Latest news with #TurkiAlalshikh
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Christian Mbilli destroys Maciej Sulecki in 1st round to win WBC interim title, calls for Canelo-Crawford spot
If ever there was a time for Christian Mbilli to make a statement, it was on this night. All eyes were on the unbeaten super middleweight, including the sport's biggest powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, who called Mbilli by name as a candidate to land on the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terence "Bud" Crawford Netflix card in September. Advertisement Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) rose to the occasion with a first-round knockout of Poland's Maciej Sulecki. A pair of body shots set up a right uppercut to floor Sulecki for the bout's lone knockdown. Referee Michael Griffin didn't like the former title challenger's body language and stopped the contest at 2:28 of Round 1 on Friday evening at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada. With the win, Mbilli captured the vacant WBC interim super middleweight title. Most of the pre-fight buildup focused less on the matchup and more on Mbilli's ability to further establish himself as the dark horse threat in the division. Sulecki (33-4, 13 KOs) did his best to not show any concern for Mbilli's power or super skill level, as they both boxed behind the jab. Advertisement The ring quickly became a much smaller place for Mbilli once he began to land to the body. Sulecki attempted to use more movement but constantly found himself pinned against the ropes. Mbilli moved in to close the show and executed his plan to perfection. A right hand to the body caused Sulecki to wince and cover up. Mbilli immediately shifted and loaded up with a left hook downstairs. Sulecki attempted to queue up a right hand but left himself wide open for a right uppercut to the chin. The shot snapped back Sulecki's head as he fell to the canvas. The count was underway as Sulecki scrambled to make it to his feet. His effort to have the bout continue fell on deaf ears as the fight was instantly brought to a halt. Advertisement Mbilli delivered the third-quickest knockout of his career. It was by far his most significant, considering the pedigree of his opponent. Sulecki's previous defeats came in a failed title bid versus then-unbeaten WBO middleweight beltholder Demetrius Andrade; Daniel Jacobs, a former two-time titlist; and undefeated, rising contender Diego Pacheco this past August. Fittingly, Mbilli wanted Pacheco as his next opponent and twice attempted to engage in talks with the team surrounding the 24-year-old Southern California native. He instead settled on Sulecki, who was the highest-rated available WBC contender to make the interim title available. Advertisement Friday's win is supposed to ensure a mandatory shot at Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), the undisputed champion whose current dance card is full. Guadalajara's Alvarez is already due to next face Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), Uncrowned's No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter (Alvarez is No. 7) on Sept. 13. Their superfight will headline the first-ever boxing event at Allegiant Stadium, home to the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. It is expected to be the sport's most-watched card of the year. Rather than shame either fighter into facing him next, Mbilli simply hopes that Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season group still holds interest in retaining his in-ring services that evening. "We hope to negotiate for a fight on the undercard," Mbilli said after Friday's victory. "I'm not calling out either guy." Advertisement Mbilli has now stopped four of his last five opponents. His previous three-fight knockout streak ended when he was extended the 10-round distance by Sergiy Derevyanchenko last August 17 at this very location. Mbilli won a unanimous decision that evening, but was left with a 10-month inactive stretch after failed negotiations with Pacheco (twice) and Kevin Lele Sadjo. Even with an undercard slot, Mbilli still needs a willing opponent for the assignment. Though, with the larger funding behind the show and Riyadh Season's partnership with Eye of the Tiger Management — several of their fighters are now Ring Magazine ambassadors — that part should finally be a little easier for Mbilli. Check out full results and highlights of Friday's Mbilli vs. Sulecki fight card below. Full results Christian Mbilli TKO1 (2:28) Maciej Sulecki, wins WBC interim super middleweight title | Watch video Advertisement Super middleweight: Steven Butler TKO4 (1:33) Jose De Jesus Macias | Watch video Heavyweight: Arslanbek Makhmudov KO1 (1:57) Ricardo Brown | Watch video Light heavyweight: Wilkens Mathieu KO3 (0:44) Adagio McDonald | Watch video Super lightweight: Jhon Orobio KO1 (2:57) Zsolt Osadan | Watch video Welterweight: Christopher Guerrero TKO10 (2:28) Sandy Mesaoud Super featherweight: Leila Beaudoin TKO6 (1:08) Elhem Mekhaled Lightweight: Luis Santana TKO5 (2:03) Eduardo Estela Junior welterweight: Wyatt Sanford UD6 Mark Andrejev (60-54, 60-53, 60-53)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I belong': Christian Mbilli hoping WBC interim title fight launches him onto Canelo vs. Crawford mega-card
