Tag

Oleksandr Usyk

Browsing

Anthony Joshua in huge boost to fight for world title he has NEVER won… but why it all depends on Daniel Dubois

ANTHONY JOSHUA could finally get the chance to fight for the WBC title – but it all depends on Daniel Dubois.

Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker face off at a press conference.
Daniel Dubois defends his IBF title against Joseph Parker

Joshua, 35, has twice held the unified WBA, IBF and WBO versions of the belts – but never the iconic green and gold WBC.

The strap is currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, 38, after he took it from Tyson Fury, 36, and then defended it in his pair of points wins last year.

But he had to vacate the IBF title to proceed with his December rematch with Fury – which he won via disputed decision.

Dubois, 27, was meanwhile elevated from interim champion to the full version – knocking out AJ in his first defense in September.

Oleksandr Usyk shaking hands with Daniel Dubois after a boxing match.
Oleksandr Usyk could fight the winner between Dubois vs Parker

He now puts it on the line against Joseph Parker, 33, on Saturday night in Riyadh – with Usyk in line to fight the winner.

That would make it for all four undisputed belts again – so Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang contest for the interim version on the undercard.

Winning that trinket title automatically puts the winner in line to challenge for the full version or be elevated in the event of the champ being stripped.

And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman is open to Joshua fighting for the WBC interim belt this year against either Zhang, 41, or Kabayel, 32.

Sulaiman told SunSport: “Very possibly Anthony Joshua could fight the winner and then the winner would be the interim champion.

“What we’re trying to do is to give the fans the best fights possible.

“We are administering within our rules that give us plenty of room to be ordering or managing the divisions for the benefit of the industry

“So that is a very doable thing if Anthony Joshua is to fight the winner of Kabayel-Zhang – absolutely it would be an WBC interim title fight.”

Daniel Dubois has been in the ring with both Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, and may be again soon.

The young Brit’s first world title tilt came against Usyk in August of 2023 after the Ukrainian had taken three of the four major belts from Joshua and defended them in a rematch.

Dubois tried to impose himself on the southpaw champion but was largely unsuccessful save for a moment in the fifth round when he would drop Usyk. It was immediately ruled a low blow and Usyk was given ample time to recover before getting back into his rhythm and scoring his first stoppage in three fights. Dubois was put down in both the eighth and ninth before failing to stand for the referee’s count.

Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight championship reign ended by Oleksandr  Usyk's spectacular performance | Boxing News | Sky Sports

While Usyk went on to become undisputed champion with a win over Tyson Fury, Dubois bounced back with wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, fighting himself into a position to hold the interim IBF belt and subsequently the full title when Usyk vacated it.

His first defence came against Joshua at Wembley Stadium, and the 28-year-old would retain his strap with an assured and destructive performance that saw him drop ‘AJ’ three times before the fifth round stoppage. Joshua did land a few heavy shots of his own in an attempt to turn the tide, one of which Dubois says felt like a ‘bomb going off.’

 

Despite that, in a recent feature with the Ring Magazine ‘DDD’ said Tyson Fury, who he has only sparred, hits harder than Joshua and that Usyk hits harder than Fury. A surprising outcome given ‘AJ’ is known as the knockout puncher between the three.

Anthony Joshua's rematch against Oleksandr Usyk should not be held in Saudi  Arabia, say Amnesty International | The Independent

Dubois puts his belt on the line against Joseph Parker this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a win all but guaranteeing him a rematch with Usyk for the undisputed championship.

The Boxing Writers Association of America on Monday released the results of its annual awards naming the best fighter, fight, trainer and manager of 2024, as well as several supporting honors.

Lineal, unified and de facto undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Tyson Fury twice in 2024, was named the BWAA Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year.

Usyk was also involved in what may be the BWAA’s other most prestigious award, the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier Fight of the Year, which went to his first meeting with Fury. Usyk battled and defeated Fury over 12 rounds on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Who is Oleksandr Usyk, the 'strange one' who has defended his boxing world  titles against Britain's Anthony Joshua | World News | Sky News

The Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year award went to Robert Garcia, who runs his eponymous boxing academy in Oxnard, California. In 2024, Garcia guided emerging pound-for-pound junior bantamweight star Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and new junior middleweight interim titleholder Vergil Ortiz Jnr, among others, while helping construct the perfect game plan for Jose Valenzuela to upset Isaac Cruz in August.

Egis Klimas was named the BWAA’s Cus D’Amato Manager of the Year. Klimas manages Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, who bounced back from a 2023 defeat to Devin Haney with a win over George Kambosos Jnr to win a lightweight title last May in Kambosos’ native Australia.

Oleksandr Usyk wins WBO and WBC belts after win over Mairis Briedis - BBC  Sport

Additional BWAA 2024 awards winners include Bruce Silverglade (Good Guy); Marv Albert (Broadcast); Brad Goodman (Meritorious Service); Prichard Colon (Courage in Overcoming Adversity).

Full list of BWAA awards winners and nominees are as follows:

Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year: Oleksandr Usyk

Artur Beterbiev

Daniel Dubois

Zurdo Ramirez

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez

Oleksandr Usyk

Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier Fight of the Year: Oleksandr Usyk W 12 Tyson Fury I

Raymond Ford KO 12 Otabek Kholmatov

Derek Chisora W 10 Joe Joyce

Vergil Ortiz Jnr W 12 Serhii Bohachuk

Kenshiro Teraji W 12 Carlos Canizales

Oleksandr Usyk W 12 Tyson Fury I

Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year: Robert Garcia

Don Charles

Freddy Fundora

Robert Garcia

Rudy Hernandez

Yuri Tkachenko

Cus D’Amato Manager of the Year: Egis Klimas

Keith Connolly

Egis Klimas

Vadim Kornilov

Brian Peters

Marvin Kohn Good Guy: Bruce Silverglade

Russ Anber

Sam Jackson/Andrew Roberts

Steve Pratt

Bruce Silverglade

Don Turner

Sam Taub Broadcast: Marv Albert

Marv Albert

Jim Gray

Dave Harmon

Mauro Ranallo

James “Smitty” Smith

Barney Nagler Long and Meritorious Service: Brad Goodman

Brad Goodman

Randy Gordon

Henry Hascup

Don Majeski

John Sheppard

John McCain & Bill Crawford Courage in Overcoming Adversity: Prichard Colon and family

Prichard Colon and family

Billy Dib

Vanes Martirosyan

Christy Martin

There will never be an official or objective pound-for-pound list in boxing, for it is only ever a matter of opinion. Yet that still doesn’t diminish the fun of trying to place the world’s best fighters in some sort of order. It is even more fun to predict who will top the pound-for-pound list in 12 months’ time

Lucas Ketelle: I think it will still be Usyk. Naoya Inoue, I think will start to regress this year. I don’t see Crawford fighting after 2025. Artur Beterbiev probably won’t fight after 2025, and who knows what Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is doing. Four of the best 10 fighters in the world might be viewed a lot differently in 2025. I think we are going to see a lot of younger fighters move up into the top-five. Fighters like Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson and the emergence of Keyshawn Davis as a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter will grab our attention.

Owen Lewis: Inoue or Rodriguez, both of whom are outclassing their opponents by greater margins than the rest of the pound-for-pound elite. Usyk and Crawford will likely begin succumbing to age by year’s end.

READ MORE;Insider Confirms Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 PPV Buys Crossed Elusive Milestone

Declan Warrington: Oleksandr Usyk. I don’t see another fight that can enhance his reputation any further than it already deserves, but I also don’t see him declining significantly or doing anything to harm it – or another fighter surpassing him in the coming 12 months.

Lance Pugmire: Bam Rodriguez. His willingness to unify and eagerness to accept any challenge sent his way deserves an elevated profile as we turn our backs on those like Jaron Ennis who are shrinking from the best fights possible and others who are keeping their fight schedule to a minimum of one appearance per year. I’d rather have five Bam types occupying the sport than those who think we’re all clamoring for their rare emergence.

Bernard Neequaye: Oleksandr Usyk. It will be difficult to beat Usyk’s current status in the sport considering what he has done at cruiserweight and heavyweight. After becoming undisputed at both weights, Usyk has proven to be the man to beat and I’m yet to see who can topple him from the pound for pound list in 2025.

Eric Raskin: Usyk has put a little distance between himself and the likes of Inoue and Crawford, such that I’m not sure either of them can do anything to seize the P4P throne unless the heavyweight champ slips up. Well, that’s not true — if Crawford gets a Canelo fight and wins that fight, it would re-open the debate. But realistically, Usyk will still be The Man a year from now unless he beats Dubois a second time and then retires, feeling there are no worlds left to conquer.

Matt Christie: If Usyk is active and winning in 2025, common sense dictates that he’ll retain his spot.

Elliot Worsell: If he’s still active, it will likely be Usyk. Given the considerable leap in weight he has made and his physical disadvantages at heavyweight, nobody can compare with the Ukrainian for as long as he remains unbeaten and active.

Tris Dixon: If Crawford gets a high-level opponent and can do to them as he did to Spence in 2023, he will always be in the conversation. It is hard to pick against Usyk, but after a long, hard and often emotional career, I’m not sure how many times he can go back to the well.

