Junior lightweight Abraham Nova (14-0, 10 KOs), 25, a Puerto Rico native who lives in Albany, New York, who has a reputation for a crowd-pleasing style, has signed with manager Tim VanNewhouse and Split-T Management. Nova’s first fight of the deal will come when he headlines a card being put on by his promoter, Murphys Boxing, at the MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts, on May 10 (UFC Fight Pass). He will face Mario Ezequiel Sayal Lozano (18-1, 9 KOs), 24, of Argentina, in a 10-rounder.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer15h ago

Weights for the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN card on Friday night at The Forum in Inglewood, California: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai 114.2 pounds, Juan Francisco Estrada 114.6 (rematch for Sor Rungvisai’s junior bantamweight world title), Daniel Roman 121.2, TJ Doheny 121.8 (junior featherweight world title unification), Jessie Vargas 150.4, Humberto Soto 150.4.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer16h ago

After junior lightweight world titlist Gervonta Davis knocked out late replacement Hugo Ruiz – who had stepped in for injured Abner Mares – in the first round on Feb. 9 in Carson, California, promoter Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions said Davis would have a Baltimore homecoming defense in his next fight this summer. That is precisely the plan. Davis will headline a Showtime card on July 27 at the 14,000-seat Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, a source with knowledge of the plans told ESPN on Tuesday. There is no set opponent yet but there has been chatter about Davis’ second defense coming against former titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa, who has won three fights in a row.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer3d ago

The short list to land a shot at unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua on June 1 at New York's Madison Square Garden has a new name: Mexican contender Andy Ruiz Jr., Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN on Monday. Ruiz (32-1, 21 KOs), 29, of Imperial, California, entered the picture after scoring a fifth-round knockout of Alexander Dimitrenko on Saturday night in Carson, California, after which he said he was interested in fighting Joshua. The win was Ruiz’s third in a row since losing a majority decision to Joseph Parker for a vacant world title in December 2016. Parker was later outpointed by Joshua in a unification fight. Hearn said other potential opponents are Luis Ortiz, Michael Hunter and secondary titlist Manuel Charr with interim titlist Trevor Bryan and European champion Agit Kabayel further down the list. Joshua needs a new foe because Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller failed multiple drug tests last week.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer4d ago

Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill, 34, and Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez, 27, will meet to unify their women’s junior welterweight titles on the Oleksandr Usyk-Carlos Takam card May 25 (DAZN) at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced Monday. McCaskill won her belt in October and will be in her first defense. “I know that this is going to be a tough fight but this is what I am in the sport for. Erica is a top fighter, but I feel in great shape and in a great frame of mind,” McCaskill said. Sanchez won her belt last April and will also be making her first defense. “This is a huge fight and one I am so excited for,” Sanchez said. “Jessica put in a great performance winning her world title and I expect a really tough fight.”

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer4d ago