Mikaela Mayer made it two-for-two as she once again won a 10-round unanimous decision over Sandy Ryan to defend the WBO Welterweight title at The Fountainbleau Hotel in Las Vegas.

In round eight, Mayer was cut over the left eyelid from a headbutt.

Mayer landed 178 of 516 punches. Ryan was 146 of 377.

Mayer, 146 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice to up her record to 21-2. Ryan, 145.5 lbs of Derby, England is 7-3-1.

Mayer said, “I sat on my shots more and committed to my hooks more. Those hooks were coming over the top. Sandy tends to stand straight up. She comes forward and puts the pressure on. So we worked on chopping her down with those hooks over the top.”

“I had been needing to move to welterweight for a long time. So, when I finally did, it just took a good, solid year and a half of hard work. This is where I’m comfortable, and this is where I should have been.”

“I beat Sandy Ryan twice. Now it’s time for me to move on and go for undisputed, which is against Lauren Price.

Norman Jr. Stops Cuevas in 3; Retains Welterweight Title

Brian Norman Jr. made the first defense of the WBO Welterweight title with a third round stoppage of Derrieck Cuevas.

In round three, Norman dropped Cuevas with a left hook to the head. Cuevas got to his feet, but the fight was stopped at 2:59.

Norman, 146.7 lbs of Atlanta is now 27-0 with 21 knockouts. Cuevas, 146.3 lbs of Catano, PR is 27-2-1.

Norman said, “I feel wonderful. I had a little ring rust to start off, but you saw that I shook that off real quick.”
 
“I was just getting back into it. I was out for 10 months. So, it was just about getting back into the field and being in front of everybody. As you saw, it wasn’t a struggle at all. Great opponent. Only has one defeat. And you saw what I did to him.”
 
“I want one of these {other} belts. I see them out here trying to make unification fights. Where’s my little piece at?”

Bruce Carrington took out Jose Enrique Vivas in round three of their 10-round featherweight bout.

In round two, Carrington dropped Vivas with an uppercut. In round three, Carrington continued to batter Vivas with right hands and the fight was stopped at 53 seconds.

Carrington, 125.3 lbs of Brooklyn is now 15-0 with nine knockouts. Vivas, 125.8 lbs of Mexico is 23-4.

Carrington said. “Every fight is not going to be a knockout, but I’m always performing and do what I have to do.”

“I just saw him opening up. He was doing exactly what I wanted him to do. That was part of the game plan. I wanted him to feel comfortable and open up. And then I was just going to get my shots on the inside and get him out of there.”

“Nick Ball? Yeah, I want that. Stephen Fulton? Yeah, I want that. Let’s get this work in. I want all of ya’ll.”

Emiliano Fernando Vargas remained undefeated and stopped Giovannie Gonzalez in round two of their eight-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Vargas landed two hard rights that was followed by a left hook that dumped Gonzalez on his back. Gonzalez got to his feet but stumbled and the fight was stopped at 2:08

Vargas, 138.6 lbs of Las Vegas is now 13-0 with 11 knockouts, Gonzalez, 138.3 lbs of Lodi, CA is 20-8-2.

Tiger Johnson stopped Kendo Castaneda in round five of their eight-round welterweight fight.

In round five, Johnson dropped Castaneda with a right to the body. Later in the round it was another left that sent Castaneda down and the fight was stopped at 2:00.

Johnson, 146 lbs of Cleveland is 15-0 with seven knockouts. Castaneda, 146.8 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 21-9.

Dedrick Crocklem stopped Dionne Ruvalcaba in the opening round of their four round junior lightweight bout.

Crocklem swarmed Ruvalcaba with a series of right hooks and the bout was stopped at

Crocklem, 128.6 lbs of Tacoma, WA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Guzman, 128.8 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 2-2.

Emmanuel Chance made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Miguel Guzman in a bantamweight bout.

Chance, 119.4 lbs of East Orange, NJ won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is 1-0. Guzman, 118.7 lbs of San Bernadino, CA is 1-1.

 •  Mikaela Mayer 146 lbs. vs. Sandy Ryan 145.5 lbs
(Mayer’s WBO Welterweight World Title – 10 Rounds)

   • Brian Norman Jr. 146.7 lbs vs. Derrieck Cuevas 146.3 lbs
(Norman’s WBO Welterweight World Title — 12 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

•  Bruce Carrington 125.3 lbs vs. Jose Enrique Vivas 125.8 lbs
 (WBC Featherweight Eliminator — 10 Rounds)

•  Emiliano Fernando Vargas 138.6 lbs vs. Giovannie Gonzalez 138.3 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Tiger Johnson 146 lbs vs. Kendo Castañeda 146.8 lbs
 (Welterweight — 8 Rounds)

•  Dedrick Crocklem 128.6 lbs vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba 128.8 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 4 Rounds)

•   Emmanuel Chance 119.4 lbs vs. Miguel Guzman 118.7 lbs
 (Bantamweight — 4 Rounds)

LAS VEGAS (March 27, 2025) — Two-weight queen Mikaela Mayer and former champion Sandy Ryan are two days away from settling unfinished business.

Mayer will defend her WBO welterweight world title in a rematch against Ryan this Saturday, March 29, at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) edged Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) via split decision following a chaotic pre-fight buildup last September, sparking calls for an immediate rematch.

In the co-feature, Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) will make the inaugural defense of his WBO welterweight world championship against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs).

Mayer-Ryan II and Norman-Cuevas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and features Brooklyn-born featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs), who faces Mexican slugger Jose Enrique Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round WBC final eliminator.

U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (14-0, 6 KOs) makes his welterweight debut against Kendo Castaneda (21-8, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder, while junior welterweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas (12-0, 8 KOs) steps up against Giovannie Gonzalez (20-7-2, 15 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.

This is what the fighters said at Thursday’s press conference:

Mikaela Mayer
 
“I am glad that she pulled through {in the first fight}. It’s disappointing that her team wasn’t as cool, calm, and collected as she was. Your team is supposed to hold you down and keep your mind right. So that was unfortunate, but she showed up and gave the fans a good fight. You’ve got to give her props for that.”
 
“I really feel great. I feel better than ever. Many people feel that at this stage of your career, it’s hard to make that much of a jump and develop or change much. But I really do feel that I’m better than ever. I’m stronger and healthy at welterweight. I’m not really cutting weight. All my little tweaks and injuries went away. And I’ve been able to put on muscle.”
 
“I’m sure she feels that {she will stop me}. I’m sure she felt that way in the last fight when she was saying that I’m not truly a welterweight. But I still sent her to the hospital with a concussion. If I did that then when I was new to welterweight, then I’m going to hurt her 10 times more this time around.”
 
Sandy Ryan
 
“I’ve worked hard. I’ve had a long camp here. I’m ready to make a difference on Saturday night.”
 
“I’m not taking anything away from Mikaela. She’s got the belt. I appreciate her accepting the rematch and making this fight. It’s what the fans wanted because it was a great first fight. But I’ll be taking that belt back.”
 
“I know that I’m a fighter. I would have never pulled out of the fight {after the paint incident}. I let people see what kind of person and fighter I am. Despite what they threw at me, I still got in there and put on a performance.”
 
“I need to just be me with no distractions. I need to be levelheaded and calm. That’s how I’m approaching this whole fight week and fight night.”

Brian Norman Jr.

“You’re not a real champion until you defend your title. And I’ve got a tough competitor ahead of me. I’m ready to prove myself.”

“It is a transition from targeting others to now being a target. So now it’s not about looking out anymore but more so about looking in at the man in the mirror and on what I need to work on. I now have nothing holding me back regarding injuries. I’m very well rested. I’ve got my mind together. I’ve got everything together. And now it’s just time to prove myself.”

“I hit hard. I got speed. I’m not going to get tired. I’ve got 12 rounds to beat you up if need be. You simply don’t have enough.”

Derrieck Cuevas

“I’m very happy to be here. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I’ve been training very hard. I’m ready. I’m born for this.”

“He’s got the pressure. He’s got to look good because everyone knows that he didn’t get the belt by fighting a world champion. But, I’m ready. I hit hard. I’m strong.”

“You’re a good fighter. But I’m stronger than you. I’m smarter than you. You will see Saturday night.”

Bruce Carrington

“I’m super prepared. There is nothing that can knock my confidence now. I feel like it’s already written. I feel like all I need to do is step in the ring, and everything will just happen the way it’s supposed to happen in order for me to get the victory.”

“I want to be a world champion by the end of 2025. I am not looking past Jose Enrique Vivas. But I’m for sure looking through him, though. This is one of the steps I need to take in order to make what I want happen.”

Jose Enrique Vivas

“I trained very hard in Mexico at 9,000 feet altitude. We were supposed to fight last June, but there was an issue with my visa. It arrived too late, so we stayed in camp. I always stay training. I’ve got a gym in Mexico, so I’m always there. And I’m ready. God’s timing is perfect. Now we’re here to give a war and, God willing, win.”

“I am very prepared. This is my time. I was born to be a champion. This is my dream, so we will win on Saturday.”

Emiliano Fernando Vargas

“In my last fight, I had a hairline fracture in my hand. I pushed through, and 30 seconds later, I was able to get him out of there. A lot of people didn’t know that. But I was able to push through adversity and get him out there with my other hand. When you are a winner, you find a way to win. I’m an exciting fighter. I could have gone the distance, but why not give the fans a show?”

Tiger Johnson

“It was time for me to move up to welterweight. I didn’t really feel like myself. But I’m happy that I’ve been able to get a lot of experience with the fights I’ve been getting. Top Rank has been doing a really good job with me. It has helped me.”

“I’m feeling a lot stronger now. We had a really good camp, and I’m ready to put on an amazing performance.”
 

Saturday, March 29
 

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan, 10 rounds, Mayer’s WBO Welterweight World Title

Brian Norman Jr. vs. Derrieck Cuevas, 12 rounds, Norman’s WBO Welterweight World Title
 

ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

Bruce Carrington vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, 10 rounds, WBC featherweight eliminator 

Dedrick Crocklem vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba, 4 rounds, junior lightweight

LAS VEGAS (March 26, 2025) — Six months after a fight for the ages and a pre-fight paint attack, WBO welterweight world champion Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan faced off in advance of Saturday’s rematch at Bleaulive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The war of words evolved into a long, steely staredown Wednesday afternoon outside of the Bleaulive Theater.

In the co-feature, Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) will make the inaugural defense of his WBO welterweight world championship against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs).

Mayer-Ryan II and Norman-Cuevas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and features Brooklyn featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs), who faces Mexican slugger Jose Enrique Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round WBC final eliminator.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MatchroomBoxing, tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

This is what Mayer and Ryan had to say to Sky Sports after Wednesday’s faceoff.

Sandy Ryan

“You can see she loves the attention, the talk. When you don’t give her that, it triggers her. So, she’s saying, ‘Oh, she’s scared.’ I’m not scared. We just did a faceoff. This is for the media. This is what’s in the contract, and we’re here. She loves to talk and loves the media. When you don’t give her that, it makes her talk all kinds of nonsense.”

Mikaela Mayer

“She thinks she’s so tricky. We know that’s how she is. We know she’s going to say that because she doesn’t like to engage anyway, and neither does her coach. Her coach wants to hide and stay in the shadows, and he’s probably telling her, ‘Don’t engage.’ I’m just doing what I have to do. I don’t do anything but speak the facts, and I’m doing my part to sell this fight. Everyone is coming together and working hard to give her the rematch that she wanted. The least she can do is show up and help the promotion of this fight.”
 

