“I just thought that Zhang was timing him nicely with that backhand. Walking him into it, picking him off with the jab and then timing him. It caused the damage on the eye. You want Joe Joyce to be able to just get his head off the centre, maybe get his guard up, block a few shots, roll and slip, but he just doesn’t do any of that. He hasn’t got it in his arsenal. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. What age is he? 38? So he’s not going to change. He’s going to come and do what he does and hope his fitness and his strength is enough to win. But Zhang I feel has got his number.”Froch emphasized that it might be challenging to teach an older fighter like Joyce new defensive techniques before Froch vs Zhang 2. Given Joyce's age, around 38, Froch believes he is unlikely to change his approach and will rely on his fitness and strength to win. However, Froch believes that Zhang has figured out Joyce's style.
“Not get hit early on, make Zhang work. But to do that he’s going to have to defend himself, and he’s got no defence. He’s got no head movement. If he’s walking into shots, I feel like the writing’s on the wall. This is a must-win fight for him as well, otherwise where does he go? Back-to-back defeats against Zhang – he’s in trouble.”Froch echoed the common sentiment that for Joyce to succeed against Zhang in Froch vs Zhang 2, he must avoid early punches and force Zhang to work harder. But this strategy requires improved defense, something Joyce currently lacks. Froch believes that if Joyce continues to walk into Zhang's punches, it doesn't bode well for his chances. This Froch vs Zhang 2 is crucial for Joyce; another defeat to Zhang could spell trouble for his career.
“Yeah listen if I was lumping a bet on it, I’d say Zhang is the smart money. But it’s a two horse race. Anything can happen, and Joe Joyce would’ve learnt from that. He was devastated.”
“It’s always been on his mind. I think the time away from the sport has made him realise he misses it and loves it. I think he feels like if it’s not before the end of this year, it’s probably not going to happen.” “So he’s put his foot on the pedal, trying to work off some of the weight he’s put on his semi retirement. So he”s working away, step by step.” “He does boxing for the love of it. He actually misses the sport and it’s looking like he is committed to a comeback.” “I think the goal will be to get down to 168, for sure. But for his first fight, let’s see. His weight has come down a fair bit, he just needs to stay consistent to get it down to where we would all like it to be.”While Saunders aims to compete at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds, Davison suggested that for his first fight back, they'll assess the situation and make adjustments as needed. Saunders has already made progress in shedding weight, but consistency is key to reaching their desired weight. Promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed his interest in arranging a rematch between Saunders and his old rival John Ryder, whom Saunders narrowly defeated for the British middleweight title in 2013.
“Andy Ruiz. I like that fight. I think he pulverises Ruiz this time. But I would like to have seen the Dillian Whyte fight, that would have been a very good fight.”Bellew also conveyed his eagerness for a Joshua vs Fury match, expressing disappointment in the general lack of competition in the heavyweight division, which he perceives as being filled with either marginal contenders or inadequate competitors.
“But [Tyson] Fury, obviously, that’s the one I really want to see. It’s tough, the heavyweight division isn’t as deep as it should be – there are fringe contenders or you’re not very good.”Frank Warren has suggested another British boxer, Daniel Dubois, as a suitable contender to face Joshua, proposing that a match between them would be mutually beneficial at this point in their careers.
“It’s gone on for so long I’m almost switched off to it. He’s getting a lot of hate which I don’t like to see but he’s got this dark cloud over him cause he failed a drugs test. Great he’s moving on, but I want to know what’s going on with him getting a British Boxing Board of Control license.”Carl Froch, speaking with Talk Sport Boxing, expressed his frustration with the protracted saga. He noted the public backlash Benn has faced due to the failed drug test and questioned the status of Benn's British Boxing Board of Control license. Froch also highlighted the issue of Benn choosing to fight overseas instead of addressing the licensing matter in the UK, describing it as a "grey area." He emphasized the importance of professional boxing maintaining its credibility, especially in the eyes of casual fans, and stressed the need for accountability and adherence to regulations.
“It’s a shame. It puts a grey area on why he’s allowed to fight in Florida and not Britain. But I understand, it’s a technicality. But also you have to hold professional boxing as paramount importance in terms of how it looks to the armchair fan and if it just looks like they’re pulling one over on the Boxing Board or doing their own thing and sticking their middle finger up to the correct officials and it’s bad and it shouldn’t be happening.”Froch ultimately called on Benn and his team to engage with the Board, face any necessary consequences related to the failed drug test, and only then resume Benn's professional career.
“When are they going to sit in front of the board and take their punishment for the failed drugs test? Because my understanding is that’s what needs to happen before Connor Benn can move on with his professional career. Until then they’re just p**sing in the wind.”Negotiations between Benn and Chris Eubank Jr have surfaced, suggesting a potential future bout for both fighters if Benn emerges victorious this weekend. However, the location for this match remains uncertain. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that, during the process of securing a license to fight in the United States, consultations with the British Boxing Board of Control were conducted to address these matters.
"If I don't win this fight I'm done as far as I'm concerned so that's going to give me even more fire to work hard and to win this fight. I feel normal just like any other Camp to be honest um I know it's a big fight you know as a world I know it's a world title fight but I think the keys to is to keep calm don't be under pressure because I've been up for so many years and I've made so many mistakes that I've learned from so now my mindset now is you know what it's just like any other fight we've got to work harder and do what I do from time I like the pressure go um from time."Davis also spoke positively about his opponent, recognizing him as a strong and fit fighter, despite his age, and understanding that he should not underestimate him. When asked about retirement, Davis mentioned his intention to continue boxing but emphasized the need to focus on the current fight and not look past it.
"Mitchell um good fight or strong fighter fit and I know he got robbed in his last fight so in this next fight could be looking to make a statement um against me and he's old but listen man when you're old up in Venezuela is that young in England mate those guys don't eat burgers and drink beer that's why these guys are 45 years old and they're still fit as hell so I can't look at his age and say he's over the hill he's not over the hill."Further in the interview with Fighter Talk TV, he expressed gratitude for his coach, Will, who has been patient and supportive throughout his boxing career. Davis shared that this title shot, though significant, feels like just another day in his job, emphasizing his dedication to his craft.
"He's been very patient with me you know my boxing career has been up and down and I got with Will at the down part of my boxing career so you know I'm always thankful that he waited he had faith when the fight dates I had and then they got canceled and it's taking time away from his wife and kids and his family and you know all these things and then you know is the business at the end of the day and my culture was patient enough to wait with me and to ground it out with me through the hard time."For Full Interview:
“Andy Ruiz did business with us the same way he attempted to do business with Tyson Fury, he out priced himself.” “He wants to act like he wants this fight, but it’s just big name association. Fighters and their team, they hid behind the business aspect of boxing, and it’s the perfect time to hide behind business because everyone is in to instant gratification – and that is what Andy did.” “It’s frustrating. And the more and more I talk about it, the more it gets frustrating.”The WBC had ordered a final eliminator between Wilder and Ruiz at the beginning of the year, but even this mandate failed to bring about a fight between the two. In terms of inactivity, Deontay Wilder has not been in action since autumn 2022 when he swiftly dispatched Robert Helenius in under a round at the Barclays Centre in New York. Despite earlier assurances to fans that a highly anticipated showdown between Wilder and Anthony Joshua was "confirmed" for December, this long-anticipated bout also appears to be facing uncertainty at present.
"Lol KSI manager freaking out behind the scenes and making Adin’s manager kick me out of the chat!" Paul wrote to his 4.6million followers after the fact. "Soft!" Taylor responded by writing" "I’d never freak out over you, you fraudulent poser. Should have not ducked if you want that KSI clout. Get your attention elsewhere by fighting crippled old men."With the KSI vs. Tommy Fury fight drawing closer and Logan Paul also participating in the event, anticipation is building for what promises to be a sell-out crowd.
