A Boxing Wishlist For 2025

Introduction:

It is that time of year once again. What has become a yearly tradition here at The Boxing Truth® ️ where this observer begins the new year by sharing his “Boxing Wishlist" with the dear readers who have followed my writings over the many years I have covered Boxing and by extension combat sports. By the title of this column for those who are unfamiliar with previous editions, this is a list of things that I would like to see happen in the sport of Boxing during the course of the new year. It also should be pointed out for those who may be reading the “Boxing Wishlist" put out by yours truly for the first time that this is not a standard list in the sense of a numbered list from 1-10 for example, but rather a condensed selection of topics that will be highlighted in Bold that I will try to discuss in both a detailed as well as a condensed form as possible within the context of a single column. While I always hope to add new topics that have not been featured before in previous years, unfortunately, circumstances do warrant some things to remain on the list, but will be obviously updated for present context as is necessary.

As has also become standard over the years as this list has evolved into a yearly tradition, this year's list is being compiled in the latter days of 2024 while yours truly is recuperating after what was a busy year for the sport and also a challenging one for me personally. For the purposes of this year's list, it is being composed before the World Heavyweight championship rematch between champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21st. Delayed coverage of that encounter will be covered in a separate column that will be released on Tuesday, January 7th. Without any further ado, it is time to get into this year's “Boxing Wishlist." 

A " Boxing Wishlist For 2025”:

A Possible Consolidation Of Boxing’s Power Brokers (Promoters) Under One Broadcast Platform:

This is a subject that is both interesting and could be viewed as both good and bad for the sport depending on one’s perspective. One of the more consistent themes of this observer’s work over the last thirteen or so years has been the emergence of digital streaming networks and more specifically, how subscription-based streaming has the opportunity to bring Boxing into a new era that offers both better value and is more cost effective for consumers. A significant part of this particular theme since 2018 has been the inception of DAZN and ESPN+, two digital streaming networks dedicated exclusively to sports that quickly emerged as successors to previous broadcast powerhouses HBO and Showtime, two premium cable networks that have since both exited Boxing.

Although both networks have offered Boxing fans considerably more content than had previously been offered prior to the advent of streaming and have done so mostly under a subscription-based model, it has been DAZN that has grown significantly to house several promoters respective events all under their broadcast banner including Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Universum Box Promotions, Dmitry Salita’s Salita Promotions, and most recently Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions to name a few of what is becoming a deep and global roster of promotional entities ranging from the top of the sport to promoters on the regional level worldwide.

While it is a testament to the growth of DAZN not just in regard to their involvement in Boxing, but also their ongoing investment in securing additional sporting rights as well as continued expansion of their network around the world, the network is poised to continue building momentum in 2025 and may further add to it's Boxing roster, which could increase the likelihood of the network becoming as close to a one stop destination for all things Boxing that is frankly uncharted territory. 

While this could also be seen as bad for the sport in the sense that it might limit competition if most of Boxing's major promoters and even regional promoters around the world will be openly seeking one platform, for the respective other platforms that exist in the sport, which in regard to here in the United States consist of in addition to ESPN/ESPN+, ProBox TV, Triller TV, Prime Video, and Peacock, like DAZN and ESPN, all of the above are largely streaming-based networks, but it will be interesting to see if ESPN for example, who is preparing to revamp their streaming offering to include access to the ESPN linear cable networks, without requiring a Pay-TV provider to access those feeds through the ESPN app, will be looking to either increase their involvement in the sport or potentially at minimum scale back as the network’s agreement with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum's Top Rank Boxing is due to conclude in the Summer of 2025, which has also fueled speculation that Arum could potentially be next to join DAZN’s roster.

Although as of this writing, the latter is speculation and yours truly does not like partaking in the practice of rumor gossip, if Arum is indeed preparing to switch platforms, it will be interesting to see what ESPN and the other networks involved in Boxing might do. Even though DAZN has built a roster of promoters and Boxing programming the sport has never seen before, there is always no shortage of promoters worldwide who will always be looking to make their footprint in the sport and it will be very interesting to see if ESPN and Arum do part ways if the network will look to a different promoter who is not currently signed to any of the aforementioned networks and give them a platform in which to try and make that footprint just as it allowed Arum to do initially beginning in 1980 when Arum’s Top Rank became the first major promoter to provide Boxing on a weekly basis on what was then a network in it's early stages in ESPN. There is also always the possibility given what has happened in the last decade with HBO and Showtime that ESPN, though sports centric, might opt to move in a different direction away from Boxing, which if that were to happen, would open a potential window of opportunity for the other networks that have been mentioned here outside of DAZN to potentially expand their involvement in the sport. How this will all play out obviously remains to be seen, but the question is how could this benefit consumers, which leads to the next and all too familiar item that remains a staple of this observer’s annual “Boxing Wishlist." 

The Need For Boxing To Finally Embrace Subscription-Based Models Over Pay-Per-View:

This one admittedly is the one item on the list year over year that has seen very little change, perhaps due to the stubbornness of those in the sport who are hell-bent on sticking with what has been an outdated and overpriced model for years, as well as yours truly’s refusal to stop speaking up on something I sincerely feel needs to change, not for the benefit of myself, but for the sport I have loved all my life and have covered for most of it.

The silver-lining to a significant amount of promoters all being under one broadcast platform in DAZN, which is a global network, however, just might give the network the opportunity to get back to it's original strategy upon its inception here in the United States in 2018, which in turn would ultimately benefit consumers. Top level Boxing cards under a reasonably priced subscription-based model without the need for subscribers to pay an additional pay-per-view fee to access the sport’s major events on DAZN’s platform.

Those who are knowledgeable on the subject know that DAZN, while remaining a subscription-based network, has deviated from their original promise and has offered Boxing cards including some “Influencer Boxing" events which have required an additional pay-per-view fee, which began in 2022 as a likely response to both coming out of the global COVID-19 epidemic in an attempt to recoup losses, which began for many in the television and streaming industries when the world was brought to a standstill in 2020, as well as a way to get fighters and promoters, who have insisted, despite the significant evidence of pay-per-view being in decline, to continue to use the model, to bring them to their platform.

Those who have followed my work going back to the mid-1990’s when I began my writing journey and entered the sport as a writer, but also spent several years covering the professional wrestling industry as well as periodically also covering Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)  in several online and print publications that predated The Boxing Truth®️, the outlet which I own and operate, know that I have frequently and unapologetically criticized the pay-per-view model, primarily over increasing costs as years have gone on as well as the frequency in which the model has been used in that a vast majority of pay-per-view events were put on pay-per-view as a requirement in contractual agreements and/or demands of promoters and even some fighters, more so than it being a significant event, deemed special that would draw a significant audience. Although I can be significantly more thorough, I will give a brief background into what ultimately convinced me that pay-per-view created more problems for Boxing than it solved. I came into this world in the 1980’s. Back then, pay-per-view as well as the cable/satellite industry as a whole were in its initial growing stages. In the context of Boxing and for a period of time Professional Wrestling, saw their major events shown on closed-circuit television in arenas, and theaters throughout much of the United States, but also on cable/satellite pay-per-view where it was available at that time. 

