The Return of Hasim Rahman?

Comebacks in the sport of Boxing is something that is as old as the sport itself. In the 1980s, however, two legends of the ring, Sugar Ray Leonard and the late great George Foreman made the concept of a fighter coming out of retirement for a would be “Comeback" popular.

While the idea of a fighter coming out of retirement after a lengthy absence to attempt a comeback either in search of recapturing past glory and/or for financial reasons will always get people's attention, most would be accurate to state that the most successful of all the comebacks ever attempted throughout the whole history of the sport would be that of Foreman's, who famously returned to Boxing as a means of funding the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in his native Houston, TX in an effort to further his outreach as a practicing pastor, in his 40s and regained the World Heavyweight championship at age 45 in 1994 and in the process, became the oldest fighter to ever become World Heavyweight champion, a record he still holds to this day.

Although this observer can spend countless hours talking about the achievements of both Foreman and Leonard as two of my influences who I watched as a kid and were fortunate to cover in my early days as a writer covering combat sports, with Boxing as my primary, in more recent years, thanks to the influx of exhibitions becoming a defacto circuit of the sport, it has in some ways, unfortunately become common to see ex fighters mix it up with either fellow ex boxers, social media influencers, or stars from another sport, we have seen these fighters step back in at far more advanced ages than Foreman or Leonard ever did, which puts the hysteria and concerns for their safety that both legends faced prior to their famed comebacks in perspective.

Most are familiar with the exploits of two other Hall of Famers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, who each got back in the ring at ages closer to sixty than forty to participate in exhibitions and in Tyson's case, one official fight, two instances that had controversy attached to both fighters, no fighters has made an attempt to surpass Foreman's record since he set it thirty-two years ago. In good conscience, yours truly feels that is more of a good thing than it should be viewed as a negative. Both from a standpoint of the significance of Foreman's achievement, as well as the inherent risks that become an increased probability as fighters age.

Some may recall the comeback attempt of former longtime Heavyweight contender Donovan “Razor" Ruddock, who at age fifty-one in 2015,  climbed back in the ring. The former top contender, who shared the ring with many of the top Heavyweights of the 1980s and 1990s including six former world champions got himself in what can only be described as immaculate shape and to his credit, won two fights against fighters named Raymond Olubowale and Eric Barrak, before all hopes for a comeback approaching contender status were halted by Dillon Carman in a failed bid by the Canadian-based Rudduck to regain the Canadian Heavyweight championship he won in 1988, in what was described as a brutal third round knockout.

With the exception of Tyson, who’s exhibition against Roy Jones in 2020 and his official bout against Jake Paul in 2024, would not be considered legitimate comeback attempts, and the fairly recent return of former WBC World Heavyweight champion Oliver McCall, both fighters closer to age sixty than they were when either were considered contenders, I personally have not given much thought to the idea of not just a Heavyweight, but of any fighter attempting what would be considered a serious comeback post the age of fifty. Not because it would not peak my interest, but because frankly, there are not many fighters around that are making such attempts.

It did, however, come as a bit of a surprise to yours truly when I recently learned that former World Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman would be making such an attempt at age fifty-three. Rahman, as some may recall, is a former two-time World Heavyweight champion, who like Rudduck and McCall, shared the ring with many of the top Heavyweights of his era. Unlike Rudduck and more similar to McCall, however, he does not always get the respect afforded to many who have been a World Heavyweight champion, despite winning a world title twice during his career.

The similarity is that like Oliver McCall, Rahman’s reigns as champion were relatively short between when the titles were won and lost in terms of time. Nevertheless, through the ups and downs that typically comes with a long career inside the Boxing ring, Rahman was still one of the best fighters of his era in the Heavyweight division.

One does have to wonder, however, what the motivation might be for Rahman at fifty-three years old to get back into active competition. For his part, Rahman has stated that his bout on July 14th at the ESL Ballpark in Rochester, NY against an unnamed opponent as of this writing will be an attempt to get himself into position to challenge for another world title with the ultimate goal of breaking George Foreman’s record. While that may indeed be part of the motivation here, some may also speculate that an underlying motivation could be financial. After all, many professional athletes for one reason or another experience financial difficulties after their active careers end and it would not be unheard of to think of a former world champion boxer being enticed to return to the ring to solve whatever difficulties they might be going through financially. For better or worse Boxing does offer a quicker than normal path for those blessed with the ability, to make money in an expedited form as compared to other occupations and/or for those who were not fortunate to be blessed with the gift to be a world-class boxer.  

Although Rahman has not indicated that he is motivated by finances, the idea of being in a position to secure a lucrative payday, especially given his name recognition, has to have been at least thought of. Regardless of what his motivation truly is, what should be of concern to anyone who truly cares for him is when he retired in 2014, he ended his career off two consecutive losses with his last fight coming in a Super 8 Heavyweight tournament where he lost a three round decision to a fighter named Anthony Nansen, a fighter who at the time of that fight held in Auckland, New Zealand, had a record of 3-3, with 1 Knockout going into that bout.

