Can Mayer Become A Three-Division World Champion?

The recent history of Boxing overall will largely and rightly center on the long overdue spotlight that has finally shined on female fighters over the last decade. Recognition that has finally resulted in the women in the sport not only being featured at the top of cards in main events on events that also feature men's bouts, but more specifically significant strides made towards female fighters earning higher purses for their efforts inside the ring. One fighter that has been able to take advantage of the increased exposure for women in the sport is Mikaela Mayer.

Mayer, a 2016 Olympian, has gone on to have a successful career as a professional since turning pro in 2017 compiling a record of 21-2, with 5 Knockouts, becoming a two-division world champion along the way including a unified world champion as a 130lb. Jr. Lightweight and world champion as a 147lb. Welterweight. Those accomplishments, along with a crowd-pleasing style as a boxer/puncher has made her one of the top stars in the sport along with names like Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, and Amanda Serrano. As all three have cemented their future status as Hall of Famers, Mayer now prepares for the next chapter of what will likely be her Hall of Fame career as she will move up in weight once more to challenge WBA World Jr. Middleweight champion Mary Spencer on Thursday, October 30th at Casino Montreal in Montreal, Canada a ten round world championship bout that can be seen here in the United States on Top Rank Boxing’s Classics Fast Streaming channel across multiple streaming app platforms.

This amounts to what one would call an away game for Mayer if this were a team sport due to the current WBO Welterweight world champion and native of Colorado Springs, CO traveling to Canada to face Spencer, a native of Montreal on her home turf. It is not a position that Mayer is not unfamiliar with, however, having fought four times in the United Kingdom under similar circumstances. 

While Mayer’s two career defeats occurred over that four fight stretch in losing close decisions to world champions Alycia Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas in 2022 and 2024 respectfully, two fights that ended in razor thin split decisions, this is a case where, despite being the fighter moving up in weight, many likely view her as the favorite going into this fight. This is due to both the challenger having more experience compared to Spencer as well as overall caliber of opposition. Perception, however, may not necessarily be reality.

The champion will come into this title defense, her first since winning the vacant WBA world championship in April of this year with a ten round unanimous decision over Ogleidis Suarez, with a record of 10-2, with 6 Knockouts. Although at a disadvantage in terms of overall experience as well as marquee opposition as compared to Mayer, Spencer does have punching power and has scored knockouts in 60% of her career wins. She is also two inches taller than Mayer at 5’11 and is seemingly the naturally bigger of the two fighters. Whether that shows when champion and challenger are in the ring on fight night remains to be seen. 

What this fight will come down to in this observer’s mind is whether Spencer will be able to dictate the combat and do so for the entire fight. At her best, Mikaela Mayer is a fighter that is good at controlling the distance between herself and her opposition, and often varies her attack by approaching an opponent at different angles and getting the better of the action with her hand speed and being able to evade with footwork and lateral movement. Spencer, whose two career defeats came to the same fighter, former unified Jr. Middleweight world champion Femke Hermans, must find a way to cut the ring off, apply consistent pressure and limit Mayer’s ability to both move and get her punches off first. Although there are some who feel Mayer’s losses to Alycia Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas should have gone her way, both fighters were successful in being able to limit what she was able to do for periods throughout those fights and were also able to back her up consistently along the ropes. Both fights were extremely close, but those aspects often can be the subtle differences that can determine who will win a fight in scenarios where it otherwise might be too close to call. 

The story going into this fight may indeed center on Mikaela Mayer attempting to become a world champion in a third weight division, but in an era where the level of competition is ever increasing as the sport for women continues to benefit from long overdue exposure and growth that will manifest in the coming years as a result, Mary Spencer is likely looking at this fight and her opportunity to add her name to the list of notable world champions that have served as cornerstones of the most recent era of Women's Boxing by defending her title successfully against one such cornerstone. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

UPDATE: As this column was being prepared for publication, it has been announced that in addition to the WBA Jr. Middleweight world championship currently held by Mary Spencer, the vacant WBC and WBO world championships in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division will also be on the line giving the combatants a chance to win those vacated titles and become a unified world champion in the division. The WBC and WBO Jr. Middleweight world championships were previously held by Cecilia Braekhus, who defeated previous unified world champion Ema Kozin on October October 4th in her native Norway before retiring as champion and thus opening a vacancy in both the WBC and WBO in the Women's Jr. Middleweight division, which will be filled barring a draw outcome in this fight. 

Spencer vs. Mayer takes place on Thursday, October 30th at Casino Montreal in Montreal, Canada. The fight can be seen in the United States on Top Rank Boxing’s Classics Free 24/7 Fast Streaming channel across multiple streaming app platforms beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. For more information and a full list of available platforms where the Top Rank Classics Fast Streaming channel is carried please visit: https://toprank.com/TR-Classics

(*Card and Start Time Subject to Change.*)

(*Check your local listings internationally.*)

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Wardley Rescues Himself From The Brink Again, But Was Stoppage The Right Call?

The Heavyweight encounter between former WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and undefeated top contender Fabio Wardley on June 25th at the O2 Arena in London, England was one that could and frankly should have repercussions for the talent-deep Heavyweight division going into 2026. Not only was it a rarity in that two number one contenders in two separate world sanctioning organizations,  chose to risk their respective standings against each other rather than sit and wait for a title shot to come to them, but stylistically, it provided the dynamic of a boxer/puncher in Parker, who has been at or near the top of the division for more than a decade going against a “Knockout Artist” in Wardley. 

It was also a fight that came following a significant scare for Wardley in his previous outing against previously unbeaten Justis Huni earlier this year in a fight where Wardley was trailing on all three scorecards before dropping Huni late in the tenth round to score a dramatic come from behind knockout, saving his undefeated record and his standing as the WBA's top Heavyweight contender in the process. As thrilling as that knockout was, however, it did present a question for at least some regarding whether it might be too much, too soon for him in terms of competing at the top level of the Heavyweight division. In particular, by opting to roll the dice against a former world champion in Parker, who not only had more experience than both he and Huni, but also a more well-rounded skillset than Huni. 

