The American actress, who has died at the age of 36, shared a daughter with the former heavyweight boxing champion
Klitschko and Panettiere got engaged and welcomed a daughter before later splitting up
Hayden Panettiere made a heartbreaking admission about the daughter she shared with former fiance Wladimir Klitschko in her final interview, which was published just weeks before her death.
The American actress, who began her career as a child star before landing roles in shows like Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. In a statement, her heartbroken father Skip paid tribute to her as an "incredible light and a force of nature" and said her death was an "unimaginable loss".
Panettiere was previously engaged to former world heavyweight boxing champion Klitschko, having met him at a book launch in 2009. After they began dating, they split up in 2011, before rekindling their relationship two years later.
In October 2013, they got engaged, with the actress giving birth to their daughter, Kaya, the following December. However, it was confirmed in 2018 that the couple had split again, but remained on amicable terms.
That same year, Panettiere made the "heartbreaking" decision to relinquish full custody of Kaya to Ukrainian boxing great Klitschko, due to her struggles with long-term post-partum depression and addiction.
In what proved to be her final interview with parenting outlet Momé, published just last month, the late actress addressed the situation again, saying she knew she needed to hand full custody to Klitschko in order to put her daughter first.
"It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make," said Panettiere. " I was going through a really challenging time in my life.
"I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be.
"I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming," she added. "I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me."
It comes after she detailed being separated from Kaya in her memoir, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning and released earlier this year.
"Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it," Panettiere wrote.
"I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom.
"She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me."
Tragically, Panettiere's death comes three years after her younger brother Jansen also passed away at the age of just 28.
Jansen, who was also an actor, died in February 2023 due to aortic valve complications, related to enlarged heart syndrome.
Ukrainian superstar Oleksandr Usyk shocked the boxing world on Friday afternoon when he announced that he would be vacating all of his world heavyweight championships with immediate effect.
The undefeated 39-year-old, who held the WBA 'super', WBC and IBF belts, took to social media to inform fans of his decision. Usyk was most recently seen in the ring last month, when he defeated Dutch kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in controversial fashion.
Explaining why he had decided to give up his gold, Usyk spoke of his desire to give opportunities to other fighters in the division. He also confirmed that he would have at least one more fight, referring to the next stage of his career as "my last dance".
"I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them," he stated. "Friends, I'm leaving the belts, but not the sport because I still have my last dance."
The Motivation Behind Usyk's Decision to Ditch His Gold Has Been Explained
While Usyk's intentions may appear noble, Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn, who has promoted several of the legendary fighter's bouts, has shared the 'real reason' behind the decision.
In an interview with Seconds Out in the wake of the announcement, Hearn suggested that Usyk parting company with his gold was motivated by his desire to have more control over his own schedule.
Breaking down the demands on Usyk as a unified champion, Hearn stated:
"When you're the unified champion and you haven't faced one mandatory [challenger], it's a little bit easier to vacate all the belts than to answer the questions. He [Usyk] is probably in a position where he is like: 'I've done so much in the sport, I don't want to be told who I've got to fight! I want to fight when I want to fight!'"
Usyk's surprising announcement comes just days before a deadline by which he needed to agree a deal to fight the WBC's top-ranked contender, Agit Kabayel. As a result, that fight is now almost certain never to happen, with the unbeaten German likely to be promoted to full champion by the governing body shortly.
Oleksandr Usyk Wins His Final Fight 'Comfortably'
Hearn then went on to reveal the fight that he would advise Usyk to take in what will seemingly be his farewell bout.
"If he's gonna rematch Rico [Verhoeven], which if I was managing Usyk, I would be telling him to do, that's his last fight anyway.
"Why would he fight Kabayel and defend the titles? It's a very tough fight. I think financially you can make more money fighting Rico. There's a bit of controversy there. A few unanswered questions.
"I think he wins very comfortably in the second fight. They could do something special in Amsterdam, which would be iconic. He's done, isn't he? This is him saying: 'One more and thank you boxing'."
Usyk has yet to make any announcement regarding who he may face in his final bout, but it's easy to see why settling the score with Rico may appeal to him before he finally calls time on his legendary career.
PARIS — There will be a first-time women’s champion at Roland-Garros this year, and the odds are stacked in Marta Kostyuk’s favor.
Undefeated this season on clay, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday.
None of the players still in the draw have yet lifted the trophy in Paris, following Coco Gauff’s elimination on Saturday and Swiatek’s exit. It’s the same in the men’s draw, after the defeats of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic and with Carlos Alcaraz absent because of an injury.
Kostyuk had lost her three previous matches against Swiatek and never taken a set against the former top-ranked player, who turned 25 on Sunday.
“I’m still in shock. To beat such an unbelievable player, who won four times here,” she said.
Kostyuk has been the best player of the clay-court season. She defended extremely well, chasing Swiatek’s shots all over the court, and also produced some stunning groundstroke winners while her rival was also undone by her own mistakes.
An intense baseline battle unfolded from the outset and Swiatek earned the first break when she overwhelmed Kostyuk after a long rally with a backhand winner. Kostyuk broke back immediately, though, only to drop her serve again and hand Swiatek a 5-4 lead.
The Polish player showed signs of nerves as she double-faulted, shanked a forehand wide and then missed a volley at the net, allowing Kostyuk to level at 5-5. Swiatek hit two more double faults in the 12th game and the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player sealed the set with a backhand passing shot.
Swiatek then briefly left the court. Meanwhile, Kostyuk kept herself warm by stretching and hopping beside her chair, then received some applause as she did a few dance moves to the music playing in the stadium.
Following a first week marked by a suffocating heatwave, relief finally arrived in Paris on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees C (70 F) around midday.
When play resumed, Swiatek broke, but yet another double fault coupled with more unforced errors brought her opponent back at 1-1. Kostyuk then won the last five games.
Kostyuk had reached the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2021, losing to Swiatek.
The 15th-ranked Ukrainian is in a strong run of form and extended her winning streak on clay to 16 matches. Ahead of Roland Garros, she won in Madrid — the biggest title of her career — after she claimed another clay-court title in Rouen, France.
“The most important thing that I’ve been doing this whole time is really just trying to enjoy,” she said. “It’s helping. I want to keep enjoying. I try not to focus at all on winning or losing because I’m not playing tennis to win, I’m playing tennis because I love it.”
Swiatek has not won a title on clay since the 2024 French Open.
17 years later
Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, who is planning to retire at the end of the season, beat Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu 6-3, 7-6 (4) to reach her second Roland Garros quarterfinal, 17 years after first making it to the last eight.
The gap between Cirstea’s first and second Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances in Paris is the longest at a single major by any woman in the Open Era.
“There is no expiration date for ambition and for dreams,” Cirstea said. “And I have so much passion for this sport. I absolutely love tennis and to be able to play to still play at this level, have my family, my team, the closest people watching me.
“It’s an absolute joy. Sometimes society puts us in certain groups because of the age, but I think in life you are free to do whatever you want and I want to play. And here I am.”
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.
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.
Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has filed an appeal against the four-year disqualification decision, which has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Football Association (FA) has disqualified Ukraine national team and London Chelsea midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk for 4 years for violating anti-doping rules. This was reported by UNN with reference to talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs and The Athletic.
The Football Association imposed a four-year ban on Mykhailo Mudryk after a prohibited substance was detected in his system in 2024. The Chelsea star has already filed an appeal against this decision, which has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
- the journalist reported.
The disqualification of the Ukrainian international will be backdated and will include a provisional suspension, which will keep him out of the game until 2028, although the exact date of his return is not yet known.
Currently, the parties (Mudryk and CAS - ed.) are exchanging written statements, and a hearing has not yet been scheduled. Subsequently, sources told us at talkSPORT that the disqualification period is four years, and Mudryk, using the services of the same lawyers as Paul Pogba, hopes to either achieve an acquittal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport or, in the worst-case scenario, secure a reduction in the disqualification period
- the journalist adds.
Addendum
In January 2023, Mykhailo Mudryk moved from Shakhtar Donetsk to London's Chelsea. The "Miners" received 70 million euros for the player and could also receive another 30 million euros in the form of bonuses.
Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhiy Palkin stated in an interview with ESPN that Shakhtar risks losing a significant amount in bonus payments.
"There are 30 million euros in bonuses in his contract. And if he doesn't play, if Chelsea doesn't achieve results, we will lose 30 million euros. This is a big financial blow for us. Therefore, everyone believes that this story will end as soon as possible with positive results, and Mudryk will return to the game. Otherwise, we will be in a position where we lose 30 million euros. I know Mudryk as a player and a person. I believe he will return and start playing. I know this because I have never met such a guy in my life. He is very hardworking. And he will prove that he is capable of playing and bringing results to the team. But, as I understand it, at the moment everyone is waiting for the court's decision, and we have no information about when this will happen and when the final decision will be made. Therefore, everyone is waiting for information"
- Palkin said recently.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne confirmed receipt of the appeal from Mykhailo Mudryk against the decision of the English Football Association.
