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      Tommy Fury vs Anthony Taylor: How Love Island star and MMA fighter compare ahead of PPV fight

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      TOMMY FURY could be just one fight away from facing Jake Paul – but first has to beat the YouTuber’s sparring partner. Fury features on his online rival’s undercard on August 29, which will help build towards a pay-per-view clash between the celebrity pair.

      But standing in the Love Island star’s way is MMA fighter Taylor, a sparring partner of Paul’s.
      It will mark Fury’s US debut and gives him the perfect chance to send out a message to Paul, who headlines the night against Tyron Woodley.
      Here, SunSport runs down how he compares to Taylor.
      Tommy Fury
      Fury was born into boxing having grown up watching brother Tyson and cousin Hughie, while being trained by his dad John and uncle Peter.
      He quietly learnt his trade in the gym but had a limited amateur career of only ten bouts.
      After being a relatively unknown but ever-present part of Tyson’s team, in 2018 Fury turned professional with much fanfare.
      But that sky rocketed in the summer of 2019, when he entered ITV’s hit reality TV show Love Island, while 2-0.
      After coming runner-up with now-girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, Fury became a star of his own, well out of Tyson’s shadow.
      In the period since, he has improved to 6-0 with signs of promise, but still remains untested having faced only journeymen opponents.
      Fury, 22, was taken the distance in his return to the ring in June, but showed glimpses of a smart jab and eye-catching right uppercut.
      He will take in not only an experience advantage over Taylor, he is also naturally a STONE heavier, and has a bigger reach.
      Tommy Fury is 6-0 in his careerCredit: PA

      Anthony Taylor
      Taylor, 32, turned pro in MMA six years ago but got off to a rocky start, losing four of his first seven.
      That included a submission defeat to Conor McGregor’s protege James Gallagher in 2016.
      But recently, Taylor has won his last four on the spin, not losing in three years, and recently beat Nate Diaz’s training partner Chris Avila.
      The part-time actor, who even had a career as a STRIPPER before fighting, has boxed just once before, losing by split-decision to Donte Stubbs.
      But he made a name for himself earlier in the year after calling out Paul to a sparring session, which was later set up.
      And despite bad blood between the two initially, they formed a friendship and continue to train together now.
      Taylor has been helping Paul in preparation for his fourth fight, against ex-UFC champion Woodley, 39.
      He usually fights at 155lb, but will have to step up all the way to 180lb for his boxing match with Fury.
      Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy More

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      Conor McGregor urged to fight Logan Paul by Manny Pacquiao’s strength coach who says YouTuber has ‘got some skills’

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      CONOR MCGREGOR’s chances of fighting Manny Pacquiao appear to be in tatters, with the legendary Filipino’s coach urging the Irishman to do battle with Logan Paul instead.The Notorious was hotly tipped to face Pacquiao last year, amid his most recent MMA ‘retirement’.
      Conor McGregor suffered a broken leg at UFC 264Credit: Reuters
      Logan Paul survived eight rounds with Floyd MayweatherCredit: AFP
      But McGregor’s plan to launch his quest to reclaim UFC lightweight gold before taking on Pacquiao haven’t panned out as he’d have hoped.
      The 32-year-old twice lost to old foe Dustin Poirier in the Octagon, with disaster striking in the latter bout, as he broke his leg at UFC 264.
      McGregor is is working towards recovery and bullishly expects big things upon his eventual return.
      But a potential boxing comeback could be against YouTuber Paul, rather than Pacquiao, if PacMan’s coach Justin Fortune is to be believed.
      Speaking to DAZN, Fortune urged McGregor: “Fight Logan Paul for the money, big guy, deserves it. I like Logan Paul, he’s got some skills.
      “These exhibitions are great for the guys on YouTube who are making a lot of money. But it’s all good until someone gets hurt.

