Ramirez-Richards Thoughts

In the aftermath of the return of unified World Light-Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, two of the top contenders in the division, Albert Ramirez and Lerrone Richards met on June 4th at Casino Montreal in Montreal, Canada in a fight that would determine Interim/Regular champion status in the WBA’s Light-Heavyweight ratings, a designation held by the unbeaten Ramirez. More importantly, however, was the opportunity to attempt to move into the short list of potential opponents for Bivol in the not too distant future. Even as the champion for all intents and purposes seems to be heading towards a third bout with former Undisputed World Light-Heavyweight champion Artur Betwebiev, an impressive performance by either Ramirez or Richards would obviously create buzz for the victor as a potential future opponent either for Bivol or Beterbiev, assuming that anticipated third encounter is indeed in the immediate plans.

While the latter potential third chapter in the rivalry between Bivol and Beterbiev will obviously continue to dominate the focus of the division until it either takes place or one or both fighters choose to move in different directions, this fight was nevertheless an interesting clash of styles between a fighter known for his punching power in Ramirez going against a pure boxer in Richards. A contrast that seemed to play itself out immediately as Richards established distance between himself and Ramirez. Boxing behind a consistent jab and approaching his opponent at angles, Richards set the tempo of combat. Ramirez would have success periodically landing lunging blows, he found a difficult puzzle to solve as Richards seemed to outwork him throughout most of the fight. 

Although this encounter did not have much in the way of highlights, the consistent, workmanlike approach of Richards along with his ability to avoid having the ring cut off from him and his consistently being first with his offense, this observer felt was the story of the fight. By all impressions both with what was occurring in the ring with each passing round, as well as the body language of the two fighters, I felt that I had viewed a contest that would be scored lopsidedly in favor of Richards at the conclusion of the scheduled twelve round bout. It really did seem to be formulaic and a disciplined performance by Richards, even if it may not have been the most entertaining fight to watch for some. 

As sometimes occurs in the sport of Boxing, however, visual impressions in regard to what one sees with their eyes as well as consensus opinion as to who won a fight can differ significantly from those who have the responsibility of scoring it, the three official judges. Despite the view of this observer of a fairly wide victory in favor of Richards, the outcome would prove to be controversial as it would be Albert Ramirez, who would emerge victorious via twelve round majority decision. This certainly will not rank in the history of Boxing as an all-time classic, nor will it likely go down as the most controversial of controversial decisions ever recorded.

It could, however, possibly be used as a case study in how even though a fighter known as a pure boxer can at times find themselves on the losing end of a decision that by all accounts they seemed to have dominated. Perhaps in this case, the judges scored in favor of Ramirez based on his coming forward consistently and thus leaving an impression of his being the aggressor. It can be difficult sometimes to distinguish between mere aggression and what is often referred to as “Effective Aggression” where the aggressor is the one dictating the fight. This can also create a scenario where a fighter who puts more emphasis on the elements of technique and accuracy, does not always get the nod of the judges who might prefer aggression in their criteria of scoring based on clean punching, effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense.

Unfortunately for Lerrone Richards, this decision went against him and though in the era we all live in where it often is too easy for one to call a decision corrupt, whether there is legitimate evidence to support such claims or not, the silver lining here for Richards is he will come out of this fight looking better in defeat than Ramirez will as the winner. Whether or not that will move Richards closer to an opportunity to fight for a world title on the perception of an impressive performance that he simply did not get credit for is something that obviously cannot be said at the present moment, but this observer has been around long enough and has covered the sport long enough over three decades to be in a position to say that I have seen stranger things happen and though the obvious approach for Richards will be to try and get a rematch with Ramirez, which he deserves, it would not surprise me if Richards finds himself catapulted into a potential shot at a world title down the line.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Mini Preview: Ramirez-Richards

On Thursday June 4th, the Casino Montreal in Montreal Canada will play host to an interesting bout with potential world title implications in Boxing’s 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division. Top contenders Albert Ramirez and Lerrone Richards will meet in a twelve round bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

This will pit the unbeaten Ramirez (22-0, with 19 Knockouts) against the number six rated WBA Light-Heavyweight contender Richards (19-1, with 4 Knockouts) in an encounter where Interim/Regular champion status in the WBA’s Light-Heavyweight ratings, a designation currently held by Ramirez, will be at stake. Although such designations often amount to Boxing’s version of window dressing, this is still a fight  between two top contenders in the Light-Heavyweight division where one fighter, Ramirez, is in position to challenge for a world championship, which in regard to the WBA, is  currently held by the recently returned Dmitry Bivol.

As some recall, Bivol, the current unified WBA/IBF/WBO world champion, who also holds recognition by Ring Magazine as World Light-year weight champion, returned to action one week ago at the time of this writing, following a one year absence due to recovering from a severe back injury, which required surgery. In that outing, the champion dominated a very “Game,” but outclassed IBF number one contender Michael Eifert over twelve rounds to retain his unified crown. While by all accounts, Bivol appears to be by all accounts heading towards a third bout with former Undisputed Light-Heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev, a fight like this does offer a chance for the participants to maneuver into position either to face either fighter if a third encounter between the two is not in the immediate future, or to be in position to challenge the winner of that fight if it indeed happens.

As far as what this fight might look like inside the ring, this is a classic scenario of a puncher in Ramirez, who has a near 87% career knockout percentage, going against more of a pure boxer in Richards. Richards has only four knockouts in twenty professional fights. In his one career setback two years ago, Richards was stopped in six rounds by Steed Woodall. He has, however, rebounded to win his one bout since, in scoring a six round decision over Dylan Courtney in September of last year.  Though he is ranked in the top ten of the WBA Light-Heavyweight ratings, some may question whether Richards is ready for what is likely viewed as a step up in class. On the flip side of the equation, Ramirez has stopped his last four opponents inside the distance.

Conventional wisdom suggests that if Richards is to be successful in this fight, he must use his range boxing out of a southpaw stance to try and establish an elusive target. The obvious question here will not only be can he do so, but more specifically, do it for all twelve rounds because Ramirez’ fight plan will likely center on trying to cut off the ring, limit Richards’ ability to move, and try to systematically break him down with the theoretically harder punches as the fight progresses.

