Your fight-size boxing update:
- Here’s the link to the GoFundMe page Top Rank created for Maxim Dadashev’s family in the wake of the Russian boxer passing away earlier this week due to injuries suffered in a fight on July 19. All proceeds from the page will be donated to Maxim's widow, Elizaveta Apushkina, and their two-year-old son.
- Matchroom Boxing announced that former heavyweight title challenger Hughie Fury, who is Tyson Fury’s cousin, has signed a promotional deal with the company. Hughie unsuccessfully challenged for the WBO title back in 2017, losing a majority decision to Joseph Parker in Manchester.
- In light of Dillian Whyte reportedly failing a drug test before his interim WBC heavyweight title bout against Oscar Rivas, the WBC issued the following statement on the matter:
“At of the time of the publication of this Release, the WBC has not received any notification from anyone about a positive anti-doping test allegedly yielded by Dillian Whyte in connection with last Saturday’s fight against Oscar Rivas for the WBC Interim Heavyweight
Championship.
The WBC has requested that the BBBofC, as the local, governing entity that oversaw that fight, formally provide any available information to the WBC.
The fight’s promoters contracted the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) to perform pre-fight and after-the-fight anti-doping tests on both fighters. The WBC is not aware that any of the test’s results VADA has received up to now have yielded any adverse findings. The WBC created the Clean Boxing Program which is administered by VADA, and which is a top priority of our organization.
The WBC will not make any comments about the situation at hand until it receives the proper, formal communication from the BBBofC.”
- The WBA created an interim junior welterweight title which will be on the line on July 27 when Alberto Puello and Jonathan Alonzo meet in the ring in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The current WBA "Super" champion is Regis Prograis and the "Regular" is currently vacant with Yves Ulysse Jr. holding the WBA Gold title at 140 pounds.
- Former world title challenger Felipe Orucuta has now been released from the hospital and is recovering at home after suffering a brain injury in early June as a result of a fight he had in Mexico. Orucuta's brother said the boxer showed important signs of improvement this week and that he will continue with the rehabilitation plus recovery at home.
