Boxing
EXCLUSIVE -Usyk mounts Ukraine relief effort ahead of Joshua fight
Olympic gold medallist Oleksandr Usyk will harness the star power of his rematch with Briton Anthony Joshua to raise relief funds for his native Ukraine, the unified heavyweight champion told Reuters.
Usyk and Joshua are expected to fight later this year, though a date and location have not been determined.
Usyk joined Kyiv’s territorial defence battalion after Russia began its invasion in February but received permission weeks later to leave the country and prepare for a rematch against Joshua. He did not disclose his next location. read more
He told Reuters he will use the high-profile fight with Joshua to raise funds for Ukraine with a collection of 2,000 non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, released through Blockasset.co, hoping to generate upwards of $1 million.
NFTs are a type of crypto asset that uses blockchain to record the ownership of digital files such as an image, video or piece of text. read more
The funds raised will go to the fighter’s charity, Usyk Foundation, to help Ukrainians.
“Many people in Ukraine are now seeking help,” Usyk said, via an interpreter. “We think that as soon as it’s released, many people will actually receive this help – people who actually need it.”
The NFTs will be released ahead of the fight and designed by artist Dosbrak, who has previously worked with former UFC two-weight champion Connor McGregor and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Sweetening the deal, Usyk said two tickets to his fight with Joshua will be handed out at random to one of the NFT buyers.
The southpaw boxer was in London on a promotional visit when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24. Usyk flew to Warsaw before driving 500 miles (800 km) to Kyiv to be with his family, as he was unable to fly home directly. read more
Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a “special operation” to degrade its military capabilities and root out what it calls dangerous nationalists. Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.
Usyk said he plans to return to Ukraine immediately after the fight with Joshua, which he said he took on to “support the spirit” of Ukraine.
The 35-year-old put on a masterclass to seize the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in September, when he dethroned former world heavyweight champion Joshua in front of a sell-out crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. read more
“It’s going to be different,” said Usyk, who expects Joshua to prepare something new this time around.
He will need every tool in his arsenal to come out on top again and said the Briton should be prepared to have a few tricks thrown his way.
“I cannot reveal everything. I cannot open my cards,” he said. “One of the hints is that I’m going to change my stance or my position.”
-Reuters
The Nigerian boxing landscape has been thrown into uncertainty following reports that the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is considering steps to regulate professional boxing—an area traditionally overseen by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).
Reacting swiftly, the NBBofC has dismissed the reports as misleading, warning that any such move could destabilise the established structure of the sport in the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Board reaffirmed its statutory authority as the sole body responsible for the regulation, control, and sanctioning of professional boxing in Nigeria.
“The attention of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has been drawn to insinuations that another body intends to assume regulatory authority over professional boxing in Nigeria. We wish to categorically state that such claims are unfounded and should be disregarded,” the statement read.
The Board stressed that the NBF’s mandate is confined strictly to amateur boxing, in line with global sports governance frameworks, and does not extend to the professional ranks.
NBBofC President, Rafiu Ladipo, warned that any attempt by another organisation to assume control of professional boxing could trigger administrative conflicts, weaken regulatory standards, and expose athletes to unnecessary risks.
The Board also cautioned promoters, managers, and boxers against engaging with unauthorised bodies claiming regulatory powers.
“We advise all promoters, managers, and boxers to remain vigilant and not be misled by such insinuations. The NBBofC remains fully committed to its responsibility of regulating and sanctioning professional boxing in Nigeria in accordance with established rules and international best practices,” the statement added.
Observers within the boxing community note that clarity in regulatory authority is critical—not only for safeguarding athletes but also for ensuring fair competition and maintaining Nigeria’s credibility within the global boxing ecosystem.
For now, the NBBofC has reiterated its resolve to continue overseeing professional boxing in the country, even as stakeholders await further clarification on the reported position of the NBF.
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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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