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James Toney Picks Winner of Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez: ‘I’m Keeping Him’

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James Toney picks a winner in Dmitry Bivol vs David Benavidez: “He stops him”

If boxing ever sees a neat fight between bulls and matadors in the lightweight heavyweight division, it might be Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez.

Both men now hold all four 175-pound world titles, breaking the 3-1 mark in the Russian’s favor after his unforgettable victory over compatriot Artur Beterbiev last year.

Meanwhile, Benavidez won his belt after Bivol was stripped of his WBC title for failing to face his mandatory challenger – a position held by Benavidez himself.

Although there is still a long way to go before the fight, fans can still hope to see it in 2026. For now, the doors are temporarily closed.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) is expected to make a mandatory defense against Michael Eifert, while Benavidez (31-0, 25 KO) is expected to start his cruiserweight campaign in May, where he will face unified champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.

However, the long-term plan is clear. Benavidez intends to return to 175 pounds after the Ramirez fight, and Bivol is widely expected to receive his next assignment. If these pieces fall into place, one of the most compelling matchups in the league could finally be within reach.

If that day comes, James Toney has already made up his mind. I’m talking to Boxing in Mill Citythe former multi-weight world champion made an uncompromising prediction.

“Benavidez, he’s busier and hits harder. He stops Bivol.”

These are traits often associated with Beterbiev – the man who handed Bivol his lone defeat in 2023 – and unlike Benavidez, that terrifying blow was a natural for the lightweight heavyweight.

Beterbiev’s knockout rate is an astonishing 95 percent, compared to Benavidez’s 80 percent, which he achieved mainly during his super middleweight reign.

If Benavidez pressuresize and volume would translate in the same way, with a weight of 175 pounds remaining the large unknown. What is certain is that if Bivol and Benavidez do eventually collide, it will be a high-stakes clash of styles that could define the division for years to come.

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Alan Chaves attacks Miguel Madueno in Las Vegas

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Image: Alan Chaves Blasts Out Miguel Madueno In Las Vegas

Alan “Veneno” Chaves (22-0, 19 KO) defeated Miguel “Explosivo” Madueno (31-5, 28 KO) in the third round to win the WBO Latino lightweight title in the co-main event at Fontainebleau Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chaves started the action early and found success with pointed shots once the fight started. The finish came when he landed a crushing left hand that dropped Madueno tough. Referee Harvey Dock waved it off at 1:26 of the third round. The power Chaves showed today makes him a threat to anyone at 135 or 140.


Damian Sosa annoys Freudis Rojas Jr.

Damian Sosa (27-3, 13 KO) defeated previously undefeated Freudis Rojas Jr. after 10 rounds by unanimous decision. (15-1, 11 KO) in the junior middleweight fight by 96-93 points. Sosa applied constant pressure early on, forcing Rojas to fight at a pace he was never comfortable with. He knocked down Rojas in the sixth round and maintained control with constant striking and excellent timing. Rojas had his moments, but Sosa’s experience and engine made the difference.

Nishant Dev stops Juan Carlos Guerra Jr.

Junior middleweight Nishant Dev (6-0, 4 KO) defeated Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. (6-3-1, 2 KO) in the second round of the scheduled eight-round fight. Dev came out pointed and aggressive, taking command with true combinations. He knocked down Guerra in the second round and kept the pressure going until the referee stopped it at the end of the session. The victory would give Dev another quick end and he could continue his early professional career.

Angel Barrientes passes Luis Espinoza

Featherweight Angel Barrientes (15-1, 9 KO) won an eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Espinoza (10-2, 4 KO) by three points, 80-72. Barrientes controlled the fight with spotless boxing and energetic attacking from the first bell. He beat Espinoza multiple times and gave little in return. Espinoza stayed on the pitch throughout the match, but Barrientes was in control throughout the match.

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Last updated: 25/04/2026 at 22:43

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Canelo warned his path back to undisputed status would be blocked: ‘I’m standing in his way’

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Canelo warned his route back to undisputed will be blocked: “I’m in his way”

Canelo Alvarez could face some grave resistance if he tries to become a three-time undisputed 168-pound champion.

The 35-year-old hasn’t fought since last September, when he lost his four major super middleweight titles in a unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford.

However, judging by his results, the Mexican is still able to compete at the world level, just not with such a great generation as Crawford.

But still, Canelo is ready to secure a world title shot in his next outingwhich is scheduled to take place on September 12 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Among the names mentioned as potential opponents is Christian Mbilli, who was elevated from “interim” to full WBC champion shortly after Crawford’s retirement.

Earlier, the Frenchman achieved a fascinating 10-round draw with Lester Martinez, who was on the Canelo-Crawford card.

As for the other 168-pound champions, there’s also Jose Armando Resendiz and Osleys Iglesias, with Hamzah Sheeraz seeking to capture the vacant WBO world title on May 23.

Standing in his way is Al Begic, whom the 26-year-old must defeat on the card in the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven match before setting his sights on a fight with Canelo.

Ultimately, however, Sheeraz actually sees himself fighting the four-division world champion Ring Magazine that he can apply the WBO belt as a bargaining chip.

“I have to admit it would be nice to get Canelo. And of course it would be a lot more lucrative if I won the world title earlier.

“I’m sure his plan is to try and become undisputed [champion] again, God willing, I will become world champion on May 23. I will stand in the way of him becoming undisputed [champion].

“Maybe we will finally fight for all the belts. I feel like this fight can definitely blossom in the future.”

For an undisputed clash between Canelo and Sheeraz to take place, the pair must win their next fights well and together dethrone the remaining champions in their division.

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Mauricio Sulaiman claims that Crawford knew in advance that he would have to pay $300,000. dollars fee for WBC

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Image: Mauricio Sulaiman Says Crawford Knew $300K WBC Fee Early

Mauricio Sulaiman says Terence Crawford was aware of the WBC’s reported $300,000 penalty charge long before his undisputed fight against Canelo Alvarez last September, providing a different version of the recent dispute over the champion’s title costs

The WBC president addressed the issue during a recent interview after Crawford publicly questioned why the organization would not honor terms that he believed had been accepted by other sanctioning bodies. Sulaiman said the amount had already been communicated in advance and was not a surprise once the fight was finalized.


“He knew well in advance what the WBC estimated for this particular fight and it was supposedly 300,000. That was the upper limit,” Ring Champs said of Crawford before his fight with Canelo.

Sulaiman added that this amount is lower than the percentage the organization says it can collect under its regulations. He said the WBC capped the fee rather than applying the full rate.

The dispute became a topic of discussion after Crawford publicly responded to previous comments related to the sanctions process. Sulaiman avoided escalating the exchange, saying he did not want to personally criticize Crawford.

“I’m not going to talk bad about Crawford,” Sulaiman said.

He also said that fighters and promoters receive contracts and terms before title fights are approved, describing the process as standard practice and not something created for a single event.

“There are contracts. When you as a promoter give in and get sanctioned, there are rules,” Sulaiman said.

When a player earns tens of millions, the standard 3% suddenly becomes sedate money, and that’s when the backlash usually begins.

The comments highlight a long-standing problem in boxing, where sanction fees are often accepted during negotiations but become controversial when vast funds are involved. Huge fights usually reveal how much power the belts still carry.

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Last updated: 25/04/2026 at 18:31

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