There are some things in life that a person will only try once and then swear they will never try again: having a baby, getting married, running a marathon, drugs, shoplifting, skydiving, a fistfight, a suicide attempt, love.

There are things in life that you try and then decide to try again: having a baby, getting married, running a marathon, mind-altering drugs, shoplifting, skydiving, a fistfight, a suicide attempt, love.

In boxing, you would think that spending time in the company of Oleksandr Usyk would be considered a one-night stand. However, because the Ukrainian is such an enigma, and people tend to think they can fix things or other people, there is a constant feeling that someone at some point will be able to solve that enigma and defeat the huge left-hander. As a result, both because of that belief and Usyk’s current status in the heavyweight division, the line to fight him is growing. Few in the lineup seem prepared, at the moment, to beat Usyk, but that won’t stop them from believing, nor will it be enough to stop them from lining up and waiting their turn.

On Saturday, Wembley Stadium had a novel contender in the round. This man, like one or two others, has shared the ring with Usyk before, so he knows exactly what it takes to beat him and how far he falls tiny of that requirement. That man is, of course, Briton Daniel Dubois, who stopped Anthony Joshua in impressive fashion with a tiny right hook in front of 96,000 fans at the weekend. While merciless, the performance spoke volumes about Dubois’ recent progress and heralded his arrival as one of the best heavyweights in the world. It also built on previous wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic and showed the pace of his development since losing to Usyk in nine rounds last August.

That night, in the Usyk fight, he was sent to school, like many of Usyk’s opponents, and didn’t find “success” – if you can call it that – until the fifth round, when a low blow left Usyk writhing on the canvas for several minutes. That blow, of course, had no bearing on the fight, nor did it ruin Usyk’s lesson, but now, 13 months later, it is being used as evidence that these two men, Usyk and Dubois, should meet again. Relying on knockout victories over Miller, Hrgovic and now Joshua, clearly isn’t enough to make a rematch with Usyk worthwhile. But where there’s controversy in boxing, there’s a case, and Dubois and his team certainly believe they have one.

Fair enough, they believed they were right at the time and made quite a splash about the incident; both during the fight and especially after it, when Dubois lost. Whether feeble or not, the controversial nature of that moment in the fifth round allowed those involved to take the narrative and twist it however they wanted. For Dubois and his team, that meant presenting a different picture than what we witnessed in Poland in August. That meant exaggerating the success Dubois had in the fight, both before and after that flashpoint, and asking the question, “If, as we believe, that wasn’t a low blow, did Daniel Dubois essentially knock out Oleksandr Usyk in the fifth round?”

Without a doubt, if the blow was low, that’s true and a fair interpretation of things. Usyk, after all, was on the canvas for a lot longer than 10 seconds and seemed to be in more physical pain from that Dubois punch than he ever had before. He was hurt by it, there’s no doubt about it, but that still doesn’t mean the punch was justified, nor does it mean that the controversy over the low blow should be enough to bring two fighters who have yet to prove themselves equals together for a second fight.

The last time this happened in Usyk’s career, we were left with a similar feeling and the same question: why? Back then, Anthony Joshua was chasing Usyk for a rematch, a contracted one, and there was probably more of an argument for it then, simply because Joshua was the champion that Usyk had dethroned and because in the process he had at least managed to last 12 rounds. It didn’t matter that he won very few of those 12 rounds. Joshua wanted the rematch and felt he would do better the second time around.

As it turned out, that was both true and ultimately irrelevant. It’s true that Joshua fared marginally better in the pair’s rematch, even hurting Usyk in the ninth round, but there was a persistent sense throughout that Usyk was always in control, both of the pace of the fight and the opponent in front of him. In the end, it was just more of the same. Usyk was given a chance to assert his superiority, while Joshua returned to the place of trauma and went through it all again, this time exacerbating his insecurities and self-destructive beliefs. So it was no surprise when Joshua took the microphone after all that and expressed too much of himself to a global audience. In many ways, he had been exposed twice in one night: first by Usyk, and then by his own demons.

The next British heavyweight to try again with Usyk will be Tyson Fury on December 21. He outperformed Joshua and Dubois when he boxed Usyk in May, but like Joshua and Dubois, he still couldn’t figure out the former cruiserweight champion. Down in the ninth round, Fury pulled off a huge victory, reaching the final bell, the sound of which would have been not only a relief but a reminder that a rematch was on the table. Had that not sounded and Fury been stopped in the ninth, any demands for a sequel would have been greatly and rightly reduced.

As it is, because Fury had a decent period early on and because he is a man with some physical advantages, the Usyk rematch is significant and will be engaging when it comes. It is clearly more intriguing than Usyk vs. Joshua II and the same can be said for the Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois rematch, despite Dubois’ progress. The truth is that Usyk vs. Fury II is still a clash of the two best heavyweights in the world and nothing we have seen from the others since their first meeting has changed that.

Even Dubois, as good as he looked on Saturday, isn’t quite there yet. In fact, given his age (27) and recent form, it would almost be a shame if he was brought back to that level so quickly when he’s been developing so well. “I want to have my rematch (against Usyk),” Dubois said after beating Joshua, “and right the wrong.”

