Manchester Hero Anthony Crolla Backs Lyndon Arthur to Win IBO World Title and Secure Big Fights Former world champion Anthony Crolla has thrown his support behind Lyndon Arthur ahead of his IBO world title fight against Braian Nahuel Suarez. Crolla believes that Arthur has the ability to become a major player in the light heavyweight division and pave the way for some exciting showdowns with other top UK fighters. Crolla, who himself was a beloved figure in Manchester boxing, has urged Arthur to seize the opportunity presented by the IBO title and use it to secure bigger fights. He noted that many great fighters, including Klitschko and Golovkin, have held the IBO belt and that it can be a powerful bargaining tool. Arthur, a product of the famous Collyhurst and Moston ABC, already has a win over Anthony Yarde and has been identified as a rising star in the light heavyweight division. Crolla believes that a victory over Suarez will put him in contention for some major fights against other top fighters in the UK. According to Crolla, the light heavyweight division is one of the strongest in the UK and Arthur has the talent to become a major player. He added that Arthur has the potential to deliver some massive nights of boxing to Manchester and that the IBO title will be a key factor in securing big fights at the Manchester Arena. Crolla’s support for Arthur highlights the importance of having local heroes in boxing and the role they play in generating excitement and support for the sport. With Arthur’s fight against Suarez set to be broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 5 tonight, it is clear that there is still a strong appetite for boxing in the UK and a hunger for local fighters to succeed on the world stage. As the fight approaches, all eyes will be on Lyndon Arthur to see if he can seize the opportunity and become the next big thing in UK boxing.

Brazilian mixed martial artist Paulo Costa has agreed to a new four-fight deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The news comes as a welcome development for fight fans, who have been eagerly anticipating Costa's return to the Octagon. Costa, who holds a professional record of 13 wins and 1 loss, has been a force to be reckoned with in the UFC's middleweight division. His powerful striking and aggressive fighting style have made him a fan favorite, and he has earned impressive victories over some of the top fighters in the division. Once the promotion revealed Costa had been scheduled to compete against Robert Whittaker at UFC 284, he explicitly stated that he still wouldn't compete without a new agreement. Costa has already been strongly criticized for his dissatisfaction with his contract agreement. Soon after, Costa declared he would explore the possibilities of free agency, but the Brazilian has already disclosed he has signed a new four-fight contract with the UFC. “I haven’t signed the contract yet but we have reached a deal with the UFC regarding the pay,” Costa said to PVT. “It wasn’t easy, there was a lot of hard work, and I have to highlight Tamara’s brilliant work here.” Costa revealed that he is actively in discussions with UFC about his upcoming match. Costa claims that the UFC contacted him with perhaps the chance to compete with either Sean Strickland in May or Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, which takes place on October 21 in Abu Dhabi. “I want that, too,” Costa said of facing both men back-to-back in 2023. “[The UFC] wants to make sure this Chimaev fight happen at all costs, but I want to make both happen. We’ll see.” Costa has a 14-2 record as a career and a 6-2 record since signing the UFC. In his most recent match, which took place in August 2022, he defeated Luke Rockhold by a unanimous decision to end a losing streak of two matches versus Marvin Vettori & Israel Adesanya. It remains to be seen when Costa will return to the Octagon but fight fans can be sure that he will be looking to make a statement with his performances. With a new four-fight deal in place, Costa will have the opportunity to solidify his position as one of the top middleweights in the UFC. Whether it's against Strickland, Chimaev, or another opponent, Costa's fights are always must-watch events. As the UFC continues to grow and evolve, Costa's aggressive style and knockout power make him a fighter to watch in 2023 and beyond.

