Boxing
O’Shaquie Foster defeated Raymond Ford for the WBC title
The fight started with immediate drama. Foster came out aggressive and sent Ford into a frenzy at the end of the first round during an exchange. No points were deducted and the fight continued after a low break.
Ford entered the fight in the second round, finding success with his speed and counterattacks. He landed several pointed shots to the left hand and body, making Foster pay when the champion became too aggressive.
The competition was fierce in the first rounds. Foster pressed forward with combinations and right hands, while Ford relied on timing and accuracy to score on counters. Neither fighter managed to take full control in the first half of the fight.
As the fight progressed, Foster gradually found his rhythm. He increased his punching power, landed his combinations consistently and used effective pressure to force Ford to work harder. The champion’s best stretch came in the middle rounds, when he repeatedly took Ford to right hands and controlled most of the action.
Ford still had his moments, especially when attacking the body and taking shots down the left wing, but Foster’s activity and command in the ring allowed him to move ahead on the scorecards. Ford rallied in the later rounds and finished several exchanges strongly, although Foster remained composed and finished the fight well enough to secure the decision.
After 12 rounds, Foster defended his title in front of his hometown fans and immediately turned his attention to greater opportunities at 130 pounds.
Woodward stops Flores
Featherweight fighter Javon “Pop” Woodward improved to 18-2 (16 KOs) after an eighth-round stoppage of veteran Miguel Flores.
Woodward dropped Flores in the second round with a chopping right hand and continued to apply pressure throughout the fight. Flores showed great determination, fighting through a cut above his left eye and firing multiple times despite taking weighty punishment.
The fight continued until the eighth round, when Woodward scored two more knockdowns. Flores got up from the second, but after the third knockdown he was unable to beat the counter, ending the fight at 2:31 of the round.
Sheehy smashes Theran
Lightweight prospect Charlie Sheehy remained undefeated, improving to 13-0 (8 KO) with a ninth-round knockout of Nike Theran.
Sheehy controlled the fight from the opening bell with disciplined jabbing, true right hands and consistent bodywork. Theran showed resilience and endured some complex moments, but Sheehy’s constant attack gradually wore him down.
After dominating most of the contest, Sheehy finally ended the fight in the ninth round when a right hand dropped Theran for a full count.
Jones flows past Osuna
2024 Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones improved to 7-0 (4 KO) after winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Diego Osuna.
Jones started quickly, scoring a first-round knockdown with a left hook. From that point on, he controlled the fight with his jabs, movement, and excellent boxing skills.
Osuna showed toughness, surviving several perilous moments, but Jones consistently outplayed him in the remaining rounds, scoring 80-71 on all three cards.
Moses remains undefeated
Lightweight prospect Zaquin Moses improved to 7-0 (3 KO) with a six-round unanimous decision over Travis Crawford.
Moses controlled most of the fight with incredible speed and accuracy, landing cleaner punches throughout the fight. Crawford remained competitive and had the most success in the final round, but Moses responded well and finished the fight strongly, scoring three identical scores of 60-54.
Early results
Super featherweight prospect Julian Montalvo improved to 7-0 (5 KO) after stopping Maximus Moya in the fourth round. Montalvo worked the body intensely throughout the fight before forcing the referee to stop the action at 2:16 of the fourth round.
Middleweight prospect Frank Espinoza improved to 4-0 (4 KO) when a corner kick from Bryce Blackwell stopped the fight ten seconds into the fourth round. Espinoza controlled the action from the first bell and repeatedly hurt Blackwell in the third round.
Super middleweight Jahyden Britton improved to 9-0 (6 KO) after stopping Najee West in the fourth round. Britton scored three knockdowns with body shots before the fight was stopped at 2:58 of the fourth round.
Filip Hrgovic questions how Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have earned a fight for the WBA “Super” heavyweight title, arguing that attaching the belt to their matchup damages boxing’s credibility.
The fight already has two recognizable names and a rivalry that can sell without a championship. Adding a world title invites a different question: what have either man’s recent performances done to justify that reward?
“They are both big superstars, but how are they fighting for a title?” Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground when asked about the proposed WBA title stakes. “Where did that come from? … These kinds of decisions, it’s killing the sport. It’s not good for the sport. And because of these funny decisions, people don’t consider boxing a serious sport.”
