Latest news with #superwelterweight
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Josh Kelly vows to KO Conor Benn and slams Chris Eubank Jr in double call out
JOSH KELLY has issued a double call out to Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. Eubank beat Benn in their second generation grudge match in April after 12 thrilling rounds. 2 2 The two are contracted for a rematch but Eubank, 35, was hospitalised for two days after victory due to severe dehydration. He missed the 160lb middleweight limit by an agonising 0.05lb - costing him a £375,000 fine - and had a 10lb reydration clause. And Benn also had to jump over a stone from his regular fighting weight of 147lb. So Kelly - now at 154lb at super-welterweight - is open to welcoming Benn to the division or stepping up to fight Eubank. He told Sky Sports: 'I'd probably knock Conor Benn out, if not totally outbox him, and I believe I'd totally stand Eubank on his head. 'I don't think Eubank would go anywhere near me. I think I've got more of a chance getting the Conor Benn fight. "If he can't make 147 anymore, or struggles to get down there, I'm the biggest guy at 154.' Kelly is even willing to meet Benn at a 157lb catchweight clash, adding: 'In a heartbeat. "It wouldn't even be a question. It would just be like, 'Yes, sign, done.'' Kelly, 31, returns on Friday in Newcastle against Romanian Flavius Biea but has big-money bouts against the likes of Benn, 28, in his sights. He said: 'Conor's a very clever fighter in terms of marketing. I should take a leaf out of his book. I should start shouting everybody out. "I should just say, 'I'm only fighting the ones who are going to make me the most money'.'
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Meet Fernando Vargas Jr - the son of a world champion boasting knockout power
Fernando Vargas Jr returns to the ring this weekend, looking to extend his 16-0 record by defeating Gonzalo Coria. A super welterweight, Vargas Jr is the son of former world champion Fernando Vargas. Since making his debut as a pro in 2020, Vargas Jr has gone the distance just once in 16 fights, with 14 knockouts and a technical decision win. Vargas Jr hopes to continue his road to a world title shot through a fight with Gonzalo Gaston Coria. That bout headlines a card at Thunder Studios, Long Beach on Saturday, with the action live on DAZN. Fernando Vargas Jr's start to boxing life Fernando Vargas Jr had a solid career in the unpaid code, accumulating a 36-4 record before turning pro at 24 years old in 2024. Fighting out of his father's gym in Las Vegas, the Fernando Vargas Fighting Foundation, Vargas Jr only donned the gloves properly as a 17-year-old. Within four years he was competing for a spot on the US squad for the 2020 Olympics, controversially losing a semi-final bout in the Olympic trials. Prior to turning professional, Vargas Jr sparred with world champions Kell Brook and Shawn Porter. Vargas Jr's first fight was staged behind closed doors in Mexico because of the COVID-19 pandemic. His opponent Pablo Rosas retired after the second round, giving Vargas Jr the first stoppage win of his career. He would win his first 11 fights by stoppage before being taken the distance by Luis Flores in 2023. After that unanimous decision victory, normal service was resumed with a run of three stoppages. In Vargas Jr's most recent right, he won by technical decision in the fifth round, meaning he has only heard the final bell once in his pro career. Vargas dynasty – Fernando Vargas Jr's boxing family Fernando Vargas Jr constantly makes reference to the 'Vargas dynasty' on social media. His father, Fernando Vargas Sr, was a two-time champion at light middleweight, holding the IBF and WBA straps at different spells. Aside from his stints as champion of the world, Vargas Sr was known for his bouts with Oscar De La Hoya, Richardo Mayorga, and Felix Trinidad. It is not just his birthname that he shares with his father, with Vargas Jr also donning the same nickname of 'El Feroz'. Vargas Jr is not the only fighter carrying the family name into the ring, with his two brothers also boxers. The eldest of three brothers, Vargas Jr is the most experience of the trio. 24-year-old Amado Vargas is a lightweight boasting a 13-0 (6) record, whilst youngest sibling Emiliano Vargas is also unbeaten, the 21-year-old 14-0 (12) at super lightweight. At the start of May, Emiliano picked up the NABF junior super lightweight title, with Vargas Jr in attendance. Vargas Sr is often seen in the corner for his son's fights. In the public eye thanks to their father's exploits as a boxer, the family were the subjects of their own reality TV show in 2014. Titled Welcome to Los Vargas, a pun on the family name and the fact they lived in Las Vegas, the show followed the family for 13 episodes.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
This weekend's boxing action on DAZN
Friday 9 May Starting at 01.00 UK time (Saturday morning), Andreas Katzourakis will meet Roberto Cruz for a fight from the famous Red Owl Boxing Arena in Houston, Texas. Both undefeated, Katzourakis, 15-0 (10), and Cruz, 11-0 (7), will face each other in a super-welterweight bout. Also on the Houston card is a super-lightweight bout between Breyon Gorham, 18-0 (15), and Luis Feliciano, 17-2 (8); a lightweight fight between Oscar Alan Perez, 12-0-2 (7), and Cesar Juarez, 31-18 (24); and another super-lightweight fight between Giovanni Marquez, 12-0 (6), and Esteban Munoz, 10-4 (5). With a broadcast beginning half an hour later, this time from Orlando, Florida, will be a heavyweight fight between the Cuban Dainier Pero, 10-0 (8), and the Mexican Cesar Navarro, 13-2 (11). The pair will be meeting at the luxurious Caribe Royale Orlando hotel in the centre of Florida. Supporting the scheduled ten-round heavyweight fight will be a ten-round bout between lightweights Corey Marksman, 10-0-1 (7), and Tayden Beltran, 10-0-1 (5); another ten-round lightweight fight, this time between Kaipo Gallegos, 8-0-1 (6), and Pedro Castaneda Castro, 8-0-1 (5). Saturday 10 May This weekend's main action, however, remains between Cacace, 23-1 (8), and Wood, 28-3 (17), who meet at Motorpoint Arena in a fight for Cacace's IBO super-featherweight title. Hometown hero Wood is coming into the bout after a technical knockout win over former world champion Josh Warrington and a revenge victory over Mauricio Lara. Cacace, meanwhile, also moves into this weekend's action with a victory over Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium when he defeated the Leeds man over twelve rounds. Cacace is undefeated in nearly eight years following a unanimous decision loss to Martin J Ward in 2017. Joining Cacace and Wood on the Nottingham card will be Liam Davies, 16-1 (8), who faces Kurt Walker, 12-0 (2), for the vacant IBF international featherweight title. More undercard action will be seen between light-heavyweights Ezra Taylor, 11-0 (8), and Troy Jones, 12-0 (6), who meet over ten rounds in a non-title fight. Nottingham's card on Saturday night will also be notable for the debuts of Harris Akbar, Joe Tyers, Charlie Senior, and Huey Malone, all successful amateurs who officially turn over to the professional side on Saturday night. DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts. Sign up right now to watch the biggest stars and best fights.
