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Roy Jones Jr Truthful Verdict on Anthony Joshua vs. Rico Verhoeven: ‘These Guys Can Punch’

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Roy Jones Jr delivers honest verdict on Anthony Joshua vs Rico Verhoeven: “These guys can punch”

Roy Jones Jr assessed Rico Verhoeven’s chances of winning a major title, imagining a scenario where he faces Anthony Joshua in some version of the heavyweight championship.

The former long-reigning kickboxing champion was scheduled to collide with “AJ” earlier this year, but instead secured a world title shot against Oleksandr Usyk.

It was only his second professional boxing fight, and yet Verhoeven put on an incredible performance last month, somehow managing to take Usyk into the 11th round.

Then there was a controversial result when Verhoeven was stopped on his feet after a hefty knockdown and referee Mark Lyson waved him off after the signal.

At this point The Dutchman gained a slight advantage on one of the judges’ scorecardsmocking the betting odds before the fight while gaining 8th place in the WBC rankings.

Verhoeven may therefore soon find himself fighting for the heavyweight title again, but will he be as successful as he was against Usyk?

I’m talking to Betting showroomHall of Famer Jones suggested that a hard-hitting opponent like Joshua would likely pose more problems than Usyk.

“Can Rico win the world title? You have to remember that style makes fight. For me, Usyk has never been the most explosive boxer, but he is a brilliant boxer.

“Tyson Fury has never been the most explosive boxer, but he’s also a brilliant boxer. But guys like [Daniel] Dubois, Joshua, Moses [Itauma] – these guys can hit. So they’ll find out what [Verhoeven] can take.

“I’m not going to just guarantee that he can win the title because different styles make for different fights.”

Another point to consider is that while Verhoeven represented uncharted territory for Usyk, opponents can now utilize 11 rounds of footage to analyze his style.

Joshua may also get additional information from Usyk, considering he currently shares a gym with the 39-year-old Ukrainian.

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Carl Froch Evaluates Conor Benns Odds Against Ryan Garcia Before Fight Announcement

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Carl Froch Evaluates Conor Benn's Odds Against Ryan Garcia Before Fight Announcement

Carl Froch has assessed the chances of Conor Benn pulling off a sizable upset against Ryan Garciawho he is expected to face in September.

Their welterweight showdown was reportedly set to be announced on Friday, with Dana White inviting both fighters to the stage at a UFC weigh-in.

According to boxing journalist Dan Rafael, however, there are still some issues that must be ironed out on Garcia’s sidewhich concern the involvement of DAZN and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy.

Benn, meanwhile, has reportedly completed his side of the agreement to challenge for Garcia’s WBC world title in Las Vegas on September 12.

The 29-year-old signed with White’s Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, before unanimously outpointing a faded Regis Prograis over 10 rounds in April.

Yet it seems the promotional and broadcast situation for his clash with Garcia – expected to be streamed on Netflix – is far from straightforward, being that the WBC champion seemingly has an existing contract with Golden Boy and DAZN.

If it does go ahead, though, then Froch has suggested on his YouTube channel that Garcia would prove too skilled for his less proven opponent, giving Benn just a 30% chance of victory.

“This one is exciting, because you get to find out where Conor Benn belongs. Does he belong at world level?

“Ryan Garcia … Would you say he’s an elite-level champion? He’s been down, he’s been beat, [but] you’ve got to say he’s world-class.

“So this is a massive step-up for Conor Benn. I’m not sure it’s the fight he will win. He probably can win it, if he gets the tactics right, but it’s a really tough ask.

“He’s the underdog – he’s probably 70/30 against.”

Garcia claimed his WBC title by dethroning Mario Barrioswho he floored in the opening round before winning their February encounter by unanimous decision.

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Tony Bellew Warns Moses Itauma to Steer Clear of One Heavyweight: Dont Go Near Him

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"Tony Bellew Warns Moses Itauma to Steer Clear of One Heavyweight: 'Don't Go Near Him'"

Tony Bellew has advised Moses Itauma against facing an opponent who, based on his superior experience, could become the first man to drag him into deep waters.

The heavyweight prodigy already has his hands full, of course, as he will face seasoned veteran Filip Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena on August 29.

On paper, this is undoubtedly his toughest test thus far, with Hrgovic’s only professional defeat having come via an eighth-round stoppage against Daniel Dubois in June 2024.

Itauma, on the other hand, has never made it past six rounds, but was close to doing so before dispatching Jermaine Franklin with a fifth-round finish in March.

Having cemented himself as a formidable knockout artist, the 21-year-old is now ranked No.1 with both the WBO and WBA, seemingly closing in on a major opportunity.

According to former world champion Bellew, though, the talented southpaw should steer well clear of Oleksandr Usykwho relinquished his WBC, IBF and WBA belts last month.

Even at the age of 39, and after having to grind out a 11th-round stoppage against Rico Verhoeven in May, the Ukrainian is still the lineal heavyweight champion and, more generally, a generational great.

For this reason, Bellew has told Fight Your Corner that, even at this stage in their careers, Itauma is not ready for an elite competitor like Usyk.

“Moses [shouldn’t] go near him at the minute. I think that it would be absolutely insane to throw Moses Itauma into [an] Usyk [fight] after not going past six [rounds] yet.

“Would you throw a fighter like that in with someone like [Usyk]? [Usyk’s] game plan would be, ‘I have only got to see past six rounds with you, kid. I am going to take you to places that you have never been’.”

While a matchup between Usyk and Itauma has been widely discussed, it does appear that the two southpaws will ultimately go their separate ways.

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Miguel Berchelt Aims for Fifth Consecutive Comeback Victory on August 29

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Miguel Berchelt Aims for Fifth Consecutive Comeback Victory on August 29
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The 12-round bout headlines a Coliseo Promotions “Noche Suprema” card that will be streamed live on YouTube.

“I am very motivated to fight in Hermosillo, my hometown for the last 15 years,” Berchelt told The Ring. “I want to show all my fans that there is more ‘Alacran’ Berchelt for many years.”

Berchelt (42-3, 37 KOs) enjoyed one of the sport’s strongest runs at 130 pounds after stopping Francisco “Bandido” Vargas in the 11th round to capture the WBC title in January 2017. He followed that victory with six successful title defenses, defeating former champion Takashi Miura and stopping Vargas in their rematch, Miguel Roman, and Jason Sosa during his reign.

His momentum came to a halt in February 2021 when Oscar Valdez knocked him out in the 10th round to claim the WBC belt. Less than a year later, Berchelt moved up to lightweight and suffered another stoppage loss, retiring after six rounds against Jeremia Nakathila.

Since then, the 34-year-old has quietly rebuilt his career with four consecutive victories, all in Mexico. Although the opposition has been modest, the winning streak has kept alive hopes that the former champion still has something to offer after years of punishing battles.

Cordoba (7-1, 4 KOs) enters the fight after scoring a second-round knockout in May. The Colombian has competed above his natural weight in recent outings and now steps in against the most accomplished opponent of his career.

A victory would extend Berchelt’s comeback to five straight wins as he attempts to work his way back into contention nearly a decade after beginning his title-winning run against Vargas.

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