Oleksandr Usyk warns Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury: 'I will be undisputed world champion'

Ukrainian contender Oleksandr Usyk has set his sights on becoming boxing's undisputed heavyweight world champion after securing a unanimous points win over Britain's Derek Chisora on Saturday night.

Usyk, who was the undefeated and undisputed champion at cruiserweight, has made the move up to heavyweight and after a routine win over late replacement Chazz Witherspoon on debut last year, faced a much tougher challenge in the experienced Chisora at The SSE Arena in London.

After weathering some early aggression from the 36-year-old Englishman, Usyk's superior boxing skills shone through on his way to a 117-112, 115-113, 115-113 victory, extending his perfect professional record to 18 fights. The result delivered a 10th defeat of Chisora's 42-fight career.

Usyk, 33, remains the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua's WBO title, and the Ukrainian said he expects to contend for the belt in 2021.

Whether Usyk faces Joshua for that belt – as well as the IBF and WBA straps also in the Briton's possession – could depend on whether the champion safely comes through his December 12 bout against Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev.

Joshua has also agreed to two fights next year with WBC champion Tyson Fury, who is also expected to defend his title next month.

Whichever way the situation plays out, Usyk only has eyes for all the belts. When asked about his future plans, the Ukrainian said: "Not just world champion, the undisputed world champion."

Reflecting on his performance against Chisora, Usyk rated himself three out of 10 and said he will continue to work hard to adapt to the heavyweight division.

"It's a real test in heavyweight," he said. "Chisora a big guy, a hard guy. I was expecting a fight like that, I was expecting a tougher fight.

"My plan is to go to my home, maximum time with my family. Training and improving myself."

Chisora admitted he was "gutted" by the defeat and believed he was hard done by on the judges scorecard. Chisora, who has once contested a world title fight when he faced Vitaly Klitschko in 2012, often reserves his best performances for the biggest fights and Saturday was no different. He was the early aggressor and stayed with Usyk for the first half of the bout before the Ukrainian started to pull away in the later rounds.

"I feel great. I was pushing the pace," Chisora said. "I'm just disappointed with the result, gutted.

"To everybody who can't make it [to the fight], I'm gutted for everybody. In the heavyweight game, you have to fight not box. I gave a couple of rounds away."

Davis delivers brutal KO win

A few hours later and across the Atlantic, unbeaten American Gervonta Davis produced a stunning knockout of Leo Santa Cruz to retain his WBA lightweight championship and take the Mexican's WBA junior lightweight title at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

After a first half of the fight that saw Santa Cruz create his fair share of opportunities, Davis lived up to his "Tank" nickname by delivering a ferocious uppercut in the sixth round to spark out his opponent and move his perfect record to 24 wins with 23 KOs.

"First, I want to say, I'm a pay-per-view star. Second, I ain't dodging nobody," said 25-year-old Davis, a protege of the former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. "I'm going to continue to show the world that I am No 1. I don't have to call nobody out. I'm the top dog and everyone knows that. Just set them up and I'll knock them down, one by one."

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Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
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