Jabs And Observations July-August 2025

The time has come once again for this observer to pull out the periodic feature here on The Boxing Truth®️ Jabs And Observations. A feature column that was originally thought up as a bi-monthly addition as an attempt by yours truly to cover even more ground than what is typically found during a standard calendar year in covering the sport of Boxing. In more recent times, however, the concept of what I refer to as J&O in referencing upcoming features on social media has been used when pauses in the usual schedule have been unwanted, but necessary.

While the month of July necessitated such a pause that was not intended by yours truly, it certainly did not mean that the sport was inactive. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When one will look back at the month that was July 2025 down the line, it will likely be summed up in two words: “Marquee Events." A description that due largely to the fourth of July holiday, the fact that it is in the middle of the summer here in the United States and for many, that means vacations and traveling, as well as other sporting events typically scheduled for this time of year, one usually does not think of the month of July as a target for Boxing’s major events. This time around, however, there were four significant events throughout the month that for their own reasons, fit the description.

Of course, arguably the biggest among those events took place on July 11th inside Madison Square Garden in New York City as future Hall of Famers and world champions Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano met for the third time with Taylor's Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world championship on the line. Back at the location of their legendary first encounter in April 2022 where they became the first women's Boxing match to main event in the main arena of Madison Square Garden, the third encounter was even more significant as it would not only serve as a main event once more, but this time, would top the first ever all-women’s Boxing card in the history of Madison Square Garden. 

Seen by over six million live viewers on Netflix as the general entertainment subscription-based streaming network’s second foray into Boxing after serving as the broadcaster of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson event last November, in which the second encounter between Taylor and Serrano stole the show, the third battle between the two best female fighters of their era, like the previous two, was a closely fought and competitive fight from start to finish. Unlike the first two bouts, however, which were all-action grueling wars that some feel Taylor just barely did enough to win those fights, fight three was more of a tactical battle where each woman had periods of success in showcasing her skillset.

A fight fought at a more measured pace favored Taylor more than the grueling back and forth wars of the first two fights in that she was able to use her movement and angles to set up her offense, consistently get her punches off first, and not get into the heated exchanges that highlighted the previous bouts between the two. While perhaps disappointing to some, when two fighters face each other multiple times, not every fight is going to be exactly like the one or ones that preceded it. This is due primarily to the fighters being able to familiarize themselves with each other's styles and tendencies and make adjustments to their respective approach. In this case, though she also got the upper hand in the first two fights, Taylor was able to keep the pace slightly slower in the third bout and not get into a toe to toe battle with Serrano.

Although Serrano had periods of success throughout the third fight, this time the measured pace that was established by Taylor allowed the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world champion to outwork her over ten rounds to earn a decision victory to retain her crown. Similar to the previous two fights, however, a split decision in the first and a unanimous one point decision in the second, fight three saw Taylor earn the nod of two official judges, while the third judge scored the fight even giving her a majority decision.

While this observer will likely revisit the Taylor-Serrano trilogy again in long-form down the line as the historic series and its significance deserves its own column, what will likely be the final encounter between the two legends before each takes their rightful place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and a well-earned retirement, Taylor-Serrano 3 is not the only topic that will be discussed in this edition of Jabs and Observations.

The very next evening on July 12th, the first of three pay-per-view events during the month of July, a doubleheader took place at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, NY broadcast by DAZN as part of an event titled simply as Ring III, which in short was the third card promoted under the Ring Magazine banner. The highlight of this card was two separate bouts in the Lightweight and Super-Middleweight divisions. In the first encounter, undefeated three-division world champion Shakur Stevenson defended his WBC World Lightweight championship against number one WBC contender William Zepeda. Despite being one of the top stars in the sport, Stevenson had somewhat unfairly gained a reputation in recent years for being a dominant, yet not necessarily the most crowd pleasing world champion. This is due largely to Stevenson's superior Boxing ability in being able to out box his opposition, often earning decision victories rather than highlight reel knockouts or putting himself at unnecessary risk.

It was because of this reputation that not much was expected by many fans and experts, including yours truly. Although William Zepeda had earned his number one ranking legitimately and deserved the opportunity, having covered several of Stevenson's fights, I felt stylistically, unless Zepeda were to catch the champion with something significant early, this would be another performance highlighted by Stevenson's combination punching, hand speed, and ability to be elusive in a likely wide victory on the scorecards. 

While the champion's skillset ultimately would be the story of this fight, it would not necessarily be for the aforementioned attributes, or at least not in the form they had been showcased up to the point of this bout. In a strategy that was perhaps a response to pressure both from fans and the promoters of this event, Stevenson chose to be more engaging in the sense of being willing to stand in the line of fire, rather than using his legs to evade offense from his opponent. 

From a pure entertainment standpoint, the change in approach seemed to make things more interesting for those who do not necessarily consider themselves to be Boxing purest. Despite staying in the pocket and putting himself at risk, Stevenson's ability to use upper body movement, timing, and counter punching as well as his hand speed carried the action as he outworked Zepeda to retain his world championship via a wide and convincing twelve round unanimous decision. 

While more entertaining in the sense that he did not use his legs to evade offense as much as compared to previous fights, Shakur Stevenson showed why he is among the elite fighters in the world with this latest performance and did so against a dangerous opponent. As for what's next for Stevenson, it would not surprise yours truly to see him try to pursue a unification bout before the end of this year or early 2026.

The second half of this doubleheader in Queens saw former world title challenger and top Super-Middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga facing undefeated top contender Hamzah Sheeraz in a WBA world title elimination bout. After three rounds of tactical positioning where neither fighter really stood out clearly from the other while each was looking for an opening, a combination to the head highlighted by a left hook by Sheeraz sent Berlanga down hard on the canvas late in the fourth round. This would be followed by a second knockdown of Berlanga with a follow up barrage of punches in the closing seconds of the round. 

At this point Berlanga showed the appearance of a fighter that was overwhelmed and knowing he had his opponent compromised, Sheeraz closed the show in the fifth round with a flurry of unanswered blows, which forced a stoppage of the fight. The victory for Hamzah Sheeraz was the type of statement-making performance that most would like to see of a contender looking for an opportunity at a world championship.

Whether or not Sheeraz gets that opportunity as now the WBA’s top contender in the Super-Middleweight division will likely be dependent on what happens when current undisputed world champion Saul “Canelo" Alvarez faces undefeated multi-division world champion Terence Crawford in September as depending on the outcome of that fight, there may be a contractual rematch clause that would obviously force Sheeraz to wait longer than would probably be the case for his opportunity. Sheeraz can say, however, that unlike Alvarez, who dropped Berlanga early in their fight in 2024, he was able to do what the champion could not do, score a knockout win over a fighter in Berlanga, who until he lost to Alvarez was considered a knockout artist in his own right. If nothing else, it provides an effective sales hook for whomever the promoter of a fight between Alvarez and Sheeraz would be, assuming of course, that the champion is able to get by Terence Crawford.

This brings us to two marquee events that took place on July 19th. First, in Wembley Stadium in London, England, the highly anticipated rematch to reunify the Heavyweight division as world champions Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois met for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world also broadcast by DAZN.

By now the narrative of the first encounter between the two in August 2023 is well known. Dubois, then a mandatory challenger going against a then unified, but not yet undisputed champion in Usyk, landing a body shot that sent the champion down in pain on the canvas. Had it been called a knockdown, which it appeared to be, Dubois would have emerged victorious as Usyk did not appear that he would have been able to beat a ten count in order to continue. While the punch appeared to land on the beltline of Usyk, it was ruled a low blow, allowing the champion time to recover and effectively taking what appeared to be a potential knockout and a world championship away from Dubois.

As most know, Usyk was able to recover and went on to knock out Dubois in the ninth round. Following that fight Usyk went on to become undisputed champion in his first fight with Tyson Fury later that year, only to be stripped of the IBF Heavyweight world championship for having to go through a contractually mandated rematch with Fury rather than face its mandatory challenger, which was coincidentally due, which happened to be Dubois, who had worked himself back into contention and was subsequently named world champion by the IBF. While that synopsis is only a brief glimpse into the political landscape of the sport of Boxing, the controversy of the first encounter on its own was enough to warrant a rematch. The addition of reunifying the Heavyweight division and the historical significance of such an occasion of an Undisputed World Heavyweight champion being determined for the first time in British soil made it a bigger event than the storyline of whether or not Usyk had benefited from what some deemed a bad call by a referee in the first fight.

Although Dubois began this fight like a fighter on a mission in immediately pressing the action from the opening bell, he ran into Usyk’s jab and counter punches. Despite being physical and trying to use his strength, Dubois, as was the case in the first fight, had trouble adjusting to Usyk’s ability to use angles and found himself getting caught in exchanges. As has often been the case throughout Usyk’s career, he was able to make his opponent fight his fight and use that opponent's aggression against them. 

The systematic approach by Usyk would culminate in the fifth round, knocking Dubois down with a right hand that seemed to land on the ear, which can affect the equilibrium. Although Dubois was able to get up, Usyk would drop him a second time, this time hard and for the count with a perfectly timed counter left hook to the jaw. Oleksandr Usyk had made a statement in emphatic fashion.

Not only did Usyk become the first fighter in Boxing history to fully unify the Heavyweight division twice, but his victory in this fight also earned him his third undisputed world championship after previously accomplishing the feat as a Cruiserweight. Simply put, when one looks up the definition of Hall of Fame Resume or All-time great, a picture of Oleksandr Usyk should be next to it.

While it would be wonderful to see the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world remain fully unified and see Usyk attempt to somehow add to his cemented legacy, the reality is, much like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, two fighters who have carried Women's Boxing to unprecedented heights, Oleksandr Usyk having dominated the amateur ranks where he was an Olympic Gold medalist and having completely dominated both the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions as a professional seemingly has nothing left to prove and this victory by unifying the Heavyweight championship of the world for a second time, something that based on past history and the politics that be in the sport, seems unlikely to happen again, it would appear this would be the ideal scenario to end his career even though it would force the Heavyweight division into a reset period as has been the case when world champions and unified champions have retired throughout the sport’s history.

When one thinks of fighters with legacies long having been cemented in history with nothing more to prove, Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao would be on that list. In August 2021, Pacquiao lost a decision to Yordenis Ugas in an attempt to regain a World Welterweight championship. A fight that Pacquiao seemed to show decline and after a long and illustrious career, the legend and Boxing’s first eight-division world champion and politician in his native Philippines, retired from the ring. 

While Pacquiao would return in December 2022 in picking up a victory in an exhibition bout against martial artist DK Yoo in a bout held in Korea, many assumed Pacquiao's career as an active fighter was concluded with his defeat to Ugas. At age forty-six and one month after his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, however, Pacquiao would return to the ring on July 19th to challenge WBC World Welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Although Boxing history is full of stories regarding legendary fighters and former world champions attempting to make a comeback after a lengthy absence from active competition, this was a case where the curiosity was squarely centered on Pacquiao and given what had happened in his last fight four years earlier, there were some who were concerned for him in getting back in the ring. It did not take long for fears to dissipate as Pacquiao showed that though he was older, he could still compete and do so effectively.

While obviously not the blistering, swarming, attacking fighter he had been in his prime, Pacquiao consistently beat the younger Barrios to the punch, frequently landing two and three punch combinations and seeming to outwork the champion, who for whatever reason chose not to press the issue when he had opportunities to gain an advantage. Whether it was a hesitancy to take a risk knowing Pacquiao’s reputation for being a precision counter puncher, or simply being awed by the event in sharing the ring with a legend of the sport, gradually it appeared that Barrios had let the fight get away from him as he opted to throw single punches rather than combinations. Though effective in spots, he did not do enough in this observer’s view to retain his championship as at the conclusion of the twelve round world championship bout, I had Pacquiao winning by a margin of nine rounds to three or 117-111 in points.

Despite the view of yours truly as well as several fellow media members and fans of a clear victory for Pacquiao, the result would be a majority draw, the second consecutive draw for Barrios in his reign as champion following a lackluster performance in his previous title defense before this outing against Pacquiao against Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson event. While that does not necessarily paint Barrios in a light that makes him considered a dominant champion after back to back close calls in fights that many felt could have gone against him, the opinion of yours truly aside that Pacquiao did enough to win this fight, the fact is Mario Barrios did retain the title via a draw. 

The obvious question is what happens now? An interesting development surfaced in the days following the fight in that the WBC named Pacquiao its number one contender, which appears to set up a rematch between him and Barrios. Whether or not that happens, however, will depend on both what Pacquiao decides to do next as well as whether there will be sufficient public demand for a return encounter. It should also not be overlooked that it remains unknown as of this writing how the bout, which was promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters and broadcast on pay-per-view via digital subscription general entertainment network Prime Video did in terms of buys as those numbers have not been made public. 

While one should not make assumptions based on that fact, it should also not be dismissed that the pay-per-view model has been in steady decline for years as consumers have demonstrated not only a dissatisfaction with being asked to pay the same inflated prices that led many to cut the cord of traditional cable and satellite Pay-TV service and the same pay-per-view prices, which ultimately led to networks like HBO and what is now known as Paramount+ with Showtime to exit broadcasting Boxing altogether, but also a willingness to pay for more reasonably priced subscription-based streaming options that are budget-friendly. Although this trend in consumer choice is certainly not exclusive to the PBC group of promoters or one specific network or streaming platform, it will be interesting to see what will follow as DAZN recently announced that they will soon discontinue it's selective pay-per-view approach for Boxing events and return to the subscription-based approach the streaming network implemented successfully from its entry into the United States in 2018, and now the most recent news that the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, a longtime stalwart of pay-per-view, will be leaving the model behind in favor of a seven-year $7.7 Billion broadcast deal with subscription-based digital streaming entertainment network Paramount+ to broadcast all of the promotion’s events including numbered (Previously pay-per-view) UFC events to subscribers at no additional cost while also maintaining their UFC Fight Pass combat sports digital streaming network, which houses the full UFC library plus other combat sports including Boxing. With Netflix also continuing to throw its hat in the Boxing ring not only with the recent successful Taylor-Serrano 3 card, but also preparing to serve as the global broadcaster for the upcoming Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship fight between Saul “Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford on September 13th, arguably the biggest event on the Boxing calendar in 2025 to Netflix subscribers at no additional cost, it remains to be seen what appetite, if any, remains for pay-per-view and that is certainly not exclusive to a potential rematch between Barrios and Pacquiao, but across the combat sports genre as a whole. One can only hope that hold outs like the PBC, who have relied heavily on the pay-per-view model, despite losing numerous broadcast partners along the way and continuing mounting evidence that the pay-per-view model is no longer viable or preferred by consumers, will finally adapt their strategy to a more consumer-friendly approach while also looking to different sources of revenue that can effectively achieve what is hoped for, but rarely accomplished via pay-per-view. The reality is Boxing will be much better off by such change and the sport will only grow because of it.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Usyk-Dubois 2/Barrios-Pacquiao July 19th PPV Events Now Available For Purchase

Two Boxing pay-per-view events scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19th are now available for preorder for those looking to purchase either event individually or to purchase both events.

WBC Welterweight world champion Mario Barrios will defend his title against recent inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame  and former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, who will be attempting a comeback at age forty-six . Barrios vs. Pacquiao, which will headline a pay-per-view card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV is now available for purchase on Prime Video for $79.95 and can be purchased either through the Prime Video app on mobile, tablet ,connected streaming devices/Smart TVs, or by clicking the following link: Barrios vs. Pacquiao. (*North American Price Only* Consult Prime Video for local pricing information local start times, and availability around the world.) The latest edition of the documentary style program Gloves Off: Barrios-Pavquiao/Fundora-Tszyu 2 is also available on Prime Video and is included with a Prime Video subscription.

Also on July 19th is the Heavyweight unification grudge rematch for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world between current world champions Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Duvois, which will be taking place at the legendary Wembley Stadium in London, England. The fight, which will headline a pay-per-view card that will be broadcast globally on DAZN Pay-PerView for $59.99. The event can be purchased exclusively on www.DAZN.com and be accessible on the DAZN streaming app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. (*North American Price Only* Consult DAZN for local pricing on your region of the world, local start times, and availability.)

We will have post-fight coverage of these events here on The Boxing Truth ® ️ scheduled for the week of July 26th and will update readers here on the website on when the feature covering both events will be scheduled in terms of the exact day of release once it is firmly scheduled. Stay Tuned.

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On The Brink Of Defeat: Wardley Finds KO Punch

The circumstances that led to the Heavyweight bout between unbeaten top Heavyweight contenders Fabio Wardley and Justis Huni on June 7th at the Portman Road Football Ground in Ipswich, England was not ideal for either boxer. Due to the fact that it was made on short notice where Huni stepped in for the injured Jarrell Miller, neither man had the type of preparation that they would likely prefer going into a fight. 

When one throws into the equation rainy conditions outdoors, one may not have known what to expect. In terms of styles, this was an adjustment for Wardley, who had been preparing to face a power puncher like himself in Miller, now tasked with facing a more balanced boxer/puncher in Huni. While the perception when fights like this are made on short notice is the fighter stepping into a fight is at a disadvantage, this was a case where one could say it was truly unknown as to having an idea of what could happen with one fighter having the type of punching power that is sudden and devastating going against a fighter that could do a little of everything.

