Sunday, February 8, 2026

Get To Know Devon Kelly As He Retuns March 13 In Perth – Thunderdome 53



Press Release: February 8, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday the 13th of March, Dragon Fire Boxing hits the Metro City Arena for the first time this year for Thunderdome 53 with a stacked card.


One of the prospects coming through is Devon Kelly


Kelly is 2-0 and returns March 13 and is ready to for a show stealing performance.


Lets get to know Devon Kelly;


“I was 17 years old when I started boxing, I got into boxing after watching a Japanese anime show called Hajime No Ippo then just loved it ever since I started.”


“My thoughts about my upcoming fight in March are I’m excited to vs my first international opponent and keen to see what a Nepal fighter brings to the table.”


“I’ll just keep it simple just enjoy the show I’m going to put on and as always thanks for coming and supporting me”.


“My goals for 2026 are it would be wicked to fight for the WA state title this year. I don't wanna be the only pro in the Ringfit stable to not have a belt cause I know Owen and Lewie are gonna have one after March and Sam’s gonna have multiple.”.


Tickets on sale now at megatix.com.au & the event will be broadcast by Livecombatsports.com.au 



Material  of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.


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




MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS BRINGS ITS FIRST-EVER EVENT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FEATURING HISTORIC DOUBLE MAIN EVENT SUNDAY, APRIL 5

Press Release: February 8, 2026 (Released on website on delay, Press Conference can be streamed on YouTube on demand) LONDON, ENGLAND – February 3, 2026 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the company’s highly-anticipated United Kingdom market debut on Sunday, April 5 from Olympia in London, England. The event will feature a double main event headlined by the long-anticipated clash of MVP’s British champions, “Sweet” Caroline Dubois (12-0-1, 5 KOs) vs. Terri “Belter” Harper (16-2-2, 6 KOs), a 10-round women’s championship bout for the unified WBO and WBC lightweight world titles, contested at 135lbs. In the historic double main event, MVP and England’s unified super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney (11-0) will face Mexico’s WBA world champion Mayelli Flores (13-1-1, 4 KOs) in a 10-round undisputed super bantamweight championship bout contested at 122 lbs. Entering the fight, Scotney is the youngest UK women’s boxer in history to fight for undisputed, and if she wins, she will become the youngest UK boxer in the four belt era in history to become undisputed world champion–male or female. The event will stream live on Sky Sports in the UK, with the US broadcast home to be announced soon.



Joining the card will be MVP’s former undisputed champion and current #3 WBO contender Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron (21-1, 8 KOs) vs. #4 WBO contender Michaela Kotaskova (11-0-4, 2 KOs). Cameron vs. Kotaskova will be a 10 round championship bout for the WBO super welterweight world title at 154lbs as Cameron aims to win a world championship in a second weight division. Also on the card, Mexico’s IBF super flyweight champion Irma Garcia (25-5-1, 5 KOs) will make a 10-round women’s world title defense at 115lbs against England’s Emma Dolan (8-0, 1 KO).



MVP will host the Kickoff Press Conference for the event on Friday, February 6 at 1pm GMT at Olympia, London. The press conference will be hosted by Andy Scott and will stream live on MVP’s YouTube channel and Sky Sports’ YouTube channel. All media interested in being credentialed to cover the press conference must apply HERE.



Dubois vs. Harper and Scotney vs. Flores is a Most Valuable Promotions event in association with VIP Boxing Promotions. Ticket on sale details will be announced during the kickoff press conference Friday, February 6. 



“MVP’s latest milestone in women’s boxing fittingly comes today on National Girls and Women in Sports Day as the company brings its brand to the UK for the first time,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “This card already features three of the top pound-for-pound women's boxers in the world and four world title fights. MVP is the global home of women’s boxing, and we look forward to giving these athletes the platform and market exposure they deserve, live from London on Sunday, April 5.”



MVP’s WBC lightweight world champion “Sweet” Caroline Dubois fights out of London, England. The 2020 Olympian made her pro debut in February 2022. In August 2024, she won the WBC Interim lightweight title, then was elevated to become the WBC lightweight world champion in December 2024. The 25-year-old southpaw successfully defended her title twice in 2025, and is ESPN’s #1 lightweight and Boxrec’s #16 pound-for-pound talent in the world.



“I'm excited to make this fight,” said Caroline Dubois. “This is a massive fight in my career and for British boxing, both a legacy fight and unification. The goal is to become undisputed world champion and this is the first step.”



MVP’s WBO lightweight world champion Terri “Belter” Harper fights out of Doncaster, England. Less than two years after her pro debut, she won the IBO 130lb title, then won the WBC title in 2020. In 2022, Harper moved up four divisions to 154lbs to win the WBA super welterweight world title. In September 2024, she moved down to 135lbs and claimed the WBO lightweight world title. With the win, she became Britain's first-ever three-division women’s world champion. Harper made her first title defense at 135lbs in May 2025. The 29-year-old is currently ESPN’s #2 lightweight in the world. 




“This fight has been a long time in the making,” said Terri Harper. “I’m grateful to MVP for getting it over the line. I’m excited to be headlining MVP’s first UK show!”




MVP’s unified super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney will become the youngest UK female boxer in history to fight for undisputed—and will become the youngest in UK history, male or female, to become undisputed champion if she wins. The Catford, England native became IBF world champion in just her seventh pro fight before unifying to win the WBO and Ring Magazine titles in 2024. The 27-year-old then won the WBC belt on MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 on Netflix in July 2025, which earned her recognition as ESPN’s 2025 British Boxer of the Year. She is Boxrec’s #8 and Ring Magazine’s #10 pound-for-pound talent, and ESPN’s #1 super bantamweight in the world. 



“Nothing is like God’s timing,” said Ellie Scotney. “For that little kid that first glimpsed the stage and stakes that await on Sunday, April 5th, everything has aligned to this very moment. I’m beyond grateful to MVP for delivering once again, and now it’s my turn. Destiny awaits, time to make history in my hometown in front of my very own.”



Mayelli Flores is the reigning WBA super bantamweight world champion from Mexico City, Mexico. After an early career highlighted a narrow world title challenge against Yulihan Luna, Flores defeated Nazarena Romero by split decision to capture the WBA 122lb crown in May 2025. The 33-year-old Flores represents Mexico with pride as she continues her rise among the sport’s elite.



“I would like to thank God, MVP and my team for this incredible opportunity,” said Mayelli Flores. “When I heard the fight was moved to the UK, I agreed without hesitation. We Mexicans show up ready to fight anywhere, mentally and physically ready for war. Ellie Scotney is a great and tough fighter, but I am up for the challenge. A win over Scotney will put me in the history books as Mexico’s first undisputed female boxer in history. I am ready to make history. I dedicate this fight to my family and all the boxing fans watching in person and at home.”



