Boxing

Mayer-Cameron, Dubois-Baumgardner? What’s next for the biggest names in women’s boxing?

Published

7 months ago

April 6, 2026

A great weekend of boxing ended on Sunday with Caroline Dubois defeating Terri Harper in a grudge match to become the unified lightweight champion on Sunday.

As she wondered what might happen next, only one name kept popping into her head: Alycia Baumgardner.

Chantelle Cameron and Ellie Scotney also won belts in their respective categories to prepare for massive fights later this year.

ESPN takes a look at what might happen for the biggest names in sports.

Mikaela Mayer vs. Chantelle Cameron

A fight that was almost announced on Sunday when they faced off and agreed they wanted to fight each other next, but it might not be that uncomplicated.

Mayer (22-2, 5 KO), WBO welterweight and unified WBC champion, WBA junior middleweight champion, wants to fight at 154 pounds. Cameron (22-1, 8 KO) wants to do it at 147 pounds. Cameron prefers three-minute rounds, while Mayer, as the WBC title holder, said that cannot be the case given the governing body does not allow it.

We hope that we will be able to work out the details. This would make a great headline on another business card aimed exclusively at women in the US or UK, and their styles would match each other beautifully.

Alternative: Katie Taylor vs. Cameron

The trilogy we all want. They were finally able to settle the score after two amazing fights, winning one each. This is probably Taylor’s biggest fight to end her career.

Caroline Dubois vs. Alycia Baumgardner

If there were any doubts about what Dubois (13-0-1, 5 KO) wanted next, she dispelled them immediately after her victory over Terri Harper.

“The fight that interests me is Alycia Baumgardner. This is the fight I want by the end of the year. There is no need to waste time. The best against the best,” she said at the post-fight press conference.

Dubois even rejected a potential fight with Taylor, calling out Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KO) and admitting that she would take this fight over unification fights.

In December, Baumgardner called Dubois a “puppy” and said the fight would be too early for the Briton. But reaching for another strap, Dubois pushed things even further.

It wouldn’t be too bad to marinate a little longer, and Dubois in particular has other massive fights coming up, but women’s boxing needs headliner fights, and this one is certainly one of them.

Alternative: Dubois vs. Elif Nur Turhan

IBF champion Nur Turhan (13-0, 8 KO) has defeated every opponent so far and shows no signs of slowing down. A fight against Dubois would boost her profile enormously and be her biggest test to date.

– Caroline Dubois defeats Terri Harper to unify the lightweight world titles
– Boxing results: Dubois def. Harper, undisputed Scotney, two-time world champion Cameron
– Caroline Dubois yells at Alycia Baumgardner instead of Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor vs. Lauren Price

Ireland vs. Wales in Croke Park, anyone?

Two fierce competitors in a potential torch fight. Weight may be a sticking point – Price (10-0, 2 KO) is a welterweight, while Taylor (25-1, 6 KO) has not fought at junior welterweight, having moved up from lightweight throughout her career, but Price would be a worthy opponent in Taylor’s final fight.

Alternative: Price vs. Mayer

The pre-fight conversations and verbal barbs between two fighters who never back down would be captivating and a great prelude to one of the biggest fights in sports. However, this is at a stage where the two camps seem far apart in terms of any agreement.

Ellie Scotney vs. Skye Nicolson

A fight that was talked about ahead of Scotney’s (12-0) undisputed clash with Flores, which she won on Sunday in an instant Fight of the Year contender. Nicolson (15-0, 3 KO) is the WBC interim junior featherweight champion and this fight could be booked next for Scotney.

This would be an intriguing matchup, probably more of a chess match than the brawl Scotney had with Flores, but it would be two massive names fighting it out.

Alternative: Scotney vs. Cherneka Johnson

Scotney defeated Johnson (19-2, 8 KO) in 2023, but the Modern Zealander became the undisputed prospect in the bantamweight division. Both are MVPs and a rematch could be an option if Johnson decides to move up again.

Boxing

Around the Table: Who Can Challenge Canelo at 160 or 168 Pounds?

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Around the Table: Who Can Challenge Canelo at 160 or 168 Pounds?"

We all acknowledge that Canelo isn’t in his peak years anymore, but looking at the actual landscape around him right now, is there anyone at 168, or who could come up from 160, you think would beat Canelo Alvarez?

Canelo was sharp against Christian Mbilli, but I never thought Mbilli would beat or even really trouble Canelo too much. And that’s what you look for, even today, even with Canelo faded: It has to be a really, really good fighter, and the right kind of fighter.

It wasn’t Mbilli, and it’s not going to be Lester Martinez, either. I wouldn’t mind seeing that fight, because Martinez has earned it as much as one earns shots at belts in boxing, and maybe Martinez would prove me wrong. I’m certainly not saying he’s a 0% chance to win, but on paper I don’t see it.

Hamzah Sheeraz is the fighter TurkiCo seems to want in the spot, and there are aspects there that seem potentially interesting, but Sheeraz’s so-so showings in other fights don’t inspire much confidence. Osleys Iglesisas might be the guy, but he’d also be taking a huge step up in competition, and you can’t forget that; basically the same step up that Mbilli just took. I’m not saying they aren’t good fighters, but the records built in Quebec are not filled with world class opposition.

I don’t honestly see anyone at 168 or 160 that beats Canelo right now, next fight out. I just don’t think there’s anyone there who’s good enough right now; a couple of them would be in time, perhaps, but we’re not talking about two or three years from now.

It’s an interesting question, and I’ll just preface the rest of my response by highlighting the fact there’s a difference between would and could. I say that to say this: I actually thought Canelo looked really sharp against Mbilli, with his reaction time and defense on point. But even though Canelo is a fighter with elite level skill, he’s still an aging fighter. Aging athletes in general never forget what to do, but the most noticeable decline is consistency in their performances.

The older and more worn, the less consistently they can perform at the levels they’re accustomed to. In that respect I would compare Canelo to an older pitcher. On some nights he’ll still have some of his best stuff and on those nights he’ll look good, but he’s not going to consistently bring his best stuff anymore, and on the nights he doesn’t he’ll be vulnerable to a potential slip up.

If I’m just estimating, I think there’s 0% chance we’ll ever see Canelo in better form than we just saw him, about a 35% chance he can match the form we just saw, and about a 65% chance that he has something less to offer on a given night. If Canelo can duplicate his most recent performance, I can’t honestly say that any fighter between 160-168 would beat him right now, but I do think it’s more likely than not that he’s in worse form. In that case I’d say perhaps someone like Yoenli Hernandez, and to a lesser extent Carlos Adames or Hamzah Sheeraz could potentially give him a run for his money, but it’s certainly far from a sure thing.

The cheeky answer would be Erislandy Lara, since there was so much controversy over his split decision loss to Canelo at the time. But, I don’t think Lara actually won that fight, and I certainly don’t think that a 43 year old Lara moving up to super middleweight would beat Canelo in 2026.

I think that, given the landscape, there’s really just one guy at the weight with an argument right now: Osleys Iglesias. It would be a huge step up for Iglesias, but part of that is his difficulty getting a major fight yet given how formidable he looks. The people who have beaten Canelo, officially or otherwise, had exceptional skill and enough stopping power to keep him honest. Iglesias looks like he checks both boxes. I’d love to see him get the chance.

Otherwise, you’re looking down at 154 lbs and trying to guess if someone like Boots or Fundora can do it, because I don’t think anyone at middleweight is a realistic threat.

My Hiroo Onoda answer is that David Benavidez was the guy. The one weird trick to beating Canelo seems to be a refusal to let him get comfortable and Benavidez’s kit is perfect for that: height, reach, volume, hand speed, offensive variety, and criminally underrated defense. Him losing the WBC belt by failing to make weight against Roamer Alexis F*ckin’ Angulo right as Canelo kicked off his undisputed super middleweight chase is up there with the butterfly ballots in “things that make me want to run full-speed into a brick wall if I think about them too hard.”

As for who can do it now, the only guys who seem like they belong in the conversation are Janibek Alimkhanuly and Osleys Iglesias. The kings of the heap at 160 are Carlos Adames and Old Man Lara, whom nobody in their right minds would pick to topple Canelo, and who else is there at 168? Diego Pacheco and Hamzah Sheeraz, who looked pedestrian against far lesser opposition and clearly want no smoke whatsoever? Lester Martinez could be interesting and will be next for Canelo if Mauricio Sulaiman keeps his word (lmao), but I’m not sold after his own performance against Christian Mbilli.

Alimkhanuly has the technical pedigree to potentially find the holes in Canelo’s ultra-optimized game and the physical abilities to exploit them. Iglesias isn’t quite as credentialed, but his speed and power are at or near the division’s peak and that pile bunker jab of his is the sort of disruptive weapon that could give Canelo fits. That said, I’d still favor Canelo over either.