While there was also a difference back then in how those events were presented in that it was presented as a special event and featured a look and feel of something one would not see on standard television broadcasts of either medium at that time, the prices also were limited to between $15-$30 depending on the market you were in and those events were occasional, which made it feel more special, though pro wrestling was the first to eventually expand on the occasional special event to something that would evolve to one event per fiscal quarter by the time the 1980’s came to an end.

With the brief trip down memory lane now also concluded, I should not have to tell those who are knowledgeable that pay-per-view is no longer the budget friendly model that it once was and in regard to Boxing the feel of the true “Special Event" is at best a rarity. Despite this fact and the continued decline of the model with very rare exceptions, promoters still continue to use pay-per-view, even as evidence of the success of reasonably priced subscription-based models exist and could help the sport significantly in the long-term.

One need look no further than the recent event featuring social media influencer, turned aspiring boxer Jake Paul and 58 year old former two-time Heavyweight world champion and Hall of Famer Mike Tyson in November of last year. A controversial event for a few reasons, but one that, despite Mike Tyson's status as once the biggest draw in the sport in the 1980’s and more specifically throughout much of the 1990’s where the latter period saw most of his fights carried on pay-per-view, the Tyson-Paul event was not a pay-per-view attraction, but was instead offered on digital subscription entertainment network Netflix.

While the event was not without its share of controversy both for what occurred inside the ring, but more specifically relating to issues with the live broadcast stream of the event, which was significant, the event, which was also archived for on-demand viewing without any of the issues that plagued the live broadcast, drew an audience of 108 million subscribers globally for the network that has recently ventured into live sports including carrying two NFL football games on Christmas Day, which thankfully did not have any issues with the live broadcasts and also drew massive numbers around the world, but also signing a deal with WWE to broadcast its flagship Monday Night Raw weekly series in the United States as of this week (January 6, 2025), as well as becoming the global distributor of WWE Network internationally including all of the company's weekly programming, library of past events, as well as live premium live events, (Previously known as pay-per-view) which will likely include the United States market when the U.S. rights become available in 2026.

Although the agreements with both WWE and the NFL are clearly part of a much broader strategy by Netflix as it ventures into live sports and sports on-demand programming in expanding its content to grow it's subscriber base even further, the success of both the Tyson-Paul event as well as the NFL’s Christmas Day games which drew 65 million viewers in the United States alone, should serve as a wake up call to those Boxing hold outs as I call them that the time to move away from pay-per-view has come. Though we do not know as of this writing as to what plans might be in the works as for as Boxing is concerned for Netflix, these kinds of numbers could only be dreamed of via pay-per-view distribution even when the model was considered a bargain and budget-friendly for consumers. 

If one is looking for more evidence, longtime pay-per-view distributor InDemand, previously known as Viewer's Choice here in the United States when it launched in 1985, the leading pay-per-view distributor across cable and satellite television here in the United States as well as Canada announced last year that it will be ceasing operations by the end of 2025 ending forty years of service and for a lot of us who grew up with what was then Viewer's Choice as a pay-per-view provider, a lot of good memories of those “Special Events" as well as an alternative to movie theaters to view the blockbuster films of the day. While the distributor has said that it's streaming platform PPV.com will continue operating after the company closes, it should serve as yet another in a growing list of examples as to not only the lack of viability of the pay-per-view model in now 2025 at the time of this column's release, but of the decline of the cable/satellite industry as a whole. 

Although the possibility exists that a new distributor could emerge as cable and satellite providers look to survive in both their traditional forms as well as attempting to transition into offering live TV streaming packages and services rather than traditional cable or satellite service, the odds of both the pay-per-view model as well as cable and satellite models reverting back to an era of both being consumer friendly and consumer-embraced where both models are profitable for providers, distributors, as well as networks and promoters seems unlikely with subscription-based models easily accessible and consumer friendly on the market, which tends to offer considerably more content as well for the price.

Given all of this, it would seem logical that Boxing promoters and networks, rather than waiting for the inevitable collapse of what remains of cable, satellite, and pay-per-view, get out ahead of things and finally embrace subscription-based streaming as the future. In terms of the endless pursuit of seeking additional sources of revenue, which are always hoped-for, but rarely achieved by pay-per-view, the obvious route would be to both attempt lucrative broadcast agreements with streaming networks that would offer these (Pay-Per-View Quality) bouts to their subscribers as part of their subscription, something both DAZN and ESPN have done well when neither has deviated towards pay-per-view, but to also seek sponsorship deals and endorsements, which could effectively replace the pay-per-view model without forcing consumers all promoters attempt to draw to their events to incur additional costs. The bottom line is with much of the Boxing promotional landscape now either under one broadcast banner, or soon to be joining that banner, the argument of using pay-per-view as a way to draw fighters and promoters who insist on the model to the negotiating table, no longer holds water, nor does the excuse some promoters when confronted on the subject of “Market Changes" or blaming expensive prices, which often begin at a $70 price point as something that is the way things are done in the United States. There needs to be accountability of promoters and networks when decisions that ultimately do not benefit consumers are made. With the pay-per-view model suffering yet another blow with InDemands impending closure, one can only hope that common sense on the need to move away from an outdated model will finally come into the equation. On the subject of the implementation of “Common Sense" it coincidentally leads to the final item on this year's list that is also making a return.

To See Women's Boxing Moved To Three Minute Rounds And World Championship Fights Expanded To 12 Rounds:

Perhaps one subject besides the need for Boxing to move away from pay-per-view in order to make the sport more accessible to all as well as the need to seek new revenue streams as an effective strategy to effectively replace the model, which I am also proud to be associated with is my long-standing advocacy for Women's Boxing. To be more specific, wanting to see progress made for female fighters in the sport that would put women on similar footing to their male counterparts. In taking it a step further, two critical aspects, to see women's bouts moved from two minute rounds to three minutes, the same length as Men's bouts and to see world championship bouts in Women's Boxing go from a ten round distance to a twelve round distance, the same distance as men's world championship bouts.

Much like my stance on the pay-per-view model needing to be either significantly revamped, or outright done away with, this is something I will gladly continue banging the drum on until change occurs. With regard to pay-per-view, it's looking to and wanting to see the sport grow and be made accessible to more eyes regardless of economic level, my desire here for Women's Boxing can be summed up in a word “Equality." 

