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The Telford International Centre was buzzing on Saturday night as fans witnessed a true contender for 'fight of the year' between Andrew Cain and Ionut Baluta. The two fighters delivered an electrifying spectacle that had the audience on the edge of their seats. Despite Andrew's strong performance, the judges' scorecards did not reflect the true nature of the fight, and Ionut was awarded the victory. However, with hindsight, it has been revealed that Andrew fought with a busted hand from the very beginning, which certainly impacted the dynamics of the fight. Regardless of the result, Andrew has gained valuable experience from this fight, and his ability has not gone unnoticed. His promoter is confident that Andrew will be a world champion someday and is determined to make it happen. Moving forward, Andrew will need to decide which weight he wants to campaign at and stick to it, rather than jumping around the weights. His promoter believes that a rematch with Baluta is on the cards, and it would be an ideal fight to showcase Andrew's talent in his hometown of Liverpool. Another fighter who shone on Saturday night was Nathan Heaney, who secured a rematch victory over Jack Flatley. Nathan has been labelled 'bang average' by some in the past, but he is proving his doubters wrong with every fight. He is a consummate professional who works hard on both his game and building his fanbase. The disappointment of Tyson Fury's undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk falling through was felt across the boxing community. However, Daniel Dubois is ready to step up to the plate and seize the belts. Lastly, Michael Conlan's world title challenge against Luis Alberto Lopez on May 27 in Belfast will be broadcasted on BT Sport, providing an opportunity to showcase Irish talent on a global stage. In conclusion, Saturday's fight night last week at the Telford International Centre was a thrilling experience for fans and fighters alike. Despite the disappointments, there is much to look forward to in the future of boxing.

The much-anticipated rematch between British welterweights Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. may be in jeopardy due to licensing issues. Speculation has been rife that the two boxers are looking to revive their failed bout from last October in Abu Dhabi on June 3, but Eubank Jr. may not be able to obtain the necessary approval from the British Boxing Board of Control to fight overseas. All British boxers require an active license from the regulatory body for prizefighting to fight on home soil, and licensed boxers need the board’s approval to fight overseas. However, Benn voluntarily relinquished his license last October after twice testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug, which means he is under no obligation to get the nod from the board to fight abroad. Eubank Jr., on the other hand, will need the board’s approval to fight Benn in Abu Dhabi. Robert Smith, the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, has stated that Eubank Jr. would require approval before he could fight Benn overseas. Smith also indicated that Benn’s trainer, Tony Sims, would require approval from the board as well. “If any British license holder – boxer, trainer, etc – wants to fight in a tournament abroad with another commission they have to apply to us for permission,” Smith said. “Once we get an application from a British license holder to take part in an event abroad, we will be able to say yes or no.” Smith suggested that there were a variety of penalties that could be imposed on those who flout the board’s regulations, including fines, suspensions, or withdrawals of licenses. Benn and the board have been at odds since last year’s drug scandal, and the welterweight has threatened legal action against the board. However, Benn was reinstated into the welterweight rankings of the World Boxing Council earlier this month. While there has been no official word yet on whether the rematch will go ahead as planned, the uncertainty over Eubank Jr.’s licensing could potentially scupper the highly-anticipated bout.

Daniel Cormier, former two-division UFC champion and current ESPN analyst, is known for his insightful analysis of the sport of mixed martial arts. Recently, Cormier has made headlines with his prediction for the upcoming UFC 287 event, particularly the welterweight bout between Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns. Enthusiasts shouldn't rule out the idea of imagining Jorge Masvidal takes on Leon Edwards for the UFC Welterweight Title, according to Daniel Cormier. Masvidal is presently concentrating on fighting Gilbert Burns in the Octagon on April 8 at UFC 287. Their welterweight battle will feature as the co-main event, with the title matchup between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship leading the pack. Since "Gamebred" has dropped three straight fights, Daniel Cormier thinks Masvidal's charisma will give him another chance to challenge "Rocky" for the 170-pound crown. Fans are heavily slamming UFC for their habit of giving the fan favorite a championship opportunity despite poor statistics. After having lost both of his championship fights, Colby Covington recently received an announcement from Dana White that his upcoming opponent would be Leon Edwards. Whereas McGregor reportedly has a possibility of winning gold if he defeats Chandler. The UFC Hall of Famer said the following on his YouTube channel. “If you’re in Miami, it’s going to be a pro-Masvidal crowd,” Cormier said. “He wins, gets in the middle of the octagon, and tells Joe Rogan, ‘I want Leon Edwards. Come get this biscuit, come get this two-piece.’ Dude, the world’s going to go crazy and Dana will look at that and go, ‘Hey, man – there’s a lot of history to that.’ “(If) this guy wins impressively, with his star power, I could see him right in the conversation for a fight against Leon Edwards.” Based on their prior interactions, Edwards has shown excitement in a confrontation with Masvidal. Back in 2019, after a UFC London event, "Gamebred" and "Rocky" got into a backstage altercation. Upon speaking with Masvidal during the interview and trading insults, "Gamebred" grabbed Edwards and struck him in the face, resulting in a scar. It will be interesting if Dana White changes his mind or if Jorge Masvidal dominates "Durinho" enough to be given the championship bout versus Leon Edwards rather than Covington. Keep checking back for the most recent information on Edwards' next UFC Welterweight Championship match.

Chris Eubank Jr. is on the verge of revisiting past business with plans in play for a grudge match against Conor Benn. The previously canceled battle between the two second-generation boxers is being eyed for a June 3 DAZN show from Abu Dhabi. Eubank Jr. is also in discussion for a rematch with Liam Smith, leaving his decision up in the air. The pairing initially generated major headlines due to their familiar bloodlines, but the event was ultimately cancelled during fight week due to Benn testing positive for the banned substance clomiphene. Benn relinquished his BBBofC license prior to a scheduled October 21 hearing, which forbids him from fighting on UK soil. The WBC has since reinstated Benn’s placement after a thorough review of his case. Eubank Jr. opted to move forward with his career despite the cancellation of the fight with Benn. He lost to Liverpool’s Smith in a middleweight fight in January, but exercised a rematch clause in February. Smith was legally bound to a second Eubank meeting, causing him to bow out of an ordered mandatory title challenge versus WBO middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly. Firm plans are in place for Ilford's Benn to headline the June 3 show, but Eubank, Kell Brook, and Manny Pacquiao have all been mentioned as potential foes. The resurfacing of the Benn-Eubank clash adds another layer of complexity to Eubank’s future plans. The decision of which door to walk through remains up in the air.

Anthony Joshua Gets Back to Winning Ways with New Trainer Derrick James Anthony Joshua returned to the ring on Saturday night at O2 Arena in London, hoping to get back to winning ways after two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk. In front of a packed crowd, the former heavyweight champion faced Jermaine Franklin and emerged victorious with a comfortable win. Although not the most spectacular performance of his career, Joshua was able to out-land Franklin throughout the 12 rounds. The judges unanimously gave him the win, with scores of 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111. This was Joshua's first fight since December 2020 when he knocked out Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round. Joshua had lost his previous two fights to Usyk, but with a new trainer, Derrick James, in his corner, he was able to regain his confidence and put on a convincing performance. Franklin, who lost to Dillian Whyte in his last fight, came into this bout 22 pounds lighter, but he failed to put up a competitive fight against Joshua. He lacked the power to hurt Joshua and needed a knockout to win by the time the final round came around. Joshua's uppercut in the final round sealed the victory and nearly caused a brawl as he tapped Franklin on the back of the head. However, they were separated before things got out of hand. Despite not being at his best, Joshua was happy with the win, especially after the previous losses. With a new trainer in his corner, he is optimistic about his future and eager to regain his place at the top of the heavyweight division. Anthony Joshua may not have been at his best on Saturday night, but he was able to comfortably win against Jermaine Franklin with a convincing performance. With a new trainer in his corner, Joshua is looking to bounce back and regain his place as one of the top heavyweight boxers in the world.

