Taiwanese Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting won gold on her return to the ring following the gender row that exploded at the 2024 Paris Games, her coach told AFP on Thursday.

Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were at the centre of a storm in Paris where they won Olympic titles in separate weight classes.

Lin won gold in the 60kg category on Wednesday at Taiwan's National Games in her first event since the Olympics.

A photo posted on Lin's Facebook Stories showed the boxer smiling and holding a gold medal.

"It was good. We just did the preparations we were supposed to do," her coach Tseng Tzu-chiang said, confirming it was Lin's first official event since Paris.

Lin had planned to compete at the world championships in Liverpool in September and agreed to undergo a compulsory genetic sex test, Tseng said.

Despite submitting her results to World Boxing, Tseng said Lin had not yet received a response, putting on hold her participation in future international competitions.

"It depends on whether the result comes out. If it does, there will be many international events we can take part in," Tseng said.

Under World Boxing's newly introduced policy, fighters over 18 who want to participate in the women's category need to take a one-off PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or medical equivalent genetic test.

Twelve boxers were reportedly barred from competing in Liverpool, including the five-member women's team from France, after they missed the deadline for test results to be submitted.

Lin and Khelif were excluded from the International Boxing Association's (IBA) 2023 world championships after that organisation said they had failed eligibility tests.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which stepped in to oversee boxing at the Paris Games, allowed them both to compete, saying they had been victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA". Both went on to win gold medals.

During the Games both fighters were subjected to attacks on social media, rumours about their biological sex and disinformation.

The IOC leapt to their defence, saying they were born and raised as women, and have passports attesting to that.

Roy Jones Jr has been handed the Olympic gold medal he was controversially denied in 1988 in an extraordinary act of sportsmanship by the South Korean fighter who beat him.

Hall of Fame boxer Jones shared a video on Wednesday from two years ago that showed Park Si-hun visiting the American's ranch in Pensacola, Florida to present him with the light middleweight gold medal.

"I had the gold medal, but I want to give it back to you. It belongs to you," Park said in the video through his son, who translated.

Jones, who was overcome with emotion by the gesture, covered his face with his hand before saying: "Wow, that is crazy."

In 1988, I was robbed of the gold medal in what became one of the biggest controversies in boxing history. By the grace of God, a couple of years ago, the man who won that medal made the trip from South Korea to my home to return it to me, feeling it was rightfully mine. pic.twitter.com/oGTwyLYft1

— Roy Jones Jr. (@RealRoyJonesJr) September 3, 2025

Their match at the Seoul Olympics remains one of boxing's most contentious moments as Jones appeared to dominate the fight but lost to Park by a 3-2 decision that drew instant criticism and sparked enduring controversy.

Despite losing the gold medal match, Jones was selected as the Val Barker Trophy winner as the best boxer of the 1988 Olympics.

Jones went on to become a four-division world champion and is regarded as one of the sport's best pound-for-pound fighters of all time.

"In 1988, I was robbed of the gold medal in what became one of the biggest controversies in boxing history," Jones wrote in his Instagram post.

"By the grace of God, a couple of years ago, the man who won that medal made the trip from South Korea to my home to return it to me, feeling it was rightfully mine.

"I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did."

The French women's team have been barred from the boxing world championships because the results of their gender tests were not delivered on time, the French Federation (FFBoxe) said on Thursday.

World Boxing said last month women wanting to compete in the event in Liverpool that starts on Thursday would have to undergo mandatory genetic sex testing under its new policy.

Such tests have been banned in France since a law was passed in 1994, except under strict conditions, so the French federation had to wait till they reached England in order to proceed with them.

The five-member team underwent testing in a World Boxing-accredited laboratory with the understanding, FFBoxe said, the results would be available before the deadline.

World Boxing, in a statement sent to AFP, laid the blame firmly at the door of the respective national federations.

"Since World Boxing first announced... its intention to introduce mandatory sex testing to determine the chromosomal sex of a male or female at birth, the organisation has made it clear that testing will be the responsibility of National Federations (NFs)," read the statement.

"They have the closest links and most access to their boxers and are best placed to manage the testing process.

"They also oversee the entry process for boxers so know which boxers need to be tested and when.

"It is very disappointing for the boxers that some National Federations have not been able to complete this process in time which means that some athletes have not made it through the sports entry process for the World Boxing Championships."

French Sports Minister Marie Barsacq slammed the decision as "inadmissible" and FFBoxe were left seething over the decision.

"It is with stupefaction and indignation that the French team learned on Wednesday evening the French women's boxing team would not be able to compete in the first world championships organised by World Boxing," FFBoxe said in a statement.

"Despite guarantees given to us by World Boxing, the laboratory which they recommended to us was not up to the task of delivering the results on time.

"As a result our athletes as well as those from other countries have been caught in this trap and excluded."

'LEVEL PLAYING FIELD'

Maelys Richol, one of the five French boxers affected, said she felt "frustration, anger and disappointment".

Under World Boxing's policy, fighters over 18 who want to participate in their competitions need to take a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, genetic test.

"World Boxing's policy on gender eligibility, which includes mandatory sex testing, is designed to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field," they said in Thursday's statement.

Boxing has been rocked by organisational problems in recent years.

