Boxing

MIKE TYSON put Francis Ngannou through his paces ahead of next month’s fight against Tyson Fury.That’s after delivering a blunt response to the Gypsy King this week.
Mike Tyson has been coaching Francis Ngannou ahead of his fight with Tyson FuryCredit: Twitter @MichaelBensonn
Iron Mike showed off his punching skills while also demonstrating how to defendCredit: Twitter @MichaelBensonn
Fury and Ngannou fight each other in Saudi Arabia next monthCredit: Getty
Tyson, 57, is regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history.
He has now been tasked with coaching Ngannou to victory against Fury in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
And should the UFC legend win, he will be confirmed as the best fighter on the planet.
The odds are stacked against Ngannou as he will be boxing the world heavyweight champion in Fury.
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The MMA man has already stoked the flames by claiming his Brit opponent is a glove “cheat.”
But with Tyson on his side, the Cameroonian will be feeling confident about his chances.
And Ngannou showed off his blend of explosive power and pace during an open training session alongside Tyson on Tuesday.
Ngannou absorbed everything as Tyson showed him how to defend properly while landing blows on his opponent.
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The session came after rival Fury enjoyed a fierce weighted workout with his strength and conditioning coach.
The Gypsy King previously expressed his disappointment that his icon was training Ngannou.
But Tyson only had a blunt response for Fury, saying on Monday: “This is business, and he understands.”
Reflecting on Ngannou’s chances, Tyson added: “I think he’s going to do very well.
“Listen, it’s all experience, he’s fighting, he just has to remember not to use his feet, which he never really did actually.
“He’s a real power puncher. Real fast for a big guy, 260lbs.
“I think he’s going to do much better than most people believe.”
Tyson had a blunt response for Fury earlier this weekCredit: AFP
Iron Mike knows all about winning at the top level of boxingCredit: AFP
Tyson is confident Ngannou can best world heavyweight champion FuryCredit: AFP More

TYSON FURY was put through his paces ahead of next month’s fight against Francis Ngannou.That’s after enduring a brutal punching workout with his strength and conditioning coach.
Tyson Fury worked on his punch power ahead of his showdown with Francis NgannouCredit: Instagram @kristianblackloc
Fury did some explosive training with a landmine press movementCredit: Instagram @kristianblackloc
World heavyweight boxing champion Fury, 35, will take on UFC legend Ngannou, 37, in a massive money-spinning Saudi Arabian clash on October 28.
Despite the match being an exhibition, each man is eager to stake his claim as the greatest fighter on the planet.
And Fury has been working his socks off to ensure he’s in the best shape possible.
The Gypsy King will once again have renowned trainer SugarHill Steward in his corner, with rival Ngannou turning to Mike Tyson.
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But Fury has also been working with strength and conditioning specialist Kristian Blacklock.
He has been tasked with ensuring Fury is in peak physical condition for next month.
And Blacklock put Fury through his paces with a brutal arm workout designed to get the best from the boxer’s punches.
A video posted on social media showed Fury doing explosive work with a weighted barbell, pushing it upwards in a quick motion known as a landmine press.
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Fury takes on Ngannou in Saudi Arabia next monthCredit: Getty
Fury is working with strength and conditioning specialist Kristian BlacklockCredit: Instagram @kristianblackloc
The exercise works various parts of the shoulder and upper arm, as it’s neither a completely horizontal or vertical movement.
And Fury made it even harder for himself by wrapping a resistance band around the barbell for extra power.
Blacklock captioned his video: “Working on power. Less than five weeks to go! #riyadseason.”
Meanwhile, Fury could opt against a heavyweight unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk once he’s battled Ngannou.
That’s because he’s weighing a move into Hollywood.
Fury’s wife Paris told Fabulous Magazine: “It wouldn’t shock me at all (acting). It would certainly interest him. 
“We’ve had some big proposals put forward for him to go into acting seriously. 
“But he’s done acting in the past and he lasts a few hours before he gets frustrated. 
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“I don’t know if he has the Brad Pitt gene. 
“I’d need to teach him to smoulder!” More

