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The world of boxing has been abuzz in recent months with the possibility of an undisputed heavyweight championship showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. However, the ongoing negotiations have been marked by a series of gimmicks and demands, prompting the WBA to step in and order a title consolidation fight between Usyk and Daniel Dubois. As the WBA Championship Committee Chairman Carlos Chavez explained, the deadline for Fury and Usyk to agree on the unification fight had passed, and now the mandatory fight between Usyk and Dubois will be ordered. While this news may come as a disappointment to some fans, it is a welcome move by the WBA to put an end to the buffoonery exhibited by the two best heavyweights in the world. Usyk currently holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles, and all three have mandatory challengers waiting for their shot at the unbeaten two-division champ. The WBA is next in rotation, and Dubois is next up as the WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titlist. Fury, on the other hand, is the reigning WBC and lineal champion, but his reign is currently in the voluntary title defense phase as there is no mandatory challenger. While the negotiations between Fury and Usyk have been ongoing, the WBA and IBF had to rescind their previous orders for Usyk to face Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic next. Dubois has also been waiting for his mandatory status to be enforced, but the focus was on getting Fury-Usyk over the line. However, with the deadline passed, the WBA is right to order the mandatory fight between Usyk and Dubois. It remains unclear what is happening behind the scenes, but publicly, the two camps have been engaging in ridiculous antics. Usyk’s career-long promoter, Alex Krassyuk, proposed a 60-40 split for the winner, but Fury dismissed the idea and instead offered a take-it-or-leave-it deal of 70-30 in his favor, with a one-percent deduction for every day that Usyk failed to close the deal. Usyk accepted but with his own stipulation that Fury donates a million pounds to Ukraine after the fight and pay one percent more from his purse for every day of delay. This sort of buffoonery has gone on for too long, and it’s time for the fighters to stop the antics and get down to business. While Fury-Usyk would be a fantastic fight, it’s not the only fight that matters. Usyk-Dubois could also be an excellent fight, and it’s time for the mandatory challenger to get his shot. The WBA is justified in its action, and it’s a move that should be welcomed by all boxing fans.

Eddie Hearn, the promoter of British welterweight contender Conor Benn, has indicated that a fight for his charge is "close" to being finalized. Hearn said he has whittled down the number of potential opponents for Benn to three, with Manny Pacquiao and Chris Eubank Jr. being two of them. Hearn hopes that the fight will take place in June, but it will not be in Britain, as Benn is currently being investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control and cannot legally fight in his homeland without their clearance. The announcement of Benn's positive drug tests for clomifene led to the cancellation of his highly publicized catchweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr. last October. Benn is now being investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control, which has led Hearn to explore other options for his charge, such as having him fight in the United States or the Middle East. After weeks of hinting that Benn could fight in foreign territory, Hearn offered his most direct comment on the situation, stating that his next fight will not be in Britain and will be announced in due course. Benn became the recipient of some positive news last month when the World Boxing Council decided to reinstate the boxer into its welterweight rankings. The sanctioning body, which had launched its investigation into Benn's failed drug tests, determined that they deemed plausible the explanation that Benn had accidentally ingested clomifene by eating a "highly elevated consumptions of eggs." Benn, however, rejected the notion that he ever had clomifene in his body. Despite his protestations, Benn has used the WBC verdict as a rallying cry for himself. Hearn hopes to act as a buffer between Benn and the Board, as the promoter believes there are too many "huge fights" waiting for his charge in his homeland. Hearn said he wants Benn to fight in Britain for the long-term future of his career, and there are some significant fights for him in his homeland. However, Benn feels badly done by the Board and has threatened to sue them. In conclusion, the return of Conor Benn to the ring is close, with three potential opponents in consideration. While it will not take place in Britain due to his ongoing investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control, Hearn hopes to bridge the gap between Benn and the Board and get him fighting in his homeland once again.

Benson Henderson, one of the most dominant figures in the world of mixed martial arts, has recently announced his retirement plans. The former UFC lightweight champion, who joined Bellator MMA in 2016, has stated that he will retire from the sport once he completes the Bellator lightweight tournament as a champion. As the lightweight champion of the UFC and WEC during his MMA career, Benson Henderson has done a lot. He will have the chance to achieve a remarkable achievement on Saturday at SAP Center by winning the Bellator lightweight belt, which would be his third major professional title. Following his victory over Peter Queally in September of last year, "Smooth" has not competed. The fact that it was the former champion's second consecutive success made it noteworthy. Earlier in the year, Henderson had defeated the much-fancied Islam Mamedov. The lightweight will now be making a comparable appearance tomorrow evening. In the main event of Bellator 292, Henderson faces Usman Nurmagomedov for the lightweight championship. With eight boxers vying for gold and $1 million, the contest will serve as the lightweight Grand Prix's opening round. Henderson acknowledged he seems to be in the prime of his chosen profession during Bellator 292 media day earlier this week, but he still chooses to call off his career. He certainly feels better physically. That's not the case. Maria, his wife, just agreed to a multi-fight contract with Bellator. Just as she was doing for him years back, Henderson is interested in paying her back, moving aside, and then letting her focus on her profession. “Yeah, four fights left with the Grand Prix and I thought, ‘Wow, that works out well doesn’t it’. That would be a dream come true, but if you work your butt off man, you can live your dreams. You can have your dreams,” Benson Henderson stated at Bellator 292 media day this week. “No [there’s no temptation to stay], at the end of these fights I’m done.” He continued, “I think for everyone, athletes who retire at this age, they always ask if they can play one more [time]. I still feel good, fast, competitive, but for me, it’s more than just being competitive and being able to hang with the best guys in the world. It’s more about my wife getting her turn, she needs to get going and be able to concentrate on training and fighting.” “Our kids are getting old enough now that I can do my due diligence and take over more full-time, and let her do full-time training.” Regardless of how one feels about his decision to retire, there is no denying the impact that Benson Henderson has had on the world of mixed martial arts. His career has been filled with memorable moments, and his legacy will undoubtedly endure for years to come.

Oleksandr Usyk has called Tyson Fury's bluff and accepted his outrageous proposal for their undisputed battle. Since Fury's victory over Derek Chisora in December of last year to retain his heavyweight world championship, Usyk and Fury have been in negotiations for months. The rivals had originally planned to meet in Saudi Arabia, but negotiations with the Middle Eastern nation were unsuccessful. Wembley was scheduled to host on April 29, but Fury was frequently accused of making unreasonable demands. In a video that he released on Friday, he declared that he would agree to the battle in exchange for a payment of 70% of their estimated multi-million-pound prize. Unexpectedly, Usyk has now agreed to the proposition provided that Fury donates £1 million to the war-torn nation of Ukraine after the battle. Fury had earlier taken to social media to speak out for the first time about the negotiations. He said: "I see all this talk of boxing fights, they want 50 per cent, Tyson is being greedy... but from where I'm standing, Usyk, you and your team are worth 30 per cent. Either take it or you leave it and if you don't want it, go and fight Daniel Dubois at the Copper Box and get a few million dollars. "If you want real money come and fight the Gypsy King, but what I will say, for every day from today that you linger and mess around, I'm going to deduct one per cent from the 30 per cent and if you dont' take it, fight Dubois for $2million. Tick tock, tick tock..." If a deal cannot be reached between Fury and Usyk, the Ukrainian will be forced to fight Daniel Dubois who holds the 'regular' version of the WBA belt won by Usyk from Anthony Joshua. The organisation tweeted earlier on Friday: "The Championships Committee had ordered Usyk-Dubois but this was vacated to give priority to Usyk-Fury. The deadline expired last Friday and an extension was granted until today at 5pm. Therefore, at the end of this period, the combat between Usyk and Dubois will be ordered."

Umar Nurmagomedov has listed two former UFC champions as opponents he would have loved to have faced in the past. The 27-year-old only made his UFC debut in 2021, but he has already climbed to position #11 in the bantamweight standings of the organisation. In his first two UFC fights, against Sergey Morozov and Brian Kelleher, he won via rear naked choke before defeating Nate Maness by unanimous decision. But, Nurmagomedov's most recent victory over Raoni Barcelos was undoubtedly his best victory to date. Unbeaten fighters nearly always have a spotlight on their backs, but despite a 4-0 start in the UFC, Nurmagomedov believes he is having trouble finding opponents. In a recent interview with Josh Thomson and "Big" John McCarthy for their programme Weighing In, the Russian mentioned some names that could challenge Nurmagomedov in the future. “If we talk about names, like dream fights," Nurmagomedov said. "Like with who I really want fight. I think José Aldo retired, this is impossible. But still, Dominick Cruz. This guy legend. Or if T.J. Dillashaw will come back, I want this fight to.” “These two guys, like they was champions. They was toughest. But now this little bit older, I think that’s why everybody will say ‘This is not his prime. We don’t know how you will fight with him if it was his prime.’ You understand?” Dillashaw, a former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, served a two-year USADA suspension before his bantamweight title fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280. Due to a pre-existing injury, the 37-year-shoulder old's popped out early in the bout. After losing by TKO, Dillashaw later announced his retirement. During his reign as UFC champion, Aldo established himself as probably the greatest featherweight in the history of the sport, but the Brazilian also enjoyed a fantastic late-career run as a bantamweight.

Many opponents were in front of Ryan Garcia. The unbeaten lightweight candidate had plenty of choices because his name had apparently been making waves since entering the scene. Garcia was always fascinated by the thought of going up against Davis. Garcia will finally get his wish as the two will square off on April 22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, much to his delight. Davis holds the WBA's secondary championship, but since the fight will take place at a catchweight of 136 pounds, Davis' version of the world title won't be on the line. “For me, this is a legacy fight,” said Garcia to BoxingScene.com. “Titles are titles but this is really a world title fight for me.” Only by defeating Davis from Garcia's perspective can he establish himself as the man to beat and pave the path to superstardom. Garcia ultimately found himself on the verge of contending for a genuine world championship just a few years ago, thanks to his winning streak and rising popularity. Before combining the other world championships in the weight class to establish himself as the undisputed champion, Devin Haney openly offered to face Garcia in a defense of his WBC lightweight title. Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) was initially expected to be Haney's mandatory challenger, but he demonstrated little to no interest in doing so. The California star stated that going after Davis and winning would be the more important course of action. Garcia currently has nothing to add to his title mantle. But despite missing out on a prize, the talkative 24-year-old isn't sure that winning the championship will advance his career and win him the respect he so badly wants. “Yes," said Garcia when asked if he would like to chase more meaningful bouts as opposed to titles. "If there’s a belt attached to it, great. In everything, I look for the truth. I can steal a title somewhere against somebody who just so happens to hold it. But does that really make me a champion? It doesn't. If you really look for the truth, you’ll find it. And for me, I found the truth with Gervonta Davis. He’s a great fighter and that’s why I believe this is a world title fight.”

Boxing has always been a sport that has had its fair share of controversies, both inside and outside of the ring. However, there is one fight in particular that stands out as the most controversial of all time. The match in question is the 1997 bout between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, also known as the "Bite Fight." The two heavyweight fighters first met in November 1996, with Holyfield pulling off a stunning upset victory over Tyson. The rematch was scheduled for June 28, 1997, and was eagerly anticipated by fans around the world. From the opening bell, it was clear that Tyson was in a more aggressive mood than in their first encounter. However, in the third round, things took a bizarre turn. Holyfield, who was known for his headbutting tactics, clashed heads with Tyson, opening a cut above his eye. As the fight continued, Tyson became increasingly frustrated, and in the third round, he did the unthinkable. In a moment that shocked the boxing world, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield's ear. The referee stopped the fight, and Tyson was disqualified. The incident was met with universal condemnation from fans, pundits, and the boxing community. Tyson's actions were seen as barbaric and unsportsmanlike, and he was heavily criticized for his behavior both in and out of the ring. In the aftermath of the fight, Tyson was suspended from boxing and fined $3 million. Holyfield went on to become a boxing legend, winning several more world titles and cementing his place as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. The "Bite Fight" remains the most controversial boxing match of all time, and its impact is still felt in the sport today. It is a stark reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and fair play in all forms of competition, and the need to hold athletes to the highest standards of behavior both in and out of the ring. Do you think this was the most controversial boxing match of all time? Comment and let us know. For more articles like these, follow fight.tv

