Boxing

Rico Verhoeven doesn’t need a rematch – he needed one more second

Published

5 months ago

May 24, 2026

Referee Mark Lyson stops Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven late in the eleventh round in Egypt

Rico Verhoeven doesn’t need a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk because boxing has already taken away from him what he really deserved in Egypt.

Not heavyweight titles. Not a victory. Not even official recognition on the scorecards.

Verhoeven earned the right to hear the bell ring at the Pyramids after pushing the unified heavyweight champion much harder than almost anyone expected.

That moment was taken from him with a second left.

Usyk clearly didn’t prepare to the best of his ability and looked musclebound as he struggled through long stretches of the competition. However, turning him on for the last few rounds and hoping he had enough left in the tank to stop the tiring Verhoeven was certainly not part of the game plan.

The Ukrainian looked genuinely shocked at how Verhoeven was able to maneuver around the ring in such an unconventional way that he repeatedly prevented Usyk from gaining any rhythm.

As detailed in WBN’s live coverage from Giza, Verhoeven frustrated Usyk from the first round and never allowed the champion to fully take control.

Even when Usyk finally succeeded in the underbelly and started hurting Verhoeven towards the end, the Dutchman still survived, recovered and made the fight awkward enough to keep the fight hanging in the balance.

Verhoeven was seriously injured at the end of the eleventh set, but giving him that one minute to recover was the least he could pay for his fortitude and determination.

Mark Lyson’s decision

Therefore, referee Mark Lyson’s decision will remain a long-debated topic of the event.

Lyson is usually one of the better referees in boxing and is rarely controversial. This time, however, he must seriously consider the decision to stop the fight.

The official time of the eleventh round is 2:59. In fact, I thought it was at least 3:01 because the bell had already rung before Lyson had fully entered the action.

Verhoeven got back to his feet. He was prepared to continue and was a second away from hearing the bell ending the final round.

He fully deserved this opportunity.

Mark Robinson

Instead, the ending immediately reopened familiar accusations that boxing protects its own when outside forces threaten the established order.

As detailed in WBN’s post-fight report, the controversy only intensified as Verhoeven appeared to be ahead on multiple unofficial cards entering the championship rounds.

WBN had Rico Verhoeven leading 97-93 after ten rounds and 105-103 after eleven, even including the knockdown.

However, both the live WBC scorecards read in the arena and the WBA scorecards revealed after the fight in which Verhoeven did not win.

That says a lot.

There is no need for a rematch with Usyk

As for the rematch, there’s really no point.

Usyk would almost certainly have prepared better for the second fight and would likely have stopped Verhoeven in the first half of the fight once he was fully accustomed to the movement and rhythm that surprised him in Egypt.

That intrigue is now over and Usyk has his mandatory duties behind him.

Boxing had a chance to adapt to another combat sports star who went far beyond his comfort zone and exceeded almost all expectations placed on him.

Instead, the sport turned what should have been a remarkable crossover success into another evening dominated by controversy, debates over results and accusations of protectionism surrounding one of boxing’s biggest stars.

Verhoeven may never officially receive the recognition many believe he deserves. But he also doesn’t need a rematch to confirm what happened.

For ten rounds under the pyramids, Rico Verhoeven proved that he was there. This should be enough.

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.

Boxing

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

Published

2 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

By Boxing News 24 Desk – 10/17/2026 – Comments

Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Wardley on DAZN PPV at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, October 17.

Fabio Wardley gets another crack at Daniel Dubois five months after dropping him twice but losing their first fight. Dubois recovered to stop Wardley in the 11th round in Manchester.

UPCOMING

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley

2026-10-17 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · O2 Arena, London · Live on DAZN

Daniel Dubois0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Fabio Wardley0

ROUNDDaniel DuboisFabio Wardley

Wardley returns as the challenger. Dubois makes his first defence against the heavyweight he dethroned in May, with DAZN PPV and DAZN Ultimate Tier carrying the rematch.

Start Time and Ring Walks

Coverage starts at 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.

Dubois and Wardley are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT. All times fall on Saturday, October 17.

DAZN PPV Price

The standalone PPV costs £24.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the USincluding the undercard and main event.

DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers receive the event without a separate PPV purchase.

Full Fight Card, Weigh-In Results and Expected Times

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley

WBO heavyweight title

Dubois: 253.9 lbs (115.17 kg) | Wardley: 248.3 lbs (112.63 kg)

Expected ring walks: 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT

Louie O’Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jr.

British and Commonwealth lightweight titles

O’Doherty: 134.12 lbs (60.84 kg) | Gomez Jr.: 134.3 lbs (60.92 kg)

Approximate start: 9:30 pm BST / 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT

Adam Olaniyan vs Dan Garber

Heavyweight

Olaniyan: 250.15 lbs (113.47 kg) | Garber: 223.15 lbs (101.22 kg)

Approximate start: 9:10 pm BST / 4:10 pm ET / 1:10 pm PT

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres

Heavyweight

Jalolov: 255.12 lbs (115.72 kg) | Dacres: 242.9 lbs (110.18 kg)

Approximate start: 8:10 pm BST / 3:10 pm ET / 12:10 pm PT

Nelson Birchall vs Levi Gilles

Approximate start: 7:10 pm BST / 2:10 pm ET / 11:10 am PT

Image: Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch Live Results and Fight Updates

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing News 24 Desk

BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

Boxing

Solomon Dacres Confidently Takes on Bakhodir Jalolov in Epic Showdown

Published

3 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Solomon Dacres Confidently Takes on Bakhodir Jalolov in Epic Showdown"

Solomon Dacres expects to stop Bakhodir Jalolov tonight, but his record offers little support for that prediction against the 6’7″ two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Jalolov has looked sluggish enough lately to give critics room for skepticism. The dominant puncher seen in the amateur ranks rarely appears in his prize ring outings, prompting a few observers to sniff an upset. Regardless, Jalolov looking flat does not suddenly transform Dacres into a top threat.

