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    in Athletics

    Olympics icon slams proposed rule change as an ‘April Fool’s joke’ as athletics bosses trial major new format

    ATHLETICS ICON Carl Lewis has slammed proposals to change the long jump event, saying: Is it April Fool’s Day already?SunSport revealed on Monday that World Athletics bosses are trialling a new format where long jumpers use a ‘take-off zone’ rather than a take-off board.
    Carl Lewis has criticised the new proposals to change the long jump formatCredit: AFP
    Lewis won four of his nine Olympic golds in long jumpCredit: Reuters
    The governing body says that data collected during the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest showed that a THIRD of all attempts were recorded as no-jumps.
    The rule experiment will take place throughout this year in lower-level competitions and jumps will be measured from the front of the take-off foot within that zone.
    It will not be part of the Paris 2024 Olympics programme – the competition will remain the same.
    Should it prove successful, if it has the full backing of the top stars, then it could be implemented from 2026 onwards.
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    Lewis – winner of four successive Olympic long jump titles between 1984 and 1996 – is not a fan of the concept.
    The American, 62, said: “You’re supposed to wait until April 1st for April Fool’s jokes.
    “Actually, it wouldn’t change the distances that much. You would just see more bad jumps measured.”
    Lewis’s displeasure is also matched by Britain’s leading female long jumper, Jazmin Sawyers, who reckons there are more cons than pros with the idea.
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    The reigning European indoor long champion believes the potential positives are that every jump would count, there could be bigger jumps and it may prevent slipping on the board.
    Yet from her perspective, the negatives are the difficulties to implement it at grassroots level – given the computer technology involved – and the chance it may encourage some to cheat.
    Sawyers also feels there will be less drama, no more super-imposed measurements on TV, the crowd won’t be able to tell if it is a big jump and hitting the take-off board remains “an essential element of the skill”.
    She said: “I think there are a lot of reasons not to do it.
    “I appreciate they’re trying to do something. But this how I view it. I don’t think this particular innovation is a good idea.
    “I’d also just like to say: Can we stop messing with the long jump? Can we just leave it alone?
    “Maybe just try it on some other event. Try something else. I don’t think this is what long jump needs. The idea of speeding up the measuring – that’s great.
    “At the British championship last weekend, it was taking over a minute sometimes to get each result and it was really slowing down the pace of the competition.

    “It made it a bit more boring. When it could have been a bit more exciting.
    “The idea of speeding up the measurement is great. I don’t think you will be able to do that if you bring in this take-off zone.”
    The Stoke leaper, whose personal best is seven metres, added: “We removing an essential element of the skill of long jumping. Part of the skill is that you have to hit the board.
    “If you remove that, it changes the event completely. I don’t think you can then compare the old records to the new records. It just becomes a different event when part of the skill isn’t hitting the board.
    “So much of the drama of the event is whether somebody will hit the board or not. It’s whether they were this close.
    “Was it a foul? Was it not a foul? That drama is removed and really we’re doing something different.
    “Yes, we’re still just jumping into sand. But the idea that we are trying to hit a certain mark is part of the skill.
    “If runners didn’t have to go at the gun and they could go whenever they felt like, and we just took the fastest time, it’d be just a time trial.
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    “It would be a different event. I think this will make it a different event.
    “I don’t think there is anything wrong with the long jump. I think having the board is part of the drama.”
    Carl Lewis ranked in the top five sportsmen of the 20th centuryCredit: EPA More

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    Floyd Mayweather breaks silence over Manny Pacquiao rematch and claims he was paid £3m just for ‘saying his name’

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER has broken his silence over rematching Manny Pacquiao – and claimed he earned £3million from just being called out. Mayweather beat Pacquiao in 2015 in what still stands as boxing’s richest ever fight having raked in over £500MILLION.
    Floyd Mayweather has broken his silence over rematching Manny PacquiaoCredit: The Pivot Podcast
    And a rematch has always been touted even after the legendary pair sailed off into retirement.
    More recently, Pacquiao announced that he would rematch Mayweather this year in an exhibition with MMA promotion RIZIN.
    Only now has Mayweather responded to the claim in an interview on The Pivot Podcast.
    He said: “When Manny Pacquiao spoke about that, he shouldn’t have because there’s a time and a place for everything.
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    “I’m not gonna say he’s right and I’m not gonna say he’s wrong. But it’s so crazy, when he spoke about it, I could’ve easily came out and said, ‘You spoke about it.’ I didn’t have to say nothing.
    “Just by you saying my name they gave me a cheque for $4million.”
    Mayweather refused to reveal who the alleged payment came from.
    But he took the chance to aim a dig at Pacquiao, who he rivalled with for over half a decade before settling the argument over 12 rounds.
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    Mayweather said: “But remember – he got famous because they said this could be the guy that could possibly dethrone the king.
    “Did it happen? Absolutely not. Was it easy? Absolutely.”
    I’m a boxing legend who fought Floyd Mayweather but rival champ was the hardest puncher… I can still feel the punches
    Mayweather retired two years after beating Pacquiao, officially walking away following his 2017 win over UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
    But he has continued to box in exhibition bouts since against stars of the social media, MMA and boxing world.
    His last was in June against the grandson of notorious mob boss John Gotti, which ended in a disqualification win for Mayweather.
    The pair have since announced they will rematch.
    Pacquiao meanwhile retired following his 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas.
    But after a failed presidential election in the Philippines, the eight-division champion announced plans to make a comeback.
    He returns on April 20 in Thailand against Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek but wants to make a run back into traditional boxing afterwards.
    Floyd Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015Credit: Getty More

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    ‘AJ ain’t knocking that thing out’, say shocked fans as Francis Ngannou shows off insane physique ahead of Saudi scrap

    SHOCKED boxing fans declared there is no way Anthony Joshua can knock out Francis Ngannou – after the Cameroonian showed off his insane physique.The former UFC heavyweight champ steps into the boxing ring for a second time next month when he takes on AJ in Saudi Arabia.
    Francis Ngannou looks ripped and ready to face Anthony JoshuaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/francisngannou/
    The 37-year-old shared a brilliant video from his gymCredit: https://www.instagram.com/francisngannou/
    After massively scaring Tyson Fury in October, he is confident of causing plenty of problems for Joshua.
    And supporters are inclined to agree following the veteran’s latest Instagram post.
    Hulking Ngannou, 37, shared a video to his 6.6million followers of his trainer repeatedly slamming a weighted wall ball against his set of rock-solid abs in the gym.
    The fighter remains unmoved in his training shorts with a towel around his neck and headphones on.
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    Ngannou captioned the clip: “My face when they said that I don’t belong in boxing. Not born different, built different.”
    And that prompted a wave of responses with his followers feeling ominous for Joshua’s chances on March 8.
    One said: “AJ ain’t knocking that thing out I’m sorry.”
    Another wrote: “Only way you are beating this man is on points.”
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    A third added: “AJ has a mega problem not solvable.”
    A fourth typed: “AJ is in trouble.”
    Watford residents ask heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua ANYTHING!
    A fifth commented: “Legend says they had to add cement on the ball cause he was breaking them all.”
    A sixth responded: “AJ better aim for the face or win on points.”
    A seventh quipped: “Lmao couldn’t pay me to fight this man.”
    An eighth claimed: “Francis is too strong for boxing.”

    ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
    A ninth put: “Absolute beast.”
    And a final user simply labelled him a “tank”.
    However, AJ fans sent a similar chilling warning to Ngannou after he posted his own content from inside his training camp.
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    Supporters do not have to wait long before the first bell in two-and-a-half weeks’ time.
    And they will have the choice to catch the blockbuster pay-per-view event on Sky Sports or DAZN.
    Ngannou had Tyson Fury down on the canvas in their October boutCredit: Getty
    The pair face off in Saudi Arabia on March 8Credit: PA More

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    Josh Taylor offers ‘ungrateful’ Jack Catterall cheeky present in another fiery press conference ahead of grudge fight

