“They laughed when I said I was going to be a professional boxer.” – these were the words written by potential heavyweight fighter Joseph Mesi Jr. earlier this year when he recalled his journey into the professional ranks.

The son of former heavyweight fighter Joe Mesi also revealed that he once weighed 345 pounds and struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts before turning his life around.

Today Mesi Jr. he is 3-0 as a professional and is one win away from helping his family to a perfect overall record of 40-0.

Heavyweight father and son

The elder Mesi retired from boxing in 2007 with an undefeated record of 36-0, after a career that once seemed destined for world title contention.

As World Boxing News has previously covered in its look back on Mesi’s career, the Buffalo heavyweight became one of boxing’s greatest stories when health problems cut low his career just as he was on the brink of contention.

Despite never getting a chance to fight for a world title, Mesi came out perfect with 29 knockouts and victories over names like Monte Barrett, DaVarryl Williamson and former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov.

For years, the 36-0 mark remained untouched. Now it has a second chapter.

A perfect 40-0

Joseph Mesi Jr. he made his professional debut in October 2024 and already has a 3-0 record and two wins after the break.

The 31-year-old heavyweight will return on July 14 in Rochester against an unknown opponent.

A victory would raise the combined record of father and son to 40-0.

Not many boxing families can boast such an undefeated record in the heavyweight division.

Many sons followed in the footsteps of notable fathers and joined the sport. Few did so, carrying the ‘0’ which remained intact for almost two decades before being given the opportunity to continue doing so.

Different meaning

The younger Mesi’s post on social media looks completely different today.

The same man who claims he was ridiculed for wanting to become a professional boxer has already overcome obstacles far greater than skepticism.

Mesi Jr. he had previously spoken about weighing 345 pounds and struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts before finding direction in boxing.

After three wins in his career, he is no longer trying to prove that he belongs in the sport.

Instead, he’s trying to extend a family record that seemed finished when his father retired.

One more win would take Mesis to a perfect 40-0.

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. Read the full biography.

Thanks to this fight, Muratalla becomes a recognizable opponent, although Conceicao enters the fight at the age of 37 and ranks 12th in the IBF ranking. Some fans are already questioning how he got such an opportunity after spending most of his recent career in a campaign carrying 130 pounds.

Conceicao is best known for winning a gold medal for Brazil at the 2016 Olympics and later becoming the super featherweight world champion. He shared a ring with several notable names, including O’Shaquie Foster, Shakur Stevenson, Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez.

Conceicao’s has won his last two fights against little-known, low-level opponents since losing a rematch to O’Shaquie Foster in November 2024.

Since then, Conceicao has won two fights against lower-level opponents and returned to title contention.

For Muratalla, the fight offers a chance to build further momentum after winning the vacant IBF lightweight title and successfully defending it against Andy Cruz in January. Trained by Robert Garcia, the 28-year-old gradually emerged as one of the most vigorous champions in his division, using constant pressure and demanding striking to wear down his opponents.

The August 1 card could also assist push the lightweight division toward a unification fight. In the main event, Roach and Zepeda will fight for the WBC belt, creating the possibility of a future meeting between the winners should both champions win.

Muratalla has a veteran opponent with a powerful name under his belt. Whether Conceicao still has enough time at this point in his career to threaten any of the division’s younger champions is another question entirely.

For years, fans have criticized Canelo Alvarez for not facing former super middleweight rival David Benavidez, and now Alvarez has revealed why that fight never happened.

Canelo became the first undisputed super middleweight champion in 2021, dethroning Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant in the space of 12 months in one of state-of-the-art boxing’s most impressive streaks.

After failing to challenge Dmitry Bivol for the lithe heavyweight crown, Alvarez returned to 168 pounds and defended the belt against Gennadiy Golovkin, John Ryder and Jermell Charlo – ignoring a fight against the physically imposing Benavidez, who was his mandatory challenger for the WBC title.

I’m talking to Inside The Ring ShowCanelo said his only focus at this stage was other world champions.

“When we were both 168 pounds, I fought every champion in that division. Why [did] never fought these champions? If he was the champion at that moment, I would have fought him. My goal was to be undisputed.

“Right now it’s just impossible. He can [go] fight heavyweights, you know what I mean.”

Benavidez held the WBC super middleweight belt in 2020, but was stripped after losing weight for his fight with Roamer Alexis Anguloand the vacant title was instead added to the Canelo-Smith fight four months later.

Earlier this month, Benavidez rose in the pound-for-pound rankings by knocking out Gilberto Ramirez to become a three-division champion and a up-to-date top fighter on the cruiserweight scene. He may return to lithe heavyweight next, but he has also touted a heavyweight appearance in the future. The 29-year-old’s super middleweight days are over, which means a fight with Canelo is as unlikely as ever.