Aurelia Butler

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    Jake Paul’s fight with ex-UFC star Nate Diaz is a ‘MISMATCH’ and will end in four rounds, warns Eddie Hearn

    EDDIE HEARN has labelled Jake Paul’s fight with Nate Diaz as a “MISMATCH” that will end in four rounds. The YouTuber-turned prizefighter returns on August 5 in Texas against Diaz, who is making his professional boxing debut.
    Eddie Hearn with Jake PaulCredit: Rex
    And the MMA veteran – who last year walked out on the UFC – had fans fearing after footage emerged of him in training.
    So promoter Hearn fears that unless Diaz was holding back on the pads, the bout will be one-way traffic.
    He said on The MMA Hour: “I watched Nate Diaz hit pads. You know it’s going to be a mismatch against Jake Paul don’t you?
    “But for it to be a mismatch against Jake Paul, like, yes [he’s getting smoked], yes. It won’t go four.
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    “Listen, unless it’s all a bit of a bluff by Nate what I saw. You can see people hit pads, and you know whether they [can box].
    “And we’re talking about Jake Paul. We’re not talking about Fury or Anthony Joshua, fighting an MMA fighter, you’re talking about Jake Paul.”
    Paul, 26, was beaten for the first time in February, losing a split-decision in Saudi Arabia to Tommy Fury, 24.
    But he snubbed a rematch to face Diaz, 38, who will be his FOURTH opponent formerly in the UFC.
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    Paul has wins over ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 41, and Anderson Silva, 48.
    But for the first time, he will fight over ten rounds and agreeing with Diaz to have the rules changed by the Texas commission.
    Paul tweeted: “If the fight goes to the later rounds, it’s obviously a big advantage for Nate.
    “I know that, he knows that (that’s why he made the request), the oddsmakers know that. But I don’t give a f***. I’m all in.”
    Jake Paul facing off with Nate DiazCredit: @mostvaluablepromotions More

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    Anthony Joshua lined up to fight his undefeated former sparring partner after Dillian Whyte rematch collapses

    ANTHONY JOSHUA could look to face former sparring partner Agit Kabayel after his rematch with Dillian Whyte collapsed. AJ and Whyte were in negotiations to fight on August 12 but Eddie Hearn came out to say the deal broke down.
    Agit Kabayel and Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @agitkabayel
    And now the promoter has named European champion Kabayel – who sparred AJ in 2018 – as a potential replacement.
    Hearn said on Boxing Social: “Kabayel was the European champion, he’s top 15.
    “He’s on a list of four or five that it could be, but we need to close it out this weekend really if he’s going to fight on August 12.”
    Kabayel, 30, is unbeaten at 23-0 and fought as recently in March, beating Agron Smakici.
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    Joshua, 33, returned with a victory in April against Jermiane Franklin, 29, his first under coach Derrick James.
    So Hearn wants the pair to have one more bout together before the proposed Saudi Arabia blockbuster with Deontay Wilder, 37, in December.
    He claimed Whyte, 35, turned down an offer to fight Joshua in a rematch of the grudge match he lost in 2015.
    But the fuming former world title challenger hit back to set the record straight.
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    Whyte told SunSport: “They’re talking rubbish. I haven’t turned down the fight. 
    “All I got, after Eddie talked publicly and often about making me an offer to fight AJ, was a very short email late in the evening on Friday 2 June. 
    “I absolutely 100 per cent want to fight AJ and called Eddie to discuss the offer but couldn’t get hold of him.
    “I messaged him too. I didn’t hear back from him so I sent him an email to confirm I wanted the fight. 
    “I didn’t turn down the offer or propose a counter-offer.  All I did was ask normal questions on his three-line email so-called offer.
    “Even before I emailed, Eddie was already saying publicly that his offer was unacceptable. So, why make it in the first place?
    “It is out of order to use me to boost AJ’s value in negotiations for the Wilder fight, without any intention to fight me. 
    “Heavyweight boxing is in an absolute mess at the moment and bulls*** like this doesn’t help.”
    Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua saw their rematch collapseCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING More

