Boxing fans will get their latest glimpse at the precocious talent of super featherweight Royston Barney-Smith when he makes his first appearance of the year on Friday at York Hall in London. Barney-Smith, who recently turned 20, is aiming at becoming Britain’s youngest fully recognized world champion – which would put him in some truly elite company. The bantamweight world-title ...
Saving the upcoming March 30 show featuring Tim Tszyu in the main event required a bit of scrambling — made easier by some astute planning. Tszyu was supposed to defend his junior middleweight title against Keith Thurman, who pulled out with a biceps injury with less than two weeks to go. On the same day that news broke, so did ...
Ben Davison would prefer Anthony Joshua enter a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk over a first with Tyson Fury. Under Davison’s tutelage, following impressive stoppage victories over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou – opponents Fury struggled with – Joshua has returned to contention to fight for a world heavyweight title having agreed to box the winner of this year’s two ...
Jessie James Guerrero is making every effort to continue his family legacy. Guerrero stopped Jose Rodriguez Montemayor in the second round of a junior bantamweight fight last Saturday – one of three fighters on a Stockton, California, card who are part of separate boxing families. The event headliner, Gabriel Flores Jr., is trained by his father, who also put on the show ...
Victor Conte has worn a lot of hats in the world of performance-enhancing drugs. Once labeled a menace to sports, he now seems determined to author a noble final act. Still, red flags are often raised when Conte’s name is mentioned. He is inarguably outspoken and always ready to make a headline. Conte’s latest target: Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing. ...
Shawn Porter thinks that Tim Tszyu’s original opponent, Keith Thurman, might have presented him with more problems than late replacement Sebastian Fundora – a topic that has divided fight fans. Thurman withdrew from the light middleweight clash this week because of a biceps injury, and Fundora – who was already scheduled to fight on the undercard – stepped in to ...
Chris Bourke is aiming to make up for lost time when he boxes Ash Lane for the vacant British bantamweight title on Friday. A former member of Team GB, Bourke (13-1, 8 KOs) turned over as a super bantamweight and tore through the first part of his professional career, displaying rare power for a 122-pounder and stopping his first four ...
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s request for $150 million to $200 million to fight David Benavidez has triggered a rich response from the younger unbeaten former champion. At his Tuesday news conference, Alvarez said that Benavidez brings nothing to the table except 25 extra pounds (of rehydration), and that he’ll only fight Benavidez for $150 million to $200 million. That’s quite a ...
Sampson Boxing proudly announces the signing of streaking welterweight prospect Nicklaus “La Bestia” Flaz to a promotional contract. Since suffering his second career defeat, a shock first-round knockout in October 2020, Flaz (12-2, 8 KOs), from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, has gone on a tear, scoring three impressive upset victories; knocking out an established durable veteran and taking the undefeated ...
Chris Bourke (13-1, 8KOs) and Ashley Lane (17-10-2, 2KOs) successfully weighed in ahead of Friday’s British and Commonwealth bantamweight encounter at Bethnal Green’s York Hall in London. Bourke, challenging for the second time to claim a British title following an unsuccessful title tilt at the British super-bantamweight title against Mark Leach in March 2022, weighed in at 117 lbs 4oz. ...