Boxing

LEIGH WOOD scored a stunning knockout on Josh Warrington’s undercard, sending opponent Reece Mould through the ropes.
The featherweight pair put on a thrilling fight for the vacant British title, producing back and forth action.

Leigh Wood scored a stunning knockout on Josh Warrington’s undercard

Reece Mould was sent through the ropes

Mould was dropped in the fourth after a thudding uppercut, which halted his early success in the bout.
After some closely contested rounds, Wood found the breakthrough in the ninth.
A perfectly timed check left-hook sent Mould crashing to the canvas head first.
Somehow the 26-year-old, a training partner of Warrington’s beat the count, but was soon finished.

Wood turned southpaw and drove his man back, letting his hands go and after a flurry of hooks, Mould was KOd and tumbled into the ropes.
The Nottingham man, 32, himself was stopped in similar style by Gavin McDonnell in 2014 while challenging for the same belt at super-bantam.
Classy Wood wished beaten but promising contender Mould a speedy recovery and tipped him to come again.
He tweeted: “I really hope Reece bounces back from Saturday.

I really hope Reece bounces back from Saturday. He’s got plenty of time and ability, Been there myself back in 2014 know too well what it feels like pic.twitter.com/DdfAHeW9Iz
— Leigh Wood (@itsLeighWood) February 16, 2021

“He’s got plenty of time and ability, Been there myself back in 2014 know too well what it feels like.”
Further misery for Mould mounted later on that night as gym-pal Josh Warrington, 30, was handed a disastrous first defeat.
The Leeds hero was KOd by Mexican outsider Mauricio Lara, 22, in round nine, having been badly dropped and shaken in the fourth.
Warrington, who vacated his IBF world title in search of bigger fights, reportedly suffered fractured jaw and burst eardrum.

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YOUTUBER Mike Maljak joked best friend Logan Paul will fight Floyd Mayweather in ‘JUNE 2026′ amid their postponement.
Mayweather was due to face Paul on February 20 in an exhibition spectacle, but it has since been backdated with a new date yet to be confirmed.

Mike Maljak joked best friend Logan Paul will fight Floyd Mayweather in ‘June 2026′

HANDOUT PICTURE COMPLIMENTS OF MATCHROOM BOXING Joshua v Pulev Fight Night 12 December 2020 Picture By Mark Robinson Floyd Mayweather Jr arrives at the show.Credit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Maljak, who hosts the Impaulsive podcast alongside Logan, addressed the fight in a separate vlog.
He said: “You’re fighting Floyd Mayweather in June 2026, we got an update on the date.”
Logan, as well as little brother Jake, then chuckled with Maljak, revealing no more details about the bout.
In a statement provided to SunSport, organisers Fanmio said: “After an absolutely tremendous response to the fight announcement, we’re hoping to announce a new date very soon along with some new exciting details.”

With Logan, 25, in the dark about when he will next fight, attention turned to Jake, 24, who is set to face ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren on April 17.
The internet sensation predicted an easy nights work against Askren, who Jorge Masvidal beat in five seconds via a flying knee.
Jake said: “He’s tough, so I see him being knocked down in the first round. He might get up, but second round it’s over, 100 per cent.
“He’s also never fought a good striker. I’m going to get him right in the neck.”

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Logan turned pro in November 2019, in a rematch with social media rival KSI, 27, who he drew with in an exhibition a year prior.
He lost by split-decision having had two points deducted, which cost him the result.
Jake had his first pro bout in January 2020, stopping KSI’s friend ‘AnEsonGib’ in round one.
He then brutally KO’d ex-NBA point guard Nate Robinson last November, on the undercard of 54-year-old Mike Tyson’s undercard.

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DEONTAY WILDER has vowed to ‘clean out’ the heavyweight division and wants to start by facing Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr.
The former WBC champion has not fought since last February, when he was dethroned of his crown and lost for the first time ever in defeat to Tyson Fury.

Deontay Wilder vowed to ‘clean out’ the heavyweight divisionCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua pictured before their 2019 rematchCredit: AFP or licensors

Fury is now in talks for an undisputed title decider with AJ, despite Wilder believing he is still owed an immediate rematch and as a result launched a legal dispute.
But with the American hitter planning a return to the ring, he appeared to confirm he prefers to face a new opponent instead of the Gypsy King.
Wilder, 35, told Marcus Watson: “I’d love to fight guys I haven’t fought, you know, the ones at the top who I haven’t fought.
“That’s what I want and I know that’s kinda lame a little bit, to not name a name. But anyone I haven’t faced at the top, that’s you.”

Asked about Joshua or Ruiz, both 31, Wilder responded: “Yeah. Any fighter that’s at the top that people haven’t seen me fight and people strongly want to see me fight, that’s who I want to fight.
“I can sit here and name names all day, that’s the easy part.
“I’m just going to go to the top and once you go to the top and it’s someone I ain’t fought, that’s who I want to fight.
“I want to clean the division out, period.”

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Joshua and Wilder spent the best part of a year failing to agree terms to fight.
It led to AJ facing Ruiz in June 2019, where he suffered a shock upset before winning the WBA, IBF and WBO belts back six months later.
Wilder then turned his attention to Fury, with the pair boxing to a thrilling draw in their first fight in 2018.
The Gypsy King was twice dropped and dramatically survived a 12th round knockdown to beat the count, with many believing he should have won.
But Wilder is adamant Fury was KNOCKED OUT and was given the benefit of the doubt by veteran and experienced official Jack Reiss
He explained: “I definitely knocked him out.
“Look how many times, my referee at the time I had Jack Reiss, if you go back and look at any of his fights, he stops a lot of fights early.
“Sometimes they don’t even have to get up, they’re waving it off. When I knocked Fury out, I’ve literally seen it for myself.

Deontay Wilder pictured flooring Tyson Fury in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Tyson Fury beat the count in the 12th round against Deontay WilderCredit: PA:Press Association
“That’s one of the reasons why I was so surprised too, not only because of the count to but I’ve seen this man’s eyes – you know when you’re having good sex and your eyes roll back into your head?
“That’s how his s*** was. But I’ve seen the veins popping out of his head and I knew he had a concussion. He was gone. That’s a wave off, period.”
Wilder was asked who his three dream opponents of any era would be and he gave tribute fellow Alabamians Joe Louis, Earnie Shavers and Evander Holyfield.
He said: “When I’m asked that question, my mind always goes back to Alabama, bro, with the fighters that came before me, that paved the way before me.
“Most of them had to start their career in other states, but they were born where I was from.
“I’d want to go up against a guy that’s from where I’m from, the likes of Joe Louis, the likes of Evander Holyfield, who is one of my favourite fighters.
“And, the likes of Earnie Shavers. Out of those three guys, there’s a lot more that came from this state, but out of those three guys, if not all of them, I would love to share the ring with them.”

Former two-weight world champion Evander HolyfieldCredit: AFP – Getty

Earnie Shavers pictured in his fight with Muhammad AliCredit: Corbis – Getty

Heavyweight legend Joe LouisCredit: AP:Associated Press

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER is putting in the work ahead of his fight with YouTuber Logan Paul.
The unbeaten legend, who celebrates his 44th birthday on February 24, was filmed hitting various punch bags at one of his gyms.

Floyd Mayweather pictured during a training session

Floyd Mayweather is training to fight Logan Paul

Mayweather has 20 boxing and fitness gyms in America and paid a shock visit to one of them while surrounded by paying members.
With a mask on, he was captured going through the motions, throwing the occasional sharp and slick uppercut.
It comes as Mayweather prepares to lace up the gloves for the first time since 2018, with a scheduled exhibition against YouTuber Paul.
The spectacle bout – which will see a FOUR STONE weight difference – was set for February 20, but has since been postponed.

Paul, 25, has fought just once as a pro, losing to internet rival KSI, 27.
He lost that November 2019 fight by split-decision after having two points deducted.
Despite his farcical skill and experience disparity, Paul is at least armed with a six inch height advantage.
Mayweather officially retired as a professional in 2017 after beating ex-UFC champion Conor McGregor, 32, in ten rounds.

He returned a year later to wipe out featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in round one of their exhibition in Japan.

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Mayweather again plans to fight in Tokyo this year and called out Paul’s brother Jake, 24, and former best friend-turned rival 50 Cent.
He wrote on Instagram: “This year I will focus on several exhibitions. I will have an exhibition in Tokyo, Japan again.
“Of course the one with Logan Paul and I ; and if Jake Paul can get past his next opponent Ben Askren, I will have an exhibition with him as well.
“I also heard that 50 cent would fight me but claims I’m too small. If he wants to lace up at the end of the year, we can do an exhibition then.
“I don’t care about weight class with any of these guys.
“The Paul brothers will make great money with the events, but with 50 cent It has to be “Winner Take All”.” More

PREGNANT Paris Fury was pictured for the first time since her baby news as Tyson surprised her with a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.
The pair took to social media on Sunday to give fans a glimpse of their celebrations.

Paris shared a photo with her hubby sitting down for food at their Morecambe home, with the table complete with red roses and candles.
The WBC heavyweight king appeared to go for steak and potatoes while his wife had chicken and pasta.
She wrote: “Happy valentines @gypsyking101 love you now love you always. Thanks for dinner.”
Fury also posted a snap on his timeline of the happy couple in Miami.

He caption the picture: “@parisfury1 happy valentines babe.
“We started this journey together in 2005 and we March together in 2021. #BonnieandClyde2021
“The best wife a man could wish for, a very strong woman and mother. God bless u.”
For presents, the Gypsy King treated Paris to a box of strawberries and cream Lindt chocolates, red velvet cupcake flavour Baileys and a Yankee candle.

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He also got her a mug which read: “I can’t believe I’m not bored of you yet.”
The Furys got together 16 years ago and have five children – with No6 on the way.
They have three sons, eldest Prince John James, Prince Tyson Fury II and Prince Adonis Amaziah, who was born in 2019 as well as two daughters, Valencia and Venezuela.
However, the gender of their upcoming arrival is still unknown.
The boxing icon told Gareth A Davies: “Paris is pregnant again and the Lord has blessed us definitely with another child and I’m very thankful.
“Got a beautiful wife, beautiful kids, they’re all healthy. That’s the most important thing, you know, your health and your family.
“Nothing else really matters. Your job, your money, your wealth, your career, none of that really matters because you can get another job, you can start snooker or you can go make more money.
“It doesn’t really matter but the one thing you can’t get back is your family. You can’t get back time lost and that’s the crazy thing about it all.”

