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      Tyson Fury pulled me aside backstage to ask why I was backing Oleksandr Usyk – I know how Ukrainian can win

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      GEORGE GROVES claims Tyson Fury pulled him aside before demanding to know why he was backing Oleksandr Usyk to win next month’s heavyweight title fight.Fury and Usyk will finally collide in a championship unifier when they take to the ring in Saudi Arabia on February 17.
      George Groves predicts Oleksandr Usyk will beat Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
      Groves was confronted by Fury over his backing for UsykCredit: Reuters
      The two men are the princes of the heavyweight division.
      And whoever emerges victorious will finally be crowned the king once and for all.
      Many are predicting Fury to win the bout thanks to his size and strength advantage.
      But former WBA super-middleweight champ Groves is backing Usyk to come up with the goods.
      READ MORE ON BOXING
      He reckons the Ukrainian’s smaller frame will work to his advantage.
      And Groves even claims that after getting wind of his prediction, Fury confronted him backstage at a show before demanding an explanation.
      Groves told Grosvenor Casino: “I think Usyk wins, I think he’s in better form.
      “I know people are attacking him a bit for the Dubois performance but I thought he was very, very good. Usyk was in full control and stopped him. 
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      “Usyk will take Fury out of his comfort zone, Fury’s a big unit and he carries a lot of weight.
      “And if Usyk makes him work harder than he used to then it’s going to be a tough night for him. 
      “Usyk builds into a fight and each round he cranks it up. I think he’s in better form, I’m going against the natural size of Fury, and I’m picking Usyk. I think he wins quite comfortably. 
      “Fury pulled me backstage once and he said ‘hey, why are you picking Usyk to win’ and I said ‘Tyson, someone’s got to pick him’.”
      Groves’ prediction comes after Fury declared he will only train for five weeks before facing Usyk.
      He said: “I train four or five weeks for these fights.
      “Please, like I trained 12 weeks for Wilder and everybody else! Four or five weeks, how much training does a man need?
      “Three or four weeks of sparring and one week of resting, done. We’ve been boxing for all of our lives since young boys, how much training do we need?
      “I’m sure we aren’t going to forgot how to box and it’s not a fitness competition is it, so I don’t think you need anymore than five weeks.”

      TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT More

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      KSI vacates his Misfits Boxing title belt in cryptic social media post… as he reveals ‘other plans in the pipeline’

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      KSI announced he has vacated his Misfits Boxing title belt to pursue “other plans in the pipeline”. The YouTuber-turned boxer launched Misfits in 2022 as a platform for celebrity-style crossover bouts.
      KSI announced he has vacated his Misfits Boxing title beltCredit: Getty
      In his comeback after three years out, he beat rapper Swarmz and Mexican boxer Luis Pinenda to win the cruiserweight title.
      He defended it with a knockout over gamer Faze Temper and against nightclub tycoon and professional boxer Joe Fournier.
      It was also on the line the night he lost to Tommy Fury – but he never actually conceded the title.
      Now it appears KSI will not defend it again either after taking to social media to reveal it has been vacated.
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      He posted: “I have enjoyed the honour of being The Misfits Cruiserweight Champion immensely.
      “I have other plans in the pipeline and it wouldn’t be fair for me to hold that title any longer so…
      “I am relinquishing the belt and a new champion will be crowned on the next Survivor Tag!”
      KSI, 30, took time away from boxing following defeat to Fury, 24.
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      But he recently confirmed he WILL return this year, eyeing a summer fight date.
      Although a rematch with Fury looks unlikely after their bitter fallout following the controversial fight ending.
      And a grudge match against Jake Paul, 27, also faces the KO amid a breakdown in talks between the camps.
      Tommy Fury beat KSI via controversial decisionCredit: PA More

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      Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, full card for huge light-heavyweight clash

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      JOSHUA BUATSI faces another tough test as he takes on Dan Azeez in a cracking British light-heavyweight clash this weekend. The bout will be contested over 12 rounds for Azeez’s British, Commonwealth and European titles at 175lbs.
      Joshua Buatsi’s biggest win came against Craig Richards in May 2022Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Dan Azeez is the British, Commonwealth and European champion at light-heavyweight
      The winner will likely set themselves up for a huge world title showdown against WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol.
      Azeez and Buatsi were supposed to clash towards the end of 2023, but an injury to the former set the fight back a few months.
      Now the pair are set to clash in the capital, with the victor set to take home the ultimate boxing bragging rights.
      When is Buatsi vs Azeez?

