Category: News

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has announced a press conference at Madison Square Garden in New York City for Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM EST, live-streamed on MVP’s YouTube channel. The cryptic tagline “Anything Is Possible…” accompanying the announcement has fueled widespread speculation about Jake Paul‘s next boxing move. Impact-Site-Verification: 4c466866-01c0-40c3-a8a7-3c68c5c40cbe

The press conference comes as Paul works back from a jaw fracture suffered in his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2025, during which he also required a second surgery due to hardware complications. MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian has confirmed Paul will return to the ring in 2026.

🚨PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW🚨

11:00 AM EST⏰

Madison Square Garden | NYC📍

Watch Live on MVP’s YouTube Channel🔗https://t.co/EjMV4YiHwH

Anything is possible…👀#mvp #boxing pic.twitter.com/hRcNiy6bln

— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) March 5, 2026

Zurdo Ramirez Title Shot in Focus

Speculation has centered on a potential cruiserweight world title shot against unified WBO/WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs). Paul entered the WBA cruiserweight rankings at No. 14 in January 2026 following his win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., making him eligible to challenge Ramirez. The two previously crossed paths at a post-fight press conference, with Paul calling Ramirez “easy work.”

Ramirez last defended his unified belts against Yuniel Dorticos on June 28, 2025, via unanimous decision, and has been linked to a unification bout with IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia. However, a Paul matchup represents a significantly more lucrative opportunity given Paul’s massive social media footprint and pay-per-view drawing power.

Fan speculation has also included dream-matchup names like Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao, though no credible reports link either to a Paul fight at this stage.

Whatever is announced, Paul’s ability to generate viewership and disrupt boxing’s traditional promotional structure remains his biggest asset heading into a crucial comeback year.

Zuffa Boxing 04 goes down this Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, and the promotion is set to crown its first-ever world champion. Jai Opetaia puts his perfect record on the line against Brandon Glanton in the main event, with the main card streaming live on Paramount+ at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT.

Zuffa Boxing is just four events old, but Sunday represents a significant milestone: the crowning of the promotion’s first world championship. The event is presented by Riyadh Season and the Meta APEX, the same venue that has hosted some of the UFC’s most memorable Fight Night cards.

With a stacked card headlined by one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound cruiserweights, Zuffa is making a clear statement about where it intends to position itself in the sport.

How to Watch Zuffa Boxing: Z04

• Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
• Venue: Meta APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Prelims: Paramount+ | 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT
• Main Card: Paramount+ | 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT
• Presented by: Riyadh Season & Meta APEX

Full Fight Card

Fight	Division
Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton	Cruiserweight World Championship (12 Rounds)
Ricardo Salas vs. Jesus Saracho	Welterweight (10 Rounds)
Adan Palma vs. Pablo Rubio Jr.	Featherweight (8 Rounds)
Vlad Panin vs. Shinard Bunch	Welterweight (Prelim)
Joshua Juarez vs. Jardae Anderson	Heavyweight (Prelim)
Jaycob Ramos vs. Ethan Perez	Featherweight (Prelim)
Brady Ochoa vs. Adrian Serrano	Lightweight (Prelim)
Emiliano Alvarado vs. Erick Rosado	Featherweight (Prelim)

Match Previews

Cruiserweight World Championship: Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton

Jai Opetaia is the real deal. The 30-year-old Australian southpaw enters at 29-0 with 23 knockouts, standing 6’3″ with a 76-inch reach. He holds the IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight titles and has stopped four straight opponents, including wins over David Nyika, Claudio Squeo, and Huseyin Cinkara throughout 2025. There is a legitimate argument to be made that Opetaia is the best cruiserweight on the planet right now.

Glanton, known as “Bulletproof,” is no pushover. The 33-year-old Atlanta native carries an 85% knockout rate and a 21-3 record with 18 stoppages. He has been knocking on the door of a world title for years, and this is unquestionably the biggest stage of his career. Glanton’s power makes him dangerous to anyone in the division.

