Aurelia Butler

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    Anthony Joshua steps in for Tyson Fury as he agrees huge fight in Saudi Arabia on December 23 with opponent revealed

    ANTHONY JOSHUA will fill in for battered and bruised Tyson Fury and provide Saudi Arabia with a Christmas cracker next month.The 35-year-old WBC Gypsy King was supposed to settle the undisputed decider with WBA, IBF and WBO boss Oleksandr Usyk on December 23 in Riyadh.
    Anthony Joshua has changed his plans big time to fight in RiyadhCredit: BBC
    Otto Wallin left Tyson Fury with a massive cut to his eye when the two heavyweights fought in Las Vegas four years agoCredit: Getty
    But he fluffed his lines at the October 28 rehearsal when he was floored by boxing debutant Francis Ngannou and needed some generous judging to cling on to his undefeated record.
    But the boxing movers and Sheikhs in the Middle East were never going to let the date pass them by so they have packed out a card full of heavyweight challengers and contenders, while they wait for the main course.
    AJ, 34, will take on giant Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin, who slashed a 49-stitch gash into Fury’s eye when they boxed in 2019.
    And Bronze Bomber Deontay Wilder – another Fury victim – will face the Morecambe giant’s best pal and training partner Joseph Parker.
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    SunSport understands the plan was for AJ to have another keep-warm fight in March and then launch a bid for the IBF heavyweight title, that will be stripped of the winner of the February showdown and up for grabs once again.
    But the money on offer from the kingdom convinced Watford’s London 2012 legend to suspend his carefully-made plans and dive into the mega-money event.

    That decision was confirmed on Monday when he posed for a photo with Turki Alalshikh, the new driving force behind the region’s entertainment and tourism takeover.
    Daniel Dubois, the 26-year-old Londoner who lasted nine rounds with Usyk in August, is expected to face the awful American drugs cheat Jarrell Miller, who scoffed the periodic table before being booted off his planned 2019 bout with AJ.
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    Fury and Usyk are expected to settle the score – and all four of the belts – on February 17 or 24 in the same Kingdom Arena.
    A press conference to announce that iconic bout between the Brit and the former undisputed cruiserweight ruler is expected on Thursday.
    But – after so many false dawns – Usyk will only really believe he is fighting Fury when the 6ft 9in behemoth is towering right over him.
    The Ukrainian told us: “I want to finish my beautiful 20-year career and road with Tyson Fury. I need to fight him.
    “But only when we have our Friday weigh-in and we wake up Saturday morning and travel to the venue, will I really believe it is happening.
    “It’s about being the undisputed world champion at two weights, the two biggest weights.
    “It’s not about money or belts. It’s about history.” More

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    Anthony Joshua next fight: Otto Wallin December date revealed for Saudi mega show

    ANTHONY JOSHUA got back in the win column last time out against Robert Helenius – but now he must focus on his next challenge. AJ is looking to build himself up again following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, and has done so with victories over the dangerous Finn and Jermaine Franklin.
    Anthony Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in August clashCredit: Reuters
    Tyson Fury was famously cut by Otto Wallin during their fightCredit: ESPN
    Next up is said to be Otto Wallin, the man who left Tyson Fury with 47 stitches above his eye during their close encounter four years ago.
    Wallin, 32, has won all of his fights since, but hasn’t looked anywhere near the threat he did that evening in Las Vegas.
    Joshua could be elevated into a mandatory position to fight for the IBF title with a win over the Swedish southpaw.
    Having struggled with lefties in the past, however, Joshua will need to be on his A-game against Wallin if he wants to fight for a world title again.

