Boxing

FLOYD MAYWEATHER has been warned a disastrous and unthinkable loss to YouTuber Logan Paul would ‘change the world of boxing’.
And as a result, the American all-time great will secretly leave no stone unturned ahead of the ‘special exhibition fight’ next February.

Floyd Mayweather has been warned defeat to Logan Paul would ‘change the world of boxing’Credit: AFP or licensors

YouTuber Paul faces Mayweather in a ‘special exhibition fight’ next FebruaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Mayweather’s trusted southpaw sparring partner Denis Douglin told SunSport: “I think he could walk in as he is and still be fine.
“But, Floyd being Floyd, he’s going to train and he’s going to train his ass off. That’s just the level of perfectionist he is.
“The kid is a lot bigger and anything can happen. He lands a freak punch and knocks Floyd out, you change the world of boxing.
“Floyd’s not going to let that happen. Floyd, in my opinion, will train for this.

“Maybe not as intense as he would for Pacquiao or someone like that, but he’s not going to come off the street and fight him.”
Mayweather, 43, retired as a professional in 2017, after beating UFC star Conor McGregor, 32, in ten rounds.
Douglin helped the former pound-for-pound king prepare for the fight, providing him with some left-handed sparring.
And he witnessed Mayweather go through the motions before closing the show in round ten that night in Las Vegas.

Now, Douglin predicts a similar story against 0-1 Paul, who lost his debut to internet rival KSI, 27, last November by split-decision.
And he explains Mayweather has nothing to gain by blasting out his unfancied and inexperienced opponent – so will instead toy with the boxing novice.
Douglin, 32, said: “The size is what makes in interesting for me. But I think Floyd is going to have fun with it.
“There is no statement to be made, if Floyd comes out and knocks out a YouTuber in 30 seconds no one got entertained, we already knew he could do that.
“The way boxing is going is in the direction of entertainment, and Floyd is a master entertainer.
“He could have done the same with Conor, but he wanted to entertain the crowd and I thought that fight was great.
“Conor caught him with some good shots. I think Floyd will make it entertaining, not blow Logan Paul out.
“But when he’s ready, he’ll take it seriously and show the world there’s levels to this.”

Mayweather’s last pro fight was against Conor McGregor Credit: Reuters

Paul lost his boxing debut to Paul in November 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Mayweather has not been seen in the ring since 2018, when he traveled to Japan to take on featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
But the exhibition only lasted one round, as Nasukawa was dropped three times and left in tears afterwards.
Mayweather again called on Douglin to help him dust off some cobwebs, having been out of the gym since his retirement fight against McGregor.
And up until this summer, it was the last time the pair had shared rounds in the gym.
So when Douglin received a call from Mayweather in the early hours of the morning in June, he was expecting to be in for a similar night’s work.
But as it turns out, he was shocked as the retired legend appeared to have come back ‘stronger and faster’ – despite having not fought in two years.
Douglin said: “The power was different, and I don’t know what happened because we sparred before he went to Tokyo the first time.
“And he was good but I was like, ‘Ah, Floyd’s getting older, he’s slowing down’. But when I sparred him the last time it didn’t feel like that.

Denis Douglin pictured with Mayweather after sparring

Mayweather has been training amid his comeback

Mayweather’s decision to fight once more left Douglin far from shockedCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
“It felt like a really good welterweight. I feel like he’s got stronger and faster than the last time we sparred before the Tenshin fight.
“Somehow he’s still improving. He’s a freak of nature.”
Mayweather’s decision to fight once more left Douglin far from shocked, having experienced first hand what he is capable of despite approaching 44.
And with the potential to still earn endless amounts of money by taking on stars of social media or the UFC, Mayweather will never allow himself to lose a step.
Douglin said: “He must be working, but nobody knows he’s working.
“The way we sparred, it was hard, you don’t do 30 minutes straight sparring at my level if you’re not in shape.
“We should all know Floyd’s not going to take anything without being in shape, he’s a true professional.”

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BRITISH boxing fans can ditch their late-night coffees and twilight alarm calls once DAZN launches tonight.
The streaming app launch finally kicks off in the UK with Gennady Golovkin vs Kamil Szeremeta live from Florida, on at a manageable 1am UK time.

Gennady Golovkin’s clash with Kamil Szeremeta will be live on DAZN in the UK tonightCredit: EPA

Canelo Alvarez against Callum Smith will be on the streaming service tomorrowCredit: Ed Mulholland/matchroom

And that’s followed tomorrow with the brilliant match-up between Mexican pound-for-pound master Canelo and the planet’s finest super-middleweight Callum Smith.
This Texas shootout, for Smith’s Ring and WBA titles and the vacant WBC strap, will be shown in the early hours here as the whole of Mexico and most of America stops when the ginger-assassin fights.
But the January 2 clash between baby face American Ryan Garcia and Hull’s 2012 Olympic hero Luke Campbell is set to be the first of many specially timed to suit audiences on both sides of the pond.
Campbell will have his US mission shown live in the UK at around midnight, which means an approximate 6pm start time in Dallas.

And British DAZN exec Joe Markowski says UK boxing nuts can start looking forward to kinder-timed foreign fights, as his £1.99 a month app looks to smash into the Sky and BT Sport dominated market.
Markowski told SunSport: “We want to engage British sports fans because, although we are launching globally and not just in the UK, the UK happens to be a stand-out market because of the growth and popularity of boxing.
“We will be considering a number of strategies, the obvious one being timing of fights.
“In 2021, where you see a British fighter high up the card or the main event, you will see us broadcast in the American afternoon so we can maximise the value in both countries.

“I grew up having to stay awake really late to watch US fights and we will work to improve that for British fans where possible”.

DAZN want earlier fights in the US to help UK fight fans stay awayCredit: Getty
DAZN’s £278m 11-fight deal with Canelo was cancelled in the summer, after the 30-year-old split with his Golden Boy promoters.
But the broadcaster and the brilliant banger have maintained a strong enough relationship to work together again instantly.
And Markowski insists they have not yet given up making the long-awaited Golovkin trilogy fight.
“We have a fantastic relationship with Canelo and with Golden Boy,” he said “The two are now independent and Canelo has a view on how he wants his career to be managed.

“We have signed a very all-parties-happy deal with Eddie Hearn and Canelo for this fight against Callum Smith.
“This is our fourth fight with Canelo, we are very of that and we hope there are many more in the future.
“We will get into those conversations and we have gone on record as saying that we would have loved to have seen that fight in 2019 or 2020 but various things caused it not to happen, including the pandemic.
“We have a great deal with Canelo for this fight and shortly after this fight, in the new year, we will sit down with Eddie and discuss plans.

“Canelo has flexibility, he is the master of his own destiny, which is how he wants to be and we respect that. We will see what he wants to do next.
“We want to be part of the Canelo and GGG Triple G businesses, they are fighting within 24 hours of each other this weekend.
“We have great working relationships with both of them and, if it makes sense, we will look to it and if it doesn’t make sense then that’s fine by us.”

Gennady Golovkin to make return for record 21st middleweight world title defence against Kamil Szeremeta on December 18 More

GENNADY GOLOVKIN is ‘not willing to chase’ a trilogy with Canelo Alvarez – with Chris Eubank Jr and Billy Joe Saunders viable alternatives.
Golovkin is two years removed from his first ever defeat, which came on points to arch rival Canelo.

Gennady Golovkin during his 2018 defeat to Canelo Alvarez Credit: Getty Images – Getty

It came 12 months after Alvarez walked away with a contentious draw in their first meeting.
But despite several feeling GGG was unfortunate not to have his hand raised on both occasions, the Kazakh will not focus all his efforts on another rematch.
His trainer Jonathan Banks told SunSport: “It’s not a priority.
“G just wants to fight and he wants to continue fighting for titles and please the fans. That’s really what it boils down to.

“That’s the bottom line and if anyone wants to step up he’s willing to accept, but he’s not willing to chase anybody.”
Canelo’s 2018 triumph meant he dethroned Golovkin as middleweight ruler.
But since then, the Mexican, 30, has stepped up, winning the WBO title as high as light-heavyweight against Sergey Kovalev, 37.
Alvarez now appears settled at super-middleweight, where he will challenge for Brit Callum Smith’s WBA belt on Saturday.

Golovkin pictured with his trainer Jonathan BanksCredit: @gggboxing

GGG training before his return to the ring Credit: @gggboxing

It means Golovkin, 38, would have to, for the first time, fight outside of the middleweight limit should he go after Canelo again.
But Banks is assured the celebrated puncher would have no problem packing on the pounds to super-middle if Alvarez demanded it.
He said: “I think he could fight at whatever weight he wants.
“Super-middleweight wouldn’t be something that he would run away from. Anything is possible, given the right circumstances.
“I’m not sure what Canelo is doing but I do know one thing; he’s trying to control everything around him.”
Golovkin returns to the ring on Friday night, defending the IBF belt he won in 2019 after Canelo was forced to vacate it.
And if he gets past mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta with no problems, it will be music to Eubank’s ears.
The 31-year-old middleweight has the WBA ‘interim’ crown, with Canelo now unlikely to drop down and defend his full title.

Chris Eubank Jr came close to fighting Golovkin in 2016 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Billy Joe Saunders has been in talks with GGG before Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Eubank was close to fighting GGG in 2016, before talks broke down as Kell Brook instead jumped up from welterweight, losing in round five.
Two-weight champion Saunders, 30, also claims to have signed several contracts to face Golovkin, but to no avail.
The southpaw since dropped his WBO middleweight title and won the same version up in weight.
But if he was to come back down, he and Eubank would provide ‘awesome fights’ for Golovkin.
Banks explained: “To me, I like both guys, I think both are great fighters, I’ve been watching them a long time, they are both good guys to fight.
“Both of those would be awesome fights, but the bigger drama would be Eubank – because of his dad.
“You could flip a coin on which one to fight, I don’t look past Szeremeta.”

Golovkin weighing in ahead of his fight against Kamil SzeremetaCredit: EPA

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LOGAN PAUL has revealed he wound up Floyd Mayweather so much during a FaceTime it landed him his incredible 2021 fight.
Paul will take on 50-0 Money in a special exhibition bout in February.
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Logan Paul claims he irritated Floyd Mayweather into agreeing to fight himCredit: Youtube

Mayweather will fight Paul in a February exhibition after the pair signed contractsCredit: Instagram @fanmio

And the YouTube star, 25, has claimed it all started at a random charity basketball game last year.
The pair were playing on opposite teams when Mayweather ‘put hands on him’, which Paul called ‘disrespectful’.
Paul said he’s ‘never forgotten and never forgiven him’ for it.
He concluded: “So now I’ve gotta kick his a**e.”

From there, Paul concocted a plan: To wind up Mayweather, 43, so much at a fan meet and greet on Fanmio that the Las Vegas legend had no option but to fight him.
After initially intending to just ‘chirp a bit’ during the call, Paul joked: “The next thing you know, I’m talking s*** to the greatest boxer on the planet.”
Addressing Mayweather, Paul said: “I got a question for you: You down to fight me?”
Mayweather quickly replied: “If you’re a real fighter, yeah.

How Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul compare ahead of their fight

“The thing is, you know who I am, but I don’t know who you are.”
Logan hit back, saying: “I know for a fact you’re lying… I’ve been in your gym so many times.
“You’ve been there, we shook hands, I said ‘hey whassup’, you said ‘hey whassup’…”
Floyd stood firm, saying: “That don’t mean I know who you are.”
Paul continued: “I’ll answer your question. I’m the dude who sold out the Staples Center fighting another YouTuber (his 2019 loss to KSI).
“What I wanna do with you is create the biggest f***ing fight the world has ever seen.”
Floyd joked: “Without you I can do that…
“This ain’t what you do. You play boxing. I fight for real, you know that.”

Logan Paul gatecrashed a fan meet and greet to ‘get under Mayweather’s skin’Credit: Youtube
Mayweather then asked one of his team to hang up on Paul and get the next fan caller on the line.
Reflecting on the encounter, Paul told his YouTube subscribers: “So I think I got under his skin a little bit or p***ed him off.
“Because a few weeks later I was presented with an actual contract.”
Paul then admitted he combined his training with mercilessly tearing into Mayweather at any opportunity to ‘rile him up’.
On one occasion, Paul shared a video teaching Mayweather how to spell his own name.
Money then publicly announced the fight on his Instagram and the rest, as they say, is history.
Despite signing the deal, Paul recently admitted it ‘makes no f***ing sense’ and thought it was ‘fantasy’ for a while.
Meanwhile, Logan recently called his little brother Jake ‘f***ing dumb’ for his outrageous, X-rated rant at Conor McGregor ahead of their potential 2021 fight.

Logan Paul admits Floyd Mayweather fight makes ‘no sense’ More

LOGAN PAUL has been pictured training alongside his brother Jake – and reckons he’s already managed to get under the skin of Floyd Mayweather.
The internet sensation faces Mayweather in a ‘special exhibition fight’ next February.

Logan Paul pictured training with brother Jake Credit: Instagram @adancastillojr

Floyd Mayweather on a FaceTime call with Mayweather

Paul revealed on his YouTube channel that talks had been ongoing since March, around the same time he FaceTimed the boxing legend.
And after exchanging back-and-forths with the 43-year-old all-time great, the boxing novice is confident he won the war of words.
Paul, 25, said: “So I think I got under his skin a little bit or p***ed him off.
“Because a few weeks later I was presented with an actual contract.”

Mayweather – who retired as a pro in 2017 after beating Conor McGregor – then announced the mismatch on his Instagram at the start of December.
Paul has wasted no time in preparing for the fight, his first since losing to social media rival KSI by split-decision on their pro debuts last year.
The American was captured skipping with his little brother Jake, 23, who is 2-0 in his career and knocked out retired NBA player Nate Robinson, 36, in November.
Paul is in the process of shipping out sparring partners to his mansion in Los Angeles, leaving no stone unturned.

And while he is eager to show off his undeniable commitment to the fight, Mayweather will do so in private.

How Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul compare ahead of their fight

According to his sparring partner Denis Douglin, the former pound-for-pound king will ‘train his ass off’ behind closed doors.
Douglin, 32, told SunSport: “I think he could walk in as he is and still be fine.
“But, Floyd being Floyd, he’s going to train and he’s going to train his ass off. That’s just the level of perfectionist he is.
“The kid is a lot bigger and anything can happen. He lands a freak punch and knocks Floyd out, you change the world of boxing.
“Floyd’s not going to let that happen. Floyd, in my opinion, will train for this.
“Maybe not as intense as he would for Pacquiao or someone like that, but he’s not going to come off the street and fight him.”

Mayweather pictured training amid his comeback Credit: 100kthedon

Paul pictured with his training team in LA Credit: @kidd_282 More

LOGAN PAUL revealed it is ‘inevitable’ that he and brother Jake will be ‘beating the s*** out of each other’ in ‘one of the most historical fights ever’.
The pair of YouTube phenomenons have taken the boxing world by storm since they crossed over to the ring in 2018.

Jake Paul pictured with his older brother Logan

Jake, 23, is currently 2-0 as a professional and doing his best to campaign for a fight against ex-UFC champion Conor McGregor, 32.
And Logan, 25, has gone one further having signed to face all-time great Floyd Mayweather, 43, in an exhibition next February.
But the older of the Pauls predicted their most lucrative fight will be against EACH OTHER – in an unprecedented family affair he believes is only a few years away.
Logan told Showtime: “My dad does not want us to do that. But I think it’s inevitable.

“In two to four years’ time, I think Jake and I are going to be beating the s*** out of each other in a ring, and I think it’ll be one of the most historical fights ever.
“The Klitschkos didn’t do it. They had a chance, right? Our mom tried to make us agree to never do that.
“But you got the one tatted up problem child, and then you got the podcasting-Pokemon-collecting-apoxie-producing, fcking whoever else I am.
“So, that would be something.”

How Logan Paul and little brother Jake compare

Logan says it’s ‘inevitable’ the brothers will fight each other

The pair both laced up the gloves for the first time on the same night, in Manchester two years ago.
KSI drew against Logan, while Jake beat the Brit’s brother Deji, both in exhibition bouts.
But Logan turned pro for his rematch and lost by split-decision last November having had two points deducted for hitting KSI, 27, on the floor.
Jake won his debut in February, beating internet rival ‘AnEsobGib’ in one round before then knocking out retired basketballer Nate Robinson in November.
The brash social media sensation has made it no secret his ultimate goal is to face McGregor, who he called an ‘Irish c***’ and claimed to have sent a $50million fight offer.
Logan was left admitting the callout was ‘f***ing dumb’ – but was equally stunned that he managed to seal a deal with 50-0 legend Mayweather.

Logan lost his boxing debut to KSI in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Jake pictured knocking out ex-NBA star Nate Robinson Credit: Getty Images – Getty
He said: “None of this is comprehensible. This makes no f***ing sense.
“My manager, months ago, comes up to me, he says ‘Logan would you fight Floyd Mayweather?’
“I go, ‘I mean yes I would, but why are you asking me that question? Like go do something else, this makes no sense, how is that going to be a thing ever?’
“I think a month later, he approached me with a contract. He said ‘If you sign here, you’re going to be fighting Floyd Mayweather.’
“I said ‘Sure Jeff, I’ll sign your fantasy contract. Like f*** you, why would this ever happen?’
“I signed it, and then after just months and months of going back and forth and figuring out dates, we had three different dates, and how to announce it, and just like the strategy behind it.
“It finally came to fruition, and this event that supersedes everything I’ve ever done in my life, is finally solidified.”

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