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      I split Tyson Fury’s eye open after champ fired me up with crude act, reveals sparring partner Agron Smakici

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      TYSON FURY suffered the gruesome sparring gash that delayed the undisputed decider after a saucy prank backfired.The fun-loving 35-year-old WBC champ was in the final two weeks of training for a February 17 showdown with Oleksandr Usyk when bloody disaster struck.
      Agron Smakici has opened up on splitting Tyson Fury’s eyeCredit: YouTube @iFL TV
      The Croatian caught Fury with his elbow while the pair were sparringCredit: X formerly Twitter / @MichaelBensonn
      Fury was left with a huge gash above his eye that caused his bout with Oleksandr Usyk to be postponedCredit: X @Queensbury
      The Gypsy King was doing practice rounds with respected 33-year-old southpaw Agron Smakici in Saudi Arabia when he playfully thrust his crotch at the Croatian’s backside.
      The former MMA fighter – who was a crucial trainer parter for Anthony Joshua in his camps for Usyk and Otto Wallin – felt disrespected by the humping and knuckled down extra hard.
      And then a fiery exchange ended with Smakici landing a left hook on the undefeated giant and an accidental elbow following through and landing and requiring 14 stitches.
      Fury shared a gruesome snap of the cut online after the fact.
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      While talented leftie Smakici was gutted about his role in delaying the first undisputed decider since 1999 until May 18.
      But he and Fury parted on good terms, with the 20-2 ace agreeing to go and help his best friend Joseph Parker prepare for his March 8 shootout with Zhilei Zhang.
      Smakici told SunSport: “He did it but it was a joke and I didn’t take it seriously,
      “I was not angry, because he was laughing, he is funny. He is a comedian.
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      “Yes it made me a little more serious, it made me want to show him what I had.
      “But it was a clean punch and the elbow was not on purpose, I was just trying to give him better rounds and to show him that I deserved respect.
      New footage appears to show moment Tyson Fury was cut by an ELBOW causing Oleksandr Usyk fight to be scrapped
      “I got that respect in the sparring and afterwards he said ‘great sparring, accidents happening, everything before was great’.
      “Crazy things like this happen in boxing.”
      Fury has been approached for comment.
      ‘Like dirty boxing’Smakici has lifted the lid on what happened before he accidentally cut Fury, suggesting the timing of the sparring session was perhaps too early…
      “I felt the spar was too early,” he said. “That’s just my opinion.
      “We had been sparring in the evenings, around 8-9pm, to be ready for the fight. But suddenly we were sparring at midday and still having breakfast at 11am.
      “The day before we had done hard sparring and the day before that, Wednesday, we had done strength training, conditioning and circuits. So there was a lot happening with our body and minds.
      “It was early sparring, at late notice, we were in the middle of breakfast when we had to get ready.
      “But Fury was motivated, he said he wanted 12 rounds, he did three with Thomas Carty and then I came in.
      “He made jokes like ‘let’s go little sausage’ but he was very motivated, dancing in the ring and using his reach a lot.
      “I got in and used my style, it was physical, we did some wrestling and good combinations.
      “Then the cut happened because we were tired.
      “I threw the left hook but my head was also going forward because he was pulling it, it was a bit like dirty boxing.”

      Smakici has previously sparred with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @agron_smakici
      The 33-year-old is a well respected fighter with a 20-2-0 recordCredit: Getty
      Fury will now face Oleksandr Usyk on May 18Credit: EPA More

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      Apollonia Llewellyn flashes underboob in see-through red lingerie as she celebrates Valentine’s Day

