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Oleksandr Usyk hit with major demand from boxing personality amid heavyweight title absence

Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been urged to make up his mind on his future as titleholder, in rather quick fashion, too.

Receiving a sizable update on his immediate fighting future earlier this week, unbeaten megastar Oleksandr Usyk was granted an extension by the WBO in his bid to thrash out a deal on his return to the ring.

JUST IN: Why Canelo left his training camp just weeks before Terence Crawford showdown

And ordered to defend his championships against the WBO mandatory number one in his comeback, a niggling back injury has put Usyk’s planned fight with Joseph Parker on the back burner already.

But with his future now somewhat clearer, the Ukrainian star has been issued an ultimatum by a veteran boxing analyst today.

Oleksandr Usyk urged to fight or give up his titles

A former undisputed cruiserweight champion, too, Usyk gave up his belts willingly ahead of a planned heavyweight move back in 2019.

And once more unifying all the heavyweight titles earlier this summer with his stunning knockout of Daniel Dubois in their rematch, Usyk made divisional history once more.

However, with his latest injury setback calling into question his longevity in the division, Usyk has been urged to either take on Parker or unbeaten knockout star Fabio Wardley next — as ordered — or just vacate his crowns.

“Who am I to medically assess Oleksandr Usyk?” Gareth A. Davies told IFL TV. “Listen, I think he’s buying time, that’s my view, to assess the whole scenario [at heavyweight], because he doesn’t wanna get back in there right away.

“If you don’t wanna defend the belts, give them up,” Davies continued. …In deep technical terms, maybe he needs to relinquish a belt.”

If Usyk is to lose his status as heavyweight champion before too long, it would not come as a surprise given the Ukrainian’s recent spat with governing bodies.

Oleksandr Usyk’s previous vacating of IBF crown

First making history last year, Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years, following in the footsteps of the iconic Lennox Lewis with his first of two fights with then-WBC champion Tyson Fury.

Defeating the Morecambe native in back-to-back decision victories, Usyk would win and then defend the undisputed heavyweight belts.

However, after his second win over Fury, Usyk vacated his IBF championship, unable to meet the deadline to face the governing body’s mandatory challenger.

Going on to rematch British starlet Dubois earlier this summer after his title victory against common foe Anthony Joshua, Usyk launched a savage knockout to cement himself as undisputed gold holder again.

BOXING

Why Canelo left his training camp just weeks before Terence Crawford showdown

Canelo Alvarez has revealed the heartwarming reason he left his training camp ahead of one of the biggest fights of his career against Terence Crawford this weekend in defence of his undisputed super middleweight titles.

The Mexican left the gym behind briefly around four weeks ago to welcome his third daughter, Eva Victoria, with his wife Fernanda Gomez. Canelo admitted that attending the birth reminded him of why he fights and gave him extra motivation for Saturday’s fight.

Alvarez told the Daily Mail: “I left training to be at the birth of my daughter. I received my daughter, and everything was amazing.

JUST IN: ‘He’l be a Human Punch Bag’: Sad Truth About Mike Tyson Fightin

“It was so beautiful. But then I had to go back to my training camp. It was incredibly hard to be away from them.

“Especially when she had just arrived, but it made me feel motivated. I do everything for them. I will win this fight for them.”

This is Canelo’s fifth child – and his second with his wife of four years, Gomez.

His three other children – Emily Cinnamon, who arrived when the Mexican was just 17, Mia Ener, and Saul Adiel were all born to different mothers.

He will be hoping this added motivation will help him get over the line and beat the hungry challenger Crawford, who is vying to become a three-time undisputed champion and five-weight champion.

After being forced to vacate the IBF title, he reclaimed his undisputed super-middleweight championships in his last fight against William Scull, who had held the belt, before being comfortably outpointed by Canelo, who looked frustrated by Scull’s cat-and-mouse antics.

