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      Adebayo Akinfenwa set for professional wrestling debut just five months after retiring from football

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      FOOTBALL cult hero Adebayo Akinfenwa is set for his professional wrestling debut next week, just five months after retiring.Akinfenwa, 40, rolled credits on a 21-year career in May after the League One play-off final, which saw his Wycome Wanderers side lose 2-0 to Sunderland at Wembley.
      Ex-Wycome Wanderers star Adebayo Akinfenwa retired from football in MayCredit: Getty
      Adebayo Akinfenwa is set to cross over to professional wrestling next week
      The heavyweight athlete, most famous as one of the largest strikers in the EFL, has now crossed over to the world of wrestling and will appear on British promotion PROGRESS Wrestling on October 23.
      The ex-AFC Wimbledon star will accompany Olympic boxing star Anthony Ogogo for his fight against Malik at PROGRESS Chapter 145 – Wrestling Witch Face – Trick or Treat at Camden’s Electric Ballroom.
      The former centre-forward has always been a fan of the sport and decided to give it a go because he is always open to “new experiences”.
      Akinfenwa told the Mail: “I was always asked when I was coming to retirement what I was looking to do and the response was always new experiences.
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      “I was lucky enough to do the thing I love for 22 years but it was a profession. When you retire, it’s just freedom and experiences. It’s always been in the background because of my love for wrestling. I’ve known Anthony Ogogo for a while, years.
      “We came across each other when he was a boxer and stayed in contact and the wrestling thing never went away. He unfortunately couldn’t box anymore and he found that love with wrestling and he hit me up and said: ‘Listen, you want to try a few bits?’
      ‘When you find something that you enjoy it makes it a little bit easier. But then the mindset is to try new things and if it lands, it lands. I enjoy it, I’ve enjoyed the workouts, I enjoy that it’s intense.”
      Akinfenwa trained with WWE superstar Sheamus last month ahead of the wrestling giants’ Clash at the Castle event in Cardiff.
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      And the former Wycombe star – famous for his toughness – admits the sport, although choreographed, is very “real” and it “hurts”.
      Akinfenwa added: “I tried it, and I ain’t going to lie, it hurts. Anybody that watched me play football knows that when I went down it took me a while to get up, and it takes me even longer to get up in wrestling when I try to move.
      “The training is training, but there are different body things that hurt. Normally I’m the person that pushes people on the floor, but I’m finding myself going on the floor a lot more now. I enjoy my weights, I still do the bike.
      “I’m working for BT and they cover wrestling. They know I enjoy wrestling and he was coming over. I enjoyed the workout with him, it’s funny because there’s an element of entertainment but when you’re in the gym it’s real work, and that’s what it was.
      “I’ve talked to Anthony, I’ve seen him have surgery. It’s real. Regardless of the entertainment that goes in, you get injured. You will see the statement: “Don’t do this at home”, and you have to practice, you have to work on it, you have to know that you are going to get injured somewhere down the line, that was a conversation we had.
      “That’s the thing people sometimes don’t understand. Broken ribs, broken shoulder, broken eye socket, that’s stuff that happens in the sport. Even me, you have to do your due diligence, it really isn’t like anyone can do it and I am really seeing that.”
      Adebayao Akinfenwa trained with WWE superstar Sheamus last month
      Adebayao Akinfenwa admits pro wrestling is real and the training hurts More

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      Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel, undercard for undisputed clash

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      CLARESSA SHIELDS and Savannah Marshall will end their war of words in a huge undisputed middleweight title clash THIS WEEKEND. The fight has been 10 YEARS in the making – and has now been given a new date.
      Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall will face off in London
      Marshall is the only fighter to beat Shields inside a boxing ring – by securing a decision win when the two fought as amateurs in 2012.
      And Marshall’s trainer Peter Fury has warned that his charge – who has knocked out 10 of her 12 opponents in the pro ranks – is the most powerful puncher in women’s boxing.
      Fury said: “She’s got devastating power in both hands. By far the hardest female puncher in history, going back and forward.
      “I’ve got somebody who’s six foot, who can make various weights with ease, which is a gift in itself, who’s as bodily strong as some men, with weights, cardio.
      “She’s a gifted athlete. The best of Savannah will be too much for anybody.”
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      When is Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall?
      Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall now takes place on Saturday, October 15.
      The card was postponed from September 10 in a mark of respect for The Queen, who died aged 96 two days prior on September 8.
      The fight ring walks will not before 9.40pm, with the undercard kicking off from 6.30pm.
      London’s O2 Arena plays host to the show which is still set to be an historic all-female card.
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      What live stream and TV channel is Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall on?
      Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event.
      Sky Sports begin their coverage of the show from 7.30pm.
      Marshall beat Shields in the amateurs in May 2012 – Shields’ ONLY boxing loss
      Who is fighting on the undercard?
      Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner for the undisputed super-featherweight titles is the co-main for the stacked O2 card.
      Elsewhere, Olympians Lauren Price and Karriss Artingstall also feature on the historic all-female bill.

      Savannah Marshall v Claressa Shields – for WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, WBF and The Ring middleweight titles
      Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner – for WBC, WBO, IBO, IBF, and The Ring super featherweight titles
      Caroline Dubois vs Milena Koleva
      Ebonie Jones vs Vanesa Caballero
      Ginny Fuchs vs Gemma Ruegg
      Lauren Price vs Timea Belik
      Karriss Artingstall vs Marina Sakharov
      April Hunter vs Erica Juana Gabriela Alvarez
      Sarah Liegmann vs Bec Connolly
      Shannon Ryan vs Buchra El Quaissi 

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      Tyson Fury’s old rival Otto Wallin ‘in talks to fight Anthony Joshua’ as Battle of Britain hopes collapse

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA is reportedly in talks to face Tyson Fury’s former opponent Otto Wallin.The Brit, 32, suffered a second defeat in a row and third of his professional career back in August when Oleksandr Usyk defeated him in their rematch in Saudi Arabia.
      Joshua is expected to return to the ring in DecemberCredit: Getty
      Wallin’s only defeat in 25 professional bouts came against FuryCredit: Getty
      Joshua’s loss left him without any world heavyweight title belts as Usyk retained his IBF, WBA and WBO straps, while Fury holds the WBC.
      Yet despite his poor bargaining position, AJ was surprisingly offered the chance to fight Fury in an all-British clash on December 3.
      Joshua agreed to a 60/40 split in favour of The Gypsy King, but negotiations then broke down after Fury set a deadline for the fight to be signed.
      When it wasn’t, he declared he was moving on to other opponents.
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      Fury now appears set to take on Derek Chisora in a trilogy bout in Cardiff on December 3.
      Meanwhile, Wallin, who lost to Fury by unanimous decision in September 2019, has claimed his team have been contacted by Joshua’s representatives ahead of a potential clash.
      Speaking to iDBoxing, the Swedish heavyweight, 31, said: “They’ve been in touch, Dmitry [Salita] and Eddie Hearn have talked about it.
      “I don’t know what the latest is now, but I know they’ve spoken before about it and I think Dmitry was told that they were going to wait for the Fury and Joshua negotiations.
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      “I haven’t got any update lately, but I would love that fight, that would be really good for me I think and I know Joshua pretty well, he knows me and that would be a good fight.”
      Joshua’s expected return date is December 17 as he searches for a first win in two years.
      He has lost three of his last five fights – with wins against Andy Ruiz Jr and Kubrat Pulev coming among defeats to Ruiz and Usyk twice.
      Wallin has a record of 24 wins and one defeat – with that blemish coming against Fury.
      His best victories have come against the likes of Travis Kauffman and Dominic Breazeale.
      Fury is closing in on a bout with Chisora on December 3Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      Kell Brook slams Conor Benn as DISGRACEFUL after failed drugs test and teases Chris Eubank Jr fight despite retirement

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      KELL BROOK has branded Conor Benn “disgraceful” after the welterweight failed a drugs test ahead of his fight with Chris Eubank Jr.Benn’s catchweight clash with rival Eubank Jr was axed when it was revealed traces of female fertility drug clomifene had been found in a test with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency.
      Kell Brook has given his verdict on Conor BennCredit: Getty
      Benn’s fight with Chris Eubank Jr was axed after the former failed a drug testCredit: PA
      The 26-year-old broke his silence on Wednesday, writing on social media: “I hope the apology is as loud as the disrespect.”
      Promoter Eddie Hearn has also urged fans to give Benn time to clear his name.
      But Brook, 36, has given a damning verdict on Benn after his failed test.
      When asked about Benn, Brook told iFL TV: “Disgraceful. He’s turned the boxing world upside down. It brings a negative light on boxing.
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      “To see that happen with Conor Benn… He needs to explain how that’s ended up in his system, bottom line. We’re waiting for this statement.”
      SunSport understands UK Anti-Doping will launch a formal probe into Benn’s failed test.
      Brook, who retired in May after beating Amir Khan earlier in the year, also teased a potential bout with Eubank Jr.
      The Sheffield star admitted a showdown with Eubank Jr, 33, “does excite” him, but he will only lace up his gloves again if a fight makes sense financially.
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      Brook said: “It’s a fight [that] does excite me, I won’t lie. If it makes business sense then who knows?
      “But I’m not saying to you now ‘Eubank, be ready I’m coming for you’ – I’m not saying that, I’m saying who knows?
      “If I’m starting to train again and I get that excitement where I want to come back then them fights are there.
      “I left the sport on top, I left the sport the main man in the boxing world. [One of the best] we’ve got in Britain, so I demand what I deserve.” More

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      Oleksandr Usyk gifted brand-new Ring Magazine belt after beating AJ as Fury outlines plans to win it back for THIRD time

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      UNIFIED world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been delivered his shiny new Ring Magazine heavyweight title.Tyson Fury vacated the belt after claiming he had retired in April following his victory over Dillian Whyte, so the title was put on the line in Usyk’s August rematch with Anthony Joshua.
      Oleksandr Usyk has been gifted his new Ring Magazine beltCredit: TWITTER / RING MAGAZINE
      Usyk captured the vacant title by beating Anthony Joshua in their August rematchCredit: TWITTER / RING MAGAZINE
      Tyson Fury vacated the title after claiming he had retired after beating Dillian WhyteCredit: TWITTER / RING MAGAZINE
      Usyk holding the old Ring belt in his right hand after beating Joshua in AugustCredit: EPA
      Ukrainian fighter Usyk, 35, then captured the belt in his split decision victory over AJ.
      And now pictures have emerged of his latest strap, adding to his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles.
      The snazzy new belt bears his name on the front, and also has gold plaques on it marking who he beat and the method of victory, as well as the date and venue of the fight.
      Fury is a two-time holder of the Ring title, having first won it following his upset win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
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      The Gypsy King then lost it during his three-year absence from the ring, before landing it again in his first victory over Deontay Wilder in 2020.
      But Fury is planning on winning the belt back for a third time.
      The 34-year-old WBC champ had been targeting an undisputed bout with Usyk for December, until the Ukrainian put off his return until the New Year.
      British boxing fans were teased by the prospect of a mouthwatering clash between Fury and Joshua, until talks between their respective camps broke down.
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      Instead the Gypsy King is set for a trilogy fight with old pal Derek Chisora on December 3rd.
      He is then eyeing an undisputed meeting with Usyk for early 2023.
      And Fury has claimed Chisora is every bit as dangerous as heavyweight champ Usyk.
      Fury is eyeing an undisputed bout with Usyk in early 2023Credit: Getty More

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      Eddie Hall insists he could win Thor Bjornsson STREET FIGHT and blames loss to Game Of Thrones star on torn biceps

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      EDDIE HALL claims he would win a street fight against rival Thor Bjornsson.The strongman duo took their rivalry to the ring earlier this year, with Thor dominating the Brit in Dubai.
      Thor defeated Eddie Hall in MarchCredit: Probellum
      The strongman duo fought in the heaviest match in historyCredit: Probellum
      Hall, 34, initially chased a quick rematch – only for Thor to claim he would have to wait “two or three years”.
      Reflecting on their rivalry, Hall still reckons that he is the better fighter, despite his defeat in the ring.
      He told the Mirror: “In all brutal honesty, you could tell in the lead up to it that I just wanted to fight Thor anywhere.
      “I wanted him on the street because that’s where I know 100 per cent I can have him, but we ended up fighting in the ring and he got the better of me and that’s that.”
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      Hall was initially meant to fight Thor in September 2021, only for a troublesome bicep injury to delay the fight.
      By the time the rearranged March date came around, Hall claims it was still causing him pain.
      Explaining what went on in the build-up to the fight, he added: “I’m not a man of excuses.
      “I went into that fight with one arm and I did have Covid a week before but I’m not using those as excuses.
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      “I genuinely believed I was going to beat Thor with one arm, I did believe that.
      “My coach wanted to pull me out and I said ‘no’. I didn’t want to drag it on anymore, I just wanted to smack him in the face.”
      On the potential rematch, he continued: “Thor put a statement out saying that he didn’t want to fight for another two or three years and I thought the rematch was going to happen in three to six months or it wasn’t going to happen at all.
      “That was said behind the scenes in the contract and then Thor said that. So I thought ‘he doesn’t want to fight again, fair enough.'”
      Despite his defeat to Thor, Hall has proven that he still packs quite a punch.
      In the summer, YouTuber Nile Wilson volunteered to take a body punch from the big man.
      But it didn’t go well for him, with Wilson subsequently completely decked by the 25st super-heavyweight. More

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      Anthony Joshua told by Frank Warren he can have ‘two great fights’ with Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois for comeback bout

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been told there are “two great fights” for him on the table… if he wants them.Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has challenged AJ to take on either Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois in his comeback bout.
      Anthony Joshua is yet to confirm his next opponentCredit: Getty
      Joe Joyce has been tipped as a potential fight for AJCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Frank Warren reckons Daniel Dubois is another candidateCredit: Getty
      British boxing fans had been hoping for a mouthwatering clash between Joshua and Fury.
      But after talks broke down, Fury is now set for a trilogy bout with Derek Chisora, while AJ’s next opponent remains unconfirmed.

      And Warren has told Joshua, 32, to take on either Joyce or Dubois, two potentially dangerous fights.
      Warren told iFL TV: “If [Joshua] wants to fight, there’s two great fights there with Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois.
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      “Both hold very significant positions in their respective organisations.
      “They’re both mandatories. One is the interim champion, that’s Joe Joyce. Daniel is the WBA ‘Regular’ champion.
      “There’s another way back if he wants to talk about it.”
      Joyce and Dubois have previously faced each other, with the latter taking a knee in the 10th round of their British title fight in 2020.
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      Joyce brutally knocked out Joseph Parker last month and is now mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO heavyweight belt.
      Dubois meanwhile is reportedly expected to take on South African Kevin Lerena next month.
      But Warren reckons both Brits would be good match-ups for AJ, who has lost his last two fights against Usyk.
      And a fight with Fury will not happen until Joshua makes himself a mandatory challenger.
      Speaking on the failed clash between Fury and Joshua, Warren said: “It’s off the table.
      “If you look at it, AJ has to get himself in the mandatory position. To get into the mandatory position, he gets 20 per cent of the purse bid, whereas he would have gotten 40 per cent.”
      Warren has said a fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury won’t happen until AJ is mandatory challengerCredit: PA More

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      Watch behind-the-scenes footage of Tyson Fury’s training camp for Derek Chisora as he works out to bizarre music

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      TYSON FURY is hard at work preparing for his comeback bout on December 3rd.The Gypsy King has started his training camp ahead of his trilogy bout with Derek Chisora.
      Tyson Fury has shard behind-the-scenes footage from his training campCredit: https://www.instagram.com/tysonfury/
      Fury is working hard ahead of his return to the ringCredit: https://www.instagram.com/tysonfury/
      The Gypsy King is set to face Derek Chisora on December 3rdCredit: https://www.instagram.com/tysonfury/
      After talks with Anthony Joshua failed to materialise, promoter Frank Warren confirmed Fury is now set to face Del Boy in just under two months time.
      And Fury, 34, is already putting in the work ahead of his return to the ring.
      The WBC heavyweight champion shared behind-the-scenes footage of his latest camp to his Instagram page.
      Fury is training in his hometown, Morecambe, but the gym could be mistaken for Sydney as Fury blared out a remix of the song ‘Down Under’ while he worked out.
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      In the video Fury can be heard saying as the tune boomed out over the speakers: “This song is a special edition for my brother Joseph Parker, who comes from a land down under.”
      Parker is from New Zealand, but is a close friend of Fury’s and often trains with him in Morecambe.
      Fury listened to music as he taped up his handsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/tysonfury/?hl=en
      The Gypsy King dedicated the song to pal Joseph ParkerCredit: https://www.instagram.com/tysonfury/?hl=en
      Fury trained alongside younger brother TommyCredit: https://www.instagram.com/tysonfury/?hl=en
      The Gypsy King added: “It feels fantastic to be the heavyweight champion of the world baby. Get up there! Sometimes you forget who you are!”
      Fury trained alongside younger brother Tommy, 23, who himself is due to fight on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs Deji on November 13.
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      Footage shows the pair being put through their paces in a gruelling workout regime.
      The two brothers worked up a sweat as they practised on the pads inside a training ring.
      WBC champ Fury also showed off his nimble footwork in some shadow boxing, and leathered a punchbag that dangled from the ceiling.
      Fury has not fought since brutally knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April.
      The Gypsy King vowed after the fight that he had retired, but he has now reversed that decision and is set to take on old pal Chisora in December.
      Fury has not fought since AprilCredit: PA
      The Gypsy King is poised for a trilogy bout with ChisoraCredit: Getty More