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The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Sheeraz, Yarde, Itauma: Who will be Britain's next world champion after Dubois loss?
Daniel Dubois was outclassed and stopped inside five rounds by Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley as he relinquished his IBF heavyweight title to the Ukrainian great. His loss leaves Britain with just one male fighter holding a full version of a world title – Nick Ball. The featherweight is flying the flag for the UK at the moment and will defend his WBA belt against Sam Goodman next month. But will any other Brit step forward to join him on the world scene in the coming months? Let's take a look at those who could achieve world honours to become Britain's next breakthrough star. Moses Itauma Itauma is still only 20 years old but has already been put forward as a future opponent for Usyk by Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh. If Alalshikh gets his wish that fight could happen sooner rather than later. Itauma would be a significant underdog against Usyk, but has been mightily impressive in his 12 professional bouts to date. He is due to face Dillian Whyte in August and a convincing victory would further enhance his claims for a world title shot. Itauma looks like a world champion in the making, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fast-tracked or if Queensberry bide their time before throwing him in with Usyk. There is also a chance the belts could become fragmented soon, and Itauma is well-positioned with all four governing bodies to fight for a vacant title. Anthony Yarde Yarde does have a title shot lined up as he will be taking on David Benavidez in November. The British light-heavyweight has fallen short at world level twice before, but delivered spirited performances against Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev. It will not be any easier against Benavidez who is unbeaten in 30 fights, winning 24 by knockout. But Yarde is now 33 and has experience on his side. This could be his time to upset the applecart and prove he belongs amongst the light-heavyweight elite. Sam Noakes Noakes will also challenge for a world title on the same card as Yarde in Saudi Arabia later this year. He is due to take on Abdullah Mason for the vacant WBO lightweight strap. Mason is widely viewed as one of American boxing's next big stars at just 21, but Noakes will be no pushover. He has stopped 15 of his 17 opponents and has won British, Commonwealth and European titles along the way. He has gradually stepped up his level of competition and is now primed for his big moment. The 28-year-old will feel he has every chance of getting to his younger opponent and walking away with a world title. Hamzah Sheeraz Sheeraz lit up New York earlier this month as he knocked out Edgar Berlanga inside five rounds in devastating fashion. In the aftermath, Turki Alalshikh announced his intention to set up a fight between Sheeraz and undisputed super-middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Canelo has to get past Terence Crawford in September first, but Sheeraz's latest win has certainly thrown him into the mix at 168lbs. He looks to be in his prime and would have a significant height and reach advantage over Canelo. The Mexican legend has not been at his best in recent fights, and this may give Sheeraz even more confidence that he can beat him and become the super-middleweight king. Dalton Smith Smith may also be on the same bill as Yarde and Noakes, making it three world title fights for Brits in Riyadh. The light-welterweight contender is the mandatory challenger for the WBC title, and faced off with champion Subriel Matias after he dethroned Alberto Puello earlier this month. Turki Alalshikh wants the fight to take place on the 'Night of Champions' card in November, and on paper, it seems to be a genuine 50-50 clash. Smith is unbeaten and has steadily built a solid resume, while Matias is viewed as a knockout artist after picking up 22 of his 23 wins inside the distance. However, he has lost twice and is far from invincible. Smith may sense Matias is vulnerable and ought to believe he can get the job done to announce himself on the world stage.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Usyk should retire – nobody wants to see him fight Fury again
Oleksandr Usyk has now laid waste to a generation of top tier British undisputed heavyweight hopes in Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. His latest offering produced a level of performance that will begin the debate, and rightly so, about the Ukrainian being not just a generational great, but an all-time great. Usyk has been a thorn in the side of British boxers for almost a decade. Unrelenting, uber-talented, and on Saturday night, utterly thrilling. Yet Usyk also sits alongside the greatest – Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and others – at the top table. The manner in which he has nullified the power and dangers of his British foes has created a tapestry of boxing brilliance. Moreover, it has made him a popular sporting attraction, as Wembley Stadium showed on Saturday night. There was overwhelming support for the Ukrainian. In truth, Usyk has beaten everyone and ought to now depart from the sport while he is still on a glittering, golden perch of greatness, his legacy glowing and complete. Time, as we know, waits for no ageing athlete, and although Usyk continues to show few signs of decline, allied with his extraordinary skill-set, there are younger fighters coming to hunt him down. Namely, Moses Itauma, the 20-year-old who is seen as the next king of the division, being fast-tracked through the levels, who faces Dillian Whyte in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 16. Itauma may just be too young for Usyk to handle in the next year or so, and, in spite of Fury proclaiming the desire for a trilogy fight with Usyk, across 24 rounds last year, in two fights, the incumbent undisputed champion bested, for me, the No 2 of the era. A third fight may just be fancy, although there was a huge roar for the bout inside Wembley Stadium when it was mentioned to the audience. On Saturday night, during the breathless moments of Usyk's dramatic dismantling of Dubois, the Saudi minister Turki Al-Sheikh posted on X saying that he would like to see Itauma fight Usyk. If anyone can make it happen, 'Turki' can... With the right purse, it might happen. Brilliant and dangerous and fast as the young tyro Itauma is, I would still favour the Ukrainian to 'old man' the Briton. There are mandatory challengers out there with the sanctioning bodies: Joseph Parker (WBO) Agit Kabayel (WBC) and Fabio Wardley (WBA). Frank Warren confirmed to me on Saturday night that the WBO mandatory will come first, meaning that unless Usyk vacates that title belt, Parker, the Samoan, will be up next. As a fresh faced 25-year-old winning Olympic gold in the heavyweight division at London 2012, few, if any, could have predicted just how great 'The Cat' would go on to be. Usyk is not merely a generational great, but an all-time great. War in Ukraine has forced him onto the road – a 'road warrior' we call it, in the sport – and his achievements in the ring along with his behaviour outside it, have simply seen his popularity blossom. I had asked him about the UK being his second home, and Usyk admitted to the comfort of being in London. Apart from the glory of gold in 2012, Usyk also defeated other Brits – Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora – before his sextet of documented victories in world title battles. He is '38 years young' as Usyk proclaims it, and as popular with the British public as his own adoring compatriots. Usyk carries a level of responsibility, culturally and politically, that few other sportsmen either attain or aspire to. Last week he attended a presentation in Trafalgar Square of the recreated Kestrel mosaic, an 18 square metre work by Ukrainian artist Alla Horska from Mariupol, a city currently under Russian occupation. The artist was tragically killed by the Soviet Secret Service in 1970, and the original work was damaged by a Kremlin attack in 2022. The artwork was recreated in 2025 by fifteen Ukrainian artists. Apart from being a fundraiser, the wild bird on the mosaic is a symbol of Ukraine, its fight, restoration and rebuilding. When these factors are in the background, how much motivation there must lie for Usyk. He spoke this week of the serving soldiers from whom he gains inspiration. But what the man, as well as the fighter has, is genuine class. This is a victory that cements Usyk in the pantheons of the sport – but instinctively it feels like the perfect time for the great fighter to walk away with the undisputed crown firmly on his head. Usyk, though, will not commit to an end: 'Maybe Tyson Fury, maybe Derek Chisora, maybe Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker... listen, I cannot say what's next now. I want to go home. I want to see my wife and children. I want a rest now.' He has earned it. Usyk has never been beaten as a professional boxer, is an undisputed champion at cruiserweight and heavyweight, and the reasons stand out: the Ukrainian is a master technician and tactician, very tough physically, who carries an imperturbable mindset, and believes in a greater cause than himself. We witnessed greatness on Saturday night. From a great fighter, and perhaps a greater human being, espousing class and great comportment.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Heavyweight permutations - what next after Usyk win?
