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      Tyson Fury suffers blow in Morecambe takeover bid as League One side get taken over by 20-year-old businessman

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      TYSON FURY has been pipped to buying League One side Morecambe FC – by a 20-year-old businessman.The WBC heavyweight champion – who lives in Morecambe Bay – revealed his eagerness to buy the Shrimps last October.
      Tyson Fury revealed his eagerness to buy Morecambe FC last yearCredit: Morecambe FC
      But he’s been beaten to the punch by 20-year-old businessman Sarbjot JohalCredit: https://www.instagram.com/mrsengh/ INSTAGRAM@MRSENGH
      But a young entrepreneur has beat him to the punch by buying equity in the club.
      Sarbjot Johal recently acquired a stake in the club and, subject to approval from the Football League, will become the club’s new owner.
      A statement from chairman Graham Howse read: “As at the end of the summer transfer window, I thought I’d take the opportunity to round up a couple of matters.
      “This transfer window has been a challenge for the Club due to budget constraints but it’s fair to say Derek, Greg Strong and the recruitment team have worked wonders in sourcing players to enhance the squad, we all witnessed how effective that was at the weekend against Bristol Rovers.
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      “We wish those well who have departed and welcome the new players to the Club to be part of the journey.
      “The scattergun approach to players’ movement on social media never fails to amuse me, but we deal in facts and reality, not idle speculation.
      “It is fair to say the sale process hasn’t progressed as quickly as we all would have liked – that said, my understanding is that exciting times are ahead both on and off the pitch.
      “Sarbjot Johal is eager to start the project to take the Club on to a new level, subject to satisfactorily navigating the EFL Owners and Directors’ test.
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      “Sarbjot, through his company Sarb Capital, has recently purchased equity in the Club, injecting more than useful income into us.
      “I am, along with Sarbjot, keen that the process should now move on at pace to come to a positive conclusion.”
      Sarbjot amassed his wealth through his venture capital and private equity firm, Sarb Capital.
      Fury, 34, has regularly dipped into his own pocket to help out his local club and recently struck a sponsorship deal with the Shrimps.
      Last year, he told talkSPORT: “I’ve been offered to buy Morecambe Football Club.

      When is Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk? Date, TV channel – everything we know so far
      “I own all the training facilities anyway and the training gym.
      “So, who knows? You might be looking at a football club owner.”
      Fan favourite Fury is currently gearing up for a blockbuster undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
      A date for the historic bout has not yet been announced, although it’s expected to take place on April 29. More

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      Ex-UFC star Paige VanZant says she earns TEN TIMES more from BKFC than UFC as she breaks down pay row with Dana White

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      PAIGE VANZANT has claimed Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship pays her TEN times more than what she earned in the UFC.The former UFC strawweight shocked the combat sports world last in 2020 by penning a multi-fight, multi-million-pound contract with BKFC.
      Paige VanZant says her contract with BKFC earns her ten times what she made in the UFCCredit: GETTY
      VanZant has lost her first two fights – first against Britain Hart in 2021 and then against Rachael Ostovich months later – both by unanimous decision.
      Speaking after the fiery weigh-ins for Bare Knuckle FC’s KnuckleMania before that Hart fight, the American Top Team star: “I’m here for a reason.
      “I was in the UFC for six years getting paid $40,000 (to show) and $40,000 (to win), and now I’m getting ten times that doing what I love.
      “So obviously, I’m not going anywhere. I’m very happy fighting here and I’m excited to fight.”
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      Before her final UFC fight with Amanda Ribas, which she lost via first-round submission, VanZant claimed she made more money on Instagram than she did fighting in the octagon.
      That drew the ire of UFC chief Dana White, who fired a parting shot at her during the UFC 251 post-fight press conference.
      He said: “When you talk all that stuff, ‘I’m not being paid enough,’ and you’re fighting inconsistently, one time in the last year, (suffering) injuries, and then got smoked in the first round of the fight?
      “She should definitely test free agency.”
      Paige VanZant suffered a submission loss to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251Credit: Getty
      Paige VanZant trains at American Top TeamCredit: Instagram @paigevanzant
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      Despite being tied down to a long-term deal with BKFC, VanZant hasn’t completely closed the door on a return to mixed martial arts.
      She told TMZ: “BKFC, they did give me the liberty in my contract to be able to take an MMA fight.
      “I was informed of that by my manager, and I didn’t know that at first. At first, I was like, ‘No, I just want to do the boxing.’
      “But I think that coming to American Top Team, it re-birthed my excitement and I now realise how good I am.
      “I’m training with these coaches who believe in me. Having them say they believe in me, and they train some of the best fighters in the entire world, and they look at me and they believe that I’m good.
      “So that kinda sparked that passion all over the place. So yeah, maybe I will take an MMA fight.
      “I’m strictly focused on the boxing right now, especially for this fight. That’s all I do. But, maybe. Let’s see. The door is open, so it’s definitely there.” More

