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      Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk LIVE announcement: Latest updates and reaction as December fight CONFIRMED

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      TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk’s HUGE heavyweight showdown is set to be announced for December in Saudi Arabia.And Fury has CONFIRMED the news, tweeting that the big fight is now SIGNED!
      After months of wrangling we are finally here for the big one which is scheduled to take place on December 23.
      We’ll be bringing you all of the latest updates and reaction to Fury and Usyk’s big boxing clash right here.
      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
      What Usyk said
      Oleksandr Usyk previously questioned Tyson Fury’s passion before they finally signed the contracts.
      Fury, you talk about greatness in boxing. But, at the same time, you say, ‘Give me a lot of money’.
      Greatness in boxing is not determined by money. Greatness comes from a victorious path.
      You say that I avoid you, but I never have. In fact, I have even come to you.
      I am ready to box you even without any prize money.Oleksandr Usyk
      Credit: AP
      Fury vs Usyk channel
      Tyson Fury will take on Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed clash on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
      The fight will likely be shown live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the TNT Sports Box Office app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      Tyson Fury’s ‘fetish’
      Tyson Fury’s wife Paris revealed her legendary boxing husband has a major “coffee fetish”.
      I’m quite content with Nescafe instant granules – fully caffeinated; I need that pep-up – and like it made very weak with lots of milk, but no sugar. If I’m having a hot drink in town, I’ll choose a latte or a flat white, nothing too strong or bitter for me.
      Tyson, on the other hand, has become a coffee connoisseur (or a ‘coffee snob’ as I call him). His obsession began when he was holed up in a US training camp that happened to have an all-singing, all-dancing coffee machine.
      A freshly made Americano – with hot steam milk – soon became his daily treat, something for him to really look forward to. Then, perhaps to break the monotony of camp life, he began to educate himself on the origins of the beans – Kenya, Brazil, Colombia – as well their various blends and roasts.
      When he returned to the UK, Tyson splashed out on his own top-of-the-range coffee machine. It’s his pride and joy (he loves it as much as his Ferrari, I reckon) and it’s kept permanently in his camp HQ in Morecambe so the kids can’t tamper with it.
      Once or twice a day he’ll grind his own beans and, with tender loving care, will make himself his perfect brew. His coffee fetish has become a standing joke between us, in fact.
      He’ll ridicule my mugs of cheap Nescafe, and I’ll poke fun at his posh Americanos.’Not such a working-class man of the people, eh, Tyson?’ [He responds] ‘Oh, go and boil your kettle’.Paris Fury
      Amnesty International statement
      Amnesty International urged Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to use their platform and speak up about Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record ahead of their undisputed bout in Riyadh.
      Ever since Anthony Joshua’s fight against Andy Ruiz in 2019 we’ve become used to these big-money bouts being hosted in Saudi Arabia, and they’re clearly part of a pattern of sportswashing where the Saudi authorities try to use sport to distract from their appalling human rights record.
      Both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk should understand how this fight will be used by the Saudi authorities to project a glitzy image of the country a world away from the dark reality of being jailed for voicing your opinion, of widespread torture, unfair trials and mass executions.
      Among many other cases, the retired Saudi teacher Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi has recently been sentenced to death for his peaceful remarks on Twitter and YouTube, and the Leeds University PhD student Salma al-Shehab is languishing in jail for daring to tweet about women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.
      We’d like to see both Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk using their platforms to speak out about human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, something the entire Saudi population is unable to do without risking jail or worse.Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s Head of Priority Campaigns and Individuals at Risk
      Dream match can wait
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will definitely face off in December after signing the contracts.
      But that will have to wait, as Fury will first take on UFC legend Francis Ngannou in a boxing match.
      The Gypsy King fights Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on October 28 in an exhibition bonanza.
      That encounter is set to be attended by some of the biggest showbiz names on the planet.
      Credit: Reuters
      Tyson Fury U-turn
      Tyson Fury’s decision to fight Oleksandr Usyk a mere EIGHT WEEKS after his clash with UFC legend Francis Ngannou comes as a surprise as he’s repeatedly shot down the prospect in recent weeks.
      I am not interested in fighting Usyk, he’s a little Ukrainian dosser. That’s all he is to me. No interest in unifying the division. It doesn’t mean s**t to me.
      All that stuff about unifying and whatever, it really doesn’t mean anything to me. I am looking for the biggest payday. Most of the time, Usyk doesn’t cut it.
      He’s just a foreign person who doesn’t speak good English, so you can’t really sell him. I am looking for probably another American.
      Probably looking to fight Jon Jones in a boxing fight.Tyson Fury
      Failed previous attempts
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk were due to throw down in a Wembley war in April – four months after their tasty Tottenham face-off.
      But the undefeated heavyweights’ mouthwatering showdown collapsed after Fury’s constant moving of the goalposts during very public negotiations.
      The Gypsy King first put the bout in jeopardy by demanding no rematch clause be placed in their lucrative contract.
      The Ukrainian relented in a desperate bid to solidify his status as an all-time great and become the boxing’s first two-weight undisputed champion – a title Terence Crawford claimed in August.
      The British superstar then demanded he be given the lion’s share of the purse, insisting on a 70-30 split in his favour.
      Usyk agreed to the split but ultimately walked away from the deal as Fury continued to try and change the proposed terms.
      Fury on Saudi Arabia camp
      Tyson Fury follows top sports stars, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, in setting up camp in Saudi Arabia and he told SunSport it is the biggest boxing deal in history.
      All the biggest and best sports stars are now Saudi Arabia-bound. The country is making big moves in sport and everything else.
      They are taking over boxing and any other sport that they want. They are paying big money for everything they get involved with.
      I believe I have just done the biggest boxing deal in the history of boxing. I am not at liberty to talk about numbers.
      But it’s the biggest boxing deal ever done in history. The big football deals with Ronaldo and Neymar, it blows them out of the water.
      It’s big, big, big. After all, I am not a prizefighter for brass buttons!Tyson Fury
      Tyson Fury confirms
      Tyson Fury has confirmed his dream match with Oleksandr Usyk.
      Fury also made it official that he and Usyk will battle in Saudi Arabia.
      The contracts have been signed between the two heavyweight kings.