Saturday, March 29

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan, 10 rounds, Mayer’s WBO Welterweight World Title

Brian Norman Jr. vs. Derrieck Cuevas, 12 rounds, Norman’s WBO Welterweight World Title
 

ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

Bruce Carrington vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, 10 rounds, WBC featherweight eliminator 

Emmanuel Chance vs. Miguel Guzman, 4 rounds, bantamweight

Two-weight queen Mikaela Mayer will defend her WBO welterweight world title in a rematch against former champion Sandy Ryan.

Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympian, rose through the junior lightweight ranks to win the IBF and WBO titles before claiming the WBC interim lightweight crown. Following a narrow split decision defeat to Natasha Jonas for the IBF welterweight crown, Mayer rebounded with a hard-fought majority decision over Ryan last September to become a two-division world champion.

Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs), a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, turned pro in 2021 and, after avenging her first loss, captured the WBO welterweight title in 2023 by outpointing Marie-Pier Houle. Following a draw against Jessica McCaskill and a defining knockout of Terri Harper last March, her title reign ended at the hands of Mayer.

In the co-feature, Brian Norman Jr. will make the inaugural defense of his WBO welterweight world championship against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas.

Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) turned pro in January 2018 and went 11-0 in his first year. He secured the WBO interim welterweight title with a 10th-round knockout of the previously undefeated Giovani Santillan last May. He became the organization’s full champion after Terence Crawford vacated the belt later that year.

Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs) enters his first world title opportunity riding a four-fight knockout streak that began in December 2022 with a second-round demolition of Esneiker Correa.
 
Rising featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will square off against Jose Enrique Vivas in a 10-round WBC final eliminator as the featured bout on the ESPN+-streamed undercard.

The action-packed undercard begins at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT on ESPN+.

Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.

Original Programming:

Two original programs will air across ESPN linear networks throughout Mayer vs. Ryan 2 fight week.

One More Round: Ryan vs. Mayer 1

Three-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray and former WNBA scoring champion Arike Ogunbowale lock in to watch the epic war and 2024 “Women’s Fight of the Year” nominee between Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer for the welterweight world title at Madison Square Garden.

The Good Exchange: Mikaela Mayer x Seniesa Estrada

Former undisputed world champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada sits down with two-division world champion and former U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer to discuss Mayer’s rise to boxing superstardom.

ESPN Original Series “The Fight Life” chronicles a year in the world of Top Rank Boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

Mayer vs. Ryan (All Times ET)

LAS VEGAS (March 25, 2025) — Fight week has arrived for the continuation of one of the fiercest rivalries women’s boxing has ever seen.

Two-weight queen Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) will defend her WBO welterweight world title in a rematch against former champion Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) this Saturday, March 29, at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. 

In the co-feature, Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) will make the inaugural defense of his WBO welterweight world championship against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs).
 
Mayer-Ryan II and Norman-Cuevas will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets are on sale via https://www.fontainebleaulasvegas.com/entertainment/top-rank-boxing/.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) features rising featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs) as he locks horns with Jose Enrique Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round WBC final eliminator.

In additional undercard action:

• Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Giovannie Gonzalez, 8 rounds, junior welterweight 

• Tiger Johnson vs. Kendo Castañeda, 8 rounds, welterweight 
   
• Dedrick Crocklem vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba, 4 rounds, junior lightweight
• Emmanuel Chance vs. Miguel Guzman, 4 rounds, bantamweight 

Original Programming

One More Round: Ryan vs. Mayer I: Three-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray and former WNBA scoring champion Arike Ogunbowale watch the epic war and 2024 Women’s Fight of the Year nominee between Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer.
 
The Good Exchange: Mikaela Mayer & Seniesa Estrada: Former undisputed world champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada sits down with two-division world champion and 2016 U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer to discuss Mayer’s rise as an American superstar in women’s boxing.

One More Round and The Good Exchange are available now on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel, while new episodes of Top Rank Real Time, a behind-the-scenes look at the fighters and their camps, will premiere every day throughout the week.

Fight Week Schedule

Wednesday, March 26: Face-Off 
Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan will launch fight week with their first face-off since sharing the ring last September.

Highlights from the event will be featured on Top Rank’s YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.

Thursday, March 27: Mayer vs. Ryan 2 Final Presser
4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
Streaming live on Top Rank’s YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.

Friday, March 28: Mayer vs. Ryan 2 Official Weigh-In
4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
Streaming live on Top Rank’s YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.

Saturday, March 29: Mayer vs. Ryan 2 Fight Night

Undercard Stream
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
LIVE and exclusively on ESPN+

ESPN Broadcast
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+

# # #

About Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a 67-story, vertically integrated luxury resort that brings a legacy of timeless elegance and unparalleled service to the Strip. Certified by the Green Building Initiative with three Green Globes, the resort’s thoughtful design allows guests to move effortlessly among 3,644 luxury hotel rooms and suites, 550,000 square feet of customizable meeting and convention space, 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a collection of world-class restaurants and shops, exquisite pools, vibrant nightlife, and vitality-enhancing spa and wellness offerings. Located at 2777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., adjacent to the acclaimed Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall expansion, Fontainebleau Las Vegas is created by Fontainebleau Development in partnership with Koch Real Estate Investments.
 

LAS VEGAS (March 11, 2025) — Southpaw phenom Emmanuel Chance, a bantamweight from East Orange, New Jersey, has signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank.

The 18-year-old will make his professional debut in a four-round bout on Saturday, March 29, as part of the Mikaela Mayer-Sandy Ryan II undercard at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

Chance is managed by James Prince and co-promoted by Antonio Leonard.

“Emmanuel is an exceptional talent who has already accomplished so much. His style is suited to the professional ranks,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “I look forward to watching his professional debut, the first fight in a journey that I believe will include multiple world championships.”

Chance said, “I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to showcase my skills. This didn’t hit me until I visited the Top Rank offices and took everything in. So many legendary fighters have started their careers with Top Rank, and I want to follow in their footsteps.”

Chance has been fighting and dominating national amateur tournaments for the better part of a decade. As an amateur, he spent invaluable time in the gym working with three-weight world champion and fellow New Jersey native Shakur Stevenson. Chance won the USA Boxing Junior National Championships in 2021 and the USA Boxing Youth National Championships the following year. In 2023, Chance overcame a loaded field to capture gold at the Brandenburg Youth Cup in Lindow, Germany. Last November, he earned a silver medal at the U19 World Boxing Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, cementing his status as one of the world’s elite amateurs.

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 30, 2025) — The paint isn’t dry, and the rivalry isn’t over.
 
Two-weight queen Mikaela Mayer will defend her WBO welterweight world title in a rematch against former champion Sandy Ryan on Saturday, March 29, at Bleaulive Theater, the fully-customizable, 90,000-square-foot theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
 
The tension between the two intensified before their first encounter last September. Mayer claimed Ryan had stolen her trainer, while Ryan accused Team Mayer of orchestrating a pre-fight stunt that saw Ryan doused with paint outside of the New York City fight hotel. Mayer dethroned Ryan via majority decision, but the brushwork on this feud is far from finished.

In the co-feature, Brian Norman Jr. will make the inaugural defense of his WBO welterweight world championship against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas.
 
Rising featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will square off against Jose Enrique Vivas in a 10-round WBC final eliminator as the featured bout on the ESPN+-streamed undercard.

Mayer-Ryan II and Norman-Cuevas will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. PT via https://www.fontainebleaulasvegas.com/entertainment/top-rank-boxing/.
 
“The rivalry between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan is one of the fiercest we’ve seen in recent years, and both are determined to put it to rest once and for all,” says Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Brian Norman Jr. faces a tough first defense, but I’m confident he’ll rise to the occasion and prove he belongs at the top. Bruce Carrington is close to a world title shot, and this fight is his chance to cement his place in line.”
 
“I’m delighted that Sandy has a second chance in Las Vegas,” says Matchroom Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The rivalry between the pair spilled over in New York, and there’s certainly no love lost between them. But when they got in the ring at Madison Square Garden, they delivered one of the fights of the year for 2024.
 
“Although Mikaela got the nod last time, it was a pick’em fight with only a coat of paint to separate them. I’m confident that it will be revenge, not repeat, on March 29, and Sandy will be crowned a two-time world champion.”
 
“We are thrilled to welcome back Top Rank for what is set to be one of the most anticipated matches of 2025,” says Fontainebleau Las Vegas Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Fedor Banuchi. “The Mayer-Ryan title rematch brings a level of excitement and anticipation to the resort and further highlights the resort’s commitment to delivering can’t-miss experiences.”
 
??Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs), a 2016 Olympian, debuted in 2017 and tore through the junior lightweight ranks before capturing the IBF and WBO world titles. She came up short in a disputed October 2022 split decision against WBC champion Alycia Baumgardner but moved up to lightweight the following April to claim the WBC interim crown with a win over Lucy Wildheart. After outpointing Silvia Bortot that September, Mayer returned four months later to challenge Natasha Jonas for the IBF strap, losing a close split decision in a toe-to-toe classic. Undeterred, Mayer set her sights on Ryan for the WBO belt and became a two-division ruler.
 
“I’ve never been one to shy away from challenges. I could have taken my belt and moved on, but it was a highly entertaining fight, and if this is what the fans want, then that’s what I’ll give them,” Mayer said. “I have stayed in the gym and am getting better every day. It will be worse for Sandy this time, but regardless, expect another action-packed fight.”

Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs), the fighting pride of Derby, England, turned pro in 2021 after capturing gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2014 World Championships. She avenged her first pro loss to Erica Farias with a decisive unanimous verdict and claimed the vacant WBO welterweight title in April 2023 by outpointing Marie-Pier Houle. A contentious draw with former undisputed champion Jessica McCaskill stalled her hopes at unifying the division, but Ryan rebounded last March with a career-best knockout of Terri Harper. Her championship reign came to a halt last September against Mayer in a Fight of The Year candidate.
 
“As crazy as this sounds after what happened last time in New York, I am actually looking forward to returning to the U.S.,” Ryan said. “I’ve had some remarkable, history-making fights here already, so the opportunity to come back and showcase my talent while headlining in the fight capital of the world is amazing. 
 
“This time, I will be fully prepared for whatever comes my way. I’m not making any excuses, but after what happened before the fight last time, I did fight in anger, and it clearly affected my performance. But it was a great fight and did great numbers for ESPN, so that’s why Mayer had to take this rematch. It’s the biggest fight for both of us, and everyone wants to see it again. On March 29, the world will see a focused, determined, and talented fighter in the shape of her life, and I will reclaim my world title. 
 
“I want to thank my promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, my manager Brian Peters, and Bob Arum for getting the rematch done. It will be another amazing fight for women’s boxing and boxing in general, and I look forward to reclaiming my title.”
 
Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) turned pro in January 2018 and went 11-0 in his first year. He garnered national attention in 2020 with a gritty technical decision over Flavio Rodriguez. He followed it up with a dominant 2021 campaign that saw him register four brutal stoppages. After a year-long layoff, Norman signed a promotional contract with Top Rank and went 3-0 in 2023 with decisions over Rodrigo Coria, Jesus Perez, and Quinton Randall. He secured the WBO interim welterweight title with a 10th-round knockout of previously undefeated Giovani Santillan last May. Norman became the organization’s full champion after Terence Crawford vacated the belt later that year. 
 
Norman said, “Fighting for a championship belt is every fighter’s dream, so I know Cuevas is training as hard as possible for this fight. He is a tough competitor who brings everything he has to win this fight. That said, as the WBO champion, I can guarantee a spectacular performance come March 29.”
 
Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs) enters his first world title opportunity riding a four-fight knockout streak that began in December 2022 with a second-round demolition of Esneiker Correa. In 2023, he fought three times in Panama, closing out the year with a sixth-round TKO against once-beaten Marlon Aguas in December. The 30-year-old standout will make his eighth appearance on U.S. soil. 
 