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      Joe Joyce aims subtle dig at Anthony Joshua over Jermaine Franklin fight ahead of his own tantalising Zhilei Zhang clash

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      JOE JOYCE reckons Anthony Joshua’s comeback opponent proves he is in no rush to return to the top of the heavyweight division.The 37-year-old Putney ace was a long-time training and sparring partner for AJ before he won gold at London 2012 and Joyce was robbed of the same medal at Rio 2016.
      Anthony Joshua will throw down with Jermaine Franklin in April
      The fight will be Joshua’s first since his back-to-back losses to Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY
      The fight has been mocked by former sparring partner Joe JoyceCredit: INSTATGRAM
      But the former Team GB team-mates are now on a giant collision course and the Juggernaut jokes he cannot even mention Joshua’s name – when reacting to the announcement of his April 1 fight with Jermaine Franklin – for fear of kicking up a controversy.
      Joyce, who is in a far more competitive fight with fellow 6ft 6in Olympic silver winner Zilhei Zang on April 15, refused to say AJ’s name but laughed over Zoom from his Las Vegas camp as he compared him to Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort.
      “It’s something he has to do,” he said about AJ’s underwhelming return. “I guess he wants to take the long route back. He who shall not be named.
      “I went to the Olympics, I turned professional at 31 and I’ve had to get a move on.
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      “Me and my team have strategically made the right steps. I’ve boxed all over the world, on all the channels. To get to the top you have to plan out your route.
      “I’ve delivered in all of my fights, I’m on a mission.”
      Joyce was a fine art student, shot putter, triple jumper, rugby player and American cheerleader before he took up boxing aged 21.
      Despite all his athletic ability and granite chin, he was always written off as too slow and stiff to beat the best heavyweights in the division.
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      But he is on a thrilling run of form after jabbing Daniel Dubois into submission and collapsing Joseph Parker with a monstrous left hook.
      He looks a better fighter than the novice who lost an amateur contest to reigning WBA, IBF and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk back in 2013 and fans are beginning to be convinced by him.
      “I have noticed fans liking me more,” he said.
      “It started with the Dubois fight and the next one was the Parker win.
      “People are really getting on board and seeing what I am made of.
      “People are starting to see that I am not just ‘Slow Joe’ or ‘Robotic Joe’. I actually do some damage and I have skills.
      Joe Joyce will face China’s Zhilei Zhang on April 15Credit: GETTY
      “I am not the finished article, I am always in the gym learning and trying to improve
      “If you look at my earlier fights, if you look at my fight with Usyk, my technique is not very good and I do look very robotic.
      “I guess maybe when people are used to looking at other weights and the way I throw punches it may look slower but I’m aiming to improve on my weaknesses.”
      Joyce reunited with Usyk in December when the pair jumped onto the Tottenham ring apron after Tyson Fury’s battering of Derek Chisora.
      The 36-year-old Ukraine ace looks set to secure an undisputed decider with the WBC Gypsy King on April 29 in Saudi Arabia.
      And the west London KO artist says he will be on hand once again to stir up some trouble and hopefully seal his overdue shot at a world title.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I’d love to get down to Saudi and watch the fight live,” he said.
      “I’ll get in the ring, call whoever wins out. Turn up, cause a fuss and walk out.” More

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      Jake Paul faces off with poster of Tommy Fury after vowing to KO bitter rival in four rounds after press conference snub

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      JAKE PAUL was forced to face off with a poster of Tommy Fury after being left on the lurch by his rival.The pair were due to take part in a press conference in Saudi Arabia onWednesday afternoon to promote their Diriyah dust-up at the end of the month.

