Carlos Adames to Face Gerome Warburton in Nov. 14 Non-Title Bout

Adames and Warburton set for Nov. 14 non-title bout

WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames will face Welshman Gerome Warburton in a 10-round, 165-pound catchweight bout on Nov. 14 at The Venue in Riyadh. The matchup headlines Zuffa Boxing 13, the promotion’s first event in Saudi Arabia, and Adames’ title will not be at stake, according to ESPN and the BBC.

Adames, 25-1-1 with 18 knockouts, is returning less than eight months after a title defense against Austin Williams, UFC.com reported. Warburton, 18-2-2 with 2 knockouts, has won three straight, including back-to-back decision victories over Nathan Heaney, according to ESPN.

Australian former world champion Jason Moloney will make his Zuffa Boxing debut against Mexico’s Andres Teran in a 10-round bantamweight co-feature, UFC.com and the BBC reported. The event will stream on Paramount+ in the United States and Canada and air on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to UFC.com.

Usyk targets cruiserweight return and potential Benavidez fight

Oleksandr Usyk’s adviser, Sergey Lapin, said the former undisputed heavyweight champion plans to return to cruiserweight in 2027 and pursue another undisputed title run. Lapin outlined a possible path through a vacant world-title fight and then a bout with David Benavidez, who holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles, according to ESPN.

Boxing News reported that the two teams have discussed a potential matchup, which could happen if Usyk and Benavidez win their next fights. Benavidez is scheduled to face WBC champion Michal Cieslak on Dec. 5, while Usyk is targeting the vacant IBF belt, the outlet reported.

Trainer Teddy Atlas praised Usyk’s pursuit of the challenge in a social media post, calling him a “generational champion,” according to Boxing News. Boxing 247 reported that Benavidez had also promised to face Jai Opetaia on a Cinco de Mayo weekend card in May, potentially complicating the timing of a Usyk fight.

Jake Paul scheduled to return Dec. 24 in Dubai

Jake Paul is scheduled to return to boxing on Dec. 24 in Dubai, with his opponent still to be announced, Bad Left Hook reported. The bout will be his first since Anthony Joshua stopped him in six rounds, the outlet said.

Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian told Sky Sports that the team is considering three or four names and that Darren Till is among them, Yahoo Sports reported. Bidarian said they are seeking an opponent with commercial appeal who can provide a test without holding a “massive advantage” over Paul.

Yahoo Sports reported that Tommy Fury and Francis Ngannou had been ruled out, while rumors had linked Paul to Till. No opponent had been confirmed in the reporting.

Kabayel to make first WBC heavyweight title defense against Hysa

Agit Kabayel will defend the WBC heavyweight title against unbeaten challenger Nelson Hysa on Nov. 28 at ESPRIT Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, the WBC reported. The champion has 27 wins, including 19 knockouts, while Hysa has 25 victories, 23 by knockout.

Kabayel was recognized as WBC world champion in June 2026 after stopping Damian Knyba in January, the WBC reported. Hysa, an Albanian contender, has captured the WBC CISBB title, according to the organization.

Munguía receives WBA approval to defend against Zon

The WBA authorized super middleweight champion Jaime Munguía to defend his title against Nikita Zon on Oct. 31 in Riyadh, the organization reported. The authorization followed an agreement with mandatory challenger Bektemir Melikuziev’s team, which preserves Melikuziev’s right to a title shot.

The WBA said negotiations for the mandatory defense must begin after the Munguía-Zon bout. If Munguía wins, Melikuziev must be his next opponent; if Zon wins and accepts championship obligations, Zon must face Melikuziev next.

Serrano announces final fight, against Falzon in Puerto Rico

Seven-division champion Amanda Serrano has announced that her Jan. 9, 2027, fight against Australia’s Skye Falzon will be her last, FightBook MMA reported. Serrano is scheduled to defend her WBA and WBO featherweight titles at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, in an event promoted as “The Last Walk.”

The championship bout is scheduled for 12 three-minute rounds, the outlet reported. Serrano has a 50-4-1 record with 32 knockouts, while Falzon is 12-2 with 7 knockouts, according to FightBook MMA.