Boxing
Parker denies using cocaine and says he will be released soon
Published
12 months agoon
Joseph Parker has responded to reports of a positive drug test by denying that he has used any prohibited substances and claims that “confident” that he will be cleansed.
Former WBO world heavyweight champion Parker (36-4, 24 KO) tested positive for cocaine in the system of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency. He now faces a two-year ban that will derail what is left of the 33-year-old’s career.
Wardley KO is still hanging in the balance
Parker’s future was already looking bleak following his 11th round technical knockout loss to Fabio Wardley on October 25, 2025 at the O2 Arena in London, England. His complaint about referee Howard Foster’s quick stoppage did not change the outcome of the fight. He was being beaten by Wardley when arrested.
Parker’s shock statement
“Before my last fight, I voluntarily took a test and now I was informed that it was negative. It was a real surprise for me,” said Joseph Parker in an interview for Instagram.
“I have not taken any prohibited substances, I do not utilize doping substances and I do not support their utilize. I am fully cooperating with the ongoing process and I am sure that the investigation will clear my name. “After the investigation is completed, I will speak openly and answer questions.”
British management steps in
The British Boxing Board of Control will investigate the positive test result. It will be captivating to see if Parker can somehow be exonerated. It will be arduous to utilize the supplement contamination excuse as some athletes do when PEDs show up in tests. In this case, the substance being cocaine, the excuse of supplement contamination would not work.
The aging clock is ticking
Even if Parker is cleared to compete, he faces an uphill battle as he tries to resurrect his career after the loss to Wardley. The fundamental problem is that Parker, at 33, is not a spring chicken and cannot afford to spend two or three years trying to get back to the position he was in before his knockout defeat to Fabio. If Parker could stop aging by submitting himself to suspended animation, everything would be fine. But he will get vintage and in two or three years he will be defenseless against younger heavyweights.
The positive side is that older fighters are now coming out of the woodwork and making substantial money. Nostalgic fans want to see their vintage heroes willing to pay to watch them. So Parker can return to the top. Plus, Parker isn’t looking good right now.
Robert Segal was a key voice in Boxing News 24providing fight news, previews and analysis with direct access to insider information. Covering sports for over a decade, his work focuses on champions, challengers and emerging talent around the world. Known for his piercing in-ring perspective, Robert brings fans closer to the action with straightforward, informed reporting.
Last update: 15/11/2025
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Boxing
Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12
Published
1 hour agoon
November 7, 2026
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.
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.
Zuffa Boxing 12 Undercard Results
Confirmed results and finishing details will be added alongside the matchups below as the bouts conclude.
Main Card
Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.
Middleweight · 10 rounds
Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz
Heavyweight · 8 rounds
Sam Hickey vs Amaury Massenaux
Middleweight · 8 rounds
Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel
Super lightweight · 6 rounds
Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald
Cruiserweight · 8 rounds
Prelims
Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov
Light-heavyweight · 10 rounds
Vinnie Kemp vs Liam McElhinney
Middleweight · 4 rounds
Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma
Featherweight · 8 rounds
Boxing
Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12
Published
1 hour agoon
November 7, 2026
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.
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.
Zuffa Boxing 12 Undercard Results
Confirmed results and finishing details will be added alongside the matchups below as the bouts conclude.
Main Card
Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.
Middleweight · 10 rounds
Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz
Heavyweight · 8 rounds
Sam Hickey vs Amaury Massenaux
Middleweight · 8 rounds
Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel
Super lightweight · 6 rounds
Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald
Cruiserweight · 8 rounds
Prelims
Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov
Light-heavyweight · 10 rounds
Vinnie Kemp vs Liam McElhinney
Middleweight · 4 rounds
Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma
Featherweight · 8 rounds
Boxing
Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyus Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News
Published
4 hours agoon
November 7, 2026
Tim Tszyu seeks to become Australia’s third multi-divisional boxing world champion when he competes for Erislandy Lara’s WBA middleweight title next month, and ahead of the action, trainer Robert Garcia has offered his thoughts on the fight.
Tszyu lost his WBO super-welterweight title in a defeat to Sebastian Fundora back in 2024 and twice failed to reclaim 154lb honours, both against Bakhram Murtazaliev and in a rematch with Fundora.
Since then, the Aussie has stepped up to middleweight and scored a career-best win over Errol Spence Jr earlier this yearand now, the 32-year-old could join lead trainer Jeff Fenech and Liam Paro as his nation’s third two-weight world champion, if he can trump 43-year-old.
Speaking with ProBox TVRobert Garcia, who trains a potential future Tszyu opponent in Vergil Ortiz, admitted that he is leaning towards the home fighter, but noted that Lara will not be phased by competing in the challenger’s backyard.
“We can probably lean towards Tim Tsyzu because he is fighting at home, in front of his hometown, but Lara is not the fighter that brings in a lot of fans following him.
“He doesn’t have a following, he is not one that is going to sell out arenas, so even if it is in the United States, it is likely that most of the people are going to be [there] for Tim Tszyu because Australians do travel and Tim Tszyu has a lot of fans.
“For Lara, going to Australia is like going to Las Vegas or going to New York because he never has that following anyways. Anywhere he goes, he is going to be against the crowd. So, I think for him it is going to be one of those performances where it doesn’t make a difference if he is going to Tim Tsyzu’s hometown.”
Tszyu-Lara takes place at the Cbus Super Stadium in Queensland, Australia on Sunday 13 December.
Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12
Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12
Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyus Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News
Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12
Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12
Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyus Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News
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