If Top Rank had its way the rematch between lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and world titlist Deontay Wilder would take place this fall, but because Wilder representatives have told Top Rank they have a commitment to Wilder first facing Luis Ortiz in a rematch, likely in November, the Fury fight wouldn’t take place until the first quarter of 2020, sources with knowledge of the conversations told ESPN. If Wilder is contractually obligated to an Ortiz rematch, which is unclear, or he simply wants to fight Ortiz again before a Fury sequel, Top Rank will arrange a fall fight for Fury, according to the sources.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer6h ago

Lightweight up-and-comer Devin Haney (22-0, 14 KOs), 20, coming off a sensational knockout of Antonio Moran on May 25 and slated for a title eliminator against Zaur Abdulaev in September, is back in the gym getting ready. “My opportunity for a world title is right around the corner,” Haney said. “I took a well-deserved break that I hadn't taken since I began the sport. Now I'm recharged and ready to wreak havoc on the lightweight division. I'm looking forward to getting back in the ring. My time is coming and I will be 100 percent ready to show the everyone that I'm ready for a world title shot."

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer1d ago

Daniel Dubois won the vacant British heavyweight title with a dominant TKO victory over Nathan Gorman on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. Dubois dropped Gorman with an over right hand to the head in Round 5. Gorman got up at the count of 10 but the referee waved the fight off 2:45 minutes into the round.

Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor3d ago

Jazza Dickens defeated Nathaniel May by unanimous decision after a 10-round featherweight battle in Liverpool, England. All three judges scored the fight for Dickens 97-92, 97-91 and 96-92.

Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor4d ago

Heralded two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez, who defected and signed with Top Rank in May, is penciled in to make his professional debut on the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card headlined by former two-division titlist Carl Frampton’s featherweight bout against Emmanuel Dominguez on Aug. 10 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, a source with knowledge of the plans told ESPN. Ramirez, 25, who lives in Gulfport, Florida, won the 2012 flyweight Olympic gold medal. In 2016 he won the bantamweight Olympic gold medal by narrowly outpointing Shakur Stevenson.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer4d ago

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn hoped by now to have had a decision from former heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua on where he wanted to have his contractually mandated fall rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., who scored a monumental upset to take his belts by seventh-round knockout on June 1. The fight the decision was either to return to New York’s Madison Square Garden, site of the first fight, where Joshua made his American debut, or have it at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. However, Hearn told ESPN on Wednesday that the delay in a decision is because “we had a few late approaches (from other sites) that delayed things. Expect to decide this weekend. Still, U.K. and U.S. (are the) favorites.”

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer6d ago

The IBF on Tuesday ordered a purse bid for the fight between middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and mandatory challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko and scheduled it for July 23 at noon ET at the IBF offices in Springfield, New Jersey. The IBF made the ruling after receiving notification from Derevyanchenko’s team that it is no longer willing to participate in negotiations – which had never commenced after being ordered to begin on May 15 and conclude June 15. Golden Boy, Alvarez’s promoter, has shown no interest in the bout, which likely would lead to Alvarez either giving up the belt or being stripped. He plans to fight Sept. 14 and could either defend his other title or move up to light heavyweight to challenge titlist Sergey Kovalev in a fight that is in discussions.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced on Wednesday that he has signed heavyweight Martin Bakole (12-1, 9 KOs), a Congo native fighting out of Scotland, and that he will have his first fight of the deal against Ecuador’s Ytalo Perea on Aug. 2 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, England. Bakole’s lone defeat came by 10th-round TKO to contender Michael Hunter in October 2018. Bakole has won his only fight since, an eighth-round knockout of former title challenger Mariusz Wach on April 6.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer6d ago

Premier Boxing Champions on Tuesday announced the remainder of undercard bouts for the card on Aug. 3 (Fox) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, headlined by the heavyweight bout between Adam Kownacki and Chris Arreola. Among the bouts added to the show: 2008 Puerto Rican Olympic heavyweight Carlos Negron vs. Brian Howard in a 10-rounder, Curtis Stevens vs. Wale Omotoso in a junior middleweight 10-rounder and women’s featherweight world titleholder Heather Hardy taking on an opponent to be determined in an eight-round nontitle fight.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago

Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez’s prospect of collecting all four belts to become the undisputed champion took a hit recently when the WBC stripped him and “elevated” him to its so-called “franchise champion” and now his IBF belt is in jeopardy because he has missed the window to seek an exception to a mandatory defense he was ordered to make against Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Negotiations, or some kind of deal, were due to be completed by June 15 but the camps haven’t even talked. If Alvarez vacates or is stripped Derevyanchenko would fight for the vacant title. The next leading contender in the IBF rankings is former champion Gennady Golovkin, who would be in the market for a fall foe if he doesn’t meet Alvarez for the third time.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer8d ago

Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz won an IBF purse bid on Tuesday for the right to promote a junior flyweight title eliminator between Cristian Araneta, 24, of the Philippines, and Augustin Gauto, 21, of Argentina. Lewkowicz, who promotes Araneta, won with a bid of $63,000 to beat the only other bid, which was $61,500 by Gauto promoter OR Promotions. Araneta is entitled to 60 percent of the winning bid ($37,800) and Gauto gets 40 percent ($25,200). Lewkowicz has 90 days to put the fight on but he said he would stage it Oct. 6 in Manila, Philippines. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for 108-pound world titlist Felix Alvarado.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago

During a weekend Q&A appearance in Bradford, England, lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury told the crowd that his rematch with titleholder Deontay Wilder was “confirmed and signed” and would take place on Feb. 22. However, promoter Top Rank told ESPN that was just one of the dates under consideration for the much-anticipated showdown, which will take place in the United States. Both fighters, however, are first planning fall interim bouts with Wilder slated to have a rematch with Luis Ortiz and Fury to face a foe to be determined.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9d ago

Due to a broken toe, former secondary super middleweight titlist Rocky Fielding has withdrawn from a July 12 fight in his hometown of Liverpool, England, although the MTK Global card will still go on and stream in the Untied States on ESPN+. Fielding was due to face an opponent to be determined in his first bout since being stopped in the third round and losing his belt to Canelo Alvarez in December in New York. “Tried to rest it and work around it but impossible,” Fielding said of the injury.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9d ago

Junior middleweight up-and-comer Serhii Bohachuk (14-0, 14 KOs) and Fernando Marin (16-3-3, 12 KOs), 31, of Mexico, will meet in the 10-round main event of the eight-bout Hollywood Fight Nights card on July 28 at the Avalon in Hollywood, California, Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions announced on Monday. Bohachuk, 24, a Ukraine native fighting out of Los Angeles, is trained by Abel Sanchez and will be appearing on the series for sixth time of its eight cards. He’s coming off a fifth-round knockout of former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez on May 19.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer8d ago

The IBF strawweight title vacated last week by South Africa’s DeeJay Kriel in order to move up in weight will be filled by the winner of a fight between the Philippines’ Sammy Salva, who was slated to challenge Kriel on Aug. 24, and countryman Padro Taduran. Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions, Salva’s promoter, told ESPN that both boxers have accepted the fight – a rare all-Filipino world title bout -- and that Salva (17-0, 10 KOs), 22, and Taduran (13-2, 10 KOs), 22, will meet for the vacant 105-pound belt on Sept. 7 in Taguig City in the Philippines.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9d ago