While the perception for the last several years prior to that outing and his knockout loss to longtime Heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin prior to that was that Rahman was competitively past his peak, often a layoff of a decade or more may rest and recoup the body, that length of inactivity does not reverse the gradual eroding of skills and slowed reflexes that often are the telltale signs of an aging fighter. As heralded and historic as George Foreman's comeback proved to be, it is important to remember that he spent the first couple of years of that comeback fighting against fighters who were deliberately overmatched and it allowed him to adequately get himself back in fighting shape by fighting often where when he gradually did step up his level of competition, he was ready and proved he could hold his own against the top Heavyweights of the late 1980s and 1990s. 

At fifty-three years old, one has to wonder what type of commitment Rahman will have if he is able to string together a couple of wins. What is a concern to this observer beyond the obvious eroding skills that were present when he retired and have likely become more visible with age is because he is considerably older than Foreman was when he began his comeback, the plan will likely be to get a few wins under his belt in an expedited manner and attempt to move him into position to challenge for a world title sooner than later because obviously time is not on his side and the idea of him getting an opportunity based on name recognition value more so than whether he's ready to compete against a contender or world champion, unfortunately seems more likely than not.

Hasim Rahman is a smart man, it is my hope regardless of who may be his opponent in July that he, knowing the history of successful and failed comebacks, will evaluate his performance on a fight by fight basis and will make a decision on whether it is wise to continue before the risk of injury becomes more of an increasing issue.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Hrgovic-Allen Thoughts

The subplot going into the May 16th Heavyweight bout between contender Filip Hrgovic and veteran Dave Allen centered on which fighter would be able to make a strong argument as a potential future challenger for a piece of the World Heavyweight championship. It made things more poignant that by coincidence that this bout was sandwiched between two World Heavyweight championship bouts taking place during the month of May 2026 making it an unofficial month of the Heavyweights.

Despite the atmosphere of this bout headlining a card at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, England, the action inside the ring when the two combatants squared off, the atmosphere did not match what took place as Hrgovic systematical walked the always “Game" Allen down using his longer reach to keep him at distance and unable to land anything of significance. The one sided affair was halted when Allen’s corner threw in the towel to prevent their fighter from further punishment as Allen continued to batter him with hard thudding right hands, before there was a knockdown. 

Unfortunately there is not much one can say here other than Filip Hrgovic simply went about his business in a workmanlike fashion and got the stoppage over a "Game,” but overmatched opponent. In terms of what this might mean for Hrgovic moving forward, a win is a win and he did get the stoppage, which is about all you can ask of a fighter though this was absent of highlights that some fans might use to justify an argument for him as being on the short list of potential challengers. It does, however, set up some interesting possibilities for Hrgovic to continue to make his case. 

One such possibility could be to face the winner of next weekend’s bout between contenders Richard Torrez and Frank Sanchez, which is taking place on the undercard of Olekaandr Usuk's WBC World Heavyweight title defense against former World Heavyweight Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven. Another possibility that could be more appealing could be an encounter between Hrgovic and undefeated top contender Moses Itauma. If Hrgovic can win against either potential opponent, it is definitely not out of the realm of possibility that Hrgovic could be in line for a title shot either by the end of this year or early 2027.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Can Allan Pull Off An Upset?

It was not long ago where some were anointing Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic as perhaps the future of the division as cornerstones like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to name a few entered what many would call the twilight of their respective careers. After all, Hrgovic would check off several boxes that would make such a distinction logical. Standing at 6 '6 with an eighty-two inch reach and punching power, Hrgovic fit right in with the potential future central figures of the Heavyweight division. 

Despite the high expectations of some, Hrgovic did stumble in suffering his lone career defeat at the hands of the recently crowned two-time World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in June 2024, being stopped in the eighth round. To his credit, Hrgovic was able to rebound to win his next two fights and would appear to be back in line of potential world title challengers in the not too distant future. Before that can happen, however, Hrgovic will enter the ring once more to face longtime Heavyweight veteran Dave Allen on May 16th at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, England in a scheduled ten round bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

While this fight for Hrgovic, who will enter the bout with a record of 19-1, with 14 Knockouts, represents the next step in the rebuilding process, this could be a difficult assignment against the veteran Allen, who will come in with a record of 25-8-2, with 20 Knockouts. Allen is a very “Game" and durable fighter who has always given his best, but has failed to get his hand raised whenever he has stepped up in caliber of competition, despite the opinions of some that he came out on the short end of some fights that many feel he won, most notably in his first fight against Johnny Fisher in December 2024. In a career that has seen several ups and downs, this encounter may represent what might be viewed as Allen's last chance to make a splash on the world level of the Heavyweight division.

It is a task that could prove to be easier said than done as Hrgovic has knockout power in either hand and what some may view as a red flag in terms of Allen's chances in this fight is he has been stopped in four of his eight career defeats. Although Allen has punching power in his own right having twenty knockouts in his twenty-five wins including avenging his loss to Fisher in May of last year,and keeping in mind all it takes is one punch, especially in the Heavyweight division, conventional wisdom would suggest that Allen's best chance in this fight is to try to get in close early and not give Hrgovic room to breathe or get his punches off with leverage. 

