Key storylines: Garcia's future, Charlo's return a...
Key takeaways
- Oleksandr Usyk has a decision to make: Fight WBC heavyweight mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel or relinquish his belt.
- Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez is aiming to win a world title in a third division, but how long will it be until he moves up for a dream fight with ESPN's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, Naoya Inoue?
- Former junior middleweight and middleweight champion Jermall Charlo last fought in May 2025.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia, above, has said his next fight is against Conor Benn in September. Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images ESPNMultiple Authors Jun 4, 2026, 07:46 AM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions Ever since his victory over Mario Barrios in February to capture the WBC welterweight title, Ryan Garcia has been calling out potential opponents. Recently, Garcia said he will be fighting Conor Benn in September, but the matchup has yet to be finalized. Can it still happen or is there another/better matchup for Garcia's return to the ring?
Oleksandr Usyk has a decision to make: Fight WBC heavyweight mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel or relinquish his belt. If he chooses the latter, what are the options for his next fight? And what about former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, who gave Usyk trouble for 11 rounds before he was stopped in their May 23 bout? Can Verhoeven be a contender or even win a heavyweight boxing match?
Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez is aiming to win a world title in a third division, but how long will it be until he moves up for a dream fight with ESPN's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, Naoya Inoue? It seems like the two are in a collision course for later in the year.