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      UFC chief Dana White ridicules ‘state of boxing’ after Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul announce ‘super exhibition fight’

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      DANA WHITE ridiculed the ‘state of boxing’ after Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul announced their ‘super exhibition fight’.
      Mayweather confirmed the sensational news that he will fight YouTuber Paul in February 2021.

      Floyd Mayweather pictured with UFC boss Dana White Credit: Splash News

      Logan Paul will face Mayweather in a ‘super exhibition fight’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      UFC president Dana White – who was in talks with the American legend over a comeback fight – was left in hysterics over the farcical mismatch.
      He told pranksters NELK boys: “When people ask me what’s the state of boxing right now, that’s where it’s at.
      “Didn’t that kid get beat up by the f*****g video game kid from England and now he’s going to fight Floyd Mayweather?”
      Paul’s one and only professional bout was a split-decision loss to his social media rival KSI – real name Olajide William Olatunji.

      But he will return to the ring against Mayweather, who retired in 2017 after beating ex-UFC champion Conor McGregor, which White helped promote.
      Describing the unprecedented event, Mayweather wrote on Instagram: “Super Exhibition Feb. 20, 2021 !!!! Early Bird Special On Sale NOW!!!!
      “More Details Soon.”
      According to the Fanmio website, early bird pricing is at $24.99 (£18.62) for the first million tickets sold.

      It then rises to $39.99 (£29.80), and then to $59.99 (£44.71) starting December 29.
      It will then increase to $69.99 (£52.16) for the final days of build up, starting February 11.
      It is not yet clear which British broadcaster will air the exhibition.
      BT Box Office picked up the rights to Mike Tyson’s comeback against Roy Jones Jr.
      Snoop Dogg provided celebrity commentary for the pay-per-view spectacle in the US, and he has offered his services to Mayweather.

      Paul’s one and only professional bout was a split-decision loss to his social media rival KSICredit: Getty – Contributor

      Mayweather came out of retirement in 2018 for an exhibition bout against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin NasukawaCredit: AFP
      Paul, 25, weighed in at 14st 2lb for his fight against KSI, 27, which he ended up losing after a two point deduction.
      Whereas Mayweather tipped the scales at 10st 6lb, meaning he can expect to give away a massive FOUR STONE to the internet phenomenon.
      The 43-year-old came out of retirement in 2018 for an exhibition bout against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan.
      Mayweather waked away from Tokyo £7million richer after just one round’s work.
      He did announce last month that he will return to the Far East next year, but appears to be focussing on Paul beforehand.

      Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul confirmed for February 20 More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo naps five times a day and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s snoozes for four… how much sports stars sleep

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      BEING one of the most well known sporting icons on the planet is tiring work.
      But rather than sleep all night, Cristiano Ronaldo instead takes FIVE naps a day while Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson snoozes for just four hours to keep himself going.

      Cristiano Ronaldo takes FIVE naps-a-day

      Earlier this month, it emerged Juventus superstar Ronaldo, 35, grabs 40 winks five times each day and sleeps in the foetal position.
      And here SunSport can reveal the different sleep patterns of several other sporting icons from across the globe and how many hours of ‘Zzz’ time they get, according to Online Mattress Review.
      Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – 4 hours

      The Rock survives on just four hours sleep every nightCredit: Getty – Contributor

      The WWE icon turned movie star hits the sack for just four hours-a-night.
      At 48, Hawaiian born Johnson clocks off between midnight and is up and about again at 4am.

      Presumably to work out at least 25 times a day to maintain his impressive physique.
      Muhammad Ali – 6.5 hours

      Muhammad Ali was a religious man and slept for 6.5 hours after dinner and prayers

      The greatest boxer of all time put many opponents to sleep in his time and would wind down between 10pm and 4:30am.
      As a devout Muslim, much of his time would be split between prayer and training.
      And his evening routine would include a walk after dinner, a quick wash, prayers and short stint in front of the TV before he dozed off.

      Serena Williams – 7 hours

      Serena Williams clocks up a solid seven hours of sleep after socialising and work
      You do not need hawk eye to tell when Serena is out for the count but we can neither confirm or deny whether her snoring makes a racket.
      The tennis sensation takes a solid seven hour sleep between midnight and 7am each day after a post-dinner routine of socialising and work.
      The 38-year-old former world number one is also a mum of a young daughter so her slumbers are no doubt interrupted by the littl’un every now and then.

      Cristiano Ronaldo – 7.5 hours

      Ronaldo sleeps in the fetal position to stay in top shape aged 35

      Ronaldo has perhaps the oddest routine of all the big stars.
      Rather than one lump of rest at the end of each day like most of us, Ronnie reportedly prefers to take short naps of an hour-and-a-half each time throughout the day.
      After dinner, he relaxes with his friends before a swim at 10pm.
      He then takes one of his signature naps until midnight and relaxes until another short burst of sleep from around 3am before waking up for the day.
      Ronda Rousey – 8 hours

      MMA star Rousey does not mess around when it comes to getting the right amount of rest

      MMA and WWE star Rousey’s routine seems pretty standard.
      Eight hours between midnight and 8am.
      Nice and simple.
      Tiger Woods – 8.5 hours

      Tiger Woods – perhaps the greatest golfer in history – spends more than a third of his day asleep

      Woods is generally considered the best golfer of all time.
      And to maintain such high levels, the superstar spends eight and a half hours dreaming of sinking putts and splitting fairways.
      He snoozes from 10pm to 6:30am – proving the early birdie really does catch the worm.
      Tom Brady – 9 hours

      Tom Brady is widely considered the best quarter-back ever to play American Football and he does not compromise when it comes to rest

      Like Woods, Brady is considered the greatest ever in his field.
      The former New England Patriots quarter-back is revered in across the world for his sustained and unrivalled talent.
      And the 42-year-old – who is still playing for the Tampa Bay Bucacaneers – makes sure he touches down to sleep for nine hours each day between 8:30pm and 5:30am.

      Stephen Curry – 9 hours

      NBA star Stephen Curry is one of the longest sleepers on the list with a solid nine hours

      Basketball star Stephen Curry is another record breaker who is set to go down in the NBA history books.
      The Golden State Warriors point guard is another who does not take rest lightly – opting to hit the hay for nine hours between 11pm and 8am every day.

      Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s luxury yacht as it flies through the water More

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      Floyd Mayweather reveals he didn’t knock Conor McGregor out early to make sure mega-money rematch happens

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      FLOYD MAYWEATHER insists he decided against knocking out Conor McGregor early so the pair could have a money-spinning rematch.
      The 43-year-old American came out of retirement to beat the UFC star in ten rounds in 2017 before hanging up his gloves again.

      Floyd Mayweather claims he avoided beating Conor McGregor earlyCredit: AFP or licensors

      McGregor started well, winning some of the opening rounds before the exhausted ring novice was picked apart by Mayweather, who barley shed a sweat until the finish.
      Mayweather – who claimed he only did push ups and sit ups as training for the fight – is adamant he could have ended the bout whenever he pleased.
      But with the possibility of a lucrative rematch taking place afterwards, the multi-millionaire decided to keep the fight competitive.
      He told Drink Champs: “I took it serious, but I wanted to have some fun in the fight and I wanted to entertain the people.

      “You have to give the people a show, so I gave the people a show.
      “If I wanted to go out there and f*** him up and blaze him right out the gate, I could’ve did that. But my thing is this, if I would’ve did that, then it wouldn’t be probably a part two.”
      After Mayweather’s Las Vegas win, he returned a year later in an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo.
      The American legend then announced in 2019 he was “coming out of retirement in 2020” to work with UFC boss Dana White.

      Mayweather revealed he has no intentions of facing boxers, believing he has nothing left to prove against anyone in the sport, and suggested only crossover bouts against UFC stars like McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov will bring him back to the ring.
      Next year, Mayweather is set to compete at an MMA event at the Tokyo Dome called Mega 20201. However, it is not known in what capacity he is fighting – boxing or MMA.

      Mayweather claimed he barely trained before beating McGregorCredit: Alamy Live News More

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      Jake Paul claims he is ‘dedicating my life to beating Conor McGregor in boxing match’ after smashing Nate Robinson

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      JAKE PAUL revealed he is dedicating his life to beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
      It comes after the YouTuber emphatically knocked out retired NBA star Nate Robinson to move to 2-0 in his professional career.

      Jake Paul revealed he is dedicating his life to beating UFC superstar Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      McGregor is just one of the stars that Paul wants to fight Credit: https://www.instagram.com/thenotoriousmma/

      Paul, 23, has set his sights on facing more celebrities and UFC stars.
      And he revealed his mission will be complete once he fights and defeats Irish sensation McGregor.
      Paul told ESPN: “I am dedicating my life to beating Conor McGregor. Financially, it already makes sense.
      “Financially, I’m already one of the biggest prizefighters and there’s only a couple more bosses to check off and to beat and to conquer.

      “I want to fight a couple more people, I think, first. We’re figuring that out.
      “I want to prove to the world that, ‘Yo, I’m gonna knock out all these fighters’.
      “Conor McGregor can maybe be the final boss.
      “If we were playing a video game, he could be the final boss. And then I’ll probably retire after I beat McGregor.”

      Paul claimed he is in talks with McGregor’s manager Audi Attar with the view of setting up a fight with the 32-year-old ex-UFC champion.
      Despite his lack of experience in the ring, the American has backed himself as the heir to Floyd Mayweather’s throne as boxing’s top attraction.
      Paul said to Barstool Sports: “It’s crazy but that’s that’s why I’m just like, f***, man, I truly believe that boxing was put into my life for for a f***ing reason.
      “I feel like I was destined for this and I was selected by the gods to be the new Mayweather and to carry the crown and to make this sport, like, juicy as f*** and just put on a show, baby, because everyone wants to be entertained at the end of the day.
      “And that’s what this is.”

      Jake Paul says he was selected by the gods to be new Mayweather More

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      Claressa Shields opens up on shock MMA switch to PFL and reveals plan to train with UFC legends Jon Jones and Holly Holm

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      CLARESSA SHIELDS will attempt to juggle her career as the face of women’s boxing with a new venture into MMA.
      The three-weight champion, who also has two Olympic Gold medals, has signed for the Professional Fighters League.

      Boxing star Claressa Shields, 25, has made the move across to MMA Credit: Jose Pineiro/SHOWTIME

      PFL have fighters compete in a fight-twice-in-one-night play-off system, with the winners advancing to the championship where they compete for a $1million (£750,000) cheque.
      And Shields will make her debut in the promotion next summer, with plans to feature in their NFL-style season in 2022.
      Here SunSport’s Jack Figg speaks to the 25-year-old boxing sensation, who reveals her plans to train with UFC legend Jon Jones and Holly Holm.
      JACK FIGG: Claressa, why the move into MMA after such a dominant boxing career?

      CLARESSA SHIELDS: Timing is everything and the conversation with PFL was very lucrative and very nice.
      We had an understanding on what I stand for, what they stand for and it all kind of meshed together.
      The conversation wasn’t like, ‘Hey, come over here, fight against our top girl, spend two months getting ready then go back to boxing’.
      It was more, ‘Come over here, sign a three-year deal and trust us that you’re going to get fair and competitive matches and play a part in helping build your brand up’.

      The PFL season is something that drew me to it too, it’s equal with the men and women who both get the chance to fight for a million dollars.
      You can control your own destiny and that’s something that intrigued me.

      Shields is a three-weight world champion and two-time Olympic gold medal winner in boxing Credit: Jose Pineiro/SHOWTIME
      JF: So, are you committing to MMA long-term?
      CS: Well, three years, yeah. For right now.
      After three years, we’ll see what happens, but I’m hoping I can learn so much this year and have great teaching and coaching that by 2022 I’ll be ready for the PFL full season.
      JF: Are you training in MMA right now?
      CS: I’ve been doing wrestling behind the scenes for a while now.
      I fly out to Albuquerque, New Mexico, tomorrow to train with Jonny Bones [Jones] and Holly Holm and their wonderful team of coaches for 11 days.
      That will be great training also.
      I’m hitting the bag for five minutes and five rounds and working on my wrestling with no breaks.
      It’s way different, when I get down to Albuquerque I think we’ll do more mixing it up, but I didn’t want to self-teach myself as I could teach myself bad habits.

      The American has two Olympic gold medals to her name Credit: Jose Pineiro/SHOWTIME
      JF: The JacksonWink gym in Albuquerque is prestigious, could that be your MMA team full-time?
      CS: That’s a possibility. Right now I’m just seeing who I have the best chemistry with, who understands me.
      I’ve heard great things about the gym myself. Jonny Bones and Holly Holm are great friends of mine and I think it will be a great camp.
      For those who want to watch, go to my Claressa Shields GWOAT channel on YouTube. They can follow it behind the scenes.

      UFC legends Jon Jones and Holly Holm will train with Shields
      JF: How will you manage you boxing and MMA career?
      CS: I will fight February in boxing, then I plan on fighting towards the end of the year in boxing and fight in June in MMA.
      But, then I don’t know when I’ll fight again in MMA. I’ll fight two fights in MMA but I don’t know exactly when.
      I definitely plan on having two boxing matches and two MMA fights next year.
      JF: You’re going from boxing superstar to MMA beginner, how is that feeling?
      CS: Yeah, I’m starting over but I’m still strong, I still have boxing and a lot of girls who do MMA, they’re terrible at boxing.
      I just have to catch up on the other things, wrestling, jiu jitsu, and the Muay Thai, kickboxing stuff.
      But, having a boxing advantage that will definitely play in my favour in every fight that I have.

      Shields with former UFC champion Joanna JedrzejczykCredit: @claressashields
      JF: If you become a champion in MMA, due to your boxing achievements, where does that leave your legacy?
      CS: I think it leaves me in the top one or two combat fighters ever. As boxers do not come over to MMA and do well.
      That’s known, it’s not a stereotype, it’s a fact. But I’m going to be the one to break that.
      JF: Will you still train in MMA when you have a boxing match coming up?
      CS: I can box in my sleep. That’s easy. I’m going to be doing my MMA training throughout, I won’t stop doing it.
      I’m going to try and at least do it two or three times a week.
      I train multiple times a day, it went from twice but now it’s three of four, depending on how I feel.
      Boxing is the same repetitive work; bag drills, strengthening your core, pad work and now of course I can add MMA into my second session where it’s technical stiff and just learning. More

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      Conor McGregor’s camp in talks with Jake Paul over boxing fight as YouTuber vows to to ‘f*** up’ UFC star

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      YOUTUBE star Jake Paul has revealed his team are in talks with Conor McGregor’s camp about a potential blockbuster bout.
      The 23-year-old called out the Notorious after brutally knocking out ex-NBA ace Nate Robinson in Los Angeles on Saturday.

      Jake Paul has his sights set on a boxing fight against Conor McGregorCredit: AP:Associated Press

      McGregor returns to the octagon in January when he faces Dustin Poirier in a rematchCredit: AP:Associated Press

      And the Problem Child – who has won both of his fights inside the squared circle – has also set his sights on fights with KSI and Dillon Danis.
      But the American is desperate to pit his wits against McGregor, who returns to the octagon in January to face Dustin Poirier in a rematch.
      Commenting on a potential dust-up against the Irishman, Paul told TMZ Sports: “My team is talking to his manager but that’s all I’ll say.”
      Before adding: “No other fighter with this big of a platform is calling out McGregor.

      “My dogs have more followers than the guy he’s fighting in January.”
      Paul then insisted it’s a matter of ‘if’ and not ‘when’ he and McGregor come to blows inside the ring.
      He stated: “It’s gonna be legendary.
      “I’m gonna win, too! That’s what I want people to understand!

      “I’m gonna dedicate my life to winning that fight because I’m not going in there just to say I did it — I’m going in there to f*** Conor McGregor up.”
      Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes that a fight between Paul and McGregor would be more competitive than when the UFC star battled Floyd Mayweather.
      Speaking to Sirius XM Boxing, the Matchroom boss said: “I think it’s reasonably competitive, especially with the weight difference.
      “Jake Paul vs Conor McGregor is a lot more competitive than Conor vs Floyd Mayweather.”

      Jake Paul Vs Nate Robinson – Round by round More

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      Jake Paul claims he would ‘kick Conor McGregor’s a***’ in a boxing ring – but admits he is terrified by Mike Tyson

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      JAKE PAUL claims he would ‘kick Conor McGregor’s a***’ in the boxing ring – but admitted he is terrified of Mike Tyson.
      YouTube sensation Paul returns to the ring this weekend with a fight against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.

      Jake Paul admitted he is terrified of Mike TysonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      McGregor is making his UFC return in January and Paul is adamant he has the beating of the Irish fighter.
      Paul told BT Sport Boxing: “These MMA guys go to practice every day and have to spend their whole day on one thing – elbows, knees, grappling, take downs so there’s a lot they have to work on.
      “But I’ve been going into the gym for the past three years and all I’ve been focusing on is boxing, so come over into my arena and you’re going to get your a** beat.
      “Jake Paul vs Conor McGregor will happen. People think that’s crazy and Jake’s going to get his a** kicked but we’ll see.”