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      APOLLONIA LLEWELLYN has treated her followers to a Valentine’s gift with her latest snap.The boxing ring girl shared a picture of herself posing in some lingerie to her adoring following on Instagram.
      Apollonia Llewellyn posed in some red lingerie as a Valentine’s day gift to her followers
      Apollonia is always wowing her fansCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      Apollonia was sporting a red lingerie set as she smiled for the camera with a bouquet of roses.
      The 24-year-old shared the picture with the caption: “Happy Valentine’s Day!”.
      Fans were in awe of the racy snap and flooded Apollonia’s comment section with compliments.
      One wrote: “You look gorgeous!”
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      While a second added: “Gorgeous! Happy Valentine’s day!”
      Another fan commented: “Very beautiful!”
      And a fourth simply wrote: “Wow.”
      Apollonia rose to fame as a ring girl during a Misfits Boxing event, but has since turned her attention to social media.
      Most read in Boxing
      The Yorkshire lass boasts over 579,000 followers on Instagram and works as a model alongside her social stardom.
      She ensures her fans are kept up to date with her lavish lifestyle as she travels the globe.
      Apollonia Llewellyn sends fans into meltdown by going make-up-free in lacy see-through dress for raunchy clip
      Apollonia is also no stranger to a racy picture and is often leaving her followers stunned by her daring posts.
      Most recently she gave fans a glimpse into her holiday as she posed in a bikini in Greece.
      And showed off her glamorous life as she was snapped next to a bright pink Lamborghini in a matching bodysuit.
      Inside Apollonia’s glamorous life as influencer, ring girl and model …
      Apollonia is regularly leaving her fans stunned onlineCredit: INSTAGRAM
      She is always travelling the globe and recently holidayed in New YorkCredit: INSTAGRAM
      The Yorkshire model also took a trip to SantoriniCredit: INSTAGRAM
      She made sure her followers were kept up to date with her tripsCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Apollonia is also no stranger to a racy picture onlineCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Apollonia shot to recognition as a member of the Misfits Boxing fight night team
      She now boasts over 570,000 Instagram followersCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn
      She works as a model as well as being a social starCredit: Instagram @apolloniallewellyn More

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      I’ve worked as a cutman for over 1,000 fights but one was so brutal I almost PASSED OUT… they bled from head to toe

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      JACOB “STITCH” DURAN has lost count of the amount of fights he has worked over his career – but there is one he could never forget. Duran has cornered a who’s who in both boxing and MMA, spanning over four decades, so little can faze or shock the 72-year-old legend.
      Jay Hieron vs Jonathan Goule was the ‘bloodiest’ fight in MMA history
      Hieron was left covered from head to toe in blood
      Stitch Duran worked the cut for Hieron
      It was the bloodiest fight Stitch ever worked
      Stitch aiding Hieron’s gruesome gash
      But, in 2005, he worked in what at the time was described by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as the “bloodiest round in mixed martial arts history.”
      Jay Hieron was taking on Jonathan Goule in a welterweight bout when, in round two, he took a brutal knee to the forehead.
      Immediately, Hieron was drenched in blood and Duran knew he had a job on his hands.
      Duran recalls almost PASSING OUT from the sheer smell alone as Hieron was covered from head to toe in claret.
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      He told SunSport: “Jay Hieron got that one cut in the vein where you laugh and it popped out and he bled like a pig, to the point where both fighters had blood from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet. 
      “As I was cleaning Jay up, there was so much blood I literally got nauseated. The smell of that iron, that had to be the bloodiest fight. 
      “And Jay Hieron is so proud of it, the mat is up in Randy Couture’s gym in Las Vegas. So we’re intertwined in his history.”
      Despite Duran’s best efforts, the bleeding was so severe the fight was called off a minute into round three with Goule winning by stoppage.
      Most read in BoxingThe one that got away DESPITE working with the best of the best, the most notable name Stitch never cornered was Floyd Mayweather.

      Instead, Mayweather famously had the late Rafael Garcia – who died in 2017 – work his cuts and more importantly his hands.
      But Stitch did have the chance to join Mayweather’s team, telling us: “I walk into the gym with a friend of mine, barber shop type of thing and he’s going through guys wrapping his hands, as he does have problems. 
      “Well this one guy is wrapping his hands and I’m telling my friend right off the bat, ‘Too tight.’ Floyd is shaking his hands and the other guy is wrapping his other hand. 
      “Finally, they finish and Floyd and James Prince – his manager at the time – they walk into the dressing room and as he’s walking out Floyd is cutting the wraps off his hands. 
      “At that point I could have said, ‘Hey Floyd, I’ll wrap your hands.’ But out of respect for that cutman, I said nothing. 
      “Then of course, later on Rafael got the opportunity and the assignment and I’m glad he got the assignment because Rafael was a super, super, super guy. 
      “He never really got the credit that was due to him until Floyd gave him the opportunity. So everything worked out.” 

