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    I leant Conor McGregor £60 for tools when he was a young plumber… he paid it back 15 YEARS LATER with incredible gesture

    CONOR McGREGOR once settled a 15 YEAR OLD debt with an incredible gesture after returning to his old stomping ground. McGregor – the highest-paid MMA fighter of all time – was an apprentice plumber in Ireland before he packed it in to pursue combat.Conor McGregor with boxing coach Bra BradyHe was still training at Crumlin Boxing at the time under the coaching of Olympian Phil Sutcliffe and Patrick “Bra” Brady. Bra was a career plumber himself and gave a teenage McGregor €70 (£60) to get himself some tools under the promise it would get paid back. But the future multimillionaire never squared his debt. Bra told SunSport from the famed Crumlin gym: “I’m a plumber all my life, retired now, but Conor wanted to be a plumber so when he started off, he’s 16, I said I’ll get him his tools. READ MORE IN MMA”I knew a fella that worked in the trade that could get the tools for cheap. “I said, I’d get him the tools and he can pay me back week by week because he used to be at the club. “I said, ‘You got them?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’ll pay ya back.’ But, he never did.” McGregor went onto become an icon of the UFC, winning titles in two divisions at the height of his rise. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIn 2017, he crossed over to the boxing ring for a lucrative bout against American great Floyd Mayweather, losing in round ten. McGregor regretted not reuniting with the boxing team who first honed his skills. Watch never-before-seen footage of Conor McGregor vs Khabib with audio of exactly what was said between hated UFC rivalsSo after defeat to Mayweather, the UFC superstar returned to Crumlin to train with Sutcliffe and Bra. He became so immersed in his first ever gym that he spent thousands renovating the club in an incredible gesture.McGregor even boxed on their club show to raise money and also kitted out the club and its coaches in custom tracksuits. But there was still one more thing left to do – pay back the money he owed from a decade and a half ago. Bra said: “It was 15 years later he paid me back, that’s when he wanted to get on the show. “He gave us a few things, a new ring and things like that, tracksuits and all that. He said, ‘Are you happy with that?’ “I said, ‘Yeah, but one more thing… I want my 70 quid!'” READ MORE SUN STORIESMcGregor still comes into Crumlin Boxing while in training camp but is currently nursing a toe injury.  It forced him out of his return against American Michael Chandler, 38, which was set for June 29 but now looks to be postponed until next year.McGregor returned to box on a Crumlin show More

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    KSI braces for ‘wild case’ Conor McGregor to gatecrash Misfits Dublin event after UFC star’s BARE-KNUCKLE fight callout

    KSI is braced for Conor McGregor’s wild antics in Dublin – having been called out to a BARE-KNUCKLE fight last time they met. The last time the two were in the same room – when Anthony Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in August 2023 – McGregor offered KSI a scrap.KSI is braced for Conor McGregor’s wild antics in DublinCredit: RexConor McGregor called KSI out to a bare-knuckle fight in 2023Credit: PAAlmost 12 months on, they could run into each other again with McGregor’s photographer Dave Fogarty in action on KSI’s Misfits Boxing card.Snapper Fogarty faces Misfits champion Deen The Great in Dublin – with KSI preparing himself for any amount of chaos. He told SunSport: “With McGregor, you don’t really know what to expect. “He’s a bit of a wild case. I don’t think he’s in any state of mind to be fighting at all. I don’t think he’s gonna be fighting anytime soon.READ MORE IN BOXING”The UFC have tried. They failed. So yeah, even if he does try to call me out, I know it’s just a bluff.“I know he’s not actually about it. So I think once my hand actually properly heals, and I’m able to be 100 per cent again, I’ll actually look at people who are willing to fight and who want to fight.”A hand injury forced KSI out of his proposed return against Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a wild two-on-one handicap bout.Instead, Premier League winner Danny Simpson, 37, steps in as headline replacement against YouTuber Danny Aarons, 22. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFogarty makes his Misfits debut with close confidant McGregor expected to be in attendance to support. The ex-UFC champion, 36, in 2017 lost his lucrative boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, 47, and has been a target of Jake Paul’s ever since.Jake Paul reveals ‘take it-or-leave it’ offer to fight KSIBut McGregor has refused to even entertain a fight with Paul, 27, and has instead talked up facing KSI, 31, in the past instead. And KSI added: “Conor is more interested in me because I sell pay-per-views. “I don’t know if you know much about Jake Paul’s last pay-per-view, but he’s sold less than 50,000 buys.“He had less than 50,000 buys. That’s terrible. For someone like him, he likes to claim that he’s the A-side, he’s one of the biggest in the world, less than 50,000 is terrible.“I don’t think I’ve ever done that. So for me, I know my worth. I know what I can do. And I know what makes sense.With McGregor, you don’t really know what to expect. He’s a bit of a wild case.KSI on Conor McGregor “I’m just gonna keep my cards close to my chest. And if the Conor McGregor fight makes sense, then we’ll do it.“But again, I just don’t see him being in that right state of mind to be fighting. I think he’s too busy enjoying himself and that’s perfectly fine.”McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July 2021 and has been out since after suffering a brutal leg break in his last bout. He was due to return in June against Michael Chandler, 38, but a toe injury KOd the clash with it yet to be rescheduled. KSI is nursing a hand injury that has taken him off fighting in his event – so he will instead put on a music performance for the 3Arena.He said: “I’m gonna be working more on the music just to wrap that up again because I feel like I’ve kind of neglected it a little bit.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’ve got a few bangers just in the locker that I’d eventually like to release.“And then in terms of fighting once I’m back to punching, it’d be good to maybe do one or two fights next year and then see how I feel from there. Still do YouTube etc. Just keep it moving.” More

