SERRANO DRAWS 3.4M VIEWS ON TIK TOK FOR 50TH WIN

 

Serrano's win over Manzur was watched by 3.4m viewers on TikTok. Getty Images 

Amanda Serrano retained her WBA and WBO featherweight belts with a narrow majority decision over Argentina's Lucrecia Manzur in the first world title fight to be streamed live on TikTok.

The Puerto Rican was made to work for her 50th career win, edging a majority decision but missing the 33rd knockout she needed to break the women's record, remaining on 32.

Serrano's fight, held over 12 two-minute rounds, may not have delivered a record‑breaking knockout, but it drew 3.4 million total views on TikTok.

The 37-year-old continues to be one of the most watched female fighters in the world, with her third fight against Ireland's Katie Taylor last year drawing an audience of six million on Netflix and their rematch in 2024 getting over 50 million on the same platform.

Friday's fight in Temeculam, California was scored 114-114, 116-112 and 116-112 in favour of Serrano.

Manzur troubled the champion early with repeated right hands, but the Argentine tired as Serrano seized momentum from round nine and finished the fight in control.

Speaking after the bout, Serrano said: "I am so happy and honoured. That was the first championship main event fight on TikTok guys, super excited, super honoured."

On Manzur, Serrano added: "I knew this girl was tough. She's young. She's 27. She's 10 years younger than me. These girls are getting younger and stronger.

"She was hungry, and I knew that coming into training. I trained very hard because I knew it was an opportunity for her, so I had to come on my A game."

The unified champion will now be hoping to eclipse Christy Martin with a 33rd stoppage in her farewell fight, which she plans to stage in Puerto Rico later this year or in early 2027.

It is unclear who Serrano will fight in her final outing.

After admitting post-fight her age may have played a factor in her performance, Serrano further elaborated on social media.

"Wow this was rough," she said.

"Honesty the mind tells you one thing but the body does another.

"You can fight anyone you want and squeeze out a victory but Father Time isn't allowing too much of that.

"Thank you so much to all my fans, you guys are amazing.

"You're the reason why I dug in deep tonight. I'll talk to the team and make my decision. I love you."

On the undercard, Denmark's Melissa Mortensen became a world champion for the first time by claiming the vacant the WBA super-bantamweight title with a points win over Mexico's Mayelli Flores.

Serrano wore Timberland boxing boots in the ring. Getty Images 

Serrano stays tied with legend Christy Martin for the knockout record in women's boxing. Getty Images 

- Jude Winter

MOSES ITAUMA AND FILIP HRGOVIC TO FIGHT FOR VACANT IBF TITLE, FRANK SANCHEZ PAID TO STEP ASIDE

Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic square up on June 22, 2026

Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic, set to collide on August 29 at London, England’s O2 Arena, will now be fighting for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.

No. 3-ranked Itauma, 14-0 (12 KOs), had been ordered by the sanctioning body to face leading IBF contender, Frank Sanchez, after the bout with Hrgovic had already been signed and announced. And with the Croatian rated fourth by the organization, it has been agreed that they can instead do battle for the belt on the condition that the winner meets Sanchez in their first defense.

“We paid [Sanchez] some money,” promoter Frank Warren told the BBC. “We said whoever wins the fight, you’re not losing out and you’ll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner.”

The 34-year-old Cuban, 26-1 (19 KOs), had achieved mandatory status with the IBF by knocking out Richard Torrez Jnr in two rounds in May.

Hrgovic, 20-1 (15 KOs), is riding a three-fight win streak – beating Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen – and is regarded as 21-year-old Itauma’s toughest test to date.

Presuming Itauma-Hrgovic isn’t a draw, it means that Warren’s Queensberry Promotions – who handle both Itauma and Hrgovic, as well as WBC boss Agit Kabayel and WBO beltholder Daniel Dubois – will promote three of the four heavyweight beltholders come the end of the month. The WBA titlist, Murat Gassiev, had previously been expected to face Itauma later in the year.

"A lot of people have high expectations of [Itauma] as I have, by the way," Warren said. "We signed him when he was 16. He was an amateur. We sponsored him, and he turned professional with us.

"And he's been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.”

The influx of heavyweight beltholders can of course be explained by Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to relinquish his three titles in June. Though the 39-year-old is plotting one last fight – likely against Deontay Wilder – the Ukrainian’s days of fighting elite opposition are over, it seems.

Kabayel and Gassiev saw their statuses rise by virtue of Usyk’s decision to step down. Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley to claim his belt after Wardley was handed the championship when Usyk gave up the WBO title last year.

The winner of Itauma-Hrgovic will be the first to claim one of Usyk’s old belts in the ring.

- BoxingScene 

JARON 'BOOTS' ENNIS DROPS XANDER ZAYAS THREE TIMES BEFORE SEVENTH-ROUND STOPPAGE

 

Before a sold-out crowd of more than 16,000 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Top Rank, Matchroom Boxing, and Boots Promotions presented a stacked DAZN Pay-Per-View card headlined by Jaron “Boots” Ennis challenging WBA and WBO champion Xander Zayas. Ennis dropped Zayas three times before the champion’s corner threw in the towel in the seventh round.

Zayas (23-1, 13 KOs), of Puerto Rico, was making the first defense of his unified titles against former IBF welterweight champion Ennis (36-0, 31 KOs), of Philadelphia.

