1+ hour, 7+ min ago (176+ words) Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has thrown his support behind the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. The legislation -- which was initially proposed by Congressman Brian Jack (R-Georgia) and Sharice Davids (D-Kansas) -- is backed by UFC CEO Dana White and his Zuffa Boxing promotional outfit to make amendment changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, established and enacted in 2000 to protect boxers from exploitation. Tyson, 58, is a longtime friend of White. Tyson also suggested that the Revival Act would provide greater protection and compensation for boxers. "The requirement for mandatory health insurance is equally critical -- no fighter should ever have to choose between paying medical bills and pursuing their career. I've seen too many of my peers face that impossible decision," he said in the statement. Representatives from Zuffa Boxing have maintained to ESPN that the new act won't…...

5+ hour, 3+ min ago (312+ words) Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly has tested positive for a banned substance, and has been pulled from Saturday's scheduled unification fight with WBA champion Erislandy Lara, who will now defend his title against Johan Gonzalez, Premier Boxing Champions announced Tuesday. Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium in a test taken on November 15 by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). The unified champion responded to the failed test on X proclaiming his innocence. "I have always supported clean sport you know this well," Alimkhanuly posted. "I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don't know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest." I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised…...

1+ day, 3+ hour ago (195+ words) Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has identified Deontay Wilder as his next opponent, describing the American as the "first option" for his next fight. Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) made history by stopping Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July, becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. However, he subsequently vacated his WBO belt, paving the way for Fabio Wardley to become the full champion. "I spoke with my team and said he is the first option," Usyk said, speaking to Boxing King Media. Usyk expressed his desire to face Wilder, citing the American's reputation as a formidable puncher and former WBC world champion. "I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it's interesting," Usyk said. "He is a world champion guy. A very famous and strong guy, one of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years". Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs), has struggled since his…...

1+ day, 16+ hour ago (429+ words) As Ben Whittaker strutted -- literally -- to the ring alongside rapper Dizzee Rascal in Birmingham on Saturday, you could feel the crowd didn't quite know what to make of it all. But Birmingham, a tough, hard-nosed, working-class English city, known for its role in the industrial revolution and, more recently the setting of Peaky Blinders, better get used to the fact they have a flashy, showy superstar on their doorstep. Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) knows he isn't everyone's cup of tea -- even promoter Eddie Hearn conceded he wasn't sure he liked him at first -- and he loves it. What you can't argue with is his savage knockout of Benjamin Gavazi, an experienced guy who was supposed to give him rounds, but didn't last three minutes. But boxing fans are tough to please. Fighters must have it all. If you talk a lot, you'd…...

2+ day, 14+ hour ago (173+ words) BIRMINGHAM, England -- Ben Whittaker has said his house was robbed while he was fighting at Birmingham's NEC arena on Saturday night. Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) put on a show with a Round 1 knockout against German Benjamin Gavazi. While he was on a high after the statement win in his first fight since April, and first with Matchroom Boxing, the light heavyweight prospect said he returned to his home to Wednesbury, a town just outside of Birmingham, to discover he had been burgled. "Highs and lows of the sport," Whittaker said in a post on Instagram. "Come back, house has been burgled. But Wednesbury, I've got a big, big reward. Find these people and let me know. They even took my IBF belt, what they going to do with that? - Ben Whittaker produces extraordinary R1 knockout - Whittaker warns 'I've got something different' In the…...

2+ day, 14+ hour ago (159+ words) BIRMINGHAM, England -- Ben Whittaker has said his house was robbed while he was fighting at Birmingham's NEC arena on Saturday night. Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) put on a show with a Round 1 knockout against German Benjamin Gavazi. While he was on a high after the statement win in his first fight since April, and first with Matchroom Boxing, the light heavyweight prospect returned to his home to Wednesbury, a town just outside of Birmingham, to discover he had been burgled. "Highs and lows of the sport," Whittaker said in a post on Instagram. "Come back, house has been burgled. But Wednesbury, I've got a big, big reward. Find these people and let me know. They even took my IBF belt, what they going to do with that? In the video, Whittaker showed a window that had been smashed. The 28-year-old is a…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago (345+ words) BIRMINGHAM, England -- Ben Whittaker believes there is nobody at light heavyweight that has all the attributes he possesses following his stunning Round 1 knockout of Benjamin Gavazi on Saturday. Whittaker's speed and power were simply too much for his opponent, who was dropped early in the round before the Brit moved in with a sharp combination, finished off with a vicious right hand which knocked Gavazi (19-2, 13 KOs) out. The 28-year-old Olympic silver medallist said he had to back up his extravagant ring walk -- where he was accompanied by UK rapper Dizzee Rascal -- and he did just that. While he made a point of saying he wanted to build his career the right way, Whittaker (11-0-1, 7 KOs) also made it clear he believes he has all that is required to go right to the top. "I truly don't believe no one can move…...

3+ day, 3+ hour ago (435+ words) Arman Tsarukyan puts Dan Hooker in an arm triangle and gets the tap out in the main event of UFC Fight Night. (0:55) UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is calling for a BMF bout against Max Holloway, in the wake of the UFC's decision to skip over him in an interim lightweight title fight next month. Tsarukyan (23-3) is the No. 1-ranked contender at 155 pounds, but the UFC opted to book an interim title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett -- who are ranked Nos. 4 and 5, respectively -- as the main event of UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. The UFC created an interim belt after undisputed champion Ilia Topuria announced he was taking time off to deal with personal issues. Tsarukyan told ESPN it was "hard" to accept the news, but said he can't sit and wait for the situation to change....

3+ day, 5+ hour ago (257+ words) BIRMINGHAM, England -- Ben Whittaker produced a savage Round 1 knockout win against Benjamin Gavazi on Saturday in his first fight with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) didn't take long to establish his dominance in the bout, setting up with his left jab, working the head and body of Gavazi (19-2, 13 KOs), with the Brit's speed proving too much. The German was floored with a big right hand from Whittaker which topped off a good combination mid-way through the round and the writing was on the wall. Whittaker moved in, launching a lefthand then another right hand which landed flush and it was all over before everyone had chance to take their seats at the NEC in Birmingham. Gavazi was shaken but got to his feet and appeared OK in the ring after. Whittaker had the crowd going with his ring walk,…...

3+ day, 8+ hour ago (242+ words) BIRMINGHAM, England -- Molly McCann won her second professional boxing bout in as many fights with a points win over Ebonie Cotton on Saturday. Referee Ryan Churchill scored the fight 58-56 in favour of McCann (2-0, 1 KO). The six round clash was fought at a ferocious pace. McCann had the better of the opening exchanges, moving in and punching in twos and threes, but Cotton's jerky movement made her difficult to pin down. McCann built on her combinations and landed the cleaner shots as the fight progressed, with her left hand proving a problem for Cotton (1-1) for the majority of the contest. Cotton kept coming forwards, establishing a good left jab, and landed several good shots herself, even when a cut on the top of her head opened up in Round 4, with blood pouring down her face. By Round 4, both fighters were also…...