Amari Jones Advances to World Level After Gualtieri KO, Usyk KOs Verhoeven in Dubious Performance, Jack Catterall Earns WBA World Title, Bakary Samake Robbed!

Amari Jones may have officially forced himself into the center of the middleweight title picture.

The unbeaten Oakland native delivered the most significant victory of his career Friday night at the SAP Center in San Jose, dismantling former IBF middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri in three rounds during a high-stakes IBF eliminator streamed live on DAZN.

Jones (17-0, 15 KOs) looked levels above the former titleholder from the opening bell, controlling distance, punishing the body, and timing Gualtieri’s entries with clean counters throughout the brief but destructive performance.

The 24-year-old prospect never allowed Gualtieri (25-2-1, 8 KOs) to establish any rhythm, repeatedly beating him to the punch whenever the German veteran attempted to pressure forward.

Fighting in front of a hometown Bay Area crowd, Jones appeared composed from the start, showing the patience and maturity of a contender beginning to understand exactly who he is in the ring.

Under the guidance of respected trainer Virgil Hunter, Jones methodically broke Gualtieri down before detonating the finishing sequence in round three.

After backing the former champion into the corner, Jones fired a left hook and straight right through the guard that dropped Gualtieri heavily for the first knockdown of the fight.

Although Gualtieri managed to beat the count, Jones immediately sensed the finish.

Moments later, Jones trapped him along the ropes and unleashed another sharp left hook that sent Gualtieri crashing down for a second time.

Referee Edward Collantes halted the contest during the count, sealing Jones’ third consecutive stoppage victory and announcing the undefeated contender as a legitimate threat in a suddenly unsettled middleweight division.

The IBF middleweight title currently sits vacant following former unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly being stripped after an adverse analytical finding tied to Meldonium in a VADA test.

His planned unification bout against Erislandy Lara was later canceled, though Alimkhanuly still retains the WBO title despite serving a suspension from the IBF.

That uncertainty at 160 pounds has created opportunity, and Jones may now sit near the front of the line.

Coming into the fight, Gualtieri represented the toughest and most experienced opponent of Jones’ career.

The former champion shocked the division in 2023 when he captured the IBF title against Esquiva Falcao before eventually losing a unification bout to Alimkhanuly later that same year.

But on Friday night, Jones made the gap between contender and former champion look enormous.

“I made a statement tonight that needed to be made,” Jones said after the victory. “I proved that my win against veteran Luis Arias wasn’t a fluke by going out here and knocking out an experienced former world champion.”

Jones admitted he expected a difficult fight stylistically against Gualtieri’s awkward movement and experience, but quickly realized he had solved the puzzle early.

“I knew he was an awkward fighter and knew his way around the ring,” Jones continued. “I thought it would take some time to settle in, but after the first round Virgil told me he had already shown me everything he had. After that, it was only a matter of time.”

The rising contender explained that once he found openings through Gualtieri’s guard, the finish became inevitable.

“He was blocking shots well, but I knew if I could sneak my right hand through there, I could put combinations together,” Jones said.

“Once I landed clean, it knocked his equilibrium off. I’m an ultimate finisher. I went body to head and closed the show. A star was made tonight, and I put the middleweight division on notice.”

The performance generated significant praise online from boxing fans as well, with many calling Jones one of the brightest young American middleweights in the sport.

On Reddit, reactions to the stoppage ranged from “Amari is the future” to “Amari is an assassin in the ring,” while several fans immediately began discussing Jones as a future world champion following the dominant victory.

In the co-main event, unbeaten cruiserweight Robin Safar (20-0, 13 KOs) survived an early knockdown to edge Yamil Peralta by split decision in a competitive and somewhat controversial affair.

Peralta dropped Safar with a right hand in the second round, but Safar rallied behind steady forward pressure and activity to secure the win on two of the three scorecards.

The result sparked debate online afterward, with a number of fans disagreeing with the decision and criticizing the bout’s overall pace.

Elsewhere on the card, rising light heavyweight Darius Fulghum stopped Yoanki Urrutia in three rounds, while cruiserweight prospect Tristan Kalkreuth scored a sixth-round knockout over Marco Canedo.

Jordan Fuentes also remained unbeaten after earning a six-round decision victory against Dante Hernandez.

For Jones, however, Friday night belonged entirely to him.

What began as another developmental step for one of Golden Boy Promotions’ top young prospects may have ended with the emergence of a genuine middleweight contender.

[Usyk vs. Vehoeven Key Takeaways - Usyk Washed, or Verhoeven too Unorthodox?]

Oleksandr Usyk may have finally shown his age to the rest of the heavyweight division.

What was supposed to be another historic night for him has instead turned into one of the most controversial heavyweight endings in recent memory.

Under the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza, Usyk retained his heavyweight crown Saturday night against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, but the dramatic ending has sparked outrage throughout the boxing world and now threatens to overshadow the event entirely.

Verhoeven, competing in just his second professional boxing match, entered the bout as an overwhelming underdog against one of the most technically accomplished heavyweights of the modern era.

Instead, the longtime GLORY kickboxing champion nearly authored one of boxing’s greatest upsets.

Using an awkward, unconventional style mixed with physical pressure and surprising composure, Verhoeven consistently disrupted Usyk’s rhythm throughout the early and middle rounds.

The Dutchman won over fans quickly by refusing to back down and forcing the undefeated Ukrainian champion into uncomfortable exchanges that few opponents have managed to create during Usyk’s dominant heavyweight run.

As the fight entered the championship rounds, fatigue began to show on Verhoeven, but he remained competitive and continued pushing the pace against the naturally more polished boxer.

Then came the chaos.

Late in the 11th round, Verhoeven appeared to be on the verge of producing a moment that would have shaken the sport to its core.

After putting Verhoeven on the canvas in a stunning sequence, the boxing superstar suddenly found himself inches away from completing a comeback.

But moments later, the momentum swung violently back in the other direction.

Usyk rushed in with a desperate flurry as Verhoeven retreated under pressure near the ropes.

Referee Mark Lyson quickly stepped in to halt the contest, awarding Usyk a stoppage victory in one of the fight’s most controversial moments.

The issue was shown in the replay footage.

Ringside reactions appeared to show the stoppage occurred after the bell had already sounded to end round 11.

Fans immediately erupted online, questioning not only the timing of the stoppage but whether Verhoeven was truly unable to continue in the first place.

While the Dutchman looked exhausted and shaken, many viewers believed he was still defending himself intelligently and deserved the opportunity to reach his corner.

Initially respectful in the aftermath, Verhoeven’s stance reportedly changed once he learned the stoppage may have come after the bell.

By the following morning, his team had officially filed an appeal.

“Official protest has been filed on our way to the airport,” Verhoeven posted on Instagram. “Rules only matter if they are applied when it matters most.”

The controversy only deepened after comments from Verhoeven’s trainer, Peter Fury, who revealed that referee Mark Lyson admitted following the fight that he never heard the bell sound.

Speaking to iFL TV, Fury explained that he partially sympathized with the referee’s position despite disagreeing with the outcome.

“He said to me, ‘Peter, I didn’t hear the bell,’” Fury revealed. “And that, I believe, because I didn’t hear the bell either. I thought it rang maybe two seconds before, but I was focused on the fight itself.”

Fury added that Lyson appeared aware of the controversy surrounding the ending.

“I think he realised he made a mistake,” Fury continued.

“He said, ‘I done what I thought I had to do. He [Verhoeven] was shaky and I had to protect the fighter, but I didn’t hear the bell.’”

The explanation has done little to calm debate across the sport.

Many fans have compared Verhoeven’s near-upset to Buster Douglas’ shocking victory over Mike Tyson in 1990, while others have argued the stoppage robbed boxing of one of its most unforgettable moments.

What began as a crossover spectacle in one of the world’s most iconic locations may now become remembered primarily for its disputed conclusion.

Despite the controversy, Usyk remains undefeated and appears positioned to move forward with a bout against WBC mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

Kabayel was brought into the ring immediately after the fight, signaling that Saudi Arabian powerbroker Turki Alalshikh still intends to pursue the matchup.

However, the possibility of a rematch may be impossible to ignore.

During the DAZN broadcast, cameras reportedly caught Alalshikh telling both fighters that he wanted to see them face each other again in the near future, a statement that only fueled speculation that Verhoeven’s shocking performance may have earned him another opportunity despite the official result.

