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    I was homeless and stripping for cash before turning to MMA… now I’m one of the biggest boxing influencers in world

    ANTHONY TAYLOR was stripping for cash and sleeping rough before turning to MMA… now he is a star of influencer boxing. Taylor was 25 when he began training for MMA in 2013, going on to have over ten amateur bouts in two years.
    Anthony Taylor was once a stripper before professional fightingCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
    He is now a star of influencer boxingCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
    Anthony Taylor celebrates his last winCredit: Getty
    But after moving to Los Angeles, the American fell on hard times and took a job stripping to earn money.
    Taylor, 34, told SunSport: “I was a stripper, I had nothing. 
    “I wasn’t doing nothing with my life, I was homeless, nowhere to go and I was stripping. I was just enjoying life as a bum who had no goals, nothing.” 
    Taylor relocated from Alameda in California to LA to train with coach Antonio McKeee and his champion son AJ.
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    It was AJ – working security at a gentleman’s club – who got Taylor the male stripping job through a bartender who also worked there.
    He revealed: “It was all men who danced and nothing but women who came in. 
    “It was kind of like Magic Mike. And that’s how I got into it, I did it for a couple months, made really good money and kept at it.”
    Taylor earned up to $300 a night (£230) to take his kit off and also drove Uber but still he was without a home.
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    He went from sleeping on benches, sofa surfing and even staying in one of his coach’s gyms to get by.
    Taylor remembered: “Those times were low, the lowest times of my life.
    “Having to endure that for such a long period of time really moulded the person I am now. 
    “I was able to go through that experience and live it and understand it. Now in my life, I can say, I don’t ever wanna be there again. 
    “That low, no friends, no family, nothing. I don’t want to experience that again, so I’ll build my own family, build my own friends. I build my foundation and talent.” 
    Eventually, Taylor’s MMA career picked up and by 2018 he was fighting regularly enough and living with his trainer Antonio.
    Taylor notched five wins in a row in the cage, which caught the attention of the UFC.
    He was told should he win twice more, a deal with MMA’s premier promotion would be on the table.
    Jake Paul with Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy
    Anthony Taylor is an ex-sparring partner of Jake Paul’sCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
    But then, a phone call would change the course Taylor’s life and career forever.
    He said: “Jake Paul’s coach BJ Flores calls me, ‘Hey, you wanna be Jake’s sparring partner, great opportunity, you’ll make some good money, invest it. Get you in the scene.’
    “That’s how I got into the scene with Jake Paul.” 
    Taylor left behind his UFC ambitions to join Paul’s camp, as the YouTuber-turned boxer made his mark in the sport.
    He was a sparring partner before Paul beat ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, and Tyron Woodley, 41.
    From there, Taylor also got the chance to fight on Paul’s undercard twice, losing to Tommy Fury, 24, and Chris Avila, 30.
    But his time in the camp pushed his profile to new heights and saw him feature on several influencer boxing shows.
    Taylor said: “Coming into the scene, Jake helped put me on. 
    Tommy Fury beat Anthony Taylor in August 2021Credit: Getty
    Anthony Taylor also lost to Chris AvilaCredit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
    “But from there on I was able to use my own platform and make myself grow self efficiently. I give Jake credit for getting me into the game and I appreciate it. 
    “But also, I have to give myself credit because, yeah he can put you on but you have to keep doing what you’re doing so you can stay on.”
    Life could have been so much different had Taylor focussed on the UFC instead of crossover boxing – but does he feel he made the correct call?
    Taylor responded: “I wouldn’t say I made the right choice, I just stumbled into it at the right time. 
    “And I manifested this. I said I’d be one of the biggest influencers in the world and now I am, baby.” 
    Taylor returns on Saturday night in Nashville on a Misfits Boxing card, promoted by superstar KSI.
    And he faces rival Paul Bamba, 33, known for his cancelled bout with Fury last year and recent loss to Avila.
    The stakes are high for Taylor, who is coming off a win over TikTok sensation Salt Papi, but he insists 5-3 Bamba is no match for him.
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    He said: “I stop him. He doesn’t have anything that poses a threat to me in the ring.
    “It’s not like he’s going to show me something I haven’t seen before.” 
    Salt Papi was beaten by Anthony TaylorCredit: Getty
    Paul Bamba fights Anthony Taylor nextCredit: globaltitansfightseries More