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    Dillian Whyte slams boxing ‘bulls***’ as he opens up on three-line email offering Anthony Joshua fight

    DILLIAN WHYTE is sick of his name being used in “bulls***” bluffs to save Anthony Joshua’s reputation.Promoter Eddie Hearn promised fight fans the winner of the Whyte and Jermaine Franklin November’s semi-final would fight AJ.
    Dillian Whyte did not hold back as he spoke exclusively to Sun SportCredit: PA
    But instead the London 2012 legend outpointed the American loser in an April 1 snorefest.
    And now the overdue third meeting between the 35-year-old Brixton Body Snatcher and 33-year-old Joshua – who lost their 2009 amateur slugfest but won the 2015 pro barnstormer – has been cancelled before it was even agreed.
    With Joshua being tied into a mega-money Saudi showdown with Deontay Wilder in December, Whyte always doubted the offer was genuine but played along with the talks.
    But now he has hit out at a string of issues that are leading boxing fans astray and potentially tarnishing his name.
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    “They’re talking rubbish,” Whyte told Sun Sport in response to Hearn’s claim he priced himself out of the August 12 O2 bout. “I haven’t turned down the fight. 
    “All I got, after Eddie talked publicly and often about making me an offer to fight AJ, was a very short email late in the evening on Friday 2 June. 
    “I absolutely 100 per cent want to fight AJ and called Eddie to discuss the offer but couldn’t get hold of him. I messaged him too. I didn’t hear back from him so I sent him an email to confirm I wanted the fight. 
    “I didn’t turn down the offer or propose a counter-offer.  All I did was ask normal questions on his three-line email so-called offer.
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    “Even before I emailed, Eddie was already saying publicly that his offer was unacceptable. So, why make it in the first place?
    “It is out of order to use me to boost AJ’s value in negotiations for the Wilder fight, without any intention to fight me. 
    “Heavyweight boxing is in an absolute mess at the moment and bulls*** like this doesn’t help.”
    Fans have been confused by the dozens of Hearn interviews claiming the highest earning British title fight in history is returning.
    The fight was on, then off and now Whyte is being accused of turning down a serious big-money offer, which the fighter categorically refutes.
    According to the no-nonsense heavyweight, too many untruths are being spread and he wants a few points made clear.

    The original June 2 ‘offer’ was a three-line email with barely any details to arrange such a huge show.

    Hearn went public on June 5 claiming an official offer had been made and talks were underway, which was way off.

    The money on offer – for an arena show in the middle of the school summer holidays when most ticket buyers are on holiday – is poor compared to the stadium spectacular fans have expected.

    Repeated efforts from Team Whyte to negotiate and come to an agreement were ignored.

    The Jamaica-born bruiser added: “Eddie has rightfully been talking about it being a stadium-filling blockbuster for years and I have chased this fight for eight years.
    “So I asked him why he would host the event at the O2 in the middle of August when most people are on holiday
    “He didn’t respond to my email or get in touch but carried on talking about ‘negotiations’ that simply weren’t happening and still haven’t happened.
    “There hasn’t been a single conversation with me, my lawyer or any of my team.
    “I chased him with a follow-up email on June 13, to tell him that the offer didn’t feel real and that AJ obviously didn’t want the fight and was going to wait for his Saudi payday in December.
    “I then did an interview with Sky on June 15 after which I got a short and weird response from Eddie saying that the numbers don’t work and that we should look at alternative options. 
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    “Let’s be very clear here, I told him I wanted the fight, I didn’t turn it down and I didn’t price myself out and in fact have not had a single discussion about it with Matchroom since the ‘offer’ and I didn’t make any demands.”
    Dillian Whyte is a VOW Nutrition athlete, the sports supplements Trusted by the Elite. More

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    I was born into poverty and grew up in a slum – now I’m a world champion boxer & multi-millionaire

