THE RESULT: Down on two scorecards Raymond Ford produces a stunning stoppage win over Otabek Kholmatov with seven seconds left in the final round to take home the WBA featherweight belt. KEY MOMENTS: In a high-quality bout there were brutal body exchanges throughout. The conditioning of both men was outstanding, but Ford kept going right
Month: March 2024
Raymond Ford had no idea what the scorecards said, that two judges had him behind, that he was seconds away from losing to Otabek Kholmatov. But Ford knew the fight had been close for the previous 11 rounds. He knew he had Kholmatov hurt. And he did exactly what he needed to do, scoring a
Posted on 03/03/2024 By: Sean Crose The 14-0-1 Raymond Ford entered the ring at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino Saturday night in the hope of winning the vacant WBA featherweight title. His opponent in the scheduled 12 rounder was the 12-0 Otabek Kholmatov. The first round was largely a feeling out process, though Kholmatov
THE RESULT: Luis Alberto Lopez makes a third successful defence of his IBF featherweight belt stopping Reiya Abe with 39 seconds left of the eighth round. KEY MOMENTS: In the opening round a Lopez left hook caught Abe and damaged the right eye of the Japanese fighter. With the eye immediately swollen Abe faced an
Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterMar 2, 2024, 10:22 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Jake Paul’s critics wanted him to fight actual boxers. He’s now knocked out two of them in a row inside the first round. The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter stopped Ryan Bourland via TKO at 2:37 of the first Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Paul
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson is back in hot water, as ESPN and local Toledo outlet WTVG report that “The Real Big Baby” was charged with “third-degree felony fleeing a police officer” after allegedly leading officers on a trio of high-speed chases last Thursday, culminating with Anderson crashing into a median. ESPN has a detailed
Luis Alberto Lopez is on a run that can no longer be denied – even by him. Lopez hopes to stay on course Saturday at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, when he fights Japan’s Reiya Abe, in Lopez’s third defense of the IBF featherweight title. Arguably the most accomplished fighter in his division,
Mike Coppinger, ESPNMar 2, 2024, 12:30 PM ET Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson was charged with third-degree felony fleeing a police officer at his arraignment Saturday morning after officers said he led them on a 6-plus-mile chase with speeds exceeding 130 mph, according to the Huron Township (Michigan) director of public safety. Anderson, per police, fled
Purse bids set for the fight for the vacant EBU heavyweight title between Granit Shala (15-0) and Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce (15-2) this week, but Joyce pulled out like Daniel Dubois had before him. However, the EBU quickly found a new co-challenger in Ukrainian Oleksandr Zakhozyui (18-0). and the deadline for purse bids is now March
Amanda Serrano headlines in Puerto Rico tonight, facing Nina Meinke with three featherweight titles on the line in the 12-round main event. Jake Paul will also return on the card, facing club fighter Ryan Bourland in an eight-round fight serving as the night’s chief support. We’ll be here from 7 pm ET with live updates,
I HAVE decided this week to officially retire from boxing. Although I haven’t competed in about three and a half years I’ve never really decided that I wasn’t going to fight again until now. I’m sure some would consider me already retired but for my own peace of mind I’m going to put it out
TWELVE months ago, in Newcastle, a new star emerged in the featherweight division. The sight of Otabek “Bruce Lee” Kholmatov, 12-0 (11), obliterating the previously unbeaten Thomas Patrick Ward drew significant attention. Ward was dropped three times and in the final seconds of the fifth round his corner threw in the towel. The well-travelled Kholmatov,
THE remarkable Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano heads home for the 50th fight of her career and there will be those in Scarborough hoping it all goes wrong for her in Puerto Rico on Saturday night. Serrano puts her WBA, IBF and WBO 126lbs titles on the line against fellow southpaw Nina Meinke, 18-3 (4),
It didn’t take long for Andy Cruz to return fire at Keyshawn Davis. Earlier this week, Davis, who won a silver medal at lightweight in the 2020 Olympics, criticized Cruz – the fighter who beat him to earn gold in Tokyo – for punching down. Davis said Cruz called him out, when Davis felt it
Devin Haney was pressed by media members a number of times over a supposed sparring tape Floyd Mayweather gave Ryan Garcia to watch on Haney, only to dismiss the idea that one of his mentors would resort to such an underhanded tactic. But when Ryan Garcia publicly released the footage taken at the Mayweather’s gym,
Mike Coppinger, ESPNFeb 29, 2024, 05:48 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MIAMI — David Benavidez sat on the ring apron at the downtown BOXR Gym and wrapped his hands — just because the Canelo Alvarez fight he’s pushed so hard to land seems farther away than ever, doesn’t mean the work stops. Alvarez has long
THE RESULT: In a fantastic fight full of action and momentum swings, Germany’s Abass Baraou managed to outbox and outwork Sam Eggington, as well as beat him at his own game, to take the vacant European super-welterweight title tonight (March 1) in Telford. One step ahead throughout, Baraou hurt Eggington in rounds three, nine and
TELFORD – Super bantamweight Tom Welland (3-0, 2 KO) scored a second-round stoppage against Esteban Troestch (1-3-1, 1KO) in Telford, opening the televised broadcast of the Wasserman Boxing promotion headlined by the vacant European super welterweight title fight between Abass Baraou and Sam Eggington. Welland, who turned professional in November 2023, kicked off his 2024