Usman has declared that he remains open to taking on Chimaev in an upcoming bout because he believes it's going to be entertaining for fans of the sport. He preferred a catchweight since he wasn't certain whether it would occur at welterweight or middleweight. Dana White, on the contrary, is eager to talk about a prospective matchup between rising star Khamzat Chimaev and former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but with one stipulation. On The Jim Rowe Show on Thursday, White made an appearance and was questioned about the showdown and its likelihood of taking place. He utterly rejected the notion. The UFC president asserts that he has no desire in staging catchweight matches. Instead, he asserts that Usman should go up to middleweight to take on Chimaev if he truly desires the fight. “What I hate about that fight and [Usman] calling him out, Usman is calling him out at a catchweight — I don’t do catchweights, I don’t like catchweights,” White said. “Catchweights mean nothing. They mean absolutely nothing.” “If [Usman] wants to move up to 185 and fight [Chimaev], we could talk about it. But trying to fight him at a catchweight, I’m not interested in.” Usman has lost his last two fights against current 170-pound champion Leon Edwards; first, Usman was defeated by a decision in their rematch at UFC 286 in March after suffering a devastating fifth-round knockout to lose the welterweight championship. Chimaev has been absent since defeating Kevin Holland by first-round submission at UFC 279 in September. "Borz" failed to scale by 7.5 pounds for his anticipated main event bout against Nate Diaz, which forced the rescheduling of many events. The 29-year-old intends to participate in the UFC's comeback to Abu Dhabi in October but is anticipated to make the jump up to middleweight soon. It's unclear at this time whether Usman intends to increase his weight, but doing so is the sole means by which White will be able to compete against Chimaev.

For his hit-and-run incident in November 2020 in Baltimore, Gervonta Davis was sentenced on Friday to 200 hours of community service, three years of probation, and 90 days of home detention. Dylan Segelbaum of The Baltimore Banner was the one to break the news of Davis' punishment on Friday. In relation to four offences stemming from that collision, which happened in his hometown, Davis, 28, entered a guilty plea on February 16. One of the biggest names in boxing forfeited his right to a trial that day and entered a guilty plea to charges including abandoning the scene of an injury accident, failing to find the owner of property damage that was left unattended, driving while intoxicated, and running a red light. Judge Melissa Phinn of the Baltimore City Circuit Court rejected a plea deal presented by a lawyer for Davis and the prosecution in September. Davis would have been sentenced to 60 days of home confinement without supervision under that plan. Instead, Phinn ordered a trial, in part because Smith testified that she was unable to continue working or interacting with her children after the accident, despite receiving considerable physical rehabilitation. Smith further testified that before leaving the scene, Davis did not provide any help to her or any of her three passengers. According to reports, Davis struck financial agreements with Smith's three passengers but not with Smith. Davis also has a hearing set for May 26 at Broward County Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, regarding a misdemeanour domestic violence accusation of battery causing bodily harm, even though this matter has already been handled. After reportedly hitting Vanessa Posso, the mother of the younger of Davis' two girls, on the right side of her skull, Davis was taken into custody on December 27 in Parkland, Florida. In that case, he entered a not guilty plea. According to a police report of the incident, Davis struck Posso with a "closed hand type slap" and scraped the inside of her right lip. Posso called 911, but she recanted her story soon thereafter in a statement posted from her Instagram account. She stated that Davis “did not harm me or our daughter.” Davis spent one night in a Broward County jail before being released on $1,000 bail on December 28. In preparation for his January 7 matchup with Hector Luis Garcia for the WBA world lightweight championship, Davis was arrested near the end of his training camp. At the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Davis defeated Garcia via technical knockout in the ninth round just 11 days after his arrest.

Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has undoubtedly made his mark on the world of boxing. In addition to defeating top-level opponents, Canelo has beaten several notable British fighters over the course of his career. As the undisputed super middleweight champion, he is set to defend his title against mandatory challenger John Ryder on Saturday night in Mexico. Canelo has had his fair share of fights with British boxers, including Ryan Rhodes, Matthew Hatton, Amir Khan, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Liam Smith, and Rocky Fielding. However, Canelo's dominance over British boxers has left him feeling bad for constantly crushing the dreams of UK fans. “I’m sorry to all the UK people, but I had to do it,” Canelo told Telegraph Sport. Despite his success against British boxers, Canelo has expressed his desire to fight in the UK. While there was talk of a UK title defense in 2023, it does not seem to be happening currently. Nevertheless, the Mexican superstar remains determined to step into a UK stadium and fight in front of British fans. “I’ve been thinking this for a long time. I would love to fight there, and believe me, it’s going to be soon,” Canelo said. Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, who works with Canelo on a fight-by-fight basis, shares the Mexican champion’s vision of fighting in the UK. “The plan now with Saul is to box all around the world, [this] Saturday he will be boxing in front of 50,000 fans in his hometown of Guadalajara which was always a dream of his, and beyond that he would love to fight in the UK," Hearn said. “And there would be nothing we would love more than to bring him to our national stadium for a huge fight in front of the British fight fans.” As Canelo continues to defend his titles and break records, his desire to fight in the UK remains a long-term goal. However, with his dedication and passion for the sport, there is no doubt that the Mexican superstar will achieve his dream of stepping into a UK stadium and thrilling British boxing fans.

Mixed martial arts fans around the world were buzzing with excitement as Bellator MMA announced that Cris Cyborg had re-signed with the promotion. The news has set up a potential showdown between Cyborg and Cat Zingano for the Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship. Cyborg, who has established herself as one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the sport. Being among the best in the world, the fans were waiting for a potential matchup with fellow featherweight standout Kayla Harrison. However, with Harrison currently competing in the Professional Fighters League, that fight remains a distant dream as Cyborg's free agency comes to an end. Cyborg kept herself occupied with two successful boxing bouts in the last quarter of the year while she investigated free agency. Despite the long absence, Cyborg wasted no time in getting back into the Bellator cage, quickly re-signing with the promotion that has been her home since 2020. And with Zingano waiting in the wings, fans can expect a thrilling matchup between two of the best female fighters in the world. “After receiving multiple offers from several promotions I’m very happy that I was able to come to terms with Bellator and remain the face of their women’s featherweight division,” Cyborg said in the press release. “Scott Coker is a promoter that I’ve worked with and respected for many years. He’s done so much to further women’s MMA and gives us a platform to showcase our skills. “When making this decision, it was important to me that I was signing with the organization that I felt had the biggest names and the top talent at 145 pounds for me to challenge myself against. There is no question that all the top female featherweights are signed with Bellator and I can’t wait to get back in there and defend my belt.” Nobody Cyborg has ever held championships in Bellator, the UFC, Invicta, and Strikeforce. She went almost 13 years undefeated before being shocked by UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who upped the weight to pursue a second championship. Following that, Cyborg captured another UFC win. She then switched to Bellator and won the championship there. Zingano, who made her Bellator debut with a stunning victory over Gabby Holloway, has been eyeing a shot at the featherweight title since signing with the promotion last year. She presents a formidable challenge for Cyborg, who will be looking to defend her title and cement her status as the top fighter in the division. Zingano is running on a 4-0 undefeated streak since joining Bellator. Her last outing was against Leah McCourt in which Zingano prevailed via unanimous decision at Bellator 293. As for Zingano, the matchup with Cyborg is a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a champion in a major MMA promotion. With a resume that includes victories over some of the top female fighters in the world, she is more than capable of pulling off the upset and capturing the title. With the stage set for a showdown between two of the best female fighters in the world, fans of the sport can expect an unforgettable night of action. Whether Cyborg retains her title or Zingano pulls off the upset, one thing is for sure - this fight will be talked about for years to come.

Josh Taylor Aims to Retire Teofimo Lopez, Plans to Cement Doubts Josh Taylor, the WBO 140-pound titlist from Scotland, has his sights set on retiring Teofimo Lopez when the two fighters meet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 10. Taylor is confident that he can add to the dent in Lopez's confidence after his upset loss to George Kambosos Jr. last year. In a recent interview on The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, Taylor revealed that he plans on giving Lopez such a beating that he doesn't think he's that guy anymore. Taylor acknowledged Lopez as a great fighter who has achieved a lot in the sport, including a victory over three division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. However, Taylor believes that Lopez's profile and attitude make him a prime target for retirement. “His ego has taken a massive hit. You can see he’s a bit mentally fragile, anyway. Me, with this fight, I plan on retiring this guy. I plan on giving him that much of a beating that he doesn’t think that he’s that guy anymore. He’s already got them doubts, I’m gonna cement them and retire him,” Taylor said. Taylor also recognized that Lopez is a great fighter and that he hasn't looked great in his last couple of fights, but neither has Taylor. He believes that the two fighters are evenly matched and that it will be an exciting fight for the fans. The 30-year-old Taylor has an impressive record of 18-0 with 13 knockouts and is the fifth person in history to become the undisputed world champion in the four-belt era. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Lopez has a record of 16-1 with 12 knockouts and is a former unified lightweight champion. Lopez recently made headlines for criticizing ESPN commentators Andre Ward and Tim Bradley and his promoter for what he perceived as preferential treatment to Black fighters on their roster. However, his comments have not seemed to affect his upcoming fight with Taylor, and both fighters are expected to bring their A-game come June 10.

A grinning Gervonta Davis demonstratively answered in the affirmative when Showtime’s Jim Gray asked him recently if he has added an unofficial title to his resume. “I’m definitely the face of boxing,” Davis replied to Gray’s question in the immediate aftermath of his seventh-round knockout of Ryan Garcia on April 22. “Abso-f----ng-lutely!” Canelo Alvarez admitted Thursday that he is a fan of the entertaining knockout artist from Baltimore. The 32-year-old Mexican superstar reminded Davis and his supporters, though, that the emerging star has much more to prove as an attraction and as a fighter before Davis can take that crown from him. “I’m not retired yet, my friend,” Alvarez told a small group of reporters during a virtual interview session. “They can say whatever they want, but, you know, it’s not that easy. One fight don’t put you in that position. You need to do a lotta things.” However, Davis-Garcia was a huge financial success, a sadly infrequently occurring encouraging sign for this star-starved sport. Hardcore and casual fans from their large fan bases combined to generate about 1.2 million pay-per-view purchases, the biggest for a boxing pay-per-view event since the Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin middleweight championship rematch in September 2018. A capacity crowd of 20,842 saw the Davis and Garcia-headlined Showtime Pay-Per-View event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which Alvarez has filled seven times since it opened in 2016. That ranks as Nevada's fifth-highest purse for boxing. The only main event in the top five in the state that didn't feature Alvarez or Floyd Mayweather, Davis' former promoter, was Davis-Garcia. T-Mobile Arena is the sixth location since July 2019 when a performance by Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) drew a full house. Although the four-division champion doesn't believe the 28-year-old Davis has accomplished enough to be regarded as the "face of boxing" just yet, Alvarez has taken note. “There are a lotta good fighters coming up,” said Alvarez, who has been boxing’s biggest attraction in the United States since Mayweather retired. “One of them is Gervonta, for sure. But he need to do more things, not just in one fight. But I like Gervonta. I like Gervonta Davis a lot. You know, but he need to do more things to be the face of boxing, not just one fight. And one fight with Ryan Garcia – I respect Ryan Garcia. But what he brings [to be] the face of boxing?” Nearby his hometown of Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, Alvarez's star power will be on full show on Saturday night. At Akron Stadium, the home of C.D. Guadalajara, a well-known soccer team, a sellout crowd in excess of 50,000 is anticipated to honour one of the best boxers of this generation. Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) will face British southpaw John Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) in the main event of a DAZN Pay-Per-View to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight belts.

Conor McGregor shocked the MMA community by attending Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 41 on April 29. The UFC superstar was spotted in the front row, sipping whisky and instructing Eddie Alvarez in his battle against Chad Mendes. Mike Perry defeated Luke Rockhold by TKO in the main event after Rockhold hurt his teeth. Perry summoned McGregor to the ring following the match, and the former UFC Lightweight Champion entered with a BKFC Championship. In the ring, McGregor and Perry locked eyes, and the former UFC champion expressed his support for BKFC. Many people were curious what UFC President Dana White thought about McGregor appearing in and promoting BKFC. In an interview, White stated that he was unaffected by McGregor's antics. “I think that Conor went out and was having fun and got caught in the moment, and you know the dude called him into the ring, and he did it. I also saw him pounding a bottle of Proper 12. I'm sure that probably had something to do with it too, but listen, man, at the end of the day, Conor has done a lot here. He's made a lot of money. The guy's out having fun, and it's all good," said White.”