Tyson treated Paris to a collection of presents on Valentine’s DayCredit: Instagram

They enjoyed a romantic candle-lit dinner with a bunch of red roses on the tableCredit: Instagram

The boxing champ appeared to go for steak and potatoes while Paris had chicken and pastaCredit: Instagram

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LEGENDARY promoter Bob Arum has seen it all in the boxing business – but it does not stop him from looking ahead to another exciting year in the sport.
The Top Rank chief is on the cusp of helping deliver a heavyweight fight for the ages between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Legendary Top Rank promoter Bob ArumCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But there are plenty other blockbusters in the pipeline that he hopes to secure for fans in 2021.
Arum told SunSport: “Boxing has a lot to offer, if the best fighters fight the best fighter no sport can entertain as well as boxing. 
“I look forward, as we’re coming out of the pandemic, to a great year for the sport of boxing.” 
Here Arum picks seven ‘must-see fights’ and SunSport helps explain what makes them so special.

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
British bragging rights are finally due to be decided this year, with a deal close to be agreed between the heavyweight pair.
It also promises for the first time in heavyweight history that all four WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts will be fought for.
Fury, 32, is unbeaten and coming off a win against Deontay Wilder, 35, but Joshua, 31, has three of the four crowns.
After years of debate, one ruler in the division promises to emerge.

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Jose Ramirez vs Josh Taylor
In another undisputed title decider, the super-lightweight pair will put it all on the line.
Taylor, 31, is unbeaten in 17 fights and making headway as Britain’s best, already owning the WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine belts.
But WBC and WBO king Ramirez, 28, is also perfect in his 26 fights and has wins over Maurice Hooker and Viktor Postol.
With someones 0 and all the belts on the line, this unification provides a rare 50/50 fight.

Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez are set to fight in an undisputed title fight
Miguel Berchelt vs Oscar Valdez
Making sure not to undersell his Top Rank promotion, Arum has talked up the WBO super-featherweight title fight, live on Premier Sports and FITE TV this weekend.
Mexican Berchelt, 29, won the title against Francisco Vargas in 2017 and has since made seven defences of his belt.
But countryman Valdez, 30, is a former WBO champ at featherweight, where he broke Scott Quigg’s jaw.
With 55 KOs between them it is not hard to see why Arum is urging fans to tune in.

Teofimo Lopez vs Taylor/Ramirez
Lopez stunned Vasily Lomachenko, 32, last year to dethrone the Ukrainian as lightweight king.
But the American rising star is already talking about moving up amid a battle to shrink his body down to the 9st 9lb limit.
Arum has plans to pit Lopez against the winner of Taylor and Ramirez, who are both part of his stable.
Should the unbeaten New Yorker win, he would become the first ever undisputed, four-belt champion at two weights.

Teofimo Lopez is the undisputed lightweight championCredit: Handout – Getty
Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis/Lopez
The lightweight division is stacked full of talent, with Lopez, 23, Ryan Garcia, 22, Devin Haney, 22, and Gervonta Davis, 26, atop of it.
Lopez and Haney looked in line to fight with Garcia facing Floyd Mayweather’s protege Gervonta Davis, but neither materialised.
Boxing newest ‘Golden Boy’ is without a world title to his name but has a huge social media presence with all the talent to back it up.
Arum recognises Garcia against either Lopez or Davis is a box office bout with unbeaten records and pound-for-pound status on the line.

Ryan Garcia is boxing newest Golden BoyCredit: Tom Hogan
Oleksandr Usyk vs Joe Joyce
With Joshua and Fury set to decide the fate of the division, WBO mandatory Usyk, 34, has got to be compensated.
As well as a payout, he is in line for an interim title fight with Joe Joyce, meaning they will be guaranteed a shot at the champ or inherit the belt if it was vacated.
Joyce, 35, like the ex-cruiserweight boss, is undefeated and coming off a huge win against Daniel Dubois in November, showcasing a devastating jab.
Usyk beat the Brit as amateurs in the World Series of Boxing tournament, but the clash of styles and sizes under pro rules makes for an intriguing rematch.

Joe Joyce lost to Oleksandr Usyk in the WBSCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Joe Smith Jr vs Artur Beterbiev
Smith, 31, was on course to kickstart February with a title fight for the vacant WBO light-heavyweight belt against Maxim Vlasov.
But Vlasov, 34, tested positive for coronavirus with the match-up now due to be rescheduled.
Arum is already eyeing a unification against unified WBC and IBF holder Artur Beterbiev, 36, who has won all 15 by KO.
Smith has previously come undone against fellow puncher Dmitry Bivol, but the chance to hold three of the four belts and break Beterbiev’s unstoppable streak will prove too good to turn down.

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