Global Combat Sports Injury Report: Usyk Cleared as PFL Champion Van Steenis Sidelined

The grueling physical toll of combat sports guarantees a constantly shifting landscape of contenders and champions. As the calendar turns to July 2026, the medical tent features a mix of high-profile athletes finally completing their rehabilitations and others just beginning their recovery journeys.[1][4]

In the boxing heavyweight division, the most significant update belongs to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. The undefeated Ukrainian has officially completed his rehabilitation for a lingering back injury that has kept him sidelined since his July 2025 rematch victory over Daniel Dubois.[1][2]

Usyk’s adviser confirmed that the champion is now in excellent physical condition and fully cleared for contact. The successful recovery clears the path for Usyk to defend his unified crowns against his WBO mandatory challenger in the coming months, injecting much-needed clarity into the top of the heavyweight picture.[1][2]

Conversely, Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez is currently navigating the early stages of his own comeback trail. Following a high-profile defeat to Terence Crawford, Alvarez underwent elbow surgery to address structural issues that had hampered his recent performances.

Alvarez is targeting a mid-2026 return to the ring. Behind the scenes, promoters and matchmakers are actively debating the caliber of his next opponent, balancing the physical necessity of a tune-up fight against the massive financial expectations attached to his broadcast contracts.

In the crossover boxing sphere, Jake Paul is awaiting pivotal medical news regarding a broken jaw sustained during his December 2025 bout against British heavyweight Anthony Joshua. The severe injury sidelined the 29-year-old for the entire first half of the year.[3]

Paul recently confirmed that his jaw feels significantly better, but he is scheduled for a new round of imaging to determine if the bone has fused sufficiently to allow him to resume live sparring. Despite the severity of the fracture, Paul remains adamant that his boxing career is far from over.[3]

Transitioning to mixed martial arts, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) was forced into a major summer pivot. Middleweight champion Costello van Steenis officially withdrew from his scheduled July 18 title defense at PFL Austin due to an undisclosed injury.[4]

The withdrawal derailed a highly anticipated rematch between van Steenis and former Bellator champion Johnny Eblen. Rather than scrap the main event, PFL matchmakers elevated former tournament winner Impa Kasanganay to face Eblen for an interim middleweight championship.[4]

The creation of the interim belt ensures the Austin card retains its championship stakes, while van Steenis will be guaranteed a unification bout once he is medically cleared to resume full-contact training.[4]

Finally, in the Muay Thai ranks, ONE Championship featherweight king Tawanchai PK Saenchai continues his grueling rehabilitation from a severe lower leg fracture suffered in late 2025. The injury, which involved both the tibia and fibula, required immediate surgery.

Now entering the seventh month of a projected seven-to-12-month recovery window, Tawanchai's camp reports steady progress. While a return to throwing full-force kicks remains weeks away, his successful structural healing provides a blueprint for resilience in a sport defined by physical attrition.