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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

Dave McKenna

Gervonta Davis takes a knee in the middle of round nine due to the grease in his braids dripped into his eyes against Lamont Roach Jr. during their bout for Davis' WBA lightweight title at Barclays Center on March 01, 2025 in New York City. (

Gervonta Davis v Lamont Roach

Boxing

Gervonta Davis Escapes With A Draw After Hair Care Debacle

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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Dan McQuade

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The Tale Of The Early-Round KO Of Muhammad Ali’s Champburger

Dmitrii Bivol fights Artur Beterbiev as the headline act of Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo at Kingdom Arena on February 22, 2025 in Riyadh.

Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo – Fight Night

The Fights

We’ll Take More Bivol Vs. Beterbiev, Less Of Everything Else

Japan’s Naoya Inoue poses during the official weigh-in in Tokyo on May 5, 2024 ahead of his super-bantamweight title boxing match against Mexico’s Luis Nery.

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The Big Stage Calls For Naoya Inoue

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.

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Owen Lewis

Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk during the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBO World Heavyweight championship contest at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury – Kingdom Arena – Riyadh

Someone Got Inside Tyson Fury’s Head For A Change

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Barry Petchesky

'With a Turned Thumb', (Pollice Verso), 1872. A victorious Roman gladiator awaiting the verdict of the Emperor. After the painting by Jean-Leon Gerome. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

‘With a Turned Thumb’, (Pollice Verso), 1872.

Overexplained Lists

Gladiators, Ranked

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Israel Daramola

Mike Tyson holding his championship titles in the ring

Mike Tyson Holds Belts He Won In Ring

Mortality Always Wins By Knockout

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David Roth

A giant screen above the ring shows US retired pro-boxer Mike Tyson sitting on the corner stool between rounds during the heavyweight boxing bout against Jake Paul on November 15, 2024.

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Tyson/Paul Was A Boxing Match That Felt Like Netflix

UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, at right, punches challenger Stipe Miocic, who is on his back, during their heavyweight title bout at Madison Square Garden in New York, on November 16, 2024.

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Jon Jones Doesn’t Have To Change His Evil Ways

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024.

LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul Vs. Mike Tyson

Ifs, Ands, And Headbutts: Irish Superhero Katie Taylor Takes Another Disputed Decision From Amanda Serrano

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 8: Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis poses during the weigh in ahead of his November 9th IBF World Welterweight title fight against Karen Chukhadzhian at 2300 Arena on November 8, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (

Jaron Ennis v Karen Chukhadzhyan: Weigh-In

Boots Ennis Learns That Being Boring Can Be Worse Than Losing

Canelo Alvarez poses at the press conference for the Berlanga fight

Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga hold press conference in Los Angeles

Canelo Álvarez No Longer Cares About Showcasing His Greatness

French boxer Laurent Dauthuille trains on October 27, 1946 at the Palais sed Sports in Paris before his match against Robert Charron.

BOXING DAUTHUILLE

Everlast Love: The Tale Of Me And The Heavy Bag

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

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Hamilton Nolan

Welterweight contender Jaron Ennis trains during a media workout for his upcoming fight against Custio Clayton at Churchill Boxing Club on May 11, 2022 in Santa Monica, California.

Jermell Charlo Media Workout

Philly Has A Hero Named Boots

esse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (R) of the United States and Juan Francisco Estrada (L) of Mexico fight during their WBC world and Ring Magazine super flyweight title bout

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Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Is A Little Guy With Big Aspirations

Gervonta "Tank" Davis clobbers Frank Martin with a huge left hook.

Tank Davis vs Frank Martin

Who On Earth Wants To Fight Tank Davis Now?

Tyson Fury (third left) and Oleksandr Usyk (third right) pose alongside promoter Frank Warren (fourth left), actor Sylvester Stallone (centre) and The Saudi Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment Turki Alalshikh during a press conference at Outernet London.

Press Conference At Outernet

Don’t Expect Much Resistance To A Saudi Boxing Takeover

David Benavidez waits for the start of a fight for an interim WBC light heavyweight title against Oleksandr Gvozdyk at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

David Benavidez v Oleksandr Gvozdyk

David Benavidez Underwhelmed In Victory

Ryan Garcia (white trunks) reacts against Devin Haney (gray trunks) during their WBC Super Lightweight title bout at Barclays Center on April 20, 2024 in New York City.

Devin Haney v Ryan Garcia

Ryan Garcia Turned A Sad Show Into A Thrilling Fight

Ryan Garcia speaks to reporters during a media workout at World Class Boxing Gym on April 9, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

Ryan Garcia Media Workout

Ryan Garcia Is Promoting His Title Fight By Having A Mental Breakdown

I am a freelance writer who has covered a wide variety of topics over the years. I’ve written about sports, crime, technology, fitness, and entertainment for a variety of outlets.

Trent Reinsmith

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How Bloody Elbow Lost Its Soul