Sunday, 24 May 2026
OLEKSANDR USYK VS. RICO VERHOEVEN ANALYSIS: FIRST SIGNS OF DECLINE OR JUST AN OFF NIGHT?
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| Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk throws a flurry of punches at Netherlands' Rico Verhoeven forcing the referee to stop the bout. AFP |
Ukraine's unbeaten heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk stopped Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven with one second left in the penultimate round of a WBC title fight on Saturday after an unexpectedly difficult night's work.
The 'Glory in Giza' fight at the Pyramids of Egypt was considered a mismatch, but Verhoeven, whose sole previous professional boxing fight was 12 years ago, tore up the script from the opening bell.
It took until the fourth for Usyk to have a round that was clearly his, but the champion was unable to capitalise on it with the bigger and heavier Verhoeven still taking the fight to him.
With Usyk tipping the scales heavier than ever before, and looking strangely lethargic, the 39-year-old Ukrainian went into the penultimate round needing to pull something out of the bag to be certain of a win most had taken for granted.
Scorecards published by The Ring magazine afterwards showed two of the three judges had the fight tied 95-95 going into the 11th and the other had Verhoeven ahead 96-94.
'It was an early stoppage'
The decisive moment came right at the end, with Usyk dropping Verhoeven with a right uppercut and the Dutchman beating the 10 count but not the referee, who stepped in to wave off further punishment.
“I thought it was an early stoppage, but in the end it's not up to me,” Verhoeven, 37, told Dazn. “The referee knows that we are almost at the end of the round, so or let me go out on my shield or let the bell go.
“But you know … I was already super thankful for the opportunity as well,” he added, pitching for a rematch.
Verhoeven was fighting only for the WBC belt, with Usyk risking also the loss of his WBA and IBF ones, which would have been declared vacant titles had he been beaten. In the end, he extended his record to 25 unbeaten fights and retained all three titles.
“This fight was hard. It was a good fight. I was just boxing, my right uppercut, bang. Bang, bang, bang. Thank you, God,” said Usyk.
“Right now, in Ukraine, my people and my country – there is bombing. My people are sitting in bomb shelters. My family. My daughter sent me a message: ‘Papa, I love you, you win. I’m afraid'. I said, 'Oh my God'.”
Verhoeven did his ring walk in the open-air arena as a pharaoh, flanked by others holding flaming torches with the Pyramids illuminated behind them.
Usyk adopted a more gladiatorial look, wearing a golden helmet and the outfit of a Roman centurion, as an array of fireworks lit up the night sky. But the fight was one of his toughest, and he struggled to deal with an awkward opponent who hit hard and showed few signs of crumbling.
First signs of slippage or an off night?
It begs the question, is this the start of a decline or just a poor performance in strange circumstances? Usyk is not getting any younger but looked incredible when flattening Daniel Dubois in five rounds last July, so more evidence is required to categorically say he is on the slide.
Inactivity is certainly not helping him. He flirted with hiring new promoters and campaigning in the US before making another deal with Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia in nearly a full year away from the ring.
Then there is the weight. Usyk was slower on his feet having come in at a career heaviest to deal with the giant Verhoeven. Usyk came up from cruiserweight and has always been at his best when able to use his elite footwork to its maximum.
Verhoeven did his ring walk in the open-air arena as a pharaoh, flanked by others holding flaming torches with the Pyramids illuminated behind them.
Usyk adopted a more gladiatorial look, wearing a golden helmet and the outfit of a Roman centurion, as an array of fireworks lit up the night sky. But the fight was one of his toughest, and he struggled to deal with an awkward opponent who hit hard and showed few signs of crumbling.
First signs of slippage or an off night?
It begs the question, is this the start of a decline or just a poor performance in strange circumstances? Usyk is not getting any younger but looked incredible when flattening Daniel Dubois in five rounds last July, so more evidence is required to categorically say he is on the slide.
Inactivity is certainly not helping him. He flirted with hiring new promoters and campaigning in the US before making another deal with Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia in nearly a full year away from the ring.
Then there is the weight. Usyk was slower on his feet having come in at a career heaviest to deal with the giant Verhoeven. Usyk came up from cruiserweight and has always been at his best when able to use his elite footwork to its maximum.
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| General view of the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza. Reuters |
Also, we've seen before that these gimmick fights can be banana skins. Usyk would not have known what to expect from Verhoeven nor would he have perceived much of a threat, so suddenly when the fight is tougher than expected, it is hard to adjust.
Another factor was that Daniel Lapin, the younger brother of Usyk's best friend Sergey and training partner, was knocked out by Benjamin Mendes Tani in a big upset right before Usyk was due to the box.
But, while far from his best, Usyk still got the stoppage, and again showed his ability to come on strong late in fights. The Ukranian is often a slow starter who builds momentum. As for the stoppage? Early, yes, and also unnecessary right on the bell. That said, Verhoeven was in big trouble after the uppercut and had already spat out his gumshield to buy time. He might have struggled to see out the 12th but did deserve the opportunity to try.
Usyk would do well to avoid another long bout of inactivity and get back to boxing his heavyweight rivals.
Kabayel next in Istanbul or Germany
After his win, Usyk was confronted by the German-Kurdish fighter Agit Kabayel, the WBC's number one contender, and a man who has been waiting an age for a shot at the title.
