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Oct 24 2024

Update on Hamzah Sheeraz’s colossal shot at world honours

Hamzah Sheeraz is currently one of the most exciting fighters Britain has to offer.

Whilst only being 25-years-old he has rapidly progressed in his career to now be one of the most feared men in the middleweight division.

With an 81 per cent knockout ratio, you have to be a brave man to get in that squared circle with him.

In his most recent performance, he blitzed through Tyler Denny in just two rounds.

Along with his stellar performances, he has impressed Turki Alalshikh so much that he is now a Riyadh Season ambassador.

At just 25 years old, the lanky, heavy-hitting middleweight has the world in the palm of his hands.

Despite being so young, the idea of becoming a world champion next year is not in any way a fantasy.

After winning by knockout in each of his last 15 fights, the man from Ilford has talked up the chances of himself dethroning the undefeated Kazakh Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0), who currently holds both the WBO and IBF middleweight world titles.

On the 8th of October, the WBO ordered a world title contest between current champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and Sheeraz, giving 15 days for the respective teams of both men to agree on a deal.Teófimo López accuses Turki Alalshikh of deliberately harming Canelo Alvarez event

However, today the WBO has given an update on the current situation regarding the negotiations.

Official: WBO Middleweight Division Zhanibek/Sheeraz. Be advised @Queensberry & @trboxing jointly petitioned an extension of the negotiation period. #WBO Committee granted the extension. Therefore, agreement must be reached no later than Monday, Nov. 4 @ 4:00 pm (AST).

This update implies that the fight is likely to be made as both the fighters respective teams have asked for an extension.

There were concerns that ‘Qazaq Style’ may be nearing the end of his time in the division, due to a feeling that he may have outgrown the 160lb weight limit.

If the current champion does decide to vacate then it is likely that Sheeraz will fight fellow countryman Denzel Bentley (20-3-1) for the belt.

Whatever happens, what is for sure is that Sheeraz is going to be a star in the sport as he progresses through his career.Official: WBO Middleweight Division Zhanibek/Sheeraz. Be advised @Queensberry & @trboxing jointly petitioned an extension of the negotiation period. #WBO Committee granted the extension. Therefore, agreement must be reached no later than Monday, Nov. 4 @ 4:00 pm (AST).

— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) October 24, 2024

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Oct 24 2024

Frazer Clarke breaks silence after devastating knockout defeat

One punch can change a fight and for a certain Frazer Clarke, he learned the harsh reality of this.

The highly anticipated heavyweight rematch between himself and Fabio Wardley, took place two weeks ago in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the undercard of Beterviev-Bivol.

Their first fight ended as a draw in what was considered a fight of the year contender.

The rematch could not have been more different.

Clarke was demolished in a single round and was rushed off to hospital to have surgery.

It was confirmed the day after the fight that he had suffered multiple cheek fractures.

Up until today, Clarke had been very quiet on his social media channels.

However, today he posted a video on Twitter/X talking about how he feels about the fight and his career moving forward.

“This will not be the end of me, this will actually be the making of me,” Clarke told his followers.

“I put so much work into this camp. So much work into that fight, I was heavily invested, but that’s heavyweight boxing for you.”

”A loss of concentration for one second and that’s what happens.”

”A massive well done to Fabio Wardley and the whole of team Wardley.”Why Terence Crawford vs Vergil Ortiz Jr. isn’t happening

”I also want to give a massive thank you to Saudi Arabia for having me. To Turki Alalshikh and all the staff.”

”My face will heal, my pride is dented for the minute.”

”I’m still gutted but this week we are going to try pick ourself back up.”

”Just know that going forward we will move onto bigger and better things.”

”I promise everyone now, I will be back.”

Although the result of his fight still hurts, the 33-year-old Olympic bronze medalist is looking to move forward with his career.

Many people were questioning whether the Olympic bronze medalist would return to a professional ring.

However, he has made clear that he will return again and this time even better.

Fight fans will be hoping that Frazer’s injuries do not play any part in his future fights.This will not be the end of me, this will be the making of me. I will be seeing you all soon! #BigFrazehttps://t.co/TpZDptiJlTpic.twitter.com/t5WwfPiMdd

— Frazer Clarke (@BigFrazeBoxer) October 24, 2024

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Oct 24 2024

Why Terence Crawford vs Vergil Ortiz Jr. isn’t happening

Terence Crawford is named as number one in the super welterweight / junior middleweight division right now.

The legendary boxer has long been thought of as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world and his undefeated streak certainly emphasises that.

As current WBF junior middleweight champion, there’s another bow to the Terence Crawford string.

However, age is not necessarily on Crawford’s side.

As a 37-year-old, he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning.

Any boxer that is able to defeat him will be a made man afterwards.

And there are plenty of youngsters looking to make their name off the back of defeating Terence Crawford.

One of those is Vergil Ortiz Jr.

26-year-old Ortiz is the current World Boxing Council (WBC) interim super welterweight and is another fighter who is undefeated.

His last fight saw him defeat Serhii Bohachuk by majority decision in August to win the belt.

But it seems that any fight between Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz is unlikely to happen and now we know why.

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez was speaking on the ‘3 Knockdown Rule’ podcast and has explained why they won’t meet.

Gomez confirmed that the fight had been broached by Turki Alalshikh, who reached out to both fights.Frank Warren responds forcefully against Simon Jordan and Ben Shalom

However, it didn’t happen and he shed some more light as to why.

“You know we just want the biggest fight,” Gomez told the podcast about the plans for Ortiz.

“We were approached about doing the Crawford fight and we accepted.

“Crawford hasn’t decided what he wants to do.

“But he (Ortiz) wants to fight Crawford.

“We are willing to do that fight.”

So it seems that the hold up is on the side of Terence Crawford.

The current WBF junior middleweight champion hasn’t made up his mind and is deciding what to do next.

However, from the side of Golden Boy Promotions and Vergil Ortiz Jr., they are happy and willing to take on the fight.

Fight fans will be hoping that Turki Alalshikh can convince Crawford to take on the fight as it will be sure to be a blockbuster.

The super welterweight division is one of the most competitive in boxing right now and there are a load of great fights that can happen.

And if we see Crawford and Ortiz in the future, it can’t come soon enough.

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Oct 24 2024

Eddie Hearn shares Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury plan

If anyone knows what Anthony Joshua’s plans are, it’s Eddie Hearn.

The boxing promoter has been working with AJ since 2013.

That was around a year after Joshua won the gold medal at the Olympic Games.

Since then, they’ve taken a ride together to the top of the boxing world.

And it’s clear from previous comments from Eddie Hearn that they’re planning to take that ride again.

For all intents and purposes, the noises have all been around a potential rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

After a stunning knockout defeat in September, it was believed that AJ would look for revenge.

And it seems that’s still the plan.

However, there’s a particular Tyson Fury shaped question in the background.

For years, boxing fans have been asking when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury would get in the ring.

There have been several times in the past that it seems like it could have happened, only to fall by the wayside in the end.

However, new comments from Eddie Hearn seem to shed some light and possible update on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could meet in the ring.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Hearn notes that there are only two options for what’s next for AJ.

“It’s weird saying it after a knockout defeat but AJ is actually in a really good position,” said Hearn.

“We’re going to fight Dubois or Fury next.Update provided on Mike Tyson knee injury ahead of Jake Paul showdown

“That’s it. No other interest or warm-up.”

Speaking further, Eddie Hearn suggest that there are two obstacles to the Daniel Dubois fight happening next.

“AJ desperately wants revenge but the only issue is timing.

“For the rematch to happen in February, training camp will have to start in a couple of weeks.

“There are always niggles and he had a few so physically it’s just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that.

“It would be frustrating if we made the Dubois rematch and Fury won.

“Then we’re sitting there going ‘hang on a minute, we’re fighting Dubois but we could have fought Fury in May for the biggest fight in boxing.’

“Win or lose, we can fight Fury next summer.

“But if he wins, AJ fights him for the world title.”

From what we can decipher from the comments made by Eddie Hearn, the fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will happen next summer.

And if Fury wins the world title against Oleksandr Usyk in December, then the fight will be for the world title.

That would give boxing fans what they’ve wanted for years.

A world title fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

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Oct 24 2024

Sam Jones responds after Regis Prograis leaks his controversial fight prediction

When Sam Jones woke up today, he probably didn’t expect to be the talk of the boxing world.

But that’s exactly what has happened.

And it’s all because of Regis Prograis.

In the press conference for his fight against Jack Catterall, Prograis

After being taunted by Jones, American Prograis played voicenotes he had received from Jones stating that he’d beat Catterall.

Why is this so interesting?

It’s because Sam Jones is the current manager for Jack Catterall.

Awkward.

Any time that a boxer hears that their management rates someone better than them, it’s not good.

After initially claiming that Regis Prograis was lying about the messages, Sam Jones quickly backtracked and said that the comments were made years ago.

This is what seems to be the case and wasn’t challenged by Prograis.

Taking the conversation onto social media, Sam Jones has now responded further to the voicenote

Writing on his Twitter / X account, has written a series of messages following the incident.Amateur world champion to turn professional after controversial Olympics exit

Firstly, Jones doubles down that it was a long time ago as he states that he was working with Prograis at the time and was trying to make the Prograis vs Catterall fight.

He then sends a direct message to Regis Prograis that everyone involved can all dig old messages up.Firstly I was working with Regis at the time and was trying to make the Prograis Catterall fight. We can all dig messages up Regis. https://t.co/UoR8YD7WAc

— Sam Jones (@mrsamjones88) October 24, 2024

But the messages from Sam Jones didn’t stop there.

In a further message, Jones mentions that the messages were over 3 years ago in 2021.

He then takes a shot at Regis Prograis about sharing the voicenote and implies that’s a negative trait in the New Orleans southpaw.

Not stopping there, he tweets a third time when an X user says that Jones and Prograis should come face to face in the Sky Sports production The Gloves Are Off.

Sam Jones states he’d be more than happy to do that.

Whatever the case may be in regards to that, it seems that the revelation from Regis Prograis has gotten under the skin of Jones.

He will be hoping that his man Jack Catterall gets a semblance of revenge by defeating Prograis on Saturday.It was in 2021 and I was trying to convince Regis to fight jack. I’ve got receipts of @RPrograis in shit he wouldn’t like being brought up. It is what it is. Thats the type of man he is. https://t.co/pYglyDehXZ

— Sam Jones (@mrsamjones88) October 24, 2024

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Oct 24 2024

Regis Prograis plays footage of Jack Catterall’s manager admitting his man will get ‘flattened’

Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis are set to go toe-to-toe in Manchester this weekend in a bout where a world title shot is likely on the line.

However at today’s press conference, Prograis made the contest a more personal one as he revealed a voice message that he had received from Catterall’s manager, admitting that Prograis would get the better of the Chorley-born world title hopeful.

After avenging his controversial defeat to Josh Taylor, Catterall now finds himself well positioned for a shot at world honours but has accepted a clash against well-respected two-time champion, Regis Prograis.

Whilst Catterall is coming off of a career-best display, Prograis has been unconvincing in his last two outings, edging a questionable split-decision against Danielito Zorrilla before being knocked down and whitewashed by Devin Haney to lose his WBC super-lightweight title.

Ahead of this weekend’s fight, Prograis revealed at today’s press conference that he had previously received a message from Catterall’s manager, Sam Jones, where the outspoken and ever-present figure of British boxing admitted that the American would ‘flatten’ Catterall if given the opportunity.

RP – “Wait, wait, wait, I have got something else to say, right. I’m going to slash everything right now, a long time ago, Sam Jones, his [Catterall’s] manager, actually said that I would beat Jack’s a**.”

RP – “I got proof right now, if y’all want to hear it, I got proof. He said [I would] flatten him, right!”

SJ – “Hand to God, I never said that. Listen, you have been hit too many times in the head by Devin Haney, my friend.”Gareth A. Davies questions how much Tim Tszyu has left after ‘brutal’ defeat

RP – “Listen, everybody be quiet”.

[plays voice message from Jones from his phone]

Sam Jones [on Prograis’ phone] – “I like Jack by the way, I know him very well, but I do think that you flatten him. You understand what I mean? Because you are a different guy to Josh Taylor…”

With tensions for the fight now at an all-time-high, it remains to be seen whether Jones’ prediction will come true and Catterall will be handed a second career defeat.

The pair will become the first boxer’s to headline at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena when they meet in the ring this Saturday.Regis Prograis digs out the old files 👀👀#CatterallPrograis | DAZN pic.twitter.com/gESzLERB1Q

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 24, 2024

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Oct 24 2024

Tyson Fury reveals his scorecard for Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol fight

The fallout from the Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol fight has been quite something.

After an enthralling encounter that could have gone either way, it was Beterbiev who emerged victorious and became undisputed light heavyweight champion.

But the nature of the decision has led to much discussion.

While some had Artur Beterbiev as the winner, there were disagreements with that.

Others had the fight as a draw between the two competitors.

And some had Dmitry Bivol as the winner.

Despite Bivol accepting the defeat graciously, his team were keen to say otherwise.

Shortly after the fight, Bivol’s team lodged a protest against the decision.

Within a short period of time, they had already requested for an immediate rematch.

After Eddie Hearn chastised one judge for awarding the fight 116-112 to Artur Beterbiev, mainly have been asked what they scored.Evander Holyfield reveals who hit him the hardest

One of those seems to be Tyson Fury.

In the lead up to his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, Fury has been speaking to the press and was asked about the Beterbiev and Bivol fight.

Speaking to ESPN, Tyson Fury

The Gypsy King told the broadcaster that he had the fight in favour of the winner Beterbiev.

Fury scored the fight 115-113, which was the same score that judge Glenn Feldman gave in the fight.

So it seems that Tyson Fury agreed with the overall decision of the fight and thought one of the judges got the score bang on.Tyson Fury tells ESPN he scored the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol fight for Beterbiev, 115-113, “same as Glenn Feldman.” Fury is truly a real boxing fan. Not many active fighters who can tell you off hand how they scored a recent fight and know which judge scored it the same way.

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 24, 2024

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Oct 24 2024

Ben Shalom provides update on Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron rematch

Ben Whittaker caused outrage when his showdown with Liam Cameron ended abruptly and was ruled as a technical draw. As fans demand a rematch, Whittaker’s promoter has provided an update on a potential second meeting between the British light-heavyweight duo.

A Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist, Whittaker has excelled since making the switch to the professional ranks and has regularly gone viral on social media for his showboating and skills despite just eight professional contests to his name ahead of his clash with Cameron.

Although Cameron was respected as the biggest test of Whittaker’s pro career to date, those giving the ‘Cannonball’ a chance were few and far between, with the easy on the eye skillset and amateur pedigree of ‘The Surgeon’ expected to be more than enough to dispatch of rough and rugged Yorkshireman.

However, there were no signs of Whittaker’s showboating when the pair went toe-to-toe, as Cameron assumed control of the contest from the third round onwards, until he and his rival were sent flying over the top rope in a bizarre moment at the end of the fifth.Unfinished business. We need a rematch @benwhittaker@benjshalom@boxxer

Bring your wheelchair and we can do it in the steel cage if you like 😂 #CameronWhittaker2pic.twitter.com/9FGXmXRALu

— 🔴⚪️LIAM CAMERON🔴⚪️ (@liamcameron21) October 14, 2024

A visibly tired Whittaker showed no signs of recovering and the fight went to the scorecards as a result, where the judges ruled the fight as a draw after five rounds of action – the general consensus of the confused public being that Cameron won three rounds at the very minimum.Amateur world champion to turn professional after controversial Olympics exit

During the aftermath, Ben Whittaker has been labelled as ‘Ben Quittaker’ by Cameron and talks of rematch have led to Cameron receiving his first promotional deal.

Yet, Whittaker’s injury that brought the contest to a close is still lingering and Ben Shalom has today told talkSPORT that the 27-year-old will prioritise his health and ensure that he is fully recovered before accepting a rematch with Cameron.

“I believe that’s the fight [to make], I do. However, I need him to take this time, do his rehab, make sure he comes back fully fit and focused.”

Whether Cameron will take a fight during the interim remains to be seen but the popularity of the former Commonwealth champion has improved remarkably since his fight with Whittaker – even if his professional record has not.