    A BOXER who was born into poverty and grew up in a slum defied the odds to become a world-champion fighter and multi-millionaire.Roberto Duran scooped titles at lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight in a iconic fighting career spanning over 30 years.
    The legendary Roberto Duran in 1973Credit: Getty
    The Panamanian is one of boxing’s greatest ever fightersCredit: Splash News
    Duran, 72, is considered by many as the greatest lightweight boxer of all time as well as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history.
    He racked up an astonishing pro record of 103-16 during his time in the ring, with 70 wins coming via knockout.
    But the boxer – famously known as ‘The Hands of Stone’ – did not have an easy route to the big time.
    Duran grew up in the slums of El Chorrillo, steps away from the Panama Canal.
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    Born into a life of poverty, he shined shoes and sold newspapers from the age of five to help support his family.
    Growing up in Chorillo, a tough district, he had to learn to fight to survive from a very young age.
    In the tough neighbourhood, Duran wanted to stay in one piece, according to The Ring magazine.
    The boxing legend felt he was too young to die and developed his trademark tenacity and courage by learning to fight hard.
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    Duran’s own words in the documentary film ‘I am Duran’, on the reason he became a boxer were: “My family didn’t have money to eat, we slept in an entrance way, that’s why I became a boxer.”
    Duran, who fought professionally from 1968 to 2001, enjoys legendary status in Panama and Latin America.
    The retired Panamanian boxer reportedly boasts a net worth of £2,349,600 according to Celebrity Net Worth.
    Duran’s finest performance arguably came against Sugar Ray Leonard in the 1980 Montreal match up when he became WBC welterweight champ.
    But their second fight months later was one of the most lucrative fights in boxing history at the time.
    Duran withdrew midway through the clash by famously saying “No mas” — “No more.”
    However, Duran still earned a reported £5million for the rematch.
    Duran’s last fight was a defeat on points to Hector Camacho in July 2001.
    After a number of premature retirements in the 1980s and 90s, Duran retired for good in early 2002 following a car crash in Argentina.
    During his career, the second-longest of any boxer in history, the 5ft 7in superhero inspired a downtrodden nation and redefined what it meant to be a fighter.
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    A movie about his career was released in 2016.
    Duran was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.
    Duran’s greatest victory was arguably against Sugar Ray Leonard in MontrealCredit: Getty
    Roberto Duran in 1973 ahead of a fight against Juan Medina in CaliforniaCredit: Getty More

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    KSI’s pal accuses Tommy Fury of ‘piggybacking’ off brother Tyson and Jake Paul after brutally snubbing fight

    TOMMY FURY has been accused of riding the coattails of brother Tyson and bitter rival Jake Paul.TNT became a household name during his 2019 stint on Love Island but has continued to build his brand in the years since leaving the reality TV show.
    Tommy Fury rose to fame in 2019 after appearing on Love IslandCredit: ITV
    He continued to build himself up on the undercard of brother Tyson’s clash with Dillian Whyte last yearCredit: GETTY
    His feud with social media superstar Jake Paul boosted his public profileCredit: GETTY
    Viddal Riley has claimed Tommy is riding on the coattails of brother Tyson and PaulCredit: PA
    His public feud with social media sensation Jake Paul did wonders for his global popularity and culminated with a multi-million-pound payday in February.
    But fellow novice Viddal Riley insists Tommy would be a nobody in the sport if weren’t for the popularity of his brother and Paul.
    He told The Daily Mail: “Tommy without Jake [Paul] was fighting on his brother’s undercards getting a little relative touch.”
    Riley was recently publically snubbed by Tommy, who claimed the 25-year was “a lot lower” than himself in the boxing world.
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    But ‘The Rilest’ insists his numbers far outshine those put up by Tommy, saying: “I can fight anybody and they can get a high amount of views.
    “I fight guys that no one’s ever heard of and get a million views, Tommy can’t say the same thing.
    “He can only piggyback off the guys that do have names, and then claim that it’s his numbers. It’s just an excuse to say he doesn’t want to fight me.”
    Despite being publicly snubbed by Tommy, Riley – the former trainer of KSI – is still holding out hope of sharing the ring with the celebrity.
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    And he only sees their showdown going one way, saying: “If we fight I think Tommy Fury comes out worse than Anees Taj did on Friday.
    “I think Anees would knock out Tommy Fury. If he took the fight with me it would be very damaging.
    “I don’t know how much money it would take for him to take that hit on his brand but he couldn’t walk the roads the same again if he fights me and I think he knows that.
    “He will just start targeting JJ (KSI), someone I started training at the end of 2017.”
    Tommy’s proposed clash with KSI – who he nearly traded blows with last month – is seemingly “very close” to coming to fruition.
    And he hopes to use it to put an end to the YouTube boxing scene once and for all.

