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      Tyson Fury meets Francis Ngannou for first time since huge Saudi showdown as Gypsy King fires brutal jibe at UFC legend

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      TYSON FURY went face-to-face with Francis Ngannou for the first time since eking out a win over the boxing novice.The WBC heavyweight champion went the distance with the MMA man-mountain in their much-maligned Saudi showdown last October.
      Tyson Fury locked horns with Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia last OctoberCredit: REUTERS
      Fury was cut and dropped in the fight but beat the ex-UFC champ via split decisionCredit: GETTY
      The pair crossed paths at the Joy Awards in Saudi Arabia last weekendCredit: QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
      Fury edged out the former UFC heavyweight king via split decision, although his stock suffered a huge black eye as he was cut and dropped in the third round of ‘The Battle of the Baddest’.
      The pair were both in attendance at the Joy Awards in Riyadh last week and embraced one another after crossing paths.
      After shaking Ngannou’s hand, Fury shouted: “He’s a big fella isn’t he?”
      Boxing fans were quick to comment on their meeting, with one saying: “He greets Francis humbly and he steps back.
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      “FRANCIS EDUCATED HIM. HE DON’T WANT THIS SMOKE!!”
      Another said: “Fury’s looking like he has PTSD.”
      And another said: “Fury knows Francis won that fight.”
      One remarked: “Tyson meeting his son.”
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      The pair were all smiles as they shook handsCredit: QUEENBERRY PROMOTIONS
      Another chimed in: “I’m so excited for this rematch after Fury beats Usyk twice.”
      Ngannou, 37, is hoping a rematch with Fury will come to fruition this year – although he’s refusing to hang around for The Gypsy King.
      He told MMA Fighting: “I win this fight and I’m fighting Fury period.
      “Whether or not he has the belt. Our rematch term was within next year, so it’s going to be October this year.
      “I just want to be free and fight, the thing is with the title is this is a system I don’t want to fall into anymore.
      “You have to make a concession with an organisation, I don’t want that political stuff.”
      Fury, 35, will be back in action next month when he bids to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 25 years when he finally faces Oleksandr Usyk.
      Ngannou, meanwhile, will return to the ring three weeks later for a lucrative showdown with former two-time unified heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua. More

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      Cruiserweight monster LEAVES Tyson Fury training camp after just five rounds of sparring and fans think they know why

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      RUMOURS that a monster cruiserweight was sent home from Tyson Fury’s training camp after just five rounds of sparring have been quickly denied.The 35-year-old Gypsy King will attempt to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 25 years next month when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
      Tyson Fury is currently in Saudi preparing for next month’s fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
      Jai Opetaia sparred five rounds with the Gypsy King before leaving the campCredit: Reuters
      The Brit has provided his supporters with their first glimpse at his secret Saudi training camp for the biggest fight of his career.
      Usually outspoken Fury had essentially gone radio silent ahead of the showdown and has not been regularly taking to social media like usual.
      But he did provide some insight into what he’s been doing as he shared a clip of himself and his team getting a training session in at the gym.
      Now some more news from his camp has emerged after it was revealed that unbeaten 24-0 Aussie cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia had been drafted in for sparring.
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      But after just five rounds of working with the 6ft 9in Fury, he had left and returned Down Under – sparking some wild claims from boxing fans.
      Fox Sports Australia’s Ben Damon started the rumours when he revealed that the two had sparred.
      He wrote on X: “Jai Opetaia did five rounds of sparring with Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia but with a lack of orthodox sparring in Fury’s camp Opetaia has now returned to Australia to continue his own preparations for the planned Mairis Briedis rematch at #FuryUsyk.”
      That instantly led to widespread speculation on social media as fans believed they knew the reason why the 28-year-old had left the Gypsy King’s camp.
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      “Haha he defo sparked out Fury,” claimed one.
      Another said: “Jai rolled in with the thunder from down under and got sent home.”
      “Dropped in Sparring? Sparred only 5 rounds? Yeah jai cracked him,” claimed a third.
      While another wrote: “Hahahaha what’s he done to Fury?”
      However, one fan asked Damon directly, saying: “Did you hear anything about Jai dropping Fury in their sparring?”
      To which Damon replied: “Yep I heard it didn’t happen.”
      Opetaia will face Briedis in his next fight on the undercard of Fury versus Usyk next month.
      The 6ft 2in star holds the Ring magazine and lineal cruiserweight titles but vacated his IBF one after a disagreement with them last month.
      After seeing the rumours spread like wildfire online, his co-promoters quickly responded to the claims that he had dropped Fury.
      A statement from Tasman Fighters said: “Jai Opetaia has recently returned from Saudi Arabia where he sparred and trained with Tyson Fury.
      “They were fantastic, competitive rounds and an incredible experience for Jai.”
      It continued: “However any talk of either boxer being dropped is not true.
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      “Jai is now back in Australia finalising his preparation to defend his world title and cannot wait to do so in Saudi Arabia.” 
      SunSport understands that nobody in Fury’s camp matches either the orthodox stance or the 6ft 1in size of Briedis, hence Opetaia heading home to spar with someone of a similar ilk.
      Fury gave the briefest of glimpes into his training camp on InstagramCredit: Instagram More

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      Jake Paul faces losing over ONE STONE to secure KSI fight as Brit YouTuber’s manager refuses to budge on contract terms

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      JAKE PAUL faces losing over ONE STONE in weight if he is to meet KSI’s demands for a blockbuster grudge match. The pair of YouTube superstars-turned boxers have rivalled each other throughout their careers but are yet to settle it in the ring.
      Jake Paul will have to drop weight to fight KSICredit: Getty
      The Briton comes in a lot lighterCredit: Reuters
      And the latest sticking point in talks between the two camps is a disagreement in weight.
      Paul has campaigned from 185lb but his last bout – a knockout over boxer Andre August – was at the 200lb limit
      Whereas KSI was last at a 183lb catchweight in defeat to Tommy Fury but he insists his best fighting weight is 175lb at light-heavyweight.
      So it leaves his manager Mams Taylor adamant the pair must meet in the middle and box at a mutually unsatisfying 180lb – over a stone from Paul’s weight.
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      Taylor told SunSport: “The reality is, I think they both have so much to lose it has to be fair and it has to be uncomfortable.
      “KSI is not comfortable at 180, Jake is not comfortable at 180 either. 
      “It’s like the art of negotiating something in meditation, you both walk away not feeling great but not feeling bad about the deal you’ve done. 
      “And if they’re both prepared to do that then I think we’ll have a fight.”  
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      Before KSI’s boxing comeback in the summer of 2022, Paul offered to fight him on short notice at 180lb.
      But the American’s team have also pointed out that KSI in 2019 fought at 196lb the night he beat Paul’s brother Logan on points.
      So Taylor is left to admit the row over size could prevent the mega-fight from happening.
      He said: “With Jake, he’s said numerous times that he’ll fight at 180 and KSI’s most comfortable fight weight thus far is 175. 
      “If KSI was a full-time pro boxer his optimum performance would be at 168lb, because he doesn’t have as big a frame and Jake is a lot bigger and getting a lot bigger. 
      “So I don’t know if that fight ever happens just because of the weight issues.” 
      KSI was forced to concede to Fury’s demands of a 183lb catchweight before he lost a controversial decision in October.
      So Taylor refuses to make the same mistake twice and have his star man fight outside his best weight.

      He said: “I don’t think that’s a good idea and I wasn’t in favour of that for Tommy, to be honest. 
      “KSI just said, ‘Look, I don’t care anymore, I don’t want to wait anymore give him that advantage.’ 
      “He gave him really almost all the advantages and I’m very proud of the way KSI performed.
      “He had a tactic in mind and a tactic he developed with his team to negate Tommy’s jab and he did and I think most people think he did enough to win. 
      “It’s unfortunate and we move. It was a great show in the end and we’re proud of that.” 
      Another roadblock is the breakdown in relationship between Taylor and Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian.
      So the former music mogul is ready to hand over talks with Bidarian to his Misfists Boxing right hand man, promoter Kalle Sauerland.
      Taylor said: “I’m going to defer negotiations to Kalle if that ever happens again. 
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      “I really want that fight to happen, I think the people want it to happen and I certainly don’t want to be a catalyst for a reason for it not. 
      “I think Nakisa and I are like oil and water when it comes to business. So sometimes you just can’t get along with people.” 
      KSI and Jake Paul clashing in the ring in 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      KSI’s boxing promoter to reach out to Tommy Fury’s team as blockbuster rematch ‘absolutely make sense’

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      KSI’s boxing promoter plans talks with Tommy Fury’s dad John – as a mega-money rematch remains on the cards. Fury in October escaped the Manchester Arena with a controversial points win over six rounds to hand KSI his first ever defeat.
      Tommy Fury beat KSI controversially on pointsCredit: GETTY
      But the disputed result only made the feud between the pair uglier.
      Fury claimed he “HATES” his boxing rival while KSI admitted he would happily never see the ex-Love Island star in a big fight again.
      The man in the middle of negotiations last year was Kalle Sauerland, who promotes KSI’s Misfits Boxing but has also worked with the Furys.
      So Sauerland is plotting a catch up with John amid speculation of a rematch between son Tommy, 24, and KSI, 30.
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      He told SunSport: “I’ll give John a call in the next couple of weeks and see what he’s doing. 
      “We talks to the Furys a lot. We’ve promoted Roman Fury, dealt with John on that, get on great with Tyson as well. 
      “They’re a boxing family so we talk. We’re enemies when it comes to the fight but we got the deal done when a lot of people in this space said, ‘You’ll never get a deal done.'” 
      Promoters boasted of selling 1.3million pay-per-views at £20 a pop for the grudge match, which at those estimations raked in over £25MILLION.
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      So Sauerland – who formerly promoted heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko – would be licking his lips at a rerun.
      But even the veteran promoter is still getting to grips with the new age of influencer boxing which is full of more ego than sense.
      On the potential of a rematch, Sauerland said: “That’s how I would think, because that’s the traditional path. I can’t read this space. 
      “From a traditional sense, the rematch would absolutely make sense. But is it going to happen in this space? We’ll see.” 
      Following his first loss, KSI took time away from boxing having also failed in an appeal of the result.
      From a traditional sense, the rematch would absolutely make sense. But is it going to happen in this space? We’ll see.Kalle Sauerland on KSI vs Tommy Fury 2
      But he confirmed he will return to the ring this year and is in no shortage of blockbuster opponents to welcome him back.
      Sauerland said: “This year there’s some big ones out there, whether it’s Jake Paul, Conor McGregor, another Tommy fight. 
      “There’s huge fights out there and JJ knows this space better than anyone.
      “He’s the godfather of this space, building up a multi, multimillion fanbase outside of boxing. 
      “That’s the audience and that’s what’s going to guide him in. It’s different to traditional where you look at the different world title routes. 
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      “This is about creating big fights and the ones that I know are Jake Paul, Conor McGregor, Tommy Fury.
      “But they know this space better than me. I’m happy to come in and make these fights but we’ll see who it is.” More

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      Elle Brooke admits she ‘loves and adores’ AJ Bunker despite brutal KO… and now calls to join forces for tag-team fight

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      ELLE BROOKE says she loves and adores AJ Bunker despite knocking her out – and now wants to join forces for a tag-team fight. The pair of influencers-turned boxers first collided in the summer of 2022 when Brooke won a points decision.
      Elle Brooke knocked out AJ BunkerCredit: Getty
      Elle Brooke now wants to team up with AJ BunkerCredit: Getty
      So on the surface it looked as though the bad blood was brewing ahead of a rematch in Leeds at Misfits 12.
      Brooke eventually stopped Bunker with a brutal right hand but the two hugged it out post-fight.
      And now the dust has settled, OnlyFans star Brooke revealed her admiration for Bunker, who she now wants to team up with.
      She told SunSport: “I adore AJ, I really adore her. I loved seeing her win her title in Newcastle in September.
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      “I genuinely love her and when you’re in fight mode, that week I’m not going to lie to you she was my worst enemy, you have to be in fight mode, I’m fighting her.
      “But put that aside, I’m a really big fan of her and I’d like to do a tag-team with her. That would be a really good story.”
      Brooke was beaten for the first time in her last fight in July, losing to Brazilian TikToker Jully Poca.
      So Brooke was in the mindset that consecutive defeats would have brought an end to her boxing career.
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      She revealed: “I said that if I didn’t win this fight, then boxing’s not for me.
      “Even though I enjoy it and I absolutely adore it, I spend so much time and energy and it’s so mentally draining that if I’m not winning there’s no point it being in my life.
      “So I’m super happy I won. It was all or nothing, I want to be the best and if I was beaten twice then… I want to be the biggest, the baddest, the best, so I would’ve firmed it that boxing wasn’t for me.”
      Brooke was close to leaving the sport all together but admitted she now has never loved it so much.
      She said: “It wasn’t a pressure thing because I’d be happy either way. Boxing isn’t my only life – it is and it isn’t.
      “I had a life before that so ultimately after my last loss it made me fall out of love with boxing a little bit.
      ‘And now I’ve won, I’ve fallen in love with it all over again.”
      Elle Brooke celebrates with her Misfits beltCredit: Getty More

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      Elle Brooke labelled ‘absolutely stunning’ as she goes topless to celebrate AJ Bunker KO with Misfits middleweight belt

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      ELLE BROOKE celebrated her knockout win over AJ Bunker by going topless with her Misfits middleweight title.The OnlyFans star, 26, who had already beaten Love Island contestant Bunker on points in 2022, flattened her rival in the third round of their rematch on Saturday night.
      Elle Brooke knocked out AJ Bunker in the third round on Saturday nightCredit: Getty

      She claimed the Misfits Women’s Middleweight Title with her win over BunkerCredit: Getty
      The victory saw her bounce back from a first defeat at the hands of Jully Poca in July last year.
      And she was revelling in that winning feeling on Sunday evening as she shared three photos on social media.
      They showed Brooke on a bed wearing just her pink underwear as she held up her matching Misfits strap.
      And she added the caption: “I was born to do this 🥊.”
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      Reacting to the images, one person said: “Nobody suits the belt more 😍.”
      Another added: “Pink really is for you 🥊.”
      A third replied: “Well deserved 👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥.”
      While a fourth responded: “You look the best with the pink belt 💖.”
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      Following the win over Bunker, Brooke had a dig at rival Astrid Wett and claimed the move from 14oz gloves down to 10oz makes her a more formidable force.
      She said: “Listen, these 10oz gloves are very dangerous.
      “I had the 14oz in her first fight and now I’ve come down weight I’m a lot stronger.
      “Why is there nobody in the ring offering me out? Mams [Taylor, KSI’s manager], where is the next person?
      “Am I now the queen of Misfits now that Astrid [Wett] has left?”
      Brooke admitted she would have hung up her gloves had she lost to Bunker.
      But given she won the contest, she immediately committed her future to Misfits Boxing.
      She added: “I just perform best on Misfits, I think this was just big fat karma for ever leaving.
      “I was definitely going to quit if I lost this, so it’s a sign.” More

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      Love Islander AJ Bunker spotted with fat lip as she downs shots after being brutally KO’d by OnlyFans star Elle Brooke

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      FORMER LOVE ISLAND star Andrea-Jane Bunker was spotted with a fat lip after her brutal KO against Elle Brooke.Bunker, 28, and Brooke, 26, exchanged blows in the ring once again last night in a rematch of their original bout in the summer of 2022.
      AJ Bunker did not seem down in the dumps despite her loss to Elle BrookeCredit: Instagram @andreajanebunker
      But she showed the repercussions with a fat lip at the after partyCredit: Instagram @andreajanebunker
      Brooke scored a KO punch on Bunker in round threeCredit: Getty

      Brooke walked away from the original bout with a disputed points decision.
      But last night OnlyFans star Brooke left no doubt that she was the winner as she slumped Bunker with a lethal right-hand punch in round three at Misfits 12.
      The pair made peace following the fight as they shared a hug.
      However, Bunker did not seem too down in the dumps following the fight in First Direct Arena in Leeds as she was seen downing shots at the afterparty.
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      Bunker shared a number of videos on her Instagram page following the fight.
      She could be seen enjoying and downing shots with guests at the fight including a number of influencers.
      However, in a couple of the snaps, Bunker could be seen with a bruise on her lower lip, likely from where she had been caught by Brooke.
      Bunker first rose to fame on Love Island back in 2021.
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      Bunker is a former Love Island contestantCredit: Instagram
      Bunker also lost her original match with Brooke in 2022 via a points decisionCredit: Instagram
      She was an Islander on season 7 and entered the villa on Day 17 but was dumped from the island on Day 23 so her stint was short-lived.
      Bunker now has 130,000 fans on Instagram.
      Her defeat to Brooke moved her to a two-wins and three-defeats influencer boxing record.
      Meanwhile, Brooke admitted she would have hung up her gloves if she had lost.
      She said: “I just perform best on Misfits, I think this was just big fat karma for ever leaving. I was definitely going to quit if I lost this, so it’s a sign.”
      Bunker has 130,000 followers on InstagramCredit: andreajanebunker/Instagram
      Bunker moved to a two-wins and three-defeats fight record after her Brooke fightCredit: PA More

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      Tyson Fury offers first glimpse into gruelling training camp for Usyk fight before taking time out to meet Kevin Costner

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      TYSON FURY has given boxing fans their first glimpse at his secret Saudi training camp for the biggest fight of his career.The Gypsy King will bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 25 years in Riyadh next month when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk.
      Tyson Fury will face Oleksandr Uysk in a historic undisputed fight next monthCredit: GETTY
      The Gypsy King has kept his Saudi training camp under wrapsCredit: REUTERS
      The WBC heavyweight champ gave the briefest of glimpes into his training camp on InstagramCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
      Fury also shared a meeting with Kevin Costner at the Joy Awards to his Insta storyCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
      Fury, 35, has essentially gone radio silent ahead of the historic and career-defining showdown.
      Unlike camps of yesteryear, Fury isn’t regularly taking to social media to give fans updates.
      But he’s broken his mini blackout over the last few days to give his followers some insight into what he’s been doing.
      Taking to his Instagram story on Saturday afternoon, the WBC heavyweight champion shared a clip of himself and his team getting a training session in at the gym.
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      And Team Fury were in good spirits as they sang the chorus to Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’.
      Fury lay on a mat on the astroturf and belted out the classic as he seemingly took a break from some core work
      His follow-up stories included snaps from Friday night’s Joy Awards in Riyadh, which he donned yet another colourful suit for.
      And the former unified champion was left starstruck when he bumped into Hollywood superstar Kevin Costner.
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      Fury posed for a snap with the 69-year-old and his manager Spencer Brown.
      Given the magnitude of the fight with Usyk, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Fury goes radio silent again ahead of the February 17 clash.
      The Wythenshawe warrior knows he faces a difficult task to permanently write his name into the history books.
      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.”
      Tyson Fury isn’t expecting an easy fight against Oleksandr UsykCredit: EPA More