Liam Smith has responded to Chris Eubank Jr's team's appeal claims by firing back at his rival and saying "Nobody believes you. You are embarrassing yourself." The controversial moment occurred in the fourth round of the fight, with Smith landing a powerful elbow strike on Eubank Jr, causing his guard to be broken, leading to the eventual strikes that ended the fight. Eubank Jr has yet to activate his rematch clause, but his team is reportedly considering the option of an appeal. They claim that the elbow strike was illegal and played a significant role in the outcome of the fight. Smith, however, is not taking these claims lightly. In a statement to the press, he said, "Chris Eubank Jr and his team are just grasping at straws. If that's the case, just take the rematch. What are you waiting for?" He also added "Nobody believes you, you are embarrassing yourself." The incident has caused heated debate and discussion among fans and experts in the boxing community. Some are calling for a rematch between the two fighters, while others argue that the fight should be overturned due to the alleged illegal strike. It is important to note that any decision to appeal the defeat or activate a rematch clause will have to be made by Eubank Jr and his team in consultation with the relevant authorities and governing bodies. This includes the British Boxing Board of Control and the World Boxing Organization, which sanctioned the fight. Smith's statement is a clear indication that he is not going to back down easily, and is confident in his victory. Eubank Jr and his team will have to weigh their options carefully before making any further decisions. The fans and experts in the boxing community will be closely watching this situation as it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. With Eubank Jr yet to activate the rematch clause and Smith's strong response to the appeal claims, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately be resolved.

After months of speculation, it has finally been announced that the highly-anticipated fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will take place on February 26th in Saudi Arabia. The two rivals have been engaged in a heated rivalry for some time, and fans have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see them clash in the ring. The fight had been delayed multiple times, with both fighters pulling out due to various reasons. Tommy Fury, the younger brother of Tyson Fury, had pulled out twice due to a suspected broken rib and visa problems that denied him entry to the US. However, with the fight now officially set, fans can finally look forward to seeing these two fighters go head-to-head. Jake Paul has been on a winning streak, having defeated Tyrone Woodley and combat sports legend Anderson Silva in his last two fights, taking his record to 6-0. On the other hand, Tommy Fury has had a successful career in the professional boxing ring, with an unbeaten record of 8-0, 4 of which by way of knockout. The two fighters have been trash talking each other for a while, and it would be interesting to see who comes out on top. The fight is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, which has become a popular destination for high-profile fights in recent years. The country's state-of-the-art facilities and its commitment to promoting sports events have made it an attractive location for major fights. In conclusion, the much-awaited fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury has finally been made official and will take place on February 26th in Saudi Arabia. The two rivals have been engaged in a heated rivalry for some time, and fans have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see them clash in the ring. With the fight now officially set, fans can finally look forward to seeing these two fighters go head-to-head.

At this point in his career, Artur Beterbiev places the biggest priority on accumulating world titles. The newly turned 38-year-old is just one title away from realizing his lifelong dream after ripping the WBO light heavyweight crown away from Joe Smith Jr.'s unconscious grasp. Unquestionably, Dmitry Bivol is in possession of the final component of the puzzle. The unified champion has consistently voiced a strong desire to take on his fellow contemporary. Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) will first attempt to get rid of Anthony Yarde before turning his attention to unifying the entire division. This Saturday, January 28, the two will formally face off at the Wembley Arena in the United Kingdom. Many people, including seasoned promoter Bob Arum, anticipate the crushing puncher to take care of business despite the fact that he is deserving. If everything goes according to plan, Arum will try to negotiate a deal that will have his light heavyweight champion fight Bivol. Arum agrees that, despite his desire to see Beterbiev establish himself as the unquestioned champion, Bivol has the right to choose to proceed in a different way. “Yea I think so,” said Arum to Boxing UK when asked if Beterbiev vs. Bivol could happen next. “But we gotta be realistic. I think Bivol is looking first to fight Canelo Alvarez, a much bigger financial fight for him. So if that fight happens, Bivol and Beterbiev won’t be until next year.” It's possible that Bivol could become distracted by an infinite amount of green, as Arum suggests. Following his victory over Alvarez in May 2022, Bivol earned a career-high salary and gained recognition all over the world. Since then, the Mexican boxer has resisted the temptation to just accept that Bivol is the superior opponent. Alvarez instead has every intention of fighting his soon-to-be opponent in the second half of 2023. Arum would be willing to book Bivol and Beterbiev for the end of the year if Alvarez changes his mind and chooses to seek other fights. “If the Canelo fight doesn't happen, then maybe we can do Beterbiev and Bivol this year.” Arum stated.