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight in Las Vegas for a world title,” Cuevas said, “That’s the dream of every fighter. I respect Norman, but on March 29, a new champion will be crowned.”
 
Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, rose swiftly to claim the WBO’s number one contender spot after turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year-old native of Brownsville, Brooklyn, secured four victories in 2024, starting with a highlight-reel fourth-round knockout of Bernard Torres in February, a finish that went viral and was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10. In May, he stopped Brayan De Gracia in the eighth round and returned in September to overcome a stern challenge from Sulaiman Segawa and a majority decision. He capped the year in November with a one-sided unanimous decision over Dana Coolwell on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson event in Arlington, Texas. 
 
Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs), a rugged 30-year-old from Mexico, began his career with a sensational 17-0 run before suffering his first defeat to Ruben Villa in September 2019. He rebounded with four straight wins, highlighted by a 10-round decision over unbeaten Carlos Jackson in July 2020 and an eight-round victory against Louie Coria in May 2021. Although he dropped a close decision to eventual world title challenger Eduardo Baez the following March and lost a unanimous decision to Joet Gonzalez in April 2023, Vivas regained his momentum last February with a first-round TKO over Jonathan Aguilar.
 

# # #

 
 
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Mikaela Mayer won the WBO Welterweight title with a 10-round majority decision over Sandy Ryan at The Madison Square Garden Theater.

It was a high action, high contact fight. The two traded hard shots throughout the fight. Mayer had a solid first half of the fight, with Ryan landing some hard shots with both hands.

In round five, Mayer cut over over her left eyelid.

Ryan landed 185 of 567 punches. Mayer was 186 of 636.

Mayer won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95.

Mayer, 146.8 lbs of Los Angeles is now 20-2. Ryan, 146.6 lbs of Derby, ENG 7-2-1.

The two fighters had bad blood throughout the build due to one Mayer’s trainers Emanuel “Flick” Savoy becoming the lead trainer of Ryan. The strangeness of the build up continued n fight night as somebody threw paint on Ryan as she left her hotel

Mayer said, “It was similar to how I thought it would go. I always said before that I respected Sandy as a boxer. She has a big pedigree, just like myself, but I knew I was gonna beat her to the punch. I knew I was faster. I knew I was sharper. And that’s exactly what I did.

“I picked it up halfway through the fight, like I always do. I always turn it on in that second half of the fight. And she just couldn’t handle my timing. So, I felt like I won the fight, and I’m just glad I got the right decision this time.

“I want to finish what I started and go undisputed. I came very close at junior lightweight. But my body outgrew that weight. I’m comfortable now. I feel like I’m stronger than ever. I’m still in my prime, as you can see. So I’m coming for the other champions.”

Ryan said, “I’m obviously disappointed, and I’m not taking nothing away from the decision. But before coming to the venue, I don’t know if you guys seen, but I had a hit and run {with paint outside the hotel}. And that was definitely set up. I’m not taking nothing away from the win, but it unsettled me.

“It threw me off a bit of my game plan because I just wanted to fight. And you saw at the start of the fight, I was handling her quite well on the jab. I was boxing her and then I started to pick it up. But then, I was obviously pushing it too hard.

“It’s nice to fight in America again. But I just don’t like the circumstances that happened to me before the fight. But I can’t take nothing away from that. It is what it is.”

Zayas Decisions Sosa

Xander Zayas remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Damian Sosa in a junior middleweight bout.

Zayas was 256 of 685 punches. Sosa was 74 of 524.

Zayas, 153.4 lbs of San Juan, PR won by scores of 100-90 on all scorecards and is 20-0. Sosa, 153.6 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 25-3.

Zayas said, “He pushed me and elevated me to the next level. Now, I feel like I’m ready. Before, I felt like I was ready. But now I think I let everybody know that I’m ready for the elite names.

“Man, they said he throws 84 punches per round. I didn’t see that today. I did my job. Now, I just have to be calm, relax, and see what my promoter wants. I want whoever is in the top five.”

Carrington Wins Majority Decision over Segawa

Bruce Carrington remained undefeated with a 10-round majority decision over Sulaiman Segawa in a featherweight bout.

In round seven, Carrington suffered a hematoma from a clash of heads.

Carrington landed 91 of 358 punches. Segawa was 108 of 416.

Carrington, 125.8 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 97093 twice and 95-95 and is now 13-0. Segawa, 123.8 lbs of Kempala, UGA is 17-5-1.

Carrington said, “I owe him a lot {for that education tonight}. This is just gonna get me to the next level. I just learned to deal with the off-tempo. I got a couple of things I gotta work on back in the gym. We gotta get back on our beat and have more dominant performances. But as long as we got the ‘W’ at the end of the day, we’re still good.”

Vito Mielnicki Jr. won a 10-round majority decision over Khalil El Harraz in a junior middleweight bout.

Mielnicki, 153.8 lbs of Roseland, NJ won by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 95-95 and is now 20-1. El Harraz, 152.4 lbs of Rome, ITA 16-6-1.

Floyd Diaz remained undefeated with a eigt-round unanimous decision over Mario Hernandez in a bantamweight bout.

In round five, Diaz dropped Hernandez with a step-back right uppercut.

Diaz, 117.8 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 78-73 twice and 77-74 and is now 13-0. Hernandez, 117.2 lbs of Mexico is 12-5-1.

Elvis Rodriguez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Kendo Castaneda in a junior welterweight bout.

In round five, Castaneda was cut around his left eye.

Rodriguez, 142.8 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 17-1-1. Castaneda, 142 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 21-7.

Tiger Johnson remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Yomar Alamo in a junior welterweight bout.

Johnson, 140.8 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 78-74 and 77-75 twice and is now 14-0. Alamo, 140.2 lbs of Agua Buernas, PR is 22-3-1.

Rohan Polanco remained undefeated as he became the first man to drop and stop Marcelino Lopez in round six of their 10-round welterweight bout.

At the end of round three, Polanco dropped Lopez with an uppercut. It was the first time that Lopez had been down in his 43-fight career. Lopez was cut in the bridge of the nose. In round four, Polanco landed an overhand right that forced Lopez to take a knee.

In round six, Polanco landed a combinbation that punctuated by a right hand that put Lopez down to a knee. Polanco ended things when he landed a hard combination that put Lopez down again and the fight was stopped at 2:08.

Polanco, 143.4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 14-0 with nine knockouts. Lopez, 143 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 37-5-1.

• Sandy Ryan 146.6 lbs. vs. Mikaela Mayer 146.8 lbs
(Ryan’s WBO Welterweight World Title – 10 Rounds)

• Xander Zayas 153.4 lbs vs. Damian Sosa 153.6 lbs
(Zayas’ NABF and NABO Junior Middleweight Titles — 10 Rounds)

• Bruce Carrington 125.8 lbs vs. Sulaiman Segawa 123.8 lbs
(Carrington’s NABF and WBO Intercontinental and Segawa’s WBC Silver Featherweight Titles — 10 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)

• Vito Mielnicki Jr. 153.8 lbs vs. Khalil El Harraz 152.4 lbs
  (Junior Middleweight — 10 Rounds)
• Floyd Diaz 117.8 lbs vs. Mario Hernandez 117.2 lbs
  (Bantamweight— 8 Rounds)
• Elvis Rodriguez 142.8 lbs vs. Kendo Castañeda 142 lbs
  (Junior Welterweight — 10 Rounds)
• Tiger Johnson 140.8 lbs vs. Yomar Alamo 140.2 lbs
  (Junior Welterweight — 8 Rounds)
• Rohan Polanco 143.4 lbs vs. Marcelino Lopez 143 lbs
  (Welterweight — 10 Rounds)

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN: Ryan vs. Mayer will be presented live this Friday, September 27, at 10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+. The event will take place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York.

In the main event, Sandy Ryan will defend her WBO welterweight world title against Mikaela Mayer.

Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KOs) from Derby, England, turned pro in 2021 after a successful amateur career, winning a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2014 World Championships. She avenged her sole defeat with a unanimous decision over Erica Farias in 2022 and won the vacant WBO title in April 2023 against Marie-Pier Houle. Following a controversial draw with Jessica McCaskill, she notched a signature victory with a fourth-round knockout of former two-division world champion Terri Harper.

Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympian and former unified junior lightweight world champion, returns to the U.S. after a four-fight run in England. After a pair of wins in 2023, she lost a controversial split decision to IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas in January. While a rematch with Jonas didn’t happen, Mayer once again aims to become a two-weight world champion.

In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature Xander Zayas collides with Damian Sosa.

Zayas (19-0, 12 KOs) a five-year pro, has won two regional titles and emerged as a major attraction in New York City, boasting a perfect 5-0 record at Madison Square Garden. His main event debut in June was a triumphant one, as he dominated former world champion Patrick Teixeira over 10 rounds.

Sosa (25-2, 12 KOs) from Tijuana, Mexico, is on a three-fight winning streak and has an impressive 3-0 record in the U.S.

He won a clear points verdict over Clay Collard in 2021, prevailed via a 10-round decision over former Zayas foe Ronald Cruz the following year, and most recently shocked undefeated prospect Marques Valle by a split decision in April.

In the 10-round special feature featherweight battle, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington takes on Sulaiman Segawa.

Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs) is undefeated at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, with all five of his wins there coming by knockout, including a stunning fourth-round finish of Bernard Torres in February and an eighth-round TKO over Brayan De Gracia in June. Segawa (17-4-1, 6 KOs), a native of Uganda now based in Maryland, has faced tough competition throughout his 11-year career, with all his losses against then-unbeaten fighters, including a close decision to Abraham Nova in 2018.

Undercard bouts begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/ 3:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+.

Calling the action will be Bernardo Osuna, Timothy Bradley, Jr., and Mark Kriegel.

ESPN.com

Out Thursday: Ranking the Current 5 Best Young Fighters in Boxing – With Shu Shu Carrington, Xander Zayas, Vito Mielnicki, Elvis Rodriguez, Tiger Johnson, and Floyd Diaz fighting on Sept. 27, Timothy Bradley Jr. ranks the top young fighters to watch in boxing.

New! ESPN Original Series “The Fight Life” premieres October 7, chronicling a year in the world of Top Rank Boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez and Josh Taylor.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

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Ryan vs. Mayer (All Times ET)

NEW YORK CITY (Aug. 19, 2024) — The Garden State’s rising junior middleweight is ready to make some magic in his MSG debut.

Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. will return against once-beaten Romanian Daniel Buciuc in a 10-round battle on Friday, Sept. 27, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Mielnicki-Buciuc joins a stacked ESPN+-streamed undercard headlined by the WBO welterweight title clash between reigning champ Sandy Ryan and former unified junior lightweight queen Mikaela Mayer.

In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, rising Puerto Rican contender Xander Zayas will take on Mexican contender Damian Sosa, and Brooklyn-born featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will open the ESPN-televised tripleheader in a 10-rounder versus Sulaiman Segawa.

Ryan-Mayer, Zayas-Sosa, and Carrington-Segawa will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.

Mielnicki (19-1, 13 KOs), a four-time Junior National Golden Gloves champion, turned pro in July 2019 at just 17 years old, debuting on a Top Rank on ESPN card in Newark, New Jersey. That night, he registered a first-round knockout and went 5-0 before graduating high school in 2020. Despite a majority decision defeat to James Martin in his ninth fight, Mielnicki rebounded impressively, winning 10 consecutive bouts and claiming three regional titles. Now training in Houston with Ronnie Shields, Mielnicki began his 2024 campaign with a unanimous decision over Ronald Cruz in May before signing with Top Rank in June. In his last outing, he stopped Laszlo Toth in two rounds, with the fight officially ending via disqualification after Toth’s corner entered the ring following a knockdown. Buciuc (13-1, 5 KOs) has won a pair of bouts since losing to Ermal Hadribeaj by decision in a bid for the WBC International junior middleweight title.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard will also feature the return of U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson, who will step up in class to face Puerto Rico’s Yomar Alamo in an eight-round junior welterweight clash. 