    JOSH TAYLOR offered rival Jack Catterall a cheeky present during their fiery press conference.The boxers are set to have their highly anticipated rematch in April in Leeds.
    Josh Taylor gave Jack Catterall a packet of crayonsCredit: Getty
    Catterall was not impressed by the offerCredit: Getty
    Catterall left the crayons behindCredit: Twitter @JoshTaylorBoxer
    The first fight ended in a disputed split decision win for Taylor at the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow.
    No love has been lost between the two as tempers flared during their first face-off ahead of their rematch, at a press conference in Edinburgh.
    There were plenty of strong words shared between the fighters, but Taylor was able to show his cheeky side with one gimmick.
    The Scot, 33, was seen leaning over to give Catterall the crayons, which sparked a confrontation between the two.
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    Throughout the presser, he continued to bring up that he had given Catterall crayons during their encounter.
    He could be heard telling his rival to “go back to your crayons” as he pointed them out.
    After the press conference ended, Taylor shared a picture of the crayons in front of Catterall’s nameplate on social media.
    He wrote: “Jack Catterall you left your present. So ungrateful.”
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    Many of Taylor’s fans loved the joke as they responded to the post.
    One fan wrote: “This had me in bits!”
    Shocking moment Jack Catterall grabs Josh Taylor by the NECK in explosive face-off ahead of grudge rematch
    A second commented: “Top bantz.”
    A third posted: “Well funny that.”
    A fourth said: “Great banter.”
    Another added: “Hahaha, that is quite funny, to be fair.”
    The controversy over the first fight and bitterness shared between the two made an immediate rematch a no-brainer.
    But competing promotions and networks stood in the way of the grudge match.
    However, now, after two years, a deal has finally been agreed upon for the arch-rivals to settle the score on April 27. More

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    Eddie Hearn claims Gervonta Davis feels Conor Benn fight offer ‘not good enough’ as talks over huge bout stall

    EDDIE HEARN believes Gervonta Davis’ purse demands may very well have scuppered a fight with Conor Benn.Negotiations over a shock showdown between the pair began just days after Benn’s decision win over Peter Dobson in Las Vegas earlier this month.
    Conor Benn was on course for a shock clash with Gervonta Davis after his win over Peter DobsonCredit: GETTY
    Promoter Eddie Hearn entered talks with Davis’ team after the American’s X spat with BennCredit: AP
    Hearn had a sneaking suspicion Davis’ purse demands could potentially scupper the boutCredit: GETTY
    Two-weight world champion Davis, however, has seemingly pulled the plug on the showdown – with Team Benn now turning their attention to a clash with Danny Garcia.
    And speaking to SunSport earlier this month, Hearn revealed that Davis’ asking price for the fight could very well scupper the out-of-the-blue bout.
    The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “We’ve been speaking and going back and forth with numbers.
    “Gervonta is always gonna feel like the offer is not good enough.
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    “He made a lot of money against Ryan Garcia. But with pay-per-view upside and the gate, I think that fight can be huge.”
    Pitting surging welterweight contender Benn against the controversial Davis wasn’t on Hearn’s radar until the pair started going back and forth on X.
    He admitted: “It’s not one that I ever really anticipated, but actually, when you think about it logically, it makes great sense.
    “Conor is fighting a smaller guy who is very good and definitely the favourite on paper.
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    Conor Benn launched an x-rated attack on Gervonta DavisCredit: INSTAGRAM@CONORBENNOFFICIAL
    “For Gervonta, he’ll think Conor Benn is easy work.”
    Should Davis have a change of heart, Hearn has no doubt in his mind that the dust-up will do well at the box office.
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    He continued: “I think it does very well at the gate, I think the pay-per-view narrative of the Brit who’s got a huge following over here and a great profile.
    “And Gervonta is massive in America, I think it could do really well.
    “We’re looking to stage that fight in America but there’s a long way to go.”
    Benn’s attention is seemingly no longer focused on Davis, who he issued a blunt message to on social media after learning of his rejection of the fight.
    He said: ” P***y [cat emoij] don’t ever at me again. @Gervontaa.”
    Baltimore bruiser Davis, 29, hasn’t set foot in the ring since stopping Ryan Garcia in the seventh round of their Las Vegas showdown last April.
    Gervonta Davis stopped Ryan Garcia in the seventh round of their Las Vegas showdown last AprilCredit: GETTY More

