Boxing

NICK BALL is Britain’s miniature Mike Tyson tipped to fight pound-for-pound KO king Naoya Inoue. The Wrecking Ball – as he is perfectly nicknamed – is the WBA featherweight champion with 21 wins. Promoter Frank Warren with Nick BallCredit: GettyBall won his world title against Ray FordCredit: GettyTyson pictured during his 1986 heydayCredit: GettyOnly 5ft 2in, the Liverpudlian has earned comparisons to Iron Mike due to their squat figure and aggressive boxing styles.Ball won the title against American Ray Ford last June – and revealed his admiration for heavyweight great Tyson in the build up. He told the Daily Mail: “I’ve always looked up to Mike Tyson. “I appreciate his style of boxing and wanted to incorporate that into my own style.READ MORE IN BOXING”No messing about, looking to get the job done against his opponents. It’s all action and I think that is what everyone wants to watch as well.”You get your money’s worth when you are watching people like me and Mike Tyson because it is edge of your seat stuff.”Ball, 28, defended his title against Ronny Rios, 35, with a tenth-round stoppage in October. He now returns on Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena against Irishman TJ Doheny, 38, who is moving up from super-bantamweight. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDoheny fell victim to an Inoue knockout defeat in September – pulling himself out in round seven with a back injury. Inoue, 31, is considered one of the world’s best with a frightening 29-0 record with 26 KOs. Tyson Fury teases spectacular boxing comeback at Old Trafford as fans say ‘it’d better be Anthony Joshua’He has titles in FOUR divisions, from light-flyweight to super-bantamweight. And a move to the 126lb featherweight limit has been teased – where Ball is waiting in the wings. Promoter Frank Warren told BoxingScene: “I love Nick Ball. You know that. He’s a magnificent fighter. “He’s brilliant at what he’s done, the way he’s come through, showing the world what he’s about. “He’s just been fabulous at what he’s done, how he’s taken advantage of the opportunities that he’s had and showing the world what he’s all about. “The fight with him and Inoue, and Inoue coming up in weight, if that happens in December, I would love it to happen. “They’ve all got to keep winning, obviously, but I would love that fight.”Naoya Inoue is linked with a fight against BallCredit: AFP More

CHRIS EUBANK Jr issued a moving plea for his dad to be by his side for the biggest fight of his life.He revealed father Chris’ hatred of his upcoming clash with Conor Benn has destroyed their relationship.Chris Eubank Jr has revealed his deteriorating relationship with his dadCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe ace is set to fight rival Conor Benn next monthCredit: PAEubank Jr has been fined for slapping Benn with an eggCredit: GettyWhile Eubank Sr’s old rival Nigel Benn is a staunch supporter of his lad, the damage to his own relationship is yet to be repaired.Eubank Jr, who has been fined £100,000 for slapping Benn with an egg, believes the scars left by the death of his brother Sebastian from a heart attack at the age of just 29, in 2021, affected his dad.In an exclusive interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored – where the pair had to be separated – the 35-year-old said: “It got to a stage where I needed to step out of the shadow completely. It’s a big shadow.“I realised I have to separate myself from this huge character that’s always next to me.READ MORE IN BOXING“He’s different. His father kind of let him do his own thing; jump in and sink or swim.“My old man was always, always next to me. I got to a stage where I decided that I needed to walk my own path.“He was not happy with that decision. And then you have a situation with my brother passing away.“That affected him in a deep way — affected all of us — mental health is a real thing.Most read in BoxingCheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets“That incident, coupled with the fact that we were already not seeing eye to eye, destroyed a large part of the relationship and it still hasn’t recovered.”Eubank Sr, 58, had two epic fights with the Dark Destroyer Benn — ending his rival’s 22-fight winning record to become WBO middleweight champion in 1990 before their 1993 rematch ended in a draw.Eddie Hearn teases Wembley for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn rematchBut when their sons’ cash-grab bout was due to take place in 2022, Eubank Sr spoke out passionately against it.He predicted that fight — for which his son boiled down to an emaciated 159lb — would be cancelled.That was proved correct when it was canned two days out, as Benn’s two failed VADA drugs tests were laid bare.And he still insists this re-arranged version — scheduled for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26 — will be binned too.When Eubank Jr was asked to send a message directly to his dad, he replied: “I’m here. I’m getting ready for the biggest fight of my life.EUBANK JR’S PLEA“If you want to be next to me, like his father’s next to him, we can do it together. If not, no hard feelings, I’ll get the job done for you — don’t worry about it.“He’s my old man. It doesn’t matter if I don’t talk to him until the day I die.“I’m always gonna love him. He taught me everything. As far as I know, he doesn’t want this fight to go ahead.”The sons’ increasingly bitter rivalry made headlines at the end of last month when Eubank Jr smashed an egg on Conor’s face as a reminder to the world that excessive egg consumption was blamed for a failed test.His suspension was withdrawn after Ukad said the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) was “not comfortably satisfied” Benn committed a doping offence.Your own dad doesn’t even like youConor Benn JrAnd Eubank Jr landed dozens of verbal blows on Benn at that launch press conference in Manchester.He accused Benn of being in debt to promoter Eddie Hearn, after spending millions of pounds on his doping defence, and labelled him a “dirty little omelette”.Benn’s most spiteful reply at the launch was to bark back: “Your own dad doesn’t even like you.”The 28-year-old doubled down on that barb on Morgan’s show but also showed some humility by wishing the pair can reunite in time for the fight.Benn said in the studio: “It’s a matter of fact your dad doesn’t like you, otherwise he would be here. But it would be nice to see your dad there in your corner.“We are where we are because of our dads. They have laid the foundation.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It’d be great to see your dad in your corner and you mend that relationship. That’s coming from my heart, not being sarcastic. I mean what I say.” Watch the full interviews on Piers Morgan Uncensored’s ­YouTube channel on Friday at 7pm.Eubank v Nigel Benn in their first fight in 1990Credit: Alamy
The pair have to be separated on Piers’ showCredit: X @PiersUncensored More

