Sports

Why Usyk will be stripped of title despite win over Fury

Published

1 month ago

May 21, 2024

Oleksandr Usyk

Why Usyk will be stripped of title despite win over Fury

Oleksandr Usyk secured a victory over Tyson Fury in their undisputed world heavyweight title bout in Saudi Arabia, but the Ukrainian could lose one belt before their rematch

Despite his victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh on Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk won’t be able to hold on to all of his world title belts.

Usyk claimed victory over his British opponent by split decision, with two judges scoring the bout 115-112 and 114-113 in his favour and the other going 114-113 in favour of Fury. The Ukrainian got emotional after the fight when speaking after his victory about how much he misses his late father.

The win means Usyk remains unbeaten throughout his professional boxing career. His record now stands at 22 fights and 22 wins, with 14 of the 22 coming via knockout.

In beating Fury, he added the WBC heavyweight title to add to his other belts and become the undisputed champ. However, he’s set to have to give up his IBF title before he next steps into the ring.

Fury is expected to get a chance for revenge in an autumn rematch. “We’ll go back, have a rest up then get back to it in October,” he said after his defeat. “As I said, I believe I won the fight.”

READ ALSO:

“I don’t think about boxing now, please,” Usyk said after the Fury bout when asked about a rematch. “My camp started in September 2023, I worked for nine months. Yes of course, rematch I am ready. Listen, we have more time to do a good fight,”

While Fury and Usyk will take a few months to recharge, one man less willing to wait is Filip Hrgovic. The Croatian is the IBF’s mandatory title challenger, and Usyk’s belt is expected to be vacated in time for Hrgovic to battle Daniel Dubois for the honours in early June.

The winner of Hrgovic vs Dubois is expected to then meet Anthony Joshua in September, with Usyk and Fury to do battle the following month. There is no word yet on whether the winner of that rematch would subsequently attempt to reclaim the IBF belt.

“He’s [Usyk] done something no one else has done,” promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports. “He’s unified the four belts. Four belts on the line is the start. I’m quite sure they’ll fragment after that. And then it’ll happen again.

“We’re in such a good place as a sport and they’re such good things happening you just can’t see it ending, because there’s so many good fights to be made,” he added, while indicating Joshua can remain in the mix providing he keeps winning. “Hrgovic and [Dubois] is a great fight and the winner of that, I think everybody’s going to be happy with who the winner fights,” Warren continued.

Hrgovic, who turns 32 in June, boasts a 17-0 career record with 14 knockouts. His last victory came by first round TKO against Mark de Mori, on the undercard of Joshua’s December victory over Otto Wallin.

Why Usyk will be stripped of title despite win over Fury

Sports

Saudi club Al-Ittihad woo Ademola Lookman with €11m salary

Published

8 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Ademola Lookman

Saudi club Al-Ittihad woo Ademola Lookman with €11m salary

Saudi club Al-Ittihad has made a generous offer to Atalanta for forward Ademola Lookman, proposing an annual salary of nearly €11 million, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

According to transfer expert, Rudy Galetti, the Saudi club have also offered Atalanta €30m for the transfer, with negotiations between the clubs ongoing.

Lookman recently won his team’s first European trophy in the UEFA Europa League final, scoring three goals against previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen and becoming the match’s hero.

Despite his success, the forward is not in a rush to leave La Dea or European football just yet, but Al-Ittihad is attempting to lure him with substantial financial incentives.

READ ALSO:

Lookman has been playing for Atalanta since the summer of 2022, joining from Leipzig for €9.35m. Last season, he scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 45 matches for the Italian club.

The 26-year-old’s performances have attracted interest from several top clubs across Europe. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Serie A side Juventus are reportedly keen on acquiring Lookman, alongside several top Premier League clubs.

Since making the switch from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig to the Italians, Lookman has scored 32 times in 78 matches across all competitions for La Dea. His current contract with Atalanta expires in 2026, and while he is content at the club, he is keeping his options open ahead of the pre-season.

Saudi club Al-Ittihad woo Ademola Lookman with €11m salary

Sports

Man United keen on getting Osimhen, offer Hojlund plus cash

Published

8 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Victor Osimhen

Man United keen on getting Osimhen, offer Hojlund plus cash

Manchester United are keen on signing Victor Osimhen with the Red Devils reportedly plotting a player plus cash deal to sign the 25-year-old Napoli striker.

The Nigerian has been linked with clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG but a report from CalcioNapoli24 states that United are very much in the race as well.

According to the report, the Red Devils have offered cash plus striker Rasmus Hojlund in a deal for the Napoli man, and it will be interesting to see if the Italian giants are willing to accept such an offer.

Hojlund joined United last season and was quite impressive in his debut campaign in England. It would be quite surprising if they decided to sanction his departure. The Denmark international is a prodigious talent with a bright future, and he could develop into a key player for the club.

READ ALSO:

Napoli are prepared to cash in on Osimhen this summer despite being their leading top scorer for the past two seasons, including the Scudetto-winning 2022/23 campaign.

Having proven himself in Italian football, he could look to test himself at another league with the Premier League touted as his next destination.

After signing a contract extension with Napoli, the Nigerian’s release clause was pegged between €120m and €130m but that amount has been a problem for suitors, forcing the club to reduce Osimhen’s asking price to €100m

Napoli have been anticipating offers from the likes of Chelsea, United and PSG, but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, no official approach has been made.

The club also refused an offer of more than €200m for Osimhen from a team in Saudi Arabia last summer.

Osimhen was signed from Lille in 2020 for a fee of around €75m and the Nigeria international has gone on to establish himself as one of the most exciting strikers in world football.

Man United keen on getting Osimhen, offer Hojlund plus cash

Sports

Joshua moves out of mom’s £175k house ahead Dubois fight

Published

8 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua

Joshua moves out of mom’s £175k house ahead Dubois fight

Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua recently moved out of his mother’s north London flat into a new mansion.

The 2012 Olympic champion with nearly £100 million in the bank, revealed that he recently moved out and praised his mother, Yeta, adding that he stayed in his mother’s flat to ensure her well-being.

“I didn’t want to leave my mom alone,” he said on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

“I wanted to make sure that her foundations were strong—the nest was strong—so that when I leave, mom’s good. For me, that’s freedom. Knowing no matter where I am in the world, mom’s happy and taken care of.”

The British-Nigerian fighter will face fellow Brit Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London for the IBF belt. This bout was arranged following the confirmation by current titleholder Oleksandr Usyk that he would vacate the world title.

Usyk became the first heavyweight to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belts when he defeated Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia last month. However, he was set to be stripped of the IBF title, with the body stipulating he must face its mandatory challenger, Dubois, to retain it.

READ ALSO:

Dubois, who beat Filip Hrgovic to become interim IBF champion earlier in June, said he is determined to dethrone the two-time world champion, Joshua. “That’s just what I’m aiming for—to be the best,” Dubois said.