Boxing

Saturday’s fight rankings: Roach-Cruz, Foster-Fulton and more

Published

10 months ago

December 4, 2025

Fight fans have plenty of choices for what to watch on Saturday, with notable fights taking place all over the world.

From Lamont Roach and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz fighting for the vacant WBC interim 140-pound title, to O’Shaquie Foster defending his WBC junior lightweight belt against former featherweight champion Stephen Fulton Jr., to ESPN’s No. 1-ranked cruiserweight Jai Opetai putting his IBF title on the line against Huseyin Cinkara in Australia, there are multiple championships at stake.

ESPN is showcasing the best fights to watch this weekend, from San Antonio to Monte Carlo to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

1. Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz – interim junior welterweight title fight on PBC PPV on Prime Video

Roach takes on a risky assignment when he faces “Pitbull” Cruz in his junior welterweight debut in San Antonio, Texas, after a rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis failed to materialize.

Roach (25-1-2, 10 KO) deserves credit for taking on a second world title (vacant interim WBC junior welterweight title), but should he take another fight to adjust to the fresh weight class? We’ll find out when he faces Cruz, who, along with Roach, are the only boxers who made Davis decide. Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KO), who has recorded two wins since losing the WBA world title to Jose Valenzuela in August 2024 via split decision, impressed in a decision loss to Davis in 2021, while Roach took Davis to a disputed majority draw in March. In this fight, Roach should have received the decisive knockdown in round 9, when David took a knee and then went to his corner to wipe his eyes with a towel. An extra point for the knockdown would have tipped the scales in Davis’ favor.

Roach, a former WBA lightweight champion, doesn’t have KO power, but his counter-punching and movement could earn him a decision if he avoids being drawn into a fight with the power-hitting Cruz, who will be looking to repeat his destructive performance in a Round 8 stoppage victory over Rolando “Rolly” Romero in March 2024.

2. O’Shaquie Foster vs. Stephen Fulton Jr. – junior lightweight title fight on PBC PPV on Prime Video

This fight was scheduled on the Sebastian Fundora vs. undercard. Keith Thurman on October 25, but the event was canceled after Fundora injured his hand during training.

Fulton (23-1, 8 KO) will try to become a three-division world champion when he faces Foster for the WBC junior lightweight title on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Fulton’s only loss was an eighth-round stoppage to the powerful Nayoua Inoue in July 2023 in a junior featherweight loss, and he has since passed Carlos Castro and Brandon Figueroa in featherweight fights.

Fulton impressively outworked Figueroa in their rematch earlier this year, and it’s a strategy he should employ against Foster. But can he be as successful against Foster’s clever movement and skill?

After reclaiming his junior lightweight title with a split decision victory over Robson Conceicao, Foster (23-3, 12 KO) appears to be the better choice for this fight that could take his career to fresh heights. Foster’s high size could also be a factor against Fulton, who was eliminated during the September 2024 fight against Castro.

This is Foster’s sixth fight at junior lightweight and it looks like it will be an opportunity for him to put in a spectacular performance that will strengthen his position.

3. Shabaz Masoud vs. Peter McGrail – junior featherweight fight on DAZN

This will be an extremely competitive fight between two English junior featherweights aiming to fight for the world title. For Masoud (16-2, 4 KO), a fight for the vacant European title couldn’t come soon enough, as he hasn’t boxed since winning a split decision over Liam Davies in November 2024. A training injury suffered by Masoud delayed that fight in June.

McGrail (12-1, 6 KO), who won four straight fights after being knocked out by Ja’Rico O’Quinn in December 2023, has had an excellent amateur career and experience gives him an advantage, but he suffered an injury in his last two fights, which is worth paying attention to. This fight will not disappoint.

4.Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Shane Mosley Jr. – interim middleweight title fight on PBC PPV on Prime Video

Both fighters are in good shape to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the vacant interim WBC middleweight title. Ramos (23-1, 19 KO) has impressed with two stoppage victories this year, while Mosley (22-4, 12 KO) earned a career-best win over former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs. However, the victory over Jacobs came in July 2024 and Mosley has not fought since. This inaction could cost him.

After being frustrated by his lack of opportunities at junior middleweight, Ramos is counting on his strength to aid him succeed at 160 pounds. He has certainly matured and developed since his September 2023 unanimous decision loss to Erickson Lubin. If Ramos is successful, he could get a chance to fight WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames in 2026, instead of returning to junior middleweight.

5. Beatriz Ferreira vs. Elif Nur Turhan – women’s lightweight title fight on DAZN

Ferreira makes his fourth defense of his IBF lightweight title against a perilous challenger in Turhan, who has won his last three fights by stoppage. Both fighters are undefeated, so the fight promises to be fierce.

Ferreira (8-0, 2 KO), ESPN’s No. 2 lightweight, has made two convincing title defenses this year, both at home in Brazil, but she will be pushed out of her comfort zone in Monte Carlo. Turhan (11-0, 7 KO) moved up to junior lightweight before her last fight and needed just six rounds to defeat then-undefeated Rima Ayady in August. The rising star has won two of his last three fights within two minutes, so we can expect a lively start.

6. Jai Opetaia vs. Huseyin Cinkara – fight for the cruiserweight title

Opetaia, ESPN’s No. 1 cruiserweight, should get through this fight without any drama. And if it’s another convincing win, could Opetaia announce he’s moving up to heavyweight? Or maybe he will call for a title unification fight with WBA, WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez?

Opetaia (28-0, 22 KO) made her 5th round KO victory over Claudio Squeo look basic in June and is not expected to pose any difficulties against 40-year-old challenger Cinkara (23-0, 19 KO), who has three quick wins in the last two years against lower-level opponents.

7. Johnny Fisher vs. Herbert Matovu – heavyweight fight on DAZN

Fisher (13-1, 11 KO) needs to win if he wants to maintain interest in his career, so expect him to be looking for a KO, and that makes this a must-see fight.

If Fisher gets back on track after a shock fifth-round loss to David Ryan in May, a trilogy with Ryan or even a chance to fight fresh British champion Jeamie “TKV” Tshikewa is possible. Failure and his championship chances could disappear.

Boxing

Liam Smith Puts Ben Whittaker to the Test Under Intense Pressure

Published

4 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Liam Smith Puts Ben Whittaker to the Test Under Intense Pressure"

Liam Smith believes Ben Whittaker’s talent could take him to a world title, but questions how his style holds up against an opponent who keeps pressing after the early rounds. Ahead of the Conor Wallace fight, that remains an unanswered question about the 29-year-old.

Whittaker has been matched cautiously for someone with an Olympic silver medal and extensive amateur experience. His professional opposition has given him opportunities to display his reflexes, but little evidence of how those skills survive sustained pressure from a world-class light heavyweight.

“It’s difficult to win a round against Ben Whittaker fresh and sharp,” said Liam Smith during the panel discussion. “But a 12-round fight, they’re not the same fighters in the back half, the back six. To kind of get to fighters like that, you’ve got to be able to still have the mindset, ‘I’m going to be down after four or five rounds, but then it’s my type of fight.’”

The first Liam Cameron fight gave those concerns substance. Whittaker was having difficulty before both fighters went over the ropes and he could not continue. To this writer, the ending invited the argument that he wanted out as Cameron’s pressure became harder to manage. That interpretation remains debatable, and his impressive rematch victory deserves recognition.

His Olympic experience also deserves a fair reading. Whittaker beat Russia’s Imam Khataev 4–1 before losing to Cuba’s Arlen Lopez in the final. Those results hardly suggest he cannot compete with elite amateurs, but three rounds cannot answer Smith’s question about the later stages of a professional fight.

The matchmaking is harder to explain. Across two promoters, Whittaker has received the sort of gradual development usually reserved for fighters with considerably less amateur experience. At 29, he still needs a world-class professional opponent.

That does not prove his handlers doubt him, but it gives reason to question what they are waiting to see. Wallace can help answer Smith’s concerns if he keeps Whittaker working beyond the comfortable early rounds.

