Boxing
With possible emergence of mandatory title defence from WBA, Joshua vs Tyson Fury unification bout is further doubtful
The winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua rematch is likely to be ordered to defend their world heavyweight titles against Robert Helenius, who defeated Adam Kownacki in a WBA final eliminator
Joshua defeated IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev last December, while he was beaten by Usyk, his WBO challenger, meaning that the WBA are the next governing body to enforce a world title defence.
Robert Helenius could emerge as the first opponent for the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua rematch, with the WBA set to decide their mandatory challenger.
Joshua has activated a clause for an immediate rematch with Usyk, which will be held next spring after the Ukrainian star claimed the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts with a points win last month.
But according to Sky Sports, the victorious champion must then fulfil mandatory defences of his titles, with Helenius potentially next in line to challenge after he overcame Adam Kownacki in a WBA final eliminator.
“Right now we are focused on the WBA mandatory position,” Helenius’ manager Markus Sundman told Sky Sports.
“Robert fought a WBA elimination bout in March 2020 against Adam Kownacki, and he placed a stamp on that victory in the rematch on October 9.
“Usyk should really be Robert’s next bout. “There is no more deserving challenger in the WBA. Charr, Bryan, Dubois, are they more deserving? I think not.
“Sometimes you have to dig your heels in the ground and fight for something important, and I can’t think of anything in sport more important than the heavyweight championship.
“We will do what is necessary to assure Robert’s rightful position as Usyk’s next WBA mandatory.”
“In the end, of course we have respect for [president] Gilberto [Mendoza] and the WBA, and we think that ultimately they will do the correct thing and formally order Robert as the next mandatory,” said Sundman.
“The WBA mandatory is due next, and that must be Robert.”
The Finnish contender is also guided by influential advisor Mike Borao, who has steered Charles Martin and Frank Sanchez to within striking distance of world heavyweight title shots.
Helenius’ team believe he can become the modern-day ‘Cinderella Man’, emulating the exploits of James J Braddock, who famously shocked Max Baer to become heavyweight champion in 1935.
“I am happy with my performance against Adam, but I know I can do even better,” Helenius told Sky Sports.
“This is the best I’ve felt since 2011. I think I showed in my last fight that when I am healthy, I can beat anyone and am one of the top heavyweights in the world.
“I leave those decisions to my team, but I did win a WBA eliminator against Kownacki, so that should probably be the next one.
“It’s been my dream to win a world title. At this point, I am so motivated I don’t feel anyone can beat me.
“Usyk or Fury, bring them both.”
Helenius twice defeated Kownacki on high-profile bills in America to boost his reputation, but he is willing to return to Europe for a world title shot.
“Usyk and Fury present different challenges and I would likely, and gladly, face either in their home countries,” said Helenius.
“But as I’ve showed in my last two bouts, travel is no problem for me. Honestly, Europe is probably more convenient than the US for me.
“It would be so huge here in Finland. I am happy that I’ve got back to a position where many people thought I would never be.
“One thing I can tell you, I will become heavyweight champion of the world for my family, my country, and for myself.”
Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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Former multi-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement this year for his first official fight in nearly a decade, his new promotion CSI Sports/Fight Sports said on Friday, though his opponent has yet to be decided.
Before his official return, Mayweather is set for an exhibition bout with fellow boxing great Mike Tyson, with the date and venue still to be announced.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather, 48, said in a statement on his new promotion’s website.
It will mark the American’s fourth comeback from retirement, following previous exits in 2007, 2015 and 2017 — the last after beating Conor McGregor to extend his record to 50-0. He has, however, fought several exhibitions since.
Across a three-decade career, Mayweather defeated many of his era’s top fighters and headlined the three highest‑grossing bouts in history, against Manny Pacquiao, McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.
-Reuters
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