CANELO ALVAREZ is plotting a huge UK debut fight before he hangs up his boxing gloves for good. The pound-for-pound great has never competed outside of Mexico or America during his legendary career.
Canelo Alvarez wants to fight in LondonCredit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
He has beaten all eight of his English opponents that have travelled across the pond to challenge him.
Now, Canelo is looking to add further damage by crossing into enemy territory for a massive fight in the capital.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, he said: “I am thinking about one day fighting in London, yes. I’d love to go to London.
“But the opponent? I don’t even think about it yet.”
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Father-of-four Canelo – an avid golfer in his spare time – has been bullish about retiring before his 40th birthday.
But even as a four-division champion and the world’s highest-paid fighter, still the modern day icon finds more to strive for 63 bouts later.
He said: “I always say 37 or 38 is a good number (to retire on).
“Just still win fights, still be in these kind of big fights that motivates me. There’s always something there to achieve, keep winning and that’s it.”
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Canelo has jumped through the weights during his career, winning his first piece of gold in the 154lb light-middleweight division.
He even went as high as 175lb to claim the WBO light-heavyweight title in 2019.
But it was there he later lost to Dmitry Bivol, 32, two years later which caused him to turn his attention back to super-middleweight.
Canelo, 33, reigns at 168lb with all four titles having last beaten Britain’s John Ryder, 35, at his Mexican homecoming in May.
Now, he is set for a historic battle of the undisputed against Jermell Charlo, 33, who will jump TWO weights for the fight.
American Charlo also has all four belts at 154lb, marking the first time two fully unified champions have shared the ring.
Ahead of the Showtime PPV, Canelo said: “I expect the best from him.
“He has everything; he knows how to move in the ring, he knows how to box, he knows how to throw the punches, he knows how to counter punch, he knows how to go forward.
“He has everything but I’ve fought with everybody out there and I have the experience to adapt myself to every style. I think it’s going to be a good fight.”
Canelo and Jermell Charlo pose with their beltsCredit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME More

MIKE TYSON has given a blunt response to Tyson Fury’s disappointment with his decision to coach Francis Ngannou.Iron Mike has teamed up with the former UFC heavyweight champion ahead of his controversial crossover clash with the Gypsy King next month.
Tyson Fury will take on former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou next monthCredit: REX
Fury was left saddened after learning that boxing legend Mike Tyson will train Ngannou for the fightCredit: INSTAGRAM@FRANCISNAGNNOU
Tyson has dismissed Fury’s comments, insisting it’s just ‘business’Credit: INSTAGRAM@FRANCISNAGNNOU
Fury was left saddened by Tyson – whom he was named after – opting to plot his downfall in the Saudi showdown – but the boxing veteran couldn’t care less.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion told TNT Sports: “This is business, and he understands.”
Ngannou’s martial arts journey began with boxing but he was convinced to try his hand at mixed martial arts by his former coach Fernand Lopez.
The Cameroonian clubber – who has never boxed in a professional capacity – has won 70 per cent of his MMA fights via brutal knockout.
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And Tyson believes The Predator has the skill set to give Fury a real run for his money.
He said: “I think he’s gonna do very well.
“Listen, it’s all experience, he’s fighting, he just has to remember not to use his feet, which he never really did actually.
“He’s a real power puncher. Real fast for a big guy, 260[lbs].
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“I just think he’s gonna do better than most people believe.”
Fury and Ngannou’s Saudi slugfest will be a professionally sanctioned bout, although the former’s WBC heavyweight title won’t be on the line.
Wythenshawe warrior Fury, 35, will enter the ten-rounder on the back of a one-sided beatdown of fellow Brit Derek Chisora last December.
Ngannou, meanwhile, goes into the lucrative showdown following a 21-month layoff after his final defence of the UFC heavyweight throne against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. More

MOSES ITAUMA worries he may never get a Tyson Fury spar after he accidentally cursed some of Britain’s top heavyweight crop.The freakishly-talented 18-year-old is a 6ft 3in silky southpaw, just like WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Moses Itauma is 5-0 as a professional and has sparred almost all of Britain’s best heavyweightsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
So it was wise when Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois drafted him into their camps to prepare for their bouts with the Ukraine genius.
And Joe Joyce called upon the services of the 5-0 Chatham ace in the build-ups to his back-to-back bouts with another rare leftie in Zhilei Zhang.
All three of those brave Londoners lost their bouts, leaving Tyson Fury at the top of the pile and free to have a Saudi showdown with MMA powerhouse Francis Ngannou.
Hopefully it will tee-up an undisputed decider between Usyk and the WBC Gypsy King and Itauma hopes his red-hot form does not deter the Morecambe giant from calling him.
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“I hope the Fury and Usyk fight gets made because then I’m hopeful of getting some rounds in with him,” the Kent wonderkid said.
“But I have started to notice that everyone I have sparred lately for big fights have lost.
“I sparred AJ and Dubois for Usyk and Joyce for Zhang and all five fights have gone the wrong way.
“I don’t know if I am bad luck or if I’m leaving them with a bit of trauma but I hope it doesn’t stop me getting invited anywhere else”
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When Dubois burst onto the scene in 2017 his reputation was boosted by rumours of flooring Joshua in sparring during their days on Team GB in Sheffield.
The hype around Itauma is similar – he started sparring 6ft 6in 38-year-old Joe Joyce when he was still a schoolboy and had to change out of his uniform in the gym.
But rather than boast about beating people in practice rounds, Itauma quietly earns rave reviews from rival fighters and trainers all over the country.
“Sparring stories always go around,” he said.
“I can’t complain because a lot of my early praise has come from sparring partners like Lawrence Okolie, Joshua, Joyce and Dubois bigging me up.
“Sparring is not fighting but it still shows skills and is the best way to learn so I want to mix with everyone and Fury is really the only big one I haven’t sparred.
“I get tips from everyone I work with, I appreciate everyone who invites me in because they are all ahead of me in their careers so far but I want to get where they are.” More