[VIDEO] Billy Joe Saunders *SAVAGE* message to Canelo and Golovkin and talks "easy" win over David Lemieux

Unbeaten British super middleweight prodigy Callum Smith steps into the ring in Nuremberg this evening with a slot in the World Boxing Super Series at stake. He will do so, however, against late replacement Nieky Holzken, after his original opponent Juergen Braehmer withdrew from their schedule bout after sustaining an eleventh-hour injury in training camp.

Despite being notoriously injury-prone and having a noted propensity to pull out of fights, Braehmer, a seasoned veteran and tricky southpaw, was widely expected to provide Smith with the sternest test of his career following the latter's hard foughting victory over tough Swede Erik Skoglund.

Like Skoglund, Braehmer initially moved down a division for the sole purpose of entering the inaugural WBSS tournament, after an extended and fruitful campaign at light-heavyweight.

Braehmer impressed in the quarter-finals with his win over American middleweight contender Rob Brant, fully capitalising on his superior skills and size in order to cruise to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.

Negotiations for the prospective semi-final were subsequently complicated by Joe Gallagher's insistence on neutral territory, something which Braehmer was chatracteristcially reluctant to entertain, having enjoyed home advantage in nearly every single one of his professional fights so far. Eventually, the Smith camp acquiesced, and a venue was announced in Nuremburg.

However, it now appears that owing to the tournament's tight schedule, Braehmer's future participation in this tournament is now out of the question. The prospect of George Groves appearing in the final - someone who soundly outpointed Chris Eubank Junior in last Saturday's semi-final, dislocating his shoulder in the process - similarly remains shrouded in doubt.

On Saturday night, HBO will break with its recent string of lacklustre boxing cards by broadcasting the second edition of ‘Super Fly’, featuring four of the best super flyweights on the planet. 

Headlining the card will be Srisaket Sor Rungvisai’s defence of his WBC title against Juan Francisco ‘El Gallo’ Estrada, ably supported by a Mexico-Puerto Rico clash between Carlos Cuadras and McWilliams Arroyo. It has the makings of a terrific night of boxing. All four combatants complement skill and power with a track record of being in entertaining fights - and the headline championship bout is as blue chip as you could get. With Naoya Inoue’s departure to bantamweight appearing imminent, Sor Rungvisai and Estrada  are  the consensus top two fighters in their weight class as well as claimants to the vaunted pound-for-pound list.

Unbeaten Ilford light heavyweight Anthony Yarde (14-0-0, 13 KO's) will defend his WBO Inter-Continental and European belts against Tony Averlant (26-9-2, 5 KO's) at York Hall on Saturday evening, headlining a show featuring some of the nation's top young talent.

In a recent interview with Behind The Gloves , Yarde spoke of his excitement at the prospect of topping the bill at the famous east London bearpit, one of British boxing's most iconic venues.

“The atmosphere at the York Hall is always top of the range." said the 26-year-old.

"I feel like you haven’t been in a real atmosphere until you have boxed at the York Hall. Everyone is so close to the ring, you have got your real British boxing fans.”  

Yarde enjoyed something of a breakout year in 2025, winning his first professional title in May after bludgeoning Southern Area champion Chris Hobbs. Despite showing impressive durability in dragging himself up off the canvas an incredible six times, Hobbs had no answer for the speed and power of Yarde, with bout mercifully called to a halt in the fourth round.

Following his resounding win over Hobbs, 'The Beast' continued his rise through the ranks, capturing the WBO European title with a first round stoppage of Richard Baranyi at The Copper Box Arena in July. The show was due to be headlined by WBO World middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, however, after his opponent Avtandil Khurtsidze was arrested on racketeering charges in New Jersey, Yarde was elevated to the main event - an opportunity he took with both hands.

