A rumored matchup between Derrick Lewis and Paulo Costa has been dismissed as false. The confusion arose from Josh Hawkit's announcement, which was actually about a partnership with an American sports betting exchange rather than a fight announcement. The collaboration will feature behind-the-scenes content with Hawkit throughout fight week. No actual fight involving Lewis or Costa was announced. The post clarifies that this was simply a business sponsorship deal being promoted through Hawkit's channels.
What appeared online as a potential matchup between Derrick Lewis and Paulo Costa has turned out to be nothing more than a sponsorship announcement, with no fight between the two fighters actually in the works.
The confusion stemmed from a post by Josh Hawkit, which was initially misread by some as a fight announcement. In reality, Hawkit was revealing a new business partnership with an American sports betting exchange. The collaboration is set to include behind-the-scenes content produced with Hawkit during fight week. No bout agreement involving either fighter was announced, and the rumor should be treated as unconfirmed and effectively debunked.
Lewis, 41, is an eight-ranked heavyweight out of Houston competing under the Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai banner. The six-foot-three knockout artist carries a 29-14-0 record and a seventy-nine-inch reach, making him one of the most physically imposing and dangerous finishers in his division's history.
Costa, nicknamed The Eraser, is a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight currently ranked thirteenth in his division. The six-foot-one orthodox striker holds a 16-4-0 record and lands an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the busier and more precise pressure fighters in the 185-pound weight class.
Why it matters
- A Lewis-Costa matchup would have been a cross-divisional curiosity, as the two compete in entirely separate weight classes
- The misread post highlights how quickly sponsorship content can be mistaken for fight news on social media
- Neither fighter's divisional ranking is affected, and both remain available for legitimate booking in their respective divisions