Crawford will be a different proposition; he is a fighter who does not fear exchanging and holds power in his hands with 31 knockouts in 41 wins, as well as an acute boxing intelligence, the likes of which is rarely seen.

If Canelo can defeat Crawford, his name will rise further through the ranks of the greatest fighters of all time.

BOXING

‘He’ll be a Human Punch Bag’ – Sad Truth About Mike Tyson Fightin

‘He’ll be a Human Punch Bag’ – Sad Truth About Mike Tyson Fighting Floyd Mayweather

The announcement that Mike Tyson will face off against Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition match next year and sparked huge reaction on social media and now, one of Money’s former opponents has offered his verdict on the fight and on Iron Mike’s chances against the undefeated icon.

The last few years have seen a number of boxing greats briefly come out of retirement to compete in exhibition bouts against celebrities, combat sports athletes or other former boxers. The likes of Roy Jones Jr and Evander Holyfield have both stepped back into the ring in recent years. As have Mayweather and Tyson. The former came out of retirement to take on Logan Paul, Deji Olatunji and Aaron Chalmers among others in exhibition bouts, while the latter lost to Jake Paul in an official boxing match.

JUST IN: Terence Crawford has two of his best wins completely ripped ap

Now, they’re set to face each other and what would have been considered a dream match with both men being two of the greatest boxers ever, but with Tyson closing in on his 60th birthday, it’s safe to say his best days are long behind him and one of Mayweather’s former opponents is worried about Iron Mike’s chances and his health.

Ricky Hatton is Concerned For Tyson

During Mayweather’s prime, in the middle of his dominance across boxing, he faced off against Ricky Hatton. The Brit was also undefeated at the time, with an incredible 43-0 record heading into their bout in 2007. He was no match for Money, though, and experienced his greatness firsthand via a 10th round TKO loss. As a result, he knows exactly what Money can do and he’s worried about Tyson following the announcement of their match next year.

Shortly before the 59-year-old’s loss to Jake Paul, his health was brought under the spotlight when it was reported that he’d almost died just months earlier due to an ulcer flare-up onboard a plane. As a result, Hatton has slammed those around Tyson who are allowing him to get into the ring with someone like Mayweather and he thinks the former heavyweight champion will merely be a punching bag for his opponent.

Speaking exclusively to Metro, Hatton said:

“In normal circumstances, given the size difference, you would probably be more worried about Floyd’s well-being, but I think the opposite. I don’t think Mike will get near him and he’ll be a human punching bag to be honest. Mike’s approaching sixty, and you saw from his last fight that he’s well and truly past it. I think Mike could really end up getting hurt. I’m not sure I even believe it yet, to be honest, but it would be bad for boxing if it is allowed.

“There’s no winner. If Mike somehow hits Floyd and flattens him, then people will say ‘Look at the size difference, it shouldn’t have been allowed’. But if Floyd goes in there and boxes his head off and uses him as a punching bag then people will say ‘We knew that was going to happen.’ So there’s no positives to come out of it except a lot of dough, which clearly is the only thing people are thinking about.”

The contest is set to take place sometime in Spring 2026 with the location and venue yet to be disclosed.

BOXING

Terence Crawford has two of his best wins completely ripped ap

Terence Crawford has two of his best wins completely ripped apart by a former boxing world champion

Terence Crawford has had his resume dissected by a retired boxer.

On Saturday night, the American will go head-to-head with Canelo Alvarez at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

JUST IN: How Terence Crawford’s inactivity might cost him against Canelo

While ‘Bud’ is smaller, many believe the underdog has a chance of defeating the Mexican. Even Canelo admits there is something about Crawford that worries him.

However, one former world champion believes the undefeated fighter is going into the contest with a relatively thin record.

Paulie Malignaggi slates two of Terence Crawford’s best wins

Paulie Malignaggi has criticized Terence Crawford’s level of opposition.

‘The Magic Man’ believes two of his countryman’s best opponents were far past their best when the fights took place.

In an episode of Boxing Scene Today, Malignaggi said: “When Crawford got Amir Khan and Kell Brook, they were a shell of what they were before.

“It looked good on the resume, but they weren’t those guys.”

Terence Crawford poses one serious problem to Canelo Alvarez, according to a legend

Canelo is undeniably the favorite going into the fight this weekend.

However, with such a tremendous skill set, a four-weight world champion won’t write Crawford off.

He had a very interesting take on the bout.

BOXING

How Terence Crawford’s inactivity might cost him against Canelo

Terence Crawford returns to the ring this weekend for the first time in over a year, stepping up to super middleweight to face undisputed champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

Doubts have already been raised over Crawford’s chances as he prepares to jump up two weight classes after just one fight at super welterweight, but inactivity is another factor that may work against ‘Bud’.

Since 2019 Crawford has fought just once a year, and his contest against Canelo will be the third consecutive fight to be staged at a different weight class.

READ: ‘Don’t tell Canelo!’: Terence Crawford provides fresh update on injury rumours

Can Crawford shake off the ring rust to emerge victorious this Saturday?

Terence Crawford’s rusty performance against Israil Madrimov

Our most recent look at Crawford was his narrow unanimous decision win over Israil Madrimov, the previously undefeated Uzbekistani, last August. Only 11 fights into his professional career, but with over 300 fights as an amateur, Madrimov more than gave ‘Bud’ a fight.

In fact, he was the first man to take Crawford 12 rounds since 2016, with the American edging the score cards 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.

Crawford’s performance against Madrimov also raised the question of how he coped with the additional weight, with some critics claiming he looked slower carrying another 7lbs.

His lack of activity, the additional weight, and the slowing down that age forces upon us all are road blocks to Crawford’s potential success against Canelo and he will have to perform better than he did against Madrimov to get his hand raised this weekend.

Canelo’s own activity outpaces Terence Crawford

Known as ‘the face of boxing’, Canelo Alvarez has settled into the rhythm of fighting close to Cinco de Mayo in the spring, before returning to action in September, close to Mexican Independence Day.

Whilst boxing around those major public holidays certainly helps commercially, it may also give Canelo a boost when it comes to ring-readiness. Since 2021 Canelo has been fighting at least twice a year, an average that continues back to 2012.

Crawford’s own inactivity may not be costly on a personal level – he could find that he performs better with longer to rest and prepare between fights. However, the younger Canelo may find advantage by being in a better rhythm.

Could a lack of a tune-up and Terence Crawford’s age prove costly?

Much of the discussion around Crawford’s chances centre on currently unknown variables. A tune-up fight would have enabled Crawford to gather information ahead of the Canelo contest, getting some rounds in, whilst also boosting his experience of fighting slightly heavier.

Of course, if Crawford produced a safe-yet-lacklustre performance against a smaller name, that same criticism would persist.

Just two weeks after his fight with Canelo, Crawford will turn 38. Over two decades of boxing will take its toll, and he no longer has to struggle with cutting weight due to being able to put on another 14lbs to fight at super middleweight, Crawford’s powers of recovery may not be what they used to be.

Crawford’s inactivity may in fact be the best approach to get as much out of his career as possible; rather than burning out quicker, ‘Bud’ will hope to increase his chances of winning fights.

BOXING

Roach Jr. Rivalry Still Burns Hot: Gervonta Davis Brushes Off

Roach Jr. Rivalry Still Burns Hot: Gervonta Davis Brushes Off Jake Paul Hype – Roach Jr. Rematch Still a Damn Mess

The announcement of the fight between Gervonta Davis and Jake Paul this November in Atlanta shook the boxing world, but it also highlighted an unresolved issue: the long-awaited rematch between Davis and Lamont Roach Jr.. While the matchup against the YouTuber-turned-boxer dominates headlines, within Davis’ camp there’s still the lingering sense that “Tank” hasn’t closed a crucial chapter in his career.

