Eddie Hearn has officially accepted Dana White’s challenge to a boxing match, telling The Ariel Helwani Show he’s started training, visualizing his ring walk, and is very motivated by the payday.
“He called me out on the Piers Morgan show. I explained that I’m pretty useless. I’ve seen him spar; he looks quite decent,” Hearn said. “So I’ve gotten into a little bit of training. I’ve started to visualize my ring walk music. And I’ve started to get very excited by the money.”
Turki Alalshikh has reportedly asked both men if they’d do it, and Misfits Boxing has also made an offer. Hearn said the financial projections have him fully committed.
“Stick Me In, Find Me a Pair of Shorts”
Hearn didn’t hold back when discussing White’s repeated provocations. The ongoing feud between the two has escalated from business trash talk to a genuine fight challenge, and Hearn says he’s done deflecting.
“He keeps calling me a p***y. But I’m like, well, let’s see if I’m a p***y,” Hearn said. “Would this be gigantic? We would make 30 million each. So I’m all over it. Stick me in, put my name down, find me a pair of shorts, and I’ll travel. He called me out. I accept.”
The Matchroom chairman gave a characteristically self-aware assessment of his chances. He acknowledged being “very limited” as a fighter but said his size could be an advantage.
“I’m a big lump and I think I’ll knock him out,” Hearn said. “But also, if I get knocked out and I make $30 million, it’s not the saddest day in the world and people would find it quite amusing.”
No date, venue, or formal promotion has been attached to the potential bout. Hearn’s acceptance puts the ball squarely in White’s court to formalize the offer through their already heated rivalry.
Eddie Hearn thinks Rico Verhoeven needs to be “deluded” to believe he can beat Oleksandr Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, but he’s not ruling it out entirely. Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing at the Glory in Giza press event in Egypt, the Matchroom promoter gave a blunt but respectful assessment of Rico’s chances.
“He’s a big character, he’s a big lump, and he can really punch,” Hearn said. “He’s got hands like shovels. But it’s like you’ve got to be deluded to think you can pull this off.”
Tom Aspinall Vouches for Rico’s Power
Hearn revealed that UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who trains regularly with Verhoeven, gave him a private assessment of the kickboxing star’s abilities.
“When I spoke to Tom Aspinall, he trains with Rico a lot and he’s like, ‘Mate, let me tell you something. I’m not saying he has the skills to compete with Usyk, but my god, can he punch, and he’s strong as an ox,’” Hearn said. “He’s got Peter Fury in the corner, he’s got a lot of good brains around him.”
Aspinall’s endorsement carries weight given that he operates across both combat sports worlds. The UFC champion’s testimony focused on raw physical attributes rather than technical boxing ability, which aligns with the general view that Rico’s path to victory runs through his size and power advantage rather than skill.
The Ngannou Precedent
Hearn acknowledged his own track record of underestimating crossover fighters. He pointed to the Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury fight as a cautionary example.
“I didn’t think Francis Ngannou had a chance against Tyson Fury, and I thought he beat him in that fight,” Hearn said. “It’s an unconventional style that could cause some problems to the guy that’s mastered all styles in Alexander Usyk.”
That comparison matters. Ngannou, with no professional boxing background, dropped Fury and pushed him to a contested split decision. Rico brings significantly more striking experience than Ngannou did, plus the advantage of training under Peter Fury, who has worked with heavyweight champions.
A Pyramid to Climb
Despite leaving the door open, Hearn’s overall verdict was clear.
“He’s got a pyramid to climb on May the 23rd and I’m not sure he can do it,” Hearn said. “But in this division, it’s probably the only division where something crazy could happen, because these are big guys that can really punch.”
Hearn also praised the scale of the event itself, calling it “vision on another level as a spectacle” after seeing the production specifications for the Pyramids venue. The card also features Hamzah Sheeraz in a world title fight and Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov.
