Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has firmly expressed his rejection of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, scheduled for November. In a recent interview with Michael Benson, Hearn was adamant in declaring that he will leave the stadium after watching the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, scheduled for November 15. His refusal to watch the Paul-Tyson fight was clear.
“I think it’s a huge shame that one of the biggest legends of the sport comes back 20 years after everybody knew he shouldn’t be boxing anymore. At 55 or however old he is. He’s 58? Jesus Christ, he’s nearly 60. Like, you have no respect for the sport of boxing if you put Mike Tyson in a ring at 58 years of age. And if he gets hurt, then it’s on those people… I’ll watch Katie Taylor and then I’ll leave. I can’t watch that,” Hearn said during the interview.Eddie Hearn has been a consistent critic of this fight, which he called “dangerous, irresponsible, and disrespectful to boxing.”
His main concern revolves around Tyson’s advanced age. At 58 years old, he will face an opponent 31 years younger than him, Jake Paul, who is 27. For the promoter, the age difference is one of the most alarming factors, alongside the potential health risks Tyson faces.
The fight has sparked criticism from many quarters. Boxers, analysts, and media outlets have noted that this bout is more of a spectacle than a competitive fight. Many agree it is driven by financial motives rather than sporting ones. Tyson’s iconic status in boxing and the controversial rise of Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, appear to be the main attractions of this event.
It is also worth mentioning that this fight had been postponed before due to Tyson’s health issues. For Eddie Hearn, this should have been a clear warning sign about the risks of going ahead with the fight. In his remarks, he stressed that returning to the ring at 58 is not a wise decision.
Despite his rejection of the Paul-Tyson fight, Hearn has expressed full support for Katie Taylor in her rematch against Amanda Serrano. Hearn emphasized that this fight will be the greatest challenge of Taylor’s career and is a fight of true sporting merit. However, he remains firm in his decision not to watch the main event, which he deems unnecessary and risky for Tyson’s health.Sebastian Fundora may be stripped of world title despite Terence Crawford ‘agreement’
The controversy surrounding this fight continues to grow, and as boxing fans are divided between those eagerly awaiting the spectacle and those who
Unified WBO and WBC champion Sebastian Fundora is walking around with a target on his back in the super-welterweight division and it appeared as though his next fight was planned out. However, it now appears as though he will be stripped of one of his world titles if he goes ahead with what had been agreed.
Fundora shocked the world when he defeated Tim Tszyu on short-notice to become a unified super-welterweight, a sizeable cut to the Australian aiding him on his way to a famous split-decision victory.
Since then, ‘The Towering Inferno’ has been continuously linked to a first defence of the titles in a clash with Errol Spence Jr. – despite the fact that Spence’s last contest was in July 2023 and was back down at welterweight against Crawford.
Additionally, arguable pound-for-pound number one and now WBA 154lb champion Crawford holds the position as the WBO mandatory challenger and purse bids for the showdown had been called, with ‘Bud’ supposedly keen to add two additional titles to his collection as he attempts to become a three-weight undisputed champion
Yet, it was surprisingly revealed that Crawford had agreed to allow Fundora to proceed with a voluntary defence of the belts against Spence Jr. – likely in the hope that Spence Jr. would come out on top and set up a fruitful rematch between the pair.
Although, those plans seem to have gone out of the window regardless of the deal, as the WBO have confirmed that they will not allow Fundora to defend their belt against Spence Jr. due to the fact that he is not ranked, as per Dan Rafael.WBO tells me they will accept this but Fundora optional cannot be vs. Spence as he is not in the top 15 rankings. Keep in mind Fundora could vacate the WBO and still has WBC which could approve Spence. https://t.co/sDXwZlAZLQ
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) October 10, 2024
“WBO tells me they will accept this but Fundora optional cannot be vs. Spence as he is not [in their] top 15 rankings. Keep in mind Fundora could vacate the WBO and still has the WBC [title] which could approve Spence.”
Should Fundora vacate the WBO or be stripped of the strap, Crawford would be expected to be upgraded to full WBO world champion or at least be given the shot at a vacant belt in his next contest.
Alternatively, the WBO may choose to insert Errol Spence Jr. into their top 15 rankings in order to make proceedings less complicated and to avoid stripping their champion.
The announcement that Gervonta Davis would defend his WBA lightweight title against Lamont Roach in December was met with collective groans of disappointment with many believing there to be other more worthy contenders for his title. Yet, there are signs that the undercard will help prop up the value of the event, with rumours of a second world title contest being added.
‘Tank’ had been linked to a number of unification contests throughout 2024 but news that fellow champions Shakur Stevenson (WBC) and Vasyl Lomachenko (IBF) would be unavailable left the Baltimore banger searching for an alternate dance partner.
With Floyd Schofield and Edwin De Los Santos both well ranked with the WBA and each calling for a shot at Davis’ throne, the expectation was that one of those two contenders would be granted the opportunity.
However, the self-proclaimed ‘face of boxing’ instead opted to bring WBA super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach up from 130lbs and present him with the chance to become a two-division world champion – underwhelming many of his fans.
Although, it was since been whispered that a salivating rematch between Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa will be going ahead as the co-main event – the victor likely to challenge either Rey Vargas (WBC) or Nick Ball (WBA) for a featherweight world title.
Now, esteemed boxing journalist Dan Rafael has declared that the possibility of there also being an additional world title affair on the undercard, with Alberto Puello attempting a first defence of his WBC super-lightweight crown against tricky Spaniard and mandatory challenger Sandor Martin.Dave Allen comments on his next fight against Johnny FisherPer multiple sources, plan is for WBC 140 titlist Alberto Puello & mandatory Sandor Martin to fight on the Tank-Roach card Dec. 14. Their camps (PBC and Top Rank) made a deal in August with the fight having to take place before end of year & purse bid was canceled. #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) October 10, 2024
“Per multiple sources, plan is for WBC 140 titlist Alberto Puello & mandatory Sandor Martin to fight on the Tank-Roach card Dec. 14. Their camps (PBC and Top Rank) made a deal in August with the fight having to take place before end of year & purse bid was cancelled. #boxing”
The Davis-Roach event will take place on December 14th at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas as ‘Tank’ hopes to add a 29th knockout to his resume on a PBC card that will be available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video PPV.
Former WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo is also expected to appear on the undercard, expected to fight Thomas LaManna in his second fight in three-and-a-half years.
Chris Eubank Jr. is set to end a 13-month spell of inactivity when he fights on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard against Kamil Szeremeta this weekend and his involvement on the bill has already been rife with drama. Now, he and Conor Benn have crossed paths in Riyadh and their meeting was as fiery as could be expected.
After their father’s famous rivalry, the animosity between Eubank and Benn was already innate, but it intensified after Conor Benn failed a drugs test ahead of their scheduled grudge match in September 2022, which was rightfully cancelled.
Benn has not returned to fight in the United Kingdom and seems unlikely to any time soon, revoking his British boxing licence but still calling for a showdown with Eubank in order to put their differences aside.
Meanwhile, Eubank Jr. moved on to a rivalry with Liam Smith and suffered a first knockout defeat to the Liverpudlian back in January 2023, although he got his own back over the former WBO super-welterweight champion in their rematch last September – scoring a stoppage victory of his own.
Eubank Jr. has not returned to action since that contest, but he is set to make a comeback to the ring against Szeremeta on Saturday night.
As the clock counts down to fight night, Conor Benn bumped into his foe ahead of today’s weigh-in and shoved his rival, before labelling him as a ‘dead boy walking’.‼️ Conor Benn SHOVES Chris Eubank Jr as they clash in person today: "I'm gonna f*** you up, you're a dead boy walking."
[🎥 @ChrisEubankJr] pic.twitter.com/OiWTZ1QsYv
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 11, 2024
[Benn] – “You are lucky you are fighting tomorrow or else I would f**k you up right now.”
[Eubank Jr.] – “You see this guy only comes in when I am cutting weight.”
[Benn] – “I will see you tomorrow after the fight.”
[Eubank Jr.] – “You get in that ring.”
[Benn] – “Yeah, I will get into that ring and give it to you. Course. You are f***ing lucky that you are fighting tomorrow.”Martin Bakole claims Zhilei Zhang ‘ran’ from their fight
[Eubank Jr.] – “We will see. Let him come in close, I like this energy.”
Benn shoves Eubank Jr.
[Eubank Jr.] – “You are a kid.”
[Benn] – “I am a kid that is going to f**k you up.”
[Eubank Jr.] – “Watch what happens.”
[Benn] – “Yeah, yeah, watch what happens. Dead boy walking.”
[Eubank Jr.] – “You are a p**sy.”
[Benn] – “You are lucky that you are fighting tomorrow and that I need you to win because I will give you a good a** beating in front of 60,000. That is what is going to happen.”
Since footage of the incident went viral on social media, Conor Benn has added further comment on X and declared that he would ‘flatten’ Eubank Jr. inside three rounds if given the opportunity.Don’t lose to this nugget on Saturday satsuma head. And I suggest you scrub your teeth because your breathe smelt like a mountain of sh*t.
3 rounds I’m flattening you !! https://t.co/Vz4yuJBnXb
— Conor Nigel Benn (@ConorNigel) October 11, 2024
“Don’t lose to this nugget on Saturday satsuma head. And I suggest you scrub your teeth because your breath smelt like a mountain of sh*t. 3 rounds I’m flattening you!!”
Eubank-Benn does appear to be a fight that is around the corner and remains as one of the most deep-rooted rivalries in the sport. Whether it will take place in the United Kingdom or on Saudi shores remains to be seen, but it will likely hinge on Eubank Jr.’s success against Szeremeta this Saturday.
2024 has proven to be a phenomenal year for boxing with Turki Al-Alshikh’s involvement in the sport resulting in a plethora of blockbuster events that have captivated fans around the globe. Yet, the Saudi is not a necessity when it comes to manufacturing major cards and Top Rank now appears poised to end the year with bang without the assistance of boxing’s newfound catalyst.
Three-division world champion Emanuel Navarette (38-2-1) attempted to claim a title at a fourth weight earlier this year but came up short against Denys Berinchyk this May, resulting in back-to-back fights without a win for the Mexican.
That last win came in a dominant performance against former WBC super-featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (32-2), who has since become the WBO interim title-holder and therefore has earnt his shot at a rematch with the out-of-sorts ‘Vaquero’.
Meanwhile, Rafael Espinoza (25-0) pulled off one of the upsets of the year when he outpointed Robeisy Ramirez (14-2) last December, edging a majority-decision against the two-time Olympic gold medallist to claim the WBO featherweight title.
Since then, Espinoza has made one successful defence of the belt to prove that his victory was no fluke, knocking out Sergio Sanchez in June, whilst Cuba’s Ramirez got back to winning ways with a stoppage win of his own – halting Brandon Benitez, also in June.Chris Eubank Jr in talks to fight three blockbuster names
Now, Boxing Scene have reported that both rematches will take place on the same card for the respective WBO super-featherweight and featherweight world titles.
“The Rafael Espinoza-Robeisy Ramirez WBO featherweight title rematch will not go to a purse bid tomorrow, as Top Rank reached an agreement with both fighters before the deadline, per reporting from Lance Pugmire of BoxingScene.
“Espinoza and Ramirez will be the co-main event on the Dec. 7 Top Rank card in Arizona, headlined by the rematch between Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez.”
The imminent announcement of the bill will add to what is already set to be an action-packed end to the calendar, as December plays host to Davis-Roach, Fury-Usyk II and Inoue-Goodman already.
This weekend plays host to what many are calling the ‘best fight in boxing’, as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol go toe-to-toe in a battle to crown a first four-belt undisputed light-heavyweight champion. Ahead of fight night, a former opponent of Bivol’s has spoken out and detailed why he believes Beterbiev will have his number.
Beterbiev remains as boxing’s only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio, scoring stoppage victories over the likes of Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Joe Smith Jr. and Callum Smith since becoming champion.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Bivol represents the slick boxing technician in the age-old stylistic match-up that is a powerful puncher versus a masterful boxing mind with tremendous footwork.
Yet, that is not to say that Beterbiev does not possess extremely intelligence in the ring himself, with his aggression being far more advanced than your average front-footed swarmer – as shown by his success in the amateurs, where he won two European championships and one world championship, making for an intriguing affair this weekend.
In an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, Lyndon Arthur, who lost a decision to Bivol back in December, revealed his prediction and detailed why Beterbiev’s success in the amateurs could prove pivotal, although he admitted that the age and recent injuries of the 39-year-old does raise alarm bells.
“When I was in there with Bivol, I thought, ‘He doesn’t hit as hard as I thought he would,”
“I was able to defend a lot more punches than I thought I would.”Team GB star signs with boxing advisor
“I’ve been in with both of them. I was sparring Beterbiev. It’s not the same as a fight, but the punches he throws to be able to take them with 10-ounce gloves at the pace he brings them and the resilience he comes into the ring with, it’s going to be hard for Bivol to keep him off.
“He definitely hits hard with 10-ounce gloves with both hands, and it would hurt to get hit with 10-ounce gloves,”
“Bivol, it’s his combination punching, his distancing, and the way he gets in range. Before you know it, he’s there. Beterbiev, it’s his relentless and his ability to come forward. He’s very good at boxing. Because he knocks everyone out, everyone thinks he’s a come-forward fighter, but he was on the Russian team for a long time in the amateurs.”
“He had a long amateur career. He’s seen a lot of styles. He’s very good at boxing. Yeah, [I am picking Beterbiev to win].”
“As long as Beterbiev has got something left in the tank and didn’t grow old overnight. If he’s not showing age, I believe Beterbiev will get him,”
Beterbiev-Bivol will take place on Saturday night, topping a mammoth undercard that features names such as Jai Opetaia, Chris Eubank Jr. and Ben Whittaker.
Turki Alalshikh has emerged as the man to have organised and arranged some of the biggest boxing fights in the past few years.
A Saudi Arabian adviser at the Royal Court under the rank of Minister and the current Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Alalshikh has helped Saudi host a series of high profile fights.
Even when the fights are not in Saudi, the fingerprints of Turki Alalshikh are all over them.
Case in point being the recent fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
Taking place at Wembley Stadium in England, the bout was billed as part of Riyadh Season and there was even the Saudi national anthem sang before the main event.
If that’s not an indication of the influence of Turki Alalshikh and Saudi on the sport of boxing, then nothing is.
So when Alalshikh comments on what’s set to take place in the world of boxing, it’s important to take note.
And he’s just provided an insight into some of the future fights lined up.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol clash on Saturday, the Saudi matchmaker made a series of revelations.
“See in February again Queensberry against Matchroom, 5 vs 5, we will finish it maybe this week with a big surprise and then let’s see the result about this fight, the result of the big fight December 21, [Oleksandr] Usyk-Tyson [Fury].
“Joshua, Dubois, Tyson, Usyk, everyone, everyone on the line.Martin Bakole claims Zhilei Zhang ‘ran’ from their fight
“This is what we want. We want the big fights and to see who’s really the best fighters in each division.”
There’s a lot to unpack there.
Firstly, it seems that Queensbury vs Matchroom 2 is taking place in February, with an official announcement coming soon.
And then Turki Alalshikh seems to imply that Joshua vs Dubois is likely to be happening around that time also.
So it looks like February 2025 is the date being earmarked for the rematch.
Of course, things can always change.
Right now, Anthony Joshua is still suspended from boxing and must wait until he’s allowed to return to the ring.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has already stated that AJ’s preference is a rematch with Dubois.
So while the result from the Usyk vs Fury fight may alter things, it seems that the plan right now is for Anthony Joshua to fight Daniel Dubois in February.
And if anything can make that happen, Turki Alalshikh is certainly the man for the job.
Dana White is not a man to hold back his thoughts.
When asked a question, he’s a straight shooter who is happy to provide an answer.
That’s what happened recently when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president was asked about claims made by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou about the difference in pay from the UFC to boxing.
In typical Dana White fashion, he put across his thoughts in a forthright manner.
And his comments has stirred a reaction from Ngannou.
