Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic square up on June 22, 2026
Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic, set to collide on August 29 at London, England’s O2 Arena, will now be fighting for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
No. 3-ranked Itauma, 14-0 (12 KOs), had been ordered by the sanctioning body to face leading IBF contender, Frank Sanchez, after the bout with Hrgovic had already been signed and announced. And with the Croatian rated fourth by the organization, it has been agreed that they can instead do battle for the belt on the condition that the winner meets Sanchez in their first defense.
“We paid [Sanchez] some money,” promoter Frank Warren told the BBC. “We said whoever wins the fight, you’re not losing out and you’ll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner.”
The 34-year-old Cuban, 26-1 (19 KOs), had achieved mandatory status with the IBF by knocking out Richard Torrez Jnr in two rounds in May.
Hrgovic, 20-1 (15 KOs), is riding a three-fight win streak – beating Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen – and is regarded as 21-year-old Itauma’s toughest test to date.
Presuming Itauma-Hrgovic isn’t a draw, it means that Warren’s Queensberry Promotions – who handle both Itauma and Hrgovic, as well as WBC boss Agit Kabayel and WBO beltholder Daniel Dubois – will promote three of the four heavyweight beltholders come the end of the month. The WBA titlist, Murat Gassiev, had previously been expected to face Itauma later in the year.
"A lot of people have high expectations of [Itauma] as I have, by the way," Warren said. "We signed him when he was 16. He was an amateur. We sponsored him, and he turned professional with us.
"And he's been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.”
The influx of heavyweight beltholders can of course be explained by Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to relinquish his three titles in June. Though the 39-year-old is plotting one last fight – likely against Deontay Wilder – the Ukrainian’s days of fighting elite opposition are over, it seems.
Kabayel and Gassiev saw their statuses rise by virtue of Usyk’s decision to step down. Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley to claim his belt after Wardley was handed the championship when Usyk gave up the WBO title last year.
The winner of Itauma-Hrgovic will be the first to claim one of Usyk’s old belts in the ring.
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.
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.
The referee did not think Verhoeven was saved by the bell.
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.
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.
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.
Andy Ruiz Jr. shared details from a recent interview about stalled talks for a fight with Oleksandr Usyk. The former unified heavyweight champion said Usyk’s team reached out before the Rico Verhoeven matchup got set. He knows Usyk’s manager from sparring days at Freddie Roach’s gym.
Ruiz Spills: Usyk Ditched Me For Kickboxer Verhoeven Showdown
In an interview with casino.org/us, Andy Ruiz Jr. explained how the Usyk fight slipped out of his fingers in favor of Verhoeven. He said:
“So before that fight was organised, they messaged me and asked me if I would like to fight Usyk in the United States – I know his manager from when I was younger at Freddie Roach’s gym because I used to spar with all of the heavyweights when I was a little kid.”
Ruiz figured better money pulled Usyk to Egypt for the kickboxer. The May 23 clash at the Pyramids of Giza puts Usyk’s WBC and lineal titles on the line against Verhoeven, who has two pro boxing rounds under his belt after a 60-10 kickboxing run.
Usyk, undefeated in 24 pro bouts, holds Olympic gold and two undisputed heavyweight reigns. He last fought in a knockout win over Dubois last summer. Verhoeven, “King of Kickboxing,” retains power from fights like his shutout of Ismael Lazaar and Badt Hari with jabs and range control.
Andy Ruiz Jr Reveals Failed Oleksandr Usyk Talks Ahead Of Rico Verhoeven Fight
Ruiz picks Usyk but flags Verhoeven’s bag work and clips as real. He ties the edge to experience and Usyk’s style edge without kickboxing legs in play.