“Yeah, I mean, anybody at the top. I feel like, with all due respect, if you’re at the top, you’re standing in the way. I’m a competitor at the end of the day and I got a family to feed.”When asked if he would emulate the strategy used by Tyson Fury to defeat Wilder, Franklin was hesitant to commit. He acknowledged that while he has observed useful techniques from Fury, their fighting styles are distinct, making it difficult to adopt an identical approach. He emphasized the need for caution when facing Wilder's renowned punching power but stated his willingness to engage both strategically and aggressively when the opportunity arises.
“I can’t really say that cause me and Fury are two different style fighters. But I seen some things that he was doing that could help. I seen some of the things he did when we sparred. I’d utilise that. I don’t want to steal stuff from people. But we’re perfecting our prep, I view a lot of footage, I see small things to use but I wouldn’t say he gave me an overall game plan of beating Wilder.” “I mean yeah, he has power, you have to be aware of the power, you don’t want to be putting yourself in a situation where you get clobbered with the right hand, but I like to box, I like to brawl. When the time presents itself, I’ll be strategic but do what I gotta do. I”ll try to be smart about it.”A Franklin vs. Wilder match could be a significant bout for both fighters at this juncture of their careers. It would also be an engaging contest for Wilder, who has been inactive since his last one-round fight in October of the previous year.
“I want to see him take each fight as it comes, not to keep looking down the road and thinking about how he wants to be the youngest guy to win a world title. I want him to look at that [next] fight like he is fighting for a world title and go out there and put a world title performance on. Go out there and look the absolute business, that is what I want to see from him, in every fight. I want the world to see what we see in him, because he is exciting, he’s young and I believe that he will be the face of the heavyweight division in the future.”Up next for Itauma is a bout against Amine Boucetta from Belgium, who has a record of 7-8. The fight is part of the undercard for the rematch between Zhang and Joyce. Itauma will aim to add another knockout to his record, although Boucetta has proven to be a durable opponent, having been stopped just once in his career.
“A fight with Conor Benn down the line would be huge, but he shouldn’t be fighting right now – he shouldn’t be anywhere near a boxing ring, that guy. I think it’s pretty bad for the sport. It’s a bad look, guy popping dirty twice and still getting to box. He’s basically had a slap on the wrist and is getting away with it and is now getting back to it. I don’t think it’s a great look for the sport.”As for Benn's career plans, promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested that Benn might stage a comeback in a less high-profile match in the U.S. soon. Additionally, there's buzz that Benn could square off with family rival Chris Eubank Jr., who recently triumphed over Liam Smith. Negotiations for this matchup are said to be in the works, even though Eubank has expressed an interest in fights with other notable boxers like Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez.
“I don’t know, what’s Triple G done in a while? He’s 41 years old … I don’t think [Eubank] does, no. Cause the last things to go is a boxer’s power, and he’s that well-schooled that even an old, past his best, reflexes gone a little bit [Golovkin] lands a shot on Eubank Jr I think it’s fight over. So no, I don’t think he beats Triple G if I’m honest.”Golovkin has been inactive since his trilogy defeat to Saul 'Canelo' Álvarez at 168 pounds in September of the previous year, and his future plans in boxing remain uncertain. Meanwhile, Eubank seems to be leaning more towards a fight with Conor Benn. This match had been scheduled previously but was canceled at the last minute due to a banned substance being found in Benn's system. Eubank's promotional team is confident that they can secure a British license for the fight in time for December and potentially host it in a stadium setting.
“I think that it’s sad, actually. The man that I am named after, a legend, has to go against me and then come out as a loser, having lost to a man who was named after him. I think that it’s sad and I think that he should be in my corner, not the opposing corner.”When asked about going against his namesake by TNT Sports, Mike Tyson responded succinctly, stating,
"This is business, and he understands."Indeed, it is a business venture for both fighters. Fury is expected to earn a substantial sum, likely in the tens of millions, for the bout, while Ngannou will also receive a career-high payday compared to his previous UFC championship stint. Mike Tyson believes that Ngannou will deliver a surprise on fight night, despite some skeptics viewing it as part of the promotional strategy. Tyson expressed confidence in Ngannou's abilities, highlighting his power punching and impressive speed for a heavyweight of his size (260 pounds). He expects Ngannou to exceed the expectations of many. The fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will be contested over ten rounds in a professionally sanctioned bout. However, Fury's WBC World title will not be on the line.
“The only one out there who can challenge Tyson, and they all avoid him and they won’t fight him, is Deontay Wilder. They’re all terrified of him, and Tyson straightened him up three times!” “All those people will never get in with ‘The Bronze Bomber.’ Usyk, AJ, none of them will fight ‘The Bronze Bomber.’ Andy Ruiz Jr will – for a price. Because he’s got big you know what’s, and if the money is right and it makes good business sense, I can only see Andy Ruiz fighting him.” “He’s the only one who comes to mind who is in that bracket. He’s the only one who’s going to fight Deontay Wilder because there rest are terrified. They know what’s coming.”Wilder had been in talks for a matchup with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia, but those plans seem to have hit a roadblock due to changes in the country's boxing management. Discussions have also taken place for an all-American showdown with Ruiz, although financial negotiations appear to be a significant hurdle in finalizing that bout.
“I’m really looking forward to a challenge. This might sound strange but I’ve been a professional for 13 years and I’ve been travelling the world to find somebody who can beat me basically and I haven’t found him so far in 32 fights.”Bruno also shared his thoughts on the matchup, stating that he believed Fury would provide Joshua with a "boxing lesson" and cautioning Joshua against facing Fury.
“I don’t think Joshua should go anywhere near you because you’ll teach him a lesson you know, a boxing lesson.”Regrettably, fans never had the opportunity to witness whether Bruno's prediction would come true. Fury was compelled to engage in a third fight with Deontay Wilder after the American won an arbitration battle. The trilogy bout concluded similarly to their second encounter, with Fury knocking out 'The Bronze Bomber' in an exciting heavyweight showdown. Following this, Fury successfully defended his title twice, first against mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte and then in another trilogy bout against his old adversary Derek Chisora. Meanwhile, Joshua faced a setback, losing all his titles in back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, a former cruiserweight undisputed champion. In the upcoming period, Fury is scheduled to compete in a crossover contest against MMA star Francis Ngannou, while Joshua had seemed poised to square off against Wilder in the near future. However, talks for that bout have hit a snag, with promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledging the possibility of exploring alternative opponents.
“Has it ever been my priority? Did I ever say I wanted undisputed? It’s always been some other little b**** dream. I’ve got Francis Ngannou to deal with. Should the other little sausage want to fight for the undisputed, and if he’s willing to take a small percentage then we might be able to make it happen. But if he wants a large bag? Not happening. Him [Usyk] and his team were s***houses! They get offered the fight at Wembley, and we moved on. That was it. Now we’re fighting Francis Ngannou, who is stepping up to the plate.”The failed negotiations earlier in the year, which involved disputes over purse splits, choice of venue, and rematch clauses, had cast blame on Tyson Fury by many observers. However, his promoter, Frank Warren, recently expressed quiet confidence in the possibility of arranging a Fury vs. Usyk bout in 2024. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether Fury's recent comments are merely a diversion or a genuine reflection of his stance on the matter.
“They’re all pretty tough fights and all important – every one of them. Cause if you slip up here, you go back and got to start again. I think the one for me that I expected to be the toughest fight – against Wladimir Klitschko, who was undefeated in eleven years – it was one of the easiest fights.”Fury highlighted how significant every fight is, emphasizing that a single loss can reset a boxer's career. The fight against Klitschko, who hadn't lost a match in 11 years, turned out to be easier than he anticipated. He explained that the intimidating power of the Ukrainian fighter, who is now a Hall of Famer, fueled his training regimen.
