Boxing
Saturday’s fight rankings: Roach-Cruz, Foster-Fulton and more
Published
6 months agoon
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.
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Boxing
Victor Ortiz claims he dropped Oscar De La Hoya twice at Pacquiao camp
Published
6 minutes agoon
June 8, 2026
Ortiz claims the sessions took place at De La Hoya’s training camp in Large Bear, where he was invited to aid prepare the boxing superstar for what turned out to be the last fight of his career.
“So I get to training camp in Large Bear. This is my first time talking about this, so Oscar, if I offend you, hey, the truth will set you free,” Ortiz told Fighthype.
“Boom, I say, ‘OK, that’s an effortless jab,’ he throws a straight right. Boom. I dropped him, he kneels.”
“I’m like, ‘Check this out, I’ll finish him off.’ Nacho says, ‘Why are you hitting him so difficult?’ I’m like, ‘I’m working with this guy, he’s a 10-time world champion.’ What are you talking about? Boom again. It’s falling again. He leaves the ring, takes all his stuff and leaves.”
If Ortiz’s memories are right, time may explain what happened.
By the end of 2008, De La Hoya was no longer a fighter who had won Olympic gold and won world titles in multiple weight classes. Golden Boy has already built a Hall of Fame career and has become one of boxing’s biggest crossover stars.
Many observers believe that its decline began many years earlier. De La Hoya lost a decision to Shane Mosley in 2003 and avoided a controversial unanimous decision over Felix Sturm in 2004. A fight that many fans thought was lost. Later that year, Bernard Hopkins stopped him with a body shot in the ninth round.
The weight problem could have made the situation worse. De La Hoya fought at 154 pounds and even fought at middleweight before agreeing to face Pacquiao at welterweight. According to reports, the 35-year-old penultimate to the division went on a diet instead of relying on classic weight loss at the end of the event, which made him look particularly slim at the weigh-in.
Pacquiao dominated the fight eight months after De La Hoya’s victory over Steve Forbes, forcing his corner to stop the fight after the eighth round. De La Hoya announced his departure the following year.
Meanwhile, Ortiz was a youthful fighter entering peak physical condition. In 2011, he won the WBC welterweight title after defeating Andre Berto.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Boxing
Joe Joyce announces his return to fighting more than a year after Filip Hrgović’s defeat
Published
2 hours agoon
June 8, 2026
Joe Joyce will return to action against the undefeated heavyweight on July 11, marking his first fight under SugarHill head coach Steward.
The 40-year-old has not fought since April 2025, when he made a sturdy showing of himself before losing a unanimous decision to Filip Hrgovic. Joyce was scheduled to face fellow veteran Dillian Whyte and then face former world title challenger Hrgovic in a grueling 10-round fight when Whyte withdrew due to injury.
before, “Juggernaut” was rejected and scored unanimously by Derek Chisorawhich followed his 10th round victory over Kash Ali in 2024.
Hoping to get back into the win column, Joyce is now preparing to face Russian Artem Suslenkov in the Murat Gassiev vs Tony Yoka fight at Moscow’s VTB Arena.
After making contact with renowned trainer Steward, who is best known for his work with Tyson Fury, Joyce said he was looking forward to meeting the 30-year-old away.
“I have spent the last year preparing, training and wanting to get back into the ring. I am excited to go to Russia and fight for the WBA continental heavyweight title on July 11.
“Thank you IBA Pro for this opportunity. My team and I are locked in and Moscow should prepare for a great performance.”
Suslenkov boasts a professional record of 14-0 (9 KO), and most notably defeated Michael Hunter by eight-round unanimous decision in an IBA Pro match in 2024.
In the heavyweight division, the 6-foot-1 inch has also previously passed Christian Hammer and has stopped fights against Agron Smakici and Artur Mann each time.
Meanwhile, Joyce clearly wants to stay in the sport even after many called for him to retire following back-to-back losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023.
Boxing
Adrien Broner raises fresh concerns during live broadcast
Published
4 hours agoon
June 8, 2026
Adrien Broner has sparked fresh concern after another live broadcast showed the former four-weight world champion struggling physically while continuing to consume alcohol.
Broner is present every day on the 24/7 broadcasts with influential boxer DeenTheGreat, and alcohol is rarely off limits during broadcasts.
However, many viewers believe that drinking itself is no longer the biggest problem.
Recent broadcasts showed Broner swallowing drinks quickly, taking them from other people nearby and appearing to choke or nearly vomit on several occasions as he continued to drink.
Fresh care
Broner has never hidden his love of nightlife, and many people can drink regularly and still be in complete control.
What concerned some viewers was the increasingly perceptible physical effects of alcohol on the welterweight star in real time.
During recent shows, Broner has repeatedly appeared to be unwell after drinking alcohol, and moments where he appears to be on the verge of illness have become challenging for viewers to watch.
As WBN previously reported, Ryan Garcia publicly urged Broner to stop drinking after watching stream clips while Gervonta Davis was undergoing a health check.
The scenes have heightened concern around the boxer who once built his reputation on training camp discipline and maintaining excellent fitness for much of the year.
Another picture
Other shows featured drunken calls by Floyd Mayweather and increasingly erratic moments.
For a fighter once seen as Mayweather’s successor and one of boxing’s brightest stars, the contrast is making headlines.
What started as a live-streaming venture that Broner thought would make him a millionaire again is now generating a very different reaction.
Broner continues to insist that he is rebuilding his life and finances through streaming.
But as more and more clips spread online, more and more people seem less interested in the entertainment value and more focused on the man at the center of the action.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.
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