When Women's Boxing began to be featured on television in the mid-1990’s also coincidentally when I began my writing journey, to be frank, it was treated as an attraction more than it was regarded as the sport it was and still is. One of the main differences between women's bouts and men's bouts were that unlike men's fights,; where rounds were three minutes in duration, women were limited to two minute rounds.

Although the purpose in theory was first out of safety concerns and offered a selling point of “More Excitement" due to the quicker pace , women's combat sports has evolved and when one considers that in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) women's bouts are contested under either three five minute rounds for non-title fights or five, five minute rounds for world championship bouts, the same standards as what men's MMA bouts are contested under, the idea that women boxers should be limited to two minute rounds has less and less credibility.

To expand on this aspect, in the last two Olympic Boxing tournaments, women's bouts were held with three, three minute rounds and there were no instances of serious injury that could have been attributed to the length of time of a round. Furthermore, the additional minute not only allowed fighters time to pace themselves, but also it seemed to solve the the conundrum that often occurs in bouts held with two minute rounds that often result in close fights being scored draws by allowing the same round length as men's bouts, which allowed for more conclusive scoring.

On the professional side of the sport, some may remember the Women's world championship bout between Amanda Serrano and Danila Ramos, where Serrano put her unified World Featherweight championship on the line, which took place in October 2023 in Orlando, FL was contested with three minute rounds and also saw the bout extended to a twelve round distance, the same as men's world championship fights. There were no issues and Serrano was able to retain her championship with a convincing twelve round unanimous decision.

Despite Serrano wanting to continue competing under what is the standard format for men's bouts, three minute rounds and a twelve round distance for world title fights, unfortunately, there has not been a bout held in Women's Boxing since under the format. Frankly, I would like to know why? 

One of the benefits of Netflix' entry into Boxing with the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul event was the co-main event featured the highly anticipated rematch between Serrano and two-division world champion Katie Taylor. A delayed second encounter between two groundbreakers of the sport who made history in April 2023 when they met in Madison Square Garden for Taylor's Undisputed Lightweight championship of the world at that time. What was a great fight that brought tears to my eyes having long advocated for Women's Boxing, was the first Women's bout to main event a Boxing card in the main arena in Madison Square Garden and drew a sell out of over 20,000 people. As one who faced much criticism over the years and questions of why I covered women's bouts, it was a moment of validation not only for the two fighters, not only for the sport of Women's Boxing, but also for yours truly in a small way having long known what female fighters were capable of and holding firm in my stance that Women's Boxing needs to be under the same format as men's bouts. I will also concede that I had a similar emotional reaction during Serrano's fight with Ramos as the crowd in attendance at that fight gave the fighters one long steady standing ovation for the last several rounds of that fight, very similar to that which took place in Madison Square Garden when Taylor and Serrano met for the first time.

When I was informed that the Taylor-Serrano rematch would be taking place as the co-main event of the Tyson-Paul card, I immediately told anyone who asked me about the event or Tyson-Paul that irregardless of what happened in that fight, the Taylor-Serrano rematch would be worth the time to watch and would steal the show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Though it did not take long for me to be proven right yet again as the two fighters met again, this time for Taylor's Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world championship, I found myself a bit disappointed because like their first fight in Madison Square Garden, I feel an opportunity was missed here by not allowing the fight to be held with three minute rounds and with a twelve round distance.

Much like their first fight, a grueling and bloody back and forth battle occurred between Taylor and Serrano for ten hard rounds with Taylor once again emerging victorious by the slimmest of margins to retain her undisputed crown. Irregardless of the outcomes of those two fights, which had my votes for Fight of the year in 2023 and 2024, not just in Women's Boxing, but in the entire sport including men's bouts, I feel that style wise Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano could fight ten to twenty times and it would be closely fought from start to finish every single time. One should wonder, however, if the rivalry between these two trailblazers and future Hall of Famers would be even at one fight a piece or potentially even reversed with Serrano having two wins instead of Taylor if the two fighters had the benefit of three minute rounds and an extra two rounds that men who compete in world title fights are afforded. While the fights may have still ended up narrowly decided regardless of duration of round length or distance, simply based on the styles of the two fighters, they deserved three minute rounds and two extra rounds to try to determine a more conclusive outcome. 

My hope for 2025 for Women's Boxing is that those who have stood in the way of progress whether they be sanctioning organizations and/or state and international athletic regulatory boards finally realize that with more women's bouts being held around the world than ever before, with more and more women's fights being positioned as main events on cards also featuring men's bouts, there is no longer a reason to deny female fighters the opportunity to fight under a three minute round or to compete in a twelve round fight in a world championship fight. The time for further steps for equality has come and if top female fighters in the sport are not going to yet be given similar pay as their male counterparts, which they also deserve and is overdue, the least the powers that be in the sport can do is take one step forward by allowing women to compete under the same format as men even if the issue of similar purses for female fighters is a bridge yet to be crossed, but one that much like three minute rounds and the same distance as men's bouts needs to be crossed sooner than later. Female fighters do take the same risks as male fighters take by getting in the ring after all.

Conclusion:

As always by definition the items on this list for now remain “Wishes", but are not ones with the benefit of this observer in mind, but of the sport of Boxing as a whole, the fighters who compete in it and put their lives on the line, and the fans who support it in good times and bad year after year. While some items have remained on the list year after year as circumstances dictate, there are several other things that have been discussed over the years in previous editions of the “Boxing Wishlist" that are as relevant today as they were when they were featured and well likely be featured again in the days, weeks, months, and indeed years when appropriate. With frankly too many of those items to list in the context of one column, it is my hope that this condensed list will not only see progress made as 2025 moves along, but also that the powers that be in the sport take a look and realize that my goal is and has always been from the moment I began my writing journey 30 years ago to benefit Boxing, to advocate for the sport, the fighters, and the fans that support the sport. It is something that has not and will not change. 

With all the above now said and done, it is now time to see what 2025 has in store for the sport of Boxing.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Happy 2025

We here at The Boxing Truth®️ would like to wish our readers a very happy and safe 2025. Our 2025 schedule will begin on Monday, January 6th with Beau Denison’s annual Boxing Wishlist for the new year. On Tuesday, January 7th we will provide a special column discussing the recent World Heavyweight championship rematch between champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, which took place on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

We here at The Boxing Truth® look forward to continuing to provide readers with features, weigh-in results, special previews, fight card recaps, and other content also being released as events approach throughout the sport of Boxing. The Boxing Truth® welcomes the opportunity to continue to provide our readers with accurate information, in-depth analysis, and objective opinions regarding the sport of Boxing as well as the participants and issues that surround it.   Thank you to all our readers for your continued support and we look forward to hearing from you throughout 2025.

