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It’s not looking good for WBC. Last year, after Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion, ‘Bud’ refused to bend to the sanctioning fees demands made by the World Boxing Council.

He accused them of riding the coattails of boxers without providing any real value. Crawford was subsequently stripped of his WBC title. It didn’t matter much since the three-division undisputed great announced his retirement anyway.

When the same demand was made to Shakur Stevenson after his recent bout with Teofimo Lopez, he too joined the cause and vacated the WBC belt rather than pay the exorbitant fees demanded by the sanctioning body. Now, the entire fiasco has Mike Tyson worked up over it all.

JUST IN: Risk, Reward, And Reputation: Why This Is the Fight Gervonta Davis Cannot Ignore

Currently, ‘Iron Mike’ is launching the Mike Tyson Invitational, an amateur boxing showcase/tournament aimed at developing and reviving American boxing talent. The three-day invitational event is scheduled for March 12–14 in Las Vegas at the Radiant Brand Complex. So, ahead of the tournament, he appeared in an interview with TMZ Sports where he was asked about the debacle.

Mike Tyson urges others to follow Terence Crawford and Shakur

Despite being extremely close to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, the heavyweight legend has made his stance on the issue. “Listen, I like the WBC. I respect [them], but no one needs a ranking body,” Tyson told TMZ Sports’ Mike Babcock. “Fighters fight fighters. And that’s how [they] hold the belt. You don’t need a belt to define [that] you’re the best. Your skills define if you’re the best. You don’t need [any] organizations.”

He went on to argue that most boxers simply don’t earn enough to justify paying sanctioning fees to organizations like the WBC. “A guy like me, I should pay some fees. I don’t mind paying fees. If you [are] making the money I make. But the money these guys [are] making, a million bucks, they’ve got to pay some fees? No, no, no,” Tyson asserted.

There is a widespread misconception about fighter pay in boxing. Many assume boxers earn purses comparable to stars like Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia, or Gervonta Davis. In reality, only a small percentage of fighters reach that level of financial success. The vast majority struggle to make a stable living throughout their careers. And when those fighters finally win a title or get a place in the rankings and begin expecting better paydays, Tyson believes sanctioning fees feel excessive and unfair.

“What are we paying the fees for? What protection are we getting by paying these fees? Am I going to have a retirement fund? No. I’m not going to do that,” Tyson stated. “I’m giving you fees to just bankrupt my family.” For him, only the most gullible would agree to pay such sanctioning fees.

Mike Tyson stated that promoters take advantage of fighters anyway before sanctioning bodies step in to claim their share of the revenue generated by the boxers’ hard work. So that makes it all the more harder to earn a living as a boxer.

When asked about Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson pushing back against the WBC, Tyson quickly voiced his support for the duo. “Oh, you[‘ve] got to fight back. When they fight back, all the other fighters will fight back,” Tyson said.

As for Stevenson’s dispute with the WBC, the Newark native reportedly raised serious allegations—claims that only reinforce Tyson’s criticism of the sanctioning body.

Shakur Stevenson calls the WBC ‘crooks’

It happened just days after he defeated Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO junior welterweight title at Madison Square Garden. The former lightweight champion blasted the WBC on social media after they made their demand for fees apparent to him. The WBC cited its rules regarding champions who win titles in new weight classes in order to justify their fees. Rather than pay up, Shakur decided to simply vacate his WBC lightweight title.

Taking to X, he alleged the organization stripped him due to a $100,000 sanctioning fee he refused to pay. “100k to some crooks who don’t deserve it?” Stevenson wrote. He added, “The WBC didn’t even have [anything] to do with this fight, and it’s eating them alive. Take your belt, it [doesn’t] make me.”

Stevenson also questioned the timing of the decision, writing, “What the hell am I giving y’all 100k right now for?” He claimed it was personally motivated because of his close friendship with Terence Crawford.

Regardless, there appears to be a growing pushback against the WBC and other sanctioning bodies over the entire fallout. And at a time when Zuffa Boxing is entering the sport, this might not bode well for the three-letter organizations.

BOXING

Risk, Reward, And Reputation: Why This Is the Fight Gervonta Davis Cannot Ignore

Gervonta Davis does not lack options. But if he wants a return fight that carries instant meaning, Isaac Cruz still stands above the rest.

As Davis deals with ongoing legal matters and the weight class picture shifts around him, the usual speculation has followed: who’s next, and how soon?

There are marketable names and fresh matchups available. But only one opponent comes with a story that never fully settled the first time.

JUST IN: Gervonta Davis: World title fight ‘set for April’ for Gervonta ‘Tank’ Da

The Chapter That Never Fully Closed
Their December 2021 meeting ended in a unanimous decision win for Davis.

On paper, it was clear. In the ring, it was competitive.

Cruz’s pressure forced Davis to adjust in ways few opponents have managed. For long stretches, Davis boxed with caution, relying on timing and control rather than imposing himself.

It was not controversy. It was discomfort for the champion.

And that kind of night tends to follow a fighter until he answers it.

Timing Changes The Choice
Cruz is no longer a short-notice replacement stepping into the spotlight. He has stayed active, improved, and kept calling for the sequel.

Davis, meanwhile, faces uncertainty on his timeline while legal proceedings continue. That makes the opponent selection more important than usual.

If Davis wants a comeback that quiets questions instead of creating new ones, Cruz is the cleanest answer. The history is already there, and the stakes don’t need manufacturing.

Clarity From Cruz’s Side
Advisor Sean Gibbons confirmed to World Boxing News that Cruz has identified Davis as his primary target.

No conditions have been floated publicly. No demands. No pre-fight theater. From Cruz’s side, the message is simple: if Davis wants it, the door is open.

That matters in a division where talks often stall before they begin.

Risk, Reward, And Reputation
Davis remains one of boxing’s biggest draws. He can sell fights against multiple opponents.

But few matchups offer what Cruz does: a chance to settle the one result that still sparks fan debate.

A decisive Davis win ends the debate. A tighter fight — or a reversal — changes the lightweight conversation immediately.

That is the risk. It is also why the rematch carries real weight.

The Choice People Will Judge
When Davis returns, the opponent will be read as a statement.

Cruz is the most direct route back into meaningful competition because the first fight already proved he is not a formality.

If the rematch happens, the story gets its ending. If it does not, the question will linger every time Davis is linked to someone else.

Because for all the names at 135 to 140, few come with a lingering question that still demands an answer. – If you use these WBN quotes, please link back to the source: https://www.worldboxingnews.com/isaac-cruz-gervonta-davis-cannot-ignore/

BOXING

Gervonta Davis: World title fight ‘set for April’ for Gervonta ‘Tank’ Da

World title fight ‘set for April’ for Gervonta Davis’ old belt

Last month, Gervonta Davis was stripped of his WBA lightweight world title and a date for a clash for the now vacant belt has been confirmed, with one of boxing’s most exciting prospects involved in the bout.

Davis was winless since June 2024 prior to being stripped, with his lone outing since being a debatable draw against Lamont Roach Jr last March, that almost cost him his undefeated record.

READ: “He’s top of my list”: The man Gervonta Davis wants next respo

Since then, a number of external issues have been behind the inactivity of ‘Tank’, who was issued with an arrest warrant issues based on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.

As a result, the WBA have decided to demote Davis to champion-in-recess, meaning that their lightweight title is now vacant, but that Davis will be well poised to challenge the new champion upon his return.

On Instagram, the WBA’s number one contender, 23-year-old Floyd Schofield, has revealed that he will be fighting for the vacant title in April.

“We been through the fire to get to this point in our life.

“We have so much more to do and so much more life to live. Stay tuned and continue to watch the growth of both me and my son.

“Tune in April for our @wbaboxingofficial World Title fight. Thank you to all our sponsors, fans and friends.”

It is believed that ‘Kid Austin’ will collide with Canada’s Lucas Bahdi, despite the latter being ordered for an IBF final eliminator against Albert Bell earlier this week, with Saturday, April 11, the anticipated fight date.

CELEB NEWS

Tiger Woods’ 17-year-old son Charlie announces major golf move

The Woods family is adding to its remarkable golf legacy.

Charlie Woods, the son of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, announced on Instagram he had committed to play college golf at Florida State.

“Go Noles!” the high schooler posted.

Woods won the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May and drilled a hole-in-one on the third hole at TPC Sawgrass in August.