After the Gypsy King's apparent breakup with Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua will not "sit around and wait" for a battle with Tyson Fury. Tuesday brought news of the cancellation of the anticipated Fury vs. Usyk fight scheduled for April 29 at Wembley Stadium due to yet another contract issue. Team Usyk has now declared that in order to maintain his WBA, WBO, IBO, and IBF titles, they will continue to meet their required WBA obligations. If Joshua defeats Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena on April 1, he could become an option for Fury, who would then be without a dance companion for the summer. Joshua, however, asserts that he would be content to retire without ever meeting the 6' 9" WBC champion because he claims that talking up a fight with Fury has hurt him in the past. Joshua said: “I will be real, as much as I like to entertain that gossip and Fury situation, I have been there twice and people don’t remember that. “I was supposed to fight him before I fought Usyk, the first time, and he pulled out due to his legal case, the arbitration, with Wilder. That was all up in the air and done online. Then we had the one for this December. “Will the fight with me and him get made? I don’t know. Look at all the sh!t they are going through now with this Usyk stuff. It’s just crazy. “I don’t publicize things so it’s actually good that people are starting to see what goes on in negotiations. It’s good that people can actually see the sh!t that people have got to put up with to make a fight, Me and Usyk got two successful fights done. It’s just crazy. “I cannot say I am just going to sit around and wait for this geezer. There are other great fights out there I can have. Without Fury on my record, I will not wake up tomorrow and regret my whole boxing career. If he is on it, I am on it, if he is not, he is not. Whatever.”

UFC fans, get ready for an exciting matchup on May 13th, as Ian Machado Garry puts his undefeated record on the line against Daniel Rodriguez. This welterweight bout is sure to be a barnburner, as both fighters bring impressive skill sets to the Octagon. After defeating Kenan Song in what can be regarded as his greatest performance in the octagon till now, Ian Garry did not take long getting back into the ring and has now agreed to sign a contract for a crucial challenge. The Irishman was nearly taken out early during the last fight, ultimately winning by TKO after dominating for the duration of the fight. The welterweight has persisted in being included on big cards ever since joining the UFC, and all his four bouts have occurred on noteworthy occasions. Ian Machado Garry needed a massive boost in competitiveness, which is already happening for him. With a perfect record of 11-0, Garry has quickly established himself as one of the most promising prospects in the sport. Daniel Rodriguez has had a fortune in the octagon despite joining the UFC slightly later than the ordinary participant. The tough striker known as "D-Rod" has shown to be a formidable foe for everyone he has fought. He frequently overpowers his rivals with pressure and intensity. After seeing Neil Magny stop his four-fight winning run in November of last year, Rodriguez is attempting to maintain his position among the favorites. "D-Rod" had won 7 of his past 8 UFC contests before the defeat, featuring wins against Li Jingliang, Kevin Lee, Mike Perry, and Tim Means. One thing is for certain, fans can expect an exciting back-and-forth battle when these two warriors step inside the Octagon. With both fighters putting everything on the line, this fight has all the makings of a potential Fight of the Night candidate. For Garry, a win over a seasoned veteran like Rodriguez would be a major statement and could propel him into the upper echelon of the UFC's welterweight division. Meanwhile, a victory for Rodriguez would prove that he can compete with the best in the world. The May 13 UFC event promises to be one of the most exciting cards of the year, with Garry vs. Rodriguez serving as a must-watch matchup for any MMA fan. Be sure to tune in and witness these two rising stars battle it out in what is sure to be a memorable showdown.

Caleb Plant Embraces Underdog Role Ahead of David Benavidez Fight Caleb Plant has never shied away from being the underdog, and he’s certainly embracing that role as he prepares for his upcoming fight against WBC interim champion David Benavidez. Despite previously holding the IBF crown and defending it three times before losing to Canelo Alvarez, Plant is still considered by many to be biting off more than he can chew. For Plant, however, the idea that he will wilt under the pressure of Benavidez is a predictable narrative that he’s heard before. He’s used to coming into big fights with little to no expectations of winning and sees this as an advantage. “I like taking on the title as an underdog,” said Plant during a recent interview. “I feel like that’s something that I’ve been in not just my career but my life.” Plant has proven himself before when the odds were against him, such as in his 2019 fight against Jose Uzcategui, where he dropped the former titlist multiple times before cruising to a unanimous decision victory. His background and the struggles he faced growing up have made him resilient and determined to prove that anyone, regardless of their upbringing or appearance, can achieve great things. “Showing the world that just because you may come from a certain place or look a certain way, that doesn’t mean that you can’t accomplish great things,” said Plant. As he prepares to face off against Benavidez, Plant remains confident and focused, embracing the role of the underdog and determined to prove his doubters wrong once again.

