Gervonta Davis reveals injury that’s delaying ring return as he sets his sights on rematch
It has been a year to forget for Gervonta Davis, but the 31-year-old is already plotting his return to the ring.
“Tank” Davis remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions, a fighter who draws huge crowds thanks to his explosive talent and his often controversial life outside the ropes.
In 2025, Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs), has fought only once — a highly contentious draw with Lamont Roach — while simultaneously dealing with a series of personal issues. His planned crossover bout against cruiserweight Jake Paul was also scrapped following recent allegations of abuse made by Davis’s ex-girlfriend.
Roach and another of Davis’s former opponents, Isaac Cruz, met last year December in San Antonio, Texas, with both men chasing a world title shot at super-lightweight. Cruz’s WBC interim belt was at stake, but the main event ended in yet another draw for Roach — the third of his career.
While Roach has no interest in a Davis rematch at present, his opponent from the weekend may be heading in that direction. The Baltimore native signalled his intentions in a now-deleted post on X, writing:
“I’m taking him [Isaac Cruz] next, soon as my knee gets better.”
Tyson Fury reveals real reason he decided to make retirement U-turn after training return
Tyson Fury has insisted he isn’t returning to boxing for money but simply for his love of fighting.
The ‘Gypsy King’ retired yet again after two consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, which were the only ones he has suffered in his professional career.
Many expected that Fury would indeed return, having indicated on multiple occasions he is interested in a comeback which could include a trilogy with the Ukrainian.
He has recently confirmed for certain that he will be returning in 2026 and has a short-list of potential opponents which also include Fabio Wardley and Anthony Joshua.
And he has even made a full return to training, and has recently been sparring Kevin Lerena.
The 37-year-old has previously suggested he is motivated by the prospect of lucrative paydays as opposed to chasing after world titles.
But in a new video explaining his decision to make a U-turn, Fury has reaffirmed his passion for the sport is his motivating factor.
He said: “I have literally won everything from regional belts in England to super world titles, fighter of the year twice.
“Every world title I have fought for, and for me there is nothing else other than the fight game. I love this fight game. There is nothing in it for financial gain.
“I could have retired 10 years ago. I’ve made an absolute fortune. It’s not about the money, although, I always want a good deal for sure. It’s mainly about the love of the fight game and the sport.
“I’m 37, I’m 38 this year, I am older than a motherf*****, but I love to fight. I have zero other interests, only fighting.
“I was born and raised to fight My destiny lies within the fight game. And at the end of it all, I’ll be punching like a motherf*****, and I’ll probably be ending up in a wheelchair like the rest of them all.
“Punched to death, don’t know if it’s Tuesday, Wednesday or December, but it’s the game I chose, it’s the life we chose. This is the life I chose! We ain’t stopping. We ain’t f***ing leaving.”
Fury has indeed previously attracted concerns for explaining his reasons for still competing, facing a common problem boxers face when hanging up their gloves.
It is an addictive lifestyle that he isn’t ready to leave behind, and the gifted giant believes he has more in the tank to return to the top of the heavyweight division.
Who could Fury face when he returns?
Fury appears to have three leading contenders for his big fight return, as he seeks a route back to world titles.
The most likely option seemed to be Joshua after his victory over Jake Paul, with the framework of a deal already in place for 2026.
But according to AJ’s uncle, his long-term future is in doubt after he was involved in a car accident in Nigeria.
Fury has named Wardley as a leading option, even though it would likely take place after an early warm up fight in 2026.
And the Suffolk native is certainly open to defending his title against the former champion.
He told Sky Sports: “It was good because he was already on mine [hit-list]. It makes no difference to me.
“Look, it’s something I’d be really keen for because I’m not shying away from big fights. I haven’t got a world title just to take easy fights and hold onto it, and hide away with it.
“I think being open [to negotiations] might be a bit of an understatement. I’d be extremely keen to see if he’s genuine about it or not.
“He may be looking at it like it might be an easy touch for him to roll out of retirement, come into a fight, pick up a world title and go on to bigger things, but as fighters of late have found out, I’m quite the banana skin.”
Oleksandr Usyk names his toughest opponent in unbeaten 24 fight career
Oleksandr Usyk gave a rather unexpected response, branding his former foe a ‘terrible guy’, when asked to name the toughest opponent he has ever faced.
The masterful Ukrainian is, of course, no stranger to elite competition, having previously claimed an Olympic gold medal and more recently become a three-time, two-division undisputed champion.
While campaigning at cruiserweight, Usyk came up against a selection of established world champions and worthy contenders, including the likes of Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Michael Hunter.
Briedis, in particular, is thought to have given the pound-for-pound king his toughest test in the professional ranks, with many believing that he had done enough to edge their encounter in 2018.
But Usyk, nevertheless, claimed a majority decision victory and extended his unbeaten record, before moving up to the land of the giants.
It was there where he secured career-enhancing wins over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, beating each of the Brits on two occasions, and firmly cemented himself as the greatest heavyweight of his era.
And yet, quite surprisingly, it was Derek Chisora who, according to the man himself, gave Usyk his toughest night’s work in 2020.
While Usyk emerged with a convincing unanimous decision victory, the relentless work rate of Chisora nonetheless gave him a stern introduction to heavyweight boxing.
For that reason, the Olympic champion told talkSPORT that, in terms of difficulty, his fight with the British veteran eclipses any other assignment he has been involved in.
“I think it is Derek. My friend, Derek. Hey, Derek, I am coming for you!
Derek is a terrible guy, terribly tough. It’s just hard [fighting] Derek. He was just very difficult.”
Gervonta Davis says he has only felt true power from one fighter
Gervonta Davis is known for his own huge power but he has revealed the biggest puncher he’s faced.
The future of Davis is currently up in the air, having not competed since he was held to a controversial majority decision draw against Lamont Roach back in March.
Prior to his difficult 2025, Davis was widely regarded as one of the heaviest hitters in the sport, pound-for-pound, with 28 of his 30 victories coming by knockout.
When it comes to naming who hit him hardest though, one name stood out for Davis, as he revealed during a past media scrum that he gives that recognition to Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.
“I ain’t going to lie, Rolly hit hard. People are sleeping on Rolly. He hasn’t got a chin, so Rolly gets caught, but he can hit … He’s the only person I have felt. When he swung, it felt like there were bricks in his hands.”
‘Tank’ met Romero back in May 2022, claiming a sixth round TKO victory. Since then, Romero has won the WBA super-lightweight title, and then picked up the biggest win of his career when he defeated Ryan Garcia back in May.
The victory over Garcia saw Romero win the WBA Regular welterweight title, and he has since been upgraded to full champion.
A fight between Romero and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao had been touted for 2026, but it appears that ‘Rolly’ will have to defend his belt against his mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov next instead, or risk being stripped.
Tyson Fury names replacement opponent for Anthony Joshua if rival retires
Tyson Fury is open to a showdown with Fabio Wardley should an all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua fail to materialise.
The ‘Gypsy King’ announced his retirement last January off the back of consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. Over the last few months, though, the Morecambe brawler has hinted at a return to the ring and now looks set to make yet another comeback this year.
Fury, 37, is currently over in Thailand and has posted regular training videos to his millions of followers online. In a recent post, he seemingly confirmed his return, writing: “2026 is that year Return of the Mac. Been away for a while but im back now, 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.”
The former two-time heavyweight world champion has been getting the work in with Kevin Lerena – who currently holds the WBC bridgerweight title. “Run done today, feeling good,” he said in a recent video on social media. “Feeling sharper, faster, more ready than I was last week. Second week of training, come on. Bring it on, let’s go.”
Ahead of the Brit’s return, it remains to be seen who he will take on. Last month, reports emerged that both Fury and Joshua had agreed to face each other in a summer showdown. But there are now question marks over Joshua’s future after he was recently involved in a tragic car crash in Nigeria – which killed two of his close friends.