In a night of explosive finishes and hard-fought battles, Bellator 293 brought the MMA world to its feet with Daniel James' incredible uppercut knockout over Marcelo Golm and Cat Zingano's gritty victory over Leah McCourt. The Bellator 293 main event featured a clash between Marcelo Golm and Daniel James, both of whom had impressive four-fight winning streaks. The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts is known to be shallow, so the winner of this battle could potentially earn a shot at the Bellator heavyweight championship. In the end, James emerged victorious with a TKO in the third round after landing a series of heavy blows. During the fight, James caught Golm's kick and used it to take him down, but Golm was able to get back to his feet quickly. The rest of the round was spent in a clinch battle with both fighters trying to find grappling attacks along the cage. In Round 2, Golm started strong with heavy leg kicks and secured a takedown, but he was unable to finish the fight. In the third round, James came out aggressively and landed a big uppercut and hard right hand that put Golm on the canvas, leading to the TKO victory. James credited his coach with encouraging him to let his strikes go in the third round. This win is James' second in the Bellator cage and puts him one step closer to a shot at Ryan Bader and the Bellator heavyweight title. James wasted no time in calling out the champion after his win. While, Cat Zingano kept her top ranking in the featherweight division by winning a hard-fought battle against Leah McCourt in the co-main event. Zingano utilized her wrestling skills to counter McCourt's long-range striking in the early stages of the fight, but McCourt showed her grappling prowess by quickly getting back to her feet and grappling with Zingano against the fence. The first round ended with a close score, but Zingano landed a solid elbow that left McCourt with a bruised cheek. In the second round, McCourt caught a Zingano kick and took her to the mat, where she scored with heavy ground-and-pound. However, Zingano eventually reversed positions and took McCourt's back. The fight was up for grabs in the final round, which saw McCourt opening with a trip and Zingano reversing the position. McCourt managed to get back to her feet and score with a big throw, but Zingano landed a knee in the final moments that caused a cut on McCourt's face. After 15 minutes of intense back-and-forth action, Zingano emerged victorious with a unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 29-28. Despite a valiant effort from McCourt, Zingano's wrestling skills and striking ability proved to be the deciding factors in the fight. Overall, Bellator 293 was a night to remember, with two incredible performances from Daniel James and Cat Zingano. MMA fans around the world were treated to some of the best fights of the year, and the future looks bright for both James and Zingano as they continue their careers in the Bellator cage.

Joe Rogan is a well-known podcast presenter and UFC commentator who isn't afraid to get into hot water over a variety of issues. In his most recent divisive stance, the 55-year-old stated that hits to the back of a fighter's head should be authorized in MMA fights. Hits to the back of the head, sometimes known as 'rabbit punching,' are prohibited in all forms of combat sports due to the significant danger of injury as well as serious and irreversible damage to the brain stem and spinal system. Joe Rogan recently stated on The Joe Rogan Experience with UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal (JRE MMA Show #137) that because certain dangerous moves were widespread in the early days of MMA, they should be permitted and accepted today as well. Bloody Elbow published a report that replicated Rogan's words suggesting that 'rabbit punching' should be permitted inside the octagon: "I don’t even know if we should stop hitting people in the back of the head. It doesn’t seem to make any sense to me. Because a lot of knockouts, like high kicks, they wrap around the back of the shoulder, and they go right to the back of your head, and it’s legal...It should be legal, I don't understand why it's not legal." Do you agree with Joe Rogan? Comment and Let us know.

The major attraction at Bellator 293 was undoubtedly English light heavyweight Luke Trainer. 'The Gent' topped off his night by proposing to his fiancée inside the cage after a stunning first-round submission win against the unbeaten Sullivan Cauley. An ecstatic Trainer went above and beyond by delivering a sweet-yet-NSFW line to blow his better half off her feet. She answered yes, and the two finished the touching moment with a kiss. During his post-fight interview with Big John McCarthy, his girlfriend was invited up to the cage, and the MMA fighter proposed, saying: "Baby girl, I love you so much, you are everything to me. I can’t wait to put babies inside of you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Luke Trainer is a 7-1 professional MMA fighter with a 4-1 record inside the Bellator cage. He is currently on a two-fight winning streak, with both victories coming by rear-naked choke submissions in the first round. The 27-year-old has previously competed in the Rise of Champions, Fightstar Championship, and Euro Fight Night promotions. He previously won the Euro Fight Night light heavyweight competition.

Luis Nunez Eyeing Future Clash with Brandon Figueroa Highly-ranked featherweight contender, Luis Nunez, has set his sights on a future showdown with newly crowned WBC featherweight interim champion, Brandon Figueroa. After a career-defining 2022 with three consecutive victories, Nunez believes his championship moment is forthcoming. Impressed by Figueroa's recent victory over Mark Magsayo, Nunez tipped his cap to the former titlist's work rate and pressure tactics. Despite Figueroa's belief that he was given the short end of the stick in his 2021 fight against Stephen Fulton, he is attempting to adjust to life with a target on his back. Looking ahead, Nunez is convinced that a matchup between himself and Figueroa will come to fruition sooner rather than later. However, he first needs to focus on his upcoming fight against Christian Olivo on April 8th, as part of a Showtime televised opener at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. As Nunez continues to lay the groundwork for his title aspirations, he is hopeful that his future will include a clash with Figueroa. For now, both fighters will need to stay focused on their upcoming bouts, but a potential showdown between them could be on the horizon.

Former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia will not be facing off against WBA 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol anytime soon, according to Munguia's promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer. Instead, Beltran is working to secure a fight between Munguia and former middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin on June 10th. Last week, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom revealed that he was exploring a possible fight between Munguia and Bivol at 175 pounds, but Beltran quickly shut down that possibility, stating that Munguia already had a date with DAZN for June 10th. "It was our side who looked for Bivol, but we couldn't make a deal," Beltran told Izquierdazo. "Unfortunately, Bivol is not very popular. He has been effective in the ring, but he is not very popular. We would love to fight with him in the future, but we are talking about the two weight classes above (Munguia's division). We would fight with him (Bivol) if nobody else wants to. If someone runs away from him (Bivol), we will face him." Beltran expressed his hope that a deal could be reached to get Golovkin into the ring for the June date, stating that there have been actual discussions about the fight. "Yes, we have been talking to Tom Loeffler (GGG's promoter)," Beltran said. "The truth is that there have been actual discussions, and we want to close it soon. We would love to fight Golovkin. We have looked for that fight for a long time, since the beginning of Jaime's career, and we couldn't make it. But we are trying again." Golovkin vs. Munguia had been scheduled to take place in 2018, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission rejected the contest, citing Munguia's lack of experience. It remains to be seen whether a fight between Munguia and Golovkin will come to fruition this time around, but the possibility is certainly an exciting one for boxing fans. Munguia has been making a name for himself in the sport, and a win over a veteran like Golovkin could propel him even further into the spotlight. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

Gervonta Davis Prepares to Face Ryan Garcia, Trainer Calvin Ford Believes Best is Yet to Come Gervonta Davis has established himself as one of the most exciting fighters in boxing with his explosive knockouts and star power. His trainer, Calvin Ford, has been with him from the beginning and has seen him evolve into the fighter he is today. However, Ford believes that Davis is far from reaching his potential. “Nowhere close yet,” said Ford to YSM Sports Media when asked if Davis is at his best. Davis, with a record of 28-0 and 26 knockouts, is preparing for his next fight against Ryan Garcia on April 22nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia has been targeting Davis for a while and the two have finally signed a deal to face off in the ring. Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) made certain concessions to get the fight over the finish line, including a 136-pound catchweight and a next-day rehydration clause of 10 pounds. However, Team Davis is not paying much attention to Garcia's complaints and is focused on getting Davis ready for the fight. With Davis being a sizable favorite, Ford is putting him through another arduous training camp. As Davis trains and works on his skills, Ford is amazed at the fighter he has become. While Davis appears to be nearing his prime, Ford believes that he still has room for improvement. Davis has been a force in the ring since he turned pro over a decade ago, but Ford insists that he still has untapped potential. “His ceiling is where he wants it to be,” said Ford. Davis vs. Garcia is expected to be an explosive fight between two of the best young fighters in the sport. While Garcia will be looking to make a name for himself by taking down one of the biggest stars in boxing, Davis will be looking to continue his impressive run of knockouts and cement his place as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Bellator MMA has announced another exciting matchup for their upcoming event, Bellator 297. Former UFC light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson is set to take on Phil Davis in what promises to be an electrifying fight between two of the best in the division. Although the main event and co-main event will undoubtedly be exciting, the remaining part of the card is also being stuffed. Former champions Corey Anderson and Phil Davis will also compete at Bellator 297, as the promotion was originally revealed in a press release earlier today. On June 16 at Wintrust Arena, two of Bellator's top light heavyweights are scheduled to face off. ESPN broke the news of the matchup first, and the promotion later made the announcement. Following his title shot with Vadim Nemkov in November of last year, "Overtime" on the other hand, has not been inside the cage. Anderson was outplayed in the contest, losing by a unanimous decision. The loss ended the UFC veteran's four-fight winning run. He defeated well-known opponents like Ryan Bader and Melvin Manhoef during that time. 'Mr. Wonderful' recently defeated Julius Anglickas via decision at Bellator 276 in March. Before the triumph, Davis had defeated former UFC star Yoel Romero in a convincing decision match. The former title holder is aiming to move up the Bellator standings while maintaining an undefeated run of two matches. A light heavyweight championship fight between Nemkov and Romero is anticipated to serve as the main event of Bellator 297. A freshly added co-main event will feature Sergio Pettis trying to defend his bantamweight title versus the featherweight champion as well as former lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull. The matchup has generated a lot of excitement among MMA fans, with many predicting a close and exciting fight between the two light heavyweight contenders. With Bellator 297 set to take place on June 16, fight fans won't have to wait long to see this epic showdown unfold.