Boxing’s greatest winners and losers: Monsters, miracles and the moon that changed everything
If April showers bring May flowers, then let’s put on our marigolds and do a little boxing in the garden, shall we?
Who’s blooming, who’s dying, and who’s headed for the compost bin after a busy month of work? Let’s get into the biggest winners and losers from May 2026.
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THE WINNER
David Benavidez
David Benavidez outlasted Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in May, and in doing so elevated his name on the pound-for-pound level.
The Mexican “Monster” made the jump up to cruiserweight look easy as he demolished the former unified champion in six rounds, scoring two knockouts en route to becoming the threeweight world champion.
Big fights await Benavidez in whatever weight class he wants to compete in, as well as successfully accepting a reluctant stick from Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as the big name that will dominate the fight scene in Mexico going forward.
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Rico Verhoeven
Some boxing fans had no idea who Rico Verhoeven was before his WBC heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk at the end of May.
They are right as they are now.
Rico Verhoeven almost pulled off the impossible.
(Mark Robinson via Getty Images)
Verhoeven fought hard and impressively in his second bout, asking the Ukrainian Usyk questions he didn’t expect to answer when he signed up for the high-budget Egyptian show.
The kickboxing legend was stopped at the end of the eleventh round, which was somewhat controversial despite being knocked down a lot earlier, and was slightly ahead on the scorecards (96-94, 95-95, 95-95) after 10 completed rounds.
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But despite what happened in the ring, Verhoeven won the big meeting with the way he carried himself throughout the fight week in Giza. This Dutchman will be welcomed with open arms in boxing – maybe not Usyk …
Daniel Dubois
Despite being knocked to the canvas twice in the third round of his WBO heavyweight world title challenge against Fabio Wardley, Daniel Dubois rose, pinned him and eventually dropped the Ipswich man in the 11th round to reclaim his world title.
A brave Wardley did everything he could to hang on to the bludgeoning jab of “DDD,” but as the rounds wore on, Dubois would not be denied a chance to become a two-time heavyweight champion.
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After losing to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk (twice), Dubois’ heart was questioned at the end of the heavyweight division. But the 28-year-old may have put those demons to bed, and now looks set to become the rightful ruler of this division once Usyk flies the nest.
Who doesn’t know Daniel Dubois now?
(Matt McNulty via Getty Images)
Naoya Inoue
It may not have appeared a classicsbut that should not detract from Naoya Inoue’s success in defeating his Japanese rival Junto Nakatani, successfully defending his undisputed world titles at super bantamweight.
In what was billed as the biggest fight ever in the country of Japan, Inoue pulled off a unanimous decision win over the young man without looking at the serious risk of losing his undefeated record.
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Now 33 years old with a record of 33-0 (27 KOs), time is running out in the amazing career of the Japanese “Monster”.
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez looks to be the name to watch for Inoue’s 34th fight, before he fights for the more dangerous jump to featherweight.
A word of warning: Enjoy the man while you can.
Zak Chelli
Zak Chelli found himself upset earlier this year in May, stopping David Morrell in the 10th round of their light heavyweight contest.
This seismic shock occurred at very late notice.
David Morrell was due to fight Callum Smith a few weeks ago before injury sidelined the Liverpudlian, and in an attempt to stay busy, Morrell suffered a career-changing KO loss at the hands of the west London teacher.
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Chelli’s career has turned upside down overnight, and the 28-year-old is about to be handed opportunities that would have seemed laughable just a few weeks ago.
THE LOST
Fabio Wardley
Fabio Wardley is a tough, tough guy.
Losing your heavyweight world title is usually painful enough, but with the powerful punches of Daniel Dubois, Wardley was made to suffer through 11 bloody rounds in Manchester.
After a scalp after an unexpected climb to the top of the heavyweight pyramid, Wardley has now been knocked down a peg or two, and with significant miles on his odometer, there will be prying eyes on his status when he steps into the ring next – perhaps, in the Dubois match.
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But Wardley made his career out of defying the odds. Going toe-to-toe with “DDD” won’t keep him up at night.
Dave Allen
Speaking of beloved heavyweights, Dave Allen jumped up a few notches in May, challenging Filip Hrgovic with real odds.
Allen’s corner threw in the towel in the third round of his return home to Doncaster, unable to avoid a skilful attack from the Olympic bronze medallist.
But this is Allen’s brand: The lovable loser. He will definitely be back (scheduled for June 20th, less than a month after losing his job for the ninth time) and promoters will continue to put him on the undercards because of the interest he’s drawing and the tickets he’s selling.
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But more opponents like Hrgovic can be avoided in the future, the better.
David Allen (left) lost to Filip Hrgovic in Doncaster, England.
(Richard Sellers – PA Images via Getty Images)
David Morrell
You will never want to play the role of Goliath in David vs. Goliath. But that’s exactly what Davida was forced to do in May, having been dismissed by Zak Chelli in the misery of the year so far.
Sure, Morrell’s preparation for this last-minute opponent wasn’t great, but the top-class Cuban should have more than enough tools in his arsenal to dispatch a man who has struggled at home level.
Where does this leave Morrell now, who knows?
His interim WBO light heavyweight title fight with Callum Smith is up in smoke, and the 28-year-old will have to rebuild in a division that has been dominated by Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev for several years.
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Morrell told reporters that his boxing career “isn’t over” after his second career loss, and he has time on his side if he is to rebuild his quest for glory at 175 pounds.
Gilberto Ramirez
David Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez seemed hard to separate from each other in the build-up to their all-Mexico fight in May – that is, until just seconds after the opening bell rang.
David Benavidez knocks out Gilberto Ramirez during their cruiserweight championship fight.
(Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy via Getty Images)
Ramirez was bullied by the younger Benavidez six rounds into the contest, making him suddenly look slow and old in the division he held by holding two world titles and building a 5-0 record.
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At 34 years old, the southpaw has expressed his desire to rest this summer before taking on one of his 50-fight career bests: Dmitry Bivol.
Richard Torrez Jr.
America’s biggest hope in the heavyweight division, Richard Torrez Jr., was upset by Cuban Frank Sanchez at the end of May, stopping the train that was running behind the 27-year-old southpaw.
Torrez has been matched slowly and carefully since turning professional in 2022 following his silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, but his first major test in the professional ranks was brought down and stopped by the hard-hitting Sanchez.
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This loss to Giza not only made Sanchez a player in the ever-changing heavyweight division, it also threw Torrez at the top of the board.
And what is bad? It was because of the type of highlight-reel knockout that fighters often find it difficult to bounce back from throughout their careers.