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      It marked the only ever time Duran – who estimates he has worked over 1,000 fights – was taken aback by an incident.
      He said: “That was the only time I ever really smelt the blood. There was that much blood to the point, I could smell the iron in it. 
      Legendary cutman Stitch Duran ready to join Tyson Fury’s camp to protect horror cut in rescheduled Tyson Fury fight
      “But it’s not usually an issue when it comes to smelling blood. At this point I ain’t got no time to be freaking out.” 
      Duran had a military background before moving into the sport of kickboxing, where he coached and promoted.
      From there, he made the life-changing decision to work fighters’ cuts and wrap their hands.
      No cornerman has had a bigger impact across the sports, with Duran working with the likes of Wladimir Klistchko and Tyson Fury.
      He has even featured in Hollywood movies, most notably in the Rocky series and Creed spin-offs.
      But away from the lights, camera and action, Duran has one of the crucial jobs in the ring.
      He said: “It’s definitely a pressure point. People ask me, ‘What does it take to be a good cutman?’ And I always say, ‘Composure.’
      “During those points you’ve got to keep your composure and give that fighter every positive airwave. 
      “He looks at you, and you look at him and you’ve just got to know what you’re doing a coach can be in the back but we’re in the front and centre.” 
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      Stitch Duran is the most iconic cutman in boxing historyCredit: Getty More

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      I’ve faced BOTH Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, here’s how they compare and my prediction for bout

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      OTTO WALLIN could very well be the most in-demand man in boxing if Tyson Fury is to fight Anthony Joshua. That is because he is just one of four men to have shared the ring with both the British superstars.
      Tyson Fury beat Otto Wallin on points in 2019Credit: Reuters
      Anthony Joshua stopped Otto Wallin in five roundsCredit: Getty
      And, he is the most recent having given Fury 47 stitches in his 2019 points loss while being stopped in five rounds against AJ in December.
      Joshua’s dominance in Saudi Arabia looks to have revived his hopes of heavyweight world title contention.
      And meanwhile Fury struggled against AJ’s next opponent – MMA star Francis Ngannou – escaping with a controversial split-decision win.
      It has helped level the playing field when it comes to comparing the long-time domestic rivals.
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      And even Wallin – after 17 shared rounds between them – struggles to split the two.
      He told SunSport: “I feel like Joshua is a very good fighter, very good power, very good counter puncher. I feel like he definitely has a shot with Fury. 
      “And you just never know what Tyson Fury shows up. I still have a hard time going against Tyson in that fight. 
      “But, the fights if you compare it my fight against Joshua was a lot tougher than the one I had against Fury. 
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      “That doesn’t mean everything but I give Joshua more of a chance than I did before. But I still would probably pick Fury as the favourite.” 
      Fury had to battle through nine rounds of struggling to see through his right eye after a gruesome gash sustained against Wallin.
      Tyson Fury had 40 stitches then went for a beer and won £5k at the casino after Wallin fight
      His performance and tactics were slammed by outspoken dad John and sparked a huge change in the Gypsy King’s career.
      He left trainer Ben Davison for American Sugarhill Steward, packed on the pounds and ditched his elusive style in favour of power punching.
      It saw him go onto defeat Deontay Wilder twice, KO Dillian Whyte, stop Derek Chisora and edge past Ngannou.
      But Wallin believes the hard-to-hit Fury of old is better served returning for a fight with Joshua.
      He said: “I think that what Fury has is that he’s awkward, he’s big and he’s got a good jab and feints when he uses them. 
      “I think that’s what’s made him good and he needs to continue to do that. I’m not sure how much they’re working on that now with his new trainer. 
      “But it’s important for him to be awkward and feint a lot and use his good boxing skill. 
      How AJ ruined my holiday OTTO WALLIN was due on holiday to South Africa after his Anthony Joshua fight – but due to suffering a busted nose it was cancelled.
      Wallin told us: “Because I had a little fracture in my nose I had to go back to New York to get it looked at.
      “Because of insurance stuff I couldn’t travel so we came back here. I was off and had a little trip to Switzerland for a wedding and was skiing, that was nice.
      “But didn’t get to go to South Africa this time. My nose wasn’t that bad, I had a small surgery in Saudi where they had to drain some blood.
      “They put some stuff which was kind of painful, I couldn’t breathe through my nose for a week.
      “But when they took it out here in New York everything felt fine again. They told me not to train for three weeks but I had an extra break.
      “Now I’m getting back into it.”