    When is Joshua vs Wallin?
    Anthony Joshua’s big clash with Otto Wallin is likely to take place on Saturday, December 23, with an announcement reportedly imminent.
    The fight will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
    Ring-walks for the main event will likely get going from 11pm GMT.
    Full card details
    The card is reportedly going to be a massive one, packed with heavyweight bust-ups.
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    Deontay Wilder is said to be fighting Joseph Parker in the co-main event, while Daniel Dubois is also going to be in action.
    Dubois will take on former drug cheat Jarrell Miller, who was supposed to fight AJ back in June 2019.
    Dmitry Bivol, Filip Hrgovic and Jai Opetaia are all set to feature on the card too.
    What TV channel is it on?
    A TV channel and streaming service for the huge event has yet to be announced.
    Check back at SunSport for all the latest details later this week. More

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    Carl Froch reveals he Googled his wife before they first met then decided to take her to a strip club on first date

    CARL FROCH has revealed that he took his wife to a strip club on their first date.The British boxer also admitted that he had Googled Rachael Cordingley before they met up for the first time in 2009.
    Carl Froch took his wife Rachael to a strip club on their first dateCredit: Instagram @rachael.froch
    He also said that he had Googled her before meetingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    The couple met through a mutual friend as they were set up to have blind date.
    Froch, 42, has since admitted that he could not wait to see what she looked like before their romantic encounter.
    Speaking on his YouTube channel Froch on Fighting, Froch said: “I had googled her, had a look, and thought she looked alright.
    “I’ll have a little date with her.”
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    Luckily for the boxer, Rachael also admitted to looking him up as well.
    Before meeting up in London, Froch had accidentally doubled himself as he was also due to meet a potential sponsor.
    He still invited Rachael along to the meal at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant.
    After a fun meal, they continued to enjoy the night as Rachael revealed they ended up in a strip club together.
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    She added: “Do you remember the end of it?
    “We ended up going to a strip club. It was Spearmint Rhino I think, whatever it was.
    “I’ll tell you what, it was super fun. I was dancing on the table and all the women came over and they were on the table with me.”
    To which Froch joked: “I was thinking ‘what’s going on? I am World Champion’.”
    Rachael said that she enjoyed the dateCredit: Instagram @rachael.froch
    She admitted to dancing on the tables with the women in the clubCredit: Instagram @rachael.froch
    The duo got married in 2019 — five years after the ex-boxer proposed.
    They jetted off for a romantic holiday to the Mediterranean in August to make the most of the summer weather.
    During his career, Froch enforced a sex ban while training for his bouts.
    At the time, Rachael said: “The sex ban is so hard for me – but Carl tells me he isn’t that bothered because he’s exhausted and it’s the last thing on his mind.
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    They recently enjoyed some time in the sunCredit: Instagram @rachaelfroch
    The couple’s was five years after getting engagedCredit: Instagram @rachaelfroch
    “After such a long wait, it’s really good to have our sex life back to normal and to have that closeness again, to be able to have sex like a normal young couple.”
    Froch retired with a 33-2 record in 2014 after knocking out George Groves in front of over 80,000 fans at Wembley.
    The two got married in 2019Credit: Instagram @rachael.froch More

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    I was knocked out by Lennox Lewis but at 51 years old I’m making my boxing comeback – I’m still an animal

    SHANNON BRIGGS is making a boxing comeback at the age of 51 and boasted that he is “still an animal”. Briggs, a former WBO world champion, was a feared puncher during his prime and scored 37 first-round knockouts.
    Shannon Briggs is making a boxing comeback at the age of 51Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    Lennox Lewis knocked out Briggs in 1998Credit: Reuters
    Briggs lost to Vitali Klitschko in 2010Credit: AFP
    But he was beaten by quality operators in Lennox Lewis – who scored a KO in 1998 – and Vitali Klitschko.
    Briggs boxed up until 2016, stopping Emilio Zarate and then campaigning to fight David Haye.
    Talks later broke down as Haye claimed the American wanted the bout on pay-per-view.
    Briggs would spend years linked with a return against the likes of Lucas Browne, Alexander Ustinov and Fres Oquendo but the fights never came off.
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    In 2017, he was suspended for six months by the WBA after a failed drug tests for high levels of testosterone.
    Briggs also tried to organise exhibitions with boxing icon Mike Tyson and UFC legend Rampage Jackson to no success.
    Although he has now claimed his return is back on during a podcast interview with old rival Jackson.
    Briggs said: “The only reason I haven’t been active is nobody will fight me. They scared.
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    “Listen, look at my resume. I’m 51, 000 years old and I still hit hard, I’m still an animal, look at me.
    “You don’t lose power, no power lost and I can still take a punch.”
    Briggs wants to fight for the world title once more and could try and break George Foreman’s record as oldest heavyweight champ, which is 46.
    He said: “I’m coming back, yeah. This is my first fight. I’ll go on a ten fight run – that’s my goal.
    “Yeah, I want to get back in shape, Champ. I want to give myself about a year of two, fight myself back into shape, and then I wanna go for something big, I want real boxers.
    Briggs has not fought since 2016Credit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun More

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    When is Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk? UK start time, TV channel, live stream, details for huge blockbuster fight

    TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk look like they’re finally set to clash in a huge undisputed fight. After months and months of negotiating, both men look to have signed on the dotted line and the fight is going to go ahead.
    Fury and Usyk stared down in the ring after the former beat Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
    Oleksandr Usyk beat Daniel Dubois to defend his world titles in AugustCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Fury holds the WBC title and overcame Francis Ngannou in controversial circumstances at the end of October.
    The Gypsy King was dropped in the third round before labouring to a points win.
    Usyk is coming off wins over Fury’s compatriots in Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua.
    The fight is one of the biggest that can be made in the sport and will be the first time that all four titles are on the line.
    Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF straps, has a record of 21-0, while Fury, also undefeated, sits at 33-1-0.

    When is Fury vs Usyk going to take place?

    Fury’s clash with Usyk is set to take place sometime in February, with an announcement imminent.
    The bout will be held in Saudi Arabia.
    Expect ring-walks to get going from around 10.30pm UK time.

    What TV channel will it be on?
    Fury vs Usyk will likely be shown live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK.
    You can live stream the action from the TNT Sports Box Office app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
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    What has been said?
    The pair met in the ring for a stare down following Fury’s win over Chisora, and words have been exchanged since.
    Usyk released numerous videos in which he’s taunted Fury by calling him ‘belly’.
    In each video, the Ukrainian can be seen pointing towards his stomach and shouting: “Hey, belly, I’m coming for you.”
    Usyk has also said: “Fury, you talk about greatness in boxing.
    “But, at the same time, you say, ‘Give me a lot of money’.
    “Greatness in boxing is not determined by money. Greatness comes from a victorious path.
    Fury and Usyk have been trading verbal jabs over the last couple of monthsCredit: Getty
    “You say that I avoid you, but I never have. In fact, I have even come to you.
    “I am ready to box you even without any prize money.”
    Fury has said: “Tyson Fury here, WBC heavyweight number one. Usyk, calling out ‘The Gypsy King’ with your pathetic little call outs, dosser.
    “Rabbit, I’m coming for you, rabbit, you’re getting it, rabbit.
    “And I’ll tell you what else, I’m gonna bust you up real bad you little middleweight.
    “I’m going to slap you into a big pile of tattoos, sucker. Come on!”
    Fury has recently told his fans that he is going to stop trash-talking on social media and focus on training.
    He said: “Hi guys, as fun as it’s been over the last few days terrorising Usyk and his team, tomorrow I’m going to knuckle down into training camp.
    “And I’ll be doing a blackout as I always do on social media. Nav will be running my Instagram account, keeping you all updated on my training progress and how everything is going.
    “April 29th is definitely a worker, I will see you all on the night. Tune in or be there or be square.
    “This is the biggest event in British boxing history, the fight of the century.
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    “Two undefeated world heavyweight champions throwing down to see who is the number one in the division.
    “The undisputed world heavyweight world championship on the line. Peace out. Good training to Usyk, may the best man win. Get up.” More

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    Francis Ngannou reveals he earned more money from Tyson Fury fight than from entire MMA career beforehand