    He told Sky Sports: “Everybody knows what’s next for me, it’s being teased at the minute.
    “Hopefully, we can get this KSI fight over the line and I’ll knock off another YouTuber.
    “That’s my plan for this year. I want to end YouTube boxing within 12 months.
    “So that’s my plan. So we’ll see. I don’t know. I just take it one fight at a time.
    “All these guys are the same to me. There’s not one that stands out from the rest.
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    “They’re all about the same. So anyone can get it. I’m not bothered.” More

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    UFC’s Joe Rogan branded a ‘s**tbag’ by Tyson Fury for stirring up Jon Jones crossover fight as ‘offer’ is made to Brit

    TYSON FURY has blamed Joe Rogan for the talk of a crossover clash with Jon Jones – branding the UFC commentator a “s**tbag”.The combat sports world has been abuzz about a hypothetical fight between boxing and MMA’s heavyweight kings ever since Rogan claimed Jones would have his way with Fury.
    Tyson Fury is currently flirting with a crossover fight with UFC heavyweight champ Jon JonesCredit: GETTY
    UFC commentator Joe Rogan first talked up the hypothetical fight on the podcastCredit: GETTY
    Gypsy King Fury has branded Rogan a ‘s**tbag’ for stirring up the fightCredit: Getty
    Gypsy King Fury, 34, flew into a fit of rage at the notion of Jones getting the better of him in a no holds barred fight, screaming down his iPhone and posting the footage to Instagram.
    And he lays the ensuing talk of a cross-sport clash squarely at the feet of multi-millionaire podcast Rogan.
    During a recent Q&A at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA Gym in Phuket, Thailand, he said: “It was actually Joe Rogan, little s**tbag, who [started this].
    “Just out of the blue, there was no talk of me or Jon even fighting. Jon’s a great guy, probably the GOAT of MMA.
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    “[Rogan] said, ‘Oh if Tyson Fury goes in a room with Jon Jones he’s going to get absolutely smashed to bits.’
    “Like, if someone goes in the room with me and it’s no holds barred, you’re going to have to kill me to stop me.”
    Rogan’s insistence that mixed martial arts’ pound-for-pound king would have his way with Fury still irks the Brit.
    The WBC heavyweight champion said: “He didn’t say an MMA fight or a boxing fight, he said go in a room together and Tyson Fury’s not walking out.
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    “So I don’t know where it all started and Jon said something and I said something and we’ve being going back and forward.
    “There was never talk of me saying I was going to go in a cage with Jon Jones and go in there and get my arm snapped off.
    “No way. The thing was, I offered Jon, you want to walk in a boxing ring and make some real money then come and fight me.
    “But zero chance of me going in an MMA game and rolling around and all that. Zero.”
    UFC president Dana White has publicly entertained the prospect of Fury – who is without an opponent following the collapse of his historic undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year – entering the octagon.
    Tyson Fury has claimed to have been offered a ‘hybrid fight’ with Jon JonesCredit: REUTERS
    And Fury sensationally claimed last week to have received an offer from MMA’s top promotion to throw down with ‘Bones’.
    During a Twitter Spaces, the Brit said: “I’ve been in talks with Francis Ngannou for a hybrid fight.
    “There’s talks of me and Jon Jones doing a hybrid fight as we talk right now.
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    “I received an offer from the UFC yesterday. So, you never know what’s gonna happen.
    “The future’s bright for sure. There’s a lot of options out there, and it seems at the moment I’m still going to get an actual boxing opponent.” More

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    Eddie Hearn reveals deadline for Anthony Joshua to make August return as Dillian Whyte fight collapses