      “With Joshua, what he has is a lot of power, he’s pretty fast for how big he is and not only fast with his hands but fast with his feet too. 
      “I think that’s something he will need against Fury.”
      Fury, 35, was due to return on February 17 against Oleksandr Usyk, 37, but a horror cut in sparring forced a postponement till May 18.
      For Joshua, 34, he takes on Ngannou, 37, on March 8 looking to better Fury’s lacklustre performance against the ex-UFC champion.
      And Wallin – who enjoyed a short three-week break before getting back into training – is ready to build himself up after refusing retirement.
      He said: “I was thinking about everything, my career, should I continue in boxing, should I start doing something else. 
      “But that was more the days after the fight, I then started to feel like, ‘You know what? I lost to the better fighter, one of the best in the world and there’s no real shame in that.’ 
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      “I still think I can get better and beat a lot of guys. You just want to take things step by step and not look too far ahead. 
      “I’m starting to feel ready to come back in the summer and hopefully get a big fight sometime later this year.” More

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      Undefeated heavyweight who knocked out Deontay Wilder is brutally KO’d for the first time

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      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

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      Anthony Joshua could hit Francis Ngannou with a BASEBALL BAT and he’d keep coming, warns Tyson Fury’s trainer

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      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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      ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
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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

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      Anthony Joshua ready to take on monster fight with Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk after Francis Ngannou bout

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      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.
      Anthony Joshua dealt blow in title hopes as Daniel Dubois looks to muscle in by calling out rival
      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

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      Jake Paul ‘BLOCKED from fighting MMA star by UFC’ after claims YouTube star ‘doesn’t make money’

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      SEAN STRICKLAND has claimed the UFC blocked him from accepting Jake Paul’s $1million offer to spar. Strickland, a controversial and outspoken figure in MMA, was slammed after giving streamer Sneako a beating during a sparring session.
      Jake Paul called out Sean Strickland to a $1m sparring sessionCredit: Getty
      Strickland was quick to hit back at Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      YouTuber-turned boxer Paul was quick to hit out at the former UFC middleweight champion Strickland.
      He posted on X, formerly Twitter: “You’re embarrassing for trying to stop Sneako like that you weren’t even able to drop someone with no experience while going all out.
      “You’re a horrid boxer that only picks on inexperienced people.. I’ll fly you to (Puerto Rico) and we can fight on camera… if you win I’ll give you $1 million (half your net worth).
      “But if you get dropped you have to get Betr tattooed on you.”
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      Strickland accepted the offer and a back and forth online ensued between the pair.
      But the American then took to his own YouTube channel to say UFC chief Hunter Campbell was against the idea and aimed a dig at Paul.
      Strickland said: “I will fight this man. You let Conor McGregor fight (Floyd) Mayweather, this is an easier fight, easier money, can I do that?
      “And then Hunter explained to me that [Paul] sells no fights. When they have fights, they give away tickets. He doesn’t make money.
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      “His target audience is children — they don’t buy pay-per-views. So, a little depressing.
      “Because I thought to myself, ‘You know what? I’ll take a payday beating up this f***ing man, that sounds easy enough.’
      Jake Paul sends $1MILLION offer to ‘bully’ Sean Strickland for live sparring session… with bizarre tattoo on the cards
      “But sadly, Jake Paul is an influencer. He sells to children. Children don’t buy pay-per-views.
      “So, I dunno man, get some adults to follow you and we will fight.”
      Strickland has gained a reputation for ruthless sparring sessions and has even bragged about wanting to “KILL” opponents in the cage.
      And despite pouring cold water on a prizefight with Paul, he challenged him to what appeared to be a brawl on the Las Vegas strip.

      Strickland said: “So here’s the thing, Jake Paul, you clearly know I can’t fight you.
      “You know this. The UFC knows this. We all know this, that you and me cannot fight.
      “But what we can do, is you can get in your fancy plane, you can fly your ass to Vegas, and we can have a little pow-wow.
      “I’ll do it for free. I don’t need a check, I don’t need to live stream it. I will do it for free, sir.”
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      Strickland stunned Israel Adesanya in September to win the UFC title but recently lost it to Dricus du Plessis via controversial split-decision.
      Paul meanwhile has beaten four former UFC stars during his career and returns on March 2 in Puerto Rico against 17-2 boxer Ryan Bourland. More