The former UFC heavyweight champion is currently signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) after losing his last boxing match to Anthony Joshua by devastating knockout.
Among his greatest achievements, during his fight against Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 in March 2018, Ngannou landed a devastating uppercut that led him to win by knockout in the first round.
This punch was measured at 129,161 units on the UFC’s punch meter, setting a new record.
After Ngannou parted ways with the UFC due to a prolonged contractual dispute, the French Cameroonian has headlined two boxing events against heavyweight stars Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Unfortunately, his loss against Anthony Joshua put a stop to his boxing career.
Since then, Dana White has made several jabs at Ngannou since the former heavyweight champion left the UFC.Jake Paul challenges Mike Tyson with $5 million bet
White has also claimed that the UFC offered him the largest heavyweight contract in UFC history, and that he would have earned more than in his first two professional boxing fights combined.
Upon hearing these accusations, Ngannou did not stay silent and has now responded by labelling the UFC president a liar.
In an interview with SHAK MMA, Ngannou said, “Unless he was the one writing the check, I don’t see how he could know that.
“But for me, as the one receiving that money after leaving the UFC, and based on what the UFC was proposing, it was just a trap.
“It wasn’t a solid contract… so that’s a lie.”
Additionally, Ngannou reacted to White’s comments about entering the boxing business.
“Honestly, I don’t know anything about what he said.
“He has said many things so far; we are all confused.”
It seems that the relationship between the two will remain complicated.
For UFC fans dreaming of a reconciliation between the two men any time soon, it certainly seems far from happening.
Vasyl Lomachenko had a fabled amateur career and carried that success into the professional scene, becoming a three-weight world champion in just twelve contests. However, at 36-years-old and lacking motivation to return to the ring, the fan-favourite Ukrainian may be about the hang up the gloves.
‘Loma’ famously went 396-1 during his stellar amateur career and attempted to make history by challenging for world honours in just his second bout as a professional, but fell short in a split-decision defeat to Orlando Salido.
However, in the fight that followed, Lomachenko did manage to get his hands on a world title by scoring a majority-decision victory over Gary Russell Jr. for the WBO featherweight crown.
From there on out it the world of boxing became obsessed by the talent of ‘The Matrix’, as many tried and failed to lay a glove on the masterful technician, defending his featherweight title on three occasions before picking up the WBO super-featherweight strap – which was defended four times before a move up to lightweight.
At 135lbs, Loma appeared to have maxed out physically but he still had the superior skill to dominate Jorge Linares, Jose Pedraza, Anthony Crolla and Luke Campbell to become the unified WBC, WBA and WBO champion.
Although, that emphatic run that captivated the world of boxing was brought to an end by a then-unlikely contender as the now well-respected Teofimo Lopez upset the odds and pulled off the upset to make a name for himself and shake up the lightweight division.
After three wins, Lomachenko would return to the peak of the lightweight division and what an opportunity it was – a shot at his lifelong dream of becoming an undisputed champion against the youngest undisputed title-holder of all-time, Devin Haney.Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: new fight added to undercard
Yet, despite the vast majority of fans believing that ‘Loma’ had done enough to win the fight, it was Haney who got the nod on the scorecards, leaving the veteran heartbroken.
But all was not lost for 36-year-old Lomachenko, who returned in another title fight earlier this year and rolled back the years to dethrone George Kambosos Jr. and become the IBF lightweight champion, ending an almost four-year run without having a belt to his name.
As a result, it was expected that Lomachenko would pursue the other lightweight champions; Gervonta Davis (WBA), Shakur Stevenson (WBC) and Denys Berinchyk (WBO), yet news that the hard-to-hit phenomenon was not motivated to fight Davis raised red flags.
Now, ESPN journalist Mike Coppinger has claimed that Lomachenko refused a fight with ‘Tank’ because he is ‘contemplating retirement’, whilst previewing Davis’ recently-confirmed showdown with Lamont Roach.Gervonta Davis was in talks to fight Vasiliy Lomachenko – who is contemplating retirement – and after the prospect of the fight collapsed, Tank will now fight Lamont Roach in a fight where he’ll be a major favorite. Discussing Gervonta’s next fight on ESPN+’s State of Boxing. pic.twitter.com/m8F0Qcqmuf
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 10, 2024“Gervonta Davis was in talks to fight Vasiliy Lomachenko – who is contemplating retirement – and after the prospect of the fight collapsed, Tank will now fight Lamont Roach in a fight where he’ll be a major favorite. Discussing Gervonta’s next fight on ESPN+’s State of Boxing.”
Davis will fight Roach on December 14th in Texas, with a salivating co-main event also being reported for that bill.
As for ‘Loma’, he has recently been linked to an alternate opponent, but if this is the end – what a ride it has been.
After over a year of inactivity, Chris Eubank Jr steps back into a boxing ring this weekend.
The son of legendary boxer Chris Eubank, Jr is set to face Kamil Szeremeta on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Saudi.
Eubank Jr is looking to remind the world that he still has what it takes to become a world champion despite reaching 35 years of age.
A decisive win against Szeremeta will go a long way to building anticipation to see what’s next for the Brighton based boxer.
Chris Eubank Jr has never struggled to garner interest, not least because of his surname.
But it seems that he has his eye on a mega bout after confirming that he’s in discussions with three blockbuster names to fight next.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Eubank Jr seemingly already has one eye on the future.
“Yes, I need to win and do so in devastating fashion”, he told the television broadcaster in a sit down interview.
“If I don’t, why would people want to see me fight Canelo, Conor Benn, Billy Joe Saunders, or Terence Crawford?
“If I can’t beat this guy convincingly, why am I fighting them?
“There’s still so much for me in my boxing career. It’s not just a belief; it’s reality.
“We’re already in talks with Canelo, Benn, Saunders, and the middleweight titleholders.Huge rematch expected to land on Davis-Roach undercard
“I just need to do my job, stay disciplined, and all those big fights will happen.”
Those three names mentioned would undoubtedly be box office fights.
It seems that everyone in the middleweight division wants a fight with Canelo Alvarez and Eubank Jr is happy to have his name in the mix for that one.
Of course, one of his three losses in his career came against Billy Joe Saunders on split decision.
Those two have never met again in the ring and fight fans will be intrigued to see who would come up next.
But it’s the other name that will likely get the most attention.
Any card that features the names of Benn and Eubank will sell tickets.
And that’s the fight that Eubank Jr seems to want next.
“Yes, if he sorts out his license, that’s definitely a fight I want next”, said Chris Eubank Jr when asked about the Conor Benn fight.
These two were originally scheduled to fight in October 2022, but the fight was cancelled just days before after Benn had tested positive for banned substances.
Conor Benn has always protested his innocence despite the fight being called off.
It seems that the fight could be rekindled with these latest comments showing that there’s still an eagerness on the side of Chris Eubank Jr to make that fight happen next in his career.
Chris Eubank Jr. made headlines recently for launching a scathing rant at the press conference for Artur Beterbiev’s undisputed light-heavyweight showdown with Dmitry Bivol. However, his cousin, Harlem, has now revealed the real reason behind the middleweight contender’s ruthless verbal attack.
Eubank Jr. is scheduled to appear on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard against Kamil Szeremeta (22-2-2) on Saturday night as he hopes to edge closer towards a world title shot against Janibek Alimkhanuly or possibly Hamzah Sheeraz.
Yet, at the press conference for the event last month, the focus of Eubank Jr. did not appear to be on his opponent. Instead, the 35-year-old gunned for British promoters Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren and Kalle Sauerland, labelling each of them as ‘scumbags’ in the viral clip whilst explaining why he has signed with Ben Shalom’s BOXXER.Eubank Jr knows how to make a headline.
Here he is gearing into Warren Sauerland and Hearn for being scumbag promoters. Only Turki survives‼️🥊🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/OAIDRXXVdr
— LondonRunzBoxing (@LondonRunz) September 25, 2024
“Why BOXXER? Because every other promoter out here is scumbag.
“He [Frank Warren] sued me for a couple of hundred thousand a few years ago, so obviously I’d never go back to him. Scumbag.
“Kalle Sauerland, kept me in a terrible contract for several years. Scumbag.
“Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith tried everything they could to make this Conor Benn fight. So yes, scumbags.
“The only one who isn’t [a scumbag] is Turki Al-Alshikh. This is a man who isn’t trying to take money from fighters and use lawyers and accountants in slave contracts.”
Understandably, each of targeted promoters were outraged at the comments but none more so than Frank Warren, who threatened to take a legal course of action once again.
Soon after, Eubank Jr. released a statement and apologised for his words – with that apology being accepted by Warren.Chris Eubank Jr and Frank Warren release a statement. #fightclub247#boxing#fighter#beterbievbivol#champion#forthefanspic.twitter.com/KJcegynEFf
— Fight Club 24/7 (@fightclub247) September 25, 2024
“Following today’s press conference for the historic Riyadh Season event on October 12th, I would like to retract my inaccurate statements and offer my apologies to Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn and Kalle Sauerland. I now wish to focus purely on boxing and preparing for a huge fight in Riyadh next month.”
However, rising welterweight contender and cousin of Chris, Harlem Eubank, today exclusively told that this rant was one that was planned by Eubank Jr. and others, rather than one that was off of the cuff, explaining that someone gave him the ‘green light’ beforehand.
“Chris is always going to speak his mind, whatever he thinks. He is always happy to speak his mind and I think Ben [Shalom] had a hard week the week before in the AJ fight build-up, and I think that Jr. came to the rescue.
“Chris is one of them people that is happy to express his views, especially if given the green light to do so.”
Whoever it was that encouraged Eubank Jr. to cause a stir will certainly be pleased with the outcome, but the former IBO middleweight world champion will be hoping that his speech did not cause too much of a distraction, and that he can still get the job done against Szeremeta on Saturday night.
Fabio Wardley has proven himself to not only be a worthy British champion but a possible world title threat by maintaining his 18-fight undefeated record at the peak of the domestic level. Yet, Saturday night represents his toughest test to date and ahead of fight night, the Ipswich fan-favourite made a shocking admission.
Despite no amateur experience, Wardley rose into British title contention after knockout victories in all outings since his debut and after 14 wins and 13 knockouts, Wardley was offered the shot at the vacant title against Nathan Gorman – who was halted in just three rounds.
An opportunity on the big stage soon followed, as Wardley stopped American Michael Coffie before returning to defend the Lonsdale Belt on the Fury-Ngannou Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia, knocking out David Adeleye in a career-best performance.
Yet, it was Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke who was being picked by many to put an end to Wardley’s reign and an Easter Sunday showdown gave further substance to those suggestions.
Wardley and Clarke went to war in one of 2024’s fights of the year thus far, where Wardley scored a knockdown and Clarke was deducted an additional point, but still the judges scored the contest as a draw – meaning Clarke would have been victorious if not for the low blow.