Meanwhile, Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports: “You never know, but why not? Some people had questions about the (first) fight. There was one moment in the fight that left some doubts about the low blow. Why not if Dubois is still ready? Double no-debate, triple no-debate? Oh come on, that makes history.”

The exile of Oleksandr Usyk after three huge wins is evidence of Daniel Dubois’ ambition and willingness to test himself, and he deserves nothing but applause for that. But it could also be argued that the very thing that makes the heavyweights believe they’re the ones to dethrone Usyk – his age: 37 – should be precisely what Dubois and his team should be looking at as a reason to wait. After all, with Dubois 10 years younger than Usyk and currently in great shape, there’s every chance Dubois could pick up the mantle in the next year or two, without risking what Anthony Joshua experienced with Usyk in Saudi Arabia. That is, at a time when his self-belief has never been greater, perhaps the last thing Daniel Dubois needs is to be brought back into line and reminded once again of the flaws he’s managed to hide with concealer in recent fights. Perhaps true success in boxing is a byproduct of timing; that is, skipping the bad fights and taking the right ones. This is the typical ethos of most boxers on their way up, when avoidance is often the name of the game, and that only changes, this approach, when the huge money finds its way to the table and the boxer is surrounded by men ready and willing to share it. Then the boxer hears only what he wants to hear and what his team feels that hear. Then even a punch below the belt can become a knockout blow. Then even defeat can become a victory.

Keyshawn Davis says he would knock out Devin Haney if he got the chance to fight the former two-division world champion. Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) says Haney doesn’t have the power to make him respect what he brings and hasn’t been able to stop him from attacking.

Keyshawn’s impact and Crawford style fighting style would be a nightmare for Haney if he couldn’t stop him with clinches, punches and movement. Some see Keyshawn as the next Crawford and destined for greatness in the sport. Top Rank thinks so because they put him in the top tier and match him up well to make sure he doesn’t get beat.

The glow has gone out

Much of Haney’s career luster faded after his loss to Ryan Garcia last April, and he no longer holds the title. red carpet treatment once received.

It was as if Haney was no longer a member of the royal family, but a common peasant working the land and paying taxes to the king. Haney even dressed like a serf and did not wear the robes of one of the upper echelons. That loss to Ryan really did something to Haney’s standing and the way he is treated now.

We saw this last weekend when Haney argued with promoter Eddie Hearn over tickets to the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois fight at Wembley Stadium. Would this have happened if Haney had beaten Ryan in April? That’s a huge no. Haney would have been part of the crowd, a celebrity guest who would have received first-class treatment.

Keyshawn, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, believes much of Haney’s success in his career came from being bigger than his opponents at 135 and 140 pounds. In many of his fights, Haney looked huge in the ring after rehydrating and looked out of place against his smaller opponents. Unfortunately, that’s the way the sport is played now.

Younger fighters who can melt massive amounts of water choose to fight in divisions far below their frame. Then somehow they find a way to quickly regain 20+ pounds of water. Who knows how they do it, but there are certainly ways to cheat the system.

Until boxing solves this problem by making additional weigh-ins mandatory on fight day, we will continue to see this phenomenon.

Keyshawn, a lightweight title contender promoted by Top Rank, would have to move up to welterweight to fight Haney because that’s where he’s headed.

“I feel like me and Devin Haney would be an uncomplicated fight for me. It would be super uncomplicated and I know I could stop Devin Haney,” Keyshawn Davis said Top-level boxingcriticizing former two-division world champion Haney. “I said that before the Ryan fight. He just doesn’t have anything for me.”

If Keyshawn could move up to welterweight without losing the power he showed at 135, it would be captivating to see him fight Haney. That seems impossible given the weight classes and network issues that stand in the way of making that fight happen.

“You have no power. You have nothing to worry about,” Keyshawn said of Haney. “What are you going to do to stop me? With what I have, I don’t think he has anything that can stop me. His defense isn’t that good. I think I have better defense than he does.

“I know he’s fought better guys than me. So I’ll give him a chance, but I feel like I have a better defense than he does. Yeah, I do, but you have to realize he’s fought a lot of guys that were weaker than me,” Keyshawn said, responding to the news that Haney’s resume is “tough.”

“A lot of guys were smaller than him. He’d say at the weigh-ins, ‘You’re too petite.’ So he knew what he was doing, man. Everyone has a process to get there. I’m not criticizing what he does,” Davis said.

Haney’s various promoters have done a great job of matching him throughout his career, but all good things must come to an end. It all fell apart when he finally met his rival, Ryan Garcia, and now he looks like yesterday’s news. Haney may not be rebuilt, as he is mentally shaken and can no longer bring himself to fight in weight classes below his enormous junior middleweight. The end.

“His guys are smarter than him and it was uncomplicated for him to slip away. When you’re taller than someone, more slender, it’s uncomplicated to slip away and just avoid obstacles and keep them out, and that’s his game. Size means something, man. I just feel like he can’t do that [anything] “with me,” Keyshawn said.

