Category: Boxing

Terence Crawford stunned Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to claim the undisputed super middleweight world boxing crown on Saturday, becoming the first man to win undisputed titles in three weight divisions.

In a fight of razor-thin margins, Crawford poured it on in the closing rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory, improving his unblemished record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts

Crawford, 37, had jumped up two weight categories to vie for history, having already counted undisputed titles at super lightweight and welterweight among his titles in four weight divisions.

He silenced critics who claimed his sparkling resume was packed with sub-standard opponents and quieted a raucously pro-Alvarez crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Judge Steve Weisfeld scored the bout 116-112 for Crawford, while Tim Cheatham and Max DeLuca scored it 115-113 for the American, who had nothing but praise for his opponent.

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“Canelo is a great champion,” Crawford said. “I’ve got nothing but respect for Canelo. I’m a big fan of Canelo, and he fought like a champion today.”

Alvarez, 35 and a world champion in four divisions, fell to 63-3-2.

Crawford frustrated Alvarez with his agility and speed, losing none of his quickness as he stepped up to the 168-pound (76.2-kg) category.

He weighed in at the same 167.5 pounds as Alvarez, a career high for Crawford, who had never fought above 147 pounds until last year when he weighed 153.5 in a unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov.

Alvarez, boxing’s biggest star for the past decade, couldn’t get at him, Crawford using his jab and landing combinations with a vengeance in the closing rounds after wearing the champion down.

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Pakistan’s renowned martial artist Rashid Naseem has once again made history by setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest boxing punches in one minute.

Rashid delivered 386 full-contact punches in 60 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 374 punches held by England’s Joshua Lyalla. Guinness World Records has officially confirmed the achievement and updated it on their website.

This marks the 154th world record for Rashid Naseem, which he has dedicated to Palestine. Earlier, he dedicated his 150th record to the Pakistan Army.

Rashid now holds the distinction of achieving the most punching-related records in the world. His previous records include:

• 32,686 punches in one hour
• 24,000+ punches in an hour with 1 kg weight
• 675 punches in one minute with 1 kg weight
• Full-extension punches with one hand while holding an egg

Rashid has individually had 129 records approved, and his Rashid Naseem Martial Arts Academy is now the top record-holding martial arts institution in Pakistan with 150 Guinness World Records.

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He has broken over 40 Indian records, along with those from countries including China, the UK, Italy, Iran, Egypt, Germany, Serbia, and Switzerland.

Rashid Naseem is also the only Pakistani to represent the country in international martial arts shows across Italy, Germany, China, Korea, Romania, Spain, and Singapore.

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BAKU: Pakistani kickboxer Agha Kaleem secured a dominant victory by knocking out Azerbaijan’s Revan Musayev in the World Professional Kickboxing Championship.

Agha defeated Revan in just 15 seconds, achieving the event’s fastest Technical Knockout (TKO).

The victory showed Agha’s demonstration of skill, who had previously won a silver medal in the 51-kilogram category at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) World Muaythai Championships in March.

 

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The IFMA World Muaythai Championships are annual Muay Thai competitions organized by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA). Alongside the World Games, Muay Thai has the highest level of competition globally.

Following impeccable performances in the event, Kaleem was eventually defeated by the Russian opponent in the final of the 51-kilogram category.

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Agha Kaleem felt he had not truly lost while expressing gratitude for bringing home a medal for his country.

“I did not lose. They made me lose. The referee displayed bias in the final,” he remarked after losing in the final of the World Muaythai Championship.

“Thanks to Almighty Allah, I won a silver medal for my country,” he added.

Agha Kaleem’s achievements were also recognized in ‘Hamaray Heroes’, an initiative by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations making a positive impact on Pakistan across various fields.

Originally hailing from Quetta, Agha Kaleem now lives in Baldia Town, Karachi. where he earns his bread and butter by selling tea.

In terms of his athletic accomplishments, he is a two-time national champion, having secured the title in 2021 and 2023. He is also a four-time international champion, including being the Asian champion twice in 2022 and 2025.

Agha has secured the Bronze medal twice in 2024 and has also achieved a world silver medal once.

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Pakistani middleweight boxer Shahir Afridi made headlines in Thailand after delivering a commanding performance to knock out India’s unbeaten Tarjot Singh Bawa in a high-stakes bout.

The fight came to an abrupt end in the fourth round after the referee stepped in for a technical knockout, following a dominant display by Afridi in the third.

Bawa, who had entered the ring undefeated in his professional career, had no answers to the sustained onslaught.

With this victory, Shahir Afridi, a commando in the Sindh Police, now holds an impressive record of 16 wins in 18 fights, with one draw and a solitary defeat.

