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Murat Gassiev says Franklin may delay Itauma’s title fight

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Image: Murat Gassiev Says Franklin Could Delay Itauma Title Shot

The WBA image is already ready. Gassiev is the holder of the second-class belt, Itauma is the number 1 behind him and a meeting between them will take place if the results hold. The route depends on what happens this weekend.

“I don’t know, maybe,” Gassiyev said Heavenly sports. “He has something to fight against [Jermaine] Franklin. We’ll see what happens after this fight and when this fight is over we can talk [what] Next.”

Gassiew’s approach to this fight is elementary. If Franklin fights long, physical and disciplined, the shape of the fight will change.

“It’s a heavyweight division, gigantic guys, good strikers, good power and I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Gassiev said. “Itauma has a chance, Franklin has a chance. I don’t see the future. I think the one who trains better will win.”

This uncertainty comes down to the rounds. Itauma was taking down opponents early on with his pointed timing and pure finishing instincts, but Franklin doesn’t provide that type of fighting. He doesn’t budge, works behind the tight guard and responds when you open up.

“Itauma is a newborn player, talented, mighty, speedy. Itauma is very good,” Gassiev said. “Franklin is a very good player. I don’t know… He’s not an uncomplicated opponent.”

Franklin’s durability is a key factor, and his ability to prolong fights presents another test for Itauma. He chatted with Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua, never hitting the canvas, remaining composed under pressure and maintaining a steady work rate. This profile was created to fight deeper than Itauma.

Itauma will need to control the pace, maintain balance when unleashing combos, and maintain distance control without forcing the finish. This is where newborn heavyweight fighters are tested.

Gassiew doesn’t express anger, but he doesn’t downplay it either. In his opinion, this type of fight determines whether a given candidate is ready to fight for the belt or whether he needs more rounds.

“I’m just training,” Gassiev said. “We have a plan to fight in the middle of summer, e.g. in July, and we are already working on it. Right now, many top fighters will fight, and after their fights we will see what the plans are and what will happen next.”

If Itauma comes through cleanly, the path to the WBA will remain open. If Franklin drags him into the deep end, this conversation can wait.

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Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMacs Support

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"Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMac's Support"

Lester Martinez would give Canelo Alvarez a dangerous first defense of his reclaimed WBC super middleweight title. The aggressive Guatemalan can punch and has Brian “BoMac” McIntyre in his corner, giving him access to the trainer who helped Terence Crawford beat Canelo.

“My dream now is to fight Canelo because he’s the champion,” Martinez said to Izquierdazo Boxeo in a quote shared by The Ring. His WBC interim title gives that ambition substance, although it does not establish that Canelo has been ordered to face him next.

The McIntyre connection makes this more interesting than another contender requesting a payday. BoMac knows what went into preparing Crawford for Canelo and could bring that knowledge into Martinez’s camp. The WBC lists McIntyre as Martinez’s trainer. wbcboxing.com

Crawford could also offer firsthand advice about Canelo’s timing, counterpunching and habits under pressure. His involvement in a potential camp has not been announced, but Martinez would have an obvious reason to seek his stablemate’s input.

Mbilli took too long to alter his approach when Canelo’s jab and head movement disrupted his pressure last weekend. He continued following Canelo without consistently changing how he attacked. Martinez would likely arrive expecting those tactics, with McIntyre preparing ways to get past the jab and vary his attack.

That would not make Lester immune to Canelo’s counters. It could, however, reduce the rounds spent trying to work out what to do next. BoMac could prepare alternatives before the opening bell and help Martinez adjust between rounds when Canelo starts frustrating him.

Martinez would still need to win with his own tools. He cannot copy Crawford’s performance. His route would involve sustained pressure, body punching and enough variation to prevent Canelo from anticipating each attack.

His 2025 draw with Mbilli gives him a relevant result against the man Canelo just defeated. Beating Canelo is another matter, but an aggressive puncher arriving with informed preparation would be a serious undertaking for the 36-year-old champion.

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Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua

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"Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua"

Tyson Fury is going back to the playbook behind his most destructive night. He is targeting 280 pounds when he meets Anthony Joshua on December 11 in Cardiff. He wants the crushing bulk that battered Deontay Wilder years ago. Scaling up to that number on the scales is easy. Recreating that vintage menace nearly seven years later is a totally different story.

Fury announced his intentions directly to his fans online. “Big boy 280lbs incoming,” he posted. “Not your average build. However, the love handles are used for energy.” He already promised a blistering pace out of the gate, followed by a quick stoppage.

Back in February 2020, Fury stepped on the scale at 273 pounds before stopping Wilder in round seven. That was Fury at his peak as an aggressive bruiser. He bullied Wilder backward. He draped his weight over the champion, forcing him to haul around all that mass. Wilder could never find the space needed to trigger his lethal right hand.

Every single pound had a purpose back then because Fury used his bulk masterfully. He smothered Wilder immediately after throwing punches. He disrupted every attempt to recover. He kept trapping Wilder in corners where mounting any counter was nearly impossible. It was relentless physical pressure from a guy focused on total control.

Joshua is a distinct challenge, yet the logic makes total sense. Giving Joshua breathing room allows him to set his feet to unleash heavy shots. Chasing him down can trigger panic before his offense even starts. Fury would immediately test Joshua’s nerves under fire.

The big worry is the condition of those 280 pounds. Fury reached 281 pounds for the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, looking soft around the waist. That outing provided zero evidence that piling on weight makes him more dangerous.

To handle Joshua, Fury needs agile footwork to cut off escape routes. He needs sharp reflexes to slip incoming fire. He needs enough gas in the tank to keep pressing once the initial charge fades. If Joshua survives that opening assault, the extra pounds could become a heavy burden as the rounds accumulate.

Fury picked a blueprint with real history. Replicating the monster who conquered Wilder is the real challenge.

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Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelos Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title

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Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelo's Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title

Canelo Alvarez returned to the super-middleweight throne with a decision victory over Christian Mbilli on Saturday, and when summarising the performance, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson made his thoughts on the display extremely clear.

At 36-years-old, off the back of both the longest inactive streak of his career and a defeat last time out, Canelo entered the Riyadh ring with many fight fans doubting whether the career of the Mexican superstar was nearing the end.

However, the four-division world champion instead recaptured the WBC super-middleweight title as he handed Mbilli a first career defeat.

Canelo’s experience, ring IQ and accuracy ultimately proving to be too much for the French-Cameroonian champion as he won a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.

That performance has once again made Alvarez the man to beat in the 168lb scene, with each of his fellow world titleholders at the weight desperate to secure a lucrative unification opportunity on his mooted spring 2027 return.

Speaking shortly after witnessing the win, reigning WBO super-lightweight champion Stevenson took to X to praise the efforts of Canelo both on the night and across his career as a whole, labelling the veteran as both a ‘GOAT’ and a ‘legend’.

“Canelo is a [GOAT]Respect legend!!! @canelo”

As far as what is next for Alvarez, it seems as though he will fight again in in either April or May for the final bout of his four-fight contract with Riyadh Season.

At present, Hamzah Sheeraz would likely be deemed as the frontrunnerif Terence Crawford refuses to comeback for the rematch.

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