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Oct 24 2024

Update provided on Mike Tyson knee injury ahead of Jake Paul showdown

As soon as Mike Tyson’s professional fight with Jake Paul was announced, the news was met with understandable criticism – which was only encouraged further when their initial fight was postponed due to an ulcer flare-up. Now, there is a new injury concern emerging for 58-year-old Tyson after videos emerged of a compression sleeve on his knee.

YouTube sensation Jake Paul has gone 10-1 as a professional since debuting in 2020, that lone defeat coming against the most established boxer on his record – Tommy Fury.

However, he is now being tasked with a legend of the sport as he gears up to take on ‘Iron Mike’ at the AT&T Stadium, with a 31-year age gap between the pair making Paul the favourite despite the much-lauded achievements accomplished in the past.

Paul-Tyson was originally scheduled to take place in July, but Tyson was forced to postpone because of stomach ulcers, as Paul proceeded to knock out late replacement Mike Perry.

With the new fight date just three weeks away, questions as to whether Mike Tyson should return to professional boxing after a near 20-year spell of inactivity are re-emerging and those concerns were given further merit when the once ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ posted a clip of himself training with a seemingly vulnerable knee.I’m just getting started.#PaulTysonpic.twitter.com/ZdDwQ8FbBR

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) October 23, 2024

Although, Mike Tyson’s agent Andrew Ruf has now explained that the knee of the two-time champion is only in a sleeve as a ‘precaution’, as per USA Today.Teófimo López accuses Turki Alalshikh of deliberately harming Canelo Alvarez event

“Andrew Ruf, Tyson’s agent, said by text message the compression sleeve is “preventative,’’ like one tennis star Novak Djokovic has worn.

“I think the same brand even,’’ Ruf said. “No injury here. He’s looking invincible.’’

“Ruf said he’d seen Tyson wear the compression sleeve in training before and asked about it.

“…that’s how I know Djokovic uses it,” he said.”

Whether fans like it or not, Paul-Tyson is set to be one of the biggest events of 2024 and will be free to watch live on Netflix, as the controversial main-event tops a card that features a record-breaking undisputed title clash on the November 15th bill in Texas.

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Oct 24 2024

Former heavyweight world champion set to return at 1,100 capacity venue

Whilst the glitz and glamour of ‘Riyadh Season’ has taken over the world of boxing during 2024, there are plenty of cards that Turki Al-Alshikh is not involved with that appear to be flying under the radar. Now, it has been confirmed that one former heavyweight champion of the world will headline a card in front of a maximum of 1,100 onlookers.

Last month, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois went toe-to-toe for the IBF heavyweight title and broke the British boxing attendance record – around 96,000 witnessing the dramatic changing of the guard spectacle as Dubois halted ‘AJ’ in style.

Yet, despite making an impressive first defence of the IBF strap, the belt does not guarantee that there will always be demand to watch a former world champion in action, as shown by the return of another former IBF title-holder and fellow opponent of Joshua’s.

Charles Martin claimed the vacant IBF title back in 2016 without landing a significant punch when he defeated Vyacheslav Glazkov via third-round technical-knockout – the undefeated Ukrainian citing a knee injury for the defeat and never returning since.

Benefiting from Glazkov’s misfortunes, Martin attempted to make a difficult first defence of the title by travelling to the United Kingdom and facing Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena. Instead, he suffered a second-round knockout loss to mark the end of the second-shortest reign of any heavyweight world champion in history.Tyson Fury reveals game plan ahead of Oleksandr Usyk rematch

However, Martin’s shortcomings against ‘AJ’ were not the end of his time on the big stage. ‘Prince’ Charles has appeared on the Garcia-Porter undercard at the Barclays Center in 2017 and scored a knockout victory over Gerald Washington on the Wilder-Fury II bill at the MGM Garden Arena in 2020.

Additionally, a spirited display in his most recent outing against highly-rated American prospect Jared Anderson has proved that the 38-year-old southpaw still has enough in the tank to be a gatekeeper in the division.

Nevertheless, it has now been announced that Martin will end a 16-month spell of inactivity at the 1,100 seated capacity Fox Theater in Redwood City, California – taking on 43-year-old Matthew McKinney, who has suffered early knockout defeats to Cassius Chaney and Chris Arreola within the last couple of years.

The event will take place on Saturday November 16th with tickets available to purchase from $63.00, although a $10 discount is on offer by use of promo code ‘Fight_Night’.

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Oct 24 2024

Amateur world champion to turn professional after controversial Olympics exit

The transition from amateur boxing to the professional scene is often a difficult one – showing the difference in requirements in a sport where mistakes become more costly. Now, one of the best amateurs on the planet is making the switch to the professional ranks, as the latest title hopeful from a booming boxing nation.

Uzbekistan has emerged as one of the richest pools for boxing skills on the planet during recent years, with the likes of Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Israil Madrimov showcasing how the country has developed further since the crowing of its first two world champions – Artur Grigorian and Ruslan Chagaev.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Uzbekistan boasted their amateur pedigree by achieving an astonishing five gold medals, only two weight categories not being conquered by an Uzbek (lightweight and light-heavyweight).

One of Uzbekistan’s most likely Olympic champions was 2023 World Champion, Ruslan Abdullaev, but the 22-year-old lightweight sensation was instead knocked out in the quarter-finals by Canada’s Wyatt Sanford in one of the most controversial judging decisions of Paris 2024.

Rather than dwell on his shortcomings of the summer, Abdullaev has made the decision to move to the United States and pursue a career as a professional in the hopes of becoming Uzbekistan’s fifth world champion, as per respected Uzbek boxing journalist, Jalol Akhmedov.Usyk vs Fury 2 press conference dateAsian and world champion in amateurs, Ruslan Abdullaev is headed to the U.S. to continue his career in professional boxing! 🇺🇸🥊 Big moves for the rising star, wishing him success in the next chapter of his journey! #ProBoxing#TeamUzbekistan#FutureChampionpic.twitter.com/a5cVnIWPw8

— Jalol Akhmedov🇺🇿 (@JalolAkhmedov) October 20, 2024

“Asian and world champion in amateurs, Ruslan Abdullaev is headed to the U.S. to continue his career in professional boxing! Big moves for the rising star, wishing him success in the next chapter of his journey! #ProBoxing#TeamUzbekistan#FutureChampion”

A ten-time national champion, Abdullaev has the pedigree to rightfully target similar success to that of his good friends Akhmadaliev and Madrimov have achieved and also has time on his side.

With Akhmadaliev rumoured to be fighting Naoya Inoue in Las Vegas in early 2025, the possibility of a debut from Abdullaev on the undercard could provide the youngster with an ideal chance to make a statement and put his rivals on notice, assuming Inoue gets past Sam Goodman unscathed.

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Oct 24 2024

Tyson Fury admits that he has rewatched Oleksandr Usyk fight ‘a hundred times’

Back in May, Oleksandr Usyk handed Tyson Fury a first career defeat as he achieved his goal of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion with a legendary performance. Now, the Brit seeks to level the scores in the rematch and he has now revealed that he has watched their first encounter back around a hundred times.

Both men put their undefeated records on the line when the heavyweight duo met earlier this year, and it seemed as thought it was ‘The Gypsy King’ who would come out on top after he was cruising to victory during the mid-rounds.

However, the eighth and ninth rounds proved pivotal for the Ukrainian technician, as Usyk somehow managed to turn the tide and assume control of the contest in the nick of time to reverse the scorecards and claim a famous split-decision win.

Since suffering the defeat, Fury has admitted that he feels as though he took his eye off of the ball during his first fight against Usyk and feels confident that a more focussed approach in the rematch will be enough to achieve redemption.

In an interview with Queensberry Promotions, Tyson Fury

“I have watched it a thousand times, well probably not a thousand but maybe a hundred times.”Amateur sensation to challenge for WBA world title in fourth professional bout

“I thought it was a very good fight. I thought that I did fantastic, I thought Usyk did fantastic, it was what it was. It is just someone’s opinion isn’t it, who won the fight, because like we see in a lot of these fights recently, especially in fights that people think are close, some people might have one man winning it and some might have the other man winning it.

“I think that I won, he thinks that he won. I have seen him doing his view where he says ‘I thought I won it by a point’, one of the judges had me up by a point and one of the judges had him up by a point.

“It is an opinionated thing if it goes the distance and that is what you have got to deal with. If something goes the distance, then you are relying on three people’s opinions, and they might not all see it the same.”

“I was happy. I didn’t get the decision that I wanted, I didn’t get the victory but I didn’t take it out of the judges hands so I had left it to someone’s opinion and it went against me. Am I going to cry about spilt milk? No. Have I cried about it at all? No.”

Usyk-Fury II will take place on December 21st at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with yesterday’s press conference kickstarting the excitement ahead of another blockbuster event in the Middle East.

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Oct 24 2024

Tyson Fury explains why he won’t target undisputed title if he defeats Oleksandr Usyk

Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has the chance to avenge the lone defeat of his career when he steps through the ropes to take on unified heavyweight champion and arguable pound-for-pound number one, Oleksandr Usyk. However, ‘The Gypsy King’ has now declared that he would swerve any potential undisputed title contest with IBF title-holder Daniel Dubois, if he is able to claim redemption against his Ukrainian rival.

Fury went toe-to-toe with Oleksandr Usyk in a battle to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the century and the first of the four-belt era.

An instant classic ensued and the Brit appeared to be well on his way to a legendary win until Usyk was able to turn the tide during the eighth-round and bank the latter stages to edge a phenomenal split-decision win.

Since then, Usyk has vacated his IBF world title and Daniel Dubois has assumed position as world champion, strengthening his credibility as a heavyweight worthy of the mantle with a knockout win in first defence against Anthony Joshua in a changing of the guard display.

As such, Dubois remains hopeful that he will get a shot at the victor of the upcoming rematch between Usyk and Fury, aiming to join the elite club of undisputed heavyweight champions.

However, in an interview with iFL TV, Tyson Fury outlined why he does not wish to challenge for an IBF world title and therefore the undisputed throne, believing the sanctioning body to be ‘racist’ and threatening to burn their belt if he was ever named as their champion.‘I would rather fight @DynamiteDubois for BRITISH TITLE than the IBF belt’ – @Tyson_Fury has absolutely RIPPED into the IBF, over falling out of the TOP 15❌ ahead of Usyk rematch.#UyskFury2#TysonFury#Uysk#DanielDubois#boxing#riyadhseason#fight#boxer#gypsyking#fighter… pic.twitter.com/Pcclxy1QSL

— IFL TV (@IFLTV) October 23, 2024

“I will beat Daniel Dubois, but I will tell you what it is – I won’t be boxing him for his belt. I would rather box him for the British title than for the IBF.

“I don’t want anything to do with it, you couldn’t give it me as a present.Evander Holyfield reveals who hit him the hardest

“I would probably get back home and burn it, then put it on a video on YouTube, that is how much it means to me because they’re biased, obviously. They are a biased company who don’t like ‘The Gypsy King’ for whatever reason,

“They must be racist towards Travellers or something because it doesn’t add up, it is not joining together.

