Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY has been branded a “clown” for holding up the heavyweight division with his crossover clash with Francis Ngannou.The Gypsy King’s next outing will see him take on the former UFC heavyweight champion in a multi-million-pound Saudi showdown on October 28.
Tyson Fury will box former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in OctoverCredit: ESPN
The fight was booked in the wake of Fury’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk falling throughCredit: Reuters
Heavyweight contender Michael Hunter is far from happy with the state of the divisionCredit: THE SUN
Fury’s controversial dance with the MMA superstar was finalised just months after his proposed undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk fell through.
The WBC king’s clash with Ngannou has been branded a farce by several heavyweights, including Michael Hunter – who reckons the division as a whole is now in complete disarray.
The Bounty told SecondsOut: “They want the fame.
“They want excuses and most of them make them, know what I’m saying.
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“It’s a bad thing for boxing as a whole.
“I take my hat off to Francis Ngannou, to him and his team, for making that fight happen.
“There was an opening and an opportunity ’cause we basically got a clown holding the belts and it’s a bad situation.”
Hunter’s frustrations with the heavyweight division – however – don’t extend to former foe and current unified champ Usyk.
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He said of the undefeated Ukrainian, who fights Brit Daniel Dubois next month: “He’s done it all.
“He wants to be cruiserweight champ, heavyweight champ, he went into the Olympics.
“And he wants all the belts, and that’s how it should be. I feel he would fight an even faster place if it was allowed.”
Hunter reckons heavyweight has stalled due to the division’s top dogs not putting aside their egos and testing themselves.

He said: “Their hearts get broken, they’re emotional, their egos are too involved.
“They can’t stick with reality, they get the big head and they really think they can do something.
“I feel like Tyson Fury, he dodged a bullet on Usyk, he’s a real hard competitor, he would give Tyson Fury a problem, that’s not a secret, there’s no way he should not be fighting.
“It’s not good for the whole situation. I feel like it’s a selfish move on Fury’s behalf.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been studying one of the “greatest heavyweights” ever ahead of his rematch with Dillian Whyte.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion will renew his rivalry with the Brixton Body Snatcher at The O2 on August 12.
Anthony Joshua will throw down with Dillian Whyte in a rematch next monthCredit: GETTY
AJ is preparing for the domestic dust-up in Texas under new trainer Derrick JamesCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA
The pair have been studying old Evander Holyfield fights ahead of fight nightCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA
Joshua has holed himself up in his Texas training camp for the second fight of his career rebuild, which new head trainer Derrick James is overseeing.
And they have been studying one of the best to ever do it in the division before next’s month’s domestic dust-up.
On Monday night, Joshua shared a video of himself watching one of Evander Holyfield’s iconic fights with James to his Instagram story.
The caption emblazoned across the video read: “Watching one of the greatest heavyweights. ‘The Real Deal.'”
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Joshua, 33, is an avid student of the fight game and routinely studies the greats of yesteryear – particularly heavyweights.
AJ had the opportunity to meet former undisputed cruiserweight and unified heavyweight king Holyfield before his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last August.
The Brit posed for a snap with the 60-year-old after his open workout in Saudi, clenching his right fist as the American did the same.
Victory over Whyte – who he knocked out nearly eight years ago – will see Joshua finalise a long overdue grudge match with Deontay Wilder.
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And he admits the stakes are extremely high for his second showdown with his long-time rival.
He said: “It’s a huge night for my career. I’m gonna be victorious, 100 per cent.
“That’s my goal, that’s my plan. And yeah, that’s my motivation.
“So yeah, I’m looking forward to it. Respect to the team. May the best man win.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT: “I don’t know how the Whyte fight goes.

“But we’ve been told categorically that the deal on the table is not the deal if he loses to Dillian Whyte.
“They didn’t want him to fight Dillian Whyte.
“It was almost like, ‘Please, don’t fight Dillian Whyte.
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“‘You don’t need to. We’ve got this fight in December.’
“But AJ was like, ‘No. I want to fight.'” More

BOXER Edy Valencia Mercado is in a critical condition in hospital following his fight against George Acosta.The clash was stopped by a doctor before the sixth round with Mercado appearing to tell his corner that he could not see.
Edy Valencia Mercado is in critical condition after his fight with George AcostaCredit: Getty
Mercado, 32, is now fighting for his life with his promoters asking fans to pray for him.
A statement from the promotion company reads: “Thompson Boxing Promotions is deeply saddened to inform that boxer Edy Valencia is currently fighting for his life at a hospital in Ontario, Canada, following his bout with George Acosta.
“At this moment, we kindly ask the boxing community, fans, and everyone touched by Edy’s journey to join us in offering prayers and positive energy for his swift and full recovery.
“We believe in the power of collective support and strength, and together, we hope to see Edy Valencia pull through this trying ordeal.”
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Promoter Lou Dibella wished the fighter well, saying: “Terrible news.
“Edy fought recently on a show I promoted and he’s a very nice young man. Prayers please for Edy Valencia and his family. May God hold them in his hands.”
Mercado has 20 wins to his name and 12 defeats, including one knock-out loss.
Six bouts have been scored as a draw or a no-contest with the Mexican winning just one of his previous seven fights.
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Fans have shared their well wishes with one saying: “Sending prayers.”
Another added: “Hope he gets well. 💪🏼”
And a third wrote: “sending prayers and wishing a speedy recovery.” More

FORMER boxer Yusaf Mack has revealed he appeared in a gay porn film – and alienated his family.Mack had a 14-year career in the ring and finished with a record of 31 wins, eight defeats and two draws.
Yusaf Mack turned to gay porn after his boxing careerCredit: YouTube/djvlad
Mack has ten children before coming out as gay after he retiredCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He became USBA light heavyweight champion in 2012 before losing to Brit Carl Froch in a world title fight and three years later he had turned to porn.
Mack, 43, revealed he was in need of money at the time but the video caused a shockwave amongst his friends and family, who did not know he was gay.
The boxer was engaged to a woman at the time and only came out publicly after the film, having initially claimed he only took part because he was drugged.
Mack said he feared the reaction from the sports community if he revealed his sexuality, having first stated he was bisexual before coming out as gay.
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But he was inspired to share his story after Caitlin Jenner came out as transgender.
Mack continued to work in gay porn after his first video, which only came about due to his desperate financial situation.
In an interview with Vlad TV, he said: “I was in need of the money.
“Someone inboxed me on Facebook asking me if I wanted to make some extra money and I said yes, it came out a year later.
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The American fought Carl Froch in a world title fight in 2012Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“To this day I haven’t watched it.
“I was at a family bar and I was wondering why everyone was looking at me strange. Nobody was saying anything or speaking to me so I was like ‘what’s going on?’
“One of my homies was like ‘come here man, look at this’ I was like wow.
“I walked away and went home and started crying. I was thinking about my children, what would they think.”
Mack has ten children and revealed his eldest daughter told him to kill himself after his porn film came to light.
The ex-fighter battled his own suicidal thoughts and cried in response to his daughter’s words.
He told HipHollywood: “I just threw the phone down and started crying. I didn’t have no words, nothing to say.
“What could I say? ‘Who you talking to like that?!’ She’s got feelings. I’m her dad. All I could say was, ‘you’re right’ and threw the phone down.”
After initially admitting he was ashamed for featuring in his first gay film, Mack began working for amateur gay porn site Reality Dudes – a job he said he “loved”. More