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    Anthony Joshua points to Froch’s NOSE as reason he ditched ex-trainer McCracken as he bids to become world champ again

    ANTHONY JOSHUA has singled out Carl Froch’s NOSE as the reason he left former trainer Rob McCracken.AJ ditched his old Team GB coach following his first unanimous points decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
    Anthony Joshua has opened up on his split with long-term coach Rob McCrackenCredit: Getty
    McCracken coached AJ from 2013 until his first defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
    Joshua bizarrely singled out Carl Froch’s nose as justification for the switchCredit: Getty
    The Watford warrior then entrusted his career to Robert Garcia for his Usyk rematch, only to lose a second time.
    He has since moved to Derrick James in a bid to become a three-time world champion.
    His first fight under James saw him comfortably beat Jermaine Franklin, with Joshua now in line for a rematch against Dillian Whyte on August 12 at the O2 Arena.
    But now the 33-year-old has opened up on his split with McCracken, and explained why he believes his decision to part ways was correct.
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    Speaking to Boxing News, Joshua said: “Rob McCracken’s a really good coach, the only thing I’d say is look at Carl Froch’s nose. He just didn’t teach me defence.
    “And in heavyweight boxing, the level of competition I was facing at that stage of my career, I was getting hit way too much with clean shots.

    “I was sparring Solomon Dacres… the tall six foot five guy, in Miami for [Andy] Ruiz, who’s five foot.
    “Rob was in Japan for the Olympics. He only came back seven weeks before it. I just know it’s not good enough for where I’m at.
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    “Derrick reminds me of Rob but a lot more invested… Rob was too committed to the Olympic team, not pros.
    “I gave Rob my best years, now I’ve got to dig deep to get them back.”
    AJ has previously insisted he split with McCracken on amicable terms.
    However, retired super-middleweight champion Froch gave his take on the split in June on his Froch on Fighting YouTube channel.
    The 46-year-old said: “I would say he should have stayed with Rob McCracken and sorted out any beef they had. I don’t think AJ should have left him.
    “I think that if he would have stayed with Rob McCracken and listened to him, that’s the key difference here, I used to listen to Rob and when he told me something or gave me any advice, I did it without question.
    “Now, I don’t think that was happening with AJ, because he always questions things, he is quite an inquisitive guy.
    “He lost twice to Usyk, he’s a great fighter, there’s no shame in losing to him.
    “I just think that the tactics and the way that he went about the rematch, I think that if he was with Rob McCracken, and he would have listened to him and his experience, and executed a game plan, then the result could have been different.” More

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    Anthony Joshua says he needs to ‘stay consistent and throw them silk pyjamas in the bin’ ahead of Dillian Whyte fight

    ANTHONY JOSHUA insists sweet dreams in luxury PJs are not making him a soft pillow puncher.Middleweight legend Marvin Hagler famously said: “It’s tough to get out of bed and run at 5am when you’ve been sleeping in silk pyjamas.”
    Anthony Joshua has made upwards of £170million during his boxing careerCredit: REUTERS
    Boxing fans reckons Joshua’s bank balance and celeb status have made him a soft touchCredit: Getty
    The Watford warrior is adamant he’s still the same ruthless fighter heCredit: GETTY
    The suggestion is too much money and success takes the hunger and spite out of boxers – especially those that have dragged themselves out of poverty.
    Watford’s London 2012 icon has amassed a reported £170million and seemed on the slide since the 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr.
    But – ahead of his all-London rematch with Dillian Whyte on August 12 – the two-time heavyweight champ revealed he keeps it stripped back in the bedroom.
    “You see me in the same clobber every time I come to a press conference,” he laughed in his trademark black tracksuit.
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    “I take it serious. I hate losing.
    “But, due to the fact I’ve lost, it gives an element of conversation.
    “But, what’s beautiful about sports is there’s always a next opportunity to prove yourself.
    “There’s a process that I’m following and I just know that, if we look at history, everything will work out for me.
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    “I’m not going to be the first athlete to go through it and I’m not going to be the last. 
    “So, I’ve just got to ride the wave, stay consistent and throw them silk pyjamas in the bin.”
    Since that shock stoppage loss to the porky little Mexican, AJ has reinvented himself and his team a few times and he is fixated on becoming a more defensive and technical boxer.
    Decade-long mentor Rob McCracken and their Team GB base in Sheffield were ditched, a brief move to Loughborough and spells with unproven trainers Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton failed.
    Respected Robert Garcia only lasted one bout – despite it being the Oleksandr Usyk rematch in which Joshua showed improvements on the original loss.
    Now he is based in Dallas, Texas, with Derrick James – a trainer celebrated for his aggressive approach – and still trying to overhaul his style at the late age of 33.
    Joshua knows a large section of fight fans are baffled by his recent decisions but he believes there is method to his perceived madness.
    He said: “Everyone can write you off, but if you believe in yourself and you continue on your journey, 100 per cent you will overcome. It’s just fact. 
    “Only you can defeat yourself. Not anyone else. 

    “If I give up and say: ‘Yeah, I haven’t got it anymore’, then you can say I’m not the same fighter.
    “But I just know this is going to work. 
    “If people look at you like you’re crazy, which people probably think I am now – and ask why am I not being aggressive – but I just know what I’m doing is going to work at the right time.”
    Opponent Whyte has had his fair share of cornermen too but his all-action style, sharp tongue and fearsome left hook remain the same.
    So AJ – who lost to Whyte in the amateurs but got revenge in a 2015 screamer – knows to be aware of his bark and bite.
    He said: “Look how many times he’s moved trainers, he’s moved trainers so many times. 
    “Maybe he’s not developing at the rate he needs to, or people aren’t teaching him the things he needs to learn and it’s not good enough. He probably knows it himself. 
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    “That’s probably why he’s moved trainers so much.
    “But one thing that he has got is the fight and in America they call it ‘the dog’. He’s got the dog in him.” More

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    Tyson Fury’s dad John predicts winner of Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte with one heavyweight getting ‘chinned’

    JOHN FURY is backing Anthony Joshua to knock out Dillian Whyte again. AJ stopped Whyte in seven rounds in 2015, which came six years after losing in their original amateur bout.
    Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte face off ahead of their rematchCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    But on August 12 they look to settle their score at the O2 Arena, in what is a must-win for both.
    And John believes it will be a repeat result for Joshua, despite his son Tyson’s rivalry with AJ.
    He told Boxing Social via Free Bets Ireland: “I do believe that he is on the slide, Dillian Whyte. I see AJ doing him in sensational style, I see AJ chinning him.
    “Dillian Whyte has been a great ambassador for the job, great heavyweight, but he is at the end of his career, he’s had too many good hidings and he doesn’t like left hooks, does he?
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    “Or uppercuts. I see Joshua [winning], he’s that bit fresher.”
    John and Joshua have a shock admiration for each other, which Fury, 34, called his dad out on last year.
    He told iFL TV: “He keeps blowing my dad off like, ‘Oh, I think John Fury’s a legend, he’s a top bloke.’
    “Whatever you’ve got going on with him, I don’t like it… sever ties with the old p****. Man’s a p****, s***house.
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    “All of a sudden he’s my dad’s best friend, ‘Oh, I want to go out for a drink with John Fury,’ he said.
    “I was like what the f***! Why doesn’t he want to go for a drink with me? Because I would punch him in the mouth.”
    The hilarious rant came after AJ claimed John would not let Tyson retire without the pair finally fighting.
    Joshua said: “I don’t think his dad will let him not fight me. His dad’s a proper guy. I like his dad.”
    Tyson Fury with his dad JohnCredit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions More

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    OnlyFans star Elle Brooke forced to fight her own SISTER Emily after getting battered in first boxing loss at Kingpyn

