Sep 11, 2021 Mike CoppingerESPN Oscar Valdez dealt with a storm of controversy after the banned substance phentermine was found in his system. He was called a cheater by his fellow fighters. He drew the ire of fans who were angered that he was allowed to proceed with Friday night’s fight despite the Voluntary Anti-Doping
Boxing
6:03 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield faces former UFC light heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort in an eight-round boxing match at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida (Triller Fight Club PPV, 7 p.m. ET). Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs), of Atlanta, is 58 years old and hasn’t fought since
10:11 PM ET Teofimo Lopez is exploring moving up divisions after his lightweight title fight against George Kambosos Jr. on Oct. 4 in New York City, and he said in an interview with ESPN on Friday night that he has no plans to schedule a rematch with Vasiliy Lomachenko. Lopez has expressed interest in moving
Anthony Joshua has welcomed Tyson Fury’s declaration that he still wants to fight him next year. Hopes for Joshua-Fury — reportedly worth £200 million — fell apart when an arbitration hearing in the United States ruled that Deontay Wilder was owed a third fight with Fury. Both will instead fight different opponents over the next
5:34 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN WBC junior lightweight world titlist Oscar Valdez defends his belt against Robson Conceicao on Friday (ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET, with undercard fights starting at 6:10 p.m. ET) in Tucson, Arizona. Valdez tested positive for the banned substance phentermine in August, but the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission allowed Valdez to
9:00 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Evander Holyfield will return to the ring Saturday against a legendary mixed martial artist, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort. Yes, Holyfield is 58. And yes, this will be his first fight since he defeated Brian Nielsen in 2011, capping one of the greatest in-ring careers of all time.
7:34 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Mikey Garcia, a four-division champion, has agreed to terms for a fight with Spain’s Sandor Martin on Oct. 16, possibly in Texas, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. The bout will be contested at a catchweight of 145 pounds, sources said. Promoter Eddie Hearn was planning to stage the 115-pound championship
8:22 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos have signed contracts for an undisputed lightweight title fight that will take place Oct. 4 at New York’s Hulu Theater at MSG, Triller COO Thorsten Meier told ESPN. The fight was set for Oct. 5 but Triller moved the fight to avoid competing with a
7:53 AM ET Two fighters who shouldn’t be near a boxing ring are headlining cards in Miami and Tucson, Arizona, this weekend. Evander Holyfield, 58, returns to the ring to face former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, 44, in an eight-round heavyweight match on Friday at Hard Rock LIVE at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino