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Top rank won’t risk Zayas against “Boots” Ennis

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1 year ago

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Image: Zayas Grades His Performance a "B+" After Lackluster Title Win Against Jorge Garcia

Trainer Stephen Edwards doesn’t believe Top Rank will risk his fighter Xander Zayas to defend his WBO junior middleweight title against Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

Edwards argues that while Zayas (22-0, 13 KO) is technically a world champion at 154 years elderly, he is still only 23 years elderly compared to 28-year-old “Boots” Ennis. He has no experience for such fights.

Top ranking – play safe and sound with Zayas

Top Rank has not revealed what its long-term goal for Xander is. They will probably protect him throughout his career and try to keep him at the top as long as possible until Turki Alalshikh offers Zayes crazy money to fight someone good.

“You wouldn’t risk Zayas against Ennis. ‘Boots’ would now be the favorite to beat Zayas at 5, minus 600,” said Stephen Edwards MillCity Boxing that Top Rank is not a good idea to let their fighter, Xander Zayas, face Jaron Ennis.

Ennis vs. Zayas would be a disaster

On paper, fighting “Boots” would be a disaster for Xander now or at any time in the future. These are two different types of warriors. Talent-wise, Zayas is like a fringe contender who was tricked into winning the vacant WBO 154-pound belt. He is a champion in name only.

Produced champion?

If he had to fight someone like Ennis or any of the belt holders or top contenders, he would probably get knocked down. I see Xander as a classic example of creation for marketing purposes. He’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t fight anyone with skill.

“You don’t put a kid that newborn into a fight with a guy that good. Top Rank has the best matchmakers in the business. They’ve been around too long not to know that ‘Boots’ is a level above Zayas. They’re not stupid,” Stephen said.

Turki Money can change everything

It’s doubtful that Top Rank would ever make a fight between Zayas and “Boots” Ennis without Turki Alalshikh getting involved and offering crazy money like we saw with Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford last month on 9/11.

Top Rank wants to make Xander a star on the East Coast and turn him into a money-making machine. To do that, they need to keep him away from players like Ennis, Fundora, Abass Baraou, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Bakhram Murtazaliev and Erickson Lubin. Zayas would probably lose to all of them.

“Bakhram would be the toughest fight in terms of danger. He’s the biggest hitter, has the most one-shot power of the four champions and has good counter punches,” Edwards said of his belief that Bakhram Murtazaliev would be a formidable foe for Ennis.

Promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t sound like he wanted IBF junior middleweight champion Murtazaliev to take Ennis’ place after his first-round knockout victory over Uisma Lima last Saturday. Hearn has talked about wanting WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. in early 2026. If not him, then Sebastian Fundora.

Last update: 16/10/2025

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Boxing

Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12

Published

2 hours ago

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November 7, 2026

By

"Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12"

Follow Billam-Smith against Clarke with live round reports, scoring and the official result from London.

Chris Billam-Smith fights Cheavon Clarke over 10 rounds tonight on Sky Sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US. The former WBO cruiserweight champion headlines Zuffa Boxing 12 at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, November 7.

Billam-Smith vs Clarke Round-by-Round Updates

Live reports will appear here from the opening bell, tracking clean punches, knockdowns and which fighter controls each round.

● LIVE

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke

2026-11-07 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · Copper Box Arena, London · Paramount+, Sky Sports

Chris Billam-Smith0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Chev Clarke0

ROUNDChris Billam-SmithChev Clarke

Undercard Results

Featherweight Masood Abdulah (14-1, 8 KOs) scored two knockdowns to defeat Adan Palma (14-2) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The judges scored it 78-72, 77-73 and 76-74.

Abdulah dropped Palma with a short left hook in the opening minute, then used his jab and compact hooks to catch him coming forward. Palma fought his way back into the contest, landing heavy right hands in the fourth round that forced Abdulah to clinch.

A well-timed check left hook sent Palma down again in the sixth, slowing his attack and giving Abdulah more room to dictate the action. Abdulah worked behind his jab and continued finding the left hook over the final two rounds to secure the victory.

Vinnie Kemp (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam McElhinney (0-3) with a barrage of body shots at 2:33 of the opening round in their scheduled four-round middleweight bout. Making his professional debut, Kemp charged forward from the opening bell, throwing hard punches and goading McElhinney.

The referee briefly paused the action to warn Kemp about his verbals before allowing the fight to continue. Kemp resumed his attack, stalking McElhinney and driving punches into his midsection.

McElhinney bent forward and covered up against the ropes under the sustained body attack, prompting the referee to wave it off. Kemp’s aggression gave him a quick debut victory, although McElhinney offered little to test him.

When Does Billam-Smith vs Clarke Start?

Main-event ring walks: 🇺🇸 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT · 🇬🇧 10 p.m. GMTapproximately.

The undercard determines the final timing. Billam-Smith and Clarke headline a nine-fight show, with Denzel Bentley against Shane Mosley Jr. in the co-feature.

Main-card broadcast:

🇺🇸 2 pm ET / 11 am PT

🇬🇧 7 p.m. GMT

Preliminary coverage:

🇺🇸 12 pm ET / 9 am PT

🇬🇧 5 p.m. GMT

Sky Sports broadcasts the main card in the UK, with prelims available on its digital platforms. Paramount+ carries the prelims and main card in the US through a subscription, without a separate PPV charge.

Two June Stoppage Wins Set Up the Main Event

Both fighters arrive after punishing fights.

Billam-Smith beat Ryan Rozicki in June, with the Canadian’s corner withdrawing him after seven rounds of their Bournemouth contest. Clarke endured a rougher route on the same bill, recovering from two knockdowns before stopping Jack Massey.

Tonight’s contest carries no championship belt. For Billam-Smith, it offers a chance to strengthen his position at cruiserweight while beating an opponent who twice frustrated him.

Clarke’s second amateur victory came in the 2016 national elite championship final. Beating Billam-Smith in the paid ranks would add a former world champion to his professional record and strengthen his case for bigger fights.

Billam-Smith enters at 22-2 with 14 knockoutswhile Clarke brings a 12-2 record with nine stoppages. The experience gap amounts to ten professional contests.

Both cleared the scales on Friday. Billam-Smith weighed 199.5 lbs (90.5 kg) and Clarke 198.8 lbs (90.2 kg) for their cruiserweight headliner.

Zuffa Boxing 12 Undercard Results

Confirmed results and finishing details will be added alongside the matchups below as the bouts conclude.

Main Card

Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.

Middleweight · 10 rounds

Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz

Heavyweight · 8 rounds

Sam Hickey vs Amaury Massenaux

Middleweight · 8 rounds

Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel

Super lightweight · 6 rounds

Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald

Cruiserweight · 8 rounds

Prelims

Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov

Light-heavyweight · 10 rounds

Vinnie Kemp vs Liam McElhinney

Middleweight · 4 rounds

Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma

Featherweight · 8 rounds

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Boxing

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12

Published

2 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12

Follow Billam-Smith against Clarke with live round reports, scoring and the official result from London.

Chris Billam-Smith fights Cheavon Clarke over 10 rounds tonight on Sky Sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US. The former WBO cruiserweight champion headlines Zuffa Boxing 12 at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, November 7.

Billam-Smith vs Clarke Round-by-Round Updates

Live reports will appear here from the opening bell, tracking clean punches, knockdowns and which fighter controls each round.

● LIVE

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke

2026-11-07 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · Copper Box Arena, London · Paramount+, Sky Sports

Chris Billam-Smith0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Chev Clarke0

ROUNDChris Billam-SmithChev Clarke

Undercard Results

Featherweight Masood Abdulah (14-1, 8 KOs) scored two knockdowns to defeat Adan Palma (14-2) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The judges scored it 78-72, 77-73 and 76-74.

Abdulah dropped Palma with a short left hook in the opening minute, then used his jab and compact hooks to catch him coming forward. Palma fought his way back into the contest, landing heavy right hands in the fourth round that forced Abdulah to clinch.

A well-timed check left hook sent Palma down again in the sixth, slowing his attack and giving Abdulah more room to dictate the action. Abdulah worked behind his jab and continued finding the left hook over the final two rounds to secure the victory.

Vinnie Kemp (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam McElhinney (0-3) with a barrage of body shots at 2:33 of the opening round in their scheduled four-round middleweight bout. Making his professional debut, Kemp charged forward from the opening bell, throwing hard punches and goading McElhinney.

The referee briefly paused the action to warn Kemp about his verbals before allowing the fight to continue. Kemp resumed his attack, stalking McElhinney and driving punches into his midsection.

