Boxing

GEORDIE star Joe Laws fancies his chances of fighting at St James’ Park after meeting hero and nickname-inspiration Tony Bellew.
The 26-year-old leaped from local legend to social media sensation last year when he got a packed Newcastle Arena singing after just an undercard four-rounder.

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Benwell Bomber Joe Laws wants to box at St James’ ParkCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

The Benwell Bomber has charmed boxing fans with his cheeky Twitter posts and the hilarious story of sparring Floyd Mayweather-protege Devin Haney in Las Vegas, while battling a blinding hangover.
But he is deadly serious about his career – having taken a dangerous behind-closed-doors bout when he usually sells 1,000 tickets – and the target of hosting a talent-packed card at the Toon stadium.
And a shock meeting with Everton nut Bellew – who won the WBC cruiserweight crown on an iconinc 2016 Goodison Park night – has added fuel to that burning desire.
Ahead of his clash with Rylan Charlton, on fellow Geordie Lewis Ritson’s undercard, Laws told SunSport: “If Lewis keeps winning, I keep winning, Tommy Ward, Savannah Marshall, Dave Allen and Josh Kelly – all from the North East – keep winning then we could sell out St James’.

“It would be an incredible night that people would never forget.
“I was only training on Thursday morning when Tony Bellew walked in. It was so mint because I love him, he’s the original ‘Bomber’ and he walked up and shook my hand.
“He got that amazing night at Goodison Park and showed that it could be done so why not aim high?”
Boxing rivals and purists might not like the 9-0 character grabbing so much attention but Laws knows you need more than technical ability to break up the order.

Every road drip ya stop at wetherby services for a poney and a little nosey around WH smiths. 3 grenade bars accidentally fell in me bag 😂😂
— Joseph Laws (@josephlaws) October 13, 2020

⚫⚪ The always entertaining @josephlaws returns to the ring this Saturday night, but without a crowd in attendance will we see a more composed performance from the ‘Benwell Bomber’?📺 6.30pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Arena pic.twitter.com/KBAFKjVGqs
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 12, 2020

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He said: “Boxing is an entertainment sport and if you have the same amount of charisma as a tin of beans then you’re going nowhere.
“A brilliant boxer like Guillermo Rigondeaux, for example, has more skill in his little toe than I do in my whole body. But ask anyone in Newcastle who they would rather watch and they’ll say me!
“I talk the talk because I am passionate about what I do and if I don’t walk the walk then I will have to suffer the consequences.”
Laws’ dedicated following will already know the story of his boozy Sin City holiday, the Caesars Palace nightclub trip that ended at 4:30am and the hangover sparring session that followed.
For two rounds, with Floyd Mayweather Sr in his corner, a teenage Haney ran rings around the bedraggled Brit.
But a looping left hook gave Devin ‘The Dream’ nightmares and the six-round spar was cut short.

Pokemon – 💣benwell bomber💣Skill – 🔴🔴Jab- 🔴Power 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴Ring craft- minus 3Corey size – infinite lengthSpecial move – right windmillkryptonite – toenail clippersWhen threatened under drastic circumstances he will headbut yourself + close family members pic.twitter.com/wZvQ6C5T2f
— Joseph Laws (@josephlaws) September 12, 2020

Laws doesn’t claim he could beat the current British or European champion, right now, but he is adamant he has the beating of the 24-0 sensation hailed by some as the new Sugar Ray Leonard.
He added: “I have always been honest about it, he was only a kid at the time and he is a mint fighter now, but in that spar I filled him right in.
“I was hungover to bits, I tried to get out of the spar but my mate Jordan called me a fairy, so I had to go through with it.
“Devin had two or three top coaches in his corner singing his praises and giving him advice. I just had my mate shouting ‘bruv, bruv, he doesn’t want it, bruv!’”

Dont let your past determine your future i started my boxing career back up after hitting the town/drink hard just 6 years ago. Walked back in the gym 88kg called myself the benwell bomber everyone laughed at me….. 6 years on who’s laughing now mother FU#@%AS #BOMBSQUAD pic.twitter.com/cmXsCVT2nT
— Joseph Laws (@josephlaws) August 16, 2020

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VASYL Lomachenko isn’t your average boxer.
The Ukrainian three-weight world champ, 32, is rated as the one of the best pound-for-pound fighters around.

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Vasyl Lomachenko is one of the most feared boxers on the planet right nowCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun

This weekend, Loma goes head-to-head with Teofimo Lopez in a lightweight bout in Las Vegas.
And you can be sure the favourite might’ve prepared for the fight in the most unique way.
The southpaw, who boasted an incredible 396 amateur wins before he went pro also, uses maths puzzles, folk-dancing, and holding his breath underwater to defeat his opponents.
TINY DANCER
Despite showing a promise for boxing from the age of four Lomachenko’s father Anatoly was adamant that his son should start dance classes.

For four years he honed his footwork skills performing traditional Ukrainian folk dancing called Hopak, where dancers wear baggy pantaloons and bright coloured boots.
It was a ploy by his dad, part martial arts sensei part Buddha, to help Loma improve his footwork, as he later understood.
“I didn’t understand at that time,” Vasyl told Sports Illustrated.
“He didn’t pay attention to my hands. He didn’t pay attention to my defense. First, he was paying attention to my footwork.”

Years later, Lomachenko was back in the boxing gym and working with pads – improving his hand speed and punching power.

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Lomachenko’s footwork was learned by practicing traditional Ukrainian folk dancing as a kidCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Dad Anatoly wouldn’t let his son near a boxing ring until he took dancing lessonsCredit: Box Rec

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Hopak dancing – or Cossack dancing – is the native dance of UkraineCredit: Getty – Contributor

HOPAK DANCING

THE Hopak is a Ukrainian folk dance that dates all the way back to the 16th century

Originally, a male dance created by the Zaporozhian Cossacks, it is now performed in countries including Belarus, Russia and Poland.
The name is derived from the word ‘hopaty’ which means hop.
A typical movement of the dance is leaping through the air and touching your toes.
While performers are also known to squat while balancing on one leg.
The traditional costume worn by the dancers consists of pantaloons and colourful boots.
Famously, former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin forced his eventual successor Nikita Khrushchev to perform the Hopak to see his dance credentials.

UNUSUAL TRAINING METHODS
Lomachenko, who has a 14-1 professional record, chooses unorthodox training measures to beat his foes.
Before he defeated Luke Campbell at The O2 Arena last year by unanimous decision he was particularly interested exercising his mind.
He would complete complex maths equations and word puzzles to strengthen his thought process.
To improve his physical attributes, he raced against his pet German Shepherd on the beach, would punch a tennis ball tied to a baseball cap, and held his breath underwater for four minutes.
Again, to sharpen hand-to-eye coordination skills he also juggles.

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Lomachenko keeps his brain sharp by doing maths puzzlesCredit: Gail Fisher

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Lomachenko’s regime includes walking on his hands – and fistsCredit: Gail Fisher

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Boxer Lomachenko also plays a version of tennis with a heavy ballCredit: Gail Fisher

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Lomachenko’s training methods are unusual, including punching a ball attached to a baseball capCredit: Getty – Contributor
AMATEUR KING
As an amateur, Lomachenko got plenty of practice in.
Astonishingly, he won 396 of his 397 fights – making him one of the most prolific amateur fighters of all time.
That one blemish on his record – was a defeat to Albert Selimov.
However, Loma managed to avenge the defeat twice to reign supreme.
This led to his progression to Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships.
And success followed – winning gold at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012 – two golds at the World Championship, and another further two at the Europeans.

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Lomachenko celebrates winning gold at London 2012Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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Lomachenko poses with a crocodile during a trip to the zoo

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During training camps Lomachenko would race against his German Shepherd on the beach

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Lomachenko’s hand-to-eye coordination is sharpened by jugglingCredit: Supplied

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Puzzles help keep Lomachenko’s mind sharp

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Swimming, including holding his breath under water for about four minutes is another Lomachenko’s training methods
HE LOST TO AN UBER DRIVER
Despite appearing (almost) unbeatable, Lomachenko does have that one defeat against his name… and it was to an Uber driver!
In 2014, he fought against Orlando Salido for the vacant WBO Featherwight title.
The Mexican went into the fight having already lost 12 times.
To compliment his boxing, Salido would take Uber fares on the side for some extra cash.
He is probably the most intimidating Uber driver ever.

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Lomachenko goes toe-to-toe with Luke Campbell at the O2 ArenaCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun

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The only defeat on Lomachenko’s record was to Uber driver Orlando SalidoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
PASTIMES
When boxing takes a backseat, Lomachenko is at ease on the lakes.
His favourite hobby is fishing and he regularly shares images on Instagram of some of his catches.

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Loma also loves ice hockey – a sport he would love to have become a professional in.
But it’s a low-key existence for him, which is why he trains in a small gym in Oxnard, California – away from the glamour of LA.
When the cameras are rolling on Saturday though, expect this modest fighter to live up his billing as box office.

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In his free time Lomachenko loves fishingCredit: Instagram / @lomachenkovasiliy

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Lomachenko gets to grips with showjumping

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BOXING legend Thomas Hearns has revealed a five-step formula he believes would be enough to beat fellow great Floyd Mayweather.
And it could be music to the ears of Logan Paul, with the YouTuber believed to be in line to fight Mayweather in an exhibition fight in the near future.

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Thomas Hearns believes he has the five key ingredients to beat Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty – Contributor

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Floyd Mayweather has never tasted defeat in the professional boxing gameCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Mayweather retired from boxing with an unblemished 50-fight record.
His last victory came when he silenced UFC star Conor McGregor with a tenth-round stoppage win in 2017.
Another money-spinner is in the pipeline to fight social media sensation Paul.
In an interview with The Ring Magazine as reported by World Boxing News, Hearns ran through five tactics he would have employed that he thinks would have seen him beat Mayweather.

Unfortunately their two paths never crossed – Hearns was up at cruiserweight and beyond as Mayweather was making a name for himself at feather mid-to-late 1990s.
The 61-year-old believes the five key ingredients would be:
out-think,
out-jab,
force him to keep on moving his head,
unleash with the right hand
avoid body shots.
The five-weight world champion known as ‘Hitman’ explained: “Against me, I would have to respect him.
“I think that he could go the distance with me. I would have to out-think him and definitely out-jab him. He’s a shorter man. So he can’t get to me.

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Tommy Hearns was part of the great boxing era in the 1980s in the USCredit: Getty – Contributor

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Logan Paul fancies his chances of beating a boxing great in Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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“I would have to keep the jab on him and keep him at a distance. Force him to use his head movement all of the time. Somewhere down the line, I would probably hit him with a couple of right hands.
“I would probably get him with a good right hand if not an average right hand. If I was to go to the body, you know that might play into what he is probably trying to do strategically.
“I think that if I got closer to him trying to land a body shot, that would be what he wants. So I think that my best thing would be to stay on the outside and box him.
“But I think that he could go the distance with me.”
Hearns seemingly retired from boxing in 2000 after retiring against Uriah Grant.
But he made a stunning comeback in 2005, winning two fights before going out on a win.
He was part of the ‘Fab Four’ era of the 1980s alongside Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard at welterweight and super-welter.

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