      Tommy Fury was a no-show for his Saudi Arabia presser with Jake PaulCredit: GETTY
      Paul had to have an impromptu face-off with a poster of his rivalCredit: BT SPORT
      YouTuber turned boxer Paul was present in the Kingdom but former Love Island star Tommy was nowhere to be seen – which prompted the former to improvise when it came to the planned face-off.
      The Problem Child positioned himself next to a blown-up picture of Fury on their fight poster and looked menacingly up at the social media star before slapping his face.
      Paul’s makeshift face-off with TNT came after he lambasted him for skipping the presser.
      He said: “I’m used to his behaviour at this point, he’s unprofessional and he’s a flake.
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      “He’s not a serious businessman or a serious fighter and I’m going to prove that.
      “It’s why this fight is called, ‘The Truth’ because the truth is going to come out.
      “He’s going to have to pay for all of the times he’s pulled out.
      “All the business people he screwed over, it’s disrespectful.
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      “There’s some of the biggest names in boxing, the biggest promoters and the most influential people in the world.
      “One of the greatest countries in the world and he doesn’t want to show up because of a ‘private matter’.
      “We all have private matters.
      “When you sign up to do something, you make a commitment, that’s what it should be about.
      “It just shows me he’s scared because he said he didn’t need to train for this fight.

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      “Meanwhile, his first excuse was that he needed to train extra, but now it’s a private matter.
      “I love Tyson but it’s typical from the dad [John] and Tommy.”
      Paul plans to make Fury pay for his no-show and inflict a career-devastating defeat in double quick time.
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      He said: “I’m knocking him out, 4 rounds or less – bet the house on it.
      “Put your mortgage on it.” More

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      ‘I’m here’ – Oleksandr Usyk flexes his muscles as he calls out Tyson Fury posing in front of Ukraine flag

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      OLEKSANDR USYK flexed his muscles and called out heavyweight rival Tyson Fury while posing in front of a Ukraine flag. The WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight champ, 36, is expected to do battle with WBC champ Fury, 34, in Saudi Arabia in April this year.
      Oleksandr Usyk called out rival Tyson Fury on TwitterCredit: Twitter
      Usyk with Fury and boxing promoter Bob ArumCredit: Getty
      However, a date and venue is yet to be confirmed.
      Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, said: “The fight will take place 100 per cent the last Saturday in April.
      “Where it takes place I genuinely think will be determined within the next six or seven days maximum.
      “If we can’t do what we’re being asked to do with Tyson and Usyk [in Saudi Arabia], then the fight will take place in the UK.”
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      The pair have been going back and forth on social media, with Usyk handing Fury a nickname, branding the Gypsy King “belly”.
      And now Usyk has taken to Twitter to call out Fury, flexing his muscles while captioning the post, “I’m here.”
      Usyk has also decided to grow his hair out, instead of maintaining a clean shaven look.
      The Ukrainian posed in front of his country’s colours of yellow and blue.
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      After the two kings of the heavyweight division do battle, Fury could take on ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou.
      Ngannou has accepted Fury’s calls for a hybrid boxing match.
      The Predator has no qualms with Fury’s ruleset for a freak show fight – which he wants to be reffed by boxing legend Mike Tyson.

      When is Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk? Date, TV channel – everything we know so far More

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      Anthony Joshua says he’s ‘mentally and physically’ ready to fight after breaking down in tears following Usyk loss

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA insists he’s “mentally and physically” ready to return to the ring – six months after his emotional post-fight outburst.The Watford warrior went on an uncharacteristic and expletive-filled rant following his second successive defeat to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk last August.
      Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on April 1 against Jermaine FranklinCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      AJ’s clash with Franklin will be his first outing since a second loss to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
      Joshua was overcome with emotion after the bout and even broke down in tearsCredit: GETTYS
      The ex-two-time heavyweight champion insists he’s now in a mental placeCredit: GETTY
      Joshua, 33, will bid to pick up the pieces of his near-shattered career in April in a must-win showdown with American gunslinger Jermaine Franklin but will do so in a much better state of mind than in his last outing.
      The Brit said: “I’m looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London. Mentally and physically I feel ready.”
      AJ will be under the guidance of renowned coach Derrick James for his first outing at the O2 in six-and-a-half years and plans to put on a show for his new trainer.
      The former two-time unified heavyweight champion said: “I want to put on a show and impress my coach as he has high standards.
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      “Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights.”
      The pressure of avenging his first lopsided defeat to Usyk and regaining the unified heavyweight titles to set up a mouthwatering Battle of Britain with Tyson Fury ate away at AJ ahead of the ill-fated Saudi showdown.
      He admitted: “I swear to you, [it] just tore me apart.
      “I had so much riding on it for me, the British fans, the undisputed fight.
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      “It just really tore me apart, so from a mental capacity, my close ones are telling me you should rest mentally. Physically I’m down to ride.
      “I’m a warrior. I like this game, I like competing, but on a mental aspect, I think people are really seeing that this means a lot.
      “Even if I’m not fighting I see my name getting called out every day.
      “So, it’s the mental pressure that’s being AJ as well.
      “And obviously holding up a reputation as well, these type of things go hand in hand. It’s tough, man.”
      Credit: SUNSPORT
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      Defeat to Franklin – who was on the receiving end of a controversial split-decision defeat to Dillian Whyte last November, would be curtains for Joshua’s faint world title hopes.
      Promoter Eddie Hearn told iFL TV: “You go into that fight in April and you know that defeat, it’s all over, really.
      “It would be a third back-to-back defeat and yet a great performance and a showroom knockout will get everyone saying, ‘We’re back, baby.’
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      “That’s what I can’t wait for because I love it when our backs are against the wall.
      “I’m excited. I’m really excited. This is the most excited I’ve been in Joshua’s journey so far.” More

