10:30 AM ET Dotun AkintoyeESPN.com Editor’s note: this story was originally published in August 2017, ahead of Floyd Mayweather’s fight against Conor McGregor, and appeared in ESPN The Magazine. On Sunday, Mayweather faces Logan Paul in an exhibition fight. When boxers prepare for a fight, it’s a process of daily accretion. They sharpen, strategize, suffer,

12:59 AM ET Devin Haney was fighting two different battles on Saturday night. On one front, the 22-year-old lightweight champion was looking to defend his WBC belt against Jorge Linares, a veteran former champion who still carries significant respect in the sport. On the other, Haney needed to show why he is worthy of a

1:05 AM ET All it takes is one punch to spoil a good night. Devin Haney’s Saturday night was going perfectly until Jorge Linares caught him with a big right hand in the 10th round. The moment that punch landed, the biggest test of Haney’s career became significantly tougher. Haney did just enough to pass,

2:07 AM ET Nonito Donaire stopped Nordine Oubaali in Round 4 Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, and at 38 years and 204 days old, he became the oldest boxer to win a major bantamweight world title. Donaire is also the 11th boxer to hold a major world title in three

7:46 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN It’s hard for Devin Haney to find the right words. After months of training and preparing for his fight Saturday, the undefeated WBC lightweight titleholder would much rather express himself by using his fists than his mouth. At 135 pounds, a lot of attention has been paid to three-belt champion

May 24, 2021 There’s a generation of people who became boxing fans because of the Marvin Hagler vs. Tommy Hearns fight in 1985 — an eight-minute slugfest won by Hagler in a third-round knockout. Thirty-six years later, many recognize it as the greatest fight ever. Hagler died in March after suffering a heart attack at

12:16 PM ET MIAMI — Former star NFL receiver Chad Johnson is used to using his sweet footwork to dice up cornerbacks on the football field, but in two weeks he’s preparing to use his physical skills to put on an entertaining show in his first boxing match. On the opening fight in the PPV

7:47 AM ET Canelo Alvarez added another world title to his collection by defeating Billy Joe Saunders on May 8 in Arlington, Texas. After an extended run at No. 2, the victory finally pushed him to the top spot in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings. Terence Crawford, the former No. 1, hasn’t been in the ring in

May 22, 2021 LAS VEGAS — WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have both signed contracts for the third bout in their heavyweight rivalry. During the Josh Taylor-Jose Ramirez telecast on ESPN on Saturday, Fury said that he had signed his contract. Wilder has also finalized his side of the deal, according to

May 22, 2021 LAS VEGAS — Josh Taylor jumped on someone’s shoulders, pumped his fists and cheered along with the small section of his supporters nestled behind one of the corners. They had every reason to be thrilled. In one of the rarest fights in boxing — an undisputed title fight featuring two undefeated boxers