By Norm Frauenheim

The props and plots were all there. So was Ryan Garcia.

Garcia, ever the showman, delivered Thursday with a gag bag full of punchlines, insults, mockery, T-shirts, ring-card girls and many more of the usual theatrics he’s been rehearsing for so long

He may have left the white horse in the barn this time. Maybe, some of the manure, too. But place and stage — Avalon Hollywood — hasn’t changed much since Garcia’s gallop into a formal news conference in 2024 turned into a wild ride and controversial crash against Devin Haney.

Once again, Garcia proved his wit is still as quick as his hands. Maybe quicker, although we’ll have to wait and see on that Feb. 21 against welterweight Mario Barrios at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Barrios, the World Boxing Council’s 147-pound champion, was part of the live-streamed show Thursday, of course. But Garcia has a way of turning everybody around him into a bit player. Barrios — a champion, but no celebrity — understood his role, his place among the extras.

“This is turning into a circus,’’ Barrios said during his turn at the podium at the newser for The Ring-promoted bout.

By then, Garcia had already turned it into his bully pulpit.

First, there was the story line, the plot that will be explored ad nauseam for the next month.

Barrios’ trainer is Joe Goossen, Garcia’s ex. After Goossen, there was Derrick James. Before Goossen, there was Eddy Reynoso. Hand wraps last longer. Now, Garcia’s dad, Henry is back in the corner he occupied early in his son’s pro career and throughout his amateur days.

On Thursday, dad warmed up the show for his son. He complained about Goossen, suggesting that he’s betraying his son.

“At first, I was taken a back,’’ said dad, who called Goossen’s move “disrespectful.’’

Then, it was Goossen’s turn. He conceded that his new role in the latest chapter of Garcia’s ongoing show was “awkward.”

But Goossen’s explanation was quickly interrupted by Garcia, who delivered a perfectly-timed counter.

From his seat next to the podium, Garcia cried that he was suffering from a broken heart. Jaws and noses get broken all the time in what Mike Tyson once called the hurt business. Not many hearts do, perhaps because there just aren’t many in the prize-fighting business.

“How could you, Joe?’’ Garcia said. “That’s messed up. I just can’t believe you’re doing this to me. That’s insane. You hurt my heart.

“It’s over. We’re done. I’m breaking up with you again. You just broke my heart. Just move on. You were being sweet, but I’m offended.

“It’s too late. I’m offended. I’m offended already. I’m hurt. All of that.”

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. It’s a 1962 Neil Sedaka song not heard by anybody among fight fans in more than a half-century.  Garcia sounded as if he was humming a few of those forgotten lyrics. But the show, like the trainers, had to move on.

Garcia took the cue, reached into a bag at his feet and pulled out black T-shirts that said: I Am A Traitor. He threw one at Goossen. Goossen threw it back as though he was trying to throw a hook

At one point, Garcia raced backstage, chanting repeatedly that he loves the WBC. He returned to center stage with three ring-card girls, all waving WBC placards. Somewhere, Terence Crawford must be smiling.

In November, the World Boxing Council lifted a ban on Garcia, who is coming off a listless loss in May to Rolly Romero after the Haney bout was ruled a no-contest because of a positive PED test. The WBC had suspended him for racial slurs posted on social media. The move opened the way for him to fight Barrios.

“Last, but not least, I get to thank the WBC,’’ he said without saying he was sorry.

In the end, Garcia said whatever he wants. It wouldn’t have been much of a news conference if he hadn’t.

“I’m the ringmaster,’’ he said.

He’s that and more, said Barrios, who also showed he can deliver a quick counter.

“Payaso,’’ he said.

That’s Spanish for clown.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – New disruptor in the boxing space, Ed Pereira, CEO of iVisit Boxing (iVB for short) officially announced on Friday a partnership with digital media juggernaut YouTube that will see multiple, massive scale live events take place this year in cities of historical significance for the sweet science. The announcement, which Pereira made across the steps of City Hall, alongside San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and representatives from the  Google-owned YouTube, did not make mention of any specific fights or fighters that will be featured, but the word among many in the industry is that a fight between unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former kingpin Deontay Wilder is in play for the July 11th date announced to take place today in the “City by the Bay.” The event will be held outdoors at Civic Center Plaza. 

While Pereira’s name may be new to the average boxing observer, the Uruguay-born, Wales-raised promoter was a key figure behind the scenes while working alongside Saudi Arabian officials on last May’s “Fatal Fury” event in New York City’s Times Square as well as the Ring Magazine Awards Show, which took place this past January in London, England. 

“I have been in and around boxing for the last few years, but historically I have come from sport,” Pereira explained to TheBoxingHour.com on Friday. “I’ve worked for some of the biggest soccer teams in the world, for rugby, and for me the world of boxing is incredible. The people in boxing; the fighters, the fans – they have inspired me to come to the city of San Francisco and ask, ‘How are we going to create bigger and bolder events?’ I was inspired while working in the industry and I saw an opportunity.”  

The goal for Pereira and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is that the event will break the reported all-time boxing attendance record of 135,132 set by world middleweight champion Tony Zale’s title defense against Billy Pryor at Juneau Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 16, 1941. Zale dropped Pryor multiple times en route to a ninth-round stoppage in the main event of a free event sponsored by the Pabst Brewing Company. Lurie reiterated what Pereira had made known in recent interviews: that a large number of standing room tickets will be made available for free for the event in July. 

“I am so fired up to make sure that we see over 130,000 people on July 11th,” Lurie told the crowd gathered at today’s press conference. “What you all might not know is that San Francisco has a long history of boxing. Boxing was and still is a uniting force for our community. Today we are announcing a partnership that builds on that incredible history. This July, I am so excited that San Francisco will be host to iVisit Boxing and a weeklong series of events across San Francisco and the Bay Area, culminating in a historic match right here in our Civic Center. Every match will be free and open to the public, bringing world class sport directly to San Franciscans.” 

One of the criticisms of the Times Square event was that fans were unable to get close enough to see the fights in the ring. San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza obviously offers much more space than the Midtown Manhattan commercial intersection. Space is one of the aspects, alongside the city’s rich boxing history, that Pereira has said in interviews that drew him to the “The City by the Bay.”  

Should the rumored Usyk-Wilder clash end up at Civic Center Plaza, it would be the first world heavyweight championship fight the city has hosted since undefeated champion Rocky Marciano stopped overmatched Don Cockell in the ninth round at Kezar Stadium on May 16, 1955. The city, once one of boxing’s hotbeds, had hosted world heavyweight title fights dating back to a John L. Sullivan title defense in 1886. James J. Corbett, who had graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School in San Francisco, returned to the city for a world heavyweight title defense in 1897. The legendary James J. Jeffries also made multiple defenses at the turn of the 20th century. Today’s announcement did not include mention of Usyk, Wilder or any other specific fighters. Pereira explained those announcements will be forthcoming, but today was about getting the world excited about the sport being featured in a grand scale on the YouTube platform as well as getting the community in and around San Francisco excited about the July 11th event. 

“My focus has been very much about working with the Mayor’s team to put together everything for this announcement and obviously the YouTube announcement,” Pereira told TheBoxingHour.com. “Whenever those guys [Usyk and Wilder] get together, it is going to be a great card, right? Who wouldn’t want Usyk on their card?” 

iVisit Boxing has made mention on their social media platforms that the company plans to host twelve events this calendar year, including the first on April 4th, outdoors of Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nevada to recreate the feel of the old Caesars Palace open-air event center that hosted the majority of major fights on the Strip before the casino bosses wanted the patrons and potential gamblers closer to the the tables and slot machines indoors. The coming weeks and months could be very interesting as Pereira and iVB make their plans better known. 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez wore a polished symbol of the Phoenix logo around his neck a few days ago in a long-awaited homecoming.

The medallion represents, he says, where he’s been and who he still is.

In its brass reflection, however, there was something else. Something more. The mythological bird, now a modern city’s identity seen on government doors and busses, means a lot of things.

On this day, there was a message, a bold statement about a fighter transformed, unleashed from the years when he was defined by his futile pursuit of Canelo Alvarez.

He’s moved on, beyond Canelo and up the scale. The Canelo question is still there. Yet now, it’s almost an aside. Sorry to ask, video journalists say apologetically as he stands amid reporters and a long line of fans during an opening of the Visionary Boxing Club in west Phoenix last week.

No problem, Benavidez says, smiling. He hasn’t exactly eliminated Canelo as a possibility. He never will. The maturing Benavidez, 29-years-old last month, is a businessman, too. Business is a fundamental too often not included in a prize fighter’s skillset.

Canelo still means business, lots of it. Benavidez, like everybody else in the fight game, knows Canelo collected $100-million-plus for his September loss to Terence Crawford. That’s more than a prize. It’s a fortune.

Of course, Benavidez says he’d fight Canelo.

Canelo’s future, post-Crawford, was unclear until Thursday when The Ring reported he plans to fight again on Sept.12 in Saudi Arabia. He underwent elbow surgery in the immediate aftermath of the one-sided scorecard loss to Crawford.

In a video, Canelo’s return was called a “big, big,

big fight” by Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, who bankrolled the Canelo-Crawford fight and owns The Ring.

Until then, Benavidez has other plans, all as ambitious as they are risky.

“Zurdo, Beterbiev, Bivol,’’ Benavidez said of Gilberto Ramirez, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Of the three, only Ramirez – Zurdo – is on the calendar, penciled in for May 2 – the Cinco-de-Mayo celebration that could have been called Canelo-de-Mayo during the Mexican’s primetime reign.

The risk in the Zurdo date, planned for Las Vegas, looks to be heavy. Benavidez, who defended his light-heavyweight title in a seventh-round stoppage of Anthony Yarde November 22 in Saudi Arabia, is making the jump to cruiserweight.

After only three fights at 175-pounds, the light-heavy limit, Benavidez will fight in a division 25 pounds heavier.

On the scale, it looks risky. According to early odds, however, it’s not. Some betting sites already make Benavidez a big favorite (minus-900).

Benavidez is confident, in part because he knows Zurdo well. They’ve sparred countless rounds. One hundred, 200 rounds, Benavidez says.

“Between 2017 and 2022, we sparred all the time,’’ said Benavidez, now a Miami resident who re-connected with his Phoenix fan-base Saturday by signing autographs for about six hours. “For five years, we sparred championship rounds. I knew then that I wanted to fight Zurdo. One day, I figured we would.

“After all of those championship rounds, it’s going to be a championship fight.’’

Benavidez is already at his new weight.

“I’m at 200 pounds now,’’ he said last Saturday.

The weight looked natural, unlike the 168 pounds that often left him gaunt and hollow-cheeked in the division long dominated by Canelo.

His father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., says his son is already close to the weight he expects hm to be at opening bell May 2.

“Two-hundred, maybe 205,’’ Jose Sr. said.

Still, the jump in weight leaves questions about his hope to go back down to light-heavy for 175-pound dates against Beterbiev and Bivol. For at least a year, the expectation has been that Benavidez will grow into a heavyweight. Could cruiser be the first step in that direction?

It’s still not clear whether Beterbiev and Bivol will fight for a third time. Bivol is back in the gym after undergoing back surgery. Speculation has him back in the ring this Spring.

Meanwhile, time is the biggest question for Beterbiev. He’ll be 40 next Wednesday. He won’t be fighting much longer, unlike Benavidez whose ascent is just beginning.

In what is an early clubhouse leader for Fight of the Year, Dalton Smith won the WBC Super Lightweight title with a sixth round stoppage of Subriel Matias at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Smith came out in round one landing hard right hands from distance. Round two saw Matias rev up his engine ad begin to land hard volume of power shots. In round two, Smith began to bleed from his nose. The two traded hard punches at close range with Matias beginning to impose his will on Smith. Smith started to bleed from his mouth and lip in the fourth round. Smith hung in there and started to give as good as he was getting. He started to gain confidence as he was able to withstand the best shots from Matias.

In round six, Smith wobbled Matias badly with two right and hands and then landed a perfect right hand to the side of the head that put Matias flat on his back. Matias got to his feet, but wobbled all over the ring and the fight was stopped at 2:24.

Smith, 139.6 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 19-0 with 13 knockouts. Matias, 140 lbs of Fajardo, PR is 23-3.

Emmanuel Rodriguez Decisions Pedro Diaz

Former two-time world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Pedro Diaz in a bantamweight bout.

In round one, Rodriguez dropped Diaz with a left hook.

Rodriguez, 117 lbs of Vega Baja, PR won by scores of 99-90 twice and 97-92 and is now 23-3. Diaz, 117.6 lbs Wilmington.CA is 16-7-1.

Cintron Stops Sandoval in wild 1st round

Jeyvier Cintron stopped Victor Sandoval in a wild first-round of their 10-round bantamweight bout.

Seconds into the fight, Sandoval planted Cintron as he decked him with a perfect left hook. Sandoval got wild going for the knock out and it cost him as Cintron landed a straight left that put Sandoval on the deck. Cintron then landed another left that put Sandoval down again. Cintron scored a third knockdown with a right hook. Cintron finished off the fight but hurting Sandoval again with a hard flurry in the corner and referee Eddie Claudio stopped the fight at 2:40.

Cintron, 117.8 lbs of Bayamon, PR is 14-1 with seven knockouts. Sandoval, 116.6 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 36-6.

Bravo Stops Campa in 2

Nestor Bravo stopped Pedro Campa with one left hook in round two of a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Bravo landed a perfect left hook to the jaw that dropped Campa face-first and the bout was stopped at 1:23.

Bravo, 139.4 lbs of Arecibo, PR is now 24-1 with 17 knockouts. Campa, 141 lbs or Sonora, MX is 37-5-1.

Keith Colon stopped former two-time world title challenger Alberto Guevara in a eight-round featherweight bout.

The bout was stopped at 1:09 for Colon, 125.4 lbs of Newark, NJ who is now 9-0 with nine knockouts. Guevara, 125.2 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX us 28-9.

Arijan Iseni took out Mario Bedolla after round three of their six-round light heavyweight bout.

Iseni dominated the game Bedolla and landed power shots before the corner of Bedolla stopped the bout.

Iseni, 178.2 lbs of Staten Island, NY is now 5-0 with five knockouts. Bedolla, 179 lbs of Michalan, MEX us 4-5.

By Norm Frauenheim

Marinate, a promotional euphemism for momentum, is either another tiring tease, or an early way to test public interest, or a little bit of both in a recipe that leaves hungry fans wanting but never getting.

The current example: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez-versus-Naoya Inoue.

There’s more talk than ever, perhaps because of Junto Nakatani’s disappointing decision over Sebastian Hernandez last month in what was supposed to be a convincing steppingstone to Nakatani-Inoue.

Nakatani was left with a bruised right eye and perhaps a bruised resume, yet he survived, still unbeaten for a fight long planned to be the biggest in Japanese history. According to multiple reports — one from Boxing Scene this week and another from the World Boxing Council, the long-planned bout is projected to be on May 2, a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Tokyo.

News of the projected date was also accompanied by a poll conducted by The Ring. Who would you rather see, Nakatani-Inoue or Rodriguez-Inoue?

The timely question was prompted by Nakatani’s problematic performance Nov. 22 in the former bantamweight champion’s first fight at 122 pounds.

Fans, never a patient demographic, apparently have seen enough. Already, it looks as if they’re ready to cast aside Nakatani-Inoue for Rodriguez-Inoue. Seventy-three percent would prefer Bam in the ring against the feared Inoue instead of Nakatani.

The poll, like all polls, could mean just about anything. It also might be unfair to Nakatani, an accomplished fighter who struggled at a new weight against a dangerous foe virtually unknown outside of Mexico. It happens.

It also gives Nakatani more to prove, perhaps enough to make him more dangerous to Inoue than ever. Lessons delivered, lessons learned. That happens, too.

Still, surprising questions are there, left in the wake of his controversial victory. Left there, too, is an affirmation of the emerging interest in Bam, whose move up the pound-for-pound ratings has put the San Antonio fighter among the top five, consistently behind only Inoue and heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.

Although hard to judge, a poll is one possible ingredient in a fight that might do more than just marinate. Maybe, it resonates. Maybe, it happens. Let’s say that Inoue beats Nakatani as decisively as he has beaten so many others. Then, there could still be questions about his claim – lifelong ambition — on pound-for-pound supremacy. Answers might be there only in a date with Bam.

For now, at least, there are already betting odds on Bam-Inoue, still marinating in the public imagination. Inoue is a solid favorite, minus 550.

In the collective mind of many fans, however, the odds of the fight ever happening are longer. Quit talking about it, they say. It’s a waste of time, they say, because the size difference is too big. Bam is a unified Super-Fly champion, fighting at 115-pounds, seven fewer than Inoue, undisputed at junior-feather (122).

But consider this: The 5-foot-4 Bam and 5-5 Inoue both started at the same weight, junior-flyweight, 108 pounds. The “Bam-is-too-small-for-Inoue” argument sounds a lot like “Inoue is too small for Nonito Donaire.’’

The “too small” Inoue beat Donaire, scoring a unanimous decision, at 120 pounds, in the 2019 Fight of the Year. In 2022, he backed it up, scoring a second-round stoppage of Donaire.

The more significant difference is in that other seven – the years that separate them in age. Bam will be 26 on January 20; Inoue will be 33 on April 10.

The pressure builds with every second on that unforgiving clock, especially for Inoue. It’s no secret that smaller fighters have careers shorter than those in the heavier divisions. Through interpreters, he has hinted at retirement in 2027.

That’s next year, which means the Bam-Inoue marination could be at full boil in about six months.  

By Norm Frauenheim

A year ends and another begins, leaving memories, controversies, brilliance, buffoonery, outrage, the usual suspects and lessons never heeded.

Ignore the lessons, and a battered business moves on from 2025 into 2026 full of the usual good, sad, bad and ugly.

First, the good: Fighter of the Year. It starts with the obvious, Terence Crawford. He’s Fighter of the Year with a singular performance, one of the best in several years.

This corner has said before and will say it again: Crawford’s decision over Canelo Alvarez in mid-September reminded us why boxing was once called The Sweet Science. It was brilliant for its fundamental adherence to time-honored skills, including footwork and smarts.

Lesson: It can be done again. Here are two fighters who have a chance at doing it in forthcoming years, both contenders now.

First runner-up: Naoya Inoue, who in 2025 stayed busy – old-school style – with four fights including this corner’s Fight of the Year, a Las Vegas stoppage of Ramon Cardenas in May. In an early round, then unknown Cardenas floored Inoue, who is at his dynamic best when he’s in trouble. The dramatic comeback from the perilous edge of defeat also saved boxing on a weekend that included the wreckage from an abysmal event in New York’s Times Square.

Second runner-up: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. The three-division champ is boxing’s Quiet Man. He lets his performances speak for him. In 2026, they spoke volumes with two lethal stoppages, including this corner’s Knockout-of-the-Year of super-fly Fernando Martinez for a unified title.

It’s no coincidence that he and Inoue are linked in this Fighter-of-the-Year ballot. Bam-Inoue in late 2026 is the fight this corner wants to see more than any other.  

Now, the sad: A solemn 10-count for George Foreman, Ricky Hatton and Nino Benvenuti. Boxing lost all three in 2025. Foreman, ex-heavyweight champ from two eras, was a compelling story about personal transformation from angry to wise. A scary thug in the early 70s, he became as friendly as a cheeseburger in the 90s. Hatton was fearless and transparent, loved deeply by UK fans who serenaded him. Benvenuti, ex-undisputed middleweight champ with a matinee-idol’s look, is forever remembered by his fellow Italians.

Another 10-count for Michael Katz and Thomas Gerbasi, Sweet Scientists badly missed these days in the media seats. During times full of unsourced reports and feigned outrage in social media, both remind this corner that boxing can still be a writers’ sport.

On to the bad. It wouldn’t be boxing without it.

Worst Scorecard of the Year: Nawal Almohaimeed’s 118-110 in favor of Junto Nakatani in a unanimous decision over Sebastian Hernandez Nov. 22 in Riyadh. The other cards were 115-113, both for Nakatani and both debatable. The fight was supposed to set the stage for Inoue-versus-Nakatani in an all-time Japanese fight in May. 

Per sources close to the planned bout, Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda ended any chance of a speculated Bam-Nakatani fight months ago. He didn’t want to jeopardize plans for Inoue-Nakatani. 

Yet, Hernandez almost did what Honda feared Bam would. Questions linger about the decision and what it says about Nakatani’s chances versus Inoue.

The Enemy Within: Gervonta Davis calls himself Tank. That’s what’s he’s doing to his career. He’s tanking it with personal problems that never seem to end.

Davis has pound-for-pound skills and pound-for-pound troubles. The latest — a lawsuit alleging violent behavior, battery, and kidnapping – forced a cancellation of a date with Jake Paul, who wound up with a  fractured jaw when he decided to fight Anthony Joshua. In news conferences, Tank, 31, said he planned to retire after Paul. “Boxing is dead,’’ he said.

Exhibitions Ad Nauseam: Jake Paul, more promoter than fighter, suffered a painful loss – if not lesson – in facing Joshua. When Joshua’s brutal right snapped Paul’s jaw in two places, I immediately thought of an old line: You can’t play boxing. But authorities – the Florida Athletic Commission — allowed him to, despite the risk posed by Joshua’s enormous advantages in size and experience.

It reminded me of Paul’s date in November 2024 against Mike Tyson, aging yet in the ring despite a bleeding ulcer months before opening bell. Texas authorities shouldn’t have licensed Tyson, who was an accident waiting to happen. Fortunately, one didn’t. Against Joshua, the risk was to Paul, who’s victory over an ailing Tyson may have told him he could survive Joshua.

He couldn’t in what proved to be a sobering moment for somebody who is good for boxing only on the promotional side of the ropes.

Lesson: Do we really need to see Floyd Mayweather-versus-Tyson later this year? Resolve to just say no. 

By Norm Frauenheim

The echoes from last week’s noisy Terence Crawford-World Boxing Council feud include lots of talk about what’s next for an always contentious business suddenly facing some fundamental change.

Still, it’s a guessing game. The only sure thing is that Crawford and the WBC won’t be exchanging Christmas cards this month. All else remains unpredictable. In other words: Business as usual.

Amid all the personal insults and profanity, however, one thing got lost in the WBC’s decision to strip Crawford of its super-middleweight belt for what it said was a failure to pay a $300,000 sanctioning fee. Crawford denied he had agreed to pay anything at all in an angry rant that made fee sound like just another f-word.

Take the belt, said Crawford, who doesn’t need it any more anyway. His undisputed resume is forever there, witnessed throughout his masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez by more than 72,000 at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and a Netflix audience in mid-September.  

The WBC can take the belt.

But not the legacy.

The WBC strip, however, created a path for Canelo to reclaim it.

Canelo, the longtime face of Mexican boxing, has already announced he intends to be back, sometime next year after he recovers from left-elbow surgery, which he underwent in October.

For the first time in years, Canelo will be without a belt, especially the WBC’s green belt, by far the most valued one by fighters throughout the acronym era.

Before the Mexico City-based WBC stripped Crawford, the guess was that Canelo would have to face Crawford all over again in a problematic bid to reclaim the WBC belt, long the crown jewel in a collection that includes WBA, WBO, IBF and — increasingly — The Ring.

Crawford’s skillful victory in September suggests that a second fight would play out the same way. Once again, Crawford would dominate.

In the September showdown’s initial aftermath, there looked to be only one way for Canelo to regain a world title at super-middle. He had to go through Crawford. But the WBC opened an alternate path by stripping Crawford and ordering a Hamzah Sheeraz-Christian Mbilli fight for the vacant belt.

Canelo’s chances at regaining a title? Against Crawford or the Sheeraz-Mbilli winner? Dumb questions. After what happened in September, Canelo’s best shot is the latter, against Sheeraz or Mbilli.

Canelo’s are slim to none against Crawford, who goes into the New Year apparently undecided about his future, yet undisputed in the pound-for-pound debate. He’s the consensus No.1, rare in a business known more for only disputes.

By now, of course, the WBC’s relationship with Canelo is no secret. David Benavidez, a Phoenix born-and-forged fighter and current WBC light-heavyweight champion, was the WBC’s longtime interim champion at 168 pounds.

Interim doesn’t mean much, but it is supposed to come with a mandatory shot at the champion. In this case, it was Canelo. But Benavidez never got that mandatory, and the WBC never enforced it with even a threat to strip Canelo.

The WBC has been ripped for its favorable treatment of Canelo. To be sure, Crawford repeated it in his broadside.

That said – and Crawford said plenty, it’s still not clear whether he’ll be fighting for any kind of belt anymore. Before the WBC stripped him, there had been speculative reports that Canelo wanted a rematch. There were also speculative reports that Crawford would ask for the $100-million-plus purse Canelo received in September.

A sequel might attract streaming services willing to pay a fortune for an escalated episode of drama and trash talk. But heightened hostility between Crawford and WBC might be a hurdle. Could the two ever do business together again?

Reported options for Crawford also include a bid for another title at another weight, 160-pounds. At 38-years-old, however, retirement is still another possibility. Crawford just delivered a singular performance, one that reminded us why boxing was once called The Sweet Science.

It would be hard to top that one and maybe even harder to recreate, especially if Canelo opts to take the easier path.

Lamont Roach Jr. and Isaac Cruz fought to a 12-round majority draw in a tough fight for the WBC Interim Super Lightweight title at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

In round three, Cruz landed a left hook that sent Roach sprawling and his left glove hit the canvas for a knockdown. +

In round seven, Cruz was deducted a point for hitting on the hip.

Cruz landed 1599 of 544 punches. Roach was 191 of 467.

Cruz, 138.6 lbs of Mexico City is 28-3-2. Roach of Washington, DC is 25-1-3.

“I knew he would stand his ground and go toe-to-toe, but I know how to box too,” said Cruz. “People don’t realize I can box.”

“Hats off to ‘Pitbull,’” said Roach. “He’s a great champion himself. I gave the fans a great fight. Back to the drawing board.”

“All I want is a fair shake,” said Roach. “I think I should have won a close victory. All I want is a fair shake. That’s it…I don’t know what I got to do. I don’t accept this at all. I clearly thought I won a close fight. I’m tired of this.”

“I did my job,” said Cruz. “I did my work. The ref was on his side. The judges too. The crowd in San Antonio saw I won this fight…Absolutely I’d do a rematch. With a different referee who is not on his side. The referee took this fight from me.”

Foster Decisions Fulton to Win Interim Lightweight Crown

Junior Lightweight titlist O’Shaquie Foster won a 12-round unanimous decision over featherweight World champion Stephen Fulton to win the WBC Interim Lightweight title.

Foster landed 191 of 600 punches. Fulton was 56 of 438.

Foster, 130 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 119-109,118-110 and 117 -111 and is now 24-3. Fulton, 132 lbs of Philadelphia was 2 pounds overweight for the 130 lb. bout is now 23-2.

“The game plan was to stay smart, stay sharp and get him out of there in the later rounds,” said Foster. “But he’s a damn good fighter and a veteran and he knew how to survive.”

“I want Shakur Stevenson,” said Foster. “I’ve been saying it for the longest. But it looks like he’s gonna fight at 140. So I have to choose either 130 or 135. I’ll see what happens and make a decision.”

Lara Decisions Gonzalez; Retains Middleweight Title

Erislandy Lara retained the WBA Middleweight title with a unanimous decision over late-replacement Johan Gonzalez.

Late in round 12, Lara landed three straight lefts that put Gonzalez on the canvas.

Lara.159.6 lbs of Houston won by scores of 120-108, 119-107 and 118-108 and is now 32-3-3. Gonzalez, 158.6 lbs of Las Vegas, took the fight after unified world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly failed a drug test is now 36-5.

“Gonzalez came to fight and he came to win,” said Lara. “We knew him a little bit, so we were ready for that and we made the adjustments we needed to make. He was a tough opponent who had a great opportunity in front of him, but we executed the game plan.”

“I spend all my time at the gym, so I had no problem being ready for this fight,” said Gonzalez. There are no excuses, but I did feel that Lara didn’t come to fight me the way he said he would.

“I felt a little uncomfortable in the first few rounds,” said Gonzalez. “The first knockdown was a punch and a slip. The second was a clean shot from Lara.”

“I showed the world that I’m 42-years-old and I’m still at the top of my game,” said Lara. “I can compete with the best. I don’t care at all about Janibek and I don’t wanna talk about him anymore.” 

Ramos Decisions Mosley Jr. To Win Interim Middleweight Title

Jesus Ramos Jr. won a 12-round unanimous decision over Shane Mosley Jr. to win the WBC Interim Middleweight title.

Ramos landed 201 of 613 punches. Mosley was 210 of 573.

Ramos, 159.8 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ won by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 and is now 24-1. Mosley, 159.6lbs of Pomona, CA is 22-5.

“I was just being myself,” said Ramos. “I’m not gonna lie, it was tough. I actually had a right hand injury the last three weeks of camp. We didn’t spar for the last four weeks. So it was tough to get my timing. I would catch a rhythm and lose it. I faced a lot of obstacles but I told my family there was no way I was leaving San Antonio without a belt.”

“It was a hell of a fight,” said Mosley. “Thanks to Ramos and everyone who made this fight happen. He was the man tonight. I’ll be back and be better.”

“He never hurt me but he did surprise me,” said Ramos. “I never felt rocked, but I was surprised. He hit me with shots I wasn’t expecting. But I never felt like my legs weren’t there.”

“In those last few rounds I just kept remembering the Erickson Lubin fight,” said Ramos. “I kept getting flashbacks and I didn’t want the same thing to happen again. I kept pushing and pushing. I was in a dark place in that 10th round. I was tired, but I knew it would be worth it when the final bell rang. 

“I want Carlos Adames. He’s the full champion. I don’t want the interim belt, I want the champion.”

Former world title challenger Frank Martin scored a devastating fourth round stoppage over former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Barthlelemy was cut above the right eye. In round four, Martin dropped Barthelemy with an overhand left. Moments later, Martin landed a perfect left to the jaw that put Barthelemy down and out at 2:56

“Man, it felt good,” said Martin after his first fight with trainer Buddy McGirt in his corner. “I felt more comfortable at this weight. I still got my speed. I felt strong. I felt better than my two fights before this. It took me a little time to warm up and get going but, then I saw the shot we’ve been working on. That’s why I took my chance and landed it.

“I feel like I got slept on. I took one loss. It’s a new era. I’m here and I’m back. No disrespect to any of the main event fighters, but I’ll fight any of them next.”

Martin, 139.4 lbs of Indianapolis, IN is 19-1 with 13 knockouts. Barthelemy, 139.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 30-4-1.

Isaac Lucero stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in round eight of their 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round one, Lucero dropped Valenzuela with a clubbing right.

In round eight, Lucero landed a hard right that drove Valenzuela back to the ropes. Lucero then land five more crushing head shots just before the bell sounded and referee Mark Nelson stopped the bout at 2:59.

Lucero, 153.8 lbs of Le Paz, MEX is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Valenzuela, 154 lbs of Aqua Prieta, MEX is 31-6.

Luis Nunez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Hector Sosa in a featherweight bout.

In round seven, Nunez began to bleed from the nose.

Nunez, 126 lbs of Puerto Plata, DR won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 22-0. Sosa, 1256 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 18-3.

By Norm Frauenheim

Boxing, unruly and unrepentant, is erupting all over again with Terence Crawford’s shotgun-like blast of insults in a social-media counter to the World Boxing Council’s decision to strip him of his title.

In a social-media post delivered from his vehicle late Wednesday, Crawford unloaded on the WBC and its president, Mauricio Sulaiman, who announced from a convention in Bangkok this week that it was stripping the 168-pound belt Crawford won in his masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez for not paying sanctioning fees.

Sulaiman said he failed to pay a $300,000 fee on a purse that Sulaiman said “allegedly earned” Crawford $50 million. If accurate, that’s less than the traditional fee, 0.6 percent instead of the usual 3%.

But Sulaiman’s use of the word “allegedly” is confusing. It suggests that the WBC did not know what the precise size of Crawford’s purse in a mid-September bout that resulted in Canelo collecting more than $100-million, according to Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh.

It’s not clear whether the WBC has filed a lawsuit or intends to.

In a subsequent post to his profane shot at Sulaiman, Crawford said he never agreed to pay anything to the WBC, which also said that the pound-for-pound champion failed to pay a fee for his junior-middleweight decision over Israil Madrimov in August 2024.

“Let’s make things clear …’’ Crawford said on an X post. “I never agreed on anything with (WBC), nor did my team. So, stop the crap with that narrative. I’ve always been a man of my word.’’

It’s also not clear what Crawford paid to the other three ruling bodies, — International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association. He also won a belt from The Ring, a century-old publication bought by Alalshikh from Oscar De La Hoya for a reported $10 million in November 2024.

Sulaiman said the WBC had tried repeatedly to communicate with Crawford. Sulaiman said there was never a reply. Stripping the belt, Sulaiman said, was a last resort.

Crawford, an undisputed champion in three weight classes, is bigger than any of the belts. After his career-defining decision over Canelo, his legacy is secure.

A prevailing theory is that he reacted angrily to the WBC because the acronym tried to embarrass him by going public with the reasons for its decision.

On any scale, $300,000 is a lot of money. But as a percentage of a reported $50 million, it’s small. Still, nobody likes to get outed for not paying parking tickets.

Crawford is known for his pride and defiance. In other words: Don’t try to tell him what to do. And don’t try to make a fool out of him. The WBC did both. An angry Crawford countered.

“No hard feelings,’’ Sulaiman told reporters late Thursday.

The controversy, however, doesn’t figure to disappear quietly. In a possible bid to monopolize the sport, there have been mounting signs for months that the Saudis are trying to rid

the sport of rival belts and acronym influence.

Alalshikh declined to display the WBC belt during a Canelo news conference in March 2025.  He did, however, happily display The Ring’s belt. It’s fair to wonder whether The Ring, a publication, will eventually become another four-letter acronym, RING.

“The effing real belt is the Ring belt, which is free,’’ Crawford said in a remark that sums up a looming battle over who controls the fighters, the fees, rule-and-regs and purses.

It’s still not clear whether Crawford will retire or fight on in perhaps a rematch against Canelo or in a bid for still another title, this time at middleweight.

 But his presence in the overall future of the business will be there, no matter whether he answers another opening bell. On Wednesday, he showed – he shouted – that he was ready to answer just about anything. 

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez, who made more news after the Anthony Yarde fight than he did during it, is seizing the day.

Canelo’s day.

In a sure sign that Benavidez doesn’t intend to waste time waiting while in his prime, he followed up his stoppage of Yarde with an announcement that he plans to fight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for two pieces of the cruiserweight title on the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

A sudden step up in weight for another title was news, much of it precipitated by uncertainty about whether a third Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev fight will ever happen.

But the real significance was the date, May 2 at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Zurdo, who is scheduled for a Jan. 16 tune-up against Swede Robin Sirwan Safar, confirmed the fight and the date. So did his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. Already, Benavidez has been installed a 3-to-1 favorite by on-line books.

Odds are: A boxing May Day, a possible sea change at the top of the sport, is happening.

For the last couple of decades, the Cinco de Mayo weekend has belonged to the reigning face of the game.

First, there was Floyd Mayweather Jr., who honored the celebration by wearing a mariachi costume that included everything but a trumpet. Then, Canelo Alvarez, who took it back for Mexico.

But Canelo’s September loss to a masterful Terence Crawford and subsequent fall from the top 10 in leading pound-for-pound ratings for the first time since 2018 leaves a possible opening, a vacant throne, there for a successor.

Boldly, Benavidez has put himself first in line.

“I don’t want to waste any more time,” Benavidez told reporters in Riyadh at the top of his post-fight newser after a solid, expected stoppage in a light-heavyweight title defense.

“I want greatness, and I had an opportunity to go up to challenge Ramirez for two titles at cruiserweight.

“I didn’t get the opportunity at 168, and now I am not getting it at 175. So, I am going to make my own lane and achieve greatness, one way or the other.’’

Benavidez, forced to wait for years, no longer has to, in part because of the momentum that came with his victory over Yarde. The Phoenix-born-and-forged fighter goes into his prime – he’ll be 29-years old on Dec. 17 – with his record unbeaten and his options unlimited.

That said, Yarde, a competent gatekeeper, isn’t exactly Terence Crawford. Guess here, Canelo would have easily beaten Yarde, too. Canelo still looms as a factor in what Benavidez can do, will do. For years, he frustrated Benavidez, denying him a shot at his 168-pound undisputed title.

Now suddenly without a belt, Canelo has lost some of his leverage, but none of his influence. He’s still a draw among Mexican fans, ever loyal and the boxing audience’s biggest demographic. Translation: He’s still box-office. Saudi promoter and Prince Turki Alalshikh paid him a reported purse of more than $100 million for fighting Crawford.

Now there are reports that Canelo wants to double down. Reportedly, he wants a rematch, and there are at least 100 million reasons for why he wants the sequel. 

But there are no reports on what Crawford intends to do. His brilliant decision over Canelo was proof, the punctuation point to a genuine legacy. It would be hard to repeat.

Why risk it against Canelo or anybody else, for that matter? Then again, Crawford, who maybe got half of what Canelo was paid, might ask for the $100 million-plus in a proposed rematch. That might be enough to draw him back into the ring instead of retirement.

Timing is a big factor, second to only the money. Crawford turned 38 just a couple of weeks after delivering a thorough exhibition of Sweet Science skill in a unanimous decision over Canelo. He’ll surely get older, but probably not better. For him, the clock is ticking. Can he still fight? Stupid question. But the longer he waits, the bigger the risk.

If – a big if – a rematch agreement could be reached in early 2026, May 2 – the Cinco de Mayo weekend — would loom, offering Canelo a chance to reclaim a defining date in a still evolving battle with an impatient rival determined to take it from him, one way or another.  

By Norm Frauenheim

Jesse Rodriguez stands out for what he doesn’t do in a business otherwise full of gasbags and so-called influencers who pontificate more than punch.

Bam, a nickname, is the loudest thing about Rodriguez, a fighter as business-like as he is quiet. But don’t mistake the silence. Call him soft-spoken at your own peril. Many have, and all have been left senseless, if not speechless.

Rodriguez owns boxing’s proverbial bully pulpit, dominating with relentless pressure and precise punching. At ringside, there’s an old line about volume punching. That volume is how Rodriguez expresses himself. He turns it up — loud and lethal, then turns it down – clever and calculated – with a maestro’s sense of tempo that often ends in a beat down.

He answered Sunny Edwards’ trash-talking, unsupported allegations about PEDs with a punishing stoppage. A couple of fights later, Edwards retired, saying he no longer had the will to fight on. In response to the taunts, Rodriguez beat it out of him in a way only he could deliver.

After Edwards, he got up from a knockdown for a brutally efficient stoppage of accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada June, 2024 in Phoenix. Estrada waived a rematch clause, which was his way of saying a second chance offered no chance.  He has fought only once since then.

Quiet, but impossible to ignore, an unfolding run to the top of a contentious game continues, this time in Riyadh Saturday when the 25-year-old Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) attempts to add another piece to his Super Fly crown against Fernando Daniel Martinez, a 34-year-old Buenos Aires fighter, also unbeaten (18-0, 9 KOs).

Predictably, perhaps, the emerging Rodriguez has been getting less attention than anybody else on the Saudi card. It’s been built around David Benavidez and his aspirations to become the so-called next face of the game. For now, it all depends on if the Phoenix-born-and-forged fighter prevails in a light-heavyweight title defense against London’s Anthony Yarde.

Then, there’s Devin Haney in a fight to reassert himself and his place against welterweight belt-holder Brian Norman

Jr. on boxing’s developing marquee for 2026.

Rodriguez hasn’t exactly been ignored. But he goes into Saturday’s bout with credentials that neither Benavidez nor Haney has. In every pound-for-pound rating, he ranks higher. Only on the scale is he smaller. In any other world, he’s a main-event fighter, capable of drawing crowds of 10-to-12,000 in Phoenix or San Antonio, his hometown.

In Riyadh, he’s on the DAZN undercard, the second prelim on the four-fight live-stream topped by Benavidez-Yarde.

It’s reasonable to argue that an emerging pound-for-pound contender on an undercard isn’t good for the overall business. Why not Phoenix, or San Antonio, or any other city in the Southwest? Fans there have been left behind, almost forgotten. Forget them, and eventually nobody gets paid.

It’s a complaint that this corner in Arizona hears with mounting frequency. But it’s not one you’ll hear from Rodriguez, still quiet and ever stoic. He’s there for the Saudi money. It’s huge and it comes at an important time in Rodriguez’ life.

Rodriguez, already the father of an 18-month-old daughter, is expecting a son. He missed media workouts Wednesday in Riyadh. Instead, he monitored social media, an anxious dad awaiting his son’s birth on the other side of the world.

“We knew that our fight was gonna end up a day after his birth, so I was telling my girlfriend (Rebecca) to hold him as long as she can,’’ Rodriguez told SunSport in Riyadh. “But just before I came over here, they had mentioned that he might be born either tonight (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday). This is all for them at the end of the day.’’

Motivation to fight, he went on to say, was now rooted in the need to provide for a growing family.

“I have to put food on their plates and toys in their playpen,’’ he said, a quiet man saying it all.

By Norm Frauenheim

From the batter’s box to the finish line to the ring, there’s been a lot of good, bad and ugly over the last fifty years. Pete Rose’s ban, Mike Tyson’s prison sentence, Evander Holyfield’s ear and so much more are all there.

Somewhere on that historical list, there’s Victor Conte.

I’m not sure where. But he’s there, a personality hard to know, yet with an influence impossible to separate from the turmoil and triumph, shock and awe, the cream and the clear.

Conte’s gone, dead at 75 last Monday after a five-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

In the many obits, there is always a mention of major-league baseball’s so-called Steroid Era, almost as if Conte created it.

He didn’t.

To be sure, Conte was there, a man with a potion that enabled Barry Bonds to finish his career in 2007 with 762 homers, more than Henry Aaron’s record (755).

But the substance had already been around for at least a couple of decades in old East German, Soviet and Chinese labs populated by mad scientists who created swimmers, sprinters, shot putters and weightlifters who dominated the Olympic medal count in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Conte simply imported the potion, added a mineral here and there for what has been called “designer” steroids — a good fit for every pair of athletic genes.

It got Conte and his BALCO venture a lot of attention, most of it notorious enough to land him in prison for four months. But Conte was never the evil genius that some of the obits suggest. He was a salesman, who sold himself, first and foremost.

He also was shrewd and cynical. He understood his market, which is populated by ambitious, single-minded athletes who will do almost anything to get an advantage, especially if it can’t be detected, at least for awhile.

It’s fair to assume that gladiators entered the Roman Colosseum armed with more than shields and an arsenal of cruel weapons. Modern archeologists are finding evidence that was more in their cooking oil than just olives.

I swam competitively in college for four years, 1967 through 1971 — the Mark Spitz and pre-goggle era. At a dinner hosted by Conte in Vegas a couple of years ago, I told him cryptically that I was glad that he wasn’t around during my time in the pool. I would have taken just about anything to get to the Olympics.

Conte looked at me and just smiled, in retrospect a knowing smile.

I recall talking to late Arizona Senator John McCain in an interview for The Arizona Republic before the 2004 Athens Olympics. The conversation turned to steroids. McCain, who boxed and wrestled for the Naval Academy, looked at me and – without hesitation — said:

“Hell, I would have asked where can I get some and when can I get some more. I’d have been taking that stuff by the handfuls.’’

From Rome to now, athletes are always looking for an advantage — fair or not, artificial or not. There’s always been a Conte to fill that demand.

My first experience with Conte was after he had left prison and entered the inevitable: Boxing.

Then, he had taken on the role of reformer. For the media, he was the go-to source in a counter argument to the fighters who were contesting a positive test. He also had formed his own company, SNAC, an acronym for the supplements and advice he offered.

At the time of Conte’s death, Terence Crawford was on his SNAC client list. Conte was unable to attend Crawford’s masterful upset of Canelo Alvarez in mid-September in front of an Allegiant Stadium crowd of more than 70,000 and a reported Netflix audience of more than 42 million. Reportedly, his worsening condition prevented him from attending a fight he surely wanted to see in person.

Always, he had openly bragged about how he had worked with some of the sport’s best, including Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields and emerging pound-for-contender Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. He also had worked with Andre Ward and others.

But his prison time, relationship with Bonds, work with Olympic gold-medalist track star Marion Jones and former 100-meter dash world-record holder Tim Montgomery turned him into an easy target, especially in boxing.

That was never more evident than in Rodriguez’ fight against Sunny Edwards at Desert Diamond Arena for the flyweight title in Glendale, AZ nearly two years ago. Edwards, never shy, had seen the SNAC on Rodriguez’ shorts and jersey.

Edwards attacked, calling out Conte and suggesting that Rodriguez was a PED user throughout the days before opening bell. Rodriguez, who has never tested positive and had never even been questioned about it, responded to the pointed, noisy allegations with stone-faced silence.

That left it up to the media to get a response. I called Conte. He was quick to defend Rodriguez as a fighter who had as much integrity as any in the notorious sport. For the next two days, Conte sustained a loud attack on Edwards. Then, Rodriguez finished the job with a punishing stoppage. Two fights later, Edwards retired, saying he just didn’t have any desire to fight on.

In effect, Rodriguez, who let his hands do his talking, finished him. He also let Conte do all the talking.

No matter what Edwards or anybody else believed, Conte was good on stage and in the bully pulpit. It was a talent he learned, perhaps in his days in 1970 when he was the bass guitarist for a Bay-area R&B band, The Tower Of Power, a name and perhaps a pretty good metaphor for what opposing pitchers saw in Bonds when he came to the plate.

Conte, according to Wikipedia, also played for a band named Pure Food and Drug Act. Sunny Edwards isn’t surprised.

Rest-In-Peace, Victor Conte

Major card back in PHX plans

It looks as if a major card is headed back to the Phoenix area, a go-to city until Saudi money began to dominate the business.

Top Rank has plans for Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1,32 KOs) against fellow Mexican Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) on March 7 on the Suns home floor. It’s a junior-lightweight unification fight. Navarrete has the WBO belt; Nunez the IBF.

Names have changed since the last major card has been staged in Phoenix. The downtown arena was called Footprint Center. Now, it’s the Mortgage Market Center. 

By Norm Frauenheim

Only boxing is killing boxing. It’s an old line, yet

relevant as ever this week with news of talk about a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch.

It’s been a decade since the first one, which has been hard to forget for all the wrong reasons. It was a dud, memorable only for all the money that was made. Pacquiao got rich. Mayweather got richer. Everybody else got robbed.

Many in a record pay-per-view audience of 4.6 million for the May 2015 fight grumbled at what they paid for and walked away, never to pay again.

For ten long years, the business has worked through futility and frustration, attempting to bring back old fans while trying to create a few new ones. The jury is out. So are the fans.

Yet, younger faces and new money, Saudi money, are creating newfound possibilities.

The business is also coming off a notable triumph in Terence Crawford’s scorecard upset of Canelo Alvarez in mid-September in front of a crowd of more than 70,000 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and a reported audience of more than 42 million on Netflix.

The numbers add up to a reason for cautious optimism, emphasis on the caution. Crawford’s masterful performance reminded an eroding and increasingly exasperated fan base of why boxing was once called The Sweet Science.

It still can be.

But Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 might make a returning crowd wary of getting fooled all over again. Caveat emptor is attached to any prizefighting venture, of course. But Mayweather-Pacquiao almost stands alone for what went wrong and what not to do all over again.

It’s no surprise that Pacquiao and Mayweather would want to, of course. Another chance at even a fraction of the money earned a decade ago is motivation enough to try once more. Pacquiao confirmed there have been negotiations.

“Right now, we have a lot of negotiations about my next fight; there’s a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather,” Pacquiao said Wednesday during a news conference in Manila. “…”I’d love to have another fight, a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.”

Of course, he would.

However, there was no immediate confirmation from Mayweather, who reportedly has an agreement for an exhibition with Mike Tyson, also next year.

Pacquiao, however, made it sound as if a rematch — perhaps next spring — would be a genuine bout, one for the books.

“A real fight,” he said.

That, of course, would be a risk to Mayweather’s unbeaten, 50-0 record, a cornerstone to his claim on being the best ever. Unbeaten might be an issue, a legacy Mayweather does not want to jeopardize  

Pacquiao is 46 and coming off an entertaining draw with Mario Barrios in a July comeback. Against Barrios, he proved he can still fight. But for how much longer? The former Filipino Senator will be 47 in December.

Meanwhile, Mayweather, who has been on the exhibition tour for years, is 48. He’ll be 49 in late February.

Even a decade ago, both were late in their primes, yet fought with the hesitance of older men. Mayweather won a decision. After the scores were announced and the boos subsided, Pacquiao said he fought with a shoulder injury.

Even then, the fight was said to be a couple of years past its due date. Ten years later, it’s just ancient history. It’s time to move on, both for them and a game fighting to separate itself from their past.

David Benavidez on the move

David Benavidez, a Phoenix-born fighter now living in Miami, has already moved his training camp to the Middle East for his looming light-heavyweight title fight against 175-pound veteran Anthony Yarde in Riyadh Nov. 22.

With the move, he hopes to adjust to new surroundings and time zone. Benavidez will be fighting in Saudi Arabia for the first time. All of his fights have been in the U.S. and Mexico. 

Mikaela Mayer won the WBA/WBC/WBO super welterweight titles with a 10-round unanimous decision over Mary Spencer at Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.

Mayer was the more active fighter as she came out from the opening bell unleashing heavy combinations. She seemed to do that round after round with the bigger Spencer landing some good shots but they were one at a time. Mayer, who was a champion at 130, 135 (interim) and is currently the WBO Welterweight title adds more hardware to her trophy case as she won by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 twice.

Mayer, 151 lbs of Colorado Springs, CO is 22-2. Spencer, 152.8 lbs of Montreal is 10-3.

In an entertaining super middleweight bout, Wilens Mathieu won a 10-round unanimous decision over Shakeel Phinn.

In round three, Mathieu rocked Phinn with a hard right and then dropped Phinn with a right to the head.

Mathieu had Phinn in trouble several more times, but Phinn hung in there and was able to back up Mathieu and make the fight interesting, but it was noy enough as Mathieu won by scores of 99-90 and 98-91 twice.

Mathieu, 167.8 lbs of Montreal is 15-0. P

Arthur Biyarslanov remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Sergey Lipinets in a junior welterweight bout.

Biyarslanov, 139.7 lbs of Toronto won by scores of 99-90,97-92 and 96-93 and is now 20-0. Lipinets, 139.6 lbs of Woodland Hills, CA is 18-5-1.

In round four, Lipinets began to bleed from his forehead

In round three, Biyarslanov landed a straight left that put Lipinets on his back.

Christopher Guerrero won an 10-round unanimous decision over Williams Andres Herrera in a welterweight bout.

Guerrero, 146.9 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is now 16-0. Herrera, 146.3 lbs of Argentina is 17-10.

By Norm Frauenheim

Boxing regulation, like colossal shrimp, is often a classic oxymoron, two words aligned yet always in conflict. After all, boxing is at its roguish best or perhaps worst when it avoids regulation. It’s been a way of doing business

These days, however, two emerging faces from the promotional side – one with unprecedented money and the other with White House connections – joined the regulatory side in an apparent effort to gain control over the balkanized game.

It’s hard to understand why else Prince Turki Alalshikh, the money man from the Saudi monarchy, and Dana White, UFC kingpin and friend of Donald Trump, played politics a week ago in seeking an endorsement from the

California State Athletic Commission.

Alalshikh and White, fresh off their triumph in the promotion of Terence Crawford’s masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez last month, are trying to push through the proposed Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act.

It’s supposed to replace the shopworn, often forgotten Ali Act, the original attempt to bring some ethics and order to a business known for notorious practices. For too long, fighters have been protected only by a sturdy mouthpiece.

Late Senators John McCain of Arizona and Harry Reid of Nevada had good intentions when they crafted the bill, introducing it in 1999 and enacting it in 2000. Both were former boxers. They understood the sport and the fighters. Both also got a lot of help and advice from Hall of Fame trainer and ringside commentator Emanuel Steward.

But all three are gone. Guess here, all three would see through what White and Alalshikh were doing at the California Commission. It was a campaign stop – a dog-and-pony show — for legislation that could strengthen their control of boxing when their Zuffa promotional banner debuts next year.

It’s evident that Alalshikh and White are trying to eliminate rivals and perhaps critics. White, an unchallenged giant in his promotion of mixed martial arts, says he wants to go into boxing without the old acronyms or rival promoters.

Part of the reported plan is to recognize only The Ring’s title.

It’s no coincidence that Alalshikh bought The Ring from Oscar De La Hoya last November for a reported $10 million. Then, De La Hoya, who has been feuding with White for years, thought he was selling a magazine, a century-old trademark. But now he knows he sold off a piece of what they intend to use as a further way dominate the business.

From this corner, however, it’s not clear that their proposed changes to 25-year-old legislation will have any more of a lasting impact than the original has had. The criticism of the McCain-Reid bill – bi-partisan and well-intended – is that it didn’t include any real way to enforce laws written to protect the fighters themselves.

An example: The Ali Act was supposed to eliminate the confusion about the difference between promoter and manager. But it’s still there, a conflict-of-interest that often leads to a double dip, leaving the unsuspecting fighter with only enough money for that new mouthpiece.

McCain, a Republican, and Reid, a Democrat, got a lot of endorsements for their legislation from fighters, media and fans when it was introduced.

But there’s no enforcement in another endorsement, which — for now — is the only thing fighters got from White and Alalshikh.

By Norm Frauenheim

Just when it looked as if boxing was facing only questions about shifting politics amid uncertainty over whether familiar faces are moving on as new ones move in, along comes Tyson Fury with an announcement that says one thing isn’t changing.

Fury, or at least his promoter, says he’s coming back.

Isn’t he always?

Fury’s comeback, unabridged and uninterrupted, will continue sometime next year, his promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports last Wednesday.

It’s long been thought that Fury’s comeback would inevitably lead to Anthony Joshua. Apparently, however, Fury has other ideas, according to Warren, who says he is pursuing the third leg in a trilogy with Oleksandr Usyk.

“The fight he really wants is another bout with Mr. Usyk,’’ Warren said. “Those were wonderful, very close fights that were a pleasure to watch. He keeps talking about it.’’

Trouble is, Usyk isn’t talking about it. Neither are fans. Usyk’s disciplined mastery of tactical skill won the first two fights, both in 2024.

The scorecards from each are a sure indication that Usyk has figured out Fury. In May, Usyk wins by split decision. In a December rematch, the Ukrainian is the unanimous winner, 116-112 on all cards. Everybody knows where this one is headed. Been there. Done that. Why do it again?

Fury probably knows that. He also knows the promotional art better than even Warren. His comeback talk about Usyk is perhaps just an opening salvo in firing up fans for the one UK bout still on their most-wanted list. Fury-Joshua still makes money, although only Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Al-Sheikh can afford to pay the purses for a fight that would belong in London instead of Riyadh.

If it can’t be put together, it’s time for the 38-year-old Fury to get off his career-long comeback trail and make room in the media landscape and public imagination for Moses Itauma.

Itauma, a powerful 20-year-old UK heavyweight, is poised to join light-heavyweight David Benavidez, super-flyweight Jessie “Bam” Rodriguez and newly-minted junior-middleweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a looming race to become the face of a game suddenly without one.

From retirement to rematch, it’s not clear what’s next for Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez.

Crawford is 38. Within a couple of weeks after losing to Crawford in front of a reported Netflix audience of more than 42 million, Canelo, 35, announced plans to undergo elbow surgery.

Maybe Crawford and Canelo fight a couple of more times. Maybe, not. Maybe, they fight each other once again. Maybe not. Whatever they do, they’re a lot closer to an exit than Fury Road, a comeback seemingly never near an end.

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez, who is moving up the scale in weight and prominence, didn’t surprise anybody this week when he said he would never fight at super-middleweight again.

He doesn’t have any choice.

Gaining weight and smarts are part of growing up, and the maturing Benavidez is showing a lot of both as he enters his prime at light-heavyweight, a steppingstone toward his hopes of making an enduring statement as perhaps the best of his generation.

Put it this way: At 6-foot-2, Benavidez, who will be 29 on Dec. 17, has a better chance at fighting one day at heavyweight than he has at ever going back to 168 pounds.

The biggest surprise is that he was able to stay at super-middle for as long as he did. He missed weight once, costing him the World Boxing Council’s version of the title in 2020. Over the next three-and-half years, he went on to win six straight bouts as the super-middleweight division’s most feared contender

Truth is, Benavidez is at a weight he probably should have been a few years ago. He actually fought at 175 pounds more than a decade ago – April 2015. As an unknown 18-year-old, he won a fringe NABF title with a first-round stoppage at Celebrity Theatre in hometown Phoenix. Then, he stayed – perhaps overstayed – at 168. A futile wait for a shot at Canelo Alvarez kept him there.

Now, he moves on, beyond a familiar weight and an exasperating wait in his third bout at light-heavy in a title defense against a dangerous gatekeeper, Anthony Yarde, a UK fighter who figures to test Benavidez’ future in his step up the scale Nov. 22 in Riyadh.

Benavidez announced the inevitable in an interview with Fight Hub TV in answer to a question first posed by Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Al-Sheikh at the end of Terence Crawford’s masterful decision over Canelo last month at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

“Can David Benavidez still make 168?” Al-Sheikh asked in a tweet.

Definitely not, Benavidez told Fight Hub.

“I’m done,’’ Benavidez told Fight Hub in his formal farewell to super-middle.  “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Crawford. He put on a hell of a performance. He’s up there on the Mount Rushmore of the greatest fighters of all time. Let Crawford do his thing, bro. At the end of the day, I have no interest in fighting Crawford.

“I have no interest in going down to 168. Yeah, it would be dope, winning all the titles, but I’m way past that at 168. I wouldn’t even go down to 168 for Canelo. I’m just being real with you.”

With his decision over Canelo for the unified title at 168, Crawford did Benavidez a real favor. For too long, Benavidez’ career — and identity — had been defined by his chase for a rich date against Canelo. For now, that’s gone, forced by Crawford’s victory and Benavidez’ natural progression up the scale.

But it’s more than just a step away from Canelo. For Benavidez, it also represents a significant early step into his prime. For him, it’s an opportunity to make — and remake — his identity as a potential pound-for-pound contender.

There’s still a chance, of course, that Canelo comes back from elbow surgery and decides he’s finally willing to fight Benavidez, especially if Benavidez beats Yarde and goes on to a unified light heavyweight title against Dmitry Bivol and/or Artur Beterbiev.

There are lots of questions about what’s next for Canelo, yet there’s a consensus that a fight against Benavidez would still make money. Fans have clamored for Canelo-Benavidez for years. They’re not going away.

If that possibility is resurrected, however, it could be on different terms, this time forged by Benavidez, bigger both in body and name.

By Norm Frauenheim

Unintended consequences, or at least attention and speculation, have been there for Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez in the wake of their fight, one of the biggest in years.

That’s no surprise. More than a reported 42 million watched on Netflix. More than 70,000 watched in person. Everybody walked away wondering what’s next.

From the fighters, however, there’s been mostly silence, especially from Crawford, the winner whose hometown celebration took a wild turn when he was held at gunpoint in a traffic stop just hours after Omaha gave its loyal son a key to the city.

Crawford has yet to comment about what happened early Sunday. If he’s going to say anything, the best guess is that he’ll wait until a possible court appearance, perhaps in December. A crush of speculation and an ongoing in-house investigation by Omaha police suggest that’s the only smart move. Crawford has made a lot of those over the last couple of years.

Meanwhile, Canelo also has been silent about news, reported by The Ring, that he’ll undergo surgery on his left elbow.

At 35 years old, that raises questions, lots of them He’s talked about retiring when he turns 37. But he’s under contract for two more fights with Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, whose seemingly unlimited bankroll is revolutionizing the prize-fighting biz.

The guessing game has Canelo, who will be 36 next July, returning to the ring some time in mid 2026. His next opening bell had been expected in February. Now, it looks as if he won’t fight again until sometime between May and September – Cinco de Mayo and Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16

The biggest question, of course, is against whom? His army of Mexican fans want to see him avenge his scorecard loss to Crawford. But Crawford’s dominance raises questions whether a sequel would be any different.

In hindsight, the cards – 115-113 twice and 116-112, all for Crawford, look to be too close, especially the 115-113 scores.

Canelo never had a chance.

Why would he have one eight to 12 months from now?

Good question, but news of the surgery already is generating some second-guessing about whether Canelo’s left elbow was somehow injured before opening bell.

He never complained about it during or after the fight, yet his partisans already are pointing out that, according to ringside stats, he landed only 16 jabs in losing the undisputed super-middleweight title Sept.13 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

But he’s never been known for his jab. The power in his left hand is considered his best weapon. Would he have had a better chance if it had been attached to a healthy elbow? The answer might be as much marketing as it medical.

The questions are all part of speculation that often leads to a hunger for more.   

For both, there are rich reasons to do it all over again. Count them. Bank them. There are more than 150-million reasons. Canelo collected an astonishing $100-million-plus, according to Alalshikh.

Yet, Canelo, who is getting ready for surgery on Oct. 23, isn’t talking about the reported injury.

He doesn’t have to. Everybody around him is talking about it and how surgery might repair an elbow and the public interest in a rich rematch. 

By Norm Frauenheim

Terence Crawford’s celebration of a career-long fight for respect took a crazy turn when Omaha honored him with a parade Saturday and held him at gunpoint early Sunday.

Crawford was released and no charges were filed, according to multiple reports which included a statement from Omaha Mayor John Ewing and a promise to investigate from city police Chief Todd Schmaderer.

As of Sunday, Crawford had not commented on what happened early on his birthday and just hours after Omaha gave him a key to the city.

According to social-media reports, Crawford spent his first few hours as a 38-year-old in handcuffs. If accurate, his key to the city wasn’t enough to unlock them.

According to sourced news stories, Crawford’s vehicle was stopped for reckless driving just before 1:30 a.m., Central time. According to reports and posted video, he was the driver. Crawford and three passengers were ordered out of the car at gunpoint after a weapon was seen.

Omaha police issued a statement. Police, it said, stopped a vehicle that was traveling “recklessly.” During the stop, “a firearm on the driver’s side floorboard” was “observed.” For safety, “all four occupants were ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint.”

According to the statement, police questioned Crawford and found that he had a legal permit to carry the weapon. A member of Crawford’s security team was among the passengers. According to the police report, he also was found to be carrying a weapon.

“Police have confirmed that all occupants are legally permitted to carry firearms,” the statement said.

Omaha police also confirmed that Crawford requested that a department supervisor and lieutenant be called to the scene.

At the time of the stop, somebody in the vehicle can be heard saying on a social-media post that “I’m not reaching for no gun” as the officer orders them to “step out.’’

According to the video, Crawford – remaining as poised outside of the ring as he is in it — calmly cooperated with every order, including keeping his hands raised above his head. He was cited for reckless driving.

The controversial moment happened after an estimated 100,000 turned out for a parade honoring Crawford for a masterful upset of Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, Sept. 13.  With the victory, he made some history – a third undisputed title at a third weight.

Crawford has long been known for being Omaha’s loyal son. Boxing is populated by prizefighters who leave their roots to live in Vegas or Los Angeles.

But Crawford stayed home, drawing huge crowds in Omaha and nearby Lincoln. Famed billionaire investor Warren Buffett is often seen in a seat alongside Crawford’s many fans for fights in his home state.

Against Canelo, Crawford’s mouthpiece included Nebraska’s red football logo, N, front and center.

Omaha, all of Nebraska, decided to honor Crawford after he honored the city and state with a decision over Canelo that reminds many old-school fans of why boxing was once called The Sweet Science.

Even before the parade, it wasn’t clear what he’ll do next. There might be another bout. Might not. From a farewell fight at the Cornhuskers’ college football stadium in Lincoln to a Canelo rematch or a bid for still another divisional title, the possibilities are a lot like the countless angles on his punches.

Whatever’s next, however, has been complicated, left even more uncertain by questions that just weren’t there on a weekend that began with a celebration stopped in a way neither he nor anybody else could foresee. 

By Norm Frauenheim

A performance that reminds us why boxing was once called The Sweet Science screams for an encore.

In the days after Terence Crawford pulled a fading craft off the fringe and back onto center stage for 12 magnificent rounds in a masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez, there’s an inevitable clamor for more.

Fans and media are asking: Who’s next? A lot of fighters, some worthy and most not, are asking to be next. But there’s no immediate next on Crawford’s calendar, other than a birthday.

He’ll be 38 on Sept. 28, just 15 days after he celebrated a victory watched by more than a reported 41 million on Netflix and more than 70,000 at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium last Saturday.

It’s an age – early middle-aged — that comes with questions. At 37, Crawford answered many with sustained movement and footwork not expected by a fighter with more than 40 bouts on his odometer.

Crawford never stopped in a tireless dance that confused Canelo, who saw Crawford in a different spot, with a different posture and at a different angle at almost every turn.

In the end, there was more than just confusion. It left Canelo, the younger man, without options and energy. He was exhausted. Crawford, the 35-year-old Canelo said, did everything.

Everything, other than knock him out.

Maybe it’s just coincidence, but Crawford patiently applied every element in his endlessly versatile skillset throughout. For one night, he managed to do all of what he does best. For most of his career, he was a finisher. We knew that, it’s there in his unbeaten record – 31 KOs in 42 wins.

Against Canelo, he had a chance to display even more.

In the days since the scorecards – 116-112, 115-113 (twice) were announced, the video of his comprehensive victory has been studied and re-studied for segments that were just missed. 

Here’s classic: A double left hand.

First, it lands squarely between Canelo’s eyes. Canelo seems to look away. As he does, that same left hand drops down by an inch, maybe two, and then lands onto Canelo’s jaw, all delivered as Crawford ducks in and away.

It was a thing of beauty, art according to the book on The Sweet Science.

Canelo’s reaction says it all. Stunned, he looks back at Crawford in disbelief, as if to say: Where in this universe did that punch come from?

It was a moment – one of many, that secured Crawford’s place as the best in his generation. Today, he’s the consensus – if not unanimous — pound-for-pound champion, ahead of heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk and junior-featherweight Naoya Inoue, who delivered his own statement with a dominant decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Japan just a few hours after Crawford’s triumph.

For Crawford, the history-making victory for a third undisputed title at three weights in his first bout at super-middle was a definitive counter to the critics who have questioned his record for years. Repeatedly, his credibility was undercut by doubt about the quality of his opposition.

Those doubts, perhaps, were reflected by the 115-113 scores. The 116-112 score was more accurate. On this scorecard, the margin grew – 116-112 in the arena to 117-111 the next day after watching the video.

Against Canelo, Crawford simply proved – round after round — he’s just been better than everybody else.

The dominance suggests that there’s more than that. Crawford has plenty of fight still within him.

But it also includes a question about what another fight or two might do to his legacy as an all-time great. There’s a pretty good argument that he has run out of opponents.

A rematch was mentioned. A second fight against Canelo would probably make money. But it’s hard to imagine a different result against the faded Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs), who has been fighting professionally since he was 15 years old and still had freckles. The popular Mexican is 68-fights old, and it’s beginning to show.

The other possibilities swirling around Crawford’s future are predictable. 

There’s the emerging Jaron Ennis, Canelo’s sparring partner for Crawford. 

There’s talk about a move down to middleweight – from 168 pounds to 160 – for another division title – his sixth.

There’s even David Benavidez, a former super-middleweight champion from Phoenix now training for a light-heavyweight title defense against Anthony Yarde in Nov. 22 in Riyadh.

Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh teased the Benavidez possibility from his ringside seat late in Canelo-Crawford by asking on social media whether the 6-foot-2 Benavidez could still make 168. 

Maybe, but at 28 and counting, Benavidez will only mature, which means more pounds and an even heavier division. In another year or two, he could be at cruiserweight, 200-pounds.

Crawford’s victory on one of boxing’s biggest stages in years includes prerogatives. To wit: He can do whatever he wants. But at what cost?

In a notable quote at the post-fight news conference in a tent outside of Allegiant, Canelo was asked to compare Crawford with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who beat him twelve years ago by decision in September, 2013.

“Crawford is way better,’’ Canelo said.

That one comment is a bigger victory for Crawford’s legacy than another title, say the middleweight belt held by 42-year-old Erislandy Lara.

It’s also a legacy, including an unbeaten record, maybe worth protecting against one of those young lions — Ennis, unbeaten at welterweight and seeking to move to junior-middle and/or a much bigger Benavidez.

Legacy or encore? This time, it’s a decision only Terence Crawford can make.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – There was no blood. There were no knockdowns. There was only Terence Crawford.

Crawford’s dance, as brilliant as it was defiant, continued Saturday, reaching a peak few others have achieved or even imagined with an upset of Canelo Alvarez in front of a crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium.

Crawford, booed when he entered the arena and booed for weeks after the fight was announced, did what he was always done in his historic path to undisputed title in three weight classes.

He did it with his feet, frustrating Canelo at almost every turn in winning a unanimous decision. It was 115-113 on two scorecards and 116-112 on the third. Two of the cards appeared to be closer than what the dominant Crawford did in moving across the ring, in and out of harm’s way and into history.

Canelo always seemed to be a step behind, a dance partner that couldn’t quite keep up with the master.

If there was a surprise, it was in Crawford’s footwork. He moved his feet with an agility not seen in almost a decade. For 12 rounds, the 37-year-old Crawford sustained the dance that earned him the undisputed super-middleweight title and a place among boxing’s all-time greats.

If he had been around in another time, the game would have Five Kings alongside the foursome of Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.

In his hometown – Omaha, they simply call him Bud. On this night, however, boxing historians could have called him Sugar. He was that good, a former welterweight and junior-welter champion coming up two weight classes to take down Canelo, one of the most feared punchers in his day,

After it was all over, Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) went to one knee and looked toward Allegiant Stadium’s ceiling as though he was looking to the heavens.

Thanks, he said

The thank-you was preceded by a confident Crawford who opened the fight in the southpaw style. His right hand led the attack and hinted at imminent alterations. But he never switched up, never went from left-handed to right-handed. But the threat was always there, forcing Canelo to be wary.

Above all, Crawford’s two-handed, ambidextrous threat  threw some hesitancy, if not outright  confusion into Canelo’s tactical plans.

Crawford right hand landed first, followed by a glancing left in the opening round. The crowd roared. Canelo remained cautious.

But in the second round, the popular Mexican hinted, perhaps, at what he had planned. He moved forward, almost stalking and in an almost straight line that led him to his target: Crawford’s midsection.

The body punch landed, forcing Crawford to step to one side and then another. In the third, it began to look as if Crawford was poised to pick up the pace.

In the fourth, he did, landing a couple of quick hands, first a right than a left. Momentum in the fourth, however, suddenly shifted when Canelo landed a straight right hand. Crawford looked at at him and smiled as if to say: You can’t catch me.

Over the next eight rounds, Canelo never could.

Callum Walsh dominates in one-sided decision over Vargas Jr.

Callum Walsh had too much power and too much accuracy.

In the end, he had too much of everything in overwhelming Fernando Vargas, Jr, who has a legendary name but none of his father’s resilient skillset. 

On the scorecards, Vargas (17-1, 13 KOs) never had a chance. The judges nearly scored the 10-round junior-middleweight fight as a shutout for Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs), an agile Irishman who knows his way around the ring.

 It was 99-91 on two cards and 100-90 on the third in the final fight before the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez main event at Allegiant Stadium.

Mbilli, Martinez fight to a bruising draw

It was punishing, a fight full of momentum swings and exhausting exchanges of punches that landed everywhere and from all angles. It was hard to pick a winner.

In the end, nobody could..

Christian Mbilli-Lester Martinez was a draw. The good news is that the super-middleweight fight set the stage for a sequel and perhaps a great new rivalry. The only winner was the gathering crowd for the main event, Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford. The early undercards didn’t offer much in terms of drama. Allegiant Arena eats were empty. Knockouts were few. Cheers were muted.

Then, Mbilli and Martinez stepped through the ropes.

In the early rounds, it looked as if Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) might win easily. He appeared to have an edge in the number and power of inside punches. In the middle rounds, however, Martinez. (19-01, 16 KOs), showed a stubborn streak and and his own brand of body shots and uppercuts. The Guatemalan wasn’t going anywhere. In the eighth and again ninth, it looked as if the body assault had robbed Mbilli of his energy. He looked fatigued.

In the final moments of the tenth and final round, however, Mbilli recovered, scoring repeatedly and often enough to perhaps ensure a draw. One judge scored it for him, 96-94. One scored it for Martinez, 97-93. On the third, it was a draw, 95-95

Can’t wait for the rematchThe punishing fight ended with exchanges of punches and moment

Mohammed Alakel wins unanimous decision

Saudi junior-lightweight Mohammed Alakel (5-0, 1 KO) employed faster hands and feet, scoring quickly and repeatedly for a unanimous decision  overTravis Crawford (7-4) a hard working fighter from (7-4-1) from Corpus Christi, TX in the first fight on the Netflix part of a card featuring Terence Crawford-versus-Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium Saturday. 

Brandon Adams wins rematch, scores decision over Bohachuk

Brandon Adams wore a gray wig to news conferences and weigh-ins. He shed the costume in the ring and answered questions about his age with a variety of punches.

Body shots, hooks and uppercuts were repeated answers to Serhii Bohachuk, who called the 36-year-old Adams — a Los Angeles middleweight — an old fighter.

Age is just a number, or at least it was for 10 rounds of punishing shots from multiple angles from Adams in a rematch victory Saturday at Allegiant Stadium over Bohachuk (26-3, 24 KOs) , a Ukrainian known for his power. 

In the end, Adams made the 30-year Bohachuk look old.  Adams, who scored an eighth-round TKO of Bohachuk in 2021, landed shots almost at will, winning a unanimous decision in the final fight before the Netflix portion of the Canelo-Crawford card.

Jermaine Franklin wins dull decision

It was unanimous.

On the cards.

And in the seats.

Jermaine Franklin Jr. won the decision. He also shared some of the contempt hurled at Ivan Dychko from a few fans scattered across Allegiant Stadium’s 65,000 seats Saturday on the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford card in a heavyweight matinee Saturday.

Franklin (24-2), of Saginaw MI,  and Dychko (15-, 14 KOs), a two-time Olympic bronze medalist from Kazakhstan, clinched and clutched more than they punched through 10 forgettable rounds. By the fifth, the scattered crowd began to jeer. By the eighth, the boos began to echo through the empty arena.

By the end of the 10th, there were cheers.

Finally, it was over. 

Tsutsumi scores first-round stoppage

Reito Tsutsumi, a Japanese junior lightweight, didn’t need much time, mostly because Javier Martinez didn’t have much of anything at all.

Tsutsumi (3-0, 2 KOs) did it all within 2:18, walking down Martinez (7-3,4 KOs), hurting the Dallas fighter first with a succession of body shots and then finishing him with with straight punches that put Martinez on the canvas, a lonely figure in an empty building early on a card featuring Terence Crawford-versus-Canelo Alvarez fight.

Sultan Almohammed made a succsessful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Martin Caraballo in a lightweight bout.

In round one, Almohammed dropped Caraballo with a right to the jaw.

Almohammed, 132.5 lbs of Jeddah, SA won by scores of 40-36 on all cardsa and is now 1-0. Caraballo, 133 lbs of Hollywood, FL is 0-1-1….Marc Abrams

Raiko Santana scored a mild upset by stopping Steven Nelson in the opening round of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

Santana landed a hard right hand that hurt Nelson and a follow-up flurry forced the stoppage at 2:38.

Sanatana Of El Paso, TX is 13-4 with with seven knockouts. Nelson of Omaha, NEB is 20-2…...Marc Abrams

Potential Mexican star, Marco Verde stopped Sona Akale in round our of their six-roumd middleweight bout.

In round one, Verde landed a right hook that put Akale on the canvas.

In round four, Verde continued the assault and referee Mark Nelson stopped the bout at 1:11.

Verde, 158 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX is 3-0 with two knockouts. Akale, 158 lbs of St. Paul, MN is 9-4….Marc Abrams

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – First, there was Terence Crawford, dressed in a white top and a friendly smile.

Then, there was Canelo Alvarez, his eyes hidden by sunglasses darker than the undershirt he was wearing.

For about the next hour, both answered questions, talked philosophy, exchanged a few promises and threats.

There were a lot of roles on stage at T-Mobile Arena throughout a news conference Thursday, and both fighters played them well for a super-middleweight fight hard to predict, yet loaded with story lines and opinions

Sometime after opening bell at nearby Allegiant Stadium Saturday night, however, neither the opinions nor the stories will matter much in a ring near the 50-yard line of the NFL Stadium.

That’s when Canelo and Crawford will take matters into their own hands – hands as dangerous as any over the last decade of prize-fighting

Boxing newsers are always part of the show, of course. They set the stage for feints and perhaps a little bit of psychology.  Rhetorical jabs before the real ones.

Crawford and Canelo were there, each with an answer for whatever was asked in front of a crowd that has already made up its mind.

For Crawford, that means changing minds.

For Canelo, it means affirming what many already think in the remaining hours before the Netflix-streamed bout.

No matter what else was said Thursday, Crawford and Canelo were in the place they’ve been since their intriguing super-middleweight fight was announced several weeks ago.

Crawford is the underdog, defiant and yet seemingly happy to be in the role.

“They say I’ve fought nobody, they say I can’t sell, they say I’ve got no personality,’’ Crawford said with the defiant edge that has helped him forge a career with skeptics but no losses

For the last decade, Crawford has proven everybody wrong. It was clear Thursday that he intends to deliver some definitive say-so against Canelo, who has played the popular favorite throughout most of his career.

It was no surprise that Canelo was the crowd favorite at Thursday’s newser. He’s been a powerful favorite for about as long as Crawford has been doubted.

The news-conference crowd amplified its expectations Thursday. It is betting Canelo’s long reign as Mexico’s best fighter since Julio Cesar Chavez will continue.

Canelo said he doesn’t listen to cheers or criticism. Maybe not. Go ahead, he says, and debate about his place in Mexican history, which has for long started and ended with Julio.

“In the end, the people will decide,’’ Canelo said. “The numbers will be there or they won’t.’’

For now, however, the numbers are in the seats, there at least in terms of support for Canelo in his risky date as the bigger man in defense of his undisputed super-middleweight. 

Those numbers also add up to what might be an astonishing paycheck. There’s talk that Canelo will collect $100-million for fighting Crawford

Wrong, Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh said Thursday.

“Our contract is for more than that,’’ said Alalshikh , who negotiated a three-fight deal in an 11^th hour offer that convinced Canelo to agree to the Crawford fight.

Like the purses perhaps, Crawford, it’s thought, will enter the ring smaller. He’s a former undisputed welterweight and junior-welter champion, who is jumping up the scale from junior-middleweight to fight Canelo.

The Canelo chants, like the expectations, were bigger Thursday, echoing throughout the building like an old lyric.

Crawford heard them and smiled. He’s been there. Defiance has been his lifestyle. He’s good at it, and he intends to be just as good for at least one more time.

But defiance isn’t a physical attribute. It’s not included on any tale-of-the -ape. There’s no way to measure it. Canelo’s experience and documented power at a heavier weight might just be too much for Crawford.

It’s easier to defy skeptics than it is a left counter. In the end, it might prove to be that stark, that simple, no matter what else was said Thursday. In boxing, some roles never change.

By Norm Frauenheim

It’s in Japan. But it might as well be on Jupiter. It’s the forgotten fight, shoved off stage and out-of-mind by attention and anticipation captured by the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight next week at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

At any other time, Naoya Inoue-Murojdon Akhmadaliev would be a talker. It’s a big fight, significant enough to include pound-for-pound implications. For Inoue, it’s perhaps the biggest challenge to his pound-for-pound claim and emerging celebrity since victories over Nonito Donaire in 2019 and again in 2022.

In the here-and-now, however, only Canelo-Crawford is doing numbers that multiply and amplify as the Sept. 13 opening bell approaches. Will Inoue and Akhmadaliev the next day eventually matter? Forgotten now, but unforgettable later?

The relevance to their  junior-featherweight fight, of course, hinges – first – on Canelo-Crawford Sept. 13 in Vegas and then what they do a few hours later in Nagoya Sept. 14. By the time Inoue and Akhmadaliev enter the ring, they should know who won between Canelo-Crawford.

On Vegas’ clocks, Inoue-Akhamadaliev is scheduled to begin at about 1 a.m. Sept 14. That’s about the same time Canelo has been known to arrive at post-fight news conferences.

It’s anybody’s guess as to who will celebrate at the newser. Canelo-Crawford is hard to pick for reasons that have been analyzed and over-analyzed over the last few weeks. Betting odds suggest the super-middleweight fight is a close call, which helps explain some of the interest. Those odds suggest the post-fight newser could be controversial, too.

Inoue-Akhmadaliev is not expected to be as close, although the Uzbek’s punching power is reason not to rule out an upset. Still, the odds are one-sided. Inoue is about an 11-1 favorite, which simply means his unbeaten run continues. Also, Inoue is the only fighter the public really knows.

Most people, including media, are still learning how to spell Akhmadaliev.

But people know Canelo, maybe Mexico’s best fighter ever and still the game’s only pay-per-view star. They know Crawford, still unbeaten and bidding to be an undisputed champion at three weights.

Both have been at the top of the pound-for-pound debate for years. Canelo-Crawford is full of reasons to stop and watch. Guess here, Inoue and Akhmadaliev will too in the hours before they face each other.

What they’ll witness, however, is anybody’s guess. Still, the result might be the source of some motivation, especially for Inoue. The dynamic little guy, Japan’s Rising Son and a giant name in a sports universe dominated by Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, is already arguing that he’s the world best fighter, No. 1 in the pound-for-pound debate.

Above all, Inoue needs to beat Akhmadaliev to keep himself in the argument, which for the last year has been down to three — Inoue, Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk.

A knockout of Akhmadaliev would strengthen Inoue’s claim, especially if Canelo-Crawford comes down to a debatable result on the scorecards – a split or majority decision.

Crawford by stoppage or one-sided decision would probably end the argument, putting him at No. 1 in what could be the final punctuation to a fight some speculate will be the last in his brilliant career.

Canelo, whose record includes two defeats, could resurrect his pound-for-pound claim with a big knockout. Whatever happens, Usyk, unbeaten at two weights and undisputed at heavyweight, will still be there with another date, another fight to stay relevant.

Oscar Valdez comeback scheduled for ESPN Deportes

Oscar Valdez Jr. is going home in a fight to resurrect his career in a bout against Ricky Medina Saturday that will be televised by ESPN Deportes.

Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs), a former two-division champion,  returns to Nogales, his birthplace, for his first fight since a punishing rematch loss to Emanuel Navarrete in December in Phoenix.

The card featuring Valdez-Medina is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. The fight at Domo Binacional will be Valdez’ first in Nogales, the Sonoran town on the Mexican-Arizona border.

“The main goal for me right now is to become a world champion again,” Valdez, a two-time Mexican Olympian, said. “I want to return to Nogales as a world champion, and I want to be your champion.

“But in order to do that, I have to get through this fight. I’m taking this fight very seriously. I respect Ricky Medina a lot. I have seen him fight. He is strong and young, and he has the same dream that I have. All boxers want to become a world champion, and that’s why we are all here.”

The 34-year-old Valdez, popular in Mexico and Arizona, held world belts at featherweight and junior-lightweight. He was beaten twice by Navarrete and once by Shakur Stevenson.

His most noteworthy victory was a stunning stoppage of Miguel Berchelt. Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) is a 24-year-old junior-lightweight from San Antonio.

By Norm Frauenheim

Pressure is for tires, Hall of Fame pundit Charles Barkley once said famously.

A couple of weeks before opening bell, however, there’s more than just hot air evident in the anticipation building for the Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford fight Sept. 13 in front of an expected football-sized crowd at Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium.

Alongside big money, lots of legacy is at stake for fighters already wealthy, yet still pursuing proof of what they’ve done and who they’ve become.

Legacy, of course, is overused enough to be meaningless these days. Just about everybody has one. But the size and significance of Canelo-Crawford puts a spotlight on careers that will meet in a collision that promises to provide a real answer.

Who’s the best of their generation? That’s the simple question. Crawford is 37; Canelo is 35. They come from different weight classes, are from different places, are motivated by different opinions and answer to different fan bases.

Over the years, however, they have emerged as rivals despite that difference in weight, which ironically might be what determines the answer.

But the weight was close enough to be negotiable. Only the date, place and purse remained. Where better than in a four-sided ring where two fighters will seek to be the definitive best of an era they defined? It doesn’t happen that often.

Forget those historical parallels, which have often turned boxing into little more than an exasperating video game.

To wit: How would Oleksandr Usyk, the best heavyweight of this era, have done against Muhammad Ali? Okay, it’s a fun argument, but still mere fantasy. There’s no answer. Never will be. But one is possible in Canelo-Crawford. It’s what makes Canelo-Crawford special. It’s not virtual reality. It’s blood-and-guts real, rare in this day and perhaps in any other.

That’s where the pressure starts. It’ll be there, building throughout next week, fight week, weigh-in, opening bell and post-fight conversation.

For now, it also explains all of the talk preceding the bout between Crawford, an all-time great at welterweight who is coming up from junior-middleweight and jumping two divisions to fight Canelo, the greatest super-middleweight in history.

The biggest risk — in the ring, at least — appears to be in Crawford’s corner, simply because he’s never taken, much less endured, a punch in a sanctioned bout from a true 168-pound fighter.

How will Crawford react when Canelo lands the power that is his trademark? There’s no answer until it lands. That uncertainty sums up the odds. Since the fight was announced, they’ve never changed. Canelo was a slight favorite then. He’s a slight favorite now.

It’s a reflection of an old, reliable guide in a game that has seen it all. To wit: In a fight between two good fighters, always bet on the bigger one.

The documented difference in weight might force Crawford to take a chance. If he hopes to win, he’ll have to step into Canelo’s dangerous wheelhouse at some point. By any definition, that’s a huge risk.

Yet, Crawford might be the personification of what, who Barkley was talking about with his dismissive take on pressure.

Crawford has been known for his cool, calculating demeanor throughout his reign as a four-division champion, including undisputed at 140 pounds (junior-welterweight) and 147 (welter). Ringside commentators like to say Crawford has the It factor. It is in his composure. It is overall poise

In Boxing Speak, Crawford is also known for another intangible called Ring IQ. There’s no exam to measure that, other than his unbeaten record. Let’s just say he knows what he’s doing with a versatile, two-handed style that includes unerring anticipation and a keen predatory instinct. If there’s a weakness, he’ll find it.

And attack it.

If there’s a weakness in Canelo, it appears to be his endurance, especially in the later rounds against fighters known for agile footwork. Crawford’s middleaged feet don’t move at the rate they did a decade ago.

But Canelo’s scorecard loss in May 2022 to light-heavyweight Dmitrii Bivol – perhaps mandatory viewing in Crawford’s video library – showed what’s possible in the late rounds. Canelo gets tired.

If that fatigue factor persists, there’s an opportunity for Crawford if he can withstand – survive – Canelo’s power through the first six to eight rounds. That’s an IF, as big as it is decisive.

Bivol threw punches at varying angles as he moved in-and-out of harm’s way in the late rounds of a decision over Canelo. Canelo was slow to react, slower to recognize, the angles on Bivol’s punches.

Angles are one of Crawford’s unequalled specialties, an aspect augmented by his ability to switch hit. The ambi-dextrous Crawford can fight left-handed, right-handed and makes the switch from one to the other and back in quicksilver fashion.

A tired Canelo might not see what’s coming. But Crawford, who will have to prove he can endure early power shots to the body and upper arms, might have to battle through some early rocky moments just to take the fight into that late stage when Canelo has proven to be vulnerable.

Pick here: Crawford will, getting up from an early knockdown to win a narrow decision.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Lightweight prospect and co-promoter Lorenzo Powell remained unbeaten in the blink of an eye, stopping Mexican import Javier Rojas Campos to cap a seven-bout event at the Oakland Marriott City Center on Saturday night. 

Powell (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sacramento, California moved quickly, forcing Campos (3-5, 1 KO) of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico down to his knees with an unrelenting flurry, highlighted by a left to the body and finished with the right hand. Rojas Campos, 135.4, grimaced in pain and made no signs of getting up as Powell, 136.8, moved to a neutral corner and waited for referee Edward Collantes’ count to reach ten. 

The official time of the stoppage was 1:30 of the opening round. Powell, part of the promotional team at G1 Promotions, co-promoters of tonight’s event alongside Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions, is tentatively slated to return to the ring this November. 

Light heavyweight prospect Kumar Prescod (3-0-1, 3 KOs) of Antioch, California looked to be on his way to a fourth professional victory over Michael Nelson (4-2-1, 2 KOs) of College Park, Georgia before an unfortunate accidental headbutt forced an early end to the contest after two completed rounds. 

After getting warmed up, Prescod, 176.1, stunned Nelson, 173, late in the first, forcing the Georgia native to hold on as the round came to a close. The bout took a turn in the following round as an accidental headbutt opened a cut above Nelson’s right eye, which did not aid his ability to see Prescod’s power left hand. After a dominant round for Prescod, referee Michael Margado called for a time-out prior to the start of the third. After taking a quick look at Nelson, ringside physician Kevin Mitchell advised referee Margado to end the contest, resulting in a technical draw. 

In a pairing of veteran middleweights, Aaron Coley (17-5-1, 7 KOs) of Oakland ended a nearly three-year layoff with a shutout six-round unanimous decision over a game Moris Rodriguez (8-18-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento. 

Coley, 160.8, caught Rodriguez, 161.9, leaning in with a right to the body, then followed it upstairs in the third. Late in the round, Coley caught Rodriguez clean with a sweeping right to the head and pressured the Sacramento resident into a neutral corner. The veteran Rodriguez weathered the storm and the bell to end the round soon followed. 

Much of the fourth was fought at a measured pace, but Coley finished the round strong as he forced Rodriguez back into the blue corner with a clean left just before the end of the round. The pace picked up in the fifth, as Coley let his hands go and Rodriguez did his best to respond. 

Early in the sixth, Coley caught Rodriguez with a strong left after catching a punch on the gloves. Rodriguez shook his head to show the blow did not shake him and, after touching the canvas on a slip, kept coming until the final bell. 

Judges Melissa McMorrow, Kermit Bayless and Joel Farbstein all scored the bout 60-54 for Coley. 

In a thrilling offensive showing, Tony Hirsch Jr. (6-0-2, 4 KOs) of Oakland impressively halted veteran former regional title holder David Reyes (25-14-2, 13 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico inside of two rounds. 

Hirsch, 134.5, was in constant motion from the opening bell, overwhelming Reyes, 133.7, in moments. Early in the second, Hirsch wobbled and then dropped Reyes with the follow-up right hand. With Reyes taking unanswered combinations, referee Michael Margado leaped-in to call a halt to the contest at 1:39 of the second. 

Pleasing his vocal crowd in attendance, Alberto Velasco (2-0, 1 KO) of Stockton, California made short work of an unrefined Antonio Ferrel (0-1) of Santa Rosa, California. 

Velasco, 131.7, landed with both hands from the outset as Ferrel, 128.7, struggled to defend or maintain his footing. After landing clean with both hands along the ropes, Velasco forced Ferrel into the blue corner and kept punching. Despite losing some of the steam on his punches towards the end of the continued onslaught, Velasco forced the hand of referee Edward Collantes, who called a halt to the bout at 1:46 of the first round. 

In a rematch of a bout in May, Alton Wiggins (3-1-1) of Ceres, California repeated the feat, this time via four-round split decision, over a tough and determined Michael Portales (3-5-1, 1 KO) of San Jose, California. 

The taller southpaw Wiggins, 154.6, engaged in more of a close range fight after positioning himself as more of a boxer-mover in their first engagement. With four full rounds already in their memory bank, neither fighter felt the need to feel out the other.

Wiggins had his best round in the second, rocking Portales, 155.6, with his right. Portales began to find a home for his overhand right, but Wiggins closed the round strong, forcing the San Jose native into a neutral corner as the round came to a close. Portales clearly won the fourth, repeatedly snapping Wiggins’ head back with his right. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 39-37 for Portales, but was overruled by judges Kermit Bayless and Joel Farbstein, who had it 39-37 the other way. Wiggins, who claimed victory by unanimous decision in their first go-around, admitted to the crowd on hand that the second fight was tougher. 

In the opener, Shawn McCollum (1-0-1) of Hayward, California edged out Ricky Esquibel (1-4, 1 KO) of Albuquerque, New Mexico via four-round unanimous decision. 

The action was frantic in spots, especially on the inside. McCollum, 140.8, backed up Esquibel, 136.9, with his jab early in the fight, but did not utilize it enough to make his night a little easier. Esquibel switched to southpaw at times and landed a left that forced McCollum to hold for a moment in the second. McCollum backed up with his hands down in the third, allowing Esquibel to double up without worrying about a return. Things heated up in the fourth. Esquibel landed first in an exchange of stiff right hands, but McCollum’s seemed to land with more authority. “The Irish Bad Boy” followed up and backed Esquibel up with a combination that likely gave him the round. 

All three judges; Melissa McMorrow, Kermit Bayless and Joel Farbstein, scored the bout 39-37 for McCollum, who thanked his coaches for believing in him as he earned his first professional victory. 

Photos by Michelle Morgan

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

By Norm Frauenheim

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’ rocket-like rise in the pound-for-pound debate and overall name recognition comes with a lot of risk, including the inevitable temptation to look too far ahead.

Actually, it’s not even a temptation anymore. It happened in Rodriguez’ last fight. Saudi Prince and Promoter Turki Alalshikh signed and announced his next fight before he had even answered the opening bell before his last one.

News of Rodriguez’ title unification date against dangerous Argentine Fernando Martinez Nov. 2 in Riyadh was all over social media in July long before Rodriguez took care of business, scoring a 10^th-round stoppage of South African Phumelela Cafu in Frisco, TX. Bam, he’s reliable, too.

But here’s the caveat: History is littered with examples of young fighters thinking more about what’s next instead of looking out for the incoming power punch thrown in the here-and-now. It’s a trap. Yet, it’s one that Rodriguez, mature beyond his 25 years, understands with a quiet, almost unnerving poise. The future is a feint. Rodriguez, already among the top five in several pound-for-pound rankings, hasn’t been fooled by it.

Yet, it’s here, all over again, this time in news that Junto Nakatani is expected to vacate his bantamweight titles, the 118-pound International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council belts. Boxing Scene reports that Nakatani will announce his move up to junior-featherweight in a recording for WOWOW’s Excite Match SP series early next week.

The move opens the door for Rodriguez, already a champion at flyweight and super-fly, to win a third division title. First, however, he has to add a third piece of the super-fly title against Martinez to the growing collection of hardware draped across his shoulders. By all accounts, he’s a huge favorite, minus-1000, according to Fan Duel.

The expectation – and Bam has fulfilled them all so far – suggests that that he would move up, perhaps pursue one of the two belts vacated by Nakatani or one of the two held by the other two champions. Antonio Vargas is the World Boxing Association’s version and Yoshiki Takei the World Boxing Organization’s.

Nakatani’s expected decision to move up the scale isn’t a surprise. The top-10 pound-for-pound fighter had been calling out Bam before a stoppage of Ryosuke Nishida June 8 in Tokyo. Then, however, there was silence about Bam from the Japanese fighter who trains in Southern California.

There had been various reports that Bam and Nakatani had agreed to fight. But the reported possibility was quashed by Akihiko Honda, the powerful “Mister Honda” of Teiken Promotions.

The long-range plan has always been an all-Japanese showdown between Nakatani and super-star Naoya Inoue, ranked alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford among the top three in the current pound-for-pound debate. Inoue faces a challenging date in Murodjon Akhmadaliev for Inoue’s undisputed 122-pound belt Sept. 14 in Tokyo.

Then, there are reported plans for Inoue to keep sharp in a stay-busy fight against Mexican Alan David Picasso in December before a long-anticipated showdown against Nakatani next year.

According to sources in Japanese media, Mister Honda didn’t want a Nakatani-Bam fight to get in the way – perhaps risk – Inoue-Nakatani, a fight projected to break revenue records in Japan. It makes sense.

The timing of Nakatani’s move up would allow him a fight or perhaps two to get familiar with the new weight.

Meanwhile, it would allow Rodriguez to further his own reputation and perhaps move ever closer to his own shot at Inoue in a bout that is climbing up the list of “dream fights” as quickly as Bam is moving up the pound-for-pound ratings.

Oscar Valdez going home

Former two-division champion Oscar Valdez Jr. (32-3, 24 KOs) is going back to where it all started. Top Rank announced he’ll face Ricky Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) Sept. 6 in his hometown, Nogales, on the Mexican side of the border it shares with Arizona.

It’ll be the first time Valdez, an ex-champ at featherweight and junior-lightweight, will fight as a pro in the Sonoran city where he was born.

Valdez is fighting for the first time since a punishing loss to Emanuel Navarrete in a rematch last December in Phoenix. Before and after the loss, there was talk that Valdez would retire. But former Mexican Olympian, known for his no-quit mentality, has decided to fight on.

“Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”

By Norm Frauenheim

Netflix and Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium are sure signs that Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford is transforming itself into an event, bigger than just boxing.

Netflix’s subscriber base, 301 million and counting, alongside the NFL brand attached to the Raiders’ home field is a powerful marketing combo, a chance perhaps to bring back some of that so-called cross-over crowd that continued to exit the boxing audience with ESPN’s final card last week.

With the Sept. 13 opening bell still six weeks away, anticipation for Crawford-Canelo has already been building for weeks. Unlike the sad spectacle of watching Jake Paul against aging Mike Tyson in Netflix’s last bit of boxing theater inside the Dallas Cowboys home in November, Crawford-Canelo is genuine.

At least, it can be.

That, of course, is the mandatory caveat, always there, attached to a sport as risky as it is resilient. Buyer beware. Nevertheless, Canelo and Crawford represent a rare opportunity to unify fans, hard core and casual.

It doesn’t happen often enough in any era, even a good one. But here we are, Crawford and Canelo, two of the best fighters from the same generation from different weight classes meeting in a fight that could determine the best of a passing era.

Some promoter somewhere will no doubt dust off the cliched label and call this one another fight to save boxing. It’s not, of course. Boxing has always been beyond saving, anyway. Still, this one has a chance to be a keeper

For Crawford, it’s a chance to prove he was as good a welterweight as any in any era, including the one defined by Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.

For Canelo, it’s a chance to deliver the proof to what he’s been saying all along. History’s only undisputed super-middleweight champion has long argued he’s the best. Period. A definitive victory over Crawford would be the proof and perhaps the piece that would allow him to say he’s the best in Mexican history, better than even the iconic Julio Cesar Chavez.

The stakes, like the purses, are enormous, heightened by the fighters’ ages. Crawford is 37. Fifteen days after the fight, he’ll be 38. Canelo celebrated a birthday on July 18. He’s 35. Both are leaving their primes. This is a chance for each to recapture the best of what made them great.

By now, their respective advantages and disadvantages have been analyzed to the point of redundancy. On the scale, the bigger, heavy-legged Canelo has all the advantages. He also more to lose.

Crawford, who is moving up two weight classes after winning at junior-middle more than a year ago, is quicker with a quicksilver ability to switch from right to left and back. Yet, he’s at a bigger risk of getting knocked out, a danger and perhaps a final punctuation to a Hall of Fame reign that could leave some doubts about his pursuit of a genuine legacy.

All and more are the backdrop to expectations that might be difficult – perhaps impossible – to fulfill. But that’s why Netflix will be there in a 65,000-seat stadium. It’s not exactly winner-take-all, but it has that kind of feel to it. Appropriately, it’s also a fight that could go a couple of ways.

The best and worst examples in modern history:

·    Manny Pacquiao’s star-making stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

·    Errol Spence Jr.’s unanimous decision over Mikey Garcia March 16, 2019 at the Cowboy’s A&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Both were fights between the best in different weight classes. In each, the lighter fighter was jumping two divisions — Pacquiao from lightweight to welterweight to face De La Hoya, who dropped down from 154 pounds to 147 and Garcia from lightweight to welter against Spence.

Pacquiao-De La Hoya was the keeper. It ended with De La Hoya, beaten and finished on the stool at the start of the ninth. De La Hoya, a six-division champion, retired and Pacquiao, an eight-division champion went on to stardom still evident. At 46-years-old, he still filled the MGM Grand with fans chanting Manny in a controversial majority draw with Mario Barrios last month.

Spence-Garcia was the dud. Garcia was known for his footwork and versatile skillset. But his brother, trainer Robert Garcia, warned him about moving up two weights against the then-emerging Spence, who seven months later was badly hurt in a scary auto accident. Garcia should have listened to his brother. Spence dominated in every conceivable way, winning on scorecards – 120-108, 120-107, 120-108 — that reflected a bout best forgotten.

Keeper or dud? The only sure thing about Canelo-Crawford is that it’ll be an event. Boxing could use one. Could use a keeper, too.

NOTES

It was evident that Oscar Valdez Jr. (323, 24 KOs) had decided to fight on when it was disclosed last month that he was leaving trainer Eddy Reynoso and re-joining Manny Robles, his first pro trainer.

His first step back into the ring after a punishing rematch loss to Emanuel Navarrete in Phoenix in December is planned for Sept. 6, according to Boxing Scene.

However, no opponent or site has been reported. The expectation is that Valdez, 34, will make his comeback in Mexico. The two-time Mexican Olympian lives in Hermosillo. He grew up in Nogales, a border town south of Tucson, where he has family. He also went to school in Tucson, where he has always been a good draw.

By Alex Seccia

On June 6^th, 2025, Nahir “Woo” Albright (17-2 7Kos) made his grand return to boxing. Becoming a Co-Main Event feature on none other than Top Rank’s world championship card, presented on ESPN+. Nahir was scheduled to take on the former undefeated Kelvin Davis (15-1 8Kos).

         The fight was scheduled to be the Co-Main to the WBO World Lightweight championship match between Keyshawn Davis and Edwin De Los Santos. Before his layoff Nahir previously went head-to-head with Keyshawn in a 10-round contest for the WBC USA light, and WBO intercontinental title. The contest was later switched to a “No-Contest” after Keyshawn failed a drug test.

         Fast forward 2 years later, the Davis brothers set to headline a massive hometown fight card. But unfortunately for them, the formerly World ranked lightweight had his attention set on ruining their moment.

         After being out of the ring for two years, Nahir made the aggressive decision to move up in weight and accept a fight against an undefeated opponent knowing he would be a heavy underdog.

Throughout fight week Albright appeared to be battling two opponents as any time the fighters made any media appearances together, the Davis brothers made sure they were both heard. Both sides were engaged in verbal confirmation with his former opponent and new opponent. While the Davis brothers believed to have had Albright figured out, Keyshawn who previously fought him, on top of his two-year layoff. They felt Nahir had no chance.

“I showed that I’m his level”- Nahir Albright said referring to the level of Keyshawn Davis after being asked why he thinks he can win. “I’ve been in the gym, and I stayed in shape for this moment,” Nahir said when asked about how felt after being out of the ring for two years. The confidence that alluded to both fights is what made this fight a must watch.

That is, a must watch for anyone outside of Virginia, from the sound of the first bell Nahir showed zero indication of any ring rust. Having ring generalship as well as sharp and elusive counters in which later became a big problem for Kelvin Davis. The bout ended up going a complete 10/10 rounds where Albright won via Majority decision.

Following the conclusion of the bout, Nahir was met in his locker by Keyshawn Davis and his counterpart, where they slowly walked towards Nahir putting his hands on him, while clashing heads. While no fists or any heavy blows were exchanged, this was yet another unprofessional act on the former WBO World Champion, just one day after being stripped of his title for not making weight.

With the recent attack of Keyshawn, and his decision to also move up and weight. Nahir took to the media to call out Keyshawn for a part 2 clash. This time with reel beef behind it. “I want to fight him, and it can be anywhere. Matter of fact I want to fight him in Virginia”-Nahir Albright. When asked if Keyshawn should face him on his own turf. “I want to do it in front of his people”- was Nahir’s response when asked why he chose Virginia.

Both fighters look to make their move up to a new division, with Keyshawn recently being stripped of his title and now facing to climb back up to a championship slot, who else to square off in the ring, then a former opponent that beat your brother, in which you attacked. Both parties have now added incentive to really collide in what could be a stellar contest for boxing fans. A personal vendetta vs a young star’s determination to be the best, mixed with the shot at revenge. Creates a high steak, high tense heated match that will boil up to something massive in Norfolk, Virginia. Prompting boxing fans all over to get a ruthless clash of two young warriors. When asked when he would want the fight to happen. “I’m ready now,” Nahir answered.

JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA – Unbeaten Noli Valenzuela fights outside of his native Mexico for the first time to meet streaking local prospect Irving Xilohua in the intriguing eight-round featherweight main event of the Toscano Boxing Promotions’ “Rising Stars” event from the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort on Thursday night. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in at the host venue on Wednesday afternoon. 

Valenzuela (12-0, 6 KOs) of Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico was last in the ring in April, scoring a fourth-round knockout of once-beaten Alan Zaid Rodriguez Montiel in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The win marked the third straight stoppage victory for the southpaw Valenzuela. 

Xilohua (9-1, 6 KOs) of Stockton, California has won four straight, including three stoppages, since his lone professional setback, a six-round majority decision defeat to tough journeyman Diuhl Olguin. In his last outing in May, Xilohua stopped Enrique Uvalle inside of two rounds at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium. Xilohua will be stepping up to the eight-round distance for the first time as a professional, while Valenzuela has been scheduled for eight or more on five previous occasions and went the distance in two of those instances. 

There was a bit of drama at the official weigh-in on Wednesday afternoon. Xilohua stepped on the scale first, with the bout contracted at 126-pounds, and made 125.4-pounds. Valenzuela, who was one of the last fighters to arrive for the official weigh-in, came in one pound over at 127-pounds. After a bit of shouting between camps, Valenzuela left to attempt to sweat off the last pound. On his last attempt, Valenzuela came in at 126.6-pounds and an agreement was reached to keep the main event intact. 

Juan Zamorano (6-1, 6 KOs) of Rosamorada, Nayarit, Mexico will end a nearly two-year layoff against the rugged Marco Antonio Delgado (7-6-1, 5 KOs) of Turlock, California in a six-round light heavyweight bout. Zamorano, looking to get back on track after suffering his lone pro defeat in his last bout, weighed-in at 172-pounds. Delgado, whose previous five opponents had a combined record of 44-4, weighed-in at the light heavyweight limit of 175.

Lightweight prospect Nicholas Saavedra (3-0, 1 KO) of Modesto, California will move up to the six-round distance when he takes on Juan Guillermo Montero (4-2-1, 3 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on Thursday night. Saavedra, fresh off of a third-round stoppage of Richard Esquibel on May 24th, weighed-in at 133.4-pounds, while Montero weighed-in just under the junior welterweight limit at 139-pounds. 

After posting two consecutive MMA victories since his pro boxing debut last year, Pedro Juarez (1-0) of Tracy, California will return to the ring to take on Harley Sampson (1-0, 1 KO) of Reno, Nevada in a four-round lightweight bout. For the bout that Toscano Boxing Promotions’ Israel Guajardo predicted will be the fight of the night, Juarez and Sampson both made the lightweight limit of 135-pounds. 

Making his U.S. debut, 19-year-old Damian Flores (2-0-1, 2 KOs) of Ceres, California will meet debuting Adrian Mendoza of Carson City, Nevada in a four-round super flyweight bout. The 5’8” Flores scaled 115.2, while the 5’4” Mendoza came in at 112.6-pounds. 

In the opener, Benigno Gaona Diaz (1-1, 1 KO) of Galt, California by way of Pabellon de Arteaga, Aguascalientes, Mexico will look to bounce back from a decision defeat in January against Lai Thang (1-3) of Dallas, Texas in a four-round featherweight bout. Gaona Diaz came in at 123.6-pounds, while Thang weighed-in at the division limit of 126. 

The “Rising Stars” event will be available for live stream on the Toscano Boxing Promotions’ YouTube page.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Featherweights, 8 Rounds 

Valenzuela 126.6*

Xilohua 125.4

Light heavyweights, 6 Rounds

Zamorano 172

Delgado 175

Lightweights, 6 Rounds

Saavedra 133.4

Montero 139

Lightweights, 4 Rounds

Juarez 135

Sampson 135

Super flyweights, 4 Rounds 

Flores 115.2

Mendoza 112.6 

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Gaona Diaz 123.6

Thang 126

*Valenzuela originally weighed-in 1 pound over the contracted limit of 126 on first attempt

Tickets for the event, promoted by Toscano Boxing Promotions, are available online at Ticketon.com 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

NEW YORK--Katie Taylor retained the Undisputed Super Lightweight title with her third consecutive razor thin, this time majority over Amanda Serrano in front of a sold out crowd of over 19,700 at Madison Square Garden.

The fight lacked the action of the first two classic bouts between the two. This was more of a thinking boxing match that saw Serrano try tp press the action and Taylor going back to her stellar amateur roots by moving side to side to create angles and darting in and out. Serrano thew more, but The fighters landed the same amount.

In round eight, Taylor started to swell under her right eye.

Taylor, 135.8 lbs of Bray, IRE won by scores of 97-93 twice and 95-95 and is now 25-1. Serrano, 136 lbs of Carolina, PR is 47-4-1.