Jon Jones has confirmed that his possible heavyweight title defense against former champ Stipe Miocic will most likely be his final fight — unless another former champion can make a comeback in the UFC. Jones will most likely face Miocic next after he won the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March. According to UFC President Dana White, the company is planning a blockbuster fight for later this year at Madison Square Garden. If he wins, Jones claims that defeating Miocic will be enough to seal his legacy and provide him enough money to call it a career. “I feel like the Stipe fight will be plenty for me, Jones told Fox Sports Australia. “I really don’t feel like I have much to prove after beating Stipe Miocic. I’ve been in the game a long time, and in fighter years, I’m an old guy. I’ve got some small injuries and I just really want to be around — I want to be around for my family, I want to be around for my kids, I want to be able to play with my kids and have a good head on my shoulders, and joints that work. So yeah, I can see it coming to an end really soon." Jones, on the other hand, isn't entirely slamming the door shut and locking the deadbolt on his career. When asked if another fight might keep him around a little longer, the 35-year-old adds that if current free agent and former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou can somehow return to the UFC, he would absolutely entertain that lucrative clash before riding off into the sunset. “I do believe a Francis Ngannou fight would be worth entertaining not retiring,” Jones explained. “I think a Francis fight would come with some serious revenue, and that would make it worth my while. Francis is a former champion, he’s pretty damn popular [in the U.S.], and across the world. It would bring in a lot of money, and for that, I’d be willing to come back.”

The UFC 288 co-main event is scheduled to feature a fight between Burns and Muhammad. This fight is crucial for the welterweight class. Whoever wins, in the opinion of both men, ought to be a potential contender for the UFC Welterweight Championship. In the world of mixed martial arts, fighters often face tough decisions in pursuit of their ultimate goals. For Gilbert Burns, that meant accepting a fight with Belal Muhammad despite being one step away from a title shot. While this decision may seem puzzling at first glance, a closer look reveals the reasoning behind it. Burns had been one step away from a shot at the UFC welterweight title after his impressive victory over Jorge Masvidal. However, with no clear timeline for when current champion Leon Edwards would be ready to defend his belt, Burns found himself in a holding pattern. Meanwhile, fellow contender Colby Covington was immediately promised a matchup against Leon Edwards soon after his first title defense against Usman, who is widely regarded as one of the top welterweights in the division. However, that bout has yet to materialize, leaving Covington in limbo as well. With both Burns and Covington stuck in holding patterns, the UFC offered Burns a matchup against rising star Belal Muhammad when the co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Beniel Dariush fell off the main card of UFC 288. While Muhammad may not have the same name recognition as some of the other top fighters in the division, he is a dangerous opponent with an eight-fight winning streak to his name. Even though a victory over Muhammad would guarantee Burns a shot at the title, the Brazilian fighter saw it as an opportunity to stay active and potentially skip over Covington in the pecking order. Speaking to reporters during a media day session ahead of UFC 288, “Durinho” explained: “Leon Edwards gave an interview saying he’s injured, and he’s not looking to fight right now and just fight in October, and that’s when the first time I said, ‘OK, I have to fight,’” Burns said. “Then a couple of days after, I saw Charles Oliveira pulled out (of UFC 288), and I saw an opportunity there, but I was just thinking, ‘Who?’” “Sean Shelby hit me up and said, ‘We don’t have Colby. He’s not available. He’s going to fight for the title, but we have Belal Muhammad,’” Burns recalled. “And I said, ‘Done.’” Burns further said that UFC officials had promised whoever came out on top of this UFC 288 contest an opportunity at the welterweight belt. It is still to be observed if the UFC will truly abide by that alleged assurance. For fans of the sport, the matchup between Burns and Muhammad is an intriguing one. Both fighters are well-rounded and possess the skills to finish the fight on their feet or the ground. And with so much on the line for both men, it promises to be a high-stakes affair.

Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko: A Battle of Skill vs Dirty Tactics The upcoming lightweight title clash between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko has been touted as a war of the minds. Both fighters are renowned for their boxing skills, with neither being labeled as a knockout artist. However, Haney's recent comments suggest that he is anticipating a different approach from Lomachenko come fight night. Haney, the current undisputed lightweight champion, has accused Lomachenko of being a dirty fighter. Despite this, he acknowledges that his Ukrainian opponent brings much more to the table than just underhanded tactics. Lomachenko was once the unified champion of the lightweight division and was widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. But Lomachenko's reign came to an abrupt end in 2020 when he was defeated by Teofimo Lopez. Since then, Haney has positioned himself to take those very titles that Lomachenko once held. And now, with the tables turned, Haney is relishing the opportunity to prove that he's always been the better fighter. However, Haney's confidence won't be enough to distract him from Lomachenko's dirty tactics. Haney has called on Lomachenko to give him a fair fight and stop relying on sludgy tricks. But Haney knows that he can't let his guard down for a second and must be prepared for whatever Lomachenko throws his way. The clash between Haney and Lomachenko promises to be a battle of skill versus dirty tactics. Haney will rely on his honed craft, feints, awe-inspiring angles, and subtle foot movement to outbox Lomachenko. Meanwhile, Lomachenko will be looking to use his experience and unorthodox tactics to throw Haney off his game. In the end, it will be a test of who can impose their will on the other. Will Haney's superior boxing skills be enough to overcome Lomachenko's dirty tactics, or will Lomachenko find a way to get under Haney's skin and emerge victorious? Whatever happens, this promises to be a fight for the ages.

Eddie Hearn Admits Losing Purse Bid for Beterbiev-Smith by a Close Margin Eddie Hearn, a renowned British boxing promoter, recently expressed his disappointment after losing the purse bid for the light heavyweight unification clash between Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith. Hearn's Matchroom Boxing offered $2.1 million, but Top Rank, co-promoters of Beterbiev, beat their bid by just $15,000, making it Hearn's narrowest losing margin in a major purse bid ever. Hearn, who was eyeing home advantage for Smith, stated that he was gutted to have lost the bid by such a small margin, as he had never lost a purse bid by such a close figure before. However, he believes that Smith still has the ability to win the match by knockout on away soil. As per the WBC rules, Beterbiev will receive 70% of 90% of the winning bid, and Smith will claim 30%, while the remaining 10%, worth $211,500, will be on the line on the night. The fight is scheduled to take place within 90 days of the bid, and Hearn expects it to happen in Montreal since Top Rank and Group Yvon Michel now have the obligation to stage the fight. Despite the defeat, Hearn is optimistic that Smith has a great chance to dethrone the reigning light heavyweight champion. He cited Smith's ability to land a powerful left hook in catch-and-counter situations, which could knock Beterbiev out. He also noted that the time is right for Smith, as Beterbiev has had tough fights in the past, including his last outing against Anthony Yarde. In conclusion, while Hearn may have lost the bid for home advantage, he still believes that Smith can come out victorious against Beterbiev. Fans will eagerly wait to see whether Smith can fulfill Hearn's prophecy and claim the unified light heavyweight championship.

Amanda Serrano vs. Heather Hardy rematch confirmed for August 5th in Dallas Undisputed featherweight world champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will defend her belts for the first time in a rematch against former WBO featherweight titleholder Heather “The Heat” Hardy. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (Real Fight) announced the deal on Thursday, with the fight set to take place as the co-main event alongside Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on August 5th. Serrano defeated Hardy in 2019 to win the WBO belt, starting her current title reign at featherweight. Hardy will attempt to avenge her loss and become an undisputed champion. This is a significant opportunity for both fighters, as the event will be distributed globally on pay-per-view by DAZN, in addition to all major cable, satellite, and local PPV providers. Hardy expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "In 2021, I came back to boxing with a renewed passion for the sport. My late trainer told me, the day before he died, that 2023 would be my year. Now, I have the opportunity to prove him right and become an undisputed champion. Thank you to Amanda and team for keeping their word on giving me the rematch, but come fight night, I only have winning on my mind and stealing the show from Jake Paul and Nate Diaz.” Serrano, the first Puerto Rican undisputed world champion, comes into the fight after winning a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February. The victory made her the undisputed featherweight champion but also left her with a hand injury, resulting in the cancelation of her much anticipated rematch with Katie Taylor. Serrano’s win against Cruz followed her previous victory over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England, adding the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Serrano spoke about the upcoming rematch, saying, "I am the undisputed featherweight champion today because Heather Hardy agreed to fight me in 2019 for her WBO title. That was the first step in my current run at featherweight. It’s only right that I give her the opportunity to earn it back. I’m excited to once again share the card with Jake and put on an exciting war. This will be the first time I get to fight in Texas, and I promise the fans that they will not be disappointed." Fans of both fighters are eagerly anticipating this rematch, which promises to be a thrilling display of skill and determination from two of boxing’s finest female athletes.