    ANTHONY JOSHUA must finalise a new opponent “this week” if he’s to stay on course for an August ring return.The Watford warrior’s domestic dust-up with long-time rival Dillian Whyte collapsed this week due to a purse dispute.
    Anthony Joshua’s proposed August rematch with Dillian Whyte collapsed this weekCredit: GETTY
    Promoter Eddie Hearn is hard at work trying to find AJ a new opponent for August 12Credit: INSTAGRAM@EDDIEHEARN
    Hearn admits the deadline to ensure AJ fights this summer is ‘this week’Credit: PA
    Team AJ are desperate for the former unified champ to take part in an August warm-up before a December dust-up with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
    Promoter Eddie Hearn is hard at work trying to find a suitable short-notice opponent but admits the clock is ticking.
    The Matchroom Boxing head-honcho told iFL TV: “There’s two or three opponents that we’re looking at but I’m not going to tell you who they are.
    “But we need to do it this week.”
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    Saudi boxing chiefs are fearful their proposed multi-million-pound grudge match between Joshua and Wilder could go up in smoke if the Brit fights later this summer.
    Hearn revealed: “Saudi definitely doesn’t want us to fight in August, but we want to fight in August.
    “And I think it would be good for his career to fight in August, so that’s still the plan.”
    “I don’t think Saudi want him to fight,” he told Boxing Social. “Because they want him to be ready for Deontay Wilder in December.
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    “But we as a team, Derrick James, Anthony and 258 Management all feel that it would be beneficial for his preparation to have that fight in August.”
    Undefeated German Agit Kabayel is in contention to be the man standing opposite AJ at the O2 in 7 weeks’ time, although Hearn admits he’s finding it difficult to find a suitable opponent for the Olympian.
    He said: “[Agit Kabayel] may be on a long list. Anyone in the top fifteen.
    “I don’t mind being honest – AJ’s going to fight Deontay Wilder in December. That’s our 100 per cent focus.

    “So he needs a fight against someone who’s going to allow him to work on, under the lights, everything he’s been working on with Derrick James.
    “There’s no point fighting a fight that’s against someone he’s going to take out in a round.
    “And it’s difficult to fight an elite, top three or five guy when you’re fighting Deontay Wilder four months later.
    “So we’re in a bit of a difficult position.” More

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    Usain Bolt almost gives himself a wedgie as he desperately tries not to get his shorts wet after stepping out of boat

    USAIN BOLT almost gave himself a WEDGIE as he tried to keep dry after jumping into the Ibizan sea.The fastest man on the planet is currently enjoying a well-earned holiday on the Balearic Island after his goalscoring exploits at Soccer Aid earlier this month.
    Usain Bolt is currently enjoying a luxury holiday in IbizaCredit: SPLASH
    The former fastest man on the planet enjoyed a nice boat trip with his palsCredit: SPLASH
    But he almost gave himself a wedgie trying to keep his shorts dry as he made his way back to the shoreCredit: SPLASH
    Bolt tried his best to keep his pale teal outfit completely dryCredit: SPLASH
    Bolt, 36, has been taking in the White Island’s beautiful sights on land and on sea.
    And he tried his best to keep an expensive-looking outfit dry as he strode through the sea after hopping off a boat.
    The Jamaican pulled up his matching light teal shirt and shorts as he made his way back to the beach.
    His shorts nearly mirrored that of a wedgie as he tried to make it to the shore as dry as possible.
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    Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Bolt called time on his sprinting career in 2017 following a hamstring injury in what proved to be his final race.
    He said: “It’s really sad that I have to walk away now.
    “I was saying goodbye to the fans and saying goodbye to my events also.
    “I’ve seen too many people retire and come back just to make it worse or to shame themselves.
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    “I won’t be one of those people.”
    Bolt turned his hand to professional football after calling time on his athletics career and joined Australian side Central Coast Mariners in August 2018.
    He scored a brace for the A-League side in an October friendly against Macarthur South West United but ended up leaving the Mariners the next month.
    Bolt hung up his footie boots the following January, saying: “I’m just doing many different things.
    “The sports life is over, so I’m now moving into different businesses.
    “I have a lot of things in the pipeline, so as I say, I’m just dabbling in everything and trying to be a businessman now.” More