Latest news with #WBO
News18
2 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Usyk V. Parker Soon? 30 Days To Find Out…
Written By : Last Updated: The WBO mandates Oleksandr Usyk to defend his heavyweight titles against Joseph Parker. Usyk beat Daniel Dubois, and Parker is on a six-fight winning streak. Boxing's heavyweight division just received its marching orders as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) officially mandated that undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk must defend his titles against New Zealand's Joseph Parker. This isn't just another title defense: it's the fight boxing purists have been craving. The directive comes hot on the heels of Usyk's spectacular fifth-round demolition of Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on July 19. The 38-year-old Ukrainian southpaw knocked down the British challenger twice in the fifth round, cementing his status as a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion with a vicious left hook he aptly named 'Ivan." But before Usyk can even think about retirement or trilogy fights with Tyson Fury, Parker stands firmly at the front of the queue. The Mandatory Maze The WBO has given both camps 30 days to negotiate terms, or face purse bid proceedings with a minimum bid of $1 million. This isn't merely bureaucratic formality—Parker has been the interim WBO heavyweight champion since defeating Zhilei Zhang in March 2024. The New Zealander has his turn while watching Usyk dismantle the division's elite. Parker's Resurrection Story What makes this matchup compelling isn't just Parker's mandatory status, it's his remarkable career renaissance. After suffering a devastating knockout loss to Joe Joyce in September 2022, many wrote off the former WBO champion. Instead, Parker embarked on a six-fight winning streak that reads like a heavyweight who's found his second wind. His victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole have repositioned him as the division's most in-form contender behind Usyk. At 36-3 with 24 knockouts, Parker brings legitimate credentials and, crucially, represents the only top-tier heavyweight Usyk hasn't faced. Styles Make Fights This potential clash promises tactical intrigue. Parker has evolved from the cautious boxer-mover of his first championship reign into a more aggressive, ring-generalship fighter under Andy Lee's guidance. His recent performances suggest a fighter who's learned to blend his natural boxing ability with increased aggression: a combination that could trouble Usyk's rhythm. Usyk's technical mastery remains unquestioned. His 24-0 record includes dominant victories over every elite heavyweight of his era. Yet Parker represents a stylistic puzzle: mobile enough to avoid prolonged punishment, durable enough to survive Usyk's combinations, and experienced enough not to wilt under championship pressure. The Bigger Picture While Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh reportedly favors other matchups, particularly against rising star Moses Itauma, the WBO's mandate strips away promotional politics. This fight represents boxing at its purest: the best facing the next best, regardless of commercial considerations. Usyk has hinted at having perhaps one more fight after any Parker encounter, making this potentially the penultimate chapter in one of boxing's greatest heavyweight careers. For Parker, it's validation of his rebuild and a chance to achieve what Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois couldn't—solving the Ukrainian puzzle. The countdown has begun, and for once, the heavyweight division's future feels refreshingly straightforward. First Published: July 25, 2025, 11:15 IST News sports Usyk V. Parker Soon? 30 Days To Find Out… Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
David Haye, Tony Bellew: Can Aloys Junior be Britain's next cruiserweight star?