The old adage of “Styles Make Fights” was almost immediately appropriate from the opening bell. Parker throwing and landing punches consistently behind a quick jab and seeming to get the better of the action when he used his hand speed, Wardley not outworking Parker, but landing hard thudding blows seemingly every time he connected. It did not take long before the dynamics in terms of the styles of the two fighters provided an entertaining bout.

It was a bout that though Parker seemed to be in control for a significant portion of it, there were plenty of back and forth heated exchanges that kept one on the edge of their seats. Both fighters had periods throughout the fight where they were able to stun the other, but after round four where this observer felt the two fighters split the first four rounds, Parker was able to gradually build a lead on points. This was due primarily to both his ability to throw and land crisp combinations, but also doing so with accuracy. In the seventh round one such heated exchange of offense between the two fighters was won by Parker. The exchange, however, triggered a response from yours truly as I observed the bout on X (formerly Twitter) that while Parker had pulled ahead by a five rounds to two margin on my scorecard, he was playing with fire by being willing to stand and trade with Wardley. As Justis Huni learned earlier this year in his own bout with Wardley, you can be winning every minute of every round without a question of doubt and still get caught. 

While I do not claim any psychic abilities, the one thing I do have as a proud Boxing lifer and one who has dedicated his life to covering the sport over the last thirty years, is experience in having covered thousands of fights on every level of Boxing and thus having an instinct based on that experience as to what might happen based on what I can see. This was a case where at that point in the fight, I felt all Parker needed to do was use his lateral movement to evade Wardley as he came forward and continue out boxing him by throwing short, but compact combinations. Although after eight rounds I felt the fight was still on the table for both in terms of being able to win a decision, and keeping in mind that up to that point, Parker had withstood Wardley’s hardest punches, particularly his right hand, I felt that the wise approach was for Parker to be elusive and not give the noted “Knockout Artist” an opportunity to take advantage of an opening.

Rounds nine and ten followed a similar pattern as the majority of rounds throughout the fight, Parker seeming to control the majority of those rounds, beating Wardley to the punch, and at times looking as though he might be able to get a stoppage as Wardley seemed to be wilting periodically due to both the high pace the fight was being fought at as well as likely the accumulation of Parker's combinations throughout. Wardley did manage to stun Parker late in the tenth round, but it was at that point that I made another observation in real time on X that we had reached the point in the contest where Wardley needed a knockout to win this fight and that scoring knockdowns would not be enough to get the job done on points. 

As often happens in combat sports, one should always keep a mentality that anything can happen at any time and until you hear a final bell, one should not dismiss the possibility of something unexpected and dramatic happening. The eleventh round can be summed up in three words.”Sudden,” “Dramatic,” and “Controversial.”

The statement made by this observer just prior to round eleven would prove to provide the exact scenario that Wardley needed to turn things in his favor to bring the fight to a sudden, dramatic, and controversial conclusion. At the midway point of the round, Wardley connected with a flush right hand that staggered Parker badly. A scenario that had played out periodically throughout the fight whenever Wardley had been able to land solidly, but up to this point, Parker was able to withstand those blows. 

This appeared as though it would be similar as, despite being badly stunned and largely on the defensive, Parker’s eyes appeared clear and he was trying to weather the storm of offense that Wardley was throwing relentlessly with urgency, clearly sensing both that he was at a point where he was going to lose this fight on the scorecards and that this was his opportunity to change that narrative. While not landing with every shot he threw in the seemingly endless barrage, he did succeed in keeping Parker on the defensive where it appeared to yours truly that he was only able to get off one or two punches in response to what Wardley was throwing at him. It was at this point where Parker was attempting to evade punches and deflect what he could with his gloves that Referee Howard Foster stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:54 of round eleven without a knockdown occurring or Parker seemingly getting hit with a blow that would force the referee’s hand to step in and stop it.

Reacting in real time, I commented on X following the stoppage that Foster would be criticized for stepping in. Before I go deeper in that assessment, first some context is appropriate for what will follow. 

Referee Howard Foster, who is based in the United Kingdom has been a referee on the professional level of the sport of Boxing for twenty-eight years having officiated over 1,500 professional fights including many world championship bouts, European, and British/Commonwealth championship bouts. While Foster also has served in the capacity as a judge scoring fights for over twenty-five years, which includes nearly 700 bouts, including many non-title bouts on the British/Commonwealth level where the referee is the sole judge scoring those bouts, nearly 2,220 bouts of combined service as a referee and judge indicates that Foster is extremely experienced and frequently called upon to serve in either capacity by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and other athletic commissions and regulatory boards throughout the world where he has been called upon to either referee or serve as a judge.

Referees like the rest of us are human beings and along with experience they bring with them into the ring are as prone to human error as the rest of us. The aspect of one's experience, while serving as an indication that the individual has paid their dues and is trusted to be in the position they are in regardless of what field they are in, the human aspect and the potential for errors to be made is always there. Despite Foster’s extensive resume, he is no stranger to controversy and has developed a reputation over the years in some circles as one who is at times quick in stopping fights.

Anyone who has followed the career of this observer over the last three decades either knows or should know that more often than not, when it comes to fights being stopped, I will side with the referee, doctor, or corner of a fighter who ultimately makes that often difficult decision. More often than not, such decisions are judgement calls that are ultimately motivated by the sole intention of protecting the fighter from further punishment and the potential of serious injury or God forbid worse.

Anyone who has spent any significant time in and around combat sports knows that often these types of judgement calls boil down to split second calls. It is far from an easy task to know what the right call might be in the heat of the moment. No one, however, wants to live with what can happen if a fight that should be stopped is allowed to go on where it results in either permanent injury to a fighter or unfortunately death.

This was a case where Joseph Parker did not appear to be in danger of possible serious/permanent injury or possibly having his life in danger. It is indisputable, however, that he was badly stunned and was not returning offense at a rate that would have convinced Foster that he was capable of continuing. On the other side of the equation, several of Wardley’s shots during this final barrage were not landing cleanly and it is certainly possible that Parker though under heavy fire, was trying to both compose himself and look for an opening to return offense or get off the ropes.

