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Hitchins catapults into boxing's stratosphere with demolition of Kambosos

2025-06-16T20:50:00.002+01:00

Image: Getty Images

Richardson Hitchins has arrived.

During a spectacular defence of the IBF super lightweight championship, the American backed up all the talk by outclassing, battering and stopping former unified champion George Kambosos Jr. over eight rounds.

It was not meant to be for the Australian who returned to the site where he produced one of the biggest upsets in modern boxing history less than four years ago when he stopped Teofimo Lopez in his tracks at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.

Escorted to the ring by New York rapping sensation A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the American brought plenty of confidence down the walkway, and quickly proved why as he appeared the much sharper and faster of the two fighters, unleashing a piston-like jab and using his range advantage effectively. Kambosos Jr. would continue to plod forward, looking to make things ugly, landing a right hand to the body before swinging wildly and missing. Oozing confidence, Hitchins was even letting his right hand go early.

The steady diet of jabs continued in the second stanza, in addition to a perfectly timed right hand when the Australian came in heavy on his front foot. Kambosos Jr.'s right eye was already showing signs of damage, reddened and swollen as a result of the straight shots coming his way, and things would only worsen for him downstairs too as Hitchins planted a thumping left hook to the body.

Things were already looking dire for the challenger who made efforts to land to the body but would see his face an ever-increasingly easy target to hit as Hitchins fired off rapid straight shots at will. Hitchins was already showing ambition through three rounds, landing some hard right hands, each time the crowd gasping in awe.

From initially fighting on the outside and staying light on his feet, round four saw the American plant his feet to the canvas and up the ante proving that his pre-fight declarations of a knockout were not just hearsay. Kambosos was defiant and determined but could do little more to unsettle the champion as the two exchanged body shots to close out the round.

The punishment would catch up with Kambosos Jr. in round five as he grimaced when receiving a shot to the body as Hitchins jumped on him and swarmed with punches trying to finish the show. Kambosos managed to see out the round and gestured Hitchins to continue coming forward.

Kambosos landed a clean right hand in the sixth round but would slip in the process, but still continued to show courage even if he was now seriously wounded in battle. He continued to fight valiantly in the seventh but there was much less steam on his shots, with Hitchins' demeanour saying it all, knowing the writing was on the wall.

After landing a leaping left hook to start the eighth round, Hitchins would twist the knife after boldly imploring Kambosos' corner to throw in the towel and save their man of any further punishment. When that wasn't actioned, he landed a left hook to the body that sent Kambosos straight to the canvas, and soon through the count, the referee would stop the fight with mercy.

If there was ever a time or opponent to make a statement, this was it. While boxing maths never really works out and anyone can beat anyone, stopping a man in such one-sided fashion who has been in there with the likes of Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez will take some topping. In a world of one-upmanship, few accolades come stronger than beating a foe's previous opponent in a more convincing manner than they did.

It would have been easy for Hitchins to take his foot off the gas and work around the ring while Kambosos plodded through with little chance of turning the fight in his favour. Instead, he showed a devastating will and exciting ambition to finish the fight and did so against one of the toughest in the division today.

In the shark infested waters that are 140 pounds, Hitchins proved he belongs there and can be regarded along the likes of Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and the rest of the big dogs in that territory. Hitchins isn't just chasing the money fights now, he's after the pound-for-pound accolades.

With his promotional future now up in the air after declaring in his post-fight interview that he is a free agent, the world is really his oyster. In the coming weeks, depending on the direction he takes, that world could be a whole lot bigger.

UFC 313: Ankalaev usurps Pereira for light heavyweight supremacy

2025-03-09T06:29:00.006+00:00

Image: Zuffa LLC

There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Magomed Ankalaev.

The Russian executed precise striking and smothered Pereira for large chunks of the five-round duration in Las Vegas to secure the light heavyweight championship, ending the Brazilian's scintillating run at the top of the division.

Ankalaev extended his win streak to 14 but had to overcome adversity throughout a closely fought 25 minutes in which his right leg sustained significant damage from Pereira's leg attacks, while also being unable to take down the champion, instead having to resort to clinching.

Calculated Ankalaev ends Pereira's reign

Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

"Poatan" established his most lethal weapon, the low kicks, straight off the bat, chewing up the lead leg of the challenger. There was plenty of respect shown from both parties who took their time, before Ankalaev tried to apply pressure to the Brazilian and scored with some leg kicks of his own, but his life would flash before his eyes when a spinning kick whistled over his head. A pivotal question would be answered towards the end of the first round when the Russian secured a bodylock but the champion was able to deny the takedown.

Avoiding the low kicks was crucial for Ankalaev to get a foothold in the contest and he did so by pressuring the champion and forcing him backwards, something seldom seen in the Octagon before. A sharp front kick to the body knocked Pereira a few yards back before a switch right hand hit the button, but Pereira was still throwing heat of his own by way of a pullback counter right and a left hook. The straight left of the Russian would do damage though and hurt Pereira badly at the end of the second stanza, having to clinch to see the round out safely.

It was hard to separate the pair in a close third round, where it appeared Poatan was trying to shake off the cobwebs, eating some front kicks to the body but landing his own leg kicks. A takedown attempt was once again fended off by the champion who responded with a counter right, while Ankalaev's feints were making him think and as a result, Pereira appeared hesitant to pull that trigger at times. While those were the distress signals from the champion, Ankalaev as dealing with an increasing amount of damage to his lead leg.

Ankalaev wasted no time in the championship rounds smothering Pereira against the cage and looking for a takedown, but the balance of the Brazilian was too good to achieve that. Nonetheless, Ankalaev was able to control Pereira and smother him for a majority of the fourth round, landing a few punches after referee Marc Goddard separated due to inactivity, before reverting back to the clinch to see out the fourth.

It appeared on a knife edge going into the fifth with a haste champion's corner urging their man to go forth and leave no doubt on his retainment. Pereira pressed forward, landing a left hook after eating a switch right from Ankalaev, then scoring with a body kick and a huge head kick that appeared to bother the challenger - met to a rapturous response from the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena. Ankalaev eventually got into the clinch in the final minutes but was unable to do much with it, as Pereira refused to be taken down.

Ankalaev was the victor on all three judges' scorecards, with his control, and scoring on the feet, as well as forward pressure doing enough to convince the scores in his favour. Pereira had his moments and did some significant damage to the leg, but will rue the chances he had to really push forward and unload more strikes.

Gaethje and Fiziev prove a match made in combat heaven

Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev renewed hostilities from their first encounter two years prior, with three hellacious rounds of brutal striking, which saw Gaethje pull ahead down the stretch and get the better of Fiziev, who took the bout on 12 days' notice.

Fiziev threw a curveball by pursuing an early takedown to counter the low kicks from the former interim lightweight champion, trapping the head with his legs and landing some elbows to the body. Fiziev would continue to target the body throughout the contest, including a cluster of knees in the first session before outhustling Gaethje when he attempted a bodylock takedown. With Fiziev already sporting damage on his face from the war that was emanating, he ate a straight right from Gaethje before responding with a counter left from the southpaw stance.

Akin to the first fight, Gaethje had most success in close quarters, managing to pull the head of Fiziev into the hard shots and employ his dirty boxing. After a short pause for a low blow, Fiziev was back at the body shots agenda, but Gaethje's pressure was reaping its rewards, landing big overhand rights and dropping the Muay Thai veteran with a monstrous uppercut in the last minute. Opting to control the head lock and land shots on the ground meant Fiziev was able to see out the round and keep things very nicely poised going into the third and final round.

Fiziev would come out throwing plenty of heat, cracking the dome with a head kick and more body kicks in quick succession, but Gaethje was successful with his overhand rights from the clinch, resulting in his opponent having significant swelling by the left eye. Fiziev would be buckled briefly by an uppercut as he began to fade and then it was Gaethje who went for a head kick and landed. The two would continue to wage war through the dying embers as Gaethje wobbled his opponent once again and the two embraced after banking six epic rounds. It was a shame for the fans that there was no five-rounder, although these two warriors will not be complaining.

Gaethje was the victor on all three judges' scorecards and has now put his name back in the mix at the top of the heap, bouncing back from his knockout defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 300 last year.

Bahamondes crawls into top 15
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner via submission (triangle choke), round 1

Chile's Ignacio Bahamondes waltzed into the lightweight rankings with a stunning first round submission over perennial contender Jalin Turner.

What was touted to be the fight of the night ended within a few minutes, but started fiery as Turner waded into the pocket and was met with a cluster of overhand rights from the South American, who moments later glanced "Tarantula" with a head kick. Turner fired back with an electric 2-3-body kick combination, before Bahamondes would change levels. Turner was able to gain top position but would eat some big elbows from the bottom as the Chilean remained comfortable. Soon enough, the opportunity would present itself to Bahamondes who wrapped the arachnid enthusiast in a web of his own, securing a triangle choke that left Turner with no option but to tap.

"I guess I'm a grappler now," Bahamondes told Joe Rogan after the fight. He exclaimed this was his game plan going into the fight and he executed it to perfection.

Lucindo no match for senior compatriot

Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Amanda Lemos issued her 14-years-younger compatriot Iasmin Lucindo a harsh reality check on the experience factor with a smothering performance to capitalise on Lucindo's inactivity over three rounds.

A right hand brushed past the face of Lucindo early in the first round, causing an abrasion under the right eye, before Lemos would secure a takedown and control her opponent for most of the round. Lucindo would attempt to threaten with submission attempts, but the strength differential was too much, as well as the threat from elbows.

There was more of the same in the second-round, with Lucindo seeming hesitant in the pocket and registering no significant strikes through the first ten minutes. Lemos had all the firepower, landing power jabs and a low kick that made her opponent stumble briefly, before Lucindo would clinch to her own detriment as Lemos would secure a takedown and control her again.

In the third round there as improvement for Lucindo who secured a takedown of her own and did well to transition to side control, but was unable to capitalise on the position, and Lemos would power her way back to the feet before securing another takedown, which would ultimately secure the fight. Lemos would control the fight for just under the remaining duration of the contest, as the commission and referees prematurely brought it to an end with 8 seconds remaining. Nonetheless, a straightforward, dominant unanimous decision was the outcome for one-time title challenger Lemos.

Ruffy leaves Green seeing red with spinning finish

Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green via KO (spinning wheel kick), Round 1 (2:07)

It's only March, but the knockout-of-the-year award may be a lock after Mauricio Ruffy spectacularly finished King Green in the first round.

The Brazilian, leading the charge for the surging Fighting Nerds team, opened up with his wide, Conor McGregor-esque stance, stunning the American with a straight right hand down the pipe to earn his respect. After Green tried to keep him at bay with some jabs to the body, Ruffy would throw a decoy left hand before uncorking a spinning wheel kick that cracked the temple of his opponent, rendering him unconscious.

With a perfect start to his UFC career notching his seventh consecutive victory, the 28-year-old will be knocking on the door of the lightweight rankings, and set aim at Beneil Dariush in his post-fight callout. It looks like the lightweight shark tank has another booming star.

MAURICIO RUFFY SPINNING KICK KO ON KING GREEN 😳 #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/M9va7ddBds
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 9, 2025

Super Bowl LIX: Preview, Predictions

2025-02-09T21:28:00.000+00:00

WRITTEN BY KYLE JOYCE

Image: The Charger Bulletin

Welcome back to the 5th annual preview on SportingMatrix for Super Bowl 59, or LIX. This year the Vince Lombardi Trophy is contested in The Big Easy, as the two-time defending champions Kansas City Chiefs and NFC Champions Philadelphia Eagles meet in the big game. For the eighth time, the Caesars Superdome will host, the 73,208 capacity stadium has had various names since it opened in 1975. New Orleans as a city will host its eleventh Super Bowl. The game is a rematch of Super Bowl 57, where the Chiefs bested the Eagles 38-35 with more than a little help from questionable calls from the officials.

The Kansas City Chiefs come into this game looking to be the first ever team to successfully “three-peat” and retain the Super Bowl for a second consecutive season. Only twice in NFL history has a team defended their title twice, but back when the championship was decided with the teams regular season record. They entered these playoffs with a 15-2 record, a number of one score games helping them to the #1 seed and a first round bye. They dispatched of C. J. Stroud’s Houston Texans 23-14 in the Divisional Round, before meeting old foes the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, taunting Josh Allen and company once more with a 32-29 win.

The 14-3 Philadelphia Eagles qualified as #2 seed in the NFC, earning a Wild Card spot, albeit guaranteed home field advantage the whole way once the Detroit Lions went one and done. They defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-10 in the Wild Card, moving onto a 28-22 win against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional before routing the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship game. As aforementioned, they will be seeking revenge for their 2023 defeat to the Chiefs & looking to add to their lone Super Bowl title win in 2018.

The players to watch on both sides may even be obvious to those not seasoned with the NFL. Patrick Mahomes is continuing to perform at the highest level for his Chiefs & is the clear difference maker in close games, of which Kansas City have been accustomed to this season. For the Eagles, former Giant Saquon Barkley has been enjoying a career year, averaging 5.8 yards per carry from 345 rushes. His 2005 yards and 13 touchdowns will definitely leave the Chiefs defense with a lot to think about.

Kendrick Lamar will perform this year's half-time show, the 22-time Grammy winner adding to the list of hip-hop acts to play in recent years. Although a rap artist, he has featured prominently in pop culture thanks to his highly publicised feud with Drake. The “Not Like Us” rapper enters Sunday as one of the more highly anticipated half-time performers in recent years.

Prediction

As with previous years, I will be predicting the Super Bowl. After finally realising betting against Mahomes was a poor choice, I correctly predicted the last meeting between these sides before backing the 49ers last year, coming into today with a 1-3 record. This time, I am assuming the trend of Chiefs close games this season will continue, although (perhaps foolishly) I am once again going against Mahomes & the Chiefs. Despite their record & ability to churn out wins, I don’t see them as the team they have been the past two years & the pressure of three-peating could very well have an impact. They are also coming in off the back of the nerve-shredding win over the Bills, whereas the Eagles comfortably dispatched of their Conference Championship opponents. I also think Saquon Barkley will be the deciding factor & a Super Bowl MVP performance will be enough to finally end the recent Kansas City dominance. I am predicting a high scoring game, both teams going over 30 points but Philadelphia having 3 more & winning their second championship.

Broadcast information

Super Bowl LIX will be broadcast in the UK on ITV1, with kick off expected for 11:30pm local time. Fox will air the big game in the US at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT. The game will air across the globe, for the full list of nations and channels, visit https://www.nfl.com/super-bowl/ways-to-watch/countries-and-languages.

Supreme Usyk ousts Fury again to cement dominance

2024-12-22T12:14:00.001+00:00

Image: Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk cemented his position as the greatest heavyweight of this era, and one of the best to ever lace up the gloves, as he bested Tyson Fury over a fiercely-fought twelve rounds in Riyadh.

All three judges' scorecards had it 116-112 in favour of the mercurial Ukrainian who overcame adversity and a ferociously-motivated Fury in their rematch of a thrilling undisputed title tilt in May.

Neither man wasted time meeting one another in the pocket from the first bell, as the Englishman tried to take the centre of the ring and fire out sharp jabs while the champion maintained a steady output of straight shots to the torso, as the pair could hardly be separated in the opening frame.

The Olympic gold medallist Usyk galloped to the centre to begin the second stanza, but was given a steady diet of jabs for his trouble as the lead hand of Fury began to warm up. While he ended the round with a sharp one-two, Fury found himself more on the retreat as Usyk continued to offer feints, movement and combinations.

The three-month training camp in Malta and family abstinence from "The Gypsy King" appeared to be reaping rewards as shots whistled out from the former champion whose hand speed was looking as good as ever. There was however a stern reminder issued by Usyk of his danger, landing a good left hand over the top.

As momentum continued to swing, Usyk came out to land a duo of left hands at the start of the fourth round while the challenger was in pursuit of a counter right hand. The body shots were not letting up from the Ukrainian either, who was trying to chop away downstairs before setting up shots towards the dome including some left hands to end the round. Taking a page out of his opponent's book, Fury rattled off a one-two as the contest remained on a knife-edge.

A beautiful lead uppercut by Fury snapped the head back of Usyk in the pick of an action-packed fifth round that consisted of more scoring to the body and quick combinations from the champion. Usyk did take a gulp of air as the round ended out with Fury finding success downstairs also.

As the fight approached a midpoint, what was looking like a Fury sixth round soon turned a tide. Sharp jabs from an active lead hand saw the challenger build on his success as the output appeared staggered from Usysk - up until around one minute left where he surged forward and cracked Fury with a swift left hand that briefly jolted him, soon scoring with another as he backed up.

The pace was relentless, but Usyk had no plans to change that, coming forward to star the seventh round and the visual of Fury on the backfoot now becoming more recurrent. Fury would eat another left hand for his troubles at the end of that round following a brief switch in stances.

The eighth round provided more suggestions that the Ukranian was beginning to come on strong, although to Fury's credit he remained very much in the contest, throwing plenty back Usyk's way forcing the champion to continue his defensive discipline. Usyk continued to go to the body and landed two sneaky left hands as Fury tried to tie him up, even imploring his opponent to throw at him at one point when he gestured Fury on after eating two body shots.

Fury's range was being employed as a weapon to keep Fury at bay, who continued to meet his opponent in the middle. There would be no ninth-round demons to haunt Fury this time as he tried to land big shots and then tie up Usyk. The champion meanwhile smiled as a one-two bounced off his guard and he responded with a big left.

With three rounds remaining, both were showing urgency to win the rounds making for some compelling exchanges. Fury scored an uppercut and later a combination to the body while Usyk was not afraid either to plant his feet especially when Fury would wind up on a right hand counter.

The cleaner shots were coming from Usyk in the penultimate round while Fury's movements were somewhat laboured as he left his lead hand out and tried throwing punches to the body. Usyk looked as fresh as ever as he let fly with a four-punch combination ending with a left hand that buzzed the Englishman. Fury was perhaps trailing but bettered his chances by nailing Usyk with a right hand counter in the final seconds of the session.

Usyk may have been ahead on the scorecards but was not leaving it to chance as he continues to work and was reluctant to retreat even when Fury was plodding forward. Usyk landed a lightning-fast left hand while Fury went for the body amidst tying up Usyk, and both men threw hard shots as the final bell sounded. Usyk dropped in gratitude while Fury celebrated before the pair embraced and awaited the judges' scorecards. All three judges had it in favour of Usyk who retained his unified world titles.

UFC 309: "Bones" dismantles Miocic with virtuoso performance in New York City

2024-11-17T07:19:00.008+00:00

Image: CBS Sports

While it was already common fact that he holds the throne as the greatest mixed martial artist to grace the Octagon, Jon “Bones” Jones contributed another immense piece of evidence to the stack as he systematically broke down Stipe Miocic with a fine performance in New York City to retain the heavyweight championship.

Former division kingpin Miocic crumpled into a heap after being the unfortunate recipient of a swift spinning back kick to the body, before referee Herb Dean spared him of any more punishment as Jones pounced with ground-and-pound strikes in the late stages of the third round. "Bones" dynamically concocted a lethal recipe of varied attacks, grappling control and athleticism that had his 42-year-old adversary out of his league for the majority of the contest.

The champion would then pay homage to President-elect Donald Trump who was in attendance at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, flanked by Elon Trump, with a post-fight speech centred on patriotism and Christianity as opposed to any talk of his next opponent. Jones, however, alluded to continuing his career despite pre-fight talks of retirement, telling Joe Rogan, "I decided that maybe I will not retire and that I have some conversations to have with Dana and Hunter," he said elatedly. "We have some negotiating to do, and if everything goes right, maybe we give you guys what you want to see."

JON JONES JUST DID THAT 😤 #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/Z77wdRHsMP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 17, 2024

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME 🏆🐐@JonnyBones defeats Stipe Miocic by KO to remain the UFC Heavyweight Champion of the World!

[ #UFC309 | B2YB @JoseCuervo ] pic.twitter.com/CO1cWI172M
— UFC (@ufc) November 17, 2024

Jones enjoyed some early success in the first stanza, landing a straight left on the button, though Miocic, regarded for his boxing acumen, countered with a right hand to put the New York native on alert. He made use of his reach advantage as has been the status quo throughout his career, evading Miocic when he tried to apply pressure, and firing a steady clip of front kicks to the body and low kicks that seemed to bother the former champion. Jones would build on the positive start, tripping Miocic from a clinch exchange and working to control him on the ground, firing off some heavy elbows that came close to stopping the fight at some points. Miocic remained composed but his options were limited to staying pinned in position and eating the ground strikes, with a cut on his cheek opening up at the end of the round.

A confident Jones swaggered towards the centre of the Octagon to begin round two, popping a rapid jab towards Miocic, who enjoyed sporadic moments of success in the boxing realm, none long enough to be sustained as Jones evaded, circled away and came back with counters. The long layoff and age of Miocic appeared to be a factor, looking much slower on exchanges and often out of ideas. Jones' body attacks were getting a reaction, with Miocic flinching at his feints having the champion in total command.

There was more of the same to follow in the third round, with Miocic merely a bystander as Jones teed off with beautiful combinations and a highly diverse range of attacks. The Ohio native was tentative to engage and chase Jones for too long, instead opting to feint and keep himself at the mercy of the speed of Jones who continued to pop out jabs, powerful straights and kicks downstairs. Ultimately, it was one of those kicks to the body that would spell the end of the fight, as he unleashed a spinning back kick to the ribs that sent Miocic down in a heap. As he turtled up, "Bones" swarmed with more strikes on the ground and the referee spelled the end of the contest. It was a virtuoso performance from a complete fighter that cemented his credentials as a two division king.

"Do Bronx" survives late drama to set up title shot

Charles Oliveira was in supreme control of Michael Chandler throughout four rounds, but Michael Chandler made it an uncomfortable finale as the American proved why he is one of the most exciting attractions in the sport, hurting the former champion late and coming close to a finish. Oliveira was able to see it out and use his grappling prowess to great use to prevail and set sights on the winner of the upcoming lightweight title tilt between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.

I'm back...

And I apologize for your heart rate up in round 5th (LOL)

But Chandler is tough and hits hard. All respect

God bless us#UFC309
— Charles 'DoBronxs' Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) November 17, 2024

The Brazilian opened strongly with razor-sharp jabs and front kicks to the midsection while Chandler was bouncing on his toes and looking to explode in with power shots. Oliveira would be first to change levels, timing a takedown well which was initially stalled well, however as he continued the pursuit, he would end up having Chandler's leg in a compromising position. Chandler kept his cool to see out the round, albeit on the bottom end and in constant danger.

Oliveira would go from strength-to-strength in the second round, cracking Chandler with several hard shots and sending him stumbling with a right hand. Chandler was already looking to hit the nuclear button by planting his feet and preparing to swing wildly, only landing a left hook for his troubles before eating a knee and getting taken down by Oliveira again. This time, the South American was able to mount and throw down elbows, including some of the recently unbanned 12-6 techniques.

The American remained an active threat on the feet however barring the scattered moments of powerful strikes, it was Oliveira doing all the damage, landing a litany of kicks and a strong right uppercut. The former champion then got the back once again and pursued a rear-naked choke, with Chandler once again having to fend off the attempts and simply see out the round.

As the championship rounds ensued, Chandler's resolve didn't fade but nor did Oliveira's pace and grappling control. The American was only able to deny submission attempts and see his reserves and remaining time severely drained.

Image: Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC

Going into the fifth round, it seemed that more was on the cards until Chandler was able to deny a takedown attempt and seconds later staggered Oliveira with a couple of big right hands. Oliveira went for a takedown but ended up on the bottom allowing "Iron" Mike to rain down punches, several hitting the back of the head with no apparent warning from the official. With time running out, Chandler would eventually take things back to the feet where he brushed a right hand before being taken down again, and that all but spelt the end of the fight. Chandler did thrill the fans, dumping Oliveira down with a crazy show of strength as he hoisted him aloft from the body triangle, but there was little discussion when it came to the scorecards as Oliveira was a lopsided victor.

Next big thing Nickal passes biggest test

The UFC's next big thing had to fight through "overrated" chants from an outspoken New York crowd, along with the tough challenges of Scotland's Paul Craig to improve his record to 7-0.

Three-time NCAA wrestling champion Nickal did not attempt a single takedown over three rounds, instead firing low kicks and several attacks to the body to wear down Craig. The Brit did well to throw kicks and cause discomfort, but Nickal kept composed and mixed his striking well before taking control. A largely uneventful fight was populated by lots of feints and boos from the crowd, although Nickal was pleased to be showered with praise from President Trump after the contest.

UFC 309: Preview, Predictions

2024-11-15T23:25:00.004+00:00

Image: Per Häljestam / MMA Junkie

After years of campaigning and near-misses, the UFC has made up for lost time in its love affair with the city of New York, and UFC 309 promises to be another serving of history in The Big Apple with a monumental heavyweight title showdown in the world's most famous arena.

It was back in 2016 when the promotion kicked down the doors as the sport of mixed martial arts was legalised in the state of New York and since then, it has been a yearly tradition of the Octagon serving up stacked cards that all but guarantee iconic moments.

Therefore it serves as no surprise that the consensus greatest fighter of all time Jon Jones tops the bill in a quest to make the first defence of his newly-won heavyweight title against the best heavyweight to step foot in the Octagon, Stipe Miocic, in a showdown that puts legacy, the most prestigious prize in the sport, and likely a victorious farewell on the line.

While the ominous void that is Tom Aspinall's absence will loom large over the matchup, it remains a historic affair between two bonafide hall-of-fame fighters both feeling they still have plenty to prove: Jones wants to cement his dominance over another division (and potentially set his sights on Aspinall although he has spent fight week trying to convince everyone otherwise) while Miocic wants to bounce back from a crushing defeat to Francis Ngannou more than three years ago and scale the heavyweight summit once again, adding to his storybook career that already has the most heavyweight title defences in the promotion's history.

The stage was set for these two to lock horns one year ago, only for Jones to withdraw from the bout after sustaining a horrific pectoral injury in training. That allowed Aspinall to step up and blast out Sergei Pavlovich for the interim belt while Miocic opted to wait on the sidelines for Jones to heal up. With that in mind, you cannot particularly blame the UFC nor the fighters for still pursuing this legacy matchup, although most will look on with hope that this won't be the last rodeo for the victor, and that they will attempt to unify the belts with the British heavyweight in 2025.

Miocic, while sidelined for a substantial period of time, presents a well-rounded, battle-hardened and legitimate heavyweight that will ask the questions of Jones that Cyril Gane was unable to when he was decimated inside a round last year as "Bones" captured the vacant heavyweight title. On that night, Jones exchanged on the feet for a matter of seconds against the kickboxer, before exploiting his weaknesses on the ground and securing a guillotine choke just over 2 minutes in to the bout.

It was far too easy for the American who until that night, was considered on a down slope after spluttering through performances to defend his light heavyweight title, most notably in 2020 when he was fortunate to have his hand raised after a razor-close affair with Dominick Reyes. It was a sign that Jones, for all his years of dominance, was mortal, and perhaps the writing was on the wall to eventually coming unstuck. Instead, he brushed those critics away, proving the heavyweight experiment and over three years on the sidelines paid off. During that time, Jones methodically bulked up to 248 pounds after a diligent strength and conditioning regime and some other antics outside of the cage which have somewhat marred his public image but certainly not deviated him from the path of dominance in the sport.

As for Miocic, serving full time as a firefighter in the Ohio state has been pivotal in exorcising the demons from a devastating loss to Ngannou in an empty UFC Apex during the pandemic. Miocic crumpled to the canvas in a heap from a left hook and saw his title brutally snatched away from him, but an opening would emerge when Ngannou failed to see eye-to-eye in the UFC and departed to the sport of boxing, dropping and taking Tyson Fury the distance before being obliterated by Anthony Joshua in Riyadh. Miocic has insisted that during that time off he has only become better, and cutting a nonchalant figure for the most part, it is really hard to tell whether he is phased from that defeat, or the seismic challenge of the UFC's most calculated force come Saturday night.

and

There are so many unknowns going into this fight that make it a more compelling affair. While the majority opinion leans towards Jones dominating an over-the-hill Miocic, the factor of the pectoral injury which will be critical in grappling exchanges cannot be overlooked, Nor can the grappling credentials and boxing ability of Miocic as a legitimate heavyweight that can present several threats to Bones. However, the time off for Miocic after wars with Cormier and then walking into a brutal Ngannou knockout may have done him more harm than good, now coming into the bout at the age of 42 years and putting him in the same bracket as only Glover Teixeira and Randy Couture should he capture the gold at UFC 309.