For a significant portion of this bout, it was Huni’s Boxing ability that was on full display. Consistently getting his punches off first, often throwing in combination, and backing the power puncher Wardley up, Huni dictated the combat and frequently landed flush right hands to the head. Gradually, it appeared that it was Huni that had the edge and if one were unaware of the circumstances, they might have assumed that it was Wardley, who stepped into the fight on short notice and not the other way around. 

With each passing round, Huni continued to dominate the action. After eight rounds, this observer, as I often do, shared how I was seeing things in real time on X (Formerly Twitter) and said that Huni had won the fight on my unofficial scorecard having won seven of eight rounds of the scheduled twelve round bout. In terms of points, Wardley was behind to a point that he would likely need a knockout to win the fight. Yours truly commented that  Wardley might have a punch in him to turn things around, but it also appeared that he was struggling due to both fatigue and the punishment that Huni had dished out and I questioned whether he would be able to go the distance.

If one were objective, there was little evidence that there would be a sudden change as Huni continued to bring the fight to Wardley in the ninth round. Having covered thousands of fights on every level of the sport over the last three decades and being a Boxing lifer long before I began my journey as a writer and began covering combat sports, I had learned long ago that you can never truly dismiss the possibility of a sudden turn, but with Huni dominating to the degree he was, it seemed unlikely that Wardley would be able to land that fight changing punch. 

What by all accounts looked to be certain victory for Huni would change in the type of fashion that should remind even the most jaded cynic what makes Boxing great. In an exchange of punches at the midway point in the tenth round, Wardley connected with an overhand right that came out of nowhere and seemed to be thrown in desperation, which landed flush and sent Huni down hard on the canvas. Huni struggled and was unable to beat the count. On the brink of what appeared to be certain defeat, Fabio Wardley found the knockout punch that gave him the most dramatic win of his career. 

The certainty that Wardley needed a knockout to remain unbeaten can be illustrated in the official scorecards in that he was down by six points on two official scorecards and on five on the third entering the tenth round. As dramatic a victory and an illustration of the type of power Wardley is blessed with, if one is objective, they would say that Wardley, his handlers, and supporters got a legitimate scare.

Although Wardley maintained his number one ranking in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings having retained Interim/Regular champion status as the contender currently in position as the World Boxing Association’s mandatory challenger with this victory, he was unable to make the type of statement that would give the impression that he is ready to fight for a world title. Yes, he did get a knockout in the purest sense of the word, however, one might argue that it is Justis Huni who comes out of this fight having made a convincing argument as a potential challenger down the line for either of the Heavyweight division’s two world champions Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.

 With Usyk and Dubois preparing for their rematch for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world on July 19th, and assuming that there might be a third fight between the two in the future per a rematch clause, Waedley may not get an opportunity to fight for the title in the near future. If Wardley is going to fight again before the end of 2025, an obvious option would be to give Justis Huni a rematch. As brutal as the knockout was, Huni has earned another opportunity and Wardley and his team will likely want to quell the questions that will likely be asked coming out of this fight and the best way to do that is by giving Huni a rematch.

“And That's The Boxing Truth," 

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Opetaia Brutally KO's Nyika In 4 To Retain IBF World Cruiserweight Championship

Undefeated IBF World Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia scored a brutal fourth round knockout of previously undefeated IBF number ten rated Cruiserweight contender David Nyika on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia. Opetaia, who has quickly established himself as a “Knockout Artist" faced what should be considered a stern test in the form of a determined David Nyika, who showed no hesitation in being willing to engage with the champion.

What resulted was a give and take, toe to toe battle through most of the fight. When one fighter would land solidly with their punches, the other would respond almost immediately with punches of their own. Frankly, through much of the flight, there was not much to separate the two fighters. This began to change ever so slightly in round three when Opetaia began to vary his attack to the body and head of the challenger.

It would be in round four where the champion would find his opening. Opetaia started to slightly get some separation between himself and Nyika, was able to land a short left uppercut that popped the challenger’s head back and moments later in an exchange of punches in close range, Opetaia dropped Nyika hard to the canvas with another short uppercut to the head. Nyika, who entered the fight unbeaten in ten professional fights, showed his mettle by getting up from the knockdown on very unsteady legs. Opetaia, however, knew his opponent was in trouble and pressed forward looking for the finish. The champion would land a brutal follow-up barrage of punches to the head of Nyika sending him down hard a second time and appearing to knock him out cold as the fight was immediately stopped without a count. Official time of the stoppage was 2:17 of round four. Jai Opetaia advances to 27-0, with 21 Knockouts. David Nyila falls to 10-1, with 9 Knockouts.

The first world championship bout in the sport of Boxing in 2025 proved to be short, explosive, and devastating in how it ended. Jai Opetaia, who became a world champion in winning the IBF Cruiserweight world championship in July 2022 frankly has all the tools that one looks for in a rising star. Explosive power in either hand that can end a fight at any time, and a willingness to mix it up with his opponents. Such traits often mean that the fighter will draw significant attention whenever they compete because Boxing fans tend to favor action. Something that in his twenty-seven professional fights Opetaia has demonstrated in spades.

While there is a possibility that Opetaia might seek to unify the Cruiserweight division, something that only Evander Holyfield and Oleksandr Usyk have done in becoming the only fighters to fully unify the division before setting their sights on the Heavyweight division in two Hall of Fame careers, the issue for the Cruiserweight division, also known as the Jr. Heavyweight division in years gone by, is it has never been a career destination for most fighters.

In that it has never enjoyed the type of marquee value that is enjoyed by other divisions both below it and in the Heavyweight division. As such, it has been viewed by many as, for lack of a better term, “Stepping Stone" for fighters deemed too big for the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division, to test the waters against bigger opposition before embarking on competing as a Heavyweight. Therefore, the Cruiserweights are often deemed as a bridge for fighters moving up to Heavyweight or for fighters who have had trouble competing effectively as a Heavyweight, but who cannot get down in weight to the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division. A perception that was only increased by the fact that for many years, Evander Holyfield was viewed as the only marquee fighter to come out of the Cruiserweight division, even though his stay in it was a relatively short four year period from 1984-1988 where he became a world champion, went on to become undisputed champion, then went on to Heavyweight. Although there have been many great former Cruiserweights that have tried their luck as Heavyweights, not many were viewed as marquee stars and the fact is in addition to Holyfield and Usyk, only one other former Cruiserweight world champion, David Haye, went on to win a portion of the World Heavyweight championship.

Now, the division is faced with what could be the same scenario. A fighter who has the makings of a potential superstar, much like Holyfield, Haye, and Usyk that could elevate the Cruiserweight division by staying in it and potentially trying to become an undisputed world champion of it, but who also clearly has the potential of a future World Heavyweight champion as well. Promoters, managers, and yes, even fighters can boast about how they see the Cruiserweight division as a commodity, but with limited marquee value in the division, despite being populated by several world-class and talented fighters, a move to Heavyweight for most is seen as almost inevitable. For now, Jai Opetaia is firmly established as the top Cruiserweight in the world even without the status as an undisputed world champion. One should ask, however, if he will turn his attention to the Heavyweight division before the end of 2025. In this observer’s view, unless he has a path to become undisputed champion that is both straightforward and lucrative, the discussion of Opitaia as a potential future World Heavyweight champion as he enters the field of contenders should commence. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Delayed Usyk-Fury 2 Thoughts

As fate would have it with several scheduled bouts that were to take place over the Christmas holidays and were intended to be covered in a package form in this column by this observer being postponed, it would turn out that the last major event on the Boxing calendar in 2024 was the second encounter between undefeated unified WBO/IBO/WBA/WBC Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. A highly anticipated rematch that took place on December 21st in the same location as their first meeting for the then Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world on May 18, 2024, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By now, most Boxing fans are familiar with the close competition of that first fight and also familiar with the showboating approach through several of the early rounds by Fury, which in addition to a controversial knockdown ruled against him in the month round, in which some believed the fight should have been stopped, cost him the victory in what was otherwise a close and competitive fight. Unlike some circumstances where a rematch is warranted due to an exciting battle and/or a fight where the outcome is deemed controversial, we knew going into that historic first bout that there would be a rematch due to a pre-ordained rematch clause in the contract. 

Although that knowledge took nothing away from the atmosphere of that historic event in determining albeit temporarily, the first Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world in twenty-five years and the first in an era where there are five recognized world sanctioning organizations, who's respective claims to the World Heavyweight championship were at stake, much like when a great movie spawns a sequel and eventually evolved into a series of films, when it comes to rematches, seldomly does a new chapter in a rivalry between two fighters equal the anticipation and competitive nature of the original encounter.

