Boxing Wire

Tag: Oleksandr Usyk

  • WBC Confirms Usyk’s Next Mandatory Defense Options

    WBC Confirms Usyk’s Next Mandatory Defense Options

    Oleksandr Usyk faces mandatory defense requirements to retain his WBC heavyweight title.

    WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed whether he will honor Agit Kabayel’s position amid Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial victory over Rico Verhoeven.

    The Ukrainian champion’s next steps have been the subject of recent discussion within boxing’s governing bodies.

    Usyk successfully retained his WBC world title on Saturday but many believe that professional boxing novice Verhoeven was wrongfully stopped in round 11.

    The 37-year-old was ultimately stopped in round 11, where referee Mark Lyson called a halt shortly after Verhoeven survived a heavy knockdown. Many feel that the stoppage came too early and raised questions on why the referee waved it off at the sound of the bell.

    WBC President Makes Announcement

    Sulaiman addressed questions about Usyk’s mandatory challenger obligations in the heavyweight division. The WBC president’s comments come as the sanctioning body evaluates the title picture at heavyweight.

    He told Pro Boxing Fans that Verhoeven will not be permitted to jump WBC ‘interim’ champion Kabayel in his pursuit of a second title shot.

    “Kabayel is the mandatory contender [to Usyk’s belt]. [But] Rico is going to get ranked [by the WBC], for sure. And he deserves to fight again for the WBC world title.”

    Usyk currently holds recognized championship status in the heavyweight division across multiple sanctioning bodies. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion has established himself as one of the sport’s elite heavyweights since moving up in weight.

  • Oleksandr Usyk Controversially Stops Rico Verhoeven To Retain

    Oleksandr Usyk Controversially Stops Rico Verhoeven To Retain

    Oleksandr Usyk retained his unified heavyweight championship, but it wasn’t without a tough fight from Rico Verhoeven and a controversial finish at the end of the 11th round.

    From the beginning of the fight, Verhoeven tried to push the pace, going toe-to-toe with Usyk and exchanging rounds throughout the bout. Usyk looked to use his jab and land from distance, while Verhoeven tried to get inside and land combinations.

    Usyk got Verhoeven in some trouble during the fourth round, crushing Verhoeven with a solid uppercut. Verhoeven, however, recovered and, after a quiet fifth round, came out firing again during round six.

    Verhoeven traded with Usyk throughout rounds seven through nine, with Verhoeven continuing to push the pace and try to trap Usyk in the corner.

    Oleksandr Usyk Stops Rico Verhoeven In 11 Rounds To Retain WBA and WBC Titles

    While the fight was a dead heat heading into the championship rounds, it was there that Usyk’s experience showed. Usyk took back control in a big way during round 10.

    Then, in round 11, Usyk knocked Verhoeven down with a big uppercut. Verhoeven recovered; however, Usyk wallopped him with a number of follow-up shots. The referee stepped in and, despite protests from the former GLORY Kickboxing champion, Usyk retained his WBA and WBC titles.

    This was Usyk’s first fight since becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, reclaiming the IBF title at the time with a knockout of Daniel Dubois in July.

    This was Verhoeven’s first boxing match since knocking out Janos Finfera 12 years ago. This is also Verhoeven’s first loss in combat sports since losing to Andrey Gerasimchuk in kickboxing in 2015.

  • Oleksandr Usyk And Rico Verhoeven Both Make Weight

    Oleksandr Usyk And Rico Verhoeven Both Make Weight

    Rico Verhoeven weighed in at 258.7 pounds for Saturday’s Glory in Giza boxing event, more than 25 pounds heavier than Oleksandr Usyk who came in at 233.3 for their WBC heavyweight title fight in Egypt.

    Usyk being the smaller man on the scale is consistent with his career trajectory — he rose to prominence as a cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight and scoring victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois. He defeated Dubois via fifth-round knockout in July 2025. Fury had an even larger weight advantage over Usyk when Usyk beat him.

    Verhoeven competes in his first boxing bout since 2014, when he scored a second-round knockout over Janos Finfera. The longest-reigning champion in Glory Kickboxing history, he reigned as Glory’s kickboxing champion for over 11 years before parting ways with the promotion as a free agent following a title defense over Artem Vakhitov last June.

