Boxing

AMIR KHAN and Kell Brook were twice pulled apart at their first public meeting ahead of their grudge bout.And things got so heated Sky had to cut their live coverage.
Amir Khan and Kell Brook will finally get it on on February 19Credit: Reuters
And the pair quickly got in each other’s faces after posing for photosCredit: PA
And security had to separate the pair before things goy physicalCredit: PA
The warring welterweights – with a combined age of 69 – came face-to-face in Mayfair for the first press conference to hype their February 19 clash.
And, as soon as they were introduced and forced to pose for photos, they went nose-to-nose, butted heads and were pulled apart by security.
A war or words quickly ensued after Sheffield slugger Brook vowed to retire the former unified light-welterweight champ.
Khan took exception to Brook’s vow to knock him ‘spark out’, saying: “You ain’t gonna do s**t. You ain’t gonna do s**t.
“You give it the big talk, but like I said, we’ll see what happens on the night.
“But you better get in the gym and start training. You look well overweight now. You need to lose some pounds.”
Khan then branded the soft-spoken Brook a ‘p***y’ as the pair went back and forth over their stoppage losses.

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Sky Sports were forced to issue a live apology for the foul language in the press conferenceCredit: SKY SPORTS
And moments after Khan’s X-rated insult, Sky Sports placed a banner on their live stream apologising for the offensive language.
It read: “Apologies for the strong language.”
Later their coverage on Sky Sports News was cut with the studio presenter apologising and promising viewers they would later show an ‘edited’ version of the press conference.
After years of build-up, Brook, 35, is elated the domestic dust-up has finally come to fruition.
The former IBF welterweight king said: “Seventeen years this has been talked about.
“Even during the negotiations, this has been unbelievably hard works. It’s on, it’s been off, it’s on been, it’s been off.

“But we finally got it across the line and I’m ecstatic that the fans are going to see this fight, that they’ve wanted to see for years.
“I’m just sick of people coming up to me saying, ‘When are you going to fight him? When is it happening?
“Now we’ve got a date, February 19 in Manchester, and that’s when Amir Khan hits the deck for the final time.”
He later added: “This is the icing on the cake, this is the grudge match.
“I’ve been in the ring with the best pound-for-pound fighters.
“So this is the icing on the cake. This is what I need, this fight.”

Bolton bruiser Khan has blasted Brook for years but finally admitted he has respect for his fellow Brit.
He said: “Look, I respect him, he’s a fighter. Whoever goes into that squared circle, you have to give them credit.
“You’re putting your life on the line Kell signed, we signed. And now it’s time on February 19.”
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JOHN FURY has warned Eddie Hearn he’ll ‘bury’ him if he continues to say bad things about his family.Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn is often asked about the fighting Furys and isn’t shy in giving his thoughts on Tyson and Tommy’s respective careers.
John Fury made distasteful comments about Jake Paul’s girlfriend during a presser last weekCredit: QUEENSBURY PROMOTIONS
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn branded John’s rant ‘disgusting’Credit: MATCHROOM BOXING
And John has warned Hearn he’ll ‘bury’ him if he keeps discussing the FurysCredit: INSTAGRAM@GYPSYJOHNFURY
But passionate dad John has well and truly grown sick of hearing Hearn’s criticisms of his sons.
He said: “Eddie you have just got a problem with the Furys.
“Because you aren’t getting paid by them so you are jumping on any floating log you can to discredit a Fury.
“That is just you mate because you are Eddie the green-eyed monster.
“Look in the mirror and have a long hard think about your life and family before you call out others. You know what I’m talking about.
‘If we don’t want to go any further say nice things about the Furys because John Fury will bury you, you will wish you will never have heard the name.

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“At the end of the day let’s be nice to each other and work together, let’s not be jealous of others hard work because Tyson is the best in the world.
“He has proved it and he has had to earn his millions, so credit him not discredit him and you will go up in everyone’s estimations. It is bad to be jealous.”
John’s rant came after Hearn branded his actions during last week’s pre-fight press conference with Jake Paul ‘disgusting’.
Hearn told iFL TV: “I thought it was disgusting to be honest with you. You’ve got the younger generation watching that.
“Even, actually, for one time I felt a little bit for Frank Warren because I’ve been there on a much less cringe stage with KSI and Logan Paul.
“Frank was embarrassed. The language is terrible. I like beef, I love it, but for me it’s a bad look.
“It was disgusting, it was tasteless, the language was terrible – but me saying that it’s ‘Oh it’s Eddie, it’s just because he’s not involved in the event’.