In this case, as yours truly pointed out in previewing Usyk-Fury 2, the question was whether Fury, now back in the role of a challenger, would approach this fight with a more serious mindset as compared to the first fight and if he did, whether that would make a difference in terms of scoring, particularly in the early rounds, which due to his decision to showboat in the first fight, ended up going against him in the end. 

To Fury’s credit, he did take this fight more seriously and did come forward more in the early rounds compared to what his approach was in the first fight. As he would find out, however, even a more serious approach sometimes does not result in a change in outcome as, despite having periodic success throughout the twelve round world championship bout, Fury as many previous opponents have learned, Oleksandr Usyk’s skillset proves to be a very difficult puzzle to solve.

Unlike the first fight where there were moments throughout where the fighters were able to hurt each other and thus be highlighted, this fight was a tactical Boxing match from start to finish, which is Usyk's specialty. While Fury’s best moments throughout came when he was able to land solidly, particularly with his right hand, Oleksandr Usyk is a master boxer who fights out of the southpaw stance, with an emphasis on his ability to use lateral movement and foot work to come at his opponents at varying angles as well as his ability to change his level of attack from the head to the body. Fury's best moments often came in single punches. The difference between the two fighters was Usyk’s punches consistently came in three and four punch variations.

It was this consistency as well as Fury’s inability to limit Usyk's ability to move and use angles that ultimately resulted in this observer scoring the fight unofficially eight rounds to four or 116-112 in points for Usyk in what was a straightforward contest that was clean and void of controversy. Although this is not always what happens, despite this observer’s decades long experience covering the sport and thoroughly understanding how fights are scored on every possible level Boxing has to offer from amateur, to professional, to professional Bareknuckle, to the point where I have been told periodically by others in the sport that I should consider being an official judge, the way I saw this fight was mirrored by the three official judges who scored this fight the same way I did with an 8-4 margin in rounds 116-112 in points for Usyk making it a successful title defense for him and earning him his second victory over Fury.

As straightforward as this fight appeared to be in determining a winner, it was understandable that Fury was disappointed with the result and immediately left the ring refusing to do interviews. When one dedicates themselves as seriously as Fury did in attempting to become part of a select group of fighters to have won a version of the World Heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, when one does everything they can do to prepare and still comes up short, despite performing better as Fury did in this second fight with Usyk, it is hard to digest.

Fury, however, has nothing to be ashamed of, he gave it everything he had. It may be a case where Fury will beat many of the top fighters in the Heavyweight division, but Oleksandr Usyk may not be one of them. That last sentence might leave one wondering what this observer means. Yes, Oleksandr Usyk has defeated Tyson Fury in two consecutive fights in the span of seven months, the second of which unlike the split decision in the first fight, seemed more convincing. This, however, should not be viewed as a clear conclusion to this rivalry. Tyson Fury is after all one of the biggest names in the Heavyweight division and if he were to continue fighting and score a victory over a top contender, he will be right back in the discussion of potential challengers for Usyk or possibly current IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.

Dubois, who was named IBF world champion shortly after the first Usyk-Fury fight due to Usyk not being able to fulfill his obligation to defend the IBF title against Dubois, whom was a mandatory challenger and whom Usyk defeated in August 2023, is due to make his second defense of the IBF crown against former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Depending on the outcome of that fight, the winner could either face Usyk if Usyk wants to attempt to fully unify the Heavyweight division for a second time, or could see a potential challenger in Fury, who is still a top contender and one of the more lucrative options available for either fellow contenders or world champions.

While a third chapter of the story between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury may not come as quickly as chapter two followed their first meeting, it may not be a story that is concluded. One thing is certain as 2025 has begun, the goings on in the Heavyweight division with two current world champions and no shortage of contenders and forner champions all looking for a shot, will continue to be a hot topic in the sport of Boxing.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Usyk-Fury: The Story Continues

In chapter one of the story between Heavyweight champions Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, the focus was centered on the element of history. After all, when the two undefeated champions met in May of this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was to determine something that hadn't been seen in Boxing in twenty-five years albeit and unfortunately temporarily. An Undisputed World Heavyweight champion and the first champion to successfully unify all five recognized world championships under one fighter.

As most know, despite the historical significance of the occasion, there was the knowledge going into the event last May 18th that the new Undisputed championship would not last long. This was due to a pre-ordained rematch clause between Usyk and Fury and the International Boxing Federation being due its mandatory title defense in the rotation amongst the various sanctioning organizations immediately following the bout. Nevertheless, that knowledge did little to quell what truly was a special moment in the sport’s history. 

In a competitive bout, it was Oleksandr Usyk who would emerge victorious in becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world by defeating Fury via twelve round split decision. For Usyk, there was added significance as the victory also cemented his future Hall of Fame status as the only man in history to fully unify both the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions. While Usyk would relinquish the IBF world championship shortly after defeating Fury, clearing the way for IBF number one contender Daniel Dubois, a former Usyk opponent, to officially become IBF World Heavyweight champion, the victory over Fury was simply the conclusion of chapter one. 

Now comes chapter two as Usyk, the unified WBO/IBO/WBA/WBC world champion prepares to meet Fury once again at the same site of their first meeting, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21st. A rematch that can be seen worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View. In some ways, this rematch is also a rarity.

It is rare even in an era where there are theoretical pre-agreed rematch clauses before an initial high-profile bout such as Usyk and Fury to see the rematch come to fruition without complications whether it be due to injuries or one fighter choosing a different option, which often can lead to legal entanglements. In this sense, the fact that this rematch comes in a rather streamlined way is quite refreshing. Although the undisputed championship is not at stake this time around, the winner of this fight will be viewed as the number one fighter in the division with an obvious path to reunify the title against Dubois or whomever the IBF champion might be down the line. 

What stood out in the first encounter was, despite being the naturally shorter fighter, it was Usyk who forced the action for most of the first six rounds by coming forward and forcing the naturally bigger and heavier Fury to fight at a much quicker pace than is typically his norm. Usyk was also able to establish angles and land short, but crisp combinations on Fury, which were often highlighted by an overhand left thrown from the southpaw stance.

Despite the significance of the occasion, an argument could and perhaps should be made that Fury perhaps gave away some of the early rounds by taunting Usyk, playing to the crowd, and attempting to bait him into making a mistake. Tactics, which Usyk did not fall for. By the midway part of the fight, Fury began coming forward more, landing punches to the body of Usyk and stunning him with a right hand in the sixth round. To Usyk’s credit, he was able to take it well and there was decent back and forth action that followed between the two fighters. 

It would be in round nine, however, that a controversy would emerge. A combination of punches by Usyk sent Fury staggering around the ring and seemingly made him defenseless for several seconds while Usyk pressed forward. Where the element of controversy comes in is in the decision of Referee Mark Nelson choosing to rule a knockdown against Fury when under similar circumstances a referee might have stepped in and stopped the fight. While some have made an issue of this in the months since the first encounter, this observer needs to point out as I have many times over the years that referees are human like the rest of us, and decisions regarding whether a fight should be stopped under circumstances like the one Fury was in comes down to split second judgments. Perhaps given the magnitude of the event and likely knowing that his call would be questioned either way, Nelson decided to rule a knockdown rather than stopping the fight outright to give Fury every chance he could to show he could continue. It proved to be the appropriate call as Fury was able to recover and finished the fight. The knockdown, however, likely put Usyk over the top in winning a very close twelve round split decision and emerging ever so briefly as the Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world. 

Now, as this rematch approaches, the obvious question is what could be different this time? The answer for your truly all boils down to whether Fury will be focused and not give away what ultimately proved to be crucial rounds in addition to the knockdown ruled against him later in the fight. There are two things to keep in mind here. One the champion Oleksandr Usyk has always been all business and did not allow himself to be baited into verbal exchanges before the first fight and did not take the bait when Fury spent time showboating in the early rounds. Fury thus must keep in mind that this time, he is the challenger and the onus is on him to turn things in his favor.. Will he be more aggressive in the early rounds and take an overall more serious approach in this fight as compared to the last time he faced Usyk and in his outing before that where former UFC Heavyweight world champion Frances Ngannou nearly upset him in a non-title bout?

For Usyk, the question will be whether he can deal with a more aggressive Fury out of the gate. The champion is known for his ability to use angles and out box his opponents and it will be interesting to see if Usyk will somehow be more technical in his approach than he was in the first encounter. Although the possibility exists that Usyk might be looking to make a statement this time seeing as he was able to nearly stop Fury last time, one should not expect an approach that would be over aggressive and one where Usyk tries to use his power to try and get Fury out of there. Usyk must remember that he is a master boxer and has an advantage in terms of hand speed that worked to his benefit in the first fight. One might argue that his timing and ability to catch Fury was what led to him nearly getting a stoppage in the first fight and the more sensible approach might be to try and set traps and look to counter Fury.

It does not take hype to say what this fight is about here. The Boxing world is waiting to see what happens the second time around. Will it be a repeat of what happened in chapter one or will Tyson Fury put forth a performance which would likely lead to a third encounter down the road? All questions will be answered Saturday, December 21st.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Usyk vs. Fury 2 takes place on Saturday, December 21st at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View for $39.99 beginning at 10:30AM ET/7:30AM PT (*U.S. Times Only*). 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 subscribe and order this special pay-per-view event please visit: www.DAZN.com.  

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Can Whyte Continue To Build Momentum?

December 2024 in Boxing has seen the focus firmly planted on the Heavyweight division. With the highly anticipated rematch between undefeated unified WBO/WBA/IBO/WBC Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former champion Tyson Fury still to take place on December 21 in Saudi Arabia, the month of December has seen potential challengers for whomever should emerge from that fight victorious, angling for position. We have seen former two-time world title challenger Kubrat Pulev take his next step by scoring a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over longtime contender Manuel Charr. Now, another former world title challenger looks to make his argument as longtime contender Dillian Whyte will return to the ring on Sunday, December 15th in Gibraltar at the Europa Point Sports Complex to face  contender Ebenezer Tetteh. 

The scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout, which can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, will be Whyte’s third bout since coming up short against then WBC Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury in April 2022. Since that loss, where he was knocked out in the sixth round, Whyte has rebounded in his last two fights scoring victories over contenders Jermaine Franklin and Christian Hammer. In his previous fight in March, Whyte scored a third round stoppage of Hammer. 

While the story of this fight is a simple one to describe in a longtime top contender looking to put himself back into the Heavyweight championship picture, the subplot here will be what Whyte’s opposition will be on this occasion. Ebenezer Tetteh will come into this fight with a record of 23-1, with 20 Knockouts, is riding a four fight knockout streak. Tetteh does have power in both hands and should be viewed as a potentially dangerous opponent for the thirty-six year old Whyte. The one blemish on Tetteh’s record, however, came against the one recognizable opponent on that ledger in the form of current IBF Heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois, who knocked him out in one round in 2019 when Dubois was a rising contender.

This could be interpreted in a few ways. Although Tetteh has bounced back since that setback, he has only fought four times since that loss in 2019. What this fight will come down to is whether or not Tetteh is ready for the step up that he was not ready for when he faced Dubois. There is also the aspect of what version of Whyte will be in the ring.

Dillian Whyte has been in many grueling battles throughout his career and like Tetteh, he is capable of ending a fight with either hand, there have been times where he has appeared sluggish, most recently in his bout with Jermaine Franklin in November 2022, where he won a twelve round majority decision in a fight that some thought Franklin deserved the victory. The question, which will likely follow Whyte for the remainder of his career is not only one regarding consistency of his performances, but also one whether the accumulation of a long career and those grueling battles will show itself.

Whether or not that will happen against  Ebenezer Tetteh remains to be seen. When a notable Heavyweight such as Whyte competes, however, it will draw attention. Especially when the goal of every Heavyweight not currently a world champion or a challenger for a world championship is to get themselves into that position. With Pulev having scored a convincing victory over Manuel Charr, it is now time to see whether Whyte can put forth a performance that might nudge him ahead in the pecking order of potential future world title challengers or if Ebenezer Tetteh will be able to score what some will view as an upset and move his own name into that discussion.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Whyte vs. Tetteh takes place on Sunday, December 15th at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar. The fight can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT. (*U.S. Times Only.*) 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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Pulev And Bentley Score Big Wins In Europe

Saturday, December 7th saw two interesting bouts take place that shined the spotlight on Boxing’s European scene. In the long term, each outcome could also lead to something significant for the winners in terms of the world rankings in 2025. The first of these two bouts took place in Sofia, Bulgaria where top Heavyweight contenders Manuel Charr and former two-time world title challenger and hometown favorite Kubrat Pulev met in a scheduled twelve round bout where an Interim/Regular championship designation in the WBA Heavyweight ratings was at stake.

Outside of the designation, what looked over this fight in reality was an opportunity to become a mandatory challenger in the WBA ratings, which could lead to an opportunity to face the winner of the upcoming rematch between Unified World Heavyweight championship Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, which will take place in Saudi Arabia on December 21st. 

While this fight was fought in relatively close quarters as both fighters were content to stay within punching range from start to finish, it was Pulev who was able to dictate the fight. In simple terms, Pulev’s approach in this encounter had an emphasis on fundamentals. By working behind a consistent jab and frequently throwing right hands, either straight right hands, or right hooks, he was able to establish a pattern for the combat that Charr was simply unable to break.

A pattern of being put on the end of Pulev’s longer arms and being unable to get his punches off first. The success Pulev had in being able to land his right hand behind the jab eventually opened a cut over Charr’s left eye midway through the scheduled twelve round bout. Although the pattern did not change as the fight progressed, the close parameters in which the fight was fought did allow for some heated exchanges throughout. Though Charr was able to have some success periodically in landing counter hooks on Pulev, he simply could not change the ebb and flow of the combat, nor was he able to consistently use head movement to try and avoid the right hand of Pulev. It was Pulev’s fundamental approach that ultimately resulted in his winning a wide and convincing twelve round unanimous decision on the official scorecards.  What may be ahead for both Pulev and Charr will be discussed at the end of this column. 

The second bout that took place during this day saw the action move from Sofia, Bulgaria to London, England where British Middleweight champion Brad Pauls made the second defense of his title against former British Middleweight champion Denzel Bentley in a twelve round bout. While British championship honors were on the line in this bout as well as bragging rights in terms of the British Boxing scene, the stakes of this fight were increased as the vacant European Middleweight championship was also on the line, which could serve as a springboard to a potential shot at a world championship.

What stood out to this observer was Bentley's ability to control distance and be a sharpshooter in the first four rounds. Bentley did this by putting an emphasis on lateral movement and keeping Pauls on the end of his jab, throwing right hands to the head and body, then using his legs to avoid Pauls.

This made things difficult for the British champion, but he did begin to close the gap in round five by becoming a bit more aggressive and gradually closing the distance between himself and Bentley. Pauls did this by trying to apply pressure and push Bentley back towards the ropes and corners of the ring. Although it was a gradual process, Pauls approach allowed him to incrementally pick up his punch output and he was able to land some solid hooks and straight right hands. 

The tempo appeared to be shifting slightly in the champion’s favor after eight rounds simply because he was able to adapt and change his approach. As the fight entered the tenth round, it appeared as though Pauls was potentially in the driver's seat, but just as the momentum seemed in his favor, he was forced to take a knee when Benley landed a jab that appeared to land on the eye. Pauls was able to get up, but in what appeared to be a close fight developing, the knockdown would prove to be crucial.

Following the knockdown, Bentley appeared to regain control of the contest in terms of being able to dictate the tempo as Pauls tried to reestablish what had been working for him prior to being knocked down. He was not able to, however, and Bentley was able to secure a convincing unanimous decision victory by sweeping the final three rounds of the bout. In terms of scoring, Bentley won by margins of 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112 on the three official scorecards. Bentley being able to score a 10-8 round in round ten because of the knockdown, as well as sweeping the final two rounds of the twelve round championship bout ended up sealing his victory.

For Bentley, what might come next could be a world championship fight in 2025. Not only because he won the European Middleweight championship by defeating Pauls in addition to regaining the British Middleweight championship, but more specifically because Pauls was recognized as the WBO’s number one contender heading into this bout, which now in theory puts Bentley into the number one mandatory challenger position for current unified WBO/IBF World Middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. Whether or not Bentley gets that fight or might possibly look into a potential rematch with Pauls, which would draw much interest in the United Kingdom might come down to what the WBO and IBF decide what's next for Alimkhanuly in terms of his mandatory defense obligations.

As for the winner of the Heavyweight bout that took place on this Saturday in Europe, Kubrat Pulev might now be on a short list of potential challengers for the winner of the rematch between undefeated unified WBO/IBO/WBA/WBC world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. Obviously, we will not know the outcome of that rematch until they meet on December 21st, but in reality both Pulev and Charr, who fought for the first time in two years when he faced Pulev after a lengthy period of inactivity caused in part by legal entanglements involving the WBA, could still have room to maneuver with no shortage of contenders, former world champions, and also current IBF world champion Daniel Dubois all lurking in the Heavyweight division. The attention, however, will move to Usyk and Fury before all the above likely decide what is next for them as they look to improve their position in the crowded Heavyweight landscape.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Will Charr Or Pulev Be In Position For Usyk-Fury Rematch Winner?