Eddie Hearn has laid out the specifics of the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury deal for the first time, confirming a two-fight structure that deliberately excludes Deontay Wilder as Joshua’s warmup opponent.
Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing at the Glory in Giza press event in Egypt, Hearn said the offer on the table calls for Joshua to fight in July before facing Fury later in the year.
“The deal that we’ve been offered, which is to fight in July and then fight Tyson Fury in November, is not with Deontay Wilder in mind,” Hearn said. “I think the powers that be don’t really want us to be in that type of fight. We’re up for it. AJ’s also said to me, ‘I will fight Wilder and I will fight Fury back to back.’ But July in the UK looks likely.”
Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season Driving the Offer
Hearn identified the source of the deal as Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, the Saudi-backed entity that has bankrolled several of boxing’s biggest events over the past two years.
“This is an offer that’s been made by Turki and Riyadh Season, wherever that fight could be, in July, and then fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. “That’s the deal that’s been proposed to us at the moment, and that looks like the route that we will take.”
Hearn Would Pick Wilder, But It’s Not His Call
The Matchroom promoter was candid about the tension between what he’d do as a promoter and what the deal structure allows. He openly acknowledged that Wilder would be his first choice for a July warmup if he were running the show.
“If we were promoting the event, that’s exactly what I’d be doing, Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. “But this is a deal put to us with Fury against AJ as the mountaintop of that deal. There’ll be a lot of people that won’t want to go into a fight that they feel is risky and put that fight at jeopardy.”
He added: “We have no problem fighting Wilder. I don’t think it will be Wilder under the basis of this deal, but we’ll have to see.”
Netflix Jumped the Gun
Hearn also directly contradicted Netflix’s social media announcement that the Joshua vs. Fury fight is confirmed.
“Netflix put a tweet out saying it’s on. It’s not on,” Hearn said. “AJ didn’t want to put himself in a position and almost tell the British public that after all these years we’ve got it, it’s on, because it’s not. Now, will it be on? I truly believe so. And my instruction from Anthony Joshua is: make the fight.”
Joshua attended the Fury vs. Makhmudov fight on Saturday but refused to enter the ring for a premature announcement. Hearn said Joshua asked him directly whether the deal was done and declined to go out when told it wasn’t.
The Power Has Shifted
Hearn framed the current negotiation dynamic as a complete reversal from years past, when Fury held the belts and demanded 60-40 splits.
“It was the first time Fury’s kind of come out and gone, ‘I want you. You’re the only fight I want next,’” Hearn said. “And it was good to hear, and AJ’s the landlord.”
Hearn also referenced Joshua’s personal struggles without going into specifics, asking fans for patience as the timeline plays out.
“Sometimes people are quick to forget that,” Hearn said. “The work that he’s put in to even get himself to this position has been so admirable. It’s been incredible. I think it’s great just having him around after what’s happened. He’s ready and he’s motivated, but we’ve got to do it right.”
Rico Verhoeven does not want anyone calling him a heavy underdog with nothing to lose. In an interview with Ring Magazine ahead of his WBC heavyweight title challenge against Oleksandr Usyk on May 23, the kickboxing champion made his intentions clear.
“There’s definitely something to lose. I’m not even thinking about losing. I’m going to win. And when I win, I’ll write history.”
“Just a Man With Two Arms and Two Legs”
Usyk carries one of boxing’s most intimidating reputations: unbeaten, undisputed at cruiserweight, and unified at heavyweight. Verhoeven is not interested in being intimidated.
“He’s like the unbeatable guy. What an opportunity I have to show that he’s not that unbeatable. For me, it’s just a man with two arms and two legs. I’m going to go out there and showcase who Rico Verhoeven is, the former undisputed kickboxing champion.”
He addressed the near-universal skepticism from the boxing world the same way: by ignoring it entirely.
“I don’t go off on anybody else’s opinion. I don’t think about it. Everybody has their right to their opinion. It’s just up to me to prove you wrong. That’s it.”
