Heavyweight boxing

ROBIN GIVENS wants no part of Jamie Foxx’s upcoming Mike Tyson movie and claims she was “disturbed” by her ex-husband’s book. 
The American actress – who divorced Tyson in 1989 after eight months of marriage – is worried about the biopic Foxx is set to star in as Iron Mike. 

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Robin Givens and Mike Tyson divorced after eight months together

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Givens was left distressed after reading her ex-partners’s biography “Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Mike Tyson” released the same year they split. Written by Tyson’s friend Jose Torres, the youngest heavyweight champion of all time gloated about punching Givens. 
The book read: “It was when I fought Robin in Steve Lott’s apartment. She really offended me and I went BAM. She flew backwards, hitting every wall in the apartment. 
“That was the best punch I’ve ever thrown in my entire life.”
Tyson referred to Givens and her mother Ruth as “the slime of the slime” and called them “mean and vindictive” after accusing them of fleecing him following their divorce. 

In the years since the couple split, Iron Mike would box up until 2005, before retiring and falling into debt, depression and substance abuse. 
But he is planning a sensational comeback aged 54 after turning his life around in retirement. 

Oscar winning actor Foxx and director Martin Scorsese hope the biopic can provide proof that “everybody evolves”. 
But still haunted by her relationship with Tyson, Givens hopes to be excluded from the movie.

She told Sirius XM: “That was not a fun ex for me. 
“I had a good friend of mine [who] went and got the book that he wrote.
“I was reading it and there were so many things that are so not true that it’s hard not to feel deeply disturbed by it. 
“So, in a way I hope I’m stronger because of this but it’s a little upsetting.
“That’s going to be a tough one for me.
“To hear someone say, ‘The best punch I ever threw was against Robin and she bounced from one wall to the next and was out.’ 
“I’m literally praying that we’re in a climate where that’s not acceptable.”
Foxx has been training to transform his body fitting of a young Tyson and wants people to understand the feared puncher’s journey through the big screen.  

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He said: “Martin Scorsese who hasn’t done a boxing film since Raging Bull has agreed to take on the helm. 
“We want to show everybody evolves. Everybody comes from a good or bad place. 
“I think when we lay the layers on Mike Tyson in this story, I think everybody from young and old will be able to understand this man’s journey and the way we’ll place it.”

Mike Tyson told Jamie Foxx he was happy he had no more money as ‘vultures’ couldn’t take anything from him anymore More

MIKE TYSON is on the verge of making a sensational comeback – but will hope it proves more successful than his last exhibition spectacle.
Tyson, who was a year into his retirement, announced he would be competing in a series of exhibition bouts against former sparring partner Corey Sanders in 2006.

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Mike Tyson boxed Corey Sanders in a 2006 exhibition

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Sanders was floored in the first minute
The heavyweight legend was deep in financial stress and would use the box office bonanza to pay off debts.
Tyson, who was already putting on public workouts in front of 2,000 fans at the time, boxed Sanders in Ohio.
He came to the ring without a head guard, though Sanders did wear one, while both had vests on.
The pair warned they would “hold back” to prevent an early stoppage to the “show”.

But 20 seconds into the bout Tyson floored Sanders after a quick combination, which promoted the referee to call an 8-count.
In the same opening round Iron Mike landed a perfectly timed right hand over the top almost dropping Sanders again.
But as Tyson landed the punch he actually helped keep his opponent from going down.

The youngest heavyweight champion of all time kept up the beating until the fourth and final round, hammering Sanders with hooks.

But much of the 6,000 paying fans fumed at the lethargic tempo, not even similar to a sparring session.
It was the last time Tyson laced up the gloves, but 14 years later he is preparing to make another comeback.
He has signed to face former four-weight champion Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an eight-round exhibition.
But the circumstances have changed since 2006.
Tyson insists he will stand to make nothing for the fight, instead donating the proceedings to charity.

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They will also not be wearing headgear, but will box in 12oz gloves.
The California State Athletic Commission, who have sanctioned the exhibition, have urged the headliners to avoid KO’s.
But just as Sanders found out, Tyson admitted he will be gunning to finish Jones before the final bell.