      Tyson makes his long-awaited comeback on Saturday in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr in Los Angeles but Paul is steering clear of challenging the infamous heavyweight to a fight.
      Paul expects Iron Mike to be too powerful for his opponent although claims Jones Jr’s best chance is to prolong the fight.
      Paul said: “I think Mike is so powerful and that power is just going to shock Roy especially with them being a lot older.

      How Jake Paul and Nate Robinson compare ahead of their fight

      “You can’t take as many punches like that. I think Mike wins in the second round.

      “If it goes into the later rounds Roy could potentially come back and win on points just because he has that speed and that distance control.”
      Paul is facing Robinson with the former NBA star making his boxing debut on the undercard of Tyson’s fight.

      Exclusive: Jake Paul says he would ‘beat Conor McGregor’s a**’ ahead of appearance on Tyson vs Jones Jr undercard More

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      Roy Jones Jr could be persuaded to carry on comeback with Anderson Silva, Bernard Hopkins or Antonio Tarver fights

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      ROY JONES JR could be persuaded to carry on his comeback by the likes of Anderson Silva, Benard Hopkins or Antonio Tarver.
      All-time great Jones comes out of retirement on Saturday to face fellow legend Mike Tyson in an eight-round exhibition bout.

      Roy Jones Jr prepares to come out of retirement to face Mike Tyson Credit: Instagram / @royjonesjeofficial

      UFC legend Anderson Silva has long been linked with fighting Jones Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      The challenge comes two years after his last fight, but it may not prove to be the end of the road in the 51-year-old’s illustrious career.
      Tarver, 52, and Hopkins, 55, are among those Jones feels he has unfinished business with – as well as UFC legend Silva, 45.
      His cornerman Tom Yankello told SunSport: “I know he’s got a couple of guys he wants to settle scores with if they’re willing to.
      “We got Tarver and Hopkins. But I don’t think he would come back to just fight, he wouldn’t come for just anyone.

      “It would have to be one of the guys he really wants or for a cruiserweight world championship of something like that.
      “Anderson Silva, that’s another name I can see something like that too.
      “Roy loves to fight, he loves to train, he’s the ultimate competitor he enjoys that.”

      Jones beat Tarver in their first fight in 2003, but lost the following two.

      Similarly, he saw past Hopkins in a 1993 masterclass, but failed to repeat in their rematch 17 years later.
      During the end of Jones’ career, he chased a fight with the UFC’s middleweight icon Silva, but the Brazilian’s contract permitted it.
      Now the former champion has been released by the UFC, he is free to crossover to boxing, something Silva also revealed was possible.
      Jones and Yanekllo have not explicitly discussed what could be next after Saturday’s pay-per-view spectacle.
      Having seen the former four-weight champion revitalise himself over nine weeks of training camp, the trainer has not ruled out further fights.
      But it all depends on how well Jones fairs against iconic puncher Tyson.

      Jones lost on points in his rematch against Bernard Hopkins in 2010Credit: AFP – Getty

      Antonio Tarver twice beat Jones Credit: Reuters
      Yankello said: “If he comes out healthy I wouldn’t put it out the realm of possibility. But I would say it’s a little too early to say.
      “This fight plays a big part, to see how he comes out and how he feels after it.
      “Does this satisfy his sweet tooth, enough to ride off into the sunset?
      “He’s spent his whole life doing that and it’s not something that fizzles out, especially once it’s been reignited.”
      Jones comes into the fight as the betting underdog, despite Tyson’s 15 year inactivity.
      But Yankello is confident what they lack in size in power, they make up for in superior boxing skills.
      And he forecasts if Jones can weather the early storm, he can stop Tyson in the later rounds.

      Trainer Tom Yankello with Jones

      Yankello says Jones can stop Iron Mike in the later rounds
      Yankello explained: “The later rounds is where I think Roy takes over. I’m not saying he doesn’t win the early rounds as well.
      “But the early rounds will be dictate and then I think Roy outboxes him clearly. I think he could possibly stop him late.
      “I think it comes down to how durable Mike is, being off 15 years. That’s the mystery to me, what he’s actually bringing, what his durability is.
      “Mike’s been gone 15 years, can he be durable after not being hit for all these years?
      “Even though Roy’s not on paper the bigger puncher in this fight, he’s knocked out more people than Mike has.
      “He’s a power puncher, he always has been and I think it comes down to how durable Mike is.
      “If he does stop him I think it would be later, somewhere from the fourth round onwards.”

      Roy Jones Jr, 51, shows off incredible hand speed ahead of Mike Tyson fight More