Aloys Junior is back in action this Saturday as the chief support for Ryan Garner's battle with Reece Bellotti, live on DAZN. 'The Animal' lost his first fight as a professional but has since strung together a run of 10 wins, with nine of those victories coming via stoppage. His knockout of David Jamieson in May was one of the most impressive of 2025 to date, and fans will anticipate a similar stoppage when he faces fellow Brit Ellis Zorro at the Bournemouth International Centre. With names such as Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke leading the way at domestic level for British cruiserweights, Aloys Junior's trajectory is very promising. One of boxing 's youngest weight classes, cruiserweight titles have only been handed out since the 1980s. Eight British fighters have gone on to become world champions at 200lbs, with a lot of overlap between them. Can Aloys Junior one day rub shoulders with the following champions? Glenn McCrory Glenn McCrory became the first British fighter to hold a world title at cruiserweight in 1989, when he defeated Kenyan Patrick Lumumba via unanimous decision. He would successfully defend his title once, before losing it to American Jeff Lampkin in 1990. A brief spell at heavyweight culminated in a bid for the British and European titles in boxing's biggest division – with belt holder, a young Lennox Lewis, making short work of McCrory with a second-round knockout. His final fight saw McCrory drop back down to cruiserweight to try and win his IBF title back against incumbent, American Al Cole. The County Durham fighter was soundly beaten in a unanimous decision victory for the reigning champion. Even before retiring, McCrory started working as a boxing commentator for Sky Sports. After finishing his career inside the ring, McCrory would continue working for Sky for a total of 27 years. It took Carl Thompson two bites at Ralf Rocchigiani before becoming the WBO 's world champion at cruiserweight. He was knocked out by the German in 1995 in his hometown of Manchester, but two years later he travelled to Germany to defeat Rocchigiani via split decision and became the first of many Brits to hold the WBO strap at 200lbs. The two successful defences of his title came against two-division world champion Chris Eubank, a unanimous decision victory followed by a retirement in the corner for the eccentric challenger. Eubank would retire from the sport shortly after, following a run of three straight defeats. Thompson would take on another Brit after defeating Eubank twice – Johnny Nelson. Nelson stopped his compatriot in the fifth round, seeing the WBO cruiserweight title remain in Britain. Remaining at cruiserweight for the rest of his career, Thompson was unsuccessful in getting another title shot, although he would win a minor world title in the form of the IBO belt. The highlight of the latter stages of his boxing life was in 2004. In a fight billed as youth versus experience, 40-year-old Thompson handed 23-year-old and future cruiserweight champion David Haye the first defeat of his career. Johnny Nelson Another cruiserweight champion that converted into a common presence on Sky Sports, Johnny Nelson still holds the record for longest reign as a world title holder at 200lbs. Nelson lost the first three fights of his career, but soldiered on, and the Yorkshireman had to show the same persistence when it came to claiming a world title. A split decision draw in 1990 prevented Nelson from taking the WBC cruiserweight strap off Carlos de León in his hometown of Sheffield, whilst two years later a trip to Las Vegas to face IBF champion James Warring ended in defeat. Undeterred, Nelson would have to wait another seven years before getting a shot at Carl Thompson for the WBO belt. A fifth-round knockout saw Nelson take possession of the title, and he held the world championship until his retirement in 2006. He made 13 successful defences of his title across six years and five months, the longest reign of any cruiserweight world champion. After retiring Nelson has become one of the faces of Sky Sports boxing as a pundit on their shows. Enzo Maccarinelli The only non-Englishman on this list, proud Welsh fighter Enzo Maccarinelli is another Brit to have won the WBO cruiserweight title. After picking up the interim version of the title with a stoppage win over Marcelo Fabian Domínguez at the Millennium Stadium in July 2006, Maccarinelli had his eyes set on the full champion – fellow British fighter Johnny Nelson. He had meant to be fighting Nelson for the full championship on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe 's win over Jeff Lacy three months prior; but injuries for Nelson prevented the fight materialising, with the WBO champion retiring soon after. That saw Maccarinelli upgraded to full champion, with the Swansea boy going on to make four successful defences of his title. In 2008 a unification bout was set up with another British cruiserweight champion – David Haye, the WBC and WBA title holder at 200lbs. A second-round stoppage for Haye saw Maccarinelli lose his world title status. Haye himself would relinquish all three belts as he immediately moved up to heavyweight in his next fight. Interestingly, Maccarinelli is another British cruiserweight that took up punditry after his