Dan Hooker, a New Zealand mixed martial artist, has recently claimed that he has been visited more frequently by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) since he accused his rival, Islam Makhachev, of using intravenous (IV) therapy. The revelation has raised concerns about the fairness of anti-doping protocols in the sport and has put a spotlight on the contentious issue of IV therapy in MMA. For those unfamiliar with IV therapy, it involves the infusion of fluids and electrolytes directly into a vein, which can help to rehydrate the body quickly. However, IV therapy is banned in MMA due to its potential to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and other prohibited substances. Hooker alleged Makhachev with utilizing an IV to rehydrate after weigh-ins to the day since Makhachev defeated Alexander Volkanovski by decision. There hasn't been any evidence, though, and Hooker expresses the UFC will attempt to retaliate against him in the future by putting him in some challenging fights. Hooker also claims that after making his statements, USADA has begun testing him more regularly. “I’ve had two or three knocks on my door at 6 a.m. by USADA, blood, and piss over the last couple of weeks. You think that’s a coincidence? That ain’t no coincidence, baby. On the same hand, you think I’m just gonna shut up and bite my tongue? Brother, I’ve almost had 50 knocks at my door, and that’s a stranger coming into your house, asking you to pull down your pants and stare at your dick. You think I’m gonna sit silent while other guys are skirting the rules when I got some stranger knocking on my door, asking me to pull my pants down? I ain’t playing this game,” Hooker said to TheAllStar. Uncertainty exists regarding whether Hooker's remarks on Islam Makhachev's misconduct are the cause of the increased testing. The Kiwi, however, doesn't appear to mind because he is aware that he is a clean athlete and is unconcerned by the additional testing. While USADA's anti-doping efforts are commendable, some critics argue that the agency's protocols are not foolproof and can be prone to errors and inconsistencies. Moreover, the increased scrutiny faced by athletes who speak out against doping could potentially discourage others from doing so in the future, which could ultimately undermine the integrity of the sport. Last time out, Dan Hooker (22-12) defeated Claudio Puelles via TKO to get back on the winning side of the ledger. In UFC 285 last weekend, he was scheduled to fight Jalin Turner, however "The Hangman" was compelled to withdraw from the contest because of his fractured hand. Hooker lost to Arnold Allen and Islam Makhachev by stoppages before his victory over Puelles.

Deiveson Figueiredo, the former UFC flyweight champion, is making a bold move by transitioning to the bantamweight division. And he's not wasting any time calling out one of the best in the business - Dominick Cruz. In an interview with the MMA Fighting podcast Trocação Franca, Figueiredo expressed his interest in fighting Cruz and labeled him as a "legend". He went on to say that he wants to fight the best in the division, and he believes that Cruz is one of them. “I’ve talked to my manager after the fight, and we came to the conclusion that Dominick Cruz would be a great fight. It would be a great first fight at 135. He’s a former champion, I’m a former champion, so it would be a guy with a name and high level to welcome me at 135. That would be great.” Figueiredo is eager to start competing in the bantamweight division and isn't interested in spending any time waiting. He intends to swiftly put the division on alert by defeating the former world champion and obtain a crack at the division title before age starts wearing him down. He is currently 35 years old. With victories over athletes like Moreno, Joseph Benavidez (x2), Alexandre Pantoja, Tim Elliott, John Moraga, and Alex Perez, the 35-year-old phenom has a 21-3-1 overall record in the sport. Since his fourth encounter with Brandon Moreno in January, "Deus Da Guerra" has been inactive. The contest was significant because it was the very first occasion in the promotion record that two competitors faced off 4 times. Sadly, the Brazilian's experience didn't turn out so well. The former champion declared his intention to advance after losing to Moreno. Figueiredo has often hinted that he might jump up to bantamweight, but now he appears to be serious about the transition. Urijah Faber, a former WEC champion who gave Cruz his first defeat in the sport back in 2007, now serves as Figueredo's co-manager. Given this background, "Deus da Guerra" declared that facing Dominick with Urijah Faber by my side would be a thrill. “Dominick moves a lot and we know we would have to cut his movement,” Figueiredo said of a potential bout between the two. “I would 100 percent explore that and train a lot of wrestling. I’ve been training jiu-jitsu a lot and would train a lot of wrestling too, especially defensive wrestling. Dude is a legend and I know he’s an excellent fighter, he can take people down. I’d block his takedowns and box him hard.” Cruz, who lost against Marlon "Chito" Vera in August 2022, is trying to turn things around at the moment. Cruz defeated Pedro Munhoz and Casey Kenney by decision before being dropped by Marlon Vera. Although having just suffered a devastating knockout loss, the seventh-ranked bantamweight believes he still has enough gas in the tank. And even at 38, he's still one of the most technically sound fighters in the sport. So, will we see Figueiredo vs. Cruz soon? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure - if these two fighters do meet inside the Octagon, it's going to be a fight for the ages.

‘King’ Callum Walsh to Face Hard-Hitting Veteran Wesley Tucker in Super Welterweight Main Event The boxing world is eagerly awaiting the ‘Eve of St. Patrick’s Day’ event, scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 16 at the Agganis Arena in Boston, MA. This event will be broadcast live internationally on UFC FIGHT PASS and will feature a highly-anticipated super welterweight main event between ‘King’ Callum Walsh of Cork, Ireland and hard-hitting veteran Wesley Tucker of Toledo, OH. Tucker, who steps in for Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz after he suffered a broken finger in sparring, has had a remarkable career spanning nine years in the professional boxing industry. The southpaw has faced numerous world-ranked fighters and top young contenders, including Jose Antonio Abreu, Alexander Basputin, and Enver Halili. In his most recent fight on October 13, 2022, Tucker went head-to-head with world-ranked Ivan Golub, losing a hotly contested fight despite dropping the Ukrainian in the second round. With his wealth of experience, Tucker will undoubtedly pose a formidable challenge to Walsh in the upcoming bout. “While we’re understandably concerned for Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz’s injury and wish him a full recovery, Callum Walsh is now facing an even more experienced fighter in Wesley Tucker on Thursday, March 16 in front of the huge Irish crowd in Boston,” said Tom Loeffler, President of 360 Promotions. In addition to the super welterweight main event, the event will also feature a highly anticipated eight-round super welterweight clash between Boston boxing hero Danny O’Connor and Luis ‘Vicious’ Garcia of Richmond, CA. O’Connor, who boasts a record of 30-3, 11 KOs, will make his long-awaited return to the ring in what promises to be an explosive fight. Former WBA Super Featherweight world champion Andrew ‘El Chango’ Cancio will also feature in the event, taking on Jonathan de Pina of Boston, MA, in an eight-round lightweight clash. Meanwhile, Francis ‘Frank the Tank’ Hogan of Weymouth, MA, will battle it out with Jimmie ‘The Quiet Storm’ Williams of New Haven, CT, in an eight-round middleweight division fight. The ‘Eve of St. Patrick’s Day’ event promises to be an unforgettable night of boxing, with fans from around the world tuning in to watch the world-class fighters take to the ring. As the anticipation continues to build, fans can only wait and see who will emerge victorious in what promises to be an unforgettable night of boxing.

