The Usyk vs. Verhoeven II fight is becoming one of the most talked-about rematches in boxing after the controversial fight at the Pyramids of Giza. But before promoters start striking while the iron is sizzling, the heavyweight title picture needs to be addressed.

The second fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven is no longer fiction. The discussion now turned to what this would mean for the heavyweight titles.

Verhoeven exceeded expectations in Egypt, pushed Usyk harder than many thought possible and, as the official scorecards later showed, fought tough in the fight before a controversial stoppage in the eleventh round.

The Dutchman is expected to be given a place in the WBC heavyweight rankings after Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed he deserved it.

But the bigger question is what happens to the stripes.

Heavyweight title standings

As the holder of the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight championships, Usyk is subject to agreed mandatory rotation among sanctioning bodies.

First in line is the WBC, followed by the WBA and finally the IBF, which successfully took advantage of its turn when Daniel Dubois fought for the undisputed title.

This sequence is vital because Usyk has repeatedly said he only has two fights left before he retires.

At 39 years elderly, it’s tough to imagine the Ukrainian spending the final chapter of his career working on every must-see opponent that comes his way.

This reality creates several possible paths of development.

Kabayel remains the favorite

The most likely next fight remains the patient Agit Kabayel.

Members of the WBC Ranking Committee have already confirmed that Kabayel is the mandatory challenger to Usyk, while Mauricio Sulaiman recently reiterated that the Usyk vs Kabayel fight must take place this year.

Usyk has long talked about his desire to return to fight in Kiev, which is impossible due to the ongoing war.

Germany offers the closest alternative.

With more than 1.5 million Ukrainians currently living in Germany after being displaced by the conflict, a stadium fight would be the closest Usyk has come to fighting in front of his own people since becoming heavyweight champion.

For this reason alone, defending Kabayel seems like the most logical next step.

Verhoeven’s rematch after Kabayel?

If Usyk defeats Kabayel, the door will immediately open for a rematch with Verhoeven.

At this point, Rico would already be ranked in the WBC and would have a stronger claim than before the first fight. The kickboxer would simply have to remain undefeated in any interim fight.

The WBC title could still be attached to the fight, and The Ring championship would likely be available as well.

Recent decisions have shown that The Ring is willing to take a adaptable approach to championship criteria, making winning the belt easier than in previous eras.

This scenario currently looks like the most realistic plan of action.

Usyk completes his mandatory defense, a welcome homecoming atmosphere prevails in Germany, and then retires against Verhoeven in one of the greatest rematches boxing has ever seen.

What if they keep fighting?

The direct route of the rematch is where things get complicated.

If Usyk bypasses Kabayel and goes straight into a second fight with Verhoeven, his unified reign will likely come to an end before the opening bell.

The WBC will almost certainly have to move forward with Kabayel under its mandatory rules, and the WBA and IBF will also face pressure to enforce the agreed championship order.

A rematch could still happen, but other titles simply may not come.

In such a scenario, a second fight between Usyk and Verhoeven could occur with only The Ring championship at stake, while the major sanctioning bodies would crown or elevate other title holders.

The only way all lanes stay engaged

There is one final possibility.

Usyk could defeat Kabayel and then assure the WBA and IBF that retirement is not imminent, preserving the possibility of carrying all three world titles into a rematch with Verhoeven.

This is the cleanest route from a championship perspective, but whether it is realistic for a player approaching 40 who has openly talked about retiring is a completely different matter.

Whatever happens next, one thing has become clear since May 23.

The real discussion isn’t whether Usyk and Verhoeven will meet again. That’s how many lanes will survive when this happens.

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.

Amanda Serrano’s first ring walk since January carries with it the round numbers that tend to define a career. Her record is 48-4-1 and 31 knockouts. They say one more stoppage Saturday night in El Paso would tie her with Christy Martin for the most knockouts in women’s boxing history. ESPN. Serrano has said publicly that she is thinking about this album.

“I respect every opponent who steps into the ring and I know Hanson will come to win and she has the KO power,” Serrano said in a statement released by Most Valuable Promotions. “I’m also continuing to chase the all-time knockout record, so that’s always on my mind, but it all starts with discipline, execution and performing at the highest level on fight night.”

Serrano will defend his WBA and WBO featherweight titles against German Cheyenne “Pepper” Hanson (17-2, 13 KO) in the co-main card of MVPW-03 at the El Paso County Coliseum, on the same card as the WBA lightweight rematch between Stephanie Han and Holly Holm. The four-fight main card will air on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. ET. Hanson, the top contender for the WBA title, is entering her first world title fight after a streak of nine straight wins, seven of them by stoppage.

Return to Natural Weight

Saturday is Serrano’s second appearance since concluding his trilogy with Katie Taylor last July at Madison Square Garden. Both losses to Taylor came at junior welterweight, with Taylor defending her undisputed 140-pound titles. Serrano returned to featherweight in January and stopped Reina Tellez over ten rounds in San Juan, beginning a return to the 126-pound limit where she had done most of the damage of her career. Boxing Insider’s coverage of this fight is available here.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico and raised in Brooklyn, Serrano turned professional in 2009 and two years later won her first world title, the IBF super featherweight crown. Since then, she has won belts in seven weight classes, fights as a southpaw and works under the supervision of long-time coach and partner Jordan Maldonado. Her record currently stands at 48-4-1, with all four of her losses coming by decision, including three to Taylor.

Hanson’s test

Hanson, fighting from Germany, has a record of 17-2 with 13 stoppages. Her last loss was in 2021, with all nine of her last fights going her way. She’s never challenged for a major title, and at 5’7″ and with a high-pressure style, she’s not the type of opponent Serrano typically has trouble against. Serrano’s career was built on cutting off smaller, aggressive opponents in the ring and overwhelming them in the second half of his fights. The fight is scheduled for ten three-minute rounds.

“Representing Germany on this stage means a lot to me,” Hanson said in a statement to ESPN. “Training camp will be complex, but I am focused. I respect my opponent, but I come to make a statement.”

Volume as signature

According to Serrano, she set a women’s record by landing 1,103 punches on Danila Ramos in October 2023 in the first scheduled women’s championship fight, fought over twelve three-minute rounds. Tudum Netflix profile. She is a public advocate for women fighting on the same time rules as men, and all of her fights on the MVPW platform have been scheduled for three-minute rounds.

Taylor’s parting question

Before Saturday’s fight, Serrano was asked by Heavenly sports about Katie Taylor’s planned retirement fight. Taylor, 39, told RTE Sport in February that she aims to fight again in 2026, preferably in Croke Park in Dublin, before she leaves. Serrano reached out to the people she thought should be given the job.

Serrano had previously ruled out a fourth meeting with Taylor herself. Last July, at the trilogy weigh-in, she told reporters that she was “a little tired of Katie Taylor,” according to Heavenly sports. Taylor’s three fights, two at lightweight and one at junior welterweight, resulted in three split or shutdown decisions in Taylor’s favor and are widely credited with changing the commercial profile of women’s boxing.

What does Saturday mean?

Saturday’s victory after the break is tied with Martin. A knockout in another defense would put Serrano alone at the top of the all-time scoring list. The decision victory extends her featherweight reign and clears the way for another MVP and ESPN under the MVPW banner. Even a projected loss to Hanson would be Serrano’s first fight at her preferred weight since Frida Wallberg in 2012.

Serrano addressed her presence on Han’s hometown card in a separate interview KTSM. “It was obvious to me when I found out that Stephanie Han had a rematch with Holly in El Paso,” Serrano said. “They came and opened up for me. It was my second main event in Puerto Rico, in my hometown, so it was a huge honor for me that they could share that night with me. I thought, what? They’re coming back in a rematch from El Paso, I need to be on this card. Please let me in. And they did.”

Rico Verhoeven entered the fight against Oleksandr Usyk as a weighty underdog. Eddie Hearn believes he left Egypt with something much more valuable: a legitimate reason for a rematch. Hearn believes Verhoeven changed the conversation with his performance.

“Look, I’m not saying people weren’t excited about the fight, but nobody gave Rico a chance,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV.

“Now, especially in the Netherlands, they will think Rico can win. Maybe he can, but I think Usyk will do a better job next time.”

Verhoeven’s performance surprised most of boxing. The longtime kickboxing champion used his size, movement and awkward style to trouble Usyk for long stretches of the fight before being stopped tardy in the fight.

Hearn believes the result changed the entire conversation during the second meeting.

“If I were Usyk, I would have a rematch with Rico Verhoeven right away in the Netherlands, right? And I would probably end my career there with a victory,” Hearn said.

“But I think the result of this fight gives him an excuse to pull out.”

Before the fight, few people asked for a rematch. Many saw it as a one-time crossover event. After eleven rounds, Hearn sees it differently.

“Rico deserved a lot of recognition and a lot of respect,” Hearn said.

It is unclear whether there will be a rematch as Agit Kabayel and other contenders continue to seek title opportunities. According to Hearn, Verhoeven changed his position with one performance. Before the fight, few people believed that he could compete with Usyk. After that, the second fight suddenly seems a much easier sell.

Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most crucial fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.

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Last updated: 29/05/2026 at 2:44