      Buatsi’s clash with Azeez will take place on Saturday, February 3.
      The main card will get going from 7pm, with the main event expected to start at around 10.30pm GMT.
      Wembley Arena will play host to the light-heavyweight match-up.

      What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Buatsi vs Azeez will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena.
      The action gets underway from 7pm on Arena and 8.30pm on Main Event.
      You can live stream the card from the Sky Go or NOW TV app, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Buatsi vs Azeez full card

      Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez (light-heavyweight)
      Adam Azim (C) vs Enock Poulsen (European super-lightweight title)
      Caroline Dubois vs Miranda Reyes (vacant IBO women’s lightweight title)
      Ben Whittaker vs Khalid Graidia (light-heavyweight)
      Francesca Hennessy vs Laura Belen Valdebenito (bantamweight)
      Jeamie TKV vs Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko (heavyweight) More

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      Conor McGregor invited to make brutal bare-knuckle boxing switch after UFC superstar strikes deal with BKFC

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      CONOR McGREGOR has been invited to make a switch to brutal bare-knuckle boxing after striking a sponsorship deal. McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout is now partnered with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
      Conor McGregor with BKFC founder David FeldmanCredit: BKFC
      The Irishman himself talked up the idea of one day taking the gloves off for a brutal bout with exposed fists.
      In 2017, he crossed over to the boxing ring to face Floyd Mayweather, losing in ten rounds but making around £100million in doing so.
      The UFC gave McGregor special permission to do so and co-promoted the money-spinning spectacle.
      So it leaves BKFC founder David Feldman refusing to rule out the 35-year-old stepping into the world of bare-knuckle boxing.
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      He told SunSport: “Look, theoretically he can’t because he’s under contract with the UFC and we actually have a great relationship with the UFC.
      “But I think Conor plays by a different set of rules any maybe there’s a way to partner on an event, who knows?
      “But as far as us doing it by ourselves, I don’t think that ever happens. But maybe a collaboration? It could happen, he likes it.”
      McGregor was ringside in April when his former opponents Eddie Alvarez, 40, and Chad Mendes, 38, fought at BKFC 41.
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      Later that night, ex-UFC star Mike Perry, 32, defeated Luke Rockhold, 39, and McGregor jumped in the ring afterwards for a face off.
      Feldman said: “They’d both stand there and bang and Mike Perry talks good, Conor talks good and it wold be really, really fun to watch.
      “There’s a lot of guys out there too. A lot of guys in the UFC that would be fun; Justin Gaethje, he would be really fun to watch here.
      “I think Conor versus Mike Perry, the whole world would tune in.”
      McGregor paraded around with a BKFC championship belt and squared up to their biggest star in Perry.
      And it gave Feldman quite possibly the greatest bit of marketing possible.
      He said: “It’s huge and since that time we were able to sign a deal with him for his Forged Irish Stout, which is now a sponsor of ours.
      “He’s going to be an ambassador and it was a great thing. He liked what he saw, it’s had not to like it if you’re a real fighter.
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      “It’s hard not to get excited about it and he got excited about it. Now it’s turned into a good relationship.
      “It’s amazing, you’ve got the number one combat sports guy in the whole entire world who likes your product and want to be involved with you in some shape or form.”
      Mike Perry squaring up to Conor McGregorCredit: Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship More

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      Floyd Mayweather wanted to sign me but I turned it down… now I’m with Jake Paul and on course for a world title shot

