Boxing Fights, News, Opinion - talkSPORT

Jarrell Miller claims Anthony Joshua called to apologise after heated exchange at press conference

Cameron Temple — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 12:01:01 +0000

Jarrell Miller and Anthony Joshua never miss an opportunity to go at each other.

But, it seems AJ may have wanted to squash the beef following their most recent exchange.

Joshua and Miller have never got along

getty

The pair went at it at a recent press conference, as they will be fighting on the same card on December 23, with Joshua taking on Otto Wallin, while Miller will clash with Daniel Dubois.

Afterwards, however, Miller says Joshua called him to apologise. He told Fight Hype: “He trying to call and apologise and there ain’t nothing to talk about man.

“He called my publicist, the same day after the press conference. Ain’t nothing to talk about man.”

Miller continued: “If you want to talk business about a future fight then yeah we can talk then, but until then we aren’t going to be friends until I punch you in the mouth.

“It’s like that thing at school you got guys you don’t get along with then you fight and you become best friends after that.

“But, until I touch his chin ain’t nothing to talk about man.”

Their beef dates back to 2019 when the pair were due to fight, but Miller failed a drugs test and the fight was called off, with Andy Ruiz Jr replacing him.

And it appears they still don’t get along, as at their recent press conference, Miller addressed Joshua and Deontay Wilder who is fighting Joseph Parker on the same card, saying: “They can all kiss my black a**.

“I don’t like none of them motherf******, but one thing I can tell you is that, after I finish with Dubois, I definitely want Manuel Charr [WBA ‘Regular’ champion], because he’s got that belts.”

He continued: “I tell you one thing though, we all know for a fact that AJ don’t want no smoke with Deontay.”

Joshua then clapped back, saying: “Shut the f*** up. Don’t start with me.

“You know I’ll come over there and slap you, and I see that you’ve brought your mum here again.”

But, Miller wasn’t done there, as he added: “I almost kicked your a** last time. We all know AJ don’t want no smoke with Deontay.

“As much as I don’t like Deontay, I know Deontay will put that motherf***** in the grave.

“So I’ll make it easy for you, fight Deontay and go to the grave, or fight me and go to the hospital. Either way you’ll get your a** whooped.”

Joshua finished by aiming a threat at Miller, saying: “You are not doing nothing to me. Watch your mouth or I’ll come over there and slap it for you.”

Boxing set for incredible six weeks with Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul, Deontay Wilder, Katie Taylor, Naoya Inoue in the ring

Cameron Temple — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Boxing fans will not be short for entertainment over the next six weeks.

There may have been complaints over the last few years, regarding the heavyweight division in particular, of inactivity, but that can no longer be said.

Joshua and Wilder are just two of the big names set to fight before the end of the year

Chantelle Cameron vs Katie Taylor 2 (November 25 | Dublin, Ireland)

This mouth-watering end of year schedule is kicked off on Saturday night, as Katie Taylor looks to take the undisputed super lightweight world titles away from Chantelle Cameron at the second attempt.

In their last fight, Taylor suffered the first defeat of her career, as she was out-boxed by Cameron, and now the Irishwoman is coming back for revenge.

David Benavidez vs Demetrius Andrade (November 25 | Las Vegas, USA)

Over in America on the same night, David Benavidez will take on Demetrius Andrade.

Benavidez is coming off a career best win over Caleb Plant earlier this year, while Andrade has been relatively inactive having only fought once since 2021.

The winner of this clash is expected to fight Canelo in the near future for the undisputed super middleweight world titles.

Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte (December 2 | Texas, USA)

A week later Ryan Garcia will look to bounce back from a first career defeat against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis last time out, as he takes on Oscar Duarte Jurado.

Garcia, who has 10.3 million Instagram followers, is determined to win a world title at 140lbs, saying his focus has shifted entirely, away from social media and now he’s all about boxing.

On the undercard, Britain’s outspoken Ohara Davies will challenge for the WBA ‘interim’ super lightweight title against Ismael Barroso.

Devin Haney vs Regis Prograis (December 9 | San Francisco, USA)

Prograis has defended world title once since winning it and he will hope to do that again against Haney

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Around the same weight class, on December 9, the former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney will move up to the 140lb division to challenge Regis Prograis for the WBC title.

Prograis is best known on these shores for his epic encounter with Josh Taylor in 2019, which the American lost by majority decision, but this bout represents an opportunity to put all that behind him and return to the top of the boxing world.

And on the undercard Ebanie Bridges fights for the first time this year, putting her IBF bantamweight title on the line against fellow OnlyFans star Avril Mathie, a fight which ‘The Blonde Bomber’ has labelled ‘Battle of the Boobs’.

Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak (December 10 | Bournemouth, UK)

That weekend brings a world title triple-header as on the Sunday night, Chris Billam-Smith defends his WBO cruiserweight world title against Mateusz Masternak.

This will be his first fight since shocking the world in his upset win over Lawrence Okolie.

And should he emerge with his title, Billam-Smith can expect Okolie and Richard Riakporhe to come calling for rematches.

Jake Paul vs Andre August (December 15 | Florida, USA)

Paul is looking to register his first win over a pro boxer

For those of you who enjoy influencer boxing, there is something for you too in this festive period.

Social media star turned boxer Jake Paul will look to move his record to 8-1 against little-known pro boxer Andre August.

This fight will not be on pay-per-view unlike Paul’s previous bouts, as he has said this clash is not about money, instead it’s about gaining experience on the journey to his ambitious goal of becoming a world champion.

Sunny Edwards vs Jesse Rodriguez (December 16 | Arizona, USA)

Edwards vs Rodriguez will be a boxing chess match

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

A day later one of the best fights on the schedule is set to take place, even if it has gone a little under the radar.

Sunny Edwards and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez clash in the flyweight division to determine the best fighter at 112lbs.

The Brit will put his IBF world title up for grabs, while Rodriguez brings the WBO strap to the table in what will undoubtedly be a highly skilled affair.

Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker (December 23 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

And then comes the big one on December 23 in what has been billed as ‘The Day of Reckoning’ with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder fighting on the same card in Saudi Arabia.

If Wilder gets past Parker

Queensberry

And Joshua can overcome Wallin, then the pair are expected to clash next year

Queensberry

Joshua will take on tricky southpaw, Otto Wallin, who previously pushed Tyson Fury all the way, while Wilder will clash with former world champion Joseph Parker, with the idea being that AJ and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ fight next year.

The undercard is full of big names as well, featuring Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller, Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur, Filip Hrgovic vs Mark De Mori and many more.

Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales (December 26 | Tokyo, Japan)

And as if that weren’t enough, on December 26 to cap off the year, ‘The Monster’ Naoya Inoue will attempt to become undisputed super bantamweight champion against Marlon Tapales after achieving the same feat just a year earlier in the bantamweight division.

Inoue is currently on a six fight knockout streak, as he has looked levels above even the elite opposition who have stood in his way so far in his career, with an unbeaten record of 25-0, 22 KO’s.

And the man from Japan has already established himself as one of the top three pound-for-pound best fighters in the sport today, but this fight could confirm that even further.

Early 2024 boxing schedule…

The big fights just keep coming in 2024

Getty

But, the action doesn’t end there, early next year we’ll see Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith on January 13, Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer on January 20 and the fight that everyone’s been waiting for, the undisputed heavyweight world title clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on February 17.

So, prepare yourselves boxing fans, because we could be set for one of the most exciting periods in the history of the sport.

Puzzled John Fury gives alarming verdict on Tyson Fury’s ‘physical condition’ for last three fights

Cameron Temple — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:48:36 +0000

John Fury does not believe Tyson Fury has enough time to get properly prepared for his clash with Oleksandr Usyk.

‘The Gypsy King’ is set to fight for the undisputed heavyweight world titles on February 17 in Saudi Arabia against his Ukrainian rival.

John Fury is concerned for his son ahead of his clash with Usyk

Top Rank

The fight was supposed to take place on December 23, but it was pushed back after Tyson sustained more damage against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou than anyone had expected when they fought last month.

To everyone’s surprise, Tyson was knocked down by his opponent in the third round, and Ngannou looked like he might claim victory, but the Brit was awarded a controversial win by split decision.

This has prompted people to start questioning Tyson, including his dad John, who says he has seen a physical decline in his son over his last three fights, which came against Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora and then Ngannou.

“The 17th February is the date they have got to work towards. But, in my opinion, Tyson needs a bit more time to get his conditioning right and his weight right,” John told Metro.co.uk.

“For my money, his last three fights, I have seen a bit of decline.

“Not a decline in ability but a decline in strength, power and physical condition.

“I don’t know what they are doing up there, you have to address it. He didn’t look himself out in Saudi.

“He didn’t look right, everything had changed about him, his demeanor, his body. I was puzzled.

“He said he had been training, but there is training and there is training. If you’re going at your own pace no one is going to tell you otherwise, no one is going to offend you or kick you up the backside.

“No one can teach Tyson how to box, or teach him more than he knows. All they can do is put some muscle on there and make his body rock solid.

“For my money he looked fat-thin, he should have been better, a bit heavier with a lot more muscle.

“Tyson is a mammoth fella. He needs to power up in the body department and the only way you do that is a proper course and they take time and we don’t have the time.”

Tony Bellew admits David Haye is a ‘far better’ fighter than him, despite knockout wins, as he talks boxing on I’m A Celebrity

Michael Benson — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:29:09 +0000

Tony Bellew has opened up about his boxing career on his first day in the jungle.

The former WBC cruiserweight world champion is currently appearing on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, having retired from the sport five years ago.

Bellew entered camp on Thursday night’s show but got off to a losing start

ITV

Along with horse racing legend Frankie Dettori, Bellew was a late arrival in the jungle.

He was thrown straight into the deep end on Thursday night’s episode with his own Bush Tucker Trial, which saw him beaten by Dettori.

The result means Bellew is part of the ‘Away Camp’, who receive smaller and lower quality food supplies and amenities.

Not long after becoming settled, he entered into a conversation with former Big Brother winner, now ITV This Morning presenter Josie Gibson.

Gibson asked Bellew: “What was your favourite fight?”

To which he answered: “My favourite ever fight? [Ilunga Makabu] at Goodison Park, when I won my world title.

“I mean I achieved my lifelong dream that night, so all my dreams came true.

“That was my main goal and focus in life – win a world title at Goodison Park.

Bellew became WBC cruiserweight world champion by beating Ilunga Makabu in 2016

Getty

“My missus came to me [after], we were in the kitchen and she said, ‘Is that it now then? Are you done? Will you retire now?’

“But I’m pretty old school, I believe that a man should go out and provide for his family, probably everyone doesn’t agree with this or like it anymore, but you go out and work, try and do the best that you can and be a proper man.

“She said, ‘What do you mean?’

“I said, ‘Well we are so far away from financial security, it’s unbelievable.’

“We were basically skint. We had a heavy, heavy mortgage.

“I’d won a British, Commonwealth, European and a world title, I shouldn’t say ‘skint’, but I was living fight to fight. I wasn’t comfortable.”

At this point Gibson asked: “But I thought boxing was really big money?”

Bellew explained: “To put it into context, I then defended my world title and made okay money.

Bellew’s fights with Haye gave him financial security

Getty Images - Getty

“After I defended, I then fought David Haye and the fight with David Haye, that one fight, was four times my whole career combined, in one night.

“And then I fought him again and doubled it again, the whole net worth and what I’d generated.

“And then I fought Oleksandr Usyk in my last one and I nearly doubled it again.

“I was very fortunate it worked out in the end.”

Talk then turned to Bellew’s famous rivalry with Haye from 2017 and 2018.

“Me and David get on great these days, but I wound him up,” Bellew said with a smile.

“I’m really great at antagaonising. If I wanna get at you, I’ll get at you. I wind people up.

“I’ve fought David twice and I’ve beaten him twice, but he’s a far better fighter than me. Styles make fights.”

Gibson asked: “If you’ve beaten them twice, how can that be?”

Bellew answered: “If Liverpool or Manchester United lose to Wrexham, does that make Wrexham better than Liverpool or Manchester United?”

Tony Bellew gets mouthful of pig testicle on I’m a Celebrity and is placed in camp with Nigel Farage after calling him a ‘maniac’

Jackson Cole — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:44:47 +0000

Tony Bellew had a not-so-tasty start to life on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, but things could get tasty between him and Nigel Farage.

Along with racing legend Frankie Dettori, Bellew was a late arrival in the jungle, but was thrown straight into the deep end on Thursday night’s episode with his own Bush Tucker Trial.

Bellew entered camp on Thursday night’s show but got off to a losing start

ITV

They were up against each other as they had to make their way through an obstacle course… while holding pig testicles in their mouths.

Former WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew boasted a professional boxing record of 30-3-1 but has a Bush Tucker trial record of 0-1 as the nimble Dettori came out the victor.

The result means Bellew is part of the ‘Away Camp’, who receive smaller and lower quality food supplies and camp amenities.

It also means he’ll share camp with former UKIP and Brexit Party leader Farage, and the pair have history.

In November 2022, Farage posted a video on Twitter with the caption: “According to the ONS figures, London, Manchester and Birmingham are now all minority white cities.”

Bellew responded: “Why does someone’s colour matter? Who cares if you’re white, black, yellow or pink? All that matters is are they good or no good people!

“Learn to see people for who they are and not what they look like! It’s cos of people like you that racism still exists! Absolute maniac you are!”

So far there’s been no sign of a rumble in the jungle between Bellew and Farage, but Bellew is finding it difficult to adjust to camp life.

Bellew has taken some brutal punches in his career and now he’s holding pig testicles in his mouth

ITV

Bellew and Farage don’t see eye to eye politically

X @TonyBellew

But now they’ve got to work together

ITV

Farage vs Bellew wouldn’t be as good a Rumble in the Jungle as Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman

ITV

Receiving a measly portion of beans, the 40-year-old decided it wasn’t for him and even spat out some of the food he initially tried.

Bellew has some fight on his hands.

Bellew hasn’t had the easiest of starts

ITV

Boxer instantly puts opponent to sleep and leaves him sprawled on the ropes with brutal left hook KO

Cameron Temple — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 17:17:08 +0000

Mark Schleib literally knocked his opponent unconscious with a brutal stoppage against Shamal Ram Anuj.

The pair went toe-to-toe in a boxing fight on Wednesday in Australia on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu vs Dylan Biggs.

It was lights out for Ram Anuj as he ate Schleib’s thunderous left hand

X: @MaineventTV

Schleib, 12-2 prior to this fight, was in desperate need of a win coming off the back of two knockout defeats and he bounced back in spectacular fashion.

In round five of the fight, the 30-year-old Schleib found the finish, as he caught his opponent with a thunderous left hook.

Ram Anuj was immediately put to sleep, as his legs buckled and he collapsed down to the canvas.

But, on his way down he was caught by the ropes and he slumped against them unconscious, as Schleib was awarded the victory.

