Boxing

CONOR BENN’S pre-fight tears have Eddie Hearn worried but he believes the son of fight legend Nigel can ease the emotion by stepping out of dad’s shadow.
The 24-year-old broke down in a Sky Sports interview on Wednesday, when he explained how moving to England as a teenager to chase his dream had cost him crucial moments with his family.

Eddie Hearn admits Conor Benn’s pre-fight tears worried himCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Straight from the heart 💘😥An emotional Conor Benn breaks down while revealing the family sacrifices he makes while chasing his dream📺 Watch Benn v Formella at 7pm on Saturday night live on Sky Sports Arena pic.twitter.com/k8fs0zPUiF
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 19, 2020

The 16-0 welterweight revealed he is haunted when weak internet connection stops him from wishing his little sister a happy birthday or helping her grow up without him.
Before Saturday night’s step-up clash with 22-1 Sebastian Formella, Hearn admitted the waterworks were not ideal but they could help him s-weep through the 147lbs division.
“Getting emotional before a fight, like that, is never a great sign and part of that could be to do with the pressure,” Hearn told SunSport.
“But people don’t realise that he left his home in Australia to come here on his own, as a kid, to try to make it as a fighter.

“People rarely realise the sort of sacrifices fighters have to make.
“I have had it myself where people think ‘you’ve got a famous and successful dad, it’s bloody easy for you’.
“Yes Conor did walk in to a promotional deal with us but that brings with it huge pressure to create your own name.
“I think maybe we saw that a little bit in that video clip.”

Benn, who is expecting his first baby at the start of next year, tried to land a shot at the British title but he could not agree a deal with reigning champ Chris Jenkins.
Instead he has leaped into a dangerous fight with an experienced 33-year-old German, flanked by a five-man team, that Hearn admits is a leap into the unknown.
He said: “Formella has not turned up here to lose, he is here with a massive and expensive team, not the usual one trainer or dad who comes over to save money.
“Formella is here because he believes he can come and upset Conor, because there is massive pressure on Conor, like there always has been.
“It’s a very nervous time now because we think Conor is good enough and  he is ready but he has never boxed anyone at this level to confirm it.
“But his trainer Tony Sims, in particular, has seen everything he has done in the gym and he is sure he is ready.”

Conor Benn training for behind-closed-doors headliner against Sebastian Formella at Wembley Arena More

FLOYD MAYWEATHER ‘deserves to get some easy fights’ for ‘big money’ amid his impending return to boxing, Badou Jack said.
The American great retired professionally in 2017 after beating former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

Floyd Mayweather announced he will return to box in Japan next year Credit: AFP

Logan Paul called out unbeaten legend Mayweather Credit: Getty Images – Getty

He did fight a year later in a Tokyo exhibition bout against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
And he is ready to do it all over again after announcing he will come back to Japan in 2021 for another spectacle fight.
But before that, the 43-year-old is even ready for a complete mismatch against YouTuber Logan Paul.
Having achieved it all in boxing, Mayweather is free to do as he pleases in retirement, according to Jack, who is signed to the legend’s promotional stable.

He told SunSport: “He did it all in boxing, he doesn’t need to prove anything in boxing. 
“Now he’s just doing some exhibitions to make some more money, why not? 
“He’s one of the greatest, he deserves to get some easy fights for some big money. 
Paul, 25, caught Mayweather’s attention after promising he would ‘snap the f***er in half’.

And the five-weight champion tweeted to confirm he would face the social media star before returning to the Far East.
Mayweather has spent the last year training and coaching in his Las Vegas gym, opening the door for a comeback.
Jack, who won titles at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, has been working alongside his promoter since 2011.
And he has been on hand to witness Mayweather’s extreme and unorthodox training methods – which included 4am training sessions.
Jack, 37, said: “I’ve been training with him since 2011 and been in all his training camps. 
“He’ll do training sessions lasting hours, go into the locker rooms, talks some s*** and then after that he’ll run like six miles. 
“He’s a real workaholic. Nobody works harder than him. He trains some crazy times.
“I’m not sparring with him but we’d get a call in the middle of the night and he’ll say ‘Get to the gym, we’re working out’.”