    ONLYFANS star Elle Brooke will be forced to fight her own SISTER Emily after getting battered in first boxing loss at Kingpyn.The 25-year-old adult star went toe-to-toe with TikToker Jully Poca in the semi-finals of the KingPyn influencer boxing tournament on Saturday night.
    The Brooke sisters have allegedly agreed to face each other this yearCredit: Instagram
    Elle suffered her first defeat last night as she lost to Jully PocaCredit: Rex
    Emily was also beaten by 6ar6ie6 at the 3Arena in DublinCredit: Rex
    And the two put on a thriller for the crowd in Dublin’s 3Arena, which was packed full of Poca’s Brazilian faithful.
    The pair left it all out there after five rounds but Elle fell victim to a points defeat.
    She was left battered and bruised after the loss but fans online hailed it as the best fight of all time between two female influencers.
    Elle was taunted by OnlyFans rival Astrid Wett after she revealed the extent of the damage – but it will be her sister that she comes to blows with next rather than her foe.
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    Influencer 6ar6ie6 defeated Emily Brooke, 24, by unanimous decision last night to move on to the Kingpyn finals.
    However, the Australian TikTok star used her stature to fend off the younger Brooke sister and earn a spot in the final against Poca.
    However, that leaves the Brooke sisters left to battle it out for third spot in the tournament – and they are both happy to get it on.
    Journalist Michael Benson tweeted: “Influencer boxing will see a fight between siblings later this year as Elle Brooke vs Emily Brooke is now set as the third place play-off for the Kingpyn tournament.
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    “Kingpyn rep says both sisters have confirmed they’re happy to face each other.”
    Emily is a social media influencer, best known for her videos on TikTok.
    She has over 120,000 followers on her TikTok account, and has amassed over 1.2million likes on the platform.
    When quizzed previously about potentially facing her sibling, Elle claimed that she is going to go for it, saying: “I’m feeling good and it’s good to have my sister behind my back even though I hope we don’t fight.
    “But it is what it is. It’s going to be a challenge and I’m here to set out than I am the best pound-for-pound female influencer boxer and that’s what I’m going to do.”
    Elle recently appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, talking about her career in adult entertainment.
    Piers asked her if her parents are “incredibly disappointed” that she decided to “pack it all in to take your clothes off for perfect strangers on OnlyFans”.
    She responded: “Piers, my dad is dead and my mum is on my payroll – my family are fine.”
    Then asked what her future children might think of her unconventional career, Elle replied: “They can cry in a Ferrari.”
    Emily has followed her older sister’s example by becoming a social media and boxing starCredit: Rex
    Elle boasts millions of followers across several social media channelsCredit: Instagram
    Elle recently appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to defend her career choicesCredit: Instagram More

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    I fought both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in the last year – here’s how AJ can easily win fight at O2 Arena

    THIS boxer has fought both Anthony Joshua AND Dillian Whyte in the last year.But he reckons AJ can easily win their upcoming bout thanks to a key reason.
    Jermaine Franklin is backing Anthony Joshua to beat Dillian WhyteCredit: Rex
    The American has fought both Brits in the last yearCredit: Getty
    Joshua and Whyte will collide at the O2 Arena on Saturday August 12.
    The duo have already fought each other twice, with the score tied at one apiece.
    And next month’s trilogy battle will decide who comes out on top once and for all.
    Many boxing fans cannot separate the pair, with AJ and Whyte both proving themselves to be top fighters.
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    But American brawler Jermaine Franklin has had the honour of facing them both in the past 10 months, losing both times.
    And he reckons Joshua will emerge victorious.
    That’s because Whyte’s pattern of play is too predictable.
    But Franklin reckons he could yet spring a surprise thanks to his powerful punches.
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    Franklin told Boxing Social: “I see AJ winning only because I kind of got adjusted to Dillian’s style early, and it didn’t really change.
    “He tried to change it a little bit but he kinda stayed the same. With Anthony, he’s just gonna use his jab a lot.
    “If he can get Dillian to the point to where he’s got him kind of stagnant or he’s not doing a lot, the jab will win the fight easy.
    “But, at the same time, Dillian does have a couple nice punches that he can throw.
    “If he get in there he can do some damage, who knows how the fight may go. But I still think I got AJ coming out on points.” More

