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Manny Pacquiao and UK boxing star Conor Benn are said to be nearing an agreement for a bout on June 3rd in Abu Dhabi. According to reports, Manny Pacquiao will soon make his comeback in professional boxing against one of the game's biggest names. Negotiations between Pacquiao and Benn's agents are currently in progress, according to ESPN's Mike Coppinger, who broke the news first. This would mean that Pacquiao would end his 2-year retirement from boxing. He suffered a unanimous decision loss against Yordenis Ugas in his final professional contest in August 2021 before making a comeback for an exhibition against DK Yoo in December. Pacquiao is widely regarded as one of the sport's most skilled fighters. Throughout his career, he has faced notable opponents like Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya and has triumphed against opponents of note like Timothy Bradley and Keith Thurman. Benn, who is 26 years old, has become one of the best boxers in the UK in recent years. He most recently triumphed over Chris van Heerden in April of last year to maintain his unblemished record and defend his WBA continental welterweight belt. The Pacquiao vs. Benn fight is planned for an event in Abu Dhabi, though nothing has apparently been confirmed.

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani in The MMA Hour, Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou revealed that he is "very close" to signing with another MMA promotion. The news has sent shockwaves through the MMA community, as Ngannou is widely regarded as one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. Ngannou has not yet revealed which promotion he has agreed with, but he did provide some insight into his top options. According to Ngannou, he is considering offers from ONE Championship and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). But before that, he prefers to make his introduction to the boxing world first. "I have made my decision. I haven't committed or got a deal done yet. I know what my next move is going to be. I know that I want to fight boxing first then after that I will fight MMA. I'm going to sign with one MMA promotion. I haven't made a decision on that yet. Very close, but I'll make my decision. It's not like I've been sitting out here empty-handed. I've been very busy." When questioned about which promotion he was likely to pursue, Francis Ngannou replied: "There's PFL and ONE FC that we are very close... We will see. Anyways, when there is information when I decide, you guys are going to know so don't worry." ONE Championship is a Singapore-based promotion that has quickly become one of the biggest MMA organizations in the world. The company has a reputation for putting on high-quality events with a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and respect. With a global reach and a roster of talented fighters, ONE Championship could be a great fit for Ngannou as far as the competition is concerned. While the PFL is a relatively new promotion that has gained a lot of attention in recent years by offering a unique format in which fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship. With a $1 million prize pool for each weight class, the PFL has attracted some of the best fighters in the world. The prize pool might become a major factor in deciding for the former UFC champion. According to reports, Ngannou asked for three things: the freedom for fighters to sign sponsorship agreements, access to healthcare facilities, and the presence of a consultant at UFC board meetings. The former heavyweight champion also wanted to be able to compete in the exhibition boxing fights, but he was prepared to postpone those intentions. The Predator had to renounce his heavyweight championship and depart the company when the UFC turned against his request. It remains to be seen which promotion Ngannou will ultimately choose, but fans are eagerly awaiting his decision. Ngannou has been a dominant force in the UFC, with impressive wins over top-ranked heavyweights like Stipe Miocic, Junior dos Santos, and Curtis Blaydes. If he decides to sign with another promotion, it could shake up the landscape of the MMA world and create new opportunities for up-and-coming fighters. For now, fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for Francis Ngannou.

Fans of ONE Championship have been eagerly anticipating the title unification bout between Arjan Bhullar and Anatoly Malykhin, which was originally scheduled for March 24th. Unfortunately, the fight has been delayed once again due to unforeseen circumstances. The bout will now be rearranged to a later time in 2023, according to ONE Championship executives, who claim that it was called off "due to a shift in broadcaster obligations." Claro Sports was the initial outlet to release the information. Whereas Superlek versus Rodtang's flyweight kickboxing match has been elevated to the main event position. It is the second time their meeting has been postponed after Bhullar was forced out of a planned September fight with an injury. Bhullar acknowledged that having to put off his upcoming fight unexpectedly is extremely upsetting in an interview with MMA Fighting on Wednesday. “Chatri got on the phone with me multiple times through this so I thank him and the organization for that,” Bhullar said. “Very, very frustrating, and I’m sure for my opponent as well, for my coaches, for my family. It’s not just a fighter that trains and gets ready for a fight, right? For the whole team. We were so ready to get going, but there’s partners that make fights happen. You need an opponent, you need the company to put it on, you have broadcast partners, all of that.” When the fight does eventually take place, it is sure to be an explosive showdown between two of the most talented heavyweights in the world. Arjan Bhullar is a wrestler with heavy hands and an impressive record of 11-1. He is the current ONE Heavyweight World Champion, having defeated Brandon Vera by second-round TKO in his last fight. It was his first title defense since winning the title in 2019. Malykhin (12-0) of Russia has been a lot busier. The 35-year-old made his ONE debut in 2021 with two swift knockout victories over Alexandre Machado and Amir Aliakbari. In February of last year, he defeated Kirill Grishenko to capture the interim heavyweight championship. After waiting for Bhullar's recovery for most of 2022, he moved to light heavyweight, whereupon he secured the title by brutally stopping the formerly undefeated Reinier de Ridder in the first round. As we wait for the new date of the fight to be announced, fans can continue to follow the exciting world of ONE Championship and stay up to date on all the latest news and developments. While the delay may be disappointing, it only adds to the excitement and anticipation for when these two titans finally do face off in the ring.

