Boxing

OLEKSANDR USYK showed off a tactical tweak during his public workout on Wednesday.However, Tyson Fury proved he will not be fazed by the Ukrainian’s mind games during his own open session in Saudi Arabia.Oleksandr Usyk ramped up the mind games by appearing in orthodox stance in his public workoutCredit: Matchroom BoxingTyson Fury responded by hitting the pads in a southpaw stance with SugarHill StewardCredit: Matchroom BoxingFury and Usyk will meet at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday night in their long-awaited bout.The winner will become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.Ahead of the fight, Usyk was seen hitting the pads in an orthodox stance.He displayed a change from his regular southpaw stance whilst showing off his movement and skills with his coaches.READ MORE BOXING NEWSThe mind games continued, though, as Fury entered the ring later in the evening.Fury appeared in southpaw as he also switched from his usual stance of orthodox.The Gypsy King hit the pads in the ring with his trainer SugarHill Steward.Meanwhile, Usyk could be seen watching on and staring down his opponent from outside the ring.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSInside the Gypsy King’s royal courtTYSON FURY is one of the biggest characters in sport.
Fury’s light-hearted workout also saw the Brit play the air guitar as he remained calm ahead of this weekend’s bout.Tempers have already flared during fight week after an altercation between John Fury and a member of Usyk’s team.Tyson Fury shows off his air guitar skills to AC/DC and sings Mr Brightside as son Prince holds up WBC belt at open media workout ahead of Usyk boutThe cornerman was caught on camera headbutting a rival during media day on Monday.His son appeared relax at Tuesday’s Grand Arrivals event, though, as he wore a pair of bright trousers, black vest shirt and dark hat.Fans were taken aback by his new look, with Fury compared to the Undertaker and Boy George on social media. More

BOXING ring announced Lt Dan Hennessey has retired after accidentally announcing the wrong winner in a horror blunder.The bizarre moment came at the weekend in the WBA bantamweight title fight between Cherneka Johnson and Nina Hughes in New Zealand.Lt Dan Hennessey has retired after announcing the wrong winner in a boxing matchCredit: X formerly Twitter / @trboxingHe declared Nina Hughes to still be the world WBA bantamweight champ even though she lostCredit: X formerly Twitter / @trboxingThe two brawlers put on a top show as they battled all the way through 10 rounds.And after a tight contest, the result went to the judges’ scorecards.Challenger Johnson was the victor with a split decision.But instead of announcing her as the new champ, Hennessey mistakenly told the crowd that Hughes had retained her title.READ MORE ON BOXINGThe English scrapper celebrated wildly in the ring after the wrong call.And Hennessey was forced to backtrack before revealing that Johnson was indeed the true winner.But after backlash from Hughes and some fans, Hennessey has now announced his retirement.He declared: “I love all the support from everyone. Thank you all for the kind words.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“Unfortunately the worldwide backlash is absolutely incredible and it’s effecting my mental health to a degree where I will have 1 more show ever.“I am doing this show because I am still a man of my word and promised Sam Rapira that I would do it because he is a great mate and I refuse to leave him hanging.Footage emerges of John Fury getting KO’d TWICE in boxing career after claiming ‘we can’t be beat’ in headbutt stormHennessey eventually revealed Cherneka Johnson had actually won the fightCredit: X formerly Twitter / @trboxingHughes was left fuming with the error, forcing Hennessey to apologiseCredit: X formerly Twitter / @trboxing“I love and will keep in touch with all my friends from around the world. Thank you. No longer the world’s punching bag. I’m out.”On Sunday, Hennessey had offered a heartfelt apology for his error.He said: “I own it. It’s all on me. I take full responsibility for the Chernika Johnson V Nina Houghs controversy.“Not the Judges, not the sanctioned body. Me. I have apologized to all involved and now I apologize to you. I am sorry for what happened.“Again I own it and can only try and do better next time. Not my best day in the office. I guess all the s****y comments on socials I have coming.“Again I am crushed and sorry for my s***storm of a performance. You all deserved better. Sorry again.” More

THE JOHN FURY show continues to dominate the build-up to his son Tyson and Oleksandr Usyk’s historic showdown.The Gypsy King faces Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.John Fury’s headbutting antics caused headlines two days ago in Saudi ArabiaCredit: PANow he has called British fans who think Tyson might lose ‘traitors’Credit: APThe two men have been in the Middle East this week as the hype to crown a first unified king of the division for nearly 30 years intensifies.But it was the WBC champion’s father who stole the headlines after he HEADBUTTED Stanislav Stepchuk – a member of the Usyk team – on Monday.John, who was left with a bloodied forehead, was then screaming in the resulting melee: “We can’t be beat! We can’t be beat!”The 59-year-old then threatened to headbutt Tony Bellew after he predicted a Usyk win and has now caused controversy again with a bizarre rant.READ MORE ON BOXINGSpeaking to IFL TV, he has now launched a bitter attack on “traitor” British fans who believe that his undefeated 6ft 9in boy will be beaten this weekend and says that his family’s “heart is in Saudi Arabia”.John, who was a pro boxer himself,  blasted: “The Brits do that. The Brits are traitors aren’t they?“Forget Great Britain, our heart is in Saudi Arabia because we get treated like proper people and how we deserve to be treated.“I feel like a king myself and I am a bum.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSJohn had earlier broken his silence over the headbutting incident and tried to justify it by insisting: “I’m a warrior, that’s what we do.”He said: “[They] disrespected my son, the best heavyweight to ever wear a pair of boxing gloves.’0-1 to Usyk,’ says Oleksandr’s promoter after John Fury’s ‘ugly’ headbutt“Coming out with all that rubbish. He’s in my face, trying to be clever.“Coming into my space, ‘Usyk, Usyk’, nobody’s bothering with them. I was only chanting my own son’s name.“They stepped closer, stepped closer. So I’m a warrior at the end of the day, that’s what we do.“We’re fighting people, you come in the space, you’re gonna get what’s coming.”TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUTThat then led to Usyk warning Fury and John that his secret army of gun-and-knife trained soldiers will not stand for another assault.However, Tyson looked completely unconcerned by that threat last night.The Gypsy King rocked up to the Grand Arrivals event with a “new style” that left fans claiming that he looked like a cross between Boy George and WWE legend The Undertaker.John Fury’s maddest momentsHere are just some of John Fury’s most astonishing moments: More

LEGENDARY promoter Bob Arum has revealed who the best fighter he has ever seen in.The 92-year-old has worked with boxing icons like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury.Naoya Inoue is the undisputed bantamweight championCredit: GettyBob Arum (standing) claims Inoue is the best fighter he has worked withCredit: AFPBut Arum reckons Naoya Inoue is superior to all of them in the ring.The Japanese undisputed bantamweight champion, who is nicknamed “The Monster”, boasts a 27-0 record.And he survived the first knockdown of his career to KO Luis Nery in the sixth round during his last outing earlier this month.Arum, who watched from ringside at the Tokyo Dome, told Jai McAllister: “He is not only pound-for-pound the best in the world, Inoue is the best fighter I have ever seen, no matter the what weight category.READ MORE IN BOXING”In over 60 years in boxing, I have never seen anything like Inoue.”He’s a terrific young man. It’s scary with what I am seeing. He overwhelms really good opponents. I’ve never seen a fighter of that size perform the way he has. “Maybe [Mexico’s former featherweight champion] Salvador Sanchez had that ability. Even then, Sanchez did not win nearly all his fights by knockout.“Inoue goes in, boxes, and knocks these guys out. What we’re seeing in Inoue is something that is really special.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He’s as special to boxing.”We’re honoured to be playing a part in his career.”Naoya Inoue lives up to ‘Monster’ nickname as ref saves opponent Aran Dipaen Bob Arum worked with Muhammed AliCredit: GettyArum has worked with Inoue from 2019 and the 31-year-old superstar is set to fight Aussie mandatory challenger Sam Goodman next.But reports suggest he could be placed on the undercard of an event headlined by Anthony Joshua in September.TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT More

