Boxing

GARY NEWBON got the interview of his life with boxing icon Muhammad Ali – but little did he know it would almost end it. MBE Newbon is a sports broadcaster of over seven decades and has spoken to some of the world’s biggest superstars.
Broadcaster Gary Newbon interviewing Muhammad Ali
But none came as huge as his interview with boxing’s “Greatest” outside a Ladbrokes store in the centre of Birmingham.
Although it almost ended in disaster.
Newbon recalled to the Daily Mail: “They stopped the traffic and I’m interviewing him when a woman lost control of her car, hit the wrong pedal and hit me.
“I was thrown right up in the air. My film crew were so frozen with horror they never filmed it.
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“They thought I was going to die and Peter Lorenzo, a famous journalist who was doing PR for Ladbrokes, didn’t want me to die under the sign and pulled me into the shop.”
Newbon named former British boxing champion Chris Eubank as one of the biggest influences in his career.
He said: “I owe my career on screen to four people.
“Clough, Ferguson, Greaves and Chris Eubank. They had the biggest impact. Eubank would drive me crazy at times but he was box office.”
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Newbon reflected on how Eubank made the broadcaster a boxing aficionado overnight.
He said: “I went into his suite and he’s reclining on a chaise longue, and we talked and at the end he asked how many of his fights I’d covered.
“It was 16, and he said, “What do you remember most?
“I said, “Well, I’m grateful to you Chris because after the last fight I paid you a compliment and you said it meant a lot coming from somebody as knowledgeable and steeped in boxing, so over the course of your 16 fights I’ve gone from knowing f*** all to being an absolute expert”. 
“He laughed so much he fell off his chaise longue and nearly twisted an ankle, the fight was nearly off.”
Newbon interviewed some of sport’s top starsCredit: Rex More

HEAVYWEIGHT Mark De Mori was once knocked out by David Haye – now he is vowing to rupture spleens on Anthony Joshua’s undercard. De Mori in 2016 welcomed Haye back to the ring after the British legend spent four years out.
David Haye beat Mark de Mori in 2016Credit: Action Images – Reuters
And the Australian was blasted out within a round at the O2 arena – but he has since recorded 11 consecutive wins.
It has earned him a slot on the December 23 super-card headlined by Joshua against Otto Wallin with Deontay Wilder also fighting Joseph Parker.
De Mori takes on unbeaten Filip Hrgovic and set out a brutal warning to the Croatian powerhouse.
He said: “I’ve got 11 wins in a row, ten by knockout. I’m aware they haven’t been in the same class as Filip Hrgovic.
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“I’ve always watched his career, I’m very aware he’s very talented, he hits hard, he’s got a good chin.
“But any human being that I fight, I’m going to try rupture his spleen, I’m going to attack his body.
“I’m not going to sit on the end of my jab and try and win a 12 round fight against a guy of that hype.
“I’m looking for a very violent first four rounds and what will be will be but I’m there to try and fight and I’m there to try and expose something.
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“I’m very aware he’s a very good, strong fighter I’ve watched him but I’m there to try.
“I’m going to try in those first four rounds and let those hands fly.”
Hrgovic is the IBF mandatory challenger for the belt held by Oleksandr Usyk, 36, which will be defended against Tyson Fury, 35.
But after the historic first four-belt unification, Hrgovic, 31, will be mandatory to fight the winner.
If Fury and Usyk are to rematch, they could be stripped of the IBF belt with Hrgovic either inheriting the title or challenging for it.
So De Mori, 41, could be in line for an unexpected world title reign if he is to pull of the upset in Saudi.
Filip Hrgovic facing off with Mark De MoriCredit: PA More

EDDIE HEARN and Frank Warren came face to face for the first time EVER after years of bitter promotional feuding. The two boxing matchmakers have spent an age going at each other with verbal onslaughts in interviews.
Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren coming face to faceCredit: X @MichaelBensonn
But the two have been brought together by Turki Al-Alshikh of Saudi Arabia, who is putting on a huge event on December 23.
It sees Anthony Joshua, 34, fight Otto Wallin, 32, with Deontay Wilder, 38, also in action on the same night against Joseph Parker, 31.
Both Hearn and Warren are promoting the show and fans were stunned as they shared the stage and even shared a laugh and joke.
One said: “Wow miracles do happen.”
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Another added: “Wilder and AJ shaking hands, Frank and Eddie laughing and joking. What a time to be alive.”
One commented: “The face off we all wanted.”
Hearn admitted he was happy to see grudges put aside in the interest of business.
He said: “That was the first time I met Frank tonight which is ridiculous really but I think we all understand how good this is for our business, our fighters and the sport.
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“Everything else is left at the door for now, I’m sure the rivalry will continue but who knows?
“It wasn’t really awkward at all. I’m not sure I’m on the Christmas card list but if it benefits Matchroom and for him if it benefits Queensberry I don’t think we are going to jeopardise this opportunity.”
Warren added: “I have nothing to park, I’m good as gold and doing what I want to do which is putting these fights together.
“I’m as happy as you can be. Why wouldn’t I be? We will work together don’t you worry about that.”
Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin face off as Hearn and Warren watch onCredit: PA