Happy New Year.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Happy Holidays

 We would like to wish our readers a very happy and safe holiday season. We are currently between rounds and will update as to when the 2025 schedule will begin on Saturday, January 5th. In the interim, any additional content that is sent to us from various promoters, networks, and others within the sport of Boxing will be made available here on TheBoxing Truth®️ as they are sent in. Happy Holidays.

“And That's The Boxing Truth."

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Marquis Taylor Targets Orlando Showdown Against Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams in March

Press Release: December 22,  2024 By Lee McLaughlan - 

·       Taylor’s manager Harrison holds talks with Matchroom’s Rooney in Orlando

·       Williams confirmed to headline card in Orlando on March 15

22, December 2024, Houston, TX: Houston’s Marquis ‘0 Snatcher’ Taylor has set his sights on Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams following his second successful defence of the NABF middleweight belt.

Taylor (18-1-2, 3KOs) secured a unanimous decision over Ivan Pandzic following their 10-round tussle in Houston on Friday (December 13th) and immediately announced he wanted to take on Williams (17-1-0, 12KOs).

Fresh from the Houston fight, Taylor and his manager Bobby Harrison have already begun to sound out Williams’ team at this week’s WBA Conference in Orlando after Matchroom announced ‘Ammo’ would headline a card in Orlando on March 15th, 2025.

No opponent was announced for Williams and both Taylor and Harrison, CEO of BiYu Promotions, have met Matchroom’s head of fighter development Kevin Rooney while in Orlando to push their claims.

Taylor has been eager to take on Williams, who is ranked inside the world’s top 10 with the WBC and WBA, only to be knocked back on two occasions. The latest occasion was in November when Williams snubbed Taylor to fight Gian Garrido.

However, with the ‘0 Snatcher’ expected to rise up the rankings of both the WBC and WBA on the back of his sixth successive win, there is optimism a deal can be done with Williams and Matchroom.

Harrison said: “Marquis said after his win that he wanted to fight Austin Williams. I’ve spoken with Kevin Rooney as has Marquis as he wants to be headlining that March 15th card against Williams. We’ve had a couple of occasions where they might have got in the ring but it never happened. This time, we’re not looking for a last minute opportunity but one that’s acceptable to both parties.

“The timing is right to make it happen. This is the fight we want so we’re ready to talk and do business.”

Taylor is due to return to training in four to six weeks after he sustained a cut over his right eye during the win over Pandzic.

Harrison also confirmed that Taylor will continue to train with two-time world welterweight champion Shawn Porter.

Material Courtesy of: Lee McLaughlan Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Usyk-Fury: The Story Continues

In chapter one of the story between Heavyweight champions Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, the focus was centered on the element of history. After all, when the two undefeated champions met in May of this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was to determine something that hadn't been seen in Boxing in twenty-five years albeit and unfortunately temporarily. An Undisputed World Heavyweight champion and the first champion to successfully unify all five recognized world championships under one fighter.

As most know, despite the historical significance of the occasion, there was the knowledge going into the event last May 18th that the new Undisputed championship would not last long. This was due to a pre-ordained rematch clause between Usyk and Fury and the International Boxing Federation being due its mandatory title defense in the rotation amongst the various sanctioning organizations immediately following the bout. Nevertheless, that knowledge did little to quell what truly was a special moment in the sport’s history. 

In a competitive bout, it was Oleksandr Usyk who would emerge victorious in becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world by defeating Fury via twelve round split decision. For Usyk, there was added significance as the victory also cemented his future Hall of Fame status as the only man in history to fully unify both the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions. While Usyk would relinquish the IBF world championship shortly after defeating Fury, clearing the way for IBF number one contender Daniel Dubois, a former Usyk opponent, to officially become IBF World Heavyweight champion, the victory over Fury was simply the conclusion of chapter one. 

Now comes chapter two as Usyk, the unified WBO/IBO/WBA/WBC world champion prepares to meet Fury once again at the same site of their first meeting, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21st. A rematch that can be seen worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View. In some ways, this rematch is also a rarity.

It is rare even in an era where there are theoretical pre-agreed rematch clauses before an initial high-profile bout such as Usyk and Fury to see the rematch come to fruition without complications whether it be due to injuries or one fighter choosing a different option, which often can lead to legal entanglements. In this sense, the fact that this rematch comes in a rather streamlined way is quite refreshing. Although the undisputed championship is not at stake this time around, the winner of this fight will be viewed as the number one fighter in the division with an obvious path to reunify the title against Dubois or whomever the IBF champion might be down the line. 

What stood out in the first encounter was, despite being the naturally shorter fighter, it was Usyk who forced the action for most of the first six rounds by coming forward and forcing the naturally bigger and heavier Fury to fight at a much quicker pace than is typically his norm. Usyk was also able to establish angles and land short, but crisp combinations on Fury, which were often highlighted by an overhand left thrown from the southpaw stance.

Despite the significance of the occasion, an argument could and perhaps should be made that Fury perhaps gave away some of the early rounds by taunting Usyk, playing to the crowd, and attempting to bait him into making a mistake. Tactics, which Usyk did not fall for. By the midway part of the fight, Fury began coming forward more, landing punches to the body of Usyk and stunning him with a right hand in the sixth round. To Usyk’s credit, he was able to take it well and there was decent back and forth action that followed between the two fighters. 

It would be in round nine, however, that a controversy would emerge. A combination of punches by Usyk sent Fury staggering around the ring and seemingly made him defenseless for several seconds while Usyk pressed forward. Where the element of controversy comes in is in the decision of Referee Mark Nelson choosing to rule a knockdown against Fury when under similar circumstances a referee might have stepped in and stopped the fight. While some have made an issue of this in the months since the first encounter, this observer needs to point out as I have many times over the years that referees are human like the rest of us, and decisions regarding whether a fight should be stopped under circumstances like the one Fury was in comes down to split second judgments. Perhaps given the magnitude of the event and likely knowing that his call would be questioned either way, Nelson decided to rule a knockdown rather than stopping the fight outright to give Fury every chance he could to show he could continue. It proved to be the appropriate call as Fury was able to recover and finished the fight. The knockdown, however, likely put Usyk over the top in winning a very close twelve round split decision and emerging ever so briefly as the Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world. 

Now, as this rematch approaches, the obvious question is what could be different this time? The answer for your truly all boils down to whether Fury will be focused and not give away what ultimately proved to be crucial rounds in addition to the knockdown ruled against him later in the fight. There are two things to keep in mind here. One the champion Oleksandr Usyk has always been all business and did not allow himself to be baited into verbal exchanges before the first fight and did not take the bait when Fury spent time showboating in the early rounds. Fury thus must keep in mind that this time, he is the challenger and the onus is on him to turn things in his favor.. Will he be more aggressive in the early rounds and take an overall more serious approach in this fight as compared to the last time he faced Usyk and in his outing before that where former UFC Heavyweight world champion Frances Ngannou nearly upset him in a non-title bout?

For Usyk, the question will be whether he can deal with a more aggressive Fury out of the gate. The champion is known for his ability to use angles and out box his opponents and it will be interesting to see if Usyk will somehow be more technical in his approach than he was in the first encounter. Although the possibility exists that Usyk might be looking to make a statement this time seeing as he was able to nearly stop Fury last time, one should not expect an approach that would be over aggressive and one where Usyk tries to use his power to try and get Fury out of there. Usyk must remember that he is a master boxer and has an advantage in terms of hand speed that worked to his benefit in the first fight. One might argue that his timing and ability to catch Fury was what led to him nearly getting a stoppage in the first fight and the more sensible approach might be to try and set traps and look to counter Fury.

It does not take hype to say what this fight is about here. The Boxing world is waiting to see what happens the second time around. Will it be a repeat of what happened in chapter one or will Tyson Fury put forth a performance which would likely lead to a third encounter down the road? All questions will be answered Saturday, December 21st.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Usyk vs. Fury 2 takes place on Saturday, December 21st at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View for $39.99 beginning at 10:30AM ET/7:30AM PT (*U.S. Times Only*). For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, to subscribe and order this special pay-per-view event please visit: www.DAZN.com.  

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Most Valuable Prospects 10 Results From Orlando, FL

Press Release: December 14,  2024 By Most Valuable Promotions - 

MVP’s Javon Walton Dominates Erik Henley with Majority Decision Win, Undefeated Dainier Pero Delivers 1st-Round TKO Victory

MVP's latest signee, Tamm Thibeault, makes history as the first woman to make her pro debut under men’s rules—four three-minute rounds—delivering a dominant unanimous decision win over Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence

WBA Recognizes Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, and Christy Martin for Their Groundbreaking Impact on Women’s Boxing at Most Valuable Prospects 10, Honoring Paul as Most Influential Promoter of 2024, Serrano as Lifetime WBA Ambassador, and Martin as WBA Honorary Lifetime Champion 

Credit: Joseph Correa Most Valuable Promotions 

ORLANDO, Fla. – December 13, 2024 – In the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10, 28-year-old Antonio Vargas (19-1, 11 KOs) proved why he is the WBA’s #1 bantamweight contender as he became the new WBA interim world bantamweight champion following a tenth round TKO of 24-year-old Nicaraguan sensation and the WBA’s #9-ranked contender Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero (22-1). Vargas dropped Guerrero early with a counter uppercut-left hook combination, but Guerrero came back in the second round, knocking Vargas down with a powerful overhand right. From there, Vargas took control, wearing Guerrero down with body shots and dominant combinations. In the 10th round, Vargas landed a devastating right hand that sent Guerrero to the ropes, finishing the fight with a flurry of punches, securing the TKO victory. MVP’s tenth installment of the Most Valuable Prospects series, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, took place at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, live on DAZN with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter.

 

In the co-main event, MVP’s Javon "Wanna" Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO) returned to the ring against the experienced Erik Hanley (1-2, 1 KO) in a 4-round super featherweight bout. Wanna came out firing hard punches from the opening bell, showcasing his superstar potential with quick-twitch explosiveness, speed, and power, highlighted by a ferocious left hook. Despite Hanley’s toughness and ability to absorb punishment, Wanna’s relentless pressure and aggressive combinations overwhelmed his opponent. Walton dominated throughout and earned a well-deserved win by majority decision (40-36 x2, 38-38).

Post-fight, an emotional Walton spoke to ringside reporter Sibley Scoles, expressing his gratitude to MVP, his family, and his fans for their unwavering support following a tough global debut in March 2024 and recent injuries. Jake Paul joined him in the ring, noting that Walton, like himself, started his career in the spotlight and rose to the occasion. Paul praised Walton’s ability to handle pressure and highlighted the significant improvement he's shown, emphasizing the display of power, aggression, and skill that made his performance so impressive.

In a sensational heavyweight battle, undefeated Cuban Olympian Dainier "The Fear" Pero (10-0, 8 KOs) made his fourth Most Valuable Prospects series appearance of 2024, capturing the vacant WBA Continental USA Heavyweight title with a TKO win over Walter Burns (8-3, 6 KOs). The 25-year-old Pero delivered a devastating display of power, knocking Burns down twice with thunderous head shots in the first round before finishing him for good at 2:50 of round 1. The victory, his sixth straight by TKO, capped an unstoppable year for Pero, who went 5-0 with 5 KOs in 2024, solidifying his status as a leading candidate for Prospect of the Year. Following the bout, Pero thanked MVP, Boxlab, and his supporters.  

Tamm Thibeault (1-0), two-time Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and MVP’s latest signee, made history tonight as the first female boxer to make her professional debut under men’s rules—four three-minute rounds—in the Most Valuable Prospects 10 main card opener. Facing the WBA’s #10-ranked contender, Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-7-2, 6 KOs), Thibeault delivered a commanding performance that showcased her immense potential as a future champion. Utilizing her impressive height, reach, and fluid movement, Thibeault combined strength and technical precision to dominate from the opening bell. Demonstrating the power and skill that made her an unstoppable force in the amateur ranks, she earned a unanimous decision victory (40-36 x3) to begin her professional career with a powerful statement.

Thibeault celebrated her victory alongside her new MVP teammates Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano in the ring, marking a momentous occasion for women’s boxing. Paul praised Thibeault as “the future” of the sport, while Thibeault expressed gratitude to Serrano for breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation of female fighters. Serrano reflected on the empowerment of being a female fighter in this historic era.

Credit: Joseph Correa Most Valuable Promotions 

Following the bout, WBA President Gilberto Mendoza joined them in the ring to recognize their contributions. Mendoza thanked Jake Paul for his unwavering commitment to women’s boxing, presenting him with the title of Most Influential Promoter of 2024. Amanda Serrano was honored as a lifetime WBA ambassador for her groundbreaking achievements and dedication to the sport. Boxing legend and former women’s champion Christy Martin was also celebrated, receiving the title of WBA Honorary Lifetime Champion for her decades of contributions to women’s boxing.

In the preliminary card headliner, 24-year-old Orlando talent Jeovanny Estela (14-2, 5 KOs) faced Jocksan Blanco (8-0, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout for the WBA Continental USA super welterweight title. After a hard-fought battle that went the distance, an emotional Blanco secured the title with a majority decision victory (76-76, 77-75 x2).

Additional action on the preliminary card featured the undefeated Armenian prospect Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (7-0, 6 KOs), who battled Samoan fighter Patrick Mailata (6-3, 3 KOs) in an eight-round heavyweight bout. In a back-and-forth affair, Mailata landed some devastating shots in round 6, wobbling Hovhannisyan. However, the resilient Hovhannisyan regained his composure and demonstrated why he's one of the most exciting up-and-coming heavyweights, finishing strong with his jabs to secure a hard-fought majority decision (76-76, 77-75 x2).

