LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Olympic future of boxing’s long-exiled governing body could be decided Wednesday at an IOC meeting called at short notice.
The International Olympic Committee said Tuesday its executive board will meet for a special session two weeks before a scheduled three-day meeting that has been expected to debate the issue.
Claressa Shields wins an easy decision over Maricela Corenjo
June 4, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed middleweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in the first boxing card at Little Caesars Arena.
Claressa Shields fighting for gender equality for women boxers
June 2, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — Claressa Shields is perhaps in the prime of her career, establishing a big enough name as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion in three weight classes to headline the first boxing card in the six-year history of Little Caesars Arena in the Motor City.
Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford will fight for undisputed welterweight championship
May 25, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford will meet in a much anticipated showdown when they fight for the undisputed welterweight championship July 29 in Las Vegas.
“Finally giving the fans what they want!” Spence posted on Instagram.
GENEVA (AP) — Russian and Belarusian sailors are set to get their only path to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics at a last-chance event in France next year – an option described as “madness” by Russia’s top sailing official on Wednesday.
DUBLIN (AP) — Katie Taylor brought elite boxing back to Ireland. The women's national soccer team qualified for its first World Cup.
Women are on a roll in Ireland — and have been for a while now.
DUBLIN (AP) — An Irish flag over her shoulders, Katie Taylor descended the steps from the ring in utter dejection.
Taylor spent years dreaming of a homecoming bout. Now, she'll need to figure out how to bounce back from the first loss of her professional career.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney retained his titles Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden, but not without a controversial decision that former three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko's camp plans on appealing.
DUBLIN (AP) — Katie Taylor got her homecoming. Chantelle Cameron got the win.
The Irish champion has helped elevate women's boxing to new heights but couldn't solve Cameron in a showdown of undisputed and undefeated champions on Saturday.
DUBLIN (AP) — Kaci Rock was an elementary school student when she laced up the gloves at Bray Boxing Club. Problem was, there weren't many other girls.
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland’s favorite athlete has the homecoming she's always wanted.
Katie Taylor has fought in London, New York, Philadelphia and Boston but never in Ireland during her professional career.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — This is the fight Devin Haney wanted four years ago, but in 2019, he was still working his way toward becoming a championship fighter.
Vasiliy Lomachenko was viewed by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer at the time, and fighting Haney didn't interest him.
Milestones in women’s boxing ahead of Katie Taylor’s homecoming for fight in Ireland
May 18, 2023 GMTDUBLIN (AP) — Women's boxing has been achieving a lot of “firsts” in recent years and will add to the list when Katie Taylor fights Chantelle Cameron in Dublin on Saturday.
Taylor has never fought in her home country of Ireland as a professional, and promoter Eddie Hearn says it's the first time two reigning undisputed world champions in the four-belt era will square off.
LONDON (AP) — Katie Taylor had Olympic dreams long before she became one of the faces of women's professional boxing.
The Irish fighter won a gold medal at the 2012 London Games, setting her on course for a hugely successful pro career.
Francis Ngannou's reign as one of the top heavyweights in MMA will continue in the Professional Fighters League following the former champion’s contentious split with UFC.
Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks collapsed once the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected.
Canelo beats Ryder by unanimous decision in return to Mexico
May 7, 2023 GMTGUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Canelo Alvarez returned home and remained the undisputed super middleweight champion Saturday night, beating John Ryder by unanimous decision before more than 50,000 fans in his first fight in Mexico since 2011.
Canelo Alvarez, John Ryder make weight for fight in Mexico
May 5, 2023 GMTGUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Canelo Alvarez felt the love on Friday.
After all, he was home.
With family and friends in attendance at the iconic Teatro Degollado, Alvarez made weight for his fight against John Ryder on Saturday.
Boxer Wilder arrested on suspicion of having concealed gun
May 2, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Boxer Deontay Wilder was arrested by Los Angeles police early Tuesday on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon after his Rolls-Royce was stopped and searched by officers, authorities said.