There are plenty of options on the table for Fury, and it seems as if he is open to a dust-up with fellow countryman, Wardley. “Big smoke for the GK after a long lay off could be an option for later in 2026. God willing,” wrote Fury. Wardley knocked out Joseph Parker in the eleventh round back in October to snatch the WBO interim title from the Kiwi. Merely weeks later, Wardley was eventually promoted to full champion after Usyk had vacated the title.
Fans are itching to see Fury and Joshua finally square off, but the former’s promoter, Frank Warren, admitted that a possible clash may not happen until late 2026 – if it happens at all. Speaking to The Mirror, Warren admitted he is not sure what the future holds for Fury or AJ following the crash – and has now ruled out any chances of them meeting as early in 2026 as was initially planned.
“Well, boxing will certainly be the last thing on his [Joshua’s] mind, right now. He’s obviously lost two team members who were good, close friends who are now no longer with us, so that will be a big loss to him. I don’t know the extent of his injuries, but it’s also how mentally this will affect him. Boxing again will be the last thing on his mind, but tragedy can affect people in different ways; sometimes, you need something you can really focus on to pull through to the other side.”
Canelo Alvarez’s Medical Situation Becomes Jaime Munguia’s Road to Redemption in IBF Title Race
Osleys Iglesias’ dream of repeating Terence Crawford’s feat may have run into a hurdle. Like Crawford, the Cuban contender received an opportunity to face Canelo Alvarez. But while the Nebraskan stepped in and staged a historic upset, Iglesias now faces disappointment as a different showdown looms.
Canelo Alvarez has opted out, likely due to the elbow surgery he underwent following his loss to Crawford. But where one man loses, another gains. His absence seems to have opened the door for his former opponent, Jaime Munguia. The former light middleweight champion had found himself embroiled in a doping controversy following his win over Bruno Surace in their May rematch. Later in September, reports suggested he had been cleared of the charges. Now ranked one position below Canelo, a fight with Osleys Iglesias potentially puts Munguia back in title contention.
Canelo’s withdrawal puts Munguia back in the title hunt
The development follows Canelo’s decision to decline the invitation for a potential matchup against Iglesias for the IBF title. The championship was left vacant after Crawford announced his retirement last month.
“Canelo Alvarez has declared himself unavailable when contacted by the IBF about a potential vacant super-middleweight title fight against Osleys Iglesias, as Canelo is recovering from his recent elbow surgery,” a Ring Magazine post read.
In response, Iglesias’ team appears to have fixed its sights on IBF super middleweight No. 4 Jaime Munguia. According to his manager, Camille Estephan, they are willing to face anyone. He recalled how his charge outboxed Vladimir Shishkin in a title eliminator.
The Eye of the Tiger president told Ring, “We are hoping the IBF responds quickly and sends a letter to the next available contender, which happens to be (Jaime) Munguia; we’ll see what he says.”
Earlier, perhaps getting ahead of himself, Estephan caused quite a stir when he stated that the IBF had “ordered” Iglesias vs. Canelo.
Canelo Alvarez has declared himself unavailable when contacted by the IBF about a potential vacant super-middleweight title fight against Osleys Iglesias, as Canelo is recovering from his recent elbow surgery ❌
That claim, however, was met with backlash. Eminent boxing journalists Dan Rafael and Jake Donovan revealed that, far from being “ordered,” the matchup had merely been inquired about by the IBF.
168 pounds wide open as Crawford, Canelo exit the picture
Interestingly, Munguia and 168-pound WBC interim champion Christian Mbilli, who is also promoted by Camille Estephan, were reportedly in talks for a matchup. However, another conflicting report suggests the Cameroonian-French fighter could instead be in line for a bout against Hamzah Sheeraz for the now-vacant WBC title.
Amid the confusion, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge. Canelo may break away from his long-standing tradition of fighting on Cinco de Mayo this year. With Crawford retired, the chances of a rematch are now slim. It remains unclear whom the Mexican superstar may fight next.
But fans can expect his return around Mexican Independence Day weekend in September.
Crawford’s retirement may have put the division in flux, yet it also seems to have made the situation more exciting. The WBA now has a full champion. Months after defeating Caleb Plant for the interim title, Jose Resendiz has found himself elevated to full champion status. However, he will have to face a mandatory challenge from top-ranked Bektemir Melikuziev.
A similar situation complicates matters at the WBO. Canelo ranks as its No. 1 contender, but due to his absence, Diego Pacheco and Hamzah Sheeraz have been instructed to finalize a fight for the vacant title. Fans should therefore stay tuned as intriguing matchups emerge in the months to come.
Anthony Joshua has posted on social media for the first time since he was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria.
Two of Joshua’s team members, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both lost their lives on Monday after the Lexus SUV they were travelling in crashed into a stationary truck just outside of Lagos.
AJ was taken to hospital with minor injuries before he was discharged on Wednesday.
The British boxing star immediately visited the funeral home with his mother to pay respects to his fallen friends and returned to the UK on Friday to continue his recovery.
Anthony Joshua issues first social media post since accident
On Sunday, the former heavyweight champion took to Instagram and shared images with family members of Ghami and Ayodele in a heartfelt post.
“My Brothers Keeper,” Joshua said, seemingly referring to a phrase from the Bible, which looks at the idea of shared responsibility for others’ welfare.
The 1993 DRS song Gangsta Lean, which serves as a tribute to a lost friend, is paired with the caption.
The song starts: “Why’d you have to go so soon? It seems like yesterday, we were hangin ’round the hood. Now I’m gonna keep your memory alive like a homie should.”
Members of the boxing fraternity, including Conor Benn’s trainer Tony Sims, Matchroom Boxing, and talkSPORT’s own Spencer Oliver and Ade Oladipo, have all thus far sent their condolences to Joshua in the comments section.
Ayodele and Ghami’s funerals are to take place on Sunday, January 4, at London Central Mosque.
Joshua arrived at London Stansted Airport on Friday night ahead of the ceremony.
The driver of the SUV, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged at the Sagamu Magistrates’ Court on the same day with death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Kayode was granted bail in the sum of five million naira (£2,579) and has been remanded pending the conditions of his bail being met, with the case adjourned until January 20.
Joshua had been on holiday in Nigeria days after knocking out Jake Paul on December 19.
After the crash, Paul wrote on X: “Life is much more important than boxing.
“I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
He, alongside Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, honoured the lives of Ayodele and Ghami by placing their names on the canvas ahead of an event in Puerto Rico on Saturday night.
Darts sensation Luke Littler also paid his respects to Joshua and his team after winning the PDC World Championship for the second time in a row.
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced his return to boxing to end his latest retirement after over a year out of the ring.
The 37-year-old most recently hung up his gloves in January 2025 following a second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk a month prior but has promised a 2026 return in his latest Instagram post.
His news of his retirement decision was met with scepticism due to Fury’s history of changing his mind after he previously stepped away from the ring following a victory over Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return six months later. Similar situations occurred in November 2013 and July 2017, with the Brit returning to the ring on both occasions.
Fury is Back in Training Ahead of His Boxing Comeback
Fury had sparked speculation over a comeback after posting footage of himself with South African boxer Kevin Lerena in Thailand. Fan reaction to the sparring clips was not positive, but that hasn’t stopped Tyson pressing ahead with plans for a return.
The Gypsy King posted a training montage with the caption: “2026 is that year. Return of the Mac. Been away for a while, but I’m back now. 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face & get paid for it.”
Fury has enjoyed two reigns as heavyweight champion and flaunts a professional record of 34 wins, two losses (both to Usyk), and one draw to Deontay Wilder.
He has previously spoken about his eagerness to avenge his defeats to Usyk with a possible trilogy on the cards. However, the Ukrainian has expressed his desire to defend his titles against Wilder instead.
Tyson Fury’s Planned Return Date Revealed
With Fury’s last three fights taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a comeback at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been discussed and a long-overdue bout between him and Anthony Joshua had been rumoured for September. However, Joshua’s immediate fighting future appears to be on hold following the fatal car crash in Nigeria which tragically took the lives of two of his closest friends.
