Undefeated heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk will face kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in a spectacular crossover bout at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt this Saturday.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian makes the unprecedented move following a dramatic knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in London.
Having effectively cleared out the heavyweight division by defeating Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dubois, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist is seeking fresh motivation.
“For the first time, I am doing what I really want to do,” stated the three-time undisputed world champion.
‘Like a Hollywood movie’
The upcoming contest in North Africa represents a significant shift from traditional title defences.
Facing the Dutch kickboxing icon offers a highly lucrative opportunity against a formidable striker, albeit outside the conventional boxing rankings.
“This event will be something special, a big event in a beautiful place,” the undefeated fighter added.
“It’s like a Hollywood movie fighting in front of the Pyramids,” he continued. “This is a sport but also a show and fun, and I am happy.”
Nothing left to prove
The masterful southpaw currently holds a flawless professional record of 24 victories, with 15 coming by way of knockout.
As the first male boxer to become undisputed in two weight classes during the four-belt era, questions have naturally arisen regarding his eventual departure from the sport.
However, the highly decorated champion insists he remains acutely aware of his physical capabilities and limitations.
“I fight because I want to fight and I will stop when I want to stop,” he explained.
“I understand the body has limits and every athlete has a limited time in their sport. But, for now, I know what I can do and I know what I want.”
A UK stadium has emerged as the frontrunner to host the highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury this November, though venues in the United States and Saudi Arabia remain under consideration.
The British rivals have formally signed an agreement to face each other later this year, aiming to settle a deeply personal feud that spans decades.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that while Britain is the preferred location, the final financial decision rests with Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh.
“I think the UK is probably the frontrunner, but both fighters are receiving a huge amount of money and Turki Alalshikh is paying the bill,” Hearn said.
Winter weather considerations for British venues
Holding a major sporting event in November presents distinct logistical challenges for outdoor British locations due to unpredictable winter weather.
Wembley Stadium remains a natural candidate for a domestic blockbuster of this unprecedented magnitude.
However, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff offers the security of a retractable roof, while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has successfully hosted major winter bouts previously.
“Obviously it is in November, it does limit you slightly but wherever that fight lands we’ll be ready,” Hearn added.
Crucial warm-up bouts await both heavyweights
Before the domestic dust-up can materialise, both former world champions must successfully navigate interim contests this summer.
The Olympic gold medallist will travel to Riyadh on 25 July to face Albanian contender Kristian Prenga.
Meanwhile, the self-styled Gypsy King is also expected to take a crucial tune-up fight in early August to shed ring rust.
Despite Prenga lacking elite world-class credentials, his daunting record of 20 knockouts in 21 victories makes him a highly dangerous underdog.
“Everybody just presumes AJ will walk through Prenga, but he’s a decent fighter,” Hearn cautioned.
“He’s looking at it thinking: ‘Blimey, I chin Anthony Joshua, I’ve cracked it,’ so you’ve got to be switched on for it.”
The UFC has released fifth-ranked women’s bantamweight Ketlen Vieira and three other fighters following last weekend’s Fight Night event as part of an ongoing roster clearance.
The surprising departure of the Brazilian contender comes despite securing a victory over Jacqueline Cavalcanti on the same card.
She maintained her elite ranking in the 135-pound weight class, but officials ultimately deemed her recent performances insufficient to secure her future.
This decision forms part of a wider restructuring strategy by the premier mixed martial arts organisation.
Further casualties from weekend card
Both competitors from a light-heavyweight preliminary bout have also been removed from the company ranks.
Ivan Erslan defeated Tuco Tokkos to register his first promotional victory, yet neither man survived the latest wave of cuts.
The Croatian prospect and his British opponent now both hold 1-3 records under the promotional banner and must rebuild their careers elsewhere.
Spanish flyweight Daniel Barez completes the quartet of departing athletes.
Ongoing organisational restructure
Barez suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Luis Gurule, marking a disappointing end to his tenure.
These exits follow a period of significant turnover for the combat sports giant.
Several high-profile names have recently left the active roster, including welterweight star Colby Covington who informed officials of his retirement.
Former title challenger Mayra Bueno-Silva and striking specialist Brad Riddell were also removed during a previous operational purge.
English golfer Aaron Rai has revealed how simple but powerful advice from his wife helped him overcome his fears to win his maiden major title at the US PGA Championship.
The Wolverhampton-born golfer entered the final round of the tournament tied for second place and admittedly concerned about the pressure of a congested leaderboard.
Despite facing a star-studded chasing pack that included two-time major champion Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, the Englishman remained completely composed.
His calmness was sparked by his wife, professional golfer Gaurika Bishnoi Rai, who offered a few reassuring words before he teed off.
“She said to me on Saturday night and before I started on Sunday as well: ‘You’re ready.’ That was really powerful,” Rai explained.
Overcoming a crowded leaderboard
Heading into Sunday, the 31-year-old was far from the pre-tournament favourite to lift the Wanamaker Trophy.
America’s Alex Smalley held the overnight advantage, with 22 players sitting within four shots of the lead in a historic battle.
However, the world number 15 seized control of the tournament after making a crucial eagle on the ninth hole.
From that moment, the famously two-gloved player became untouchable as he shot six under par through his final 10 holes to secure a commanding three-shot victory.
Embracing the spotlight
Known for avoiding attention, the major champion famously has no agent and manages his own affairs with the help of his long-term mentors.
He admitted that the prospect of dealing with heightened media commitments had previously been a source of anxiety.
“[My wife] is extremely honest with me – through the good and through the not-so-good. That particular piece of advice was very reassuring,” he added.
Since clinching the title and sharing an emotional embrace by the 18th green, the new champion has begun adapting to his elevated status.
“The reception and the warmth that has come from Sunday has been a little overwhelming. I am blown away by the amount of reaction,” he noted.
Berlin’s state parliament has officially approved a proposal to host the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044, potentially marking the 100th anniversary of the controversial 1936 event.
The bid was originally unveiled last May at the city’s historic Olympiastadion, the same venue where American athlete Jesse Owens famously defied Adolf Hitler’s regime by winning four gold medals.
City officials have endorsed a concept that heavily relies on utilising existing sports facilities rather than constructing costly new arenas.
Iconic local landmarks, such as the public park located at the former Tempelhof airport, are also included in the proposed infrastructure plan.
Financial projections and political pushback
Current financial forecasts suggest the project will cost approximately €4.82bn (£4.1bn) to deliver.
However, organisers anticipate revenues of €5.24bn (£4.5bn), which would generate a net profit of around €420m (£360m) for the German capital.
“Our bid is a genuine promise for future generations. We want positive development for Berlin.”
Kai Wegner, Mayor of Berlin
A quarter of any eventual surplus is already earmarked to be handed over to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Opponents highlight historic cost overruns
The ambitious proposals have faced strong pushback from politicians representing the Left party and the Greens.
Opposition leaders raised serious concerns regarding the substantial financial risks associated with hosting the global sporting spectacle.
Tobias Schulze of the Left party noted that the last three iterations of the summer event had exceeded their initial cost estimates by more than double.
Critics have consequently dismissed the financial projections as “empty promises” and “castles in the air” given the history of similar mega-events.
National competition awaits
Organisers have explicitly ruled out holding a public referendum on the matter, choosing instead to push forward via government approval.
The capital city must now compete against three other domestic proposals from Munich, Hamburg, and the North Rhine-Westphalia region.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation will review all four applications on 26 September before submitting an official national candidate to the IOC.
England began their home T20 World Cup preparations on Wednesday with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in Derby, driven by a brilliant unbeaten half-century from Alice Capsey.
Chasing a target of 137, the home side cruised to victory with 16 balls to spare to take an early lead in the three-match series.
The 21-year-old was promoted to open the batting in the absence of regular opener Danni Wyatt Hodge and fully capitalised on the opportunity.
She smashed seven fours and three sixes during an explosive 51-ball knock, registering her highest score in international T20 cricket.
