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Ranking This weekend fights: from Navarrete-Suaraz to Lubin-Holmes

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After Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Canelo Alvarez and others did not fulfill last weekend, fighting fans do not have to wait long for more on paper, with thrilling duels in various time zones in California, Florida, England, Africa and Japan.

ESPN spreads the best card and evaluates all significant fights this weekend.


1. Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood – Junior Lightweight Fight (Dazn, Saturday at 14:00 et)

After the last fight, Wood said that he wanted to end his career with the fight for the title of Master in the city, the House of the English Club Premier League Nottingham Forest.

None of these wishes will be fulfilled on Saturday for a 36-year-old, but a slight younger fight is still significant. Wood (28-3, 17 KO) is at least boxing in front of family fans of cities in Nottingham, in the internal arena, where Carl Froch carved his excellent career in Super Middle Wweight.

Cacace (23-1, 8 KO) from Belfast in Northern Ireland resigned from the IBF world, which he won against Joe Cordin in May 2024 to make it happen. And despite the fact that there were no recognized titles on the line, this fight sees the two best operators of this division.

Wood was in the first place in a featherweight, before he gave up the WBA belt after winning in the seventh round over Josh Warrington in October 2023. But Wood’s career got stuck since then, while Cacace fought in Saudi Arabia, and the victory of the detention over Cordina raises his career at the highest level.

Cacace, also 36, was more dynamic (he also defeated Warrington, winning a unanimous decision in September) and has significant growth and achievements. He has a good reason to be confident as No. 2 ESPN at Junior Lightweight, entering this fight. But what if Wood does not show a trace of a long release during the first output at the level of 130 pounds, inspired by his home fans to extend his career? It would be another fairy -tale episode in Wood’s career, which still raises dramatic surprises.

The winner of this fight would be a natural opponent of the winner of the Saturday fight Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez WBO.


2. Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez – Junior Lightweight Title Fight (ESPN/ESPN+, Saturday at 22:00 ET)

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Emanuel Navarrete knocking Oscar Valdez

Emanuel Navarrete claims that the victory over the Oscar Valdez in a rematch with a perilous shot.

Navarrete, a world champion with three divisions, looked sensational during the last exit, when he crushed Oscar Valdez with a shot to the liver in a rematch in December. In this form, a Mexican warrior is mandatory.

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32) defends his lithe WBO belt against the Sanzez Philippines in San Diego on Saturday, and a good performance can strengthen his place at the top of the 130-pound division. Navarrete was ruthless compared to Valdez, raising it three times before stopping, and another stunning display could convince him to try another crack in a lithe division. Navarrete lost his divided decision for Denys Berinchyk, which is hard for the lithe belt WBO in May 2024, but he could be tempted to continue to continue the more lucrative fights in lightweight lithe, if he defeated Suarez (18-0, 10 KO). It is also possible to fight the title of union with the WBC Master O’Shaquie Foster for Navarrete, if he wants to stay at the age of 130.


3. Erickson Lubin vs. Ardreal Holmes Jr. – eliminator of the Junior medium weight title (Probox TV, Saturday at 18:00 et)

This is a clash of two Southpaws who desperately have to win this eliminator of the IBF medium weight title.

Lubin (26-2, 18 KO), from Orlando in Florida, has experience, but he takes place from a long release: he has not fought from September 2023, when he won the unanimous decision about Jesus Ramos, due to a hand injury delaying his return. Holmes (17-0, 6 KO), with Flint, Michigan, is less experienced, but has impetus after registering three wins in 2024.

Lubin can be thrilling and was involved in an thrilling fight with Sebastian Fundor three years ago. The winner of the Saturday fight in Kissimmee in Florida is progressing in the fight with the Bakhram Master Murtazaliev champion.


4. Fernando Martinez vs. Kazuto Iok – fight for the title Junior Bantameight on Sunday

After the relentless fire of the fire in July last year, Martinez and Iok meet again on Sunday in Tokyo and more are expected of the same. Martinez (17-0, 9 KO) won a unanimous decision after he won Iok in their struggle with the title of unification in Japan.

How much this fight took a 36-year-old Iok will determine whether it can take revenge and win the title of world champion in the third weight class.

Iok (31-3-1, 16 KO), from Japan, began his career 16 years ago and will have to undo years to keep up with a 33-year-old WBA master from Argentina.

This rematch has been delayed since December, after Martinez withdrew with the disease, but it is worth waiting.


5. Souleysteme Cissokho vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas – WBC Wytreight Walteight Eliminator on Saturday

Equatorial Guinea, place of Saturday’s fight, is 2000 miles from Senegal, where Cissokho was born (17-0, 9 KO). But it will still look like a fight to return home. He will make a dream of boxing in Africa when he faces Kavaliauskas (24-2-1, 19 KO) at the Eliminator of the WBC welterweight title in the capital of Malabo.

Cissokho, who has the title shot, is based in Paris, but trains in California with Virgil Hunter. If he wins, he will have this opportunity and time in the spotlight.

The injury delayed the fight, and the 18-month absence of the ring will be Cissokho’s concern, which will face a perilous hit in California Kavaliauskas.

But Kavaliauskas was detained twice that he increased the level (by Vergil Ortiz in 2021 and Terenka Crawford in 2019), and this looks like a golden opportunity for an knowledgeable boxer, like Cissokho to seal the great fight for later.

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Keyshawn Davis Claims He’s ‘Increasing Weight For Championship Fight’

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Keyshawn Davis says he is ‘moving up in weight for championship fight’

Keyshawn Davis has been linked to a move up to welterweight in recent weeks, and it appears “The Businessman” will be making the jump soon, with the “championship fight” date reportedly set at 147 pounds.

Davis was stripped of his WBO lightweight title when he missed weight last June for his scheduled first defense against Edwin De Los Santos. He then moved up to super lightweight and knocked out Jamaine Ortiz in the final round of their fight on the Teofimo Lopez vs. card. Shakur Stevenson.

In the wake of that victory, the Norfolk-born superstar called for a fight against current WBO welterweight world champion Devin Haney, who originally agreed to the fight before negotiations stalled.

As a result, it looked like Davis might stay at 140 pounds, but in… interview for FightHubThe 27-year-old revealed that he has a date for a “championship fight” in preparation for his 147-pound debut.

“I definitely got a response [from the people I called out] and I definitely have a date too. I’m telling you all this now and I’ll definitely be back sooner than you all think. That’s why you saw me playing politics in the gym.

“It’s political, but I’m really staying pointed. Don’t fuck up, I’m staying astute. There’s something coming.”

“I think I’m moving up [to 147lbs]. Yes, [for a championship fight]”

Haney seemed to be close to securing a unification fight with WBA champion Rolando Romero Lewis Crocker (IBF) postponed his match with Liam Paro due to injuryand Ryan Garcia (WBC) is looking elsewhere. It’s unclear where Davis fits.

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Haney rejects Romero’s triangle theory after Ryan’s theorem

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Image: Devin Haney rejects Rolando Romero’s triangle theory after Ryan Garcia claim

The comment came as Rolly, 30, was discussing Haney and the possibility of the two 147-pound champions meeting in the ring.

Haney responded on social media today after comments that went viral, rejecting Romero’s argument and saying that results involving other fighters do not determine the outcome of a future fight.

“Triangle theories don’t work in boxing,” Haney said on Program X. “Rolly will be strengthened by me.”

Former undisputed lightweight champion Haney then further mocked that logic by listing a string of results involving several fighters.

“Rolly was shaped by Barroso, Barroso was shaped by O’Hara Davies, Davies was shaped by Josh Taylor, Taylor was shaped by Teo, Teo was shaped by Kambosos, it all leads back to ME,” Haney said.

The exchange of words takes place as both fighters continue to discuss a possible unification fight in the welterweight division. Rolly holds the WBA title and Haney holds the WBO belt, creating the potential for a two-belt fight if negotiations are completed.

There have been discussions about rescheduling the fight between both champions for later this year, although neither side has confirmed that a deal has been finalized.

Devin will likely enter the fight as the clear favorite against Rolly (17-2, 13 KO), who moved up to welterweight after competing at a lighter weight earlier in his career.

Romero defeated Ryan Garcia via 12-round unanimous decision on May 2, 2025, which increased attention on potential welterweight fights. The fight took place in Recent York and was one of the biggest victories in Romero’s career.

He hasn’t fought since that victory, analyzing possible high-profile fights.

One issue with Romero’s schedule is his tardy mandatory defense against Shakhram Giyasov. The Uzbek contender has been a top contender for the WBA title for a long time, but a title fight has not been ordered or finalized yet.

It is unclear whether the WBA will allow Romero to directly enter a unification fight with Haney without meeting Giyasov first. Sanctioning bodies sometimes allow champions to postpone mandatory defenses before unification fights, although no decision has been announced.

Negotiations between Haney and Romero are still ongoing.

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Heavyweight “Last Viking” with 14 knockouts in just 26 rounds

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Thomas Narmo 2026

Boxing has long been crying out for another true knockout artist after Deontay Wilder’s gradual decline towards the end of his career.

There are still champions and challengers in the heavyweight division, but it’s increasingly arduous to find the kind of raw knockout threat that once made Wilder must-watch TV.

Thomas Narmo may still be a long way from that level, but early signs suggest the Norwegian known as ‘The Last Viking’ could finally enter the conversation if his current form continues.

The 31-year-old knocked out all 14 of his opponents in just 26 rounds, a devastating start that made the heavyweight division another uncommon artist who can boast a 100 percent knockout record.

He turned professional in 2022 following his previous MMA career.

The heavyweight numbers stand out

Much of the heavyweight buzz at the moment centers around undefeated prospect Moses Itauma, a teenage sensation who has been carefully developed by promoter Frank Warren into one of the UK’s most talked-about prospects.

Itauma’s rise has dominated the headlines, but an unknown like Narmo coming out of European competition with a perfect knockout record provides a refreshing contrast.

However, the effectiveness of Narmo’s work to date cannot be ignored.

The statuesque Norwegian is 180 cm statuesque and in the distance he broke through 14 professional opponents. That works out to roughly 1.8 rounds per fight, which is a remarkable finishing rate for any potential heavyweight.

Many of these attacks barely had time to develop.

Seven of Narmo’s wins have come after the opening round, highlighting the strength of the early fight that defined his perfect knockout record.

This destructiveness traditionally turns heavyweights into attractions. Fighters who can end fights before they actually start quickly attract attention, even if they operate outside the sport’s main promotional spotlight.

Two years of operation

Activism also played a role in building Narmo’s momentum. The Norwegian fought ten times in just two years, fighting mainly in Germany and Central Europe, constantly extending his knockout streak.

At a time when many prospects are sluggish to come along and only show up a few times a year, this level of activity adds extra substance to his record.

It doesn’t answer all the questions, but it shows that Narmo doesn’t stay idle between appearances.

@narmothomas | Black Wolves Fighting Club

Still a lot to prove

Narmo’s most notable win at the moment is probably that of Mark De Mori, the veteran campaigner who lasted just 131 seconds in a match against a semi-injured David Haye over a decade ago.

The victory was respectable, but not necessarily a statement.

There is still a lot to prove. In the heavyweight division, many fighters have broken impressive records before discovering that the leap to world-class competition is much more arduous than expected.

For Narmo, the real test will come when matchmaking inevitably pushes him towards higher ranked opponents capable of weathering the early storm.

However, if knockouts continue at this rate, boxing’s “Last Viking” may not remain an unknown for long.


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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