ANTHONY JOSHUA VS RUSSIAN POWERHOUSE CONFIRMED FOR 2026 SHOWDOWN
Heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov claims he has agreed to fight Anthony Joshua "next year." The Russian contender says the deal was made over Instagram, pending his own fight this weekend.
Anthony Joshua is making a comeback to boxing, and a new opponent has entered the fray.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been linked to a number of possible bouts in his upcoming comeback to competition, including a historic journey to Africa.
Additionally, the Watford native has been urged to spoil Oleksandr Usyk's comeback above all else, as a long list of competitors are eager to welcome Joshua back to the ring for the first time in more than a year.
But putting a possible matchup with Tyson Fury on the line, a tall Russian celebrity has challenged Joshua, saying he has already committed to fight the Olympian next year.
Arslanbek Makhmudov announces his decision to take on Anthony Joshua.
Arslanbek Makhmudov, a 6' 5in heavyweight prodigy, has entered the draw to face Joshua after being assigned to defeat British veteran Dave Allen in a main event this weekend in Sheffield.
Standing taller than his opponent from Doncaster before their matchup, Makhmudov and Allen are predicted to face another previous world champion in a huge matchup, whichever wins their crucial matchup.
But in yet another turn of events surrounding Joshua's comeback, Makhmudov has stated that he has already been approached about a fight with the Watford star, which he has consented to accept if he defeats Allen.
In an interview with Boxing News, Makhmudov mentioned a bout with Joshua, saying, "Yeah, we just spoke a little bit on Instagram." Simply being friendly, you know. He answered, "All right, next year," when I offered him the next fight. We can do it next year.
Makhmudov clarified, "I think the battle is exciting because it is a fantastic opportunity." Additionally, in sports, we had a little story in the amateurs. He lost to competitors in the European and World Championships; I defeated these two men. It is intriguing to me.
Anthony Joshua has been called up for Nigeria's fight with his former sparring partner.
Joshua also keeps getting connected to another couple with a name he knows from his background, even though he agreed to face Makhmudov—albeit by text.
Joshua was first linked to a fight in Ghana, but in recent days, a Nigerian event, including the former world champion, has been proposed to make a historic journey to Africa in early 2026.
After recovering from his crushing defeat to Joseph Parker, Congolese heavyweight sensation Martin Bakole, Joshua's old training partner, has also indicated interest in taking on his former sparring opponent.
EDDIE HEARN ADMITS AUSTIN WILLIAMS CANNOT OUTBOX WBC CHAMPION CARLOS ADAMES
Austin Ammo Williams faces a life-changing chance Saturday as Hearn plots a late-round breakdown of Carlos Adames.
Eddie Hearn isn’t trying to convince anyone that Austin “Ammo” Williams is a better boxer than Carlos Adames. He’s not pitching skill or finesse; he’s talking about grit. If Williams is going to win the WBC middleweight title on Saturday, it won’t be by outboxing Adames. Hearn’s hoping his guy drags Adames into the late rounds, toughs it out, and breaks him down physically.
Here’s the approach: Williams needs to pressure Adames, stay close, and make it ugly. A straightforward boxing match pretty much goes to Adames. So, Williams has to turn it into a dogfight.
“You just got to be a dog in there. You’ve got to hang with him, find a way, and try to combat the skill,” Hearn told DAZN Boxing. “You’ve got to try and trade with him, beat him up on the inside. You just have to not give in and find a way to break him.”
That’s the plan. Hearn figures the real shift probably happens late in the bout, maybe round nine, ten, or eleven, when toughness matters more than clean boxing or early dominance. Williams has to withstand as much punishment as he dishes out, keep pushing, and hope Adames finally breaks.
Hearn’s honesty actually tells you everything. “I don’t think Ammo is going to go in there and outbox Carlos Adames,” he said. He’s not pretending Williams is the slicker guy or has more tools. The path is straightforward: close the gap, trade shots, wear Adames down.
Still, Hearn sees a life-changing opportunity if Williams manages to pull it off. “If Ammo can become a middleweight world champion, he changes his life forever. The opportunity sits right in front of him on Saturday,” he said.
No doubt, Saturday’s a big chance. But it’s a rough road. If all you’ve got is to “find a way” through a gruelling fight, it usually means the champ has the edge when the boxing gets clean.
WHY NATE DIAZ SIGNED WITH JAKE PAUL’S MVP FOR MMA RETURN
Nate Diaz signs with Jake Paul’s MVP to face Mike Perry in an MMA return on the Rousey vs Carano Netflix card.
Nate Diaz is set to join the impressive undercard for the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano bout. The UFC veteran has recently signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and will take on Mike Perry at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on May 16.
Diaz hasn’t stepped into the MMA cage since he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 back in 2022. After that, he tried his hand at boxing, debuting in the ring a year later, where he lost a points decision to Jake Paul. However, he bounced back in his next boxing match by securing a win against Jorge Masvidal.
There had been buzz about a potential fight between Diaz and Conor McGregor for McGregor’s UFC return, but those plans seem to have fallen through. Their history is well-known; they split victories in 2016, with Diaz dealing McGregor his first UFC loss. Many fans were hoping for a trilogy match, possibly headlining the promotion’s historic White House card.
Now Diaz is gearing up to face Perry at welterweight, following unified MMA rules over five rounds. He’ll be sharing the card with notable names like Francis Ngannou, who recently parted ways with PFL and is scheduled to fight Philipe Lins in the co-main event.
Diaz expressed his excitement about the return, saying, “Glad to be back in action." It’s time. Don’t forget where this all came from. I’ve got plans to keep going for the next decade, wherever it takes me. Time to set the bar again; get ready for a new takeover, again and again.”
He’s been hinting at this comeback for months and even called out Perry as part of a three-fight target list earlier this year. Diaz has openly admitted he has unfinished business in combat sports, aiming to capture gold before he retires.
His signing with MVP raises questions among MMA fans about whether the UFC had discussions with him beforehand, similar to what we saw with Rousey. She revealed she had talks with UFC CEO Dana White before announcing her Netflix fight against Carano, though she later criticised the UFC as a shadow of its former self, saying it no longer delivers the best fights.
While Diaz is undoubtedly the bigger name, Perry brings his own intensity to the card. Known as 'Platinum', Perry had a stint in McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after leaving the UFC in 2021. He, too, has boxed and lost to Jake Paul before making a comeback to combat sports with a win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 last October.
Perry isn’t holding back, stating, “The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the face.” The fight is set to be streamed on Netflix, with Perry promising Diaz will go “lights out” on May 16.
Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s CEO, commented on the event’s massive potential, highlighting their record-breaking boxing viewership and expecting to smash those records again with this MMA card. He emphasised the matchup intensity, calling Diaz “the Real BMF” and Perry “the King of Violence", promising a battle from the first press conference through to the final bell.
This event in Los Angeles looks to be one of the biggest nights in combat sports, and Netflix’s involvement signals a bright future for MMA’s growth. More bouts for the card are expected to be announced soon, so keep an eye out for updates as the date approaches.