As the middleweight champion of the UFC, Alex Pereira has been thinking about his upcoming maneuver. After thrillingly defeating Israel Adesanya in the fifth round to win the 185-pound title in New York, "Poatan" stated in a conversation for MMA Fighting that re-entering the octagon in May would be "ideal," however the challenger has not yet been chosen. The preferred option, according to Pereira, is a fourth fight against Adesanya, two of which occurred in kickboxing and one in the UFC. However, former champion Robert Whittaker might also be brought up. Whittaker was supposed to face Paulo Costa in an eliminator for the title contender but the bout was off the table due to a failure in negotiation with the Brazilian. “I see these two guys [next],” Pereira said. “Adesanya was a dominant champion so he has the preference to be competing for the belt again, but if he doesn’t want that, it will be Whittaker. I don’t think they’ll put someone else in other than Whittaker. He already said his game doesn’t match well with Adesanya but would be a good fight with me, so I’ll be ready for both.” Before their fight at Madison Square Garden, Adesanya had never dropped a middleweight fight in mixed martial arts, but Pereira isn't interested in fighting again and he won't push for the fourth fight against the Last Stylebender for any lame reason. “I won’t do anything to hurt Adesanya’s plans and avoid this fight,” he said. “If that’s what he wants, we’ll fight. If for some reason he doesn’t want to fight me, that makes no difference to me, it’ll be Whittaker instead. And if Whittaker doesn’t want it, there are several others that do.” Adesanya is still unable to capitalize against the newly crowned UFC middleweight champion and he is currently 0-3 versus the Brazilian. But Pereira believes that defeating his longstanding foe in kickboxing would be tougher on his body than coming back to win in the UFC. "Poatan" expressed that he needs to have a strong mentality to challenge a person he has already defeated three times in a row. “I try to forget what has happened,” Pereira said. “If we think about having three wins over someone and think it’s going to be easy — I said it before the [third fight] that it makes no difference, I can’t cross my arms and expect him to go out in front of me. He’ll always try to evolve and come a better fighter, and I have to be better than last time to be fighting this guy because it will be a tough fight.” Alex Pereira has already started to look out for more available options in any case the anticipated fight against Adesanya doesn’t happen. Regardless of facing Robert Whittaker, the Brazilian has shown interest in moving up the division and seeking a revenge for his comrade Glover Teixeira. The Brazilian appeared in the comments section of Hill’s latest Instagram post, which was directed at injured former titleholder Jiri Prochazka, and issued a challenge to “Sweet Dreams”.

The anticipated Amanda Nunes-Irene Aldana matchup for the women's bantamweight championship at UFC 285 appears to be off the table. The UFC intended to schedule the pair's 135-pound title fight at the forthcoming UFC 285 pay-per-view program. But, following the latest Combate article, the UFC failed to secure that match. The top-ranked women's bantamweights simply don't agree on who their future opponents should be. Raphael Marinho further stated in the most recent Combate edition that although Julianna Pena seems to have been persistent on having her trilogy match versus Nunes, "The Lioness" is hesitant to give "The Venezuelan Vixen" one more opportunity to defend her championship. The writer also claimed that the UFC attempted to schedule a matchup between Aldana and Pena to prepare for Amanda Nunes' championship defense. Pena, however, refuses to engage in combat until there is gold at stake. Irene Aldana's challengers are being sought by the organization whereas Nunes is resolute about her demands. Finding a new opponent for the Brazilian superstar to prove herself against has turned out to be difficult due to Nunes' dominance during her reigns as the featherweight and bantamweight champion. Aldana would have been a strong contender as she currently ranks at #5. She might need to wait a little longer before receiving the go-ahead, though. In her most recent title defense, Amanda Nunes defeated Julianna Pena by a unanimous decision at UFC 277 to recapture the women's bantamweight crown. The victory was notable since it marked the second time in her tenure that she won titles in two divisions simultaneously. Aldana is currently unbeaten in two fights, both of which ended in TKO victories. It is unknown how UFC will proceed with planning out the title picture. On March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC 285 will take place. In the main event, Jon Jones will compete for the title against Ciryl Gane in the octagon for the first time in a very long time. In addition, Valentina Shevchenko shall face Alexa Grasso to challenge her women's flyweight title.