While not necessarily for a world championship unless the political elements of the sport ends up dictating for one reason or another that the winner of this fight will be named champion in the event Bivol is somehow stripped of or chooses to relinquish the WBA world championship down the line, this is still an opportunity for one fighter to maintain his position as a mandatory challenger and for the other, a chance to move into the upper echelon of the division where there will likely be no shortage of opportunities for lucrative bouts both inside and out of the WBA rankings.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Ramirez vs. Richards takes place on Thursday, June 4th at Casino Montreal in Montreal, Canada. The fight as well as its full  undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT. 

(*North American Start Times Only*) (*Card and Start Time Subject To Change.*)

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The Return Of Dmitry Bivol

In February of last year, longtime Light-Heavyweight cornerstone Dmitry Bivol became a two-time world champion by defeating Undisputed World Light-Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in their rematch, avenging his lone career defeat to Beterbiev when the two met in October 2024 to fully unify the Light-Heavyweight division. While Bivol not only became a two-time world champion by besting Beterbiev, he also added his name to the short list of fighters to have become an undisputed champion in the long history of the division.

As seems to be the norm in recent times, however, Bivol’s time as an undisputed champion was short lived. In Bivol’s case, he opted to address a back injury shortly after becoming champion again, which he had been dealing with for a decade, which required surgery, which in turn, led Boxing's various sanctioning organizations, namely the WBC and WBO of their respective portions of the World Light-Heavyweight championship, removing his status as an undisputed champion, despite his being sidelined due to recovering from surgery. More than one year has passed since Bivol’s victory over Beterbiev and though a third encounter between the two appears likely, Bivol, now a unified world champion will defend his IBO, WBA, IBF World Light-Heavyweight crown against current IBF number one rated Light-Heavyweight contender Michael Eifert on Saturday, May 30th at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia in a fight that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN. 

On the surface, this appears to be a tailor-made “Comeback Fight” for the champion. This is due largely to the advantages that Bivol has both in terms of overall experience as well as caliber of opposition. While most would concede that this is a significant step up in class from Eifert, he does have an impressive, albeit limited resume. The challenger will enter this significant step up in class in challenging for his first world title with a record of 13-1, with 5 Knockouts. Although numbers wise, Bivol is 24-1, with 15 Knockouts, not appearing to some to be a significant disparity in experience, the story behind the numbers all falls under the pretense of caliber of opposition. What Eifert does have going for him, however, is he has never been stopped in his career to this point and will enter the bout on a seven fight winning streak. 

A potential red flag, however, particularly given his status as a current number one contender is that Eifert has not fought in over two years, yet has maintained his ranking with the International Boxing Federation (IBF), despite his inactivity. This will likely come down to two factors. One, what type of condition will the champion Dmitry Bivol be in coming off of a significant hiatus and surgery to repair a back injury, and two, what kind of challenge will Michael Eifert try to present to the champion. Earlier in his career, Dmitry Bivol developed a reputation as a “Knockout Artist” that was for a time being compared to the then Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin in terms of punching power and demonstrating a penchant for scoring quick, and often brutal knockouts. As time went on and as the caliber of his opposition increased, Bivol showed that he was far more than a power puncher and has truly become a complete fighter without too many flaws that have been able to be exploited by opponents. It will be up to Eifert to show that he has the skillset to be able to solve a puzzle that only one fighter to this point was able to get by in Artur Beterbiev. Put simply, you never know what will happen when two fighters get into a ring to do battle, and while fighters like the rest of us, are all human and can easily have a bad night at the office. The odds are against Eifert here and it will be up to him to show that his status as the underdog has been miscategorized.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Bivol vs. Eifert takes place on Saturday, May 30th at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The fight can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 11AM ET/8AM PT. 

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(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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Did Mark Lyson Rob Rico Verhoeven Of History?

Credit: DAZN 

The fight between future Hall of Famer and current unified World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former Kickboxing World Heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23rd at the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt was one that had controversy surrounding it from the moment it was announced. Controversy rooted in the World Boxing Council (WBC) opting to sanction the bout for its version of the World Heavyweight championship, which Usyk currently holds, despite the challenger only having one professional fight prior to the encounter in the sport of Boxing. Though Verhoeven emerged victorious in that one outing over a decade ago, he was not in a position where one could claim that he had earned a shot at a world title in the sport, despite his vast credentials in the sport of Kickboxing where he is a future Hall of Famer.

Controversy going into the fight aside, it was nevertheless a curiosity as it always tends to be when two top fighters from different combat sports disciplines square off against each other with one often leaving their sport to challenge the other in theirs. Despite a not so stellar record of fighters from other sports succeeding in the Boxing ring, there were as this observer pointed out in previewing this encounter, a few exceptions and as such Verhoeven’s chances could not be outright dismissed simply based on the difference of experience between himself and Usyk when it came to Boxing. After covering combat sports with Boxing as my primary for over three decades and being as well-versed as anyone in the sport when it comes to offering an educated guess based on my experience, even I could not have predicted what took place when the two fighters met in the truly unique location in front of the Pyramids of Giza and will felt admit, even I was a little surprised.

As I stated in previewing this fight, the onus was on Rico Verhoeven to show that he could combat Usyk’s hand speed, ability to use angles, and deceptive punching power. To the surprise of many, including this observer, Verhoeven was the one dictating the pace of the fight from the outset. By using his 6’5 frame and near 259lb. weight, it was the novice boxer that was consistently backing up the former two-division undisputed world champion, landing hooks and having surprising success in landing his right hand. An aspect of Verhoeven’s approach that I found particularly effective was he constantly moved both his arms up and down in virtually every round. A strategy I have seen implemented on occasion particularly in lower weight divisions where it serves two purposes. First as a way to deflect incoming punches, as well as to attempt to limit an opponent's offensive output.

For most of this fight, Verhoeven, round after round, succeeded in limiting Usyk’s output to such a degree that the champion and master boxer was unable to get into anything resembling a consistent rhythm, as whenever Usyk would appear to land cleanly, Verhoeven would immediately return offense. It was this strategy that as surprising as it was, this observer felt carried Verhoeven to win seven of the first eight rounds on my scorecard. As the fight entered the late rounds, however, Usyk did start to make up some ground, and despite putting forth a remarkable performance that no one could have logically expected, Verhoeven did show some signs of fatigue, which was certainly understandable given the high pace he put forth throughout the contest as well as the fact that this was only his second professional fight in the sport of Boxing.

