Boxing

A RARE mistake from the ring announcer during Cherneka Johnson and Nina Hughes’ fight last night resulted in the wrong winner being announced.Johnson, 29, and Hughes, 41, battled it out for the WBA bantamweight world title in what was a tightly contested fight.Nina Hughes and Charneka Johnson saw their fight head to the scorecards after a tight 10 roundsCredit: XHughes was revealed as the winner by the ring announcerCredit: XThe English fighter celebrated the victory with her teamCredit: xHer celebrations were cut short as the announcer re-read the scores and awarded the fight to Johnson insteadCredit: XHughes was left fuming and confused by the late changeCredit: XAnd with neither fighter able to get a knockout within the ten rounds, the bout went to a points decision from the judges’ scorecards.That’s when chaos ensued as ring announcer Lt Dan Hennessey grabbed the mic to reveal who had won the fight and would be crowned as the WBA world champion.Hennessey revealed that the ringside judges has scored the fight 95-95, 98-92 and 96-94 in favour of the defending champion Hughes.The announcement was met by cheers from the crowd and celebrations from the Essex-born fighter who had her hand lifted in the air by the referee.READ MORE IN SPORTBut things quickly flipped on their head as Hennessey, without any kind of apology or explanation, began reading out the scores once again after confusion from the officials.This time he announced that the scores were in favour of Johnson and crowned her as the new WBA champ instead.The New Zealand fighter began her somewhat more subdued celebrations after the awkward moment, while Hughes was left both deflated and irritated with the monumental mess up.After the fight, Hughes slammed the decision as a “joke” and proposed a rematch as a result.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSShe said: “I just don’t get it. How can they announce I had won and then change the scores?”I thought I dominated early. I thought she won a few of the later rounds but I felt like I won it comfortably.Jake Paul reveals awkward reason why he can’t copy Mike Tyson’s sex ban before fighting boxing legend“I don’t get how you can announce the winner and then change the scores.“It’s a joke. I feel like I’ve been robbed big time. There’s got to be a rematch. I didn’t lose that fight.”While Johnson was confident that she had got the better of her opponent over the 10 rounds and breathed a sigh of relief at the correct decision found its way to light.She said: “I’m not the judge and I’m just glad that they figured out the wrong decision.”Nina was a tough fight but I definitely think I won.”Hughes labelled the mistake as ‘a joke’Credit: EPAJohnson was crowned WBA Bantamweight world championCredit: EPA More

VASYL LOMACHENKO scored a brutal 11th-round stoppage of a bloodied George Kambosos Jr to capture the IBF lightweight title.The Ukrainian returned from a year-long layoff early on Sunday morning to lock horns with the former unified lightweight champion Down Under.Vasyl Lomachenko locked horns with George Kambosos Jr for the vacant IBF lightweight titleCredit: EPAThe Ukrainian was a class above the former unified 135lbs championCredit: EPAKambosos Jr was left bleeding in the eighth round after absorbing a huge left handCredit: EPAThe vacant IBF 135lbs title was up for grabs in the Perth punch-up, which Loma dominated from the opening bell. Lomachenko, 36, quickly established his range after the opening bell and swiftly built a lead in the early embers of the bout. Kambosos Jr, however, found success in the third round with some body shots, which proved to be some of his best punches of the fight. The contest, at times, was target practice for the fleetfooted Loma, who opened up a gaping wound above the right eye of the Aussie-born Greek in the eighth round.READ MORE IN BOXINGAnd the fan favourite looked to close the show in the 11th stanza, brutalising the body of the Kambosos with a ferocious left hook to the liver.Kambosos Jr, somehow, managed to beat the count and get back to his feet.Sensing the end was near, Lomachenko unleashed more punishing body shots which folded the Aussie and prompted the referee to wave off the contest.Kambosos Jr cut a crestfallen figure after his third defeat in his last four outings.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSVasyl Lomachenko had George Kambosos Jr on the ropes late in the fightCredit: EPALomachenko wheeled away in delight after dropping Kambosos Jr with a vicious body shotCredit: EPABut he showed his class by showering his opponent with praise moments after failing in his second bid to become a two-time world champion.The 30-year-old said of the future of hall-of-famer: “This guy is one of the best of all time.Unified lightweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko looks amazing in the gym after destroying Anthony Crolla”We tried our best, but he’s a good champion. He deserves that belt. “I gave it my all. I’m still alive, I’m still standing. I ain’t dead.”Lomachenko’s capturing of the belt Teofimo Lopez pipped him to in their Covid clash in October 2020 was watched by several fighters.Gervonta Davis was one of the many interested observers and called out the former three-weight world champion in a now-deleted tweet.’Tank’ – who is gearing up to fight Frank Martin next month – tweeted: “He’s after Frank. Let me get Frank first.”And Lomachenko wasted little time in responding to the controversial American, saying: “During my boxing career, I never run.”I always take the fights. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Right now, I want to come back to my home, spend time with my family.”And after then I rest a little bit we can talk about future.”Vasyl Lomachenko celebrates becoming a two-time lightweight championCredit: EPA More