Now, Wardley and Clarke will rematch in what many feel is the highlight of the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard and in an interview with Boxing News, 29-year-old Wardley declared that he intends to vacate the British title during the aftermath.Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: new fight added to undercard
“Obviously, the Frazer Clarke era, whatever that bit of my life was or bit of my boxing career was – that will be finished after Saturday night. And my British title, British area level fights. I think they’ll be done as well. I can’t see any more contenders that is a right [fight] for me to take at this juncture in my career. I’ve had my good run with it, time to probably let that go.”
This will be Wardley’s third defence of the belt, allowing him to keep a hold of the belt and add it to his collection even after it has been officially vacated.
Although, the strong-willed power-puncher hopes that the British title will not be the only strap that he can look back on after his career, adding that he is hoping to close in on a world title shot during 2025.
“Ultimately setting up for a world title or at least a shot at a world title or eliminator or a voluntary shot.
“I’m up there in the mix. We know the big fight that’s happening at the end of the year. So, once that happens and then a few months later when things start to fragment and mandatories start to get called and eliminators everything moves starts to move in all sorts of directions. I want one of those directions to be towards me.”
Fabio Wardley currently sits at #8 in the world rankings with both the WBO and WBC, #9 with the WBA and #12 with the IBF. As he suggests, belts are likely to become available in the near future, but the route selection may prove pivotal depending on which belts the victor of Fury-Usyk decide to retain.
Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev are set to fight over the IBF junior middleweight title on Saturday 19th October.
Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida is the current location for the clash.
But that looks in serious jeopardy as of now.
Hurricane Milton has been all over the news in the United States of America.
People have been ordered to stay indoors by police as Hurricane Milton smashes into Florida.
Two people have already died from a tornado as Hurricane Milton approached.
The National Weather Service has issued the highest level of flood warning possible to residents of Tampa, St Petersburg and Clearwater. There are approximately two million residents who are subject to the alert.
The situation is pretty dire right now.
With winds recorded of 390km/hour, it’s one of the worst hurricanes in USA history.
A boxing fight is not at the forefront of most people’s minds in Florida right now.
With so much destruction and devastation, it’s looking unfeasible that the fight will be staged in Orlando next week.
No Limit CEO George Rose, who is promoting the fight, has detailed plans to the media around the possibilities.
“It’s been a bit of a tumultuous last week as we found out about the weather trends over in the U.S,” Rose told media.Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: new fight added to undercard
“It’s been a bit of a scramble for all of us. At the moment, what I can say is both fighters are safe and both are preparing for what is going to be the biggest fights of their careers.
“We’re staying in touch with our U.S. counterparts as often as we can and as it stands at the moment everything is proceeding as per planned but we are prepared to make a mad dash and a mad change if we have to.
“At the moment we’re staying alert and staying prepared for every update and every change that happens between now and then.
“I seriously cannot believe how big this is.
“We thought the floods and everything we faced here in Australia had been the biggest, craziest weather phenomenon we’d have to worry about in putting on an event but this is huge.
“This is very scary.
“But it’s something I think we’re well aware of and we’re going to make sure our fighters are safe and we do make the best decision at the end. But we’re ready to move on whatever we have to do.”
This is not the first time that No Limit have had to move a fight for one of their boxers.
No Limit had to postpone Nikita Tszyu’s professional boxing debut in 2022 after the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre was flooded.
“We were able to move that event within 24 hours and make that happen,” Rose said.
“Obviously this is larger scale with a world title fight happening over there in Orlando but we’ve got no hesitation in having to move and choose a safer option to ensure Timmy still gets his world title shot and Mateo Tapia gets to continue on his trajectory towards the same position as Tim.”
So it seems that there’s a distinct possibility that the fight will be moved if things don’t improve much in Florida.
For a while now, boxing fans have been wondering when Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora would get in the ring and face one another.
Crawford last fought in August and it seemed his victory had set him on to the path to a mega fight with Canelo Alvarez.
Alvarez himself only fought in September, so the likelihood of that fight happening soon was a little farfetched.
In the meantime, a title unification fight between Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora was next on the cards.
Fundora, the current WBO and WBC light middleweight champion, instead wanted to step in the ring with Errol Spence Jr.
Are you keeping up so far?
Now there seems to have been some resolution on the matter.
After the WBO had given Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora time negotiate their fight, it has now seemingly been resolved for the time being.
According to Mike Coppinger from ESPN, Crawford has agreed for Fundora to first fight Errol Spence Jr.
The idea is that a future fight between the pair would be much bigger if Fundora was to beat Spence Jr.Team GB star signs with boxing advisor
Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jr. are now expected to meet in early 2025.
This is an intriguing match up just because of all the possibilities that it opens up.
Spence Jr. lost to Crawford last year and there has not been a rematch so far.
If he beats Fundora, that may be back on the table.
Once it progresses to the next phase of this plan, Crawford beating either of those fighters must surely put him in a conversation for a clash against Canelo Alvarez.
A face off between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez is something that all boxing fans would love to see and would be a big time bout for 2025.Ahead of tomorrow’s WBO deadline, Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora reached a resolution to allow Fundora to proceed with a voluntary defense with the understanding the junior middleweight title unification will be explored afterward, sources told ESPN. This paves the way…
Gervonta Davis’ return to action against Lamont Roach Jr. has been highly criticized, with ‘Tank’ believed to be comfortably better than his naturally smaller opponent. However, if the main event has left you wanting more, then luckily it appears as though an exciting rematch will also take place on the bill.