Opening the preliminary card, Dominican prospect Hendri “La Bazuca” Cedeño (15-0, 11 KOs) continued his undefeated streak as he faced Mexican fighter Luis “Matador” Hernandez Ramos (23-6, 20 KOs) in an 8-round super lightweight bout. The 26-year-old Cedeño continued to showcase his rise in the division against the formidable 28-year-old Ramos, securing a unanimous decision victory (78-74, 79-73 x2).

The WBA recognized 103 years of progress ahead of the preliminary bouts, thanking fans and fighters around the world for their support. Current and former boxing champions were in attendance to celebrate, including Miguel Coto, Felix Trinidad, Nonito Donaire, Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marques, Caleb Plant, Jose Valenzuela, Erislandy Lara, and Alycia Baumgardner. 

Opening the night, 32-year-old Venezuelan Fradimil Macayo (18-1, 14 KOs) took home a second-round KO victory over seasoned Colombian veteran Oscar “El Guerrero” Escandon (27-9, 18 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight clash.

In a series of closing walkout bouts, Melbourne, Florida 18-year-old talent Alex Bray (8-0, 6 KOs) became the new WBA Continental Americas super welterweight champion, defeating Argentina’s Gaston Rios (10-2, 7 KOs) by first round TKO. Kissimmee, Florida’s 25-year-old talent Antreveous Ingram (9-0, 4 KOs) earned a TKO victory over Nicaragua’s Freddy Espinoza (10-8, 7 KOs) at 1:00 in the first round of a super welterweight bout. In a 6-round middleweight bout, Jamar Pemberton (8-1, 5 KOs) vs. Kahlil Mitchell (4-1, 2 KOs) resulted in a majority decision (56-56, 57-55x2) for Pemberton.

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The tenth event in the series highlighted the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to showcase the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink of MVP and the presenting sponsor of the Most Valuable Prospects series. Most Valuable Prospects is also sponsored by Fansly, Event Ticket Center, Total Wireless, and Undisputed. 

 

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP:

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.  

About DAZN:

DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). We are building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com. 

  

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions/ Photos Courtesy of Joseph Correa Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Can Whyte Continue To Build Momentum?

December 2024 in Boxing has seen the focus firmly planted on the Heavyweight division. With the highly anticipated rematch between undefeated unified WBO/WBA/IBO/WBC Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former champion Tyson Fury still to take place on December 21 in Saudi Arabia, the month of December has seen potential challengers for whomever should emerge from that fight victorious, angling for position. We have seen former two-time world title challenger Kubrat Pulev take his next step by scoring a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over longtime contender Manuel Charr. Now, another former world title challenger looks to make his argument as longtime contender Dillian Whyte will return to the ring on Sunday, December 15th in Gibraltar at the Europa Point Sports Complex to face  contender Ebenezer Tetteh. 

The scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout, which can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, will be Whyte’s third bout since coming up short against then WBC Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury in April 2022. Since that loss, where he was knocked out in the sixth round, Whyte has rebounded in his last two fights scoring victories over contenders Jermaine Franklin and Christian Hammer. In his previous fight in March, Whyte scored a third round stoppage of Hammer. 

While the story of this fight is a simple one to describe in a longtime top contender looking to put himself back into the Heavyweight championship picture, the subplot here will be what Whyte’s opposition will be on this occasion. Ebenezer Tetteh will come into this fight with a record of 23-1, with 20 Knockouts, is riding a four fight knockout streak. Tetteh does have power in both hands and should be viewed as a potentially dangerous opponent for the thirty-six year old Whyte. The one blemish on Tetteh’s record, however, came against the one recognizable opponent on that ledger in the form of current IBF Heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois, who knocked him out in one round in 2019 when Dubois was a rising contender.

This could be interpreted in a few ways. Although Tetteh has bounced back since that setback, he has only fought four times since that loss in 2019. What this fight will come down to is whether or not Tetteh is ready for the step up that he was not ready for when he faced Dubois. There is also the aspect of what version of Whyte will be in the ring.

Dillian Whyte has been in many grueling battles throughout his career and like Tetteh, he is capable of ending a fight with either hand, there have been times where he has appeared sluggish, most recently in his bout with Jermaine Franklin in November 2022, where he won a twelve round majority decision in a fight that some thought Franklin deserved the victory. The question, which will likely follow Whyte for the remainder of his career is not only one regarding consistency of his performances, but also one whether the accumulation of a long career and those grueling battles will show itself.

Whether or not that will happen against  Ebenezer Tetteh remains to be seen. When a notable Heavyweight such as Whyte competes, however, it will draw attention. Especially when the goal of every Heavyweight not currently a world champion or a challenger for a world championship is to get themselves into that position. With Pulev having scored a convincing victory over Manuel Charr, it is now time to see whether Whyte can put forth a performance that might nudge him ahead in the pecking order of potential future world title challengers or if Ebenezer Tetteh will be able to score what some will view as an upset and move his own name into that discussion.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Whyte vs. Tetteh takes place on Sunday, December 15th at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar. The fight can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT. (*U.S. Times Only.*) For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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MVP SIGNS TWO-TIME CANADIAN OLYMPIAN AND AMATEUR WORLD CHAMPION TAMMARA “TAMM” THIBEAULT AHEAD OF PRO DEBUT

Press Release: December 13,  2024 By Most Valuable Promotions - MVP deepens its commitment to empowering female fighters by signing Thibeault, who makes a bold statement for equality in historic first-ever women’s pro debut under men’s rules—four three-minute rounds—at Most Valuable Prospects 10 

Thibeault becomes MVP’s first female Canadian signee and joins “Prince” Lucas Bahdi as MVP’s second Canadian athlete

NEW YORK, NY – December 13, 2024 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced today that two-time Canadian Olympian and amateur world champion Tammara “Tamm” Thibeault will be the newest signee to MVP’s growing roster of world-class fighters. Thibeault joins MVP just ahead of her highly-anticipated pro debut against fellow Canadian and the #10 WBA-ranked middleweight, Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-6, 6 KOs). Thibeault, a passionate advocate for gender equality in the sport, is making a powerful statement from the opening bell of her professional career as the first female boxer in history to compete in a pro debut under men’s rules—four three-minute rounds—in a middleweight / 160 lbs bout against Spence. The bout will open the main card of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10 on Friday, December 13 in Orlando, FL, available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package, with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, and fellow Canadian signee Lucas Bahdi will be in attendance to support Thibeault and fellow MVP star Wanna Walton.  