Canelo Álvarez returning home to Guadalajara to fight Ryder
May 2, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Fighting in his native Guadalajara for the first time in 12 years has presented some different challenges for Saúl Álvarez, like finding out just how many tickets he needs to accommodate family and friends.
Defiant boxing body IBA aims for progress in Olympic dispute
May 1, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Seeking to resolve a years-long dispute with Olympic officials, the International Boxing Association said on Monday it will update the IOC this week and no longer has Russian energy giant Gazprom as a sponsor.
AP-Week in Pictures: Global / April 22 - 28, 2023
April 28, 2023 GMTFrom a woman performing an Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, to a boxer preparing for her bout in a Golden Gloves boxing tournament, this photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images from around the world made or published by the Associated Press in the past week.
Khris Davis took the hits to become ‘Big George Foreman’
April 28, 2023 GMTKhris Davis did not know who he was auditioning for when he first got the lines for an untitled project about a boxer. They didn’t even tell him it was based on a true story at first. But he liked that there was a character arc – it’s more than actors often get early in auditions.
USA Boxing quits IBA, moves to join rival governing body
April 26, 2023 GMTUSA Boxing has terminated its 77-year membership in the International Boxing Association ahead of its move to a rival governing body that hopes to return the sport to Olympic favor.
With Olympic goals, pro dreams, Chicago boxer maps gold path
April 25, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — As a promising young boxer, Olympic hopeful Theon Davis knows how to bob and weave. He has also had to learn how to juggle.
The 21-year-old Davis might be working his cashier shift at a Circle K any given night.
Key dates in 100 years of Golden Gloves boxing in Chicago
April 25, 2023 GMTKey dates of Golden Gloves boxing in Chicago as the event celebrates its 100th anniversary:
Garcia ready to get back to work after suffering first loss
April 23, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Ryan Garcia has already put the first loss of his career in the rearview mirror.
After being stopped in the seventh round by a vicious liver shot from Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) on Saturday night that was billed as the year’s best fight to date, Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) said he was disappointed and sad.
Gervonta Davis knocks out Ryan Garcia with body shot in 7th
April 23, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Gervonta Davis' left uppercut to Ryan Garcia didn't seem to do much damage initially.
Garcia remained on his feet before backing up a few steps. Then he went to his right knee, and suddenly a highly anticipated boxing match was over, the lightweight bout ending at 1:44 of the seventh round Saturday night.
Davis-Garcia most-anticipated boxing match of year
April 20, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Boxing fans have spent the past couple of decades watching top fighters avoid each other in their primes and carefully pick lesser opponents so they can boost their records.
The lack of big-name bouts that would've driven even casual fans to order pay-per-view helped create a noticeable lack of buzz in the sport.
Boxer Conor Benn charged with use of prohibited substance
April 20, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — British boxer Conor Benn has been charged with the alleged use of a prohibited substance, British anti-doping authorities said on Thursday.
UK Anti-Doping said the 26-year-old Benn was charged on April 3 for using clomifene, a female fertility drug that is on WADA’s list of banned substances and is known to elevate testosterone levels in men.
Claressa Shields sees name and image at Little Caesars Arena
April 18, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — Two-time Olympic gold medalist and women’s world middleweight champion Claressa Shields was on the verge of tears when she saw her name and image on the videoboards at Little Caesars Arena, where she will fight Hanna Gabriels of Costa Rica.
Breakaway group aims to save boxing’s Olympic status
April 13, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — American and British boxing officials are among the leaders of a breakaway group launched Thursday with the aim of saving boxing's place at the Olympics.
The new federation, to be called World Boxing, is a rival to the 77-year-old International Boxing Association, which has been suspended from organizing the sport at the Olympics amid longstanding concerns about fair judging and the IBA's ties to Russia.
