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    Anthony Joshua told to swerve Tyson Fury and take ‘two more warm-up fights’ by Eddie Hearn’s dad over KO fear

    ANTHONY JOSHUA has been urged to take two more “warm-up fights” before pursuing a clash with Tyson Fury.The Watford warrior re-opened the door for a blockbuster Battle of Britain with his long-time rival after his scrappy points win over Jermaine Franklin last weekend.
    Anthony Joshua returned to the win column with a scrappy win over Jermaine FranklinCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
    AJ opened the door to a domestic dust-up with Tyson Fury after the fightCredit: PA
    Barry Hearn reckons he needs two more warm-up fights before facing The Gypsy KingCredit: PA
    But the former unified heavyweight champion’s lacklustre display against the No.34-ranked American has many believing he’s not ready for The Gypsy King – including promoter Eddie Hearn’s dad, Barry.
    The Matchroom Boxing founder told iFL TV: “In today’s world, the temptations for making that fight and earning a colossal amount of money may outweigh the old-fashioned common sense of people like me.
    “Definitely [two more warm-up fights] – but we live in a commercial world.”
    WBC heavyweight king Fury has – somewhat uncharacteristically – yet to comment on Joshua’s uninspiring return to the win column.
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    But Barry believes he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of fighting AJ after seeing his display against Franklin.
    He said: “I would think that Tyson Fury would look at that performance and say ‘I am ready to fight him’, that takes a big obstacle away.
    “He [Joshua] has to decide whether he wants to go for the big payday or if he wants to build and learn for a bit longer, in which case he needs two or three more warm-up fights.
    “The public don’t like that, they are crying out for it, is it time to take the money? Maybe.”
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    Joshua, 33, has no qualms about taking on Fury next, saying in his post-fight interview: “You know me, I like to provide for the fans.
    “I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want? They said Fury?
    “The ball is in his court, I will 100 per cent be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
    “I stand here and say that proudly, it would be an honour, so wherever you are if you’re listening.
    Tyson Fury is currently without a fight after his bout with Oleksandr Usyk fell throughCredit: REUTERS
    “You know my management, you know my promoter.
    “We’ve had dialect before, so let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this on sooner rather than later. We ain’t getting any younger.”
    Fury, 34, is currently without a fight following the collapse of his undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
    The pair were due to throw down for the all heavyweight marbles at Wembley on April 29 but Team Usyk pulled the plug on the fight after Fury kept moving the goalposts. More

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    Boxing stunner Ebanie Bridges leaves little to imagination as she dresses up as ‘cute jockey’ in tight see-through silks

    BOXER Ebanie Bridges posed as a “cute jockey” as she left little to the imagination while showing off to fans. The Blonde Bomber continues to dominate in the ring but also showed her versatility as she tried her hand at another sport.
    Ebanie Bridges tried her hand at jockeying and managed to still look glamorousCredit: Instagram @ebanie_bridges
    The boxer appeared a natural as she rode a horseCredit: Instagram @ebanie_bridges
    Bridges took to Instagram to show off her outfit as she prepared to mount a horse.
    The Australian was shooting a commercial for bookmaker BetGoodwin.
    And she flashed a smile a wide smile at the camera while decked out in jockey gear as she asked fans: “Am I a cute jockey?”
    The 36-year-old wears a black and yellow jacket and tight see-through white trousers.
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    She can then be seen in a short video sat confidently on top of the horse while stroking its mane.
    Fans loved seeing the boxing star in different surroundings.
    One said: “So cute!”
    Another said: “Bored of walking to the ring… now she rides into battle haha, go on lass.”
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    Another fan wrote: “Is there no end to your talent? Taking over as a jockey as well.”
    While another joked of the 5ft 1in star: “You got the height for it Ebanie.”
    Bridges is the holder of the IBF bantamweight title after beating Maria Roman in March 2022.
    She then held on to that belt by beating Shannon O’Connell in December last year.
    The star is also a trainer for OnlyFans influencer Elle Brooke.
    Bridges wiped out Shannon O’Connell to retain her IBF bantamweight titleCredit: Getty
    Ebanie Bridges has 731,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @ebanie_bridges More

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    UFC chief Dana White claimed rapper 50 Cent kick-started negotiations for Conor McGregor’s fight with Floyd Mayweather

    RAPPER 50 Cent kick-started the negotiations for Floyd Mayweather to fight UFC legend Conor McGregor.The two mavericks met in a blockbuster crossover bout in August 2017, with Money Mayweather winning by 10th round stoppage.
    50 Cent kick-started the negotiations for Floyd Mayweather to fight Conor McGregorCredit: Getty – Contributor
    UFC boss Dana White helped promote the 2017 crossover eventCredit: USA TODAY Sports
    It marked an end to months of build-up and trash-talking between the pair, with the event gripping both fighting codes.
    But UFC president Dana White revealed a chance meeting with 50 Cent – a long-time friend of Mayweather’s – was the catalyst for the super-fight taking place.
    White told ESPN: “When the demand is there. I felt the demand for McGregor vs Mayweather, felt it, I knew it would be big, so we started talking.
    “I bumped into 50 Cent in New York, and he said, ‘Floyd wants to fight your boy.’ I said, ‘My boy who?’
    “He’s like, ‘The Irish kid.’ And I’m like, ‘He’ll kill him,’ because I’m thinking MMA.
    “He said, ‘We’ll box him.’ I said, ‘You guys are crazy.’
    “He said, ‘He’s serious. I’ll call him right now.’

    “And then that’s how it all really got started. And then everywhere I went, it was all anybody asked me about.
    “Then once I started to really feel it, that’s when I started to take it serious, and I made an offer.”
    After Mayweather beat McGregor on the Irishman’s boxing debut he officially retired from the sport.
    He returned at the end of 2018 for an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo.
    The now 46-year-old announced he was ‘coming out of retirement in 2020’ to work on a ‘spectacular event’ with White in 2021.
    UFC boss White revealed: “We both started talking. The easiest way to explain it to you is Floyd and I both feel that we add value to each other, and we’re going to figure something out.
    “Some things have to play out, and then I’m going to start talking to [Mayweather’s advisor Al] Haymon maybe this summer and then I’ll have something for Floyd in the fall.
    “We can do some crossover stuff here or we can do something in boxing.
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    “Our last experience, Floyd was actually pretty easy to deal with. Haymon is incredible to deal with.
    “Floyd and I got a handshake deal at the basketball game, and we’ll get the rest figured out.”
    However, since that claiom Mayweather has fought exhibitions against Logan Paul, Don Moore, Mikuru Asakura, Deji Olatunji and most recently Aaron Chalmers at the O2 Arena in London.
    Mayweather claimed he is coming out of retirement to work with WhiteCredit: Splash News More

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    Muhammad Ali’s grandson follows in footsteps as MMA star debuts in Las Vegas over 40 years after icon’s last title fight

    BIAGGIO ALI WALSH debuts in Las Vegas over 40 years after his grandad’s last title fight – and does so ready to leave a mark of his own.The lightweight amateur MMA prospect, 24, heads into his second bout with the Professional Fighters League on Friday.
    Biaggio Ali Walsh is the grandson of Muhammad Ali
    Muhammad Ali lost to Larry Holmes in 1980Credit: Getty – Contributor
    But it will be his first in Vegas, where his grandfather Muhammad Ali found so much success.
    It was at the Caesars Palace in 1980 that Ali last challenged for the heavyweight title – losing to Larry Holmes.
    And over four decades later, grandson Biaggio works security shifts at the famous hotel, daydreaming of following in his grandad’s footsteps.
    He said: “I work at Caesars Palace, I work at one of the nightclubs out there.
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    “When I’m there, sometimes it crosses my mind like, ‘Wow, my grandfather fought here. It’s a very historical place in the boxing world.
    “Sometimes I do feel that. Vegas is obviously the fight capital of the world, it’s my hometown, it’s where I grew up.
    “I was born in Chicago but I moved here when I was six. So I grew up here in Vegas and to be able to fight in Vegas is awesome.
    “I didn’t think it would come this soon, I thought to myself, ‘When can I fight in Vegas? When can my friends and my local co-workers even come to my fights?’
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    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    “And it’s happening now, so I’m super grateful, super blessed that I get to have this opportunity so soon.”
    Biaggio – whose 22-year-old brother Nico is an unbeaten boxer – signed to the PFL last year.
    The promotion is MMA’s only seasonal format, consisting of qualification and knockout rounds.
    Points are earned per method of victory and the top four in each division progress into the last four stages.
    From there it is win-or-go-home, culminating in a finale fight with a $1million cheque and title belt on the line.
    Biaggio, not yet a professional, has hopes to one day enter the league but for now focuses on justifying his prime-time undercard spot.
    He said: “There’s a lot of pro fighters that don’t get this kind of opportunity.
    “So yeah, of course that pressure is there but I am looking to show people that I do have talent, I am born for this.
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    “So yeah, I do have something to prove but what makes diamonds is pressure. So bring on all the pressure in the world, I don’t care.”
    Biaggio Ali Walsh with Muhammad Ali
    Biaggio Ali Walsh is signed by the PFLCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Boxing legend Carl Froch doubles down on flat Earth theory and gives bizarre reason why

