Erislandy Lara will be the next opponent for Gennady Golovkin. A title consolidation fight between WBA's acknowledged middleweight belt holders has been rescheduled. The news came hours after many outlets reported that Golovkin has vacated his IBF middleweight title in order to avoid fighting Brazil's Esquiva Falcao in a required title defense. Once again, Golovkin's and Lara's teams must negotiate the parameters of their long-overdue consolidation fight, but this time, instead of the customary 30-day window, they have only 15 days. The WBA brass has long since run out of patience in trying to settle the issue, therefore there is a risk that the bout ends in a purse bid or that one party simply relinquishes their version of the middleweight belt. The fight was originally scheduled for September 23, six days after Golovkin's loss to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in their trilogy matchup last September 17 in Las Vegas. Golovkin attempted to challenge Alvarez for the undisputed title at super middleweight but was unsuccessful because his own WBA/IBF middleweight title reign was not in jeopardy. But the timer was ticking. When Golovkin (42-2-1, 37KOs) defeated Murata in the ninth round of their title unification fight on April 9 in Saitama, Japan, Lara became the mandatory challenger. With the victory, the 40-year-old Kazakh boxer won the WBA "Super" title while retaining his IBF crown. The WBA declined to order the two-time unified middleweight champion to fight Lara (29-3-3, 17KOs) next because he already has a contract to fight Alvarez in their trilogy bout. Before making his final exception in lieu of the obligatory championship defense, Golovkin needs the WBA's approval. The WBA agreed, but only after Golovkin had to wait 120 days before taking on Lara. Golovkin is already back where he was more than four months ago, but it's doubtful that a bout with Lara will ever take place.

Chael Sonnen, a former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight contender, recently revealed his thoughts on who he believes is the GOAT. Fedor Emelianenko, a veteran MMA star, made his final visit to the cage at Bellator 290 over the weekend facing the champion Ryan Bader. This time, 'The Last Emperor' survived a little longer than he did during his initial confrontation with Bader, but he nevertheless succumbed to defeat quite quickly. Emelianenko was knocked out by TKO at 2:30 in the first round after taking a brutal barrage of blows. Even if the outcome wasn't ideal, Emelianenko received acclaim and appreciation for his amazing career, which spanned more than 20 years. In a recent YouTube video, "The American Gangster" said that Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. Sonnen was also eager to point out that "The Last Emperor" has consistently been the main event draw wherever he goes. Sonnen believes that Jon Jones, another fighter who many people believe to be the GOAT, falls short. “Fedor is the GOAT for the same reasons that Jon Jones is not,” Sonnen said. “The GOAT isn’t just about how many championships you’ve won, it isn’t just about what your record is, it isn’t just about main events or how much money you brought in.” “Now the mere fact that Fedor is has never done anything but main events truly is amazing. That is far more amazing than anything else. That he could only be the star, including on his last night ever.” After explaining why he prefers "The Last Emperor" to "Bones," Sonnen continued with a rather direct justification. Despite Jones' numerous awards, Sonnen simply does not like him. Then, "The Bad Guy" asserted that GOAT discussions are almost often popularity contests. “I’m not being my typical d**k of a self and taking a shot at Jon Jones here… Jon is the finest talent, Jon is the most unique, Jon has got the resume… So why wouldn’t I say Jon Jones is the greatest? “For the same reason that you guys don’t, because you don’t like him… When you are having greatest of all time conversations, you are for sure having a popularity contest.”

The much-anticipated super fight between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis has been a topic of discussion for several months, however, the final terms of their agreement have yet to be agreed upon. The negotiations are being carried out by the major players in the boxing world, Golden Boy Promotions, who represent Garcia, and Premier Boxing Champions, who represent Davis. The bout, which is set to be a Showtime pay-per-view event and a 136-pound catchweight fight, is being closely watched by boxing fans all over the world. On Monday, Oscar De La Hoya, the promoter behind Golden Boy Promotions and the man responsible for organizing events exclusively on the DAZN streaming service, spoke to ESPN's Mike Coppinger about the main challenge in making the April 15 fight happen. He stated that the key challenge revolves around determining who will have control over the potential rematch. "We're literally down at the 1-yard line; what's holding everything up is the rematch clause," said De La Hoya. "It's only fair if Ryan wins, then our side controls everything as the A-side. This is just the way it always has been. ... It's common sense that whoever wins is the A-side. That's the bottom line. We're not reinventing the wheel here. "Al Haymon is dictating everything. ... They've asked for this, asked for that. Who comes out first, the penalties if Ryan comes overweight. We've given in, we've negotiated, and everything has been very pleasant. If Ryan loses, sure, there's no rematch. "It's been a pleasant negotiation, it really has. I really hope their side doesn't fumble the ball and we have no Super Bowl. ... We at Golden Boy are just protecting our TV partners. It's only fair that everything gets switched around if Ryan wins. "We're holding strong because we know it's fair and we feel 1,000% this fight is going to be made and be the biggest fight of the past few years.” On Wednesday night, Garcia uploaded a video to Instagram with the caption "stop running Tank" showing himself working out at instructor Joe Goossen's Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Van Nuys, California. Stop avoiding me. Quit whispering behind Al Haymon. No clause allowing a rematch. Winner eliminates every coward. In recent months, Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) has changed his direction and is now fully committed to taking on Davis. He declined to compete in a warm-up match against Mercito Gesta, which was scheduled for January 28. Garcia's most recent victory was a knockout against Javier Fortuna in July.

Michael Chandler's coaching battle and eventual bout against Conor McGregor, according to UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, will be his final hurrah in mixed martial arts. Since his introduction to the Octagon a few years ago, Chandler has embodied entertainment. While the former three-time Bellator champion has a dismal 2-3 record in the UFC, a closer examination reveals much more impressive feats. Chandler has delivered on his promise to thrill, from a horrific front kick knockout of Tony Ferguson to a battle with Justin Gaethje that was widely dubbed the "Fight of the Year" in 2021. That appears to be going to continue in 2023 as "Iron" gets ready to face off against the biggest star in the sport on the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter. And after what might be a volatile episode of the programme, Chandler and McGregor will square off in the Octagon for the Irishman's first fight since July 2021. Since McGregor's comeback and matchup were revealed, predictions have dominated conversation. Makhachev, who has already engaged in a good deal of back and forth with Chandler, is the most recent to provide his. In a recent interview with ESPN MMA's Brett Okamoto, Makhachev discussed Chandler and McGregor's anticipated fight later this year. “For Chandler, this fight is (the) last fight for him. He’s gonna make money and that’s it. He’s gonna retire. Or, if he loses, maybe UFC kicks him out ’cause of how many times he lose,” Makhachev said. “Conor can beat him because I don’t understand Chandler. He has a background in wrestling but he goes always crazy.” Chandler isn't losing to easy opposition, despite his struggles to maintain his title-contending status since coming close to winning the gold against Charles Oliveira in 2021. In addition to "Do Bronx," Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, two former interim champions, were the subjects of his other two losses.

Brace yourselves for a high-stakes showdown, fight fans! Yair Rodriguez is ready to make his mark and take down Josh Emmett in a battle for the interim featherweight title at UFC 284. With a fierce determination and a knockout punch, Rodriguez is promising to deliver an unforgettable performance that will leave the crowd cheering for more. Rodriguez, known for his lightning-fast strikes and dynamic moves, has been making waves in the featherweight division with his impressive performances. The Mexican fighter is determined to continue his rise to the top and prove that he has what it takes to be a champion. “Josh Emmett is explosive, aggressive, strong, but I think I have better tools. If I can use my abilities as I normally do, I visualize myself getting a knockout,” Rodriguez said on UFC Countdown. As evidenced by the fact that three of his eight victories in the UFC came by knockout, Yair Rodriguez certainly has knockout strength. He has won five of his victories via this style. Rodriguez would have a harder time slamming Josh Emmett out rather than he thinks since he has already been knocked out once, which happened in 2018. “It’s been a successful career; it’s been a great journey. I’m always going to keep on pushing forward to become a champion,” Rodriguez added. Emmett, on the other hand, is a seasoned veteran of the sport and has been making his waves in the featherweight division. He is known for his heavy hands and unrelenting pace, which has earned him a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the game. Rodriguez claims that his journey has been satisfactory thus far, but he is aware that a championship would help him preserve his reputation. If he wins against Emmett at UFC 284, he will become the interim champion, which might result in a promotion to undisputed assuming Alexander Volkanovski doesn't come back to 145 pounds or if he fights the Australian soon. Yair Rodriguez ultimately defeated Brian Ortega by TKO in a match in which "T-City" dislocated his shoulder. Before that, The Mexican has only managed to claim victories over Jeremy Stephens and Korean Zombie while getting beaten by Max Holloway via decision and one no-contest against Jeremy Stephens in his last four fights. He has also achieved noteworthy victories over BJ Penn, Andre Fili, Dan Hooker, and Alex Caceres over his career. The fight will take place on Australian soil in the city of Perth, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the outcome. Both Rodriguez and Emmett have promised to give it their all in the octagon, and the winner of this high-stakes showdown will take one step closer to becoming the featherweight champion of the world.