While it may indeed be easier said than done, Allen must make this an ugly fight on the inside and look to tire Hrgovic as the bout progresses. Hrgovic has tired later in fights and if Allen can take things into the middle and late rounds without sustaining too much punishment, he could end up pulling off what some might consider an unlikely upset. On the flip side of the equation, Hrgovic’s best approach in this fight will likely be to use his reach to try and keep Allen on the outside where he will theoretically be unable to get his punches off consistently and will be forced into a defense first mentality. Although neither Hrgovic or Allen find themselves currently in the immediate discussion of potential world title challengers going into the fight, an impressive performance by either could well serve as the catapult to move the winner into that conversation. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Hrgovic vs. Allen takes place on Saturday, May 16th at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, England. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 11AM ET/8AM PT with preliminary action. This will be followed by the main card beginning at 1PM ET/10AM PT.

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Wardley-Dubois: When Should The Fight Have Been Stopped?

It is a cliche to say and it is one that is indeed overused, but one truly never knows what is going to happen when two fighters get into a ring to do battle. Such anticipation before a fight is part of the appeal combat sports thrives on. When it came to the encounter between undefeated WBO World Heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley and former IBF World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois on May 9th at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, England, that anticipation was present before a record crowd of over 18,000 spectators. Pitting two “Knockout Artists” each having a career knockout percentage of 95% against each other, however, indicated as close to a guarantee as one would find that this would be a fight that would not go the distance.

A perception seemed to be on point when the champion Wardley, who was making his first title defense, knocked Dubois down in the opening seconds of the fight with a right hand that grazed the top of his head and appeared initially to this observer to be Wardley’s forearm that connected on the follow through that sent Dubois down to the canvas. A sudden occurrence that gave the impression that this could be a short contest. To Dubois’ credit, however, he was able to pick himself up and it was not long before the shootout many had expected between the two began to manifest with both fighters landing hard, thudding punches with knockout intentions. As Dubois found his footing in the fight, there began to be a distinction between the two fighters.

Despite both men landing the type of blows that would end the night for most Heavyweights, it was Dubois landing the harder, more accurate punches, while the champion threw wide, looping shots that though many landed, were not accurate and seemed to knock Wardley off balance periodically. The distinction between the two fighters notwithstanding, Wardley would score a second knockdown of Dubois in round three by another right hand that landed high on the head and seemed to affect his equilibrium.

As he had done in round one, Dubois picked himself up off the canvas and the fight continued. While there was still a decent amount of back and forth action, gradually Dubois’ harder punches turned the tempo of the combat. Gradually Dubois began to administer a beating to the champion. By round eight of the scheduled twelve round world championship bout, I felt the accumulation of punishment to Wardley frankly warranted the fight being stopped.

Although traditionally an argument can be made that a world champion should be given the benefit of doubt in a scenario where they are the defending champion, and keeping in mind that Wardley showed his mettle and a lot of heart as he continued to take grotesque punishment, the likes of which, we are accustomed to seeing in movies, it got to a point where I stopped watching the fight as a competition and wondered aloud as to how much longer the fight would be permitted to continue.

As Dubois continued to dish out punishment, the effects of the beating emerged on Wardley’s trace in the form of a busted and bloody nose and significant swelling over both eyes. Despite this, Wardley remained ever brave and continued to frail wide looping punches that frequently knocked him off balance in the hope of landing a dramatic fight changing blow as he had done before later in fights prior to being named WBO World Heavyweight champion. On this night, it was not meant to be as Dubois continued to dish out punishment until mercifully Referee Howard Foster finally stopped in and stopped the fight in the eleventh round giving Daniel Dubois his second world championship. Although miraculously Dubois was not able to drop Wardley throughout the fight and did not knock him down prior to the fight being stopped, the stoppage was controversial.

It was controversial in the sense that it came later than should have been the case. While this fight exceeded every possible expectation, many would suggest that it should have been stopped sooner. Now a few days removed from the fight taking place, the obvious question is why was the fight allowed to go on as long as it was?

There are three aspects that all played a role here and some might say, share equal responsibility for how things turned out. Firstly, Referee Howard Foster. 

Referee Howard Foster has long been one of the top referees and judges throughout the United Kingdom having been the referee in nearly 1600 professional fights, many having been world championship contests. Foster, however, has not been immune from controversy throughout his twenty-nine year career as a referee. Some may recall the first fight between future Hall of Famers Carl Froch and George Groves in 2013 where many felt Foster stopped the fight in favor of Froch in the ninth round prematurely. 

While the element of controversy is something that unfortunately comes with the territory for any referee or judge as some calls by a referee will seem unjustified, much in the same way as a judge’s scorecard, particularly in close fights, will always be open to interpretation and scrutiny, in this case even as Foster’s shirt began to display the stains of Wardley’s blood and it became more evident that Wardley would not be able to land something to turn things around, Foster allowed the fight to go further than should have been the case.

By its very nature, however, a referee making a decision to stop a fight is a judgement call and open to human error. Having said that, what other parties outside of Foster could have stepped in? Some may point the finger of criticism in the direction of Wardley's corner.

Wardley's trainer Ben Davison had to of seen the amount of punishment his fighter was taking, same as other members of Wardley's corner. The first line of defense in terms of protecting a fighter is their corner. One can only assume that much like how a referee, more often than not, gives a champion the benefit of doubt or to put it another way, a longer leash than would normally be the case, one can assume that in this case, Wardley's corner felt their fighter still had a puncher’s chance to turn things around. Though I disagree with that assessment, at minimum, there will be a period where Davison will have to answer the criticism as to why he didn't stop it. This finally brings us to the third party that could have stepped in. The British Boxing Board of Control.

