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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.

Defector

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Interviews

Lucas Schaefer Understands The Brutality, Absurdity, And Transcendence Of Boxing

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. (

Boxing

Gervonta Davis Escapes With A Draw After Hair Care Debacle

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.

The Fights

The Big Stage Calls For Naoya Inoue

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

Everlast Love: The Tale Of Me And The Heavy Bag

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 Underwhelmed In Victory

Lauren Theisen

Naoya Inoue (L) of Japan and Stephen Fulton (C) of the US fight

Naoya Inoue Is Heavier And Scarier

Life Lessons

Requiem For An Overweight

Israel Daramola

Defector At The Movies

‘Creed III’ Fails To Land Its Biggest Punch

Patrick Redford

during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 2: A New Era at Mississippi Coast Coliseum on August 25, 2018 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Do We Really Need Bare Knuckle Boxing?

Mykal Fox is shocked at the outcome as the unanimous decision is read out.

This Boxing Judge Robbery Is As Blatant As It Gets

Charles Farrell has spent his professional life moving between music and boxing, with occasional detours. He has managed five world champions, and has played and recorded with many of the musicians he most admires&#8211;Evan Parker and Ornette Coleman among them. Farrell currently resides in the Boston, Massachusetts area.



His new book, <a href="https://hamilcarpubs.com/books/lowlife-a-memoir-of-jazz-fight-fixing-and-the-mob/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(Low)life: A Memoir of Jazz, Fight-Fixing, and The Mob</a>, will be published June 29.

Charles Farrell

on October 14, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

“My Friend Is Here To See The Girls”

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

This Boxing Match In The Rain Was The Perfect Undercard Bout For Paul/Mayweather

Luke Campbell kneels on the canvas after a body shot by Ryan Garcia

I Hope To God I Never Understand How This Ryan García Knockout Really Feels

Vasiliy Lomachenko Vs. Teófimo López Is The Perfect Clash Of Boxing Personalities

Ivan Baranchyk on the canvas after being knocked out by Jose Zepeda

boxing