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      ASHTON SYLVE once looked destined to sign for Floyd Mayweather – but he turned down the boxing hero for Jake Paul. Sylve was a national amateur standout with over 110 bouts and ten titles to his name.
      Ashton Sylve met Floyd Mayweather as a kid but turned down the legend’s offer to promote him
      Sylve is now signed to Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions
      And growing up, he was a regular in Mayweather’s famed Las Vegas boxing club, where he caught the eye of the American icon.
      Sylve, 20, told SunSport: “Since I was young he was always like, ‘When you’re ready. We’re here whenever you’re ready.’
      “Whenever I saw him he would say, ‘Whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re ready.’”
      Sylve left behind the amateurs to turn professional in 2020 at the age of just 16.
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      The hot prospect had a host of top promoters lining up to secure his signature but dad and mentor Ivan insisted they held out.
      And that meant painfully rebuffing approaches from idol Mayweather.
      But, as fate would have it, Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian were ready to make an offer that could not be refused.
      Sylve revealed: “It was honestly real hard.
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      “I was at a point where I was not going to listen to my dad, it was kind of taking too long and I was like five or six fights in.
      “I was ready to be on the big stage and I thought Floyd or whoever else would have put me on that spotlight.
      “But everything happens for a reason and that’s when Jake came around I think two fights later and Nakisa came to one of my fights.
      “I had an amazing knockout and we kind of went from there. If I had gone with someone else, I don’t think I’d be in this position.”
      Sylve signed for YouTuber-turned boxer Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in April 2022 and has not looked back since.
      He said: “My team and my dad definitely told me to take my time. 
      “When I had certain offers come my way I definitely wanted to jump at them and get ahead of myself just because of the name of who the promoter was. 
      “But as soon as MVP went our way – and we went through pretty much every big promotion company – we took our time with them too and heard what they had for us and it wasn’t quite fitting for us. 
      “But as soon as MVP came, Jake gave us his idea and offer, we met Jake and everything seemed to align.” 
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      Sylve returns on Friday against Estivan Falcao for the WBC junior world title, offering the winner a chance to shoot up the rankings for a future shot at the belt.
      He said: “That’s why we’re at this point right now, fighting for the title because the development of my career and the team behind me has pushed me and put me in the right position.” 
      Ashton Sylve fights for the WBC junior world titleCredit: Most Valuable Promotions/Esther Lin More

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      World boxing champ Terence Crawford ‘casually living his best life’ at AVN porn awards

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      BOXING fans joked Terence Crawford is casually “living his best life” after attending the AVN porn awards in Las Vegas. Crawford shot to superstardom last year after beating long-time rival Errol Spence Jr to win the undisputed welterweight titles.
      Terence Crawford attended the AVN porn awards in Las VegasCredit: Reuters
      Boxing fans joked Crawford is casually ‘living his best life’ after appearing at the awards showCredit: Instagram @tbudcrawford
      Emily Lynne, Luna Star and Kazumi at the awardsCredit: Getty
      It cemented his status as arguably the No1 boxer in the world and he became the first man to reign as undisputed champ in two divisions.
      Crawford has not returned since but remains linked with a Spence rematch or sensational jump up to fight Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez.
      Although it appears the American is enjoying his time off as he took a trip to Las Vegas.
      And in town was the annual AVN porn awards, which Crawford revealed he attended.
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      A video from a performance during the event was posted to the unbeaten champion’s Instagram – leaving fans in stitches.
      One said: “Terence Crawford living his best life. Casually at the Porn Awards.”
      Another added: “Terence Crawford’s victory lap following his win over Errol Spence is one for the ages.”
      One agreed: “Crawford having a once in a lifetime victory lap since taking down Spence!”
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      Spence, 33, had a rematch clause in his contract but he recently underwent eye surgery for a previous injury.
      It raised doubt over whether he will rematch Crawford, 36, or not.
      And Crawford’s future at 147lb is also in question after he was stripped of the IBF belt for not fighting mandatory challenger Jaron Ennis.
      Rising unbeaten talent Ennis, 26, has called to fight Crawford but the pound-for-pound star shot it down.
      He posted: “Like I said before @JaronEnnis had two opportunities to fight me.
      “We talking about a kid that’s still fighting in the theater. Make it make sense.”
      Crawford is a pound-for-pound boxing starCredit: Getty More

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      Anthony Joshua reveals why he snubbed three fighters to take on Francis Ngannou in his own ‘undisputed’ bout

