Boxing

RIO FERDINAND was mistaken for a heavyweight boxer at the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou launch event.The Manchester United legend was one of several celebs in attendance for the event and pre-fight press conference in London on Thursday afternoon.
Rio Ferdinand was one of several celebs in attendance for the Fury vs Ngannou launch eventCredit: PA
Ferdinand was accidentally mistaken for David Adeleye by Top Rank’s broadcast presenterCredit: QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
Top Rank eventually got their hands on Brit heavyweight title contender AdeleyeCredit: QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
But he was accidentally mistaken for Brit heavyweight boxer David Adeleye by Top Rank’s lead presenter for the broadcast.
She was seemingly told by producers that Adeleye would be speaking to herself, former UFC star Dan Hardy and retired boxer Carl Frampton after his opponent Fabio Wardley left the scene.
As Ferdinand had his back turned to the presenters and spoke to Wardley, she said: “I think we’re going to try and get his opponent in.
“David Adeleye, can we get him in?”
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The presenter then turned around to try and look for the undefeated heavyweight and was left bemused when Ferdinand popped into her line of vision.
She said: “No? All right, that’s not David Adeleye – that’s Rio Ferdinand. But we are just as delighted to have you with us.”
Ferdinand was quick to give his opinion on Fury’s controversial Saudi showdown with Ngannou after ribbing Frampton for sweating in his plush get-up.
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He said: “The size of these guys. When one of the connects, it doesn’t matter where you’re from – you’re gonna go down.
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“And the power that he’s [Ngannou] got, it he transfers that to this and he gets hit on the chin Tyson [that is] then he will go down.
“But I just think his ring IQ, his footwork and his ability and what he’s shown and experience [will be too much for Ngannou].”
Top Rank eventually got their hands on Adeleye, with their lead presenter quickly making light of the previous mix-up.
That came moments before the Adeleye and Wardley were involved in a crazy pre-fight brawl further down the red carpet.
Things got heated when a fired-up Adeleye repeatedly said “shut your mouth” to someone on media row.
Suffolk slugger Wardley waded in and was quickly on the receiving end of a two-handed shove from his domestic rival.
Members of both men’s teams got involved in the melee which saw Wardley dropped by a left hook from an unknown person.
Wardley seemed to be dazed when he rose to his feet and was nursing a cut to the side of his left eye – which could potentially scupper the fight.
Fabio Wardley ended up being involved in a melee after facing off with David AdeleyeCredit: PA
The Suffolk slugger suffered a cut dangerously close to his left eyeCredit: PA More