Former undisputed super lightweight champion at 140lbs, current #1 WBA, #1 WBO, and #7 WBC 140lb contender, and #3 WBO 154lb contender, Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron won the WBC super lightweight world title in 2020, unified her titles in 2021, then became undisputed super lightweight champion in 2022. She successfully defended her crown vs. Katie Taylor in May 2023, while their rematch resulted in a majority decision for Taylor. Cameron returned in July 2024 to win the WBC interim 140lb title and is also ESPN’s #5 and Boxrec’s #10 pound-for–pound women’s boxer in the world. She resides in Northampton, England and trains under Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis.



“I cannot thank MVP enough for this opportunity to become a two-weight world champion,” said Chantelle Cameron. “When we spoke to Jake and Nakisa about signing with MVP there were a lot of promises made, and they have delivered on every one of those promises. Fighting for a world title in the UK on Sky Sports is huge for me and my family. Sunday, April 5th you are going to see the very best of Chantelle Cameron.”



Michaela Kotásková is a Czech-born Austrian professional boxer, boxing coach, and charity ambassador. She began boxing in October 2014 in the Czech Republic while at university, then continued her studies at the University of Vienna while pursuing her boxing career. Between 2017 and 2022, she represented the Austrian national boxing team and became a multiple-time Austrian national champion, then turned professional in 2022 and won the WBF welterweight title in April 2024. Kotaskova is the WBO’s #1 contender at 147lbs and #4 contender at 154lbs.



“I’ve put my blood, sweat, and tears into the sport for the past decade,” said Michaela Kotaskova. I fear no one, and should not be underestimated. This level of opposition is nothing new to me. I’m ready to take everything she’s willing to give.”



Irma “La Torbellino” García is a professional boxer, attorney, police officer, and member of the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City. In the ring, she is both a former and current world champion, having previously won the WBA bantamweight world title at 118lbs and now holds the IBF super flyweight world title at 115lbs. 



“I’m proud to make my second title defense with one of the biggest promotions in the world, MVP,” said Irma Garcia. “We know what’s in front of us—this is a serious challenge against an undefeated fighter who’s coming hungry. But my team and I are doing the work, staying locked in, and we’re ready to prove exactly who the champion is. That belt belongs to Mexico, and after this fight, it’s going back home where it belongs.”



Emma Dolan hails from Newark, England by way of Norfolk, and is the current British and Commonwealth super flyweight champion at 115lbs. Dolan has climbed up the world rankings with consecutive wins in 2023 that saw her win and defend the Commonwealth super flyweight title. She added the British title to her collection in a ‘Fight of The Year Contender’ vs. Shannon Ryan in June 2024, and has defended both successfully. Now the IBF #1 contender, she aims to become the first British fighter to hold any version of the 115lb weight division’s titles.


 


“I’m looking forward to this fight. It’s felt a long time coming but it’s nearly here now,” said Emma Dolan. “I can’t wait to show everyone what Carl and I have been working on behind closed doors and bring that title back home.”



Additional information, including undercard bouts and co-main event details, will be announced in the coming weeks.



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



About Caroline Dubois


WBC lightweight world champion “Sweet” Caroline Dubois fights out of London, England. Her amateur career was nothing short of legendary, a dominant run that included winning the gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, becoming England’s first World Youth Champion (2018), and capturing four European Youth Championship titles between 2016 and 2019. This amateur dominance earned her the prestigious BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2019. In 2021, she represented Team GB at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals. Dubois made her professional debut in February 2022 and quickly established herself in the lightweight division. In September 2023, she earned her first major professional title, winning the vacant IBO lightweight world title via unanimous decision. Her ascent continued in August 2024, when she defeated Maira Moneo to claim the WBC Interim lightweight title. Following a relinquishment of the title, Dubois was elevated to become the WBC lightweight world champion in December 2024. The 25-year-old southpaw successfully retained her titles in 2025, securing a majority decision win against Bo Mi Re Shin in March 2025 before another successful title defense vs. Camilla Panatta on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua in December. She is currently ranked ESPN’s #1 lightweight and Boxrec’s #16 pound-for-pound talent in the world.



About Terri Harper


WBO lightweight world champion Terri “Belter” Harper fights out of Doncaster, England. During her brief career at the amateur level, competing only 17 times, she earned three national titles and won silver at the 2012 European Junior Championships. Harper went on to make her professional debut in 2017 at age 21. Less than two years later in July 2019, she found her first world title opportunity in the super featherweight division at 130lbs, defeating Nozipho Bell by TKO to earn the previously vacant IBO world title. Following a successful first defense, Harper quickly unified her titles against then-WBC champion Eva Wahlstrom in February 2020, winning by unanimous decision. She successfully defended her unified titles twice more before facing a challenging loss to Alycia Baumgardner in November 2021. An unshaken Harper returned to the ring just four months later to earn her next win before moving up four divisions to 154lbs to challenge Hannah Rankin for the WBA and IBO super welterweight world titles, winning by UD. After contesting for the WBO world title at 154lbs, Harper moved down to 135lbs in September 2024, defeating Rhiannon Dixon to capture the WBO lightweight world title. With the win, she became Britain's first-ever three-division women’s world champion. Harper made her first title defense at 135lbs in May 2025, besting Natalie Zimmermann by unanimous decision. The 29-year-old is currently ranked as ESPN’s #2 lightweight in the world. 



About Ellie Scotney


MVP’s unified super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney will become the youngest UK female boxer in history to fight for the undisputed crown on Sunday, April 5—and will become the youngest in UK history, male or female, to become undisputed champion if she wins. The Catford, England native made her pro debut in 2020. In her seventh pro fight, Scotney dethroned former 122lb champion Cherneka Johnson by UD to become the new IBF world champion. Scotney successfully defended her IBF belt against Laura Griffa in September 2023 before unifying the division and adding the WBO and Ring Magazine titles to her collection in a UD win over then-undefeated 18-0 champion Segolene Lefebvre. The 27-year-old most recently faced the longest-standing division champion, former WBC titlist Yamileth Mercado on the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 all-women’s card live on Netflix, winning by UD and adding the WBC belt to her unified collection. The outstanding performance earned her recognition as ESPN’s 2025 Female Boxer of the Year. Scotney is currently ranked Boxrec’s #8, and Ring Magazine’s #10 pound-for-pound boxer, as well as ESPN’s #1 super bantamweight in the world. 



