Boxing
Francesco Grandelli promises to be nervous in his European title clash with Liam Davies
Published
4 weeks agoon
Anyone who knows Francesco Grandelli knows that Liam Davies will most likely be in for a long night at the office.
Featherweight fighter Donnington was alleged to have collided with Zak Miller at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on the Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin fight card this Saturday.
However, with Miller injured, Davies will face Grandelli in a fascinating fight for the vacant European title.
After robust performances against Nathaniel Davies and Cristobal Lorente – who enter their rematch on April 17 – Grandelli is certainly no stranger to fighting at this level.
Despite losing to both world-renowned challengers, the Italian managed to showcase the effectiveness of his style, repeatedly landing weighty hooks and uppercuts while also displaying wise footwork that could be exploited from the inside.
Not surprisingly, his cordial approach to fans has been well received in his home country, where Grandelli says he has become a customer with a good reputation.
“My trick was to never miss a match and try to put on a show in every match, not thinking about the verdict or sparing myself, but trying to entertain the audience and give them great emotions.”
The 31-year-old’s willingness to seize every opportunity has led him to this point, where he faces Davies in a fight that his promoter, Christian Cherchi, negotiated with Queensberry Promotions.
But while talented fighters like Grandelli have managed to come this far, Cherchi insists that organizing boxing events in Italy is no effortless task.
“It’s hard because boxing in general is difficult to get attention. We had a period from the end of 2018 to May 2022 where we played shows with Matchroom and DAZN.
“When that period ended, we did a few shows with Top Rank on ESPN and Francesco fought for European titles a few times.
“We’re struggling a bit at the moment. We have DAZN Italy, but it’s always hard to set up something vital. But we try every time.
“We are also promoting Cristobal Llorente. Llorente was European champion and when we finalized the deal for [Collins-Llorente 2]Llorente vacated the title.
“I was working with Queensberry to fight for the vacant title against Francesco. We knew about it three weeks before the announcement [on February 23] anyway, Francesco is always training, working in the gym and keeping fit.”
As for his upcoming assignment, Grandelli believes his two fights against Collins and Llorente, both of which he lost via unanimous decision, have prepared him for an opponent of Davies’ quality.
The Italian believes his advantage in speed and movement should allow him to create a large chance.
“[Davies is] definitely a high-level opponent, but I’ve fought other high-level opponents, so I’m not afraid of it.
“I think my mobility and speed [will play a factor]. [Davies] it seems very robust, with a lot of intensity, but I think I’m faster and more agile.
“These matches motivate me to give my all. I know that a victory over him will take me to an even higher level.
“My aspiration is to win the world title and challenge the best champions. I know I’m a few steps brief, but we’re working on it. The goal is there.”
A world title fight against any of the featherweight champions, including Bruce Carrington, Rafael Espinoza, Brandon Figueroa and Angelo Leo, would certainly be a remarkable achievement for Grandelli, who has a chance to move one step closer to that level with a victory over Davies.
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Boxing
Jared Anderson withdraws from May 9 fight with a torn bicep
Published
2 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Ring Magazine reports that Anderson withdrew from his fight with Solomon Dacres after suffering a bicep injury. The 10-round heavyweight bout was scheduled for Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Anderson (18-1, 15 KO) was looking for another step back after a knockout loss to Martin Bakole in 2024. Instead, the 26-year-old now faces another delay at a bad time in his career.
The fight at Dacres was not a world-class test, but it had value. Anderson needed rounds, activity and a consistent win on a major heavyweight card. Now that’s gone, and the injury gives critics more room to question where his career is headed.
The reaction from boxing fans was fierce, with several responses pointing out Anderson’s injury history and durability. Some questioned whether his body would hold up in the heavyweight division. Others suggested he might have to consider considering the cruiserweight division if physical problems persist.
It may be tough, but it’s the kind of failure that changes the way you view your prospect. Anderson still has talent, but he’s no longer talked about as a pure future heavyweight star. Now he’s trying to prove he can stay vigorous long enough to rebuild.