      Dream match contracts signed
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have made their dream match OFFICIAL!
      Fury and Usyk have put pen to paper and will face off in an undisputed classic.
      The grudge match will take place on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
      The showdown between the WBC champion as well as the WBA, IBF and WBO boss will happen in Riyadh.
      What we know
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will finally face off in an undisputed heavyweight world title decider.
      The dream match between Fury and Usyk will take place on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
      The titanic showdown between Britain’s WBC champion and Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO boss will happen in Riyadh just 48 hours before Christmas.
      The fight will go head-to-head with the controversial second-generation grudge bout promoter Eddie Hearn is trying to put together between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
      Fury changes his tune
      Fury’s decision to fight Usyk a mere EIGHT WEEKS after his clash with former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou comes as a surprise as he’s repeatedly shot down the prospect in recent weeks.
      He recently: “I am not interested in fighting Usyk, he’s a little Ukrainian dosser.
      “That’s all he is to me. No interest in unifying the division. It doesn’t mean s*** to me.
      “All that stuff about unifying and whatever, it really doesn’t mean anything to me.
      “I am looking for the biggest payday. Most of the time, Usyk doesn’t cut it.”
      Fury vs Usyk history
      Fury and Usyk were due to throw down in a Wembley war in April – four months after their tasty Tottenham face-off.
      But their mouthwatering showdown collapsed after Fury’s constant moving of the goalposts during very public negotiations.
      Fury first put the bout in jeopardy by demanding no rematch clause be placed in their lucrative contract.
      Credit: Getty
      Welcome to Fury vs Usyk’s big announcement
      Tyson Fury’s undisputed heavyweight world title decider with Oleksandr Usyk is DONE for December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
      The titanic showdown between England’s 35-year-old WBC champion and Ukraine’s 36-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO boss will happen in Riyadh just 48 hours before Christmas.
      And it will go head-to-head with the controversial second-generation grudge bout promoter Eddie Hearn is trying to make between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
      The Gypsy King fights MMA giant Francis Ngannou in the same city on October 28, in an exhibition bonanza that is set to be attended by some of the biggest showbiz names on the planet.
      And that mega-money deal has greased the wheels for the undefeated Morecambe showman to face the former undisputed cruiserweight champ and London 2012 golden boy in the kingdom.
      Fury follows Cristiano Ronaldo, Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard in setting up camp in the oil-drenched desert and he told SunSport it is the biggest boxing deal in HISTORY that even makes the boxing billions look like chump change.
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      Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: Date, TV channel, live stream, undercard details for huge Christmas blockbuster

