Boxing

BOXING fans have been left in hysterics after spotting the height difference between Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora.Fundora’s eight-inch height advantage was on full display as the pair faced off for the first time on Thursday.Boxing fans were shocked by the height difference between Tim Tszyu (right) and Sebastian Fundora (left)Credit: Premier BoxingThe American has stepped in on 12 days notice to face the much shorter Tszyu in Las Vegas on March 30.He replaces Keith Thurman, who was forced out of the bout with a bicep injury.Tszyu will defend his WBO super-welterweight title and aim to capture the vacant WBC strap next weekend.However, the Soul Taker, who stands at 5ft 9ins, will have to overcome a 10-inch reach advantage to beat his 6ft 5ins tall opponent.READ MORE IN BOXINGFans were left in shock by their height difference as they faced off, with Tszyu barely staying in shot.One fan wrote on social media: “The height difference is killing me.”Another added: “This is nuts.”Meanwhile, a third fan also commented: “Good god Tszyu got a tall task ahead of him.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTszyu comes into the bout with a 24-0 professional record which includes 17 knockout victories.The 29-year-old Australian, who is the son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu, will be hoping to set up a lucrative clash with Terence Crawford by beating Fundora.Mike Tyson tipped to ‘pound Jake Paul into a mound of dust’ with brutal punches ‘like being hit by a grand piano’Former two-weight undisputed world champion Bud has been named as the WBO’s mandatory challenger at super-welterweight.First, though, Tszyu must get past Fundora, with the American fresh off his first professional loss last April.The Towering Inferno comes into the bout with a record of 20-1-1 including 13 wins via knockout.The height mismatch comes hot off the heels of a similar bout on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s win over Francis Ngannou.Fans called it “crazy” when Rey Vargas and Nick Ball met in the ring in Saudi Arabia.Rey Vargas and Nick Ball were something of a mismatchCredit: Reuters More

MIKE TYSON has been tipped to “pound Jake Paul into a mound of dust” as his brutal punches are “like being hit by a grand piano”.The boxing world was shocked earlier this month when it was announced that Iron Mike will face internet sensation Paul on July 20.Fans are fearing the worst for Jake Paul ahead of his fight with Mike TysonCredit: ReutersIron Mike looks in sensational shape in trainingCredit: XThat will be the 57-year-old legend’s first fight since 2020 when he fought Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition.His next opponent was on the undercard that night as he recorded a win over former NBA player Nate Robinson.The Problem Child, 27, produced a brutal first round knock out of Ryan Bourland three weeks ago in his last fight.Paul has been victorious in his last three bouts since suffering defeat to Tommy Fury last February.READ MORE ON BOXINGNow he faces one of the greatest boxers of all time at the incredible ATT Stadium in Texas.However, as the former heavyweight champion continues to share training footage on social media, fans are fearing the worse for Paul.One fan wrote: “Mike Tyson at 57 years of age is still a serious bad a**.“He could still whip most fighters today. He’s a beast! A machine! Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER“If Mike Tyson comes out and gives it his all, he will pound Jake Paul into a mound of dust.”“Jake Paul Is Finished,” declared another one.‘Better have an ambulance ready for Jake Paul’, say fans as Mike Tyson shows off explosive power in latest training clipAnother wrote: “Jake signed a death contract.”A fourth said: “Jake I fear for your safety.”While a fifth added: “Tyson has never looked better. I’m scared for that little boy.”Tyson called time on his career in 2005 with an impressive record of 50-6 including 44 knockouts and still holds the record for the youngest world heavyweight champion.Back in 2020, a top brain surgeon, Irineu Loturco, claimed Iron Mike can hit his opponent in the head with an impact equivalent to 450kg – which is the weight of a grand piano. They said: “A punch from a heavyweight boxer can hit the rival in the head with an impact equivalent to 450 kilos.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It is worth saying that this is an average value within the published studies.“Mike Tyson has always been well above that.”Credit: The Sun More