“You have just lost a split-decision to who some people say is the pound-for-pound number one person in the world but I am not in the top 15 of their ratings, even though I have just boxed for their belt.

“Does that make any sense? It doesn’t does it.”

“If they are not biased and they do like me, then why don’t they come out and say why I am not in their ratings then?

I’m not good enough to be in the top 15? I have just lost to the ‘best fighter in the world’ by a point but I am not good enough to be in the top 15.

“I would advise everybody to never fight for their belt again.”

Usyk-Fury II will take place on December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with yesterday’s press conference kickstarting the build-up to what is expected to be another historical encounter between the two standout heavyweights of this generation.

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Oct 23 2024

Frank Warren responds forcefully against Simon Jordan and Ben Shalom

In a recent interview with BoxNation, Frank Warren once again addressed the controversy sparked by Ben Shalom’s comments. Shalom insinuated that the gloves used by Fabio Wardley in his victory over Frazer Clarke should be investigated. Warren had already dismissed those accusations, calling them baseless and ridiculous. He also labeled Shalom’s remarks as “stupid and slanderous statements.”

Warren, speaking in a firm tone, was asked about Chris Eubank Jr.’s comments, which appeared to have been influenced by Ben Shalom. According to Warren, it was Shalom who put Eubank in that position, leading to comments that Warren considers defamatory. Likewise, Warren criticized Shalom’s lack of directness.

“He says that rubbish. You know what happened with Eubank, that was set up by him. For him to set up Eubank to say what he said, make those slanderous remarks—which he’ll pay for. What is that? What is that then? Is that the way you do it, sneaky bastard? You haven’t got the guts to say something to somebody’s face? Because I certainly pulled him up on it afterwards, couldn’t even look at me,” Warren stated.When asked if he plans to take legal action against Ben Shalom, Frank Warren was clear:

“It’s being dealt with,” he assured. He reminded that he was the licensed promoter for that event, under the supervision of the British Boxing Board of Control. “We were responsible for the gloves until they were handed over. Any insinuation about the gloves is completely untrue,” he clarified. Warren demanded a public apology for the comments, calling them “ridiculous.” However, he warned that if such an apology is not forthcoming, he will take “the necessary measures.”

Despite the controversy, Frank Warren made it clear that he prefers to focus on what’s important: the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and the exciting upcoming fights.

Finally, Warren took the opportunity to refute Simon Jordan and the rumors of alleged harassment towards Ben Shalom, supposedly orchestrated by him and Eddie Hearn. “This is boxing. I don’t even know why we’re having this ridiculous conversation,” Warren said, expressing disbelief. To him, the harassment issue is absurd, and he clarified that his way of handling conflict is direct. “If someone’s rude to me and doesn’t excuse themselves, I deal with it man to man,” he said.George Groves tips prospect to be ‘the future of boxing’

Warren also reflected on his early days in boxing, highlighting how difficult it was back then, with limited TV options and restrictions on sporting venues.

“Do you know when I started out in boxing, remember they’ve all got TV deals, there was only one TV company. I never had no TV deal, nothing. There was just the BBC. And not only that, the venues in London were the Albert Hall, Wembley, and the smallest venue was York Hall. (The cartel) had exclusives on all of them, you couldn’t use them. (I didn’t) cry about it, get on with it,” he concluded.

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Oct 23 2024

Seniesa Estrada Announces Her Retirement from Professional Boxing

The undisputed strawweight champion, Seniesa Estrada, shocked the boxing world by announcing her retirement at the age of 32. The boxer, known as “Superbad,” leaves the sport with an undefeated record of 26 wins, no losses, and 9 knockouts. Estrada has been a key figure in the development of women’s boxing, and her retirement has sparked widespread reactions and respect within the boxing community.

Estrada made the decision to retire at the peak of her career, just seven months after unifying the division’s four major belts. Her last fight was a unanimous decision victory over Yokasta Valle, making her the first woman to become the undisputed champion in the strawweight division. In an Instagram post, Estrada expressed that after 23 years dedicated to boxing, she was ready to move on to the next chapter of her life.

The champion, originally from East Los Angeles,

Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, expressed his admiration for Estrada, noting that the promotion would miss working with her. “Seniesa Estrada is a spectacular person and fighter,” said Arum, who had been her promoter since 2022. “I know she can look forward to a happy and productive life outside the ring.”

In her emotional official farewell, Seniesa Estrada made it clear that her career has been a rollercoaster of experiences. “Thank you for giving me life,” she wrote in a letter addressed to boxing. Throughout the text, she highlighted the positive impact boxing had on her life and the opportunity to inspire others. However, she also made it clear that she was at peace with her decision. “I won’t miss you,” she confessed, acknowledging that after 23 years of complete dedication, she had achieved everything she set out to do.George Groves tips prospect to be ‘the future of boxing’

In her final words, she thanked her fans, friends, family, and team, emphasizing how they had overcome gender barriers in a male-dominated sport. Seniesa Estrada also expressed her faith in God, thanking Him for giving her peace at this crucial stage of her life. She affirmed that, although her boxing career had come to an end, she was confident that her name would continue to resonate in the future.