Originally from Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada, Thibeault began her boxing journey at the age of nine, inspired by seeing her father, a former CFL athlete who took up boxing in his offseason, knock out an opponent during a Provincial tournament. Following in his footsteps, she took up boxing at age 12 and was inspired to compete for Canada while watching the first women’s Olympic boxing competition at the 2012 London Olympics. Since then, the 27-year-old middleweight, a southpaw standing 6 feet tall, has forged an outstanding career in the amateur ranks. A two-time Olympian, Thibeault made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where she advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 75kg (165lb) event, matching Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in any women’s boxing event. She went undefeated until she returned to the Paris Olympics in 2024, earning gold medals at the 2022 IBA Amateur World Championship, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 Pan Am Games. Thibeault, who speaks French, English, and Spanish, recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University in 2023, which she earned over seven years while competing. She currently lives in Sheffield, England, where she is earning a one-year Master’s degree in urban design and urban planning while training at the renowned Steel City Gym. She is now poised to embark on the next chapter of her career, setting a new precedent in the pro ranks as the first female boxer in history to make a pro debut while competing under men’s rules, three-minute rounds, on the main card of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10. 

“I am beyond excited to be part of Most Valuable Promotions,” said Tamm Thibeault. “The moment has come to start a new adventure, and I truly believe that with MVP, I will have the opportunity to bring something great to women’s professional boxing. Amanda Serrano has been an incredible inspiration, championing women’s choice in this sport, and I’m proud to follow her example by competing under men’s rules—with three-minute rounds—against Natasha Spence in my pro debut today. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to start this amazing journey!” 

“I’m thrilled to welcome another strong female fighter in Tamm Thibeault to the MVP family,” said Amanda Serrano. “Tamm’s impressive accomplishments at the amateur level speak volumes about her talent and potential, and I’m confident she’s destined to become a future superstar. Most importantly, she shares our vision to uplift female fighters and show the world that women deserve recognition, a platform, and equal opportunity in this sport. By stepping into the ring to compete with three-minute rounds in her first pro fight, Tamm is making a bold statement on equality and setting a powerful example for the next generation of women in boxing. Change is coming.”

"Tamm Thibeault has the skills inside and outside the ring to ensure she has a long and successful boxing career," said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. "As a two-time Canadian Olympian and amateur world champion, Tamm has already proven herself as one of the sport's brightest rising stars. Her decision to compete under men’s rules in her professional debut is a groundbreaking moment, and we’re honored to support her as she sets a new standard for what’s possible in women’s boxing. The anticipation for her pro debut on Most Valuable Prospects 10 tonight is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see her continue inspiring athletes worldwide and showcasing her talents in an MVP event in Canada in 2025.

Thibeault joins MVP’s elite roster of superstar athletes and up-and-coming stars including international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul, boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, prolific top boxing prospect H2O Sylve, MVP’s first homegrown champion, the new WBO Super Middleweight Champion, Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green, multi-talented megastar Javon “Wanna” Walton, India’s most successful professional boxer Neeraj Goyat, and top-ranked lightweight “Prince” Lucas Bahdi. 

Founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, MVP aims to give athletes creative control, and aims to identify, grow, and maximize return for its talent partners and events. Together, Paul and Bidarian have architected Jake Paul’s meteoric rise in combat sports. In 2021, MVP signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano, who has since achieved historic milestones, including becoming Puerto Rico’s first-ever undisputed champion and competing in the first unified women’s championship fight contested over 12 three-minute rounds—the men’s championship standard—held in October 2023. Her previous historic clash against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in 2022 earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year, The Ring’s Event of the Year, and was further nominated for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. The event marked a pivotal point in women’s sports history as the first time women have headlined a main event at the world-renowned venue in New York City. 

MVP’s recent collaboration with Netflix broke records with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson mega-event, which is now the most-streamed sporting event ever, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams globally, with 38 million in the U.S. The event drew an average minute audience (AMA) of 108 million live viewers globally, which grew to 125 million (Live+1) over the weekend. Co-headlining the historic card, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history, with an AMA of 47 million viewers domestically and 74 million globally. The event also ranked as the #1 title on Netflix in 78 countries, including the U.S., UK, Brazil, and India, and trended as the #1 topic worldwide on X during the event. Joe Hand Promotions reported that over 1 million viewers watched from 6,000 bars and restaurants in the U.S., breaking commercial distribution records.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions, @JakePaul, and @TammThibeault or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions, @JakePaul, and @tammthibeault.

 

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.  

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

‘I still feel like I've got more to achieve in this sport’ Andrew Moloney sets his sights on World Championship glory

Press Release: December 12,  2024 By Lewis Moss and Dragon Fire Boxing  -

Credit: Dragon Fore Boxing 

This Sunday at the Melbourne Pavillion, Andrew Moloney looks to get back on track when he takes on the experienced Jakrawut Majungoen.

 

A win for the Aussie has the potential to open doors for the future, as he sets his sights on another world title.

 

In his last fight, Moloney was on the wrong end of a controversial decision at the hands of Pedro Guevara for the Interim WBC Super Flyweight title. The disappointment of this fight resulted in Molony announcing his retirement.

 

Moloney says that although the loss was a very tough pill to swallow, he has moved past that night as he looks to get back on the horse.

“I was extremely frustrated that night” Moloney said. “I really felt like everything we planned on doing in that fight went exactly to plan, I felt like I was in total control.

“My corner would basically tell me to keep doing what I was doing and I was very relieved at the end of the fight as I felt like things went my way.

“To have the decision read out as Guevara winning the fight, I was honestly just shocked.

“On that night, I announced that that would be my last fight. I'd had enough of giving everything to the sport and getting nothing back. Winning that fight for the interim world title would have opened up the doors to some really big fights for me.

“It was a pretty tough pill to swallow, it took a bit of time to move past and refocus on the future in the sport but here we are.

“This Sunday I get a chance to put that behind me and move forward with my career and hopefully open up the doors for some big fights in 2025.”

Going into his previous fight, Moloney revealed that he had torn his bicep nine days prior. During rehabilitation, his focus was a chance at redemption against his Mexican foe.

However, due to the urgent need for a unification fight, the WBC would not allow the rematch to go forward.

While looking at other pathways in the Super Flyweight division, Moloney and his management noticed a lot of movement, Particularly in two of the four sanctioning bodies. 

“I went through a pretty tough week to get to [the Guevara] fight after tearing my bicep around nine days out.” Moloney told.

“Throughout rehab, my whole motivation was to have a rematch with Guevara and my team were in talks with him to organize that rematch.

“Unfortunately, the WBC mandated that he fought for the full world title against Jesse Rodriguez, basically putting a halt on the rematch happening. [It] took a little bit of time to refocus my goals and work out what was next.

“Thankfully, there's been a little bit of movement in the division, particularly in the IBF and a little bit in the WBO as well, where it looks like I could potentially get a shot at a world title in the not too distant future.”