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The triumph not only handed Bawa his first professional loss but also catapulted Afridi into the top 50 of the global middleweight boxing rankings — a landmark moment for the Karachi-based fighter.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was quick to celebrate Afridi’s achievement, announcing rewards from the provincial government and hailing him as a source of pride for both Sindh and Pakistan.

“Shahir Afridi has raised the flag of Sindh and Pakistan high by knocking out the Indian boxer,” the chief minister said in a statement. “Sindh Police is proud of him.”

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BANGKOK: Pakistani boxer Usman Wazeer knocked out Indian opponent S. Eswaran in the first round of the highly anticipated bout here on Thursday, extending his unbeaten streak to 16-0.

Usman was too hot to handle for India’s Eswaran as he took just one minute and 41 seconds to deliver a TKO in the first round of their international ranking fight held at World Siam Stadium.

Usman, also known as ‘Asian Boy’, stepped into the ring with an unbeaten record of winning 15 matches in his career.

The Gilgit-Baltistan-born boxer floored Eswaran twice during the opening round, forcing the referee to step in and call an early end to the contest.

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This marked Usman’s 16th victory, extending his unbeaten record in professional boxing.

Before the match, Usman Wazeer stated his intention to dedicate the victory to Pakistan and urged his fellow countrymen to pray for him.

“Just like before, I will dedicate this win in the international ranking fight to Pakistan. I request the entire nation to pray for my victory,” said Usman Wazeer.

The event in Thailand featured 15 fights in total, with Wazeer’s bout listed as No. 13.

Usman Wazeer previously knocked out India opponent Thehlak Selvam in the first round of the highly anticipated bout at the World Youth Boxing Championship held in September 2024. Wazeer delivered a technical knockout (TKO) in just one minute and five seconds.

Additionally, Usman Wazeer has won several prestigious titles in his budding career, including the World Youth Title, the Asian Title, and the Middle East Title.

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BANGKOK: Pakistani boxer Usman Wazeer is set to face India’s S Eswaran in a high-stakes match here at the World Siam Stadium tomorrow.

This will be Usman’s 16th international fight as he aims to maintain his unbeaten record of 15 wins.

Usman Wazeer has won several prestigious titles in his budding career, including the World Youth Title, the Asian Title, and the Middle East Title.

The Gilgit-born boxer previously knocked out Indian opponent Thehlak Selvam in the first round of the highly anticipated bout of the World Youth Boxing Championship held in September 2024. Usman Wazeer took just one minute and five seconds to deliver a TKO to his opponent.

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Usman Wazeer expressed his intention to dedicate his win in the international rankings to Pakistan, encouraging the entire nation to pray for his success.

“Just like before, I will dedicate this win in the international ranking fight to Pakistan. I request the entire nation to pray for my victory,” said Usman Wazeer.

Although his match is officially scheduled for 3:00 PM (PST), Wazeer mentioned that the actual timing might change based on how long the earlier fights last.

“If the earlier bouts finish sooner than anticipated, my fight could happen earlier than planned,” he explained in his message.

The event in Thailand will feature a total of 15 fights, with Wazeer’s bout listed as Fight No. 13.

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Jake Paul is set to fight former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., following his victory over Mike Tyson in a blockbuster match last November.

The YouTuber, turned boxer, will face Chavez Jr. in his next fight, reported Ring Magazine.

The date and venue of the fight between Jake, who boasts an excellent record of 11-1, and Chavez Jr. is not confirmed yet.

Chavez Jr., the son of boxing legend and Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chávez Sr., has previously challenged Jake Paul.

Chavez Jr. (54-6-1) held the WBC Middleweight title from 2011 to 2012, and is the most seasoned boxer Paul will face.

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The 28-year-old Paul defeated 58-year-old Tyson in a thrilling match, which drew 108 million live viewers on Netflix, making it the most-streamed sporting event in history.

Since making his professional debut, Chávez Jr. has competed in just five fights, securing victories in three of them.

His latest match resulted in a unanimous decision win against Hall, which took place on the undercard of Paul’s victory over Mike Perry.

Paul, aged 28, with a record of 11-1, including 7 knockouts, last faced off against Hall of Famer and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on November 15, 2024, where he won by unanimous decision.

Throughout his career, Paul has claimed victories over five UFC veterans, such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Silva.

His sole loss in professional competition came in 2023 when he was narrowly defeated by Tommy Fury via split decision.

READ: Shahid Afridi downplays interest in PCB chairman role

BANGKOK: Pakistani kickboxer Agha Kaleem won a silver medal in the 51-kilogram category at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) World Muaythai Championships on Tuesday.

The IFMA World Muaythai Championships are annual Muay Thai competitions organized by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA). Alongside the World Games, Muay Thai has the highest level of competition globally.

After showcasing remarkable performances in the event, Kaleem was defeated by the Russian opponent in the final of the 51-kilogram category.

