As the boxing world continues to debate the controversial stoppage between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, Eddie Hearn has revealed how Anthony Joshua scored the fight up to this point.
Verhoeven performed much better than almost everyone expected, and the Dutch kickboxing legend won multiple rounds against Usyk, and as the fight entered its final stages, there was a real chance he could come out on top.
These hopes were dashed in the 11th round when Usyk finally fired a mighty shot that knocked down his opponent. Verhoeven managed to get back on his feet, but the Ukrainian responded with a series of punches, which caused referee Mark Lyson to step in and stop the fight.
It was this break that caused much controversy as many people believed it came prematurely, especially since many viewers felt that Verhoeven should have been ahead on the scorecards with one round remaining.
Former unified world heavyweight champion Joshua wasn’t one of them though, because promoter Hearn told IFL TV that although “AJ” was surprised by what he saw, Usyk had the lead on his card.
“He was shocked. He actually just picked Usyk up for the fight.”
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Joshua supported the Ukrainian, as although the two have fought twice together, they have since become gym mates, with Usyk stating that he will assist ‘AJ’ become a world champion again in the future.
Roy Jones Jr has no doubt who would win in a fantastic fight between Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Boxing legends Mayweather and Leonard both have the honor of being world champions in five weight divisions, but perhaps it was their welterweight days when each was at the peak of their powers.
Mayweather defeated the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez in the 147-pound division, and Leonard became the undisputed welterweight champion after victories over fellow “Four Kings” icons Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns.
This has often led fans to debate how the clash between Mayweather and Leonard would have gone had they met in prime welterweight form, and Jones, a Hall of Famer, is confident of what the outcome would have been.
“For me, people don’t give him enough credit. People always say, ‘Well, Floyd would beat Sugar,’ no, honey, Floyd isn’t as mean as Sugar.
“How? [would Mayweather win]. How are you going to keep him away from him? Sugar is a dog. People don’t understand. Just because her name is Sugar doesn’t mean anything! Sugar is a dog, people don’t pay enough attention to him.
Jones is extremely confident that Leonard would have put his hand up, which he did when he faced Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr., in September 1978, winning after a 10th-round stoppage.
Luis Ortiz has already made two appearances in the Team Boxing League and the one-round format seems to be perfect for his aging body at 47 years elderly.
The former two-time heavyweight title challenger returned to action for the Miami Assassins at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, helping his team remain undefeated following a 24-6 victory over Recent York.
However, the biggest debate wasn’t the victory itself, but the moment Ortiz hit the canvas.
Luis Ortiz was eliminated in TBL
Edward Millard entered the competition with a professional record of 2-0 and a similar record of 2-0 in TBL. The Recent Yorker proved exactly why anything is possible in a growing format, releasing Ortiz at a moment few expected.
By comparison, Deontay Wilder needed five rounds to knock down Ortiz for the first time in his original heavyweight title fight. Millard managed to achieve this with just three minutes at his disposal.
Ortiz looked visibly irritated by what happened.
The Cuban veteran immediately increased the intensity of the fight and reacted as many expected from a fighter of his pedigree. It was then reminded that even at the age of 47, Ortiz still possesses the strength that once made him one of the most feared heavyweights in boxing.
“King Kong” crushed Millard and helped Miami continue its balmy streak since he joined the team.
Ortiz has now stopped two opponents in TBL, both fighters who would normally never get a chance to fight in the ring with a former world title challenger in time-honored boxing structures.
Team Boxing League
Team Boxing League Format
Millard may have failed in the end, but he also showed why this format works.
The heavyweight with only two career wins knocked Luis Ortiz to the floor and briefly threatened one of the biggest names competing in the league.
Team Boxing League continues to prove that there is room for both.
Ortiz wasn’t the only veteran who turned back the years.
Former cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunninghamwho turns 50 himself next month, stopped Miguel Teo as the Philly Smoke defeated Boston 14-11.
Established names continue to gain a platform to compete, while younger and less experienced fighters are given opportunities they likely wouldn’t receive elsewhere.
Millard proved that anything can happen in one round. Ortiz proved what can happen when you make him enraged.
All videos and full results are available on the Team Boxing League YouTube channel.
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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.
Mosley was asked where Keyshawn fits into the situation and gave his take on how this fight would go.
Mosley pointed to Garcia’s upset win over Haney as the type of performance Keyshawn should try to repeat.
“I think Keyshawn would take the Ryan Garcia method and jump on him. Dev will try him out for the first two or three rounds, but when that doesn’t work, he’ll get on his bike and be gone,” Mosley told MillCity Boxing.
“He’s got to make sure he’s ready because if he’s not like he was when he started, you know, you’ve got to go with Devin because Devin, you know, he’s going to be ready,” Mosley said.
The father of the former three-division world champion also suggested that Haney and his father, Bill Haney, have developed a reputation for gaining the upper hand before a fight even starts.
“They’re really good at talking and having fun with the guy. That’s the fight before the fight,” Mosley said. “This mental war. It’s definitely working.”
Keyshawn, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the WBO welterweight division, has repeatedly called for a fight with Haney since he became the mandatory challenger. Meanwhile, Haney continued to say he wanted to face Shakur next.
The WBO ordered Haney to fight Keyshawn, while Haney also publicly discussed fighting Stevenson. The decision in which direction it will go may determine the immediate future of the division.
Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
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