Boxing

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 23, 2024, 01:57 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Star boxer Ryan Garcia’s B-sample returned an adverse finding for the banned substance ostarine, per a Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory report viewed by ESPN. The A-sample, which was collected the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney

James Regan May 23, 2024, 09:48 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Jack Catterall wants to knock out Josh Taylor after he was controversially judged to have lost their first fight. Tim Markland/PA Images via Getty Images LEEDS, England — Jack Catterall has predicted he will earn a knockout victory over Josh Taylor in their junior welterweight

Nick ParkinsonMay 23, 2024, 07:52 AM ET Close Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years. Open Extended Reactions Jack Catterall was basking in what he assumed was the afterglow of victory following his undisputed junior welterweight title clash against Josh Taylor in February 2022. Catterall was being

May 22, 2024, 12:48 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora will fight in London in July. James Fearn/Getty Images British heavyweights Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora will face off at London’s O2 Arena on July 27, Queensberry promotions announced on Wednesday. The pair have been on a collision course for some time,

May 22, 2024, 08:01 AM ET Open Extended Reactions There’s a new No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, which doesn’t come as a surprise. Oleksandr Usyk‘s victory over Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, and first since Lennox Lewis held three belts in 2000, catapulted him to the top spot over

Andreas Hale, ESPNMay 21, 2024, 07:41 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The first international signee of Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions will debut on the undercard of Paul’s July 20 showdown with Mike Tyson, officials confirmed with ESPN on Tuesday. India’s Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs) will compete for the first time under the MVP

Nick ParkinsonMay 20, 2024, 08:04 AM ET Close Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years. Open Extended Reactions After Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury produced a classic in their undisputed world heavyweight title showdown, you were left wondering whether they are in a league of their own.

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 18, 2024, 07:40 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — There hadn’t been an undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in a rematch of all-time greats in November 1999 in Las Vegas. Halfway around the world — and nearly 25 years later — another undisputed champion in

Jeff Wagenheim May 19, 2024, 01:23 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Denys Berinchyk put a bow on the greatest day in Ukrainian boxing history, upsetting Emanuel Navarrete by split decision on Saturday in San Diego to capture the vacant WBO lightweight championship. It was not a pretty bow, as the fighters spent all 12 rounds

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 18, 2024, 11:40 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Boxing has always been powered by its heavyweight division, and for 24½ years, multiple men have held claims to the sport’s top prize. The sport endured a lengthy but sometimes uneventful reign from Wladimir Klitschko, a unified champion who lacked

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 18, 2024, 08:28 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Jai Opetaia survived a late surge from Mairis Briedis to hang on for a unanimous-decision victory and regain the IBF cruiserweight title early Sunday at Kingdom Arena. Opetaia, ESPN’s No. 1 cruiserweight, was badly hurt in Round 10 and lost

Nick ParkinsonMay 18, 2024, 05:26 PM ET Close Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years. Open Extended Reactions Anthony Cacace pulled off a shock, eighth-round TKO win when he overwhelmed Joe Cordina for the IBF world junior lightweight title on Saturday. Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs), 35, from

Mike Coppinger Nick Parkinson Close Nick Parkinson Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years. May 18, 2024, 11:47 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will meet for the chance to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era Saturday night in

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 17, 2024, 03:55 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Tyson Fury delivered a lackluster performance vs. Francis Ngannou in October, but “The Gypsy King” appeared in far better shape during Friday’s weigh-in at 262 pounds ahead of his undisputed heavyweight championship fight vs. Oleksandr Usyk. England’s Fury was 277.5

Mark Kriegel, ESPNMay 17, 2024, 08:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Given the several years of acrimony between the camps of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk — the most recent expression of which was an ill-fated headbutt that left Fury’s father John in his preferred state, both bloodied and happily enraged — I am profoundly

Timothy Bradley Jr.May 16, 2024, 07:52 AM ET Close Timothy Bradley Jr. is an ESPN’s boxing analyst, a two-division, five-time world champion and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Open Extended Reactions ​​ From the 1880s to the present undisputed era, one championship reigned supreme around the heavyweight division: The lineal championship.

James Regan May 15, 2024, 10:02 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Rising cruiserweight David Nyika will be fighting in a big stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. The New Zealander is all too aware he needs to impress after being handed a golden opportunity to fight on the spectacular undercard which will precede

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 15, 2024, 08:31 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Tyson Fury danced and sang along to some of his favorite hits during a light workout Wednesday evening, three days out from his undisputed heavyweight championship clash with Oleksandr Usyk. England’s Fury, 35, wrapped his hands to the tune of