On an evening overshadowed by history being made at Madison Square Garden, WBO super-featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson scored a sixth-round knockdown and thoroughly outboxed Oscar Valdez on his way to an impressive decision victory – comfortably seizing the Mexican’s WBC strap and inflicting the 31-year-old’s first professional defeat in 31 fights too.
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Tag: WBO
Scary rhabdomylosis diagnosis forces Ortiz Jr out of weekend McKinson fight
An untimely diagnosis, mid-fight week, means the highly-ranked welterweight prospect will have to wait indefinitely before rebooking what was to be his first in-ring appearance of 2022 against a bullish Brit making his US debut as two of the WBO’s top-5 at 147lbs were set to duel. Continue reading
Stevenson-Valdez: It’s been a long time coming, but Shakur’s showcase awaits on Apr. 30
Having produced a mature, impressive tenth-round TKO win over Jamel Herring last October, winning the WBO super-featherweight title, Shakur Stevenson has a golden opportunity next month to do what he has long set out: continue on the road to superstardom, by inflicting the first professional loss on Oscar Valdez’s unblemished 30-0 (23 KOs) record. Will he sink or swim? Continue reading
After last month’s injustice, Catterall returns to training but remains left in the lurch
With the British Board of Control investigating the scorecards which saw heavy underdog Jack Catterall lose a highly-controversial split decision against undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor last month, the Scot’s decision to move up in weight leaves the 28-year-old in an unenviable position as far as his ongoing pursuit of world titles is concerned. Continue reading
I have to beat Ugas, then we’ll see: Spence Jr on possible Crawford unification bout
Could the welterweight matchup we’ve all longed for finally happen later this year, after all this time? Rightly, the two-belt titlist is focusing on Yordenis Ugas and his April 16 assignment, but he’s left the door open to a possible unification bout against WBO champion Terence Crawford.
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Eubank Jr scores four knockdowns, eases past Williams with wide decision victory
After an impressive start, it was an underwhelming finish as world title hopeful Chris Eubank Jr scored three knockdowns in the first four rounds, en route to retaining his #1 WBA middleweight ranking with a comfortable decision win (116-109, 116-109, 116-108) against Liam Williams. Continue reading
Bad blood and egos aside, Eubank Jr must shine on enemy territory in Cardiff this weekend
After two delays forced this domestic duel back a few months, #1 WBA middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr prepares to make his third appearance under a promotional deal that believes he can clean out the 160lb division. Next up? A credible challenge on enemy shores who last year managed to do something he is longing for: challenging for a version of the world title. Continue reading
COVID-19: Callum Johnson withdraws from Smith Jr title fight, Anthony Yarde eyes matters
Frank Warren today confirmed light-heavyweight contender Callum Johnson has withdrawn from his scheduled January 15 title fight against WBO champion Joe Smith Jr, while revealing another of his stable – #1 mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde – is consequently monitoring the state of affairs, with an in-ring return mooted sometime in March for the 30-year-old.
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2021’s Sleeper Fight of the Year: Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano – an action-packed duel
As almost all media outlets and respected journalists have completed their end-of-year awards for combat sports in 2021, a pulsating title unification bout surprisingly not getting a lot of love in the Fight of the Year category is Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano – which easily exceeded expectations, had a surprising result and a rematch is already slated for February 26, 2022. Continue reading
Vasiliy Lomachenko’s Commey clinic elevates him in Kambosos Jr sweepstakes
In a sport-packed weekend filled with thrills and spills, it was business as usual in New York for one of boxing’s pound-for-pound stars Vasiliy Lomachenko in the early hours on Sunday (BST), as he eased to a dominant UD win over gamely former IBF lightweight titlist Richard Commey. Unsurprisingly afterwards, he put his hat in the George Kambosos Jr title bout conversation. Continue reading
Kambosos Jr: Here to fight the best, but now? I’m the shot caller
Energised by the disrespect, new three-belt lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr has already confirmed he’ll stay in the States this week to scope out his next possible opponent as WBC titlist Devin Haney faces Joseph Diaz on Saturday night. Having beaten Mickey Bey, Lee Selby and now Teofimo Lopez in enemy territory, the 28-year-old wants a homecoming. Continue reading
George Kambosos Jr stings Teofimo Lopez, crowned new unified lightweight champion
They all overlooked him. Fans booed him entering enemy territory for the biggest night of his career. An easy night’s work was expected for the champion’s mandatory defence. Instead, George Kambosos Jr made good on his promise to shake the world by outboxing Teofimo Lopez to win three lightweight titles via split decision – though the Australian prevailed quite clearly. Continue reading