Combat Sports

خلاصہ: Emiliano Vargas vs Agustin Quintana highlights Navarrete vs Nunez undercardTop Rank has unveiled the supporting cast for Emanuel Navarrete’s February 28th unification bout with Eduardo Nunez. In what the press release calls the leader of the undercard, Philly welterweight Tahmir Smalls (16-0, 11 KO) takes a noteworthy step up in class against longtime contender Abel Ramos (28-6-3, 22 KO), last seen battling Mario Barrios to a draw in 2024. Smalls, a “stablemate” of Jaron Ennis, is coming off a decision over Jose Roman Vazquez, who handed Jalil Hackitt his first defeat one fight prior. “2026 is my year,” said Smalls. “I am coming for everybody that is in my way to becoming World champion in the division, and that starts with Abel Ramos on February 28.” “Devin Haney, Mario Barrios, Rolly Romero and Lewis Crocker – I am calling out all of you. I am taking over the Welterweight division and there is nothing stopping me. On February 28, Abel Ramos – it’s belt to ass. Statement time.” “I am excited to be back in the ring,” said Ramos. “It’s going to be an action-packed fight card, and I am ready to put on a show for all my people here in Phoenix.” The bout order seems a bit unclear, as other outlets claim that the actual co-feature is super lightweight prospect Emiliano Vargas’ (16-0, 13 KO) bout with Argentina’s Agustin Ezequiel Quintana (22-2-1, 13 KO). Quintana did get knocked out by Juan Javier Carrasco three years back, but handed Marc Castro the first loss of his professional career in December 2024 , so he should be able to give “The General” a proper tussle. “The fans in Arizona have always supported my family, and I can’t wait to put on a show for them February 28,” said Vargas. “This is a great card headlined by two Mexican warriors, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.” In a clash of undefeated super bantamweights, Arturo Cardenas (17-0-1, 9 KO) faces Jordan Martinez (16-0, 15 KO). Cardenas has by far the more robust record of the two, but the 22-year-old old Martinez hasn’t seen the judges since his fourth pro fight. “A big thank you to my team at RGBA and Matchroom for the opportunity to perform on such a great card between two Mexican warriors,” said Cardenas. “On February 28, I am looking forward to putting on an exciting fight for the fans there in Arizona and continuing my climb to a World title.” “Quiero guerra! Quiero sangre!” said Martinez. “Arturo is making a big mistake in taking this fight. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for, asking for, and now it’s finally here. This is my city. This is my time. February 28, don’t blink.”Source InformationPublisher: Bad Left HookOriginal Source: Read more

خلاصہ: Canelo Alvarez next fight: September 2026 return expectedCanelo Alvarez will be back in the ring this year, but it won’t be until September. Turki Alalshikh announced, with Canelo at his side, that the Mexican superstar will headline a “Mexico Against the World” event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is obviously the best possible location for such an event. The event will also be the debut show for “Canelo Promotions,” which may wind up being a real company, but time will tell. Canelo has worked in promotion a bit already. Who will Canelo fight in 2026? Alalshikh said it will be a “big, big, big fight” for Canelo, and that it will be a world title fight. That could mean Canelo fighting at super middleweight, light heavyweight, or even potentially cruiserweight, an idea Canelo has floated in the past. We’ll have to wait and see what “big, big, big fight” Canelo will actually wind up taking, because pretty much every fight Canelo has had for the last 13 years has been deemed a “big, big, big fight,” even William Scull and Avni Yildirim. Canelo, 35, last fought on September 13, 2025, losing a clear decision to Terence “Bud” Crawford , and with it, his undisputed crown at 168 lbs. Crawford has since announced a retirement , meaning that the belts at 168 have gone vacant, save for the WBA title, which has seen Armando Resendiz promoted from interim status.Source InformationPublisher: Bad Left HookOriginal Source: Read more

خلاصہ: ‘I always believed I’d be able to do it’: Dalton Smith reacts to big win over Subriel MatiasFresh off of his big stoppage win over Subriel Matias to become a WBC world champion , Dalton Smith joins talkSPORT to discuss his reaction to the fight and validating himself as champion after overcoming all the odds over his career. Here’s some of what he had to say below. Smith on his knockout win “Obviously, it’s not a shock to me because I always believed I’d be able to do it. But apart from a little bit of jet lag and tiredness, I feel good…After the first round I proved I can box his head off. And then in the second round he was on it, he came. And the thing with Subriel is if you keep letting him push you back, he gets momentum. And to be honest, he hit me with his best shots and as the rounds went on I lost more respect for his power. “I mean, as entertaining as it was for everyone else, I was losing respect and I knew every time he threw, I had an answer for and I was hurting him. As the rounds went on I felt him getting weaker and he was getting tired and I thought your nickname is ‘no mas-tias’ and I’m going to do to you what you said you was going to do to me. So I just thought stick on his chest and I’ll get to him.” On having extra motivation to win this fight “I lost respect for him because I think you’ve come in here to cheat. And like I said, especially in boxing PEDs are probably the worst sport to be allowed in — well, not allowed in but allowed to happen.” On becoming a world champion and how he’d describe his journey “I have no clue. Like, somehow we’re here . I don’t know, I have no words for it yet.”Source InformationPublisher: Bad Left HookOriginal Source: Read more

خلاصہ: Alexis Rocha botches weight cut, new opponent sought for Raul CurielWelp, there goes tomorrow’s biggest fight. Multiple outlets report that Alexis Rocha is out of his planned rematch with Raul Curiel, who now seeks an eleventh-hour opponent. Chris Mannix cites Rocha’s (25-2-1, 16 KO) trainer, Hector Lopez, to claim that his charge “had an issue that forced him to be hospitalized for a few hours.” Other sources attest that Rocha ran into difficulty while cutting to the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. Per Lance Pugmire, local super lightweight Israel Mercado (13-1-2, 7 KO) is among three potential replacements. Mercado is, by all appearances, a fairly decent foe considering the late notice; his only loss is a well-aged majority decision against still-unbeaten Arthur Biyarslanov in 2021. I’m certain Curiel (16-0-1, 14 KO) just wants to stay active after a one-fight 2025, so we’ll update this post as soon as we get word.Source InformationPublisher: Bad Left HookOriginal Source: Read more