![Kobe Bryant watching Manny Pacquiao’s sparring session at Wild Card Boxing Club in 2011. [photo credit: Chris Farina of Top Rank | Tempo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_495-400x200.png)
In November 2011, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant made a rare visit to Manny Pacquiao’s Wild Card Boxing Club workout, highlighting a unique crossover between basketball and boxing.
BRAVE Combat Federation returned to Uzbekistan with a high-octane BRAVE CF 103 at the Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara. The year-ending event delivered seven explosive bouts, highlighted by hometown hero Nozim Kalandarov’s dominant main event performance.
BRAVE Combat Federation returns to Serbia for BRAVE CF 104 on February 14, kicking off 2026 with top-tier mixed martial arts competition and a potential hometown title defense.
All fighters for BRAVE CF 103 have successfully completed weigh-ins ahead of the Bukhara, Uzbekistan event, promising a high-octane night of mixed martial arts action on December 23, 2025.
![Nkosi Ndebele celebrates after capturing the inaugural PFL Africa Bantamweight title. [PFL photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251220223428-_85A9849-JP-400x200.jpg)
PFL Africa closed its first season with four tournament champions crowned after a dramatic night of finishes at the Sofitel Dome in Cotonou.
![Fighters weigh in ahead of the 2025 PFL Africa Finals in Cotonou. [PFL photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251219144157-_89A0488-JP-400x200.jpg)
The 2025 PFL Africa Finals are scheduled for Saturday at Sofitel Dome in Benin, featuring Bantamweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, and Heavyweight championship bouts with $100,000 on the line in each division.
![Marcial’s victory helps PH boxing avoid a gold-less campaign in Bangkok. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/599629451_1185259633770272_2303501535967533876_n-400x200.jpg)
Eumir Marcial won the men’s 80kg boxing gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, ending the Philippines’ medal drought in the sport after a week of controversial decisions.
![Flint Jara attacks during the boxing final at Chulalongkorn Sports Center. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2923-400x200.jpeg)
Flint Jara fought valiantly despite an injured hand but lost 0-5 to Thailand’s Thanapat Saengphet in the men’s 54-kg boxing final at the 33rd SEA Games, settling for silver.
![Baricuatro presses forward during the gold-medal fight. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2935-400x200.jpeg)
Jay Brian Baricuatro fought valiantly but lost 1-4 to Thailand’s Thitiwat Phlongauri in the men’s 48-kg final of the 33rd SEA Games boxing tournament, settling for silver.
ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan faces Stella Hemetsberger in a rematch, while Filipino standout Danny Kingad meets Hu Yong at ONE Fight Night 40 in Bangkok.