Boxing
Usyk downplays the size difference when Verhoeven talks about power in Giza
Published
3 weeks agoon
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven met at the final press conference before their WBC heavyweight title fight, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday at the foot of the Giza Pyramids in Egypt. According to the organization, this fight, scheduled for Saturday, May 23, will be the first fight for the WBC world title in the region. World Boxing Council. The event was attended by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) again referred to his decision to voluntarily defend himself against an opponent from outside the ranks of professional boxing. He considered the fight a personal choice after years of mandatory and unification commitments. “For once, I want to do what I want,” the champion said in an interview with WBC. He also waved away questions about his rival’s physical advantage, telling reporters that “size doesn’t matter” and describing Verhoeven as a “unsafe guy.”
I’m talking to Reuters in the pipeline, Usyk said the location matters more than the result. “It’s significant not only for me. It’s significant for all of boxing, all people and Egypt,” he said. “We are here for the first time. I think after this fight many people will look and say: ‘Oh, it’s possible, maybe we will organize a fight for the pyramids in Egypt, or maybe in Paris.'”
Verhoeven relies on the weight difference
Verhoeven, a longtime GLORY kickboxing champion, built his pre-fight message around the size difference. He is 6-foot-10 and typically weighs between 265 and 275 pounds, while Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight, has weighed around 225 pounds in his recent heavyweight fights. In a conversation at the beginning of the preparations, Verhoeven said that a spotless shot would change the course of the match.
“When I take my best shot at him, he will fall because that is a 20-kilogram difference in weight,” Verhoeven said in comments published by Boxing News 24. “He’s like a trained cruiserweight and I’m a natural heavyweight.”
The 37-year-old Dutchman described the crossover as a sign that conventional boundaries in combat sports no longer apply. He told Reuters that the fight “shows that there are no limits to what is possible, which means that in fighting and in different sports, top dogs in different sports are fighting each other and also in every possible place.”
He also described the fight as a meeting of two dominant champions. “I spent twelve years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and achieved everything I wanted to achieve,” Verhoeven said, according to MMA mania. “But staying at the top for so long hasn’t reduced the hunger, it’s actually made it stronger. Usyk is the undisputed fighter in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivates me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Details of the fight
The winner will receive a WBC belt specially ordered for this occasion. Sulaiman told Reuters he would be called the “King of the Nile Belt”, describing it as a unique trophy for the winner.
The 39-year-old Usyk holds the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight belts and has not fought since he stopped Daniel Dubois in five rounds at Wembley Stadium in July last year. After a long career in kickboxing, Verhoeven begins his career with a 1-0 record in professional boxing. The 12-round fight is for the WBC heavyweight championship and will be broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view.
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Boxing
Hamzah Sheeraz called for ‘war’ against Anthony Joshua by hitting him with a ‘devastating punch’
Published
35 minutes agoon
June 15, 2026
Hamzah Sheeraz won the WBO super middleweight title last month and the undefeated star wants a quick turnaround, with another 168-pounder stating he would be ready for the opportunity to fight the Briton at tiny notice.
Anthony Joshua will return to action next month when he faces Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25, hoping to make his long-awaited showdown with arch-rival Tyson Fury.
Earlier this week Boxing Scene reported that two world titles could be up for grabs on the undercard, with both Josh Kelly and Sheeraz set to make their first defense of their world titles in the super welterweight and super middleweight divisions, respectively.
Although Kelly is reportedly scheduled to face Caoimhin Agyarko from Belfast, Sheeraz’s opponent is unknown and the only condition is a place in the top fifteen of the WBO rankings.
In an interview with Boxing News, 39-year-old Milorad Zizic, who is rated No. 9 by the WBO, shared his desire to challenge for Sheeraz’s crown in a fight where he could join Dejan Zlatičanin as the second Montenegrin world champion in boxing history.