The main storyline heading into Sunday is whether Opetaia’s IBF belt will also be at stake. Zuffa’s promotional materials list only the Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight World Championship, and neither the promotion nor the IBF has officially confirmed the status of the IBF title as of fight week. Regardless, Opetaia enters as a heavy favorite and looks to make history as Zuffa Boxing’s first world champion.

Welterweight Co-Main: Ricardo Salas vs. Jesus Saracho

An all-Mexican welterweight matchup rounds out the main card in a 10-round contest. Both Salas and Saracho carry championship aspirations and should make for an entertaining co-main event for the growing Zuffa platform.

Featherweight Main Card Opener: Adan Palma vs. Pablo Rubio Jr.

Mexico’s Adan Palma squares off against American Pablo Rubio Jr. in an 8-round featherweight bout to open main card action. This is the kind of competitive matchmaking at 126 lbs. that could produce a breakout performance for either fighter.

Stay tuned to MMA News for live results, round-by-round coverage, and full post-event recaps from Zuffa Boxing 04 on Sunday night.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has confirmed a third fight for his packed 2026 schedule — an exhibition bout against Greek kickboxing legend Mike Zambidis on June 27 at the Telekom Center in Athens, Greece.

Mayweather announced the fight himself on Instagram, writing that “June is the month where history will be made at the Telekom Center. Different energy. Different level.”

The Athens exhibition slots neatly between Mayweather’s two other confirmed bouts this year: an exhibition against Mike Tyson reportedly set for April in the Congo, and a professional rematch with Manny Pacquiao scheduled for September 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, streaming live on Netflix.

Who Is Mike Zambidis?

Zambidis, 45, is a Greek kickboxer nicknamed “Iron Mike” who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in K-1 history. He holds 18 world titles with a career record of 157 wins (87 by knockout) and 24 losses, and competed multiple times in K-1 MAX tournaments, finishing third in both 2010 and 2012.

His last professional fight was in 2015 in Athens, where he defeated Australia’s Steve Moxon by decision before retiring.

Staying Sharp Ahead of Pacquiao

The Zambidis matchup appears designed to keep Mayweather active and sharp ahead of his marquee professional return against Pacquiao, which marks his first sanctioned bout since the 2017 knockout of Conor McGregor that capped his perfect 50-0 record.

Financial motivations are also likely at play. Mayweather has been consistently taking unconventional exhibition matchups post-retirement, with previous opponents including Logan Paul, Deji, and John Gotti III. The bout against Zambidis will be an exhibition and not a sanctioned professional contest.

Mayweather’s 2026 is shaping up as one of the busiest stretches of his post-retirement career, with three fights booked across three continents in a six-month span.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVYLogKgk9Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The WBC Board of Governors has officially sanctioned Oleksandr Usyk’s upcoming bout against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven as a legitimate WBC Heavyweight Championship defense, reversing an earlier position that had cast doubt on the title’s status heading into the crossover clash.

The fight, billed as “Glory in Giza,” is set for Saturday, May 23, at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt — the first professional boxing event ever staged at the ancient landmark — and will stream live and exclusively on DAZN PPV.

​

The WBC’s green light stems from a voluntary defense allowance granted to Usyk at the organization’s 63rd Annual Convention in Bangkok, Thailand. Following a petition submitted to the Board, the governors voted in favor of recognizing the bout as a sanctioned title defense. However, the ruling comes with a condition: Usyk must face mandatory challenger Emanuel Kabayel next, without exception, following the Verhoeven fight.

​Usyk vs. Verhoeven

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) enters the fight having last competed in July 2025, when he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to reclaim the undisputed heavyweight championship. The 39-year-old Ukrainian made history in 2024 by becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion of boxing’s four-belt era after defeating Tyson Fury twice.​

Verhoeven, 36, brings one of combat sports’ most decorated resumes to the ring — just not in boxing. The Dutch striker held the GLORY Heavyweight Kickboxing title for a staggering 4,220 days, registering 13 consecutive title defenses and a 27-fight winning streak under the GLORY banner. His professional boxing record, however, stands at just 1-0 (1 KO), a second-round knockout of Janos Finfera back in 2014. He also holds a 1-0 MMA record from a 2015 TKO win.

---

The contrast with Tyson Fury’s 2023 crossover fight against Francis Ngannou is notable, as Ariel Helwani pointed out on X. That bout was explicitly not contested for Fury’s WBC belt, as the WBC ruled Ngannou unrated and ineligible — granting Fury only “special permission” to take the fight. Usyk’s arrangement is structurally different: the voluntary defense designation negotiated in Bangkok provided a sanctioned pathway for the title to be on the line against a non-ranked opponent.

“Glory in Giza” is the latest high-profile event orchestrated by Saudi sports authority figure Turki Alalshikh, who has rapidly become one of the most influential figures in global boxing.​

Logan Paul’s long-running financial beef with onetime boxing opponent Floyd “Money” Mayweather now has a specific price tag attached.

The WWE Superstar and influencer appeared on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast and alleges the un-retired boxing legend still owes him $1.5 million stemming from a pre-fight agreement that predates their 2021 exhibition.

The $110 Million “Dubai Dream”

The dispute traces back to the original plans for their bout. Before the fight landed at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Mayweather Promotions signed a deal with PAC Entertainment Worldwide to host the event in Dubai.

PAC had projected profits exceeding $100 million and guaranteed a $110 million payout. However, the deal collapsed in March 2021 when the company failed to deliver an initial $30 million installment. Mayweather subsequently moved the event to Fanmio Boxing and Showtime PPV, but Paul claims some money had already changed hands behind the scenes.

Paul’s 15% Stake

Paul says Mayweather received a $10 million pre-sale payment from the Middle Eastern backers before the deal fell apart. Paul asserts his contract entitled him to 15% of that sum – admittedly not the best split, but he felt 15% was better than 0%.

“I’m owed exactly $1.5 million,” Paul stated during the podcast.

Turns out, he got 0% anyways, and doesn’t expect to collect due to Mayweather’s mounting legal troubles.

Mayweather’s Legal Defensive Line

Mayweather’s upcoming fights with Mike Tyson (exhibition) and Manny Pacquiao will likely bring tens of millions into his coffers, the windfall is unlikely to trickle down to Paul. His The $1.5 million grievance is just one drop in a massive bucket of litigation currently surrounding Mayweather:

• Showtime Lawsuit: In February 2026, Mayweather filed a massive $340 million suit against Showtime, claiming the network withheld earnings for years—including $20 million from his 2015 fight against Andre Berto.
• PAC Counter-Claim: PAC Entertainment has filed a federal counter-claim, alleging it was actually Mayweather who breached their contract by abandoning the Dubai deal for a third party.

From Combatant to Resigned

Paul has spent years publicly bashing Mayweather, calling him a “weasel” in 2021 and threatening legal action via TMZ in 2022. Now, he’s resigned to the reality of the situation.

After initially claiming he was owed between $2 million and $5 million, Paul now appears to have accepted the $1.5 million as a “write-off.”

These comments add credence to the belief that the reason for Mayweather coming out of retirement is about more than just his love for the $weet science.

In one of the most jaw-dropping crossover matchups in combat sports history, unified heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC Heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven on May 23, 2026, at the iconic Pyramids of Giza in Egypt in a bout officially dubbed “Glory in Giza.” The fight will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN.

Legends collide where legends were built 🥊🦂

On May 23, under the shadows of the ancient giants, Oleksandr Usyk takes on Rico Verhoeven at the iconic Pyramids of Giza 🔥

Glory in Giza | May 23 | LIVE on DAZN

Brought to you by @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/Oh7vDDvLZY

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) February 27, 2026

The Boxing Champion

Usyk, 39, enters the bout with a flawless 24-0 (15 KOs) professional boxing record. The Ukrainian southpaw is a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, currently holding the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, and is ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound in the world by The Ring magazine. His last outing was a dominant fifth-round KO of Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July 2025, cementing his status as the first two-time undisputed heavyweight king of the four-belt era.

The Kickboxing King

Verhoeven, 36, is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time. The Dutch standout held the GLORY Heavyweight Championship for a staggering 4,220 days — over 11 years — making a record 13 consecutive title defenses. His kickboxing record stands at 66-10 (21 KOs), and this will be just his second professional boxing bout, having last boxed in 2014, when he won by second-round KO.

Verhoeven spoke to his own motivation for the fight: “Usyk is the undisputed in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”

The Backdrop

The bout marks the first world heavyweight title fight to be held in Egypt and will take place against the breathtaking backdrop of the ancient Pyramids of Giza. Usyk had been linked to a voluntary title defense against Deontay Wilder, but the American was instead paired with Derek Chisora, paving the way for this unprecedented crossover showdown.

This fight is being closely watched across both the boxing and kickboxing worlds, as it pits two undefeated all-time greats in their respective disciplines on a global stage unlike any other.

Usyk vs. Verhoeven — “Glory in Giza” | May 23, 2026 | Pyramids of Giza, Egypt | Live on DAZN

The Saudi Boxing Federation partners with the Egyptian Boxing Federation to empower talent and strengthen Egyptian boxing locally and globally 🇸🇦❤️🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/EFewcNIAHh

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) February 27, 2026

Ilia Topuria didn’t hold back when asked about Jake Paul on Adin Ross’ Kick stream Thursday, calling the YouTube-turned-boxer a “very bad boxer” who “sucks” — and Paul responded by calling into the stream live, igniting a chaotic 15-to-20-minute on-air confrontation.

The two-division UFC champion, who holds featherweight and lightweight gold at 17-0, was a guest on the popular Kick stream when Ross asked him point-blank whether Paul is actually good at boxing. Topuria laughed and didn’t hold back.

Ilia Topuria and Jake Paul just agreed to spar on Adin Ross’ livestream 👀🥊

pic.twitter.com/Xh3rm7lTuW

— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) February 26, 2026

“As a boxer, you suck,” Topuria said flatly. While he acknowledged Paul’s hustle and the paydays he’s generated for the sport, he made clear that respect stops there.

Topuria also took direct aim at Paul’s resume, singling out his 2021 win over Anderson Silva — who was 46 at the time — calling it a “disgrace” and labeling Paul a “joke” for counting it as a legitimate victory.

Jake Paul Calls In Live

Paul apparently caught wind of the comments in real time and called Adin Ross directly during the stream. What followed was an escalating back-and-forth packed with personal shots, challenges, and trash talk that kept the stream chat erupting.

Paul defended his boxing record and pushed hard to establish his credentials. He challenged Topuria to spar:

“Let’s spar. When I beat your ass in sparring, what are you gonna say?”

Topuria didn’t flinch — and immediately went for the throat with a reference to Paul’s broken jaw, which required a second surgery just last week:

“Whenever you get your jaw healed, let’s do it. Just get ready because you’ll need another period of time to recover your jaw.”

Paul fired back by calling Topuria a “little guy” and declaring that “all MMA fighters are trash” when it comes to pure boxing. Topuria’s response quickly became the clip of the night:

“Maybe I’m not the highest guy in the room but I’m gonna give you a combo that’s gonna put you at the height of my balls.”

No Fight Confirmed, But the Heat Is Real

No official spar or boxing match has been confirmed — this is combat sports trash talk operating at full volume. But the timing adds genuine edge. Paul is currently sidelined after suffering a broken jaw in two places during his sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on December 19, 2025, and underwent a second jaw surgery on February 20 after hardware complications.

Topuria, meanwhile, is expected back in the Octagon in the second quarter of 2026, with the UFC White House card on June 14 frequently mentioned as a target date. He was also discussing potential lightweight title defenses against Arman Tsarukyan during the stream before the Jake Paul segment took over entirely.

Clips from the confrontation spread quickly across X and TikTok on Thursday, with lines like the “height of my balls” threat already generating heavy meme traffic. Whether it leads anywhere real remains to be seen, but Topuria just made sure everyone is talking about it.

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (H.R. 4624) has cleared its committee hurdles and is now on the Union Calendar as of February 25, 2026, setting the stage for a full vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill, first introduced in July 2025 by Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA), would update federal boxing law for the first time in 25 years by amending both the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and the original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000. It passed the House Education and Workforce Committee by a 30-4 margin, reflecting strong bipartisan support.

Central to the legislation is the creation of “Unified Boxing Organizations” (UBOs) — integrated entities that could handle promotion, rankings, titles, and sanctioning under one roof. Fighters would have the choice of operating within either the traditional sanctioning body system or the new UBO framework.

What the Bill Would Do

If passed, the law would establish federal minimum standards across the sport, including a $200 per-round minimum purse, contracts capped at six years, mandatory anti-doping programs, and enhanced medical requirements for fighters over 40. UBOs would also be required to provide training facilities and injury insurance, while fighters would not be charged sanctioning fees.

TKO Group — the parent company of both the UFC and WWE — lobbied in support of the measure. The California State Athletic Commission voted unanimously in favor of it last October, and Lonnie Ali, widow of Muhammad Ali, has also backed the bill publicly.

Critics Remain Vocal

Opposition has been steady since the bill’s introduction. The WBC, independent promoters, and fighter advocates have raised concerns that allowing a single entity to control promotion and sanctioning removes the conflict-of-interest firewalls that were a cornerstone of the original Ali Act. Critics argue the UBO structure could allow TKO to dominate boxing the way the UFC controls MMA, consolidating matchmaking power and limiting competition.

The MMA Fighters Association previously circulated a petition urging athletes to oppose the bill, calling it an extension of the UFC’s monopoly model rather than a genuine fighter protection measure.

With the bill now calendared for a House floor vote, the next step is determining when leadership schedules the measure for debate. If it clears the House, it would then move to the Senate before reaching the President’s desk.

Conor Benn vs. Regis Prograis has been officially confirmed as the co-main event of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov card on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, streaming live on Netflix.

Benn enters with a record of 24-1 (14 KOs). Prograis, a former two-time world champion at super-lightweight with titles from both the WBA and WBC, comes in at 30-3 (24 KOs). The fight marks a weight class jump for Prograis, who is moving up from 140 lbs to welterweight.

Benn’s Zuffa Boxing Debut

The bout represents Benn’s first fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner — a one-fight deal reportedly worth $15 million. It comes just weeks after his high-profile split from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, a departure that drew criticism from multiple figures in the sport. Benn also returns to familiar territory, having fought twice at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his bouts against Chris Eubank Jr.

Despite the Zuffa branding, this card sits outside the promotion’s standard Paramount+ series. The event is a Saudi-backed, Netflix-distributed stadium show promoted under The Ring banner with Turki Alalshikh’s involvement. Zuffa is the promoter of record for Benn, but his deal is a one-off arrangement — similar to how the company has handled individual mega-fight deals rather than locking fighters into its regular rotation.

About Prograis

At 37 years old, Prograis is stepping up in weight following recent losses to Devin Haney and Jack Catterall. He did pick up a win over Joseph Diaz last August and is already in trash-talk mode ahead of the fight. Prograis has pointed out that the last time he fought in London, Benn was on his undercard — calling the rematch a “full-circle moment” and promising to “teach him a lesson.”

Some critics have questioned whether a former super-lightweight stepping up in weight justifies the $15 million price tag attached to the co-main slot, but the matchup adds a compelling welterweight storyline to an already stacked card.

The Main Event

The card is headlined by Fury’s long-awaited comeback — his first fight since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024 — against unbeaten Russian knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs). The event also marks Netflix’s first live boxing broadcast from the UK.