The WBA lightweight champion had been linked to unification bouts against either Shakur Stevenson (WBC) and Vasyl Lomachenko (IBF) but both men were recently ruled out, forcing the self-proclaimed ‘face of boxing’ to search for a suitable challenger for his title.
As far as lightweight options were concerned, WBA #2 Floyd Schofield and WBA #3 Edwin De Los Santos (16-2) were each calling for the opportunity to challenge for world honours, yet Davis instead opted to face WBA super-featherweight champion, Roach.
News of the selection underwhelmed many, but whispers that David Benavidez could fight on the undercard raised hopes for the December event, until it was confirmed that ‘The Mexican Monster’ will take part in a mammoth main event of his own in January – ruling him out of the December show.
Although it does not feature Benavidez, the co-main of the card does seem to be an intriguing one, ESPN have reported that Stephen Fulton will fight for a second time as a featherweight as he collides with fellow former super-bantamweight champion Brandon Figueroa once again – over three years since Fulton scored a controversial split-decision win over the Texan.World title clash rumoured for David Benavidez vs. David Morrell event
“Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa will meet in a featherweight rematch on the Dec. 14 Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach undercard in Houston, sources told ESPN.”
Fulton debuted at 126lbs last month with yet another eyebrow-raising split-decision win, being knocked down by Carlos Castro but just doing enough to get the nod on the scorecards in a first outing since his brutal knockout defeat to Naoya Inoue.
Meanwhile, Figueroa has fought thrice since moving up from 122lbs and also faced Castro on his first featherweight appearance – scoring a sixth-round stoppage win.
Since then, ‘The Heartbreaker’ has defeated Mark Magsayo for the WBC interim title and then defended the belt against Jessie Magdaleno, leaving the victor of his rematch with Fulton well poised for a shot at Rey Vargas’ WBC world title.
Tank-Roach will take place on December 14th in Houston, Texas, as a PBC event that will be available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video PPV, with further details expected to be announced imminently.
Jake Paul, known for his extravagant challenges, has launched a new bet for his upcoming fight. The controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer is offering an additional $5 million to Mike Tyson if the former champion can last more than four rounds in their bout. The fight, set for November 15, was already surrounded by criticism. With this bet, Paul aims to add even more spectacle to an already media-fueled match.
The offer adds to the $20 million Tyson is projected to earn for his participation in the fight. However, Paul didn’t stop there. In a video posted on Tuesday, the young boxer took it a step further by proposing a consequence if Tyson fails to last more than four rounds. “Mikey Mikey, if you can last more than four rounds with me, I’ll give you an extra $5 million… But if you don’t, then you have to get a tattoo that says, ‘I love Jake Paul,’” Paul declared in a challenging tone.The most talked-about fight of the year
The bout between 27-year-old Jake Paul and 58-year-old Mike Tyson has become one of the most talked-about events in the boxing world. The fight will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be broadcast live on Netflix, which has heavily promoted the event. Experts have expressed divided opinions about the fight. Many have called it a “spectacle” and a “farce,” given the significant age and experience difference between the two fighters.
Despite the criticism, some believe Tyson still has a chance. Although he’s no longer the fighter who once dominated the boxing world, the legend remains feared for his punching power. If Tyson manages to land a solid punch, he could put Paul in serious trouble. On the other hand, Paul, who has received both praise and criticism for his transition into boxing, seems confident. During the promotion of the fight, he has focused on fun and provocation, something he has showcased on his social media platforms.Jake Paul’s show continues to rise
Although the fight may seem like a circus to many, Jake Paul is expected to earn a substantial amount of money. Estimates suggest his earnings could exceed $40 million, further solidifying his place in the entertainment boxing business. Paul has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to capture the public’s attention, whether through his victories in the ring or his self-promotion tactics.
November 15 will be a decisive date for both fighters. While the outcome of the fight is uncertain, the $5 million bet has undoubtedly raised expectations. Tyson, who has shown intense training on his social media, will not only aim to last the four rounds but also to reaffirm his legacy. Meanwhile, Jake Paul is confident that, in the end, he will emerge victorious, with or without a tattoo involved.@betr Deal or no deal 🤔 #miketyson#jakepaul#boxing#paultyson♬ original sound – Betr
The fight between Bruce Carrington and Dana Coolwell has been added to the preliminary card of the November 15 PPV event, headlined by the bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. This information was confirmed by sources close to ESPN. Carrington, ranked as ESPN’s tenth featherweight, is coming off a notable victory over Sulaiman Segawa. The fight, set for eight rounds, promises to be one of the night’s most exciting matchups.Bruce Carrington, known as “Shu Shu,”
His last fight took place on September 27, 2024, when he defeated Segawa by majority decision in the tenth round. The American boxer holds an impeccable record of 13 wins, no losses, and no draws. With this unbeaten streak, Carrington has established himself as one of the brightest prospects in the featherweight division.
Dana Coolwell, on the other hand, is a rising Australian talent with a record of 13 wins and 2 losses. His last fight was on March 23 against Fernando Tagpuno Jr., where he dominated, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 100-90 on two cards and 99-91 on the third. Coolwell has been compared to a young Paul Fleming for his fighting style. His skill and talent make him a worthy opponent for Carrington.
