Boxing Wire

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Shakur Stevenson Finalizing Promotional Deal With Zuffa Boxing

    Shakur Stevenson Finalizing Promotional Deal With Zuffa Boxing

    Shakur Stevenson is finalizing a promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing following his dominant performance against Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden on January 31, a victory that captured The Ring and WBO super lightweight titles and positioned him as one of the sport’s elite fighters.

    Stevenson, 27, is 25-0 with 11 knockouts. His performance against Lopez was widely viewed as a career-defining statement, with the former Olympic silver medalist combining his exceptional defensive ability and sharp counterpunching to dismantle a fighter of genuine championship pedigree.

    The guaranteed money offered by Zuffa Boxing was reportedly a key factor in Stevenson’s decision to align with the promotion. The signing represents a significant addition to the Zuffa Boxing roster as the UFC-affiliated promotional company continues to build its stable of elite fighters in its first year of operation.

    Under the new deal, Stevenson is expected to move back down to the lightweight division at 135 pounds, returning to the weight class from which he was stripped of his WBC belt.

    Zuffa Boxing has been staging events at the Meta APEX on the UFC campus since its January launch, with cards headlined by names including Callum Walsh, but Stevenson’s arrival would represent the highest-profile signing the promotion has made to date.

  • Dana White Calls Eddie Hearn ‘Fruit Loop’ in Epic Rant

    Dana White Calls Eddie Hearn ‘Fruit Loop’ in Epic Rant

    Dana White delivered one of his more colorful responses to Eddie Hearn on Saturday night following UFC 328 in Newark, firing back at the Matchroom Boxing promoter after Hearn branded him a clout chaser and told him to find his courage over the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua situation.

    The dispute centers on White’s claim that he would be involved in promoting the Fury and Joshua fight later this year, which both Hearn and Fury’s promoter Frank Warren flatly denied. When asked by IFL TV’s Colm McGuigan to clarify his involvement after UFC 328, White gave a deliberately vague answer.

    “I don’t know, let’s see what happens.”

    When McGuigan pressed him on Hearn and Warren’s denials, White kept it equally brief.

    “Then it must not be true.”

    It was only when Bloody Elbow asked White to respond to Hearn’s specific language, including the clout chaser comment and the invitation to find his courage, that White opened up fully.

    “This fruit loop came out and said he’s the fing biggest fight in boxing while he has Bam Rodriguez and Anthony Joshua and all the other guys that are out there. He’s the biggest fight in boxing? Those are his words, you know what a fing fruit loop you’ve got to be to say that? Nobody knew who this guy was four months ago and now he’s the biggest fight in boxing? I hope I answered your question.”

    The two promoters have been trading public insults for several months, with an actual boxing match between them having been floated by multiple parties as a way of settling the dispute. Hearn’s comments about White’s courage appear to be a reference to those fight talks stalling. Fury and Joshua are expected to meet later in 2026 in Britain on Netflix, with Frank Warren placing November as the most likely window.

  • Eddie Hearn Calls Dana White Promoting Fury vs. Joshua ‘Contractually Impossible’ and a Clout Chase

    Eddie Hearn Calls Dana White Promoting Fury vs. Joshua ‘Contractually Impossible’ and a Clout Chase

    Eddie Hearn has dismissed Dana White’s suggestion that he will be involved in promoting Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua, calling it contractually impossible and taking a pointed personal shot at the UFC president in the same breath.

    White had publicly claimed involvement in the long-awaited British heavyweight showdown, prompting Hearn to respond on his Instagram story with language that made his position unmistakably clear.

    “Such a clout chaser. Not a chance and contractually impossible. Let me know when you find your b—.”

    The final line was a reference to Hearn’s earlier accusation that White backed out of a boxing match between the two promoters that had been publicly discussed.

    Hearn also posted a screenshot referencing TKO president Mark Shapiro’s claim that Zuffa Boxing had been involved in promoting Fury’s recent comeback win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, adding a second dig in a separate story.

    “Oh yeah, they said they were promoting this one too. What happened?”

