Boxing
Usyk and Verhoeven exchanged words at a press conference in London
Published
3 weeks agoon
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven met face-to-face in London on Tuesday for the official press conference ahead of their WBC heavyweight title fight, which will take place on May 23 at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt. The event, called “Glory in Giza” and promoted by Ring Magazine, will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) will be the first defense of the final chapter of a career that has resulted in undisputed titles in two weight classes. The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who currently holds the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight belts, has not fought since he stopped Daniel Dubois in five rounds at Wembley Stadium in July last year. On stage, he was characteristically placid and philosophical, often smiling as he addressed reporters.
“For once I want to do what I want and not what is needed, because most of the time I do what others need,” Usyk said, explaining why he chose to voluntarily defend himself against a non-boxing fighter. “You have to box like that.” I say, “Okay, okay, okay.” Now I do what I need.”
Asked specifically about Verhoeven, Usyk briefly replied: “He’s a great guy. He’s a risky guy.”
Verhoeven is planning a crossover
Verhoeven, 37, did most of the talking. The Dutchman, who was the Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion for over 11 years in a row and set a record in this discipline of 60-10, is making only his second professional boxing appearance. His lone fight took place in 2014 and ended with a second-round knockout of undefeated János Finfera.
The path to Usyk was not the original plan. Verhoeven revealed that a fight with Anthony Joshua had been planned since February, before Joshua’s December car accident in Nigeria, which tragically killed two members of his inner circle, forced a change of direction.
“There was a fight, there was just a tragic accident and that’s what derailed everything,” Verhoeven said. The conversation progressed from there. “I said, ‘What about Usyk? That makes sense. Undisputed versus undisputed.’ So that’s what happened.”
Verhoeven said the crossover concept was his own idea. “We were the ones who reported it,” he told reporters. “Hey, we have an idea, what about Undisputed vs. Undisputed? What do you think? They said we liked it and that’s how this fight happened.”
He acknowledged that the mainstream boxing audience may not know his credentials, but pointed to the WBC kickboxing and Muay Thai divisions as a bridge of legitimacy. “It made sense to them,” Verhoeven said. “He’s one of the best, if not the best kickboxer of all time. So he has his credentials, so fighting for the title makes sense.”
The size, power and form factor of a kickboxer
The physical discrepancy between the two men was evident on stage. Verhoeven, who is 6-foot-10 and weighs about 275 pounds, dwarfs the naturally built, cruiserweight Usyk, who typically steps into the ring before 220. That’s a weight difference of about 50 to 55 pounds, and Verhoeven wasn’t trying to downplay it.
“When I give him my best punch, of course he will fall because it’s almost a 20-kilogram difference in weight,” Verhoeven said. “He’s a developed cruiserweight. I was born heavyweight, so that’s a massive difference. It’ll happen if I let my best shot get a immaculate shot. And if I don’t, we’ll just win.”
It was a confident but measured performance from a fighter who understands the skepticism surrounding the matchup. Verhoeven admitted that coach Peter Fury had improved his boxing fundamentals and referred to previous sparring sessions with Tyson Fury as part of his preparation. Peter Fury, speaking from the stage, noted that Verhoeven gave up bigger paydays in other combat sports to take on this particular challenge.
“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” Verhoeven said. “I think to be the best at what you do, you have to be a little crazy.”
What does this fight mean for the heavyweight division?
The WBC’s decision to sanction a fighter’s voluntary title defense with one professional boxing fight was met with criticism from part of the boxing community. The fight raised eyebrows among those who believe that proven boxers should fight for the heavyweight championship. However, the WBC cited Verhoeven’s standing in kickboxing and its own combat sports divisions as justification, and Usyk’s track record in taking on every significant challenge in the sport gives him considerable leeway.
For Usyk, who has said he plans to fight three more times before he retires, the Verhoeven fight will be the first of those final chapters. The heavyweight division is still crowded after May 23: Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO title against Daniel Dubois on May 9, Anthony Joshua is expected to return to fighting in the summer, and Tyson Fury’s future depends on his recent return. Usyk placed himself above all this, having the freedom to choose his opponents on his own terms.
Eddie Hearn, speaking during the Q&A press conference, reminded Verhoeven that a victory over Usyk would open the door to a potential fight with Joshua, adding another layer to an already extraordinary promotional narrative.
The meeting was tense but respectful. In the co-main event, Hamzah Sheeraz will face Al Begic for the vacant WBO middleweight title, while Jack Catterall will face Shakhram Giyasov for the regular WBA welterweight title. as announced by Ring magazine.
The central question remains whether Verhoeven’s size, power and unorthodox angles will translate to a fight of Usyk’s caliber. History says this won’t happen. Verhoeven, however, is counting on the opportunity to rewrite history at the foot of the pyramids, and Usyk, for his part, seems perfectly joyful to let him try.
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The fight changed dramatically in the sixth round when Mosley Jr. he landed a strenuous right hand that knocked Bohaczuk to the canvas. Bohachuk defeated the count, but Mosley Jr. he quickly jumped on it, taking another barrage across the ropes.
Referee Thomas Taylor stepped in and stopped the fight at 2:38 of round 6 as Bohachuk struggled to defend himself under constant punches.
Bohachuk entered the fight as the betting favorite and tried to put pressure on Mosley Jr. in his usual aggressive style, but as the fight progressed, Mosley Jr. he coped better with the pace of the fight and consistently found opportunities for counterattacks and combinations.
In the sixth round, Bohachuk’s pressing and punching power dropped noticeably compared to his previous fights, allowing Mosley Jr. for more effective counter-attacks during exchanges. Mosley Jr. he used a mighty right hand that dropped Bohachuk, then finished strongly, maintaining constant pressure on the ropes, resulting in a stoppage.
Mosley Jr.’s improved speed and timing. also created problems for Bohachuk in the second half of the fight. Bohachuk continued to push forward with pressure and volume, but his slower reactions left Mosley Jr. a chance for counterattacks and quick combinations before moving away from danger.
The loss was another challenging period for Bohachuk after recent challenging fights, while Mosley Jr. had the best performance of his recent career after losing to Jesus Ramos Jr. by unanimous decision. in December last year. For Bohaczuk, it was the second defeat in the last three fights.
After Mosley Jr.’s victory appointed Callum Walsh, who competes under the Zuffa banner in the junior middleweight division.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Boxing
2011 Prizefighter Champion Lost 50 Pounds – Still Going Nowhere After 8 Years Undefeated
Published
3 hours agoon
May 10, 2026
Mike Perez remains one of boxing’s biggest mysteries. Eight years undefeated, fifty pounds lighter and still going nowhere.
At age 40, Perez should be slowing down physically. Most fighters his age are desperate to maintain weight and squeeze in one last paycheck before retirement.
Perez does the opposite.
Mike Perez is constantly losing weight
The former heavyweight and Prizefighter winner stepped into the ring again on Saturday night in Manchester looking leaner than ever before, weighing in at just under 195 pounds.
Perez moved to 31-3-1 with an eight-round points victory over previously undefeated Franklin Arinze on the Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley card at the Co-op Live Arena.
This means the Cuban is now just 20 pounds shy of the airy heavyweight limit, despite competing above 240 pounds during his heavyweight career.
This is one of the strangest physical transformations in up-to-date boxing. But the bigger mystery is where it all leads.
Perez hasn’t lost a fight since winning the world title against the division’s number one 200-pounder Mairis Briedis in 2017. He completely rebuilt his body, stayed energetic, won regional belts and even established himself on the bridgeweight scene.
Yet somehow he still seems trapped in boxing limbo.
Saturday’s performance came at around 6pm on the UK undercard against another relatively unknown opponent. Without much pressure. No solemn title talks. There’s no indication that anyone in boxing knows what to do with him yet.
This is what makes Perez such a fascinating case.
The fight with Magomed Abdusalamov changed everything
Talent has never been an issue. Mike Perez is an extremely talented boxer who can punch. So what’s the problem?
Anyone who saw him shoot through Prizefighter in 2011 or trade bombs with Magomed Abdusalamov at Madison Square Garden knows that Perez once looked destined for the very top of the heavyweight division.
But the fight with Abdusalamov changed everything.
Mago suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the brutal war in Novel York, and although Perez escaped unscathed, he never physically regained his former career.
Whether it was mental, emotional, or just the natural aftermath of a terrible night in the ring, something undeniably changed in Perez from that moment on.
Now, at 40, he occupies one of the strangest positions in boxing.
Too aged to be considered a solemn long-term investment. Too talented to be completely ignored. Too experienced for potential clients to take unnecessary risks. But still good enough that people wonder what would happen if someone finally gave him a real chance.
Whether his obvious ability will ever be rewarded, or whether the reward comes too overdue, is impossible to ignore whenever his name comes up.
The Mago fight will always hang over Perez’s career, regardless of what “Rebel” does from here.
But if he somehow manages to win a world title before he leaves, perhaps that shadow would finally fade a little.
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
David Benavidez’s father rejects challenge from top cruiserweight: ‘We will knock him out in two rounds’
Published
3 hours agoon
May 10, 2026
After his last victory, David Benavidez was linked to many huge names, and his father and trainer rejected the risk of his son losing to one of the sought-after challengers, believing that the fight would not go to the third round.
“The Mexican Monster” became the unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion dominating and stopping Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on Saturday, in one of the shows of the year so far.
Since then, Benavidez has been offered multiple options for the future, including a mammoth fight with Dmitry Bivol, a move to heavyweight and a potential split with Jai Opetaia – considered Benavidez’s biggest threat at cruiserweight.
Although talking to Boxing in Mill CityJose Benavidez senior has revealed he is unimpressed with the skills of the Australian, who was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight world title earlier this year when he signed with Zuffa Boxing.
“Don’t get me wrong, Jai Opetaia is a good fighter, but he doesn’t have a chin. In all his fights, he gets hurt. I don’t think he has a good jab, I don’t think he has good defense, I don’t think he has a good body shot, I don’t think he has a good upper body shot; he’s just a good fighter.
“He’s a disciplined player, I see the discipline, I just don’t see the talent.”
Benavidez Sr. then offered his predictions for the eventual competition, believing his son would defeat Opetaia “in one or two rounds.”
“Everyone thought Zurdo’s weight and power would be a huge difference. Opetaia… I think David will stop him in one or two rounds.”
Time will tell if the move to Zuffa will prevent Opetaia from fighting challengers who are not affiliated with Dana White’s promotional team, as fan pressure and demand for this fight continues to grow.
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