Former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith has expressed his doubts about Chris Eubank Jr.'s true desire for their upcoming rematch. The two boxers are set to face off on June 17 at AO Arena in Manchester, following Eubank's contractual right to an immediate rematch after suffering a fourth-round knockout loss to Smith in January. However, Eubank has also been in negotiations for a rescheduled fight against Conor Benn, which has raised questions about his commitment to the rematch with Smith. During a press conference on Tuesday, Smith voiced his doubts, stating that Eubank only took the rematch to save face after failing to secure the Benn fight. Despite Eubank's claims that he should have been given the opportunity to continue in their first fight, Smith is confident that he will once again come out on top. He pointed to Eubank's disoriented state and inability to stay on his feet after the first knockdown, stating that any other fighter would have been stopped. Smith went on to suggest that Eubank has "a lot of demons to come over" and that he doesn't believe Eubank can do anything to beat him in their second encounter. Eubank, on the other hand, maintains that he should have been given the chance to continue in their first fight and that he will come out victorious in the rematch. The upcoming rematch between Smith and Eubank is highly anticipated, with both boxers looking to prove themselves in the ring. Smith has a professional record of 33-3-1 with 20 knockouts, while Eubank has a record of 32-3 with 23 knockouts. The fight will be a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view event and is expected to draw a significant audience. As the date of the rematch approaches, the tension between Smith and Eubank is likely to continue to build. Both fighters will be looking to come out on top and prove their worth in the ring, and fans can expect an intense and highly competitive fight.

In a disappointing turn of events, Deiveson Figueiredo has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled UFC 290 bout against Manel Kape. Figueiredo, the former UFC Flyweight Champion, has been unable to secure medical clearance to compete, leaving fans and fighters alike disappointed. Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno have been embroiled in one of the greatest feuds in UFC history over the past several years. Four times, the two men engaged in combat for the UFC flyweight title. They shared one victory apiece and a tie, thus they engaged in one last fight at UFC 283. In conclusion, Moreno won the contest and took home the trophy thanks to a doctor's stoppage. Figueiredo, on the other hand, was left to nurse his wounds as he tried to get up to bantamweight. However, news claims that Figueiredo has been eventually forced to withdraw from UFC 290 following an eye injury he got during his battle with Moreno in January. The former UFC flyweight champion confirmed his withdrawal on this week’s episode of MMA Fighting podcast Trocação Franca. Figueiredo stated: “I’m still injured,” Figueiredo told Trocação Franca. “I asked for a fight, told my manager I wanted to fight already, but when he gave me the fight and I talked to my physical therapist and my ophthalmologist, [they said] my eyesight is still not 100 percent. There are days I see things normal, but there are days it’s not OK, especially the days after I train, so they decided I had to go the full six-month [medical suspension] the ophthalmologist gave me [after UFC 283].” With Figueiredo out of the picture, Manel Kape will now be looking for a new opponent, and it remains to be seen who he will face. Several exciting fighters in the flyweight division would be worthy opponents for Kape. As fans eagerly await news of a replacement for Figueiredo, the speculation about who Kape will face next will undoubtedly continue. Unfortunately, Kape appears to be upset about the outcome and feels offended that his third fight was called off. In a furious tirade, "Starboy" criticized the Brazilian on Twitter. For now, we wish Deiveson Figueiredo a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in the Octagon soon. In the meantime, fans can look forward to the next exciting chapter in the world of MMA.

Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis Generates 1.2 Million Pay-Per-View Buys, Oscar De La Hoya Reacts The highly anticipated bout between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta "Tank" Davis did not disappoint, as it generated a massive 1.2 million pay-per-view buys and a gate of $22 million. While some may have been surprised by these numbers, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya was not. De La Hoya, who promotes Garcia, has long been a proponent of making the fights that fans want to see. He believes that if promoters can put together the right matchups, the fans will tune in, and the numbers will speak for themselves. That's precisely what happened with Garcia vs Davis. The fight was not without its challenges, as Golden Boy has an exclusive content deal with streaming service DAZN, while Davis is promoted by Premier Boxing Champions, who have an exclusive content deal with Showtime. The fighters, promoters, and competing networks had to come together to hammer out a deal that worked for everyone. But De La Hoya and Garcia were determined to make the fight happen, and their persistence paid off. Despite being dropped by Davis in the second round, Garcia put on a valiant effort, only to be put away with a well-placed body shot in the seventh. The pay-per-view figure of 1.2 million buys was the largest since the initial meeting between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin in 2018, cementing the fight's status as a must-see event. The gate of $22 million was also the fifth largest in Las Vegas history. De La Hoya is rightfully proud of his company's role in making the fight happen. He believes that Golden Boy has a unique ability to identify the best prospects and sell massive events at the top of the sport. And with fighters like Ryan Garcia in their stable, the sky's the limit. Overall, the Garcia vs Davis fight was a huge success for everyone involved. The fans got the matchup they wanted, the fighters put on a great show, and the promoters and networks made a lot of money. It's a win-win for everyone, and it's a testament to the power of putting together the right fights.

