BoxRec

bam vs martinez a good one, martinez has the style to make an entertaining fight even if he's a level below

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑08 Jul 2025, 14:16 bam vs martinez a good one, martinez has the style to make an entertaining fight even if he's a level below

Why has that been announced before Bam’s fight next week.

Anyway, great fight between him and Martinez. Puma throws absolute bombs from the off.

Yarde on taking on the toughest challenges at light heavyweight
“Don’t ever question my character. I just feel like I only really know what someone’s about once I fought them. I don’t care about how they fought other people. We saw it with Beterbiev, I have him one of his hardest fights before the Bivol fight, damaged him, cut him, no one was expecting that. And I saw what people was writing, they expected me to get cleaned out like everyone else.

“But, again, I was ahead on the scorecards, I learned a lot from the fight, could take something from the fight, and again, just shows my character. I will fight anybody.”

On Benavidez’s reputation for brutality.
“I think Beterbiev was known as a more destructive puncher. I think with Benavidez, he’s known more as a volume, pressure, kind of boxer. But I don’t care. I don’t care if they’re master boxers, punchers, I don’t care. And if you look at the people I’ve fought, I fought them where I’m premature in the sport. I don’t care.”

On this third chance at a world title and if he worries he’ll never get over the hump
“No. Absolutely not...I only care about the opinion of myself — what I really think about myself — that’s a conversation a lot people can’t have in this world, what they really think of themselves, are they proud of themselves, did they go after things, did they put it all on the line...I can look in the mirror, look at my own eyeballs and say ‘yeah, he’s challenged every fear in his bone, in his body.’”

On whether he thinks he can KO Benavidez
“100%. I feel like the reason it’s an exciting fight is because people know I’m going to be the underdog, you’ve got to give him his credits...but they know that I’m one of them people where it’s not even a banana, it’s a different kind of slippery fruit you can think of, it’s okra. They’re saying ‘this guy is going to give it,’ so I think it’s one of those things were everyone is excited to see what happens.”

This is a cracking little card.

ARTUR BETERBIEV RETURNS AGAINST DEON NICHOLSON AS ROAD TO REDEMPTION BEGINS ON NOV. 22 CARD

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will end a nine-month layoff to feature prominently on the Ring IV card come November 22, when he faces Alabama puncher Deon Nicholson in a matchup billed as the 40-year-old's road to redemption.

The Russian-born Canadian voiced his frustration last month at failing to settle terms for an immediate trilogy bout with now-unified titleholder Dmitry Bivol, having split their series one apiece after 24 thrilling rounds in the Saudi capital from October 2024 to February this year.

Bivol relinquished his WBC title, rather than negotiate terms for a purse bid with interim champion David Benavidez - since been elevated - while being ordered to box mandatory challenger Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) for the IBF strap. His next move remains unclear.

Benavidez, who watched the Bivol-Beterbiev rematch ringside in Riyadh, will headline Ring IV against two-time former title challenger Anthony Yarde in a maiden title defence at 175-pounds. After failed Benavidez negotiations, Callum Smith-David Morrell has been ordered for the former's newly-won WBO interim title and is also mooted to feature on the bill.

Said to have received Turki Alalshikh's blessing for a fight in their native Russia, as reported by The Ring's Mike Coppinger, Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) will now stay-busy against another American opponent in November. He's 8-0 with 8-0 KOs in matchups with stateside opposition but turns 41 in January as questions over longevity at an elite level persist.

Nicholson (22-1, 18 KOs) is six years his junior and has reeled off eight consecutive wins, including five inside the distance, since then-unbeaten Nigerian contender Efetobor Apochi dropped and stopped him three rounds into their scheduled 12-round contest in April 2021.

The nine-year pro pitched a ten-round points win over previously-unbeaten Sergio Jimenez this time last year and is most recently coming off a fourth-round finish of Devonte Williams on June 27, where he featured on the Deontay Wilder-Tyrell Herndon undercard.

Artur Beterbiev-Deon Nicholson added to November 22 Riyadh show

Artur Beterbiev is prepared to move on with his career – and from Dmitry Bivol.

BS has confirmed that the former undisputed light heavyweight champion is set to next face Alabama’s Deon Nicholson on November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 175lbs matchup is part of a stacked Ring IV show that will feature at least five major title fights.

News of the bout was first reported by Ring Magazine, who presents the event along with boxing financier Turki Alalshikh.

The night will mark the first time in more than eight years that Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs) will enter the ring without a major title at stake. It comes as an alternative to previously sought plans for a rubber match with Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), the current undisputed 175lbs champion.

Beterbiev and Bivol are responsible for the only defeat on the other’s records, their two-fight set which took place in a four-month span. Beterbiev – a two-time Olympian for Russia who lives and trains in Montreal, Canada – won their first fight via majority decision to fully unify all four major 175lbs titles last October 12 in Riyadh.

It ended Bivol’s near seven-year WBA title reign, while Beterbiev retained the WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

Beterbiev entered their February 22 rematch as the sport’s longest-reigning active titleholder, having held the IBF belt since November 2017. Bivol put an end to that with a majority decision victory of his own in their instant classic.

However, his stay as newly crowned undisputed champion was brief. Bivol was forced to vacate the WBC title when he declined to move forward with an ordered mandatory title defense against David Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs).

Fittingly, Benavidez defends the WBC 175lbs title for the first time against England’s Anthony Yarde atop this November 22 show.

As for Bivol, it was theorized at the time that he would move forward with a trilogy clash against Beterbiev, and that it would presumably take place in Russia. However, the bout never came close to materializing. In fact, Beterbiev even called out Bivol for dragging his feet on the matter.

A third fight is even less likely to take place anytime soon. As reported by BS, Bivol was ordered to next face IBF mandatory Michael Eifert. The deadline has passed for their negotiation period, and Bivol is out of exceptions to use in the absence of a unification bout.

Meanwhile, Beterbiev, 40, will take a stay-busy fight as means to once again lodge a two-fight campaign on the year, as well as his third straight appearance in Riyadh.

It comes against a woefully overmatched foe in Nicholson, 22-1 (18 KOs), a stablemate of former WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder. Both fighters are from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and posted knockout wins on the same June 27 BLK Prime Pay-Per-View show in Wichita, Kansas.

Nicholson halted Houston’s Devonte Williams, 13-3 (6 KOs) in the fourth round of their light heavyweight contest. The win ended a ten-month inactive stretch for the 34-year-old knockout artist, who faces a former champion for the first time in his nine-year career.

VITO MIELNICKI TO FACE SAMUEL NMOMAH ON ‘THE RING IV’ UNDERCARD NOV. 22 IN RIYADH

Vito Mienlicki Jr.’s last fight took place about 20 minutes from his hometown of Roseland, New Jersey.

The middleweight contender has a much longer trip planned for his next fight. The Ring has learned Mielnicki will face Italy’s Samuel Nmomah in a 10-rounder November 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The bout between Mielnicki (21-1, 12 KOs, 1 NC) and Nmomah (21-0, 5 KOs) will be streamed by DAZN as part of “The Ring IV” card headlined by WBC light heavyweight champ David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde.

Mielnicki, 23, topped Polish contender Kamil Gardzielik (19-1, 4 KOs) in his most recent action. He dropped Gardzielik in the third round and won their 10-round main event by unanimous decision June 21 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The Nigerian-born Nmomah, 28, is the third straight undefeated opponent for Mielnicki, but he has beaten a low level of opposition since he made his pro debut in December 2016. Nmomah defeated Denmark’s Abdul Khattab (20-4-1, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision in his last fight, a 10-rounder March 28 in Novara, Italy.

Mielnicki, listed sixth among the WBO’s middleweight contenders for 160-pound champ Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs), is the first world-ranked opponent of Nmomah’s eight-year pro career. Mielnicki will fight outside of the United States for the first time since he was an amateur.

In addition to Phoenix’s Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) facing England’s Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) in the 12-round main event, “The Ring IV” show will pit WBO welterweight champ Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs), of Conyers, Georgia, against former undisputed lightweight champ Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC), of Henderson, Nevada, in the 12-round co-feature.

David Benavidez training camp update; parts with Memo Heredia

As David Benavidez heads to his first WBC light heavyweight title defense next month, he is approaching it with a new reality.

“He’s super motivated, super happy and connecting with God and the vibe,” Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Snr, told Boxing Scene on Monday from the family’s training compound in Seattle.

“This will be the toughest fight of his career, and we know every fight after this will be tougher.”

Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), is a two-division titleholder who also reigned at super middleweight. He will meet England’s two-time light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Yarde, 27-3 (24 KOs), in the main event of the loaded November 22 Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia that also includes title fights featuring Brian Norman Jnr vs. Devin Haney, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez and Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes.

“David’s fighting a guy who stumbled and hurt [former undisputed champion Artur] Beterbiev, and he also fought ‘The Krusher’ [Sergey Kovalev] … so he may be thinking this is his last chance to fight for a world title,” Benavidez Snr said. “We’re preparing as if [Yarde’s] coming with everything, motivated, training like never before.

“So David has to look spectacular. There’s nothing else he can do but win and look great as he steps to higher competition and to the tougher fights people want to see.”

For David Benavidez, appetizing opponents have been mentioned as potential next foes should he defeat Yarde, including the winner of the trilogy rubber match between Beterbiev and three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and cruiserweight champions Jai Opetaia and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.

Following his June 28 unified title defense over Yuniel Dorticos, Ramirez mentioned Benavidez first to BS when asked whom he most wants to fight next.

Ramirez underwent shoulder surgery in July, but one official familiar with talks said there has been mention of attempting to make a fight with Benavidez in Las Vegas in 2026.

Benavidez remains a part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable, Jose Benavidez Snr emphasized, detailing that his son’s “performance” will determine which route they proceed.

“This is the biggest fight of David’s career, so we must remain 100% focused on this fight,” Benavidez said. “David will fight anybody. We don’t run from anyone. We always want the fights that people want to see.”

Benavidez said his son has severed ties with controversial strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia and reunited with their former strength and conditioning coach, Cem Eren.

Benavidez said his son has been “sharp, accurate, fast” with “reflexes and IQ … everything has been right on point.”

David Benavidez’s sparring partners have included super middleweights Julio Porras, 13-0 (9 KOs), of Mexico, and Daniel Blancas, 13-0 (6 KOs), of Wisconsin, after starting with cruiserweights and heavyweights.

Blancas will fight on the undercard of the October 25 pay-per-view card headlined by Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman, while Porras will be on the November 22 card in Saudi Arabia.

“I’m expecting David to look at his best on November 22, and to keep improving, showing the world who he is – the ‘Mexican Monster,’” said Benavidez Snr.

Just saw a post on r/Boxing saying this is now PPV in the U.K?

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 14:41 Just saw a post on r/Boxing saying this is now PPV in the U.K?

On DAZN????

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 14:46

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 14:41 Just saw a post on r/Boxing saying this is now PPV in the U.K?

On DAZN????

I have a padlock on the thumbnail when I look at the live event on DAZN so that means yes

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 14:49

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 14:46

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 14:41 Just saw a post on r/Boxing saying this is now PPV in the U.K?

On DAZN????

I have a padlock on the thumbnail when I look at the live event on DAZN so that means yes

Total pisstakers

I thought they were gonna start the whole Ring subscription thing? On dazn?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 15:24 I thought they were gonna start the whole Ring subscription thing? On dazn?

They already said DAZN wouldn’t do PPVs and then completely did a 180, they now do far more than Sky ever did. Why would anyone ever trust them with another subscription on top of their existing one which ‘includes PPVs’ when they’ll prob still have even more PPVs on top of that?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 Oct 2025, 15:24 I thought they were gonna start the whole Ring subscription thing? On dazn?

"Great meeting with my brother Shay, CEO of DAZN," Alalshikh wrote on X. "We have big vision to grow boxing and decide: No More Pay-Per-View. Starting with our @ringmagazine show in November, all Riyadh Season & The Ring events will be free to DAZN subscribers. The PPV model has damaged boxing, and we will no longer support it. We are with the fight fans."

Maybe they delayed the 'new model', or they had a reality check that big events can't be done without ppv.

Anthony Yarde: If I Hit David Benavidez Clean, The Fight Is Done

Anthony Yarde is sure he hurt Artur Beterbiev and Sergey Kovalev in his first two light heavyweight title fights.

If the heavy-handed London native connects correctly when he encounters David Benavidez next month, he is convinced he’ll finish off the unbeaten WBC light heavyweight champion. Yarde understands that there won’t be anything easy about battling Benavidez, but he is very confident he’ll leave the ring November 22 as a world champion.

Yarde offered his perspective during the newest episode of “Inside The Ring,” which premiered on DAZN on Monday.

“These kinda things excite me for some reason,” Yarde told co-hosts Max Kellerman and Mike Coppinger. “I don’t know why. Don’t ask me why, but this is why I got into the sport, to be in big fights, be in fights that, you know, people are talking about, entertaining fights. And for me it’s like, you know, we can both hit, and I just feel like if I land on Benavidez the fight is done.

“Especially with the way I’ve been training – I’m sure he’s been training ferociously as well because he’s gonna wanna make a statement. But I just know if I land against any light heavyweight on the planet, I’m gonna win the fight. So, that’s what’s so exciting for me.”