On his birthday, Ennis opened in the southpaw stance and wasted little time making an impression. Just over a minute into the first round, he landed a left hand on the chin that sent Zayas to the canvas for an eight-count from referee Harvey Dock. Ennis switched back to orthodox in the second round and continued landing clean right hands while Zayas tried to recover.

The third round produced Zayas’ best moment of the fight when he connected with a hard right hand that briefly forced Ennis to hold. It was one of the few rounds where Zayas had genuine success. By the fourth, Ennis had settled back into his rhythm, repeatedly finding the target with straight rights while both fighters exchanged late in the round.

A right uppercut midway through the fifth produced another knockdown. Zayas beat the count again but was clearly taking punishment, and Ennis continued landing hard right hands before the bell.

Zayas showed plenty of courage in the sixth, remaining competitive despite trailing badly. In the seventh, Ennis landed a left hand followed by a barrage of unanswered punches that dropped Zayas for the third time. Although Zayas got back to his feet again, his corner wisely threw in the towel to prevent further punishment.

Vargas Stops Mills

In the co-feature, Emiliano “El General” Vargas (18-0, 15 KOs) stopped Bryce Mills (22-2, 9 KOs) in the fourth round to retain his regional titles.

The opening two rounds were competitive. Vargas switched to southpaw at times and landed the cleaner shots, while Mills had his best moment late in the second when a right hand briefly stunned Vargas.

Vargas broke the fight open in the third, scoring the first knockdown with a right hook. In the fourth, he dropped Mills again with a lead left before another barrage sent Mills down a third time, forcing referee Ricky Gonzalez to stop the contest.

Tucker Wins Close Decision

Jahi Tucker (17-1-1, 7 KOs) earned a majority decision over 2020 Olympian Euri Cedeno (14-1-1, 12 KOs) to claim the vacant IBF North American, WBC USA, and WBO NABO middleweight titles.

The fight was closely contested throughout. Tucker started quickly, Cedeno rallied, and the middle rounds featured steady back-and-forth action. Cedeno used his reach well in the seventh and eighth before Tucker closed strongly over the final two rounds despite suffering a bloody nose and swelling under his left eye.

The scores were 95-95, 97-93, and 98-92.

Whittaker Impresses In U.S. Debut

Olympic silver medalist Ben Whittaker (12-0-1, 9 KOs) needed less than two rounds to stop Richard “Popeye the Sailor Man” Rivera (27-3, 20 KOs).

Making his U.S. debut, Whittaker dominated from the opening bell before dropping Rivera with a chopping right near the end of the first round. Early in the second, a left hook sent Rivera down again. Although Rivera beat the count, referee Michael Griffin took one look at him and decided he had seen enough, waving off the contest.

Thompson Escapes With Split Decision

Dennis “HFUP” Thompson (11-0, 6 KOs) won an eight-round split decision over Edwin Rodriguez (12-12-3, 5 KOs).

Thompson boxed well early, but Rodriguez refused to cooperate with the script, turning the fight into a rugged battle and looking far better than his record suggested. The final round was close, and the judges returned scores of 79-73, 77-75 for Thompson, and 77-75 for Rodriguez.

Juanmita Ends It Early

Juanma “Juanmita” Lopez (6-0, 4 KOs), the son of former two-division world champion Juan Manuel Lopez, needed just one round to knock out Alberto Motos (6-3).

Lopez controlled the action before a straight left landed flush on Motos’ chin. Motos went down and failed to beat the count as referee Ricky Gonzalez completed the knockout.

Williams Outpoints Baxter

Quincey Williams (8-0, 6 KOs) defeated Jerome “Thoroughbred” Baxter (8-3, 3 KOs) over eight rounds.

Williams controlled most of the fight with his jab and movement, while Baxter earned respect by continuing to press forward despite falling behind on the scorecards. All three judges scored the contest 79-73 in Williams’ favor.

Note: The night’s final officiating crew included ring announcer David Diamante—not referee David Diamante, who somehow found his way into the original report.

- Ken Hissner

THE 'REAL REASON' OLEKSANDR USYK VACATED HIS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES REVEALED

Ukrainian superstar Oleksandr Usyk shocked the boxing world on Friday afternoon when he announced that he would be vacating all of his world heavyweight championships with immediate effect.

The undefeated 39-year-old, who held the WBA 'super', WBC and IBF belts, took to social media to inform fans of his decision. Usyk was most recently seen in the ring last month, when he defeated Dutch kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in controversial fashion.

Explaining why he had decided to give up his gold, Usyk spoke of his desire to give opportunities to other fighters in the division. He also confirmed that he would have at least one more fight, referring to the next stage of his career as "my last dance".

"I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them," he stated. "Friends, I'm leaving the belts, but not the sport because I still have my last dance."

The Motivation Behind Usyk's Decision to Ditch His Gold Has Been Explained

While Usyk's intentions may appear noble, Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn, who has promoted several of the legendary fighter's bouts, has shared the 'real reason' behind the decision.

In an interview with Seconds Out in the wake of the announcement, Hearn suggested that Usyk parting company with his gold was motivated by his desire to have more control over his own schedule.

Breaking down the demands on Usyk as a unified champion, Hearn stated:

"When you're the unified champion and you haven't faced one mandatory [challenger], it's a little bit easier to vacate all the belts than to answer the questions. He [Usyk] is probably in a position where he is like: 'I've done so much in the sport, I don't want to be told who I've got to fight! I want to fight when I want to fight!'"

