5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Usyk v Verhoeven: Fight Night Review

Episode Date: May 24, 2026

Should Rico Verhoeven feel hard done by? Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to dissect a dramatic night in the desert as Oleksandr Usyk controversially stopped the Dutchman in the 11th round. We hear from Verhoeven himself, as well as his trainer Peter Fury, after a fight that’s already sparked huge debate.

This is Five Live Boxing. We came for the pyramids, we stayed for the camels, and you know what, let's stay for the fight. Rick O'Hovan, the greatest kickboxer of his generation against Alexander Ousick, not just the greatest box of his generation, but one of the greatest boxers ever. It was meant to be a mismatch. It was meant to be a walkover. But Alexander Usook won with one second left in the 11th round. Was he lucky? Not necessarily lucky, but it was the fight of his life.

I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing. And at 3.26 in the morning after a night like that, in the shadow of those three illuminated giant pyramids, this has to be the ideal place to talk about what we watched in the ring. Now, it wasn't just a fight. It was a fight with dozens of stories, especially in the end, the conclusion. That was full of stories and full of opinions.

And I want to drag all those opinions out of you, Richie Woodle. But first of all, as a spectacle, not the fire, where'd just start with what we've witnessed over the last four or five days? What an event, Steve. What an all-round event from our camel riding

at the start of the week. But the actual event itself, that was unbelievable in terms of the ring walks. They were really gladi-is-it-is-gladorial? Is that gladiatorial? Gladatorial? Is that the right word?

Well, saying that, though, Ousick might have just mixed up his reins because I think he was a little bit more... He was a little bit more Roman centurion. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. You get the theory. Yes.

So that's incredible. Yeah, with the fireworks. I thought the ring walks were absolutely spectacular. And it was really, really fitting. And obviously with the pyramids in the background, yes, it was, it was sensational. Well, if you didn't listen to our commentary on Five Live, which was exceptional, which I will say that,

basically the venue is about 800 meters away from the three main pyramids here on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the plateau where those pyramids are the two the two highest pyramids in the world side by side there now that the the actual ring was built on sand we're not really on sand because it's built on a whole race six or seven foot or eight foot platform the entire thing and at two o'clock in the afternoon on the afternoon of the fight they were still putting the serious final touches it. I don't mean dusting off the throne that certain people sit on at ringside. I'm talking about basic things like runways, toilets. Everybody involved with this needs to pat themselves on the back. They did an incredible job. Brilliant. And then a fight happened that nobody, and I don't care what you say, even if you're inside Rico Verhoeven's camp,

you didn't think we were going to get what we got there. Alexander Usik and his people, they had no idea what they did not expect what they got the fight finished with one second left in the 11th round that means that riko for hoagun was three minutes and one second away from going the distance with the world heavyweight champion one of the best modern fighters there has been one of the best heavyweights there's been in the last well one of the best heavyweights period and what's so amazing about that And I'll give the stat out before we talk about the boxing. Because I went over to the ringside official once Mark Lyson had stopped the fight. Mark Lice and Liverpool, one of the best referees in the world.

And I got the official score, they call it the main sheet. And I took a picture of it and I've looked at it. And one judge had it a draw after 10 completed rounds, Richie. One judge had it to Alexander Usik by two points after 10 completed rounds. And the third judge had it to Rieko Verhoeven after 10 completed rounds. So after 10 rounds, we had a split draw. Now, that was an outcome after 10 rounds that none of us could have possibly in our wildest dreams have foreseen. No one would have imagined that, Steve, at all.

I actually had it even. I think I had it at five rounds apiece. It was very, very close. And you could say it's literally either way. I'm not going to say that... You had a 5-5 at that point, I did, yeah. But, you know, the judge that had it to Ussick,

I'm not going to argue with that. Either way. Because it literally is either way. It's a round or two rounds either way. It was very, very close indeed. I just think the way Verhovenr, rather, started was incredible.

And I said right at the very start that he had to start quick. Boy, did he start quick. And positively. Positively. Positively moving. Obviously they'd done the homework. Peter Fury again.

very clever trainer. He got the tactic spot on for his boxer, moving to the left. His feet were fast. He was jittery. He was something that was really awkward. And Usick, Alexander Usick, for the first time

that I've seen in a long, long time, probably ever was really sort of not struggling, but he was just finding him so awkward he could not work him out. He was hoping that he was going to slow down. And we thought he would after three or four? Yeah, we thought he would, but he didn't. He kept doing the right thing.

And then in the first round, Steve, he delivers a couple of right hands from nowhere that hit Usik bang on the button and you're thinking wow, okay beginners look type of thing but can he carry it through? And yes he did. Now bear in mind if you're listening to this

and you're new to the pod and if you're listening to this and you've been around for a while Richie and I have sat ringside and watched Alexander Usik dozens of times amateur and pro. So that means we've seen a lot of these 12 round fights We've been working on his 12 round gigs, whether it's in Saudi Arabia, whether it's at Tottenham, wherever it is in the world.

We've been there. We've watched him solve puzzles. We've watched him solve Daniel Dubois' danger punching twice. We've watched him solved Anthony Joshua's gentle pressure twice. We've watched himself the puzzle that is, the enigmatic Tyson Fury, twice. We've seen him go the distance. We've seen him push. We've seen him come around and solve it.

He solved things. He's a master. He's a magician. But he could not solve the big Dutchman tonight. I know the Dutchman was a couple of inches taller. I know he was 25 pounds heavier, but he only had one fight, and that was 12 years ago. I know he's the king of kickboxing, which I know all of these things.

But he was masterful tonight, the Dutchman, just to create the problems he did, to slightly change things. Because Alexander Usoc, for once, and this is a sentence I didn't think I'd be saying, he didn't have the solution. Apart from when he landed, with 17 seconds left in the 11th round, a short right upper cut to send Rico down.

He was having some real problems in there, Steve, wasn't he, trying to work this style out in front of him, which is a rare thing, like I say, for Alexander Ousset, because he normally, over the course of 12 rounds, he normally works the opponents out, breaks them down, and then takes them out. But he just couldn't. And I think there were times when I think,

Alexander Usik literally went through his mind. Yeah, I think I've got him now. I'm starting to get to him. And then all of a sudden there'd be an injection of pace from Verhoven who just came at him from nowhere and never mind the right hand. Landed a couple of real good left ducks. And a good few body.

And if it could do your elbows and a good through the... Listen, it's a fight. It's a fight and all that happens in a fight. Now, there was some stuff in the ring afterwards I didn't like, which we will discuss in detail. And we will not shy away. from naming names, we will not shy away from pointing the finger. And we might upset some people, but I think it has to be done.

We did it live on air and we'll do it again. But before then, I did speak to Peter Few, but I also managed to go into Rico Verhoeven's dressing room where there were about 50 people sitting around. And I saw him talking to one person, he was talking to a friend and signing some gloves. And it was all a little bit gloomy in there. And I just thought to myself,

were you there I said I've got to lift the spirits here so this is what happened when I went to see Rico after the fight listen before I do the interview is there any chance we'll give a big round of applause

for what he did tonight if you don't mind me saying so Rico first of all that was quite incredible it was brilliant it was a privilege to be ringside what did you think at the end

did you think you should have had just that extra bit of time what was your gut feeling Rico yeah of course I thought the referee knew We were close because I heard the click I was like hey last 10 seconds

So stupid but okay Let's make it to the end and then we had to now we have to fight till the 12th because I thought That's what you wanted yeah I thought we I was up a little and Because of the eight count I think now we're equal again so Okay, it is what it is let's fight till the end and then give the fans what they want and then again I could still lose but At least we, yeah, I went into the twilight. You go out on your shield, was the expression you kept in. Exactly, exactly.

Was he trickier than you expected, harder than you expected, or was he what you expected? It was exactly what I expected. Extremely good. You do realize how well you boxed and it was just traditional boxing. It was, when you sit down, when you sit down with your family and friends and your loved ones to watch it, you can be so proud of what you did in there tonight. You were just you were you were you changed your jab when you had to you concentrated on a body when Peter Fury said you don't get greedy go back to your boxing you looked him in the eye you said yes sir and you got on with it I mean it was a it was absolutely you were this close to pulling off one of the biggest shocks in sporting history because that must make you feel proud yeah on one side it does on the other side it's like yeah there is no what if or whatever it's There's just like the facts.