CAS confirms that it received an appeal from Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on February 25, 2026. The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing has not yet been scheduled
– CAS informed The Athletic.
In 2024, the Ukrainian midfielder of the English football club Chelsea, Mykhailo Mudryk, failed a doping test.
Subsequently, Chelsea confirmed the positive doping test of Ukrainian midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk. In turn, the footballer himself stated that he did not knowingly consume any prohibited substances.
The Football Association (FA) charged Ukrainian Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk with violating anti-doping rules.
In June last year, Mudryk received a positive result from a "B" doping sample.
During his suspension from football, Mudryk spends time, in particular, on computer games, including Counter-Strike 2.
Thus, in February of this year, the footballer was involved in a scandal during a Faceit match with Poles. The London club winger insulted players from Poland, specifically with his remarks regarding Volhynia, for which he received a ban in the game.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs even had to intervene in the Mudryk situation; in particular, the ministry emphasized that there should be no place for such incidents.
In Östersund, Sweden, the first stage of the Biathlon World Cup season 2025/26 begins.
On December 3, the program features a men’s 20 km individual race with four shooting rounds.
Participants and organization of the race
At 16:30 the Ukrainian biathletes will line up: Artem Tyschenko (3rd starting number), Bogdan Tsymbal (23), Dmytro Pidruchny (28), Vitaliy Mandzin (41) and Anton Dudchenko (79).
103 athletes will participate in the race.
Recall that the sprints in Östersund will take place on December 5–6, with the pursuit races on December 7.
The next World Cup stage will be hosted by Hochfilzen (Austria) – December 12–14.
Fans are anticipating a tense battle on the tracks, and Ukrainian biathletes are set for high results in the season opener.
Ukrainian cadets won 5 awards, including a gold, a silver, and bronze medals, at the European Taekwondo Championship in Athens. Over 500 athletes from 35 countries participated in the competition.
At the competition in Greece, with the participation of athletes from 35 countries, Ukrainian cadets won gold, silver, and bronze medals, UNN reports with reference to the press service of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the national Olympic team of Ukraine.
Details
Ukrainian taekwondo athletes won 5 awards at the European Cadet Championship, which took place in Athens (Greece).
More than 500 athletes from 35 countries, including 18 Ukrainians, took part in the taekwondo (WTF) competition. According to the results of the competition, the "blue and yellow" team climbed the podium five times:
Gold medal: Andrienko Mariia (weight category up to 33 kg);
Silver and bronze: Naboka Prokhor (weight category up to 57 kg); Pevchuk Tetiana (weight category up to 41 kg); Dovzhanin Karyna (weight category up to 47 kg); Nasadchuk Nikita (weight category up to 61 kg).
Recall
Taekwondo athlete Artem Harbar won the third gold medal for Ukraine at the World Summer Universiade - 2025.
Ukrainian taekwondo athlete Maksym Manenkov won a gold medal at the World Summer Universiade in Germany in the weight category up to 58 kg. This victory was the seventh medal for Ukraine at the competition, and Manenkov admitted that he was inspired by Oleksandr Usyk's victorious fight.
Oleksandr Usyk may soon find himself walking the red carpet at the Oscars following the strong critical acclaim for his new film, The Smashing Machine.
Usyk starred alongside Dwyanye Johnson, who played former MMA fighter Mark Kerr, in his film debut. Emily Blunt also co-starred as Kerr’s wife, as the movie was well received at the Venice Film Festival. Johnson is being tipped for an Oscar nomination, while Usyk could be invited after playing Ukrainian fighter Igor Vovchanchyn. The film is set to open in cinemas worldwide on October 3.
“Johnson gives a performance of immense pathos, intensity and depth – one that looks bound to win him awards recognition,” Geoffrey Macnab said
It has been a remarkable period for Usyk of late. He stopped Daniel Dubois in July to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. It was the second time he had achieved this at the weight class. However, his next fight is uncertain after he received a 90-day extension by the WBO to negotiate his mandatory title defense against Joseph Parker. The extension was requested due to a back injury. But outside of boxing, Usyk has plenty to keep himself occupied as he admitted that his current reason for boxing is just discipline.
“I don’t have motivation. I have discipline. This is why I am champion. I believe this with all my heart. It carries me through the ring, through life, through every challenge. “This is why I stand. Carry this with you,” Usyk said
USA's Venus Williams waves at supporters after losing against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova at the end of their women's singles first round tennis match on day two of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City
Image: Kena Betancur / AFP
Venus Williams battled bravely before bowing out of the US Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis on Monday as Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the second round with a dominant opening win.
