WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo successfully defended his title for the first time last Saturday night in beating Brandon Adams by a 12 round unanimous decision, and he’s now hoping to get a bigger match-up against Saul Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is reporting that Sergey Kovalev vs. Anthony Yarde is set for August 24 in Russia, according to Mike Coppinger [@TheAthleticBOX]. Saul Canelo Alvarez is still in play for a fight against Kovalev in September.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has already won titles in three weight divisions in his distinguished career, and he may be looking for another one. The current middleweight kingpin and holder of a super middleweight title has been rumored to be moving up to light heavyweight (175 pounds) to fight Sergey Kovalev. SI’s Chris Mannix took to social media to discuss the situation:
Gennady Golovkin vs. Jaime Munguia is a possible fight to take place in the fall if Saul Canelo Alvarez steps up to 175 to challenge WBO champion Sergey Kovalev, according to Mike Coppinger @TheAthleticBOX .
TEMECULA, Calif. (June 26, 2019) – The road to lightweight supremacy continues Friday at Pechanga Resort Casino when IBF world lightweight champion Richard Commey (28-2, 25 KOs) makes the first defense of his title against former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran (36-8-1, 22 KOs).
The winner of Commey-Beltran is expected to fight the winner of the July 19 IBF title eliminator featuring unbeaten sensation Teofimo Lopez and Japanese veteran Masayoshi Nakatani. The winner of this de facto tournament could conceivably face unified champion Vasiliy Lomachenko for all four lightweight belts in early 2020.
Promoter Bob Arum says Tyson Fury will be fighting next on either September 7th or 21st in New York at Madison Square Garden, according to Mike Coppinger @theathleticBox. Arum will be meeting with MTK Global reps to talk about Fury’s opponent for September.
NEWARK, N.J. (June 25, 2019) — Newark native Shakur Stevenson has graduated from co-headliner to center stage performer. Stevenson, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, will return home for the first time as a professional when he faces former world title challenger Franklin Manzanilla in a 10-round featherweight bout Saturday, July 13 at Prudential Center.
TEMECULA, Calif (June 28, 2019) — The young champion took the old veteran to school. Richard "RC" Commey made the first defense of his IBF world lightweight title, knocking down former world champion Ray Beltran four times en route to an eighth-round knockout in front of 2,795 fans at Pechanga Resort Casino.
Leo Santa Cruz says he wants to setup a unification fight at 126 against Gary Russell Jr., and if he can’t get that fight, he plans on going after Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis at 130. Santa Cruz (36-1-1, 19 KOs) is focusing on facing the bigger names in unification fights or title shots. He wants to maximize the time that he has left in his career.