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed he rejected three other potential opponents to make the Francis Ngannou fight.Joshua, 34, will face off against former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou, 37, in Saudi Arabia on March 8.
      Anthony Joshua has revealed three names were proposed to him before he took the Francis Ngannou fightCredit: Alamy
      Deontay Wilder was set to face Joshua before his defeat to Joseph ParkerCredit: Getty
      Prior to AJ’s win over Otto Wallin in December he had signed to face American KO artist Deontay Wilder.
      But the Bronze Bomber was comprehensively outboxed by Joseph Parker on the same bill as Joshua’s stoppage victory.
      And Wilder’s defeat left many claiming a fight with AJ was dead in the water.
      Yet Joshua has now insisted he still believed he could have faced the Alabama puncher next.
      READ MORE ON ANTHONY JOSHUA
      As well as Wilder, a clash with IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic was also discussed.
      And a trilogy against Andy Ruiz Jr was also in the mix in what would have been a follow-up to their two fights in 2019.
      But once the Brit was approached about the Ngannou bout, he urged them to make the fight.
      Speaking on The MMA Hour, he said: “I thought it might be Wilder still, because the contracts were signed, and it’s still a big fight.
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      ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
      “It’s still an amazing fight, it’s a crossover between UK and USA, all that good stuff promotional-wise, it’s still a good fight.
      “So no, I kind of let that one slide, and then it was the [Flip] Hrgovic situation, the [Andy] Ruiz situation.
      “Then they put Francis there, and my team were like, ‘This is a good opportunity on this day in Saudi Arabia against this opponent. What are you saying?’
      “I said, ‘Let’s roll. Let’s go.’”
      Joshua is heading into the Ngannou fight off the back of three successive wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Wallin.
      Ngannou is preparing for only his second pro boxing fight after narrowly losing by split decision to Tyson Fury in what almost became one of the sport’s all-time great upsets.
      If Joshua wins, many will want him to take on the winner of the undisputed fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk – which is set for February 17.
      AJ has already lost twice to Usyk, but a blockbuster all-British dust-up with Fury has never materialised.
      However, when asked about the possibility of facing Fury or Usyk, he added: “Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on [facing the Fury-Usyk winner].
      “I’m going to take my mind, I have to draw it back that Ngannou is my undisputed title fight. That’s the mentality I have to have.
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      “Ngannou is my undisputed fight. Because you’re only as good as your last fight, and I respect him a lot. He ain’t easy money. He’s a hard night’s work.
      “And you know what’s crazy? So am I. I’m a hard night’s work for anyone. So let’s go, it’s going to be fireworks.”
      Andy Ruiz Jr is keen for a rematch against Joshua having beaten him back in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Filip Hrgovic was also a potential opponent for Joshua before he chose NgannouCredit: Getty More

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      Apollonia Llewellyn threatens to spill out of tiny bikini on Los Angeles holiday as fans brand her ‘stunning girlie’

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      RING GIRL Apollonia Llewellyn travelled to Los Angeles for her latest holiday.The boxing ring girl is in the US following a skiing holiday in Switzerland.
      Apollonia soaked up the sun in CaliforniaCredit: instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      It comes after she went skiingCredit: instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      The influencer visited SwizerlandCredit: instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      She did not let the cold stop her from wearing a bikiniCredit: instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      Apollonia shot to fame as a ring girl for KSI’s Misfits boxing promotion.
      She was ringside for KSI’s controversial victory over Joe Fournier last year, when he won by elbowing his opponent.
      The result of the match was later declared null and void.
      Much like Misfits Boxing at large, which has has had its license suspended by the Professional Boxing Association (the PBA).
      READ MORE ON APOLLONIA
      The PBA has suspended the organisation’s license “in the interest of boxer’s safety”.
      Regardless of whether Misfits goes ahead again, it seems like Apollonia will be fine.
      The influencer boasts 579,000 followers on Instagram and rakes in the dosh thanks to a series of paid collaborations.
      Fans were quick to take to the comment section of her latest post.
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      She captioned the post: “Expensive.”
      One fan commented: “Stunning girlie 😍”
      Another responded: “Angel💛”
      A third wrote: “😍😍”
      While a fourth commented: “So beautiful 😍😍.”
      She has embraced the cold climes this winterCredit: instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      And made Switzerland a second homeCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      Bikinis are often paired with a fur hatCredit: Instagram
      The influencer is fond of a holidayCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      She recently visited New YorkCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      A pic from her recent trip to LACredit: INSTAGRAM @apolloniallewellyn
      Her previous favourite destination was GreeceCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      But America looks as though it’s making a comebackCredit: Instagram
      She is originally from LeedsCredit: INSTAGRAM @apolloniallewellyn More