Boxing
Ranking This weekend fights: from Navarrete-Suaraz to Lubin-Holmes
Published
1 year agoon
After Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Canelo Alvarez and others did not fulfill last weekend, fighting fans do not have to wait long for more on paper, with thrilling duels in various time zones in California, Florida, England, Africa and Japan.
ESPN spreads the best card and evaluates all significant fights this weekend.
1. Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood – Junior Lightweight Fight (Dazn, Saturday at 14:00 et)
After the last fight, Wood said that he wanted to end his career with the fight for the title of Master in the city, the House of the English Club Premier League Nottingham Forest.
None of these wishes will be fulfilled on Saturday for a 36-year-old, but a slight younger fight is still significant. Wood (28-3, 17 KO) is at least boxing in front of family fans of cities in Nottingham, in the internal arena, where Carl Froch carved his excellent career in Super Middle Wweight.
Cacace (23-1, 8 KO) from Belfast in Northern Ireland resigned from the IBF world, which he won against Joe Cordin in May 2024 to make it happen. And despite the fact that there were no recognized titles on the line, this fight sees the two best operators of this division.
Wood was in the first place in a featherweight, before he gave up the WBA belt after winning in the seventh round over Josh Warrington in October 2023. But Wood’s career got stuck since then, while Cacace fought in Saudi Arabia, and the victory of the detention over Cordina raises his career at the highest level.
Cacace, also 36, was more dynamic (he also defeated Warrington, winning a unanimous decision in September) and has significant growth and achievements. He has a good reason to be confident as No. 2 ESPN at Junior Lightweight, entering this fight. But what if Wood does not show a trace of a long release during the first output at the level of 130 pounds, inspired by his home fans to extend his career? It would be another fairy -tale episode in Wood’s career, which still raises dramatic surprises.
The winner of this fight would be a natural opponent of the winner of the Saturday fight Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez WBO.
2. Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez – Junior Lightweight Title Fight (ESPN/ESPN+, Saturday at 22:00 ET)
1:00
Emanuel Navarrete knocking Oscar Valdez
Emanuel Navarrete claims that the victory over the Oscar Valdez in a rematch with a perilous shot.
Navarrete, a world champion with three divisions, looked sensational during the last exit, when he crushed Oscar Valdez with a shot to the liver in a rematch in December. In this form, a Mexican warrior is mandatory.
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32) defends his lithe WBO belt against the Sanzez Philippines in San Diego on Saturday, and a good performance can strengthen his place at the top of the 130-pound division. Navarrete was ruthless compared to Valdez, raising it three times before stopping, and another stunning display could convince him to try another crack in a lithe division. Navarrete lost his divided decision for Denys Berinchyk, which is hard for the lithe belt WBO in May 2024, but he could be tempted to continue to continue the more lucrative fights in lightweight lithe, if he defeated Suarez (18-0, 10 KO). It is also possible to fight the title of union with the WBC Master O’Shaquie Foster for Navarrete, if he wants to stay at the age of 130.
3. Erickson Lubin vs. Ardreal Holmes Jr. – eliminator of the Junior medium weight title (Probox TV, Saturday at 18:00 et)
This is a clash of two Southpaws who desperately have to win this eliminator of the IBF medium weight title.
Lubin (26-2, 18 KO), from Orlando in Florida, has experience, but he takes place from a long release: he has not fought from September 2023, when he won the unanimous decision about Jesus Ramos, due to a hand injury delaying his return. Holmes (17-0, 6 KO), with Flint, Michigan, is less experienced, but has impetus after registering three wins in 2024.
Lubin can be thrilling and was involved in an thrilling fight with Sebastian Fundor three years ago. The winner of the Saturday fight in Kissimmee in Florida is progressing in the fight with the Bakhram Master Murtazaliev champion.
4. Fernando Martinez vs. Kazuto Iok – fight for the title Junior Bantameight on Sunday
After the relentless fire of the fire in July last year, Martinez and Iok meet again on Sunday in Tokyo and more are expected of the same. Martinez (17-0, 9 KO) won a unanimous decision after he won Iok in their struggle with the title of unification in Japan.
How much this fight took a 36-year-old Iok will determine whether it can take revenge and win the title of world champion in the third weight class.
Iok (31-3-1, 16 KO), from Japan, began his career 16 years ago and will have to undo years to keep up with a 33-year-old WBA master from Argentina.
This rematch has been delayed since December, after Martinez withdrew with the disease, but it is worth waiting.
5. Souleysteme Cissokho vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas – WBC Wytreight Walteight Eliminator on Saturday
Equatorial Guinea, place of Saturday’s fight, is 2000 miles from Senegal, where Cissokho was born (17-0, 9 KO). But it will still look like a fight to return home. He will make a dream of boxing in Africa when he faces Kavaliauskas (24-2-1, 19 KO) at the Eliminator of the WBC welterweight title in the capital of Malabo.
Cissokho, who has the title shot, is based in Paris, but trains in California with Virgil Hunter. If he wins, he will have this opportunity and time in the spotlight.
The injury delayed the fight, and the 18-month absence of the ring will be Cissokho’s concern, which will face a perilous hit in California Kavaliauskas.