“I think he did need a bit of counselling after that. Mentally focusing for that fight, in training camp we were focusing on like if he hits me, I’m gonna get knocked out. With that fear factor, I went in there and I boxed unbelievable. Then I took his best shots and I was like ‘is that it?’ That was supposed to be my hardest fight. I prepared mentally, physically and emotionally for it to be my hardest fight.”Fury recalled preparing intensely for the match, thinking Klitschko's punches would be lethal. However, he was surprised that Klitschko's best shots weren't as devastating as he had expected. Initially slated for a rematch, Fury instead took a hiatus from boxing, struggling with depression and substance abuse issues. After a hiatus of two and a half years, he made an awe-inspiring comeback, defeating another reigning champion, Deontay Wilder, in 2020. Currently holding the championship belt, Fury has opted not to defend his title this year. Instead, he plans on participating in a crossover fight against MMA sensation Francis Ngannou.
“It is with deep sadness that we have been informed of the sudden death of Argentine coach Diego Arua, who suffered a devastating heart attack during the Sabrina Pérez fight in Tijuana. The medical services did everything possible and he died at the QDEP general hospital.”Matchroom, the promotional company involved, extended their heartfelt condolences to Perez. Eddie Hearn, who was present ringside, was one of the first to recognize the severity of Arrua's condition.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Sabrina Perez and your loved ones.”The boxing community and fans have been offering messages of support and expressing sorrow for the untimely demise of Arrua, who was 58. He was widely admired for the close working relationship he had with his wife, Perez, and for their collective achievements in the boxing world.
“Lopez will probably never be forgiven for the Kambosos loss. If Lopez didn’t have that loss – which is utterly ridiculous, every time I see Kambosos fight I still can’t understand how Lopez got beat by that guy – but if you take it away, which you never will so he’ll never be forgiven, that guy’s on the pound-for-pound list maybe top three or four.”Malignaggi, speaking on ProBox TV, expressed his strong opinions about Lopez's performance, stating, "Lopez may never be able to live down the Kambosos loss. It's almost unbelievable; every time I watch Kambosos fight, I still can't fathom how Lopez was defeated by him. But that loss will haunt him forever. Without it, he could have been on the pound-for-pound list, possibly in the top three or four." Subsequently, Kambosos lost the belts to Devin Haney. After nearly a year of absence from the ring, Lopez moved up to the 140-pound division. He delivered two decent performances before challenging Josh Taylor, the former undisputed champion in that weight class.
Malignaggi believes that Lopez's victory over Taylor establishes him as the top fighter in the division. He stated: “Lopez has done some insane things, man, including coming back and beating Josh Taylor. He was dynamite at 135 pounds and he’s shown at 140 when he’s on point he’s dynamite there as well. For me, he is the guy to beat at 140.”Despite briefly announcing his retirement after the Taylor fight, Lopez has confirmed his intention to continue competing. Additionally, he has been elevated to the status of Super Champion by the WBO, granting him certain privileges and choices regarding his opponents. Devin Haney, who has also moved up to super-lightweight, may be his next challenger.
“They [Fury, Joshua and Wilder] don’t have no skills. They throw punches like this for a jab, you’ve got to throw them straight. They don’t know how to throw a 1-2 and get out and protect yourself. But I had my day, I had great times doing what I was doing. They don’t move like Larry Holmes. You have to give punches, you shouldn’t take punches – and he [Fury] takes punches. I guess he wants to prove to people he can take punches, but you should hit and not get hit.”Larry Holmes, a dominant force in the heavyweight division during the early 1980s, held the Ring Magazine and lineal titles from 1980 to 1985, the WBC world championship from 1978 to 1985, and the inaugural IBF belt from 1983 to 1995. While some may find Holmes' assessment of today's heavyweight contenders to be critical, it's clear that the Easton Assassin isn't overly impressed with the current big names in the heavyweight division. Despite ongoing discussions about potential fights between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for an undisputed title and a potential transatlantic showdown between Joshua and Wilder, negotiations for these matchups have, thus far, failed to yield concrete results.