    BOXING legend Carl Froch has reiterated his remarkable belief that the Earth is flat.Last year, the former unified super-middleweight world champion revealed he was a flat Earther and labelled space agency NASA as “fake”.
    Carl Froch has claimed yet again that the Earth is flatCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Now he has furthered his bizarre argument by putting a strange theory to ex-boxer Matthew Macklin and broadcaster Andy Clarke.
    Speaking on the Macklin’s Take podcast, he was asked whether he really thinks the earth is flat.
    To which Froch, 45, replied: “Here’s the problem. I’ve tried to prove – and I challenge anybody listening to this – prove that the Earth is spherical. Prove that it’s round. Prove that it’s actually a globe.”
    Macklin then responded: “All I know is that when Michael Conlan was boxing in Brisbane, we left LA and flew west and 12 hours later we were in Brisbane.
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    “So I don’t see how the world can possibly be flat.”
    Froch then confusingly added: “I could get a piece of A4 paper, write down the centre of the flat Earth – which is the North Pole – and write down the ice wall – which is right down the south side – all the way around the circumference of the flat Earth, and you would circumnavigate and you’d get from where you just said [LA] to where you just said [Brisbane] in the same flight path.
    “Next question.”
    This is not the first time Froch has spoken in depth about his wacky theory.
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    In December, the ex-boxer told the Pound for Pound with Jake Wood and Spencer Oliver podcast: “The Earth is flat, 100 per cent.
    “There’s no proof of the Earth’s curvature and this fake space agency Nasa use CGI images and every one is different.
    “I’m looking at them thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, they’re like cartoons’.
    “When someone like Richard Branson goes up there and starts doing chartered flights… and you can look back on Earth and see the Earth’s curvature, I’ll believe the Earth is a globe.”
    Froch, who retired in 2015 after winning 33 of his 35 fights, has also claimed in the past that the moon landing in July 1969 was faked.
    Froch knocked out George Groves in the final fight of his career in 2014Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    KSI visits mosque and speaks to imam after using vile racial slur in now-deleted YouTube video

    YOUTUBE star KSI has visited a mosque to apologise after using the word ‘p***’ in one of his videos.The influencer, real name Olajide William Olatunji, said there was “no excuse” for using the slur which he said deeply hurt South Asian communities.
    KSI made the word ‘p***’ during a Countdown skit on Sidemen SundayCredit: Ruckas
    KSI said there was ‘no excuse’ for using the slur which he said deeply hurt South Asian communitiesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The incident came as the star took part in a ‘Countdown challenge’ stunt with a group of influencers called The Sidemen.
    They were asked to come up with a nine-letter word just like the hit daytime English and maths quiz show.
    The letters O,I,A,K,P,V,Z,U and B appeared on the screen during the Sidemen Sunday segment before KSI was asked to form a word.
    He said: “We need points and I don’t mean this maliciously but the word p***.”
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    Fellow hosts Chunkz and Filly fell about laughing at KSI’s answer, while he jokingly said “sorry”.
    But the slur sparked fury among fans and famous faces who blasted the influencer – who has 12.7 million Instagram followers – for “dehumanising brown people”.
    BBC presenter Bobby Friction posted: “I had this racial slur thrown at me & got physical beats by racists for my entire childhood.
    “Genuinely upset that KSI (a guy my children love) did this & thought it was funny.
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    “The rest of them laughing can go f*** themselves too. People dehumanising brown people like it normal.”
    Meanwhile renowned health presenter Dr Ranj Singh blasted the internet sensation saying: “I’m not just upset, I’m disgusted.”
    Teacher and broadcaster Mehreen Baig added the comments and reaction was “horrifically disappointing from KSI and his crew”.
    The video has since been deleted.
    KSI – whose YouTube videos have clocked up over 11 billion views – issued a grovelling apology on Twitter following Sunday’s incident.
    ‘CAUSED A LOT OF HURT’
    He repeated his apology ahead of his fight with Joe Fournier at a boxing weigh in press conference on Wednesday.
    He said: “I want to take this opportunity to offer my deepest and most sincere apologies for my words and actions.
    “In a recent video I used a racial term that is offensive to so, so many especially in the south Asian community.
    “There are no excuses for what I said and I recognise that I’ve caused a lot of hurt and disappointment to so many people that look up to me, and my ignorance has only reinforced the negative stereotypes that have existed for way too long in this country.
    “I want to express my heartfelt regret for what I said and I want you to know I am genuinely ashamed and deeply sorry for any pain or suffering I have caused.
    “I realise my words have consequences and as a public figure I have a responsibility to use my platform for good rather than perpetuating discrimination and this week I have failed to do this.”
    It came as KSI was filmed talking to an imam at a mosque in Bradford, who told onlookers how the boxer was visiting to learn, with KSI saying he wanted to “educate himself”.
    He will take a break from social media following the slur.
    A statement from The Sidemen posted on Twitter said the video “was completely unacceptable and inexcusable” adding “the fact the incident was made light of on the show was wrong and compounded the hurt”.
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    The group said they have been left “truly ashamed” by their actions. More

