Mini Preview: Ramirez-Richards

On Thursday June 4th, the Casino Montreal in Montreal Canada will play host to an interesting bout with potential world title implications in Boxing’s 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division. Top contenders Albert Ramirez and Lerrone Richards will meet in a twelve round bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

This will pit the unbeaten Ramirez (22-0, with 19 Knockouts) against the number six rated WBA Light-Heavyweight contender Richards (19-1, with 4 Knockouts) in an encounter where Interim/Regular champion status in the WBA’s Light-Heavyweight ratings, a designation currently held by Ramirez, will be at stake. Although such designations often amount to Boxing’s version of window dressing, this is still a fight  between two top contenders in the Light-Heavyweight division where one fighter, Ramirez, is in position to challenge for a world championship, which in regard to the WBA, is  currently held by the recently returned Dmitry Bivol.

As some recall, Bivol, the current unified WBA/IBF/WBO world champion, who also holds recognition by Ring Magazine as World Light-year weight champion, returned to action one week ago at the time of this writing, following a one year absence due to recovering from a severe back injury, which required surgery. In that outing, the champion dominated a very “Game,” but outclassed IBF number one contender Michael Eifert over twelve rounds to retain his unified crown. While by all accounts, Bivol appears to be by all accounts heading towards a third bout with former Undisputed Light-Heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev, a fight like this does offer a chance for the participants to maneuver into position either to face either fighter if a third encounter between the two is not in the immediate future, or to be in position to challenge the winner of that fight if it indeed happens.

As far as what this fight might look like inside the ring, this is a classic scenario of a puncher in Ramirez, who has a near 87% career knockout percentage, going against more of a pure boxer in Richards. Richards has only four knockouts in twenty professional fights. In his one career setback two years ago, Richards was stopped in six rounds by Steed Woodall. He has, however, rebounded to win his one bout since, in scoring a six round decision over Dylan Courtney in September of last year.  Though he is ranked in the top ten of the WBA Light-Heavyweight ratings, some may question whether Richards is ready for what is likely viewed as a step up in class. On the flip side of the equation, Ramirez has stopped his last four opponents inside the distance.

Conventional wisdom suggests that if Richards is to be successful in this fight, he must use his range boxing out of a southpaw stance to try and establish an elusive target. The obvious question here will not only be can he do so, but more specifically, do it for all twelve rounds because Ramirez’ fight plan will likely center on trying to cut off the ring, limit Richards’ ability to move, and try to systematically break him down with the theoretically harder punches as the fight progresses.

While not necessarily for a world championship unless the political elements of the sport ends up dictating for one reason or another that the winner of this fight will be named champion in the event Bivol is somehow stripped of or chooses to relinquish the WBA world championship down the line, this is still an opportunity for one fighter to maintain his position as a mandatory challenger and for the other, a chance to move into the upper echelon of the division where there will likely be no shortage of opportunities for lucrative bouts both inside and out of the WBA rankings.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Ramirez vs. Richards takes place on Thursday, June 4th at Casino Montreal in Montreal, Canada. The fight as well as its full  undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT. 

(*North American Start Times Only*) (*Card and Start Time Subject To Change.*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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Bivol Outclasses Eifert

The ingredients for a triumphant return to the ring from back surgery after over a year out of the ring were in place when unified Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol got back into the ring to defend his IBF/WBA/IBO crown as well as recognition from Ring Magazine as Light-Heavyweight world champion to face number one IBF contender Michael Eifert on May 30th at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Although this observer does not personally like to use the term “Comeback Fight" due to it being dismissive of the opponent of the fighter that is making the " Comeback,” particularly when in this case, ot a world championship bout and Eifert was the IBF’s number one contender, perception did indeed become reality.

Before what looked to be a sell out crowd, Bivol quickly showed that he did not miss a step after being out of action for more than a year to address a lingering back injury, which required surgery. From the opening bell, the two-time World Light-Heavyweight champion seized command of the fight.

Bivol scored a knockdown of Eifert in the first round with a perfectly timed left hook to the head that sent the lunging challenger down to the canvas. While in recent years Dmity Bivol had developed a reputation as a master boxer of the highest caliber, this fight gave an early impression that this might have been a return to the “Knockout Artist” reputation that the champion had developed several years ago.