This leads us to what proved to be the climatic round of the fight, round eleven. As Usyk seemed to be picking up momentum, but also seemingly at a stage where many observers, including this one, felt he would need a knockout to retain his title, he connected with a short right uppercut to the head that knocked Verhoeven down to the canvas in his own corner. Verhoeven was able to beat the count and seemed to withstand the follow-up barrage of blows by the champion until Referee Mark Lyson inexplicably stepped in as the bell was sounding to end the round. At first, it seemed to me in a situation I have seen and covered countless times where two fighters were in the midst of a heated battle, with the crowd in attendance loudly enjoying the action, that the referee stepped in to signal the end of the round. Within seconds, however, it was in actuality Lyson stepping in and stopping the fight and awarding a TKO victory to Oleksandr Usyk.

As is often the case in present day, I shared my thoughts on the stoppage in real time on X (Formerly Twitter) calling the stoppage incompetent as well as sharing thoughts on another element of controversy that emerged throughout the fight. Though an initiative that has not been universally adapted, but one that has been used by the WBC for many years in world title bouts, this fight had the element of open scoring and after eight rounds, despite what was going on in the ring to the vantage point of any unbiased observer two official judges had Usyk ahead slightly. At the time of the stoppage, two of the three official judges were deadlocked and had the fight scored evenly.

While one would assume given that Verhoeven was knocked when in the latter stages of round eleven, had the round gone to completion and thus had been scored, Usyk would have been up by two points on those judges respective scorecards and the third judge, who had Verhoeven ahead by two points, would have ended up with an even score going into what would have been the twelfth and final round had the fight been allowed to continue. Although I have certainly covered plenty of fights over the course of the last three decades where similar scorecards were given at the end of the day following a controversial stoppage, at minimum it would probably give an appearance to a casual viewer that potential bias may have played a role.

The idea of bias in the eyes of some would likely stem from the perception of protecting the Boxing world champion from an unlikely, but probable defeat given what took place in the ring to an undefeated novice boxer, who was primarily known for his accomplishments in the sport of Kickboxing and who was a decade removed from his last professional fight as a boxer. Although I am by no means pointing fingers and have been around long enough to know the difference between stating an opinion and stating an accusation supported by evidence, at minimum, it does not paint the best picture both of Lyson, who has served as a referee for over 1,158 bouts, many being world title bouts throughout his career, or the three official judges, who are all vastly experienced when it comes to questions surrounding objectivity. Particularly, when one considers that Rico Verhoeven was on the verge of making Boxing history by potentially winning a World Heavyweight championship in only his second professional fight. An accomplishment no fighter has achieved.When one also considers that the last time there was a major crossover bout featuring stars of two different combat sports when Tyson Fury met Francis Ngannou in October 2023, many were left with a similar bad taste in their mouths as Fury, who was unbeaten and the WBC world champion in the Heavyweight division at the time, was declared the winner of the non-title ten round bout via controversial decision, despite being knocked down over the course of the bout and clearly having a lackadaisical mindset through the fight that many felt, including yours truly that Ngannou deserved the decision.

What happens now will obviously be open to debate. Clearly, Rico Verhoeven deserves another opportunity at Oleksandr Usyk, and it will be interesting to see if the WBC will mandate a rematch. Perhaps a bigger issue, however, for the sport of Boxing moving forward is a perception that while crossover fights between boxers and stars of other combat sports will always have an appeal, some may question whether a fighter known primarily outside of Boxing will be able to get a fair shake when they do step into a Boxing ring to face off against one of the sport’s stars. Without addressing the elephant in the room, it may be harder for not just fans, but for other fighters throughout combat sports to be open to competing in Boxing or from a fan’s point of view, embrace such encounters by tuning in.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Usyk-Verhoeven: The Latest Combat Sports Curiosity

Credit: DAZN 

It has become almost a standard practice in present day combat sports to see crossover bouts featuring fighters from different combat disciplines trying their hand at competing in a different discipline/sport, often against a seasoned fighter with significantly more experience than the combatant leaving their primary sport for the said contest. While most of the time, this presents encounters that turn out to be one-sided mismatches where the fighter with more experience in the sport where a fight is taking place wins over the fighter crossing over from one sport to another, there will always be a curiosity whenever such a fight takes place. 

Such an occasion will occur when undefeated current unified World Heavyweight Boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend the WBC World Heavyweight championship against former World Heavyweight Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23rd at the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt. A bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN either as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription or as a standalone pay-per-view option for non-Ultimate subscribers.

The location of this world title bout is as much a part of the story as the fight itself. This will be the first combat sports event to ever be held at the Pyramids of Giza and thus, regardless of what happens in the fight itself, this will make Boxing history given that it is a World Heavyweight championship bout. A subject that has some controversy attached to it.

Controversy in that the World Boxing Council (WBC) greenlit sanctioning this fight for its portion of the World Heavyweight championship, despite the significant difference in Boxing experience between champion and challenger. Perhaps, their decision was influenced at least in part by wanting to be involved in a unique event that is a first in all of combat sports in terms of location, that could be a one-off occurrence, but a decision that has faced significant criticism primarily from Boxing fans.

Where does the criticism stem from? Rico Verhoeven is a legend in the sport of Kickboxing having successfully defended the Glory Kickboxing World Heavyweight championship fifteen times in a twelve year reign as champion, which is an extremely impressive Hall of Fame worthy accomplishment in any combat sport. Having said that, Verhoeven, who has also dabbled in the sport of MMA, has only had one professional fight as a boxer. In that outing in April 2014, he scored a knockout in the second round over a fighter by the name of James Finfera, a boxer who was winless in five previous bouts when he met Verhoeven in Germany. Although it is a testament to the athletic qualities Verhoeven has that he has been willing to dabble in multiple combat sports with Kickboxing as his primary discipline, the criticism given the record of his one previous opponent in Boxing as well as the fact that he has not fought in a Boxing contest in over twelve years seems justified as to why some are questioning his being catapulted into a world championship opportunity here in what will only be his second professional fight as a boxer.

If\ one looks at the history of the sport, however, it is not unheard of for a world champion in a different combat sport to be given an opportunity to challenge for a world title in Boxing with a limited resume. Some may recall Troy Dorsey, a man that pioneered the concept of a multi-combat sport athlete.

Dorsey, a former World Kickboxing champion in the 1980’s and 1990’s made history as being the first fighter in history to hold world titles in both sports simultaneously and fought for a world title in Boxing in only his fourteenth professional fight during an era where there weren't as many avenues to compete for world titles as there are in the sport today. In more recent times, some are likely familiar with the career of Chris Algieri, an undefeated two-division World Kickboxing champion, who went on to win a world championship in Boxing and has since gone on to become one of the sport’s respected commentators and broadcasters.The takeaway here should be that while a fighter might have a limited resume when opportunities present themselves in a given sport, it does not mean that their chances can necessarily be dismissed just off of limited experience. 

Rather than focusing on resumes that boil down to statistics and footnotes, a more accurate question will be what type of fight can we expect to see here. As is the case with most crossover fights, there is not much to go on because there are obvious differences between Boxing and Kickboxing and as such, tactics cannot adequately be compared as one obviously has the element of being able to use kicks to the legs, body, and head, in addition to punching with hands, while the other, the hands are the sole weapon used in combat.

What this will boil down to is whether Verhoeven will be able to combat Usyk’s hand speed, ability to use angles, and deceptive punching power. The key in the eyes of this observer will be whether Verhoeven can get the respect of Usyl early in the fight.

Oleksandr Usyk is an undefeated former three-time Undisputed world champion in two weight divisions. The fact of the matter is there is not much that Usyk has not done and there probably at this point in his career that he has not seen in the ring that an opponent can offer him. An obvious danger here, however, though he has not shown signs of it, is the possibility of taking his opponent here lightly and as such even though Rico Verhoeven is a legend in Kickboxing, if he were to pull off what would be called a major upset here, some would likely use that accomplishment as a means to try and question Usyk’s legacy, likely citing Verhoeven’s limited Boxing experience.

How will Usyk approach this encounter? The obvious approach in my eyes will be to try and use the fact that Verhoeven has not fought in a Boxing contest in over twelve years to his advantage. Usyk must establish the pace of the combat from the outset and must also use the fact that world championship fights in Boxing are scheduled for twelve rounds. Although like Boxing, bouts in Kickboxing are also held with rounds with three minutes in duration, a question here is whether Rico Verhoeven will be conditioned to go into the middle and deep waters of the fight, also known as the middle and late rounds, if he is forced to do so and is forced to fight at a pace that he does not control. The task of trying to limit Usyk’s ability to use angles by trying to cut off the ring and nullify his hand speed will be a difficult task and Usyk’s fight plan will likely center on trying to extend Verhoeven into the middle and late rounds and will try to make him use more physical effort than Verhoeven is likely used to as a means of putting the challenger’s stamina to the test in addition to obviously looking to exploit any opening that Verhoeven might leave.

As is the case with virtually all crossover fights, whether this fight will be remembered for being a competitive bout or more for the uniqueness of the event and the location where it is taking place, remains to be seen. Having seen several of these fights and knowing that they are rarely known at the end of the day for a competitive contest, one way or another as was the case when future UFC Hall of Famer Connor McGregor stepped into the Boxing ring to challenge Floyd Mayweather and gave a good effort before ultimately being stopped by the more experienced Hall of Fame boxer, or when Hall of Fame boxer James Toney stepped into the UFC to challenge Hall of Famer Randy Couture and was quickly taken down and submitted, I am nevertheless curious as to what is going happen here and I'm as interested to watch as anyone else.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.*

Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission 

Usyk vs. Verhoeven takes place on Saturday, May 23rd at the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN included with a DAZN Ultimate subscription for $44.99 per month or available as a standalone pay-per-view offering for non-ultimate subscribers for $59.99. The broadcast will begin at 11AM ET/8AM PT. (*North American pricing and start times only.* ) (*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, Availability around the world, local start times and pricing in your area, to subscribe, or order this event, please visit: www.DAZN.com.

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Ramirez-Benavidez Preview

Boxing’s Cruiserweight division, positioned between the Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions on the weight scale, is often one that one does not associate with marquee fights that become dates on the calendar that the entire sport marks down and looks forward to. The reason for that is that the division is not viewed as a career destination for most fighters. Either fighters start as a Cruiserweights with a keen eye towards becoming Heavyweights, Light-Heavyweights move into the division with the same eventual goal of becoming Heavyweights, or the Cruiserweight division ends up being a fallback option for those who have tested the Heavyweight waters and feel they can compete more effectively in the division just below the Heavyweights.

Although this observer has periodically chronicled the division, most notably referencing the 1986 WBA World Cruiserweight championship fight between the late Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Evander Holyfield, an encounter between two eventual Hall of Famers that was one of the best fights in the entire sport throughout the 1980’s that has stood the test of time, marquee attractions usually are absent from the division, which was then known as the Jr. Heavyweight division. On Cinco De Mayo weekend, however, the Cruiserweight division will see such an encounter between two world champions and stars of the sport as Gilberto Ramirez will defend his unified WBA/WBO World Cruiserweight championship against undefeated current WBC World Light-Heavyweight champion David Benavidez on May 2nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as part of its Ultimate subscription plan or as a standalone pay-per-view option either through DAZN or Prime Video* (*Prime Video option for the United States only for those who do not want access through DAZN.*)

This is a rare instance where not only will the Cruiserweight division get to be front and center with a fight in a coveted spot on the Boxing calendar, normally reserved for many of the sport’s biggest battles, but also brings together two offensive-minded fighters with crowd-pleasing styles that on paper, should mesh well with each other. In addition to that, these two fighters are both multi-division world champions having each won world titles in both the Super-Middleweight and Light-Heavyweight divisions previously in their respective careers.

