This Week in Boxing History: May 22-28
This week in boxing history, PBC highlights a trio of fighters earning their first world titles, including the first British Olympic gold medalist to win a pro championship, honors a middleweight legend adding another world title to his résumé and remembers a storied heavyweight championship rematch.
Benavidez earns first world title opportunity with spectacular KO of Medina
As predicted, David Benavidez did indeed face the toughest test of his young career Saturday night in his 168-pound title eliminator against veteran slugger Rogelio “Porky” Medina. And Benavidez didn’t just pass his test, he aced it.
Russell delights home crowd, retains world title with TKO of Escandon
It sticks to him like a stain that he can’t wash out. Each opponent Gary Russell Jr. meets wears the face of Vasyl Lomachenko, the only fighter to ever beat Russell as a pro. And each fight Russell has had since that June 2014 setback means another step toward self-redemption in a Lomachenko rematch.
Benavidez seeks to continue rapid rise toward title shot with win over Medina
After David Benavidez scored a second-round knockout in January on the Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz undercard in Las Vegas, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz offered high praise.
Russell keeping focus on Escandon heading into hometown 126-pound title defense
When their 126-pound title bout concludes Saturday night, neither champion Gary Russell Jr. nor Oscar Escandon will offer any excuses for the outcome.
Unified 147-pound champion Thurman out until end of year after elbow surgery
Unified 147-pound world champion Keith Thurman is recovering from surgery on his right elbow and expects to be out of action until the end of 2017.
The PBC Hot List
Here’s a list of some of PBC's top rising stars. Boxers on this list have been on a hot streak, like a slugger in baseball on a hitting streak or a running back in football who keeps posting 100-yard rushing games. Other than alphabetical, they’re not ranked in any particular order. We’ll leave that to you—the reader.
PBC Jabs checks in with Andre Dirrell before stacked Saturday night on Showtime, FS1
This week in PBC Jabs, host Jordan Hardy sets the table for an action-packed Saturday night of boxing on Showtime and FS1, including a conversation with two-time world title challenger Andre Dirrell before his 168-pound interim title bout against Jose Uzcategui.
