“Because Chris Eubank Jr. was like 37 years old. You get old overnight. And he has to dehydrate down to a weight division that doesn’t suit him,” said Mora to Chris Mannix’s channel. That takes away your legs, it saps your strength, and that’s the reason he didn’t look so strong. “And then with Benn, it has to be the PEDs, man.

“His body didn’t look as ripped. It didn’t look as muscular. You got that with a lot of fighters, whether they’re male or female, once they lose that extra boost of cheating. The proof is in the pudding. They don’t look that good because they’re not putting in their body what used to be the goods. They used to be powerful. They used to be explosive. They used to be able to take a punch a lot better. That’s not there anymore.”

Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene in 2022, forcing the cancellation of his scheduled bout with Eubank Jr. He has since returned to the ring and has repeatedly maintained his innocence, eventually receiving clearance to resume boxing.

Mora said he’s willing to change his opinion if Benn begins producing the kind of knockout performances that defined the early part of his career while continuing to pass drug tests.

“If he can go back to knocking people out like he did Algieri, like he was knocking out everybody, now when he’s passing all the tests, then one, I will apologize,” said Mora. Then he can maybe get all the haters on board and start to say, ‘Okay, that’s what I can get behind.’ But for now, if we’re questioning it, it’s because of the obvious.”

Mora’s comments leave little doubt about how he views the matchup. He believes Benn has lost the explosiveness that once made him one of the division’s most dangerous punchers, while Ryan is entering the fight at the peak of his career. If Benn proves capable of rediscovering that knockout power while continuing to pass drug tests, Mora says he’ll gladly admit he was wrong.

After DAZN Boxing posted footage of Haney working the heavy bag, Garcia focused on what he saw as a noticeably bigger physique, joking that the former two-division world champion looked ready for another weight class.

“Wow looks like he’s moving up to 154 😂😂 he put on size pretty quick…. Didn’t he?” Garcia wrote on X.

The comment came in response to a shirtless Haney training video that showed him looking more muscular than in recent appearances. Haney has been back in the gym while negotiations continue for a potential fight against Shakur Stevenson, and Ryan wasted little time turning the footage into another opportunity to needle his longtime rival.

Ryan and Haney have continued trading trash talk long after their April 2024 bout. Although Garcia dropped Haney three times on his way to a majority decision victory, the result was later overturned to a no contest after Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. The rivalry has remained active on social media ever since, with both fighters regularly taking aim at one another.

Ryan’s latest remark also touched on Haney’s physical transformation. Haney has competed as high as welterweight and has spoken about no longer draining himself to make lightweight, but Ryan suggested the added muscle makes him look more like a junior middleweight than a 147-pound fighter.

Haney has not responded publicly to Ryan’s post. His attention remains on preparing for what many expect to be a high-profile clash with Shakur, while Garcia continues to monitor his former opponent from afar and seize every opportunity to keep their rivalry in the spotlight.

Haney sharpening the tools ahead of a comeback

How does a potential fight with Shakur go? 💭

🎥 @Realdevinhaney pic.twitter.com/L6aShiPbi1

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 16, 2026

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Last Updated on 2026/07/16 at 2:03 PM

Oleksandr Usyk has twice conquered the heavyweight division, yet one of boxing’s greatest modern champions was able to walk through New York this week without the level of attention many of the world’s biggest sporting icons would expect.

The unbeaten Ukrainian was filmed enjoying time in Manhattan with his wife ahead of his farewell fight, strolling through one of the world’s busiest cities with remarkably little fuss.

For a fighter who has beaten Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice and become the first two-time undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, the contrast was remarkable.

Oleksandr Usyk’s Quiet New York Walk

Usyk has already confirmed he will retire after one final “Last Dance” following his decision to vacate every heavyweight world title and leave the division behind.

When he walks away, the 38-year-old will leave behind one of the strongest heavyweight résumés of the modern era.

Yet despite everything he has achieved, Usyk was able to enjoy the Big Apple with little interruption.

That contrast says a lot about the current state of heavyweight boxing in the United States.

For decades, heavyweight champions such as Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson became household names across America.

Today’s heavyweight king comes from Ukraine and owns one of the finest heavyweight résumés of the modern era, yet his achievements have never generated the same mainstream profile in the United States.

Usyk’s Final Chapter

Usyk has already secured his place among the most accomplished heavyweights of his generation, regardless of how much attention follows him outside the ring.

With one final fight still to come, the Ukrainian has one last opportunity to add another memorable chapter before retirement.

The remarkable part is that a fighter who conquered the heavyweight division twice can still walk through one of the world’s biggest cities with little more than a passing glance.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.