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Usyk vs. Verhoeven: “Glory in Giza”, Fight Preview and Analysis

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Heather

The Event: “Glory in Giza”

The highly anticipated heavyweight boxing match between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, officially titled “Glory in Giza,” is scheduled for May 23, 2026. This bout will unfold at the iconic Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, offering a spectacular backdrop for what promises to be a historic showdown. Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight championship belt on the line, adding further significance to the event.

Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. I have had an interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.

www.fightmatrix.com

İlker Furat: Boxing Manager, Promoter, and Founder of 12 Raund Sports

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Heather

Introduction

İlker Furat is a Turkish professional boxing manager and promoter, as well as a content producer and commentator. As the founder of 12 Raund Sports, he has played a pivotal role in increasing the international visibility of Turkish professional boxing. Since 2017, he has focused on athlete management, international matchmaking, and digital boxing content, including podcasts. He is listed as a manager and promoter on platforms such as BoxRec and Tapology and remains active across international media and the wider digital boxing ecosystem.

Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. I have had an interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.

www.fightmatrix.com

What Makes a Champion: An Analysis of Oleksandr Usyk’s Style

Posted on April 20, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Oleksandr Usyk does not look like a heavyweight champion. At 6’1″ and typically around 220 pounds, he gives up size to almost every opponent he faces at the top level. Against Anthony Joshua, he was 20 pounds lighter. Against Tyson Fury, he was shorter, lighter, and a significant underdog in the eyes of many in the sport.

He beat both of them anyway.

Understanding how requires more than listing his accomplishments — undisputed cruiserweight champion, undisputed heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medalist, the first boxer in the four-belt era to hold all major titles in two weight classes. The record tells you what he has done. His style tells you how, and why it works against fighters who should, on paper, have every physical advantage over him.

An Interview with Bareknuckle Fighter, Joshua Whiteside

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Heather

Introduction

Drawing from his background in boxing, MMA, and kickboxing, Joshua Whiteside stands out as a highly adaptable fighter. On March 28, 2026, he made a victorious debut in BKFC by defeating Isaiah Williams (0-1). His greatest strength lies in boxing, where he holds an amateur record of (4-0) and a professional record of (2-0). Since Whiteside’s dynamic fighting style is shaped by rigorous training across multiple disciplines, this enables him to adapt swiftly to different combat scenarios. Now, as he continues his journey in bare knuckle boxing, Whiteside’s versatility and relentless drive promise to make him a contender to watch in the sport.

Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. I have had an interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.

www.fightmatrix.com

What Are The Most Popular Combat Sports In The World Today

Posted on April 15, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Have you ever asked yourself which combat sports people enjoy the most today, and why so many fans love watching them and learning them?

It is a simple question, but the answer includes skill, culture, fitness, and strong human effort.

Combat sports have been part of human life for many years. People from different countries enjoy these sports in their own way. Some like fast action, some like smart techniques, and some feel inspired by the discipline and control shown by players. These sports are not just about fighting. They are about respect, focus, and personal growth.

If we look at today’s trends, some combat sports clearly stand out. Boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, and kickboxing are among the most popular choices. Each sport has its own style and rules, but all of them help improve both body and mind.

The Revival of KRONK: Detroit’s World-Renowned Boxing Gym

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Heather

The infamous ring at the KRONK

Detroit has always had a rich history of boxing, and nothing embodies the spirit of this sport quite like the KRONK gym, in Detroit, Michigan. The gym was founded in 1921 and named after John A. Kronk, a former Detroit Councilman. The facility was located at the KRONK Recreation Center, 5555 McGraw Avenue.

Through the decades, KRONK Gym has become a cornerstone of Detroit’s boxing legacy, serving not just as a training ground for aspiring fighters, but as a symbol of the city’s resilience, grit, and passion for the sport. The gym’s influence extends far beyond its walls, having produced world-class champions and legendary trainers, most notably Emanuel Steward, whose leadership transformed KRONK into an international powerhouse. Boxing legends hail from KRONK, which Emanuel Steward owned and operated since 1971. Steward’s dedication and expertise nurtured historical icons like Thomas Hearns (61-5-1, 48KO), Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32KO), and Wladimir Klitschko (64-5, 53 KO), earning KRONK a reputation for excellence and innovation in the boxing world. Emanuel Steward was historically known as “the godfather of Detroit boxing”. From 2001-2012 he was HBO’s Sports ringside boxing commentator. Unfortunately, the beloved gym went out of business in 2006, due to severe vandalism, including damage to the infrastructure, which was beyond repair. In October of 2012, Steward passed away and left an incredible legacy behind.

Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. I have had an interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.

www.fightmatrix.com

Dana White’s Long Game Pays Off With Boxing Breakthrough

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Andrew Carswell

How the Ali Revival Act may mark another turning point in Dana White’s long war with boxing

For most of March, it looked like Dana White was finally losing control of the narrative.

A public feud with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn escalated into a war of words that exposed the deep institutional resistance facing Zuffa’s expansion into the sweet science. Things got so heated, there was even talk of a boxing match between the two.

The UFC’s ambitious White House event lost a marquee fight before it could even be formally unveiled. Then, former superstar Ronda Rousey resurfaced as a critic, reigniting long-standing debates about fighter pay and promotional power.

Yet in combat sports, momentum can shift as quickly as a single punch.

The passage of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act through a key House vote on March 24th may represent White’s most significant strategic victory in years, not inside the Octagon, but in the legislative arena, where the future of boxing itself is being reshaped.

For White and the Zuffa Boxing project, the legislation signals more than regulatory reform. It signals opportunity.