For Verhoeven, the night may have ended in defeat on paper, but his stock arguably rose more than ever before.

For Usyk, the victory keeps his perfect record intact, though questions surrounding the ending are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

[Jack Catterall Earns World Title Honors - Ascends to #3 Welterweight in The Ring Magazine Rankings!]

Jack Catterall believes the biggest fights of his career may finally be within reach after capturing the WBA “regular” welterweight title with a dominant decision victory over previously unbeaten Shakhram Giyasov last weekend in Cairo, Egypt.

Fresh off the biggest win of his career at 147 pounds, Catterall has already begun targeting WBA “super” welterweight champion Rolly Romero, making his intentions clear on social media only days after defeating Giyasov over 12 rounds beneath the Pyramids of Giza.

Now back home in Chorley with his family, Catterall admitted the magnitude of the moment still has not fully settled in.

“It was a special week for me and it was unbelievable,” Catterall said. “I was lost for words after the fight and it’s took some time still. I’m still on a high. I got back late Sunday night around midnight, then the kids were straight back in the morning. It’s just been a whirlwind, but it’s been amazing.”

The victory improved Catterall to 33-2 with 14 knockouts and immediately elevated him into the middle of a loaded welterweight landscape that includes Romero, Devin Haney, Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia and IBF champion Lewis Crocker.

For Catterall, the decision to face Giyasov came down to timing and opportunity.

The former junior welterweight contender had spent years chasing mandatory title opportunities at 140 pounds, only to repeatedly watch the division move around him during the reigns of Maurice Hooker, Jose Ramirez and Josh Taylor.

After once again finding himself in a holding pattern while positioned highly in the WBO rankings, Catterall decided he was no longer willing to wait.

“I was told it could be up to a year before they called the mandatory,” Catterall explained.

“I’m 32 now and I’m not prepared to sit and wait. I feel like I’m coming into good form, I’ve looked after my body, and when the Giyasov fight got proposed, it was a straight yes.”

Giyasov had been pursuing a mandatory opportunity against Romero for more than a year before ultimately agreeing to face Catterall instead.

The two reportedly finalized the fight within 24 hours.

Despite Giyasov’s reputation and undefeated record entering the bout, Catterall said he backed himself completely after studying the Uzbek contender’s previous performances against southpaws.

“I back myself every day of the week,” Catterall said. “I knew a victory here would put me in a much greater position, whether that’s for the super champion against Rolly or against any of the other top guys at 147.”

The performance itself may have been one of the sharpest of Catterall’s career.

Although Catterall remains his own harshest critic, he controlled large portions of the fight against Giyasov with timing, movement and disciplined counter punching, comfortably outboxing the previously unbeaten challenger across the 12-round contest.

“This was my night tonight, my piece of the puzzle, my world title,” Catterall said afterward.

“There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to win a world title, but this is boxing and anything can happen. I feel fit, I feel well, and what an opportunity to fight under the pyramids and get my piece of gold.”

When asked whether it represented the best performance of his career, Catterall stopped short of fully embracing the praise.

“I’m my own worst critic,” he said. “We’ll go back to the gym, watch it back and improve, but I felt comfortable in there. I felt strong. I do the work in the gym and I don’t cut corners, so I went out there and did what I had to do.”

Attention has quickly shifted toward Romero, whose future remains uncertain amid ongoing speculation about retirement and potential title defenses.

Still, Catterall made it clear that Romero remains firmly on his radar.

“I’ve seen this week he’s retired, he’s not retired,” Catterall said. “My sole focus was Shakhram Giyasov, but we’ve done that now. I’m confident my team can deliver a massive fight, whether that’s Rolly or somebody else at 147.”

A potential showdown with fellow Matchroom welterweight Lewis Crocker has also surfaced following Catterall’s win.

Crocker is scheduled to defend his IBF title later this month in Australia against Liam Paro, and Catterall acknowledged the possibility of eventually facing the Belfast champion.

“You’ve got Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson, Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia, Rolly, Crocker, Paro, there’s a lot of great fights to be made,” Catterall said. “While it’s hot now, I’ve got my piece of silverware and I’m going to keep plugging away.”