Ram Anuj was immediately attended to by the doctor who eventually helped him out of the ring.

After the knockout, Schleib could be seen shouting at the camera: “I’m coming for everyone.”

And is post-fight interview the Australian revealed the sacrifice he had to make ahead of this clash, saying: “Nine months without my kid. Crying every day before training. I love you Oscar, I hope you’re proud of me son.

“As long as you love me son, I’m always going to be a world champion.

A BRUTAL KO from Mark Schleibs to start the night Is this a contender for knockout of the year?

Order #tszyubiggs LIVE NOW on Main Event: Link in Bio pic.twitter.com/b7NjQWxjq6
— MAIN EVENT (@MainEventTV) November 22, 2023

“My mum, in and out of the [psychiatric] ward, looking after her. Just a lot of relief.”

Meanwhile, former world champion Billy Dib who was on commentary remarked: “That is a vicious knock out blow.

“That’s got to be knock out of the year.

“He bided his time and went bang! He was asleep straight away.”

List of current men’s boxing world champions as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk reign as heavyweight kings, while Canelo Alvarez rules the super-middleweights

Michael Benson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:48:00 +0000

Boxing is a complicated and convoluted sport with several world champions in each division.

Most observers recognise that we are now in a four-belt era, with the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO all given credibility as legitimate world titles.

The WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO are recognised as boxing’s four legitimate, major world titles

Simon Stacpoole/Matchroom

See the full list of the current men’s boxing world champions below…

Heavyweight (200lbs+)

WBA – Oleksandr Usyk

WBC – Tyson Fury

IBF – Oleksandr Usyk

WBO – Oleksandr Usyk

_{^{*Mahmoud Charr has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}}

_{^{*Zhilei Zhang has the lesser WBO ‘interim’ belt}}

Usyk and Fury rule the heavyweight division

Getty

Bridgerweight (224lbs)

WBC – Lukasz Rozanski

The WBC invented the bridgerweight division in 2020, though many deem it unnecessary with none of the other three sanctioning bodies following suit

Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

Cruiserweight (200lbs)

WBA – Arsen Goulamirian

WBC – Noel Mikaelian

IBF – Jai Opetaia

WBO – Chris Billam-Smith

Billam-Smith is the WBO cruiserweight world champion

Getty

Light-Heavyweight (175lbs)

WBA – Dmitry Bivol

WBC – Artur Beterbiev

IBF – Artur Beterbiev

WBO – Artur Beterbiev

Beterbiev and Bivol own the belts at light-heavyweight

Super-Middleweight (168lbs)

WBA – Canelo Alvarez

WBC – Canelo Alvarez

IBF – Canelo Alvarez

WBO – Canelo Alvarez

^{*David Morrell has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

^{*David Benavidez has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

Canelo is the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super-middleweight world champion

Amanda Westcott/Showtime

Middleweight (160lbs)

WBA – Erislandy Lara

WBC – Jermall Charlo

IBF – Janibek Alimkhanuly

WBO – Janibek Alimkhanuly

^{*Carlos Adames has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

Jermall Charlo is the WBC middleweight world champion

Leo Wilson/PBC

Super-Welterweight (154lbs)

WBA – Jermell Charlo

WBC – Jermell Charlo

IBF – Jermell Charlo

WBO – Tim Tszyu

Jermell Charlo is the unified WBA, WBC and IBF super-welterweight world champion

Stephanie Trapp/Showtime

Welterweight (147lbs)

WBA – Terence Crawford

WBC – Terence Crawford

IBF – Jaron Ennis

WBO – Terence Crawford

^{*Eimantas Stanionis has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

^{*Mario Barrios has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

Crawford is the unified WBA, WBC and WBO welterweight world champion

Getty

Super-Lightweight (140lbs)

WBA – Rolly Romero

WBC – Regis Prograis

IBF – Subriel Matias

WBO – Teofimo Lopez

Lopez is the WBO super-lightweight world champion

Getty

Lightweight (135lbs)

WBA – Devin Haney

WBC – Vacant

IBF – Devin Haney

WBO – Devin Haney

^{*Gervonta Davis has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

Haney is the unified WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight world champion

Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Super-Featherweight (130lbs)

WBA – Hector Garcia

WBC – O’Shaquie Foster

IBF – Joe Cordina

WBO – Emanuel Navarrete

Garcia holds the WBA belt at super-featherweight

Getty

Featherweight (126lbs)

WBA – Leigh Wood

WBC – Rey Vargas

IBF – Luis Alberto Lopez

WBO – Robeisy Ramirez

^{*Brandon Figueroa has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

Wood is the WBA featherweight world champion

Dan Thompson/Matchroom

Super-Bantamweight (122lbs)

WBA – Marlon Tapales

WBC – Naoya Inoue

IBF – Marlon Tapales

WBO – Naoya Inoue

Inoue is the unified WBC and WBO super-bantamweight world champion

Naoki Fukuda

Bantamweight (118lbs)

WBA – Takuma Inoue

WBC – Alexandro Santiago

IBF – Emmanuel Rodriguez

WBO – Jason Moloney

Santiago is the WBC bantamweight world champion

Ryan Hafey/PBC

Super-Flyweight (115lbs)

WBA – Kazuto Ioka

WBC – Juan Estrada

IBF – Fernando Martinez

WBO – Junto Nakatani

^{*Carlos Cuadras has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

Estrada is the WBC super-flyweight king

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Flyweight (112lbs)

WBA – Artem Dalakian

WBC – Julio Cesar Martinez

IBF – Sunny Edwards

WBO – Jesse Rodriguez

Edwards is the IBF flyweight world champion

Light-Flyweight (108lbs)

WBA – Kenshiro Teraji

WBC – Kenshiro Teraji

IBF – Adrian Curiel

WBO – Jonathan Gonzalez

Kenshiro owns the WBA and WBC belts at light-flyweight

Getty

Minimumweight (105lbs)

WBA – Knockout CP Freshmart (Thammanoon Niyomtrong)

WBC – Yudai Shigeoka

IBF – Ginjiro Shigeoka

WBO – Oscar Collazo

^{*Erick Rosa has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

Boxing schedule 2023: All major fights, dates and results including Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder

Michael Benson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:38:31 +0000

The 2023 boxing calendar has delivered some fantastic fights – with plenty more on the way.

The heavyweight division will see some exciting action in the coming months. Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will be on the same card in Saudi Arabia on December 23, before a huge undisputed showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on February 17.

All the heavyweight belts will be on the line when Usyk and Fury clash

Getty

Here is a list of the major fights scheduled for the remainder of 2023 and early 2024…

November 25, Dublin, Ireland – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Chantelle Cameron vs Katie Taylor 2 (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Super-Lightweight World Titles)

November 25, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

Fite TV // Showtime PPV

David Benavidez vs Demetrius Andrade (WBC ‘Interim’ Super-Middleweight Belt)
Jermall Charlo vs Jose Benavidez Jr (163lbs Catchweight)

Benavidez vs Andrade is set for Saturday night

Esther Lin/SHOWTIME December 2, Belfast, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Michael Conlan vs Jordan Gill (Featherweight)
Caoimhin Agyarko vs Troy Williamson (Super-Welterweight)

December 2, Texas, USA – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

DAZN // DAZN

Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte (Super-Lightweight)
Ohara Davies vs Ismael Barroso (WBA ‘Interim’ Super-Lightweight

December 9, San Francisco, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Regis Prograis vs Devin Haney (WBC Super-Lightweight World Title)

December 10, Bournemouth, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // Peacock

Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak (WBO Cruiserweight World Title)

Garcia is back in action in December

Getty December 15, Florida, USA – Jake Paul’s MVP

DAZN // DAZN

Jake Paul vs Andre August (Weight TBC)

December 16, Arizona, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez vs Sunny Edwards (IBF and WBO Flyweight World Titles)

December 16, Minneapolis, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime

David Morrell vs Sena Agbeko (WBA ‘Regular’ Super-Middleweight Belt)

December 23, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin (Heavyweight)
Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker (Heavyweight)
Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller (Heavyweight)
Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro (IBF Cruiserweight World Title)
Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur (WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title)

December 26, Tokyo, Japan – Hideyuki Ohashi’s Ohashi

Sky Sports // ESPN+

Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Super-Bantamweight World Titles)

Aj and Wilder will fight on the same card in December

Queensberry January 6, Las Vegas, USA – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

DAZN // DAZN

Vergil Ortiz vs Fredrick Lawson (Super-Welterweight)

January 13, Quebec City, Canada – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith (WBC, IBF and WBO Light-Heavyweight World Titles)

January 20, Liverpool, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // Peacock

Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer (IBF Welterweight World Title)

February 3, London, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // Peacock

Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez (European and British Light-Heavyweight Title)

February 9/10/11, Venue TBC – Zeus Network

Zeus Network Online PPV // Zeus Network Online PPV

Floyd Mayweather vs John Gotti III (Exhibition)

February 17, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Heavyweight World Titles)

Fury vs Usyk is set to crown an undisputed heavyweight world champion

Top Rank

Results

January 7, Washington DC, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime PPV

Gervonta Davis TKO9 Hector Luis Garcia (WBA ‘Regular’ Lightweight Belt)
Jaron Ennis UD Karen Chukhadzhian (IBF ‘Interim’ Welterweight Belt)
Demetrius Andrade UD Demond Nicholson (Super-Middleweight)

January 14, Wembley Arena, London, UK – KSI’s Misfits Boxing

DAZN PPV // DAZN

KSI KO1 FaZe Temperrr (177½lbs Catchweight)

January 14, Verona, New York, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Efe Ajagba UD Stephan Shaw (Heavyweight)

January 21, AO Arena, Manchester, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports PPV // DAZN

Liam Smith TKO4 Chris Eubank Jr (Middleweight)
Richard Riakporhe TKO4 Krzysztof Glowacki (Cruiserweight)
Joseph Parker UD Jack Massey (Heavyweight)

January 28, Wembley Arena, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

BT Sport // ESPN+

Artur Beterbiev TKO8 Anthony Yarde (WBC, IBF and WBO Light-Heavyweight World Titles)

February 3, Arizona, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Emanuel Navarrete TKO9 Liam Wilson (WBO Super-Featherweight World Title)

February 4, MSG Theater, New York, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Amanda Serrano UD Erika Cruz (WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO Featherweight World Titles)
Alycia Baumgardner UD Elhem Mekhaled (WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO Super-Featherweight World Titles)

February 11, Wembley Arena, London, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Adam Azim UD Santos Reyes (Super-Lightweight)

February 11, San Antonio, Texas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime PPV

O’Shaquie Foster UD Rey Vargas (WBC Super-Featherweight World Title)

February 18, Nottingham, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Mauricio Lara TKO7 Leigh Wood (WBA Featherweight World Title)

February 25, O2 Arena, London, UK – FrontRow Entertainment

Zeus Network Online PPV // Zeus Network Online PPV

Floyd Mayweather vs Aaron Chalmers (Exhibition – No Result)

February 26, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia – Frank Warren’s Queensberry and Jake Paul’s MVP

BT Sport PPV // ESPN+ PPV

Tommy Fury SD Jake Paul (185lbs Catchweight)
Badou Jack TKO12 Ilunga Makabu (WBC Cruiserweight World Title)

March 4, Ontario, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime

Brandon Figueroa UD Mark Magsayo (WBC ‘Interim’ Featherweight Belt)

March 11, Paris, France – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Carlos Takam SD Tony Yoka (Heavyweight)
Dan Azeez TKO12 Thomas Faure (European Light-Heavyweight Title)

March 12, Sydney, Australia – George Rose’s No Limit

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Tim Tszyu TKO9 Tony Harrison (WBO ‘Interim’ Super-Welterweight Belt)

March 25, Manchester Arena, Manchester, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Lawrence Okolie UD David Light (WBO Cruiserweight World Title)

March 25, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime PPV

David Benavidez UD Caleb Plant (Super-Middleweight)

March 25, Fresno, California, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Jose Ramirez TKO11 Richard Commey (Super-Lightweight)

April 1, O2 Arena, London, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Anthony Joshua UD Jermaine Franklin (Heavyweight)

April 8, Tokyo, Japan – Akihiko Honda’s Teiken

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Kenshiro Teraji TKO9 Anthony Olascuaga (WBA and WBC Light-Flyweight World Titles)
Takuma Inoue UD Liborio Solis (WBA Bantamweight World Title)

April 8, Newark, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Shakur Stevenson TKO6 Shuichiro Yoshino (Lightweight)

April 8, San Antonio, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Jesse Rodriguez UD Cristian Gonzalez (WBO Flyweight World Title)
Marlon Tapales SD Murodjon Akhmadaliev (WBA and IBF Super-Bantamweight World Titles)

April 15, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

BT Sport // None Confirmed

Zhilei Zhang TKO6 Joe Joyce (WBO ‘Interim’ Heavyweight Belt)

April 22, Cardiff, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Joe Cordina SD Shavkat Rakhimov (IBF Super-Featherweight World Title)

April 22, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

DAZN // Showtime PPV

Gervonta Davis KO7 Ryan Garcia (136lbs Catchweight)
David Morrell Jr KO1 Yamaguchi Falcao (WBA ‘Regular’ Super-Middleweight Belt)
Bektemir Melikuziev UD Gabriel Rosado 2 (Super-Middleweight)

May 6, Birmingham, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Joshua Buatsi UD Pawel Stepien (Light-Heavyweight)

May 6, Jalisco, Mexico – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN PPV

Canelo Alvarez UD John Ryder (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Super-Middleweight World Titles)

May 13, Wembley Arena, London, UK – KSI’s Misfits Boxing

DAZN PPV // DAZN

KSI KO2 Joe Fournier (176lbs Catchweight)
Deji UD Swarmz (172lbs Catchweight)
Anthony Taylor UD Salt Papi (185lbs Catchweight)

May 13, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime

Rolly Romero TKO9 Ismael Barroso (WBA Super-Lightweight World Title)

May 20, Dublin, Ireland – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Chantelle Cameron MD Katie Taylor (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Super-Lightweight World Titles)

May 20, Las Vegas, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN+ PPV

Devin Haney UD Vasyl Lomachenko (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Lightweight World Titles)
Oscar Valdez UD Adam Lopez 2 (Super-Featherweight)

May 24, Melbourne, Australia – George Rose’s No Limit

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Joseph Parker TKO1 Faiga Opelu (Commonwealth Heavyweight Title)

May 27, Manchester Arena, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Leigh Wood UD Mauricio Lara 2 (WBA Featherweight World Title)
Jack Catterall UD Darragh Foley (Super-Lightweight)

May 27, Bournemouth, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Chris Billam-Smith MD Lawrence Okolie (WBO Cruiserweight World Title)

May 27, Belfast, UK – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

BT Sport // ESPN+

Luis Alberto Lopez TKO5 Michael Conlan (IBF Featherweight World Title)

