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Sports

Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight? For the first time, he is in a no-win situation

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When Oleksandr Usyk debuted in the heavyweight division, it felt like the game had changed. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was attacking the division in a way not seen in this generation: new angles, new speed, new thought – and when the Russia-Ukraine conflict ignited in 2022, a unique motivation. But on Saturday, the game changed for Usyk himself, and for the first time, he is in a no-win situation.

Usyk’s reputation has always felt untouchable, through a combination of his bewitching boxing, his refreshingly-upstanding personal nature, and that drive to give his beleaguered Ukraine something to celebrate in the face of inconceivable horrors.

Oleksandr Usyk during his tough clash with Rico Verhoeven
Oleksandr Usyk during his tough clash with Rico Verhoeven (Reuters)

So, when the unified champion opted for a voluntary title defence against Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxing icon with just one pro boxing match to his name, it would have felt harsh to even bat an eyelid. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both boxed UFC star Francis Ngannou over the last three years, and “AJ” even fought a YouTuber in Jake Paul six months ago. It was unexpected that Usyk would tread similar terrain, but after beating Fury, Joshua and Daniel Dubois twice each, he had earned a supposedly-easier outing.

That brought him to Saturday and to the pyramids of Giza, whose very existence have often raised unanswerable questions about invention and labour. And against Verhoeven, Usyk laboured in a way we have not seen before, with his usual invention distinctly lacking.

Yes, Verhoeven was bigger. Yes, as a non-boxer – but with the great Peter Fury in his corner – he approached this fight without the pressure that has consumed many of Usyk’s opponents. As Chris Algieri put it: he fought like a big man on the inside, and a small man on the outside.

But those aspects alone do not account for Verhoeven’s impressive display in Egypt, where this writer had him 97-93 up after 10 rounds, before Usyk’s late, controversial KO win. For as good as Verhoeven was, Usyk fought sluggishly and agitatedly.

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You could argue there’s an element of chicken and egg to this: was Usyk sluggish because he was struggling with Verhoeven’s application of weight, and was he agitated by the Dutchman’s movement – those twitchy feet and the constant circling away from Usyk’s southpaw power hand? To give Usyk his due credit, he eventually found his timing, range and rhythm, with uppercuts proving decisive as a tiring Verhoeven reverted to a higher, closer guard. It was one such shot that dropped Verhoeven, 37, in round 11.

And while much of the ensuing controversy (rightly) centred on the referee stopping the fight after the bell, there is an imperfect counter-argument that Verhoeven was given extra time to recover from the initial knockdown, as he was allowed to re-insert his mouthguard while in his corner. Two wrongs don’t make a right, of course, so have a third anyway: the scores were 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 in Verhoeven’s favour after 10 rounds.

Usyk dropped Verhoeven late in round 11 before a controversial finish
Usyk dropped Verhoeven late in round 11 before a controversial finish (Getty)
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In any case, as Steve Bunce wrote in these pages: “The first thing Usyk said when he was interviewed in the ring was not about the fight, but about a conversation he had with his daughter that very day. ‘She is in a bomb shelter,’ he said. Have we become so immune to human disaster that we hear that and still question why a man did not look and fight like he normally does?”

The problem for Usyk is that fans are fickle and unforgiving.

If the 39-year-old opts for a rematch with Verhoeven, his almost-impenetrable reputation will degrade slightly from two successive bouts with a kickboxer, at the expense of his mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel, getting his rightful shot. Yet if Usyk chooses to face Kabayel, a sour taste will be left in many a mouth, with Verhoeven hard done by.

For what it’s worth, Kabayel’s promoter Frank Warren said “we’re not going to stand for” Usyk vs Rico 2, and Usyk vs Kabayel (perhaps in the latter’s native Germany) would be a strong match-up. On paper, it would be a tougher test for Usyk than the first Verhoeven fight, or even a rematch, in which the Ukrainian would likely figure out the kickboxer more quickly.

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Agit Kabayel is the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Usyk
Agit Kabayel is the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Usyk (Getty)

But boxing matches aren’t won on paper, if you’ll pardon a cliche. Verhoeven gave Usyk a tougher test than Joshua, Dubois and Fury, and with the multiple controversies that muddied the end of Saturday’s main event, the Dutchman deserves another shot at Usyk.

Yes, Verhoeven will likely get a big-name opponent in his next boxing match – because he will stay in the sport – but we saw how that went for Ngannou. He dropped Fury and was unlucky not to be awarded a points win over the “Gypsy King”, but he was annihilated by Joshua a few months later. Styles make fights, if you’ll pardon a second cliche.

Perhaps a solution is for Usyk to box Verhoeven again, and to vacate his WBC title so Kabayel can fight another contender for that belt. Usyk could then face Kabayel, if the latter is victorious, in 2027. At that point, Usyk will be 40 years old with just one fight left in his plan for three final bouts, the first of which was his duel with Verhoeven.

Yet based on Saturday, there is an argument that Usyk should get out sooner rather than later. He did have nothing left to prove, yet all of a sudden that has changed. All of a sudden, he is in a no-win situation for the first time.

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Vikings May Have One Particular Sleeper for 2026

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Jordan Mason runs with the football during the Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) carries the football during action against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 4, 2026 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mason handled an expanded offensive workload late in the regular season as Minnesota leaned on its rushing attack during another important NFC North showdown against Green Bay. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-Imagn Images

Startup dynasty fantasy football drafts are ongoing, and redraft leagues will get cracking in three months. During those events, it might be a decent idea to take a flyer on Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason.

Mason’s RB2 case depends on volume, efficiency, and whether Aaron Jones finally gives up touches.

The veteran tailback is on tap for RB1-RB2 duty in 2026, and he made a list of potential “sleepers” published by Fansided last week.

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Minnesota’s Backfield Could Create Real Fantasy Value

Mason could be an undercover stud in 2026.

Jordan Mason runs with the football against the Washington Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) rushes the football against the Washington Commanders during the second half on Dec. 7, 2025 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mason handled an important role in Minnesota’s ground attack as the Vikings leaned on their rushing offense during a late-season NFC matchup against Washington. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Fansided: Mason Is a Fantasy Sleeper

Justin Carter at Fansided tossed out eight sleepers for your upcoming drafts, and on Mason, he explained, “Mason’s first season with the Minnesota Vikings was solid. He rushed for a career-high six touchdowns and came close to his previous career high in rushing yards despite playing just 44 percent of Minnesota’s offensive snaps, with Aaron Jones serving as the team’s lead back for the 12 games Jones was healthy and active for.”

“Now, Jones is a year older. He has over 1,500 career carries. He missed time last year with a variety of injuries. And he’s backed up by one of, IMO, one of the best backup running backs in the league. This is a situation where fantasy managers could get a massive reward if the Vikings end up using Mason as the starting running back at some point.”

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Mason was a breath of fresh air for the Vikings’ rushing offense last year, especially early in the season.

Carter continued, “There’s one issue that caps his upside a bit, though: he’s a complete non-factor as a receiver. Mason had 159 carries last year, but just 16 targets. That’s, uhh, a pretty big disparity, and it wasn’t a result of game planning.”

“Jones had 132 carries — fewer than Mason due to missing five games — but was still targeted 41 times. Still, in standard and even half-PPR, Mason is a great player to throw a dart at later in your fantasy draft.”

His 2025 Output

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How productive was Mason in Year No. 1 with the Vikings? Quite is the answer. He logged 159 carries for 758 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, paydirts that were ultra-refreshing because the 2024 Vikings almost refused to score rushing touchdowns altogether. Mason also caught 14 passes for 51 yards, a modest mark.

His problem? Attention. Touches. Emphasis. Like this year, Minnesota has Aaron Jones lined up to share the RB1-RB2 workload, a one-two punch of experience and dependability. Jones isn’t the type of guy teams put on the bench, so the pair basically coexist.

Had Mason been granted the touch load of an RB1 — like Travis Etienne, for example, in Jacksonville — in the arena of 260 rushing attempts, here’s what Mason’s stat line would look like:

— 260 Carries
— 1,239 Rushing Yards
— 4.8 Yards/Carry
— 10 Touchdowns
— 23 Receptions
— 83 Receiving Yards

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He Just Needs Carries and Touches

When the offseason began in January, a large faction of Vikings fans expected the club to release Jones, who battled injuries in 2025 — and battles some form of injury nearly every season. Jones will be 32 this winter, and age-32 running backs aren’t often hot commodities.

Jordan Mason runs with the football against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) carries the football against the Chicago Bears during the second half on Sep. 8, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Mason fought through contact from Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) while helping Minnesota establish offensive balance in an early NFC North showdown. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

But Jones accepted a paycut to stay in Minnesota, keeping in the mix for 2026. That flattened Mason’s broad outlook this season. Had Jones departed, Mason would’ve been the next man up by default and possibly a bellcow RB1.

Until it happens, Mason will encounter a familiar narrative: the guy just needs more rushing attempts. When he gets the ball, he chips off about 5 yards per carry. He can’t blossom as a true-blue RB1 unless he gets 200-300 carries.

The Fansided theory evidently operates on the pretense that Mason will get closer to RB1 duty, rather than the shared setup on the docket right now.

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RotoBaller‘s Patrick McGrath on Mason: “With a healthier offensive line and improved quarterback play, his second season with the Vikings could be marginally more productive even if his role remains largely unchanged.”

“At 27 years old, Mason is RotoBaller’s dynasty RB52, and while the breakout calls have quieted, he is still capable of playing out the final year of his contract as an occasional flex option with notable insurance upside.”

Other Vikings Sleepers?

For fantasy football sake, the Vikings don’t have too many sleepers — everyone already knows that Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and Kyler Murray are draftable.

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Jordan Mason gallops with the football against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) carries the football against the Houston Texans during first-quarter preseason action on Aug. 9, 2025 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mason picked up early rushing yards as Minnesota worked to establish rhythm on the ground during the exhibition matchup against Houston. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

But if push came to shove for a Vikings-themed fantasy sleeper list, it would probably look like this:

Second-year pass-catcher Tai Felton could bloom, too, but the probability of that shrank when interim general manager Rob Brzezinski signed Jennings.

Mason turned 27 on Sunday.


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Manchester City says goodbye to manager Pep Guardiola

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Elina Svitolina survives First-Round scare at Roland Garros

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Elina Svitolina fought back to defeat Anna Bondár 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(3) in a dramatic first-round battle at the French Open.

She was down 1-3 in the deciding set and facing an opponent who had beaten her in their last two meetings, but somehow found another level when the match got tight.

The Rome champion once again showed why she is one of the toughest players on tour.

  • Naomi Osaka explains why She hosted Dinner for black Tennis PlayersNaomi Osaka explains why She hosted Dinner for black Tennis Players

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Svitolina has now won seven matches in a row and improves to an incredible 13-0 record in first-round matches at Roland Garros.

After the match, she joked about how many times she has faced Bondar.

“Anna, we played many times. I’m literally tired to play against her,” Svitolina said with a smile.

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She also praised the crowd for helping her through the battle.

“These kind of battles are never easy… I’m really overwhelmed with emotions to be fair.”

The win gives Svitolina her 30th victory of the 2026 season as she continues her strong run on clay heading deeper into Paris.

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How to get Striped Starfruit seed in Build a Ring Farm

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Introduced by Update 3 in Build a Ring Farm, the Striped Starfruit is a valuable crop that belongs to the Exotic rarity. All players can obtain it for their farm without making seed rerolls because it has replaced the Horned Melon in the Seed Collector. A single unit of Striped Starfruit has a base sale value higher than most of the other Exotic-rarity crops, including Kiwi, Moonflower, and Passion Fruit.

Here’s everything to know about the Striped Starfruit in Build a Ring Farm.


Getting the Striped Starfruit seed in Build a Ring Farm

The Seed Collector (Image via Roblox)The Seed Collector (Image via Roblox)
The Seed Collector (Image via Roblox)

There are a couple of ways to get the Striped Starfruit. Primarily, it can be acquired from the Seed Collector machine in the middle of the map. Any player can submit seeds in this machine, earn points, and reach milestones to unlock rewards.

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A total of 180,000 points have to be earned to acquire a single Striped Starfruit seed. Notably, the rarity, level, and mutation of a seed submitted in the Seed Collector affect the number of earned points. You can easily gain thousands of points by depositing mutated seeds belonging to the Secret rarity.

Only 60,000 points can be amassed in a day. If you attempt to gain more points, the machine will refuse to accept any seeds.

To submit any seed, equip it, approach the Seed Collector, and hold the E key. The deposited seed will be converted into points. A bar at the top of the machine will move to indicate your progress to the final reward, which is the Striped Starfruit.

The Trucker Event (Image via Roblox)The Trucker Event (Image via Roblox)
The Trucker Event (Image via Roblox)

Another method to get Striped Starfruit is the Trucker Event. When the event is active, the Trucker NPC arrives in a red truck and surveys the farms of all players on the server. It then grades these farms according to their number of upgrades, rarity of crops, and overall production value.

Trucker gives rewards based on the grades given to the farms. If you get an S+ rank, there is a high likelihood of the NPC rewarding you with rare seeds and items, such as the Cosmic Spray, Super Fertilizer, and Striped Starfruit seed.

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Also check: How to get Cash fast in Build a Ring Farm


Details of the Striped Starfruit in Build a Ring Farm

All details of the Striped Starfruit (Image via Roblox)All details of the Striped Starfruit (Image via Roblox)
All details of the Striped Starfruit (Image via Roblox)

A Striped Starfruit plant produces round fruits with green and yellow colors. At Level 1 and when possessing no mutations, a single unit of Striped Starfruit sells for a whopping 130,000 Cash. You can increase its sale value by using Cash on upgrades as well as sprays that offer mutations.

Cosmic mutation currently gives the highest multiplier. Apply this mutation on the Striped Starfruit by using a Cosmic Spray, which is an item purchasable from the Gear Shop and Plant Rush shop.

Compared to other Exotic-rarity crops, the Striped Starfruit is average. Its base sale value is surpassed by Pepper, Trucker’s Delight, Void Fruit, and Dragonfruit.


Also check: How to get limited Kitsune pet in Build a Ring Farm

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FAQs on Build a Ring Farm

What is the rarity of Striped Starfruit?

This seed is of Exotic rarity.

How do I get the Striped Starfruit seed?

This seed can be acquired from the Seed Collector and as a reward from the Trucker Event.

What is the base sale value of a unit of Striped Starfruit?

A unit of Striped Starfruit has a sale value of 130,000 Cash.