Boxing Scene

The World Boxing Organization on Thursday denied former flyweight champion Marlen Esparza’s request for a third fight with Gabriela Alaniz following Alaniz’s split decision title victory April 27 in Fresno, California. Esparza (14-2, 1 KO), after defeating Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs) by majority decision in July 2023, missed weight for the rematch and was edged

Tyson Fury is unconcerned about his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk losing its status of being an undisputed heavyweight title fight, according to his manager Spencer Brown. Fury in May lost to Usyk in the first undisputed heavyweight title fight for 25 years when, as a fighter who makes little secret of his admiration for his

PHOENIX – It’s a battle for turf, both on the pound-for-pound scale and on a map that defines home and heart. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has already staked his claim. For the second straight time, he’s back in a city known for its unique appreciation of the smallest weight classes, perhaps because it’s also home to

Teofimo Lopez is one of boxing’s brightest stars. As a character, he divides opinion. As a fighter, he can blow hot and cold. But when he blows hot, he can be sensational. Lopez will box Canada’s Steve Claggett on Saturday in Miami, and while Lopez has pressure on his shoulders, he welcomes it. When he

You wouldn’t know it by looking at him (or hearing the familiar ring of his name), but Shane Mosley Jr. – very nearly the spitting image of his Hall of Fame father – came up the hard way in boxing. At Wednesday’s virtual press conference for Mosley’s fight July 6 showdown against former middleweight titleholder

The Salita Promotions show on July 27 headlined by Claressa Shields’ heavyweight debut against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse is beginning to take shape.  The co-featured fight at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and on DAZN is set to feature Michel Rivera taking on Hugo Alberto Roldan in a 10-round junior welterweight bout. Also set to be

PHOENIX – Don’t try to lump an entire generation into the same personality type. Yes, some are obsessed with self-promotion, trash talk and outlandish statements. Others – particularly the unbeaten two-division champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – are content to keep to themselves, to labor in near anonymity before the bright lights of the stage find

IBF cruiserweight belt holder Jai Opetaia wants the winner of Saturday’s WBO cruiserweight title fight between champion Chris Billam-Smith and challenger Richard Riakporhe. On May 18 the unbeaten Opetaia won the IBF belt for a second time by defeating Latvia’s Mairis Briedis in Saudi Arabia, and while the Australian southpaw is keen to eventually move

The European Boxing Union (EBU) held its annual General Assembly last weekend in Tbilisi, Georgian Republic. The EBU female title will now be called the Enza Jacoponi title to honor its General Secretary. Jacoponi began in her current position in 1990 and is worthy of representing the championship. The EBU will keep its policy of

The World Boxing Association Thursday ordered undisputed junior-featherweight champion Naoya Inoue to next meet the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger, former unified champion Murodjon “M.J.” Akhmadaliev. By virtue of his standing as a four-division and two-time undisputed champion, Japan’s Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) is squarely in the pound-for-pound No. 1 boxer discussion with unbeaten, two-time undisputed

Despite Richard Riakporhe being the betting favorite and having hometown advantage for his fight with WBO cruiserweight titleholder Chris Billam-Smith, his trainer, Angel Fernandez, says that there is no pressure on his fighter’s shoulders ahead of the fight at London’s Selhurst Park this weekend.  Mark Tibbs was in Riakporhe’s corner as he battled his way

Richard Riakporhe has “Deontay Wilder kind of power”, according to Dan Azeez. Riakporhe on Saturday challenges WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park – Azeez fights Croatia’s Hrvoje Sep on the undercard – and does so with a reputation as a fighter whose power will eventually take him to heavyweight. The 34 year

I like Saturday night’s PBC pay-per-view card quite a bit. I like its depth, I like the talent on the bill, I like the superstar potential atop the card, and I think all four fights have action upside. Buuuuuuutttt … if you’re in the market for 50/50 matchmaking, you won’t find any of it here.

Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe each weighed in at the cruiserweight limit of 200lbs ahead of their rematch on Saturday at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park. Billam-Smith, 34 and the WBO champion, seeks to avenge his only career defeat, via split decision in 2019. The rivals – Riakporhe is also 34 – refused to break an

LAS VEGAS – Former welterweight champion Shawn Porter believes Frank Martin could provide Gervonta Davis with an acid test. “The Ghost” is a hefty underdog in Las Vegas, but he is talking a good fight and Porter believes that Martin, 18-0 (12 KOs), could present Davis with some problems in the MGM Grand on Saturday

Chris Billam-Smith is taking the conviction of his victory over Lawrence Okolie into Saturday’s rematch with Richard Riakporhe. The WBO cruiserweight champion makes the second defence of the title he won from Okolie at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, aware that when they fought in 2019, Riakporhe outpointed him to inflict his only defeat. When he

LAS VEGAS – Gervonta “Tank” Davis takes center stage on Saturday night in Las Vegas, headlining the 100th show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In a business destabilized for many by huge investment from the Middle East, there are moving parts aplenty in boxing. Stephen Espinoza has seen plenty during his time in boxing,

Julio Cesar Martinez has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after a banned substance was discovered following testing surrounding his March 30 victory over Angelino Cordova, The Ring has reported. The testing was carried out by the NSAC therefore all presiding offices under the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) are obligated to