Tag: WBO

Franchon Crews-Dezurn reinstated as titleholder, Alejandra Jimenez stripped

Franchon Crews-Dezurn has been reinstated as 168-pound titleholder after the WBO decided to strip Alejandra Jimenez of the belt.

Franchon Crews-Dezurn can go back to calling herself a women’s super middleweight titleholder.

The Washington D.C. fighter was reinstated as a WBO titlist after the sanctioning body formally stripped Alejandra Jimenez of the belt earlier this week for failing to adequately defend her positive PED test, according to multiple reports.

Jimenez tested for a banned substance shortly after notching a wide points decision over Crews-Dezurn in their Jan. 10 title bout. That fight has since been changed to a no-decision.

According to a letter sent by the WBO to both fighters, obtained by BoxingScene.com, Jimenez was dropped as the titleholder because her argument in defense of her positive drug test was not up to snuff.

The letter read in part: “Ms. Jimenez failed to comply with this Committee’s orders as per the ‘Show Cause’ notices. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Ms. Jimenez filed two email communications with no reliable, credible, or relevant supporting evidence in her defense, rather unfounded allegations unsupported in the record.”

Said Crews-Dezurn promoter Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya: “Justice has been served. This is the correct decision to make on behalf of the WBO to reinstate Franchon Crews-Dezurn as its super middleweight champion. It is always great to see justice in action, especially in this sport.”

Jimenez’s “A” and “B” samples allegedly both tested positive for Stanozolol, a synthetic substance derived from testosterone that promotes cell growth and the development of masculine characteristics.

Oleksandr Usyk’s co-promoter: Usyk will fight Anthony Joshua in 2020

Anthony Joshua’s next move remains uncertain, yet Oleksandr Usyk’s co-promoter is confident Usyk will still fight Joshua sometime in 2020.

The waiting game for Antony Joshua’s next move continues, yet Oleksandr Usyk’s co-promoter is confident Usyk will still fight Joshua sometime in 2020.

Whether Joshua will relinquish any of his heavyweight belts or show up at Tyson Fury’s training camp as a sparring partner for the Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch is still anybody’s guess. But Alexander Krassyuk says that at some point during the next 12 months Joshua will fight Usyk.

“This is a fact,’’ Krassyuk told Sky Sports. “The question is whether it happens in the next fight or the other. At this stage, we wait for AJ’s decision.’’

Joshua might opt to fight Kubrat Pulev in a mandatory title defense sometime this spring. There are reports that Joshua and Pulev have until Jan. 31 to strike a deal.

If they reach an agreement and Joshua loses his WBO belt as a result, Krassyuk said Usyk will probably fight Joseph Parker instead of Derek Chisora for the vacant title.

“Chisora is impossible for the title,” Krassyuk said. “In case it turns out that the WBO title is vacant, Usyk will be happy to fight for it. And Joseph Parker is the highest available contender.’’

Anthony Joshua, Kubrat Pulev in negotiations for title fight: report

Anthony Joshua, who holds three major heavyweight titles, and IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev reportedly have set a deadline to make a deal.

It’s looking more and more as if Anthony Joshua will fight Kubrat Pulev next.

Joshua, who holds three of the four major heavyweight titles, and IBF mandatory Pulev reportedly have set a deadline to make a deal.

An IBF spokesperson told Sky Sports, “I have just been told that the Pulev and Joshua camps have asked until January 31 to negotiate.”

Joshua was ordered by both the IBF and WBO, whose titleholder is Oleksandr Usyk, to face his mandatory challengers immediately. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has been working with the organizations to come up with a solution that would allow Joshua to keep both belts.

In that process, Pulev seems to have emerge as the favorite to challenge for a title next.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk, the former cruiserweight champion, reportedly has been offered a fight against longtime contender Dereck Chisora in London. Usyk presumably would fight Joshua if he beats Chisora and Joshua does the same against Pulev, although a lucrative showdown with the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II winner looms.

Hearn said the working date for Usyk-Chisora in March 28.

Another possibility is that Joshua is forced to vacate the WBO title. Usyk could then face No. 2-ranked Joseph Parker for the vacant title.

Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) lost to Wladimir Klitschko by a fifth-round knockout in 2014, his only title shot. The 38-year-old Bulgarian was scheduled to challenge Joshua in 2017 but had to pull out because of an injury. He regained his mandatory status by outpointing Hughie Fury in 2018.

Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) defeated Andy Ruiz Jr. by a wide decision on Dec. 7 to regain the titles Ruiz took from him by knockout in June.

Tyson Fury calls Oleksandr Usyk ‘some cruiserweight bum’

Tyson Fury, angry that the WBO removed him from its rankings, had a nasty exchange with its president on Twitter.

Trash talk is a little bit like breathing for Tyson Fury. He has to do it. Yet, he hasn’t been able to draw Deontay Wilder into the rhetorical fray since their Feb. 22 rematch was announced about 11 days ago.

That’s a surprise, especially for Wilder, who has never been known not to respond. So far, there’s been silence from Wilder. Maybe training camp is keeping him busy. Maybe a reported bout with the flu has affected his vocal chords. Whatever the reason, there’s been hardly a word.

The restless Fury had to look elsewhere. He didn’t have to look for long.

Fury took a shot, a Twitter taunt, at Oleksandr Usyk, calling him “some cruiserweight bum.’’

Fury was angry that one of the acronyms dropped him from its rankings. Fury has a claim on the lineal heavyweight title, but as far as the World Boxing Organization is concerned, he is persona-non-grata. The WBO exiled him from their rankings when he decided to fight Wilder a second time.

The acronyms do this kind of thing all the time and it’s about as dumb as a franchise belt. But let them explain the unexplainable. As far as Fury is concerned, there is no explanation for Usyk being the No. 1 challenger to a belt held by Anthony Joshua after just one heavyweight fight.

