📆 On This Day in 1958 📆
Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped before the Cuban GP. Two gunmen associated with Fidel Castro entered his Havana hotel and took him at gunpoint. They wanted the race to be cancelled to put pressure on President Fulgencio Batista, but the race went ahead and Fangio was allowed by his captors to listen to it on the radio. He was released after 29 days and the Cuban Revolution took place a year later.
- GPFans Global
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has congratulated the National Boxing Team known as “Black Rhinos” for their great achievements and their contribution to promoting the nation internationally.
The President said this at the State House in Dar es Salaam, during an event congratulating Tanzanian athletes who have performed well recently in international competitions, including the ongoing AFCON tournament in Morocco where Taifa Stars reached the round of 16.
H.E. the President congratulated the “Black Rhinos” National Team for reaching the round of 16 at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Dubai, where boxer Black Rhino Faki Issa Faki from Tanga Region set a new record that had lasted for 51 years, since boxer Emmanuel Mlundwa achieved it in 1974 at the championships held in Havana, Cuba.
Additionally, President Samia congratulated the team for winning 18 medals (1 gold, 4 silver, and 13 bronze) at the African Zone 3 Men's and Women's Boxing Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Speaking on behalf of the Tanzania Boxing Federation (BFT), BFT President Eng. Lukelo Willilo said, “We thank H.E. the President of the United Republic of Tanzania for recognizing and appreciating the efforts of the National Boxing Team. These congratulations are great encouragement to boost our morale and motivation to perform even better on the international stage.”
At the event, the BFT President was accompanied by BFT Vice President Eng. Nassoro Makau, Secretary General Eng. Makore Mashaga, together with players from the National Boxing Team "Black Rhinos" and those from Mafia Boxing Promotion.
- Communications – BFT
David Benavidez will meet David Morrell in a high-stakes light heavyweight bout, Benavidez announced Tuesday on Instagram.
The 175-pound bout will headline a PBC pay-per-view card and is expected to take place Jan. 25 in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) was in talks to fight fringe contender Jesse Hart on Dec. 14 on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach title bout, according to sources, but he secured a far more compelling bout.
Benavidez has chased boxing's top star, Canelo Álvarez, for years. Álvarez hasn't shown any interest in such a matchup, so Benavidez made the jump from 168 to 175 pounds this summer with a decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Benavidez, 27, who fights out of Miami, is a former two-time titleholder at 168 pounds. He's rated No. 3 at 175 pounds.
Now, Benavidez is prepared for the toughest test of his career. Cuba's Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) also made the move to light heavyweight this summer. He encountered the most-challenging fight of his career with a unanimous decision over Radivoje Kalajdzic in August.
Morrell, 26, is ESPN's No. 4 light heavyweight. ESPN's top two 175-pounders, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, fight Saturday on ESPN+ for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.
The winner of Benavidez-Morrell will be positioned for a fight with the winner.
- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider
