Latest news with #TeofimoLopez
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Josh Taylor retires from boxing due to eye injury
Former undisputed world champion Josh Taylor has announced his retirement from boxing due to an eye injury. Taylor underwent eye surgery last year and has been advised by specialists that to continue could endanger his eyesight. The 34-year-old will go down in history as one of Scotland's greatest boxers, having won and then unified the world light-welterweight titles. Taylor said in a statement: 'As has been publicised before, I've had a recurring issue with my eye that unfortunately means I now have to call time on my career or risk losing my eyesight. 'While the fighter in me always wants to box on, I know I have to listen to the medical professionals and save me from myself. 'It is certainly not the way I wanted to bow out but I have to listen to the doctors and those around me.' Taylor, from Prestonpans, turned professional one year after winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. He claimed the IBF version of the world light-welterweight title with a points win over Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow in May 2019, and added the WBA 'super' title by beating Regis Prograis in his next bout. Taylor went on to beat previously undefeated Jose Ramirez to become the undisputed champion in Las Vegas in May 2021. Taylor suffered his first defeat to Teofimo Lopez in New York in June 2023 and was also beaten in a rematch by British rival Jack Catterall in his following bout. After undergoing surgery, Taylor returned for a bout against Ekow Essuman in Glasgow in May this year, but suffered his third consecutive defeat.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I trained with Manny Pacquiao: How this excruciating workout including THREE THOUSAND sit-ups a day is preparing boxing icon for comeback at 46
It felt more like a homecoming than a training session when Manny Pacquiao pulled up to Griffith Park in Los Angeles at 5.30am wearing black sunglasses and a full sweatsuit. Hundreds of people had already lined the edge of the road in north Hollywood. Some held flags. Others clutched old posters. Most just had their phones out, waiting. They knew exactly who was coming. Pacquiao jumped out of a black SUV with that familiar bounce in his step — the same one he had when he won his first world title a quarter of a century ago. But this time, that bounce is carrying him into one of the toughest challenges of his career: a comeback fight against Mario Barrios, a 30-year-old two-weight world champion who's younger, sharper and currently holding the WBC welterweight crown. For Pacquiao, this isn't just another bout, it's a genuine world title shot, and a serious gamble after four years out of the ring and a flat performance against Yordenis Ugas in 2021. Ahead of his comeback fight on Saturday, four years after his last professional bout, I'd been given the green light to join the only eight-division world champion in boxing history during his training camp. Having touched down in LA I expected a few light sessions, a quote or two, and a photo opportunity. I did not expect to be gasping for air halfway up a hill as Pacquiao, Teofimo Lopez - a former unified lightweight world champion who famously beat Vasyl Lomachenko - and the Vargas brothers, a trio of rising prospects from the legendary Vargas boxing family, breezed past me. 'You said you wanted to experience my training camp,' Pacquiao laughed as we ran side-by-side. 'Now you see why I say age is just a number.' Pacquiao's leap, from retired icon to title contender, invites questions. Not just about fitness or speed, but about the unknowns only a fighter understands. Sugar Ray Leonard, who was at Wild Card Boxing Gym earlier that day, offered his perspective. 'It will be the first punch that's the hardest for Manny,' he says. 'You're waiting to see what it feels like, remember what it feels like, the power behind it and how you react to it. It's like with Tommy Hearns. Tommy hits like a mule. I had retired and come back before, and feeling that first punch was a shock. 'But once you get through that, instinct takes over. You don't think about your age, you think about the fight. Manny knows that feeling. He just has to trust it.' We ran up to the observation deck near the Hollywood sign, a 10k climb on steep terrain. Pacquiao was flanked by his team: his pacemaker to the right, his physio to the left, Lopez and the Vargas brothers right behind. His tempo never drops in training. 'It's about pushing yourself to the limit,' he explains I tried to keep pace. On the flat, it was manageable. But once the incline kicked in, it became brutal. What surprised me most? Pacquiao's tempo never dropped. His bottom lip never gaped. And his attitude never changed. Not once. 'It's not just about training,' Pacquiao said. 'It's about working hard and pushing yourself to the limit. It's about sweat and willpower. You have to push yourself constantly because if you don't push yourself, you will pay in the ring. You have to be strong enough to break your opponent's will or he'll break yours.' Between hills, his pacemaker would sometimes call for a short walk—part of a structured interval session they are completing. But Pacquiao didn't ask for rest. He didn't look like he needs it. Me on the other hand? Grateful for the respite. That kind of stamina doesn't come by accident. Despite his age, Pacquiao maintains a gruelling schedule: six days of training each week, with double sessions on half of them. He hits the ring for sparring twice weekly and continues his signature 10k runs through the scenic but steep trails of the Hollywood hills. And every day, he powers through 3,000 sit-ups. Yes, you read that right. By the time we reached the observation deck, over a hundred fans had gathered. They surrounded Pacquiao as he finished his core workout and stayed for nearly an hour as he signed autographs, took photos, and personally thanked each fan. The next morning, we did it again. This time, it was a more private—and dare I say, easier—session? I met Pacquiao's team outside of his hotel at 5.30am. They explained how they have to be on standby until 7am as Pacquiao could wake up at any moment and decide to get his run done. Later that day, Pacquiao spoke about how recovery has changed over the years. 'When I was younger, I could recover with one night's rest. I could wake up in the morning feeling fresh after a hard day of training,' he said. 'It's not as easy now. I have to give my body more time. I certainly enjoy more sleep. But the fire in my eyes to work hard? It's still there. I don't see that going out for a long time.' While I waited for Pacquiao that morning, a couple of his team members started jogging back and forth down the block. I figured they were either warming up or just hooked on running. What I didn't realise was they were trying to get a leg up. 'You're cheating!' shouted a late arrival. 'No, I'm not. This isn't against the rules,' came the reply. Having looked confused, Pacquiao's physio filled me in on the stakes. The eight-division world champion had set a challenge for his camp: everyone had to weigh in at the start, and again on fight week alongside Pacquiao himself. The prize? A couple of grand for whoever shed the most weight during camp. At 6am, Pacquiao came down from his hotel room, laced up his trainers and began running through the streets of LA. No cameras this time—except our own, and Pacquiao had something to say about that. Our producer trailed on a Lime Bike, much to Pacquiao's amusement. 'Lazy!' he shouted grinning, followed by 'cheat!' Reflecting on his passion for training, Pacquiao shared: 'I love running the Hollywood hills. It's good for me. The fans give me motivation and support. I love running around LA too. 'I remember as a little boy I ate one meal a day and sometimes slept in the street. I will never forget that. That inspires me to work hard, fight hard and stay strong. It's an honour to train every day. I see it as a privilege, not a chore.' Even in a quieter setting, the city still responded to Pacquiao. Drivers slowed down, rolled down their windows and shouted his name. Some honked their horns. Others simply smiled and nodded in reverence. Pacquiao waved back at every single one. When we reached his local park, he picked up the pace for several laps before settling on a quiet patch to unroll his yoga mat. Core work again. This time, there was no spectating allowed. He pointed at me, then down at the floor. 'You, sit. Let's go.' I tried to laugh it off, until I realised he was serious. A total of 1,500 sit-ups later (no exaggeration), I was drenched, shaking, barely able to get my arms above my head. Pacquiao didn't break a sweat. He laughed as I grimaced through the final set. 'You'll leave LA with a six-pack,' he said, deadpan, before giving me a fist bump and starting another set on his own. How on earth was a regular person supposed to survive when, just the day before, Lopez tackled the same brutal core circuit and struggled? 'Being with Manny has made me realise I need to keep my numbers up,' Lopez joked. 'For Manny to do that many crunches at his age and do it while smiling is crazy. One thousand five hundred sit-ups this morning and then another 1,500 this evening. That's why he's an eighth division world champion and hall of famer and a legend of the sport. 'I do think the rest he's had has helped. He's fast. He's sharp. He was shadow boxing and he was faster than all of us. That says everything.' The numbers, the discipline, the routine, none of it is new to Pacquiao. He might have left the ring, but he never left the life. 'I never enjoyed the idea of retiring,' Pacquiao said. 'As soon as I hung my gloves four years ago, I was so sad. I missed it straight away. I couldn't stop the tears. Boxing wasn't just my career—it was my identity.' And that itch to return never faded. 'I always worked out,' he said. 'But one day I started training seriously again. And it lit something up inside me. I realised: the passion was still there. The ability was still there.' Watching him work, it's easy to forget he's 46. And yet, that number hangs over everything. His last fight, a decision loss to Ugas in 2021, left many wondering if the magic had faded. Pacquiao doesn't think so. He said he was undone not by age, but by distraction: a looming presidential campaign in the Philippines, a lawsuit, and oddly a massage that left his legs sore on fight night. At the time, Pacquiao was a sitting senator who had stepped away from boxing to run for president, campaigning on anti-corruption, poverty relief, and economic reform. He travelled the country, gave speeches daily, and spent months locked in a political battle that drained him physically and emotionally. 'I trained wrong for that fight,' he said. 'My legs began cramping. I couldn't move. He was a very slow opponent and I couldn't believe that I couldn't get around him. But this camp I'm back with Freddie Roach. The old Manny will be back. I am more focused on boxing than I was last time.' If Pacquiao beats Barrios for the WBC welterweight crown, he'll become the oldest fighter ever to win a welterweight world title—breaking his own record set at the age 40 when he beat Keith Thurman. He'd also be the first hall of famer to return and win a legitimate world title. Whether this is the end or the start of another improbable run, Pacquiao didn't know. 'One fight at a time,' he said. 'Then I'll sit down with my team and see where my motivation is.' That team includes Freddie Roach, who stood by the ring ropes at Wild Card Boxing Gym, watching intently as Pacquiao hit pads when we joined them for a boxing session the following day. 'I am so happy to see Manny back in the ring,' Roach said. 'It's where he belongs. And it's like he never left. I just hope he doesn't beat me up! Seriously though, I think he'll put on an impressive performance when he faces Barrios. I'm proud of him.' If his body holds up, if his reflexes survive that first punch, then maybe, just maybe, Pacquiao's story isn't over yet.
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Turki Alalshikh Cuts Ties With 2 Fighters For Being Disrespectful
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: He Turki Alalshikh speaks onstage at Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits ... More Center on June 22, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) Turki Alalshikh has a few deal breakers when it comes to doing business with him and Riyadh Season. If a fighter and their team disrespects him, his country, or religion, he will cease working with them. If you need any proof, look no further than Alalshikh's current stance against Floyd Schofield Jr. and Teofimo Lopez. Alalshikh was a guest on Tha Boxing Voice's podcast on Thursday, and the boxing powerbroker made it clear he doesn't want to work with Schofield or Lopez anymore after the negativity that spewed from the fighters—or in Schofield's case, his father. Alalshikh was asked what Schofield's status was with him. "Okay. But put yourself in my shoes," Alalshikh replied. "This guy [Schofield Jr.]Schofield's publicized stint in the hospital after falling ill was mentioned, but Alalshikh didn't budge. He further detailed the severed relationship. 'If I were someone who didn't care about boxing, I would have told Shakur, 'Thank you, goodbye,'" Alalshikh said. 'Here's $50,000 for your camp.' But I brought in another fighter for Shakur on just 36 hours' notice. If Schofield was really in the hospital, okay, I believe him. But why did his father go to the media and lie about us, about how we handled everything? None of what they said was true. We have the emails, the WhatsApp messages—he thanked us. Everything. Look, this is the problem: if you treat us like regular promoters—lying, using bad language—then you're making a mistake. We are different. We respect you. You respect us. We don't do this for money. I'm not losing money if he's not on my card. Maybe other promoters tolerate behavior like that to benefit from certain fighters. Not me. I don't care. Respect me—you'll get my full support. Disrespect me—and I'll move on, and you'll be the one chasing me." In February, Schofield was scheduled to face Stevenson. However, after falling ill, he was removed from the fight and replaced by Josh Padley. Stevenson won the fight by unanimous decision, and Schofield was blasted in the media. Schofield Sr. said his son was poisoned and that led to his illness. Alalshikh took exception, and the relationship has been damaged. Schofield isn't the only one. Alalshikh was also asked about his relationship with Lopez, who just fought on a Riyadh Season show in May. 'Let me tell you something,' Alalshikh said. 'I don't want to go into exact numbers or contract details. But here's what I'll say—if you don't respect my country or my religion, you will not do business with me.' Alalshikh was also asked if he'd have anything to do with Lopez's rumored bout against Richardson Hitchins. "I will not be involved in that fight." Alalshikh is likely referring to a short video Lopez posted, in which he insulted his country and religion. Lopez has made a habit of making racist remarks, and apparently, someone with power and influence is holding him accountable. Lopez has made a habit of making racist remarks and apparently, someone with power and influence is holding him accountable. Alalshikh has turned the sport of boxing on its ear with massive financial support that has produced dream fights. He recently announced all Riyadh Season fights would be available to any DAZN subscribers for no extra charge moving forward. Because of his matchmaking and fan-friendly moves, he's able to put fighters on a bit of an island away from the fights that will pay them top dollar. Lopez and Schofield appear to be two of the biggest examples.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Liam Paro sends title statement in bloody ‘destruction' after fellow Aussie bolsters rematch bid
Australia's Liam Paro has declared himself ready to take on some of the sport's biggest names after scoring a brutal stoppage win over Jonathan Navarro – which lacerated the tough American's nose and likely broke his orbital. Paul vs Chavez Jr | SUN 29 JUNE 10AM AEST | Jake Paul will take the next step to becoming a world champion when he faces former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports Making his hyped No Limit debut in Cairns, Paro dropped Navarro in the fifth round with a big left hand and then, after his rival beat the count, finished the round battering him against the ropes. Tellingly, Navarro would not come out for the sixth, with pictures of his corner showing a pool of blood beneath his stool. Fighting for the first time since losing his IBF super lightweight title, Paro now looks set to be pitched straight back into world title contention. Already this week, No Limit CEO George Rose told Fox Sports Australia of a hitlist for his client that includes names like Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia and Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz. Importantly, the star Mackay southpaw wants the same. 'I want another belt,' Paro said immediately afterwards. 'Two time champion has a ring to it'. Paro's brutal finish capped off an exciting night in north Queensland. In the co-main, Australia's Liam Wilson punched his way back into world title contention – and potentially, another shot at Mexican superstar Emanuel Navarrete – after earning a tough win over slick Argentinian Ayrton Gimenez. While Gimenez appeared filthy with the judges' scorecards afterwards, Wilson accused his rival of spending much of the fight 'on his bike' and then called out WBO super featherweight king Navarrete. Already, No Limit CEO George Rose has said that if Navarrete gets through his next defence against Charly Suarez, he then wants to bring the Mexican Down Under for Wilson -- a rematch of their contentious 2023 encounter. Elsewhere on the undercard, rising Australian stars Callum Peters and Kirra Ruston both enjoyed brutal stoppage wins, with the later posting a potential Knockout of the Year contender. For Paro, the win proved he is definitely back after losing the IBF crown to Richardson Hitchins last December. 'First and foremost, all glory to God,' Paro told Main Event's Ben Damon in the ring immediately afterwards. And from there, he shouted: 'North Queensland, I'm back'. Isn't he what? First round, it was a composed Paro who landed solidly with his left hand. By the end of the round, there was also drama for Navarro, who was bleeding heavily from a head cut and complaining its cause had been a headbutt. However referee Chris Condon ruled that the gash had been caused by a punch. While the American's corner did a strong job of stopping the bleeding between rounds, and in the second saw Navarro go back to work, it was the Australian who started to surge. In the third, Paro began to assert his dominance, not only throwing more prominently but enjoying great success with the straight left, and also at one point a strong right hook. By the fourth, the boisterous crowd were now chanting for Paro as again the Queenslander scored regularly against a Los Angeles rival who, while continually try to land a big right hand, had few answers for what was coming his way. The end then came in the fifth. With Navarro first dropped by Paro and then, at the end of the round, appearing only to be held up by the ropes. Main Event's Ben Damon called it 'destruction' from Paro in commentary. 'He's a mess,' Damon said of Navarro after round five. WILSON BOOSTS BID FOR LONG-AWAITED REMATCH Liam Wilson punched his way back into world title contention – and potentially, another shot at Mexican superstar Emanuel Navarrete – after earning a tough win over slick Argentinian Ayrton Gimenez. Fighting in the co-main to Liam Paro's hyped No Limit debut, 29-year-old Wilson was made to work hard for his decision win against a slick rival who the Aussie suggested afterwards was 'on his bike' for chunks of the bout. 'But I wouldn't say he was scared,' the Queenslander continued of what was eventually a win on all three scorecards 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. 'That's his style. He's a good boxer.' Immediately after the fight, Gimenez raised his hands into the air triumphantly, before then being hoisted up by his ecstatic trainer who also seemed convinced of victory. Certainly Wilson appeared to control chunks of the fight, pushing his rival onto the back foot and landing heavy. However, there was also no doubting the Argentinian, a slick mover who had plenty of his own moments, made it a competitive fight. Immediately afterwards, Wilson said he now wanted a rematch with Navarrete, should the Mexican superstar get through his next mandated defence. Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, No Limit boss George Rose confirmed discussions were already underway to bring the WBO super featherweight king Down Under for a blockbuster rematch. It has now been over two years since Wilson's controversial stoppage loss against Navarrete in America – which included both a famed '27 second' count and dramatic accusations of scale tampering. However, both No Limit and Team Wilson are convinced they can square the ledger on Australian soil, although Navarrete must first get through a mandated rematch with Charly Suarez. HYPED AUSSIE CALLS FOR TITLE SHOT Hyped Australian prospect Callum '50 Cal' Peters needed just 92 seconds to score the third straight first round finish of his career – and then immediately demanded an Australian title fight. Branded Australia's Most Avoided Fighter by No Limit CEO George Rose, Peters dropped Cairns debutant Luca Lanigan three times in the first round, and each time with a right hand, before the fight was waved off. While the undefeated 22-year-old will now return to the amateurs, where he is gunning for a gold medal at the IBA World Championships in September, he also took time in the mic afterwards to call out Australian middleweight champ Xavier Fletcher. 'Xavier Fletcher,' he said, looking down the barrel of a Fox Sports camera, 'sign the contract bro'. Peters also praised Lanigan, a local Muay Thai fighter, who took the fight on just two days notice after a pair of international rivals withdrew. Speaking with Fox Sports Australia after winning on Jai Opetaia's recent card, Fletcher confirmed his willingness to face the rising No Limit prospect should he win his next national title defence against Dominic Molinaro in July. 'He gets hit too much, makes too many mistakes,' the Brisbane-based champ also said of Peters, while also warning his hyped amateur style will quickly prove his 'downfall' in the professional ranks. Speaking after his win on Wednesday night however, 50 Cal reminded that he already had a win over Fletcher in the amateurs and was happy to now double down with a national title on the line. He said he would be happy to sort the fight for after the worlds, adding that he could fight twice as a professional between September and December. Incredibly, Peters is also looking to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and even the 2028 LA Olympics. Earlier this month, Rose compared Peters to no less than Australian boxing great Dave Sands given he is now looking for fights anywhere from middleweight to light heavyweight. Rose has also suggested Peters can win a world title faster than even the seven fights it took Jeff Fenech. KO OF THE YEAR CONTENDER Australian light heavyweight Kirra Ruston continued his incredible rise in the sport, earning a brutal Knockout Of the Year contender against India's Kartik Kumar While Kumar entered the bout on an undefeated tear of nine straight wins, eight via KO, and arguably won the opening round with a strong jab, it was only midway through the second when Ruston went bang. After landing a big right hand on Kumar, the Indian immediately buckled, then dropped. He would then stay down for the full count. 'It felt like I was just getting started,' Ruston said afterwards, having now taken his own undefeated career start to seven straight. 'But the game plan keeps working so why change it? 'I wanted to see what he had in the first round and he had some pop on his shots. 'I had to stay nice and sharp and eventually saw the right hook 'Thankfully I landed it…' Didn't he what? Asked what was next by Main Event commentator Ben Damon, the 27-year-old said: 'This is just the beginning. 'There are a lot of people out there that could be great potential fights. 'We'll go back and plan it out. 'But I'm here, and I'm staying here. 'I've got Australia on my back and I want to take it all the way to the top.' ENTERTAINING AUSSIE DROPS TEAM PACQUIAO RIVAL Australian featherweight Vegas Larfield earned himself an entertaining decision win over big punching Filipino Bryan Cabrillos – which included a contentious knockdown ruling in the final round. Now two years removed from his sole loss against Albert Nolan, Larfield continued his climb up the domestic rankings against a rival who trains out of Manny Pacquiao's gym in the Philippines. While Cabrillos spent the night continually searching for big right hands, and often found his mark, it was Larfield who had the greater success, particularly to the body, and boxed solidly throughout. In the final round, the Queenslander had his biggest moment of the fight, dropping his rival with a big right hand. Immediately, Cabrillos complained of a low blow however referee Chris Condon dismissed it with a shake of a head. However, Condon also never started a count, with the final scorecards also showing confusion as to if the knockdown had been counted, with Larfield earning the decision: 58-55, 58-56 and 59-55. Regardless, the win was yet another strong showing from the 23-year-old, who has now won four straight since the shock Nolan loss. PRELIMS WRAP First up, Queenslander Caden 'Raging Bull' Russo earned a convincing win over Aaron Stahl, a former opponent of Nikita Tszyu. Ingham product Russo boxed solidly throughout to score a convincing win on all three judges' scorecards -- 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54. In the second fight of the night, Cairns local Quinton 'Da Hitman' Smith earned his first professional win in style -- a brutal first round stoppage of debutant Laphya Reuben. After first forcing Reuben to a knee midway through opening round, Smith then quickly doubled down when the fight was restarted, pushing Reuben into a corner where a series of unanswered shots then forced referee Phil Holiday to wave it off with only two seconds of the round remaining. Later, Cairns heavyweight Thomas Warria continued his undefeated career start in front of a boisterous home crowd, earning a split decision win over fellow North Queenslander Ricky Sandrel. A 110kg southpaw, Warria landed big with his left hand through the opening two rounds, including a left-right combination in the second which stunned his bearded rival dubbed 'Lumberjack'. Yet Sandrel, for his part, hung tough through all four rounds of what was his own professional debut, and landed big as the bell sounded to end the third. However the fight still appeared to be a convincing win for Warria, with two judges giving him the fight 40-36 and 39-37. However, a third ringside official gave the fight to Sandrel 40-36. Regardless, Warria was eventually announced the winner and climbed up onto the ring ropes, which inturn brought an appropriate response from the Cairns Convention Centre crowd.
