Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Pechanga Arena, San Diego
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
At stake: Vacant WBO title
Boxing Junkie Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Navarrete 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Giovani Santillan vs. Brian Norman Jr., welterweights
Background: Navarrete is a former 122-pound titleholder who was given the opportunity to fight for the vacant WBO title even though he’s making his debut at the weight and is coming off a majority draw with Robson Conceicao at 130 in November. Navarrete delivered arguably his best performance in his previous fight, a one-sided decision over former champ Oscar Valdez last August. The 29-year-old is a durable boxer whose forte is volume punching. Berinchyk, a 36-year-old Ukrainian, will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The 2012 Olympic silver medalist earned his shot at the belt by easily outpointing Anthony Yigit on the Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois card last August.
FIGHT WEEK An undisputed heavyweight champion will finally be crowned when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet on pay-per-view Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. TYSON FURY (34-0-1, 24 KOs) VS. OLEKSANDR USYK (21-0, 14 KOs) Either Tyson Fury (left) or …
FIGHT WEEK
An undisputed heavyweight champion will finally be crowned when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet on pay-per-view Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Either Tyson Fury (left) or Oleksandr Usyk will be undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday barring unforeseen circumstances. Alex Pantling / Getty Images
Date: Saturday, May 18
Time: 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Also on the card: Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Breidis, cuiserweights (for vacant IBF title); Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace junior lightweights (for Cordina’s IBF title); Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Safar, cruiserweights; Agit Kabayel vs. Frank Sanchez, heavyweights; Mark Chamberlain vs. Joshua Wahab, lightweights
Background: The time is finally at hand. Talk of a Fury-Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship started the moment Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua the first of two times in September 2021. The fight was originally scheduled for Feb. 17 but it was pushed back after Fury suffered a cut during sparring. Fury is coming off arguably the worst performance of his career, a split decision over Francis Ngannou in the MMA star’s boxing debut. Fury battled back from a knockdown in the third round but was fortunate to have his hand raised. He was thought by many to be ill-prepared for the fight, a mistake he will not have made leading up to the fight on Saturday. The 35-year-old from England seems to be in excellent physical condition. Usyk also didn’t give his best effort in his most recent fight, against Daniel Dubois in August. The 37-year-old former 200-pound champion went down from a body shot that was controversially deemed a low blow in the fifth round, which gave him extra time to recover. He rebounded to stop Dubois in the ninth to retain his titles.
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Pechanga Arena, San Diego
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
At stake: Vacant WBO title
Boxing Junkie Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Navarrete 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Giovani Santillan vs. Brian Norman Jr., welterweights
Background: Navarrete is a former 122-pound titleholder who was given the opportunity to fight the vacant WBO title even though he’s making his debut at the weight and is coming off a majority draw with Robson Conceicao at 130 in November. Navarrete delivered arguably his best performance in his previous fight, a one-sided decision over former champ Oscar Valdez last August. The 29-year-old is a durable boxer whose forte is volume punching. Berinchyk, a 36-year-old Ukrainian, will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The 2012 Olympic silver medalist earned his shot at the belt by easily outpointing Anthony Yigit on the Usyk-Dubois card.
Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew against Liam Wilson on Friday in Glendale, Arizona.
Oscar Valdez has some work to do.
The former two-division titleholder was on top of the world after he put Miguel Berchelt down three times and ultimately stopped him in the 10th round to win the WBC 130-pound championship in February 2021.
It has been mostly downhill after that for the 33-year-old Mexican.
He tested positive for a banned weight-loss medication before his next fight seven months later, against Robson Conceicao, yet he was allowed to fight . He won a unanimous decision to retain his belt but his reputation was scarred.
Then things got worse. He was embarrassed by the gifted Shakur Stevenson in his subsequent bout, losing a one-sided decision that seemed to reveal his limitations.
He rebounded to outpoint Adam Lopez 11 months later only to lose another clear decision, this time against WBO beltholder and countryman Emanuel Navarrete, who outworked him in an entertaining fight last August.
Suddenly a rising star was just another fighter.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) will restart the rebuilding process on Friday night, when he’s scheduled to face Liam Wilson of Australia at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (ESPN+).
The fight will be for the WBO “interim” belt, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize as a legitimate title. Navarrete remains the WBO champ.
