SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Junior middleweight Khristopher Estep and featherweight Kyle Lacanlale both unanimously decisioned their veteran opponents to remain unblemished in the co-main attractions of a six-bout card at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento on Saturday night. 

Making his six-round debut in just his third pro fight, Estep (3-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento was tested by the always willing William Davis (5-5-2, 1 KO) also of Sacramento, making for an entertaining main event. 

Davis, 152, began the first boxing well and outworking Estep, 154, in the very early going. By late in the round, as Estep let his hands go, the power difference became apparent. Estep, the natural junior middleweight, could back up Davis, a junior welterweight for most of his career, with one or two power punches. Late in the round, Estep had Davis covering up briefly before the veteran unleashed a clean power left hook counter. The punch may have dropped a 140-pounder, but Estep was able to shake it off and stay composed. 

Both had their moments in an exciting second round. Estep began the round aggressively, but Davis found success soon after landing with a looping right along the ropes. Davis was able to keep his chin tucked while swinging high at the taller Estep’s chin. Estep weathered the storm and turned the exchange back in his favor in moments. The veteran Davis was able to get Estep to fight an in-close style, which negated the younger fighter’s height and reach advantages. 

The brisk pace continued through the middle rounds and down the stretch. Neither fighter looked to hold, both always looking to let their hands go as the fight stayed on the inside. The 36-year-old Davis impressively kept up with the 26-year-old Estep’s pace, if not setting it himself. However, Estep’s power edge was the main differentiating factor. 

In the end, judges Kermit Bayliss, Melissa McMorrow and Joel Farbstein were in agreement, scoring the unanimous decision for Estep, 59-55 across the board. With the victory, Estep stays in line for a return to the ring at The Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino in nearby Lincoln, California on September 5th. 

In the co-main event, Kyle Lacanlale (8-0, 4 KOs) of San Ramon, California scored a four-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Almacen (7-17-3, 2 KOs) of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. 

The 22-year-old Lacanlale held even more of a height and natural size advantage over his veteran opponent than did Estep in the co-main. The 26-year-old Almacen began his pro career at 107-pounds in 2016 when Lacanlale was 12-years-old. In April, Lacanlale scored a second-round knockout of a 134-pound opponent. 

What Almacen, 124, lacks in size and power at featherweight, he tries to make up for in evasiveness. Lacanlale, 124, was the aggressor early in the fight, but had a tough time pinning Almacen down long enough to land the combination that could end the night early. 

Almacen had his best round in the second, as he let his hands go in stretches and may have caught Lacanlale a little over frustrated. With no time to waste in a bout that was reduced from six rounds to four by the California State Athletic Commission, Lacanlale came out with renewed vigor to open the third round. Almacen just did not possess the power to earn the younger fighter’s respect. Lacanlale walked through what Almacen could land, placing power shots that backed the veteran up. 

Almacen surprisingly pressed the action early in the fourth, but Lacanlale was comfortable firing off his back foot and exchanging. Despite the solid work rate from the veteran, Lacanlale’s edge power did not require him to match Almacen punch-for-punch. 

In the end, Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 39-37, while judges Joel Farbstein and Kermit Bayliss both scored it a shutout, 40-36, all for Lacanlale. With his victory, Lacanlale will next take to the ring on the September 5th event at The Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln. 

In a competitive and fast-paced action fight, Jose Aguilar (5-0, 3 KOs) of Linden, California remained unbeaten and moved past Eduardo Sanchez (1-2) of Watsonville, California via four-round majority decision. 

Sanchez, 116 ½, had a strong first round, setting a brisk pace and landing with several well-placed power punches. Aguilar, 117, let his hands go as well and tried to meet Sanchez’s output. Aguilar was able to land a few more power punches in the second, but otherwise the round looked very similar to the first, with Sanchez pressing forward and consistently moving his hands. With Sanchez’s pace slowed slightly in the fourth, Aguilar had one of his better rounds, landing with a few eye-catching punches upstairs that may have been enough to sway the judges. 

Judge Joel Farbstein scored the bout even 38-38, but was overruled by judges Kermit Bayliss and Melissa McMorrow, 39-37 for Aguilar. 

With a strong group of supporters on hand from Northern Nevada, Harley Sampson (3-1, 3 KOs) of Reno, Nevada upset the local fanbase of previously unbeaten Dorrel Fore Jr. (3-1) of Sacramento by scoring a first-round knockout. 

Sampson, 140, began the fight with his trademark aggressiveness and forced the boxer Fore, 140, into a firefight right away. With Fore out of his comfort zone, Sampson pressed and continually landed with his left hand. With the taller Fore perhaps feeling he was out of punching range, Sampson leaped in with a clean left hook that dropped the Sacramento native down on his back. Fore beat the count, but when he took a wobbled backwards step, referee Edward Collantes stopped the bout at 1:23 of round one. 

In the action-packed opener, Miguel “Tito” Elizondo (2-0) of Carson City, Nevada dropped Reymundo Rangel (1-1) of Grand Prairie, Texas in round one en route to a four-round unanimous decision. 

Elizondo, 129, and Rangel, 130, came right at each other from the opening bell. After some good back-and-forth, Elizondo countered a landed right from Rangel with one of his own to score the knockdown. Rangel beat the count and went right back to engaging with the oncoming Elizondo. 

Over the next three rounds, both of the previously unbeaten super featherweights engaged in a free-swinging action fight with Elizondo holding a slight, but decided edge, especially in power-punching. 

All three judges, Melissa McMorrow, Kermit Bayliss and Joel Farbstein, scored the bout a shutout for Elizondo, 40-35. 

Muay Thai Kickboxing

In an added attraction, Moises Rodriguez (1-0, 1 KO) of San Diego scored a second-round knockout of Santiago Moralez (0-1) of Sacramento. The bout came to its conclusion after Rodriguez, 155, landed a series of elbows that downed the local fighter. With Moralez, 152, unable to continue, the bout was waved off by referee Edward Collantes at 2:38 of round two. 

Promoter of Saturday’s event, Upper Cut Promotions, returns with live boxing at The Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino in nearby Lincoln on September 5th. 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

Jaron Ennis stopped Xander Zayas to win the WBA/WBO Junior Middleweight titles in round seven of an exciting fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In round one. Ennis landed a big right that put Zayas on the deck. In round three, Ennis was rocked (for the first time in his career) when Zayas landed a hard jab that was followed by a left that scraped across the chin. In round five, Ennis landed a perfect counter right uppercut to the chin that put Zayas on the canvas. Zayas was lucky to make it out of the round as Ennis applied beating.

In round seven, Ennis finished off Zayas when he landed another left hand on the inside and put Zayas on the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:49.

Ennis, 153 lbs of Philadelphia is 36-0 with 32 knockouts. Zayas, 153.8 lbs of San Juan, PR is 22-1.

Emiliano Vargas Stops Bryce Mills in 4

Emiliano Vargas stopped Bryce Mills in round four of their 10-round junior welterweight bout.

Emiliano Vargas stopped Bryce Mills in round four of their 10-round junior welterweight bout.

In round three, Vargas landed a little check right hook as Mills lunged in that sent Mills to the canvas. In round four, Vargas dropped Mills with a straight left on the chin. Vargas then landed a big flurry that forced a referee stoppage just as Mills was falling to the canvas at 1:17.

Vargas, 138.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 18-0 with 15 knockouts. Mills, 139 lbs of Liverpool, NY is 22-2.

Whittaker Stops Rivera in 2

Ben Whittaker stopped Richard Rivera in round two of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round one, Whittaker caught Rivera with a counter right to the side of the head that put sent him to the canvas. Seconds into round two, Whittaker landed a quick left hook that put Rivera down and the fight was stopped at 27 seconds.

Whittaker, 174.4 lbs of West Bromwhich, ENG is 12-0-1 with nine knockouts. Rivera, 173.8 lbs of Hartford, CT is 27-3.

Tucker Decisions Cedeno

Jahi Tucker won a 10-round majority decision over Euri Cedeno in a middleweight bout.

Tucker, 159.8 lbs of Deer Park, NY won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 95-95 and is now 17-1-1. Cedeno, 158.8 lbs of La Romana, DR is 14-1-1.

Juanma Lopez stopped Alberto Motos in the opening round of their six-round flyweight bout.

In round one, Lopez landed a perfect straight left down the middle that Motos flat on his back and the fight was over at 2:05.

Lopez, 114 lbs of Caguas, PR is 6-0 with three knockouts. Motos, 113.8 lbs of Madrid, SPA is 6-3.

Dennis Thompson remained undefeated with a eight-round split decision over Edwin Rodriguez in a super bantamweight fight.

Thompson took two cards 79-73 and 77-75. Rodriguez won a card 77-75.

Thompson landed 212 of 1040 punches. Rodriguez was 131 of 562.

Thompson, 120.8 lbs of Philadelphia s 11-0. Rodriguez, 121.4 lbs of Juana Diaz, PR is 12-12-3.

Quincey Williams remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Jerome Baxter in a welterweight fight.

Williams landed 142 of 418 punches. Baxter was 98 of 466.

Williams, 150 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and is now 7-0. Baxter, 150 lbs of Pittsburgh us 7-2.

By Norm Frauenheim

Manny Pacquiao versus-Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Did anyone really want to see it all over again?

Didn’t think so.

The good news is that it looks as if the rematch – or is that redundancy? –won’t happen because of the legal mess surrounding Mayweather, who used to call himself Money May.

Lawsuits that seem to multiply by the day, however, suggest money may be gone and on to a life of uninterrupted court dates.

The latest evidence came Thursday when Mayweather’s exhibition against Mike Zambidis in Athens Saturday was called off, according to federal court records filed in New York.

The bout was in jeopardy after CSI, an events company reportedly contracted to stage Mayweather dates, sued, alleging breach of contract. CSI also filed for an emergency injunction to halt the fight. According to the suit, CSI claims it has rights to stage other Mayweather exhibitions, including one against Mike Tyson.

But it was never clear when – or if – the Mayweather-Tyson exhibition would ever happen. Now, it’s fair to say that the Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch is in doubt.

In effect, that’s what Pacquiao told Boxing Scene’s Lance Pugmire Thursday in the wake of news that Mayweather- Zambidis was suddenly just another Greek myth. No live stream was reported. No ticket sales were reported. No opening bell was inevitable.

Then, Pacquiao told Boxing Scene that the Mayweather rematch, scheduled for Sept. 25, had been postponed indefinitely. Indefinitely can mean lots of things, including forever.

Deepening doubt is there because of the avalanche of lawsuits involving Mayweather, who is believed to have earned a billion dollars in his prize-fighting career.

Dollars, of course, have been the only reason for a rematch. Mayweather’s victory over Pacquiao eleven years ago is memorable only for the record revenue it generated. The fight itself was a dud. Mayweather won a unanimous decision in what was a unanimous bore.

International interest before the fight was squandered during the fight. Then, the money generated by the fight was apparently squandered. Who wants to do that all over again?

That verdict has already been delivered by fans who aren’t likely to pay again for another money-grab between fighters more than a decade past their primes.

Notes on a Scorecard

Elijah Garcia (18-2, 14 KOs), a prominent prospect a couple of years ago, got back into the win column with a mandatory victory, a first-round stoppage, of Ryan Adams last Saturday at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Garcia’s hometown.

Jose Benavidez Sr., dad and trainer of three division champion David Benavidez, confirms reports this week that he has talked with troubled and talented Tank Davis about being his trainer. “Tank will announce his plans and we’ll go from there,’’ Jose Sr. tells The Good Fight.  There’s uncertainty because of Tank’s problematic legal issues.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Rising featherweight prospect Kyle Lacanlale will take on veteran Jonathan Almacen in the all-Filipino main event of Showdown in Sactown III at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Sacramento on Saturday night. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in at the host venue on Friday morning. 

Lacanlale (7-0, 4 KOs) of San Ramon, California is coming off of a dominant second-round kayo of Javier Rojas Campos on April 4th. The young featherweight has outgrown preliminary opposition and has appeared ready for a proven veteran for some time. Tonight’s bout was originally slated as Lacanlale’s first foray into the six-round distance as well. However, the California State Athletic Commission made the decision to limit the contest to a scheduled four. Lacanlale weighed-in at 124 pounds on Friday morning. 

Fitting the veteran label, Almacen (7-16-3) of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines will be familiar with the venue, having come up short to unbeaten Jose Contreras here just over one month ago. Almacen began his career in the Philippines, fighting fellow Filipinos, before taking his career to the U.S. in 2023. The shorter Almacen matched his opponent, weighing-in at 124 pounds on Friday. 

Khristopher Estep (2-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento jumps into the six-round distance against veteran William Davis (5-4-2, 1 KO) also of Sacramento in the semi main event. Estep turned professional at the DoubleTree last November and was last in the ring scoring a four-round unanimous decision this past March. The battle-tested Davis marks a step-up in Estep’s level of competition, having the experience that comes with ten years of professional fighting. Estep weighed-in at the junior middleweight limit of 154, while Davis scaled 152 pounds.

Unbeaten bantamweight Jose Aguilar (4-0, 3 KOs) of Linden, California takes to the ring for the fourth time this calendar year as he takes on returning Eduardo Sanchez (1-1) of Watsonville, California in an intriguing four-rounder. Aguilar, who scaled 117 pounds on Friday, turned professional last November in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico and has already racked up three knockouts there to go along with a four-round unanimous decision in Jamestown, California this past March. Sanchez, a Noble-Moreno Boxing product who came in at 116 ½ pounds on Friday, returns to the ring after sitting out 2025. 

Dorrel Fore Jr. (3-0) of Sacramento will make his third start at the DoubleTree as he takes on Harley Sampson (2-1, 2 KOs) of Reno, Nevada in a four-round junior welterweight bout. Fore, who scaled 140 pounds on Friday, impressively decisioned tough Ebert Diaz in November in his last time out. Sampson, also weighing-in at 140 on Friday, scored a dominant third-round stoppage over Robert Jimenez this past April in his last ring action. 

In the opener, former amateur standout Miguel “Tito” Elizondo (1-0) of Carson City, Nevada will meet Reymundo Rangel (1-0) of Grand Prairie, Texas in a four-round super featherweight bout. Elizondo, originally scheduled to compete at the DoubleTree last month before his opponent was late to withdraw, made his professional debut in March with an impressive four-round unanimous decision over Yoel Sandobal Ochoa. Rangel, who turned pro in a four-round firefight win over Albert Mayo in February, was originally scheduled to fight in Dallas this weekend. The event in Dallas ended up being canceled as Elizondo’s opponent was again a late pullout. In need of new dance partners, the two unbeaten fighters agreed to meet each other just last weekend. Elizondo scaled 129 pounds, while Rangel made the 130-pound super featherweight limit on Friday. 

Rounding out the bill will be a three-round pro kickboxing bout. Moises Rodriguez of San Diego will make his pro debut against Sacramento’s Santiago Moralez, also making his debut. Moralez, out of Ronin Warrior Muay Thai & Fitness, weighed-in at 152 pounds on Friday morning. Rodriguez, out of Victory MMA & Fitness, needed a little extra time to sweat down to the lightweight kickboxing limit of 155 pounds. 

Quick Weigh-in Results 

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Lacanlale 124

Almacen 124

Light middleweights, 6 Rounds

Estep 154

Davis 152

Bantamweights, 4 Rounds 

Aguilar 117

Sanchez 116 ½ 

Light welterweights, 4 Rounds

Fore 140

Sampson 140

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Elizondo 129

Rangel 130

Kickboxing 

Lightweights, 3 Rounds

Rodriguez 155

Moralez 152

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at Leapevents.com 

By Norm Frauenheim

Speculation continues to circulate that the long-awaited Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua fight, projected for November, will land in the United States instead of the UK.

It gained further traction this week with a report in The Athletic that Las Vegas is a leading possibility.

Reaction: Fury-Joshua belongs in Vegas or any other U.S. city about as much as London Bridge belongs in Lake Havasu City in western Arizona.

It’s a lousy fit, an insult to history and a betrayal of UK fans, who have been waiting on the Fury-Joshua heavyweight showdown for years.

Don’t deny them.

It’s hard to know what to believe about the speculation, especially amid the confusing exchange of taunts and insults that cover boxing’s promotional edifice like obscene graffiti.

Eddie Hearn and Dana White don’t like each other. We get it. They accuse each other of lying and a whole lot of other things that keep lawyers in expensive suits and fans exasperated.

“There are more court cases than I’ve ever seen,’’ Hearn said last week in Glendale, Ariz., before Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez delivered something worth watching in stopping Antonio Vargas at Desert Diamond Arena.

Bam, thanks for a genuine statement amid all the garbage.

What’s missing in all the trolling and legalese are fans. With the advent of Zuffa and it’s ongoing attempt to monopolize the sport, fans are a forgotten factor. Did they get mentioned in the recent US Senate hearings for the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act? Didn’t think so.

But the fear is that UK fans, the biggest and most fiercely loyal demographic anywhere, are about to get screwed. In 1968, the old London Bridge was moved, brick-by-brick, to Arizona and rebuilt over a shallow, muddy piece of water in bleached bone-dry desert.

If they can take away the London Bridge, they can take away Fury-Joshua.

For now, at least, there’s a clause in Joshua’s contract that says the projected fight must happen in the UK, according to Hearn, his promoter. However, there is no similar clause in Fury’s contract, Hearn told Boxing Scene last week.

Meanwhile, Fury showed up at the White House for Dana White’s UFC event Sunday. Fury had come back – he’s always coming back  — to the US for the first time in at least five years, reportedly because of his ties to alleged Irish gangster Daniel Kinahan.

Fury, whose promoter-of-record is Frank Warren, talked about plans, some of them presumably about joining Zuffa and White. But it was short on details. More tease than news. Yet, the fact he was in the US – at the White House, no less — suggests he’s open to fighting Joshua in Vegas or any other US city.

