WBA light welterweight champion Ricky Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) will make the first defence of his title against mandatory challenger Kiryl Relikh (21-0, 19 KOs) on October 7 at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
Burns, 33, became Scotland’s first three-weight world champion when he won the vacant title with a eight-round stoppage over Italy’s Michele di Rocco at the same venue last May.
Now he will defend it against the 26-year-old unbeaten Belarus fighter, who is trained and promoted by former…
Errol Spence beats Bundu and sets up world title shot
Welterweight contender Errol Spence Jr. (21-0, 18 KOs) stopped Italian opponent Leonard Bundu (33-2-2, 12 KOs) in the sixth round of a IBF eliminator on Sunday at the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, New York.
Spence scored his eighth straight stoppage win and became the first person to KO Bundu.
Southpaw Spence, 26, took control with his right jab and landed hard shots to head and body throughout the fight.
The reigning European welterweight champion Bundu, 41, was aggressive but his…
Tony Bellew to fight BJ Flores in first title defence
WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) will make his first defence against American BJ Flores (32-2-1, 20 KOs) on October 15 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
Bellew won the vacant title in front of his hometown fans at Goodison Park in May when he recovered from a first-round knockdown to knockout Ilunga Makabu in the third round.
Now the Liverpudlian will defend it against the experienced Flores, who has never been stopped in 35 professional fights.
“I am going to smash…
Manny Pacquiao to return against Jessie Vargas on November 5
Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) will be returning to the ring to fight WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, had said he would retire to focus on his political career after winning a unanimous decision against American Timothy Bradley in April.
But the 37-year-old Filipino, who was elected to the Philippine Senate in May, has opted to continue…
Marcos Maidana announces retirement from boxing
Former world champion Marcos Maidana (35-5, 31 KOs) has announced his retirement from boxing.
Maidana, who won world titles at light welterweight and welterweight, will likely be remembered for his brawls with Victor Ortiz, Amir Khan, Adrien Broner and his two fights with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The 33-year-old Argentine has not fought since his second points defeat to Mayweather in September 2014.
“After a long time out of the rings and after giving it a lot of thinking since my last fight, I’ve…
Ward beats Brand and sets up Sergey Kovalev clash
Former super middleweight world champion Andre Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) scored a one-sided points decision over Alexander Brand (25-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
Ward won every round as he won by scores of 120-108 on all three judges’ scorecards.
The unbeaten American switched from orthodox style to southpaw and landed jabs and power shots throughout the fight.
Ward cut Brand over the right eye, but was never able to knock the overmatched Colombian…
Tyson Fury faces UK Anti-Doping charge
WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) has been charged by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) following an alleged positive test for a banned substance.
The Sunday Mirror reported on June 26 that traces of nandrolone were found in a urine sample taken from Fury back in February 2015. The same report states that Fury’s cousin, heavyweight contender Hughie, had also tested positive for the banned substance. The Fury camp denies all allegations, claiming the results were…
Frampton outpoints Santa Cruz to become two-weight world champion
Carl Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) won the WBA featherweight title by outpointing defending champion Leo Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs) on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Frampton, a former IBF and WBA super bantamweight champion, become the first Northern Irishman to win world titles in two weight divisions.
Two judges scored the fight 117-111, 116-112 for Frampton, while the third ruled it 114-114.
Frampton made the stronger start and rocked the Mexican with a left hook…
Campbell and Warrington score impressive wins
2012 Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell (14-1, 11 KOs) outpointed former world champion Argenis Mendez (23-5-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
British lightweight Campbell was floored by a hard right hand in the second round but recovered and outworked Dominican Mendez thereafter to win a unanimous decision by scores of 116-111, 117-110, 115-112.
Campbell claimed the vacant WBC silver lightweight title.
Also on the card, British featherweight Josh Warrington…
Steveson knocks out Williams in four
WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Thomas Williams (20-2, 14 KOs) on Friday night at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.
The Canadian ended the all-southpaw slugfest in spectacular fashion, laying out Williams with his signature left hand before referee Michael Griffin completed the 10-count.
Stevenson was landing hard shots from the start and dropped the American late in the first round with a straight left hand to the…