June 3, Detroit, USA – Dmitry Salita’s Salita Promotions

DAZN // DAZN

Claressa Shields UD Marciela Cornejo (WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO Middleweight World Titles)

June 10, London, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Sunny Edwards UD Andres Campos (IBF Flyweight World Title)

June 10, New York, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Teofimo Lopez UD Josh Taylor (WBO Super-Lightweight World Title)

June 10, California, USA – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

DAZN // DAZN

Jaime Munguia UD Sergiy Derevyanchenko (Middleweight)

June 11, Florida, USA – Zeus Network

Zeus Network Online PPV // Zeus Network Online PPV

Floyd Mayweather vs John Gotti III (Exhibition – No Result)

June 16, London, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Frazer Clarke UD Mariusz Wach (Heavyweight)
Viddal Riley TKO4 Anees Taj 2 (Cruiserweight)

June 17, New Orleans, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Regis Prograis UD Danielito Zorrilla (WBC Super-Lightweight World Title)

June 17, Gold Coast, Australia – George Rose’s No Limit

None Confirmed // Showtime

Tim Tszyu TKO1 Carlos Ocampo (WBO ‘Interim’ Super-Welterweight Belt)

June 24, Tokyo, Japan – Takuya Kiya’s Shisei

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Kazuto Ioka UD Joshua Franco 2 (WBA Super-Flyweight World Title)

June 24, New York, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Edgar Berlanga UD Jason Quigley (Super-Middleweight)

June 24, Minneapolis, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime

Carlos Adames TKO9 Julian Williams (WBC ‘Interim’ Middleweight Belt)

July 1, Manchester, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Savannah Marshall MD Franchon Crews-Dezurn (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Super-Middleweight World Titles)
Natasha Jonas TKO8 Kandi Wyatt (IBF Welterweight World Title)

July 1, Sheffield, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Dalton Smith KO7 Sam Maxwell (British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Titles)

July 1, Ohio, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Jared Anderson UD Charles Martin (Heavyweight)

July 8, New Jersey, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime

Jaron Ennis TKO10 Roiman Villa (IBF ‘Interim’ Welterweight Belt)

July 15, Detroit, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Alycia Baumgardner UD Christina Linardatou 2 (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Super-Featherweight World Titles)
Andy Cruz UD Juan Carlos Burgos (Lightweight)

July 15, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime

Frank Martin UD Artem Harutyunyan (Lightweight)

July 22, Oklahoma – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

George Kambosos Jr MD Maxi Hughes (Lightweight)

July 25, Tokyo, Japan – Hideyuki Ohashi’s Ohashi

Sky Sports // ESPN+

Naoya Inoue TKO8 Stephen Fulton (WBC and WBO Super-Bantamweight World Titles)

July 29, Telford, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

TNT Sports // None Confirmed

Liam Davies TKO1 Jason Cunningham (European and British Super-Bantamweight Titles)

July 29, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

TNT Sports PPV // Showtime PPV

Terence Crawford TKO9 Errol Spence (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Welterweight World Titles)
Isaac Cruz SD Giovanni Cabrera (Lightweight)
Alexandro Santiago UD Nonito Donaire (WBC Bantamweight World Title)

August 5, Dallas, USA – Jake Paul’s MVP

DAZN PPV // DAZN PPV

Jake Paul UD Nate Diaz (185lbs Catchweight)
Amanda Serrano UD Heather Hardy 2 (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO Featherweight World Titles)

August 12, O2 Arena, London, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN PPV // DAZN

Anthony Joshua KO7 Robert Helenius (Heavyweight)
Filip Hrgovic TKO12 Demsey McKean (Heavyweight)
Derek Chisora UD Gerald Washington (Heavyweight)

August 12, Arizona, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Emanuel Navarrete UD Oscar Valdez (WBO Super-Featherweight World Title)

August 18, York Hall, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

TNT Sports // None Confirmed

Dennis McCann TD (Draw) Ionut Baluta (Super-Bantamweight)

August 19, Birmingham, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Galal Yafai TKO1 Tommy Frank (Flyweight)

August 26, Wroclaw, Poland – Alex Krassyuk’s K2

TNT Sports PPV // None Confirmed

Oleksandr Usyk TKO9 Daniel Dubois (WBA, IBF and WBO Heavyweight World Titles)

August 26, Tulsa, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Jared Anderson TKO5 Andriy Rudenko (Heavyweight)
Bakhodir Jalolov TKO1 Onoriode Ehwarieme (Heavyweight)

September 2, Manchester Arena, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports PPV // None Confirmed

Chris Eubank Jr TKO10 Liam Smith (Middleweight)

September 15, Texas, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Sky Sports // ESPN

Luis Alberto Lopez UD Joet Gonzalez (IBF Featherweight World Title)

September 16, California, USA – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

DAZN // DAZN

William Zepeda TKO6 Mercito Gesta (Lightweight)

September 18, Tokyo, Japan – Akihiko Honda’s Teiken

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Kenshiro Teraji TKO9 Hekkie Budler (WBA and WBC Light-Flyweight World Titles)
Junto Nakatani UD Argi Cortes (WBO Super-Flyweight World Title)

September 23, Wembley Arena, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

TNT Sports // None Confirmed

Zhilei Zhang KO3 Joe Joyce 2 (WBO ‘Interim’ Heavyweight Belt)
Anthony Yarde KO2 Jorge Silva (Light-Heavyweight)

September 23, Orlando, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Richardson Hitchins UD Jose Zepeda (Super-Lightweight)
Conor Benn UD Rodolfo Orozco (Super-Welterweight)

September 30, Las Vegas, USA – Al Haymon’s PBC

None Confirmed // Showtime PPV

Canelo Alvarez UD Jermell Charlo (Super-Middleweight)

September 30, Antalya, Turkey – Evgeny Vainshtein’s Ural

None Confirmed // None Confirmed

Otto Wallin SD Murat Gassiev (Heavyweight)

September 30, Wembley Arena, London, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Jai Opetaia TKO4 Jordan Thompson (Cruiserweight)
Ellie Scotney UD Laura Griffa (Super-Bantamweight)

October 6, York Hall, London, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

TNT Sports // None Confirmed

Ellis Zorro UD Luca D’Ortenzi (Light-Heavyweight)

October 7, Sheffield, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Leigh Wood TKO7 Josh Warrington (WBA Featherweight World Title)
Terri Harper MD (Draw) Cecilia Braekhus (WBA and WBO Super-Welterweight World Titles)

October 7, Las Vegas, USA – Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy

DAZN // DAZN

Gilberto Ramirez UD Joe Smith Jr (Cruiserweight)

October 14, Manchester Arena, UK – KSI’s Misfits

DAZN PPV // DAZN PPV

Tommy Fury UD KSI (183lbs Catchweight)
Logan Paul DQ Dillon Danis (195lbs Catchweight)

October 14, Texas, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

None Confirmed // ESPN

Janibek Alimkhanuly TKO6 Vincenzo Gualtieri (IBF and WBO Middleweight World Titles)

October 15, Australia – George Rose’s No Limit

None Confirmed // Showtime

Tim Tszyu UD Brian Mendoza (WBO Super-Welterweight World Title)

October 21, York Hall, London, UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Isaac Chamberlain UDMikael Lawal (British Cruiserweight Title)

October 21, Liverpool, UK – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Jack Catterall UD Jorge Linares (Super-Lightweight)

October 27, Florida, USA – Jake Paul’s MVP

DAZN // DAZN

Amanda Serrano UD Danila Ramos (WBA, IBF and WBO Featherweight World Titles)

October 28, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season

TNT Sports PPV // None Confirmed

Tyson Fury SD Francis Ngannou (Heavyweight)
Fabio Wardley TKO7 David Adeleye (Heavyweight)
Joseph Parker KO3 Simon Kean (Heavyweight)
Martin Bakole TKO4 Carlos Takam (Heavyweight)

October 28, Mexico – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

O’Shaquie Foster TKO12 Eduardo Hernandez (WBC Super-Featherweight World Title)

November 4, Monte Carlo, Monaco – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Joe Cordina UD Edward Vazquez (IBF Super-Featherweight World Title)

November 16, Las Vegas, USA – Bob Arum’s Top Rank

TNT Sports // ESPN

Shakur Stevenson UD Edwin De Los Santos (WBC Lightweight World Title)
Emanuel Navarrete MAJORITY DRAW Robson Conceicao (WBO Super-Featherweight World Title)

November 18, Manchester, UK – Frank Warren’s Queensberry

TNT Sports // None Confirmed

Nick Ball UD Isaac Dogboe (Featherweight)
Nathan Heaney MD Denzel Bentley (British Middleweight Title)

November 18, Wolverhampton UK – Ben Shalom’s BOXXER

Sky Sports // None Confirmed

Adam Azim TKO10 Franck Petitjean (European Super-Lightweight Title)

November 18, California, USA – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom

DAZN // DAZN

Diego Pacheco KO9 Marcelo Esteban Coceres (Super-Middleweight)

‘That is such a cop-out’ – Frank Warren denies ‘ambushing’ Adam Catterall as he clashes with Simon Jordan

Michael Benson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 14:48:19 +0000

Frank Warren and Simon Jordan have gone head-to-head discussing the promoter’s recent viral clash with Adam Catterall.

Jordan’s fellow talkSPORT host was berated by the Queensberry boxing boss at an event on Saturday night as they discussed Catterall’s criticisms of the heavyweight division and particularly Tyson Fury‘s career direction in recent times.

Warren let his feelings be known

iFL TV

Catterall had branded Fury’s bouts preceding his upcoming clash with Oleksandr Usyk as ‘warm lager’ and Warren was furious with his comments, telling him to ‘stop talking b****cks’ about the delay in making the undisputed fight.

Fury is currently boycotting talkSPORT interviews and refusing to allow the station to cover his fights due to his interpretation of remarks from the likes of Jordan and Catterall.

On Thursday, Warren joined Jordan’s show with Jim White and the trio discussed the incident from the weekend.

It was White who began: “You went head-to-head with Adam Catterall who we love unconditionally…

“You didn’t hang back, you were keen to ambush Adam and give him both barrels.”

Warren replied: “That’s not true, I didn’t ambush him. I said to him earlier in the evening, ‘I wanna have a chat with you before you go.’

“What happened was it was the end of the evening and I was doing an interview on iFL about the show and he was going, so I said, ‘Hang on a minute, I wanna speak to you.’

“He went to walk off and someone said, ‘Come over and do the interview,’ I didn’t ambush him at all.

Jordan didn’t like the nature of Warren’s confrontation with his colleague

talkSPORT

“It’s all very well – if you’re a pundit and you wanna criticise, you’re not immune to accepting criticism back if you’re in the wrong.

“Have we gotta just accept what you’re saying because you unconditionally love him? It’s not right.”

At this point Jordan added: “No, but there’s a balance, Frank. You’re right – if people voice an opinion then you’re entitled to have an opinion back.

“But the difference, with you being the exception, is if somebody bites back, which is fair, and then a pundit comes back again, what will happen is the pundit will be blackballed.

“He’ll be unable to speak to those people again, he’ll be shut down and that’s what’s been the case.”

At this point it became clear that Jordan was speaking in reference to Fury’s boycott of talkSPORT.

Warren responded: “I’m not shutting anyone down, how other people deal with it, that’s up to them.”

Jordan said: “But you’re fighting a cause on behalf of someone else Frank, you’re advancing the position that the observations that have been made about Tyson Fury are unfair.

Warren has denied that the exchange was an ‘ambush’

Frank Warren

“And you also know Frank, you’re in a position where you can say precisely what you want because the only person you’re accountable to is yourself.

“And Adam is thinking, ‘If I go at Queensberry and Tyson Fury now, it’s gonna make the situation worse.'”

Warren insisted: “That’s nonsense, that is such a cop-out by you, how can you even come out with that?

“So we’ve gotta just accept what you say and what your pundits say as gospel? When have I ever blackballed anybody?”

The conversation continued for several minutes more, and Warren concluded: “I ain’t fallen out with nobody, I’m just telling you how it is.”

Carl Froch says George Groves gave him ‘biggest beating of my life’ and recalls hatred for former rival who made his blood boil

Cameron Temple — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 14:01:18 +0000

Carl Froch took on some formidable fighters in his career, but George Groves gave him the ‘biggest beating’ of them all.

The fight that everyone remembers between these two was when they clashed at Wembley Stadium in 2014 and Froch knocked out Groves in spectacular fashion before retiring from boxing.

Froch and Groves fought in front of a post-war record attendance in their rematch

GETTY

But, this came after the pair fought for the first time in 2013, while Froch was WBA and IBF super middleweight title holder and a young Groves was gearing up for his first world title shot.

A huge amount of animosity grew between the two men in the build-up, which led to the fight being highly anticipated by boxing fans.

And on fight night, Groves dropped Froch in round one and seemed to be enjoying the better of the action.

But, in round nine, Froch hurt his opponent and the fight was waved off by the referee, and even all these years later, Groves insists the fight was stopped too early, describing it as ‘bizarre’.

With both men appearing on talkSPORT with Simon Jordan and Jim White, Froch joked: “One thing I’ve learned to not do anymore is try and convince George that fight was stopped correctly by [referee] Howard Foster – you’re wasting your time, you’re flogging a dead horse.”

Froch continued, talking about his first fight with Groves: “He was that far ahead on all the scorecards, he’d dropped me in the first round, he beat me up the worst I’ve ever been beaten…

“I’ve got it up there with probably the worst beating I’ve ever had, and when you look at how many fights I had, world title fights back to back, for me to concede that George Groves gave me the biggest beating of my life, that’s a big statement.”

As for why he had such a hatred for Groves during their rivalry, Froch explained: “He was a horrible, obnoxious little ‘beep’, I’m not going to swear because I know we’re live on talkSPORT, but he was horrible.

“He gave me no respect, he was playing down my performances, he said I was slow and that my feet were slow, he said I had no defence, he said everything he could to get under my skin.

“And when we came together and we did a ‘Gloves are Off’ ringside show he said I was gonna start crying… But, he was doing a great job because my blood was boiling.”

Froch and Groves went from being bitter rivals when they fought to great friends today

AFP - Getty

Froch then admitted while a number of fighters attempt to trash-talk their opponents: “Nobody does it like George Groves did it, he was the best.”

Groves then chimed in, saying: “It’s part of the business at times, you want to get under your opponents skin and if it gives you a bit of an advantage come fight night then you do that.

“But, ultimately I felt like what Carl wanted was a bit of respect from me, or what he deemed as respect, and I had it for him, I just wasn’t prepared to show him or give him that satisfaction.”

Nowadays, however, the two men are great friends and Froch confirmed that, saying: “What’s good about it is, George Groves became world champion in his own right… and we’ve both become friends, I never thought was possible.

“I’ve got so much respect and admiration, I mean look at his stupid smile over there.