“The fight’s not bad, I don’t mind it, but the production and everything was so bad. It’s a bad look for boxing, BT knows that and Frank knows that, we know that – but it’s none of my business.”
“Frank was embarrassed. The language is terrible. I like beef, I love it, but for me it’s a bad look.”
Tommy, 22, is just weeks away from his grudge match with Paul, which will take place in Tampa, Florida on December 18.
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TOMMY FURY has revealed he’s open to having a rematch with Jake – if the YouTuber doesn’t retire from boxing after their grudge match.The Love Islander will fight the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a Florida showdown on December 18.
Tommy Fury and Jake Paul will collide in a grudge match on December 18Credit: INSTAGRAM@JAKEPAUL
YouTube sensation Paul has talked plenty of trash ahead of their showdownCredit: INSTAGRAM@JAKEPAUL
Tommy Fury beat Anthony Taylor in Cleveland, Ohio, back in AugustCredit: Getty
Fury, 22, will earn the biggest payday of his career for his clash with The Problem Child, who he’ll happily face again once he teaches him a boxing lesson.
When asked if he thinks this will be Paul’s last fight, he told Frank Warren TV: “Yes, one million per cent.
“Unless he’s completely stupid and he wants a rematch. Let’s hope I can rob the bank twice.”
Fury – the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champ Tyson – recently likened his showdown with Paul to a legalised bank robbery.
He told talkSPORT: “It’s an opportunity you can’t refuse.
“I’m getting a chance to rob a bank and not go to jail for it, on a massive worldwide stage.

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“It doesn’t get any bigger than this for me, it’s come early – seven fights, 22 years old – I’m living the dream!
“You can’t say I’m not; I’m getting paid millions of pounds to go out there and deal with a YouTuber, in the sunny state of Florida.
“Does it get any better? I don’t think so.
“Fight number eight on my journey, this is my coming-out party.
“I’m going to be known very well in America after this because to even mention this guy’s name in the same as mine, in boxing terms, is terrible.
“I’m going to prove that on December 18 and all these so-called people that know what they are on about – ex-world champions – I’m going to prove that they know nothing about boxing when I go in and dismantle this man.”
Fury plans to raid the bank in double-quick time, saying: “After our last fights on the same card, I rocked up with four people to his after-party.

“I saw him and what did he do? He didn’t [do anything].
“He sent a security man over to say: ‘Please leave’.
“When he gets in the ring with me, he will find his level. He’ll be out in the first round.”
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FRANK SANCHEZ is quickly working his way up the heavyweight division, with the 29-year-old Cuban currently ranked No6 in the world by the WBC. He trains alongside Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and has been tipped to beat the unbeaten Tyson Fury if they fought TODAY by manager Mike Borao.
Sanchez has won 13 out of his 19 fights by knockoutCredit: Getty
He trains alongside middleweight king Canelo in the StatesCredit: AP
Sanchez could soon find himself in line for a shot at Fury’s WBC titleCredit: Reuters
Sanchez was the co-main event for Fury vs Wilder III, beating Efe Ajagba by unanimous decision to extend his record to 19-0.
And Borao believes Sanchez is the man who will inflict a first defeat on the unbeaten Fury, who’s record currently stands at 31 victories and one draw.
He told Sky Sports: “Frank Sanchez is one of the most active high-profile fighters today.
“Frank was the co-main event for Fury vs Wilder III, he has featured on Canelo’s pay-per-view fights, and he is now co-main event for the Charles Martin vs Luis Ortiz pay-per-view fight.
“His rise has been extraordinary, as well as his undeniable talent. I think Frank Sanchez beats Tyson Fury today.”
The Gypsy King is yet to confirm his next opponent after sensationally knocking out Deontay Wilder in October.

But he could find himself in a bout with Sanchez soon if the 6ft4in ‘Cuban Flash’ continues on his current trajectory.
Borao went on to say: “At Frank’s current pace, I have no doubt he will become No 1 contender in short order.
“The day Frank Sanchez gets the opportunity and fights for a world title is the day he becomes heavyweight champion.”
Sanchez returns to the ring against Carlos Negron on New Year’s Day as he works his way towards a world title shot.
Fury meanwhile is expected fight again in the spring of next year.
Dillian Whyte, 33, and Joe Joyce, 36, are among the contenders to have called out The Gypsy King.
Fans are desperate for a unification bout between Fury and the winner of Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk II, with that possibly on the cards for the end of 2022.
But Fury himself has called for AJ to step aside and let him fight Ukrainian Usyk.
Although recently speaking on his next opponent, Fury said: “I’m not really interested, because to be honest it doesn’t really make much sense who I want to fight at this moment.
“It’s who’s available and what makes sense later on.”
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