Kal Sajad

Unbeaten WBC light-welterweight champion Dalton Smith will defend his title against mandatory challenger Alberto Puello at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on 24 October, after an injury postponed the bout from June. Smith hopes to make a future defence at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium, a prospect supported by Matchroom chief executive Frank Smith, but both fighters are focused first on the October contest. Puello, a former WBA and WBC champion, is seeking to defeat Smith in his hometown and reclaim the title.

Claressa Shields says her proposed fight with unbeaten Welsh champion Lauren Price is likely to take place in the first quarter of 2027, potentially at middleweight. Shields will first move down to middleweight to face WBA and WBC champion Kaye Scott in Atlanta on 15 August. A reported two-fight deal between Shields and Price has stalled while Price remains inactive, and Shields expects Price may take a warm-up bout before moving up two divisions. Shields considers Price a more difficult challenge than Savannah Marshall and is also seeking to improve her knockout record.

Moses Itauma will fight Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at London's O2 Arena on 29 August, after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt. Itauma, a 21-year-old British prospect with 12 knockouts in 14 wins, could become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson, while Hrgovic brings a 20-0 record and Olympic bronze-medal pedigree. Frank Sanchez has agreed to step aside and will face the winner. If Itauma wins and then defeats Sanchez, a potential 2027 Wembley unification bout could follow against Daniel Dubois or Fabio Wardley.

Moses Itauma’s 29 August heavyweight bout against Filip Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena will determine the vacant IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt. Itauma, a 21-year-old British prospect with 12 knockouts in 14 wins, is backed by promoter Frank Warren and could become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson. Frank Sanchez has agreed to step aside and will face the winner. A victory for Itauma could eventually lead to a major all-British unification bout with WBO champion Daniel Dubois or Fabio Wardley at Wembley in 2027.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua moved closer to their long-awaited heavyweight bout after both won difficult warm-up fights, with Joshua recovering from two early knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga and Fury defeating Mariusz Wach. Eddie Hearn says a legally binding agreement is already in place, but the date and venue remain unresolved. New York's Madison Square Garden is a leading option, while both fighters and their teams prefer Wembley, and Cardiff's Principality Stadium is another possibility. The fight remains commercially huge despite arriving after both men’s primes, and Fury is considered the slight favourite because of his movement, ring intelligence and adaptability, although both fighters have shown recent vulnerabilities.

Anthony Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round in Jeddah, reviving speculation about a long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury. The comeback was emotionally significant following the deaths of Joshua’s close friends, but his early vulnerability raises serious questions about how he would cope with Fury’s pressure and ability to exploit mistakes. Fury’s own win over Mariusz Wach was low-risk and criticised by some, though his earlier performance against Arslanbek Makhmudov suggested he remains dangerous. The article concludes that Joshua’s legacy is secure, but reclaiming a world title may be difficult; despite the risks of extending an ageing fighter’s career, Fury-Joshua remains the defining bout of their generation.

Tyson Fury stopped Mariusz Wach after seven rounds in a small, non-televised bout at Pattaya's Max Muay Thai Stadium, recording his first stoppage since defeating Derek Chisora in 2022. The victory keeps a possible all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua on track, although the venue remains unsettled between the UK and the United States. Fury said he would return home rather than attend Joshua's Saudi Arabian comeback fight and hoped to have the contest signed the following week. The event will feature in Netflix's At Home With The Furys, highlighting the platform's growing influence and the shift in boxing toward streaming, reality programming and behind-the-scenes storytelling alongside live competition.

Anthony Joshua appeared relaxed and confident at a news conference in Jeddah before his comeback fight against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia. The bout is Joshua’s first since a car crash in Nigeria killed close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua said he is focused on Prenga and not the growing anticipation of a possible all-British showdown with Tyson Fury. Prenga has 20 knockout wins but limited experience against elite opposition, while his manager called the contest a real-life Rocky moment and Prenga predicted a knockout. A victory for Joshua could bring him closer to a potential Fury fight later in the year.

Tyson Fury weighed in lighter than opponent Mariusz Wach for their fight in Thailand, marking the first time in 15 years he has been the lighter fighter. The bout, held without a television broadcaster, comes as Fury aims to stay active following limited fights in recent years. Wach enters the matchup after several recent losses, while a victory for Fury is expected to set up a long‑anticipated fight with Anthony Joshua, who has his own warm‑up contest scheduled in Saudi Arabia.

Oleksandr Usyk is in discussions with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing about a potential farewell fight against Deontay Wilder, with no agreement yet in place. Usyk recently vacated his heavyweight titles but aims for one final bout, while Wilder remains open to the matchup. Zuffa Boxing, backed by Saudi funding, is exploring involvement as it seeks to establish its own championship structure. America is considered the leading location for the fight, though final terms, venue and broadcast partners are still undecided.