A new promoter has been selected by Regis Prograis. With Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, the WBC super lightweight champion is anticipated to sign a three-fight contract. The 34-year-old Prograis' fights will be broadcast by DAZN around the world as part of that agreement. Prograis' debut match under his new contract is most likely going to happen this summer against an unnamed opponent. The native of New Orleans, Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs), choose to work with Hearn's organisation over an offer from Bob Arum's Top Rank Inc. The former WBA 140-pound champion would have had opportunities to compete on ESPN against opponents like the victor of the upcoming Josh Taylor-Teofimo Lopez fight, former WBC/WBO 140-pound champion Jose Ramirez, and unbeaten challenger Arnold Barboza Jr. if Prograis had agreed to a five-fight commitment from Arum's company. Top Rank has all of Taylor, Lopez, Ramirez, and Barbosa promoted. Candidates for the junior welterweight division Jack Catterall, Richardson Hitchins, and Liam Paro are a few of the Matchroom-affiliated boxers who Prograis might meet in the main events broadcast on DAZN. Prograis also made the decision to establish Rougarou Promotions in honour of his stage name. The fights will be co-promoted by Matchroom and Rougarou Promotions thanks to Matchroom's exclusive content agreement with DAZN. Prograis previously was promoted by Probellum, which announced his signing in October 2021. He parted ways with promoter Lou DiBella in 2020. On June 10, at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York, Taylor will defend his WBO junior welterweight title against Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) in the headline event that ESPN will broadcast. Prograis has made no secret of his desire to rematch with Taylor and to face Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs). Over the past few years, Prograis has repeatedly called Ramirez out for "ducking" him.

British Middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. Disgusted by Fighters Testing Positive for Banned Substances Chris Eubank Jr. has expressed his disappointment over the recent spate of boxers testing positive for banned performance-enhancing substances in the United Kingdom. Eubank, who had a high-profile catchweight bout with Conor Benn canceled due to Benn's two failed tests for clomifene, and more recently, Amir Khan's backdated two-year ban for testing positive for ostarine after his sixth-round defeat to Kell Brook, expressed his disgust for the situation in an interview with iFL TV. Eubank recounted being approached by individuals offering him "assistance" but was quick to dismiss the idea of using banned substances, stating that he had dedicated his life to the sport and that cheating would destroy his reputation. He also expressed concern that young people could be influenced by the behavior of these athletes, and the example they set could lead to further cheating. "It’s disheartening, it’s upsetting, disappointing because kids are reading these headlines and going, ‘Well, Conor Benn did it. Amir Khan did it. I’m gonna do it.' That’s the example that you’re setting for the kids coming up," Eubank said in the interview. Eubank, who will be fighting Liam Smith in a rematch on June 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester, also expressed his frustration at the situation and the impact it has on clean athletes. He acknowledged that the issue is prevalent in the sport and that the temptation to cheat can be too much for some fighters. Eubank's sentiments echo those of many clean athletes who believe that doping not only undermines the integrity of the sport but also poses a danger to those who compete against athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs. It is clear that more needs to be done to deter athletes from using banned substances and to protect the integrity of the sport.

The former lightweight champion of the UFC and Bellator, Eddie Alvarez, recently appeared in his Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship debut and defeated Chad Mendes, another former UFC competitor. Both of them presented an outstanding performance in that match. In the five-round contest, the two former UFC stalwarts threw many knockdowns, eventually Alvarez winning by a split decision. The skilled boxer is currently looking for an out-of-town matchup with Nate Diaz of Stockton. The former UFC champion declared his desire to head back to the BKFC stage after the victory. In an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Alvarez revealed a potential opponent for him. He yelled out Nate Diaz over there. The native of Stockton just scheduled his fight with Jake Paul in August. On The MMA Hour, Eddie Alvarez claimed he's sought to face Nate Diaz for a long time. The fight hasn't happened yet even when the pair was in UFC. But he thinks it's possible now that there are new regulations and promotions. Alvarez understands that Diaz will face "The Problem Child" in August in a boxing match but he thinks that BKFC could be able to draw the former UFC star since he is not under contract with any promotion. “Dude, I feel like I’m beating a dead horse. But I think me and Nate Diaz in this would be like, but he doesn’t want to fight me,” Eddie Alvarez stated on The MMA Hour. “I’m convinced, and I have no idea why. I have no clue why, but he will not fight me. And I’m like, maybe this, because like, I won’t take him down and beat him up. He’s always concerned about wrestlers taking him down, he thinks that’s cheating in a fight if you take him down or kick him.” He continued, “So like this, this is bare-knuckle, this is all we’re doing. I think me and Nate would be f*cking beautiful… Just bring me a big fight that fans are excited about.” In the meantime, Alvarez will continue to train and prepare for his next fight in BKFC. With his impressive debut and his determination to take on the best fighters in the world, Alvarez is quickly becoming a fan favorite in the promotion. And, who knows, if he continues to win and Diaz becomes available, we may just see the "fucking beautiful" fight that Alvarez is hoping for. Hopefully, Alvarez might be looking to settle an old score after an altercation with Nate Diaz back in 2015.

In November 2020, Josh Taylor faced off against Jack Catterall in what would become one of the most disputed decisions in recent British boxing history. Despite widespread criticism of the judges’ scoring, Taylor walked away with the WBO 140-pound title, and Catterall was left to ponder what might have been. Over a year later, Taylor remains unbothered by the controversy surrounding his victory. In a recent interview with Brian Custer on The Last Stand Podcast, the Scottish boxer stated that he has not received much blowback for the win, despite the social media storm and headlines that characterized the decision as a “heist job.” Taylor also suggested that the commentary for the fight, which was broadcasted by Sky, may have unfairly influenced public opinion against him. He argued that the commentary was heavily biased in favor of Catterall, and that without it, the fight would have been perceived very differently. Despite the controversy, Taylor is moving on. After multiple attempts to stage a rematch with Catterall fell through, Taylor announced that he would be defending his title against Teofimo Lopez, the former unified lightweight champion, in June 2023 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. For Taylor, the fight against Lopez represents an opportunity to prove his worth on the world stage and silence any remaining doubts about his abilities. And while the controversy surrounding his win over Catterall may continue to linger, Taylor seems content to let his performances in the ring do the talking.

John Ryder will wake up this morning in Guadalajara, Mexico, just four days shy of the biggest opportunity of his boxing career. The 34-year-old Englishman has been paid for punching for the last 13 years and is now facing the biggest challenge of his life. His opponent? Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, who has been the biggest commodity in boxing for nearly a decade. Ryder has spent most of his career working the smaller rooms across the United Kingdom, with the exception of higher-profile matches at the Copper Box Arena and the Echo Arena in Liverpool. In those three matches, he fought for regional titles against Billy Joe Saunders, Rocky Fielding, and Callum Smith, losing two competitive decisions and a wider verdict in his first career grab for a world championship. Ryder's three opponents, Saunders, Fielding, and Smith, have all fought and lost to Alvarez, two by KO and the third by a wide decision. Ryder's chances of winning are slim, with an 8-to-1 underdog status, but he remains determined and focused. Ryder returned from a 13-month hiatus after losing to Smith and scored consecutive wins over Mike Guy and Jozef Jurko. He then opened 2022 with a split 12-round decision over ex-middleweight claimant and former Alvarez challenger Daniel Jacobs. The win over previously unbeaten Zach Parker nine months later gave Ryder the WBO's interim title and put him in line for Alvarez, who was looking for a foe to appear opposite him when he returned to action with his first fight in Mexico in more than a decade. Ryder is not in Mexico for a holiday and wouldn't bring his team with him if he didn't believe he could win. He has worked hard to get back into this mandatory position and took the right fights at the right times. Ryder is determined to leave no stone unturned and believes he can come away victorious. In conclusion, Ryder is facing the biggest challenge of his career against Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez. Although the odds are against him, Ryder is determined to give it his all and come out on top. His hard work and dedication have brought him to this point, and he's ready to leave no stone unturned in his quest for victory. It'll be interesting to see how the fight plays out and whether Ryder can pull off the upset of the year.

MMA has a history of causing horrifying wounds. Bruised faces, fractured limbs, torn ligaments, and lost teeth. But occasionally, we experience an injury that even MMA would consider unusual. It's a cauliflower ear eruption this time. The event occurred at a fight card in Tijuana, Mexico, where UWC Mexico 43 was held this past Friday. Dorian Ramos, the UWCM featherweight champion, took the front stage when he faced José Pealoza in a title defense. Jose Pealoza entered this battle with a severe cauliflower ear. Pealoza was given some ground and pound by the UWCM champion, which caused his ear to swell three times its normal size. Referee Luis Cobian signaled for the cage-side doctor to examine the ear as Ramos and Pealoza entered the ring for the second round. He let "Relámpago" go on, which let Ramos resume a dominant top control position and apply more ground-and-pound. Pealoza's ear was badly hit. Blood was flying, and Pealoza's only option until the referee stopped the fight was to try to hide from Ramos' barrage of punches and elbows.

Former UFC fighter Felipe Colares passed away after being hit by a bus at the age of 29. On his way home from training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Colares was struck by a bus on Monday morning. According to his coach Rodrigo Babi, the MMA fighter was rushed to Hospital Rocha Faria in Campo Grande but passed away before arriving there. Between 2019 and 2022, the former featherweight champion of Jungle Fight went 2-4 in the UFC, winning over Domingo Pilarte and Luke Sanders. After losing to Chris Gutierrez and Chase Hooper, he left the organization. Eight months after the birth of his first kid Rhavi, "Caboco" fought for the first time after his UFC release under the Ares FC banner and choked out Alioune Nahaye in Paris, France, to improve to 11-4 in MMA.

Canelo Alvarez Wants Rematch with Dmitriy Bivol at Light Heavyweight Division's Limit Canelo Alvarez recently announced his desire for a rematch with undefeated WBA light heavyweight champion, Dmitriy Bivol, to be contested at the light heavyweight division's limit, just like their first fight. Despite promoter Eddie Hearn and Bivol's manager, Vadim Kornilov, discussing a super middleweight division bout that would allow Bivol an opportunity to become the undisputed 168-pound champion, Alvarez is worried that his detractors wouldn't give him the credit he deserves for beating Bivol if the latter drops down seven pounds for their rematch. During an open workout at his gym in San Diego, Alvarez explained that he is concerned about critics who would say he won because he brought Bivol down in weight. He pointed out that no one complained when he moved up in weight to challenge Kovalev and win the light heavyweight title. Last May, Alvarez challenged Bivol at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the Russian outboxed Alvarez and won their 12-round fight unanimously. Alvarez did not exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch after the loss to Bivol. Instead, he won a 12-round, 168-pound championship match against rival Gennadiy Golovkin in his most recent appearance. Despite the setback, Alvarez is expected to face Bivol again in September if he defeats John Ryder in his upcoming bout at a sold-out Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico. Alvarez is scheduled to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles against England's Ryder, who is the mandatory challenger for Alvarez's WBO belt. DAZN will stream Alvarez-Ryder as the main event of a pay-per-view show in the United States, with DAZN subscribers able to purchase the show for $59.99 and a one-month subscription, while cable and satellite companies offer the card for $79.99. In conclusion, Alvarez's desire for a rematch with Bivol at the light heavyweight division's limit is understandable. He does not want any excuses made if he beats Bivol, and his concerns about critics are legitimate. Alvarez is looking to make a statement with a win against Ryder before his highly anticipated rematch with Bivol, where he hopes to come out victorious and cement his status as one of the best boxers of all time.

Ryan Garcia, the popular young American boxer, has announced that he will continue his career at a higher weight and with a new head cornerman. After his lone career defeat at the hands of Gervonta Davis in April, Garcia has parted ways with veteran trainer Joe Goossen. The two had only worked together for three fights, with their partnership culminating in the seventh-round stoppage loss to Davis. It is unclear why the split occurred, as no firm reason was given by either party. Garcia had previously worked with Eddy Reynoso, who is best known for his work with boxing superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Under Reynoso’s tutelage, Garcia won five fights, all inside the distance, before splitting with the trainer in early 2022. He then connected with Goossen for his next three fights, winning two and losing one. Garcia had expressed his desire to fight Davis for some time before their April super fight, which was pushed back due to external factors. Both boxers had interim fights before the eventual showdown, which Davis won by stoppage in the seventh round. Following the loss, Garcia announced that he would campaign in the 140-pound junior welterweight division. It is currently unknown who will take over as Garcia’s new head trainer. Garcia’s father, Henry Garcia, will remain on board, but it is not expected that he will resume his previous role as the leading voice in his son’s corner. The decision to change trainers comes as Garcia looks to rebuild and continue his promising career at a higher weight.

