Former unified cruiserweight titlist Murat Gassiev is officially off the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Feb. 29 (DAZN) at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, according to Matchroom Boxing. Gassiev was due to make his heavyweight debut against Jerry Forrest but was pulled from the card for what was termed a "training team decision," according to Matchroom Boxing. Gassiev has been idle for 19 months since losing a lopsided decision to Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed cruiserweight title in the final of the World Boxing Super Series in July 2018. Part of Gassiev's layoff was caused by a shoulder injury.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer3h ago

A purse bid for junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas' mandatory defense vs. Israel Gonzalez, whom Ancajas knocked out in the 10th round of a 2018 defense, was scheduled on Wednesday because the sides were unable to make a deal by the IBF's deadline. The IBF, which initially ordered the bout Jan. 6, notified its registered promoters that the purse bid is scheduled at the IBF offices in Springfield, New Jersey, on March 3 at noon ET though the camps could still make a deal until 15 minutes before the bids are unsealed. Ancajas has made eight defenses since winning the 115-pound belt in 2016.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9h ago

The promoters and MGM Grand on Tuesday announced that they are opening closed circuit locations at various MGM properties around Las Vegas for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury heavyweight championship rematch on Saturday night. Closed circuit tickets are $100 apiece and the venues hosting the showings are Mandalay Bay Ballroom at Mandalay Bay, The Still at The Mirage, Nine Fine Irishmen at New York-New York, Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York and Moneyline at Park MGM.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago

Golden Boy Promotions on Tuesday signed two amateur standouts from Hawaii in lightweight Dalis Kaleiopu, 21, and bantamweight Asa Stevens, 19, who were both brought to the company by Tim VanNewhouse of Split-T Management. Kaleiopu boxed in the recently completed U.S. Olympic Trials. The southpaw Stevens, a multiple time national champion, is a cousin of UFC fighter Max Holloway. Golden Boy also signed middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. (15-3, 9 KOs) to a co-promotional deal with Tournament of Contenders. Mosley, 29, the son of Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Sr., won the reboot of The Contender reality series last year.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer1d ago

Unified junior welterweight world titlist Jose Ramirez's mandatory defense against Viktor Postol, which was scheduled for Feb. 1 in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card at Mission Hills Haikou resort in Haikou, China but postponed because of the corona virus outbreak, will be rescheduled for May 9 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, Ramirez's home base, multiple sources with knowledge of the plans told ESPN on Monday. While the new date and location are set an announcement is not expected until after Top Rank finishes with this week's promotion of the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury heavyweight title rematch, the sources said.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago

Former flyweight titlist Charlie Edwards will make his junior bantamweight debut April 18 (ESPN+) at York Hall in London, MTK Global announced Tuesday. Edwards, who will face a foe to be named, will be fighting for the first time since an August third-round no contest vs. Julio Cesar Martinez, who knocked him out with a shot while he was down. Edwards declined the ordered rematch, vacated the belt and elected to move up in weight. Edwards' return will be on a card topped by Michael McKinson defending his regional welterweight belt vs. Louis Greene. Lightweight Liam Walsh, whose only loss was by knockout challenging then-junior lightweight titlist Gervonta Davis in 2017, will also be in action.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago

A proposed fight between former junior welterweight titleholders Maurice Hooker and Regis Prograis is getting closer. Dino Duva of Roc Nation Sports, Hooker's co-promoter, told ESPN on Monday that he has closed a deal with Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, Hooker's other promoter, for the fight to take place in April at a site to be determined. Duva said the agreement calls for the bout to be contested at a maximum weight of 143 pounds. Hearn has made an offer to Prograis promoter Lou DiBella but they are not yet in agreement on the money, DiBella said. Duva added that the fight would be on DAZN, although at one point Showtime was also a possibility.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago