Keith Idec
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Senior writer/columnist for The Ring. Grateful for The Record/Herald News, Reeno Inc., CBS/Paramount & Yahoo! Sports/Uncrowned. Started from the bottom.
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Articles by Keith Idec
Canelo outclasses Mbilli, regains WBC 168-pound title
The 36-year-old Mexican icon neutralized Christian Mbilli’s trademark aggression, mostly fought at his preferred pace and out-landed a younger, hungry fighter to win their 12-round super middleweight championship match. Guadalajara’s Alvarez, who went off as more than a 3-1 favorite, unanimously outpointed the previously unbeaten Cameroon native in the main event of The Ring’s “Mexico Versus The World” card at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Munguia Survives Scare, Unanimously Outpoints Huge Underdog Zon
After surviving serious trouble against Nikita Zon in the sixth round, though, the resilient Munguia mounted a comeback, regained control and retained his WBA super middleweight title by unanimous decision in The Ring’s “Mexico Versus The World” co-feature at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Judges Janny Guzman (117-111), Mikael Hook (117-111) and Ferlin Marsh (116-112) all scored their 12-round fight for Munguia by comfortable margins.
Rafael Espinoza Stops Ricardo Blandon On Cut In Third Round
Espinoza stopped Ricardo Blandon due to a cut in the third round on The Ring’s “Mexico Versus The World” card at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Canelo Alvarez will challenge WBC super middleweight champ Christian Mbilli in the main event of a show DAZN is streaming worldwide on pay-per-view and as part of its Ultimate plan.
The Idec Index: Will We Get The Old Canelo Or An Old One?
William Scull clearly tried to survive, not win, yet Alvarez shouldered some of the blame for their boring bout because he did little to prevent the former IBF super middleweight champ from accomplishing his primary mission of lasting 12 rounds. Nearly 18 months later, Alvarez has returned to the Saudi capital, where understandable safety concerns have somewhat overshadowed his fight itself.
Foster Finally Enters The Ring’s Pound-For-Pound Top 10
The unified junior lightweight champion entered at No. 10 after defeating former three-division champ Emanuel Navarrete by unanimous decision in their 12-round, 130-pound title unification fight at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Foster (26-3, 12 KOs) replaced Ring and WBO strawweight champ Oscar Collazo (15-0, 12 KOs) on our list, which was revealed Thursday during the newest episode of “Inside The Ring,” available on DAZN and The Ring’s YouTube channel.
Foster Finally Enters Ring’s Pound-For-Pound Top 10
The unified junior lightweight champion entered at No. 10 after defeating former three-division champ Emanuel Navarrete by unanimous decision in their 130-pound title unification fight at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Foster (26-3, 12 KOs) replaced Ring and WBO strawweight champ Oscar Collazo (15-0, 12 KOs) on our list, which was revealed Thursday during the newest episode of “Inside The Ring,” available on DAZN and The Ring’s YouTube channel.
The Idec Index: Underrated Foster Fighting For P4P Respect
Even after his remarkable run in the 130-pound division the past 3½ years, Foster feels he has yet to receive the widespread respect he has earned. He need not look beyond his accomplished opponent, Emanuel Navarrete, to support his point. Mexico’s Navarrete occupied a spot on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list after his 11th-round stoppage of former IBF champ Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez in his last fight February 28 in Glendale, Arizona.
Ennis Signs 7-Fight Contract Extension With Matchroom
The British company announced Tuesday that unified junior middleweight champ Jaron “Boots” Ennis has re-signed with the promoter that has handled his past five fights. Philadelphia’s Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs, 1 NC), who owns the WBA and WBO 154-pound championships, is The Ring’s No. 1 contender for a vacant title in that division and No. 9 on our pound-for-pound list. “I’m excited for my extended partnership with Matchroom,” Ennis said in a statement.
Bahdi’s Promoter Files Protest Over Loss To Schofield
Most Valuable Promotions announced late Monday night that it formally challenged Bahdi’s 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to Schofield nine days ago at Wintrust Arena in Chicago because “the video evidence demonstrates multiple significant officiating errors that directly impacted the fight.” Though MVP’s statement didn’t provide details, the protest submitted to the State of Illinois Athletic Board at least relates to knockdowns Bahdi’s team feels referee Benjamin Rodriguez missed during...
