Search Results

Gervonta Davis: The New Face of Boxing? In the world of boxing, being recognized as the top pound-for-pound fighter is a coveted title that countless fighters aspire to attain. However, there is another mythical title that many fighters yearn for - being the needle mover, the ticket seller, and the star among stars. And according to Gervonta Davis, he is the man who currently holds this title. Despite the likes of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Canelo Alvarez being viewed as the top dogs in the sport, Davis firmly believes that he has usurped them all as the face of boxing. His claims may be audacious, but they may also have some merit behind them. Davis has consistently packed out arenas across the globe and has shown to be a draw in the pay-per-view market, regardless of who he faces. In his most recent fight against Hector Luis Garcia, Davis generated roughly 220k pay-per-view buys. However, that number is expected to increase tenfold when Davis takes on fellow unbeaten and widely popular star, Ryan Garcia, on April 22nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. As his mega-clash with Garcia draws near, Davis has taken notice of his surroundings in the boxing landscape. While he acknowledges that there are many talented fighters with growing followings, he firmly believes that they are merely playing follow the leader, and that he is the one leading the charge. Davis has also realized that history repeats itself, and that he is merely following in the footsteps of the greats who came before him, such as Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya. He believes that he possesses that intangible quality that cannot be taught, and that many fighters are trying to emulate him in the same way that others tried to emulate Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in their prime. Whether or not Davis is truly the face of boxing remains to be seen. However, his unwavering confidence and impressive track record suggest that he may be onto something. As he prepares to take on Ryan Garcia in what promises to be a blockbuster event, all eyes will be on Gervonta Davis to see if he can back up his claims and cement his place in boxing history as one of the all-time greats.

Lawrence Okolie Retains WBO Cruiserweight Title after 13 Months Out of the Ring After 13 months of absence from the ring, Lawrence Okolie drew a line under a turbulent period of his career by defending his WBO cruiserweight title against David Light. Despite Okolie's relocation to Dubai and then to America to work with trainer Sugar Hill Steward, Light was given almost no chance of securing a second consecutive upset following his victory over Brandon Glandon in December. In the end, Okolie's workmanlike performance proved too much for Light, who never got close to the champion throughout the fight. While the judges' scores flattered Light somewhat, with Michael Alexander giving the bout to Okolie 116-112, Deon Dwarte scoring it 117-110, and Jean Gauthier's 119-108 closest to the money, Okolie's point deduction for holding in the 11th made the fight closer on paper than it was in reality. Reflecting on his performance, Okolie admitted that he felt rusty but was happy to have shaken it off. "He was very tough," Okolie said. "I always believe between 7-9 are my rounds to get people out of there, and that was when I was starting to hurt him, but I couldn’t get that last shot to drop him." When asked about his next opponent, Okolie was clear that he was willing to take on all comers, including those who might think he is "rubbish." His willingness to fight anyone is a testament to his confidence and determination to prove himself in the ring. The fight was also significant for Okolie because it marked his first fight under the Boxxer banner after leaving his longtime promoter Eddie Hearn. Okolie won British, Commonwealth, European, and world titles with Matchroom, but he has since left and described Hearn as "vindictive" during this fight week. Okolie's decision to leave Matchroom marks a turning point in his career, and it remains to be seen how his relationship with Boxxer will develop in the future. Despite his long absence from the ring, Okolie's performance against Light was by-and-large the Okolie of old: heavy-handed and dangerous, but often struggling to find his range. Light did little to make an impression on Okolie, but he did well to stay out of any real trouble. In the end, Okolie's victory was hard-fought, but it was well-deserved. With unification options and even a move up to heavyweight on the horizon, Okolie's win over Light marks a new chapter in his career, and fans will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting his next bout.

