Van Targets Kape After Pantoja Decision; Sharaf Stuns Steveson in 12s

The air in Crypto.com Arena still hummed with the echo of Joshua Van’s final bell. He stood over Alexandre Pantoja, breathing hard, the decision secured by a unanimous vote. The Brazilian champion had pushed him, exchanged heavy hands, but Van’s control in the closing minutes held the line. The belt stayed on his waist, a red and black symbol of dominance that now points toward a new target.

According to reporting from boxingnews.com, the path is clear. Manel Kape, the No. 2 flyweight, sits in the waiting. Kape brings a four-fight winning streak and a knockout finish over Kyoji Horiguchi. For Van, this is not a rest period. It is a march toward the next title shot, a test of whether his decision victory translates into a dominant performance against the division’s most dangerous challenger.

Kape looms as the next test

Kape’s resume is built on pressure. His streak includes a stoppage that silenced a crowd and a consistent ability to impose his will on the canvas. Van, who just survived a competitive back-and-forth with Pantoja, must now prove he can handle a fighter who does not just trade, but hunts. The stakes rise immediately. A loss would drop Van from the top spot. A win would cement his status as the flyweight heavyweight of the division.

Sharaf shocks the heavyweight division

On the same card, the night’s biggest shock came from Sean Sharaf. Twelve seconds. That was all it took for Sharaf to end Gable Steveson’s night. The knockout was brutal, sudden, and definitive. Sharaf, who had lost his previous two fights, erased those defeats in a single strike. The arena erupted, the noise a physical wave that washed over the fighters. It was a reset, a violent correction to his record.

Now, the speculation turns to Shamil Gaziev. A matchup of two big men looking for consistency. Sharaf has the momentum. Gaziev has the reputation. The clash would be a war of attrition and power, a fight where the first mistake is fatal. Sharaf’s brief reign of confidence must be tested against a veteran who knows how to survive and counter.

Tsarukyan builds his title claim

Arman Tsarukyan added another piece to his puzzle. He stopped Mauricio Ruffy in the first round, a clean knockout that highlighted his striking precision. Six wins in a row. The Georgian is climbing. His goal is Justin Gaethje, the lightweight champion. But the path is crowded. Ilia Topuria has reportedly begun campaigning for a rematch with Gaethje, complicating Tsarukyan’s route to the gold.