FRANCIS NGANNOU is reeling from a blow outside the ring almost as big as his second-round KO from Anthony Joshua inside it.The MMA legend has plunged down the WBC rankings from tenth to 25th.Anthony Joshua quickly dispatched Francis Ngannou in RiyadhCredit: GettyNgannou’s future in boxing is now uncertainCredit: AFPThe French-Cameroonian, 37, stunned fight fans with his boxing debut – a controversial defeat on a split decision against Tyson Fury last October.But his resulting high ranking from the WBC was ruined by a one-sided defeat against Joshua this month.Ngannou needed oxygen afterwards and, more worryingly, revealed he had no memory of being knocked out.It’s all left his boxing career in doubt, even sparking talk of the former UFC heavyweight champion returning to MMA. READ MORE TOP STORIESNgannou has now also been teased on social media after belatedly coming up with an unusual excuse for his humbling against AJ.Some fans even compared him to Deontay Wilder, who came up with a bewildering array of reasons for losing to Fury.Ngannou claimed he was the victim of a “trick” – as he was taken to the arena in Riyadh for his Joshua encounter too early.He told The MMA Hour: “We received a schedule, an email, and then for some reason I was there at least one hour before. But for the fight, at least two hours beforehand.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSJoshua easily beat Ngannou, who had severely tested Tyson FuryCredit: Getty”They do this kind of trick to get you tired. I was like cool, I was like, ‘Bro, it’s okay.'”I didn’t know how important that was, until the fight day that I had to get there two hours before.”‘I know I’m gonna see him one day’ – Anthony Joshua calls out reporter in press conference after KO of Francis Ngannou More

SORRY for sounding like a broken record but someone should strongly advise Joe Joyce to retire from the ring.Nearly a year ago giant Zhilei Zhang fractured Joyce’s eye socket and gave him a sickening beating before stopping him in six rounds.Colin Hart has urged Joe Joyce to retire after his latest unconvincing winCredit: GettyHaving seen Joe soak up terrible punishment I wrote in this column: “I felt uneasy watching Joyce take a battering and found myself wondering if, at 37, it would be wise to continue his ring career.”Unfortunately Joyce took a complete opposite view and insisted on  invoking the return fight clause in his contract – and three months later Zhang brutally knocked him out in three rounds.Last Saturday in Birmingham, Joyce, 39 in September – who was a top ten contender not long ago – was supposed to seek redemption on the long road back towards a world heavyweight title fight.But it was obvious from Joyce’s lumbering uninspired performance that he has nowhere near recovered from the awful beatings Zhang inflicted on him – and it’s possible he never will.READ MORE IN BOXINGKash Ali, not ranked among the world’s top 100 heavyweights, was his carefully selected opponent.Joe is known as the Juggernaut – a very large vehicle that carries heavy goods over long distances – and he certainly had a load on board. He came in at 20st 6lbs, the heaviest he has ever been, and proceeded to plod extremely slowly through round after embarrassing round.Sadly this Juggernaut never got out of first gear and he looked a shadow of the man who, pre-Zhang, had knocked out Joseph Parker and stopped Carlos Takam and Daniel Dubois.Joyce was expected to dispose of Ali fairly quickly yet he looked tired, lacking conviction and a man who had lost confidence in his ability.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIt was clear from the opening bell Ali’s main purpose was to survive and he  managed to do it until he got caught flush with a right hand and was counted out with just seven seconds left of the tenth and final round.I suppose better very late than never.Joe Joyce has to calm his fuming mum after she interrupts post-fight interviewJoe Joyce’s recordThe full numbers…

Fights: 18
Wins: 16
Defeats: 2
KO’s: 15

But when Ali did occasionally throw a right hook he found it easy to find Joyce’s chin like everyone else who has fought him.Ali didn’t have the power to inflict any serious outward damage but being punched regularly in the head by a 17st fighter shouldn’t be lightly dismissed.No doubt after this unsatisfactory KO victory against Ali, Joyce’s management team will be trying to persuade the media and his fans that Joe is still a serious threat to Tyson Fury, Antony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.Joyce has always fought the same way – amateur and pro – going forward in a straight line without moving his head which means he’s never been difficult to hit.He’s an intelligent man with an arts degree yet only last week he was saying – like George Foreman – he wants to continue fighting into his 40s.Not the most sensible idea to say the least.READ MORE SUN STORIESI’m not alone in fearing the Juggernaut is hurtling downhill fast. Among the past and present champions I spoke to at the British Boxing Board of Control’s awards lunch on Sunday there was complete agreement that it’s time for Joe to quit. They all feel he has taken too many punches for too long – but they didn’t wish to be quoted telling a fellow fighter what to do with his life. More