UPDATE: WBC Statement On Decision To Sanction Usyk-Verhoeven

In a follow-up to the column that was released on the website on Sunday, March 1st, discussing the recently announced upcoming World Heavyweight championship bout between Olekaandr Usyk and former World Heavyweight Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, which will take place during the month of May in Egypt, the World Boxing Council (WBC) released an official statement on it's website and social media platforms regarding its decision to sanction the bout for it's version of the World Heavyweight championship, despite Verhoeven only having one professional fight as a professional boxer.

The statement can be read below:

Credit: World Boxing Council

We will have a preview of this World Heavyweight championship bout released here on The Boxing Truth® as we get closer to the event and will keep readers updated on further developments as they become available.

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Usyk vs. Verhoeven For WBC World Heavyweight Championship?

Credit: DAZN

In the summer of last year, future Hall of Famer Oleksandr Usyk further cemented his legacy by becoming the first man in Boxing history to have fully unified the Undisputed World Heavyweight championship twice, adding a third undisputed crown to his extensive list of accomplishments following previously unifying the Cruiserweight division before setting his sights on the Heavyweight division. As record-setting and ground breaking as Usyk’s second unification of the World Heavyweight championship was, it came as a result of the politics that be in the sport of Boxing ensuring a short first reign by not allowing him to maintain the undisputed crown while fulfilling his contractually mandated obligation to give Tyson Fury, the man he defeated for his first undisputed crown at Heavyweight, an immediate rematch.

Unfortunately for Usyk, his second undisputed championship at Heavyweight would have a similar outcome as the first as shortly after he reclaimed the IBF world championship by scoring a knockout of Daniel Dubois in their rematch, the WBO stripped him off their world championship for not fulfilling his mandatory defense obligations, which ultimately resulted in Fabio Wardley eventually being crowned WBO World Heavyweight champion. As frustrating as the politics of Boxing can frustrate and bewilder both fan and Boxing scribes alike, for better or worse, each individual sanctioning organization has their own policies and procedures and at least in theory, try to ensure that fighters deemed mandatory challengers get their title shots in a timely manner. 

While the aforementioned statement is factual, this observer will concede that it probably does sound like a good public relations spin to the Boxing fan that each respective sanctioning organization likely would like to use from time to time. When such policies and procedures alienate fans and fighters as well, however, there are times where fighters will look for an alternative rather than trying to rectify whatever grievance they may have with a given sanctioning organization.

In all truth and honesty with the reader, after Usyk’s victory over Dubois last summer, his second knockout win over the hard hitting former IBF world champion in two fights, I frankly felt he had nothing more to prove after successfully fully unifying the Heavyweight to division twice and having three undisputed world championships to his name overall, all while remaining undefeated his entire career. It was therefore a surprise to yours truly to hear the announcement that Usyk will step into the ring in May in defense of the WBC portion of the World Heavyweight championship.

Why would a noted Boxing journalist and historian with over three decades of covering Combat Sports, with Boxing as his primary be surprised? It did not have anything to do with my aforementioned stance that I felt Usyk had accomplished everything he set out to do and did not have anything left to prove that would somehow add to nor diminish his legacy, but rather who the chosen opposition would be for this title defense, which will take place in Egypt that will play host to its first World Heavyweight championship fight in history.

Usyk’s choice was not a notable contender or a former world champion such as Deontay Wilder, who had long been rumored to be in the short running of potential opponents, nor was it undefeated current WBC number one contender Agit Kabayel, but instead will come in the form of legendary Kickboxing World Heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven. Before I go any further, I feel it important to state for the reader that this column is not a preview of the aforementioned upcoming bout, but rather centers on my reaction to this announcement of the bout that will take place on May 23rd.

My reaction was one of curiosity. While there is no disputing that Rico Verhoeven is a Hall of Famer in the sport of Kickboxing and one of the top pound for pound fighters in that sport, he has had only one professional fight as a boxer and though he won that fight via knockout, that outing came twelve years from when this fight will take place. The question is obvious, how can the WBC see it's way clear to give a title shot to a great fighter from a different sport, but one with a limited background in Boxing?

Obviously, this observer cannot answer that question, but it is one that the WBC should answer. In light of some controversial decisions the organization has made in recent times and with upstart promotional entities like Zuffa Boxing, who seem intent on breaking established norms including legislation with the intent to freeze out independent sanctioning organizations in favor of a promotional based model, the WBC does owe an explanation. While the curiosity is certainly there and I look forward to delving deeper on the subject as we get closer to the bout, most would say that there are fighters currently in the WBC’s Heavyweight ratings with more Boxing experience that would be more qualified in this combat realm for a title shot. For that, the WBC needs to elaborate on their position.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

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Ryan Garcia: New Welterweight Champion Of The World

The story going into the WBC World Welterweight championship bout between champion Mario Barrios and top contender Ryan Garcia was one that differed from the norm. Of course, the standard narrative when a fighter challenges for a world title as Garcia was here, is one where the onus is largely on the challenger to not only put forth an impressive performance to the best of their ability, but to do so in such a way that they take the title from the champion in a convincing fashion that it not only generates buzz, but also quells any would-be critics.

In this case, both fighters had something to prove in the ring on February 21st at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Despite entering what was his third defense of the WBC Welterweight world championship, Mario Barrios was still seeking the validation that often comes with being a world champion. Although he managed to retain his crown in his two previous defenses, he had to settle for two consecutive bouts that ended up being scored draws rather than hearing “The Winner… And Still Champion” followed by his name. While it is a rarity to see any fighter go through back to back even bouts, let alone at the top level of the sport, the saving grace at least prior to this bout was that Barrios’ third defense came against a fighter in Garcia that also had experienced ups and downs in his career in recent times and was in fact getting this title shot, the first of his career, coming off of a loss.

Although that fact could be attributable, for better or worse, to the various political aspects of the sport, this truly set up what the promotional tag was for this fight. A true “High Stakes” encounter. One where not only was a world title on the line, but also each fighter’s stock for potential lucrative bouts down the line.

What ended up happening come fight time was a statement-making performance. In the opening seconds of the fight, Garcia dropped the champion with a right hand that landed on top of the head. A somewhat unexpected occurrence that was rooted in the fact that not only was Garcia, a former Jr. Welterweight, who was competing for only the second time in the 147lb. Welterweight division was viewed as going against a naturally bigger man in Barrios, but also Garcia, known for his power in his left hand, particularly his left hook, had his say almost immediately in the fight with his right hand.

The champion Barrios was able to get up from the knockdown and to his credit was able to withstand the follow-up assault that Garcia unleashed on him to survive the round. From that point in the fight, however, two things became evident. Number one, the perception of Ryan Garcia as a fighter with one offensive weapon, the left hook, was at best misguided because the challenger increasingly made his point crystal clear. He could not miss with the right hand as almost every time he threw it, he connected. Number two, Mario Barrios found himself in a hole on the scorecards and on this night, he simply had no answers as Garcia put forth an almost clinical, disciplined performance, mixing in combinations in addition to landing the right hand, in dominating and dictating the combat round after round. Simply put, for whatever reason, something in 

Barrios’ approach just did not click and he never found a consistent rhythm.

By the middle and late rounds, it became Garcia's fight to lose and to the challenger’s credit, he did not relent and did not provide Barrios the slightest opening to attempt to work his way back into the fight. A convincing, dominant performance that resulted in a near shut out on the scorecards and the first world title in the career of Ryan Garcia.

For a fighter who has had his struggles both in and out the ring including with his mental health, a performance like this in winning his first world title has to be viewed as a triumph for Garcia and his family. Whether or not this ultimately represents a new chapter for Garcia that will be marked by discipline and a mile business-like approach moving forward remains to be seen. What comes with becoming a world champion, however, is being held to the expectations and standards of a champion. As impressive as this performance was, the expectation for Garcia’s first title defense will likely be high, regardless of whom that defense will come against.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Barrios-Garcia Preview

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 legend Manny Pacquiao came out of retirement and to most observers, including this one, did enough to warrant a decision victory over Barrios, but did not get the nod of two of three official judges to win the fight.

Although Barrios, who was named WBC world champion in after previous Undisputed World Welterweight champion Terence Crawford vacated the championship and left the Welterweight division, has managed to retain his title in two subsequent defenses after being named champion from previously being a mandatory challenger for Crawford, he has yet to show he can win a fight as a defending champion. While not a circumstance of his making in retaining his portion of the World Welterweight championship in two consecutive bouts that ended in draws, the obvious question that Mario Barrios will have to answer is not only can he retain the title via a victory, but can he do so in such a manner that it will quell skeptics who feel he may have benefited from those two bouts being scored draws rather than having an opinion that he won those fights.

It is often an unfair practice, but it can truly be easy to label a fighter off of a bad performance or one that some might call sub-par. In Barrios’ case he is coming off two fights where perception is not necessarily in his favor and that could prove to be a motivator for a world champion who likely feels he has something to prove both to himself and any would-be skeptics.

Standing across the ring from Barrios on February 21st will be Ryan Garcia. Garcia, who not long ago was viewed as one of Boxing’s hottest rising stars, has seen his career hit a snag in recent times marked by periods of inconsistency and struggles outside of the ring. Despite Garcia maintaining his fan base, one might be curious as to why he is getting a shot at a world championship at this point in time. 

In his fight in May of last year in Times Square in New York City, Garcia was knocked down in the second round and thoroughly out boxed by Rolando Romero in losing a twelve round unanimous decision in a WBA Welterweight elimination bout. This followed Garcia serving a one year suspension for testing positive for Ostarine in the aftermath of his victory over Devin Haney in 2023, a result that was subsequently changed to a no contest. One might question both given what could probably be described as his erratic behavior before and after the Haney fight as well as his defeat to Romero last year as to why the World Boxing Council would grant Garcia this opportunity at their world title as its number four rated Welterweight contender.

It is important to keep in mind that while Garcia is coming off a loss, his fight against Rolando Romero was not sanctioned by the WBC and while one would think a loss would negatively affect any fighter’s standing in a sanctioning organization’s rankings, that simply is not always the case. From an old school perspective, Ryan Garcia though a very good and potentially still yet maybe a great fighter when all is said and done, has not earned this title shot as a fighter. Perhaps it may be accurate to assume that a combination of both Garcia's popularity as well as Barrios seeking an opponent of a reasonably high profile for what is known as an elective defense for him played a role in Garcia getting this opportunity. In fairness to the challenger, it is not unlike a position that other fighters who have had star value in the sport have been able to use to their advantage over the years regardless of wins and losses. 

Garcia, however, has yet to win a world title to this point and it may be logical to wonder what his star value, the proverbial stock a fighter has within the sport, will be if he fails to capitalize on the opportunity that is before him in this fight. It may truly be a roll of the dice for Garcia's future at or near the top of the sport.

A wrinkle that emerged in the promotion of this fight that could have an impact on what happens inside the ring was Barrios hiring the legendary trainer and broadcaster Joe Goosen as his new trainer. Goosen served as a trainer for Garcia both as an amateur and for a period of time as a professional. While it is not uncommon trainers to eventually work against fighters they spent time working with as time goes on, Garcia appeared to not take kindly to Goosen working with his opponent and lashed out at his former trainer at a press conference to announce the fight several weeks ago where both he and his father and now trainer Henry Garvia confronted him. Goosen for his part called it a difficult situation, but stated that things change in Boxing and accepted the job when Barrios and his team offered him the job to come on as his new trainer.

Whether or not the exchange between fighter and former trainee and father, turned new trainer can be dismissed as hype promotional tactics or legitimate bad feelings is likely something that will be left to one's own opinion. What effect that this could have on the actual fight remains to be seen.

The most obvious way one could point to as far as it having a direct influence on this fight could be in Goosen having knowledge as a previous coach/trainer of Garcia's training methods and tendencies, which his current charge Barrios may be able to exploit. What we have here is an encounter between two boxer/punchers where an argument could be made that in terms of punching power, a slight edge may go to the challenger Garcia. Despite that, the question here is whether each fighter’s respective recent performances and to be more specific, the criticism of those performances may result in each implementing a more aggressive approach with the mindset of looking to impress, rather than a tactical one rooted in strategy.

The tagline of the promotion for this fight is truly both ironic and appropriate. “High Stakes.” Both fighters have a lot to gain, but also a lot to lose here. Beyond the WBC World Welterweight championship being on the line, both Barrios and Garcia are gambling their long-term futures in the sport here and this is a case where beyond a win or a loss, it may be even more important in terms of what may be ahead for both fighters as to how they perform rather than their potential futures being strictly viewed based on the outcome. We will see who stands tall on Saturday, February 21st.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.” 

Barrios vs. Garcia takes place on Saturday, February 21st at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen as part of a DAZN Ultimate tier subscription for $44.99 per month or as a standalone pay-per-view offering for $69.99. The card will begin at 5:45PM ET 2:45PM PT. 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, subscription and pay-per-view options in your region, and to subscribe or order this event please visit: www.DAZN.com.  

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Jack-Mikaeljan II Thoughts

The rematch between WBC World Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and the man whom he took the title from in May of this year Noel Mikaeljan, on December 13th in Los Angeles, CA at Ace Mission Studios was one that was rooted in controversy. Controversy in what led to the immediate mandated rematch ordered by the WBC in what was a controversial majority decision victory for Jack in the first fight, which subsequently led to bad blood between the fighters and their respective camps.

What would occur when the two fighters squared off for the second time can be described as lopsided and at times ugly. From the opening bell it was the former champion Mikaeljan taking the initiative and bringing the fight to the forty-two year old former two-division world champion,who was now in his second reign as WBC World Cruiserweight champion. One thing that was immediately noticeable was Mikaeljan consistently came forward and frequently found a home for his right hand. Though the punches he was able to land were solid and he was able yo briefly stun the champion with qcjab in the early going, Jack was able to take the punches well.

Mikaeljan’s approach, however, did succeed in keeping Jack from being able to find a consistent rhythm. The champion’s ability to land body shots gradually made things close and competitive, but from the perspective of this observer, Mikaeljan’s tempo, initiating the combat, and getting the best of most of the exchanges were enough to edge most of the rounds. 

In round seven, Jack would land his best punch of the entire fight when he connected with a flush right hand to the jaw that sent sweat flying off Mikaeljan's face and frankly had the sound that resembled a gun going off. Despite this, Mikaeljan did not flinch and kept pressing forward from a shot that would have likely dropped many fighters. Mikaeljan’s display of a granite chin, however, would not prevent him from being penalized a point later in the round for holding and hitting Jack on the inside as the combat gradually became ugly with both fighters implementing not so legal tactics when fighting in close. 

Although he seemingly was given a leg up in a fight that seemed to be getting away from him with his opponent being penalized a point, that perk would be taken away from Jack in the closing seconds of round eight when he hit Mikaeljan on the break as Referee Jerry Cantu, who was officiating his final fight as a referee after twenty-six years and nearly six hundred bouts as a referee was attempting to separate the fighters. This resulted in a near riot at the end of the round as both fighters continued throwing punches and tensions between their camps nearly boiled over into a near melee.

After a brief delay to both settle things down and likely to confer with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) to see if a disqualification was warranted on either side, the fight continued. At this point in the fight both fighters were fighting the effects of fatigue as both began to be a bit sloppy with their offense, but the tempo that had been established early on in the bout did not change and Mikaeljan would ultimately regain his title via a convincing twelve round unanimous decision.

Despite the ugly scene at the end of the eighth round, the two fighters did embrace after the conclusion of the bout and Jack was humble in a post-fight interview in saying that it was Mikaeljan’s night and he was the better man. When questioned about a potential third fight, Jack appeared to suggest that he would be heading toward retirement as the former 2008 Olympian and world champion in the Super-Middleweight and Cruiserweight divisions said he had a great career.

As for the now two-time WBC World Cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaeljan, if a third fight with Jack is not in the pipeline, and based on both what he said after his loss and body language, it appears as though Jack may be entertaining life after Boxing after this fight, Mikaeljan could look to attempt to unify the title and the top fighter in the view of many in the Cruiserweight division currently is the unbeaten IBF World Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who recently scored an eighth round knockout in a title defense on December 6th in his native Australia of Huseyin Cinkara.

The long-standing perception of the Cruiserweight division is it is void of the type of interest and consistent publicity/coverage that is normally afforded to other weight classes throughout the sport. With Opetaia having established himself as a crowd pleasing knockout artist and with Mikaeljan’s come forward, volume punching style, it would make sense to make that fight to hopefully keep the spotlight focused on the division and  likely a good payday for both parties.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Jack-Mikaeljan II Weights

WBC World Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and former WBC World Cruiserweight champion Norair Mikaeljan weighed in on Friday at an identical 199 ¾ lbs. for their rematch tonight (Saturday, December 13th) at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The twelve round bout, which can be seen later tonight on pay-per-view,  is a rematch of a highly controversial bout in May of this year in which Jack became a two-time WBC Cruiserweight world champion by defeating Mikaeljan via twelve round majority decision.

 As was the case in the first fight, the WBC World Cruiserweight championship, will be on the line in the second encounter that was mandated by the World Boxing Council.  We are planning to have a post-fight column here on The Boxing Truth® during the week following the bout and will update readers on when it will be released once scheduled.. Stay tuned. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Jack vs. Mikaeljan takes place on Saturday, December 13th at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The fight can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on a variety of cable/satellite providers and streaming platforms including Prime Video, PPV.com, and Triller TV and their respective streaming apps available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. for $29.95 beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (*North American Times Only*) (*Card Subject To Change*) contact your Pay-TV provider or click the highlighted links above for ordering information, how to download the respective app of your choice on your streaming device of choice, and for availability internationally.

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Jack-Mikaeljan: The Rematch

In May of this year on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez successfully becoming an Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion for a second time with a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten IBF world champion William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two-division world champion Badou Jack did battle with  WBC World Cruiserweight world champion Norair Mikaeljan with the WBC Cruiserweight crown at stake. A close and competitive fight throughout where the champion Mikaeljan was the busier of the two fighters, but Jack in the view of most observers landed the harder punches. Despite a wide advantage for the champion in terms of CompuBox statistics in out landing Jack in total landed punches 153 to 122 over the course of the twelve round world title bout, it would be Jack who would emerge victorious via a razor-thin majority decision, making him a two-time holder of the WBC World Cruiserweight championship after briefly holding it only to vacate it in 2023. Mikaeljan, the fighter who succeeded Jack as WBC champion, appealed to the sanctioning organization in the aftermath of the bout in May and was granted an immediate rematch.

A rematch that will take place on Saturday, December 13th at the Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA, that will headline a pay-per-view card that will be available on a variety of cable/satellite, and streaming platforms. In some respects, though seeing a former world champion being granted a rematch is not unusual and rare in the sport of Boxing, this is somewhat of a rarity.

After all, the Cruiserweight division, also known as the Jr. Heavyweight division as it sits between the Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions amongst Boxing’s seventeen weight classes, has almost always been void of the type of publicity and mainstream exposure that are often afforded to other divisions. One has to go almost forty years to when a young future legend and Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield engaged in a fifteen round war with the recently deceased two-division world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi to win the WBA Jr, Heavyweight world championship in July 1986 to find a time and a fighter that brought consistent exposure to the division. Holyfield’s first world title would ultimately serve as a launching pad as he quickly unified the Cruiserweight division becoming its first undisputed world champion before embarking on the Heavyweight division, ultimately becoming the only fighter in Boxing history to have won a World Heavyweight championship on four separate occasions. As great as Holyfield proved to be as a fighter, a legitimate argument can be made that when he exited the Cruiserweight division having quickly cleaned the division out by 1988, he took whatever spotlight the division was benefiting from with him. It is also true that the last man to hold the undisputed title in the division, Oleksandr Usyk, immediately did what Holyfield had done decades earlier by vacating the title and ultimately becoming the first fighter in Boxing history to fully unify the Heavyweight division twice. 

Perhaps a more cynical point of view is that the most consistent attention the division receives in the present day in the sport comes from the aspiring boxer and promoter Jake Paul, who still faces questions regarding his legitimacy as a fighter having never faced an opponent that would be considered a fringe prospect or contender to this point in his career. When one takes all of the above into consideration, the fact that the Jack-Mikaeljan rematch has generated the buzz it has, should be viewed as a positive both for the Cruiserweight division and the fighters themselves.

The premise of this return encounter in the eyes of this observer will come down to whether Mikaeljan will be able to not only duplicate his performance from the first fight seven months ago, but to do so in a more convincing fashion where the judges will give him the benefit of the doubt. While I personally felt he did enough to retain his title back in May, what is often misunderstood is punch statistics though often serving as an illustration of what goes on in a fight, is not a part of official scoring criteria and as such if one fighter is able to give an impression that they are landing harder punches, though not being as consistent in output as their opponent, that perception of doing more damage with their offense can result in a judge scoring rounds for that fighter and ignoring the aspect of overall activity. Mikaeljan, who will enter this rematch with a record of 27-3, with 12 Knockouts, must find a way to be more convincing as to not allow the judges room to sway their opinions, particularly if Jack is able to land solidly as he did in the first fight.

The champion meanwhile, who comes into his first title defense of his second reign as WBC World Cruiserweight champion, with a record of 29-3-3, with 17 Knockouts, needs to find a way to be busier throughout this fight. Neither fighter is known for their punching power and though one can never discount the possibility of a knockout, the more probable scenario here is this fight, like its predecessor, will go the twelve round distance. What makes that potentially crucial is Badou Jack has shown a tendency to be periodically sluggish in his fights and, despite getting the nod from two official judges in the first fight by a seven rounds to five margin or 115-113 in points, he cannot allow himself to fall into any kind of hole here in terms of scoring this time around, especially with the view of many that the first fight should have went in favor of Mikaeljan.

It is also very much within the realm of possibility here that if Norair Mikaeljan can turn the tables and win this fight that we could see a third encounter. For a division that seems to always be in a state of both obscurity and flux in terms of who is at or near the top of it, that would probably be welcomed as it will keep a spotlight on the division. If such a spotlight and subsequent discussion that will follow is for positive reasons, it will be a win for the sport. Before we get ahead of ourselves, Badou Jack and Norair Mikaeljan have business to tend to and it remains to be seen if this is a conclusion or merely the next chapter in what could be a rivalry.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Jack vs. Mikaeljan takes place on Saturday, December 13th at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The fight can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on a variety of cable/satellite providers and streaming platforms including Prime Video, PPV.com, and Triller TV and their respective streaming apps available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. for $29.95 beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (*North American Times Only*) (*Card Subject To Change*) contact your Pay-TV provider or click the highlighted links above for ordering information, how to download the respective app of your choice on your streaming device of choice, and for availability internationally.

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BREAKING: Benn Named Number One Welterweight Contender By WBC

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.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Cruz-Roach Preview

On Saturday, December 6th, the Boxing world will focus on the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX for a fight, which in all likelihood will have repercussions in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division heading into 2026 and to be specific, with regard to the World Boxing Council (WBC) Jr. Welterweight ratings. This observer is referring to the battle between top contenders Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach, a fight that will headline a pay-per-view card promoted under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner and streamed in the United States by Prime Video. What makes this an intriguing battle beyond an interesting clash of styles, which alone should draw interest amongst Boxing aficionados is the stakes of this encounter have potentially increased since the time the bout was announced.

First we have the clash of styles between a come forward pressure fighter in Cruz that tries to break his opponents down gradually in the mold of a Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., in that often from the opening bell, he comes forward and tries to apply constant pressure and back his opponent up with a swarming attack to the body and head. In thirty-two professional bouts, Cruz, who will walk into this fight holding an interim championship designation in the WBC Jr. Welterweight ratings, has a record of 28-3-1, with 18 Knockouts.

Standing across the ring from him on December 6th will be Lamont Roach. Roach, a former longtime top contender in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division, who briefly held a similar interim designation in the WBA’s rankings in that weight class, is a well-rounded boxer/puncher that can do a little of everything, who will enter the fight with a record of 25-1-2, with 10 Knockouts. Despite the contrast in styles, both fighters share a commonality. Both have previously found themselves in decisions that many feel should have gone their way against the same fighter in Gervonta Davis. Some may recall Cruz putting forth a spirited effort against Davis four years and one day from where this fight will take place against Roach, in December 2021. A fight where many believed he deserved the decision based on the pressure and body work he inflicted on Davis over the course of the fight, but ended up losing a close twelve round unanimous decision. 

More recently, Roach found himself on what many considered to be the wrong end of a decision against Davis in March of this year where he appeared to not have what should have been credited as a knockdown in his favor in the ninth round where Davis took a knee and had one of his cornermen wipe his face with a towel before continuing on. This blown call by Referee Steve Willis by not ruling a knockdown against Davis, as should have been the case when a fighter takes a knee for any reason outside of after suffering an illegal blow, is what many point to in resulting in Roach getting a twelve round majority draw as opposed to a victory that many observers including this one, felt he deserved. Obstacles toward a rematch with Davis, coupled with the latter’s choosing to sign to participate in an exhibition with Jake Paul, before ultimately being removed from that endeavor due to accusations of domestic violence against him, have resulted in Roach now facing Cruz.

What this fight comes down to in my eyes is virtually the same question that is asked of all Isaac Cruz opponents. Can Roach find a way to offset the pressure attack that Cruz will be trying to execute? While Cruz is not known for punching power, his knockouts have come from breaking his opponents down and he tries to more or less pin himself onto an opponent's chest where he not only cuts the ring off, but makes it extremely difficult for that fighter to get any breathing room where they can move, let alone find a consistent rhythm.

Although this has proven to be a difficult task to combat for many opponents, Lamont Roach does have good lateral movement, the ability to use angles, and a good mix of hand speed and accuracy when it comes to counter punching. Whether or not he will be able to set traps for Cruz as he comes forward to set up counter punch opportunities and whether he can evade the pressure and body/head attack of Cruz for all twelve rounds remains to be seen. 

The wrinkle that has emerged since this fight was announced that could potentially raise the stakes is while Cruz’ WBC Interim designation will be at stake in the fight, current WBC World Jr. Welterweight champion Subriel Matias, who has a scheduled title defense in January against Dalton Smith in New York, recently tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine during randomized testing conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) while in training for that title defense. As of this writing, the status of both that fight as well as Matias’ standing as WBC world champion in the Jr. Welterweight division is unknown. 

The possibility certainly exists, however, that the WBC could strip Matias of the title per the testing results either before or shortly after the Cruz-Roach fight takes place, which would obviously either elevate this fight to a world title bout or create a situation where the winner of it will be named world champion and possibly be mandated to fight Dalton Smith in 2026 assuming that Matias would not be permitted to fight due to possible suspension both by the WBC as well as the Association of Boxing Commissions that has both state and international membership due to the failed test.

Either way one chooses to look at this situation, the stakes are high for both Cruz and Roach regardless of a world title is on the line here as regardless, the winner will be in a position for potential lucrative fights going into 2026 and even though world championships still mean something and will always hold value in the sport, the possibility for more lucrative paydays often man as much or more than the championships themselves. Which fighter will find himself in such a position remains to be seen.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Cruz vs. Roach takes place on Saturday, December 6th at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. The fight as well as its undercard can be seen in the United States on Prime Video Pay-Per-View beginning at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT with free preliminary bouts with the pay-per-view portion beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT for $79.95. To order this pay-per-view event download the Prime Video app on mobile, tablet, or connected streaming devices and smart TVs and find Premier Boxing Champions in the Sports section or click the following link : PBC: Cruz vs. Roach

(*Card And Start Times Subject To Change.”

(*Check your local listings and Prime Video for availability and pricing internationally.*)

For more information about Premier Boxing Champions please visit: www.PremierBoxingChampions.com 

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CHANTELLE CAMERON TO VACATE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN’S BOXING CHOICE AND EQUALITY

Press Release: November 1, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today (October 31st) announced that WBC Super Lightweight world champion, Chantelle Cameron has decided to vacate her WBC Super Lightweight Title as part of her continued commitment to advancing choice and equality in women’s boxing.

