Teddy Atlas says Canelo must hurt Christian Mbilli early to reclaim WBC title

Atlas says Canelo must hurt Mbilli early

Teddy Atlas believes Canelo Alvarez needs to hurt Christian Mbilli early to have his best chance of reclaiming the WBC super-middleweight title. Atlas said the strategy suggests Canelo’s team is aiming for a knockout rather than a decision, and compared Mbilli’s style to Joe Frazier’s, while noting Frazier hit harder.

Atlas also warned that the champion could break down Canelo with body punches late in the fight. Alvarez, 36, and Mbilli are both returning from 13-month layoffs; their last fights were in September 2025.

Haney and Paro finalizing welterweight title unification

WBO champion Devin Haney and IBF titleholder Liam Paro are finalizing a welterweight unification fight for Dec. 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco, Uncrowned reported. The bout would be Haney’s first title unification at welterweight and his first fight under a new multi-fight deal with DAZN.

Haney, 33-0, won the WBO belt by defeating Brian Norman Jr. in November 2025. Paro, 28-1, took the IBF title from Lewis Crocker in June. A separate Fight Sports report said the proposed event would be co-promoted by Haney Promotions and Top Rank.

Stevenson ordered to negotiate with Muratalla

The WBO ordered Shakur Stevenson and Raymond Muratalla to begin negotiations for a mandatory defense of Stevenson’s junior-welterweight title, Boxing 247 reported. The camps have 20 days to reach an agreement, according to WBO president Gustavo Olivieri.

Muratalla moved up from lightweight in pursuit of a title opportunity after giving up his IBF belt. The WBO order does not mean the fight is signed; if negotiations fail, the bout could go to a purse bid.

Canada tops PanAmerican Boxing Championships medal table

Canada won the team title at the PanAmerican Boxing Confederation Continental Championships in Puebla, Mexico, finishing with 10 medals: four gold, four silver and two bronze. The United States placed second with eight medals, including four gold, while Brazil led all nations in total podium finishes with 12.

The championships awarded 56 qualification places for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima. Canada’s gold medalists included Isaiah Rock, Parminder Pannu, Tammara Thibeault and Kiona Greene; Mexico’s Valeria Amparan and Fatima Herrera also won gold.

WBC names guests for Acapulco convention

Tiara Brown, Isaac Cruz, Sergio Mendoza, Erik Morales and Yokasta Valle have confirmed they will attend the 64th WBC Annual Convention, scheduled for Nov. 8 to 13 at Palacio Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, Mexico. The WBC said the gathering will include discussions on mandatory fights, rankings and seminars for judges and referees.

At a Martes de Café event, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman invited the boxing community to the convention. Zanfer Boxing’s Guillermo Brito also announced a fight card headlined by WBC atomweight champion Camila Zamorano defending her title against Brenda Valderas.

Foster unifies three junior lightweight titles

O’Shaquie Foster defeated Emanuel Navarrete by unanimous decision in San Antonio, knocking him down twice in the final round to unify the WBC, WBO and IBF junior lightweight titles. The judges scored the fight 118-108, 118-108 and 115-111.

Foster said his priority is to pursue the WBA belt and become undisputed before moving up in weight. He also named WBO junior-welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson as a potential future opponent.

Marciano stopped Louis 75 years ago

Rocky Marciano knocked Joe Louis through the ropes with the “Suzy Q” right hand in the eighth round of their Oct. 26, 1951, fight at Madison Square Garden, according to Boxing News. Louis, who was 37 and had returned to the ring to address tax debts, never fought again.

Uncrowned’s account also described the financial pressure behind Louis’ comeback, including the IRS pursuit of his past-due taxes. Marciano, then 28 and unbeaten, was not yet fighting for a title; he would have to wait another year for his championship opportunity.

Haye sympathizes with Gassiev as Fury and Joshua eye WBA belt

David Haye said Murat Gassiev could feel that his WBA “regular” heavyweight title was devalued if the winner of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s Dec. 11 fight claims the WBA “super” title. Haye said he understood the fighter’s frustration but called it part of boxing’s business.

The WBA has not confirmed the title will be at stake, but promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren said the vacant belt would be on the line, according to Boxing News. Gassiev won the secondary title by defeating Kubrat Pulev last December.

Fury says retirement is not on his mind

Tyson Fury said he could sign another 10-fight deal after his Dec. 11 heavyweight bout with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, Wales. Fury, 36-2-1, said retirement was not on his mind and that he was approaching his 40th professional fight.

Fury has announced retirement five times and later reversed course, BoxingScene reported. He returned in April after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, then beat Arslanbek Makhmudov and stopped Mariusz Wach.

GFA seeks £500,000 for fighter welfare inquiry

The Global Fighters’ Association is seeking £500,000 to fund an inquiry into safety and welfare across combat sports. The group says the investigation, led by barrister Jonathan Caplan KC, will examine medical care, pay, contracts and support after retirement.

Former British champion Paul Smith said fighters can be hurt, exploited or forgotten, while Amir Khan, a GFA co-founder, said athletes need an organization to turn to when problems arise. BBC reported that the British Boxing Board of Control already requires annual medical examinations and brain scans and provides insurance for death and permanent injury.

Hrgovic says he would rematch Itauma after becoming undisputed

IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic said he would give Moses Itauma a rematch only after becoming undisputed champion. Hrgovic stopped Itauma in the ninth round in August to win the vacant title, Boxing News reported.

Hrgovic is expected to make his first title defense in early 2027, with mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez a likely opponent. His manager, Mike Borao, said he expected the fight to take place in the first quarter of the year, perhaps in Zagreb.

Lewis said he never wanted to fight Foreman

Lennox Lewis said he avoided a fight with George Foreman because he saw it as a no-win situation: beating the older fighter would draw criticism, while losing to him would damage Lewis’ standing. Lewis made the comments to The Ring, according to Seconds Out.

Frank Bruno, who lost to Lewis, said he would have backed Foreman to win if the two had fought in their primes. Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history when he knocked out Michael Moorer at age 45 in 1994.

Lomachenko plans a 2027 return

Vasiliy Lomachenko plans to return to boxing in 2027 at super featherweight and is considering a fight with Charly Suarez, Fight Sports reported. Promoter Bob Arum said Lomachenko had been training in Puerto Rico and identified Suarez as a likely first opponent.

Lomachenko said he wants to test his body in a real fight before considering a bout with Gervonta Davis. He last fought in May 2024, stopping George Kambosos Jr. in the 11th round, and announced his retirement in June 2025.

Porter named Crawford as hardest puncher he faced

Former welterweight champion Shawn Porter named Terence Crawford as the hardest puncher he faced, telling The Ring that Crawford stopped him in their November 2021 fight. Porter also identified Danny Garcia and Errol Spence Jr. as heavy hitters.

Crawford stopped Porter in the 10th round in what became Porter’s final professional bout. Crawford later retired after defeating Canelo Alvarez in September 2025.

Magramo retains WBC international title

Arvin Magramo retained his WBC light-flyweight international title with a sixth-round technical decision over fellow Filipino Marco John Rementizo in Manila. The WBC said the bout was stopped after a bloody, physical contest, with Magramo ahead at the pivotal moments.