McElhinney bent forward and covered up against the ropes under the sustained body attack, prompting the referee to wave it off. Kemp’s aggression gave him a quick debut victory, although McElhinney offered little to test him.

When Does Billam-Smith vs Clarke Start?

Main-event ring walks: 🇺🇸 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT · 🇬🇧 10 p.m. GMTapproximately.

The undercard determines the final timing. Billam-Smith and Clarke headline a nine-fight show, with Denzel Bentley against Shane Mosley Jr. in the co-feature.

Main-card broadcast:

🇺🇸 2 pm ET / 11 am PT

🇬🇧 7 p.m. GMT

Preliminary coverage:

🇺🇸 12 pm ET / 9 am PT

🇬🇧 5 p.m. GMT

Sky Sports broadcasts the main card in the UK, with prelims available on its digital platforms. Paramount+ carries the prelims and main card in the US through a subscription, without a separate PPV charge.

Two June Stoppage Wins Set Up the Main Event

Both fighters arrive after punishing fights.

Billam-Smith beat Ryan Rozicki in June, with the Canadian’s corner withdrawing him after seven rounds of their Bournemouth contest. Clarke endured a rougher route on the same bill, recovering from two knockdowns before stopping Jack Massey.

Tonight’s contest carries no championship belt. For Billam-Smith, it offers a chance to strengthen his position at cruiserweight while beating an opponent who twice frustrated him.

Clarke’s second amateur victory came in the 2016 national elite championship final. Beating Billam-Smith in the paid ranks would add a former world champion to his professional record and strengthen his case for bigger fights.

Billam-Smith enters at 22-2 with 14 knockoutswhile Clarke brings a 12-2 record with nine stoppages. The experience gap amounts to ten professional contests.

Both cleared the scales on Friday. Billam-Smith weighed 199.5 lbs (90.5 kg) and Clarke 198.8 lbs (90.2 kg) for their cruiserweight headliner.

Zuffa Boxing 12 Undercard Results

Confirmed results and finishing details will be added alongside the matchups below as the bouts conclude.

Main Card

Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.

Middleweight · 10 rounds

Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz

Heavyweight · 8 rounds

Sam Hickey vs Amaury Massenaux

Middleweight · 8 rounds

Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel

Super lightweight · 6 rounds

Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald

Cruiserweight · 8 rounds

Prelims

Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov

Light-heavyweight · 10 rounds

Vinnie Kemp vs Liam McElhinney

Middleweight · 4 rounds

Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma

Featherweight · 8 rounds

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Boxing

Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyus Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News

Published

4 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

"Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyu's Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News"

Tim Tszyu seeks to become Australia’s third multi-divisional boxing world champion when he competes for Erislandy Lara’s WBA middleweight title next month, and ahead of the action, trainer Robert Garcia has offered his thoughts on the fight.

Tszyu lost his WBO super-welterweight title in a defeat to Sebastian Fundora back in 2024 and twice failed to reclaim 154lb honours, both against Bakhram Murtazaliev and in a rematch with Fundora.

Since then, the Aussie has stepped up to middleweight and scored a career-best win over Errol Spence Jr earlier this yearand now, the 32-year-old could join lead trainer Jeff Fenech and Liam Paro as his nation’s third two-weight world champion, if he can trump 43-year-old.

Speaking with ProBox TVRobert Garcia, who trains a potential future Tszyu opponent in Vergil Ortiz, admitted that he is leaning towards the home fighter, but noted that Lara will not be phased by competing in the challenger’s backyard.

“We can probably lean towards Tim Tsyzu because he is fighting at home, in front of his hometown, but Lara is not the fighter that brings in a lot of fans following him.

“He doesn’t have a following, he is not one that is going to sell out arenas, so even if it is in the United States, it is likely that most of the people are going to be [there] for Tim Tszyu because Australians do travel and Tim Tszyu has a lot of fans.

“For Lara, going to Australia is like going to Las Vegas or going to New York because he never has that following anyways. Anywhere he goes, he is going to be against the crowd. So, I think for him it is going to be one of those performances where it doesn’t make a difference if he is going to Tim Tsyzu’s hometown.”

Tszyu-Lara takes place at the Cbus Super Stadium in Queensland, Australia on Sunday 13 December.

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