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      TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk have finally sealed the deal on their massive undisputed heavyweight title fight.After months and months of negotiating, both men have signed on the dotted line and the fight is set to go ahead.
      Oleksandr Usyk beat Daniel Dubois to defend his world titles in AugustCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Tyson Fury is preparing to fight Francis Ngannou in October 28Credit: Getty
      Fury holds the WBC title and is getting ready to first fight Francis Ngannou in a crossover bout on October 28.
      Usyk is coming off wins over Fury’s compatriots in Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua.
      The fight is one of the biggest that can be made in the sport and will be the first time that all four titles are on the line.
      Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF straps, has a record of 21-0, while Fury, also undefeated, sits at 33-1-0.

      When is Fury vs Usyk going to take place?

      Fury’s clash with Usyk is set to take place on Saturday, December 23.
      The bout will be held in Saudi Arabia.
      Expect ring-walks to get going from around 10.30pm UK time.

      What TV channel will it be on?
      Fury vs Usyk will likely be shown live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the TNT Sports Box Office app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      Most read in Boxing
      What has been said?
      The pair met in the ring for a stare down following Fury’s win over Chisora, and words have been exchanged since.
      Usyk released numerous videos in which he’s taunted Fury by calling him ‘belly’.
      In each video, the Ukrainian can be seen pointing towards his stomach and shouting: “Hey, belly, I’m coming for you.”
      Usyk has also said: “Fury, you talk about greatness in boxing.
      “But, at the same time, you say, ‘Give me a lot of money’.
      “Greatness in boxing is not determined by money. Greatness comes from a victorious path.
      Fury and Usyk have been trading verbal jabs over the last couple of monthsCredit: Getty
      “You say that I avoid you, but I never have. In fact, I have even come to you.
      “I am ready to box you even without any prize money.”
      Fury has said: “Tyson Fury here, WBC heavyweight number one. Usyk, calling out ‘The Gypsy King’ with your pathetic little call outs, dosser.
      “Rabbit, I’m coming for you, rabbit, you’re getting it, rabbit.
      “And I’ll tell you what else, I’m gonna bust you up real bad you little middleweight.
      “I’m going to slap you into a big pile of tattoos, sucker. Come on!”
      Fury has recently told his fans that he is going to stop trash-talking on social media and focus on training.
      He said: “Hi guys, as fun as it’s been over the last few days terrorising Usyk and his team, tomorrow I’m going to knuckle down into training camp.
      “And I’ll be doing a blackout as I always do on social media. Nav will be running my Instagram account, keeping you all updated on my training progress and how everything is going.
      “April 29th is definitely a worker, I will see you all on the night. Tune in or be there or be square.
      “This is the biggest event in British boxing history, the fight of the century.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “Two undefeated world heavyweight champions throwing down to see who is the number one in the division.
      “The undisputed world heavyweight world championship on the line. Peace out. Good training to Usyk, may the best man win. Get up.” More

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      Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk set for December 23 in Saudi Arabia after heavyweight champs FINALLY agree undisputed clash

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      TYSON FURY’S undisputed heavyweight world title decider with Oleksandr Usyk is DONE for December 23 in Saudi Arabia.The titanic showdown between England’s 35-year-old WBC champion and Ukraine’s 36-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO boss will happen in Riyadh just 48 hours before Christmas.
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk were on course to dance at Wembley in AprilCredit: Reuters
      But their showdown fell through after Fury repeatedly moved the goalpostsCredit: Getty
      The pair have agreed terms for a historic Saudi showdown on December 23Credit: Getty

      An official fight poster has been released
      Queensbury Promotions, who represent Fury, have confirmed a deal has been signed for the fight to take place in Riyadh.
      Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk also confirmed the news, saying: “I can’t believe that it’s happening but it is. Respect to Tyson for his courage.”
      Saudi minister Turki Alalsikh announced the news saying: “Fury vs Usyk signed.
      “Epic battle to take place as part of Riyadh season.”
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      It will be the first undisputed heavyweight clash in 24 years – since Lennox Lewis fought Evander Holyfield in November 1999.
      And it will go head-to-head with the controversial second-generation grudge bout promoter Eddie Hearn is trying to make between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.

      The Gypsy King fights MMA giant Francis Ngannou in the same city on October 28, in an exhibition bonanza that is set to be attended by some of the biggest showbiz names on the planet.
      And that mega-money deal has greased the wheels for the undefeated Morecambe showman to face the former undisputed cruiserweight champ and London 2012 golden boy in the kingdom.
      Most read in Boxing
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      🥊 Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
      Fury follows Cristiano Ronaldo, Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard in setting up camp in the oil-drenched desert and he told SunSport it is the biggest boxing deal in HISTORY that even makes the boxing billions look like chump change.
      “All the biggest and best sports stars are now Saudi Arabia-bound,” he said. “The country is making big moves in sport and everything else.
      “They are taking over boxing and any other sport that they want.
      “They are paying big money for everything they get involved with.
      “I believe I have just done the biggest boxing deal in the history of boxing.
      “I am not at liberty to talk about numbers.
      “But it’s the biggest boxing deal ever done in history.
      “The big football deals with Ronaldo and Neymar, it blows them out of the water.
      “It’s big, big, big.
      “After all, I am not a prizefighter for brass buttons!”
      Fury and Usyk were due to throw down in a Wembley war in April – four months after their tasty Tottenham face-off.
      But their mouthwatering showdown collapsed after Fury’s constant moving of the goalposts during very public negotiations.
      Fury first put the bout in jeopardy by demanding no rematch clause be placed in their lucrative contract.
      Undefeated Ukrainian Usyk relented in a desperate bid to solidify his status as an all-time great and become the boxing’s first two-weight undisputed champion – a title Terence Crawford claimed in August.
      Tyson Fury faces former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi next monthCredit: PA
      Fury will dive straight back into training camp after his clash with The PredatorCredit: PA
      Fury then demanded he be given the lion’s share of the purse, insisting on a 70-30 split in his favour.
      Usyk agreed to the split but eventually walked away from the deal as Fury continued to try and change the proposed terms.
      Fury’s decision to fight Usyk a mere EIGHT WEEKS after his clash with former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou comes as a surprise as he’s repeatedly shot down the prospect in recent weeks.
      He said recently: “I am not interested in fighting Usyk, he’s a little Ukrainian dosser.
      “That’s all he is to me. No interest in unifying the division. It doesn’t mean s*** to me.
      “All that stuff about unifying and whatever, it really doesn’t mean anything to me.
      “I am looking for the biggest payday. Most of the time, Usyk doesn’t cut it.
      “He’s just a foreign person who doesn’t speak good English, so you can’t really sell him.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “I am looking for probably another American.
      “Probably looking to fight Jon Jones in a boxing fight.”
      Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield’s MSG showdown was the last undisputed heavyweight title fightCredit: Getty More

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      Former 6ft 7in Brit tennis giant is now top boxer and fighting for first world title

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      JORDAN THOMPSON hopes to serve Britain up a wildcard world champ with Grand Slam power tomorrow.The 6ft 7in Mancunian was a rising tennis star before switching over to focus his long whipping limbs on professional punching.
      Jordan Thompson says his background in tennis helps him in boxingCredit: Getty
      Thompson was a rising star in tennis before switching to boxingCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jordan_boxing_/?hl=en
      With 15 wins sliding under the radar – without so much as a domestic title under his belt – the cruiserweight is suddenly shooting for the IBF world title up against Australia dangerman Jai Opetaia.
      And the beanpole banger reckons his sensational overhand right – honed from years on the court – means he holds plenty of aces going into the shootout.
      “100 per cent my background in tennis has helped create the power in my punches,” he told SunSport ahead of the Wembley arena show.
      “It sounds crazy but there are a lot of similarities between boxing and tennis because of the individual nature, the loneliness, the physical and mental toll.
      Read More in Boxing
      “My power has come from that repetitive banging of the ball, over and over again, from different angles, transferring my weight, bringing it up from my legs, through the hips, the core and into the shoulders and arms.
      “And right at the end there is that whipping motion you would want in every shot or punch.
      “Power is something I have always had, in both sports, I have always been heavy handed from a very young age.
      “My fastest recorded serve was 138mph, so yes, when people say I can whack, I can whack.”
      Most read in Boxing
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
      While 30-year-old Thompson was hitting backhand slices and delicate lobs, teenage Opetaia was winning the 2011 junior world championships and going to the London 2012 Olympics aged just 16.
      In July 2022 the 28-year-old Australian suffered a broken jaw in his world title shot at Mairis Briedis and still managed to bite down on his gumshield and grab the belt with a unanimous decision.
      Because of those vastly different paths to West London, untested Thompson is a 5-1 longshot in a two-horse race.
      But he’s sick of well-wishers and back-patters sending him off with no hope.
      He explained: “A lot of well meaning people have told me it’s a no-lose situation, that I just have to give a good account of myself – I think they’re taking the p***.
      “I will always give a good account of myself, that is the absolute bare minimum but I am a winner and win is what I am going to do.
      “I am not here to just enjoy the moment, I am here to cease it, grab it with both hands, as well as the belts.
      “I have to believe in myself, even with no amateur pedigree or experience, I am headlining a show for a world title but I believe this is just a stepping stone to even bigger nights and achievements.”
      Sadly being tall, dark and handsome does not make Jordan the family superstar – as little sister Francesca likes to remind him on social media.
      The West End star jokingly ranks her big bro rock bottom among the three siblings for looks but he only has compliments for her.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “My little sister is the real family super-talent,” he said. “Despite her bad jokes she is starring in the Lion King show right now and can sing and dance, she is a shining light who has inspired me.
      “My little sister and even my little brother have motivated me, set the example sometimes, so this is for them and all of the other people who have helped me.” More

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      Boxer Ellie Scotney pays tribute to nan after her death aged 99 – whose X-rated antics were cut by TV chiefs

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      ELLIE SCOTNEY’S nan will have the best view of her world title defence on Saturday, gazing down proudly from heaven with her trademark x-rated two-finger salute.The 25-year-old super-bantamweight won the IBF belt in June and raced it around to the 99-year-old to complete a lifetime goal and out came her infamous V-sign – not for victory!
      Ellie Scotney will defend her title on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      Scotney has paid tribute to her nan ahead of the fightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Sadly Eileen passed away at the end of August and Scotney’s rapid ring return will be about honouring her life and unwavering support.
      Dexy’s Midnight Runners tune ‘Come on Eileen’ will boom around Wembley arena, before the bout with Laura Griffa, and Scotney will be even more inspired than usual.
      “She’s watching from up there now, best seat in the house, but to get it done while she was still here was amazing,” she told SunSport.
      “There was a panicking stage because last year she had a hip replacement and the doctors were not sure what would happen so we all had to say our goodbyes.
      Read More in Boxing
      “But we said she was like the cat with nine lives, she kept coming back.
      “To make sure I got that world title before she passed was everything to me. It’s the biggest thing I’m grateful for.
      “She was so stubborn, she waited until her 99th birthday and then 10 days later she passed. She wanted to see 100 but we can forgive her the year.”
      It might seem a tragedy to some that Eileen never made it to 100 and that famous letter from Buckingham Palace.
      Most read in Boxing
      Scotney’s nan, Eileen, made it onto local news in June – but they had to blur her gestureCredit: Twitter @elliescotney_
      But Scotney is typically brilliant when explaining the situation.
      “She wasn’t worried about that letter,” She said. “She said: ‘sod Prince Charles’, she liked the Queen better and the belt was enough for her.”
      The Catford queen’s world title win – and her super-fan nan – made the local news.
      But when the show producers chose to edit out the saucy hand sign that had gone viral among online boxing circles, Eileen was irate.
      “She made it on the news but they blurred her fingers out,” Scotney laughed.
      “They asked me if she was confused but I had to tell them that she meant what she did.
      “The channel asked me if they could say that she meant it as a peace sign but we didn’t want to lie so they put her photo on the show but they blurred her fingers out.
      “She was fuming about it because that was her trademark.”
      Now he has another world champion in his Leyton gym, trainer Shane McGuigan and his close-knit team will carry Scotney’s belt into the ring and hold it aloft while she makes her entrance.
      Fight fans should keep an eye out if the brilliant former B&Q worker manages to convince them to hold a couple of fingers aloft too, for Eileen’s sake.
      She giggled: “I did think about getting my kit designer to stitch her two-finger sign on my shorts.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “But I also know a lot of the American teams stand in their corners with their hands or fists raised.
      “I might see if I can get Shane and the rest of the team to do that, one belt in the air and a load of fingers. Better not, might not go down too well.” More

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      Ex-world boxing champion Glenn McCrory cleared of sex assault after ‘calling waitress “pet” & touching her elbow’

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      FORMER world champion boxer Glenn McCrory has been cleared of sexual assault after allegedly calling a waitress “pet” and touching her elbow.A jury at the Old Bailey found the star not guilty of three counts of sexual assault after deliberating for just 90 minutes.
      Glenn McCrory outside the Old Bailey today after he was cleared of sexual assaultCredit: Central News
      McCrory with his world champion belt in 1990Credit: Getty
      McCrory fighting Lennox Lewis at the Royal Albert HallCredit: PA
      McCrory, 59, had been a guest speaker at the pre-fight dinner before the Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Uysk world heavyweight title bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 26 September 2021.
      He said that he only touched three waitresses’ arms in a bid to get their attention.
      Prosecutors claimed he deliberately used the term ‘pet’ in an overly flirtatious way – but the boxer told the jury the word is commonly used by Geordies.
      The former world champion boxer said when he arrived at the venue the member of staff who greeted him did not know who he was – could not find his name on the guest list.
      Read More Sport
      McCrory said he had to lean down to speak to her as she was petite and it was noisy, but he had no recollection of touching her.
      He said: “I just leaned down. I may well have touched her elbow but I am a big guy so I would never be forceful.”
      The court was shown CCTV footage of McCrory at the entrance to the dining hall showing him talking with one of the alleged victims.
      It clearly shows him touching her elbow with his hand as he leaned down to speak to her.
      Most read in Boxing
      He told jurors that he was asking her where his table was, and that he touched her elbow due to their height difference.
      Scott Brady, defending, asked: “Do you think you were intending to be flirtatious?”
      The ex-fighter replied: ‘No.’ He also denied winking to her.
      After he had given his speech, which lasted 20-30 minutes, McCrory returned to his table.
      He said he hadn’t been given a starter, after being told one would be kept for him.
      McCrory said when he tried to raise this one of the servers had a “troubled reaction” to his use of the word “pet” while speaking to her.
      He said: “Everyone on the table noticed the reaction.”
      All I wanted to do was get my dinner and watch the fightGlenn McCrory
      McCrory added that in the north-east of England the word ‘pet’ is a term of endearment, and is often used to address young women in the same way you might address a man as ‘mate’.
      He said that when she came back to his table he tried to get her attention to ask her about his starter.
      The boxing star said: “She turned her back on me as I was trying to talk to her, blatantly ignoring me, so I touched her elbow.
      “I was trying to get her attention. She turned around and said it was in the bin.
      “All I wanted to do was get my dinner and watch the fight.”
      CCTV footage played in court showed McCrory interacting with other guests at the event.
      A number of people were taking selfies with the former champion as he hugged and put his arms around them.
      “You are being very tactile with these people,” Mr Brady said.
      McCrory agreed, adding: “If they are being friendly and I am in the right environment.”
      He added that this was the way he normally interacted with others at events like this.
      Mr Brady asked him: “If you touched those waitresses…was there anything sexual about it?”
      McCrory replied: “Absolutely not.” He also said he has poor eyesight, and has scar tissue in his eyes due to congenital problems and damage sustained during his boxing career.
      This can cause him to rub his eyes and blink a lot.
      The women had claimed McCrory touched them in a sexual manner without their consent, repeatedly winked at them and slurred his words.
      It’s how we talk. That’s part of the Geordie.Glenn McCrory
      McCrory – a cruiserweight once known as the ‘Northern Warrior’ – had insisted he was misunderstood and people are friendlier in the north east than in London.
      In his police interview he said he said he had no recollection of touching a waitress, but that if he had done so it would only have been to get their attention.
      He described the service as ‘very poor’ and said one server ‘scarpered’ when he approached her to ask where the toilet was.
      McCrory said that using words like ‘pet’ was normal in the north-east of England, and that he had not intended to cause any offence.
      He explained: “It’s how we talk. That’s part of the Geordie.
      “I very well could have called her a darling, called her a pet, but 100 per cent how we speak.’
      He said that he was unaware anything untoward had happened that night, and that he had been ‘astounded’ when he later received a letter from the police notifying him of the complaints.
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      Asked if he had intended to cause any of the waitresses stress or alarm he replied: “Absolutely not.”
      McCrory, of Burnopfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, denied and was cleared of three charges of sexual assault.
      The former world champion in action against Patrick Lumumba in 1989Credit: Getty More

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      Caroline Dubois has gone from disguising herself as schoolboy ‘Colin’ to fighting for first world title