Five rounds are also scheduled for the evening's co-main event, which will pit Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler in a rematch of their 2021 classic that saw the Brazilian prevail. "Do Bronx" went on to defend the title several times before succumbing to the unstoppable force that is now lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Oliveira got himself back in the win column before sinking to a decision defeat to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, but a shot at the lightweight king awaits if he can once again get through "Iron" Michael Chandler.

Former Bellator champion Chandler burst on to the scene in 2020 to earn a shot at the vacant title and after coming up short against Oliveira, has given fans some incredible memories at The Garden, albeit on the losing end of wars with Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier - and who could forget his spectacular front kick knockout of Tony Ferguson sandwiched in between those contests. Since his last appearance, Chandler was lined up to be Conor McGregor's dance partner upon "The Notorious"' return, even embarking on a season of The Ultimate Fighter with the Irishman. Following various close calls, the two were finally lined up to fight in the summer of this year, only for McGregor to withdraw due to a foot injury within two weeks of the bout, forcing Chandler to finally move on and pursue the title once again. While that is time wasted for others, Chandler insists he has only improved over this time taking the necessary recovery to freshen himself up for another crack at the belt.

Chandler will come into the bout revitalised while Oliveira will be motivated but aware of his vulnerabilities from the wrestling department that Makhachev and Tsarukyan exposed, and if Chandler is able to fight smart - something even he admits is not likely - then it could be a difficult night for the Brazilian. But expect fireworks and another dramatic outcome with two fighters who come to bring it and will at some point butt heads in the middle of the Octagon.

Heir to the next big superstar throne Bo Nickal will take a step up in competition to take on grappling wizard Paul Craig with president-elect Donald Trump potentially in attendance on the main card. The UFC believe that Nickal could be a major American superstar with his amateur wrestling credentials and unblemished record so far, and he will get a chance to demonstrate his prowess once again against an opponent that will not be afraid to bring it to the ground. The Scot knows he has been brought in to lose but will still present another complex challenge for Nickal to solve.

Predictions

Jon Jones defeats Stipe Miocic via decision: Jon Jones is the best of gameplanners and championship fighters, but Stipe wil not be as easy as Gane in my opinion. Stipe will provide plenty of defensive wrestling and his boxing acumen will not allow "Bones" to easily wade in to range, instead I believe Jones will need to work from the outside and eventualy take control of the fight, with Stipe being too strong to be kept down and too tough for Jones to stop.

Michael Chandler defeats Charles Oliveira via TKO: It's an extremely tough one to call but I believe the freshened Chandler gets it done with a more calculated gameplan this time round. As long as he avoids the firefight with Oliveira, he could see out the danger zone and go for the late knockout.

Bo Nickal defeats Paul Craig via decision: There's a lot of pressure on Nickal but that won't crush him, instead it will make him tread with caution, and Craig will put up a fight to force the distance, but nothing more than that.

Jones picking smart, but not right option for UFC swansong

2024-11-06T12:26:00.000+00:00

Image: Getty Images

One of two heavyweights should be fighting Jon Jones in Madison Square Garden later this month. Unfortunately, Stipe Miocic isn't in that list.

Things have changed since both men's respective reigns of terrors over their organic divisions. The world was a far different place when "Bones" left many-a-carcass scattered throughout the UFC roster, breaking down opponents with a vicious blend of calculated fight iQ and destructive intent. Likewise, it feels many moons ago since Miocic, who in his own right is held in high esteem as perhaps the greatest heavyweight the promotion has ever seen, saw his title savagely snatched away by the hands of a debilitating Francis Ngannou left hook in an empty Covid-hit UFC Apex back in 2021.

In that time, Ngannou has gone on to defend the belt before jumping ship and making his millions in the sweet science. Coming close to stunning Tyson Fury at the start of the Riyadh Season carousel, before being brought back to reality at the hands of a monstrous knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. In MMA however, Ngannou still reigns supreme, albeit this time in the confines of the Professional Fighters League, where he recently stopped Renan Ferreira inside the first round.

If you didn't know better, you would assume that the UFC has 2 heavyweight champions, which technically they do - although one is dubbed an "interim" championship belonging to Manchester's Tom Aspinall. When the UFC came knocking last year after Jones was forced to withdraw from the initial date with Miocic due to a pectoral injury, Aspinall stepped in to face the feared Sergei Pavlovich, eviscerating him in a thrilling first round to capture the belt. He has since went on to trail-blaze through Curtis Blaydes, avenging his only defeat in the UFC (which was by a knee injury of course) and now has his sights set solely on Jones.

Yet it never appeared in UFC's plans to make that fight next, contrary to their usual process of the interim champion unifying with the undisputed champion to determine the rightful king of the division.

Instead, Dana White and the powers that be have been fixated on a marquee matchup between Jones and Miocic. On paper, it is poised as a legacy fight, where the victor will stake his claim as either the greatest, in Jones' sense, or certainly the greatest heavyweight when it comes to Miocic. There are plenty of stats and accolades to sell this fight, so much so that the UFC opted to put them on the pay-per-view promotional poster.

Delve further into the matchup and it may not be as it seems. The last time Miocic fought was more than three years ago, in which Ngannou left him crumpled in the middle of the cage inside the second round. Few would blame a distant spectator for assuming that Miocic has retired, heading off into the sunset, or into the flames at least as he continues his noble dedication as an active firefighter in the state of Ohio. Coming off a loss so devastating, and such a long layoff and to be reinstated into a massive title fight is out of the ordinary, but testament to the regard he is held in by the UFC. As much as that is warranted, you cannot deny the elephant in the room when it comes to this fight. There is another champion waiting in the wings that should be facing off with Jones this time. Miocic has waited, would any longer have harmed, knowing that Jones vs Aspinall would determine the undisputed champion?

There is also the potential that this could be the final time we see either man in the Octagon. There could be no man emerging out of this as Aspinall's next opponent. This could be the UFC merely intervening and ensuring one era ends, before another begins - rather than overlapping. For Hollywood scripts it makes sense, but in the sport of prizefighting, this is not what the UFC is about.

There is the other proposition that seems as impossible as ever. It had the potential to be the biggest fight in MMA history. Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou would have broken records and been the final test Jones' needed in his storied career. Ngannou did not see eye-to-eye with the promotion and hence departed from the promotion after taking out Cyril Gane at the start of 2022, before stepping into the boxing realm where he took many by surprise and got the paycheques he felt he warranted. PFL then compensated him as he took on Renan Ferreira to secure his dominance in their heavyweight division - however chances of the UFC firstly working with another rival MMA promotion, and secondly doing business with Ngannou ever again are as inconceivable as any other prospect in combat sports. Any remanants of hope were dashed when UFC president Dana White berated Ngannou at a recent press conference.

There can be no question over Jones' legacy though, even if that is the narrative some decide to run with. Aspinall is a young, exciting heavyweight leading the helm of the new breed in the sport, akin to the way Jones broke through, with dynamic attacks leaving so many bewildered by what they had in front of him. Deciding to take on Stipe for the legacy and the final touch to a resume is something you cannot blame him for, but it will certainly leave a sour taste in the mouths of many who would yearn for Jones to take on one last big challenge. The reality is Miocic does not appear to be that challenge. It may just depend on how good Jones feels when it comes to it: should he come unstuck by a valiant Miocic who spent his retreat improving for one last rodeo to twist the script and make a fairytale of his own, that's a beautiful story in his own right. Likewise, if he can come through unscathed, there just might be one last big test left. We know too often from this sport though that nothing goes to script - it all could just be too good to be true. You cannot really intervene with fate.

Holloway and Whittaker succumb to UFC's new age

2024-10-29T19:08:00.000+00:00

Image: Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC / Getty Images

Max Holloway and Robert Whittaker were, and still are, adored by UFC fans for obvious reasons. Having campaigned in the Octagon for well over a decade, procuring a lengthy catalogue of unforgettable moments and taking countless spots in fight of the year candidates, UFC 308 was undoubtedly a painful watch for many spectators, as both legends' chances of redemption were ended in the most brutal of fashion.

In the evening's co-main event, Whittaker's jaw was essentially re-arranged by the phenom that is Khamzat Chimaev. Amazingly, it took less than a round for this to occur, as "Borz" punched his ticket for a title shot with a relentless grappling approach. The Aussie was unable to sustain his range for even a matter of seconds, as Chimaev pursued a bodylock and proceeded to take him down, working to a back triangle and eventually securing a rear-naked choke. The choke didn't even have to reach the neck to cause damage, instead seeing Chimaev apply force on the chin, which led to his teeth being rearranged due to an apparent jaw dislocation for Whittaker.

Minutes later, Holloway did enjoy some success of his own but was ultimately made to taste a knockout defeat for the first time in his career. After two rounds, his featherweight title showdown with newly-minted king Ilia Topuria was nip-and-tuck, eating some of the champion's best shots while also doing damage of his own. But when he walked into a monstrous right hand, the end was near. "Blessed" would retreat and attempt to fire back, only to get heavily dropped by a left hook and finished on the ground. The Georgian-Spaniard, in the process, cemented himself as one of the biggest superstars in the sport, bringing Holloway crashing down back to Earth following his viral UFC 300 knockout against Justin Gaethje.

The path back to featherweight glory now seems a million miles away for Holloway, a man who ruled the division at will before the pandemic. Meanwhile, Whittaker saw his momentum savagely cut short - and potentially his career with that sort of injury - after managing to build back from a loss to now-champion Driccus Du Plessis last summer. These are two losses that will not only sting the fans, but are also indicative of the era being ushered in from what is a new age of prizefighter.

This is not necessarily an age thing, rather a case of timeframes and the International flair that has brought world-class grapplers with striking skills to match into the foray. For instance Topuria initialy made a name for himself as a grappler, coming in on short notice to outwork Youssef Zalal on UFC's Fight Island. But since then, he has come into his own with pulverizing knockout power and has been able to put the lights out of both Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway, widely regarded as two of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time. It is a resume that is already resembling the stuff of legends. Topuria represents a new dawn in the fight game, one where well-rounded skills match with the pinnacle of athleticism and physical performance. Chimaev's approach appears to have taken some modifications also, although time will tell by his activity going forwards. The Swedish-Russian fighter saw a lot of his momentum quelled by a series of fight withdrawals over the year, but a new camp set up may have changed his fortunes. The striking of who is now a bonafide middleweight is also not to be forgotten about.

As the UFC continues to make ground across the world, more and more talent should come on board and theoretically result in higher quality fights, which is what we are seeing for the most part - hard to fathom sometimes when you consider the stature of the UFC Apex cards in particular. Nonetheless, the recipe is one that suggests the very best of athletes are coming into the sport now knowing that a path has been carved. That doesn't necessarily mean they will all come to the Octagon, with contenders such as PFL and Bellator always eager to get their lion's share, with the inevitable sense of full-fledged Saudi involvement also a potential factor at some point down the line. Topuria and Chimaev appear to be the tip of the iceberg of this effect and it shows as one man has now established himself as a formidable champion, while for the other, it only seems to be a matter of time.

More and more well-rounded athletes, not just fighters, are on the horizon, presenting stylistic challenges and able to deviate game plans at any moment. Whittaker and Holloway, ironically, made a name for themselves doing the exact same thing just on a different scale. Holloway's takedown defence was always immaculate, allowing him to set up for his patented boxing skills, but he was taken down easily in the first round and then clocked by Topuria on the feet. Meanwhile, Whittaker did not get a chance to showcase his striking skills in particular in Abu Dhabi, but was eviscerated by a power lead hand from Du Plessis last summer and had no answer for Chimaev's grappling despite going against the very best in the business Yoel Romero for 10 rounds at the start of his title run. What this means for the likes of Holloway, Whittaker and other legends who have long ago etched their name into the UFC's record books remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, the path back to the gold will not be an easy one.

UFC 308: Topuria inflicts Holloway's first knockout defeat to retain title

2024-10-27T15:27:00.008+00:00

Image: Dayton Daily News

Ilia Topuria told everyone who would listen that he would become the first man to knock out Max Holloway, and that's exactly what he did in a spectacular maiden defence of the featherweight crown in Abu Dhabi.

A pulverizing left-hook landed in round three spelt the end for the legendary challenger following a hard-fought battle in UFC 308's main event where both me were made to work in every exchange. When the moment came, "El Matador" pounced with ground-and-pound shots prompting referee Marc Goddard to halt the contest.

Following up on an intriguing pre-fight build, Topuria followed up on his declaration to meet his counterpart for an exchange in the middle of the Octagon from the first bell, although a measured Holloway declined the engagement. A compelling opening stanza saw Topuria initially struggling to find his range, as Holloway waded in and out of the danger zone with a steady diet of straight punches. Exhibiting fine versatility, the champion was still able to make headway by chopping away at the lead leg of the Hawaiian and securing an emphatic takedown. The BMF champion was able to work back to the feet and picked off the Spaniard as he moved laterally on the outside, with "El Matador" already sporting some swelling on his face. A competitive ended with Topuria taking the back of Holloway after a slip.

Round two saw the former king up the volume and improve his prospects of reclaiming the belt, boxing beautifully at range with plenty of jabs and a one-two down the pipe. Topuria was trying to slip and roll with punches before coming over the top with counters, and after missing a few earlier, he landed two big left hooks in quick succession that were ate by the challenger. "Blessed" was clearly getting into a rhythm while Topuria stayed composed, letting out a little bit of frustration as the klaxon sounded to end the round following a spinning back kick landed to the body by Holloway.

The touchpaper was lit in the third round with Topuria needing to switch things up to stall the momentum of Holloway, landing left hooks to the body early and a hard low kick. Holloway continued to fire back with oblique kicks and tried to catch and counter from Topuria's shots. But Topuria seized on his moment when he had Holloway backing away towards the fence, uncorking a monstrous right hand that dazed the challenger, going to the body after and swarming as he covered up against the fence. Holloway retreated but then walked into a hellacious left hook that spelt the end of the contest, as "El Matador" paraded the cage with his biggest statement yet.