About the author

Boxing News 24 Desk

BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

Boxing

Filip Hrgovic Aims for Heavyweight Rematch: I Want My Shot

Published

9 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Filip Hrgovic Aims for Heavyweight Rematch: "I Want My Shot"

Filip Hrgovic has named a potential rematch as his most desirable fight, rather than a more likely title defence against mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.

The Croatian did, of course, become a world heavyweight champion in August, claiming the vacant IBF title with a stunning ninth-round stoppage of Moses Itauma.

Throughout their contest, Hrgovic was getting thoroughly outboxed and even suffered a second-round knockdown, before managing to take advantage of a severely fatigued Itauma.

As a result, the 34-year-old fulfilled his long-term ambition of becoming a major champion but, soon enough, will be ordered to face leading contender Sanchez.

It was agreed, after all, that the winner of Itauma-Hrgovic would need to defend his belt against the Cuban, who accepted step-aside money under the condition that he is entitled to an immediate title shot.

From the perspective of Hrgovic, however, a unification match with former foe Daniel Dubois is far more appealing, given that it would present him with a shot at revenge and the chance to claim another title.

Speaking with The Stomping Ground‘El Animal’ highlighted this as his preferred option, despite suffering an eighth-round stoppage defeat to ‘Dynamite’ in June 2024.

“That Dubois rematch would be the best fight for me. And to get my revenge – to get [a] unification – that will be the best fight for me. But we’ll see.”

While Hrgovic, clearly, is determined to exact his revenge on Dubois, he must first defend his IBF title against Sanchez while Dubois, as the WBO champion, is entering a rematch with Fabio Wardley on October 17.

Boxing

Filip Hrgovic Dominates Rico Verhoeven in Epic Showdown

Published

10 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Filip Hrgovic Dominates Rico Verhoeven in Epic Showdown"

Derek Chisora is backing Rico Verhoeven to beat IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic in a proposed fight, dismissing Hrgovic’s victory over Moses Itauma as the young challenger simply getting tired.

That prediction overlooks how much Verhoeven would be giving away in boxing experience, power and overall ability. His size helped him compete against Oleksandr Usykbut the 6’6″ Hrgovic would reduce that advantage while presenting a heavier punching threat.

The matchup has been discussed for the December 11 Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff, although no deal has been announced. Hrgovic’s IBF mandatory challenger, Frank Sanchez, remains an obstacle after already stepping aside for the Itauma fight.

“Hrgovic would lose that fight,” Chisora told Seconds Out. “Moses Itauma didn’t get beat, Moses Itauma beat himself.

“It’s not like Moses Itauma left that ring with a beatdown, he just got tired. Hrgovic was far off in rounds, he couldn’t even landed the punches, he [Moses] just got tired.

“Itauma didn’t come out of that ring and say, ‘oh my goodness, I got my a** whooped’.”

That dismissive excuse ignores how championship boxing actually works. Fatigue does not occur by accident. Blocking concussive punches, wrestling out of clinches, and constantly retreating from a relentless 245-pound puncher burns through stamina rapidly. Itauma learned the hard way that early success evaporates if you cannot sustain the pace.

Verhoeven suffered that exact fate against Usyk, wilting the second the Ukrainian dialed up the pressure in the eleventh round. Hrgovic makes that endurance deficit even more dangerous. Rico cannot rely on superior size against a fighter who matches his height and hits considerably harder. Verhoeven built a legendary kickboxing resume, but five-round bouts provide zero preparation for surviving twelve rounds against a seasoned Olympic medalist with proven late-round stopping power.

Hrgovic showed real vulnerability when Daniel Dubois stopped him, proving his chin is not invincible. The Croatian possesses vastly superior seasoning when it comes to operating inside a grueling boxing firefight. Verhoeven came apart as Usyk piled on clean punches in the championship rounds, revealing that kickboxing dominance does not translate to twelve-round punch resistance.

Chisora gladly points out Hrgovic’s defensive holes, yet he stays silent on how Rico survives his own glaring deficits. Between ring generalship, inside fighting, and raw professional boxing experience, Hrgovic holds every meaningful card. Verhoeven earned respect simply by going deep against Usyk, but dethroning an experienced heavyweight champion demands a reservoir of endurance the kickboxer has never possessed.

About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.