Oleksandr Usyk cemented himself as the world's best heavyweight with a five-round demolition job of Daniel Dubois on Saturday at reigning undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time, is there anyone that can challenge Usyk?So, what fights do we know are happening? And what other bouts might be possible?BBC Sport analyses the heavyweight fight scene. What fights do we know are happening? The next big heavyweight fight on the horizon is Moses Itauma's tussle with Dillian Whyte on 16 August in Saudi will be a huge step up for Itauma against the former world title challenger and we will likely learn a huge amount about the 20-year-old tipped to be the next big thing. On the undercard, Filip Hrgovic takes on Briton David Adeleye. The winner could fire himself into big fights with both men aiming to bring the spotlight back on them after losing their undefeated records in recent times. Who does Usyk fight next? Usyk named a number of contenders in the ring after the fight. Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker, even Derek Chisora got a 38-year-old could face any of them or decide to go a surprise route and invite Fabio Wardley or even rising sensation Itauma to fight thing is for sure, Usyk decides his fate and often goes with the public's preference. What next for beaten Dubois? Dubois, 27, will be licking his wounds for a while after the third defeat of his of those have been to Usyk and Dubois might himself admit neither bout was particularly close. They have been thrilling though and Dubois continues to be one of the stand-out entertainers in the heavyweight really does have so many options for his comeback. There is the Joshua rematch, Itauma, Wardley, Chisora, Whyte - even Fury might see his fellow Briton as an attractive remains one of the best heavyweights on the is unlikely Dubois will be looking to change his style, he will continue to be the big punching powerhouse. But perhaps once Usyk hangs up his gloves, that will be enough for Dubois to rule the division in the future? What next for AJ and Fury? There were whispers Joshua and Fury would be at ringside for Usyk v Dubois but there was no sign of either man when the first bell had surgery on his elbow earlier this year and is not expected to fight before November at the earliest. He has been open about talks with Riyadh Season over a new fight deal and has said he Fury sits atop his wishlist. Fury is technically still retired but seems to be moving towards a comeback in Fury, 36, called out Usyk for his return instead of what seems an obvious fight with Hearn, Joshua's promoter, told BBC Sport: "You never know what Fury is thinking. When everyone in the world wants to see AJ v Fury, he starts calling out Usyk. "They are in similar positions where they have both lost twice to Usyk, the third fight isn't really commercially interesting to the money men or the fans."I understand both guys would like a third crack at the cherry, but in terms of public desire AJ v Fury remains the biggest fight in boxing." What next for Wilder and the rest of the division? Deontay Wilder made a successful, if laboured, return to action after just shy of a year out of action last stopped unheralded Tyrrell Herndon, but it was a far from vintage Wilder performance and his first win since called the fight a "new beginning" for him and it is not out of the question the American could be put right back in the mix for big fights considering his star power and past would be an attractive option for almost anyone, Dave Allen has already put his hand up (who ever saw that happening?). But does the 39-year-old want to entertain those kind of fights?We also expect Frazer Clarke to take on Jeamie Tshikeva for the British heavyweight title in the near future after their fight was to keep an eye on that are sure to fight at least twice more this year are 18-year-old Leo Atang and Solomon Dacres who collected his 10th win on the undercard of Usyk v Dubois.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh names surprise opponent he wants to see Oleksandr Usyk fight next after watching the Ukrainian win Daniel Dubois rematch
Saudi Arabia's powerful boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has declared the fight he wants to see next – and it involves newly re-crowned undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk. Moments after Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of their Wembley rematch, Alalshikh took to social media to call for a showdown between the Ukrainian and rising British star Moses Itauma. 'I want to see Usyk against Itauma. This is the fight,' wrote Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, alongside a shrugging emoji and boxing glove. Alalshikh was ringside at Wembley Stadium for Saturday night's heavyweight blockbuster. He was seen sitting alongside veteran promoter Frank Warren and was also pictured in conversation with actor Jason Statham. Usyk, 38, turned in another masterful performance under the Wembley lights to end Dubois' hopes of becoming the first British fighter to unify the heavyweight division in the four-belt era. The Londoner was dropped twice in the fifth and counted out as the 90,000-strong crowd erupted. The win means Usyk regains the IBF belt – which he was stripped of last year – and reclaims his status as undisputed champion, having first held that honour in the cruiserweight ranks. The unbeaten southpaw now boasts a perfect 24-0 record, including 13 world title wins from 13 attempts. Alalshikh's suggestion of a Usyk vs Itauma clash would pit the seasoned legend against one of the sport's most promising young talents. Itauma, just 20 years old, has been tipped for the very top and is seen by many as a future world champion. Usyk, however, is not rushing into anything. After the fight, he told DAZN: 'Nothing is next. It's enough. Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children – I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Taylor vs Essuman: Live updates and results, 2 pm ET
Josh Taylor looks to get his career rolling again, now as a welterweight, as he moves up to the 147 lb division to face Ekow Essuman in a main event from Glasgow. Live coverage on DAZN starts at 2 pm ET, as will our live updates. Advertisement Taylor, 34, is coming in off of two straight losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall, while the 36-year-old Essuman has won back-to-back fights following a 2023 loss to Harry Scarff. The undercard will feature the return of top heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma, plus more. Main Card (DAZN, 2:00 pm ET) Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KO) vs Ekow Essuman (21-1, 8 KO), welterweights, 12 rounds Moses Itauma (11-0, 9 KO) vs Mike Balogun (21-1, 16 KO), heavyweights, 10 rounds Nathaniel Collins (16-0, 7 KO) vs Lee McGregor (15-1-1, 11 KO), featherweights, 12 rounds Aloys Junior (9-1, 8 KO) vs David Jamieson (13-3, 10 KO), cruiserweights, 12 rounds Aston Brown (7-0, 2 KO) vs Reece Porter (5-0, 3 KO), middleweights, 10 rounds More from