Having viewed the stoppage more than once, I believe Howard Foster was a bit early in stepping in for the sole reason that Parker's eyes appeared to be clear and he was able to avoid some of what Wardley was dishing out. We could be talking about a span of between 10-15 seconds that may have provided some clarity one way or another as to whether Parker may have been able to survive or whether Foster was justified in stepping in. 

If Foster had given Parker that benefit of doubt, there are a few scenarios that could have occurred. One and perhaps the most obvious is that Wardley could have landed another solid blow that may have either resulted in a knockdown of Parker or would have served as the trigger for Foster to step in where the justification would not be questioned. Scenario two, and the most logical if you are a fighter in Parker's position would be to attempt to clinch and buy yourself some seconds to get your legs and faculties back while waiting for the referee to initiate a break and thus allow you a chance to get off the ropes. Possibility three, Parker may have found an opening and landed something that would have stopped the barrage of punches Wardley was throwing, and finally scenario four, the exhausting pace of the fight, which was significant by Heavyweight standards, combined with Wardley putting everything he had behind this final barrage of offense could have resulted in him punching himself out, which in turn could have provided Parker with an opportunity to at minimum evade and get through the round.

All of this is hypothetical, of course, because the fight was stopped. Although the winner of this fight was supposed to be theoretically next in line to challenge undefeated Undisputed Heavyweight championship Oleksandr Usyk, the fact that there is that element of controversy regarding whether the fight should have been stopped coupled with the fact that Fabio Wardley was indeed trailing on all three official scorecards at the time of the stoppage, would appear to create the ideal conditions for an immediate rematch. When one factors in that Usyk, who recently became the only man in Boxing history to fully unify the World Heavyweight championship twice, has yet to indicate what he wants to do next and may be heading towards retirement, it seems all the more logical that there be a rematch between Wardley and Parker. One should also take into consideration that it was also one of the more entertaining Heavyweight fights in recent memory. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Owen Corrigan returns November 28th – Thunderdome 52

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: October 21, 2025 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday November 28th, Metro City Night Club sees the return of Dragonfire Promotions for their final event of the year.

 

One of the featured contests is rematch pitting undefeated Owen “Bomber” Corrigan 3-0 as he runs it back with Chinas leading Light Heavyweight Liam Wang.

 

When catching up with the fighting pride of Ireland he stated that he was fit and ready to go, having started his camp straight after his previous outing.

 

“2025 has been successful 3 fights in a calendar year, I’m looking at more from last November 4 fights in 12 months I think is very good, each had different styles and characteristics, definitely the hardest been Laing so November 28 is gonna show the improvements been made over the year and how I’ve adapted to boxing professionally”.

 

Owen opens up on his thoughts regarding the rematch:

“Yeah I’ve wanted the rematch since we fought, i believe I’m a lot better than the last time we fought. I had a bad night in the office but still showed my levels to dig out a win, when I’m at my best I think I bring a lot of trouble to Laing and deal with him comprehensively

 

“Everything falling into place I’ve made the mistake in the past certainly the case last time we fight of going to had to early and peaking at the wrong time, been hitting numbers and ticking boxes from next week really I’m going to be lifting the lid on it, very confident in my mindset at the moment”

 

“Bring your best, because I’m not rematching you for fun!”

 

“Yeah another good crowd so far, unbelievably greatful to have these people coming down to support me, let’s hear ya roar, get down early get a few drinks in ya and lift the roof off the place let’s @#!% hear ya!!!

 

Promoter Tony Tolj discusses the match

“Owen is a great talent in the early stages of his career, the first fight was a cracker and Owen won every rounds. He has levels and I know hes been putting the work in and Friday November 28th we will see the new and improved “Bomber”. Ireland vs China in Australia this has an international incident written all over, this is going to be a war and fans will love it for sure.”

Material Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing/ Photo Courtesy of: Mike O'Hara Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Parker And Wardley Emerge In High Stakes Pay-Per-View Showdown

Originally, this column was intended and scheduled to preview two separate pay-per-view main events scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 25th. As some Boxing fans know, what was intended has obviously had to change due to the cancellation of the scheduled WBC World Jr. Middleweight championship bout between champion Sebastian Fundora and former World Welterweight champion Keith Thurman, which was due to headline a pay-per-view card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters and streamed through digital streaming entertainment and subscription platform Prime Video, being cancelled due to a hand contusion suffered by Fundora while in training for the bout. While as of this writing, the plan appears for that bout to be rescheduled as soon as possible, there remains one pay-per-view main event to take place on October 25th that will now be the sole subject of this writing, which could and should have ramifications the the Heavyweight division moving into 2026.

This observer is referring to the bout between former WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and the undefeated Fabio Wardley in a scheduled twelve round fight that will headline a pay-per-view card at the O2 Arena in London, England and can be seen worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View. What makes this encounter interesting beyond it being a battle between two of the top Heavyweights in the division, which alone often is enough to draw interest is this fight presents a rarity as well that primarily due to the politics that be in the sport of Boxing and multiple sanctioning organizations, you rarely see. Two fighters, each with a number one mandatory ranking with an interim championship designation, putting their respective standings on the line. In this case in order to attempt to secure a fight with the undefeated two-time Undisputed World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Parker, who has been at or near the top of the Heavyweight division for most of the last decade is a one time WBO World Heavyweight champion, and after some ups and downs over the years, has worked his way back to the number one contender position in the same organization. A testament to perseverance that cannot be dismissed. Although seemingly on a career high minus the ultimate goal of regaining a world title, Parker, who has had to contend with his fair share of power punching sharks in the waters of the Heavyweight division will be tasked with facing one more in his hopes to secure another world title opportunity in the form of unbeaten “Knockout Artist” Fabio Wardley.

Wardley, who will come into this fight with a near 95% career knockout percentage, will enter as the WBA’s top contender. With a record of 19-0-1, with 18 Knockouts, few have been able to withstand the punching power Wardley has in either hand. This presents the classic scenario of a fighter noted for his ability to end fights quickly, going against a more seasoned and more experienced opponent at this level of competition.

