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Isaac Cruz defended his title after a majority draw against Lamont Roach

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Lamont Roach Jr. Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. and Isaac Cruz fought to a majority tie.

Cruz defended his interim WBC junior welterweight title, while Roach exited this year with a second straight majority draw.

One judge scored the fight 115-111 in Cruz’s favor, while two judges scored it 113-113.

It was still early in the fight, and Cruz scored a third-round knockout to come within an inch of the fight. However, Roach made a strategic change to seemingly take control of the second half of the fight. But it wasn’t enough to prevent him from winning his final two fights.

Later, Roach vented his frustration.

“I just want a good shake, man. That’s all,” Roach said. “I think I’ve pulled this fight. … I don’t know what to do. But it’s back to the drawing board. I don’t accept it at all. I clearly thought I won a close fight and I’m tired of this s—, man.”

Fighting in Washington, Roach (25-1-3, 10 KO) scored a controversial majority draw with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in March. Unable to secure a rematch, Roach had to look elsewhere and opted to move up to 140 pounds to face Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KO). He entered the fight as the WBA super featherweight titleholder, but was stripped of the title when the bell sounded for his fight with Cruz.

Cruz, who went the distance against Davis in 2021 after a thrilling decision loss, has won six of his previous seven fights, winning the vacant interim WBC junior welterweight title in his last fight, beating Omar Salcido.

Cruz attacked Roach from the opening bell, throwing looping punches. The constant aggression was effective from the beginning, although Roach found places to counterattack with his left hand. Roach picked his seats while Cruz moved forward with reckless abandon. During the exchange in Round 3, Cruz’s left hand knocked Roach off balance, knocking him down for the first time in his career when his glove touched the canvas. Roach was uninjured, but the damage was done and forced him to change his approach.

“I knew he wouldn’t give up and would fight toe-to-toe,” Cruz said. “But guess what? I boxed too, and people didn’t realize I could do it. I boxed.”

The knockdown caused Roach to struggle in the pocket from then on, leading to furious exchanges inside. Cruz worked well to the body while Roach slipped in counters that caught “Pitbull” in the chin. Roach landed a left hook to Cruz’s face in round 6, which was his best punch of the fight up to that point. However, he chose to fight on Cruz’s terms rather than trying to play to his strengths by boxing to the outside and interrupting his opponent’s attacks.

Roach made minor changes in the middle rounds, using a catch-and-shoot strategy to lure Cruz. The changeup was effective because he caught Cruz both coming in and going out. Cruz was also deducted a point for excessive clinching in round 7, which brought the fight to neutral ground and offset the earlier knockdown. Roach upset Cruz with a change of strategy and began to take control of the fight, nullifying Cruz’s offense and completely taking the crowd out of the fight. However, Cruz came alive in the championship rounds, taking the fight to Roach.

It was a close fight that ended in an unsatisfactory draw, although Roach defeated Cruz 191-159. Both fighters seemed interested in a rematch, but Cruz would only agree to it if there was a different referee.

“Yes, absolutely [I want the rematch]”, Cruz said. “But with a different referee and without the referee standing on his side. I won that fight and the referee took that fight away from me.

In the co-main event, O’Shaquie Foster dominated Stephen Fulton and made a unanimous decision to become the interim WBC lightweight champion.

The fight was originally scheduled for Foster’s WBC junior world title, but Fulton was 2 pounds overweight. The WBC inexplicably changed the stakes of the fight to an interim 135-pound title fight, with the winner being the mandatory challenger to Shakur Stevenson.

Foster (24-3, 12 KO) brilliantly outclassed the former two-division champion throughout the entire 12 rounds. He subdued Fulton (23-2, 8 KO) with a edged jab and kept him on the outside for a long time. The champion expertly held the court in the middle of the ring while Fulton struggled to get inside or land anything of value.

As the rounds wore on, Fulton’s frustration showed in his approach as Foster began using combination after jab as his opponent tried to get inside.

The judges scored the fight 117-111, 118-110 and 119-109, but it could have easily been a win due to Foster’s dominance.

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Boxing

Joe Joyce announces his return to fighting more than a year after Filip Hrgović’s defeat

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Joe Joyce announces comeback fight over a year after Filip Hrgovic defeat

Joe Joyce will return to action against the undefeated heavyweight on July 11, marking his first fight under SugarHill head coach Steward.

The 40-year-old has not fought since April 2025, when he made a sturdy showing of himself before losing a unanimous decision to Filip Hrgovic. Joyce was scheduled to face fellow veteran Dillian Whyte and then face former world title challenger Hrgovic in a grueling 10-round fight when Whyte withdrew due to injury.

before, “Juggernaut” was rejected and scored unanimously by Derek Chisorawhich followed his 10th round victory over Kash Ali in 2024.

Hoping to get back into the win column, Joyce is now preparing to face Russian Artem Suslenkov in the Murat Gassiev vs Tony Yoka fight at Moscow’s VTB Arena.

After making contact with renowned trainer Steward, who is best known for his work with Tyson Fury, Joyce said he was looking forward to meeting the 30-year-old away.

“I have spent the last year preparing, training and wanting to get back into the ring. I am excited to go to Russia and fight for the WBA continental heavyweight title on July 11.

“Thank you IBA Pro for this opportunity. My team and I are locked in and Moscow should prepare for a great performance.”

Suslenkov boasts a professional record of 14-0 (9 KO), and most notably defeated Michael Hunter by eight-round unanimous decision in an IBA Pro match in 2024.

In the heavyweight division, the 6-foot-1 inch has also previously passed Christian Hammer and has stopped fights against Agron Smakici and Artur Mann each time.

Meanwhile, Joyce clearly wants to stay in the sport even after many called for him to retire following back-to-back losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023.

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Adrien Broner raises fresh concerns during live broadcast

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Adrien Broner during recent live streams showing his physical condition and drinking habits

Adrien Broner has sparked fresh concern after another live broadcast showed the former four-weight world champion struggling physically while continuing to consume alcohol.

Broner is present every day on the 24/7 broadcasts with influential boxer DeenTheGreat, and alcohol is rarely off limits during broadcasts.

However, many viewers believe that drinking itself is no longer the biggest problem.

Recent broadcasts showed Broner swallowing drinks quickly, taking them from other people nearby and appearing to choke or nearly vomit on several occasions as he continued to drink.

Fresh care

Broner has never hidden his love of nightlife, and many people can drink regularly and still be in complete control.

What concerned some viewers was the increasingly perceptible physical effects of alcohol on the welterweight star in real time.

During recent shows, Broner has repeatedly appeared to be unwell after drinking alcohol, and moments where he appears to be on the verge of illness have become challenging for viewers to watch.

As WBN previously reported, Ryan Garcia publicly urged Broner to stop drinking after watching stream clips while Gervonta Davis was undergoing a health check.

The scenes have heightened concern around the boxer who once built his reputation on training camp discipline and maintaining excellent fitness for much of the year.

DeenTheGreat | Throw

Another picture

Other shows featured drunken calls by Floyd Mayweather and increasingly erratic moments.

For a fighter once seen as Mayweather’s successor and one of boxing’s brightest stars, the contrast is making headlines.

What started as a live-streaming venture that Broner thought would make him a millionaire again is now generating a very different reaction.

Broner continues to insist that he is rebuilding his life and finances through streaming.

But as more and more clips spread online, more and more people seem less interested in the entertainment value and more focused on the man at the center of the action.


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 been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.

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Bill Haney says Devin Haney is still developing at 27 years aged

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Image: Bill Haney Says Devin Haney Is Still Developing At 27

Haney has spent much of the last year being associated with some of boxing’s biggest names, including Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman Jr. and, most recently, Shakur Stevenson, amid reports that Zuffa Boxing is targeting big-name fights on its roster.

When asked about the future and the opportunities that will be available to players as up-to-date platforms enter the sport, Haney pointed to the long-term goals he still has for his son.

“At 27, Devin is still going forceful. He’s still heading towards, you know what I mean, boxer from Mount Rushmore. It’s still growing said Bill to MillCity Boxing.

Haney also shared a favorable opinion of Zuffa’s entry into boxing, suggesting that additional platforms could only benefit fighters looking to advance their careers.

“It’s a platform for the athlete to come through and that’s what it is, he really listens to his coach and his coach really looks at everything. I mean, it’s a great opportunity, man,” Bill said.

While critics continue to debate Devin Haney’s place in the sport’s elite, Bill believes his achievements have already earned him a place among boxing’s greatest fighters.

“Well, that would have to be difficult when you were talking to other Hall of Fame players and they were saying Devin was a Hall of Famer and they were saying you’re wrong. You never hear a Hall of Famer with his game,” Bill said.

“I think once they realize that and sit down, they’d like to have a career like Devin had.”

Haney’s comments come as Devin continues to consider his next move in a loaded welterweight division with several high-profile fights potentially available as boxing’s promotional landscape evolves.

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