Jake Paul, Nate Diaz announce August boxing match
April 12, 2023 GMTYouTube star Jake Paul will take on UFC veteran Nick Diaz in an eight-round, 185-pound boxing match on Aug. 5 in Dallas.
Paul tweeted that day will be a “funeral for Nathaniel Diaz as we send him back to” UFC President Dana White.
Retired boxer Amir Khan gets 2-year ban for doping
April 4, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Retired British boxer Amir Khan has been banned from all sports for two years after testing positive for a prohibited substance following what proved to be the last fight of his career.
Anthony Joshua sets sights on Fury in tweak to rebuild plan
April 2, 2023 GMTAnthony Joshua’s rebuild plan was to have three or four fights to gain momentum for another crack at a world heavyweight title.
He’s happy to take a short cut.
An all-British fight with WBC champion Tyson Fury could be back on the cards after Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin on points on Saturday in an unconvincing comeback fight following successive damaging losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Unconvincing win for Joshua against Franklin
April 1, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua returned to his winning ways but only after an unconvincing display in a unanimous points victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night.
Scottish boxing great Ken Buchanan dies at 77
April 1, 2023 GMTEDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Scottish boxing great Ken Buchanan, who became the undisputed world lightweight champion in 1971 and won his first 33 fights, has died at the age of 77.
His death was announced Saturday in a Facebook post from the Ken Buchanan Foundation, which read: “It’s with great sadness that we have to inform you that Ken Buchanan passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning.
Joshua at heaviest career fighting weight against Franklin
March 31, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Anthony Joshua will come in at the heaviest fighting weight of his career when he takes on Jermaine Franklin in London on Saturday.
Joshua, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, weighed in Friday at 255.4 pounds (115.8 kilograms) for the fight at the O2 Arena.
Stakes high for Anthony Joshua ahead of fight with Franklin
March 29, 2023 GMTOne minute he’s talking about a blockbuster, all-British heavyweight fight with Tyson Fury.
The next he’s looking forward to “loving life” in retirement, free from the pressure of an expectant public.
Joshua facing pressure, new reality ahead of comeback fight
March 23, 2023 GMTFor so long the poster boy of boxing’s heavyweight division, Anthony Joshua has been facing a new reality in recent months.
Suddenly, the British fighter is on the outside looking in.
His star has fallen — even his promoter acknowledges that — in the wake of punishing, back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk that have led many to question Joshua’s ability, even as a two-time world champion.
Fury-Usyk fight unlikely as rematch terms scupper deal
March 22, 2023 GMTThe proposed fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since 2000 appeared to be off Wednesday, with the boxers seemingly unable to agree to rematch terms.
Canelo happily taking massive pay cut to fight in Mexico
March 17, 2023 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — Saúl Álvarez says he was determined to fight at home again in Mexico this year. The massive financial sacrifice necessary to make it happen didn't bother Canelo in the slightest.
“Sometimes it's not about money,” Álvarez said Thursday.
Canelo Álvarez sets ring return to face John Ryder in Mexico
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Canelo Álvarez will return to the ring May 6 in his native Guadalajara, Mexico, to defend his four super middleweight title belts against Britain's John Ryder.
Promoter Matchroom Boxing announced Álvarez's next fight Tuesday.
Usyk accepts Fury’s terms for fight to be undisputed champ
March 10, 2023 GMTOleksandr Usyk took to social media on Friday to accept Tyson Fury's terms for a fight to become undisputed world heavyweight champion.
Time appeared to be running out to arrange a deal between the titleholders for a proposed April 29 fight in London, with Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, saying their latest offer — a 60-40 split to the winner — was rejected by Fury and his camp.
Detroit boxing scene fighting to make comeback to relevance
March 9, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — Inside the MotorCity Casino one recent night, there were roars from the crowd as boxer after boxer was knocked out. A few laughs, too, when a fighter’s vomit stopped one bout and another was delayed because a competitor failed to put on a protective cup.
Slap fighting: The next big thing, or unsporting stupidity?
March 9, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — The competitors stand rigidly upright with their hands behind their backs, waiting to absorb a brutal slap to the face.
When the open-handed blow is delivered, there's a sharp report and the reaction can be dramatic.
Serrano hurt, no May 20 women’s boxing rematch vs. Taylor
February 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The rematch between undisputed women's boxing champions Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano won't take place as planned on May 20 because of an injury to Serrano.
Jake Paul takes first ring defeat by split decision to Fury
February 27, 2023 GMTRIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — YouTube star Jake Paul took the first defeat of his professional boxing career Sunday night, losing a split decision to Tommy Fury.
Paul (6-1) knocked down Fury with a short left hand early in the final round of their cruiserweight bout, but the younger half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury controlled long stretches of the eight-round meeting at Diriyah Arena.
Egg diet ‘reasonable’ to explain boxer’s failed doping test
February 22, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Conor Benn was cleared of intentional doping when the WBC ruled Wednesday that the British boxer's consumption of eggs presented a “reasonable explanation” for his failed test.
Jake Paul takes next step in boxing journey with Fury fight
February 22, 2023 GMTJake Paul’s unorthodox career in boxing might just be about to get serious.
The YouTube influencer-turned-prize fighter will be coming up against a recognized professional boxer for the first time Sunday when he takes on Tommy Fury, the half-brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Column: Take that, all you imaginary haters!
February 17, 2023 GMTForget the U.S. hockey team knocking off the mighty Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
That shocking upset doesn't come close to the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl against all imaginary odds.
British, Czech boxers join US-led boycott of world champs
February 14, 2023 GMTSHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Boxers from Britain and the Czech Republic on Tuesday joined a United States-led boycott of the world championships, deepening a standoff over the International Boxing Association's Russian president and his insistence on letting Russian fighters compete with their country's flag and anthem.
IOC’s Bach says Olympics on history’s side in Russia issue
February 12, 2023 GMTCOURCHEVEL, France (AP) — Insisting sports had to respect the human rights of all athletes, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Sunday denied that the organization was on the wrong side of history by helping Russians and Belarusians qualify for the 2024 Paris Summer Games.
Russia-run boxing body calls on US fighters to defy boycott
February 10, 2023 GMTLAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The president of the International Boxing Association is offering financial support to boxers who defy a U.S.-initiated boycott of the upcoming world championships, which he said was decided by people “worse than hyenas and jackals.”
Joshua starts on comeback trail against Franklin on April 1
February 6, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will launch his comeback with a fight against American boxer Jermaine Franklin in London on April 1.
Joshua hasn't fought since August, when he lost for a second straight time to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
Amanda Serrano now undisputed champ, sets up Taylor rematch
February 5, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Amanda Serrano finally has all four belts in her weight class.
Next, she can have revenge on Katie Taylor.
Serrano wore down a bloody Erika Cruz and won a unanimous decision Saturday night to become the undisputed featherweight champion and set up a rematch with fellow champ Taylor.
The Emperor’s Last: MMA pioneer Fedor Emelianenko retiring
February 3, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Fedor Emelianenko became a near-mythical martial arts figure two decades ago at the grey dawn of the social media age, so his earliest exploits had a tantalizing touch of mystery.
For Serrano, second shot at undisputed, then maybe at Taylor
February 3, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Amanda Serrano narrowly missed becoming an undisputed champion last year when Katie Taylor edged her at Madison Square Garden.
IOC details Russia stance for Olympics, cites human rights
February 2, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The IOC stepped up efforts Thursday to explain its position on trying to help Russian athletes qualify for next year's Paris Olympics amid a backlash from Ukraine and its allies.
Serrano eyes undisputed title, growth for women’s boxing
February 2, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Amanda Serrano decided four years ago to only fight at her most comfortable weight.
There would be certain exceptions, of course. Her match last year against Katie Taylor that made women’s boxing history meant moving up two weight classes, as would a rematch later this year.