READ: Why Did Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods Break Up? What Ended Ol

The father-son duo played alongside one another at the PNC Championship from 2020 to 2024, and the younger Woods recorded his first ace in 2024. The pair finished in second in both 2021 and 2024.

Woods, who turned 17 Monday, is the 21st-ranked golfer in the American Junior Golf Association. He finished tied for ninth at the Junior PGA Championship in August.

In the summer of 2024, he qualified to compete at the U.S. Junior Amateur but failed to make the cut.

His dad has 82 professional wins, tied with Sam Snead for the most ever. Fifteen of those victories have come in majors, and his last major win was an unforgettable 2019 Masters.

Tiger underwent another back surgery in December after he ruptured his Achilles just weeks before last year’s Masters. In 18 official events since finishing tied for ninth at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish is a tie for 37th at the 2020 PGA Championship.

He has not competed since the 2024 Open Championship. He competed in just five events that year — each of the four majors and the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts. He withdrew from the Genesis, finished dead last in the Masters and missed the cut in the final three majors.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka and Paul Azinger, the 1993 PGA Champion, both attended Florida State.

CELEB NEWS

‘So Proud’: Tiger Woods’ Son Charlie, 17, Commits to Play Col

Tiger Woods’ Son Charlie, 17, Commits to Play College Golf — and Dad Is ‘So Proud’

Charlie Woods, the son of iconic golfer Tiger Woods, has committed to play professional golf in college.

In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the 17-year-old athlete announced that he will continue his career in sports; however, it won’t be at his famous father’s alma mater.

“Excited to announce my commitment to play golf at Florida State University — go Noles!” the youngest of Tiger’s two kids shared on social media.

The 50-year-old golfer, who has garnered 82 PGA Tour wins and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022, is also a dad to Sam Alexis Woods, 18.

He shares both children with his ex-wife Elin Nordegren.

Tiger attended Stanford University on a golf scholarship, but after two years, he left to compete in professional tournaments.

“Congratulations Charlie. I’m so proud of you on entering this next chapter of your life,” the proud dad wrote in Charlie’s comment section.

The teen is currently a junior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Fla., and will be a member of FSU’s 2027 recruiting class, ESPN reported.

Charlie’s highlights thus far include ranking first in the Team TaylorMade Invitational with a 54-hole total of 15-under 201 in May 2025, coming in at No. 18 at the Rolex Tournament of Champions in November, according to the outlet.

In addition to the news, Charlie’s Instagram bio now features the Instagram handle for Florida State Men’s Golf. He has also deleted all of his previous posts, leaving only his announcement.

Tiger Woods of the United States and his son Charlie Woods

Tiger has always been vocal about his support for both of his children.

During the July 2021 premiere episode of the Golf Digest mini-series A Round with Tiger: Celebrity Lessons, the billionaire told Jada Pinkett Smith that his son was a “natural.”

However, he added that he doesn’t want Charlie to feel pressured into playing golf, adding, “I just don’t want him to hate the game.”

“I get emotional about it. Some of my best memories are being out there with my dad,” Tiger said.

While talking to reporters in December 2020, Tiger opened up about why competing with Charlie in the PNC Championship was a significant milestone.

“I don’t think words can describe it,” Tiger said. “Just the fact that we were able to have this experience together, Charlie and I, it’s memories for a lifetime.”

The annual event was previously known as The Father/Son Challenge, later rebranding in 2020, and consists of PGA Tour and Champions Tour golfers and their sons.

BOXING

Why Anthony Joshua’s Comeback Depends On Whether He Can St

Anthony Joshua’s Comeback Depends On Whether He Can Still Pull The Trigger

Anthony Joshua’s return is no longer about dates, opponents, or even Tyson Fury. It comes down to something far less visible: whether he can still switch off the part of the mind that calculates danger before stepping into it.

In December, Joshua survived a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. He was reported to have suffered only minor physical injuries, but that is not the part that decides heavyweight fights.

The Instinct That Decides Heavyweight Fights

The part that decides fights lives in the split-second between seeing an opening and committing to it. Since the crash, Joshua has kept a low profile, limited to some gym footage, a brief video message, and later comments from Eddie Hearn.

