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    I’m nicknamed ‘farm boy’ for very specific reason… but now I’m set to make my professional boxing debut

    BOXING star Edward Hardy balances haymakers and hay bales.The 22-year-old competes in his first professional bout against Engel Gomez tonight in Sheffield.Edward Hardy launches his pro career in Sheffield tonightCredit: BBCThe boxer works as a farmer when he is not in the ringCredit: BBCThe two-time amateur national champion reckons his work on the farm makes him a better boxerCredit: BBCHe has been nicknamed ‘The Farm Boy’Credit: BBCHardy trains at Sheffield’s Steel City GymCredit: BBCYorkshire-born Hardy has risen through the amateur ranks and is a two-time national champion.And the secret to the fighter’s success is his work on the family farm.The super bantamweight is a fourth generation farmer and has been nicknamed “The Farm Boy” – even having the slogan written on his shorts.His barn doubles up as a gym and a place to keep all his machinery, with Hardy confident that he punches above his weight due to his efforts on the land.READ MORE IN BOXINGHe told the BBC: “It keeps me fit when I am going round the yard. “I’m working, I’m busy and active so it gives me that physical strength over an opponent who is just training.”But despite launching his pro career, Hardy has no plans to ditch his double life, saying: “I want to be a professional boxer and work my way up to the top, winning many titles.”But I also want to keep farming as well because I enjoy it, it is my passion and I have been brought up with it. Hopefully I can keep it working side-by-side.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHis father James got him into boxing at the age of eight and he calls Ricky Hatton his biggest inspiration.Hardy gets a few hours off his shift every day to head to Sheffield’s Steel City Gym or to use the makeshift one on the farm.Inside Tyson Fury’s Morecambe mansionHe revealed: “We have got a pull-up bar in one of the sheds, a rope dangling from one of the ceilings and a few old tyres to do my strength and conditioning – they weigh a bit.”I’ll be doing a job, pull off for a few sets of pull-ups, then carry on.”Hardy has turned pro after missing out on a place at the Paris Olympics with Team GB.’Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fightDANIEL DUBOIS annihilated Anthony Joshua’s dream of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.Joshua was floored FOUR times as Dubois landed an astonishing fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers to retain his IBF belt.AJ, 34, never recovered after being downed in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain showdown as a huge Dubois right-hand haymaker caught him flush on the chin.Here’s what they said after the fight:DANIEL DUBOIS“Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator, a warrior to the bitter end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this game.“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. I’m not gonna stop until I reach my full potential.”ANTHONY JOSHUA“As p***ed off as I am, it is what it is.“I had a sharp, fast opponent and there were a lot of mistakes from me. Credit to my opponent and his team.“We rolled the dice and came up short. You know I’m p***ed but I’m going to keep cool and give respect to my opponent.”FRANK WARREN (DUBOIS’ PROMOTER)“It was a phenomenal fight, like  Hagler v Hearns.“A brilliant fight and everybody has seen a champion’s performance tonight.“Daniel has shown his courage, his skills.“AJ caught him with a shot towards the end and I was worried, but what a fabulous, fantastic fight.”EDDIE HEARN (AJ’S PROMOTER)“AJ shipped a huge right hand  in the first round and  was fighting on heart.“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth, but got greedy and walked on to a right hand and that’s all she wrote.“I’m sure Anthony will exercise the rematch clause.” More

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    Chris Eubank’s son Joseph found not guilty of dragging girl, 16, along beach and raping her

    CHRIS Eubank’s son has been found not guilty of dragging a teen girl across a beach and raping her.Joseph Eubank, 27, was accused of attacking the 16-year-old near Brighton Pier on July 16, 2022.Joseph Eubank has been cleared of raping a teen girlCredit: Dan Jessup / Eddie MitchellHe then allegedly messaged her, saying: “Hey pup, are you ready for round two?”Eubank was today found not guilty to two counts of rape following a trial.Lewes Crown Court was told the girl had been out celebrating a birthday with friends before they became separated.She said she was “very drunk”, had lost her phone and was desperately trying to find it to call her friends.Eubank then approached the teen girl, who was stood near the seafront, because he found her attractive.He allegedly dragged her down across the pebbled beach under the pretence of “going to look at the moon”.She claimed in her evidence that he became “aggressive” and forced himself on her near the water,The distraught girl said she managed to call a friend and was found “hysterical, confused and very upset” a short time later.Most read in BoxingEubank admitted he engaged in sexual activity with the alleged victim but said it was “all very fluent and very consensual”.He also claimed the teen looked “completely sober” as they chatted near the beach.Following his acquittal, Judge Christine Laing KC told Eubank: “You need to reflect on what you did that night.”It was not decent behaviour in any way shape or form.”Joseph Eubank is the youngest son of Chris Eubank Sr, who held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles between 1990 and 1995.His brother Chris Jr is also a professional boxer and has fought the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.Eubank had claimed the sex was consensualCredit: Dan Jessup / Eddie MitchellEubank, left, with his boxer dad and brother Chris Jr More

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    Watch Tommy Fury ‘break every part of his leg’ after being kicked ELEVEN times by UFC legend Tom Aspinall

    TOMMY FURY joked he “broke every part of his leg” after being kicked 11 times by UFC champion Tom Aspinall.The Love Island star and boxer appeared in the mixed martial artist’s latest YouTube video.Tommy Fury joked he ‘broke every part of his leg’ after being kicked by Tom AspinallCredit: YouTube / Tom Aspinall OfficialThe UFC champion unleashed 11 leg kicks on Fury in a dead leg challengeCredit: YouTube / Tom Aspinall OfficialFury took on Aspinall’s dead leg challenge by taking a series of leg kicks at increasing levels of power and strength.Starting without padding or shin guards for protection, Fury took Aspinall’s leg kick at 10 per cent power.Aspinall is the current UFC interim heavyweight champion after successfully defending his belt at UFC 304 in July.The English fighter secured a 60-second knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes to avenge his only loss in the promotion.READ MORE IN BOXINGHe suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into their previous meeting two years prior which left him unable to continue.That injury is now well behind Aspinall, though, as he showed with his leg kicks on Fury.After his fourth effort at 40 per cent strength, Fury was left wincing as he limped away holding his thigh, quipping: “He’s broke every inch of my leg.”He was able to psych himself up for the next stage before joking: “Who the hell wakes up on a Monday morning and thinks ‘do you know what I’m going to go and do this.’”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFury continued to 60 per cent, when he admitted: “Oh he’s broke my leg. Oh it’s broke,” after another crushing blow.Aspinall added that the unbeaten cruiserweight had set a new personal best in the challenge before topping the leaderboard by taking a kick at 65 per cent power.Tommy Fury ‘BOOED by whole of Wembley’ after split from Molly-Mae at AJ fightFury began taking kicks at 10 per cent strength before Aspinall increased the powerCredit: YouTube / Tom Aspinall OfficialBy 50 per cent power Fury was forced to psych himself up to continueCredit: YouTube / Tom Aspinall OfficialThe pair continued with a few more kicks with Fury holding a pad over his legs and Aspinall wearing a shin guard.However, he removed it for the final kick at 90 per cent power, prompting Fury to say: “That’s enough, no more,” before falling to the floor in agony.Fury’s appearance in the video comes after he was spotted at last weekend’s fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.The 25-year-old was booed by the crowd as he appeared on the big screen at Wembley Stadium.It comes after his split from Molly-Mae Hague after five years together.The couple confirmed they had ended their relationship last month, having first met on Love Island in 2019.Fury is currently unbeaten as a professional at 10-0 but has not fought since beating KSI in October 2023.READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile, Aspinall’s MMA record stands at 15-3 following his win over Blaydes earlier this year.His next appearance in the octagon has yet to be confirmed, though, as he awaits the outcome of November’s title bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.Aspinall added a pad and shin guard to show off his 90 per cent strength leg kickCredit: YouTube / Tom Aspinall OfficialFury was left rolling around in pain by the end of the challengeCredit: YouTube / Tom Aspinall Official More

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    Fans fear for boxing legend who’s set to make return to the ring aged 53 and say ‘this is sad’

    FANS have expressed their fear for boxing legend Shane Mosley ahead of his return to the ring aged 53.American icon Mosley competed between 1993 to 2016 and is now training YouTuber Jake Paul.Shane Mosley is returning to the ring, leaving fans worriedHe’s taking on Bob Kofroth in the ‘Celebrity Boxing’ eventMosley was a world champion in three weight classes during his primeCredit: AP:Associated PressHis pro boxing record ended with a score of 61-49-10.And Mosley became a multiple world champion in THREE classes — lightweight, welterweight and light-middleweight.Mosley’s stock was so high that he won several ‘Fighter of the Year’ awards, while also being crowned the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer three times.Mosley’s career saw him beat the likes of Ricardo Mayorga and Oscar De La Hoya.READ MORE ON BOXINGBut a number of defeats late on in his career, including against Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez, saw him walk away from boxing eight years ago.However, Mosley is stepping back in the ring tomorrow night as part of the “Celebrity Boxing” circuit.He is fighting a coach called Bob Kofroth, with Mosley telling fans: “Make sure you watch my fight on September 28.”However, fans were left concerned by Mosley’s message, with one even claiming the American was “slurring” his words.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe fan said: “Wow, Shane Mosley is really slurring his words. There’s no need to be taking punches again at 53.”Another declared: “He needs to knock it off. The last time he fought he was a hollow shell.”Jake Paul to wear ‘the most expensive fight shorts ever’ with ring attire for Mike Tyson bout to cost $1MILLIONMosley fought and beat icons including Oscar De La HoyaCredit: AP:Associated PressHe couldn’t get the better of stars including Floyd Mayweather Jr during his later daysCredit: GettyOne noted: “Please don’t fight, Shane. You’ve got nothing left to prove.”Another added: “This isn’t boxing, this is sad.”Speaking about his fight with Mosley, opponent Kofroth said: “I feel like my situation is almost like a Rocky story.“I came from nothing. A lot of people don’t know anything about me, I got a huge opportunity.“I grew up watching him and I know a little about him. I’ll keep everything else to myself.“I love boxing, I feel like a true boxer and fighter, and I want to go toe-to-toe with someone who’s done it with the best.” More

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    Charlie Edwards vs Thomas Essomba: UK start time, live stream FREE, TV channel and undercard for European title fight

    CHARLIE EDWARDS is looking to win European gold this Friday night as he takes on Thomas Essomba for the EBU belt. Edwards is a former flyweight world champion but in recent years has found himself in various domestic clashes. Charlie Edwards is a former flyweight world championCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut now he faces a step up once again as he takes on Cameroonian Essomba, who, incidentally, is managed by Edwards’ brother Sunny. The brothers will be on different sides for the first time in their careers, but it won’t stop either man from trying to come away with a big victory on fight night. Doors open at 5.30pm and features a stacked undercard with Germaine Brown, Jesse Brandon and Joel Bartell also in action.When is Edwards vs Essomba?Edwards’ clash against Essomba takes place on Friday, September 27. The fight will be held at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London. The main event will get going from around 10pm BST, with the main card to start at 6pm. What channel is it and can it be live streamed?Edwards vs Essomba will be shown live on Channel 5 in the UK. You can live stream all of the action from the My5 app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device. Edwards vs Essomba undercardThomas Essomba vs. Charlie EdwardsGermaine Brown vs. Grant DennisJesse Brandon vs. Miguel Angel NunezJoel Bartell vs. Nikolas DzurnakBrandan Olbrechts vs. Brayan MairenaHannah Robinson vs. Laura ReoyoTom Welland vs. Darwing MartinezDanny Boardman vs. Yin CaicedoHasnan Ali vs. TBS More

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    Anthony Joshua has ‘gone backwards’ and ‘hasn’t got right team around him’ says Brit boxing legend who wants BIG changes

    ANTHONY JOSHUA needs a “big shakeup” because he’s gone “backwards” with the wrong team around him, claims Carl Froch.Joshua, 34, suffered a devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in five rounds in front of a British-record 98,000 fans last week at Wembley.Anthony Joshua needs to change his team after ‘very strange’ advice from trainer Ben DavidsonCredit: GettyFroch claims Joshua has gone ‘backwards’ since leaving former trainer Rob McCrackenJoshua suffered a devastating knockout defeat against Daniel DuboisCredit: GettyAnd boxing legend Froch insists big changes are in order if AJ wants a rematch with Dubois as he hasn’t evolved since leaving former trainer Rob McCracken.The Brit star, though, is not ruling out a major comeback and a third world heavyweight championship for Joshua.Froch said on his YouTube channel Froch on Fighting: “My point is, he’s gone backwards since leaving Rob McCracken.”And if he’s gonna move forward and come back and have a rematch with Daniel Dubois then I don’t think he’s got the right team around him.Read More on Boxing”He needs a big shakeup in the team, he needs to make changes and – before that – get his head right and then go for it because he’s in the twilight of his career now”I’m not saying he can’t come back and he can’t go on to become a three-time world champion but it’s gonna be a tough mountain to climb.”Froch also criticised Joshua’s trainer Ben Davidson’s “very strange” advice after the fourth round.Davidson told Joshua: “He’s rush stepping in with the jab almost every time unless you’re galloping around.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Slip or bring it up. In behind that double jab, bring it up, roll the dice. Roll the dice!”Froch is adamant that was the wrong advice as it put Joshua in a very dangerous position.Anthony Joshua warned not to repeat tactic that ‘didn’t do s*** for him’ as he’s told to rematch Dubois straight awayThe former world champion added: “At the end of round four, he sat down in his corner and the advice from Ben Davidson was very strange.”Ben Davidson told him to roll the dice, told him to go for it, he wanted AJ to look for the uppercut on his front foot, which is a dangerous punch.”Because when you throw the uppercut at range you leave your chin exposed.”Froch doubled down on his criticism of Davidson insisting his idea to “roll the dice” was “stupid”.The Nottingham bruiser is adamant you can’t follow that tactic against a “big puncher” like Dubois.Froch added: “That’s why the ‘roll the dice’ in round five was a stupid idea, because you’re not going to roll the dice against someone who is a big puncher. READ MORE SUN STORIES”All the heavyweights bang, but Daniel Dubois is known for being an absolute tank with that right hand, if he hits them you see the effect. Anthony Joshua looked like he had been tasered.”Joshua is heading for a rematch with Dubois, who also appears keen, and the fight could take place in Saudi Arabia. More

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    Why Anthony Joshua’s immediate rematch against Daniel Dubois is ‘the end of his career’ after brutal KO loss

    AN immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois would mark the end of Anthony Joshua’s career, claims Carl Froch.The former super-middleweight champion, 47, watched as Joshua was beaten by Dubois via a brutal fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium last Saturday.Anthony Joshua was brutally beaten by Daniel DuboisCredit: ReutersCarl Froch has had his say on Joshua’s futureCredit: YOUTUBE / FROCH ON FIGHTINGSince his defeat, defiant AJ has revealed that he will not retire.He then met with promoter Eddie Hearn and Saudi Arabia boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh to discuss his future.Hearn, 45, went on to reveal that Joshua is set to rematch Dubois, with Alalshikh keen for the fight to happen.Froch, however, believes that this would be a bad move for Joshua’s future prospects.READ MORE IN BOXINGSpeaking on his Froch on Fighting YouTube channel, he said: “There’s talks now of an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois. “I think Eddie Hearn’s keen to chuck him straight back in there, because obviously Anthony Joshua is Eddie’s big cash cow, let’s be honest.”He’s back in the driving seat if AJ can rectify that run. But for me, I think that’s a bad fight.”An immediate rematch, Daniel Dubois is licking his lips, saying ‘I wasn’t happy with my performance, I think I can finish Anthony Joshua even earlier’.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”And he will come confident. First fight he went in he wasn’t sure if he belonged there. “He’d been elevated to IBF champion after beating (Filip) Hrgovic, so does he belong at world level? “Now he knows he belongs at world level, he knows what he can do to Anthony Joshua when he clips him on the chin.”An immediate rematch, for me, is the end of Anthony Joshua’s career, and I don’t think that should be happening.”On what he would advise Joshua to do, Froch added: “Then you’ve got to look down the ladder and see who’s next.Anthony Joshua warned not to repeat tactic that ‘didn’t do s*** for him’ as he’s told to rematch Dubois straight away”You’ve got (Martin) Bakole, you’ve got Zhilei Zhang, big puncher – you’ve got Joseph Parker who’s on a bit of a crest of a wave after his Deontay Wilder win.”They’re three fights there, those opponents would be going against Anthony Joshua really sticking it on him – and if he loses to one of them that’s definitely the end of him – even more so than if he gets flattened again by Dubois.”Froch then went on to mention Dillian Whyte as another possibility, before raising a different option altogether.”Maybe the smart move is to sit back and wait, and not fight, see how the landscape changes, see what happens with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.”READ MORE SUN STORIESFroch claimed that if the Gypsy King were to lose to Usyk again when they rematch on December 21, that he could be the opponent for Joshua.He added that the bout would surely provide another big Wembley pay day, before AJ could “sail off into the sunset”.Round by round: How Dubois demolished JoshuaANTHONY JOSHUA bravely picked himself up from the floor against Daniel Dubois – until he could no more.AJ was floored four times in five rounds by Dubois before a thudding counter right closed the show in dramatic fashion.Here, SunSport’s Jack Figg takes you round-by-round from the Wembley war.ROUND 1Dubois comes out sharp with the jab as Joshua bounces around struggling to deal with the piston-like left.Huge right hand from Dubois has AJ staggering backwards with his hands far too low from the opening bell.Joshua made to pay for the mistake as he circles out with his hands down and gets dropped by an overhand right.ROUND 2Joshua – saved only by the bell after being floored – struggles to get going as he takes shots to the face.AJ is tottering and teetering around the ring with his guard again dangerously low and inviting pressure on.Joshua is attempting to get back into the bout but his jab looks far too lazy – he doesn’t look to have recovered from the knockdown.ROUND 3AJ comes out with more intent but swings wildly with a right and connects with only thin air.Dubois pours on the pressure and hammers Joshua into the corner scoring another knockdown.The bell sounds but Dubois lands one or two afterwards – again AJ is saved by the clock as the writing looks on the wall.ROUND 4Disaster strikes again with Joshua floored once more – losing his balance as he touches the canvas.The referee gives AJ another fighting chance and Dubois lands a low blow – giving the challenger some valuable respite.Dubois slows down as four rounds come to a close with Joshua showing sensational resilience to hang in there.ROUND 5Joshua lands a huge right hand and Dubois legs buckle – an astonishing turnaround looks to be on the cards.AJ pins Dubois onto the ropes and attempts one of his signature uppercuts but the countering right hand gets there first.Joshua is caught flush on the chin, dropped once more and this time out for good. Dubois scores a stunning KO win. More

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    Anthony Joshua officially PLUMMETS down world rankings as his new rank is revealed after Daniel Dubois defeat

    ANTHONY JOSHUA has plummeted down the WBO world rankings after his defeat to Daniel Dubois last weekend.AJ was knocked out in five rounds by Dubois under the Wembley arch, casting doubt over his future in boxing.Anthony Joshua has plummeted down the WBO world rankings after his defeat to Daniel DuboisCredit: GettyAJ was knocked out by Dubois in the fifth round of the Wembley boutCredit: GettyJoshua, 34, went into the fight as the world no.1 and hot favourite to beat Dubois in front of 95,000 fans.But the experienced pro was thrown around the ring, being knocked down four times in five rounds.And his defeat to Dubois has seen him drop SIX PLACES in the world rankings down to seventh place.AJ doesn’t seem deterred by his lacklustre efforts against follow Brit Dubois.READ MORE ON BOXINGInstead, the two-time world champion has insisted that he won’t be hanging up his gloves any time soon.Speaking in a video to his fans earlier this week, he said: “It’s about making the right steps forward and working hard.”Keep your seatbelts on because deep, deep, down in [my heart], I know we’ve got a lot more to bring.”British Boxing I appreciate you and let’s rise up together.”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThat return to the ring could well be in a bid for revenge with a rematch against Dubois looking increasingly likely.Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at a rematch with Triple D in the near future with AJ still contracted to one more fight with Saudi Arabia boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season.Anthony Joshua confirms retirement decision following shock loss to Daniel Dubois as he sends video message to fansHearn told talkSPORT: “Rematch clauses come in many different forms.”We have a fight with Riyadh Season. One of our options is to fight Daniel Dubois again, and our contract is with them.”His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] will deal with Frank and Daniel and make that fight happen. The terms will have to be agreed with them.”We have already agreed our terms, we have the option to rematch with Dubois.”Our meetings with His Excellency, he wants the rematch. AJ will always want the rematch.”Daniel wants the rematch too it’s the biggest fight for him and they will fancy it.”Eddie Hearn has hinted at a rematch between AJ and DuboisCredit: Reuters More