Boxing
Baumgardner retains a uniform crown; Green was eliminated in a depressing defeat
Published
3 months agoon
NEW YORK — Unified junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner reached out to embrace Bo Mi Re Shin as the final seconds of their unified junior lightweight title fight evaporated Friday night.
It was a grueling fight, but also one that – with the exception of a few rounds – Baumgardner largely controlled, defeating Shin by unanimous decision to defend her WBA, WBO and IBF titles. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 98-92 and 99-91.
“I just knew I had to be consistent and employ my striking to set things up,” Baumgardner said in the ring. “It was up to me to set the pace and take the shot.”
Baumgardner’s title defense came after a scary situation in the co-main event when unified super middleweight champion Shadasia Green was carried from the ring on a stretcher after an upset knockout loss to Lani Daniels.
Mike Leanardi, boxing chief for Most Valuable Promotions, said Green was taken to a local hospital and was awake and talking.
In the main event, Baumgardner fought three-minute rounds for the second time in her career.
In the days before the fight, Baumgardner said she had learned to take her time and keep the pace from the first fight to the three-minute rounds last year when she defeated Leila Beaudoin. This fight showed Baumgardner that she can fight effectively in longer rounds.
“Now I want to bring out the other parts of myself that I know I can bring out,” she said before the fight with Shin. “And that’s just the meaner side, more aggressive, hungry, willing to take it all. And that’s what my goal is on Friday night.”
Baumgardner’s energy increased before the fight, and rapper Lil’ Kim accompanied her to the ring with the song “The Jump Off.”
After spending the first minute assessing Shin, Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KO, 1 NC) entered the fight, attacking with immaculate jabs to gain distance in the first round and then alternating punches to the body and head in the second.
In the fourth round, she landed multiple immaculate uppercuts to Shin’s head, bringing the fans to their feet after what initially looked like a knockdown before referee Sparkle Lee waved it off.
Baumgardner said she believed it was a knockdown.
“I knew her aggression would be an advantage for me because she just comes forward,” Baumgardner said. “So timing is everything. You saw that with the uppercut.”
Shin’s best round came in the sixth, when she landed a immaculate jab and then a immaculate cross and uppercut to Baumgardner’s head that caught her off guard. Shin (19-4-3, 10 KO) kept the pressure on Baumgardner for part of the seventh round, landing a series of punches towards the end of the round.
Baumgardner, ESPN’s No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter, calmed down again in the eighth round and withstood Shin’s aggressive attacks in the final round. After the fight, Baumgardner called out unified junior welterweight champion Katie Taylor.
Taylor, the No. 2-ranked fighter in ESPN’s weight-for-pound rankings, said she wants one more fight before she retires.
Baumgardner said she had spoken to Taylor about a potential fight, adding that she would return to two-minute rounds if it meant finishing the fight.
“Yes,” Baumgardner said, sighing. “Anything to get the fight.”
In the co-main event, Daniels (12-4-2, 2 KO) won the IBF and WBO super middleweight titles by defeating Green (16-3, 11 KO) in the ninth round by TKO.
The fight was stopped after Daniels landed several right hands to Green’s head, leading the referee to stop the fight 32 seconds into the round after Green failed to land a punch.
Green initially stood in defeat before being placed on a stool. She was then quickly placed on a stretcher and taken out of the ring, followed by MVP General Manager Nakisa Bidarian. Bidarian accompanied Green to the hospital.
Daniels was also taken to a local hospital out of caution, according to Leanardi.
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Boxing
KO Artist Who Fought Canelo Aims for Chris Eubank Jr Showdown in Boxing News
Published
4 hours agoon
July 31, 2026
Chris Eubank Jr has not fought since his underwhelming rematch with Conor Benn, but the 36-year-old is now being targeted by a fierce knockout artist, who is willing to travel to London for the opportunity to face him.
Eubank scored an iconic win over Benn last April but when they rematched seven months later, he felt the full effects of a brutal weight cut, narrowly avoiding a stoppage defeat as he survived until the final bell on unsteady legs only to lose a wide unanimous decision.
Since then, the Hove-born contender has been advised to move up in weight and return to the super-middleweight scene, but he has also been linked to a catchweight clash with Michael Zerafa in Australia – a bout which would take place at 164lbs.
New York’s Edgar Berlanga has now thrown his hat into the ring though, after revealing on ‘The Last Stand’ podcast about his intentions to face Eubank before the end of the year.
“I would love to step into the ring to end the year with Chris Eubank Jr. I feel like that fight is going to be a big fight in London.
“I told Keith [Connolly]I said that I would rather not do it out here in America. I would rather go to London, where he is from [U.K.]you know what I am saying? We can make a big, big fight happen. He is on the radar.”
Berlanga’s most high profile fight came back in 2024 when he challenged Canelo Alvarez for his unified super-middleweight crown, suffering a unanimous decision defeat, one of two losses in his career after also coming up short against Hamzah Sheeraz.