The month of December has been looked forward to by Boxing fans due in large part to the much anticipated rematch between undefeated unified WBO/IBO/WBA/WBC Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. A rematch that could in some ways signal the end of an era, or perhaps potentially lead to a third chapter between the two future Hall of Famers.

While there is still much to be resolved between Usyk and Fury as well as unanswered questions as to what may follow after that fight, it is worth remembering that the politics that be in the sport is one reason why that second bout between Usyk and Fury is for a unified portion of the World Heavyweight championship and not the Undisputed championship, which was determined in their first fight earlier this year. Such political aspects also inevitably also create scenarios where others in a division are looking to maneuver themselves into position to potentially face the winner of a rematch. 

One such scenario could be taking shape as Heavyweight contenders Manuel Charr and Kubrat Pulev will meet on December 7th in Bulgaria as each look to put themselves into a position to challenge Usyk or Fury. As simple and straight-forward as that should be for anyone to understand, this fight, which will be broadcast on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, will have an Interim/Regular championship designation in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings, a designation held by Charr.

Although in reality this fight is simply two contenders looking to take the next step towards a shot at a world championship between one fighter in Charr, who has held an Interim/Regular label for several years, but has never fought for a world championship, and Charr, a longtime top contender who has fought for a world championship twice, the fact that there is an Interim/Regular label attached here does not mean much in the overall picture. The story, however, of this encounter should be whether either fighter will be able to make a strong argument for himself as being the next potential challenger for the winner of Usyk-Fury 2.

Both Charr and Pulev have been top contenders in the Heavyweight division for many years, but the question that should surround this fight is whether inactivity will be a factor. Specifically, the inactivity of Charr, who will be competing for the first time in two years following several legal entanglements involving himself and the WBA as well as visa issues, which has prevented him from traveling for competition.

Frankly, it would take likely several columns to go over each specific issue Charr has had to deal with in recent years, which have included fighters petitioning the WBA for fights with Charr among other issues which have led those aforementioned legal entanglements, so out of respect for the reader, this observer will move forward to simply discussing the issue of inactivity 

Charr’s last fight took place on December 21, 2022 when he scored a second round knockout of Nueri Seferi. While Charr fought three times that year, which is fairly more active by today's standards for a top contender or world champions, now he finds himself in a position where the subject of “Ring Rust" is very real simply because he has been inactive. 

In contrast, Kubrat Pulev, a former European Heavyweight champion and former two-time world title challenger is coming into this fight off of two straight wins and last fought in March of this year in scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Ihor Shevadzutskyi. Pulev will also have two other advantages going into this fight in addition to being the more active of the two fighters.

Pulev is the naturally bigger fighter standing nearly 6’5 and has a near eighty inch reach. While Charr is only giving up two inches in reach, if Pulev can establish the tempo of the combat and keep Charr at distance with his longer reach, it could pose difficulty for Charr as the fight progresses if he cannot get inside of Pulev’s reach. 

Although the weight of the two fighters is likely to be similar as both have tipped the scales in the 240lb. range in their recent fights, it will likely come down to who is able to implement their tactics between two boxer/punchers. Some may argue, however, that whom will take the next step towards a shot at a world championship may not be necessarily determined by who wins and who loses, but rather whether the winner will be able to put on a quality performance in order to drum up the type of buzz that will support the victor as the next challenger for Usyk or Fury. We will have to wait and see if Manuel Charr or Kubrat Pulev will be able to make a strong argument for themselves.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Charr vs. Pulev takes place on Saturday, December 7th in Sofia, Bulgaria. The fight can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 1PM ET/10AM PT (*U.S. Times Only.*) 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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DAZN TO BROADCAST RIYADH SEASON’S USYK VS FURY 2 : REIGNITED WORLDWIDE

Press Release: December 2, 2024 By DAZN - LONDON – December 2, 2024 – DAZN, the leading destination for boxing fans around the globe, will broadcast the highly-anticipated heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on Saturday, 21 December, 2024, live on DAZN PPV, from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This event will serve as the grand finale to DAZN’s extraordinary 2024 boxing lineup, which has delivered a weekly schedule of premium fights featuring the sport’s brightest stars.

Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), the reigning WBA, WBC, and WBO Heavyweight World Champion, is set to defend his titles after his historic victory over Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) earlier this year in Riyadh. The closely contested bout marked Fury’s first professional loss and crowned Usyk the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Fury now seeks redemption, while Usyk looks to solidify his place among boxing’s all-time greats. Highlights from their first legendary encounter can be found on DAZN Boxing’s YouTube Channel. 

DAZN continues to raise the bar in boxing coverage, offering fans unmatched access to elite matchups and rising stars. The Usyk vs. Fury rematch underscores DAZN’s mission to provide fans with the best boxing content year-round. “This fight is the perfect conclusion to an incredible year for DAZN and boxing fans everywhere,” said Alfie Sharman, Vice President DAZN. “Usyk vs. Fury 2 exemplifies the level of world-class events we are committed to delivering regularly, bringing fans the biggest names as well as the most competitive and exciting matchups the sport has to offer.”

The blockbuster main event will be complemented by a stellar undercard featuring elite talent across multiple divisions, including heavyweight clashes between top teenage prospect Moses Itauma (22-0, 10 KOs) and the Australian Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KOs), and undefeated Johnny Fisher (12-0, 11 KOs) against former Commonwealth title challenger Dave Allen (23-6, 18 KOs). Fans can also look forward to former WBA 154-pound Champion Israil Madrimov (10-1, 7 KOs) taking on former WBC 154-pound interim titleholder Serhii Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs), Dennis McCann (16-0-1, 8 KOs) defending his European Super Bantamweight title against Peter McGrail (10-1, 6 KOs), and Scotland’s Isaac Lowe (25-2-3, 8 KOs) facing former IBO Super Bantamweight title challenger Lee McGregor (14-1-1, 11 KOs) in a featherweight bout. 

The blockbuster card will be available worldwide on DAZN. Fans purchasing the event on DAZN Pay-Per-View before Saturday, 4 December will automatically enter a sweepstake for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid VIP trip to Riyadh, including ringside seats. Information on how to enter can be found HERE.

DAZN subscribers can access the fight via the DAZN app on any device, from smart TVs to smartphones and tablets, with no additional contracts or hidden fees.

For more information and to purchase the fight, please visit www.dazn.com. 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

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 for information on how to order this pay-per-view event please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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Dubois Batters Joshua, Should Joshua Fight On?

The encounter between IBF Heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois and former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua on September 21st was one rhat had a bit of controversy attached to it. After all, it was one that came about in part because of the politics of the sport that be forced the recent undefeated Undisputed Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk to decide to relinquish the IBF crown due to a contractually mandated rematch with former two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, which will come on December 18fh in Saudi Arabia.

Often times, when such decisions are made that causes a fighter who was in position to challenge a world champion who is either stripped or relinquishes a championship where the top contender, in this case Dubois, is named world champion, the criticism and yes, vitriol of Boxing fans are aimed squarely at the new champion. All too often, the response is to try and discredit the champion even though, the fighter is not the one responsible for such decisions that are made on the business side of the sport of Boxing.

While Dubois had this scenario placed upon him, his first title defense against a proven stalwart of the Heavyweight division in Joshua offered a chance to make a statement to the cynics and the keyboard warriors that be that he should not be discredited. For Anthony Joshua, this fight not only offered an opportunity to regain a portion of the World Heavyweight championship, but if he were successful, he would add his name to a specific group in Boxing history of being part of a select group of fighters that have won the World Heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. A list that includes Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, and Wladimir Klitschko. 

A world champion seeking to make a statement and a former champion looking to add his name to a category in Boxing history. Normally, this alone would be enough to draw interest. When you throw in the legendary Wembley Stadium in London, England and a record crowd of 96,000 spectators, you have the definition of an event. The very definition of “Big Fight Atmosphere." 

What stood out to me was not what happened at the opening bell, but rather the ring walk of the champion. From the moment Daniel Dubois emerged from the locker room, he had the look of a fighter on a mission. Some may even go as far as to call him " A Man Possessed." In contrast to Dubois, Joshua emerged looking as though this was another day at the office for a fighter who has taken part in many of these types of events in sold out stadiums over the last decade. Although there was not something that appeared to be unusual, perhaps Joshua was giving a vibe of one who was comfortable, despite being in the role of the challenger.

Dubois took the initiative by immediately taking the center of the ring and putting Joshua on the defensive. It was evident quickly that Dubois, one of the Heavyweight division’s “Knockout Artists" was putting everything he had behind every punch he threw. The champion staggered Joshua with a right hand to the head that had him hurt early in round one. 