Not even his second-longest career absence could leave Christian Mbilli off the radar of the sport's most influential figure. This weekend's showdown with two-time title challenger Maciej Sulecki will mark Mbilli's first piece of ring action since last August. Still, he found himself on the very short list of fighters who Turki Alalshikh would like to add to the Sept. 13 Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford card on Netflix. Advertisement The declaration came one day after Alalshikh called for an end to the type of dull matchups that plagues his two most recent shows. 'I'm very honored to be on the list of fighters Turki Alalshikh would like to see on his Riyadh Season event,' Mbilli told Uncrowned. 'I'm very happy, but I have to focus on my fight right now. 'I hope after this, I will have my big fight against a big-name fighter.' For now, Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) will take on his second straight former title challenger, as he hopes to land his own first shot at the super middleweight crown. His clash with Poland's Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs) will air this Friday on ESPN+ from Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada. Advertisement The interim WBC super middleweight title will be at stake for Mbilli's second straight fight at this venue and third consecutive main event. The 30-year-old Cameroonian Frenchman — now based in Montreal — has become a ticket-seller in his adopted home region, in large part to his all-action style. He was dealt a test in the ring in a hard-fought 10-round points win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-6, 10 KOs) at this very venue last August 17. Derevyanchenko has only lost in title fights or to fighters who either previously held or went on to win a major title. Mbilli is the lone exception to that list at the moment. He hopes to change that beginning with a victory this weekend over a similarly experienced opponent. Advertisement Winning an interim belt is a step in the right direction, not the finish line. 'The goal is to be world champion, not just interim champion,' vowed Mbilli, who is co-promoted by Eye of the Tiger Management and Top Rank. 'I hope after this fight, I will have the opportunity to fight for and become world champion. Right now, that would mean the chance to win the undisputed super middleweight championship.' That career path is a far cry from where Mbilli sat this time last year. Promoter Camille Estephan has struggled to find relevant matchups for the top-rated super middleweight. It hasn't been for a lack of trying; Mbilli has been positioned in opportunities for several title eliminators, including two rounds of ordered talks with fellow unbeaten top contender Diego Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs). Advertisement Of all the stated targets pursued by Mbilli, the only one to say "yes" is the one who will be in the opposite corner this weekend. 'I have to thank my opponent, as strange as it sounds,' Mbilli said, doing his best to laugh through the frustration. 'It's our job to fight, but you have a lot of fighters who look for reasons not to. 'The last one was Pacheco, he ducked me two times. I hope after Sulecki, we will have more big fights.' The fact that his name was mentioned by Alalshikh is a net positive for Mbilli, especially considering the event on which he wishes to showcase the 30-year-old Olympian. Christian Mbilli's all-action style could lead him toward some big opportunities in the near future. (Mathieu Belanger via Getty Images) A win on Friday will leave Mbilli as the WBC mandatory challenger. Mexico's Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is the division's undisputed champion, a crown he will attempt to defend against Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). The two will face off in a Netflix headliner presented by Riyadh Season from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advertisement The greater likelihood is that Mbilli doesn't get the winner straightaway. At some point, however, it will become harder to avoid him. Mbilli is the No. 1 ranked contender with the WBC and holds the same ranking with every credible independent ratings panel. He officially transitioned from rising prospect to perennial top-10 super middleweight following a March 2023 decision win over Carlos Gongora. That feat was followed by three consecutive knockout wins as he grew as a reliable box-office attraction. The enthusiasm remained intact even as he went all 10 rounds with Derevyanchenko. The lone hiccup along the way came in the one fight of late that didn't see the light of day. Advertisement Mbilli was due to face unbeaten Kevin Lele Sadjo on May 8 in an IBF title eliminator. The bout was due to take place in Paris, after a purse bid hearing was won by Y12 Boxing, Sadjo's promoter. Eye of the Tiger Management pulled the plug on the fight, claiming that the other side violated the terms of the purse bid and also failed to provide proof of funds. Those accusations were vehemently denied by Y12, though it mattered little; Mbilli was not only out a fight, but suddenly on the sideline. 'Camille is doing a very good job looking out for me,' insisted Mbilli. 'He tried his hardest to bring a big fight to the table for me. We had problems with the promoter, with the TV and other things. 'Right now, the goal for Camille is to find the biggest names for me and to position me to become world champion. I'm very proud to have him on my team.' Advertisement With any luck — and with a victory Friday — Mbilli can add the sport's most powerful figure to that list. 'After this fight, we will have to see if [Alalshikh] still wants to do things together,' he said. 'It still makes me very happy. It motivates me to show that I belong among the elite of the super middleweight division. 'I want to show that [against Sulecki]. After that, I want to become the world super middleweight champion.'
