Boxing

ARTIST Richard Slone has painted some of the best boxers in the world – but he wasn’t a bad fighter himself. Slone has worked on legendary fighters like Floyd Mayweather, Ricky Hatton and Tyson Fury over the years.
A painting of Ricky Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi by artist Richard SloneCredit: Alamy
Richard Slone’s painting of Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones JrCredit: Instagram
Canelo Alvarez is another favourite of Slone’sCredit: Instagram
But at one point in his life, he thought his career was destined for the ring.
At just 16 he left England and accepted an offer from the great Joe Frazier to live at his gym in Philadelphia.
He also helped Hall of Fame coach Emanuel Steward at the famous Kronk gym in Detroit.
Frazier’s son Marvis phoned Slone to suggest training with the legendary heavyweight.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Slone told talkSPORT: “As a gift to Joe, I showed up with an ink drawing.
“It got smashed along the way – and the frame – but Joe loved the drawing.
“I was Joe’s protege. I idolised him and would have done anything he said. I mimicked his style very, very well, but unfortunately I couldn’t mimic his heart.
“There’s only one Joe Frazier. I knew at one point, internally, so I was the first guy to give up on myself – and also immigration was an issue, so I couldn’t go pro or fight amateur fights.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“We did exhibitions all the time. Joe took care of me [financially], and I had some jobs, cash in hand, and sometimes bartering.
“I was here 90 days the first time; I went home once, and I’ve never been back since.”
Slone would later spend more time with Steward at the Kronk, where Lennox Lewis was being coached into the world’s best heavyweight.
But after Lewis retired in 2004, Slone relocated to Las Vegas and began spending more time focussing on his art.
Nelson Mandela, Pamela Anderson and Denzel Washington are among those to have paintings from him.
But British pair Hatton and Fury are among self-taught Slone’s favourite customers as well as Mayweather.
He said: “[Ricky Hatton’s] probably the one I painted the most and had the most conversations with.
“Ricky is just so down to earth and approachable, and he likes a laugh and isn’t ashamed of his actions. Fury’s the exact same thing.
Read More on The Sun
“It’s a great relationship [with Floyd Mayweather]. I’ve a lot of respect for him – I know people have mixed views – in my eyes he’s a champion human being, and has always treated me correctly.”
Slone is still busy to this day and his artwork of Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo was used for the fight program and on-site poster.
Slone with a painting of Lennox Lewis and David TuaCredit: Getty More

LEIGH WOOD scored a sensational comeback knockout of Josh Warrington to end the Leeds legend’s world title hat-trick dreams.The 35-year-old Nottingham featherweight made a nightmare start to his defence of the WBA 9st crown and looked doomed to defeat.
Leigh Wood celebrates an unlikely victoryCredit: Reuters
Josh Warrington is dropped in the seventh by WoodCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
But in the seventh round, when Warrington took his eye off the ball with only seconds of the stanza remaining, he landed a blistering right hand and left hook that sent two-time IBF champ Warrington plumetting to the canvas and toward retirement.
Warrington leaped to his feet but staggered across the ring and was saved from his own bravery by referee Michael Alexander.
The Sheffield arena, bang in the middle of their respective homes, was split down the middle.
Leeds United fans made a deafening din on one side of the ice rink while the Forest faithful did their best to bellow above them.
read more boxing news
Warrington, 32, tore straight into his rival, slashing at his body with hooks and whipping out a lead left that grazed his face.
Wood, kept his arrows long and straight and he complained about Warrington’s rabbit punches from the off.
Both men thew Mexican-style body punches in the second but Wood, boxing out of the southpaw stance, then tagged Warrington a couple of times to the head.
Wood looked buzzed at the start of the third when Warrington backed him up against the ropes and unloaded a volley.
Most read in Boxing
Later in the same session a left hook from the Yorkshireman landed too and stunned Wood.
Warrington’s pre-fight plan to bully the permed Gedling puncher was working as he started totting up the early rounds.
Wood livened up for the fourth but Warrington kept slipping past his pawing jab and tagging him with hooks.
Right on the bell a cut opened up and squirted blood out of Wood’s right eye, his corner would be stemming the flow of claret as the Leeds fans took over the venue with their chanting.
Wood’s nightmare start got worse in the fifth when Warrington poked out three jabs that teed up a booming right hand.
The blow rattled Wood’s brain and made his legs stiffen, he showed great courage to stay on his feet as his right cheekbone turned a nasty shade of purple.
Warrington lost a point for rabbit punching in the seventh then right at the end he was smashed senseless.
Wood walked him on to a right hook, then another, and then a left hand another hook, five punches landed flush and unanswered before he collapsed.
He seemed spark out but leaped to his feet but he was saved from his own bravery as he was staggering and stunned. 
After the fight, Wood reflected: “It’s gotta be up there. It was a bit like my career: started off a bit rough, but we got there.
Wood shows tremendous courage to stay in the fight against WarringtonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Celebrating his knockout, few could believe Wood was the victorCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The judge’s scorecards show Warrington was winning the fight comfortably
Forest fan Wood retained the WBA featherweight world titleCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“Josh is a great fighter. Thank you to all the fans for turning out as well.
Read More on The Sun
“All I can say is, I’ve got a game-changer [of a right hand].”
While Warrington admitted: “I just switched off for a split second. He hit me with a good shot.” More

LEIGH WOOD fought back from losing nearly every round to KNOCK OUT Josh Warrington in a stunning comeback to retain his WBA featherweight title.The Nottingham ace Wood seemed rocked from the second round and was caught with heavy blows before turning it around to knock out Warrington in the final seconds of round seven in Sheffield.
Prospects Hopey Price and Junaid Bostan featured on the undercard.

Result: Wood BEATS Warrington TKO7

CASINO WELCOME BONUSES 2023 – BEST OFFERS & BONUSES
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
More from Warrington
Warrington continued on DAZN: “I’m grateful for everyone that has turned out tonight. They’ve supported me for 14 years and supported me through thick and thin. I hope it isn’t the last one but if it is then thank you.
“Ideally, I’d like to run it back. I felt like I was cruising and at times I was a little rusty but it was a good fight.
“Kudos to Leigh as a fighter and a character. He’s a credit to his supporters and that’s how boxing should be. Sometimes people need to throw tables and chairs [to promote a fight] but we’ve gone about it differently. I hope he gets his wish and hopefully we can run it back.”
Josh Warrington speaks
The beaten Warrington said to DAZN in the ring post-fight: “I switched off for a split second.
“I’ve been out of the ring for 10 months, I felt at times I was really coming into it. He caught me with a good shot, I felt good, I listened to the count six, seven, eight and then he [the referee] waves off the fight.
“I’m disappointed, I feel let down. I don’t feel he’s done me justice. The stoppage is what it is on the record.”
Eddie Hearn speaks
Eddie Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I had it 5-2 to Warrington. I said to Tony Bellew that I thought Leigh was done. He looked almost like he was sulking.
“Josh switched off for a second and it was goodnight Vienna. Josh was desperate to carry on and he was trying to compose himself. He didn’t have his senses to carry on. The ref made the right decision, what a thriller.”
Fight night report from Sheffield
Leigh Wood has sensationally beaten rival Josh Warrington in a thrilling contest.
Leigh-thal was on the backfoot for the majority of the fight.
And he took quite the pummelling from Warrington, who was dominating the contest.
However, in the seventh round Wood achieved an unlikely KO.
Credit: Reuters
City Ground next
Promoter Eddie Hearn says Nottingham’s Leigh Wood will complete his dream and box in the City Ground next up!
And it could be a rematch of tonight’s thriller.
We’d watch that again.
Wood wins reaction
Stunning Hollywood ending there for Leigh Wood.
WOW!
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Wood BEATS Warrington
Let us recap this for you.
Warrington was landing heavy blows right up until the final 10 seconds of round seven…
The Wood landed a stunning right hook combo and has KNOCKED OUT Warrington.
Simply incredible. Wood has done it again!
Wood vs Warrington R7
WOW!
And Wood has got it!
What a turnaround he lands it!
Wood WINS!
Halfway point
Leigh Wood may need the big, big shot again tonight at this rate
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Wood vs Warrington R6
A better round there for Wood to stop the run from Warrington.
He slows down the pace and works behind the jab.
Less from Warrington in that round but he is miles ahead.
Wood vs Warrington R5
Wood cut above his right eye and the referee has ruled it from a punch!
Warrington with yet another brutal round to punish Wood.
The champion seemed like he was about to go from a right hook but recovered.
This is all going Warrington’s way so far.
Wood vs Warrington R4
Another big round for Warrington!
He can’t miss at the moment.
Wood seems rocked still from the last round.
Warrington’s time to pounce.
Wood vs Warrington R3
HUGE round from Warrington!
The Leeds man comes out of the traps and unloads of flurry on Wood that seems to rock the champ.
Wood seems dazed up against the ropes after a stunning shot but he stays in it.
Wood vs Warrington R2
Wood controlling the distance with the jab in the second.
Nottingham’s world champ keeping his composure and not being drawn into a slugfest yet.
Though Warrington lands a couple of stunning rights.
All to play for.
Wood vs Warrington R1
Lively opener there just shaded by Warrington who has come out the more aggressive.
Composed finish to the round by Wood though.
This could be an absolute cracker in Sheffield.
Wood vs Warrington
Leigh Wood getting more of the cheers in Sheffield.
The noise is incredible.
And we are off!
Wood makes ring walk
We had the Leeds anthem, now we have the Nottingham Forest anthem!
Crowd going wild for Mull of Kintyre!
Leigh Wood making his way down to the ring.
Warrington making ring walk
To the familiar strains of the Kaiser Chiefs after Matching On Together here is Josh Warrington!
The atmosphere is electric for the Leeds star.
Main event time
Here we go! Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington is merely minutes away.
Sweet Caroline is ringing around the arena.
Warrington is coming out first.
Majority draw!
The three ringside judges call the 10 round fight: 97-93 Harper, 95-95 and 95-95.
The draw was the bet.
There was little to split them.
But, please, no rematch.
Harper vs Braekhus R10
The final bell goes and Team Braekhus celebrate like their girl has sprung the upset.
Harper does not look too confident.
A draw might not be a crazy idea.
Harper vs Braekhus R9
Another close but uneventful round.
In Norway you could bank on these rounds going to Braekhus.
But you can never rely on the judges when a foreign fighter is visiting an away show.
It is tight as we go into the 10th and and final round.
Harper vs Braekhus R8
Braekhus scores with a stiff jab that seems to make Harper backtrack and reset.
Then a right hand from the Norway pioneer lands as well.
A strong round for the underdog challenger.
Harper vs Braekhus R7
Harper gets warned about leading with her head then fires in a right hand.
Braekhus throws a one-two but Harper counters with a sweet left hook.
Another hard-to-call round ends.
Harper vs Braekhus R6
Braekhus lands a looped right hand but it makes no impact.
The brave women trade punches but the rounds are slipping away without any eye-catching exchanges.
Judges have their work cut out splitting them. More

MIKE TYSON has revealed his shocking thoughts on how the Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou fight will end up.Fury and Ngannou are preparing to come to blows in Saudi Arabia later this month.
Mike Tyson has given his prediction on the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou fightCredit: AFP
Fury and Ngannou face off in Saudi Arabia on October 28Credit: Getty
The pair face off in a crossover fight that will see MMA star Ngannou make his boxing debut against the world heavyweight champion.
But despite Ngannou’s relative novice status, it would seem that boxing legend Mike Tyson still thinks he could pull off a HUGE shock.
The former undisputed world heavyweight champion is helping Ngannou with his training and after keeping a close eye on him, he seems convinced of his ability.
But not only does Tyson think Ngannou can win the fight, he reckons that he will be able to knock The Gyspy King out too.
READ MORE ON THE FIGHT
Speaking to the Mail Online, he said: “I am helping Ngannou. I am learning what he is able to do. He’s able to do so much more than I anticipated. 
“He has what it takes to knockout anything or anybody standing in his way. Once he lands a punch on Tyson Fury’s jaw he is going to knock him out too. Nobody can survive that.”
And even Fury seems aware that the fight will be tougher than most people are anticipating.
The undefeated champ said: “I think he’s going to be a bit of a bigger, tougher challenge than these other guys. These other guys are just boxers, this guy’s more than that.”
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
While fans seem to be pretty certain that Fury will maintain his unbeaten record with many of them not convinced of Ngannou’s boxing skills.
Some teased the Cameroon-born fighter for his “slow motion” pad work in a recent clip that he shared online.
Tyson has been helping Ngannou trainCredit: AFP More