Boxing

DEONTAY WILDER is set to announce a shock boxing comeback in a snub to retirement. The American is coming off a devastating knockout defeat to Zhilei Zhang in June having lost on points to Joseph Parker six moths prior. Deontay Wilder is set to announce a shock boxing comebackCredit: GettyBoth meant he squandered the chance to finally face Anthony Joshua and left Wilder’s career in crisis. But according to Manouk Akopyan, the former WBC champion will continue fighting with a return bout set for April. It is claimed Wilder and his manager Shelly Finkel will announce the opponent in Los Angeles this Saturday.Pay-per-view platform BLK Prime are believed to be behind the fight. READ MORE IN BOXINGTerence Crawford, 37, fought on the unknown channel in December 2022, knocking out David Avanesyan, 36. Wilder, 39, was in line for a super-fight with Joshua, 35, last year with Saudi Arabia’s boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh fronting the money.A deal was already signed but the script was torn up after Parker, 32, secured a shock points victory. Zhang, 41, then stopped the Bronze Bomber in five rounds as part of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren’s series of 5v5 match-ups. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWilder went radio silence following his consecutive losses but broke cover in November to confirm his desire to fight on. He told TMZ: “The best is yet to come. I had a lot of outside distractions that I had to get rid of.Horror moment referee gets punched in face as officials forced to storm boxing ring to break up chaotic fight”I took care of a lot of people and it got to the point where I couldn’t do it anymore.”I’ve got seven kids of my own, I can’t take care of everybody. Even the closest ones to me, I’ve been betrayed so many times.”It’s been a domino effect for the last five years. The thing about betrayal is it’s worse than heartbreak.”Wilder is coming off two lossesCredit: Getty More

LEGENDARY boxing promoter Don King has been jabbed with a £2.4BILLION lawsuit over a second Rumble in the Jungle.Last October marked the 50th anniversary of the historic heavyweight title fight between the late Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.Don King is being sued for allegedly scuppering an anniversary event for the Rumble in the JungleCredit: APOctober 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the legendary fight between Muhammad Ali and George ForemanCredit: ALAMYKing is accused of laying waste to the tribute event before it was finalisedCredit: GETTYKing promoted the epic bout in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was keen to pay homage to it with a Rumble in the Jungle 2 in Africa.The 93-year-old is said to have enlisted the help of BYD Sports CEO Cecil Miller to put on a boxing bonanza in Nigeria, which was set to feature performances from musicians Alicia Keys and John Legend.But Miller has filed a $3billion lawsuit against the Hall of Famer for allegedly pulling the plug on the event after he was asked to co-promote.According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Miller and CYD are suing for fraud, defamation, breach of contract and other allegations.READ MORE ON BOXING NEWSMiller’s lawyer, Anthony J.M. Jones, claims King decided to scupper the event as it inched towards coming to fruition.Jones told Fortune: “It’s confounding when you look at how many people were working on this.“This is just a sad day for the sport.”We are now in 2025 and there will never be a chance to do a 50th anniversary of a fight between Foreman and Ali – and to do it in Africa.”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSDon King promoted the first Rumble in the JungleCredit: GETTYAccording to Fortune, King has yet to respond to the accusations.Court documents, however, have shown the American – who allegedly went radio silent after it emerged he doesn’t own the rights to the first Rumble in the Jungle – sent Miller a cease-and-desist letter.The heartbreaking chance meeting between Muhammad Ali and Colin Hart where boxing legend revealed ‘I’m not scared to die’In the letter, King accuses Miller “of falsely representing to government officials” that he authorised him to stage a 50th anniversary event.Miller’s lawyer has vehemently denied the accusations, branding King’s claims as an attempt at “sabotage”.Miller – who is said to have sought out several world champions to appear on the card – is seeking a whopping $3billion in total.This is made up of $600million – how much the $100m the fight grossed at the time would be worth today after inflation – and $2.4bn in prospective damages.But he’s also after a formal written apology from the controversial salesman, who is still, to this day, one of boxing’s most recognisable figures.I’m the last British reporter alive who was at Rumble in the Jungle… it was the most bizarre 10 days of my lifeOCTOBER 30th 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle, when Muhammad Ali confirmed his immortality by knocking out George Foreman to regain the world heavyweight championship, writes Colin Hart.That fabulous, mind-blowing fight that took place before an African dawn broke over Kinshasa has been described as the greatest sporting event of the 20th Century.Sadly, I’m the only British journalist who was at ringside that night who is still alive to tell the tale – of the most bizarre ten days of my working life.The first bell in Zaire sounded at 4am and the two men were each paid $5million – with president Mobutu Sese Seko putting up the money.Mobutu was probably the most terrifying, murderous dictator who ever ruled a nation on the African continent — and with Uganda’s Idi Amin as a rival, that is saying something.The Zairians were scared to death of him, with good reason – as the 20th of May Stadium’s walls pock-marked with holes from firing squads executing dissidents.He even threatened to shoot telex operators who were caught sleeping when journalists wanted to send their stories to editors back home.And that’s before the fight even started, with its throbbing tribal drums, 60,000 frenzied fans… and the debut of Ali’s iconic rope-a-dope.Read Fleet Street boxing legend COLIN HART’S full look back at the Rumble in the Jungle… More

BOXING fans have been blown away by a world champion’s shock new look.Fighters, like your ordinary Joe, are no strangers to switching up their appearances – especially outside of training camps.Gervonta Davis has switched up his look for 2025Credit: GETTYThe WBA lightweight champion has ditched his cornrowsCredit: GETTYThe Baltimore bruiser is now rocking long and relaxed hair, which he’s put up in a ponytailCredit: XMany have found that changing their appearance often keeps them in the headlines as much as their trash talk.And the fresh new look being donned by a controversial world champion has certainly got fight fans’ chins wagging.WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is no stranger to switching up his appearance.But a recent photo of the Baltimore bruiser has well and truly stunned fight fans.READ MORE BOXING NEWS”Tank” has ditched his cornrows for long flowing locks, which he’s put in a ponytail.A snap of Davis showcasing his new barnet as he lay on the sofa has gone viral.One fight fan said of his new look: “Hard AF. It’s giving Samurai [vibes].”Another said: “Bro giving Johnny Depp vibes. Jack Sparrow.”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGervonta Davis was last in action against Frank Martin in JuneCredit: GETTYAnd another said: “Is that really Tank?”One remarked: “Thought it was Johnny Depp.”World champion boxer Gervonta Davis posts Instagram live from inside prison and says ‘this judge is crazy’Another chimed in: “Look like Salt Bae.”Davis, 30, stunned boxing fans late last year by revealing that he plans to call it a day in 2025.And he’s sensationally doubled down on his proposed retirement, saying: “I’m going through a lot, been through a lot, been betrayed and s**t like that.”It really made me want to give up on the limelight. Everybody chase being in front of the camera. “They chase an image. I don’t want to be a part of that.”As long as I have my money, can take care of my kids and whoever I need to take care of, I don’t need none of this. You’re always being judged.Gervonta Davis plans to retire at the end of 2025Credit: GETTY”You always got to live for someone else. You gotta be perfect, and nobody’s perfect.“At the end of 2025, I feel as though I should be more mature mentally, further than I am now.”And I should be off of probation so I can travel the whole world.”Once I can travel the whole world, people probably won’t ever see me again. I probably won’t be in America again.”READ MORE SUN STORIESFan favourite Davis was set to make his ring return against Lamont Roach in New York on March 1.But he hinted over the holiday period that the bust-up at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center is OFF, writing on X: “The fight is f***ing cancelled.” More