He has since signed with Zuffa Boxing and in his debut with the company on Sunday he knocked Steven Butler out after seven rounds, recovering from a second-round knockdown to earn the 19th stoppage victory of his career.
In an interview with The RingBerlanga has now doubled down on his call-out of Eubank, hoping he can convince the Briton to swerve the Zerafa fight in favour of a clash on home soil.
“I’m looking forward to getting a real big fight with Chris Eubank. Let’s do it in London. It’s going to be big.”
Eubank maintains that he is currently a free agentbut it is unclear whether he is still contracted to Boxxer, with promoter Ben Shalom appearing to believe that their deal has not expired.
Boxing
Terence Crawfords Top 5 Fighters of All Time: Three Heavyweight Champions Included
Published
1 day agoon
July 30, 2026
Terence Crawford has cemented himself amongst boxing’s all-time greats with a number of iconic wins and title triumphs. When asked to name his own top five fighters, ‘Bud’ felt three former heavyweight champions have earned their places.
Crawford made history when he dethroned Canelo Alvarez and captured the undisputed super-middleweight world title last September, becoming the first post-war three-weight undisputed titleholder.
Soon after that generational win, the Omaha switch-hitter announced his retirement from the sport, walking away with an astonishing career that consisted of 42 victories and no defeats; considered to be one of the best boxers to have hung up the gloves with an undefeated record.
On The Real Report podcast with Tony Yayo and Uncle MurdaCrawford named only one unbeaten fighter amongst his all-time top five. Instead, the 38-year-old gave props to three former heavyweight world champions: Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr and Joe Louis.
“I got to put [Muhammad] Ali up there. I got to put Sugar Ray Robinson, I got to put Roy Jones Jr. in his prime. I’ve definitely got to put Floyd Mayweather in and I’ll probably put Joe Louis.”
Ali and Louis spent their entire legendary careers competing at heavyweight, while Jones Jr competed in the banner division just once, becoming the first former world middleweight champion to capture world heavyweight gold in over a century.
As for Crawford, despite announcing his decision to retire, he continues to be called out by active fighters, with Ryan Garcia becoming the latest to call for a shot at putting an end to the veteran’s unbeaten streak.
Boxing
James Dean Fury Credits Uncle Peter for Insight Ahead of Professional Boxing Debut
Published
1 day agoon
July 30, 2026
James Dean Fury has always loved boxing, basically since he was born, but it was only when he started training with his uncle, Peter Fury, that he really began to understand the sport.
Given his name, it is hardly surprising that the latest Fury to turn professional has been immersed in boxing for all of his 20 years.
In fact, the super-middleweight prospect tells Boxing News that he struggles to recall a time when he was involved in anything else.
“I’ve been around the sport all my life; was born and bred into it. So my first activity, as a kid, was obviously boxing.
“When I was born, my mum and dad bought me a pair of gloves and a rope – like a little boxing kit for babies – and, when I first walked into the gym, I just fell in love with it. I loved getting punched in the face and punching other people in the face.
“From around seven or eight years old, I knew this was what I wanted to do for a living. I believe God put me on this planet to fight because, when I’m not boxing, there’s nothing else for me to do.”
It is one thing developing a passion for something, like boxing, but learning how to succeed at something is another matter entirely.
Fortunately, James Dean Fury did not have to go searching far and wide for a knowledgeable teacher, yet still he needed to prove worthy of such valuable tutelage.
“When I started training with my uncle Peter at 13 years old, he really opened my eyes and gave me a clear understanding of where I want to go.
“If I sat here and told you everything I’ve learned off my uncle Peter, we’d be here till Christmas.
“But when I was about 14 years old, he tested me. He put me in a trailer [caravan]just to see if I was really dedicated. Then he took me on full-time.”
As a three-time national amateur champion and 2025 Box Cup winner, it is fair to say that James Dean Fury has proved a receptive student.
But now, the young Fury must go one step further and establish himself in the pro ranks, starting with his Boxxer debut on August 8.
Having inked a deal with Ben Shalom’s promotional outfithe will feature on the undercard of Troy Williamson vs Callum Simpson 2, hoping to show fans that he possesses the indigents to win a world title.
“I’ve always been competitive – whether I’m running a race, at a school sports day or playing a board game … I want to win.
“And when it comes to fighting – something I’ve put my whole life into – please, believe me, I will win. I’ve sacrificed everything for this.”
With such competitive spirit, even the attention that comes with his family name does not seem to faze the cousin of a two-time heavyweight champion.
“Whoever you jump in the ring with, they’re going to try and take your head off. No one’s in there to have a dance with me, especially when they hear my name. We’re in the hurt game.”
It might be a cliché, but James Dean clearly does have boxing in his DNA, along with a fierce desire to reach the pinnacle of his sport.
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