Andrew Carswell

Andrew Carswell is a combat sports columnist and college writing professor, based in Las Vegas, NV, whose work examines the intersection of fighting, media, business, and culture. His commentary and analysis have been featured in various magazines, newspapers, and media outlets, including Yahoo! News, and USA TODAY. Blending journalistic insight and experience with a fan’s perspective, Carswell writes about the fight game as both a cultural phenomenon and a global business.

Analytics vs Luck: How Data-Driven Decisions Can Improve Your Sports Betting Results

Posted on March 26, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Many bettors believe that luck is the main reason behind winning bets. A late goal or a surprise knockout can appear to be chance events. But over time, results show trends rather than coincidences. Relying only on luck can result in inconsistent results and feelings of frustration. Successful bettors understand that randomness exists, but it can be controlled. The challenge is to reduce the scope of uncertainty through the availability of data and thinking methods. And this is where data analytics contributes to eliminating the scope of guesses.

How Boxing And Martial Arts Have Evolved Over Time

Posted on March 21, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Have you ever thought about how boxing and martial arts started and how they became so popular today?

It’s quite interesting to see how these practices have changed with time while still keeping their original spirit alive.

Boxing and martial arts are not just about fighting. They are about discipline, focus, respect, and fitness. Over the years, they have grown from simple techniques used for survival into well-organized sports and daily lifestyle practices followed by people everywhere.

How to Become a Pro Boxer in Today’s Competitive Scene

Posted on March 20, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Source: Unsplash

If you’re wondering how to become a pro boxer, the formula may sound simple. You train hard and move up as you win fights. However, it doesn’t work like that in reality. Everyone starts from the same place, and the process of building skills and getting real fight experience is painstaking and time-consuming.

Often, you feel stuck in place and like your breakthrough will never come. That’s why you need a strong mindset to keep going, even if you haven’t made much progress since those first amateur fights. For those who decide to stick with it, though, there are a few things you need to work on.

TKO : Dana White’s Brutal March

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Andrew Carswell

@thewritingprofessor904

Boxing wars, political spectacle, fighter backlash, and a shifting media landscape collide for the UFC boss

At his weekly press conferences, Dana White constantly reminds us that he is in “a crazy business.” For most of the last two decades, Dana White has been the man delivering chaos to everyone else.

This March, chaos delivered itself to him.

Within weeks, the UFC president found his expanding combat-sports empire under pressure from multiple fronts: an escalating promotional feud with boxing power brokers, a highly public rebuke from former superstar Ronda Rousey, a last-minute fight cancellation on a historic card, mounting skepticism over the logistics and symbolism of a planned White House mega-event, and renewed scrutiny over fighter pay, which is an issue that refuses to stay buried.

Individually, these developments might have been manageable. Together, they painted the picture of a promoter facing the most turbulent stretch of his modern career.

Andrew Carswell

Andrew Carswell is a combat sports columnist and college writing professor, based in Las Vegas, NV, whose work examines the intersection of fighting, media, business, and culture. His commentary and analysis have been featured in various magazines, newspapers, and media outlets, including Yahoo! News, and USA TODAY. Blending journalistic insight and experience with a fan’s perspective, Carswell writes about the fight game as both a cultural phenomenon and a global business.

Fight Fans and Digital Entertainment: How Combat Sports Enthusiasts Spend Their Time Online

Posted on March 17, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Digital Media Transformation in Combat Sports

The digital revolution has transformed every facet of modern entertainment, and combat sports are no exception. As traditional broadcasting and print media give way to streaming services, social platforms, and interactive communities, fans of mixed martial arts and boxing are steadily redefining how they follow fighters, analyse rankings, and engage with the sport. Today’s fight fans are not only consumers of raw adrenaline and in-ring action — they have become sophisticated digital natives who harness data, interactivity, and online tools to enhance their overall experience.

With the rise of mobile connectivity and high-speed internet, audiences can now access live events, behind-the-scenes footage, and detailed statistical breakdowns at the tap of a screen. This shift towards digital platforms has fundamentally restructured how fight content is distributed and monetised, prompting industry stakeholders to re-examine traditional marketing and broadcasting strategies.

The fight history of Makhmudov – The man standing between Fury and his comeback

Posted on March 17, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Tyson Fury is back once again. After a year away from the sport following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the Gypsy King returns to the ring to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, live on Netflix.

With plenty of interest in the Tyson Fury vs Makhmudov odds already building, one question keeps coming up more than any other. Who exactly is Arslanbek Makhmudov, and does he have what it takes to face the Gypsy King?

The Alpough Brothers: Pro-Boxers from Port Arthur, Texas

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Heather

Introduction

The Alpough brothers, whom I like to call the knockout brothers, are young up and coming professional boxers. Port Arthur, Texas, may be a small city, but it has served as the backdrop for the formative years of Tayvien and Jaedyn Alpough. Despite the abundance of distractions, both brothers developed a strong sense of determination and resilience, shaping their own paths amid the challenges of their environment. Their upbringing in Port Arthur instilled a mindset that success is ultimately defined by individual choices and effort, a philosophy that continues to influence their journey in the boxing industry.

Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. I have had an interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.

www.fightmatrix.com

Ranking Matchroom’s Highest Profile Fighters Following Conor Benn’s Shocking Zuffa Betrayal

Posted on March 9, 2026 by A. J. Riot

A boxing gym – Source: Unsplash

The email arrived through a lawyer. Not a call. Not a conversation. A solicitor’s letter, clinical and cold, informing Eddie Hearn that the fighter he’d shielded through many challenges had signed with rival Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing on a reported $15m one-fight deal.

Matchroom’s head honcho told iFL TV he was “devastated, shocked”—admitted he’d “got the character wrong”. He’d backed Conor Benn when literally nobody else would touch him. Took the loyalty for granted. Made the call. Benn didn’t even pick up.