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Tyson has signed to box Roy Jones Jr over eight-rounds More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could barely fit in his shirt as he appears to be bulking up for his fight against Kubrat Pulev.
The WBA, IBF and WBO champion is set to face 39-year-old Bulgarian Pulev at the end of the year, after their initial June date was KO’d amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Anthony Joshua could barely fit in his shirt as he appears to be bulking up for his fight against Kubrat Pulev

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Joshua is set to face Pulev at the end of the year
In the meantime AJ flew over to Marbella to rest and recover after injuring his knee while training, requiring a temporary leg brace.
A picture shared on Instagram shows the 30-year-old champion almost bursting out of his shirt.
Further snaps from his Spanish vacation, where he bumped into rival Brit champ Tyson Fury by chance, signalled return to the mammoth 18st KO artist.
AJ won his first world title in 2015 at 17st 6lbs, thrilled the planet with the 2017 Wladimir Klitschko win up at 17st 12lbs and out-muscled Carlos Takam at a giant 18st 2lbs six months later.

Joshua’s career-heaviest win was against Takam, who filled in for an injured Pulev, meaning the plan may always have been to bully the Bulgarian with added bulk.
AJ’s disastrous June 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr – when he was a ripped 17st 9lbs Adonis – sparked a shake-up of his style, corner and size.
Joshua dropped almost a stone to outbox the Mexican over 12 one-sided rounds in December at a new slimline 16st 13lbs – his lightest in five years.

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His recent injury will have limited the amount of fitness and cardio work Joshua could have done over the summer.

He even posted a video drilling left hooks on the heavy bag while sitting down.
But it definitely looks like the dedicated heavyweight has done a lot more then just pack on a few accidental holiday pounds.

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MIKE TYSON has been offered the chance to avenge the last defeat of his career by rematching Kevin McBride.
McBride forced Iron Mike to quit on his stool after a laboured six rounds in 2005, the last time Tyson fought as a professional.

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Mike Tyson quit on his stool in 2005 against Kevin McBride

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McBride is open to offering Tyson a rematch
But 15 years on and the 54-year-old heavyweight legend is on the verge of a sensational comeback after he signed to box Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an eight-round exhibition.
It was welcomed news for Irishman McBride, 47, now a tree surgeon, who fancies another payday against Tyson.
He told TMZ Sports: “It would be a dream to fight him again. My boss Brendan Hoarty says if the fight gets on he’ll give me time off work.
“Nobody can rule out anything in this world because that’s life.

“It would be explosive to fight Mike Tyson again and I’m sure Mike would love to rectify his loss.
“I would just love to jump in the ring again with him.”
Unlike McBride’s win against Tyson, the pay-per-view spectacle will not go down as a professional contest.

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The California State Athletic commission, who sanctioned the bout, urged the legendary pair to avoid knockouts.

But Tyson, who was close to facing Jones in 2003, has already admitted he will look to finish the fight.
He said: “If the opportunity comes, I’m always looking for it.”

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Tyson will box in an eight-round exhibition against Roy Jones Jr

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FABIO WARDLEY copied mentor Dillian Whyte’s trademark left hook to smash the moustache off Simon Vallily for the English heavyweight title. 
With his manager, and sometime sparring partner, watching live from his Portugal training camp, the red-hot novice landed a brilliant third-round stoppage over the previously decorated amateur.

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Fabio Wardley is the new English heavyweight championCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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Fabio Wardley stopped Simon Vallily in the third roundCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
After just FOUR white-collar fights, the Ipswich ace gobbled up the belt Daniel Dubois recently relinquished with a punch-perfect showing in just his NINTH pro bout.
Having mocked Vallily’s handlebar face furniture with a fake one of his own during fight week, the 25-year-old took a couple of rounds to suss out his man before almost whacking off his whiskers to prove he is the real deal.
 Wardley said: “I started boxing for fun, to enjoy the pressure and the work.
“Four white collar fights and a few pro fights and I have a heavyweight title, I am massively humble and grateful.

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Middlesbrough fighter Vallily was stopped in round threeCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
“It went punch-perfect for me really. I said before that I would play around for the first couple of rounds to see what he had and that’s what I did. 
“Then I told my team I knew where the gaps were and then I knew the fight was over.”
Wardley, who has also twice been invited to the Ukraine to spar Oleksandr Usyk, scored with a couple of piston-like jabs in the opener, rocking his 34-year-old rival’s head back with a couple of his best.
Vallily held the centre of the ring but Wardley had no problem shuffling his 16st frame safely around the ring and pinging back neatly.