The World Muaythai Championship featured players from 40 countries.

Following the defeat in the final, Agha Kaleem accused the referee of showing favoritism towards his opponent.

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The 24-year-old expressed feeling he had not truly lost while expressing gratitude for bringing home a medal for his country.

“I did not lose. They made me lose. The referee displayed bias in the final,” he remarked after losing in the final of the World Muaythai Championship.

“Thanks to Almighty Allah, I won a silver medal for my country,” he added.

Agha Kaleem originally hails from Quetta and now lives in Baldia Town, Karachi. The kickboxer earns his bread and butter by selling tea.

For the unversed, despite his impressive track record and many accolades on both national and international stages, he found himself having to sell parathas (fried bread) at a local stall in Karachi.

However, he eventually received support from notable figures like singer Ali Zafar and former cricket captain Shahid Afridi, which helped him win the International MMA Championship in 2023.

“Alhamdulillah, I won the international MMA championship,” Kaleem posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, tagging Zafar in his message.

The singer warmly responded to congratulate the athlete, saying, “Amazing! Believed in you all the way. So proud.”

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Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur shared his views on the ongoing controversy regarding current head coach Aqib Javed’s comments about the instability in the national team’s setup.

The controversy started when Javed pointed out the instablity within Pakistan cricket in a press conference following the announcement of the squad for the New Zealand tour.

“We have changed nearly 16 coaches and 26 selectors in the last two years,” Javed said.

“If you apply that formula to any team in the world, they would face similar instability. Until there is consistency from the top down, progress will remain elusive, ” he added.

In response, Jason Gillespie accused Aqib Javed of lobbying for a coaching role across all formats.

The former Australian pacer took a dig at Pakistan interim coach, calling Javed a ‘clown’ in response to his comments.

“This is hilarious. Aqib was clearly undermining Gary [Kirsten] and me behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown,” Gillespie wrote.

Now, Mickey Arthur has joined the debate, backing Gillespie on his stance.

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“I love this quote, to be brutally honest. Jason Gillespie is a wonderful coach, a wonderful man. Pakistan cricket just continues to shoot itself in the foot. It is its own worst enemy,” Arthur said in an interview.

“They have incredible skill, and yet it’s still so chaotic. It’s really disappointing to see. I thought when they signed Gillespie and Kirsten, they had gone down exactly the right route. Because ultimately, it’s the players who lose out.”

The former highlighted internal conflicts, lamenting the adverse effects on team’s progress. He further mentioned that capable coaches had been undermined.

“They had some really good coaches who could take them forward. But then, the usual machine that operates in Pakistan cricket kicked in—agendas were pushed, and media narratives were manipulated,” he observed.

“It’s a jungle out there, and I feel desperately sorry for Gary and Jason. There’s no doubt they were undermined, and ultimately, it’s the players—and Pakistan cricket as a whole—who suffer,” he concluded.

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Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said on Monday he had retired from boxing just weeks after suffering a second straight defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.

“I’m going to make this short and sweet,” the British fighter said in a social media post. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing.”

“It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it,” added Fury, who has, however, previously quit only to return to the ring.

The “Gypsy King”, 36, last fought on December 21 when he lost his rematch against WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk in Riyadh.

Asked after the fight whether the public would see him fight again, Fury said: “You might do, you might not do. Who knows?”

Tyson Fury enjoyed two stints as heavyweight champion and retires with a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

He announced he was quitting after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022 but returned to action later that year.

Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, told the BBC he had not spoken to the boxer prior to his retirement announcement.

“I’ve said all along that there is no way I will be trying in any way to influence him,” Warren said.

“If that what he wants to do, that’s great. He’s done everything he can do. Probably been the best British heavyweight of his generation by far.

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“Two-time world champion, two closely fought fights against Usyk. He’s got plenty of money, got his wits about him, got a lovely family. God bless him, enjoy.”

Fury’s retirement appears to mean he will not take on another former world champion, Anthony Joshua, in a long-anticipated all-British showdown.

Joshua said Saturday that a fight with Fury “has to happen this year”. And Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, said he doubted it was the end of the road for Fury.

“If you haven’t got a heart for it anymore and you don’t want to compete anymore, I think retirement is the best option,” Hearn said.

“Disappointing obviously for British fight fans because we’ve got the chance to make the biggest fight in boxing but if that is the last we see of him, he’s had a great career. I doubt it (is the last time we will see him box).”

Fury became world champion for the first time when he shocked Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, becoming WBA, IBF and WBO champion.

He was then out of the ring for more than two-and-a-half years, during which he tackled mental health issues.

Tyson Fury returned to action in 2018 and became a two-time champion by beating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020 in the second of a trilogy of fights against the American.

He overcame a big scare against converted MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in 2023, before losing twice to Usyk last year.

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