UK Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk considers David Benavidez an ‘compelling option’
Oleksandr Usyk does not rule out a future match with David Benavidez and sees him as an “compelling option”, says his manager Sergey Lapin.
Saudi Arabian boxing boss Turki Alalshikh revealed he would like to form Usyk-Benavidez after the latter defeated Zurdo Ramirez in six rounds to become the unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion on Saturday.
Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title for the first time against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.
39-year-old the heavyweight champion has previously said he has three fights left in his illustrious career, and Lapin admits “Mexican Monster” could be an option.
“This could be a very compelling fight and will definitely attract a lot of attention from fans around the world,” Lapin said proboxing-fans.com.
“Benavidez is a sturdy and aggressive fighter, but he comes from a different weight class and that always plays a role at this level.
“At the same time, we are always open to massive fights that make sense both competitively and commercially.
“It’s definitely an compelling option for Aleksander.
“But at this point in his career, every fight has to be the right one in terms of legacy, challenge and overall value.
“So it’s not just about interest, it has to make complete sense at every level.
“Right now, all our attention is focused on the fight with Rico Verhoeven.
“We are not talking about any other fights at this stage.
“Once we do that, we will evaluate all options and move forward.”
Benavidez insists that a fight with the Ukrainian champion is not in his immediate plans.
The 29-year-old American plans to return to the airy heavyweight division, where he holds the WBC title, to fight for the undisputed title with Dmitry Bivol.
“In my eyes, this is not possible at this time,” he further said Ariel Helwani show.
“I want to be the reigning 175-pound and cruiserweight champion.
“If I move up to heavyweight, I should forget about airy heavyweight because the weight difference is just too massive.
“But I’ll never say never, because maybe in the future, when I’m 35, 36, we can move up to heavyweight.
“But now I only cover the cruiserweight and airy heavyweight divisions.”
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On Saturday in Houston, Texas, O’Shaquie Foster will put his WBC super featherweight world title on the line against Raymond Ford.
Foster (24-3, 12 KO) will face Ford (18-1-1, 8 KO) at the Fertitta Center.
Foster is making a second defense of the title he regained when he overtook Robson Conceicao in a rematch in 2024, following a controversial split decision loss almost four months earlier.
The 32-year-old Texan dominated Stephen Fulton Jr in December to win the WBC interim lightweight crown, but gave it up to return to 130 pounds.
Former featherweight world champion Ford hopes to become a two-division world champion.
The 27-year-old, who lost the WBA 126-pound title to Nick Ball, has won three straight since moving up to super featherweight, most recently a unanimous decision win over Abraham Nova in August.
Foster vs. Ford – date, place, start time and ring walk
- The fight between both fighters will take place on Saturday, May 30 live at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas.
- Broadcast will start at 8pm ET/5pm PT/1am BST (Sunday)
- Main event will start around 22:39 ET / 19:39 PT / 3:39 BST (Sunday)
Foster vs. Ford – how to watch
- The card can be viewed live around the world DAZN
Foster vs. Ford – last three fights
O’Shaquie Foster
- O’Shaquie Foster bt Stephen Fulton Jr – unanimous decision
- O’Shaquie Foster bt Robson Coceicao – split decision
- Robson Coceicao bt O’Shaquie Foster – split decision
Raymond Ford
- Raymond Ford vs. Abraham Nova – unanimous decision
- Raymond Ford bt Thomas Mattice – unanimous decision
- Raymond Ford vs. Orlando Gonzalez – unanimous decision
Foster vs. Ford – Undercard
- Charlie Sheehy (12-0, 7 KO) vs. Nike Theran (20-2, 14 KO) – lightweight (10 rounds)
- Omari Jones (6-0, 4 KO) vs Diego Osuna Zuniga (9-0, 6 KO) – super welterweight (8 rounds)
- Miguel Flores (29-5-1, 13 KO) vs. Javon Woodard Jr (16-2, 14 KO) – featherweight (10 rounds)
- Julian Montalvo (6-0, 4 KO) vs Maximus Moya (3-3, 2 KO) – super featherweight (6 rounds)
- Frank Espinoza (3-0, 3 KO) vs. Bryce Blackwell (4-2, 1 KO) – middleweight (6 rounds)
- Jahyden Franklin Britton (8-0, 5 KO) vs. Najee West (9-2, 4 KO) – super middleweight (6 rounds)
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UK Boxing
“I didn’t hear the bell” – Peter Fury reveals conversation with the referee after the Usyk vs Verhoeven match
Peter Fury revealed his conversation with referee Mark Lyson following Rico Verhoeven’s controversial defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt on Saturday.
Former kickboxing champion Verhoeven appeared to be on track to spark a celebrated altercation until he was dropped dramatically by Usyk and then waved off by Lyson in the 11th round, just as the bell sounded at the Pyramids of Giza.
Verhoeven’s trainer Fury was on the same plane to Britain on Sunday as the referee, who claimed he did not hear the bell.
“Was the referee wrong? Of course,” Fury said IFLTV.
“The referee was on the flight with me on the way back, so I talked to him.
“The best way to resolve any dispute is to ask the person who did it.
“I said, ‘You made a mistake.’
“And he told me what is very critical: ‘Peter, I didn’t hear the bell.’
“I believe now because I didn’t hear the bell either.
“I told him I thought he made a mistake.
“We shook hands, it’s sport, it’s boxing and that’s what it is.
“I think he realized he made a mistake.
“He said, ‘I did what I thought I had to do. He was shaking and I’m there to protect the player.'”
Although many believed the Dutchman had a clear advantage before the break, two judges declared the fight a draw, with another calling Verhoeven ahead when the fight was stopped.
Usyk defended his unified heavyweight world titles and faced the WBC interim champion, Agit Kabayel after the fight.
This was confirmed by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman Professional boxing fans that Kabayel needs his chance to fight Usyk before any rematch with Verhoeven, who was fighting as a professional boxer for only the second time.
Sulaiman also confirmed that Verhoeven will receive a WBC ranking after his stunning fight against the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
The post “I Didn’t Hear the Bell” – Peter Fury Reveals Conversation with Referee After Usyk vs Verhoeven appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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