Wardley felt the first serious right hand of his young career in the middle of the second but absorbed it like a veteran and fired back with a rapid combo.

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The 24-year-old novice looked the full nine-years fresher as his Middlesbrough rival plodded around the ring.
And that lack of fire was punished in the third when Vallily’s hopes of a serious heavyweight run was extinguished by the exciting Suffolk man.
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ROY JONES JR believes heavyweight legend Mike Tyson is still “as dangerous as ever”.
Iron Mike, 54, will lace up the gloves for the first time in 15 years after signing to face Jones, 51, in an eight-round exhibition.

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Roy Jones Jr, 51, believes heavyweight legend Mike Tyson is still ‘as dangerous as ever’

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Tyson, 54, will fight for the first time in 15 years
Jones, a four-weight champion, only retired in 2018 aged 49, giving him an edge in form.
But the American great has warned not to expect ring rust from Tyson, despite his years of substance abuse in and inactivity retirement.
Jones told ESPN: “Mike is still just as dangerous as ever.
“The only thing about it is, you’ve been out of this sport for so long, it’ll be hard for him to go a full 12-round bout and sustain this.

“Yet he’s still good, he has his speed, he still has his power, he’s still highly explosive, so he’s still a dangerous guy.
“It’s going to be dangerous for all eight rounds. You’ve got to be ready to protect yourself because that’s Mike Tyson.”

Tyson has been training since March after announcing plans to make a sensational comeback and has dramatically transformed his body.
But the reformed Baddest Man on The Planet has been warned by the California State Athletic Commission – who sanctioned the bout – to control his aggression.

Under exhibition rules, Tyson and Jones have been told not to go for knockouts and will wear 12oz gloves, but no head guards.
Still, Jones expects the once feared puncher Tyson to revert to type if he smells blood and knows he cannot afford to switch off in the ring.
He said: “For me, I know how to have fun in the ring and try to make it the best that I can make it.
“But at the same time, Mike knows one way. It’s like playing with a pitbull pup. He’ll play, but he’ll get lost because all he knows is, go at it.

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“So that’s all Mike knows – go at it. So I’ve got to be prepared for whatever Mike comes out with.
“Now, I want to box, have a good time and give people a good show, as well.
“But Mike ain’t ordinary. He’s not that person that can go out and do that. All he knows is to take your head off.”

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ANTHONY JOSHUA could be forced to face Kubrat Pulev behind closed doors – or even abroad.
Promoter Eddie Hearn had hoped to stage the mandatory title fight at the O2 Arena in front of a reduced crowd at the end of the year.

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Anthony Joshua could be forced to face Kubrat Pulev behind closed doors or even abroadCredit: AFP or licensors
But after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced fans will no longer be permitted to attend pilot events this weekend, following a rise in Covid cases, Hearn’s masterplan took a hit.
Fearing spectators being allowed back into venues may be further backdated, Joshua will not wait around.
And while being ruled out of fighting at Hearn’s Matchroom ‘Fight Camp’ due to winter weather, taking the show on the road or in private have emerged as likely options.
Hearn told The Mail: “There’s a very strong chance that AJ will now have to fight in this kind of closed-doors environment as well.

“Our plans are not waiting for the crowds, they are to advance the sport by any means necessary.
“He won’t fight in the Matchroom garden because it is December and the weather is a factor, but closed doors is possible.

“If the situation with no crowds develops, we have to be ready for that if it is what is presented to us.
“He will definitely fight this year whether it is closed doors or not.

“We are not ruling out going somewhere else because there will be territories that are Covid free and this situation is moving.
“Other countries will want to say they are open for business and a great way to do it is staging the heavyweight championship.
“The focus is still the UK.”

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Joshua, 30, has not fought at home since beating Joseph Parker in March 2018, having lost to Andy Ruiz Jr on his US debut last June before winning the rematch six months later in Saudi Arabia.
After his mandatory defence against 39-year-old Pulev, he hopes to meet WBC champion Tyson Fury, 31, in an undisputed title decider.
The British rivals have agreed to a two-fight deal in 2021, but not yet signed.

Anthony Joshua shows of immense hitting power as he pounds punching bag More