It is not a scenario that the former world champion Parker, who will enter the bout with a record of 36-3, with 24 Knockouts, is unfamiliar. Some may recall his fights against Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, and Zhilei Zhang, three noted “Knockout Artists,” in which Parker suffered two losses out of those three fights. What is revealing, however, is Parker has only been stopped once in his three defeats and that was at the hands of Joe Joyce in September 2022. Parker was competitive in all three of his losses and was ahead on all three scorecards when Joyce was able to catch up to him in the eleventh round of that fight.

In thinking of how this fight might be fought from Parker’s perspective, I thought of two fights that might be similar, that he was successful and dominant in winning. Two opponents that stylistically are similar to Wardley in being “Knockout Artists” that come forward and can knock an opponent out with either hand. Yours truly is referring to his bouts with the aforementioned Zhilei Zhang and before that encounter, his bout against former WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder. Two fights that took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023 and 2024 respectfully.

In both fights, Parker used effective lateral movement, footwork, and timing to consistently beat both fights to the punch, often by landing variations of two, three, and four punch combinations and then using his movement to evade before either fighter could return offense consistently. Two performances by Parker, who was viewed as an underdog going into both fights that frankly should be viewed as a masterclass in effective execution by a boxer/puncher. It is an approach that Parker must implement once again in this fight.

Much like Wilder and Zhang, Fabio Wardley is not known for his quickness, but has shown more than once thus far in his career that he can end a fight with one punch if given an opening. One need look no further than Wardley’s last fight in June of this year against previously unbeaten contender Justis Huni. A fight held in rainy conditions in Portman Road Football Ground in Ipswich, England, that was dominated by Huni from the outset, frequently out throwing and outlanding Wardley in seemingly every round and often landing in combination. Huni had particular success in landing flush right hands on Wardley, which is also coincidentally one of Parker's best offensive weapons.

The accumulation of punishment along with the fact that Huni had stepped in and took the fight on short notice along with the bout being held outdoors in rainy conditions seemed to have Wardley at times seemingly on the verge of being stopped due primarily to fatigue. Just as it appeared Huni was about to make a significant shake up in the Heavyweight division, the two fighters exchanged punches midway through the tenth round. Seemingly out of nowhere, Wardley connected with an overhand right that turned certain defeat as he had lost the fight on the scorecards by that point in the bout, into a thrilling come from behind knockout victory.

As great as that knockout was and as accurate a demonstration of the power Wardley has that one can find, if one is objective they would say that Justis Huni put a significant scare into both Wardley and his promoter the Hall of Famer Frank Warren, who is also the promoter of this bout with Parker. To expand a bit further, if one were honest they would say that even though Huni up to the point where he got caught put in a career high performance in that fight, he has limited experience and Joseph Parker is both more experienced, particularly at this level of competition at or near the top of the sport, and is also lighter on his feet than Huni.

The element of danger, however, is very real and Parker must keep in mind here that he can be winning every second of every round and one lapse in focus, leaving even the slightest opening, can end up costing him the fight. Though the circumstances are/were different, Parker found himself in a similar situation as Huni when he fought Joe Joyce in September 2022 in that like Wardley, Joyce, at the time was an unbeaten “Knockout Artist” that Parker hit repeatedly throughout that fight with the type of flush right hands that would end the night for most fighters, let alone Heavyweights and like Huni, Parker seemed to have the fight well under control and winning on points when Joyce was able to catch him and knock him out. A possibility certainly exists here that a similar scenario could happen where by all accounts and without a question of doubt, Parker could find himself in control and winning every aspect of the combat. Parker knows what happened to him against Joyce and he needs to be aware not to get overly aggressive where he might be vulnerable again to being caught. Even if a scenario presents itself where he might be able to score a knockdown, he must be tactical at all times and until the final bell or a potential stoppage, approach Wardley with caution.

The approach for Fabio Wardley is both simple and complex. He needs to try and cut the ring off from Parker and try to limit his ability to move and use angles, but must also pace himself in doing so. A problem that fighters, as I have often said over the last thirty years I have covered Boxing and by extension other combat sports, that are known for their punching power is they can fall into a false sense of security in thinking that their power will be enough to get the job done every time they enter the ring and as a result, neglect developing other facets of their game in terms of tactics, strategy, the ability to pace themselves, and develop an overall well-rounded skillset, which more often than not tends to have negative effects long-term on their careers. Wardley did succeed in saving himself from defeat in his last fight, but he may not be as fortunate if he finds himself in a similar hole on the scorecards in this fight.

Whether or not the winner of this fight gets a title shot against Oleksandr Usyk, or due to the unique circumstances of this encounter, ends up potentially emerging as a unified world champion depending on what Usyk decides to do, remains to be seen. These are the types of fights, however, that I tend to look forward to more than most not only from a stylistic standpoint, but when you also throw into the equation that anything can happen, which is especially true when it comes to Heavyweights, it sparks interest. We will see if it's Parker or Wardley that comes out on top. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Parker vs. Wardley takes place on Saturday, October 25th at the O2 Arena in London, England. The fight as well as it's undercard can be seen worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View at 1:30PM ET/10:30AM PT for $59.99. (*North American times and pricing only.*)

(*Card and start times Subject to Change.*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times and pricing in your area, to subscribe and order this pay-per-view event please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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Juarez Retains Women's WBC World Flyweight Championship With Decision Over Nery Plata

Credit: Harry Aaron/Most Valuable Promotions 

Press Release: October 19, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX – October 18, 2025 – In a thrilling and tightly contested ten-round world championship bout, Mexico’s WBC light flyweight world champion Lourdes “La Pequeña Lulu” Juarez (39-4, 5 KOs) successfully retained her title, earning a majority decision victory over MVP’s Yesica Nery Plata (30-3, 3 KOs)—the division’s #1 WBA contender and former unified champion—at Most Valuable Prospects 16 Championship Double Header from the South Padre Island Convention Center in Texas, streamed globally on DAZN. From the opening bell, the action was razor-close, with both champions trading sharp, clean combinations in a technical chess match. Juarez was briefly shoved in round seven but remained composed, matching Plata’s precision and pace through every exchange. After ten high-level rounds, the judges scored the bout 95-95, 96-94x2 in favor of Juarez, who retained her WBC light flyweight world title. Speaking with Sibley Scoles post-fight, Juarez thanked her supporters and praised Plata’s strength and performance in what was one of the night’s most competitive showdowns.

 

In the co-main event, Brownsville, Texas native Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez (20-2, 7 KOs) showcased his superior skill and ring IQ against Caguas, Puerto Rico’s Omar “The New Era” Rosario (14-3, 4 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight clash at 140 lbs. The opening rounds were competitive, with both men trading crisp combinations, but Juarez quickly established himself as the sharper, more composed fighter. As the bout wore on, Juarez’s precision and timing broke down Rosario’s defense, and a late point deduction against Rosario further cemented Juarez’s control. After ten rounds, the judges unanimously scored it for Juarez (99-89x2, 97-91), marking a dominant and decisive victory.

On the main card, MVP’s Australian unified world champion Desley “Destroyer” Robinson (11-3, 4 KOs) lived up to her nickname, obliterating South Carolina’s Logan Holler (11-4-1, 4 KOs) to successfully defend her unified IBF and WBO middleweight world titles. Making her promotional debut with MVP, Robinson wasted no time asserting her dominance—unleashing a barrage of heavy combinations in the second round that shattered Holler’s defense and left her unable to continue. The referee stopped the contest at 1:08 of the 2nd round, declaring Robinson the winner by TKO and still the unified IBF and WBO middleweight world champion. The clinical display from the reigning champion earned Robinson the MVP Performance of the Night bonus presented by Caribe Royale.

Opening the main card, Boxlab Promotions’ rising 21-year-old Cuban standout Ronny Alvarez (5-0, 4 KOs) faced 26-year-old San Antonio prospect Bruno Pola (10-4-1, 9 KOs). Pola found early success with powerful combinations, but Alvarez adjusted and began to take control as the fight progressed, leveraging his explosive power to break down Pola. The referee stopped the contest at 2:28 in the fifth round, awarding Alvarez the victory by TKO. 

In a contentious preliminary card headliner, MVP and Dallas, Texas’s Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (15-5-1, 2 KOs) battled MVP’s Puerto Rican sensation Krystal Rosado (7-1, 2 KOs) in an 8-round bout at 118lbs. The former world champion Metcalf leveraged her longer reach to keep Rosado at distance in the early rounds, outlanding Rosado in power punches, while Rosado impressed with sharp, clean counters. After eight hard-fought rounds, the judges rendered a unanimous decision in favor of Metcalf (77-75, 78-74x2). 

Also on the preliminary card, MVP’s three-time U.S. National Champion and high-fashion model Alex “Chop Chop” Chaparro (6-0, 6 KOs) impressed once again, stopping Mexico’s David “El Verdugo” Gutierrez (4-1, 2 KOs) by TKO. Chaparro dictated the pace from the opening bell against the unorthodox Gutierrez, brushing off an illegal shot to the back of the head in round two before nearly scoring a knockout in the fifth. He closed the fight in emphatic fashion, overwhelming Gutierrez with a brutal combination, finishing with a ferocious uppercut at 0:25 of round six that sent Gutierrez to the mat for good. In an eight-round super lightweight showdown, Houston’s Miranda “La Alacrana” Reyes (8-3-1, 3 KOs) delivered a statement win over MVP’s Yolanda Vega (10-2, 1 KO). Reyes established her dominance with crisp combinations to outperform Vega, who suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the bout, and earn a unanimous decision win (79-73, 80-72x2).

In one of the night’s most explosive bouts, Boxlab Promotions’ and Brownsville, Texas’s undefeated Sebastian Juarez (10-0, 8 KOs) put on a blistering display against Ft. Worth, Texas’s Demarcus Layton (10-8-1, 7 KOs). Despite an early knockdown from Layton and two point deductions for holding, Juarez rebounded to knock down Layton twice with devastating power before the referee halted the action at 2:59 of the first round, awarding Juarez the TKO win. Also on the preliminary card, Boxlab Promotions’ 21-year-old Cuban prospect Pedro Veitia (6-0-1, 6 KOs) and 19-year-old Mexican prospect Xavier Zuniga (4-0-1, 3 KOs) battled through six competitive rounds in a 154 lbs super welterweight bout, ending in a hard-fought split draw (60-54, 58-56, 57-57). Kicking off the night, Mission, Texas’s Edgar “Rocky” Rosales (6-0, 2 KOs) extended his undefeated streak with an impressive unanimous decision win (40-36, 39-37x2) over Harlingen, Texas’s Reggie Ray Martinez (6-1-1, 1 KO) in a 4-round lightweight bout at 135 lbs. 

Most Valuable Prospects 16 is promoted by MVP and distributed globally by DAZN. The 16th event in the series, in partnership with Boxlab Promotions, continued the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, TORKLAW, Caribe Royale Resort, and Event Tickets Center also joined on to sponsor Most Valuable Prospects 16.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize returns for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano, in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head-to-head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). We are building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet, and on one app.

For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com. 

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions/ Photo Courtesy of: Harry Aaron/Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Joel "Lethal" Lewis Returns On November 28th At Thunderdome 52

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: October 16, 2025 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Rising Australian welterweight prospect Joel “Lethal” Lewis returns to the ring on November 28th at Metro City in Perth in his quest to prove he is Australias best Welterweight in a featured Thunderdome 51 contest.

 

Lewis is finishing 2025 with his 3rd fight against Chinas Yong Shuai Luan and has moved camps to train with Angelo Hyder, current trainer of former World Champions Andrew and Jason Moloney.

 

Lewis states ”I have come from the lowest of lows and now ready to sacrifice everything and leave no stone unturned to give everything I can in my professional career.

 

I'm blessed to be training at the Dragon Fire Boxing gym with Angelo, the experience and time Angelo has given me I believe has taken me to a new level and I’m loving my boxing and looking forward to showcase my skills and show the hardwork we have been putting in.

 

My last fight was a statement win and I know my next opponent is going to be tougher again and next year I will be stepping up more and more.

 

Im excited November 28th Thunderdome 52 Lethal is coming!

 

Promoter Tony Tolj discusses the upcoming clash & Thunderdome 52

“This is a massive show and we will be finishing off the year with a BANG! 14 Fights. This is another step up clash for Joel (lewis), under Angelo, Joel has gone to another level and I’m predicting 2026 to be a break out year for Joel, Lethal by name and Lethal by nature!