The Australian
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Liam Paro v Jonathan Navarro, Liam Wilson v Ayrton Gimenez fights live
In his first fight back in North Queensland in a decade, the Mackay fighter showed the power and precision that saw him win the IBF super-lightweight world title last year. The southpaw's impressive win will propel him up the WBO rankings, and with current super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez rumoured to be moving up to welterweight, Paro could land a shot at the vacant belt later this year. Paro was in control from the outset, but really began pushing the pace in the fourth round, as Navarro kept retreating towards the ropes. Liam Paro stopped Jonathan Navarro after the fifth round. Picture: Getty Images for No Limit Boxing A perfectly thrown left hand saw Navarro crumble to the canvas in the fifth, and Paro absolutely mauled the overmatched American, who was saved by the bell and saw out the round. His corner had seen enough though, and pulled their bloodied fighter out, giving Paro his statement homecoming victory. Navarro walked out of the ring with a fractured nose, and possibly a fractured orbital as the result of Paro's attack. Jonathan Navarro looks on after his loss to Liam Paro. Picture: Getty Images for No Limit Boxing 'North Queensland, I'm back!' Paro said after the win. 'I've made my statement, I want to get back to the top position. 'There's levels to this, and I want to cement my place at the top. 'There's always things to improve, we had a great camp. It feels to be back on home soil, hopefully it's the first of many, especially in North Queensland. I want to win a world title in front of you.' Paro also wants to get revenge on Richardson Hitchens, who beat him in a split decision for the IBF belt in December. 'I want to win a world title. I want another belt. I want to avenge my loss. 'Life has given me the opportunity to move forward and show how much of a champion I am in adversity. 'I'm ready to prove the critics wrong.' Liam Paro punches Jonathan Navarro during their welterweight bout. Picture: Getty Images for No Limit Boxing In the co-main event, Liam Wilson scored a frustrating 10-round decision win over Argentina's Ayrton Gimenez. Gimenez spent most of the fight on his bike, but was dangerous when he engaged. There were some bizarre moments post-fight as Gimenez celebrated wildly with his team before the judges gave Wilson a unanimous decision win with scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. It was unclear whether crowd was booing the result or Gimenez's antics. Liam Wilson defeated Ayrton Gimenez by unanimous decision. Picture: Getty Images for No Limit Boxing Meanwhile, rising star Callum Peters didn't even need one round to see off late-notice replacement Luca Lanigan. A short right hand to the jaw sent Lanigan to the floor barely 30 seconds into the round. The Cairns local got up and kept throwing, but was back down again 30 seconds later courtesy of a straight right hand. Somehow he got back up a second time, but another right hand dropped him again and ended the fight. Peters made no mistakes in what could have been a tricky fight. Callum Peters punches Luca Lanigan during their middleweight bout. Picture: Getty Images for No Limit Boxing As of late Sunday night, the South Australian was off the card after two opponents pulled out. Lanigan answered an SOS call on Monday morning though, allowing Peters to step into the ring for the third time as a professional. Minutes after his third professional win, Peters called out Xavier Fletcher – who he beat in the amateurs – for a professional bout. The Paris Olympics star also singled out Max McIntyre and Jack Bowen. Peters will now turn his attention back to the amateur ranks as he starts preparation for the World Championships in September. Relive the action from the Cairns Convention Centre in our live blog below.