“That smile I used to want to punch it down the back of his throat, now I want to grab hold of his cheeks and give them a squeeze.”

Will Conor McGregor be at Katie Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron? UFC superstar’s company erect 14-foot statue of boxer ahead of bout

Jack Johnson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:53:21 +0000

Conor McGregor and Katie Taylor’s relationship is well known, with the UFC superstar regularly providing support to the boxing star.

‘Notorious’ has praised Taylor many times for her achievements in the ring and the Irish pair have a huge respect for one another.

The temporary statue caught the eye in Ireland this week

Forged Irish Stout

But ahead of the 37-year-old’s second fight against the undisputed super-lightweight champion Cameron, McGregor’s support has gone up a notch.

His company, Forged Irish Stout, is sponsoring the bout and they have erected a 14-foot statue of Taylor named ‘Katie The Redeemer’ on Bray Head in Ireland.

The statue is another show of respect from McGregor and he may be ringside this weekend…

Will McGregor be at Taylor’s rematch?

McGregor is expected to be in attendance at Taylor vs Cameron 2.

The UFC star was ringside for the first fight between the two that saw Taylor be handed her first career defeat.

Forged Irish Stout also sponsored that bout, so with there being a similar deal sorted for the rematch, McGregor is likely to be in the building.

Taylor will be boosted by having ‘Notorious’ at the fight, with the boxing legend appreciating the support she receives.

Speaking earlier this year before the first fight against Cameron, she said: “It’s amazing. Conor McGregor‘s obviously a big name here.

McGregor was there to console Taylor following defeat in the first fight

“He definitely is crazier. We have different personalities, but he’s obviously a very proud Irishman as well.

“So, it’s great to get the support from him for this event as a whole.”

And Taylor has that support again, with the 14-foot statue showing McGregor’s commitment to celebrating her success in the ring.

Forged Irish Stout spokesperson Doug Leddin has spoken about why they decided to create the statue ahead of the rematch.

Leddin said: “Bray will inevitably get a more permanent Katie Taylor statue but we felt the need to celebrate her with our ‘Katie the Redeemer’ tribute ahead of one of the biggest fights of her career.

“Like every Irish person we’re so proud of what Taylor has achieved and she’ll have the whole country in her corner when she steps into the ring this Saturday.”

Canelo Alvarez net worth: Undisputed boxing champion chasing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with mega earnings

Jack Johnson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 12:13:04 +0000

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is considered by many as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time.

And the undisputed super-middleweight champion deservedly gets paid the money that suits that label.

Canelo boasts an incredible 60-2-2 record

Melina Pizano/Matchroom

The Mexican is one of the highest-earning athletes in world sport, so talkSPORT.com takes a look at how much he is worth…

Canelo Alvarez net worth

Canelo’s current net worth is estimated to be over £150million.

He was named the fifth highest-paid athlete in the world in 2023, sitting behind LeBron James, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 33-year-old made around £100m over the last year, earning incredible amounts of money each time he enters the ring due to his stature in the sport.

In 2018, Canelo signed one of the biggest contracts in sports history as he agreed to a five-year deal with Golden Boy and DAZN that would see him make a total of £365m.

However, after only making a reported £50m from his first two fights, he decided to exit the contract and file a lawsuit against his promoter and broadcaster.

He has had many huge paydays, reportedly making almost £70m from his first two fights against rival Gennady Golovkin.

He was also claimed to have made at least £40m for his most recent bout against Jermell Charlo in September.

Canelo made a huge amount for his fights against Golovkin

He also got a big paycheck for beating Charlo

Getty

But Canelo’s earnings don’t all come from boxing.

He has a lucrative partnership with drinks company Hennessy while also owning his own taco restaurant at home in Mexico.

The champion also works with sports equipment brand Everlast as an ambassador and he has his own promotional company for boxing matches and many other events.

It doesn’t stop there, as Canelo has a personal clothing line and is part of the team behind sports drink maker Yaoca and a fitness app called I Can.

According to Forbes, he makes around £20m a year from real estate investments too.

talkSPORT host left in stitches by commentary for stunning KO of the year contender

Cameron Temple — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 11:57:42 +0000

Brandon Grach pulled off a potential knockout of the year against Liam Talivaa on Wednesday.

The boxing fight took place in Australia on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu vs Dylan Biggs, but it did not last long.

X: @MaineventTV

Grach was the less experienced boxer going into the bout, with a 1-0 professional record, while Talivaa had five fights to his name, winning all of them.

In the second round of the fight, as the men met in the middle of the ring to trade shots, Grach landed a crushing left hook.

This immediately knocked out Talivaa, as he crashed down to the canvas and lay there with no chance of returning to his feet.

As soon as the punch landed the crowd went wild and the commentators could barely be heard on the broadcast.

But, when they could be heard again, one commentator described it as: “Knockout of the year in Australian boxing.”

While his co-commentator added: “Oh s***.”

Before continuing: “I can’t say that, I’m sorry, sue me, fine me,” and he then repeated: “Oh s***.”

talkSPORT host Ade Oladipo found this particularly funny, commenting on X: “The commentator here had me on stitches. ‘Sue me, fine me’.”

In the main event of the night, Nikita, who is the the older brother of world title contender Tim Tszyu and the son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu, also pulled off a KO win.

Nikita was knocked down in the first round, but he managed to climb off the canvas and he stopped Biggs in the fifth.

The commentator here had me on stitches. “Sue me, fine me” https://t.co/cx8pufh72f
— Ade Oladipo (@ade_oladipo1) November 22, 2023

‘Not a bad thing’ – Ricky Hatton explains why Tyson Fury’s fight with Francis Ngannou could end up being good preparation for facing Oleksandr Usyk

Michael Benson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 11:43:58 +0000

Ricky Hatton has told talkSPORT that he believes Tyson Fury may well benefit from his lacklustre performance against Francis Ngannou when he fights Oleksandr Usyk.

The Gypsy King was floored as he crept to a narrow split decision win over Ngannou last month, and will now head into the undisputed heavyweight world title showdown on February 17.

Hatton helped Fury make his comeback to boxing, and was even in his corner for the first Deontay Wilder fight

Tyson Fury - Instagram

Of course, many questions have been raised about Fury following his back-and-forth bout with the MMA star and some fans are expressing doubts about his chances of beating Usyk.

However, Hatton told talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday: “I think Tyson will certainly be a lot better than he was last time.

“And he’ll certainly have to be, he doesn’t need me to tell him that, but I think he will be.

“The last fight, I think he simply just took the fella – even though he was a monster of a man – I think he took him little bit lightly.

“I think he could’ve come in in a little bit better shape than what he did do.

“I went to Saudi Arabia for the fight and it was such an occasion – I think Tyson forgot what he was there for!

“He forgot what he was there to do! It was such an occasion and he was fighting this UFC fighter who’s not had a boxing match before in his life and I think he just took it all a little bit lightly.”

Hatton then explained why he thinks this could ultimately have a positive impact on Fury and effectively act as a wake-up call for him before the undisputed fight.

Fury had to get up off the canvas to beat boxing debutant Ngannou

Getty

“It’s probably not such a bad thing,” he continued, “It’s probably what you want before you go fighting Oleksandr Usyk because he’ll know, ‘I’ve gotta pull my socks up, I can’t be performing like that again.’

“So it probably wasn’t such a bad thing, but yeah we thought we’d lost it when Tyson was struggling.

“A lot of people thought he might have lost the fight or thought, ‘There’s that Usyk fight gone.’

“But he got the decision, which I thought he just did, he won it by the narrowest of margins, just because he was a little bit busier.

“But he’ll be up for this Usyk fight, and he’ll need to be, because only Tyson Fury‘s best will beat this fella.”

Conor Benn’s comeback fight opponent Rodolfo Orozco tests positive for banned substance in drugs test

Michael Benson — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:07:00 +0000

Rodolfo Orozco has reportedly been temporarily suspended after testing positive for a banned substance in a drugs test taken around his fight with Conor Benn.

In September, the British welterweight contender made a controversial return to the ring in the USA following his own positive drugs tests last year, though it has now been revealed that his Mexican opponent has in fact recorded a positive result of his own.

Benn beat Orozco on points

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Benn twice tested positive for the banned PED clomifene in two separate VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) drugs tests last year.

A ruling made by the NADP (National Anti-Doping Panel) in the 26-year-old’s UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) case saw his suspension lifted in July, clearing the way for him to fight again.

It has been reported that the decision to lift Benn’s suspension was ‘focused heavily’ on jurisdictional technicalities – specifically UKAD’s inability to rule on VADA tests – and did not include any actual examination of science explaining why clomifene was found in Benn’s system.

UKAD and the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) are appealing the NADP ruling – this appeal has no clear resolution yet.

However, as he is no longer suspended, Benn obtained a Texas boxing licence and used it to return against Orozco in Florida in September.

The fight was no easy task for the Brit, as the Mexican was significantly bigger than him and battled through the ten rounds.

Benn didn’t have things all his own way, but did ultimately win by unanimous decision.

Two months later, it has now been reported by BoxingScene that Orozco tested positive for a banned substance around the fight.

It’s not been revealed what Orozco tested positive for

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

It’s claimed he has been temporarily suspended by the Florida Boxing License Commission as a result, and the matter is still under investigation.

The exact date of the positive VADA test and substance are unknown.

However, it’s reported that the result did not come back until after the fight took place.

Time will tell how this latest questionable situation for boxing plays out.

Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron II odds and free bets on talkSPORT BET

Tom Lunn — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 09:15:00 +0000

It’s the rematch for Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron in Dublin this weekend with the lightweight belts on the line.

And talkSPORT BET has a huge offer for the fight where you can bet £5 and triple your winnings up to £300!

talksportTriple your winnings on boxing’s main event this weekend on talkSPORT BET![/caption]

talkSPORT BET – TRIPLE your winnings – CLAIM HERE*

Taylor vs Cameron II: Preview

Taylor made her Dublin homecoming in May of this year when first facing Cameron.

Something that had been in the works for around seven years in total as she fought in London, New York, Leeds, Liverpool and many more since she departed on her professional debut back in November 2016.

But it wasn’t to be that her homecoming would extend her unbeaten record as she suffered her first defeat in professional boxing, with her record now reading 22-1-0.

Cameron as a result of her win became the undisputed light-welterweight champion with these belts; WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring female light-welterweight which go on the line again this weekend.

The ‘Bray Bomber’ is still aiming to become a two-weight undisputed champion but Cameron has her own undefeated record to protect now.

She’s won 18 times and will be an incredibly tough challenger to overcome again, and as such she’s odds-on to beat Taylor again.

Taylor vs Cameron II: Odds

Chantelle Cameron – 21/40
Draw – 12/1
Katie Taylor – 6/4

Taylor vs Cameron II: Undercard

Subject to change

MAIN EVENT: Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron 2 – for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO super-lightweight title
Paddy Donovan vs Danny Ball
Gary Cully vs Reece Mould
Skye Nicolson vs Lucy Wildheart – for WBC interim featherweight title
John Cooney vs Liam Gaynor
Zelfa Barrett vs Costin Ion
Thomas Carty vs Dan Garber
Emmet Brennan vs Jamie Morrissey
Giorgio Visioli vs Lee Anthony Sibley

How to claim talkSPORT BET offer

Opt in to the promotion and create your account HERE
Make a deposit via debit card
Place your qualifying bet
If your first bet loses, get your stake back in free bets
You get rewarded

talkSPORT BET – TRIPLE your winnings – CLAIM HERE*

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

*18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet max £5 on any sport single within 7 days of registration, at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. If it wins we Triple (x3) your returns, up to a max of £300 paid in Free Bets, expires in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.

Forget Tyson Fury, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, these are boxing’s worst heavyweight champions who got KO’d for millions

Damian Mannion — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 09:06:00 +0000

Not every boxer can rule a division in the same way Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis did – but the following really did fail in the ‘champion’ part when it came to wearing the heavyweight crown.

Boxing’s alphabet title lunacy gives talkSPORT.com some choice candidates when picking the top ten worst heavyweights of all time, but some rules must be imposed first.

Tyson dominated every heavyweight he had faced en route to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever in 1986

Nobody took the WBO heavyweight belt seriously until Wladimir Klitschko gave it some legitimacy in the mid-2000s (thank you, Wlad).

So talkSPORT is not even considering early WBO champs from Francesco Damiani to Michael Bentt, Siarhei Liakhovich to Sultan Ibragimov. Plus the WBA ‘regular’ title can get in the bin forever.

However, these men all had some claim to a genuine heavyweight world title at one stage in their careers – and the world was frankly a poorer place for it.

10. Gerrie Coetzee | WBA champion

Nicknamed ‘The Bionic Hand’, which sounds great and like he’s boxing’s own Winter Soldier until you realise it’s just because he had lots of surgery on his injured hand. Oh. South African Coetzee’s best year was 1983 when he took on two talented but troubled heavyweights, drawing with Pinklon Thomas then upsetting Michael Dokes to claim WBA gold (his third attempt at the belt). Lost in his first defence and was knocked out by Frank Bruno in 1986.

9. Greg Page | WBA champion

The biggest moment of Page’s career actually came in a public sparring session when he knocked down Mike Tyson, signalling that all was not well with ‘Iron Mike’ before his shock first pro defeat (see below).

Sadly Page was part of the gifted ‘Lost Generation’ of US heavies in the 1980s beset by personal demons. He picked up an alphabet strap in 1984 but was beaten in his first defence to the similarly out of shape Tony Tubbs. Retired with 17 defeats in 2001.

8. Leon Spinks | WBA, WBC and Ring champion

In 1978, at age 36, Ali won his belts back from Spinks to become a three-time champion

‘Neon Leon’ pulled off an almighty upset when the 7-0-1 novice outpointed an ageing Muhammad Ali in 1978, which makes him a real, lineal world champ. But Spinks, who died in 2021, struggled with drink and drugs throughout his career and, after losing the rematch to a 36-year-old Ali, Spinks suffered 16 more defeats then had a brief career as a pro wrestler.

Forever in the shadow of Ali and his more dedicated brother, Michael – who lost once in his 32 fight career to Mike Tyson – but at least Leon had one iconic win.

7. John Tate | WBA champion

‘Big John’ seemed to have potential as vast as his broad shoulders when the 1976 Olympic bronze medallist and undefeated pro captured the WBA belt in 1979. However he suffered two back-to-back knockouts in his next two fights – the first a brutal 15th-round KO at the fists of Mike Weaver that left Tate face first unconscious on the canvas. The American was never in world title contention again and sadly died in a car accident at the age of only 43 in 1998.

6. Primo Carnera | NBA champion (later known as WBA)

Not many old-time champions here because at least they were the genuine, linear No 1s unlike the fractured titles of today. However, Italian Carnera is a special case as the giant ‘Ambling Alp’ took part in several contests that were, frankly, fixed.

Carnera was a victim in all this, exploited by his handlers and beaten when he came up against top boxers like Max Baer and Joe Louis. Later became a box office draw as a pro wrestler, which he much preferred to boxing and is in the WWE Hall of Fame. He died in 1967 at the age of 60.

5. James ‘Buster’ Douglas | WBA, WBC, IBF champion

Douglas was a 42/1 outsider to beat Tyson and shocked the world when he did, but his reign as champion was shortlived

Rex Features

Like Leon Spinks, Douglas has one terrific signature win: in Buster’s case, the greatest upset in boxing history when he climbed off the canvas to end Mike Tyson’s reign in 1990 having been a 42/1 underdog.

Douglas showed his skills in that fight, controlling a rusty ‘Iron Mike’ with a ramrod jab. But the rest of his career was a bust. While Tyson didn’t take his training for the Tokyo bout seriously, Douglas decided to trained for his first defence against Evander Holyfield by drinking Long Island iced tea cocktails and was polished off inside three rounds. A true one-fight wonder.

4. Frank Bruno | WBC champion

Bruno beat McCall to claim the title in 1995

Getty Images - Getty

It truly hurts us to put Britain’s brave, beloved Big Frank here. But still. While many of his US rivals had all the skills but no discipline, Bruno was a bit more the other way around. He was in tremendous shape and a big puncher but lost against every good heavyweight he faced until he finally won the WBC belt in 1995, defeating the erratic Oliver McCall in a fight that is a good cure for insomnia. Gave his all in the ring, however, and well worth the hero worship. Forgive us, Frank.

3. Bermane Stiverne | WBC champion

Stiverne’s claim to fame is that he took demolitions expert Deontay Wilder the full 12-round distance for the first time in 2015, albeit losing a points decision and his WBC belt along the way. Before that, Stiverne had picked up the vacant title by beating a past his best Chris Arreola – and in 2017 he’d undo his solid work against Wilder by turning up out of shape for the rematch and getting blasted out in the first round. A pretty dire reign by any stretch.

2. Bruce Seldon | WBA champion

Plenty of forgettable heavyweights held alphabet titles in the 1980s but at least most of them tried when they got in the ring. Seldon had already lost to Oliver McCall, Riddick Bowe and Tony Tubbs when he found himself with the WBA belt after beating a faded Tony Tucker in 1995. A $5million payday for fighting a post-prison Tyson loomed and Seldon was not one to hold up the party, flopping to the canvas in the first round from some punches that seemed oddly off target. Maybe the wind from them was just really strong.

1. Charles Martin | IBF champion

It took AJ five minutes to see off the American and become a world champion for the first time

AFP

Charles ‘I walk the earth like a god’ Martin’s 85-day reign as heavyweight champion is the second shortest ever, but almost certainly the worst. Even his winning the vacant IBF title was highly fortunate as Vyacheslav Glazkov – the pre-fight favourite – twisted his knee in round three and could not continue.

Eddie Hearn smelled an opportunity and offered Martin millions to defend his title against rising star Anthony Joshua, although there was little defence on show as Martin was bashed out in two rounds, barely landing a punch of his own. Woeful.

Joshua, meanwhile, took over the division until losing his belts to Andy Ruiz in another shock loss before regaining them and then subsequently relinquishing them to Oleksandr Usyk.

Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron II: €50 in free bets on talkSPORT BET in Ireland

Tom Lunn — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:13:00 +0000

Katie Taylor makes a homecoming to Dublin to face Chantelle Cameron for a huge rematch this weekend after her first ever defeat.

You can get up to €50 in free bets on talkSPORT BET Ireland as a new customer by betting on Taylor vs Cameron II!

talksportGet up to €50 in free bets on talkSPORT BET Ireland on Katie Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron this weekend![/caption]

talkSPORT BET – GET UP TO €50 IN FREE BETS – CLAIM HERE* (available to players based in Ireland only)

Taylor’s initial Dublin homecoming had to wait seven years back in May but she fell to defeat on points.

That was her first defeat in boxing after going 22 fight unbeaten in professional bouts.

The multiple gold medal winner further burst on to the boxing scene when fighting for the first time at Madison Square Garden to retain the WBA and IBF lightweight titles in December 2018.

The Bray-born boxer had retained those titles up until the 3Arena fight in Dublin in May to Cameron.

Where Cameron picked up all her other titles she previously picked up; WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring female light-welterweight titles to become the undisputed light-welterweight.

Taylor will have a chance to avenge her only defeat when she returns to Ireland for a second shot at Cameron’s belts.

The ‘Bray Bomber’ is still aiming to become a two-weight undisputed champion but Cameron’s undefeated record now stands at 18 wins and she will prove a fearsome challenge to overcome once again.

Taylor vs Cameron II: Undercard

Subject to change

MAIN EVENT: Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron 2 – for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO super-lightweight title
Paddy Donovan vs Danny Ball
Gary Cully vs Reece Mould
Skye Nicolson vs Lucy Wildheart – for WBC interim featherweight title
John Cooney vs Liam Gaynor
Zelfa Barrett vs Costin Ion
Thomas Carty vs Dan Garber
Emmet Brennan vs Jamie Morrissey
Giorgio Visioli vs Lee Anthony Sibley

Taylor vs Cameron II: Odds

Chantelle Cameron – 21/40
Draw – 12/1
Katie Taylor – 6/4

How to claim talkSPORT BET offer

Opt in to the promotion and create Your Account HERE
Make a deposit via debit card
Place your qualifying bet
Receive your free bets on bet settlement

talkSPORT BET – GET UP TO €50 IN FREE BETS – CLAIM HERE* (available to players based in Ireland only)

Find talkSPORT BET in Ireland on: www.talksportbet.com/en-ie/

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

*18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet up to €50 (min. €20) on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get up to 2x €25 in free bets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Simon Jordan and Spencer Oliver are boxing’s unlikely match-up but the chairman and the champion are box office

Cameron Temple — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000

Simon Jordan and Spencer Oliver are an unlikely duo, but it just seems to work.

When asked who their dream guest would be on their talkBOXING show, which airs weekly on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel, Jordan named Tyson Fury and Oliver chose Anthony Joshua.

Jordan and Oliver are hosts of the talkBOXING show

And perhaps that’s the perfect analogy for Jordan and Oliver’s relationship, as they sit down to record another episode of their box office show, which is about to record episode no.50 with a live edition of talkBOXING planned for 2024.

Like Fury and Joshua, they have very different styles and characters, but they bring the best out of each other, which has helped the channel record millions of views.

Although, unlike the heavyweight duo, for Oliver at least, there’s quite a height difference, which Jordan frequently reminds him of.

In fact, as soon as the pair entered the studio to film the latest episode of talkBOXING, Jordan immediately made a quip about Oliver being vertically challenged.

This was before talk turned to Oliver’s fashion choices, as they discussed whether he could pull off wearing a burgundy top.

But, when the cameras started rolling, both men’s shared love of the sweet science became evident. Whether you agree with what they say or not, their unrivalled passion for the sport of boxing cannot be denied.

A range of topics were covered through the show from the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou pay-per-view numbers, to whether we’ll seen any of the top heavyweights back in the ring this year and the rumours that Netflix may be entering the boxing broadcasting business.

The two men were introduced to the sport from different angles, with Spencer growing up in a boxing family and dreaming of competing in the ring one day – something he fulfilled by becoming European super bantamweight champion.

Jordan’s journey is more unlikely for those who may know him as the former chairman of Premier League side Crystal Palace.

While his father was a professional footballer and he had similar ambitions, boxing was always present with him.

Tyson burst onto the scene in the 1980s and took the heavyweight division by storm to become its youngest ever champion

AFP

It began when he attended Marvin Hagler vs Alan Minter in 1980 and then he was really hooked when Mike Tyson burst onto the heavyweight scene. “A phenomenon,” in a young Jordan’s eyes.

“You then start watching Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran and if you’re watching British fighters, you watch Errol Graham, Kirkland Lang and Frank Bruno,” he added.

“There was something about boxing and something about the sheer energy, authenticity and vitality of the sport.”

Outside of the ring, however, Jordan made a success of himself in business becoming a multimillionaire and ending up in professional football.

As such, with Jordan’s business mind and ringside view combined with Oliver’s inside knowledge and lived experience, it results in their conversations around the sport being comprehensive and detailed.

It helps that the pair share a unique chemistry on camera, even if Jordan wouldn’t like to admit it. “I’m being dragged down by a dead-weight,” he joked about his friendship. “He’s like a millstone.”

Oliver responded while laughing: “It’s reverse psychology one day he’ll break and he’ll probably cry.”

That just teed his co-host up again. “I cry every Monday when I have to do this with you,” he replied.

But Oliver wasn’t having it, insisting: “Behind that brick wall there’s a little teddy bear and I know he enjoys doing this.”

As for Oliver, his career in the media has been a way to stay a part of the sport he loves after life-threatening injuries sustained in a fight in 1998 cut his boxing career short.

“The passion for me still burns as much as when I was still boxing because boxing was taken away from me so it was a way of rebuilding my life and that burning desire was still in me,” Oliver explained.

“I hadn’t had the fight knocked out of me, so I carried on into doing this and I love it.”

Oliver’s height is often brought up by his co-host and he enjoyed it when he interviewed the 6ft 4in Lawrence Okolie

YouTube: talkSPORT

He was in stitches when a box was needed to elevate him to Okolie’s eye level

YouTube: talkSPORT

And Jordan, while he takes the mickey out of Oliver in the way only a friend will, has a huge amount of respect for anyone willing to step into the ring.

“I’m an observer,” Jordan said. “I’ve never had the courage or his convictions to get in a ring and do what he does, it’s a different kind of person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look at it and think ‘wow’.”

But, even as an observer not a fighter, Jordan is able to have a deep appreciation. “Despite the brutality of the sport sometimes and despite the politics that seem now to pervade it, there is no energy, – and I owned a Premier League football club so I can speak about a different sport – but there is no energy like that in big fights.”

Jordan then made reference to the recent bouts between Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith.

The first of which Smith won by knockout, but in the rematch Eubank redeemed himself and stopped the Liverpudlian.

“Big fights are categorised in a variety of ways,” Jordan continued. “Some people would say that Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr is not a big fight.

“But, I defy you to walk into an arena in Manchester, watching 20,000 fans going absolutely demented when Liam Smith walks in and going after Chris Eubank Jr because he, at the beginning of the conversation, was the villain of the piece.

“I defy you to find a sport that exhibits that kind of energy.”

And if that equates to half as much energy Jordan spends cooking up insults about his co-host’s height then that is quite the statement.

Stay up to date with all things boxing by heading to the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel and subscribing

Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron 2 date: UK start time, undercard and how to follow as Irish star aims to avenge defeat

Joe Brophy — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:41:00 +0000

Katie Taylor will bid to bounce back from her first career defeat when she returns to Dublin to rematch Chantelle Cameron this weekend.

The undisputed lightweight champion saw her undefeated record snapped in surprising fashion when she lost to ‘Il Capo’ in May.

Taylor is under huge pressure in her second meeting with Cameron

Getty

Taylor’s Dublin homecoming had been seven years in the making but her fairytale ending went up in smoke as she lost on points.

Taylor will have a chance to avenge her only defeat when she returns to Ireland for a second shot at Cameron’s undisputed light-welterweight belts.

Taylor vs Cameron 2: Date and how to follow

This super-lightweight title fight is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 25.

It is being held again at the 3Arena in Dublin.

The main card is due to begin at 7pm, with ringwalks for the main event expected at around 10:30pm.

The fight will be shown live on DAZN in the UK.

Fans can sign up to DAZN for only £9.99 per month to watch the bout live. More details here.

It can be streamed at DAZN.com or via the DAZN app.

DAZN subscribers that have an HD-enabled Sky box can also register to watch the fight on DAZN 1 HD on channel 429 on Sky here.

talkSPORT will have updates throughout fight week and talkSPORT.com will provide the best of the reaction on fight night as well.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Cameron remains unbeaten professionally with Taylor bidding to avenge her only loss

Getty

Taylor vs Cameron 2: Undercard

Subject to change

MAIN EVENT: Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron 2 – for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO super-lightweight title
Paddy Donovan vs Danny Ball
Gary Cully vs Reece Mould
Skye Nicolson vs Lucy Wildheart – for WBC interim featherweight title
John Cooney vs Liam Gaynor
Zelfa Barrett vs Costin Ion
Thomas Carty vs Dan Garber
Emmet Brennan vs Jamie Morrissey
Giorgio Visioli vs Lee Anthony Sibley

Conor McGregor supported Taylor for her homecoming defeat to Cameron in Ireland

Getty

Taylor vs Cameron 2: What has been said?

Taylor hit has a warning for Cameron ahead of their rematch.

She said: “Loss or failure causes you to analyse things that bit more. That’s certainly been the case with this fight.

“Unfortunately, it has to be that way when you suffer a loss. You are forced to look at every single detail and that is always a good thing.

“I definitely feel like I’m a better boxer now than when I fought her before. Hopefully, I can show what I can do on the night.

“Certainly, it would be one of the best wins of my career in terms of ranking it but, as I said, the next fight is always the most important fight, but this one definitely feels like a must-win fight for me.

“I’m definitely looking forward just to revenge (sic), I guess and making things right.

“A lot of people, I think, are doubting me as well, so I actually love these fights when people are actually doubting me.

“I think this could be one of the greatest nights of my career.”

Taylor vs Cameron 2: Betting Odds

Chantelle Cameron – 21/40

Draw – 12/1

Katie Taylor – 6/4

All Boxing betting odds and markets available at talkSPORT BET.

*odds correct as of 19/11/23

Haven’t got a talkSPORT BET account? Sign up and get triple your returns on your first bet up to £300 – CLAIM HERE

T&C’s: 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet max £5 on any sport single within 7 days of registration, at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. If it wins we Triple (x3) your returns, up to a max of £300 paid in Free Bets, expires in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.

Conor McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout erect 14-foot statue of Katie Taylor ahead of Chantelle Cameron rematch

Michael Benson — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:42:32 +0000

Conor McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout have produced some innovative marketing ahead of Katie Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron this weekend.

Ireland’s boxing icon is seeking to avenge her first and only career defeat suffered back in May as she once again challenges the UK’s undisputed super-lightweight world champion for her crown.

Cameron and Taylor meet again on Saturday night in Dublin

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Taylor holds all four belts at lightweight (135lbs), but failed in her attempt to take all four at 140lbs earlier this year.

As a result, the 37-year-old legend will enter as an underdog for the first time in her career in Saturday’s rematch.

McGregor was ringside for Taylor vs Cameron in May as a deal was struck for his company Forged Irish Stout to sponsor the event.

A similar deal has now been worked out for the rematch and so he is expected to attend once again this weekend.

