The Boxing Truth®

Two interesting bouts that this observer properly referred to as “Crossroad Fights” kicked off the month of April 2026 on April 4th in New South Wales, Australia and London, England respectively. This column will begin with the bout that occurred in Australia as former WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Tim Tazyu returned to action, this time as a Middleweight as he faced the unbeaten Denis Nurja in a fight scheduled for ten rounds. Despite moving up six pounds to the Middleweight division from the Jr. Middleweight weight class that he had competed in for his entire career, and facing an undefeated, yet largely unknown opponent, Tszyu applied pressure from the opening bell, consistently backing Nurja up with an attack to the body and head that kept Nurja on the defensive. After suffering a cut below his left eye as a result of an accidental clash of heads, Tszyu dropped Nurja with a flush left hook followed by two right hands in the fourth round. Although the former world champion m...

There inevitably will come a point in most fighters careers throughout combat sports where the line will be thrown out that they or their career is “At a Crossroads.” In most cases, the line is used when fighters are attempting to rebuild after a setback and/or a long stretch of inactivity. The month of April 2026 will begin with two fights featuring three fighters who that line is more than appropriate. Firstly, Boxing’s Heavyweight division will take centerstage when former longtime WBC World Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will square off with longtime contender, current IBF mandatory challenger, and former multi-time world title challenger Derek Chisora at the O2 Arena in London, England in a bout that can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as part of an Ultimate subscription or as a standalone pay-per-view offering. Of course, when discussing Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder, if one is objective, they would say that we are talking about two of the be...

What was originally supposed to be a pay-per-view debut for the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters on March 30th on their new broadcast platform of Prime Video , that some would call a new chapter, which was to be headlined by a non-title Jr. Middleweight bout between former WBA Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman and undefeated WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Tim Tszyu, saw a wrinkle emerge last week when Thurman was forced to withdraw due to what has been reported to be a bicep injury. While this might have caused the promotional banner to postpone the card under most circumstances, the pay-per-view production, which will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV will be moving forward. On what was a little more than twelve days notice, rather than competing in what was to be a non-title bout, Tszyu will now defend his WBO crown against contender Sebastian Fundora. It is not unusual for a change of opponent to occur on short notice, which at times ca...

It has been announced that former WBA Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled non-title Jr. Middleweight debut against undefeated WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Tim Tszyu due to a bicep injury suffered while in training for the fight. The bout, which was due to main event a pay-per-view card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters as their debut on Prime Video   from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV will go on as scheduled with the card now being headlined by Tszyu now defending his WBO championship against Jr. Middleweight contender Sebastian Fundora. Fundora, who is coming off of a knockout loss, the first of his career, in his last fight in April of last year at the hands of Brian Mendoza, who went on to lose a twelve round unanimous decision to Tszyu in October of last year.  Fundora (20-1-1, with 13 Knockouts) was due to make his return on the undercard of Tszyu-Thurman against Serhii Boha...

There are numerous stories throughout Boxing history where world champions in one weight division in seeking a challenge will opt to move up in weight to fight for another world championship. While the fact that there are multiple world sanctioning organizations and thus, multiple world championships per weight division has made the process of a champion moving up to challenge for another world title a bit easier, it is still an accomplishment that can prove difficult to pull off.  In the case of former Undisputed Jr. Middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo, he is preparing to take what some would call a bigger risk as he will move up in weight by two weight divisions to challenge Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship of the world on September 30th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight, which can be seen here in the United States on Showtime Pay-Per-View , has been marketed as the f...

  The career of undefeated Jr. Middleweight contender Tim Tszyu has seen him quickly progress from a prospect following in the footsteps of his father the longtime former Jr. Welterweight world champion and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, to a contender, who appears to be on the cusp of challenging for a world championship of his own.  In just eighteen professional bouts over nearly five years as a professional, the twenty-six year old Tszyu has developed a reputation as a “Knockout Artist.” Much like his father, the twenty-six year old Tszyu has the ability and punching power to end a fight at any time with either hand. Tszyu’s progression in his career thus far has largely been highlighted by victories over former WBO Welterweight world champion Jeff Horn and former world title challenger Dennis Hogan. Two fights, which Tszyu scored knockout wins.   Recently however, Tszyu had a question asked of him that in some ways is one that is asked of many fighters regardless of thei...

The 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division has been one that has seen many notable battles through the years. In recent times, it has seen Jermell Charlo emerge as the division’s central figure after scoring a knockout of Jeison Rosario last September to unify the WBC, WBA, and IBF world championships. Although Charlo has yet to become undisputed world champion in the division, as the only unified champion currently at 154lbs., the natural question that usually is asked after a fighter emerges victorious from a unification bout is who might be the next challenger.   A potential candidate that has made a strong argument for himself is undefeated top contender Tim Tszyu. Tszyu, the son of former longtime Jr. Welterweight world champion and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, has emerged as a fast-rising contender in the division. Much like his father, Tszyu has also developed a reputation for having an ability to score knockouts. The marquee victory for Tszyu thus far came in August of last year w...