You can follow all the action from Thunderdome 52 on Livecombatsports.com.au 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Ennis Destructive In Jr. Middleweight Debut

The storyline going into the encounter between undefeated former unified Welterweight world champion Jaron Ennis and IBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Uisma Lima on October 11th was that it represented the next chapter in the thus far unbeaten career of Ennis in his debut in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division. Before a hometown crowd at the recently renamed Xfinity Mobile Arena (Formerly the Wells Fargo Center) in Philadelphia, PA, Ennis would make a statement.

Despite going against a world champion, whose title was not on the line, little was known about Uisma Lima. In previewing this fight, this observer stated that Lima was, much like Ennis, a come forward fighter that applies pressure boxing out of the southpaw stance. Although Lima, who was fighting for the first time in the United States, began this fight coming forward behind a consistent jab and attempted to put Ennis on the defensive by backing him up, he was unable to control the distance as he had shown in previous fights.

This created the scenario that brought the fight to a sudden conclusion. Just as it appeared that a potential tactical fight was setting up in the first round, the two fighters exchanged left hands. It was in that exchange that Ennis was able to connect with his left before Lima could land his. The punch from Ennis connected and stunned Lima. Ennis quickly followed that with an uppercut that sent Lima down to the canvas. 

Lima got up in very unsteady legs, but Ennis pressed the issue immediately, dropping him for a second time with a follow-up barrage of blows. Showing his mettle, Lima was able to get up once more, but Ennis quickly went in for the kill and another follow-up flurry of punches forced Referee Shawn Clark to step in, as Lima’s corner was throwing the towel in to save their fighter from further punishment, and stop the fight at 1:58 of round one. 

As tempting as some might be to add elements of hype to this knockout, yours truly will not be one of them. There is simply not much you can say about a fight that lasts just under two minutes. Jaron Ennis simply saw his opening, was able to take advantage of it, and made quick work of his opponent in destructive fashion. Simply put, Uisma Lima did not know what hit him and Ennis did not take the chance of allowing him to recover, went in for the kill and took care of business. 

As for what's next for Ennis, quite frankly, this observer believes that the International Boxing Organization (IBO) World Jr. Middleweight championship, which Uisma Lima still holds, despite being knocked out in the first round of this fight, should have been on the line here. If nothing else, it would have provided a narrative that Ennis established himself as a two-division world champion with the knockout win. Instead, Ennis earned with his thirty-first knockout in thirty-five career wins, Interim/Regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Jr. Middleweight ratings. In short, that designation is simply a number one ranking. 

A number one ranking that puts Ennis in line to face current WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion Abass Baraou, a fighter who recently held that same designation, but was elevated to world champion following the decision by former WBA world champion Terence Crawford to vacate the title to move up two divisions to Super-Middleweight to challenge undisputed world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. A challenge that for Crawford was successful. Much like Uisma Lima had going into his fight with Ennis, Abass Baraou has a limited resume of a 14-1 record with 9 Knockouts and has not fought opposition that some would consider top caliber.

 The brief glimpse into the politics that be in the sport of Boxing aside, what his victory over Uisma Lima, should have accomplished for Jaron Ennis was establishing him as potentially a lucrative, albeit dangerous option for any top contender or world champion in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division. He also showed, at least in this fight, that his punching power has thus far carried with him up from the 147lb. Welterweight division. Whether or not Abass Baraou is indeed next for Ennis, which would be the logical assumption at least as far as the WBA is concerned, remains to be seen, but this observer believes Jaron Ennis could be back in the ring as soon as January or February of next year after a short night's work in knocking out Uisma Lima.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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BREAKING: Fundora-Thurman Postponed

It has been announced that the October 25th pay-per-view card headlined by a bout between WBC Jr. Middleweight world champion Sebastian Fundora defending his title against former WBA Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman, which was scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV and streamed on Prime Video has been postponed due to a hand injury suffered by the champion. It has also been reported by noted Boxing journalist Mike Coppinger, currently of Ring Magazine that the scheduled co-main event, a WBC World Jr. Lightweight championship bout between between champion O'Shaquie Foster and former Jr. Featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton, will also be rescheduled.

The Fundora-Thurman card was one of two scheduled pay-per-view cards to take place on October 25th. As of this writing, the other event headlined by former WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker facing top contender Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London England, which will be streamed on digital sports streaming network DAZN as a pay-per-view add-on separate from it's subscription-based model, remains on as scheduled. 

We will keep readers updated on when the Fundora-Thurman card will be rescheduled as those details become available.

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Ennis Takes On IBO World Champion Lima In Jr. Middleweight Debut

It goes almost without saying nowadays that unless a fighter is a natural Heavyweight, most fighters that make it to the world championship level and achieve that goal, tend to set their sights on multiple weight classes in search of more world championship gold as well as and perhaps more specifically, bigger paydays. In the case of Jaron Ennis, an undefeated World Welterweight champion, who seemed poised to take over the 147lb. Welterweight division in the era immediately following the exit of Terence Crawford, the division’s last undisputed world champion, he has made the decision to move up in weight rather than trying to complete the unification process at Welterweight after successfully unifying the IBF and WBA world titles with a sixth round stoppage of previously unbeaten WBA world champion Eimantas Stanionis in April of this year. Despite the potential to add his name next to Crawford and other notable legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Donald Curry as fighters who went on to claim status as an undisputed world champion during their time atop the Welterweight division, Ennis has instead opted to move up in weight to the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division where he will face current International Boxing Organization (IBO) Jr. Middleweight world champion Uisma Lima on Saturday, October 11th in Ennis' hometown of Philadelphia, PA at the Wells Fargo Center in a scheduled twelve round bout that can be seen worldwide on digital sports subscription streaming network DAZN. Lima, who holds the distinction as the first fighter from Angola to ever hold a world championship, will enter this fight with a record of 14-1, with 10 Knockouts.