“I know that I will shine bright at whatever I choose to do next,” Estrada concluded, closing the chapter of her boxing career with gratitude and confidence in the future.Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Una publicación compartida por SENIESA (@seniesa_superbad)

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Oct 23 2024

Moses Itauma welcomes potential Johnny Fisher fight at Usyk-Fury II press conference

Moses Itauma, one of the most promising British boxers, expressed openness to a future fight with Johnny Fisher. During the press conference ahead of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch, Itauma and Fisher

Moses Itauma, with a 10-0 record, showed respect for Fisher. Itauma mentioned that they had

The friendship and mutual respect between Fisher and Itauma were evident when they recalled a time they agreed to go out for Chinese food together, something they have yet to do. Itauma joked, “One day we’ll have it. Maybe a Chinese after.”

Likewise, Johnny Fisher also expressed his willingness to fight Itauma. Fisher, with an impressive record of 12 wins and 11 knockouts and 0 loses, warned any future opponent about the challenge of defeating him. “I think I’m not a Man City, I’m an AC Milan, and not a Liverpool, but I am a cold night away in Stoke,” Fisher said, referencing the toughness needed to beat him in the ring.

Fisher, whose father Big John has gained popularity on TikTok, will face Australian Demsey McKean on the December 21st card. This fight will be part of the highly anticipated event in Saudi Arabia, where Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will contest their rematch. McKean, a former sparring partner of Anthony Joshua, holds a record of 22 wins with just one loss.Aqib Fiaz cleared after BBBofC investigation

Although Fisher is focused on his upcoming bout, he does not rule out a future showdown with Itauma. “I will fight anyone. Anyone out there, I will fight,” Fisher said during the press conference. “And to beat me, you’ve got to pull your socks up and put it on to beat me,” he added defiantly. Despite his confidence, Fisher also praised Itauma, describing him as a “great talent” and acknowledging the significance that fight would have for the British public.

Both boxers made it clear that while they maintain a cordial relationship, they wouldn’t hesitate to face each other if the opportunity arises. A fight between Johnny Fisher and Moses Itauma would not only grab the attention of British boxing fans but could also establish one of them as a future star on the international boxing scene.

The December 21st event, taking place in Saudi Arabia, promises not only an epic rematch between Fury and Usyk but also high-caliber bouts on the rest of the card. The possibility of a future clash between Johnny Fisher and Moses Itauma adds even more excitement to the coming months in the boxing world.

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Oct 23 2024

Tyson Fury reveals game plan ahead of Oleksandr Usyk rematch

On Wednesday, Tyson Fury appeared at a press conference to promote the much-anticipated rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. The fight will take place on December 21 in Saudi Arabia, where both boxers will compete for the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO), and World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight titles. This bout will be Fury’s opportunity to even the score, after Usyk defeated him in May and became the unified champion.

At the press conference in London, 36-year-old Fury spoke about what will be key to his victory. He assured that his focus will be on staying concentrated and fighting smarter to secure the win. “I don’t have much to change from the fight that Usyk won in May. A little more focus and I’ll win,” the Brit declared. The boxer, who suffered his first professional loss on May 18 in Riyadh, is determined to regain his status in the boxing world.Tyson Fury emphasized that he will not make drastic changes to his strategy.

He plans to rely on his offensive style, focusing on hitting, moving, and staying in control of the fight. Fury stated that he will go forward, hitting and moving without retreating. Fury mentioned that he aims to knock out Oleksandr Usyk in the ninth round, with an eight-count. He believes his combinations of jabs and body uppercuts will be key to breaking down the Ukrainian champion.

The fight, which will be the main event on a high-profile card, promises to be one of the most anticipated of the year. Tyson Fury, known by his nickname “Gypsy King,” is eagerly awaiting the chance to redeem himself in the ring, promising a better version of himself.

With his charismatic presence, Fury appeared confident in front of the media, wearing a cap with his famous nickname. As the fight date approaches, anticipation continues to rise in the boxing world, with fans eager to see if Tyson Fury will be able to complete his revenge and reclaim the title. Likewise, this could position him better and open the door to a possible fight against Anthony Joshua.𝙍𝙀𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙄𝙏𝙀𝘿 🔥#UsykFury2 | #RiyadhSeason | December 21, live on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikhpic.twitter.com/rFuv8Tsuca

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 23, 2024

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Oct 23 2024

Oleksandr Usyk dresses as ‘Hitman’ at press conference ahead of Tyson Fury rematch

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury have developed one of the most skilled heavyweight rivalries of the century, although it was Fury who was trumped when they met back in May, it was the unified champion who appeared at the press conference dressed as ‘The Hitman’ ahead of their rematch.

Usyk and Fury went toe-to-toe in a battle to crown a first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century and the first of the four-belt era when they meet in May but the result was not entirely conclusive – a split-decision win for the Ukrainian being the outcome.

Since then, Usyk has received plenty of plaudits, with many labelling as the heavyweight great of this generation, yet despite his legendary win, Tyson Fury will still have hope that he can avenge the loss given the success he had before the pivotal ninth-round.

Furthermore, ‘The Gypsy King’s’ success in rematches after difficult initial contests against both John McDermott and Deontay Wilder will serve Fury well, although drawing up the adjustments that he would need to make to outthink Usyk is an almighty, migraine-inducing task.

At the press conference ahead of the ‘Riyadh Season’ event, it was clear to see that Tyson Fury was not the only fighter keen to make a change ahead of the rematch, as Oleksandr Usyk donned the stage with a changed appearance – sporting a shaved head as he imitated ‘Agent 47’ from popular 2007 film, ‘Hitman’.USYK JUST SHOWED UP AS AGENT 47 FROM HITMAN AT THE FURY PRESS CONFERENCE 😭 pic.twitter.com/r4P1nAvg1X

— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) October 23, 2024

When asked of his new look, Usyk offered a short response…

“I don’t know.”Teófimo López accuses Turki Alalshikh of deliberately harming Canelo Alvarez event

And when asked of what was in his accompanying suitcase, the undefeated technician responded with a typically deadpan but comical reply.

“It is just [for] character.”Oleksandr Usyk on his new LOOK! 😂#UsykFury2 | #RiyadhSeason | Dec 21 pic.twitter.com/0p2aRHQ9xS

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 23, 2024

However, he then proceeded to open the suitcase and took out a picture of his first fight with Tyson Fury – which he asked his opponent to sign, before joking that fans will “find it tomorrow on eBay”.Oleksandr Usyk REVEALS what is in his briefcase 😂#UsykFury2 | #RiyadhSeason | Dec 21 pic.twitter.com/cpClq5uDCO

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 23, 2024

Usyk-Fury II will take place on December 21st at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, topping a bill that features a salivating super-welterweight showdown between Serhii Bohachuk and Israil Madrimov, as well as intriguing heavyweight match-up’s involving popular British duo Johnny Fisher and Moses Itauma.

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Oct 23 2024

Teófimo López accuses Turki Alalshikh of deliberately harming Canelo Alvarez event

The WBO super lightweight champion, Teófimo López, has pointed to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh as responsible for the conflict between two major sporting events on September 14 in Las Vegas. That night, Canelo Álvarez’s fight against Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena coincided with UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere, headlined by Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili.

López, a close friend of Canelo, stated that the overlapping dates hurt his compatriot. Although Canelo’s event generated $17 million in ticket sales and 650,000 pay-per-view buys, UFC 306 surpassed those figures with $22 million in ticket sales. According to Teófimo López, Alalshikh, a member of the Saudi royal family and leader of the Riyadh Season festival, a UFC sponsor, intentionally scheduled the event on the same date to affect Canelo.

“The Turki guy [Turki Alalshikh], I just think that for someone that wants to… This is why… You got to look at the signs. For someone who wants to make boxing great again… You don’t schedule the same event with the UFC and Canelo Alvarez [on] the same night,” López stated.The conflict between Canelo and Alalshikh, according to Teófimo López, stems from a previous dispute.

In August, a potential fight between Canelo and Terence Crawford was discussed, but negotiations failed due to Canelo’s high financial demands. López implied that Alalshikh retaliated by choosing the Las Vegas Sphere and using his influence to draw more attention to the UFC event.

“You don’t go back around and dig at it by saying, let’s get to the Sphere because we have the funds,” López stated.

Although UFC 306 was announced in June, a month before Canelo confirmed his fight with Berlanga, López argues that the coincidence was not accidental. While he didn’t claim it was a deliberate plan, he suggested that careful business decisions were made to generate more revenue and overshadow Canelo’s fight.Gareth A. Davies questions how much Tim Tszyu has left after ‘brutal’ defeat

“As a business standpoint, there’s things that you gotta’ look at and see the pros and cons,” López explained.

Teófimo López concluded that Alalshikh should have avoided scheduling the UFC event on the same night, especially since Canelo typically fights on Mexican Independence Day. For the boxer, the clash of both events was part of a business strategy to favor UFC over boxing.‼️🚨😯Teofimo Lopez REVEALS “Turki Alalshikh TRIED TO GET REVENGE ON CANELO BY HOSTING UFC EVENT IN VEGAS SPHERE THE SAME NIGHT AS HIS FIGHT AGAINST BERLANGA😧🇲🇽🥊🧑🏻‍🦰 pic.twitter.com/ka96CMe9Ep

— Ray Bama (@armoredmaybach) October 22, 2024

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Oct 23 2024

Tony Bellew weighs in on Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis

This weekend will feature an unprecedented showdown between Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis. Tony Bellew, in his exclusive column for DAZN,

Bellew emphasized the importance of both fighters accepting this challenge. According to the former world champion, both Catterall and Prograis could have waited for a world title shot but chose to face each other now. Tony Bellew highlighted that the winner of this contest will be in a prime position for a major fight in 2025. “Boxing needs more of its fighters to be bold and take risky fights,” Bellew noted.

The fight between Catterall and Prograis presents a clash of styles and different moments in their careers. Catterall has been on the rise since his fight with Josh Taylor in 2022, where he proved himself to be a world-class fighter. Although he didn’t win the bout, his performance stood out, and since then, he has secured notable victories over Taylor and Jorge Linares. Tony Bellew believes that a win over Prograis would cement Catterall as one of the best fighters in his country.

Prograis, on the other hand, is looking to reaffirm his status in the division after his loss to Devin Haney last year. Although losing to a fighter of Haney’s caliber is nothing to be ashamed of, Bellew thinks Prograis has a lot to prove in this fight. Like Catterall, Prograis’ biggest moment came against Josh Taylor in 2019, where he lost in a close decision. However, Bellew sees this fight as the perfect opportunity for Prograis to reestablish himself as one of the best in the world.

Tony Bellew anticipates a close contest, with both fighters leaving everything in the final rounds to secure victory. “Catterall is the fighter in form,” said Bellew, who believes that Catterall’s confidence and ability to press the fight could give him a slight edge. In his final analysis, Bellew leans toward a Catterall victory, though he stresses it will be a tough and competitive fight until the end.Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson – Full Fight Card

While the Catterall vs. Prograis fight may not be for a world title, it has potential. Both fighters will be looking to stake their claim on the world stage, and the outcome of this bout could set the stage for a major showdown in 2025.Another 𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙘 fight week in Manchester 🇬🇧#CatterallPrograis | Oct 26 | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/YRGpQPnUWs

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 23, 2024

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