Boxing

Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson 2 Live Results: Round-by-Round Updates and Analysis

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson 2 Live Results: Round-by-Round Updates and Analysis

Welterweight Jack Rafferty (28-0-1, 18 KOs) defeated Hovhannes Martirosyan (20-2, 12 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous decision to claim the vacant IBO title. The judges scored it 116-111, 116-111 and 114-113 after a hard-fought contest that saw both men land heavy punches.

Martirosyan boxed effectively off the back foot and enjoyed lengthy spells of success, while Rafferty kept pressing and throwing in volume. Rafferty scored a disputed knockdown in the 12th, with the incident drawing questions over whether a push had sent Martirosyan through the ropes.

That call proved crucial on the closest card, where Rafferty finished just one point ahead. Martirosyan’s late fade allowed Rafferty to finish strongly, but the unbeaten favorite had to work through a much tougher fight than the two wider scores suggested.

Bradley Rea (23-2, 12 KOs) knocked out Ezra Taylor (13-2, 9 KOs) in the second round to retain his WBA Inter-Continental light heavyweight title. The scheduled 10-round contest ended abruptly as Rea punished Taylor’s decision to trade early.

Taylor was dropped and appeared unsteady, raising questions about whether the referee should have ended the fight sooner. Rea finished the job with a heavy knockout, handing Taylor his second consecutive defeat. Taylor’s own punching power offered little protection once Rea had him hurt.

Coming off a stoppage win over Liam Cameron, Rea delivered another decisive finish to strengthen his position in the division.

Gully Powar (14-1-1, 1 KO) captured the vacant British featherweight title with a unanimous technical decision over Zak Miller (17-2, 3 KOs). The judges scored it 96-95, 97-94 and 96-94 after the scheduled 12-round contest was halted in the 10th.

Severe swelling on Miller’s forehead from accidental head clashes prompted the doctor to stop the fight and send it to the scorecards. Powar’s persistent pressure and punch volume helped him edge a competitive contest, with both fighters landing quality shots.

Miller remained willing to fight, but the swelling prevented him from getting the final two rounds to overturn Powar’s lead. Powar secured the Lonsdale Belt at his second attempt after drawing with Rhys Edwards in his previous British title challenge.

Middleweight Stephen Clarke (11-0, 2 KOs) defeated Harley Collison (3-10-2) by an eight-round points decision. Referee Steve Gray scored it 80-72, awarding Clarke every round. The Liverpool prospect controlled the contest and took a clear victory over the experienced Southampton fighter.

Collison completed the distance, giving the 25-year-old Clarke eight rounds of work. A former national amateur champion, Clarke is trained by Stephen “Swifty” Smith and managed by Paul Smith. This was another step in his professional education, although stronger opposition will provide a better measure of his progress.

Junior middleweight John Joe Carrigan (5-0, 5 KOs) stopped Cheikh Diop (6-2) in the fourth round to maintain his perfect knockout run. The 19-year-old southpaw secured the finish against an opponent who had previously lost only by decision.

Diop entered with more professional experience but became the fifth fighter unable to go the distance with Carrigan. The Carlisle teenager turned professional in late 2025 after winning gold at the Under-19 World Championships.

He trains in Hartlepool and has carried his amateur success into a promising start with Queensberry Promotions. The official time of the stoppage was not immediately available.

Tony Yoka (16-3, 12 KOs) defeated Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko (10-21-1, 7 KOs) by a six-round points decision in their heavyweight bout. The reported score was 59-55 for the Frenchman.

Yoka controlled the contest, although the Ukrainian veteran took him the distance. Dovbyshchenko has also gone the rounds with Moses Itauma, making this a predictable opportunity for Yoka to get some work.

The 2016 Olympic gold medalist is rebuilding after consecutive defeats to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy. This victory kept that process moving, but beating an opponent with Dovbyshchenko’s record offers little evidence of how Yoka would fare against contenders.

Javokhir Ummataliev (3-0, 1 KO) defeated Atacayte Santana (4-4-2, 1 KO) by a six-round points decision in super middleweight action. The referee scored it 60-54, giving the Uzbek all six rounds. Ummataliev controlled the contest and secured a clear win in his third professional appearance.

Santana completed the distance after entering as a clear underdog. The 21-year-old Ummataliev arrived in the professional ranks with a strong amateur background, including a 2025 World Championship gold medal. After stopping Damian Drabik in two rounds in his previous outing, he gained more rounds of professional experience against Santana.

Super middleweight prospect Alex Arthur Jr. (6-0, 1 KO) defeated Jose Aguirre (2-32, 1 KO) by a six-round points decision. Referee Steve Gray scored the contest 60-54, awarding Arthur every round.

The 24-year-old Scot controlled the fight and finished with a clear victory over the experienced Costa Rican. Aguirre completed the distance, giving Arthur six rounds of work in his sixth professional outing.

Arthur is the son of former WBO super featherweight champion Alex Arthur. The win provided more experience, although Aguirre’s lengthy losing streak limits what it tells us about the unbeaten prospect.

Tumi Phillips (7-1, 1 KO) defeated Angelo Dragone (10-17-1) by decision in their super lightweight bout. The referee scored it 40-37 for Phillips.

Phillips controlled the contest and was a clear winner at the finish. The younger fighter produced a solid showing against an opponent with considerably more professional experience.

Dragone heard the final bell after suffering a stoppage defeat in his previous outing. No knockdowns were reported, with Phillips taking the victory without any major drama. The official score was not immediately available.

Boxing

Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12

Published

7 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12"

Follow Billam-Smith against Clarke with live round reports, scoring and the official result from London.

Chris Billam-Smith fights Cheavon Clarke over 10 rounds tonight on Sky Sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US. The former WBO cruiserweight champion headlines Zuffa Boxing 12 at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, November 7.

Billam-Smith vs Clarke Round-by-Round Updates

Live reports will appear here from the opening bell, tracking clean punches, knockdowns and which fighter controls each round.

● LIVE

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke

2026-11-07 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · Copper Box Arena, London · Paramount+, Sky Sports

Chris Billam-Smith0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Chev Clarke0

ROUNDChris Billam-SmithChev Clarke

Undercard Results

Featherweight Masood Abdulah (14-1, 8 KOs) scored two knockdowns to defeat Adan Palma (14-2) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The judges scored it 78-72, 77-73 and 76-74.

Abdulah dropped Palma with a short left hook in the opening minute, then used his jab and compact hooks to catch him coming forward. Palma fought his way back into the contest, landing heavy right hands in the fourth round that forced Abdulah to clinch.

A well-timed check left hook sent Palma down again in the sixth, slowing his attack and giving Abdulah more room to dictate the action. Abdulah worked behind his jab and continued finding the left hook over the final two rounds to secure the victory.

Vinnie Kemp (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam McElhinney (0-3) with a barrage of body shots at 2:33 of the opening round in their scheduled four-round middleweight bout. Making his professional debut, Kemp charged forward from the opening bell, throwing hard punches and goading McElhinney.

The referee briefly paused the action to warn Kemp about his verbals before allowing the fight to continue. Kemp resumed his attack, stalking McElhinney and driving punches into his midsection.

McElhinney bent forward and covered up against the ropes under the sustained body attack, prompting the referee to wave it off. Kemp’s aggression gave him a quick debut victory, although McElhinney offered little to test him.

When Does Billam-Smith vs Clarke Start?

Main-event ring walks: 🇺🇸 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT · 🇬🇧 10 p.m. GMTapproximately.

The undercard determines the final timing. Billam-Smith and Clarke headline a nine-fight show, with Denzel Bentley against Shane Mosley Jr. in the co-feature.

Main-card broadcast:

🇺🇸 2 pm ET / 11 am PT

🇬🇧 7 p.m. GMT

Preliminary coverage:

🇺🇸 12 pm ET / 9 am PT

🇬🇧 5 p.m. GMT

Sky Sports broadcasts the main card in the UK, with prelims available on its digital platforms. Paramount+ carries the prelims and main card in the US through a subscription, without a separate PPV charge.

Two June Stoppage Wins Set Up the Main Event

Both fighters arrive after punishing fights.

Billam-Smith beat Ryan Rozicki in June, with the Canadian’s corner withdrawing him after seven rounds of their Bournemouth contest. Clarke endured a rougher route on the same bill, recovering from two knockdowns before stopping Jack Massey.

Tonight’s contest carries no championship belt. For Billam-Smith, it offers a chance to strengthen his position at cruiserweight while beating an opponent who twice frustrated him.

Clarke’s second amateur victory came in the 2016 national elite championship final. Beating Billam-Smith in the paid ranks would add a former world champion to his professional record and strengthen his case for bigger fights.

Billam-Smith enters at 22-2 with 14 knockoutswhile Clarke brings a 12-2 record with nine stoppages. The experience gap amounts to ten professional contests.

Both cleared the scales on Friday. Billam-Smith weighed 199.5 lbs (90.5 kg) and Clarke 198.8 lbs (90.2 kg) for their cruiserweight headliner.