While both fighters like to come forward and engage with their opponents and both are known for throwing punches in volume, the champion in this encounter Ramirez has one slight advantage at least in paper going into this fight. He has fought in the 190lb.-200lb. Cruiserweight division before and that experience in having competed in the division for three years might give him an edge over Ramirez who is moving up to Cruiserweight for the first time in his career. This is a fight where both fighters have high career knockout percentages where the challenger Benavidez has an edge of having stopped over 80% of his opponents compared to the champion’s 62%. The key, however, will be whether Benavidez will be as effective now in his third weight division as he has been previously. It is also worth noting that the only blemish on Ramirez’ record came in a decision loss to Dmitry Bivol in a failed bid to become a Light-Heavyweight world champion before embarking on the Cruiserweight division. Bivol is a master boxer that presents a difficult puzzle for opponents to try and solve with only Artur Beterbiev having been able to score a victory over Bivol to this point in his career so a loss to a fighter of Bivol’s caliber is in no way a disgrace and to Ramirez’ credit, he did give a good account of himself in defeat when they met in November 2022.

In this case, this observer feels it is more likely that we will see two fighters come forward and engage in some heated exchanges of punches, likely early in the scheduled twelve round world championship bout than it being a similar scenario where Ramirez had to combat an extremely technical boxer in Bivol. What will be interesting, however, is seeing as both Ramirez and Benavidez are come forward, pressure fighters who throw at a high volume, which fighter will take the initiative to try and implement that approach? Will it be the champion who will try and impose his will and experience having fought at this weight before on Benavidez or will it be the challenger who will try to back the champion up and show that his punching power will carry with him up to the Cruiserweight division?

Two very interesting questions that yours truly is as curious as anyone as to what will be the answers. While you never know what will happen when two fighters get into a ring regardless of similarities in styles and how a fight looks on paper, I personally have a hard time not seeing a scenario where at some point in the fight the two fighters are going to stand and trade punches with each other and that could very well end up looking like a 50/50 toss up as to who will get the better of it in a bout that some likely will suggest will not go the distance.

For a division in the Cruiserweights that has almost always been starved for mainstream attention in the sport, despite having countless notable fighters pass through it either on the way up to Heavyweight or on the way down towards the end of their careers, this is finally one fight that is worthy of such mainstream attention. If this turns out to be similar to the thrilling battle that Qawi and Holyfield provided forty years ago, hopefully the Cruiserweights will be able to take advantage of the increased exposure, which could lead to more lucrative bouts down the road,

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Ramirez vs. Benavidez takes place on Saturday, May 2nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN included as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription for $44.99 per month or as a standalone pay-per-view option for $79.99 and will also be available on a pay-per-view basis at the aforementioned price on digital streaming entertainment platform Prime Video (*Prime Video access available in United States only.*)

The card will begin at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT with free preliminary bouts with the main card available to subscribers and pay-per-view customers beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT.

(*North American Start Times Only*)

(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)

Visit www.DAZN.com for ordering information, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, or to subscribe to DAZN Ultimate. To order through Prime Video, download the Prime Video app on your streaming device of choice or visit www.PrimeVideo.com for ordering information and a list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, and Smart TVs.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

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Two Crossroads Bouts Kick Off The Month Of April 2026

There inevitably will come a point in most fighters careers throughout combat sports where the line will be thrown out that they or their career is “At a Crossroads.” In most cases, the line is used when fighters are attempting to rebuild after a setback and/or a long stretch of inactivity. The month of April 2026 will begin with two fights featuring three fighters who that line is more than appropriate. Firstly, Boxing’s Heavyweight division will take centerstage when former longtime WBC World Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will square off with longtime contender, current IBF mandatory challenger, and former multi-time world title challenger Derek Chisora at the O2 Arena in London, England in a bout that can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as part of an Ultimate subscription or as a standalone pay-per-view offering.

Of course, when discussing Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder, if one is objective, they would say that we are talking about two of the best Heavyweights over the last twenty years. One a former world champion, who is in the midst of a comeback, one a veteran who has stayed near the top of the Heavyweight division for many years, despite falling short when he has attempted to become a world champion. Ironically, this is a circumstance where one can make a legitimate argument that it is Chisora who has more to lose going into this fight than does the former world champion Wilder. 

Not only due to the fact that it is Chisora who has top billing over Wilder in this fight in all the marketing and promotion for it, but more specifically, due to his having seemingly against steep odds in the twilight of his long career, has gotten himself back in line to challenge for a world championship after having two previous attempts at a world title separated by a decade. While Derek Chisora’s career has been one of hard luck along the way it has also been one of resilience and regardless of what happens in this fight, one should tip their hat to him. 

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder long ago earned his reputation as one of the hardest punchers and feared “Knockout Artists” in the history of the Heavyweight division. Wilder, however, has seen his career stall, marked by losing his world title, suffering a second loss in an attempt to regain the title, and lengthy stretches of inactivity. In his most recent outing, Wilder scored a seventh round stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon in Wichita, Kansas in June of last year in his first fight since suffering a knockout loss at the hands of Zhilei Zhang one year before. A fight where Wilder gained his forty-third knockout in forty-four career wins, but one where his performance was more measured, tactical, and seemed to indicate a new approach for him in terms of how he fights. If that is indeed the case it no doubt will be put to the test in this fight against Chisora.

Despite being at a significant height disadvantage against most of his opponents throughout his career, Derek Chisora is a come forward pressure fighter, who has fought most of the top Heavyweights of the last fifteen years and will not be intimidated by Wilder’s near 98% career knockout percentage. Chisora, who stands just under 6’2, will be giving up almost six inches in height and nine inches in reach, is coming off of a twelve round unanimous decision over Otto Wallin in February of last year. 

How the fight draws up seems relatively straight forward. As has been the case throughout his entire career, Derek Chisora knows only one direction, forward, and no doubt that will be the fight plan for him here. To attempt to come forward put pressure on Wilder, back him up, and try to force a fight on the inside in an attempt to break him down. Although intimidation is not a factor here, one should keep in mind that Deontay Wilder has knockout power in either hand and is capable of ending a fight at any time if given an opening and is particularly dangerous with his right hand. The fight plan for Wilder should be to try as best as possible to keep Chisora at distance with his longer reach and if Chisora is able to close the gap, immediately tie him up on the inside to force a break by the referee. 