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      Lawrence Okolie to fight unknown David Light for cruiserweight world titles on March 25 after splitting from Eddie Hearn

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      LAWRENCE OKOLIE will finally defend his WBO cruiserweight world title on March 25.The 30-year-old has been out of the ring for a year and undergone a public split and spat with former promoter Eddie Hearn.
      Lawrence Okolie will finally defend his WBO cruiserweight world title on March 25Credit: Getty
      David Light challenges for Lawrence Okolie’s WBO titlesCredit: @davidthomaslight
      The former McDonald’s worker – nicknamed ‘The Sauce’ – has also parted company with Anthony Joshua’s 258 management firm.
      And the 6ft 5in KO artist has relocated from Hackney to Dubai so has also ended his burgeoning relationship with trainer Shane McGuigan.
      After a tumultuous 12 months, he will finally return to the ring in Manchester to meet mandatory challenger David Light.
      “I’ll make ‘light’ work of him,” said Okolie, who is returning to Sky Sports after a brief stay on Hearn’s DAZN app.
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      “It’s good to be back and I’m looking forward to the first step in the journey towards unifications and more world titles.”
      Jack Catterall, the Chorley super-lightweight who was cruelly denied the undisputed status last February with a sickening points loss against Josh Taylor, also gets his long-awaited return.
      The rematch has been booked and cancelled three times now and looks doomed.
      So the keen swimmer is dipping his toe back into the water with a tune-up bout in his local arena while the 29-year-old waits for another world title crack.
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      Taylor and Catterall came face-to-face in Manchester last month – at Liam Smith’s ruthless win over Chris Eubank Jr – and had to be separated by security.
      But their rerun inside the ropes look cursed now and it seems unlikely they will ever settle the score in the ring.
      2020 Olympic bronze winner Frazer Clarke, 31, will enjoy his latest heavyweight step-up bout against 41-year-old American gatekeeper Rydell Booker who has won just two of his last nine.
      Frazer Clarke returns against Rydell BookerCredit: Reuters More

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      Jake Paul slams ‘unprofessional swine’ Tommy Fury and complains of backache for ‘carrying the promotion’ for their fight

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      JAKE PAUL slammed Tommy Fury as an “unprofessional swine” and complained of backache for “carrying the promotion” for their fight. The celebrity boxing rivals have announced the latest rescheduling of their grudge match, on February 26 in Saudi Arabia.
      Jake Paul complained of backache for ‘carrying the promotion’ for his Tommy Fury fightCredit: Instagram @jakepaul
      Jake Paul flew to Saudi Arabia for a press conferenceCredit: Instagram @jakepaul
      They came face to face for the first time at Wembley Arena as tempers flared and threatened to boil over.
      And Paul has been left fuming after claiming Fury was “scared” to show up to their kick-off press conference in Riyadh.
      The American made the short flight over to Saudi from Dubai – where he has been training – to promote the pay-per-view bout.
      But with Fury a no-show to instead focus on training, Paul said: “My back just hurts so much from carrying the promotion.
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      “Where you at Tommy? We’re out here hustling, selling the fight you unprofessional swine.”
      Fury was forced to pull out of the fight in the past due to a rib injury in December 2021 and amid US visa issues last August.
      And Paul recently tweeted: “Tommy Fury is scared.
      “Told my team he can’t make the kick-off press conference next week in Saudi Arabia because he needs more time to train.
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      “Thought you said you wouldn’t even have to train to fight me? You and your papa scared.”
      Fury hit back: “The press conference can wait until I get to Saudi Arabia you fool.
      “I’ll be there on the 16th. 3 weeks and it’s over you big stiff sweaty goth.”
      Paul replied: “Show a little respect for our hosts you blighter. Saudi Arabia I will see you this coming week inshallah.”
      Jake Paul and Tommy Fury facing off for the first timeCredit: Getty More