Boxing

6:39 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN LAS VEGAS — Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter both weighed under the 147-pound limit on Friday, one day before they’ll vie for the WBO welterweight title (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+ pay-per-view). Crawford, the champion, tipped the scales at 146.4 pounds; Porter weighed 146.6. “I respect everything that Shawn does,” Crawford,

7:48 AM ET Mark KriegelESPN LAS VEGAS — I met Shawn Porter in early 2016 as he was preparing to fight Keith Thurman, who was then the best welterweight in the world. Three things were immediately apparent, first among them being Porter’s distinct physicality. He had fought most of his amateur career at 165.3 pounds.

Nov 17, 2021 SYDNEY, Australia — With every blow Takeshi Inoue sustained in the centre of Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday evening, the reputation and image of Tim Tszyu as a world class fighter only strengthened. The son of boxing icon Kostya made light work of the world No. 6 from Japan, once again showing

Nov 17, 2021 SYDNEY, Australia — Rising light middleweight star Tim Tszyu has taken another giant leap towards a maiden world title fight against Argentine Brian Castano. Tszyu, the son of boxing legend Kostya, turned in a commanding performance against Japan’s Takeshi Inoue at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday evening to remain undefeated at

7:49 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN LAS VEGAS — Terence “Bud” Crawford is used to hearing the question. No matter how impressive his in-ring performances have been, despite becoming an undisputed junior welterweight champion and winning world titles in three divisions, the question is always the same. “Who has Crawford fought?” Crawford has long been recognized

9:36 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Joe Smith Jr. and Callum Johnson have agreed to terms for a light heavyweight title fight that will headline an ESPN show on Jan. 15 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, sources told ESPN. Smith (27-3, 21 KOs) was scheduled to defend his title against Umar Salamov

4:06 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Keyshawn Davis and Richard Torrez Jr., who both claimed silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, have signed multiyear promotional deals with Top Rank, multiple sources told ESPN. Davis competed as a lightweight while Torrez fought in the super heavyweight division. The 22-year-old Davis will make his

7:54 AM ET Shawn Porter is in a story-telling mood. And at first, this one has nothing to do with boxing. When Shawn Porter was around 10 years old, he was playing running back in a football game as his father, Kenny, coached on the sideline. On one play, a defender leveled Shawn, knocking him

3:45 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN Deron Williams’ phone was flooded with calls and notifications once his boxing match against former NFL running back Frank Gore was announced last week. Among the first to reach out was Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul. Williams once challenged Paul for the label as the NBA’s top point guard

8:01 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Canelo Alvarez could chase a title in a fifth weight class. At the WBC Convention on Wednesday in Mexico City, the organization approved the request of Canelo’s trainer and manager, Eddy Reynoso, to have Alvarez challenge Illunga Junior Makabu for the cruiserweight championship. Alvarez, ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, became

8:28 PM ET SYDNEY, Australia — There was no verbal jousting nor any fabricated push and shove for the dozens of cameras gathered around them. But after Tim Tszyu had stood face-to-face with Takeshi Inoue, a cheeky half smile crept across his face. It was as if he already knew the outcome of Wednesday night’s

2:43 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Luis Ortiz and Charles Martin have agreed to meet in a heavyweight fight on Jan. 1 at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, multiple sources have told ESPN. The New Year’s Day clash presented by PBC pits Ortiz, ESPN’s No. 8 heavyweight, against Martin, a former heavyweight titleholder who sits

7:58 AM ET Mike Coppinger Ben Baby Close ESPN Staff Writer ESPN Staff Writer Previously a college football writer for The Dallas Morning News University of North Texas graduate Terence Crawford defends his WBO welterweight championship against Shawn Porter on Saturday (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET), and Crawford, ESPN’s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter, has a

1:37 AM ET The punch that could ruin everything for Jaime Munguia always seemed to be lurking around the corner. From tight angles or a fleeting blind spot, veteran Gabriel Rosado was looking to throw the big, thudding punch that could upend a rising prospect’s career. On Saturday night, Munguia didn’t just escape unharmed. The

Find out why professionals are using BoxBandz 12:49 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN David Benavidez is one step closer to a shot at Canelo Alvarez. The former 168-pound champion handled Kyrone Davis in punishing fashion on Saturday in Phoenix with a seventh-round TKO victory in the Showtime main event. Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) battered Davis, a late

7:09 PM ET Nick Parkinson Close •Reports on boxing for ESPN.co.uk, as well as several national newspapers•Has been reporting on British boxing for over 15 years•Appears on BoxNation’s Boxing Matters show Kid Galahad and Terri Harper surrendered their world titles in big upset losses on the same card Saturday in England. Veteran Kiko Martinez became

7:56 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN The most-avoided-fighter-in-boxing label is not just a badge of honor, it’s also an unfathomable test of patience for the person who bears it. That status is earned, if you truly can earn something you don’t want, by virtue of a few different attributes. The fighter has to be immensely talented

2:16 PM ET Undisputed junior middleweight and IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight champion Claressa Shields has signed a multifight deal worth seven figures with European broadcast company Sky Sports and the BOXXER promotion company. The deal for up to three fights will pay Shields an undisclosed seven-figure sum over the length of the contract. That