Canelo Alvarez announced the verdict before the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven.

The Ukrainian will defend his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing legend Verhoeven tomorrow night at the Pyramids of Giza, in a fight that has sparked controversy due to the perceived mismatch that many fans expect.

While he may be one of the best fighters in kickboxing history, Verhoeven has only fought as a professional boxer once, and in April 2014 he defeated Janos Finfera.

Usyk, on the other hand, is one of the greatest heavyweights of recent times, having defeated Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois twice each to establish himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Another man who knows what it’s like to be viewed as one of the best fighters on a pound-for-pound basis is Canelo, who will have a ringside seat on Saturday to witness Usyk’s fight with Verhoeven.

I’m talking to DAZNthe Mexican star revealed that he expected an basic night for the Ukrainian.

“Usyk will definitely win. Knockout, maybe four or five rounds.”

Canelo then explained why he is such a huge fan of Usyk.

“I love Usyk. I think he’s one of the best. He’s a good guy and I always have a good time when I have the opportunity to see him. I don’t go to many events, but when I see him, it’s a really nice time. I admire him. He’s very disciplined and I’m glad to meet him.”

Usyk’s expected victory could lead to fights with the likes of Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma next, while Canelo is expected to return to action in September when he fights Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title.

Dmitry Bivol’s delicate heavyweight schedule is improving again, and the WBO’s latest move could delay both the trilogy with Artur Beterbiev and the fight that David Benavidez has publicly pushed for since his victory over Gilberto Ramirez.

The WBO confirmed this week that unified delicate heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will be ordered to defend against interim titleholder Callum Smith after his May 30 fight against Michael Eifert in Russia. If the sanctioning body doesn’t change its stance, it will leave little room for the fight that Benavidez has been targeting since Bivol vacated the WBC belt earlier this year.

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Last updated: 22/05/2026 at 14:08

Terence Crawford shared his truthful thoughts on Canelo Alvarez’s fight with Christian Mbilli and wanted to see his former opponent come to his senses after their clash.

The couple had a quarrel in September last year Crawford declares victory by unanimous decision and cementing his greatness as the undisputed three-division champion.

Despite moving up two weight classes, “Bud” seemed content with the size difference compared to Canelo, who was ultimately vacated from his four super middleweight world titles.

However, in his next fight, Alvarez will be looking to reclaim one of the belts against Mbilla, who was elevated from “interim” to full WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement.

The Frenchman defended his “interim” title thanks to Canelo-Crawford’s indigent card, following a 10-round draw with undefeated rival Lester Martinez.

Known for his thunderous style, Mbilli is a solid opponent for Alvarez, who will face the 31-year-old on September 12 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Given his achievements, the 35-year-old could have easily retired after the loss to Crawford, which meant time for an illustrious professional career that began in 2005.

But Crawford said DAZN Boxing that he understands the Mexican’s desire to get at least one more victory before finally calling it quits.

“I think it will be a great fight. Mbilli is putting a lot of pressure on himself. Canelo – we’ll see what form he comes in.

“Canelo is an all-time great fighter and I can’t wait to see him return to form [from the Crawford defeat].

“Knowing Canelo, he doesn’t want to end his career with a defeat. So I see Canelo wants to come back and prove his worth.”

A victory over Mbilli will certainly open further doors for Alvarez, who may even look to unify the 168-pound division by once again facing the winner of the Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Al Begic fight on next Saturday’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven fight card.