He did EXACTLY what he said he'd do 🤯@TopuriaIlia just knocked out Max Holloway at #UFC308!

[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/hbQjS5qplS
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024

"Beating a legend like Max Holloway, it's something that I couldn't believe," a grateful Topuria said in his post-fight interview. "I hope I'm going to be a small portion of the example he's been for the new generation." Topuria would then embrace Volkanovski in the cage, the former champion whose reign was ended earlier this year by Topuria, and seemingly agreed to a rematch for his next contest. A dejected Holloway meanwhile, stunned having tasted his first knockout defeat, gave credit to Topuria and will most likely eye a move up to the lightweight division for his next outing.

The Big Bad "Borz" is back

This was poised to be Khamzat Chimaev's ultimate litmus test, five rounds with a credible, world class former champion that had seen it all. One takedown and some dominance in the ground later, Robert Whittaker was made to learn what the rest of the world is coming to terms with: Chimaev is a dangerous man. It took less than a full round in the co-main event as Chimaev secured a submission victory against the Australian, destroying his jaw in the process.

Image: Chris Unger / ZUFFA LLC

"Borz" applied pressure right off the bat, shooting from far out and securing a takedown, quickly taking the back of the Australian. Whittaker would keep his composure and fend off early takedown attempts, but would eventually get trapped in a rear-naked choke, tapping immediately after his jaw would get dislocated from the squeeze. Following a year layoff, Chimaev looked more formidable than ever and has punched his ticket for a shot at the middleweight belt.

Ankalaev next in line for "Poatan"

It's criminal that Magomed Ankalaev hasn't fought for the light heavyweight title already, but the Russian left no doubt that he's next after dispatching a valiant Aleksandar Rakic over three rounds, showing more aggression and intent to impress the judges and matchmakers.

Rakic's kicks made the difference in the first round, landing a head kick that bounced off the dome of his counterpart, but Ankalaev would grow into the fight and began getting a gauge of the range and timing of Rakic who spent a large portion of the fight on the back foot circling the cage. Ankalaev would begin to open up to the body with straight punches and also cracked the chin of Rakic at several points, finishing strong as the fight went into the third round and busting up his opponent. Rakic tried to wrestle against the cage to see out the bout however Ankalaev was able to control the fight and take the initiative. He presents an interesting stylistic matchup for the light heavyweight champion Alex "Poatan" Pereira and it should make for a compelling showdown early next year.

Murphy remains unbeaten by the slimmest of margins

Recovery is just what Lerone Murphy does. The Manchester Top Team featherweight took his biggest scalp yet seeing off Dan Ige, bouncing back from a first round knockdown to edge the fight on the scorecards.

Ige came out aggressively and made Murphy work, not allowing him to settle and coming forward with calculated pressure, before punctuating a successful start with a takedown against the cage. The veteran however would be sporting a huge gash on his head as a result of a beautifully-timed right elbow counter from the Brit. Bloodied but not beaten, Ige would mount his opponent towards the end of the round, briefly pursuing a submission while Murphy kept his composure from the bottom.

"The Miracle" would rally in the second stanza, landing a few strikes while Ige's workrate dropped dramatically. The American saw his takedown attempt denied and Murphy would take the round with a takedown and ended the round in pursuit of a triangle choke.

It appeared all to play for going into the final round with both athletes exhausted. Murphy notably scored with a head kick and knee although Ige would end up in control on the mat after reversing a takedown attempt. They exchanged in the final moments before Murphy landed another takedown, with the fight being justified either way - this time it was the Mancunian whose hand was raised, keeping his unbeaten record intact.

UFC 308: Preview, Predictions

2024-10-24T23:01:00.000+01:00

Image: Getty Images

There's always something special on the agenda when the Octagon touches down on the Trucial Coast. UFC 308 is no exception as the world's premier mixed martial arts organisation continues its strong relationship with Abu Dhabi, bringing a sizzling double-header headlined by a featherweight title fight for the ages. The new guard and recently crowned Ilia Topuria, riding high after a spectacular dismissal of an all-time great, goes straight back into the fire when he defends the 145-pound strap against the legendary, resurgent Max Holloway. One man's quest to join the greats against the other's quest to transcend them.

If recent form is anything to come by, we are in for a treat when the pair lock horns at the Etihad Arena. Topuria vanquished Alexander Volkanovski with a patient, punch-perfect display in February, ending the Aussie's reign of dominance over the division with a second-round knockout. That was the pinnacle of a glorious run for the Georgian-Spanish fighter who had dispatched some of the best in the division en route to the title. Two months later on the historic UFC 300 card, Holloway delivered one of the greatest moments in UFC history, knocking out Justin Gaethje in the final second after dominating every round of the fight and urging the lightweight to meet him toe-to-toe in the middle of the cage. Topuria is yet to taste a loss in his professional career, while Holloway has only been bested by one man in more than a decade of his featherweight campaign. Something has got to give.

The stage is set for "El Matador" Topuria to cement his dominance as the kingpin of the featherweights by adding Holloway - regarded after Volkanovski as the greatest in the division - to his collection of scalps. He is a brash and confident striker with genuine one-punch knockout power oozing genuine superstar potential, but Holloway has seldom been outclassed and made to look out of his league in there. This is not the usual tale of the old champion coming back from exile or a career slump either. Barring one-sided defeats to Volkanovski, "Blessed" has looked on another level to elite competition at 145, outgunning Arnold Allen who had put together an impressive streak, and then putting Chan Sung Jung to the sword. There could be no better exclamation mark than climbing up to the lightweight division against an extremely dangerous, bonafide lightweight contender and putting on a striking masterclass. Pointing to the centre of the cage and imploring his opponent to trade bombs and ultimately landing the lethal shot to finish it in the final seconds is a moment that will never be forgotten in the history books. But to go in there and repeat the feat against Topuria whose trajectory is of stratospheric heights now puts him amongst the all-time elite. The Hawaiian made his UFC debut in 2012 and underwent a baptism through fire, learning on the job at some points to become a polished, championship calibre fighter that has seen it all. Holloway has shown a capability of going the distance at a high pace and will certainly test the gas tank of his younger foe, but there is one thing he has never seen during his long time as a professional - a knockout defeat. Topuria has carried an unshakeable aura of confidence throughout the lead up into this fight and is adamant he will give Holloway an exhibit of what that feels like, promising a spectacular outcome regardless.

Neither fighter will opt to take to the grappling realm however Topuria does boast legitimate skills when it comes to the mat. while Holloway has made takedown defence an art and loves nothing more than to trade shots and cement his claim as the self-professed best boxer in the UFC. Again, Topuria - who seems to have an answer for everything recently (and who could blame him when considering his results) wants to test that claim and give Holloway another shot at his viral UFC 300 moment. Speaking with TNT Sports' Adam Catterall, El Matador declared "if he stays in the middle for the first 10 seconds of the fight, it is going to be the most exciting 10 seconds in UFC or MMA history." While that may prove to be a shallow claim in retrospect, as neither fighter would want to head into the middle of the cage and risk everything on the first exchange, it does show gamesmanship and suggests we may see a striking battle for as long as it lasts.

Before that seismic main event, the dust will be settling from what is a fascinating co-main event matchup. Khamzat Chimaev, who burst onto the scene in 2020 with a splash and has since faltered, not inside the cage but out of it with health and weight cut issues, looks to stamp his place as number one contender when he squares off with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. "The Reaper" hailing from Australia has been established within the top 3 of the division even before he captured the interim title in 2017, and has seen off many promising contenders through those years, but none may serve as formidable a matchup as "Borz" Chimaev. The 30-year-old phenom was last seen a year ago at the same arena where he saw off a defiant Kamaru Usman over three rounds, a late replacement after Paulo Costa was ruled out of the bout. Chimaev appeared to sustain an injury during that fight and didn't get the finish that most expected, but still remains an unbeaten fighter and perhaps the most dangerous non-champion in the organisation. While his shine and momentum may have fizzled slightly in wake of the absences and health woes, a dominant display over Whittaker will put his name in the pile for a shot at the last man to vanquish Whittaker, Driccus du Plessis. The 185-pound champion is waiting for Sean Strickland but an emphatic display here could turn that script upside down. But do not let Whittaker's loss to du Plessis suggest that he is easy pickings. Whittaker bounced back with a vengeance to destroy Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia after Chimaev pulled out of their initial contest slated for the summer. Whittaker's boxing and technique was as crisp as ever and he is presented with a golden route back to the title after the door seemed sealed shut with two losses to Israel Adesanya during Stylebender's run at the top of the food chain.

What may also serve as a factor is that the co-main event is scheduled for five rounds. Chimaev is yet to see beyond the third round in his career while Whittaker is a specialist in hard-fought title fights and main events, and may be able to devise a strategy to drag Borz into deep waters. Chimaev is known for setting the pace but against the likes of Gilbert Burns and Usman he did seem to slow down dramatically down the stretch, and who could blame him after the way he comes out of the gates. Factor in the health issues and his inactivity levels and Whittaker could make it a long and disastrous night for the Swedish-Russian juggernaut. Either narrative is easy to believe, either Chimaev mauling Whittaker and seeing him off, or The Reaper turning back the clock with another patented virtuoso performance to extinguish Chimaev's flames and get one step closer to becoming a two-time middleweight champion.

As is the norm when it comes to fights in the desert, the rest of the card delivers plenty of intrigue and potential to steal the headlines. Magomed Ankalaev will have a point to prove after being snubbed from challenging for 205-pound sensation Alex Pereira at the recent UFC 307, where Khalil Rountree was given the shot instead and ultimately sunk to a fourth-round TKO defeat. Ankalaev has for long been waiting in the wings for his shot and against the credible Aleksandar Rakic has an opportunity to certify himself as the undeniable next contender. With his all-round capabilities, southpaw style and wrestling credentials he certainly has a lot of problems to offer the champion but will need to get through a determined Rakic who has mixed it up with the very best of the division. He had Jiří Procházka in considerable trouble during their UFC 300 encounter before ultimately being stopped but will now be chomping at the bit with this opportunity.

Featherweights Lerone Murphy and Dan Ige will look to get one step closer to the winner of the evening's main event in an intriguing encounter and big step up for the Mancunian. Ige has been through the mill during his UFC run and is nicknamed "50k" for a reason due to his ability to put the lights out at any point. Murphy will need a career-best performance to get the job done in a place where he has enjoyed much success during his time with the promotion. The legendary Rafael dos Anjos features in the prelims against Geoff Neal, while prospects Ibo Aslan and Shara Magomedov both have significant challenges to deal with in their respective decisions. A card packed with international flavour in typical UFC-Abu Dhabi style promises another night to remember.

Predictions

Ilia Topuria to defeat Max Holloway: This is very much a 50-50 fight because, while Topuria has looked so good in his UFC run, there remain plenty of questions about him that Holloway will need to answer if he is to reclaim the featherweight gold. How will Topuria deal with someone who likes to push the pace and dictate range? How will he perform down the stretch? Does he need to try to wrestle Holloway and make it boring thus contradicting all his pre-fight declarations? As for Holloway, he was virtually written off after lopsided defeats to Volkanovski, where he was outclassed on most exchanges and unable to ever settle into his rhythm. Topuria must avoid that pitfall and do enough to disrupt Holloway. It would be wise not to look for a knockout when you consider the durability of "Blessed" but what a statement that would be, it is crucial that Topuria does not fall in love with that possibility. The pick is Topuria on a cose-fought decision and a cracker of a fight.

Khamzat Chimaev to defeat Robert Whittaker: The temptation to take it out of left field and side with Whittaker was immense considering his ability to shut down a variety of opponents, but the manner in which he wilted against du Plessis and the combined threat of Chimaev's grappling suggest Borz gets the job done. It's a high-risk, high reward fight for both men but I am going with Chimaev stopping Whittaker late on in the fight, as long as he is calculated and doesn't go crazy from the jump.

Rest of the card: Ankalaev, Murphy, Magomedov, Aslan, Dos Anjos, Orolbai, Magomedov, Barnett, Basharat, Silva, Fakhretdinov.

Beterbiev and Bivol showcase 12 round masterclass of the sweet science

2024-10-18T19:25:00.000+01:00

Image: Sky Sports

The annuls of boxing history are rich with battle-hardened gladiators who over time have shown not only the capabilities of the human body, but the art of the sweet science. Pugilism can be so barbaric from a glance, two combatants lacing up the gloves within the squared circle and inflicting punishment on one another until either succumb, or go the distance, where the judges will bestow the victor. Yet it can also be so mesmirising that you must absorb it while you can, taking a helpful slice of it and placing it along those greats. That mantle is fitting of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol following an undisputed showdown for the ages.

The IV Crown Showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia wasn't a slugfest or toe-to-toe war, rather an exhibit of the finest skills this sport has to offer. While it was an example of fighters going the distance and leaving the judges to decide - that too, being met with some controversy - these two future hall-of-fame fighters gave us a 12-round demonstration of the very pinnacle of this noble art.

Ultimately it was Artur Beterbiev, now astonishingly knocking on the door of 40, who was declared the victor and the undisputed king of 175 pounds. Adding the WBA strap to his collection of the WBC, IBF and WBO titles, alongisde a trophy presented from Riyadh Season of the "Undisputed" belt, there was no shortage of hardware for the Russian who did enough to convince two of three judges that he had bested his compatriot.

We could talk ad nauseam about the decision, and why Bivol perhaps deserved to get his hand raised, and that talk will ravage on until the potential rematch which is the only logical option. The IBF have already declared a mandatory for the newly-minted champion, but that should be a mere speed bump in proceedings - anything other than a rematch would be a mockery.

Thankfully to the powers-at-be and the new wave of boxing influence, it should be all but a formality to get this sequel installed for early next year. Both fighters will already have spent countless hours up in the night plotting what could have been done differently, and scheming ways to return more emphatically. But perhaps even those two will take some time over the next few months or years to look back and take in what just happened, the two finest of the era cancelling one-another out and leaving the whole boxing world wanting to voice their opinion on who deserved to win.

It was a contest that needed no trash talk, no glitz or glamour, although Riyadh Season certainly provided that, whether it was the cascade of fight week events or the eccentric "opening ceremony" that featured performances from Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Missy Elliott. The credentials of Beterbiev and Bivol were enough to set the stage, albeit not necessarily breaking box office records, which is a shame in its own right. That opportunity was capitalised on with a stacked undercard that had enough talking points to last the remainder of the year.

Both camps will continue to have their say and that could stir up a bit of needle when the rematch comes round, even if it isn't required. But already, the gameplans will be jotted down. Beterbiev dictated the pace of the fight and forced the action for the most part, although struggled to really pin down Bivol at any point and sustain an onslaught. There were instances were the odd power shot would streak through, but a lot of his work would land on the guard of Bivol who did well to tuck up and circle out of the way. The WBA titlist would come back with dazzling combinations that would only momentarily stall Beterbiev, only for the Russian to come trouncing back in his direction.

It was Bivol who appeared to take an early lead, landing with his flush jab and not allowing Beterbiev to settle or pin him down. The movement was excellent from him throughout, and had he tweaked his final few stanzas, he could have definitively clutched the undisputed status. Beterbiev's engine and pace was relentless though, but perhaps some more body shots - which was a gameplan he deviated from after success in the early rounds - would have resulted in the outcome being met with a lot less controversy.

The scorecard talk will not stop anytime soon but this was indeed a razor-close fight where either man would have been a deserving victor. It was an occasion where a 15-rounder would have been more appropriate just like the old classics (even if that is nonsensical, what else?). The one thing that is certain, however, is that a rematch is imperative, not just for the legacies of both men, but the sport itself.

Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol: Preview

2024-10-10T16:04:00.003+01:00

Image: Mark Robinson / Getty Images

It's a tale almost as old as the sweet science itself. Boxer vs puncher. The age-old adage of whether the well-schooled boxer is able to use his acumen to navigate through the pitfalls, execute his gameplan and avoid having one of the power bombs from his adversary detonate on his chin with an impending feeling that the walls are closing in as the fight goes on.

There is no finer, or more fitting example of this instance than the historic four-crown showdown that kicks off a brand new Riyadh Season this weekend in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It's almost poetic that a contest between two pugilists of such esteemed caliber happens on a stage where all the belts are there for the taking, where one man will emerge as the undisputed light heavyweight king. A clash of two unbeaten masters of their craft emanates from well-schooled amateur backgrounds and embarking on incredible professional campaigns that will finally converge in this moment. Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will share the squared circle, and that is still surreal to say out loud. It is a fantasy matchup that has been brought to real life.

This could be the finest, and potentially greatest matchup yet that has been conjured up by Turki Al Alshaikh and the machine behind Riyadh Season. What started with somewhat of a circus showdown between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou (which turned out to be far more than that) has since delivered the undisputed heavyweight tilt between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, alongside international events in London and Los Angeles and a historic 5 vs 5 card between Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions. To the credit of the Saudis, they have given these two pound-for-pound greats, yet not necessarily household names, the platform to earn what they're worthy of in front of the world.

For years, it has been these two men who have ruled the roost at 175 pounds, albeit without much fanfare. For Bivol, the moment he stepped into the spotlight came when he schooled Canelo Alvarez over two years ago in Las Vegas. He stopped the Mexican in his tracks, crushing his hopes of conquering another division after he was hot on the heels of his 168-pound unification. On that night, Bivol ascended to superstardom and, while he was unable to secure the rematch with the Mexican due to several differences over weight and the rest of the nuances that come with fight negotiations, he came back to vanquish another Mexican in the form of the gigantic Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez in Abu Dhabi. That was another fine example of Bivol's ability to evade danger and control a contest, and following a year out on the sidelines - inactivity is a bit of a concurrent theme and perhaps the only drawback when it comes to Saturday night's showdown. Bivol got his piece of the Riyadh Season pie, dominating Lyndon Arthur at the Day of Reckoning, and then staying on the card to smash Malik Zidan after Beterbiev withdrew from the June 1 bout. Bivol will for sure have never shared the ring with someone more formidable than the man he is to fight on Saturday.

Likewise, Beterbiev will never have shared the ring with someone as technically astute as Bivol. Vanquishing the two finest light heavyweights in Britain first with a toe-to-toe showdown with a valiant Anthony Yarde whereby the Russian was cracked with some huge shots but never really retreated from his onslaught, before making a mockery of the bookies and essentially rolling over the highly touted former world champion Callum Smith in Canada earlier this year. Beterbiev is more than a hard-hitting knockout artist, he instead resembles a lethal, calculated assassin capable of breaking any opponent down, rightly asserting his place as the most formidable force in the sport today - alongside the unprecedented feat of being the only current boxing world champion to possess a 100% knockout ratio. Beterbiev does not possess as eye-catching of a breakout win as his adversary, but really became known when he brutally stopped the respected Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a unification bout in 2019. He would later go on to unify the WBO title when he destroyed Joe Smith Jr. in New York, showing no fear in the pocket and exchanging with another hard-hitting puncher. Not to quote or even entertain boxing math, but that same Smith Jr. had gone 12 rounds with Bivol previously.

It is the biggest test of either fighter's career which makes this such a tantalising bout, but Bivol is the man that has shown he can rise to the occasion when it matters. The pressure was on against Canelo, and he excelled, likewise he took a good spot on the Abu Dhabi Matchroom card later that year and made the most out of it, nullifying Ramirez and lighting him up at points. Meanwhile, Beterbiev has faced strong opponents, but perhaps his biggest opponent is himself. As is now the norm when it comes to pre-fight discussion regarding the London 2012 Olympian, age is often a factor, as at 39 the question of Father Time catching up with Beterbiev is somewhat potent. In addition, he is coming back from a ruptured meniscus injury which is what sidelined the initially slated June 1st date between the pair. What effect that will have on his movement, as he likes to jostle forward before stepping off at angles sharply, alongside his explosiveness, remains to be seen and could play a big factor in the contest, considering Bivol is himself a very evasive fighter able to navigate away from danger and control the ring. Bivol, however, has also had his fair share of adversity ahead of this fight, not necessarily relating to boxing, but in his personal life. While the Russian's camp have kept silent on the matter, it has been hard to evade media outlets reporting on the very publicly bitter split between the boxer and his now ex-wife Ekaterina, who has created a storm on social media, even going as far as to pledge support for his opponent and exposing previous injuries while also alleging that he has not been following up on child support payments.

For two boxers who are on the quieter side of the spectrum when it comes to pre-fight rambling, there is a palpable sense of tension underlying this fight week, with both not too fond of the pomp and circumstance and ready to go in there and let their fists do the talking. Beterbiev has appeared to embrace the villain role even despite being the A side and most likely the fan favourite, considering he is a Muslim fighter headlining a huge card in Saudi Arabia. Neither have entertained too many questions beyond replies spanning a few words, which also goes to show how big of a test both know that they are in for. Expect fireworks and a classic of boxing because that is what this is destined to be.

What's next for Anthony Joshua?

2024-09-24T08:08:00.006+01:00

Image: BoxingNews.com

What once was a fortress, became a crime scene on Saturday night for Anthony Joshua. The former world heavyweight champion will be etched in the rich annuls of Wembley Stadium for years to come, although the fondness of those memories have now been emphatically displaced to brutal flashbacks of a harrowing beatdown.

AJ was poised to set aim at an undisputed showdown between the winner of the upcoming Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury rematch in December. That was until Daniel Dubois had other plans, as "Dynamite" reeled off a career-best performance to utterly destroy the 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist, throwing his name into the mix as one of the best heavyweights on the planet.

It was a night that could not have gone more disastrous for Joshua. Clipped in the first minute with an overhand right and tugging on to the bulldog that was Dubois, AJ attempted to get behind his jab and use his range, only to be a sitting duck when he was clipped on the chin with a leaping overhand right as he backed away. Joshua tumbled to the canvas as the referee counted on, and from there the writing was already on the wall.

While it was an admirable display of courage and resilience, each round became more painful for the AJ faithful that are so used to packing out stadiums and chanting in unison for their man. What once were bellows of encouragement became hushed gasps and bated breaths, as Dubois continued to inflict punishment on a wobbled, bemused and badly beaten Joshua.

The final blow came in the fifth stanza, when Joshua, looking to rally and dig deep, landed three huge right hands that stopped Dubois in his tracks. Loading up and looking to unleash a comeback for the ages, Joshua put everything into a right uppercut, but unfortunately for him it was Dubois who landed first with a short right hook that sent AJ faceplanting towards the canvas. With the referee giving him every chance to get back to his feet, Joshua was discombobulated and was unable to beat the count as the final confirmation of disaster struck around HA9.

Dubois' crowning moment is illustrious is many ways, since he was around the same age that Joshua had his "lift-off" moment against Wladmir Klitschko back in 2017. It's yet another reminder that time catches up with everyone, with this now marking a symbolic passing of the torch from one fiery London heavyweight to another.

Suffering his fourth, and perhaps most devastating, defeat to date, questions will now linger around the Joshua camp with many already calling for him to bow out with his faculties intact. Considering the revenue he has generated, selling out stadiums as a formality, you could not blame Joshua for walking away into the sunset, although he has been quick to provide those critics a rebuttal as he continues his quest for a third heavyweight crown - which begs the question as to what is next for him.

Depending on who you ask, a rematch clause appears to be in play as has been the case with Joshua's previous defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Usyk. A chance for redemption will certainly put fire in the belly of AJ, even if it is deemed as unwise. Dubois will also perhaps feel held up by this prospect, having to run it back with his compatriot rather than get in line for the winner of Usyk and Fury's rematch at the end of the year. Nonetheless, it remains a seismic affair with Joshua's career most certainly on the line this time round.

What definitely should be considered is a lengthy layoff for Joshua having sustained a litany of concussive blows throughout five rounds in the English capital on Saturday night. Often in these scenarios fighters aim to get back out as soon as possible to exorcise those demons, but that can be a recipe for disaster with a diminished tolerance for damage and confidence issues. Joshua's team will want him to take time out perhaps until next summer for a huge outing.

Another rebuild may not be taken well by the British public, who initially scolded Joshua's "New Dawn" last year. Joshua limped to a decision win over Jermaine Franklin in front of a somewhat subdued crowd at The O2, before eventually vanquishing Robert Helenius. Then he headed over to the dunes and got into gear by dismantling Otto Wallin and then destroyed Francis Ngannou as his confidence rebuilt. It's likely that an approach this time will do little to convince the boxing world that a new AJ is back. Should he step back into the ropes, it must be a mammoth fight that could perhaps sell out a stadium once again, depending on the dance partner.

Saturday night may have spelt the end of Joshua's ambition for undisputed status. It is a tagline that has ran concurrent with his entire professional campaign but one that may have finally been put to bed by the hands of Dubois. Nonetheless, there does remain one mammoth showdown that many feel must happen before the careers of these two Brits are said and done - and that's a tussle between Joshua and Fury.

One would love to speculate that regardless of The Gypsy King's rematch with Uyk at the end of this year, Fury and Joshua's paths will cross in 2025. Their careers have been intertwined with Fury's rise and fall being followed by Joshua's ascension, before Fury then came back to rule the roost at heavyweight, before Usyk put a spanner in the works to both men's plans. Despite the defeat, Joshua and Fury locking horns remains the biggest fight in boxing currently, and Wembley would be packed to the rafters to witness those two throw it down. A Fury loss against Usyk would perhaps boost the likelihood of such a contest happening, while Fury would likely be pressured into taking on Dubois for undisputed should his hand get raised.

We've seen Joshua come back from these defeats before and there will undoubtedly be a myriad of questions for him to answer from the fallout of this contest. The fact that he was so open defensively throughout the five rounds, and had no answer for the pressure of Dubois has exposed a big part of his game. When he isn't the hammer, he is the nail - and a lot of heavyweights will be licking their lips to capitalise on a wounded Joshua which is why his next move is critical.

All signs suggest that this story is yet to be finished, however. Joshua still yearns for heavyweight supremacy and will already be plotting revenge. The path must however, be plotted very carefully. It has been a tremendous story so far, but that could be jeopardised by how this story concludes. One more big fight, and one more after that, but how much more is too many? That is a question only he can ask himself.

Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Preview

2024-09-20T08:27:00.003+01:00

Image: Bradley Collyer / PA

It's not autumn, it's Riyadh Season this weekend in the English capital, as the Saudi Arabian takeover of boxing descends upon Wembley Stadium with a mammoth spectacle that will go down in history. Two British juggernauts duking it out for the heavyweight championship of the world, with likely a gargantuan undisputed tilt awaiting the victor, supported by one of the strongest undercards in recent memory.

Only Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis have ever captured the heavyweight world title three times, but Anthony Joshua has a golden opportunity to join that pantheon of greats as he looks to strip Daniel Dubois of his inherited IBF crown, which was aligned to him after Oleksandr Usyk opted to vacate one quarter of his undisputed heavyweight crown earlier this summer.

The mentioning of the Ukrainian maestro is appropriate considering the paths these two men have went on since he inflicted their defeats. Joshua was first to fall to a pair of unanimous decision beatdowns, the latter of which resulted in an infamous post-fight meltdown. Dubois, meanwhile, had every right to feel hard-done-by following a contentious low-blow in Poland last year, and would eventually take a knee after absorbing too much punishment.

Since then, both fighters have resurged to new heights and arguably may be at the best we have ever seen. Joshua stumbled through a decision win over Jermaine Franklin before eventually eviscerating Robert Helenius, before a switch in trainer saw him dismantle Otto Wallin and then most recently annihilate former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. AJ has appeared to have clicked immensely under the tutelage of Ben Davison, renowned as one of the best boxing brains in the sport.

Dubois, meanwhile, has had to answer a lot of questions similarly to when he sunk to Joe Joyce in a closed-doors Church House Westminster during the pandemic, where he also took a knee and saw out the count. His most recent opponents on both Saudi outings saw that as a weakness and were made to pay in the end, as Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic were both emphatically stopped by the Londoner. In those fights, Dubois was made to dig deep in the trenches and came out on top, and there's no overstating just how much of a boost that will be to the psyche of the 27-year-old.

