Tag: Deontay Wilder

High-level heavyweight boxing will return in earnest this winter

High-level heavyweight boxing will return in earnest this winter.

The heavyweight division got interesting again.

The fight every genuine boxing fan wanted to see – Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship – was finally set for Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia. And a card featuring former beltholders Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua against separate opponents was announced for Dec. 23 in the same location.

The Fury-Usyk matchup was a no-brainer. The showdown will result in the first undisputed champ since Lennox Lewis a generation ago, which makes it arguably the most important possible matchup in the sport.

The road to the event has been rocky, however. The two were expected to meet in April but talks broke down over terms for a potential rematch, after which each man took different routes that led both of them to near disasters.

Usyk went down and was hurt badly by a body shot in the fifth round that was deemed a low blow against Daniel Dubois on Aug. 26, a controversial ruling that might’ve saved the Ukrainian’s titles and the potential meeting with Fury.

He was given time to recover, quickly took control and stopped Dubois in Round 9.

Fury ended up facing MMA star and boxing newbie Francis Ngannou in what was supposed to be a glorified – and lucrative – exhibition on Oct. 28. However, Fury, performing like a journeyman, was fortunate to emerge with a close-decision victory.

Indeed, both men were lucky to have not screwed up a chance to take part in one of the biggest fights in years.

Who wins?

I thought Fury would have his way with Usyk, a tremendous boxer but the much smaller man. Fury can box too and could outweigh Usyk by 50 pounds. Now, after Fury’s embarrassment against Ngannou, I’m not as certain.

Maybe Fury has lost something, as many suggested after his split decision victory. Maybe he took victory for granted, leaving him illprepared. Maybe Ngannou, who was making his boxing debut, is a natural. And maybe Fury’s problem was a combination of all of the above.

The fighters’ success combined with recent events makes Fury vs. Usyk as fascinating as any matchup.

“The whole planet will witness the biggest heavyweight fight of this century,” said Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter.

The card featuring Wilder and Joshua could be more entertaining than Fury-Joshua. Wilder is scheduled to face former titleholder Joseph Parker in what could be a difficult matchup for him while Joshua will take on solid contender Otto Wallin.

I expect Wilder to stop Parker – as Joe Joyce did last year – but the Kiwi, with victories over Andy Ruiz and Derek Chisora (twice), might be the knockout artist’s toughest opponent other than Fury.

And Wallin, who once gave Fury all he could handle, has the all-around ability to beat Joshua if the former champ isn’t at the top of his game.

Of course, the most exciting thing about the Dec. 23 and Feb. 17 cards is what might follow next year. Some possibilities:

  • A rematch. Fury vs. Usyk reportedly has a rematch clause, meaning a second fight would be likely if the original is competitive or controversial in any way. That could happen next summer.
  • Fury vs. Joshua if Fury beats Usyk and they don’t fight again. Fury-Joshua would be the biggest event in the history of British boxing (Wembley Stadium?) and massive worldwide.
  • Wilder vs. Joshua, assuming they win their fights. That’s another potential matchup that has been discussed for many years. And for good reason.
  • The Fury vs. Usyk winner (in one or two fights) could face Wilder if he beats Joshua. I wouldn’t want to see another Fury-Wilder matchup but Wilder-Usyk, a battle between relatively light heavyweights, would be intriguing.

Bottom line: This is a huge winter for heavyweight boxing. And it could get better going forward.

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Report: Wilder vs. Parker, Joshua vs. Wallin card in works

Report: A card featuring Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin is in the works for Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.

A card featuring Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua in separate bouts reportedly is in the works for Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Fight Freaks Unite, citing “knowledgeable” sources, is reporting that Wilder will face former titleholder Joseph Parker while Joshua will take on longtime contender Otto Wallin if the show is finalized.

Also, 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol, coming off a one-sided victory over Gilberto Ramirez last November, would return against contender Richard Rivera on the card.

Organizers are targeting Wednesday for a news conference to announce the card, according to Fight Freaks. However, sources told the outlet that work remains to be done on multiple contracts.

Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) is coming off a first-round stoppage of Robert Helenius in October of last year, which followed knockout losses in his second and third fights against Tyson Fury.

Parker (33-3, 23 KOs) has won three in a row since he was stopped in 11 rounds by Joe Joyce in September of last year.

Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) has won his last two fights since losing back-to-back decisions to Oleksandr Usyk, which cost him his titles. He last fought on Aug. 12, when he stopped Helenius in seven rounds.

Wallin (26-1, 14 KOs) is best known for giving Fury a tough test in 2019. The U.S.-based Swede has won six fights since.

Report: Wilder vs. Parker, Joshua vs. Wallin card in works

Report: A card featuring Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin is in the works for Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.

A card featuring Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua in separate bouts reportedly is in the works for Dec. 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Fight Freaks Unite, citing “knowledgeable” sources, is reporting that Wilder will face former titleholder Joseph Parker while Joshua will take on longtime contender Otto Wallin if the show is finalized.

Also, 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol, coming off a one-sided victory over Gilberto Ramirez last November, would return against contender Richard Rivera on the card.

Organizers are targeting Wednesday for a news conference to announce the card, according to Fight Freaks. However, sources told the outlet that work remains to be done on multiple contracts.

Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) is coming off a first-round stoppage of Robert Helenius in October of last year, which followed knockout losses in his second and third fights against Tyson Fury.

Parker (33-3, 23 KOs) has won three in a row since he was stopped in 11 rounds by Joe Joyce in September of last year.

Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) has won his last two fights since losing back-to-back decisions to Oleksandr Usyk, which cost him his titles. He last fought on Aug. 12, when he stopped Helenius in seven rounds.

Wallin (26-1, 14 KOs) is best known for giving Fury a tough test in 2019. The U.S.-based Swede has won six fights since.

Francis Ngannou: ‘Really serious’ discussions taking place about Deontay Wilder – but not in boxing

Francis Ngannou says Deontay Wilder is down to fight him in MMA.

[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] is a fight many have suggested, and it seems that there’s interest in making it happen – but not under the terms many expected.

Ngannou said Monday there have been talks of a potential fight against Wilder, but in an MMA cage. Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion and one of the most popular names in boxing, has shown interest in fighting in MMA, according to Ngannou.

“That has been in the discussion,” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani on Monday. “That’s something that can potentially happen. Deontay Wilder for a couple of months, or a little while, has been training MMA because there’s an option here. Nothing is set, but some things have been coming to my attention, so that’s something that makes sense.

“He’s really serious about MMA. A lot of people talk – ‘I’m going to do this in boxing and do that in MMA’ – but Deontay Wilder is very interested in MMA, and even just to step in the (cage) for MMA and MMA only. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a different beast for him.”

Ngannou parted ways with the UFC earlier this year while still its heavyweight champion. He signed with the PFL, which will allow him outside ventures. Saturday, he lost his highly competitive boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury by split decision in Saudi Arabia. He’s expected to make his PFL MMA debut in 2024.

Wilder has not fought in MMA. His most recent boxing match was a knockout of Robert Helenius in October 2022. Prior to that, he had back-to-back losses to Fury in championship fights.

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For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.

Daniel Cormier: After showing vs. Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou can box Deontay Wilder and ‘nobody would bat an eyelid’

Daniel Cormier thinks Francis Ngannou has endless possibilities in boxing after his impressive performance vs. Tyson Fury.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] has endless possibilities in boxing after his impressive performance against Tyson Fury.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou lost a close split decision to Fury in their crossover boxing match Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Not only did Ngannou push Fury to the brink, but he knocked him down in a fight many people thought he won.

Although Cormier scored the fight in Fury’s favor, he commended Ngannou for proving doubters wrong and going toe-to-toe with the WBC champion. He thinks Ngannou’s stock rose so much that no one would have an issue if he was matched up against someone like [autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] next.

“I thought Tyson Fury won that fight 95-94,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “We all thought that by leaving the UFC and the guaranteed amount of money he was going to make, Francis Ngannou was making a mistake. When he got this fight, you kind of had to eat crow. Now he has gone not only into that fight, but he’s over-delivered in that fight.

“So now there’s a world of opportunities still out there for Francis Ngannou. So what does he do next? Does he actually go to PFL, when right now he could go out there and fight some of the other great heavyweights around the world? He could go fight Deontay Wilder and nobody would bat an eyelid. Nobody. He could go fight some of these guys that Tyson Fury fought – Dillian Whyte is one.”

Cormier also thinks Ngannou giving Fury a stern test is a bad look for boxing.

“You know who lost tonight? The sport of boxing,” Cormier said. “You’ve got a dominant heavyweight champion that just fought a guy making his pro debut to a split decision when you already have another fight on the books for December (against Oleksandr Usyk). So whether it be taking him light, whether it be Francis was better than he expected, it does not matter. There’s going to be some work to be done to restore the way Tyson Fury is looked at right now as he heads into his next fight with Usyk.”

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For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.

Heavyweight doubleheader featuring both Fury vs. Usyk and Wilder vs. Joshua in works

A heavyweight doubleheader featuring both Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua reportedly is in the works.

An enormous night of boxing could be in the works.

Anthony Joshua has indicated that a card featuring him against Deontay Wilder as well as Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship could happen in Saudi Arabia, possibly in December.

Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) and Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) presumably would have to win their upcoming fights – Fury against MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28 and Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs) on Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland (ESPN+) – for the blockbuster event to take place.

“From what I’ve heard, things are positive,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “We’ve got the stumbling block, Fury has to get past Ngannou and Usyk has to get past Dubois. Good luck to both of them, good luck to all parties involved and then we can sit down and rejig things around.

“The goal is to have Usyk and Fury potentially compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship. Myself and Deontay Wilder, two big punchers, great fighters, been to the top of the mountain, slug it out and may the best man win.

“It will be a great event, potentially. We’re just waiting to see what happens and then finalize the devil in the detail.”

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Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius on Aug. 12, after which his promoter, Eddie Hearn, said he client is near a deal with Wilder.

And Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) confirmed that he and his rival are in talks, saying they’re working on a two-fight deal. The first meeting would take place in Saudi Arabia, the second in Africa.

“That’s the fight we want,” said promoter Eddie Hearn, referring to Wilder. “We have a three-fight plan, whether you like it or not. It was Robert Helenius … Deontay Wilder, and then Tyson Fury. That’s the ambition of the team. …

He went on: “We believe he can go on to beat Deontay Wilder. … We look to try to close that deal over the next couple of days. Joshua is ready for that fight.”

Wilder told ESNews: “That’s the one that’s up next. I’ll be getting in camp for that real soon. It’s going to be a great, great fight between me and him.”

Fury vs. Usyk might be more difficult to make.

The titleholders seemed to have an agreement in place to face one another this past April but the fight fell apart over terms for a potential rematch.

Fury and Usyk agreed to a 70-30 split of the revenue in Fury’s favor. However, they reportedly couldn’t agree on a split if the loser invokes a rematch clause. As a result, the fighters went different directions for the time being.

Plus, Fury recently told Sky Sports that he’s not optimistic about a potential meeting with Usyk for all four major titles.

“In this last year, I’ve tried two or three times,” he said. “It’s always not happened for whatever reason. I’m not optimistic. During the negotiations of this year, I was very optimistic. But there was a lot more stuff going on.

“After that, I was like, ‘It’s not happening.’ I even bet with [promoter] Frank Warren, a 10,000 pounds bet that it wouldn’t get signed and he said it would in a week, so I won the bet.”

Of course, many fights have come to fruition after multiple failures at the negotiating table.

Perhaps the deep pockets of the Saudis and the promise of being the featured fighters on what would be one of the biggest cards in many years will push Fury and Usyk past any lingering obstacles.

Heavyweight doubleheader featuring both Fury vs. Usyk and Wilder vs. Joshua in works

A heavyweight doubleheader featuring both Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua reportedly is in the works.

An enormous night of boxing could be in the works.

Anthony Joshua has indicated that a card featuring him against Deontay Wilder as well as Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship could happen in Saudi Arabia, possibly in December.

Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) and Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) presumably would have to win their upcoming fights – Fury against MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28 and Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs) on Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland (ESPN+) – for the blockbuster event to take place.

“From what I’ve heard, things are positive,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “We’ve got the stumbling block, Fury has to get past Ngannou and Usyk has to get past Dubois. Good luck to both of them, good luck to all parties involved and then we can sit down and rejig things around.

“The goal is to have Usyk and Fury potentially compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship. Myself and Deontay Wilder, two big punchers, great fighters, been to the top of the mountain, slug it out and may the best man win.

“It will be a great event, potentially. We’re just waiting to see what happens and then finalize the devil in the detail.”

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Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius on Aug. 12, after which his promoter, Eddie Hearn, said he client is near a deal with Wilder.

And Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) confirmed that he and his rival are in talks, saying they’re working on a two-fight deal. The first meeting would take place in Saudi Arabia, the second in Africa.

“That’s the fight we want,” said promoter Eddie Hearn, referring to Wilder. “We have a three-fight plan, whether you like it or not. It was Robert Helenius … Deontay Wilder, and then Tyson Fury. That’s the ambition of the team. …

He went on: “We believe he can go on to beat Deontay Wilder. … We look to try to close that deal over the next couple of days. Joshua is ready for that fight.”

Wilder told ESNews: “That’s the one that’s up next. I’ll be getting in camp for that real soon. It’s going to be a great, great fight between me and him.”

Fury vs. Usyk might be more difficult to make.

The titleholders seemed to have an agreement in place to face one another this past April but the fight fell apart over terms for a potential rematch.

Fury and Usyk agreed to a 70-30 split of the revenue in Fury’s favor. However, they reportedly couldn’t agree on a split if the loser invokes a rematch clause. As a result, the fighters went different directions for the time being.

Plus, Fury recently told Sky Sports that he’s not optimistic about a potential meeting with Usyk for all four major titles.

“In this last year, I’ve tried two or three times,” he said. “It’s always not happened for whatever reason. I’m not optimistic. During the negotiations of this year, I was very optimistic. But there was a lot more stuff going on.

“After that, I was like, ‘It’s not happening.’ I even bet with [promoter] Frank Warren, a 10,000 pounds bet that it wouldn’t get signed and he said it would in a week, so I won the bet.”

Of course, many fights have come to fruition after multiple failures at the negotiating table.

Perhaps the deep pockets of the Saudis and the promise of being the featured fighters on what would be one of the biggest cards in many years will push Fury and Usyk past any lingering obstacles.

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua looked so-so before dramatic knockout

A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER Anthony Joshua A spectacular knockout can mask problems. It’s difficult to be too critical of Joshua, who ended his fight against Robert Helenius with a monstrous right hand in the seventh …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua

A spectacular knockout can mask problems. It’s difficult to be too critical of Joshua, who ended his fight against Robert Helenius with a monstrous right hand in the seventh round Saturday in London. That’s what he hoped to do, let the world know in dramatic fashion that he remains a heavyweight to be reckoned with. And his assessment of how the fight unfolded made some sense. He needed some time to figure out an opponent who took the fight on less than a week’s notice. He had good reason to be pleased afterward. It was before the knockout that the former champion, working with trainer Derrick James for a second time, still looked like a work in progress. He controlled the fight with his jab and power punches here and there but was hesitant to fully commit himself until he the perfect opportunity presented himself, making it seem as if he still doesn’t believe in himself wholeheartedly. Promoter Eddie Hearn described Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) as a mature heavyweight. I think he still has his first fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. in his head, which isn’t good with potential fights against Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury on the horizon. We might never see the earlier version of Joshua again.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Emanuel Navarrete

The WBO 130-pound champion had quietly become one of the most consistent fighters in the world over the past five years, remaining unbeaten since 2012 and collecting major titles in three divisions. The only missing ingredient was a victory over an elite opponent. Now he has that. And he got it done in emphatic fashion against Oscar Valdez on Saturday outside Phoenix. His awkward, swarming style was as difficult for Valdez to handle as it has been for others, as Navarrete, who fights like an angry octopus, threw more than 1,000 punches from all sorts of angles to win a one-sided decision. Valdez, a former two-division champion, had some good moments but failed to hurt Navarrete and couldn’t hope to keep pace with him. And Navarrete fought with an injured lead hand from the middle rounds on, making his performance even more special. Next up for the winner? He and his team could choose to seek unification against one of the other champions, Joseph Cordina (IBF), Hector Luis Garcia (WBA) and O’Shaquie Foster (WBC). Or he could target one of the big names at 135 if he dares. Navarrete probably wouldn’t beat the likes of Shakur Stevenson or Gervonta Davis but you can bet he’d make anyone’s life miserable for a while.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III
Emmanuel Rodriguez

The slick Puerto Rican seemed to have reached his ceiling as a relevant fighter when he lost the IBF 118-pound title to Naoya Inoue by a brutal knockout and then ended up on the wrong end of a disputed decision against Reymart Gaballo in 2019 and 2020. Rodriguez had other ideas. Not only did he bounce back from a difficult stretch, he’s better than ever. At least that appeared to be the case on Saturday, when he dominated an overmatched Melvin Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) to win a shutout decision and regain the belt he lost to Inoue. That followed victories over Roberto Cantu and Gary Antonio Russell, giving him three consecutive victories that leave little doubt about his ability. Rodriguez might be exactly what he says he is: the best bantamweight in the world. The only criticism I have of his performance on Saturday – and I’m quibbling to some degree – is that he could’ve knocked out Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs), who went down three times in the 12th and final round but survived to hear the final bell. Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) needed to shift into a higher gear earlier in the fight to get a stoppage, which would’ve been a stronger statement. However, he waited until it was too late. That’s something for him to work on.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Oscar Valdez

Oscar Valdez (left) has lost two of his last three fights. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) obviously is a capable fighter. You don’t win major titles in two divisions, as he has, if you don’t know what you’re doing. The problem for Valdez is that he doesn’t appear to have enough ability to compete with either a technical wizard like Shakur Stevenson or an elite brawler like Navarrete, both of whom defeated him handily. Valdez can still beat solid, second-tier opponents. And who knows? He could become a titleholder again against the right foe. I’m guessing that’s not how Valdez sees himself, though. I believe he sees himself as a pound-for-pounder, a coveted status he tasted on some lists after he knocked out the feared, but limited Miguel Berchelt in February 2021. I doubt he can get back there based on his performances against Stevenson and Navarrete. Again, though, he’s capable. In fact, he appeared against Navarrete to be more skillful – particularly in terms of defense – than he has ever been in spite of lopsided scorecards and a gruesome swollen right eye. The passion to succeed is there. And, finally, he’s only 32. Perhaps we shouldn’t write him off just yet.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Joshua’s post-fight interview might be further evidence of his mental vulnerability. He was asked about public criticism and responded, “People need to leave me alone. I do what I want. This is my time in this ring. Let me breathe a bit and let me keep doing what I do.” Leave me alone? Joshua is a top athlete and public figure. Criticism is part of the deal when you’re in that position. He has become wealthy in part because fans have lain out their hard-earned money to pay the exorbitant pay-per-view fees required to watch him fight. They have a right to say whatever they want. Joshua needs toughen up, in and out of the ring. … Joshua is expected to fight Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) late this year or early next year, although no deal is in place. A few years ago, before Joshua’s loss to Ruiz, I would’ve picked him to beat Wilder because of his super boxing ability and formidable power. Today I would lean toward Wilder. Joshua remains the better technician but Wilder is a solid boxer, might be the hardest punching boxer ever and has 10 times the mental toughness of Joshua. I wouldn’t be shocked if Joshua wins a decision by boxing carefully but I think Wilder would catch him and end the fight early. Joshua vs. Tyson Fury? Forget it. Fury is much too good for his British rival. …

Gary Antuanne Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) maintained his perfect record and knockout streak by stopping overmatched Kent Cruz (16-1-3, 10 KOs) in less than a full round. The 140-pound contender is ready for the best in the division, including titleholders Subriel Matias (IBF), Rolando Romero (WBA), Regis Prograis (WBC) and Teofimo Lopez (WBO). How would Russell fare against that level of opposition? I see Russell as a complete fighter with elite punching power. I’m guessing that he can compete with anyone. … You gotta love longtime heavyweight contender Derek Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs), who outpointed Gerald Washington on the Joshua-Helenius card. The 39-year-old Londoner had lost four of his previous five fights but fought hard and with confidence to pump life into his career. It’s no wonder he’s a fan favorite. Washington (20-6-1, 13 KOs) isn’t the type to give up on himself but he has lost his last three fights and six of his last eight. Plus, he’s 41. Retirement might be his smartest move.

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Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua looked so-so before dramatic knockout

A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER Anthony Joshua A spectacular knockout can mask problems. It’s difficult to be too critical of Joshua, who ended his fight against Robert Helenius with a monstrous right hand in the seventh …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua

A spectacular knockout can mask problems. It’s difficult to be too critical of Joshua, who ended his fight against Robert Helenius with a monstrous right hand in the seventh round Saturday in London. That’s what he hoped to do, let the world know in dramatic fashion that he remains a heavyweight to be reckoned with. And his assessment of how the fight unfolded made some sense. He needed some time to figure out an opponent who took the fight on less than a week’s notice. He had good reason to be pleased afterward. It was before the knockout that the former champion, working with trainer Derrick James for a second time, still looked like a work in progress. He controlled the fight with his jab and power punches here and there but was hesitant to fully commit himself until he the perfect opportunity presented himself, making it seem as if he still doesn’t believe in himself wholeheartedly. Promoter Eddie Hearn described Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) as a mature heavyweight. I think he still has his first fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. in his head, which isn’t good with potential fights against Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury on the horizon. We might never see the earlier version of Joshua again.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Emanuel Navarrete

The WBO 130-pound champion had quietly become one of the most consistent fighters in the world over the past five years, remaining unbeaten since 2012 and collecting major titles in three divisions. The only missing ingredient was a victory over an elite opponent. Now he has that. And he got it done in emphatic fashion against Oscar Valdez on Saturday outside Phoenix. His awkward, swarming style was as difficult for Valdez to handle as it has been for others, as Navarrete, who fights like an angry octopus, threw more than 1,000 punches from all sorts of angles to win a one-sided decision. Valdez, a former two-division champion, had some good moments but failed to hurt Navarrete and couldn’t hope to keep pace with him. And Navarrete fought with an injured lead hand from the middle rounds on, making his performance even more special. Next up for the winner? He and his team could choose to seek unification against one of the other champions, Joseph Cordina (IBF), Hector Luis Garcia (WBA) and O’Shaquie Foster (WBC). Or he could target one of the big names at 135 if he dares. Navarrete probably wouldn’t beat the likes of Shakur Stevenson or Gervonta Davis but you can bet he’d make anyone’s life miserable for a while.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III
Emmanuel Rodriguez

The slick Puerto Rican seemed to have reached his ceiling as a relevant fighter when he lost the IBF 118-pound title to Naoya Inoue by a brutal knockout and then ended up on the wrong end of a disputed decision against Reymart Gaballo in 2019 and 2020. Rodriguez had other ideas. Not only did he bounce back from a difficult stretch, he’s better than ever. At least that appeared to be the case on Saturday, when he dominated an overmatched Melvin Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) to win a shutout decision and regain the belt he lost to Inoue. That followed victories over Roberto Cantu and Gary Antonio Russell, giving him three consecutive victories that leave little doubt about his ability. Rodriguez might be exactly what he says he is: the best bantamweight in the world. The only criticism I have of his performance on Saturday – and I’m quibbling to some degree – is that he could’ve knocked out Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs), who went down three times in the 12th and final round but survived to hear the final bell. Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) needed to shift into a higher gear earlier in the fight to get a stoppage, which would’ve been a stronger statement. However, he waited until it was too late. That’s something for him to work on.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Oscar Valdez

Oscar Valdez (left) has lost two of his last three fights. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) obviously is a capable fighter. You don’t win major titles in two divisions, as he has, if you don’t know what you’re doing. The problem for Valdez is that he doesn’t appear to have enough ability to compete with either a technical wizard like Shakur Stevenson or an elite brawler like Navarrete, both of whom defeated him handily. Valdez can still beat solid, second-tier opponents. And who knows? He could become a titleholder again against the right foe. I’m guessing that’s not how Valdez sees himself, though. I believe he sees himself as a pound-for-pounder, a coveted status he tasted on some lists after he knocked out the feared, but limited Miguel Berchelt in February 2021. I doubt he can get back there based on his performances against Stevenson and Navarrete. Again, though, he’s capable. In fact, he appeared against Navarrete to be more skillful – particularly in terms of defense – than he has ever been in spite of lopsided scorecards and a gruesome swollen right eye. The passion to succeed is there. And, finally, he’s only 32. Perhaps we shouldn’t write him off just yet.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Joshua’s post-fight interview might be further evidence of his mental vulnerability. He was asked about public criticism and responded, “People need to leave me alone. I do what I want. This is my time in this ring. Let me breathe a bit and let me keep doing what I do.” Leave me alone? Joshua is a top athlete and public figure. Criticism is part of the deal when you’re in that position. He has become wealthy in part because fans have lain out their hard-earned money to pay the exorbitant pay-per-view fees required to watch him fight. They have a right to say whatever they want. Joshua needs toughen up, in and out of the ring. … Joshua is expected to fight Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) late this year or early next year, although no deal is in place. A few years ago, before Joshua’s loss to Ruiz, I would’ve picked him to beat Wilder because of his super boxing ability and formidable power. Today I would lean toward Wilder. Joshua remains the better technician but Wilder is a solid boxer, might be the hardest punching boxer ever and has 10 times the mental toughness of Joshua. I wouldn’t be shocked if Joshua wins a decision by boxing carefully but I think Wilder would catch him and end the fight early. Joshua vs. Tyson Fury? Forget it. Fury is much too good for his British rival. …

Gary Antuanne Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) maintained his perfect record and knockout streak by stopping overmatched Kent Cruz (16-1-3, 10 KOs) in less than a full round. The 140-pound contender is ready for the best in the division, including titleholders Subriel Matias (IBF), Rolando Romero (WBA), Regis Prograis (WBC) and Teofimo Lopez (WBO). How would Russell fare against that level of opposition? I see Russell as a complete fighter with elite punching power. I’m guessing that he can compete with anyone. … You gotta love longtime heavyweight contender Derek Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs), who outpointed Gerald Washington on the Joshua-Helenius card. The 39-year-old Londoner had lost four of his previous five fights but fought hard and with confidence to pump life into his career. It’s no wonder he’s a fan favorite. Washington (20-6-1, 13 KOs) isn’t the type to give up on himself but he has lost his last three fights and six of his last eight. Plus, he’s 41. Retirement might be his smartest move.

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Anthony Joshua silences boos with one-punch knockout of Robert Helenius

Former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua silenced boos with a one-punch knockout of Robert Helenius on Saturday at O2 Arena in London.

It took Anthony Joshua a while but he delivered in the end.

The former heavyweight champ spent half the fight trying to figure out how he was going to land a bomb on Robert Helenius but finally did in Round 7, a single right hand that ended the fight instantaneously Saturday at O2 Arena in London.

The victory is his second in a row after devastating back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk and sets up a showdown with fellow former titleholder Deontay Wilder.

“That’s the fight we want,” said promoter Eddie Hearn, referring to Wilder. “We have a three-fight plan, whether you like it or not. It was Robert Helenius, supposed to be Dillian Whyte; Deontay Wilder, and then Tyson Fury.

“That’s the ambition of the team.”

Helenius, who stopped a journeyman in three rounds last weekend, took the fight with Joshua on less than a week’s notice after Dillian Whyte failed a drug test and was pulled from the card.

However, he performed reasonably well … for a while.

Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) controlled the fight with his jab and threw power shots here and there but was reluctant to take significant risks as he tried to figure out his opponent, instead waiting for the perfect opportunity to land a big blow.

The lack of action drew boos from the hometown fans, who obviously wanted Joshua to attack with more ferocity.

Then everything changed in a breathtaking moment. Helenius had his back against the ropes when Joshua unleashed a straight right hand that caught Helenius on his chin, sending him to the canvas in an unconscious state and lifting the suddenly satisfied spectators to their feet.

Referee Victor Loughlin had no need to count as it was clear that Helenius couldn’t continue. The official time of the stoppage: 1:27.

Just like that Joshua, fighting for the second time with new trainer Derrick James, turned what had been an uninspiring performance into a Knockout of the Year candidate. That’s exactly what he hoped to do going into an expected meeting with Wilder late this year or early in 2024.

“He’s got talent,” Joshua said about Helenius. “So I had to figure him out. He was a late replacement. And I think he can cause a lot of people some problems, in my opinion. Credit to him for coming out tonight and saving the show. …

“I need to stay busy. I need to keep on building, keep on building. I’ve been off for too long.”

Joshua had no inclination before Saturday to discuss a prospective meeting with Wilder.

He was asked again about what would be one of the biggest possible heavyweight matchups. He didn’t answer the question directly but made it clear by playacting that he’s on board with a heavyweight takeover.

“My back, my back. Is there a doctor in here? My back is going,” he said, his voice rising, “… [is going] to carry this heavyweight division to the top.”

Hearn clearly believes in his longtime client, a 33-year-old former two-time heavyweight champion bent on a third reign.

“Whether you back Joshua, whether you think he can do it, whether you think not, he’s changed,” Hearn said. “He’s now a mature heavyweight. I know everyone wants to see a first, second, third round KO, but against Helenius he took his time and delivered one of the knockouts of the year.

“And we believe he can go on to beat Deontay Wilder. … We look to try to close that deal over the next couple of days. Joshua is ready for that fight.”

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