Despite Verhoeven's calls for a rematch, it is very likely we see Usyk-Kabayel next. The Dutchman's overperformance on one night should not see him jump the queue ahead of Kabayel whose 15-year career has led him to this point.
Alalshikh, who orchestrated Saturday's event at the Pyramids has previously staged a card in Times Square, and suggested last week they could do the fight in front of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. “Better a stadium in Germany,” was Kabayel's response.
As for Verhoeven, this might have been his best chance to do something spectacular in boxing. We saw MMA star Francis Ngannou give Tyson Fury fits on his boxing debut before being obliterated by Anthony Joshua next time out. Verhoeven plans to box again, and this showing should earn him another decent opportunity.
- Andy Lewis
KYLE BUSCH DEATH: FRESH DETAILS EMERGE AFTER TRAGIC PASSING OF NASCAR ICON
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| Photo: Race Pictures |
The world of NASCAR and the American motorsport racing scene has been rocked by the tragic passing of Kyle Busch. More details have now emerged surrounding the circumstances of the 41-year-old’s death.
News of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s passing came suddenly, just hours after he was reportedly admitted to the hospital following a short illness on Wednesday, May 20.
Busch was widely renowned for his success on track across both the NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series and had been expected to take part in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 race prior to his death. However, following the announcement and the initially unclear details surrounding the cause, fresh information has now surfaced regarding the Las Vegas-born driver’s final hours.
Fresh details emerge surrounding Busch’s death
According to a report from CNN, Busch required medical attention on Wednesday after coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath while preparing for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 event.
The report further states that a 911 call obtained revealed that a caller, whose identity was redacted, requested an ambulance to a training facility in Concord, North Carolina. “I’ve got an individual that’s experiencing shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out and producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller said.
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| Kyle Busch racing at Daytona - Photo: Race Pictures |
The report adds that Busch was lying on the bathroom floor but was conscious at the time of the call. The caller also requested that emergency services approach with sirens off and provided directions to the facility. The emergency call, made at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, came almost exactly 24 hours before NASCAR, Busch’s family, and Richard Childress Racing officially announced his passing.
Further reports indicate that Busch had been testing on a racing simulator earlier that day when he became unresponsive and was subsequently transported to a hospital in Charlotte, according to several unnamed sources familiar with the situation.
Richard Childress Racing pays tribute
Richard Childress Racing, the team Busch drove for up until his passing, has paid tribute to the 41-year-old. The racing outfit announced it will suspend the use of Busch’s No. 8 car and instead field the No. 33 car.
The team has also confirmed that the No. 8 will be reserved for Brexton Busch, his 11-year-old son, who has already begun following in his father’s footsteps and has recorded multiple wins in junior racing categories across the United States.
- Samson Ero
MAX VERSTAPPEN MAKES OMINOUS F1 FUTURE WARNING OVER 2027 PU TWEAKS
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| Max Verstappen has supported proposed changes in 2027, not wanting their rejection. |
Max Verstappen has warned that the F1 2027 season will be “mentally not doable”, if proposed power unit changes do not get approved.
An agreement in principle was reached to adjust the power delivery in next season’s cars, moving to a 60-40 split in favour of internal combustion over electrical elements.
Max Verstappen issues fresh warning over Formula 1 future
Verstappen has been one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 regulations, most notably when it comes to the power units and the energy management requirements involved.
However, with the tweaks only an agreement in principle at this stage, which still need to be voted through, there is no guarantee yet that the changes he wants to see will come to fruition next season.
Red Bull and Mercedes are understood to support the proposed hardware changes for 2027, others are believed to want these adjustments put in place for 2028.
With agreement needed from across different Formula 1 shareholders to push these adjustments through for next season, Verstappen admitted “it’s a shame” that behind-the-scenes politics are a part of the sport, but that “it’s simply like that” as a sport.
Speaking after qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix, the four-time world champion was asked for his thoughts on the proposed changes and how he would react if they did not go through as hoped for 2027, to which he replied: “Well, if it stays like this, it’s going to be a long year next year, which I don’t want.
“I can tell you, if it stays like this, it’s just mentally not doable.”
Asked outright if he would take a sabbatical next season or depart the sport if the proposed changes are not voted through, he took a breath and replied: “There’s a lot of other fun things out there.
“Let’s stay on the positive side. We’re still, I think, looking towards making those changes, and of course, some people that at the moment maybe have a bit of an advantage will try to be difficult about it, but if the FIA is strong, and also from the FOM side, they just need to do it.
“It would be better for the sport as a whole.”
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull through to the end of 2028 season, having signed a seven-year contract in the days following his first championship win in 2021.
- Henry Valantine
ROBERTO DE ZERBI CONFIRMS TOTTENHAM FUTURE AHEAD OF PREMIER LEAGUE RELEGATION DECIDER
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| Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi ahead of the Premier League match at the Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Tuesday May 19, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, |
Spurs will be safe if they can avoid defeat against Everton on final day
Roberto De Zerbi has reaffirmed he will be in charge of Tottenham next season and urged his squad to embrace the pressure of Sunday’s relegation decider with Everton.
Spurs start the final day of the Premier League season in 17th spot and two points above West Ham, who are at home to Leeds and must win to have any chance of staying up.