“I’m going to be ready,” Valdez said on Wednesday. “I was preparing myself for a world championship fight. Then we got the news that it’s now for an interim title.
“So I’m more than excited and prepared, and we’re going to show that.”
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a safer opponent than either Stevenson or Navarrete, probably on the level of Lopez.
However, the 28-year-old resident of Queensland is dangerous. He proved that by decking Navarrete and hurting him before being stopped himself in nine rounds in a wild fight for the vacant WBO title in February of last year.
Wilson outpointed two second-tier opponents in Australia after his setback.
“I know Liam Wilson,” Valdez said. “He’s a tough fighter. I was there when he fought Emanuel Navarrete, and he sent him to the canvas. So you better believe that I’m coming with everything because I’m expecting that same Liam Wilson. …
“Liam Wilson is a dangerous fighter. But that makes it more exciting. And the interim title adds fuel to the fire. I’m very motivated.”
Valdez told BoxingScene.com that he would be interested in facing Vasiliy Lomachenko, assuming he wins on Friday and the Ukrainian pound-for-pounder beats underdog George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on May 12.
However, Valdez’s first priority is to become a champion again at 130. Defeating Wilson is the first step in that process.
“This fight [against Wilson] means everything to me because whoever wins is a step closer to a world title fight at 130 pounds,” he told the outlet. “This is my division. …
“My plan this year is to become a world champion again. But I have to win this fight first. I’m mentally preparing like it’s a world title fight.”
Oscar Valdez will start the rebuilding process anew against Liam Wilson on Friday in Glendale, Arizona.
Oscar Valdez has some work to do.
The former two-division titleholder was on top of the world after he put Miguel Berchelt down three times and ultimately stopped him in the 10th round to win the WBC 130-pound championship in February 2021.
It has been mostly downhill after that for the 33-year-old Mexican.
He tested positive for a banned weight-loss medication before his next fight seven months later, against Robson Conceicao, yet he was allowed to fight . He won a unanimous decision to retain his belt but his reputation was scarred.
Then things got worse. He was embarrassed by the gifted Shakur Stevenson in his subsequent bout, losing a one-sided decision that seemed to reveal his limitations.
He rebounded to outpoint Adam Lopez 11 months later only to lose another clear decision, this time against WBO beltholder and countryman Emanuel Navarrete, who outworked him in an entertaining fight last August.
Suddenly a rising star was just another fighter.
Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) will restart the rebuilding process on Friday night, when he’s scheduled to face Liam Wilson of Australia at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (ESPN+).
The fight will be for the WBO “interim” belt, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize as a legitimate title. Navarrete remains the WBO champ.
“I’m going to be ready,” Valdez said on Wednesday. “I was preparing myself for a world championship fight. Then we got the news that it’s now for an interim title.
“So I’m more than excited and prepared, and we’re going to show that.”
Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a safer opponent than either Stevenson or Navarrete, probably on the level of Lopez.
However, the 28-year-old resident of Queensland is dangerous. He proved that by decking Navarrete and hurting him before being stopped himself in nine rounds in a wild fight for the vacant WBO title in February of last year.
Wilson outpointed two second-tier opponents in Australia after his setback.
“I know Liam Wilson,” Valdez said. “He’s a tough fighter. I was there when he fought Emanuel Navarrete, and he sent him to the canvas. So you better believe that I’m coming with everything because I’m expecting that same Liam Wilson. …
“Liam Wilson is a dangerous fighter. But that makes it more exciting. And the interim title adds fuel to the fire. I’m very motivated.”
Valdez told BoxingScene.com that he would be interested in facing Vasiliy Lomachenko, assuming he wins on Friday and the Ukrainian pound-for-pounder beats underdog George Kambosos Jr. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on May 12.
However, Valdez’s first priority is to become a champion again at 130. Defeating Wilson is the first step in that process.
“This fight [against Wilson] means everything to me because whoever wins is a step closer to a world title fight at 130 pounds,” he told the outlet. “This is my division. …
“My plan this year is to become a world champion again. But I have to win this fight first. I’m mentally preparing like it’s a world title fight.”
O’Shaquie Foster said he’s targeting fellow titleholders and the big names at 130 pounds after his victory over Abraham Nova on Friday.
Junior lightweight titleholder O’Shaquie Foster had a difficult time making the 130-pound limit going into his split decision victory over Abraham Nova on Friday in New York, which could mean he’s not long for the division.
