Boxing

EDDIE HEARN has admitted he was ‘lost for words’ after watching the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou fight.The Battle of the Baddest brought the heavyweight boxing champ and the UFC legend together in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Hearn has called for Tyson Fury to fight Anthony Joshua nextCredit: Sportsfile
Fury laboured to a controversial split decision win, which divided pundits.
While in the third round, the Gypsy King was dropped by his opponent in devastating fashion.
The performance left promoter Hearn unimpressed.
He then called for Fury to take on his fighter, Anthony Joshua.
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“I’m absolutely lost for words. Fury looked like he’d never laced up a pair of gloves before. I thought Ngannou won by two rounds,” Hearn said.
“Forget Fury vs Usyk, no-one’s interested, just give us Fury vs Anthony Joshua. AJ will knock Fury out inside six rounds.”
The so-called Battle of Britain has been on the table for some time, and was mooted to finally happen in September of this year.
But AJ reportedly snubbed it in favour of continuing to negotiate a huge pay day by fighting Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia later this year.
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Fury was uninspiring in his win against Francis Ngannou by split decisionCredit: Reuters
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Fury co-promoter Frank Warren lambasted Joshua for his decision to turn down a September showdown, although Bob Arum sees the logic behind it.
The 91-year-old told Boxing Social: “Why would he want to fight Tyson Fury now when he can wait for the Saudi money in the winter and fight Wilder?
“This is a business for them.”
Meanwhile, Fury’s bout with Usyk is also off and could be delayed until as late as February.
Warren confirmed that his fight against Ngannou has probably nudged the four-belt showdown well past Crimbo and toward a bloody Valentine’s date.
The hall-of-fame Queensberry promoter said: “It is too soon to talk about what Tyson does right now but the Usyk fight is signed.
“It will go ahead but it will not be on the 23rd. It was crazy for some people to suggest that it could still go ahead on the 23rd.
“He is 35-years-old and has just done a 12-week training camp and has just been in a tough fight.
“He needs a break with his family, he needs to switch off and we will announce the date when we are ready. But the fight is signed. The fight will happen.
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“It will happen early in the new year, late January or February. It will be up to Tyson, it is his body.
“He wasn’t smashed to bits at all but he needs a break.” More

CONOR McGREGOR has dropped a hint at what Tyson Fury will do next, after surviving a scare against Francis Ngannou.The Gypsy King was controversially declared the winner by split decision, with plenty of pundits unconvinced by the heavyweight champions’s performance.
Conor McGregor has spoken about what Tyson Fury could do nextCredit: Getty
Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury in the third round of their fight
However, in round three things looked dicey when Ngannou dropped Fury to the canvas – stunning the crowd.
In attendance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was UFC legend Conor McGregor.
And Notorious shared his thoughts on what he thought Fury could do next.
McGregor said of the spectacle: “Great fight, great to watch. Heavyweight boxing is exciting! Especially from the ringside. Add Usyk into that and it’s going to be a tough ask for Fury as well.”
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Asked if he thinks the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury fight is going to happen, McGregor replied: “You think he’s going to dip out of that one? You never know.”
McGregor also spoke of both Ngannou and Fury’s performance.
“Lovely shot that caught him on the back of the head, a bit off balance as well,” the Irishman continued. 
“Fair play to Tyson he’s a tough man as well. Strong chin.
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“And Jesus, Ngannou is a powerful boy as well. Tyson couldn’t hold him. He was just missing with that backhand.”
As we told you, Fury’s £150million December 23 undisputed decider with Usyk is off and could be delayed until as late as February.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren confirmed that his Halloween howler has now probably nudged the four-belt showdown well past Crimbo and toward a bloody Valentine’s date.
The hall-of-fame Queensberry promoter said: “It is too soon to talk about what Tyson does right now but the Usyk fight is signed.
“It will go ahead but it will not be on the 23rd. It was crazy for some people to suggest that it could still go ahead on the 23rd.
“He is 35-years-old and has just done a 12-week training camp and has just been in a tough fight.
The stats from the fight show Fury landed more punches overall and in the majority of the rounds
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“He needs a break with his family, he needs to switch off and we will announce the date when we are ready. But the fight is signed. The fight will happen.
“It will happen early in the new year, late January or February. It will be up to Tyson, it is his body.
“He wasn’t smashed to bits at all but he needs a break.” More