For the UFC Vegas 72 main event, Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moiciano have been paired together. On April 29, number eight-ranked Tsarukyan will face number thirteen-ranked Moicano, most likely at the UFC Apex. Both lightweights are looking to improve on their recent victories and move closer to the top five standings. The UFC lightweight division is entering a new phase. There is a need for new talent because superstars like Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier are likely just beginning the second halves of their careers. Tsarukyan, Rafael Fiziev, and Mateusz Gamrot are the 155-pounders of the future. Tsarukyan last competed in December 2022, winning a majority decision over Damir Ismagulov. The 26-year-old had recently lost to Gamrot in one of the year's best bouts. He now intends to eliminate Moicano in order to gain more ground. Meanwhile, Moicano has faced several high-profile opponents in the UFC, but his last fight was a breakout moment. The Brazilian lightweight defeated Brad Riddell by first-round submission, leading to a highly-entertaining post-fight interview demanding more money in a fun way. Although Arman Tsarukyan is five places higher than Renato Moicano in the rankings, their positions in the UFC lightweight division are comparable. A thin line separates the top five 155-pounders from everyone else in terms of popularity as well as ability. Tsarukyan and Moicano must therefore keep winning in order to advance. One can use the primary event spotlight on April 29 to move forward. Whoever prevails might possibly face a top-five opponent the following time out.

The WBC has officially instructed that Beterbiev take on Callum Smith of England next. For a fight that has already attracted a lot of interest from the promoters on both sides, the two parties have until April 11 to come to an agreement. Smith (29-1, 21KOs) competes under the Matchroom Boxing brand, while Beterbiev (19-0, 19KOs) is promoted by Top Rank. Although the two promotional powerhouses have worked together on projects, they seem to relish outdoing one another, especially when it comes to fights with significant stakes, like one for the light heavyweight title. Less than two months have passed since Beterbiev's most recent championship defense before the call to order. On January 21 at OVO Arena Wembley, the current lineal, WBC, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight defeated Anthony Yarde of England by TKO in the eighth round. The victory fulfilled a WBO mandatory that had been put off because Beterbiev's injury forced the initial plans for a fight on October 29 in London to be postponed. Undisputed matchup between Beterbiev and WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11KOs), who is co-promoted by Matchroom and World of Boxing, has asked by the fans to be made. Following a fourth-round knockout of Mathieu Bauderlique in their WBC title eliminator on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Smith won the top spot. Since losing his WBA super middleweight title fight to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in December 2020, Smith has won two consecutive fights at light heavyweight. Smith was scheduled to battle on March 11 during a DAZN event in his hometown of Liverpool. Due to a back injury that required him to be sidelined for approximately 6 to 8 weeks, the 32-year-old was forced to withdraw. The WBC's timetable to meet its requirement won't be hindered by the timeframe. With a TKO of Enrico Koelling in the 12th round in November 2017, Beterbiev first captured the IBF light heavyweight championship. The 38-year-old Russian-born boxer from Montreal has defended his titles seven times, including victories over lineal/WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October 2019 and WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. on June 18 in New York City. He also competed for Russia at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Thiago Santos, a former UFC light heavyweight championship challenger, is out to make a statement under PFL. In the past, notable former UFC fighters including Anthony Pettis, Jeremy Stephens, Rory MacDonald, and Olivier Aubin-Mercier have transitioned from the Octagon to the Professional Fighters League's SmartCage. After leaving the MMA leader in 2022, a new wave will make their maiden forays into the distinct season and playoff format used in the PFL this year. That includes Thiago Santos in addition to Marlon Moraes, a past contender for the bantamweight belt, and Aspen Ladd. During his time competing under the UFC's auspices, "Marreta" established a reputation as one of the division's top powerhouses at light heavyweight, most notably by submitting Jimi Manuwa and Jan Bachowicz to earn a chance to challenge Jon Jones for the title in 2019. After falling short of the throne via split decision, the Brazilian struggled for form. Most recently, he suffered setbacks at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill, leading to his exit from the organization. But Santos' story is not yet complete in MMA. He's looking to reinvent himself in a new environment, having signed on to battle in the PFL light heavyweight season. His campaign will get underway on April 1, when he meets 2022 champion Rob Wilkinson. A lot of attention has been paid to Santos and Moraes' efforts leading up to the promotion's season start since many believe that their results will reveal whether or not they can still compete at a high level. The possibility to make his debut against last year's champion presents itself to "Marreta" as the ideal scenario.