While there has been no update on plans for a Fury vs Joshua showdown, Saudi Arabian boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has already earmarked April as his preferred date for Tyson’s return to the ring, according to a report from The Sun.
Given that he will have been out of action for nearly 18 months at that point, it is not expected that Fury will face off with a major name in his comeback bout.
Whoever he steps into the ring with, though, the contest is likely to be more about getting rid of ring rust than achieving elite performance. After so long away, Fury will no doubt be keen to put on a show regardless of who he faces.
Divine intervention? Anthony Joshua made last-second seat change that saved his life in fatal car crash
Anthony Joshua is lucky to be alive following a fatal car crash earlier this week, especially considering he was originally sitting in the passenger’s seat before switching to the back.
Details are still emerging from Joshua’s near-death crash in Nigeria, but fight fans are already blown away by some of the information that has been released. This includes the crash itself — which involved the passenger car striking a stationary truck — as well as the driver not having a valid driver’s license.
On Friday, the driver’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, revealed even more details about the accident that confirms Joshua ultimately cheated death.
“My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident, I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet but I know he is saying the brakes did not work,” Abiodun told Daily Mail.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.
“He did this because Anthony is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver.
“From what I understand Latif was in back and then changed seats with Anthony.”
If the driver’s claim is accurate then Joshua should have been sitting in the passenger’s seat, which claimed the life of his personal trainer Latif Ayodele. It’s unknown at this time how long it will take Joshua to heal both physically and mentally from this ordeal, but the superstar boxer is more than lucky to still be alive.
Tyson Fury Torn Apart by Boxing Fans as New Training Footage Emerges
Boxing fans have been left concerned by Tyson Fury’s physique and training footage after the former heavyweight champion posted a video of his return in the build up to a potential big comeback in 2026.
The 37-year-old has been out of action since being beaten for a second time by Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, and shocked the boxing world by announcing his retirement from the sport less than a month after that world heavyweight title defeat in Riyadh.
All the signs point to a 2026 comeback, however, with it reportedly being Fury’s plan to fight in the first quarter of the year to get rid of any ring rust, before a mega all-British clash with Anthony Joshua in the summer — although that bout now hangs in the balance after AJ was involved in a tragic car crash in Nigeria on Monday.
In the biggest sign yet that Fury is indeed preparing for what would surely be the last great push of his career, The Gypsy King has travelled to Thailand to train with WBC bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena, posting highlights of each training day to his Instagram.
It is not the first time Fury has travelled to Thailand either. Just three months before his rematch with Usyk, he shared a video of himself at the World Kumite Organization Gym, where he was seen leaning on the ropes before the Kru (instructor) told him to deliver kicks on the leg pad.
On day one of his latest trip, Fury wrote on Instagram: “This is how I spent my new year. Grinding & working my a** off! Couldn’t think of anything better to do than this! Great things come to those who work hard. All in the name of Jesus. Little by little on the daily we keep climbing.”
However, among several videos to come out of Fury’s training sessions in Thailand, where he can be seen doing the usual pad work and moving around the ring well with Lerena, one clip in particular has caused concern with fans.
In this clip, a topless Fury throws hooks on a heavy bag, and while he has never been renowned for having the body of a Greek god, even when he was in fighting shape, he does look a tad bulkier than usual — and fans were quick to point it out online.
Under the video posted by Happy Punch on X, which said Fury was “looking like an absolute UNIT,” one user commented: “Unit? Come on. He was just swinging his arms like any normal person might do. Nothing impressive about that, or his physique, at all.”
Elsewhere in the replies, one fan wrote: “He’s definitely a great boxer, but in this clip he looks like he’s just come back from a holiday,” while another said: “Fury looks in terrible shape! Doesn’t look like he hits hard either for the weight.”
Others came to Fury’s defence, however, as one fan wrote: “Just had a heavy short retirement and a very big November and December holidays… if anyone can come back and cause a stir, be better, get back to [his] best, it’s him,” while another user made sure to remind fans: “Fury is the literal definition of don’t judge a book by its cover.”