JUST IN: PHOTOS: How Anthony Joshua pays fresh tribute to late friends

Speaking to First Round TV, Hearn said, “I don’t think there are any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time I expect him to, because it is something that he loves.” He added that Joshua has been training but is “not ready yet, and won’t be for a while, to return to boxing training.” Heavyweight champions survive because they operate with a degree of insulation.

At his best, Joshua stepped into range without visible hesitation, accepted the risk of counters, and trusted his right hand to settle exchanges.

That kind of commitment requires a narrowing of focus that shuts out anything beyond the ropes. We have already seen Joshua deal with defeat inside the sport. He rebuilt after Andy Ruiz stopped him and attempted to adjust after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Those were boxing setbacks that demanded tactical correction and emotional control. Real-world trauma carries a different weight because it alters how a man processes risk in everyday life, and that processing does not automatically switch off under bright lights.

A heavyweight who pauses to measure every danger is vulnerable. If the jab retracts a fraction slower or the back foot lingers before planting, the other man will step in and take ground.

The difference between firing instinctively and calculating first can be a single beat, and at this level, that beat is enough for the opponent to seize control.

We’ll Know Early Joshua is 36 and has already travelled the full arc of champion, dethroned champion, and rebuild. The long-discussed Fury fight now feels secondary to a more immediate concern, which is whether Joshua even wants to stand in that space where violence is accepted without reflection. Belts and rivalries can wait; the psychological adjustment cannot be rushed.

No fighter returns unchanged after a shock of this scale. Some come back sharpened by it, channeling grief into focus. Others fight like men who have seen the cost of risk too clearly to ignore.

The public will not need months to work out which version appears. The answer will surface early, in the first committed exchange, when he has to decide whether to let his hands go without thinking about what might come back. Joshua does not need a payday or a legacy boost. He has already secured both.

The real test of this comeback is whether he can still narrow his world to the ring for twelve rounds and accept danger without flinching. If that instinct remains intact, he stays relevant at the top level. If it does not, no amount of training will disguise it for long.

BOXING

PHOTOS: How Anthony Joshua pays fresh tribute to late friends

PHOTOS: Joshua pays fresh tribute to late friends with new tattoo

Anthony Joshua has gotten a fresh tattoo of the names of his two friends who died in the car crash he survived in Nigeria.

Joshua’s close friends — Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami — lost their lives in a fatal accident that happened along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29.

The former heavyweight boxing champion was also in the Lexus SUV that rammed into a stationary truck on the expressway, but he survived with minor injuries.

JUST IN: “He’s top of my list”: The man Gervonta Davis wants next respo

The 35-year-old has now etched his late friends’ names on his right biceps.

He tattooed the names underneath the map of Africa inked on his upper arm.

In a post on its Instagram page on Thursday, Fulham Tattoos said the boxer got the new ink “a few weeks ago”.

A couple of weeks ago, Joshua said he no longer feared death since he already had two “brothers” on the other side,

In the lengthy video, the fighter struggled to hold back tears as he promised to do what is right by his friends’ families.

Photos of Joshua getting his latest tattoo:

BOXING

“He’s top of my list”: The man Gervonta Davis wants next respo

The man Gervonta Davis wants next responds to call out

Whilst Gervonta Davis’ comeback date is unknown, his opponent may become obvious in the coming weeks, as his targeted dance partner has shared his willingness to accept a fight with the Baltimore-born knockout artist.

Davis has not won a fight since June 2024, with his lone outing since being a controversial draw against Lamont Roach Jr – which many fans felt should have cost him both his WBA lightweight world title and his undefeated record.

However, whilst Roach couldn’t capture Davis’ 135lb belt, the WBA have since demoted ‘Tank’ to champion-in-recess, after he was issued with an arrest warrant regarding allegations of domestic violence.

READ: Eddie Hearn Provides Update On Anthony Joshua’s Fighting Future

Although, when discussing his eventual return on social media, Davis admitted his intentions of rematching Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, whom he defeated by unanimous-decision in December 2021.

“I’m taking him [Cruz] next, soon as my knee gets better.”

In response, Cruz’s advisor, Sean Gibbons, has now told BoxingScene that Davis sits at the top of Cruz’s hit-list, describing their meeting as ‘unfinished business’ after their enthralling encounter over four years ago.

“He called me and has put together a little hit-list of three guys. At the top of the list is Gervonta Davis. It marks unfinished business for ‘Pitbull’, and Gervonta has lots of unfinished business.

“I think that can come together in this timeframe. Gervonta beat him already; is backed in a corner; doesn’t want to fight Shakur or Roach. He needs a guy who’ll bring him money. ‘Pitbull’ earned the right for that signature fight.

“The big, big one that captivates audiences, and with Gervonta or Ryan [Garcia], he would capture that. The guy’s itching to do something in a big way.”

It remains to be seen whether Davis will return to the ring anytime soon, but if he does, a second showdown with Cruz could be in store.

BOXING

Eddie Hearn Provides Update On Anthony Joshua’s Fighting Future

By Admin February 12, 2026

Eddie Hearn has given insight into where Anthony Joshua is at right now following the devastating car crash in Nigeria.

After Joshua beat Jake Paul with a one-punch knockout that broke the American’s jaw, he headed to Nigeria to visit family. Tragedy struck when the car he was in collided a parked vehicle and his two close friends and camp members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele lost their lives.

That put paid to Joshua’s immediate boxing plans but, speaking to First Round TV, his lifelong promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested he is starting to get back into the gym.

JUST IN: How Gervonta Davis escapes new arrest warrant after Baltimore ju

“I don’t think there is any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time I expect him to because it’s something that he loves. It’s something he can carry those guys with him, though as well and it’s something he wants to do.

“From a boxing sense, physically it wasn’t easy what he went through either. People probably don’t realise the extent of what he’s been through. He’s been training, but he’s not ready yet and he won’t be for a while to return to boxing training.

“We were gearing up for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury. Obviously, that’s not going to happen now. I don’t know if it will ever happen. In the next few months, he will turn up the dial on training and see where he is at on that.”

Fury, too, is making a return after more than a year out when he takes on Arslanbek Makmuhdov in April, but only time will tell whether he and Joshua finally get it on in the ring, and ‘AJ’s decision will be respected by fans, analysts and fellow fighters either way.

BOXING

How Gervonta Davis escapes new arrest warrant after Baltimore ju

By Admin February 12, 2026

Gervonta Davis escapes new arrest warrant after Baltimore judge recalls it, legal troubles cost him WBA title status

Gervonta Davis is once again in the headlines, but not for his boxing performances. The Baltimore lightweight star recently avoided a second arrest warrant after a judge agreed to recall it.

The development comes months after he was accused of assaulting his former girlfriend in Miami, an incident that forced the cancellation of a planned exhibition bout with Jake Paul. Police arrested Davis with the help of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force before he was later released on bond.

His legal problems did not end there. Soon after his release, another warrant was issued because he allegedly violated probation linked to a 2020 hit-and-run case that injured four people, including a pregnant woman. Now the court has changed course and allowed Davis to appear under supervision instead. While the decision gives him temporary relief, it arrives as his career faces uncertainty and his championship status has already been affected.

Court decision offers relief for Gervonta Davis as the impact on career grows

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JUST IN: Why Oleksandr Usyk was handed world title ultimatum by WBC afte

As reported by Baltimore Banner, on February 2, Circuit Judge Althea Handy issued a warrant after prosecutors argued Davis broke probation conditions. His lawyer Hunter Pruette asked the court to withdraw it and instead require the boxer to attend hearings under GPS monitoring. Prosecutors did not object to the request, and the judge recalled the warrant.

“We’re thankful the court recalled the warrant. Mr. Davis remains compliant and will continue to appear as required”, Pruette said.

In simpler terms, his lawyer indicated relief over the court’s decision and stressed that the boxer is cooperating with legal requirements and will attend hearings when asked.

This is not Davis’ first issue with the same case. In 2023, Judge Handy sentenced him to 90 days of home detention and three years of probation. He later served jail time after authorities discovered he was staying at a luxury hotel and penthouse instead of the approved address.

The World Boxing Association has also reacted. Davis has been moved to “champion in recess,” ending his four-year run as the primary lightweight titleholder. WBA officials will now decide whether to order a vacant title fight. Possible matchups include top contender Floyd Schofield Jr. facing Lucas Bahdi or Lamont Roach Jr.

Davis still has a chance to defend himself in future hearings, but his legal situation continues to overshadow his boxing career.