After collecting the WBO Inter-Continental title against Norbert Nemesapati just two months later, Yarde faced seasoned former World title challenger Nikola Sjekloca in a legitimate step up in opposition. The bout, again at Hackney's Copper Box Arena, presented Yarde with questions he had yet to answer in his fledgling career to date, with the experienced Croat landing with a series of right hands in the opening stages. However, after soon getting to grips with his opponent, Yarde would close the show in emphatic fashion, dropping his opponent twice en route to becoming the first man to stop Sjekloca, with the referee waving off the bout in the fourth round.

Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) will return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a highly anticipated rematch on Cinco de Mayo. The first fight between the two world-class athletes sold out in only two weeks, and tickets will surely be in even higher demand as both fighters have promised they will not leave the rematch in the judges’ hands. Canelo vs. GGG 2 will take place Saturday, May 5 and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 10:00 a.m. PT, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of 10 per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com  or www.axs.com .

The two fighters will meet for the first time since last September’s controversial draw at an event at Microsoft Square at L.A. LIVE Tuesday, Feb. 27. More details will be announced shortly.

“I am happy to return for the fourth time at T-Mobile Arena for this historic rematch against [Gennady] Golovkin,” said Canelo. “I opened the doors of this place to the world of boxing, and it has become my favorite venue. This is where the fight started, and this is where I’ll end it by doing what I and my fans most desire: knocking him out.”

“It feels right that the rematch returns to the scene of the crime,” said Golovkin. “This time there will be no drama with a decision. I won the first fight and left the ring as world champion wearing all the belts. And I am going to win the second fight. It is going to be a record fight and a golden night for me and boxing at T-Mobile Arena.”

Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, said, “There is no better place to host the historic rematch between Canelo and Golovkin than T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Las Vegas on a fight weekend during Cinco de Mayo is electric, and I know fans will travel from around the world to be here to participate in the celebratory atmosphere. Historic boxing matches like Canelo vs. GGG 2 belong in a place like Las Vegas, which offers fans the full and rich experience they are looking for on a big fight weekend.”

“The last time they met in the ring, the tie went to the runner -- Canelo Alvarez,” said Tom Loeffler, promoter of Golovkin. “I think there is only one place to settle this dispute between the two best middleweights. The most appropriate place for the rematch is back at T-Mobile Arena. The venue was a sensational host to Team Golovkin and the fans were terrific. We'll see if T-Mobile Arena remains Canelo’s favorite venue after he becomes Gennady’s twentieth and record-tying title defense.”  

Richard Sturm, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM Resorts International, said, “T-Mobile Arena is the ideal venue to host a championship boxing event of this magnitude.  We look forward to celebrating Cinco de Mayo weekend with sports fans in Las Vegas and worldwide for what should be one of boxing’s premier rematches.”

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “ THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “ Never Stop, Never Settle,” Fred Loya Insurance, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, May 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Source: Golden Boy Promotions [Press Release]

WBC Diamond Champion Callum Smith (23-0, 17 KOs ) and Nieky Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) exchanged words of confidence and went head to head at the press conference before their Ali Trophy Semi-Final on Saturday in Nuremberg.

“I came here to book a place in the final,” said 27-year-old Smith. “I have had a really good camp, and I have improved on stuff from the last fight and people will see a better performance from me. People will see that I am good enough to win the tournament.”

“I just want to win, win well and look good doing it.”

Asked if it is motivating for him to have George Groves watching Saturday’s fight from ringside, Smith responded.

“Yeah, it’s motivating. I always knew from the start of the tournament that there was a massive opportunity that George would be waiting in the final. But for now I am fully focused on Nieky, and then I can talk more about Groves after the fight.”

Substitute fighter Nieky Holzken, the undefeated Dutch super middleweight, and former world kickboxing champion joined the quest for the Ali Trophy at the semi-final stage following the withdrawal of veteran German fighter Juergen Braehmer with illness.

The 34-year-old has been bold in the build-up stating he is entering the tournament ‘to take over’, and he continued on the positive path at the press conference.

