Boxing
From the “tank” to Canelo, seven boxers who would benefit from promotion on weight
Terenka Crawford dare to be great, jumping up two weight classes to challenge the undisputed master of the super medium weight Canelo Alvarez on September 13 in Las Vegas. If it succeeds, this move would put Crawford on a compact list as one of the best – if not the best – boxers of this generation.
Who else in sport would take advantage of larger and better fights?
We identified seven boxers who would gain the most from promoting the weight class (or two) to get more opportunities. Some are obvious and were discussed in the past, while others would raise several eyebrows if the warrior decided that the bump in the scale was worth the challenge.
Canelo Alvarez
Current weight class: 168 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: 175 pounds
If Canelo can reverse Crawford’s challenge next month, he has nothing to do with 168 pounds except the fight against Hamzah Sheeraz, in which the risk is not worth rewards. He already dared to be great in 2022, when he tried to become the owner of a weighty title in losing against Dmitryj Bivol. But the lightweight heavyweight landscape has become even more intriguing David Benavidez’s arrival. Of course, Canelo can also follow Artur Beterbałal or Bivol rematch. But if he really wanted to silence NaSayers, he would finally fight Benavidez in a huge duel between Mexican fighters.
Ji Opea
Current weight class: 200 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: HWeight
Opetsai took the scale weight competition in a circuit scale, and his last challenge is the fight against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. If Australian lethargic wants to do waves, what Oleksandr Usyk did and will lead to heavyweight, where opponents are much more attractive. Fighting with Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker and Andym Ruiz Jr. They are entertaining suggestions, but how about the fight with Usyk, a former undisputed heavyweight champion and the current unquestioned heavyweight champion? This is a fight that Usyk can solve before retiring.
Teofimo Lopez
Current weight class: 140 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: 147/154 pounds
Lopez is one of the best pound boxers in the world when it is closed. It is a great supple -handed weight, and a jump to 147 pounds would set him up to fight the winner of Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney on November 22. Lopez and Haney would mention words in the past, and Norman would make “Acceptance of fascination” on November 22. But why stop at 147 pounds? Lopez is bold enough to jump two classes of weight to fight Jaron “Boots” Ennis. He called Ennis after the dominance of Arnold Barbozy Jr. In May, AZ with “shoes” movement up to 154 pounds against UISMA LIMA on October 11 Lopez could chase. It is a kind of fight that would separate the two -level Lopez master from his peers if he was the first to put an impact on the invincible Ennis record.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis
Current weight class: 135 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: 147 pounds
“Tank” is one of the biggest stars in boxing, but he has not yet faced the opponent of the tent. Moving from 135 to 147 makes a lot of sense, considering the names that would wait for it. While fighting the winner of Norman. vs. Haney would be tempting, a real draw would be a clash with the legendary manna Pacquiao. Considering that Pacquiao fought Mario Barrios – who was knocked out by Davis in 2021 – for a controversial draw in July, in the Philippine Hall of Famer there is still some juice, which makes the fight against Davis worth squeezing. Pacquiao manager Sean Gibbons said that the fight against Davis is also on their radar. The fight between past and great ones would probably be a huge attraction.
Shakur Stevenson
Current weight class: 135 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: 140 pounds
Stevenson’s clouds made him to land duels with the names of the awning in his weight class. It seems that he is not running away in the near future to fight Davis, and Floyd Schofield may not be worth the risk. Instead, Stevenson will have to chase larger names in boxing, and a jump to 140 pounds will bring him opportunities against Lopez, Richardson Hitchinom and Subriel Matias. Stevenson is the best pure boxer in sport, but he will have to move to get recognition, which he deserves some of the major boxing draws.
Junto dug
Current weight class: 118 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: 122 pounds
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Junto Natani Kos David Cuellar in the 3rd round to keep the title of Bantamweight
Junto donated twice knocks David Cuellar in the third round to win KO to keep the title of Bantamweight.
This movement has long been rumors and it is most likely that it will be realized. In the case of the biggest fight in the Japanese history of boxing, the dug out can jump to 122 pounds to challenge Nayy Inoue in the battle with No. 10 and 2 pounds of ESPN boxers, respectively. Two warriors have already agreed orally to face each other in 2026, although the weight class has not yet been established. “Massive Bang” was a weight class for Inoue in pursuit of “Monster” and became the biggest boxing star in Japan. All they have to do is remain a course, and this fight is in the bag.
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
Current weight class: 115 pounds
Proposed up-to-date weight class: 122 pounds
The 25-year-old Rodriguez is no. A 5-year boxer in the world in the world. The two -level world champion is still not a star that he could have been, largely because he competes in smaller weight classes. If “Bam” moved from 115 pounds to 122 pounds, he could meet with Inoue in the battle of destructive finalists. In a 52-0 connection with 42 knockouts between them, it would undoubtedly be a battle from the action that would probably be on the compact Fight of the Year list.
The Matchroom promoter believes this approach prevents reporters from pressing White on more complex topics related to the business side of combat sports.
“I listen to these guys asking questions and no one is pushing him,” Hearn said. “Nobody’s really asking any solemn questions. Nobody’s really asking any of the right questions. It’s a huge machine that you can’t get close to and ask real questions.”
Hearn suggested that reporters covering White should challenge him on issues such as fighter compensation and revenue sharing in the UFC.
“When I’m in the middle of a media row, I ask the question: if Tom Aspinall is generating more money into the pot than Conor Benn, why is he making 10 times less money?” Hearn said. “Can you answer that?”
The comparison between Aspinall and Benn highlights one of the arguments Hearn has repeatedly made when discussing the financial differences between boxing and mixed martial arts. In boxing, fighters typically negotiate individual amounts for events, television rights and commercial deals. The UFC, on the other hand, operates on the basis of long-term promotional contracts that determine the remuneration of fighters.
Hearn’s comments come amid growing friction between the British promoter and White following the launch of Zuffa Boxing. The first major events under the modern venture, backed by TKO Group Holdings and Saudi investment, are expected to take place later this year as White moves beyond MMA.
White has already publicly fired Hearn, describing him as just another manager entering the MMA space. Meanwhile, Hearn questioned the initial direction of the project and the quality of the events produced so far.
The exchange quickly turned into one of the more high-profile rivalries surrounding efforts to build a modern boxing league.
Hearn’s criticism of interview restrictions also touches on a broader issue in combat sports media: how much reporters can challenge promoters and management when access to fighters and events often depends on maintaining professional relationships. These questions need to continue to be asked, according to Hearn.
Undisputed lithe heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol could pursue a rematch with Canelo Alvarez or a fight with David Benavidez once he finishes his current duties in the division.
Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, outlined the champion’s preferred path in comments provided by Dan Rafael, explaining that Bivol intends to first pursue a mandatory IBF defense and then return to competing with Artur Beterbiev.
He is expected to have a mandatory defense against Michael Eifert this spring. The fight was scheduled for May 23 at a gala headlined by unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
After fulfilling this obligation, Bivol’s team wants to immediately start the third fight with Beterbiev. Their rivalry produced two closely watched fights, leaving unfinished business between two fighters who have dominated the lithe heavyweight division for the past several years and built one of the most respected rivalries in the sport.
More intriguing possibilities emerge after this trilogy. Rafael reported that Bivola’s camp sees a second fight with Canelo as one of the main options still available to the champion. Bivol defeated Alvarez by unanimous decision in 2022, handing the Mexican star one of the clearest defeats of his career.
Another potential opponent in question is Benavidez, who has moved up to lithe heavyweight and has been seeking a chance to fight the top fighters in the division. The fight between Bivol and Benavidez will pit the undefeated Mexican-American challenger against a champion who currently holds four major division titles.
Kornilov also suggested that Bivol could eventually prove himself at cruiserweight, although such an idea appears to be more of a long-term possibility than an immediate plan for the undefeated champion.
For now, the plan of action remains straightforward: fulfill the IBF mandate against Eifert, complete the trilogy with Beterbiev, and then fight one of the most crucial fights that could decide the final stage of Bivol’s career.
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