About Mayelli Flores


Mayelli Flores is the reigning WBA super bantamweight world champion from Mexico City, Mexico. Standing at 4’11”, Flores turned professional in 2014 and has built a reputation for high pressure and punch volume inside the ring. After an early career highlighted a narrow world title challenge against Yulihan Luna, Flores defeated Nazarena Romero by split decision in Kissimmee, Florida, to capture the WBA 122lb crown in May 2025. Known for her toughness, stamina, and willingness to trade in the pocket, the 33-year-old Flores represents Mexico with pride as she continues her rise among the sport’s elite.



About Chantelle Cameron


Former undisputed super lightweight champion at 140lbs and current #1 WBA, #1 WBO, and #7 WBC contender Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron (20-1, 8 KOs) is one of the most recognized names in women’s boxing. Cameron made her pro boxing debut in May 2017 and earned her first title honors in December 2017, her fifth pro fight, winning the IBO 135lb lightweight world title by stoppage. In 2020, Cameron moved up to 140lbs to contend for the then-vacant WBC super lightweight world title, defeating Adriana Dos Santos Araujo to become a two-division champion. Cameron unified her titles against Mary McGee in October 2021, earning a UD win to add the IBF and Ring Magazine titles to her WBC hardware. In November 2022, Cameron defeated Jessica McCaskill to become the undisputed super lightweight champion. Cameron’s undisputed reign came to head against Ireland’s Katie Taylor in May 2023, when she successfully defended her undisputed crown. The win set the stage for the pair’s rematch in November 2023, which resulted in a majority decision for Taylor. Cameron returned to the ring in July 2024, defeating Elhem Mekhaled to secure the WBC interim super lightweight title at 140lbs, which she defended in November 2024 and now will defend again on Friday, July 11. Cameron is currently ESPN’s #5 and Boxrec’s #10 pound-for–pound women’s boxer in the world, resides in Northampton, England and trains under Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis.



About Michaela Kotaskova


Michaela Kotásková is a Czech-born Austrian professional boxer, boxing coach, and charity ambassador. She is one of Austria’s most successful female boxers and holds the WBF welterweight title. She studied German and Bohemian Studies at Palacký University Olomouc from 2011 to 2015 and began boxing in October 2014 in the Czech Republic. In 2015, she moved to Vienna, where she continued her studies at the University of Vienna while pursuing her boxing career. Since 2015, Kotásková has trained at Boxclub Bounce under head coach Daniel Nader, who played a decisive role in her athletic development until his passing in 2025. Between 2017 and 2022, she represented the Austrian national boxing team and became a multiple-time Austrian national champion. She turned professional in 2022 and won the WBF Intercontinental welterweight title in April 2023 against Mahjouba Oubtil. In April 2024, she captured the WBF welterweight world title with a victory over Erika Alvarez and successfully defended her title twice against Mikaela Lauren and Gisela Noemi Luna. In recognition of her achievements, she was named WBF Boxer of the Year 2024. Outside the ring, Kotásková works as a boxing coach, is a charity ambassador, and competes in coffee competitions.



About Irma Garcia


Irma “La Torbellino” García is a professional boxer, attorney, police officer, and member of the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City. She holds a law degree with a specialization in criminal law, is a certified expert in criminalistics, has earned a master’s degree in public administration, and has received an honorary doctorate degree. With more than 22 years of service as a police officer, García graduated with honors for academic achievement from a class of 450 officers and has been awarded the Medal of Sports Merit. In the ring, she is both a former and current world champion, having captured the WBA bantamweight world title at 118lbs and now holds the IBF super flyweight world title at 115lbs. Garcia was recognized by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas for her outstanding achievements as a world champion and her exemplary service as a police officer, becoming the first Mexican police officer to receive this prestigious honor. Through her dedication to serving and protecting her country, García has broken barriers and built deep community connections through social outreach, delivering talks to children, women, and families that promote the message of “A Healthy Body, a Healthy Mind” and help foster a culture of peace.



About Emma Dolan


Emma Dolan hails from Newark, England by way of Norfolk, and is the current British and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion at 115lbs. Dolan fell in love with the sport at age nine and went on to have a successful amateur career which included representing England. In her pro debut, she earned a stoppage win over fellow debutant Nicole Goldsmith Ryan in September 2021. Since relocating to Newark in 2022 under the tutelage of renowned trainer/manager Carl Greaves, Dolan has climbed up the world rankings with consecutive UD points wins over Halima Vanjebi in March 2023 and Nicola Hopewell in October 2023 to win and defend the Commonwealth super-flyweight title successfully. She added the British title to her collection with a split decision win over the highly-rated Shannon Ryan in a ‘Fight of The Year Contender’ in June 2024, and comfortably retained both titles with a comfortable UD win over Lauren Parker. Since becoming the IBF #1 contender, Dolan has waited patiently while her mentor Greaves has navigated her into a ‘Mandatory Contender’ position and now is the time for ‘The Best Kept Secret’ in British boxing to announce herself onto the biggest stage. Dolan aims to become only the sixth Female IBF super flyweight champion and the first British fighter to hold any version of the weight division’s titles.



About MVP

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) was founded in August 2021 by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian with a fighter first ethos. Since inception, MVP has produced 30 live boxing events, currently promotes nearly 60 fighters, 16 world champions, and 26 top contenders.



MVP has led boxing’s evolution in the streaming era through partnerships with the world’s leading platforms. In November 2024, MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 was the first-ever live professional sports event streamed on Netflix. Paul vs. Tyson shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event of all time with 125 million live viewers worldwide. MVP went on to partner with Netflix twice in 2025 for MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day.



Today, MVP is the global home of women’s boxing. MVP’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in 2022 was the first female fight to headline Madison Square Garden, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 in 2024 saw 74 million viewers globally on Netflix and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million AMA in the US. Their 2025 trilogy on Netflix topped an all-women’s megacard that set the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles, earning nearly 6 million viewers globally. 




About Olympia


Olympia is one of the most ambitious regeneration projects in the world. The £1.3 billion scheme is set to transform the heritage site into London’s newest entertainment destination, designed by Heatherwick and SPARCC for Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International.



Olympia Events manages the historic venues at Olympia, a cultural and architectural landmark that has hosted extraordinary and remarkable events since 1886. From breathtaking consumer shows and thrilling sporting and music events, Olympia Events continues to bring world-class events to London, with its distinctive architecture and almost 140-year heritage attracting some of the best and boldest events in the UK.