As the regulatory board overseeing the fight, the British Boxing Board of Control has long had a reputation as being one of the strictest and stringent regulatory boards in the world. In this case some may question whether they had the authority to step in and stop the fight as it would be overriding the referee they appointed with that responsibility and even the ringside physician, who is often consulted before fights are stopped.

Although very rare to see a commission overrule a referee or doctor, there have been some instances where it has happened. Most notably the 2007 bout between the late Arturo Gatti and Alfonso Gomez. Gatti, in what proved to be the final fight of his career, took a horrible beating at the hands of Gomez for seven rounds before crumbling to the canvas under significant punishment. The referee former Heavyweight contender Randy Neumann, a highly competent and respected referee in his own right in the northeast of the United States was not the man who made the call to stop the fight, nor was it Gatti’s corner or the ringside physician, but it was Larry Hazard, then chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, who stepped up on the apron of the ring and stepped through the ropes to ensure the fight was stopped as Gatti fell to the canvas. While Gatti-Gomez was a more one-sided contest than this fight was with an aging fighter at the end of his career, it does serve as an example nearly twenty years later that sometimes the commission overseeing a fight will exercise their authority to ensure a fight is stopped when for whatever reason, those who are appointed with the responsibility do not.

The controversy aside, the fight was stopped and Fabio Wardley will be back. In terms of what happens, given that Wardley as the champion coming into this bout has a rematch clause, it seems logical that this was the conclusion of chapter one of a longer story between Wardley and Dubois. When that rematch occurs obviously remains to be seen, but both fighters Dubois and Wardley deserve time to recuperate before a rematch is discussed. Even though Wardley came out the more battered of the two, both fighters took a lot of punishment and need time to let their bodies heal. After all, whenever that rematch happens, it is likely to be a similar back and forth battle as this fight was. Outside of the controversy of when the fight should have been stopped, it was one of the best World Heavyweight championship bouts in recent memory,

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Wardley-Dubois Preview

The month of May 2026 in the sport of Boxing will be in some ways bookended by two World Heavyweight championship fights. While the fact that one has to say two world championship fights rather than one so soon after the division was fully unified by the unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk for a second time in his career last summer and the breaking of the Undisputed championship did not come as a result of Usyk’s retirement or being defeated where a new champion chose to relinquish portions of the title, being more of a reflection of the political aspects of the sport, not serving to its benefit, the two bouts will no doubt generate buzz. 

First on the schedule, and the subject of this column, will take place on May 9th in London, England where undefeated WBO World Heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will defend his title for the first time against the man Usyk stopped last summer to fully unify the title for the second time, former IBF World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at the Co-Op Live Arena in London, England in a bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as part of an Ultimate subscription plan or as a standalone pay-per-view option. While this coincidentally brings together two fighters, one a current world champion and one a former world champion, who each became champion as mandatory challengers who were named champion after Usyk was stripped of respective  portions of the World Heavyweight championship, if one takes the political aspects out of the equation, this is one of the best fights that could be made currently in the whole Heavyweight division.

The reason for that is that both Wardley and Dubois are “Knockout Artists” who each have a career knockout percentage of over 95%. A statistic that should be concerning to the representation of potential opponents throughout the division, but one that should be mouth watering to both the hardcore enthusiast as well as the casual fan. Simply put, these are two fighters that have knockout intention with nearly every punch they throw and a fight between two fighters like this could be as close to a guarantee as possible that it is not likely to go the distance.

What is of interest to this observer as this world championship bout approaches largely centers on the challenger. Dubois was knocked out for the second time in his last outing in his rematch with Olelsandr Usyk and though you are not likely to see too many fighters, and to be more specific, the management of those combatants passing on the opportunity to fight for a world title given both the stature a world championship carries, as well as the lucrative purses that are often attached to those opportunities, some might question the wisdom of jumping back into a world title fight immediately after a knockout loss. Although likely seen as a gamble, Dubois has proven in the past that he can rebound from a setback and should be viewed as dangerous for however long this fight lasts having scored knockouts in twenty-one of his twenty-two career wins. 

In the opposite corner, the undefeated champion Fabio Wardley boasts nineteen career knockouts in twenty-one professional fights with only a March 2024 draw when the then British Heavyweight champion was held to a standstill in his bout against Frazer Clarke, which he avenged via first round knockout later that year. Recently, Wardley’s fights have followed a similar pattern. When he fought the then unbeaten Justis Huni in June of last year, he was being out boxed and seemed at times to be on the verge of being stopped due to fatigue before he was able to score a knockout of Huni in the tenth round. Wardley found himself in essentially the same position in his last bout where he was being outworked by former WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker before he was able to stop him in the eleventh round.

In this instance some may suggest that given both champion and challenger are come forward “Knockout Artists” that we are not likely to see this fight go into the middle and late rounds. Despite that perception and Wardley’s track record of being able to pull off come from behind knockouts later in fights, it will be interesting to see if some efforts have been made to address the issue of fatigue if this fight does extend into the later rounds. Both fighters are certainly aware of what the other can do and that could likely set up a scenario where one or both are a bit tentative early in the fight out of respect and not wanting to overly commit too early. 