Perhaps not expecting Dubois to come out as fast as he had, Joshua did not keep his hands up and was open for the right hand. It would be a right hand thrown by the champion as Joshua was backing straight up against the ropes that would knock the former world champion down in the first round.

From this point in the fight, Joshua was on unsteady legs. When a fighter is hurt as Joshua was, normally the tactical thing to do if you are the hurt fighter is to try and hold your opponent and try to buy yourself time to recover. Joshua not only did not try to clinch Dubois, but he also kept his hands down, seemingly inviting more punishment. Joshua's inability to make tactical adjustments to not only try and give himself time to recover, but also not adjusting himself where he could try and avoid the punishment Dubois was dishing out, resulted in more knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds.

Frankly after the second knockdown in round three, this observer wondered aloud what was keeping Joshua up as he was taking a beating, but also to his credit, trying to fight back in spots. Following a third knockdown in the fourth round, I was surprised the fight was allowed to continue even though Joshua subtly was starting to land some heavy punches of his own.

Going into the fifth round, I felt that if Joshua had any chance of turning things around, he would at minimum have to try and slow the pace of the combat down, if not land something that would turn things dramatically in his favor. At the same time, though Daniel Dubois was clearly dominating the fight and showing he was a Heavyweight champion, in spite of his critics, I wondered whether there would come a point where he would punch himself out.

A problem for some fighters who are labeled as “Knockout Artists" have is they tend to fall in love with the idea that their punching power will always be the component that will lead them to victory. While it is indeed true that a fighter that can score knockdowns has a way at least in theory to dig themselves out of a hole on the scorecards if they can land cleanly due to their power, or build a lead on the scorecards with the same attribute, the danger often is they forget to pace themselves and by throwing everything they have into every punch, if an opponent can find a way to avoid most of those punches or withstand a good majority of them, the asset of having punching power can go from an asset to a detriment that can work against them. 

In this case, Daniel Dubois was clearly dominating the fight, but seemed to be starting to show slight signs of fatigue. It should also not be dismissed as to the potential psychological affect it can have on a fighter when they continue landing hard shots on their opponent round after round and despite all that effort, the opponent is still there. For a brief moment in the fifth round, it appeared as though there was a glimpse of a potential shift in the fight as Joshua connected with a flush right hook to the head of the champion that had Dubois hurt and moving backwards as Joshua pressed forward, he did so recklessly and ended up walking into a flush counter right hook, sending the former champion down for the fourth time. This time, Joshua was not able to beat the count. The fight was over. 

If one were to draw up an ideal scenario for a world champion in their first title defense, this was the type of emphatic statement-making performance you would want to see if you're in the Daniel Dubois camp. Simply put, it was nearly perfect and devastating. While Dubois seemingly put himself in position to challenge the winner of the upcoming Usyk-Fury rematch, it is worth noting that there is a rematch clause here and it would seem that Anthony Joshua has every intention of invoking it.

After the second knockout loss in his career, however, the question is should Joshua continue on? Anthony Joshua is a future Hall of Famer, there is no doubt about it, but there are likely some who are at least suggesting that this could be the end of the road for him. This observer has never been one to tell a fighter when it's time because it is not my place to do so, but longtime readers should know that I have frequently voiced and written of my concerns for fighters health as obvious signs of decline and eroding skills become evident.

This does not appear as though this might be a case of a fighter’s skills eroding, but it is clear something went wrong for Joshua in this fight. Whether that was in preparation for the fight in terms of strategy or not being prepared for the pace that Dubois established, something was not there. While it's important to remember that fighters, like the rest of us, are human and are as prone to a bad night as anyone, there is one thing that I did notice. 

Some might recall Joshua's first encounter with Andy Ruiz in June 2019. A fight that ended his first reign as a World Heavyweight champion. In the third round of that fight, Joshua scored a knockdown of Ruiz with a left hook to the head. Upon the fight resuming following the knockdown, Joshua pressed forward in a manner similar to how he approached Dubois in the fifth round. Ruiz subsequently caught an over aggressive Joshua with a hook of his own and knocked the then champion down to the canvas. Joshua did get up from that knockdown, but he was never the same after he got caught and Ruiz was able to stop him in the seventh round. Although some may view the similarity as purely coincidental, the commonality between the two fights is Joshua did not approach either Ruiz or Dubois with a tactical Boxing mentality once he had his opponent hurt and both were able to exploit vulnerabilities that Joshua has in terms of defense.

If Anthony Joshua is going to continue on with his career, he will need to correct his mindset, be more tactical and wait for opportunities for potential knockdowns and knockouts to come to him rather than recklessly pursuing an opponent looking for the kill. He and his team should have the evidence to suggest that the latter approach is not one that often leads to success. In terms of if he can come back and once again regain his standing in the Heavyweight division, it will take time, but fighters through the entire sport have suffered knockout losses similar to and in some cases worse than the one he suffered here against Daniel Dubois and were eventually able to bounce back. It may be a question of whether Joshua has the commitment to retool his skillset, really focus and refine his defense, and whether he's willing to fight his way back up the ranks if a rematch with Dubois does not happen immediately. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Fury-Usyk: The Wait Was Worth It, But Will Boxing Politics Ruin History?

As this observer reflects on his almost three decades covering Boxing and other combat sports, there are times where I will ponder if an event I covered over that span of time could have been approached from a different angle. It is after all understandable when one writes columns and other forms of content in various mediums day after day, week after week, and yes, year after year, that while one should always stand behind their works and views, much like a film or television director, when one has the benefit to look back years later there may be a feeling that maybe though the work is still good, little tweaks here and there may have made things even better. 

In previewing the encounter between undefeated Heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world and one where for the first time in Boxing history, all five major sanctioning organizations would have their respective world championships on the line in a single bout, it was appropriate to go back to the 1990’s for a refresher on what led to the eventual unification of three of five world titles in the division for what was the last time a fighter in the division had the label of undisputed champion in November 1999. What was mentioned by yours truly, who covered the crowning of Lennox Lewis nearly twenty-five years ago, but not really delved into due to the length of that column were the various political aspects in the sport that whether right or wrong in terms of policy, almost immediately devalued what at that point took nearly eight years to accomplish from the last time a fighter had recognition in the division as an undisputed champion in 1992.

While the structure of the sport is something that needs to be respected, which includes world champions fulfilling their mandatory defense obligations on an annual basis, a subject that I became very vocal in criticizing Lewis after his victory over Evander Holyfield in the second of their two fights in 1999, and others throughout the sport for not fulfilling their obligations to defend their world titles against a sanctioning organization’s top contender on the aforementioned annual basis, another question that should be asked is are these organizations, who each have their own policies and procedures, not doing enough to ensure that whatever progress is made, like determining an undisputed champion in a given division by way of unification, is not sabotaged?

Some might recall several years ago in a period that predated the global COVID-19 epidemic, the heads of the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) established an ongoing dialogue, dubbed “Sanctioning Body Summits" to discuss ongoing issues in the sport with the stated intention of trying to make improvements for the betterment of the sport of Boxing. A step forward that was applauded by this observer who encouraged such dialogues to continue so long as progress continued to be made.

Obviously and in the interest of disclosure with the reader, I as a member of the media did not have access to those closed door meetings and the only information I received was the same information that was made public by the respective organizations whenever such meetings would occur. One subject that if I were in a position to moderate such a meeting however, would concern what should be done under circumstances where there is a unified or undisputed champion in the sport to try and ensure as best as possible that the championships stay unified and hopefully only change hands when a champion is defeated in the ring and not by a decision made by a committee in a boardroom.

The reason yours truly brings all of this up is the sport once again has an Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world and unfortunately, it seems as though we as a sport are faced with a similar situation as we did in 1999 after Lewis defeated Holyfield. While it was Lewis, who chose to vacate the WBA championship rather than face it's number one contender John Ruiz, which had been agreed on when the WBC, WBA, and IBF established their respective top contenders, which would have to be fulfilled on a rotating basis by the champion, prior to the first bout between Lewis and Holyfield in March 1999, with Ruiz being first in line, before we go further into the subject of what could be done under those circumstances, we need to discuss what happened when the WBC champion Fury met the WBO/WBA/IBF/IBO champion Usyk on May 18th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

With many Boxing legends and celebrities in attendance including Lewis, the Boxing world was treated to a truly memorable occasion, not only because of what was on the line, but because of what happened in the ring. Despite being at a natural size and reach disadvantage, it was the shorter Usyk who initiated the combat in this fight by coming forward, forcing the bigger Fury on the back foot and seemingly getting the better of him by beating him to the punch.