“It is great to be here,” said Holzken. “My life has been like a rollercoaster the last days. I was preparing to fight Dmitrii Chudinov, and on Monday I got the call that Juergen Braehmer was out. So this is a lifetime opportunity, and I will take the opportunity with both hands. I’m ready!”

“Callum is a good fighter and respectful guy. But I am a big believer and I believe I can get the victory on Saturday. I am going to do my best to beat him and my best to win the whole tournament.”

Tickets for the Ali Trophy semi-final Smith-Holzken at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung are available at eventim.de .

Savage Southampton Super-Feather Ryan Garner might have been absent from the public eye for the past seven months following a short suspension for an out of ring transgression but the one the call ‘The Piranha’ certainly hasn’t been profligating.

A one time European schoolboy king and triple national junior champion, the classy yet clinical 20 year old executioner has been sharpening his tools and collecting props in world class company ahead of his highly anticipated ring return at London’s York Hall on February 24th.

‘I doubt I’ll be that rusty as I’ve been sparring up and down the country,’   claims iron Ryan who has won six straight since storming the pros in June 2016.

‘I went up to Doncaster to help   (Commonwealth Featherweight boss)   Isaac Lowe and I worked with   (IBF and WBA bantam boss)   Ryan Burnett for his unification fight in October.  

‘I was sparring the Walsh brothers   (champions Liam and Ryan)   before I even turned pro and last summer I was doing six to eight rounds, three times a week for three weeks with Carl Frampton. Recently I’ve sparred Mitchell Smith and Charlie Edwards.  

‘They’re all older and far more experienced but if I can hold your own in that company after just five fights, it shows what level I should be able to compete at.  

‘For these top guys, you travel to their gyms where they feel they have to show they’re ‘The Man’.  That adds pressure but my timing was there and I feel good.
 
'To be honest, I’m learning far more sparring that level than I would fighting journeymen who just come to survive. Sparring better people, I can show more variety. In longer fights, my body shots will come more into play. In the amateurs or four rounders, they can take it…but they’d fold over ten or 12.  

‘These spars can only help me progress and I’m improving every aspect of my game. I’m becoming stronger physically and mentally more focussed. During my suspension, I’ve been able to focus on improving my overall technique as opposed to getting myself ultra fit to fight.’

A former streetfighter with natural combative instincts, the aptly named ‘Piranha’ needed less than three completed rounds to shred five of his six paid victims yet insists his skill set extends beyond a heavy punch and executioner’s mien.

‘Some dismiss me as just a come forward banger but I can make people miss and counter off the back foot,’   he claims.

‘My fifth opponent   (50 fight Nicaraguan veteran)  Rafael Castillo was really tough and I couldn’t walk through him so last two rounds I just boxed. It might have been my best performance.

‘Hatton was my childhood hero but, of the current crop, I like ‘Loma’, an aggressive, exciting, front foot counter puncher.

While the city’s population exceeds a quarter of a million, it’s boxing history and ring accomplishments thus far are surprisingly sparse. And that’s something that Garner – in tandem with Pound for Pound gym mate Joe Pigford - Southampton’s obscenely heavy-handed 13-0 super-welterweight – intend to alter.

‘Southampton’s a rough old port but unfortunately, before us, local fighters never had much of a chance,’   explains the Wayne Batten coached prospect who has started just twice in his home city but has accrued a large band of travelling fans.

‘Wayne’s the only professional boxing trainer in Southampton. Before myself and Joe signed with Frank Warren, he went under the radar a bit but he’s got exceptionally quick hands and is probably the best pad man I’ve seen, never mind worked with. He’s also done so much for me outside of boxing.
 
‘Though the Guildhall has the most mental atmosphere’s I’ve known, it only holds about 1100. Then the Rosebowl cricket ground and St Mary’s are both outdoor. But Joe and me are both big Saints   (Southampton FC)   fans since day dot and I intend to be a flag bearer and headline at St Mary’s……one day!’