World Boxing have been mandated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with organising the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

In late May, World Boxing announced they were introducing mandatory gender testing to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes wanting to take part in its competitions.

It has become a major issue in boxing since the Paris Olympics last year when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting were at the centre of a gender row.

Lin and Khelif were excluded from the International Boxing Association's (IBA) 2023 world championships after the IBA said they had failed eligibility tests.

However, the IOC allowed them both to compete in Paris, saying they had been victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA". Both won gold medals.

Khelif has turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge World Boxing's introduction of the genetic sex test.

Neither Khelif nor Lin are competing in Liverpool.

During the Paris Games, both women were subjected to attacks on social media, rumours about their biological sex and disinformation.

The IOC leaped to their defence, saying they were born and raised as women, and have passports attesting to that.

The debate about eligibility in women's sports categories has not just affected boxing but has also athletics and swimming. Athletics introduced its own gender test this month.

Three-time European heavyweight champion boxer Joe Bugner, who fought Muhammad Ali in a world title bout, has died at the age of 75, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) said on Monday.

Bugner, who won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles twice, fought Ali and Joe Frazier in back-to-back fights in 1973, and faced Ali again for his WBA and WBC world championships in 1975.

We are deeply saddened to learn that Joe Bugner has passed away, aged 75.

Bugner fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier back-to-back in 1973, and would go on to rematch Ali in 1975. He also shared the ring with the likes of Earnie Shavers, Henry Cooper and Frank Bruno during his 83… pic.twitter.com/YRJDHDJvmI

— Boxing News (@BoxingNewsED) September 1, 2025

"Joe Bugner has passed away at his care home in Brisbane, Australia," the BBBoC said in a statement. "The British Boxing Board of Control passes on its condolences to Joe's family."

Bugner's professional boxing career spanned 32 years and 83 bouts, of which he won 69, including 41 by knockout. He turned professional in 1967, and won the European, British and Commonwealth titles by beating Henry Cooper in 1971.

Hungary-born Bugner lost his titles six months later but won eight fights straight in 1972 before facing Ali and Frazier the next year, who both won decisions against him.

Ali again beat him by unanimous decision in their rematch for the world championship in Malaysia.

🥊🇬🇧 JOE BUGNER R.I.P. 🙏

A real character who fought 83 times between 1967 - 1999 including Ali twice!

Unfairly treated by the British press, Joe’s achievements - British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion -were far greater than he was given credit for.

RIP Joe🙏 pic.twitter.com/looB5Wuajp

— BOXING UK (@Boxing_UK_) September 1, 2025

Bugner moved to Australia in the 1980s and won the Australian heavyweight title in 1995, before retiring in 1999.

Lin Yu-ting, one of two boxers at the centre of a gender dispute at last year's Paris Olympics, has no plans to skip the world championships in Liverpool, her coach Tseng Tzu-chiang told Reuters on Thursday.

On Wednesday, governing body World Boxing announced that women boxers at next month's world championships will have to undergo mandatory sex testing, as part of a new eligibility policy.

The policy comes just over a year after Taiwan's Lin and Algerian Imane Khelif both won gold in Paris amid a gender-eligibility row.

"Lin Yu-ting just returned from training in South Korea and we are waiting for notification from the Taiwan boxing governing body for signup details while preparing for the 2025 Boxing World Championships," Tseng said.

"She has not considered withdrawing from the competition because of the new gender tests. We will submit all the relevant documents requested by the organisers, as part of normal procedures."

World Boxing, which will oversee boxing competitions in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), announced plans for testing in May.

"The policy is designed to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women," the body said in a statement on Wednesday.

Women boxers will undergo PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests using a nasal or mouth swab, saliva or blood, to check for the presence of the Y chromosome, World Boxing added. Men have an X and Y chromosome, while women have two X chromosomes.

FAIRNESS

"World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and is keen to ensure it is as inclusive as possible," said the body's president Boris van der Vorst.

"Yet in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitiveness (and) fairness, which are the key principles that have guided the development and creation of this policy."

The world championships will take place from 4 to 14 September and are the first to be organised by World Boxing since it replaced the International Boxing Association (IBA) earlier this year.

World Boxing's initial announcement of the sex testing plans mentioned Khelif by name, saying she would not be allowed to compete until she did a test.

Van der Vorst later apologised, saying her privacy should have been protected.

Khelif had been due to compete in a World Boxing tournament in the Netherlands in June, but decided to skip it shortly after the body announced plans to introduce sex testing.

The 26-year-old has repeatedly said she was born a woman and in March said she would defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

On Wednesday, Khelif, who has not competed since her win in Paris, denied claims made by her former manager that she has retired from the sport.

"It is based solely on statements made by a person who no longer represents me in any way, and whom I consider to have betrayed my trust and my country with his false and malicious statements," she wrote on Facebook.

World Boxing announced on Friday it will introduce mandatory gender testing to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes wanting to take part in its competitions.

The international federation said it was introducing the policy after the furore surrounding boxers including women's welterweight gold medallist Imane Khelif of Algeria at the Paris Olympics last year.

World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee.

World Boxing said it had informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif would have to undergo the test if she wanted to compete at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands on June 5-10.

"World Boxing has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to inform it that Imane Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes sex testing," it said in a statement.

Under the new policy, all athletes over 18 that want to participate in a World Boxing owned or sanctioned competition will need to undergo a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction genetic test, to determine what sex they were at birth and their eligibility to compete.

The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, in this case the SRY gene, that reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of biological sex.

The test can be conducted by a nasal or mouth swab, or by taking a sample of saliva or blood.

National federations will be responsible for testing and will be required to confirm the sex of their athletes when entering them into World Boxing competitions by producing certification of their chromosomal sex, as determined by a PCR test.

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua said he will have elbow surgery this month that will sideline him for six to eight weeks as he eyes a comeback after a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September.

"I'm trying to get my body right," Joshua told DAZN on the sidelines of the super middleweight title bout between Canelo Alvarez and William Scull in Riyadh on Sunday.

"As soon as I'm healed I'll be back."

Joshua, a former WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO champion, was dethroned by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and lost the rematch the next year. Joshua then won four bouts straight before challenging Dubois for his IBF belt, but suffered the second stoppage loss of his career in a fifth-round knockout.

Paris Olympics bronze medallist Cindy Ngamba has withdrawn from her professional boxing debut after failing to clear a pre-fight medical examination, organisers said on Thursday.

Cameroonian Ngamba, who became the first representative of the refugee team to win an Olympic medal, was set to make her professional debut against Britain's Kirstie Bavington.

The super welterweight bout, an eight-round non-title fight, was on the undercard of the all-British welterweight unification clash between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Friday.

"Cindy Ngamba will not be making her professional debut on Friday night after a pre-fight medical examination revealed an issue requiring further investigation," promoters Boxxer said in a statement.

"The health and safety of fighters remains the highest priority, and Cindy will undergo further tests in the coming days."

Ngamba, 26, was born in Cameroon and has lived in England for 15 years but is still awaiting citizenship.

World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk said on Wednesday he intends to take on two more fights before heading into retirement.

The 38-year-old Ukrainian, who remains undefeated in the ring, also said that one of those bouts will be against the winner of the Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker clash later this month.

Usyk defeated Britain's Tyson Fury to win all four of the major heavyweight titles last May, becoming the first undisputed champion in almost 25 years.

He gave up the IBF belt but retained the unified WBC, WBA and WBO championships with his repeat victory over Fury.

"I think two years, one and a half (left in boxing)," Usyk told Sky Sports.

"I feel great myself. I feel I have two fights to prepare for, not more. Just two."

He added: "I will fight (who wins) Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, no problem."

English fighter Dubois, the reigning IBF champion, was defeated by Usyk in 2023 but is keen to avenge that loss should he get past New Zealand's Parker in Riyadh on February 22.

"I'm just getting better, improving. They say when you win a world title you improve. So I feel like that's what's happening with me, I'm ready to show what I can do again and conquer whoever they put in front of me," Dubois told Sky Sports.

Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who defied a row over her gender eligibility to win Olympic gold, is taking legal action over media reports about leaked medical records, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

Reports published in France this week claimed Khelif, 25, has XY, or male, chromosomes.

The gender controversy ignited at the Paris Games in August when Khelif defeated Angela Carini in 46 seconds in her opening bout, the Italian reduced to tears and abandoning the fight after suffering a badly hurt nose.

It led to a row that attracted comments from politicians and personalities ranging from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling.

"We understand that Imane Khelif has taken legal action against individuals who commented on her situation during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and is also preparing a lawsuit in response to the latest reporting," the IOC said in a statement.

"The IOC will not comment while legal action is ongoing, or on media reports about unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed."

The IOC said Khelif had competed in the women's category in international competition "for many years", including at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and at the International Boxing Association (IBA) world championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.

The IOC added that it was "saddened by the abuse that Imane Khelif is currently receiving".

Khelif, who received a hero's welcome when she returned to Algeria after her Olympic triumph, has already filed a complaint in France for online harassment.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson's 20 July fight against YouTube sensation Jake Paul in Dallas will be a sanctioned heavyweight professional bout, fighters and promoters announced on Monday.

The fight will be over eight two-minute rounds with the result to count on the record of both Paul and Tyson, who lost his last official bout in 2005.

Tyson, 50-6 with 44 knockouts, has not won a fight since beating Clifford Etienne in 2003.

There had been concerns over sanctioning anything more than an exhibition due to the age difference of the fighters. Paul is 27. Tyson turns 58 on 30 June.

"Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all," Paul posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all pic.twitter.com/fNLnIiD8fM

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) April 29, 2024

The bout will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

"Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome," Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said in an X post.

"Over the past six weeks we have worked with our partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul v Tyson."

Tyson won his first heavyweight world title in 1986 and became undisputed champion in 1987, nearly 10 years before Paul was born.

After a stunning upset loss to Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990, Tyson made a comeback in 1996 to win a world crown before losing the title to Evander Holyfield.

Tyson lost to Britain's Lennox Lewis by eighth-round knockout in Memphis in 2002 in his last world title bout.

He beat Etienne in 2003 but lost in comeback bids to Danny Williams in 2004 and Kevin McBride in 2005 at Washington, where he announced his retirement after the fight.

Paul is 9-1 with six wins by knockout, his most recent victory came last month in Puerto Rico where he stopped Ryan Bourland after 2:37 of the first round.

The American's only loss came to Britain's Tommy Fury in an eight-round split decision in February 2023 in Saudi Arabia.

South Africa’s only reigning world champion Sivenathi Nontshinga was knocked out in the second round after losing his IBF light flyweight title to Adrian Curiel in Monte Carlo, Monaco on Saturday night.

Curiel scored with a big right hand that sent the South African down and out at 69 seconds into round two.

Curiel improved his record to 24-4-1; 5 and Nontshinga’s record dropped to 12-1; 9.

CORDINA RETAINS IBF TITLE

In the main event, IBF junior lightweight champion Joe Cordina (17-0; 9) retained his title on a majority 12-round points decision in a closely fought encounter against Edward Vazquez (15-2-3; 3).

The scores were 116-112 twice and 114-114.

UNDERCARD

WBC No 3 welterweight Souleymane Cissokho (17-0; 9) outscored Isaias Lucero (16-2; 10) over 12 rounds.

Cissokho, a 2016 Olympic medallist, scored a knockdown in the second round with a right hand and won with scores of 118-109 twice and 117-110.

In a rematch, female junior featherweight Ramla Ali (9-1; 2) outpointed Julissa Alejandra Guzman (13-3-2; 7) over 10 rounds. The scores were 96-94 on all three judges’ scorecards.

MIKAELIAN STOPS MAKABU FOR CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE

In a bout for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title, the No 1-rated Noel Mikaelian (27-2; 12) won on a third-round stoppage against former champion Ilunga Junior Makabu (29-4; 25) on Saturday night at the Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami Florida.

Mikaelian scored a knockdown in round two with a big right hand, but Makabu managed to survive until the bell.

However, in the third round, Mikaelian scored another knockdown, with Makabu beating the count but the referee waved it off. The time was 1:00.

UNDERCARD

WBA No 13 heavyweight Jonathan Guidry (20-1-2; 12) won a second-round knockout over the 43-year-old Jesus Escalera (19-1, 19). The time was 2:00.

In a heavyweight bout, Cassius Chaney (23-1; 16) won on a seventh-round knockout over former WBA “regular” heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (21-1; 15). The time was 2:03.

Alexander Castro W tko 3 Hector Bobadilla at middleweight.

Isaiah Riquelmy W pts 6 Rondale Hubbert at welterweight.

Cory Caad W6 Isiah Hart at super middleweight.

VALLE RETAINS IBF/WBO BELT

IBF/WBO female minimumweight champion Yokasta “Yoka” Valle (30-2; 9) retained her titles against former two-time world champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz (33-6; 4) on points over 10 rounds at the Polideportivo de Cartago in Costa Rica. The scores were 100-90, 99-92, 99-91.

Santiago “Somer” Dominguez (26-0; 19) stopped Kelvinyer Salazar 19-3-1; 12 in the second round. The time was 0:44.

AJAGBA WINS IN FOUR

WBC No 7 and IBF No 13 heavyweight Efe Ajagba (19-1; 14) won on a fourth-round technical knockout over Joe Goodall (10-2-1; 9) on Saturday night at the Tahoe Blue Event Centre in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Ajagba stunned Goodall in the third round and the referee stopped the contest at 50 seconds into the fourth round.

WBC No 9 and WBO No 9, lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (19-0; 16) stopped Diego Torres (18-1; 17) in round eight. The time was 1:45.

In a junior lightweight bout, Henry Lebron (19-0; 10) won on a majority 10-round points decision against William Foster III (16-1, 10). The scores were 95-95, 96-94, 99-91.

Heavyweight Brandon Moore (13-0; 8) outpointed Robert Simms (12-4-1; 3) over eight rounds with scores of 80-71 on all three judges’ scorecards.

CIESLAK WINS IN SEVEN

Cruiserweight Michal Cieslak (25-2; 19) won on a seventh-round stoppage against Tommy McCarthy (20-5; 10) to retain the EBU European title on Saturday night at the Nosalowy Dwor Resort & Spa in Zakopane, Poland.

Former two-time world cruiserweight champion Krzysztof “Diablo” Wlodarczyk (64-4-1; 44) won in 84 seconds of the first round against Edwin Mosquera (10-3-2; 6).

Middleweight Kamil Szeremeta (25-2-1; 8) outpointed Omir Rodriguez (13-12-1; 6) over eight rounds with scores of 80-71 on all three judges’ scorecards.

CASTILLO WINS OVER 10 ROUNDS

Light flyweight southpaw Luis Castillo from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico (21-0-1; 13) won on points over 10 rounds against Miguel Angel Herrera (22-7-5; 8) in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Karia Ramos Zamora (11-10-1; 4) from Mexico upset the former two-division WBC female world champion Eric Faris (27-8; 10), winning on a fifth-round knockout.

Hekkie Budler, South Africa’s most prolific boxer of the modern age, will be up against two opponents when he fights in Japan on Monday afternoon (SA time) - Kenshiro Teraji and Father Time.

If he is able to master the latter, he will be in with a chance against the former, the Ring and unified WBA/WBC junior-flyweight champion.

The tournament will be broadcast live from Tokyo on SS Variety 4 from 1pm, with the main bout anticipated to begin shortly after 2pm.

Aged 35, the grizzled challenger has been a prize fighter for 16 years, taking his gloves to locales as exotic as Mexico, Monte Carlo, and Macau, embellishing his reputation as one of the sport’s best little men. On song, Budler is a non-stop dynamo with a solid chin and razor-sharp fighting instincts.

He’s had his arm raised in 34 of his 39 fights, a testament to his class and doggedness, but also a reflection of his time in the sport. His last fight lasted a mere 43 seconds, but that was an aberration – he’s been involved in many ring wars, all of which have taken a toll on his body.

Budler is capable and has grit and guile, qualities he first honed on the rough streets on the western side of Johannesbuirg. The trouble is that Teraji is four years younger with far less mileage.

His 21 wins in 22 fights include a long reign as WBC champion previously. Budler won’t need to go looking for him – he’s there to be hit – but he’s slick and punches hard. With a home crowd behind him, he won’t be easily beat.

But there is genuine optimism within the SA camp. “He’s trained hard,” said trainer Colin Nathan. “We always wanted Teraji and the WBC belt, the ultimate prize. Hekkie is ready mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. He’s ready to go, he’s ready to produce an upset.”

If he does, he will embellish his argument to be rated among South Africa’s greatest boxers. He, along with Vic Toweel, Arnold Taylor, and Brian Mitchell, are the only local boxers recognised as the universal king of their division by The Ring. Should he do so for a second time, Budler will be in a rare club of one.

Every few years boxing surprises itself – and its loyal fan base – by getting the two very best fighters in the ring to compete for the No 1 position in their weight class.

Such a time is this weekend where two of the most special boxers in the sport, both unbeaten, both dangerous, do battle for the undisputed welterweight championship.

When Errol Spence and Terence Crawford meet in Las Vegas early Sunday morning (SS Variety 1) it will be the most significant bout of 2023; a blend of skills, entertainment, power, and big-fight hype that boxing fans wallow in.

The showdown has percolated for years, not least because the pair studiously avoided each other and negotiations were long and arduous. Finally, they hopped on the phone and sorted out their issues, leading to this great moment. It helped, too, that Crawford’s children pestered him about it.

Southpaw Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) is a slight underdog, but that’s only because Crawford is such an extraordinary talent. Spence has been a dominant champion since winning the IBF welterweight title by knocking out Kell Brook in the 11th round in 2017.

He has defended the title six times, all against worthy competition, like Lamont Peterson, Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas. His only impediment to date has been injury, which has kept him out for long periods.

Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) is on an eight-bout knockout streak and has barely been stretched since winning his first world title in 2014. In that nine-year stretch he has torn through the lightweight, junior-welterweight and welterweight divisions, barely raising a sweat in becoming one of the three best pound-for-pound talents in the sport.

Both are exceptionally gifted. There is no better switch hitter in boxing than Crawford, who also blends smart ring IQ and slick counter-punching. The only reason he isn’t a superstar is on account of his laidback personality. He doesn’t do smack talk.

Spence is more flamboyant in style, super-fast and quick of foot. Throw in heavy hands and good defensive prowess and you may have the perfect counter to Crawford’s style.

“I’m not worried about being the underdog,” said the Texan. “People can say what they say and have their opinions. I just have to go prove them wrong. I’ve been feeling the buzz for this fight. Anywhere I go they’ve been asking me about this fight. I knew I had to make it happen. This is what everyone wanted. We have to prove who the man is in the welterweight division and in boxing. The winner of this fight is the best fighter in boxing, period.”

Crawford is no less bullish: “Y’all are going to witness greatness," he promised. “We measure greatness by eras. I’m going to show everyone why this era is the Terence Crawford era. I’m excited for the fans. I have a gift for each and every one of y’all, because I love the fans.

"Without the fans, there’s no us. I’m going to give you all a gift with the presence of the two of us. He calls himself the big fish. What happens when you take the fish out the water? You suffocate him. A win shows that I’m the greatest fighter of the era. No man has captured undisputed in two weight classes.”

The tournament will be shown live on SuperSport

The 25-year-old Nontshinga (11-0; 9) won the title in September last year when he outpointed Hector Flores in Mexico, in a closely fought encounter.

The challenger Suganob (13-0; 4) made his pro debut in November 2018 and captured the vacant IBF Youth flyweight title on 12 October 2021 with a ten-round points win over Jerome Belara (6-0).

In September 2022 he scored a ten-round decision over the capable Andika “Golden Boy” Sabu (19-0-1), and in his most recent fight in September last year he won on an eight-round technical knockout against Mark Viceles (17-0-1) when the fight was stopped after Viceles suffered a cut over his right eyebrow.

Nontshinga is the only South African to hold one of the main organisation titles and has had an outstanding career since making his pro debut on 30 July 2017.

On 21 October 2018 he won the vacant African Boxing Union light flyweight title on a ninth-round technical knockout against Tisetso Modisadife.

He then went on to capture the IBF International light flyweight title with a first-round knockout win over Adam Yahaya on 7 April 2019 and has made successful defences against Siyabongo Siyo (tko 9) and Ivan Soriano (ko 5).

Suganob will be having his first fight outside his home country and with only a 31 per cent knockout ratio he is not recognised as a big puncher.

Nontshinga has a knockout ratio of 82 per cent and could win inside the distance, but the Filipino is known as a skilful fighter and could take the South Africa to a close points decision.

Also on the packed undercard will be IBF Inter-continental junior flyweight champion Nhlanhla Tyirha, SA bantamweight champion Ronald Malindi, South African mini flyweight champion Bangile Nyangeni, and SA super middleweight champion Asemahle Wellem.

Former South African light heavyweight champion Sakkie Enslin passed away in his sleep yesterday. He was 63.

Sakkie was born on 21 March 1960 and grew up in Melkbos, a coastal town located on the Southwest Coast of South Africa, 30 km north of Cape Town, where as a six-year-old boy he loved running on the beach.

Sakkie was about 13 when his fitter-and-turner father Jan decided to return to what was then still the Transvaal. They settled near Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg.

Izak Johannes, as Sakkie was named after his birth, soon settled in the new surroundings, and excelled at rugby at a local school. As a youngster he took up boxing and soon won the Transvaal schools, Southern Transvaal and Free State titles.

Three months into his final year he left school and became an apprentice fitter and turner. A year later he was called up for military service and sent to the infantry school in Bloemfontein.

During his two years military service he remained unbeaten in 52 amateur fights. In the end he had about 250 bouts, winning the SA middleweight title in 1978. That same year he became a Springbok when he represented South Africa against an American team.

Enslin lost in his professional debut when Basil Meintjies beat him on points over four rounds on 1 March 1980. He came away with a draw and four victories in his next five fights and then challenged Bruce McIntyre for the SA middleweight title.

TRAINED BY EDDIE LUDICK

He was trained by Eddie Ludick, who represented South Africa as a flyweight at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

They were confident that Enslin could beat the more experienced champion. For three rounds they stood toe-to-toe in what resembled a street brawl.

In the fourth round McIntyre knocked the challenger down with a right-hand swing to the jaw. Enslin got up but went down again, prompting referee Stanley Christodoulou to count him out on his feet.

Enslin then won his next four fights before losing on points to Lionel Hunter on 28 January 1984.

On 15 May 1985, at the Westridge Park tennis stadium in Durban, he beat Solomon Zuma on a split decision to win the SA light-heavyweight title that Piet Crous had vacated.

Enslin retained the title against Freddy Rafferty and Zuma in a return match before losing it to Sakkie Horn in March 1986.

He only had three more fights, knocking out Douglas Sibiya in the first round, losing in the sixth round to former WBA junior heavyweight champion Crous and ending his career with a fourth-round knockout over Lucas Sereme at Pietersburg on 9 May 1987.

The victory took his professional record to 17-5, with two draws and seven knockouts.

Devin Haney retained the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight belts on a unanimous 12-round points decision against Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, in what many considered a disputed decision.

The scores were 116-112 and 115-113 twice.

In what was a tactical fight, Lomachenko made a fast start and also finished strongly in the later rounds which left many fans with the opinion that Lomachenko had done enough to take the decision.

The much smaller Lomachenko started fast and kept up the pace through rounds one to three. Haney was warned by the referee in the fifth round for pushing with his forearm and was also given a warning for holding behind the head in the eighth round.

Lomachenko was in control through rounds eight to 12 as Haney battled against the more skilled Lomachenko and was lucky to come out as the winner.

Haney improved his record to 30-0; 15 and Lomachenko’s record dropped to 17-3; 11.

UNDERCARD

NAKATANI WINS VACANT WBO BELT

On the same card, Junto Nakatani (25-0; 19) won the vacant WBO junior bantamweight belt on a 12th-round knockout against former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-3; 16).

Nakatani scored knockdowns in the second and 11th rounds, and then sent Moloney down and out with a big left hand in the last round. The time was 2:42.

VALDEZ WINS REMATCH AGAINST LOPEZ

Former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1; 23) outscored Adam Lopez (16-5; 6) over 10 rounds on the Haney-Lomachenko undercard in a lightweight bout. The scores were 98-92, 98-91 and 97-93.

Valdez was in control throughout and nearly scored a stoppage win in the last round.

MURATALA WINS IN THE SECOND ROUND

WBO No 12-rated lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (18-0; 15) won on a second-round stoppage against Jeremia Nakathila (23-3; 19) of Namibia. The time was 2:48.

Muhammad Ali’s grandson, middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0-1; 5) and Danny Rosenberger (13-9-5; 4) fought to a draw over eight rounds.

In a lightweight bout, Emiliano Fernando Vargas (5-0; 4) won on a knockout over Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas (3-1; 1).

Junior featherweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (9-0; 3) won on a unanimous decision over Luis Saavedra (9-9; 3).

CAMERON RETAINS WBC, WBA, WBO & IBF TITLES

Female junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron (18-0; 8) retained her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world titles on a 10-round majority points decision against the undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (22-1; 6) on Saturday night at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

The scores were 95-95 and 96-94 twice.

Junior welterweight Jose Felix (40-6-1; 31) upset previously unbeaten WBA No 9 lightweight Gary Cully (16-1; 10) to win on a third-round stoppage. The time was 2:34.

In a junior middleweight bout, JJ Metcalf (25-2; 15) won the IBO belt against defending champion Dennis Hogan (31-5-1; 7) over 12 rounds. The scores were 117-110 twice and 115-112.

Mbulelo Botile, who has won the South African bantamweight title and three world titles, is one of the great fighters to come out of Duncan Village in the Eastern Cape.

He won the IBF bantamweight title with a second-round knockout over Harold Mestre and the IBF and IBO featherweight titles on a 12th-round stoppage against Paul Ingle, which resulted in a near tragedy.

ONE OF THE SELECT FEW TO HOLD THREE WORLD TITLES

Botile, who won the IBF bantamweight and featherweight belts and IBO featherweight belt, is one of the select few South African fighters who have won more than one world title.

He was born on 23 July 1972 in Duncan Village near East London and is reported to have had more than 300 fights as an amateur, losing only a few, with one of losses being against Zolile Mbityi, who as a professional would go on to win two South African titles and two world titles.

Botile made his pro debut on 30 July 1989 in Bisho, winning on a third-round stoppage against Makhosandile Mbiza, and then took his unbeaten streak to 11 with eight inside the distance.

In only his 12th fight on 29 May 1994 at the Lentegeur Civic Centre in Cape Town he beat the vastly experienced Derrick Whiteboy (34-3-1), who was making the eighth defence of his title, on a split decision to win the South African bantamweight crown.

He never defended the title and relinquished it three months later to further his career on the world scene, scoring victories over three foreign fighters before challenging Harold Mestre for the IBF bantamweight belt.

On 29 April 1995 on a cold night at the FNB Stadium in front of a crowd estimated at 2 500, at the 80 000 seat home of South African football, Botile pulled off the biggest victory of his career with a sensational second round knockout of the Colombian Mestre.

After making five successful defences of the title a weight drained Botile lost the belt to Tim Austin in Nashville, Tennessee.

Moving up in weight he travelled to Sheffield, England to challenge Paul Ingle for the IBF and IBO titles.

THE PAUL INGLE TRADEGY

Ingle was an outstanding fighter who fought from 1994 to 2000 and as an amateur represented Great Britain at the Olympics, and as a professional won the British, European, Commonwealth and two world titles.

On 16 December 2000 going into the fight against South Africa’s Mbulelo Botile, he was the favourite with a record 23-1; 16, with his only loss being an 11th stoppage against one England’s great featherweights Naseem Hamed.

The fight between Ingle and Botile which was for the IBF and IBO featherweight titles had undergone several postponements with Ingle sustaining injuries in training and battling to make the featherweight limit.

Botile scored a knockdown in the 11th round and Ingle was down again in the 12th round as the fight was stopped at 20 seconds into the round.

Ingle collapsed in the ring and was rushed to hospital with a blood clot on the brain, and after spending a number of weeks in intensive care he recovered partially.

He has no memory of the fight and has never fully recovered and became depressed with a massive weight gain, but today he has come to terms with it.

Ingle has difficulty with his sight, speech and balance.

Botile was never the same after this tragedy and lost his next three fights before retiring in March 2005 with an outstanding record of 27-4; 16.

Graham van der Walt, who won the South African bantamweight, featherweight, and flyweight titles when there were only eight weight divisions, is one of the select band of fighters who have achieved this.

The others are Watty Austin, Charlie Els, Ernie Eustace, Jack Everhardt, Jack Lalor, Thulani “Sugar Boy” Malinga, Anthony Morodi, Anton Nel, Enoch “Schoolboy” Nhlapo, Andries Steyn, and Arnold Taylor, with some having won the same title on three occasions.

Van der Walt has the rare distinction of winning the South African bantamweight and featherweight titles and then dropping all the way down to flyweight to claim his third SA title.

This was like one of the all-time ring greats Henry Armstrong (real name Henry Jackson), who won the world featherweight, welterweight, and lightweight titles when there were only eight weight divisions. He also fought to a draw for the middleweight title.

Not that you can compare Van der Walt to Armstrong, but Armstrong’s achievements would not happen today with the multiple organisations and weight divisions around.

Van der Walt was born in Pretoria on 15 March 1933 and made his pro debut on 9 July 1955 in Johannesburg, winning on a third-round knockout against Willie van der Merwe, and in his second fight he outpointed the power punching Denis Adams.

On 11 May 1956 he won the vacant South African bantamweight title with a tenth-round knockout over Jerry Jooste, despite the fact that he was little more than a flyweight.

Jooste had already won on a knockout against Marcus Temple one of the better South African flyweight champions, 18 months before.

Van der Walt was a snappy dresser and according to reports he was not always in top condition for his fights.

Graham was a good boxer/fighter and boxed from a crouch, which made it difficult for his opponents to work out, as he would bob and weave under his opponents guard and score with shots to the ribs.

Trained by Reg Higgs, in only his sixth fight he met Denis Adams again, stopping him in the eighth round to retain the South African bantamweight title.

After remaining undefeated through the first two years of his pro career he travelled to London where he met George Dormer, who stopped him in four rounds on 9 April 1957.

It was reported he attributed his loss as to not having enough time to acclimatise in London.