However, he said he has some business to take care of first. He wants at least a few more big fights at 130 before he makes the move to 135.
“I’ll eventually be going to 135,” he said after his victory. “But I’m going to try to get a couple more fights at 130. Like I said I’m going to try to hire a nutritionist to do it better next time. It definitely affected my energy in the fight.”
So what potential opponents does he have in mind?
The WBC champion is targeting fellow beltholders Lamont Roach (WBA) and Emanuel Navarrete (WBO), as well as some other big names in the division.
“I’ll take the winner of Liam Wilson [and Oscar Valdez on March 29],” he said, per Fight Hub TV. “Or if we can get Lamont Roach. I know [Emanuel] Navarrete is going to 135 … but if he comes back, I’m willing to do that too.”
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) could also be required to face relatively unknown WBC mandatory challenger Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (21-1, 11 KOs) of Tajikistan soon.
Foster defeated Yaqubov by a one-sided decision in March 2022, after which Yaqubov has won three consecutive fights.
“If it’s mandatory and I have to, I’ll take it. It’s cool,” he said. “I beat the guy, Yaqubov. I’d rather fight a Wilson or Oscar Valdez. But if I have to, I’ll satisfy my mandatory.”
One titleholder that doesn’t appear to be in Foster’s plans is Joe Cordina (IBF). Foster expressed interest in facing Cordina but the British fighter said he wants to face an opponent against whom he could make more money.
“Man, they had their chance,” Foster said, referring to Cordina. “I was open for it. If it’s still available, I’m with it, but I ain’t going to be chasing nobody.”
Foster got off to a slow start against Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in the second defense of the belt he won by outpointing Rey Vargas in February of last year but found his rhythm in the middle rounds and controlled the fight down the stretch.
He put Nova down with a left hook with about 20 seconds remaining in the fight to clinch the victory. Replays seemed to confirm Nova went down from the punch but he said he slipped.
Foster wasn’t buying that version of events.
“Oh man, he’s delusional,” he said. “It was a knockdown for sure. If I did stuff the right way, there would’ve been a lot of knockdowns. I was rushing stuff, I was trying to land too much power. It’s on me.”
Foster will have an opportunity to improve in a high profile fight soon.
O’Shaquie Foster said he’s targeting fellow titleholders and the big names at 130 pounds after his victory over Abraham Nova on Friday.
Junior lightweight titleholder O’Shaquie Foster had a difficult time making the 130-pound limit going into his split decision victory over Abraham Nova on Friday in New York, which could mean he’s not long for the division.
However, he said he has some business to take care of first. He wants at least a few more big fights at 130 before he makes the move to 135.
“I’ll eventually be going to 135,” he said after his victory. “But I’m going to try to get a couple more fights at 130. Like I said I’m going to try to hire a nutritionist to do it better next time. It definitely affected my energy in the fight.”
So what potential opponents does he have in mind?
The WBC champion is targeting fellow beltholders Lamont Roach (WBA) and Emanuel Navarrete (WBO), as well as some other big names in the division.
“I’ll take the winner of Liam Wilson [and Oscar Valdez on March 29],” he said, per Fight Hub TV. “Or if we can get Lamont Roach. I know [Emanuel] Navarrete is going to 135 … but if he comes back, I’m willing to do that too.”
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) could also be required to face relatively unknown WBC mandatory challenger Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (21-1, 11 KOs) of Tajikistan soon.
Foster defeated Yaqubov by a one-sided decision in March 2022, after which Yaqubov has won three consecutive fights.
“If it’s mandatory and I have to, I’ll take it. It’s cool,” he said. “I beat the guy, Yaqubov. I’d rather fight a Wilson or Oscar Valdez. But if I have to, I’ll satisfy my mandatory.”
One titleholder that doesn’t appear to be in Foster’s plans is Joe Cordina (IBF). Foster expressed interest in facing Cordina but the British fighter said he wants to face an opponent against whom he could make more money.
“Man, they had their chance,” Foster said, referring to Cordina. “I was open for it. If it’s still available, I’m with it, but I ain’t going to be chasing nobody.”
Foster got off to a slow start against Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in the second defense of the belt he won by outpointing Rey Vargas in February of last year but found his rhythm in the middle rounds and controlled the fight down the stretch.
