Boxing

TOMMY FURY showed off his incredible six-week body transformation with the Love Island winner looking shredded ahead of his boxing return.
Fury, who was in ITV’s hit series in 2019, posted the pictures on Instagram which revealed him ripped and ready for his fifth professional fight.

Tommy Fury showed off his incredible six-week body transformation

Love Island winner Tommy Fury is 4-0 in his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He captioned the snaps: “What happens when you apply and dedicate yourself for 6 weeks….. yep just 6 WEEKS.
“I said this the last time but this time is different, I feel fitter than EVER. 1 week to go…. let’s get it.”
Fury, 21, half-brother to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson, 32, is set to fight once again on Saturday, February 27.
The light-heavyweight is yet to have his opponent announced but will feature on the undercard of Anthony Cacace and Lyon Woodstock.

Super-featherweights Cacace, 32, and Woodstock, 27, will fight for the British title and headline the show.
Carl Frampton, 33, was due to top the bill, but his WBO super-feather world title challenge against Jamal Herring, 35, has been moved to March 27.
It came after Frampton was forced to backdate the bout because of a hand injury.
Fury will remain on the card and look to build on his last win in November, a second round stoppage against Genadij Krajevskij.

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The reality TV star called for a step up in class afterwards and recently revealed he is back training at his old amateur club, Steve Egan’s gym in Wythenshawe.
Fury told The Mirror: “Tyson boxed at the Egan gym and I boxed for them a few times in the amateurs so we’re taking it back to our grassroots.
“Boxing is my life. All I do is train and get myself on the road running.
“As soon as I got off the plane at Manchester Airport after Love Island, I said that all I wanted to do was box. So we went to see Frank Warren and got the show the road.
“Love Island was great fun, brought me a lot of privileges and earned me money, but boxing outweighs the celebrity life by a mile.
“Dad is training me as always, pushing as hard as he can. He is very old fashioned with Rocky-style training methods.”

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CONOR BENN hit back after Florian Marku said the Brit will ‘never risk his record against me’.
Benn had a ringside seat to watch the Albanian pick himself up from the floor but still dominate Rylan Charlton, winning in the eighth round.

Florian Marku called out Conor BennCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Conor Benn hit back at Florian Marku’s calloutCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Post-fight Marku, 28, said: “Listen, Conor Benn he never takes these risks.
“I start proving myself in Greece back then fighting the best, I beat the best guys in Greece.
“Conor Benn will never risk his record with me. I’m going in there to die and Conor Benn knows that and he will never fight me.”
Former kickboxing world champion Marku improved his record to eight wins with just one draw.

Benn, 24, on the other hand is 17-0 and faces 39-fight veteran Samuel Vargas, 31, on April 10.
He is already plotting a path to world title contention and insisted Marku is not yet on his level.
Benn said: “He’s 28 and he’s really got to push on now in his career but the reality is he just got bullied around by a light-welterweight.
“He did get hit with a left hook and he got put down. I beat undefeated kids early on in my career, I’ve been there, seen that, done that.

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“But then again at that stage in my career I was calling people out like me, so you can’t blame him.
“But ‘coward’? Come on, man. Don’t be silly. When he’s calling me out, I said don’t be silly. If that was my left hook you’d be put to sleep.
“You have to take it with a pinch of salt because you think about how many times I’ve been called out throughout my career, tons.
“This guy ain’t going to make no difference. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
“I beat a former world champion is Sebastian Formella, I’m fighting a guy whose fought the best of our generation [Samuel Vargas].”

Josh Kelly vs David Avanesyan – Round by Round More

CONOR BENN has urged Josh Kelly to move up a division, believing he is ‘too big’ for welterweight.
The comments come after Kelly was handed his first ever loss, having been knocked out in round six against European champion David Avanesyan.

Conor Benn has urged Josh Kelly to move up a divisionCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Josh Kelly was beaten by European champion David AvanesyanCredit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd

Benn was on course to face the Sunderland supporter in a blockbuster British headliner.
But those hopes appear to have been dashed, with the son of a legend instead preferring to see his rival step up to the 154lb light-middleweight division.
Benn, 24, told iFL TV: “He’s too big for welter.
“This isn’t MMA, this ain’t UFC, this ain’t Bellator. You don’t have to put on 15-20 pounds overnight to then grapple on the floor.

“You get constant blows to the head. You need to make sure you’ve got energy for the 12.
“You don’t need the size as much, you need speed, your agility, your fitness and it’s definitely at 154.”
Kelly, 26, started off the fight quick and asserted himself well in the opening three rounds.
But Avanesyan’s constant pressure paid off and he scored a knockdown in the sixth after clubbing shots in close.