    The Fury and Joshua fight has been signed for later in 2026 on Netflix, with Frank Warren confirming November is now the more likely window after October was initially floated. Joshua faces Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 before the mega fight. No date or venue has been officially confirmed for the Fury and Joshua bout, though it is expected to take place in Britain.

  • Tony Bellew Breaks Down Daniel Dubois’ Chances vs Fabio Wardley

    Tony Bellew Breaks Down Daniel Dubois’ Chances vs Fabio Wardley

    Tony Bellew has backed Fabio Wardley to retain the WBO heavyweight championship against Daniel Dubois on Saturday, making the undefeated British champion a slight favorite and explaining exactly why he believes Wardley is more difficult to beat than his resume might suggest.

    Speaking on talkSPORT Boxing, Bellew acknowledged that Wardley has repeatedly found ways to win fights that by all logic he should have lost, and argued that quality represents his greatest asset heading into the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

    “Fabio has been absolutely amazing. A couple of times I have thought that he was going to get beat and he has shown me up and come really good. The thing with Fabio is, he has more strings to his bow than Daniel does, so he has more ways that he can win. The biggest factor for me is that he has shown he can get off the floor, ride out the really tough moments in fights and win fights that, if I am being totally honest, he doesn’t deserve to win. He was losing every round against Justis Huni and he was losing against Joseph Parker. But, you see that undefeated thing that he has got going — it stands him in such good stead and it gives him such confidence because you have to nail Fabio Wardley to the floor to beat him. He is not going to give in, no matter if everyone is against him, he has got this ‘me against the world’ attitude and you will see on Saturday night that you will have to really nail him to the floor to beat him. I am not saying that it is impossible, but I make Fabio a slight favourite.”

    Wardley enters the fight as WBO heavyweight champion, with his undefeated record built on wins over Justis Huni and Joseph Parker, both of which were secured while trailing on the judges’ scorecards before turning the fights around. 

    Dubois, meanwhile, arrives as the more decorated name on paper. The former IBF heavyweight champion holds notable wins over Anthony Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, and Jarrell Miller, though he is coming off a loss to Oleksandr Usyk last July that exposed him against the very top level of the division. A win over Wardley on Saturday would make him a two-time world heavyweight champion and restore his position as a genuine contender in the broader heavyweight picture.

    Wardley vs. Dubois takes place Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

  • Tyson Fury Enters WBC Top Spot Despite Tough Stretch

    Tyson Fury Enters WBC Top Spot Despite Tough Stretch

    Tyson Fury has re-entered the WBC heavyweight rankings following his comeback win over Arslanbek Makhmudov last month in London, climbing straight to the number one position in the sanctioning body’s latest monthly update released on May 6.

    Fury, now 35-2-1 with 24 knockouts, bumped previous number one Lawrence Okolie to second place. Okolie’s status is complicated by a recent positive test for a banned performance-enhancing drug that could affect his ranking going forward.

    The climb to number one is notable but does not immediately alter Fury’s competitive path. He is not currently pursuing the WBC belt, which remains with Oleksandr Usyk, the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion who also holds the IBF and WBA titles and remains the lineal and Ring Magazine champion. Usyk is set to face kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in a crossover boxing match on May 23 in Egypt.

    The WBC also has interim beltholder Agit Kabayel at 27-0 with 19 knockouts, who would receive first access to Usyk should a title fight be ordered or the belt vacated. Fury’s number-one ranking would theoretically place him next in line after Kabayel, but he is instead committed to his long-awaited fight with Anthony Joshua, which is expected to take place in Britain in November.

    The full WBC heavyweight rankings behind Fury and Okolie are as follows: Moses Itauma at number three, followed by Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, Deontay Wilder, Efe Ajagba, Martin Bakole, Richard Torrez Jr., Richard Riakporhe, Andrii Novytskyi, Frank Sanchez, Bakhodir Jalolov, Guido Vianello, and Labinot Xhoxhaj.

    Fury previously held the WBC title during his first reign before suffering back-to-back losses to Usyk in 2024. He had also held the IBF, WBA, and WBO titles after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 before stepping away from the sport amid a period that included a positive test for a banned substance.

