Boxing

BEFORE his stellar triple-header with Tyson Fury, the last man to stop Deontay Wilder was a boxer by the name of Evgeny Romanov.Wilder faced off with Romanov back in 2008 when he travelled to Novosibirsk for a Russia vs USA competition.
Evgeny Romanov was the last fighter to stop Deontay Wilder before Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram @evgeniiromanov1985
Romanov took on Wilder in an amateur bout in Russia in 2008Credit: CNOPT
Romanov decked the Bronze Bomber in round threeCredit: CNOPT
Having previously gone unbeaten in pro boxing, Romanov has now been on the receiving end of a KOCredit: RCC Boxing
Romanov won the amateur fight after three decisive rounds in which he had an answer for everything the Bronze Bomber could throw at him.
Fast forward to 2024, and Romanov has both silver 2008 and gold 2009 Russian Championship medals to his name.
The 38-year-old even had an unbeaten record of 19 pro fights with 12 knockouts under his belt.
Reflecting on the Wilder fight 13 years later in an interview with RT, he said: “It was a long time ago. I honestly don’t think much of it.
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“Wilder was different then than he is now. I was different too.
“Today’s a different time, Wilder’s at the top and I’m on my way there.
“Back then it was maybe the other way round, so I don’t want to remember or think of it.”
However, Romanov has now been on the receiving end of a knockout for the first time.
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On Saturday night, Romanov took on Chinese fighter Zhaoxin Zhang in a final eliminator to fight for the WBA’s new “super-cruiserweight” belt.
Things appeared to be going to plan for Romanov after knocking Zhang down in the first round.
Deontay Wilder gets knocked out in Russia against Evgeny Romanov
But in the second round, Zhang came flying out of the blocks and landed a series of punches with decked Romanov onto the canvas.
Romanov desperately tried to get back to his feet but was unable to do so as he was counted out by the referee.
Meanwhile, Wilder has not fared much better recently, losing his last fight against Joseph Parker in December.
The American has put the loss down to a 20-hour plane journey and lack of sparring as his reason for the defeat.
It scuppered plans for a super-fight with Brit Anthony Joshua, who has since announced a showdown with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned Francis Ngannou could be whacked with a BASEBALL BAT and still be able to keep coming. AJ returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against the ex-UFC champion-turned heavyweight boxer.
Anthony Joshua faces Francis Ngannou on March 8Credit: PA
It marks just Ngannou’s second boxing bout following his debut in October when he astonishingly floored but lost on points to Tyson Fury.
The Gypsy King threw everything at the MMA star during the ten-round crossover clash – including an accidental elbow.
And assistant coach Andy Lee watched on in amazement as the Gypsy King struggled to put a dent in the Cameroonian powerhouse.
He told Boxing Social: “Tyson hit him with a flush elbow and he didn’t even flinch.
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“I think that you could hit that man with a baseball bat and he would still be there. You have got to respect him in that sense, and he can punch.
“Even though Joshua has the pedigree of being a really outstanding boxer, puncher, athlete, Olympic champion, unified world champion and all of that, you have got to favour him but it is not a foregone conclusion.”
Joshua, 34, had signed to fight Deontay Wilder, 38, in an anticipated blockbuster in Saudi.
But Wilder suffered a shock defeat to Lee’s boxer Joseph Parker, 32, so the super-fight was scrapped.
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Instead, AJ turned to Ngannou, 37, who made such an impression in his debut bout against Fury, 35, which ended in a controversial split-decision.
But Lee – a former middleweight world champion – reckons Joshua has the upper hand having been given ten rounds of Ngannou to study.
Deontay Wilder breaks silence on Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou after blowing blockbuster with British rival
He said: “People are going to be interested because Ngannou put on such a great performance against Tyson.
“It’s a great situation for Joshua because all of those unknowns that Tyson went up against have been dispelled now, the element of surprise in Ngannou is gone.
“You’ve got to give Ngannou credit, he was a lot more savvy and a lot better at boxing than anyone might’ve given him credit for.
“He’s quite clever, he is very patient as well and you can see that he is strong.
“Don’t underestimate being 280lbs of solid muscle, when you strip things back it is just two men and one of these guys is huge and is pure muscle.”
Fury with coach Andy LeeCredit: @bodypuncher More

ANTHONY JOSHUA will be ready to fight either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk right after returning against Francis Ngannou. AJ is back on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against ex-UFC champion Ngannou, who is making only his second appearance in the ring.
Anthony Joshua facing off with Francis Ngannou
Tyson Fury will now fight Oleksandr Usyk on May 18Credit: EPA
Fury was due to face Usyk three weeks beforehand until he was forced to pull out with a horror cut sustained in sparring.
The four-belt unification – the first in heavyweight history – has since been postponed to May 18 back in Riyadh.
Both have agreed to forfeit £10MILLION of their own cash if they are to withdraw for any reason.
And Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insisted AJ will be ready to pounce as a late replacement if lightening indeed strikes twice.
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Hearn told talkSPORT: “We’ll be ready.
“The amazing thing with Anthony is he will be boxing four times in 11 months, which has been brilliant for him.
“It’s so refreshing for his career after so many periods of inactivity through Covid and dealing with big stadium fights and mandatory obligations and people messing around.
“He will need a rest at some point, but if he comes through Ngannou well and that opportunity presented itself, I would think he’d be ready to fight Fury or Usyk.”
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Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, have a two-fight deal which promises a rematch will follow.
So with all four belts tied up, Joshua, 34, could have to look elsewhere after his bout with Ngannou, 35.
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Filip Hrgovic, 31, is the current IBF mandatory challenger for the belt held by Usyk and next in line for a shot.
So AJ could face the Croatian for either the vacated belt or the chance to challenge the winner between Fury and Usyk.
Joshua could be lined up to fight Filip HrgovicCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY’S manager believes there IS a “mole” in their camp feeding information to Oleksandr Usyk. Fury was due to fight Usyk in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s fight has been rescheduled to May 18Credit: Getty
Johnny Nelson claimed Fury was struggling in sparringCredit: PA
But the historic undisputed bout was postponed to May 18 after he suffered a cut in sparring that required over ten stitches.
In the build up to the fight, rumours were rife that the Gypsy King was struggling in sparring.
Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia had allegedly floored Fury while retired boxer-turned pundit Johnny Nelson claimed he was being “turned over.”
But the speculation was slammed by Fury’s manager Spencer Brown, who gave a sarcastic response when probed on the rumours.
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Brown said on iFL TV: “It beggars belief. We were looking at some of it and laughing our heads off, these conspiracy theories.
“It was actually very funny, some of the c**p that’s coming out, there’s old Johnny Nelson, he’s got a mole in our camp.
“We’ve been digging holes everywhere because there’s a mole there somewhere.
“We’ve got a geezer out with a shovel digging holes trying to find the moles.
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“All sorts is coming out. There’s a grass in the camp, an informant, it was like Colditz.
“All we needed was a Gestapo to find the grass, but we never found them.”
Tyson Fury sensationally accused by ex-world champ of STAGING elbow in sparring to force Oleksandr Usyk fight axe
Brown then joked: “Whoever was grassing couldn’t have been a very good grass, because he got it all wrong!
“Because I’m going to tell you now, Jai Opetaia knocking Tyson out is like Mount Vesuvius falling down on an afternoon.
“It just didn’t happen, it didn’t happen. It didn’t even get anywhere near happening, Tyson was on fire.”
Usyk, 37, had set up shop in Valencia, where he missed the birth of his baby daughter Maria due to being in camp.
Meanwhile Fury, 35, was in Riyadh from the new year and Brown conceded that information would have got back to Usyk in some form.
He said: “Of course there’s somebody. I don’t think it’s malicious, I think it’s just somebody… pillow talk, few white lies flying about.
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“A few misconceptions, that’s what it is, pillow talk. I don’t think there’s a grass, we know in all camps you can’t spar the best everyday, can’t spar the best everyday, it’s physically impossible.
“But I saw him and he was electric. He was the Tyson I haven’t seen in a long time. It was unbelievable.”
Fury with his manager Spencer BrownCredit: @spencerbrownmrgoldstar More