fighting days were over, continuing the trend with work for talkSPORT, BBC Wales, and S4C. David Haye Having positioned himself for a world title shot in the first five years of his career, David Haye quickly moved on from cruiserweight after claiming three of the four major titles. His knockout of Jean-Marc Mormeck earned him unified status with one swift blow, picking up the WBA and WBC straps at 200lbs. That meant for the first time there were two simultaneous British champions at cruiserweight, paving the way for Haye to face Enzo Maccarinelli. It took Haye just two rounds to stop the Welshman, becoming just the third person after Evander Holyfield and O'Neil Bell to hold three titles concurrently at cruiserweight. Haye was the fourth successive Brit to hold the WBO cruiserweight title, the torch having passed through Carl Thompson, Johnny Nelson, and Maccarinelli. Deciding not to aim for undisputed status at cruiserweight, Haye stepped up to heavyweight. He'd become a two-division world champion by defeating Nikolai Valuev and earning the WBA strap at heavyweight in 2009. Two successful defences later, Haye would face one of the biggest names in the sport, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. The dominant Ukrainian controlled the fight, taking a wide unanimous decision victory. Haye would finish his career against another British cruiserweight champion, albeit at heavyweight. He was stopped twice by Tony Bellew, spelling an end to a solid career. Following in the footsteps of Glenn McCrory, Johnny Nelson, and Enzo Maccarinelli, Haye took up punditry in retirement, predominantly working for TNT Sports. Tony Bellew Tony Bellew is unique on this list in previously campaigning as a light heavyweight before stepping up to cruiserweight. He twice fought for world titles at 175lbs, losing to WBO champ Nathan Cleverly in 2011 and WBC title holder Adonis Stevenson in 2013. He would move up to cruiserweight shortly after his second world title bid, moving back into championship contention in 2016. This time he was victorious, defeating Ilunga Makabu for the vacant WBC cruiserweight strap. He'd make one defence before stepping up to heavyweight to twice take on, and defeat, David Haye. After beating Haye back-to-back, he dropped down to cruiserweight to face undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, in what proved to be his final fight. He suffered a knockout defeat, becoming the first in a long line of Brits to lose to the Ukrainian. Yet another cruiserweight-turned-pundit, Bellew can be seen providing analysis and commentary live on DAZN. Lawrence Okolie Two-division champion Lawrence Okolie is currently campaigning to become a title holder in a third weight class after moving up to heavyweight. An Olympian for Team GB in 2016, Okolie's transition to fighting professionally produced six knockouts in his first seven paid bouts. In his eighth he defeated fellow Brit Isaac Chamberlain to earn the WBA continental title, the first in a slew of belts. Quickly he would add the British, Commonwealth, European, and WBO international straps to his collection, positioning himself well for a shot at a world title. He stopped Krzysztof Głowacki in the sixth round to earn the vacant WBO title at cruiserweight, defending his championship on three occasions. Okolie's victory saw the WBO title at 200lbs back in British hands for the first time in 13 years, and it would remain in the United Kingdom when he was defeated for the first time as a pro. Although the A-side, Okolie was the away fighter when he took on Chris Billam-Smith, fighting in his opponent's hometown stadium, AFC Bournemouth 's Dean Court. Okolie's clinch-heavy style was heavily penalised by the referee, who took two points off, whilst a further three knockdowns for 'The Sauce' meant Billam-Smith became a world champion. His next fight was for another world title, winning the WBC title at bridgerweight in 2024. Shortly after earning his second world championship, Okolie moved to campaign at heavyweight, where he is already rated at number one by the WBC. Chris Billam-Smith Chris Billam-Smith remains Britain's most recent champion at 200lbs, having relinquished his belt to Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez in November 2024. Having worked his way up the British cruiserweight ranks, Billam-Smith took his opportunity against Lawrence Okolie in May 2023 to become WBO world champion. He would defend his title twice before attempting to unify with WBA champion Ramírez. 'CBS' was unsuccessful, but rather than step up to heavyweight, or the newly founded bridgerweight division, Billam-Smith has remained at 200lbs in the hope of building back up to world title contention. His victory over fellow contender Brandon Glanton in April has certainly not done his chances any harm, with 'The Gentleman' now ranked first with the WBO, third with the IBF, fourth with the WBC, and ninth with the WBA. 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 42
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Usyk ordered to face Parker in heavyweight defence
