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Verhoeven vows to be “a different kind of puzzle” for master Usyk

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LONDON – Oleksandr Usyk explained Tuesday why he is giving kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven a chance to win the WBC heavyweight title.

“One day I want to do whatever I want,” Usyk, 39, said at a press conference.

The undefeated Ukrainian will not have the WBA and IBF belts on the line when he faces the 37-year-old Dutch kickboxer in a 12-round fight on May 23 at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.

Usyk, who has not fought since last July’s Wembley Stadium fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois, said “a lot of people” have asked why he is fighting a novice while the likes of Agit Kabayel – the WBC interim champion – are waiting in the wings.

“(Verhoeven) is a great guy, a unsafe guy,” Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) said. “A lot of time I do what other people (demand). I say OK, OK, OK – now I do what (I want).”

Verhoeven says Usyk will “fall”. The 6-foot-7 Verhoeven won his only fight as a boxer in 2014. He was a long-time heavyweight kickboxing champion.

He was asked how he would do what no other professional boxer had managed to do – defeat Usyk.

“I’m going to present aspects of kickboxing, present a different type of puzzle,” Verhoeven said. “I’m a large individual. I weigh about 125 kilograms (265 pounds).”

Usyk, a former cruiserweight champion, fights at under 230 pounds and has defeated a number of bigger opponents, including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

“When I give him my best punch, of course he will fall,” Verhoeven said. “He’s like a trained cruiserweight. I’m like a natural heavyweight. That’s a large difference. It’ll happen if I hit my best shot flawlessly, and if I don’t, we’ll just win.”

Usyk replied: “We’ll see.”

Earlier in the session, Usyk said that “size doesn’t matter” and that he just needs to train and eat.

“Tough training and good pasta – good pasta, double the portion. It’s magic,” he said.

Verhoeven also mentioned British action star Jason Statham as “one of the people who created this opportunity, for which he is very grateful.”

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Floyd Mayweather says ‘I’m on my way’ as fight in Greece faces legal threat

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Floyd Mayweather alongside a graphic detailing claims connected to proposed boxing events involving Manny Pacquiao and Mike Tyson

Floyd Mayweather insists he is heading to Greece this week despite a growing legal dispute that could cast a shadow over the event.

The undefeated boxing legend sent a direct message to Greek fans on Tuesday amid ongoing preparations for his June 27 event against kickboxing star Mike Zambidis in Athens.

“I want to thank everyone, I want to thank you for all the support. Greece, I’m on my way.

“Let’s have fun, let’s have fun and give the people what they want to see. Greece, I’m on my way.”

The news comes as a growing controversy surrounds several proposed Mayweather-related events involving Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather presses forward

The recently disclosed arbitration request involving plaintiffs Jaspreet Mathur and EMI Capital LLC focuses on contracts related to proposed Mayweather events involving Tyson and Pacquiao.

The dispute names Jona Rechnitz and entities affiliated with Frist Apex Ventures among respondents and fits into an increasingly complicated picture of Mayweather’s exhibition plans.

At the same time, social media related to the case publicly alleged that rights related to Mayweather’s planned return to professional boxing had been sold to separate event producers.

The claims remain allegations, and Mayweather has not publicly addressed the latest filing.

What he did was further promote Greece.

While the arbitration proceedings are ongoing elsewhere, Mayweather is acting as if the June 27 date remains on track.

Collision course

The exhibition in Greece is moving forward and the controversy surrounding Tyson and Pacquiao is gaining momentum.

It’s unclear whether these proceedings will ultimately impact any of the proposed events, but Mayweather shows no signs of changing course.

Just a few weeks ago, attention focused on whether shows featuring Mike Zambidis, Manny Pacquiao and Mike Tyson could co-exist on the same schedule.

The focus now is on whether these plans will survive the increasingly public battle over the broader project.

For now, Athens remains on the calendar, with only days left until the first bell.

Despite the growing controversy surrounding the feud, Mayweather appears determined to keep the event going in Greece.

His message to Greece remains unchanged.

“I’m on my way.”


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Promoter Naoya Inoue points to two main fights that will start in February 2027.

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Image: Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani Hits $30M Gate, 500K PPVs Early

Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue’s future plans are starting to take shape after promoter Hideyuki Ohashi revealed that a large fight is already planned for February 2027.

“Right now we’re working on the December pairing. Then next February, if I say there’s a large fight, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about. It’s already in the works. Then we’ll do another one in an amazing place,” Ohashi said to Yahoo Japan.

The comments included mentioning the opponent, but they will probably intensify speculation about the fight with Jesse Rodriguez. The undefeated American recently moved up to bantamweight and won the WBA title with a victory over Antonio Vargas.


Rodriguez’s trainer, Robert Garcia, has indicated that the plan is for Rodriguez to have one more fight before moving up to super bantamweight. Potential bantamweight opponents include WBA champion Seiya Tsutsumi and WBO titleholder Christian Medina, while Rodriguez is still looking for bigger opportunities.

While most of the attention will focus on the February schedule, Ohashi’s reference to another event in an “unusual location” suggests that discussions may already be underway about a second major appearance beyond the expected fight in early 2027.

Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision in May at the Tokyo Dome, retaining his undisputed championship in a fight that attracted enormous attention across Japan. The victory improved his professional record to 31-0 and further strengthened his position as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters.

Ohashi’s latest comments represent the clearest indication yet that Inoue’s early 2027 schedule is already in the works, with plans moving beyond a single marquee event. Regardless of whether the February fight ultimately involves Rodriguez or another opponent, the promoter has made it clear that preparations are already underway for the next phase of Inoue’s career.

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Last updated: 23/06/2026 at 1:15

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Shane Mosley predicts PM Marvin Hagler vs PM Canelo: ‘I think he’s going to get him’

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Shane Mosley predicts prime Marvin Hagler vs prime Canelo: “I think he’d get him”

Two-division world champion Shane Mosley predicted how the fantastic fight between Canelo Alvarez and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler would go.

Canelo ruled four weight classes, earning world honors between super welterweight and featherlight heavyweight and becoming the division’s first-ever undisputed champion in an iconic 11-month span.

The 35-year-old’s strength seemed to have waned recently, with him failing to win a single break since 2021. defeat to former lightweight champion Terence Crawford in his last fight.

That being said, his reputation will be able to be reclaimed in September when is fighting for the WBC super middleweight world title.

Still, as his career nears its final chapter, fans wonder where Canelo ranks among the greatest champions of his country, the contemporary era and of all time, wondering how he would fare against other iconic fighters in the division he ruled.

Speaking on Mi Gallo boxing podcasthosted by two-time middleweight title challenger Gabriel Rosado, Mosley selected middleweight fan favorite Hagler to emerge victorious in a fantastic fight against top-ranked Canelo.

“I think Marvin could get him.”

Hagler never boxed outside the middleweight division during his 67-fight career, reigning as undisputed champion for seven years and boasting the sixth-longest reign in division history; during this time he became notable for defeating Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns.

In total, Hagler won 62 of 67 professional fights, with his only three losses coming to Bobby Watts, Willie Monroe and Sugar Ray Leonard, as well as draws to Vito Antuofermo and Sugar Ray Searles.

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