What To Know
- WBC World Middleweight champion Carlos Adames of the Dominican Republic is Zuffa Boxing’s latest signing.
- Ring Journal ranks Adames because the world’s prime middleweight.
- Zuffa Boxing has now signed three of the middleweight world champions.
g introduced in the present day that WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos “Caballo Bronco” Adames of the Dominican Republic has signed a multi-fight promotional contract with the promoter.
An announcement relating to the scheduling of Adames’ debut within the ring for Zuffa is reported to happen “shortly.”
Ring Journal ranks Adames as the highest middleweight on the planet.
In a written assertion, Adames stated, “This can be a new chapter in my profession, and I’m right here to make historical past. Zuffa Boxing is constructing one thing particular, and I need to be a part of it.
“I’m able to face the very best fighters on the planet on the largest stage. The very best of ‘Caballo Bronco’ is but to return.”
The 32-year-old Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) is an 11-year professional. He’s unbeaten in his seven middleweight bouts since transferring up in 2021.
He has defended his WBC title thrice, together with a hard-fought draw towards Hamzah Sheeraz final yr and a one-sided determination over Austin “Ammo” Williams in March.
As a brilliant welterweight, Adames knocked out former unified world champion Julian Williams in 9 rounds.
As an beginner, Adames received greater than 200 fights and competed internationally, capturing gold on the 2012 Pan American Youth Championships and the 2015 Jose Cheo Aponte Match.
Zuffa Boxing Gaining Management of Middleweight Division
With Adames on its roster, Zuffa Boxing now promotes three of the 4 world middleweight champions.
Adames joins IBF World Middleweight champion Aaron McKenna of Eire (21-0, 10 KOs), who 0, and WBO Interim World Middleweight champion Denzel Bentley of England (22-3-1, 18 KOs).
McKenna received the vacant title in a call over Etinosa Oliha of Italy at Dublin’s 3Arena on August 8.
Bentley is scheduled to face Shane Mosley Jr. of Las Vegas (23-5, 13 KOs) at London’s Copper Field Enviornment in the primary occasion of Zuffa Boxing 12 on November 7. Mosley Jr. 6 in his finest efficiency to this point.
Bentley was elevated from his place as interim champion to full champion. The WBO then ordered Bentley to face obligatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez (11-0, 9 KOs), the number-one ranked contender. After failing to achieve an settlement, the WBO held a handbag bid on September 29, The one bidder, the modest Warriors Boxing promoter, received with a $200,000 proposal.
As an alternative, Bentley signed a multi-fight take care of Zuffa Boxing on October 5. It’s now unclear whether or not Bentley can be allowed to defend the title towards Mosley. Bentley has petitioned the WBO to not strip him of the belt. Keep tuned.
Hernandez is an achieved beginner for the Cuban Nationwide Group till leaving to show professional in the USA. He holds the WBO-NABO (North American) regional title after successful a fourth-round TKO over Terrell Gausha in March. Hernandez is signed by Premier Boxing Champions.
Mielnicki Jr. defeated Austin “Ammo” Williams of Florida (20-3, 13 KOs) by determination in his Zuffa Boxing debut on September 4, and now holds the WBO International regional title.
The previous WBO World Middleweight champion, Hamzah Sheeraz, dropped his title when he determined to maneuver as much as the tremendous middleweight division after preventing Adames to a attract February 22. Most observers believed Adames deserved the win.
The battle happened in Saudi Arabia on the Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 undercard. Whether or not the judges had been inspired to provide Sheeraz the advantage of the doubt on pleasant turf stays hypothesis. Sheeraz can also be now signed to Zuffa Boxing.
Is Gathering Divisions The Technique?
Zuffa Boxing has made no secret of its ambition to finally turn into the one boxing promoter controlling all matchups, following the profitable mannequin of the Final Combating Championship (UFC) in blended martial arts.
The middleweight division introduced a golden alternative. After former undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez and former unified champion Gennadiy Golovkin exited the division, it was skinny on expertise.
Its former unified champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly of Kazakhstan, by no means caught fireplace with the general public like his countryman, Triple G. He then failed a drug take a look at in December 2025. The Worldwide Boxing Federation (IBF) stripped Alimkhanuly of his title, and the WBO suspended him. He’s now returning to competitors and has moved as much as the tremendous middleweight division.
Additionally within the division is former champion Erislandy Lara, age 43; Australian Tim Tszyu transferring up from tremendous welterweight; and veterans like Chris Eubank Jr. and Michael Zerafa.
The division’s future seems to be promising, with Jesus Ramos Jr. of Arizona, age 25; Amari Jones of Las Vegas, age 24; and okay, age 24. Toss in Vito Mielnicki Jr., newly signed with Matchroom Boxing and ce.
However the division is a far cry from its glory days, when the enduring Marvin Hagler dominated, adopted by Bernard Hopkins, and looking out again to Carlos Monzón, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Jake LaMotta.
Name it ripe for the choosing in the present day with the Zuffa Boxing experiment in progress.