TYSON FURY’S £150million December 23 undisputed decider with Oleksandr is OFF and could be delayed until as late as FEBRUARY.Saturday night’s Saudi Arabia showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was supposed to be little more than a sweetener to charm the Sheikhs into stumping up the Christmas cash.
Tyson Fury is expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk nextCredit: Getty
The Ukrainian was ringside as the Gypsy King struggled past Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
But the 35-year-old WBC champ stank the 23,000 seater Kingdom Arena out, was dropped in the third round – by a professional boxing debutant – and saved by two generous judges who gifted him a split decision.
Poor old Usyk, 36, sat ringside watching his dream fight go up in smoke, head clasped in his hands as his rival not only fumbled the bag but accidentally toe punted it into a sand dune.
Licking his lips Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO purred after watching the Fury flop: “I want to fight Tyson Fury on December 23, I am ready.”
But Fury promoter Frank Warren confirmed that his Halloween howler has now probably nudged the four-belt showdown well past Crimbo and toward a bloody Valentine’s date.
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The hall-of-fame Queensberry promoter said: “It is too soon to talk about what Tyson does right now but the Usyk fight is signed.
“It will go ahead but it will not be on the 23rd. It was crazy for some people to suggest that it could still go ahead on the 23rd.
“He is 35-years-old and has just done a 12-week training camp and has just been in a tough fight.
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Frank Warren offered an update on Fury’s mooted bout with UsykCredit: Getty
Francis Ngannou floored Tyson Fury in round threeCredit: Getty
“He needs a break with his family, he needs to switch off and we will announce the date when we are ready. But the fight is signed. The fight will happen.
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“It will happen early in the new year, late January or February. It will be up to Tyson, it is his body.
“He wasn’t smashed to bits at all but he needs a break.”
As per Boxing King Media, Usyk responded shortly after Warren’s comments: “Uncle Frank says some sneaky things.
“We have a contract that says the fight has to take place on Dec 23rd… Let Fury vacate his title first, then he can take his rest… Tyson – we must fight, we must do it, Dec 23rd. See you in the ring. I love you.”
Everybody inside the boxing business expected England’s 6ft 9in childhood boxer to play with Ngannou, the Cameroon Cinderella story who never saw a professional gym until he was 22.
The Morecambe showman claimed he couldn’t lose even if Ngannou had a machete and pistol in his hands instead of 10oz gloves.
But the 37-year-old – who had to smuggle himself illegally into Europe a decade ago and endured hospital and prison stays as part of his trek across the Sahara – was brilliant from the opening bell to his dignified speech in defeat.
And Warren reckons he saw it coming – to an extent.
“Ngannou was much better than people expected him to be,” he said. “He can box.
“As soon as he shaped up I thought ‘f***ing hell this kid can box’.
“People were talking like Ngannou was some sort of nerd, f***ing computer nerd, fighting in a joke fight. 
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“But he is a proper fighter whose background is coming from Africa, a tough b******d through and through.
“I didn’t think he would be able to adapt to highest-level boxing at 37 but I got that wrong, because he f***ing did, didn’t he.”
The stats from the fight show Fury landed more punches overall and in the majority of the rounds More

FRANCIS NGANNOU could fight Tyson Fury for world heavyweight title.That’s after the UFC legend’s trainer claimed the WBC are set to rank the Cameroonian in the top 10.
Francis Ngannou was hugely impressive despite his split decision loss to Tyson FuryCredit: Getty
Ngannou has confirmed he will continue to box as well as returning to MMACredit: Reuters
Ngannou, 37, shocked fight fans in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night in a clash many felt Fury would comfortably win.
The MMA man dropped Fury in the third round and went the distance, with many believing he did enough to have his hand raised in the non-title fight.
And while the judges awarded Fury the victory by split decision, it took little away from just how impressed people were with Ngannou in his professional boxing debut.
After the fight, Ngannou confirmed he is set to continue boxing while also returning to MMA when he sees fit.
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And his trainer, Dewey Cooper, has revealed WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told him in the ring following the fight that Ngannou will now be ranked in their top 10.
Speaking to journalist Mike Bohn, he said: “Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, said he’s gonna rank him [Ngannou] in the top 10 because he’s better than most of the other heavyweights in the top 10.
“He said that in the ring. So absolutely, you’ll see him again.”
Ranking Ngannou in the WBC’s top 15 makes him a valid voluntary challenger for Fury’s belt.
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Ngannou’s trainer Dewey Cooper, right, has claimed his fighter is set to be ranked by the WBCCredit: Reuters
It also gives Fury another option when it comes to defending his title.
However, the most likely next fight for Fury is an undisputed clash against Oleksandr Usyk.
Unified heavyweight champion Usyk, 36, got in the ring and went face to face with Fury following his unconvincing win over Ngannou.