He put Nova down with a left hook with about 20 seconds remaining in the fight to clinch the victory. Replays seemed to confirm Nova went down from the punch but he said he slipped.
Foster wasn’t buying that version of events.
“Oh man, he’s delusional,” he said. “It was a knockdown for sure. If I did stuff the right way, there would’ve been a lot of knockdowns. I was rushing stuff, I was trying to land too much power. It’s on me.”
Foster will have an opportunity to improve in a high profile fight soon.
Shakur Stevenson outpointed Edwin De Los Santos in a boring fight to capture a major title in a third division Thursday in Las Vegas.
Shakur Stevenson won another title but few fans on Thursday in Las Vegas.
The boxing wizard from New Jersey left no doubt that he is far superior to opponent Edwin De Los Santos, comfortably winning a unanimous decision and the vacant WBC 130-pound title.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) has now won major belts in three division in a span of only nine fights, which speaks to his unusual ability.
De Los Santos’ problem on Thursday was his inability to hit one of the best defensive fights of his generation. The Dominican chased Stevenson much of the fight but landed a pathetic total of 40 punches, according to CompuBox.
That’s the fewest punches landed in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 38-year history.
Stevenson had a similar problem, though: He landed only 65 punches himself because he didn’t take the risks necessary to do so against an opponent known for his power. The winner landed only 19 power shots (to 14 for De Los Santos).
That’s why the disappointed spectators at T-Mobile Arena booed loudly at several points in what was a painfully boring fight.
And it’s probably why the scoring (116-112, 116-112 and 115-113) was closer than it probably should’ve been. If the fighters land few punches, the aggressor – which was De Los Santos in most rounds – will often get the nod.
The only punch that landed with any consistency in the fight was Stevenson’s right jab, which found De Los Santos’ head 46 times. That evidently was the difference in the scoring.
Stevenson acknowledged that it wasn’t his best night.
“I had a bad performance tonight,” he said. “That’s all I’m really focused on. I wasn’t feeling too good, so I’ll live with it. It’s OK. I came here and got the victory, and that’s all I wanted to do.
“I just didn’t feel good. I didn’t feel good before the fight. Honestly, I had already told myself that if I feel like this in the ring and if it’s not going well, I’m going to make sure that I box and get the victory.”
Meanwhile, De Los Santos expressed his frustration with Stevenson’s tactics.
“We all know what happened,” he said. “He came for a track meet. He didn’t come to fight. I showed that I am on a higher level because he never stood and fought like he does with other fighters.
“I did my job. He came to survive. That’s what he did. They gifted him the title, but I’m the people’s champion.”
Neither Stevenson nor De Los Santos was the people’s champion on Thursday night.
Shakur Stevenson outpointed Edwin De Los Santos in a boring fight to capture a major title in a third division Thursday in Las Vegas.
Shakur Stevenson won another title but few fans on Thursday in Las Vegas.
The boxing wizard from New Jersey left no doubt that he is far superior to opponent Edwin De Los Santos, comfortably winning a unanimous decision and the vacant WBC 130-pound title.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) has now won major belts in three division in a span of only nine fights, which speaks to his unusual ability.
De Los Santos’ problem on Thursday was his inability to hit one of the best defensive fights of his generation. The Dominican chased Stevenson much of the fight but landed a pathetic total of 40 punches, according to CompuBox.
That’s the fewest punches landed in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 38-year history.
Stevenson had a similar problem, though: He landed only 65 punches himself because he didn’t take the risks necessary to do so against an opponent known for his power. The winner landed only 19 power shots (to 14 for De Los Santos).
That’s why the disappointed spectators at T-Mobile Arena booed loudly at several points in what was a painfully boring fight.
And it’s probably why the scoring (116-112, 116-112 and 115-113) was closer than it probably should’ve been. If the fighters land few punches, the aggressor – which was De Los Santos in most rounds – will often get the nod.
The only punch that landed with any consistency in the fight was Stevenson’s right jab, which found De Los Santos’ head 46 times. That evidently was the difference in the scoring.
Stevenson acknowledged that it wasn’t his best night.
“I had a bad performance tonight,” he said. “That’s all I’m really focused on. I wasn’t feeling too good, so I’ll live with it. It’s OK. I came here and got the victory, and that’s all I wanted to do.
