Boxing
Times Square Fights: Why elite boxers are no longer enough
Published
1 year agoon
Did Ryan Garcia regain a sense of rationality?
Or maybe Jose Ramirez, his hunger?
Can Devin Haney do a blow?
And which version of Teofimo Lopez appears?
A really engaging Times Square card should give preliminary answers. But for me, the matter of the greatest consequence is about the guy that no one talks about: Arnold Barboz Jr.
Unlike his opponent, Lopez – who, when he is right, remains as electric talent as in all boxing – Barboza does not have much noise. He is not a social media star, he never even had a public crash. Actually, there is something like novel: only a warrior, although quite good-33 years and 32-0 years aged, absurdly slow for a shot in the title of world champion. The rules have changed since Barboz’s debut in 2013. Apparently, being a really good warrior is not good enough.
Despite this, the question that goes forward – especially in the case of the directors of this emerging TKO boxing league, head of UFC Dana White, President WWE Nick Khan (full disclosure: my former agent) and a guy with bankroll, Saudi financier Turki Alalshikhh – can this: can this change? Being a warrior is a lot of complex concert – you will finally risk your life – without having to be some provocate online. Is there a construction that simply allows good warriors to be good fighters, and from half of them, how inevitably happens, it appears occasionally?
In other words, can you make boxing again a sport?
“When I debuted,” says Barboza from El Monte, California, “” Social media were not even something. It wasn’t until 2020 that it began to change. ” In fact, Barboza was in a state of shot from the world champion in 2019, when the top-class promoter Bob Arum mentioned him as a probable opponent of the then Created Master-WBC Jose Ramirez. According to Ramirez, however, he went to Texas, added the title of Maurice Hooker to his collection, and Barboza went to the WBO route (preferred sanctioning body of the highest rank) in the pursuit of the belt.
Indeed, Barboza won some good fights for this purpose, recently annoying the English Southpaw Jack Cattell in Manchester, England. He is now a “momentary” champion, one of several allegedly prestigious WBO distinctions, which he won along the way, including the titles of “international” organizations and “international”. These secondary belts may seem to be nice trinkets – they certainly provide protection of the fighter from the sketch when he makes his ring – but even so interested in the observer like Arnold Barboza Sr., coach of his son and former manager, does not distinguish them. “For me they are all the same,” he says, referring to the usual sanctioning fee. “Three percent [sanctioning fee] bags. “
Sanctioning bodies – let’s explain that all of them – relate to payment for the game. Do you want to be a claimant? Ante up. Meanwhile, Barboza-the best guy for most of this decade and player No. 1 in WBO at 140 pounds from June 2023, he jumped through all rims that was required-if he passed a pretty good warrior from Chicago named Kenny Sims Jr., who was January 2022, per my sources, Barboza was in the ranking 3 by WBO in Chicago. Sims, like Barboza, was considered a warrior, though known at the time of the nervousness of Elvis Rodriguez. The problem was that Sims was not classified by WBO.
“I needed a guy from the best the best, which I still asked,” says Barboza. “What was that good for me?”
This is the dilemma of a warrior. Are you listening, TKO? Why should the ranking channelists divide 3% of their bags should risk all these years and all this money to fight guys who cannot bring them closer to the title?
This does not mean that Barboza is a duck. In addition to Cattell, his wins cover the former Master Ramirez, whom he defeated by a unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Tough and experienced Jose Pedraza; Then and equally complex Danielito Zorrilla; And especially difficult Hitter, also undefeated, and then at the threshold of the title, Alex Saucedo.
“It was my most complex fight,” admits Barboza. Underdog, Barboza, fell in round 7, but he still won a unanimous decision in a brutal fight. He says something about Barboz (and explains why guys are less than enthusiastically fighting him) that he often does not separate their opponents from their consciousness (only 11 KO), but he tests their body and soul.
Certainly, Saucedo, a terrifying blow, will never forget. Bleeding from the brain that suffered that night caused him to retire. “
So I call Saucedo, wondering if he has interest in the fans: Barboza, a warrior who defeated him, or Lopez, who could afford revenge.