Benavidez Decisively Defeats Plant in Grudge Match David Benavidez emerged victorious over Caleb Plant in their grudge match on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was the highlight of the Showtime Pay-Per-View event, which drew a crowd of 13,865. The two fighters exchanged words and had a contentious buildup leading to the bout, but they embraced each other after the 12-round fight ended. Benavidez, who consistently landed powerful punches and applied pressure throughout the second half of the fight, won convincingly on two of the judges' scorecards. Plant boxed well in the first half of the 168-pound bout, but Benavidez's power wore him down as the fight progressed. Plant also slowed Benavidez at times by holding excessively in the later rounds. Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs), who was a 3-1 favorite, defended his WBC interim super middleweight title and maintained his spot as the WBC's mandatory challenger for undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs). Plant (22-2, 13 KOs), the former IBF super middleweight champ, lost for the second time in his past three fights. Alvarez dropped him twice in the 11th round and stopped him in their 168-pound title unification fight in November 2021 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Although Plant couldn't hurt Benavidez with any of his punches on Saturday night, he acknowledged Benavidez as the better fighter after the bout. "David is a helluva fighter," Plant said. "We haven't been the best of friends, but we got into the ring and we settled it like men. That's what you're supposed to do." Benavidez praised Plant as well, saying, "He's a helluva fighter. I'm happy we gave the fans the best rivalry of the year or the last five years. I'm just very happy." With this victory, Benavidez has proven himself to be a serious contender in the super middleweight division, and a potential future opponent for Alvarez.

Jarrell Miller’s Career Hinges on Comeback as Critics Pounce Jarrell Miller, a Brooklyn-based heavyweight contender, has been on a tumultuous journey in the boxing world. He was once on the cusp of achieving worldwide fame and fulfilling a long-standing dream of becoming a world champion. However, a series of failed drug tests derailed his career, and he was handed a two-year ban from the sport. After serving his suspension, Miller has been on a comeback trail, picking up three consecutive victories. However, his latest win against former titleholder Lucas Browne was met with criticism, particularly from Dillian Whyte, who called him “so so so so shit” on his social media account. Whyte is also hoping to position himself for a showdown against one of the heavyweight division’s elite. He eked out a controversial majority decision win against Jermaine Franklin in his last fight and is rumored to be eyeing a rematch with former Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua. Miller, on the other hand, continues to work on his comeback, hoping to shed the criticism and regain the respect of the boxing community. His initial shot at worldwide fame, a match against Joshua, slipped through his fingers due to his failed drug tests. However, he remains determined to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion. The road to redemption for Miller is a long and challenging one. He will need to prove himself against tougher opponents and silence his critics to regain his position as a heavyweight contender. However, with his skills and determination, Miller could still make a name for himself in the boxing world and achieve his dream of becoming a world champion. Only time will tell if he will succeed or fall short once again.

Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone has been announced as a member of the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame class, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot inside the Octagon. The official announcement that "Cowboy" will be named into the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame class was made at Saturday's UFC San Antonio event. The ceremony is planned to be held from July 3 to July 9 during International Fight Week. The ceremony's precise date and place have not yet been revealed. Cerrone, 39, follows a distinguished class of 2023 inductees, which also features lighter-weight pioneer Jens Pulver and Brazilian superstars Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo. Cerrone, known for his exciting fighting style and willingness to take on any opponent, holds several records in the UFC. He has the most wins in UFC history, with a total of 36 victories throughout his career. He also holds the record for most finishes, with 23 of his wins coming by way of knockout or submission. Additionally, he has earned the most post-fight bonuses in UFC history, with an incredible 18 fight night bonuses to his name. Cerrone made his UFC debut in 2011, after building a reputation as one of the top fighters in the WEC. He quickly made a name for himself in the UFC, impressively winning his first four fights. Over the years, he has faced many of the top fighters in multiple weight classes. While he was at his peak, Cerrone was recognized for his great activity. He won noteworthy fights versus Charles Oliveira, Jeremy Stephens, Edson Barboza, Eddie Alvarez, Jim Miller, and Benson Henderson which led his way to his first UFC championship chance. Despite never winning a UFC championship, Cerrone's impressive record and willingness to fight anyone put him in the conversation as one of the best fighters in UFC history. His exciting style and willingness to engage in all-out wars with his opponents made him a fan favorite, and he will be remembered as one of the most entertaining fighters of all time. Although losing his final seven fights, he was nevertheless involved in well-known bouts against Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, and Anthony Pettis, among others. Cerrone's induction into the UFC Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a fighter who gave him his all every time he stepped into the Octagon. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of fighters, and his place in the Hall of Fame is well-deserved. Congratulations to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone on this tremendous honor.

