Boxing

ERROL SPENCE JR is lining up Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao next year – in a bid to become undisputed champion and boxing’s No1.
The WBC and IBF welterweight champion last year unified the titles by beating Shawn Porter.

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Errol Spence Jr wants to fight for all the welterweight titles Credit: EPA

But a month later, the unbeaten Texan was involved in a horrific car crash, as his Ferrari flipped.
Incredibly, he came out unscathed, but his next fight which was set for January against Danny Garcia was cancelled.
11 months on, Spence, 30, is finally set to face Garcia, 32 when they meet on December 5.
But he is already eyeing Crawford, 33, and Pacquiao, 41, afterwards in unification bouts.

And he believes an undisputed title reign would cement his place as pound-for-pound No1 – surpassing Canelo Alvarez or Vasyl Lomachenko.
Spence told SunSport: “When I become undisputed welterweight champion of the world, I’ll have to be No1 in the sport. 
“It would make sense, why wouldn’t I be?
“With the kind of names that are at 147lb for me to beat to become undisputed champion, I’d have to be the No1 guy in the world.”

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Terence Crawford and Spence have spoken to each other about a fight Credit: AP:Associated Press

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Spence is desperate to face Manny Pacquiao before the Filipino retires Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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Spence is desperate to face Pacquiao before the Filipino icon retires.
But a domestic showdown against WBO champion Crawford remains one of the most lucrative fights to be made.
Spence has shared personal calls with his American rival, but admits it is down to those outside the ring to decide when the mega-fight gets the green light.
He said: “It can definitely happen next year, but it’s up to the guys’ in suits. 
“We’ve both said we want the fight, but the money has to be right, and everything else has to make sense. 
“I’ve spoken to him before, we both want to fight but we’re not fighting for nothing, it has to make sense business-wise.”

The latest Ring Magazine P4P rankings
Spence makes his return in front of a limited number of home supporters at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.
And he will do so with a point to prove, a year on from his near-miss accident which saw him receive a DWI (driving while intoxicated).
Spence admitted: “I fought at the Cowboys’ stadium before, but to be fighting again, especially after my accident, this is a great homecoming.
“I’m very excited, because I know people are watching me closely thinking I won’t be the same Errol Spence as I have been.
“I’m just focussed to prove everybody wrong and go out there and be victorious.”

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DEONTAY WILDER is in ‘superhuman’ shape and still training for a December rematch with Tyson Fury.
The Bronze Bomber was completely outclassed in February as the Gypsy King dethroned him to become WBC heavyweight king following their dramatic draw in the pair’s first fight.

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Deontay Wilder is still training for a December fight with Tyson FuryCredit: Getty

Wilder was contracted to an immediate rematch but the coronavirus pandemic has so far prevented live crowds from purchasing tickets and as a result delayed the trilogy.
Fury is now fed up of waiting and has called to fight in December in the UK to prepare for an undisputed title decider against Anthony Joshua next year.
It leaves 34-year-old Wilder, who is still training to win back the WBC belt, out in the cold, but his manager Shelly Finkel insists they still wish to face Fury.
Last week, Wilder’s promoter, Bob Arum, announced the contracted period to agree the Fury rematch had expired.

The Bronze Bomber’s manager, Shelly Finkel, responded to Arum by saying: “He’s entitled to his opinion, he can think anything he wants.
“Deontay and I would like to have the next fight, as planned, against Fury.  We’ll fight him any date, any place.”

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Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Raphael Akpejiori trains with the Bronze Bomber and says the star is in ‘superhuman’ shapeCredit: Instagram
Now unbeaten heavyweight prospect Raphael Akpejiori, who shares a strength and conditioning coach with Wilder in Miami,has revealed he has been working and speaking with Wilder regularly.
And the Nigerian insists Wilder still has his eyes firmly fixed on regaining his belt before the end of the year.

Akpejiori said: “I’m just saying from Deontay’s perspective he is ready to go for December.
“I’m not involved in the politics or anything but one thing I know from Deontay is he is ready to go in December.  
“Deontay is expecting Wilder-Fury in December, I’m just saying what Deontay is expecting.
“He is expecting Wilder-Fury in December, that’s what he’s been told and that is what he is training for and he’s ready to go.”

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He continued: “He is ready to go, he was ready to fight in July. I think they have a fight date set for December if i’m not mistaken and he is ready to go.
“He has a contract for a rematch I believe, so he has to show up to the arena on that day.
“Deontay will show up to the arena on that day, that’s what I can tell you.
“I have conversations with him once a week. To the best of my knowledge he will be in that arena, wherever that fight takes place.”
When quizzed on what shape Wilder is in, the rising star insisted Wilder was in perfect condition.
Akpejiori said: “He’s in shape, we haven’t sparred just yet, we just workout together.
“We do a lot of strength and conditioning work together because we share the same trainer obviously.
“He’s an athlete, he’s a superhuman athlete in his unique type of body and the way he’s carrying himself.”
And Akpejiori, 30, also admitted how Wilder has been helping him outside of the ring as well as in it.

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He added: “We talk about a whole lot of stuff; we talk about boxing but also life and the political side of boxing sometimes.
“He gives a whole different dimension of how to view life and how to view boxing; who to deal with, who not to deal with, who to stay away from.
“He’s been very helpful in that regard. He critiqued my last fight and told me what I did wrong.
“Being around a guy like that has been very beneficial to me.”
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VASILIY LOMACHENKO has plummeted to seventh in Ring Magazine’s latest top ten pound-for-pound fighter rankings.
But both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were nowhere to be seen in the new list.

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Vasiliy Lomachenko has dropped to seventh in Ring Magazine’s latest top ten P4P rankingsCredit: PA:Press Association

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The latest Ring Magazine P4P rankings

Ukrainian Lomachenko, 32, suffered a wide points defeat in Las Vegas against Teofimo Lopez as judges scored the bout 116-112, 119-109 and 117-111 in favour of the 23-year-old.
He bizarrely claimed he thought he did enough to win despite being outclassed by the American at the MGM Grand.
And that setback has seen the star drop five places from second in the P4P rankings, with his rival climbing into the top ten a place above him.

Canelo Alvarez had already dethroned Lomachenko as the world’s best boxer after becoming a four-weight champion last November and keeps top spot.
The Mexican superstar beat WBO light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in Las Vegas to cement his legacy in the list of the sport’s immortals.
And the rest of boxing bible Ring Magazine’s king of the ring list is full of familiar faces – although they have once again left out both British heavyweight kings Fury and Joshua.
Here is Ring Magazine’s top ten boxers…

1. Canelo Alvarez – 53–1–2 (36 KO)
Mexican hero Alvarez has quickly taken over as boxing’s biggest star since former foe Mayweather walked away from the sport.
With only a sole loss – to Mayweather in 2013 aged 23 – ‘Canelo’ has gone on to rule the super-welterweight and middleweight divisions as well as winning a world title at super-middleweight.
However, a controversial draw and contentious win against rival Gennady Golovkin had doubters questioning Canelo’s invincibility with a trilogy bout yet to take place.
Snubbing GGG to move up to 175lbs, a win over KO king Kovalev to become a four-weight champion and actively ruling three divisions has seen him rise to the P4P summit.

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Canelo Alvarez retains top spot in the P4P rankingsCredit: Getty
2. Naoya Inoue – 19–0 (16 KO)
A monstrous puncher, Inoue is working his way up the divisions and remains the most powerful man in the ring.
Having begun his career at 108lbs the Japanese star went on to claim titles at super-flyweight, junior-bantamweight champion and bantamweight.
Unbeaten Inoue recently dared to call out Lomachenko for a featherweight bout – having scored 16 KOs in his 18 wins.
The heavy-handed 26-year-old moves up to third after being crowned the World Boxing Super Series champion at bantamweight following his points victory over Nonito Donaire.

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Monstrous puncher Inoue is working his way up the divisionsCredit: AFP
3. Terence Crawford – 36–0 (26 KO)
Possibly the best switch-hitter in the game right now, Crawford has the ability to overwhelm any foe with his combination punching.
The American has won world titles at lightweight, super-lightweight and currently reigns as WBO welterweight king – having held undisputed gold at 140lbs.
Though unlike others on this list, Crawford is yet to beat a high-profile name – but that could change if he secures a welterweight unification bout.
He beat little-known Egidijus Kavaliauskas last December and now wants the best in the 147lbs division after calling out compatriot Errol Spence Jr.

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Terence Crawford is possibly the best switch-hitter in the game right nowCredit: AP:Associated Press
4. Oleksandr Usyk – 17–0 (13 KO)
Usyk reigned as undisputed cruiserweight king having won the WBSS, and has now stamped his authority at heavyweight following a high-profile win against Tony Bellew.
The Ukrainian maestro made a successful debut after making the step up when he stopped replacement opponent Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has already hinted he could be in line to challenge for the WBO heavyweight title after securing a No1 spot with the governing body.
He battles Dereck Chisora on October 31.

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Oleksandr Usyk battles Dereck Chisora on October 31Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
5. Errol Spence Jr – 26–0 (21 KO)
Former sparring partner of Floyd Mayweather, Spence’s punch volume, body attacks and balance give him the tools to rule the welterweight division.
He has also been slated to move up the weights – having dwarfed many of his opponents at 147lbs – showing off his relentless pressure against Kell Brook in Sheffield three years ago.
But the Texan added another belt in September 2019, after he out-battled Shawn Porter in a Fight of The Year contender to become the new WBC and unified champion.
He was already lined up to face either Danny Garcia or WBA champion Manny Pacquiao, but a devastating car crash left the boxer lucky to be alive and miraculously without a single broken bone.
But he will return to the ring against Danny Garcia in December.

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Errol Spence Jr. returns to the ring against Danny Garcia in DecemberCredit: Getty
6. Teofimo Lopez – 16-0 (12 KOS)
He is the current unified lightweight world champion, having held the IBF title since 2019 and the WBA (Super), WBO and Ring magazine titles since beating Lomachenko.. 
His quest to become the No1 in the P4P rankings was strengthened even further on Saturday.
The star put on a stunning display to claim the win over Lomachenko.
7. Vasiliy Lomachenko 15-2 (10)
Leaving the amateur game with a record of 396-1 – with the one loss to Albert Selimov later avenged – the simple question was could the boxing maestro transcend his skill-set to 12 rounds.
But after being roughed up by Orlando Salido for the WBO featherweight title in his second pro fight, Loma had not suffered a blip since until last weekend, becoming the quickest three-weight world champion in history.
In just 16 bouts, the 31-year-old has won four world belts and earned scalps such as Gary Russell Jr, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Jorge Linares and then recently Britain’s Luke Campbell.

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Teofimo Lopez convincingly beat Vasiliy Lomachenko last SaturdayCredit: Getty

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8. Gennady Golovkin – 40–1–1 (35 KO)
Failing to get the decision against Canelo in 2017 and then 2018 has cost Golovkin both his belts and a spot in the second half of this list.
Despite his age, 38-year-old Golovkin became world champion again by winning Canelo’s vacated IBF belt against Sergiy Derevyanchenko last month.
Alvarez insists despite GGG winning back a world honour the trilogy does not interest him – unless the money is right.
But for Golovkin the road does not end with the Mexican, with a move up to super-middleweight to become a two-division champion also sure to enhance the Kazakh’s legacy.

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Gennady Golovkin retains his place in the top tenCredit: AFP
9. Juan Francisco Estrada – 40–3 (27 KO)
The Mexican rose to fame after avenging his defeat by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai – the man who dethroned super-flyweight king Roman Gonzalez.
It came after Estrada reigned as unified flyweight world champion having beaten Brian Viloria.
The 29-year-old moved to 40 wins in August after stopping American Dewayne Beamon in a tune-up bout and battles Carlos Cuadras later this week.

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Artur Beterbiev makes up the top ten of the latest P4P rankingsCredit: Getty
10. Artur Beterbiev – 15-0 (15 KO)
The Russian powerhouse cemented his place as the man at 175lbs after stopping Oleksandr Gvozdyk to add the WBC title to his IBF belt.
The now unified light-heavyweight puncher stayed resilient in the Eastern European affair and kept his 100 per cent KO rate intact.
A unification clash against WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol has now been mentioned alongside a potential meeting with Kovalev.

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BOXING judge Terry O’Connor is to be investigated by the board of control after appearing to be on his phone during the Lewis Ritson versus Miguel Vazquez fight.
And promoter Eddie Hearn has called for the official to be ‘removed’ if the claims are found to be true.

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Terry O’Connor is ringside judging Lewis Ritson versus Miguel Vazquez – but his attention seems to be elsewhereCredit: Twitter@markstaylor1980

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Many people think judge Terry O’Connor appears to be looking at a mobile phone ringsideCredit: Twitter@markstaylor1980

A photo was circulated on social media that appears to show the 67-year-old looking at a mobile as he is seated ringside.
Matchroom boss Hearn, who promoted the show in question that saw Ritson secure a controversial points win, called for action.
Hearn shared the photo on Twitter, writing: “If that’s a phone (and I presume it is) then then BBBofC should immediately remove him.”

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Eddie Hearn wants action if it is proved the judge was on his phone
And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman also retweeted the snap, writing: “This image is extremely troubling to any person involved in boxing”.

Now British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith has promised to investigate the matter.
He told Boxing News: “I’m very, very disappointed. This has to be looked at and investigated as it will be.
“I am so frustrated that this seems to have happened. After the hard work we do behind the scenes we have something like this emerging.
“Personally I am so disappointed. I can’t say anything more on this at this point.”

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WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman thinks O’Connor was indeed on a mobile device

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Lewis Ritson somehow won on points against Miguel VazquezCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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In terms of the bout he was judging, O’Connor awarded it to home fighter Ritson, 117-111.
This was despite Sky Sports commentators, pundits and even Hearn himself believing Vazquez had comfortably done enough to win the fight.
Fellow judge Michael Alexander also scored it to Ritson, 115-113 with Marcus McDonnell handing it to the Mexican, 116-113.
Smith added that the ‘fight will be looked at’ as he ‘can completely understand why people felt Vazquez had won’.
The British Boxing Board of Control confirmed to SunSport they would be looking into the incident.
It’s not the first-time O’Connor has been caught up in controversy.
He was one of three judges who gave Callum Smith a wide-points win against John Ryder in November last year.
Many thought Ryder had shocked the champ into his first ever loss. O’Connor gave that fight 117-111 too.
The Birmingham judge was also slammed by promoter Mick Hennessey in 2017 when he gave Joseph Parker a 118-110 decision against Hughie Fury.
Hennessey said that O’Connor had ‘buckled under pressure’. More