Boxing

DAVID HAYE is set to come out of retirement in a comeback fight against Joe Fournier, it has been reported. The British boxing legend hung up the gloves in 2018 after consecutive defeats against Tony Bellew.
David Haye is set to come out of retirement in a comeback fight against Joe FournierCredit: AP:Associated Press
British business tycoon Joe FournierCredit: Rex Features
Having been plagued by injuries throughout his career, Haye appeared happy on the sidelines as a manager and promoter.
But according to ESPN, the former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion is back.
And he will return in an eight-round bout against businessman Fournier on September 11 in a professional bout NOT an exhibition, the report adds.
Interestingly, the pair are good friends, and Fournier even fought on cards promoted by Haye having signed with Hayemaker Promotions in 2016.
The entrepreneur, who is officially unbeaten in ten fights, returned to the ring after five years out in April under Triller’s ‘Fight Club’ banner.
Fournier, 38, knocked out musician Reykon, 34, on Jake Paul’s undercard and afterwards called out the YouTuber.
Haye even tried TO organise a fight for the nightclub tycoon against Paul, having had a prior relationship with trainer BJ Flores.
So it comes out of left field that the former two-weight champion has decided to face Fournier.
Headlining the night is Oscar De La Hoya, 48, who retired 13 years ago after a one-sided beating to Manny Pacquiao, who is still fighting at 42.
De La Hoya faces former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, 44, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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Also on the card, Anderson Silva, 46, will fight Tito Ortiz, 44, both ex-UFC champions, too.
Triller burst onto the boxing scene last November, when Mike Tyson, 55, come out of retirement in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr, 52.
Paul has also twice featured on the social media app’s promotion, beating ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, on Tyson’s undercard and then knocking out retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37, last April.
David Haye hung up the gloves in 2018 after consecutive defeats against Tony BellewCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun More

ANDY RUIZ JR is in talks to fight former world champion Charles Martin – who is trained by his ex-coach Manny Robles. Robles cornered Ruiz the night the unlikely Mexican-American upset Anthony Joshua in June 2019.
Manny Robles, left, pictured next to Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Reuters
Charles Martin, sat down in the middle, is trained by Manny Robles
But six months on and the underdog champion ballooned up to 20STONE and appeared to lose all control and discipline.
Ruiz, 31, was then beaten by Joshua, also 31, in their Saudi Arabia rematch and fired Robles afterwards.
He has since linked up with Canelo Alvarez’s esteemed coach Eddy Reynoso and beat Chris Arreola, 40, in his comeback fight in May.
Now, Ruiz could potentially face Martin, 35, in his second bout since moving camps, ESPN report.
The American is best known for losing against Joshua in 2015, twice being floored and failing to beat the count the second time.
Since then, he has won five of his last six, losing only to Polish prospect Adam Kownacki, 32, in 2018.
Martin has since risen the heavyweight ranks but most interestingly, he is trained by Robles, the man Ruiz dumped.
The trainer has since spoke out against his former pupil and the lack of concentration shown after winning the heavyweight titles.
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Robles told MyBettingSites:”After that I don’t know what happened, he’s acting like he won the damn fight.
“I did the best I could under the circumstances, I showed up everyday. I decided to take the camp to Mexico to get him away from his new friends.
“I never saw these guys before he won the title, I never saw them, never knew who they were.”
Watch Andy Ruiz Jr train in ring as Anthony Joshua’s old rival proves he hasn’t lost his lightning-quick hand speed More

THE grandson of Muhammad Ali revealed Tyson Fury is an inspiration to him – but not even the Gypsy King would have beaten his iconic grandad. Nico Ali Walsh is the latest to carry on the famous boxing name having turned professional with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
Muhammad Ali’s grandson said Tyson Fury would LOSE to his iconic grandadCredit: AP:Associated Press
Tyson Fury has been in the gym with Nico Walsh Ali
The 21-year-old middleweight makes his anticipated debut against fellow American Jordan Weeks this Saturday in Tulsa and will do so with several eyeballs watching on.
Helping on his journey is coach Sugarhill Stewards – nephew to the late, great Emanuel – who also trains WBC champion Fury.
Nico has been rubbing shoulders with the heavyweight hero, and has been taking note of the unbeaten Brit.
He told MyBettingSites: “Tyson Fury has not given me a tremendous amount of advice – I did not want to bother him.
“He was in training camp. Just being around him is enough for me. Just watching Tyson and seeing how he works and his work ethic.
Everyone wants to knockout Muhammad Ali’s grandson. Nico Ali Walsh
“Nobody sees the stuff he does behind closed doors, the stuff the public does not see; that’s the stuff that matters and that’s what I’ve learnt from Tyson Fury the most. 
“I love Tyson Fury – and this is a complete biased opinion – but I don’t think anyone in history would beat my grandfather.”
Nico had 30 amateur bouts relatively under the radar in America but will always proudly represent the most famous surname in boxing history.
As a result, the prospect, who is currently a full-time student at University of Nevada, knows he has a target on his back like no other.

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He said: “Everyone wants to knock out Muhammad Ali’s grandson. I would never tell anyone who I was but they’d always find out.
“And when they did, they’d always try to knock me out or hurt me because they wanted to be able to say, ‘Hey, I hurt Muhammad Ali’s grandson, I knocked out Muhammad Ali’s grandson’.
“I say being Muhammad Ali’s grandson is a blessing and a curse and that falls under the curse category.”
Muhammad Ali’s grandson NicoCredit: Social Media – Refer to Source More

JAKE PAUL said ‘it wouldn’t be pretty’ if he met Billy Joe Saunders ‘in a street fight’ as he named Canelo Alvarez as his dream opponent. The YouTuber, who is 3-0 in his career all by knockout, has previously called to fight Canelo in just three years time.
Jake Paul said ‘it wouldn’t be pretty’ if he met Billy Joe Saunders ‘in a street fight’Credit: The Mega Agency
Billy Joe Saunders was beaten by Canelo Alvarez in MayCredit: AP
And he took confidence from watching Brit Saunders and Turk Avni Yildirim – Alvarez’s last two opponents – get a shot at the Mexican superstar.
Paul, 24, audaciously told talkSPORT: “Anything is possible – I think my goal is to become a world champion, just to laugh and say I did it.
“And I see a ton of big names on the path to becoming world champion. And I think the ultimate fight right now would probably be me against Canelo.
“I always say, this Turkish guy and Billy Joe Saunders, they all went in there and got embarrassed.
“I’m bigger, stronger, taller, and more athletic than all of those guys. If I saw any of those guys in the street, in a street fight, it wouldn’t be pretty.”
Anything is possible – I think my goal is to become a world champion, just to laugh and say I did it. Jake Paul
Yildirim, 29, was beaten by Canelo, 31, in just three rounds of his WBC super-middleweight mandatory title fight in February.
But three months later, Saunders, 31, pushed Alvarez for all eight rounds until a right uppercut closed the show.
The 2008 Olympian suffered four fractures in his face and was rightfully pulled out by his corner.
A month earlier, Paul extended his KO run by beating retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37, in the first round.
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Jake Paul entered elite company

It added to his prior wins over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA point guard Nate Robinson, 37.
But he faces his biggest challenge to date on August 29, against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39.
Paul said: “It’s a step up in competition – this is really just the start.”
Jake Paul backs sparring partner Anthony Taylor to BEAT rival Tommy Fury More

JAKE PAUL fears a fight with Tommy Fury may collapse as he backed sparring partner Anthony Taylor to upset the odds… ‘Rocky’ style. Fury will make his US debut against Taylor – an MMA fighter – on August 29, with Paul headlining the night against Tyron Woodley.
Tommy Fury fights Anthony Taylor on Jake Paul’s undercardCredit: PA
Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy
If all goes to plan and the celebrity pair both win, it perfectly paves the way for an expected pay-per-view fight between them straight after.
But Paul has warned not to count Taylor out, having sparred the Bellator lightweight in his past two training camps.
And he predicted a repeat of Sylvester Stallone’s 1979 classic where his iconic Rocky character trumped Russian brute Ivan Drago.
For that reason, he told Fury not to make any future fight plans.
Paul, 24, told SunSport: “I expect a Rocky-Drago, upset.
“Anthony is a great fighter, he’s a tough kid and I think Tommy has a very hard fight against him coming up.
“And, I think he’s underestimating his opponent. I think that’s a terrible thing to do, and I want Anthony to win.
“I want him to beat Tommy, and be like, ‘Yo, Tommy, you can’t even beat my sparring partner, who are you going to beat me?’
“It’s going to be a fun one one to watch.”
I think he’s underestimating his opponent. I think that’s a terrible thing to do, and I want Anthony to win. Jake Paul on Tommy Fury vs Anthony Taylor
Fury, 22, is 6-0 in his career and turned professional in 2018 to much fanfare due to his older brother Tyson, 32, WBC heavyweight champion.
But his star power rocketed a year after when he featured on the hit reality TV show Love Island, coming runner-up with girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague.
Molly-Mae, 22, has also been dragged into the firing line thanks Paul and Taylor’s viral videos, only adding to the feud.
As a result, the YouTuber, who is 3-0 in his own boxing career, stands to financially gain with Fury winning on his undercard.
But the multimillionaire social media sensation admitted money will not be on his mind when he cheers on Taylor, 32, against his online rival.
Paul said: “I don’t need any economic interests, I already have plenty of economics going.
“There’s a long list of people that want to fight me, so when and if Tommy Fury loses, there’s plenty of other people and plenty of other fish in the sea to choose from.”
PAUL VS FURY?
Paul faces his biggest step up to date against ex-UFC champion Woodley, 39, despite having won all his fights by knockout.
He has beaten YouTuber AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and most recently retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37.
When Paul returns – in his home of Cleveland – he will do so with his new network, American powerhouse Showtime.
The CBS-owned network has also tied Fury down to a two-fight deal – leaving the door wide open for Paul to fight him.
He said: “It’s not clear yet that it will be the next step.
“But, I wanted to have Tommy be exposed to the US market, be exposed to my audience.
“I wanted to give him the opportunity to potentially shine in front of the world.
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“Because, no one has ever bought a Tommy Fury pay-per-view or seen a Tommy Fury fight.
“This is his big moment, and it does potentially set us up for a fight in the future if we can both do what we’re expected to do.
“Tommy’s ‘expected’ to win, I’m expected to win, so if we both get through, yeah it builds that narrative for sure.”
Jake Paul knocked out Ben AskrenCredit: Getty
Love Island star Tommy Fury is 6-0Credit: PA More