Boxing

Usyk-Fury 2: Warren hopeful they haven’t pulled the trigger too early with Itauma

Moses Itauma looks on ahead of his heavyweight fight against Demsey McKean during the grand arrivals as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2 at BLVD...

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”

Boxing

Dubois’ coach Kieran Farrell: Easier than we thought, rematch unwise for Joshua

Kieran Farrell, a former Central Area lightweight champion, was forced to cut short his career at 22 in 2013. A decade on, he’s part of Daniel Dubois’ training team and the Mancunian was honest about the IBF world titleholder’s preparations for an evening catapulting him into a new light, toppling Anthony Joshua as the former unified heavyweight king eyes an immediate rematch.
Continue reading “Dubois’ coach Kieran Farrell: Easier than we thought, rematch unwise for Joshua”

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

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

WBA upholds Usyk-Dubois result after Queensberry’s appeal, unified champ free to box Fury or IBF mandatory Hrgovic next

It has been announced tonight the WBA ruled against Queensberry’s appeal, who sought to have the verdict overturned – after Daniel Dubois suffered a contentious ninth-round TKO loss by unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk on August 26. Usyk and WBC champion Tyson Fury have signed contracts for an undisputed heavyweight showdown, per a press release two weeks ago.
Continue reading “WBA upholds Usyk-Dubois result after Queensberry’s appeal, unified champ free to box Fury or IBF mandatory Hrgovic next”

Boxing

Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser

As the rebuild back to the top table at heavyweight continues with far from ideal circumstances, Anthony Joshua is in must-win territory this weekend against Robert Helenius. We all know that, but it can’t be like his UD12 Jermaine Franklin victory on April 1 either – it’s got to be an emphatic, confidence-boosting knockout. Isn’t always so simple though, really? Continue reading “Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser”

Boxing

Robert Helenius steps into the breach, will face Anthony Joshua on Saturday night

Swedish-Finnish boxer Robert Helenius gestures during a press conference in New York City on October 13 ahead of his WBC heavyweight championship...

Three days after the rematch between former two-time heavyweight Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte was cancelled after Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a drug test, an announcement today confirms Robert Helenius – one of Joshua’s previous sparring partners – will step up on less than a week’s notice to box him in Saturday’s headliner from London’s O2 Arena.
Continue reading “Robert Helenius steps into the breach, will face Anthony Joshua on Saturday night”

Boxing

Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test

Anthony Joshua, promoter Eddie Hearn and Dillian Whyte pose during the Anthony Joshua v Dillian Whyte 2 Press Conference at Hilton London Syon Park...

The heavily-anticipated rematch between former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte, set for next weekend, has today been cancelled after news broke the latter returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a random VADA drugs test. Andy Ruiz Jr, who stunned Joshua in the summer of 2019, and respected Swedish contender Otto Wallin are among those who’ve expressed a willingness to step up on short-notice. Continue reading “Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test”

Boxing

Adeleye seals first WBO European HW title defence as Ahmatovic retires after R5

Rising British heavyweight David Adeleye banked more rounds, securing his second stoppage win in four months overnight and improved to 12-0 as a pro, after European title challenger Emir Ahmatovic was withdrawn at the end of R5 during another York Hall main event for the 26-year-old. The visiting corner saved their charge from what seemed like an inevitably destructive knockout.
Continue reading “Adeleye seals first WBO European HW title defence as Ahmatovic retires after R5”

Boxing

Same result or three-time champ? Usyk-Joshua 2 poses questions before tonight’s title rematch

Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua shake hands as Eddie Hearn, Boxing promoter of Matchroom boxing and Robert Garcia, head coach of Anthony Joshua...

329 days since Oleksandr Usyk seized Anthony Joshua’s three world heavyweight titles and boxed brilliantly to suck the air out of a capacity crowd in north London, the pair will finally do battle in their rematch tonight – albeit 3,825 miles away in Saudi Arabia. Joshua has fond memories from the last time he was here, but his upcoming Ukrainian foe isn’t Andy Ruiz Jr. Continue reading “Same result or three-time champ? Usyk-Joshua 2 poses questions before tonight’s title rematch”

Archives

Joseph Parker’s improved display vs. Derek Chisora sets up encouraging 2022

Joseph Parker punches Derek Chisora during the WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title fight between Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora at the AO Arena...

Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker produced a refreshing change for once en route to a comfortable decision win over a gamely Derek Chisora – dodgy scorecards aside. While he’ll remain in Morecambe with his family and team over Christmas, the 29-year-old will hope this showing sets up a successful return to the top table with big fights to make in 2022. Continue reading “Joseph Parker’s improved display vs. Derek Chisora sets up encouraging 2022”