Beyond a piece of the World Heavyweight championship being at stake of course is the chance to eventually try to fully unify the title. Fabio Wardley is looking to establish his reign as a world champion. Daniel Dubois is looking to become champion once again. When you have two fighters with the type of punching power both of these men have, there is not much more that needs to be said and it is simply time to watch them do battle in what could be an explosive World Heavyweight championship fight.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Wardley vs. Dubois takes place on Saturday, May 9th at the Co-Op Live Arena in London, England. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN either as a standalone pay-per-view for $59.99 or as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription plan for $44.99 per month. (*North American Prices Only.*) The broadcast will begin at 1:30 PM ET/10:30AM PT. (*North American 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 in your area, to order this event or to subscribe or upgrade your subscription to DAZN Ultimate please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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12 Rounds In A Phone Booth: Miller Outlasts Pero

Initially, this column was intended to be a post-feature covering two Heavyweight bouts taking place on April 25th taking place in two different countries. As some might know, however, the scheduled bout between former WBO World Cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie and Tony Yoka, which was to take place in Paris, France, was cancelled in the days prior to the bout due to Okolie having been found to have tested positive for what was described as an “Adverse Finding" in randomized prefight testing conducted by the Voluntary Anti-doping Agency (VADA). 

With that fight being cancelled the focus shifted to Las Vegas, NV where Heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller met undefeated contender Lenier Pero in a twelve round WBA Heavyweight elimination bout at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino. It can be viewed as the most unintentional of coincidences that one fight that depending on one's perspective, which would have gotten significant attention, was cancelled due to a fighter testing positive for an adverse finding, and the focus shifted to Jarrell Miller, a fighter who has seen his own career negatively impacted over the years due to the subject of testing positive for banned substances, resulting in a lengthy hiatus from active competition, and has seen his career stall in the years since his return in 2022. 

In his previous outing prior to his encounter with Pero, Miller literally lost his toupee in the midst of battle in his fight with Kingsley Ibeh in January of this year. While some may view it as something that one would not want exposed publicly, particularly in Madison Square Garden and it turned into what is known today as a viral moment, Miller boldly threw the out into the crowd and pounded his way to a hard fought ten round split decision.

In making the most of that unique circumstance, Miller now proudly showing a bald head entered this fight with the unbeaten Pero looking to continue building momentum. It seemed as though it would be a difficult task in going against the former highly decorated amateur, who had scored knockouts in eight of his thirteen professional wins.

The perception that Pero would create a difficult task for Miller to overcome seemed to be gradually manifesting in the first two rounds as Pero consistently beat Miller to the punch and seemed to get the better of the combat. It was in round three that things started to tip in Miller's favor as he started to gradually use his over 300lb. frame to walk Paro backwards and force the fight to be fought in close. With the tempo of the combat shifting towards Miller, it set up the definition of a *Fight In A Phone Booth.” By definition, a fight fought exclusively in close where there was not much room to move.

Although this set up obviously created a narrow space, it resulted in a grueling battle that Miller got the better of for the remainder of the scheduled twelve round bout, resulting in him earning a convincing twelve round unanimous decision. In some ways, this fight resembled Miller's previous outing against Kingsley Ibeh in that it was a grueling encounter where Miller had to grind tooth and nail to get a victory. While this bout was void of knockdowns and the type of highlights that would turn heads, it was a competitive give and take battle and Miller’s victory here did serve in continuing to build momentum.

As for what's next for Jarrell Miller, what was billed as a WBA Heavyweight elimination bout will not likely result in him getting a world title shot in the immediate future due to current Unified World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk being scheduled to defend the WBC portion of his unified crown against former Kickboxing World Heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven in May. Despite the WBA world title, which Usyk also holds not being on the line in that upcoming title defense, the logical route for Miller in the short-term would seem to be to remain active and try to continue building momentum towards the eventual goal of fighting for a world title. The circumstances, which led to Miller losing his opportunity to fight for a world title when he was in line to fight then unified world champion Anthony Joshua in the summer of 2019, the lengthy absence that followed, and some stumbles along the way since his return, could very well turn into one of the best redemption stories the sport of Boxing has seen in recent times. A story that will obviously continue to evolve with time.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Fury Works Off Rust

April 11, 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter for former two-time World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Following another in a series of sabbaticals away from the sport of Boxing, this one following suffering his only two career defeats in consecutive fights to Oleksandr Usyk, this chapter at the age of thirty-seven was the start of a comeback. Fury’s opponent for his first fight in nearly two years was contender Arslanbek Makhmudov in London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

 Makhmudov, a veteran of twenty-three professional fights coming into this encounter, had the size and punching power that on paper appeared as though he may have been able to pose a legitimate challenge to Fury, and was not a soft touch for a “Comeback Fight.” Initially, Makhmudov seemed as though he would provide just that by frequently and aggressively pushing Fury back against the ropes and frailing wide, looping punches. Although it needs to be pointed out that Tyson Fury has not been known as a traditionally fast starter in fights, at minimum, it seemed like he would have trouble finding a rhythm, primarily due to Makhmudov’s aggression.

