Boxing
Saturday’s fight rankings: Roach-Cruz, Foster-Fulton and more
Published
8 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
Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns
Published
20 hours agoon
July 25, 2026
Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.
Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.
The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.
Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.
Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.
“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.
It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.
“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”
Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.
Boxing
Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns
Published
22 hours agoon
July 25, 2026
Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.
Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.
Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.
Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.
Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.
“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”
Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.
Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026
The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.
Boxing
Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama
Published
22 hours agoon
July 25, 2026
Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.
Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.
‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.
One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.
“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.
“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.
“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.
“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”
The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.
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