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Usyk’s silence after talking about Wardley KO’s “Fuels Fury” trilogy

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1 year ago

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Image: Usyk’s Unsettling Silence Since Wardley-Parker Shock Fuels Talk of Fury Trilogy and Possible WBO Title Vacancy

Oleksandr Usyk’s silence since WBA interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley won an 11th round knockout over WBO interim champion Joseph Parker on October 25 has been disturbing.

Usyk’s disappearance after Wardley’s victory

Undisputed champion Usyk announced that he would face the winner of the fight. His silence since Wardley’s upset victory over Parker suggests to some that he has no interest in facing him.

Fabio (20-0-1, 19 KO) has a different fighting style than Parker. It has high efficiency and exerts constant pressure. The 38-year-old Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) could not count on winning by knockout over the steel-jawed Wardley on July 19, 2025.

Is Usyk Weighing a legacy or a payday?

If Usyk still holds out hope that Tyson Fury will come out of retirement and face him in a high-paying trilogy fight, it makes sense for him to beat the 30-year-old Wardley. Financially, it makes sense for Usyk to wait for this fight. He would have to vacate the WBO title if he decides to face Fury, as the WBO has already ordered Usyk to face a mandatory next fight. This is Wardley now that he holds the WBO interim belt.

Silence from the master as Wardley waits

“It will be presented to him. He remained deafeningly mute, which is a bit worrying considering he said he would fight the winner,” analyst Gareth A. Davies said in an interview BoxNation that Oleksandr Usyk hasn’t said a word since Fabio Wardley’s upset victory over Joseph Parker on October 25, 2025.

A fight with Wardley would be hard for Usyk. He struggled because he beat Fury and Anthony Joshua twice. None of these players have the engine or beard that Fabio has. Considering a fight with Wardley would make any fighter think twice, especially one who has the lucrative potential of a trilogy fight with Fury.

There was also the factor of 38-year-old Usyk’s age. He’s not adolescent and has already rejected the idea of ​​fighting another younger heavyweight, Moses Itauma. Wardley is obviously not that adolescent, but he is significantly younger than him and 37-year-old Fury and 36-year-old Joshua.

Wardley’s engine and chin raise real questions

“It will be presented to him in terms of commercial feasibility as to whether this fight will actually work, and for that you need a fight in a huge stadium,” Gareth said of the Wardley fight. “And we need Fabio to be in the public domain, otherwise Usyk will say, ‘You know what? I’m going to have to fight 12 difficult rounds with this bastard. He’s going to keep coming. I’m really going to have to fight him. I’m leaving.'”

The fight with Wardley will be very hard for Usyk. Considering how Usyk has fought Fury twice in 2024, it wouldn’t be a huge shock if he lost to Wardley. This is a bad fight for him. If he could count on knocking Wardley out early in the fight like he did against Dubois, fighting him would be worth the risk. However, he does not punch difficult enough to seriously injure a fighter like Wardley, meaning he would be forced to fight 12 robust rounds to defeat him.

“We know Tyson Fury is going after Usyk in the third fight, it has become more and more common [after Wardley’s win]. He’s really on his third fight,” Gareth said.

Last update: 11/02/2025

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Boxing

Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12

Published

2 hours ago

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November 7, 2026

By

"Chris Billam Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round by Round Action from Zuffa Boxing 12"

Follow Billam-Smith against Clarke with live round reports, scoring and the official result from London.

Chris Billam-Smith fights Cheavon Clarke over 10 rounds tonight on Sky Sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US. The former WBO cruiserweight champion headlines Zuffa Boxing 12 at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, November 7.

Billam-Smith vs Clarke Round-by-Round Updates

Live reports will appear here from the opening bell, tracking clean punches, knockdowns and which fighter controls each round.

● LIVE

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke

2026-11-07 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · Copper Box Arena, London · Paramount+, Sky Sports

Chris Billam-Smith0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Chev Clarke0

ROUNDChris Billam-SmithChev Clarke

Undercard Results

Featherweight Masood Abdulah (14-1, 8 KOs) scored two knockdowns to defeat Adan Palma (14-2) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The judges scored it 78-72, 77-73 and 76-74.

Abdulah dropped Palma with a short left hook in the opening minute, then used his jab and compact hooks to catch him coming forward. Palma fought his way back into the contest, landing heavy right hands in the fourth round that forced Abdulah to clinch.

A well-timed check left hook sent Palma down again in the sixth, slowing his attack and giving Abdulah more room to dictate the action. Abdulah worked behind his jab and continued finding the left hook over the final two rounds to secure the victory.

Vinnie Kemp (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam McElhinney (0-3) with a barrage of body shots at 2:33 of the opening round in their scheduled four-round middleweight bout. Making his professional debut, Kemp charged forward from the opening bell, throwing hard punches and goading McElhinney.

The referee briefly paused the action to warn Kemp about his verbals before allowing the fight to continue. Kemp resumed his attack, stalking McElhinney and driving punches into his midsection.

McElhinney bent forward and covered up against the ropes under the sustained body attack, prompting the referee to wave it off. Kemp’s aggression gave him a quick debut victory, although McElhinney offered little to test him.

When Does Billam-Smith vs Clarke Start?

Main-event ring walks: 🇺🇸 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT · 🇬🇧 10 p.m. GMTapproximately.

The undercard determines the final timing. Billam-Smith and Clarke headline a nine-fight show, with Denzel Bentley against Shane Mosley Jr. in the co-feature.

Main-card broadcast:

🇺🇸 2 pm ET / 11 am PT

🇬🇧 7 p.m. GMT

Preliminary coverage:

🇺🇸 12 pm ET / 9 am PT

🇬🇧 5 p.m. GMT

Sky Sports broadcasts the main card in the UK, with prelims available on its digital platforms. Paramount+ carries the prelims and main card in the US through a subscription, without a separate PPV charge.

Two June Stoppage Wins Set Up the Main Event

Both fighters arrive after punishing fights.

Billam-Smith beat Ryan Rozicki in June, with the Canadian’s corner withdrawing him after seven rounds of their Bournemouth contest. Clarke endured a rougher route on the same bill, recovering from two knockdowns before stopping Jack Massey.

Tonight’s contest carries no championship belt. For Billam-Smith, it offers a chance to strengthen his position at cruiserweight while beating an opponent who twice frustrated him.

Clarke’s second amateur victory came in the 2016 national elite championship final. Beating Billam-Smith in the paid ranks would add a former world champion to his professional record and strengthen his case for bigger fights.

Billam-Smith enters at 22-2 with 14 knockoutswhile Clarke brings a 12-2 record with nine stoppages. The experience gap amounts to ten professional contests.

Both cleared the scales on Friday. Billam-Smith weighed 199.5 lbs (90.5 kg) and Clarke 198.8 lbs (90.2 kg) for their cruiserweight headliner.

Zuffa Boxing 12 Undercard Results

Confirmed results and finishing details will be added alongside the matchups below as the bouts conclude.

Main Card

Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.

Middleweight · 10 rounds

Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz

Heavyweight · 8 rounds

Sam Hickey vs Amaury Massenaux

Middleweight · 8 rounds

Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel

Super lightweight · 6 rounds

Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald

Cruiserweight · 8 rounds

Prelims

Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov

Light-heavyweight · 10 rounds

Vinnie Kemp vs Liam McElhinney

Middleweight · 4 rounds

Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma

Featherweight · 8 rounds

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Boxing

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12

Published

2 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke Live Updates: Round-by-Round Analysis from Zuffa Boxing 12

Follow Billam-Smith against Clarke with live round reports, scoring and the official result from London.

Chris Billam-Smith fights Cheavon Clarke over 10 rounds tonight on Sky Sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US. The former WBO cruiserweight champion headlines Zuffa Boxing 12 at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, November 7.

Billam-Smith vs Clarke Round-by-Round Updates

Live reports will appear here from the opening bell, tracking clean punches, knockdowns and which fighter controls each round.

● LIVE

Chris Billam-Smith vs Chev Clarke

2026-11-07 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · Copper Box Arena, London · Paramount+, Sky Sports

Chris Billam-Smith0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Chev Clarke0

ROUNDChris Billam-SmithChev Clarke

Undercard Results

Featherweight Masood Abdulah (14-1, 8 KOs) scored two knockdowns to defeat Adan Palma (14-2) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The judges scored it 78-72, 77-73 and 76-74.

Abdulah dropped Palma with a short left hook in the opening minute, then used his jab and compact hooks to catch him coming forward. Palma fought his way back into the contest, landing heavy right hands in the fourth round that forced Abdulah to clinch.

A well-timed check left hook sent Palma down again in the sixth, slowing his attack and giving Abdulah more room to dictate the action. Abdulah worked behind his jab and continued finding the left hook over the final two rounds to secure the victory.

Vinnie Kemp (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam McElhinney (0-3) with a barrage of body shots at 2:33 of the opening round in their scheduled four-round middleweight bout. Making his professional debut, Kemp charged forward from the opening bell, throwing hard punches and goading McElhinney.

The referee briefly paused the action to warn Kemp about his verbals before allowing the fight to continue. Kemp resumed his attack, stalking McElhinney and driving punches into his midsection.

McElhinney bent forward and covered up against the ropes under the sustained body attack, prompting the referee to wave it off. Kemp’s aggression gave him a quick debut victory, although McElhinney offered little to test him.

When Does Billam-Smith vs Clarke Start?

Main-event ring walks: 🇺🇸 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT · 🇬🇧 10 p.m. GMTapproximately.

The undercard determines the final timing. Billam-Smith and Clarke headline a nine-fight show, with Denzel Bentley against Shane Mosley Jr. in the co-feature.

Main-card broadcast:

🇺🇸 2 pm ET / 11 am PT

🇬🇧 7 p.m. GMT

Preliminary coverage:

🇺🇸 12 pm ET / 9 am PT

🇬🇧 5 p.m. GMT

Sky Sports broadcasts the main card in the UK, with prelims available on its digital platforms. Paramount+ carries the prelims and main card in the US through a subscription, without a separate PPV charge.

Two June Stoppage Wins Set Up the Main Event

Both fighters arrive after punishing fights.

Billam-Smith beat Ryan Rozicki in June, with the Canadian’s corner withdrawing him after seven rounds of their Bournemouth contest. Clarke endured a rougher route on the same bill, recovering from two knockdowns before stopping Jack Massey.

Tonight’s contest carries no championship belt. For Billam-Smith, it offers a chance to strengthen his position at cruiserweight while beating an opponent who twice frustrated him.

Clarke’s second amateur victory came in the 2016 national elite championship final. Beating Billam-Smith in the paid ranks would add a former world champion to his professional record and strengthen his case for bigger fights.

Billam-Smith enters at 22-2 with 14 knockoutswhile Clarke brings a 12-2 record with nine stoppages. The experience gap amounts to ten professional contests.

Both cleared the scales on Friday. Billam-Smith weighed 199.5 lbs (90.5 kg) and Clarke 198.8 lbs (90.2 kg) for their cruiserweight headliner.

Zuffa Boxing 12 Undercard Results

Confirmed results and finishing details will be added alongside the matchups below as the bouts conclude.

Main Card

Denzel Bentley vs Shane Mosley Jr.

Middleweight · 10 rounds

Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Ivan Balaz

Heavyweight · 8 rounds

Sam Hickey vs Amaury Massenaux

Middleweight · 8 rounds

Kayla Allen vs Julia Igel

Super lightweight · 6 rounds

Lucas Roehrig vs Connal McDonald

Cruiserweight · 8 rounds

Prelims

Zach Parker vs Umar Dzambekov

Light-heavyweight · 10 rounds

Vinnie Kemp vs Liam McElhinney

Middleweight · 4 rounds

Masood Abdullah vs Adan Palma

Featherweight · 8 rounds

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Boxing

Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyus Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News

Published

5 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

"Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyu's Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News"

Tim Tszyu seeks to become Australia’s third multi-divisional boxing world champion when he competes for Erislandy Lara’s WBA middleweight title next month, and ahead of the action, trainer Robert Garcia has offered his thoughts on the fight.

Tszyu lost his WBO super-welterweight title in a defeat to Sebastian Fundora back in 2024 and twice failed to reclaim 154lb honours, both against Bakhram Murtazaliev and in a rematch with Fundora.

Since then, the Aussie has stepped up to middleweight and scored a career-best win over Errol Spence Jr earlier this yearand now, the 32-year-old could join lead trainer Jeff Fenech and Liam Paro as his nation’s third two-weight world champion, if he can trump 43-year-old.

Speaking with ProBox TVRobert Garcia, who trains a potential future Tszyu opponent in Vergil Ortiz, admitted that he is leaning towards the home fighter, but noted that Lara will not be phased by competing in the challenger’s backyard.

“We can probably lean towards Tim Tsyzu because he is fighting at home, in front of his hometown, but Lara is not the fighter that brings in a lot of fans following him.

“He doesn’t have a following, he is not one that is going to sell out arenas, so even if it is in the United States, it is likely that most of the people are going to be [there] for Tim Tszyu because Australians do travel and Tim Tszyu has a lot of fans.

“For Lara, going to Australia is like going to Las Vegas or going to New York because he never has that following anyways. Anywhere he goes, he is going to be against the crowd. So, I think for him it is going to be one of those performances where it doesn’t make a difference if he is going to Tim Tsyzu’s hometown.”

Tszyu-Lara takes place at the Cbus Super Stadium in Queensland, Australia on Sunday 13 December.

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