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    Tyson Fury’s garlic-mad diet revealed as Gypsy King faces race against time to be ready for Oleksandr Usyk fight

    TYSON FURY will be knocking back extra servings of red meat and GARLIC to ensure he’s fully healed up for his historic showdown against Oleksandr Usyk.The Gypsy King was due to clash with the undefeated Ukrainian for all the heavyweight marbles last weekend before he suffered a HORROR CUT in sparring.
    Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s long overdue showdown was postponed to May 18Credit: EPA
    The fight was pushed back after Fury suffered a horror cut in sparringCredit: QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
    An accidental elbow from sparring partner Agron Smakici delayed the fight
    Fury’s nutritionist George Lockhart has put him on a high protein and garlic diet to help heal the gaping woundCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
    An accidental elbow from sparring partner Agron Smakici re-opened the scar tissue left above Fury’s right eye from his 2019 clash with Otto Wallin and rendered him unable to compete.
    Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh hastily rescheduled the undisputed showdown – the first in the heavyweight division for nearly 25 years – for May 18.
    Team Fury are pulling out all the stops to ensure the WBC heavyweight king makes the fight, with nutritionist George Lockhart implementing a diet high in protein and garlic to ensure he’s fighting fit for the Riyadh rumble.
    He told Betway: “High protein helps massively as the body needs to recover, rebuild and repair itself.
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    “Lots of protein, lots of water and fluid, and while it’s not sexy that is the type of foods that will help recover a bad cut.
    “A lot of red meats and stuff with iron in it. Not just meats but things with a lot of micro-nutrients in it, including garlic, spinach, carrots, onion, and mix everything together.
    “Garlic is a great source to help you recover quickly as it kills off bacteria and germs in a cut.
    “Like I said red meat is the key source of protein.”
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    Lockhart – the former nutritionist of UFC legend Conor McGregor – is acutely aware of the fact that Fury’s diet won’t solely aid the healing of his cut.
    He admitted: “I’m not one of those nutritionists which says food will solve everything.
    Tyson Fury takes part in gruelling training session ahead of cancelled undisputed Usyk fight
    “But it has a huge impact over time in terms of recovery and injuries of that nature, but the most important thing is time.
    “The doctor said that the cut will heal in three weeks.
    “People don’t realise that the normal person is fine with a cut like this but if you’re going to get punched in the face, it will take a long time.
    “Even May is close for this fight to be happening but I know he wants to take care of business so I think he will get it done.
    “A lot of people don’t realise that when you are injured, your body burns more calories because it is putting a lot more effort in recovering and help with whatever injury it is, including a cut.
    “Healing a cut and a sprained ankle though are two different things.
    Tyson Fury got in a career-best shape for his crack at undisputed gloryCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
    “For inflammation, fish such as wild salmon and omega 3 are key sources of nutrition to overcome an injury like a sprained ankle.
    “You actually need to stay away from red meats and Omega 6.”
    Fury, 35, got into a career-best shape ahead of his now-postponed date with destiny – something Lockhart believes he’ll replicate for the biggest fight of his career.
    He said: “I haven’t spoken to him much recently since the last fight got cancelled.
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    “He looks great and is in amazing shape. I saw the transformation; he’s looking lean and strong.
    “The thing about Tyson is, he is an animal, a beast, and will go in there with the reach, cardio, boxing IQ, power and size so it will be a very difficult night for Oleksandr Usyk.” More

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    I’m the greatest women boxer of all time… but now I want to be a world champion in a different sport

