Boxing
True or not boxing: Joshua vs. Paul? Can Pacquiao win the title?
Published
1 year agoon
Nick Ball is the third defense of his WBA featherweight title against Sam Goodman on August 16. While Ball is the second longest prevailing champion in the division, or he can win with Goodman, crowning him as a warrior No. 1 who beat 126 pounds?
Oleksandr Usyk is fresh from the impressive KO from the fifth round of Daniel Dubois on July 19, to unite heavyweight titles, but WBO has already ordered Utcun to face the mandatory pretender Joseph Parker. It is expected that Usyk will fight Tyson Fury in the trilogy next year, but if he first refuses to face Parker, he will have to give up the WBO belt and will no longer be the undisputed champion. What will Usyk do?
The unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who lost to Uyk twice, tries to return after losing KO in the fifth round of Dubois twice. He decided on the long -awaited fight with the English fury compatriot or a thunderous fight with YouTube, which is Jake Paul, who said that the fight would “take place”. However, the chance to fight Tony Yoka in a duel between British Olympic gold medalists from boxing is also very intriguing for Joshua. Will this fight be the melody he needs?
Another former Master, Manny Pacquiao, returned to the ring on July 19 after four -year retirement and fought with the WBA WBA HEADE Master Mario Barrios. The 46 -year -old Pacquiao looked impressive and after the fight he called WBA Master Rolando “Rome”. Can he win the title in a crowded 147-pound division?
And Master WBO Junior D WADZKA WEFRESIBLE Teofimo Lopez has the next IBF Richardson Hitchins champion. Can Lopez unite lanes and aim at other masters in the division, wanting to become the undisputed champion in the second weight class?
Here are the answers to those burning questions, offered to separate what is real and what is not.
Real or not: Oleksandr Usyk will fight Joseph Parker
0:42
Usyk breaks Dubois to become a heavyweight champion of unquestioning
Oleksandr Usyk breaks Daniel Dubois in round 5 to become the world champion again in ponderous weight again.
True. With the deep pockets of the Riyadh season Apparently uninterested In the staging of Usyk vs. Parker, a compulsory pretender WBO, Uyk must either take a salary with another promoter, or wait for the fury to return in 2026. If the Utyk was to wait, he would have to abandon the WBO belt so that the Ukrainian probably continues to fight Parker. A good idea may be to keep a fight at the indoor football stadium in Germany, closer to Ukraine than Riyadh.
Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, former heavyweight champions, who also come from Ukraine, had most of their fights in places in Germany, which borders with Poland, where there is a gigantic Ukrainian population. Usyk also fought many times in Great Britain, recently in the fifth round of KO from Dubois at the London Wembley stadium on July 19. But the place in Great Britain to fight Usyk-Parker would cause lower interest; It is challenging to imagine two non-British fighters attracting 60,000 people, even if Usyk is considered the best ponderous weight of the last two decades.
If Parker is his last opponent, do not be surprised if the fight takes place in Germany or Poland at the end of this year. Parker is the strongest current contender for Utyk and the best duel for the undisputed master.
Real or not: Nick Ball should be No. 1 in a featherweight
It is not real. In some divisions it is quite an uncomplicated call to who the boss is. Usyk in ponderous weight, Nayya Inoue at Junior Feather Wweight, Canelo Alvarez in Super Middle Wweight – there are no arguments there. But with a featherweight, it is debatable about who is sitting at the top.
Although there is a sturdy possibility that the ball retains its WBA title on August 16 against Goodman (Ball is a favorite, according to the ESPN plant), even KO would not be enough for the ball to be widely considered warrior No. 1 in the Penage Science Division. To achieve this status, he must defeat one of the other masters. Goodman accelerates the division and fought only once last year. The Australian is not a banner or former world champion, and Ball from Liverpool in England should make a third defense at a distance.
But some think WBO Master Rafael Espinosis, who won 23 out of 27 KO fights or the title owner of WBC Stephen Fulton Superior from Ball. Espinosis not only has a gigantic KO ratio, but at 6 feet-1, also towers over 5-2 ball. Espinosis is extremely high for a featherweight and in the last two fights, Stoppage over Robeisa Ramirez and Edward Vazquez wins. Ball must do more to get everyone voting as number 1 at 126 pounds.
Real or not: Another opponent of Anthony Joshu will not be Jake Paul or Tyson Fury
True. From northern London there are sturdy rumors that Joshua, a former world champion in ponderous weight, will face Tony Yoka – not Paul or Fury – then. Speculation has carried out that Joshua would face Paul, YouTube, who turned around, after Paul’s comments during the fight Uyk vs. Dubois.
“It will happen,” said Paul during an interview about Dazna. “So drink seat belts or anything else, and when I knock it out, I go to historical books forever.”
Eddie Hearn, promoter Joshua, held talks with the Paul team and excitedly spoke about the possibilities of a record number of income in the fight, which was ridiculous recently.
“AJ-Paul is never a fight we expected, and it is never a fight we targeted,” said Hearn Sky Sports News after the fight with Usyk-Dubois.
“But if you want Jake Paul to be a toasty -up for a fury – and you want to provide the opportunity to extinguish Jake Paul from the world of boxing – then Joshua would commit herself.”
Joshua, who is recovering after the elbow surgery, suggested that 2026 would be his last year in boxing, and his most critical priorities will finally secure the fight against Fury and Paul.
“I signed twelve years ago with you,” Joshua wrote in a post on social media directed in WW last week at Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. “And 12 years later I will throw the last blow with you.”
Joshua is coming down in September the defeat of the 5th round of Dubois, and the clash of contrary to Yoka – a colleague with the Olympic gold medalist heavyweight (Joshua in 2012, Yoka in 2016) – can restore his momentum.
This fight would also provide Hearn and Joshua, time to secure the contract with Paul at the beginning of 2026. It was an eye -catching event would pave the way to fight Fury in the second half of 2026.
Real or not: Manny Pacquiao will win the title fight again
2:05
Pacquiao ready to fight again
After the fight with Mario Barrios with most draws, Manny Pacquiao says he has not yet done.
Probably true. With proper creation, the Pacquiao boxing legend can avoid hazardous men in welterweight and fight the opponent that he can still overcome. When Master WBA, Jaron “Boots” Ennis up and ultimately leaves his title, there will be the possibilities of 46-year-old Pacquiao.
Rolando “Rolly” Romero, a regular owner of WBA titles, takes the best unanimous career, winning in Ryan Garcia in May and would be an opponent of high risk for Pacquiao because of his intensity and aggression. Pacman should also stay away from Brian Norman Jr., WBO master, taking into account his current form. Norman produced the best KO from 2025, when in May he recommended Jin Sasaki with his left hook. The rematch with WBC Master Mario Barrios, after their draw of July 19, would be another arduous task for Pacquiao, but one of the safer options. Pacquiao began well in this fight and was overtaken on the results cards, but lost the last three rounds against Barrios, who is 16 years younger than him.
Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will fight for the free IBF title on September 13, and if Pacquiao can be set in a queue to fight the winner, it would be his best chance to become a champion again.
Nobody wants to see Pacquiao, the only eight -person world champion in boxing, ultimately like Sasaki, but if the Pacquiao team can lead him towards the IBF belt, there may be a fairytale ending of the extraordinary career of the Filipinos.
Real or not: Teofimo Lopez will unite titles against Richardson Hitchins
True. If Lopez, a WBO -secondary weight master, continues the form of his latest fight and improves his strategy, he should be able to defeat Hitchins, the IBF titles holder. If this struggle for the title of union occurs, Lopez must remain disciplined and break away from Witriol, which is already brewing on social media.
Leaving the round of George Cambosos Jr., Hitchins will try to lure Lopez to a fight. But if Lopez is able to stick to glossy movement and boxing, his quick combinations and original crime will give him enough rounds to win a decision against Hitchins.
Lopez returned to the best when in May he is not appointed by Arnold Barboz Jr. After a disappointing exhibition against Steve Claggett in June 2024, when Lopez boxes and moves as he did his time, and when he overtook Vasiliy Lomachenko (2020) and Josh Taylor (2023), he is a can beyond anyone, and he did not overtake Vasiliy Lomakenko (2020) and Josh Taylor (2023).
It is true that Lopez lost his divided decision from Cambosos in 2021, and Hitchins definitely coped with the Australian last month. But ordinary opponents are not always a reliable predictor, especially when it comes to inconsistent Lopez. Lopez will not have motivation in the fight against other Recent Yorker Hitchins, a hazardous opponent who, if he can impress, will not only win another belt, but also boost his profile and potential to become the most critical attraction of boxing.
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Boxing
Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance
Published
44 minutes agoon
October 17, 2026
Fabio Wardley can turn his early success against Daniel Dubois into a rematch victory if he avoids exhausting himself chasing the finish. He proved he could hurt Dubois in their first fight. The harder task is keeping control when an opponent he has dropped continues coming forward.
Wardley scored two early knockdowns before Dubois recovered and stopped him. That leaves an opening for a different result, although better pacing alone may not be enough to prevent another punishing night.
Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora both back Wardley to win again on Saturday, with Mannix choosing him by stoppage. Mora believes Wardley’s eagerness to finish Dubois helped undo his promising start.
“If he just doesn’t punch himself out, he thinks about setting up that right hand, doesn’t get right hand happy,” Mora said to DAZN Boxing.
That is the adjustment Wardley needs to make under pressure. Once Dubois survived his biggest punches, Wardley needed something beyond another loaded right hand. Working behind his jab and putting punches together would give him more ways to attack without spending everything on a single finish.
Dubois deserves credit for surviving those knockdowns and returning to his jab. Mora believes his previous defeats helped him stay composed when Wardley hurt him. Wardley now has his own experience of a fight turning against him.
“I think he’ll be smarter after this fight. I think he’ll learn some lessons,” Mannix said. “I think Wardley wins by stoppage in this fight.”
Mannix’s biggest concern is what the first beating took out of Wardley. Learning the tactical lesson does not guarantee he will absorb Dubois’ punches the same way in the rematch.
Wardley’s power gives their picks a credible foundation. He has already put Dubois down twice. To complete the job, he needs to create another opening without allowing the pursuit of a knockout to leave him exhausted and exposed again.

About the author
Boxing 24/7 Wire
Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

Boxing
Fabio Wardleys Team Advocates for Strict Foul Monitoring Against Daniel Dubois
Published
4 hours agoon
October 16, 2026
Fabio Wardley’s team wants tighter control of Daniel Dubois’ head-first attacks in Saturday’s rematch, with manager Michael Ofo calling for stronger officiating after their first fight.
The concern is about Wardley being able to punch without Dubois driving into him with his head. Those collisions can interrupt an attack, knock a fighter out of position, and make him hesitate before throwing again.
Dubois recovered from two knockdowns to stop Wardley in May and take the WBO heavyweight title. Ahead of their return at London’s O2 Arena, Ofo has accused the champion of leading with his head and using a tackle during that fight.
“We’re calling for a stronger referee, because it’s needed,” Ofo told Sky Sports Boxing.
Dubois’ trainer Don Charles rejected the criticism, describing the opposing camp’s complaints as “insecurity and weakness.”
Wardley’s camp has a reasonable case for asking the referee to watch those entries closely. When Dubois comes forward behind his punches, head contact can make it difficult for Wardley to plant his feet and counter. Intent is difficult to establish, but repeated collisions still need attention.
That becomes especially important if Wardley hurts Dubois again. He needs the opportunity to follow up without a foul interrupting his work and giving the champion time to recover.
However, Wardley cannot build his approach around the referee intervening. His jab has to give Dubois something to get past, and combinations would make him less predictable than loading up on individual power shots. Moving after punching could also reduce the opportunities for Dubois to drive into him.
Wardley showed he could hurt Dubois in the first fight. The harder task is turning those moments into a finish while avoiding another punishing battle at close range. Firmer officiating could help, but his own adjustments will have to do most of the work. Wardley cannot rely on the third man to solve that puzzle.
If Dubois is going to be stopped from barreling in head-first, Wardley has to make the physical cost of doing so intolerable, just like Oleksandr Usyk did.

About the author
Boxing News 24 Desk
BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.
Boxing
Devin Haney Targets Key Opponent Following Shakur Stevenson Fight Talks Breakdown
Published
8 hours agoon
October 16, 2026
After positive steps towards making a fight, Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are said to be moving on after their teams could not finalise terms behind the scenes.
The pair of elite world champions have been linked throughout 2026, but the match-up appeared off the table earlier in the year due to a dispute over the weight.
Stevenson, who has fought just once at super-lightweight, wanted to meet at a catchweight of 144lbs, and was even said to be demanding a 10lbs rehydration clause.
Team Haney at first remained firm on the welterweight limit of 147lbs, where he beat Brian Norman Jr. last November to become WBO world champion.
Earlier this month, the fighters appeared to have a breakthrough, publicly agreeing to 145lbs on social media. Fans got excited, and predictions began flooding in.
Today, Stevenson said that, despite the initial agreement, he received an email from Haney’s lawyer saying that they were now switching back to 147lbs. Haney hit back, saying Stevenson ‘went missing for days’ after they had agreed to 145lbs, and that his rival ‘did everything’ for the fight not to happen.
Whoever is at fault, the fight now seems dead in the water.
Boxing Scene‘s Lance Pugmire now reports that Haney will revisit a fight with IBF champion Liam Paro. The Australian won the belt from Lewis Crocker in June and has since called on all champions in the division – Haney, Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez – to unify. Bill Haney, father and trainer to Devin, previously announced that November 28 in Atlanta was the target for his son’s return.
Who Stevenson now targets remains unclear, though fans will begin to criticise the inactivity. He has not been in the ring since an impressive victory over Teofimo Lopez in January, a particularly frustrating period of inactivity due to a high-profile promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing announced in July.
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