Fundora Finishes Off Hadribeaj With One Second Left In Fight
Fundora floored Hadribeaj with a left hand that connected just before the final bell sounded to end their main event at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Hadribeaj got to his feet before referee Thomas Taylor counted to 10, but Taylor waved an end to their scheduled 12-round, 154-pound championship clash even though the action couldn’t have continued. The official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of the final round. Fundora comfortably led by scores of 109-98, 108-99 and 107-100 when their bout ended.
Resendiz Fends Off Mazoudier, Wins Slugfest On Points
The previously unproven Australian gave the former WBA super middleweight champ everything he could handle during their fan-friendly, back-and-forth fight at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Resendiz’s resume helped make him at least a 12-1 favorite, according to most sportsbooks, but their 10-round super middleweight match was far from one-sided. Judges Eric Cheek (98-92), Max De Luca (97-93) and Don Trella (97-93) scored their fight for Resendiz (17-3, 11 KOs).
The Idec Index: Wardley’s Willingness Telling, Terrifying
The horrifying beating he took May 9 didn’t dissuade the former WBO heavyweight champ from committing to picking up right where they left off barely five months later. There was nothing his promoter, Frank Warren, or anyone else could do to convince Wardley that this second fight Saturday night with the heavy-handed Dubois will take place too soon after a brutal battle that correctly caused skeptics to wonder whether Wardley would ever be the same.
The Lean Tower Of Pizza: Fundora Still Makes 154 Pounds Easily
“The Towering Inferno” stands 6-foot-6, historically tall for the junior middleweight division. He is also 28, when boxers usually struggle to squeeze down to weights at which they thrived when they were younger. Somehow, Fundora finds it easier than ever to weigh in at 154 pounds. In fact, the lanky, lean, left-handed fighter is so diligent that he weighed less than 154, the division’s limit, for each of his past 16 fights, a streak that began in November 2018, when he was only 20.
Schofield Beats Bahdi On Points In Firefight, Wins WBA Title
The 24-year-old Schofield took countless flush shots from hard-hitting Canadian contender Lucas Bahdi, delivered numerous damaging punches of his own and won their 12-round battle by unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBA lightweight title in a main event DAZN streamed from DePaul University’s Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Judges Dave DeJonge (116-110), Alfredo Gallardo (119-108) and Steve Weisfeld (115-111) all scored Schofield the winner.
Mendoza Shocks Sandoval; Scores 5th-Round TKO To Win Flyweight Titles
The Mexican southpaw dropped Ricardo Sandoval three times and knocked out the heavily favored WBA/WBC flyweight champion in the fifth round of their scheduled 12-round, 112-pound championship clash at DePaul University’s Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Sandoval stepped into the ring as DraftKings’ 7-1 favorite over Mendoza, who replaced Oscar Collazo as Sandoval’s opponent on about three weeks’ notice.
The Idec Index: Schofield Finally Gets Chance To Retap Potential
Schofield’s first-round knockout of Farmer, a former IBF junior lightweight champion, in June 2025 was by far the best win of his career. It temporarily took the focus off his controversial fight-week withdrawal from a potentially career-defining fight against Shakur Stevenson four months earlier and solidified Schofield as a top contender in the 135-pound division.
Iglesias: They Can’t Duck Me Anymore; I’m Here To Be Undisputed
There isn’t anyone in the super middleweight division the unbeaten Cuban power puncher wouldn’t fight, especially if it meant surrendering the IBF 168-pound championship he sacrificed so much to win. Iglesias (15-0, 14 KOs) would’ve loved to face England’s Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KOs) in a title unification clash, but he is more interested now in the winner of the bout between WBC champ Christian Mbilli and Canelo Alvarez on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and WBA champ Jaime Munguia.
Iglesias Won’t Allow Shared Trainer Prevent Fight With Mbilli
Iglesias realizes, though, that he might not get the opportunity to pick who would train him for a title unification fight against Mbilli if his stablemate beats Alvarez on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Marc Ramsey, one of the top trainers in Canadian boxing history, has long worked with Mbilli and began training Iglesias less than three months ago.
Fundora dismisses Hadribeaj’s KO talk; sees ‘no threat at all’
Fundora’s unknown upcoming opponent has repeatedly predicted he’ll knock out the heavily favored Fundora on October 17 in Las Vegas. Hadribeaj has a low knockout ratio (33 percent) and the Miami-based Albanian contender hasn’t beaten anyone nearly as accomplished or as formidable as Fundora, who will defend his WBC super welterweight title. Fundora respects his mandatory challenger’s confidence just the same.