Katie Taylor

On Amanda Serrano

I’m just so grateful for Amanda Serrano. What an amazing champion. And we created history together three times. My name will always be embedded with hers forever. I’m very very happy about that. What we’ve been able to create over these last few years has been unbelievable. It’s amazing to have a rival like that in the sport. And this has brought [the world to] an event like this tonight, an all-female card, because of what myself and Amanda have been able to do to produce over the last few years. Both myself and Amanda are just sitting back very very proud right now.

The whole game plan tonight was to not let her feet set. I knew I was capable of a performance like that in the other two fights as well, but I just got caught up in a bit of a war [in our first] two fights. I’m so happy that I was able to stay disciplined tonight and just outbox her. 

On headlining an all female card:

“Absolutely unbelievable to be part of a show like this and to be headlining an all female card. It was an absolute privilege. These are the sort of opportunities that people didn’t think were even possible a few years ago.”

On her performance

“I thought I showed a very smart performance, a very clever performance. This performance I knew I was capable of against Amanda. The two fights previously ended up as complete wars and I came out of the ring battered and bruised and I’m thinking, what? Why am I just standing there fighting with our newest cable and moving my legs like that? I’m just outboxing her and I’m just happy I was able to produce that tonight and execute the game plan that Ross has been telling me to do all along. So yeah, I’m very very satisfied right now.”

“I think just my movement was causing her a bit of trouble. My footwork was causing her trouble and she wasn’t able to set her feet. I’m not sure what was going through her mind. But I think I just made the fight a bit easier for myself. […] I used the ring a lot better tonight. My feet were very good tonight. I felt fresh in there. I felt sharp in there. I [could see] that the punch was coming. So yeah, I definitely felt like it was my kind of fight.”

On retirement: 

“I don’t know. I’m just going to enjoy this victory right now and um sit back, reflect, and then I’ll make a decision and that’s it. But very very happy with tonight’s performance and just the amount of work that we put in over the last few months, myself and Ross. It was uh a grueling few months in preparation for these kind of fights and I’m so glad I was able to showcase what I could do tonight.”

On future Croke Park match:

“Maybe in Croke Park. That would be unbelievable.”

On the support from fans:

“These people are spending their hard earned money to go over and support me. It just means the world honestly. I can’t believe that this is my life. I’m headlining the show at Madison Square Garden. I’m looking back on the whole journey. What an absolute what an amazing life. These are nights that I dreamed of as a kid and sitting here again as a winner. I’m so happy, so grateful.”

On if a trilogy with Chantelle Cameron is possible

I think Chantelle has to see if she can sell out 10,000 seat arena first. I don’t think she can sell out any stadium at all. I think I made her more money than she really deserves. 

Baumgardner Decisions Miranda; Remains Undisputed

Alycia Baumgardner retained her undisputed super featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Jennifer Miranda.

Baumgardner, 130 lbs of Dallas via Fremont, OH won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93 and is now 16-1. Miranda. 129.8 lbs of Madrid, SPA is 12-1.

Alycia Baumgardner

On being co-main to Taylor-Serrano 3

“I first want to say I am so thankful to be here as a part of a historic event. I’m so thankful that MVP has taken the time and given the women the opportunity to showcase their skills and just be under the lights tonight was an awesome experience.”

On getting back in the ring 

“Yeah, I was happy to be back in there. You guys have to understand it’s been two years since I’ve done a 10 round fight. So, just to be back in there to get those rounds meant everything to me. So, I was just enjoying every round that I could when I was in there.”

On if she’d challenge Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor

“I definitely would love the challenge with either fighter.” 

On what drove her successful undisputed title defense

“It was the grit. It was the bite down. [My trainer] said, you know, go forward. I knew that I couldn’t get my jab off the way I typically do to find that range and so we just kept the fight to go forward and just, you know, dig deep.”

On the main event Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano

“I thought the main event was perfect. A lot of fans were probably expecting a fight like the second fight, but these are two smart fighters. You know, they know how to box. They know how to use the ring. They have experience and I think they made the fight very clear on who the winner was. And again, they box smart. You guys have to understand, I know y’all like a blood bath, but you know, we got brains at the end of the day that we got to take care of. So, they did a great job in there boxing and showing the skill set that women do have.

On Jennifer Miranda

She had a smarter game plan in terms of what to engage in and what not to engage in. You know what I mean? So, you know, she definitely kept her distance on not wanting to come in. And just like anything, you make adjustments as you go. We have an idea on what somebody’s going to fight like, but we also make the adjustments each round. And so that’s what I was doing [My corner] was saying, you know, boxing, pressing, and making it ugly.

On working with Derrick James

Yeah, it’s been a great experience. When you start with a new trainer, you have to get a feel of everything. You have to understand how that’s going to feel in the fight. It’s one thing to be in training camp. It’s another thing to be in a fight. And I liked what I had in the corner this time. At the end of the day, it is up to Alycia Baumgardner to do what she has to do. I can have you in my corner, but it is up to me to to decide what I got to do. So, at this stage in my life, I need a team that’s going to encourage me in there and let me know what I need to do. But ultimately, it’s up to me. So, I enjoyed my corner tonight.

On what’s next for her

“Listen, the sky is the limit, y’all. I’m so excited to be with MVP and I know they have something exciting for me coming up and for the future. So many options to move up to 135, make these big super fights. These are the challenges that I need. I want to fight, and I want to fight an experienced fighter who’s going to bring just as much challenge as I am. That’s what’s going to make me great and that’s what’s going to make me be set apart from the rest of the women in boxing. 

“My inspiration just comes from the growth that I want for myself as a woman, as an athlete and what I’m able to possess in the ring. You know, I’ve been boxing for 23 years and I’m still growing. I don’t even think I’ve hit my prime yet. So, there’s just so much more to tap into and I have a great team who’s allowing that to come out.” 

On the evolution of women’s boxing and what’s next for the sport

“The next evolution is just women knowing who they are each and every day. I think we’ve seen through the fight week  with the looks and being a beauty, being a beast, being in our femininity, but also being the warriors that we are when it comes to fight night. So, it’s just like showing two

different sides, but also knowing that we have a job to do and to clock in.

Green Decisions Marshall; Unifies Super Middleweight Titles

Shadasia Green unified her WBO and won the IBF Super Middleweight World Title with a split decision over Savannah Marshall.

In round four, Green was deducted a point for holding.

Green, 167.2 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 96-93 and 95-94 while Marshall took a card 96-93.

Green is now 16-1. Marshall, 167 lbs of Hartepol, UK is 13-2.

Shadasia Green

On what Savannah Marshall told her post-fight–and if Marshall thinks Green can beat Claressa Shields

“Savannah told me something today. I don’t know if I should share it, but she said she said to me today—which I didn’t even realize that she might have had noticed—-but she said “You need to have more belief in yourself. I’ve never been in the ring with somebody like you, that hits as hard as you do.” She said, “I’ve been in the ring with [Claressa Shields] and you could take her out.” And I’m like damn, you know hearing that from Savannah? And Savannah can punch too. I’m not sitting up here saying making it seem like that wasn’t a tough fight. So I would love to fight Clarissa Shields and when the time comes and it’s big, let’s do it.”

On receiving the $250k Performance of the Night bonus, and if she’ll buy anything

“I don’t live like that. […] I’m going to relocate my wife and my family to a better neighborhood so we can be safe before I get kidnapped. Maybe take my nieces and nephews to the water park, do something for my mom and pop. I got you, coach. I hear y’all. I see y’all looking.”

On training to face Savannah Marshall

“I’m just blessed and honored, man. Going into tonight, I meant everything I said this week, you know, and camp’s really been different, these last couple of camps dealing with my coaches being sick, in and out, and we showed up together as a unit today and we displayed greatness.” 

On facing Savannah Marshall

“Shout out to Savannah Marshall. She was a tough cookie, man. She caught me with a good shot, too. Buckled my left leg. I ain’t never been hit like that before, but I’m just honored to be here today and be victorious. Thanks to the man upstairs, and thanks to these two fellas [Nakisa and Jake] for making this happen, Katie and Amanda, for real.”

On coming back from Franchon Crews-Dezurn loss to come out victorious tonight

“I had to go back to the drawing board and get my mental together. This game is definitely 90, 95% mental. If your mental ain’t intact, then you know… […] So that’s what I did. I went back to the drawing board, got myself together, reunited with my coaches and just tried to show up and be a better person. And self-belief. It’s funny. I was watching Jake fight Chavez Jr. last week and he said it in the ring and I shook my head. I was sitting in front of the TV and he just kept saying ‘self-belief, self-belief, self-belief.’ I think that’s what’s been missing from my career for a long time. Sometimes I’m hard on myself and I don’t always believe, but today I believe, and I’ve been believing all camp. I kept saying I’mma beat this girl. I kept saying that.”

On facing Claressa Shields 

“I would love to fight Clarissa Shields. Of course, I want to go and rest or whatever, but I think that’s the fight to be made.” 

On playing up or down to her competition:

“I just think it’s a lot of my ability you guys haven’t been able to see. I’ve always had this thing about me. Even when I play basketball, I always either play down to my competition or played up. It’s been a bad habit all my life. My mother has told me this my whole life. So, when you throw some names out there like I know I’ve got to be on my A game, and I find myself not slacking and my coaches don’t let me slack either. The best competition is always going to bring the best out of me.”

On what she learned from herself tonight

“I learned that that dog is still in me no matter what. I’m up for every challenge. I got that mean streak back—I thought I lost it. […] The mean streak is still alive and I’m glad to know that.”

Scotney Decisions Mercado to Become Unified Super Bantamweight Title

Ellie Scotney became the IBF/WBC/WBO super bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Yamileth Mercado.

Scotmey, 121.6 lbs of London won by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 twice and is now 11-0. Mercado, 119.6 lbs of Mexico is 24-4.

Ellie Scotney

On adding the WBC title to her unified collection

“My nan—I always mention her because she was my biggest fan—and we always said ‘complete the collection’. So, I’m one step away from Undisputed and that’s what I want next.” 

On being on Netflix and getting her name in front of the world

“Thanks to Netflix and MVP, they gave me a platform where I can really announce myself and I felt like I did that tonight. This is such a big journey with them and I feel like this is just the start.”

On 3-min rounds for women’s boxing

“’I’m 11-0 and I ain’t got a stoppage. I think I’d get a stoppage over 3 minutes and my brother would be a lot richer. He’s lost a fortune betting on it. So, yeah, if we had three minutes I’d get a stoppage. That’s my excuse.”

On preparing for facing Yamileth Mercado

“I’ll be honest with you, it’s been a hard camp. So, I felt like this camp showed me more who I am than anything else. I went in that ring and I felt like I [had been holding] a lot in, and it was let out tonight. So, it just showed me that I’m number one in the division. I believed that before, but I feel like this has cemented it—and it’s just the start.” 

On when she’ll be back 

“Definitely by the end of the year. I want to enjoy my Christmas this year.”

On losing friend Georgia O’Connor and having Georgia’s dad join her during her walk out 

“Georgia was a a soul of the earth. Like if you ever met her or even if you heard her story, you’d realize what she was. And you know, we made a promise just before she passed. It was a blessing to see her get married. And you know, she battled cancer like it was nothing. I just felt like having her dad with me tonight was something that will live forever. I felt her there [in the ring with me]. So yeah, tonight was so much bigger than me. It was all for her. And I just yeah I felt like she was watching over me and that would be the biggest takeaway from tonight.”

Cherneka Johnson Stops Metcalf in 9 To Win Undisputed Bantamweight Title

Cherneka Johnson won the undisputed bantamweight stoppage with a ninth round stoppage over Shuretta Metcalf.

In round four, Johnson scored a knockdown when she landed a right hand and both fighters fell to the canvas.

Jonson continued to beat down Metcalf and the fight was stopped by referee Charlie Fitch on the advice of the ringside doctor at two seconds.

Johnson, 116.6 lbs of Gold Coast, AUS is 18-2 with eight knockouts. Metcalf, 117 lbs of Dallas is 14-5-1.

Cherneka Johnson

On being part of history on Taylor vs. Serrano 3

“When I was out there and Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano were walking out, that stadium was absolutely electric. I had goosebumps and it was like ‘wow this is truly happening.’ To see that moment and to experience that feeling? It’s special.

“It’s absolutely awesome what everyone is doing. Everyone has their own, I guess, agendas and they obviously want to win the fights. But we all put in the hard work to get here and it’s not easy, but we show up anyway and we get the job done.”

On becoming the first Australian undisputed champion, male or female, in the 4 belt era

“It hasn’t hit me yet, I don’t think. It still sort of feels surreal to even be here and to be in this position.”

Cameron Retains Interim Title with Decision over Camara

Chantelle Cameron retained the WBC Super Lightweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jessica Camara.

Cameron, 139 lbs of Nothhampton, ENG won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 21-1. Camara., 139.4 lbs of Montreal is 14-5-1.

Ramla Ali won a eight-round unanimous over Lila Furtado in a super bantamweight bout.

In round eight, Ali began to bleed around the right eye,

Ali of London won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 10-2. Furtado of Sao Paulo, BRA is 11-3.

Ramla Ali

On the future of women’s boxing

“I think the future of women’s boxing is only growing. Look at the outcome tonight. Look how many people showed out to support women’s boxing. It’s exciting to be a part of and to see the growth and you know that those numbers are definitely growing and being more active with fights.”

On which fight was most special

“You have to give credit to every woman who stepped into the ring tonight, who showed out, who put in the 10, 12 weeks of hard work, who put everything on the line. You can’t fault that. So, I think every fight uh deserves its flowers.”

On her next fight

“I’ve been out of the ring for like 13 months now and I’ve also changed coaches. I was living in LA for 3 years. My father got sick so I moved back to London. I’ve got a new coach now. And when I started training with him, he asked me, “What is it you want to do?” And I just said to him, “I just want to take one fight at a time.” Cuz a couple years ago, I was like, “This is what I want. This is what I want. This is what I want.” And it never quite worked out. So I just became a bit superstitious. And now I’m just like, I just want to take whatever fight comes and just take it one by one.”

Tamm Thibeault stopped previously undefeated Mary Casamassa in round five of their eight-round middleweight bout.

Thibeault scored a knockdown in round one,

Thibeault of Montreal got the stoppage at 2:18 and is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Casamassa of Pittsburgh is 6-1.

amm Thibeault

On what Taylor vs. Serrano 3 meant to her

“To be honest, I just feel really grateful like we were in a card stacked with women just as talented as each other. And, you know, [we] created new dreams tonight. I truly believe that what’s going to make women’s boxing grow is to get more people into it, start at the grassroots, and we’ve got to create dreams for that. We’ve got to create dreams for little girls who want to come up and be just like us, right? 

I’ve said that from such a long time ago. The only way women’s boxing grows is if other women come out and support us. And they did today. Every woman in the crowd was cheering and it was just such a phenomenal movement to be a part of.

On fighting 3 min rounds

I fought three minute rounds for like eight years. Like we talk about this in the professionals, but we don’t talk about this in Olympic style boxing. The gap between men and women has been erased essentially. There’s equal value in both. And like we’re doing all right. Olympic champion as a female, Olympic champion as a male is the same. I’m not saying three minutes or two minutes is what’s best. Look, I’m not a doctor. It’s not my expertise. I’ve done three minutes

forever for most of my amateur career. I want to keep doing it. And if people want to do it, then so be it. But that’s on them.

On which fight she liked most

I think every fight was special in itself. That’s what makes this card so historic. You can’t really choose because you have people like Shadasia who are coming up as the underdog surpass themselves and you have two legends like Katie and Amanda fighting each other for a third time and you have Neeks [Johnson] over here who just became undisputed. [Every fight was] so big in itself, and they all deserve to be honored equally.

NOTES…Metcalf became the first Australian Undisputed Champion.