Johnson (13-0, 6 KOs) has made two appearances at The Theater this year, stopping Paulo Galdino in one in February before besting Tarik Zaina by decision in June. Alamo (22-2-1, 13 KOs) dropped eventual world champion Liam Paro in the first round before losing a split decision in December 2021. After a TKO loss to top contender Richardson Hitchins in November 2022, Alamo came back this year with victories over Adriano Porfirio Ramirez in February and Jayson Velez in July.

Two of the Dominican Republic’s top junior welterweight contenders will also see action in separate 10-rounders. 

Rohan Polanco (13-0, 8 KOs), a Tokyo Olympian, will square off against Argentina’s Marcelino Lopez (37-4-1, 22 KOs). Polanco went 3-0 in 2023 after signing with Top Rank. He handed Zaina his first pro loss in March before a second-round stoppage of Luis Hernandez in June. Lopez enjoyed a five-fight knockout streak from 2017 to 2021, including a second-round stoppage against former interim junior welterweight champion Pablo Cesar Cano. He returned in 2023 with decision losses to Orestes Velazquez in March and Zaina in November.

Freddie Roach-trained puncher Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez (16-1-1,13 KOs) will lock horns with Mexican American veteran Kendo Castañeda (21-6, 9 KOs). Rodriguez is on an impressive five-fight winning streak, including a decision over Joseph Adorno and a seventh-round TKO of former world champion Viktor Postol. Castañeda has faced the likes of Jose Zepeda, Josue Vargas, and Raul Curiel in a pro career spanning nearly 12 years.

Bantamweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (12-0, 3 KOs) will take on Mario Hernandez (12-4-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Diaz tallied points verdicts over Edwin Rodriguez in March and Francisco Pedroza in June. 

Top heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz (3-0, 2 KOs), from Danbury, Connecticut, will fight Rashad Coulter (5-4, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder.

NEW YORK CITY (Aug. 5, 2024) — If a trainer is like family, Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer will soon play boxing’s version of “Family Feud.”

Ryan will defend her WBO welterweight world title against Mayer on Friday, Sept. 27, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. And she will do so with a former Mayer confidant in her corner. Kay Koroma, who helped train Mayer from Olympic standout to professional world champion, will help train Ryan for this career-defining main event.

Two of boxing’s emerging uber-talents, Puerto Rican junior middleweight Xander Zayas and Brooklyn-born featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, will see action in separate 10-round televised features. Zayas will face Mexican contender Damian Sosa, while Carrington looks to turn away the upset-minded Sulaiman Segawa.

Ryan-Mayer, Zayas-Sosa, and Carrington-Segawa will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, ticket information will be released shortly.

“Mikaela Mayer always wants to fight the best, and Sandy Ryan is an elite welterweight. These are the two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and the winner will stake her claim as the preeminent 147-pounder,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Bruce Carrington and Xander Zayas are future superstars, and I look forward to seeing how they fare against the toughest opponents of their respective careers.”

Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympian, jumped out to a 17-0 record to begin her pro career while winning a pair of junior lightweight world titles and becoming a pound-for-pound mainstay. The Los Angeles native returns to America after a four-fight run in England that included a debated 2022 split decision loss to Alycia Baumgardner in a bid for the undisputed junior lightweight title. Mayer won a pair of decisions in 2023 as she moved up in weight to prepare for a welterweight world title opportunity. In January, she lost a highly disputed split decision to IBF champion Natasha Jonas. While a Jonas rematch did not materialize, Mayer has another chance to become a two-weight world champion.

“After months of negotiations in every direction, I am thrilled that my team has pulled through for me and gotten me this fight. As several dates fell through in the UK, the last thing I expected was for my manager to call with an offer that ticked every box,” Mayer said. “My team not only secured me another title fight against the opponent I asked for, but I’m coming back to the U.S. with my Top Rank and ESPN family. I loved fighting in the UK over the past two years, but I have genuinely missed fighting in America. I’m ready to take Sandy Ryan’s WBO belt. AND NEW!”

Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KOs), from Derby, England, turned pro in 2021 after an accomplished amateur career that included a 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal and a 2014 World Championships silver medal. Her lone defeat — a March 2022 split decision to Erica Farias — was avenged less than five months later with a unanimous decision triumph. Ryan picked up the vacant WBO title in April 2023 with a unanimous decision over Marie-Pier Houle. Following a highly controversial draw against Jessica McCaskill in a title unification tilt, Ryan notched her signature victory in March with a devastating fourth-round knockout over former two-division world champion Terri Harper.

Ryan said, “I’m excited to be returning to America and particularly fighting at MSG. It’s the Mecca of Boxing and a venue that every champion dreams of competing in. I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity, and I want to thank Matchroom and Top Rank for coming together to make the fight. It’s the perfect moment in my career, and I’m looking forward to successfully defending my world title. I can promise that on a level playing field, nobody is taking this belt from me.
 
“Mayer has had an awful lot to say about me and this fight, and I’m sure she will continue to do so, but I’m an athlete and a professional. I will let my boxing do my talking, and I will shine in that ring on September 27. Bring it on!”

Zayas (19-0, 12 KOs) has been ticketed for stardom since signing with Top Rank as a 16-year-old prodigy in 2019. The five-year pro has lived up to the billing thus far, as he’s captured a pair of regional titles while becoming a major New York City attraction. Zayas is 5-0 at Madison Square Garden, including his main event debut in June, which saw him beat former world champion Patrick Teixeira over 10 one-sided rounds. Sosa (25-2, 12 KOs), from Tijuana, Mexico, has won three in a row and is 3-0 when fighting on American soil. He won a clear points verdict over Clay Collard in 2021, prevailed via a 10-round decision over former Zayas foe Ronald Cruz the following year, and most recently shocked undefeated prospect Marques Valle by a split decision in April.

Zayas said, “In my last fight, I dominated a former world champion from start to finish, and now I’m ready to put on an even better performance for my people in New York on September 27. I’m motivated by the challenge of facing a Mexican warrior and excited to return to Madison Square Garden after all the love and great energy I received during Puerto Rican Day Parade Weekend.”

Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs) is 5-0 with five knockouts at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. He saved some of his most highlight-worthy KOs for the hometown fans, including February’s fourth-round demolition of Bernard Torres. He made it five for five at The Theater in June with an eighth-round TKO over Brayan De Gracia. Segawa (17-4-1, 6 KOs), a native of Uganda who resides in Maryland, is an 11-year pro. His defeats have all come against then-unbeaten opposition, including a competitive 2018 decision to Abraham Nova. Segawa authored a career-defining victory in July, stunning WBC. No. 1 featherweight contender and former world title challenger Ruben Villa by unanimous decision over 10 rounds.

Carrington said, “I’m ready for all the champions in my division. Segawa is a speed bump, and he’s about to get run over in my hometown. The Shu Shu Era is just getting started.”

Dalton Smith remained undefeated with fifth round stoppage over former three-time world title challenger Jose Zepeda in Sheffield, England.

Zepeda had a nice first two rounds and he was able to dart in and out landing quick combinations and straight lefts. Smith started to get o Zepeda in rounds three and four. Round five saw Smith land a perfect right to the body that sent Zepeda down for the 10-count at 1:25.

Smith, 139.6 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is now 16-0 with 12 knockouts. Zepeda, 139.6 lbs of La Puente, CA is 37-.5

Sandy Ryan Stops Terri Harper After 4; Retains Welterweight Title

Sandy Ryan defended the WBO Welterweight title with a stoppage after round four over former two-division world champion Terri Harper.

Ryan dominated and hurt Harper badly on several occasions. It was clear that Ryan was the boss in the fight and the corner of Harper pulled the plug on the fight following the fourth stanza.

Ryan, 146.2 lbs of Derby, ENG is 7-1-1 with three knockouts. Harper, 145.9 lbs of Denaby Main, ENG is 14-2-2.

Ishmael Davis Decisions Troy Williamson

Ishmael Davis remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over Troy Williamson in a British Super Welterweight Eliminator.

Davis, 153.8 lbs of Leeds, ENG won by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 twice and is now 13-0. Williamson came in over the 154 lb. weight limit at 158.2 of Darlington, ENG is 20-3-1.

James Flint Outlasts Campbell Hatton

James Flint won a 10-round unanimous decision over Campbell Hatton in a Central Areal Super Lightweight Title bout.

The fight was a war with both guys landing throughout.

In round nine, Flint was cut over his left eye. In round 10, Flint was all over Hatton and the son of the Hall of Famer was hanging on for most of the round.

Flint, 139 lbs of Dorncaster, ENG won by scores of 98-92, 97-94 and 97-95 and is now 14-1-2. Hatton, 138.7 lbs of Hyde, ENG is 14-1.

Leivars Stops Mirga in 9

Nico Leivars stopped Piotr Mirga in round nine of their 10-round super Bantamweight English Title Eliminator.

In round three, Leivars was cut over his right eye from a punch.

In round nine, Leivars landed a perfect left to the body that sent Mirga down for the count of 10 at 1:32.

Leivars, 121.3 lbs of Mansfield, ENG is 6-0-1 with one knockout. Mirga, 121.1 lbs of Southend, ENG is 7-3.

Liam Cameron stopped Hussein Itaba in the opening round of their six-round light heavyweight contest.

In round one, Cameron dropped Itaba with an uppercut. Moments later, it was a left hook tat put Itaba down again. Itaba got to his feet, but the referee stopped the bout at 2:32.

Cameron, 174.8 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 23-5 with 10 knockouts. Itaba, 173.3 lbs of Dar-Es-Salaam, TAN is 16-9-3.

Leli Buttigieg won a six-round decision over Bartlomiej Stryczek in a super welterweight contest.

In round three, a big right from Buttigieg dropped Stryczek in the corner.

Butigieg, 157,2 lbs of Newham, ENG won by a 60-53 score and is now 3-0. Stryczek, 156 lbs of Bestwina, POL is 2-3.

Conan Murray remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Edgar Kemsky in a middleweight fight.

Murray, 158 lbs of Cusworth, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 8-0. Kemsky, 156.6 lbs of Belfast, NI is 3-7-1.

Terri Harper believes winning a World Title in a third weight category would cement her name amongst the elite fighters in women’s boxing.

The 27-year-old from Denaby Main returns to the arena where she won her first World Title back in 2020 to take on Derby’s reigning WBO Welterweight World Champion Sandy Ryan in a huge battle of Britain tis Saturday – live worldwide on DAZN.

‘Belter’, who currently holds the WBA Super-Welterweight World Title, is aiming to return to winning ways in front of her home crowd after a frustrating draw with modern great Cecilia Braekhus on the massive Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington card last October.

“I’ve got a chance to become a three-weight World Champion and what better place to do that than in front of my home crowd?” said Harper. “They were there when I became World Champion against Eva Wahlstrom and hopefully they’ll be there when I become a three weight World Champion against Sandy Ryan.

“This is the fight that I’ve wanted for years. It’s a big domestic fight and I’m just keeping that in the back of my head. I’m an experienced championship fighter now and I can only use it to my advantage. Win this fight and it opens up many doors and really sets me up there with the elite.

“This is a must-win fight for us both. I feel like it’s come at the point in both of our careers where it’ll open up those doors and lead to meg fights. So, we’re both hungry and we really both want the win. For me now, I do want the big fights. I feel like they’re going to fetch out the best performances in me.”

Ryan steps into the ring for the very first time with her new training team this Saturday after parting ways with her long term trainer Clifton Mitchell at the back end of 2023 following her controversial draw with Jessica McCaskill, and Harper (14-1-2, 6 KOs) says now is the perfect time to face the former Team GB standout.

“If I were to choose a time to fight Sandy it would be now,” said Harper. “Obviously she’s had the split with Clifton and she’s gone over to Vegas and got a new team around her. I feel like this is the first fight with that team so I know how I’d feel if I was getting in the ring with a new team and not Andrew (Bullcroft). Like I said, I feel this is the perfect time and opportunity to fight Sandy.

“Sandy moving over to Vegas obviously shows dedication to the sport. I feel like she’s coming away from all of the distractions over here and going out there and focusing on her training. It’s a commitment. I take my hat off to her to be going out there and really putting everything on the line for this fight.

“I feel like Sandy is obviously well-schooled, she’s come from the Team GB background and stuff like that. She’s got good stoppages with body shots and stuff so I’ve just got to be aware of that on the night and really just focus on myself and what I can bring to the fight.

“I just know how the spars went. If the fight goes that way it’s going to be an exciting fight for the fans. I know I’m going to take Sandy into deep waters, I’m going to make her ask a lot of questions. If the best version of myself turns up on the night then I beat Sandy comfortably and I see my hand being raised; And The New.”

Ryan vs. Harper is part of a huge night of action in Sheffield, the Steel City’s fast-rising Super-Lightweight contender Dalton Smith (15-0, 11 KOs) steps up against the USA’s three-time World Title challenger Jose Zepeda ( 37-4, 28 KOs) for the WBC Silver Title, it’s Leeds against Darlington as Ishmael Davis (12-0, 6 KOs) and TroyWilliamson (20-2-1, 14 KOs) meet in a Final Eliminator for the British Super-Welterweight Title,  Hyde’s Campbell Hatton (14-0, 5 KOs) goes for his first title when he meets Doncaster’s James Flint (13-1-2, 3 KOs) for the Central Area Super-Lightweight Title, Mansfield’s Nico Leivars (5-0-1) takes on Southend’s Piotr Mirga (7-2) in a Final Eliminator for the English Bantamweight Title, Sheffield Light-Heavyweight Liam Cameron (22-5, 9 KOs) returns after his first-round win over Harry Matthews last month, Newham Super-Welterweight prospect Leli Buttigieg (2-0, 1 KO) fights for the second time this year and Cusworth Middleweight Connan Murray (6-0, 1 KO) kicks off the Before The Bell action. 

Sandy Ryan defends her WBO Welterweight crown against Terri Harper in a huge all-British World Title clash on the undercard of Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda at the Utilita Arena Sheffield this Saturday March 23, live worldwide on DAZN. 

The Derby native (6-1-1, 2 KOs) would have relished a shot at becoming a two-weight World Champion against her Denaby Main rival – who holds the WBA Super-Welterweight World Title – but will instead have to make do with defending her own gold for the second time.

“We tried to get it at her weight but she didn’t want it at her weight so I’m defending my title,” said Ryan. “That’s just the facts. Of course I would have liked to have fought for her belt. I wouldn’t mind being a two-weight World Champion. They wanted to fight for my belt so they’ve still got their belt at 154lbs after the fight.”

Ryan will be looking to bounce back from a controversial split decision draw against WBC and WBA World Champion Jessica McCaskill in Orlando last September. The 30-year-old was left bitterly disappointed following her World Title unification clash having felt she did enough to earn a career-best win.

“Obviously I didn’t get the Jessica McCaskill rematch that everyone wanted to see. I needed another big fight to get me going. This is the one. Everyone saw that I won the fight but it’s not on my record is it and I haven’t got all the belts around me. I’ve learnt from it and it’s brought me to where I am now.

“I don’t want to fight someone who nobody knows. They asked if I wanted to take the fight with Terri and I just said yes straight away. The British fans are loving it; two British females, two World Champions – so it’s quite a big fight in the UK. ‘And Still’, that’s all I keep visualising.

“I think at this stage every fight is a must-win. I’ve just got to train hard like I have done and be fully prepared. She’s a good boxer. She’s good at the basics. She’s going to be fit, she’s going to be strong, she’s always in shape. I’m expecting her to come ready.”

Following the frustration of her US debut, Ryan made the decision to part ways with her entire management and training team. The former Team GB standout is now managed by Brian Peters – manager to Irish icon Katie Taylor – and trained by Emanuel ‘Flick’ Savoy at the DLX gym in Las Vegas.

“At the end of last year a lot of changes happened in my career. I changed management, changed trainers and moved out here.  made the decision to bring myself away from the UK. I feel it works better for me to be out of the UK to do a training camp. I feel like I’m fully focused. I’ve come here and I’m training really hard. 

“I just love the way they work here in the gym. They really break things down. At this level that’s just what I need. Even in sparring, you’ve got to work on certain things making sure your shots are perfect. Keep doing them and doing them until I get the shots right. I’ve got all of the fundamentals and stuff, but I never really worked on them continuously until stepping in this gym.

“Before my last fight, I came out here like four weeks to finish camp off and I loved it. The people in the gym, we got along really well. They were just welcoming me to come back and it was a great decision that I made. 

“It’s alright being away from home. As you know, I used to go to Portugal and stuff – but that’s like a 2-hour flight. This is literally like 11-hour flights. It kind of feels a bit different. I can’t just go home at the weekend. That’s probably been a bit of a mental challenge as well, but I’ve got a really good team around me right now and I’m happy.”

Ryan vs. Harper is part of a huge night of action in Sheffield, the Steel City’s fast-rising Super-Lightweight contender Dalton Smith (15-0, 11 KOs) steps up against the USA’s three-time World Title challenger Jose Zepeda ( 37-4, 28 KOs) for the WBC Silver Title, it’s Leeds against Darlington as Ishmael Davis (12-0, 6 KOs) and TroyWilliamson (20-2-1, 14 KOs) meet in a Final Eliminator for the British Super-Welterweight Title,  Hyde’s Campbell Hatton (14-0, 5 KOs) goes for his first title when he meets Doncaster’s James Flint (13-1-2, 3 KOs) for the Central Area Super-Lightweight Title, Mansfield’s Nico Leivars (5-0-1) takes on Southend’s Piotr Mirga (7-2) in a Final Eliminator for the English Bantamweight Title, Sheffield Light-Heavyweight Liam Cameron (22-5, 9 KOs) returns after his first-round win over Harry Matthews last month, Newham Super-Welterweight prospect Leli Buttigieg (2-0, 1 KO) fights for the second time this year and Cusworth Middleweight Connan Murray (6-0, 1 KO) kicks off the Before The Bell action. 

Richardson Hitchins remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Zepeda in a junior welterweight bout at The Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Hitchins, 139.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 120-109 twice and 119-109 and is now 17-0. Zepeda, 140 lbs of La Puenta, CA is 37-4.

In round seven, Zepeda was cut on his forehead from a headbutt.

Conor Benn came back after an 17-month layoff to win a 10-round unanimous decision over Rodolfo Orozco in a junior middleweight bout.

Benn was suspended for failing an anti-doping test before his bout with Chris Eubank Jr. looked aggresiver throughout the contest.

In round two, Orozxo was bleeding under his right eye.

Benn, 153.6 lbs of Ilford, ENG won by scores of 99-91 twice and 96-94 and is now 22-0. Orozco, 154.4 lbs of Sinaloa, MEX is 32-4-3.

“We didn’t want a walk in the park,” said Benn. “I needed the rounds after 18 months out, he’s a true Mexican, my first Mexican I’ve fought, and we knew he was durable. Credit to him, he’s never been stopped before and he’s one tough man and I hope he progresses.
 
“They are stronger and take shots more, I don’t think there was ring rust, I was going through the gears after going through hell.
 
“Britain is my home and it’s only right I fight back there, sooner rather than later.”

WBA/WBC Welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill and WBO champion fought to a split draw in their unification bout.

Scores were 97-93 for McCaskill, 96-94 for Ryan and 95-95.

McCaskill, 136.4 bs of Chicago is 12-3-1. Ryan, 146.4 lbs of Darby, ENG is 6-1-1.

Austin Williams won a 10-round unanimous decision over veteran Steve Rolls in a middleweight. bout.

Williams, 160 lbs Houston won by scores of 97-93 on all cards and is now 15-0. Rolls, 159.2 lbs of Tornoto is 22-3.

Orestes Velazquez stopped Mohamed Soumaoro in round seven of their scheduled 10-round super lightweight fight.

In round eight, Velazquez landed a big and relentless flurry of punches that forced a referee stoppage at 2:19.

Velazquez, 140 lbs of Miami, FL is now 8-0 with seven knockouts. Soumaoro, 1396 lbs of Montreal is 13-2.

Khalil Coe remained undefeated as he stopped Kenmon Evans in round two of their eight-round light heavyweight bout.

At the beginning of round two, Coe dropped Evans with a right hook. Coe ended things when he landed a right to the side of the head and the bout was stopped as he fell to the ground at 1:21.

Coe, 19.6 lbs of Jersey City, NJ is 7-0-1 with five knockouts. Evans, 179.8 lbs of New Smyrna Beach, FL is 10-2-1.

Jeovanny Estela stopped Gerardo Carabello in the opening round of their eight-rround super welterweight clash.

Estela dropped Carabello with a vicious uppercut and the fight was stopped at 2:10,

Estela, 153.5 lbs of Orlando, FL is 13-0 with four knockouts. Carabello, 153,4 lbs of Trujillo Alto, PR is 6-2-1.

Jasmine Artiga remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Josefina Vega in a featherweight bout.

At the end of round three, Artiga dropped Vega with a long left.

Artiga, 116 lbs of Tampa, FL won by scores of 80-71 on all cards and is now 11-0-1. Vega, 114 lbs of Quito, ECU is 9-7.

Matchroom tonight announce four events in the USA and Mexico as part of a stacked second half of 2023 live worldwide on DAZN.

Headline amongst those is the confirmation of the date and venue for the hotly-anticipated Flyweight unification clash between Jesse Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards, which lands at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday December 16.

The unbeaten pair meet in a mouth-watering battle to determine the top dog in the division, with WBO ruler Rodriguez and IBF king Edwards defending their titles for the first and fourth times respectively and both appearing in their first unification bouts. 

Rodriguez (18-0 11 KOs) will return to the state that he landed his first World title back in February 2022 when he defeated Carlos Cuadras to land the WBC Super-Flyweight strap. The San Antonio star defended that title twice with wins over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez before becoming a two-weight champion on hometurf in April by seeing off Christian Hernandez, and the 23 year old is excited to be meeting Edwards in the winter.

“I want to thank Matchroom, Teiken and my whole team for making this fight happen,” said Rodriguez. “This fight will allow me to showcase my skills and prove to everyone that I am not only the best Flyweight in the world but one of the best fighters in the world period. 

“I am excited to be back in Arizona where I first became a World champion, and I will be 100 per cent ready to put on a show on December 16 and become unified World champion.”

Edwards (20-0 4 KOs) finally gets the blockbuster showdown that he’s been craving after becoming the IBF champion in April 2021 with a trademark classy win over Moruti Mthalane in London. A pair of successful defenses in Dubai followed in December against Jayson Mama and in March over Muhammad Waseem before victory in defense number three followed in his adaopted Sheffield hometown over Felix Alvarado. 

The 27 year old had a successful debut under the Matchroom banner in June when he saw off spirited Chilean challenger Andres Campos in London, and Edwards is looking forward to proving he is the best in the division on his first fight in America.

“I’m looking forward to being involved in one of the biggest Flyweight World title fights in boxing history,” said Edwards. “It’s the real #1 versus the real #2. I would like to thank Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing and my team for getting me in this position, and I’d also like to thank Bam and his team for accepting the fight, and I am really looking forward to becoming one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world on December 16 in Arizona.”

One month before that, one of the hottest young fighters in the sport will headline at home for the first time in his blossoming career as Diego Pacheco takes on Marcelo Coceres for the WBO International and USWBC Super-Middleweight titles at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on November 18.

Pacheco (19-0 16 KOs) was at his scintillating best in his last outing in July where he blitzed the dangerous Manuel Gallegos inside four rounds in Monterrey, Mexico – ending matters with a vicious attack after flooring Gallegos in the fourth with a trademark bodyshot and became the first man to stop the Mexican later in the round.

That was a second headline turn for the rangy South LA man having previously pummeled Jack Cullen into submission again in four rounds in Liverpool, England in April, and now the 23 year old earns a shorter trip to top the bill, doing so in the shadow of the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood where he grew up.

“I cannot wait to be headlining at home November 18 at the YouTube Theater,” said Pacheco. “I am looking forward to making a statement and delivering another great performance for all my hometown fans.”

Standing in Pacheco’s way of another impressive showing at Super-Middleweight is former World title challenger Coceres (32-5-1 18 KOs). The Argentine returns to the city of his biggest night, where he met WBO ruler Billy Joe Saunders for the World title in November 2019, and the 32 year old is set to provide Pacheco with the biggest test of his career to date.

“November 18, in his backyard, this is what warriors do,” said Coceres. “I have a lot of respect for Pacheco, he’s a good fighter, but he’s still young and he has time. This is my time now.
I’ve been here before. I’ve been to war. Let’s see how the young boy does when his back is against the wall. 

“I’m bringing everything into this fight. I can’t afford another loss at this point in my career. This is make or break and I’m leaving everything I have in the ring come November 18.”

Back-to-back weekends in September provide plenty of excitement in Tijuana and Orlando.

Angel Fierro continues to hammer on the door for a World title shot, and he’ll look to add more weight to those claims when he defends his WBO NABO Lightweight title against Brayan Zammaripa on Friday September 15 at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutierrez Moreno in Tijuana, Mexico. 

Fierro (21-1-2 17 KOs) is sitting pretty at #4 with the WBO, and the 25 year old gets a hometown outing as he looks to build on his growing reputation for exciting performances.

‘Tashiro’ was at his explosive best in his last outing with multiple knockdowns leading to a seventh round stoppage win over Eduardo Estela in Culiacan – a fifth KO in his last six fights – and a run he’ll be looking to improve upon against Zammaripa (13-1 4 KOs), the Baja California man who has recorded ten wins on the bounce since his sole defeat in 2016.

“I am very happy to return to my home Tijuana,” said Fierro. “But I am even more excited because I am very close to a World Title fight. I’m very focused on giving a great show to my people.”

“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for, for a long time,” said Zammaripa. “I respect Tashiro, but this is my moment. I’m coming to his neighborhood, but this is my territory. Civil War is coming September 15 and I’m leaving with Tashiro’s belt. Viva Mexico.

Erika Cruz (15-2 3 KOs) will return to action on the card following her thrilling battle with Amanda Serrano for the undisputed Featherweight crown in New York in February, and ‘Dinamita’ will look to get back on the path to regaining her World champion status over ten rounds against Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-1 2 KOs)

“I am 100 per cent prepared,” said Cruz. “That night the national guard and I will be celebrating our Independence Day with one more victory for the Dinamita!”

The following weekend, a stacked bill takes Matchroom back to Florida and sees World-rated Super-Lightweight Richardson Hitchins takes on Jose Zepeda for the WBC Silver and IBF North American Super-Lightweight titles at the Caribe Royale in Orlando on Saturday September 23.

Hitchins (16-0 7 KOs) shone in his last outing in his home city, putting New Jersey’s John Bauza on the canvas during a shut-out win at Madison Square Garden, and the Brooklyn ace now lurks with intent at #6 with the WBO and #7 with the IBF in the 140lb rankings. 

Zepeda (36-3 27 KOs) represents a significant barrier to Hitchins’ plans to move into World title contention though, and the Californian, who has challenged for World titles at both 135 and 140lbs, will be eyeing Hitchins’ lofty standings to reignite his own World championship plans.

“I’m excited to finally be back in action and prove I’m the top dog of the 140lb division,” said Hitchins. “I promise to put on a master class performance on Zepada. This was the guy they were calling one of the top guys in the division, so after this performance this will show I’m ready for anyone.

“We tried waiting for Montana Love, but he found his way out of the fight like I expected his bitch ass would, so it’s on to bigger and better!”

“This is it for me, my last opportunity and a big one,” said Zepeda. “I need to win to stay on track and soon fight for another World title, it’s now or never. I want to thank Matchroom very much for this opportunity, my brother Renee and my manager Rick Mirigian for getting this multi-fight deal worked out. I’ll be ready come fight night.”

The Welterweight division will move one step closer to crowning an undisputed champion on the night as Jessica McCaskill and Sandy Ryan meet for three of the belts. 

WBA and WBC champion McCaskill (12-3 5 KOs) is no stranger to undisputed status, having ripped all the hardware at 147 from long-reigning ruler Cecilia Braekhus in August 2020 and then holding onto the belts in a rematch the following March. The Chicagoan defended the belts twice more against Kandi Wyatt and Alma Ibarra before the lure of becoming undisputed champion at a second weight saw her drop down to 140lbs to take on Chantelle Cameron in Abu Dhabi in November, with the Briton coming out on top on that occasion.

WBO belt holder Ryan (6-1 2 KOs) will look to make it back-to-back losses to Brits for McCaskill, as the Derby talent puts the title she won in her last outing against Marie Pier Houle in Cardiff, Wales in April. Ryan, who holds wins over former World champions Anahi Sanchez and Erica Farias, steps straight into the biggest fight in the division in her first defense and can add two belts to take her collection up to three in just her eighth pro fight.

“Glad to finally get back in the ring, it’s been too long,” said McCaskill. “I’m not going to lie it’s been a bit frustrating but now we are finally here. You know what they say, be careful what you wish for. See you soon Sandy.”

“This fight is everything to me the level of it the best vs. the best in the Welterweight division,” said Ryan. “I respect Jessica massively as a fighter and what she has done in the sport but it’s definitely time for a new era and I believe I am that. 

“It’s my biggest fight and it’s going to be in America, a place I’ve wanted to fight in since I turned pro. It’s been a dream of mine so I can’t wait to make my America debut and fight Jessica. AND THE NEW!”

A third fight for the bill in Orlando sees Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams press his claims for World title action at Middleweight as he tackles Steve Rolls.

Williams (14-0 10 KOs) is back in the States having taken out River Wilson-Bent in eight rounds in London in April – his third fight in England – and the Middleweight contender is right on the cusp of landing a World title shot sitting at #2 with the WBA, #10 with the IBF and #11 with the WBC.

Rolls (22-2 12 KOs) will test those ambitions to the fullest though, having shared the ring with Gennadiy Golovkin and Edgar Berlanga in his 24-fight career, and the Canadian will look to get back into contention himself with the WBA International and IBF North American titles on the line. 

“I’ve learned the significance of rest and patience since my April victory,” said Williams. “This period of down time has allowed my mind and body the proper space to process all of the many lessons I’ve received in my previous 6 bouts. Tremendous advancement has occurred in all areas of my life. September 23 will be a display of brilliance, dedication, and laser focus. Don’t miss it!

“I’m looking forward to fighting on September 23,” said Rolls. “I know that Ammo is coming to fight, but I’m going to do whatever is necessary to get my hand raised at the end of the night. He has never fought anyone as a pro with my experience, and I think that experience will play a big role in me winning this fight.”

Information on ticket on-sale dates and further undercard news for these events will be released soon.

These events are added to a stacked offering from Matchroom on DAZN, with more to come including:

Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington, Saturday October 7, Sheffield

Jack Catterall vs. Jorge Linares, Saturday October 21, Manchester

Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor II, Saturday November 25, Dublin

Joe Cordina re-claimed the IBF Super Featherweight Title with a 12-round split decision over Shavkatzhon Rakhimov in Cardiff, Wales.

In round two, Cordina dropped Rakhimov with a left hook In round six, Rakhimov began to bleed from around his left eye.

Cordina, 129.12 lbs of Cardiff, WAL won by scores of 115-112 and 114-113, while a third card had Rakhimov ahead by a 116-111 tally.

Cordina is 16-0. Rakhimov, 129.7 lbs of Bokhtar, TAJ is 17-1-1.

Sandy Ryan won the vacant WBO Welterweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Marie Pier Houle

Ryan, 146.6 lbs of Darby, ENG won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is now 6-1. Houle, 145.9 lbs of Terrabonne, CAN is 8-1-1.

Gavin Gwynne stopped Craig Woodruff in round five of their 12-round lightweight bout.

In round, Gwynne landed head and body shots that backed Woodruff on the ropes until the fight was stopped at 2:02.

Gwynne, 134.2 lbs of Treharris, WAL is 16-2-1 with for knockouts. Woodruff, 133.15 lbs of Newport, WAL is 12-7-1.

Zelfa Barrett won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez in a super featherweight bout.

In round five, Barrett landed a hard right that put Sanchez on the canvas.

Barrett, 129.1 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by scores 119-108, 118-110 and 116-111 and is now 29-2. Sanchez, 128.10 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 16-4.

Jordan Thompson stopped Luke Watkins in round six of their 10-round cruiserweight bout.

Thompson dropped Watkins twice in round six.

Thompson, 199 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 15-0 with 12 knockouts. Watkins, 198 lbs of Swindon, ENG is 16-3,

Sammy Lee stopped Juris Zundovskis after the opening round of their six-round light heavyweight bout.

Lee, 193 lbs of Swansea, WAL is 2-0 with one stoppage. Zundovskis, 179.5 lbs of Latvia is 6-6.

Miles Gordan-Darby won a four-round decision over Phil Williams in a heavyweight fight.

Fordan-Darby, 240.2 lbs of Kingston, ENG won by a 39-37 score and is 4-0.

In an entertaining heavyweight battle former world title challenger Dillian Whyte won a 12-round majority decision over Jermaine Franklin at The Wembley Arena in London.

The action went both ways with Franklin using quick hands to score some solid combinations. Whyte got into the fight in the middle rounds by landing some solid power shots, The 12th round saw some furious action with Whyte landing a big right hand that sent Franklin to the ropes. Franklin fought off the ropes and landed a nice right of his own. Many observers thought that Franklin deserved better. Whyte won by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-115.

Whyte landed of 608 punches; Franklin was 165 of 606.

Whyte, 241 lbs of Brixton, ENG is 29-3. Franklin, 257 lbs of Saginaw, MI is 21-1.

Wardley Remains Perfect and Stops Gorman in 3

Fabio Wardley kept his perfect knockout record as he stopped Nathan Gorman in round three of their 12-round heavyweight bout.

In round two Wardley dropped Gorman twice, both from hard right hands. In round three, Wardley dropped Gorman again with a big right that was followed by a left. Moments later, Gorman’s corner threw in the towel after sustaining more punishment, and the fight was stopped at 2:33.

Wardley, 240 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Gorman, 271 lbs of Nantwich, ENG is 19-2.

McCormack Decisions Andino

Pat McCormack remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Christian Nicolas Andino in a welterweight bout.

McCormack landed 69 of 204 punches; Andino was just 17 of 121.

McCormack, 152 lbs of Sunderland, IRE won by 60-54 score and is now 3-0. Andno, 146 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 16-6-2.

Sandy Ryan Decisions Sanchez

Sandy Ryan won a 10-round unanimous decision over Anahi Ester Sanchez in a super lightweight fight.

Ryan landed 120 of 355 punches; Sanchez was 105 of 419.

Ryan, 139 lbs of Derby, ENG won by scores of 100-92, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 5-1. Sanchez, 138 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 21-6.

Clarke Takes out Ulrich in 2

Cheavon Clarke stopped Jose Gregorio Ulrich in round two of their eight-round cruiserweight bout.

In round one, Clarke dropped Ulrich with a straight right. In round two, Clarke uncorked a vicious uppercut that twisted the body of Ulrich and the bout was stopped at 32 seconds.

Clarke. 198 lbs of Gravesend, ENG is 4-0 with four knockouts. Ulrich, 194 lbs of Maria Juan, ARG is 17-6.

Dickinson Decisions Onyenani

Mark Dickinson won a six-round decision over Gideon Onyenani in a middleweight contest.

Dickinson landed 74 of 293 punches; Onyenani was 72 of 243.

Dicksinson, 164 lbs of West Rainton, ENG won by a 59-56 tally and is now 4-0. Onyenani, 163 lbs of Chatham, ENG is 4-3.

George Liddard made a successful pro debut with a second round stoppage over Nikola Matic in a four-round middleweight bout.

At the end of the opening round, Liddard dropped Matic with a right to the body. The bout was stopped after a barrage from Liddard at 25 seconds of round two.

Liddard, 162 lbs of Billericay, ENG is 1-0 with one knockouts. Matic, 161 lbs of Caplinja, BOS is 18-51.

Thomas Carty remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over Pavlo Krolenko in a scheduled six-round heavyweight contest.

In round five, Carty dropped Krolenko with a short left hand. Carty scored a second knockdown after landing a hard flurry on the ropes. Krolenko got to his feet, but could not continue and the bout was stopped at 1:12.

Carty, 252 lbs of Dublin, IRE is 4-0 with three knockoouts. Krolenko, 242 lbs of Khartkiv, UKR is 3-10-1.

Dalton Smith stopped Sam O’Maison in round six of their 12-round junior welterweight bout in Sheffield, England.

In round three, Smith dropped O’Maison with a quick right hand. In round five, O’Maison was bleeding on his forehead,

In round six, It was a left that was followed by a right Smith ended things with another booming right that put O’Maison down for a third and final time and the fight was stopped at 2:52.

Smith, 139.2 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 12-0 with 10 knockouts. O’Maison, 139.1 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 17-4-1.

Ryan Avenges Defeat; Decisions Farias

Sandy Ryan avenged her lone professional blemish by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Erica Farias in a super lightweight bout.

Ryan, 139.25 lbs of Derby, ENG won by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 twice and is now 4-1. Farias, 138.5 lbs of Escobar, ARG is 27-6

Fisher Takes Out Reissinger in 2

Fan-favorite Johnny Fisher remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over Michal Reissinger in round two of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Fisher landed a booming right that put Reissinger down and the fight was stopped at 39 seconds.

Fisher, 241.4 lbs of Romford, ENG is 6-0 with five knockouts. Reissinger, 249.5 lbs of Kozomin, CZE is 3-2.

Jordan Thompson Hangs on to Decision Ducar

Jordan Thompson barely remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Vasil Ducar in a cruiserweight bout.

In round 10, Ducar landed a right and left that was followed by two more right hands to send Thompson to the deck. Thompson was able to get to his feet and beat the bell count and final bell.

Thompson, 198.1 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by scores of 97-92 and 96-93 twice and is now 14-0. Ducar, 197.4 lbs of Brno, CZE is now 11-6-1.

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with an six-round decision over Michal Dufek in a lightweight fight.

Hatton, 137.4 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by a 60-54 score and is now 8-0.  Dufek, 136.1 lbs of Prague, CZE is 34-24-2.

Hopey Price remained undefeated with an eight-round decision over Alexander Mejia in a featherweight fight.

Price, 125.25 lbs of Leeds, ENG won by a 80-72 score and is now 8-0. Mejia, 124.25 lbs of Managua, NIC is 18-4.

Aqib Fiaz won a six-round decision over Jordan Ellison in a lightweight bout.

Fiaz, 137.2 lbs of Oldham, ENG won by a 59-55 score and is now 9-0.

Nico Leivars and Angel Gabriel Chavez fought to a no-contest after Chavez could not continue due to a cut over his left eye in the second round of their six-round bantamweight fight.

In round two, Chavez was cut over his left eye from a headbutt.

Leivars, 123.1 lbs of Mansfield, ENG is 2-0. Chavez, 121.25 lbs of Barcelona, SPA is 3-3.

Junaid Bostan stopped Jose Manuel Lopez Clavero in the sixth and final round of their super welterweight contest.

In round six, Bostan dropped a bloodies Clavero with a straight left on the ropes and the bout was stopped at 1:33.

Bostan, 155.4 lbs Rotherham, ENG is now 2-0 with two knockouts. Clavero, 155.2 lbs of Granada, SPA is 16-18-1.

Kieron Conway tuned up for a Las Vegas showdown with Austin Williams with a fifth round stoppage over Gregory Trenol un a scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout.

Conway dominated the action and landed a hard flurry of punches that forced a referee stoppage at 2:22 of round five.

Conway, 167.4 lbs of Northampton, ENG is now 18-2-1 with four knockouts. Tremol, 166.6 lbs of Dainville, FRA is 16-9-2.

Conway and Williams will meet on September 17th as part of the Canelo Alvarez – Gennadiy Golovkin 3 undercard.

Leigh Wood retained the WBA Featherweight title with a shocking 12th round stoppage over mandatory challenger Michael Conlan in front of a raucous sold out crowd at The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England.

At the end of round one, Conlan uncorked a wild left hand that landed right on the jaw of Wood that sent the hometown champion to the canvas. In round four, Conlan was cut around his left eye.

Conlan was winning most of the rounds as he was getting the better of the exchanges.

In round 11, Wood came back and dropped Conlan with a short left hook. In round 12, Wood stunned Conlan with another left hook, and a follow up flurry knocked Conlan out of the ring, and the fight was stopped at 1:25.

Woodm 125.7 lbs of Nottingham, ENG is 26-2 with 16 knockouts. Conlan, 124.4 lbs of Belfast, NI is 16-1.

Agyarko Decisions Rubio

Caoimhin Agyarko won a 10-round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Rubio in a middleweight fight.

Agyarko was 130 of 430 punches; Rubio was 59 of 454.

Agyarko, 159.2. lbs of Belfast, NI won by scores of 100-90 twice and 98-92 and is now 11-0. Rubio, 159.3 lbs of Zapopan, MEX is 18-2.

Harper Decisions Abellaneda

Former world champion Terri Harper won a 10-round unanimous decision over Yamila Abellaneda in a lightweight fight.

Harper landed 127 of 357 punches; Abellaneda was 62 of 433.

Harper, 133.25 lbs of Denaby Main, ENG won by scores of 99-91 on all cards and is now 12-1-1. Abellaneda, 134.2 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 13-5-1.

Cully stops Former Champion Vazquez in 5

Gary Cully remained undefeated with a 5th round stoppage over former world champion Miguel Vazquez in a scheduled 10-round lightweight fight.

In round three, Cully dropped Vazquez with a straight left. In round five, Cully dropped Vazquez with another left for the 10-count at 41 seconds.

Cully, 134.4 lbs of Dublin, IRE is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Vazquez, 134.1 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 44-1.

Farias Decisions Sandy Ryan

Former two-division world champion Erica Anabella Farias won an entertaining 10-round split-decision over previously undefeated touted prospect Sandy Ryan in a super lightweight fight.

It was a good back and forth fight with Farias getting the better of most exchanges.

In round seven, Ryan had some blood over her left eye and nose. In round 10, Farias had a point deducted for leading with her head.

Farias, 141.1 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG won by scores of 97-94 and 96-94 with Ryan taking a card 97-93.

Farias is now 27-5. Ryan, 144.5 lbs of Derby, ENG is 3-1.

Nico Leivars made a successful pro debut with a four-round decision over Jose Hernandez in a bantamweight fight.

Leivers, 120.1 lbs of Mansfield, ENG won by a 40-34 score and is 1-0.

Thomas Carty stopped Michal Boloz in round five due to Boloz being cut up over his left eye,

In round two, Boloz began to bleed from the bridge of his nose.

In round five, Boloz had a cut and bad swelling over his left eye. Seconds later, the ringside doctor was called in for a 2nd time and the fight was stopped at 2:27.

Carty, 243.25 lbs of Dublin, IRE is 3-0 with two stoppages. Boloz, 232.25 lbs of Nowy Sacz, POL is 2-4-2.

Thomas Whittaker Hart stopped Ben Thomas inside of a minute of their six-round light heavyweight bout.

Hart landed a left to the body that sent Thomas down for the 10-count at 43 seconds.

Hart, 178.2 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 6-0 with three knockouts.

Daniele Scardina stopped Juegen Doberstein after round four of a scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight in n Milan, Italy.

Scardina dominated the fight and beat up and bloodied the nose of Doberstein until the fight was halted in the corner after four-rounds.

Scardina of Italy is 20-0 with 16 knockouts. Doberstein of Germany is 26-5-2.

Patera stops Boschiero in 3 on cuts

Francesco Patera stopped Devis Boschiero in rounds three of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout

In round two, Boischiero began to bleed around his right eye from a punch, and the bout was stopped at 1:32 of round three.

Patera of Belgium is 25-3 with nine knockouts. Bochiero of Italy is 49-7-2.

Esposito decisions Cavallucci

In an action-packed fight, Nicholas Esposito won a unanimous decision over Emanuele Cavallucci in a welterweight fight.

In round three, the right eye of Esposito began to swell.

Esposito of Italy won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 15-0. Cavallucci of Italy is 12-5-1.

Ryan Stops Vujovic in 4

Sandy Ryan stayed undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Aleksandra Vujovic in a scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout.

In round four, Ryan dropped Vujovic with a crushing left to the body. Ryan finished off Vujovic by landing a left hook to the head that was follwed by a left to the body that put Vujovic down and out at 1:47.

Ryan of Derby, ENG is 2-0 with one knockout. Vujovic of Montenegro is 4-15-2

Nmomah stops O’Brien in 4

Samuel Nmomah remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Craig O’Brien in a middleweight bout.

In round four, Nmohah rocked O’Brien with a right that backed him up to the ropes. Mmomah landed a 11-punch flurry on the ropes and the corner of O’Brien threw in the towel at 46 seconds.

Nmomah of Lagos, NIG is 16-0 with five knockouts. O’Brien is now 12-3.

La Femina stops Yegorov in 5

Vincenzo La Femina stopped Oleksandr Yegorov after round five of their scheduled eight-round super bantamweight bout.

In round five, La Femina dropped Yegorov with a right had. La Femina kept beating Yegorov, and the bout was stopped in the corner

La Femina of Italy is 10-0 with five knockouts. Yegorov of Ukraine is 20-7-1.

Reshat Mati remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Vladyslav Baranov in a welterweight bout.

Mati of Staten Island, NY won n by scores of 80-72 twice and 78-74 and is now 11-0. Baronov of Ukraine is 7-11-2.

Leigh Wood captured the WBA Featherweight title with a 12th round stoppage over Xu Can at the opening week of Fight Camp at the Matchroom HQ in Essex, England.

Wood outboxed Can over the course of the fight, and in round 12, landed a big right that sent Can to the canvas. With Can hurt, Wood landed seven unanswered punches that forced a referee stoppage at 2:43.

Wood, 125 1/2 lbs of Nottingham, ENG is now 25-2 with 15 knockouts. Can, 125 1/4 lbs of Beijing CHN is 18-3.

“It feels good you know, to get the stoppage over the line in a great and high-paced fight, the last round with six weeks’ notice, I couldn’t have done anymore,” Wood told Matchroom afterwards. 
 
“I did say in an interview that I’m going to be catching him clean and it’s not down to me how long the fight lasts, it’s down to him pretty much. I could have sustained that all night. He took some big shots, big heart, credit to him but the accumulation has its effect as well. The shot I finished him with wasn’t as big as the ones I caught him with earlier on, but they took their toll, I caught him and got the stoppage.
 
“I had belief in my power, not only do I have big power, but I know how to get it off, how to set it up and how to mix it up. That’s the biggest factor in working with Ben, Lee Wylie and Barry Smith, they’ve really changed the game for me.
 
“He definitely wasn’t throwing 120 punches a round and that’s down to the game plan. Everyone was saying how are you going to do it, what are going to do, are you going to hit him hard, are going to hold him, it was down to the game plan. Even people watching don’t understand, but that’s a conversation for another day.
 
“Hopefully the younger generations see this and think you know what, he’s done it, World Champion, British, Commonwealth, European, hopefully people decide to go pick up a pair of boxing gloves and start their journey.
 
“Ben and Lee said to me they’ve never been so confident in someone getting the tactics right as much as me going into this fight. I thought that was a big statement, I was doing everything they wanted me to do. I executed it pretty much to perfection and credit to those guys for getting it right – I just do as I’m told, and it works.
 
“I’m easy, redemption with Dickens would be great for myself. Full confidence in Ben getting my tactics right for that fight, I had a bad night that fight, first southpaw I boxed as a pro, I’d like to put that right naturally.
 
“But if there’s bigger fights, I said I wanted the Navarrete fight he’s explosive like me, that’ll be absolute fireworks. People might slate me and say it’s a regular title, let’s fight for the super title, let’s unify – I want big fights.
 
“My career was stalled earlier on. In three years I’ve been British, Commonwealth, WBO European and now World Champion. My best years are definitely to come.”

Chris Billiam-Smith won a 12-round split decision over Tommy McCarthy in a hotly contested cruiserweight bout.

In round six, McCarthy was cut over his right eye.

Billam-Smith landed 155 of 637 punches; McCarthy was 154 of 506.

Billiam-Smith won by scores of 115-114 and 116-112, while McCarthy took a card 115-114.

Billiam-Smith-199 1/2 lbs of Bournemouth, ENG is 13-1. McCarthy, 199 1/4 lbs of Belfast, NI is 18-3.

“It’s crazy, as Shane said, it’s been a bit of a tough camp towards the end – I had an injury and I haven’t sparred in 3-4 weeks,” Billam-Smith told Matchroom afterwards. “All that emotion came out, it was an interesting build up the fight, future fights, but I’m over the moon.
 
“It was a good shot, the best shot he landed all fight, I was with it, but it was a good shot, it buzzed me in a way, but I was in control, I could see, I knew I’d been hit but I just had to ride it a bit.
 
“I was really confident, the corner had it closer. In my head I thought I’d won probably eight rounds, but I wasn’t scoring it as I went along – so maybe seven. There was no way he won seven rounds, absolutely no way, that first round he landed one shot. It was a good shot, but I also had him hurt and hit him a lot more – those rounds should really go in my favour.
 
“He was harder to hit clean to be fair to him, but that was my own fault, I was loading up looking for one shot. Shane said that so the jab to the body was key, it was everything. It won me the fight, we watched the Askin fight today and that was the key – props to Shane.
 
“I sent the tweet out and it got him going, he built the fight really well. I played the villain at the beginning and just let him run away with it. All respect to Tommy, he was tougher and better than I thought he was.
 
“I’m so much better than that, I just walked back into the changing rooms and Shane has a massive go at me and said, ‘what was that?’ We know what I’m capable of but then I get too excited in there when I hurt someone. That’s because I’ve only had 14 fights, I’ve got a lot of learning to do but it’s a long process, I’m not the finished article and that’s the sort of fight I need.
 
“I was fit in there, comfortable in there, still ready to work in that last round and go up a gear which is good, but I’ve got to learn to be more articulate with how I go about things.
 
“They all work hard in the gym; I like to do the little 1% that they probably can’t be bothered to do. They work hard, Lawrence runs every morning, everyone’s a grafter in the gym but that comes down to Shane and Josh, they set such a high standard. You’ve got to be world class and act like a professional the whole time in that gym to survive.
 
“There was a group of twelve lads from Bournemouth that I kind of know and they all come up, to see them in crowd and to making the noise they did, it was really special. It’s so good to have fans back and some normality.
 
“I want a show in Bournemouth, I really do. We’ve tried it almost 18 months ago, it would be unbelievable to have a show down there. We’ve got the Bournemouth International Centre which Eddie had booked for last March which he couldn’t get an opponent for. I need a show in Bournemouth, I love my fans, they’ve been superb to me. I’ve been on the road, Riakporhe in London, Glover in Liverpool, here in London, I want to go home.”

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a four-round decision over Jakub Laskowski in a lightweight fight.

Hatton, 135 1/2 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by a 40-36 score and is now 3-0. Laskowski, 135 1/2 lbs of Poland is 4-5-1.

“I was happy again really; I thought my defence was a lot better,” Hatton told Matchroom afterwards. “I was a bit more composed again, I think there were a few times where I’d hurt him and probably could have smothered my work fully and not caught him with anything. I managed to control myself a little when he was going. I didn’t quite get the knockout because I was smothering, and he was tricky, but it was exactly what I need. I need the rounds more than I need a stoppage.
 
“He was tricky customer, slippery, doing a bit of switching and some different looks. That’s the perfect fight and it has been matched perfectly for me to learn. There are people out there they could bring in and anyone could hit them and knock them over. That’s not how they’re matching me, we’re getting me people who are going to get the rounds out of me and give me different things to overcome – that’s what he did tonight.
 
“I think I showed some more classy work than I have before, working off my jab. My jab is one of my best shots in the gym and now I’m bringing it into play in the fights now.
 
“The first fight I was saying all week I was dead relaxed, but I had nothing to compare it to. The second fight I was more composed, and I was more composed this fight – next time it’s going to be the same pattern and even better.
 
“This was a different experience, it’s different to anything that I’m probably going to face very often in my career. It was different making the ring walk this time, you feel breezy seeing people tucking into their tea and having a pint. It was weird making my ring walk to that but as soon as the bell went it was just like any other ring and I just got to work.
 
“Gibraltar, the amount of media commitments I had to and how much time was invested into me on the media side, I think that set me up, so I’ve not had to do much really. We’ve got it all out the way in the first one, I’m never going to have to deal with anything like that again, the pressure will always be there but each time I’ll be dealing with it better. I’m dealing with the pressure like it’s not there now.
 
“You see all these opponents, if it was any other kid he was fighting with any other surname, I don’t think he would have been digging in half as much as he did there. They want to make a point, whether it’s to stop me, or just survive – they raise their game a bit when they know it’s me and I’ve got to do the same.”

Anthony Fowler stopped Rico Mueller in round eight of a scheduled 10-round junior middleweight fight,

In round two, Mueller began to bleed from his nose.

Mueller hung tough, but over the course of the fight, Fowler started breaking down Mueller. In round eight, Fowler landed a jab that buckled Mueller. Fowler continued to batter Mueller all over the ring until the bout was stopped at 2:12.

Fowler, 155 1/4 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 15-1 with 12 knockouts. Mueller, 156 lbs of Eberswalde, GER is 28-4-1.

After the fight, it was announced that Fowler would take on Liam Smith on October 9th.

“My next opponent is a really good fighter, much better than him, but I needed the rounds,” Fowler told DAZN afterwards. “I thought in round two I wobbled him but thought, ‘not today’. My last fight was three rounds and I thought, ‘I need rounds today’, so I stepped back and worked on a few things.
 
“The one thing I haven’t had in my career is rounds, I’ve always blasted my opponents out and haven’t really learnt much. I’m learning plenty in the gym but that’s where it counts, it means nothing in the gym.
 
“I’m from the south of Liverpool, Liam’s (Smith) from the north. It doesn’t bother me, I respect Liam a lot, he’s a really good fighter, ten times better than that lad tonight so I need to be on top of my game. I don’t turn fights down, since day one I’ve boxed anyone, I’ve asked for all these big fights, but it never happened for me.
 
“Even tonight, I wanted to box Roberto Garcia, a good, experienced veteran. Rico Mueller gaveca good fight and I’m happy he replaced Garcia because I said in the ring, ‘thanks for giving it your all’, after six rounds he was six rounds down and he was still trying.
 
“Liam is a much higher level, but I needed the rounds and that’s what I got.”

Jack Cullen won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Avni Yiildrim n a super middleweight bout.

Cullen, 163 1/2 lbs of Little Leaver, ENG won by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 9793 and is now 20-2-1. Yildrim, 163 lbs of Istanbul, TUR ks 21-4.

“I’m absolutely buzzing and listen; we came with a game plan, a couple of rounds in I wasn’t doing what I should have been doing, but I stuck to my game plan and it paid off eventually,” Cullen told Matchroom afterwards. 
 
“I knew he was going to come forward, he’s a tough fighter and he comes to fight – that’s what he did tonight. Like I said with my game plan, using the jab and trying to not get caught with the right hand. I got caught a few times stupidly, but I got back on my boxing and got through the ten rounds.
 
“To be honest with you every fight I’ve seen him in he’s been one paced. It’s me not doing too much, using the jab, and letting him come forward, instead of me getting involved in a scrap – it worked. We stuck to the game plan, it worked, and I’m delighted. 
 
“I’ve been working over and over, every day, it’s starting to pay off. Like I said, you’re going to see a different Jack Cullen and I think you did tonight.
 
“At the end of the day, I’m in this game to fight the best and anything can happen, anything is around the corner. It’s all about being switched on and ready, whoever you get offered you’ve got to take the fight with both hands and go for it.
 
“I have got a brilliant support, a lot of fans that love watching and supporting me. There were only 25 in there tonight, but it sounded like 100, it’s brilliant and I’m going to have a nice little rest – we’ll see. Hopefully Eddie will sign me now!
 
“It’s moving in the right direction, the direction I want it to go. Everyone said Yildirim is going to be a tough opponent and I knew that, but I knew I should be beating fighters like him because of where I want to take my career to.
 
“I will go with flow, who knows, I reckon there will be all sorts of people jumping out the closet wanting to fight me, but we’ll see.”

Prized amateur Sandy Ryan made a successful pro debut with a six-round decision over Kirstie Bavington in a super lightweight bout.

Ryan, 144 1/2 lbs of Darby England won by a 60-54 tally and is 1-0. Bavington, 144 1/2 lbs of Pensnett, ENG is 3-2-2.

“It was a very good fight,” Ryan told Matchroom afterwards. “I’m over the moon and I’m so happy. I enjoyed every minute of that, the walk, everything, I’m just made for the pro game.
 
“I took my time; I enjoyed the ring walk – I enjoyed it so much.
 
“I wanted a tough fight, to prove the levels. I showed glimpses of it, there were times where she was a bit messy and holding. The pro game and each fight as it goes on, I’m going to get much better.
 
“Levels, I said that even if I had a bad day, she wasn’t going to beat me. It’s not disrespect to her, but I just know what I’m capable of. Boxing’s my life and I’m going all the way.
 
“I’ve got the right team behind, Matchroom, DAZN, Eddie Hearn, Paul Ready my manager and Clifton my trainer, that’s all I need – that’s my team. I don’t need a big entourage around me, this is all I need and we’re going all the way.”