Boxing
Heavyweight “Last Viking” with 14 knockouts in just 26 rounds
Published
2 months agoon
Boxing has long been crying out for another true knockout artist after Deontay Wilder’s gradual decline towards the end of his career.
There are still champions and challengers in the heavyweight division, but it’s increasingly arduous to find the kind of raw knockout threat that once made Wilder must-watch TV.
Thomas Narmo may still be a long way from that level, but early signs suggest the Norwegian known as ‘The Last Viking’ could finally enter the conversation if his current form continues.
The 31-year-old knocked out all 14 of his opponents in just 26 rounds, a devastating start that made the heavyweight division another uncommon artist who can boast a 100 percent knockout record.
He turned professional in 2022 following his previous MMA career.
The heavyweight numbers stand out
Much of the heavyweight buzz at the moment centers around undefeated prospect Moses Itauma, a teenage sensation who has been carefully developed by promoter Frank Warren into one of the UK’s most talked-about prospects.
Itauma’s rise has dominated the headlines, but an unknown like Narmo coming out of European competition with a perfect knockout record provides a refreshing contrast.
However, the effectiveness of Narmo’s work to date cannot be ignored.
The statuesque Norwegian is 180 cm statuesque and in the distance he broke through 14 professional opponents. That works out to roughly 1.8 rounds per fight, which is a remarkable finishing rate for any potential heavyweight.
Many of these attacks barely had time to develop.
Seven of Narmo’s wins have come after the opening round, highlighting the strength of the early fight that defined his perfect knockout record.
This destructiveness traditionally turns heavyweights into attractions. Fighters who can end fights before they actually start quickly attract attention, even if they operate outside the sport’s main promotional spotlight.
Two years of operation
Activism also played a role in building Narmo’s momentum. The Norwegian fought ten times in just two years, fighting mainly in Germany and Central Europe, constantly extending his knockout streak.
At a time when many prospects are sluggish to come along and only show up a few times a year, this level of activity adds extra substance to his record.
It doesn’t answer all the questions, but it shows that Narmo doesn’t stay idle between appearances.
Still a lot to prove
Narmo’s most notable win at the moment is probably that of Mark De Mori, the veteran campaigner who lasted just 131 seconds in a match against a semi-injured David Haye over a decade ago.
The victory was respectable, but not necessarily a statement.
There is still a lot to prove. In the heavyweight division, many fighters have broken impressive records before discovering that the leap to world-class competition is much more arduous than expected.
For Narmo, the real test will come when matchmaking inevitably pushes him towards higher ranked opponents capable of weathering the early storm.
However, if knockouts continue at this rate, boxing’s “Last Viking” may not remain an unknown for long.
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. Read the full biography.
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Boxing
Shakur Stevenson called for a fight to unite stadiums: “It’s a dream”
Published
44 minutes agoon
April 24, 2026
Shakur Stevenson faces a tantalizing opportunity, but only at 140 pounds, as he considers possible opponents for his next fight.
It appears that the 28-year-old has not yet set a date for his next fight dethroning Teofimo Lopezthe then-WBO super-lightweight champion, who scored huge in January.
A world champion in four weight divisions, Stevenson is now looking for a challenge at 140 to 135 pounds, where he previously held the WBC title.
A name that has been mentioned multiple times is Raymond Muratalla, the IBF and Ring Magazine belt holder after he overtook Andy Cruz in January.
From Stevenson’s perspective, the possibility of becoming Ring Magazine’s three-division champion is what makes a potential fight with Muratalla particularly attractive.
At the same time, however, a unification bout with Dalton Smith at 140 pounds certainly deserves consideration later this year.
Like Stevenson, the WBC champion won the super lightweight world title in January, dethroning Subriel Matias with a fifth-round away victory.
To get his next assignment, Smith will have to face mandatory challenger Alberto Puello on June 6, headlining the Matchroom Boxing gala at the Sheffield Arena.
If he manages to defend his title, the 29-year-old is eager to face Stevenson in a transatlantic battle that he compares to Floyd Mayweather’s fight with Ricky Hatton.
I’m talking to Ring MagazineSmith said that ideally this “dream” fight would take place at Hillsborough Stadium – home of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club – or even Las Vegas.
“Of course [it’s a dream fight]. It’s just a repeat [Mayweather-Hatton]whether we do it in Hillsborough or on a huge night in Vegas.
“These are the fights that need to be fought – these are the most essential fights.”
Dalton Smith calls for a “dream fight” with Ring junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/CsOgih6G8l
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) April 23, 2026
Earlier in the interview, the Briton said he felt an obligation to continue his development to “do it for the people and ensure that huge fight nights come back to Sheffield.”
If Stevenson retains his WBO title, he could theoretically face Smith later this year, but perhaps by then he will be more likely to focus on alternative options.
Boxing
Jarrell Miller mocks Lenier Pero ahead of WBA eliminator in Las Vegas
Published
3 hours agoon
April 24, 2026
Miller and Pero will meet Saturday night at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas in a fight that could give the winner a much stronger position in the heavyweight division. At Thursday’s news conference, Miller made it clear he intended to make the preparation as raucous as the fight.
“It’s like a Lotus Elise sports car: quite swift, not very powerful, nimble in the corners,” Miller said. “I’m like a huge garbage truck and I’m going to fucking run him over.”
Although he still doesn’t have a name, the 37-year-old version of Miller is fighting for survival. Since his return in 2023, his record hasn’t screamed “title contender.”
For Miller, the fight against Pero is his last chance to stay relevant. At the age of 37, another loss, especially to a wiser, younger Cuban like Pero, will likely relegate him to an opponent for the rest of his career.
He still tries to apply that same Brooklyn swagger to annoy Pero, but the stakes are completely different now. In 2019, he was an undefeated contender with the world at his feet. In 2026, he will be a veteran who wants to prove that he is not just a “garbage truck” with a dead battery.
The Brooklyn heavyweight has long relied on pressure, high intensity and personality, and he promised more of the same against the Cuban.
“It’s not going to be pretty. He may run away, but I’m going to grab his ass and when I do, his goose will be cooked, plain and straightforward,” Miller said.
Pero didn’t match Miller’s acting, but he dismissed the argument and said the real answer would come after the first bell.
“He said a lot of nonsense, but it doesn’t affect me mentally in any way,” Pero said. “I’m going to go in there and break him. I talk with my fists in the ring.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn described the contest as an significant heavyweight fight in which the winner will take a significant step towards greater opportunities.
Miller missed out on a fight with Anthony Joshua in 2019 that would have made him a opulent man and set him up for life. He tested positive for a banned substance and was subsequently replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr.
That huge “what if” question must have haunted him every time he looked at his bank account. That $5 million plus the payout for the Joshua fight was Miller’s golden ticket to the elite level of the sport. Instead, he watched as Andy Ruiz Jr. walks into Madison Square Garden, shocks the world and becomes a global superstar while Miller was sidelined and serving probation.
If Pero can handle the early pressure and take advantage of Miller’s aging gas tank, the “goose is cooked” statement could prove prophetic for Miller’s career.
Boxing
Deontay Wilder summoned by a fierce rival after years of sparring sessions ended with a hospital stay
Published
5 hours agoon
April 24, 2026
Deontay Wilder is likely to have another major fight before the end of the year following his success against Derek Chisora, and now one of his fiercest rivals has called for a “personal” grudge fight.
Wilder made it two straight wins for the first time since 2019, first beating Tyrrell Herndon in a low-key comeback last June and then winning a split decision over Derek Chisora earlier this month.
After the victory over Chisora, it seems that the “Bronze Bomber” has returned to competition in an crucial fight, either for the world title or against an opponent who will challenge him for the belts.
However, talking to Fighting Hub TVfellow American Jarrell Miller downplayed Wilder’s recent resurgence, unimpressed with his victory over “Del Boy”.
“Fuck no [I wasn’t impressed by his performance against Chisora]. He looked like a super b***h. I don’t think Chisora was 100% ready for this fight because compared to the last three fights Chisora had, his conditioning was much better, he looked much stronger [in those fights].
“He looked a little flat in it and Deontay looked like a super b***h.
Miller then admitted that he would love the opportunity to meet his 40-year-old compatriot, stating that their rivalry had become personal due to the situation involving Wilder’s former fiancée.
“I would love to fight Deontay, but Deontay repeatedly said, ‘I will never fight Miller,’ and then when I said more bullshit, ‘I will never fight Miller because he was so disrespectful.’ I said, ‘You’re a punk bitch, we’re fighters, bro!’
“It’s kind of personal because he took it personally. I never said it personally, I always respected him as an older brother because we went to camp a few times, but then he took his ex’s word for it about some things I told him and took it the wrong way. Then he came and found out that I was right.”
“He took it personally… Like I say bro, he didn’t listen to that motto before he did it – now he feels the wrath of that shit.”
The pair have been exchanging blows for years, including: Wilder previously claimed he sent Miller to hospital after a particularly brutal sparring session.
On Saturday night, Miller fights WBA No. 2 Lenier Perowanting to prove that he is the United States’ best chance at regaining the heavyweight title.
Shakur Stevenson called for a fight to unite stadiums: “It’s a dream”
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Jarrell Miller mocks Lenier Pero ahead of WBA eliminator in Las Vegas
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