Beforehand though, Forged Irish Stout have stepped things up by erecting a 14-foot statue of ‘Katie The Redeemer’, based on the iconic ‘Christ The Redeemer’ in Rio De Janeiro.

The statue was placed on Bray Head, overlooking the Wicklow coastline, where Taylor’s boxing journey began.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Katie Taylor is the greatest female fighter of all-time.

“What she has accomplished in the sport is unrivalled and I’m sure there will be several statues of her in Ireland before long.

The temporary ‘Katie The Redeemer’ statue caught the eye in Ireland this week

Forged Irish Stout

It is named after ‘Christ The Redeemer’ in Brazil

Forged Irish Stout

McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout are sponsoring the fight

Matthew Pover/Matchroom

“But will she be the redeemer next Saturday and dethrone the undisputed champion Chantelle Cameron? We shall soon find out.

“Katie will be desperate to avenge that loss but Chantelle – the best fighter on the planet right now – will be determined to prove that it wasn’t a one off.

“Don’t miss this one, live and exclusive around the world on DAZN.”

Forged Irish Stout spokesperson Doug Leddin added: “Bray will inevitably get a more permanent Katie Taylor statue but we felt the need to celebrate her with our ‘Katie the Redeemer’ tribute ahead of one of the biggest fights of her career.

“Like every Irish person we’re so proud of what Taylor has achieved and she’ll have the whole country in her corner when she steps into the ring this Saturday.”

‘Go on Frank’ – Eddie Hearn surprisingly backs Frank Warren in Adam Catterall clash and refuses to condemn rival promoter

Michael Benson — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:56:14 +0000

Eddie Hearn has unexpectedly backed his rival promoter Frank Warren over his recent viral clash with Adam Catterall.

The talkSPORT host was berated by the Queensberry boxing boss at an event on Saturday night as they discussed Catterall’s criticisms of the heavyweight division and particularly Tyson Fury‘s career direction in recent times.

Warren let his feelings be known

iFL TV

Hearn has been a long-time rival of Warren’s, but the pair properly met in person for the first time last week as they shared a press conference for Saudi Arabia’s big heavyweight event in December, which features Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.

As a result, the cold war that has existed between Hearn and Warren for several years is appearing to thaw ever so slightly.

And when asked about Warren’s verbal assault on Catterall, Hearn told talkSPORT Drive: “I don’t know what happened last week because I found myself watching a Frank Warren interview on Saturday going, ‘Go on Frank!’

“I don’t always agree with what Adam Catterall says, I’ve had a few choice words with him.

“I sent him a message once and we had a good chat talking about his comments on Conor Benn.

“I feel like, watching that debate between those two – Adam had a chance to say a lot of things.

“Because I think Frank was talking about, ‘What else was Tyson supposed to do?’

Hearn and Warren are on better terms now than they ever have been previously

“And I think Adam was talking about the frustration of him fighting Dillian Whyte, then particularly Derek Chisora, and then having all that time out before he reached Francis Ngannou which at the time was a mismatch.

“There was a period probably where the Oleksandr Usyk fight could’ve happened sooner, but when you look at the way it’s been delivered in terms of the finances and everything, you can’t really knock the move.

“And Ngannou ended up being an interesting fight.”

It was then suggested that Catterall may have been unfairly ambushed by Warren.

However, Hearn said: “I think Frank was being interviewed and he said, ‘Come over here.’

“You see Adam Catterall kinda say, ‘Look, don’t film this, let’s have a chat.’

“But unfortunately I think everything’s being filmed these days.”

Asked if he believes the way Catterall was approached was wrong, Hearn insisted: “Not from what I’ve seen. Adam didn’t have to come into the interview.

“But also, if you want to have those opinions, you should be prepared and you should be equipped enough to have a debate on the spot about it in my opinion.

“It wasn’t a violent interview or anything, it was some guy that was very passionate about comments that had been made.

“If you felt that strongly about your own comments, you should be able to give enough substance to live debate them on the spot…

“Frank was on one and I think Adam missed an opportunity to get his actual point across.”

Eddie Hearn says he’s never said hello or shook Frank Warren’s hand even after awkward first meeting

Callum Vurley — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:40:14 +0000

Eddie Hearn has told talkSPORT that he has still never shook Frank Warren’s hand as the two boxing promoter supremos met for the first time.

Hearn and Warren have had endless bickering battles over the years, particularly recently amid the rivalry between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

Hearn and Warren finally met after years of bickering

Queensberry

However, prior to last week, the two promoters had never met one another – until a mega-boxing card was announced in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua, represented by Hearn, is facing Otto Wallin while Daniel Dubois, who is Warren’s fighter, will box Jarrell Miller on a card that also involves Deontay Wilder fighting Joseph Parker.

The two boxing promoters finally met as Matchroom chief and Queensberry Promotions chief in Saudi Arabia.

But Hearn has told talkSPORT how they have stayed so frosty over the years, even despite being in the same room as one another.

He told Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive: “I think we were at a dinner once at a big charity event… I have never said hello or shaken this man’s hand in 15 years of being a promoter.

“I was actually talking to someone about it today and they’re like ‘what?’ I actually can’t believe it, either, it is mad.

“We have done work with Queensberry Promotions, I have got a good relationship with George and have done a few bits with Francis [both of Frank’s sons] but never Frank.

“We must have seen a million interviews each on IFL and Parsons or you guys, particularly, where we are back and forth at each other. But we have never met before!

Hearn has had arguments with Warren before via various interviews

Dave Thompson/Matchroom

Warren, meanwhile, recently took shots at talkSPORT’s Catterall

Frank Warren

“I wish you guys had a camera for the first meeting which was orchestrated by George and he was like the parent!

“He was like ‘right you two! Clip round the ear, stop it! Both of you, don’t mess this up!’.

The conversation then turned to how Warren clashed with talkSPORT pundit Adam Catterall and went on an impassioned rant defending Fury.

Catterall had branded Fury’s fight against Derek Chisora like ‘warm lager’ and Warren was furious with his comments, telling him to ‘stop talking b*******’.

Hearn, who admitted to even rooting for Warren, added: “I didn’t know what happened last week because I found myself watching a Frank Warren interview going, ‘go on Frank!’

“If you want to have those opinions, you should be prepared and equipped enough to have a debate on the spot on it.

“It wasn’t a violent interview or anything, it was some guy that was very passionate about comments that were made.

“If you felt that strongly about your own comments, you should have enough substance to debate them on the spot.”

Frank Warren reveals hilarious comment he made to his son about Eddie Hearn after meeting at press conference

Cameron Temple — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:03:40 +0000

Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have famously never seen eye to eye, being rival promoters in the same country.

But, they were brought together for a huge event on December 23 that will feature fighters from 12 different promoters.

Hearn and Warren could not turn down the opportunity to be involved in the event on December 23

Getty

The fight night will be co-headlined by Anthony Joshua, who is promoted by Hearn, vs Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker.

Hearn has other fighters from the Matchroom Boxing stable, Jai Opetaia and Dmitry Bivol, on the undercard.

Meanwhile, Warren is also promoting fighters on the card, including heavyweight world title contender Daniel Dubois.

As such, both men were in attendance for the press conference, and Warren revealed in an interview with MMA fighting that he made a cheeky comment to his son about Hearn at the time.

“I said to my son [George Warren] at one stage, ‘Maybe we should push him in a broom cupboard, lock the door and not let him out,’ but common sense prevailed,” Warren joked.

In terms of how they came together, Hearn explained to talkSPORT: “It was going to take something like this. One of the keys was the short period of time we had.

“Nobody had time to think about it. Nobody had time to watch old interviews and think, ‘He said that!’

“Our instructions were very clear from His Excellency. As was Frank’s… ‘I don’t care about all this stuff between you guys. This is what I want. Make it happen’.

“I truly believe that if the deal is right, if the situation is right, if the opportunity is there for our fighters – we will do what we can to make it happen.

“This was a big opportunity for AJ. This was a big opportunity for Dmitry Bivol. This was a massive opportunity for Jai Opetaia – and they are my three fighters.

“We jumped at the opportunity. We met with His Excellency on Monday night. And that’s how quickly it got done.”

Meanwhile, Warren admitted that money was one of the major motivating factors, saying: “At the end of the day, money makes fights – and that is what’s making this happen.

“Everybody is getting what they want and it’s been fantastic.”

I weighed 260lb at 15, sparred hard hitting Gennady Golovkin, became youngest super middleweight champion and could fight Canelo

Cameron Temple — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:30:00 +0000

David Benavidez’s transformation to become a world champion at 20 has been dramatic.

As a 15-year-old, the super-middleweight king weighed 260lbs and looked a long way off ever having the discipline to become a professional boxer let alone actually win a world title.

Binge eating led to Benavidez weighing 260 lbs as a 15-year-old

Instagram: @benavidez300

The American had been boxing since the age of three, but in his early teens he stepped back from the sport and that was when the problems started.

“I stopped training for two years and ate everything — McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, a strict fast-food diet,” Benavidez told the Los Angeles Times.

After returning to the gym, however, it was clear the young Benavidez had talent, as he was already sparring boxing legend Gennady Golovkin, who was in his prime at the time.

Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, recalled the sparring session in an interview with The Ring, saying: “We saw him five years ago. He was 15 years old and he wanted to spar with Gennady. We allowed him, and he actually held his own. He didn’t do bad.”

Benavidez, though, had no idea about the man he was sharing a ring with. “When I first met him, I didn’t know who he was…” Benavidez explained.

“I remember looking across the ring, he was getting ready, and he just gave me this penetrating look. It was horrifying, to be honest with you.”

Benavidez continued: “I held my own ground. Imagine being 15 and sparring Golovkin. His power was amazing, but like I said, I held my ground and I learned a lot from it.”

A year later, at just 16 years old and with an amateur record of 15-0, Benavidez turned over to the professional ranks.

Now weighing just under 168lbs, Benavidez was forced to fight in Mexico for the first few years of his career, as he was not yet old enough to compete as a professional in the USA.

But by the age of 20 Benaidez was a world champion

Frank Micelotta/FOX

Golovkin is one of the hardest punchers in boxing history and yet a teenage Benavidez ‘held his own’ against him in sparring

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

After fighting seven times in Mexico and knocking out every opponent he faced, with all but one KO coming in the first round, Benavidez returned to fight in his home country.

Despite his success, however, Benavidez had still not managed to attract the attention of a promoter until he was invited into the camp of former Olympian Julius Jackson as a sparring partner.

In their first session, Benavidez battered Jackson, as he noted in an interview with Sports Illustrated: “I’m not even playing, I landed like an 18-punch combination.”

Even Benavidez’s dad, Jose Benavidez Sr, who had always been his biggest supporter, was shocked: “After that, his life changed. I didn’t know he was that good. He was the ugly duckling. Nobody had believed in him but us.”

Benavidez is known for his fast hands and brutal combinations

Getty

Benavidez was then signed by a promoter called Sampson Lewkowicz, under whose guidance his career was able to really take off.

After just 18 fights and 18 wins, Benavidez had worked his way to a world title shot against Ronald Gavril.

The build-up to the fight was tumultuous to say the least for Benavidez, as his older brother Jose Benavidez Jr, who is also a professional boxer, was shot in the leg putting his career in jeopardy.

Then, just three weeks before Benavidez was scheduled to be in the ring, he received a phone call that his Uncle had been fatally shot during a confrontation with police in Arizona.

As if this weren’t enough to deal with, Benavidez came down with flu just days before the fight, but he still made it to the ring and won by split decision to become the WBC world champion and the youngest super middleweight title holder ever at just 20 years old.

Benavidez overcame the odds to beat Gavril and claim his first world title

Getty

His rise to the top is something he is quite rightly proud of and serves as a reminder to those thinking they can’t achieve the same.

Posting a video on Instagram of his early training in 2018, he said: “Throw back of when I was 260 pounds at 14 years old. Everyone would laugh when I would say I wanted to be champion of the world the only people that believe in me was my family who always support me in my dreams.

“Anything is possible don’t ever let these haters say it’s not, you got the power to go out and get it and make it happen for yourself.”

Benavidez immediately defended his world title in a rematch with Gavril, but before he could make his second defence, he tested positive for Benzoylecgonine, the central compound found in cocaine, and he was stripped of his belt.

At the time, Benavidez tweeted an apology, saying: “I would like to sincerely apologize to the WBC for my actions I am embarrassed to have this happen and to my all my fans that I lost the respect of I know a lot of people won’t see me the same but I am young and it was a mistake on my behalf.”

Following a comeback fight against J’Leon Love, Benavidez was quickly back in the world title mix, as a year later he found himself in with a shot at Anthony Dirrell, knocking him out in the ninth round to claim back his WBC world title.

Benavidez recorded a career best win in his last fight against Caleb Plant

Stephanie Trapp/TGB

Benavidez faces a tough test against Demetrius Andrade before a possible fight with Canelo

Ryan Hafey/PBC

This did not last long, however, as in his next fight Benavidez was once again stripped of the belt for missing weight ahead of his clash with Roamer Alexis Angulo, although he did go on to beat the Colombian.

After that, the belts all became tied up by the current undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo, leaving little opportunity for Benavidez to regain his title.

With that being said, after winning his most recent outing against former world champion, Caleb Plant, a clash with Canelo edges ever closer.

And should Benavidez maintain his unbeaten record against another former world champion in Demetrius Andrade on Saturday night, then the clamour from fans for him to fight Canelo will become unavoidable for the Mexican.

“I expect Benavidez to stop Demetrius Andrade,” promoter Eddie Hearn said. “And when he does, I think he’s gonna make a real claim to fight Canelo Alvarez.”

Hearn insists Canelo will have no issue taking the fight given that he fears no one.

Why is Jermall Charlo’s WBC middleweight title not on the line against Jose Benavidez Jr? Champion returns but won’t defend belt

Jack Johnson — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:51:35 +0000

Jermall Charlo will make his return to boxing as he takes on Jose Benavidez Jr. in Las Vegas on Saturday evening.

The WBC middleweight champion has not taken to the ring in over two years as he continued to battle mental health issues.

Charlo is unbeaten after 32 fights in his career

Getty

But he makes his long-awaited comeback this weekend as part of the David Benavidez vs Demetrius Andrade card.

However, despite holding the middleweight title, Charlo will not have his belt on the line for the fight.

talkSPORT.com takes a look at why…

Why is Charlo’s WBC middleweight title not on the line?

Charlo’s title is not on the line as the fight is taking place three pounds above the middleweight limit.

The 33-year-old is the 160-pound champion but the contract weight for this bout is set at 163 pounds.

This was a decision that left Benavidez Jr. fuming as he said: “It’s at 163 because this guy had to make up excuses that he couldn’t make the weight.

“So, he was going through some hard times, I guess, so he can’t make the weight. So, we have to go at ’63. So, you ask him about that.

“The boy’s not disciplined. The boy’s not disciplined, so it is what it is.”

