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Sebastian Fundora’s next fight: Three names after Thurman wins

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Thurman was stopped for the first time in his career against Fundora Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions

Sebastian Fundora’s stoppage of Keith Thurman threw the super welterweight division wide open, with the newly established champion now targeting unification fights against the biggest names in the 154-pound weight class.

Fundora became the first man to stop Thurman last night and the second fighter to ever defeat the 37-year-old, alongside Manny Pacquiao.

“The Towering Inferno” only has one loss on his resume, which came against Brian Mendoza.

Since arrest in 2023 The 28-year-old is doing almost flawlessly.

In 2023, he became the WBC world champion, and so far he has defended the 154-pound title four times.

Thurman was stopped for the first time in his career against Fundora Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions

After victories over the likes of Tim Tszyu and Keith Thurman, Fundora will be looking to unify his belts next, and here are three names that could lend a hand him get there.

Jaron Ennis

Arguably Fundora’s biggest commercial attraction, fighting “Boots” would be a huge event.

Ennis, a former welterweight ruler, has been undefeated for 35 years and continues to impress.

“Boots” held the IBF and WBA welterweight world titles and will be looking to return to the world titles as soon as possible.

Last time out, he moved up to Fundora’s super welterweight division and made no mistake against Uisma Lima.

Ennis stopped the Angolan in the first round of his debut in the higher league.

Ennis has publicly called for several fights, including against Vergil Ortiz Jr and Xander Zayas, so a fight with Fundora could make sense.

Xander Zayas

Boxing’s youngest world champion is now looking for his next fight, and “The Towering Inferno” fits the bill perfectly.

Zayas is the unified 154-pound champion and currently holds the WBA and WBO titles.

He first won the WBO belt in delayed 2025 against Jorge Garcia Perez, winning a major unanimous decision.

Zayas became the unified WBO and WBA super welterweight world champion. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Zayas became the unified WBO and WBA super welterweight world champion. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

He wasted no time in winning his second world title, dethroning then-WBA world champion Abass Baraou in January of this year.

A three-belt fight would be huge, but rumors have it that both Ennis and Zayas will face each other instead.

Vergil Ortiz Jr

Ortiz Jr currently holds the WBC interim super welterweight title, so a fight between Fundora and the 28-year-old may be the most likely outcome.

Ortiz is undefeated for 24 years and boasts an impressive 92% knockout rate.

The Ennis-Ortiz fight did not take place. Photo: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda
The Ennis-Ortiz fight did not take place. Photo: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda

Last time he stopped Erickson Lubin in just two rounds.

He also defeated Terence Crawford’s former opponent, Israil Madrimov, in a delicate undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol II match.

Ortiz Jr has also been in talks to fight Ennis, but it appears negotiations have stalled, so he may consider fighting for the full WBC title next.

The post Sebastian Fundora’s Next Fight: Three Names After Thurman Wins appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.

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UK Boxing

Josh Padley vs. Aqib Fiaz – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions

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Padley defends his European super featherweight title. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

On Saturday in Sheffield, Josh Padley will defend his European super featherweight title against Aqib Fiaz for the first time.

Eddie HearnMatchroom is promoting the Padley vs Fiaz fight from Utilita Arena live on DAZN worldwide.

The pair were scheduled to fight on the undercard, but were later advanced to the main event Dalton Smith’s WBC super lightweight title defense against Albert Puello and then Galal Yafai’s clash with unified flyweight world champion Ricardo Sandoval was shelved due to injury.

Padley (18-1, 6 KO) won the vacant belt after a second-round stoppage of Jaouad Belmehdi in Newcastle in January.

The 30-year-old has won three times since a ninth-round defeat to Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title on four days’ notice.

Padley defends his European super featherweight title. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Fiaz (14-1, 2 KO) is looking to break the script here and has won two in a row since an eight-round retirement loss to mutual opponent Reece Bellotti in 2023, whom Padley defeated by unanimous decision in October.

The 26-year-old last didn’t play 11 months ago, securing a unanimous decision victory over Alex Murphy.

Padley and Fiaz face to face at Thursday's final press conference. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Padley and Fiaz face to face at Thursday’s final press conference. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Nadim-Sulaimaan will fight for the title of English champion

Ibrahim Nadim defends his English super featherweight crown for the first time against Ibraheem Sulaimaan.

Nadim (16-1, 2 KO) secured the vacant belt with a unanimous decision victory over Numan Hussain in November, and Sulaimaan (10-0, 5 KO) became the Midlands Area champion with a sixth-round victory over Nico Ogbeide also in November.

Nadim defends his English super featherweight title against Sulaimaan. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Nadim defends his English super featherweight title against Sulaimaan. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Undercard remaining

Middleweight Aaron Bowen (7-1, 5 KO) suffered his first professional loss to Tom Cowling in November, but can get back to winning ways with a stoppage victory over Troy Coleman (15-4-1, 7 KO).

Heavyweight prospect Leo Atang (6-0, 5 KO) can remain excellent by defeating Frenchman Fouad Shaili (5-4-2, 3 KO).

Connor Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) can improve his undefeated record by scoring points over Jesus Carrasco (2-4-2) at featherweight, while Chris Mulanda (2-0) can do the same against Connor Goulding (6-12) in their middleweight bout.