De Zerbi promised to be in charge of Tottenham for the 2026-27 campaign “no matter what” upon his arrival in March and even though his team slipped into the bottom three before a debut defeat at Sunderland, a run of eight points out of six games has put the north London club in control of their destiny on the final day.
“Yes, I confirm everything. For me, it’s still an honour to be a coach for Tottenham, even if on Sunday we play for the relegation fight. It’s not a problem. I consider football something more than the table, than the level of the game,” De Zerbi reflected. “Every one of us, we are fighting for the future of Tottenham.
“I didn’t come here in mid-table. The situation was this, more games but not too different a situation. If I came, it was because I thought there are the right conditions, the right qualities and players to achieve the target.
“Then the situation changed because we lost [Cristian] Romero, Xavi Simons, [Dominic] Solanke but I think in my time we made eight points and maybe we deserved more points. We are still fighting to achieve the target and we have to be ready and be strong.
“To manage the pressure you have to be clear and honest with yourself. The level of difficulty of the game is high, OK. We are fighting for something very important for everyone, but it is football.
“We have enough quality, we play in our stadium. If for us it will be a tough game, it will be a tough game for West Ham too.
“West Ham play Leeds and I’m sure Leeds will play like they did in the Tottenham stadium.
“To attack the pressure you have to find the valour [bravery] inside of yourself to understand the situation and to force yourself to give your best, because the pressure is nice if you know how to manage the pressure.”
De Zerbi reiterated his belief that this Spurs squad do care about the current predicament and “maybe suffered too much” the feeling of being the first team in 49 years to suffer relegation.
The Italian has tweaked his build-up for this fixture with the squad set to travel by coach after they stayed together at the training ground on Saturday night.
It is unclear if thousands of Tottenham fans will line the streets to welcome the team coach like it was the case for the Nottingham Forest fixture before De Zerbi’s arrival, but he would welcome that type of show of support.
“If the fans show their love to the players, it is not pressure, it is an honour, it is a great thing for the players,” De Zerbi insisted. “It is not a pressure, it is a good thing, it is a positive thing for us.”
“We are playing well. We deserve to stay up but we have another step and a very tough step but it’s possible for us.”
- The National
OLEKSANDR USYK BEATS RICO VERHOEVEN THANKS TO CONTROVERSIAL REFEREE STOPPAGE
The referee did not think Verhoeven was saved by the bell.
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| The referee steps in to stop the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven fight in Egypt. | Photo by Mohamed Hossam/Getty Images |
Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven faced off on Saturday in Egypt in front of the pyramids of Giza. Usyk, the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion, took on Verhoeven, a kickboxer by trade, in a match that was pure spectacle and the result confirmed it.
While Verhoeven was only taking part in his second career boxing match against Usyk, who came into the bout a perfect 24-0 in his career, the result was very much up in the air as the fighters headed into the later rounds. Or at least that's why many people had observed before a controversial stoppage ended the fight after 11 rounds. And then the scorecards only raised more questions.
First, let's take a look at the final moments of the fight when referee Mark Lyson waved off the fight after the bell. As you can see, Usyk was hitting Verhoeven as the bell rang and kept going and that's when the referee stepped in. The official result goes down as a TKO with one second left in the 11th round.
— Combat Casuals (@Clips4Casuals) May 23, 2026
What made the stoppage look even worse was the fact that Verhoeven was very much in the fight on the official scorecards. Two judges had the fight even and Verhoeven was up on the third card. Usyk was approximately three minutes away taking the first blemish on his boxing record by way of a decision loss or maybe a draw.
Here are the scorecards for Usyk x Rico after 10 rounds.
Two judges had it even, one had Rico up a round. pic.twitter.com/1bJFlFFaBT
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 23, 2026
Who knows what would have happened if the referee hadn't stepped in.
Verhoeven came into this fight with one boxing match on his résumé which took place back in 2014. The silver lining for Verhoeven here, besides holding his own against the heavyweight champion, is that he couldn't have won any of Usyk's belts anyway. So now he's 66-10 as a kickboxing champion and he's made a name for himself as a boxer.
Francis Ngannou Reacts
Francis Ngannou, who is coming off a first round knock out victory on last weekend's Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano card, commiserated with Verhoeven on social media saying, "Outsiders will never win, trust me I know, but Rico was the winner tonight. Period."
Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, had boxing matches against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury over the last few years. While he was knocked out by Joshua, he went the distance with Fury, who was the WBC champion at the time and lost by split decision. After beating Ngannou, Fury went on to lose back-to-back fights to Usyk. Those were the first and second losses of Fury's career.
Usyk and Verhoeven Ring Walk
While the fight had a controversial finish, that shouldn't take away from how cool a scene it was in Egypt on Saturday in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. They made sure to use the pyramids in their ring walks and it was undeinably awesome-looking
.A number of boxers including Canelo Álvarez, Terrence Crawford, Anthony Joshua, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney were all in attendance for the fight. As was Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. You really might see a celebrity anywhere this weekend.
- Stephen Douglas
KYLE BUSCH CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED
NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch Cause of Death Revealed
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| Getty |
NASCAR legend Kyle Busch died from severe pneumonia, which progressed into sepsis ... TMZ has confirmed.
According to a statement from Kyle's family, he passed away "after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications."
As we reported ... Kyle died Thursday after being hospitalized with a severe illness.
