Rafael Espinoza will defend his WBO featherweight title against Sergio Chirino on Friday (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET) in the main event of Top Rank at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. Espinoza has won eight of his last 10 fights by stoppage, including an impressive majority decision over Robeisy Ramirez for the belt. But is he the best fighter in the 126-pound class?
Gervonta “Tank” Davis defeated Frank Martin on June 15 in an eighth-round KO victory and is now moving on to bigger and better things. That could be a fight with fellow lightweight champion Vasily Lomachenko. Could this fight happen in the future?
In the heavyweight division, Oleksandr Usyk will defend his undisputed heavyweight title, which he won by defeating Tyson Fury in May. Will Fury be able to exact revenge in the December rematch? What about Zhilei Zhang? Will he be able to fight Joseph Parker again to avenge his loss to Parker in March?
And can Nate Diaz beat former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal in the ring?
Mike Coppinger, Nick Parkinson and Brett Okamoto answer these and other questions as they try to separate what’s real from what’s not.
True or not: Rafael Espinoza is the best featherweight in boxing
Not real (yet). Espinoza still has something to work on and win more titles. But the way he boxes seems inevitable.
Espinoza (24-0, 20 KO), of Guadalajara, Mexico, makes his first defense of his WBO title on Friday against Sergio Chirino in Las Vegas, six months after his decisive victory over Robeisy Ramirez. Espinoza recovered from a fifth-round knockout and defeated Ramirez, who was the favorite for the fight, by majority vote. Espinoza dropped Ramirez in the final round after an impressive finish from the Mexican, whose punch count outplayed the two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba.
What makes Espinoza (literally) a cut above many elite featherweights is his 6-foot-10 height. Espinoza can apply his height and 74-inch reach to win fights, but he also showed the heart to get off the canvas and win like that.
Espinoza, 30, is one of many who have shined in the featherweight division over the past 12 months. Nick Ball has emerged as one of the top boxers in this division after robust previous two fights. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KO), of Liverpool, England, won the WBA featherweight title with a split decision victory over Raymond Ford earlier this month. The triumph followed a controversial draw with Rey Vargas for the WBC title in March. But Espinoza dominated the ball 5-2.
The 33-year-old Vargas disappointed against the 27-year-old Ball and has not won in almost two years, and a move to junior lightweight seems likely. Former WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KO) of Nottingham, England, could also move up a division, with speculation in the UK linking him to a rematch with Josh Warrington at 130 pounds. Even before his last fight, 35-year-old Wood talked about moving up a weight class.
Luis Alberto Lopez (30-2, 17 KO) of Baja California, Mexico, is the current ESPN No. 1 featherweight after stopping Reiya Abe in eight rounds in March for his third defense of the IBF belt. What’s impressive about Lopez is how he triumphed over obstacles such as boxing in the champion’s hometown and being injured early in his fight with Warrington in Leeds, England.
Lopez, 30, and Brandon Figueroa pose the biggest threats to Espinoza at featherweight. Figueroa (25-1, 19 KO) has made steady progress since moving up from junior featherweight, and the 27-year-old from Weslaco, Texas, showed he can fight at featherweight after knocking out Jessie Magdaleno in May. Figueroa (27) may face Vargas for the WBC belt this year.
However, an event that may upset the order in the featherweight division is the potential transition of Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KO) from the junior featherweight category. Inoue is a four-weight world champion and arguably one of the best boxers in the world on a pound-for-pound basis (Inoue is ranked No. 3 in the ESPN rankings).
If Espinoza is going to become the No. 1 featherweight, he better do it soon.
Real or not: Gervonta Davis vs. Vasily Lomachenko will happen
True. Following Tank’s eighth-round KO victory over Frank Martin to retain his WBA title, talks are expected to gain momentum toward a top lightweight clash with Loma later this year (Davis is No. 1 in ESPN’s 135-pound rankings and Lomachenko is number 2).
Davis is the No. 7 boxer in ESPN’s weight-for-pound rankings and undoubtedly one of the most hazardous boxers in the sport. His impressive in-ring IQ and patient approach allow him to find opportunities that lead to explosive KOs. However, he has yet to face another elite competitor.
Even though Lomachenko is now 36 years ancient and not yet in his prime, he is still pretty damn good. His stunning angles and impeccable footwork were on display during Lomachenko’s 11th-round TKO victory over George Kambosos Jr. last month and winning the IBF lightweight title.
Lomachenko also has name recognition thanks to many major televised events. And while he’s not as massive a star as Davis, a PPV fight between the pair would generate massive business.
This is a long-awaited fight, and since Lomachenko will turn 37 in February, it’s time to unify the lightweight title. Yes, Davis is in PBC and Lomachenko is in Top Rank, but that should not prevent this fight from being organized. The two companies previously collaborated on the second and third Fury-Wilder fights and the 2021 Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter fight.
Real or not: Tyson Fury will defeat Oleksandr Usyk in the rematch
False. Don’t write off the “Gypsy King” regaining the heavyweight crown for a third time, but undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk retaining the belts seems more likely after their rematch scheduled for December 21.
Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) can take a lot of positives from his performance against Usyk in Saudi Arabia last month. The English boxer won several early rounds and although it looked as if he would be stopped in round 9, Fury carried on to the end. Usyk won by split decision.
Usyk (22-0, 14 KO) showered Fury with punches and knocked him down in the 9th round. The Englishman also knocked down Francis Ngannou again in October last year. Fury needs to find a way to strengthen his defense in the rematch as Usyk repeatedly landed left hands in the second half of the fight.
Fury (35) is a astute boxer with the right skills. He showed he can win rounds against Usyk, but Fury will need to adapt in the rematch, find a way to avoid Usyk’s overhand from the left and perhaps make better apply of his reach by moving out of range after throwing punches.
As well as regaining his belts, Fury will be motivated to deliver robust performances to keep the prospect of fighting English rival Anthony Joshua alive in 2025.
However, most will favor the 37-year-old Usyk winning again, perhaps by a larger margin.
Real or not: Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang will meet in a rematch later this year
True. This appears to be a fight to make after Parker was knocked down twice but recovered to outlast Zhang in March.
China’s Zhang bounced back from a spectacular fifth-round KO of Deontay Wilder earlier this month, likely securing another marquee fight later this year. This should put Modern Zealand’s Parker up against it, especially considering who is in ESPN’s top 10 heavyweights.
Usyk and Fury are tied in the rematch on December 21. Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois are heading to their September 21 fight at Wembley Stadium. That leaves Parker and Zhang, who round out ESPN’s top five (Parker is No. 4, Zhang is No. 5).
Zhang’s last two fights were in Riyad, as were Parker’s last three fights (including his decision victory over Wilder in December). In his first fight, Zhang dropped Parker in rounds 3 and 8. Parker otherwise mostly lost to the then 40-year-old.
Parker-Zhang 2 could land on the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol card on October 12 in Riyad, if not December 21. The September 21 card in London is also the highlight of the season in Riyad.
Real or not: Nate Diaz will beat Jorge Masvidal in boxing
On paper, not in reality. It’s challenging to say he’ll do it. Masvidal is a -230 betting favorite (per ESPN BET) for a reason. Diaz’s ability to take damage and stay in a fight remains surprisingly intact, but he’s reached a point in his career where that could happen at any time.
The last time we saw Diaz, almost a year ago, he was losing almost every round to Jake Paul. He also fell in this fight and appeared to be injured in the first round. This is bad news for the Diaz Army. Here’s some good news. This boxing match against Paul was at 185 pounds, which favored Paul. Paul’s youth also played a massive role in this matchup.
Masvidal is 39, like Diaz. This is a fight where what Diaz does well – punching with volume, using his size on Masvidal to wear him down on the ropes – should work much better than last year, when it was officially his first professional fight. The protected bet here is Masvidal’s decision, but there are reasons to believe that Diaz is not a passive player. This fight is more complicated for him than the last one, but Masvidal’s speed and veteran will still make it very hard.
Deontay Wilder has not retired from boxing at the age of 39, and the former WBC heavyweight champion has not issued any official statement.
World Boxing News can confirm that reports circulating on social media are false and originated from a imitation account on Up-to-date Year’s Day. As of January 2, 2025, WBN has had no word from Wilder that he plans to hang up his gloves.
As usual, WBN also asked Shelly Finkel for comment. However, Finkel has repeatedly said in the past that Wilder is not retiring. This case seems to be no different.
The last time Wilder spoke publicly was while promoting a mental health app, the Brown Bomber was unveiling plans to return to the sport.
He said: “The push-up protocol has been disabled. Strengthen your body and train your mind; no paid subscription required! It’s not about money. It’s about a mission to strengthen mindsets and improve mental health for all. To everyone: operate your services and achieve greatness.
“There will be people who tell you, ‘No, you can’t.’ [No] People trying to stop you or putting up stop signs. [No] People who want to bring you down and keep you down. But you can’t give up.
“No matter how many times you fall, no matter how many times you get knocked down, it’s a resilient mind, a confident mind, a powerful mind that gets back up and keeps moving forward to achieve your greatness.
“Apply your service. Achieve your greatness,” he added.
Deontay Wilder could announce his retirement tomorrow if he changed his mind, but at the time of the report, there was no truth to it.
When Zhilei Zhang knocked him out on June 1 in Saudi Arabia, the formidable top-flight contender needed time to assess his situation. WBN understands that Wilder has received offers, including contact from Francis Ngannou, regarding a possible boxing match with the MMA star.
The Wilder vs. Ngannou fight only makes sense for an American his age. Many voluntary positions [of which Wilder is WBC number 13] are occupied by threatening opponents who would start each clash as favorites.
Meanwhile, the Ngannou fight is winnable with less risk and more rewards, meaning Wilder can still earn a significant payday before hanging up his gloves for good.
Rising Irish boxing star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KO), the current World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight continental champion, had to withdraw from his scheduled December “stay busy” fight due to a minor injury but now is preparing to fight his biggest rival in what may be the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history.
The All-Ireland fight between Donovan, who fights in Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KO) of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is scheduled for March 1. “Point of Pride” will headline the Matchroom Boxing card, which will be broadcast live on DAZN from the SES Arena as part of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. Just two fights away, Donovan could win a world title if he defeats Crocker as the IBF mandatory challenger.
“There is something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I will be next,” Donovan declared. “I think turning pro at 19 and now 25 has required a lot of life changes since I turned pro. What matters most is what I learned in the gym, because it was the ups and downs in life – being a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me improve. I improved as a person, which helped me become a better fighter.”
A true fighter from the past, Donovan is currently rated by three of the four major sanctioning bodies: WBA No. 5, IBF No. 6 and World Boxing Council No. 14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven years senior.
“I’m in an amazing position, so I thank God for that and my team, Andy Lee (head coach/co-manager) and (Up-to-date York lawyer) Keith Sullivan (co-manager),” Donovan noted. “It’s great to be ranked so highly at this stage of my career, but I’m where I need to be. To be ranked so high on three major sanctioning bodies is great. I know I won’t stop until I become world champion.
“I’m always at the gym thinking about the next challenge. I say it’s time. I love what I do. I am very grateful to God for being in this situation. I believe in God’s plan for me to become world champion.”
“It’s definitely going to be an explosive fight,” commented Up-to-date York attorney Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Paddy’s head trainer. “Two tough, resilient Irishmen who have a lot to prove to the world. We were worried about the injury, but we are sure it will not be a problem during the March 1 battle. Paddy is locked down and training difficult under the watchful eye of coach Andy Lee.
Donovan has dedicated several of his recent fights to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity, which provides mental health services across Ireland. Paddy lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, at 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm, as well as support for those grieving as a result of suicide.
World Boxing News can reveal that Manny Pacquiao Jr. he is training to be able to compete in professional ranks in the future.
According to coach Marvin Somodo Manny Jr. he will follow in the footsteps of his legendary father Manny Pacquiao and become a prize fighter. Junior currently splits his time between home and Wild Card Gym under the tutelage of Somodo and Freddie Roach.
A former boxer, Roach rose to fame as Pacquiao Sr.’s trainer, earning him numerous world championships and a Hall of Fame career that may not be over yet. Despite being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in a ceremony scheduled for the summer, Pacquiao still hopes to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight crown in July.
WBN understands that Manny Jr. could appear on the undercard if the fight goes according to plan.
Discussing Junior’s progress, Somodo spoke exclusively to World Boxing News.
“Manny Jr. I just train every day, just like my other professional players,” Somodo explained to WBN. We hope to get him a fight soon, but the most significant thing is to keep improving him in the gym every day. The plan for him is to turn pro in the future and when I see he is ready. The plan is for him to become a professional boxer, but you never know.
When asked about Junior’s development, Somodo replied: “He’s doing really well. His work ethic is really good. You see him every day at the gym and you never complain. We spar with world-class players and he does well. His future depends on his performance once he turns pro. I believe he will cope, but time will tell,” he concluded.
Pacquiao Jr. he achieved mixed results in amateur competitions and suffered four defeats in a row. But his game may be better suited to professional fighters if he’s anything like his dad, an eight-weight world titleholder.
23-year-old Pacquiao Jr. time is running out and he must make a move within the next six months. This decision will coincide perfectly with the return of Pacquiao Sr. and will allow the pair to make history by fighting for the same stakes this summer in Las Vegas.
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