Denzel Bentley vs. Shane Mosley Jr. set for Nov. 7 in London
The emerging promotional company, in which Ring owner Turki Alalshikh is a partner, announced Friday morning that Bentley will face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7 in London. Their 160-pound bout will be the co-feature on a card that’ll match former WBO cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith against British rival Chev Clarke in the main event. Paramount+ will stream those two bouts from Copper Box Arena in the United States and Canada.
Figueroa Wants To ‘Welcome’ Inoue To Featherweight
If Figueroa defeats Tomoki Kameda on October 17, however, he will gladly fight Naoya Inoue next. Inoue is the undisputed junior featherweight champ, but the Japanese superstar is just the type of pound-for-pound great Figueroa wants to fight. Inoue would have to give up his Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 122-pound crowns to compete at featherweight.
Figueroa Wants To ‘Welcome’ Inoue To Featherweight Division
If Figueroa defeats Tomoki Kameda on October 17, however, he will gladly fight Naoya Inoue next. Inoue is the undisputed junior featherweight champ, but the Japanese superstar is just the type of pound-for-pound great Figueroa wants to fight. Inoue would have to give up his Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 122-pound crowns to compete at featherweight.
Billam-Smith Vs. Clarke To Headline Zuffa Card Nov.7 In London
The promotional company announced Friday that former WBO champ Chris Billam-Smith (22-2, 14 KOs) and Chev Clarke (12-2, 9 KOs) will square off in the 12-round main event of Zuffa Boxing 12 on November 7 at Copper Box Arena in London. Paramount+ will stream the show in the United States and Canada and Sky Sports will televise it in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Idec Index: Five Fights If Crawford Changes His Mind
Nine months after he announced his retirement, Crawford doesn’t hesitate, either, to debate with fighters, fans, reporters or anyone else he perceives to underestimate what he remains capable of accomplishing in a boxing ring. While one of the best fighters of this generation seems firmly committed to retirement and enjoying the fruits of his Hall-of-Fame career, that same competitive drive that helped him achieve greatness clearly remains within him.
WBO Schedules Bentley-Hernandez Purse Bid For September 29
The WBO announced Tuesday night on social media that it has scheduled a purse bid to secure the right to promote their 12-round, 160-pound championship match for September 29. The minimum bid is $200,000. This purse bid was scheduled because representatives for England’s Bentley and the Cuban-born, United States-based Hernandez were unable to reach an agreement during their voluntary negotiating period.
Wardley warns Dubois he'll 'be gone' within three rounds of rematch
The former WBO heavyweight champion dropped Dubois with a sweeping right hand just 10 seconds into their title fight May 9 at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. Wardley seemed well on his way to a knockout victory after a clubbing right to the side of Dubois’ head made the challenger take a knee with 1:45 to go in the third round. Somehow, however, a determined Dubois remained composed enough to mount an epic comeback that led to the London native becoming a two-time champion.
Blancas Batters Jimenez, Scores 7th-Round KO On Cruz-Bravo Card
The developing super middleweight remained unbeaten by battering Sergio Jimenez for 6½ rounds at Pechanga Arena. The taller, stronger, younger Blancas beat up Jimenez to his head and body until referee Ray Corona decided he shouldn’t take any more punishment in a scheduled 10-round fight he clearly couldn’t win. Jimenez was on his feet when Corona halted the action at 1:38 of the seventh round. Milwaukee’s Blancas, 25, improved to 16-0 and produced his eighth knockout.
Collazo Injured, Pulls Out Of Oct. 10 Fight With Sandoval
Puerto Rico’s Collazo (15-0, 12 KOs), who owns The Ring, WBA and WBO 105-pound titles, was scheduled to move up two weight classes to challenge Sandoval for his WBA and WBC flyweight crowns. The bout between Collazo, ranked No. 10 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, and Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs), of Rialto, California, will be rescheduled.
The Idec Index: Haney-Garcia Rematch Is The Fight To Make Next
Their marketable battle, sought by Lopez and Garcia since they were lightweights in their early 20s, makes more sense than ever now that they hold 147-pound championships. It shouldn’t be a difficult fight to put together, considering they’re both aligned with DAZN and their managerial teams — headed by Guadalupe Valencia (Garcia) and Mike Borao and Keith Connolly (Lopez) — have a good working relationship. It helps, too, that Garcia and Lopez know how to sell a fight.