This featherweight clash not only adds excitement to the card but also balances an event that has stirred controversy. The main event between Mike Tyson and YouTuber Jake Paul has been criticized by several boxing personalities and media outlets. However, with matchups like Carrington vs. Coolwell, fight fans are anticipating a quality show.Bruce Carrington will fight Australia’s Dana Coolwell in an eight-rounder on the Nov. 15 Mike Tyson-Jake Paul PPV undercard, sources tell ESPN. Carrington, ESPN’s No. 10 featherweight, is coming off majority-decision victory over Sulaiman Segawa last month. Like Tyson, “Shu Shu”…
In a recent interview with @BoxNation_TV, promoter Frank Warren revealed he turned down a big-money offer for Hamzah Sheeraz to fight Canelo Álvarez earlier this year. Warren said, “We were offered the Canelo fight early this year, but I said no, not yet. It was really good money. An offer was made.”
Sheeraz, now 24 with an impressive record of 21-0, recently defeated Tyler Denny by TKO, continuing his rise as a top middleweight contender. Meanwhile, Canelo, one of boxing’s biggest stars, holds a record of 61-2-2 and recently won against Edgar Berlanga. Warren emphasized that while Sheeraz has the talent, it's not the right time to face someone of Canelo's caliber—but the matchup could happen in the future.
Will we ever see this blockbuster fight?
#BoxingNews #CaneloSheeraz #HamzahSheeraz #CaneloAlvarez #Middleweight #FutureChampions #Boxing
British boxer Anthony Joshua has seen his mentality come under scrutiny following a painful knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last month. At Wembley, the heavyweight lost convincingly, sparking concern within the boxing community about his future in the sport. Several legends have suggested that Joshua, a two-time former world champion, consider retiring after his latest setback in the ring.
Joshua, 34, had accumulated a streak of four consecutive victories before his fight with Dubois. The bout was seen as an opportunity to solidify his comeback following a knockout win over former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. However, despite being the favorite, Joshua struggled to find his rhythm during the fight.Daniel Dubois dominated the bout, knocking Anthony Joshua down four times before delivering a devastating knockout in the fifth round.
With this victory, Dubois retained his IBF title, while Joshua dropped to seventh in the world heavyweight rankings. This defeat has led to calls from prominent boxing figures for Joshua to retire, although others believe he still has the potential to return to the top.
One who believes Joshua has more to offer in boxing is fellow British heavyweight David Adeleye. In a recent interview with Mirror Fighting, Adeleye expressed that Anthony Joshua’s mentality before the fight “was wrong.” According to the young prospect, something in the preparation didn’t work in the former champion’s favor.
“It was a one-sided fight,” commented Adeleye. “I’ve got a lot of love for AJ, but yeah, it was a one-sided fight. I just think maybe the mentality going into the fight was wrong, and maybe something was wrong in the preparation, so it just didn’t favor him.”
Adeleye also believes that, despite the criticism, Joshua still has much to offer boxing. Among the possibilities for Joshua’s future is a matchup with Tyson Fury, a long-anticipated bout for fans. Although the two have had talks over the years, the fight has yet to materialize.Team GB star signs with boxing advisor
Furthermore, Adeleye maintains that, despite the loss, Joshua remains boxing’s “golden goose.” Interest in a fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury still exists, although perhaps not at the same level as in previous years. Nonetheless, Adeleye believes that this clash, which would determine who is the best British boxer of his era, remains significant.
Tyson Fury, for his part, has also shown interest in fighting Joshua. In a recent interview, Fury stated that a fight between the two will happen before the end of their careers, regardless of Joshua’s recent defeat. “Joshua knows he’s getting it,” Fury assured. “Even if we’re 50 years old, he’s got to fight me. There’s no escaping it.”
Daniel Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, has revealed that his client’s next fight is scheduled for early next year. A rematch between Joshua and Dubois could take place on February 22 in Riyadh, according to forecasts. In the meantime, uncertainty about Joshua’s future continues to be a topic of debate in the boxing world.
As discussions about Anthony Joshua’s future and the possibilities of a rematch or a showdown with Fury continue, the boxing world eagerly awaits to see if the British fighter can rise from his recent defeats and prove that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
A team GB boxer is making the transition to the professional game.
For most boxers that compete at The Olympic Games, one of their goals is to give it a go at the professional level.
The professional game is where the big money is and it provides boxers the opportunity to make some life changing money.
And it’s also a path well trodden in the past.
Names like Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Anthony Joshua are just some of the names that competed at the Olympics before going on to becoming world heavyweight champion.
A young hopeful from England will be hoping to do the same.
Pat Brown, a young British boxer, will turn professional after reaching an agreement with Sam Jones, an advisor in the boxing world.
Sam Jones, for those unaware, handles the career of Jack Catterall.
For those who don’t know him, Pat Brown is a 24-year-old British amateur boxer from Sale, Greater Manchester.Lawrence Okolie vacates his title to move up a division
He has competed in various amateur fights and gained recognition in the boxing scene, standing out for his dynamic style.
His journey in the 2024 Summer Olympics was cut short when he lost in the round of 16.
Brown began boxing at the age of 11 and has had 70 amateur fights to date.
Pat Brown has been considered one of the most promising prospects in British boxing, with expectations that he will succeed in the professional ranks.
According to NoSmokeBoxing, a promotional agreement is being worked on for Brown, as several boxing promoters have stated their desire in signing the fighter after he competed for team GB at the 2024 Olympic Games.
One of those is believed to be Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for this emerging talent as he enters the professional boxing scene.