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Claressa Shields Jumps to Shakur Stevenson’s Defense, Questions Turki

By Al Faqiih July 8, 2025

Claressa Shields Jumps to Shakur Stevenson’s Defense, Questions Turki Alalshikh’s “Shrinking Ring” Jibe

For the past few weeks, Shakur Stevenson has become the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. A match against William Zepeda, which he was targeting as the chance to become the undisputed king of lightweight, has now turned into a critical battle for his professional future, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s recent ultimatum.

A month ago, after the disappointing May for Riyadh Season, where two boxing super cards, including Devin Haney, Canelo Alvarez, and Ryan Garcia, faced nothing but criticism, the GEA chairman took charge. He ramped up the pressure on his boxers, declaring that he won’t entertain any “Tom and Jerry” type fights. Fans widely believed the Saudi Royal targeted Shakur Stevenson, a premier defensive boxer. As ‘Ring III,’ showcasing the WBC lightweight champion, draws near, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh crafted a decisive strategy to stop his fighters from running. He declared, ‘Shrink the ring!’ This time, the message explicitly mentioned Stevenson, leaving everyone quite perplexed.

His Excellency’s message left more than just fans puzzled. Even Claressa Shields, the most decorated female boxer of all time, struggled to grasp the concept. On her X account, she quoted Alalshikh’s post: “We have a surprise for Shakur Stevenson on Saturday, a ring that shrinks as the fight goes on. 😈 Shakur says he is ready to deliver a beatdown of William Zepeda, and I know the Mexican is prepared for the challenge of the biggest fight of his life. 🥊 🔥,” before posing her question.

“What exactly does this mean @Turki_alalshikh ?” she asked, literally wanting to know the answer. After all, altering the ring’s size will significantly disrupt Stevenson’s strategy, as he typically gauges his opponent early before engaging aggressively. Though it is obvious that the Saudi Royal is joking, the GWOAT wants a clarification. Is the ring really going to shrink, or does His Excellency have something else in mind? Is it some kind of mental game to bring out the best of Shakur Stevenson?

We will get a defined answer on July 12th only. However, His Excellency’s provocative statement has clearly ignited a spark in the Newark native boxer. Right after the announcement, he fired back bluntly, significantly heightening the anticipation among fans and observers.

Shakur Stevenson is ready for anything

Whether there will actually be a shrinking ring in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Queens, remains to be seen. However, Shakur Stevenson, who has chased a fight against William Zepeda for years, won’t let anything stray him away from that path.

“See y’all Saturday,” he replied to the declaration by Alalshikh. The WBC lightweight champion is indeed under pressure, but he won’t let it determine the result of the match. He has already promised the fans his best performance to date. So, be it a shrinking ring or a wide-open plaza, the Olympian will rise to the occasion.

Promoter Eddie Hearn called this fight Shakur’s moment to become a “superstar,” comparing him to Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard. He insisted Zepeda’s aggressive style is exactly what the undefeated champion needs to elevate his profile beyond technical acclaim.

Seeing Shakur Stevenson this driven for a fight after so long is invigorating. The WBC lightweight champion has always carried a chip on his shoulder. Though critics label him a dull fighter, he has yet to fail. With his career now at a pivotal moment, he stands ready to quiet critics and possibly reinvent himself again. Something he has done countless times.

Do you think we will see a different Shakur Stevenson against William Zepeda?

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Joshua may retire in 2026 – Hearn

By Al Faqiih July 8, 2025

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua could retire from professional boxing in 2026, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, who hinted that the former heavyweight champion may only have three more fights left in his career, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking to DAZN and The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Hearn suggested that the 34-year-old’s final chapter in boxing could involve a series of high-profile fights culminating in a retirement at the end of 2026.

“2026 will probably be his last year in the sport,” Hearn stated, outlining a potential path that includes two fights against Tyson Fury before bowing out.

“If I’m advising AJ, we’re back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, and what else is there to do? Maybe fight Daniel Dubois. But once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he’s kind of done it all.”

Hearn revealed that Joshua is preparing for a comeback bout later this year following elbow surgery in May.

The fight, likely to take place between October and December, would be his first since a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

“By the time he steps back into the ring, AJ will have been out for just over a year and he’ll be coming off surgery,” Hearn said.

“I don’t think Tyson Fury will be ready to fight around that time, so we’re looking at someone who can gear him up for a really big fight in 2026.”

While Hearn previously identified Dillian Whyte as the frontrunner for Joshua’s return opponent, plans have shifted, with Whyte now close to finalising a fight against rising British-Nigerian prospect Moses Itauma in Saudi Arabia.

This development has opened the door for other options, including American heavyweight Deontay Wilder and rising star Jared Anderson.

“Dillian Whyte was probably the frontrunner, to be honest with you. Now it looks like he’s going to fight Moses, so that was a curveball,” Hearn said.