Despite holding a world championship that he won in December of last year and has successfully defended it once since then, Lima is largely unknown and basically comes into this encounter with Ennis as a world champion that is under the radar. Lima has scored knockouts of over 70% of his opposition, so the question that looms over this fight will be how Lima, a boxer/puncher will perform against the significantly more experienced and higher profile Ennis, who will come into this bout unbeaten with a record of 34-0, with 30 Knockouts having knocked out 88% of his previous opponents entering this fight.

What is also unknown as this fight approaches is whether the IBO world championship in the Jr. Middleweight division, which Lima currently holds, will be on the line or if this will be a non-title bout scheduled for the world championship distance of twelve rounds. The IBO, which was founded in the late 1980’s and incorporated in the early 1990’s, and is based here in the United States, has struggled for consistent recognition, particularly in this country as a world sanctioning organization, the fifth major world sanctioning organization in the sport. It is an organization, however, that in addition to having many notable fighters and Hall of Famers, male and female hold its world championship in various weight divisions throughout the entire sport, is held in higher regard internationally, which in addition to its computerized-based approach to rankings, can on occasion create a scenario like this where a world champion, who is well-traveled as Lima has been in competing in multiple countries throughout his career, but a fighter who will be competing in the United States for the first time, is regarded as an unknown entity. This observer has been unable to confirm as is this writing as to whether or not the world title Lima holds will indeed be on the line in this bout.

While some who particularly take a more cynical view of sanctioning organizations and choose not to view them as the legitimate entities that they for better or worse are, no matter what happens in this fight, it will have no impact on the IBO’s standing. If, Lima can produce a solid performance, however, it will provide further evidence that just because a fighter may not be what is sometimes referred to as a “Household Name" does not mean they should be taken lightly both by their opponent who might be more well known and by fans, even though in an era increasingly dominated by worldwide streaming, it is becoming harder for fighters to be completely under the radar.

As for what type of fight one can expect when Ennis and Lima square off? Like Jaron Ennis, Uisma Lima is a come forward pressure fighter. What will make this potentially interesting is Lima is a southpaw that is tall, rangy, knows how to control distance well, and often comes forward throwing punches with both hands. The question here might be whether Lima’s physical advantages and offensive approach will be enough against a fighter in Ennis that while he might be moving up in weight, has shown the ability to end a fight with either hand in often brutal fashion. If the power he displayed as a Welterweight is able to carry with him as he moves up in weight, Ennis will be no less dangerous and any opponent will have to approach with caution. We will see what Uisma Lima can do on Saturday, October 11th.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Update: Shortly after completion of this column, it was able to be confirmed that the IBO Jr. Middleweight world championship currently held by Uisma Lima will not be at stake, but the bout is being billed as a final elimination bout in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Jr. Middleweight ratings where the winner will be given Interim/Regular champion status in the WBA rankings. As of this writing, win or lose Lima will still be IBO world champion.

Ennis vs. Lima takes place on Saturday, October 11th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 5:15 PM ET/2:15 PM with Before The Bell, which will feature preliminary bouts followed by the main card that will begin at 8PM ET/5PM PT. 

(*North American Times Only.*)

(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, Availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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BKB ANNOUNCES HIRING OF NEW CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND ELEVATION OF DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Credit: BKB 

Press Release: October 5, 2025 By BKB - MIAMI, FL – As BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing continues to grow and revolutionize combat sports, CEO David Tetreault announced today the hiring of George Gallegos as Chief Business Officer and Head of Legal and Tony Rodriguez as Creative Director, and the elevation of Adrian Man from UK Social Media Lead to Director of Social Media.  

The hirings coincide with the launch of BKB’s full-scale media and entertainment division under CMO Don Povia, to produce premium fight documentaries, behind-the-scenes reality series, and an entirely new Social First strategy that floods every screen with original content. In partnership with broadcast and streaming partners VICE, Telemundo and talkSPORT, BKB will deliver must-watch programming that takes fans inside the fight game like never before — from the brutality of fight night to the untold stories that define the fighters.

Said Tetreault, “Our primary goal is to become the undisputed leader in bare knuckle boxing. There isn’t a company out there that can compete with our in-ring product and our executive leadership experience, and as we move into 2026, we will solidify that in the eyes of combat sports fans through strategic growth, brand expansion, partnerships, and unmatched content creation. We have spent a decade laying the foundation to become a transformative force in the game. We have the largest roster, the largest library of fights and the largest distribution network in the industry. Starting now, we put our foot on the gas, and the additions of George and Tony, and the expanded role of Adrian, will help drive that.”

Previously, Gallegos served as in house counsel for Golden Boy Promotions, the boxing promotion company founded by world champion Oscar De La Hoya, where he oversaw legal  rights and promotional and bout agreements, venue procurement including T-Mobile Arena, Madison Square Garden, Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino, sponsors deal such as Tecate and Hennessey, network/OTT platform broadcasting rights agreements with network/platforms such as HBO, ESPN and DAZN, licensing agreements with companies such as Facebook, Getty Photos, Fanatics and Funko Pop. Additionally, Gallegos advised and handled De La Hoya’s business affairs related to his publicity rights, endorsements, and life rights, such as a documentary and television series, negotiated the re-signing of Ryan Garcia to a multiyear contract, and developed and executed a Hybrid MMA/Boxing show for Bally Sports which included retaining talent and creating a club-type boxing show with video game features. 

Rodriguez is a visual designer and Creative Director who has worked on boutique projects with a focus on emerging technology with clients including Netflix, HBO, Triller, Snapchat, and Ubisoft. He served as Golden Boy’s Creative Director from 2016-2022, working in tandem with distribution partners including DAZN, Facebook, HBO and ESPN.  Man, who has a background in journalism and production and has worked with BKB in various capacities, most recently overseeing UK-oriented content and messaging, will expand his role to oversee global content management as Director of Social Media.  In the past three years he has worked with Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports and Eurosport as a Social Media Producer. 

BKB returns to action on October 18 when former IBF Junior Welterweight and WBA Welterweight Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi faces 5-3 bare knuckle veteran Tyler Goodjohn at BKB 47 on at Planet Ice Arena in Leeds, England.  BKB is broadcast live in English in the US on VICE and in Spanish on Telemundo Desportes Ahora, and in the UK and Ireland on TalkSPORT.  Visit bkbbareknuckle.com and follow on social @bkbbareknuckle for tickets, information and all ways to watch. 

