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      Eddie Hearn brutally slammed for ‘complete 180’ after Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou fight announcement

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      CARL FROCH has hit out at Eddie Hearn after Anthony Joshua’s fight against Francis Ngannou was announced.AJ defeated Otto Wallin in his previous outing last month in the hope of setting up a clash with Deontay Wilder.
      Carl Froch has slammed Eddie Hearn for changing his mind on Francis NgannouCredit: PA:Press Association
      AJ and Hearn planned to fight Deontay Wilder only for him to lose his last clashCredit: Getty
      But the Bronze Bomber suffered a shock defeat to Joseph Parker on the same night and it scuppered plans for a blockbuster bout.
      Hearn had to rethink and he has since finalised a deal to see AJ fight Ngannou.
      Back in October, he put his MMA career on hold to face Tyson Fury.
      Ngannou surprisingly knocked the Gypsy King to the canvas and was unfortunate not to win on points.
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      Prior to the clash, Hearn mocked it as “a total mismatch’ and a “cash grab”.
      Those words have led to former world champion Froch claiming that the promoter is a hypocrite.
      Froch said on his YouTube channel: “So Hearn has done a complete 180 on his original comments saying it’s a cash grab.
      “Well, this is a cash grab, let’s be honest. It’s not a world title fight.
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      “There’s a mixed response – some people want to see the fight, it’s decent enough but it’s not proper heavyweight boxing.”
      Reports have predicted that Ngannou could pocket £15.7m from the clash and the Brit even more.
      Though Froch admits he is intrigued by the bout despite thinking AJ should be focusing on titles, saying: “My initial thoughts are it’s not a bad fight.
      “It’s a fight that Joshua could potentially struggle with.
      “We saw Ngannou against Fury and Fury struggled. Was that because Ngannou is really good or Fury didn’t quite turn up? I think the latter… but Ngannou was tidy.
      “It’s a fight I’m looking forward to if I’m totally honest. It’s a fight I could get excited about.
      “I’m just not sure that it should be happening, because AJ wants to become a three-time heavyweight champion. But where’s the title?”
      The official date of Joshua vs Ngannou is yet to be announced but March 8 in Saudi Arabia has been hinted at.
      Francis Ngannou controversially lost to Tyson Fury in OctoberCredit: Getty More

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      Francis Ngannou hints at Tyson Fury rematch date as he reveals contract clause before money-spinning exhibition

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU has confirmed he will have a rematch with Tyson Fury after controvresially losing to the Gypsy King in October.But first, the Cameroonian fighter will head back in the ring for a lucrative Saudi showdown with Anthony Joshua in March.
      Francis Ngannou has revealed a rematch will happen with Tyson Fury in OctoberCredit: Reuters
      Ngannou will first be back in action against Anthony Joshua in MarchCredit: Getty
      In October last year Ngannou shocked the world on is boxing debut with a virtuoso display against WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, dropping him in the third round of their “Battle of the Baddest”.
      Despite the former UFC heavyweight champion controversially losing on points to the Gypsy King – he is ready to get back in the ring to do it all again.
      In an interview with the MMA Hour the Predator confirmed the contract clause between him and Fury meant a rematch would not happen right away, but within 12 months of the first bout.

      He said: “The rematch has never been right away.
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      “I think there’s even a slight chance that the ‘right away’ is the Usyk rematch.
      “Because I think their term is even closer, our rematch term was in one year. Within one year. Which is still gonna be in October this year.”
      But before Fury, Ngannou will take on AJ in a money-spinning clash where Forbes predict after pay-per-view and additional bonuses, the Cameroonian will take home at least $20m (£15.7m).
      SunSport understands the Riyadh rumble has been earmarked for March 9 – the date initially reserved for Joshua’s now dead-in-the-water clash with Deontay Wilder.
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      Meanwhile, Fury will bid to become the undisputed ruler of the heavyweight division in Saudi Arabia next month in a long-overdue showdown with former pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
      Ngannou continued: “It’s going to happen. I mean there’s Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, even then we spoke about it.
      “There’s Fury and Usyk going on, so the Joshua fight was like an opportunity.
      “I was waiting for Fury, but this was the opportunity that I was happy to take, I asked for.
      “And at the end of the day, this won’t take anything away from the Fury rematch.”
      Ngannou is also signed with the Professional Fighters League so fans could expect him to return to MMA in between his fights with AJ and Fury.
      He hasn’t been in the octagon since his win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. More

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      Eddie Hearn won’t let me fight Anthony Joshua – he thinks I’m too much of a risk, claims Zhilei Zhang

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      ZHILEI ZHANG claims Anthony Joshua is being protected from a fight against him.Joshua, 34, secured a third successive win in Saudi Arabia in December with an impressive fifth-round stoppage of Swede Otto Wallin.
      Anthony Joshua is set to face Francis Ngannou in MarchCredit: Reuters
      Zhilei Zhang believes promoter Eddie Hearn is protecting Joshua from the Chinese heavyweightCredit: Getty
      On the same night, a huge clash with Deontay Wilder disappeared as the American was beaten by Joseph Parker.
      Now Joshua is set to take on former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou on March 9 following the MMA star’s controversial loss to Tyson Fury on his pro debut.
      And Zhang, 40, who is coming off back-to-back victories over Joe Joyce, is not surprised Joshua’s team have opted for an Ngannou fight.
      Speaking to Boxing News, he said: “I can’t say I’m disappointed, it’s a matter of personal choice, Joshua has his personal choice.
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      “If you look at Ngannou, he’s come into the sport and has a record of 0 and 1. He’s the cash cow.
      “If I fought Ngannou I would make a ton of money. What is boxing, is it a business or a competitive sport? That’s the question.”
      Zhang, who was previously signed with Joshua’s representation Eddie Hearn, then cited the promoter as the reason for an AJ fight not materialising.
      He added: “Actually I never thought this fight would be made. If Joshua believes he only has 40 per cent chance he can beat me, it won’t happen.
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      Hearn has promoted Joshua since his professional debut in 2013Credit: Rex
      Ngannou has landed another blockbuster heavyweight clashCredit: Reuters
      “I don’t even think it’s a 60-40 in his head. Eddie Hearn will not let him fight me. It’s too much of a risk.
      “When I signed with Matchroom a couple of years ago, that was one of the conversations we had.
      “My team flew to London to talk about it but it’s been years and it never materialised. They know how to avoid all the risks.
      “That’s how he [Hearn] does his work as a promoter, he builds up whatever he wants to build up.
      “I believe they successfully avoided all the risks but I don’t know if this fight will ever happen in the future, they will just keep using my name to build up whatever they want to build up.”
      Zhang boasts a professional record of 26 wins, one draw and one defeat.
      His only loss came in controversial fashion against Filip Hrgovic in 2022.
      He is being linked with a fight against Wilder on the undercard of Joshua vs Ngannou. More

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      Deontay Wilder still hoping to revive £100m Anthony Joshua super-fight by redeeming himself on rival’s March 8 undercard

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      DEONTAY WILDER is ready to redeem himself and revive his £100million Anthony Joshua fight by impressing in front of his rival. The pair of ex-heavyweight champions had signed contracts to meet in a Saudi Arabia blockbuster in March. 
      Deontay Wilder was beaten by Joseph ParkerCredit: Reuters
      Anthony Joshua is set to fight Francis Ngannou nextCredit: Reuters
      But Wilder fluffed his lines against Joseph Parker in the dress rehearsal despite AJ later doing his part by battering Otto Wallin in five rounds. 
      So now, Joshua, 34, will face red hot ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, on March 8 in Riyadh, leaving Wilder out in the cold. 
      But the American is desperate to fit on the undercard so he can get his career back on track. 
      Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel told SunSport: “We would love that. If there was an opportunity, we’d be glad to consider it. 
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      “We’d love to go back there and love to be on that card if it’s possible. If that opportunity presents itself, he’ll be ready.” 
      A win for Wilder and all could be forgiven, meaning the super-fight with Joshua could be explored again. 
      Finkel said: “You can’t tell in advance, but I’d assume that Joshua would beat Ngannou, then hopefully we see the Deontay of old and he wins.
      “Then of course, if those two were to happen it would still be natural for Deontay and Joshua to meet.”
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      Joshua himself was written off after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 36, but he dusted himself down to get three wins on the spin. 
      So Finkel hopes Wilder, 38, could be given the same chance to win cynical fans over. 
      He said: “Go back two fights, people were saying Daniel Dubois was a quitter. He sure didn’t quit against Jarrell Miller and redeemed himself.
      “Three fights ago, people said things about Joshua, he looked very good in his fight with Wallin and that redeemed himself in the same way.

      “So in a similar situation, Deontay has a good opponent in the next fight and he looks the way we know him to look, hopefully we have him right back there with Joshua.” 
      Wilder hopes to avenge his loss to Parker, 31, but Chinese star Zhilei Zhang, 40, is another frontrunner who could take one the ex-WBC champ. 
      Finkel said: “Look, we would love Parker but that hasn’t been discussed. But in either case, if Zhang was presented, that would be a big fight.
      “If that was on the same card as the fight with Joshua and Ngannou, I think Deontay and Zhang would rival that.
      “It would be a phenomenal show for the public again. I think the job that they did putting on all the heavyweights together on that card was wonderful.”  More

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      Tyson Fury warned he’s facing a ‘bad dude’ in Usyk as Ukrainian shows off incredible strength in gruelling workout

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      BOXING fans are concerned for Tyson Fury after seeing Oleksandr Usyk’s latest gruelling workout for their showdown.The pair will throw down for all the heavyweight marbles in Saudi Arabia next month in the division’s first undisputed fight in over 25 years.
      Tyson Fury challenges Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title next monthCredit: EPA
      Former pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk has been hard at work in the gymCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
      The Ukrainian showed off his incredible strength by flipping and catching kettlebellsCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
      Both men have tucked themselves away for the biggest training camps of their respective careers, although Usyk has given his fans little glimpses of his preparation on social media.
      And fight fans were left stunned by the Ukranian’s latest workout video, which he shared on his official Instagram page.
      The clip showed a beefy-looking Usyk flipping KETTLEBELLS 360 degrees and catching them perfectly while he performed swings.
      After performing several gruelling reps, Usyk flung the hefty weights on to a spongey mat and received a brief round of applause before shadowboxing.
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      Footage of Usyk’s incredible feat of strength spread like wildlife on social media and received a slew of comments from fans.
      One wrote on X: “Woww Usyk is not playing too.”
      Another said: “Juggling/Flipping one Kettlebell is challenging. Let alone two at the same time.
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      “Takes a certain amount of skill level. To properly perform this exercise. Usyk is a bad dude. That’s for sure.”
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      And another said: “Washed Fury won’t keep up with his pace.”
      One remarked: “Great shape. I can’t wait for February 17th.”
      Another chimed in: “Usyk taking all the belts home.”
      One boxing fan defiantly said: “Usyk is going to embarrass Tyson over 12 rounds. LFG champ.”
      Another stunned viewer said: “Flipping one Kettlebell is hard enough.
      “But two of them at the same time? Good lord, Usyk.”
      Unified heavyweight champ Usyk will enter the biggest fight of his career on the back of a ninth-round TKO win over Brit Daniel Dubois in August.
      Fury, meanwhile, goes into the Riydah rumble on the back of a narrow win over former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou last October.
      Tyson Fury has vowed to stop Oleksandr Usyk in brutal fashionCredit: EPA
      But the Gypsy King is confident of immortalising himself with a brutal stoppage victory.
      He said: “It’s going to be one of the fights for the ages.
      “I believe we are both destined to be here and to be in this big fight in Saudi Arabia.
      “And there’s only one winner, and I am destined to become the undisputed champion.
      “More than that, I am destined to cement my legacy as the No. 1 fighter in this era.
      “To do that I have to beat this little man and that’s it, simple as.
      “Easier said than done I understand, he’s a tricky man, good boxer, slick.
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      “But I have seen many people like him before and when they fight the big men they struggle.
      “He’s going to struggle on February 17 and he’s going to lose, I will break him for sure.” More

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      Anthony Joshua finally gives prediction for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk after refusing to back Brit over war of words

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has finally given his prediction for the biggest heavyweight fight in a quarter of a decade.Tyson Fury will bid to become the undisputed ruler of the heavyweight division in Saudi Arabia next month in a long-overdue showdown with former pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for all the heavyweight marbles next monthCredit: EPA
      Former cruiserweight king Usyk’s chances of winning the fight have been written off by many
      But Usyk’s former two-time foe Anthony Joshua has tipped him to beat The Gypsy KingCredit: GETTY
      Fans and fighters alike are divided on who will win the historic showdown, although many have written off Usyk’s chances due to Fury’s significant height and reach advantages.
      But AJ reckons his two-time foe has what it takes to spring a huge and historic upset in the Riyadh rumble.
      When asked to predict the winner of the fight, he told Boxing Social: “I don’t know. “I’ve fought Usyk.
      “I think he’s a phenomenal fighter and I think he has a great team around him.
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      “You’re only as good as your team and he has a great team around him.
      “After being in the ring with him and studying him, still studying him now, I think he’s the one to edge it.”
      What Usyk lacks in size and power he makes up for with footwork and creativity, assets AJ believes could guide him to victory over the Gypsy King.
      When pressed further on his prediction, Joshua added: “Probably because of his experiences, his ring generalship, and ring craft. I think he’s top-tier.”
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      Joshua’s prediction of a Usyk win comes as no surprise as he recently revealed he wouldn’t back Fury due to the lack of “respect” he’s shown him down the years.
      The former two-time unified heavyweight champ said: “I don’t know [who wins] but I’m team Usyk anyway.
      “[There’s] a respect, but Fury’s said a lot of bad things about me. I’m never going to ride with someone that disrespects me.
      “That would make me a lunatic and I’m pretty level-headed.
      “So I’m going to go with the person who shows me respect.”
      Joshua plans to be ringside for the Saudi showdown, which will be followed up with his own desert dust-up with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March. More

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      Jake Paul shows off new £456,000 Ferrari in latest addition to YouTuber-turned boxer’s supercar collection

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      JAKE PAUL revealed he has added another Ferrari to his collection of supercars. The YouTuber-turned-boxer – who is believed to have made over £60MILLION in the ring – has a fleet of fancy motors.
      Jake Paul revealed he has added another Ferrari to his collection of supercarsCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      Jake Paul showing off his Ferrari 296 GTB and SF-90Credit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      He only got the Ferrari 296 GTB this yearCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      In June, he showed off his £330,000 yellow Ferrari 296 GTB, which he waited 18 months to buy.
      But he is not done yet.
      Paul took to Instagram to reveal he has now purchased a SF-90 Spider, in the same colour to “match the 296”.
      According to Bleacher Report, it would have set him back $580,000 (£456,000).
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      Paul, 26, boxed three times last year, starting in February when he suffered his first defeat at the hands of Tommy Fury, 24.
      The American claimed he earned $30m (£23.5m) for the bout alone and a further $10m (£7.8m) for his win over ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38.
      In 2021, Paul was reported to have also made £30m in a trio of fights, and he knows how to spend his cash.
      As well as the pair of Ferraris, Paul also has a baby blue 1958 Ford Fairlane, which goes for up to £70,000.
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      He also has a Ram truck in his garage, with top of the range ones selling for almost £70,000.
      Paul has also been known to drive a £275,000 black and orange Lamborghini Huracan Performante and 4×4 Rolls Royce.
      The social media sensation returned in December in a non-pay-per-view bout against little-known Andre August, 35.
      Paul revealed he was set to only break even but took the bout to gain experience against a seasoned opponent.
      He won by first-round knockout and will return on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
      Check out these amazing collections

      Jake Paul loves his Ram truckCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      Jake Paul and girlfriend Jutta Leerdam in his 1958 Ford FairlaneCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      The boxing star poses with his Lamborghini Huracan Performante and 4×4 Rolls RoyceCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      He certainly knows how to splash his cashCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul
      The Lamborghini Huracan Performante goes for £275,000Credit: Instagram / @jakepaul More

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      What Anthony Joshua brutally told old rival Andy Ruiz Jr moments after Otto Wallin win

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA had some words for old rival Andy Ruiz Jr just moments after beating Otto Wallin. Ruiz was ringside in Saudi Arabia to watch the fight, four years on from losing his rematch to AJ in the Middle East.
      Anthony Joshua speaking to Andy Ruiz Jr after his fight with Otto Wallin
      And he saw Joshua, 34, dispatch of Wallin, 32, in five dominant rounds.
      In behind-the-scenes Matchroom Boxing footage, it captures the moment AJ spots Ruiz by ringside.
      He walks over and says: “So you know, I’m calm now. I’m better now.”
      Ruiz in June 2019 famously stunned Joshua to his first ever defeat by dropping him four times before a round seven stoppage.
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      But AJ enacted revenge six months later in Diriyah over 12 rounds.
      Ruiz, 34, has chased the lucrative trilogy decider ever since but his chances were brutally put down by Derek Chisora.
      He told iFL TV: “I just wanted to see if AJ wanted to run it back and get the trilogy, but maybe not.”
      And Chisora, 40, bluntly replied: “I will tell you right now. You are not on Joshua’s radar. He’s fighting [Filip] Hrgovic right now for the IBF.
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      “He wants to be a three-time world champion. He’s not going to fight you. You’re not on his radar.
      “I’ll be honest with you, do you understand?”
      Joshua’s next fight has since been announced against Francis Ngannou, 37, the ex-UFC champion who controversially lost to Tyson Fury in October.
      But Ruiz has not boxed since beating Luis Ortiz, 44, in September 2022 and looks no closer to a return.
      Andy Ruiz Jr at Joshua’s last fightCredit: Getty More