Cameron’s decision follows her longstanding position that women should have the option to compete under the same rules as men, including three-minute rounds, rather than the two-minute rounds mandated by the WBC for women’s fights.

“Women’s boxing has come a long way, but there’s still progress to be made,” said Chantelle Cameron. “I’ve always believed in equality, and that includes the choice to fight equal rounds, equal opportunities, and equal respect. I’m proud of my accomplishment in becoming a WBC champion, but it’s time to take a stand for what’s right and for the future of the sport.”

“Chantelle has never backed down from a challenge, inside or outside the ring,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “This decision underscores her integrity and her leadership as one of the sport’s elite fighters. MVP stands firmly behind Chantelle and her commitment to help drive women’s boxing toward true parity.”

Cameron will continue to pursue championship opportunities and marquee bouts maintaining the choice to fight three-minute rounds, and she remains focused on returning to the ring in early 2026.

About Most Valuable Promotions (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 return 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 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 Taylor vs. Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix, which became 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., the 8th most-bought pay-per-view event in history. 

Material Courtesy of:Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

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

Mayer Adds To Future Hall of Fame Resume By Defeating Spencer For Unified Jr. Middleweight World Championship

The fight between Women's WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion Mary Spencer and two-division world champion Mikaela Mayer on October 30th in Montreal,Canada, largely centered on Mayer attempting to add the Jr. Middleweight division to her resume of having won world championships after winning world titles in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight and 147lb. Welterweight divisions. It was also a fight void of personal animosity and was rooted in respect between the two world champions. This was simply about two champions putting their respective skills against one another.

Although as this observer stated in previewing this fight, this amounted to an away game for Mayer by traveling to Casino Montreal to face the Montreal native Spencer for her WBA world championship on her home turf, it did not appear as though that was a factor both in her approach in the lead up to the fight as well as how she approached the combat once the fighters were in the ring. A world champion moving up in weight to challenge another world champion in a different weight class in of itself is intriguing, the added wrinkle that emerged in the days prior to this encounter that the WBC and WBO, whose world titles in the Jr. Middleweight division was recently won and vacated by the newly retired future Hall of Famer Cecilia Braekhus, would also be on the line in addition to Spencer's WBA world championship, raised the stakes of the bout and the position of the winner in the division moving forward significantly.

Despite having established herself as a fighter who approaches her opposition at varying angles and throwing combinations where the opponent often has trouble finding a rhythm, Mayer's approach in this fight differed. From the outset, the challenger and current World Welterweight champion backed up the naturally bigger and theoretically stronger World Jr. Middleweight champion Spencer. What was also different from the norm for Mikaela Mayer was she appeared to be sitting on her punches more than is usually the case.

In that she seemed to be throwing and landing punches with the intention of scoring knockdowns and potentially a knockout, which is rare in Women’s Boxing due primarily to the two minute round length as compared to three minutes afforded to their male counterparts. A subject yours truly has frequently criticized and continues to advocate for female fighters to be allowed to compete in three minute rounds. Whether the change in approach can be attributed to now competing in a higher weight class or perhaps working with former Jr. Middleweight world title challenger and top contender Kofi Jantuah, who has joined her corner as a trainer, who in his fighting days, was known for deceptive punching power and an aggressive style. Much like her trainer, who is now a co-trainer along with Al Mitchell, who has been with Mayer her entire career, Mayer found an opening and frequently landed her left hook to the jaw of Spencer and at times even doubled up when she threw it.

This set up the consistent pattern of the fight. Mayer coming forward, pushing Spencer back, beating her to the punch consistently, and landing hard shots. Spencer, however, did find periodic success throughout, particularly when she was able to land her right hand, which did put Mayer's ability to take a punch from a Jr. Middleweight. A test that she was able to pass.

Despite those periodic moments for the champion, Mary Spencer was simply unable to break the pattern that Mayer had established. Unable to score knockdowns to narrow the deficit she was in on the scorecards, and ultimately lacking a knockout punch that would have obviously altered the ebb and flow significantly, she simply could not find the answer she needed on this night to retain and unify her world championship. A wide and convincing ten round unanimous decision for Mikaela Mayer was the ultimate outcome. 

Now, with a unified world champion in a third weight division, Mayer finds herself in a unique position that is not uncommon in Women’s Boxing as the sport is still growing.  Mayer still holds the WBO World Welterweight championship in addition to now being a unified world champion in the Jr. Middleweight division. This puts Mayer in a position where much like many other world champions on the Women’s side of the sport, she might determine her fight or fights based on what opportunity might be available and which fight will be more lucrative. For her part, Mayer stated after defeating Mary Spencer that she is interested in potentially going back and forth between the Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight divisions to maintain her world championships in both divisions and potentially try to become an undisputed world champion in both. 

While certainly not impossible given that world champions often move up or down in weight by fight in Women’s Boxing, the goal and possibility of pulling off what would be a significant achievement, will likely come down to whether Mayer can do it and maintain going up or down in weight physically. Much as is often the case for male fighters who are not natural Heavyweights, there often comes a point where fighters reach a ceiling where they either cannot go up any further in weight and compete effectively or down in weight without depleting themselves physically once they have moved up in their careers. Whether Mikaela Mayer will find such a ceiling in the near future is unknown, but after becoming a world champion in three separate divisions and being regarded as one of the top fighters in the sport of her era, she has already cemented a Hall of Fame resume,  now it is simply a matter of what additional achievements will serve as the icing on the cake of the career of a great fighter.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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BKB 45 Bristol Brawl Results

Credit: BKB

Press Release: September 9, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing - BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing made its Bristol, England debut September 6 at the Planet Ice Arena in a night featuring highlight reel knockouts, some of the sports' top stars, and an impressive bare knuckle debut by former WBA Regular Heavyweight Champion Lucas "Big Daddy" Brown.

Two of BKB's top-ranked and most experienced super middleweights went the distance in a fight of the night performance in the BKB 45 main event with James Connelly besting Martin Reffell by unanimous decision.

Swansea's Dan Lerwell picked up his eleventh bare knuckle vistory with a quick first-round knockout of fellow Welshman, UFC veteran Jack Marshman.

Simey Doherty scored his first win in the Tirgon, beating Joe Smith by split decision.

Veteran Paul Hilz earned his tenth bare knuckle victory and second in a row over hometown Dean Paterson by second-round TKO.

Former WBA Regular Heavyweight Champion says he's found a home in bare knuckle with a dominating doctor's stoppage at the start of the second round over Corey Harrison.

Rob Boardman earned co-knockout of the night honors (with Dan Lerwell) with a devastating first-round KO of Volodymyr Skurtu.

Former WBC International Bantamweight and EBU European Super Flyweight champion Ashley Brace picked up her first bare knuckle victory over Hatice Ozyurt by thrid-round doctor's stoppage. 

Will Dermietzel improves to 2-0 with first-round TKO over Jordan Tompkins.

In the prelims, Carl Hobley-Ant Scotford ended in no contest in the first when Hobley went headfirst out of the Trigon.

Corey Healey got  back in the win column with a second-round TKO over Craig Harrison. 

Matty Moore kicked off the evening with a dominating first-round TKO over Danny Worsfold. 

QUICK RESULTS:

James Connelly Def. Martin Reffel by UD5

Dan Lerwell Def. Jack Marshman by KO1

Simey Doherty Def. Joe Smith by SD5

Paul Hill Def. Dean Paterson by TKO2

Lucas Browne Def. Corey Harrison by DS2

Rob Boardman Def. Volodymyr Skurtu by KO1

Ashley Brace Def. Hatice Ozyurt by DS3

Will Dermietzel Def. Jordan Tompkins by TKO1

Hobley vs Scotford ended in NC1

Corey Healey Def. Craig Harrison by TKO2

Matty Moore Def. Danny Worsfold by TKO1

 

BKB returns to action September 27th in Salamanca, New York for BKB 46. Visit https://www.bkbbareknuckle.com   for tickets and information.

Material And Graphic Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission. 

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Conlan Shines As Rebuild Continues

The story going into the Featherweight bout between former two-time Olympian and world title challenger Michael Conlan and rising contender Jake Bateson was whether he could continue building momentum in his second fight since returning from a lengthy hiatus following three knockout losses in a relatively short timeframe. In previewing this bout, this observer stated that this fight was part of a rebuilding process for Conlan and that a win here would not necessarily indicate whether he would be back to a point where he was three years ago when he was ahead on the scorecards in his world title challenge of then WBA World Featherweight champion Leigh Wood going into the final round of a grueling and competitive fight and being literally minutes away from becoming world champion, before suffering a brutal knockout loss, which seemed to start a slide for him in the wrong direction as a fighter. 

Despite yours truly saying prior to his encounter with Bateson that there would likely not be a conclusive answer as to whether Conlan, who had one win in his comeback coming into this bout, would be back to the point he was going into the Wood fight where frankly, he was simply caught in a fight he was winning, but a victory against Bateson would serve as a way to gauge how many more steps might be needed as part of a long-term rebuilding process, particularly if he performed well against a well skilled boxer in Bateson, who was likely to provide a test. The two fighters would meet before an enthusiastic crowd at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

What stood out almost immediately was Conlan’s timing and ability to use angles, traits of his skillset that have been known to frustrate opponents and signs of when he is at his best. In addition to his ability to use angles, Conlan routinely switched between the southpaw and orthodox stances, which in addition to attacking Bateson in spurts, kept Bateson from being able to find a consistent rhythm. Conlan was also able to keep the combat at a measured, tactical pace where he had the advantage.

In round three, Conlan scored a knockdown of Bateson with a short left hook from the southpaw stance that grazed the top of the head that caused Bateson to momentarily fall forward where his gloves touched the canvas resulting in the knockdown. This would be followed by a second knockdown in round four when Conlan connected with an overhand right that sent Bateson down awkwardly on the canvas. Bateson showed his mettle by getting up from the knockdown, but the combination of being on unsteady legs as well as an apparent injury to his right ankle resulted in the fight being stopped with eleven seconds remaining in the round. 

The second straight win for Conlan on his comeback trail as well as his tenth knockout in his twenty-three bout professional career ultimately served as another building block towards the long-term goal of getting back into contention for another opportunity at a world championship. With the win, Conlan also won the vacant WBC International Featherweight championship, which ultimately means a chance to elevate himself into the world rankings further towards that goal. 

What will be interesting now, however, will be whether Conlan will attempt to jump further up in the rankings in his next fight or potentially take a more conservative approach in potentially taking another fight or two to continue to build momentum so at least in theory from an old school perspective, he can be as ready as possible both physically and mentally before trying to get into a fight, which if he is successful could lead to another world title opportunity. Ultimately, he got a win here in this fight and did so impressively. Whether or not he or his team feel that performance is enough to attempt to move further up the ladder or if he needs a bit more time to keep building momentum remains to be seen. If he were to take another fight against someone on a similar level as Jack Bateson, a good fighter, but one that may not be considered a world rated contender, and turn in a similar clinical performance, it will be clear that Michael Conlan is ready to take the next step.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Thunderdome 50 Results From Metro City, Perth, Australia

Credit:Mike O'Hara/ Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: June 3, 2024 By Dragon Fire Boxing Story By Lewis Moss - Perth boxing fans were treated to another thrilling night of fights as Dragon Fire Promotions celebrated their 50th Thunderdome event at the Metro City Nightclub on Friday night (May 30th).

 

The main event saw Francis “The Removalist” Chua capture the WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight Championship, after a hard-fought win over China’s fourth ranked Lightweight Xiaotao Su.

 

The card also saw The Isle of Man’s Sam Rennie capture WBC gold of his own, as well as other exciting fights.

 

Francis Chua defeated Xiaotao Su 

In the main event of the evening, Francis Chua defeated Xiaotao Su by Unanimous Decision to win the WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight Championship.

 

The fight for Chua was his first in three years since losing to Hironori Mishiro in May 2022.

 

Going into this matchup, many fans wondered how the Perth Native would look after his long hiatus from the ring, but Chua proved he could still hang by returning with a huge win.

 

Throughout the fight Chua took the action to his opponent, by landing a mix of uppercuts and hooks while both fighters were in each other's range. Su often found a home for his lead left hook during the exchanges.

 

Mid way into the fight, Chua started to walk down his opponent while ripping to the body.

 

The Aussie continued to press for the finish in the final round, as he landed multiple shots that looked to have his Chinese opponent hurt.

 

However, Su fought back as the fight went the distance and Chua was announced the winner by unanimous decision.

 

At 39-years-old, Francis Chua looks like he hasn't missed a beat in the ring. 

 

Having already been in the ring with top tier fighters like Liam Wilson and Kye Mackenzie, the Perth Native looks to add a few more names to that list before he hangs up the gloves.

 

Sam Rennie defeated Asyer Alumin

 

In the co main event, Sam Rennie defeated Asyer Alumin to win the WBC Australasia Silver Super Featherweight Championship.

 

The win for Rennie makes him the first ever boxer from The Isle of Man to win a regional title.

 

Over the past few months Sam Rennie had been taking the West Australian boxing scene by storm, with flawless victories in his first two fights.

 

It came to nobody's surprise when Rennie was given a WBC title fight this early in his career and when the stakes were high, Rennie delivered another shut out performance.

 

Rennie stayed in control of the fight, using his jab and superior footwork to keep his opponent guessing.

 

In the third round, Rennie was instructed by his corner to be more aggressive. After following his coaches’ instructions, Rennie dropped Alumin with a left hook to the body.

 

The Englishman continued on the front foot in the fourth round, as he knocked his opponent down again with a right hook before the referee waived the fight off.

 

With yet another dominant win from Sam Rennie, it is clear to see that the sky is the limit for this exceptional prospect.

 

Billy Quinncroft defeated Bilal Seidu

Earlier in the night, Billy Quinncroft defeated Bilal Seidu to win the WA State Cruiserweight Championship.

 

The title win for the 33-year-old marks the first in his professional career, as his record improves to three wins and zero losses.

 

The fight started off strategic, as Quinncroft used his jab efficiently in the early rounds.

 

Seidu did his best to turn the fight into a brawl, but the Englishman remained calm throughout his opponent’s onslaught.

 

Later in the fight, Seidu’s power punches started to get through, culminating with a huge right hand in the final round that got a reaction from the audience.

 

Seidu tried to finish his opponent off, but Quinncroft held on for the final bell.

 

Before the scorecards were about to be ready, fans wondered who would be victorious in this fight of two halves.

 

The win however, was Unanimously given to Billy Quinncroft to a roar from the Perth crowd.

 

Quinncroft will most likely defend his State Title against Will Cleggett who won his fight earlier in the night.

 

Owen Corrigan defeated Alex Muster

Ireland's Owen Corrigan delivered a stunning performance as he knocked out Alex Muster in the third round.

 

The victory advances Corrigan’s undefeated record to three wins.

 

Muster approached the fight aggressively with his looping hooks, but the Irishman remained calm and started to land his crisp right hand.

 

Corrigan began landing his jab in the second round, before knocking his opponent down twice just before the bell.

 

The onslaught from Dublin’s “Bomber” resumed in the third, as he dropped Muster with a huge right hand while they were up close. 

 

Muster was able to answer the count, but after one more flurry of punches the referee put a stop to the contest, giving Owen Corrigan the TKO victory.

 

With yet another dominant performance to his name, it is only a matter of time before Owen Corrigan gets the opportunity to fight for a title.

 

Thunderdome 50 Full Card Results

 

WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight Championship

Francis Chua DEFEATED Xiaotao Su by Unanimous Decision

 

WBC Australasia Silver Super Featherweight Championship

Sam Rennie DEFEATED Asyer Alumin by Fourth Round TKO

 

WA State Cruiserweight Championship

Billy Quinncroft DEFEATED Bilal Seidu by Unanimous Decision

 

Owen Corrigan DEFEATED Alex Muster by Third Round TKO

 

WA NITRO Light Heavyweight Championship

Binny Folan DEFEATED Rusty Oates by Third Round TKO

 

Joel Lewis DEFEATED Hongjun Shi by Fourth Round TKO (Retirement)

 

Will Cleggett DEFEATED Cameron Moffat by Unanimous Decision

 

Alan Pond Cup 2025

Beejay Boonket vs Habib Kheriakhah ends in a Majority Draw

 

Bahtiyar Sonyol DEFEATED Jack Thompson by First Round TKO (Shoulder Injury)

 

Tara Enoka DEFEATED Harma Yesti by Unanimous Decision

 

Yousef Radwan DEFEATED Adam Marshall by Split Decision (Exhibition Fight)

 

Rigor Angeles DEFEATED Mitch Arnold by Third Round TKO (Corner Stoppage)

Material Courtesy of: Lewis Moss/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.