The Boxing Truth®

On February 21st, the Boxing world will converge on the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV for a truly interesting and some might argue curious world title bout in the 147lb. Welterweight division. WBC World Welterweight champion Mario Barrios will defend his title against top contender Ryan Garcia in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds that can be seen globally as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription or as a standalone pay-per-view option for non-ultimate DAZN subscribers. What makes this both an interesting and curious affair between two fighters is both have arguably not been at their best in recent outings. The champion Mario Barrios will be making the third defense of his WBC crown and has not heard his name announced as the winner in his previous title defenses up to this point as his previous two defenses each ended in hotly contested draws. The most recent of those defenses came in July of last year when forty-six year old recent International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and le...

It was announced earlier today by the World Boxing Council ’s ( WBC ) annual convention in Bangkok, Thailand that Conor Benn , who recently scored a twelve round unanimous decision in his rematch with former two-division world champion Chris Eubank Jr. on November 15th in a bout held in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division , has been named the new WBC number one contender in the 147lb. Welterweight division . This announcement puts Benn as a replacement for previous number one contender and Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao , who fought to a draw in July of this year with current WBC World Welterweight champion Mario Barrios . Barrios is rumored to be nearing a title defense early in 2026 against Welterweight contender Ryan Garcia , which has not been officially announced as of this writing. As for Manny Pacquiao, his next move as he intends to continue his comeback in 2026 is uncertain as of this writing. We will keep readers updated on developments as they are made available. Stay tuned....

The Boxing world was hit with a significant blow on Sunday, September 14th when it was revealed that former two-division world champion and Hall of Famer Ricky Hatton had passed away at the age of 46. For those who followed the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was hard to not notice and like a fighter like Ricky Hatton. A fighter with an aggressive, yet tactical style with an emphasis on applying constant pressure and often overwhelming his opponents with volume punching, it did not take long for Hatton to not only make a name for himself, but also develop a fan following that was truly unique. In an era that predated the advent of global digital streaming that we all enjoy today, this observer first became aware of Hatton thanks to the now defunct ShoBox: The New Generation Boxing series that was a cornerstone of United States premium cable network Showtime for many years before the network opted to exit the sport and shutter its sport...

The time has come once again for this observer to pull out the periodic feature here on The Boxing Truth®️ Jabs And Observations. A feature column that was originally thought up as a bi-monthly addition as an attempt by yours truly to cover even more ground than what is typically found during a standard calendar year in covering the sport of Boxing. In more recent times, however, the concept of what I refer to as J&O in referencing upcoming features on social media has been used when pauses in the usual schedule have been unwanted, but necessary. While the month of July necessitated such a pause that was not intended by yours truly, it certainly did not mean that the sport was inactive. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When one will look back at the month that was July 2025 down the line, it will likely be summed up in two words: “Marquee Events." A description that due largely to the fourth of July holiday, the fact that it is in the middle of the summer here in the United...

Two Boxing pay-per-view events scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19th are now available for preorder for those looking to purchase either event individually or to purchase both events. WBC Welterweight world champion Mario Barrios will defend his title against recent inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame  and former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, who will be attempting a comeback at age forty-six . Barrios vs. Pacquiao, which will headline a pay-per-view card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV is now available for purchase on Prime Video for $79.95 and can be purchased either through the Prime Video app on mobile, tablet ,connected streaming devices/Smart TVs, or by clicking the following link: Barrios vs. Pacquiao . (*North American Price Only* Consult Prime Video for local pricing information local start times, and availability around the world.) The latest edition of ...

Press Release August 23, 2023 By FITE-  Determined to always bring you the best value in streaming sports, FITE+ has added a weekly series of classic fights, called Monster Knockout, curated by our experts and tons of new live and archival  boxing, pro wrestling, MMA, grappling and more sports content – All at an incredible subscription price New York, NY  (August 23, 2023): FITE by Triller announced the addition of even more live and on-demand action for FITE+ subscribers. Kicking off with our new series of classic fights called Monster Knockout – each Wednesday we’ll feature some of the most famous boxing matches ever. This debuts August 23rd with Oscar de la Hoya vs. Ricardo Mayorga. If you’ve enjoyed the popular Oscar de la Hoya documentary on MAX, come to FITE+ to see The Golden Boy in action. Future weeks will feature the likes of Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao and the classic showdown with Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis, to name a few.  Another new and live series...

The story of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez' defense of his Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship of the world against WBO number one mandatory challenger John Ryder was not about a fight between two of the best the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division has to offer, but about an event. An event of an undisputed world champion coming home to defend his crown before over 50,000 spectators in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico at Akron Stadium. In terms of the actual fight, despite being heavily favored due largely to his status as one of the superstars in the sport of Boxing, the last year was not entirely kind to Saul Alvarez. It was at this time last year when Alvarez had moved up in weight to challenge undefeated WBA Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol. As most know, in a fight that went the distance, Alvarez was thoroughly out boxed and out worked by a master boxer in Bivol. Although losing one fight should not define a fighter's career, the twelve round unanim...

  When it comes to trilogies in the sport of Boxing, it is logical to assume that when a fighter is able to emerge with two victories out of three bouts that in most cases that would conclude the story/rivalry between two fighters. There are times however, when no matter what the results are between two fighters over a series of fights, the question becomes will the rivalry continue beyond three fights.   While it is rare to see a series of fights exceed three bouts due to both the politics that be in the sport as well and perhaps more specifically, the accumulation of punishment fighters sustain not only in the course of a series of bouts, but in their careers in general, there have been exceptions. Many will recall the series of fights between Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta in the 1940’s and 1950’s that extended to six bouts between the two, despite Robinson winning five of those fights.   Some may ask why where there six fights between the two given not only that ...

  In an era where there are interim/regular championship designations in Boxing’s respective sanctioning organizations and sometimes those fighters who hold such designations get an opportunity to fight for a different world championship than the one shot they have earned due to the politics that be in the sport, it can at times be confusing to determine who the actual world champions are. Particularly when such scenarios occur, it is not uncommon to see such fights between a top contender/interim/regular “Champion” and a world champion from a different organization actually promoted as a unification bout.   While such scenarios are not in fact world title unification fights and are more or less used as a sales hook to draw in those who may not be as familiar with the structure of rankings in Boxing, it can unfortunately take away from those occasions when there is a legitimate unification bout taking place in the sport. Longtime readers know this observer’s stance on interim/...

 While the month of October 2021 will likely go down in memory of most Boxing fans and experts alike as being the month where the classic third encounter between undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and former WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder, the month in the sport concluded with three Boxing cards that will certainly have the Boxing world talking moving forward. Readers likely recall the coverage provided by this observer of a card that took place on October 30 th , one of three events that will be highlighted in this column, in London, England, which was headlined by a unification bout in the Women’s 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division between WBC world champion Chantelle Cameron, who scored a ten round unanimous decision over IBF world champion Mary McGee.   A bout that Cameron won convincingly, but one that saw plenty of back and forth action that elevated both fighters as well as s howed the continuing significant progress that has been...