Caleb Plant won't be able to handle the pressure and strength of David Benavidez, according to his father and trainer. On March 25 in Las Vegas, Jose Benavidez Sr. predicts that David Benavidez, who will defend the WBC interim super middleweight championship against Plant, will win via knockout. While Canelo Alvarez is the only opponent to halt Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) inside the distance in 23 professional fights, the younger Benavidez has knocked out 88 percent of his opponents since turning pro (26-0, 23 KOs). “We’re training hard not just to win the fight, but to look spectacular and get to even bigger fights,” Jose Benavidez Sr. stated during his son’s open workout recently at their family’s gym in Burien, Washington, just outside of Seattle. “I believe that David is gonna stop Caleb Plant in the eighth or ninth round.” With his unrelenting aggression and heavy punching, both to the body and head, Benavidez often overwhelms opponents. Benavidez has demonstrated an iron chin as well, but the intelligent, skilled Plant is the best boxer he has consented to face over the course of a professional career he started at the age of 16. Benavidez believes that Plant will falter under his pressure given what he has observed each time the former IBF super middleweight champion has faced strong opponents. “You can see that every time Caleb is in the ring with a power puncher, he’s not comfortable,” David Benavidez said. “He beat Jose Uzcategui, but he was hurt in the fight and then Canelo hurt him. Even Anthony Dirrell hit him with good shots, and he’s not a hitter like that.” At the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 15, Plant viciously knocked out Dirrell with a picture-perfect left hook in the ninth round. Former WBC 168-pound champion Dirrell (34-3-2, 25 KOs) of Flint, Michigan, was stopped by Benavidez too in the ninth round of their 12-round battle, which took place in September 2019 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Dirrell was cut badly over his right eye but was still standing. Benavidez believes Plant might go toe-to-toe with him more than people expect because of Plant’s spectacular knockout of Dirrell. “I’ve got the power and I feel like I’m faster,” Benavidez said. “I just have to get my feet in the right position, because he’s going to be moving a lot. I think he has a little bit more confidence after beating Dirrell, though, so we’ll see if he wants to trade with me.”

David Benavidez has always placed more value on securing his legacy than maintaining his spotless track record. He pushed for a collision with Caleb Plant rather than a stay-busy battle against worn-out Jose Uzcategui because of this. It required staying away from the ring for an additional two to three months than anticipated, but the unbeaten former two-time WBC super middleweight champion believes the risk was well worth it. “I’ve said for a while that if I have to carve out my own history, that’s even better for me, fighting all these f-----’ guys nobody wants to face,” Benavidez told the media. “The thing about guys like us at the top is, we don’t care about the possibility of losing. The sparring I’ve done against world champions, the best always comes out of me. I need that in the ring, in a fight that counts. “I’ve been the one talking the most sh!t at 168. I just turned 26. How is the youngest guy the one talking the most sh!t? But I’m always gonna be vocal about wanting to fight the best. If the other guys aren’t willing to speak up and demand better or proven themselves, that’s their f------’ problem.” Benavidez's (26-0, 23KOs) perseverance allowed for the long-awaited rematch with Plant. (22-1, 13KOs). This Saturday's Showtime Pay-Per-View event, which will be broadcast from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, will feature a clash of past super middleweight champions. In their twelve-round fight, Benavidez's interim WBC championship is on the line. The winner of this fight should theoretically become the mandatory challenger for Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (58-2-2, 39KOs), the undisputed super middleweight champion, who will next defend his title against interim WBO champion John Ryder (32-5, 18KOs) on May 6 on a DAZN pay-per-view from his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. Benavidez has accepted the fact that Alvarez will hold him up for however long the Mexican champion deems necessary. In his quest to establish himself as the best in the division, the unbeaten 26-year-old receives at least one name from his preferred hit list, which is fine with him whether or not Alvarez ever steps into the ring with him. “I stopped worrying about him a long time ago, to be honest,” insisted Benavidez. “The longer he takes to fight me, the more experience I can gain by beating everyone else. The only thing Canelo beats me at is experience. I’m bigger, I’m stronger and I feel I’m faster. The only f------- thing he has on me is experience. “How do you get experience? You just go do it. You can’t buy experience, you just go get it. So if I have to fight Caleb Plant, David Morrell and all these guys, that’s fine. I’ve been calling out all these guys. I know I’m gonna beat them all. Whatever order I receive them doesn’t matter to me as long as I get them in the ring.”

Joe Joyce still hoping for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk undisputed showdown British boxer Joe Joyce is hoping that Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk can still find a way to make their highly-anticipated undisputed heavyweight showdown happen. Despite both camps admitting that the fight is currently off the table due to disagreements over the monetary split for the rematch, Joyce is optimistic that the fight can still be made. Joyce, who is the WBO’s mandatory challenger, believes that the undisputed heavyweight title fight needs to happen, and that it will open up more opportunities for fighters in the division. He prefers a domestic showdown with Fury, but first, he must beat Zhilei Zhang on April 15. “I’ve got the WBO Interim, I want the full title. Then people can challenge me for it, be in some great fights and then we can all live happily ever after,” Joyce said. “First I’ve got to beat up Zhang, before I can go and beat up Fury. I aim to have a destructive performance and beat him in style and then push [for] the Fury fight.” Joyce is hoping that the Fury-Usyk fight can still be made, as he believes it will be a great spectacle for boxing fans. Usyk, who holds the WBO, IBF, IBO, and WBA world titles, has several mandatory obligations on the table, with the WBA’s mandatory, Daniel Dubois, up first. “Can you just get the fight made please guys? I thought it was on. What’s the reason this time?” Joyce said. “Everyone wants to see undisputed. It’s been such a long time. Once that fight’s happened, then there’s another undisputed fight queued up. In the meantime, I’m hoping that [Fury-Usyk] fight gets across the line. A big fight with Zhang and hopefully things will get ironed out and I fight Fury after.”

Gurgen Hovhannisyan to face Charles Martin on Davis-Garcia undercard Armenian heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan will face former IBF champion Charles Martin on April 22 on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia fight, according to BoxingScene.com. Hovhannisyan has won all four of his professional fights by knockout, with his last victory coming over Michael Coffie on the Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius undercard in October 2021. Martin, who is 36 years old, has won four of his five fights since losing to Adam Kownacki in September 2018. Martin’s only loss since then came against Cuba’s Luis Ortiz in January 2022. The fight between Hovhannisyan and Martin will be streamed on Showtime’s YouTube channel before the pay-per-view portion of the Davis-Garcia undercard begins at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Showtime is also expected to stream a 154-pound fight in which Vito Mielnicki Jr. will meet Elias Espadas before the pay-per-view show begins. The matchup against Martin will be the toughest test of Hovhannisyan’s career. Martin, who is a strong southpaw, has mentioned rematches with Ortiz or Kownacki, or fights against Jared Anderson, Daniel Dubois, or Lenier Pero. This is a chance for the St. Louis native to knock off a highly regarded prospect, rather than continuing to wait for one of those fights to materialize.

Lyndon Arthur Claims Hard-Fought Victory Against Late Stand-In Boris Crighton Lyndon Arthur was made to work hard for his unanimous victory against late stand-in Boris Crighton in Bolton. The Manchester boxer had been preparing to face Braian Suarez for the IBO title on this show, but when the Argentinean failed his pre-fight medical, Crighton was drafted in just 30 hours before the first bell. Despite their familiarity with each other, it was a cagey start, with Arthur routinely firing out his trademark jab. However, Crighton was sharp and focused, seemingly happy to stay out of trouble. He even made the first real breakthrough of the fight in the third round, landing a right hand that momentarily stiffened Arthur’s legs. Arthur began to find his groove and was able to unsheathe his long right hand, which was starting to have some success behind the ramrod jab. Even so, it was not exactly pretty through six rounds, but Arthur was in control despite some zealous attacks from Crighton. He upped the pace and workrate in the eighth, opening up a cut beneath Crighton’s left eye. Arthur continued to pile on the pressure in the ninth and landed more right hands, leaving Crighton unable to spot the right hand coming. However, Crighton finished the round in the ascendancy. Arthur turned the screw once again in the 10th, piling on the pressure and spearing more right hands straight down the pipe. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, he finally dropped Crighton. Although Crighton was up in time to beat the count, the judges were required, and they delivered a unanimous decision. Arthur admitted that Crighton had been a tricky opponent, but he was pleased with the ten rounds he had under his belt before his next fight. “It is what it is. I’ll get back in the gym straight away and keep trying to progress. It’s great for me, so I’m happy.” Despite the hard-fought victory, Arthur is expected to fight for the vacant IBO light-heavyweight title in May. The 31-year-old is still rebuilding after his crushing defeat to Anthony Yarde in December 2021, but he is determined to get back into world title contention as part of a bustling British light-heavyweight scene.

Michael Conlan Set for Redemption Against Luis Alberto Lopez for IBF Featherweight Title After suffering a knockout loss in his last world title bid, Michael Conlan is set for redemption when he faces IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez at the SSE Arena on May 27. The highly-anticipated bout promises to be a thrilling encounter, as both fighters possess the skills and experience to deliver a classic match. Conlan's last outing against Leigh Wood saw him dominate the early rounds, but he faded in the championship rounds and was ultimately stopped in the twelfth and final round. The defeat was a major setback for the Irishman, but he believes that he has rebuilt himself in the right way, and is now ready to take on the best in the division once again. "This means the world to me," said Conlan. "If I don't become a world champion, I'll be very underwhelmed and disappointed as it will feel like I've underachieved in my professional career. The fact that I have the chance to do it in front of the home crowd will tick it off the list." However, Lopez is no pushover, as he captured the title last December when he traveled to Leeds and upset Josh Warrington by a twelve-round decision. The Mexican has been on a solid streak of wins and is coming into the fight with a lot of confidence. Conlan is fully aware of the challenge that awaits him but is confident that he has what it takes to emerge victorious. "Lopez is a fantastic fighter, very dangerous and unorthodox. He does some crazy stuff in the ring and will come into this fight with massive confidence. But I believe I will beat him and beat him well. I've just worked on improving, and I think what will stand to me will be experience," he said. The Irishman is determined to learn from his mistakes in the previous fight and is going into this bout with a conscious effort not to repeat them. "I know the mistakes I made, so I go into this one conscious of not making them again," he added. The SSE Arena in Belfast is set to be packed with passionate Irish fans cheering on their favorite son, and Conlan is relishing the opportunity to perform in front of them. The fight promises to be a classic encounter, and both fighters will be looking to make a statement to the rest of the division. In the end, it will come down to who wants it more, who has the better strategy, and who can execute it better on the night. It's a fight that boxing fans won't want to miss, and one that could potentially propel the winner to even greater heights in the sport.

During their open workout on Wednesday, David Benavidez observed Caleb Plant making the same gravedigging gesture he did immediately after knocking Anthony Dirrell out five months earlier. In the ninth round of their WBC elimination fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 15, Plant knocked out former WBC super middleweight champion Dirrell, signalling the end of Dirrell's career with a shovelling motion in the ring. Benavidez assured Plant that he won't hold any such celebration on Saturday night during their final press briefing on Thursday at the Ka Theater of the MGM Grand. “I’ve been working extremely hard for this camp,” Benavidez said. “You know, I’m super ready. I’m very excited. And, like I said, all the talk is done. What’s funny, though, that I seen Caleb Plant been doing that gravedigging gesture. Little does he know, he’s digging his own grave, because we’re gonna see Saturday night what that chin look like. Yeah, we’re gonna see. We’re gonna see. We’ll see. We’ll see.” Plant emphasised on Thursday that Benavidez hasn't competed in a competition of this stature before and hasn't encountered as much opposition as he has. The former IBF super middleweight champion from Ashland City, Tennessee, Plant (22-1, 13 KOs), also cautioned Benavidez that he is not a "blown-up 54-pounder" or a last-minute opponent. The only opponent to defeat Plant is former pound-for-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. In their super middleweight championship unification fight in November 2021 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mexico's Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) dropped Plant twice in the 11th round and finished him off. As their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event approaches, Benavidez, who has admitted that Plant is the best opponent of his ten-year professional career, is rated as at least a 3-1 favourite by the majority of sportsbooks. At MGM Grand Garden Arena ($74.99), the 12-round main event of a four-fight telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET. They will compete for Benavidez's WBC interim 168-pound title. “I’m definitely the harder puncher, now that I’m more dedicated for this fight,” Benavidez said. “You know, Caleb Plant said he’s found his new power. I been had this power. Now I just tweaked it. Now I’m even more stronger, more faster, so this is definitely gonna be a fight of a boxer and a pressure fighter. I’m very excited, but like I said, this is gonna be a war and Team Benavidez will come out on top.”