Latest news with #OleksandrUsyk
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boxing's July winners and losers: Oleksandr Usyk cements legacy, Manny Pacquiao rolls back time, Gervonta Davis running out of chances
We heard ya' — you want more winners and losers, right? Well, it's your lucky day. We're back with our judge's gavel to determine who has flourished and who has floundered in July across the boxing landscape. WINNERS Oleksandr Usyk This was a bit of a tap-in for Oleksandr Usyk. Besides winning the month, the Ukrainian great may be en route to winning the year? The decade? The generation? His destructive fifth-round knockout of the heavy-handed Daniel Dubois solidified himself as the pound-for-pound king in the sport and answered the few crumb-sized questions that were left under the rug after a controversial first meeting in 2022. Whether Daniel Dubois was free-styling on the karaoke machine a mere two hours before the ring walks is neither here nor there — the Briton will come again in the division, but Usyk is a class or two above 'DDD' and the rest of the division. Every heavyweight Tom, Dick and Harry will be spouting Usyk's name over the next couple of months in hope of bagging the juicy paycheck that comes with the undisputed heavyweight championship, but mandatories and Father Time are expected to be the next hurdles to clear. Manny Pacquiao Listen, whatever you think of Manny Pacquiao being launched into the WBC's welterweight rankings at No. 5 after not winning a professional contest for six years — takes deep breath — and then subsequently removed from said rankings after the sanctioning body's president, Mauricio Sulaiman, admitted there was a mistake and that he was only gifted a world title shot due to his legendary status — takes another deep breath — he did pretty well returning to the ring at 46. This may be more of an indication of Mario Barrios' level — sorry if you've scrolled down, Mario — but on paper and in the history books, "PacMan" earned a majority draw in a world title contest in 2025. Of course, there was a natural decline in the athleticism and gas tank of the former eight-division world champion, but there was enough in the old dog to remind us of a few of his legendary tricks. In an ideal world, Pacquiao has now scratched the itch to return, but the sobering reality is this performance has only fueled the fire to mix it up with one of the better names at 147 pounds — a contest that could end badly for the Hall of Famer. Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez If you're being compared to Vasiliy Lomachenko, then you're doing something right — and that's the position Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez has found himself in this July. The talented 25-year-old southpaw moved to 22-0 in the paid ranks, thanks to a dominant 10th-round stoppage of Phumelela Cafu, underlining his spot at the top of the super flyweight division and turbo-charging him up a majority of pound-for-pound lists. Rodriguez is on the road to international stardom, and with a thick frame has plenty of weight-class climbs in him. Hamzah Sheeraz It took guts from Hamzah Sheeraz to accept the Edgar Berlanga assignment. This was in the Brooklyn fighter's backyard, up in a new weight class and fresh off the back of a disappointing (and fortunate) draw to Carlos Adames at middleweight, but the Briton broke out with a career-best performance and punched his ticket to the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes. Sheeraz — under the watchful eye of his No. 1 fan, Turki Alalshikh — utilized "Itchy and Scratchy" fighting rather than "Tom and Jerry" boxing, bludgeoning the slight betting favorite inside five rounds. Under the tutelage of Andy Lee, the future is bright for Sheeraz at 168 pounds. Katie Taylor I've run out of words to eloquently and sufficiently champion the career of Katie Taylor. Luckily, all you really need to do is take a look at her glistening trophy cabinet, near-perfect boxing record and memorable collection of wins to hammer home her standing in boxing history. The Irish superstar moved to 3-0 against Amanda Serrano inside a raucous Madison Square Garden, drawing a line under their history-making rivalry and, potentially, her career. If Taylor is to bow out then she has done it at the very top of the mountain with nothing left to prove — and now, the one thing that she was missing from her list of accolades is complete: a spot in Uncrowned's monthly winners column. Kudos, Katie. LOSERS Francisco Rodriguez and the WBC Mexican flyweight Francisco Rodriguez was allowed to fight twice in seven months despite failing drug tests before both bouts. Suspicions were raised after the heavy-handed 33-year-old dismantled Galal Yafai for the WBC's interim title at 112 pounds at the end of June, and since, news surfaced he had incurred a doping violation prior to that contest, as well as before an eight-rounder with Josue Jesus Morales in December. The result of that December bout has been changed to a 'no decision' by the Texas commission, and it's expected that there will be a similar ruling of his fight with Yafai, sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control. The WBC has accepted Rodriguez's claim that his use of a performance-enhancing substance was 'accidental' and has since ordered a rematch with Yafai, further spotlighting the WBC's relationship with Mexican fighters and the leeway they are seemingly given after testing positive for a banned substance. It's another messy stain on the sport, but, more importantly, spare a thought for the careers and health of Yafai and Morales. Mario Barrios If Pacquiao should be nowhere near a professional boxing ring at 46, then maybe the same could be said for Mario Barrios, 30. The Texan now finds himself in the (probably) unprecedented position of drawing in his only two world title contests, but yet still being able to call himself a world champion after the WBC elevated him in June of last year. Barrios struggled with the veteran Filipino until he, to his credit, was able to turn the screw in the last three rounds, ultimately doing enough to escape with a draw — and his WBC title at welterweight. Barrios' stock has fallen once again, and in a talented and historic weight class, he will be considered low-hanging fruit for a potential successor. Edgar Berlanga Berlanga's typical pre-fight energy is entertaining stuff. But when this precedes a defeat in the manner that was handed to him by Sheeraz, then it's nowhere but the Humble Pie Hotel for the Brooklynite. Berlanga showed bravery in Queens, but was ultimately handed a beating by a powerful and controlled Sheeraz. Forehands, smashes and eventually a drop-shot landed on the chin of the 28-year-old inside the Louis Armstrong Stadium, resigning him to his second defeat and a couple of places back in the queue to ride the Canelo Alvarez money train. Gervonta Davis Gervonta "Tank" Davis was arrested July 11 on a domestic violence charge, nearly a month after allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend outside her home on Father's Day. I mean, I'm not sure much more needs to be said as to his inclusion in this section of the column. Davis' arrest is also a loss for Lamont Roach Jr., who was due to rematch "Tank" on Aug. 16 after their majority draw, with Stephen Fulton vs. O'Shaquie Foster the proposed co-main event. Davis is running out of good will and chances with the boxing public and wider society as a whole. Turki Alalshikh Is the mask of the Saudi kingpin beginning to slip? Following a seventh-round loss to junior middleweight world champion Sebastian Fundora, Alashikh took aim at Tim Tszyu in an unprovoked online attack, posting the following on X: 'I said to you from the beginning, Tim Tszyu does not deserve to be on a Riyadh Season or Ring Magazine card. He can be useful as a sparring partner for a champion in Riyadh Season.' The Champagne had barely gone flat in the Fundora dressing room, and Alalshikh chose to rub salt in the wounds of the Australian challenger with a classless — now deleted — outburst. Openly criticizing fighters from a position of power — especially those as all-action and gutsy as Tszyu — is a futile exercise for those who have never laced up a pair of gloves and gives us further indication of what boxing's future under an Alalshikh dictatorship may look like.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Jake Paul's manager insists Anthony Joshua fight ‘can absolutely happen'
Jake Paul 's manager and promotional partner, Nakisa Bidarian, has said that a fight with Anthony Joshua 'can absolutely happen'. Bidarian appeared on Sky Sports News and confirmed they are pursuing the fight with 'AJ'. He said that he sees Paul as the 'A-side' for this fight and that, looking at Joshua's record, two of his losses came against Oleksandr Usyk, who is an undersized heavyweight in the modern era and of vaguely similar dimensions to Paul. Bidarian said: 'I think the fight can absolutely happen. I'm looking at it as Jake vs Joshua, which is quite impactful in many ways. 'If you look at Anthony Joshua, I think he is 28-4, and two of his losses are against Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk weighed in at 220lbs for those fights'. The Most Valuable Promotions co-founder was quick to add that he was not drawing comparisons in ability between Paul and the undisputed heavyweight champion, but at his walk-around weight and having already bulked up to face Mike Tyson last year, the match-up is a realistic proposition. Bidarian explained: 'Jake is not Usyk – a lot more years of experience are needed to get to that level. But Jake walks around between 208-210 lbs, and he fought Mike Tyson at 228 lbs, so I think size-wise we can get comfortable with it." Joshua is yet to return to the ring since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last year and a minor surgery on his elbow but could make his comeback before the end of the year. Crossover boxing is no stranger to Joshua, who produced a devastating knockout of his own against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March 2024. Paul continues to make waves in the boxing world, in the unlikely pursuit of a world title. He defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June, which earned him a spot in the top 15 of the WBA cruiserweight rankings. Bidarian believes that Paul has gained enough experience to take on an 'ageing' Joshua and revealed they are in active conversations with Eddie Hearn 's Matchroom. He said: 'I think experience-wise, Jake is learning fast and growing, and Joshua is a little long in the tooth. It could be a very interesting match-up, and we are actively discussing it with Matchroom. ' Watch the biggest fights and best fighters with a DAZN subscription A DAZN subscription provides access to over 185 fights a year across a range of combat sports from the world's best promoters.