In many cases when there is a significant size and reach disparity between two fighters, it is not uncommon to see the fighter that is seemingly at the physical disadvantage try gradually work their way inside by using head movement, lateral movement, and counter punching to get under the longer reach of the naturally bigger fighter to get on the inside where the terms of combat, at least in theory, would seem more favorable. This was a case where Usyk was able to narrow the gap simply by coming forward and applying pressure on Fury.

Usyk was able to win the first four rounds in my mind with this approach in addition to landing the quicker and seemingly more effective punches. As has become customary in many of Fury’s fights, he spent a lot of time doing this period of the fight choosing to showboat, frequently dropping his hands and taunting Usyk, most notably when he was in a corner. 

While clearly this was an attempt to bait Usyk into making a mistake and though there are probably some that found Fury's antics entertaining, the reality is the only thing it did for Fury was waste time and seemingly create a deficit on the scorecards for him to overcome. It was also to put it politely, not a smart approach one should take in the biggest fight of their career. Fury is not the first fighter to make such a miscalculation, and despite the evidence of it being the wrong approach more often than not, will likely not be the last. 

It would be between rounds five and eight that Fury became serious and was able to keep Usyk at distance with his longer reach as well as by getting his punches off first. This not only seemed to narrow the gap on the scorecards, but also created a significant hurdle for Usyk to try to overcome. Despite the clear shift in momentum at this stage of the fight, one thing that impressed me about Usyk was even though he took his share of punches from Fury and showed he could take the bigger fighter’s punch, he also deflected a good portion of Fury's offense by keeping his guard high. While this made him more vulnerable to body shots, which some believe to be a potential weakness for Usyk after being hurt to the body in his previous bout against to contender Daniel Dubios in August of last year, it was an effective strategy. To Usyk's credit, though he appeared to be hurt by hooks to the body in this fight as well at points throughout the fight, he was able to withstand it and kept coming forward. 

Despite the success he seemed to have in the middle rounds, it was also during this period of the bout that Fury appeared to suffer a broken nose. Although yours truly cannot say with certainty what punch may have caused the damage, I believe it may have come in an exchange of punches where Usyk was able to get the better of it. What is indisputable is the blood that began to flow from Fury's nose was a clear indication that it may have indeed been broken, not only due to the flow of blood, but also the fact that almost immediately after it happened, Fury began pawing at his nose every couple of seconds, which not only usually indicates a broken nose in some way, but also the possibility that the blood flow might be making it difficult for the fighter on the receiving end to breathe. 

Upon seeing the frequency in which Fury was pawing at his nose as well as the flow of blood, I wondered aloud as I was watching the fight, whether it would be stopped due to my having covered numerous instances over the years where bouts had been stopped due to various types of nose breaks including those that were seemingly not as obvious due to lack of blood flow coming from the nose. Although the fight would not be stopped because of the obvious injury to Fury's nose, it did cause the ebb and flow to shift back in Usyk's favor. 

This would set the stage for what would be a dramatic ninth round. For it would be late in the round that Usyk would connect with a flush left hook to the head of Fury, which badly staggered him. What would follow would be an assault of unanswered punches that would have Fury badly hurt, almost defenseless, and barely staying on his feet. Finally, Referee Mark Nelson stepped in and ruled a knockdown against Fury as the ropes prevented him from going down under the barrage of punishment. Frankly, under most circumstances like this where a fighter is badly staggered and taking unanswered blows to the degree that Fury was at this stage, the fight is usually stopped.

While Fury benefited from an experienced referee in Nelson making a split second judgment call to step in and rule a knockdown rather than stepping in and stop the fight, a different referee under the same circumstances, who is more cautious of the dangers that come with combat sports in terms of the risk for potential long-term injury or God forbid worse, would have likely stopped the fight. Some may view Nelson's call as controversial, but what a fan should keep in mind is a referee’s primary responsibility is the safety of the fighters, but also the need to make split second decisions under circumstances like this, regardless of what might be on the line in a fight. Mark Nelson is a world-class referee that has officiated many bouts on every level of the sport. Though only he can say what his thought process was, one could assume that he relied on not only his own experience as a referee, but also the knowledge that when put under similar circumstances in his career, Fury has been able to get off the canvas and recover. Thus, and fortunately for Fury, he was given the benefit of the doubt.

The knockdown and judgment call by Nelson however, would nonetheless prove to be the crucial deciding factor in the fight. As he had done several times throughout his career, Fury was able to recover and in the final three rounds of the twelve round world championship bout, was able to make those rounds close and competitive. Unfortunately for Fury, he was unable to score a knockdown of his own, which would have narrowed the impact of the knockdown in the ninth round, resulting in Usyk winning the fight and becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world via split decision at the conclusion of the bout, with the deciding scorecard being determined by a single point in Usyk’s favor. If Usyk did not score the knockdown in the ninth round, this fight would have ended the same way the first bout between Holyfield and Lewis did in March 1999, in a draw.

With the win, Olekdsndr Usyk puts his stamp on what will be a Hall of Fame career by not only becoming the first fully undisputed champion in Heavyweight history, but also because he also successfully fully unified the Cruiserweight division prior to moving up to Heavyweight, he is the only fighter in Boxing history to have successfully unified both divisions. Now comes the difficult question of what comes next. 

There was a preordained rematch clause for this fight, which would give Fury now an opportunity to try to become a three-time world champion if he wants to invoke it. The problem in terms of what is for the time being the undisputed championship is the IBF has mandated that its top contender, the undefeated Filip Hrgovic, is due for his shot at the title. Hrgovic is due to face former world title challenger Daniel Dubois on June 1st in Saudi Arabia.

Whether Usyk will ask for an extension, assuming that the rematch in Fury has already been confirmed and scheduled or, will agree to face the winner of the Hrgovic-Dubois bout next, assuming Fury wants more time to both recover and decide what he wants to do, is unknown as of this writing. The possibility of Hrgovic-Dubois being the the vacant IBF world championship is very real now if the IBF decides to strip Usyk of it's world title and thus would write a different type of chapter in Boxing history. 

It would mark the shortest period of time that a world championship in any division in the sport was fully unified before a title was stripped by a sanctioning organization from the champion and thus breaking the undisputed distinction. Two weeks…

While it is and should be viewed as a reflection of a sport that more often than not chooses to get in its own way that a possibility like that would even be on the table, it is also the definition of a conundrum and also a potential legal mess. On one hand, the standards of the sport need to and should be respected. World champions should fulfill their obligations. On the other hand, one might question and probably should, why an organization, in this case the IBF, would agree to sanction a fight for an undisputed championship if they were potentially planning to strip whomever the winner was without fourteen days of another bout where its top contender would be competing. Furthermore, why would they agree to sanction the bout knowing that there is a rematch clause of the bout that determined an undisputed champion, if it is indeed their intent to strip their world title from the champion?

Although I often refer to these types of situations and others involving the business side of the sport as “Just Another Day In Boxing Paradise," it is often situations like this which keeps Boxing as a constant subject of ridicule. At minimum, the parties involved here should have a mediation and if a compromise cannot be reached, which would allow Usyk to keep his undisputed championship and for the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois to get their opportunity, I personally cannot see a scenario that would not end up in litigation, which would be costly for all parties involved. A true mess.

While this may be all speculation and Fury might take more time, which would allow Usyk the time to fulfill his obligation and face the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois before the end of 2024 or perhaps early 2025, what could be done to prevent a situation like this in the future? If the dialogue between the sanctioning organizations is still ongoing, this should be priority number one at the next meeting. Though yours truly is not involved, I did come up with a possible idea that could be polished and refined by those who are involved.

Some may recall that prior to 1995 when the unified rules were adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), rules for a given bout were either left to individual state commissions/regulatory boards, and in the case of world title fights, a combination of rules from the various sanctioning organizations involved if it was a bout for a unified or undisputed championship. The adoption of a universal standard of rules, which has in the near three decades since it was introduced, also been implemented by various regulatory boards around the world, cleared up confusion  and has become the standard of how fights are regulated in terms of rules. Perhaps one of these “Summits" of the sanctioning organizations should be used to come up with some sort of consolidation of each respective organization’s procedures/policies as well as potentially a consolidation of rankings structure to be used only in a circumstance where there is an undisputed champion in a given division to try and ensure as best as possible that a championship stays unified as well as ensuring that fighters who earn opportunities to fight for a world title get their opportunity rather than fighting for a vacant title and then having their legitimacy as a world champion questioned and in some cases, not recognized by certain entities involved in the sport including various television networks and some in the media.

For now, this is only an idea from yours truly, but clearly something needs to be done. History should not be temporary and if these sanctioning organizations are truly interested in doing things for the betterment of the sport, it's time to prove it, rather than continuing to put the fighters involved and the sport as a whole in a “No-Win Situation." Boxing deserves better and so do the fighters.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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