Usyk's surprising announcement comes just days before a deadline by which he needed to agree a deal to fight the WBC's top-ranked contender, Agit Kabayel. As a result, that fight is now almost certain never to happen, with the unbeaten German likely to be promoted to full champion by the governing body shortly.

Oleksandr Usyk Wins His Final Fight 'Comfortably'

Hearn then went on to reveal the fight that he would advise Usyk to take in what will seemingly be his farewell bout.

"If he's gonna rematch Rico [Verhoeven], which if I was managing Usyk, I would be telling him to do, that's his last fight anyway.

"Why would he fight Kabayel and defend the titles? It's a very tough fight. I think financially you can make more money fighting Rico. There's a bit of controversy there. A few unanswered questions.

"I think he wins very comfortably in the second fight. They could do something special in Amsterdam, which would be iconic. He's done, isn't he? This is him saying: 'One more and thank you boxing'."

Usyk has yet to make any announcement regarding who he may face in his final bout, but it's easy to see why settling the score with Rico may appeal to him before he finally calls time on his legendary career.

- Nick Sutherland

OSCAR COLLAZO MAIN EVENT NOW A.NON TITLE

 

COURTESY OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

Another day, another turn for Oscar Collazo.

Informed early that his replacement opponent, Mexico’s Neider Valdez, had no chance of making the 105-lbs weight limit for Saturday night’s DAZN main-event minimumweight title bout at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, Collazo weighed in Friday at 110.6lbs while Valdez came in at 111.2lbs.

Collazo’s WBO and WBA belts will no longer be on the line, but the Puerto Rican will fight for the WBA International flyweight strap.

Who is Ruben Aguilar? And why should you follow his career… Share your thoughts 💭 below 👇 #Boxing

Valdez, 15-3-3 (12 KOs), was summoned this week after top-15 ranked original opponent Joey Canoy could not secure a travel visa to reach the U.S. from the Philippines and first-choice replacement opponent, Luis Castillo of Mexico, couldn't either.

Collazo, 14-0 (11 KOs), told BoxingScene Thursday he’s considering moving on from the 105lbs division to either seek the winner of the July 20 Shokicki Iwata-Erik Badillo WBC light flyweight title bout, or to make the bigger leap to flyweight and pursue fellow Golden Boy Promotions fighter and unified 112-lbs champion Ricardo Sandoval.

Collazo assured that his power will transfer up in weight, and now he’ll have the opportunity to prove that against Valdez, who has been knocked out twice in the past two-plus years.

- Lance Pugmire

WBA WANTS GERVONTA "TANK" DAVIS TO FACE FLOYD SCHOFIELD

 

🥊 The WBA has officially ordered a mandatory lightweight title fight between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and undefeated contender Floyd Schofield. Both camps now have 30 days — until June 22 — to reach a deal before the fight could head to a purse bid.

The WBA noted that Tank’s mandatory defense is already overdue following his majority draw with Lamont Roach back in March 2025. According to WBA rules, Davis cannot take another fight outside the mandatory challenger after the defense period expires.

OLEKSANDR USYK BEATS RICO VERHOEVEN THANKS TO CONTROVERSIAL REFEREE STOPPAGE

The referee did not think Verhoeven was saved by the bell.

The referee steps in to stop the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven fight in Egypt. | Photo by Mohamed Hossam/Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven faced off on Saturday in Egypt in front of the pyramids of Giza. Usyk, the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion, took on Verhoeven, a kickboxer by trade, in a match that was pure spectacle and the result confirmed it.

While Verhoeven was only taking part in his second career boxing match against Usyk, who came into the bout a perfect 24-0 in his career, the result was very much up in the air as the fighters headed into the later rounds. Or at least that's why many people had observed before a controversial stoppage ended the fight after 11 rounds. And then the scorecards only raised more questions.

First, let's take a look at the final moments of the fight when referee Mark Lyson waved off the fight after the bell. As you can see, Usyk was hitting Verhoeven as the bell rang and kept going and that's when the referee stepped in. The official result goes down as a TKO with one second left in the 11th round.

pic.twitter.com/qMmm6K0gp5

— Combat Casuals (@Clips4Casuals) May 23, 2026

What made the stoppage look even worse was the fact that Verhoeven was very much in the fight on the official scorecards. Two judges had the fight even and Verhoeven was up on the third card. Usyk was approximately three minutes away taking the first blemish on his boxing record by way of a decision loss or maybe a draw.

Here are the scorecards for Usyk x Rico after 10 rounds.

Two judges had it even, one had Rico up a round. pic.twitter.com/1bJFlFFaBT

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 23, 2026

Who knows what would have happened if the referee hadn't stepped in.

Verhoeven came into this fight with one boxing match on his résumé which took place back in 2014. The silver lining for Verhoeven here, besides holding his own against the heavyweight champion, is that he couldn't have won any of Usyk's belts anyway. So now he's 66-10 as a kickboxing champion and he's made a name for himself as a boxer.

Francis Ngannou Reacts

Francis Ngannou, who is coming off a first round knock out victory on last weekend's Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano card, commiserated with Verhoeven on social media saying, "Outsiders will never win, trust me I know, but Rico was the winner tonight. Period."

Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, had boxing matches against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury over the last few years. While he was knocked out by Joshua, he went the distance with Fury, who was the WBC champion at the time and lost by split decision. After beating Ngannou, Fury went on to lose back-to-back fights to Usyk. Those were the first and second losses of Fury's career.

Usyk and Verhoeven Ring Walk

While the fight had a controversial finish, that shouldn't take away from how cool a scene it was in Egypt on Saturday in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. They made sure to use the pyramids in their ring walks and it was undeinably awesome-looking

.A number of boxers including Canelo Álvarez, Terrence Crawford, Anthony Joshua, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney were all in attendance for the fight. As was Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. You really might see a celebrity anywhere this weekend.

- Stephen Douglas

RENOWNED TRAINER PREDICTS DAVID BENAVIDEZ COULD DETHRONE OLEKSANDR USYK IN FUTURE SHOWDOWN

Respected boxing trainer Robert Garcia believes David Benavidez could eventually defeat Oleksandr Usyk if the two fighters meet in the coming years.

Benavidez has continued receiving major praise following his successful move up to cruiserweight, where he defeated Gilberto Ramirez to capture WBA and WBO world titles on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena and strengthen his reputation as one of boxing’s elite fighters.

The victory has already sparked discussions about how far Benavidez could go in higher weight divisions, including the possibility of eventually moving up to heavyweight.

Garcia pointed specifically toward Usyk’s age as one of the major reasons he believes the matchup could eventually favor Benavidez.

“Usyk is nearly 40 already,” Garcia explained.

“So imagine two years from now, Benavidez beats him.”

Benavidez’s recent performances have significantly increased conversations surrounding his long-term future in heavier divisions.

Still unbeaten, the American star has already established himself across multiple weight classes. He became the first boxer to hold major titles at 168, 175, and 200 pounds.

What’s next for Benavidez and Usyk?

Agit Kabayel remains Usyk’s mandatory challenger, with the undefeated heavyweight reportedly expected to receive a world title opportunity later this year.

Before retirement, Usyk has already outlined a potential three-fight plan that includes a showdown against Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, followed by a mandatory defense against Kabayel and a possible trilogy fight against Tyson Fury.

Recently, Fury responded to Oleksandr Usyk’s calls for a trilogy fight and admitted that he is interested in running it back for a third time. However, Fury also stated that his main focus right now is his reportedly signed showdown against Anthony Joshua later this year.

As for Benavidez, the unbeaten American appears more focused on other major opportunities in the near future. The cruiserweight champion has shown a strong interest in moving back down to 175 pounds for a potential clash against Dmitry Bivol or a catchweight bout. Benavidez has also continued expressing interest in long-discussed fights against Canelo Alvarez and Jai Opetaia.

A fight between Benavidez and Usyk remains purely hypothetical for now, but Turki Alalshikh seems interested in making this fight a reality, as he expressed on his X account, his desire to see them go head-to-head in the ring.

Meanwhile, Garcia’s comments add to the growing speculation surrounding how Benavidez’s career could evolve over the next few years.

- Ryan Fletcher

JARRELL MILLER DEFIES LOGIC WITH 1003 PUNCHES AT 305 POUNDS

Matchroom Boxing 

Jarrell Miller weighed 305 pounds on fight night — and then threw a staggering 1003 punches across twelve rounds in a unanimous decision victory over Lenier Pero in Las Vegas.

That number alone would stand out in any division. At heavyweight, and from a fighter carrying that kind of size, it borders on the absurd.

Miller’s relentless output helped him grind down the previously unbeaten Pero over twelve rounds at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, earning scorecards of 115-113, 117-111, and 117-111.

Miller overwhelms Pero

Lenier Pero entered the bout as a rising contender with a perfect record and a reputation for composure, but Miller’s approach quickly turned the fight into a test of endurance rather than control.

Throwing at a pace rarely seen from a heavyweight, Miller forced exchanges and maintained pressure throughout, refusing to allow Pero to settle into any sustained rhythm over the course of the contest.

The Cuban showed flashes of his ability in stretches as the pair traded leather continually, but the volume and consistency from Miller ultimately defined the outcome, particularly as the rounds began to add up.

By the final bell, the difference was clear enough on the cards, even if Pero remained competitive in patches despite Miller controlling the rounds.

Matchroom Boxing 

1003 punches at 305 pounds

Miller’s punch output became the story of the fight as the rounds progressed, with the American surpassing the 1000 mark across the championship distance despite tipping the scales at 305 pounds. He landed with 29% of those blows.

Heavyweights are not built to operate at that level of activity, especially not at that size, which made the numbers even more striking once they were confirmed.

It was not just about quantity either, as the sustained pressure forced Pero into a fight he could never fully dictate.

The numbers will also invite scrutiny, with Miller having previously served a near four-year suspension for performance-enhancing drug violations.

A Dangerous Jarrell Miller

Miller scaled 12 pounds lighter than his victory over Kingsley Ibeh, the infamous “toupee fight,” and was in the kind of shape he showed in his credible draw with former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.

Apart from some bumps in the road eighteen months after his return from a three-and-a-half-year absence, Miller has built a solid résumé and could yet capitalize with a belated world title shot.

His last attempt at a major belt sparked massive controversy when Miller tested positive for multiple banned substances, which saw his challenge against Anthony Joshua fall apart in the first half of 2019.

Since then, Miller has looked a danger to certain heavyweights without having the same explosive power he showed earlier in his career, but his output alone still makes “Big Baby” a handful for anyone in the division.

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes a fight with Deontay Wilder could excite fans, while the New Yorker also has Murat Gassiev in his sights for a shot at a secondary WBA title, which may prove to be his most realistic route back into world title contention.

At 305 pounds and throwing over 1000 punches, Miller isn’t supposed to work like this — which is exactly why he’s still a problem.

Miller vs Pero Undercard Results

Chaves delivers knockout moment

Matchroom Boxing 

Earlier on the card, Alan Chaves produced a knockout-of-the-year contender with a single shot finish of Miguel Madueno in the third round.

The bout ended at 1:26 of round three, with Chaves extending his unbeaten record to 21-0 in emphatic fashion on his Matchroom debut.

The sudden ending stood in complete contrast to the main event, providing the kind of moment that prompts his promoter Eddie Hearn to declare a new superstar in the making.

Damian Sosa defeated previously unbeaten Freudis Rojas via unanimous decision over ten rounds, with Rojas suffering a knockdown in the sixth.

Nishant Dev continued his rise with a second-round stoppage of Juan Carlos Guerra Jr, who was dropped before the finish.

Angel Barrientes earned an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Luis Espinoza, while Phillip Vella also secured a points win against Edwin Rodriguez.

- Phil Jay

FANS REACT AS PACQUIAO RETURNS TO TRAINING – ‘P4P GREAT’

Credit: Henry Bedoy/MP Productions https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a28423916/manny-pacquiao-training-after-40-thurman-fight/

Manny Pacquiao is back in training, but there has been no agreement reached with Floyd Mayweather over a rematch, as fans reacted to his workout footage.

Reports indicate that Manny is trying to finalize a rematch with Mayweather, who is currently retired, to avenge his 2015 loss. Manny came out of a 4-year retirement in July at 46 to secure a majority draw against WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. Manny has said his next fight will be on January 24, or an April 2026 date for the IBA Pro World Title. Rolando Romero, the WBA Welterweight Champion, was mentioned as an opponent. However, Romero has been ordered to face his WBA mandatory Shakhram Giyasov. 

Pacquiao’s Future

“Manny Pacquiao is widely beloved around the globe, he is a true boxing legend who wants to leave legacy beyond the ring. His life story mirrors the spirit of IBA’s mission: giving every young boxer a fair chance to have achieve their dreams. We have been helping children as an organization, while Manny has been doing it all alone. Now, we will continue to help our children together as a united IBA boxing family and extend Manny’s programs beyond the borders,” Umar Kremlev (IBA President)

“Under the visionary leadership of President Umar Kremlev, the IBA has entered a Golden Era — an era where every boxer, from every country, can dream, fight, and succeed on equal terms. I am proud to join this mission — to make sure no young boxer is left behind, no champion is forgotten, and no nation is excluded. As Vice President, I will dedicate myself to building bridges — between amateurs and professionals, between East and West, between generations and cultures. I believe boxing can unite people in ways that politics never can. It can change lives, transform communities, and bring peace where there is division,” Pacquiao stated.

Things have also been complicated by Manny’s appointment as Vice President of the International Boxing Association (IBA). While Manny wants the Mayweather rematch, Floyd has said there is no news if ‘people don’t hear it from him.’ Regardless, Manny has been staying in shape. The following clip shows Manny hitting the punch bag with rapper BlueFace being one of the observers. 

PACQUIAO RETURNS TO RING JANUARY 24 WITH WBA CHAMPION ROMERO IN SIGHT

Learning from his July comeback fight that ended in a draw, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to have a longer training camp for his next bout

PUNCH. Manny Pacquiao fights Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE/IMAGN IMAGES/REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is returning to the ring on January 24, 2026, in the United States.

Boxing’s lone eight-division world champion announced his second comeback bout in Las Vegas on social media on Tuesday, October 7 (Wednesday, October 8, Philippine time).

Although Pacquiao, already inducted into the sports Hall of Fame, did not mention his opponent, Rolando Romero looms large.

The video announcement was posted by Indistry Media, a global streaming network and entertainment agency. 

Pacquiao, who’ll be 47 years old on fight night, wants another crown, and Romero’s World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight belt is a logical target.

A few hours after Pacquiao’s announcement made the rounds, Ring Magazine posted a video of Romero throwing combinations to an imagined foe in the streets of London.

Viva Promotions then posted a photo of Pacquiao showing off his still well-chiseled physique.

“Hello to all my boxing fans. I’m excited to let you know that I will be returning to the ring January 24 in Las Vegas,” Pacquiao said in the video. “It is going to be an exciting and special event. Stay tuned. More news to come on my opponent in the next few days.”

After virtually four years of inactivity, Pacquiao sought Mario Barrios’ World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title last July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Despite only six months of intense training, Pacquiao did so well that sports pundits thought that he won. Barrios pulled off a majority draw.

Learning from that experience, Pacquiao said he would have a longer training camp, at least eight weeks, for his next bout.

Pacquiao is expected to return to the United States in November as Manny Pacquiao Promotions is making its initial foray in California on November 29, 2025, with his son, Jimuel, making his professional debut.

- ROY LUARCA

YUSUF ADENIJI CROWNED WBA AFRICA CHAMPION

Yusuf Adeniji Crowned WBA Africa Champion

Nigeria’s Yusuf Adeniji (17-1, 10 KOs) captured the WBA Africa super welterweight title (154 lbs) on October 1 in Nigeria, earning the crown by technical decision after Akimos Anaang Apiah (7-3, 6 KOs) was disqualified for an intentional low blow in the fifth round.

From the opening bell, Adeniji displayed greater tactical discipline, working behind a steady jab and moving smartly to avoid Apiah’s frontal assaults. The Ghanaian pressed the action, looking for exchanges, but it was Adeniji who landed the cleaner, sharper shots, especially at mid-range.

The tension escalated in the fourth round when the referee issued Apiah a warning for low blows. In the fifth, following a missed combination, Apiah drove a downward hook squarely into the prohibited zone, leaving Adeniji doubled over in obvious pain. After consulting the ringside physician and reviewing the sequence, the referee called a halt to the contest, ruling a disqualification and confirming the result via the scorecards at the time: 50-46, 50-45, 50-45, all in favor of Adeniji.

With the victory, Yusuf Adeniji becomes the continental champion under the World Boxing Association banner, notching his 17th professional win and cementing his status as one of Nigeria’s most promising prospects. Though the ending was controversial, Adeniji’s dominance in the earlier rounds and his composure in the ring.

- Rowerth Goncalves

JAKE PAUL BLASTS 'SLUG' FANS OVER GERVONTA DAVIS FIX CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Jake Paul is taking issue with fans and critics already, with conspiracy theories on his fight with Gervonta Davis already taking a foothold.

Meeting with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis for the first time face-to-face overnight, Jake Paul shared the stage with the unbeaten puncher at a pre-fight press conference.

And slated to throw down, albeit in an exhibition match in November, the duo will compete over the course of 10 rounds.

However, amid much discourse on social media regarding the clash, Paul has hit back at critics who claim the fix is already in on his fight with the Baltimore star.

Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Jake Paul addresses ‘slug’ fans over Gervonta Davis fix claims

As is par for the course when Paul enters the ring, many speculate the outcome of the clash is already weighed in the Ohio native’s favor.

Namely, Paul was accused of fixing his December win over Mike Tyson, as well as numerous fights in the past, notably against the likes of Ben Askren, as well as his rematch win over ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley.

But with accusations once more leveled at Paul, the influencer has fired back, describing critics of him as “slugs”.

Reading tweets by these slugs saying Tank (Gervonta Davis) [is] going to take a dive… I’m really that f—— great that you all are making excuses already,” Paul posted on his X account.

“If I walk on water they will says (sic) it’s because I can’t swim.”

Jake Paul makes bold prediction for Gervonta Davis clash

Set to share the ring in ‘The Sunshine State’, Paul and Davis will duke it out in an exhibition showdown in Florida.

However, despite the nature of the pairing, Paul remains confident of turning in one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history.

So much so, the former Disney Channel star launched his latest prediction, vowing to ditch the ruleset for these particular matchups.

- Ross Markey

RICKY HUTTON CAUSE OF DEATH: EX-WBA IBO, IBF, WINNER HITMAN DIES AT AGE 46, LIFELONG MANCHESTER CITY FAN WAS TO MAKE COMEBACK IN DUBAI THIS YEAR

Boxer Ricky Hatton. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Synopsis

Ricky Hatton had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again. Hatton's second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.

Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. One of the most popular fighters in the sport was 46. Nicknamed 'the Hitman', Hatton won the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship during his 15-year professional career before retiring in 2012. He had been due to make a comeback for an event in Dubai this year. Outside of the ring, Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester City. The club said there would be a minute of appreciation for Hatton at Sunday's derby against Manchester United.

Hatton had 45 wins in 48 bouts over his career but in the years after he retired he said he had tried to kill himself several times and had been open about his struggle with depression, drink and drugs. Hatton's best performance came in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.

He had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again. Hatton's second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.

- The Economic Times, Global Desk

COACH REVEALS TERENCE CRAWFORD PLANS TO RECREATE KNOCKOUT WIN IN CANELO ÁLVAREZ SUPER FIGHT

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix

Terence Crawford will need to be at his shimmering best to topple Canelo Alvarez this weekend in ‘Sin City’, and one of his coaches is expecting just that, in fact.

Making his first venture to the super middleweight limit, former undisputed welterweight kingpin Terence Crawford will challenge Canelo Alvarez in the blockbuster clash of the year, with all title spoils up for grabs.

Testing light middleweight waters before his fight with the Mexican megastar, Crawford had run roughshod continually during his lengthy era of dominance at welterweight.

And ahead of his fight with Canelo, ‘Bud’ has been backed to emulate arguably his most iconic performance in the ring thus far.

Terence Crawford backed to beat Canelo Alvarez as badly as Errol Spence Jr.

Eventually fighting for the undisputed welterweight crown back in 2023, Crawford turned in one of the most heralded in-ring performances of the modern era

Taking on the unbeaten Errol Spence Jr., Crawford added the WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight titles to his trophy cabinet, inflicting a ninth-round knockout loss on the Long Islander — having put him on the canvas countless times during the clash.

And against Canelo this weekend at 168lbs, Crawford’s coach, Chet Fortune, gave quite a candid prediction of the performance the Nebraska native is likely to give.

Terence Crawford dominating Erroll Spence in the last Welterweight Unification pic.twitter.com/bzTu8DY1Dx

— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) April 12, 2025

Ultimately making the leap to 168lbs, Crawford has been touted as undeniable in the gym and in the ring by Fortune when it comes to his pugilist peers.

“When it comes to Bud, I know he’s willing to work harder than anyone else; willing to do whatever it takes; he doesn’t have any quit in him; and then he has a support system that he trusts around him,” Fortune explained.

Bonus up for grabs for Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford pup

With both Canelo and Crawford expected to pocket sizable fight purses for their efforts this weekend in Las Vegas, an added incentive has been tabled, too.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

As disclosed by event organizer Turki Alalshikh, if either Canelo or Crawford finish the bout via knockout, they will receive a lucrative financial bonus on top of their fight purse.

However, for Canelo, the Mexican would be forced to snap a lengthy run of decision wins, dating all the way back to his most recent knockout of Caleb Plant, to win undisputed gold in 2021.

- Ross Markey

OSCAR DE LA HOYA AND BERNARD HOPKINS BOTH NAME THE SAME FIGHTER AS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins are two of the best fighters in recent memory, but both agree one man in the history books tops all others.

The legendary duo locked horns in a monumental showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas back in September of 2004, a fight that saw Hopkins become the first undisputed middleweight champion of the ‘four belt era’ when he stopped De La Hoya in the ninth round to add the WBO title to his unified WBC, WBA and IBF belts.

They have since partnered up for Golden Boy Promotions and continue to develop today’s talent with a view to creating the next big star – but who do they feel is the best of all time?

Speaking to ESNEWS, De La Hoya didn’t hesitate to name the late great Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest fighter in history.

“Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest of all time! That’s basically it, look at this here [his shirt] all the weight divisions, hardest puncher, best footwork, he would fight multiple times a month, took on the very best, took on the toughest challenges. Sugar Ray Robinson, he’s literally the GOAT.”

Hopkins shares the same views of his former rival turned business partner, once telling the media that he also believes Robinson is the very best fighter to have ever graced the sport.

“The best fighter ever is Sugar Ray Robinson. To me the best fighter after that is Muhammad Ali, and then the debate starts from on and on from there.”

Robinson fought on just over 200 occasions as a professional throughout the course of his storied 25-year tenure, which spanned between 1940 and 1965.

He became six-time world champion along the way, reigning as the world welterweight champion between 1946 and 1951 before he eventually made the move up to middleweight, capturing the world title five times within a 9-year period before his retirement.

- Kailem Lowe

USYK PREPARES FOR DUBOIS REMATCH WiTH ALL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES ON THE LINE

Oleksandr Usyk will face Daniel Dubois in a rematch. (Photo: instagram.com/usykaa)

Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk (23–0, 14 KOs), who currently holds the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBO heavyweight titles, is set to face off once again against IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois (22–2, 21 KOs) in a high-stakes rematch.

Usyk is actively training for the July 19 bout, which will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

A new video circulating online shows Usyk in top form, sharpening his punches and drilling speed and technique in preparation for the highly anticipated fight.

Their first clash took place on Aug. 26, 2023, in Wroclaw, Poland. In the fifth round, Dubois landed a controversial low blow that was ruled illegal. The referee paused the fight to give Usyk time to recover, and the Ukrainian boxer ultimately secured a technical knockout victory in the ninth round.

Dubois has since promised a “surprise” for the rematch, fueling speculation about his strategy going into what could be a career-defining fight.

- Demian Shevko

OLEKSANDR USYK'S MOST LIKELY NEXT OPPONENT NAMED: "WE NEED TO DO IT"

Image credit: Queensberry

Oleksandr Usyk‘s next move is currently being decided.

The Ukrainian became undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time in July when he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium to add his IBF belt to his WBC, WBA and WBO titles.

While that bout may have only taken place a month ago, attention immediately turned to who Usyk will face next, with the WBO ordering him to defend against mandatory challenger Joseph Parker.

Parker earned that right with victories over Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder over the past 18 months, becoming interim WBO heavyweight champion in the process.

The two camps were given 30 days to negotiate before it went to purse bids, but Usyk has requested more time, citing the need to recover from injuries.

With no decision reached yet, and Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh declaring he doesn’t want the Parker fight next, fans have begun to speculate that Usyk may choose to vacate the WBO belt and instead take on another fighter, with the likes of Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma mentioned as possible opponents.

Usyk’s Team Director Sergey Lapin has now provided an update, telling Boxing King Media that Parker still currently appears to be the frontrunner for the fight.

“We have the WBO belt, his first belt. We have rules. We need to speak with the team and next opponent is Parker. Is this fight not Saudi? We’ll see where we do it and the next step.”

Usyk’s first world title was the WBO cruiserweight belt in September 2016, before going on to become undisputed at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.

It means the Ukrainian may have some loyalty towards the governing body, but it wouldn’t be the first time that he has lost his undisputed status by vacating a belt, after doing so with the IBF title in 2024.Toby Morgan

- Toby Morgan

OLEKSANDR USYK AGREES TO JAKE

Jake Paul and Oleksandr Usyk had an unexpected face-off following the Ukrainian’s win over Daniel Dubois.

Usyk once again became undisputed heavyweight champion by claiming a dominant fifth round knockout win over Dubois, reclaiming the IBF belt in the process and adding it to his WBC, WBA and WBO titles to cement his status as the best heavyweight on the planet.

Attention has already turned to who Usyk may take on next following the win, and despite most people expecting the likes of Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker to be linked, YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul has thrown his name into the ring.

Paul was last in action in June when he defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a cruiserweight bout, and has also been linked to a heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua in recent weeks.

It seems that Paul could now be targeting a shock battle with Usyk though, after facing off with the Ukrainian and posting a message on social media outlining his one condition for the potential match-up.

“Congrats to one of the greatest heavyweights of all time Usyk on a huge win. I respect you a lot. Now we do an MMA match for the world.”

Whilst team Usyk also agree that a boxing match could ‘never’ happen, they do agree that a bout inside the Octagon would be ‘perfect’.

“Well Jake Paul, you know, when it comes to Jake Paul we’re not talking about the boxing because we would be probably put in the jail for murder … we all understand we can’t put Jake Paul and Oleksandr in the ring for boxing, there is no way, and Oleksandr will never do that, but of course because Jake Paul was a wrestler and what I heard he was a good wrestler when he was growing up, he knows how to wrestle, he knows how to fight a little bit. I think MMA would be the perfect thing to do.”

 While Paul may have become one of the biggest names in the sport, a fight with Usyk is likely not one that many fight fans would want to see next, but as has been proven in combats sports for a number of years, anything can certainly happen.

- Toby Morgan

JAKE PAUL AND JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. MAKE CRUISERWEIGHT LIMIT

Some of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s biggest fights have come against the scale, but the second-generation fighter didn’t have issues making the cruiserweight limit ahead of his 10-round clash against Jake Paul on Saturday.

Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) weighed 199.4 pounds, while Chavez (54-6-1, 34 KOs) tipped the scales at a career-high 198.4 pounds on Friday ahead of their fight at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Paul and Chavez faced off without incident for MVP and Golden Boy’s co-promoted event, which will stream on DAZN PPV beginning at 5 p.m. PST.

Chavez came into the weigh-in having missed weight in high-profile fights (and losses) in recent years against Anderson Silva and Daniel Jacobs, and other times before that, in a career that started in 2003.

Chavez has been competing as a cruiserweight since 2021, and the besmirched boxer is 8-4 dating back to 2012, when he was an undefeated middleweight title holder at the time. But at 39, a faded Chavez is promising a rejuvenated version of himself to regain respect with a turn-back-the-clock-like performance.

Paul, meanwhile, is looking to use Chavez as a stepping stone to get ranked and chase a world title run.

In the co-main event, WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs), from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, weighed in at 199.8 pounds, while Miami-based Cuban challenger Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) weighed 198.6 pounds.

Ramirez seeks to cement his status in the division with his first stoppage win in the weight class as a possible unification fight looms against Jai Opetaia.

Weights for the rest of the Paul-Chavez Jr. undercard

Welterweights; 10 rounds

Raul Curiel (15-0-1, 13 KOs) 146.4 pounds; Guadalajara, Jalisco

Victor Rodriguez (16-0-1, 9 KOs) 145.2 pounds; Maldonado, Uruguay

Welterweights; 10 rounds

Avious Griffin (17-0, 16 KOs) 146.8 pounds; Chattanooga, Tennessee

Julian Rodriguez (23-1, 14 KOs) 146.6 pounds; Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey

Lightweights; 10 rounds

Floyd Schofield Jr. (18-0, 12 KOs) 134.8 pounds; Austin, Texas

Tevin Farmer (33-8-1, 8 KOs) 135 pounds; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

DAZN will stream the preliminary action to its subscribers beginning at 12 p.m. PST, and the non-PPV card will be headlined by former three-division champion and UFC champion Holly Holm, who is making her return to boxing after a 12-year break.

Lightweights; 10 rounds

Holly Holm (33-2-3, 9 KOs) 136.6 pounds; Albuquerque, New Mexico

Yolanda Vega (10-0, 1 KO) 136.8 pounds; Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico

Welterweights; 8 rounds

Joel Iriarte (7-0, 7 KOs) 146.8 pounds; Bakersfield, California

Kevin Johnson (12-6, 8 KOs) 146.4 pounds; Las Vegas, Nevada

Bantamweights; 8 rounds

Alexander Gueche (7-0, 5 KOs) 124 pounds; Long Beach, California

Vincent Avina (8-1-1, 7 KOs) 120 pounds; Las Vegas, Nevada

Heavyweights; 6 rounds

Joshua Edwards (2-0, 2 KOs) 226 pounds; Houston, Texas

Dominic Hardy (6-3, 4 KOs) 251.4 pounds; Riverside, Illinois

Junior Lightweights; 10 rounds

Victor Morales (20-0-1, 10 KOs) 130 pounds; Vancouver, Washington

Renee Alvarado (34-16, 22 KOs) 129.6 pounds; Managua, Nicaragua

Junior Featherweights; 10 rounds

John “Scrappy” Ramirez (14-1, 9 KOs) 119.8 pounds; Los Angeles, California

Josue Jesus Morales (33-18-5, 14 KOs) 121.6 pounds; Houston, Texas

- MANOUK AKOPYAN