ABOUT BKB BARE KNUCKLE BOXING

In the past two years, BKB (originally BYB) has purchased the UK-based BKB, the world’s oldest professional bare knuckle boxing company, and in doing so merged the organizations to create the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution; ushered in ethical and legalized gambling to the sport;  acquired the rights to the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship; and brought bare knuckle boxing to lineal television on both sides of the Atlantic, including the recent deal with VICE TV and Telemundo Desportes in the US, and in the UK with TalkSport. 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: BKB Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

IBO World Featherweight Champion Dayan Gonzalez Makes Statement In Non-Title Bout

Historically, the 126lb. Featherweight division has provided many memorable battles throughout numerous decades throughout Boxing history. In more recent times, however, it seems as though the division has found itself in a consistent pattern of transition. If not a transition of fighters beating champions for versions of the World Featherweight championship, transitions in that fighters that become the central figures of the division move up in weight seeking more world championships and more lucrative opportunities. While the most interesting topic of discussion in the present day with regard to the Featherweights in the eyes of many fans is likely when the current unbeaten Undisputed Jr. Featherweight world champion Naoya Inoue, a fighter who has achieved undisputed champion status as both a Bantamweight and a Jr. Featherweight, will eventually enter the division, the current crop of world champions in the division are angling to establish themselves as the division’s next central figure. Among the potential candidates is the current world champion of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Dayan Gonzalez.

Unbeaten in seventeen professional bouts, with fifteen knockouts, the Cuban-born, U.A.E-based Gonzalez won the vacant IBO Featherweight world championship in December of last year with a first round knockout of Wira Mikham. Gonzalez would follow that victory with another first round knockout in February of this year of Kevin Villanueva in a non-title bout. This would serve as the set up for his fight on September 27th when he faced nineteen bout veteran Rhonvex Capuloy of the Philippines in a scheduled ten round non-title bout at the World Siam Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Although it is unusual in the present era of the sport to see world champions competing in non-title bouts that did not come as a result of a scheduled title defense being altered due to one fighter not being able to make the official weight limit to be able to challenge for or defend that championship, there was a time going back as recent to the 1990’s and decades prior where world champions would occasionally compete in non-title bouts to remain active in between title defenses. A practice that was considered normal throughout many divisions below the Heavyweight division. While in one sense this observer finds it refreshing to see that practice being implemented today, I cannot recall as of this writing seeing a situation where I have covered a world champion, who after winning the title, and remaining in the same weight class, has chosen to compete in two non-title bouts consecutively before making their first title defense.

The odd circumstance notwithstanding and the throwback element of this fight, I was curious to see how Gonzalez would perform as this was my first opportunity to cover one of his bouts. What stood out immediately was what I refer to as “Tactical Aggression." In that the approach Gonzalez implemented was very aggressive and in line with a fighter who has a career knockout percentage of over 88%, but very tactical in how he executed that approach.

Sometimes it is rare to see a fighter who hails from Cuba implement such an approach with a fair emphasis on aggression because often, Cuban fighters, who are elite amateurs are known more for accuracy and precision rather than as come forward pressure fighters throwing punches at a high volume. Nevertheless, it needs to be emphasized by yours truly, Gonzalez was not reckless in his approach and applied pressure on Capuloy behind a consistent double jab, which put the southpaw immediately on the defensive.

In the second round, Capuloy was able to open up more with his offense and seemed to be finding a gradual rhythm. Just as it seemed like Capuloy, who entered the fight with a record of 13-3-3, with 10 Knockouts, was beginning to give Gonzalez at minimum cause for caution with some of his punches, Gonzalez responded by dropping him with a flush right hook to the jaw that sent Capuloy flat on his back. Despite being dropped hard, Capuloy was able to beat the count and survived the round.

Gonzalez continued to dish out punishment in the third round by consistently backing Capuloy up against the ropes and periodically trapping him in corners. It was at this stage that Gonzalez unleashed what amounted to a full range of offense, jabs, straight right hands, hooks with both hands, and uppercuts with both hands as well with the majority of punches focused on the head of Capuloy. The constant pressure and consistent power shots from Gonzalez finally broke Capuloy down as a barrage of heavy blows capped off with a flush left hook to the jaw sent the very “Game," but over matched Capuloy down for a second and final time as his corner mercifully threw the towel in to save their fighter from further punishment at 2:30 of round four. 

Ultimately, this proved to be what is often referred to as a “Tune-Up” for a young and unbeaten world champion. In terms of what will be next, the obvious in this observer’s mind would be for Gonzalez and his handlers to schedule a defense of his IBO world championship before possibly being stripped of it.

Although the IBO, the fifth most recognized world sanctioning organization in the sport is not held in as high regard as it's counterparts the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, it is a recognized sanctioning organization known for its computerized rankings model, which differs from its counterparts. The organization, however, does not have a history of consistently mandating its world champions to defend their titles within a certain timeframe.

Currently, the top three contenders in the IBO’s Featherweight ratings are in order of one to three, Brandon Figueroa, Luis Nery, and Bruce Carrington. All three fighters are certainly deserving of their current positions as top contenders and each of the three would provide an interesting challenge for Gonzalez both from a skill standpoint as well as in terms of experience. While Dayan Gonzalez is a world champion and “Knockout Artist" that has seemingly come out of nowhere, he has only had eighteen professional fights including this most recent outing against Rhonvex Capuloy. It should also be noted that, despite being as impressive and intimidating as a fighter with a near 90% career knockout percentage might be, Gonzalez has only been as far as none rounds up to this point in his career.

Taking non-title bouts in between title defenses is a concept that this observer would like to see return to more of a norm within the sport. Part of what makes a champion, however, is once a fighter becomes world champion the expectation and standard is increased and that includes defending and hopefully unifying the title over time. It's time for Dayan Gonzalez to show he can defend his portion of the World Featherweight title and take a step that could lead to potential unification bouts and may ultimately result in his establishing himself as the division’s next central figure in time. Before he can focus on any of what might come down the line, however, he needs to get a title defense first.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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