Moloney is ranked the eighth best Super Flyweight in the world by the IBF and seventh in the WBO, with the former having a lot more room for opportunity.

 

In the IBF, the title along with the first and second ranking positions are currently vacant. On the same day that Moloney makes his return, the third and fourth ranked Super Flyweights Willibaldo Garcia and Rene Calixto Bibiano fight each other for the IBF crown.

 

The Aussie says he has his eye on that match up, potentially facing the winner in the future.

“For me, I want to be in the big fights” Moloney told.

“I want to be fighting for world titles, my goal in this sport is to be world champion. I’m trying to plan and map out the fastest route to that and it looks to be the IBF.

“I've watched footage of [Willibaldo Garcia and Rene Calixto Bibiano] and I'm very confident that I have what it takes to beat either one of them, that’s definitely the route I'd like to go.

“I'm hoping that maybe after this fight that I'll be able to be in an eliminator for an IBF title shot, that is, if we can't get the winner of that title fight straight away.”

But before he can think about an eliminator fight, he needs to get past Jakrawut Majungoen, an experienced fighter in the Asian boxing scene.

Having already fought seven times this year and winning five of them by stoppage, the Thai fighter looks to be a good test for Moloney.

“He's a good fighter. He's very experienced” Moloney said.

“He had a very good fight against Daigo Higa quite a few years ago, he gave Higa a very hard fight so I've prepared well.”

“This is a must-win fight for me, so I've prepared very hard. I believe if I fight to my best ability, then I should win this fight no problem.

“But I have to make sure that I'm on my game and I perform at my best.”

Although Moloney has been at boxing’s highest level for a number of years, he is not quite satisfied with his career just yet.

With a world title on his mind, he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

“I really still feel like I've got more to achieve in this sport.” Moloney said.

“I've given my life to this sport for 20 years, I'm not satisfied with what I've achieved just yet.

“I really want to get my hands on at least one more world title, that's my complete focus at the moment.

“Hopefully with the way things move after this fight, it won't be too long before I'm back fighting for world titles and hopefully that's next year.”

Despite the disappointment in his last fight, Moloney looks rejuvenated and has a clear focus for the future. On fight night, Andrew will leave no stone unturned to stay on track and retain focus on his world title ambitions.

Material Courtesy of: Lewis Moss/Photo Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing used with permission 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Wallace Stop Wellem In 8

The recent times in Boxing’s 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division have centered around Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, the two long-reigning world champions of the division, who finally met in October of this year to determine the Undisputed World Light-Heavyweight championship. In what was a highly competitive fight, it was Beterbiev who emerged victorious by a razor thin decision. Both due to the competitive nature of that fight as well as a rematch clause, Beterbiev and Bivol will continue to be the focus as they will meet again in February 2025.

Outside of the top of the division where the focus remains on Beterbiev and Bivol, however, there are prospects and contenders looking to position themselves for potential lucrative bouts against either later in 2025 and beyond. One such fighter is rising prospect Conor Wallace. Wallace, a native of Newry, Northern Ireland, now based in Queensland, Australia, has quickly emerged as a fighter to watch and could well find himself in the mix among the top contenders, or Beterbiev, or Bivol sooner rather than later.

After establishing a record of 14-1, with 10 Knockouts, Wallace concluded his 2024 on Wednesday night when he faced the unbeaten, but largely unknown Asemahle Wellem at the Fortitude Music Hall in Queensland Australia. Despite coming into the fight with an undefeated record of 7-0-1, with 3 Knockouts, Wellem, a native of South Africa, was a bit of a mystery in the sense that there was not  footage that this observer could access prior to this bout of his previous fights, and all one could really go on without the benefit of film study, was simply the statistical figures in his record as well as the knowledge per that record that Wellem came into this fight off of a draw in his last bout in March against a fellow undefeated fighter named Selemani Kidunda in a fight fought in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division.

Often when there is not much known about a fighter going into a bout, it can be difficult to get an idea as to what type of fight one could expect. Wellem would turn out to be a fighter who was quite awkward, but one that ended up providing Wallace with what turned out to be a significant test.

The early rounds saw both fighters looking to establish position, Wallace, a southpaw seeming to be the naturally bigger fighter and attempting to keep Wellem at distance with his longer reach. As tends to happen when a southpaw faces an orthodox fighter, there was no shortage of trips, unintentional, and perhaps intentional grappling between the two fighters throughout with Wallace often getting the worst of it in hitting the canvas and at times appearing to be thrown akin to what one would see in the sport of Judo. This was not aided by what appeared to be moisture on the canvas, which had both fighters having trouble periodically maintaining their footing.

Wellem did succeed for a time in being able to keep Wallace from finding a rhythm by frequently changing the levels of his attack from the head to the body as well as not over playing his hand in only taking opportunities as they came rather than being overly aggressive. As the fight progressed, Wallace managed to gradually apply tactical pressure, which opened up opportunities to land his left hand from the southpaw stance. This did not prevent him from getting caught in the fourth round and appearing to be hurt by a right hand by Wellem. Wallace would respond by landing a left hook to the body that forced Wellum to take a knee moments later. 

Perhaps because he had now felt the power of his opponent, Wellem would resort to a dirty tactic in the fifth round when while being separated by the referee, he hit Wallace in the back of the head, which caused an immediate point deduction for not only hitting on the break, but also hitting his opponent in the back of the head. The subject of potential scoring of the fight, however, would prove to be a moot point as Wallace continued to apply pressure and gradually land hard punches that affected Wellem.

In the eighth round Wallace would drop Wellem for the second time with a straight left hand. Although Wellem showed his mettle by getting up, he was clearly hurt, and Wallace sensing his opponent was in trouble, went for the finish. A follow-up combination sent Wellem down for a third and final time as the bout was promptly stopped. The fifthteeth victory in the career of Conor Wallace and his eighth straight win since suffering his only career setback in April 2021, earned him the WBA’s vacant Oceania Light-Heavyweight title, one of the regional championships used to elevate fighters into the world rankings who compete in the Asia-Pacific region of the world, not unlike fighters who win British titles in the United Kingdom or European championships throughout Europe, which all serve as a route for fighters to elevate themselves into the world rankings. 

More importantly, this win will serve Wallace well in terms of his development in the long-term. He did face an opponent here in Asemahle Wellem, who presented an awkward style that for a time proved difficult to combat. Furthermore, Wellem did test Wallace's ability to cope with being hurt and was not cooperative and kept fighting after being knocked down initially. While fights like this often serve better than a quick knockout in the long-term as far as a fighter’s development is concerned, the ability to cope with what some might view as an unexpected test and still accomplish the task of victory will also serve Wallace as he looks to progress against theoretically tougher competition with the goal of eventually challenging for a world championship.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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