But Kavaliauskas was detained twice that he increased the level (by Vergil Ortiz in 2021 and Terenka Crawford in 2019), and this looks like a golden opportunity for an knowledgeable boxer, like Cissokho to seal the great fight for later.
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Boxing
Devin Haney still on Keyshawn Davis’ radar after victory
Published
42 minutes agoon
May 17, 2026
Keyshawn Davis says he still doesn’t know why a fight never broke out with Devin Haney after talks between both camps earlier this year.
Davis was talking about Haney after he dominated Nahir Albright for 12 rounds on Saturday night in Norfolk. Although Keyshawn won a wide unanimous decision over Albright, he later admitted that he had been in bigger fights before the rematch was finalized.
“I went up to Bill in January and he told me to keep my word after the fight,” Keyshawn later told the media. “Why it didn’t happen, I don’t know.”
Davis also revealed that he tried to secure fights with Lamont Roach Jr. and Oscar Duarte before returning to fight Albright.
“I was on the phone with Lamont Roach trying to make this happen,” Davis said. “I also tried to contact Oscar Duarte.”
The Norfolk native made it clear after the fight that he viewed a rematch with Albright as an inferior option compared to the opponents he originally wanted.
“I wanted to fight a better opponent,” Davis said. “He’s actually a decent player. He’s just not at the highest level.”
Davis dominated most of the rematch despite a two-point deduction after Albright hit the clinch in the seventh round. He controlled the action with faster hands, cleaner combinations and stronger work towards the end of the fight.
After the victory, Davis reiterated that he is open to more fights with bigger names.
“Whoever wants to fight the businessman, let them do it,” Davis said.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last updated: 17/05/2026 at 1:41
Boxing
Filip Hrgovic sends a direct warning to Moses Itauma after stopping Dave Allen in 3 rounds
Published
3 hours agoon
May 17, 2026
Filip Hrgovic made it basic for Dave Allen and took advantage of the moments after the fight to send a chilling message to rising star Moses Itauma.
Doncaster fans were unable to lift hometown hero Allen to the level of Hrgovic, who dominated from the opening bell until coach Jamie Moore threw in the towel to spare his players another day.
Croatian Hrgovic quickly apologized to the fans in the stadium.
“I’m sorry guys. I know I’m not the favorite guy here. That’s the way it is, that’s boxing. Thank you to Dave Allen, his team, Queensberry and DAZN for this event. I’m pushing forward to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
“I started quickly because I saw all my punches connecting. He was very awkward from the beginning, so I wanted to finish him quickly to make a statement.”
Hrgovic then immediately focused on what would come after three dominant rounds and weighed in on the matter there are rumors that he will soon have the opportunity to face Itauma in August.
“I want to fight anyone in the division. Moses, anyone. I just have to sit down with the manager and the team, see if there are any injuries or cuts. Give me a mirror, I’ll sign a contract now… I never run away from any opponent… Listen, if I’m fit, there’s no problem for me. We have to see what’s going on. I need to rest. Moses will never make it to the promised land. Do you know what I mean?”
Promoter George Warren has made it clear that Itauma-Hrgovic is the target, but he is aware that the next few days will be crucial to see if the schedule is right for the Croatian, who had a miniature cut on his skin before going to the towel.
“Yes, we can… This fight is already here. Finished. Filip, when he re-signed with Queensberry, was left on the contract on the basis that this fight was one of the options we could offer him. As he said, he has a slight scratch in his eye and he needs to go and make sure everything is OK.
“Moses is booked for August. As soon as we get back to the office next week, that’s my job. To finish and announce this fight. This guy is a world-class operator and if Moses wants to be world champion, Filip wants to be world champion; they’re going to have to deal with it at some point, so let’s deal with it now.”
Boxing
Kelvin Davis escapes by split decision over Peter Dobson
Published
5 hours agoon
May 17, 2026
Welterweight Kelvin Davis (16-1, 8 KO) escaped with a split decision victory over Peter Dobson (17-4, 10 KO) after a hard-fought 10-round fight that drew noisy boos from the crowd after the result was announced. The judges scored it 99-91 and 97-93 for Davis, while the third judge scored it 98-92 for Dobson.
Davis boxed effectively early on, using his jab, foot movement and reach to keep Dobson out and gain the advantage in the early rounds. Dobson had difficulty getting close enough to land consistently in the first half of the fight as Davis remained disciplined and chose areas with cleaner strikes.
Dobson had more success in the second half of the fight, getting inside and landing to the body. As the action became increasingly brutal and physical, Davis spent more time on the ropes and in clinches.
Dobson’s aggression and work in the middle helped put an end to the fight, and a few delayed rounds proved challenging to score. Davis continued to land enough pointed counters and straight shots to convince the two judges that he had done enough to secure the victory.
Many fans online and in the arena reacted negatively to the decision, especially due to the wide score of 99-91 in favor of Davis. Several unofficial scorecards indicated that the fight was much closer together, and some viewers felt that Dobson did enough to force a draw or provide an advantage in the decision.
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Last update: 2026/05/16 at 22:46
Devin Haney still on Keyshawn Davis’ radar after victory
Filip Hrgovic sends a direct warning to Moses Itauma after stopping Dave Allen in 3 rounds
Kelvin Davis escapes by split decision over Peter Dobson
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