UK Boxing
International Boxing Association Announces Star Guests for ‘Boxing Festival’
Published
5 months agoon
The latest edition of the biennial IBA tournament began yesterday, with the qualifying, quarterfinal and semifinal stages lasting until December 11.
The tournament consists of two sessions, with the afternoon session running from 17:00 to 21:00 local time (13:00-17:00 GMT) and the evening session starting at 21:30 and lasting until midnight local time (17:30-20:00 GMT).
Who’s fighting?
The tournament features the sport’s most promising amateur talent, including multiple Olympic champions, national champions and many others.
More than 100 countries and 400 boxers will compete in Dubai, including six from Great Britain.
The exceptional talents who can showcase their skills include:
- Julio La Cruz (KUB) – Two-time Olympic champion
- Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB) – two-time Olympic champion
- Abdumalik Khalokov (UZB) – Olympic champion
- Loren Alfonso Dominguez (AZE) – finalist of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- Nurbek Oralbay (KAZ) – finalist of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- Aibek Oralbay (KAZ) – Two-time Asian champion
- Mohamad Mehdi Sahak (English)
- Vincent Mandair (English)
- Leo’s Church (Scotland)
- Alan Perrie (Scotland)
- Robert McNulty (Scottish)
- Nicholas Devlin (Scotland)
There is a record prize pool at stake, with the boxers taking 50 percent of the prize pool, 25 percent going to the coaches and team, and the remaining funds going to the athlete’s national teams.
The total amount of $8.32 million (6.3 million) will be divided in the following format:
- 1st place: $300,000 (£227,000)
- 2nd place: $150,000 (£113,650)
- Joint third place: $75,000 (£56,800)
- 5th place: $10,000 (£7,500)

Who is part of the IBA team?
Umar Kremlev, former Olympic Games participant and president of the International Boxing Association, spoke during the event.
“In December we will set a modern benchmark in boxing history.
“The Elite Men’s World Championships in Dubai will not simply be a competition, it will be a global boxing festival; unparalleled in scale, talent and spirit. With over 95 national federations to date and world-class athletes such as Hasanboy Dustmatov and the legendary Julio La Cruz of Cuba, this event will be one of the sport’s greatest showcases ever.”
“The IBA is not just an organizer; we are the world authority in boxing. We understand our audience because we are the sport, we live it, shape it and uplift it. Our subject matter knowledge goes beyond what others know, and this championship will be a testament to the IBA’s leadership, vision and legacy.”

Along with Kremlev and CEO Chris Roberts, eight-time world champion Manny Pacquiao was announced as vice president of the IBA.

Kubrat Pulev vs. Murat Gassiev
At the end of the tournament, the IBA will also organize an evening of professional boxing at the stadium December 12.
Kubrat Pulev is scheduled to defend the interim WBA world title against Murat Gassiev. He was originally scheduled to face Moses Itauma, but was later rejected.
An Undercard performance with the participation of stars is also planned.
Muhammed Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh (11,2,1), will face Jeremiah Sserwadda (12,4,1) at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Yorkshire’s Maxi Hughes travels to try and win WBA lightweight title eliminator against Bakhodur Usmonov (11,0,0).

In addition to the over-week-long talent showcase, IBA promises a star-studded lineup of guests in Dubai, and just a few of the names coming to the event include:
- Ben Whittaker
- Darren Till
- Fabio Wardley

- Dave Allen
- George Groves
- Castillo
- Spencer Oliver
- Paul Smith
- Jackson Rampage
- Frazer Clarke
Global pop star Rick Ross kicked off the event with a spectacular opening ceremony.
Recently announced WBC welterweight number one Conor Benn will also be in attendance throughout the event.

Finally, former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder will be in attendance following his stoppage victory over Tyrell Herndon in June.
Wilder was recently challenged by two-time undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk during an interview with Boxing King Media.