While they are two very different fighters stylistically, the similarities between the two fighters are uncanny. Both garnered significant hype upon their professional debuts and were pushed for their knockout prowess. You couldn't blame Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions for following the AJ trail-blazed path at the inception of his career since it had so much success of selling out stadiums and putting British boxing back into the mainstream. It was almost inevitable that at some point these two men would cross paths. The question is whether Dubois is now ready to step into the fire (and a cauldron of an estimated 96,000 fans at Wembley) and mix it up with one of the best heavyweights in the sport. It is the biggest occasion he will have experienced, while Joshua is now a specialist in stadium fights having headlined Wembley Stadium twice before, the first of those being an epic victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.

Joshua's desire has been questioned since the Usyk defeats, and perhaps long before that when Andy Ruiz Jr. spectacularly dethroned him in New York City during the summer of 2019, a result regarded as one of the biggest boxing upsets ever. The 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist has himself undergone intense scrutiny and engaged in a journey of self-discovery inside the ring, crafting his style and finding his feet, which sounds absurd to say as a former two-time unified champion. Dubois presents a very live threat, with the potential to detonate a knockout punch at any moment, and Joshua must be switched on, calculated and prepared for a firefight to get the job done.

The sharpness of Joshua as well as the power and aggression puts him in good stead as a clear favourite for this contest. However there remain still several question marks that will be answered by Dubois as his toughest test since the pair of Usyk defeats. If Dubois can put Joshua on the backfoot and make him retreat to the shell of himself that looked tepid against the likes of Franklin, and somewhat Helenius, it could open up for the upset. However, Dubois himself could at times be a sitting duck, as was seen in the opening rounds against Hrgovic earlier this year, where Hrgovic was able to land at will with the straight hands, before Dubois imposed his will. If Joshua can get behind his jab and set up the straight rights that most recently demolished Ngannou, it could be an early night. You can almost guarantee a stoppage for this contest, neither fighter particularly enjoy going the distance and the game plan is to seek and destroy. Joshua's boxing acumen will certainly be the stronger of the pair when you consider the gulf in experience against top class opposition, meaning Dubois will need to make it scrappy and try to capitalise on the chaos.

And thanks to the Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment of Authority and His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, that's the icing on the cake. Riyadh Season is coming with all the grandeur with an absolutely sizzling undercard. If that wasn't enough, Oasis' Liam Gallagher, fresh off the Oasis reunion announcement and tour sellout, will perform before the main event.

The co-main honours will go to Hamzah Sheeraz, as he tries to strip the EBU European Title from Wolverhampton's Tyler Denny. Sheeraz has been on a tear and has sprung to prominence following his destruction of Ammo Williams on the Queensberry vs Matchroom "5 vs 5" card in the summer. Sheeraz is an undefeated, hard-hitting British middleweight that the Saudis are very high on, having appointed him as a Riyadh Season ambassador. He has all the tools and skills to reach world titles but will need to navigate what could be a banana skin in Denny. Denny is no stranger to being the underdog and ripping up the script, having taken the unbeaten records of River Wilson-Bent, Bradley Rea, Brad Pauls and Felix Cash and will look to do so again. Sheeraz should have the tools to have a highlight victory as long as he does not fall for one of boxing's biggest pitfalls: not taking your opponent seriously.

What would have been for the IBF super-featherweight title will instead be a non-title fight that still promises fireworks as Anthony Cacace, who spectacularly stopped Joe Cordina on the Fury vs Usyk undercard, will take on Leeds Warrior and former world champion Josh Warrington. The IBF refused to sanction the belt on the line for this bout due to Warrington's inactivity but the fight still carries massive stakes as well as the lesser-regarded IBO title. Cacace will look to avenge his fellow compatriot Carl Frampton who was on the losing end to Warrington in a firefight back in 2018. Cacace is the favourite and is on hot form while Warrington is on the tail-end of his career having most recently been stopped by WBA champion Leigh Wood. Warrington will need to turn back the clock and make a statement or this could be the end of the road.

Joshua Buatsi will take on the surging Willy Hutchinson earlier on in the night in a domestic light heavyweight dust up that should catch fire. Buatsi has often come under criticism for his slow rise while Hutchinson recently dispatched Craig Richards and with his amateur credibility is setting about his business with intent currently. There's certainly no love lost between this duo who almost came to blows at the early press events, and with the WBO interim light heayvweight title at stake, and potentially a crack at the winner of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol's clash for 175-pound supremacy next month, this one is good reason to file into Wembley Stadium early.

Josh Kelly will take on short notice replacement Ishmael Davis after Liam Smith's withdrawal, and Mark Chamberlain's lightweight affair with Josh Padley will kick off the card.

Queensberry vs Matchroom 5 vs 5: Preview, Predictions

2024-06-01T13:57:00.001+01:00

Image: TNT Sports

Their dynasties have been at loggerheads from almost the inception of British boxing. The ring isn't the only place where business is cut-throat in boxing, and no two men know that better than Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren. Never did anyone see this coming, but here we are: these two bitter rivals are now singing from the same hymn sheet... to an extent, when Riyadh Season serves up another corker as Hearn's Matchroom Boxing lines up five fighters to take on Warren's Queensberry Promotions stable with bragging rights on the line.

A stacked card with a pair of crunch-time colossal heavyweight bouts, a fiercely competitive featherweight world title fight, an animosity-ridden light heavyweight showdown and two unbeaten prospects bearing the flags in a middleweight showdown. And if that ridiculously loaded card wasn't enough, Dmitry Bivol will serve up some half-time entertainment when he defends the belt against unbeaten Libyan Malik Zinad - after an injury to Artur Beterbiev scuppered hopes of a light heavyweight undisputed fight emanating in the Kingdom.

The action starts with Raymond Ford making the first defence of his newly minted WBA featherweight world title, after a dramatic last-gasp knockout to come from behind Otabek Kholmatov in March. He will defend against the unrelenting Scouse Nick Ball. Ball has a chip on his shoulder after a controversial split draw with Rey Vargas six days after Ford's dramatic win, and now has a chance to etch his name into the elite status. Ball will present a lot of problems for Ford, not least his output which may compromise the American considering his weight struggles, as he recently made his intentions clear to move up a division. It promises to be a high-level, fast-paced contest with Ford the favourite, although Ball's chances to upset the apple cart and rewrite the wrong in the same setting of the Vargas draw cannot be dismissed.

Surprisingly stealing the headlines for pre-fight needle has been the light heavyweight contest on the card as Willy Hutchinson attempted to ruffle the feathers of the softly spoken Matchroom staple Craig Richards. The Scot has appeared brash throughout fight week and has a point to prove with the ghosts of his loss to Lennox Clarke some three years ago still looming large. Richards, meanwhile has shown to be a solid, reliable operator even mixing it up at world level going the distance with Bivol during the pandemic era. This is by a mile Hutchinson's toughest test, and it will take a lot for him to get Richards out of there, especially with The Spider's ringcraft and defensive acumen. We will find out how much Richards has left, and whether he has what it takes to bridge the almighty chasm between he and the other light heavyweight contenders to Bivol and Beterbiev, while Hutchinson has an opportunity to continue his rise and make a massive statement.

It shows how much Queensberry are investing in the Hamzah Sheeraz stock when Warren has named him captain for the team. That means the points acquired in the event of a Sheeraz victory will now be doubled, and it will be some victory if he is able to knock off the vicious southpaw sniper Ammo Williams in what promises to be an intriguing middleweight affair, with title eliminator implications potentially up for grabs. Their two personalities could not be more different - Williams has raised eyebrows sporting a tail during fight week and trying to rile up the Slough native, while Sheeraz remains professional and a clean cut image, letting his accolades to the talking. Sheeraz currently holds the WBC silver middleweight title and has done everything that has been asked of him, with more spite in his punches evident after joining up with Ricky Funez in Los Angeles. At 6'3" he will posses a significant height and reach advantage, but Williams' ability to dart in and out from that southpaw stance could provide some problems to navigate. However, Williams' overconfidence may get him into trouble with Sheeraz's power already garnering Thomas Hearns comparisons. This is Queensberry's man and they are backing him, Williams meanwhile embraces the away corner for this one - it could go either way but do not rule out a spectacular stoppage from either combatant.

The first of two heavyweight barnburners pits Filip Hrgovic putting his unbeaten record - and world championship ambitions - on the line against a resurging Daniel Dubois. Hrgovic is a well schooled fighter who has long been touted as the dark horse to take over the division, but for some reason he has taken his time for that to truly materialise. His biggest win came against Zhilei Zhang back in summer 2022, a highly controversial decision in which he took some of his best shots over the distance. Dubois, meanwhile, continues to try and shake the quitter tag that has been stained on him since taking a knee against Joe Joyce at the end of 2020, before falling against Oleksandr Usyk last summer (let's not forget that controversial low blow, though). Dubois appeared to conquer a lot of his demons when he blasted Jarrell Miller out in the final round at the Day of Reckoning event, and he may be on his way to do it again with Hrgovic taunting the Brit about an infamous sparring session way back where the Croat claims he had Dubois taken to hospital. While you cannot read much into sparring stories this sets things up fascinatingly in the sense that Dubois is given a chance to cleanse another demon, while Hrgovic can see off another legit heavyweight and potentially line up himself for a shot at the IBF title. It has also been rumoured that the winner of this contest may be in line to be Anthony Joshua's dance partner for a Wembley Stadium showdown later this year. Hrgovic is well schooled and quicker while Dubois' power makes his "Dynamite" nickname more than appropriate. Hrgovic will look to box and keep it neat on the outside and try to damage and break Dubois down, while "DDD" is likely to at some point go all guns blazing.

In the evening's main event, Deontay Wilder - representing Matchroom after he and Eddie Hearn appeared to have buried the hatchet momentarily - will square off with the Chinese southpaw giant Zhilei Zhang, as both look to get themselves back in prime position towards the top of the heavyweight pile. Both found themselves in enviable positions before stumbling into Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia, then slipping to decision defeats against the New Zealand fighter. Wilder looked gun shy and almost too tame, Zhang was too big and too tired - repeats of those displays against one another may signal very close to the end for these heavyweights. "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder has been adamant he is resurrecting that persona when he returns, rather than the compassionate, happy to be here hero that was seen on the night he slipped to Parker and squandered a Saudi showdown with Joshua. He will need to detonate a straight right bomb down the pipe to shake off Zhang. and it would be compelling to see how the bigger man can handle the power, since he also has a thump of his own. If Zhang can bully Wilder it may signal the end for the former WBC king, but he will definitely be there for Wilder to hit.

Predictions

Zhilei Zhang def. Deontay Wilder via decision (Queensberry 1 point)
Filip Hrgovic def. Daniel Dubois via decision (Matchrooom 1 point)
Hamzah Sheeraz def. Austin Williams via TKO (Queensberry 2 points)
Craig Williams def. Willy Hutchisnon via decision (Matchoom 1 point)
Raymond Ford def. Nick Ball via decision (Matchroom 1 point)
Total: Queensberry 3 - 3 Matchroom
Dmitry Bivol def. Malik Zinad via TKO

It would only be fitting if after all this, Warren and Hearn share the spoils and continue working in unison to bring more huge fights to the fans. It promises to be a spectacular show in Riyadh, whichever way it goes.

"King of Rio" Aldo still writing illustrious legacy

2024-05-08T09:33:00.001+01:00

Image: Jason Silva / USA TODAY SPORTS

Believe it or not, the Jose Aldo fairy tale isn't over yet.

It could have been over when his reign of terror over the featherweight division was spectacularly terminated by Conor McGregor. It could have ended following a pair of bludgeoning defeats at the hands of Max Holloway. It could have ended when he was left a bloodied mess and succumbed to Petr Yan on Fight Island. And it appeared to have ended, or rather fizzled out, in a decision defeat to Merab Dvalishvili two years ago in Salt Lake City.

Yet when the UFC were in desperate need of artillery to fire up their return to Rio de Janeiro, who better than the King of Rio to answer the call. The two-time featherweight champion, fresh off a foray into the professional boxing realm, repaid the promotion's favour of allowing him to box by seeing out the final fight on his contract.

They didn't make it easy though. This wasn't to be a showcase set up for Aldo, rather a real litmus test of where he stands in the shark-infested waters of 135 pounds. Lining up to face him was 12th-ranked streaking contender Jonathan Martinez, who had strung together six impressive victories and was an exhibit of the new age of fighters taking over the sport.

The Brazilian shrugged off the ring rust with ease, taking the fight to Martinez early and addressing his calf kicks with swift checking and tight defence, showing that even at the ripe age of 37-years-old, he was continuing to evolve his game. Martinez at times was guilty of posing for pictures and who could blame him, sharing the Octagon with a man widely considered in the top five all-time pound-for-pound rankings. To make matters worse, Martinez found his most potent weapon - one which left Adrian Yanez hobbled in his last outing when he became just the second fighter in UFC history to win multiple fights by leg kick stoppages.

When Martinez did try to turn up the heat, Aldo was there to go with him, timing knees up the middle rapidly and ripping hooks to the body. He also showed willingness to engage in the pocket, taking some of Martinez's best shots and coming back to stagger him in the final stages of the third stanza. The boxing of Aldo was on point once again, catching and slipping with the punches, showing his time with the Brazilian Navy boxing team and professional outings keeps him as one of the finest strikers in the UFC.

Aldo will sit down with UFC brass to discuss the next steps, as he now ventures into free agency. There has already been talk entertained of the Brazilian skipping the line and challenging Sean O'Malley for the bantamweight gold, a fight that will attract buzz but also some furore for Dvalishvili who has rightfully earned his shot. The fact that this talk has even been entertained however is testament to the legacy and pull of the former featherweight king.

Whether he stays with the UFC, or takes up the rumoured offer to box on the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul undercard, the post Hall of Fame chapter promises to be an exciting one for Aldo. Before coming unstuck against Dvalishvili two years ago, he was in hot form and well in the mix at bantamweight, having dropped a division down and completely reinvented himself. When you consider his skillset and experience he remains a formidable test for any of the top 15 contenders at 135 pounds and with the way he looked at UFC 301, you cannot write off him working his way back to one final title shot before he finally heads off into the sunset.

A legacy that is already forged, longevity that has been aided by his defensive approach and two years on the sidelines, there's still a lot more this story has to offer. If anyone has earned their fairytale ending, it is this man.

Options abundant for "BMF" Holloway

2024-04-18T13:28:00.003+01:00

Image: Getty Images

Considering his previous foray into the lightweight division became part of the evidence stack for why weight classes exist, you couldn't exactly berate the doubters who thought a 155-pound tussle with Justin Gaethje was a step too far for Max Holloway. But on the world's stage at the iconic UFC 300 event, "Blessed" stole the show with perhaps the greatest knockout ever seen inside the Octagon.

Following a scintillating five-round performance, the Hawaiian implored Gaethje to trade with him in the final seconds, catching him on the button with a devastating right hand that sent the American faceplanting to the canvas with one second to spare.

It will go down as one of the best moments in UFC history, and what a way to steal the show on the iconic UFC 300 event. It's clear that The Blessed Express isn't slowing down anytime soon, when just two years ago it appeared that he would never get a taste of featherweight gold again after Alexander Volkanovski put an emphatic end to their trilogy.

That night, a bloodied Holloway exited the Octagon and was hurried to a nearby medical facility after sustaining a gruesome gash on his left eyebrow, his face becoming a bloodied canvas of the Australian's masterful striking. The man who was revered as the best boxer in the promotion found himself outgunned and too slow for his nemesis, falling to 0-3 in the trilogy. At that point, the Hawaiian could not have been further from the title.

Holloway would then find himself in the gatekeeper's position over the ensuing years, but proved to be too large a measuring stick for the likes of Arnold Allen and Chan Sung Jung - the latter of who was retired following a devastating knockout - to surpass. Still, with Volkanovski ruling the roost and putting together an unprecedented title reign, many were reluctant to entertain a fourth bout.

That was of course until the Australian was unsuccessful in two bids for champ-champ status with lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, including a devastating head kick knockout defeat, ultimately softening him for Ilia Topuria to buzz through and capture the title. While Volkanovski, a fighting man, will be eager to get back in the cage, there will be warrant for him to take a prolonged time out on the sideline.

There would be no bigger coronation opportunity for the Georgian knockout artist to cement his title reign than defending the belt against Holloway, and that will be as stern a test as they come. But that's not the only choice, Holloway has now proven he can be a robust challenge at lightweight, having adequately prepared and gaining the necessary size to compete at that weight class. Not necessarily known for his power over the years, rendering Gaethje - who perhaps has the best chin in the division - unconscious is a testament to his credentials.

Holloway has already tasted featherweight gold before, so why not go back to the conquest that he fell short of 5 years ago? There is also unfinished business with Khabib Nurmagomedov after Holloway was withdrawn from a showdown for the lightweight title in 2018 when he stepped in on short notice. With Khabib's protégé Islam now at the helm, a showdown between that pair writes itself.

If those two undisputed titles are not enough, Holloway could also go the route of defending the BMF title and putting on more showcases for the fans, the Hawaiian has proven on countless occasions his fearlessness and he would want nothing more than to plant his feet in the middle of the cage and slug it out with any of the meanest fighters. Charles Oliveira could do with a dance partner after falling to Arman Tsarukyan on the main card, as could the winner of Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler at UFC 303 - both those are massive spectacles. Holloway's options have never been greater. And he has proven, after cutting his teeth in the UFC from a young age and carrying the featherweight division through the post-Aldo period, to still going strong and reinventing himself all these years later, it is simply something to marvel at. Give him what he wants, whatever it is. We may be only getting into his finest chapter.

Super Bowl LVIII: Preview, Prediction

2024-02-11T14:47:00.003+00:00

Welcome back to the 4th annual preview on SportingMatrix for Super Bowl 58, or LVIII. This year heading to Paradise, Nevada are defending champions Kansas City Chiefs and NFC Champions San Francisco 49ers. Opened in 2020 and home to the Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium has a capacity for NFL games of 65,000, expandable to 71,835. At a cost of $1.9 billion, it is the second-most expensive stadium in the world, only behind Super Bowl LVI host SoFi stadium.

The 49ers come into the big game off a 12-5 regular season record, being the NFC’s #1 seed. After receiving a first-round bye, they dispatched of back-to-back NFC North opponents in the Divisional Round and Conference Championship respectively. First, the Green Bay Packers went down 24-21, before San Fransicio needed to rally from 17 points down to defeat the Detroit Lions 34-31 to book their ticket to their first Super Bowl since 2020, against the same opponents that they meet in 2024…

The Chiefs went into the playoffs with an 11-6 record, only enough for the #3 seed in the AFC. The first team in the way of defending their crown was the Miami Dolphins, who suffered a 26-7 defeat against Kansas City. Then in the much-anticipated rematch, this time in Buffalo, the Chiefs squeaked by the Bills 27-24 to make their 5th AFC title game in a row. They would win their 4th of these, taking down near-unanimous league MVP Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in what was hardly a classic.

After last season's success of the 262nd pick in the 2022 draft Brock Purdy, San Francisco committed to him by naming him their starter and trading away 3rd pick of the 2021 draft Trey Lance. Brock repaid this faith shown in him by putting up 4280 passing yards, 31 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, with a 69.4% completion percentage. This bettered his QB counterpart Patrick Mahomes (4183 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 67.2% completion), although he had his worst statistical season in several categories. The 49ers have been an offensive juggernaut, becoming the first team in league history to have four players with over 1000 scrimmage yards. Defensively they were 3rd in the NFL, giving up an average of 17.5 points per game. They are looking to win their 6th Super Bowl in their 9th appearance, and in doing so they would be the first NFC team to have 6 wins and also join the tied record in the NFL alongside the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. Kansas City’s offense struggled this season, leading the league in dropped passes going into week 18 and Travis Kelce going under 1000 receiving yards for the first time since 2015. However, they have still found their way through the playoffs and will attempt to become the first team to successfully defend the Super Bowl since the New England Patriots in 2004. They were the latest team to attempt this, winning in 2019 before losing in 2020.

As if any more incentive to win a Super Bowl is needed, this is a rematch of Super Bowl LIV where the Chiefs won their first championship since 1970 against the 49ers, who themselves haven’t won since 1995. Taking place in Miami, Kansas City overturned a 10 point 3rd quarter deficit with 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to win 31-20.

Eight-time Grammy winner Usher will perform this year's half-time show. One of the best-selling musical artists of the 2000’s decade, the “King of R&B”s 2004 album Confessions sold over 20 million copies worldwide, certified diamond by the RIAA and contained four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles; “Yeah!”, “Burn”, “Confessions Part II” and “My Boo”.

As with previous years, I have been predicting every game across the NFL season. This year prior to the Super Bowl I have gone 169-115, with a disappointing 5-7 postseason record. I am now 1-2 with Super Bowl picks writing for SportingMatrix, having successfully backed the Chiefs to beat the Eagles last year, also getting the exact margin of 3 points. I am predicting an equally close one here too, but against my better judgment am going against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and backing the 49ers to win by 3 this time.

Super Bowl LVIII will be broadcast in the UK on ITV1, with pre-game coverage starting at 10:45pm and kick off expected for 11:30pm. It will air in the US on CBS, streaming on Paramount+ at 6:30pm ET (3:30pm PT) The game will air all over the world, for the full list of countries and channels, visit https://www.nfl.com/super-bowl/ways-to-watch/countries-and-languages/.

Concern mounts for Fury following Ngannou near-miss

2023-11-01T10:02:00.002+00:00

Image: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images

On paper, this was a lay-up for Tyson Fury. Secure a multi-million dollar paycheque, shake off the cobwebs, and make a statement against a formidable opponent to set up the biggest fight of his career (and one of the biggest in boxing history). With Oleksandr Usyk watching on, "The Gypsy King" avoided disaster by the skin of his teeth.

It was a commendable display from professional boxing debutant and former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou. Never allowing the Brit to settle, establish rhythm, or impose his size, Fury was made to work and looked a shadow of his prime self, which begs the question: is Fury now finally slowing down, or was this a result of overlooking Ngannou with poor preparation? Both are equally concerning.

At the age of 35, retirement has been on the mind and even enacted by Fury throughout his career. From knocking Wladimir Klitschko off his perch some 8 years ago, to a near-catastrophic downfall of addiction and weight gain, to coming back to usurp the hardest hitter in the division Deontay Wilder and string a few further defences, it has been a long, hard and legendary road for The Gypsy King. That road may finally be taking its toll.

Whether you binge-watched "At Home With The Furys" on Netflix or stumbled across Tyson's own personal remarks about retirement, it's clear that the exit game is on the agenda, and it has been for some time. It was only last summer when the 6'9" switch hitter announced he was hanging up the gloves after flatlining Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium. But then came Dereck Chisora in a farcical event before Ngannou, which would have set the table very nicely for a career-defining Fury vs Usyk mega showdown for all the belts in the heavyweight division.

The bruised left eye of Fury tells the story - this did not go to plan. Ngannou was supposed to go over far easier, not push the champion to the brink of defeat. Fury will take the blame but perhaps the promoters and his team also should - taking a fight like that against an unknown entity just 8 weeks out from the super fight in theory ticks all the boxes, but the margin for error is minimal. The December 23rd date now looks unlikely as a result, and with that, the chances of the fight collapsing at the next round of negotiations has gone up.

Ngannou's tactics certainly threw The Gypsy King off. He expected to rely on his reflexes and excellent counter-punching as the Cameroonian recklessly waded in. Instead he found himself at times losing the lead hand fight, and dealing with the awkward switch stances of the former UFC champion. Ngannou exercised a patience that was only seen towards the tail-end of his UFC career when he captured the heavyweight title in an empty UFC Apex against Stipe Miocic. Calculated and biding his time, The Predator did not want to lose the cardio battle and paced himself as a result - maybe too cautiously, as he could have poured it on Fury following the third-round knockdown.

Fury was also deterred by the fact that, despite landing several clean right hands down the pipe, Ngannou was able to absorb them unphased and continue walking forward. This is where the style that secured him heavyweight supremacy against Klitschko could have come in, as oppose to the search-and-destroy method that has been honed under the tutelage of SugarHill Steward. A more boring stick-and-move approach might have done the trick.

There was also the physicality, strength and tenacity of Ngannou which was a perfect kryptonite for Fury's clinching tactics. We saw in the Wilder trilogy that Fury was able to wear down "The Bronze Bomber" by leaning on him in the clinch and making the American carry his weight. In Saudi Arabia, we saw Ngannou rattle off uppercuts and at one point even shrug Fury off that sent the Morecambe native to the ropes.

Fury will know all too well of how the media can be unrelenting in their criticism and he has been scolded in the aftermath of the bout. It would be jumping the gun to indicate that the end is nigh but the facts are it was a performance of concern for The Gypsy King. Against Usyk, the knockout threat won't be as potent but he does find himself against a skilled boxer who will know all the tricks and if Ngannou was able to stifle Fury then the Ukrainian will be licking his chops.

Ngannou delivers after going all in on himself

2023-10-30T15:08:00.001+00:00

Image: Mikey Williams / Top Rank / Getty Images

The eyes of the world descended upon the Nafud desert for a night unlike any other. The stage was set for Tyson Fury, amid all the glitz and glamour, to put on a classy display and dispatch professional boxing debutant (and former UFC heavyweight champion) Francis Ngannou to seal the deal for an undisputed mega fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

But ultimately, by the skin of his teeth, The Gypsy King avoided one of the great disasters the sport has ever seen, recovering from a third-round knockdown to defeat the Cameroonian via majority decision.

It's still difficult to come to terms with the performance put on by Ngannou. Counted out as merely a participant for a payday, he was able to go toe-to-toe with one of the greatest heavyweights to ever lace up the gloves and in many people's eyes even defeated him. For a man to do that on his professional boxing debut is simply extraordinary.

"The Predator" was scoffed at over a year ago when he decided to relinquish the UFC heavyweight crown following a stand-off with the organisation about fighter pay. Only pocketing $600,000 for a defence of the heavyweight crown last January was one of the most glaring examples of pay discrepancies in the sport.

There was plenty of shopping around, during that time which the 37-year-old was subject to immense criticism for as they say, fumbling the bag. But that all changed in the summer when a mammoth showdown with Tyson Fury was finally announced - a payday and opportunity of a lifetime in which Ngannou seized spectacularly.

Not only did Ngannou put on a remarkable account himself and the sport of mixed martial arts on the world stage, he also sealed a few further paycheques by essentially catapulting himself into the heavyweight top 10. Put the Cameroonian in with any of those other names and you have a massive fight where Ngannou is very much in contention.

Talk of what next hasn't been exactly obvious in the aftermath of this contest, but one thing is for sure, Ngannou's options have never been more open. And that is a result of a masterfully executed gameplan over 10 rounds, complemented perhaps by Fury overlooking him. Ngannou did what was asked of him and much more, never tiring and refusing to let The Gypsy King dictate the bout.

There are junctions in life where you must take gambles, and as a man who had already been making them, from the fateful decision to leave his home of Cameroon and engage in a life-threatening 14-month journey, finally ending up in the streets of Paris where he found his calling. MMA was what got him here, but boxing was his true love.

It makes the subsequent gamble to ditch the UFC and forge his own path, far less risky, but almost as inspiring. Against the odds, he backed himself when few others would, and saw it through to this moment. And if that wasn't enough, he only went and hit it out of the park with one of the most memorable heavyweight performances ever seen. This next chapter of the incredible life of Francis Ngannou may have only just begun.

Makhachev makes Volkanovski pay the price for his courage

2023-10-22T13:43:00.006+01:00

Image: CBS Sports

Alexander Volkanovski was chomping at the bit to save the card but ultimately found out the hard way why weight classes and fight camps exist. He was no match this time round for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev who scored the most spectacular victory of his career with a first-round head kick in Abu Dhabi.

The Russian was not touched with a significant strike as he took his time, briefly wrestled with the featherweight titlist before uncorking a sensational left high kick that connected on Volkanovski's dome, sending him stumbling to the canvas before a few ground-and-pound shots made the referee step in.