Islam Makhachev, the current UFC Lightweight Champion, is skeptical about Conor McGregor's plans for his comeback fight in 2023. In UFC 284, Makhachev faced Alexander Volkanovski to defend the lightweight title. He is awaiting his upcoming championship defence, which could be against the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush. Makhachev, a prominent prodigy of Khabib Nurmagomedov, is vying for the top slot in terms of weight class. He hopes to take the top spot away from Nurmagomedov and establish his own rule. Makhachev questioned McGregor's return to the UFC in a recent interview with the Weighing In podcast. "I don't think Conor wants to fight," Makhachev said. "He's drinking too much, smoking all day...everybody forgot him since he fought last time...maybe if he beats Chandler, they're gonna try to push him to make 155, and I know they want to give him a title shot." The weight at which McGregor and Chandler square off is yet unknown, but both competitors are eager for a chance at retribution following recent defeats. Even though McGregor may not be the same fighter he once was, he is still one of the most well-known figures in combat sports. In this upcoming bout with Chandler, he will have the chance to show that he is capable of rolling back to an elite fighter.

Former heavyweight kickboxing champion Alistair Overeem has been suspended for 12 months after failing a drug test administered by GLORY Kickboxing following his match against long-time rival Badr Hari back in October 2022 at GLORY Collision 4 in Arnhem, Netherlands. During their third encounter, Overeem decisively beat Hari. Due to the failing drug test, the result has since been reversed into a no-contest. Overeem screened positive for a chemical that is prohibited, but the precise drug that was discovered in his body has not yet been made public. When Overeem's A and B samples were tested, the findings were positive, and GLORY, therefore, punished him. According to GLORY authority's press release: Alistair Overeem has been removed from the GLORY rankings and his fight again Badr Hari is ruled a “No Contest” due to a violation of GLORY’s anti-doping rules. His suspension is for 12 months, starting at his last fight – COLLISION 4. And he must return a percentage of his wages. After leaving the UFC in early 2021, Overeem's fight against Hari marked his return to competitive combat sports. Also, it was his first professional kickboxing match following defeating Peter Aerts in Japan's 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix. Also, Overeem had previously failed a drug test before. Before being disqualified for having an abnormal testosterone ratio, Overeem was scheduled to face Junior dos Santos, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, at UFC 146 in 2012. Frank Mir took Overeem's spot in the championship battle after Overeem withdrew. As the sport of kickboxing continues to grow and evolve, it will be critical for organizations like GLORY to remain vigilant in their efforts to detect and prevent doping. Only by working together can the sport continue to thrive and maintain its integrity. Concerning the positive drug test and his ban, Overeem kept a low profile as of now. But it looks like the anti-doping failure and ban could lead to the conclusion of the 42-year-old's career with the kickboxing company.

In a highly anticipated event, Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez will be defending his super-middleweight title against John Ryder in his first fight in Mexico in over a decade. The match will take place on May 6, 2023, at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, which has a seating capacity of over 50000. For his most recent Cinco de Mayo contest, the Mexican superstar will travel emotionally back to his country of origin. In his last appearance in Mexico, in November 2011, Canelo defeated Kermit Cintron in Mexico City in five rounds to successfully defend his WBO world light-middleweight championship. “I feel really happy to be coming back in May because following my surgery, I was unsure of when I’d be coming back,” Alvarez said in a statement. “Returning to the ring and coming back to fight in Jalisco, where I’m from, makes me especially happy. And in John Ryder, I’m facing a very competitive fighter.” Alvarez, who has a record of 58 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws, is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. He has won titles in four weight classes and has fought some of the biggest names in the sport, including Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Alvarez defeated Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders, and Caleb Plant to complete his collection, which he defended last September against old rival Gennady Golovkin after an unsuccessful bid for Dmitry Bivol’s light heavyweight crown. Meanwhile, Ryder plodded along with mediocre victories over Mike Guy and Jozef Jurko until narrowly defeating Daniel Jacobs to resurrect his career. Although prospective fights with Bivol and Jaime Munguia never materialized, he did manage to enter a bout for the interim WBO championship with Zach Parker, who fractured his hand after four rounds. Mandatory WBO challenger Ryder sports a 32-5 record and currently rides a four-fight win streak. However, he is considered the underdog in this fight against Alvarez, who is widely regarded as one of the best boxers of his generation. The upcoming fight between Canelo Alvarez and John Ryder is one of the most highly anticipated boxing events of the year. With Alvarez's reputation as one of the best boxers in the world and Ryder's determination to cause an upset, this is a fight that is not to be missed.