Moving to Queensberry and fighting in the UK seemed like a desperate attempt to find a novel environment that could boost his confidence. But this bicep injury is a disaster because it adds another year of rust to a psyche that already looked feeble. You won’t rebuild your self-confidence at the gym.
A torn bicep effectively means Jared Anderson’s career will be in frigid storage until the end of 2026. Recovery from this type of surgery usually takes six to nine months before a player can even think about hitting a full-power shot with that hand.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most significant fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
Boxing
Mike Tyson is nearing the end of his career at the age of 60 after Mayweather’s snubs and injuries
Published
4 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Mike Tyson is nearing the end of his career as Floyd Mayweather’s recent cancellation of an exhibition may have put the final nail in the coffin.
Tyson’s Hall of Fame tenure, which incredibly extended at the age of 57 against Jake Paul in 2024, was approaching his final appearance against Mayweather.
The fight had been talked about for months as if it had actually happened. A date was set, attention was paid, but the reality never lived up to the headlines as the proposed event failed to advance beyond early discussion and quietly faded away.
There was a lack of explanation, space and real emphasis. In the case of a Floyd Mayweather event, this is usually the biggest prize.
When Mayweather wants a fight, he promotes it. This time he didn’t.
Instead, Mayweather moved on. His confirmed return against Mike Zambidis in Athens made it clear what his focus was, leaving the Tyson fight on the sidelines – most likely for good.
Time and injuries
Time has also caught up with this idea.
Tyson will turn 60 in June, and his next fights will be a huge surprise considering everything that has already happened.
He almost died when Paul’s fight was postponed from April to November two years ago, which Tyson himself later detailed after an in-flight medical emergency left the former champion fighting for his life.
That alone should be a warning.
Combine that with previous back surgery, appearing in a cast on his arm just last month, and the massive amounts of marijuana Mike is consuming, and another comeback seems unthinkable.
Tyson has been through a lot, but it’s a completely different situation for the hard-hitting Modern Yorker.
The last chapter
The Mayweather fight was the one that could have sent Mike flying with fanfare.
It had the name, the curiosity and the setting that could allow Tyson to make one last appearance without everything that comes with a full comeback.
Now that’s gone and it looks like his fight with Paul is all she wrote.
World Boxing News has already reported that Tyson’s former rival, Oliver McCall, is continuing to fight at the age of 61, but Tyson was never that type of fighter.
If he does not regain full health in the coming months, boxing fans will likely see the last of the youngest heavyweight champion of all time.
At this point, the opportunity has passed and nothing else on the table carries the same weight.
Mainly because it feels like Mike Tyson’s swan song has already happened.
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. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, published exclusive international performances and reported on in-ring performances. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.
Boxing
Naoya Inoue Offered Another Super Fight If He Beats Nakatani: ‘I’m Ready Anytime’
Published
4 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Naoya Inoue received another career-defining challenge before she even stepped into the ring against Junto Nakatani.
First and foremost, “The Monster” must defend his undisputed super bantamweight crown against Nakatani on May 2, headlining the blockbuster Japanese event at the Tokyo Dome.
This will mark Inoue’s seventh defense of his four major 122-pound titles, and the uncompromising feeling has been considered the top star of the two-pound-for-pound division.
The 33-year-old’s most notable victories came against the likes of Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas, who both defeated the undisputed two-division champion but were ultimately stopped in rounds six and eight, respectively.
Meanwhile, Nakatani is widely considered to be Inoue’s toughest opponent to date, even though the three-division world champion lost debatable points of victory over Sebastian Hernandez in December last year.
However, to be fair, this was his first appearance at 122 pounds and many expected the 28-year-old to raise his level against Inoue.
However, in a world where Inoue is winning, it is becoming more and more likely that he will consider a potential fight with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
The unified super flyweight champion will move up to 118 pounds for his next fight, where he will face WBA champion Antonio Vargas on June 13.
If this next assignment is successful, Rodriguez will talk about it Ring Magazine that he will jump up another weight class to face Inoue.
“I’m ready at any time. If I was offered this fight right now, I would definitely accept it.”
Although Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed initial talks about the fight, there is equally a chance that “Bam” will drop down to 115 pounds in pursuit of undisputed glory.
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