The Boxing Truth®

Press Release: By Probellum - LOS ANGELES, JUNE 20 – Ivan Dychko takes his 100% KO record to Argentina this week as the giant Kazak returns to the ring.   Credit: Probellum   The hammer-fisted Dychko will be looking to secure a 12th knockout from as many pro fights in Buenos Aires on Thursday (June 23) when he locks horns with local favorite Kevin Espindola.     The 10 round heavyweight clash takes place on the WBA’s KO Drugs Boxing Festival and will see 6’9” Dychko fight for the first time under the Probellum banner, having signed with the global promoters earlier this year.     MEET DYCHKO AS HE TALKS FURY, WILDER AND JOSHUA VS USYK     Dychko , a former sparring partner of Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wider, says that once he has dealt with Espindola, he will only be looking for “big fights”.     Dychko , a two-time Olympic bronze medallist , said: “I am ready for big fights and very soon, I will be ready to fight...

Longtime readers of this observer’s work and particularly those who have followed The Boxing Truth® are likely familiar with a column that I have penned over the last several years that typically serves as a beginning of the schedule at the beginning of the year. “A Boxing Wishlist.” While as time has gone on there are more than one item that unfortunately remains on the list year after year, one of the more consistent items is my wish to see all world championships unified to determine one undisputed world champion per division amongst the sport’s seventeen weight classes. As I have pointed out frequently whenever the subject of a unification bout arises, my wish may seem overly optimistic and impossible for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to the various sanctioning organizations, with their own mandates, the slew of interim/regular championship designations throughout the sport, rival promoters that tend to shy away from working together even though it would benefit t...

  Press Release: By ESPN - Former Heavyweight Boxing champion and mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, will be honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2022 ESPYS, airing live  on July 20 at 8 p.m. ET  on ABC. The award is given to a deserving member of the sporting world who makes a difference far beyond the field of play, impacting the world in indelible ways. Credit: Press Office Of Vitali Klitschko   Klitschko, who has been the city’s mayor since 2014, has been a central figure in his country’s defense since it was invaded by Russian forces in late February. As the capital city endured a weeks-long siege and fought to keep Kyiv under control, Klitschko has served as one of the faces of the Ukrainian resilience inspiring people around the world. Together with his brother Wladimir, also a former heavyweight champion, the Klitschkos pledged to take up arms alongside their fellow citizens, and were leaders in Ukrainians’ remarkable response to the invasi...

Press Release: By Probellum - Credit: Problem  LONDON, JUNE 14 – Ohara Davies has been left baffled by the WBA’s decision to overlook him for a shot at the world title. ‘Two Tanks’ was hoping to be picked to fight for the vacant super lightweight belt but learned on Sunday night, that No1 ranked Alberto Puello had been chosen to face Batyr Akhmedov, who sits at No6.  The WBA also confirmed that Ismael Barroso, the Venezuelan puncher who withdrew from a November clash with Davies, will fight the winner.  Davies, No3 in the rankings. has been left to face Spain’s Sandor Martin in an eliminator while former world champion, and fellow Probellum fighter, Regis Prograis has been told he would replace any of the contenders if they chose to pull out.  “When I found out about the WBA’s decision, I was gutted,” said Davies, who fights in Leeds on Saturday night.  “I felt like I should have been given the shot next because I was meant to fight Ismael Barroso, b...

  The long-term partnership secures Joshua’s fights for broadcast on DAZN; cements DAZN’s UK business; and reinforces its position as the global home of boxing  In  this ground-breaking deal, the UK’s iconic two-time heavyweight champion will also become a global brand ambassador as well as a special advisor to, and shareholder in, DAZN Group DAZN customers already had unrivaled access to the world’s greatest fighters, including Canelo Álvarez, Ryan Garcia, Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, and Katie Taylor; and so, the deal is the logical next step for DAZN and the natural choice for Joshua. Press Release: By DAZN – London, June 13, 2022  – DAZN Group, the global sports entertainment company, today confirms a ground-breaking deal with Anthony Joshua that propels it to becoming the world’s leading boxing broadcaster.   Credit: DAZN   The partnership will see Joshua’s future fights broadcast on DAZN’s sport entertainment platform to customers worldwide. DAZN is ...

A fighter’s career can at times resemble the twists and turns of a good book. With any good story, the normal process at least in the context of a book, is normally chronicled through various chapters. One could say that a fighter’s career should be thought of in a similar way. It was not long ago that Heavyweight contender  Daniel Dubois was one of the division’s hottest rising stars. By quickly establishing himself as a “Knockout Artist,” it seemed as though Dubois may have been on a relatively quick path towards a shot at a version of the World Heavyweight championship. An issue that fighters that were in Dubois’ position typically face as they continue to score quick knockouts is skeptics that all too often express both opinions and doubts as to how good a fighter might be. Although there is usually a point where a fighter is tested and are able to quell those skeptics, there are times when either criticisms remain and/or a fighter comes up short when tested. For Dubois, he wou...

With the apparent retirement of undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, the current holder of the WBC Heavyweight world championship, as well as undefeated unified WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO world champion Oleksandr Usyk heading towards a rematch with former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua later this year,  the Heavyweight division could be heading towards a period of transition or at least a period of time that may allow some of the top contenders an opportunity to maneuver up towards a potential world title shot.  In the case of undefeated Heavyweight contender Trevor Bryan,  he for the moment is in a position of being on the outside, looking in. Despite his status as a mandatory challenger per his holding an interim/regular championship designation in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings, Bryan is unfortunately in a position where he has to wait for either a winner to emerge from the Usyk-Joshua rematch or perhaps wait for an opportunity to open t...

As the Boxing world was preparing for a busy day on Saturday, June 4th highlighted in large part by the Undisputed Lightweight world championship bout between undefeated champion George Kambosos and undefeated WBC number one contender Devin Haney in Melbourne, Australia, this observer was somewhat sidelined by effects from the topical weather system that would eventually be named tropical storm Alex. While fortunately, the effects in terms of weather turned out to be minimal for yours truly, it nevertheless made my usual coverage of Boxing cards difficult due to periodic technological outages. As such, yours truly made the decision to write this column to cover the three main world championship fights that occurred that day in one column as opposed to covering each event individually. The first stop in this column will be the aforementioned Kambosos-Haney Undisputed Lightweight world championship encounter. Although this observer was unable to pen a preview tor this fight here on The B...

As the son of a movie buff, this observer grew up with a father who instilled many lessons on his son. Two lessons with regard to movies that I have cone to appreciate as I have gotten older amongst many memories of my father that I think of often were very seldom  does a sequel live up to an original, and there is nothing like a good monster movie. The first time world champions Nayoa Inoue and Bonito Donaire met in 2019, it was a thrilling back and forth battle, which was hailed as one of the best fights in recent memory and that year's Fight of The Year. As thrilling as that fight was with Donaire putting forth a determined effort in being the first fighter to significantly test a fighter known simply as “The Monster,” it was Inoue who emerged from that battle still undefeated. Fast forward two and a half years later and both men were once again world champions in the 118lb. Bantamweight division and each remained regarded as the best fighters in the division. Despite the issue ...

Press Release: By Probellum – TOKYO, JUNE 6 – Nonito Donaire says he is “fired up” after making weight ahead of his eagerly awaited rematch with Naoya Inoue. The 39-year-old tipped the scales at  117.8lbs  in Yokohama earlier today (June 6), to comfortably come inside the bantamweight limit, while Inoue weighed in at  118lbs .  Credit: Probellum  Donaire and his Japanese rival clash at the Super Arena in Saitama tomorrow, with the WBC, WBA and IBF world titles on the line, in a fight the whole of boxing will be watching. After squaring off with Inoue for the final time before fight night,  the Filipino Flash said:   “I feel good, I feel great.  It is going to be an amazing night and you can look forward to seeing the best of me. “I am very fired up and it is going to be a very exciting fight!” CARL FRAMPTON SEES ‘SHOCK’ IN STORE NEW GLOVES TO MAKE BIG DIFFERENCE - DONAIRE The rematch of 2019’s Fight of the Year headline...

In November 2019, the Boxing world saw the conclusion of the second season of the highly acclaimed World Boxing Super Series (WBSS). To be more specific, the conclusion of that season’s Bantamweight tournament where world champions Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire put their respective championships on the line to determine not only the tournament winner, but who the best fighter was in the 118lb. Bantamweight division.   While the fight also had the storyline of youth versus experience with the future Hall of Famer Donaire in the role of trying to defy the odds by defeating a fighter that had dominated nearly every opponent he had faced in Inoue, no one was prepared for the classic encounter that took place when the two fighters entered the ring. A fight that was fought at a high pace from the opening bell, Inoue and Donaire engaged in a memorable battle for twelve rounds that was regarded by many as 2019’s Fight of the Year.   On that evening it was Inoue who was vict...

The official weigh-in for Saturday’s IBF Jr. Lightweight world championship clash between defending world champion Kenichi Ogawa and undefeated top contender Joe Cordina took place earlier today at City Hall in Cardiff,  Wales.  Weights for the entire card,  which will take place at the Motopoint Arena in Cardiff and can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN  are as follows.  Main Event: IBF Jr. Lightweight World Championship  - 12Rds.  Kenichi Ogawa (Champion)  129 1/2lbs. vs. Joe Cordina (Challenger) 130lbs. European Jr. Lightweight Championship - 12Rds.  Faroukh Kourbanov (Champion) 129 1/4lbs. vs. Zelfa Barrett 130lbs. Jr. Welterweight - 10Rds.  Dalton Smith 139 3/4lbs. vs. Mauro Perouene 139 1/2lbs. Women’s Featherweight  - 6Rds.  Skye Nicolson 127 1/2lbs. vs. Gabriela Bouvier 127 1/4lbs. Jr. Welterweight  - 8Rds. Calum French 137 1/2lbs vs. Gadatamen Taylor 137 3/4lbs. Featherweight...

  Undefeated Lightweight prospect Luis Torres pounded out a hard-fought ten round unanimous decision over veteran Diego Andrade to win the inaugural World Cup Boxing Series (WCBS) Lightweight tournament on Thursday night at the Palenque de la Expo in Sonora, MX. There were some heated exchanges early in the bout with Andrade trying to force the fight on the inside and make the fight difficult on the taller and younger Torres. Among the veteran tactics that Andrade implemented throughout the fight, he would raise his hands and roust the crowd whenever Torres would land a clean punch.   While such tactics are obviously designed to goad an opponent into rushing forward recklessly to theoretically allow the fighter using such ploys to try and take advantage, Torres did not take the bait and spent much of the fight gradually out working the more experienced Andrade. Although Andrade remained in the fight and seemed to win the appreciation of the crowd in attendance, he was not able...

  The official weigh-in for Thursday’s World Cup Boxing Series Lightweight final, which is promoted by Roy Jones’ RJJ Boxing took place earlier today in Senora, MX. Weights for the entire card, which can be seen on digital subscription combat sports streaming network UFC Fight Pass are as follows.   Main Event: WCBS Lightweight Final – 10Rds.   Luis Torres 135lbs. vs. Diego Andrade 135lbs.   Lightweight – 8Rds.   Yasir Rojas 135lbs. vs. Brayan Zamarripa 135lbs.   Lightweight – 6Rds.   Marco Moreno 136lbs. vs. Juan Rensendez 136lbs.   Jr. Lightweight – 4 Rds.   Pedro Borgano 130lbs. vs. Hector Lozano 129lbs.   RJJ Boxing: World Cup Boxing Series Lightweight Final takes place tomorrow night (Thursday, June 2 nd ) at the Palenque de la Expo in Obregón, Sonora, MX. The card can be seen globally on digital subscription combat sports streaming network UFC Fight Pass beginning at 10PM ET/7PM PT (U.S. Times.) For more information about UFC Fight...