In 2022, Olympia’s events business joined Legends Global’s extensive portfolio of 450 managed venues, ahead of the wider estate’s redevelopment. As this next chapter unfolds, Olympia’s iconic event spaces will remain at the heart of Olympia’s £1.3bn transformation into London’s newest entertainment destination. Once completed, the iconic heritage halls will be complemented by a new International Convention Centre and premium lounge, managed by Olympia Events, 3,800-capacity live music venue managed by AEG Presents; London’s largest


purpose-built theatre in almost 50 years, managed by Trafalgar Entertainment and The Shubert Organization; two hotels operated by citizenM Hotels and Hyatt Regency; 30 restaurants, bars and eateries; Wetherby Pembridge, a new co-educational senior school; a boutique gym by 1Rebel, 550,000 sq ft of offices boasting some of the largest terraces in London, as well as new public spaces for visitors to enjoy. The reimagined Olympia’s new venues started launching in late 2025, with the phased opening continuing throughout 2026 and 2027. Stay tuned for future announcements at www.olympia.london  




Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.


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




Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53



Press Release: February 8, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday the 13th of March, Dragon Fire Boxing hits the Metro City Arena for the first time this year for Thunderdome 53 with a stacked card.


One of the amateur standouts coming through and making his pro debut is Anthony Wright Hearn


Lets get to know Anthony Wright Hearn;


“I started boxing soon after my 18th birthday. I wanted to learn how to (properly) fight, from a very young age. Childhood circumstances quickly taught me the importance of knowing how to protect yourself, and your loved ones, physically”.


“My thoughts on my professional debut, best of luck, fella”.


“Thanks so much for all the support thus far, people. Lots of whom supported me throughout my whole amateur career, and now buying tickets to come see my professional debut. It’s unreal”.


“My goals for 2026 are to be a good husband, and father for my children and smoke whoever is in front of me”.


Tickets on sale now at megatix.com.au & the event will be broadcast by Livecombatsports.com.au  



Material  of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Southern Stars Boxing Used with permission.


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




Saturday, January 31, 2026

Katelyn Stack returns March 13 – Thunderdome 53

Press Release: January 31, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday the 13th of March, Dragon Fire Boxing hits the Metro City Arena for the first time this year for Thunderdome 53 with a stacked card.

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing 

There is a cracking Western Australian State Jnr Welterweight Championship match with Jeanine Brown and Katelyn Stack.


Katelyn Stack gave her thoughts;


“Brown is a strong opponent. Definitely going to be a good fight”.


“What it means to fight for this title: it is an honour to be fighting for a WA state title for my come back fight. Means a great deal to me.”


“There is no better feeling than fighting in your home town with all your people watching and supporting”.


“Thank you to all who have supported me throughout my entire boxing journey. I have had old supporters cheering me on from the beginning & have new supporters who have just joined the journey. I am grateful for each and every one of them”.


“Goals for 2026- step back in the ring and do what I am supposed to be doing. Fight.”


Tickets on sale now at megatix.com.au & the event will be broadcast by Livecombatsports.com.au


Material  of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.


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




Sam Rennie retuns for title clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53



Credit: Mike O'Hara/ Dragon Fire Boxing 




Press Release: January 31, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday the 13th of March, Dragon Fire Boxing hits the Metro City Arena for the first time this year for Thunderdome 53 with a stacked card.


One of the featured title contests pits undefeated Isle of Man boxer Sam Rennie 7-0 as he challenges for the ANBF Australasian Super Featherweight title against 18 fight veteran Shamal Ram Aunj now based in Central Coast, New South Wales in Australia.


Rennie opens up about the title contest


“He’s a solid opponent, experienced with a lot of knockout wins, he’s boxed some top talent in Australia”.


“The fight means everything to me 9 months ago my country had never had a boxing champion ever and now I’m about to become a 2X champion in the space of 9 months, every fight I fight to represent my family name and do my family and my country proud, to everyone who continues to support me and sponsor me”


“2026 is going to be a big year with some big fights”.


Tickets on sale now at megatix.com.au & the event will be broadcast by Livecombatsports.com.au


Material  of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.


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




Thursday, January 15, 2026

Billy Quinncroft returns for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53

Credit: Mike O'Hara Dragon Fire Boxing 


Press Release: January 15, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday the 13th of March, Dragon Fire Boxing hits the Metro City Arena for the first time this year for Thunderdome 53 with a stacked card.


One of the main events features undefeated Billy “Big Bosh” Quincroft 4-0 as he takes on “Big Lewis” Clarke for the Australian National Boxing Federations Australasia Cruiserweight Championship over 8 rounds.


The current Western Australia State & interim Cruiserweight Champions fight for bragging rights who is the best Cruiserweight in Australasia.


Quinncroft  discussed his relationship with Clarke


“Lewis is my mate, and I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s tough and he is a technical fighter, that’s why this fight will be a cracker.


But once that bell goes, friendship stays outside the ropes. We’re both here to prove something, and I know he’ll bring his best. I will be well prepared for exactly that”.


“I've levelled up my training massively” Quinncroft told, “I've just changed gyms to Big Rigs gym & it’s the best thing ive done in my career, I'm going in strong and fit. 


“I'm excited and I'm ready to go.” 


 “This title fight is massive. To be only four fights in and just over a year into my professional career is crazy when you really think about it. It’s an honour to fight for this belt, especially knowing the big names who’ve held it before. I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I’m here to add my name to that list.”


“This year is about levels. Bigger fights, bigger moments, and constant growth. I’m locked in, I’m hungry, and I’m ready to make some noise.”


Tickets on sale now at megatix.com.au & the event will be broadcast by Livecombatsports.com.au


Material  of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.


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




Saturday, January 10, 2026

Important Update Regarding 2026 Schedule Start

We would like to provide our readers with a brief update. Over the Christmas holidays, we here at The Boxing Truth® and the Denison family suffered an unexpected personal tragedy, which unfortunately occurred during the week of the Anthony Joshua-Jake Paul bout on December 19th, which in turn, resulted in that bout not being covered as originally planned and the ongoing pause in our schedule, which has gone into the month of January. 


We do want to let readers know that due to the aforementioned circumstances and given that the 2026 Boxing schedule has already begun in our absence, there will be no 2026 edition of Beau Denison’s annual Boxing Wishlist, which was in the works prior to things having to be paused due to the aforementioned circumstances and typically begins the calendar year each year here at The Boxing Truth®. It is our intention for that annual feature to return in its normal slot as beginning our schedule for the new year in 2027 and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.


While we do not have a date as of this writing as to when we will resume, our target is within the next few weeks. In the interim, content that has been sent in to us from promoters, networks, and others involved in the sport of Boxing will be made available here on the website over the coming days. We thank those who have sent in content and appreciate their patience during this time. We will update readers once more when we have a solid date on when we will resume and begin our 2026 schedule and we thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, understanding, and patience during what is and has been an extremely difficult time.


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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Important Update

We would like to let our readers know that due to circumstances beyond our control and a personal matter, we have closed our 2025 schedule earlier than originally announced. Due to the aforementioned circumstances, we have no information at this time as to when the 2026 schedule will begin for us here at The Boxing Truth®. We do sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused, but we ask for and appreciate your patience and understanding at this time. We will, however, be back in the New Year. 


Thank you.


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Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Joshua-Paul: Another Curiosity, Or Legitimate Fight?

On December 19th, aspiring boxer Jake Paul, who had previously been known as a social media influencer, will return to the ring for his fourteenth professional fight. While this noted Boxing scribe has been critical of Paul, who has frequently boasted about his desire to become a world champion, but has not compiled a resume of opponents that would suggest legitimacy of trying to attain that goal, having faced primarily fighters who have come from the sport of MMA, who had limited or no Boxing experience, or those who have come either from an influencer background or in one case one retired hall of fame fighter who was twenty years removed from a competitive fight, while simultaneously giving him credit for his promotional savvy and in particular what he has done in advocating and helping advance and elevate Women's Boxing, to be honest, I did not feel optimistic when Paul's original fight, which was to take place during the month of November was announced.

This was due to Paul, who has fought most of his fights as a 190lb. Cruiserweight and in one instance against an advanced-aged Mike Tyson at Heavyweight, choosing to face Gervonta Davis, who while an active fighter, who is at or near the top of the sport, had never fought above the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. To say that the idea of a flight between the two gave this observer vibes of something strictly intended to generate buzz and the look of a physical mismatch is an understatement. Fortunately, I was not the only one who felt this way as the announcement was met with no shortage of criticism from both those of us who cover the sport as well as fans. Criticism that ultimately led to the Georgia State Athletic Commission, as the bout was originally slated to take place in Atlanta, refusing to sanction the bout, even as an exhibition, resulting in the event being moved to Miami, FL, whose commission unfortunately has a history of accepting events that were denied from taking place in other jurisdictions for reasons including, but not limited to medical grounds, as was the case when the Florida State Athletic Commission greenlit the unfortunate Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort event in 2021, a fiasco that yours truly was extremely critical of, which I stand by, agreed to hold the announced Paul-Davis event. 

Perhaps a blessing in disguise, however, emerged when Davis was removed from the bout due to accusations of domestic violence. The blessing in disguise reference is in no way a commentary on the ongoing issues Gervonta Davis finds himself dealing with, but is in reference to that situation indirectly saving the commission in Florida, where this observer also resides, from having to defend what would likely have been another controversial decision by allowing that event to go forward given the significant size and weight disparity between Paul and Davis.

Nevertheless, the circumstances of which the event fell apart left Paul as well as digital subscription general entertainment network Netflix, who also broadcast Paul’s fight against Tyson in its first foray into the sport of Boxing, with a conundrum of trying to find a suitable opponent to replace Davis so at least Paul could compete before the end of 2025 after previously defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. earlier this year.

While Chavez is one of five previous Paul opponents with a Boxing background, the perception I had was that if someone was going to step in on what would be short notice, it would likely have been a fighter from the sport of MMA, as whether seen as legitimate in pushing towards his goal of eventually fighting for a world title or not, has been a successful approach at least in terms of making sure events take place even if original dates end up being changed. To the surprise of many, yours truly included, former two-time World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua stepped in and will face Paul in a scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout at the Kaysa Center in Miami that will be broadcast worldwide by Netflix.

Upon being notified of this change in opponent, in all honesty with the reader, my initial thought was at least the Florida State Athletic Commission would not face as much criticism as would have been the case if the event had gone on with Davis as the opponent. My other thought was at least this has the potential to be viewed as a legitimate fight.

The Cruiserweight division is only one division away from the Heavyweight division and regardless of what one might have thought about Paul's eight rounds against Mike Tyson in November of last year, Paul did move to in weight for it so the initial thought was this would not be something that the central topic would be about a weight difference because numerous fighters who have fought as Cruiserweights at one time or another over decades, long before Paul was born in the 1990’s, have fought in the Heavyweight division either originally starting at Heavyweight and moving down in weight or starting at Cruiserweight and moving up in weight. This will be more a question of whether Paul with limited experience will be able to compete against someone who has fought at a much higher level and is closer to his physical prime than Tyson and Chavez were when they shared the ring with Paul.

From skillset, to level of competition, to having an advantage in both height and weight, every metric that one could point to in comparing two fighters, favors Joshua. Despite those facts, Joshua is coming into this fight off of a knockout loss at the hands of then IBF World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September of last year and the perception, which could have some validity is Joshua's punch resistance is not what it once was and he has also been known to fatigue later in fights. The obvious question here is whether Paul has the polish in order to try and exploit those perceived flaws. 

As has been the case for most of Jake Paul's fights, the element of curiosity is there, but some are likely questioning if this will be a legitimate fight. Regardless of what one might think, Jake Paul does have a fan following that enables him to draw significant interest regardless of who he fights. It is debatable as to whether or not that ability has started to wane due to his not facing fighters that will push him up the ladder towards contention, with the perception being that most of his fights have been more about the event than expected competition.

In this case, the curiosity remains, but there is a better than average chance that Paul will be tested here as when he is at his best Anthony Joshua has power in either hand and can be devastating when he lands flush on an opponent. What one needs to also keep in mind here is, despite being knocked out in his last fight in a failed attempt to become a three-time World Heavyweight champion, Joshua is still considered one of the top Heavyweight contenders and if one views the objectively, he has very little to gain here by facing a fighter that many would consider a novice strictly based on his resume. It is also an open secret that there might be significant plans for Joshua in 2026 towards getting back in line to try and regain a Heavyweight title. Paul meanwhile is also taking a risk in that he has not faced anyone that would make one consider him a prospect or contender, but is now taking a steep step up in class. 

The era in which we all live is one where folks for whatever their motivations like to vent their grievances via social media on just about any topic one could think of. No matter who Paul has fought, he too has not been immune from such rhetoric whether legitimate or not. This is a scenario where most people if they are objective would say at minimum, Paul has an uphill battle given his limited resume and previous competition. If he were to find himself on the receiving end of a quick knockout here, the opinion of many of those keyboard warrior types will likely be that none of his previous fights were legitimate, or at least that will be the narrative some will attempt to push. If he holds his own, but still loses criticism will remain. If he wins, the criticism and narrative will be that Joshua was a shot fighter at minimum or will devolve into accusations of fixed fights, which has been a narrative some have pushed in recent fights, but often such claims have lacked legitimate evidence to support it. 