On his return to South Africa, he won against Denis Adams (tko 5), Ronnie Dean (tko 9) for the vacant South African featherweight title and retained the title against Pat van Biljon (tko 12) and Mickey Ravell (ko 2).

He now had the distinction of winning two South African titles.

After scoring a win over Boet Stander (tko 2) on 1 February 1958 he lost to Charley Els (pts 8) and then travelled to Paisley in Scotland to meet the more experienced Peter Keenan for the British Empire bantamweight title on 2 April 1958.

After a courageous performance he lost on points over 15 rounds.

On his return to South Africa, he heard that his manager Reg Higgs, had moved to Durban.

He followed Higgs to the coast and went in against the Spanish fighter Jose Ogazon in Pietermaritzburg, losing on a fifth-round disqualification, and a month later in Durban he once again lost on a disqualification and the SA title, this time to Ernie Baronet. He announced his retirement from the ring.

However, on 21 November 1958 he outpointed Ireland’s Malcolm McLeod over six rounds.

After this win he once again travelled to the United Kingdom in 1956, winning one and losing three.

In 1960 it looked like his career was over as he fought to a draw and lost to Eddie Ludick and in his last of 1960 Tiger Sheke outpointed him over eight rounds in Salisbury.

On 23 January 1961 he was stopped in the fifth round by Denis Adams for the South African bantamweight title.

After these setbacks he worked to get himself in good condition and on 3 July 1961 he stopped Boet Stander in the seventh round to win the vacant South African flyweight title, and a historic third South African title.

Travelling to the then Bulawayo he lost on points over eight rounds against Baby John

In his last fight on 29 October 1961, he beat Hennie Snyman on a second round disqualification to finish with a record of 16-12-3; 12.

He passed away on 18 July 2005 at the age 72 in Pretoria.

Cordina scored a knockdown in the second round, but Rakhimov came back to stun Cordina in the fifth round.

Rakhimov was cut over the left eye in the sixth round which bled throughout but remained in the fight to the end.

However, this was not enough in the eyes of two judges who scored it 115-12 and 114-113 for Cordina. The third judge handed in a card of 116-111 for Rakhimov.

DAVID MORRELL WINS IN FIRST ROUND

WBA “regular” super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. 9-0; 8 from Cuba who fights out of Minnesota, smashed 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Yamaguchi Falcao 24-2-1; 10 of Brazil to defeat in one round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The time was 2:22.

Morrell Jr hurt Falcao early in the round as he turned his back and went down for an eight count.

However, soon afterwards a big right hand sent Falcao down and out on his face. Falcao took the fight on at ten days’ notice.

On the same card in a rematch super middleweight, Bektemir Melikuziev 12-1; 9 from Uzbekistan gained revenge for his only defeat against Gabriel Rosado 26-17-1; 15, to win on points over ten rounds.

The scores were 99-91 on all three judges’ scorecards.

Middleweight Elijah Garcia 15-0; 12 from Phoenix outscored Mexico City’s Kevin Salgado 15-1-1; 10 over ten rounds.

LUKASZ ROZANSKI WINS WBC BRIDGERWEIGHT TITLE

In a clash for the vacant WBC bridgerweight title, Lukasz Rozanski 15-0; 14 won on a first-round technical knockout over Alen “The Savage” Babic 11-1; 10 on Saturday night at the G2A Arena in Rzeszów, Poland.

Rozanski made a first start at the opening bell and knocked Babic down, but he managed to beat the count.

However, after a barrage of punches from Rozanski, the referee stopped the fight. The time was 2:10.

MARTIN BAKOLE WINS IN THREE ROUNDS

WBA No 2 ranked heavyweight Martin Bakole 19-1; 14 stopped Igor “Hulk” Shevadzutskiy 10-1; 8 in the third round.

Bakole scored a knockdown with an uppercut left hook in the second round and then battered Shevadzutskiy before the referee stepped in to stop the fight 45 seconds into the third round.

In a cruiserweight bout, Michal Cieslak 24-2; 18 won on a fourth-round knockout against Dylan Bregeon 12-3-1; 3 to win the European title.

Heavyweight Jeamie TKV 5-0; 3 stopped Michal Boloz 5-5-2; 5 in the second round.

Light heavyweight Steed Woodall 18-1-1; 11 outpointed Boris Crighton 10-3; 7 over eight rounds.

GEORGE ACOSTA WINS OVER EIGHT ROUNDS

Junior lightweight George “El Yuyu” Acosta 15-1; 2 outpointed Cesar Villarraga 10-7-1; 5 over eight rounds on Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.

The scores were 80-72 twice and 78-74.

Junior lightweight Rigoberto Hermosillo 12-4-1; 9 outscored Ezequiel Caro 9-5; 4 over eight rounds with scores of 79-72 and 78-73 twice.

BONGANI MAHLANGU RETAINS SA TITLE

The oldest active fighter in South Africa, the southpaw 43-year-old Bongani Mahlangu from Boipatong, Gauteng retained his South African junior featherweight title against the 26-year-old comparative novice, Mduduzi Mzimela of Durban on a fifth-round stoppage at the SABC’s Renaissance Hall in Auckland Park on Friday night.