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      I was homeless and stripping for cash before turning to MMA… now I’m one of the biggest boxing influencers in world

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      ANTHONY TAYLOR was stripping for cash and sleeping rough before turning to MMA… now he is a star of influencer boxing. Taylor was 25 when he began training for MMA in 2013, going on to have over ten amateur bouts in two years.
      Anthony Taylor was once a stripper before professional fightingCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
      He is now a star of influencer boxingCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
      Anthony Taylor celebrates his last winCredit: Getty
      But after moving to Los Angeles, the American fell on hard times and took a job stripping to earn money.
      Taylor, 34, told SunSport: “I was a stripper, I had nothing. 
      “I wasn’t doing nothing with my life, I was homeless, nowhere to go and I was stripping. I was just enjoying life as a bum who had no goals, nothing.” 
      Taylor relocated from Alameda in California to LA to train with coach Antonio McKeee and his champion son AJ.
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      It was AJ – working security at a gentleman’s club – who got Taylor the male stripping job through a bartender who also worked there.
      He revealed: “It was all men who danced and nothing but women who came in. 
      “It was kind of like Magic Mike. And that’s how I got into it, I did it for a couple months, made really good money and kept at it.”
      Taylor earned up to $300 a night (£230) to take his kit off and also drove Uber but still he was without a home.
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      He went from sleeping on benches, sofa surfing and even staying in one of his coach’s gyms to get by.
      Taylor remembered: “Those times were low, the lowest times of my life.
      “Having to endure that for such a long period of time really moulded the person I am now. 
      “I was able to go through that experience and live it and understand it. Now in my life, I can say, I don’t ever wanna be there again. 
      “That low, no friends, no family, nothing. I don’t want to experience that again, so I’ll build my own family, build my own friends. I build my foundation and talent.” 
      Eventually, Taylor’s MMA career picked up and by 2018 he was fighting regularly enough and living with his trainer Antonio.
      Taylor notched five wins in a row in the cage, which caught the attention of the UFC.
      He was told should he win twice more, a deal with MMA’s premier promotion would be on the table.
      Jake Paul with Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy
      Anthony Taylor is an ex-sparring partner of Jake Paul’sCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
      But then, a phone call would change the course Taylor’s life and career forever.
      He said: “Jake Paul’s coach BJ Flores calls me, ‘Hey, you wanna be Jake’s sparring partner, great opportunity, you’ll make some good money, invest it. Get you in the scene.’
      “That’s how I got into the scene with Jake Paul.” 
      Taylor left behind his UFC ambitions to join Paul’s camp, as the YouTuber-turned boxer made his mark in the sport.
      He was a sparring partner before Paul beat ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, and Tyron Woodley, 41.
      From there, Taylor also got the chance to fight on Paul’s undercard twice, losing to Tommy Fury, 24, and Chris Avila, 30.
      But his time in the camp pushed his profile to new heights and saw him feature on several influencer boxing shows.
      Taylor said: “Coming into the scene, Jake helped put me on. 
      Tommy Fury beat Anthony Taylor in August 2021Credit: Getty
      Anthony Taylor also lost to Chris AvilaCredit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
      “But from there on I was able to use my own platform and make myself grow self efficiently. I give Jake credit for getting me into the game and I appreciate it. 
      “But also, I have to give myself credit because, yeah he can put you on but you have to keep doing what you’re doing so you can stay on.”
      Life could have been so much different had Taylor focussed on the UFC instead of crossover boxing – but does he feel he made the correct call?
      Taylor responded: “I wouldn’t say I made the right choice, I just stumbled into it at the right time. 
      “And I manifested this. I said I’d be one of the biggest influencers in the world and now I am, baby.” 
      Taylor returns on Saturday night in Nashville on a Misfits Boxing card, promoted by superstar KSI.
      And he faces rival Paul Bamba, 33, known for his cancelled bout with Fury last year and recent loss to Avila.
      The stakes are high for Taylor, who is coming off a win over TikTok sensation Salt Papi, but he insists 5-3 Bamba is no match for him.
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      He said: “I stop him. He doesn’t have anything that poses a threat to me in the ring.
      “It’s not like he’s going to show me something I haven’t seen before.” 
      Salt Papi was beaten by Anthony TaylorCredit: Getty
      Paul Bamba fights Anthony Taylor nextCredit: globaltitansfightseries More

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      Conor McGregor called out by Oleksandr Usyk as heavyweight as champ’s rival Tyson Fury agrees Francis Ngannou fight

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      OLEKSANDR USYK has mocked Tyson Fury’s ring return – by calling out Conor McGregor.WBC heavyweight champion Fury finalised a controversial crossover clash with former UFC star Francis Ngannou earlier this week.
      Tyson Fury finalised a shock showdown with Francis Ngannou this weekCredit: ESPN
      The fight has scuppered a potential end-of-year showdown between Fury and Oleksandr UsykCredit: AP
      Boxing’s P4P king has jokingly out UFC star Conor McGregor in response to the fightCredit: SPORTSFILE
      The Saudi showdown was booked just months after The Gypsy King’s proposed undisputed title fight with pound-for-pound king Usyk fell through.
      And undefeated Ukrainian Usyk has derided Fury’s decision to face the MMA man by jokingly calling out McGregor – the biggest name in the history of the sport.
      He told SecondsOut: “I have no ambitions besides one ambition – it’s to fight Tyson Fury.
      “I saw that Conor McGregor put some significant weight on his body.
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      “Hey Conor, why don’t we make a fight at Wembley?”
      The mouthwatering showdown between Usyk and Fury fell through after very public negotiations.
      An end-of-year showdown was mooted but is now up in smoke as Fury has opted to fight Ngannou on October 28.
      Usyk will now defend his unified heavyweight titles against Fury’s stablemate and fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in Poland on August 26.
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      When pressed further on Fury’s latest outing, Usyk told Sky Sports: “This is a great opportunity for Francis Ngannou.
      “For Tyson Fury, it’s definitely not.
      “Doesn’t it seem strange that instead of choosing a top 10 guy, Tyson Fury’s choosing a guy who has never boxed before?”
      Usyk, 36, believes Fury’s decision to throw down with Ngannou was driven by fear of losing their undisputed clash.

      He said: “Of course [he’s afraid of me[. Of course.
      “Greedy belly is afraid of me.”
      Fury’s clash with Ngannou will be a ten-round affair but the Brit’s WBC title will NOT be on the line.
      The fight will be under Queensberry boxing rules, although it’s unclear whether or not it will go on both men’s professional records. More

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      Carl Froch reignites Conor McGregor feud as he calls his whiskey ‘s***’ and reveals what would happen in crossover fight

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      CARL FROCH has reignited his feud with Conor McGregor by calling Proper 12 whiskey “s***” and warning him off a crossover fight. The bad blood goes back to 2017 when Froch was a commentator for McGregor’s blockbuster bout with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
      Carl Froch has reignited his feud with Conor McGregor by calling Proper 12 whiskey “s***”Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Conor McGregor has feuded Carl Froch in recent years
      He criticised the UFC star’s punch power and it sparked the rivalry which is still brewing to this day.
      Froch told Betting Sites: “Conor McGregor was talking s***, wasn’t he? Talking nonsense about me and piping up.
      “Then I think he realised that actually, if he takes me on in my discipline in boxing, it’s going to be even worse than what happened to him when he fought Mayweather.
      “Mayweather is a quality fighter, but he’s small, he’s a light boxer. I’m quite heavy and I’m even heavier now.
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      “Been retired for nine years and I keep myself in shape. So I think he realises that you don’t want to be getting in the boxing ring with me which is fair enough.”
      Froch, 46, retired in 2014 after knocking out George Groves in front of 80,000 at Wembley Stadium.
      Meanwhile McGregor, 34, is yet to return to the UFC for over two years and has not boxed since defeat to Mayweather.
      And Froch added: “Conor McGregor, I’ve got to be honest, I’ve got loads of respect for him because he’s smashed it.
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      “He’s had some real tough and brave fights. He’s had his leg snapped, his head smashed in and he’s been choked out.
      “He’s made himself a fortune. I’ve got a lot of admiration for him.
      “But if a crossover fight between me and Conor McGregor could happen and people wanted to see it, that’s the important thing, then I’d happily participate in a boxing match.”
      Froch addded: “Whatever McGregor’s got, if he’s blowing it and spending it and buying Lamborghini boats and being frivolous with it by gambling, I hope he isn’t.
      “He’s earned his money the hardest way. He’s got his whiskey brand too but everyone says that whiskey tastes like s*** by the way.”
      Conor McGregor was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2017Credit: Getty More

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      Conor McGregor will NEVER fight Jake Paul but I’ll smoke him instead, says UFC star’s training partner Kiefer Crosbie

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      CONOR McGREGOR’S training partner Kiefer Crosbie has told Jake Paul to forget about fighting the UFC star. But Crosbie would gladly step in to shut Paul up following years of the YouTuber-turned boxer calling out McGregor.
      Kiefer Crosbie with training partner Conor McGregorCredit: @kiefercrosbie_mma
      Jake Paul in training for his next fightCredit: @jakepaul
      He told SunSport: “I’d smoke Jake Paul, I’d smoke him. But obviously it comes down to a name thing.
      “The easy thing is, ‘Who’s he?’ That’s the easy way out of that fight, ‘Who’s Kieffer Crosbie?’ 
      “Cool, well move round with me then, mate. Spar me then, fight me then, it would never happen, he’d never fight me. 
      “He’d go after a bigger name with less skills, that’s what he’s trying to do or the biggest name where he knows it will never happen. 
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      “He’s calling out Canelo, calling out Conor, he knows them fights will never happen and he’d never win them fights, let’s be real. 
      “But yeah, I’d smash Jake Paul, easy. Let’s be real, he’s good and improved but you can only improve so much in a couple of years. 
      “I’m doing this my whole life, you can’t just jump into this sport and after two or three years think you can take on the world.” 
      Paul, 26, suffered defeat for the first time in February, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
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      But he snubbed a rematch to instead return on August 5 in Texas against Nate Diaz, 38, who shared two classics in the octagon with McGregor.
      Paul wants to fight McGregor, 34, afterwards and claimed he would even do it in the cage.
      But Crosbie, 33, said: “Conor is the biggest combat sports athlete of all time, so of course the whole world is going to try call him out. 
      “Jake Paul calling someone like Conor out is just stupid to me. There’s levels to this game, let’s be real here. 
      “Look what Conor’s done, all his accomplishments. He’s one of the best of all time and that’s a way all these guys are trying to get clout. 
      “They’re calling Conor out to keep their name out there but that’s just what YouTubers and celebrities try to do. 
      “They’re looking for clickbait and Conor is not bothered about all them. Jake Paul, he’s a marketing genius.”
      Conor McGregor and Kiefer Crosbie are friends and training partnersCredit: @kiefercrosbie_mma
      Jake Paul facing off with Nate DiazCredit: @mostvaluablepromotions More

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      Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou purse details revealed as MMA ace set to pocket ‘multiple’ times more than UFC earnings

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU is set to earn a career-high payday against Tyson Fury – which will eclipse his entire UFC earnings.The Predator finalised a controversial crossover clash with the WBC heavyweight champion earlier this week.
      Francis Ngannou finalised a big-money showdown with Tyson Fury this weekCredit: ESPN
      The Predator bagged the fight six months after leaving the UFCCredit: GETTY
      Ngannou is set to take home a career-high payday for the Saudi showdownCredit: GETTY
      Ngannou, 36, bagged the most high-profile fight of his career a little over six months after leaving the UFC.
      And according to his manager Marquel Martin, the Saudi showdown will see the Cameroonian clubber pocket a “life-changing” amount of money.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Martin said: “Let’s just say this: The bag is so big, he may actually just drop it on the way to the bank.
      “Let’s just say that.
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      “I don’t know what the haters are trying to say right now, I kind of just blocked it out, but they’ll just be proven wrong again.
      “This is life-changing. This is exactly what we planned and visualized, so we’re happy.”
      When asked if Ngannou’s earnings for the fight will be more than his UFC winnings, Martin added: “Oh, my God. I mean, by far. By multiples.
      “Just to make [this money] even while being champion, he would’ve had to fight multiple times just to [be in this ballpark].”
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      Ngannou and Fury’s showdown will be a ten-round affair under the official Queensberry boxing rules.
      But it’s not yet known if the fight will count on both men’s records.
      Knockout artist Ngannou trained as a boxer before being convinced to try his hand at mixed martial arts by former head coach Fernand Lopez.
      And he plans to turn the combat sports world upside down by becoming the first man to defeat the fleet-footed Fury.

      He said: “I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years.
      “My dream was always to box, and to box the best.
      “After becoming the undisputed MMA Heavyweight Champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet…
      “All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.” More

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      Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers reveals talks to become Jake Paul’s first MMA opponent with two-fight deal discussed

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      AARON CHALMERS has put himself in line to be Jake Paul’s first MMA opponent after talks with the Professional Fighters League. Chalmers left behind the Geordie Shore house for a career in MMA in 2017 and he went on to have a 5-2 record in the cage.
      Aaron Chalmers has put himself in line to be Jake Paul’s first MMA opponentCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Jake Paul is set to make his MMA debut in 2024Credit: Getty
      But he is now focused on boxing and this year faced American legend Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition.
      Meanwhile, Paul is 6-1 as a boxer but is also signed to MMA promotion PFL, where he is set to make his cage debut in 2024.
      And Chalmers spoke to PFL Europe chief James Frewin during an event in the UK about welcoming the YouTube sensation to MMA.
      He proposed a two-fight deal which would see the celebrity pair share the cage and ring.
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      Chalmers told SunSport: “We were talking.
      “It’s kind of dried up at the moment because I was trying to double up and get a crossover, as in Jake in boxing and in MMA. 
      “He’s obviously getting his way in the boxing and I’m a bit more experienced in MMA.
      “It would make sense for something like that and I would definitely go back to it. 
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      “There’s a lot of hurdles to overcome, Jake’s right up there in the mix, he’s quite a big name. 
      “So I feel like a few wins under my belt in the next few months would hopefully push us back up that ladder.”
      Chalmers, 36, switched over to boxing in 2022 and in only his second bout in the ring he went eight rounds with Mayweather, 46, in February.
      And he returns on Saturday night at the 3Arena in Dublin against Irish MMA veteran Kiefer Crosbie, 33, training partner to Conor McGregor.
      Chalmers said: “He’s MMA based and I’ll tell you hand on heart, whenever Kiefer fights I watch because I know he’s always in a f*****g war. 
      “That’s what gets the blood pumping for me, because I know every fight Kiefer has it’s a war. So that’s what I’m prepared for. 
      “I know that’s what it’s going to be and I can probably say hand on heart it’s going to be fight of the night by a long stretch.” 
      Aaron Chalmers facing off with Kiefer CrosbieCredit: @aaroncgshore More

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      Francis Ngannou makes cheeky dig at UFC boss Dana White in official announcement of Tyson Fury fight

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU took the opportunity to fire shots at Dana White in the announcement of his boxing match with Tyson Fury.The former UFC heavyweight champion’s multi-million-pound Saudi showdown with the Gypsy King was officially announced on Tuesday.
      Francis Ngannou has landed a multi-million-pound showdown with Tyson FuryCredit: ESPN
      Dana White wasn’t keen on the bout while Ngannou was under contract with the UFC and recently suggested it was a ‘gimmick fight’Credit: GETTY
      Ngannou has mocked White’s comments by setting up GIMIK Fight Promotions – which will co-promote his clash with FuryCredit: GETTY
      It saw Ngannou bag the biggest purse of his career a mere six months after leaving MMA’s top promotion.
      White wasn’t keen on making the bout while the Cameroonian was still under contract with the UFC and recently suggested it a “gimmick fight”.
      Ngannou, 36, clearly took the comments to heart, setting up his own promotion aptly named GIMIK Fight Promotions.
      Ngannou’s formation of the promotion was revealed in the official press release for the fight.
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      An excerpt of the release read: “The clash is to find out who is ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ will take place under the official rules of boxing, with 3 judges ringside adopting the 10-point must system.
      “Both fighters, however, are promising to meet in the middle of the ring, go to war and win by knockout in devastating fashion.
      “An agreement has been reached with Queensberry, Top Rank and Ngannou’s Promotional banner, Gimik Fight Promotions, to partner with Riyadh Season to host the history-making event that will capture the imagination of fight fans around the globe.”
      UFC fans were quick to see the not-so thinly-veiled dig at White and were quick to comment, with one saying: “No way hahaha genius.”
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      Another said: “Genius name.”
      And another said: “What a name.”
      One remarked: “Ha. I didn’t notice. That’s awesome.”
      Another chimed in: “10-7 round to Ngannou.”
      One Ngannou fan said: “Lmfaoo!!! Let’s go, Francis.”

      Ngannou’s clash with WBC heavyweight champion Fury will mark his professional boxing debut, in which he plans to turn the combat sports world upside down.
      The Predator said: “I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years.
      “My dream was always to box, and to box the best.
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      “After becoming the undisputed MMA Heavyweight Champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet…
      “All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.” More

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      UFC legend Nate Diaz risks injury by taking part in gruelling sport THREE WEEKS before Jake Paul fight

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      NATE DIAZ risks potentially picking up an injury just weeks before his showdown with Jake Paul – by taking part in TWO triathlons.The former UFC lightweight title challenger will lock horns with the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a Dallas dust-up on August 5.
      Nate Diaz will throw down with Jake Paul in a boxing week on August 5Credit: DAZN
      But the former UFC star will take part in TWO triathlons before he faces the YouTuberCredit: INSTAGRAM@NATEDIAZ209
      Diaz has taken part in triathlons throughout his fight careerCredit: INSTAGRAM@NATEDIAZ209
      Diaz, 38, has trained in triathlons throughout his career in order to keep himself in tip-top shape.
      And he would’ve taken part in back-to-back triathlons by the time he shares the ring with Problem Child Paul.
      During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he said: “I’ve got a race this weekend and next weekend also.
      “But this one’s going to be in a lake so that’s good. Those are my favourite races.”

      Diaz shares his love of triathlons with brother Nick, who has competed in the treacherous ‘Escape From Alcatraz’ – in which competitors swim from the notorious island prison back to mainland San Franciso.
      But Nate has yet to participate in the race, admitting: “I never did Alcatraz though, my brother did it.
      “I would have done that one but we race all year long.
      “And about a week or two out I try not to do too big of races.
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      Nate Diaz’s clash with Jake Paul will be hifs first fight since leaving the UFC last yearCredit: Getty
      “So every time he’s done Alcatraz I was about two weeks out from a fight so I’d always miss that race.
      “But I’ve done other stuff like I did the Big Kahuna half Ironman in Santa Cruz, out there you swim around the pier.
      “The whole team you hear seals and a load of s**t, it’s the scariest thing ever I hate those.”
      Nate isn’t the biggest fan of ocean swims – mainly because of his fear of being eaten by sharks.
      He continued: “Every time we would be on the beach getting ready to go in the morning, my brother would be all pumped up.
      “I’d be like ‘Motherf****r, I’m only doing this because of you and now I’m going to get eaten by a shark’.
      Jake Paul has vowed to put a beating on Nate DiazCredit: GETTY
      “I hate ocean swims but I’ve done a bunch of them and now that my brother hasn’t been competing as much, I haven’t been dragged into too many ocean ones.”
      Nate’s clash with Paul will be his maiden professional boxing match and first outing since officially leaving the UFC last November.
      And former Disney star Paul plans to make it a long night at the office for the Stockton slugger.
      The 26-year-old said: “I’m going to make sure it’s a living hell the whole time.
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      “I think that he’s got a long night ahead of him.
      “I do as well but I’m not afraid of it. I’m ready to rock and roll.” More