What that all amounts to is a no win scenario for Paul. The silver lining, however, if he can pull off what would be a significant upset here is he might finally be forced to face boxers and active ones exclusively. While Paul is rated in the top twenty of contenders by the WBA, a sanctioning organization that does not do it's best to avoid controversy, in the Cruiserweight division, despite not facing anyone in the WBA’s rankings to earn a spot in the rankings,a win over a fighter of Joshua's resume and caliber would likely lead to a ranking at Heavyweight as well.

It is a truly unlikely scenario and an unlikely encounter where two fighters are rolling the dice on their futures. We will simply have to wait and see how it all plays out.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Joshua vs. Paul takes place on Friday, December 19th at the Kaysa Center in Miami, FL. The fight can be seen on digital subscription general entertainment network Netflix beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. (*North American Times Only.*)

(*Card Subject To Change.*)

For more information about Netflix including availability on streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.Netflix.com

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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Jack-Mikaeljan II Thoughts

The rematch between WBC World Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and the man whom he took the title from in May of this year Noel Mikaeljan, on December 13th in Los Angeles, CA at Ace Mission Studios was one that was rooted in controversy. Controversy in what led to the immediate mandated rematch ordered by the WBC in what was a controversial majority decision victory for Jack in the first fight, which subsequently led to bad blood between the fighters and their respective camps.


What would occur when the two fighters squared off for the second time can be described as lopsided and at times ugly. From the opening bell it was the former champion Mikaeljan taking the initiative and bringing the fight to the forty-two year old former two-division world champion,who was now in his second reign as WBC World Cruiserweight champion. One thing that was immediately noticeable was Mikaeljan consistently came forward and frequently found a home for his right hand. Though the punches he was able to land were solid and he was able yo briefly stun the champion with qcjab in the early going, Jack was able to take the punches well.


Mikaeljan’s approach, however, did succeed in keeping Jack from being able to find a consistent rhythm. The champion’s ability to land body shots gradually made things close and competitive, but from the perspective of this observer, Mikaeljan’s tempo, initiating the combat, and getting the best of most of the exchanges were enough to edge most of the rounds. 


In round seven, Jack would land his best punch of the entire fight when he connected with a flush right hand to the jaw that sent sweat flying off Mikaeljan's face and frankly had the sound that resembled a gun going off. Despite this, Mikaeljan did not flinch and kept pressing forward from a shot that would have likely dropped many fighters. Mikaeljan’s display of a granite chin, however, would not prevent him from being penalized a point later in the round for holding and hitting Jack on the inside as the combat gradually became ugly with both fighters implementing not so legal tactics when fighting in close. 


Although he seemingly was given a leg up in a fight that seemed to be getting away from him with his opponent being penalized a point, that perk would be taken away from Jack in the closing seconds of round eight when he hit Mikaeljan on the break as Referee Jerry Cantu, who was officiating his final fight as a referee after twenty-six years and nearly six hundred bouts as a referee was attempting to separate the fighters. This resulted in a near riot at the end of the round as both fighters continued throwing punches and tensions between their camps nearly boiled over into a near melee.


After a brief delay to both settle things down and likely to confer with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) to see if a disqualification was warranted on either side, the fight continued. At this point in the fight both fighters were fighting the effects of fatigue as both began to be a bit sloppy with their offense, but the tempo that had been established early on in the bout did not change and Mikaeljan would ultimately regain his title via a convincing twelve round unanimous decision.


Despite the ugly scene at the end of the eighth round, the two fighters did embrace after the conclusion of the bout and Jack was humble in a post-fight interview in saying that it was Mikaeljan’s night and he was the better man. When questioned about a potential third fight, Jack appeared to suggest that he would be heading toward retirement as the former 2008 Olympian and world champion in the Super-Middleweight and Cruiserweight divisions said he had a great career.


As for the now two-time WBC World Cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaeljan, if a third fight with Jack is not in the pipeline, and based on both what he said after his loss and body language, it appears as though Jack may be entertaining life after Boxing after this fight, Mikaeljan could look to attempt to unify the title and the top fighter in the view of many in the Cruiserweight division currently is the unbeaten IBF World Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who recently scored an eighth round knockout in a title defense on December 6th in his native Australia of Huseyin Cinkara.


The long-standing perception of the Cruiserweight division is it is void of the type of interest and consistent publicity/coverage that is normally afforded to other weight classes throughout the sport. With Opetaia having established himself as a crowd pleasing knockout artist and with Mikaeljan’s come forward, volume punching style, it would make sense to make that fight to hopefully keep the spotlight focused on the division and  likely a good payday for both parties.


“And That's The Boxing Truth." 


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Monday, December 15, 2025

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS AND NETFLIX ANNOUNCE ON-AIR TALENT FOR MVP’S JAKE VS. JOSHUA


Press Release: December 15, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix - Laila Ali, Andre Ward, Lennox Lewis, Kate Scott, Mauro Ranallo, David Haye, Crystina Poncher, Sean Wheelock, Ariel Helwani, Sibley Scoles, and Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts join the star-studded fight night broadcast roster, with additional fight week support from Corey Erdman 


NEW YORK, NY – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix today announced the broadcast team for all fight week events and the Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day mega-event, beginning on Tuesday, December 16 and culminating on Friday, December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.


On Friday, December 19, the Jake vs. Joshua preliminary card begins at 4:45pm ET / 1:45pm PT on Netflix’s Tudum and MVP’s YouTube Channel, with the main card starting at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT, live only on Netflix. MVP and Netflix’s fight night coverage will feature a powerhouse lineup of broadcasting veterans and combat sports legends anchored by broadcaster Kate Scott as the main desk host, joined by a world-class team of desk analysts including heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis, undefeated Hall of Famer Laila Ali, and former undefeated world champion Andre Ward.


The ringside team will be led by the iconic voice of Mauro Ranallo on blow-by-blow, with expert analysis provided by former world champion David Haye and Crystina Poncher. Sean Wheelock will serve as the rules and scoring expert. Sibley Scoles will serve as reporter, providing updates from backstage and the crowd, with Ariel Helwani serving as ringside reporter. The night will be emceed by in-ring announcer Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts.


Ahead of Jake vs. Joshua, Netflix and MVP will host a series of fight week events open to the public.


On Tuesday, December 16, MVP Fight Week Showcase 2 will take place at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts will serve as emcee. Commentary and blow-by-blow analysis for the sanctioned, professional fights will be provided by Corey Erdman and Crystina Poncher on the livestream desk. Entertainment personality Sibley Scoles will serve as ringside reporter. The entire showcase event will stream live on stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT.


On Wednesday, December 17, the final Jake vs. Joshua Press Conference will take place at Fillmore Miami Beach hosted by renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani. The press conference will stream live on stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT.


On Thursday, December 18, the Public Weigh-Ins will take place at Fillmore Miami Beach, with Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts  serving as emcee with support from Ariel Helwani as on-stage reporter. The broadcast desk will be hosted by Sibley Scoles with analysis from David Haye and Crystina Poncher.  The weigh-in will stream live on stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT.


“When you’re delivering a global event of this magnitude on Netflix, every detail matters, especially the voices telling the story,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “This broadcast team represents the absolute best in boxing, sports media, and live television. From legendary champions to world-class broadcasters, this group reflects the standard we’ve set for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day. Together with Netflix, we’re building a fight week and fight night experience that feels truly historic, and this team is central to bringing that vision to life for fans around the world.”


For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @Netflix, on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @Netflix, or on Netflix’s Tudum.



About Netflix 


Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause, and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.



About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)


MVP 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. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last seven global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Chavez Jr. match. The promotion company also 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, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. MVP followed that up by Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 in July 2024 the first all women’s boxing card to be featured on Netflix.  Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.


Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix Used with permission.


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Saturday, December 13, 2025

Jack-Mikaeljan II Weights

WBC World Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and former WBC World Cruiserweight champion Norair Mikaeljan weighed in on Friday at an identical 199 ¾ lbs. for their rematch tonight (Saturday, December 13th) at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The twelve round bout, which can be seen later tonight on pay-per-view,  is a rematch of a highly controversial bout in May of this year in which Jack became a two-time WBC Cruiserweight world champion by defeating Mikaeljan via twelve round majority decision.


 As was the case in the first fight, the WBC World Cruiserweight championship, will be on the line in the second encounter that was mandated by the World Boxing Council.  We are planning to have a post-fight column here on The Boxing Truth® during the week following the bout and will update readers on when it will be released once scheduled.. Stay tuned. 


“And That's The Boxing Truth.”


Jack vs. Mikaeljan takes place on Saturday, December 13th at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The fight can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on a variety of cable/satellite providers and streaming platforms including Prime Video, PPV.com, and Triller TV and their respective streaming apps available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. for $29.95 beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (*North American Times Only*) (*Card Subject To Change*) contact your Pay-TV provider or click the highlighted links above for ordering information, how to download the respective app of your choice on your streaming device of choice, and for availability internationally.


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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Jack-Mikaeljan: The Rematch

In May of this year on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez successfully becoming an Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion for a second time with a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten IBF world champion William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two-division world champion Badou Jack did battle with  WBC World Cruiserweight world champion Norair Mikaeljan with the WBC Cruiserweight crown at stake. A close and competitive fight throughout where the champion Mikaeljan was the busier of the two fighters, but Jack in the view of most observers landed the harder punches. Despite a wide advantage for the champion in terms of CompuBox statistics in out landing Jack in total landed punches 153 to 122 over the course of the twelve round world title bout, it would be Jack who would emerge victorious via a razor-thin majority decision, making him a two-time holder of the WBC World Cruiserweight championship after briefly holding it only to vacate it in 2023. Mikaeljan, the fighter who succeeded Jack as WBC champion, appealed to the sanctioning organization in the aftermath of the bout in May and was granted an immediate rematch.


A rematch that will take place on Saturday, December 13th at the Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA, that will headline a pay-per-view card that will be available on a variety of cable/satellite, and streaming platforms. In some respects, though seeing a former world champion being granted a rematch is not unusual and rare in the sport of Boxing, this is somewhat of a rarity.


After all, the Cruiserweight division, also known as the Jr. Heavyweight division as it sits between the Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions amongst Boxing’s seventeen weight classes, has almost always been void of the type of publicity and mainstream exposure that are often afforded to other divisions. One has to go almost forty years to when a young future legend and Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield engaged in a fifteen round war with the recently deceased two-division world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi to win the WBA Jr, Heavyweight world championship in July 1986 to find a time and a fighter that brought consistent exposure to the division. Holyfield’s first world title would ultimately serve as a launching pad as he quickly unified the Cruiserweight division becoming its first undisputed world champion before embarking on the Heavyweight division, ultimately becoming the only fighter in Boxing history to have won a World Heavyweight championship on four separate occasions. As great as Holyfield proved to be as a fighter, a legitimate argument can be made that when he exited the Cruiserweight division having quickly cleaned the division out by 1988, he took whatever spotlight the division was benefiting from with him. It is also true that the last man to hold the undisputed title in the division, Oleksandr Usyk, immediately did what Holyfield had done decades earlier by vacating the title and ultimately becoming the first fighter in Boxing history to fully unify the Heavyweight division twice. 


Perhaps a more cynical point of view is that the most consistent attention the division receives in the present day in the sport comes from the aspiring boxer and promoter Jake Paul, who still faces questions regarding his legitimacy as a fighter having never faced an opponent that would be considered a fringe prospect or contender to this point in his career. When one takes all of the above into consideration, the fact that the Jack-Mikaeljan rematch has generated the buzz it has, should be viewed as a positive both for the Cruiserweight division and the fighters themselves.


The premise of this return encounter in the eyes of this observer will come down to whether Mikaeljan will be able to not only duplicate his performance from the first fight seven months ago, but to do so in a more convincing fashion where the judges will give him the benefit of the doubt. While I personally felt he did enough to retain his title back in May, what is often misunderstood is punch statistics though often serving as an illustration of what goes on in a fight, is not a part of official scoring criteria and as such if one fighter is able to give an impression that they are landing harder punches, though not being as consistent in output as their opponent, that perception of doing more damage with their offense can result in a judge scoring rounds for that fighter and ignoring the aspect of overall activity. Mikaeljan, who will enter this rematch with a record of 27-3, with 12 Knockouts, must find a way to be more convincing as to not allow the judges room to sway their opinions, particularly if Jack is able to land solidly as he did in the first fight.


The champion meanwhile, who comes into his first title defense of his second reign as WBC World Cruiserweight champion, with a record of 29-3-3, with 17 Knockouts, needs to find a way to be busier throughout this fight. Neither fighter is known for their punching power and though one can never discount the possibility of a knockout, the more probable scenario here is this fight, like its predecessor, will go the twelve round distance. What makes that potentially crucial is Badou Jack has shown a tendency to be periodically sluggish in his fights and, despite getting the nod from two official judges in the first fight by a seven rounds to five margin or 115-113 in points, he cannot allow himself to fall into any kind of hole here in terms of scoring this time around, especially with the view of many that the first fight should have went in favor of Mikaeljan.


It is also very much within the realm of possibility here that if Norair Mikaeljan can turn the tables and win this fight that we could see a third encounter. For a division that seems to always be in a state of both obscurity and flux in terms of who is at or near the top of it, that would probably be welcomed as it will keep a spotlight on the division. If such a spotlight and subsequent discussion that will follow is for positive reasons, it will be a win for the sport. Before we get ahead of ourselves, Badou Jack and Norair Mikaeljan have business to tend to and it remains to be seen if this is a conclusion or merely the next chapter in what could be a rivalry.


“And That's The Boxing Truth.”


Jack vs. Mikaeljan takes place on Saturday, December 13th at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The fight can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on a variety of cable/satellite providers and streaming platforms including Prime Video, PPV.com, and Triller TV and their respective streaming apps available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. for $29.95 beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (*North American Times Only*) (*Card Subject To Change*) contact your Pay-TV provider or click the highlighted links above for ordering information, how to download the respective app of your choice on your streaming device of choice, and for availability internationally.


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Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Can Lamont Roach Get A Fair Shake?

The fight between Isaac Cruz and former WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Lamont Roach on December 6th in San Antonio, TX not only was an encounter between two of the best fighters currently in the sport of Boxing, but also represented Roach’s debut in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. One could also say that Roach was riding a career high after receiving a draw in his previous bout in March with the talented, but troubled Gervonta Davis. In facing Cruz, Roach was in some ways going back into a fire pit by facing a fighter known for his aggression that while not known for the type of knockout power that Davis had, has a non-stop come forward, pressure attack that many fighters including Davis have found difficult to combat. It was also a fight that Roach openly sought after not being able to secure a rematch with Davis.


The question of this fight was both simple and complex. Would Roach be able to deal with a fighter like Cruz who suffocates opponents with pressure and could he do so ten pounds heavier than where he was a world champion in the 130lb. Jr. Featherweight division? It became apparent early on when the two fighters met at the Frost Bank Center that Cruz had every intention of being as difficult a task to combat as he has been for virtually every opponent he has ever faced. 


By applying pressure early, Cruz made it difficult for Roach, a well-rounded boxer/puncher, to find a consistent rhythm by forcing him to stand and fight on the inside, which is not typically the norm for Roach, who uses lateral movement and angles to attack his opponents. This approach for Cruz, the current WBC number one Jr. Welterweight contender, by making it a rough and at times ugly fight, was highlighted in round three when he was credited with a knockdown when a left hook to the jaw knocked Roach off balance where one of his gloves touched the canvas. Although this was the correct call by Referee James Green, it was a cruel irony that the first knockdown of Roach’s career came in a similar manner as when he was not credited with a knockdown when Davis took a knee in the ninth round of their fight back in March of this year. In that instance, however, a knockdown, which would have been the correct call was not made and that error, arguably resulted in that fight being scored a draw and not a victory for Roach as many observers, including this one, felt he deserved. 


Unfortunately for Roach, the irony and the cruelty would not stop with the knockdown here, despite that ruling being correct. From the point in which Roach got up from the knockdown, he gradually got himself into a rhythm by throwing short and consistent combinations that often caught Cruz as he came forward. Often when Cruz did get in close, he clinched and held Roach on the inside. It was such holding that often resembled more grappling on the inside as opposed to what is considered holding to necessitate a separation from the referee or holding when the fighter doing so is hurt and trying to avoid being knocked down or out, that resulted in him being penalized a point for holding excessively in round seven. By that point, however, Roach seemed to have nullified the effects of the knockdown in round three in terms of points as this observer felt, though many of the rounds remained competitive, he took over the tempo of the fight and carried the action for the remainder of the twelve round bout.


At the conclusion of the twelve round fight, I arrived with a 114-111 scorecard in favor of Lamont Roach. A three point margin, but I had Roach winning eight rounds to four. Normally when there is an eight-four margin in a twelve round fight, one usually arrives at a 116-112 scorecard in points. The three point margin rather than a four point margin is a reflection of both the knockdown of Roach in round three, which was scored 10-8 in favor of Isaac Cruz per it being a round where he scored a knockdown, and the point deduction against Cruz in round seven in a round where he was losing the round prior to that penalizing. Without the point being taken from him, he would have lost the round by a score of 10-9. The deduction, however, resulted in a 10-8 score and ultimately how I ended up with a 114-111 final score rather than the standard 116-112 score for an eight rounds to four margin. 


The thorough explanation and analysis of scoring from yours truly is moot in this case as the result of this fight would ultimately be a majority draw with only one judge, having a victor in Cruz on his scorecard. The cruelty for Roach is that this is now the second consecutive fight in less than a year where he was held to a draw in a fight many feel he won. 


The question I have coming out of this fight is Can Lamont Roach get a fair shake, or as several fighters in previous eras have had a label placed on them, has Roach become Boxing’s latest hard luck fighter? A label usually reserved for fighters who either end up with losses against more notable opposition or end up with draws as Roach has now done twice. For his part, Roach did not hide his frustration in a post-fight interview in the ring immediately after the decision was announced calling the verdict quote “Bullshit” and saying he was tired of not getting a fair shake. While this observer does not often display expletives in his writings per professional/journalistic standards, the quote offered by a frustrated fighter in Lamont Roach, who has proven to be one of the best fighters in the sport, despite not getting the victories in these two recent outings that many feel, including yours truly that he deserved, was both blunt and one that many fighters throughout history have expressed at one time or another when on the wrong end of a decision they felt should have gone their way, whether justified in those feelings or not. 


It is hard to not sympathize with a fighter that clearly has the talent and credentials to be one of the top fighters of his era, who feels like they were not given the credit/victory they felt they were due. Unfortunately, the Cruz-Roach bout will also now take its place as the latest in a long line of controversial fights over decades to be held in the state of Texas, which have often revolved around controversial scoring. Whether this decision, like Roach’s bout with Gervonta Davis, which was held in Brooklyn, NY is simply a case of judges, who like the rest of us, are human beings, having a bad night at the office is something that will likely be debated. What is perhaps more troublesome for sanctioning organizations and state and international regulatory boards is if fighters feel that they aren't being treated fairly and that perception slowly spreads amongst fellow fighters and subsequently gains public support, it will become increasingly harder to hold combat sports events and have the credibility that it is truly an even playing field for all combatants where adequate decisions will be rendered. When one also considers the times in which we live where it is all too easy for one, whether they have credibility or not, to air their grievances publicly, such controversies should not be dismissed.


“And That's The Boxing Truth.”


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