Boxing

ELLIE SCOTNEY survived a first-round slashed eye to defend her IBF and WBA super-bantamweight world titles.The 26-year-old Catford queen went toe-to-toe with New Zealand warrior Mea Motu and was a bloody mess before the end of the opener.Ellie Scotney survived a first round slashed eye to defend her beltsCredit: ReutersScotney remains the IBF and WBA champCredit: GettyHer brilliant movement helped her against the constant Motu attacksCredit: GettyBut her cutman played a blinder and Scotney picked apart her relentless Kiwi opponent to land a unanimous decision, with all three judges calling it: 99-91.Both 122lb women threw early hooks to the head but Scotney started taking control with her jab.Motu, 35, did land an early right and Scotney was left with a bruise on her left cheekbone – and seconds later she was cut.As she walked back to her corner, Scotney was leaking loads out of her left eye but her cutman was rapidly working on the case.READ MORE IN BOXING Motu was raw and tough but constant and mean.Scotney was the sharper and smarter but Motu was a typical All Black and always coming forward in waves.Scotney found her range in the third and was able to pick Motu off but the tough challenger wasn’t taking a backward step.Motu was always on the front foot, but it was Scotney who had the better lateral movement and was controlling the fight on the edges of the ring.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMotu made a vicious start to the fourth, with a couple of right hands but Scotney coped and used her superior skills to dominate the backend of the session.The fifth was a wrestle until Scotney scored with body blows and a peach of a left hook to Motu’s face.Misfits Boxing star speaks out after collapsing following loss to Darren TillAnd with her cut just threatening to worsen, Scotney scored with a couple of crisp digs just before the bell.And, by the sixth session, Scotney’s class was showing as she landed lead left hooks and danced out of danger sweetly.Relentless Motu never stopped marching forward for another scrum but Scotney was tagging her regularly and a right hook was the pick of the seventh round.Scotney’s right hand was superb in the eighth, as a straight, a hook and an uppercut. Motu was a greedy punchbag walking on to every punch.And she kept her cool in the final two stanzas to keep hold of her belts and hopefully move on to adding more.The champ said: “I am not too happy with my performance, I hurt her at times but I looked for too many single shots.”She was a tough girl, 20-0, so I hope people put more respect on my name now.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I wasn’t born with this nose, I’m from Catford so I grew up having fights, but my trainer Shane managed to tame it in there tonight.”Of course I want to be undisputed, I want the two missing belts but I need those girls to take the fights too, otherwise I will go up to featherweight and fight Skye Nicolson.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could be in line for a shock trilogy fight following Tyson Fury’s retirement.The long overdue Battle of Britain seemingly went up in smoke earlier this month when the Fury announced his FIFTH retirement.Anthony Joshua was seemingly on course to finally fight Tyson Fury later this yearCredit: REUTERSBut Fury has thrown a spanner into the works of a mega fight by retiringCredit: REUTERSLong-time rival Dillian Whyte is down to fight AJ nextCredit: GETTYTeam Joshua are currently exploring options for the Olympian, although they’re confident Fury can be coaxed out of his latest “retirement”.But long-time rival Dillian Whyte is more than willing to be the Watford warrior’s next dance partner should the Gypsy King opt not to fight again.The Brixton Bodysnatcher told Sky Sports: “[Joshua] Sounds perfect for me.”They don’t need to ask me twice.READ MORE ON AJ”They talk about me as an option, but they haven’t said anything to me, so it’s just negotiation tactics from them.”Whyte and Joshua have twice shared the ring with on another, with the first of their meetings coming the amateurs.Whyte won the pair’s encounter back in 2009 via decision, although AJ brutally exacted his revenge six years later with seventh-round KO at the O2 Arena.The pair, 36 and 35 respectively, were due to renew their rivalry in August 2023.Most read in SportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSHow AJ punched his way to the topANTHONY JOSHUA punched his way to the top of the world before being knocked off his perch.But their third encounter fell through when it emerged Whyte had failed a pre-fight drug test.Joshua is at a career crossroads following a crushing fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois in their Wembley war last September.Tyson Fury retires from boxing with cryptic ‘Dick Turpin wore a mask’ jibe to leave Anthony Joshua fight dead in water And Whyte believes his rival’s best days are well and truly behind him.He said of AJ: “If he wants to fight, then all they’ve got to do is call me. “I’m always up for fighting AJ.”No problem for me. However, personally, I think he’s finished.”It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the long-awaited domestic dust-up between Joshua and Fury comes to fruition later this year.Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte have fought one another twiceCredit: GettyLong-time AJ pal and promoter Eddie Hearn told The Daily Mail: “None of us know what Fury will do next.”But if we are to see the fight in the summer, he would probably have to come out of retirement in the next three or four weeks.“After that, the summer gets difficult for a fight of this size.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The future? Hopefully – I think he will be back, but it’s in his hands”For AJ, we have options to pursue and we are looking at them currently.” More

CHRIS EUBANK JR and Conor Benn finally have a date announced for their grudge fight – three years after it was first KOd. The born rivals – whose dads share one of Britain’s most celebrated rivalries – collide on April 26 at Tottenham’s 62,000-seat stadium. Chris Eubank Jr facing off with Conor BennCredit: GETTYIt will see Benn jump TWO divisions from the 147lb welterweight class to 160lb where Eubank campaigns as a middleweight. The two were first set for an October 2022 catchweight clash at the O2 Arena. But the 157lb pay-per-view bout was scrapped with just days to go after Benn failed two Voluntary Anti-Doping Association tests. The unbeaten welterweight contender then had the fight of his life to try and prove his innocence and get his career back on track. read more in boxing Benn, 28, was later charged by UK Anti-Doping and a bitter dispute with the British Boxing Board of Control ensued after the fighter was stripped of his license. It saw him take his career to America, where he had two routine wins up at super-welterweight against Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson. Eubank, 35, meanwhile went onto have a double header with Liam Smith, 36, losing the first by KO before winning the rematch by stoppage. He then beat Kamil Szeremeta in his last bout in October – with Benn ringside in Saudi Arabia. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollowing his seventh-round stoppage of Szeremeta, 35, he faced off with Benn in the ring fuelling speculation their bitter bout was back on. And a month later, UKAD released a statement to confirm Benn’s ban had been lifted – clearing him to fight on home soil again. Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn square up as Neymar ‘acts like guest referee’ in baffling scenesBut while Eubank continued to claim a deal was close to being struck, Benn suggested he was focussing on WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios, 29. That was while a purse split between Eubank and Benn brewed in the background. But after Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh entered the frame – disputes over money or anything else were soon resolved. The fight, however, will not be promoted Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season.It will instead be the showpiece bout of the first-ever Ring Magazine card.The family history dates back to the 1990s, when Eubank Sr defeated Benn’s dad Nigel. They then controversially drew in their 1993 rematch three years later. The two formed a friendship in later years, conducting evening speaking tours across the UK. But their sons’ British beef is yet to be settled.Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr fought twice in the 90’sCredit: GettyThe pair have put their once bitter rivalry behind themCredit: GETTYThe Tottenham tussle between Eubank Jr and Benn will be preceded by four mouth-watering bouts.Former WBO light-middleweight champ Liam Smith will be in action against Aaron McKenna. Recently deposed WBO cruiserweight titleholder Chris Billiam-Smith will look to get back to winning ways against Brandon Glanton.A trilogy fight between long-time light-heavyweight rivals Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur also features on the cards.A tasty cruiserweight clash between Viddal Riley and Chev Clarke will light the blue touch paper in Tottenham.Benn plans to take the frustrations of the last two-and-a-half years out on Eubank Jr in blistering fashion.Conor Benn has vowed to brutally take his frustrations out on Chris Eubank JrCredit: GETTYDuring an appearance on the Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo Boxing Show, he said: “For me, this is way more personal. “It was commercial before.”I mean it’s a massive commercial fight, but it’s way more personal. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt hatred towards an opponent before. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to spitefully knock someone out before. “I know people beg to differ with my fight style, but the reality is, I’ve been through a lot.”I was going through a lot at the time and for him to just carry on the way he did, I took it personally, and I still take it very personally. “To be on the brink of suicide to coming through, to have him coming out with the remarks he was coming out with… which were lies!”READ MORE SUN STORIESHe added: “All of it was lies and I take that very personally. For me, I’m still here standing and breathing and feeling stronger than ever. “So, without a doubt, I’m coming for his head.” More