Although Catterall said he would welcome the chance to fight Romero in Manchester, he also admitted a trip to Las Vegas would appeal to him after experiencing the spectacle of boxing in Egypt.

“As amazing as Cairo was, once the bell goes it doesn’t matter where the ring is,” Catterall said. “I’d love to fight Rolly in Manchester, but an American trip would be nice too. It doesn’t bother me.”

For now, however, the British contender is enjoying time at home with his wife and children before returning to training next week alongside longtime trainer Stephen Smith.

“The gym’s great at the moment,” Catterall said.

“There’s a lot of fighters in there, a lot going on, and I enjoy helping the younger lads and staying around the atmosphere. But next week I’ll be back grafting.”

[Hadribeaj Robs Samake in Germany - Frenchman's 0 Disrespectfully Snatched!]

Bakary Samake left Germany with the first loss of his professional career Saturday night, but many observers believed he also left as the victim of one of the more questionable scorecards in recent recent memory.

Despite controlling long stretches of the action against the more experienced Ardian Hadribeaj in Oberhausen, Samake was handed a unanimous decision defeat in a WBC junior middleweight title eliminator that immediately sparked criticism online and among portions of the boxing media.

The official scores, 116-112 and two cards of 115-113, awarded Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KOs) the biggest victory of his career and confirmed the Albanian veteran as the mandatory challenger for Sebastian Fundora’s WBC junior middleweight title.

But the scorecards failed to reflect what many believed they watched unfold over 12 rounds.

Samake (19-1, 11 KOs), the 22-year-old French prospect, consistently landed the cleaner and more eye-catching punches throughout much of the contest, forcing the pace early and repeatedly backing Hadribeaj up with sharp combinations and heavy shots.

While Hadribeaj relied heavily on clinching, holding and veteran tactics at close range, Samake appeared to dictate the more meaningful action for significant portions of the fight.

The frustration surrounding the decision only grew because of the WBC’s open scoring system, which showed the bout remained razor close entering the championship rounds.

After eight rounds, Hadribeaj led by one point on two scorecards while the third judge had the fight even at 76-76, reinforcing the belief that the contest was highly competitive rather than the relatively comfortable win reflected in the final totals.

Many viewers felt Samake did more than enough to deserve the nod.

Although Hadribeaj’s experience and physicality clearly affected the younger fighter late, critics argued that the veteran’s spoiling tactics were rewarded disproportionately compared to Samake’s cleaner offensive work.

Hadribeaj repeatedly tied Samake up on the inside, disrupted exchanges with holding, and leaned heavily on his veteran savvy to drain the younger fighter’s energy over the second half of the bout.

Still, Samake continued finding moments of success with explosive combinations and hard counters, especially whenever space opened between them.

The Frenchman’s inexperience ultimately showed in stretches, as his pace became difficult to sustain over 36 grueling minutes.

Yet many believed his aggression, ring generalship and cleaner punches should have outweighed Hadribeaj’s mauling tactics and late-round survival.

Instead, the unbeaten Albanian walked away with the victory, remaining undefeated while positioning himself for a potential world title opportunity later this year.

“I learned nothing new, just work hard, believe in it and here we are, world title baby,” Hadribeaj said after the fight. “I’ve been chasing this a long time. Nobody believed in me, but here I am again.”

Hadribeaj, now based in Florida, also thanked his supporters in Germany and throughout Albania while turning his attention toward WBC champion Sebastian Fundora.

“I just want the green belt,” he said. “Let’s go.”

For Samake, however, the loss felt deeply harsh considering the performance he delivered against a battle-tested veteran with far more professional experience.

While Hadribeaj’s toughness deserves credit, particularly his ability to absorb Samake’s biggest punches without visibly wilting, many observers felt the younger fighter did the better overall work and was denied a career-defining victory on the scorecards.

The defeat stalls the rapid rise of one of France’s top young prospects, though Samake’s performance against an experienced contender still reinforced his long-term potential at 154 pounds.

Meanwhile, Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) continues evaluating his next move after stopping Keith Thurman in six rounds earlier this year.

The WBC champion has publicly discussed returning around September, with former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo and interim titleholder Vergil Ortiz Jr. among the names most frequently linked to him.

Now, Hadribeaj has inserted himself firmly into that conversation, though the debate surrounding whether he truly earned the opportunity is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.