“Got to get him out of there, man,” Dacres told SecondsOut. “Mid to late rounds.”

That would be a considerable leap for a fighter whose most revealing professional result remains his first-round stoppage defeat to David Adeleye in December 2024.

Dacres describes that loss as a “blip,” but it came against the most notable opponent he had faced. Across five years as a professional, he hasn’t built a record of beating contenders that would make a Jalolov knockout seem likely.

His points win against Vladyslav Sirenko also requires context. Sirenko amassed numbers without testing himself against true threats, meaning that victory hardly proves Dacres can deal with Jalolov’s height, reach, and southpaw boxing skills.

“This fight here is beyond English title level, man,” Dacres said. “This is like world level.”

Jalolov deserves criticism for how slowly his professional career has moved and for performances that haven’t matched expectations. His Olympic medals don’t excuse that, and Dacres has an opportunity to make him work.

Expecting Dacres to win because Jalolov underwhelms ignores his own modest punch output. Managing just three stoppages across ten victories, he lacks the firepower to back up big talk.

For Dacres to land the kinds of sustained combinations required to stop someone Jalolov’s size, he has to pin him down. Jalolov does not fight like a traditional, stationary heavyweight slugger. Even when he looks uninspired, he uses lateral footwork, maintains long range with his southpaw lead hand, and angles off before opponents can set their feet.

Dacres lacks both the foot speed to cut off the ring effectively and the explosive one-punch power to make Jalolov cautious. If Dacres tries to force the issue, he’ll put himself at risk of getting caught. Pressing aggressively against a 6’7″ southpaw who excels at firing straight left hands down the pipe is asking for trouble.

Unless Jalolov completely checks out mentally and stands against the ropes to trade, Dacres will be eating long jabs and counters all night, with a Jalolov stoppage being the far more probable outcome.

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing News 24 Desk

Boxing

Atif Oberlton Promises Exciting Future Ahead of Deon Nicholson Match

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Atif Oberlton Promises Exciting Future Ahead of Deon Nicholson Match

Undefeated American light heavyweight Atif Oberlton believes there is plenty more to come after rating his last performance seven out of ten as he prepares to face knockout puncher Deon Nicholson on November 7.

Oberlton improved to 17-0 with a shutout decision over Roamer Alexis Angulo in August, but believes he has another level to reach despite winning every round.

Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News, the Philadelphia southpaw reflected on his victory over Angulo and becoming the first fighter to stop Carlos Gongora earlier this year.

“They said Carlos Gongora was going to be a very tough opponent, and he was one of my toughest challenges thus far. He’d never been stopped, and I was able to get the stoppage pretty early on because I locked in and trained the way I needed to.

“Looking back, I’d rate my performance against Angulo maybe a 7 out of 10—I could have definitely done better. But this camp is different mentally. We had a lot of factors going on last time, but I’m entirely focused now,” he told WBN.

The assessment comes as promoter Dmitriy Salita looks to establish Oberlton as America’s leading light heavyweight.

Oberlton Faces Nicholson

Nicholson enters their November 7 contest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with 19 knockouts from 23 victories and a reputation for dangerous punching power.

The Alabama fighter was previously linked to a showdown with former undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev, making him another significant test for Oberlton.

“Nicholson is a good opponent—a good dance partner. We’re getting closer to the level of opponents that allow for a standout performance because the challenge keeps stepping up. I definitely don’t take him lightly. I respect everyone who gets in the ring and stands in front of me, but I’m going to go out there and do what I trained to do.”

The ten-round bout at Kiva Auditorium will be Oberlton’s fourth appearance of 2026, with Salita Promotions delivering on its promise to keep the unbeaten contender active.

Atif Oberlton pictured with promoter Dmitriy Salita ahead of his fight against Deon Nicholson — Salita Promotions

Salita Promotions Keeps Promise

Oberlton says his relationship with Salita has allowed him to build momentum while continuing to work toward a world title opportunity.

“Salita Promotions told me they were going to keep me busy when I signed, and they’ve kept their end of the bargain. I’m keeping mine by going out there, performing, and winning—whether by early stoppage or decision.

“As long as they keep putting people in front of me, I’m going to keep fighting. Every time I step in the ring, I want to perform better than the last time, climb the ladder, and take some hardware home. I’m ready to take some candy.”

Oberlton has already stopped Joseph George and Gongora in 2026 before proving he could dominate over ten rounds against Angulo.

With 14 knockouts in 17 victories, Oberlton has shown he can finish opponents early and control fights over the distance.

Now, with another training camp behind him and a fourth fight of the year approaching, Oberlton believes his best performances are still ahead of him.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.