Fighters who have significant height and reach advantages over their opposition are often criticized by fans for implementing such an approach because often it may not be the most entertaining to watch, but a fighter’s primary objective should be to do what they have to do within the rules to achieve victory. A criticism of Wilder some have made throughout his career is he has relied heavily on his punching power to at times get himself out of trouble and ultimately to get the job done. Although punching power is a great asset to have, it should not be the only tool in a fighter’s arsenal and to his credit, Wilder did show in his last fight a consistent effort to try and implement a more disciplined approach, but whether or not that will be as successful against a fighter that applies constant pressure like Chisora or if Wilder will revert back to a power first mentality remains to be seen. The goal of both fighters is to get another opportunity at a world title and we will simply have to see who is able to take the next step in that goal. 

While Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder are at a crossroads in their respective careers, so too is the third fighter who will see action on April 4th. This observer is referring to former WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Tim Tszyu, who will look to continue rebuilding his career by moving up in weight to the 160lb. Middleweight division as he will face undefeated contender Denis Nurja at the WIN Entertainment Centre in New South Wales, Australia in a scheduled ten round bout that can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription general entertainment network Prime Video.

This will be Tszyu’s second fight since being stopped in his rematch with WBC Jr. Middleweight world champion Sebastian Fundora in July of last year. The second loss to Fundora, the man who dethroned him of his WBO world championship in March 2024 was Tszyu’s third career defeat and his second stoppage loss after previously being stopped in a failed attempt to regain a world title against then IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in October 2024.

What makes this a crossroads fight for Tszyu is for the last two years since his first loss to Fundora, which was a twelve round split decision, Tszyu has found his career stuck in a cycle. Following his first loss to Fundora and his loss to Murtazaliev that followed, Tszyu has seen two victories split between his second loss to Fundora in defeating Brian Mendoza in his first fight following his loss to Murtazaliev, then being stopped by Fundora in seven rounds in their rematch where he submitted in his corner, followed by a win in his last fight, a ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Anthony Velazquez.

The question here going into this fight is whether Tszyu will be able to continue rebuilding his career with another victory or if the cycle will continue with potentially another setback. In Denis Nurja, Tszyu, who will enter with a record of 26-3, with 18 Knockouts, will face a fighter unbeaten in twenty professional fights with nine knockouts.

While the Albanian-born Nurja will be going into the equivalent of a lion's den by facing Tszyu in his home country of Australia where he is unbeaten, he has built an impressive resume against opposition that are not well known, but a potential advantage for the boxer/puncher is he has more experience fighting as a Middleweight compared to Tszyu. Although Tszyu is also a boxer/puncher, most would suggest it is the undefeated fighter here that is taking a step up in caliber of competition against a former world champion. 

Although Nurja is not known for punching power, like Tszyu, he is a fighter that has no issues getting in and mixing it up with his opponents. The question is whether he will be able to do that and have similar success against a fighter of Tszyu’s caliber as he has had against lesser known opposition. A loss here for Tszyu would obviously set him back further, despite facing his second consecutive undefeated opponent, and though Denis Nurja is not a household name at this point in his career, a fighter with an unbeaten record can never be dismissed. 

The crossroads for Tszyu may not be retirement with a loss, but rather a case where his rise as the offspring of a great fighter in Kostya Tszyu, as has been the case for other offspring of great fighters throughout history where it might have been too much, too soon, and a loss here may be an indication to Tszyu and his handlers that a more thorough rebuild might be necessary, rather than trying to get him back into position to challenge for a world title within a narrow timeframe as other fighters including legends of the sport have found at other stages of their careers, 

With the spotlight firmly focused on these two fights, it is simply a matter of seeing what happens for Chisora, Wilder, Tszyu, and Nurja as career paths will no doubt be affected by what occurs on Saturday, April 4th.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Chisora vs. Wilder takes place on Saturday, April 4th at the O2 Arena in London, England. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN either as a standalone pay-per-view offering for $49.99 or as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription for $44.99 per month. The card will begin at 12PM ET/9AM PT with preliminary bouts followed by the main card beginning at 2PM ET/11AM PT (*North American Times Only* *Card and Start times Subject to Change.*

For more information about DAZN including schedules,list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area,and region specific subscription and pay-per-view pricing please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

Tszyu vs. Nurja takes place on Saturday, April 4th (April 5th in Australia) at the WIN Entertainment Centre in New South Wales, Australia. In the United States, the fight can be seen on digital entertainment subscription streaming network Prime Video included with a Prime Video subscription at no additional cost beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. For more information about Prime Video included compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.PrimeVideo.com or search for Tszyu vs. Nurja on the Prime Video app by hitting the Premier Boxing Champions tab within the sports tab. (*United States Times Only.* *Card and Start Times Subject to Change.* *Check your local listings internationally for availability and platform.*)

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DAZN, Top Rank, And The Ever Evolving Boxing Broadcast Landscape

Credit: DAZN 

On March 18th, the focus of the Boxing world focused on Madison Square Garden in New York City where a press conference was held where digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN announced its latest partnership in forming a multi-year worldwide broadcast deal with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank Inc, marking the latest promotional entity to join the network that has marketed itself as “The Global Home of Boxing.”

While the aforementioned tagline is a clever marketing tool, it is really as close to reality as one could claim. After all, in 2018 when DAZN entered the United States market, many laughed at the idea of a strictly streaming-based platform that would operate primarily under a subscription model as a potential power broker in the sport of Boxing. This observer has from the moment I was informed of the network’s entry both into the United States, but also Boxing was supportive of what was being attempted. Before I elaborate further, it is important for me to state for the reader that I do not currently work for any other outlet or network outside of the platform I own here at The Boxing Truth®. The reason for my previous statement in full disclosure and honesty with the reader, is it is important for me to state that my support of DAZN was not and is not rooted in bias and I have not been compensated in any way by the network by being vocal in my support over the last eight years.

Why was I  and remain a vocal supporter? The short version is understanding what a consumer goes through and having seen what had increasingly become a pay-per-view centric approach by many promoters and networks throughout the sport become out of control both in the frequency in how often it was used as well as prices for such cards on a per event basis, something I have often compared to that of the mentality of a compulsive eater. In that more often than not, those with such a mentality know when enough is enough, but simply lack the control to stop themselves. Although I by no means am comparing the mentality of insisting on what was in 2018 and remains an outdated and overpriced model to that of a disorder that many suffer from and is in no way an attempt by yours truly to be humorous, the continued insistence of some to continue using such a model, despite increasing evidence both in changes in consumer habits in how content both television and audio is consumed, but also the steady decline in pay-per-view buys as price points have increased and consumers continue to increasingly reject the model, makes the reference appropriate.

Of course, longtime readers know that while I have been and remain supportive of DAZN and really of any network or platform that is not only consumer-friendly, but also tries to do right and grow the sport by making it more accessible to the public regardless of economic level, I have also called out networks when appropriate. This was no different when DAZN ventured into pay-per-view. Even though the network in the aftermath of the COVID-19 global epidemic, insisted that their use of the pay-per-view model would be selective, I felt it was a mistake, while also acknowledging that the impacts of the epidemic, which affected just about every industry one could name, including the sports and television industries, necessitated the adaptation at least in the short term as a way to try and recoup lost revenue from when sports were inactive, which had to have had a negative impact on subscriptions to DAZN and other streaming networks. 

As pay-per-view has remained an option, the introduction of an “Ultimate” subscription, an upgrade to a standard subscription from DAZN that would include pay-per-view offerings at no additional cost for an increased monthly or annual fee, was no doubt a response to consumers/subscribers not embracing pay-per-view even on a selective basis. Other digital subscription networks within the space, most notably ESPN+ (Now ESPN Unlimited) also saw their attempts at using the pay-per-view model dwindle over time and this included the handful of pay-per-view offerings promoted by Top Rank between 2018-2025 during its most recent deal with ESPN. 

Although not doing nearly as many pay-per-view offerings as other promoters and networks, and consistently producing events across ESPN’s networks, the commonality remained the same, consumers generally voted no on pay-per-view. This resulted in the majority of Top Rank’s events being available on ESPN’s streaming platform included with subscription. Despite it mostly being a win for Boxing fans, the network, likely due to increased competition and increasing rights fees for other major sports including the NBA opted not to renew its long-standing deal with Top Rank in the summer of last year. This resulted in Top Rank putting on select events on its free ad-supported Top Rank Classics streaming channel, while actively negotiating for a new broadcast deal with multiple networks, which turned out to be DAZN being able to secure the rights in a multi-year agreement, 

The obvious question is what can one expect now? With so many notable promotional entities under one network banner with DAZN, it's natural to assume that it would be easier at least in theory both in an attempt to keep their broadcaster pleased by putting the best fights possible on the network, and in turn, drawing interest and ratings/subscription numbers to DAZN, that there will be more willingness from promoters to put their top talent in against each other. It is worth pointing out, however, that this is certainly not the first time that multiple promoters, each with sizable stables of fighters, have done business with one network platform and some might say that simply being aligned with the same network does not guarantee a streamlined process nor does it mean that fights of significant public interest will necessarily get made in a more reasonable timeframe than is typically the case.

What makes this a bit different is this consolidation of major promoters is occurring in the streaming realm rather than traditional television or cable. Although the method of distribution has changed significantly, there are other factors that change things slightly from how things were done for decades. There are more than one streaming network that have invested significantly in Boxing as well as new promotional entities such as Zuffa Boxing that are each trying to carve out their respective space within the sport as well as possible changes to the Muhammad Ali Act, which some have claimed is a response at least in part to Boxing’s many ills and flaws within the existing structure of the sport. While this observer has been vocal in stating that I support the existing legislation of the Ali Act and do not support potentially taking rights away from fighters, potentially limiting fighter pay, and possibly giving promoters more power with little or possibly no oversight, which could lead to conflicts of interest including allowing promoters to crown their own world champions and dictate their own rankings, the fact that reforms to existing legislation may indeed become law here in the United States, should put pressure on other promoters and the sport’s existing sanctioning organizations to not only put their best effort forward, but also attempt to clean up some of the flaws that somehow always leaves Boxing open to consistent ridicule and outright mockery.

Much like with the pay-per-view model largely no longer being of value and consistently rejected by consumers, it will likely be those same consumers who will vote both with their opinions and their wallets as to whether or not an approach by promoters, whether it be those who are advocating for significant change via legislation, which could ultimately prove to be good or bad depending on one's perspective and whatever those who are pushing for such reforms are ultimately motivated by, or those existing promoters who continue to operate under the more traditional model of the sport. Although things may seem like they are on an upward wave of momentum for Boxing in a streaming/digital age, promoters will always walk a tightrope and ultimately if consumers reject whatever approach a promoter might take for whatever reason, ultimately those networks that the promoters are aligned with will want to see not only an adequate return on their investment, but will want to see numbers, both in terms of viewership and in terms of their financial bottom lines that will convince the leadership of those networks to keep an ongoing investment in Boxing. Whether it is a commitment of a few years or as was the case with networks like HBO and Showtime, who were each involved heavily in the sport for decades before each bowing out, one should not assume a network will continue to support the sport for the sake of it unless they see consistent performance in both numbers and dollars as well as commitment from promoters to put out the best product possible.

While DAZN now finds itself in a position not unlike those that HBO and Showtime found themselves in at  their highest points, one can only hope that along with a more consumer-friendly approach in a move away from pay-per-view, that the network avoids the type of complacency that arguably led the two one time power brokers in Boxing to each exit the sport within the last decade.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Update: While this column was in development over the last week, it was also announced that Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions signed a multi-year extension with DAZN keeping its slate of events along with Top Rank, Matchroom Boxing, Queenberry Promotions, Riyadh Season, Ring Magazine, and several other promoters all available on the network.

Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

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Itauma-Franklin Preview

In August of last year, undefeated Heavyweight contender Moses Itauma was tasked with what many felt would be the first significant test of his career when he was pitted against longtime Heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite being one of the top Heavyweights of the last fifteen years and having a significant experience advantage over the young and unbeaten “Knockout Artist,” Whyte found himself on the receiving end of a brutal first round knockout loss as many previous Itauma opponents have found themselves. 

The eleventh knockout in thirteen professional bouts for the twenty-one year old current Commonwealth Heavyweight champion seemed to serve as another example of evidence some are pointing to, to annoint Itauma as potentially the next marquee Heavyweight and future world champion. As emphatic as that knockout of the normally durable and always “Game” Whyte was, the question remains, who can provide Moses Itauma with a significant test. It is a question that is often asked of prospects as they work their way towards world contention with the aim of trying to become a world champion. In this case, however, Itauma’s ability to score quick and often devastating knockouts has presented a unique situation, in that despite the limited resume of only having thirteen professional fights, he already appears to be on the doorstep of a world title shot in the near future. The question, therefore, should be, whether Itauma will be put to the test before he faces a world champion?