WBO president Paco Valcarcel tweeted that his organization would like to see Fury fight emerging heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan.

Say no more. Fury finally had another Twitter war.

“Maybe if you hadn’t removed me from number 1 ranked WBO! And put some cruiserweight bum with one fight at heavyweight then you could have a say!’, Fury said in a counter.

Valcarcel replied, which he might come to regret. He’s feeding the beast.

Anyway, Valcarcel said: “Champ we respect you a lot, but you aren’t available… that’s the reason WBO removed you from the rankings. By the way champ, good luck.’’

By the way, the real reason for the removal was that a sanctioning fee is not available.

Joseph Parker ready to fight Usyk for vacant title if Joshua opts for Pulev

Joseph Parker could get a shot at the WBO title if Anthony Joshua opts to fight Kubrat Pulev instead of Oleksandr Usyk.

If Anthony Joshua opts for his IBF mandatory over the No. 1 WBO challenger, Joseph Parker could be the beneficiary.

Joshua has been ordered by both sanctioning bodies to fight their mandatories – Kubrat Pulev (IBF) and Oleksandr Usyk (WBO) – immediately, which means he might have to give up one of his three heavyweight belts.

That would set up a bout between Usyk and WBO No. 2 Parker for that organization’s vacant title.

Parker is tentatively scheduled to fight next month in the United States, although neither an opponent nor a site has been announced. Usyk reportedly is considering a fight with Dereck Chisora while waiting for Joshua’s situation to sort itself out.

“Usyk is a very tough fight,” said David Higgins, Parker’s manager. “He’s a southpaw, he would dissect Anthony Joshua. We know this, but if you’re the better boxer and you get a world title shot, you have an obligation to take it. Joseph being old school will not take a backward step, so if that does happen, Joseph will be straight in and he’ll fight Usyk.

“Usyk is a very skilled professional. I respect him and his manager, but it would be a good fight. Hopefully, we might see that this year.”

Parker (26-2, 20 KOs) was scheduled to fight Chisora on the Josh Taylor-Regis Prograis card Oct. 26 in London but pulled out because of what he said was a spider bite.

The Kiwi, who held the WBO title between 2016 and 2018, recovered after a few weeks and wanted to reschedule the Chisora fight before the end of 2019 but the fight didn’t materialize. Thus, Parker will have been out of the ring for seven months if he fights in February.

“Chisora spent two years calling out Joe and now he’s running a mile, so it’s a bit silly really,” Higgins said. “Joe fights the man in front of him and he would fight Chisora tomorrow, but Chisora has gone from wanting to fight to a U-turn.

“I’m not sure about the Usyk-Chisora thing. Joseph would fight either of them.”

Parker stopped Alexander Flores and then Alex Leapai after losing consecutive decisions to Anthony Joshua (who took his title) and Dillian Whyte.

Anthony Joshua vows to win back title if he has to vacate

Anthony Joshua might lose two of his three belts because both sanctioning bodies are demanding he fight their mandatory challengers.

What would Anthony Joshua do if he has to vacate one of his heavyweight titles? Easy. He’ll just win it back.

At least that’s his plan.

Joshua, who holds three of the four major titles, might lose his IBF or WBO belts because both sanctioning bodies are demanding he fight their mandatory challengers immediately.

Kubrat Pulev and Olexsandr Usyk are the IBF and WBO mandatories, respectively. Joshua hasn’t made an announcement as to whom he will fight.

In the meantime, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is trying to concoct a deal that would save both titles. If he fails, Joshua said, he’ll be fine.

“I always said the belts do not represent me,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “I will stand as a champion, even if I have to give one up. It would give me an opportunity to face another world champion. I’ve beaten four world champions on my record now.

“If I give up a belt, it creates more history and entertainment. If I have to, I’ll give it away. But I’ll get it back again.”

Joshua regained his belts by outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr. on Dec. 7 in Saudi Arabia.

Canelo Alvarez gives up light heavyweight title he won last month

Canelo Alvarez is relinquishing his light heavyweight title, opening the way for him to fight at 160 or 168 pounds in his next bout, in May.

Canelo Alvarez is relinquishing the light heavyweight title he took from Sergey Kovalev, opening the way for him to fight at middleweight or super-middle in his next bout, expected in May.

Canelo, still the reigning middleweight champion, announced the move Tuesday in a statement released by Golden Boy Promotions.

“I know that my accomplishments in the ring have brought pride to my fans and my country,” said Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs), who scored an 11th-round stoppage of Kovalev on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. “I have long enjoyed my relationship with the WBO (World Boxing Organization) and appreciate all they do to preserve and enhance the sport of boxing.

“This agreement allows the WBO to have its light heavyweight title contested regularly and allows me to pursue bouts against the best opponents, regardless of weight class.”

The move appears to eliminate any immediate chance of Alvarez fighting Artur Beterbiev, who holds two 175-pound belts. Before and after Canelo’s victory over Kovalev, Beterbiev was mentioned as a possibility. And for now, a fight between Canelo and fellow Mexican Gilberto Ramirez, the WBO’s No. 1 ranked contender at 175 pounds, is also off the board. That matchup would’ve been a big event for Canelo’s expected date celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

However, a third fight with middleweight Gennadiy Golovkin still appears to be an option.

Canelo, who has a win and draw against Golovkin, has said he no longer sees Triple-G as a challenge. However, he has also said he would do a third fight if it made financial sense. It is believed that a third fight would be a big money maker. It’s also doable. Both Canelo and GGG are tied to DAZN.

Canelo, 29, has shown no interest in Demetrius Andrade, a 160-pound belt holder, whom he called “boring.’’ Another possibility is Jermall Charlo, another titleholder.