TYSON FURY left boxing fans stunned when he asked Francis Ngannou to reveal his manhood.The Gypsy King went face-to-face with the former UFC heavyweight champion on Thursday for the first time since the booking of their controversial Saudi showdown next month.
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou faced off for the first time since the booking of their fightCredit: PA
Fury went on a huge rant as he walked around stage during the presserCredit: Reuters
The Gypsy King asked the former UFC heavyweight champion to reveal his manhoodCredit: PA
Fury and Ngannou, 35 and 36 respectively, faced off with one another at Wembley last April, an encounter in which the former mentioned the MMA star’s privates.
And he bizarrely did so again at their pre-fight presser, saying: “I get to knock out him, he’s a good-looking lad – I do like him.
“Probably got a big cory as well. Remember that Francis.
“However, it’s unlucky for him that he has to come across me.”
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Ngannou shrugged off the awkward comment with a wry smile and made light of it with his response.
He said: “If you know where I came from, you don’t have to ask that question.”
Fury then broke out into song and said: “Come on, come on. Get it out! Get it out!”
The bizarre request was ended by a cackle from the WBC heavyweight champion and a perplexed look from Ngannou.
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Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou throw down in Saudi Arabia on October 28Credit: Reuters
Boxing fans were quick to comment on Fury’s x-rated request, with one tweeting: “Cringe as f**k.”
Another said: “A f***ing embarrassment to boxing.”
And another said: “What the hell?”
One remarked: “Tyson it was slightly amusing the first time, like the 20th time u made this joke now.”
Another chimed in: “Crazy lol Jesus Christ.”
One perplexed fight fan asked: “Why [does] Tyson keep bringing up Francis’ meat?”
Ngannou goes into his professional boxing debut as a huge underdog but is adamant he’ll shock the world by knocking Fury old cold.
He said: “I’m going to be hunting for that guy’s head, to take it off.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Oleksandr Usyk are both “TERRIFIED” to share the ring with Deontay Wilder, it’s been claimed.Former unified two-time heavyweight champion Joshua is currently in talks over a January joust with the devastating knockout puncher.
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk have both been linked with fights against Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
The Bronze Bomber is still one of the biggest names in the divisionCredit: Getty
John Fury reckons neither AJ nor Usyk really want to fight the former WBC kingCredit: Alamy
A bout between Wilder, 37, and former pound-for-pound king Usyk has also been mooted in recent months.
But John Fury – the dad of WBC heavyweight champ Tyson – reckons neither AJ nor his recent conqueror truly wants to share the ring with The Bronze Bomber.
When asked about Wilder, the outspoken coach told Freebets.com: “They’re all terrified of him.
“Tyson straightened him out three times.
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“All those people will never get in with The Bronze Bomber. Usyk, AJ, none of them will fight The Bronze Bomber.”
Tyson, of course, shared the ring THREE times with the former long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion.
The pair fought to a controversial draw in their December dust-up in 2018, with Fury rising from the dead like Lazarus in the final round to salvage a draw.
Fury got his revenge in the 2020 rematch, scoring a seventh-round knockout under the bright lights in Sin City.
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And he closed the book on their rivalry in October 2021 with a brutal 11th-round KO.
WBC heavyweight champion Fury will be back in action next month, locking horns with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a controversial Saudi showdown.
Joshua, 33, was last in action last month – knocking out short-notice replacement Robert Helenius in the seventh round of the O2 tussle.
Usyk, meanwhile, was also in action last month.
The undefeated Ukrainian scored a ninth-round TKO victory over Brit contender Daniel Dubois to do his part to preserve an undisputed fight with Usyk.
Wilder hasn’t set foot inside the ring since his brutal first-round knockout of Helenius last October.
Deontay Wilder hasn’t set foot in the ring in nearly a yearCredit: GETTY More

FABIO WARDLEY was left bloodied after scrapping with domestic rival David Adeleye at the media kick-off event for Tyson Fury’s clash with Francis Ngannou.The duo are set to throw down for the British heavyweight title on the undercard of Fury’s Saudi showdown with the former UFC heavyweight champion on October 28.
Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye were involved a pre-fight brawlCredit: TWITTER
Fabio Wardley was left with a cut above his left eyeCredit: IFL TV
The pair were both in attendance at the pre-fight press event in London on Thursday.
And they nearly ended up trading early blows after bumping into one another on the red carpet.
Things kicked off when a fired-up Adeleye repeatedly told someone on media row to “shut your mouth”.
Wardley waded in and ended up being shoved by Frank Warren prospect Adeleye.
Pandemonium ensued as members of both men’s teams got involved in the skirmish.
Suffolk slugger Wardley was left with a wound beside his left eye following the altercation, although it’s unclear how he sustained it.
Footage on social media showed Adeleye being pulled away from the melee and Wardley rising to his feet after being bundled over.
Fight fans were quick to comment on the insane incident, with one saying: “Guess he [Adeleye] wasn’t lying.”
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David Adeleye was furious with someone on media rowCredit: TWITTER@REALROLLINGPIN
Adeleye pushed Wardley after his rival waded into the situationCredit: TWITTER@REALROLLINGPIN
Another said: “Adeleye needs to relax. Going to kill the fight.”
And another said: “Adeleye don’t play.”
One remarked: “Hope it doesn’t jeopardise the fight, don’t see the point when they are gonna be fighting.
“What happened and who started it? Just seems pointless.”
Another chimed in: “Lmao they are supposed to fight in the ring not on the announcement of the fight.”
Gypsy King Fury was conducting an interview on the red carpet when the brawl kicked off.
And he was quick to pass comment on the fight, saying: “It think it’s a good fight, you know?
“I think Fabio and David for the British title is a very, very good fight.
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“They’re both undefeated, both young, both top-15 ranked in the world.
“And they’re young hungry lions, like we just saw. [It was all] kicking off royal.”
Suffolk slugger Wardely cut an angry figure after the skirmishCredit: IFL TV More