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Conor Benn continues demand his mandated shot at WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia, and former three-division world champion Shane Mosley has offered his prediction for the fight.

After Garcia’s win over Mario Barrios in February to pick up the belt, the WBC confirmed Benn as mandatory challenger, despite the Brit not fighting at the weight since 2022.

Though the champion said the fight is booked for September 12 in Las Vegas, subsequent legal action from his promoter Golden Boy to block any discussions that don’t go through them has complicated plans.

If the fight does happen, there is little doubt it will be an all-action affair, and, speaking to Mill City Boxing, Mosley forecasted a stoppage win for Garcia, believing the Californian to be ‘too fast and too strong’ for the British challenger.

“I like the fight, I think that Ryan beats him because he is too fast and too strong for Conor Benn but publicity wise, in terms of selling tickets [it’s a good fight]. I think that Ryan will be the victor in that fight.”

“He might stop him, right-hand, left-hook or left-hook, right-hand – either one.”

Mosley then went on to say that Benn has not learned or improved in recent fights, and that the superior amateur pedigree of Garcia, who won 15 national championships before turning pro, will shine through on fight night.

“I think that he [Benn] has elite power and he comes for the kill. So he is elite, but he hasn’t had the [amateur] background like Ryan. He is just coming with brute power and strength and his mentality is [to be a] killer. Sometimes, you need more than that, you need the boxing skills to go along with all of that.”

“I’m thinking in terms of skill, knowing how to move backwards and forwards and just different basics that I don’t think that he has actually learned yet. He has just jumped in there and started fighting.”

William Zepeda’s trainer, Jay “Panda” Najar, believes his fighter could have given Shakur Stevenson far more problems had he followed the game plan in their fight last year.

“I believe that if William would have just thrown a little more punches instead of waiting, he was surprised by the velocity and the IQ of Shakur,” said Najar to Fight Hub TV. “I think it was more on William’s side, being surprised on having a fighter like that in front of him. It kind of tamed William to throw punches.”

Najar feels the surprise factor prevented Zepeda from fighting with his usual aggression against Stevenson.

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Last Updated on 2026/06/20 at 5:55 PM

Oscar De La Hoya says Golden Boy Promotions is making progress toward resolving its contract dispute with Vergil Ortiz Jr. and expects the unbeaten junior middleweight contender to return to the ring before the end of the year.

Ortiz has been inactive since late 2025 after a disagreement with Golden Boy derailed plans for a fight against Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

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Last Updated on 2026/06/21 at 2:25 AM

Oscar De La Hoya criticized Zuffa Boxing on Saturday while discussing a potential September 12 fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn.

“The problem that I have with Zuffa is everything they touch, whenever they get involved, it’s a big f***in’ problem all the time,” De La Hoya said during Golden Boy’s DAZN broadcast on Saturday night.

“Ryan Garcia has a promotional contract with Golden Boy, and Ryan is fighting on DAZN. Zuffa Boxing, all they do is get in the way and make things difficult. The bottom line is, yes, Ryan Garcia wants to fight on September 12th, but he’s gonna fight on DAZN.”

Garcia and Benn have been linked to a September 12 fight. Earlier reports indicated the event could be promoted by Zuffa Boxing and distributed on Paramount+.

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Last Updated on 2026/06/21 at 2:00 AM

The opening round was largely a feeling-out round, with Collazo holding the edge. Just 15 seconds into the second round, Collazo landed a left to the body that sent Valdez to the canvas for an eight-count from referee Thomas Taylor.

Moments later, another body shot from Collazo dropped Valdez again. After the second knockdown, Valdez’s corner signaled that they had seen enough, and the fight was stopped at 2:35 of round two.

Gallardo Wins Foul-Filled Co-Main Event

In the co-main event, Yair Gallardo (12-0, 9 KOs) defeated Buneet Bisla (14-2, 7 KOs) over 10 rounds to capture the vacant WBO NABO light heavyweight title.

Bisla found success with counters during the opening rounds while Gallardo pressed forward behind a high guard. The fight was frequently interrupted by clinching, with Bisla repeatedly tying Gallardo up whenever exchanges developed.

Gallardo began finding more success in the middle rounds. In the seventh, he landed several punches to the body and later rocked Bisla with a left hook to the chin before Bisla grabbed hold and went to the canvas.

The holding continued throughout the final rounds, with referee Gerard White allowing the action to continue without issuing warnings. Gallardo was awarded the decision by scores of 98-91, 97-92, and 96-93.

Abdullaev Stops Velazquez In Five

Olympian Ruslan Abdullaev (5-0, 3 KOs) knocked out Orestes Velazquez (8-2, 7 KOs) in the fifth round of their scheduled 10-round bout.

Abdullaev scored a knockdown in the opening round with a right hand to the side of the head. He controlled the next two rounds, forcing Velazquez onto the defensive and steadily building his lead.

In the fifth round, Abdullaev landed a left to the body that sent Velazquez down for the count. Referee David Solivan waved off the contest at 1:30 of the round.

Edwards Continues Knockout Run

2024 U.S. Olympian Joshua “The Rocket” Edwards (7-0, 6 KOs) stopped Garreth Payton (7-3, 4 KOs) at 1:06 of the second round.