From the second round, however, Fury, showing his skillset and ability to make adjustments, took control of the fight. While the contest often resembled a grappling match due to Fury frequently tying up Makhmudov on the inside and frequent jockeying for position between the two massive Heavyweights who weighed a combined 533lbs. While often ugly and not the most entertaining fight to watch, particularly for the over 50,000 spectators in attendance, gradually as Fury took over the tempo of the combat, he would showcase his hand speed and frequently caught Makhmudov with combinations as he came forward. This would be the pattern for the majority of the scheduled twelve round bout. Makhmudov continued to press forward, but was unable to land anything significant to change the tempo or hurt Fury.

While as the fight progressed it seemed like Fury could have pressed the issue any time he wanted and possibly could have gotten a stoppage of an opponent in Makhmudov, who was exhausted by the middle and late rounds, the former world champion opted to use the majority of the rounds to work off the “Ring Rust” on his way to winning a wide twelve round unanimous decision.

Put simply, there is not much analysis one could offer beyond saying that Fury took a round to find his footing after a long layoff, and put forth a workmanlike performance in a lopsided, and at times, ugly outing. What stood out to this observer, however, was a more serious approach by Fury as this fight just saw a fighter going about his business and did not feature some of the showboating tactics that he has been known for throughout his career. Perhaps this chapter of Fury’s career will be highlighted by a more serious approach as he continues his career with an aim towards trying to secure an opportunity to become a three-time World Heavyweight champion.

As refreshing as it was to see a fighter in Fury adopt a more serious temperament as he does not need showboating tactics and never did, there was the moment after the fight where Fury joined in the ring by H.E. Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, the man who has been primarily responsible for a significant majority of major fights having taken place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the recent history of the sport and the owner of Ring Magazine, called out former two-time World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn, who were seated at ringside for a fight perhaps later this year in London. 

A fight between Fury and Joshua has been one of many potential fights throughout the history of Boxing that at times has been in negotiations on and off, particularly during the period where the two British Heavyweights were the two world champions in the division, which would have been perhaps the biggest Heavyweight fight to be held in England in Boxing history, perhaps only rivaled by the October 1993 World Heavyweight championship fight between then WBC world champion Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, which took place at National Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, that marked at that point in time the first time that two British fighters had met in the ring for a version of the World Heavyweight championship in nearly one hundred years.

Although Lewis-Bruno, which took place on a rainy night in Cardiff, Wales and was in danger of being postponed because of weather conditions, will always hold a special place in Boxing history for its significance and for being one of the best Heavyweight fights of the 1990’s, some would claim that a potential fight between Fury and Joshua would be bigger. Yours truly will not get into that debate as one who has always held British Boxing in high regard and respect, but what I will say is perhaps this fight, if it finally does happen, would have been bigger if it were made when the Fury and Joshua had the opportunity to meet for what would have been the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world. For a variety of reasons, all having to do with the business side of the sport, the fight did not happen.

Now with H.E. Turki Al-Sheikh being actively involved in the sport as a power broker and significant investor, perhaps a Fury-Joshua fight might finally get over the finish line, but whether or not Al-Sheikh succeeds, the potential for it being a scenario where buyers remorse may ultimately be the feeling both he and Boxing fans worldwide are left with is there. Unfortunately, while it will no doubt still be a significant event, particularly throughout the United Kingdom, Boxing and particularly those promoters and networks who were involved several years back when the opportunity was there to stage a fight for all the marbles in the Heavyweight division, which would have been more significant than merely a big event between two star Heavyweights and future Hall of Famers. For that, the business of the sport is to blame.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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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. 

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UPDATE: WBC Statement On Decision To Sanction Usyk-Verhoeven

In a follow-up to the column that was released on the website on Sunday, March 1st, discussing the recently announced upcoming World Heavyweight championship bout between Olekaandr Usyk and former World Heavyweight Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, which will take place during the month of May in Egypt, the World Boxing Council (WBC) released an official statement on it's website and social media platforms regarding its decision to sanction the bout for it's version of the World Heavyweight championship, despite Verhoeven only having one professional fight as a professional boxer.

The statement can be read below:

Credit: World Boxing Council

We will have a preview of this World Heavyweight championship bout released here on The Boxing Truth® as we get closer to the event and will keep readers updated on further developments as they become available.

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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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UPDATE: WBO Statement Regarding Oleksandr Usyk

Below in the following screenshots released on its website and social media platforms is a statement released by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and it's current president Gustavo Olivieri regarding the decision of now former two-time Undisputed World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to vacate its version of the World Heavyweight championship as of Monday, November 17th.

Credit: WBO

Credit:WBO

Credit:WBO

As previously reported here on The Boxing Truth®️ per Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, with Usyk now having vacated the WBO world title in the Heavyweight division, per WBO rules, which is a standard throughout the entire sport regardless of sanctioning organization, Fabio Wardley, who was the undefeated mandatory challenger for Usyk in the WBO Heavyweight rankings, and held interim championship status as a result, following his stoppage of previous number one contender and former WBO world champion Joseph Parker on October 25th in London, England, is now recognized as WBO World Heavyweight champion. As of this writing, Olekaandr Usyk remains World Heavyweight champion recognized by the WBC, WBA, IBF, and IBO. Usyk’s potential future in the ring, however, remains uncertain as he has been recovering from a back injury in recent months.