Glover Teixeira, the UFC veteran, is reflecting on his final war moment in the octagon. After a career spanning over two decades, Teixeira decided to retire with a record of 33 wins and 9 losses. In his final bout, he faced Jamahal Hill and even though he lost, Teixeira's resilience and tenacity made it a memorable fight. With only one clear aim, Glover Teixeira headed into the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro to face Jamahal Hill and win back the UFC light heavyweight title. Nevertheless, events did not go as he had anticipated. But he had no intention of hanging up his gloves that evening or calling it a day once he recognized that a 25-minute battle for the gold was the ideal way to close an illustrious career in front of his home crowd. Teixeira shared his thoughts on his final UFC moment. He talked about the emotions he felt in his final fight and how he remained focused on putting on a great performance, despite the outcome. “I didn’t have anything planned,” Teixeira said on Tuesday's episode of MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca. “I was getting frustrated in training sometimes because recovery is hard. The way I’m used to training, that brutal training — and that’s something I missed in this fight, being brutal with takedowns. I had many opportunities. I was avoiding [his punches] early, but then he started to connect a lot of punches and cut me. But I could still can block some and fight back. I get cut too easy — I’m like Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz. But I lacked that aggressiveness.” The former light heavyweight champion expressed that he feels happy about his call to quit. He said that his wife and parents will be at ease now as they won’t be facing such pressure and tension before the fight. MMA is a tough sport where the athletes give their all in. Although he got dominated throughout the bloodbath fight, Teixeira is proud of his commitment to fighting till the end though his eyes were covered with blood. Teixeira also shared his plans for the future and how he plans to use his experience and skills to give back to the sport. He is looking forward to passing down his knowledge to the next generation of fighters and helping them achieve their goals. Teixeira will keep working out daily to train other professionals, most especially middleweight champion Alex Pereira of the UFC. Despite the retirement call, Glover is still open to fighting for fun and earning some big money. “I won’t stop training,” Teixeira said. “If there’s an opportunity in the future for a match, do some boxing — [Acelino Freitas] ‘Popo’ boxed [Brazilian YouTuber] Whindersson [Nunes], right? Maybe I’ll fight some heavy guy, a celebrity, and move my body a little bit. Why not, man?” Looking back on his career, Teixeira is proud of what he has accomplished and grateful for the support he has received from his fans and fellow fighters. He may be retiring from the octagon, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of UFC fans everywhere.

YouTube star Jake Paul and heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora faced off at an impromptu staredown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after Love Island star Tommy Fury failed to show up for their press conference. Fury was expected to attend the conference ahead of their grudge fight on February 26th but was unable to attend due to "a private and personal matter". Chisora filled in for Fury and had a light-hearted face-off with Paul at the end of the event. Paul was not pleased with Fury's absence and took shots at his opponent, calling him unprofessional and a flake. He believes Fury is scared and that this fight will show the truth. Paul is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision win over Anderson Silva and holds knockout wins over Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. On the other hand, Fury's bout with Paul marks the first eight-rounder of his boxing career. Paul believes that the fight will last only three to four rounds, calling Fury spoon-fed and piggybacked off of his brother. He claims that Fury is only in the sport for a paycheck and will not like the sport after the fight. Despite being the A-side of the bout, Paul believes that he has two chips on his shoulder and is out to prove something. In addition to his comments about Tommy Fury, Jake Paul also had some strong words for heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora, who was in attendance at the press conference in Riyadh. Paul faced off with Chisora in an impromptu staredown, which was light-hearted in nature but still added fuel to the fire between the two fighters. When asked how long he expected the fight with Fury to last, Paul responded confidently, saying that it would only take three to four rounds. He cited Fury's lack of experience and his opponents' combined record of 20 wins and 200 losses, as well as Fury's seemingly easy path in life and lack of experience in the ring as reasons why the fight wouldn't last long. Paul also took shots at Fury's relationship with his wife, influencer Molly-Mae Hague, claiming that Fury was only fighting for the money and not because he was a serious fighter. "He's not going to like this sport after I'm done with him," Paul warned. Despite being the A-side of the bout, Paul believes that he still has something to prove. He has two chips on his shoulder, according to him, and he is ready to show Fury and the world that he is a serious fighter, not just a YouTube personality. The much-anticipated grudge match between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury is set to take place on February 26 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. With Fury's absence from the press conference and Paul's confident predictions, the stage is set for a highly-entertaining and highly-publicized bout between two of the biggest influencers in the world. In conclusion, the fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury on February 26th promises to be an exciting event filled with trash-talking and anticipation. The absence of Fury at the press conference only added fuel to the fire, with Paul taking shots at his opponent. The world will have to wait until February 26th to see if Paul's predictions come true.