Edwards dominated the opening round while Payton remained largely defensive. Early in the second, Edwards landed a left hook to the side of the head that dropped Payton for the count, ending the fight.

Griffiths Stops Crisosto

Cayden Griffiths (9-0, 8 KOs) scored a third-round stoppage of Edgar Ayala Crisosto (12-7, 8 KOs).

Griffiths controlled the first two rounds with body punching while Crisosto spent much of the fight on the defensive. In the third round, a left to the body sent Crisosto to a knee for an eight-count.

Griffiths continued pressing the action until Crisosto’s corner stopped the contest at 2:49 of the round.

Garcia Wins In One Round

Daniel “Junebug” Garcia (14-0, 11 KOs) knocked out Christopher Rodriguez (13-3-1, 11 KOs) in the opening round of their scheduled eight-round contest.

Garcia dropped Rodriguez early and quickly closed the show, extending his unbeaten record with another knockout victory.

The opening round was fought at a fast pace, with Garner landing the cleaner punches and forcing Magnesi backward at times. The second round was another busy one, with Garner backing Magnesi to the ropes on several occasions while the Italian answered with punches of his own. The third and fourth rounds featured non-stop action, with both fighters throwing throughout.

The fifth round was fought at close range, and the sixth and seventh rounds followed a similar pattern as the pace remained high. In the eighth and ninth rounds, referee Kieran McCann warned Magnesi for excessive holding.

The tenth round included several clinches, but the action picked up again during the closing stages. By the eleventh round, Garner appeared ahead on the scorecards, though Magnesi continued competing hard.

The twelfth and final round saw both fighters continue exchanging until the bell, bringing an entertaining contest to a close. The judges scored the bout 116-112, 119-109, and 118-110 in favor of Garner.

The victory adds the WBC Interim World Super Featherweight title to a résumé that already includes British, Commonwealth, European, and WBC International honors. Garner now moves into position for a potential future shot at full WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.

Bradley Goldsmith Outpoints Brad Pauls

In the chief support bout, Bradley Goldsmith (16-1, 10 KOs) defeated Brad Pauls (21-3-1, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision to capture the IBF International middleweight title.

Goldsmith gained a slight edge during the opening rounds, with both fighters working primarily behind their jabs. He took the third round despite suffering a bloody nose and continued to enjoy success during the fourth and fifth rounds.

With a minute remaining in the sixth round, Goldsmith landed a glancing punch that sent Pauls to the canvas. Though there appeared to be some leg contact during the exchange, referee Steve Gray ruled it a knockdown and administered an eight-count.

Pauls produced one of his best moments in the seventh round when he landed a right hand that briefly shook Goldsmith. However, Goldsmith responded well and regained control during the closing rounds.

The judges scored the fight 99-90, 99-90, and 97-92 for Goldsmith.

Taylor Bevan Edges Ryszard Lewicki

Taylor Bevan (9-0, 8 KOs) earned a majority decision over Ryszard “The Polish Sniper” Lewicki (12-4-3, 5 KOs) after 10 rounds.

Bevan outworked Lewicki during the opening rounds before both fighters engaged in several spirited exchanges in the third. By the fifth round, a bruise had developed beneath Lewicki’s right eye from Bevan’s accurate punching.

One of Bevan’s strongest moments came midway through the seventh round when he landed a right hand that knocked Lewicki’s mouthpiece out. Lewicki responded well and remained competitive over the final rounds.

After 10 rounds, Bevan was awarded the decision by scores of 97-94, 97-94, and 95-95.

Iman Zahmatkesh Claims Commonwealth International Title

Iman Zahmatkesh (6-0, 4 KOs) defeated Franklin “The Raging Bull” Arinze (10-2, 7 KOs) over eight rounds to capture the vacant Commonwealth International cruiserweight title.

The opening round was competitive, with Arinze receiving a warning for low blows. During the second round, Arinze landed several punches behind the head without drawing a warning from referee Bernard Oyet.

Both men exchanged heavy shots in the third round. In the fourth, Arinze scored the fight’s lone knockdown with a combination that sent Zahmatkesh to the canvas for an eight-count.

Zahmatkesh rallied in the fifth and sixth rounds, landing several strong flurries during the closing seconds of each frame. The seventh round became physical as both fighters wrestled each other to the canvas before resuming action.

Midway through the eighth round, Zahmatkesh forced Arinze to the canvas during another physical exchange. Both fighters appeared exhausted by the final bell.

Referee Bernard Oyet scored the contest 77-74 in favor of Zahmatkesh.

The opening rounds were cautious before Edmondson hurt Arthur with a right hand in the third. Arthur enjoyed success during the middle rounds, particularly in the eighth, when he landed several right uppercuts. Edmondson responded strongly down the stretch and was awarded the decision by scores of 96-94, 97-93, and 96-94.

At middleweight, Bradley Goldsmith produced an impressive performance to defeat Brad Pauls and claim the IBF International title.