Garcia gives Lopez 7 or 8 rounds before getting KO'd
The WBC welterweight champion predicted Lopez would last at least five rounds longer than Benn, but Garcia believes he would ultimately meet the same fate as the opponent he knocked out Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. “I knock Teo out, [in] Round 7 or 8,” Garcia stated during his post-fight press conference. Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) and Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs), who has never been knocked out, don’t have a deal to fight next.
White still considers heavy investment in Benn worth 'every penny'
The UFC president and CEO replied “every penny of it” when he was asked, after Benn’s second-round KO defeat to Ryan Garcia on Saturday night, about the past six months. Zuffa reportedly paid Benn $15 million for his first fight with the emerging promotional company, an unremarkable unanimous points victory over huge underdog Regis Prograis on April 11. Benn agreed to a multi-fight contract with Zuffa after he outpointed Prograis.
The Ring’s Five Takeaways From Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn Card
The improved, maturing Garcia demolished “The Destroyer” even earlier than he predicted he’d knock out Conor Benn in their fight for his WBC welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena. Garcia’s win was hardly surprising to those who expected Benn’s harmful weight cut and lack of experience to hinder his ability to make their high-profile fight competitive. Here are five things The Ring learned from the Garcia-Benn card.
Garcia: Benn Would’ve Wound Up Unconscious If Ref Didn’t Stop It
That’s Ryan Garcia’s perspective on what he views as the difference between Benn’s precautionary trip to the hospital and potentially something worse. Though some questioned the veteran referee stopping the Garcia-Benn fight when he did Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Garcia gave Taylor credit for recognizing what awaited Benn could’ve been way worse in the second round.
Garcia stops Benn on his feet to retain WBC welterweight title | The Ring
The WBC welterweight champion needed less than two rounds, not five, to knock out Conor Benn on Saturday night in the main event of a Ring and Zuffa Boxing card at T-Mobile Arena. Garcia blasted Benn with a right hand that knocked the British challenger to his gloves and knees 45 seconds into the second round. Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) answered referee Thomas Taylor’s count at seven and tried to survive as best he could.
Garcia destroys Benn in two, retains WBC welterweight title | The Ring
The WBC welterweight champion needed less than two rounds, not the five he predicted, to knock out Conor Benn on Saturday night in the main event of a Ring and Zuffa Boxing card at T-Mobile Arena. Garcia blasted Benn with a right hand that knocked the British challenger to his gloves and knees 45 seconds into the second round. Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) answered referee Thomas Taylor’s count at seven and tried to survive as best he could.
Opetaia Blasts Mikaelian, Eager To Fight Benavidez Next | The Ring
The Australian southpaw survived some trouble in the seventh round and knocked Mikaelian senseless with a four-punch combination in the ninth to win their cruiserweight title bout by technical knockout at T-Mobile Arena. Referee Harvey Dock counted a knockdown for Opetaia because the ropes kept Mikaelian from going down and determined Mikaelian shouldn’t continue.
Opetaia Stops Mikaelian, Agrees To Fight Benavidez Next | The Ring
The Australian southpaw survived some trouble in the seventh round and knocked Mikaelian senseless with a four-punch combination in the ninth to win their cruiserweight title bout by technical knockout at T-Mobile Arena. Referee Harvey Dock counted a knockdown for Opetaia because the ropes kept Mikaelian from going down and determined Mikaelian shouldn’t continue.
Cortes Secures Unanimous Decision Over Magsayo
The 29-year-old lightweight contender produced the most significant win of his career, a 10-round unanimous points victory over former WBC featherweight champ Mark Magsayo at T-Mobile Arena. Cortes’ right hand often enabled him to beat Magsayo to the punch and the Las Vegas native won comfortably, 97-93 apiece, on the cards of judges Eric Cheek, Chris Migliore and David Sutherland.
Bloodied Rocha Fends Off Ramirez, Wins Unanimous Decision
The former WBC/WBO 140-pound champ didn’t do enough, however, to convince the judges that he deserved to win an action-packed, 10-round welterweight fight against Alexis Rocha at T-Mobile Arena. Ramirez got off to a strong start, but Kermit Bayless (98-91), Max De Luca (98-91) and Chris Migliore (97-92) all favored Rocha’s counterpunching and awarded him with a unanimous points victory.
Benn Rehydrates To Cruiserweight Night Before Bout With Garcia
Benn posted a video on social media that indicated he weighed 178.4 pounds when he stepped on a digital scale in his hotel suite at MGM Grand. He wore a T-shirt and sweatpants when he got on his personal scale. Still, that’s an astounding 32.4 pounds more than Benn weighed when he stood on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s scale at an official weigh-in Friday morning for his 12-round, 147-pound championship clash with Ryan Garcia on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Tested Mikaelian Sees Opetaia As ‘Just Another Fight’
He recognizes what Jai Opetaia accomplished in the cruiserweight division over the past few years. The WBC champion nonetheless thinks he has a stronger resume than Opetaia and has been built to upset the unbeaten Australian southpaw in the 12-round co-feature before Ryan Garcia encounters Conor Benn in the main event Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Armenia’s Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) considers Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) to be “very good,” yet not his most imposing opponent.
Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia Come In Well Below Welterweight Limit
After months of speculation regarding the British star dropping down to the welterweight limit of 147 pounds for the first time in four-plus years, Benn stepped on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s scale at 146 for his fight against Ryan Garcia on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Garcia, the defending WBC welterweight champ, came in even lighter, at 145½ pounds, for a 12-round main event Paramount+ will stream in the United States and DAZN will stream in the UK and Ireland.
The Fight Preview: Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn
Benn, who was suspended for failed performance-enhancing drug tests and couldn't fight in his home country of England, beat Peter Dobson on points in his Las Vegas debut in February 2024. A small crowd attended at The Cosmopolitan, a few properties up “The Strip” from where he’ll challenge Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight title Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. The spotlight will be far brighter against Garcia, one of boxing’s biggest stars in the United States.
The Idec Index: Benn Can’t Change Tune On Using Weight Excuse
We can only hope Benn remembers those sensible statements if the favored Garcia indeed defeats him in their WBC welterweight title bout at T-Mobile Arena. More than anything, Benn should remain mindful that he doesn’t even deserve a title shot in the 147-pound division because the British challenger hasn’t competed within it in almost 4½ years. And when Benn did win welterweight fights from 2020-22, it wasn’t as if he defeated top 15 contenders and legitimized himself as a championship challenger.
Garcia Belittles Benn For PED Ordeal, setting up excuses
The newly crowned WBA welterweight champion posed as a reporter for DAZN and asked questions from the media section inside T-Mobile Arena. The disguised Lopez drew laughter from Benn and Garcia once he removed a fake beard and reminded them that he wants the winner of their WBC 147-pound championship clash Saturday night at the same venue. Garcia spent much of an expletive-laden event belittling Benn for masquerading as a welterweight.
Opetaia looks forward to Benavidez: Why Wouldn’t It Happen Next?
Opetaia’s pursuit of those titles was what led to his promoters at Zuffa Boxing arranging a shot at WBC champ Noel Mikaelian on the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn undercard Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. The unbeaten Australian southpaw realizes that the fight to make in the cruiserweight division is him versus David Benavidez, but Mikaelian is one of the top opponents Opetaia has been scheduled to face in 11 years as a professional. “Man, he’s a good fighter,” Opetaia told The Ring.
Garcia: Benn could take steroids all he wants; he's not good enough
Benn and Garcia, who both tested positive for banned substances in recent years, have been randomly tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association throughout their training camps. While it was important to both of them to have thorough testing in place for their 12-round welterweight title fight, Garcia is confident he is so superior to Benn that he would win convincingly even if Benn beat a test and fought with a PED in his system Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Benn wasn't 'killer' Prograis expected, predicts Garcia stoppage
That’s only because Prograis recognizes the value, without risking too much money on the inconsistent Garcia, is to count on the fighter he considers a live underdog, despite that Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC) is more than a 3-1 favorite according to most sportsbooks. Objectively, however, Prograis expects Garcia to stop Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) in their high-profile fight at T-Mobile Arena. Benn beat the retired Prograis by unanimous decision April 11 in London.
The Idec Index: Ruiz Realized He Was Wasting Talent Too Late
This was Wednesday, at a press conference for his first fight in more than two years. No one knows better than Robles, the trainer who guided him to his historic upset of Anthony Joshua in June 2019, how Ruiz underachieved during the ensuing seven years. The former unified heavyweight champion has fought just four times since he stopped Joshua in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden.
Williams Expects Experience To Lead To Knockout Of Mielnicki
The powerful southpaw admits Adames operated on another level than him throughout their 12-round fight for the Dominican champion’s WBC middleweight title March 21 in Orlando, Florida. The savvy Adames dropped Williams in the second round and beat the Milwaukee native by large margins on all three scorecards (118-108, 117-109, 117-109). Williams, 30, nonetheless learned invaluable lessons from his first world title bout.
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