“Usyk should win. He’s an experienced fighter. He’s the champion. He’s the undisputed heavyweight champion. But I heard a lot of people saying for him to be careful against Verhoeven. He’s no joke. I’ve seen a few little videos of him hitting the bag and some fights, but I think Usyk beats him, especially if he’s not using his legs.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 3: Andy Ruiz jr ( black with white shorts) and Jarrell Miller (Blue with whites shorts) during their Heavyweight Contest at BMO Stadium on August 3, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images)
Ruiz eyes a future clash as a money draw with Mexican-Ukrainian-American appeal. He sees a technical start turning to body shots. His forward speed could test Usyk early.
“At first, it would be a technical fight to get our distance and assess the countering, but I think I would stop him. I would stop him in the body because he doesn’t like getting hit in the body.”
Ruiz plans tune-ups this year, targeting an elite December foe to prove he’s current. Usyk chose his path as undisputed king.
Mexican contenders Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte and Angel “Tashiro” Fierro delivered exactly what was expected Saturday night, a rough, back-and-forth fight that left the crowd split and the scorecards even more so.
Duarte(31-2-1, 23 KOs) edged Fierro by split decision, 115-113 and 116-112 twice, while one judge saw it 116-112 for Fierro. The verdict at T-Mobile Arena was met with loud boos, even as Duarte walked away with the NABO and WBC silver super lightweight titles.
The fight never found a smooth rhythm. Fierro (23-5-2, 8 KOs) , who missed weight by more than three pounds Friday, came in physically bigger and fought like it, pressing forward and forcing Duarte into uncomfortable exchanges early. Duarte still found moments, including a left hook in the fourth round that dropped Fierro, though it came after the bell and resulted in no penalty as the referee lost balance in the sequence.
Fierro’s pressure only built from there.
By the seventh, he was landing clean right hands and letting them go with confidence, targeting Duarte’s head and wearing him down. The damage became visible when Duarte began bleeding from the ear, a troubling sign as Fierro continued to connect with chopping shots.
From the stands, the tension spilled over.
“Levanta las manos, vas a perder, pendejo,” rang out toward Duarte as frustration grew over his lack of movement. The crowd’s reaction only intensified when the final scores were read.
“I deserve these belts, I made the weight,” Duarte said after the fight, speaking through the boos.
Online, the narrative shifted just as quickly. The idea that Duarte had intimidated Richardson Hitchins out of their previously scheduled fight faded as fans questioned how Duarte would have handled a sharper, more precise opponent. Hitchins himself added fuel, writing on social media that Duarte “had no reason” for the withdrawal claims and that his volume would not have been enough.
Despite the criticism, Duarte closed his night thanking promoter Oscar De La Hoya for delivering on his promises.
The result moves Duarte forward in the division, but the performance left more questions than answers.
Fans could see Tyson Fury back in the ring before a blockbuster fight against Anthony Joshua later this year... but against who?
Tyson Fury is set to fight Anthony Joshua(Image: (Mark Robinson/Getty Images))
1. The heavyweights in the frame: Staying active: Tyson Fury has reportedly instructed Frank Warren to secure an interim date to avoid the ring rust that plagued his early rounds against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It has been said that the Gypsy King feels that a second training camp this year could be essential for his mental discipline and physical conditioning before facing a revitalised Joshua.
2. Makhmudov rematch: A second bout with Makhmudov may remain a viable fallback option given the Russian's durability and the commercial success of their first encounter on Netflix. While Fury won convincingly on the scorecards, Makkmudov's early aggression provided the exact type of hair-raising moments that keep the public engaged.
3. Big Bang threat: Zhilei Zhang stands out as a highly feasible candidate because his southpaw stance and massive power would offer Fury the ultimate tactical dress rehearsal. Despite being in the twilight of his career, 'Big Bang' remains a top-tier gatekeeper whose involvement would draw massive international viewership and test Fury's defensive reflexes.
4. The Bakole challenge: Choosing Martin Bakole would silence critics who claim Fury is looking for an easy touch, as the Congolese giant possesses the engine and physical size to make every round a gruelling chore. The 32-year-old hasn't fought since his draw against Efe Ajagba in May 2025.
5. Joshua's risky tune-up: Anthony Joshua is set to face the Albanian Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25, a fight that Frank Warren warned could "kill" the Fury bout if an upset occurs. Because Prenga boasts a formidable knockout ratio, the entire 2026 boxing calendar rests on Joshua successfully navigating this dangerous hurdle without sustaining an injury.
6. WBC interim situation: Agit Kabayel currently holds a position of power as the WBC interim champion, making a fight with Fury logically consistent for the governing body's rankings. A victory over Kabayel would allow Fury to walk into the Joshua fight as the undisputed focus of the WBC, removing any political obstacles regarding mandatory challengers.
7. British domestic clash: Fabio Wardley remains a dark horse for the interim slot due to his recent surge in popularity and his status as a fellow Queensberry-promoted fighter. A domestic showdown with Wardley - who faces Daniel Dubois next week - would serve as a perfect "Battle of Britain" appetiser, though some believe the risk of a domestic upset is too high for such a late stage in negotiations.
8. Timing and logistics: The proposed interim fight would likely need to take place in late summer or early autumn to allow for a three-month recovery and preparation window before the Joshua clash. This tight turnaround requires an opponent who is already in active training and ready to sign a contract without prolonged promotional disputes.
9. Saudi Arabian backing: Most of these potential matchups are contingent on the support of Riyadh Season, which has become the primary financial engine for the heavyweight division's biggest events. Regardless of whether the fight lands in London or Saudi Arabia, the organisers are keen to ensure both Fury and Joshua enter their final 2026 clash at their absolute best.
Cruiserweight contender Ryan Rozicki poses in a brief break from a 2025 training camp
After an unfortunate 2025 that may have been even worse than his 2024, Ryan Rozicki is entering the second month of 2026 in a better position – as the WBC’s first-ranked cruiserweight.
That spot most recently belonged to Noel Mikaelyan, a former cruiserweight titleholder who won back the WBC belt in December, topping Badou Jack via unanimous decision in their rematch. Jack had won a disputed split decision in their first meeting last May.
Mikaelyan’s ascension left a vacancy, and Rozicki, who had been seated at No. 2, moved up to fill it in the WBC’s latest ratings update, which was released on February 3.
Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), had previously been ranked No. 1 through last April but was bumped down when Mikaelyan lost to Jack.
Rozicki was originally supposed to be Jack’s opponent on that May 3 date in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rozicki was also originally supposed to face Mikaelyan in 2024. Both of those bouts would have been for the WBC cruiserweight title.
This will require some explanation, though that explanation might cause more confusion rather than less.
Jack initially won the WBC cruiserweight title by defeating Ilunga Makabu in February 2023. He went more than two years without defending it, however – and without fighting altogether. Instead, he was named “champion in recess” as he pondered a move to the bridgerweight division.
Mikaelyan won the vacant WBC title in November 2023, also with a win over Makabu. But he was unable to defend against Rozicki in 2024 – the bout was postponed on several occasions, and then Mikaelyan pulled out one last time. Jack, meanwhile, wanted to return to the ring. So Mikaelyan and Jack changed places, Jack being reinstated while Mikaelyan became the “champion in recess” ahead of their initial bout last year.
Rozicki was out for the entirety of 2025, pulling out of the Jack bout because of a biceps injury, and then another injury caused him to withdraw from an October bout in his hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, against Akani Phuzi.
Rozicki is scheduled to return on March 7 in Sydney against the 12-4 Gerardo Mellado.
Last June, Michal Cieslak defeated Jean Pascal to win the WBC’s vacant interim belt at 200lbs. Rather than Cieslak getting the next shot at the primary title, however, the WBC had ordered the winner to defend against Yamil Peralta.
If that remains the case, then Rozicki may indeed get his shot at the title – that’s if he can finally get Mikaelyan in the ring.
Rozicki is followed in the WBC’s cruiserweight ratings by Peralta, Chris Billam-Smith, Mateusz Masternak, Leonardo Mosquea, Jack, Makabu, Brandon Glanton, Kevin Ramirez, Yuniel Dorticos, Viddal Riley, Floyd Masson, Aloys Youmbi, Mike Perez and Efetobor Apochi.
Thunder rumbles inn Brooklyn - Dalton Smith smashes world champion Subriel Matias to win WBC world title
Sheffield star shines bright in the States
Dalton Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) is the new WBC World Super-Lightweight champion after a spectacular stoppage win over the fearsome two-time world champion Subriel Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) in Brooklyn.
28-year-old Smith started brilliantly in the opening round of the fight at the Barclays Center, and was happy to trade with the fearsome Puerto Rican puncher as the fight caught fire early, but as the fifth round entered it’s final minute, Smith unleashed a devastating assault punctuated with three fearsome right hands that robbed the champion of his senses and sent him crashing to the canvas.
The defending champion was able to beat the count but was in no position to continue, and Britain had a new World champion in the most stunning circumstances.
It's the first time Matias has been stopped in 26 pro bouts, the pressure fighter boasts a 95% KO rate. Smith becomes Britain's first world champion on 2026.
“There are no words,” said Dalton. “A lifelong dream, hard work and sacrifice, it’s all for this moment. My Dad, my Granddad, all my family, we’ve all worked for this and I always believed. It’s a message to anyone that if you believe in yourself, you can go out and achieve your dreams.
“I heard some people say that Dalton Smith ain’t tough. I gave my Dad a bit of a heart attack in there as that wasn’t the game plan, but I took all his best shots and thought ‘you can’t hurt me.’ He was slowing down so I thought ‘persevere, persevere, and I’ll get you.’ We had plan A, B and C, and at World level you have to do it all.
“It’s not going to sink in for a long time but we always knew this would happen. We had everything against us for this fight. The build up, the testing and so on. But I knew that this was my moment and my opportunity, and that you could throw anything at me. I’ve got the best team around me, the best promoter in the world, and it’s a win for us all.
“Show me the money! Let me enjoy this moment now, I’m going to embrace it, and the future is bright.”
For promoter Eddie Hearn, Smith joins the likes of Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor as fighters he has guided to World title glory from debut, and the proud promoter put the Big Apple night right at the top of the magical away days that he’s enjoyed in the sport.
“You talk about Darren Barker against Daniel Geale, Kell Brook against Shawn Porter, honestly, that beats everything – that’s the greatest away win I’ve ever witnessed,” said Hearn. “Dalton is a hero. You have to box with Matias, you saw that from Liam Paro, but Matias was on tonight, he was red hot, and he didn’t allow Dalton to box.
“So Dalton decided to fight Matias at his own game, which is the worst idea you can have – he’s never been hurt, he’s never been down – and he battered him, put him down, in New York to become the latest British World champion. The kid is a hero and there’s a new superstar in the sport of boxing and his name is Dalton Smith.
"He boxed lovely in the first round and then all of a sudden he’s getting hurt, he’s cut, but he stayed trading with him. They were both getting tired, but Dalton hit him to the body about a minute before the stoppage and really hurt him, and then the right hands landed and that’s all she wrote – that is what dreams are made of.
“We knew Dalton was a star, but to do that on the World stage in New York and in that style. People were talking about this fight and that fight, Adam Azim and the like, Dalton Smith has gone out and accepted the boogeyman, met him head on in New York and stopped Subriel Matias to become the World champion – put some respect on his name.”
Three-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford has announced his retirement from the sport of boxing at the age of 38.
The news follows his unanimous decision win over Canelo Alvarez to become the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion in September. The historic win made him the first-ever male three-weight undisputed champion, following his feats at 140, 147 and 168. After the Canelo win, Crawford was stripped of his WBC Super Middleweight Title after refusing to pay the WBC their $300,000 sanctioning fee. While Bud hinted at a possible move to 160 with a view to becoming a six-weight world champion, he has now called it a day. He leaves the sport undefeated with a 42-0 record, as boxing fans have come out in droves to credit Crawford for a hugely successful career.
“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle. The one where you walk away on your own terms. Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when. I spent my whole life chasing something.
“Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong. I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had,” Crawford said
Credit: Henry Bedoy/MP Productions https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a28423916/manny-pacquiao-training-after-40-thurman-fight/
Manny Pacquiao is back in training, but there has been no agreement reached with Floyd Mayweather over a rematch, as fans reacted to his workout footage.
Reports indicate that Manny is trying to finalize a rematch with Mayweather, who is currently retired, to avenge his 2015 loss. Manny came out of a 4-year retirement in July at 46 to secure a majority draw against WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. Manny has said his next fight will be on January 24, or an April 2026 date for the IBA Pro World Title. Rolando Romero, the WBA Welterweight Champion, was mentioned as an opponent. However, Romero has been ordered to face his WBA mandatory Shakhram Giyasov.
Pacquiao’s Future
“Manny Pacquiao is widely beloved around the globe, he is a true boxing legend who wants to leave legacy beyond the ring. His life story mirrors the spirit of IBA’s mission: giving every young boxer a fair chance to have achieve their dreams. We have been helping children as an organization, while Manny has been doing it all alone. Now, we will continue to help our children together as a united IBA boxing family and extend Manny’s programs beyond the borders,” Umar Kremlev (IBA President)
“Under the visionary leadership of President Umar Kremlev, the IBA has entered a Golden Era — an era where every boxer, from every country, can dream, fight, and succeed on equal terms. I am proud to join this mission — to make sure no young boxer is left behind, no champion is forgotten, and no nation is excluded. As Vice President, I will dedicate myself to building bridges — between amateurs and professionals, between East and West, between generations and cultures. I believe boxing can unite people in ways that politics never can. It can change lives, transform communities, and bring peace where there is division,” Pacquiao stated.
Things have also been complicated by Manny’s appointment as Vice President of the International Boxing Association (IBA). While Manny wants the Mayweather rematch, Floyd has said there is no news if ‘people don’t hear it from him.’ Regardless, Manny has been staying in shape. The following clip shows Manny hitting the punch bag with rapper BlueFace being one of the observers.
A former unified heavyweight champion is targeting a return to world title contention in 2026.
The heavyweight division has seen the likes of Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua all hold gold in recent years, while the current king of the weight class is undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
It is California’s Andy Ruiz Jr who is edging closer to making his long-awaited comeback to the sport though, over one year on from his last ring appearance.
The 36-year-old has been recovering from a hand injury that he sustained during his domestic clash with Jarrell Miller, which ended in a majority draw after a competitive battle at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Ruiz famously defeated two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua back in June of 2019 when he stopped the Brit in the seventh round of their showdown at Madison Square Garden.
In an interview with Covers, Ruiz claimed that he intends to ‘make history again’ as he prepares to push towards becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion alongside his trusted coach Manny Robles.
“(Robles and I) made history together against Anthony Joshua, and we’re going to do it again. I should be leaving in two weeks to Los Angeles to train with him in his facility. I’m excited to get out of my comfort zone, to go to his space and his gym, his rules, to stay dedicated.”
Ruiz then revealed a number of fighters that he would be interested in facing in the future, as he admits he would be open to reigniting his feud with ‘AJ’.
“That’s something that I would love to (do) … There’s bad blood that we left behind – especially me, losing against him in Saudi Arabia, I want my revenge.”
“Usyk, Tyson Fury, Joshua, and (Deontay) Wilder for sure – four of them. Those are the big names.”
Ruiz has been linked to a potential match-up with former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, a bout that has been years in the making and one that is said to be of interest to both fighters.
Learning from his July comeback fight that ended in a draw, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to have a longer training camp for his next bout
PUNCH. Manny Pacquiao fights Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE/IMAGN IMAGES/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is returning to the ring on January 24, 2026, in the United States.
Boxing’s lone eight-division world champion announced his second comeback bout in Las Vegas on social media on Tuesday, October 7 (Wednesday, October 8, Philippine time).
Although Pacquiao, already inducted into the sports Hall of Fame, did not mention his opponent, Rolando Romero looms large.
The video announcement was posted by Indistry Media, a global streaming network and entertainment agency.
Pacquiao, who’ll be 47 years old on fight night, wants another crown, and Romero’s World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight belt is a logical target.
A few hours after Pacquiao’s announcement made the rounds, Ring Magazine posted a video of Romero throwing combinations to an imagined foe in the streets of London.
Viva Promotions then posted a photo of Pacquiao showing off his still well-chiseled physique.
“Hello to all my boxing fans. I’m excited to let you know that I will be returning to the ring January 24 in Las Vegas,” Pacquiao said in the video. “It is going to be an exciting and special event. Stay tuned. More news to come on my opponent in the next few days.”
After virtually four years of inactivity, Pacquiao sought Mario Barrios’ World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title last July 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Despite only six months of intense training, Pacquiao did so well that sports pundits thought that he won. Barrios pulled off a majority draw.
Learning from that experience, Pacquiao said he would have a longer training camp, at least eight weeks, for his next bout.
Pacquiao is expected to return to the United States in November as Manny Pacquiao Promotions is making its initial foray in California on November 29, 2025, with his son, Jimuel, making his professional debut.
Terence Crawford will need to be at his shimmering best to topple Canelo Alvarez this weekend in ‘Sin City’, and one of his coaches is expecting just that, in fact.
Making his first venture to the super middleweight limit, former undisputed welterweight kingpin Terence Crawford will challenge Canelo Alvarez in the blockbuster clash of the year, with all title spoils up for grabs.
Testing light middleweight waters before his fight with the Mexican megastar, Crawford had run roughshod continually during his lengthy era of dominance at welterweight.
And ahead of his fight with Canelo, ‘Bud’ has been backed to emulate arguably his most iconic performance in the ring thus far.
Terence Crawford backed to beat Canelo Alvarez as badly as Errol Spence Jr.
Eventually fighting for the undisputed welterweight crown back in 2023, Crawford turned in one of the most heralded in-ring performances of the modern era
Taking on the unbeaten Errol Spence Jr., Crawford added the WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight titles to his trophy cabinet, inflicting a ninth-round knockout loss on the Long Islander — having put him on the canvas countless times during the clash.
And against Canelo this weekend at 168lbs, Crawford’s coach, Chet Fortune, gave quite a candid prediction of the performance the Nebraska native is likely to give.
Terence Crawford dominating Erroll Spence in the last Welterweight Unification pic.twitter.com/bzTu8DY1Dx
— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) April 12, 2025
Ultimately making the leap to 168lbs, Crawford has been touted as undeniable in the gym and in the ring by Fortune when it comes to his pugilist peers.
“When it comes to Bud, I know he’s willing to work harder than anyone else; willing to do whatever it takes; he doesn’t have any quit in him; and then he has a support system that he trusts around him,” Fortune explained.
Bonus up for grabs for Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford pup
With both Canelo and Crawford expected to pocket sizable fight purses for their efforts this weekend in Las Vegas, an added incentive has been tabled, too.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
As disclosed by event organizer Turki Alalshikh, if either Canelo or Crawford finish the bout via knockout, they will receive a lucrative financial bonus on top of their fight purse.
However, for Canelo, the Mexican would be forced to snap a lengthy run of decision wins, dating all the way back to his most recent knockout of Caleb Plant, to win undisputed gold in 2021.
Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins are two of the best fighters in recent memory, but both agree one man in the history books tops all others.
The legendary duo locked horns in a monumental showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas back in September of 2004, a fight that saw Hopkins become the first undisputed middleweight champion of the ‘four belt era’ when he stopped De La Hoya in the ninth round to add the WBO title to his unified WBC, WBA and IBF belts.
They have since partnered up for Golden Boy Promotions and continue to develop today’s talent with a view to creating the next big star – but who do they feel is the best of all time?
Speaking to ESNEWS, De La Hoya didn’t hesitate to name the late great Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest fighter in history.
“Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest of all time! That’s basically it, look at this here [his shirt] all the weight divisions, hardest puncher, best footwork, he would fight multiple times a month, took on the very best, took on the toughest challenges. Sugar Ray Robinson, he’s literally the GOAT.”
Hopkins shares the same views of his former rival turned business partner, once telling the media that he also believes Robinson is the very best fighter to have ever graced the sport.
“The best fighter ever is Sugar Ray Robinson. To me the best fighter after that is Muhammad Ali, and then the debate starts from on and on from there.”
Robinson fought on just over 200 occasions as a professional throughout the course of his storied 25-year tenure, which spanned between 1940 and 1965.
He became six-time world champion along the way, reigning as the world welterweight champion between 1946 and 1951 before he eventually made the move up to middleweight, capturing the world title five times within a 9-year period before his retirement.
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.
Former Argentine boxer Alejandra "Locomotora" Oliveras has died
A six-time world champion boxer, who described herself as a "female Rocky" has died at the age of 47 after suffering a stroke just two weeks ago
A six-time boxing world champion who described herself as “a female Rocky but for real” has died aged just 47 a fortnight after suffering a stroke.
Medics at a hospital in the Argentinian city of Santa Fe where Alejandra Oliveras had been admitted on July 14 confirmed the sad news overnight. Three days of mourning have been declared in the province of Santa Fe, where Alejandra moved into politics after hanging up her gloves in 2017.
Argentinian president Javier Milei, whose right-wing politics the former boxer championed, was among those who paid tribute to her.
Referencing Alejandra by her famous nickname La Locomotora which in English translates as Locomotive, he said alongside a photo of them together: “Goodbye Locomotora. Always on the correct side, rest in peace.”
Alejandra competed from 2006 to 2015, gaining a place in the Guinness Book of World Records with different world titles in different categories and federations.
She won six world titles, including the WBC female super bantamweight title from 2006 to 2008; the WBA female lightweight title from 2011 to 2012; the WBO female featherweight title from 2012 to 2013; and the WBC super lightweight title from 2013 to 2014. She retired with 33 professional wins, two draws and three defeats.
During the Covid pandemic Oliveras, who had 1.6 million Instagram followers, intensified her philanthropic work by creating an organisation called Team Locomotora which engaged in social work and collected food to support soup kitchens.
She also gave low-income youngsters the chance to explore the sport she used to practice professionally by running several boxing schools.
Alejandra, a teenage mum who turned to boxing in her native north-west Argentinian province of Jujuy to escape poverty and domestic violence, switched her focus to politics in 2021 when she made a failed attempt to become an MP with right-wing party called UNITE.
In 2024 she was appointed to head up a programme designed to prevent violence in youth sport after joining the electoral team of a then-candidate to the Argentine presidency.
The stroke she suffered had left her paralysed on the left side of her body and medics at Santa Fe’s Jose Maria Cullen Hospital where she died had described her condition as “critical” when she was admitted.
One fan paying tribute to her online said late yesterday: “A born fighter and an example of motivation and persistence. She deserves a tribute and recognition as a national and world champion.”
Another said: “Fly high champ. You were authentic and genuine. A great warrior.”
The WBC said in a tribute, describing Alejandra as an inspiration to others: "She had a remarkable boxing career, becoming a multiple-time world champion.
"In May 2006, she knocked out Jackie Nava to become the WBC super bantamweight world champion—a title she successfully defended three times.
"She held the WBC featherweight world title from 2012 to 2013. That same year, she stopped Lely Luz Flores in seven rounds to capture the WBC super lightweight world championship. Alejandra retired from professional boxing in 2017.
"Outside the ring, she found a new way to inspire others. She built a community on social media where she shared motivational messages, especially aimed at women, people in vulnerable situations, and those who felt alone. Her words were often intertwined with boxing themes.
"At the World Boxing Council, we deeply mourn the loss of our champion. Her legacy will live on in our minds and hearts."