Jermaine Franklin, a promising heavyweight fighter, has made a bold statement ahead of his upcoming fight against former world champion Anthony Joshua. In a recent interview with The DAZN Boxing Show, Franklin expressed his thoughts on Joshua's career and the quality of his resume. Franklin, who is still building his own reputation in the sport, isn't overly impressed with Joshua's record. He pointed out that there are a few questionable fights on Joshua's record, and questioned why he hasn't fought top fighters such as Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury. The American also gave a critical assessment of Joshua's fight with Wladimir Klitschko, suggesting that the result would have been different if Klitschko were in his prime. Additionally, Franklin was unimpressed with Joshua's performance against Oleksandr Usyk, stating that he had seen better fights from the former champion. Franklin's comments show that he is not intimidated by Joshua's reputation, and that he is confident in his own abilities. The upcoming fight will be a chance for Franklin to prove himself as a top heavyweight fighter, and to test himself against one of the best in the sport. At the same time, the fight will be an opportunity for Joshua to demonstrate that he is still a top fighter, and to silence the critics who have questioned his abilities. With both fighters eager to prove themselves, the April 1 showdown promises to be an exciting and competitive fight. Overall, Franklin's comments highlight the competitive nature of boxing and the drive of fighters to prove themselves at the highest level. Whether it be Joshua or Franklin, the sport is sure to benefit from this type of competitive energy, and fans can look forward to an exciting year ahead.

Dave Allen, a British heavyweight boxer, has expressed his thoughts on the current state of Anthony Joshua's career in a recent interview with SecondsOut. Allen praised Joshua for his past contributions to the sport but acknowledged that his star power has diminished in recent years. Furthermore, Allen believes that the streaming service DAZN cannot rely solely on Joshua and Canelo Alvarez to overcome their financial losses. Despite Joshua's past success as a three-time heavyweight world champion, many British fight fans have written him off and doubt his ability to regain the title. On the 1st of April, Joshua is set to face Jermaine Franklin in his comeback fight, and DAZN has announced that its monthly subscription price will increase to £19.99. The company suffered a massive loss of $2.3 billion in 2021, and this year could be crucial for its future. Despite being a favorite, Joshua faces a challenge in his fight against Franklin, and a potential summer rematch with Dillian Whyte is on the horizon if he comes out on top. The future of DAZN and Joshua's career remain uncertain, but one thing is for sure, the eyes of the boxing world will be on them in the coming months. Additionally, Allen's comments raise questions about the current state of the sport and the role of streaming services in its future. With the rapid growth of online streaming, boxing and other sports are seeking new ways to reach audiences and generate revenue. However, as Allen suggests, relying solely on star power may not be enough for DAZN to overcome its financial losses. The company will need to find new ways to engage and attract audiences, as well as secure new partnerships and content that can help it remain competitive in the industry. It remains to be seen whether Joshua will be able to reclaim his place as a top fighter, but his comeback fight against Franklin will be a crucial moment in his career. Fans and industry experts will be watching closely to see if he can make a statement and re-establish himself as a force in the sport. Overall, the future of both Joshua and DAZN is uncertain, but the sport of boxing will continue to evolve as it seeks new ways to reach audiences and generate revenue. Whether it be through star power or innovative strategies, the boxing industry is poised for an exciting year ahead.

An unexpected world title fight is set to take place on the undercard of the highly anticipated Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury fight on February 26th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu will defend his title against former two-division world champion Badou Jack in the co-feature of the event. It’s an exciting time for boxing fans as another high-stakes fight card has been announced, this time taking place in Saudi Arabia. The co-feature of the upcoming show, which is set for February 26th, will see former two-division world champion Badou Jack challenge Ilunga Makabu for the WBC cruiserweight title. This blockbuster event will be available on ESPN+ PPV for $49.99 and will begin at 2:00 PM ET, although that time slot may not be ideal for a pay-per-view event. Badou Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs) will take on Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs), who is the WBC cruiserweight champion. The surprise fight has sparked a lot of controversy, as Badou is not ranked among the top-15 contenders in the WBC, but still somehow managed to secure a shot at the title. Some believe that the 39-year-old is getting this opportunity because of his past performances, but others question why more talented and younger fighters, such as Richard Riakporhe, Sergey Kovalev, Chris Billam-Smith, Ryan Rozicki, or Yuniel Dorticos, who are all ranked higher than Badou, aren't getting a shot at the title. Badou was once a dominant force in the ring, having defeated fighters such as Anthony Dirrell, Nathan Cleverly, Rogelio Medina, George Groves, and Lucian Bute. However, after a brutal war with WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson in May 2018, Badou has not been the same fighter. He absorbed a lot of punishment from the powerful southpaw Stevenson and fought to a 12-round draw. Although Badou rallied in the championship rounds, the devastating punches he took in that fight may have taken a toll on him. In the years following the Stevenson fight, Badou has not lived up to expectations, losing to Marcus Browne and Jean Pascal in his next two fights. The fight against Makabu is set to be a part of the undercard of the highly anticipated Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury bout, which is set to take place in Saudi Arabia. Makabu, who has made two successful defenses of his title against Olanrewaju Durodola and Thabiso Mchunu, is no stranger to high-pressure situations. He previously fought Tony Bellew in 2016 for the vacant WBC cruiserweight world title, where he knocked Bellew down in the first round but ultimately lost in the third. Makabu has since earned a second world title shot and won it in 2020, defeating Michal Cieslak in Kinshasa. Badou Jack, on the other hand, is no stranger to big-stage fights. He previously won the WBC super-middleweight title when he beat Anthony Dirrell in 2015 and was signed with Mayweather Promotions at the time, which allowed him to fight on several of Floyd Mayweather's undercards, including a bout on the undercard of Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in Las Vegas in 2017. In 2020, he made his debut in the cruiserweight division and won against Blake McKernan on the undercard of Mike Tyson's return exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr. in LA. And in 2022, he fought Michel Rivera on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua rematch in Saudi Arabia. This latest undercard is set to be another showcase for Badou Jack as he goes after the WBC cruiserweight title, which will be his first major title fight in several years.

Martin Bakole has signed a multi-fight deal with BOXXER and has his sights set on securing a world heavyweight title shot. The Scottish heavyweight is ranked as the top contender by the WBA and will fight exclusively for BOXXER on Sky Sports. At 29 years old, Martin Bakole is a fearsome presence in the ring. Standing at 6ft 6in and hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bakole is the younger brother of the reigning WBC world cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu. He is known as 'The Highlands King' and has an impressive record, having won 18 professional fights. Bakole's last fight was a comfortable victory over Olympic champion Tony Yoka in Paris. This triumph has made Bakole arguably the most avoided fighter in the heavyweight division, according to promoter Ben Shalom, who believes that "they can all run but they can't hide for too long, especially now he has the backing of BOXXER and Sky." Bakole's only defeat was in 2018 to American heavyweight Michael Hunter, but he has responded with seven successive wins since then, five of which were knockouts. He has defeated prominent fighters such as Kevin Johnson and Mariusz Wach, and is now based in Airdrie. News of Bakole's next opponent is expected soon, and he is confident that with the backing of BOXXER and Sky, he will be steered towards a world heavyweight title shot. He believes he is destined for huge success in the ring and is eager to get back in the ring to prove himself once again. In conclusion, Martin Bakole's signing with BOXXER is exciting news for boxing fans and his new multi-fight deal sets him on the path to securing a world heavyweight title shot. With his impressive record and fearsome presence in the ring, he is a fighter to watch in the coming months.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier offered his opinion on the greatest heavyweight fighter in MMA history. Following a trilogy defeat to Stipe Miocic at UFC 252, Cormier retired from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2020. With ease, he made the switch from fighter to analyst, presenting several shows and serving as one of the main colour commentators for UFC. Despite two defeats against Miocic, Cormier is still considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. In addition to him, there are other fighters, including Fedor Emelianenko, who retired last weekend following a defeat at Bellator 290. Emelianenko is considered by many fans and experts to be the greatest heavyweight of all time, if not at the top of the list. In a recent episode of DC&RC, Cormier cited Miocic as his all-time favou rite heavyweight. “I don’t believe (Fedor’s) the greatest heavyweight of all time,” Cormier said. “I think that belongs to Stipe Miocic, but only because Cain Velasquez was injured so much. I think in terms of skill, there’s no one that ever matched Cain Velasquez at heavyweight. “But I believe that Stipe Miocic’s title defenses and the long reign that he had at the top of the division puts him atop. But Fedor is in the top five, and I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of.” At one point in his career, Emelianenko had won 27 straight matches. He rose through the ranks of Pride before going on to capture titles in Strikeforce and Bellator, among others. At UFC 198, Miocic won the championship after defeating Fabricio Werdum. Before losing to Cormier at UFC 226 he went on to defend it against Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, and Francis Ngannou.