Kemp provides crucial late support
After sharing a 43-run partnership with former captain Heather Knight, the dynamic opener combined effortlessly with Freya Kemp.
Kemp blasted an unbeaten 31 from just 20 deliveries to ensure the hosts comfortably overhauled the White Ferns’ total.
Earlier in the evening, Lauren Bell set an aggressive tone for the hosts by bowling Georgia Plimmer with the very first delivery of the match.
Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith delivered an incredibly economical spell of 1-10, while stand-in captain Charlie Dean claimed two crucial wickets.
Devine fires but England restrict tourists
Dean is currently leading the side while regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt battles a calf injury ahead of the global tournament.
The tourists were restricted to 136-7 despite a blistering 45 off 22 balls from Sophie Devine, who launched four massive leg-side sixes.
Three of those maximums came during a surprisingly expensive spell from Sophie Ecclestone, who conceded 34 runs across three wicketless overs.
England will face New Zealand again at Canterbury on Saturday before concluding the series at Hove on Bank Holiday Monday.
The hosts then play India in three further fixtures before launching their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.
Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narvaez sprinted to his third stage victory of this year’s Giro d’Italia by edging out Enric Mas at the end of a 195km route to Chiavari, while Afonso Eulalio retained the overall lead.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider outpaced Movistar’s Mas to the line after the pair broke clear of their fellow escapees on the final climb.
Italian Diego Ulissi finished in third place to complete the podium on a demanding day in the saddle.
Mas falls short despite late attack
Making his debut in the Italian Grand Tour, Mas launched a blistering attack on an uncategorised climb just before the finish.
However, the three-time Vuelta a Espana runner-up was unable to distance his South American rival on the ensuing descent.
“Mas was the strongest in the climb and I knew I had to play my game, I just tried to defend myself on the uphill.”
“I was scared because when he did the sprint he almost closed me on the barriers and I was on the limit, but it was full gas racing all day, because we don’t race just in the uphills, we race on the downhills also.”
Eulalio maintains advantage over Vingegaard
The main peloton safely crossed the line more than three minutes behind the breakaway duo, ensuring no significant changes at the top of the general classification.
Bahrain Victorious rider Eulalio successfully defended his 27-second advantage over pre-race favourite Jonas Vingegaard.
The Portuguese cyclist will continue to wear the coveted pink jersey during Thursday’s stage 12.
The upcoming route features a relatively flat 175km journey from Imperia to Novi Ligure, which is widely expected to favour the remaining sprinters in the field.
Oleksandr Usyk has pledged to help Anthony Joshua prepare for his highly anticipated heavyweight bout against Tyson Fury later this year.
The Ukrainian champion has formed an unlikely friendship with his former rival, despite having defeated him in back-to-back world title fights.
Following their initial encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium five years ago, the pair have grown increasingly close outside of the ring.
Training camp alliance in Spain
The former two-time heavyweight champion has recently been working alongside the 39-year-old at a shared training base in Spain.
This collaboration follows a turbulent period for the British fighter, who recently endured a tragic personal loss following a fatal car crash in Nigeria.
However, the Watford-born boxer has found solace in his preparation, demonstrating immense focus ahead of a busy upcoming schedule.
He is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on 25 July before shifting his attention entirely to the long-awaited showdown with the ‘Gypsy King’.
‘He still has a lot of fire’
Observing his training partner at close quarters, the undisputed king of the division insists the British brawler remains a formidable force.
“Anthony is working very hard. I see his work every day in the training camp.”
He told the Metro.
“I see his focus, I see his discipline, and I see big motivation inside him. He is not finished – no, no. He still has a lot of fire.”
Targeting victory over Fury
The Ukrainian veteran is currently managing his own demanding schedule as he prepares to face Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza on 23 May.
Despite his own upcoming commitments, the heavyweight titleholder remains fully invested in ensuring his former opponent is victorious against his British counterpart.
“My friend AJ can win this fight. I believe in him. AJ has everything to win.”
He added.
“And from our side, my team and I will help him with his preparation. I always tell him: ‘AJ, my brother, I am here for you. Anything I can do to help, I will.'”