This was due to not only the fact that Bivol scored a knockdown of his opponent early in the contest, but specifically because Bivol essentially landed whenever he wanted and it became clear early that though Eifert was very “Game," he did not have the skillset or punching power that could turn the fight suddenly in his favor. To word things differently, there are levels in combat sports not just in regard to weight classes, but in terms of caliber of opponent. In this case, Michael Eifert was outclassed by a master of the craft of Boxing and took a too steep step up in caliber of opposition, as Bivol dominated every round and Eifert had trouble landing anything significant on the champion. Although the contest was decided early, to his credit, Michael Eifert made it to the final bell in going twelve rounds with the future Hall of Famer Bivol, who retained his unified world championship via unanimous decision. 

If there is a criticism here for a world champion coming off a long layoff due to injury and putting forth a near flawless performance, it could be that Bivol did not force the issue to where he may have been able to get a knockout. Whether one chooses to criticize him for that, perhaps the goal here beyond fulfilling his commitment to face a mandatory challenger as far as the IBF is concerned in this go around of mandatory title defenses that all world champions must fulfill annually, was to get some rounds in and work off the ring rust as well. After all, it is not an enjoyable experience rehabilitating from any injury and in this case, going the distance may have been more beneficial for Bivol in the long-term than if he had scored a quick knockout, though the latter would have obviously been more attention-grabbing.

In terms of what's next,  most would say a third encounter with Artur Beterbiev, who is the only fighter to defeat Bivol and vice versa would seem to be the most logical option given they split two fights between them. Obviously, from a business standpoint as well as a financial one, it would seem to make the most sense, but given Bivol holds three world titles in the Light-Heavyweight division currently, it will be interesting if he opts to do another mandatory defense before a third fight with Beterbiev takes place. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Han Defeats Holm In Rematch: MVPW-03 Results From El Paso, TX

Credit: Cooper Neill/Most Valuable Promotions

Press Release: May 31, 2026 By Most Valuable Promotions-  EL PASO, TEXAS – MAY 30, 2026 – Tonight at the El Paso County Coliseum in her hometown of El Paso, TX, live on ESPN, Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (14-0, 3 KOs) successfully defended her world title and preserved her undefeated record with a razor-thin majority decision victory (95-95, 96-94 x2) over Albuquerque, NM native and the greatest two-sport athlete of all time, Holly Holm (34-4-3, 9 KOs), in the highly anticipated main event of MVPW-03. 

In a fiercely competitive rematch over ten three-minute rounds at 135 lbs, Han opened strongly, stunning Holm in the second round and building an early lead with sharp left and right hands while fighting through a cut beneath her eye. Holm adjusted well in the middle rounds, increasing her output and becoming the aggressor behind steady combination punching and movement. She outworked Han over stretches of the fight, ultimately outlanding her 107-70 in total punches while throwing 437 punches to Han’s 358. Despite Holm’s late pressure and higher output, Han’s fast start and control of key early exchanges proved enough to edge the close rounds on the scorecards, earning a majority decision victory and another successful title defense.

MVPW-03 also marked a historic milestone for women’s boxing, drawing more than 7,000 fans and surpassing every previous combat sports gate in the storied history of the El Paso County Coliseum to become the venue’s highest-grossing combat sports event of all time. The event streamed live on ESPN and the ESPN App.

In a historic moment for women’s boxing, MVP’s unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs) delivered another career-defining performance in the double main event, stopping mandatory challenger Cheyenne “Pepper” Hanson (17-3, 13 KOs) with a ferocious second-round TKO to retain her WBA, WBO, and Ring Magazine featherweight world titles at 126lbs. After a measured opening round contested under equal rules with three-minute rounds, Serrano found her rhythm and overwhelmed Hanson with a relentless barrage of combinations, trapping the challenger in the corner and forcing referee Robert Hoyle to halt the contest at 2:25 of round two. Serrano landed an astonishing 55% of her punches throughout the bout and, with the victory, tied Christy Martin’s all-time women’s boxing KO record with 32 career KOs while further defining her legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history.

Also on the main card, MVP’s unified IBF and WBO middleweight world champion Desley Robinson (12-3, 4 KOs) of Logan City, Australia, successfully defended her world titles with a dominant unanimous decision victory (100-90 x2, 99-91) over former world champion Mary Spencer (10-4, 6 KOs) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Robinson established control early, hurting Spencer late in the opening round before consistently landing the cleaner, harder combinations throughout the 10-round championship bout at 160 lbs. Spencer showed her veteran toughness and attempted to disrupt Robinson’s rhythm, but Robinson’s superior pressure proved decisive, further cementing her place atop the middleweight division. Robinson’s performance earned her MVP’s Performance of the Night Bonus of $20,000.

Opening the main card, Mexico’s WBC junior flyweight world champion Lourdes Juarez (40-4, 5 KOs) successfully defended her WBC junior flyweight world title with a hard-fought split decision victory (95-94, 94-95, 98-91) over MVP’s three-division champion Yokasta Valle (34-4, 10 KOs) in a 10-round bout at 108 lbs. The bout featured closely contested opening rounds before Juarez began to separate herself with cleaner, sharper punching, including badly wobbling Valle in the second round. The action intensified in the tenth round when an accidental head clash left Valle cut near her eye, before Juarez punctuated her performance by dropping the Costa Rican star in the closing moments of the fight, proving why she remains one of the division's elite champions. 

In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s and Mexico’s #4 WBC, #6 WBO, and #6 WBA contender Yesica Nery Plata (31-3, 3 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico delivered a composed and technical performance to earn a unanimous decision victory (78-74, 79-73 x2) over Coachella, California's Brook Sibrian (8-6, 3 KOs) in their eight-round light flyweight bout at 108 lbs. Plata controlled the action with her trademark pressure and sharp combinations, consistently outlanding Sibrian and dictating the pace across all eight rounds. Sibrian pressed forward throughout and invested in the body early, but Plata’s sharper combinations and accurate counters off the back foot carried the rounds and proved to be the difference to secure her the win.

MVP’s Miranda Reyes (9-3-1, 3 KOs) thrilled the hometown El Paso crowd with a standout performance vs. Italy’s Camilla Panatta (8-4-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round super featherweight bout at 130 lbs. Reyes took command early, dropping Panatta with a clean right hand in the second round before showcasing sharp combinations and punishing body work throughout the contest. Panatta pressed the action and displayed tremendous toughness over eight competitive rounds, but Reyes’ cleaner, more effective offense ultimately secured a unanimous decision win (79-72, 77-74 x2). 

Also on the card, MVP’s two-time U.S. national amateur champion and rising prospect Alexander “The Alley Cat” Gueche (12-0, 7 KOs) of Long Beach, California, remained undefeated with a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over San Antonio’s Joshua Montoya (7-5-2) in an eight-round junior featherweight bout at 122 lbs. In a closely contested matchup, Montoya’s speed and high-volume offense kept the action competitive throughout, but Gueche’s relentless pressure and sharper power punches proved to be the difference as he secured an unanimous decision win (77-75, 78-74 x2) over Montoya, further cementing his status as one of boxing’s brightest young prospects.

Additionally, WBA #3 and WBC #5 contender Nazarena Romero (15-1-2, 8 KOs), delivered a polished and technical performance against Maria Salinas (27-15-6, 7 KOs), earning a dominant unanimous decision victory (80-72 x3) in their 8-round junior featherweight bout at 122 lbs. Opening the card, MVP’s undefeated prospect Elise Soto (11-0, 9 KOs) passed the toughest test of her young career, using relentless pressure and a punishing body attack to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision victory (39-37 x3) over Thalia Joseline Limon (4-2, 3 KOs) in their four-round featherweight bout at 126 lbs.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions.

About MVP

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) was founded in August 2021 by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian with a fighter-first ethos. Since its inception, MVP has produced 30 live boxing events, currently promotes nearly 60 fighters, 16 world champions, and 26 top contenders.

MVP has led boxing’s evolution in the streaming era through partnerships with the world’s leading platforms. In November 2024, MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 was the first-ever live professional sports event streamed on Netflix. Paul vs. Tyson shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event of all time with 125 million live viewers worldwide. MVP went on to partner with Netflix twice in 2025 for MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day.

Today, MVP is the global home of women’s boxing. MVP’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in 2022 was the first female fight to headline Madison Square Garden, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 in 2024 saw 74 million viewers globally on Netflix and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million AMA in the US. Their 2025 trilogy on Netflix topped an all-women’s megacard that set the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles, earning nearly 6 million viewers globally. 

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions/Photo Courtesy of: Cooper Neill/Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Thunderdome 54 Results: Bazley Shines With Stunning TKO Victory

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: May 30, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing Last Night,(May 29th) DragonFire Promotions held their second event of the year in what proved to be an explosive night of boxing action.

In the main event, Michael Bazley defeated Ryan Williams to capture the WA State Heavyweight Championship in what was a blockbuster showdown. 

The card also saw rising prospects Owen Corrigan and Tanaka Saburi claim championship glory in impressive fashion.

Michael Bazley Wins State Championship in Devastating Fashion

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing 

In the headline bout of the evening, “Big Bad” Michael Bazley defeated Ryan Williams to become the new WA State Heavyweight Champion.

Since making his professional debut, Bazley has quickly made a name for himself on the Perth boxing scene with a string of destructive knockout victories. 

Those performances earned him his biggest opportunity yet, a fight for the state title against the experienced Ryan Williams.

The matchup was expected to be Bazley’s toughest test to date, but it was passed with flying colours after he secured a crushing second round TKO victory.

Williams started the fight aggressively, pressing forward early and backing his much taller opponent onto the ropes. Bazley responded well by landing a sharp punch that opened a cut above Williams’ left eye.

The fight dramatically shifted in the second round. As Williams continued to apply pressure, Bazley caught him with a perfectly timed right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas.

Williams beat the count and bravely continued to push forward, but the momentum had clearly swung in Bazley’s favour as he began landing the cleaner and heavier punches.

In the final minute of the round, Williams was caught by another barrage of shots before a flush left hook dropped him for the second time.

Although the veteran managed to get back to his feet, his corner threw in the towel moments later, giving Bazley the stoppage win along with the WA State Heavyweight Title.

The championship victory further highlights Bazley’s rapid progression in the sport since debuting less than a year ago.

Following the fight, Ryan Williams confirmed his retirement from boxing after previous speculation surrounding his future.

Owen Corrigan Defeats Micah Rivetti Again to Remain Undefeated

Earlier in the card, Ireland’s Owen Corrigan defeated Micah Rivetti to capture the ANBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Championship.

The two men first met back in March, when Corrigan earned a hard-fought split decision victory. 

Ahead of the rematch, Corrigan relocated to the East Coast to train under renowned coach Angelo Hyder. The move paid dividends as the Irishman delivered a dominant performance to secure his second professional title.

The fight began at a high pace, with both men looking to make an early statement. Rivetti attempted to close the distance, swinging aggressively in an effort to get inside.

Corrigan remained composed and found success with his timing and accuracy. In the second round, he landed a perfectly timed right cross that dropped The Aussie to the canvas.

Rivetti was able to answer the count but the gap in class started to show, as the undefeated Irishman completely took over the fight and relentlessly hunted the finish.

Corrigan controlled the range of the fight with straight punches before dropping his opponent again just before the round ended.

Further knockdowns followed on the visibly fatigued Rivetti in the third and fourth rounds, before a crushing body shot forced the referee to wave off the contest.

The win improves Corrigan’s professional record to 6-0 and earns him the ANBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Championship, adding a second title to his growing resume.

Tanaka Saburi Captures First State Championship

Rising prospect Tanaka Saburi claimed his first professional title with a stoppage victory over Bikash Rana for the WA State Light Welterweight Championship.

The contest began cautiously, with Saburi dictating the tempo of the fight by using his jab to keep his Nepalese opponent at bay.

Rana attempted to pressure forward and fight on the inside, but Saburi’s superior movement kept him out of danger.

As the fight progressed, Saburi began opening up offensively. In the third round, he repeatedly backed Rana onto the ropes while landing heavy body shots and sharp hooks.

As both fighters prepared for the fourth and final round, Rana’s corner surprisingly decided to stop the contest. 

Saburi was awarded the stoppage victory and the first championship of his professional career, while the loss for Rana marks his first defeat inside the distance.

With another composed and dominant performance under his belt, Tanaka Saburi continues to establish himself as one of Western Australia’s most promising talents.

Full Card Results

WA State Heavyweight Championship

Michael Bazley DEFEATED Ryan Williams by 2nd Round TKO (Corner Stoppage)

Emmanuel Ritti DEFEATED Nobutatsu Suzuki by 1st Round TKO 

ANBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Championship

Owen Corrigan DEFEATED Micah Rivetti by 4th Round TKO

WA State Light Welterweight Championship

Tanaka Saburi DEFEATED Bikash Rana by 3rd Round TKO (Corner Retirement)

WBF Masters Cruiserweight Championship

Riccardo Montelone DEFEATED Mark Stephenson by 1st Round KO

Joel Lewis vs Weifang Li ended in a MAJORITY DRAW

2026 Alan Pond Cup

Luke Dowsett vs Steve Sibincic ended in a SPLIT DRAW

Bilal Seidu DEFEATED Theepakorn Pankasem by 1st Round TKO

Nicolas Serrano DEFEATED Mitchell Arnold by Unanimous Decision

Exhibition Fight

Matt Francis DEFEATED Oliver Wyborn by 2nd Round TKO (Corner Stoppage)

Exhibition Fight

Elijah Murray DEFEATED Tyson Palelei by Unanimous Decision

Material Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photos Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

The Return Of Dmitry Bivol

In February of last year, longtime Light-Heavyweight cornerstone Dmitry Bivol became a two-time world champion by defeating Undisputed World Light-Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in their rematch, avenging his lone career defeat to Beterbiev when the two met in October 2024 to fully unify the Light-Heavyweight division. While Bivol not only became a two-time world champion by besting Beterbiev, he also added his name to the short list of fighters to have become an undisputed champion in the long history of the division.

As seems to be the norm in recent times, however, Bivol’s time as an undisputed champion was short lived. In Bivol’s case, he opted to address a back injury shortly after becoming champion again, which he had been dealing with for a decade, which required surgery, which in turn, led Boxing's various sanctioning organizations, namely the WBC and WBO of their respective portions of the World Light-Heavyweight championship, removing his status as an undisputed champion, despite his being sidelined due to recovering from surgery. More than one year has passed since Bivol’s victory over Beterbiev and though a third encounter between the two appears likely, Bivol, now a unified world champion will defend his IBO, WBA, IBF World Light-Heavyweight crown against current IBF number one rated Light-Heavyweight contender Michael Eifert on Saturday, May 30th at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia in a fight that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN. 

On the surface, this appears to be a tailor-made “Comeback Fight” for the champion. This is due largely to the advantages that Bivol has both in terms of overall experience as well as caliber of opposition. While most would concede that this is a significant step up in class from Eifert, he does have an impressive, albeit limited resume. The challenger will enter this significant step up in class in challenging for his first world title with a record of 13-1, with 5 Knockouts. Although numbers wise, Bivol is 24-1, with 15 Knockouts, not appearing to some to be a significant disparity in experience, the story behind the numbers all falls under the pretense of caliber of opposition. What Eifert does have going for him, however, is he has never been stopped in his career to this point and will enter the bout on a seven fight winning streak. 

A potential red flag, however, particularly given his status as a current number one contender is that Eifert has not fought in over two years, yet has maintained his ranking with the International Boxing Federation (IBF), despite his inactivity. This will likely come down to two factors. One, what type of condition will the champion Dmitry Bivol be in coming off of a significant hiatus and surgery to repair a back injury, and two, what kind of challenge will Michael Eifert try to present to the champion. Earlier in his career, Dmitry Bivol developed a reputation as a “Knockout Artist” that was for a time being compared to the then Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin in terms of punching power and demonstrating a penchant for scoring quick, and often brutal knockouts. As time went on and as the caliber of his opposition increased, Bivol showed that he was far more than a power puncher and has truly become a complete fighter without too many flaws that have been able to be exploited by opponents. It will be up to Eifert to show that he has the skillset to be able to solve a puzzle that only one fighter to this point was able to get by in Artur Beterbiev. Put simply, you never know what will happen when two fighters get into a ring to do battle, and while fighters like the rest of us, are all human and can easily have a bad night at the office. The odds are against Eifert here and it will be up to him to show that his status as the underdog has been miscategorized.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Bivol vs. Eifert takes place on Saturday, May 30th at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The fight can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 11AM ET/8AM PT. 

(*North American Times Only.*) 

(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

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Did Mark Lyson Rob Rico Verhoeven Of History?

Credit: DAZN 

The fight between future Hall of Famer and current unified World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former Kickboxing World Heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23rd at the Pyramids of Giza in Giza, Egypt was one that had controversy surrounding it from the moment it was announced. Controversy rooted in the World Boxing Council (WBC) opting to sanction the bout for its version of the World Heavyweight championship, which Usyk currently holds, despite the challenger only having one professional fight prior to the encounter in the sport of Boxing. Though Verhoeven emerged victorious in that one outing over a decade ago, he was not in a position where one could claim that he had earned a shot at a world title in the sport, despite his vast credentials in the sport of Kickboxing where he is a future Hall of Famer.

Controversy going into the fight aside, it was nevertheless a curiosity as it always tends to be when two top fighters from different combat sports disciplines square off against each other with one often leaving their sport to challenge the other in theirs. Despite a not so stellar record of fighters from other sports succeeding in the Boxing ring, there were as this observer pointed out in previewing this encounter, a few exceptions and as such Verhoeven’s chances could not be outright dismissed simply based on the difference of experience between himself and Usyk when it came to Boxing. After covering combat sports with Boxing as my primary for over three decades and being as well-versed as anyone in the sport when it comes to offering an educated guess based on my experience, even I could not have predicted what took place when the two fighters met in the truly unique location in front of the Pyramids of Giza and will felt admit, even I was a little surprised.

As I stated in previewing this fight, the onus was on Rico Verhoeven to show that he could combat Usyk’s hand speed, ability to use angles, and deceptive punching power. To the surprise of many, including this observer, Verhoeven was the one dictating the pace of the fight from the outset. By using his 6’5 frame and near 259lb. weight, it was the novice boxer that was consistently backing up the former two-division undisputed world champion, landing hooks and having surprising success in landing his right hand. An aspect of Verhoeven’s approach that I found particularly effective was he constantly moved both his arms up and down in virtually every round. A strategy I have seen implemented on occasion particularly in lower weight divisions where it serves two purposes. First as a way to deflect incoming punches, as well as to attempt to limit an opponent's offensive output.

For most of this fight, Verhoeven, round after round, succeeded in limiting Usyk’s output to such a degree that the champion and master boxer was unable to get into anything resembling a consistent rhythm, as whenever Usyk would appear to land cleanly, Verhoeven would immediately return offense. It was this strategy that as surprising as it was, this observer felt carried Verhoeven to win seven of the first eight rounds on my scorecard. As the fight entered the late rounds, however, Usyk did start to make up some ground, and despite putting forth a remarkable performance that no one could have logically expected, Verhoeven did show some signs of fatigue, which was certainly understandable given the high pace he put forth throughout the contest as well as the fact that this was only his second professional fight in the sport of Boxing.

This leads us to what proved to be the climatic round of the fight, round eleven. As Usyk seemed to be picking up momentum, but also seemingly at a stage where many observers, including this one, felt he would need a knockout to retain his title, he connected with a short right uppercut to the head that knocked Verhoeven down to the canvas in his own corner. Verhoeven was able to beat the count and seemed to withstand the follow-up barrage of blows by the champion until Referee Mark Lyson inexplicably stepped in as the bell was sounding to end the round. At first, it seemed to me in a situation I have seen and covered countless times where two fighters were in the midst of a heated battle, with the crowd in attendance loudly enjoying the action, that the referee stepped in to signal the end of the round. Within seconds, however, it was in actuality Lyson stepping in and stopping the fight and awarding a TKO victory to Oleksandr Usyk.

As is often the case in present day, I shared my thoughts on the stoppage in real time on X (Formerly Twitter) calling the stoppage incompetent as well as sharing thoughts on another element of controversy that emerged throughout the fight. Though an initiative that has not been universally adapted, but one that has been used by the WBC for many years in world title bouts, this fight had the element of open scoring and after eight rounds, despite what was going on in the ring to the vantage point of any unbiased observer two official judges had Usyk ahead slightly. At the time of the stoppage, two of the three official judges were deadlocked and had the fight scored evenly.

While one would assume given that Verhoeven was knocked when in the latter stages of round eleven, had the round gone to completion and thus had been scored, Usyk would have been up by two points on those judges respective scorecards and the third judge, who had Verhoeven ahead by two points, would have ended up with an even score going into what would have been the twelfth and final round had the fight been allowed to continue. Although I have certainly covered plenty of fights over the course of the last three decades where similar scorecards were given at the end of the day following a controversial stoppage, at minimum it would probably give an appearance to a casual viewer that potential bias may have played a role.