Hearn did not rule out a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, who handed Joshua two of his four professional defeats, but acknowledged that prolonging his career indefinitely carries risks.

“You just keep going on and on,” he said.

“Now, if we get to next year and he’s still firing on all cylinders, then 2026 won’t be his last year. But for me, something feels right about coming back this year, beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset.”

Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion, has fought 32 times as a professional, winning 28 and losing four. His most recent outing against Dubois brought an end to a four-fight winning streak and has forced him to reassess his path forward.

Meanwhile, Wilder, who is also seeking redemption after consecutive defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, is set to return on June 27 against Tyrrell Herndon in Kansas. A strong showing could renew interest in a long-awaited clash between him and Joshua.

“AJ-Wilder is a massive fight as well,” Hearn said.

“And I think because of the loss to Dubois, it makes the fight more palatable, especially if Wilder can come back with a good win.”

Though Tyson Fury has twice lost to Usyk and announced his retirement earlier this year, Hearn remains hopeful that the former WBC champion will return for a showdown with Joshua.

Joshua has yet to publicly confirm his retirement plans, but his promoter’s remarks suggest that the final countdown may have begun for one of British boxing’s most prominent figures.

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Anthony Joshua faces backlash over controversial statement

By Al Faqiih July 8, 2025

British professional boxer, Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, has received backlash for making a statement on loyalty and cheating.

Anthony Joshua on his story on Monday claimed that the feeling of guilt after cheating is a realization of loyalty.

“If you cheat on your partner and feel guilty after, that’s how you know you are loyal,” he wrote.

The boxer’s statement sparked numerous reactions with many calling him out for supporting cheating.

While some pointed out that he was just joking around, others called him out for making such statement.

The 35-year-old athlete held the unified world heavyweight championship twice between 2016 and 2021.

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Gervonta Davis Shreds Floyd Schofield After Being Called Out

By Al Faqiih July 1, 2025

Boxing fans and gambling often see eye-to-eye but on this one, they couldn’t come to an agreement.

Floyd Schofield Jr. walked into his matchup with Tevin Farmer this past weekend with serious questions floating over his head. In February, the 22-year-old was laughed at for pulling out of his showdown against Shakur Stevenson after falling ill. Assumptions from his father, Floyd Sr., that his son was poisoned only brought more negative press to the withdrawal.

Still, against Farmer, Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) promised to look as explosive as ever. That statement delivered.

It took Schofield just one round to drop Farmer three times before stopping him within the first two minutes. Once it was over, Schofield began calling his shot, calling out some of the division’s top dogs such as Gervonta Davis.

Apparently, Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) didn’t appreciate the callout. So, while Schofield was in the midst of enjoying the biggest win of his career, the current WBA beltholder went to social media and told the world what would happen if they met up in the ring.

“He will get his little [expletive] whooped,” Davis said on his X account. “I’ll beat the [expletive] out of him.”

Schofield has the No. 2 slot in the WBA’s rankings. And, win, lose, or draw, William Zepeda, who holds the No. 1 spot, will either be removed from the rankings if he beats Stevenson to become WBC champion or fall a few spots if he comes up short.

Fantasizing about a matchup between Davis and Schofield, however, doesn’t mean much of anything. While it hasn’t been officially announced, Davis is set to run things back with Lamont Roach following their controversial draw earlier this year.

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Gervonta Davis’s next fight uncertain as fighter who drew with ‘Tank’ speaks on

By Al Faqiih July 1, 2025

Gervonta Davis’s next fight uncertain as fighter who drew with ‘Tank’ speaks on potential rematch

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is considered one of the pound-for-pound stars of the sport as he boasts a 30-0-1 record.

The only fighter that Davis has not been able to beat is Lamont Roach. Fighting in New York in March, Davis and Roach fought to a draw, as ‘Tank’ received the first blemish on his professional record.

The now 25-1-2 Roach was able to snap the star’s winning streak, with Davis even taking a knee in the fight supposedly due to hair grease entering his eye.

Due to the close nature of the fight, many expect Davis to once again face Roach in his next outing. However, all is not confirmed for the lightweight rematch.

Lamont Roach unable to confirm if Gervonta Davis has signed rematch contract

Roach, who is unbeaten since 2019, recently spoke to TMZ regarding a potential future fight with Davis.

‘The Reaper’ started by sending a warning to Davis, saying, “Meet me in the middle of the ring. We’re going to see who leaves out the ring.”

When Roach was then asked by the reporter, “There’s a rumour that Tank hasn’t signed a contract yet, can you speak to that?”, the fighter responded, “No, I can’t speak to that.”

Roach then added, “I’m not saying he didn’t sign the contract,” while rolling his eyes and smiling.

When asked if he thought that Davis was scared of a rematch with him, Roach answered, “I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s scared of me, as a man. But, he’s scared to get embarrassed.”