Frank Warren, co-promoter of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has confirmed that a potential unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk is now off the table, at least for April 29. The two sides were unable to agree on the monetary terms for the contracted rematch, with Usyk requesting a 70-30 split in his favor for the rematch, while Fury was demanding a 50-50 rematch split. Usyk’s handlers had put pressure on the fight to go ahead on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London, but they warned that any delay to the fight would result in a different split. Warren believes that this was a tactic to avoid the match. “The reason they did that was they didn’t think Tyson would be ready for the 29th and suddenly Tyson was ready for it. He has been in training camp for two and a half weeks, got trainers in from America and they looked for a way to get out,” Warren told BBC Sport. Usyk, who holds the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA titles, is now obligated to three separate mandatory defenses. He must now face WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, whom Warren also promotes. Then there is IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic, and finally WBO mandatory challenger Joe Joyce, who has a fight scheduled next month with Zhang Zhilei. “There is an established rota of who Usyk has to defend against,” Warren said. “That’s why after the 29th it goes away.” It’s unfortunate news for boxing fans who were eagerly anticipating a Fury vs. Usyk unification bout, but it appears that it’s not going to happen anytime soon. For now, Fury will have to focus on his upcoming fight with an opponent yet to be determined, while Usyk will look to defend his titles against his mandatory challengers.

Vladimir Shishkin Weighs in on Benavidez vs. Plant Fight Super middleweight contender Vladimir Shishkin is closely watching the upcoming fight between former world champions David Benavidez and Caleb Plant, as he inches closer to an IBF title shot. Shishkin believes that Benavidez has the edge due to his power but acknowledges Plant’s improved skills after his fight with Canelo. Despite Shishkin’s favoring Benavidez, WBA ‘regular’ world champion David Morrell views the contest as a close one, with both fighters having their strengths and weaknesses. Morrell would love to face the winner and believes that the fight will be a tough one for both fighters. The fight between Benavidez and Plant will be a great matchup between two elite fighters in the division. Fans of the sport are excited to see the outcome of the fight and the potential matchups that may come after it.

A certain mythical title in the realm of boxing is coveted by many. And no, it's not the prized top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings that so many boxers strive for. It has always been an honor to be referred to as the celebrity among stars, the ticket seller, or the one who moves the needle. That very championship has changed hands from fighter to fighter up until this point. And while Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder, and others have all been regarded as the top dog, Gervonta Davis is adamant that he has supplanted them all as the man in town. “I feel as though I’m the face of boxing right now,” said Davis to Showtime Sports during a recent interview. Even though his statements are outrageous, they might be true. Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) has proven to be a draw in the pay-per-view market regardless of who he is fighting in addition to filling arenas all over the world. Most recently, the 28-year-old earned about 220k pay-per-view purchases against the underrated Hector Luis Garcia. While acceptable, that number is expected to increase tenfold the following month. Davis will face fellow unbeaten and well-liked talent Ryan Garcia on April 22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and put his spotless record on the line. Davis can't help but observe his pugilistic surroundings as their big fight approaches. He acknowledges the abundance of skilled fighters with expanding fan bases in the boxing world, but he is adamant that his peers are merely playing the leaderboard game. Davis has come to understand that history is cyclical. Davis comes to the conclusion that he's just following in the greats of the sport's history, such as Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and many others, who pushed the envelope and became the dominant figure of their age. “It’s a lot of fighters, if you watch, they do everything that I do. When Floyd was coming through, when Oscar was coming through, it’s something that you can’t teach. It’s just in you. When Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and all the greats were coming through, everybody wanted to be like that. That’s why a lot of people are calling my name.”

The Fight of the Explosive Punchers: Davis vs Garcia On April 22nd, two of boxing’s most explosive punchers will face off in a highly anticipated 12-round, 136-pound fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Gervonta Davis, a southpaw from Baltimore, will take on Victorville, California’s own Ryan Garcia, in a fight that has been highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike. As the promoter for Garcia, Oscar De La Hoya has a say in selecting the judging panel for the fight. However, he believes that the power possessed by both fighters will make the judges’ scorecards unnecessary. Speaking to reporters recently, De La Hoya predicted that the fight will end in a knockout, with the first fighter to land a flush punch likely to come out on top. Davis, with a professional record of 28-0 and 26 knockouts, has proven himself to be one of the most explosive punchers in the sport. Only one of his past 19 fights has gone the distance, a testament to his knockout power. Garcia, on the other hand, has won 83 percent of his professional bouts by knockout and has won six of his past seven fights inside the distance. Despite Garcia’s height advantage, most handicappers have made Davis the favorite to win the fight. However, Garcia has shown himself to be a resilient fighter, coming back from being dropped by Luke Campbell to win their fight with a body shot in the seventh round. He has also made improvements in his technique since hiring Canelo Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, before parting ways with him last year and teaming up with veteran trainer Joe Goossen. It’s clear that both fighters possess the power and explosiveness to end the fight with a knockout. Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly awaiting this highly anticipated matchup between two of boxing’s most exciting punchers.