  • Terence Crawford Sends Errol Spence Jr. a Public Message of Support Ahead of His Comeback Fight

    Terence Crawford Sends Errol Spence Jr. a Public Message of Support Ahead of His Comeback Fight

    Terence Crawford has publicly supported Errol Spence Jr., his former rival, as Spence Jr. prepares for a comeback fight against Tim Tszyu on July 25 in Australia, posting a message of encouragement on X that caught attention across the boxing world.

    “Good seeing you back out there. Get to it, I’ll be there supporting.”

    Crawford stopped Spence in nine rounds in July 2023 to claim the WBC, IBF, and WBA welterweight titles in a result that sent shockwaves through the sport. Many had expected Spence to win and become the undisputed champion in that fight. Instead, Crawford took the belts and went on to become a three-division undisputed king by defeating Canelo Alvarez last September before announcing his retirement in December.

    Spence has not competed since that defeat. His return against Tszyu is scheduled at super welterweight (154 pounds), giving him an additional 7 pounds to work with as he attempts to reinvent himself as a contender in a new division.

    Tszyu finds himself in a similar rebuilding position. He has not recorded a meaningful victory since outpointing Brian Mendoza in 2023, with back-to-back defeats to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev having pushed him away from the world title picture.

  • Moses Itauma Set for World Champion Fight and US Debut

    Moses Itauma Set for World Champion Fight and US Debut

    Moses Itauma is heading to the United States later this year, with promoter Frank Warren mapping out a transatlantic push for his 21-year-old heavyweight prospect that is directly modeled on what the American market did for Tyson Fury.

    Itauma, ranked fifth by ESPN at heavyweight and carrying a 14-0 record with 12 knockouts, will first return to the ring on August 8 in London against an opponent in the top 10 before making his American debut in the latter part of 2026. Warren explained the logic behind the move to ESPN, drawing a direct line between Fury’s Deontay Wilder fights and what he believes a US appearance can do for Itauma’s profile.

    “It’s a big market. Tyson went out there to challenge Wilder and look what it did for his career. I think the same thing will happen with Moses. Wilder wasn’t a big attraction in America before fighting Fury. Then when he fought Tyson in Las Vegas, it’s the highest grossing heavyweight fight, on the gate, that ever took place. That tells you the appeal of a good heavyweight fight. If we take Moses out there, they’re going to love him, aren’t they? He is phenomenal.”

    Itauma has already headlined events in Glasgow, Manchester, and Saudi Arabia and delivered one of the year’s more eye-catching results in March when he knocked out Jermaine Franklin Jr. in round five. Warren has expressed hope that Itauma could find himself in the world championship picture by the end of 2026 depending on mandatory challengers, though a US debut remains on the schedule regardless of how the title landscape develops.

    The August London date replaced an earlier plan to fight on July 25, which was shelved after Anthony Joshua’s return fight against Kristian Prenga was scheduled for the same date in Riyadh.

  • Floyd Mayweather Gives Timeline Update on Manny Pacquiao Fight

    Floyd Mayweather Gives Timeline Update on Manny Pacquiao Fight

    Floyd Mayweather has put a specific timeline on the long-awaited rematch with Manny Pacquiao, telling media in Athens on Thursday that a deal could be finalized within 48 hours as negotiations reach their final stage.

    Mayweather made the comments while promoting his upcoming June 27 exhibition against Mike Zambidis at Telekom Center, Athens, at the OAKA Olympic Complex in Greece. Despite being there to discuss a different fight, the Pacquiao question dominated the conversation, and Mayweather was unusually direct about where things stand.

    “Well, at this particular time, I truly believe that, I know everybody is going to want to ask questions about the Pacquiao fight. Like I said, the sport of boxing has truly changed. We have a lot of new companies, a lot of new faces, and Netflix. I truly believe that we’ll get this done. I think we’re almost at the finish line to finish the Pacquiao fight, but a lot of things has changed in the sport of boxing and eventually I think within the next 48 hours either the Pacquiao fight should be done.”

    The reference to Netflix is significant given the streaming platform’s growing footprint in combat sports. Netflix has already broadcast major boxing events and is set to stream the Mayweather and Pacquiao rematch as part of its expanding live sports portfolio. Mayweather’s framing of the sport’s transformation around new companies and new faces suggests the deal’s final details are being shaped by that shifting commercial landscape rather than traditional pay-per-view structure.

    Mayweather and Pacquiao fought previously on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Mayweather winning a unanimous decision in one of the highest-grossing pay-per-view events in boxing history. The rematch has been discussed in various forms for years through exhibition talk, public appearances, and speculation, before Netflix’s involvement gave the project the commercial foundation to become a reality.

    Pacquiao most recently fought Mario Barrios to a 12-round draw for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 last year in Las Vegas. Mayweather carries his unbeaten 50-0 professional record into the fight. The rematch is expected to take place at either T-Mobile Arena or MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas after being officially moved from The Sphere following the Eagles confirming a September 19 concert at that venue.

  • Abdullah Mason vs Joe Cordina Set for July 4 TNT Sports Debut

    Abdullah Mason vs Joe Cordina Set for July 4 TNT Sports Debut

    Undefeated WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason will make the first defense of his title against former two-time IBF champion Joe Cordina on July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, in a matchup that puts one of boxing’s most exciting young champions against one of the division’s most experienced former titleholders.

    The bout headlines the inaugural edition of The Fight, a new event brand that will air live on TNT Sports and DAZN, giving the card international reach across both platforms. Promoter Eddie Hearn set expectations for what fans can expect from the Independence Day main event.

    “Fourth of July fireworks.”

    Mason arrives at 20-0 with 17 knockouts, a finishing rate that speaks to the raw power behind his technical ability. The 21-year-old captured the WBO lightweight title in Riyadh with a unanimous decision victory over Sam Noakes, a performance that announced his arrival on the world stage with authority. 

    Cordina is 19-1 with nine knockouts and brings a very different kind of resume to the contest. The Welsh fighter is a former two-time IBF lightweight champion who has competed at the highest level of the sport and knows what it takes to win and defend a world title. His single professional loss came against Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2023. He enters the Mason fight seeking to become a three-time, two-weight world champion, adding another remarkable chapter to a career that has already produced significant achievements.

    The July 4 date gives the fight a built-in event feel, with the holiday weekend providing a natural platform for a card of this ambition. The Wolstein Center in Cleveland gives Mason a home crowd, with the city one of the more passionate fight towns in the American Midwest.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Crossover Card Set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Crossover Card Set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

    Oleksandr Usyk’s crossover boxing match against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven now has a full fight card around it, with the nine-fight show set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on DAZN pay-per-view. 

    The card kicks off at 1 p.m. ET, with Usyk and Verhoeven expected to make their ring walks around 5 p.m. ET. Usyk carries a 24-0 record into the bout and has established himself as arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet across his runs at cruiserweight and heavyweight. He unified the heavyweight titles by defeating Anthony Joshua twice and added the WBC belt to his collection with a split decision victory over Tyson Fury in 2024. Two of his last five opponents have been stopped, demonstrating that his technical brilliance is backed by genuine finishing power.

    The undercard is stacked with genuine talent. Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic open the main card in what should be a compelling middleweight contest. Sheeraz is one of British boxing’s most celebrated young prospects, a power puncher who has generated significant attention on the domestic scene and is beginning to make noise on the international stage. 

    Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov meet in a super lightweight contest. Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. collide in a heavyweight matchup that features two genuine contenders in one of the sport’s most exciting weight classes.

    The card also features Mizuki Hiruta against Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh taking on Jamar Talley, Sultan Almohammed against Deny Impart, Mahmoud Moubarek versus Ali Sserunkuma, and Omar Hikal against Michael Kalyalya rounding out the nine-fight lineup.

    The Pyramids of Giza setting adds a dimension to the event that no boxing card can replicate. The location has been used for large-scale entertainment and sporting events in recent years as Egypt has aggressively pursued high-profile international productions, but a unified heavyweight champion headlining a card against a kickboxing legend in the shadow of one of the world’s most iconic ancient structures is a genuinely unprecedented combination.

    The full card is as follows: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic, Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov, Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr., Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley, Sultan Almohammed vs. Deny Impart, Mahmoud Moubarek vs. Ali Sserunkuma, and Omar Hikal vs. Michael Kalyalya. The event takes place May 23 in Egypt on DAZN pay-per-view.