“It would mean a lot to me. I live for this goal. It would be a great honor for me, my family, Montenegro and the entire Balkan region. Becoming only the second world champion in Montenegro’s history would be something truly special.”
“It would mean everything to me. I live for boxing. I truly believe this fight could become the upset of the decade.”
Zizić, once called the hardest punch Floyd Mayweather Sr. had ever seenand then shared his confidence in the proposed competition, in which he hopes to continue his streak of six consecutive fights that lasted no longer than two rounds.
“Hamzah Sheeraz is a true champion. He is in great shape and I have a lot of respect for him. But believe me, he has never faced such a devastating blow as I did. Believe me, he will never face such a devastating blow as I did. I respect him as a fighter, but not to the point of thinking that I cannot beat him. I believe in my abilities and I am sure that I can make my dream come true.
“It will be a war from the first bell, I know how it can be. If we fight and he survives five rounds, he will be the winner, but five rounds against me is a long time.
“If Hamzah and his team want this fight, I’m ready. If not, that’s fine too. I will keep moving forward, keep working and stay focused on my journey. My time will come.”
Although his head coach is Joco Todorovic, Zizic has previously been cornered by fan favorite four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr, who continues to train him.
Speaking to Boxing News, Jones explained why he thinks Zizic will be an compelling test for Sheeraz, agreeing with Zizic’s plan to force a shootout.
“Zizic is a very strenuous puncher, as is Sheeraz, they are both very strenuous punchers. Zizic was off for a minute, but he came back and got four quick wins, he’s back busy and I think it would be a great fight for Sheeraz.”
“Like I said, they’re both really good punchers, and Sheeraz won’t come across many people who can match his punching power, but Zizic has that punching power.”
“He has to go straight to him. He can’t try to box him, he’ll go straight to him. That would probably be the smartest approach because if you box him, as long as he [Sheeraz] means he will beat you.
“So your best chance is to get to him as rapid as you can and see if he can withstand your blows. If you wait, he’ll get you out of there.”
News on Sheeraz’s opponent – if he appears on the card – is expected soon, with fellow WBO-ranked contenders Bernardin Jakaj (No. 12) and Jack Bowen (No. 14) also among potential opponents.
Boxing
Published
3 hours agoon
June 15, 2026
Boxing
Eddie Hearn reveals why Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight may now need to be ‘renegotiated’
Published
5 hours agoon
June 15, 2026
Eddie Hearn has admitted that the long-awaited clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could be renegotiated, depending on the demands of paymaster Turki Alalshikha.
As of now, both British heavyweights will face each other later this year, provided they complete their warm-up fights.
While Fury’s fight has not yet been announced, it has been confirmed that Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“The Gypsy King” is expected to have a hard-fought fight in August, potentially against Nelson Hysa, following his April unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov.
If all goes to plan, ‘AJ’ and Fury should meet in the UK, although Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn revealed the location could be renegotiated.
This information was revealed after Dana White’s post-fight press conference at Zuffa Boxing 07, where UFC boss claimed to be the main promoter of the Fury and Joshua fight.
Furthermore, White also suggested that Joshua’s promoter Hearn has not yet been informed of the location, seemingly suggesting that the fight could take place in America.
In response, Hearn said IFL Television that this turn of events will have to be renegotiated and spelled out in both Joshua and Fury’s contracts.
“Without AJ’s consent, the fight cannot take place anywhere outside the UK. And there was no such consent.
“If there is a renegotiation and we want to make a deal again, I am sure we will consider it. [But] apart from money, we want this fight in the UK.
“We will act accordingly and will hold talks with Turki Alalshikh if asked, but who really wants to watch this fight at 4am UK time?”
Given that the pair are most likely to perform in November, when British weather for stadium shows is unpredictable at best, fans may need to prepare for an event in the United States or even Saudi Arabia.
Hamzah Sheeraz called for ‘war’ against Anthony Joshua by hitting him with a ‘devastating punch’
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