David Benavidez and Caleb Plant have made it no secret that they don’t like each other before their Interim WBC super middleweight title fight. While Benavidez has been relatively low-key before the biggest fight of his career, Plant has been fighting everyone on social media. Renowned trainer Buddy McGirt believes that controlling the bad blood is essential, and one should not go into the fight trying to knock out the opponent. Plant has to be careful to avoid getting too emotionally involved while battling it out online with Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose. Meanwhile, Benavidez is seemingly keeping his focus on the task at hand. The fight may finally see him fulfill his potential and become a star. A victory by Benavidez on Saturday would put him in the Canelo sweepstakes, but first, he must face Plant, who is arguably the toughest test of Benavidez’s career. And so, it all comes down to Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. A fight that has been brewing for years, a grudge match fueled by bad blood and animosity. For Benavidez, it’s the chance to prove himself as the best in the division, to silence the doubters and secure his place in the sport’s biggest fights. For Plant, it’s an opportunity to bounce back from his loss to Alvarez, to prove that he still belongs among the elite and can handle the power and pressure of a fighter like Benavidez. It’s a fight that promises fireworks, with two of the sport’s most exciting fighters going toe-to-toe in the ring. Whether it’s Benavidez’s power or Plant’s technical skills that prevail, one thing is for sure – this is a fight that fans won’t want to miss.

The upcoming IBO light heavyweight world title showdown between Lyndon Arthur and Braian Nahuel Suarez promises to be an explosive affair as the dynamite-fisted Argentinean vows to cause an upset and leave Arthur’s plans for huge domestic clashes in tatters. Suarez, who has KO’d 17 opponents, has arrived in the UK ahead of the fight on Friday night, which will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 5 in association with Ladrbrokes, Numan and Infinitium Entertainment. The winner of the bout will take home the IBO belt and put themselves in the frame for some bigger fights in the packed 175 lbs division, including potential clashes with Joshua Buatsi, Dan Azeez, and other top talent on the UK shores. “Everyone wants to fight in big fights and I believe that if I defeat Arthur I should be given my chance against Buatsi, Azeez and the other fights that he is chasing,” said Suarez. “Arthur is a good boxer with great skills, he is tall and uses the distance well, but he also has weaknesses like everyone and I plan on taking advantage of them.” Suarez, a former youth football player for Velez Sarsfield and River Plate, will be fighting outside of his homeland for the first time as a professional. However, the 30-year-old from Buenos Aires is not worried about being the away fighter and is fully prepared and ready for the challenge. “For me this is an honour to be able to fight in the UK and represent my country abroad. I am extremely motivated for this fight,” Suarez said. The Arthur vs. Suarez fight will headline a Wasserman Boxing card at the University of Bolton Stadium, with the excitement set to begin at 10pm on Friday night. Boxing fans won’t want to miss this must-watch event that could have a significant impact on the UK light heavyweight scene.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum's time with the PFL has officially ended after one bout. During a recent interview with Canal Encarada, Werdum revealed that his PFL contract had been formally canceled. Throughout his PFL career, Werdum only engaged in one fight, losing to Renan Ferreira in May 2021. Ferreira appeared to have tapped out to a submission early on in the bout, which led to the match subsequently being declared a no-contest. Werdum missed the start of the 2021 PFL regular season and hasn't competed since. Over the previous year, he hinted at a comeback to the PFL, but a fight booking never materialised. Werdum defeated Alexander Gustafsson via first-round submission in his UFC final before joining with the PFL in free agency. After the finish over Gustafsson, he appeared to be in position to earn his second victory in a row. Werdum traded victories and defeats inside the Octagon after Stipe Miocic defeated him for the heavyweight championship at UFC 198. Before leaving the UFC, he defeated Walt Harris, Marcin Tybura, and Travis Browne. With six straight victories, Werdum got off to a strong start in the UFC. At UFC 188 in 2015, he defeated Cain Velasquez to claim the heavyweight championship.