Boxing

Crawford becomes four-weight world champion after edging beyond Madrimov

Terence Crawford reacts after defeating Israel Madrimov by unanimous decision to be the new WBA junior middleweight champion at BMO Stadium on August...

Terence Crawford went the 12-round distance for the first time in eight years on his debut in another new weight division but emerged stronger for it to become a four-division world champion after a competitive chess match against Israil Madrimov, seizing the WBA light-middleweight world championship and WBO interim title following their slow-burning headliner from LA’s BMO Stadium.
Continue reading “Crawford becomes four-weight world champion after edging beyond Madrimov”

Boxing

Cordina’s complaints are warranted, but now stuck in limbo between two weights

Anthony Cacace punches Joe Cordina during the IBF and IBO World Super Featherweight titles' fight between Joe Cordina and Anthony Cacace at Kingdom...

In a lucrative super-featherweight unification bout against Anthony Cacace, Joe Cordina suffered a stunning stoppage defeat on Saudi Arabian soil two months ago. The now-former IBF titleholder had his unbeaten record stained and long been struggling at the weight, so what now? A lightweight move beckons as the Welshman joins an unwanted club in the apex of his career.

Continue reading “Cordina’s complaints are warranted, but now stuck in limbo between two weights”

Boxing

Crawford again the buzzword, as Ennis stops Avanesyan in Philly homecoming

Jaron Ennis’ new promoter Eddie Hearn insisted the prime priority is for the 27-year-old to unify a welterweight division devoid of longtime champions Errol Spence Jr and former undisputed king Terence Crawford, as the appetite for the Philly fighter to finally face the latter has again intensified following his fifth-round TKO win over former Crawford opponent David Avanesyan on home turf.
Continue reading “Crawford again the buzzword, as Ennis stops Avanesyan in Philly homecoming”

Boxing

Don Charles hails Dubois’ maturity, declares himself the missing jigsaw piece

Daniel Dubois during a press conference at the OVO Arena, Wembley, London. Picture date: Wednesday June 26, 2024.

After consecutive stoppage wins over previously unbeaten duo Jarrell Miller and now-former IBF #1 heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois’ head trainer Don Charles has praised the 26-year-old’s boxing evolution, three months before the newly-upgraded world champion boxes former two-time unified titleholder Anthony Joshua at Wembley in an exciting London duel. Continue reading “Don Charles hails Dubois’ maturity, declares himself the missing jigsaw piece”

Boxing

Usyk vacates IBF heavyweight title, Dubois upgraded to full champion before Joshua bout on Sept. 21 at Wembley

Daniel Dubois wins his IBF Interim World Heavyweight Contesr against Filip Hrgovic on June 1, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Having inflicted Filip Hrgovic’s first pro loss on the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5v5 card in Riyadh on June 1, Daniel Dubois has now been upgraded to become the full IBF heavyweight world champion after undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk had an extension request rejected and vacated – allowing Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua – two former foes – to box for world honours in three months’ time. Continue reading “Usyk vacates IBF heavyweight title, Dubois upgraded to full champion before Joshua bout on Sept. 21 at Wembley”

Boxing

Wardley-Clarke 2 not in jeopardy, should British champion join another promoter

Speculation over the past few weeks have intensified suggesting British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will finally sign a multi-fight deal to tie himself down with a major promoter, rumoured to be Frank Warren’s Queensberry stable. The 29-year-old’s advisor Mike Ofo insists that, regardless of his next move, that won’t prevent a Frazer Clarke rematch.
Continue reading “Wardley-Clarke 2 not in jeopardy, should British champion join another promoter”

Boxing

Hamzah Sheeraz interview: Queensberry captain before tonight’s 5v5 promotional show in Riyadh vs. Ammo Williams

Hamzah Sheeraz of Team Queensberry and Austin Williams of Team Matchroom pose for a photo during the 5v5: Queensberry v Matchroom Weigh-Ins event...

Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz faces the toughest test of his pro career tonight, as he captains Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions in their heavily-anticipated 5v5 duel with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He’ll face unbeaten American southpaw Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, with big things tipped for the victor given the existing landscape at middleweight. Continue reading “Hamzah Sheeraz interview: Queensberry captain before tonight’s 5v5 promotional show in Riyadh vs. Ammo Williams”

Analysis, feature pieces

Disrespected, denied but stronger for the experience: Jai Opetaia is going nowhere

Jai Opetaia during an open workout at the Boulevard City Music World, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight title fight between...

Tomorrow night should see Jai Opetaia make the third defence of his IBF world cruiserweight title. Instead, it’s for a vacant belt in a rematch against the man who inflicted a double jaw break against him, less than two full years ago. Having made light work of two Brits in-between, the Aussie is on a mission to unify the cruiserweight division – and disrespect has fuelled that intensity. Continue reading “Disrespected, denied but stronger for the experience: Jai Opetaia is going nowhere”

Boxing

Lowkey final presser for Ring of Fire as intrigue over many undercard bouts build

Nine undercard fights on offer, three that could easily headline their own bill including two world championship bouts in contrasting divisions without a dominant name. A quartet of Brits in action, some early Queensberry vs. Matchroom bragging rights to be had and plenty elsewhere on offer before the fight we’ve waited 25 years to see takes centre stage in Riyadh this weekend. Continue reading “Lowkey final presser for Ring of Fire as intrigue over many undercard bouts build”

Boxing

A week on: Ryan Garcia’s stunning MD12 upset win over Devin Haney, what’s next?

Ryan Garcia knocks down Devin Haney during their WBC Super Lightweight title bout at Barclays Center on April 20, 2024 in New York City.

Many expected Ryan Garcia would get outclassed in a surprise world title shot at 140lbs before the 25-year-old missed weight, leading to more controversy and a financial penalty as the ugly build-up intensified before his duel against amateur foe Devin Haney last weekend. He dropped the two-division champion three times en route to a stunning upset win though, so what’s next for both? Continue reading “A week on: Ryan Garcia’s stunning MD12 upset win over Devin Haney, what’s next?”

Boxing

Exclusive: Hrgovic-Dubois expected for soon-to-be-vacant IBF world title, Joshua to face winner in September

Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic face off before their 5v5 fight during a press conference ahead of the Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrill Bivol WBA, WBC,...

After whispers on social media for weeks, Daniel Dubois vs. Filip Hrgovic was officially announced as one of the duels set for June 1 in the Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 bill. Now though, there’s an additional twist which dangles for the prospective winner – a world title and even bigger opportunity against two-time unified world champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley later this year. Continue reading “Exclusive: Hrgovic-Dubois expected for soon-to-be-vacant IBF world title, Joshua to face winner in September”

Boxing

Nicolson easily outboxes Mahfoud to win WBC featherweight gold before Hitchins and Pacheco endure challenging contests

Although a Katie Taylor rematch is possible, unified featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano now has new business at 126lbs after Australia’s Skye Nicolson cruised to seize a vacant title overnight. This proved a largely challenging night for Matchroom – Diego Pacheco and Richardson Hitchins fortunate to escape with their unbeaten records still intact in Las Vegas.
Continue reading “Nicolson easily outboxes Mahfoud to win WBC featherweight gold before Hitchins and Pacheco endure challenging contests”