And that's, yeah, I don't know. For me, I'm like always so hard on myself. And we're going to see you again in the boxing room? 100%. We live and we learn. So that's a three match or just see you again, period. I don't know. Let's see what is excellency wants.

So I'm here. I show that I can box. And let's see what's next. Listen, it's been a privilege of what you've been brilliant with everyone I've seen. You've been in a hotel. press comments, you've been an absolute breath of fresh air. And it was a great performance. Thank you so much.

Really appreciate that. My pleasure. See you next time. See you soon. Thanks so much. Thank you. So that was Rico with me having that magic effect I had back in the Paris Olympics where I see it to make every single boxer well up and lose their tongue.

Anyway, it was a privilege. I might have used that word 10 times. So I felt that. And he's just been a breath of fresh air. He wouldn't be drawn. He wouldn't scream. He's not that type of man. But I also spoke to Peter Fury, the veteran,

the veteran trainer, which says sometimes calling someone a veteran can be a bit dismissive. No, Peter is. He's a good trainer. He's a skilled trainer and he's an old friend. Here I am with Peter Fury. Just before, in fact, quite soon after the fight. Peter, I'm going to talk to your face in those pyramids if you don't mind me saying so, because we might not see them again for a long while.

Your big lad, Rico, was three minutes and one second away from pulling off one of the biggest shocks in sporting history. Yeah, exactly But it is what it is Steve You know A loss is a loss So we can't What did he say

We can't moan over Spilt Milk He got tired In there Experience Let him down A bit He didn't know how to

Pace to fight that well He didn't know when to grab old Get a second wind Go again He was constantly on him And he basically Banned himself out But he was

Quite brilliant In some of the round Especially sometimes When you pulled him back and told him not to get greedy. He came back. And do you know how it was scored after 10? I've got the scores, I can tell you.

What was it? It was one judge had Rico in front, one judge had Usick in front, and one judge had a drawer after 10 rounds. So it would have been a draw. It was rocky. Yeah, exactly. I thought it was a brilliant fight, to be honest.

I'm very proud of my man, Rico. I thought he's done exceptionally well, Steve. Everybody was writing him off, said he wouldn't go three or four rounds. He's just turned boxing upon its head. And look, Don't take anything away from Alexander Rusick. It was a brilliant performance

because I know what Rico can do. I know what he's been doing in the gym. He's a phenomenal fighter. And Alexander said to me, I knew this was going to be the case. He come over and said to me, I knew this would happen. So he was expecting a tough fight.

I mean, you could see, not a look of fear, that's made me too strong, but there was a little bit of panic in Alexander's work in some grounds when RICO would come back off, especially after being called. When you've got a big man,

hitting you a little gloves on and taking good shots. You know, look, that's give Usiki's due. He's a very, very tough man. And to withstand the punishment, Rico was giving him. He needs credit again. So like I said, let's celebrate the champions win. Rico will come again. It will come again.

And Turkey-Ele shake in the ring talked about a rematch. How did you see it at the end? What was your understanding? When he goes down, Rico from that right up a car, it had a good round up until then. It was 17 seconds left in the round. The gum shield comes out. There's the pulls in play, pulls in the fight.

Then it continues. How did you see it at the end? Did you hear a bell, Peter? No, I never heard the bell, but there was only seconds left. So, look, he should have been given the opportunity to go again. So sit down and get his energy back and go again. But look, this is boxing. I did say at the start, I said, look, you know, if you show you're hurt,

I said, you're the challenger. I said, you're not going to get any favours here. I said, it is what it is. Look, I'm not taking anything away. Hopefully, his excellency, can get the rematch on. That would be fantastic. And when Rico came back to you, Peter, after when the fight was over and he was sitting down in the corner,

what did he say then? I mean, was he, because he seemed just to take it so well. I mean, he took it like Rico. I mean, the man I've come to know over the last five days in the hotel. I mean, he's just beyond the gentleman. Well, I said, him and Alexander Usik had the same type of people. Because if that was Alexander, he'd just give the opponent credit. and that's what Rico will do like I'm doing.

