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Paulie Malignaggi questions Canelo against the current 168 champions

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Image: Tim Bradley Thinks a Canelo Loss to Crawford Would Be More Damaging Than a Defeat to Benavidez

He pointed to names in the division and made it clear that younger belt holders and recent challengers present a different problem than the versions Canelo faced during his title reign.

Malignaggi mentioned 168-pound champions Christian Mbilla and Jose Armando Resendiz, as well as Hamzah Sheeraz.

“He’s teenage, he’s forceful, you can come back from this defeat and this long break, be this age and fight Resendiz, you, and everything is fine,” Malignaggi told Probox TV about Canelo facing a fight with WBA champion Resendiz.

“None of these fights are uncomplicated for Canelo after a long layoff. Neither of them will probably ever fight for a title in the real world again, but they were there and that’s mainly why it’s compelling.”

If Canelo returns in September as planned, he says he wants a champion. But if Malignaggi is right, even a guy like Resendiz may be too much of a driving force for the 35-year-old Canelo, who has been through as many wars as he has.

It must be admitted that there is a colossal difference between Canelo, who fought Gennady Golovkin in a rematch in 2018, and the one who had no ideas in the fight against Terence Crawford last September.

Malignaggi may be a polarizing guy, but he’s looking at the chilly reality of the current 168-pound landscape. When you look at the guys holding the belts, it’s a different world than the one Canelo ran in.

The division was essentially revamped while Canelo was sidelined after elbow surgery and the loss to Crawford. Christian Mbilli, Osleys Iglesias and Jose Armando Resendiz currently hold titles at 168.

Canelo’s style has become too meager. When you’re 35 years antique and undergoing major elbow surgery, relying on single, weighted power shots is a recipe for disaster against the monsters currently wielding the belts.

The Crawford fight was a wake-up call. These recent 168-pound champions are natural super middleweights with engines that won’t stop. If Canelo goes through with his plan to fight the champion on September 12 in Saudi Arabia, he will face a completely different physical challenge than the chess match with Crawford.

Since the second fight with Golovkin, the resume has been more of a strategic masterpiece than a competition one. Fights with Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant allowed him to unite, but none of these guys had enough firepower to really hurt him.

Even Berlang and Munguia’s fights felt like high-profile exhibitions, designed to keep the money flowing without risk.

The two times Canelo actually stepped outside of that comfort zone against elite, unsafe talents Dmitry Bivol and Crawford, he was defeated.

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Johnny Fisher Signs with Zuffa Boxing for September 26 London Main Event

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"Johnny Fisher Signs with Zuffa Boxing for September 26 London Main Event"
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The agreement gives the 27-year-old Romford fighter a fresh platform following a turbulent spell that included the first defeat of his professional career. Rather than ease back into competition, Fisher will immediately top the bill at ZUFFA BOXING 11 as the promotion continues to strengthen its heavyweight roster.

“The most exciting chapter of my professional career begins,” Fisher said. “Thank you to Dana White, Nick Khan, and the Zuffa Boxing team for this opportunity. Everything has led to this point. Bull Army, get ready to assemble. Bosh!”

Fisher earned widespread attention during his rise through the domestic heavyweight scene with an aggressive style that produced 12 knockouts from 14 victories. His latest outing saw him stop previously unbeaten Ivan Balaz in four rounds, restoring momentum after his rematch defeat to Dave Allen.

The Copper Box Arena has become a familiar venue for Fisher. September’s event will mark his third appearance there, giving him another opportunity to perform in front of a London crowd while beginning life with a new promoter.

The signing also represents another step in Zuffa Boxing’s expansion. After entering professional boxing under the leadership of Dana White and Nick Khan, the company has continued adding recognizable names, and Fisher becomes one of its most prominent British heavyweights.

An opponent has yet to be confirmed for the September 26 main event, with additional bouts expected to be announced as the card takes shape.

For Fisher, the move offers more than a change of promoter. It places him at the front of a growing platform and gives him the chance to rebuild his standing in the heavyweight division with a successful debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

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Oleksandr Usyk Has Left the Sport of Boxing, Says Hall of Famer

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"Oleksandr Usyk 'Has Left the Sport of Boxing', Says Hall of Famer"

Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his three heavyweight world titles but will not retire, promising at least one more professional outing before he hangs up the gloves, but in the eyes of one Hall of Famer, the Ukrainian has already ‘left the sport’.

Usyk struggled to overcome Rico Verhoeven back in Maywith a late and controversial stoppage sparing his blushes and denying boxing of one of it’s greatest ever upsets, leading to many saying that the ability of the 39-year-old fan-favourite has perhaps declined.

Following the fight, Usyk decided to vacate his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight marbles, with Murat Gassiev and Agit Kabayel being elevated to full world champions, whilst Frank Sanchez is expected to face either Moses Itauma or Bakhodir Jalolov for the vacant IBF strap.

Speaking on the Inside The Ring showformer two-division world champion and Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Tim Bradley said he believes Usyk has moved beyond the “sport” of boxing and into the “business” of boxing by choosing to relinquish his titles.

“I think that the Rico Verhoeven fight was an eye-opener for him to be honest with you. He struggled with him right, but then he was able to pull it off at the end.

“Relinquishing the titles, for me, you see the white smoke. He is done. He has left the sport of boxing, he is going to fight [again] but he has left the sport of boxing, he is in the business of boxing now.”

Usyk is currently being linked to a showdown with Deontay Wilder for what would presumably be his career finalealthough it remains to be seen whether a solid performance next time out could convince him to postpone his planned retirement.

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Exclusive Insights: Moses Itaumas Frightening Sparring Sessions with Tyson Fury Revealed

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"Exclusive Insights: Moses Itauma's 'Frightening' Sparring Sessions with Tyson Fury Revealed"

Tipped for the top, Moses Itauma is already being compared to some of Britain’s best heavyweights, and now details regarding his sparring sessions with two-time world champion Tyson Fury have been revealed.

Whilst yet to defeat an elite heavyweight or claim world honours, many British fight fans believe that 21-year-old Moses Itauma is the United Kingdom’s standout heavyweight and that a long, dominant reign is around the corner for the Kent-based sensation.

Next month, Itauma will hope to tee up a world title bid by scoring a career-best win over Filip Hrgovicwell-poised to challenge for all four of the heavyweight marbles and in the privileged position to select his own preferred route to the throne.

It is not only the fans who are appreciative of Itauma’s talent, with boxing manager Spencer Brown telling Playbook Boxing that Tyson Fury recognised the skill of the youngster after their ‘frightening’ sparring sessions in 2024.

“Him and Tyson, when they were in camp together, when Tyson was fighting [Oleksandr] Usyk, they had a great bond and him and Tyson sat and talked about boxing and what he has to do, what he hasn’t. He gave him all of the experience in the world.”

“It [the sparring] was unbelievable, it was frightening but it was great. They bumped each other and they just went at it. I think at one stage Moses went to get out of the ring and Tyson said ‘nah, we have only done six, we are going to eight now,’ and he went ‘oh, alright’ and they went at it again.

“With Tyson, he just wants to help people. He can see what this kid is, you have only got to ask Tyson, he knows what this kid is and anybody in boxing knows what this kid is.”

At that stage, Fury was the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and heading into an undisputed showdown with Usyk.

As for Itauma, his clash with Hrgovic takes place at the O2 Arena on Saturday, August 29as the youngster seeks yet another authoritative display that once again captures the attention of the boxing universe.

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