Limited remaining tickets for Saturday 24th February are available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.com  and directly from fighters on the bill.


Source: Frank Warren PR [Press Release]

The final batch of tickets for the World Heavyweight title unification blockbuster between Anthony Joshua MBE and Joseph Parker at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31 will go on sale at midday on Monday February 26.

Joshua and Parker clash for the WBA Super, IBF, IBO and WBO belts at the Welsh national stadium and fight fans have already snapped up over 70,000 for the event, which also features Ryan Burnett defending his WBA World Bantamweight title against Yonfrez Parejo, Alexander Povetkin putting his WBA Inter-Continental and WBO International titles against Liverpool favourite David Price, Joe Cordina fighting for his first pro title against Andy Townend with the WBA International Lightweight title and more undercard action to be announced soon.

Tickets will go on sale at midday on Monday February 26 through official ticketing partner StubHub priced at £40, £60, £80, £300 and £600 from www.stubhub.co.uk

Limited tickets remain on sale for the event priced at £300 and £600 from  www.stubhub.co.uk

Coach packages are on sale via www.seetickets.com  with various pick up/drop off locations available throughout the UK.

For accessibility and wheelchair tickets – please contact the Principality Stadium via 02920 822432.

Official hospitality packages are available to purchase directly from Principality Stadium Experience. Both private suite and premium lounge packages are available to purchase, with prices starting from £450 per person + VAT. For further information please call the team on 02920 822 413.

Official Hospitality packages are also available via Sportsworld via www.sportsworld.co.uk  or by calling 0208 9712966

Authorities are strongly advising fans to allow plenty of time to get into both Cardiff and Principality Stadium and to plan their travel before purchasing a ticket. Details can be found via the Information tab at:  http://www.principalitystadium.wales/events/v/joshua-v-parker-2018-03-31

Source: Frank Warren PR [Press Release]

After barely putting a boot wrong during a 19 fight apprenticeship in the northern halls, Manchester sensation Zelfa Barrett – arguably the nation’s brightest prospect at any weight – intends to dispense some capital punishment upon Dundee hard case Ronnie Clark when he makes his London debut at the York Hall this Saturday.

‘I’m excited, man. A lot of southern fans have been messaging me, saying they can’t wait to see me,’ says the 24 year old who has won 19 straight with a dozen – often spectacular – stoppages.

‘Other than to sign with Frank (Warren, his Hall of Fame promoter) and attend the last James DeGale fight, I’ve not really spent time in London but this isn’t no game, no sightseeing trip. I’m on a mission.

‘I intend to put on a show, highlight that boxings not just about fighting, it’s an art; hitting and not being hit. It’s very hard to do and only the very best fighters consistently manage it.’

While the super slick yet potent 5ft 7in ‘Brown Flash’ has barely had his hair ruffled between the ropes, he copped hellacious flack on the social media outlets last year when his trainer, mentor and uncle Pat Barrett – a disturbingly dangerous former British and European light-welter champion - withdrew Zelfa from a sanctioned British title eliminator with Sam Bowen – citing his undergraduate ring education remained unfinished.

Such shackles have since been shed and the time has come for Barrett to be unleashed upon all comers in the talent dense 130lb division.

‘In 2018 I’m looking to win and defend the titles but there’s still no rush. We’re definitely here for the long run, not the short stay,’ clarifies ‘Zelly’ who has been masterfully managed by Steve Wood.

‘Let the others do the sledging. I prefer listening. I do my talking in the ring. Your Sam Bowens and Lyon Woodstocks are good, durable fighters but I believe I beat them.

‘Everyone can be fit and strong but, at top level, skills pay the bills and that’s where I excel. There’ll obviously have their opinions but I believe I’ve got the gift. Rather than call out names, I just say I’ll fight anyone who has the titles.’

