Boxing
Frank Warren names Fabio Wardley his 2025 boxer of the year after winning the world title
Published
4 months agoon
I’m talking to iFL Television, Frank Warren named Fabio Wardley as boxer of the year, justifying his choice as progress rather than promotion. Warren’s words were precise and not inflated. “He has no amateur experience and he is a world champion and he is acting in good faith,” he said. In a heavyweight division littered with alphabetical abbreviations, this phrase had meaning.
Wardley’s 2025 career ended with him winning the recognized belt and defeating Joseph Parker, ranked immediately below Aleksander Usyk. He entered this fight as a bookmaker’s outsider. From three feet away from the apron, the detail was in his restraint. The thrust was tiny and repetitive, not intended to impress, but to control distance and keep his feet under him. When the pressure came early, he didn’t widen his stance or chase down counter-attacks. It absorbed, reset and maintained balance.
“He beat the guy who’s number two behind Usyk and he was a huge favorite for that fight, so I think he’s had an incredible year,” Warren said.
Technical development under fire
Wardley’s lack of amateur pedigree is still evident in places. His feet stay narrow and his exits can be squared off if he rushes. What changed was his proprioception under stress. Against an opponent of Usyk’s stature, his high guard effectiveness increased after the middle rounds, with his forearms folding inward and his elbows pinching, limiting spotless lanes up top. The body landed with a thud, thrown without too much effort, allowing him to stay close enough to cut off the ring.
This development moved to Justi Huni a fight that tested various mechanics. Huni’s quicker lead hand and lateral movements forced Wardley to adjust his pursuit. He shortened his steps, raised his lead arm on entry and began timing his left hook attack as Huni’s rhythm slowed. These changes did not occur between camps. They arrived between rounds. It matters.
Context, lanes and realistic analysis
Warren’s praise deserves special mention due to his history with heavyweight titles. He saw the lanes move faster than the players matured. The Wardley case reads more clearly. The rivals were classified. The fights were competitive in nature. The results were decided in the ring, not in the boardroom. Warren called this year “amazing” and tipped his hat to the trip. The restrained tone matched the evidence.
Warren now kicks off the year in Manchester with his ‘Magnificent 7’ card, headlined by: Moses This is going to hurt against Jermaine Franklincelebrates his 45th anniversary as a licensed promoter.
Tom Galm has been covering the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends and fighter psychology.
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Last update: 01/03/2026
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Boxing
Jared Anderson withdraws from May 9 fight with a torn bicep
Published
1 hour agoon
April 26, 2026
Ring Magazine reports that Anderson withdrew from his fight with Solomon Dacres after suffering a bicep injury. The 10-round heavyweight bout was scheduled for Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Anderson (18-1, 15 KO) was looking for another step back after a knockout loss to Martin Bakole in 2024. Instead, the 26-year-old now faces another delay at a bad time in his career.
The fight at Dacres was not a world-class test, but it had value. Anderson needed rounds, activity and a consistent win on a major heavyweight card. Now that’s gone, and the injury gives critics more room to question where his career is headed.
The reaction from boxing fans was fierce, with several responses pointing out Anderson’s injury history and durability. Some questioned whether his body would hold up in the heavyweight division. Others suggested he might have to consider considering the cruiserweight division if physical problems persist.
It may be tough, but it’s the kind of failure that changes the way you view your prospect. Anderson still has talent, but he’s no longer talked about as a pure future heavyweight star. Now he’s trying to prove he can stay vigorous long enough to rebuild.
Moving to Queensberry and fighting in the UK seemed like a desperate attempt to find a novel environment that could boost his confidence. But this bicep injury is a disaster because it adds another year of rust to a psyche that already looked feeble. You won’t rebuild your self-confidence at the gym.
A torn bicep effectively means Jared Anderson’s career will be in frigid storage until the end of 2026. Recovery from this type of surgery usually takes six to nine months before a player can even think about hitting a full-power shot with that hand.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most significant fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
Boxing
Mike Tyson is nearing the end of his career at the age of 60 after Mayweather’s snubs and injuries
Published
3 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Mike Tyson is nearing the end of his career as Floyd Mayweather’s recent cancellation of an exhibition may have put the final nail in the coffin.
Tyson’s Hall of Fame tenure, which incredibly extended at the age of 57 against Jake Paul in 2024, was approaching his final appearance against Mayweather.
The fight had been talked about for months as if it had actually happened. A date was set, attention was paid, but the reality never lived up to the headlines as the proposed event failed to advance beyond early discussion and quietly faded away.
There was a lack of explanation, space and real emphasis. In the case of a Floyd Mayweather event, this is usually the biggest prize.
When Mayweather wants a fight, he promotes it. This time he didn’t.
Instead, Mayweather moved on. His confirmed return against Mike Zambidis in Athens made it clear what his focus was, leaving the Tyson fight on the sidelines – most likely for good.
Time and injuries
Time has also caught up with this idea.
Tyson will turn 60 in June, and his next fights will be a huge surprise considering everything that has already happened.
He almost died when Paul’s fight was postponed from April to November two years ago, which Tyson himself later detailed after an in-flight medical emergency left the former champion fighting for his life.
That alone should be a warning.
Combine that with previous back surgery, appearing in a cast on his arm just last month, and the massive amounts of marijuana Mike is consuming, and another comeback seems unthinkable.
Tyson has been through a lot, but it’s a completely different situation for the hard-hitting Modern Yorker.
The last chapter
The Mayweather fight was the one that could have sent Mike flying with fanfare.
It had the name, the curiosity and the setting that could allow Tyson to make one last appearance without everything that comes with a full comeback.
Now that’s gone and it looks like his fight with Paul is all she wrote.
World Boxing News has already reported that Tyson’s former rival, Oliver McCall, is continuing to fight at the age of 61, but Tyson was never that type of fighter.
If he does not regain full health in the coming months, boxing fans will likely see the last of the youngest heavyweight champion of all time.
At this point, the opportunity has passed and nothing else on the table carries the same weight.
Mainly because it feels like Mike Tyson’s swan song has already happened.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, published exclusive international performances and reported on in-ring performances. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.
Boxing
Naoya Inoue Offered Another Super Fight If He Beats Nakatani: ‘I’m Ready Anytime’
Published
3 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Naoya Inoue received another career-defining challenge before she even stepped into the ring against Junto Nakatani.
First and foremost, “The Monster” must defend his undisputed super bantamweight crown against Nakatani on May 2, headlining the blockbuster Japanese event at the Tokyo Dome.
This will mark Inoue’s seventh defense of his four major 122-pound titles, and the uncompromising feeling has been considered the top star of the two-pound-for-pound division.
The 33-year-old’s most notable victories came against the likes of Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas, who both defeated the undisputed two-division champion but were ultimately stopped in rounds six and eight, respectively.
Meanwhile, Nakatani is widely considered to be Inoue’s toughest opponent to date, even though the three-division world champion lost debatable points of victory over Sebastian Hernandez in December last year.
However, to be fair, this was his first appearance at 122 pounds and many expected the 28-year-old to raise his level against Inoue.
However, in a world where Inoue is winning, it is becoming more and more likely that he will consider a potential fight with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
The unified super flyweight champion will move up to 118 pounds for his next fight, where he will face WBA champion Antonio Vargas on June 13.
If this next assignment is successful, Rodriguez will talk about it Ring Magazine that he will jump up another weight class to face Inoue.
“I’m ready at any time. If I was offered this fight right now, I would definitely accept it.”
Although Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed initial talks about the fight, there is equally a chance that “Bam” will drop down to 115 pounds in pursuit of undisputed glory.
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