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Billionaire ‘got involved' in failed Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall talks with Dana White as sum UFC icon snubbed revealed
SAUDI boxing bigwig Turki Alalshikh "got involved" in the UFC's ill-fated bid to book a super-fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, it's been claimed. The huge heavyweight title unification bout officially fell through last weekend when the former undisputed titleholder announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. 4 4 4 The UFC did everything in their power to make the mammoth melee, even agreeing to Jones' demands to be paid " F**K YOU MONEY". Frustratingly for Dana White and the rest of the UFC brass, Jones performed a U-turn on the bout after agreeing to unify the belts. And according to veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, the UFC were reluctant to meet Jones' demands for a historic payday until Saudi supremo Alalshikh entered the fray. During the latest episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, he said: "Here's what we can unequivocally say. "I told you months ago, the UFC wanted to make this fight. "They did everything in their power to make this fight. Jon Jones asked for $30 million. "They didn't want to give him $30 million (£22m). They negotiated. I heard from one source that even Turki [Alalshikh] got involved. "He wanted to make the fight. They eventually got to the $30 million. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 "Jon said he was in. A couple of days later, he said he was out. And once he said he was out, he was never back in." Alalshikh's alleged involvement comes as no surprise given the working relationship he has with the UFC's parent group, the TKO Group. Jones' retirement, which was announced minutes before it was revealed he was recently charged with leaving the scene of a non-deadly accident, has resulted in Wigan warrior Aspinall being elevated from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion. And the Atherton assassin has vowed to get the division moving again after Jones held it hostage for the best part of two years. He said: "I am going to keep this thing as active as possible. "I want to be the best heavyweight to ever walk the face of the Earth. "I'm gonna defend this thing as many times as I possibly can and I'm gonna keep you guys entertained. "I'm going to give back to everybody who has shown me support over the last year, over the last five years and over the last ten years. "We're gonna see an active defending UFC heavyweight undisputed champion going forward."
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Biggest boxing upsets of 2025 so far: The nights no one saw coming
In a whirlwind stretch of high-stakes matchups and unexpected outcomes, boxing fans were treated to a series of jaw-dropping moments that turned the sport's hierarchy on its head. From the bright lights of Times Square to the fight-hardened rings of Glasgow, London, and Las Vegas, established names stumbled while hungry challengers seized the spotlight. Here is a look at the biggest upsets that boxing has seen so far this year. Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero Times Square, New York, 2 May – What was supposed to be a credible-yet-comfortable fight for Ryan Garcia to set up a rematch with Devin Haney morphed into an unexpected upset against an old rival in Rolly Romero. The two met on a historic, albeit lacklustre, card at Times Square, which also featured Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr. Turki Alalshikh made an informal deal that both Haney and Garcia had to win their fights to unlock the rematch they were both after. Their first fight was overturned to a No Contest after Garcia failed a drug test. Perhaps a victim of taking his eyes off his opponent and instead looking ahead to Haney, with whom he had been clashing all fight week, Garcia got dropped in the second round by a left hook from Romero. The shot did not genuinely hurt Garcia, but his initial eagerness to let his hands go had disappeared, which allowed Romero to take control of the fight and take a comfortable points win on all three scorecards: 115-112, 115-112, 118-109. The fight was expected to deliver fireworks, but Garcia's confidence was knocked out of him, and Romero claimed perhaps the biggest upset of the year so far. Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman Hydro Arena, Glasgow, 24 May – Josh Taylor made his first appearance at welterweight, hoping to reignite his career and become a two-weight world champion, after back-to-back losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall at super-lightweight. His opponent, Ekow Essuman, was in rebuild mode after losing an upset of his own to Harry Scarff in 2023, jumping at the opportunity to have a name like Taylor's on his resume. Taylor was met with rapturous applause by his home crowd and certainly gave them something to cheer about in the opening rounds, pushing the pace and hurting Essuman, who found himself backed onto the ropes. But the former undisputed champion had his success stunted by a well-timed right hand that temporarily muted the Glasgow crowd. Still, Taylor continued to find success in his work rate, punctuated by pockets of work from the Nottingham fighter who looked to be weathering the storm well. The pace began to slow into the seventh round, and a clash of heads opened a cut above the left eye of Taylor, which seemed to add a heap of coal to 'The Engine'. Essuman continued to pile on the pressure and began to find a home for more of his shots as Taylor's stamina began to falter, heading into the championship rounds. The final two rounds would prove to be decisive for the scorecards, and Essuman found the extra 10 per cent that Taylor could not. The 36-year-old won via unanimous decision to claim the most important victory of his career against Britain's first and only undisputed champion in the four-belt era. The scorecards read 116-113, 116-112, 115-113. Watch over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters with a DAZN subscription. More information here. Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, 31 May – Caleb Plant was looking to regain his momentum against a relative unknown in Resendiz, who had not yet fought at the level Plant had been operating at for years. After suffering defeat at the hands of David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez in two of his last three fights, Plant had a comeback victory against Trevor McCumby before taking on Armando Resendiz. That match was supposed to be the prelude to a grudge match against Jermall Charlo, who fought and defeated Thomas LaManna on the same card. The fight was a close affair in the early goings as Plant used his jab and counter left hook to good effect, and Resendiz took the front foot, looking for hooks to the head and body. Plant's signature defensive skills seemed to be absent as he continued to get caught with heavy hooks from his more explosive opponent. The highlight of the fight came in the sixth round when Resendiz detonated a short right hand that wobbled Plant, who desperately tried to hang on, but got hit with two clean hooks before finally managing to get his arms around the Mexican. The jab was Plant's primary weapon, which he continued to score with throughout the fight, but he struggled to follow up, smothering his work, while Resendiz was able to get off some impressive shots on the inside. Plant said after the fight that he thought he had done enough to win, but Resendiz was the more imposing fighter, landing heavier and more eye-catching work to sway the judges in his favour for a split decision: 116-112, 116-112, 113-115. Skye Nicolson vs Tiara Brown Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, 22 March – Skye Nicolson was set up to defend her WBC featherweight strap for the third time against an unbeaten but untested Tiara Brown, in the hopes of getting a unification bout next. Nicolson had looked unbeatable, and one could argue had not lost a round since acquiring her green and gold belt in June 2024. Brown, a former police officer in Washington DC and Florida, had not fought for a world title, but had an infectious confidence that would help propel her towards one of the biggest upsets the female game has seen this year. The WBC champion made a bright start with her signature counter shots and foot movement to keep a charging Brown at bay. But this would not last for long as Brown was intelligent in cutting off the ring and throwing cuffing left hooks, as the Aussie southpaw tried to pivot away. This stifled Nicolson's movements and forced her to fight on the inside, which played into Brown's hands. She landed a high volume of body punches and right uppercuts to the champion, who looked uncomfortable up close. Brown used her unconventional footwork to her advantage, sliding between orthodox and southpaw to close the space down that Nicolson was desperate to find. Her unrelenting pressure and punching were something Nicolson had not yet faced and did not seem prepared for. Nicolson did land effective work but simply could not match Brown's output and lost a split decision: 94-96, 93-97 and 96-94. With that, Brown claimed an unlikely victory behind enemy lines to acquire her first world title. She collapsed in tears after the result was announced. Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, 28 April – Liam Smith was fighting for his career after suffering a knockout defeat to the event headliner Chris Eubank Jr in their rematch last year. He took on a young Irish prospect in Aaron McKenna, but many thought Smith's experience at the top level and resilience would be enough for him on the night. Smith knew he had to close the gap to the much taller McKenna and came out with a high guard, stalking the Irishman in the early going. But McKenna's youth and skill allowed him to rattle off sharp, fast combinations to Smith's head, which began to find the target through the Liverpudlian's defences much earlier than he would have liked. Even when Smith managed to close the distance, where he is usually so effective, he was coming off second best in the exchanges as McKenna sank in heavy hooks to the head and body. McKenna had the lead through the first six rounds but handed a lifeline to Smith when he had a point deducted for the use of his elbows. Still, the Irish prospect's dominance forced Smith onto the back foot, on the end of McKenna's lashing combinations, and in the 12th round, a left hook to the body dropped Smith to one knee. But such is Smith's bravery, proven time and time again, that he rose to his feet and threw the kitchen sink at McKenna. McKenna emerged as the shock victor, regardless, beating a bona fide world titlist and proving himself to be a legitimate contender, winning a unanimous decision: 119-108, 117-109 and 118-108.
Arab News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Canelo and Crawford clash at intense face-off in New York
NEW YORK: A packed Fanatics Fest crowd at Jevits Center in New York witnessed the second leg of the global media tour ahead of the blockbuster Riyadh Season fight between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford, the two best pound for pound fighters in the world, on Sept. 13 in Las Vegas. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, addressed the crowd after being introduced to the stage by legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer, before UFC CEO Dana White stepped up to oversee the press conference ahead of the fight of the century between the two biggest fighters of the modern era for the undisputed super middleweight title. White announced the performance bonus for the highly-anticipated fight, being broadcast exclusively live on Netflix, will be 'over six figures', before staging an intense face off which led to Canelo and Crawford having to be separated by their teams. Speaking at the press conference, reigning champion Canelo said: "He (Crawford) is one of the great fighters in the last years, obviously that is why he is a champion. My brother, Turki Alalshikh, thank you so much for this fight, we are here and I think it is a good fight for the fans." In response, Crawford, a four-division and two-weight undisputed champion, said: "I'm hunting him. That's it. I'm hunting everything that he has got, and I am going to take it come September 13th. I am very confident. This is my time." The global media tour will conclude on Friday, June 27 in Las Vegas, before the two fighters return to the same city for the main event in September.
