“I think Josh Kelly’s a little bit more hard fight, believe it or not, than Vergil Ortiz. Styles make fights,” said Bradley on his channel. “Josh Kelly don’t look like much, but he’s quick. He got good reflexes. He got some pop on his shots. He’s very deceiving. And he got legs. He gonna move around all night. Boots gonna have to chase. He gonna have to chase.”

Bradley compared Kelly’s style with Vergil Jr’s aggressive approach, saying Ennis has historically performed best against opponents who come forward looking to exchange.

“They like guys that stand in front of them. Vergil Ortiz, yeah, they like guys that stand in front of them,” Bradley said.

Despite calling Kelly the trickier matchup, Bradley still expects Ennis to win. He believes the unified champion would eventually solve Kelly’s movement by cutting off the ring and landing combinations that break through the British contender’s defense.

“I think Boots will eventually catch up with him, cut him off, hurt him with a large shot,” Bradley said. “As long as Boots is pressing forward, cutting off the ring, preparing himself for boxers, he should have no problem beating Josh Kelly. However, it’s going to take a little bit more time for him to get to him.”

Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) has rebuilt his career since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career to David Avanesyan in 2021. The former Olympian has won seven straight fights and has repeatedly called for a world title opportunity.

Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs), meanwhile, remains one of the leading names in the division after defeating Israil Madrimov and Bakhram Murtazaliev. A fight between Ortiz and Ennis has been discussed for months and is viewed by many fans as one of the biggest matchups that can be made at 154 pounds.

Bradley’s comments are likely to spark debate, as Vergil Jr. is widely regarded as the more perilous puncher. Bradley, however, believes Kelly’s mobility and elusive style would require Ennis to solve a different kind of puzzle before getting the victory.

Veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael broke the news on X.

“Per source involved, Tony Yoka has suffered a back injury and is out of his fight with WBA heavyweight titlist Murat Gassiev,” Rafael wrote. “Undetermined yet if it will be rescheduled or if a modern opponent will be sought.”

No official replacement has been announced, and it remains unclear whether organizers will move quickly to find another opponent for Gassiev or postpone the bout altogether.

The contest was scheduled to headline a July 11 card at Moscow’s VTB Arena and would have been the first defense of Gassiev’s WBA “Regular” heavyweight title. The former unified cruiserweight champion has been looking to establish himself as a force in the heavyweight division after capturing the secondary WBA belt earlier this year.

For Yoka, the withdrawal is another frustrating setback. The 2016 Olympic gold medalist had been aiming to secure the biggest victory of his professional career after rebuilding momentum with recent wins following a hard stretch that included several defeats and multiple canceled opportunities.

With little more than a week remaining before the event, promoters now face a race against the clock to determine whether Gassiev will defend his title against a tardy replacement or if the fight will have to be pushed back to a later date.

On paper, it was a curious title defense from the moment it was announced. Yoka remained a recognizable name because of his 2016 Olympic gold medal, but his professional career never matched the hype. Nine years after turning pro, the 15-3 Frenchman had built his record largely against circumscribed opposition, while each of his biggest tests against Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy ended in defeat.

I rather fight Antuanne Russell.. That’s a fighter who will bring the best out of me!! https://t.co/fSXoGn1IDb

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) June 29, 2026

His comments come as Shakur has recently been linked to several higher-profile fights, including a proposed 144-pound catchweight bout with Devin Haney. However, Haney’s immediate future remains tied to his WBO welterweight title obligations, with mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis waiting in line. Haney has also continued to be mentioned as a potential opponent for Gervonta Davis.

A fight with Gary Antuanne Russell would instead give Shakur an immediate unification opportunity at 140 pounds. Russell captured the WBA junior welterweight title by defeating José Valenzuela in March 2025 and made his first successful defense against Andy Hiraoka earlier this year.

Shakur is coming off the biggest victory of his career after outpointing Teófimo López to win the WBO airy welterweight title. While several potential opponents remain available, he made it clear that Russell is the matchup he believes would demand his best performance in the future.

No negotiations have been announced between the two camps, and neither promoter has indicated that talks are underway. Even so, Shakur’s public endorsement of the matchup makes Russell one of the first champions he has openly identified as a preferred opponent since capturing the WBO junior welterweight title.

Russell may hold a world title, but his performance against Andy Hiraoka likely made the fight more appealing to Shakur. Russell spent much of the night on the move and absorbed a steady stream of pristine, challenging punches whenever Hiraoka closed the distance. He answered with flurries of swift combinations, but many fans felt Hiraoka’s heavier, more damaging shots deserved the decision.

I scored the fight for Hiraoka, and many fans did as well. Russell’s hand speed and activity impressed the judges, but Hiraoka consistently landed the cleaner, harder punches.