Gennadiy Golovkin, also known as "GGG", has officially vacated his WBA middleweight title, marking the end of his reign as a two-time middleweight titlist. The development comes just days before a scheduled March 13 purse bid to determine promotional rights for his overdue title consolidation bout versus Erislandy Lara. Golovkin's attorney, John Hornewer, informed the WBA of his client's intentions moving forward via an official letter, stating that while Gennadiy remains committed to fighting again, he has not made up his mind about many of the elements critical to planning and arranging his next bout. In light of the impending deadline for a purse bid for a fight with WBA Regular Champion Erislandy Lara as ordered by the WBA, Golovkin has decided not to see the process drag out any longer and has relinquished the WBA Middleweight Super Championship Title. Lara is now the sole recognized WBA middleweight titlist. The ‘Super’ and ‘Regular’ titles are permanently removed from the rotation as a result, per the sanctioning body’s continued title reduction campaign from August 2021 through present day. Golovkin (42-2-1, 37KOs) was already down to one title after he vacated his IBF middleweight belt on February 8 in lieu of a mandatory title defense versus Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao. The move came nearly four months after Golovkin petitioned the IBF to order the mandatory as means to delay a title consolidation clash versus Lara, as the two-time unified middleweight titlist ran out of exceptions with the WBA to avoid the fight. The bout was previously ordered on September 23, six days after Golovkin fell short in his trilogy clash with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez last September 17 in Las Vegas. The bout took place at super middleweight, where Golovkin unsuccessfully challenged for Alvarez’s undisputed championship while his own WBA/IBF middleweight title reign was not at risk. Golovkin previously inherited Lara as a mandatory challenger upon stopping Murata in the ninth round of their April 9 title unification bout in Saitama, Japan. The 40-year-old Kazakh boxer defended his IBF belt while claiming the WBA ‘Super’ title with the win. The IBF belt will now be contested between Falcao (30-0, 20KOs) and Australia’s Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19KOs). Little movement was made in securing a deal for the ordered fight, which is now the subject of a March 14 purse bid hearing at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey. There is a chance that the IBF session will be postponed, if not cancelled outright. Zerafa is also next in line to challenge for the WBA middleweight title, with that fight representing the more desirable and lucrative option. Lara claimed the secondary WBA ‘World’ (Regular) middleweight title following a first-round knockout of aspiring contender Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna last May 1 in Carson, California. The Cuban export previously held the WBA 154-pound belt following two upgrades from the time of his December 2013 interim title win over Austin Trout. He was the highest-recognized WBA junior middleweight titlist following a December 2014 win over Ishe Smith, as Floyd Mayweather held the ‘Super’ version but never returned to the weight following his September 2013 win over Alvarez. Lara was upgraded from ‘Regular’ to ‘Super’ champion prior to his January 2017 knockout win over a hobbled Yuri Foreman. His reign ended in a split decision defeat

One of Gypsy King's wishes is to see Francis Ngannou knock out Deontay Wilder in the boxing ring. Ngannou, 36, left the UFC after failing to reach an agreement on a new deal, and a lucrative switch to boxing has been suggested. In a two-fight deal, Wilder, 37, has even offered to compete against the heavyweight in the ring and the cage. Fury, who co-starred in an epic trilogy with the American, supports Ngannou but is pessimistic about his chances of defeating the former WBC champion. “Ngannouis big enough to knock anybody out. But I don’t think he does because I think Wilder knocks him out first. Fury said. “Wilder’s the type of guy who’s like a piece of s*** kinda guy, so I’d like to see Ngannou chin him, knock him spark out. But I don’t think he would.” If Fury, 34, loses his title unification match against Oleksandr Usyk, 36, Ngannou is also willing to fight. But given that their rivalry is still raging, a fourth fight with Wilder has also not been ruled out. They initially drew in 2018, and Fury went on to win the subsequent rematches, but there is still animosity between them because Wilder accused Fury of cheating during the trilogy series. “That was a beating for the ages, I gave him some rattling punches. But he obviously didn’t take enough punishment. “So don’t rule out a fourth fight.”