Alternative opponents for Gervonta Davis if Lamont Roach is not next for ‘Tank’

Should Roach not be next for the WBA World Lightweight champion, ‘Tank’ is by no means short of options for his next opponent.

Rising contender Floyd Schofield scored a first-round knockout over former world champion Tevin Farmer at the weekend, and is now ranked as the number one contender by the WBA at lightweight.

Davis and Shakur Stevenson have traded barbs over the years, meaning they might look to finally settle their feud in a lightweight unification bout.

Keyshawn Davis also has a feud with Gervonta Davis, meaning they could be viable opponents for one another.

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Anthony Joshua ‘on the verge of quitting boxing’ if he fights Jake Paul

By Al Faqiih July 1, 2025

Former world champion Johnny Nelson believes the only way Anthony Joshua entertains the idea of fighting Jake Paul is if he is looking to cash out and quit the sport.

After beating heavyweight legend Mike Tyson last November, Paul returned to the ring at the weekend to seal a points victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Chavez Jr is a former world champion having won the WBC middleweight belt in 2011 but his career has tailed off dramatically over the last six years. In any case, Paul’s victory over a legitimate boxer has been regarded as perhaps his biggest yet.

‘The Problem Child’ is now ranked 14^th in the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings, making him eligible to fight for their world title currently held by Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, who also holds the WBO belt.

But Paul also his sights on a heavyweight showdown with two-time world champion Joshua.

Rather than distance himself from the fight talk, Joshua has fuelled it with Paul claiming on Saturday the fight is ‘very likely’ to take place at the end of 2026.

Joshua meanwhile has not fought since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois last September and was set to undergo elbow surgery in May before a return to the ring later this year.

Former cruiserweight champion Nelson insists there are far more pressing matters for Joshua to attend to, with the former Olympian still intent on becoming a three-time world champion with a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury also still a possibility.

While he would be ’very surprised’ to see Joshua in the ring with Paul, Nelson believes the right offer at the right time could see them do business.

‘AJ will have more pressing matters a hand,’ Nelson told Metro.

‘If that fight happens I will be very surprised. There’s only one scenario I see. If Anthony Joshua is on the verge of quitting and calling it day and says, “I’ll fight Jake Paul as a cash out”.

‘He will think to himself he can get in there and knock this kid out no problem, get paid a substantial amount and walk away. That’s the only way I can see it happening. But otherwise I can’t see it happening.’

Nelson has doubts over Paul’s desire to share the ring with Joshua, still one of the most fearsome heavyweights in the sport at 35 years old.

‘It is very conceivable, we have seen fighters talk a fight into existence before,’ Nelson said. ‘It elevates the fighter. Do I think Paul wants the fight? Not in a million years. But he is brilliant media machine and he has done the right thing because that is what everyone is talking about right now.

‘But in reality, no I don’t think it will happen and I don’t think he wants that either.

‘We have to give him respect as a young fighter coming through, a young fighter with money who can afford to get the right bodies in the ring that pads out his record. And he can fight now. He’s not as good as he thinks but he can fight. So he deserves some respect.’

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Jake Paul Next Fight Odds: Anthony Joshua Heads Betting

By Al Faqiih July 1, 2025

There has been plenty of talk regarding Jake Paul’s next opponent following his victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Anthony Joshua is currently the name that heads the markets.

According to the latest boxing odds at William Hill, the former world heavyweight champion is the 4/1 favourite to be next in the ring with Paul, who is also known as ‘The Problem Child’.

As of July 2025, Paul has a 12-1 professional boxing record – with a controversial split decision against Tommy Fury in February the one blemish on his otherwise perfect record.

There will be plenty of sports betting punters who would love to see a rematch and Tommy Fury is next in the betting at 6/1 while Jean Pascal is next up at 8/1.

Boxing fans would love to see Carl Froch (10/1) and Tony Bellew (10/1) back in the ring but they are priced as outsiders and you’d imagine both are more likely to remain in the commentary booth.

Jake Paul’s Next Opponent Odds:

If you’re looking to bet on Jake Paul’s next fight, we have you covered at William Hill. Here is the current state of the market for his next opponent:

Anthony Joshua – 4/1
Tommy Fury – 6/1
Jean Pascal – 8/1
Badou Jack – 9/1
Carl Froch – 10/1
Tony Bellew – 10/1
KSI – 10/1
Andre Ward – 12/1
Jon Jones – 12/1
Bar – 16/1

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Following Jake Paul’s victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, speculation is rising about who ‘The Problem Child’ will fight next.

“Paul could be in line for a blockbuster clash with former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, and the British boxer heads the list of his likely opponents at 4/1.