On May 27th, all eyes will be on Belfast as Irish boxer Michael Conlan takes on IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto Lopez at the SSE Arena. Conlan, who challenged Leigh Wood for the WBA featherweight strap last year, has been dreaming of winning a world title since he started training in a gym. This fight is an opportunity for Conlan to make that dream a reality. Conlan's last fight against Wood was a dramatic one. He knocked Wood down hard in the first round and had him reeling throughout the first half of the fight. However, Wood came back strong in the second half, dropping Conlan in the eleventh and knocking him out in the twelfth. Despite the disappointment of that loss, Conlan is confident that he can achieve his dream of becoming a world champion. Lopez will be a tough test for Conlan. He has a tricky style and quick punching power, as he showed when he captured the world title by defeating hometown hero Josh Warrington in a twelve-round decision last December. Conlan knows that he will have to be at his best to defeat Lopez. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Conlan acknowledged that Lopez is a bigger challenge than Wood. He praised Lopez's ring IQ and boxing skills, saying that he is a better fighter than Wood. Conlan is confident that the experience of last year's fight will help him in this bout. He believes that he is a better fighter now because of that loss and that he will react better in the heat of battle. Conlan is ready for war, and he knows that this fight has the potential to be a Fight of the Year contender. He is determined to win a world title, and he sees this fight as his best chance to achieve that goal. The last three Irish world champions have all won the IBF title, and Conlan hopes to make it four. The SSE Arena in Belfast will be electric on May 27th as these two warriors step into the ring. Fans of boxing and sports in general will not want to miss this fight, as Michael Conlan takes on Luis Alberto Lopez in what promises to be an epic battle.

Oscar De La Hoya is aware that a rematch between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis is unlikely to take place soon. But Garcia's promoter predicted that if Davis and Garcia ever square off again, the second fight would generate significantly more revenue for pay-per-view than the first fight did. "The Golden Boy," who predicted that their fight on April 22 would generate 2 million buys in the US, predicted that a Davis-Garcia sequel would bring in 4 million buys. Only two pay-per-view events in boxing history – Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao (4.6 million) and Mayweather-Conor McGregor (4.3 million) – have eclipsed 4 million buys domestically. The Showtime Pay-Per-View card headlined by Davis’ seventh-round knockout of Garcia generated approximately 1.2 million buys, more than any Showtime Pay-Per-View production since Mayweather-McGregor in August 2017. Davis-Garcia also accounted for $22.8 million in ticket sales, the fifth-highest total in Nevada boxing history. In the upcoming weeks, De La Hoya intends to personally consult with Garcia to discuss the 24-year-old fighter's anticipated August return to the ring. In his post-fight presser, Garcia announced that he would fight again at the 140-pound limit. For his high-profile matchup with Davis, the Victorville, California native dropped from 140 pounds to a contracted catch weight of 136 pounds. Davis dropped Garcia twice and finished him off with a body shot in the seventh round. Although Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) suffered his first professional loss, his promoter anticipates that after competing with Davis (29-0, 27 KOs), Garcia will be a bigger star than ever.

ONE Championship CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, has announced that the company will not be pursuing the signing of former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, after careful consideration. Francis Ngannou remains one of the most sought-after free agents in combat sports since the conclusion of his spectacular UFC departs in January. But is there ultimately an end of interest in him? One has to question whether Ngannou is exaggerating his cards in because, yet another organization has decided against chasing the heavyweight. While Ngannou's signing would have undoubtedly brought a great deal of excitement to the promotion, Sityodtong ultimately felt that it would not have been the best move for the organization in the long run. Additionally, it seemed this past weekend that the Asian promotion was winning the struggle to acquire Ngannou. Before the company's American debut on Friday, CEO Chatri Sityodtong disclosed that he had a talk scheduled with "The Predator" over the weekend during his visit to the USA. The ONE CEO officially confirmed the details of his talks with Ngannou in Los Angeles on Monday to Nicolas Atkin of the South China Morning Post. The journalist shared a quote on Twitter: “I met with Francis (Ngannou) yesterday for almost three hours,” Chatri Sityodtong said. “ONE has decided to withdraw from the process of bidding for Francis Ngannou’s services. After careful reflection, we decided not to submit our final offer. Francis is a good guy and a good champion. I wish him continued success and happiness.” “At the end of the day, I didn’t feel like Francis, and I were fully aligned on non-financial matters,” Sityodtong explained. “It is nothing personal. It is just a lack of alignment.” Chatri Sityodtong and Ngannou had non-monetary differences, whereas David Feldman, the president of BKFC, did not. Ngannou had declined hefty UFC contracts in favor of more flexibility in his fighting future. But at BKFC, cash ended up being a problem. Do you believe that Ngannou has chosen properly throughout this bargaining? Will he be sorry he left the UFC? Where do you anticipate his next battle will be held?