King Cacace rules in Nottingham, while controversy reigns in California

10 quick talking points from the weekend’s action and beyond

May 12, 2025

Boxing was a global affair over the weekend as meaningful fights spanned from the East Midlands to America’s West Coast, taking in Africa and Japan along the way. There were some big performances, fight announcements and plenty of talking points. Here’s a little list of some of the standouts.

1. Anthony Cacace’s superb run continues with Leigh Wood KO

I remember when Anthony Cacace made his debut back in 2012. It was at the Emerald Roadhouse (now Devenish Complex) in Belfast as he smashed away 1-1 Ben Wager in a round on a Chris Graham promotion.

Cacace was known as a highly talented yet undisciplined fighter who excelled as an amateur. His long, winding career has taken him into the arms of Frank Warren and world title-winning paydays.

The weekend knockout of Leigh Wood topped off a run of three consecutive high-quality wins for Cacace, who now has a Belfast headliner to look forward to. WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster is a realistic target.

2. Emanuel Navarrete continues to dance with the devil

From dodgy scales to weight cuts and in-ring struggles, even moving up a division and failing, has not hindered Emanuel Navarrete’s career. The Mexican keeps clinging on to big opportunities, even with his wobbly waistline. The fan-friendly shootouts certainly help.

The power is there, the stamina not so much. In San Diego at the weekend, Filipino challenger Charly Suarez opened a horrible cut clearly with a punch that was ruled to be a headbutt, allowing Navarrete to escape once again with his title.

Once the ESPN drama settled, the Commission correctly changed it to a no-contest, meaning Navarrete will get another title defence payday next!

3. Erickson Lubin returns with a bang, while Ardreal Holmes leaves with regrets

After almost two years out of the ring, it was understandable to see former world title challenger Erickson Lubin appear a little rusty early in his IBF title eliminator. Once he warmed up, realising gangly Holmes was offering nothing, the Florida hometown hero dropped the axe.

As for Michigan’s Holmes, it was a strange way to approach his most significant career chance. Flicking jabs while caressing the ropes with his back, Holmes crumbled in 11 and offered next to nothing to suggest he should get another go in the future…

4. Muratalla is on point as Abdullaev lets his big moment slide

…as above, so below. The same can be said for Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev, who couldn’t break free of the shackles of an extended amateur schooling and let the hands go.

Raymond Muratalla is now the Interim IBF champion while full champion Vasiliy Lomachenko figures out his next move. Muratalla was too fast and slick for one-two Abdullaev, who will take his jab and upright stance back home for another six-year rebuild.

5. Something is going on with the WBC…and it’s not nice

They say you should never go back. That doesn’t usually stop boxers from dusting off the gloves one final time to rediscover the old magic. At 46, Manny Pacquiao is a worn-out magician who can’t pull those same rabbits out of the hat anymore.

He’ll try again on July 19 when he ends a lengthy hiatus to box WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios, a basic boxer yet active and prime athlete. This won’t end well. The WBC has seen dollar signs by sanctioning Pacman’s return, in a sad but inevitable move.

6. Speaking of the WBC, Cissokho vs. Kavaliauskas

It seems like everything out in Equatorial Guinea was set up for a Souleymane Cissokho win. He skirted the ring perimeter, getting knocked down twice, escaping with a suspect unanimous verdict over Lithuania’s Kavaliauskas. It was a WBC eliminator win for the Frenchman, who seems to have nine lives when it comes to canvas visits and points wins.

7. Fernando Martinez and Kazuto Ioka are superbly matched

In a terrific back-and-forth rematch, Argentina’s Martinez defeated Ioka for the second time. It was a closely-contested affair where Martinez started strongly and his Japanese foe came on late, knocking Martinez down in round 10.

The American judge, Robert Hoyle, scored it way too wide. These two are well matched, with Martinez holding the edge in youth as he retained the WBA super-flyweight title in enemy territory.

8. Fundora-Tszyu rematch is a necessary move

Tim Tszyu’s 2024 loss to Fundora was the start of his mini-demise. The image of the Aussie warrior’s bloody face and refusal to bail showed that he was probably too tough for his own good. A loss to IBF champion Murtazaliev in October confirmed this.

The Tszyu rebuild started with Joey Spencer in April, and a revenge win over high-flying Fundora will put him back where he was over a year ago. Boxing is a fast-moving sport.

9. The ‘GWOAT’ returns - does anybody care?

Claressa Shields has announced her next fight, on July 26 against IBF light-heavyweight champ Lani Daniels in Detroit, Michigan. The self-styled ‘GWOAT’ is exceptional, but the competition is lacking.

No fault of hers. Leaps and jumps to heavyweight have not increased the excitement levels. There’s just no one around to offer a compelling matchup for the light-punching female star.

10. Troy Jones is one tough operator

Sometimes a name-drop performance can arrive in defeat. Many expected hot prospect Ezra Taylor to eliminate Troy Jones around the middle rounds. The Birmingham boxer refused to buckle, pushing Taylor as much as possible to earn another chance on a big card in the future. Perhaps against Ben Whittaker in the Midlands?

Image Credits: BBC, France24, Salita Promotions.

About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com