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      “At the moment they’re making tons of money and no-one is getting hurt, and that’s all well and good, but if they start fighting serious guys – someone is going to get seriously hurt.”
      Paul, 26, lost his professional debut to Brit KSI, but impressed many observers by surviving eight rounds with Floyd Mayweather back in June.
      Pacquiao, meanwhile, may have entered the ring professionally for the final time, having lost to Yordenis Ugas last night in Las Vegas.
      In the future, you may not see Manny Pacquiao fight again in the ringManny Pacquiao
      The popular star, 42, said: “In the future, you may not see Manny Pacquiao fight again in the ring.
      “I don’t know. But for how many decades, I’m so happy with what I’ve done in boxing.
      “I contribute a record in boxing also and to make boxing the top.
      “And especially bring honour to my country and the Filipino people.
      “I’m so proud to be a Filipino and thankful to all the fans all over the world.”
      Manny Pacquiao was beaten by Yordenis Ugas last nightCredit: Reuters
      Conor McGregor back training with leg cast OFF just five weeks after surgery as UFC star plots Dustin Poirier fight More

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      Nate Diaz takes credit for Mayweather vs McGregor and Paul ‘sisters’ boxing careers on fifth anniversary of UFC 202

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      UFC superstar Nate Diaz has taken credit for the swathe of big fights in boxing over the last four years – including Floyd Mayweather’s clash with Conor McGregor.The 2017 showdown between Mayweather and McGregor kick-started a trend of crossover bouts which have divided fans.
      Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor went to war five years ago at UFC 202Credit: Getty
      And the Stockton slugger has claimed he was the one to kick start the trend of super-fightsCredit: Getty
      But on the fifth anniversary of his epic rematch with The Notorious, UFC fan favourite Diaz has claimed he should be the one credited for the sport’s recent detour.
      The youngest Diaz brother wrote on Instagram: “The start of the super-fight era.
      “You’re welcome Floyd, the Paul sisters and YouTubers around the world.
      “It’s a new day and age I told you I was changing the game @arielhelwani.
      “I might not get the credit, but I’ll take the motherf***in’ credit.
      “Don’t forget before I fought Conor I was the biggest name he ever fought too.”
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      Diaz, 36, lost his rematch with McGregor via majority decision – a verdict he still disputes to this day.
      He recently tweeted: “He got finished off with a choke
      “That last fight didn’t even thangs [sic] out. He’s still far behind but it’s Gucci.”
      Fan favourite Diaz was last in action at UFC 263 in June against in-form Brit Leon Edwards.
      The Stockton native suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Rocky but came close to stopping the fight in the final seconds of the fifth round.

      After the defeat, his second in a row, the Ultimate Fighter season five winner revealed he’d happily box Jake Paul once his contract with the UFC runs out.
      When asked about potentially facing the Paul brothers and being told of the praise he recently received from boxing great Andre Ward, Diaz said: “Those are all options.
      “And it’s great to hear Andre Ward talk about [us].
      “That’s one of the greatest of all time in boxing, I believe. Pound-for-pound, that’s the man.
      “That’s cool that I’m getting recognition from him at all.”
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      Nate Diaz sends Conor McGregor fresh UFC fight trilogy message More

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      UFC chief Dana White offered MMA great Georges St-Pierre Khabib super-fight to make for Oscar De La Hoya boxing match

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      GEORGES ST-PIERRE has revealed Dana White offered him a super-fight with Khabib after blocking him from boxing Oscar De La Hoya.The former two-division champion, who retired from MMA in February 2018, was on course to box The Golden Boy before White vetoed the bout.
      Georges St-Pierre was on course to box Olympic gold medallist Oscar De La HoyaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      GSP claims White offered him a fight with Khabib after blocking him for facing De La HoyaCredit: Getty
      White blocked the fight as St-Pierre is still under contract with the UFC, but the veteran promoter attempted to make up for the missed payday with a historic clash with Nurmagomedov.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, St-Pierre said: “And at first he refused.
      “Then he thought about it but he came back with the argument that, oh, no, it’s not because he thinks Oscar is going to win; he thinks it’s because he doesn’t like the fact that Triller takes me and makes money off my back while I’m still under contract with UFC.
      “So what Dana says — listen to this — then he came back and he asked me if I wanted to fight Khabib.
      “And I told Dana, I said, ‘That’s very strange. Why didn’t you want to do the fight when we asked you a few years ago? Why is it now?’
      “He said, ‘Yeah, because Khabib was not retired and he was not the same guy that he was. Now it all makes sense.’
      “So I didn’t want to, but I was curious to see what would’ve happened, so I said to him, ‘I’m going to think about it,’ and I waited.