Meanwhile, it’s not clear what Joshua thinks. Hearn said his contract can be re-negotiated, including the clause mandating the fight happens in the UK. Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh has enough money to change a lot of minds.

“Turki Alalshikh pays the bills,’’ Hearn said.

But UK fans are about to pay the price.

Here’s a better idea:

It’s time for Joshua to step up and speak for UK fans. Time to insist that the fight happens in the UK and only the UK, whose fans have followed him, stuck with him after losses to Andy Ruiz and are fundamental to his wealth and celebrity.

Hearn told The Boxing Hour and The Good Fight last week that he didn’t think it was in Joshua’s personality to take a public stand.

“I don’t think that would be his way,’’ Hearn said. “It’s not in his nature.’’

But it might be time for nature to change. He owes it to the fans who made him.

Elijah Garcia back

Elijah Garcia (17-2, 13 KOs), a prominent prospect a couple of years ago, hopes to get his career back on track at Celebrity Theater in Phoenix Saturday night.

Garcia, now a super-middleweigt from Phoenix, faces Ryan Adams (12-11-1) of Saint Louis.

Garcia is coming off a loss by a debatable majority decision to Kevin Newman in March at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

The card features Kingsley Ibeh (16-3-1, 14 KOs) against Dante Stone (21-2, 13 KOs) for an Arizona heavyweight title..

First Bell is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PT).

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez added a third division title with his sixth round knockout of Antonio Vargas Saturday, yet his career goal of a showdown with Naoya Inoue remained unclear in the immediate aftermath of his successful debut at bantamweight.

Trainer Robert Garcia said he wanted Bam to fight once more at 118 pounds before any deal is made to face Inoue.

“We’ve talked about January or February, next year, for the Inoue fight,’’ Garcia Said after Bam knocked down Vargas after some rocky moments in front of a roaring crowd åt Desert Diamond Arena. “We can still do that. That doesn’t have to change.But I want Bam to have one more fight at 118. We can do that in September or October.’’

Bam (24-0, 17 KOs) struggled at times in the early going against Vargas, who leaned on him and backed him up with a succession of punches.

Not until the fifth round did Bam make a key adjustment. It started where it usually does: His feet. With his singular footwork, he stepped to the left of Vargas (19-2-1, 11KOs) and delivered a textbook left hand, putting the World Boxing Association’s defending champion onto the canvas.

In the sixth, Bam did it again, this time ending Vargas’ one-fight reign as the WBA champion.

In an interview inside the ring, Bam was asked about Inoue.

“If you’re asking me if I’m ready, I’m going to say yes,’’ he said. “I’m going to say yes I’m ready for anyone and yes I’m ready for whatever my team plans next.”

This Cardenas scores unanimous decision, wins rematchtime there was no debate. No trash talk either.

Arturo Cardenas made sure of it Saturday, scoring a unanimous decision over Jordan Martinez in a rematch at Desert Diamond Arena.

“I did what I didn’t last time, said Cardenas (18-0-2), who fought Martinez to a draw in early February.” I was aggressive early. I didn’t give away those rounds.’’

Martinez (16-1-1), a popular Phoenix fighter, didn’t quarrel with the result, despite at least one debatable score, a 100-90 shutout. On the other cards, it was 98-92 and 97-93, both for Cardenas

Turkish champion retains belt in narrow win over Gabby Tellez

Elif Nur Turhan kept the belt. Gabby Tellez got the cheers.

In a close and somewhat awkward fight for the women’s International Boxing Federation lightweight title Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena, the bigger Turhan sustained an aggressive pace, scoring enough points on the scorecards for a unanimous decision — 96-94 on all cards — over Tellez (7-1, 3 KOs).

With Phoenix trainer Jose Benavidez Jr. in her corner, Tellez circled Turhan, a powerful Turk, throughout the 10 rounds. Turhan landed a couple of long punches in the final couple of rounds, which might have been just enough to claim a victory that allowed here to take the belt back to Turkey

Terraza wins quick stoppage

Terraza said he knew victory was just a matter of time.

That time came swiftly.

And decisively.

Within two rounds, Terraza, an unbeaten junior-lightweight from Mexico, overwhelmed a shorter Javier Rodriguez, who was down midway through the round and finished within its final few seconds. 

Rodriguez (10-1, 6 KOs), who grew up in the Glendale neighborhood surrounding Desert Diamond Arena, simply had no counter for Terreza’s  reach. Terraza (14-0, 10 KOs) knocked him down with an overhand right and then folllowed with successive punches from all angles.

Trini Ochoa lands right to land back in win column

Trini Ochoa, a popular junior welterweight from Mesa, got back into the win column Saturday. All he needed was a right hand.

It landed, flooring Tristan Perez (12-5-1, 7 KOs) Saturday in a stunning second round at Desert Diamond Arena. Ochoa was coming off his first defeat

Esquina delivers punishing stoppage

It was punishing.

Punishing mostly for Sepu Taylor.

Xechal Esquina, an undefeated featherweight from Phoenix, tirelessly moved forward for six-plus rounds, landing shots that echoed throughout Desert Diamond Saturday on a card featuring Bam Rodriguez-Antonio Vargas.

Somehow, Taylor (1-2-1), of Denver stay edupright. Early in the sixth, however, he began to back away on unsteady feet, At 2:39 of the round, he was down. And done, a bruised stoppage loser to a relentless attack Esquina (6-0, 5 KOs).

Hector Beltran wins second round TKO

Hector Beltran Jr., who calls himself Handsome, must have looked scary to Shaquile Felicia.

Beltran (8-0, 6 KOs), a junior-middleweight From Dallas, threw a quick combo that dropped Felicia (3-2). It also left Felicia with a look that seemed to say he’d rather be back home in Anchorage. Seconds and few more combos later, he was finished, a TKO loser at 2:53 of the round.

First Bell: Ronny Alvarez stoppage opens the show

With temperatures pushing 110 degrees, a small crowd began to escape and gather inside Desert Diamond Arena.

Anything for a little air conditioning.

In the ring, however, Cuban super-middleweight Ronny Alvarez (7-0, 6 KOs) continued to pour on the heat, scoring a seventh round stoppage of Serbia Flip Stankovic (9-4, 6 KOs) Saturday afternoon in the opening bout on a card featuring Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez-Antonio Vargas.  

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has formally said goodbye to superfly, all in a quest for the challenges he hopes will lead to the biggest one of all:

Naoya Inoue

That’s not exactly a secret anymore. Talk — and perhaps some real momentum — has been building for a Bam-Inoue showdown.

Now, that possibility enters a new stage, one evident by what was missing Thursday at a formal news conference for his bantamweight debut against 118-pound champion Antonio Vargas Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena in a DAZN-streamed bout.

Bam wasn’t seated behind the collection of belts that are usually there. They’re gone. In boxing-speak, they’ve been vacated to make room for what Bam has said is an “inevitable” showdown with Inoue in what would be the biggest fight ever at the lighter weights.

It was news delivered Wednesday by Bam trainer Robert Garcia, who announced on social media that Bam was relinquishing three of the four.

He’s replacing them with a new challenge at a new weight.

“New challenges are more important to me that just another title defense,’’ said Bam, now a former unified champion who suddenly finds himself in the unfamiliar role of being the challenger.

There are signs that Bam won’t be a challenger for long. Vargas is being called underrated by his corner. Maybe, he is.  On the World Boxing Association’s shuffleboard, he was elevated from secondary to the real 118-pound champion a couple of weeks ago. Vargas’ credentials include experience against some of the world’s best, including Shakur Stevenson, who beat him as an amateur.

But prohibitive odds suggest that Bam won’t be a challenger for long. He has an opportunity to win a third belt at a third weight. What’s more significant, however, might be in how he performs at bantam. Success at 118 pounds would represent a steppingstone to junior-feather — 122 pounds, Inoue’s current weight.

At 26-years old, Bam has improved with each move up the scale. He also seems to get better with each fight, all victories That plants an inevitable expectation. Just how good can he be?

“I feel like I haven’t shown 50 percent of who I’ll be,’’ Bam said during Thursday’s newser.

If accurate, half of what Bam’s potential already is good enough to put him among the top five in virtually every pound for-pound rating, many of which have Inoue at No. 1

For now, at least, the question is what Inoue plans to do. Since his victory over Junto Nakatani in front 55,000 Japanese fans in Tokyo, he’s been quiet. Still, there’s talk that he’ll move up to 126 pounds, featherweight.

Garcia believes that would be a move intended to keep him away from a date with the San Antonio fighter.

“Take a look at 126,’’ said Garcia, who agrees that fans have yet to see the best Bam. “There’s nobody at 126 who would make a better fight than one against Bam.

“Moving up to 126 would say that he doesn’t want to fight Bam.’’

For now, the only relevant measurement is Bam’s first time at 118. There’s been talk about a further move up the scale to 122-pounds before a speculated date – December or January — against Inoue.

“But I can only make the right decision based on what I see Saturday night,’’ Garcia said. “I can’t be thinking about more before I see him at 118.’’

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has formally said goodbye to superfly, all in a quest for the challenges he hopes will lead to the biggest one of all:

Naoya Inoue

That’s not exactly a secret anymore. Talk — and perhaps some real momentum — has been building for a Bam-Inoue showdown.

Now, that possibility enters a new stage, one evident by what was missing Thursday at a formal news conference for his bantamweight debut against 118-pound champion Antonio Vargas Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena in a DAZN-streamed bout.

Bam wasn’t seated behind the collection of belts that are usually there. They’re gone. In boxing-speak, they’ve been vacated to make room for what Bam has said is an “inevitable” showdown with Inoue in what would be the biggest fight ever at the lighter weights.

It was news delivered Wednesday by Bam trainer Robert Garcia, who announced on social media that Bam was relinquishing three of the four.

He’s replacing them with a new challenge at a new weight.

“New challenges are more important to me that just another title defense,’’ said Bam, now a former unified champion who suddenly finds himself in the unfamiliar role of being the challenger.

There are signs that Bam won’t be a challenger for long. Vargas is being called underrated by his corner. Maybe, he is.  On the World Boxing Association’s shuffleboard, he was elevated from secondary to the real 118-pound champion a couple of weeks ago. Vargas’ credentials include experience against some of the world’s best, including Shakur Stevenson, who beat him as an amateur.

But prohibitive odds suggest that Bam won’t be a challenger for long. He has an opportunity to win a third belt at a third weight. What’s more significant, however, might be in how he performs at bantam. Success at 118 pounds would represent a steppingstone to junior-feather — 122 pounds, Inoue’s current weight.

At 26-years old, Bam has improved with each move up the scale. He also seems to get better with each fight, all victories That plants an inevitable expectation. Just how good can he be?

“I feel like I haven’t shown 50 percent of who I’ll be,’’ Bam said during Thursday’s newser.

If accurate, half of what Bam’s potential already is good enough to put him among the top five in virtually every pound for-pound rating, many of which have Inoue at No. 1

For now, at least, the question is what Inoue plans to do. Since his victory over Junto Nakatani in front 55,000 Japanese fans in Tokyo, he’s been quiet. Still, there’s talk that he’ll move up to 126 pounds, featherweight.

Garcia believes that would be a move intended to keep him away from a date with the San Antonio fighter.

“Take a look at 126,’’ said Garcia, who agrees that fans have yet to see the best Bam. “There’s nobody at 126 who would make a better fight than one against Bam.

“Moving up to 126 would say that he doesn’t want to fight Bam.’’

For now, the only relevant measurement is Bam’s first time at 118. There’s been talk about a further move up the scale to 122-pounds before a speculated date – December or January — against Inoue.

“But I can only make the right decision based on what I see Saturday night,’’ Garcia said. “I can’t be thinking about more before I see him at 118.’’

By Norm Frauenheim

It’s beginning to feel as though boxing has entered a statement season, as in delivering one.

Dmitry Bivol delivered last Saturday, beating an overmatched German in Russia, yet the message from Bivol was within his performance.

Bivol, still as flawless as any sweet scientist against challenger-without-a-chance Michael Eifert, showed there’s been no evident erosion in the light-heavyweight’s comprehensive skillset after back surgery and a long stretch of inactivity following his rematch victory over Artur Beterbiev.

He knows what he’s doing. But what will he do next? There are plenty of rumors, but no sources and zero hints from Bivol, a quiet Russian who is as taciturn as he is skillful.

The real – for now, only — news is that he’s back in the conversation, including the pound-for-pound debate. He’s among the second five after falling out of the subjective ratings altogether. His options are as viable as ever, including a third fight with Beterbiev and/or a date with newly minted cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, who also continues to hold a light-heavyweight belt.

For Bivol, the task was to restore leverage, his negotiating power and presence for whatever possibility — Beterbiev or Benavidez – develops.

Statement delivered.

Now, it’s Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’ turn.

Bam’s chance will be there June 13 in Glendale, AZ, a few miles of roadwork from Benavidez childhood home in west Phoenix.

That’s when and where Bam can further his pursuit of a showdown with current pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue at Desert Diamond Arena in a bantamweight debut against Antonio Vargas, who isn’t given much more of a chance than Eifert had against Bivol.

Eifert was a 25-to-1 underdog, according to various betting sites. At opening bell, the odds facing Vargas might be even bigger. The spread ranges from 25-to-1 to 33-to-1, according to numbers posted this week, also by various betting sites.

Translation: Bam is considered a virtual lock. Like Bivol, the significance – message – is within how he wins.

A few weeks ago during a media workout at Central Boxing in Phoenix, Bam, already a two-division champion, said he thought a fight with Inoue was inevitable. Since then, there have been multiple stories about  Bam-Inoue, still a dream fight. A Netflix interest was reported. Even a projected time frame for the much discussed, much anticipated possibility has been mentioned. Some speculation has it happening in early 2027

That’s not inevitable, but it is momentum, the kind that could make it happen. So far, Inoue, who is coming off a defense of his undisputed junior featherweight title against Junto Nakatani, has been about as talkative as Bivol.

Inoue has talked about moving to featherweight. He’s also has mentioned Bam. But now Japan’s Rising Son is quiet, perhaps waiting to see what kind of message Bam delivers against Vargas.

About a week ago, Vargas was declared the World Boxing Association’s 118-pound champ. The acronym’s move was merely a paper shuffle. Vargas had held a secondary belt. For Bam, it’s an opportunity – perhaps a gift. He can add a third division title to his resume.

But a long stop at bantam has never been in the Bam plan. On his blueprint, 118 pounds is another step toward his inevitable. Always has been.

A convincing performance could move Bam closer. Currently, he’s a consensus No. 3 in pound-for-pound ratings, behind No. 1 Inoue and No. 2 Oleksandr Usyk. But there are doubts about Usyk after his problematic victory over kick boxer Rico Verhoeven May 23 in Egypt.

A dominant Bam on June 13 could vault him over Usyk into the No. 2 spot. No. 1 versus-No. 2 is a classic scenario in what would be the biggest little-guy fight in history. Maybe those stories about Netflix’s interest are accurate.

Only Bam can make sure of it with the delivery of another convincing statement.

By Norm Frauenheim

It looks as if hints to David Benavidez’ immediate future will play out Saturday with light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol’s comeback from back surgery against German Michael Eifert in Russia, but that hasn’t stopped anybody from talking — ad nauseam — about Canelo Alvarez.

By all accounts, Canelo-Benavidez won’t happen. At least, that’s what Canelo said definitively during a news conference in Egypt for a Sept. 12 fight against Christian Mbilli.

Benavidez is a cruiserweight and possibly an emerging heavyweight, Stay there, Canelo said. In a rare agreement with Canelo, Benavidez father and trainer Jose Sr. also told Fight Hub TV that the fight was no longer a possibility.

The only sure thing is that fans and media will continue to debate, wonder and fantasize about it.

Canelo-Benavidez has become a permanent fixture in the public imagination, which is where it figures to stay.

Nevertheless, Benavidez repeated what he said after his beatdown of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for a unified cruiserweight title May 2. He can still make 175 pounds. Meanwhile, Canelo is staying at 168 in a bid for a World Boxing Council title against Christian Mbilli Sept. 12.

If a heavily favored Bivol wins Saturday, a return to 175 could create Benavidez’ first opportunity at an undisputed title, a key addition to his pound-for-pound resume. The Phoenix born-and-forged fighter has the WBC version of the light-heavy title; Bivol has the other three belts.

“I was ready then and I’m ready now,’’ said Benavidez, who was in Mexico City Wednesday to honor his father as the WBC’s Trainer of the Year. “I can still make 175.’’

Benavidez went on to mention Canelo. It’s impossible not to. Yet, his promised 25-pound move downscale is really about a shot at Bivol and that undisputed distinction.

Against Eifert, there’s a chance to see what Bivol still has. Has he completely recovered from back surgery? Is he still the same fighter who upset Canelo and evened the score with a rematch decision over Artur Beterbiev?

Answers will go a long way to figuring out what and who are next for Benavidez, now a top five pound-for-pound contender. But the questions will still be about Canelo.

FIGHT CITY

Bivol, who is of Russian and Korean descent, will be fighting in his home country in a city, Yekaterinburg, with lots of history, some noteworthy and some ominous.

It is Russia’s fourth largest city, located east of the Ural Mountains. In the early to mid-19^th century, the city’s mines produced 45 percent of all the gold in the world. Some of that gold can be seen, glittering off domes at the top of an old church.  

It’s called Church on the Blood. Czar Nicholas II, Russia’s last monarch, and his family were murdered there by the Bolsheviks in July, 1918.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – What some expected to be the first test in the career of rising middleweight contender Amari Jones was no test at all. In an IBF middleweight championship eliminator, Jones rolled past former champion Vincenzo Gualtieri inside of three rounds in the DAZN-broadcasted main event at the SAP Center at San Jose on Friday night. 

Jones (17-0, 15 KOs) of Oakland, California boxed well in the first, pressing Gualtieri (25-2-1, 8 KOs) of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in moments. Gualtieri failed to let his hands go and was willing to cover up without looking to offer much in return. 

Jones’ jab created some openings in the second round, as he began to redden the face of Gualtieri, 158.2, with combinations. Gualtieri offered a little more offense, but was still very defensive. Jones, 159.2, did not look too worried about what Gualtieri had to offer, brushing off the one clean punch the German landed and getting right back on the offensive. 

Jones, the IBF #4/WBC #14 ranked middleweight, upped his aggression in the third as Gualtieri, the IBF #5/WBO #8 ranked middleweight, looked to be fading fast. Jones eventually pressed Gualtieri into the red corner with a combination punctuated by a right uppercut that scored the first of two knockdowns. Gualtieri managed to make it to his feet before Jones moved in and flattened his face with another right uppercut to score the second and final knockdown. 

Referee Edward Collantes moved in and saw that Gualtieri would not be in any condition to continue, waving off the one-sided bout at 2:29 of round three. 

With the IBF title currently vacant, Jones could potentially be in line to challenge for the belt as soon as his next outing, something both he and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya seemed keen on in the immediate aftermath of the fight.

“The 160-pound world champions are on notice and that world title is going back to Oakland,” said De La Hoya after the bout. “I saw maturity. I saw poise. I saw him taking his time, but at the same time – aggressive. A masterclass performance. Everybody at 160: you better watch out. Maybe September or October, who knows? But we are taking that world title back to Oakland baby.”

In the cruiserweight co-main event, Robin Safar (20-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Flemingsberg, Stockholm, Sweden got off the canvas in the second round to score a twelve-round split decision over Yamil Peralta (18-2-1, 10 KOs) of Del Viso, Buenos Aires, Argentina. While that summation might indicate an exciting, high level contest, the San Jose crowd was less than thrilled by most of the bout.  

After a feeling out first round, Peralta, 199, landed with an overhand right in the first minute of the second round to score a flash knockdown. Safar, 199.2, did not appear to be shaken up and things got a little chippy as the round progressed. Peralta, the WBC #2/WBA #11 ranked cruiserweight, would be warned for holding, and Safar, the WBO #4/WBC #12/WBA #12/IBF #14 ranked cruiserweight, was warned for hitting behind the head before the round came to a close. 

As the fight moved to the middle rounds, Peralta became a boxer-mover, which gave Safar some problems as he was never able to really find a way to cut off the ring on his rangier opponent. While Peralta did well to avoid getting in Safar’s punching range, he never really pressed the fight for any length of time and thus allowed himself to get outworked despite not taking a great deal of punishment. 

Safar came on a bit in the seventh and found a home for several right hands and continued to attempt to press the fight. Safar may have been as disinterested in the lack of action as the crowd on hand, as he inexplicably looked away late in the ninth and caught a left hook to the face. 

After three nondescript championship rounds, the official scorers came to the split decision. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 115-112  for Peralta, but was overruled by judge David Solivan, who scored the bout 114-113 and judge Rudy Barragan, 116-111, both for Safar. 

With the victory, Safar claimed the lightly-regarded WBC Silver title. Despite a performance that will not get a public outcry for a title opportunity, Safar figures to be near the head of the line to challenge recently-crowned WBC champion Noel Mikaelian. Three of the top four WBC contenders (Ryan Rozicki, Jai Opetaia and Chris Billam-Smith) have recently signed with promoter Zuffa Boxing, with whom the WBC has a contentious relationship. 

Darius Fulghum (15-1-1, 13 KOs) of Houston, Texas stayed busy with a stoppage of overmatched Yoanki Urrutia (17-3, 7 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Las Tunas, Las Tunas, Cuba.  

Fulghum, 168.8, did not force anything, but kept touching Urrutia, 169.8, through the opening rounds. Urrutia did not have the look of a fighter trying to win a fight from the early going and had a point deducted for repeatedly holding in the third. 

Fulghum, the WBA #5 ranked super middleweight, was never able to create the space needed to land as clean as he probably wanted, but did break through with a solid right to the body, followed by a left hook through Urrutia’s guard to score a knockdown at the end of the third. 

Urrutia was saved by the bell, but sat down in his corner at the end of the round, immediately shaking his head. His corner gained the attention of referee Michael Margado to signal their fighter did not wish to continue. Time of the stoppage officially came at the end of round three.

Cruiserweight prospect Tristan Kalkreuth (17-1, 12 KOs) of North Las Vegas, Nevada had a tougher time than expected, but scored a sixth-round stoppage nonetheless over Marco Antonio Canedo (8-4-1, 5 KOs) of Tacámbaro, Michoacán, Mexico. 

Canedo, 199.6, opened up late in the first and caught a stiff left from Kalkreuth, 198.2, in retort. The Michoacán native needed to take a step back to clear the cobwebs, but luckily for him there was not much time left in the round for Kalkreuth to capitalize. 

Canedo opened up offensively in the fourth, landing with some solid left hooks in exchanges. It did not appear Kalkreuth was hurt, but the Vegas resident opted to cover up along the ropes for long stretches in the round. Canedo kept his hands busy until late in the round, when he may have expended much of his gas tank. 

Kalkreuth woke up in the fifth, rocking a tired Canedo late after a much more aggressive round. Canedo had apparently not fully recovered by the time the sixth began, as Kalkreuth landed a two-punch combination early to score a knockdown. Canedo made it upright, but was on wobbly footing and quickly tasted the canvas a second time from a right hand. Referee Rudy Barragan quickly waved off the bout without a count after the second knockdown at 51 seconds of the sixth. At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had Canedo up in the fight. Judge David Solivan had it 49-46, while judges Melissa McMorrow and Joel Farbstein had it 48-47 for Canedo heading into the sixth.

Jordan Fuentes (7-0, 2 KOs) of Fresno, California opened up the main card on DAZN with an impressive six-round unanimous decision over a game Dante Ibarra Hernandez (3-2, 3 KOs) of Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.

Despite a height disadvantage, Fuentes, 117.2, wasted no time in finding the chin of Ibarra Hernandez, 118, especially with his right hand, in the first. Fuentes’ hand speed continued to be a problem for Ibarra Hernandez in the second. The Jalisco native kept up the pressure, but Fuentes was elusive, picking his spots and landing with both hands. 

Ibarra Hernandez managed to land with a straight right early in the third that backed Fuentes up, off balance. Fuentes, known as the “Brazen Bull,” quickly went back to better resembling a matador, making himself an evasive target while picking his spots to land hard shots. 

The super tough Ibarra Hernandez finally began to show signs of wilting late in the fifth, when Fuentes landed hard to his body. With Ibarra Hernandez slumping his posture, Fuentes focused on his body attack to close the round. Fuentes closed the fight strong, but Ibarra Hernandez proved to be the durable type of opponent a young prospect should encounter on his rise. 

Judge Joel Farbstein scored the bout 59-55, while judges Rogelio Chapa and Michael Margado both had the fight scored a shutout, 60-54, for Fuentes. 

In the final preliminary bout prior to the main card, Jose Medrano Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) of Salinas, California scored a fourth-round stoppage of veteran Anel Dudo (4-9-1, 1 KO) of Aurora, Colorado by way of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Medrano, 127.4, worked behind his lengthy right jab to create openings for his left. Dudo, 126.8, hung tough in the early going before Medrano opened up in the fourth. Medrano landed with a power left that sent Dudo into retreat. With the Salinas native opening up and Dudo not offering back, referee Thomas Taylor leapt in at 44 seconds of the fourth to stop the contest. 

Jordan Panthen (12-2, 10 KOs) of Honolulu, Hawaii bullied his way back into the win column, dropping soft-punching Jean Rivera-Pacheco (10-3, 1 KO) of San Juan, Puerto Rico three times en route to a third-round stoppage.  

Panthen, 159.8, was the naturally stronger fighter in the bout and used his size and power edge over Rivera-Pacheco, 159.2, from the outset. Warned for tossing Rivera-Pacheco to the mat in the first, Panthen scored the first of three knockdowns with a left to the body early in the second round. Rivera-Pacheco beat the count looking less enthused about his standing in the bout. With Rivera-Pacheco already looking at taking a knee to regroup, Panthen landed to the body with a glancing blow to score the second knockdown of the second round. 

The writing was on the wall before Panthen scored the third knockdown with an overhand right early in the third. Referee Michael Margado made his count before waving off the bout at 1:30 of the third round. With the victory, Panthen ended a two-fight skid and claimed the regional WBA Intercontinental middleweight title in the process. 

WBA #1/WBO #6/WBC #12 ranked super flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez (17-1, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles, California continued to inch closer to a crack at a world title, outboxing veteran Lucas Fernandez (14-5-2, 9 KOs) of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina en route to a wide ten-round unanimous decision. 

Ramirez, 114.8, began the bout using his lateral movement and outworking Fernandez, 114.8, in stretches. Fernandez’s highlights in the bout were fleeting as he most notably landed with a solid right in the eighth that caused Ramirez to hold on for a moment. Ramirez slowed his movement in the later rounds, opting to plant his feet and let his hands go for extended exchanges, to much success. 

Judge David Solivan scored all but one round for Ramirez, 99-91, while judges Rogelio Chapa and Joel Farbstein both scored the bout 98-92. With the win, Ramirez stays in line for a possible world title challenge. 

In the opener, Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu (8-0, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia remained unbeaten with an hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over Adrian Ibarra Herrera (10-5, 8 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Ibarra Herrera pressed the action for much of the fight, with Kharkhuu playing the role of counter-puncher. After Ibarra Herrera pressured and outworked Kharkhuu in rounds two and three, Kharkhuu picked up the pace to begin the fourth. Along the way, Ibarra Herrera picked up a bad cut over his left eye, but it did not slow his output. They saved the best two-way action for the last half of the eighth and final round, as Kharkhuu especially sat down on his punches as Ibarra Herrera continued to press.

In the end, Kharkhuu won over all three judges; Melissa McMorrow, 80-72, Joel Farbstein, 78-74, and Rogelio Chapa, 77-75, for the unanimous decision nod.

Photos by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez has gone upscale and now looks down scale, all in search of belts that add up to undisputed.

On any scale, it’s risky.

How heavy a risk?  The best measure is on that unforgiving scale. Benavidez gained 25 pounds to take Zurdo Ramirez’ cruiserweight belts. Now, Benavidez, still the reigning World Boxing Council’s light heavy champion, intends to lose those 25 pounds in a planned pursuit of Dmitrii Bivol’s three 175-pound belts.

That’s 50 pounds within just two fights, a dizzy up and down roller coaster ride on any scale. Charles Barkley says he lost 62 pounds within six months on Ozempic. The former Round Mound of Rebound must be jealous. Maybe, hungry, too

But Benavidez is nothing if not bold. He dramatically enhanced his pound-for-pound clout with a dominant stoppage of Ramirez at cruiser and now looks at Bivol in pursuit of the light-heavy belts that could make him undisputed for the first time.

The Bivol plan was disclosed this week on The PorterWay Podcast when Benavidez confirmed that there had been preliminary talks. Preliminary, of course, could mean just about anything.  A simple hello, after all, qualifies as preliminary.  However, longtime Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn also told Boxing Scene that he has had discussions with manager Luis DeCubas and PBC

“We like Bivol-Benavidez,’’ Hearn said.’’…I think Bivol-Benavidez is the fight to make.’’

So does Benavidez.

“Bivol is really the only fight I want, that I truly want, ‘’ said the Phoenix born-and-forged fighter, who no longer has any interest in an immediate bout with Zuffa cruiserweight Jai Opetaia. “He has all the belts. I really want those belts. I want those accolades. That’s the only thing I want right now.”

Odds are the belts will be there. Bivol is a 25-to-1 favorite May 30 to beat German challenger Michael Eifert in a fight with a couple of problematic wrinkles. It’s in Ekaterinburg, a Russian city about 1,778 mils from Ukraine.  Because of the Russian-Ukrainian war, only two – the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association – of Bivol’s belts are at stake.  The third — World Boxing Organization’s version — will not be. The WBO withdrew it because of the conflict.

The belts – accolades – are part of a resume planned by Benavidez. He’s trying to test limits few ever have. He’s already achieved one. In stopping Zurdo, he became the first in history to win world titles at 168, 175 and 200 pounds.  Yet, he still has not won an undisputed title, unlike the consensus pound-for-pound No. 1 Naoya Inoue, undisputed at two weights – bantam and junior-feather.

His pursuit of a date with Bivol, however, is no sure thing. It hinges on Bivol’s first fight since back surgery, which he underwent after he beat Arturo Betebiev in a rematch February 2025. Initially, it looked as if Bivol and Beterbiev, now 1-and-1, were headed for a trilogy fight.

But there has been no news from Beterbiev or his plans. He’s 41-years old, six years older than Bivol and 12 years older than Benavidez.

Meanwhile, interest in Benavidez has spiked since his May 2^nd star-making statement over Zurdo. It put him squarely in the race for 2026 Fighter of the Year.

Even before Zurdo, there had been talk of a fight with Bivol, who — like Zurdo — sparred multiple rounds with Benavidez when he was still at super-middle and just beginning his futile pursuit of a fight with Canelo Alvarez.

The sparring favored Benavidez, according to him and many who witnessed it. But years have come and gone. Benavidez is entering his prime; Bivol is near the end of his.

If there’s a time to fight, it’s now.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – Fighting on the national stage close to home, Amari Jones aims to stamp himself as a top middleweight contender when he takes on former title holder Vincenzo Gualtieri in the DAZN-broadcasted main event from the SAP Center at San Jose on Friday night. Fighters for the nine-bout card took part in a ceremonial weigh-in on Thursday afternoon at the nearby Hayes Mansion, having officially tipped the scales in the morning. 

Jones (16-0, 14 KOs) of Oakland, California will fight in the Bay Area for just the second time in his pro career as he takes a step-up in competition against Gualtieri (25-1-1, 8 KOs) of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in the twelve-round IBF elimination bout. 

Jones, the IBF #4/WBC #14 ranked middleweight, has looked impressive in two fights since signing with Golden Boy Promotions last summer. Jones took a modest step-up last time out, scoring a fourth-round stoppage of normally durable veteran Luis Arias on the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia card in Las Vegas, Nevada this past February. Jones, fighting in his first scheduled twelve-rounder, weighed-in at 159.2 pounds on Thursday. 

Gualtieri, the IBF #5/WBO #8 ranked middleweight, represents the most accomplished pro the unbeaten Jones has squared off with to date. Gualtieri capped a 22-bout unbeaten run to begin his career by capturing the vacant IBF middleweight crown via twelve-round unanimous decision over previously unblemished Esquiva Falcao in July of 2023. Gualtieri attempted to immediately capitalize on his title victory, but failed to hold up to the offense of WBO kingpin Janibek Alimkhanuly in a unification bout that ended via sixth-round stoppage just three months later. Gualtieri, who has since bounced back with four straight victories back in Germany, scaled 158.2 pounds on Thursday. 

With the IBF #1 ranking, and title, currently vacant, the winner of Friday’s main event could potentially be in line to challenge for the belt as soon as their next outing. 

“This is to put me in position,” said Jones after Thursday’s ceremonial weigh-in. “This is to really show and prove that I belong in those top discussions. Tomorrow night we are going to show. I’m young and hungry. This is his last hope and I’m here to handle anything he is going to do.” 

In the co-main event, Yamil Peralta (18-1-1, 10 KOs) of Del Viso, Buenos Aires, Argentina defends his lightly-regarded WBC Silver cruiserweight title and accompanying world ranking against rising contender Robin Safar (19-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Flemingsberg, Stockholm, Sweden in a scheduled twelve-rounder. 

Peralta, the WBC #2/WBA #11 ranked cruiserweight, ended a nearly thirteen-month layoff last time out with a second-round kayo of journeyman Juan Diaz in Argentina this past February. Peralta notably went up against Ryan Rozicki twice in Canada to controversial conclusions. In fact, Peralta’s lone career loss, a 2022 split decision to Rozicki, is recognized by the WBC as a no contest, though the official decision stands. Two years later they tried it again, with the bout being declared a majority draw. Peralta weighed-in at 199 pounds on Thursday. 

Safar, the WBO #4/WBC #12/WBA #12/IBF #14 ranked cruiserweight, has inched closer to a world title bout with two victories since his career-defining win over Sergey Kovalev in May of 2024 and eventual signing with Golden Boy early last year. Safar scaled 199.2 pounds on Thursday. 

The winner of the bout figures to be near the head of the line to challenge recently-crowned WBC champion Noel Mikaelian. Three of the top four WBC contenders (Rozicki, Jai Opetaia and Chris Billam-Smith) have recently signed with promoter Zuffa Boxing, with whom the WBC has a contentious relationship. 

Darius Fulghum (14-1-1, 12 KOs) of Houston, Texas has his eyes set at the top of the super middleweight division but he first must get by Yoanki Urrutia (17-2, 7 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Las Tunas, Las Tunas, Cuba in a ten-round bout on Friday. 

Fulghum, the WBA #5 ranked super middleweight, needs to get back on track after a disappointing draw against David Stevens last November. The draw came on the heels of Fulghum’s spirited effort in defeat by decision to Bektemir Melikuziev in a WBA eliminator last May. Urrutia, who has spent the last several years fighting exclusively in Florida, was bested by .500 fighter Ryan Adams via split decision in his last appearance in October. Fulghum scaled 168.8, while Urrutia came in at 169.8 pounds on Thursday. 

Cruiserweight prospect Tristan Kalkreuth (16-1, 11 KOs) of North Las Vegas, Nevada will take on Marco Antonio Canedo (8-3-1, 5 KOs) of Tacámbaro, Michoacán, Mexico in an eight-round  bout on Friday. Kalkreuth, making his 2026 debut, weighed-in at 198.2 pounds on Thursday. Canedo, unbeaten in five fights since dropping down from heavyweight, made 199.6 pounds on Thursday. 

Much-talked about prospect Jordan Fuentes (6-0, 2 KOs) of Fresno, California will open up the main card on DAZN in a six-round bantamweight bout against Dante Ibarra Hernandez (3-1, 3 KOs) of Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The southpaw Fuentes, a reported seven-time national amateur champion, scaled 117.2 pounds, while Ibarra Hernandez made the bantamweight limit of 118 on Thursday. 

In the final preliminary bout to be streamed on the Golden Boy Promotions YouTube channel, Jose Medrano Jr. (2-0, 1 KO) of Salinas, California will take on Anel Dudo (4-8-1, 1 KO) of Aurora, Colorado by way of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in a four-round super featherweight bout. The 18-year-old Medrano weighed-in at 127.4 pounds, while the veteran Dudo scaled 126.8. 

Jordan Panthen (11-2, 9 KOs) of Honolulu, Hawaii will take on Jean Rivera-Pacheco (10-2, 1 KO) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a ten-round bout for the vacant regional WBA Intercontinental title. Panthen was last seen rescuing a show in January by stepping in on very short notice to take on well-regarded Raul Curiel this past January on DAZN. Panthen, who lost a wide unanimous decision on that night, weighed-in at 159.8 pounds on Thursday. Rivera-Pacheco, who has spent much of his career at welterweight, came in at 159.2 pounds on Thursday.  

John “Scrappy” Ramirez (16-1, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles, California looks to extend a three-fight win streak against well-traveled veteran Lucas Fernandez (14-4-2, 9 KOs) of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina in a ten-round super flyweight bout. Ramirez and Fernandez both scaled 114.8 pounds on Thursday.

Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu (7-0, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will take on Adrian Ibarra Herrera (10-4, 8 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in an eight-round flyweight bout to open the card. Kharkhuu, back down in weight after having to fight at bantamweight in his last two outings, made 112.6 pounds, while the veteran Herrera scaled 112.8. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

IBF Middleweight Championship Elimination Bout, 12 Rounds 

Jones 159.2

Gualtieri 158.2

WBC Silver Cruiserweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Peralta 199

Safar 199.2

Super middleweights, 10 Rounds 

Fulghum 168.8

Urrutia 169.8

Cruiserweights, 8 Rounds

Kalkreuth 198.2

Canedo 199.6

Bantamweights, 6 Rounds

Fuentes 117.2 

Ibarra Hernandez 118

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Medrano Jr. 127.4

Dudo 126.8

WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Panthen 159.8

Rivera-Pacheco 159.2

Super flyweights, 10 Rounds 

Ramirez 114.8

Fernandez 114.8

Flyweights, 8 Rounds

Kharkhuu 112.6

Ibarra Herrera 112.8

Tickets for the event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com 

Photos by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmaill.com 

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov got off the canvas to score a six-round unanimous decision over veteran gatekeeper Moris Rodriguez to remain unbeaten in the main event of a six-bout card at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento on Saturday night. 

Abdusamadov (8-0, 3 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, a natural middleweight, appeared to hold the edge in power over Rodriguez (9-19-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento, who, despite dabbling in the super middleweight division, began his career at 135-pounds. Though Abdusamadov landed the harder shots, he was outworked at times in the opening round by Rodriguez. After Rodriguez found success boxing and moving for most of the first, Abusamadov sent the Sacramento resident stumbling into the ropes with a left to close the round. Rodriguez waved his glove to signal he was not affected as the bell sounded, ending the first.

The footwork of Rodriguez, 162, appeared to be what bothered Abdusamadov, 161.2, most as the fight progressed. With Abdusamadov attempting to cut off the ring and get in punching range in the third, Rodriguez was clever with his footwork and caught the Dagestan native off balance and scored a flash knockdown. 

Abusamadov had a solid bounce back round in the fourth, as he was much more successful getting in range in keeping up the pressure on his 36-year-old opponent. By the fifth, Rodriguez had slowed on his movement and fought much of the round off the ropes. The inside fighting benefited Abdusamadov, though Rodriguez was never in any danger. Rodriguez got back on his horse in the sixth, before a solid two-way exchange closed out the fight. 

In the end, the knockdown did not hurt Abdusamadov in the scoring. Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 58-55, while judges Michael Margado and Joel Farbstein both had it 57-56, all for Abdusamadov. 

Making his hometown debut, Sergio Gonzalez (5-0, 4 KOs) of Sacramento punished veteran Christian Seals (4-4-2, 2 KOs) of Carson, California for the better part of three rounds before forcing a third-round stoppage in the semi-main event. 

Gonzalez, 155.2, was in control of the action from the early moments of the bout. Fighting for just the second time since forcing a draw with Sacramento favorite Ruben Torres in the same DoubleTree ring in August of 2023, the 34-year-old Seals, 155, struggled to keep pace with Gonzalez, ten years his junior. 

Late in the third round, Gonzalez caught an increasingly weary Seals with two straight right hands, followed by two thudding rights to the body that forced the hand of referee Michael Margado. The time of the stoppage was 2:16 of round three.

Unbeaten featherweight Jose Contreras (3-0) of Oakland, California scored a four-round shutout decision over veteran Jonathan Almacen (7-16-3, 2 KOs) of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. 

The naturally larger Contreras, 129.2, may have had an easier night had he made a concentrated effort to target the body of Almacen, 127.2, who began his career as a junior flyweight. Instead, Contreras fought mostly as a headhunter and never took away Almacen’s movement. 

Almacen never looked uncomfortable, often showboating when out of punching range, and picking his moments to trade. Contreras struggled to cut off the ring, only managing to pin Almacen along the ropes in brief moments. When Almacen would force Contreras to miss, he was more prone to showboating, rather than capitalizing on the opportunity. As the fighter forcing the action, Contreras won over judges Melissa McMorrow, Joel Farbstein and David Hartman in every round, taking the bout 40-36 across all three cards. 

In the fight of the night, Jorge Luna Ramirez (1-0) of Carson City, Nevada scored a hard-fought unanimous decision over Aaron Wisdom (0-1) of Atwater, California. 

Both fighters wasted no time, as the action was heated from the opening bell. The fight was rough and fought on even terms on the inside, but Luna Ramirez, 126.3, may have held an edge landing at range on the way in close. Luna Ramirez had his best round in the second, landing clean with his right when finding a moment of daylight to get some extension on his punch. 

Wisdom, 127.1, bounced back in the third to have his best round. The Atwater native landed with a clean two-punch combination in the early moments of the round and utilized different angles to roll with some of Luna Ramirez’s punches and create openings for his own. Some rough grappling on the inside created a cut over Luna Ramirez’s left eye, which was incorrectly ruled as the result of a punch by the referee. Spurred on by his own blood perhaps, Luna Ramirez found a second wind late in the round, but Wisdom matched him as the two traded to close the round. 

Both fighters had their moments in the fourth, with Luna Ramirez maybe having a little more steam in the final moments of a fight that had the crowd engaged from the opening bell. All three judges; Melissa McMorrow, Joel Farbstein and Edward Collantes, scored the bout 39-37 for Luna Ramirez. 

In a closely-contested bout, Shavon Furrow (2-0, 1 KO) of Fresno, California maintained her unbeaten record with a four-round unanimous decision over a determined Vicky Zhao (2-3) of Watsonville, California by way of Chongqing, China.

What the naturally smaller Zhao, 114, lacked in power she attempted to make up for in output and determination. Zhao had a strong first round, outworking Furrow, 114, in stretches and forcing the action. 

Furrow’s edge in power began to show in some exchanges in the second round. Despite still being outworked, the way Furrow could back up Zhao with a clean punch likely swayed the judges. Two-way action continued throughout the final two rounds, as both fighters were willing to stand and trade in the center of the ring. 

In the end, all three judges favored the power-punching of Furrow over the workrate of Zhao. Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 39-37, while judges Joel Farbstein and David Hartman scored the bout 40-36, all for Furrow. 

In the opening bout of the evening, Maurice Powell (2-0, 2 KOs) of Sacramento thrilled his supporters in his hometown debut with a first-round kayo of Milton Ramirez (1-3) also of Sacramento.

Powell, 142.1, was able to work behind his strong left jab and touch Ramirez, 145, with his right from the early going. The southpaw Ramirez struggled to maintain pace and looked to land in between Powell’s punches. In the final minute of the round, Powell forced Ramirez along the ropes and landed two chopping right hands to the top of the head that appeared to bother his opponent. With Ramirez attempting to counter off the ropes, Powell loaded up with a sweeping left hand that crumpled the southpaw to the mat. Referee David Hartman reached the count of seven before deciding to wave off that bout at 2:30 of the first round. 

Upper Cut Promotions, promoter of Saturday’s event, returns to the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento on Saturday, June 27th for “Showdown in Sactown III.” 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov takes on veteran spoiler Moris Rodriguez in the six-round main event of “Showdown in Sactown II” at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento on Saturday night. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in at the host venue on Friday afternoon. 

Abdusamadov (7-0, 3 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia is ready to get his year started, having last seen action in December, scoring an explosive first-round knockout over Jon Thomas. Ready for his second scheduled six-rounder, Abdusamadov weighed-in at 161.2 pounds on Friday. 

Rodriguez (9-18-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento is back down closer to the middleweight limit, having moved up to upset light heavyweight Tony Hernandez via six-round unanimous decision at the nearby Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln two months ago. Rodriguez, a pro of seventeen years, weighed-in at 162 pounds on Friday. 

Junior middleweight prospect Sergio Gonzalez (4-0, 3 KOs) of Sacramento fights in his hometown for the first time as a professional to take on six-year pro Christian Seals (4-3-2, 2 KOs) of Carson, California in a six-round bout. Gonzalez, who moved up to the six-round distance in March with a unanimous decision over Michael Portales, weighed-in at 155.2 pounds on Friday. Seals, who local fans may remember for his split decision draw with Ruben Torres at the DoubleTree back in 2023, scaled 155 even. 

In a four-round bout, unbeaten super featherweight Jose Contreras (2-0) of Oakland, California will take on the most experienced opponent of his short career in Jonathan Almacen (7-15-3, 2 KOs) of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contreras was last in the ring in March, scoring a one-sided unanimous decision over MMA fighter-turned boxer Benji Gomez. Almacen, who has managed to hang tough with naturally larger opponents in the past, weighed-in at 127.2 pounds, while Contreras scaled 129.2 on Friday.  

Making their professional debuts, Aaron Wisdom of Atwater, California will meet Jorge Luna Ramirez of Carson City, Nevada in a four-round featherweight bout. Wisdom, an 18-year-old training out of the Merced Crossroads Boxing Gym in Merced, California, weighed-in at 127.1 pounds. Luna Ramirez, a 21-year-old training out of the Carson City Boxing Club in Carson City, weighed-in at 126.3 on Friday. 

Vicky Zhao (2-2) of Watsonville, California by way of Chongqing, China will take on Shavon Furrow (1-0, 1 KO) of Fresno, California in a four-round super flyweight bout. Zhao, riding a two-fight win streak, will be competing at the highest weight of her career to this point at 114 pounds. Furrow, moving down a few pounds from her pro debut in February, also weighed-in at 114 on Friday. 

With local bragging rights on the line, Maurice Powell (1-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento will take on fellow Sacramento native Milton Ramirez (1-2) in a four-round light welterweight bout. Powell turned pro with a quick first-round stoppage of Ty Tarver in March. Returning to the ring from a nearly three-year layoff, Ramirez weighed-in at 145 pounds, while Powell scaled 142.1 on Friday. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Middleweights, 6 Rounds

Abdusamadov 161.2

Rodriguez 162

Junior middleweights, 6 Rounds

Gonzalez 155.2

Seals 155

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Contreras 129.2

Almacen 127.2

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Wisdom 127.1

Luna Ramirez 126.3

Super flyweights, 4 Rounds

Zhao 114

Furrow 114

Welterweights, 4 Rounds

Powell 142.1

Ramirez 145

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at Leapevents.com 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

By Norm Frauenheim

Home can be just about anywhere, especially if it only includes a couple of stools and is surrounded by ropes.

What can go wrong?

Plenty, of course.

But Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has found only success in what he calls a second home.

Rodriguez, who grew up in San Antonio, is about to fight a fourth bout in the Phoenix area, this time at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale for a significant step up the scale to bantamweight in a bout that looks a lot like a test of his hopes to one day face Naoya Inoue.

“They gave him two options for June 13,’’ Bam trainer Robert Garcia said. “San Antonio or Phoenix? He picked Phoenix.’’

He did, for more than one reason. He trains in Riverside, Calif., which is closer to Phoenix than San Antonio. But Phoenix has also become a key to his emergence as a pound-for-pound contender.

“This place changed my life,’’ Bam, a two-division champion, said Thursday during a media workout at Central Boxing for his June 13 118-pound date against Antonio Vargas.

He won his first title, a 112-pound belt, with a 2022 victory over Carlos Cuadras at the Suns arena, a few blocks from Central.

Since then, Bam has emerged, from a so-called little guy to a very big name near the top of the pound-for-pound debate. 

In the process, he has created a big fan-base in central Arizona, which has probably appreciated fighters in the lighter weight classes more than any other boxing market.

AZ, after all, grew up on watching one of the best little guys ever in Hall of Fame junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal.

“Carbajal was the first,’’ Garcia said. “He made history.’’

In Bam’s dangerous hands, that history might continue to unfold. The two-division champion is planning on Inoue, perhaps sometime next year..

Bam called the Inoue possibility “inevitable” Thursday. He also said he watched Inoue’s victory over Junto Nakatani in front 55,000 at the Tokyo Dome May 2.

“It was a great performance,’’ Bam said. “Nakatani is a really tough fighter.’’

Throughout all the hype for Inoue-Nakatani, Inoue mentioned Rodriguez and confirmed that a fight with Bam was a real possibility.

For Bam, that’ll mean more than one more move up in weight. Inoue has been fighting at 122 pounds. He’s talked about fighting at 126, featherweight.

For Bam, that means making two – maybe three –more moves up the scale and one more move back to Phoenix, where it all started.

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez’ rocket-ride to stardom with a beatdown of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez makes him a consensus top five pound-for-pound contender and the early leader for 2026 Fighter of the Year.

His ascent from a forgotten teenager who was never called a prospect to a prime-time spot at the top of the game is as rare as it is compelling.

It’s also just the beginning.

Now 29 years old, Benavidez, once a kid from the streets in west Phoenix, said repeatedly before opening bell May 2 that he was only getting started at building a genuine legacy.

“That just catapults me into the same category as the greats,’’ Benavidez said a couple of days before a brutal sixth-round stoppage of Zurdo that put him into boxing’s long, bloodied history as the first to win titles at 200, 175 and 168 pounds. “You know, it’s very hard to become world champion. It’s very hard to become world champion in two weight classes.

“So, three weight classes would put me in the same conversations as the greats. At the end of the day, I want to keep giving the fans what they want to see, the best fights, and keep winning world titles to solidify my legacy.”

The task now is to stay in the conversation. For Benavidez, that just means more of the same thing he’s been doing since nobody knew – or cared – who he was.

Who he is.

His personality, his lifestyle, has been forged into a stubborn, sometimes edgy, pursuit of proving doubters wrong.

Even in the wake of his convincing victory over Zurdo, doubters are still there. Benavidez is glad they are. Without them, there wouldn’t be the motivation. This time, doubts are rooted in part by Zurdo himself.

Zurdo, soft spoken and popular in Mexico, was almost forgotten in the ritual hype throughout the promotional marketing for the cruiserweight fight. A former Benavidez sparring partner, Zurdo was also a friend. At times, however, he was almost too friendly. But Benavidez never had any illusions. He promised to walk through a friend.

He did.

Now, however, the doubters wonder if somebody not so friendly – say Dmitry Bivol or Jai Opetaia – might be able to stop Benavidez’ march to the pound-for-pound No. 1 and Fighter of the Year.

Bivol, a 175-pound champion and another former Benavidez sparring partner, and Opetaia, a feared cruiserweight, have been mentioned more than any other.

But neither looks likely for a mid-September date, the second step in Benavidez’ attempt to take over the Mexican holiday dates that once belonged to Canelo Alvarez. After his smashing dominance in his Cinco de Mayo debut, Benavidez hopes for an encore celebrating Mexico’s Sept 16^th Independence Day.

But Bivol might be too busy. He has a title defense scheduled for May 30 against Michael Eifert. If he wins, a third fight against Artur Beterbiev is a possibility.

A date with Opetaia is the best fight out there, Benavidez said. Yet, he also dismissed it, in large part because of boxing’s forever balkanized politics. Opetaia is a Zuffa fighter.

He has a Zuffa title, yet was stripped of the better-known International Boxing Federation belt, which is traditionally a part of the collection of belts that add up to undisputed.

At this stage, Benavidez is seeking undisputed, again all in a lifelong fight to prove doubters wrong.

Benavidez said he has no interest – Z as in Zero — in fighting Opetaia for only a Zuffa belt.

Yet, Benavidez’ surging popularity is impossible to ignore, even for Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, Zuffa’s financial backer. 

According to The Ring, also Saudi-owned, Alalshikh is talking about Benavidez fighting heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2027. First, Usyk, perhaps the greatest cruiserweight ever, has a curious date against kick-boxer Rico Verhoeven May 23 in Egypt

The story was reported just a few days after Benavidez, a longtime Usyk admirer, asked reporters at a post-fight news conference to quit asking him about heavyweight.

“Maybe in five years,’’ said Benavidez, a fighter suddenly looking at a future when just about anything looks to be possible.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS —David Benavidez promised dominance. He promised to seize a Cinco de May torch that has belonged to Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.

For one night, the dominance was there.

So, too was that torch, which Benavidez grabbed with the fastest hands in a dangerous business. It belonged to him Saturday night and perhaps in future years after he claimed a third title in a third division with a sixth-round knockout of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Benavidez, born-and-forged in Phoenix, is the first in history to win titles at 168 pounds, 175 and 200. In effect, he took the snoozer out of cruiser with hands that move at a rocket rate.

“Speed, power and punch selection,” Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) said.”That’s what I do. I’ll fight anybody. Don’t efff with me.”

Zurdo (48-2, 30 KOs) tried. But he had no way of dealing with Benavidez’ singular hand speed. HIs trademark flurries are a blitzkrieg. They overwhelm.

In the fourth round, Zurdo saw it coming at him from angles he never expected. His only escape was to take a knee. A storm shelter wasn’t available. He would got back onto his feet, blood smeared across his nose and both cheeks.

All the while, Zurdo tried to subdue Benavidez with his bigger body and advertised power. 

Benavidez answered the opening bell, looking smaller and somewhat cautious. Within the first round’s final minute, however, he landed the first significant punch, a short right hand. Zurdo countered. Then, however, Benavidez unleashed one of  those swirling, blinding flurries, It was a sign of things to come.

In the second, Zurdo introduced Benavidez to some of that power. It was enough to back Bhim up a step or two. But Zurdo would quickly discover there was nothing he could do to slow down  those hands

In the final second of the sixth, he encountered them again. Still, no counter. This time, the punches cascaded off of Zurdo’s face like incoming waves. Blood poured from his left eye. The right began to swell and take on the color of a purple grape. With one second left in the sixth, it was over. Cinco de Mayo, 2026, officially belonged to Benavidez, who stood in the middle of the ring and repeated his long-standing challenge to Canelo Alvarez, the last man to possess the valuable date..

There was no immediate answer from Canelo, who was at ringside. Then again, Canelo had just witnessed another reason nobody has been able to beat Benavidez, who — hands down — possesses the most devastating weapon in the prizefighting business.

Munguia wins belt, scores dominant decision

Jaime Munguia promised he would return to Tijuana with a title.

Promise fulfilled.

Munguia (46-3, 35 KOs) is homeward bound with a World Boxing Association super-middleweight belt in his bags after he easily beat Armando Resendiz ((48-2, 30 KOs)with superior hand speed, precision and even some surprising endurance.Saturday in the final fight before the David Benavidez-Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez main event at T-Mobile Arena.

For all but the final seconds of the final round, the fight was a mismatch. Put it this way: Munguia dominated Resendiz the way Canelo Alvarez dominated Munguia two years ago. Canelo was there, seated at ringside in support of Munguia. Canelo, who wore a T-shirt that said Jaime, is trained by Eddy Reynoso, who also trains Munguia, who left the ring amid a chorus of Cinco de Mayo cheers.

Within the first few moments, it was clear that Resendiz never had a chance. The scorecards would confirm that. It was Munguia –117-111, 119-109, 120-108. Only in the final seconds did it ever look as if Resendiz, a fellow Mexican, had a chance. 

Munguia was attempting to score a knockout. He swung wildly, leaving himself open. That’s when Resendiz landed a huge overhand right. But Munguia withstood it. Seconds later, he had his promised belt. 

Duarte wins controversial split decision

It began in controversy.

It ended in controversy.

For the winner, there were boos, lots of them.

Oscar Duarte heard them after he was given a split decision over Angel Fierro Saturday night on a Cinco de Mayo card featuring David Benavidez against Zurdo Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena.

“I thought I won this fight,” Duarte (31-2-1, 23 KOs) said. “I believe I won this fight.”

But the chorus of boos said loudly that many didn’t agree. Fierro looked to be in control early. Then, Duarte fought his way back over the final few rounds. Two cards had it for Duarte, 115-113 and 116-112. The third had it 116-112 for Fierro, The Boxing Hour scored it a draw.

Fierro, who was three-plus pounds over the 140-pound mandatory Friday, rocked Duarte repeatedly in the early rounds with a right, a lightning bolt of a punch. Fierro also got floored after the bell ending the fourth. But that right continued to land over the next couple of rounds.

Jose Tito Sanchez wakes up crowd, scores stoppage 

A restless, late-arriving crowd finally got a wake up call, delivered by Jose Tito Sanchez.

Sanchez (16-0, 10 KOs) threw a succession of powerful combinations that put Jorge Chavez down twice in the 10th, a round that finally got  fans out of their seats Saturday at T-Mobile Arena Saturday night on the Benavidez-Zurdo card.

After seven slow-paced bouts on the undercard, Sanchez struck. Suddenly, the crowd roared. It was as if Cinco de Mayo had finally arrived. Only Chavez (18-1-1, 14 KOs), a junior-featherweight from Tijuana, didn’t celebrate. 

First ,a five-punch combo dropped him flat on the canvas. Somehow, he got upright. But not for long. Sanchez, of Cathedral City CA,  quickly followed with another multi-punch combo, finishing Chavez at 2:30 of the 10th.

Ismael Flores scores 154-pound upset

Ismael Flores combined pressure to poise and added just enough patience to a thorough attack that left Isaac Lucero with only one option.

He backpedaled, backpedaled all the way into a  one-sided scorecard loss Saturday on the card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo Saturday at T-Mobile Arena

Flores (18-1-1, 12 KOs), a junior-middleweight from Argentina, sustained his tactical mix throughout 10 rounds, scoring a 98-92, 99-91, 98-92 upset of the favored Mexican, (18-1, 14 KOs), a 9-to-1 betting favorite at opening bell.

Blancas ices Salomon, wins decision

Daniel Blancas calls himself “The Ice Man.” Raul Salomon found out why.

Blancos, still an unbeaten (15-0, 7 KOs) super-middleweight from Milwaukee, repeatedly stopped Salomon’s forward pursuit throughout most of a hard-fought 10 rounds on Benavidez-Zurdo card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. 

It often looked as if the chilling sting in Blanco’s pouches froze Salomon (16-4-1, 14 KOs) in his tracks, leaving the Southern California fighter without many alternatives in a unanimous-decision loss

Capetillo escapes with narrow decision

Dylan Capetillo, a Las Vegas junior-welterweight, scored repeatedly throughout three-plus rounds and then held onto his scorecard advantage, eluding a late charge from James Pierce for a narrow decision Saturday in the fifth bout on a pay-per-view card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Capetillo won 39-37 on all three cards over Pierce (2-1, 2 KOs), a Phoenix fighte

Carrillo stays unbeaten, delivers body-shot KO

It only takes one punch and Jose Carrillo, of Colombia, threw it, a lethal body shot that sent Marlon Delgado onto the canvas and kept him there for a fifth-round knockout in the fourth bout Saturday on the card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo at T-Mobile Arena..

The punch suddenly reversed Carrillo’s fortunes. Through four rounds, Carrillo (15-0, 11 KOs) was losing to a more active and precise Delgado, an Ecuadorian who lost for the first time in nine light-heavyweight bouts (8-1, 6 KOs).

No knockdowns, no winner either

There were no knockdowns. No cuts or bruising punches..

In the end, there was no winner either.

Julio Ocampo Hernandez, a Washington fighter who trains at David Benavidez’ Seattle gym, and Carlos Lewis, of Oklahoma City, fought to a draw in the third bout on the Benavidez-Zurdo-featured card Saturday.

Neither lightweight could gain much of an advantage throughout the six rounds.One judge scored 58-56 for Hernandez (9-0-1, 5 KOs). One judge scored 58-56 for Lewis (5-1-1, 3 KOs). On the third scorecard, it was 55-55.

Junior-welterweight Javier Meza dominates, wins TKO

Junior welterweight Javier Meza had more hand speed, more power, more accuracy.

More of everything.

Meza (6-0, 3 KOs) overwhelmed Damonte Smith (3-1, 1 KO), an Iowa fighter was knocked down twice in the fourth and was finished, a TKO victim, in the fifth round of the second fight on the Benavidez-Zurdo card Saturday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.

First Bell: Middleweight Khamukov delivers opening salvo, wins decision

Sometime between brunch and lunch, the show opened in a ring with more people within the ropes than in the seats.

About eight hours before David Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez would enter the ring, middleweights Petr Khamukov (14-1,6 KOs) of Los Angeles and Bernard Joseph of Massachusetts got things started in an empty T-Mobile Arena.

With punches echoing throughout the venue, a more aggressive Khamukov, prevailed winning a 10-round unanimous decision, 99-91, 98-92, 99-91.

Follow all the action as Gilberto Ramirez defends the Unified Cruiserweight title against David Benavidez.  The card begins at 8 PM ET and will feature the WBA Super Middleweight title bout between Armando Resendiz and Jaime Munguia

THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY; NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1: Jab from Benavidez..Right hand backs Ramirez Up..right and left…Body shot from Ramirez,,,Blisteing combo from Benavidez

ROUND 2 Body shot and straight right from Benavidez..Right from Ramirez,,Body shot..Nice left hook from Benavidez…Jab From Ramirez..Jab from Benavidez..Left Hook..Body shot from Ramirez,,

ROUND 3 Left hook and right from Benavidez..Left..Right hook from Ramirez…Counter Hooks by both..Left hook frm Benavidez..Right

ROUND 4 Nice left from Benavidez..Left from Ramirez..Left hook to body from Benavidez..Nice Jab from Ramirez..Left from Benavidez..Big right rocks Ramirez…Blisteing shots and DOWN GOES RAMIREZ

ROUND 5 Speed Flurry from Benavidez..Double left hook..2 uppercuts..2 rights..body..Jab and combo from Ramirez

ROUND 6 Ramirez lands a body shot..Upprcut and body …2 lefts from Benavdiez,,Left from Ramirez…Right from Nenavidez…BODY SHOT AND DOWN GOES RAMIREZ,,,,THE FIGHT IS OVER

ROUND 1 Left hook from Munguia..Overhand right from Resendiz..Left hook from Munguia..Jab…

ROUND 2 Jab from Munguia…Hard Right..Right from Resendiz

ROUND 3  Right from Resendiz…Combination from Munguia…Body shot..Right from Resendiz..Left hook from Mungua..Jab to the body..Left Hook..Left Hook..

ROUND 4 Right to head from Munguia..Combination from Resendiz…Left hook from Munguia,..Right from Rsendiz..Combination from Mungua..Right and jab from Resendiz..

ROUND 5 Left hook to body from Munguia..Jab from both..Jab to body Munugia,,Right..6 uppercuts from Resendiz..Combination from Munguia..Right uppercut and left to the body

ROUND 6 Right uppercut and body shot from Munguia…

Round 7 Jab from Munguia..Body shot…Thudding shots

ROUND 8 Right uppercut and left hook from Munguia

ROUND 9 Ripping left hooks from Munguia..Big right from Resendiz

ROIMD 10 Munguia lands a uppercut..Right from Resendiz..Rught uppercut and left to the body from Munguia..

ROUND 11 Right from Munguia

ROUND 12 Hard left hook buckles a staggers Resendiz..Tremendous Action

117-111, 119-108 and 120 FOR JAIME MUNGUIA

Round 1: Jab from Duarte
Round 2 Body Duarte
Round 3 Conbinbation from Duarte
Round 4 Body shot from Duarte…Big left and down Goes Fierro after the bell
Round 5 Big shots from Duarte
Round 6 Big flurry from Fierro
Round 7 Hard right from Fierro
Round 8 Chopping right from Duarte…3 Jabs from Fierro
Round 9 Left hook from Duarte…Right from Fierro…Left from Duarte..Left to the body…Left to body
Round 10
Round 12 Duarte lands a right…Right from Fierro…3 punch combination

115-113 DUARTE…116-112 FIERRO….116-112 DUARTE

Round 1 Sanchez lands a body shot..Chavez lands a body shot
Round 2 Nice Body shot from Sanchez..Right from Chavez..Right uppercut from Sanchez…Chopping right from Chavez
Round 3 Body shot from Sanchez…Right uppercut on inside from Chavez,,Left to head from Sanchez…Right from Chavez..Body shot by Sanchez..Right uppercut on inside…Left uppercut from Chavez..
Round 4 Counter right from Chavez..Left hook from Chavez
Round 5 Left from Sanchez on the inside..2 lefts…Right from Chavez…2 lefts from Sanchez..Chavez lands a right
Round 6 Body shots from Sanxhez..Right to head..
Round 7 Sanchez lands a flurry at the end of the round
Round 8 Left for Sanchez
Round 9 Chavez lands a combination…right uppercut on inside…right from Sanchez..Toe to  toe war
Round 10 Right from Chavez…BIG LEFT FROM SANCHEZ AND DOWN GOES CHAVEZ…BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES CHAVEZ…FIGHT IS OVER

Round 1 Big right from Flores…Hard right…Punishing Lucero on the ropes…
Round 2 Lucero is cut around his right eye…Right from Flores…Left hook
Round 3 Left from Lucero…Right to the head,,Jab…Right from Flores
Round 4 Right from Lucero..Chopping right and left..Jab from Flores…Big right from Lucero..
Round 5 Flores lands a hard uppercut..Right..Lucero lands a body shot and lead right..Jab from Flores
Round 6 Overhand right from Lucero…
Round 7 Right from Flores…
Round 8 Right from Flores…Counter right…Right on the inside…
Round 9 Flurry from Flores…
Round 10 Counter right from Flores..Left..Jab…Hard right

98-92 TWICE AND 99-91 FOR FLORES

Naoya Inoue retained the Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Junto Nakatani in front of over 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome.

The long awaited mega fight was void of sustainable action over the first half of the fight. In that time Inoue was able to build a small leas as he was a bit more active especially with his counter right hand.

In round seven, Nakatani began to bleed from his nose. The two took turns winning rounds as the fight developed into more of a boxing match than the high action slugfest that many expected. Nakatani had some good moments in the later rounds, but was sowed by a headbutt in round 10 that caused a bad cut over his left eye. Inoue showed his championship mettle down the stretch as he was able to box well down the stretch and win by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113.

Inoue now is 33-0, while Nakatani falls to 32-1.

Takuma Inoue Decisions Ioka

Takuma Inoue defended the WBC Bantamweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over four-division world champion Kazuto Ioka.

At the end of round two, Inoue landed a counter right hand that set off four flush shots that was capped off by an uppercut that put Ioka down. Early in round three, another uppercut on the chin put Ioka down again.

Inoue of Yokohama, JAP won by scores of 118-108, 119-107 and 120-106 and is now 22-2. Ioka of Tokyo is 32-5-1.

Follow all the action as Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani square off in a mega fight for the Undisputed Super Bantamweight Championship

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Round 1: Jab from Inoue..Jab from Nakatani…Right from Inoue..Jab to Body

ROUND 2 Jab from Nakatani..Body shot from Inoue

ROUND 3 Jab from Nakatani…another one…Right from Inoue..Right…Good body shot

ROUND 4 Good shots Inoue..Left from Nakatani..

ROUND 5 Left from Nakatani..Right from Inoue…Nakatani lands a couple of body shots..Jab from Inoue

ROUND 6 Jab from Nakatani..Jab from Inoue…Jab from Nakatani..

ROUND 7 Combination from Nakatani…Inoue lands a right…Blood from the nose of Nakatani..Right from Inoue..

ROUND 8 Left from Nakatani..Jab from Inoue..Right..Jab…Combination from Nakatani

ROUND 9 Combination MakatanI..Combination..Right from Inoue..Uppercut from Nakatani..

ROUND 10 Combination from Inoue…Left from Nakatani..3 head shots..Clash of heads opens up cut over left eye of Nakatani…Right from Inoue

ROUND 11 Right from Inoue…Counter Uppercut..Right

ROUND 12 Left from Nakatani

116-112, 115-113 and 116-112 FOR INOUE

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – For the first time ever, David Benavidez is looking up to look into an opponent’s eyes.

It’s an unfamiliar sight, yet also a symbol, a metaphor of sorts for a fighter who was looked down upon for much of his career.

Two decades ago, he was a chubby 9-year-old running through ropes and bouncing off bags at the old Central Gym near downtown Phoenix. Mike Tyson was there, probably never knowing that one day he would call that kid the Mexican Monster.

His prizefighting career began without any of the attention so often focused upon Olympic boxers and Police Athletic League champions. Instead, he fought quietly in small Mexican towns south of the border with Arizona.

He won but nobody knew, or even cared. All of the attention was on his brother, Jose Benavidez Jr., a celebrated prospect, an amateur prodigy who won a national Golden Gloves title as a 16-year-old.

David was just little brother, a kid running around an old-school gym like it was a playground. There was never any sign that little brother might transform himself into a fighter as feared as perhaps any in today’s generation.

But here he is, still somewhat unknown, yet ready to show just how far he has traveled in a boxing career as unlikely as any.

The burden of proof is still there, but so is the opportunity to knock out old doubts Saturday night in a bid for a title in a third weight class against the bigger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena in a pay-per-view, Cinco de Mayo bout.

In a mock weigh-in Friday afternoon at the MGM Grand, Benavidez looked up into Ramirez eyes with an intensity that suggested his career path had finally reached a critical juncture. It was as if he was looking at all of the doubts he has long encountered and conquered.

“The doubters have always been there and are still there,’’ said Benavidez, who believes the bout against Zurdo is a chance for him to deliver an opening statement on how good he is and how much better he intends to be throughout the next decade.   

In many ways, his Cinco de May appearance is a multi-sided chance to finally and definitively introduce his ferocious skillset to an audience that still doubts, even about his right to call himself Mexican.

At a media event Thursday night celebrating the boxing history that has evolved around Cinco de Mayo, Julio Cesar Chavez, the face of Mexico’s great ring tradition, seemed to dismiss Benavidez, who has a Mexican father, Ecuadorian mom and grew up American on Phoenix’s westside streets

In Mexico, many don’t even know who he is, Chavez told reporters after a discussion and film that included his old rival, Oscar De La Hoya, Zurdo’s promoter.

As Benavidez stood in front of Ramirez, the intensity in his stare seemed to say that on Saturday all of Mexico will know and remember him.

“This is going to be my best performance to date,’’ he said.

But the risks are there. Benavidez, a former super-middleweight champion and current light-heavyweight champ, is jumping up 25 pounds in his bid to take two cruiserweight belts held by Zurdo, a popular and soft-spoken Mexican champion Mazatlan.

There’s no bigger jump in weight in boxing. The boiler-plate question, of course, is just how Benavidez will react. At the official weigh-in behind closed doors Friday morning Benavidez was at 196.8 pounds. Zurdo was at a sculpted 200-even.

Benavidez’ father-and-trainer, Jose Sr., wants his son to be at 210 pounds at opening bell Saturday night. Jose Sr. expects Zurdo to be at 225 pounds.

The extra pounds, Jose Sr. says, will fortify his son when Zurdo leans in on him. Still, the open question is just how David Benavidez, who was campaigning in the 168-pound division just a few years ago, reacts the first few times he feels Zurdo punches leveraged by about a 15-pound advantage.

For Benavidez, the answer might be the difference between instantly forgettable and forever memorable.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – Cinco De Mayo has its own boxing history, a lively legacy that starts with Julio Cesar Chavez in a bloodied line of succession that includes Oscar De La Hoya, then Floyd Mayweather and finally Canelo Alvarez.

A peaceful transition, it’s not. Never has been. From fight-to-fight, it’s ruthless as it is perilous, scarred and scary all at once.

Enter David Benavidez. Since Canelo’s scorecard loss to Terence Crawford, the hunt is on for a new successor, a crown prince ready to crown himself and anybody who stands in his way.

Whether he’s ready and able to be next is what’s at stake Saturday in big move upscale against a credible champion, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena.

Benavidez insists he is. He uses words like destiny. Zurdo says he will try his best to win. But Benavidez has eliminated the maybe from his language.

He will win, says the Phoenix born-and-forged fighter, a former super-middleweight champion and current light-heavyweight champ who is boldly moving up 25 pounds in a risky attempt to prove that Cinco De Mayo belongs to him.

“A championship in a third division will catapult me into a place along the greats,’’ he said Thursday during a final news conference at the MGM Grand.

He talks the part. Thursday, he looked the part.

He wore a sequined black coat, complete with black gloves, to the newser. It was as if he found the look in Michael Jackson’s old closet. It was one sign perhaps that he’s ready to be The Mexican Monster, a nickname Mike Tyson gave him. He’s ready to dance the Monster Mash all over Zurdo, who holds two titles yet is still the betting underdog.

“At the end of the day, I’m a bad m-effer, and I like to take the risks,’’ Benavidez said with a characteristic edge that he and his brother Jose Benavidez Jr., say was just part of growing up on Phoenix’s west-side streets.

They survived.

They thrived.

Over the last few years of prize-fighting success, some of that edge has moderated. There’s less trash talk, fewer profanities.

“Yeah, you’re right, we don’t trash-talk like we used to,’’ Jose Jr., a former junior-welterweight champion said. “Over the years, we’ve learned to respect opponents more. If they respect the craft, we respect them. You learn that.’’

David Benavidez referred to Zurdo, a former sparring partner, as a friend.

“I want to give a big shutout to Zurdo Ramirez,’’ David Benavidez said Thursday. “He’s always been a friend. I like him. I respect him and the way he goes about his business.

“That said, it’s time to go to war. I’m going to walk into the fire and walk out of that fire a winner. I like Zurdo a lot. But he’s never seen a fighter like me. I’m different.’’

Different enough, perhaps, to possess the Cinco De Mayo mantle and all that it means.

“I plan to fight 10 more years,’’ I want to be there, at the top, proving myself. I still have to do that. This a step in that direction.’’

Still, there are old rivalries, one  intense as ever. For years, a younger Benavidez called out Canelo with one profanity after another. But Canelo would never fight him. That possibility seems to have passed, gone away for good.

But the rivalry has not. It still burns hot. Canelo is expected to be in the arena Saturday. Officially, he’s there to support Jaime Munguia, who is fighting super-middleweight champion Armando Resendiz in the co-main. Munguia is trained by Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso.

But an inevitable question will follow Canelo to his ringside seat. To wit: Is he there to plot his own attempt at reclaiming the date he once owned? Benavidez is promising that he won’t give him that chance.

Even a question about Canelo brought back that old edge in a maturing, wiser Benavidez. The Boxing Hour asked him what he thought about fighting with Canelo in the audience. In part, the bout is a potential passing-of-the-torch, from Canelo to Benavidez. But don’t expect them to shake hands.

As Thursday’s news conference ended, news broke in The Ring that Canelo will come back in September against Christian Mbilli in Saudi Arabia. It’s a sign that Canelo won’t just surrender Cinco De Mayo to Benavidez or anybody else.

“They just announced it today,’’ Benavidez said in response to a question from The Boxing Hour.

“Who wants to see that? You guys want to see that?

“I’m not trying to be a (bleep), bro. But at the end of the day, nobody wants to see that shit. Who’s Mbilli?’’

For now, just somebody else in the way of a Benavidez quest for what he calls his destiny.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez is bigger than ever, both on the scale and the stage.

He commands a room with energy and charisma, delivering answers at the rate he throws punches. He’s moving up, moving fast. Stand in his way at your own peril. He’s an incoming stampede.

His momentum– all of it — was there Wednesday in a ring at one end of the MGM Grand’s casino floor. The sports book was at one side. A restaurant on the other. Center stage belonged to Benavidez, who entertained a gathering crowd of onlookers and then tirelessly spoke to one group of reporters after another.

There’s an old line about winning the news conference. There was no debate about it Wednesday. It was Benavidez, undisputed in every way.

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the champion, was there, but almost as an afterthought in a promotional step toward a cruiserweight showdown Saturday in a Cinco de Mayo celebration at T-Mobile Arena.

On paper, at least, Zurdo has all the advantages. He’s taller, tall enough to look down at Benavidez, who has never had to look up to look into an opponent’s eyes. Zurdo knows the cruiserweight division.

Like an old pair of shoes, it seems to be perfect fit for Zurdo, who won a title in March 2024 and defended twice.  Meanwhile, Benavidez is trying it on for the first time in a jump up in weight bigger and perhaps as daunting as any in boxing.

Twenty-five pounds pack a punch that many believe will provide Zurdo with enough of an advantage to steal the evident momentum and imminent stardom from Benavidez

“We’ll see,’’ Zurdo, a popular Mexican, said in a tone that was hard to judge.

Cautious?

Confident?

We’ll see.

In Benavidez’ tone, however, there was no room for guessing. No mistake, either, about what he intends in his bid to win a title at a third weight. As he stepped out of the ring after an entertaining display of his trademark hand speed, the ring announcer closed the show by saying he’s “looking to become” a three-division champion.

Benavidez quickly amended that.

“I’m not looking to become,’’ the Phoenix-forged fighter said into the microphone. “I will be a three-belt champion.’’

For now, there’s not much disagreement. Benavidez has been a solid betting favorite since the fight was announced. Even Zurdo’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, picked Benavidez to win what he predicts will be A Fight of the Year contender.

“I’m going to pick Benavidez to win by a haymaker,’’ said De La Hoya, who also suggested that Benavidez’ vulnerability might be his chin.

Zurdo has power and precision, according to De La Hoya. A precise shot from Zurdo could result in an upset, said De La Hoya, who apparently won’t be betting on that possibility.

What’s clear is that Benavidez is going into the fight pursuing a dominant victory. He wants to make a statement about credentials that’ll keep him in the pound-or-pound debate for a decade.

“I plan on doing this for the next 10 years,’’ he said.

And he plans to do it at the top of the game, which might mean nine more appearances on the Cinco de Mayo weekend that once belonged to Canelo Alvarez.

The date’s former owner is expected to be in the audience. Canelo, scheduled for a comeback in September from his loss to Terence Crawford, plans to be ringside for the Eddy Reynoso-trained Jaime Munguia against super-middleweight Armando Resendiz.

He’ll also get a look at whether Benavidez can prove that his Cinco de Mayo appearance is more permanent than temporary. 

By Norm Frauenheim

The witnesses outnumbered the Senators

Only three of the 28 members of the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee showed up for a hearing that some say could lead to a bill that changes boxing. But the 25 empty seats seemed to say something else. Maybe, the absent Senators were busy kissing Donald Trump’s ring or campaigning for his impeachment.

Ted Cruz was there instead of Cancun. Then again, the Texas Republican had to be. He’s the committee Chairman.  Who else was going to ring that silly, cringe-worthy bell? It echoed throughout the room. But the commanding stage was mostly empty. So was the hearing, perhaps because we’ve already heard it all.

The hearing loomed as another step toward what many believe will be the passage of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. It’s being sold as a rewritten version of the Ali Boxing Reform Act, first passed in 1996.

Throughout the last three-plus decades, however, boxing has proven, ad nauseam, that it can’t be revived or reformed.

Or regulated.

It’s not clear how many of the committee’s absent Senators know much about boxing, or how it has governed itself.

Their committee also oversees the Coast Guard. I’m not sure even it could save boxing from itself.

The guess in this corner: Some of the Senators, like a lot of fans, don’t care anymore. It’s on the fringe, pushed there by its inherent chaos, which is often charming yet also a flaw as permanent as a nasty scar.

The testimony Wednesday in Washington DC from opponents Oscar De La Hoya and Ali grandson Nico Ali Walsh and supporter Nick Khan, a TKO Group/Zuffa Boxing executive, was competent enough.

De La Hoya, Olympic gold medalist and popular multi-divisional champion, voiced his position in boiler-plate fashion. He was there, he said, to support the first Ali Act. He said it was working the way it was designed, meaning the fighters get a lion’s share of the revenue.

De La Hoya, a Hall-of-Fame fighter was speaking in behalf of the current generation, supporting

boxers instead the billionaires.

As De La Hoya spoke, however, it was hard to forget his role in giving Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh an honorary induction into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NBHOF) before Alashikh’s American debut in Terence Crawford’s 154-pound victory over Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles in 2024. It was embarrassing.

Kahn, a lawyer, was thorough in giving his reasons why the rewritten Ali Act would help bring back money and major networks. Khan blamed the acronyms for the ridiculous accumulation of titles. He’s right, of course. But there are no Four Kings – Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran – in today’s generation of fighters. Without them, HBO eventually – inevitably – moved on.

From the TKO/Zuffa group, there is also the introduction of another acronym, UBC, Unified Boxing Organizations. Move over WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO, make room for UBC. Acronyms in, acronyms out.

TKO/Zuffa promises enhanced medical care and better money per round for apprentice fighters. But, Ali Walsh argues, that’s just window dressing on a bid to monopolize the sport with long term contracts and rules that would limit what they have been able to earn under the original Ali Act.

Increasingly, the rewritten Ali Act includes devils in the details that look a lot like the UFC model, which resulted in a $375 million settlement in a UFC move to resolve two antitrust lawsuits filed by about 1,200 fighters.

Examples include what Zuffa fighters wear and collect in endorsements. Zuffa fighters wear a Zuffa uniform. Manny Pacquiao once got $2.25 million for wearing an ad on his trunks. Zuffa would have taken a sizable percentage of that, according to reports of what the UBC is planning. It’s a fee, not unlike the controversial sanctioning fees charged by the current acronyms.

Does anybody really think that Shakur Stevenson, recently stripped of a WBC belt for not paying a sanctioning fee, would salute and pay one to a UBC for an ad on his trunks? Didn’t think so. The rewritten bill calls itself American, but nothing could be more un-American.

From Walsh’s perspective, it’s just one detail, a single stitch in TKO/Zuffa’s plan to conquer and monopolize a balkanized sport populated by young fighters, who have worked like individual entrepreneurs. At opening bell, only they are at risk.

UBC control, Ali Walsh said, “removes independence. When that happens, you fight who you’re told to fight, or you don’t fight at all. At that point, real choice disappears…”

Few were ever as independent in word and deed than a grandfather who sacrificed a prime part of his career by saying what he thought in opposition to the Vietnam War.

If the rewritten Ali Act passes, his grandson wants boxing’s most revered name removed from it.

Don’t take Ali’s name in vain.

Carbajal Classic

Michael Carbajal is known for a lot of classics. This weekend he’ll sponsor one.

Carbajal, a Phoenix Hall of Famer and an all-time great in the lightest weight classes, will stage an amateur tournament this weekend at Shrine Auditorium located at 552 North 40^th Street in Phoenix.

The Michael Carbajal Classic, a USA Boxing sanctioned tournament, begins with preliminaries Friday at 5 p.m. It will continue Saturday and Sunday. 

By Norm Frauenheim

Cinco de Mayo, known for history in one century and hangovers in this one, goes global in a couple of weeks with a Las Vegas-Tokyo doubleheader sure to enhance the date’s significance to boxing.

From Madison Square Garden to Wembley Stadium, the where has always been meaningful, but that when matters more now than ever.

The first weekend in May is center stage. That’s when and where Naoya Inoue will be against Junto Nakatani in Tokyo, when and where David Benavidez will be against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, both on May 2, three days before the 164th anniversary of a stunning Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla.

Old military victories fade away like statues of the soldiers who fought them, but this date has evolved, recreating itself within the ropes. The day’s significance was not lost on Benavidez, who quickly began to lobby for the date after Canelo Alvarez’ loss to Terence Crawford last September.

Benavidez couldn’t get a fight with Canelo, so he took the next best thing. The Phoenix-forged fighter took the date that Canelo owned for years in a reign that earned him huge wealth and celebrity. Will it, all of it, eventually belong to Benavidez?

That fight begins May 2 in a risky move up the scale to cruiserweight against Zurdo, a popular Mexican champion and the betting underdog who surely hopes to repeat some of his country’s history.

Benavidez and his father-trainer, Jose Sr., have no illusions. They are promising a kind of dominance that will suggest they – like Canelo – will own the day. Already, it’s significance is evident in its impact on Benavidez’ career.

Still a light-heavyweight champion, Benavidez first appeared among the second five in pound-for-pound rankings a few months ago. Now, he’s ranked No. 5, according to some. Does he belong there? Cinco de Mayo includes a party and a double-shot burden of 180-proof for anybody who wants it.

The day’s significance for the world’s best is the same in any language. In Japanese, that means Inoue. His May 2nd junior-featherweight title defense against Nakatani is being called the biggest prize-fight in a Japanese history that already includes the biggest upset ever – Buster Douglas’ stoppage of Mike Tyson February 11, 1990.

The Tokyo Dome crowd for Douglas-Tyson was estimated to be 40,000. No estimate necessary for Inoue-Nakatani, also at the Dome. It sold out – 55,000 — March 31, more than a month before opening bell.

Inoue is a solid favorite over Nakatani, about a 3-to-1 underdog who has been training in Los Angeles since he was a teenager. Still, the fight – much like Benavidez-Zurdo – is loaded with potential drama inherent to a match between Japan’s face of boxing and a Japanese challenger. The bout also includes its own pound-for-pound implications. Inoue is a consensus No. 2, behind heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.

Yet, Usyk is scheduled to fight a kickboxer in his next bout, scheduled for May 23 in Egypt. That’s a factor, motivation perhaps for Inoue to prove that the pound-for-pound No. 1 belongs to him. Nakatani won yet struggled in his last fight in December on a Riyadh card featured by Inoue.

But Nakatani might have learned from a problematic performance. He’s also taller and has a longer, one-inch advantage in reach. Even more significant, he’s younger. Nakatani is 28, squarely in his prime.

Inoue, a four-division champion who had a birthday on April 10, is 33. Historically, fighters from the lightest weight classes age faster. If anybody is an exception, it’s Inoue.

Throughout his career, the former 108-pound champion has been at his dynamic best when he’s in the most peril, which is what he might be facing in Nakatani.

That’s why Inoue is called The Monster, also Benavidez’ nickname. After May 2, there’s a pretty good chance that there’ll be only one Monster.

That’s what we’ve come to expect from Cinco de Mayo, a monster day.

Fight Club PHX set for Saturday

Outdoor boxing is scheduled for Saturday (April 18/6 p.m.) at the Arizona Center in downtown Phoenix.

Micky Scala (12-1, 6 KOs), a middleweight from Mesa who has been fighting on the East Coast, is the featured boxer in a Northstar Sports Advocates-promoted event – Fight Club PHX — that will open with MMA bouts. Vendors and live music are also planned.

Former welterweight champion and current analyst Shawn Porter is expected to be among the celebrities.

Notes on a scorecard

A report by The Athletic that the Saudis plan to stop funding LIV Golf, an alternate to the PGA, is raising questions about the Saudi investment in boxing.

Without oil money, could there have been Canelo-versus-Crawford?

Canelo collected a purse reported to be more than $100 million. Crawford, the winner, earned a reported $50 million.

The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has impacted Saudi oil revenue, according to reports. Canelo is supposed to make his comeback Sept. 12 in Riyadh.

By Norm Frauenheim

Youth defines Xander Zayas and will continue to do so through at least his challenging date against Jaron “Boots” Ennis in an intriguing crossroads fight for both.

For the 23-year-old Zayas, it looms as an early milestone, a measure of maturity in his career path from a high school kid with a Top Rank contract.

For the 28-year-old Ennis, it’s an opportunity to finally deliver on his long-advertised potential, including a place among pound-for-pound contenders.

It’s compelling, mostly because it’s a steppingstone, a stage for the future. For now, it looks as if the key to that future is there for Ennis. 

Seemingly, he’s been emerging for years, always at the edge of crashing the pound-for-pound party but never quite getting there perhaps because of inactivity or Terence Crawford’s long reign of dominance.

Crawford is retired. The formal announcement this week of Ennis’ 154-pound bout June 27 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center is a sign of renewed possibilities in a very active division. Never has Ennis had a better chance to announce his arrival. He talked as if he knew that at a formal news conference this week

“I think Xander bit off way more than he can chew,’’ Ennis, a former unified welterweight champion, said Wednesday in Brooklyn. “Come fight night, he’ll see. I’m going to show everyone that I’m the best in the world.”

Betting odds suggest that’s exactly what Ennis will do. He’s about a 3-to-1 favorite. By knockout?

“For sure,” Ennis said.

Given the difference in their ages, it’s an irony that Ennis, 1-0 at 154, is the challenger. With two pieces of the junior-middleweight title, Zayas is boxing’s youngest current champion.

But youth, often called fickle, might be Zayas’ problem against Ennis, who at 147 occupied and conquered bigger stages. That, at least, is a theory, one that helps explain the early odds.

“There’s levels to this and I’m going to show him that,’’ Ennis said. “It’s about legacy for me. I want to show the world why I’m the best.”

Legacy is one of the most overused words in sport. As Ennis enters his prime, however, he might have a better understanding of what it means than Zayas, still more prodigy than legend. For Ennis, legacy is now. For Zayas, it’s tomorrow.

Despite the promise and plaudits attached to champions barely out of their teens, the experience can often be a crucible.

David Benavidez, a Phoenix-forged fighter, is just the latest example. Benavidez — a former two-time champion, yet still unbeaten – won his first 168-pound title when he was 20, making him the youngest champion in the history of the super-middleweight division. He beat Ronald Gavril in 2017. Then, the belt was stripped because of a positive drug test.

A couple of years later, Benavidez regained the title, stopping Andre Dirrell.

In his first defense of his second title in 2020, an overweight Benavidez lost it on the scale and then took out his frustration with a punishing stoppage of Roamer Alexis Angulo. He was 23-0, 23 years-old and – yet suddenly — a two-time ex-champion without a loss on the ledger. Growing-up is hard to do.

Benavidez has. In what is still an evolving career, he has moved beyond 168 and Canelo Alvarez to a prime-time resume that includes a light-heavyweight belt and a much-anticipated Cinco de Mayo date May 2 in a bid to take Gilberto “Zurdo’’ Ramirez’ cruiserweight titles. He’s added a commanding personal presence to his command of the ring.

For Zayas, however, there are lessons from Benavidez’ formative years. There are also a couple of notable parallels: Zayas is 23-0 and 23-years-old. Welcome to the crucible.

Ennis wasn’t the only one to talk legacy Wednesday. Zayas did too.

“It’s always been about legacy,’’ said Zayas, a Puerto Rican living in Florida who grew up wanting to be Miguel Cotto in a Puerto Rican lineage that also includes Wilfredo Benitez, a 17-year-old champion, still the youngest ever. “Becoming the youngest world champion at 22 when I did it. Youngest unified world champion. And now fighting one of the best in the world in the division. It’s about legacy.’’

Maybe lessons, too. 

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – It was not pretty, but lightweight contender Andres Cortes was successful in his lightweight debut, scoring a unanimous decision over Eridson Garcia in the ten-round main event of Zuffa Boxing 05 at the Meta Apex on Sunday night. 

Neither fighter imposed themself in the opening rounds and the fight was a bit of a clunky southpaw-orthodox clash for much of the contest. Both fighters had trouble finding their range and proper footing, as they smothered their offense in close for much of the bout. 

Cortes (25-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas had more facets and Garcia (23-2, 14 KOs) of Houston, Texas never found a rhythm over the ten rounds. 

Garcia, 135, was deducted a point for excessive holding in the fourth, which seemed to momentarily light a spark for both fighters, as action picked up in the immediate aftermath. 

Cortes, 135, landed with an overhand right early in the fifth and closed the sixth pressing the action after some of the more heated exchanges in the bout began the round. The overhand right was a consistent weapon for Cortes, including in the seventh. By the eighth, Garcia looked a bit dejected and Cortes continued to potshot and evade or get so far inside that neither really had a clear opening. 

In the end, all three official judges scored the bout for Cortes, as judge Steve Weisfeld had it 97-92, judge Max DeLuca had it 96-93 and judge Patricia Morse Jarman had it close, 95-94. 

Cortes, who entered the bout as the WBO #4/WBC #5 ranked super featherweight, called out Mark Magsayo, who was impressive in the co-feature, as they have now positioned themselves as two of the top lightweights on the Zuffa Boxing roster.

Former featherweight title holder Mark Magsayo (29-2, 19 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines looked sensational in scoring a one-sided fifth-round stoppage of former title challenger Feargal McCrory (17-2 9 KOs) of New York, New York by way of Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. 

Magsayo, 134, controlled much of the first and second with his speed and combinations, including doubling up on the right hand to great effect. Before the end of the first, McCrory, 135, was bloodied above the right eye. The Filipino was also an elusive target for McCrory’s return attempts throughout the fight. 

Magsayo continued his boxing masterclass in the third, landing combinations to the body and head and getting out of danger when McCrory would find a moment to fire back. Magsayo continued to be too quick for McCrory in the fourth, as the Irishman could not keep up with his opponent’s varied offense and ring generalship on defense. Late in the round, Magsayo uncorked an overhand right that sent McCrory reeling to the ropes. Magsayo closed the round punishing the Irishman with both hands. McCrory roared towards the crowd at the bell after absorbing the beating, showing his toughness. 

It would be a moot demonstration, as McCrory’s corner signaled to referee Robert Hoyle to call a halt to the bout at the first sign of trouble in the opening moments of fifth, much to the dismay of McCrory, who kicked his mouthpiece across the ring in disgust. 

The time of the stoppage came at 21 seconds of round five. Magsayo, who entered as the IBF #5/WBO #12 ranked lightweight, looks to have adapted well to the 135-pound weight class.

Fighting one-handed for much of the bout, veteran featherweight contender Azat Hovhannisyan (23-6, 17 KOs) of Glendale, Arizona by way of Yerevan, Armenia took a step forward back towards contention with a ten-round majority decision over former title challenger Eduardo Baez (25-8-2, 10 KOs) of Calexico, California by way of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. 

Hovhannisyan, 126, hurt his left hand in the early going, made evident as he continually shook it out in the opening rounds. Baez, 125, came on as Hovhannisyan adjusted to the injury in the second round of the fight. 

Hovhannisyan had a successful third, using his left hand mostly to measure Baez and loading up on power right hands. Despite limited use of his left, Hovhannisyan dominated the round. During a good exchange in the fourth, time was called so referee Allen Huggins could warn Hovhannisyan for a low blow. 

Baez pressed forward in the fifth. There was solid two-way action late in the round, as Hovhannisyan landed clean off the corner, before Baez fired back and landed with the right. Hovhannisyan got a little leeway from Huggins as he pressed down with his left and landed with his overhand right in the sixth and at various moments as the fight progressed. Baez had his moments in a competitive sixth as well.

Hovhannisyan was warned for holding after landing with an upper cut in the seventh. Baez landed with a solid right that got Hovhannisyan to hold for a moment before the Armenian veteran opened up with a minute left in the round. 

Hovhannisyan got busy to start the eighth, but Baez landed in spots. Hovhannisyan flicked out his left, but not aiming to land with it. Hovhannisyan landed with a wild right uppercut from distance and continually looked to land his overhand right. 

Hovhannisyan outworked Baez in the ninth and the two closed out the fight exchanging shots in the tenth before the bell rang and the bout went to the cards. 

Judge Sal D’Amato scored the fight even, 95-95, but was overruled by judge Jack Reiss, 97-93, and judge Steve Weisfeld, 96-94, for the Armenian former title challenger. Hovhannisyan swept the last four rounds on the decisive card of Weisfeld to claim the decision.

In a pairing of previously unbeaten featherweights, Alexis De La Cerda (9-0, 5 KOs) of Federal Way, Washington scored a highlight reel third-round knockout of Ervin Fuller III (12-1, 6 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland. 

After a feeling out first round, De La Cerda, 125.5, was more aggressive in the second as Fuller, 125.5, struggled to get on track with his offense in the early going. The Maryland native was having his moments early in the third, landing to De La Cerda’s body. Things changed quickly as De La Cerda landed clean with a brutal right hand from his toes. Fuller was out before he hit the mat, face down near the ropes. Referee Robert Hoyle immediately called a halt to the bout at 2:33 of the third. 

Stepping up to the big stage for the first time in his career, Tony Hirsch Jr. (8-0-2, 4 KOs) of Oakland, California met the moment and hung the first loss on the record of lightweight prospect Robert Meriwether III (10-1, 4 KOs) of Las Vegas via eighth-round majority decision. 

Meriwether, 135, started boxing well in the opening rounds before Hirsch, 134, made the adjustments and took control of the fight by the midway point of the eight-rounder. Hirsch had a very strong fifth round and looked more energetic as the action stayed on the inside for much of the stanza. Hirsch landed clean with some popping right hands in the sixth, continuing his momentum through the seventh as Meriwether’s corner shouted for their fighter to let his hands go. Hirsch landed well with right hands early in the eighth and the solid action fight closed with a back-and-forth exchange. 

Judge Chris Migliore handed in the even card, 76-76, but was overruled by judge Steve Weisfeld, 78-74, and judge Lisa Giampa, 77-75, for Hirsch. 

Junior middleweight prospect Jorge Maravillo (12-0-1, 9 KOs) of Salinas, California overcame a slow start to halt Elias Diaz (15-4, 8 KOs) of National City, California in the fifth round of a scheduled eight. 

Diaz, 147, started the fight boxing well as Maravillo, 149.5, kept his offense holstered in stretches and had trouble landing anything meaningful in the opening rounds. The fight began to turn in the early moments of the fifth round as Maravillo hurt Diaz to the body.

Maravillo capitalized on his momentum and landed with a clean right upstairs in an exchange that instantly changed the fight. Diaz could never clear his head and Maravillo kept up the pressure, eventually downing the National City resident with another right. Diaz made it to his feet, but Maravillo soon had him backed into the red corner, taking punches. Referee Thomas Taylor leaped in to make the save, calling a halt to the action at 2:46 of the fifth. At the time of the stoppage, Maravillo was down 39-37 and 40-36 twice on the official scorecards.

The question for Maravillo going forward is whether he can make the 147-pound welterweight limit, as his promoter Zuffa Boxing has pledged to limit the weight classes it recognizes. Tonight’s bout was to be contested at 148 pounds, as Nevada has a one pound over contract allowance. Maravillo came in one-and-one-half pounds over that allowance at Saturday’s weigh-in and has not made welterweight in five years. 

In his second appearance under the Zuffa Boxing banner, Troy Nash (7-0-1, 1 KO) of Colorado Springs, Colorado scored a decisive-looking eight-round decision over a game Bryan Rodriguez (8-2, 1 KO) of Donna, Texas, but settled for a majority decision in the night’s curtain raiser. 

Scheduled for the eight-round distance for the first time in their pro careers, Nash, 127, and Rodriguez, 127.5, began at a measured pace. By the third round, the fight settled into a rhythm, with Rodriguez pressing forward and Nash playing the role of counter-puncher. As the fight progressed into the later rounds, Rodriguez was less successful offensively. Nash opened up and let his hands go in combination, while still maintaining his elusiveness on defense. 

Judge Patricia Morse Jarman scored the bout even, 76-76, but was overruled by judge Lisa Giampa, who had it a shutout for Nash, 80-72, and judge Sal D’Amato, who scored the bout 79-73. 

Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+ returns to the Meta Apex on May 10th as Shane Mosley Jr. meets Serhii Bohachuk in the ten-round main event.

Photos by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

Longtime super featherweight contender Andres Cortes makes the move north five pounds to the fairly wide-open lightweight division against once-beaten Eridson Garcia in the Paramount+ main event of Zuffa Boxing 05 on Easter Sunday night. The intriguing ten-round bout between two guys that have not appeared to be fond of one another in the lead-up to Sunday caps a seven-bout card from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighters weighed-in early Saturday morning at the host venue. 

Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas seemed to be one win away from a world title opportunity for the last 2 ½ years, perhaps squandering his last audition with a lackluster ten-round decision on the Emmanuel Navarrete-Charly Suarez undercard last May. On that night, Cortes moved past unheralded Salvador Jimenez, but failed to make himself a marketable opponent for 130-pound champion Navarrete. Since, Cortes, the WBO #4/WBC #5 ranked super featherweight, stopped overmatched Derlyn Hernandez-Gerarldo before signing with Zuffa and announcing his move to 135 pounds. Cortes weighed-in at the 135-pound lightweight limit at Saturday’s weigh-in. 

Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs) of Houston, Texas made a statement as he himself moved up to lightweight in his last bout. Garcia met well-regarded Japanese prospect Taiga Imanaga on the Naoya Inoue-David Picasso undercard last December and sealed a close fight with a picture perfect right hand to score a knockdown in the eighth round of a ten-round bout. After closing the final two rounds with punishing left hands, Garcia edged the cards to score the split decision. Garcia, still the WBO #9/WBA #14 ranked 130-pounder despite fighting for the second straight time at lightweight, weighed-in at 135-pounds on Saturday morning. 

Former featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo (28-2, 18 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines will take on former title challenger Feargal McCrory (17-1 9 KOs) of New York, New York by way of Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in a ten-round lightweight bout in the co-feature. 

Magsayo, the IBF #5/WBO #12 ranked lightweight, had actually dropped back down to super featherweight to score a win over Jorge Mata on the Mario Barrios-Manny Pacquiao undercard in Las Vegas last July. Despite his lofty rankings at 135-pounds, Magsayo had only fought north of 130 twice against nondescript opposition. With his new promoter Zuffa Boxing not recognizing the 130-pound weight class, Magasayo will now campaign at lightweight full-time, weighing 134 pounds on Saturday morning. 

McCrory has fought north of 130-pounds for much of his career, but trimmed down to the super featherweight limit as he got into contention and ultimately met up with titleholder Lamont Roach in a failed bid at the WBA belt in June of 2024. McCrory hit the canvas three times prior to the eighth-round stoppage, but regrouped since to stop Keenan Carbajal in eight last March. McCrory weighed-in at the lightweight limit of 135 pounds on Saturday.  

In a make-or-break fight of sorts, veterans Azat Hovhannisyan (22-6, 17 KOs) of Glendale, Arizona by way of Yerevan, Armenia and Eduardo Baez (25-7-2, 10 KOs) of Calexico, California by way of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico will meet in a ten-round featherweight bout to open the main broadcast. 

Hovhannisyan is best remembered for his super bantamweight title eliminator defeat to Luis Nery in what was one of the better fights of 2023. Hovhannisyan, who had previously failed in a bid for a portion of the 122-pound crown against Rey Vargas back in 2018, was stopped on his feet in the eleventh by Nery, which set off a three-fight skid. Hovhannisyan got back into the win column last time out: an eight-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Aidos Medet this past January. Hovhannisyan weighed-in at the featherweight limit of 126 pounds on Saturday. 

Former title challenger Baez enters on a two-fight win streak having taken on tough opposition for much of his career. In his failed title bid, Baez succumbed to a vicious body shot from power-punching champion Emanuel Navarrete in round six of a bout back in 2022. Since, Baez has provided a stiff test to top prospects and contenders to mixed results. Baez scaled 125 pounds at Saturday’s weigh-in.

In the preliminary card main event, unbeaten Alexis De La Cerda (8-0, 4 KOs) of Federal Way, Washington will meet fellow unblemished prospect Ervin Fuller III (12-0, 6 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland in a ten-round featherweight bout. 

De La Cerda has built his resume mostly in the Pacific Northwest, but did make a Las Vegas appearance defeating journeyman Sharone Carter via third-round stoppage in March of last year. Fuller comes off of a sixth-round unanimous decision over tougher-than-his-record Erik Ruiz this past January. The bout is a step-up for both and De La Cerda and Fuller both scaled an identical 125.5 pounds on Saturday morning. 

In an eight-round lightweight bout, Robert Meriwether III (10-0, 4 KOs) of Las Vegas returns to the Meta Apex to take on Tony Hirsch Jr. (7-0-2, 4 KOs) of Oakland, California. Meriwether impressed in his Zuffa Boxing debut, scoring a mostly one-sided six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Cesar Correa in January. Hirsch, the 24-year-old son of former rugged gatekeeper of the middleweight and super middleweight division of the same name, last saw action in December, scoring a six-round decision over journeyman William Flenoy in Stockton, California. Meriwether weighed-in at 135, while Hirsch came in at 134 pounds on Saturday.

Jorge Maravillo (11-0-1, 8 KOs) of Salinas, California attempted to drop back down to welterweight for the first time in nearly five years to take on Elias Diaz (15-3, 8 KOs) of National City, California in an eight-rounder. Maravillo fought just once last year, bouncing back from a draw against fellow Zuffa fighter Damoni Cato-Cain in 2024, to shutout longtime journeyman Cameron Krael in a six-rounder back in November. Diaz is coming off a July 2025 loss to .500 fighter Sergio Garcia Herrera, who may be much improved since he went on to defeat previously unbeaten Jose Vargas last December. Maravillo weighed-in 2.5 pounds above the welterweight limit and thus 1.5 pounds more than the contract allowed at 149.5 pounds on Saturday. Diaz made the welterweight limit of 147. 

In the featherweight opener, Troy Nash (6-0-1, 1 KO) of Colorado Springs, Colorado returns to the Meta Apex, site of his thrilling decision victory over Jaycob Ramos back in January, to take on once-beaten Bryan Rodriguez (8-1, 1 KO) of Donna, Texas in a eight-rounder. 

Nash, who has taken the path of most resistance in his young career, ends a six-fight streak of meeting undefeated opponents on Sunday night. Ramos, who entered their contest 4-0, pushed “The Bank” in the maiden bout for Zuffa Boxing, but Nash won over the judges with his jab and boxing acumen. 

Rodriguez bounced back from an upset defeat by springing an upset decision of his own over previously unbeaten, Robert Garcia-trained Daniel Cortez (11-0) last November. Nash weighed-in at the contracted maximum of 127-pounds, while Rodriguez came in heavy at 127.5 pounds, 1.5 pound above the featherweight limit and thus half a pound over the allowed weight. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Lightweights, 10 Rounds

Cortes 135

Garcia 135

Lightweights, 10 Rounds 

Magsayo 134

McCrory 135

Featherweights, 10 Rounds

Hovhannisyan 126

Baez 125

Featherweights, 8 Rounds

De La Cerda 125.5

Fuller III 125.5

Lightweights, 8 Rounds

Meriwether III 135

Hirsch Jr. 134

Welterweights, 8 Rounds

Maravillo 149.5*

Diaz 147

Featherweights, 8 Rounds

Nash 127

Rodriguez 127.5**

*Maravillo weighed-in 1.5 pounds over contracted weight

**Rodriguez weighed-in .5 over contracted weight 

Tickets for the event, promoted by Zuffa Boxing, are available online at AXS.com 

Photos by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

By Norm Frauenheim

Floyd Mayweather cast doubt last Saturday on whether his September 19 sequel with Manny Pacquiao will be documented as a real fight and where it’ll happen, but tickets were available this week for a date already scheduled on the Las Vegas Sphere’s calendar.

Tickets, priced from $1,882 to $29,214, were up for sale on the Sphere’s website Thursday amid controversy raised by Mayweather, whose comments suggested the event was not the done deal it seemed to be when announced February 23 by Netflix and CSI Sports.

During a busy boxing day dominated by Sebastian Fundora’s stoppage of Keith Thurman last weekend, Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today that the venue was uncertain.

“We don’t know if it’s a hundred percent going to be there,’’ Mayweather said during a reported meet-and-greet at Caesars Palace.

Days later, however, the MSG-sponsored Sphere is moving forward as if it is certain.

Mayweather also told Vegas Sports Today that the fight would not count in the official record book, which has him at 50-0 after a boxing victory over then MMA star Conor McGregor in August 2017.

“This is not actually a fight,’’ Mayweather said. “It’s an exhibition.”

In a video posted by Source of Boxing, Pacquiao countered, saying he didn’t sign up for an exhibition.

“…he signed a real contract,’’ says Pacquiao, who lost a 2015 decision to Mayweather in a much-hyped fight remembered mostly for the record-setting pay-per-view revenue. “Yes, the contract that we signed is a real fight. I wouldn’t fight an exhibition.’’

There’s a theory that Mayweather is attempting to re-negotiate, because he wants to protect his official record. He might need money, but he still values the 0 on the loss side of the ledger more than anything. It’s his identity. Maybe, his future. He’ll be 50 next year. One loss might ruin the birthday party.

From the Netflix and Sphere point of view, however, that risk is part of the drama, a compelling reason to watch. After all, the first fight, more than a decade ago, was a dud.

As of Thursday, it’s not clear whether Mayweather thinks he’s found a loophole that will allow him to re-negotiate. The Pacquiao camp is certain he does not.

Mayweather is in breach of contract,

Jas Mathur, Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO, told ESPN and Boxing Scene.  Now, there are reports that Mathur is demanding Mayweather re-confirm that he intends to fulfill the terms that –Pacquiao says — he agreed to.

Will he? Mayweather, a calculating and clever master of the feint within the ring, also uses it outside of it. Keep them guessing, before and after opening bell.

He’s done it often enough to think he’s trying to do it all over again. It also might help explain the odds. Mayweather opened as a slight betting favorite, minus 175. A couple of days later, money came in on Mayweather, making him more of a favorite, minus 190.

There are no odds on whether the fight, real or not, happens at all.

Not yet anyway.

Sebastian Fundora stopped former unified world champion Keith Thurman in round six to retain to the WBC Super Welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Fundora took the first three round to establish his jab and follow with right hands and uppercuts.

In round three, Thurman started to swell around the right eye. In round six, Thurman’s left eye was a bloody mess. In round six, Fundora turned up the pressure and began to batter Thurman all over the ring and the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Fundora, 153.6 lbs of Coachella, CA is 24-1-1 with 16 knockouts. Thurman152.6 lbs of Clearwater, FL is 31-2.

Tellez Decisions Mendoza

Yoenis Tellez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Brian Mendoza in a super welterweight bout.

In round two, Tellez was cut badly on his nose from an accidental headbut.

In round eight, Mendoza was cut around the left eye from an accidental haedbutt.

Tellez landed 147 of 435 punches. Mendoza was 125 of 501.

Tellez, 153.8 lbs of Santiago De Cuba, CUB won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 12-1. Mendoza, 153.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 23-5.

Hernandez Stops Gausha in 5

Yoenli Hernandez stopped former two-time world title challenger in round five of their 10-round middleweight fight.

Hernandez landed thudding power shots throughout until the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Hernandez, 158.4 lbs of Camaguay, CUB is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Gausha, 160.8 lbs of Cleveland is 21-6-1.

Hovhannisyan Stops Navarro in Five

Massive heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan in round five stopped Cesar Navarro of a 10-round bout.

Hovhannisyan dominated using mostly the jab and in round five, Hovhannisyan turned it up and battered Navarro in both hands until the bout was stopped at 2:45.

Hovhannisyan, 281.4 lbs of Los Angeles is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Navarro, 210.2 lbs pf Phoenix is 15-4.

Kevin Newman II won a 10-round majority decision over Elijah Garcia in a super middleweight bout.

Newman, 171.4 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 98-92, 06-94and 95-95 and is now 19-3-1; Garcia, 171.4 ls of Phoenix is 17-2.

Bryan Gonzalez stopped Brandon Medina in round five of their six-round featherweight bout.

Gonzalez, 125 lbs of Phoenix is 6- with four knockouts. Medina, 124.6 lbs of Mexico is 7-5

Kaipo Gallegos got dropped for the first time in his career, but he was able to shake it off and win a 10-round unanimous decision over Julian Gonzalez in a lightweight bout.

In round three, Gonzales dropped Gallegos with a straight right on the chin. That was the only blemish for Gallegos as he countered very well thtoughout.

Gallegos, 134.3 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 98-91 and 97-92 twice and is now 12-0-1. Gonzalez, 134.2 lbs of Reading, PA is 16-2-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

Keith Thurman promises history. A lot of people think he already is.

There’s a challenge in that, one that offers Thurman the motivation that always comes with an opportunity to prove them wrong.

It also gives him a chance to talk, and there’s never been a doubt he’s still better at that than just about anybody on boxing’s bully pulpit.

He was there, center stage, Thursday with a volume of words full of philosophy, preaching and psychology. If it weren’t for Sebastian Fundora’s much-hyped height, you wouldn’t have known Fundora was there at all.

Fundora, all 6-foot-6 of him, walks into a room and everybody looks up, including the 5-7 Thurman, who must have suffered a crick in his neck during the ritual stare down during a live-streamed newser a couple of days before the title fight Saturday at Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Fundora let his 154-pound title, recent string of impressive victories and that height do most of his talking. The 28-year-old with an emerging ring IQ is a smart guy. So, he listened.

Word-for-word, Thurman is unrivalled, if not undisputed. He has a broadcaster’s skillset. For now, however, he’s a fighter who plans to stay active. Thurman, nicknamed One Time, said Thursday he doesn’t intend to retire. One Time promised at least one more in a fight — he says — could open the door to Hall of Fame consideration

“A historic night,’’ he said many times.

In part, Premier Boxing Champions’ pay-per-view bout on Amazon Prime is historic for both PBC and Thurman. Thurman was featured in PBC’s first main event, a decision over Robert Guerrero 11 years ago — March 7, 2015 – also at the MGM Grand.

“It’s called PBC,’’ Thurman said. “It should be PB Me.’’

He’s a poet, too.

But a question lingers: Is he still the puncher with the finishing power defined by his nickname? The answer determines the fight.

Despite the nickname, his career has been a story about not enough times. It’s impossible to judge inactivity. That’s not exactly fair. There was Covid. There were injuries, including three surgeries. 

But none of that is attached to his record like an asterisk offering an explanation. It’s just a fact, including only 15 rounds since July 2019. 

That’s nearly seven years, a stretch when some fighters retire, come back and retire all over again.

At 37, Thurman is closer to the end than his prime. Perhaps, inactivity helped protect him from the inevitable wear-and-tear sustained in a busy career. But the surgeries suggest otherwise.

Thurman hears the skepticism. He uses it, effectively on stage and in video. The psychologist in him also might be using it against the younger Fundora. Media and fans were there with questions Thursday. In part, however, Thurman might have been talking to an audience of one: Fundora.

Fundora, he said many times, has been knocked out in his only loss to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Fundora’s muscle memory of that KO will be there, Thurman said, when a big shot lands. The body, he promised, will react in a way Fundora’s mind can’t control.

“I don’t know what all is going to go down,’’ Thurman said. “I just know Sebastian Fundora is going down.’’

It’s no coincidence that Mendoza is on Saturday’s card against Cuban prospect Yoenis Tellez in the co-main event. It’s also no coincidence that Thurman was seated next to Mendoza on the stage for the news conference.

“He gave me the cheat code,’’ Thurman said to Fundora, who was seated on the other side of the pulpit. “Night, night.

“I’m going to give you that flashback. Do you remember? Maybe, you forgot. I will make you remember.’’

Maybe, make some history, too.

Carlos Adames retained the WBC Middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Austin Williams to retain the WBC Middleweight title over Immanuwel Aleem at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

It was a fast paced fight with several instances of toe-to-toe action

In round two, Adames dropped Williams with a perfect straight right down the middle.

In round 12, Williams was bleeding from the mouth.

Adames, 158.6 lbs of Elias Pina, DR won by scores of 118-108 and 117-109 twice and is now 25-1-1. Williams, 159.6 lbs of Palm Beach Gardens, FL is 20-2.

Omari Jones Decisions Christian Gomez

Omari Jones won a eight-round unanimous decision over Christian Gomez in a junior middleweight bout.

Jones landed 109 of 396 punches. Gomez was just 20 of 175.

Jones, 151.6 lbs of Orlando, FL won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 6-0. Gomez, 151.6 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 23-7-1.

Marksman Decisions Gomez

Corey Marksman won a 10-round unanimous decision over Jaycob Gomez in a lightweight bout.

Marksman landed 123 of 397 punches. Gomez was 106 of 375.

Marksman, 134 lbs of Sanford, FL won by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 twice and is 13-0-1. Gomez, 134.2 lbs of Caguas. PR is 14-1-1.

Teremoana Stops Harper in 1st

Teremoana Teremoana stopped Curtis Harper in round one of their 10-round heavyweight bout.

At the end of round, Teremoana landed a crushing short right to the head that sent Harper crashing to the canvas and the fight was over at 2:59.

Teremoana 265.5 lbs of Queensland, AUS is 10-0 with 10 knockouts. Harper, 270.2 lbs of Jacksonville, FL is 19-13.

By Norm Frauenheim

There are questions. Optimism, too. Mostly, there’s relief that Top Rank’s 60-years of expertise in the promotion and development of fighters is back on a significant platform with potential to sell and sustain the volatile boxing game.

We still don’t know exactly how long Top Rank’s deal with DAZN is, or whether there are any clear limits on exclusivity regarding dates and matchups with fighters tied to rival promoters.

Potential land mines, of course, are buried in the fine print of a deal announced Wednesday. It wouldn’t be boxing if they weren’t. Risk and reward, drama and disaster are all there. Caveat emptor. It’s a timeless warning, one that simply leads to another one heard before every opening bell. Defend yourself at all times.

Top Rank has, brilliantly so throughout a turbulent eight-month stretch when fans, pundits and a new generation of promoters were saying the longtime entity was dead. Mark Twain once had something to say about premature obits. News of his death, he said, had been exaggerated.

In Top Rank’s case, it surely was. After Top Rank’s final show with ESPN in July, it looked as if there was a vacuum. Saudi money, The Ring, Zuffa and TKO threatened to take over.

The threat is still there. The idea is to rewrite the Ali Act and do away with the confusing array of weight classes and titles prevalent throughout the so-called four-belt era. But there are still no real answers. Questions linger. Chaos looms.

Fans, so often forgotten, sit and wait, wondering whether it’s just a revolving door. The WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA leaving; The Ring, Zuffa and TKO arriving. Acronyms in; acronyms out.

Some fans don’t know much about it. Many don’t care. But they do know good fights and who puts them together. Over the last eight months, that’s been 94-year-old Bob Arum’s Top Rank. Amid the mess of uncertainty throughout the last year, Top Rank’s trademark resilience has been there with a quiet, yet powerful adherence to fundamentals.

The Top Rank template was never more evident than the co-promotional role it played with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom on Feb. 28 in a stunning performance by Emanuel Navarrete in an upset stoppage of Eduardo Nunez for a unified junior-lightweight title in front of a crowd of about 12,000 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb.

In the card’s immediate aftermath, it was a story about a couple of dramatic

comebacks, Navarrete and the Phoenix market, which had gone dormant with the advent of Saudi money and the Riyadh season.

A couple of weeks later, it became evident there was a third comeback: Top Rank. In part, it was expressed by Emiliano Vargas, the emerging son of former great Fernando Vargas, also his trainer. Vargas, boxing’s hottest prospect and a Top Rank fighter, had just embellished his credentials with a victory – punishing and powerful — over junior-welterweight Agustin Ezequiel Quintana.

Vargas thanked the fans and then said what fellow fighters are beginning to learn about the AZ crowd, called “educated” by Hearn. They know what they’re watching. He says he wants to fight his first main event in Phoenix. The crowd roared its approval.

Eighteen days later, there was a further approval in the Top Rank-DAZN alliance, formally announced during a news conference at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The deal is still being worked out, according to Arum. It had probably been under negotiation for weeks before Feb. 28.

But that last night in February was full of reasons, all comebacks, about why it got done. Top Rank is calling it “a new era,’’ and for the younger generation in that AZ crowd it is.

But it’s also proof that new eras work because of old fundamentals that always do.

By Norm Frauenheim

Reborn Emanuel Navarrete fought his way back from the edge of retirement and now looks at a restored future that starts with options, a decision and perhaps a dilemma.

What’s next?

More to the point, who’s next?

A couple of weeks after a dramatic career-best stoppage of Eduardo Nunez, Navarrete must choose between a promise and an opportunity.

Charly Suarez?

Or O’Shaquie Foster?

The either-or could change, of course. Unforeseen options are like insults from feuding promoters. There’s always another one.

This week, however, there were only two for Navarrete, who on Wednesday got an order that — in acronym-speak — told him he had 20 days to negotiate a deal for a “mandatory” rematch.

The only mandatory here is skepticism, of course. The only bet is an extension. Negotiations and Navarrete’s decision figure to go on for a while.

The dilemma was Navarrete’s own doing. In a contentious arena often devoid of what Ernest Hemingway called “grace under pressure,” a maturing Navarrete showed some.

He thanked Suarez.

He also acknowledged he owed him one.

“I know I owe Suarez that rematch,’’ Navarrete said at a news conference in the immediate aftermath of his 11^th-round TKO of Nunez in front of a roaring crowd in Glendale, AZ.

The rematch has been there, at one level or another, amid lingering echoes of the controversy over the Navarrete-Suarez fight in May. At first, Navarrete was declared the winner by an eighth-round “technical decision.” The referee ruled that a cut above his left eye was caused by a punch.

Thirty minutes after the San Diego fight, however, video showed the cut was caused by a Suarez punch.

Weeks later, the California State Athletic Commission changed the result, ruling it a dreaded “No Contest.”

Ten months later, there’s still no rematch. It screams for one. It sounds as if Suarez is already counting on it. The Filipino told Boxing Scene that he wants the rematch in Las Vegas.

On the last night in February, he was in the Arizona crowd for Navarrete’s victory, a definitive performance that proved to be a powerful answer to most questions about Navarrete’s future. It’s never been brighter.

Nevertheless, a ruling at a regulatory meeting allowed him to retain a title that many believe Suarez had rightfully taken from him in the ring. It remains unresolved, because Suarez stepped aside, allowing Navarrete to fight Nunez.

For that, Navarrete is thankful. But it’s still not clear whether he’ll agree to a sequel, or simply relinquish the WBO belt and move on to another 130-pound unifier against Foster.

Foster was in the Arizona crowd, too.

“Let’s do it …let’s make it happen,’’ Foster told reporters.

Then, he went on to suggest he has more name-recognition than Suarez.

“My profile has been raised,” he said.

Foster also has something that Suarez doesn’t. He’s got a junior-lightweight title, the World Boxing Council’s version – the green belt valued more than any other, especially by Mexican fighters.

The powerful Foster, who like Navarrete is a Top Rank fighter, also represents a significant 130-pound challenge to Navarrete’s renewed aspirations. There was talk that Navarrete merits some serious pound-for-pound consideration after his stoppage of a feared Nunez, a fellow Mexican who was the betting favorite at opening bell.

A victory over Foster would validate what Navarrete did against Nunez. It also would answer a lingering question about Navarrete’s consistency.

He had grown erratic, which was all too evident in a now-forgotten, yet still-controversial stoppage of unknown Australian Liam Wilson, also in Glendale where Navarrete won a then-vacant WBO title in February 2023.

To do it, Navarrete had to get up from the only knockdown in his career. He was floored by a left hook. Clearly dazed, he was still alert enough to spit out his mouthpiece, giving him a controversial 27 seconds to recover. He survived.

Wilson’s corner was outraged. It threatened a protest. It demanded a rematch. Wilson never got one. Will Suarez?

For now, not even Navarrete knows. It’s a tough question, one bound to be controversial in the court of public opinion.

Stand-up guy?

Or pound-for-pound guy?