The Boxing Truth®

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 previou...

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 f...

In the 1990’s in the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions, there was perhaps no more bitter rivalry than the one between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr., two world champions, who would go on to become legends, Hall of Famers and in terms of the Boxing hotbed of the United Kingdom, two of the most dominating British fighters of their era. Like many great rivalries, there was demand for the two to meet and once they did, no shortage of debate as to who had the upper hand.  In their first fight in November 1990, Eubank became a world champion by stopping Benn in nine rounds to win the WBO World Middleweight championship in a fight where the fighters were separated by only one point on all three official scorecards. A classic encounter in every sense of the term. Three years later, the two would meet again in October 1993, this time in the Super-Middleweight division where the two, at the time both world champions holding the WBO and WBC world titles respectively, fought to ...

As this observer reflects on his almost three decades covering Boxing and other combat sports, there are times where I will ponder if an event I covered over that span of time could have been approached from a different angle. It is after all understandable when one writes columns and other forms of content in various mediums day after day, week after week, and yes, year after year, that while one should always stand behind their works and views, much like a film or television director, when one has the benefit to look back years later there may be a feeling that maybe though the work is still good, little tweaks here and there may have made things even better.  In previewing the encounter between undefeated Heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world and one where for the first time in Boxing history, all five major sanctioning organizations would have their respective world championships on the line in a single bout...

Three-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko has had a career most fighters can only dream of. A two-time Olympic Gold medalist representing Ukraine, who had nearly four hundred wins as an amateur with only one defeat, Lomachenko arguably achieved Hall of Famer status long before he turned professional. Since turning pro in October 2013, Lomachenko quickly ascended to become a world champion taking only three professional fights to accomplish a goal that for some fighters, takes an entire career, if at all. Despite three setbacks as a pro, two of which are the subject of much debate, Lomachenko has remained one of the best fighters in the entire sport. It was the most recent setback, a controversial twelve round unanimous decision to then undefeated Undisputed Lightweight world champion Devin Haney in May of last year, a fight that many, including this observer felt he won, put his career in doubt. In doubt not because of eroding skills and/or the impacts/effects of injuries, which a...

The much anticipated World Light-Heavyweight  championship bout between undefeated unified IBF/WBC/WBO world champion Artur Beterbiev and former WBA Super-Middleweight world champion and WBC number one Light-Heavyweight contender Callum Smith, in addition to being an intriguing battle between two fighters with punching power, was anticipated largely because the fight, which was supposed to take place during 2023, but was delayed because of a dental infection suffered by the champion. By allowing the fight to simmer, albeit unintentionally, it also allowed the fight to take place with the potential of the winner to face undefeated unified WBA/IBO champion Dmitry Bivol for the Undisputed Light-Heavyweight championship of the world. Although it is no secret to those who follow the sport of Boxing that the potential of an encounter between Beterbiev and Bivol has been discussed for years at this point, it is in some ways disrespectful to any opponent when there is at least an expectati...

The storyline going into the IBO Lightweight world championship bout between defending champion Maxi Hughes and former Undisputed Lightweight champion George Kambosos was whether Kambosos could find a way to bounce back after losing his crown to Devin Haney and suffering a second loss to Haney in an immediate rematch. Two fights where Kambosos was out boxed by the superiorly skilled Haney. While at the moment that Kambosos' challenge of Hughes on July 22nd in Shawnee, OK, the four world championship that comprise the undisputed championship in the 135lb. Lightweight division remain unified and in Haney's procession, there was also the wrinkle of Hughes, who was making the third defense of the one world championship not in the undisputed Lightweight crown, being treated as an opponent rather than a world champion from the broadcasters broadcasting the bout for sports cable network ESPN and it's streaming network ESPN+ to him being announced first during ring introductions pr...

Press Release July 13, 2023 By DAZN - Hometown hero Lee McGregor tackles dangerous Mexican Erik Robles on Friday night for the vacant IBO world super bantamweight title – live around the world on DAZN. Credit: DAZN    The action comes live from Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Centre from 7pm local time with McGregor being roared on by a capacity crowd on a night that he says could be “life changing”.   A British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion in only 10 fights, ‘Lightning’ is now rebuilding with Wasserman Boxing and starts the second chapter of his pro career with a shot at the IBO world belt.   Supporting McGregor’s huge homecoming will be a packed card in the Scottish capital, including the UK’s most fearsome heavyweight prospect Matty Harris and rising super lightweight star Harlem Eubank.   The hard-hitting Kazak, Sultan Zaurbek takes on former European champion John Cater and Isaac Lowe returns to the ring looking to get back in ...

It has been announced that the August 26th World Heavyweight championship bout between undefeated unified WBO/IBO/IBF/WBA Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and current WBA number one Heavyweight contender Daniel Dubois will be available in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ . Details regarding the undercard are not available as of this writing, but the bout, which will take place at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland will be available throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland on the recently renamed TNT Sports (Formerly BT Sports) pay-per-view platform. We will keep readers updated on developments as they become available. Stay tuned. "And That's The Boxing Truth." The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison  

The recent history of Boxing's 135lb. Lightweight division has been dominated by current undisputed world champion Devin Haney. Haney as most know emerged as the Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world by scoring a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated undisputed champion George Kambosos in June 2022 and then repeated the victory in his first title defense against Kambosos in a rematch in October of last year. While Haney has remained undisputed champion, most recently scoring a decision win over Vasyl Lomachenko in May, Haney's future appears to be heading above and beyond the Lightweight division.  Although as of this writing Haney remains regarded as the undisputed champion of the division, if he should choose to move up in weight to possibly challenge WBC Jr. Welterweight world champion Regis Prograis, it will open up an opportunity for contenders and former world champions in the Lightweight division to maneuver towards fighting for a wor...

It is a mantra that has come out of this observer's mouth perhaps more often than others. "Anything Can Happen In The Sport Of Boxing, And That Is What Makes The Sport Great." It is a mantra that is rooted in the fact that regardless of all the statistics that are available, odds that might be placed on a fight, and, despite all the analysis that those who cover the sport, like yours truly, can off, ultimately the appeal of Boxing is not knowing what will really happen when two fighters enter a ring to do battle. While it is something that was instilled in me from an early age dating back to the time before I began my writing journey covering Boxing and other combat sports, it does at times still surprise me how some are surprised when something unexpected happens inside the ring. The Heavyweight encounter between undefeated WBO number one Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce and Heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang on April 15th in London, England serves as the latest example. ...

All the ingredients that often make up a special night in the sport of Boxing were present in London, England on September 25th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the World Heavyweight championship bout between two-time unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua and undefeated former Undisputed World Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk before an enthusiastic crowd of over 70,000 spectators. The latter, a welcome sign of normalcy during the ongoing circumstances of the global COVID-19 epidemic. While there are times where “The Big Fight Atmosphere” exists in terms of the build up and anticipation before two fighters enter the ring to do battle where the actual fight does not match such an atmosphere, there was something unique about this particular night. Perhaps it was because of the circumstances in which we are all living in that the mere sight of a major Boxing event like a battle for a unified World Heavyweight champion before a crowd of that size makes one a...