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Rico Verhoeven opens his title fight with one professional fight

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Image: Usyk vs. Verhoeven on May 23: Rico Verhoeven Enters Title Fight With One Pro Bout

Verhoeven is 36 years senior, 6-foot-4, weighs approximately 269 pounds and has built a career in kickboxing. At Glory, he won 26 straight and held the heavyweight title for years. Fourteen championship titles. A long reign based on fitness, knees and combinations thrown with the shin guards in mind. None of this translates into a twelve-round championship fight scored by boxing judges who expect spotless strikes, command in the ring and effective aggression.

He has one boxing victory to his credit. One. Against Janos Finfer, who has never won a fight. This is the full biography of Oleksandr Usyk’s professional boxing behind the ring.

Peter Fury assures there will be no shame.

“People have to get behind this fight because I can tell you now: I will definitely not be on the world stage [and] I embarrass myself and my warrior.”

It has doubled.

“My fighter is a stern fighter, so it will be a great fight. Trust me. Usyk is an amazing champion. I respect him as a fighter, a boxer and I respect him as a person.”

And then the closer they get.

“And I respect Rico. So I’m going to do my job and I’m going to enjoy it, regardless of the outcome, that’s what it will be.”

It’s a balanced conversation and it has to be that way. Anyone who truly understands how elite Usyk is knows what awaits in the ring. His footwork changes the angle by an inch, his feints spark reactions before punches leave his shoulder, and his jab dictates the pace of the round. When you send a kickboxing champion to solve this problem, try to speak calmly. You can’t sell panic.

One sanctioned defense, one professional boxing victory and the WBC calls it special

The WBC approved this by resorting to the “special circumstances” clause, a useful part of the rule book that usually comes up when the usual standards seem inconvenient.

Heavyweight title fights are usually reserved for fighters who are high in the rankings and have proven themselves in the qualifying rounds. Verhoeven has none in boxing. The WBC decided that one professional fight against an undefeated opponent was enough to prepare for a championship opportunity. “Special” seems to cover a lot of ground.

Verhoeven reportedly spent some time working on his jab. Good. He’ll need it. Usyk’s entire heavyweight streak has been built on discipline, angles and a lead hand that makes opponents turn. Without a robust lead hand, you spend the night reaching for a moving target and punching the air.

Kickboxing builds endurance and timing. Boxing reveals technical flaws early. The lethargic jab is taken away. The square stance is rotated. You miss your lead hand and eat the counter.

The twelve rounds of the championship focus on craftsmanship and fitness in the ring. You have to hold position, work behind the jab and keep your feet under you while the other man sets the traps.

What happens when Usyk starts controlling the range and avoiding the lead leg? How long will it be before Verhoeven’s position begins to become clear?

Verhoeven’s size will be mentioned. Tyson Fury came in heavier and taller, and yet he was reaching for Usyk, eating left hands.

Verhoeven learns on the job.

He also handed over a contract with the UFC. This detail tells you something about the business calculation. Boxing ring under the Pyramids of Giza, pay-per-view DAZN, and the WBC belt is at stake. Payday will overshadow everything about his lone professional boxing appearance. He didn’t earn it through qualifiers or rankings. He accepted the offer when it landed on his desk. And who could blame him?

If the heavyweight champion offers you eight figures to find out if your jab can withstand the pressure of the championship, you sign the contract.

Verhoeven has never shared the ring with someone close to Oleksandr Usyk’s level.

Peter Fury can strengthen his guard. He can drill the jab. He can ask his man to work the weighty bag with straight right and left hooks thrown in succession. The only thing she can’t give him is twenty professional boxing fights full of scars and solving problems in the ring under great pressure.

If Verhoeven has any success, it will be early, when his size and strength are still fresh. Once this gets into the later rounds, it will turn into a boxing lesson and a successful evening for Usyk.

Usyk is expected to walk away with the belt. The real question is whether Verhoeven will last the distance or discover just how ruthless elite boxing can be.

Date: May 23
Start time: 7pm ET (US ET) / 12pm UK
Streaming platform: DAZN PPV
Location: Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Fight card: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven (WBC heavyweight champion)

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Joshua vs Fury Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix

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"Joshua vs Fury Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix"

Principality Stadium secures the British heavyweight fight, with a London press conference next week and the undercard to follow.

Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) and Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11. Netflix will broadcast the full event exclusively after organizers secured a British venue for the heavyweights’ first professional meeting.

Turki Alalshikh announced the fight, and Joshua and Fury are scheduled to attend a London press conference next week. The supporting card will be announced later; no undercard opponents were named in the supplied announcement.

The December date replaces the November plan discussed earlier in negotiations. Wembley had been Joshua’s preferred destination, but Cardiff secured the event following talks over whether the fight would remain in Britain or move to the United States.

Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insisted on a UK venue. His contract included that requirement, and their position held despite discussions involving New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Dana White said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”

Netflix to broadcast the full Cardiff card

Netflix’s preference for an evening American broadcast drove the push to stage the fight across the Atlantic. Madison Square Garden emerged as the leading US option before negotiations returned to Britain.

Cardiff keeps the contest on British soil, with a late opening bell expected to accommodate viewers in the United States.

The main event is expected around 1 a.m. UK timealthough the exact time has not been confirmed. If that schedule holds. A 1 a.m. GMT start would put the main event at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 11 for viewers on America’s east coast.

The fight is expected to take place beneath Principality Stadium’s retractable roof.

London press conference scheduled for next week

Alalshikh welcomed the agreement after months of negotiations over the event.

“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans,” he said.

Joshua and Fury previously signed a two-fight agreement in 2021. That booking collapsed after an arbitration ruling required Fury to face Deontay Wilder again.

Their December meeting now has a confirmed date, venue and broadcaster. Next week’s press conference will bring both fighters to London, with the remaining card and precise event timetable still to follow.

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Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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Manny Pacquiao and Shakur Stevenson Discuss Potential Fight in Cardiff

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"Manny Pacquiao and Shakur Stevenson Discuss Potential Fight in Cardiff"

Manny Pacquiao against Shakur Stevenson remains under discussion for the proposed Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury card in Cardiff. It would give the event a second major fight, but neither Pacquiao nor Stevenson has received a bout agreement.

BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire reports that two people connected to the talks say Netflix wants the matchup as part of a “double main event.” December 11 is the date under consideration at Principality Stadium, with December 18 also possible. Pacquiao adviser Jas Mathur told BoxingScene that Pacquiao’s financial terms are still being negotiated.

That leaves a great deal to settle before anyone can call this a fight. The Cardiff show itself has yet to be formally announced, and moving Joshua-Fury from the previously discussed Madison Square Garden setting means assembling the rest of the card around a different venue and date.

Pacquiao-Stevenson would bring two very different attractions to that card. Stevenson, 29, is coming off his January win over Teofimo Lopez and has since signed with Zuffa Boxing. Pacquiao, 47, drew with Mario Barrios in his July 2025 return. His name would draw attention far beyond the usual boxing audience, though the long layoff and age difference would become part of the conversation as soon as the fight was announced.

The proposed pairing also raises a practical question: what weight would they fight at? Pacquiao’s return came at welterweight, while Stevenson’s recent work has been at lighter weights. No weight, number of rounds, or title terms have been announced.

For now, the news is that Pacquiao-Stevenson has survived the reported switch to Cardiff and remains in Netflix’s plans, according to BoxingScene. The decisive development would be agreements reaching both fighters. Until then, it belongs on the list of fights being negotiated, rather than the Joshua-Fury undercard.

Pacquiao turns 48 on December 17. If the fight lands on December 18, Shakur would face him one day after his birthday. Pacquiao won his first world title in 1998, before Shakur turned two.

That age difference makes the matchup a hard sell as a competitive fight. If Shakur wins easily, how much credit does he get for beating a man nearly two decades older? If he boxes his way to a quiet decision, Pacquiao’s name may bring viewers to Netflix, but the fight may give them little reason to watch Shakur again.

Pacquiao’s fame can make this a major event. Turning it into a fight that helps Shakur is another matter. First, both men need to agree to terms; neither has received a bout agreement.

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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.

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Teofimo Lopez Set to Defend World Title on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Undercard – Boxing News

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"Teofimo Lopez Set to Defend World Title on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Undercard - Boxing News"

Teofimo Lopez has been offered a slot on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card, which is set to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.

‘The Takeover’ comes off a majority decision victory over Rolando Romero, who he dethroned last month after surviving a genuine scare in round five.

In reality, though, it was a far more convincing win than the scorecards suggested and, despite suffering a one-sided defeat to Shakur Stevenson in January, Lopez proved that he remains a highly-skilled operator at world level.

But while he has expressed an interest in unification matches at 147lbs, particularly one against WBC champion Ryan Garcia, the 29-year-old must first make a mandatory defence and retain his WBA title.

He has, in other words, been ordered to face Jack Catterallwho claimed his WBA ‘Regular’ title by producing arguably a career-best performance to unanimously outpoint Shakhram Giyasov in May.

Lopez, meanwhile, had attempted to swerve his mandatory duty and, according to boxing journalist Dan Rafaelis considering vacating his welterweight belt in pursuit of more lucrative opportunities.

If he is to proceed with the Catterall fight, however, then the three-division world champion could end up featuring on the expected Fury-Joshua card later this year.

Equally, Catterall has taken to social media and acknowledged that, as the champion, Lopez can choose to defend his title on home soil.

“Hey mate [Lopez]you fancy scrapping on the [Fury-Joshua] card? If not don’t worry, I’ll come to America and get my belt. Either way I’ll see you soon champ.”

According to WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, both parties have until October 22 to reach an agreement or risk a purse bid hearing being called.

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