While saving the card was a courageous step that will have the Australian revered by fans for some time, in hindsight Volkanovski may just regret what could have been his last shot at double-champion status. He certainly proved he has the tools to dethrone the Dagestani, having pushed Makhachev to the brink during a thrilling war in Australia in February.

Makhachev will for now bask in the finality of the debate after such a hotly contested result in the first bout. The gameplan and measured approach was that of a champion who had brushed shoulders with a defeat and amended it with diligence. The success of his left kicks from the southpaw stance was clearly something the camp had worked on in the last eight months.

Landing several low kicks and finding the mark to the body also, Makhachev mixed up the levels perfectly and did not allow Volkanovski time to make his reads, a conundrum for the Aussie with his lack of preparation considered. His striking skills are continuing to flourish as he sharpens into a pound-for-pound tier prizefighter.

While Volkanovski certainly has merit to warrant another clash with Makhachev haivng saved the event on a fortnight's notice, it would be a hard sell for the promotion with clear business to take of yet again for both divisions. Ilia Topuria is waiting in the wings for Volkanovski back at 155, while Justin Gaethje's stupendous head-kick knockout of Dustin Poirier in the summer has him in the driver's seat for the next lightweight title shot.

England's stars aligning for historic Euro 2024 run

2023-10-18T15:53:00.001+01:00

Image: @HKane via X

Take a trip down memory lane to the summer of 2021. With the country getting to grips with the pandemic and things finally beginning to open up, England's football side are poised to propel the nation into delirium as they embark on a historic European Championships Final at Wembley Stadium. What follows is a dramatic 120 minutes before The Three Lions' hearts are shattered by defeat in the most crushing fashion of all, through a penalty shootout. Forza Italia was heard from the rafters because it wasn't coming home anymore.

That easily could have been the peak moment of this generation. Yet here we stand, perhaps going into their biggest chance of all. After England secured qualification to Euro 2024 through a spectacular comeback victory, there is a feeling that we may be seeing more huge moments next summer. And what better way to secure it than exacting revenge and conquering the Italians on the same turf they lost the European final two years prior.

Optimism and expectation are exercised with caution when it comes to England's football hopes, as has been the status quo maybe all the way back to 1966. There was Gazza mania, the golden generation and now there is the Southgate era that has truly been earmarked - the near-miss of the 2018 World Cup, the agonising 2021 heartbreak against Italy and then the somewhat anti-climax of slipping to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter final - England have at least proved they belong. And with the lineup they have now, they may just be one of the favourites for next summer which still is surreal to say out loud.

England's qualification triumph over Italy was not just the exorcism of demons past, but also a reverberating statement that this team are a force to be reckoned with. The developing younger talents shining in the Premier League alongside a more matured and Bundesliga-hardened Harry Kane, as well as a man who may soon take the mantle as the star of the show Jude Bellingham will have "It's Coming Home" blaring on full blast next June.

Kane will lead the attack as the skipper who has hit the ground running at Bayern Munich. Having stayed the course at Tottenham Hotspur and doing what he could over a turbulent spell, the 30-year-old finally got his big money move, albeit not to one of the Premier League giants as initially expected. Instead, Kane finds himself deep in Bavaria with the German champions, and wasted no time continuing his prolific form with seven goals in his first five matches, as well as becoming the first player in Bundesliga history to have 12 goal involvements in his first seven appearances. Not only is Kane flourishing as a goal-poacher, as seen when he fended off Allesandro Bastoni after taking a long ball and slotted it past the keeper, but he is also continuing to thrive in his hold-up play, making the most out of his pacey teammates like Leroy Sane at Bayern. The flourishing depot of wingers such as Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden in the England camp will also be waiting on his service.

Behind him likely in the number 10 role will be Bellingham who has justified one of the biggest transfers of this era with a spellbinding start to life at Real Madrid. This is the exact dream vision of a Galactico paying off and the seamless continuation of his hot form into the Italy game was magnificent. He won the penalty after bursting into the area and made a smart decoy run to open up Rashford's electric run for England's second goal, and at 20 years of age can be the man England can build their future around. Galvanising the crowd when the energy dropped and causing panic for the Italians throughout the game, Bellingham lining up behind Kane next summer will be a dangerous tandem.

Questions still remain as to the direction manager Gareth Southgate will go, however. Fond (almost too fond if you ask certain pundits who have dubbed them "handbrake" tactics) of playing two holding midfielders, the weak link appears to be whoever sits alongside Calvin Phillips in that position. Southgate will be tempted to enlist Bellingham there and rely on James Maddison or others to fulfil the number 10 but it would be missing a major opportunity. Bellingham must be given the freedom to express himself.

Southgate has been accused of playing it too safe before and while his defence-first approach has allowed England to go deep into tournaments, it would be too big of an opportunity to miss by not letting The Three Lions flex their muscle. In what could be his last rodeo as a manager, the stars have aligned for him to concoct a spectacular first tournament win in nearly 60 years.

If luck goes England's way and they make it into the tournament with Kane and Bellingham firing, they will be the obvious favourites. As ludicrous as it sounds, it may finally be coming home after all.

Beginning of the end for influencer boxing?

2023-10-17T11:27:00.002+01:00

Image: Getty Images

At first glance, it was another smash hit for the influencer boxing world. A capacity crowd filed in early, A-listers watched on ringside, social media impressions went through the roof, and pay-per-view buys will likely reach a record for an event of this nature. KSI vs Tommy Fury, Logan Paul vs Dillon Danis - the PRIME card was the pinnacle for boxing at this level, and it showed.

What on paper appeared to be two fascinating contests, galvanized by the bad blood seen in the pre-fight buildup, ultimately proved to be contests that were more sizzle than steak. It was as if the main show had already happened by the time the fighters stepped foot in the ring, which makes you wonder - can this really last, or is this merely a niche in this moment in time?

Logan Paul exacted revenge over Dillon Danis, but hardly in the way he or the fans would have wanted. It was six messy, clunky rounds where Danis ultimately destroyed his stock as a future pay-per-view fighter going forward. Walking forward with his hands up and taking Paul's poorly-picked shots before making a fool of himself by attempting jiu-jitsu techniques, the former grappling world champion sunk to a desolate decision loss, wasting his and everyone else's time in the process.

The main event failed to impress also as professional boxer Tommy Fury snuck past KSI in an uninspiring six-round contest, whereby the YouTube sensation was left enraged having believed he deserved the decision. The Londoner found himself resorting to sitting on the outside and then lunging in with wild overhand rights before clinching with the Love Island star, who himself failed to kick on after just getting by Jake Paul in February.

What was billed as a monumental event where history was made turned out to be a damp squib. Add in the controversial final decision and the woes were only stacked further. The signs appear to point that we are getting to the end of the runway for influencer boxing, whether it can take off is now in huge doubt with how this event unfolded. There's only so much marketing and pre-fight drama that can help fans wash the taste out of their mouths with events like this.

Tommy Fury was lauded as a messiah for the purists, here to clean up boxing and deal with the two biggest names in the circle, but instead found himself dropped in the last round by Jake Paul, and pushed to the brink by KSI. His star power may dwindle and it would be advised that if he does have ambitions in boxing, going back to the drawing board and building himself as a legitimate prospect will be the best direction.

Maybe the only thing that can extend the lifeline for influencer boxing is one of the biggest fights the sport can offer, bizarre to say but a fact nonetheless - Jake Paul vs. KSI. It is a fight that, with the right appeal, may just sell out a football stadium in the United Kingdom, but a fight that will once again expose the limitations as both as merely two businessmen putting on the gloves and fighting as novices. Not a bad thing, but not a sustainable one either.

Leigh Wood stakes claim as one of most thrilling fighters of modern era

2023-10-11T18:32:00.001+01:00

Image: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Give him the City Ground. Give him a knighthood. Heck, give him a Rocky blockbuster because we are witnessing one in real life. Once again, with his back against the wall, Leigh Wood pulled it out of the bag in the only way he can - spectacularly.

Former two-time IBF featherweight world champion Josh Warrington had marauded his way through seven rounds of a frenetic affair in Yorkshire, unsettling the current champion who was sporting the scars of battle as blood trickled from a cut near his right eye. "Leighthal" looked subdued at times and beaten to the punch, struggling to navigate through what was appearing to be the toughest task of his career. And so, hanging by a thread, the hopes of headlining a fight is his hometown stadium were fading.

At times opting for a southpaw stance in which his success was surprising albeit limited, Wood cut an ever increasingly frustrated figure until he let it all go with a spectacular combination in the late stages of the second stanza. Warrington was rocked, wobbled and then sent down to the canvas as the hooks poured on. Stumbling back to his corner with the klaxon sounding, the referee would dismiss the contest to the furore of the Leeds man.

And while the debate will go on about the timing of the stoppage, what cannot be denied is the thrills that have become a staple of the career of Leigh Wood. This was another major feather in the cap for a man who a few years ago was on the verge of packing up the sport following an unsuccessful bid for the British title.

Since then he went on to blow away Can Xu in the gardens of the Matchroom Boxing head offices, climb off the canvas to deliver an all-time classic with Michael Conlan, and bounce back from a crushing KO defeat against Mauricio Lara to school the Mexican for 12 rounds. The only thing left to do is headline the stadium of his boyhood club.

Wood's power has bailed him out on countless occasions and he won't deny it. As from a boxing skillset there are many other featherweights in the division who have quicker feet and hand speed however the grit shown by the Nottingham man is defiant and now has himself asserted as one of the best British fighters of the modern era. He has already etched his name in folklore.

What appears next could be a Warrington rematch dependent on the amount of fuss kicked up by both the camp of The Leeds Warrior and the fans. It would be a fitting backdrop for a sequel that feels like it has plenty to offer, but the days at featherweight could be over for Wood who admittedly looked weight drained on the scales.

"It's been too difficult for him," promoter Eddie Hearn explained of the weight cut. "When you've been a career featherweight, it's very difficult to make weight." All signs point to Wood venturing up to super-featherweight where another mammoth domestic clash could await with IBF titlist Joe Cordina, should the Welshman get by Edward Vasquez in Monte Carlo next month. What more could set the stage than a stadium dream realized and a chance to become a two-weight world champion.

That stadium fight has been the north star of Wood's career ever since he held the world title aloft, and so it should be. But whatever that promises to deliver, Wood has etched his name in the record books as one of the most exciting fighters ever seen, and the real fans shall remember that. Never shying away from the pocket, never afraid to take one to land one, and never afraid to take a risk. The football season will need to get over and done with before that night, but when it does, the City Ground will be rocking - what will the latest, and perhaps final sequel of this Hollywood blockbuster have to offer?

Another formality in the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes

2023-10-05T13:08:00.006+01:00

Image: John Locher / Associated Press

Granted, the Houstonian was climbing up two weight divisions to take on one of the most formidable forces in the sport, but it all too quickly appeared that Jermell Charlo was there to make up the numbers as part of another formality in the Canelo Alvarez roadshow.

Derailed last spring at the hands of Dmitry Bivol, there's no doubting that the Mexican, while remaining the biggest star in boxing, is on a slide. A tepid trilogy with Gennady Golovkin followed by twelve rounds against John Ryder on home soil were enough for a handful to pick Charlo to pull off a major upset, but he and those in that school of thought quickly lost belief with how the fight panned out.

It was ultimately a night where a victorious Canelo raised his hands aloft in front of a Mexican crowd with a night that had the all-too-familiar script of the Floyd Mayweather heydays. A paycheque for the opponent to dance, while the expected outcome unfolded, as most sit back and wonder why they ever thought it would be different.

Jermell deserves immense credit for making such a leap of two weight divisions to save the day, after his twin brother Jermall who campaigns at 160 pounds was declared unready for this opportunity. The lustre of two undisputed champions going toe-to-toe was enough to make a historic byline, but that was probably the most special thing the fight would offer.

The American found himself on the retreat for a vast majority of the twelve rounds while an aggressive Canelo tried to break him down, coming closest in the seventh round, landing an overhand right to the top of the dome that stumbled the legs of Charlo before he wisely took a knee to defer a subsequent onslaught.

The power did not convert for Charlo 14 pounds higher, with his decent counters and several left hooks landing, but never appearing to bother the Mexican. Canelo was able to walk through the fire that became increasingly intermittent, while landing his own patented left hooks and battering the guard of his opponent.

Early in the fight Charlo's approach already turned from that of the hunter, to survival mode. Even in the dwindling moments of the fight he appeared reluctant to engage. All the pre-fight confidence was soon washed away because, while Canelo may be declining, he remains a problem to be in the ring with. Meanwhile Canelo, now 2 years since his last stoppage defeat, will expect his power and credentials to be further questioned after failing to get a smaller fighter out of there despite such an aggressive approach.

Alvarez shows no signs of wanting to hang them up anytime soon, which will present some exciting prospects going forward. With all due respect his last two contests have been more of a showcase as oppose to a legit challenge on his conquest for greatness as were the days of his super-middleweight undisputed run or the decision to go up to the 175-pound weight class to challenge Bivol. Most will be hoping that Canelo will go back on such a hunt to cap off what is already a stellar legacy in the sport.

And you may need to look no further than the man most claim can end Canelo's 168-pound dominance, David Benavidez. He has been linked to Canelo for quite some time and if he can get by Demetrius Andrade in November, he will emerge as a leading candidate for a shot at the Canelo sweepstakes. He possesses all the qualities to make for a thrilling contest, and his imposing size will cause Canelo problems, making it a genuine challenge for the face of boxing.

Canelo may also turn his attention back to Bivol, the only man to beat him alongside Mayweather. Canelo came spectacularly unstuck at the hands of the Russian's elite ringcraft last May and it's a defeat that clearly still stings. Whether at 168 or 175 pounds, it remains a massive rematch and potentially the defining fight of his career.

But the paydays and marquee occasions still will entice Canelo, most likely being Terence Crawford who has been considering making an unprecedented leap of 21 pounds to step in there with Canelo. While Crawford may hold the pound-for-pound mantle, it would be hard to see how he could take on such a challenge having already come up the weight divisions to get to 147. But as a showpiece, it would certainly hit big at the box office. Whichever way Canelo decides to go, there remains a lot of legacy to be defined and dollars to be made, but time is ticking for him to decide which path.