Heavyweight boxing

Subterms

    More stories

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Jermaine Franklin’s trainer calls out Tony Bellew for exhibition bout following near scrap at Anthony Joshua fight

      by

      JERMAINE FRANKLIN’s trainer has called out Tony Bellew for a charity dust-up following their clash at The O2 last weekend.The pair had to be separated from one another moments after the final bell of Franklin’s defeat to Anthony Joshua last Saturday.
      Anthony Joshua was almost embroiled in an altercation with Jermaine Franklin’s trainerCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      Lorenzo Reynolds then had after with Tony BellewCredit: YOUTUBE / FROCH ON FIGHTING
      Bellew was dragged away from the scene – but he’s since been called out by ReynoldsCredit: SUNSPORT / CHISANGA MALATA
      Lorenzo Reynolds, 55, still wants to settle his beef with The Bomber – albeit in an exhibition bout to raise funds for cancer-stricken children.
      He told The Express: “I read an article with him [Bellew] saying he would’ve chinned me, and I just think it would be the opposite honestly. I’m in great shape.
      “I’m in the shape of my life and he’s pretty much looking like, a 55-year-old soccer dad with a suit on.
      “So, if Bellew has a problem we can do an exhibition and donate 50 per cent of the purse to kids who are fighting cancer, like James.”
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      Reynolds has accused former WBC cruiserweight king Bellew of harbouring a grudge against him before their ill-tempered clash.
      He said: “There seemed like there was an issue on his end [Bellew’s] before the fight. I saw him at the weigh-in.
      ” And so, after the weigh-in, Jermaine and the team, we walked around the mall for a little while and we crossed paths with Bellew, and the guy who was walking with Bellew, he shook Jermaine’s hand.
      “And Bellew, he rolled his eyes and turned his body and walked the other way.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      “So, I don’t know if he just, you know, feels like since he’s in close proximity with Joshua, that he just had to kind of have a jerkish type behaviour.
      “But that’s what I got from him. So, at the fight, it was like, ‘Wow. Okay. So there was already something there then.’”
      Bellew blamed his handbags with Reynolds on the American moving aggressively to Joshua after the fight.
      And Reynolds wants to put an end to their beef “like gentlemen.”
      He said: “If Tony Belly, and make sure you say, I call him Tony Belly.
      Anthony Joshua registered a scrappy points victory over Jermaine Franklin at The O2Credit: RICHARD PELHAM
      “If he knows where the gym is at, and he’s willing to sign for this exhibition then let’s do it.
      “And like I said, 50 per cent of the money can go to cancer.
      “We would love to take that, and we can handle our differences in the ring and then after the exhibition, we can drink some tea.
      Read More on The Sun
      “But, definitely we have a disagreement and like, gentlemen, let’s handle it the right way in the boxing ring.
      “We can do it that way because evidently, there’s some smoke that needs to be cleared.” More

    • 300 Shares129 Views

      in Boxing

      I’m Muhammad Ali’s grandson and I gave up on NFL dream to pursue MMA with the PFL… but here’s why I’m NOT a boxer