One of Eddie Hearn's top light heavyweight charges, in his opinion, will soon be in a position to compete for three of the four 175-pound belts. Hearn, the head of Matchroom Boxing, insisted that he thinks Liverpool's Callum Smith will eventually be required by the WBC to fight the victor of the upcoming light heavyweight unification fight between Russia's Artur Beterbiev, the WBC, WBO, and IBF champion, and Britain's Anthony Yarde, the WBO mandatory challenger. On January 28, the two will face off in London's OVO Arena Wembley. According to the WBC rankings, Smith is the top contender at light heavyweight. “Callum Smith has to fight the winner of that fight,” Hearn told iFL TV. “His next fight will be announced shortly, it will be in March. He is mandated to fight the winner of Yarde-Beterbiev from the WBC.” A definite bout featuring one of Hearn's other clients, Russian Dmitry Bivol, the WBA champion, would have to be postponed once more if the WBC were to compel Smith to face the winner of Beterbiev-Yarde. Additionally, Bivol's program for 2023 might already be in place. The Russian is anticipated to make a comeback in the spring before facing Canelo Alvarez again in the fall. Hearn's strategy appears to be to guarantee that Smith would have the opportunity to compete for the three belts before Bivol. However, there can be a political component that makes settling a dispute between Smith and the Beterbiev-Yarde victor challenging. Both Beterbiev and Yarde are supported by Top Rank, and both are promoted by Queensberry. Neither organization does much business with Hearn's Matchroom, and the leaders of both have frequently made fun of Hearn. Bob Arum, the founder of Top Rank, is infamous for saying last year that he would not permit Beterbiev to compete on a Hearn-promoted card. Smith, 32, a former super middleweight champion, has won two straight fights at 175 pounds since losing by wide margin to Alvarez in a 168-pound title unification match in 2020.

Chris Eubank Jr's team are considering appealing the defeat against Liam Smith in their recent fight, citing Smith's alleged use of an illegal elbow strike during the bout. The fight, which took place on December 19th, 2020, was a highly-anticipated matchup between two of the top junior middleweight fighters in the world. However, the bout ended in controversy, with Eubank Jr's team alleging that Smith used an illegal elbow strike during the fourth round of the fight. According to Eubank Jr's team, the elbow strike caused his guard to be broken, leading to the eventual strikes that ended the fight. It is important to note that this is not the first time that Smith has been accused of using illegal strikes in the ring. In his previous fight, he was penalized for using an illegal punch on his opponent, which resulted in a point deduction. This has led some to question whether Smith has a tendency to bend the rules in the ring. Eubank Jr has yet to make a formal statement regarding his decision, but has been vocal on social media about his disappointment with the outcome of the fight. He has also stated that he believes the elbow strike was illegal and that it played a significant role in the outcome of the bout. Many fans and experts in the boxing community have also voiced their opinions on the matter, with some calling for a rematch between the two fighters and others arguing that the fight should be overturned due to the alleged illegal strike. It is important to note that any decision to appeal the defeat or activate a rematch clause will have to be made by Eubank Jr and his team in consultation with the relevant authorities and governing bodies. This includes the British Boxing Board of Control and the World Boxing Organization, which sanctioned the fight. In any case, the controversy surrounding the alleged illegal strike has certainly added a new dimension to the Eubank Jr vs. Smith fight and has raised important questions about the use of illegal strikes in the sport of boxing. The fans and experts in the boxing community will be closely watching this situation as it unfolds in the coming days and weeks. The alleged use of an illegal strike is a serious matter, and if proven to be true, could result in a disqualification or a change in the outcome of the fight. The possibility of an appeal is also a significant development in the aftermath of the bout, as it could potentially lead to a rematch between the two fighters. Eubank Jr's team has yet to formally announce their decision on whether to appeal the defeat, but it is clear that they are taking the allegations of an illegal elbow strike very seriously. The outcome of the fight has also caused heated debate and discussion among fans and experts in the boxing community. The rematch clause is yet to be activated but the team of Eubank Jr is thinking about it as an option. Overall, the alleged use of an illegal elbow strike in the Eubank Jr vs. Smith fight has added a new layer of controversy to an already highly-contentious bout. With Eubank Jr and his team considering their options, including the possibility of an appeal, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately be resolved.