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| Getty |
Before being taken to the hospital, Kyle was in a North Carolina racing simulator Wednesday when he reportedly became unresponsive. TMZ Sports obtained audio from the 911 call ... where someone told dispatch the patient was "coughing up some blood" at the NC training facility while looking like they were going to pass out.
Kyle's death came 11 days after a NASCAR Cup Series race in which he radioed to his crew and asked for a doctor to give him a "shot" after he finished the race.
On TV, they noted Kyle had been battling some sort of sinus cold that was made worse by the intense G-forces and elevation changes at New York's Watkins Glen course. That race was on May 10.
Despite the health issue, Kyle kept competing ... winning a Truck Series race on May 15 and then competing in the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 17, just four days before his death.
Kyle was 41.
RIP
- TMZ Sports
Saturday, 23 May 2026
KIMI ANTONELLI FIRES BACK AT GEORGE RUSSELL 🔥
Kimi Antonelli responds to George Russell saying you can’t overtake around the outside of Turn 1 in Montreal ⚔️
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER DROPS 26 POINTS TO HELP OKC IN GAME.3
SGA shows off on both ends of the court guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Game 3 win to lead the series to 2-1 in the NBA Western Conference Finals presented by Google!
Jared McCain: 24 PTS, 4 REB, 2 3PM
Victor Wembanyama: 26 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 2 3PM, 2 BLK
Game 4: Sunday, 8:00pm/et on NBC & Peacock
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL ON MEETING HIS BIOLOGICAL FATHER AFTER 47 YEARS
Shaquille O'Neal’s journey to meeting his biological father after 47 years is one of the most mind-blowing stories of coincidence, grace, and forgiveness you will ever hear.
For decades, Shaq lived without his biological dad, Joe Toney. He was proudly raised by his stepfather, Phillip Harrison, a strict Army drill sergeant who shaped him into a legend. Shaq harbored so much resentment toward the man who left that he even wrote a 90s rap song titled, "Biological Didn’t Bother."
But after his stepfather passed away, his mother urged him to do the unthinkable: find the man who abandoned him.
When Shaq started tracking him down, he uncovered an unbelievable coincidence. Here is how Shaq described exactly what happened:
"My mother said you should connect with your biological father. I called my uncle who's a cop. He said, 'You ain't gonna believe this, you know that restaurant we eat at all the time? He lives in that building.'"
His biological dad was living directly above a soul food spot in Newark, New Jersey, that Shaq frequented all the time. Suddenly, a strange detail from Shaq's past made total sense:
"There was always a chef there who'd start crying when he saw me. He said, 'I'm Joe's best friend. I just hope one day you come down here and y'all can eat.'"
Eventually, Shaq made that walk to finally meet the man he hadn't seen since he was a baby. When his father tried to apologize, Shaq stopped him. Instead of anger, he offered total grace:
"He's 40 blocks away. I went to meet him. He said sorry. I said, you don't need to say sorry, everybody has their problems. I don't judge. I don't have the right to judge. I had a good life. I had Phil."
Credit: Shaq's interviews on the Dr. Phil Show & AB Talks
BAM ADEBAYO WINS THE KAREEM ABDUL-JABAR TROPHY
The 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion is... Bam Adebayo! Adebayo will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy for his efforts to help promote social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for communities that have been historically disadvantaged and under-resourced. $100K to be donated to the Bam, Books, and Brotherhood Foundation.
- NBA
ALONSO REVEALS ASTON MARTIN'S TRUE PROBLEM AFTER COSTLY CANADA CRASH
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| Photo: Race Pictures |
Fernando Alonso crashed during SQ1 at the Canadian GP. This meant he was through to the second session, but will start from P16. Afterwards,
The 2026 season has been a difficult start for Aston Martin. It was not until the Miami Grand Prix that they managed to have both drivers finish a race. With no upgrades planned until the summer break, Alonso and Lance Stroll are working with what they have.
Alonso was 'too much on the limit'
During the sprint qualifying session, it seemed as if Alonso had enough pace to get into SQ2. The Spaniard was in P14 with only two minutes to go. Unfortunately, he crashed soon after. This triggered a red flag, and due to the damage, a barrier repair. Speaking after the incident, Alonso explained, “I locked up the front, and you're a passenger after that. There is no room to avoid anything here in Canada, too much on the limit.”
Alonso’s incident marked the fourth red flag of the day after Liam Lawson, Alex Albon, and Esteban Ocon each caused one during FP1. Both Albon's and Ocon’s red flags were caused by them colliding with the wall and debris on the track.
The two-time world champion continued, “We are a little bit behind, and we don't have the pace. So we are P14, I guess. So we were pushing seven or eight places more than what we should have."
Alonso made it through to SQ2 with his qualifying time, as those below him could not improve. This is partially due to the limited time left on the clock and the drivers being unable to cross the line in time to put in another lap. One of those drivers was his teammate, Stroll. The Canadian GP is Stroll’s home race, where the crowd watched him qualify P18.
Despite making it into SQ2, Alonso could not participate in the session because his car was damaged. Thus, he starts the sprint race two positions above Stroll in P16. These are the best qualifying results for Alonso and Stroll this year.
This is Stroll’s second time qualifying 18th (Miami GP) and Alonso’s first time qualifying P16. Alonso’s highest qualifying position before this was P17 (Australian GP and Miami GP). The Canadian GP sprint qualifying marks the first time either Aston Martin driver has made it into Q2.
