UK Boxing
Tony Bellew reveals who will rule the heavyweight division when Usyk retires
Tony Bellew shared more about what the heavyweight division will look like when two-time undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk decides it’s time to end his career.
Bellew believes we will see a division ruler similar to Usyk’s dominance since moving up from cruiserweight.
Over the past six years, “The Cat” has absolutely destroyed everyone in his path in the heavyweight division.
From early wins over Derek Chisora to back-to-back wins over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, Usyk dominated.
Bellew talked to Carl Froch Froch on the fight and revealed what he thinks the heavyweight division will look like when Usyk fights his last fight.
“Oleksandr Usyk will just walk off into the sunset and say, ‘I’ve had enough.’
“When he does that, you’ll find that everyone’s heading towards the belts, and then you’ll find weaker champions, and then someone else will come along.”
Usyk is now 38 years elderly and his future remains unknown despite holding three of the four belts.
He flirted with the possibility of a return this year against the former world champion; albeit a warrior who didn’t even look close his best days with Deontay Wilder.
Wilder returned from back-to-back knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker, defeating Tyrell Herndon in his last fight.
It looks like a fight between the pair is getting closer.
Former world champion Bellew has listed who he thinks will win the titles, but admits it won’t be an basic run for the modern champion.
“Then Moses Itauma, and he’ll pristine up again. And then you’ll have a reigning, undisputed, unified champion again.
“But he’s going to have to go through his first year of shit. And it’s going to be shit.”
Itauma has been shining since his professional debut in 2023.
He remains undefeated with 13 wins and 11 knockouts.
Last fighting in August, Itauma secured a real victory over former world-class contender Dillian Whyte, whom he demolished just two minutes into the fight.
The 21-year-old returns to action in just a few weeks against the hard-wearing Jermaine Franklin.
Itauma-Franklin is headlining Co-op Live and this will be Itauma’s first UK headliner.
If he makes it through Franklin, it’s no secret he’ll start looking at titles.
Saudi Arabian boxing boss Turki Alalshikh said he would like Itauma to face Usyk next in a title fight after his victory in August.
I want to see Usyk against Itauma. This is a fight.
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 19, 2025
Against Usyk or not, Itauma and his team hope to get closer to competing on the world stage in 2026.
The post Tony Bellew Reveals Who Will Rule Heavyweights After Usyk’s Departure appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Johnny Nelson MBE has commented on a potential clash between Rico Verhoeven and Anthony Joshua.
Nelson reflected on Verhoeven’s recent performance and the traits he saw that could cause problems for Joshua.
“AJ” and the kickboxing icon were scheduled to fight earlier this year as it looked like Verhoeven would have his first boxing fight in over 14 years.
Initial plans were scrapped after Joshua became involved in wa terrible accident in Nigeria just 10 days after beating Jake Paul.
Nelson talked to Daily mail box about how he thought the contest might have gone.
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“I think he took a good turn. I think he took a turn that could have ended his career.
“Because Rico was powerful and substantial, there were shots that missed Usyk’s chin.”
Instead, the “King of Kickboxing” faced two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
He entered the field as a much weaker player and many expected the Ukrainian to win his 25th career victory.
Verhoeven pushed the defending champion for 11 rounds, with one of the judges’ scorecards favoring him before the fight was stopped.
After Usyk released him, referee Mark Lyson stepped in and stopped the fight, even though Verhoeven wanted to continue.
“Remember, Rico is used to being kicked in the head by bigger men, so ‘AJ’ has strength and accuracy.
“If he doesn’t get rid of him first and Rico keeps holding him and twisting and using that physicality on him…
“You know what, it shouldn’t be like this, but now we know what he means. If it was “AJ”, Rico would have his number.”
After the defeat, he spoke to Verhoeven Sun boxing and revealed his disappointment at the end of the competition.
“It’s a mistake. This is a championship fight!
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“They would never stop this fight [if Usyk was hurt in the 11th round]. Never! They would let him go down and keep his hands up for the rest of the round.
“That’s the only thing I’m looking for. Just say, ‘Yes, you’re right.’
“If it had been the other way around or with any other boxer, we would have done it differently.
“It goes both ways.”
A fight between the two seems unlikely in the near future considering Joshua’s return to the ring on July 25.
In Saudi Arabia, he will face Kristian Prenga, wanting to organize the long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury.
The post Career Retirement – Johnny Nelson Predicts Joshua vs. Verhoeven appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Ryan Rozicki is set to return to the ring tomorrow when he faces Chris Billam-Smith live from Bournemouth.
The Billam-Smith vs Rozicki fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Many people know “CBS” as he plans a successful homecoming run, headlining in Bournemouth for the first time since 2023.
He fights out of the Bournemouth International Center once again forced Mateusz Masternak to retire on the stool in the eighth round due to a rib injury.
Source: Boxxer
The Briton’s opponent before entering the competition remains relatively unknown, but his achievements tell the story of danger and a man who decided to tear up the script.
Rozicki boxes from Nova Scotia, Canada, and continues to train in his hometown. He spoke to professional boxing fans and revealed the biggest challenge his location poses to his boxing career.
He recently posted a video on social media highlighting one of the more unusual training methods he uses while camping in such a remote location.
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“There are no sparring partners there, no. If I want to spar, I have to travel.”
The Canadian has a devastating knockout rate of over 95%, which he added in his last outing less than three months ago.
He stopped Gerardo Mellado in the second round after dropping him twice earlier.
The 31-year-old is currently ranked number one in the WBC cruiserweight rankings.
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‘The Bruiser’ revealed his biggest inspiration growing up and how he emulates Jack Dempsey’s brutal and relentless style.
“Jack Dempsey. Brutal. Constant pressure. Damage.
“I have no interest in participating in a boxing match. I want to hurt my opponent.”
Despite such a high position in the WBC rankings, he surprisingly presented his goals for tomorrow night and the rest of his career.
Give me fights, give me large fights, pay me the most money and I will be there.
“I don’t focus on numbers, rankings, belts, anything.”
Rozicki had already tried to secure a fight with Billam-Smith.
The Canadian was ringside for his 2024 rematch victory over Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park and revealed what Ben Shalom told him about the pair’s fight two years ago.
“Ben said no one knows who you are and that you hit too demanding.”
While preparing to appear at Dana White’s first ever boxing gala in the UK, Rozicki also shared exactly how he sees the fight ending.
“One of my shots, from any angle, from any hand… he’ll go to sleep.”
The post “I’m not interested in belts” – Ryan Rozicki talks about the Zuffa Boxing switch appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
On Saturday in Sheffield, Josh Padley will defend his European super featherweight title against Aqib Fiaz for the first time.
Eddie HearnMatchroom is promoting the Padley vs Fiaz fight from Utilita Arena live on DAZN worldwide.
The pair were scheduled to fight on the undercard, but were later advanced to the main event Dalton Smith’s WBC super lightweight title defense against Albert Puello and then Galal Yafai’s clash with unified flyweight world champion Ricardo Sandoval was shelved due to injury.
Padley (18-1, 6 KO) won the vacant belt after a second-round stoppage of Jaouad Belmehdi in Newcastle in January.
The 30-year-old has won three times since a ninth-round defeat to Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title on four days’ notice.
Fiaz (14-1, 2 KO) is looking to break the script here and has won two in a row since an eight-round retirement loss to mutual opponent Reece Bellotti in 2023, whom Padley defeated by unanimous decision in October.
The 26-year-old last didn’t play 11 months ago, securing a unanimous decision victory over Alex Murphy.
Nadim-Sulaimaan will fight for the title of English champion
Ibrahim Nadim defends his English super featherweight crown for the first time against Ibraheem Sulaimaan.
Nadim (16-1, 2 KO) secured the vacant belt with a unanimous decision victory over Numan Hussain in November, and Sulaimaan (10-0, 5 KO) became the Midlands Area champion with a sixth-round victory over Nico Ogbeide also in November.
Undercard remaining
Middleweight Aaron Bowen (7-1, 5 KO) suffered his first professional loss to Tom Cowling in November, but can get back to winning ways with a stoppage victory over Troy Coleman (15-4-1, 7 KO).
Heavyweight prospect Leo Atang (6-0, 5 KO) can remain excellent by defeating Frenchman Fouad Shaili (5-4-2, 3 KO).
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Connor Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) can improve his undefeated record by scoring points over Jesus Carrasco (2-4-2) at featherweight, while Chris Mulanda (2-0) can do the same against Connor Goulding (6-12) in their middleweight bout.
Adam Maca (5-0, 5 KO) and Edward Hardy (6-0, 2 KO) will return to the pitch against an as yet unspecified opponent.
The post Josh Padley vs Aqib Fiaz – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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