In an end of year BoxNation poll, six of the dozen experts canvassed nominated the Harpurhey hotshot as the nation’s brightest starlet. However, the ‘Flash’ insists hard work supersedes innate talent as the key ingredient behind his rise to prominence.

‘What motivates me is the thought of getting beat,’ confides Barrett who has been known to train on Christmas Day!

‘I gain confidence knowing that I’m training, improving, when others aren’t. Defeat always felt horrible in the amateurs whereas winning is a feeling you can’t buy. I get a buzz when I see the things I work on it training, pay off on fight night.

‘I intend to be the next ‘big thing’ to come out the city. I’m doing this for all the people of Manchester. I still get up at 5am to run and I think people appreciate my realness. You can’t lie in boxing.

‘Already there’s no other fighter like me in the city and very few in the whole country. I’m mastering that US style….don’t blink or I’ll knock you out!

‘‘Uncle Pat’ genuinely wants what’s best for me. If he can coach me to achieve more than he did, be better than him, he’d be very proud.  

Barrett’s burgeoning rep will certainly soar further if he can make short shift of the obscenely intense Clark, a battle hardened former British title challenger who takes great pride in getting into opponent’s faces and ruffling a few feathers. Zelfa welcomes the challenge.

‘I know I don’t look a rough, rugged guy. I’ve usually got a smile on my face and I’d rather showcase my skills but if it comes to the nitty gritty, I know I can fight,’   he warns.

‘I’m coming to light up London! I intend to show the cockneys I can deal with whatever challenges are put in front of me, then treat them to another spectacular knockout….add to the Barrett family highlight reel!’

An action-packed evening of boxing at the iconic fight theatre features Anthony 'The Beast' Yarde (14-0, 13 KO’s) defending his WBO Intercontinental and European Light-Heavyweight titles against Frenchman Tony Averlant (26-9-2, 5 KO’s);

Knockout artist Daniel 'Dynamite' Dubois (6-0, 6 KO’s) fights at the historical East London venue for the first time in his professional career as he defends his Southern Area Heavyweight belt against Queensborough’s DL Jones (8-0-1).

Elsewhere on a stacked card Welling Super-Featherweight Archie Sharp aims to improve his unbeaten record to 12-0; former Southern Area Super-Featherweight Champion Boy Jones Jnr fights at Lightweight for the first time; gifted Southampton Featherweight Ryan ‘The Piranha’ Garner looks to get his career back on track when he fights over four rounds; Ilford Welterweight talent Hamzah Sheeraz fights in his second professional contest while stylish Ilford Super-Middleweight Umar Sadiq and former Team GB Flyweight Harvey Horn both look to go 2-0.

A very limited number of remaining tickets are available to purchase on the door.


Source: Frank Warren PR [Press Release]

This past Saturday, while the eyes of the boxing world were seemingly fixed on the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight semi-final clash between George Groves and Chris Eubank Jr, another 168lbs titleholder recorded the first defence of his belt: some 5,061 miles away in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WBC World champion David Benavidez talked and acted like a man with a chip on his shoulder throughout the build-up to his rematch on Saturday night against Ronald Gavril, the man he bested in September last year to become boxing’s youngest world champion at just twenty years of age. On that occasion, ‘El Bandera Roja’, meaning the ‘Red Flag’ in Spanish, overcame a final round flash knockdown to eke out a split decision victory in an entertaining and competitive fight.

Benavidez, born in Phoenix, Arizona but with Mexican blood running through his veins, acknowledged that he had not been at his best, but felt he nevertheless won the fight clearly. For his part, Romanian challenger Gavril, now operating out of Las Vegas under Mayweather Promotions, was convinced that he had done enough to deserve victory, particularly with the knockdown in the twelfth round. When the rematch was put forward, both men accepted without hesitation, one eager to put right a perceived injustice on the scorecards from the first fight, the other determined to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that he was the better man.