Unfinished Business in Davis’ Career

The first fight between Davis and Roach Jr., held in March, ended in a controversial draw that left fans unconvinced. Since then, it was widely expected that the two would meet again in the ring this year — but the confirmation of the Davis vs. Jake Paul fight changed the script.

Roach Jr., Between the Rematch and a New Horizon

Meanwhile, Roach Jr. voiced his frustration on social media with a sarcastic message and four duck emojis, widely interpreted as a direct jab at Davis for “ducking” him. Despite his annoyance, his camp understands that the fighter must stay active and not rely solely on Tank.

RELATED NEWS : “A Loss Could End the Hype” Ahead of Terence Crawford

In fact, Roach Jr. has already set his sights on a potential showdown with Shakur Stevenson, the current WBC lightweight champion — a fight he sees as an opportunity to cement his career in a second weight class. “The best fight for me and for the division is facing Shakur,” he stated. The message quickly earned Stevenson’s approval online.

With these developments, the super featherweight and lightweight divisions are heating up. On one side, fans are clamoring for Davis vs. Roach Jr. II, while the possibility of a Roach vs. Stevenson clash is also gaining momentum. One thing is certain: beyond the media spectacle with Jake Paul, the real sporting intrigue lies in the unfinished business Davis has with his elite-level rivals.

BOXING

Fury Declares: “Not Every Man Is Built To Be Undefeated Only

Fury Declares: “Not Every Man Is Built To Be Undefeated Only The Special Ones” – Tyson Fury

To be a fighter, you have to have a little screw loose,” Tyson Fury says calmly in a chaotic room in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will soon step back into the ring. His entourage are kicking up a racket but Fury is much more reflective. “Who on earth would want to go and fight against a highly trained athlete, time and time again? You have to be a little bit touched to want to do that.”

On Saturday night, Fury faces Francis Ngannou in a bout which could be the sporting definition of absurdity. Fury is the WBC world heavyweight champion and an indisputably great boxer. Ngannou, in contrast, has never boxed professionally even though he was a dangerous force in mixed martial arts as the former UFC heavyweight champion. So much money has been pumped into this dubious venture that Fury and Ngannou could be lauded as supreme businessmen were it not for the deeply troubling nature of boxing’s sudden veneration for Saudi Arabia.

“My oldest brother, John Boy,” Fury continues, “said to me yesterday: ‘You’re more at home in that ring than your front room. Why is that?’”

“I’ll Break Him Down” – In Explosive Rant Joshua Fires Violent

“I’ll Break Him Down” – In Explosive Rant Joshua Fires Violent Warning at Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua hasn’t been seen inside the squared circle since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois last September in London.

He has since been sidelined with an elbow injury that required surgery, but is now back actively training in preparation for a comeback.

His promoter, Eddie Hearn, has said that the former unified heavyweight champion will face a ‘carefully’ matched opponent at the beginning of 2026, before ‘a roll of the dice next summer.’

Joshua’s hiatus from the sport has seen him axed from the IBF heavyweight rankings, having previously held the No. 5 spot, but he is still expected to achieve big things upon his comeback.

RELATED NEWS : Anthony Joshua Vows To Stays Relentless, Pursuing The Fight

“Unlike his dippy mate Tyson Fury. I would dissect his career/record in minutes, but I’ll leave that for a potential gloves-off if he ever comes back and fights Big Femi.

“Fabio Wardley, respect to you as well. Bro was working in recruitment, helping your dad get a job a [couple of] years ago.

“Let that be a testament to God rooting in one’s favour and a statement to show nothing is impossible (if you can have a scrap haha).

Fury has never publicly declared his interest in facing off with ‘AJ’ in the ring, instead opting to call out Oleksandr Usyk for a trilogy, despite suffering two defeats to the Ukrainian last year.

‘The Gypsy King’ suffered a split decision defeat to Usyk in May 2024, before losing on points again in their rematch seven months later.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has expressed his desire to see Usyk defend his titles against 20-year-old Brit Moses Itauma next, potentially leaving room for Fury and AJ to meet for a bout over 10 years in the making.

Tony Yoka, who won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, has been named as a potential opponent for Joshua’s next fight, but no official announcement has been made yet.

‘AJ’ has, however, negotiated with YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul over a potential crossover clash in early 2026.

Paul is set to meet WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in November, and has made it clear that he would like to meet Joshua in a David vs Goliath-style fight after.

BOXING

Eddie Hearn Stirs Controversy: “You Are Not Clean” After Joshua

Eddie Hearn Stirs Controversy: “You Are Not Clean” After Joshua Fires at Fury

Joshua sent an uncharacteristically vocal message to Fury on social media on Tuesday calling for the pair to settle a more than a decade-long rivalry.

Hours after his former opponent Joseph Parker came face-to-face with Fabio Wardley for the first time at a launch press conference in London to announce their October 25 showdown, ‘AJ’ took to social media to praise the New Zealander whilst also taking a swipe at ‘The Gypsy King’.

“I’m proud of Joe Parker, even though he is a competitor,” the 35-year-old said on Instagram

“He’s in the game to fight whoever, whenever and that’s the DNA of a real general.

“Unlike his dippy mate Tyson Fury.”

RELATED NEWS : Angel Reese Sparks Uproar With Explosive Take on Gervonta

In his most vocal callout to date, the 35-year-old Watford man eyed a long-awaited clash with his countryman.

“I would [discredit] his career/record in minutes, but I’ll leave that for a potential Gloves Are Off if he ever comes back and fights Big Femi [Joshua].

“To my supporters, I’ll be back to lace up my boots and put on my gloves sooner than later, hopefully punching Fury’s head in and dancing round his flicker jab with ease.”

Commenting on Instagram on the callout, Hearn said: “Biggest fight in boxing.

“May 2026 be the year they dance.”

BOXING

“A Loss Could End the Hype” Ahead of Terence Crawford

“A Loss Could End the Hype” Ahead of Terence Crawford – Canelo Showdown, Says Andre Ward

Undisputed super-middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez faces Terence Crawford in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday 03:00 BST). Here, retired multiple-weight world champion Andre Ward analyses what could be one of the fights of the year.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford have got a lot to lose for different reasons. For both men, to lose this fight is not a good look and it’s not going to be good for their legacies.

Do I think their legacies and what they’ve done prior to this should be wiped out with a loss? No, but you know how this goes.

This is the last thing that people are going to remember and it’s the thing that they’re never going to let you forget about.

This is a bona fide once-in-a-generation super-fight.

RELATED NEWS : “let Move Up” Manny Pacquiao challenges Gervonta Davis with

He has never lost, yet there has to be a blueprint to beat him. Can Alvarez be the one to find it?

When Crawford and Alvarez stand side-by-side, the difference isn’t huge.

Alvarez has been fighting at 168lb for years and knows how to carry it. I don’t know how big he gets when he’s not training. With his stature and frame, there’s a danger of getting too big between camps if he’s not locked in.

Depending on which tale of the tape you look at, Crawford might even have a slight edge in height.

The more significant disparity is reach – Crawford has it by four inches, and it could be crucial. Alvarez will need to work to get inside without being caught by a shot that changes everything.

Even if the size difference isn’t obvious, Crawford will feel the weight on fight night.

Alvarez has been in with natural super-middleweights and that experience matters.

When I moved up to face Sergey Kovalev at light-heavyweight, I didn’t jump straight from 168lb (12st) to 175lb (12st 7lb) – I settled in first, carried that weight in real fights, with ten-ounce gloves, against bigger men.

Crawford doesn’t have that luxury. You’ve got to commend him for stepping straight up.

So yes, the weight will matter. Crawford will have to adjust. But I don’t think it will be the deciding factor if Alvarez does win.