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    Carl Froch brutally tells Tyson Fury he ‘hasn’t done enough’ to enter boxing Hall of Fame – he must win two fights first

    CARL FROCH has told Tyson Fury that he has not “done enough” to go into the boxing Hall of Fame.It was confirmed this week that the Gypsy King will face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
    Carl Froch was inducted in boxing’s Hall of Fame earlier this yearCredit: Getty
    He says that Tyson Fury has currently not ‘done enough’ to get inductedCredit: Getty
    The cross-sport clash will happen under Queensberry rules over 10 rounds and WON’T be for undefeated Fury’s WBC title.
    Fury, who has already labelled Ngannou a “big, stiff tramp” that he could KO after downing 15 pints, has got pelters from boxing purists for taking the bout after months of failed negotiations elsewhere.
    Fans are desperate to see him in an undisputed decider with WBA, WBO and IBF champ Oleksandr Usyk or an overdue all-English clash with Anthony Joshua.
    But the Morecambe showman, 34, insists that he has offered both men lucrative deals and they are the ones to blame for him branching out into big-money freak fights.
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    Ex-super middleweight title holder Froch, 46, was inducted into boxing’s Hall of Fame earlier this year.
    And he recently told BettingSites that Fury WOULD NOT be joining him in there unless he “dared to be great” and took on the fights that everybody wants rather than these cross-combat ones.
    Froch said: “I was inducted for wins. I dared to be great. I took on young unbeaten fighters like George Groves.
    “Now that’s a legacy. That’s a career worthy of the Hall of Fame.
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    “Does Fury deserve it? A great win against [Wladimir] Klitschko, a trilogy win against [Deontay] Wilder, that’s not enough.
    “If he beats AJ, beats Usyk, then yes.”
    Going on to explain what he thought merited an induction, Froch added: “There are different rules on whether or not you make it into the Hall of Fame.
    “You can go in as a competitor or a participant or something else. You can be a promoter.
    “Anthony Joshua for example, what he’s done for boxing, he’s brought it to a whole new audience. He’s followed on from my 80,000 at Wembley Stadium.
    “What he’s done for the sport is transcend it and take it to the next level so for that alone you could say that’s a Hall of Fame career.” More

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    Busty boxing ring girl Apollonia Llewellyn almost spills out of tiny bikini as she shows off major underboob

    APOLLONIA LLEWELLYN set pulses racing as she nearly spilled out of a tiny bikini. The busty boxing ring girl was over in the USA celebrating Miami Swim Week.

    Apollonia Llewellyn has over 560,000 followers on Instagram
    She has been given the nickname ‘Barbie’
    The Leeds-born model, nicknamed Barbie, shared a snap to her page earlier this week of her at Swim Week.
    And she added to this in her latest post to Instagram.
    She donned a white bikini backed by some blue feathers, showing off underboob as she did so.
    Reacting to the post, one fan typed: “Perfect, proud of you always.”
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    A second said: “My Lovely Girl Hot 🔥🔥🔥🔥.”
    “Unreal🔥,” commented a third.
    A fourth wrote: “Gorgeous.”
    Meanwhile, a fifth reacted: “Lovely lady 💕😍💕😍.”
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    She regularly teases fans with steamy contentCredit: Instagram/@apolloniallewellyn
    Apollonia is originally from Leeds
    Another added: “Looking absolutely gorgeous 🥰🥰👀💖💋💕😘😍.”
    Apollonia, 23, has just over 560,000 Instagram followers.
    Earlier this week she left her army of fans stunned as she wore a yellow bikini, while she is frequent with posts of a similar nature – many of which see her soaking in the sun at the beach.
    She frequents Miami BeachCredit: Instagram / @apolloniallewellyn
    With many posts sharing similarly raunchy contentCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuj0LGgIob6/?hl=en More