Francis Ngannou, a former heavyweight champion of the UFC, is still motivated to pursue his goal of competing in a boxing battle against a top-tier fighter. Deontay Wilder, a former WBC world champion, is the opponent Ngannou wishes to fight. The 36-year-old Ngannou previously acknowledged in a recent interview that he has been in contact with Wilder's team regarding a possible fight. According to Ngannou, there are discussions about holding this contest in Africa, possibly with a second fight. "We are looking into [Deontay Wilder] because he's available. He's ready for that. He's very excited about [a fight with me]. He wants it. So, we are looking into that. That's something I'm very excited about. We even discussed a potential one fight in Africa and one fight somewhere else. Why not even the two fights in Africa?," Ngannou told TMZ. Ngannou was regarded as one of the most lethal punchers in UFC history, but he freely acknowledges that it is harder than it seems to land a big punch on an experienced boxer. "I can knock everybody out. I have to be clear about something. To hit that person you have to get a clear shot which is more about technique and experience I don't have. So, I'm very aware of that aspect," Ngannou says. "It's not like 'hit me, I hit you, and then we see who goes down.' It's a combat sport. Everybody trying not to get hit. I'm thinking more about the technique or the boxing side of it. The beauty of it. Then at the end, if you get an opportunity to connect then good. If not, I'm still expecting to win that fight in the decision so that's how I'm preparing myself." Wilder, regarded by many observers as the biggest one-punch hitter in the sport, was in action last fall when he brutally knocked out Robert Helenius in the first round.

The prospect of a heavyweight unification bout between WBC champion Tyson Fury and IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk has taken another twist in the ongoing negotiations. Last Friday, the World Boxing Association was informed that the two fighters had agreed to a tentative deal to face each other on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London. However, doubts have emerged as to whether the fight will take place as planned. Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, expressed his skepticism about the bout coming to fruition, stating that he believed Fury was looking for any reason to avoid the fight. However, Frank Warren, Fury’s co-promoter, has dismissed these fears and believes that the fight will indeed happen. “Both boxers have agreed to a split and it’ll be on,” Warren said in an interview on Talk Sport. “It’s just a matter of contracts but they’re not going to be a problem. I know we’ll get this on.” Warren went on to address concerns that Fury may be looking for a way out of the fight, saying, “If he was going to avoid the fight he’d just say, ‘I’m the WBC champion, you get on with your lives, I’ll get on with mine.’ To say that Tyson would avoid any fight; this is the guy that went to Germany to fight Wladimir Klitschko, who at his time was the best heavyweight of his generation, had no problem going over there and actually won the fight. This is the guy that went off to the United States not once but three times to fight the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division.” Warren also emphasized Fury’s fitness and readiness to fight, stating, “He trains religiously every day… he’s as fit as a butcher’s dog. You’ve only got to look at him, see recent photos of him and you can see how fit he is. He’s ready to go.” As of now, it remains to be seen whether the Fury vs. Usyk fight will take place as planned. However, Warren’s comments suggest that both fighters are still committed to making it happen, and negotiations are ongoing to finalize the details.

IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk has sternly warned WBC king Tyson Fury. The scheduled fight between the two undefeated champions is set for April 29 at Wembley Stadium, but Usyk's representatives are unsure of Fury's motivation to hold the event. It was revealed last Friday that Usyk had agreed to a 70–30 financial split in Fury's advantage. "The negotiations now go live on Instagram, so we see both fighters exchanging messages," Krassyuk told Sky Sports News. "We are expecting to get some basic agreement with the terms and things like that but it's still pending. We've been negotiating for so many months. We went through all the small issues, bigger issues, large issues whatever. "So it's all done already. It's been done actually several weeks ago. But the one thing that was pending was Tyson's consent, which is still pending. Though he claims he's ready and pretends he's training. If Fury is unable or unwilling to proceed with the fight on the scheduled date, Usyk's willingness to accept a 70-30 split is jeopardized and may no longer be guaranteed. "We never mention anything like June or August, it's never been under discussion. Usyk was very clear in his message. April 29 I accept 70/30 [for the purse split]," Krassyuk explained. "Egis Klimas [Usyk's manager] yesterday came out on Twitter saying that if it moves just for one day then it's going to be 50/50 again. "I'm not really confident that this fight is going to happen on April 29, I will be surprised if it takes place, but if it takes place I will be really happy. Because this is the biggest thing Usyk wants, the baddest thing he wants in his life, to unify all the belts in the heavyweight division, the second division in his career."