbles Paro in Puerto Rico to clinch IBF light-welterweight world gold”
Denzel Bentley will get a second crack at world championship gold in 2025 after outboxing Brad Pauls to defend his #1 WBO world ranking, snatching the British middleweight strap – as well as two other titles – after a tense 12-round affair, headlining a busy night’s action as Queensberry took their fruitful Magnificent Seven concept down to the nation’s capital three weeks before Christmas. Continue reading “Three-time! Bentley drops Pauls in UD12 win, reclaims British middleweight gold”
Unbeaten light-welterweight contender Richardson Hitchins (19-0, #1 IBF) finally gets his chance centre-stage against Liam Paro on Saturday night in Puerto Rico and while the machismo has seemingly diluted any goodwill between the pair, the Brooklyn-born challenger respects a world champion he believes just isn’t good enough to match him down the stretch. Time will tell. Continue reading “Hitchins does rate IBF champion Paro; insists he’s a better boxer and will show it”
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