“I just didn’t feel good. I didn’t feel good before the fight. Honestly, I had already told myself that if I feel like this in the ring and if it’s not going well, I’m going to make sure that I box and get the victory.”
Meanwhile, De Los Santos expressed his frustration with Stevenson’s tactics.
“We all know what happened,” he said. “He came for a track meet. He didn’t come to fight. I showed that I am on a higher level because he never stood and fought like he does with other fighters.
“I did my job. He came to survive. That’s what he did. They gifted him the title, but I’m the people’s champion.”
Neither Stevenson nor De Los Santos was the people’s champion on Thursday night.
Junior lightweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete and Robson Conceicao fought to a majority draw on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Emanuel Navarrete is fortunate he still has a major belt.
The WBO 130-pound titleholder from Mexico and Brazilian Robson Conceicao, who went down twice, fought to a majority draw on the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos card Thursday in Las Vegas.
One judge scored it 114-112 for Navarrete but the other two had it 113-113. Boxing Junkie also had it 113-113.
Conceicao, making his third attempt to win a major title, hit the canvas in Rounds 4 and 7 but outworked an opponent known for his volume punching in the majority of the other rounds.
Navarrete (38-1-1, 31 KOs) landed the harder punches, which obviously caught the judges’ attention, and seemed to wear down Conceicao (17-2-1, 8 KOs) as the fight progressed.
However, Conceicao, relying heavily on his determination, continued to fight hard, took all but the two shots that put him down and avoided many others with his superior technical ability.
According to CompuBox, Conceicao landed almost 100 more punches than Navarette overall, 213 of 852 to 116 of 487. Conceicao also landed more power shots, 101-95.
Neither man complained afterward.
“The decision is well-deserved,” Navarrete said. “Robson is a great fighter. He left his heart in the ring. There were some details with regard to technique, but we accomplished what we said we would do.
“We gave a great show for the fans. And, at least, I am very happy to come away with the title. He deserves the rematch, but that decision doesn’t depend 100 percent on me.
“But, if it does happen, I would train even better. He knows how I fight, and I know how he fights, so it would make for an excellent fight.”
Said Conceicao, “It was a hard fight. He is very strong. It was a difficult. But I know what I did tonight. It was a good fight. It deserves a rematch. If we do get the rematch, we will both train harder and will give an even better fight.”
Navarrete, a three-division beltholder, was making the second defense of his WBO title.
The 35-year-old Conceicao, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is now 0-2-1 in major title fights.
Junior lightweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete and Robson Conceicao fought to a majority draw on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Emanuel Navarrete is fortunate he still has a major belt.
The WBO 130-pound titleholder from Mexico and Brazilian Robson Conceicao, who went down twice, fought to a majority draw on the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos card Thursday in Las Vegas.
One judge scored it 114-112 for Navarrete but the other two had it 113-113. Boxing Junkie also had it 113-113.
Conceicao, making his third attempt to win a major title, hit the canvas in Rounds 4 and 7 but outworked an opponent known for his volume punching in the majority of the other rounds.
Navarrete (38-1-1, 31 KOs) landed the harder punches, which obviously caught the judges’ attention, and seemed to wear down Conceicao (17-2-1, 8 KOs) as the fight progressed.
However, Conceicao, relying heavily on his determination, continued to fight hard, took all but the two shots that put him down and avoided many others with his superior technical ability.
According to CompuBox, Conceicao landed almost 100 more punches than Navarette overall, 213 of 852 to 116 of 487. Conceicao also landed more power shots, 101-95.
Neither man complained afterward.
“The decision is well-deserved,” Navarrete said. “Robson is a great fighter. He left his heart in the ring. There were some details with regard to technique, but we accomplished what we said we would do.
“We gave a great show for the fans. And, at least, I am very happy to come away with the title. He deserves the rematch, but that decision doesn’t depend 100 percent on me.
“But, if it does happen, I would train even better. He knows how I fight, and I know how he fights, so it would make for an excellent fight.”
Said Conceicao, “It was a hard fight. He is very strong. It was a difficult. But I know what I did tonight. It was a good fight. It deserves a rematch. If we do get the rematch, we will both train harder and will give an even better fight.”
Navarrete, a three-division beltholder, was making the second defense of his WBO title.
The 35-year-old Conceicao, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is now 0-2-1 in major title fights.