    CLARESSA SHIELDS is not shy of boasting about being the greatest women’s boxer of all time – but now she wants to go a step further. Shields has an almost unmatched CV in the sport, with double Olympic gold medals, two undisputed titles and belts in three different divisions to her name.
    Claressa Shields calls herself the ‘Greatest Woman of All Time’ in the ringCredit: Getty – Contributor
    But Shields has also crossed over to boxing
    But the outspoken American looked to better her legacy even further by crossing over to MMA in 2021 with the Professional Fighters League.
    Shields, unbeaten in boxing, is 1-1 in MMA but insisted she did not swap the boxing ring for the cage just to experiment.
    Instead, she wants to become a two-sport world champion as she sets her sights on the PFL title and the history that comes with it.
    She told SunSport: “That’s the ultimate goal. Manifestation is real, I believe in two or three years I will be fighting for the PFL world championship.
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    “I’ll still be a boxing world champion and the same time. So the goal is to be boxing world champion and be PFL champion at the same time.
    “And after that, I’d probably wash my hands with MMA but that’s the bigger goal.”
    Shields won her MMA debut by beating Brittney Elkin but she then suffered defeat for the first time since her amateur boxing days against Abigail Montes.
    She has not returned to the cage since, instead picking up a trio of boxing wins, including against arch rival Savannah Marshall.
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    But now Shields has her eyes on the PFL’s season, where stars fight in qualifying and knockout stages over four bouts to win the title and $1m cash prize.
    But more than just the money, Shields believes actively holding titles in both sports – which would be a historic first – cements her place as the best to ever do it.
    Anthony Joshua vows to win the undisputed title after Francis Ngannou fight
    She said: “Well, I’m already the greatest woman of all time in boxing, we know that.
    “But to be able to come over to a whole different sport in the prime of my career and win, when I’m able to win the PFL world championship, I think that ranks me as the greatest combat sports person ever.
    “And not even woman. I don’t know any champion who can do what I’m doing right now.
    “So I believe in three years when I actually get in the PFL tournament and I fight for the PFL world championship, when I win that rates me as the greatest combat sports person in history.”
    Shields makes her MMA return on Saturday in Riyadh against Kelsey DeSantis on the PFL vs Bellator undercard. More

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    Anthony Joshua gives brutal response after Francis Ngannou boasts about flooring Tyson Fury

    ANTHONY JOSHUA brutally shut Francis Ngannou down following a boast about flooring Tyson Fury. AJ faces the ex-UFC champion on March 8 in what will be only Ngannou’s second professional boxing bout.
    Anthony Joshua shut Francis Ngannou down following a boast about flooring Tyson Fury
    Ngannou was confronted by AJ in a face to face
    Ngannou dropped Tyson Fury on his boxing debutCredit: Getty
    In his debut in October, he astonishingly floored Fury but it was not enough to avoid a controversial split-decision loss.
    Ngannou still takes confidence from the performance and knockdown – which he doubts Joshua would have come back from.
    He said in a DAZN face to face: “Yeah, I have a doubt about that. Tyson showed that he’s very resilient.
    “I saw him come back from a knockdown that you wouldn’t believe.
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    “So I think he’s probably one of the most resistant person out there, and that’s not a disrespect to AJ.
    “I don’t believe that AJ would take what Tyson did.”
    But Joshua – with a stoic glare – hit back at Ngannou: “Who hasn’t knocked Tyson down? So many people have knocked Tyson down.”
    Fury, 35, has been floored seven times in his career but bounced back to his feet every time to remain undefeated.
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    Joshua was due to face Deontay Wilder, 38, in March but the deal went up in smoke after the American’s shock loss to Joseph Parker.
    And Ngannou, 37, was denied a rematch with Fury, who instead moved on to an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk, now set for May 18.
    Anthony Joshua vows to win the undisputed title after Francis Ngannou fight
    So Saudi boxing chiefs acted fast to match the giant heavyweight pair together for another crossover clash in Riyadh.
    Joshua, 34, said: “They spoke about this fight before and I said ‘no, it’s a gimmick fight, it’s not something that I think is right — crossing over when I’m still chasing heavyweight glory’.

    “And then I think when they saw what happened with his last fight, the situation with Wilder, this opportunity presented itself.
    “I never turned down a challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”
    Joshua faces Ngannou on March 8Credit: PA More