    FRANCIS NGANNOU revealed he made more in one night boxing against Tyson Fury than he did his entire MMA career. Ngannou walked out on the UFC as their heavyweight champion after 20 fights and 17 wins.
    Francis Ngannou made more in one night against Tyson Fury than he did his entire MMA careerCredit: AFP
    He left the promotion to pursue a lucrative boxing switch and agreed a deal to fight unbeaten star Fury in Saudi Arabia.
    Ngannou even dropped the Gypsy King and was deemed unfortunate to walk away a split-decision loser.
    But despite failing to get the win in the ring, the Cameroonian certainly got the result he wanted in his bank account.
    Ngannou said on The Last Stand podcast: “First off all, whatever would have been my next fight, from the moment that I left the UFC, was going to be way different from what I made.
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    “Because in the past three years in the UFC, I was in a contract issue that I didn’t want to sign a new contract that would have given me more money, but not enough, right?
    “Also the conditions and the terms which would have prevented me from doing boxing, which was one of my ultimate dreams that I wanted to do.
    “So it would have been different, even from my next MMA fight, completely different.
    “It’s at least more than everything that I have earned in my life, in my career.”
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    Fury’s controversial win over Ngannou saw his proposed December 23 title unification against Oleksandr Usyk, 36, postponed till February.
    The British legend is believed to have banked up to £65m for the crossover clash while Ngannou, 37, took home around £8m.
    He is now happy to wait till after the fight to rematch Fury, 35, as he wants to challenge the best boxing has to offer.
    He said: “I prefer to fight the top fighters. Why did I feel Tyson Fury? Because he was the top of the game. I want the best.
    “I want the big fights. I want a big show. I want everything big. But, at the end of the day, it’s a sport and we do what we have to do.”
    Ngannou knocked Fury down during the fightCredit: Getty More

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    Conor McGregor uses me for clout and gets me more OnlyFans subscriptions – I love it, says Ebanie Bridges

    EBANIE BRIDGES said Conor McGregor is using her for clout… and she loves it. The IBF bantamweight world champion is sponsored by McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout.
    Conor McGregor is sponsoring Ebanie BridgesCredit: Instagram @ebaniebridges
    Bridges said she does not mind McGregor using her for ‘clout’Credit: Instagram @ebaniebridges
    Bridges also runs an OnlyFans accountCredit: Instagram @ebanie_bridges
    Scroll down for more amazing pictures of Ebanie Bridges
    And the pair have also struck up a friendship with both reaping the rewards of the partnership.
    Bridges told Best Gambling Sites: “He uses me for clout really. He’s sponsoring me to get his brand out. That’s what sponsors do.
    “We met at the AJ fight and I wore his brand there, because he’s using me to get his brand out. Otherwise he’d be wearing a stout shirt.
    “But we work together because he knows – me and him – will get people talking about his brand.
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    “It’s not that I need him, but we both help each other out, we are both an asset to each other’s brands, we both help build each other, it’s not one-sided.
    “They reached out to me, it wasn’t me chasing them.”
    Outside the ring, Bridges, 37, is a huge hit online and on her OnlyFans account having made a name for herself with racy weigh in outfits.
    And linking up with McGregor, 35, has only boosted her popularity and bank account.
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    Avril Mathie fights Ebanie Bridges nextCredit: Getty
    She said: “Obviously being attached to one of the biggest sports people in the world, one of the most recognisable names in the world, being attached to that is obviously going to grow my exposure, it’s going get me more fans, it’s going to get me more subscriptions to my OnlyFans.
    “More followers on my Instagram and in the end more money. And in turn, we will both grow from it. It’s a positive in many ways. But I get more hate as well.”
    Bridges’ next fight is against Avril Mathie which she dubbed the “battle of the boobs” in a bid to masterfully promote the bout.
    She said: “I called it the battle of boobs because it will sell. It’s all about selling. Eyes on the sport. Eyes on me.
    “If I call it the ‘Battle of the Boobs’ people are going to check it out. It’s changing the look of boxing and showing different looks.
    “It’s showing you can be a model and be feminine and still box. You don’t need to be masculine if you want to box.
    “It’s about showing little girls they don’t have to be hairdressers and models, they can do what boys do.”
    Inside Bridges’ glamorous life as a boxing champion and OnlyFans star…
    Bridges is the IBF bantamweight championCredit: Instagram @ebanie_bridges
    The Aussie is known for her racy weigh in outfitsCredit: PA
    Bridges posing with her belt in lingerieCredit: Alamy
    Bridges has a legion of fans on social mediaCredit: @ebanie_bridges
    This was Bridges’ way of announcing her OnlyFans deal – by writing on her bodyCredit: Alamy
    Bridges always sets pulses racing on the stageCredit: Getty
    Bridges admits to also having ‘haters’ but claims to have made a ton of money from her online venturesCredit: Instagram @ebanie_bridges More