Former Bellator middleweight world champion Gegard Mousasi will put up his gloves after making one final run at the Bellator world title this year, beginning with Fabian Edwards. The UFC athlete notably signed with the promotion after quitting the UFC on a four-fight winning streak that includes victories over Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort, both world titles. And after a spectacular late-career run in which he has only lost twice, against Johnny Eblen and Rafael Lovato Jr., he is eager to leave on top. On May 12, at the Accor Arena in Paris, Mousasi will face Edwards in an all-or-nothing match to begin his pursuit of the gold, after which he will push for a rematch with Eblen. Morale will be high in his opponent's camp because the British fighter, who has spent the last year watching his brother Leon win and defend the UFC welterweight title, is within striking distance of winning gold for himself. "At the start of this training camp I had those feelings," Mousasi said of possible retirement. "I would fall asleep and wake up every 30 minutes or an hour so I couldn't get any sleep because my hand would fall asleep and I'd have to wake up and shake my hand and all of that. "I want one more try, Fabian if I beat him I'm going to fight for the belt and that's going to be it, probably. But I'm not looking too far ahead and nowadays I don't look much farther than one fight ahead because I don't know what tomorrow's going to bring, I could get a serious injury, I could lose and lose the desire.”

At UFC Kansas City earlier this month, Holloway expertly put an end to Arnold Allen's unbeaten streak in the octagon. The victory improved his record to 17-0 against featherweights demonstrating once more that "Blessed" is still among the best in the world despite losing to the current UFC champion three times. Following that, Holloway reiterated his resolve to pursue a potential fourth fight at 145 pounds versus Volkanovski. “I think so long as Volk’s fighting and I’m fighting, and I’m doing what I’m doing and he’s doing what he’s doing, I’m sure the fourth [fight] is going to line up somewhere,” Holloway explained. “I don’t know if it’s at ‘45, I don’t know if it’s at ‘55, I don’t know where it is — I think that fight is very reachable. I think we’ll fight each other again down the line at some point, 100 percent. So at the end of the day, that’s not really far off. “But if he’s asking me to give me a fight, I would love to fight Conor [McGregor]. I was the only guy that took Conor to a decision at ‘45.” Who will Holloway fight next? Comment and let us know.

Former UFC star Nate Diaz is in hot water after an arrest warrant was issued for him concerning a street fight that took place in New Orleans. However, Diaz is claiming that he acted in self-defense during the altercation. Diaz's representative, Zach Rosenfield, released a statement stating that Diaz's attorney, Walter Becker, has been in contact with court authorities in New Orleans and that they look forward to presenting all the facts about the incident to the District Attorney. “Nate’s attorney, Walter Becker, can confirm that Nate has received word of the arrest warrant, and Becker has been in contact with court authorities in New Orleans,” Rosenfield said. “Nate’s attorney looks forward to presenting all of the facts about this incident to the District Attorney, which clearly demonstrates that a trained fighter named Rodney Petersen aggressively pursued Nate with the intention of engaging him and once doing so, Nate acted entirely in self-defense. “No further comment will be made at this time.” The altercation in issue arose on Friday of last week on Bourbon Street, when Diaz was filmed on camera using a standing guillotine to choke Petersen until he passed out. Petersen was eventually revealed to be an amateur MMA fighter and professional boxer. The two had clashed amid a wider brawl. Petersen was shown with what seemed to be blood on the back of his head in a subsequent video. The brawl also involved Netflix star Chase DeMoor, who Diaz was separated from earlier that night at a Misfits Boxing event. DeMoor later challenged Diaz to a fight on social media. While no arrest has been made yet, if Diaz is found guilty of second-degree battery, he could face up to eight years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. Diaz is currently scheduled to fight Jake Paul in a boxing match on August 5th in Dallas, his first combat sports competition since leaving the UFC. The incident has caused a stir in the MMA community, with many taking sides and debating whether Diaz was justified in his actions. Diaz has a reputation as a tough and uncompromising fighter, but some are questioning whether his behavior in this situation crossed a line. Regardless of the outcome, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of street fighting and the importance of self-defense training for those involved in combat sports. Diaz's case will undoubtedly be closely watched by fans and fighters alike as it unfolds.

Floyd Mayweather, a former five-division world champion, has set a date for his upcoming exhibition fight with John Gotti III, the grandson of notorious organised crime figure John Gotti. The event is titled "Last Name Matter" and will held on Sunday, June 11 in Sunrise, Florida. Ozuna and Romeo Santos will perform. On Thursday in Florida, there will be a formal press conference where Mayweather and Gotti will face off. Marikit "Kitchie" Laurico, Mayweather's longtime helper who passed tragically unexpectedly in April, will be honoured at the ceremony. 30-year-old Gotti spent several years competing as an amateur before turning pro. After turning professional in 2017, he amassed a 5-1 record. He switched to boxing in October and made his professional debut after winning a four-round unanimous decision. This past January, Gotti made his return to the ring with a knockout victory. Mayweather, 46, ended his career in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record after defeating UFC fighter Conor McGregor in a mixed martial arts match. Since his retirement, Mayweather has participated in a number of exhibition fights, the biggest of which was his matchup with social media sensation Logan Paul in 2021. Mayweather took part in three exhibitions in 2022, including a bout with KSI's younger brother Deji. Mayweather made his UK debut in an exhibition with kickboxer Aaron Chalmers.

Even more money was made from the Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia bout than those responsible for organising it anticipated. According to information obtained, the Showtime Pay-Per-View main event sold almost 1.2 million copies in the US. The majority of experts  predicted that it would generate between 450,000 and 750,000 buys, which would still have been a success given the state of the boxing pay-per-view market in the United States. A reported sellout crowd of 20,842 people attended the 136-pound, non-title bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which brought in an additional $22.8 million in ticket revenue. Only Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao (almost $72.2 million), Mayweather-Conor McGregor (more than $55.4 million), Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin I (more than $27 million), and Alvarez-Golovkin II (more than $24.4 million) have earned more money in Nevada boxing history. Although Davis, 28, and Garcia, 24, are two of the most popular boxers in the sport, pay-per-view sales have recently suffered due to piracy and exorbitant prices. However, their battle enthralled both casual and passionate boxing fans, making it Showtime Pay-Per-View's most lucrative event since Mayweather-McGregor in August 2017. With 4.3 million pay-per-view purchases, Mayweather-McGregor came in second only behind Mayweather-Pacquiao in May 2015. A record 4.6 million people watched Mayweather-Pacquiao, and the event generated over $600 million in revenue.

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is gearing up for a shot at the title once again. After securing two impressive victories against Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal, Burns is set to face Belal Muhammad in a co-main event five-round bout next month at UFC 288. Burns is hoping that a win against Muhammad will earn him a shot at the welterweight title. Despite UFC president Dana White indicating that Colby Covington will face the champion, Leon Edwards, Burns is not giving up hope of jumping ahead of Covington in the queue. In his UFC career, Durinho has only ever faced up for a title bout. At UFC 258 on February 13, 2021, Kamaru Usman was the opponent. Burns put Usman to the ground quickly during the fight, however in the third round of the clash, the referee awarded a technical knockout victory to Usman. “I would love to say the winner is next for [Leon Edwards] but Colby is definitely next,” Gilbert Burns stated in a recent interview with Submission Radio. “Let’s see, and everything is about the performance. If I go in there and knock this guy out or submit him or do something spectacular, they’re going to say, ‘Why Colby? Why not this guy?’ so that’s another thing I’m doing too.” He continued, “I was looking forward to getting a finish against Masvidal, didn’t. I couldn’t make that spectacular, but I do think if I get a spectacular finish this time I might jump over this guy. Maybe, we’ll see.” Burns is confident that he has what it takes to earn a title shot, and he plans to make a statement in his upcoming fight against Muhammad. While he acknowledges that it is a slim chance that he will jump ahead of Covington, Burns is determined to give it his all in May. The welterweight division has been heating up recently, with several fighters vying for a shot at the title. Burns is one of the most exciting prospects in the division, with his impressive grappling skills and heavy hands making him a dangerous opponent for anyone. If he can secure a win against Muhammad in impressive fashion, Burns may just earn himself a shot at the title. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how he performs and whether he can make a statement that cannot be ignored. Overall, it looks like the welterweight division is set for an exciting few months, with plenty of top contenders hoping to earn a shot at the title. Gilbert Burns is just one of the many fighters looking to make their mark, and if he can deliver an impressive performance, he may just get his chance to become champion.

Gervonta Davis' Toughest Opponent Was Not Ryan Garcia, Says Rolando Romero Many boxing fans and experts believed that Ryan Garcia would be Gervonta Davis' toughest opponent to date. However, after Davis defeated Garcia in a dominating performance, former Davis foe Rolando "Rolly" Romero disagreed with the sentiment. Romero, who lost to Davis almost a year ago, believes that he is actually Davis' toughest opponent. He argues that Davis has not faced anyone as unique and dangerous as him. Romero is currently preparing for his upcoming fight against Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA 140-pound title. He is determined to win his first world title and is already envisioning himself as a target for Davis. Romero also stated that a rematch with Davis is inevitable. He plans to win his world title first and then challenge Davis again. While Davis may have defeated both Garcia and Romero, it is clear that Romero still sees himself as a major threat to Davis. Fans and experts alike will have to wait and see if Romero's words hold true in the ring.

Whittier's George "El Yuyu" Acosta put on a dominant performance against Bogota's Cesar Villarraga in the main event of Thompson Boxing's "New Blood" card on Friday. Acosta, now 15-1 with 2 knockouts, won by unanimous decision to extend his winning streak to eight fights. From the outset, Acosta was in control of the fight, landing more punches and staying busy throughout. After moving down to super featherweight in his last few fights, he showed that he's a stronger fighter at this weight class. Villarraga tried to outbox Acosta but couldn't avoid the constant pressure. Acosta used his jab and combination punching to keep Villarraga on his back foot for the entire bout. The judges' scorecards read 78-74 and 80-72 twice. "I feel like I got better in the ring in this fight," said Acosta. "Villarraga was using a lot of lateral movement, so I had to keep the pressure on him. I was in great shape and all the hard work I put in during training camp showed. I'm hoping this is the year I make a run to the top 10 rankings. I'm happy that I've been staying busy; it's a tremendous blessing." In the co-main event, Rigoberto Hermosillo of Los Angeles defeated Blas Ezequiel Caro of Santa Fe, Argentina. Hermosillo, a southpaw, dropped Caro with a left hook to the body in round five. Throughout the fight, Hermosillo landed the harder shots, though Caro had some shining moments. The scorecards read 79-72 and 78-73 twice, all in favor of Hermosillo. Anthony Chavez of Redlands, CA, won a majority decision over Diuhl Olguin of Jalisco, Mexico, in a scheduled 6-round lightweight bout. Chavez took control of the early rounds by landing the cleaner shots. Both fighters were landing counter punches, and midway through the bout, Chavez landed some nice right hands. In the end, Chavez won by majority decision. Scorecards read 60-54, 59-55, and 57-57. Bryan Hall of Fresno, CA, defeated Arnulfo Cazares of Tecate, Mexico, by way of majority decision in a scheduled 4-round heavyweight clash. Hall, who is six inches taller than Cazares, used his height and reach advantage to control distance and won on two of the judges' cards. Scorecards read 39-37 twice, and 37-37. In the opening bout of the evening, Kevin Salgado of Mexico defeated Steven Walker of Long Beach, CA, in a 4-round welterweight bout. Salgado outworked Walker for most of the fight, and while Walker landed some nice shots early, he came up short. Salgado won by majority decision.

The stage is set for a rematch that promises to be an exciting encounter for boxing fans worldwide. Japan's former WBO super flyweight world champion, Kazuto Ioka, will face the current WBA champion Joshua Franco of the United States in a highly anticipated rematch of their recent world title unification bout. Ioka's gym officially announced the fight on Monday at a press conference, much to the delight of boxing fans across the globe. The fight is scheduled to take place on June 24 at Tokyo's Ota City General Gymnasium, which is the same venue where the pair battled to a twelve-round draw on New Year's Eve. Following the draw, the World Boxing Organization ordered Ioka to make a mandatory defense against his countryman, Junto Nakatani. However, Ioka chose to vacate his title to have a rematch with Franco, as settling things with his opponent was of utmost importance to him. Speaking at the press conference, Ioka said, "Fighting a title defense was not an option for us at all. The point is to carry on the fight from last year in the next bout and settle the matter with [Franco]." Franco, who is the older brother of world champion Jesse 'Bam Rodriguez,' expressed his excitement for the rematch and his motivation to come out on top this time. "My motivation is higher than it was in December, and I'm expecting a heated encounter," he said. Ioka boasts an impressive record of 29-2-1, with 15 wins by knockout, while Franco has a record of 18-1-3, with eight wins by knockout. The rematch promises to be a closely contested affair, with both fighters determined to emerge victorious and set the record straight. With the fight just a few weeks away, boxing fans can hardly wait to witness what promises to be an unforgettable encounter between two of the world's best boxers. The stage is set, and the world is watching, as Ioka and Franco go head-to-head to determine who will emerge as the undisputed champion.