OLEKSANDR USYK has been ordered by the WBO to face New Zealander Joseph Parker in a mandatory heavyweight title defence. The Ukrainian was crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion on Saturday after beating Daniel Dubois in a fifth-round stoppage at Wembley Stadium. Advertisement The victory, sealed when he left the Briton on the canvas with a left-handed punch, secured a 24th professional win for the undefeated 38-year-old, who won back his IBF belt and added it to WBA, WBC and WBO titles. After becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time, Usyk mentioned Parker as a possible future opponent. On Thursday, a letter from the WBO ordered negotiations to take place between Usyk and Parker for a mandatory heavyweight title bout. Both fighters have 30 days to reach terms; otherwise, purse bid proceedings will be ordered. Parker defended his WBO interim title in Riyadh in February with a second-round stoppage against Martin Bakole, a late replacement for Dubois, who withdrew due to illness. The New Zealand fighter had previously held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018 and is on a six-fight winning streak since losing to Joe Joyce in 2022. – © AFP 2025
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Oleksandr Usyk ordered to defend WBO heavyweight title against Joseph Parker
Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered by the World Boxing Organisation to defend his heavyweight world title against Joseph Parker. Saturday's spectacular knockout of Daniel Dubois in front of more than 80,000 people at Wembley ensured the Ukrainian was crowned undisputed world champion once again. Both parties have 30 days to agree terms or the WBO will proceed to a purse bid. Parker, the former world champion, is on a five-fight winning streak, including impressive wins over the former WBC world champion Deontay Wilder, Martin Bakole and Zhilei Zhang. Parker's impressive performances had earned him his first chance to win a world title in seven years against Dubois in February. However, Dubois withdrew because of an infection two days before the bout. Instead, Parker fought Bakole, winning with a second-round KO. The fight against Dubois was not rescheduled and the British fighter then signed to fight Usyk, leaving Parker waiting even longer for his world title opportunity. Parker's scintillating form has been much aided by his coach Andy Lee, who has also helped Hamzah Sheeraz and Ben Whittaker earn breakthrough stoppage victories against Edgar Berlanga and Liam Cameron respectively. Usyk, the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO champion, mentioned the possibility of defending his titles against Parker on Saturday, with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua being other possibilities. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Fury has insisted that the judges were wrong to award Usyk the victory in their two previous fights in Riyadh last year. Fury has claimed he is next in line, even posting on Instagram that the fight was set for April 2026.
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Fight: Odds, Predictions And Picks
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JULY 27: Claressa Shields poses for the crowd during her ring walk before her ... More WBC WBO lightweight championship fight at Little Caesars Arena on July 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by) Claressa Shields, the undefeated and undisputed women's heavyweight boxing champion, steps into the ring for the second time in 2025 on Saturday, July 26 when she puts her titles on the line against Lani Daniels. Shields vs. Daniels serves as the main event of the DAZN boxing card from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Betting Odds And Line Movement Claressa Shields is a massive -10000 betting favorite over Lani Daniels, who is listed as the +1800 betting underdog heading into the undisputed women's heavyweight title fight. Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels FLINT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 02: Claressa Shields arrives for her undisputed heavyweight title bout ... More against Danielle Perkins on February 02, 2025 at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. (Photo by) Shields (16-0-0) is the most decorated women's boxer in history. A two-time Olympic gold medal winner, the 30-year-old from Flint Michigan, turned pro in November 2016. In her fourthpro fight, Shields earned the WBC and IBF super middleweight belts with a TKO win over Nikki Adler. Two fights after that, Shields won the vacant WBA and inaugural IBF middleweight titles with a decision victory over Hanna Gabriels. She added the WBC middleweight crown in November 2018 with a decision over Hannah Rankin. Then, in her ninth pro fight, Shields picked up the WBO middleweight belt with a 2019 decision over Christina Hammer. With that victory, Shields became the undisputed middleweight champ. In January 2020, Shields moved down to junior middleweight to face Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBC and WBO titles in that weight division. Shields won that contest via unanimous decision. Then, in March 2021, Shields became the undisputed junior middleweight champ when she defeated Marie-Eve Dicaire via unanimous decision. Shields then defended her middleweight titles three times between February 2022 and June 2023. In July 2024, Shields moved up in weight to face Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. Shields won that fight by second-round TKO to become the WBC and WBF heavyweight champ. She was also named the WBO light heavyweight titleholder. In her most recent outing, Shields went 10 rounds with Danielle Perkins to become the undisputed heavyweight champ. ESPN has Shields ranked as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in women's boxing. Daniels is the No. 1 ranked women's light heavyweight according to ESPN. The 37-year-old New Zealander turned pro in 2017. In her first attempt to win the WBO light heavyweight title, Daniels fell short, falling to Geovana Peres by decision in 2019. That matchup was a rematch of a 2018 scrap, which Peres won by split decision. Those losses remain the only blemishes on Daniels's record. In May 2023, Daniels earned the vacant IBF heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Alrie Meleisea. She has defended that belt once before dropping to light heavyweight, where she won the vacant IBF light heavyweight crown with a majority decision over Desley Robinson. Daniels defended her light heavyweight title in September 2024, beating Bolatito Oluwole by unanimous decision. Daniels has never fought outside of New Zealand. Claressa Shields Tags 3 Legends In Latest Callout Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Tale Of The Tape Claressa Shields Record: 16-0 with three knockouts Age: 30 Height: 5'8" Reach: 68" Stance: Orthodox Lani Daniels Record: 11-2-2 with one knockout Age: 37 Height: 5'6.5" Reach: 67" Stance: Orthodox Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Breakdown Lani Daniels is not an opponent that Claressa Shields can take lightly or overlook, but she is someone who is not on the same level as Shields. Daniels has been a champion at light heavyweight and heavyweight, but she is smaller and slower than Shields. Daniels might have experience against opponents who are bigger than her, but she has not stepped into the ring against a foe as talented as Shields. Daniels's trainer, John Conway, has implied that his fighter plans to make the fight an ugly brawl against Shields, which frankly, might be her best bet to win. Despite her unbeaten record and skill set, Shields only has three knockout wins in her career and two of those victories came in her first four pro fights. If Daniels does give a brawling approach to the Shields fight early, she can always adopt a more technical approach as the bout wears on if that style is not helping her on the scorecards. The gap is skills is pronounced in this matchup, and the betting pick is a Shields win via decision. Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Full Fight Card Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Main Event Claressa Shields (16-0) vs. Lani Daniels (11-2-2): 10 rounds, for Shields' undisputed heavyweight championship Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Undercard (DAZN) Samantha Worthington (11-0-0) vs. Victoire Piteau (14-2-0): 10 rounds, for the vacant WBA women's junior welterweight interim title Caroline Veyre (9-1) vs. Licia Boudersa (24-3-2): 10 rounds, featherweight Pryce Taylor (8-0-0) vs. Robert Simms (12-4-1): Eight rounds, heavyweight Tony Harrison (29-4-1) vs. Edward Ulloa Diaz: 10 rounds, middleweight Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Undercard (YouTube) Leon Lawson III (17-1-0) vs. Ryan Wilczak (11-1-0): Eight rounds, middleweight Da'Velle Smith (12-0-0) vs. Martez McGregor (9-8-0): Eight rounds, super middleweight Cameran Pankey (11-1-0) vs. Dominique Griffin (6-9-2): Six rounds, featherweight Jaquan McElroy (2-0-0) vs. Joshua Flores (5-6-0): Four rounds, middleweight Claressa Shields On Lani Daniels Fight DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JULY 27: Claressa Shields poses for the crowd during her ring walk before her ... More WBC WBO lightweight championship fight at Little Caesars Arena on July 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by) 'I am so excited to be defending my Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena,' said Shields. 'My fights continue to get bigger and better. My opponent, Lani from New Zealand is coming to bring all the smoke, or so she says! This fight will be a sellout of 19,000 so get your tickets and be there to witness herstory on July 26 with the GWOAT.' Lani Daniels on Claressa Shields Fight 'To be the best you have to fight the best. I te pō pouri rawa, ka ara te marama, ā, ka kitea te pono,' said Daniels in her native Māori. 'On the darkest nights the full moon will rise and the truth will be revealed." Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Fight Card Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Fight Card Time: 8:00 p.m. ET Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Fight Card Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Fight Card How to Watch Or Stream: DAZN Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels Fight Card Streaming Cost: $29.99 per month $19.99 per month for a one-year subscription $224.99 for 12-months access (pay in full up front) DAZN is currently having a (limited time) 30 percent off sale on two of its offerings: $13.99 per month for a one-year subscription $157.49 for 12-months access (pay in full up front) We will have more on the Claressa Shields Vs. Lani Daniels fight as fight night nears.