FOOTAGE has emerged of John Fury being knocked out TWICE after his “we can’t be beat” claims amid his headbutt shame.The 59-year-old’s Gypsy King son Tyson will take on Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.John Fury caused controversy this week with his headbutting anticsCredit: PAHe screamed after the attack that ‘we can’t be beat’Credit: PAJohn was knocked out by Henry Akinwande in 1991Credit: XJohn was knocked out by Henry Akinwande in 1991Credit: XHowever, it was the WBC champion’s father who has dominated the build-up after he HEADBUTTED Stanislav Stepchuk – a member of the Usyk team – earlier this week in the build-up to the fight.John, who was left with a bloodied forehead, was then screaming in the resulting melee: “We can’t be beat! We can’t be beat!”While his boy Tyson, 35, and even one of his younger sons Tommy Fury remain unbeaten, some fans are only just now realising that John has actually been floored before.He is a former boxer and bareknuckle fighter whose pro career spanned eight years and 13 bouts.READ MORE ON BOXINGJohn made his debut in 1987, losing to rugby league player Adam Fogerty, but went on to win his next six fights until a draw with David Hopkins in Helsinki on February 13, 1989.He rebounded with wins against Michael Murray, a future British title challenger, and Cesare Di Benedetto, a future Italian title challenger.That led to him being rewarded with a shot at the vacant Central Area title against Neil Malpass, only for him to lose on points.However, his career came to an end after two crushing setbacks left him out for the count.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe first suffered a third round KO loss against future WBO champion Henry Akinwande that led to a four-year absence from boxing.John then returned to the ring in 1995 but he was brutally KO’d in the fourth round by Steve Garber in Manchester.EXCLUSIVE: John Fury left BLEEDING after crazy altercation with Oleksandr Usyk’s team ahead of Fury vs UsykIt did not take fans long to respond, with one saying: “Explains why he picks on the little guys now!!”Another wrote: “In John’s memory he won these fights.”A third commented: “I thought a warrior got back up.”While a fourth added: “Best thing I’ve ever seen on the Internet.”Inside the ring wasn’t the only place where John was trading blows with opponents.He claims to have had “more than 100” fights in total during his life and insisted he had “never lost outside the ring”.Inside the Gypsy King’s royal courtTYSON FURY is one of the biggest characters in sport.
That included a bare-knuckle fight for which he was paid a whopping £100,000.Meanwhile, John broke his silence over the headbutting incident and tried to justify it by insisting “I’m a warrior, that’s what we do”.He said: “[They] disrespected my son, the best heavyweight to ever wear a pair of boxing gloves.“Coming out with all that rubbish. He’s in my face, trying to be clever.“Coming into my space, ‘Usyk, Usyk’, nobody’s bothering with them. I was only chanting my own son’s name.TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT“They stepped closer, stepped closer. So I’m a warrior at the end of the day, that’s what we do.“We’re fighting people, you come in the space, you’re gonna get what’s coming.”But that led to Usyk warning Fury and his dad John that his secret army of gun-and-knife trained soldiers will not stand for another assault.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, Tyson looked completely unconcerned by that threat.The Gypsy King rocked up to the Grand Arrivals event last night with a “new style” that left fans claiming that he looked like a cross between Boy George and WWE legend The Undertaker.John Fury’s maddest momentsHere are just some of John Fury’s most astonishing moments: More

TYSON FURY may try and turn his showdown with Oleksandr Usyk into a street fight, according to a boxing insider.The heavyweights collide in Saudi Arabia this weekend with four belts on the line in a massive unification bout.Tyson Fury is being tipped to use all the tools at his disposalCredit: GettyOleksandr Usyk is an outstanding technicianCredit: GettyAnd former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson thinks Fury, 35, will use all the tricks in the trade.He told Boxing News 24/7: “I can see Fury, if he’s getting outboxed and is losing the fight, reverting to type and him fighting – not boxing – but fighting. “It’s what he knows, he’s a fighting man.”I see a close fight, with Fury very possibly using the dark arts in there. READ MORE IN BOXING”He did it in the [Francis] Ngannou fight, and if he finds himself under pressure, he will revert to type I think.”Tony Bellew has claimed Usyk is a better pound-for-pound boxer.But Nelson thinks Fury’s sheer size could cause problems for the Ukrainian technician, 37.The pundit, 57, added: “I do agree with Tony. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”But the thing is, Fury is so much bigger, so Usyk has to deal with what he’s facing. “You can’t put that drama on it, saying what if they were both the same size when they’re not. The Sun’s Wally Downes Jr previews Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk from Saudi Arabia ahead of Grand Arrivals”Fury is so much bigger and Usyk will have to deal with that.”Fury has shed the pounds in the build-up to the fight – perhaps looking to combat his rival’s speed.Usyk, on the other hand, seems to have visibly bulked up.Fight week has already produced some drama as Tyson’s dad John Fury HEADBUTTED one of Usyk’s team.TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT More