Boxing
Evergreen Callum Smith awarded with newly discovered satisfaction in victory
Published
1 year agoon
Callum Smith pleases the restoration of massive lithe to the top of the victory over Joshua Batsi.
At the age of 34 and being surprised that he was weaker against Batsi, who lost only to the saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Artur Beterbav and did not see how Batsi fights at the highest level, revived his career in a potentially defining fight by gaining a unanimous decision on the place of Riyad in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening.
Smith received the results of 119-110, 116-112 and 115-113 at the end of the entertainment and competitive competition, in which he was stern enough to have to go to the hospital immediately after recording one of his most impressive victories.
By winning the slightly recognized fleeting title of WBO from his previously undefeated, 31-year-old opponent, he also put himself on the course to fight Beterbaiev again, and even Dmitry Bivol-Russian will fight for the third time later in 2025-and he showed that he showed that he showed that The lucrative competition with David Benavidez is another most attractive that can be performed.
His victory took place just over six months after the potential competition between Batsi and Anthony Yarde was presented as capable of establishing a leading British massive weight. It also happened just over a year after its only defeat throughout Beterbaview, which so much contributed to the suggestion that he had collapsed.
“I had two losses,” said IFL TV. “Two people who beat me put me on the back foot. People do not realize that I am a very, very good warrior inside – I am very, very good up close and I knew that in this kind of fight I could get to the top. I thought [Buatsi would] Try to suffocate me; get closer; Put off your work inside. But I knew I would beat him in this kind of fight.
“I beat him on a range, but up close, buddy [McGirt, my trainer] He told me to stay inside and shortened my shots. It probably made a better fight to watch, but I’m glad I showed it. People forgot about it with the two fights that I lost.
“For weighing [one of Buatsi’s team] He shouted over his shoulder: “He is damaged goods”, which in my opinion is a bit disrespectful. I get that you have to raise your man, but a few weeks ago a youthful warrior lost her life. Shouting such things is a bit disrespectful. He comes to the locker room to watch me pull my hands, and commented on some comments, which I thought was a disrespect. But I bit my lip, and then I said, “Never talk to me like this,” and he said, “I have to say a little.” Apparently I’m not [damaged goods]. Not yet.”
Since his defeat of Alvarez in 2020, Smith’s career and perception of his skills have also been undermined by his relative inaction, and the cut he experienced may still prevent him from returning to the ring to the ring, as he could expect.
“When they looked at the cut, they said that it was also indented inside – I probably need plastic surgery – but they had to sew both inside and outside,” he said. “I had to go there [to the hospital]Check it out, scan the bones there – it’s all right. All sewn.
“The plan has been boarded all week, do work, win, win, do a pizza and sit down and enjoy an amazing program [Smith and Buatsi had fought on the undercard of Beterbiev-Bivol II]. It didn’t go to the set – I had to go straight to the hospital – and I had to take me off when I went to the hospital. But I am cheerful with the result – I think I have proved that many people are wrong and I am cheerful.
“I thought about it [119-110 scorecard] It was very wide – it was a bit strict for Josh Batsi. When it was announced that I know I would win because there was no way he would win so wide. I don’t think I won so widely, but the other two results cards-there were eight four, seven five years. I always felt that I was ahead of us, but he was competitive and there were times when I felt like I was starting to rotate the screw, and then back and came back. It was one of them fights. But from the first round I felt that I was always ahead of us. It was a challenging fight – I made a few shots. He made several shots. I didn’t realize how good the fight was. It was just a challenging fight. “
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Boxing
Pierce OLeary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights
Published
23 hours agoon
August 1, 2026
LIVE COVERAGE
World Boxing News provides live results and updates from Dublin as Pierce O’Leary faces Mark Chamberlain at super lightweight.
Queensberry Promotions returns to the 3Arena with an action-packed card headed by the unbeaten Irish star O’Leary, who meets former British champion Chamberlain in the main event.
The undercard also features Gary Cully, Reece Bellotti, Sean McComb, Steven Cairns, Ben Fail and several unbeaten Irish prospects.
Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain Results
Times are Local – IST
17:46
Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the tenth round to improve to 20-2.
Cully overcame a fifth-round point deduction for repeatedly losing his gumshield before dropping Reeves twice in the final round to force the stoppage.
The victory marked Cully’s 11th knockout win as a professional.
17:01
Sean McComb returned with a comfortable six-round points victory over Miguel Antin.
McComb won every round on the referee’s scorecard, claiming a 60-54 decision to improve his record to 22-2.
16:31
Machlan Arthur improved to 2-0 with his second straight knockout by stopping Ryan Frost in the fourth round.
Arthur dropped Frost twice in the final session before the referee waved the contest off at 1:05 of round four.