NZ Herald
20 hours ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Why Joseph Parker is destined to be robbed of undisputed title shot against Oleksandr Usyk
Joseph Parker must wait two weeks to definitively learn whether Oleksandr Usyk will agree to a mandated world title showdown. But, in his heart of hearts, the Kiwi heavyweight knows he will be robbed of his chance to challenge for the treasured undisputed crown. Parker has ticked every possible box
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Boxing's most exciting weight classes ranked
We are now well into the second half of 2025, and there are still plenty of fights to be made before the end of the year. Some divisions are thriving, while it is a quieter period for other weight classes. But which weight category is the most exciting right now? It's time to rank the top five divisions that are set to deliver thrilling matchups in the near future. 5. Heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk cemented his place as the best heavyweight on the planet by stopping Daniel Dubois inside five rounds at Wembley. Now, we want to see who can step up and challenge the Ukrainian great before he hangs up his gloves. Usyk has already seen off Dubois, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and it is time to bring new contenders into the mix who can generate excitement. Joseph Parker and Moses Itauma could get a shot a glory soon, while the likes of Agit Kabayel and Fabio Wardley are also waiting in the wings. Usyk is in the final stages of his illustrious career, and it will be intriguing to see who he faces next, and who takes over the division once he retires. 4. Lightweight This division is currently topped by two elite southpaws – Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. Both men are undefeated and a super-fight between the pair would be one of the biggest clashes in boxing. Davis was held to a draw in his last fight with Lamont Roach, and they are scheduled to face each other again in a rematch next month. The winner should face Stevenson next. Meanwhile, rising US star Abdullah Mason will face Britain's Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO title in November, while the lightweight division also has the highly-rated Raymond Muratalla and Floyd Schofield climbing the rankings. Throw amateur standout Andy Cruz into the mix and there are plenty of excellent fights to whet the appetite at 135lb. 3. Featherweight The featherweight division currently has four champions with just two losses between them. The contrast in styles between the four titlists makes this a fascinating weight class to follow. Mexico's Rafael Espinoza is a force of nature at 6ft 1in, with his incredible work-rate overwhelming his opponents. Nick Ball sets his own ferocious pace, while standing at only 5ft 2in tall. WBC champion Stephen Fulton is a classy operator while Angelo Leo burst onto the scene by knocking out the hard-punching Luis Alberto Lopez last year. Unification clashes should be in the offing shortly, and WBC interim champion Bruce Carrington is only getting better with every fight. Pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue is also expected to move up to featherweight at the back end of 2025, adding even more interest to this red-hot division. 2. Super-welterweight There have been a lack of star names at 154lb in recent years, but that looks set to change. Jaron Ennis has just vacated his welterweight titles to move up and Vergil Ortiz is well positioned as the WBC interim champion. A fight between Ennis and Ortiz has been mooted for a while and could soon become reality. Meanwhile, Xander Zayas became boxing's youngest male world champion on Saturday, WBC titlist Sebastian Fundora is a major handful at 6ft 6in tall, and IBF king Bakhram Murtazaliev is coming off the biggest win of his career over Tim Tszyu. Terence Crawford could also drop back down to super-welterweight after facing Canelo Alvarez at 168lb in September. A future fight between Crawford and Ennis would be mouthwatering after they narrowly missed each other at welterweight. 1. Light-heavyweight Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev have already delivered two modern-day classics, and a trilogy is expected to take place in early 2026. They are the standout light-heavyweight names, but David Benavidez is also on the rise and is now the WBC champion after Bivol vacated the belt. There is plenty of British interest in this division too. Anthony Yarde will challenge Benavidez for his title in November, while Callum Smith, Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson are all ranked inside The Ring's top 10. Ben Whittaker may also fancy his chances of getting into the mix after ending his rivalry with Liam Cameron in emphatic fashion earlier this year. With three pound-for-pound stars in Bivol, Beterbiev and Benavidez at the top of the division, and several Brits circling for their own opportunities, the light-heavyweight division is the cream of the crop in boxing right now. DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Usyk KOs Dubois in fifth round to claim undisputed heavyweight crown
Oleksandr Usyk cemented his status as the outstanding heavyweight of his generation with an emphatic fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in their undisputed world title bout. Oleksandr Usyk cemented his status as the outstanding heavyweight of his generation with an emphatic fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in their undisputed world title bout at London's Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Victory saw Ukraine's Usyk extend his unbeaten professional record to 24 fights as the WBA, WBC and WBO champion added his British opponent's IBF belt to his collection. Usyk, now a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion — and three times in all after previously mastering the cruiserweight division — dominated the opening four rounds. And early in the fifth he dropped Dubois to the canvas. Moments later he finished the fight in decisive fashion after a trademark left hook left his British rival unable to beat the count one minute and 52 seconds into the round. LIVE BLOG: Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora It was the second time Usyk, at 38 some 11 years older than his opponent, had defeated Dubois following a ninth-round stoppage success in Krakow, Poland, in 2023, where the Briton was ruled to have landed an illegal low blow in the fifth round. Lennox Lewis, the last British boxer to be undisputed world champion in 1999, forecast before Saturday's fight that Usyk would face a vastly-improved Dubois, saying: 'Dubois was a baby in the sport and now he's a man … You're not going to see the same Daniel Dubois from 18 months ago.' But after Usyk was roared into the ring by a huge contingent of supporters, many of them waving Ukraine national flags in a 90,000 capacity crowd at Wembley, best known as the London base of England's national football team, it was largely one-way traffic as their hero conducted a ruthless masterclass against local favourite Dubois. — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Ð'олодимир ЗеленÑьаий (@ZelenskyyUa) July 19, 2025 '38 is a young guy, remember!,' Usyk told DAZN in the ring after dropping to his knees in celebration. '38 is only start! 'I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It's for the people. 'Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest.' – 'Modern-day legend' Asked about his next opponent Usyk, who has already twice beaten former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, added: 'Maybe it's Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three choices, Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker. Listen, I cannot now say because I want to go back home.' Dubois insisted he would return to the ring, saying: 'I have to commend him (Usyk) on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back.' His trainer, Don Charles, added: 'We tried to get going, Dubois is a young champion … He will be back stronger. If you're going to lose, lose to someone like Usyk.' And promoter Frank Warren, a veteran of the British boxing scene, said: 'Usyk is a modern-day legend. In any generation he would be a great fighter. No complaints, the better man won on the night. 'It's Joe Parker's time.' Usyk, meanwhile, basked in the adulation following the latest dazzling victory of a career that has seen him emerge as a national hero in his war-torn homeland. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was among the first to congratulate Usyk on his victory. 'An undisputed champion. A legend. One of our own,' Zelensky wrote on X. 'Thank you for the strength and inspiration you give to the whole country with every victory. Thank you for stepping into each fight with Ukraine in your heart.' Combat Sport Nikita Tszyu has slammed critics of his brother Tim's Las Vegas defeat, revealing the truth about how the fight ended – while defending the family's boxing legacy. Combat Sport Anthony Mundine was an NRL and boxing legend. Now 'The Man' is leading a bare-knuckle fighting revolution in Australia — and says it can be just as big as UFC.