🥊ANTHONY JOSHUA VS OTTO WALLIN: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF THRILLING SAUDI CLASH🥊 More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is already at work with Tyson Fury’s former coach Ben Davison ahead of his fight against Otto Wallin. AJ returns on December 23 in Saudi Arabia on the same night Deontay Wilder faces Joseph Parker.
Anthony Joshua training with Ben Davison
Joshua has been cornered by Texan Derrick James for his last two bouts, beating Jermaine Franklin on points and a knockout of Robert Helenius.
But James is already in training camp with Ryan Garcia, who fights Oscar Duarte on December 2.
As a result, Joshua has decided to remain in the UK and has temporarily linked up with Davison.
The young coach made his name guiding Fury, 35, back to the ring in 2018 following the heavyweight’s battle with depression.
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And he has since trained world champions in Billy Joe Saunders, Josh Taylor and currently Leigh Wood.
Joshua, 34, and Wilder, 38, were involved in a press conference to announce their massive show.
But straight after, AJ got into the gym with Davison and worked on power shots – much to the delight of fans.
One said: “This looks scary AJ using his power puts anyone to sleep early.”
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Another added: “I just need my old AJ back. One of the best powerful combinations punchers.”
One commented: “Now this is what I wanna be seeing.”
Another said: “He looked… calm, focused and relaxed looks like he means business.. can’t wait.”
Joshua facing off with Otto WallinCredit: Getty More

DEONTAY WILDER has accused Anthony Joshua of previously turning down a multi-million pound fight offer. The pair of heavyweight rivals have failed in the past to get a deal over the line for a blockbuster bout.
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder with Turki Alalshikh of Saudi ArabiaCredit: Reuters
In 2018, Joshua publicly stated in an interview that he would accept the fight for $50million (£40m).
And Wilder claimed at the time that his team provided the funds but it was still turned down.
Now, the American has maintained this was still the case five years later.
He told the Daily Mail: “He asked for $50million and we provided that for him and he did not take it.
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“And the only way you can disregard that is to make a mockery of it, try to make a joke of it, try to make it seem to the public that it’s not real.”
Joshua explained that the $50m offer came with contractual obligations he did not deem worth the money.
He said to iFL TV in 2018: “It’s a hell of a lot of money and it was an honour to even have that number thrown at me.
“But then when you dissected it and what it actually it was, it was kind of like a rights fee – ‘We own you for this amount of money’.
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“The issue I had was that I’ve got long-standing contracts in place with certain partnerships.
“So you may put that money forward and think that you own me 100 per cent but you may only own 50 per cent so that makes their 50 per cent worth 25 per cent.
“So when you start getting into the intricacies of a contract and what the real value is, that’s when that starts taking place.
“So the $50m was unbelievable, it’s a great number, but there are things in place that don’t make that $50m worth it to the person paying it.”
The superstar duo are now finally lined up to fight as they return on the same card in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
Joshua, 34, headlines the Riyadh card against Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin, 32.
And Wilder, 38, faces former WBO world champion Joseph Parker, 31, who AJ dethroned in 2018.
Should they both win, it is expected a two-fight deal will then follow for the American and Brit to meet in Saudi.
Joshua on stage with Wilder, Otto Wallin and Jarrell MillerCredit: Reuters More

ANTHONY JOSHUA raged at old rival Jarrell Miller and brutally put down announcer Dev Sahni in an entertaining press conference in London.Joshua, 34, will take on Swede Otto Wallin, 32, in the Middle East on December 23 – part of a blockbuster show that also sees ex-world heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker face off.
Anthony Joshua was furious with Jarrell Miller as they traded insultsCredit: TNT Sports

Miller and Joshua were due to fight in 2019 before the American’s failed drug testsCredit: TNT Sports
But it was disgraced drug cheat Miller, 35, who will take on Brit Daniel Dubois on the undercard, that stirred a reaction in Joshua.
AJ and Miller were set to clash in New York in 2019 before Miller failed three drug tests.
Andy Ruiz Jr stepped in to take the bout and knocked out Joshua to hand him his first professional loss.
And a fight between Joshua and Miller has never materialised since then.
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However, the trash talk the pair exchanged four years ago was not forgotten at the London press conference on Wednesday.
When asked about the other heavyweights on the card, Miller said: “They can all kiss my black a**. Deontay, any of them. I don’t like any of them motherf***ers.”
He then went on to add: “I tell you one thing for a fact, AJ don’t want no smoke with Deontay.”
Joshua snapped back: “Shut the f*** up. Don’t start with me, you know, Miller. Miller, don’t start with me. You know I’ll come over there and slap you.
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Dev Sahni, left, also felt the wrath of Joshua at the press conferenceCredit: Getty
“I see you brought your mum here again.”
Miller continued: “We all know he don’t want no smoke with Deontay. As much as I don’t like Deontay, I know Deontay will put that motherf***er in the grave.
“So I’ll make it easy for you. You can fight Deontay and go to the grave or fight me and go to the hospital. Either way you get your a** whooped, so pick your poison.”
Miller rambled on, before Joshua intervened to say: “You are doing nothing bro. Miller, watch your mouth.”
Miller then ended the exchange by saying: “Man the f*** up and fight somebody with a heartbeat, bro.”
But that was not the only altercation Joshua had on the stage.
Announcer Dev Sahni, who works for promoter Frank Warren – a rival of AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn, asked Joshua about Miller.
To which he responded: “F*** Miller.”
Sahni then said: “But I do think you’ll fight Miller one day.”
Joshua then savagely replied: “You ain’t my promoter to decide what I’m gonna do with my career.”
Later in the presser, Sahni then attempted to ask Joshua another question.
To which an irked AJ said: “Why isn’t Eddie asking me questions.”
Joshua then turned to Hearn – who was sat next to him – and added: “You’re my promoter.”
Hearn then proceeded to ask Joshua questions as the situation was diffused.
Joshua has beaten Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius in 2023 – bouncing back from two defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.
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His next opponent, Wallin, has won 26 of his 27 fights – with his only defeat coming at the hands of Tyson Fury in 2019 in a clash that saw him cut The Gypsy King, leaving the champion a bloody mess.
Joshua and Wilder have saved Saudi’s December 23 card after the undisputed clash between Usyk and Fury set for that date was pushed back to 2024. More