BOXER Darren Johnstone needed oxygen and lengthy treatment after a brutal KO live on Sky Sports.Johnstone’s opponent Mark Jeffers was one of the first to voice his relief after his fellow super-middleweight was finally able to get up. A silent crowd watched as Darren Johnstone was treatedAfter medical attention Johnstone could speak and breathe unaidedThe Scot collapsed under a fifth-round barrage from the English champ in a battle of unbeaten Brits at the Cardiff International Arena.Johnstone initially raised just his head, with his legs barely moving.Jeffers instantly realised the worrying situation, walking straight over to check his rival’s condition.With the crowd now silent, medics treated Johnstone, who was given an oxygen mask.READ MORE BOXING NEWSHe was then able to breathe unaided, leaving his opponent and fans ringside reassured. Jeffers said: “We all want a KO but the most important thing is everyone gets out of the ring safe and well.”So I am pleased Darren is up and well.”After rising from the canvas, Johnstone was well enough to step over to his stool and sit on it. Most read in BoxingJeffers, right, eventually overpowered JohnstoneCredit: PAThe referee stopped the fight as Johnstone was sent sprawlingCredit: PAHe swapped handshakes and a few words with Jeffers.During the contest, Johnstone had been outgunned by his shorter rival.Inside the astonishing real life story of Christy Martin, who Sydney Sweeney will portray in upcoming Hollywood biopicJeffers stalked him, landed some meaty blows and finally trapped him to make it 18 straight wins for the 26-year-old. Viewers also praised his action once he spotting Johnstone’s condition.One fan posted: “Pure class from Jeffers after KO.”Another described his knock-out blows as “f***ing brutal”. More

LENNOX LEWIS gives Tyson Fury the edge of Oleksandr Usyk – but his reign of domination is not complete without beating Anthony Joshua. Fury and Usyk meet in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout next Saturday in Saudi Arabia.Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fight on May 18Credit: GettyLewis was the last undisputed champ in the blue-ribband division when he defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999.But never has there been a heavyweight champ to rule with all four belts with the WBO not considered a top title in Lewis’ day. The British icon used his superior size to better former cruiserweight king Holyfield – and he expects history to repeat itself for Fury.He told The Times: “The bigger guy always has the advantage. I think it’s a good time for Tyson. READ MORE IN BOXING”Everyone can see the shape he is in and that he’s taking it a lot more seriously than the [Francis] Ngannou fight — and so he should. “Both guys are great champions. Both are winners.”Fury, 35, was dropped by MMA star-turned-boxer Ngannou, 37, in his last bout in October but escaped with a controversial split-decision win.Usyk, 37, comes into the bout unbeaten in his 21 fights as a two-division champ like Holyfield formerly was. Most read in BoxingTYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUTCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSLewis said: “There are not a lot of Holyfields in the world but there’s definitely another guy like him, and that’s Usyk. I don’t think people realise what that means and what he has done.“I was there for his Olympic fight [Usyk won gold in London in 2012] and he was dancing afterwards. Who is this guy? Oleksandr Usyk spotted working on trademark move in training… but here’s why it WON’T work against Tyson Fury”Then he drifted back to where nobody knew who he was, but he is on his way to reaching that goal. He’s reached the last step. “Don’t count him out because he knows how to win. We can’t take him lightly.“He will use his mobility, move erratically around the ring, get Tyson moving. “I think Tyson is going to feint a lot and try to get Usyk out of his game, hopefully get Usyk to commit, and when he does that, take advantage.”Fury and Usyk are already contracted to a rematch which Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh has eyed for October.He then wants the Gypsy King to meet Joshua, 34, in a British blockbuster next March regardless of how the double header with Usyk ends.AJ is set to return in September at Wembley after knocking out Ngannou in two rounds in March.And Lewis said: “(Fury) needs to fight AJ because it’s a British thing. “After (Joshua’s) fight with Ngannou, people are saying he’s back, he looked great. But [Fury is not] the kind of boxer Ngannou is.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It would be a good fight. Fury is elusive and is always going to be difficult to box against. Styles make fights.”Anthony Joshua with Lennox Lewis in 2012 More

DEONTAY WILDER hopes to revive his super-fight with Anthony Joshua behind enemy lines. The American blew his £100million deal to face AJ in Saudi Arabia in March following a shock defeat to Joseph Parker just months earlier. Deontay Wilder hopes to revive his super-fight with Anthony JoshuaCredit: GettyJoshua was set to fight Wilder this yearCredit: ReutersJoshua is now primed for a UK homecoming bout in September at Wembley and the door remains open for an opponent. And Wilder hopes to redeem himself so he can put years of rivalry to bed by finally sharing the ring with his Great British rival. He told Sportsbook Review: “F*** yeah, it turns me on. “I’ve been in situations like that when I fought the gold medalist in Moscow. We were right there in the lion’s den. READ MORE IN BOXING”When you come out into an arena with nothing but Russians and you can feel the breath coming off their mouths ‘Russia, Russia, Russia’ and you can feel the wind off their breath reaching the spikes of your neck hair as you walk in knowing you have got nobody there to represent you. “You are behind enemy lines and you get a great adrenaline rush. That’s an amazing feeling, so I have no problem coming to London. “It would be amazing for me, but the only thing that would be different in coming to Russia than the UK is I actually have major fans in the UK, and I think they’re going to show up and represent me, even though I’m fighting their countryman.” Joshua, 34, beat Otto Wallin, 33, in December to keep his side of the bargain. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut just moments beforehand, Wilder, 38, fell to defeat to Parker, 32, to blow the super-fight. AJ instead went onto knockout replacement Francis Ngannou, 37, while Wilder now returns on June 1 against Zhilei Zhang, 41. Anthony Joshua makes Deontay Wilder No1 choice for interim fight as he draws up four-man shortlistAnd the plot thickened after he was selected by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn to represent him in the 5v5 tournament against Frank Warren’s selects. Wilder has refused to take his eye of a blockbuster away day against Londoner Joshua but first he must avoid another interim defeat. He said: “I want it. I’ve never ran from a fight, I never shied away from the fight, no matter what you’ve heard over the years. “I’ve never run from anyone, I’ve never dodged anyone, I’ve taken the short end of the sticks just to make fights happen, that’s the God’s honest truth. “I’m here, and when I’ve done what I’m supposed to, let’s get this fight on. “I want the biggest fights possible that can be made, but it all relies on June 1. I will pack my bags and come to Wembley happily. “When I come to the UK I am welcomed with open arms, it’s amazing to see the people and to get the gratitude and hospitality I get. It makes me feel like it’s my second home.”Zhilei Zhang facing off with WilderCredit: GETTY More