Derek Chisora looks set to take on Francis Ngannou in a highly-anticipated matchup that has been added to the Misfits x DAZN 005 card. The card, which was originally scheduled for February 25th, has been delayed to March 5th to accommodate this blockbuster fight. The news of this matchup was announced by the manager of Misfits Boxing, Mams Taylor. He revealed that the delay of the card was due to the team's efforts to secure a big fight for the card, and fans have been speculating that it would be a clash between Chisora and Ngannou. Ngannou, who recently became a free agent after leaving the UFC, has been the subject of much speculation regarding his next move. Some fans believed he would join the Professional Fighters League (PFL), while others thought he would join Jake Paul's super fight division. But it seems that Ngannou has decided to jump on the next Misfits card, much to the excitement of fans. Chisora, who has a record of 33 wins and 13 losses, is a seasoned veteran of the sport and will be a formidable opponent for Ngannou. The Cameroonian-French fighter, who has a record of 17 wins and 3 losses, is known for his powerful punches and has been dubbed "The Predator" for his ability to knock out opponents in the first round. This matchup promises to be an exciting and intense fight, and fans are eagerly awaiting the March 5th showdown between these two heavyweights. The Misfits x DAZN 005 card is shaping up to be one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, and fans will not want to miss this incredible matchup between Chisora and Ngannou. The addition of this fight to the Misfits x DAZN 005 card is a major coup for Mams Taylor and his team at Misfits Boxing. It is a clear indication of the company's growing influence in the sport and its ability to attract top-level talent. The future looks bright for Misfits Boxing, and fans can expect many more exciting and high-profile fights in the years to come.

The CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, is encouraging Gervonta "Tank" Davis vs. Ryan Garcia to generate significant pay-per-view revenue. To make the Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) fight happen, De La Hoya, who represents Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs), teamed together with Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, and DAZN. “We’re all working together to blow this one out of the water,” De La Hoya said on The MMA Hour. “We want to make sure that this event here, because it’s such a special fight, we want to make sure that this fight does 2, 2.5, 3 million homes. This is that type of event. Realistically, [it does] close to 2.5." The intended date is April 15, most likely at a location in Las Vegas. Earlier this month, Davis defeated the unbeaten Hector Luis Garcia in the ring. Garcia was willing to accept an interim bout, but he has changed his mind and wants to face Davis right away. De La Hoya is in possession of a contract and anticipates that it will be signed. “It’s real,” De La Hoya said. “I can assure you it’s going to happen April 15. A hundred percent. It’s a matter of just crossing the ts, dotting the is. We have the contract in our hands. It’s a very complex, very complicated contract, these big fights take a big deal of patience and negotiations. “But it’s actually been a pleasure to work with the other side, with PBC. Making this fight, they understand that this is the biggest fight in boxing to make. This is a fight where you have two undefeated fighters, you have two fighters who are in their prime. You have two fighters who are the best at what they do, so yeah, this is the biggest fight that boxing can have. So I’m excited about it. “You have DAZN, you have Showtime. You know Showtime always does a great job in putting these types of events together. But when you’re collaborating with a DAZN in this instance, you have to share territories, the split of revenues, it’s very complex, but we were able to put it together.”

In a recent interview, Jamahal Hill said that Jiri Procházka is the man he desires to face as his first championship challenge adding that he is prepared to wait until summer for the Czech fighter to heal from his shoulder injury before he decides to go toward a different opponent. At UFC 283, Hill most handily defeated Glover Teixeira to capture the light heavyweight title. Thanks to Procházka’s decision to give up the UFC light heavyweight title upon suffering a severe shoulder injury and Jan Blachowicz vs Magomed Ankalaev's title match ended in a draw, Jamahal Hill was able to take advantage of his title opportunity. Due to this, Procházka was compelled to cancel their arranged rematch versus Teixeira, which was initially set for this past December. Hill was recently questioned about his ideal first opponent by MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn, to which "Sweet Dreams" responded: "I'm hoping that it's him [Jiri Prochazka]. Cause I've wanted the Jiri fight for a long time. I know that's a big fight and I think the magnitude of that fight would be great. And I think I win. I think I'm better than Jiri everywhere. I'm willing to wait till July-August, past that, I think it's next man up." Seconds after Jamahal Hill's remarkable performance against one of the best light heavyweights in UFC, Jiri Prochazka handed a message to Hill on the UFC's official Twitter page that immediately went popular. In the video, the Czech native was seen standing in the snow conveying that he is coming for the gold strap that he never lost. Hill absorbed the humor with the perfect attitude. On Wednesday, the newly crowned champion posted a video in response to Prochazka's video. However, Hill's wording caused a stir. Despite Hill’s powerful striking against the 43 years old Glover Teixeira, the former 205-lbs champion doesn't seem too impressed with Hill’s punching power. Jiri Prochazka was recently asked by Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour if there was any detail regarding Jamahal Hill's victory that distinguished him. The native Czech answered: "From him, nothing... He spoke about his power. His power of punches and all these things... So Glover showed everybody that Jamahal he doesn't have so big power in the punches... But more than Jamahal Hill, Glover surprised me because it looked like it was not his night."