CHRIS EUBANK JR has been given a £100,000 fine for slapping Conor Benn with an egg.The incident occurred late last month when the rivals went face-to-face for the first time since their grudge match got rescheduled for 26 April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Chris Eubank Jr has been fined £100,000 for slapping Conor Benn with an eggCredit: GettyThe incident occurred last month ahead of their fight on April 26Credit: ReutersFists were almost flying early at the media launch as Eubank smashed an EGG into Benn’s face – a reference to his failed drug test three years ago. It sparked a mass brawl on stage with Benn, promoter Eddie Hearn and his dad Nigel grappling to get a piece of Eubank. Eventually, the teams were dragged off stage with the bad blood brewing ahead of the 160lb middleweight fight on April 26. But Eubank Jr will now have to cough up a hefty fee after being fined £100k.READ MORE IN BOXINGA statement from the British Boxing Board of Control read: “Following a hearing before the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control, Chris Eubank Jnr. was found to be in breach of Regulation 25 (misconduct) for his conduct at the press conference in Manchester for the Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn contest on 26th April 2025.”As such, the Stewards of the Board fined Chris Eubank Jr the sum of £100,000.”Fans reacted to the news on social media, with one saying: “Definitely worth it.”Another declared: “Eggs are expensive after all.”Most read in BoxingCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsOne noted: “Ridiculous when you consider what happens at some press conferences.”Another added: “That was eggspensive.”‘Mum’s gonna be really disappointed when she sees this,’ Conor Benn tells dadAfter their on-stage egg clash, Eubank Jr made reference to Benn’s failed drug tests which KO’d their initial 157lb catchweight clash in 2022. The WBC infamously suggested 28-year-old Benn’s failed test for clomiphene could have been related to an intake in eggs. He wrote on X soon after the brawl in front of fans, media and TV cameras: “Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests.”So I contaminated him with an egg.”Benn hit back with a brutal tweet of his own though, writing: “That’s the only shot you’ll land on me you f***ing p***k. 2 rounds you are finished.”Meanwhile, Eubank Jr has revealed he’s set to make a mint from the fight with Benn.He added: “Many of you would have heard Eddie boasting about a 60-40 split he secured for Conor.That’s just an absolute lie, which is not surprising.”The truth of it is, Uncle Turki flew in and saved the day like the superhero he is. This is the Saudi show, he called me and said, ‘What do you want to make this fight?’“I’m sitting there thinking, ‘I’ve got to be a businessman now, and any good businessman in any negotiation, starts with an aggressively high number, then there are counter offers and negotiating and you get to the number.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I gave him a diabolical number, I gave him an inconceivable number, and he said, ‘Done, I’ll send you the contract on Monday.’ I’m thinking I could have got more, or a couple of watches out of him!“There is no split, there are no percentages, you lied to the public in front of everybody and now I’m setting this straight.” More

TYSON FURY could end up fighting for a world title in his first fight back from retirement.The Gypsy King called it quits for again in January following back-to-back losses to former undisputed heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk.Tyson Fury announced his fifth retirement from boxing in January on the back of defeats to Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTYWBC chief Mauricio Sulaiman has refused to rule out the possibility of Fury fighting for a belt upon his returnCredit: REUTERSSaudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh is expected to table Fury an astronomical offer to coax him out of retirement for a mammoth showdown with Anthony Joshua.And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has refused to rule out the prospect of Fury fighting for their prestigious green belt, telling The Action Network: “We don’t speculate.”But we have many examples of how we have attended former champions, former legends coming back to boxing.”If you remember, Sugar Ray Leonard challenged Marvin Hagler after a four-year retirement.READ MORE ON FURY”The WBC analysed the medicals and looked into everything. “Even Tyson Fury retired in the past and came back to fight for the WBC title. So let’s see.”Former two-time unified heavyweight Fury is seemingly content with life without boxing, recently telling cousin Andy Lee that he “can’t be f***ed” with the sport.And Sulaiman insists the Wythenshawe warrior has nothing left to prove.Most read in BoxingCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsHe said: “It all depends, it is all on him. He has a beautiful family.”I believe the money that he has sets him up for life and if he decides to stay retired then he will be a happy man.”But if he decides to come back to boxing then he can beat anyone.”Safety is first, with happiness and legacy is more of an important matter than what boxing and money can bring.”If he was to fight, he would be fighting for pride but he’s an unbelievable human being.”Boxing fans around the world are hoping Fury comes out of retirement to face AJ, who hasn’t given up hope of their Battle of Britain finally coming to fruition.The Watford warrior told iFL TV: “I feel like it’s the best fight [for me].”People might say [Joseph] Parker, people might say – I don’t know.Anthony Joshua is refusing to give up hope of fighting Tyson FuryCredit: REUTERS”But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.”You could say it’s been years in the making. But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving.”And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up.READ MORE SUN STORIES”And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser and there’s going to be bloodshed. “And it ain’t gonna be mine.” More

FEUDING boxer Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn have clashed again ahead of their Best of British showdown.The fierce rivals had to be kept apart during a fiery appearance on Piers Morgan’s YouTube show Uncensored. Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn have been pulled apart by security againCredit: X @PiersUncensoredEubank Jr smashed an egg into Benn’s face at last month’s first press conferenceCredit: GettyNext Gen claimed the move was a dig at Benn’s failed drugs testsCredit: AlamySecurity accompanied both fighters to the recording following an ugly incident last month. Eubank smashed an egg into Benn’s face during a fractious press conference in Manchester on February 25. Benn was left incensed, with a wild fracas breaking out on stage.Eubank claimed the egg slap was a reference to his opponent’s drugs ban in 2022.READ MORE ON BOXINGAppearing alongside Morgan, security guards got between the fighters as they traded verbal barbs. Benn was heard sneering in the trailer: “Can you check this p**** for any eggs?Eubank fired back: “I don’t need eggs my friend, these fists are more than enough.”I hate what he stands for.Most read in Boxing”I hate what he did, failing those two drug tests is unacceptable.”Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsBenn later accused Next Gen of “disrespect” as Morgan looked on nervously from his presenting chair. Eubank fired back: “You can’t give it and not take it.”Conor Benn pulled apart from Chris Eubank Jr after SLAP at Battle of Britain press conferenceSecurity then got involved to make sure the pair could not trade any punches.Eubank and Benn were originally scheduled to meet almost three years ago. But the fight was KO’d after The Destroyed failed two drug tests.The WBC suggested the 28-year-old had failed test for clomiphene could have been related to an intake of eggs. Benn has since been cleared of any wrongdoing by boxing’s National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).He is moving up two weights for the grudge match on April 26 and is reportedly in tip-top shape early in camp.Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT: “We live in an age where [fighters] like to document their work.”Conor Benn is training like a man possessed.”I think Chris Eubank’s on the beach at the minute. He hits pads for about 30 seconds and then puts it out on Instagram.”In my opinion, Conor Benn is on another level to Chris Eubank Jr.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But in stepping up two divisions, physically he’s at a huge disadvantage.”You can watch the full exchange on Piers Morgan Unscensored on March 14. More