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    Elle Brooke and AnEsonGib’s next fights thrown into CHAOS as promotion Kingpyn’s boxing license is suspended

    ELLE BROOKE and AnEsonGib’s upcoming fights are in major doubt as promoters Kingpyn have seen their license suspended.Both influencers were set to compete on the “High Stakes” show at the OVO Arena Wembley on April 22 – put on by promoters Kingpyn.
    Elle Brooke won her last fight back in JanuaryCredit: PA
    AnEsonGib is another big name scheduled to feature on the April billCredit: Getty
    Brooke and Gib were among the eight men and eight women set to compete in a host of quarter-final match-ups on the bill.
    The victors of each contest will then advance through to the semi-finals on June 3.
    And the finals are scheduled for August 5.
    But now all three shows face being axed after the Professional Boxing Association announced they had withdrawn their sanctioning of the event.
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    They also confirmed Kingpyn’s promotional license had been suspended indefinitely.
    As reported by Fred Beck, a statement read: “The PBA hereby withdraws sanction of the upcoming Kingpyn tournament (22nd April, 3rd June, 5th Aug) and also suspends Kingpyn’s PBA Promoter license, effective immediately until further notice.”
    Brooke has won her two fights to date, defeating Love Island’s AJ Bunker and TikTok’s Faith Ordway.
    Her quarter-final was scheduled to be against Aleksandra Daniel – who featured on Love Island Poland.
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    Meanwhile, AnEsonGib has won four of his five fights.
    His only defeat came in January 2020 when Jake Paul stopped him in the first round of their clash in Miami.
    Gib was due to take on YouTuber Austin McBroom in London later this month.
    Brooke is known on social media and OnlyFansCredit: tiktok
    She has more than 600,000 followers on InstagramCredit: INSTAGRAM More

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    Ebanie Bridges in stitches as porn star pal Kendra Lust shares picture of bizarre sex toy

    EBANIE BRIDGES was left in stitches after seeing porn star Kendra Lust share an X-rated image on Twitter.Veteran X-rated actress Lust has bared it all on video and social media for the best part of two decades.
    Porn star Kendra Lust set chins wagging by tweeting an image of a foot-themed sexy toyCredit: INSTAGRAM@KENDRALUST
    Boxer Ebanie Bridges was in hysterics at the tweetCredit: INSTAGRAM@EBANIEBRIDGES
    Bridges couldn’t help but comment on the bizarre toyCredit: TWITTER@EBANIEBRIDGES
    And on Tuesday, the 44-year-old tweeted an image of a foot-related sex toy to her followers, with the accompanying caption: “U can buy anything on the internet.”
    Several of Lust’s 1.5million followers were left in hysterics, including Bridges.
    The IBF female bantamweight queen reacted to the tweet of the bizarre sexual item with a series of crying-laughing emojis.
    Bridges’ followers were quick to comment on her reaction to the sex toy.
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    One tweeted: “I’ve never seen a more accurate pic for describing how it feels to accidentally step on your kid’s Lego.”
    Another said: “What the actual f***! Who is buying these things?”
    And another said: “Well that’s a very niche item.”
    One remarked: “Sometimes I’m just lost for words!! Dear God!”
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    Another remarked: “This is an April Fools, right? Right!?????”
    Bridges, 36, hasn’t set foot in the ring since defending her title in a grudge match against fellow Aussie Shannon O’Connell last December.
    After having her hand raised, the bombshell said: “Not bad for a skanky stripper.
    “Credit to her she was tough and took a lot of shots.
    “I was not that badly hurt early on so I came back and got the win and am really satisfied.
    “I hope Australia is really proud and knows who the real queen of Australian boxing is now.
    “It was the hardest fight of my career but also my best.” More