2020 Olympic bronze medalist Imam Khataev will look to bounce back from last year’s defeat by defeating Adam Deines in a 10-round delicate heavyweight fight on December 11.
Russian-born Khataev (10-1, 9 KO) recently lost to David Morrell by a questionable 10-round split decision last summer on July 12, 2025 on the undercard of Turki Alalshikh in Queens, Recent York. In the fifth, Khataev dropped Morrell with a right hand and hurt him overdue in the round.
Your spoiler mission
Deines (24-3-1, 14 KO) will fight for Khataev’s NABF delicate heavyweight title. This is a key fight for both fighters. Khataev, who has been compared to Artur Beterbiev in terms of fighting style and strength, must show that he can fight in a balanced way and not gass himself.
In Khataev’s last two fights against Morrell and Durval Elias, Palacio was injured overdue in the contest and was on the verge of being stopped. He won’t go far in the 175-b division if he continues to falter overdue in life. However, Khataev’s ponderous hands will always make him a threat to anyone he faces.
It would be intriguing to see a rematch at some point between Khataev and Morrell in a 12-round fight. With a different judging panel, Khataev may have a better chance of winning the second time around.
Revisiting the Olympic lessons
At the 2020 Olympics, Khataev lost to Briton Ben Whittaker 4-1 in a fight that resembled a cat chasing a mouse around the ring. It was a Tom and Jerry type of fight as Whittaker had no interest in standing and fighting Khataev.
The judges were very nice to Whittaker, awarding him the win because he showed no desire to compete.
Khataev vs. Deines will fight on a shared slot at Lac Leamy Casino on the Alexandre Gaumont vs. Ramadan Hiseni undercard.
Ken Woods was a senior writer in Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering sports from every angle. With years of reporting from the ring, he delivers fight news, results and analysis that cuts through the noise. Ken’s work consistently focuses on champions, challengers and prospects, giving fans a acute and well-read view of the global boxing scene.
Proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act are gaining attention in Washington, but some industry officials say the changes could make it more tough for smaller promoters to continue to host boxing events across the United States in many local markets across the country.
The legislation, known as the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026, includes several fresh provisions related to medical supervision and fighter protection. The proposal called for higher injury insurance, required ambulance and medical staff at events, expanded drug testing and a higher minimum pay for players.
Supporters say the changes will improve safety standards in boxing. Others believe the additional requirements could raise the costs of promoting fights.
Enormous promotional companies with powerful financial resources would probably be able to bear the higher costs. Smaller organizers who host club shows and prospect cards tend to make much less money, and their events depend on smaller venues and regional audiences to sustain them.
Under the proposal, promoters would be required to carry at least $50,000 in insurance against player injuries and $15,000 in the event of accidental death. The minimum fighter pay will also boost from $150 per round to $200 per round, and drug testing will boost for many fights.
Some boxing insiders say these extra expenses could make it more tough for smaller promoters to put on shows. Fewer local fight cards may reduce opportunities for youthful fighters trying to build their records early in their careers.
The proposal has already passed through committee in the House and is expected to go to a vote in the House soon. If the bill is approved there, it would still have to pass the Senate before reaching the president’s desk. Lawmakers continue to debate how the changes could impact boxing’s business structure while strengthening protections for fighters across the sport.
Oleksandr Usyk listed his ideal last three fights, starting with Rico Verhoeven in May, then winner Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois, and ending with a trilogy fight with the returning Tyson Fury.
Only the fight against Verhoeven is certain – which is controversial for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title – and the remaining fights are still to be negotiated, but interim champion and mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel seriously questions that list.
In a conversation on Instagram, the German heavyweight said:
“My parents always told me to stay humble and respectful. But I can no longer accept being ignored. I deserve to fight for the title.”
In an interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de, Kabayel expanded on this point, saying that Usyk’s plan proves that “he is only interested in money.”
“I always respected Usyk very much for his sporting achievements and I said: ‘Hey, he’s not afraid of challenges and he keeps his words.’ But he is only interested in money; everything else doesn’t interest him. Now I noticed it again very clearly.
“How can he not name the number one in the rankings, his mandatory challenger? It’s just melancholy that he would rather fight Dubois or Fury for a third time, even though he has already beaten them both twice.”
Usyk is in danger of losing not only the WBC belt, but also the IBF and WBA belts. Neither promotion has commented on the Verhoeven fight and could very well have opted to get rid of Usyk rather than follow the WBC route of putting their belt on the line, which was met with extreme fan backlash.
Richard Torrez Jr’s road to a fight for the IBF heavyweight title was delayed after Frank Sanchez suffered a knee injury that forced their scheduled eliminator to withdraw from the March 28 event in Las Vegas. The fight was considered a key move in the IBF rankings, with the winner expected to move into mandatory challenger territory.
Top executive Carl Moretti confirmed that Torrez will not remain on the Fundora-Thurman card at MGM Grand after the eliminator is removed. The fight was scheduled to go live on pay-per-view, but our focus is now on setting a fresh date for when Sanchez can return to training.
Dan Rafael reported that the fight is currently scheduled for May 30 on the undercard of the proposed Devin Haney vs. Rolando Romero. This event has not yet been finalized and the heavyweight eliminator depends on both Sanchez’s recovery and confirmation of his planned appearance.
Torrez (14-0, 12 KO) last fought in November, defeating Tomas Salek in the first round in Mexico. The 26-year-old southpaw from Tulare, California, turned professional in 2022 after winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and has quickly risen through the ranks since signing with Top Rank.
Sanchez (25-1, 18 KO) is struggling with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. The 33-year-old Cuban heavyweight underwent arthroscopic surgery in June 2024 as a result of injuries suffered around the same year in his seventh-round knockout loss to Agit Kabayel.
The injury occurred during a long period of inactivity for Sanchez, who has fought only once since losing to Kabayel, defeating Ramon Olivas Echeverria in three rounds in February 2025.
The target date of May does not guarantee that the eliminator will move forward smoothly. Sanchez has only fought once since undergoing knee surgery in 2024, and now he is experiencing inflammation of the same joint again during training. If an injury prevents him from completing another camp, the IBF qualifier could face another delay, leaving Torrez waiting even longer for a fight that could move him into the must-see position.
The delay leaves the IBF eliminator question unresolved for now, and Torrez remains waiting for an opportunity that could bring him closer to a title fight.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most significant fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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