Charlo has described the bout as a ‘stepping stone’

Leo Wilson/PBC

However, Charlo has claimed he could still get down to 160 pounds but he described this fight as a ‘stepping stone’ towards a title fight.

“It’s got nothing to do with weight or nothing like that,” he said.

“Man, I’m a professional. You know, coming back, I’m about to fight this little stepping stone right here.

“And then whenever I finish stepping on this stone, then I guess we can put the title on the line or whatever.

“If not, I’mma go up to ’68. You know what I’m saying? I ain’t worried about the trophies.

“I’m still the champ. You know what I’m saying? No matter what.”

Katie Taylor v Chantelle Cameron betting offer: Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets with bet365

Will Stanley — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:32:38 +0000

Katie Taylor is back in the boxing ring on Saturday night in Dublin for a rematch against Chantelle Cameron in a fight to be crowned undisputed super lightweight champion.

And bet365 are offering new customers £30 in free bets when they bet £10 on the action on Saturday night.

Get free bets on the main event this weekend on bet365!

bet365 – Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE*

Taylor and Cameron meet once again in Dublin six months after their initial fight in the same arena which saw the Brit shock the boxing world by inflicting Taylor’s first professional defeat and retaining her undisputed light welterweight title.

The fight went the full distance and was decided by a majority decision against the Irishwoman, who will be out for revenge in front of her home fans on Saturday night.

The 37-year-old from County Wicklow carries a 20-1 record into Saturday’s bout following her defeat in May in which she missed out on unifying all five lightweight belts with all five of the light welterweight belts that Cameron holds.

Cameron remains unbeaten heading into Saturday night’s bout, her record standing at 18-0 and will be aiming to retain all five light welterweight titles.

The 32-year-old from Northampton upset the odds by beating odds on favourite Taylor, one of the superstars of women’s boxing, in front of her home fans in Dublin, and will aiming to repeat the feat this weekend, this time with the added pressure of being favourite.

To win the fight (bet365):

Katie Taylor – 6/4
Chantelle Cameron – 8/15
Draw – 12/1

How to watch Katie Taylor v Chantelle Cameron

Location: 3Arena, Dublin
Date and Time: Saturday 25 November 2023, 10pm
How to watch: DAZN

talkSPORT BET – TRIPLE your winnings up to £300 – CLAIM HERE*

Brand New talkSPORT BET App

Download the talkSPORT BET app here

Download the iOS app

Download the Android app

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.g amcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

*Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Listen to the thud as Anthony Joshua shows off his power on the pads with Tyson Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison

Cameron Temple — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:57:15 +0000

Anthony Joshua’s stock may have fallen in recent years, but he still has the power to knockout anyone in the heavyweight division.

And he showed that as footage emerged of him hitting pads with trainer Ben Davison, with the thud of each punch echoing through the room.

Joshua will have Davison in his corner for his upcoming bout against Otto Wallin

Twitter: @matchroomboxing

This is in preparation for Joshua’s December 23 clash against Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia.

This fight will happen on the same card as Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker with the plan being that AJ and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ fight next year.

And for this bout, Davison will be in Joshua’s corner, although it is expected that after this dust-up AJ will return to working with Derrick James.

The American, who also trains Errol Spence and Jermell Charlo, has guided him through his two most recent clashes against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.

Davison is also a former trainer of Tyson Fury, with his last fight in ‘The Gypsy King’s’ corner also coming against Wallin.

In that fight, Fury struggled as he was badly cut, but made it through to win by unanimous decision and afterwards he parted ways with Davison.

When asked about Joshua and Davison working together, Fury reacted saying: “That’s a good match-up.

“It’s a very good move. I think it’s good for AJ because he’s local. I think it’s a good move.”

AJ has decided to train in the UK ahead of the bout in Saudi Arabia

Davison also has experience training former two-weight world champion Billy Joe Saunders as well as Leigh Wood who recently vacated the WBA featherweight world title.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has been quick to praise Davison in an interview with Boxing Social.

He remarked: “AJ is with Derrick James, 100 per cent. But Ben is a fantastic coach, and I think that has the kind of mind that AJ would tick with.

“AJ is the kind of guy who doesn’t like to be out of camp for too long, and there is a chance he fights in December.

“So if that’s the case, he wanted these couple of weeks just to sharpen his tools before he heads into camp in Dallas with Derrick.”

Jermall Charlo vs Jose Benavidez Jr date: UK start time, undercard and how to follow as WBC middleweight champion ends hiatus

Joe Brophy — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:50:44 +0000

Jermall Charlo makes his long-awaited return to the ring to take on Jose Benavidez Jr this weekend.

The WBC middleweight champion hasn’t fought in over two years due to a struggle with personal issues and mental health concerns.

Jermall has won all of his 32 professional fights

Leo Wilson/PBC

Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) now returns as the co-main event on the much-anticipated David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade card.

The 33-year-old now ends his hiatus against Benavidez’s brother, Jose Jr however his title will not be put on the line.

Charlo vs Benavidez Jr: Date and UK start time

This 10-round bout will take place on Saturday, November 25.

The contest will be a 163-pound catchweight – meaning Charlo’s 160-pound title will not be up for grabs.

The event will be held at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas from 1am UK time.

Ringwalks for Charlo vs Benavidez Jr is scheduled for 3am, but timings could change due to the length of other undercard fights.

It will be broadcast for fans in the UK on FITE TV – more info HERE – and Showtime PPV in the US.

talkSPORT.com will provide the best reaction from Fight Night on Sunday morning.

Jermell and Jermall Charlo are twin brothers who both hold boxing world titles

Stephanie Trapp/TGB

Charlo vs Benavidez Jr: Fight card

Subject to change…

MAIN EVENT: David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade
Subriel Matias vs. Shohjahon Ergashev
Hector Luis Garcia vs. Lamont Roach
Jermall Charlo vs. Jose Benavidez Jr
Sergey Lipinets vs. Michel Rivera
Pablo Vicente vs. Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov
Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Alexis Salazar Flores
Daniel Blancas vs. Raiko Santana
Israel Mercardo vs. Wesley Rivers
Curmel Moton vs. Hunter Turbyfill
Jabin Chollet vs. Jorge Perez
Alex Holley vs. Allen Medina

Charlo vs Benavidez Jr: What has been said?

Charlo told the Last Stand podcast: “Everything that Showtime has done for me. All of my fights have been on Showtime, and we have to accept the fact that Showtime won’t be showing boxing anymore.

“This is one of the last episodes. I get the chance to bless you guys with my skills and my talent.

“As far as the opponent goes, it was only right me stepping away from the ring for two years, come back, and not take him lightly.

“I’m not saying it’s a tune-up or anything of that nature, but it’s me coming back and letting you guys see me fighting someone that’s hungry, someone coming off a good outing, and the brother to the main event.

“So why not put me in there and let me show that I’m capable of doing what I normally do?”

Floyd Mayweather made opponent quit by smashing rib cage for KO in stunning welterweight debut

Cameron Temple — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:45:00 +0000

Floyd Mayweather announced himself to the welterweight division in the most spectacular fashion possible.

In 2005, having won world titles through from super featherweight to super lightweight, Mayweather made the move to welterweight where he would spend most of the rest of his career, and for his first opponent at 147 lbs he chose Sharmba Mitchell.

Mayweather proved too good for Mitchell

YouTube: Sweet Science

Mitchell, by his own admission, was not in his prime and he was getting ready to retire, but was a previous world champion at super lightweight.

As long as the fight lasted, Mayweather was on top, and while Mitchell toiled he was unable to do any real damage.

“I caught him with shots but I couldn’t get him with real good clean shots,” Mitchell told the Ring Magazine.

And in round three, Mayweather caught Mitchell flush and dropped him, but ‘Little Big Man’ bravely got back to his feet and survived another few rounds.

But, in the sixth round, as Mayweather’s pressure was beginning to tell, he unleashed a hard straight right hand into the rib cage of Mitchell.

Immediately feeling the pain, Mitchell dropped to his knees and while he got back up before the end of the referee’s count, it was clear that he was still in agony and so the fight was waved off.

Mitchell later admitted Mayweather was the best fighter he came up against, saying: “There’s nobody in his era like him. He was special.

“He was one of those people who could switch up in the middle of a fight. He always had great game plans and he executed them. He’s a natural.”

After getting a brief taste of the welterweight division, Mayweather went straight into a world title clash, taking on Zab Judah in his next fight.

Mayweather won by unanimous decision to become a four-weight world champion and in the coming years he transformed from ‘Pretty Boy’ into ‘Money’.

Mayweather is one of the greatest boxers of all time

Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

Beating fighters such as Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo, Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor, and he made hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.

The self-proclaimed ‘TBE’ (The Best Ever) then retired for the final time, at least for now, in 2017 with an unbeaten record of 50-0.

‘Who the f*** is he?’ – Anthony Joshua hits back at Deontay Wilder’s criticism and compares their careers

Cameron Temple — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:04:02 +0000

Anthony Joshua has made it clear he doesn’t appreciate Deontay Wilder’s recent criticism of him.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ questioned Joshua’s identity and said he wasn’t born a champion, he was made a champion by his promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua and Wilder have been rivals for years and they could finally fight next year

But, Joshua has not taken kindly to this, responding: “Who the f*** is he? He’s a boxer not a psychologist…”

Joshua then compared their two resumes, pointing out that he knocked out Jason Gavern in his eleventh fight, whereas Wilder didn’t manage the same feat until his 32nd bout.

“The boy has had 50 fights and he fought Jason Gavern in his 30-something fight, I probably fought him in my 12th,” Joshua continued.

“We are different, my identity is strong.

“If they’re looking for weaknesses and gaps, then they need to stop looking over here because I’m solid.”

This comes as the pair are expected to meet in the ring at some point next year in a highly anticipated clash.

But first, they will both have to get through their respective bouts on the same card on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua comes up against tricky southpaw Otto Wallin, who is best known for taking Tyson Fury the distance and cutting him badly.

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder will fight Joseph Parker who is a former WBO heavyweight world champion and he has previously fought Joshua, losing by unanimous decision.

The undercard of the event will feature a number of other big names including Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller, Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur and Filip Hrgovic vs Mark De Mori among others.

Tyson Fury net worth: Gypsy King’s career earnings ahead of historic Usyk fight including Whyte and Chisora bouts, Netflix series, WWE stint and book sales

Jack Johnson — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:42:23 +0000

Tyson Fury is one of the biggest names in world sport – and his net worth certainly reflects that.

The Gypsy King has cemented himself as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time, claiming world titles and seeing his wealth continue to rise.

Fury has an incredible net worth

Top Rank

He has made an incredible amount of money throughout his career and he is likely set for the biggest paycheck of his career against Oleksandr Usyk in February next year.

So ahead of that historic bout, talkSPORT.com takes a look at Fury’s total net worth…

Tyson Fury net worth

Fury’s net worth is estimated to be around £50million, according to Forbes.

That number made the 35-year-old one of the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2022.

And since the most recent update of the richest sportspeople was released, he has had his own Netflix series as well as another huge fight, meaning his worth has surely increased further.

It was confirmed last year that Fury had a whopping £43million in his bank account, while he made £13million profit.

A lot of that cash came from wins against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora where he received £25million and £21million respectively.

He then took on UFC legend Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on a spectacle night for boxing.

Fury also fought Francis Ngannou this year

Riyadh Season

Fury controversially won that bout, claiming a reported £50m for maintaining his unbeaten record.

That means his net worth will likely have increased exponentially, with his updated 2023 net worth expected to show a huge number.

The Gypsy King has also had success elsewhere, making appearances in the WWE in 2019 and 2020 and appearing for his debut against Braun Strowman at WWE Crown Jewel.

He won that fight and reportedly earned £11.9m for his participation.

In November 2019, Fury’s autobiography, Behind the Mask, was released and reached the no.1 bestseller position on Amazon within 24 hours of its release.

And his Netflix show ‘At Home with the Furys’ will have added another big chunk of cash to his bank.

Although some reports claim that he is not keen on making any more series, turning down millions in the process.

We’re sure his accounts will be more than fine should he not decide not to renew for a second season!

Anthony Joshua record: Height, weight, reach, career stats and more as fallen star bids to become world champion again

Jack Cunningham — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 19:17:00 +0000

Anthony Joshua hopes 2024 is going to be the year he becomes world champion again.

After back-to-back defeats against the mighty Oleksandr Usyk, AJ has won his last two fights and is eyeing a world title shot next year once he’s fought Otto Wallin in December.

Next up is Otto Wallin

Queensberry

Joshua has seen off Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius this year to set up this bout with Wallin.

Should he win, Deontay Wilder is expected to be next as AJ looks to launch a late-career comeback.

Joshua’s status in the boxing world has fallen in recent years, but he still beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 and has been a two-time heavyweight world champion.

But he has the talent to turn this around and rise up the rankings once again.

Anthony Joshua: Debut and fights so far

Following his Olympic Gold at the London 2012 games, the Watford-born star turned professional.

He made his debut at the O2 Arena against Emanuele Leo on October 5, 2013.

He easily dispatched his opponent in the first round and won a further 13 fights comfortably.

Joshua’s first big test, and the moment people began to notice him, came when he knocked out Whyte at the O2 Arena

But Joshua’s career progressed to another level in 2015 when he came up against fellow London-based boxer Whyte.

The bout lasted seven rounds before AJ’s superior skill saw him emerge victorious via knockout.

Joshua then earned the IBF belt with a comfortable victory over Charles Martin and defended his title against Dominic Breazeale and Eric Molina.

Then came AJ’s best win as he added the WBA and IBO belts to his collection with an astonishing win over Klitschko.

Wins over Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin followed as he became the unified world champion before a shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in New York saw Joshua lose his belts.

He won them back in the rematch against Ruiz and dispatched Kubrat Pulev to set up the first Usyk clash.

Ruiz put Joshua down to hand the Englishman his first career defeat

Getty Images - Getty

The Ukrainian moved up from cruiserweight but produced a boxing masterclass at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to win via unanimous decision and claim all the belts.

The rematch occurred in Saudi Arabia, and Joshua produced a much better display but still lost on a split decision and left the Middle East empty-handed.

His next fight saw him face Franklin, who lasted the full 12 rounds without really threatening Joshua, handing the Brit a unanimous decision victory.

He was then meant to face Whyte again, but his fellow Londoner failed a drugs test, and Helenius stepped in.

The Finnish boxer proved to be no match for Joshua, who knocked him out in round seven.

Anthony Joshua: Wins, losses and record

Of the 29 fights Joshua has participated in, he has won 26 with three defeats.

He has claimed 23 knockout victories, with five coming inside the first round.

Anthony Joshua: Weight, height and reach

Ahead of his last fight, Joshua weighed in at 250lbs (113.4kg).

This was 5.4lbs less than his bout against Franklin.

The 34-year-old also stands at an imposing 6ft 6 (198cm) and has a reach of 82in (208cm).

Joshua looked in great shape at the weigh-in before fighting Helenius

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Anthony Joshua: Next fight

Joshua is set to face Wallin on an incredible night of boxing in Saudi Arabia in December.

The bout is set to take place on Saturday, December 23 and it will be on the same card as Wilder’s fight against Joseph Parker.

And speaking after his bout with Wallin was confirmed, Joshua said: “People who are talking about “I peaked” have never seen a peak.

“My first stop to getting to be three-time champion is putting in a demolishing against [Otto].

“I’m fully focused on this fight, I’m determined to win, and I’m determined to get back to my peak if that’s what they want to call it.”

Joshua appears to have that focus and determination back

Queensberry

And should Joshua beat Wallin, Wilder is waiting.

AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed that he recently bumped into the American, and the duo discussed that fight.

He said: “We talked about the AJ fight, we made it clear from our side that we want that fight.

“There’s a lot of discussions ongoing, obviously, but we also said let’s not slip up in tough tests on December 23.”

So there is now a clear path for Joshua to become world champion once more as he looks to relaunch his career.

Terence Crawford shows off incredible belt collection earned during wins over Errol Spence, Amir Khan and Kell Brook

Jordan Ellis — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 17:40:03 +0000

Terence Crawford has given fans a glimpse into his stunning honours cabinet amid his recent loss of his undisputed champion status.

The welterweight king became a two-weight undisputed champion when he scored a knockout win over Errol Spence to unify all four 147lb belts in July.

Crawford is the first fighter in modern boxing to become a two-weight, four-belt undisputed world champion

Terence Crawford - Instagram

Amir Khan, Kell Brook, Ricky Burns and Shawn Porter are just some of the big-name fighters he’s vanquished during his journey to superstardom.

In 2017, Crawford was stripped of his IBF world title just days after beating Julius Indongo to claim all four belts at 140lbs because he had an overdue mandatory challenger.

Now, the same situation has happened again.

The IBF revealed earlier this month that they had quietly ordered Crawford to defend against exciting American welterweight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis after his win over Spence.

However, Crawford’s team responded by telling the sanctioning body that they could not fulfil the mandatory obligation as Spence had activated a rematch clause in his contract.

After once again losing his undisputed status without ever falling short in the ring, ‘Bud’ paid his mother a visit and took some time out to look back on everything he’s achieved.

The 36-year-old shared a video of him going through every belt he has won during his perfect 40-fight professional career while simultaneously sending a message to his haters.

“I’m just reflecting on my accomplishments at my momma’s house,” Crawford said.

‘Bud’ has so many belts he struggled to get them all in one shot

@tbudcrawford - instagram

He recently spent a couple of minutes ogling them on social media

@tbudcrawford - instagram

“This is where all my belts are at. You know, hard work, dedication means ya’ll favourite fighters – some of them – don’t die.

“I see why ya’ll mad! Don’t hate, just congratulate.

“They’ve been in a trophy case all these beautiful accomplishments that are collecting dust at the same time.

“If you don’t congratulate, it’s alright. Just continue to hate, I’m going to continue to shine. History books. Stamped. Earned. You can’t take that away from me.”

Since becoming the pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet, Crawford has been targeting a mega-money fight with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.

However, he is more than willing to settle his rivalry with Spence first.

Talks are currently ongoing for a rematch that is expected to take place in the 154lb division. This is believed to be much more suitable for Spence, who had outgrown his long-time weight class.

Crawford vs Spence 2 was supposed to take place before the end of 2023, but with no announcement on the horizon, it now appears that their re-run will happen during the first few months of next year.

Simon Jordan issues passionate defence of talkSPORT’s Adam Catterall after Frank Warren ‘ambush’

Jordan Ellis — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:44:06 +0000

Simon Jordan leapt to the defence of his talkSPORT colleague Adam Catterall after he fell victim to a Frank Warren ‘ambush’ on Saturday night.

Catterall, who is one of the most well-respected combat sports reporters in the UK, recently shared an 11-minute monologue about WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and it quickly went viral.

Warren accused Catterall of ‘talking b***ocks’ about Tyson Fury

IFL TV

Warren is unhappy with how his star client has been treated and made that much clear during a subsequent interview with talkSPORT before running into Catterall at an event in Manchester this past weekend.

The Hall of Fame boxing promoter told Catterall to ‘stop talking b*******’ and accused him of making ‘disrespectful’ and ‘disgraceful’ comments about Fury.

On Monday morning, talkSPORT’s Jim White played back audio from the clash to his co-host who revealed Catterall was tricked into an on-camera confrontation.

“Frank is allowed to have his opinion and, if that’s his opinion, he verbalises it,” Jordan said.

“So is Adam. No, that’s not what is allowed to happen. You are only allowed to have an opinion if it’s part of a PR mechanism that suits those that you are making an opinion on.

“Adam was asked to go and speak with Frank by Queensberry’s PR and then ambushed by Frank and pulled in front of a camera.”

The 71-year-old accused Catterall of taking ‘liberties’ with Fury, but Jordan insists any negative press ‘The Gypsy King’ has received is justified.

Jordan added: “Nobody has taken liberty with Tyson Fury.

Jordan didn’t like the nature of Warren’s confrontation with his colleague

talkSPORT

Fury and co. have taken issue with talkSPORT’s boxing coverage

Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“The only thing people have done is taken Tyson Fury at his word and questioned certain things.

“Apparently, in boxing, you’re not allowed to question things, you’ve got to be an acolyte or sycophant. And if you’re not, you’re not going to get any content.”

The former Crystal Palace owner understood the way Catterall handled the ‘ambush’ but would’ve liked to see him give it back to Warren a bit more.

“The difference between myself and Adam is Adam is slightly mindful, I think, about the consequences for the commercial relationship between Queensberry and talkSPORT,” Jordan added.

Jordan is ready and willing to defend his position

talkSPORT

“I couldn’t give a monkey’s a*** about it. I would’ve told Frank exactly what I think about his sentiments, about who does what, when, how and why.

“Tyson Fury is not being picked upon. Tyson Fury is being held accountable for what he’s said. Tyson Fury has been lionised by this platform on numerous occasions and in recent times he’s been pulled up on a couple of things he’s said.

“Adam Catterall is one of the best boxing observers in this country, he doesn’t have any agenda or motivation and he calls it as he sees it.”

Jordan insisted: “What Frank did was a liberty. I don’t blame him for doing it because he’s protecting his pitch.”

Jordan wants Warren, Fury and anyone else taking issue with talkSPORT’s boxing coverage to come and debate him – but he’s not holding his breath waiting for that to happen.

He concluded: “They won’t have the balls to come in and debate people because they can’t!

“They can’t debate what’s in front of their eyes because they don’t like to be confronted with the truth. Adam has done it and he’s backed it up, he’s backed up every single [thing he’s said].”

I fought Lennox Lewis and KO’d Mike Tyson but neither hit me harder than ‘Big George’

Cameron Temple — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:31:00 +0000

Evander Holyfield handed out and took some huge punches in his career, even getting knocked out twice.

But, ‘The Real Deal’ has revealed that no one hit him harder than George Foreman.

Foreman was known for his devastating power and Holyfield can vouch for that

Getty Images - Getty

Holyfield came up against Foreman when he was on the top of his game as reigning undisputed heavyweight world champion, while ‘Big George’ was in the second stage of his career.

Foreman had initially retired from boxing in 1977, but made a comeback ten years later, as he attempted to become the oldest heavyweight world champion of all time, which led him to fighting Holyfield in 1991.

On this occasion, Holyfield came out on top by unanimous decision, but not before he had felt Foreman’s power.

Years later, Holyfield admitted in an interview with ESNEWS: “The guy that hit me the hardest was George Foreman.

“He hit me one time in the eleventh round, and I came back to the corner and I said ‘did he knock all my teeth out?’”

And while Foreman did not complete his mission of becoming the oldest heavyweight world champion on this occasion, he did manage it three years later when he knocked out Michael Moorer.

To this day, Foreman still holds the record at 46 years and 169 days old.

As for Holyfield, he was unbeaten at the time of fighting Foreman, but a year later he was knocked out by Riddick Bowe.

He avenged this defeat in 1993, however, and from that point in his career he took on the best fighters of his generation, with mixed results.

Victories came against fighters such as Mike Tyson, firstly with an eleventh round KO and then again in the infamous ‘bite fight‘ by disqualification, as well as John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman and Ray Mercer.

But Holyfield was beaten by Lennox Lewis, James Toney and Nikolai Valuev among others, retiring with a record of 44-10-2 in 2011.

Anthony Joshua next fight: All we know about AJ’s next opponent Otto Wallin with Deontay Wilder on same Saudi Arabia card

Jack Cunningham — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 11:23:00 +0000

Anthony Joshua is starting to climb back up the heavyweight rankings and a statement victory is exactly what he needs.

Since back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk, the Brit has beaten Jermaine Franklin and knocked out Robert Helenius.

Joshua is looking to get back into title contention

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Joshua was meant to face Dillian Whyte but his fellow Londoner failed a drugs test, while a long-awaited bout against Tyson Fury has collapsed numerous times.

Anthony Joshua next fight: Is his next opponent confirmed?

Yes, Joshua’s next clash has been confirmed.

AJ is now set to battle Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia on the same night as Deontay Wilder fights Joseph Parker.

The Brit last fought in August and knocked Helenius out in the seventh round, with Deontay Wilder initially being the top candidate to be his next opponent.

An agreement was reached but had to be shelved when Saudi Arabia revealed they couldn’t host it.

AJ vs Wallin is set for December 23

Queensberry

The pair will now be competing on one of the deepest cards in boxing history in the Gulf State although not against each other.

The hope is for them to clash in 2024, with both Joshua and Wilder showing respect to one another in the press conference.

In the meantime, Joshua will need to remain focused on Wallin, who he beat twice as an amateur, but their reunion will be a different proposition as a professional.

The Swede’s only defeat in 27 fights came as he lost on points against Tyson Fury in 2019.

However, Wallin gave the Gypsy King one of his biggest scares after he required 47 stitches and plastic surgery following the damage caused by ‘All In’.

Anthony Joshua fight: When will it happen?

This 12-round heavyweight clash is set to go ahead on Saturday, December 23.

It will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Timings for this event are yet to be confirmed but the undercard action is expected to start around 6pm.

And the ring-walks for the main event can be expected at around 10pm.

talkSPORT will be bang across fight week with live updates on fight night while talkSPORT.com will be running a live blog as well.

The action will also be broadcast on DAZN PPV with pricing and other details to follow in due course.

AJ and Wilder will fight on the same card in December

Queensberry

Anthony Joshua next fight: What’s been said?

Eddie Hearn has explained to talkSPORT why Joshua came across a bit prickly during a heated press conference for the event this month.

AJ responded awkwardly to Frank Warren’s press conference host Dev Sahni – at one point refusing to answer his questions and instead asking his promoter Hearn to lead the interview.

When asked why did Joshua turn to him, Hearn told talkSPORT: “Maybe out of respect, I don’t know. Listen, I came to this party late ten days ago.

“I am happy to be here. There are going to be big fights that we are all involved with in Saudi Arabia.

“I guess for AJ, it was like ‘this is my promoter, he’s asking the question’.

“He was fine, AJ, but when Jarrell Miller started talking smack to him, he weren’t going to have it.

“Because we know what happened in that fight. I had a few words with him, was petrified a bit albeit, he’s a big lump.

“I am not mad on that fight against Daniel Dubois, in all honesty, it is a very good fight.

“There is a lot of history there, it was very painful what happened [between Joshua and Miller] and we will see what the future holds but I like what I saw from AJ and in the head-to-head with Wallin.”

Frank Warren accuses talkSPORT host of ‘talking b*******’ to his face in heated discussion

Cameron Temple — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:59:22 +0000

Frank Warren has told talkSPORT’s Adam Catterall to his face that the way he talks about Tyson Fury is a ‘disgrace’.

The hall-of-fame promoter had previously taken issue with a speech that Catterall did about Fury that was viewed millions of times on social media.

Warren accused Catterall of ‘talking b***ocks’ when it came to Tyson Fury

IFL TV

The boxing journalist highlighted some contradictory statements that Fury had made during his past negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Outside of that speech, Catterall had also described the last few years in the heavyweight division as ‘warm lager’.

But, following Warren’s show over the weekend, headlined by Denzel Bentley vs Nathan Heaney, he confronted Catterall in person.

Warren wanted to make it clear to Catterall that Fury ‘never ducked anybody’ and he described what the talkSPORT host had been saying as ‘frustrating and annoying’.

At one point during the discussion, Catterall attempted to explain that Fury’s own Netflix documentary had appeared to show him being obstructive during last years negotiations with Joshua.

But, Warren snapped and said: “Stop talking b***ocks.”

Warren went on to say: “So don’t keep digging Tyson Fury out, because it’s a liberty what you do with him.

“It’s a disgrace to keep having a go at him the way that you do, it’s disrespectful to him.”

With that being said, Catterall wanted to end things on a positive note, as he finished the debate by saying: “Can we shake hands?”

To which Warren replied: “We can shake hands, but stop talking b***ocks.”

Simon Jordan defended talkSPORT host Catterall on the White and Jordan show on Monday morning, calling him ‘one of the best in the business.

He said: “I would have liked to have been there, irrespective of how the conversation went between me and Eddie Hearn.

“Eddie Hearn came into the studio, we had a ding-dong, whoever won that battle is irrelevant. In that conversation, the difference between myself and Adam is Adam is slightly mindful, I think, of the consequences of the commercial relationship between talkSPORT and Queensbury. I couldn’t give a monkey’s a*** about it.

“I would have told Frank exactly what I think of his sentiments about who does what, when, how and why, and why Tyson Fury is not being picked upon.

Fury will fight Usyk for all the heavyweight belts in February

Getty

“Tyson Fury is being held accountable for what he said. Tyson Fury has been lionised by this platform on numerous occasions, and in recent times, he’s been pulled up on a couple of things that he said. Adam Cattrall is one of the best boxing observers in this country.

“He doesn’t have any agenda, doesn’t have any motivation, he calls it as he sees it and what Frank did was a liberty.

“I don’t blame him for doing it, because he’s protecting his pitch, he’s having his opinion. And they talk about arguments, they say, well, the problem with you guys is you can have the last word.

“They won’t have the balls to come in and debate people because they can’t.”

Regardless of who was wrong or right in this discussion, one thing that can’t be denied is that the expected upcoming schedule in the heavyweight division is anything but ‘warm lager’.

On December 23, Joshua will fight Otto Wallin, while Deontay Wilder will come up against Joseph Parker on the same card with the view that AJ and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will clash next year.

Fighting on the undercard will be Dmitry Bivol, Daniel Dubois, Filip Hrgovic, Jai Opetaia and many others.

And as if that weren’t enough to look forward to, Fury and Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight world titles on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.