Indholdsfortegnelse for 1 May 2025 i Boxing News

I AM SURE we can all agree that Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn exceeded expectations. We had 12 fast and furious rounds. Eubank was the deserving winner, but Benn came out of the fight with reputation enhanced. Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, talked afterwards of his man dropping back down to 147lbs and going for a world title at this weight. But terms have already been agreed for a rematch, and that’s what the boxing public wants. Eubank showed that despite a rehydration clause on top of a tough weight cut that he can fight 12 hard rounds at 160lbs (actually a tad over) and finish strongly. Benn demonstrated he can take one heck of a punch at the middleweight limit and do damage on his own account against a…

★★★★★ OUTSTANDING ★★★★ GOOD ★★★ FAIR ★★ DISAPPOINTING ★ RUBBISH Reporters’ star ratings for main events and undercards are based on in-ring entertainment, competitiveness and whether overall expectation was met TOTTENHAM APRIL 26 MAIN EVENT ATMOSPHERE THERE exists a strange but very real relationship between pain and pleasure, unlocked only by those willing to place themselves in uncomfortable situations. At his fight-week press conference, Chris Eubank Jr offered an insight into what pain means to him, discussing the tragic passing four years ago of his brother, Sebastian, while also addressing several damning comments made by his father, Chris Eubank Sr, in recent weeks. His point was that, by comparison with such family trauma, the pain of boxing is a lot more bearable. His pain, in that family sense, is unavoidable.…

MAIN EVENT UNDERCARD THE WEEKEND of May 2-4 showcases boxing Galácticos, starting with drama in Broadway’s Times Square and culminating in the sport’s spiritual home, Las Vegas, via a detour to boxing’s new frontier, Riyadh. The curtain rises with Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez in New York, followed by ring royalty Canelo Alvarez in Saudi Arabia. And then headlining ng the T-Mobile Arena finale on Sunday is the phenomenal Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs), defending his undisputed super-bantamweight crown against San Antonio’s tenacious Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). Inoue’s fourth US appearance – and first since stopping Michael Dasmarinas in 2021 – continues a potentially relentless 2025 for the Japanese destroyer. His clash with Cardenas is the second of a potential four-fight year, with a September homecoming in Japan against…

BOXING, as this magazine was plainly titled at the time, was founded in 1909, and, apart from a few months in World War II, when its offices were destroyed in the London Blitz, and the occasional bout of industrial unrest, it has appeared every week since that date. In 1942, it rebranded as Boxing News and during the 1950s and 1960s it ran with the catchline “A Ringside Seat at Every Fight”, and that is still the case today, for it has always prided itself in publishing a report for every professional tournament taking place in the UK. Boxing News has gone through some challenging times but has always offered an independent voice on the state of the sport and, week by week for the past 116 years, every printed…

AFTER battling leukaemia three years ago, Sittingbourne welterweight Gareth Shove has sadly passed away. The 45-year-old had been in a coma for the past eight weeks after developing sepsis as a result of graft versus host disease (GVHD). This was as an adverse reaction to his bone marrow transplant that was required after his leukemia diagnosis. As tough a battler as ‘Garthy’ was, it took three different opponents to finally defeat him. GVHD led to his cells not reproducing healthily, bringing on organ failure and eventually sepsis. However, his wife Kelli told Boxing News he fought bravely until the end, much like he did in his boxing career. Originally a kickboxer at the TKO Elite gym under the guidance of Colin Payne, Gareth became English champion in that discipline and…

FAWAZ ABORODE could be representing two countries at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Aborode heads to Nigeria this month for its national championship – only weeks after securing a third successive Scottish Elite title. The light-welterweight champion from Byron ABC explained to Boxing News: “I came here from Nigeria with my family when I was seven years old. “But I don’t have a British passport. The plan is to join the Nigerian team. I need to go in the Nigerian nationals, win them and get in the Nigerian team so I can go to all the big tournaments. “The main goal is next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. I’m focusing on that and the World Championships in Liverpool in September.” The 22-year-old has already competed in World and European…

CONGRATULATIONS to Peter Kent, founder-member and long-term Vice-President of London EBA, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 20. Peter is a former instructor at Belsize Boxing Club, and I was delighted to hear from Honorary Secretary Kevin Batchelor that, the day before Peter’s birthday, the Club hosted a centenary celebration for Peter. The event, at the Union Jack Club, Waterloo, was organised by committee member John Denbigh, who reached out to Peter’s friends in the fields of boxing, fundraising, and World War II veterans. Peter joined the Royal Navy a week after his 18th birthday. As an Able Seaman on HMS Adventure, he was involved with repair parties salvaging damaged landing craft. After being demobbed in August 1946, he represented Gainsford ABC in Drury Lane in various London divisional…

★★★★★ OUTSTANDING ★★★★ GOOD ★★★ FAIR ★★ DISAPPOINTING ★ RUBBISH The star ratings indicate how well the writer believes the fighters match up, the fight(s)’ contextual significance, and how good the fight(s) will be MAIN EVENT UNDERCARD TALENTED? Absolutely. But Teofimo Lopez has shown he can blow hot and cold. So, fans are no doubt asking which version of Lopez will show up when he faces Arnold Barboza Jr in one of three intriguing 12-rounders on the PPV show from Times Square, New York on Friday. Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) gave the best performance of his career when he upset the odds against Vasyl Lomachenko in October 2020. But in his very next bout, Teo lost to George Kambosos Jr in a major surprise. It does appear that Teo was…

MAIDSTONE APRIL 17 WHOLE SHOW IT WAS standing room only at Ballin’, the locals rewarded with a clean sweep by the home corner. Topping the bill was a flyweight six overseen by Sean McAvoy which saw Bromley southpaw Harry Mullins (8-1-1, 113lbs 3oz) return with 59-55 win over ultra-game Burnham-on-Crouch puncher Josh Nutley (1-2, 112lbs) who, despite being cut above the left eye early in the third, seldom took a backward step. Harry for the most part was forced to content himself with working off the back foot and landing the more precise shots. Bromley cruiser Ellis Zorro (18-2, 7 KOs, 202lbs) returned after 11 months of inactivity to bank a 59-54 victory over Warsaw’s Viktar Chvarkou (5-23, 3 KOs, 199½lbs) who was docked a point for holding by referee…

THE last fight of a boxer’s career is inevitable and unavoidable. The last fight is seldom a celebration, but is often a relief. Some boxers have no idea it is coming; others know it is but refuse to accept it, and there are some that plan a goodbye night. Each weekend, it seems, we watch men and women climb through the ropes and there is always a candidate for retirement. There might be somebody we fear will “grow old overnight”, or there might be others that simply need one more loss to persuade them to quit. The end of Muhammad Ali finally came after about four or five years of the men inside his life knowing full well that it was over and that he should walk away. They told…

MAIN EVENT UNDERCARD WHETHER Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is at the peak of his powers, or at least not too far removed from such pugilistic prowess, remains a point of debate. Since losing to Dmitry Bivol in 2022, the 34-year-old has amassed five unanimous-decision victories — each performance virtually identical — against opposition he was widely expected to beat. As a result, it is almost impossible to say whether, or by how much, the Mexican has regressed in recent years. Before suffering his second professional defeat, Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) marched through the 168lb division with perhaps the closest thing to an air of invincibility. That, however, came crashing down around his compact frame after Bivol produced a masterful performance, his feet doing most of the heavy lifting, to emerge from their…

GLASGOW APRIL 24 MAIN EVENT Hugh Keevins dubbed the top table ‘ChampsRUs’ as he was accompanied by Gary Jacobs, Jim Watt MBE and the evening’s guest of honour, Duke McKenzie MBE. In the headliner at the Radisson Blu, Stuart Richardson (145½lbs) ensured the Scottish welterweight title would return to Stirling, defeating defending champion, Jack Owens (145½lbs). The challenger brought immediate pressure and activity that left the titleholder bloodied after the second round. Although initially unsettled, the Johnstone counter-puncher began having more success as he moved forward from the back foot, as the pair delivered some thrilling rounds. The overall activity and accuracy from Richardson would be rewarded to see him move to 5-0, 1 KO, while Owens received his first loss after four wins (1 KO). After refereeing all night,…

TELFORD APRIL 21 WELLINGTON Boxing Academy had a good night when Hereford Boxing Academy staged a show at the Richmond Club in the city centre. The youngest of four boxing brothers, Amaan Fiaz, with elder sibling and ex-pro Harry in his corner, made it back-to-back wins by outpointing Jacob Gray (Leominster Police). The 15-year-old won the 3x2 bout unanimously with long, straight punches and movement. Fiaz was quick to find his range, and within a minute the referee gave Gray an eight-count after Fiaz threaded a long left-right through his defences and on to his chin. Gray tightened his guard after that and got close enough to land a left hook to body and right over the top in the closing moments of the opener. They were to prove to…

JIMMY FLINT, the ‘Wapping Assassin’, was a very exciting fighter in the 1970s. He fought at featherweight, and that division was bristling with talent when Jimmy was attempting to punch his way to the top of it. Among the champions were Alan Richardson, a rugged fighter who never knew when to give up; Vernon Sollas, a very talented lad who could both box and fight but with a tendency to run out of gas; and Dave Needham, a boxing stylist who was a joy to watch. Noted challengers included Les Pickett, Gerry Duffy and Alan Buchanan, the brother of Scottish all-time-great Ken. Flint was a very confident young fighter with a hard punch, and the thought of fighting any of these men would not have worried him at all. As…

May 02 TEOFIMO LOPEZ vs ARNOLD BARBOZA Times Square, New York DAZN PPV (WBO super-lightweight title) Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero Devin Haney vs Juan Carlos Ramirez May 03 CANELO ALVAREZ vs WILLIAM SCULL The Venue, Riyadh DAZN PPV (WBC, WBA Super, WBO and IBF super-middleweight titles) Badou Jack vs Norair Mikaeljan (WBC cruiserweight title) Bruno Surace vs Jaime Munguia II Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba May 04 NAOYA INOUE vs RAMON CARDENAS T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Sky Sports/ESPN (WBA Super, WBC, WBO and IBF super-bantamweight titles) Rafael Espinoza vs Edward Vazquez (WBO featherweight title) May 10 ANTHONY CACACE vs LEIGH WOOD Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham DAZN Liam Davies vs Kurt Walker Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones Owen Cooper vs Chris Kongo Sam Noakes vs Patrik Balaz EMANUEL NAVARRETE vs CHARLY SUAREZ Pechanga Arena, San…