This remains a developing story and we will keep readers updated on developments as they become available. Stay tuned.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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BREAKING: Usyk Vacates WBO World Heavyweight Championship, Wardley Now WBO World Champion

According to Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, Oleksandr Usyk the undefeated two-time Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world, and one time former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion has chosen to relinquish the WBO World Heavyweight championship. Not only does this mean that Usyk is once again no longer an undisputed world champion in the Heavyweight division after successfully fully unifying it for a second time earlier this year with a knockout win in his rematch with Daniel Dubois, after having a similar situation occur after he successfully unified the division the first time in his first fight with Tyson Fury in 2023, when Dubois was a mandatory challenger in the IBF Heavyweight ratings, after previously being stopped by Usyk prior to Usyk’s first of two bouts with Fury, but it also now elevates undefeated number one mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley, who Usyk had been mandated to fight by the WBO as its latest mandatory challenger, to now WBO World Heavyweight champion.

Wardley is coming off a knockout win in October over former WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in London, England. As of now, there has been no word from Usyk or his representatives as to why he chose to vacate the WBO world championship, but he has been recovering from a back injury in recent months. This is a developing story and we will keep readers updated on developments as they become available. Stay tuned.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Wardley Rescues Himself From The Brink Again, But Was Stoppage The Right Call?

The Heavyweight encounter between former WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and undefeated top contender Fabio Wardley on June 25th at the O2 Arena in London, England was one that could and frankly should have repercussions for the talent-deep Heavyweight division going into 2026. Not only was it a rarity in that two number one contenders in two separate world sanctioning organizations,  chose to risk their respective standings against each other rather than sit and wait for a title shot to come to them, but stylistically, it provided the dynamic of a boxer/puncher in Parker, who has been at or near the top of the division for more than a decade going against a “Knockout Artist” in Wardley. 

It was also a fight that came following a significant scare for Wardley in his previous outing against previously unbeaten Justis Huni earlier this year in a fight where Wardley was trailing on all three scorecards before dropping Huni late in the tenth round to score a dramatic come from behind knockout, saving his undefeated record and his standing as the WBA's top Heavyweight contender in the process. As thrilling as that knockout was, however, it did present a question for at least some regarding whether it might be too much, too soon for him in terms of competing at the top level of the Heavyweight division. In particular, by opting to roll the dice against a former world champion in Parker, who not only had more experience than both he and Huni, but also a more well-rounded skillset than Huni. 

The old adage of “Styles Make Fights” was almost immediately appropriate from the opening bell. Parker throwing and landing punches consistently behind a quick jab and seeming to get the better of the action when he used his hand speed, Wardley not outworking Parker, but landing hard thudding blows seemingly every time he connected. It did not take long before the dynamics in terms of the styles of the two fighters provided an entertaining bout.

It was a bout that though Parker seemed to be in control for a significant portion of it, there were plenty of back and forth heated exchanges that kept one on the edge of their seats. Both fighters had periods throughout the fight where they were able to stun the other, but after round four where this observer felt the two fighters split the first four rounds, Parker was able to gradually build a lead on points. This was due primarily to both his ability to throw and land crisp combinations, but also doing so with accuracy. In the seventh round one such heated exchange of offense between the two fighters was won by Parker. The exchange, however, triggered a response from yours truly as I observed the bout on X (formerly Twitter) that while Parker had pulled ahead by a five rounds to two margin on my scorecard, he was playing with fire by being willing to stand and trade with Wardley. As Justis Huni learned earlier this year in his own bout with Wardley, you can be winning every minute of every round without a question of doubt and still get caught. 

While I do not claim any psychic abilities, the one thing I do have as a proud Boxing lifer and one who has dedicated his life to covering the sport over the last thirty years, is experience in having covered thousands of fights on every level of Boxing and thus having an instinct based on that experience as to what might happen based on what I can see. This was a case where at that point in the fight, I felt all Parker needed to do was use his lateral movement to evade Wardley as he came forward and continue out boxing him by throwing short, but compact combinations. Although after eight rounds I felt the fight was still on the table for both in terms of being able to win a decision, and keeping in mind that up to that point, Parker had withstood Wardley’s hardest punches, particularly his right hand, I felt that the wise approach was for Parker to be elusive and not give the noted “Knockout Artist” an opportunity to take advantage of an opening.

Rounds nine and ten followed a similar pattern as the majority of rounds throughout the fight, Parker seeming to control the majority of those rounds, beating Wardley to the punch, and at times looking as though he might be able to get a stoppage as Wardley seemed to be wilting periodically due to both the high pace the fight was being fought at as well as likely the accumulation of Parker's combinations throughout. Wardley did manage to stun Parker late in the tenth round, but it was at that point that I made another observation in real time on X that we had reached the point in the contest where Wardley needed a knockout to win this fight and that scoring knockdowns would not be enough to get the job done on points. 

As often happens in combat sports, one should always keep a mentality that anything can happen at any time and until you hear a final bell, one should not dismiss the possibility of something unexpected and dramatic happening. The eleventh round can be summed up in three words.”Sudden,” “Dramatic,” and “Controversial.”

The statement made by this observer just prior to round eleven would prove to provide the exact scenario that Wardley needed to turn things in his favor to bring the fight to a sudden, dramatic, and controversial conclusion. At the midway point of the round, Wardley connected with a flush right hand that staggered Parker badly. A scenario that had played out periodically throughout the fight whenever Wardley had been able to land solidly, but up to this point, Parker was able to withstand those blows. 

This appeared as though it would be similar as, despite being badly stunned and largely on the defensive, Parker’s eyes appeared clear and he was trying to weather the storm of offense that Wardley was throwing relentlessly with urgency, clearly sensing both that he was at a point where he was going to lose this fight on the scorecards and that this was his opportunity to change that narrative. While not landing with every shot he threw in the seemingly endless barrage, he did succeed in keeping Parker on the defensive where it appeared to yours truly that he was only able to get off one or two punches in response to what Wardley was throwing at him. It was at this point where Parker was attempting to evade punches and deflect what he could with his gloves that Referee Howard Foster stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:54 of round eleven without a knockdown occurring or Parker seemingly getting hit with a blow that would force the referee’s hand to step in and stop it.

Reacting in real time, I commented on X following the stoppage that Foster would be criticized for stepping in. Before I go deeper in that assessment, first some context is appropriate for what will follow. 

Referee Howard Foster, who is based in the United Kingdom has been a referee on the professional level of the sport of Boxing for twenty-eight years having officiated over 1,500 professional fights including many world championship bouts, European, and British/Commonwealth championship bouts. While Foster also has served in the capacity as a judge scoring fights for over twenty-five years, which includes nearly 700 bouts, including many non-title bouts on the British/Commonwealth level where the referee is the sole judge scoring those bouts, nearly 2,220 bouts of combined service as a referee and judge indicates that Foster is extremely experienced and frequently called upon to serve in either capacity by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and other athletic commissions and regulatory boards throughout the world where he has been called upon to either referee or serve as a judge.

Referees like the rest of us are human beings and along with experience they bring with them into the ring are as prone to human error as the rest of us. The aspect of one's experience, while serving as an indication that the individual has paid their dues and is trusted to be in the position they are in regardless of what field they are in, the human aspect and the potential for errors to be made is always there. Despite Foster’s extensive resume, he is no stranger to controversy and has developed a reputation over the years in some circles as one who is at times quick in stopping fights.

Anyone who has followed the career of this observer over the last three decades either knows or should know that more often than not, when it comes to fights being stopped, I will side with the referee, doctor, or corner of a fighter who ultimately makes that often difficult decision. More often than not, such decisions are judgement calls that are ultimately motivated by the sole intention of protecting the fighter from further punishment and the potential of serious injury or God forbid worse.

Anyone who has spent any significant time in and around combat sports knows that often these types of judgement calls boil down to split second calls. It is far from an easy task to know what the right call might be in the heat of the moment. No one, however, wants to live with what can happen if a fight that should be stopped is allowed to go on where it results in either permanent injury to a fighter or unfortunately death.

This was a case where Joseph Parker did not appear to be in danger of possible serious/permanent injury or possibly having his life in danger. It is indisputable, however, that he was badly stunned and was not returning offense at a rate that would have convinced Foster that he was capable of continuing. On the other side of the equation, several of Wardley’s shots during this final barrage were not landing cleanly and it is certainly possible that Parker though under heavy fire, was trying to both compose himself and look for an opening to return offense or get off the ropes.

Having viewed the stoppage more than once, I believe Howard Foster was a bit early in stepping in for the sole reason that Parker's eyes appeared to be clear and he was able to avoid some of what Wardley was dishing out. We could be talking about a span of between 10-15 seconds that may have provided some clarity one way or another as to whether Parker may have been able to survive or whether Foster was justified in stepping in. 

If Foster had given Parker that benefit of doubt, there are a few scenarios that could have occurred. One and perhaps the most obvious is that Wardley could have landed another solid blow that may have either resulted in a knockdown of Parker or would have served as the trigger for Foster to step in where the justification would not be questioned. Scenario two, and the most logical if you are a fighter in Parker's position would be to attempt to clinch and buy yourself some seconds to get your legs and faculties back while waiting for the referee to initiate a break and thus allow you a chance to get off the ropes. Possibility three, Parker may have found an opening and landed something that would have stopped the barrage of punches Wardley was throwing, and finally scenario four, the exhausting pace of the fight, which was significant by Heavyweight standards, combined with Wardley putting everything he had behind this final barrage of offense could have resulted in him punching himself out, which in turn could have provided Parker with an opportunity to at minimum evade and get through the round.

All of this is hypothetical, of course, because the fight was stopped. Although the winner of this fight was supposed to be theoretically next in line to challenge undefeated Undisputed Heavyweight championship Oleksandr Usyk, the fact that there is that element of controversy regarding whether the fight should have been stopped coupled with the fact that Fabio Wardley was indeed trailing on all three official scorecards at the time of the stoppage, would appear to create the ideal conditions for an immediate rematch. When one factors in that Usyk, who recently became the only man in Boxing history to fully unify the World Heavyweight championship twice, has yet to indicate what he wants to do next and may be heading towards retirement, it seems all the more logical that there be a rematch between Wardley and Parker. One should also take into consideration that it was also one of the more entertaining Heavyweight fights in recent memory. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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