“Tommy Fury, who inflicted the only loss of Paul’s career to date, is 6/1 to step into the ring with Paul once again, while former top boxers Tony Bellew and Carl Froch are both priced at 10/1 for a showdown with Paul.”

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Lamont Roach Jr. To Tank Davis When We Rematch … Skip The Hair Grease!!!

By Al Faqiih June 30, 2025

Lamont Roach Jr. has some advice for Gervonta Davis if they ever rematch … chill with the hair grease!

TMZ Sports recently caught up with the lightweight boxing contender at Fanatics Fest in NYC … when we asked about the status of his fight with Tank after their controversial first scrap.

you may recall, the fight ended in a majority draw (meaning Tank kept his title), though many fans felt Lamont won outright.

Adding to the drama, Davis took a knee in the fourth round after eating a shot from Roach Jr. … before walking to his corner, where they wiped his face.

The fight continued on after the bizarre moment — which was NOT ruled a knockdown. No points were deducted, either.

Pressing forward, Lamont isn’t looking to relive that situation in the likely event the men rematch on August 16, like multiple reports say they will … despite Davis apparently not having yet signed the contract.

As for whether Tank fears fighting Lamont again … Roach Jr. thinks there’s something to it.

“I wouldn’t say he’s scared of me as a man, but he’s scared to get embarrassed. He’s scared to get embarrassed. That’s his problem.”

There’s more with the 25-1-1 fighter.

With the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford mega fight scheduled to go down September 13 in Las Vegas, we also asked Roach Jr. for his take on one of the most anticipated scraps of the decade

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Blockbuster? Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua ‘looking very likely’ for 2026

By Al Faqiih June 30, 2025

Jake Paul notched his 12th victory last night (Sat., June 29, 2025), earning a unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California (results here).

With Chavez Jr.’s name added to his resume, Paul is eyeing the future. The YouTuber-turned-professional boxer aims to become a world champion but remains drawn to mega-money matchups.

“El Gallo” is doubling down on a clash with former WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, predicting it will happen next year.

“I’m definitely not a heavyweight, but I’m still going to take the challenge,” Paul said during the Paul vs. Chavez Jr. post-fight press conference. “You look at Deontay Wilder, he was beating these guys weighing 215 pounds. Granted, he’s 6-foot-6 or something, but anything is possible. I like the challenge. That’s the criticism. ‘Fight someone in their prime who is a beast!’

“I think people just want to see me lose,” Paul added. “That’s really the message behind it all. Anthony Joshua is an insane fight, but I want that challenge. We’ve been DMing back and forth, he wants to make it happen, he called me up, and it’s looking very likely for next year.”

A Paul vs. Joshua showdown would be a blockbuster, though it seems far-fetched. Then again, who predicted a bout with Mike Tyson?

Paul rides a six-fight win streak, with victories over Tyson, Mike Perry, and Nate Diaz, while Joshua reels from a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois (watch highlights).

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Jake Paul wants to fight Anthony Joshua

By Al Faqiih June 30, 2025

Jake Paul wants the “challenge” of fighting Anthony Joshua.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer defeated former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr by unanimous decision on Saturday night (28.06.25), and Jake is now looking to face Joshua, a London 2012 gold medallist and the former heavyweight world champion.
Speaking at his post-fight press conference, Jake said: “I’m definitely not a heavyweight, but I’m still gonna take the challenge. You look at Deontay Wilder; he was beating these guys weighing 215 pounds, he’s like 6ft 6in or something, but anything is possible.
“Anthony Joshua is an insane fight, but I want that challenge.”
Jake and Joshua have already discussed the possibility of fighting each other in 2026.
Jake said: “We’ve been DM-ing back and forth. He wants to make it happen. He called me up and it’s looking very likely for next year.”
Despite this, Chavez Jr has rubbished the idea that Jake could beat Joshua or any other world champion.
He said post-fight: “He’s strong, a good boxer [for] the first three, four rounds. After that, I felt he was tired. I don’t think he’s ready for the champions, but he’s a good fighter.”
Meanwhile, Jake recently hit back at his critics, insisting that he’s already fought lots of credible opponents in his boxing career.
The 28-year-old star accused his critics of “idiotic low-level thinking”.
The former Bizaardvark star – who defeated former world champion Mike Tyson back in November – told Extra: “I love this criticism because it just shows how daft people are. It’s like, on one hand they’ll call Anderson Silva one of the greatest fighters of all time, and then they’ll say these things and completely discredit Anderson Silva, discredit Tyron Woodley, a multiple-time UFC champion. You know, the list goes on and on with prominent names that I’ve beat.
“Mike Perry, they called the kind of violence, he was in his prime, bare-knuckle God, said he was gonna starch me — knocked him out.
“It again shows the stupidity of people and that they’ll think one thing going into a fight and then when I prove them wrong, they just fall back on their regular idiotic low-level thinking ways.”

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