Oleksandr Usyk survived a gritty, tense contest with Rico Verhoeven to retain his WBA ‘super’, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, scoring a knockout with one second left in the 11th round at the Pyramids of Giza. The finish — deemed controversial by some observers — extended Usyk’s unbeaten pro record to 25-0 and underlined that, at 39, he remains one of the division’s elite performers even when given a stern test.
That test came from a 37-year-old Verhoeven, a dominant kickboxing figure who has crossed into boxing. Despite limited professional boxing experience, he proved he can mix it with top-level heavyweights and leaves the fight with his stock arguably enhanced. Usyk, who has repeatedly said he wants only a couple more fights before considering retirement, now faces a quick queue of mandatory challengers and lucrative options.
Immediate contenders and mandatory obligations
The most obvious immediate name is WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel. The unbeaten German has quietly amassed a strong résumé, with stoppage wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang, and is widely regarded as deserving of a full title shot. However, there has been little sign that Usyk is keen to take that fight next, and negotiations could be tricky.
On the IBF front, Frank Sanchez — who scored a big knockout on the Giza undercard — looks likely to push for a mandatory challenge. The IBF is expected to order a defence within roughly six months once WBC obligations are clarified. Murat Gassiev, Usyk’s old cruiserweight rival who holds the WBA ‘regular’ strap, also sits high in the order and could re-enter the picture.
Verhoeven’s future
Verhoeven leaves Cairo with plenty of credit. The former long-reigning Glory heavyweight kickboxing champion showed the athleticism, power and toughness to compete in boxing, and at 37 he still has realistic options. A rematch with Usyk has been floated but is unlikely to be immediate; instead, Verhoeven could chase other high-profile crossover fights or well-matched bouts that build his boxing résumé, following the template set by other crossover stars.
Fury v Joshua — how close now?
The long-awaited Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua showdown appears closer to reality than it has for years. Joshua must first get past Kristian Prenga in July, while Fury has suggested he will take an interim fight in August. If both come through unscathed — and negotiations stay on track — a clash between the two British heavyweights is expected to be targeted for October or November. Still, any injury, upset or withdrawal could derail plans, leaving uncertainty in the biggest domestic matchup in modern British boxing.
Dubois and Wardley
Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley are set for a rematch after their thrilling May encounter in Manchester, where Dubois regained world-level status in a fight-of-the-year candidate. Wardley has exercised his rematch clause; if the series is levelled 1-1, a trilogy would be a natural next step and could keep the WBO title occupied for much of the coming year.
Rising prospects and domestic names
Moses Itauma has emerged as the most exciting young British heavyweight. The 21-year-old stopped Jermaine Franklin in March and is expected back in London in August. A significant step up against Filip Hrgovic has been mentioned — Hrgovic’s Olympic pedigree and recent form make him a meaningful test — and a win for Itauma could push him towards title contention in the next couple of years. Usyk has previously ruled out facing Itauma, so other routes to a title shot would be needed.
Elsewhere, veteran Deontay Wilder has yet to announce his next move after beating Derek Chisora, while domestic names such as Richard Riakporhe remain active and could figure in the wider British scene.
What this means for the division
Usyk’s win keeps the belts with a proven all-rounder whose priorities may now be selective: a mix of mandatory obligations, big-money domestic fights and legacy-defining matchups. For challengers, the path is still clear — mandatory orders, sensational undercard knockouts and rematch clauses will shape the next 12 months. For fans, the heavyweight landscape promises high-stakes fights: potential showdowns between Fury and Joshua, the brewing Dubois–Wardley rivalry, and rising prospects like Itauma challenging established names.
In short, Usyk’s headline victory hasn’t closed doors — it’s set the stage for a busy, sometimes complicated, but compelling period in heavyweight boxing.