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Kelly was then wobbled after he beat the eight-count and experienced trainer Adam Booth rightfully threw in the towel.
Benn questioned the 2016 Olympian’s engine and whether a heavy weight cut was to blame.
Avanesyan, 32, now has hopes for a world title while a domestic dust-up between Kelly and Nigel Benn’s son appears off the cards.
Benn makes his return on April 10 against Samuel Vargas and has plans to campaign for a world title shot of his own.
He said: “Listen, I’m still doing my own thing, I’m still a name, I’m still an entertaining fighter and people still pay to watch me fight whoever it is.
“So I’m on progression to world title fights. Get past Samuel Vargas, I’d like to go out and fight in the States.
“But, then again Vargas is such a tough opponent, he’s as hard as they come, such a seasoned pro, so I’ve got my hands full with Vargas.”

Josh Kelly vs David Avanesyan – Round by Round More

ADRIEN BRONER has promised to become a world champion again – having won his first fight in FOUR YEARS.
The US star made his return against Puerto Rican Jovanie Santiago, having not fought since defeat to Manny Pacquiao in January 2019.

Adrien Broner won his comeback fight after two years out

Adrien Broner had not fought since defeat to Manny Pacquiao in January 2019

Broner emerged victorious on his comeback in a close fought battle and afterwards vowed to win a world title at super-lightweight.
He said: “I knew he was going to be tough because he’s 14-0.
“And anybody with that ‘0’ wants to keep that ‘0’ so they’re going to fight like a bum fighting for a sandwich. I came in and I got the job done.
“There is a lot of work out there at 140. Right now we’re going to the drawing board with Al Haymon to see what’s best for me.

Adrien Broner won his first fight in four years

Jovanie Santiago was beaten on points
“But I’m definitely going back to the gym and I’m looking forward to getting one of those titles this year at 140.”
Broner, 31, was scheduled to face Santiago, also 31, at the 140lb super-lightweight limit.
But a day before the weigh-in, it was changed to a welterweight headliner at 147lb.
Broner came into the fight with his last win coming against Adrian Granados in February 2017.

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A loss to Mikey Garcia, draw with Jessie Vargas and failed world title attempt against Pacquiao followed.
Floyd Mayweather’s former protege admitted he was just relieved to finally get his hands raised once again.
Broner said: “That was cool. I want to go home and really look at my fight. I haven’t fought in two years.
“But I felt good, I felt like I won the fight. I felt like I beat him with the jab, honestly. But it felt good to get my hand raised though.”
The American, who last reigned as champ in 2016, was comfortably outlanded by Santiago, who connected with 207 of 697 shots, 109 more than Broner.

Adrien Broner has not been world champion since 2016

Adrien Broner vowed to win a world title again
But the four-division champion threw the more telling and eye-catching punches, and connected with 29 per cent, opposed to Santiago’s 30 pet cent.
Santiago said: “No, the decision doesn’t surprise me.
“Broner did a nice job in there. The decision could have gone both ways. He fought a great fight. We were in it to win this fight and he got the decision.
“I think boxing fans know who I am now, but in this fight I should have applied more pressure and the fight would have gone my way.”

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EDDIE HEARN has hinted David Avanesyan could face Conor Benn next following his demolition of Josh Kelly.
The Russian retained his European welterweight title on Saturday night with a brutal sixth-round TKO victory, with Kelly’s cornerman Adam Booth mercifully throwing in the towel.

David Avanesyan lands a huge right hand flush on Josh Kelly’s chinCredit: Matchroom Boxing

Josh Kelly’s trainer, Adam Booth, threw in the towel in the sixth roundCredit: Matchroom Boxing

David Avanesyan and Conor Benn pose for photos after their chatCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING

Avanesyan and his team were greeted backstage by Benn, who had hoped to face Sunderland slugger Kelly next.
And Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn retweeted a video of the pair’s cordial encounter.
Shortly after entering Avanesyan’s dressing room, Benn said: “You are an animal. You are an animal. I said round seven. F**king strong, mate.”
Benn, the son of British boxing great Nigel, then jokingly ribbed Avanesyan for scuppering his Battle of Britain with Kelly.

He said: “You ruined it, you ruined it. Now it won’t happen because you ruined it. Listen, I just came here to congratulate you.”
The Destroyer ended his meeting with Avanesyan by saying: “I’m looking forward to seeing you fight for a world title.”
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Benn, 24, was ringside for Kelly’s first professional loss and was impressed by what he saw of Pretty Boy in the early rounds.

He told Sky Sports: “Kelly was looking sharp, he was accurate.
“He landed some great power shots early on. I thought Avanesyan might be in trouble, but Avanesyan got to him.
“Kelly has got all the skill. He is naturally gifted. Why does he keep blowing up after four or five rounds?
“Maybe it is a weight issue, maybe he should move up a weight, because I like Kelly, I do. I’m gutted for him, to be honest, I really am.”
He added: “Everybody knows Kelly is good for four, five, six, but when it gets past that and it gets on top of him, he folds.
“That’s what happened tonight. Avanesyan kept applying the pressure. He will come back.
“He’s just got to sit down and question how much he wants it.”
HEARN VERDICT
Despite the emphatic nature of his first defeat, Hearn is confident Kelly has all the ingredients to compete at the world level.
He told Sky Sports: “Sometimes you come across a guy that will not be denied, that’s too strong.
“That has the will beyond others, and tonight that was David Avanesyan.
“Josh Kelly had a wonderful camp. Josh Kelly was in the shape of his life.

David Avanesyan and Conor Benn embrace backstageCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING

Eddie Hearn still believes Josh Kelly can compete at the world levelCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

“Josh Kelly couldn’t have been better in that ring tonight, but this man, he wouldn’t be denied. He was too tough.
“What we saw tonight was an elite welterweight. A world-class welterweight against a really good prospect who I believe can be a world-class fighter.
But he was just out-manned, he was just out-hustled, he was just outfought. As good as the start was, you could see him unravelling.
“I thought Adam Booth did a great job throwing in the towel, because it was the end.”

Josh Kelly vs David Avanesyan – Round by Round More

CANELO ALVAREZ showed off his new Ferrari as he revs up to face Avni Yildirim.
The Mexican superstar posed next to a red LaFerrari, with his outfit matching the motor, and beamed with joy.

Canelo Alvarez showed off his new FerrariCredit: Instagram @Canelo

Canelo Alvarez pictured with his next opponent Avni YildirimCredit: Instagram @avniyildirim

Canelo’s car fetches for around £2million with only 499 units having been released between 2013 to 2015.
But the four-weight champion is one of the highest-paid sportsmen in the world, with a £100m net worth, according to Wealth Gorilla.com.
Canelo, 30, fought just once last year as he became a victim of the coronavirus pandemic halting boxing’s progression.
But he claimed the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine belts after 12 rounds of domination against Britain’s Callum Smith in December.

Canelo now fights mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim on February 27, but plans on future unifications this year.
He already has a deal in place to challenge WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders, 31, providing he beats Turk Yildirim, 29.
Alvarez has already revealed he wants to fight FOUR times in 2021.

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He told Boxing Scene: “I truly wanna fight a minimum of three times this year.
“But I’m always open for one more. Of course, the possibility exists for that. I’ve thought about it. Don’t believe I haven’t.
“I love being active.”

Canelo Alvarez throws ferocious power shots in training ahead of Avni Yildirim fight and Saunders clash More

OSCAR VALDEZ won Mexican bragging rights in brutal fashion as he left Miguel Berchelt out cold.
The countrymen, who have feuded since their amateur days, finally settled the score in Top Rank’s behind closed doors bubble in Las Vegas.

Oscar Valdez brutally knocked out Miguel BercheltCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Miguel Berchelt recovers after his defeatCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Oscar Valdez won the WBC super-featherweight titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Valdez, a training partner of Canelo Alvarez, asserted himself as the dominant and more accurate puncher from the off.
The ex-featherweight champion made a breakthrough in round four after a left hook wobbled Berchelt, who was defending his WBC super-feather title.
Valdez, 30, kept up the pressure and after a barrage of shot landed, a standing eight-count was called.
Berchelt, 29, found himself on the deck again in the ninth after the challenger turned southpaw and again found the target with a rapid combination.

Valdez sensed blood and the chance to become a two-weight champion and in round ten he emphatically closed the show.
As Berchelt rushed forward, the double Olympian ducked under a hook and his counter left hand connected right on the money, viciously ending it all there.
Valdez let out a war cry and rushed around the ring having achieved his dream of winning the famous green and gold Mexican WBC belt.
Meanwhile Berchelt was left folded and face down on the canvas.

After the win, Valdez said: “There’s nothing better in life than proving people wrong. I have a list of people who doubted me. My idols doubted me.
“Boxing analysts doubted me. They said Berchelt was going to knock me out.
“I have a message to everybody: Don’t’ let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.”
Afterwards, pound-for-pound king Canelo shared a FaceTime call with his gym-mate and congratulated Valdez on the win.
Berchelt was rushed to hospital and had a precautionary brain scan but his CT was all clear and he was later released from hospital. More