Perhaps that question will be answered on March 28th at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England where he will face veteran Heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in a scheduled twelve round bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN. Much as was the case when Itauma fought Whyte last summer, the question here has already been stated, can Franklin provide Itauma with a significant test that Whyte could not?

The irony here is Franklin, who will enter the bout with a record of 24-2, with 15 Knockouts, does have Whyte in common with Itauma as a previous opponent, who fought Whyte in November 2022 and in the opinion of some, deserved the decision in that fight that went to Whyte. Franklin's other previous loss came against former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, who also defeated him via decision. While Franklin’s two setbacks have come against top level competition, he has not succeeded to this point when he has stepped up in terms of getting his hand raised in victory. What Franklin does have going for him is he's proven to be a world-class boxer and has held his own in his two losses. He has also proven to be durable and has not been dropped up to this point in his career.

Whether or not Franklin can extend Itauma into the middle and late rounds of the fight remains to be seen, but it is logical to assume that he will have to weather a storm of punching power earlier on to attempt to get into the middle rounds and beyond. What will be interesting to this observer is to see if Franklin tries to implement a tactical approach with an emphasis on being more defensive than would be his norm early in the fight having seen what happened to Dillian Whyte when he faced Itauma.

It goes without saying, however, that, despite his limited resume, Moses Itauma has now entered a point in his young career where the stakes will increase with each fight as he continues to push towards a shot at a World Heavyweight championship. Meanwhile, Jermaine Franklin likely sees this as a chance to catapult himself back into the discussion of future challengers and a win here against a fighter of Itauma’s reputation might end up putting him on a short list of such discussion. Put simply it is a fight where both fighters have a lot to gain here and a setback for either will likely push them to the back of the line as there are always fighters looking to maneuver themselves up into position to challenge for a world title.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Itauma vs. Franklin takes place on Saturday, March 28th at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, England. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN with preliminary bouts beginning at 11AM ET/8AM PT with the main card beginning at 1PM ET/10AM PT.

(*North American times only.* *Card and Start times Subject to Change.*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

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Usyk vs. Verhoeven For WBC World Heavyweight Championship?

Credit: DAZN

In the summer of last year, future Hall of Famer Oleksandr Usyk further cemented his legacy by becoming the first man in Boxing history to have fully unified the Undisputed World Heavyweight championship twice, adding a third undisputed crown to his extensive list of accomplishments following previously unifying the Cruiserweight division before setting his sights on the Heavyweight division. As record-setting and ground breaking as Usyk’s second unification of the World Heavyweight championship was, it came as a result of the politics that be in the sport of Boxing ensuring a short first reign by not allowing him to maintain the undisputed crown while fulfilling his contractually mandated obligation to give Tyson Fury, the man he defeated for his first undisputed crown at Heavyweight, an immediate rematch.

Unfortunately for Usyk, his second undisputed championship at Heavyweight would have a similar outcome as the first as shortly after he reclaimed the IBF world championship by scoring a knockout of Daniel Dubois in their rematch, the WBO stripped him off their world championship for not fulfilling his mandatory defense obligations, which ultimately resulted in Fabio Wardley eventually being crowned WBO World Heavyweight champion. As frustrating as the politics of Boxing can frustrate and bewilder both fan and Boxing scribes alike, for better or worse, each individual sanctioning organization has their own policies and procedures and at least in theory, try to ensure that fighters deemed mandatory challengers get their title shots in a timely manner. 

While the aforementioned statement is factual, this observer will concede that it probably does sound like a good public relations spin to the Boxing fan that each respective sanctioning organization likely would like to use from time to time. When such policies and procedures alienate fans and fighters as well, however, there are times where fighters will look for an alternative rather than trying to rectify whatever grievance they may have with a given sanctioning organization.

In all truth and honesty with the reader, after Usyk’s victory over Dubois last summer, his second knockout win over the hard hitting former IBF world champion in two fights, I frankly felt he had nothing more to prove after successfully fully unifying the Heavyweight to division twice and having three undisputed world championships to his name overall, all while remaining undefeated his entire career. It was therefore a surprise to yours truly to hear the announcement that Usyk will step into the ring in May in defense of the WBC portion of the World Heavyweight championship.

Why would a noted Boxing journalist and historian with over three decades of covering Combat Sports, with Boxing as his primary be surprised? It did not have anything to do with my aforementioned stance that I felt Usyk had accomplished everything he set out to do and did not have anything left to prove that would somehow add to nor diminish his legacy, but rather who the chosen opposition would be for this title defense, which will take place in Egypt that will play host to its first World Heavyweight championship fight in history.

Usyk’s choice was not a notable contender or a former world champion such as Deontay Wilder, who had long been rumored to be in the short running of potential opponents, nor was it undefeated current WBC number one contender Agit Kabayel, but instead will come in the form of legendary Kickboxing World Heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven. Before I go any further, I feel it important to state for the reader that this column is not a preview of the aforementioned upcoming bout, but rather centers on my reaction to this announcement of the bout that will take place on May 23rd.

My reaction was one of curiosity. While there is no disputing that Rico Verhoeven is a Hall of Famer in the sport of Kickboxing and one of the top pound for pound fighters in that sport, he has had only one professional fight as a boxer and though he won that fight via knockout, that outing came twelve years from when this fight will take place. The question is obvious, how can the WBC see it's way clear to give a title shot to a great fighter from a different sport, but one with a limited background in Boxing?

Obviously, this observer cannot answer that question, but it is one that the WBC should answer. In light of some controversial decisions the organization has made in recent times and with upstart promotional entities like Zuffa Boxing, who seem intent on breaking established norms including legislation with the intent to freeze out independent sanctioning organizations in favor of a promotional based model, the WBC does owe an explanation. While the curiosity is certainly there and I look forward to delving deeper on the subject as we get closer to the bout, most would say that there are fighters currently in the WBC’s Heavyweight ratings with more Boxing experience that would be more qualified in this combat realm for a title shot. For that, the WBC needs to elaborate on their position.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

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