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      “Turns out that, shortly after, I saw in the media people saying that, oh, now Khabib, he doesn’t want to fight me because I asked for the fight with Khabib.
      “I never asked for the fight with Khabib. It’s Dana White that probably went to Khabib and [his manager] Ali Abdelaziz and told them that Georges wants to fight Khabib.
      “We asked a long time ago, but I didn’t ask again. I didn’t beg for that fight again. We’re both retired and I’m good.”
      St-Pierre went to great lengths to try and land a big payday against De La Hoya, phoning former UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta.
      The 40-year-old admitted: “I even called Lorenzo to try to convince Dana.
      He came back and he asked me if I wanted to fight Khabib.Georges St-Pierre on Dana White blocking a boxing match with Oscar De La Hoya
      “Lorenzo liked the idea, but Dana did not want it. I knew he hates Oscar but I said to him, ‘Listen, I’m going to make Oscar look bad because I’m in great shape.
      “I’ve been staying in great shape the whole time and I’m going to do a full boxing training camp with Freddie Roach and his world champions there, so I’ll be very well prepared.’
      “At first he says to me that the reason why he did not want it is because he thought that Oscar would basically destroy me in a boxing match.
      “And I had some good arguments — I told him that I believe Oscar has more mileage than I do, he’s no longer in his prime, I stayed busy the whole time, I’m still in great shape, I’m going to be very well prepared and I’m taking this fight very seriously.
      “If I do it, because it’s my name — my image is attached to it — I will do it 100 per cent.

      “And I told Dana, I said, ‘If there’s one MMA fighter that can go to boxing and look good in this situation, it would be me.’”
      De La Hoya’s wish to face a former UFC champion was granted when ex-light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort signed on the dotted line.
      The pair, 48 and 44 respectively, will face one another on September 11 in the main event of Triller’s latest boxing card.

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      Georges St-Pierre open to boxing switch when UFC contract expires More

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      Jake Paul wants to make UFC star Conor McGregor ‘go crazy and lose his s***’ and vows to ‘beat him up’ in boxing match

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      JAKE PAUL wants Conor McGregor to ‘go crazy and lose his s***’ and vowed to ‘beat him up’ in a boxing match.McGregor lost control after sustaining a horror leg break in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier in July.
      Jake Paul wants Conor McGregor to ‘go crazy and lose his s***’ in a boxing matchCredit: Getty
      Conor McGregor after defeat to Dustin Poirier last monthCredit: Getty
      The Irishman threatened to KILL Poirier and goaded that his rival’s wife was messaging him privately on Instagram.
      YouTuber Paul plans to leave McGregor in a similar meltdown if they ever eventually share the ring together.
      He told MMAFighting: “He sort of lost that spunk, and I think that people are kind of second-guessing him.
      “He’s not the same Conor, that’s for sure. It’s not as interesting. However, I would still just like to beat him up.
      “I would want him to freak out in the ring and go crazy and lose his s***.
      “I think it would be funny to see him break down, like how he did against Dustin Poirier. And by the way, it’s still a massive fight.”
      Jake Paul entered elite company

      McGregor, 33, beat Poirier, 32, in 2014 but was knocked out in the rematch in January.
      The trilogy bout then ended in chaos as he broke his tibia seconds before the end of round one.
      McGregor was therefore beaten by doctor stoppage, his third in four UFC fights.
      But Paul, who is 3-0 as a boxer all by knockout, is still interested in fighting the UFC poster boy, despite the losing streak.
      He said: “Regardless of what anybody wants to say about Conor, you have to respect him for what he’s done, becoming the face of the fight game.
      “I don’t hate the guy. Do I like him? No but you have to respect him. All I’ve said though is I want to fight him and knock him out.
      “Because A) it would be a big fight, big business and B) give the people what they want.
      “He’s not the same Conor, that’s for sure. It’s not as interesting. However, I would still just like to beat him up. Jake Paul
      “That’s one of the most talked about fights to happen in the past year.
      “I think it still makes sense regardless if he’s winning or losing, people want to see that.”
      Paul, 24, faces ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, in his fourth and toughest fight to date on August 29.
      He already has wins over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and most recently retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren.
      His viral KO wins of Robinson and Askren, both 37, featured on pay-per-views which sold over 1million buys.
      Paul said: “That’s why my career is just different. It’s such a unique situation.
      “No fighter in the history of the sport has sold this many pay-per-views and had this much attention at 3-0.
      “I’m building my career differently all while still challenging myself and trying to become the biggest prizefighter in the world.”
      Jake Paul says brutal win over ex-NBA star Nate Robinson was ‘most viral knockout moment in the history of boxing’ More