The second full day of action in New York saw all eyes turn to the Arthur Ashe Stadium's night session, where the 45-year-old Williams lost in three sets to 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
Williams only returned to competitive tennis in July following a 16-month absence from the sport and had been granted a wild card into the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
But hopes of a fairytale run -- 28 years after her debut in the tournament -- ended in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 loss to Muchova, who was not even born when Williams turned professional in 1994.
"I didn't win today but I'm very proud of the way I played," Williams, the US Open champion in 2000 and 2001, said.
"I don't think I've ever had a crowd on my side like that. I knew people around the world and around the United States were really rooting for me, and that felt great."
With the American exiting, 2022 men's champion Alcaraz took centre-stage in the late game in his first round tie against unseeded American Reilly Opelka.
The Spaniard arrived for the game sporting a striking new hairstyle -- a severe crew cut -- and he duly chopped down the 6ft 11in Opelka with a blistering 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory in 2hr 5min.
"Today was a really difficult one," Alcaraz said. "Reilly is a great, tough player. I couldn't get the rhythm that I wanted to get but I'm just really happy with what I did today. I did a great performance today."
Alcaraz is chasing a second US Open title following his maiden Grand Slam victory at the tournament three years ago.
Australian Open winner Madison Keys became the highest-ranked player to exit so far, the sixth seed losing to Mexico's Renata Zarazua 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.
"Today was the first time in a while where my nerves really got the better of me and it kind of became a little bit paralyzing," home hope Keys said.
"I was just slow, I wasn't seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel like resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork."
Kvitova farewell
Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova bundled out rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, defeating the teenager 6-3, 6-2.
Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens ousted wild card Alyssa Ahn 6-1, 6-0 while Ukrainian 30th seed Dayana Yastremska exited in a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 loss to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova brought the curtain down on her career after a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to France's Diane Parry.
The 35-year-old Czech had already announced her intention to retire after the US Open, but was nonetheless overcome with emotion as she said farewell to the sport, breaking down in tears as she addressed fans afterwards.
"I hoped I would put on a better show today," Kvitova said. "It was tough to know it could be my last match, and emotionally it was very tough as well."
Qualifier Coleman Wong became the first man from Hong Kong to record a victory in a Grand Slam singles event in the Open era with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of US player Aleksandar Kovacevic.
It was the latest in a series of breakthrough results by young Asian players at this year's US Open.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines -- who trains with Wong at Rafael Nadal's academy in Spain -- and Indonesia's Janice Tjen both won their first-round matches in the main draw.
British fifth seed Jack Draper needed four sets to get past Argentina's Federico Gomez, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2.
Other seeds to advance included Norway's Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, who downed Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
Oleksandr Usyk will face Daniel Dubois in a rematch. (Photo: instagram.com/usykaa)
Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk (23–0, 14 KOs), who currently holds the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBO heavyweight titles, is set to face off once again against IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois (22–2, 21 KOs) in a high-stakes rematch.
Usyk is actively training for the July 19 bout, which will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
A new video circulating online shows Usyk in top form, sharpening his punches and drilling speed and technique in preparation for the highly anticipated fight.
Their first clash took place on Aug. 26, 2023, in Wroclaw, Poland. In the fifth round, Dubois landed a controversial low blow that was ruled illegal. The referee paused the fight to give Usyk time to recover, and the Ukrainian boxer ultimately secured a technical knockout victory in the ninth round.
Dubois has since promised a “surprise” for the rematch, fueling speculation about his strategy going into what could be a career-defining fight.
Oleksandr Usyk‘s next move is currently being decided.
The Ukrainian became undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time in July when he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium to add his IBF belt to his WBC, WBA and WBO titles.
While that bout may have only taken place a month ago, attention immediately turned to who Usyk will face next, with the WBO ordering him to defend against mandatory challenger Joseph Parker.
Parker earned that right with victories over Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder over the past 18 months, becoming interim WBO heavyweight champion in the process.
The two camps were given 30 days to negotiate before it went to purse bids, but Usyk has requested more time, citing the need to recover from injuries.
With no decision reached yet, and Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh declaring he doesn’t want the Parker fight next, fans have begun to speculate that Usyk may choose to vacate the WBO belt and instead take on another fighter, with the likes of Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma mentioned as possible opponents.
Usyk’s Team Director Sergey Lapin has now provided an update, telling Boxing King Media that Parker still currently appears to be the frontrunner for the fight.
“We have the WBO belt, his first belt. We have rules. We need to speak with the team and next opponent is Parker. Is this fight not Saudi? We’ll see where we do it and the next step.”
Usyk’s first world title was the WBO cruiserweight belt in September 2016, before going on to become undisputed at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
It means the Ukrainian may have some loyalty towards the governing body, but it wouldn’t be the first time that he has lost his undisputed status by vacating a belt, after doing so with the IBF title in 2024.Toby Morgan
Jake Paul and Oleksandr Usyk had an unexpected face-off following the Ukrainian’s win over Daniel Dubois.
Usyk once again became undisputed heavyweight champion by claiming a dominant fifth round knockout win over Dubois, reclaiming the IBF belt in the process and adding it to his WBC, WBA and WBO titles to cement his status as the best heavyweight on the planet.
Attention has already turned to who Usyk may take on next following the win, and despite most people expecting the likes of Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker to be linked, YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul has thrown his name into the ring.
Paul was last in action in June when he defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a cruiserweight bout, and has also been linked to a heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua in recent weeks.
It seems that Paul could now be targeting a shock battle with Usyk though, after facing off with the Ukrainian and posting a message on social media outlining his one condition for the potential match-up.
“Congrats to one of the greatest heavyweights of all time Usyk on a huge win. I respect you a lot. Now we do an MMA match for the world.”
Whilst team Usyk also agree that a boxing match could ‘never’ happen, they do agree that a bout inside the Octagon would be ‘perfect’.
“Well Jake Paul, you know, when it comes to Jake Paul we’re not talking about the boxing because we would be probably put in the jail for murder … we all understand we can’t put Jake Paul and Oleksandr in the ring for boxing, there is no way, and Oleksandr will never do that, but of course because Jake Paul was a wrestler and what I heard he was a good wrestler when he was growing up, he knows how to wrestle, he knows how to fight a little bit. I think MMA would be the perfect thing to do.”
While Paul may have become one of the biggest names in the sport, a fight with Usyk is likely not one that many fight fans would want to see next, but as has been proven in combats sports for a number of years, anything can certainly happen.
Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Daniel Dubois is just days away.
The Ukrainian looks to add even more to an already impeccable legacy this weekend at Wembley Stadium if he beats 27-year-old Brit Dubois for a second time.
The first time these two fought was in August 2023 out in Poland. It was a controversial fight given that ‘DDD’ had Usyk down on the canvas after landing what he thought was a fierce body shot, but the referee ruled it low and the Ukrainian was allowed time to recover, which he did, eventually stopping Dubois with a jab in the ninth round.
Since then, Usyk has beaten Tyson Fury twice on points to claim all four heavyweight belts, though had to vacate the IBF for the rematch.
Meanwhile, Dubois has matured as a man and as a fighter and has come through three increasingly tough tests against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua in the last 18 months, all of whom he stopped to become to earn the vacant IBF belt.
Most feel that Dubois’ chance in this return fight comes early and through his incredible heavyweight power. However, speaking to DAZN, the now-nearing 40-year-old Usyk was asked about the biggest puncher he has faced in the ring. Rather than pick his old foe Dubois, he went with a fellow Brit.
“I think it’s Derek. Crazy Derek.”
Usyk fought Chisora back in 2020 in his second contest up at heavyweight and won a tough contest on the cards. Many feel that ‘Del Boy’ set the blueprint for how to fight the Ukrainian, though nobody has been able to emulate it since, certainly not to the point of beating him.
Whoever wins this weekend will be crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion – in Usyk’s case, that could be for a history-making second time on top of having been undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Tyson Fury is a former WBC heavyweight champion (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Two-time world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced his latest retirement from boxing.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five of Fury’s most memorable fights, following a decorated career in which he won 34 of his 37 contests, losing only to Ukrainian rival Oleksandr Usyk twice.
Wladimir Klitschko, November 2015, Dusseldorf – UD win
Few gave the young British upstart much of a chance against another Ukrainian in Klitschko, who came into the bout unbeaten in 11 years and with 19 successful defences as world champion. However, he was deposed as WBA, IBF and WBO titlist by Fury, who proved too slick and elusive across 12 scrappy rounds.
Deontay Wilder I, December 2018, Los Angeles – draw
Deontay Wilder (right) and Fury fought to a draw in Los Angeles (Lionel Hahn/PA)
Fury was again the underdog in his first serious test after 30 months out of action. He survived being dropped in the ninth then rose to his feet – resembling WWE wrestler The Undertaker – after seemingly being knocked out in the 12th to hear the final bell. Fury seemed the superior boxer in many, if not all, of the other rounds but was denied a victory for the ages and Wilder’s WBC title by the judges.
Deontay Wilder II, February 2020, Las Vegas – TKO-7 win
Fury (right) overpowered Wilder in their second meeting (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Wilder’s reputation as one of the hardest all-time heavyweight hitters held no fear for Fury. Deciding his best course of action was to bully the bully, Fury used his 40-plus pound weight advantage to back up Wilder, sending him crashing to the canvas in rounds three and five. The American was put out of his misery when his corner threw in the towel as Fury claimed victory by a means no one saw coming.
Deontay Wilder III, October 2021, Las Vegas – KO-11 win
Wilder (right) was once again no match for Fury (Bradley Collyer/PA)
A trilogy no one wanted – and only mandated by an arbitration judge – produced a jaw-dropping epic, featuring five knockdowns but with Fury still on top of the world. Fury looked set for an early night when he put down Wilder in the third but was then dropped twice in the next round by Wilder’s trademark big right hand. Fury wore his opponent down and ended their rivalry with a chopping right of his own.
Oleksandr Usyk, May 2024, Riyadh – SD loss
Oleksandr Usyk (left) ended Fury’s unbeaten record as a professional (Nick Potts/PA)
The undisputed heavyweight title was on the line for the first time of the century – and first in the four-belt era. Fury, who boasted significant height, reach and weight advantages, looked to be in control at the halfway point after sustained body attacks buckled his foe. But Usyk stormed back, with Fury given a standing count at the end of the ninth and saved by the bell after being sent reeling around the ring. A barnstorming finish ensued but Usyk was given the nod on the judges’ scorecards.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- With 24 rounds between them and no need for a third bout following another Oleksandr Usyk victory -- this time more clearly than the first bout -- Tyson Fury leaned over and kissed his rival on the head as the heavyweight champion celebrated.
The show of respect isn't surprising after just how grueling these two fights were. With so much at stake -- Fury's quest to regain his titles as a three-time champion and Usyk's push to turn him back again -- it was Usyk who pulled away down the stretch on Saturday night.
Their May meeting, the front-runner for ESPN's Fight of the Year, established Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) as the world's best heavyweight and No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the ESPN rankings. The rematch meant even more. In addition to reinforcing that dual status, a second, more definitive victory cemented Usyk as the best heavyweight of his generation, the greatest fighter in boxing's glamour division since Lennox Lewis retired in 2004, and an all-time great.
When Usyk won gold at the amateur European Championships in 2008, he was a light heavyweight while his Ukrainian countryman, Wladimir Klitschko, reigned as heavyweight champion in the pros. Four years later, Usyk captured gold at the Olympic Games in London as a heavyweight while Anthony Joshua won a gold medal at super heavyweight. Years after that, as a pro, Usyk cleaned out the cruiserweight division as undisputed champion and defeated Joshua twice at heavyweight to become unified champion.
The May split-decision victory over Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) earned Usyk, 37, the undisputed championship at heavyweight, too. And in that fight, he came close to stopping Fury in Round 9 when he landed 14 unanswered punches and delivered Fury's eighth trip to the canvas of his career.
Seven months later, there was no seminal moment with either fighter in serious trouble. And while the bout was entertaining, it wasn't nearly as thrilling as the first meeting. Despite no knockdowns scored, Usyk's victory was never in doubt this time, winning via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 116-112).
"I very respect this guy because I think he's very tough," Usyk told ESPN. "... Tyson Fury makes me strong. Tyson is a great opponent. Big man. He's a good man. Tyson, a lot of talk but it's just show."
Fury was adamant that he deserved the nod. When asked if he felt Usyk's spirit in the bout, Fury responded, "Yeah, Christmas spirit, he received a Christmas gift."
Usyk conceded this fight was easier than the first time.
Oleksandr Usyk, above, retained his WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles with another decision victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday. Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Fury, 36, boxed well, particularly when he switched stances and fired a southpaw jab followed by punishing left hands. But like the first fight, he faded down the stretch. He lost Rounds 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 on all three scorecards.
"When you don't get the knockout, this is what can happen," Fury said. "... I did the best I could. If I could have done more, I would have done it, and that's it."
Usyk left no doubt he was the better fighter, even if many rounds were very close. A third bout isn't necessary. Two future Hall of Famers met over 24 rounds and Usyk proved that he was the better man despite a 50-plus-pound disadvantage and giving up nearly six inches in height.
Usyk will fight on, of course. There are tens of millions to be made as his star continues to grow and he brings more attention (and pride) to war-torn Ukraine. Daniel Dubois, whom Usyk KO'd in nine rounds in August 2023 in Poland, interrupted Usyk's postfight interview to call for a rematch.
"I want my revenge," said Dubois, who picked up the IBF title Usyk was stripped of in June with a fifth-round KO of Joshua in September.
Usyk quickly responded that he was ready for a rematch, but that fight won't approach the marquee stage he enjoyed this year with two wins over Fury, one of the sport's top stars. The first Dubois bout wasn't remotely competitive, and Usyk scored the KO with a jab.
England's Dubois has enjoyed an impressive run since with three consecutive wins inside the distance (TKO victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before the upset of Joshua).
Dubois, however, must push past a tough test against former titleholder Joseph Parker on Feb. 22 in Riyadh. With Joshua and Fury out of the way for good, there's no megafight on the horizon for Usyk.
Fury, meanwhile, could face Joshua in the loser's bracket in a fight that will still be highly anticipated for their combined star power, especially in the U.K. And no matter where Fury goes from here, he'll go down as an all-time great.
When Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a split decision, it was the first time in 25 years there had been an undisputed heavyweight boxing champion.
The first fight was a thrilling, breathless affair, and it is no wonder a rematch was called for almost instantaneously. There are simply still so many questions for both fighters to answer.
Will Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, make more history and prove he is truly the best of this generation? Or will Fury (34-1-1 24 KOs) turn things around and avenge the only defeat of his career to date?
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the fight.
Key details:
Date: Saturday. The event is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. GMT, with the main event ring walks slated to start around 10 p.m. GMT.
Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh.
How to watch: The fight is available to purchase on pay-per-view across Sky Sports and TNT Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.K. and United States. ESPN will also have live updates of the fight.
What belts are at stake?
Usyk relinquished his IBF title in June, with Daniel Dubois becoming champion and defending the belt against Anthony Joshua in September. However, the Ukrainian still holds the three other main belts (WBA, WBO & WBC). These will be up for grabs on Saturday.
While Usyk will want to show his victory was no fluke, Fury is in unchartered territory, coming off a defeat for the first time in his professional career. The Brit will be desperate to avenge the loss and capture the belts for himself, while at the same time inflicting a first professional loss to his opponent.
Usyk scored a knockdown against Fury in Round 9 of their first fight. Mohammed Saad/Anadolu via Getty Images
What happened last time?
While Usyk won via split decision, there are those that say he won it more convincingly, and those who are adamant it was a close fight. Judge Craig Metcalfe scored the fight 114-113 to Fury, while Manuel Oliver Palermo had it 115-112 in favour of Usyk. Mike Fitzgerald scored it 114-113, also in favour of the Ukrainian.
While Fury started well in the eyes of many, and certainly had the better of Rounds 5,6 and 7, the fight swung in Round 8 -- when Fury was caught on the nose with a left hand -- and Round 9, when Usyk scored a knockdown and had Fury scrambling, his legs seemingly gone, only to be saved by the bell.
However, as he has shown before, Fury has a remarkable ability to bounce back and recovered well, winning the 12th round on all three official scorecards.
Usyk, too, was visibly beaten up after the fight, proving it was a brutal bout regardless of the outcome.
Fury has admitted he may have gotten complacent during the fight, producing some trademark showmanship when he should have been dialled in. All this leads to an intriguing rematch on Saturday.
Statistics
Usyk outlanded Fury 170-157 in total punches in the first fight; the 170 landed punches were the most by any Fury opponent.
The knockdown in Round 9 was the eighth time Fury has hit the canvas in his career.
His victory made Usyk the third fighter in the four-belt era to be undisputed champion in two divisions after Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue.
Who is on the undercard?
Light middleweight: Serhii Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) vs. Ishmael Davis (13-1, 6 KOs)
Tyson Fury is back in the ring this December when he tries to avenge his only career defeat.
Back in May ‘The Gypsy King’ was dethroned as the number one heavyweight on the planet when he was beaten by the former cruiserweight undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
The fight lived up to the hype with both men having periods of success but ultimately it was the Ukrainian who got his hand raised via a split decision, having scored a huge 10-8 round in the ninth where Fury was out on his feet.
In the build up to the first fight Fury spoke about his desire to carry on boxing until he can’t anymore, and named ten potential opponents he could still face. One of those was Joseph Parker, the in-form former heavyweight champion who is a close gym buddy of Fury’s and the man he previously said he would never fight because they were ‘too close’.
“Definitely not. No. I’d rather give him the belt than fight him for it. We’re too close for that fight, and there’s plenty of heavyweights out there. I don’t want to get beat up, sorry.”
However, the former WBC champion seems to have had a change of heart, telling Pro Boxing Fans that he would now be willing to face his friend, if it provided him with ‘life changing’ money
“Joseph Parker, Well listen, if it’s going to make him life changing money and help his family and kids I’m sure he will.”
Fury and Parker have been close friends and training partners for some time now, with the Brit even bringing the New Zealander out to Morecambe for full camps. He was also instrumental in Parker’s link up with coach Andy Lee which has proven to be an excellent move.
Parker is currently coming off the best two wins of his career, having beaten Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang and is positioning himself for a shot a title if the belts become more fractured after the Fury-Usyk rematch.
Oleksandr Usyk has beaten five Brits in the last six years, including winning the unified heavyweight titles from Anthony Joshua and defending them against Daniel Dubois.
It gives the Ukrainian a unique insight into the all-English clash set for September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
He beat Joshua twice, both times over the distance, and then followed up with a stoppage against Dubois. Since then, he has won the fourth and final heavyweight belt from Tyson Fury, becoming the division’s first undisputed champion in two and a half decades.
In an interview with Boxing News not long after his fight with the younger Brit, Usyk said he thought ‘AJ’ would always be a level above.
“I treat Daniel Dubois with respect. I wish him good luck, and let him become the champion some day – that he trains well … There is no way to compare [Dubois and Joshua], because they are completely different fighters. Different skills; different styles. Totally different boxers. To be fair, I don’t think [Dubois can reach Joshua’s level]. I am sorry for saying this, but this is the truth and I’m telling it.”
His words ‘let him become the champion’ ring truer than anyone thought they might considering Usyk recently vacated the IBF belt – ‘gifted’ in his words – and allowed Dubois to be elevated to full champion.
It means his first defence will be against Joshua in front of 90,000+ fans at the national arena – an extreme test of the heart that many pundits once questioned.
With Usyk set to rematch Fury in Saudi Arabia later this year, it’s thought that the winner of Dubois-Joshua may be set up to face the winner there.
Arsenal have turned their attention to Spain in their search for a new striker, with a report claiming LaLiga’s top scorer is now in Edu and Mikel Arteta’s sights.
Arsenal came within a whisker of ending their 20-year wait for a Premier League title last season. Many believe the addition of a 20-goal-per-season striker last summer may have tipped Arsenal over the edge.
Kai Havertz started poorly, though did produce the goods in the second half of the season when primarily deployed as the No 9.
The signing of a new striker may push Havertz out of the striker position, though the classy German has already proven he can make a major impact further back in midfield too.
Arsenal’s quest for a lethal new centre-forward initially took them to Germany upon exploring a move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
However, the Slovenian hitman has elected to remain with Leipzig for one more year at least. A ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between player and club means offers for his services will be entertained in 2025.
Others Arsenal have cast their eye over include Viktor Gyokeres, Joshua Zirkzee, Alexander Isak and Dominic Solanke, to name just four.
But according to fresh reports out of Spain, a new name can be added to that list.
Arsenal hunting 24-goal Artem Dovbyk
It’s claimed Arsenal are looking into a move for Girona and Ukraine hotshot, Artem Dovbyk.
The 26-year-old left-footer cost around €7m when Girona signed Dovbyk from Dnipro-1 last summer.
Dovbyk emphatically made a mockery of that lowly price tag when finishing as LaLiga’s top scorer with 24 goals in his first season in Spain.
Dovbyk helped fire Girona into third spot and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. However, whether Dovbyk will be around to participate in the competition remains to be seen.
The Ukrainian is reportedly a wanted man at the Emirates and the presence of a release clause can remove Girona from the equation.
Dovbyk can be signed via a €40m/£34m clause in his contract. Such a sum could represent a bargain for any club wishing to take a chance.
Little else was reported on the matter, with Arsenal’s interest seemingly still in the early stages.
Nonetheless, Dovbyk certainly proved he can score at will in a top European league last season and Arsenal have taken the first steps towards bringing him to north London by exploring a move.
Arsenal fans should get a chance to see Dovbyk in action on Monday afternoon when he leads the line for Ukraine in their Euro 2024 opener against Romania.
.jpeg)
.webp)