Boxing

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.”
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

CARL FRAMPTON fears the cut Caleb Plant sustained after brawling with Canelo Alvarez may have impacted his training camp. The unbeaten American faces Canelo in the first-ever undisputed super-middleweight title decider over the weekend.
Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant brawled during a pre-fight press conferenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Caleb Plant sustained a cut under his right eye in the scrapCredit: AP
But the fight threatened to start five weeks early when the pair clashed on stage at the press conference in Los Angeles.
Plant, 29, threw the first slap but saw it dodged by Canelo, who then returned fire with two in response that left Plant with a cut under his right eye.
And retired Northern Irish boxing legend Frampton reckons the potential dismay from the gash has flown under the radar.
He said: “I do think the cut may have affected him and is something that’s been overlooked a bit. 
“I think it was probably about five weeks ago, something like that when it happened. And it wasn’t the worst cut in the world. 
“But it was definitely a cut that kind of affects sparring preparation and I imagine about five weeks ago Plant was right in the middle of his tough sparring. 

“So there may have been a week where he couldn’t spar to let the cut heal and whether he wore a full face guard or what, he may have had to put a full face guard on. 
“Some people don’t like them, so I think the cut has definitely had a little bit of an affect on Plant’s preparation.”
Canelo boasts titles in four different divisions, from light-middleweight all the way to light-heavyweight.
He was been beaten only once, at the age of 23 against Floyd Mayweather, now 44, in 2017.
Only middleweight rival Gennady Golovkin, 39, has come close to giving Canelo a loss, with the Kazakh unlucky to get a draw in 2017 before losing the rematch a year on.
Mayweather’s style contrasts with GGG’s but gives Plant – the 21-0 IBF champion – two different blueprints to follow.
I do think the cut may have affected him and something that’s been overlooked a bit. Carl Frampton
And his decision to bring in the great Andre Ward, who retired in 2016 at 32-0, and his trainer Virgil Hunter, gives a hint to what game plan will be followed.
Frampton, 34, said: “I think it’s a big kind of indicator for how he’s going to approach the fight that he’s employed Virgil Hunter and Andre Ward. 
“I think it will be kind of a more sensible boxing approach rather than a gung ho, stand and trade with Canelo, I think that would be the wrong thing to do. 
“At times in his fights, he does that, he has the fluidity and the nice movement but sometimes he stands and it gets a bit sloppy and has a fight. 
“I think they’ll be drilling it into his head not to do that this time.
“But, I think if I’m his coach I’d tell him to try and move, don’t stay on the ropes, your jab has to be landing. 
“But it’s easier said than done when you’re fighting Canelo.” 
Andre Ward has been in Caleb Plant’s training campCredit: @SweetHandsPlant
Andre Ward pictured training Caleb PlantCredit: @SweetHandsPlant

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 More

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.

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“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.”
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Jake Paul predicts a ‘massacre’ against Tommy Fury in December 18 grudge match More