Category: Uncategorized

Tim Tszyu is not interested in trading insults with Errol Spence Jr. ahead of their July 25 clash in Sydney, Australia.

The former WBO junior middleweight champion was asked about recent comments from Spence, who described him as disrespectful during a podcast appearance. Tszyu brushed aside the criticism and made it clear that his focus remains on what happens when they step into the ring.

Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter

Related Boxing News:

Last Updated on 2026/06/20 at 3:29 AM

The chances of seeing Devin Haney take on Shakur Stevenson have been dealt a major blow.

Haney and Stevenson have been linked to a fight with one another in recent weeks, as each man looks to plan their respective next moves following arguable career-best wins last time out.

Back in November, Haney successfully stepped up to 147lbs and defeated Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight title, becoming a three-division world champion in the process.

Stevenson was able to go one better than that in January, when he moved up to 140lbs and claimed a unanimous decision victory over Teofimo Lopez to secure the WBO super-lightweight title and earn world honours in a fourth division.

The opportunity to becoming a five-division world champion could then have been presented to Stevenson if he was to head to welterweight to challenge Haney for his WBO crown, but any potential clash now wouldn’t be for that title.

That is due to comments made by WBO President Gustavo Olivieri, who told Cigar Talk that Haney must face mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis next, and will now be allowed an exemption to take on Stevenson instead.

“As of now, what I can confirm is that Haney has to discharge his mandatory against Keyshawn.

“At this stage, at this juncture, it cannot be allowed as an exception because there’s a mandatory pending.”

Former WBO lightweight champion Davis has competed at 140lbs in his last two bouts, but has made it clear that he would move up to welterweight for the chance to meet Haney after being installed as mandatory.

It means that ‘The Dream’ must make a decision soon on his next outing, whether he will defend his belt against Davis, or choose to vacate in order to pursue a possible clash with Stevenson.

Jesse Rodriguez is coming off a knockout win against Antonio Vargas, capturing the WBA bantamweight titl and moving closer to facing Naoya Inoue in the process.

Following Inoue’s win over Junto Nakatani last month, he has been linked with a pound-for-pound showdown against Rodriguez, who vacated his unified super-flyweight crown ahead of the Vargas bout.

Rodriguez required only six rounds to dethrone the bantamweight champion upon his debut in the division, but admitted that he felt a real difference in the new division.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, two-weight world champion Tim Bradley advised Rodriguez to spend some more time in the bantamweight division before he moves up once more in pursuit of a shot at Inoue’s undisputed super-bantamweight title.

“Bam has tremendous skills, pound-for-pound, Inoue is on the pound-for-pound list, but is he ready right now, like the next fight? Hell no. I think that Bam needs a couple more touches.

“I think that Robert Garcia is a lot smarter than [people realise]. Robert Garcia just answering questions is one thing, but the Robert Garcia that I talk to is a very smart trainer, in a sense of how he moves his fighters, he is a manager too.”

“He knows that Bam is not ready and he knows that performance was a little shaky, as well, because one thing about Robert Garcia is that he is real and he was a former fighter, so he understands.”

Bradley previously predicted that Inoue would prove to be ‘too explosive’ for the Texan and, after seeing Rodriguez take on Vargas, he has doubled down.

“I don’t think he is ready yet, this jump to 118lbs against this particular champion, who has been knocked out before, that chin was there for the taking. I feel like, even during the fight, I felt like Bam’s power didn’t translate like I did at 115lbs.”

“If Bam brought this type of performance to an Inoue fight, it wouldn’t go past six rounds.” 

Inoue-Rodriguez is being slated for January 2027, with WBO bantamweight world champion Christian Medina believed to be next on Rodriguez’s radar.

Sylve used his youth, speed, and movement to control much of the fight. Diaz, who entered the bout having lost eight of his previous 10 contests, pressed forward and had his moments, but Sylve consistently landed the cleaner punches and controlled the distance. Diaz remained competitive throughout, though Sylve finished strongly to secure the decision.

In the co-feature, undefeated lightweight Devin Cushing improved to 19-0 with a unanimous decision victory over J’Hon Ingram over 10 rounds.

Cushing outworked Ingram in the opening rounds and hurt him with a right hook late in the second. Ingram bounced back well in the third and fourth rounds, stunning Cushing with a lead right hand in the fourth. The fight remained competitive throughout, with both fighters having success, but Cushing’s stronger work in the later rounds helped him secure the victory by scores of 97-93 on all three scorecards.

WBO International super lightweight champion Ernesto “Tito” Mercado improved to 19-0 with 18 knockouts by stopping veteran Juan Carlos Burgos in the second round.

Mercado dominated from the opening bell, landing sharp combinations and repeatedly finding the target. Early in the second round, a combination dropped Burgos for an eight-count. Less than a minute later, Mercado scored a second knockdown with a right hand, ending the fight at 2:40 of the round. The stoppage marked the first knockout loss of Burgos’ professional career.

Middleweight Amir “Cashman” Anderson remained unbeaten, improving to 8-0 with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jonas Sylvain to capture the vacant WBC Silver middleweight title.

Sylvain enjoyed early success with body punching before Anderson switched to southpaw and began taking control of the fight. Anderson outlanded Sylvain through much of the middle rounds and finished strongly after surviving a solid right hand in the ninth. All three judges scored the bout 100-90 in Anderson’s favor.

Welterweight prospect David Lopez moved to 9-0 with a first-round stoppage of Joey Borrero.

Lopez dropped Borrero less than a minute into the contest with a left hand and body shot combination. After the knockdown, Lopez unleashed a barrage of punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:41 of the opening round.

In women’s super flyweight action, Kayla “The Truth” Gomez won her professional debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Shayntain Creer.

Gomez controlled the fight from the outset, displaying the skills that made her a highly regarded amateur. Creer showed toughness and improved as the fight progressed, but Gomez landed the cleaner shots throughout and finished the contest strongly. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in Gomez’s favor.

Also seeing action on the card were Ethan Smith, Daniel Mercado, and Kevin Gudino.

 

There is no shortage of respect between Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley, yet they both know a middleweight rematch is becoming increasingly more likely.

The pair squared off for Pauls’ British title, and the vacant European strap, in December 2024, when the challenger triumphed by unanimous decision in a competitive contest.

Since then, both have claimed significant stoppages, with Bentley coming off a seventh-round finish over Endry Saavedra for the WBO ‘interim’ title in April and Pauls halting Shakiel Thompson with a stunning ninth-round onslaught in March.

Prior to his victory, Pauls had been sparring his former foe and, even ahead of his next outing, the two of them have shared plenty of rounds.

With both signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, though, it could be a matter of time before they once again meet under the bright lights.

Speaking with Boxing News, Pauls reveals that he and Bentley have already discussed this possibility.

“I really like Denzel, he’s a cool guy, but we’ve both been saying that, if we keep winning, [Queensberry are] going to make us fight again. It makes complete sense, especially if I get a world title. We’d have to stop sparring but, more than likely, we’ll end up fighting again.”

With Bentley in line for an eventual world title shot, Pauls would need to leverage his No.12 ranking with the IBF in order to secure their unification match.

The more likely route, however, would be a direct WBO title challenge, given Pauls’ No.4 ranking with the sanctioning body and the possibility of Bentley being elevated to full champion; otherwise the Londoner will need to defeat Janibek Alimkhanuly once the Uzbek returns from his year-long doping suspension.

Either way, it seems that Pauls is edging closer to a major opportunity following his tremendous underdog victory over Thompson.

After trailing on the judges’ scorecards, ‘The Newquay Bomb’ took a gamble in round nine and managed to suddenly swing the result in his favour.

Reflecting on his performance, Pauls believes it was his overall experience that made a considerable difference.

“It’s got to add 10 or 15%. I always go back to the [Tyler] Denny fight – my first fight on TV – and it really threw me off.

“But since then, it all just feels familiar – the big occasions, the cameras, the massive venues. Going into the late rounds against Shakiel, that’s when you pull on the experience to get you through.

“A member of my corner team, Ellis [Steward], said: ‘I’d rather you get knocked out trying to knock him out than just play it safe and cruise it to a points loss’. And I was like, ‘I’ve got two rounds left –  I need to start taking big chances’.”

Sure enough, the risk paid off as Pauls pulled off a sizable upset to secure his place on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, this Saturday.

The 33-year-old will face tricky southpaw Bradley Goldsmith, having just defeated another lefty in Thompson.

If he emerges victorious then Pauls could end up in another domestic dustup later this year, potentially against Sam Gilley, who comes off a clinical fifth-round stoppage over Aston Brown.

“There were about eight names in the hat. [Gilley] was one of the first names but I think my management team would rather do it at the end of the year, when it could become a bigger fight.

“But Queensberry were like, ‘You’re not getting no easy fight’, so that’s how I ended up with Bradley Goldsmith.”

Whether he ends up facing Gilley, Bentley or a totally different fighter, Pauls’ ultimate goal is to headline a televised show in the South West of England.

From a logistical perspective, the nearest venue to Newquay, his home town, is Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium, where he hopes to eventually fight for world honours.

“We could do it at Plymouth Argyle [Home Park Stadium]. There’s a few more fighters coming out of the South West, like [British welterweight champion] Constantine Ursu.

