More stories

  • in

    Nigel and Conor Benn face off on punch machine and get exact same score despite 32-year age difference

    IT WAS a case of like father, like son as Nigel and Conor Benn took on a punchbag challenge together.The boxing dad-and-lad duo battled it out on the Good Morning Britain segment.
    Nigel Benn struck first on the Good Morning Britain challengeCredit: ITV
    Conor then set a target for his dad to matchCredit: ITV
    The younger Benn couldn’t believe his old man had equalled his scoreCredit: ITV
    And at first it seemed as though the senior Benn would have the upper hand.
    Dressed in a smart shirt-and-trousers combo, the 57-year-old Nigel stepped up to smash the bag.
    His strike registered a hefty score of 848, which host Ben Shephard understatedly described as a ‘nice start’.
    Conor, 25, was having none of it though and addressed the bag with a couple of warm-up swings.
    But the youngster – dressed in a tracksuit and trainers – could only register a measly 769, nearly 80 points under his dad’s score.
    While Nigel celebrated, Conor complained he hadn’t hit the bag properly and demanded another go.

    Strike two was a cleaner hit as the son sent the score rocketing to 860 to lay down the gauntlet to his old man.
    Shephard quipped ‘we might be here for some time’ as tension grew in the studio.
    But despite the 32-year-age gap Nigel was more than a match for his boy.
    The former two-weight world champion connected with another right-hand and fired the score up to 860 himself.
    The pair were happy to call it a draw with the spoils shared in the Benn household.
    Conor Benn stunned to see Anthony Joshua lose against Oleksandr Usyk and should have ‘bullied’ Ukrainian rival More

  • in

    Jake Paul boasts about tag of ‘fourth most clutch athlete of all time’ behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Jordan

    COMING fourth in any ranking behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods is worth shouting about.And Jake Paul did just that when he boasted about being tagged in the list of ‘most clutch athletes of all time’.
    Jake Paul has four wins in his professional career so farCredit: Getty
    Cristiano Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winnerCredit: Reuters
    Streamer Edwin Castro – known as Castro1021 – named Paul fourth on his list of sporting megastars behind Ronaldo, Jordan and Woods.
    Castro1021 tweeted: “Most clutch athletes of all time in the correct order: Cristiano Ronaldo. Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods. Jake Paul. Born winners.”
    Paul shared the ranking on his Instagram account for his 17.6million followers to see.
    The YouTuber-turned-boxer is undefeated in the ring with four wins from four fights so far in his short professional career.
    His last outing ended in victory by split decision over former UFC champ Tyron Woodley, who was making his boxing debut.

    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    The 24-year-old next faces Britain’s Tommy Fury in Tampa Bay on December 18.
    The pair have been beefing for months and will finally settle their scores in the eight-round grudge match.
    Paul has been accused of filling the fight contract with a series of bizarre clauses ahead of the blockbuster bout.
    Love Island star Fury will pocket a £423,000 bonus if he gets the better of The Problem Child.
    But he will be legally obliged to change his name to ‘Tommy Fumbles’ if he loses.
    Viddal Riley wants ‘traditional’ boxing career but will fight Jake Paul ‘if it makes sense’ after YouTuber calls him out More

  • in

    Who is Canelo Alvarez’s wife Fernanda Gomez and do the couple have children?

    CANELO ALVAREZ takes on Caleb Plant this weekend in Las Vegas for the chance to become undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world. But the Mexican does so with the backing of millions of Mexicans and the rest of his adoring fans around the world.
    Canelo Alvarez is married to Mexican super-model Fernanda GomezCredit: Instagram / @fernandagmtz
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    Alvarez, however, will have support closer to home cheering him on ringside at the huge event on Saturday night.
    Because it’s expected that Alvarez’s wife Fernanda Gomez will be in attendance, just as she has been for some of the superstar’s previous bouts.
    Who is Fernanda Gomez?
    Alvarez and Gomez are said to have been an item for a number of years now, after first meeting in 2016.
    Gomez, 25, is a celebrity herself in Mexico, and boasts a whopping 970k followers, though it’s likely she’ll hit a million this weekend following Alvarez’s fight with Plant.
    Gomez runs a boutique nail salon in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Alvarez was born.
    And she’s also a social media influencer, as well as a model.
    Earlier this year, following Alvarez’s win over Billy Joe Saunders, the pair got married.
    Alvarez and Gomez have one child together, a daughter called MariaCredit: Instagram / @fernandagmtz
    The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) congratulated the pair after pictures of their wedding surfaced online.
    “The WBO Family wishes lots of love and happiness to the recently married couple, Unified WBO Super Middleweight Champion Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez and Fernanda Gómez,” the post read.
    Earlier this month, Alvarez spoke briefly of his marriage to Gomez.
    “I feel way different, I am a happy man, more than before,” he told BT Sport.

    Do they have children?
    Alvarez and Gomez have one child together, but Alvarez has two more children from different relationships.
    Gomez and Alvarez share a daughter, Maria Fernanda, who was born in 2017.
    Alvarez, however, first became a father at the age of 16, just a year into his professional career as a boxer.
    That was from his relationship with Karen Beltran, and Alvarez is still in touch with 14-year-old daughter Emily Cinnamon.
    Alvarez then has a third child, a son, with former business partner and ex-girlfriend Nadia Sepulveda.
    Saul Adiel was born in 2019, presumably during a period where Alvarez and Gomez were briefly separated. More

  • in

    Eddie Hearn calls for Mike Tyson fight against Logan Paul to be scrapped with shock bout in works for February

    EDDIE HEARN has called for Mike Tyson’s proposed showdown with Logan Paul to be scrapped.A shock bout between the former undisputed heavyweight champion and the YouTuber is reportedly in the works for early next year.
    Mike Tyson is set to return to the ring in FebruaryCredit: Reuters
    The boxing legend will reportedly lock horns with YouTuber Logan PaulCredit: GETTY
    But promoter Eddie Hearn insists the fight shouldn’t happenCredit: Rex
    But after seeing Paul take part in a less than impressive exhibition with Floyd Mayweather in June, Hearn is adamant he shouldn’t share the ring with Iron Mike.
    The Matchroom Boxing chief told The True Geordie: “I prefer that to Floyd and Logan. I thought that was absolutely a load of b******s.
    “I thought, ‘What?’ You got a pound for pound great again against a bloke that, I mean, not can’t fight.
    “It was horrible, horrible to watch. Tyson and [Paul] it shouldn’t happen.
    “But I would at least want to find out what would happen in that fight. I hold my hands up.”
    Tyson, 54, made a spectacular return to the ring last November for an exhibition bout with fellow great Roy Jones Jr.

    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    But the Baddest Man on the Planet has jokingly claimed he may not get the better of the elder Paul brother if they do trade blows.
    When asked how he thinks he’d get on against The Maverick, Tyson laughed and said: “Maybe.
    “I’m an old man, you know? I don’t know what I could do now.”
    He added: “Anything is possible, you know.
    “Because by doing this we have a great exponent of charities to give to so the charities win both ways.”
    Fan favourite Tyson revealed to SunSport last month that he plans to lace up his gloves again in February.
    He said: “I am going to have a return fight in February and we are pretty sceptical about the opponent.
    “But it will be a really stimulating opponent.”
    Paul, 26, has remained tight-lipped on the prospect of facing Tyson, although he did reveal he fancied his chances against the legend after going the distance with Mayweather.

    During an episode of his IMPAULSIVE podcast, he said: “Someone mentioned Mike Tyson, like how funny is it?
    “One great at a time. Or is it like you can only fight one?
    “My lawyer mentioned it and he was like, ‘No, Tyson will rip your head off, you don’t stand a chance’.
    “I’m like, ‘bro, I literally just went through all of this, you can’t tell me I can’t beat Mike Tyson. Bro, he’s old, old.’”
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
    Logan Paul is back in training ahead of potential Mike Tyson fight More

  • in

    Jake Paul has filled Tommy Fury fight contract with ‘bizarre’ clauses and is ‘being awkward’, claims dad John

    JAKE PAUL has filled his fight contract with Tommy Fury with a number of ‘bizarre clauses’, according to the Love Island star’s dad John.The YouTuber turned boxer will finally settle his beef with the youngest Fury brother in a grudge match on December 18.
    Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will throw down in Florida on December 18Credit: Instagram / Jake Paul
    Fury and Paul have been going back and forth at one another for several monthsCredit: BT Sport
    And Fury’s dad John has claimed the pair’s bout agreement is full of ‘bizzare’ clausesCredit: REX
    It’s been revealed that Fury must change his surname if he loses the battle of social media stars, with doting dad John revealing there are a number of ‘awkward’ stipulations.
    The 57-year-old told BT Sport: “[Paul’s team] are being awkward.
    “The contract has been bizarre. If I was going to go through what they’ve put in the contract, we’d be here all day.
    “I’ve said yes to everything; yes, yes, yes, yes, do what you’ve got to do because I know Jake Paul can’t beat Tommy no matter what he does.”
    Fury, 22, will pocket a £423,000 bonus if he gets the better of The Problem Child, although he’ll legally be obliged to change his name to ‘Tommy Fumbles’ if he loses.
    An excerpt of the pair’s bout agreement which read: “If Fury is declared the winner of the Bout, Paul hereby agrees to pay Fury Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) directly from Paul’s purse as an additional fighter bonus.

    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
    “However, if Paul is declared the winner of the Bout, Fury hereby agrees to (i) commence, within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the Bout, an application process with the Royal Courts of Justice in the United Kingdom to obtain a deed poll legally changing Fury’s name to “Tommy Fumbles,” (ii) change, within twenty four (24) hours of the Bout, all of his social media accounts to reflect the name “Tommy Fumbles:, and (iii) immediately after the Bout utilise the name “Tommy Fumbles” in all forms of media…”
    Fury – the half-brother of WBC heavyweight Tyson – has a wealth of boxing experience to his name in comparison to Paul.
    And dad John is confident his son will do a number on the outspoken and divisive Youtuber.
    He said: “Tommy knows he’s up against a stacked deck, but he should still beat Jake Paul at a canter.
    “And if he can’t, there’s no way in the boxing world for him.
    “It’s make or break, for both men, but it’ll hit Tommy harder because Tommy’s supposed to be a professional boxer.
    “Tommy will work hard, he’ll do what he’s gotta do.
    “Has Tommy got the skill to beat him? Yes. Has he got the power to knock him out? Yes.
    “All it is with Tommy – he’s young, can he handle the big occasion on the night?

    “But I’m sure he’s thought about it many times before and he’s got the king of the ring in his corner.
    “Tyson’s gonna be in his corner that night. I think Tyson’s flying out there in a few weeks to help him out.
    “Whatever desire he’s missing, Tyson will put there, I’m sure of that.”

    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
    Jake Paul predicts a ‘massacre’ against Tommy Fury in December 18 grudge match More

  • in

    Canelo Alvarez start time against Caleb Plant will NOT be delayed if UFC 268 main card runs over after Kovalev shambles

    CANELO ALVAREZ’s eagerly-anticipated showdown with Caleb Plant will NOT be pushed back this weekend – despite its clash with a monster UFC card.The pound-for-pound king’s undisputed super-middleweight title fight with the American will take place at the same time as a blockbuster UFC 268 card at Madison Square Garden.
    Canelo Alvarez will bid to unify the super-middleweight division against Caleb Plant this weekendCredit: Rex
    But the mouthwatering bout will clash with a stacked UFC 268 card at MSGCredit: UFC
    Golden Boy delayed the start of Canelo’s bout with Sergei Kovalev the last time they clashed with a UFC eventCredit: GETTY
    But Showtime Sports chief Stephen Espinoza insist that won’t be happening this weekendCredit: MARK ROBINSON
    But Showtime have no plans to push back the pair’s ring walks to accommodate for the bonanza of mixed martial arts at the Garden.
    Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza told ESPN: “We’re completely unconcerned with the timing of any other competing event.
    “Canelo Alvarez is the No.1 star in boxing by far at the box office.
    “We wouldn’t be doing his event justice if we were putting his audience in the arena, and on television, on a delay and sort of compromising the viewer experience and fan experience to accommodate some other event happening across the country.”
    Espinoza anticipates some ‘crossover’ but is confident the UFC’s penultimate pay-per-view card of the year won’t detract from Canelo’s potentially historic bout.
    He said: “I’m not saying that competing combat sports on that same night will never draw from our audience.

    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
    “But in terms of the overlapping fan appeal, I don’t think there are any Canelo fans who are worried about Colby Covington and vice versa for that matter.
    “Undoubtedly, there is some crossover.
    “But if you look at the kinds of events, the demographics, we’re relatively unconcerned about losing [our] audience.”
    But renowned pundit and coach Teddy Atlas reckons several boxing fans will end up tuning into Kamaru Usman’s clash with bitter rival Colby Covington.
    He said: “Those fans will say, ‘I’m going to go over where I’m guaranteed a competitive fight, I’m going to go with the sure thing, and guess what else I’m going to get? The undercard.’
    “Boxing fans are not dumb. I have news for the promoters: The gig is up.
    “They’ve been suffering through some of the crap on the undercards and guess what? There is no crap on the undercard of the UFC.
    “Every one of those fights can be life or death, every one of those fights can be a war.”
    Canelo will bid to become undisputed 168lb champion this wekeendCredit: REX
    The clash of pay-per-view events is the second time in three years a Canelo fight has fallen on the same night as a UFC pay-per-view event.
    In November 2019, the Mexican’s WBO light-heavyweight title fight with Sergei Kovalev clashed with Jorge Masvidal’s UFC 244 clash with Nate Diaz.
    And that night, Golden Boy made the stunning decision to delay the fight until after the conclusion of the BMF fight.
    That delay led to a fully kitted out Canelo catching some shut-eye less than an hour before his 11th-round KO of the Russian.

    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    Canelo Alvarez would ‘love to fight in England’ as promoter Eddie Hearn teases Mexican star headlining at Wembley More

  • in

    Carl Frampton warns Canelo Alvarez about ‘dangerous’ fight with Artur Beterbiev, who has an incredible 100% KO record

    CARL FRAMPTON has called boxing’s KO king Artur Beterbiev a “dangerous” fight for Canelo Alvarez. Beterbiev holds the stunning record after 16 KOs in as many fights at light-heavyweight, where he reigns as WBC and IBF champion.
    Canelo Alvarez training ahead of his fight with Caleb PlantCredit: Getty
    Artur Beterbiev has a 100 per cent KO ratioCredit: Rex
    But such is pound-for-pound great Canelo’s fearlessness, he has opened the door to stepping up in weight once more to challenge the Russian danger man.
    And his status as the sport’s top attraction could even put him in position to dictate terms to suit him more – like making Beterbiev lose precious pounds.
    Frampton, 34, said: “You move up to light-heavyweights and Beterbiev gives him problems, that is a dangerous fight. 
    “And if he takes that fight – because it has been mentioned – it’s a dangerous, dangerous fight. 
    “But I’d imagine if it does come off, it would probably be a few pounds below light-heavyweight to suit Canelo.”  
    The Mexican superstar’s only career defeat came in 2013, when Floyd Mayweather, now 44, used a similar tactic.

    He made Canelo fight at a catchweight of 152lb, opposed to the usual 154lb light-middleweight limit, and cruised to a points win.
    But since that setback aged 23, Alvarez has never looked back since, winning titles in four divisions all the way up to light-heavyweight.
    At super-middle, 31-year-old Canelo is the current WBC, WBA and IBF champion and attempts undisputed glory against Caleb Plant over the weekend.
    Already he has beaten Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, both 31, at 168lb.
    And with the British pair now crossed off the list, Frampton tips unbeaten duo Plant, 29, and David Benavidez as the only other threats at the weight.
    He said: “Before the Callum Smith fight, I had three super-middleweights who I thought would give him issues. 
    “One was Callum Smith – and he didn’t give him issues but I thought before the fight that he would – the other one was Plant, and we’re going to see how that works out very soon.
    You move up to light-heavyweights and Beterbiev gives him problems, that is a dangerous fight. Carl Frampton
    “Another one was Benavidez, I think Benavidez definitely gives him some trouble, he’s a young kind of dangerous punching Mexican, good fighter as well. 
    “I don’t know if he would beat him, I would be betting Canelo but he’d definitely give him issues.”
    Plant has won all 21 of his fights, looking classy in the process, but is now facing the biggest task in boxing.
    And while Frampton backs the American to cause uncomfortable moments for Canelo, he cannot pick against the Mexican great.
    Frampton said: “I think it’s a good fight, I think Plant will give Canelo a few issues for a while, but I think [Canelo will] figure him out and beat him, potentially stop him late. 
    “Maybe beat him on points, but I think there will be a few rounds, especially in the first half of the fight, his movement will cause Canelo some problems. 
    “But [Canelo will] work him out, like he works them all out.”
    BT Sport Box Office will show Canelo v Plant exclusively live in the UK on Saturday 6th November. For more info go to www.bt.com/sportboxoffice
    Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant came to blows in the press conference ahead of their fight
    Canelo Alvarez shows off ferocious power punches ahead of Caleb Plant fight More

  • in

    Viddal Riley wants ‘traditional’ boxing career but WILL fight Jake Paul ‘if it makes sense’ after YouTuber calls him out

    VIDDAL RILEY admitted he wanted a ‘traditional’ boxing career – but WILL fight Jake Paul ‘if it makes sense’. Riley was an elite amateur boxer before turning professional in America under Floyd Mayweather’s uncle Jeff.
    Viddal Riley is a 4-0 professional boxerCredit: PA
    Jake Paul in his fight with Tyron WoodleyCredit: Getty
    But he is widely recognised as the trainer to YouTube star KSI, who drew in an exhibition with Logan Paul in 2018 but won the rematch a year later.
    Logan’s little brother Jake is 4-0 as a boxer himself and emerged as one of the most polarising and disputed figures in the sport.
    Jake, 24, recently said he could beat Riley, also 24, which drew a reaction out of the unbeaten cruiserweight.
    He said: “This guy says that he believes he can beat me.
    “As a fighter, and someone that is dedicating their life to the sport, he should feel that he can beat other fighters.
    “But it’s never come out of his mouth before. I don’t think about him like that – I don’t want to fight these men. I want to keep my path traditional in the ring.

    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    “But if he says things like that? I will fight Jake if it makes sense and if certain stipulations are in place.
    “I won’t go out of my way to hype it up, to hunt him down and say: ‘You’ve got me next’. Honestly I don’t care.
    “But I can’t let him say that he can beat me. It’s too far.”
    Paul recently beat ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, and now fights Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy, 22, on December 18 in Florida.
    His first win as a professional was against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ – trained by Riley.
    But the former youth Olympian no longer coaches his social media star friends, to instead focus on his own boxing career.
    I will fight Jake if it makes sense and if certain stipulations are in place.Viddal Riley
    Riley has been unable to return to the ring since his last win in February 2020 amid ongoing injuries.
    And recently Jake claimed he would beat KSI’s former coach, such is his confidence.
    He said: “I would beat Viddal, that’s the level that this has gotten to.
    “It used to be Viddal is training KSI to come and beat me, but that guy’s scared, I believe I am better than Viddal, 110 per cent.
    “People will go, ‘Haha, this kid’s crazy, oh my god’ – after I beat Tommy? Who knows, look I have nothing but respect for Viddal.
    “I think he’s a dope guy, we squashed our beef, I’m not talking s***, I just personally think I’m better. He’s great, I just think I’m better.”
    John Fury says Jake Paul has filled Tommy Fury fight contract with ‘bizarre’ clauses More