SHANE FURY has been branded “the normal one of the family” after his comments on dad John.He branded his father “cringey” as he discussed the former professional boxer’s recent string of fight callouts.
Shane Fury has labelled his dad John ‘cringey’ for his fight calloutsCredit: X
John Fury has offered out the likes of Mike Tyson and David Haye
The 59-year-old has called out the likes of Mike Tyson, Eddie Hearn and David Haye in the past.
Fury, who retired from professional boxing with an 8-4-1 record, has even challenged Carl Froch to a bout at Wembley Stadium.
However, the former world champion has since responded with a chilling warning for the ex-fighter.
Now his son Shane has given his views, after being asked his dad’s antics.
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He admitted: “Quite cringey, in all fairness, on my dad’s behalf. I don’t agree with it at all.”
Tyson’s younger brother added: “He’s his own man, he’ll do what he’ll do. When he gets irate, he comes out with stuff.”
As for any advice he has for his dad, Shane said: “However old he is, it is what it is, he’d be better off eating a cheese sandwich and watching telly.”
He then finished his interview by revealing his interest levels in his dad’s potential fights, explaining: “Would I like to see him fight? No.
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“Would I like to see the fellas he’s offering fight? No.
“Would it be a good fight? Probably not, at 60-years-old a piece, but I’m sure there would be a lot of people who would like to see it.”
Carl Froch fires chilling warning to John Fury after brutal war of words and call out for ‘huge Wembley fight’
Boxing fans were impressed with Shane’s stance, with one dubbing him: “The only sensible Fury.”
Another added: “You know it’s bad when your own son is calling you out for it.”
A third fan also wrote: “Finally someone in the Fury family is talking sense about John.”
Meanwhile, one more commented: “The only normal Fury.”
Who has John Fury called out?Big John has even called out ‘The Baddest’ Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Jake Paul
Lennox Lewis
Evander Holyfield
Eddie Hearn
David Haye
Carl Froch
Joe Egan
Micky Theo

Despite being the Gypsy King’s younger brother and coming from a family of boxers, Shane has no professional fighting experience.
However, he has remained strongly supportive of his brothers and is often spotted at Tyson’s fights.
He caught the eye of many fans in 2020 with an emotional interview after his older brother’s victory over Deontay Wilder. More

JOHN FURY insists he “has no money” and lives “in a shed” while eating only “what I kill” despite his boys being multi-millionaires.The vocal 59-year-old never shies away from the spotlight when it comes to one of his famous sons getting into the ring.
John Fury insists he has ‘no money’ and lives ‘in a shed’Credit: PA
His son, Tyson Fury, is a multi-millionaire after his incredible boxing careerCredit: AP
And he plays a key role in promoting the fights of both the WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and Love Island star turned undefeated pro boxer Tommy Fury.
Before the emergence of both stars, John was a renowned hardman and high-profile Traveller who spent time behind bars three times.
These days he prefers a much quieter life away from the bright lights of the camera, as he explained when revealing how he spent the Christmas period alone in the woods.
And despite the success and wealth of his millionaire kids, he is adamant that he has “no money” himself and that he lives “in a shed”.
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He told Daily Star Sport: “All I’ve done in my life has been hard work.
“I’ve took the hard route. I could have done things a lot easier, but probably never had the brains to go down the easy route.
“I never had the brains to avoid people I should have been avoiding, you know? But I’ve learned by trial and error.”
John added: “I’ve nothing to write home about. I’ve no money. I live in a shed. I drive a 30-year-old car. I live on rabbit stew. I live on what I kill.
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“I’m the only man in the world that probably spends Christmas in the middle of a wood in the dead of winter with himself and a dog.
“That’s me. I don’t wanna change. But what I am is a good Christian man. I respect people who respect me. I’m polite.
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“I do make the odd, wise suggestion now and then. But do I know everything? Definitely not. Are there better people out there than me? Yes, there is.
“I don’t deny that. My true claim to fame is that I’ve got two very famous sons. Multimillionaires. All the rest of them’s doing well. They’re all alive. I’m in good health. I’m happy. I’m in good spirit.”
His boy Tommy, 24, has just revealed his new-look as he continues to revel in his victories of YouTubers Jake Paul and KSI in 2023.
While Tyson, 35, was set for an undisputed title showdown against Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
But that was called off after the undefeated Gypsy King suffered a horror cut during a sparring session.
Now a new date has been announced with the two rivals set to square off on May 18 in Riyadh, and, if either fighter pulls out of the fight on that date, they will be fined a massive £10m. More