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      Jake Paul slams Conor McGregor for ’embarrassing’ UFC loss to Dustin Poirier and labels rival ‘Big Bad Wolf’

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      VIRAL YouTuber turned professional Boxer Jake Paul has aimed yet another dig at Conor McGregor. The 24-year-old has been locked in a war of words with The Notorious for months now, and has previously called out the Irishman in a bid to secure a fight against him.
      Jake Paul before his fight against Ben Askren in AprilCredit: Getty
      McGregor is currently rehabilitating from the broken leg he suffered in JulyCredit: AP
      But after McGregor snapped his left tibia and fibula in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier last month, losing via a first-round doctor stoppage, a fight between the pair is not on the cards any time soon.
      The Irishman is expected to be out of the ring for up to a year after suffering the horror injury.
      That hasn’t stopped Paul from continuing his back-and-forth with McGregor though, with the American telling Mirror Fighting: “It’s embarrassing.
      “The big bad wolf is tumbling down and it’s almost sad to see.
      “He became such a huge superstar and it’s all slipping down beneath him right now.”
      Those comments come despite Paul claiming back in May that he and McGregor could rake in £72m from a potential fight by selling 3 million PPV’s.

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      The 24-year old is set to face the toughest fight of his short Boxing career later this month, as he takes on former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley on August 29.
      Paul has fought just three times as a professional so far, with knockout wins against YouTuber AnEsonGib, basketball player Nate Robinson and former UFC champion Ben Askren to his name. 
      And he has the backing of fellow YouTuber turned Boxer KSI to make it four wins from four against Woodley.
      He said on YouTube: “I think Jake Paul’s gonna win. Because every time I’ve said Jake Paul’s gonna lose, he wins.”
      Should Paul defeat the 39-year-old UFC legend, he has some of the biggest names in fighting in his sights.
      He revealed 13-man boxing ‘hit-list’ on Instagram this month which includes Conor McGregor himself, Tommy Fury and even his own brother Logan Paul.
      Speaking to SunSport days before uploading the post, Paul revealed the list grows after each fight, and has some unnamed rivals yet to be included.
      He said: “It sort of changes and moulds as I go fight by fight.
      Jake Paul’s boxing ‘hit-list’
      “But I guess, Canelo Alvarez, Kamaru Usman, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, you know, KSI will always be on that list, be who knows what will happen there.
      “Tommy Fury’s on that list, I feel like I’m forgetting names but there’s some fighters I’m thinking of right now that I don’t even want to mention as it’s not worth giving them the clout to.
      “I think after this fight, I’m going to go back to the drawing board and re-up the list and actually write it down, that’s a good idea.”

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      Jake Paul talks about his upcoming fight with Tyron Woodley More

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      Jake Paul backed to ‘absolutely destroy’ ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley in next fight by bitter YouTube rival KSI

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      JAKE PAUL has been backed to ‘absolutely destroy’ Tyron Woodley – by his bitter YouTube rival KSI. Paul faces ex-UFC champion Woodley in his next fight on August 29, where he will look to go 4-0 as a boxer.
      Jake Paul fights Tyron Woodley on August 29Credit: Rex
      KSI backed Jake Paul to ‘absolutely destroy’ Tyron WoodleyCredit: Getty
      His other three wins, all by knockout, came against KSI’s friend ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC fighter Ben Askren, 37.
      British social media sensation and rapper KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – has predicted Paul would lose in all of them.
      But now, he has changed his tune and tipped the American to beat Woodley.
      He said on YouTube: “I think Jake Paul’s gonna win. Because every time I’ve said Jake Paul’s gonna lose, he wins.
      “Same thing happens with crypto. I go, I’m feeling bullish, and then it tanks. Jake Paul’s gonna win. He’s gonna absolutely destroy Tyron Woodley.
      “Do you think I want him to win? I haven’t wanted him to win for years, and he keeps winning, so at this point it’s like, alright, calm.
      “Do your thing, innit? Do your thing, you’re in your element. You’re in your moment.”
      How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

      Paul, 24, recently put KSI, 28, on his 13-man boxing ‘hit-list’ which he first revealed to SunSport.
      He has rivalled the Londoner ever since beating his brother ‘Deji’ in a 2018 exhibition.
      That night, KSI drew with Jake’s older brother Logan, 26, but won the rematch a year later when they turned pro.
      It set him up to face Paul, but amid the coronavirus pandemic it failed to materialise.
      KSI has vowed to return to the ring and wants to fight YouTuber Austin McBroom, 29, in a warm up for Paul.
      Jake Paul’s full ‘hit list’ of opponents including Canelo Alvarez, UFC star Conor McGregor and YouTube rival KSI More

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      Conor McGregor teases training with Canelo Alvarez’s coach ‘some time in the future’ as UFC star provides injury update

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      CONOR McGREGOR teased linking up with Canelo Alvarez’s boxing trainer and provided an injury update. McGregor, who suffered a horror leg break in July, addressed his fans in an Instagram Live video.
      Conor McGregor teased linking up with Canelo Alvarez’s boxing trainerCredit: @TheNotoriousMMA
      Canelo Alvarez and coach Eddy ReynosoCredit: @caneloteam
      Among those tuning in was esteemed boxing coach Eddy Reynoso, who once welcomed the Irishman to his San Diego gym.
      And McGregor – who lost his boxing debut to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 – hopes to take Reynoso up on his offer.
      He said: “Eddy Reynoso, big fan of your work my man and what you’re doing with those guys in the gym. One day we’ll get to train, I hope so.
      “You know, like I said, I’m taking this 24 hours at a time, I’m confident but I’m going to take it day-by-day and see how this leg goes up.
      “One thing’s for sure, I’ll be able to box. So you know, I’ll be out here until mid-October anyway I think, although I’ll know after this scan how long I’ll be here for.
      “But I would love to get training with you soon, sometime in the future, I’m sure we will, thank you for the support.”

      McGregor, 33, was last year in talks to return to the boxing ring against Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, 42, who lost to Mayweather, 44, in 2015.
      But he instead rematched Dustin Poirier, the man he initially beat in 2014, but was dramatically knocked out.
      It shelved any talk of McGregor lacing up the boxing gloves as he instead agreed to a trilogy bout with Poirier, 32.
      But it ended in disaster for the former two-weight UFC champion, who broke his tibia seconds before the end of round one.
      He lost the fight by doctor stoppage and was handed a six-month medical suspension after undergoing surgery in Los Angeles.
      UFC president Dana White opened the door to a fourth fight between Poirier and McGregor, who he believes will be out for a YEAR.
      I would love to get training with you soon, sometime in the future, I’m sure we will, thank you for the support.Conor McGregor to Canelo’s coach Eddy Reynoso
      But McGregor revealed he is ‘well ahead of schedule’ having already started training again after taking off his leg brace.
      He said: “Scan went well. Scan went very well. To be back on the bike, I’m back on the bike before he said I was going to be able to bear weight.
      “I’m rocking, well ahead of schedule. Let’s keep it going. … It was good news. Good news at the doc’s.
      “I think this bone is back together, to be honest. The ankle is feeling great.
      “I’ve got me flip-flops on, I have. I’m out of the boot. I’ve got the flip-flops on, so that’s a good sign.
      “I’m still jacked as well, bro. It ain’t over. We’re only warming up. Still fresh. Still untouched. You still can’t get me.”
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      Michael Bisping rips Conor McGregor for deleting tweets and says UFC legend’s legacy is also ‘getting deleted’ More