Mayweather has spent the year training ahead of a comebackCredit: @100kthedon

The unbeaten American has a brutal training regime Credit: @100kthedon

Badou Jack, pictured with Mayweather and his new trainer
After the death of Mayweather’s uncle and ex-trainer Roger in March, it inspired the former pay-per-view king to turn his hand to training.
He has since spent time guiding his proteges Devin Haney, 22, and Gervonta Davis, 25 as well as offering to do the same to Deontay Wilder, 35.
Jack himself has recently hired a new trainer, Johnathon Banks, who helped guide Wladimir Klitschkko’s career.
And they are preparing to face Blake McKernan on Mike Tyson’s comeback undercard next weekend.
Afterwards, Jack plans to link up with Mayweather for a personal masterclass.
He revealed: “Floyd said he wants to hold some mitts for me and stuff but I’ve been kind of busy adjusting to my new trainer. 
“But I am going to do some rounds with Floyd, just not yet. ”
“I’m in great shape, I got a new trainer, Jonathan Banks, and we’re working on a lot of adjustments, throwing more punches etc.”

Floyd Mayweather says he’s coming back to Japan for ‘something big; at Tokyo Dome in 2021 More

LOGAN PAUL is sparring again after calling out Floyd Mayweather and claiming he would ‘snap the f***er in half’.
The YouTuber and legend Mayweather were in bizarre talks recently over a farcical exhibition bout.

Logan Paul is sparring again after calling out Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather tweeted to accept a fight against Paul

And the pair ramped up speculation of a fight after trading words online.
Later, an image shared on Instagram showed 25-year-old Paul after a recent sparring session.
Amateur boxer Angel Lozano, who shared the picture, went on to praise the social media star’s skill in the ring which ‘will surprise a lot of you’.
Lozano wrote: “Everyone asking is he any good he solid work I promise he will surprise a lot of you.

“Don’t be mad at him because he doing it!
“If you walk into a boxing gym you will find the most random people putting in work together that would never be in the room together outside of the gym to me that make boxing special!
“Don’t judge someone if you ain’t perfect!”
Paul caught Mayweather’s attention after he boasted about being able to ‘whoop’ the 50-0 icon.

How Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul compare ahead of their fight

He said: “Let me tell you this, if I caught Floyd in a real fight, street fight, whoop his ass, no question.
“MMA? Octagon? Whoop his ass, no question. The only place Floyd is safe, obviously the boxing ring.
“But to be honest, I don’t give a f***. I don’t give a f***. I would fight Floyd anytime, anywhere, any place. Doesn’t f***in’ matter to me.
“If I caught Floyd with one punch, I would snap this f***er in half. Crack, my friend.
“I’m eight inches taller, 40 pounds heavier, half his age, two times as hungry, 10 times as smart.”
Paul’s fighting words did not go down too well with Mayweather, who retired in 2017 after beating UFC star Conor McGregor.

Mayweather beat Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018 Credit: AFP

Paul lost his pro boxing debut by split-decision against KSI Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
The 43-year-old announced he is set to come back to the ring in February 2021 in Japan for an exhibition bout.
It was in Tokyo two years ago that he earned £7million after taking out featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
And Mayweather revealed before he marks his return to the Far East, he is all in to fight Paul.
He tweeted: “These YouTube girls better find some Barbie dolls to play with cause I’m not the one for the kid games.
“3 years ago a fighter from the UFC said my name and I had to put a muzzle on that bitch.
“@loganpaul can get the same treatment before I go conquer Japan again.”

These YouTube girls better find some Barbie dolls to play with cause I’m not the one for the kid games. 3 years ago a fighter from the UFC said my name and I had to put a muzzle on that bitch. @loganpaul can get the same treatment before I go conquer Japan again.
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) November 19, 2020

Paul made his pro boxing debut last November, losing by split-decision against internet rival KSI.
The American had two points deducted after hitting KSI on the floor, which ultimately cost him the result.
Despite his losing record, Paul has called to face Mayweather in a money-spinning spectacle.
He said: “Bro, think about it. He’s got everything to lose, I’ve got nothing to lose.
“Mr Money wants a money fight? Let’s f***ing go.”

Floyd Mayweather says he’s coming back to Japan for ‘something big; at Tokyo Dome in 2021 More