Boxing
Hearn rushes Ben Whittaker for the WBC silver title
Published
8 months agoon
Matchroom Boxing newcomer Ben Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KO) will fight for the vacant WBC Silver airy heavyweight title against little-known Benjamin Gavazi (19-1, 13 KO) on November 29 in Birmingham, England. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Matchroom will hold a press conference next Friday, October 17 in London to discuss 2020 Olympic silver medalist Whittaker signing a long-term contract with his company. Additionally, the press conference will be used to discuss Ben’s fight against Gavazi on November 29 for the vacant WBC Silver 175-pound title.
Benavidez fight on the horizon
While Whittaker is fighting for the WBC silver belt, promoter Eddie Hearn puts him in line to fight “Mexican Monster” David Benavidez for the WBC airy heavyweight belt. What a fight that would be.
Presser Benavidez’s power shots are matched by Whittaker’s agile and cunning moves. This will be an intriguing fight to see if Ben can neutralize Benavidez’s strengths by moving and outrunning him. It makes no sense for Hearn to wait two to three years for a fight like this. Whittaker is in excellent shape, both in terms of mobility and defense, ahead of the Benavidez fight. Waiting until Ben is in his 30s isn’t a good idea for Hearn.
Eddie Hearn’s Accelerated Plan
Matchroom is closely monitoring Whittaker to put him in position to challenge for the world title. That makes sense. He will turn 29 on June 6, 2026, and cannot afford to be slowly brought in by promoter Eddie Hearn if he wants to capitalize on the best years of his sporting career.
Ideally, Whittaker’s former promoters, Boxxer, should have already lined him up against top contenders to prepare him for a world title fight against WBC champion David Benavidez or IBF, WBA and WBO champion Dmitry Bivol.
Whittaker’s Olympic pedigree
Thanks to Ben’s Olympic experience, Whittaker, a three-year professional, did not have to be brought up like other players who came out of the amateur ranks.
German Gavazi (30) has faced only little-known opposition throughout his seven-year professional career in Germany. This is his first step in the fight against a world-class opponent, such as Whittaker, number 9 in the WBC standings. This could end badly for Gavazi.
Learning from Cameron Draw
Whittaker defeats Liam Cameron by second round knockout in a rematch on April 20, 2025. In his first fight, Whittaker struggled with Beterbiev-style pressure from Cameron on him on October 12, 2024.
The fight ended in the sixth period when Whittaker fell from the ring after leaning on the ropes while holding Cameron. Injured in the fall, Whittaker could no longer continue and the fight was subsequently decided by a technical draw in the sixth round.
Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and writing for Boxing News 24 since 2014. He has been based in the UK and currently covers the world boxing scene, providing fight news, results and features that allow fans to hear the biggest stories in the sport.
With a background in reporting from the UK and Europe, Olly has developed a style that combines piercing analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to dedicated followers and casual fans alike. His reports consistently highlight champions, challengers and emerging prospects on the global stage.
Last update: 14/10/2025
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Boxing
Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda
Published
13 minutes agoon
June 13, 2026
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.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20
Boxing
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Published
2 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
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).
“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.
Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.
“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.
Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.
Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.
The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.
Max Kellerman reacts to Canelo Álvarez’s comments about Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias 👀#InsideTheRing | The latest episode LIVE NOW on YouTube The Ring 📺 pic.twitter.com/tfOhDtjgit
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) June 12, 2026
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Hamzah Sheeraz should fight Osleys Iglesias first
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