Up until Haney’s last fight with Ryan Garcia on April 20, he was bigger than all his opponents, which gave him a huge advantage. However, in the fight with Ryan, he looked deadly and was beaten by him badly. Since that fight, Haney has looked like a former war veteran who is no longer the same mentally after witnessing the horrors of countless battles. This fight brought out something in Haney that he can’t forget.

The PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video event on Saturday, October 19 has added two fights featuring rising boxing stars looking to put their best foot forward against heavy-hitting veterans.

The evening will be headlined by Australian superstar and former world champion Tim Tszyu, who will face undefeated IBF super welterweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, broadcast live from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

In the main event, undefeated Cuban talent Yoenis Téllez will face knockout specialist Johan González in a 10-round super welterweight bout, while undefeated middleweight title challenger Mateo Tapia will face sledgehammer Endry Saavedra in a 10-round opener at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT.

The action will stream exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the U.S. and select countries. Join today or start a free 30-day trial to earn your Champion Card.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. The main event is promoted in association with No Limit Boxing and Main Events.

“PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video will kick off October 19 with two undefeated fighters in tough matchups, all leading up to an explosive clash between Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Yoenis Téllez could add his name to an all-star lineup of top contenders at 154 pounds against the formidable Johan González, while Mateo Tapia is poised to make a splash in the middleweight division if he can defeat the speedy Endry Saavedra in his first fight. Be sure to tune in to Prime Video or come to Caribe Royale in Orlando for a night of top-to-bottom action.”

**YOENIS TELLEZ VS. JOHAN GONZALEZ**

Yoenis Tellez, one of the youngest fighters to come out of boxing-rich Cuba, will return to fight in the warm confines of Caribe Royale for the fifth time in his youthful career. He will look to impress in a 10-round super welterweight bout against the hard-hitting Johan González.

Trained by the legendary Ronnie Shields in Stafford, Texas, the 24-year-old Tellez (8-0, 6 KOs) stepped into the ring on compact notice last July to dominate veteran Sergio Garcia and score a third-round TKO in the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford fight. Originally from Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Tellez continued his rise in two more fights, both of which took place at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. In December 2023, he closed the show in style with a 10th-round knockout of Livan Navarro, and most recently in April of this year, he scored a unanimous decision win over previously undefeated Joseph Jackson.

“Fighting an experienced fighter like Johan González is a great opportunity to show the world what I’m made of,” Téllez said. “He fought at an elite level and I expect a tough fight. I’ll leave everything in the ring. On October 19, I’ll be in the best shape to give my all and give all the fans a great night of boxing. Caribe Royale will be on fire.”

Born in Valencia, Venezuela, and currently training in Las Vegas, González (34-3, 33 KOs) bounced back from a May loss to top super welterweight contender Jesus Ramos by stopping Ivan Herrera in two rounds in August. González made his U.S. debut in 2023, picking up two wins in the U.S., first over Ricardo Villalba in August and then Guido Schramm in November. The 33-year-old won those fights to bounce back from a 2022 decision loss to former world title challenger Magomed Kurbanov. A pro since 2017, González won his first 22 fights before losing by split decision in 2018.

“This fight is everything to me, I have to win it,” González said. “I work firm every day to make sure I leave with my hand raised. Right now, I’m just focused on doing everything I can to keep my career moving forward. I have one mission, to win on October 19.”

**MATEO TAPIA VS. SAAVEDRY STYLE**

Mateo Tapia, a longtime friend and sparring partner of Tim Tszyu, will make his second appearance in the United States when he faces Endry Saavedra, whose last seven wins have come by knockout. Tapia and Saavedra will square off in a 10-round middleweight bout that will begin live on October 19.

The 26-year-old Tapia (17-0, 10 KOs) was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and has spent most of his career fighting out of Australia, where he has sparred more than 500 rounds with Tszyu. Currently training in St. Petersburg, Florida, Tapia hopes to get closer to a world title with a win over Saavedra. Tapia made his U.S. debut in October 2023, defeating Erik Robles by knockout, then won a 10-round unanimous decision over Keiber Gonzalez in Australia in April.

“This fight is a huge opportunity for me and I’m here to take it with both hands,” Tapia said. “I’m excited to be fighting on Tim Tszyu’s undercard and I’m grateful to my team for making it happen. It’s been a long camp and I’ll definitely be ready when the bell rings on October 19th. I can’t wait to showcase my skills and proudly represent Australia and Mexico on the international stage. Let’s go.”

Originally from Venezuela and currently fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico, Saavedra (16-1, 13 KOs) enters this fight having knocked out three opponents in a row since his only career loss, an October 2022 decision to Etoundi Michel William. The 33-year-old turned pro in 2018 and has won his first 13 fights after a long amateur career that has seen him fight around the world against a number of future title contenders. Saavedra most recently traveled to Australia in March and stopped Isaac Hardman on his home turf in the eighth round of a fight he was trailing by two of three points.

“I can’t wait to take advantage of what’s ahead of me on Oct. 19,” Saavedra said. “I plan on showing the world why I belong in the top middleweight division. I’m up against a tough Australian fighter who represents Mexico, so I expect a war, just like every fight. You can’t miss it.”