Goldsmith established control early behind his jab and movement before scoring a disputed knockdown in the sixth round. Pauls had moments of success, including a strong seventh round, but Goldsmith finished well and secured a unanimous decision by scores of 99-90, 99-90, and 97-92.

Super middleweight prospect Taylor Bevan moved to 9-0 with a majority decision victory over Ryszard Lewicki in his first scheduled 10-round contest.

Bevan enjoyed success during the early rounds and landed a right hand in the seventh that knocked Lewicki’s mouthpiece out. Lewicki remained competitive throughout, but Bevan’s work over the distance earned him the decision by scores of 97-94, 97-94, and 95-95.

Cruiserweight Iman Zahmatkesh remained unbeaten with an eight-round victory over Franklin Arinze to capture the vacant Commonwealth International title.

Arinze scored a knockdown in the fourth round and made Zahmatkesh work throughout the contest. Zahmatkesh rallied during the second half of the fight and was awarded a 77-74 decision.

Lasha Guruli survived a final-round knockdown to defeat Liam Dillon over eight rounds.

The Georgian Olympic bronze medalist controlled much of the early action before Dillon increased the pressure in the closing stages. Dillon dropped Guruli with a right hand in the final round, but Guruli recovered and escaped with a narrow 76-75 decision.

Mason Payne continued his unbeaten run with a six-round shutout victory over Cheikh Diop. Payne controlled the fight throughout and closed strongly, earning a 60-54 score from referee Bernard Oyet.

Australian Olympian Charlie Senior also remained unbeaten, defeating Reuquen Facundo Arce over eight rounds. Senior’s speed and movement proved decisive as he earned a 79-73 victory.

William Birchall recorded a six-round decision over Cesar Ignacio Paredes, while fellow prospect Adam Olaniyan continued his fast start in the professional ranks by stopping Viktar Chvarkou in the second round.

Olaniyan dropped Chvarkou in the opening round and forced the stoppage at 2:11 of the second, improving to 2-0 with two knockouts.

Earlier in the evening, featherweight prospect William Birchall needed just 53 seconds to stop Miroslav Prochazka. Birchall scored two knockdowns before the referee halted the contest in the opening round.

Despite the delay, Garcia remains confident the fight will eventually happen.

“This is the fight Vergil wants, and we as a team want it. Vergil will fight anybody. He doesn’t want to waste time with easy opponents. Vergil only wants to face the best fighters, and Vergil vs. Boots is one of the best fights that can be made in boxing. Boxing needs a fight like this,” Robert told The Ring.

Garcia expects Ennis to get past Zayas, but he sees a much tougher night awaiting him if he eventually steps into the ring with Ortiz.

“I think it will be a war, and one of the best fights you’ll see,” said Robert. “It would be unbelievable if we get a Hagler vs. Hearns-like war.”

While Garcia praised Ennis’ ability, he believes Ortiz’s experience and aggressive style would create problems that the unbeaten Philadelphia native has not yet encountered.

“Boots is the real deal. He’s talented, he’s a great fighter, he has future superstar potential, and can fight like Terence Crawford. But when he has Vergil in front of him, it’s going to be a different story when they fight. I know that Vergil’s experience is going to be a big factor in that fight, and Boots is going to feel it.”

Garcia also pointed to what he views as a vulnerability in Ennis’ style.

“Boots gets hit. He has a Philadelphia fighter’s mentality. He’s not a runner who does just enough to win rounds and win by decision. He takes challenges and chances, and he wants to please,” said Robert. “That’s what makes him a fighter that fans want to see. This is going to be an exciting fight when it happens. We should expect a great fight. I see the fight ending in the late rounds with Vergil knocking him out.”

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) enters his June 27 clash with Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) as a heavy favorite. If he wins and Ortiz resolves his promotional issues, one of the most anticipated fights in the 154-pound division could quickly return to the forefront.

“You have the contract. Sign it.”

Stevenson quickly fired back on X.

“Shut yo ass up and vacate that belt so I could beat yall ass,” said Shakur.

The comments appear to reference the growing complications surrounding Haney’s WBO welterweight title. WBO President Gustavo Olivieri has repeatedly stated that Haney’s next obligation is a mandatory defense against top-ranked contender Keyshawn Davis.

That mandatory position has become a major obstacle to a Haney-Stevenson fight. If Haney proceeds with a non-title catchweight bout against Stevenson instead of facing Keyshawn, he would likely be stripped of the WBO belt.

Shakur has previously indicated that he is more interested in making the fight than preserving the championship stakes. His latest comments suggest he wants Haney to remove the WBO issue entirely by vacating the title and moving forward with negotiations.

The two sides have spent weeks discussing a potential fight, with much of the public debate centered on weight. Shakur initially signaled a willingness to meet Haney at a 144-pound catchweight before the talks became complicated by the WBO’s mandatory requirements.

The situation has placed Haney in a difficult position. A fight against Stevenson is viewed by many fans as the bigger event, but the WBO has made clear that Keyshawn is next in line for a title shot.

The negotiations remain unresolved, but Shakur’s latest post leaves little doubt about where he stands. If Haney wants the fight, Shakur believes the simplest solution is to vacate the belt and remove the mandatory challenger from the equation.