      by

      BIAGGO ALI WALSH is the latest fighter from his legendary bloodline – having given up on his dream of playing in the NFL to pursue MMA. The 2-1 amateur prospect is the brother to rising 8-0 boxing star Nico and most notably a grandson of Muhammad Ali. 
      Muhammad Ali with grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh
      Biaggio was a talented American football player
      He is now signed to the Professional Fighters League
      But a fighting career was never initially Biaggo’s goal as he instead planned to go all the way on the American football field. 
      Biaggio got a scholarship to play in California but the staff he already committed to got fired before he even joined. 
      And after moving back to Las Vegas in hope of getting another scholarship, he found game time hard to come by. 
      By this time, Biaggio had started training in MMA and his NFL hopes had been KOd by the 2019 season.
      READ MORE IN MMA
      At 21, he decided to focus on MMA and after the coronavirus lockdown gave him nothing else to do but train, a new passion had been discovered. 
      Biaggio, 24, told SunSport: “When everything shut down, that’s when I started training in my garage. 
      “My brother was actually helping me out a lot too, he’d hold pads for me and show me certain things he knows with boxing. 
      “But then when the gyms opened back up that’s when I started training again and that’s pretty much the journey.” 
      Most read in Boxing
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      His grandfather is remembered as not only The Greatest in the boxing ring but also a sporting icon worldwide. 
      Ali’s daughter Laila, who is Biaggio’s aunt, was a two-weight unbeaten world champion while Biaggio’s brother Nico, 22, is currently making strides in the middleweight division. 
      But despite being surrounded by boxing since birth, it was MMA that intrigued Biaggio the most. 
      He revealed: “It grabbed my attention since high school.
      “I enjoyed MMA, I enjoyed that there are multiple martial arts that can play a part in a fight. 
      “It’s just something that I enjoyed. Even when I was playing football, I was in the garage practising kicks and stuff. It was just something that I enjoyed to watch. 
      “Boxing too, I grew up watching boxing, I’ve been around boxing my whole life but there was something about MMA that I just really liked because there was multiple martial arts. 
      “There are multiple ways to win or lose, there’s an endless amount of possibilities in MMA and that really intrigues me.” 
      Ali sadly died in 2016 at 74 after battling idiopathic Parkinson disease but left an ever-lasting mark on the sport. 
      Muhammad Ali sadly died in 2016
      Biaggio says Muhammad Ali would have been a fan of MMA
      The heavyweight great was a huge admirer of martial arts pioneer Bruce Lee and Biaggio believes his grandfather would have loved modern-day MMA. 
      He said: “I definitely think he would have been a fan, for sure. Especially around 2015 or 2016 when McGregor was at his peak. 
      “Conor brought so many people’s eyes to the sport and he was so entertaining to watch, to see him talk and he was all about bringing the views and that was what my grandfather was about. 
      “I feel like if he would have tuned in around that time, he would really have become a huge fan.” 
      Biaggio has been signed by the Professional Fighters League, where stars compete in qualifying and knockout stages for a $1million prize and belt, but he will only appear in the prime-time undercard slot as he is not a pro.
      Despite the prospect still learning his craft in the amateur lightweight ranks, his surname bears a super-heavy weight. 
      Biaggio said: “I’ve had that target on my back since high school, I’m definitely prepared for it.
      “When people found out, regardless of the sport we’re in, we’re always going to have a target on our back. 
      Biaggio is currently a 2-1 amateur fighter
      Biaggio took up MMA after leaving behind his NFL dreams
      “If I was playing baseball it would be, ‘I’m going to strike out Muhammad Ali’s grandson.’ 
      “Obviously, because both me and my brother are in combat sports, it’s a little bit more pressure because my grandfather fought as well. 
      “But, for me in order to deal with that pressure I just normalise everything, I try to dumb down everything. 
      “So if it’s a big stage I try to make the stage small, mentally in my head, I like to think, ‘This is just a fight.’ 
      “Whether people are in the audience putting pressure on me or not, I’ve still got to fight this guy in a cage, so I like to normalise everything.” 
      Biaggio returns on Saturday night in Las Vegas in the PFL’s season opener and will do so with eyes of the fight world on him. 
      He said: “I’m so beyond grateful to have this platform as an amateur, I’m still a baby in the game.
      “I’m 24 years old, I’m an amateur fighter fighting in the PFL on that stage. 
      “That is ten years of experience, because a lot of pro fighters don’t get the chance to fight on that stage, on ESPN. 
      Read More on The Sun
      “So for me as an amateur so early on in my career to have that kind of stage, it’s priceless experience and I’m super blessed.
      “Because five years down the line when I turn pro, I’m going to already be used to it.” 
      Biaggio returns to the PFL cage on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

    • 250 Shares169 Views

      in Boxing

      How one of Britain’s best ever boxers became a joiner after expensive divorce before tragically dying in a care home