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      CAROLINE DUBOIS has completed her transformation from secret schoolboy “Colin” to British boxing bombshell.The 22-year-old lightweight began her boxing journey as a nine-year-old girl at the brilliant Repton Boys Club and had to hide her gender to mix it with the lads.
      Caroline Dubois feels she is ready to fight the biggest names in boxingCredit: Getty
      But, on Saturday night, she headlines a Sky Sports show from the iconic York Hall and aims to collect the stepping-stone IBO world title.
      Since striking out of the family home earlier this year, the little sister of heavyweight ace Daniel has evolved from wunderkind to Wonder Woman, turning heads wherever she enters.
      And world champions in multiple divisions – like Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron – are on notice.
      Ahead of the bout with Magali Rodriguez, after a trip down memory lane, Dubois told SunSport: “You’re right, I have grown up, grown in confidence, I feel like I have really become my own person.
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      “I am growing as a human being and as a woman, not just an athlete, and that’s most important.
      “It’s good to hear people are taking more notice of me when I walk in to watch others fight, this is my sport.
      “I signed up for this, I committed to this from childhood, I enjoy everything about it, not just the fighting and the training, the other side of the sport too.
      “I love going to as many shows as possible, watching all the big shows and getting ready for my own.”
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      Ireland legend Taylor has all four major lightweight world titles but has moved up to super-light for a great rivalry with Cameron, the rerun of Cameron’s win coming at the end of November.
      It’s a frustrating period for the 2020 Olympian who beats up far bigger women – and still occasionally men – in sparring yet is being forced to wait for her shot in the real ring.
      She explained: “I want a major world title fight sooner rather than later but Katie Taylor is rematching Chantelle Cameron and – depending on how that goes – she also has a rematch with Amanda Serrano in the contract from their first fight.
      “That could potentially take up another 12 months of waiting around – but as soon as an opportunity becomes available, I will be ready to take it.
      “Doing hard spars and training camps for fights that I know I should win can be frustrating, but I have called out some big names lately, like Mikaela Mayer.
      “I am not doing it out of disrespect, I am doing it because I know I can step up and in with them and have great fights, and win them.
      “I am ready to go up to heavier weights if I have to, I will chase anyone up the divisions.”
      It’s not just in Shane McGuigan’s training ring or London’s top venues that Dubois is showing a ruthless streak.
      The 7-0 star snapped back on Twitter at rival promoter Eddie Hearn recently and will happily pull the social media trigger on anyone else who steps out of line.
      “These people bring the worst out of me!” she laughed.
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      “I need to get cancelled or counselling, I can’t go Twitter or Instagram too much because they are too toxic.
      “I only need to be worried about fighting in the ring, no more fights online, in the ring online.” More

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      Ebanie Bridges reveals reason why Anthony Joshua should AVOID Zhilei Zhang despite Brit already beating him in amateurs

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      EBANIE BRIDGES has revealed why she thinks Anthony Joshua should steer clear of fighting Zhilei Zhang. AJ has already beaten Zhang when the pair were both amateurs, but regardless, Bridges doesn’t think the Brit should face him again.
      Ebanie Bridges has revealed why she thinks Anthony Joshua should avoid Zhilei Zhang
      Joshua has already beaten Zhang before in his amateur daysCredit: Getty
      Zhang destroyed Joe Joyce in their fight last weekendCredit: Getty
      There is always chatter about Joshua’s next opponent, but it’s heated up in recent weeks after his promoter, Eddie Hearn, refused to rule out a bout with Zhang in the future.
      It comes just a few days after fellow brit Joe Joyce was knocked out by the Chinese southpaw in the pair’s heavyweight rematch.
      The Big Bang impressed once again and Bridges thinks that if Joshua was to go up against him then he would likely suffer the same fate as his compatriot, Joyce.
      Speaking to Safe Betting Sites, the Aussie bantamweight revealed that she didn’t think Joshua would be tough enough to win.
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      She said: “With the power [Zhang’s] got and Joshua’s chin, that could be a recipe for trouble for AJ,
      “I do think Joshua’s a bit more skilled, not as raw as Joe Joyce, but he’s also not as tough. Joe Joyce has the chin and can maybe absorb things that Joshua can’t.”
      Zhang was a casualty of AJ’s spectacular run to Olympic gold at the London 2012 games.
      Joshua beat the 6ft 6in beast on points in the quarter finals, but much has changed for both fighters since then.
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      AJ came out on top against Zhang at the London 2012 OlympicsCredit: Getty
      Zhang has just one career loss since turning pro and currently holds the WBO interim heavyweight title.
      While AJ is a two-time former heavyweight world champion, but has struggled to re-track his career after losses to Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk.
      A big fight against someone of Zhang’s ability could help him build on his recent win against Robert Helenius.
      Joshua knocked out Robert in his most recent fightCredit: Reuters More