“That’d be a dream, to bring big time boxing to the South West.”

In order for Pauls to keep this dream alive, he must first take care of the Dominic Ingle-trained Goldsmith.

By the end of the second round, however, Mercado had accomplished something no previous opponent had managed.

Mercado controlled the fight from the opening bell, using his speed, sharp combinations, and power punching to keep the 38-year-old Burgos on the defensive, hesitant to want to trade. The 24-year-old prospect repeatedly found openings with clean shots and quickly established himself as the stronger and more explosive fighter.

The end came in the second round when Mercado dropped Burgos twice, including with a crushing left hook. Burgos was unable to recover from the sustained attack, prompting the referee to halt the contest and award Mercado the knockout victory.

With the win, Mercado improved to 19-0 with 18 knockouts. Burgos fell to 36-9-3 and suffered the first stoppage loss of his career.

After the fight, Mercado turned his attention toward bigger names, calling out undefeated WBO light welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson during his post-fight interview.

Mercado’s performance came against one of the most experienced opponents of his career and extended his unbeaten record to 19-0.

Taylor Bevan’s link-up with Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis has seemingly come at the perfect time, ahead of his first 10-rounder against Ryszard Lewicki.

The 25-year-old has made steady progress in the professional code but, now, it seems as though he is approaching his toughest assignment thus far.

Not only is he facing a credible opponent but Bevan, who was a standout amateur, must also perform on the grandest stage he will have ever encountered.

It is just as well, then, that the talented prospect has joined forces with esteemed coaches Moore and Travis, knowing that basing himself in Manchester is a sacrifice worth making.

“They’re just two very experienced coaches. I went up there to try them out and gelled well with them straight away.

“They’ve obviously got a top stable of boxers – a lot of lads who are further along the journey than I am.

“I can learn a lot of people like that and there’s a great atmosphere in the gym, which is something I was missing before. I’m used to training on my own, so I’ve come from the other end of the spectrum, really.

“It’s a big commitment, moving four or five hours away from home, but I’m willing to make sacrifices at this stage in my career. I believe they’ll pay off in the future.”

One of the benefits of training in Manchester is that Bevan is closer, or at least more so than he was in Southampton, to top-class super-middleweight sparring.

As a result, he has been fortunate enough to share rounds with Callum Simpson, who rematches Troy Williamson on August 8, ahead of his clash with Lewicki.

“Yeah, amazing sparring. He’s at the top level at my weight, and he’s massive for the weight as well. I had eight rounds with him [around two weeks ago] and did another eight rounds with him [last week].

“I don’t think you can get much better sparring than that. It fills me with the utmost confidence going into this next fight, that I’m in great condition and prepared for anything.”

Bevan will collide with Lewicki at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, this Saturday, featuring on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi.

While still signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, this represents Bevan’s second outing on a Queensberry Promotions show, simply because the offer to enter his first professional contest in Southampton was too good to refuse.

The aim, as always, is to produce a statement performance and emerge victorious, yet Bevan does not rule out the possibility of going the full 10-round distance.

“I think it’s come at the perfect time – Tom Dallas at Matchroom has matched me brilliantly so far.

“I’ve been ready to do the eight rounds in my last few fights and it just hasn’t happened. In a way, it’s good to blast people out of there, because you get those highlight-reel knockouts and 8-0 (8 KOs) looks great on my record.

“But, at the same time, I wouldn’t be disappointed to go 10 rounds in this next fight, because it would be a good progression in my career. I’ve got to go the distance at some point, so why not do it now?”

Indeed, Bevan has established himself as a clinical knockout artist, but sees himself as more of a spiteful technician than an all-out power puncher.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a devastating puncher like [stablemate] Pat Brown, but I’d say [I get the stoppages with] smart boxing. When I feint, I look at where [the opponent] leaves himself open.

“I always felt like my style would suit the pros, because I like to think about things and be more calculated, whereas the amateurs is very fast and furious.

“I’ve always been a fit lad, and it was often my heart, determination and will to win that got me through those amateur fights.”

While boasting an accomplished amateur background, Bevan remains acutely aware that, against Lewicki, he could be dragged into something of a “dogfight”. Thankfully, though, he should have plenty of supporters to spur him on through any moments of jeopardy.

When asked about some of the fighters he has trained over the years, Bozy listed an impressive group of names.

“Anthony Thompson, Demetrius Hopkins, Ray Robinson, Coy Evans, Prince Ajuma, Rasheem Brown, Andy Cruz, Bryant Jennings, Stephen Fulton, Oshae Jones, and Haven Brady,” said Bozy.

Bozy was also asked which trainers and teachers he considers among the best in boxing.

“Georgie Benton, Bouie Fisher, Sloan Harrison, Mitch Allen, Melvin ‘Rev’ Thompson, Al Fennell, Al Styles Sr., Jim Robinson, Howard Moses, Nasim Richardson, Jimmy Glenn, Fred Jenkins, Roger Mayweather, Sam Hickman, and Sam Solomon,” he said.

The veteran trainer also addressed a proposed fight between Boots and Vergil Ortiz Jr. that never materialized.

“Between Oscar De La Hoya and Ortiz’s manager, there was a conflict,” said Bozy.

Asked about the previously discussed possibility of a fight with Terence Crawford, Bozy pointed to issues involving Crawford’s side during negotiations.

“His group BLK messed it up. They wanted Boots to leave Showtime, and I was close with Showtime’s Espinoza,” said Bozy.

As for Boots’ upcoming challenge against Zayas, Bozy offered a straightforward assessment of the unbeaten champion while expressing confidence in how training camp was progressing.

“Going as usual for Boots,” said Bozy. “Xander is a good fighter.”

The June 27 clash will headline a Matchroom Boxing and Top Rank co-promotion at Barclays Center and will be available on DAZN PPV. For Boots, it represents an opportunity to become a unified champion in a second weight class. For Bozy, it is another chapter in a career spent developing fighters and passing along the lessons he learned from some of boxing’s most respected trainers.

Still wishing @ErrolSpenceJr the best in his upcoming fight. I see what yall trying to do, but it’s not going to work, not this time.

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) June 19, 2026

The post came after renewed discussion about Spence’s physical condition heading into their undisputed welterweight championship clash in July 2023. Spence revealed that he dealt with injuries, limited sparring, and other issues during camp, while maintaining that he was not making excuses for the loss.

Many fans have pointed to concerns that existed even before the Crawford fight. Spence was involved in a serious car accident in 2019 and later underwent eye surgery.

Debate about Spence’s condition existed before the Crawford fight, with some pointing to his bouts against Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, and Yordenis Ugas.

Others note that Spence appeared noticeably bigger between fights in the years leading up to the Crawford bout, fueling questions about weight management and the toll of repeatedly making 147 pounds.

Crawford’s supporters argue that those concerns overlook what happened on fight night. Crawford dropped Spence three times and stopped him in the ninth round, producing one of the most dominant performances ever seen in a major welterweight championship fight.

The debate has continued partly because Crawford’s subsequent performances have not generated the same level of acclaim. His victory over Israil Madrimov at junior middleweight was competitive, and his win over Canelo Alvarez drew criticism from some fans who expected a more aggressive performance.

Rather than delivering the offensive showcase many fans expected, Crawford turned in a disciplined, tactical performance built around his jab, movement, and defensive awareness.

For many boxing fans, the question is no longer whether Crawford deserved the win over Spence. The argument centers on whether the version of Spence he defeated was still operating at the same level as the fighter who unified titles and established himself as one of the sport’s elite welterweights.

With Spence scheduled to return against Tim Tszyu on July 25 in Sydney, Australia, Crawford’s message suggests he has little interest in revisiting old debates and does not want his biggest victory reinterpreted through the lens of Spence’s recent comments.

“I’ll do my best to do a meeting soon between my brothers Dana White, Nick Khan, Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn & my partners & friends DAZN to make peace, and revolution for boxing.

“I hope I succeed & boxing fans see the white smoke rise from the chimney,” said Turki on X.

The reference to “white smoke” appeared to draw inspiration from the Vatican tradition that signals an agreement has been reached following the election of a new pope.

Alalshikh’s comments come at a time when boxing remains divided among rival promoters, broadcasters, and sanctioning bodies despite a recent increase in cross-promotional events. The Saudi financier has become one of the sport’s most influential figures over the last several years, helping make fights that many fans believed would never happen because of promotional barriers.

He also explained why he feels a sense of urgency about bringing the major players together.

“I want to do it before losing my memory. I’m afraid in 2028 or 2029 I’ll forget my name,” said Turki.

The remarks quickly generated discussion among boxing fans. While many welcomed the idea of greater cooperation between the sport’s leading promoters and broadcasters, others questioned whether such a meeting could realistically resolve the political battles that have existed for decades.

Some critics also pointed to Alalshikh’s growing partnership with Dana White and TKO’s Zuffa Boxing venture, arguing that the arrival of another major promotional force has further complicated boxing’s power structure. Others countered that White’s involvement could help bring more structure and cooperation to a fragmented sport.

Turki appears determined to try. If the meeting takes place, it would bring together several of the most powerful figures in boxing and combat sports for a conversation aimed at finding common ground in a business that has long been defined by rivalries outside the ring.