The pair then confirmed that their next fight will be against one another.
But Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has since revealed the provisional date of December 23 is set to be pushed back to next year following Fury’s tough night with Ngannou.
The stats from the fight show Fury landed more punches overall and in the majority of the rounds More

OLEKSANDR USYK was left utterly shell-shocked when Tyson Fury was knocked down by Francis Ngannou on Saturday night.The Ukrainian, 36, signed to fight Fury in an undisputed clash that was due to take place on December 23.
Francis Ngannou dropped Tyson Fury with a left hookCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk was left stunned when Fury was dropped by NgannouCredit: X @michaelbenson
The Ukrainian could not believe what he had just seenCredit: X @michaelbenson
It now seems as though that could be pushed back to 2024 after Fury’s promoter Frank Warren admitted it was doubtful The Gypsy King would be ready for the end of the year.
But Usyk’s blockbuster showdown with the WBC champion could have been off the table altogether had Fury lost to Ngannou.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, 37, floored Fury with a cuffing left hook in the third round of their bout in Saudi Arabia.
The shocking moment left all those in attendance utterly stunned.
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And no one was as shocked as Usyk – who was seeing his potential clash with Fury go up in smoke before his eyes.
Fortunately for Usyk, Fury recovered to secure a controversial split decision win.
But the cameras did catch Usyk’s reaction when Fury was sent down to the canvas.
As the knockdown happened, Usyk’s eyes widened and he began scratching his head in disbelief.
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The stats from the fight show Fury landed more punches overall and in the majority of the rounds
He also looked in the direction of the camera as the truly astonished look was written all over his face.
And fans have hilariously claimed this was because he was watching a mammoth pay cheque vanish before his eyes.
One said: “Face of a man that’s just lost 50 mill plus.”
Another added: “Dollar signs fading away 😬.”
A third replied: “Bro was stressing 😂🤣.”
While a fourth responded: “What a reaction!”
Fury and Usyk faced off in the ring following the fight.
And Fury said: “Listen, it’s been going on a long time.
“We were supposed to fight in April at Wembley. It never happened. Let’s do the fight over here [Saudi Arabia].
“His excellency Turki Al-Sheikh is going to put the fight on for all the belts, the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Let’s go my brother, let’s go.”
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Before Usyk added: “Let’s go.”
But now it appears fans will have to wait until next year to see the first ever four-belt undisputed world heavyweight title fight. More

