Boxing
Bernie Davis encourages “Boots” to fight Bakhram Murtazaliev
Published
8 months agoon
Trainer Bernie Davis says he wants Jaron “Boots” Ennis next to pursue 154-pound bogeyman, IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, to prove his worth.
Davis says that given the way Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn is praising him as Terence Crawford’s successor, he wants him to take a real risk and fight Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KO) next. He doesn’t think WBA champion Abass Baraou is worthy of fighting in the Boots.
Strike while victory is fresh
Hearn only briefly mentioned Murtazaliev’s name last Saturday after Ennis’ first-round knockout victory over Uisma Lima in Philadelphia. The fighter he talked about most was WBC junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr., whom he credits as the first step toward earning a fight with Crawford. I disagree. Ennis is now ready for Crawford.
Defeating Vergil Jr. and there is no need for Bakhram for “Boots” to call in Crawford and fight him now, before he gets much older. He already has an age excuse if he loses, claiming he is 38 years venerable.
If Ennis waits another year or two, Crawford will live to be 40; there is little to be gained by beating him in terms of legacy. It’s time. Crawford just defeated Canelo Alvarez, and while that victory is still fresh, “Boots” should fight him before it fades away. You saw how tired Crawford looked after the fight. He looked 38 and then older and fought like him too. Except Canelo was worse.
Beating Bakhram means something
“If Bakhram is a bogeyman and this guy [Ennis] is a Roy Jones Jr. hybrid. and Terence Crawford, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t fight this guy,” coach Bernie Davis said. MillCity Boxing that Jaron “Boots” Ennis will next face IBF 154-pound champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Bakhram, 32, has not fought since last year, when he defeated Tim Tszyu in the third round on October 19, 2024. Who knows what impact this year has had on him outside the ring? Besides, he had never beaten anyone of note before this fight, and he was fighting Jack Culcay. As we saw with Tszyu’s recent seventh-round loss to Sebastian Fundora on July 19, he is not as good as fans thought. Fundora is not a robust puncher, but he crushed Tszyu.
“I’m looking for him to make a statement against Bakhram. Because this kid doesn’t want to fight,” Davis said. “If he [Ennis] he fights the WBA champion [Abass Baraou]we might as well cancel it. I don’t want to hear anything about “Boots” anymore. If he doesn’t fight Bakhram, Vergil Ortiz or Xander Zayas.
Baraou (17-1, 9 KO) is a better fighter than WBO champion Xander Zayas. The way he performed in his recent 12-round unanimous decision defeat of WBA 154-pound interim champion Yoenis Tellez suggests he’s tougher than Zayas. If the shoe had been on the other foot, Xander couldn’t have done this to Cuban Tellez.
Davis: Boots vs. Vergil is 50-50
“I prefer him over Xander. I think it’s 50-50 between him and Vergil Ortiz because Vergil won’t be impressed with those combinations,” Davis said.
Chris Williams is a senior writer for Boxing News 24covering sports since 2013 and reporting on major events around the world. His relationships range from established champions to hungry prospects vying for recognition. Over the years, Chris has worked with many of boxing’s top brass, earning respect for his insightful analysis and insider perspective.
Last update: 13/10/2025
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Boxing
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Published
26 minutes agoon
June 13, 2026
Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.
At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.
After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.
The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020
Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.
Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.
Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.
“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”
“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”
Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).
“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.
Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.
“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.
Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.
Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.
The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.
Max Kellerman reacts to Canelo Álvarez’s comments about Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias 👀#InsideTheRing | The latest episode LIVE NOW on YouTube The Ring 📺 pic.twitter.com/tfOhDtjgit
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) June 12, 2026
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Boxing
Errol Spence Jr puts himself in line for an All-American main event if he wins his comeback against Tszyu
Published
4 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
Errol Spence Jr gained additional motivation to defeat Tim Tszyu, knowing that the winner of the upcoming fight could face a potentially more lucrative opportunity.
The two former world champions will face each other on July 25 in Australia, with Tszyu having the home advantage and looking to rejoin the world stage.
To do this, the 31-year-old must defeat a credible opponent and prove that despite losing three of his last six fights, he remains one of the top super welterweight fighters in the world.
Ideally, he would have fought Spence at 154 pounds, but given his opponent’s three-year layoff, Tszyu ultimately agreed to fight at the catchweight of 158 pounds.
Before the long break, Spence lost the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles to Terence Crawford, who defeated his rival with a surprisingly one-sided ninth-round stoppage.
However, even before his loss to “Bud,” many believed that “The Truth” would be better suited to the 154-pound division, where he plans to make his mark after his triumph over Tszyu.
If such a plan comes to fruition, Spence could enter into a national feud with Jermell Charlo, who has not fought since unanimous decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in September 2023
According to Mike Coppinger of Ring MagazineCharlo could very well face Tszyu if the Australian wins the fight against Spence.
“I was told he would be lined up to win [Spence-Tszyu]. Of course, nothing has been done yet. I’m told that behind the scenes, Charlo is being lined up for this fight, which will take place at 154 pounds.[lbs]”
Before the 168-pound fight with Canelo, Charlo became the undisputed super welterweight champion by dethroning Brian Castano by a 10th-round stoppage in 2022, less than a year after his controversial boxing draw.
The 36-year-old achieved this ambition by training under Derrick James, who is also Spence’s former head coach.
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Hamzah Sheeraz should fight Osleys Iglesias first
Errol Spence Jr puts himself in line for an All-American main event if he wins his comeback against Tszyu
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