      by

      WHEN the sublime Ken Buchanan fell on  financial hard times thanks to an expensive divorce and failed business ventures, he turned to his old trade as a joiner.Well into his fifties, he was working on a luxury housing development outside of Glasgow.
      The great Ken Buchanan became undisputed world lightweight champion in 1971Credit: Getty
      Buchanan was one of Scotland’s finest ever ambassadors for sportCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Fellow icon Mike Tyson was thrilled to meet his ‘hero’ Buchanan in 2000Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Ken was sitting on a pile of bricks having a lunch break with a group of bricklayers when he was approached by a man who came out of the show house clutching a brochure.
      Believing he recognised the elderly fella drinking his mug of tea, he asked: “Are you Ken Buchanan?”
      Finding he was correct, he said: “Mr Buchanan, I’ve been one of your greatest admirers and I’m honoured to shake your hand. Would you sign my brochure?”
      As the happy fan left with Ken’s signature, one awestruck young workmate said: “F*** me, Kenny —  you must be some joiner.”
      READ MORE ON BOXING
      I’ve no idea how good a master joiner Ken was but, covering many of his big fights in the 1960s and ’70s I do know he was a master in the ring.
      Ken, 77, suffered from dementia and died in a care home last weekend.
      And with due respect to Benny Lynch, Walter McGowan and Josh Taylor, he was undeniably Scotland’s greatest-ever fighter.
      Pound-for-pound he was one of the three best British fighters I’ve seen in my near 60 years as a boxing writer.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      John Conteh and Joe Calzaghe are the others.
      It was a privilege to watch his virtuoso displays which led him to become the undisputed world lightweight champion. In his tartan shorts, he looked  straight out of a boxing textbook.
      With a left jab made in heaven he was all grace, speed and accuracy —  never wasting a punch.
      Ken won his first world title against all the odds, beating Panamanian Ismael Laguna in the blazing heat of a Puerto Rican open-air stadium.
      The Americans were so impressed he ended up headlining five times at Madison Square Garden.
      The hard-to-please New York crowd  loved him. On his first starring appearance there against Canada’s Donato Paduano in a non-title contest, Muhammad Ali — having  a comeback fight with Oscar Bonavena — was on his undercard.
      Ken delighted in telling the story of how Angelo Dundee, Ali’s trainer, asked him if he would let The Greatest share his dressing room as he hadn’t been allocated one.
      He couldn’t agree fast enough but, when Ali arrived, Ken drew an imaginary line down the  room and told him, “Don’t cross that line or there will be trouble.” Ali thought it was hilarious.
      Not one of Ken’s  69 fights was at home in Edinburgh — only fighting in Scotland four times in a 17-year career.
      So, just how good was he? When  Mike Tyson met Lou Savarese in Glasgow 23 years ago  — Savarese lasted 38 seconds  — I told him Ken would be at the weigh-in.
      He lit up and said: “Please introduce me — he is one of my heroes.”
      Read More on The Sun
      I did and he took Ken to his suite, where they talked boxing for hours.
      Kobe Bryant, the late basketball star, was right about sporting giants like Ken Buchanan, when he said: “Heroes come and go but legends are forever.”
      Buchanan was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002Credit: PA
      Cuban-born Frankie Otero was twice beaten by Buchanan in 1973Credit: Getty More

    • 225 Shares129 Views

      in Boxing

      Joe Joyce says he is ready to knock Anthony Joshua and Franklin out as heavyweight makes bold claim

      by

      JOE JOYCE has declared he can KNOCK OUT both Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin.The 37-year-old was left unimpressed by Joshua’s unanimous points victory against Franklin.
      Joe Joyce has declared he can knock out both Anthony Joshua and Jermaine FranklinCredit: Getty
      Joshua won his bout against Franklin with a unanimous points decisionCredit: Rex
      And Joyce believes he has what it takes to knock both out.
      Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I’d knock both of them out with their performance the other night.
      “I’d definitely force a stoppage on Franklin and Joshua’s ripe for the picking.
      “Not great but [Joshua] got the job done. He went 12 rounds, I thought he would come with some more firepower and aim to push a stoppage but he wasn’t really putting shots together.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      “He was [using] single shots and boxed kind of like he did in the [Andy] Ruiz second fight. So it was a little bit disappointing.
      “He seems to have gone, in my opinion, a bit backwards. Hasn’t progressed. I think he lacked the combinations but I think Franklin was a tough guy.”
      Joshua is eyeing his next fight in the summer, with a number of potential opponents lined up including Joyce, Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
      And 15-0 Joyce believes Joshua should be desperate to fight him due to him now having a higher rank and holding the WBO interim heavyweight title.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS

      He explained: “That would be his route back in.
      “It would definitely be his way back in because I’m in front of him now, at last, high up the rankings and obviously got the WBO Interim.
      “I was always trying to catch up with him but now I’ve overtaken him, so that’s good. That’s what I wanted. But I haven’t caught up to him financially yet so I need to have those big fights.”
      However, Joyce revealed he expects AJ to dodge a fight with him in the summer.
      Instead, he believes Joshua will prefer to face off with Whyte, who he previously defeated back in 2015 to claim the British heavyweight title.
      Joyce added: “I’m a threat and he would prefer that [Whyte fight] until he’s got his mojo back.
      “I’d like to see him against Dillian Whyte, because I think Dillian Whyte’s in the same situation. He didn’t really look too great in the last fight.
      “So it would be good to see who the better man is and obviously they’ve got past bad blood. I think the fans would get behind that fight. It would be a good fight.”