Phoenix’s Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) is a 10-1 favorite over Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs). The English challenger, who was stopped by Beterbiev and Kovalev, hasn’t taken offense to odds DraftKings and other sportsbooks list on the main event of “The Ring IV: Night of Champions” card at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“One thing about me as well,” Yarde added, “I’m like I know some people try to sell themselves or say, ‘I’m the best,’ or whatever. And I feel like in boxing you’ve just gotta prove it. You know, I’m a underdog for a reason in this fight. That’s what is gonna make me thrive in this fight.
“I feel like in boxing you’ve gotta earn your place as well. So, if I’m gonna be world champion I want it to be fights like this, you know, against a real solid champion. … There’s something within me that feels this was the fight that was put on my plate for a reason.”

The card headlined by Benavidez, 28, and Yarde, 34, will be streamed by DAZN Pay-Per-View in the United States ($59.99) and the UK (£24.99).

One month to go.

I feel like this was announced ages ago. I checked and it was early July, 4 months ago.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Oct 2025, 12:02 One month to go.

I feel like this was announced ages ago. I checked and it was early July, 4 months ago.

Everything takes too long with Boxing. 2 fights a year and a 4 month training camp is ridiculous, and it's proven almost anytime 2 guys of the same level are matched, if one guy has had 4 fights in the last year, and the other has had 1. More often than not the busier fighter is sharper, and more effective.

ANTHONY YARDE SENSES OVERCONFIDENCE FROM DAVID BENAVIDEZ BECAUSE HE IS UNDEFEATED

Anthony Yarde isn’t convinced David Benavidez is fully focused on their fight.

The British contender can’t help but believe Benavidez has planned too far ahead before they’ve fought for his WBC light heavyweight title. He has heard and read Benavidez’s comments about challenging Dmitry Bivol when The Ring and former undisputed champ returns from back surgery, eventually facing another former fully unified champ in Artur Beterbiev before moving up to cruiserweight for a fight with WBA/WBO champ Gilberto Ramirez.

Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) contends that he merely answers questions honestly when he is interviewed. Those discussions, from Benavidez’s viewpoint, are not a reflection of how he is approaching his title defense against the heavy-handed Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs).

Regardless, Yarde thinks Benavidez’s unblemished record has given the Phoenix native an aura of invincibility that was beaten out of him in technical-knockout losses to Beterbiev and another former unified champ, Sergey Kovalev.

Knowing what it’s like to lose and dealing with the damage defeats do to a boxer’s career, is an advantage Yarde feels will help him when they square off in the 12-round main event of “The Ring IV: Night of Champions” card November 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Yarde detailed his perspective as part of a recent “Inside The Ring” interview with co-hosts Max Kellerman and Mike Coppinger and panelists Chris Arreola and LeSean McCoy.

“For me, one thing I know about myself is, again, I’ve taken a loss before and I know how to handle it,” Yarde said. “So, I feel like that’s what makes me more dangerous in this fight. David Benavidez has never lost and I feel like sometimes that can be a bit, you know, that can be overconfidence. I’ve seen, you know, certain interviews, and when he’s talking about fights after me and things like that. So, hopefully he’s focused for this fight because from what I’ve learned from studying the sport of boxing, that’s how people slip up.”

Russia’s Kovalev stopped Yarde in the 11th round of a bout Yarde trailed on all three scorecards in August 2019 in Kovalev’s hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia. That win enabled Kovalev to secure a career-high payday against Canelo Alvarez in his following fight.

Yarde led Beterbiev on one card when the Russian knockout artist stopped him in the eighth round of their January 2023 bout in London.

Then-unbeaten Brit Lyndon Arthur is the only other opponent to defeat Yarde, but Yarde avenged that split-decision loss in December 2020 by knocking out Arthur in the fourth round of their rematch almost a year later. Yarde also unanimously outpointed Arthur in their 12-round rubber match on April 26 in London.

“After I fought Beterbiev he said I’m up next,” Yarde said. “After I fought Kovalev, he said I’m up next as well. Mexicans, their styles are very, very different. David Benavidez has been ... you can call it almost perfect so far. And these are the things that make me thrive. I’ll just be real with you. I don’t want no trying to persuade the public or anything like that. The public that have watched me fight before, they know they’re gonna see a good fight. But I’m gonna be the underdog and I just want everyone to tune in.”

The 12-round bout between Benavidez, 28, and Yarde, 34, will headline a DAZN Pay-Per-View show in the United States ($59.99) and the UK (£24.99). DraftKings established Benavidez, The Ring’s No. 2 contender in the 175-pound division, as a 10-1 favorite versus the fourth-ranked Yarde.