“I don’t know,” he says. “I lost my interest in boxing a bit. I don’t see the same anymore.”
Bad blood with barboza? I’m wondering.
“Not at all,” he says. “I am very grateful that I left this business.”
Saucedo has two ecstatic children, 11 and 6, good construction work and a burden on the university course, which one day will allow him to become a project manager at workplaces. “Tell you the truth that I feel so bad that many of these guys are fighting now.” There is no stars, but fighters like him, Barboza or Sims. “Most of them just have to beg and beg, begging and begging.”
And publishing. “It’s about charisma, selling yourself,” he says with joy. “It’s social media,”. “
Admittedly, Saucedo did not have talent. On the other hand, he wasn’t alone.
“A bit amusing,” he says. “I remember they said the same about Crawford.”
You may like
Boxing
Joshua vs Fury Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix
Published
53 minutes agoon
September 24, 2026
Principality Stadium secures the British heavyweight fight, with a London press conference next week and the undercard to follow.
Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) and Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11. Netflix will broadcast the full event exclusively after organizers secured a British venue for the heavyweights’ first professional meeting.
Turki Alalshikh announced the fight, and Joshua and Fury are scheduled to attend a London press conference next week. The supporting card will be announced later; no undercard opponents were named in the supplied announcement.
The December date replaces the November plan discussed earlier in negotiations. Wembley had been Joshua’s preferred destination, but Cardiff secured the event following talks over whether the fight would remain in Britain or move to the United States.
Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insisted on a UK venue. His contract included that requirement, and their position held despite discussions involving New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Dana White said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”
Netflix to broadcast the full Cardiff card
Netflix’s preference for an evening American broadcast drove the push to stage the fight across the Atlantic. Madison Square Garden emerged as the leading US option before negotiations returned to Britain.
Cardiff keeps the contest on British soil, with a late opening bell expected to accommodate viewers in the United States.
The main event is expected around 1 a.m. UK timealthough the exact time has not been confirmed. If that schedule holds. A 1 a.m. GMT start would put the main event at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 11 for viewers on America’s east coast.
The fight is expected to take place beneath Principality Stadium’s retractable roof.
London press conference scheduled for next week
Alalshikh welcomed the agreement after months of negotiations over the event.
“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans,” he said.
Joshua and Fury previously signed a two-fight agreement in 2021. That booking collapsed after an arbitration ruling required Fury to face Deontay Wilder again.
Their December meeting now has a confirmed date, venue and broadcaster. Next week’s press conference will bring both fighters to London, with the remaining card and precise event timetable still to follow.

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.
Boxing
Manny Pacquiao and Shakur Stevenson Discuss Potential Fight in Cardiff
Published
6 hours agoon
September 24, 2026
Manny Pacquiao against Shakur Stevenson remains under discussion for the proposed Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury card in Cardiff. It would give the event a second major fight, but neither Pacquiao nor Stevenson has received a bout agreement.
BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire reports that two people connected to the talks say Netflix wants the matchup as part of a “double main event.” December 11 is the date under consideration at Principality Stadium, with December 18 also possible. Pacquiao adviser Jas Mathur told BoxingScene that Pacquiao’s financial terms are still being negotiated.
That leaves a great deal to settle before anyone can call this a fight. The Cardiff show itself has yet to be formally announced, and moving Joshua-Fury from the previously discussed Madison Square Garden setting means assembling the rest of the card around a different venue and date.
Pacquiao-Stevenson would bring two very different attractions to that card. Stevenson, 29, is coming off his January win over Teofimo Lopez and has since signed with Zuffa Boxing. Pacquiao, 47, drew with Mario Barrios in his July 2025 return. His name would draw attention far beyond the usual boxing audience, though the long layoff and age difference would become part of the conversation as soon as the fight was announced.
The proposed pairing also raises a practical question: what weight would they fight at? Pacquiao’s return came at welterweight, while Stevenson’s recent work has been at lighter weights. No weight, number of rounds, or title terms have been announced.
For now, the news is that Pacquiao-Stevenson has survived the reported switch to Cardiff and remains in Netflix’s plans, according to BoxingScene. The decisive development would be agreements reaching both fighters. Until then, it belongs on the list of fights being negotiated, rather than the Joshua-Fury undercard.
Pacquiao turns 48 on December 17. If the fight lands on December 18, Shakur would face him one day after his birthday. Pacquiao won his first world title in 1998, before Shakur turned two.
That age difference makes the matchup a hard sell as a competitive fight. If Shakur wins easily, how much credit does he get for beating a man nearly two decades older? If he boxes his way to a quiet decision, Pacquiao’s name may bring viewers to Netflix, but the fight may give them little reason to watch Shakur again.
Pacquiao’s fame can make this a major event. Turning it into a fight that helps Shakur is another matter. First, both men need to agree to terms; neither has received a bout agreement.
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
Teofimo Lopez Set to Defend World Title on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Undercard – Boxing News
Published
11 hours agoon
September 23, 2026
Teofimo Lopez has been offered a slot on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card, which is set to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
‘The Takeover’ comes off a majority decision victory over Rolando Romero, who he dethroned last month after surviving a genuine scare in round five.
In reality, though, it was a far more convincing win than the scorecards suggested and, despite suffering a one-sided defeat to Shakur Stevenson in January, Lopez proved that he remains a highly-skilled operator at world level.
But while he has expressed an interest in unification matches at 147lbs, particularly one against WBC champion Ryan Garcia, the 29-year-old must first make a mandatory defence and retain his WBA title.
He has, in other words, been ordered to face Jack Catterallwho claimed his WBA ‘Regular’ title by producing arguably a career-best performance to unanimously outpoint Shakhram Giyasov in May.
Lopez, meanwhile, had attempted to swerve his mandatory duty and, according to boxing journalist Dan Rafaelis considering vacating his welterweight belt in pursuit of more lucrative opportunities.
If he is to proceed with the Catterall fight, however, then the three-division world champion could end up featuring on the expected Fury-Joshua card later this year.
Equally, Catterall has taken to social media and acknowledged that, as the champion, Lopez can choose to defend his title on home soil.
“Hey mate [Lopez]you fancy scrapping on the [Fury-Joshua] card? If not don’t worry, I’ll come to America and get my belt. Either way I’ll see you soon champ.”
Hey mate @TeofimoLopez you fancy scrapping on the fury aj card ? If not don’t worry I’ll come to America and get my belt. Either way I’ll see you soon champ 🤝 https://t.co/l6tDpimzE9
— Jack Catterall (@jack_catt93) September 22, 2026
According to WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, both parties have until October 22 to reach an agreement or risk a purse bid hearing being called.
Joshua vs Fury Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix
Morning Report | Raul Rosas Jr. still aiming to be youngest UFC champion, retire by 25
Justin Gaethjes manager says Ilia Topuria doesnt call the shots
Trending
-
MMA2 days agoMagomed Ankalaev tells Paulo Costa: ‘I’m your get-out-of-jail-free card’
-
MMA2 days agoManel Kape says he’ll make Joshua Van fight look ‘easy’
-
MMA2 days agoHenry Cejudo warns Bo Nickal after Gable Steveson’s 12-second KO loss
-
MMA2 days agoDemetrious Johnson spots his lesson in Arman Tsarukyans UFC 331 KO
-
MMA2 days agoPatricio ‘Pitbull’ made peace after 11 years, then delivered a UFC TKO
-
MMA2 days agoUFC legend Mark Hominick carrying coach Shawn Tompkins' legacy 15 years after tragedy
-
Boxing2 days agoJack Catterall Calls Out Teofimo Lopez Following WBA Order
-
MMA2 days agoShavkat Rakhmonov is back to wrestling in encouraging UFC return sign