      Joyce himself is due to fight Zhilei Zhang on April 15.
      Though he has insisted he is ready to step up to fight Tyson Fury after the Gypsy King’s talks with Oleksandr Usyk for a heavyweight unification bout collapsed. More

    • 238 Shares179 Views

      in Boxing

      I’ve sparred Tyson Fury but I rate Joe Joyce higher and Anthony Joshua would be brave to fight him

      by

      JOE JOYCE has been dubbed “tougher” than Tyson Fury – by a man who has sparred with both heavyweights.
      The British bruisers are at the very top of the heavyweight heap – with WBC title holder Fury seen by many as the best of the bunch.
      Joe Joyce and Tyson Fury at the the very top of the heavyweight heapCredit: INSTAGRAM@JOEJOYCEBOXING
      Alen Babic has sparred with both Fury and JoyceCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALENTHESAVAGEBABIC
      And the Croatian clubber reckons The Juggernaut is the tougher of the twoCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALENTHESAVAGEBABIC
      Bridgerweight contender Alen Babic knows a thing or two about the pair having spent countless hours trading blows with them in the gym.
      And the Croatian clubber believes Joyce’s toughness is second to none in the division.
      He told talkSPORT: “I sparred Joe Joyce, we did close to 25 rounds in three days and I rate him the highest and I’ve sparred them all.
      “I rate Joyce the highest because he’s a tough mother***er and he’s relentless, he has a good punch and I didn’t know that.
      READ MORE BOXING NEWS
      “It doesn’t look like he has that powerful a punch, but his hands are very heavy, a heavy-handed guy.
      “And he has an engine like myself, he doesn’t stop and he is double the size of me with the same engine, it’s crazy.”
      He added: “I put Joyce on top of the list, the top two heavyweights.
      “He is the toughest fight for anybody and he’s an Olympian so you can add that on top of the cake.”
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      Joyce, 37, has been the most devastating heavyweight of the last three years – stopping Daniel Dubois, Carlos Takam, Christian Hammer and Joseph Parker in his last four outings.
      But his destructive run hasn’t stopped former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua from entertaining a domestic dust-up with him.
      Babic said of a potential Battle of Britain between the former sparring partners: “I think Joshua is very brave to take that fight.
      “I think Joe Joyce is the dark horse of the heavyweight division and he is the toughest opponent for everybody, including Tyson Fury and [Oleksandr] Usyk, but I think Joe Joyce is the guy who should be feared.
      “I’ve felt his power and we had crazy rounds, I think I did good, I maybe even snatched a few rounds.
      “But sparring is my game, I am even better in sparring than in fights and Joe Joyce proved himself to the ‘Savage’ so I think Joshua is very brave to go after Joe Joyce.”
      Interim WBO heavyweight champ Joyce will be back in action a week on Saturday against China’s Zhilei Zhang at the Copperbox Arena.
      Joshua, meanwhile, will look to return to the ring in the summer following a scrappy points victory over Jermaine Franklin last weekend.
      Anthony Joshuahas been warned against facing Joe Joyce nextCredit: RICHARD PELHAM More

    • 250 Shares149 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua told to swerve Tyson Fury and take ‘two more warm-up fights’ by Eddie Hearn’s dad over KO fear

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been urged to take two more “warm-up fights” before pursuing a clash with Tyson Fury.The Watford warrior re-opened the door for a blockbuster Battle of Britain with his long-time rival after his scrappy points win over Jermaine Franklin last weekend.
      Anthony Joshua returned to the win column with a scrappy win over Jermaine FranklinCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      AJ opened the door to a domestic dust-up with Tyson Fury after the fightCredit: PA
      Barry Hearn reckons he needs two more warm-up fights before facing The Gypsy KingCredit: PA
      But the former unified heavyweight champion’s lacklustre display against the No.34-ranked American has many believing he’s not ready for The Gypsy King – including promoter Eddie Hearn’s dad, Barry.
      The Matchroom Boxing founder told iFL TV: “In today’s world, the temptations for making that fight and earning a colossal amount of money may outweigh the old-fashioned common sense of people like me.
      “Definitely [two more warm-up fights] – but we live in a commercial world.”
      WBC heavyweight king Fury has – somewhat uncharacteristically – yet to comment on Joshua’s uninspiring return to the win column.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      But Barry believes he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of fighting AJ after seeing his display against Franklin.
      He said: “I would think that Tyson Fury would look at that performance and say ‘I am ready to fight him’, that takes a big obstacle away.
      “He [Joshua] has to decide whether he wants to go for the big payday or if he wants to build and learn for a bit longer, in which case he needs two or three more warm-up fights.
      “The public don’t like that, they are crying out for it, is it time to take the money? Maybe.”
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      Joshua, 33, has no qualms about taking on Fury next, saying in his post-fight interview: “You know me, I like to provide for the fans.
      “I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want? They said Fury?
      “The ball is in his court, I will 100 per cent be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
      “I stand here and say that proudly, it would be an honour, so wherever you are if you’re listening.
      Tyson Fury is currently without a fight after his bout with Oleksandr Usyk fell throughCredit: REUTERS
      “You know my management, you know my promoter.
      “We’ve had dialect before, so let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this on sooner rather than later. We ain’t getting any younger.”
      Fury, 34, is currently without a fight following the collapse of his undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
      The pair were due to throw down for the all heavyweight marbles at Wembley on April 29 but Team Usyk pulled the plug on the fight after Fury kept moving the goalposts. More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury told he needs to beat Anthony Joshua to be greatest heavyweight of generation and it’s bigger fight than Usyk

      by

      TYSON FURY must beat Anthony Joshua in order to become the greatest heavyweight boxer of his generation. That is the opinion of former European (EBU) super bantamweight champion and Commonwealth silver medallist Spencer Oliver.
      Tyson Fury has been told he must beat Anthony Joshua to be considered No1Credit: AFP
      This is despite Oleksandr Usyk beating AJ twiceCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Fury was in line to fight Oleksandr Usyk on April 29 before the talks fell through, with Usyk saying he could see “nothing is going on” with regard to negotiations.
      The fight would have certainly cemented Fury’s case, given how it would have unified the heavyweight division for the first time since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
      However, speaking to talkSPORT, Oliver said a bout with Joshua is “the biggest out there”.
      He said: “I think fighting AJ is the biggest fight out there. I think it’s the biggest fight in the heavyweight division right now, that is the one.
      READ MORE ON BOXING
      “AJ vs Fury is a fight we’ve all wanted to see and it’s a huge fight and I think that’s a fight that [Fury] would like, because it’s all about legacy.
      “To cement your legacy in the modern era you have to box everybody and AJ is a huge name in that heavyweight division.
      “So, Fury needs that name on his record if he wants to be known as the number one heavyweight of this modern era.
      “I think it’s a fight that would whet his appetite even more than Usyk.”
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, also added: “I don’t know [about the fight], that’s up to Tyson.
      “I have no problem with it, but it’s up to Tyson. We’ll obviously see what happens with Joshua next week. I think it’s a much bigger fight than Usyk.”
      AJ recently got back to winning ways with a unanimous decision win over Jermaine Franklin.
      After the win, he then called out Fury for a summer showdown.
      There were talks for a “Battle of Britain” showdown last year, but like Usyk the negotiations eventually collapsed.
      And now AJ is fearing the “nightmare” negotiation process for a fight between himself and Fury. More

    • 213 Shares129 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua showed ‘vulnerability’ against Jermaine Franklin and needs Tyson Fury fight to motivate him, says Nelson

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA was vulnerable against Jermaine Franklin and needs Tyson Fury to bring back his fight, according to Johnny Nelson.The former boxer was concerned with AJ’s showing in his points win over Franklin on Saturday.
      Johnny Nelson claimed Anthony Joshua showed vulnerabilities against Jermaine FranklinCredit: Getty
      Nelson believes Tyson Fury could reignite the fight in JoshuaCredit: Getty
      Nelson claimed Joshua looked like he was still unsure of what to do and looked over to his corner for reassurance – something a former world champion should not be doing.
      He wrote in his column for Sky Sports: “Boxing is the only place you can’t hide.
      “It’s very lonely; it exposes so many vulnerabilities and I don’t think I’m on my own in saying this, there were too many I saw that I wasn’t comfortable with on Saturday night.
      “It kills me to say this, because I’m a big fan of AJ, but I just saw some things that shouldn’t be there for a guy at 33 years old that has been a two-time world heavyweight champion.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      “He’s still looking over to his corner mid-fight – which you don’t do – and he’s still fighting in a way that comes across as though he’s unsure of what he could or should do.”
      Nelson also questioned Joshua’s motivation but thinks he will show he still has the fight if he faces Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk.
      He added: “After he lost to [Oleksandr] Usyk, I said, ‘the problem isn’t tonight, the problem is how he gets his head round his future – his motivation, his drive for fighting’.
      “Once you’ve been at the top of the world for at least seven years in your career, you’re the golden boy, and then all of a sudden you’re in the queue like everyone else, then what’s your motivation?
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      “Bar [Dillian] Whyte, Tyson Fury and Usyk are the two fighters that I think would set Anthony Joshua alight. If the fight has gone in him, we’ll see it in those fights. If he still has it in him, we’ll see it.”
      Nelson believes Joshua should take on Whyte next and the all-British clash is likely to appeal to fans.
      There are several potential opponents for AJ including Joe Joyce, Deontay Wilder or Otto Wallin, with the 33-year-old planning to box again in the summer. More