UK Boxing
“Moses gives him hellfire” – Johnny Nelson on Oleksandr Usyk vs. Itauma
Former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson has explained how he views a potential clash between Moses Itauma and Oleksandr Usyk.
Just 21, Itauma has already been mentioned in a conversation with Usyk, but Nelson believes the Ukrainian would be a step too far.
Since turning professional in 2021, Itauma has been a revelation in the heavyweight division.
He has already had some impressive wins on the biggest stage, including a first-round knockout of Dempsey McKean in the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury match.
Nelson talked to Daily mail box about perspective.
“[Itauma’s] nowhere near the finished article. He’s only 21, I think we’ve seen maybe 35% of him.”
Itauma has amassed an impressive 13-0 record, with 11 of those victories coming after the break.
He last saw action in August, when he stopped Dillian Whyte in the first round, which on paper was his biggest test.
“The Bodysnatcher” has competed at the highest level throughout his career.
He fought against heavyweight stars such as Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker, but was no match for the man from Kent.
After Itauma’s victory in August, General Entertainment Authority president Turki Alalshikh posted on social media that he wanted to see him face Usyk next.
I want to see Usyk against Itauma. This is a fight.
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 19, 2025
Itauma is currently the main WBA challenger to Usyk’s world title.
Nelson also shared his thoughts on the potential fight, insisting it won’t be a one-sided fight.
“I think Moses sent him hellfire, but I don’t think so Usyk is too smart for him.
“I think he’s too intelligent for all of them, but it’s a risky fight for him.
“I would expect Usyk to beat him, but don’t write this boy off.”
“The Cat” will return later this year, and Deontay Wilder seems the most likely opponent for his return.
Itauma was scheduled to return this week and headline the Coop Live Arena, but a torn bicep during camp meant his return was postponed.
He was scheduled to face American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin.
Franklin is coming off a lackluster win over Ivan Dychko after a penniless card in the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford match in September.
The event has been rescheduled for March 28, when Itauma will hope to claim victory after seven months away from the ring.
In 2025, the 21-year-old boxed just over five minutes total in his two wins over Mike Balogun and Dillian Whyte.
The post “Moses Gives Him Hellfire” – Johnny Nelson on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Itauma fight appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Jarrell Miller shared his thoughts on the course of the blockbuster fight between Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora.
Wilder will face Chisora on April 4 at the O2 Arena and Miller has revealed who he thinks has the advantage.
April 4 marks the 50th fight of the careers of “The Bronze Bomber” and “Del Boy,” and the loser will likely retire.
Miller spoke to Up-to-date Betting Offers and honestly admitted that the threat from Wilder has diminished in recent years.
“Deontay’s skills deteriorated when he changed coaches.
“I feel like if Wilder stuck to his name, being a wild man and fighting wild and doing wild shit, he would still be a guy who is threatening.
“But when you try to tame the beast and become a boxer, he’s not a boxer. He’s never been through boxing the conventional way, and now you’re trying to change his style. It’s not working for him.
“Style makes fights, and Chisora has a style that definitely hurts him.”
See this post on Instagram
Before his trilogy with Tyson Fury, “The Bronze Bomber” had a staggering record of 40 wins, 39 of which came by stoppage.
However, he has emerged as a different fighter in recent years, looking timid in back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang on Riyadh Season shows.
He last appeared on the field in June 2025, when he stopped Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round.
Miller continued and talked about the skills Chisora possesses that could lead him to a huge victory in what he promises will be the last fight of his career.
“Chisora is one of those guys who is so sturdy.
“He is very powerful mentally. He has a physically fit engine.
“He may look tired, but he can still fight. Deontay I can’t fight tired, not like this Chisora yes.
“So I think Chisora is in it. The best man wins, but I think Chisora will get him.”
Chisora is on a three-fight winning streak following his loss to Tyson Fury in 2022.
He went the distance in all three contests, scoring unanimous victories over Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin in the final stoppage.
The post Jarrell Miller Boldly Predicts Deontay Wilder vs. Derek Chisora appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
On Sunday, Jai Opetaia will make his Zuffa Boxing debut in a fight against Brandon Glanton.
Opetaia enters the fight against Glanton undefeated.
Since turning professional in 2015, the Australian has dominated with 23 stoppage victories.
His last three fights have been in his native Australia, all three of them competitions ending before the start of the ninth round.
The Australian defeated former unified cruiserweight world champion Mairis Briedis in 2022.
Opetaia really made his mark on the world stage with a series of victories on the season’s card in Riyad, including victories over Ellis Zorro, Briedis in the return and Jack Massey, whose team were forced to throw in the towel.
His name has also made headlines after recently signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing after years of working with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.
Opetaia currently holds the IBF and Ring Magazine world cruiserweight titles.
Despite holding the IBF belt, he will not be on the line with Glanton as the pair will instead fight for the Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight crown.
Glanton comes into the competition off the back of a massive win over Marcus Browne last year in Lagos, Nigeria.
Before Browne’s victory, Glanton was outpointed by Chris Billam-Smith on the undercard of the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Opetaia vs Glanton – date, place, start time and ring walks
- The pair will fight on Sunday, March 8 at the Meta APEX Arena in Las Vegas.
- Undercard fights start at 18:00 local time (Polish time) / 21:00 ET / 12:00 AEST / 2:00 GMT.
- The main event ring walks are expected to take place at 21:00 local time (PT), 12:00 ET, 05:00 GMT and 15:00 AEST.
See this post on Instagram
Opetaia vs. Glanton – how to watch
- Zuffa Boxing 04 will air on Paramount plus.
- Paramount+ subscription can be purchased from just £4.99 per month.
- You can also pre-pay for an annual subscription from £43.99 per year.
Opetaia vs. Glanton – last three fights
Obadiah
- Jai Opetaia bt Huseyin Cinkara – KO in the 8th round
- Jai Opetaia bt Claudio Squeo – KO in the 5th round
- Jai Opetaia bt David Nyika – KO in the 4th round
Glanton
- Brandon Glanton bt Marcus Browne – 6th round RTD
- Brandon Glanton lt Chris Billam-Smith – Unanimous decision
- Brandon Glanton bt Aleksei Egorov – KO in the 11th round
What the future holds @JaiOpetaia1?
“Undisputed.”
The inaugural Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight Boxing Championships are this Sunday! Watch LIVE MARCH 8 @ParamountPlus! #ZuffaBoxing04 pic.twitter.com/NurGYsEV4N
— Zuffa_Boxing (@Zuffa_Boxing) March 2, 2026
Subtab
- Vlad Panin (23-2-0) vs. Shinard Bunch (22-3-1) – welterweight
- Adan Palma (14-0-0) vs. Pablo Rubio Jr (14-0-0) – featherweight
- Joshua Jay Juarez (14-0-0) vs. Jardae Anderson (11-1-0) – heavyweight
- Brady Ochoa (9-0-0) vs. Adrian Miguel Serrano (6-0-1) – lightweight
- Jaycob Ramos (4-1-0) vs Ethan Perez (8-0-0) – featherweight
- Emiliano Alvarado (10-0-0) vs Erick Rosado (16-4-0) – featherweight
The post Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton – how to watch it appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Emanuel Navarrete became the unified super featherweight champion, adding the IBF title to his WBO belt by defeating Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez in the penultimate round on Saturday at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The heavy-hitting Navarrete (40-2-1, 33 KO) was previously the WBO champion in three different weight classes, but he failed to claim the WBO lightweight title and belt in a fourth different weight class after losing a split decision to Denys Berinchyk. Nunez (29-2, 27 KO) had to go out of shape in the seventh round before claiming a wide points victory in his first defense against Christopher Diaz.
Nunez started by using his boxing skills rather than his trade, and used the move to cause his compatriot to miss in the first round.
Navarrete quickly adjusted, closing the gap with a powerful punch to end the streak of a wobbly Nunez delayed in the round.
Most expected “Sugar” to shoot, but he preferred boxing and worked his jab in the fourth round.
The 28-year-old then decided to change it in the fifth set and fought with fire, and in the sixth, Navarrete landed some great body shots and a powerful right hand.
Nunez gradually got into an argument, but had to take bulky fire from his opponent and bravely performed well in the eighth quarter, reducing the advantage and moving to the body.
“Vaquero” followed with a great left hand in the ninth and a powerful right followed by an uppercut that left Nunez at sea, eyes closed due to injuries.
The Sinaloa resident was re-attached to the left hook as the writing appeared on the wall.
Nunez now wilted under the pressure, and after a punishing 10th place his promoter Eddie Hearn he pleaded for the fight to be stopped and a ringside doctor was called to check his eye.
He recommended that the competition be stopped and the fight ended, crowning Navarrete the unified champion.
See this post on Instagram
Vargas stops Quintana
On the card, Emiliano Vargas defended his WBO Latino and NABF super lightweight titles, forcing Argentine Agustin Ezequiel Quintana to retire after nine rounds of the fight.
Quintana (22-3-1, 13 KO) gave Vargas (17-0, 14 KO) all he could handle, but was cut down in both eyes, with referee Raul Caiz Jr waving his hand against the fight, much to the Argentine’s protests.
See this post on Instagram
Smalls defeated by Ramos
Tahmir Smalls suffered his first defeat as a professional, losing a split decision to Abel Ramos in their welterweight meeting.
Ramos (29-7-3, 22 KO) earned a deserved victory by scores of 98-92 and 97-93, while the third judge awarded Smalls (16-1, 11 KO) a barely deserved nod 96-94.
Undercard remaining
WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight champion Arturo Cardenas (17-0-2, 9 KO) defended his title, but after ten rounds he drew with Jordan Martinez, who also remained undefeated.
Martinez (16-0-1, 15 KO) received a verdict of 98-92, Cardenas had one score of 96-94 and the third judge ruled it a draw 95-95.
The only fighter to go eight rounds won the super lightweight division, where Trini Ochoa (21-1, 9 KO) was upset by Oscar Alvarez Guerrero.
Guerrero (15-2, 12 KO) secured a comfortable winner with two scores of 78-74 and the third 79-73.
In six-round fights, Hector Beltran (7-0, 5 KO) fought all six sessions against Cesar Diaz (10-2, 5 KO) at super welterweight, and in the bantamweight division, Phillip Vela (5-0, 2 KO) did the same against Brayan Ramos Armenta (8-8-1, 2 KO).
Rahman Muhammad (2-0, 2 KO) defeated Mitchell McFadden (1-1, 1 KO) in the second round in a four-round welterweight fight.
The post Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – results and post-fight report appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Shakur Stevenson focuses on one world champion: ‘I want the belt’
Keith Thurman FIRES BACK at Errol Spence for Rejecting Fight: “You Need Therapy!”
IBF rules that force Jai Opetaia to lose his cruiserweight title again
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis11 months agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card