Pressure Is Not New
Some fighters in Verhoeven’s position would lean into the underdog framing. He rejected it outright.
“I’m not putting myself like, ‘I’m the big underdog, so there is nothing to lose.’ No.”
Verhoeven spent the better part of a decade as the man with the target on his back in kickboxing. He sees direct parallels with Usyk’s position at the top of heavyweight boxing.
“I put the pressure on me. He has the target on his back, he’s been having the target on his back for so many years. I had the same. I’ve been so used to the big lights, the sold-out arenas, all the media attention, the pictures, the interviews. I’m used to that pressure. I’m used to that because I’ve been doing it for the last decade.”
On fight night, he expects the size difference to play a decisive role. Verhoeven will enter the ring at roughly 125 kg, some 20 kilograms heavier than the champion.
“As soon as I clip him, he’s going to feel that, because it’s going to be at least a 20-kilo difference.”
Usyk vs. Verhoeven takes place May 23, 2026 at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, streaming live on DAZN.
Manny Pacquiao confirmed Tuesday that Floyd Mayweather has formally agreed their September 19 rematch will be a professional fight, putting Mayweather’s undefeated 50-0 record at risk. The bout is scheduled to stream on Netflix at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
“The fight is on,” Pacquiao texted BoxingScene after Mayweather told reporters in late March the bout would be an exhibition. The confirmation came after Pacquiao’s camp set an end-of-business Tuesday deadline for Mayweather to clarify the fight’s status.
Contractual Dispute Resolved
According to the Pacquiao camp, Mayweather had signed multiple contracts designating the bout as a legitimate professional match and had already taken cash advances on those agreements. Jas Mathur, president of Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told “Inside the Ring” on Monday that Mayweather faced potential repercussions from Pacquiao, Netflix and others if he failed to confirm his participation in a professional bout.
Pacquiao, 62-8-3 (39 KOs), addressed Mayweather directly in a recent interview with BoxingScene. “You need to honor your commitment,” the 47-year-old said. “This time, there’s no reason for alibis or excuses.”
Rematch 11 Years in Making
Mayweather, 50-0 (27 KOs), defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in their first meeting in 2015 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. That bout remains the richest prizefight in boxing history.
Pacquiao returned to professional boxing last year at age 47, fighting then-WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios to a draw. The performance revived discussions of a second showdown with the 49-year-old Mayweather.
Pacquiao has spent April promoting the event, appearing at multiple sporting events including throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. Venue arrangements for The Sphere are still being finalized.
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven came face to face Tuesday at the official launch press conference for “Glory in Giza,” their WBC heavyweight title fight set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event, promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Ring Magazine, will stream exclusively on DAZN.
Verhoeven’s team originated the crossover concept, pitching “undisputed vs. undisputed” to promoters. A fight with Anthony Joshua was initially lined up but fell through following a tragic accident. The Usyk matchup materialized shortly after. Actor Jason Statham is credited as one of the early backers of the crossover idea, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh ultimately greenlighting the event.
Usyk: Three Fights Left
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) said he chose this fight because he wanted to do something for himself for once, rather than what was expected of him. He confirmed he has three fights remaining in boxing: Verhoeven, then the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois, then a third fight with Tyson Fury.
When asked about Fury potentially fighting Anthony Joshua instead, Usyk said he would “stay back and watch as a fan.” He picked Joshua as the “future undisputed champion” in that hypothetical. On Verhoeven’s knockout prediction, Usyk dismissed it flatly: “A bad prediction. We’ll see.” His promise for May 23: “Wonderful. Wonderful winner.”
Coach Yakob Chitsky said the team does not focus heavily on the opponent anymore. Usyk is at a level where the real challenge is maintaining an effective training process. His motivation now comes from training itself.
Rico: Upset the World
Verhoeven, the longtime GLORY kickboxing heavyweight champion, acknowledged he is a massive underdog but framed the fight as a chance to “upset the world and write history.” He argued he brings a different puzzle for Usyk: kickboxing angles Usyk has never encountered, combined with a significant size and weight advantage (roughly 125 kg, about 20 kg heavier than the champion).
Rico Verhoeven is relishing the opportunity to challenge Oleksandr Usyk 🌟
His predicted path to victory? A unanimous points decision. He called it ambitious but worth aiming for. He also stated that if he lands his best clean punch, Usyk goes down due to the weight difference.
Manager Kareem Aria said Verhoeven’s focus level is no different from any other fight. He has always been this driven, but acknowledged Rico must be “200% of himself” against the best heavyweight in the world.
Coach Peter Fury, who has worked with Verhoeven for about 15 years on boxing, confirmed Rico turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to take this fight. He is not coming for a paycheck. Fury called Usyk the best heavyweight in the world while insisting “anything can happen when that bell goes.”
The Face-Off
Former opponents Tony Bellew and Malik Scott provided analysis during the face-off. Both predicted Usyk “won’t move,” and neither fighter broke first. They were turned away simultaneously.
Bellew said the only viable strategy for Verhoeven is to “show no respect, throw the kitchen sink, get in early and don’t stop” with sustained pressure for the first three to four rounds. After Usyk adjusts, it’s over. Scott flagged Verhoeven’s wrestling and clinch game as a potential X-factor, noting Usyk does wrestling three times a week but has never truly been tested there.
Both agreed Verhoeven’s engine and conditioning are the biggest unknowns. He has never been tested at this level of duration and intensity in a boxing ring. On the “Buster Douglas” comparison, Bellew said an upset would be equally shocking but placed Verhoeven at roughly 10-15/1 odds, not 49/1 like Tyson was against Douglas.
Undercard
The May 23 card features multiple title fights. Hamzah Sheeraz faces Alem Begic for the vacant WBO super middleweight title. Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr. serves as an IBF heavyweight eliminator with Usyk’s mandatory challenger on the line. Jack Catterall meets Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA regular welterweight belt.
Matchroom Boxing and Ring Magazine present Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: Glory in Giza, WBC heavyweight title fight, on May 23, 2026 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The event streams exclusively on DAZN.
THE PHARAOH 👑
Oleksandr Usyk defends his heavyweight throne against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt next month 🇪🇬
Their first press conference is live today on DAZN and The Ring's socials at 5pm UK / 12pm ET 📺
MVPW-02 takes place Friday, April 17, 2026, at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, airing live on ESPN starting at 10 PM ET.
Most Valuable Promotions brings its women’s boxing platform to the U.S. for the first time with a historic all-women’s main card. Unified super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner defends her WBA, IBF, and WBO titles against South Korea’s Bo Mi Re Shin in the main event. Here’s everything you need to know.
Key Points
Main Event: Alycia Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) defends her unified WBA/IBF/WBO super featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs) in a 10-round, three-minute rounds contest
Co-Main Event: Shadasia Green (16-1, 11 KOs) puts her Ring, WBO, and IBF super middleweight titles on the line against Lani Daniels (11-4-2, 1 KO)
How to Watch: Main card on ESPN and ESPN App at 10 PM ET. Prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6:45 PM ET
First All-Women’s Main Card on ESPN
MVPW-02 marks a milestone for women’s boxing: the first all-women’s main card in ESPN history. The format flips the traditional script, with male fighters on the undercard supporting female headliners. MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian have positioned the promotion as the global home for women’s boxing through a multi-year ESPN deal running through 2028.
The card follows MVPW-01, which aired April 5 from London featuring Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper. MVPW-03 is already set for May 30 in El Paso with Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm 2.
Full Fight Card
Fight
Weight Class/Stakes
Alycia Baumgardner (c) vs. Bo Mi Re Shin
WBA/IBF/WBO Super Featherweight Titles (10 rounds)
Shadasia Green (c) vs. Lani Daniels
Ring/WBO/IBF Super Middleweight Titles
Tammara Thibeault vs. Nadja Jesus Santos
Middleweight (10 rounds)
Krystal Rosado vs. Fernanda Reyes
Bantamweight (8 rounds)
Jahmal Harvey vs. Leandro Medina
Lightweight
Javon Walton vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba
Lightweight (4 rounds)
Elon De Jesus vs. Connor Adaway
Super Bantamweight (8 rounds)
Alex Vargas vs. Ryan O’Rourke
Super Lightweight (8 rounds)
Main Event: Baumgardner vs. Shin
Alycia Baumgardner enters with three belts but not the fourth. The 31-year-old from Fremont, Ohio vacated her WBC title in September 2025 over her insistence on fighting three-minute rounds rather than the two-minute rounds the WBC mandates for women. That decision defines this fight: 10 rounds at three minutes each, the standard Baumgardner has championed.
Baumgardner has won her last five fights, including a unanimous decision over Jennifer Miranda at Taylor vs. Serrano 3 in July and a 12-round UD over Leila Beaudoin in December on the Joshua-Paul undercard. Her lone career loss came in 2018 to Christina Linardatou by split decision.
Bo Mi Re Shin brings experience and durability. The 32-year-old from Seoul owns the WBO Asia Pacific and WBC International super featherweight titles. Her three losses all came against elite opposition: a split decision to Delfine Persoon in 2023 and a majority decision to WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois in March 2025, where one judge scored it 95-95. She bounced back in November with a majority decision over Tywarna Campbell.
The winner positions herself for massive fights. Baumgardner has publicly stated she wants Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor next.
Co-Main Event: Green vs. Daniels
Shadasia Green unified the WBO and IBF super middleweight titles with a split decision over Savannah Marshall at Madison Square Garden in July 2025. Marshall had been on the shelf for two years before that fight, and Green’s victory earned her “Athlete of the Year” honors in her hometown of Paterson, New Jersey.
The 36-year-old’s only loss came to Franchon Crews-Dezurn in December 2023 for the WBC and interim WBA titles. Since then, she’s won three straight, adding world titles along the way. Green has openly called for a showdown with undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields.
Lani Daniels provides a direct comparison point. The New Zealand native lost a wide decision to Shields in 2025, giving Green a chance to measure herself against the same opponent. Daniels at 11-4-2 has been in with top competition throughout her career.
Undercard Watch: Thibeault vs. Santos
The featured undercard bout pits unbeaten Canadian prospect Tammara Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs) against Brazil’s Nadja Jesus Santos (5-0, 3 KOs) at middleweight. Thibeault, 29, stopped Cristina Mazzotta in the first round last September. Santos, 43, knocked out Daniele Bastieri in three rounds in December. Both women are undefeated, making this a meaningful step up for whoever wins.
How to Watch MVPW-02
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Venue: Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City
Main Card: 10 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN App
Prelims: 6:45 PM ET on ESPN+
UK Broadcast: Sky Sports+
Fight week events include a press conference Wednesday, April 15 at 5 PM ET at Palladium Times Square and public weigh-ins Thursday, April 16 at 5 PM ET at Infosys Theater. Both events are free and open to the public.
Follow BoxingWire for live results, round-by-round coverage, and post-fight analysis from MVPW-02.
Shakur Stevenson is not impressed with Conor Benn, and he wants to prove it in the ring.
After Benn’s unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, WBO super lightweight champion Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) took aim at the British welterweight in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Stevenson had just dominated Teofimo Lopez on the same Netflix card and used his post-fight platform to call Benn out directly.
“There’s a fighter in here right now, and he motivated me, too,” Stevenson said from the ring after his win. “Where’s Conor Benn? Hey Conor Benn, we can get it banging, boy.”
Stevenson continued:
“I’ve been told y’all I’m better than him. I’ve been told y’all he’s not on my level. I’ve been told y’all that his skills is not up to par with mine. Like I said, if he’s ready to fight, tell him to stop going on social media and making up lies, saying that I said, ‘Oh, I won’t fight that weight class.’ I said I will. I said, with a rehydration clause, because he did it to Eubank. He’s not on my level. I’ve been said this, and I will beat the holy sh*t out of Conor Benn.”
Benn Fires Back
Conor Benn has scoffed at the idea that Stevenson at his level.
Back in January, following Shakur Stevenson’s decisive win over Teofimo Lopez, Stevenson called out Benn, who was ringside. “You’re too small for me, boy,” Benn repelied. “You’re tiny, bro. You can’t punch. You can’t keep me off you. I’ll fuck you up. I’ll put you down.”
The exchange sets up an intriguing potential matchup between two of boxing’s most prominent young fighters. Stevenson holds the WBO belt at 140 pounds and has been looking for signature fights after his dominant win over Lopez. Benn, now a free agent at 29, is operating at 150 pounds and plans to campaign at welterweight going forward.
Still, Stevenson’s willingness to call out a bigger man speaks to his confidence after a career-best performance against Lopez.
For now, Benn appears locked in on Garcia for a September WBC title fight. But if that matchup stalls in negotiations, Stevenson’s name will remain in the conversation as a high-profile alternative.
Imane Khelif has been forced to postpone her next professional fight after injuring her left shoulder during training over the weekend.
The bout was scheduled for April 23 in Paris. ESPN first reported the injury on Sunday, confirming that Khelif sustained the shoulder problem while preparing for the fight.
No new date has been announced. The specifics of the injury and a timeline for Khelif’s return have not been disclosed.
Khelif became one of the most recognizable figures in boxing after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was at the center of a widely discussed gender eligibility controversy. She turned professional following the Games and has been building her career in the paid ranks since.
The postponement is a setback for Khelif’s momentum as a professional. Further updates on a rescheduled date are expected in the coming weeks.
Conor Benn is a free agent with one name on his lips: Ryan Garcia.
Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) defeated former two-time junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis (30-4, 24 KOs) by unanimous decision on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. All three judges scored the bout 98-92 in Benn’s favor in a 10-round catchweight contest at 150 pounds.
The fight was Benn’s first under the Zuffa Boxing banner after his split from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing earlier this year. He completed a one-fight deal reportedly worth upwards of $10 million and is now free to negotiate with any promoter, though Zuffa is expected to be the frontrunner moving forward.
Benn Calls for September Showdown
Benn wasted no time calling out WBC welterweight champion Garcia after the fight. “Garcia, I want my belt! Keep my belt warm,” Benn said. “September. Let’s go. Any day of the week. Twice on Sundays. 10 rounds, easy. Garcia, you’re next.”
Garcia, who won the WBC title with a decision over Mario Barrios in February, responded on social media the same night. “I’m down. Garcia vs. Benn. Let’s do it!” Garcia wrote.
The 29-year-old Benn plans to return to 147 pounds for the fight after competing above the welterweight limit in his last three bouts, including two middleweight fights against Chris Eubank Jr. He was back in the gym by Monday morning, posting a treadmill video with visible swelling around both eyes from accidental head clashes during the Prograis fight. He indicated he would be ready to fight by July or August.
Prograis Retires After the Loss
Prograis, 37, announced his retirement in an interview with Ring Magazine after the fight. The loss was his third in four outings since losing the WBC junior welterweight title to Devin Haney in 2023.
Benn controlled the early rounds with his jab and movement before Prograis found some success in the middle rounds as accidental head clashes opened cuts around both of Benn’s eyes. Benn dug deep with body work in the championship rounds and swept the final five rounds to secure the decision.
With Benn now positioned as the WBC mandatory challenger at welterweight, the Garcia fight carries both a title and a massive commercial draw on both sides of the Atlantic. Other potential opponents include Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson, and Rolando Romero, but Benn has made clear that the WBC belt is his only priority.
