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Primed for a welterweight world title shot, Vergil Ortiz Jr was searching for answers after a prolonged health scare saw him withdraw on multiple occasions from career-altering bouts. A rhabdomyolysis diagnosis wasn’t heeded but eventually, he came to the conclusion 147lbs wasn’t a sustainable weight cut any longer – so now it’s onwards to the light-middleweight division. Continue reading “After 17-month layoff, serious health concerns and more – Vergil Ortiz Jr is back”
This week has revolved around what’s next for Devin Haney – Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia and more outlandish names besides – after logging a dominant decision win over defending champion Regis Prograis. Whether it’s been about his 165lb in-ring weight or the fight purse he should expect going forward, it’s easy to forget the individual showing itself. A week on, here is exactly that. Continue reading “A week on: Haney humbles Prograis to earn WBC light-welterweight world title”
Two-division world champion Natasha Jonas has long called to be involved in the biggest fights possible and after a potential Claressa Shields clash went cold in March, she’ll be defending her IBF welterweight title on home soil against another American instead in what both hope will kick off a successful 2024 for their respective careers. Who will come out on top in Liverpool? Continue reading “Natasha Jonas vs. Mikaela Mayer: Much-needed jeopardy awaits in Jonas’ voluntary world title defence on Jan. 20”
Harlem Eubank showed spite and punch selection to produce a career-best display in his beloved Brighton hometown against seasoned veteran Timo Schwarzkopf last Friday – dropping and eventually stopping him in R11. A welterweight move appears next for the 29-year-old, hitting his prime and making a name for himself when many didn’t think it possible a few years back. Continue reading “Harlem Eubank’s career-best display a fitting one given the Brighton backdrop”
After praise for accepting an unenviable task on short-notice last week, it’s fair to say fight week hasn’t been particularly kind to former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He makes his middleweight debut this weekend at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi against the man many tipped to dethrone him at 170lbs – unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev. After Wednesday’s open workout, the noise has instead centred around the state of his long-standing knee issues. Continue reading “UFC 294: Bad knees – pop or otherwise – Usman’s back is against the wall as Chimaev challenge awaits at 185lbs”
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has this week confirmed he’ll stay at welterweight for the remainder of his career – unless a superfight tempts a 155lb return – stressing future possibilities are endless and another title shot could figure, especially with an impressive win over perennial contender Vicente Luque in tonight’s UFC Vegas 78 main event overnight. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 78: dos Anjos still bullish, as he continues welterweight return vs. Luque”
Errol Spence Jr had never been dropped in his 11-year professional career, but within five minutes of this heavily-anticipated undisputed matchup, he was floored by a laser-focused Terence Crawford. Bud later declared it a flash knockdown, a sign of things to come during a vicious one-sided beating en route to making more history for the Omaha native on another legacy-building night. Continue reading “Crawford crushes Spence with R9 TKO win, is now undisputed welterweight champion”
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After more than 15 months out of the ring – largely due to factors out of his control – you can excuse WBA (Regular) World welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis for being a little impatient as far as assembling big bouts are concerned. Vergil Ortiz Jr is out indefinitely, though IBF interim titlist Jaron Ennis publicly put his name in the hat after dismantling Roiman Villa on July 8. Continue reading “As inactivity intensifies, Stanionis longs for a good dance partner – Ennis included”
Squeezing his body down to 147lbs, is the phrase that doesn’t exactly exude confidence as far as unified welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr should be concerned. One more fight, two more sleeps away, and he’ll get what he has longed for: a shot at WBO champion Terence Crawford. But what happens if he loses, and wants to activate that rematch clause? Leverage lost. Continue reading “Spence’s impending light-middleweight move hangs over Crawford megafight”
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling secured his third title defence with a split decision nod against two-division champion Henry Cejudo, who acquitted himself well after a three-year layoff but wasn’t active nor urgent enough to consistently trouble the 135lb titlist over 25 minutes. Prior, there were big wins for Belal Muhammad and Yan Xiaonan among others. Continue reading “UFC 288: Sterling outpoints returning Cejudo, after Belal’s big decision win”
#4 ranked welterweight Belal Muhammad has reaffirmed a desire to fight up, eager to finally earn a #1 contender spot with potential fights against former champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington or a rematch with current titlist Leon Edwards – rather than having to fight down the rankings once more against Shavkat Rakhmonov [6]. Whether that will materialise, is the question. Continue reading “Belal Muhammad only looking upwards – wants Edwards, Usman or Covington next”
UFC president Dana White says he doesn’t make fights immediately after cards, but declared former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is the next challenger for Leon Edwards’ 170lb belt. Considering the 35-year-old’s relative inactivity and underwhelming resume, a myriad of questions have been asked. Continue reading “Questions asked as Colby Covington mooted as Edwards’ next title defence”
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