    Full Glory in Giza weigh-in results:

    Main Card (DAZN PPV, 1 p.m. ET)

    • Oleksandr Usyk (233.3) vs. Rico Verhoeven (258.7)
    • Hamzah Sheeraz (167.9) vs. Alem Begic (166.9)
    • Jack Catterall (146.8) vs. Shakhram Giyasov (145.7)
    • Frank Sanchez (240.4) vs. Richard Torrez Jr. (229.5)
    • Mizuki Hiruta (114.7) vs. Mai Soliman (114)
    • Daniel Lapin (173.8) vs. Benjamin Mendes Tani (174.4)

    Preliminary Card (11 a.m. ET)

    • Basem Mamdouh (192.8) vs. Jamar Talley (197.7)
    • Sultan Almohammed (127.8) vs. Deny Impart (125.7)
    • Mahmoud Moubarek (138.9) vs. Ali Sserunkuma (141.5)
    • Omar Hikal (161.1) vs. Michael Kalyalya (160.2)
  • Rico Verhoeven Says He Is Bringing Something Oleksandr Usyk Has Never Seen Before

    Rico Verhoeven Says He Is Bringing Something Oleksandr Usyk Has Never Seen Before

    Rico Verhoeven says he is bringing an approach to boxing that Oleksandr Usyk has never faced, as the kickboxing great prepares to challenge the undisputed heavyweight champion Saturday at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

    Verhoeven spoke at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, framing his lack of traditional boxing experience as a potential asset.

    “I’m bringing something he hasn’t seen before because he’s only faced boxers. They’ve been boxing their whole life, and I haven’t. It’s just like a whole different approach. Like you said, it’s God’s will, so let’s see on Saturday. Let the best man win.”

    He also addressed the late-career transition from kickboxing to boxing.

    “I was kickboxing since I was 6 years old, and I was 36 when I started transitioning into boxing, it was at the end of last year. Of course, I was boxing, but I was boxing to kickbox. For Peter, it was a lot of fun because he was training me to box and kickbox, but now he’s training me to box, so he’s having a lot of fun. I think we did quite a good job, and I’m going to showcase that to the world on Saturday.”

    Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn acknowledged the gap in class while refusing to fully rule out an upset.

    “The fight on paper is an impossible mountain to climb for Rico Verhoeven. No, I’ll re-phrase that: for the normal man. Oleksandr Usyk is one of the greatest not just fighters of our generation, but greatest examples to any young fighter, to any young athlete in terms of the work ethic and the mindset. Tomorrow night, this guy, this giant of a man whose arms are like the normal man’s thighs, has an opportunity to forge one of the greatest upsets in the history of boxing. He’s coming in not just to fight the best in the division; he’s coming in to fight the pound-for-pound No. 1. But I’ll tell you what: If there was ever anything dramatic, ever anything strange to happen, it’s going to happen at the foot of the Pyramids in Egypt.”

    Usyk is listed as a minus-5000 favorite. Verhoeven has one professional boxing bout on his record — a 2014 second-round knockout of Janos Finfera.

  • David Haye Has A Strong Response For Anyone Criticising Oleksandr Usyk’s Kickboxer Fight

    David Haye Has A Strong Response For Anyone Criticising Oleksandr Usyk’s Kickboxer Fight

    David Haye says Oleksandr Usyk has earned the right to fight whoever he wants after dominating every major heavyweight of his era, and believes the kickboxing match against Rico Verhoeven is fully justified.

    Speaking to BoxingScene ahead of Usyk’s fight against Verhoeven in Egypt, Haye pushed back on critics who wanted to see Usyk face fresh contenders like Agit Kabayel or Moses Itauma.

    “He’s given the boxing fans everything. He’s given the boxing fraternity and the hardcore purists fight after fight. If you’d have said from the amateur days, from when he’s turned over, what’s the toughest, hardest possible route for this Olympic champion to fight at cruiserweight, the fights he had, one after another, tough guys, he’s fought the very, very best, beat them, got up to heavyweight. Okay, fight AJ, fight Tyson Fury. Okay, fight him again, just in case it was a fluke. Beat them all twice. Now he’s like, ‘Okay, I’ve done it all. I’m going to fight a kickboxer for a load of dough who’s never had a boxing match.’ God bless him.”

    Haye also addressed how Usyk would have matched up against heavyweights from previous eras.

    “Usyk, putting them in there with Holyfield, Tyson, Lennox, he would have hung with the best of them. He would have found a way. He’s shown consistently that he’s beat every man in and around his era. It’s hard not to be a fan of someone who’s done that.”

    Haye suggested only one fight remains for Usyk to complete a legacy-defining run.

    “I think he should fight this kickboxer, then fight Deontay Wilder, because then on paper, he’s beaten every man of the era. And in 50 years, looking back, no one cares that Wilder had a life and death against Dereck Chisora. No one cares. They just see the name brand there.”

  • Oleksandr Usyk Gives A One-Word Answer When Asked To Name The Greatest Boxer Ever

    Oleksandr Usyk Gives A One-Word Answer When Asked To Name The Greatest Boxer Ever

    Oleksandr Usyk has named Muhammad Ali as the greatest fighter of all time.

    Asked by Mail Sport Boxing to identify the GOAT of boxing, Usyk gave a one-word answer: “GOAT” — a reference to Ali.

    Usyk, 39, is widely considered the best heavyweight on the planet today. He became undisputed champion at cruiserweight before repeating the achievement at heavyweight, defeating Tyson Fury twice and earning victories over Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois along the way.

    Ali became a three-time world heavyweight champion and retired with 56 victories from 61 professional fights. He is best remembered for the “Rumble in the Jungle” victory over George Foreman and the “Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier, and won an Olympic gold medal before beginning his professional career.

    Usyk is not alone among modern heavyweights in that view. Mike Tyson has also repeatedly named Ali as the greatest the sport has ever produced.

  • The One Answer Oleksandr Usyk Gave About Retirement That Changes Everything

    The One Answer Oleksandr Usyk Gave About Retirement That Changes Everything

    Oleksandr Usyk says he plans to retire after three more fights, but he is not locking that in as a certainty.

    Speaking with DAZN Boxing, Usyk said his plan calls for fights against Rico and two more opponents before he walks away. When pressed on whether that was definitive, he left room to maneuver.

    “I said I have three fights. Rico and two more, and I finish,” said Usyk. When asked if there was any chance of a fourth or fifth fight, he replied: “Not 100%.”

    He elaborated: “Not 100%. When I say 100%, I not back because if I say, ‘Not back. Listen, I back because.’ No. Three fights and I finish.”

    Tyson Fury, whom Usyk refers to as “Greedy Belly,” remains the name Usyk keeps bringing up publicly. Turki Alalshikh has also floated David Benavidez as a possible heavyweight opponent for Usyk in 2027. Benavidez this month became unified cruiserweight champion with a knockout of Gilberto Ramirez, and a move to heavyweight is already being discussed.

    Daniel Dubois has also re-entered the picture as a major name after stopping Fabio Wardley.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Crossover Card Set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Crossover Card Set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

    Oleksandr Usyk’s crossover boxing match against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven now has a full fight card around it, with the nine-fight show set for May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on DAZN pay-per-view. 

    The card kicks off at 1 p.m. ET, with Usyk and Verhoeven expected to make their ring walks around 5 p.m. ET. Usyk carries a 24-0 record into the bout and has established himself as arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet across his runs at cruiserweight and heavyweight. He unified the heavyweight titles by defeating Anthony Joshua twice and added the WBC belt to his collection with a split decision victory over Tyson Fury in 2024. Two of his last five opponents have been stopped, demonstrating that his technical brilliance is backed by genuine finishing power.

    The undercard is stacked with genuine talent. Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic open the main card in what should be a compelling middleweight contest. Sheeraz is one of British boxing’s most celebrated young prospects, a power puncher who has generated significant attention on the domestic scene and is beginning to make noise on the international stage. 

    Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov meet in a super lightweight contest. Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. collide in a heavyweight matchup that features two genuine contenders in one of the sport’s most exciting weight classes.

    The card also features Mizuki Hiruta against Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh taking on Jamar Talley, Sultan Almohammed against Deny Impart, Mahmoud Moubarek versus Ali Sserunkuma, and Omar Hikal against Michael Kalyalya rounding out the nine-fight lineup.

    The Pyramids of Giza setting adds a dimension to the event that no boxing card can replicate. The location has been used for large-scale entertainment and sporting events in recent years as Egypt has aggressively pursued high-profile international productions, but a unified heavyweight champion headlining a card against a kickboxing legend in the shadow of one of the world’s most iconic ancient structures is a genuinely unprecedented combination.

    The full card is as follows: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic, Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov, Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr., Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman, Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley, Sultan Almohammed vs. Deny Impart, Mahmoud Moubarek vs. Ali Sserunkuma, and Omar Hikal vs. Michael Kalyalya. The event takes place May 23 in Egypt on DAZN pay-per-view.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: UK Watch Guide for May 23

    Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven: UK Watch Guide for May 23

    Oleksandr Usyk will face kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in a crossover boxing match on May 23 in Egypt, marking a rare competitive appearance for the unified heavyweight champion outside of traditional boxing.

    The fight will be broadcast in the United Kingdom with full coverage details confirmed through ESPN, including ring walk times and the complete undercard lineup. The event places Usyk’s boxing credentials against Verhoeven’s kickboxing background in a traditional boxing format.

    Verhoeven is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished kickboxers in the history of heavyweight competition, making the matchup an unusual but intriguing crossover for fans. Usyk enters as the unified heavyweight champion and is expected to have a significant technical advantage under boxing rules.

    The May 23 card will feature additional undercard bouts leading up to the main event. Here is the full card: 

    • Title fight: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, 12 rounds, for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title
    • Title fight: Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Alem Begic, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBO super middleweight title
    • Title fight: Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBA “regular” welterweight title
    • Frank Sanchez vs. Richard Torrez Jr., 10 rounds, heavyweights
    • Title fight: Mizuki Hiruta vs. Mai Soliman, 10 rounds, for Hiruta’s WBO women’s junior bantamweight title
    • Basem Mamdouh vs. Jamar Talley, 6 rounds, cruiserweights
  • Jarrell Miller Outworks Lenier Pero, Calls Out Deontay Wilder

    Jarrell Miller Outworks Lenier Pero, Calls Out Deontay Wilder

    Jarrell Miller outworked previously unbeaten Lenier Pero over 12 rounds to win a unanimous decision Saturday night in a WBA heavyweight title eliminator at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, then immediately turned his attention to Deontay Wilder.

    Two judges scored the bout 117-111 for Miller, with the third turning in a 115-113 card. Miller improved to 28-1-2 with 22 knockouts. Pero fell to 13-1, suffering the first loss of his professional career.

    The win positions Miller as the WBA mandatory challenger, putting him in line for a shot at unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk or, depending on how the picture shakes out, Daniel Dubois.

    Volume Carries the Night

    Miller and Pero combined to throw 1,652 punches in what ESPN described as a toe-to-toe slugfest. Miller alone threw 1,003, landing 290, per CompuBox. Pero was the more accurate man at 39 percent to Miller’s 29 percent, but he could not match the Brooklyn fighter’s pressure or volume.

    Pero started fast, using his southpaw jab and clean counters to outbox Miller from range through the early rounds. Miller, who weighed 305 pounds to Pero’s 251, turned the fight into a phonebooth brawl from the third round on, walking the Cuban down to the ropes and trading on the inside.

    By the 11th round, an exhausted Pero was barely able to come out of his corner. He tried to rally midway through the 12th, but Miller closed the fight strong, trading power shots until the final bell. No knockdowns were scored.

    Miller Wants Wilder Next

    Miller wasted little time once he had the microphone, naming Tyson Fury, Wilder, and Pero’s brother Dainier Pero as targets. Wilder, who returned this month with a controversial split decision over Derek Chisora, drew the most pointed words.

    “Deontay, he said a long time ago that he doesn’t want to fight ‘Big Baby’ because I hurt his feelings,” Miller told DAZN. “If you don’t shut your pie a** up and come fight me, boy, we’re going to see.”

    Promoter Eddie Hearn quickly endorsed the matchup.

    “For me, when I look at the fights in the division, as a promoter, you want a fight with great build-up, you want a fight with jeopardy,” Hearn said. “The American fight is Deontay Wilder against Jarrell Miller. Run it in New York.”

    Miller, 37, has now strung together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2022, building on the form he showed in Saturday’s WBA eliminator main event. Asked about his trimmer appearance, he kept it light: “Every time I drop five pounds, I get to eat a cheesesteak.”

    His preferred next move, he said, is a slot on the Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis card on June 27 in Brooklyn.