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Tag: Oleksandr Usyk

  • Rico Verhoeven Breaks Silence On Final Sequence Against Oleksandr Usyk, Admits Confusion Over Controversial Stoppage

    Rico Verhoeven has now offered one of his most detailed accounts yet of the chaotic final moments in his fight against Oleksandr Usyk, and from his perspective, the ending felt anything but clear.

    Speaking during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Verhoeven walked through the sequence that led to the controversial Round 11 stoppage, starting with the uppercut that put him on the canvas.

    “I got hit with the uppercut. People who know my fights know I’ve been dropped multiple times… No matter how much time is left on the clock, I get back up, and I end up winning,” Verhoeven explained.

    Despite the knockdown, the Dutch star said his mindset never wavered. Once back on his feet, he believed survival, not recovery, was the immediate goal.

    “That was the mindset… I got back up, they put the mouthpiece back in, and I heard there were only 10 seconds left. So I thought, ‘Oh, okay, that’s good.’”

    With the round nearly over, Verhoeven expected a final push from “The Cat” and planned accordingly.

    “Let me keep my hands up and get to the 12th round. I knew he was going to come straight at me, so I thought, ‘Pop, pop, keep my hands up and wait until the bell goes.’”

    But what followed is where confusion set in.

    “And then it was just like, when is the bell gonna go? Those 10 seconds were taking a long time,” he said. “Then he jumped in, and I was like, ‘Ok, f—, the round is over.’”

    Instead of hearing the bell, “King of Kickboxing” was met with the referee stepping in to stop the fight, a moment that caught him completely off guard.

    “He’s like, ‘No, it’s over.’ I was like, ‘What the heck is going on here?’”

  • ‘What A Robbery, What A Fix’ – UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Explodes Over Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Controversial Stoppage

    Tom Aspinall didn’t hold back after watching Rico Verhoeven fall short against Oleksandr Usyk in their WBC heavyweight title clash, labeling the ending as nothing short of outrageous.

    The UFC heavyweight champion was watching the fight live on his YouTube channel when the dramatic finish unfolded. With just one second remaining in Round 11, the referee stepped in to stop the bout following a late flurry from Usyk, a decision that immediately sparked widespread debate.

    Aspinall’s reaction was instant and emotional.

    “Oh, what? He stopped it? No f*cking way,” Aspinall said during the live stream on his YouTube channel. “For a world title fight, he stopped it with about five or six unanswered shots. What? Mate, what the f*cking hell is that? What a robbery. What a fix that is.”

    The British heavyweight, who has trained alongside Verhoeven in the past, made it clear he believed the stoppage wasn’t just premature but deeply questionable.

    “I think he’s fine there. Gum shield’s gone, but I think he’s alright… Last 10 seconds, Rico can survive this,” he said. “Oh what, he stopped it?! No f*cking way!”

    Aspinall went further by comparing the decision to other recent fights, arguing that far worse damage has been allowed to continue without intervention.

    “Two weeks ago, we were at Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois ringside,” he said. “Mate, that happened probably 10 times. Sent Fabio Wardley out there, big swollen eye, nose smashed, dropped multiple times… they let that go. Rico gets stumbled with 10 seconds left and they don’t even let him make it to the end of the round? It’s a f*cking robbery.”

    He also pointed to the timing of the stoppage, suggesting Verhoeven was denied a fair chance to recover between rounds.

    “The bell went. So he stopped it after the round, basically,” Aspinall said. “Why not give him a chance? It’s not like he was taking a beating for the full fight. He took a few punches late, with one round to go. I can’t believe that.”

    Beyond the stoppage itself, Aspinall hinted at a broader issue within the sport, questioning whether fighters from outside traditional boxing backgrounds are given a fair shake.

    “Boxing don’t want anyone else to win. Simple as that,” he said. “They want boxers with the amateur style, Olympic medals, unbeaten records. That’s what they want. They don’t like other combat sports. It’s bullsh*t.”

    Verhoeven had entered the fight as a heavy underdog with limited professional boxing experience, but his performance surprised many, with some believing he was competitive on the scorecards heading into the final rounds.

  • Was Rico Verhoeven Robbed Against Oleksandr Usyk? Breaking Down The Controversial Stoppage At Glory In Giza

    Oleksandr Usyk walked away with his undefeated record intact, but his latest victory over Rico Verhoeven has sparked heavy debate following a controversial finish in Egypt.

    Fighting in front of the Pyramids of Giza for the WBC heavyweight title, “The Cat” secured a technical knockout at 2:59 of Round 11. However, the timing of the stoppage has quickly become the biggest talking point of the night.

    Verhoeven, competing in just his second professional boxing bout, delivered a surprisingly competitive performance against one of the sport’s most accomplished champions. With constant movement, size, and physical pressure, the Dutchman troubled Usyk for long stretches of the fight.

    In fact, heading into the championship rounds, many observers believed “King of Kickboxing” was either ahead or well within reach on the scorecards. Open scoring only added to the intrigue, as all three judges had the fight deadlocked at 76-76 after eight rounds.

    The challenger’s approach was clear. He targeted the body consistently, used his weight advantage in close exchanges, and disrupted Usyk’s rhythm with an awkward, mobile style. While Usyk had his moments, including a sharp uppercut in Round 4, Verhoeven repeatedly answered back and built momentum in the middle rounds.

    That momentum appeared to carry into the later stages until Round 11 changed everything.

    With less than 30 seconds remaining, Usyk landed a clean uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. The former kickboxing champion beat the count and got back to his feet, visibly shaken but still responsive. As the action resumed, Usyk pressed forward with a flurry of punches.

    Here’s where the controversy erupted.

    Despite “King of Kickboxing” remaining upright, with his guard partially intact and attempting to defend himself, the referee stepped in and waved off the fight with just one second left in the round. The abrupt stoppage immediately drew protests from Verhoeven and his corner, who believed he was denied the chance to survive the final moments and recover between rounds.

    Given how close the fight appeared to be, the decision left many questioning whether Verhoeven was unfairly robbed of a potential historic upset.

    “The Cat” improves to 25-0 with the victory, further cementing his legacy as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Verhoeven, now 1-1 in boxing, exits with his stock arguably rising despite the loss.

    In the aftermath, talk of a rematch has already surfaced, with interest building in giving Verhoeven another opportunity following a performance that exceeded nearly all expectations, even if it ended under a cloud of controversy.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Sparks Massive Title Controversy Before May 23 Showdown

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Sparks Massive Title Controversy Before May 23 Showdown

    Oleksandr Usyk is set to defend his heavyweight titles against Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, but the championship picture surrounding the fight is anything but straightforward.

    The undefeated Ukrainian enters the bout holding the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles after previously relinquishing the WBO belt. However, due to the unique nature of this crossover clash, each sanctioning body has taken a different stance on what is actually at stake.

    Confusion Surrounds Usyk’s Titles Ahead Of Verhoeven Fight

    Out of Usyk’s three remaining belts, only the WBC title will officially be on the line for Verhoeven. The governing body approved the fight as a voluntary defense, allowing the champion to face a non-traditional opponent instead of his mandatory challenger.

    That decision has sparked backlash, especially considering Verhoeven’s limited boxing experience. Still, the WBC justified its stance by pointing to Usyk’s activity level and the history of fighters transitioning from other combat sports into boxing.

    The WBA, meanwhile, has taken a more unusual position. While “The Cat” will enter the fight recognized as champion, Verhoeven will not be eligible to win the belt even if he pulls off a massive upset. Instead, a victory would only earn him a place in the rankings, with the organization set to review the title situation if Usyk loses.

    The IBF has also imposed strict conditions. If Usyk is defeated, the belt will be declared vacant immediately. If he wins, the sanctioning body will move forward with its mandatory title defense rotation.

    Mandatory Obligations And Growing Controversy

    The situation has drawn criticism across the boxing world, particularly because it delays a mandatory title defense against top contender Agit Kabayel. Promoter Frank Warren has already warned of potential legal action if the WBC fails to enforce that obligation after the fight.

    Despite the controversy, “The Cat” has remained firm in his decision, making it clear he wanted the freedom to choose this matchup. Now, with multiple titles governed under different rules for the same fight, the May 23 showdown has become one of the most unusual championship scenarios in recent boxing history.

  • Oleksandr Usyk’s “Beautiful Performance” in Dubois 2 Dispels Prior Low Blow Faking Controversy, per Ukranian Karate Combat Victor

    Oleksandr Usyk’s “Beautiful Performance” in Dubois 2 Dispels Prior Low Blow Faking Controversy, per Ukranian Karate Combat Victor

    Oleksandr Usyk has recently climbed the mountain once again and holds all of the major heavyweight hardware across the boxing landscape and a fellow Ukrainian combat sports athlete was impressed as he earned his own victory on the same night. Alexander Krutskykh earned a decision win over Shokrukh Kholmuradov at Karate Combat 56 on July 19th and is now 2-0 under the KC banner.

    Krutskykh appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts and touched on several subjects including Usyk earning his second win over Dubois, also on July 19th, and in even more emphatic fashion than their first fight. While he resides in Canada, Krutskykh proudly represents both Canada and also represents Ukraine in the Karate Combat pit. When offering up his thoughts on that Usyk victory over Dubois in their rematch to once again become boxing’s undisputed heavyweight champion, Krutskykh said,

    “Yeah, honestly like I wasn’t expecting nothing [other] than that, but yeah, I knew he going to finish it. A lot of controversy was [there] about the last fight that he was faking it. He was faking the low blow and a lot of people was hating on that. But I know what kind of person he is and he wouldn’t fake it. He proved that again and in such a beautiful performance. Putting him down like that with such a crazy left hook like that.”

    “That was beauty and you know [I’m] happy because he is Oleksandr and I’m Oleksandr. So it’s, you know, we both take the W this night and yeah, that was cool to be part of that. My teammates in my hometown here in Canada, they both streamed Usyk fight and then streamed my fight right after. So that was cool to see, how the gym was supporting me. A lot of people reaching out, supporting, and joining the live stream. So that was very, very special.”

    Oleksandr Usyk, Joseph Parker, and what could be next

    Oleksandr Usyk is on a generational run with many wondering what his next step could be. On an athletic meritocracy level, Joseph Parker stands out as the obvious next option for the kingpin of the four belt era.

    The former WBO heavyweight champion even went into the ring at Wembley Stadium following Oleksandr Usyk’s second win over Daniel Dubois as Parker simultaneously wanted to offer up congratulations to the decorated pugilist but to also drive the narrative around him being next up for Usyk.

    Joseph Parker has even used digital media to forward his cause as the New Zealand combatant has also done his own adapted cover of A-ha’s ‘Take on Me’ to fuel more discussion and want from the sweet science community for an Usyk throwdown.

  • Former UFC Heavyweight on Oleksandr Usyk Intel From ‘The Smashing Machine’ Set

    Former UFC Heavyweight on Oleksandr Usyk Intel From ‘The Smashing Machine’ Set

    Oleksandr Usyk is not just the undisputed heavyweight champion in the boxing world for a second time but he is also branching out into the film world through The Smashing Machine and a fellow co-star has offered up some on-set insights with the Ukrainian pugilist. During an interview with MMA Canada, Caio Machado touched on multiple topics ahead of his UAE Warriors debut that saw him finish Kevin Oumar at UAE Warriors 61 on July 23rd.

    Oleksandr Usyk portrays Igor Vovchanchyn in the film while Machado depicts Pete Williams in this cinematic project helmed by The Rock starring titular figure, ‘The Smashing Machine’ Mark Kerr. When the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight fighter was asked if he had any interactions with Usyk while both were filming on-set for this looming effort from Seven Bucks Productions, Machado said,

    “By proxy in a certain way. Myself, I didn’t have any scene with him. Didn’t get the chance to talk to him or even interact in any way. But my coach at the time, Chris Franco, he played Igor Vovchanchyn’s coach in the movie. So he was side by side with Usyk all over the shooting. So he picked his brain, we worked a couple of combos off of his movement, also from a lighter southpaw heavyweight kind of fighter. So it was by proxy, I got able to absorb some things from him but myself, didn’t get the chance.”

    Oleksandr Usyk’s mandatory challenger and a prominent party lacking interest in that bout

    Oleksandr Usyk is on the heels of an emphatic finish over Daniel Dubois in their rematch with Usyk becoming undisputed champ at heavyweight for a second time but he may end up having to possibly forfeit one of the belts considering the current landscape. Joseph Parker is currently the WBO mandatory with the WBO committee putting out a formal press release indicating their desire for negotiations to begin to lock in an Usyk vs. Parker bout.

    Then curiously enough The Ring Magazine put it out there that Riyadh Season Sela has no interest in pursuing Parker versus Usyk next even though it has the most athletic meritocracy of any possible challenger out there right now. Ring Magazine is a media outlet that is now owned by Turki Alalshikh who is the financial driving force for these Riyadh Season fights. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the heavyweight title landscape going forward with all of the outlined machinations that are at play.

  • “An Absolute Disgrace To The Sport” – Fans & Fighters React As Jake Paul Stares Down With New Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk

    “An Absolute Disgrace To The Sport” – Fans & Fighters React As Jake Paul Stares Down With New Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk

    The eyes of the boxing world were all on Oleksandr Usyk on July 19, as he put a beating on Daniel Dubois en route to a fifth-round knockout to once again become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

    In the midst of celebrating Usyk as a GOAT in the sport, thoughts will now turn toward who will be next to face Usyk. And that’s when Jake Paul stepped forward.

    Paul was present in Saudi Arabia for the Usyk-Dubois 2 showdown and entered the ring following the fight, staring down with the new two-time undisputed heavyweight champion and indicating his intentions to challenge the Ukranian world champion.

    Paul stated his intentions are to face former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua next and challenging Usyk.

    On social media, however, Paul stated he’s like to face Usyk in an MMA bout.

    Boxing World Reacts To Jake Paul Staring Down Oleksandr Usyk After Undisputed Heavyweight Title Win

    Jake Paul fought Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. last month, taking a decision win in a highly lackluster, one-sided affair. The WBA has since ranked Paul at No. 14 in its cruiserweight rankings, allowing Paul to potentially challenge for a world championship.

    What comes next for Usyk if he wants to remain undisputed champion, however, may come at the mercy of others. The WBO has indicated it will enact to make its interim heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker, as the next mandatory challenger for Usyk.

  • Oleksandr Usyk Makes History Again With Round 5 KO Of Daniel Dubois To Reclaim Heavyweight Undisputed Status

    Oleksandr Usyk Makes History Again With Round 5 KO Of Daniel Dubois To Reclaim Heavyweight Undisputed Status

    Oleksandr Usyk left no room for doubt in his rematch against Daniel Dubois.

    On Saturday night at London’s Wembley Stadium, Usyk reclaimed his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion with a dominant fifth-round knockout of former foe Dubois.

    From the opening bell, “The Cat” took control with a sharp jab and pinpoint counter-punching. While Dubois came forward with intent, he struggled to land anything meaningful against the defensively sound Usyk, who showcased superior speed and movement throughout.

    As the bout wore on, Usyk gradually pulled away, exposing the technical gulf between them. His masterful use of timing and angles left “Dynamite” swinging at air. In the fourth round, a brief low-blow controversy added tension, but the undefeated Ukrainian quickly regained control with fluid combinations. By the fifth, “The Cat” ramped up the pressure, first wobbling Dubois with a counter right before landing a devastating left hand that sent the IBF titleholder crashing to the canvas.

    Though Dubois beat the count, a second knockdown moments later brought the fight to a halt, sealing a commanding victory for Oleksandr Usyk and cementing his place in history as the first fighter to hold undisputed heavyweight status twice.

    Why Did Oleksandr Usyk’s First Win Over Daniel Dubois Stir So Much Controversy?

    Oleksandr Usyk first faced Daniel Dubois in August 2023 in a closely contested showdown. While both men traded momentum throughout the bout, it was “The Cat” who ultimately prevailed, securing a ninth-round stoppage to retain his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.

    The fight, however, was marred by controversy in the fifth round when Dubois landed a punch that dropped Usyk to the canvas. The referee ruled the shot a low blow, sparking debate among fans and pundits.

    Although Oleksandr Usyk signaled he was ready to continue shortly after, the official advised him to use the allotted recovery time. The Ukrainian ultimately took three minutes and forty-five seconds before action resumed. Regaining control, Usyk went on to force Dubois to take a knee in the eighth round and sealed the win with another knockdown in the ninth, leading to a definitive stoppage.

    The aftermath of the bout sparked intense debate, with the fifth-round incident becoming the focal point of controversy. Many observers argued that the punch “Dynamite” landed, which was deemed a low blow, was in fact a legal body shot. Had it been ruled as such, they contended it could have led to a stunning knockout win for Dubois.

  • “The Greatest Boxer Of All Time” – Fans Sing Praises For Oleksandr Usyk After Defeating Daniel Dubois To Become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Again

    “The Greatest Boxer Of All Time” – Fans Sing Praises For Oleksandr Usyk After Defeating Daniel Dubois To Become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Again

    For the third time in his career, something no other man has done in professional boxing, Oleksandr Usyk is an undisputed world champion.

    Usyk, the reigning WBA, WBC, and WBO champion has re-captured the undisputed heavyweight world championship of boxing with a fifth-round knockout win over IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

    The fight — a second encounter between the two — main evented a big night of boxing action at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

    The two got off to a speedy start, both flashing their jabs and landing straights, with Usyk’s landing more clean. Dubois was notably reaching with his shots, and Usyk made him pay for that in round two, landing strong left hands.

    Dubois started to pick some momentum it seemed in the third round, and he furthered that with some strong body shots in the fourth.

    But towards one of the corners of the ring in the fifth round, Usyk landed a left hook that made Dubois stumble and knocked him down.

    Usyk landed another left hand seconds later — and this time, Dubois did not beat the count. No fifth-round controversy in sight.

    Oleksandr Usyk Becomes Undisputed Heavyweight Champion For Second Time With KO Of Daniel Dubois

    https://twitter.com/ukraniandream/status/1946693068888957250
    https://twitter.com/SandhuMMA/status/1946686408414089565

    Usyk and Dubois first met for the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in August 2023. Dubois was in control until a punch in the fifth round was controversially ruled a low blow. Usyk turned the tide and scored knock downs in the eighth and ninth rounds — the latter of which gave Usyk the KO win.

    Usyk had since become undisputed champion for the first time by capturing the WBC title with a win over Tyson Fury in May 2024. The reign lasted just a month, however, after Usyk elected a rematch with Fury in December, which he’d also win.

    Dubois became IBF champion with a win over Filip Hrgovic in June 2024, and then became full-time champion once the IBF stripped Usyk. Dubois then retained the IBF title last September with a fifth-round knockout of former champ Anthony Joshua.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Results & Highlights

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Results & Highlights

    The rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois to determine an undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing goes down tonight, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    All four of boxing’s heavyweight world championships will be at stake, as Usyk puts the WBA (Super), WBO, and WBC titles on the line in an attempt to reclaim the IBF belt from a familiar foe in Dubois. The fight takes place from Wembley Stadium in London, England.

    Usyk and Dubois first met in August 2023 — Usyk’s first fight since beating Anthony Joshua to gain the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles and defend them in a rematch. While Dubois was strong to start, a controversial low blow call for a punch that landed on Usyk in the fifth round saw the momentum shift. Usyk went on to score knockdowns of Dubois in the eighth and ninth, finishing Dubois to retain the title.

    About nine months later, Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to claim the WBC title and become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing since Lennox Lewis. Usyk also became the first heavyweight undisputed champion in the four-belt era, and he joined Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue in becoming a four-belt undisputed champion in a second weight class.

    Usyk, however, was only undisputed champion for a month, as the IBF stripped Usyk, who went on to rematch with Fury and retain the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles. Dubois, meanwhile, defeated Filip Hrgović in June 2024 to become interim IBF heavyweight champion before being promoted to full-time champ. He then retained the IBF title in September with a strong knockout of Joshua.

    The Usyk vs. Dubois 2 card is available on DAZN pay-per-view and will begin at 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT/5:30pm BST. Ring walks for the main event are expected at approximately 4:45pm ET/1:45pm PT/9:45pm BST. If you can’t watch the action, MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights below.

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 Results & Highlights

    • Undisputed Heavyweight Championship: Oleksandr Usyk def. Daniel Dubois via KO (R5, 1:08)
    • WBC Silver Heavyweight Championship: Lawrence Okolie def. Kevin Lerena via unanimous decision (99-91, 100-90 x2)
    • IBF Continental & WBA Continental Light Heavyweight Championship: Daniel Lapin def. Lewis Edmondson via majority decision (5-95, 96-94 x2)
    • Heavyweight: Solomon Dacres def. Vladyslav Sirenko via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 99-92)
    • Super Lightweight: Aadam Hamed def. Ezequiel Gregores via unanimous decision (40-36)
    • Super Lightweight: Lasha Guruli def. James Francis via TKO (corner stoppage) (R5, 0:02)

    Lasha Guruli vs. James Francis

    Aadam Hamed vs. Ezequiel Gregores

    Vladyslav Sirenko vs. Solomon Dacres

    Daniel Lapin vs. Lewis Edmondson

    Lawrence Okolie vs. Kevin Lerena

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois

  • The Fight Fan’s Guide To July 19: Everything You Need To Know

    The Fight Fan’s Guide To July 19: Everything You Need To Know

    Next Saturday, July 19, is shaping up to be a memorable day filled with fights for combat sports fans everywhere.

    It sometimes can happen where fight cards will be stacked on top of one another on the same day, or even go head-to-head with each other. But only every so often do we get a day where fights will happen from one card to another throughout the day — and only every so often do we have a day of fights that are either heavily promoted, see titles on the line, or are all meaningful otherwise in some shape or way.

    We know for the obsessed fight fan that wants to see everything, a day like July 19 can be overwhelming in trying to figure out what’s going on, what’s important, and, more importantly, when and where to watch.

    Well, we here at MMA News are designing this guide here to help you put your feet up, grab your favorite foods and drinks, and watch all the action go down — from the first bell to the last!

    Everything Fight Fans Need To Know For July 19

    On July 19, the UFC and PFL will both be hosting heavily promoted cards, and the boxing world will feature a highly-anticipated title fight and the return of a legend.

    Here are — in order from the start of the day to the end — all the events going down on July 19, as well as when they start, where you can watch them, and what you need to know.

    PFL Cape Town

    Start Time: 10 am ET/7 am PT (Champions Series bouts will start at approx. 2 pm ET/11 am PT)

    Where To Watch: PFL App (PFL Africa 1) & ESPN+ (PFL Champions Series 2)

    After years of waiting, a major MMA player finally makes its way to the continent of Africa, as the PFL will host its first-ever event there with PFL Cape Town at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.

    With the Bellator brand officially no more, Johnny Eblen — still considered one of the best talents in the sport outside of the UFC — will defend the newly-named PFL middleweight championship in the main event of the evening against Costello Van Steenis. Van Steenis comes into this title shot off a 2024 campaign that saw him submit Gregory Babene with a Von Flue choke at the Bellator Champions Series card in Paris and a 48-second head-kick knockout of Joao Vitor Dantas at the 2024 PFL World Championships.

    Dakota Ditcheva, the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight champion and 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion, returns in the co-main event, taking on Sumiko Inaba. The main card will also feature former Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson in action at heavyweight against 2024 PFL heavyweight champ Denis Goltsov, as well as former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee taking on Akhmed Magomedov.

    Before the five-fight Champions Series card, PFL Africa will host its first event, featuring first-round tournament matchups at heavyweight and bantamweight.

    KSW 108

    Start Time: 12pm ET/9am PT

    Where To Watch: KSWTV.com

    KSW gets a piece of the July 19 action, too, presenting KSW 108 from the Hala Urania in Olsztyn, Poland. Two noteworthy European featherweight up-and-comers do battle in the main event, as Adam Soldaev takes on Leo Brichta. Ibragim Chuzhigaev and Marcin Wójcik face off in the light heavyweight co-main event.

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 — Undisputed Heavyweight Title Fight

    Start Time: 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT (Main event ring walks expected, per DAZN, approx. 4:50pm ET/1:50pm PT)

    Where To Watch: DAZN PPV

    For just the second time in the four-belt era of boxing, there will be an undisputed heavyweight champion, as WBA/WBC/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk faces IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

    Having been an undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, Usyk is just one of three male boxers to win four-belt undisputed gold in two weight classes. He became the first four-belt heavyweight undisputed champion when he defeated Tyson Fury in their first encounter in May 2024 — also becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion overall since Lennox Lewis in 2000.

    With a win in this fight, Usyk would further cement his history by reclaiming the title of undisputed champion of heavyweight boxing; however, he’ll have to get past a familiar foe in Dubois.

    The two first met in August 2023, with Usyk winning by ninth-round knockout to retain the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. The fight wasn’t without controversy, however, as Dubois and his team have disputed a fifth-round low blow call thrown by Dubois was a legal shot.

    Usyk’s reign as undisputed champion only lasted about a month, as the IBF stripped him of the title as he pursued a rematch with Fury, which Usyk went on to win this past December. That opened the door for Dubois to be promoted from interim to full-time IBF heavyweight champion.

    Dubois — also a former WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion — had won the interim IBF heavyweight belt in June 2024 with an eighth-round stoppage win over Filip Hrgović. He has since successfully defended the IBF world title once, scoring a fifth-round knockout of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this past September.

    UFC 318

    Start Time: Early Prelims start at 6pm ET/3pm PT. TV prelims start at 8pm ET/5pm PT. PPV Main Card begins at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

    Where To Watch: Early Prelims available on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. TV Prelims available on ESPN and ESPN+. Main Card available on ESPN+ PPV.

    For the final time in his illustrious career, “The Diamond” will make his way to the Octagon — and he’ll do so in front of a hometown crowd.

    UFC 318’s main event will be a BMF title fight between defending champion Max Holloway and challenger Dustin Poirier, the latter of whom will be retiring following this event.

    This is the third encounter between the two men. They first met in February 2012 at UFC 143 — Holloway’s UFC debut and just his fifth professional MMA fight. Poirier scored a first-round submission of Holloway. The two would then go on to have lengthy, successful careers before they met a second time at UFC 236. This time, interim UFC lightweight gold would be on the line (it was first UFC fight at lightweight for Holloway, who was the reigning featherweight champion at the time), and Poirier won an entertaining battle by decision.

    Since then, Holloway has dropped the featherweight title but remained one of the UFC’s most entertaining and winning fighters. Poirier has fallen short three times of becoming undisputed lightweight champion, but he picked up career wins in 2021 by scoring a pair of finishes over rival Conor McGregor. Both men, in fact, come into this fight off unsuccessful title shots, with Poirier losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 and Holloway losing to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308.

    The BMF belt was established for Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019 but has since gone on to be occasionally defended like UFC’s sanctioned titles. Justin Gaethje knocked out Poirier to win the belt at UFC 291 in July 2023 but was knocked out in highlight fashion by Holloway for the title at UFC 300.

    Mario Barrios vs. Manny Pacquiao — WBC Welterweight Championship

    Start Time: 8pm ET/5pm PT

    Where To Watch: Prelims available on Amazon Prime Video. Main Card available on PBC PPV on Amazon Prime Video & PPV providers

    Whereas we say goodbye to one combat legend in Poirier, another legend makes his return. Legendary boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.

    This will be Pacquiao’s first fight since losing a WBA welterweight title fight with Yordenis Ugás in August 2021. Barrios won the WBC interim title by defeating Ugás in September 2023. He retained the interim gold against Fabian Maidana and was promoted to full-time champion not long after. He defended the title once this past November, battling Abel Ramos to a draw.

    The co-main event will feature Sebastian Fundora defend the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles against Tim Tszyu.

    The card will feature three prelims, topped by the return of Gary Russell Jr. against Hugo Castaneda.

    Bonuses For The Mega Fans!

    If you’re just that fight fan that wants to soak up every minute and all the action, we’ve got some bonus bones being thrown your way!

    In addition to all the pre-fight festivities surrounding the fight cards, action gets underway on Thursday, July 17, when UFC Fight Pass airs Tuff-N-Uff 146 at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The main event will see Jamie Siraj take on Marlon Gonzales in a featherweight matchup. The card will also see Leon Shahbazyan, a Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus and the brother of UFC fighter Edmen Shahzabyan, in action against Aaron Phillips.

    Combate Global will also hold on card on Thursday, July 17, in Miami. The main event will see Jaden Ortega in welterweight action against Ivan Castillo. The event will air starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT on Combate Global’s YouTube channel. Those in the US with Samsung TV Plus can watch the action there as well.

    A pair of regional promotions will also hold events on Friday, July 18, as CFFC 144 goes down in Tampa, Florida, and Fury FC 106 takes place in New Orleans. CFFC 144 will be headlined by Auttumn Norton defending the CFFC bantamweight title against Emily Martins and Sean Mora facing Mark Grey for the vacant bantamweight title. Fury FC, meanwhile, will be headlined by Junior Maranhão taking on Artur Minev. Both cards can be watched on UFC Fight Pass.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois Rematch Pushed To New July Date

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois Rematch Pushed To New July Date

    Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois now have a new date locked in to reignite their rivalry.

    According to a recent report by Ring Magazine, the rematch between Usyk and Dubois, originally scheduled for July 12 at Wembley Stadium in London, England, has now been pushed back to July 19.

    The reshuffling was prompted to prevent a scheduling conflict with the newly announced Ring Magazine event, which will be headlined by reigning WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson as he defends his title against the undefeated William Zepeda.

    The two fighters first met on August 23, when Usyk emerged victorious over the up-and-coming Englishman with a dominant ninth-round TKO. However, the outcome was marred by controversy after Dubois landed a body shot in the fifth round that dropped Usyk, with the punch being ruled a low blow.

    Usyk enters this rematch on the back of two dominant decision victories over Tyson Fury last year. The undefeated Ukrainian made history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era after his monumental victory over “The Gypsy King” in May.

    However, to secure the highly anticipated rematch with Fury, “The Cat” was forced to vacate his IBF title, which Dubois claimed after defeating Filip Hrgovic in June 2024. Usyk currently holds an undefeated professional record of 23-0, including 14 knockout wins.

    Meanwhile, “Dynamite” is riding the momentum of a three-fight win streak and is coming off a fifth-round knockout victory over Anthony Joshua in September to retain his title. Dubois was initially slated to defend his IBF title against Joseph Parker in February, but had to pull out just two days before the bout due to illness.

    The 27-year-old London native currently impressive professional record of 22-2, with a staggering 21 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

  • Team Usyk Open To Dana White ‘Partnership’ For Alex Pereira Fight

    Team Usyk Open To Dana White ‘Partnership’ For Alex Pereira Fight

    Dana White’s official foray into boxing could bridge the gap to making a potential blockbuster crossover fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Alex Pereira a reality.

    “The Cat” has hinted that he is nearing the final chapter of his boxing career, with just two fights left before calling it quits. His top priority is a rematch with Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title, as he sets his sights on reclaiming his status as the undisputed four-belt champion.

    Meanwhile, for his second bout, Usyk revealed last month that he’s open to facing former UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira — an idea that quickly caught “Poatan’s” interest as well. Sergey Lapin, a member of the undefeated Ukrainian champion’s team, suggests that booking the matchup may now be more feasible than it once was.

    During a recent discussion with OLBG, Lapin noted that the UFC CEO’s collaboration with Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority head Turki Alalshikh to launch a boxing league has significantly increased the likelihood of a crossover showdown between Usyk and Pereira.

    “We never say never about fighting the dangerous Alex Pereira, possibly partnered with Dana White,” Lapin said. “Dana’s move to boxing could open the door for more fights between boxers and current UFC stars.

    “Dana is a capable guy, and with Turki’s abilities, they would create a very interesting project. It will bring attention to our great sport, expand the fan base, attract new investment, and possibly increase the purses of the athletes.”

    Although White permitted former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor to face boxing icon Floyd Mayweather in August 2017, which became a historic event, he has traditionally opposed such crossover bouts. Whether the UFC top brass has had a change of heart remains to be seen.

    “The Cat” was last in action this past December, when he put on a masterful performance against Tyson Fury in their rematch. He successfully retained his WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision victory.

    Meanwhile, Alex Pereira’s reign as the 205-pound champion came to an end at UFC 313 earlier this month, as he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev.

    “Poatan” has a deep-rooted history in boxing, boasting an extensive amateur background and even earning a professional victory in July 2017 with a TKO win over Marcelo de Souza Cruz.

  • Watch Former Rivals Oleksandr Usyk And Anthony Joshua’s Hilarious Ringside Reaction To Joseph Parker KO

    Watch Former Rivals Oleksandr Usyk And Anthony Joshua’s Hilarious Ringside Reaction To Joseph Parker KO

    Plenty of prominent names were left stunned by how Joseph Parker dispatched of Martin Bakole in their interim WBO heavyweight title fight this weekend.

    Parker arrived in Saudi Arabia last week anticipating to challenge for Daniel Dubois’ IBF championship. But just days out from their showdown in the co-main event of a stacked Riyadh lineup, the Brit withdrew due to illness.

    Saving the day was Bakole, who traveled to the Middle East on late notice to compete for Parker’s interim gold. The pair set the stage for the blockbuster undisputed rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

    While the main event was a memorable 12-round affair, the co-headliner raised eyebrows for the opposite reason, with Parker needing less than six minutes to find the finish.

    Among those ringside when he stopped Bakole was one of just three men to defeat him in professional boxing, former two-time WBC titleholder Anthony Joshua. “AJ” took in the action alongside one of his most notable rivals, current unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

    Suffice it to say, both men were shocked when Bakole went crashing down in round two.

    Moving forward, both “AJ” and “The Cat” could have their eyes set on Parker.

    While many believe the New Zealander has earned a shot at Usyk following consecutive wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Bakole, others have pitched a rematch with Joshua while the Ukrainian potentially runs it back with Dubois.

  • Alex Pereira Accepts Oleksandr Usyk Callout, Claims Two Organizations Already Working On The Bout

    Alex Pereira Accepts Oleksandr Usyk Callout, Claims Two Organizations Already Working On The Bout

    Reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has given a positive response when asked about a potential bout with boxing’s pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.

    The Brazilian MMA icon is scheduled to headline UFC 313, set to take place in the T-Mobile Arena In Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 8, 2025. In the main event, he will make the fourth defense of his title against Magomed Ankalaev, widely considered the biggest threat to his championship in the division.

    Because of his striking-heavy fighting style and explosive knockout power, fans have often discussed how “Poatan” would perform in a boxing ring. Since “The Cat” expressed the desire to end his career with a boxing superfight against Pereira, fans have been very eager to learn if boxing promoters and Dana White are interested in cross-promoting such a battle too.

    When asked about a boxing fight with Usyk with Mark Bouris, Pereira said:

    “I had already said that before, right? That I would really like to have a boxing match and they asked me who it would be, I said,well I am champion right so it would have to be a champion and he is the champion. And now, he gave an interview and said my name so it is something that I want. He also wants and the two organizations, right, they are working kind of together so I think now it will I believe that this fight can happen.”

    Do note that the statement above is based on Google’s translation of Pereira’s statements. The translator in the live interview was unfortunately called out for missing out on a lot of things so we relied on directly translating the UFC champ’s answer via Google Translator.

    As it turns out, the bits about the two organzations (likely UFC and some boxing promotion) working together weren’t revealed in the live interview but Pereira hinting towards it certainly makes it seem like this matchup is not a far-fetched dream now.

    Usyk’s wins over Tyson Fury have undoubtedly cemented him as an all-time great boxer. He’s formerly united all belts at cruiserweight, and is now eyeing to become a three-time undisputed champion. For his next boxing bout, he’ll face the winner of an upcoming fight between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker scheduled for February 22, 2025.

    “Poatan”, on the other hand, is often seen sparring with professional heavyweight boxers and on many occasions, he’s mentioned about his will to compete in a boxing ring in the future.

    Having said that, Pereira needs to handle business in the Octagon first and his performance against Ankalaev will naturally have a huge impact on his brand. A victory at UFC 313 could help him make big moves such as facing the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones or move over to boxing as discussed above.

  • Oleksandr Usyk Teases Possible Boxing Showdown With UFC Champ Alex Pereira

    Oleksandr Usyk Teases Possible Boxing Showdown With UFC Champ Alex Pereira

    Oleksandr Usyk is entertaining the possibility of a potential showdown with Alex Pereira down the road.

    “The Cat” has recently suggested that he is nearing the twilight of his storied boxing career, committing to two more fights before hanging up his gloves. Having dominated both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions while maintaining his undefeated record, he now stands on the verge of a well-deserved departure from the sport.

    Usyk is coming off a commanding triumph over Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch this past December, successfully defending his WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles. The 38-year-old Ukrainian cemented his place as the undisputed champion when he first dethroned “The Gypsy King” in May 2024.

    However, shortly after, he was compelled to relinquish the IBF title, which ultimately found its way into the hands of his former foe, Daniel Dubois.

    Usyk will be intently observing Dubois’ upcoming title defense against Joseph Parker on Feb. 22 in Saudi Arabia, as the winner of this bout will be the next opponent for the former undisputed champion.

    During a recent interview with TNT Sports, “The Cat” outlined what could very well be the final two bouts of his illustrious career. To the surprise of many, he revealed that in his last fight, he envisions stepping into the ring with reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira.

    “First, is who wins the next fight [Dubois vs. Parker] on Feb. 22, Usyk said.” Next? Maybe a show fight with Alex Pereira. Maybe – why not? Alex wants to.”

    “Poatan” is no stranger to the sweet science of boxing, boasting a rich amateur background and even securing a professional win in July 2017, where he dispatched Marcelo de Souza Cruz via TKO. Pereira has also openly discussed his ambitions to transition to boxing once his MMA career reaches its conclusion.

    Pereira is set to defend his 205-pound title for the fourth time against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. The highly anticipated showdown is scheduled for March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • ‘Didn’t He Rob Ngannou In Saudi?’ – Fans React After Footage Emerges Of Tyson Fury Blaming Location For Oleksandr Usyk Loss

    ‘Didn’t He Rob Ngannou In Saudi?’ – Fans React After Footage Emerges Of Tyson Fury Blaming Location For Oleksandr Usyk Loss

    Tyson Fury seems to be having a hard time coming to terms with being outclassed by Oleksandr Usyk in both of their meetings.

    “The Gypsy King” challenged Usyk for his WBC, WBO, and WBA heavyweight titles in their rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this past Saturday. However, despite his best efforts, Fury fell short in his attempt to avenge his previous defeat to the undefeated Ukrainian.

    Although Fury had moments of success, he ultimately suffered a unanimous decision loss as “The Cat” showcased his exceptional footwork and perfectly timed punches, keeping the Englishman at a distance throughout most of the fight. Usyk’s dominance earned him a 116-112 score from all three judges.

    Fury wasted no time leaving the ring after his defeat, bypassing a post-fight interview. And during the post-event press conference, he adamantly stated that he believed he had won the fight convincingly, insisting that the judges had erred in giving the victory to Usyk.

    With “The Gypsy King” now facing back-to-back losses — the only two setbacks of his professional career — to Usyk within just seven months, he is claiming that the venue itself may have played a role in his setbacks.

    A video capturing Fury returning backstage, visibly agitated after his defeat, has surfaced on social media. In the footage, the former WBC heavyweight champion is heard asserting that many believed he was narrowly outpacing “The Cat.” Fury goes on to suggest that the location itself may have had something to do with the outcome of the fight.

    “[Got] robbed there, f**k ’em,” Fury said. “I swear to God I thought I won it by at least three rounds. I bossed the fight on the front foot all night and had that work put on him… I’ll tell you what it is, you’re not getting nothing in these countries.”

    The combat sports world has responded with a variety of reactions to Fury’s insinuation that the fight taking place in Saudi Arabia played a role in his losses.

    Numerous observers have implied that the 36-year-old Brit is exhibiting a sense of resentment, struggling to reconcile with the reality of his defeat in both bouts.

    https://twitter.com/realSketchyNews/status/1871250077559210240
    https://twitter.com/NattyLightBurps/status/1871241863967195181

    Fury suffered the first loss of his illustrious career when he faced Usyk in their initial showdown this past May. After a hard-fought battle, “The Cat” emerged victorious via split decision.

    This triumph solidified Usyk’s legacy as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, a distinction not seen since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999.

  • Tyson Fury: I’ll Believe I Beat Oleksandr Usyk ‘Until The Day I Die’

    Tyson Fury: I’ll Believe I Beat Oleksandr Usyk ‘Until The Day I Die’

    Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury doesn’t look set to change stance on the result of his rematch against unified titleholder Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday.

    Fury was back in Saudi Arabia this week in pursuit of redemption against Usyk, who narrowly got the better of him in their blockbuster first clash this past May.

    On that occasion, “The Gypsy King” was frustrated to fall on the wrong side of a split decision verdict that saw “The Cat” crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champ sine Lennox Lewis was stripped of that status in 2000.

    And despite all three scorecards going the way of the Ukrainian second time around — and in a much more convincing fashion — the Brit is once again calling robbery.

    During his post-fight press conference after another 12 rounds in the ring with Usyk, Fury questioned the trio of 116-112 scorecards and stated that he believed his hand should have been raised.

    “I was quite confident,” Fury said. “I thought I won that fight again. I think I’ve got ‘Larry Holmes’d’ here. I thought I’ve won both fights, but then again I’ve gone home with two losses on my record now, so there’s not much I can do about it. I can just fight my heart out and do the best I can.

    “But again, I’ll always believe until the day I die I’ve won that fight,” Fury added.

    It remains to be seen what will come next for “The Gypsy King,” who entered the year undefeated in professional boxing and will leave it on a two-fight skid.

    While some pundits and former fighters have already backed the idea of retirement for Fury following an illustrious career, plenty were quick to pitch a long-awaited UK showdown with Anthony Joshua, who is also coming off a difficult setback.

  • ‘Judges Weren’t Corrupt For Once?’ – Fighters & Fans React To Oleksandr Usyk’s Convincing Decision Win In Tyson Fury Rematch

    ‘Judges Weren’t Corrupt For Once?’ – Fighters & Fans React To Oleksandr Usyk’s Convincing Decision Win In Tyson Fury Rematch

    The final major boxing fight of 2024 saw a lot of unity from fans, pundits, media, and fighters — it was a close, competitive fight but the right man won.

    Oleksandr Usyk edged out Tyson Fury in a unanimous decision to retain the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight championships in the main event of a Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 21.

    Usyk worked his jab well in the opening frame, which proved to be a bit of a feeling-out process. The Ukrainian came out with a strong combination to start the second round, but Fury seemed to start to gain control, working his jab as the round went on.

    “The Gypsy King” got on the front foot in the third round after a shot that Usyk thought was illegal but was not called such. The champ looked to land the big shots late in the round, which saw plenty of utilization of the jab by Fury. Usyk cracked the Brit with a couple of strong left hands during the fourth round, troubling Fury, who tried to use his reach and keep his opponent back. The former WBC titleholder fired back in the fifth, however, as he showed his physical prowess and landed strong, inside shots, especially to the body.

    After a bit of a slower start to the sixth round, Usyk continued to land well on the inside. The seventh and eighth remained particularly quiet, though the Ukrainian remained in control, working over the challenger’s body.

    And he appeared to open up a cut above one of Fury’s eyebrows late in the ninth frame, as he remained in control and forced “The Gypsy King” to need to answer quickly. Fury threw power from the get-go, looking to bully the champion with his own back to the scorecard wall seemingly. He appeared to gas out in the later portion, however, backing up to “The Cat’s” attacks.

    Usyk landed a couple of strong left hands throughout the 11th, still backing Fury up. Both men emptied the tank in the 12th round, with the challenger landing some strong punches but the champ landing a rocking combinations in the closing seconds.

    Oleksandr Usyk Retains Heavyweight Championships In Decision Win Over Tyson Fury

    https://twitter.com/DonCaolan135/status/1870601498029072545
    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1870618415934636044

    This was a rematch from their initial encounter in May, which saw Usyk edge out Fury in a split decision to win the WBC heavyweight title, becoming boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. This reign was not for long, however, as the IBF stripped him of the title not long after the win as a result of taking tonight’s rematch.

    The IBF title was awarded to Daniel Dubois, who retained the championship with a knockout of Anthony Joshua in September.

    Dubois was knocked out by Usyk in their August 2023 title fight. He called “The Cat” out following Saturday’s fight for a rematch of his own, which could realistically happen and give boxing another undisputed heavyweight champion, pending Dubois successfully defending the IBF title against Joseph Parker in February.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 Results & Highlights: ‘The Cat’ Outpoints ‘The Gypsy King’ Again

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 Results & Highlights: ‘The Cat’ Outpoints ‘The Gypsy King’ Again

    The heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury took place today, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    Nine months on from their first showdown, which an undisputed heavyweight king crowned for the first time since Lennox Lewis was stripped of the title in 2000, Usyk and Fury renewed hostilities in Saudi Arabia this week.

    The pair collided in a memorable 12-round affair this past May, with the Ukrainian falling on the right side of a split decision to add the WBC title to his WBA (super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring belts.

    With “The Cat” vacating the IBF gold a month on from his win over the previously undefeated “Gypsy King,” undisputed status wasn’t on the line today. Nevertheless, Saturday’s rematch in Riyadh wasn’t be short on stakes.

    In the end, it was once again Usyk having his hand raised, this time with all three scorecards going in his favor.

    With the event concluded, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights.

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 Results & Highlights

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Oleksandr Usyk def. Tyson Fury via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 116-112)
    • Heavyweight: Moses Itauma def. Demsey McKean via TKO: R1, 1:57
    • Super Welterweight: Serhii Bohachuk def. Ishmael Davis via TKO (corner stoppage): R6, 3:00
    • Heavyweight: Johnny Fisher def. Dave Allen via split decision (95-94, 96-93, 94-95)
    • Featherweight: Lee McGregor def. Isaac Lowe via unanimous decision (96-92, 97-91, 97-91)
    • Super Featherweight: Peter McGrail def. Rhys Edwards via unanimous decision (96-95, 96-94, 96-94)
    • Light Heavyweight: Daniel Lapin def. Dylan Colin via unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 99-91)
    • Heavyweight: Andrii Novytskyi def. Edgar Ramirez via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92)
    • Super Featherweight: Mohammed Alakel def. Joshua Ocampo via unanimous decision (60-53, 60-53, 60-53)

    Mohammed Alakel Def. Joshua Ocampo

    Andrii Novytskyi Def. Edgar Ramirez

    Daniel Lapin Def. Dylan Colin

    Peter McGrail Def. Rhys Edwards

    Lee McGregor Def. Isaac Lowe

    Johnny Fisher Def. Dave Allen

    Serhii Bohachuk Def. Ishmael Davis

    Moses Itauma Def. Demsey McKean

    Oleksandr Usyk Def. Tyson Fury

  • VIDEO: Oleksandr Usyk & Tyson Fury Have Tense 10-Minute Staredown Ahead Of Boxing Rematch

    VIDEO: Oleksandr Usyk & Tyson Fury Have Tense 10-Minute Staredown Ahead Of Boxing Rematch

    Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury seem to be laser-focused ahead of their upcoming rematch.

    Both boxing superstars are set to reignite their rivalry this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where “The Cat” will put his WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles on the line against Fury.

    The pair first squared off in May when Usyk emerged victorious after a grueling split decision. With this win, the unbeaten Ukrainian cemented his status as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999, while also handing “The Gypsy King” his first professional setback.

    As their eagerly awaited showdown approaches this weekend, Usyk and Fury took the stage for their final press conference on Thursday. The atmosphere was electric as the two engaged in a brief yet fiery exchange on the microphone.

    The intensity only escalated during the faceoff that followed, as the two rivals stared each other down for over 10 minutes. Tensions ran so high that officials had to step in and separate them just as they began trading insults.

    Following their May fight, “The Cat” was forced to give up his undisputed status when he had to vacate the IBF title, which was subsequently passed on to his former rival Daniel Dubois.

    Usyk holds a flawless professional record of 22-0, with 14 wins by knockout. Meanwhile, Fury boasts a near-perfect 34-1-1 record, with 24 of his victories coming by knockout.

  • Tyson Fury’s Brother Admits Father John’s Advice In Oleksandr Usyk Fight Was Counter-Productive: ‘Them Instructions Is Sometimes Not What you need…’

    Tyson Fury’s Brother Admits Father John’s Advice In Oleksandr Usyk Fight Was Counter-Productive: ‘Them Instructions Is Sometimes Not What you need…’

    Following the first loss of his professional career, there was some criticism regarding the corner work that was done by Tyson Fury’s team in his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

    Fury appeared to be behind in the later stages of the fight after nearly being stopped in the ninth round. While some of his corner team looked to correct some mistakes that he had been making in the fight, his father John Fury was more focused on motivating his son.

    Fury could be heard in the corner saying that all “The Gypsy King” needed to do was get through the final stages of the fight in order to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion despite the fact that the scorecards had it in Usyk’s favor.

    Shane Fury Says His Father Was More Concerned With Protecting Tyson Fury Than Giving CFight Advice

    The brother of Tyson Fury, Shane Fury, is the latest to give his thoughts on whether or not the corner were partly to blame for the defeat in May.

    Tyson’s uncle Peter has been very critical in recent weeks with his words about how there was far too many voices all saying different things and talking over one another rather than delivering precise and clear information.

    He questioned the professionalism of the corner and how each man should have their specific job and stick to that rather than everyone trying to play head coach.

    Shane echoed this without being quite as critical, telling iFL TV that his father was trying to protect his son rather than giving him the right advice on how to win the fight.

    “My take is, deeply, truly, my honest opinion is my dad wants what’s the best for his son, and the best for his son after he’s been put down and nearly out cold is to get him through the fight. F*** the boxing, you can be KO’d and not wake up. That’s his mentality ’cause he wants the best for his sons, but sometimes when you want the best for someone, it’s maybe not the best instructions. Them instructions is sometimes not what you need.”

  • Date Revealed For Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s Rematch With Tyson Fury

    Date Revealed For Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s Rematch With Tyson Fury

    A second chapter will be added to the rivalry between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury later this year.

    Usyk was triumphant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier this month, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years by defeating the previously undefeated Fury. 

    The Ukrainian and British heavyweights collided in a thrilling 12-round affair in the Middle East, with a memorable flurry that included a knockdown in round nine aiding Usyk’s ultimately successful bid to add the WBC title to his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring belts.

    The highly anticipated fight was the topic of intense discussions in the aftermath, with some believing that “The Gypsy King” had done enough to be the one succeeding Lennox Lewis as heavyweight’s next undisputed king.

    Regardless, any unfinished business will be settled in a rematch, which now has a confirmed date attached to it…

    Usyk vs. Fury 2 Set For December 21 In Riyadh

    With a rematch clause revealed ahead of their meeting this month, it appeared only a matter of time until a second dance between Usyk and Fury was announced. And on Wednesday, Turki Alalshikh took to social media with news of it.

    Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority confirmed that the two heavyweight stars will do battle once again on December 21 during Riyadh Season.

    “The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season…The world will watch another historical fight again…Our commitment to boxing fans continues…We hope you enjoy it…”

    The bout appears unlikely to be for the undisputed crown, however, with talk of the IBF stripping Usyk in the coming weeks being fanned by Eddie Hearn.

    The Matchroom Boxing head suggested that plan remains in place to Boxing Social, meaning Anthony Joshua is likely to fight the Filip Hrgović vs. Daniel Dubois winner for the vacant belt at Wembley Stadium in London, England, this coming September.