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Murtazaliev warns Ennis after Lima explosion: ‘I am ready’

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Image: Negotiating Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr.: IBF Title Fight Hinges on Financial Agreement

Bakhram Murtazaliev responded on social media to Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ victory over Uisma Lima last Saturday night, saying: “I’m ready.”

Hearn’s target list keeps Bakhram waiting

IBF junior middleweight champion Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KO) is one of five names Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn wants to mention next in his fight. Hearn is taking aim at all champions, including interim belt holder Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Unfortunately for Bakhram, he is not the main target of “Boots” (35-0, 31 KO) and Hearn. They want Vergil Jr. (23-0, 21 KO) because he is better known, more popular and it would be a bigger pay-per-view fight. Moreover, it is probably easier than facing Murtazaliev, who had a terrible left hook that could have caused Ennis a lot of problems.

The Mute Shark Finally Speaks

No one wants Tszyu treated like this again

Murtazaliev’s inactivity may be a problem for him. He has not fought since a third-round knockout of former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu on October 19, 2024. All the top fighters and their promoters showed no interest in fighting him after he reduced Tszyu to rubble.

As you might expect, Hearn and Ennis will save Murtazaliev for last, after they first fought these fighters and won belts at 154:

  • Vergil Ortiz Jr: WBC interim
  • Sebastian Fundora: WBC
  • Abass Baraou: WBA
  • Xander Zayas: WBO

Last night, “Boots” didn’t have to worry so much about getting hit, as he crushed the inexperienced Lima (14-2, 10 KO) in the first round after dropping him twice at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The ending came when Ennis hit Lima with a barrage of fire, prompting referee Shawn Clark to stop the fight at 1:58. Lima, 32, had no experience fighting top fighters in the 154-pound weight class.

The only fighter on Lima’s resume is Aaron McKenna, a middleweight who lost to him by a one-sided, 10-round unanimous decision two years ago on June 16, 2023. Hearn smartly chose Uisma as the ideal exhibition opponent for “Boots” to debut against at 154, rather than someone who could give him real fight.

This was a waste of time for Ennis and dampened fan reaction. If he had fought a better opponent than Lima, his popularity would have increased much more today than it did after defeating the losing, little-known Uisma Lima. This fight didn’t even look sporty.

Woods’ view: the fight Hearn doesn’t want yet

Hearn’s top two options – Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Sebastian Fundora for Ennis’ next fight – clearly show that he is not yet willing to test his fighter against IBF champion Murtazaliev.

It appears that Hearn wants to take his fighter slowly, in tiny steps, next fighting brawler Vergil Jr. and then Fundora.

So if Ennis beats these fighters and looks like pure gold, Hearn will roll the dice and compare him to the 154-pound boogeyman, Bakhram. This is a clever way to fit the “Boots”, but it will also snail-paced down its development, stunting its popularity and growth.

Is it possible that Hearn still remembers Ennis’ performance against Karen Chukhadzhian in the rematch last November, which caused him to put on the brakes to face unsafe striker Murtazaliev?

Last update: 12/10/2025

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Muhammad Ali recognized one boxer as the true greatest boxer of all time: “I still say he was the best”

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Muhammad Ali ranked one boxer as the true greatest of all time: “I still say he was the best”

Many boxing fans consider Muhammad Ali the greatest of all time, but he once revealed his own choice.

Ali’s notable achievements include winning the world heavyweight title three times while talking about the greatest fights in history, including “Rumble In The Jungle” against George Foreman and “Thrilla In Manila” against Joe Frazier.

His final record was 56 wins in 61 fights, also defeating the likes of Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Earnie Shavers and Ken Norton, and also became a cultural icon outside the ring.

These achievements are why many fans consider Ali to be the greatest of all time, but in a renewed interviewthe heavyweight legend once revealed that he chose Sugar Ray Robinson for the honor.

“This man was attractive. The timing, the speed, the reflexes, the rhythm, his body, everything was attractive.

“I’d say I’m the greatest heavyweight of all time, but pound for pound I still say Sugar Ray Robinson was the best of all time.”

Robinson reigned as the world welterweight champion for five years, from 1946 to 1951, and went on an incredible 91-fight unbeaten streak.

His record at one stage was 129 wins from 132 fights, 85 of which were knockout victories. After reigning at welterweight, he moved up to middleweight, where he became a five-time world champion in that category.

When he finally hung up his gloves in 1965, he finished his career with a record of 174 wins in 201 fights, and it’s clear why Ali considers him the best.

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Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda

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Image: Tim Bradley Explains Why Lamont Roach Can Beat William Zepeda

Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1

Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.


“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”

Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.

“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”

Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.

“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”

Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.

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Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20

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Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’

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Roy Jones Jr says he’ll return to fight one man if he gets paid eight figures: “It would make me prepare”

Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.

At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.

After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.

The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020

Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.

Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.

Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.

I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.

“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”

“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”

Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).

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