Aljamain Sterling, the reigning undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, and Henry Cejudo, a former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, may square off on April 8 in a UFC 287 main event. Since the time of posting, the promotion had not chosen an official place to hold the event. The potential matchup has been in the process for some time, thanks to the fighters' joint confirmation that the bout will happen in 2023. The fight was previously rumored to take place in March 2023. Even though no contracts have yet been finalized or inked. The bout is scheduled for UFC 287, however, Sterling has declared that he is currently recovering from a torn bicep and will need more time for recuperation to rejoin fighting. For the past year, Sterling and Cejudo constantly vacillated over the possibility of fighting. When Sterling suggested Cejudo would have to grovel for a chance at the title, it now seems Cejudo won't have to. Last year, Cejudo re-entered the USADA testing pool in anticipation of a UFC comeback. Cejudo demanded a battle versus Sterling following speaking with UFC matchmakers Hunter Campbell and Sean Shelby. At UFC 280 in October 2022, Sterling fought TJ Dillashaw to protect his bantamweight championship. In his second championship defense as champion, he dispatched Dillashaw by way of a second-round TKO. Following suffering a knockout loss against Marlon Moraes in December 2017, Sterling has gone 8-0. Having defeated Petr Yan via disqualification due to an illegal knee at UFC 259, he successfully defended the championship versus Yan in a split-decision match at UFC 273. Leading up to his retirement in 2020, Cejudo had gone undefeated in his previous six cameos inside the Octagon. He won the undisputed flyweight championship by way of a decision victory over Demetrious Johnson in a rematch in August 2018 and ultimately won it by way of a 32-second TKO victory over rivalry opponent TJ Dillashaw. Before defeating Cruz to retain his bantamweight title, Cejudo triumphed over Marlon Moraes in the third round of UFC 238 in 2019. The wrestler who won the gold medal at the Olympics is now vying for the crown versus Sterling.

It is possible that we could see a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano in Dublin in May. The two women's boxing stars put on a historic and thrilling fight, when they became the first women to headline a fight at Madison Square Garden. Taylor ultimately came out victorious in a split decision, but the match was closely contested and both fighters showed tremendous skill and resilience. Taylor's victory cemented her status as one of the best female boxers in the world and a true sporting legend. The fight was also a huge milestone for women's boxing and the future of the sport. The atmosphere at the Garden was electric, with a reported sellout crowd of 19,187 cheering on the fighters. The referee even had trouble hearing the bell over the noise at the end of each round. In the fight, Taylor was pinned down in the fifth round and subjected to a brutal and sustained offense from Serrano. However, Taylor rallied in the sixth round, using a counter-left to gain the upper hand and leaving Serrano in need of a knockout to win. In the final round, both fighters put on a mesmerizing and open exchange, ending the bout in a fitting style for the occasion. The possibility of a rematch in Dublin in May is exciting news for boxing fans, as it would give Taylor and Serrano the opportunity to once again showcase their skills in the ring. The location of the rematch in Dublin would also bring excitement for fans in Ireland who would be able to witness the fight live. However, it's important to note that nothing has been confirmed yet and there are still many details to be ironed out before a rematch can be officially announced. Katie Taylor is a highly skilled and technical boxer. She is known for her speed, movement, and precision in the ring. She is a former Olympic gold medalist, and her amateur background is evident in her style, which is characterized by quick footwork and accurate punch placement. Taylor's defense is also a strength, as she is able to evade punches and counter effectively. In her fight against Amanda Serrano, Taylor displayed her ability to control the pace of the fight and outbox her opponent. However, she did have some difficulty when Serrano was able to pin her down in the fifth round and land sustained offense. Amanda Serrano is a powerful and aggressive boxer, known for her heavy punches and relentless pressure. She is a seven-weight world champion, and her experience in multiple weight classes is evident in her strength and stamina. Serrano is also a skilled counter-puncher and is able to capitalize on her opponent's mistakes. In her fight against Taylor, Serrano was able to land some heavy shots, but her aggression and pressure may have worked against her in the eyes of the judges, who favored Taylor's more technical and precise style. Serrano was also unable to finish the fight in the final round despite her efforts. A rematch between Taylor and Serrano would likely be another closely contested and exciting fight. Taylor would likely try to use her speed and movement to control the pace of the fight and outbox Serrano. Serrano, on the other hand, would likely try to pressure Taylor and land heavy shots to secure a knockout victory.