The post International Boxing Association Announces All-Star Guests for ‘Boxing Festival’ appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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UK Boxing
Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic – results and post-fight report
Published
3 hours agoon
May 16, 2026
Dave Allen was unable to achieve the impossible at home against Doncaster Rovers FC when Filip Hrgovic delivered a one-sided beating to him in third-round stoppage time to claim the vacant IBF Intercontinental heavyweight title.
Allen was definitely the weaker fighter against Hrgovic.
Fan favorite Allen (25-9-2, KO20) rarely gets into a uninteresting fight, and after stopping Johnny Fisher last May, he was overtaken by Arslanbek Makhmudov before returning to winning ways in a modest comeback in February.
Hrgovic (20-1, KO15) is two wins since losing to Daniel Dubois in 2024, with his last points victory coming against David Adeleye last August.
Hrgovic started in a measured fashion, hitting Allen with constant 1-2s, and Allen struggled with timing in the first round.
Hrgovic kept the pressure going by toying with Allen he landed heavy blows in the second and holding it at the end of challenging right hands.
Allen simply couldn’t avoid the punches that were coming his way, and after the Croatian landed a punch to the body and head, Allen saw enough of the corner and threw in the towel to save his man.
Michael Gomez Jr. fight with Lee McGregor
Michael Gomez Jr (23-2, KO8) won the lightweight clash, defeating former European champion Lee McGregor (16-3-1, KO11) in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-round fight.
McGregor was dropped in the fourth, and after suffering solemn injuries, the Scot threw in the towel from a corner midway through the sixth.
Remaining fights
Louie O’Doherty (12-0, KO3) added the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title to his British crown by defeating Ahmed Hatim (12-1, KO3) during their meeting.
O’Doherty edged the winner by two scores of 118-110 and third by a score of 119-109.
The only fighter to go eight rounds was a super welterweight, with Carl Fail (12-0, KO4) defeating Luis Enrique Montelongo Morales (18-18, KO4).
Congratulations Filip
#AllenHrgovic | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/fnMyeT0lzw
— Boxing at Matchroom (@MatchroomBoxing) May 16, 2026
In a six-round fight, welterweight Joe Hayden (23-0, KO4) stopped Ryan Frost (3-16, KO0) twice before scoring in the fifth round, and Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (2-0, KO1) won every available session at the same weight against Alexis Nahuel Torres (3-16-2, KO7).
Ted Jackson (7-0, KO2) remained undefeated in four round fights, and the middleweight defeated Mike Byles (8-15, KO2) before claiming a first-round victory.
In the lightweight division, Kian Hamilton (2-0, KO0) won every round against Les Urry (2-4-1, KO0), and cruiserweight prospect Bradley Casey (5-0, KO2) stopped Renars Rusins (1-3-2, KO1) in two rounds. Newcomer bantamweight John Tom Varney (2-0, KO0) won all four frames against Stephen Jackson (1-71-1, KO1).
The post Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic – results and post-fight report appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
UK Boxing
Boxing tonight: fight card, start times and how to watch Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic
Published
23 hours agoon
May 16, 2026
Filip Hrgovic will be Dave Allen’s toughest opponent in history (Photo: Getty)
How to watch Allen vs Hrgovic
- Date and place of fight: The event will take place next Saturday, May 16, at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster. It marks a massive homecoming for Dave Allen, who will compete at the home ground of his local football team, Doncaster Rovers.
- Card reach and header time: The official event broadcast will begin at 6pm BST for early Undercard matches. The main event of the heavyweight fight between Allen and Filip Hrgovic is expected to see fighters take to the ring around 10.15pm BST.
- UK TV Channel Details: The entire fight card will be shown live in the UK exclusively on the DAZN television platform. To access the live broadcast, viewers must have an dynamic subscription.
- Live broadcast information: Fans can watch the event via the DAZN app, which is compatible with intelligent TVs, game consoles and mobile devices such as iPhone and Android. Alternatively, the fight can be streamed online via the DAZN website by logging into your registered account on any web browser.
- Radio commentary details: Nationwide radio coverage will be provided by talkSPORT, with initial undercard action commencing at 7pm BST on talkSPORT 2. Coverage will then switch to talkSPORT’s main station at 9pm BST in preparation for the main event.
- Allen’s latest results: Allen comes into the fight with momentum following a quick first-round TKO victory over Karim Berredjem in February 2026. He previously secured a career-defining fifth-round TKO victory in a rematch with Johnny Fisher in May 2025, which came before dropping points to Arslanbek Makhmudov in overdue 2025.
- Hrgović’s latest results: Hrgovic is currently on a two-fight winning streak, securing unanimous decision victories over British heavyweights David Adeleye in August 2025 and Joe Joyce in April 2025. His only career loss remains an eighth-round loss to Daniel Dubois for the 2024 interim IBF world title.
- Full fight card (subject to change):
- Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic – heavyweight
- Louie O’Doherty vs. Ahmed Hatim – British and Commonwealth lightweight titles
- Michael Gomez Jr vs. Lee McGregor – lightweight
- Joe Hayden vs. Ryan Frost – welterweight
- Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev vs TBA – welterweight
- Ted Jackson vs. Mike Byles – middleweight
- Bradley Casey vs. TBA – cruiserweight
- Leighton Birchall vs Leonardo Baez – featherweight
- Kian Hamilton vs. Les Urry – Super Lightweight
- John Tom Varey vs. Stephen Jackson – super flyweight
- Maxi Hughes vs. Lewis Sylvester – Super lightweight
- Carl Fail vs. Dean Sutherland – super welterweight
UK Boxing
Karen Chukhadzhian vs. Paddy Donovan – results and post-fight report
Published
1 day agoon
May 15, 2026
Paddy Donovan secured another world title shot by winning his IBF welterweight title final eliminator by majority decision over Karen Chukhadzhian on Friday in Mannheim, Germany.
Donovan (15-2, 11 KO) defeated Chukhadzhian (26-4, 14 KO) in the sixth and eighth rounds and emerged victorious by the score of 115-113, 114-112, surpassing the drawn score of 113-113.
Donovan, after two defeats in a row to Lewis Crocker, decided to box the back of the foot from the beginning and fired several correct body shots in the first round.
Chukhadzhian is undefeated in two matches since his second defeat Jaron Ennis– he responded with several difficult shots in the second, and the left hand caught Donovan’s attention.
“The Real Deal” pushed the Ukrainian away with his left hand at the end of the third period, but the 30-year-old responded in the fourth round and continued to march forward, and at the end of the round with his right hand, which was his best achievement.
Donovan found his breakthrough in the sixth round, countering his opponent with a sturdy left hand.
Chukhadzhian stood up, looking more frustrated than hurt.
The Ukrainian fell again and scored eight, this time with a right hand, although he protested that it was due to a push.
The pair continued their wild ninth rally, with the Irishman landing a precise uppercut that earned Chukhadzhian’s approval.
Chukhadzhian traded with Donovan at close quarters over the final three rounds, with both men landing some solid combinations.
With Donovan fading and forced to fight back, the Ukrainian put his best foot forward in a compelling final round.
The first scorecard was 115-113 in Donovan’s favor and was met with a scorecard of 113-113.
The third score of 114-112 gave the Irishman the victory to leave Germany and sparked wild celebrations in the ring, including from the promoter Eddie Hearn.
Donovan, who was defeated by Crocker in September, called the Belfast fighter for a post-fight trilogy.
Crocker makes his first title defense against Liam Paro on June 24 in Australia.
Webb with Odiase KO
Emanuel Odiase won the vacant IBF European heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of Nick Webb.
After a close first round, Odiase (11-0, 9 KO) hit Webb (19-4, 15 KO), and the attack with two punches knocked him to the deck, and the Briton failed to defeat the count.

Kadiru dismisses Gashi
In a tender heavyweight fight, Peter Kadiru defeated veteran Senad Gashi (34-5, 32 KO).
The scores of 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93 ensured the victory for Kadir (23-1, 13 KO).
Undercard remaining
Cameroonian heavyweight Nelvie Tiafack (4-0, 3 KO) remained undefeated, going the distance for the first time in his career with a unanimous decision over Mateus Munhoz Da Penha (7-3-2, 3 KO).
Elsewhere in the heavyweight division, Viktor Jurk (14-0, 12 KO) knocked out Edwin Castillo (13-3, 8 KO) in the first few seconds of the fight.
Alexander Okafor (4-0, 2 KO) defeated Elija Uelkueseven (8-1, 6 KO) and thanks to a split decision won the fight for the title of the German BDB cruiserweight champion.
WAS THIS THE FASTEST Knockout In The World?!?!
#ChukhajianDonovan | Live NOW on DAZN
pic.twitter.com/nkAXTK8iP0
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 15, 2026
Prospective cruiserweight Edmon Avagyan (1-0, 1 KO) made a successful professional debut, defeating Patrik Fiala (13-8-2, 8 KO) in the third round.
The IBF European lightweight title remained in the hands of Devrim Goekduman (13-0-1, 8 KO), although his fight with Franklyn Dwomoh (9-0-1, 2 KO) ended in a split draw after a pulsating 10 rounds.
Middleweight prospect Oluwole Jan Ciosek (5-0, 2 KO) remained undefeated after a unanimous decision victory over Shae Green (9-2-1, 2 KO)
The post Karen Chukhadzhian vs Paddy Donovan – results and post-fight report appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Kelvin Davis escapes by split decision over Peter Dobson
Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic – results and post-fight report
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