Franco Leeroy Zialor to represent Seychelles in boxing at Dakar 2026

Franco Leeroy Zialor to represent Seychelles at Dakar 2026

Franco Leeroy Zialor will compete in the men’s 60kg boxing division at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, representing Seychelles as its sole boxer. The 17-year-old began boxing in 2023 and won gold at the 2025 Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien Games.

Boxing competition is scheduled for Nov. 7-12 at Dakar 2026, with action beginning at the Dakar Expo Centre on Nov. 7. Zialor’s preparations included an international tournament in Germany, a training camp in Sierra Leone, silver at the Eswatini National Youth Games and a camp and competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina in October.

Jake Paul to return against MMA fighter Cedric Doumbe on Dec. 24

Jake Paul will face MMA fighter Cedric Doumbe in an eight-round, professionally sanctioned cruiserweight bout on Dec. 24 in Dubai. The event is set for Coca-Cola Arena, with the fighters using 10-ounce gloves, according to the BBC.

The bout will be Paul’s first since Anthony Joshua stopped him in the sixth round last December, breaking his jaw in two places. Paul, 29, has won 12 of his 14 professional fights. Doumbe, 34, is a Cameroon-born Frenchman, a multi-time kickboxing world champion and an MMA fighter.

Canelo Álvarez defeats Christian Mbilli to reclaim WBC title

Tim Bradley said Álvarez’s presence disrupted Mbilli’s game plan and argued the Mexican still has more to give in boxing. Álvarez said he would take time to rest after the bout; the report also noted he had previously welcomed a rematch with Terence Crawford or Dmitry Bivol.

Oleksandr Usyk wants cruiserweight fight with David Benavidez

Oleksandr Usyk said he wants to return to cruiserweight and fight David Benavidez, calling the American a “big champion.” Usyk said he currently weighs 96 or 97 kilograms and would take the opportunity if it came.

Benavidez won the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles by stopping Gilberto Ramirez in May. He is scheduled to face WBC champion Michal Cieslak on Dec. 5, while a fight with Jai Opetaia is also a possibility. Roy Jones Jr. advised Benavidez to pursue Usyk before risking a potential matchup with Opetaia.

Conor McGregor calls his next fight his final bout

Conor McGregor said his next fight will be his last and that he wants to set new records for views and attendance. The former UFC champion made the comments in posts on X while comparing his drawing power with that of Canelo Álvarez.

McGregor injured his knee in a first-round fight with Max Holloway in July, tearing his ACL and meniscus. The Independent reported that he suggested he would not renew his UFC contract; Fight Sports said he was targeting a return between April and July 2027. No opponent or date has been confirmed.

Carl Jammes Martin beats David Picasso for WBC Featherweight Silver title

Carl Jammes Martin defeated David Picasso by decision in Riyadh to win the WBC Featherweight Silver title and maintain his undefeated record. The judges scored the 10-round bout 95-94, 95-94 and 96-93 for Martin.

Picasso knocked Martin down in the seventh round, but Martin got up and increased his output to close the fight. The WBC said Martin relied on footwork and adjusted his approach after Picasso applied pressure in the early rounds.

Jermell Charlo set for Tim Tszyu undercard in Australia

Former undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo is set to appear on the undercard of Tim Tszyu’s fight with Erislandy Lara, Boxing 247 reported. Charlo has secured a visa to compete in Australia, but organizers have not announced a date or venue, and he does not have a confirmed opponent.

Charlo has not fought since losing to Canelo Álvarez in September 2023. Tszyu, who is challenging Lara for the WBA middleweight belt, had previously pursued a fight with Charlo when Charlo held all four junior middleweight titles.

Ben Davison says he may have stopped Fabio Wardley’s loss sooner

Trainer Ben Davison said, looking back, he could have stopped Fabio Wardley’s first fight with Daniel Dubois a couple of rounds earlier. Wardley absorbed heavy punishment before the bout was stopped in the 11th round in May.

Davison said Wardley was unhappy when the fight was stopped, but acknowledged he may have made a mistake. He is due to train Anthony Joshua for his Dec. 11 fight with Tyson Fury, with the vacant WBA Super heavyweight title at stake.