JAKE PAUL told his own critics to “shut the f*** up” after seeing Tyson Fury get floored by Francis Ngannou.The Gypsy King was expected to waltz to an easy victory against his MMA star opponent in Riyadh.
Jake Paul was left stunned by Francis Ngannou’s stunning knockdown of Tyson FuryCredit: X @jakepaul
The Gypsy King was sent toppling to the canvas for just the seventh time in his careerCredit: Getty
Paul, 26, couldn’t believe what he was seeingCredit: X @jakepaul
What actually transpired was an almighty struggle, with Fury knocked down for just the seventh time in his career during the third round.
Paul, 26, was not among the group of stars in the Riyadh crowd, but instead watched on at home.
Recording his reactions for his large online audience, Paul was visibly stunned as Fury was sent sprawling to the canvas.
Reacting to the event live, the Problem Child said: “Are you f***ing serious? Are you f***ing serious? Oh my God!
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“He’s got to go crazy on him.”
Paul then bent over in front of his TV as he repeated: “Oh my God. Are you serious?”
He then appeared to laugh manically in disbelief.
At the end of the round, he smiled as he bellowed again: “What the f***? Oh my God!”
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Paul took a dig at his critics on social media
Paul is 7-1 in professional bouts, with five of his wins coming against either former or, in Nate Diaz’s case, current MMA fighters.
And the former Disney TV star has seen his achievements belittled, with critics discounting boxing wins over fighters from different codes.
Indeed, his only defeat can against Fury’s brother Tommy… his only opponent with a professional boxing pedigree.
And Paul leapt on the opportunity to defend himself after seeing Fury’s struggles.
He tweeted: “MMA fighters are easy boxing work??? Shut the f*** up.”
Fury eventually went on to claim a controversial split decision victory over Ngannou, much to fans’ consternation.
Paul, meanwhile, is planning to return on December 15.
An announcement regarding his opponent has been delayed, with his business partner Nikisa Bidarian revealing: “Just regarding Friday, December 15, there was a plan to announce Jake Paul’s opponent for that evening.
“Unfortunately, the opponent, which was a 7-1 boxer, has not been able to obtain a visa to come to the US.
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“So we’re currently reviewing alternative options for his opponent, but the plan is to try to announce it within the next two weeks.”
Last time out Paul beat boxing debutant Diaz via unanimous decision – bouncing back from his first career defeat against Fury.
The stats from the fight show Fury landed more punches overall and in the majority of the rounds
Paul beat MMA star Nate Diaz last time outCredit: Reuters More

FRANCIS NGANNOU made a hilarious dig at Tyson Fury following his controversial defeat to the Gypsy King last night.The former UFC heavyweight champion was beaten via a split decision in Riyadh, much to the consternation of fans around the world.
Francis Ngannou floored Tyson Fury in the third roundCredit: Getty
The Cameroonian produced a stunning performance against the Gypsy KingCredit: Getty
Ngannou, 37, thought he had won the fightCredit: Reuters
Ngannou, 37, dropped the WBC champ in the third round, but was still deemed to have lost 95-94 and, incredibly, 96-93 by two of the three judges.
Prior to the bout, Fury had belittled the Cameroonian’s chances of even being competitive in the fight.
He’d said: “I think he’s a big, fat sausage, and I’ll knock him spark out.
“We don’t get paid for long; we get paid for short, and I’m gonna make it nice and short for him. [Ngannou offers] absolutely nothing.
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“It’s like a tennis-table champion facing [Novak] Djokovic in a Wimbledon final. Boxing isn’t about two men brawling; it’s a gentleman’s sport; it’s a sweet science; it’s whoever’s got the most ability to set up a knockout punch.”
Referencing Fury’s comments, Ngannou posted three pictures from the fight on social media.
One showed him catching the Gypsy King with a vicious left hand.
While the other two featured a hulking Ngannou standing over a floored Fury.
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Ngannou mocked Fury’s comments on social media
He cleverly captioned the post: “Table Tennis champion of the world.”
Ngannou had already blasted the judging of the fight, writing: “Tyson should say thank you to those 2 judges because I didn’t win this fight.”
Asked by ESPN if anything had surprised him in the fight, he added: “The fact that I didn’t win surprised me… If he’s being honest, he would say I won that fight. I won that fight; there’s not a question about it.
“But even before getting here, I knew I’m not winning a decision. Because I’m a new guy in the house.
“I know they need – there’s a structural business out there – and you need to do a lot to destroy that. It is what it is.”
After the bout, Fury admitted his respect for Ngannou.
He said: “That definitely wasn’t in the script. Francis is a hell of a fighter.
“He’s strong, he’s a big puncher and a lot better boxer than we thought he’d ever be.”
The 35-year-old added: “He’s a very awkward man and he’s a very good puncher.
“And I respect him a lot, before the fight and after the fight.”
The Gypsy King had been expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk in a much-anticipated unification bout on December 23.
But asked about the date last night, Fury threw things into doubt.
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He said: “Listen it’s not up to me, I’m a fighter and he’s a fighter. I’m sure we could go now. Let’s go now if you want!”
Promoter Frank Warren then claimed that the bout could be pushed back as late as March.
Ngannou toppled Fury in the thirdCredit: Getty
The Gypsy King faced off with Oleksandr Usyk after the fightCredit: Getty More