Former unified featherweight world champion Gamboa suffered a setback in his comeback fight, dropping a decision to Ecuador’s Alexander Espinoza in Fort Lauderdale.

The 44-year-old Olympic gold medalist was fighting for the first time since losing to Isaac Cruz in 2022 and had previously shared the ring with elite names such as Terence Crawford, Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis during a professional career that failed to reach the level his amateur success indicated.

Though he was ultimately stopped in the ninth, Gamboa showed flashes of a real threat against Crawfordeven hurting the naturally bigger heavyweight champion during his early stages of success. “Bud” later described it as one of the toughest fights of his career.

Gamboa touched the canvas once this weekend and ultimately lost a split decision to Espinoza, who currently holds a record of 21-5-1.

Elsewhere on the card, fellow Cuban great Guillermo Rigondeaux returned to winning ways with a points victory over Chilean veteran Jose Velasquez. The two-time Olympic gold medalist controlled most of the eight-round contest as he continued his career resurgence at the age of 45.

The win was Rigondeaux’s third since 2023, following an outstanding career that included a notable win over Nonito Donaire and high-profile losses to the likes of Vasily Lomachenko and John Riel Casimero.

While Rigondeaux may continue his boxing career at this level, Gamboa’s next chapter appears to be in another combat sport, having recently signed a multi-fight deal with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, where the Olympic gold medalist hopes to become a champion.

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.