Fury and Joshua already have the recognition to sell their fight. Their rivalry is the attraction. Adding the WBA’s highest heavyweight title gives the event a sporting endorsement that requires more explanation than either man’s name can provide.
Gassiev’s position makes that harder to justify. With him holding the regular championship, the proposed title stakes would allow Fury and Joshua to fight for superior recognition within the same organization without going through its existing titleholder. What, then, is Gassiev’s belt supposed to mean?
That is the weakness of the WBA’s multiple-title structure. A fighter can hold its championship and still watch a more commercially attractive pairing receive the bigger prize. The distinction becomes difficult to defend if the organization cannot explain the sporting criteria behind it.
There is also a financial question worth asking. Sanctioning a major event can benefit the organization collecting the fees. That makes a clear explanation of eligibility especially necessary: what qualifies Fury and Joshua for this opportunity, and how does Gassiev fit into the decision?
Hrgovic has his own interests. He wants recognition as the division’s best champion and would benefit from undermining rival claims. But his objection still demands an answer.
Fans can enjoy Fury-Joshua as a major occasion without treating it as the fight that establishes heavyweight supremacy. The WBA risks blurring that distinction by attaching its highest title to a matchup whose appeal is already secure.
The rivalry gives the promotion something valuable to sell. The championship should represent something the fighters have earned.
Audley Harrison believes the Deontay Wilder who terrorized the heavyweight division is gone as the American closes in on a potential final dance with Oleksandr Usyk.
Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News, Harrison backed the proposed Usyk-Wilder showdown as a fitting final fight for both former champions.
WBN understands March 2027 is being targeted, with Las Vegas currently the number-one choice to stage the fight.
Wilder kept himself in contention by defeating Derek Chisora, while Usyk has cleared the way for one final fight after relinquishing his sanctioning body heavyweight championships.
“Deontay has carried the flag for USA heavyweights for a decade, and he’s coming to the end of a great career,” Harrison exclusively told WBN.
“He gutted out the win over Chisora, so finishing with a big payday and match up makes sense. He’s not going to be excited facing an upcoming champ, and he’s not in line to get a championship fight, so this one makes sense.”
The Old Bronze Bomber Is Gone
Harrison is far less optimistic about Wilder’s chances of actually beating Usyk.
Wilder’s right hand carried him through ten successful defenses of the WBC heavyweight title and made him one of the most feared punchers of his generation.
Harrison, who lost to Wilder in one round as the Tuscaloosa puncher made his way toward becoming world champion, doesn’t believe that version of the KO artist exists anymore.
“I don’t think Wilder has the technical knowhow, or the tactical lens from his team that will give him a shot at winning,” Harrison said.
“The old Bronze Bomber has gone now, so what’s left is a gutsy former champion, looking for another dance partner to showcase what’s left.
“We saw with the Chisora fight that Wilder is still as game as they come, but the knockout power in his right hand is not there, so hopefully Usyk is talking the fight as his swan song too, and they don’t go all out.
“Many sports (football, cricket, Tennis, Golf and many more) have testimonials when the sports people retire, so why can’t boxing and the boxers have the same endings.”
Usyk and Wilder’s Legacies
Harrison also believes both men belong in the International Boxing Hall of Fame once their careers are over.
“For me, this generation has not been as technically or tactically gifted as Hall of Fame boxers from the past,” Harrison said.
“The old school boxers were taught to box and had far more skills, IQ and technical abilities.
“I do think Usyk skills and boxing IQ is a close match to champs of the past, so he will definitely make the Hall of Fame.
“Wilder, I think he will make it too (although not technically masterful) … He represented USA boxing with distinction coming up & he was destroying everyone all the way to a title, which he held for 5 years.”
Nothing has been finalized for Usyk-Wilder, although WBN understands a spring clash is on the cards and Dana White could be involved.
WBN previously reported that White was asked directly whether Usyk could finish his career under the Zuffa Boxing banner and whether Wilder could be the opponent.
“Anything is possible,” White replied to both.
For Harrison, the fight makes sense even if he believes Wilder’s most dangerous weapon has deserted him.
The old Bronze Bomber may be gone, but one last dance with Usyk could still be waiting.
Join Audley Harrison on Substack for more boxing views.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
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