Remaining Bouts
• Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – IBO World Super Lightweight Title (12)
• Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti – Vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (10)
• Gary Cully vs Lee Reeves – Super Lightweight (10)
• Steven Cairns vs Senan Kelly – Super Lightweight (10)
• Ben Fail vs Craig O’Brien – Super Welterweight (10)
• Bobbi Flood vs Tariq Davis – Super Welterweight (6)
• Adam Olaniyan vs Jonathan Claudio Sauco – Heavyweight (4)
• John Joe Carrigan vs Sean Murray – Super Welterweight (4)
• Sami Hamed vs Bela Istvan Orban – Super Welterweight (4)

Preview
Pierce O’Leary tops a major night of boxing in Dublin as the unbeaten Irishman takes on Mark Chamberlain for the IBO World super lightweight title.
O’Leary enters the contest looking to continue his rise through the rankings against the experienced Chamberlain, who aims to return to winning ways after a draw in his third outing since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.
The chief support sees Royston Barney-Smith meet Reece Bellotti for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title.
Gary Cully also returns in an intriguing domestic clash with fellow unbeaten Irishman Lee Reeves, while Steven Cairns faces Senan Kelly in another all-Irish encounter.
Sean McComb, Ben Fail, Bobbi Flood, Adam Olaniyan, Machlan Arthur, John Joe Carrigan and Sami Hamed also feature on the Queensberry Promotions card.
Updates will be added below as the action unfolds in Dublin, with more live coverage on World Boxing News.
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.
Boxing
Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a Dangerman in Conor Benn at 147 lbs
Published
1 day agoon
August 1, 2026
Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan has named one half of the main event between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn as the “dangerman” at 147lbs.
The two welterweights will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12, with Garcia making a first defence of his WBC world title.
He claimed the belt by dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February, which followed his surprising points loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025.
Interestingly enough, this defeat came shortly after his year-long doping ban, which he served on account of testing positive for ostarine ahead of his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.
The result of their showdown was then ruled a no-contest, with Garcia subsequently moving up to welterweight after failing to keep below the 140lb limit.
It now seems the 27-year-old is competing at a more natural weight while Benn, who tested positive for clomifene in 2022, has not made 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden that same year.
Speaking with talkSPORTIrish boxing icon McGuigan suggested that this – as well as the 29-year-old’s technical flaws – could prove a major factor against Garcia.
“[Benn’s] got that genetic code from his dad, and he’s got that explosiveness and everything else. But he is predictable – you can see when he’s going to throw.
“You ask yourself: is Garcia just a little bit too sharp for him? A little bit too cute. I think Garcia’s finally found the weight he’s most suitable [for]. I think he’s a dangerman at 147[lbs].
“Maybe Conor Benn has left it a little too late to make 147[lbs] again. I think that could be his Achilles’ heel. I make Garcia a slight favourite but would never write off Conor Benn – he’s got that fighting heart.”
Benn comes off a unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis in April, which followed his two middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr last year.
Boxing
Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot
Published
1 day agoon
August 1, 2026
Devin Haney’s immediate future has been thrown into uncertainty after Keyshawn Davis pulled out of their mandated contest on Friday.
The pair had been ordered to collide for Haney’s WBO world title, with Davis having been named as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger at 147lbs.
Multiple reports then suggested that the 27-year-old was offered $3m by Top Rank, his promoter, only for ‘The Businessman’ to reject what would have been a career-high payday.
Subsequently, their bout went to a purse bit hearing, where Top Rank trumped Teofimo Lopez’s Takeover Promotions with a sum of $8,550,000.
This therefore gave Bob Arum’s outfit the promotional rights and, as per the usual 75/25 split in favour of the defending champion, Davis would have been entitled to a share of $2,137,500.
Since Thursday’s auction, though, Davis has excluded himself from the fight and left Haney without an obvious opponent for his first welterweight title defence.
Taking to social mediaWBO president Gustavo Olivieri explained that his organisation must now provide their champion with a solution.
“The WBO hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid proceedings and, accordingly, will NOT participate in the WBO welterweight mandatory championship contest against Devin Haney.
“In light of the foregoing, the WBO Championship Committee and Ratings Committee will convene to proceed in accordance with the WBO world championship rules and regulations. The applicable ruling will be rendered and published in due course.”
Re: WBO Welterweight Participant Keyshawn Davis
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Mr. Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid…
— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. (@OlivieriLaw) July 31, 2026
At this stage, it remains to be seen whether Haney will be immediately ordered to face a new mandatory challenger or, given the situation, have the opportunity to make a voluntary defence.
Either way, the 27-year-old has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr in November and is surely eager to return to action.
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