The idea of bias in the eyes of some would likely stem from the perception of protecting the Boxing world champion from an unlikely, but probable defeat given what took place in the ring to an undefeated novice boxer, who was primarily known for his accomplishments in the sport of Kickboxing and who was a decade removed from his last professional fight as a boxer. Although I am by no means pointing fingers and have been around long enough to know the difference between stating an opinion and stating an accusation supported by evidence, at minimum, it does not paint the best picture both of Lyson, who has served as a referee for over 1,158 bouts, many being world title bouts throughout his career, or the three official judges, who are all vastly experienced when it comes to questions surrounding objectivity. Particularly, when one considers that Rico Verhoeven was on the verge of making Boxing history by potentially winning a World Heavyweight championship in only his second professional fight. An accomplishment no fighter has achieved.When one also considers that the last time there was a major crossover bout featuring stars of two different combat sports when Tyson Fury met Francis Ngannou in October 2023, many were left with a similar bad taste in their mouths as Fury, who was unbeaten and the WBC world champion in the Heavyweight division at the time, was declared the winner of the non-title ten round bout via controversial decision, despite being knocked down over the course of the bout and clearly having a lackadaisical mindset through the fight that many felt, including yours truly that Ngannou deserved the decision.

What happens now will obviously be open to debate. Clearly, Rico Verhoeven deserves another opportunity at Oleksandr Usyk, and it will be interesting to see if the WBC will mandate a rematch. Perhaps a bigger issue, however, for the sport of Boxing moving forward is a perception that while crossover fights between boxers and stars of other combat sports will always have an appeal, some may question whether a fighter known primarily outside of Boxing will be able to get a fair shake when they do step into a Boxing ring to face off against one of the sport’s stars. Without addressing the elephant in the room, it may be harder for not just fans, but for other fighters throughout combat sports to be open to competing in Boxing or from a fan’s point of view, embrace such encounters by tuning in.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Owen Corrigan Talks Thunderdome 54 And Training With The Moloney Twins

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: May 26, 2026 By Dragon Fire Boxing -  On May 29, DragonFire Promotions makes their return to the Metro City Night Club for yet another electric night of fights. 

In the main event, “Big Bad” Michael Bazley looks to win a WA State title in his third professional fight when he takes on Damien Johnson.

Before the heavyweight clash, Ireland’s Owen Corrigan looks to win his second championship of the year when he rematches Micah Rivetti for the ANBF Australasian Light Heavyweight Title.

Just one week removed from the biggest fight of his career so far, Corrigan is embracing the moment heading into his upcoming bout.

“It’s a privilege,” Corrigan said.

“I came to Australia with not really a whole lot behind me and to now say I’m the state champion and fighting for an Australasian title it’s something I’m very proud of. 

“It gives me a lot of motivation and it fuels me.”

Corrigan and Rivetti first met earlier this year for the WA State Light Heavyweight Championship, with the Irishman edging the split decision win.

Despite getting the victory in their first encounter, Corrigan admits he walked away from the performance unsatisfied.

“In terms of performance, I don’t think it was my greatest,” Corrigan revealed. 

“I’ve watched the fight back repeatedly since and although I believe I won every round, I don’t think I stamped my presence on the fight the way I should have.”

“[Rivetti is] nicknamed ‘mad dog’ for a reason, he’s fought everyone on short notice but now he’s had two full training camps to prepare for me. 

“I’m expecting the best Micah Rivetti to turn up and I’m expecting a hard fight.”

Corrigan understands the importance of leaving no doubt the second time around, by winning in a more decisive fashion.

“It would mean a lot to get the stoppage,” Corrigan said. 

“Of course I want to win the title, but I need people to know who Owen Corrigan is, this could be the coming out party that I need.”

In preparation, Corrigan made the decision to take his camp interstate, relocating to the Gold Coast to train under renowned coach Angelo Hyder alongside former world champions Andrew and Jason Moloney.

Corrigan says the experience has elevated both his mindset and his understanding of the sport.

“I knew going into the last fight that things in my camp just weren’t up to standard,” Corrigan admitted. 

“Angelo has trained multiple world champions and being around the Moloney twins has been unbelievable.”

“You learn so much being around that environment. You learn about boxing and about the business, it really opens your mind.

“As fighters we need to learn as much as we can when we can.”

Perhaps most surprising for Corrigan has been Hyder’s approach to refining his style rather than rebuilding it completely.

“I thought everything would be turned upside down,” Corrigan revealed.

“But Angelo has really looked at what I already do well and focused on bringing the best out of it. I suppose that was one of the biggest surprises.

“He sees me as a skilled boxer and we’ve just worked on sharpening everything. It’s been an all-round improvement.”

Now, with the ANBF Light Heavyweight Championship on the line, Corrigan believes fans will see a far more complete version of himself at Thunderdome 54.

If his words are anything to go by, he intends on making sure this rematch leaves absolutely no questions unanswered.

Material Courtesy of Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara/ Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.