Despite not bringing upgrades like several other teams, Aston Martin showed some improvement in Canada. The next set of upgrades for Aston Martin is expected to be after the summer break. Speaking after the Miami GP, Alonso said he understood why this was. He said, “I’m at peace because I understand the situation. The team explained to me that if we bring one or two tenths every race, it doesn’t change our position; we are P20 or P19, and the next car is one second in front.”
"So, even if we bring two tenths every race, it doesn’t change our position, and it’s a huge stress in the system, in the budget cap and things like that. Until we don’t have a one-and-a-half or two-second improvement, it’s better not to press the button in production because we waste money.
During FP1, Lawson experienced two technical issues and was unable to continue the practice session. His car stopped on the track due to a loss of power steering and a gear shift issue. As Racing Bulls were unable to resolve the issues before the start of sprint qualifying, Lawson was unable to participate.
Albon is another driver who was unable to participate in sprint qualifying. The British-Thai driver had an unfortunate collision with a groundhog on the track, causing him to hit the wall. His car sustained severe damage which could not be repaired in time.
Both drivers were permitted to start the race from the back of the grid. The Stewards have placed Albon and Lawson at 21 and 22, respectively.
- Savannah Lenz
OLEKSANDR USYK FIGHT TIME TONIGHT: RING WALK TIME FOR OLEKSANDR USYK VS RICO VERHOEVEN
Current heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk takes on kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven
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| Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven will meet in an iconic cross-combat clash on Saturday(Image: Getty) |
What time does Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven start?
Date and historic venue: The highly anticipated bout between the unified heavyweight king and the kickboxing icon will take place on Saturday, May 23, in front of the ancient Pyramids of Giza. Dubbed the ‘Glory in Giza,’ the event brings the pinnacle of modern combat sports to one of the most iconic ancient wonders of the world.
Championship stakes and titles: Oleksandr Usyk enters the ring as the current WBA, IBF and WBC heavyweight champion, looking to continue his undefeated status against an unconventional but dangerous challenger. The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds under traditional professional boxing rules, with Verhoeven hoping to snatch Usyk's WBC belt.
UK broadcast start time: British fight fans looking to take in all the action can tune into the live broadcast starting at 6pm BST. The early evening start ensures British boxing aficionados can enjoy a full night of international competition leading up to the seismic main event against the stunning Egyptian backdrop.
Approximate ring walk: The headline fight featuring Usyk and Verhoeven is expected to see the fighters make their ring walks at around 10.45pm BST. While the specific timing may change slightly depending on the duration of the undercard bouts, organisers have selected this late-night slot to maximise global viewership and provide an unforgettable atmosphere at the Pyramids.
UK viewing platforms and cost: The whole event will be aired exclusively in the United Kingdom through DAZN Pay-Per-View, meaning fans will have to buy the event digitally on the DAZN app or website via the link at the bottom of this page. The pay-per-view price for this fascinating card has been set at £27.99, though some DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers may find the event included or discounted as part of their premium membership package.
Rico Verhoeven’s combat pedigree: Verhoeven is making a risky jump to boxing after a legendary run in GLORY Kickboxing, where he defended his heavyweight title for an incredible 11 straight years. Known to combat sports fans as the 'King of Kickboxing,' the Dutchman is famous for his immense cardio and technical precision, though he faces a monumental challenge trying to out-box one of the slickest technicians in heavyweight history.
Key undercard matchups: Before the main event starts, the card delivers serious quality, including a super-middleweight clash between Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic for the vacant WBO title. With top-tier names like Jack Catterall and Frank Sanchez also expected to feature on the undercard, it is a stacked lineup that easily makes the pay-per-view price tag worth it.
Usyk’s career trajectory: This fight is rumoured to be the first leg of a three-fight retirement tour for the 39-year-old Ukrainian, who has already cleared out the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions with an undefeated record. Having recently beaten Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois to cement his legacy, Usyk sees this crossover challenge as a way to further expand his global brand while maintaining his status as the pound-for-pound king.
- Tom Sunderland & Kasra Moradi
SUPERCARS SYMMONS PLAINS: TOYOTA PAIR CHAZ MOSTERT AND ANDRE HEIMGARTNER SHARE WINS
Toyota enjoyed an historic Supercars day at Symmons Plains with two wins, with Chaz Mostert and Andre Heimgartner each taking their first victories in a GR Supra
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| Andre Heimgartner, Brad Jones Racing Photo by: Edge Photographics |
Toyota has enjoyed a historic Supercars day at Symmons Plains with two wins, with Walkinshaw TWG's Chaz Mostert and Brad Jones Racing's Andre Heimgartner each taking their first victories in a GR Supra in the opening two races in Tasmania.
The defending champion and the New Zealander both started from pole position and took convincing victories.
The opening 50-lap race saw Mostert dominate, taking the lead from the Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro of Anton De Pasquale – who at the same time had team-mate David Reynolds barge past, on his way into second.
That is how they finished, with Mostert taking the win by 5.3s ahead of the rejuvenated Reynolds, with the Ford Mustangs of Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing) third ahead of Broc Feeney (Triple 8). De Pasquale struggled in the second half of the race and dropped to sixth.
In the second race it was Heimgartner's turn to lead away from pole, with Feeney immediately challenging after a great getaway from the second row. The Supra eased away and after the pit cycle, Heimgartner kept the lead.
A bold two-tyre stop vaulted Matt Payne ahead of Feeney temporarily but it did not take long for the Triple 8 Ford to find a way past, and seize second for good.
That is how it played out, with Heimgartner taking the win by 3.68s to take his first win in two years and first in dry conditions. In doing so, vindicating team owner Brad Jones's decision to swap his Chevrolets for Toyotas during the off-season.
“It’s a big credit to all the guys. A flawless stop got us back out there,” said Heimgartner. “Honestly, it’s been a bit of a hard slog. It’s been years since I won a race. We’re starting to get a handle on the GR Supra and I’m over the moon, couldn’t have executed that race much better.”
Feeney took second place, well clear of Payne, with Triple 8's Will Brown in fourth.
De Pasquale completed a solid day for Team 18, taking fifth in spite of taking to the dirt on the final lap while trying to pass Payne. Sixth was a great return for Grove Racing's Kai Allen, who made up 11 places after making an early pitstop of making his super soft Dunlop tyres retain their grip for 37 laps.
Mostert had a tougher time in the second race than in the first. After qualifying 13th he dropped a couple of spots at the start, then had contact with the PremiAir Racing Chevrolet of Jayden Ojeda. As a result he copped a 15-second penalty, turning a bad race into a complete write-off, and he was classified 20th at the finish.
Racing continues on Sunday, with a single race over 84 laps of the 2.4km circuit.
- Phil Branagan
MIKEL ARTETA HAILS UGANDAN ARSENAL FANS
🚨 Arsenal F.C. manager Mikel Arteta has recognised fans in Uganda as some of his greatest inspirations following the club’s Premier League title triumph after a 22-year wait.
“The power of a ball is incredible. A ball can connect people who have never met each other, and they immediately become friends. The videos we have seen from Uganda and many other countries… that’s the story of my life. If I were to name my biggest inspiration, it would be that ball,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports.
- Patro Uganda
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Friday, 22 May 2026
ALBERTO BETTIOL, ITALIAN CYCLING'S ERRATIC TALENT, GOES BIG AT GIRO: 'INSTINCT WON TODAY'
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| Luca Bettini / Cor Vos |
Alberto Bettiol, the great enigma of Italian cycling, underscored his quality by soloing to victory on stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia in Verbania. It was only the ninth victory of the XDS-Astana rider's career, but almost every triumph has been a spectacular one. “I don’t win much, but if I can win like that then I’m happy to win every two years,” he said afterwards.
Alberto Bettiol doesn’t win often, but when he does, he tends to win big. His first pro victory was the Tour of Flanders, after all, and his last was the Italian national championships two years ago. And when he wins at the Giro d’Italia, he tends to win in the most beautiful places and in the most sparkling style.
Five years ago, Bettiol conjured up a triumph of consummate class amid the rolling hills of the Oltrepò Pavese. He produced a long overdue but no less stirring sequel on the shores of Lake Maggiore on Friday, powering clear of the break over the top of final climb of Ungiasca and soloing to a flamboyant victory in Verbania.
Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) was the last man from the break to see Bettiol before he forged clear with a perfectly timed attack at the top of Ungiasca with 14km remaining. “I don’t see how I could have won,” the Norwegian champion confessed on the lakefront in Verbania afterwards. Nothing to be done.
It was one of those rare days when all the moving parts – physical, mental, emotional – clicked into place for Bettiol. These don’t roll around nearly as often as they should, but on afternoons like this, Bettiol is something close to unbeatable.
“I don’t win often, but if I can win like that, then I’m happy to win every two years,” Bettiol beamed when he had been ushered to the podium area after the finish.
Bettiol’s girlfriend Lisa, a native of the area, was at the finish line to greet him, and he explained afterwards that he had spent copious amounts of time in Piedmont ahead of the Giro reconnoitring the terrain on stage 13.
“It’s always nice when you win and especially when you win like this. My girlfriend is from here and that gave me an extra push to win,” said Bettiol. “It was already a victory just to start today and know that my family and my second family and so many close friends were going to be at the finish.”
Although Bettiol was armed with ample local knowledge, the home favourites were Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos) and Matteo Sobrero (Lidl-Trek). All three riders knew that making the break would be half the battle on a day like this, and Bettiol was the only one of their number to succeed.
“From the moment Pippo told me there was going to be a stage to Verbania, I figured that the hardest thing would be getting in the break,” Bettiol said. “And getting into the break wasn’t easy, because everybody was watching Ganna and Matteo. But when I did it, I said I had completed the second step…”
The third and final step wasn’t straightforward either, even if the break of fifteen was given considerable leeway by the peloton, building a lead in excess of 10 minutes by the time they hit the finale on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
Surprisingly, that generous buffer didn’t disrupt the unity of the move until they approached the stiff climb to Ungiasca, and the XDS-Astana rider knew exactly where his limits lay on that 4.7km ascent. Crucially, Bettiol also knew the camber of every twist and turn in the road from there into the centre of Verbania.
“When we were on the lake, I was expecting someone to attack before the climb, but it didn’t happen,” said Bettiol, who was happy to follow Leknessund at a distance when his attack broke up the front group on the ascent. “The climb was about surviving, but I knew how it went.
“I knew the last 150m were the hardest. I’d done this climb a lot because my girlfriend lives 50 metres away from there. I did it again and again. I turned around and I saw nobody was coming with me.”
Bettiol bridged up to Leknessund near the summit before flicking into the big ring on the false flat over the top to power clear of the Norwegian.
“I managed to trick these climbers a bit and then go on and win the stage. I knew the descent really well,” Bettiol smiled. “It’s all really beautiful and I’m just enjoying it.”
After the podium, Bettiol, one of the peloton’s most loquacious talkers, was ushered onto the stage to appear on Processo alla Tappa, RAI television’s post-stage analysis show. After discussing his long training camp at Mount Teide before the Giro, he confessed to certain misgivings about certain aspects of modern cycling.
“We live in a cycling made up of numbers and watts, but I think instinct won out today,” Bettiol said. “I like emotions and passion and instinct. Without those things, cycling wouldn’t be a popular as it is, but the human factor wins out.”
And as if to illustrate the point, Bettiol wore a broad smile when asked how he would celebrate his victory.
“Tomorrow, I’ll take a rest day,” he joked. “I’ll get dropped with the sprinters and enjoy the mountains of Val d’Aosta…”
- Barry Ryan
ARYNA SABALENKA ABRUPTLY ENDS PRESS CONFERENCE AS TOP PLAYERS WEIGH IN ON BOLD MEDIA DUTY SCALEBACK
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| Pictured L to R - Sabalenka, Swiatek, Djokovic |
Aryna Sabalenka abruptly ended her pre-tournament French Open press conference after it emerged that several leading tennis stars would significantly limit their media duties in an attempt to increase pressure on the Grand Slams over prize money.
The Belarusian enters Roland Garros as one of the favourites after reaching the finals of the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami earlier this season.
However, Sabalenka’s clay-court campaign has proven inconsistent. She suffered a shock defeat to Hailey Baptiste in the Madrid Open quarter-finals despite holding multiple match points, before being knocked out by Sorana Cirstea in the third round of the Italian Open.
During the loss in Rome, Sabalenka also required a medical timeout due to back discomfort, sparking concerns over her fitness heading into Paris.
Nevertheless, after two weeks of rest, the world No 1 now returns in search of a maiden French Open title as the tournament’s top seed.
During her pre-tournament press conference, Sabalenka made headlines after revealing that she would limit her media duties to just 15 minutes.
The decision, which has also been adopted by several other leading players, comes amid an ongoing dispute surrounding Grand Slam prize money and player compensation.
“Well, guys, I feel like the whole point here, it’s not about me,” she began.
“It’s about the players who are lower in the ranking, who is suffering, and, yeah, it’s not easy to live in this tennis world with that percentage that we are earning,” Sabalenka stated.
“But as the World No 1, I feel like, you know, I have to stand up and to fight for those players, for lower-level players, for players who are coming back after injuries, the upcoming generation. I feel like our point is pretty clear and pretty fair to everyone. That’s what we are all about.
“I stand with my words. We wanted to do it in a respectful way at the beginning, and you guys know how much we respect you and we appreciate you.
“It’s not your decision, it’s not about you. It’s just we are trying to fight for a fair percentage.”
Indeed, during the Italian Open, Sabalenka suggested she could even consider boycotting future Grand Slam tournaments if the events failed to significantly improve prize money distribution.
Players involved in the discussions are reportedly pushing for the Grand Slams to allocate 22% of their overall revenue toward prize money by the end of the decade.
French Open organisers have defended their position by pointing to this year’s total prize pool of €61.723 million, representing a 9.53% increase compared to last year’s event.
Last year’s US Open increased prize money by 20%, while this year’s Australian Open introduced a 16% rise.
In addition to financial concerns, players have also raised issues regarding scheduling, ball changes, and healthcare contributions.
“We just wanted to make our point, and we are united, and 15 minutes better than zero, and I’m here to talk to you because I have my respect to you guys,” added the Belarusian before ending the English portion of her press conference.
“I guess we just do 10 minutes here and five minutes – what is the five minutes that we did, World Feed? That’s it.
“And now it’s time for national language, and thank you so much for being here, for asking questions. As I said a thousand times today, I have huge respect, but we know what’s happening here, so thank you so much.”
Iga Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, has also backed the movement and followed the same 15-minute media limit.
“I feel like all of us, we have nothing against media, obviously, and we totally respect you guys. We know how our relationship is important,” the Pole argued.
“But with the tournament, you know, I feel like we will do more when the tournament will do more for us.
“Not only us, the top players, because obviously we are the ones that have the most contact with you guys, but, you know, for also the lower-ranked players and the whole structure, you know.
“So it’s personally, like, nothing against you guys, but for sure, this is the decision that we made, and we will follow it.”
However, world No 4 Novak Djokovic revealed that while he sympathises with the players’ concerns, he has not been involved in the internal discussions and therefore will not limit his own media appearances.
“I haven’t been part of the process, the conversation, the planning or decision-making so I can’t comment on that,” the Serb said.
“But what I can do is reiterate my own position that I have always been on the players’ side and tried to advocate for players’ rights and better future for players.
“We tend to forget how little the number of people that live from this sport is. I will never stop mentioning or talking about that.”
The French Open will take place from May 24 to June 7.
- Oliver Paton
AN F1 TEAM BOSS' FURY AT 'ABSOLUTE BULLS***" DRIVER EXIT RUMORS
Haas Formula 1 boss Ayao Komatsu does not do diplomatic non-answers or suffer fools, so if anyone is likely to rail against “bulls***” speculation, it's him.
Even by Komatsu’s standards, though, his response to the reporting surrounding Esteban Ocon's future at the team and a supposed fall-out between the two at the previous F1 race in Miami was something to behold.
The claims, which had spread rapidly through social media in the days before the Canadian Grand Prix, suggested a serious breakdown in the relationship between Komatsu and Ocon, with some reports hinting at a possible mid-season split.
Komatsu's verdict was unambiguous: "Absolute bulls***. Zero foundation whatsoever."
He reeled off a sustained, often expletive-laden dismantling of a story he considers not just wrong, but “just f***ing bulls*** gossip”. He even asked: “How is that journalism?”
What made his reaction extraordinary was not merely the language but the disbelief that the story had been written in the first place, and then gained traction.
The basic lineage of this story appears to be that a Brazilian journalist was misquoted and/or mistranslated into Japanese based on comments made in Portuguese questioning Ocon's long-term future at Haas. Additional details were then added, referring to reports of a falling out in Miami. This was then regurgitated again by French media outlets.
Komatsu suggested that at each stage of that chain, nobody had thought to check whether any of it was true. He also wondered if the Japanese motivation was "they really want to create s***" that he wants to replace Ocon with Yuki Tsunoda and get a Japanese driver back on the grid.
The specific claim that irritated him most was the suggestion of a confrontation with Ocon in Miami.
"I didn't even have a single argument with Esteban in Miami,” Komatsu said. “It's just amazing how this bulls*** gets smoked up, and then because nobody checks the source, everybody just rides on top of it."
Komatsu and Ocon spoke on Thursday morning in Montreal and the conversation was one of bemusement rather than damage control: "We were just smiling and talking about ‘what the f*** that's about?’ So I said I'm going to just completely clarify this to everyone, because it's absolute utter s***, total bulls***.”
But while both men presented a unified front, Komatsu was clear that the episode was not without cost. Ocon has been unsettled, his management has been unsettled, and the team was forced to field questions about a crisis that did not exist.
When he asked, “What is the purpose?” it was not rhetorical; Komatsu was genuinely baffled. As a child, he revealed, Komatsu harboured ambitions of becoming an investigative journalist. He understood the appeal and the value.
"So when I read things, it's like f***king hell. Are you not embarrassed about what you're writing? And then by writing bulls*** like this with no foundation, you lose credibility completely, right? Any media that runs that kind of bulls*** story loses credibility, in my mind.”
Ocon himself, in his own media session, described the experience in terms that went beyond mere frustration. He called it "almost like bullying in a way", with his reputation materially damaged "in two or three days" by people who face no accountability for what they have written.
The sensitivity of the situation was further illustrated when Komatsu was asked, with both Ocon and team-mate Ollie Bearman currently onboard but not guaranteed for 2027, would he keep both drivers if he had to decide today?
Komatsu’s expansive candour was replaced with a simpler kind of bluntness: "A question like this is going to create some s*** because people are going to take my word completely out of context. So I'm not going to answer that question."
Having just lamented the consequences of careless reporting, Komatsu was clearly not prepared to hand anyone fresh ammunition.
- SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM, EDD STRAW
PEP GUARDIOLA TO STAY ON CFG PAYROLL AFTER QUITTING MANCHESTER CITY
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| Guardiola's last game of 10 years in charge at City will be on Sunday against Aston Villa |
Pep Guardiola is to continue working for City Football Group despite confirming his departure as manager of its flagship club, Manchester City.
Guardiola will take charge of his final match on Sunday, having become the most successful manager in City history during a 10-year spell that gleaned six Premier League titles.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will remain on the CFG payroll, however, as a global ambassador that will involve him giving technical advice to the 13 clubs in the group.
City CEO Ferran Soriano said: “We have been privileged to work alongside Pep Guardiola for 10 years.
“Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future.
“Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future.
“If there is something more difficult than winning, it is winning again. It requires incredible persistence, resilience and the humility to start again every year, with the same energy, again and again. This is what Pep did.
“As we celebrate the past, we are also very happy to know that Pep will stay with the group and we will be able to use his knowledge and experience in so many of our other clubs to help managers and players.”
Guardiola leaves City as the joint second most successful manager in English football history, after Sir Alex Ferguson. As well as six top-flight titles, he won the club’s first Champions League, three FA Cup and five EFL Cups.
Honesty and trust
The Catalan achieved a Premier League record points tally of 100 in 2017-18, and is credited with popularising tactical innovations including ball-playing goalkeepers and inverted full-backs throughout English football.
He departs, however, with the shadow of City’s more than 100 charges of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules still hanging over the club, who have denied wrongdoing.
“Over the last 10 years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep,” said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
“There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success.”
Guardiola, who has batted away questions about his future throughout this season, said he could not explain why he was stepping down with one year remaining on his contract.
“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time,” he said.
“Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.”
The club are expected to pay tribute to Guardiola at their final game of the season, at home to Aston Villa, this weekend.
- Frank Dalleres
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