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    Inside Jake Paul’s ‘worst’ training camp for Tommy Fury, from struggling to breathe to hurting over Julia Rose split

    JAKE PAUL ignored pleas to pull out of his fight against Tommy Fury after having the “worst” training camp of his life. Paul was beaten via split-decision in the Saudi Arabia grudge match and gave a host of excuses for his loss.
    Tommy Fury beat Jake Paul in their grudge matchCredit: Getty
    That included a bizarre WET DREAM the night before the bout while also complaining of an arm injury.
    But trainer Danny Smith – who is now not working with the American – claimed Paul was seriously ill in the build up but refused to withdraw.
    Smith said on the Full Disclosure podcast: “The thing about Jake in that fight is, he had Covid.
    “We maybe sparred maybe four times for the fight. We left our training camp in Puerto Rico, went to Dubai, we ran maybe only three times.
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    “I mean it was one of those situations where we shouldn’t really have been fighting because of the sickness.
    “And coming down the stretch two weeks before the fight he had hurt his shoulder so we only sparred maybe two times.
    “It was the worst camp we ever had and Jake didn’t want to pull out of this fight because he didn’t know if Tommy would come back and take it.”
    Fury, 24, had twice pulled out of the bout beforehand due to a rib injury and US visa issue.
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    Jake Paul with former coach Danny SmithCredit: Instagram @jakepaul
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    So it left Paul refusing to risk another cancellation despite Smith saying he had an EKG – which checks for signs of heart disease.
    The coach continued: “We had to have an EKG because he was having some issues breathing. This was like three weeks before the fight.
    “He went to see a doctor with his dad and we all talked and was like, ‘Hey man, he doesn’t need to be fighting.’
    “We didn’t know what was going on with his heart with the Covid, we don’t know what will happen in the ring, if he’ll get tired we just didn’t know.
    “His dad was in agreeance and when he had the EGK and they said it was OK and he had the clear, we made weight by sitting in the steam room two times a day.”
    Smith also said Paul was suffering from a break up with his influencer ex-girlfriend Julia Rose during preparations to fight Fury.
    Social media influencer Julia Rose formerly dated Jake Paul
    Jake Paul was hung up over Julia before his fight with Tommy FuryCredit: Instagram
    Julia and Jake are now split upCredit: Instagram / @juliarosepaul
    He added: “He had just broke up with his girlfriend so he was highly emotional. That was damaging.
    “And I didn’t know how bad it was because Jake’s a pretty private guy and very tough guy, strong mentality and will.
    “He doesn’t share a lot and things that really bother him. But he told me one time, he didn’t look so hot in sparring and he was feeling bad over Julia and things like that.
    “And I was like, ‘Well I understand and I’m glad you’ve told me now but I wish you told me before sparring so we could’ve made adjustments’.”
    Paul, 26, bounced back from defeat to Fury and in August beat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, over eight rounds.
    And before the comeback victory he went public with new girlfriend Jutta Leerdam, a 24-year-old Dutch speedskater.
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    Paul now returns on December 15 against 10-1-1 professional boxer Andre August, 35.
    But he split from Smith after his first boxing loss and instead linked up with Theo Chambers of the famed Kronk gym in Detroit.
    Speedskater Jutta Leerdam and Jake Paul are now togetherCredit: Instagram
    Jake Paul with new coach Theo ChambersCredit: DAZN More