Boxing

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 18, 2024, 07:40 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — There hadn’t been an undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in a rematch of all-time greats in November 1999 in Las Vegas. Halfway around the world — and nearly 25 years later — another undisputed champion in

Jeff Wagenheim May 19, 2024, 01:23 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Denys Berinchyk put a bow on the greatest day in Ukrainian boxing history, upsetting Emanuel Navarrete by split decision on Saturday in San Diego to capture the vacant WBO lightweight championship. It was not a pretty bow, as the fighters spent all 12 rounds

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 18, 2024, 11:40 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Boxing has always been powered by its heavyweight division, and for 24½ years, multiple men have held claims to the sport’s top prize. The sport endured a lengthy but sometimes uneventful reign from Wladimir Klitschko, a unified champion who lacked

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 18, 2024, 08:28 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Jai Opetaia survived a late surge from Mairis Briedis to hang on for a unanimous-decision victory and regain the IBF cruiserweight title early Sunday at Kingdom Arena. Opetaia, ESPN’s No. 1 cruiserweight, was badly hurt in Round 10 and lost

Nick ParkinsonMay 18, 2024, 05:26 PM ET Close Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years. Open Extended Reactions Anthony Cacace pulled off a shock, eighth-round TKO win when he overwhelmed Joe Cordina for the IBF world junior lightweight title on Saturday. Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs), 35, from

Mike Coppinger Nick Parkinson Close Nick Parkinson Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years. May 18, 2024, 11:47 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will meet for the chance to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era Saturday night in

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 17, 2024, 03:55 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Tyson Fury delivered a lackluster performance vs. Francis Ngannou in October, but “The Gypsy King” appeared in far better shape during Friday’s weigh-in at 262 pounds ahead of his undisputed heavyweight championship fight vs. Oleksandr Usyk. England’s Fury was 277.5

Mark Kriegel, ESPNMay 17, 2024, 08:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Given the several years of acrimony between the camps of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk — the most recent expression of which was an ill-fated headbutt that left Fury’s father John in his preferred state, both bloodied and happily enraged — I am profoundly

Timothy Bradley Jr.May 16, 2024, 07:52 AM ET Close Timothy Bradley Jr. is an ESPN’s boxing analyst, a two-division, five-time world champion and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Open Extended Reactions ​​ From the 1880s to the present undisputed era, one championship reigned supreme around the heavyweight division: The lineal championship.

James Regan May 15, 2024, 10:02 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Rising cruiserweight David Nyika will be fighting in a big stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. The New Zealander is all too aware he needs to impress after being handed a golden opportunity to fight on the spectacular undercard which will precede

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 15, 2024, 08:31 PM ET Open Extended Reactions RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Tyson Fury danced and sang along to some of his favorite hits during a light workout Wednesday evening, three days out from his undisputed heavyweight championship clash with Oleksandr Usyk. England’s Fury, 35, wrapped his hands to the tune of

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 15, 2024, 08:22 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Tyson Fury has accomplished a staggering amount during his 35 pro-fight career, enough to cement himself among the all-time greats. The heavyweight championship division Fury rules over today is part of perhaps the most-storied lineage in all of sports, one that dates back to

Mike Coppinger, ESPNMay 14, 2024, 01:00 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Boxer Devin Haney, in a letter to the New York State Athletic Commission obtained by ESPN, formally requested Saturday that last month’s loss to Ryan Garcia be overturned to a disqualification win after Garcia’s failed doping test. Garcia’s A-sample tested positive for the anabolic

May 13, 2024, 11:09 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Tyson Fury’s father, John Fury, was involved in a head-butting incident during a media event ahead of Saturday’s undisputed heavyweight championship bout with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a heated altercation, John Fury was standing head-to-head with a member of Usyk’s team before being

May 13, 2024, 11:51 AM ET British middleweight Sherif Lawal has died after collapsing in the ring during his professional debut on Sunday, fight organisers said. The British Boxing Board of Control sent a note of condolences on Monday. Media reports said Lawal, 29, was hit on the temple in the fourth of six scheduled

Jake Michaels Close Jake Michaels ESPN Senior Writer Jake Michaels is a Melbourne-based sports writer who covers everything from Aussie Rules to Formula One, basketball to boxing. He has been with ESPN for 10 years and works as a Senior Writer, covering sport in Australia and around the world. Mike Coppinger May 12, 2024, 02:31

Jake Michaels, ESPN Senior WriterMay 12, 2024, 01:33 AM ET Close Jake Michaels is a Melbourne-based sports writer who covers everything from Aussie Rules to Formula One, basketball to boxing. He has been with ESPN for 10 years and works as a Senior Writer, covering sport in Australia and around the world. Open Extended Reactions

Jake Michaels, ESPN Senior WriterMay 12, 2024, 12:00 AM ET Close Jake Michaels is a Melbourne-based sports writer who covers everything from Aussie Rules to Formula One, basketball to boxing. He has been with ESPN for 10 years and works as a Senior Writer, covering sport in Australia and around the world. Open Extended Reactions