That's be sportsmen here. Yeah, it could have been and we don't know what could have happened in the 12th. And even if it would have went to points because he's been knocked down, it probably would have went Ousek's way anyway. So look, let's have a reality check. Usik done brilliant, he got the job done,

but my man done out of this world. And it's the right place throughout he run. And the final question, even if he didn't get Ousick next, Is he with us? Is he backing our team, back in our team, back in the boxing team, Peter? 100%. He'll come again.

On that performance, he'll come again. And we ain't seen the best of Rico because now the experience is going to kick in. Listen, Bill, I'm going to say, it's been an absolute pleasure this week. And you, Steve. God bless you. Thank you very much.

So Peter Fury there, saying basically what Rico said. Rico wanted a couple of other seconds, but he wasn't screaming and kicking and accusing people. And Peter also said it. But I said on air when we were on air, that Peter didn't go crazy. He's the boxing man in Rika Verhoven's corner,

and he wasn't screaming and shouting at the end. No, he wasn't. You know what, Steve? I'll put it like this. If Alexander Usik would have won every round of that fight up until that point, and the fight stopped the way it was, no one would be saying anything about the stoppage.

It's because... It's a great point. Because RICO Verhoven did so well that people were probably a little bit disappointed that he hasn't got to the end of the contest. that he hasn't probably won it because it was that close and you know he was he was he was he was he was he was he was he was he was he one of the like you said on the scorecards on one so he might have got the

decision I think that was the disappointment part of it but like it says if Alexander Ousick was winning the fight comfortably no one would have complained about the stoppage then I mean I'm talking to I know you were talking to Ui Fui Peter's son and the heavy way I know you were talking to him and and and and what you were saying what he was saying was he's greater recovery recovery. And he might be.

And there's a lot of boxers that have lost fights who are greater recovery. The referee, I say Mark Leicent, had to make a decision. Would I like to have seen it go to the 12 round?

Absolutely. But I didn't want to see it go to the 12 round at the expense of anybody being injured. So, hey, that's just the way it works. I thought he was brilliant in defeat, Rika Verhoeven.

And then I thought Alexander Usik, well, he was Alexander Usik. You know he's always going to be gracious in victory. Yes. Just like he would be one day, maybe, not that we won't see it.

He might be gracious in defeat. I'm not sure we're going to see it. There is talk of all sorts of stuff, but before we get that, let's try it. Let me try and work out and paint the picture of what happened in the ring. So in the ring, Adi Oli Dippo gets up from Dizone, who does all the interviews for Dizone,

and he has next to him, Ousik, and he speaks to Usook, and Ousik praises everybody. And then there's also Turkey Al-Asheikhs in there, the Saudi Arabian fight. fixer the man that's been behind this whole Middle Eastern Revolution. He gets up, he gets up in the ring and then also gets up in the ring is a guy from the ring magazine called Rick Reno, the guy that you've seen on pictures. Kate says the last bus is leaving now.

This is five live boxing. Well as you may have worked out, we had to leave. We had to rush to catch the last bus, which we did rush and catch. But as we were being dropped off at the visitor centre where we had to get a taxi, we had to do, we had to go back and then spend another 20 minutes fafing around. It's now 4.34 and Ritchie Woodall's still with me. We've got a couple of bowls of water and some biscuits and a couple of old cashews. Ritchie, we were just trying to, we're just talking about what went on in the ring afterwards and the melee in the ring. and I think I was up to Adi El Adipo was in there from DeZome.

Alexander Usik was obviously there, as was, of course, Rick Ovarhoeven. And then Turkey Alashait came in, the man behind the Saudi boxing regime and the most powerful man in world boxing. Then a guy called Rick Reno comes in, who runs the ring magazine. Then Ajik Kabayor was there. And the first interview was perfectly sensible and straightforward. Adi was talking to Alexander Usik, and then he was talking to Rick Overhoven.

and then suddenly, suddenly... He got messy. Yeah, it did get messy. Rick Reno suddenly said, well, there's only one man that Usset can fight now, and that's Ajit Khabel. Ajit Khabel did not look very pleased at being introduced into that double,

making it a threesome. And then Turkey Alashaiq said, something along the lines of, no, this is not about Ajit. This is about these guys. It's about them. Whatever the expression was. So basically,

Turkey Alashic came in the ring and put Rick Reno in his place and said, no, it's not, he's got to read the room. That was an ugly spat, I thought, up in there. It got a little bit, it got a little bit messy. Obviously, you know, you're going to speak to Ucicke, you're going to speak to Verhoeven, who I thought was very classy as well in how he answered. Both boxes were brilliant. You know, fair play to Turkey, Alashik, because he could see that it was totally the wrong time then

to turn around and bring Ajik Kabeel into it and literally demand a fight or he should be the next one to fight him and Turkey Alashir was the one that sort of sussed that out and says no it's not about it. He read the room. He read the room and he literally turned and says no this is their night it's Alexander Ussk's night and Rico Verhoven has boxed really really well this is their occasion Let's have a rematch he said exactly so fair play to Turkey Alashik He's the one that read it better than anybody, really,

because it just got a little bit, he got a little bit messy in there, Steve, and it was a case, it wasn't good. It wasn't good for the game, I didn't think. Now, of course, the same thing happened when Francis Engarnu nearly beat Tyson Fury. AJ was shifted into the ring

to try and start selling their fight for December, which never happened in December. It's not a classy thing to do. What was meant to happen that night, Tyson Fury was meant to, obviously, walk through In Garnau, so it would have made sense. I think that was the same thing that was in everyone's mind tonight.

Alexander Usik would walk through Rickover-Hover-Hovan, then Ajik Kavaya would get in a ring and present himself as the next opponent. That was perfectly fight. But of course, what happened was, you know, 10 rounds and 2 minutes, 59 seconds of the 11th, we've got ourselves an incredible brawl. And people are sticking to a script and thinking, we're not going to change. We're just going to go ahead with it. And as you say, it should have been changed.

They should have read the situation and thought, no, this isn't the time to, put that fight, you know, in the mix with Alexander Hussein, and Turkey Alashit was the only one who could see that, and he sort of diffused the situation. I thought he diffused it very well. I thought he diffused it brilliant. So, Rich, what does happen then? I mean, obviously, Ajik Cabrero is number one of WBC.

Spencer Brown has talked to all week about, you know, Spencer, that Ajit Cabo will get the winner. It's really that simple. Obviously, there's talk of a rematch, and you heard from RICO, he'd take a rematch. but he's going to box anyway. Peter Fury said that. What do you think will happen and then what do you think should happen? I know it's late Rich, I know it's late, mate.

It's nearly daylight. What I think will happen should happen and what will happen is when everyone sits down and when the dust settles, there will be a rematch and I think it'll be an immediate rematch, Steve. I really do. And you know, Ajik Cabell, yes he is due to it for his shot and he will get his shot but I think because that fight was so close, up until the stoppage, then people will demand a rematch,

then they'll want it straight away. And do you know what, Ousik might look in and think, yeah, I should give him a rematch straight away? And fair play, can I just say, Steve, as well? Of course, yeah. Rico Verhoeven, what a classic kid he is, because in the ring, he didn't demand a rematch. He even said, well, if Ajit Kabeel is in front of me,

then I'll sort of wait my turn and let him have a go. So that was absolutely brilliant, I thought, for me. Just to say, about 20 to 5 in the morning, Rico Rehoeven's over in that, not 50 feet from where we're out by the pool, and they're arranging the breakfast platters. He's in there doing some interviews, Rico. He's in there now doing some interviews. He's been brilliant, hasn't he?

In and out of the ring, he's been brilliant. He's been exceptional all week. He really has. And you might have heard Rich say there how tight it was. Now, when this pod started, which seems to have been millions of years ago, in front of the brilliant pyramids, finishing here with the bird, waking up with the palm trees and swimming pool. Not a bad place to finish your pod,

if you don't mind my sense of it. The scores that I got, I went down and did a photo of the master copy from the WBC Inspector, and that clearly said that Rico was in front on one card, Usset was in front on another card, and one was a draw. However, it's now official.

I've looked at a quick check online and spoke to somebody, and it now looks like that's switching and changing and changing and it's now two of the judges had it even and the third judge had Rico up by two points if I'm not mistaken. And so that means

who sick wasn't ahead on any of the score? Going into the 11th round. Wow. That's quite incredible although as we said earlier on in the pod it does love those 11th and 12th rounds now that was a great fight and it's stunning a fight and we talked about the backdrop perfect fight I think we're going to look back on what we saw there

which I know we've recently seen Fabio Ward against Daniel Dubois. But that was excellent tonight. Yeah, it was. I mean, I never thought I'd see Usik in a slug fest like that, round after, round after, round, after round. I loved it. But, Rich, we could have been tonight.

We could have been at the O2 in London. We could have been at the, I don't know, the co-op arena in Manchester because Jack Cattle from Chiorley, he won a world title. And Hamza Chiras from East London, he won a world title. Which one do you want to do first? I think the one that I enjoyed the most I have to say was the Jack Catchell

contest because it totally surprised me on paper I thought it was a really hard fight This is against Shack Graham Gia So He was unbeaten, former world amateur champion Absolutely Olympic silver medalist I've seen him in the amateurs He's undefeated as a pro And I thought this was going to be a really tough fight

But you know what Steve? He just could not handle Jack Cattrell's who boxed an absolutely superb contest. And what I liked about it most of all, he was in and out with his feet. Sometimes he was aggressive, sometimes he was on the back foot. He beat him in every department.

What a performance. You'll remember that Steve may have been the best performance of his career. Without a doubt. And it might be ever, you know, because, you know, he knows himself. That can happen. That world title fight can be it, the world title fight. He reached the top of the main. tonight and what a performance that was.

That's the best. You know what, Steve, I think that's the best I've seen Jack Catchel. So now he's the WBA World to 8 champion, putting himself in line for all sorts of fights, but more than that, a bit of redemption, because he's had up and down career. A couple of things have gone wrong for him.

Totally deserves it. Absolutely brilliant for Jack Cattrell. The WBA World World World Trade Champion. Ryan Garcia was there tonight. He's the WBC, Jammin, if I'm not mistaken. That's big money. Connor Ben's floating around. Absolutely.

There's all sorts of fights flying around. Now, the super middleweight title was vacant WBO version. And Hamza Shiraz was put forward for it, as was a guy called Alan Begich from Germany. He was unbeaten. We didn't fancy Begich all week, did we? No, we didn't. I didn't fancy it. Shiraz with Andy, Andy Lee in his corner, had to be calm and sensible and rational.

But it ended in the second round. It was all Shiraz. Absolutely. Dropped to him with a body shot. one out of sight. Just to go back, we didn't, because it's quite late, Caterall won clearly on points. Yes.

And dropped him twice. One of the knockdowns wasn't ruled a knockdown, but it was a stunning performance. Let's get back to Chiraz, not necessarily to beg its fight, but just how good Chiraz could be. You know what, Shira's went into the fight, full of confidence.

Right from the first bell, he went out there, and he literally made his statement as if to say, listen, mate, you know, this is a world-time. a fight, but you do not belong in the same ring as me, literally. And, you know, he got him out of there. And it was brilliant afterwards because he actually said that. He said, look, he wasn't surprised with the victory.

He didn't big it up. He just says, look, you can only beat what's put in front of you. And I've got the job done tonight. And that's all he really, really said. He never gloated on the victory. I'm going to find his exact expression because it was really good. because Jamie Ward was interviewing him and Jamie does a good job

but there was something Hamza said that was so blatantly... He said something like I've done what I should have done. Okay, no, he said no, let's not get it twisted. That's right. Let's not get it twisted. I did what I needed to. Let's not get it twisted.

So he's more or less saying, look, you know... Absolutely. The guy was nowhere near my league. Nowhere near my league and I took him out. Listen, that happens. For a variety of reasons, that can happen. But it's the... confidence he went into the fight with Steve

and literally like I said the way he started and he made that statement and it was it was a pretty chilling display because he hit him downstairs with some real good body shots that finished Alan Begich of actually so we've had five British men win world titles this year

already. Dawton Smith won one over in New York Josh Kelly won one against the run of play he didn't start as a favour of course Daniel Dubois big Fabio Wardley and then those two tonight. So it's made a 24th now because it's nearly 5 o'clock in the morning

and five British, four new British champions this year. That's not a bad year already, my friend. Yeah, it's absolutely fantastic isn't it? And they're doing it in fine style as well. So I mean, tonight I didn't

think it would be such an easy win for catch roll, to be quite honest. That was quite a convincing easy win. You're being kind to Gaiosov by giving him rounds. Absolutely. You know, and I didn't think I'd be doing it.

I thought that would be a really hard fight and a close fight. Jack made it look so easy and what a performance. Ritchie, let's close this up because it is getting light over there. You can see it is getting light over there. I don't think we've ever done a pod at this time in the morning, have we? No, it's fantastic, though. I don't want to play a Levin-Areef. I've done one later than this, but trust me, it took me about five days to recover from it.

That's when I did Sergio Mora after David Benevino. and Anthony Yard. Oh my gosh, it was something like seven minutes past seven. It was an absolute comedy. I came back and they were on the second serving at breakfast. Richard, you've been fantastic. You've been cessation all week. It's been a mad week here.

You've two, Richard, final thoughts about the day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, Richard, you've been brilliant all week. But what's your final thoughts, Rich? I mean, what are your final thoughts from your 50 hours in Cairo and the fights you've seen? and just the stuff you've done. The final thoughts for me is it's been a great week, a unique monumental occasion.

And the top of the bill tonight, the main fight, it lived up to the billing, it lived up to the hype that we've had all week about the contest, and obviously that the pyramids and all sorts. I certainly didn't expect the fight that we saw. I never thought I'd see Usik, boxed that bad, but at the same time, I think we've got to give all the credit to Rico Verhoeven for the performance he put in. The kid boxed out of his skin.

And what impressed me so much is he held it together for so long in that contest. Just come and done at the end. But what a performance that was from him. And Rich, was there anything you may be sore on your travels when you're over here, or any unique ways of travelling around the desert, anything that may be much to keep him? I've always wanted to get on the back of a camel and go for a camel ride, and it's the first and last time I will ever do that. I didn't enjoy it at all, although I enjoyed going and seeing the pyramids.

That was fantastic, but trust me, I will never get on a camel ever again. Richie Woodall, former European professional champion, Commonwealth champion, world champion, and the Commonwealth Games champion as an amateur and also an Olympic bronze medalist and no longer available for camel tours anywhere in the world. Richie, it's been an absolute pleasure and it's like being with you all week.

Great having all the cameos you've had from Stacey. So that was it. We came out here and we were sneering. Come on, let's tell the truth. We were sneering. We were, we were sneering. They weren't going to get the venue done in time. You know, it's going to be absolutely hell

trying to get in and out of the pyramid. You won't actually be able to hire a camel. And if they do fight, and if they do finish the venue, and if we do go on camels, and if we do see the pyramids, the fight's going to be rubbish. Rubbish, are you joking? It was a great fight. It was a monumental event.

The venue was brilliant, raised five or six feet above the sand. The pyramids have never looked so glorious and so absolutely majestic. These regal tombs, they're just incredible. The camels, as Ritchie said, Boy, oh boy, they're interesting. What a few days it's been in Cairo. What a time it's been, what a fight it was, and a rematch, hey, I'm up for it.

And in fact, I wouldn't mind a rematch being back here. I've been Steve Bunce. You've been great fans. And this is Five Live Boxing. Five Live Sports. So here's the first ball of this series. All the cricket you laugh. Shagrelby-Dobby.

Lives on BBC sounds. Smash straight back down the ground. This girl. Here, ball-by-ball coverage of the biggest competition. on the domestic and international circuits. It's a fourth cricket, and it's the huge one. Jeez, worse. Settle down, it's up for so, mate.

Cricket on Five Live Sport. Oh, I've lived in every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds.