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With his back to the wall and in danger, Israel Adesanya produced a second-round KO win over long-time rival Alex Pereira to regain his UFC middleweight title, after Gilbert Burns beat Jorge Masvidal into submission over 15 minutes before the two-time welterweight title challenger retired in his hometown. Continue reading “UFC 287: Adesanya regains title with R2 KO in Pereira rematch, after Burns retires Masvidal”
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya knows pressure rests on his shoulders with fierce rival Alex Pereira up next, one final time tonight. The stark truth is a 0-3 record stares at him across two disciplines – regardless of the circumstances – so will he get the last laugh to reclaim gold overnight? Continue reading “UFC 287: It’s now or never for Israel Adesanya vs. arch-nemesis Alex Pereira”
Hit too much for comfort early on, 19-year-old rising middleweight talent Elijah Garcia showed his power en route to a R4 stoppage win over Amical Vidal during an entertaining battle between two unbeaten prospects Saturday night. With world champion aspirations by the time he’s 21-22, he and father George have spotted a prospective opponent – one they shared a dressing room with.
Continue reading “Watch closely: Elijah Garcia, father George hint at future Resendiz bout for teenage middleweight rising star”
Now-former WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall remains adamant she’ll avenge her loss to undisputed titlist Claressa Shields with different tactics a second time around, but the 31-year-old expressed a readiness to challenge Franchon Crews Dezurn for the undisputed belts at 168lbs as the Hartlepool native’s stock has risen despite a first pro defeat last October. Continue reading “Marshall discusses tactical gamble backfiring vs. Shields, open to Crews Dezurn matchup at 168lbs”
He told everyone that would listen. Yet you had to see to believe: Liam Smith becoming the first man to drop, and stop Chris Eubank Jr with a rather emphatic fourth-round TKO win during their PPV main event on January 21. Talk immediately turned to the latter’s rematch clause, a potential illegal elbow, weight complications and much more besides earlier this month. Continue reading “Rip up the script: Rewind to Liam Smith’s stunning R4 TKO win vs. Chris Eubank Jr, what’s next?”
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards believes unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev has been overvalued by the promotion, and in a recent interview with Michael Bisping, said as much as he prepares for his first title defence against former titlist Kamaru Usman in March.
Continue reading “Leon Edwards: Khamzat Chimaev is not the untouchable monster UFC built him to be”
Today marks 75 days since Claressa Shields became undisputed world middleweight champion for a second time on a historic night for women’s boxing, avenging her defeat as an amateur against Savannah Marshall – 10 years after their meeting when the pair were youngsters. Elsewhere, Alycia Baumgardner ruined Mikaela Mayer’s night, so what’s next for the quartet?
Continue reading “75 days on from history in London: What’s next after a compelling Shields-Marshall showdown?”
His matchup against Liam Smith may be less than a month away now, but that hasn’t stopped former world title challenger Chris Eubank Jr from reiterating his desire to secure a Gennadiy Golovkin showdown in 2023 for the Kazakh’s middleweight world titles – while retaining an interest in rescheduling the Conor Benn matchup, despite the 26-year-old’s positive drugs test. Continue reading “Eubank Jr insists he wants once-cancelled Golovkin matchup in 2023, provided he beats Smith”
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson danced with some first-round danger before rolling back the years en route to a R4 TKO victory during a fun battle against Kevin Holland in last weekend’s UFC Orlando main event, while there were big main card stoppage wins for Rafael dos Anjos, Matheus Nicolau and Roman Dolidze – a newcomer in the middleweight rankings this week. Continue reading “UFC Orlando: Wonderboy outworks Holland in crazy headliner – after RDA, Nicolau and Dolidze win big”
After his Oct. 8 showdown with Conor Benn was cancelled, Chris Eubank Jr’s world title pursuit resumes against former super-welterweight world champion Liam Smith. Both are in the back half of their respective careers and after contrasting routes back to top contention, they collide in Manchester on January 21. So, who said what at the first official press conference yesterday?
Continue reading “Chris Eubank Jr vs. Liam Smith: Given their world title ambitions, neither can afford to lose on Jan. 21”
After Hamzah Sheeraz made the first defence of his WBC Silver middleweight title with an overwhelming R2 KO win over River Wilson-Bent on Saturday, calls for a domestic clash against recent world title challenger Denzel Bentley have intensified. While both have publicly revealed they’re open to the idea, Sheeraz is predictably more forthcoming than the British titlist.
Continue reading “Denzel Bentley vs. Hamzah Sheeraz: Both boxers open to possible future showdown”
He was underestimated pre-fight, a significant underdog and didn’t do himself many favours through four rounds last Saturday night in Las Vegas. But after an encouraging R5, Battersea’s Denzel Bentley steadied the ship and battled through a series of hard-hitting exchanges that would’ve demoralised most, to frustrate WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, during a second-half sequence which has many critics suggesting the Kazakh is overrated.
Continue reading “A week on: Denzel Bentley’s stock rises after spirited title fight showing vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly”
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