Boxing
Anthony Joshua Overlooked as Usyk Lines Up Deontay Wilder for 2026 Return
Anthony Joshua has been conspicuously left out of Oleksandr Usyk’s plans after the unified heavyweight world champion named Deontay Wilder — not the British star — as his top choice for a blockbuster return fight in 2026.
Usyk, 38, who became a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion after defeating Britain’s Daniel Dubois in London in July, confirmed he still intends to fight for another two years. Despite vacating his WBO title — a move that elevated Britain’s Fabio Wardley to full champion — Usyk retains the WBA, WBC and IBF belts.
But while fans have long speculated about a potential showdown with Joshua for a third time, the Ukrainian made it clear Joshua is not on his immediate radar.
Speaking to Boxing King Media, Usyk said:
“I continue fighting next year. I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it’s interesting.”
The choice raises eyebrows, given Wilder’s recent struggles. Since being stopped twice by Tyson Fury in their trilogy, the 40-year-old American has endured consecutive defeats to Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in 2024. After more than a year away from action, Wilder returned with a TKO win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in June — but remains far from his career peak.
Yet Usyk insists Wilder is the opponent he wants most.
“He is a world champion guy. A very famous and strong guy,” Usyk said. “One of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years. I spoke with my team and said he is the first option.”
For Joshua, who is rebuilding and remains one of boxing’s biggest commercial draws, Usyk’s comments signal a clear shift in the heavyweight landscape — and a reminder that, for now, the champion’s future plans may not include him.
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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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