Boxing

FLOYD MAYWEATHER will return to the ring on February 20 to face YouTube superstar Logan Paul.
Retired boxing icon Mayweather, 43, confirmed the news on his social media pages.

Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul will take place on February 20

Mayweather, 43, last fought in an exhibition in December 2018Credit: @100kthedon

Paul, 25, lost a professional bout to fellow YouTuber KSI last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Mayweather has not boxed a professional bout since beating Conor McGregor in August 2017 to move to 50-0.
The Money Man last fought an exhibition against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.
That fight scored Mayweather around $9m for just 139 seconds of work.
The undefeated five-weight world champion also revealed that tickets are already on sale.

Despite Paul, 25, turning pro this bout will be an exhibition – and one that will likely rake in MILLIONS for the pair.
Mayweather wrote on Instagram: “Super Exhibition Feb. 20, 2021 !!!!Early Bird Special On Sale NOW!!!! More Details Soon.”
According to the Fanmio website, early bird pricing is at $24.99 (£18.62) for the first million tickets sold.
It then rises to $39.99 (£29.80), and then to $59.99 (£44.71) starting December 29.

It will then increase to $69.99 (£52.16) for the final days of build up, starting February 11.
It is not yet clear which British broadcaster will air the exhibition.
The fight comes after increasing speculation that the pair would meet.

Both men have been seen to be increasing their training output, while engaging in a bit of trash talk.
Logan Paul called Mayweather illiterate last month in a video, saying: “Hey Floyd, I know you’ve had the contract for a while now.
“At first I thought you didn’t sign it because you didn’t want one punch to ruin your legacy.
“But now I feel like maybe you didn’t sign it because you don’t know how to spell your name.
“Don’t worry, champ, I’ve got you – check this out. I made you a cheat sheet.”
Pointing to the letters sellotaped to the wall in his gloves, Paul added: “This is your name. Floyd Mayweather.
“It’s pretty simple – it starts with an F.”
Then the W in Mayweather fell off the wall, prompting him to add: “F***. Well, yeah, you ain’t getting the W anyway.
“Then an L – your first L. O-Y-D. May. Eather.
“Sign the f***ing contract, Floyd.”

Paul made an astonishing call out video that called Mayweather illiterate

Paul headed over to a wall where he had printed out Mayweather’s name
While Mayweather called out the YouTuber on his social media – while aiming another dig at McGregor.
Mayweather said: “These YouTube girls better find some Barbie dolls to play with cause I’m not the one for the kid games.
“Three years ago a fighter from the UFC said my name and I had to put a muzzle on that b****.
“Logan Paul can get the same treatment before I go conquer Japan again.”
The announcement come fresh off of last week’s news that Logan’s brother, Jake, was a huge part of the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr exhibition bringing in more than 1.2million pay-per-view buys.
According to FITE TV CEO Mike Weber, Jake Paul was responsible for around “40 per cent” of those buys.
Logan is considered a bigger star than Jake and boasts almost double the amount of social media followers.
His rematch with KSI – his pro boxing debut that ended in defeat – attracted around 1.2million PPV sales.

Mayweather has been one of the biggest draws in boxing in the 21st Century and will likely earn tens of millions – at least – from this fight.
His fights against Manny Pacquiao and McGregor are the two richest ever made, each bringing in more than $400million.

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AS Dereck Chisora and Oleksandr Usyk prepared to square up to one another in the press conference before their October bout, a 6ft 5in figure in a smart, fitted suit loomed next to them.
After their original May fight was scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, Eddie Hearn, 41, was influential in rearranging the dust-up between the pair at Wembley Arena.

Eddie Hearn is the most powerful sports promoter in the world at the momentCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Dagenham-born promoter is the group managing director of Matchroom Sport, as well as director of the Professional Darts Corporation.
Family man Hearn, estimated to be worth £40m, knows a good earner when he sees one.
And after expertly guiding the career of Anthony Joshua to signing boxing’s first ever billion dollar deal, he’s certainly come a long way from the 15-year-old who was selling double-glazing in Essex on £3 an hour.
FLUNKED SCHOOL
Hearn, the son of promoter Barry Hearn who famously swelled the coffers of boxers including Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, Chris Eubank, and Nigel Benn – went to posh Brentwood High School.

But, in truth, he struggled academically. When he flunked his GCSEs, he failed to get into sixth form.
His father pleaded with the school to allow Eddie to stay on because of his prowess in cricket and football, but it was no use.
“I grew up thinking I was a hard nut, and in Brentwood School I was,” he once said. “Anywhere else I was a pansy.”
Hearn went to the less selective Havering Sixth Form College in Romford to study A-levels in media studies, PE, and business studies.

Eddie Hearn’s dad Barry promoted the likes of Frank Bruno and Chris EubankCredit: � Will Wintercross / eyevine.

Hearn flunked his GCSEs, but scored one A and two Cs in his A-LevelsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He was on a promise from his dad of £1,000 if he got a C or better in his exams. Hearn scored two Cs and one A.
AMATEUR BOXING TO SHIFTING WINDOWS
Eddie initially thought about pursuing a career in boxing.
He fought in an amateur fight as Eddie Hills, amusingly because his dad didn’t want him to get a pasting because of the family name.
But sales was where he belonged, with a gift-of-the-gab inherited from his old man.
“I worked for Weatherseal in Romford. I’d go there after college at night and do telesales,” he told The Guardian.
“It’s the worst job in the world but the best training for sales.
“For every rejection we had an answer on a list – from ‘I’ve just lost my husband,’ to ‘I’ve just done my double-glazing.’
“We always had a reason to make an appointment.”

In his early years Hearn showed his gift for sales flogging double-glazing

But Hearn was desperate to get into the sports worldCredit: Rex Features
A SPORTING CHANCE
At 18, Hearn had scored a work experience with Richard Busby and BDS Sponsorship, and was later employed full-time.
Then, his life took a different trajectory.
A call from a recruiter head-hunting for a senior position at the sports agency LEA offered him an interview.
Naturally, Hearn impressed in the interview and within three years he had clients including Ian Botham, as well as several high-profile golfers.
His father Barry, who built an empire with Matchroom Sport in the 1980s through snooker, had a masterplan.
He invited his son onboard for a subdivision called Matchroom Golf.
Then he turned to cards, with the group promoting the Poker Million final to an audience of 30 million people, which is where they cornered the market.
A BOXING BREAK
A chance meeting with fallen champ Audley Harrison was the catalyst for Matchroom Boxing, that now houses Hearn’s prized possessions.
The pair were sat on a poker table together, when the heavyweight boxer asked Hearn for his help.

After joining Barry Hearn’s Matchroom company, son Eddie brought poker and boxing to the massesCredit: Vicki Couchman – The Sunday Times

After Audley Harrison, Hearn scored promotion for boxers like Tony BellewCredit: Rex Features
“I was playing in the World Series of Poker and happened to be drawn on the same table as Audley, who asked if he could get on a Matchroom show,” Hearn said.
“So I phoned up the old man and told him: ‘I think we can do something with Audley.’
“The phone went stone quiet. Then he said: ‘You’re on your own, I’m going nowhere near him.’”
Eddie put Harrison on Prizefighter, which he duly won.
And then got him a European title show, in which the Londoner defeated Michael Sprott in 2010.
Incredibly, that earned Harrison a WBA title fight with David Haye.
Harrison was knocked out in the third round, but it put Hearn on the map.
“Those days are fun because it’s just you against the world,” Hearn told Square Mile.
“No one really knows who you are. You’re just this kid whose blagging it. It’s fun, then.
“Doesn’t come with the pressures and responsibilities and aggravation now. I weren’t a threat.”
TODAY
Since 2012, Hearn has built up a stable of boxers renowned around the world that are box office draws.
It’s afforded him the luxury of offices at the family’s Brentwood estate to a plush floor at New York’s One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
He really is on top of the world.

Now Eddie Hearn divides his time between the UK and USCredit: Rex Features

Family man Eddie Hearn is married to wife ChloeCredit: Splash News

Hearn promoted the rematch between YouTubers KSI and Logan PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In 2018, Hearn scored the deal of all deals that’ll see him split more time between the UK and America.
DAZN offered Matchroom Boxing $1billion (the highest deal in boxing ever) to stream 16 fights in America, and a further 16 in the UK.
“HBO and Showtime are the two major players over here,” Hearn said.
“And that is a bigger annual budget than they have put together. It’s the biggest deal in boxing history.”
And Hearn has put pressure on himself to make it work.
“We were dangerous before, now we’re unstoppable and that’s the difference,” he said. “And if I don’t make this work, I’ve failed miserably.”

MRS HEARN
Behind every great man is a better woman. Chloe Hearn is the matriarch of the family, and mother of their daughters Sophia and Isabella.
She used to be famous in Essex for owing a beauty salon with TOWIE star Chloe Sims, and it regularly appeared on the reality TV show.
However, it officially closed its doors and soon Chloe became a wife in Bel-Air, where she spends most of her time in their LA home.
It’s a tough life for the Hearns.

Chloe Hearn used to own a beauty salon in Brentwood, Essex with Towie star Chloe SimsCredit: Alamy

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ANTHONY JOSHUA has carefully picked the perfect sparring partners ahead of his must-win fight against Kubrat Pulev.
AJ cannot afford any slip ups against the Bulgarian as an undisputed title decider with Tyson Fury could be at stake.

Anthony Joshua pictured with his group of sparring partners

Joshua, as always, has spent the majority of his training camp up at Team GB’s Sheffield HQ.
And Sky Sports revealed the men helping AJ prepare for his IBF mandatory defence, as selected by training camp manager David Ghansa.
Martin Bakole, 15-1 (12 KOs)
The Congolese heavyweight – who trains in Scotland with coach Billy Nelson – has long been a fixture in AJ’s sparring team.
They even consider each other close friends, but Bakole makes it no secret he wants to one day fight Joshua, who has Nigerian heritage.

He said:  “It would be a big show, not only for Africa, but for the whole world. Imagine if Joshua fought in Nigeria or my home in Congo.”
Bakole faces Russian Sergey Kuzmin on the Joshua vs Pulev undercard.

Martin Bakole has long been a fixture in AJ’s sparring team

Bryant Jennings, 24-4 (14 KOs)
American veteran Jennings has shared the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Luis Ortiz as well as Oscar Rivas and Joe Joyce recently.
The versatile former world title challenger even acted as a southpaw sparring partner for Derek Chisora – something AJ appreciated.

Ghansa said: “He is such an athlete, he can do whatever we ask him to do.
“He can fight in any style, he’s very fit. He went to Derek Chisora’s camp to spar as a southpaw.”

Bryant Jennings, second from the right, helped Joshua in sparring
Gerald Washington, 20-4-1 (13 KOs)
Washington provides vast experience having fought, but lost, to Deontay Wilder, Jarrell Miller, Adam Kownacki and Charles Martin.
But it took some convincing to get him over to Britain to link up with Joshua.
Ghansa explained: “When AJ fought Wladimir Klitschko, Gerald was one of our main targets for sparring. We reached out, he seemed on board.
“Then he called back and said, ‘Thanks but Klitschko’s team have called me too! And I want to have the experience of his camp!’.
“Then I saw him [before the Andy Ruiz Jr] rematch and asked if he would be interested in sparring. But Gerald said, ‘I don’t want to spar, I want to fight AJ!’.
“He turned us down twice. But, this time, he said yes.”

Gerald Washington was knocked out by Deontay Wilder Credit: (AP Photo/Albert Cesare)
David Adeleye, 4-0 (4 KOs)
Adeleye has enjoyed an explosive start to his professional career, not once going the distance.
But he has gained more experience in the gym, having provided sparring for Tyson Fury – before he beat Deontay Wilder – as well as Joshua.
Ghansa said: “I look for different things in sparring partners – he had balance, body positioning, he is youthful.
“He was here for a week then went to Tyson Fury’s training camp which was prearranged.”

David Adeleye has sparred both Joshua and Tyson Fury
Fabio Wardley, 10-0 (9 KOs)
Wardley is another young, promising heavyweight on the rise, who recently won the English title stopping Simon Vallily.
And he stole the show last month with a compressive KO against Richard Lartey.
Wardley is managed by Joshua’s old rival Dillian Whyte, and he has had to learn on the job.
It comes from a lack of amateur experience, having boxed only on the White Collar scene before turning pro in 2017.

Fabio Wardley is managed by AJ’s old rival Dillian Whyte
Peter Kadiru, 10-0 (5 KOs)
The German heavyweight sparred Joshua for the first time in this training camp.
And it was organised by his manager Bernd Boente, who is famous for representing Klitschko.
Boente said: “It is our honour. I always recommended Peter if Anthony was to fight Pulev.
“They are very happy with Peter and I hope it stays that way. But we are professionals – it is most important that Anthony is prepared.”

German Peter Kadiru is managed by Bernd Boente, who is famous for representing Wladimir Klitschko
Christian Thun, 6-0 (4 KOs)
Another German added to the team was Thun, who AJ sought after due to his height – despite Pulev standing two inches shorter than him.
Ghansa explained: “AJ said to me, ‘Get someone taller than me.
“Even though Pulev is shorter, AJ wanted a wildcard – someone tall with a good jab.
“Thun is very experienced. He was in Klitschko’s camp before the AJ fight and has been in Fury’s camp too.”

Christian Thun was brought into camp due to his height Credit: @christianthun_official
Frazer Clarke, Tokyo Olympics hopeful
Clarke has been one of AJ’s longest serving sparring partners due to their time spent on the Team GB squad.
He hopes to represent his nation in Tokyo next year, having missed out in Rio in 2016 thanks to Joe Joyce.
But Clarke rates himself as a better natural talent than both Joshua and Joyce.
He revealed: “I believe I’m a better boxer than both, more of a natural boxer.
“I think few people around the game who’ve seen us box at the same stages would disagree.”

Frazer Clarke has been one of AJ’s longest serving sparring partners
Hosea Stewart, amateur boxer
Before Joshua beat Ruiz in December, he added trainer Joby Clayton to his team.
And for their upcoming challenge against Pulev, Clayton provided Stewart, one of the amateurs he trains in Wolverhampton, to join AJ in camp.
Clayton said: “Fair play to AJ who saw and recognised the potential of Hosea. He wanted Hosea to experience what camp life is all about.
“He wanted to give Hosea a taste of what his own life could be about if he is willing to do the work that it takes to be a champion.”

One of Joshua’s coaches provided amateur Hosea Stewart for sparring
Delicious Orie, amateur boxer
Orie is another amateur from Wolverhampton, who is currently on the Team GB set up.
He was part of AJ’s camp before beating Ruiz in the Saudi Arabia rematch.
Orie hopes to represent GB at the 2024 Olympics.

Delicious Orie is the 2024 Team GB heavyweight hopeful

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