Adam Maca (5-0, 5 KO) and Edward Hardy (6-0, 2 KO) will return to the pitch against an as yet unspecified opponent.

The post Josh Padley vs Aqib Fiaz – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.

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UK Boxing

Anthony Joshua REVEALS when he will retire from boxing

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Joshua and Prenga face-to-face ahead of July clash Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Anthony Joshua won’t be leaving boxing any time soon.

Joshua returns to the ring on July 25 in Saudi Arabia against Kristian Prengi, ahead of a thrilling clash with long-time rival Tyson Fury in November.

The two-time world heavyweight champion was expected to potentially end his career after his long-awaited clash with Fury, but the 36-year-old insists he can continue for another four years, even opening the door to a potential clash with the rising 21-year-old heavyweight champion, Moses This is going to hurt.

“For me, maybe until I’m 40,” Joshua told reporters.

“It’s only been about three or four years.

Joshua and Prenga face-to-face ahead of July clash Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“I’ll be 37 in October, so it’s only three years, it’ll go by quickly.

“Of course it will be challenging, but I definitely think I’m tough enough to do it.

“Why not, why not? I’m definitely more mature.”

Joshua and Fury have signed a contract to fight. Photo: Mark Robinson
Joshua and Fury have signed a contract to fight. Photo: Mark Robinson

“AJ” will fight for the first time since the sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami in December.

The Watford player took a break from the sport after he was involved in a devastating road accident in Nigeria 10 days later that killed two of his close friends, Latif “Latz” Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

Joshua, who met Prenga face-to-face earlier this week, said he strongly supports parents Ayodele and Ghami.

Anthony Joshua's close friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami died in a car crash in Nigeria
Anthony Joshua’s close friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami died in a car crash in Nigeria

“You’ll never get over it, but you’ll gain perspective in life,” he said BBC Sport.

“Life sometimes teaches you humility. You never know your fate.

“As a soldier, I stand powerful in defense of their parents.

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“First of all, it’s not about me.

“I think it’s crucial to put parents first at this time.

“I will have time to grieve, but I know that right now my heart and mind say that their parents are my main priority.”

Joshua’s fight against Prenga will take place at the Jeddah Superdome.

Fury, who retired in April to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov, is scheduled to have another warm-up fight on August 1.

The post Anthony Joshua REVEALS when he will retire from boxing appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.

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UK Boxing

Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki – huge fight preview and predictions

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Billam-Smith is fighting for the first time since defeating Glanton last April. Photo: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

Chris Billam-Smith returns to his hometown of Bournemouth to headline the inaugural Zuffa Boxing UK event against Ryan Rozicki on Saturday.

Billam-Smith is taking on Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Center and the bill is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US.

“The Gentleman” is fighting in Bournemouth for the first time since he forced Mateusz Masternak to retire in the eighth round during the first defense of his WBO cruiserweight title.

After taking revenge on Richard Riakporhe in a rematch, the 35-year-old dropped the heavyweight belt lost by unanimous decision to Zurdo Ramirez in reunification in 2024

Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) returned to winning ways after a points victory over Brandon Glanton in his last appearance in April last year.

Billam-Smith is fighting for the first time since defeating Glanton last April. Photo: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO) has lost only once in his 23 professional fights, overtaken by Oscar Rivas in the fight for the WBC bridgeweight crown in 2021.

“The Bruiser” previously fought for the WBC interim cruiserweight title and drew against Yamil Alberto Peralta.

The 31-year-old Canadian returned to winning ways after knocking out Gerardo Mellado in the second round in March and will enter Saturday’s fight as the number one contender in the WBC rankings.

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Massey meets Clarke

Jack Massey meets Cheavon Clarke at the cruiserweight crossroads.

Massey (23-3, 13 KO) was knocked out by Opetaia in his fight for the 2024 IBF cruiserweight crown, but got back into the win column in November with a fourth-round stoppage of Ivan Gabriel Garcia.

Clarke (11-2, 8 KO), a 2020 Olympian, saw his progress ponderous after consecutive losses to Leonardo Mosquea and Viddal Riley.

Clarke returned to winning ways in December. Photo: Cris Equeda/Matchroom
Clarke returned to winning ways in December. Photo: Cris Equeda/Matchroom

After returning to play in December, the 35-year-old knocked out Anthony Holloway in the fourth round.

Undercard remaining

Lee Cutler (15-2, 7 KO) from Bournemouth moves to middleweight and can return to winning ways thanks to a points victory over Aaron Sutton (19-2, 3 KO).

Heavyweight Ivan Dychko (15-1, 14 KO) was defeated by Jermaine Franklin in September, but should bounce back by handing Harvey Dykes (7-0-1) his first loss after the break.

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Stephen McKenna (15-1, 14 KO) hasn’t fought since his loss to Cutler in 2024, but he should return after his victory over Casey James Streeter (15-3-2, 6 KO) in the middleweight division.

In the third middleweight fight, Sam Hickey (4-0, 1 KO) can break the undefeated record of Todd Tompkins (4-0) by scoring points.

Airy heavyweight Leon Hughes (4-0, 3 KO) and welterweight Alex Macmillan (3-0, 2 KO) should secure victories in their respective fights via stoppage.

The post Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.

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