Briton Noakes to fight for world title in November
Briton Sam Noakes will fight fellow unbeaten contender Abdullah Mason for the vacant WBO lightweight world title in Saudi Arabia this November.
The 27-year-old from Maidstone has won all 17 of his professional bouts, stopping 15 opponents.
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American Mason, 21, also boasts a perfect record, with 17 knockouts from 19 victories.
The WBO ordered the bout after stripping former champion Keyshawn Davis, who failed to make weight for a cancelled fight against Edwin De Los Santos.
The fight will take place during Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season, with the exact date and venue yet to be confirmed.
The undercard will feature London's Anthony Yarde challenging WBC light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez, and a welterweight main event between WBO champion Brian Norman Jr and Devin Haney.
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Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez's Texas return is a reminder of how far he's come
It's been more than five years since Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez stepped foot in the arena he's about to headline this weekend. The gifted southpaw was just 20 years old when he landed on a February 2020 card topped by stablemate and four-division champ Mikey Garcia's win over Jessie Vargas. Rodriguez was the first fighter through the door for a show at the Ford Center at The Star, the practice facility for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys in Frisco, Texas. Outside of racking up his 11th win, his memories from that evening aren't particularly of the fond variety. 'It's crazy to think how far I've come since then. I was the first fight that night, and there were maybe 30 people in the building when I entered the ring," Rodriguez told Uncrowned. 'They didn't even have my name spelled right on the fight poster.' Ten fights and four world titles later, San Antonio's Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) no longer has to worry about fighting in anonymity. The proof is in the anticipated turnout Saturday for his junior bantamweight unification clash with South Africa's Phumelela Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs). Rodriguez, Uncrowned's No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter, risks his lineal and WBC 115-pound championship against the visiting Cafu, who attempts the first defense of his own WBO title. A crowd of roughly 12,000 is expected to be on hand at The Star — a 40,000% increase from the paltry number of fans who saw Rodriguez take out Marco Sustaita in the eighth round back in 2020, several hours before most of the fans filed in for that night's Garcia vs. Vargas DAZN main event. 'I think that's badass that fans are responding the way they have,' said Rodriguez, whose last fight in Texas was more than two years ago. 'We're only four hours away (from San Antonio). I have a lot of family and friends supporting me, so it's going to be amazing. 'It's a good feeling to be in this position. The last time I was here was five years ago. Nobody was here when my fight began, because I was the first fight on the show. To see how far I've come from then to headlining in the same place, it's amazing.' Even more amazing is the run Rodriguez has been on ever since he entered the title picture. Cafu represents the sixth former or current titlist Rodriguez will face over a span of just eight fights. He has picked up major titles on four of those nights, beginning with his February 2022 WBC junior bantamweight championship win over former champ Carlos Cuadras in Phoenix, Arizona. The opportunity came last-minute — Rodriguez was training for a flyweight bout on the undercard when he agreed to enter the main event at the higher weight on just six days' notice in place of an ill Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Hardly anyone was in attendance that night, though it remains the starting point of Rodriguez's rapid ascension to the top. He stuck it out at junior bantamweight for the rest of the year. The run included his first hometown headliner, to a much more favorable review. Fittingly, it came against Sor Rungvisai, a former lineal and WBC 115-pound champion whom Rodriguez obliterated inside of eight rounds in front a capacity crowd in San Antonio. Rodriguez returned home two fights later, again to rabid local support as he defeated Mexico's Cristian Gonzalez to win the vacant WBO flyweight title. His newfound status as a two-division beltholder came at a cost, however, as Rodriguez suffered a badly broken jaw midway through his April 2023 headliner with Gonzalez, delaying plans for a targeted unification clash against then-unbeaten IBF titlist Sunny Edwards. That fight came later in the year and represented Rodriguez's first true grudge match — as well as the first real sign of a box-office attraction on the horizon. The pre-fight build was spicy and often disrespectful, as England's Edwards crossed several lines in labeling Rodriguez's team and the SNAC program Rodriguez represents as cheaters. Their December 2023 unification bout took place at Desert Diamond Arena just outside of Phoenix and to a far more favorable turnout than when he faced Cuadras nearly two years prior. Rodriguez delivered big time for his newfound fan base, earning a ninth-round stoppage to become the top fighter at flyweight and among the sport's best pound-for-pound talents. Six months later, Rodriguez returned back to the area — and to the same venue where he claimed his first world title. The same WBC junior bantamweight belt was at stake, though claimed by Mexico's Juan Francisco Estrada, the division's recognized lineal champ since 2019. Rodriguez climbed off the canvas to knock Estrada out in the seventh round to begin his second WBC 115-pound title reign. The biggest fight of Rodriguez's career came with the crowd to match. The memorable clash in June 2024 sold 7,261 tickets, with the crowd largely split but in full support of Rodriguez by night's end — and for good reason. 'Phoenix has become my second home,' Rodriguez insisted. 'It's where I won my first world title, where I unified [in nearby Glendale] and where I became The Ring champion against Estrada. I even became a Phoenix Suns fan. I don't know when it will happen again but I'll definitely be back there for sure. 'For now, the priority was to return to my home state. I'm grateful the fans have responded the way they have.' So, too, is the team who has believed in him during his rise through the ranks. 'The most pleasing thing about the show this weekend — aside from the number of people [who will be] in the building — is that Jesse is finally getting the recognition he deserves,' Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn told Uncrowned. 'He's one of the best in the world for sure. But often, the harsh truth is that the [115-pound] division doesn't always get that recognition. 'But he has this almost cult following, this quiet aura about him that draws people in. The remarkable thing about this is that he's not even doing it in his home city. Dallas is four hours away, but he's got friends and family coming in and the local turnout has been incredible." A win on Saturday will put Rodriguez in line to face yet another reigning titlist in Fernando "Pumita" Rodriguez (18-0, 9 KOs), a tough-as-nails Argentinean who holds the WBA belt. The bout was already announced earlier this month by Turki Alalshikh, boxing's biggest current financier who secured the fight as part of his Nov. 22 super-card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Neither that matchup nor Martinez's name were even mentioned by Rodriguez or Hearn during Thursday's final pre-fight press conference. 'First of all, it would have been extremely disrespectful to Cafu,' acknowledged Hearn. 'Look, the fight was made and announced sooner than we'd have liked, but Jesse really didn't have a choice. It was either take the fight or lose the spot on that card. 'But we just got to keep Jesse focused, which has never, ever been an issue. It's a little awkward to be in this position, but it's just more motivation to win this weekend.' Rodriguez doesn't even need the allure of a bigger fight down the road to prevail in the one directly in front of him. His only motivation to win during his 2020 appearance at The Star was to remain unbeaten. After all, it wasn't like he could look out into the crowd for extra support. Then again, it was motivation to make sure he didn't have that problem the next time he rolled into town. 'Returning to my home state to be in a unification really means a lot to me,' said Rodriguez. 'We didn't know what the fan reaction would be like when we agreed to this fight, just that we knew it would be a lot bigger for me than the last time I was here. 'It's a great feeling to welcome another champion to Texas and bring a fight like this to my fans.' While all of his focus is on Cafu and not at all on the fight that awaits in November, there is one fantasy event that Rodriguez can't help but visualize. 'Maybe one day, we can take a big fight to the Alamodome,' Rodriguez dreamed aloud of headlining at the 73,000-seat venue in his hometown. 'Imagine that, going from first fight of the night in front of almost nobody to bringing out all of San Antonio.'
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card Ring Walk Times
Oleksandr Usyk (left) and Daniel Dubois (right) face off during the weigh-in at BOXPARK Wembley, ... More London. Picture date: Friday July 18, 2025. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images The rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois is nearly upon us. That fight headlines a boxing card from Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Saturday, July 19. At stake when Usyk and Dubois face off are all of the heavyweight boxing titles. Usyk puts his WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles up for grabs in the rematch. As for Dubois, he enters his second fight opposite Usyk with the IBF title in his hands. At the end of the scrap, the winner will walk away as the undisputed heavyweight champion, a title Usyk held once before. We look at when boxing fans can expect to see the ring walks for Usyk vs. Dubois 2. Forbes Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight: Odds, Predictions And Picks By Trent Reinsmith Oleksandr Usyk (23-0-0) vs. Daniel Dubois (22-2-0): For Usyk's WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles and Dubois' IBF heavyweight title Lawrence Okolie (21-1-0) vs. Kevin Lerena (31-3-0): For Okolie's WBC silver heavyweight title Daniel Lapin (11-0-0) vs. Lewis Edmondson (11-0-0): For Lapin's IBF Intercontinental and WBA Continental titles Vladyslav Sirenko (22-0) vs. Solomon Dacres (9-1) - Light heavyweight Lasha Guruli (1-0-0) vs. James Francis (7-1-0): Super lightweight Aadam Hamed (5-0-0) vs. Ezequiel Gregores (3-24-0): Super lightweight Forbes Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card - Undercard By Trent Reinsmith Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Ring Walk Time With the Usyk vs. Dubois 2 fight card taking place in London, England, North American fight fans get early afternoon boxing action. Usyk and Dubois are expected to make their ring walks for the undisputed heavyweight title fight at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET. Below are the estimated ring walk times for the Usyk vs. Dubois undercard matchups: Lawrence Okolie vs Kevin Lerena: 3:45 p.m. ET Daniel Lapin vs Lawrence Okolie: 2:45 p.m. ET Vladyslav Sirenko vs Solomon Dacres: 1:45 p.m. ET Aadam Hamed vs. Ezequiel Gregores: 1:00 p.m ET Lasha Guruli vs. James Francis: 12:30 p.m. ET Forbes Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight: Odds, Predictions And Picks By Trent Reinsmith Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card Time: 12:30 p.m. ET Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card Location: Wembley Stadium in London, England Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card How to Watch Or Stream: DAZN pay-per-view Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Fight Card Streaming Cost: $59.99 Forbes Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight Card: Undercard By Trent Reinsmith Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois face off during a press conference ... More ahead of the Undisputed IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO World Heavyweight Titles' fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois as part of Undisputed: Usyk v Dubois II at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Getty Images Usyk (23-0 with 14 knockouts) and Dubois (22-2 with 21 KOs) first faced off in August 2023. Usyk won that matchup via knockout in the ninth round, but there was some controversy with that victory. A body shot from Dubois put Usyk on the deck in the fifth round, but the punch was ruled a low blow. Usyk came back to finish the fight. Dubois and his team appealed the outcome of the fight, but WBA ruled against them, stating: 'After studying all the documents, the conclusions of all the instances and the internal rules of the WBA, it was determined that the appeal does not proceed and the decision of the fight stands with the victory and defence of the champion Usyk.' Since that matchup, Usyk has gone 2-0, beating Tyson Fury in both outings, picking up a split decision in May 2024 and a unanimous decision in December 2024. Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion with his first win over Fury, but he was forced to give up the IBF title before the rematch. Dubois is 3-0 since his loss to Usyk with knockout wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgović, and most recently Anthony Joshua. Dubois claimed the vacant IBF title with his June 2024 win over Hrgovic. He defended that title in September 2024, stopping Joshua in the fifth round. Dubois entered the ring after Usyk's second win over Fury to demand a rematch. 'I want my revenge! I want my revenge, Usyk,' Dubois said, interrupting Usyk's in-ring interview. 'Well done tonight. God bless, but I want my revenge. Let's get it! Let's go!' Usyk looking for promoter Turki Alalshikh, said, 'Make a fight with Daniel Dubois. Thank you so much.' 'Yeah, no problem. I'm ready. Next fight, no problem,' Usyk added when he got back to his interview. 'Now I'm going back home for a little bit of rest, but I'm ready.' The Usyk vs. Dubois 2 matchup, which was reported by The Ring, overcame a potential stumbling block earlier this month when the WBO received a petition to allow Usyk to face Dubois rather than mandatory challenger Joseph Parker. ESPN has Usyk ranked as the No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, while Dubois is No. 3 in the heavyweight rankings. Forbes Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Full Fight Card Betting Odds By Trent Reinsmith Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Undercard: Lawrence Okolie Vs. Kevin Lerena Lawrence Okolie (left) and Kevin Lerena (right) face off during the weigh-in at BOXPARK Wembley, ... More London. Picture date: Friday July 18, 2025. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images Lawrence Okolie (21-1-0 with 16 knockouts) is a former WBO cruiserweight champ. The 32-year-old lost that title in May 2023 to Chris Billam-Smith via majority decision. Okolie was a 4-1 favorite to retain his title in that matchup. Okolie had two points deducted during the contest for holding. In May 2024, Okolie won the WBC bridgerweight belt with a knockout win over Lukasz Rozanski. He vacated that title in October, and moved up to heavyweight to face Hussein Muhamed, winning the vacant WBC silver heavyweight belt with a first-round knockout. The IBF has Okolie ranked at No. 15. He is the No. 1 fighter in the WBC, and checks in at No. 4 in the WBO rankings. Kevin Lerena (31-3-0 with 15 Kos) picked up the interim WBC bridgerweight title in November 2023 with a unanimous decision win over Senad Gashi. The 33-year-old followed that with a unanimous decision loss to Justis Huni in a bout to determine the WBO Global heavyweight champ. Lerena was elevated to WBO bridgerweight champ after Okolie vacated the belt. He defended that title in May, earning a third-round TKO over Serhiy Radchenko. Lerana said of the fight, "He is a very good boxer, he is a long, rangy is going to throw a lot of backhands, a lot of long right-hands and he is going to work behind his jab. But I have the knack of taking the jab away and I have got the knack of making them miss and making them pay. 'I am by no means a technical, awkward, boring southpaw,' he added. 'I come to fight but I think I need to be calculated in my approach with Lawrence. I will come to fight but I will come to fight with precision and no mistakes, there is no room for error in there and there is definitely no room for mistakes against Lawrence Okolie.' Lerena is unranked at heavyweight. Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Undercard: Daniel Lapin Vs. Lewis Edmondson Lewis Edmonson (right) and Daniel Lapin (left) face off during the weigh-in at BOXPARK Wembley, ... More London. Picture date: Friday July 18, 2025. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images Two undefeated light heavyweights face off on the Usyk vs. Dubois undercard when Daniel Lapin faces Lewis Edmondson. Lapin (11-0 with four knockouts) won the vacant IBF Intercontinental light heavyweight belt in December when he defeated Dylan Colin via unanimous decision in a safe but effective performance on the Usyk vs. Fury 2 undercard. Edmondson (11-0 with 3 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Oluwatosin Kejawa. That victory earned him the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title. Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Breakdown Oleksandr Usyk and his team during a press conference at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: ... More Thursday July 17, 2025. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images Don't be surprised if Dubois looks to go to the body more in this fight. He and his team believe Usyk is sus[ectible to body shots. Expect Usyk and his team to be ready for this change in approach. When Dubois picked up his pace on body punches in the first fight, Usyk was able to counter over the top, especially with his jab. Speaking of that jab, Usyk was very effective with his lead hand in the first bout, using it to not only land punches but to frustrate his opponent by using it to probe, draw a response from Dubois, and then throwing a jab of his own when Dubois looked to deal with the probe from Usyk. Usyk landed 52 of 206 jab attempts in the first meeting, while Dubois went 13 for 126 for a paltry 10.3 percent landing rate with his jab. Dubois was also susceptible to Usyk's level changes and feints in the first meeting. To make matters worse for Dubois, he keeps a low guard to begin with, which means when he reacts to Usyk, he leaves himself open to be hit. Dubois needs to clean that up, or he will once again be on the wrong end of the landed punch stats (88 to 47). Dubois cannot allow Usyk to lead the dance in this matchup. He found himself reacting throughout the first fight, which put Usyk in the driver's seat. Dubois did not outland Usyk in any round of their 2023 meeting. He did throw more than Usyk in two rounds. Dubois's footwork is predictable, which led to Usyk having success, especially when Dubois backed up and dropped his guard at the same time. Dubois must change up his game plan in this fight. Not only should he look to go to the body more, but he should force Usyk to fight off his back foot a lot more. If he follows the same game plan he did in the first matchup, Usyk will dominate. We will have more on the Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois 2 fight card as fight night nears.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
UFC 318 weigh-in video: Dustin Poirier makes weight for final fight vs. Max Holloway
NEW ORLEANS – Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier made weight for the UFC 318 main event official on Friday, locking in their trilogy bout for the BMF title and what will be the final career contest for "The Diamond." Former longtime featherweight champion and current BMF titleholder Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) begins what he says is a permanent move to the lightweight division for the showdown with Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC), who is set to retire from active competition in his home state in the headliner of Saturday's card at Smoothie King Center (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). It was a drama-free trip to the scale for both men at Friday's official UFC 318 weigh-in at the host hotel. Poirier was the first fighter to come to the scale and registered at 156 pounds after his last weight cut. Poirier will attempt to end his career on a high and make it 3-0 over Holloway, who he defeated by first-round submission at UFC 143 in February 2012 then edged on the scorecards in the rematch at UFC 236 in April 2019. Watch the video below to see Holloway and Poirier make weight for their UFC 318 trilogy fight. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 318 video: Dustin Poirier's final weigh-in vs. Max Holloway