Oleksandr Usyk remains a big target for many fighters in and around the heavyweight division.

No one has yet managed to beat the talented southpaw in any of his professional fights. His unblemished record first saw him become the undisputed cruiserweight world champion in 2018, and then he moved up and worked his way through heavyweight.I was the first man to fight Oleksandr Usyk, I know what Tyson Fury is up  against | DAZN News GBThat included Derek Chisora, then back-to-back fights with Anthony Joshua which saw Usyk win three of the four major belts. He then defended them against Daniel Dubois before going into the undisputed contest with Tyson Fury in May.

It was an engaging 12-round affair in which Usyk just managed to impose himself more and take the split decision win. He now has his hands full with a rematch against ‘The Gypsy King’ on December 21, but before that has been called out by undisputed light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.

Speaking to Second Out, Beterbiev was asked about a rematch with Usyk, whom he beat in the amateurs on points in 2007Oleksandr Usyk wins WBO and WBC belts after win over Mairis Briedis - BBC  Sport“If he wants it, and if he comes down to the weight. I think these are fantasy fights, I don’t think he’ll watch, and I probably won’t move up there, I don’t know. Very interesting, from a sporting perspective.

“I repeat, from a pure sporting perspective I would be interested in this fight, of course, because we boxed in the Olympics and the World Championships as amateurs.

“It would be interesting to try as professionals, not for money, although money would be nice, but my interest in this fight would be purely sporting, much more than monetary. Much more.”

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury look in sensational shape, but fans believe they know the rematch outcome.

Usyk and Fury met in a thrilling showdown in May, which saw the former capture the undisputed titles with a split decision victory.

But the pair will meet in a hotly-anticipated sequel later this month, and are currently in full training camps.

Fury is training out in Malta, and has posted images of his new physique, where fans have noted he looks considerably bigger than normal.

Oleksandr Usyk with Tyson FuryUsyk on the other hand also looks in impressive shape, and has shown off a more ripped physique, a sign he is taking preparations equally as seriously.

One fan reacted: “It’s obvious. Usyk is going to win the second fight. Fury’s in trouble.”

Another agreed: “Usyk will win again. Different levels between them.”

One added: “Hope Tyson can do it and bring them belts back.

“But I think it wasn’t even Usyk’s best performance on that night so I think will see an even better Usyk and he will win.”

After Tyson Fury’s split decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed heavyweight championship clash earlier this year, the Briton’s promoters are convinced that he can exact his revenge in their December rematch “if he doesn’t play around”

JUST IN: BROTHERLY GLOVE Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk put rivalries aside as they reunite at Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua for amazing selfie…

Tyson Fury VS Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury can defeat Oleksandr Usyk in their December rematch after the “hard lesson” of their first fight, says Top Rank president Todd DuBoef.

Fury fought Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in an outstanding undisputed heavyweight world title fight earlier this year, losing by split decision.

They are set to fight again in Riyadh on December 21 and DuBoef of Top Rank, Fury’s co-promoter, believes the Briton can gain revenge in the rematch.

Not that he’s confident in that outcome.

“I was confident halfway through the fight he was going to destroy him [Usyk]. I was sitting there going what a one-sided fight this has become and then he let him off the hook. That’s what I thought,”

“[Fury] started off a little slow but then just got into his rhythm and I thought it was a whitewash. Then got hit with that one left hand, [which] got the eye and the nose. I think he got caught right then and struggled.

“I don’t have confidence in anything. I thought I was seeing this thing that was amazing.”

SEE MORE: “Bro getting that Fury treatment”, “Ducking the Fury fight?” – Fans react to Oleksandr Usyk getting arrested at Poland airport…

DuBoef thinks Fury will win “if he stays focused. If he doesn’t play around”.

TYSON FURY VS ANTHONY JOSHUA.VS Daniel Dubois

“In those middle rounds it felt like he was just teeing off on him and I think he just got a little lackadaisical and confident,” DuBoef said.

“I think he learned a lesson and it was a hard lesson. But I also believe the other guy’s going to be better this time, because he has more confidence.

“I think his personality the way he [Fury] is in the ring, is just his character. But I think he’s going to not take things for granted and I think learned a hard lesson.”

Fury and his battle with Usyk will be at the centre of a new documentary series, ‘The Fight Life,’ that chronicles Top Rank boxing through the year.

Frank Warren, who also co-promotes Fury, believes the Briton can bounce back from his loss to Usyk, a first professional career defeat for Fury.

“He’s quite philosophical. He felt he won the fight. I thought he just nicked it, but it was a close fight. It could have gone either way, a lot of neutrals, like Thomas Hauser, people with no axe to grind, thought it was a draw, one round [in it], and it was a split decision,” Warren told Sky Sports.

“He’s got to go out and, what he did in that first half of the fight, he’s got to carry that through.

“I thought he genuinely was going to stop [Usyk]. That great shot, you could see it, he wobbled back. He’s game and did what he had to do.

“I just feel Tyson, he’s a smart guy, he knows what he’s got to do.”

RELATED: Lennox Lewis Delivers Honest Verdict On Tyson Fury’s Chances In Oleksandr Usyk Rematch….

TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk put their rivalries aside as they posed for an amazing selfie during Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Daniel Dubois.

JUST IN: DANIEL DUBOIS AND TYSON FURY FIGHT WOULD LEAVE FRANK WARREN IN A ‘VERY, VERY AWKWARD POSITION,’ SAYS PROMOTER…

DANIEL DUBOIS VS ANTHONY JOSHUA

The historic boxing match on Saturday saw a record 96,000-strong crowd turn out at Wembley Stadium.

Famous faces including Maya Jama, Emma Bunton and Sienna Miller led a long list of glamorous names.

While fighting stars like Conor McGregor and Ricky Hatton were also in attendance at the home of English football.

The thrilling bout saw AJ put down FOUR times by Dubois, who eventually won with a fifth-round KO.

But another exciting moment had heavyweight kings Fury and Usyk reuniting at ring-side.

The Gypsy King suffered his first pro defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian earlier this year.

It saw him lose his WBC title to make Usyk the division’s top dog.

And Fury has since moaned about the manner of his points defeat.

However, there appeared to be no bad blood between the two men.

They posed for a brilliant selfie at the side of the ring, with both bruisers grinning like Cheshire cats.

Fans were certainly blown away, especially as Fury and Usyk are set for a money-spinning rematch days before Christmas in December.

Conor McGregor vs Dana White

One said: “Usyk and Fury deep down really respect each other.”

MORE SO: Joe Rogan Makes Controversial Claim About Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou

Another declared: “They have the strangest relationship.”

One noted: “Gotta love these heart-warming moments.”

Another added: “There is no rivalry, only a lot of respect.”

With Fury and Usyk having a rematch, it leaves IBF champ Dubois facing a rematch with Joshua.

But the Brit is also eyeing a fight against the winner of Fury vs Usyk 2 in an attempt to unify the four-belt division.

Dubois told talkSPORT: “I would love a rematch but either one really, whoever pays me more money.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS Daniel Dubois.

“If that happens (the rematch) I want to go for it. I want to do even better next time.

“I know where I need to improve, I want to prove people wrong every time.”

Fury certainly seemed gutted to see Joshua lose, exclaiming ring side: “That’s cost me £150million, the silly c***.”

He later said: “It’s heavyweight boxing, s*** happens, you get knocked spark out.

“It could have been me. In the heavyweight division, it’s what happens.

“What went wrong is what always happens in heavyweight boxing. A good right hand on the end of the chin, and that was it.

“I don’t know [if Joshua will retire]. It’s up to the man and whatever he wants to do.

“If he has good ambitions to come back again, he can make his own decisions. He’s a big boy.

“I thought it was a 50-50 fight. Dubois is a lot younger. He’s 27 years old. Joshua is 35 [sic], the same age as me. Age doesn’t wait for anybody.

“You get hit with those punches [and] you don’t see many heavyweights get hit, get knocked down, get back up, and continue on.”

SEE MORE: GLOVE TO SEE IT Anthony Joshua on brink of £500million two-fight mega deal with Tyson Fury – but must survive Daniel Dubois test first…

Usyk also had his say on the result, adding: “I thought Joshua should have won, but who knows? It’s boxing.

“For me, it was a surprise. I was expecting that Anthony was going to win the fight.”

‘Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fight

ANTHONY JOSHUA

OLEKSANdr usyk VS TYSON FURY

“As p***ed off as I am, it is what it is.

“I had a sharp, fast opponent and there were a lot of mistakes from me. Credit to my opponent and his team.

“We rolled the dice and came up short. You know I’m p***ed but I’m going to keep cool and give respect to my opponent.”

FRANK WARREN (DUBOIS’ PROMOTER)

“It was a phenomenal fight, like  Hagler v Hearns.

“A brilliant fight and everybody has seen a champion’s performance tonight.

DANIEL DUBOIS annihilated Anthony Joshua’s dream of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.

Joshua was floored FOUR times as Dubois landed an astonishing fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers to retain his IBF belt.

AJ, 34, never recovered after being downed in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain showdown as a huge Dubois right-hand haymaker caught him flush on the chin.

Here’s what they said after the fight:

DANIEL DUBOIS

“Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator, a warrior to the bitter end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this game.

“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. I’m not gonna stop until I reach my full potential.”

RELATED: Oleksandr Usyk Says Tyson Fury Can’t Repeat History Before Highly-Anticipated Rematch: “He Will Lose All of His Money”…

Frank Warren has explained the personal difficulties he would face if the long-awaited fight between Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury were to happen, saying his ties to both fighters would put him in a “very, very awkward position”. While talk of a rematch against Anthony Joshua is hot on the lips of boxing fans, Dubois also has his eyes on Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

JUST IN: Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury disagree with their predictions for Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois…

Oleksandr Usyk AND Tyson Fury VS Daniel Dubois

Promoter Frank Warren has said a fight between Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury would put him in a “very, very awkward position” but ultimately said it’s “up to them” if the pair want a title bout.
Dubois toppled Anthony Joshua in stunning fashion at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, sparking talk of three major possibilities for the IBF World Heavyweight Champion: A rematch with Joshua, a fight against Fury, or a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
But Warren said a bout between Dubois and Fury is not something he would be keen to orchestrate, due to having a foot in both fighters’ camps, but ultimately said the decision is up to them.
“I’m going to tell you straight here, I’d be in a very, very awkward position but if they wanted it and business called for it that’s up to them,” Queensberry boss Warren said.
“It’s not something I would push for. If there’s an offer made that makes a lot of sense then that’s up to them.”
Frank Warren VS Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Fury faces Usyk in Riyadh on December 21 in a rematch of their eventual meeting in May – where the Ukrainian won by split-decision to become the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era.
And while talk about a potential rematch with Joshua has been swirling, Dubois has also set his eyes on Fury and Usyk – saying they “are my targets now”, with the heavyweight particularly keen for a rematch with undisputed champion Usyk in order to “put the wrong right”.
Fellow promoter Eddie Hearn has called for a rematch between Dubois and Joshua – suggesting there is a rematch clause which could be triggered by the latter.
Warren added a rematch is “something to be considered”, but
ultimately said Dubois’ next fight will be decided with his best interests in mind.
“They can have it if they want it anyway,” Warren said. “I think that’s something to be considered.
“Absolutely, anything is on the table. We’ll work and see what’s the best thing for Daniel. We’re in the Daniel Dubois business, the IBF business and we’ll see what’s best.”
Joshua’s knockout defeat to Dubois in the fifth-round of their Wembley bout was the fourth loss of his career, falling to Usyk in 2021 and 2022, after being stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) is the current WBA lightweight champion and was last seen when he defeated Frank Martin on June 15 this year. It remains to be seen what comes next for “Tank” as Dan Rafael reveals via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack that Gervonta Davis could be facing WBA super featherweight titlist and promotional free agent Lamont Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) on Dec.21 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Gervonta Davis VS Frank Martin

JUST  IN: Frontrunner To Face Gervonta Davis Next Finally Speaks Out On Fight Speculation…

Gervonta Davis Next Fight: Possible December Showdown vs. Lamont Roach

Davis Eyeing Major December Bout Against World Champion

According to the report from Rafael, there were discussions for “Tank” to headline a PBC Prime Video pay-per-view event on Nov. 2, which has now been ruled out with Nov. 23 or Dec. 14 looking more likely. A third date has emerged as a possibility with December 21 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. presenting itself with WBA super featherweight champion Roach prepared to step up in weight to take on the unbeaten Baltimore fighter.

Jose Valenzuela VS Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis

SEE MORE: Gervonta Davis’ trainer has no fear and challenges Floyd Mayweather to a fight against Tank…

IBF champion Vasiliy Lomachenko had been the preferred opponent and had many in the boxing world dreaming of a fascinating unification match-up. PBC and Top Rank were said to be working on a deal when Lomanchenko decided to take off the rest of the year, leaving “Tank” to look elsewhere. Jose Valenzuela defeating Issac Cruz took the “Pitbull” fight away and a possible Valenzuela fight didn’t create much interest.

A fight against Roach in Washington would seemingly generate big interest with Roach from D.C. and Davis from nearby Baltimore. The two met in a 2011 amateur contest which “Tank” won via a three-round decision.

OLEKSANdr usyk VS TYSON FURY

December 21 Competition

The December 21 option against Roach is seemingly the likely option for the PBC PPV card. On that day will be the PPV between Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury II, which would seemingly garner the most interest in the boxing world.

RELATED: Gervonta Davis names best fighter he has ever faced but still thinks he was ‘a level above’….

 

Verified by MonsterInsights