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    Jake Paul issues update on MMA debut fight and lists FOUR names on his radar including two boxing rivals

    JAKE PAUL is still on the search to find his first opponent in MMA – and could turn to some familiar boxing faces. Paul is 10-1 in the ring but signed with the Professional Fighters League to make his cage debut. Jake Paul is still on the search to find his first opponent in MMAThe YouTuber-turned-prizefighter and PFL are still combing through their options having been ready to offer £10million to Nate Diaz. Paul said: “Just about finding the name. We have the money, we’re ready to go. We’re ready to make offers to people.”It’s just like they have to be able to draw sales and it has to be a fight where it’s like this is my first MMA fight.”So I think I could beat Nate Diaz in my first MMA fight. It would be tough of course, 50/50 fight. READ MORE IN BOXING”But I don’t wanna go into something where I’m gonna be outclassed, like fighting Khabib in my first MMA fight.”Paul, 27, beat ex-UFC star Diaz, 39, in their 2023 boxing bout but his calls to rematch in MMA have been snubbed. So he could instead turn to Jorge Masvidal, 39, or even former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 42, who he twice beat in boxing. Paul said: “Nate Diaz, Masvidal, I would face in MMA and then I don’t even know like who else is out there that would that would make sense really.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Tyron would be interesting for sure. I think that could be like a good plan. That would go crazy.”Paul suffered defeat for the first time last year by losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia. Jake Paul rubs salt into ‘dumbass’ Tommy Fury’s wounds as he offers Molly-Mae a JOB after boxing rival’s shock break-upHe is desperate to avenge the result and even put up a £20m package to fight Fury, 25, in both boxing and MMA. Paul revealed: “I think that’s actually still a discussion. So that could be interesting for sure. Me versus Tommy in MMA.”The American returns to the ring on November 15 in a controversial clash against boxing icon Mike Tyson, 58. So it leaves Paul’s MMA debut delayed even further despite building a custom ring in his Puerto Rico gym. He admitted: “I haven’t started training, just the boxing takes up so much of my time and that’s what I’m focused on and until an MMA fight comes up.”That’s when I’ll focus on it and I’ll probably need like an eight-month camp if I do an MMA fight just the eight months to do jiu-jitsu, kicking all that stuff.”The YouTuber-turned-boxer is signed to the PFLCredit: Professional Fighters LeagueJake Paul wants to rematch Tommy FuryCredit: GettyTyron Woodley twice lost to Jake PaulCredit: SHOWTIMEJorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz have also been called out by Jake PaulCredit: Getty More

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    Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury brutally warned off career switch by man who has fought BOTH with boxing fight predicted

    FRANCIS NGANNOU warned rivals Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury against making an MMA switch – while predicting their boxing fight.Ngannou put his cage career on hold to cross over to boxing for a pair of bouts against AJ and Fury. Tyson Fury controversially beat Francis NgannouCredit: ReutersNgannou was knocked out by Anthony JoshuaCredit: GettyHe was firstly beaten via controversial decision to Fury, 36, despite dropping the former WBC champion last October. Ngannou, 37, was then brutally knocked out by Joshua, 34, in March and now returns to MMA after two boxing bouts. AJ and Fury are still yet to resolve their blockbuster British feud in the ring as they head towards separate bouts. Joshua faces Daniel Dubois on September 21 for the IBF title while Oleksandr Usyk rematches Fury on December 21 after his May victory.READ MORE IN BOXINGThere is hope after that the long-awaited Battle of Britain between AJ and the Gypsy King can finally be made and Ngannou – having shared the ring with both men – cannot split them.He said: “Two different styles. Everybody tries to win, I’d give it 50-50 just for that fight.” What Ngannou is certain about, though, is that neither boxing star should ever trade the ring for the cage. He said: “They don’t want that smoke. Nobody wants that. I mean, I wouldn’t want it either, I don’t blame them.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”There is a lot of elements in MMA that’s way complicated for a boxer to cross over than for an MMA fighter to cross over to boxing.”I’d need to see them do some practise.Jake Paul left ‘s—ing himself’ after being forced to separate giants Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira ahead of MMA clash”Maybe some of them have a wrestling skill that you don’t know or a grappling skill that you don’t know. You’d need to see.”Ngannou makes his MMA return after two years out the cage on October 19 in Saudi Arabia against 6ft 8in Renan Ferreira in his Professional Fighters League debut. More

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    Inside Mike Tyson’s training for Jake Paul fight as boxing icon’s ex-protege Francis Ngannou warns he’ll ‘beat his ass’

    FRANCIS NGANNOU warned Jake Paul that former mentor Mike Tyson is about to “beat his ass.” YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul faces heavyweight boxing royalty Tyson on November 15 in Texas. Mike Tyson with former protege Francis NgannouCredit: AFPMike Tyson facing off with Jake PaulCredit: RexIron Mike spent time last year helping Ngannou bridge the gap from MMA to boxing ahead of his ring debut against Tyson Fury. And he got an inside look into Tyson and backed the American great to make easy work of Paul – who is over 30 years younger. Ngannou said: “I think Tyson will still beat his ass up. “He’s definitely not as he was when he was young but when he moves around you and shows you something, you’re like, ‘What the hell is this?’READ MORE IN BOXING”That’s something that people don’t understand about Mike Tyson. He moves from your left to your right in the blink of an eye.”Tyson, 58, was due to face Paul, 27, on July 20 but he was forced to pull out amid a health precaution after a stomach ulcer flared up. Now he is preparing for his first professionally sanctioned bout since 2005, despite an exhibition comeback in 2020 against Roy Jones Jr. Tyson was in the gym with Ngannou, 37, last year before the crossover boxing clash against Fury, 36. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe ex-UFC champion scored a stunning knockdown – only to lose a controversial decision. He was then knocked out by Anthony Joshua, 34, in March and now returns to MMA on October 19. Jake Paul left ‘s—ing himself’ after being forced to separate giants Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira ahead of MMA clashNgannou faces 6ft 8in Brazilian Renan Ferreia, 37, in Saudi Arabia in his first MMA fight back since 2022. Paul hosted the Professional Fighters League press conference and had the terrifying job of facing off the giant heavyweight pair. But Ngannou hardly noticed. He said: “Jake Paul is not our weight class, we barely noticed that he was there! Other than the moment I walked in and shook his hand.”But face-to-face to each other, when I looked into his eyes when I was looking up, I did not see Jake Paul at all. He wasn’t in my line.”Francis Ngannou in between Jake Paul and Renan Ferreira More

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    How Jake Paul could be part of never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fight against the likes of boxing star Deontay Wilder

    JAKE PAUL could feature in a never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fight – against the likes of Deontay Wilder. Paul is signed to the Professional Fighters League where he is set to make his cage debut in 2025. Jake Paul could feature in a never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fightCredit: RexDeontay Wilder was linked with an MMA switchCredit: GettyThe PFL have talked up staging hybrid-rules fights in the cage in a bid to bridge the gap between boxing and MMA. And with 10-1 boxer Paul closing in on a first fight in the cage – it could come under the all-new umbrella of bouts. PFL CEO Peter Murray told SunSport: “It could be modified rules. We really haven’t talked about nailing down the specifics of a tweaked ruleset. “We’re first focused on the opponent and more to come on those details when Jake is ready.READ MORE IN MMA”Listen, I love hybrid rules. It just makes it interesting and fighters want to use all their weapons. “But, given skill sets and we can have some fun with it.” Wilder, 38, was touted as a potential boxing star to cross over to the cage with talks to fight Francis Ngannou, 37, under hybrid rules. Instead, Ngannou went onto fight Tyson Fury, 36, losing a controversial decision before being KOd by Anthony Joshua, 34. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMeanwhile Wilder also took two fights in Saudi Arabia, losing to Jospeh Parker, 32, and being knocked out by Zhilei Zhang, 41. But the PFL are not ruling out making a move for former the WBC boxing champ or doing so with customised rules.Meanwhile Paul’s list of potential MMA opponents continue to grow as he prepares to fight boxing icon Mike Tyson, 58, on November 15. PFL’s Murray added: “I’d like to see Deontay in the cage and that’ll be exciting. “But, there’s a list and more to come. You’ll be hearing from Jake in the PFL soon.” More

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    Jake Paul ‘s***ing himself’ after being forced to separate giants Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira ahead of MMA clash

    JAKE PAUL was “s****ing himself” after being forced to separate giants Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira. Ngannou – who stands 6ft 4in – makes his MMA return after two years out the cage on October 19 against 6ft 8in Ferreira. Francis Ngannou separated by Jake Paul ahead of Renan Ferreira fightJake Paul looked on terrifiedAnd YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul had the terrifying task of keeping the peace when the two came together to face off. A close up angle of the stare down revealed his frightened face as one fan said: “Jake Paul is shaking in his boots.”Another joked: “Jake Paul was s****ing himself while Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira faced off.”Paul himself responded: “Can confirm I s***.”READ MORE IN MMANgannou, 37, walked out on the UFC to pursue a lucrative switch to boxing while signing for the Professional Fighters League. He faced Tyson Fury in his ring debut and sensationally dropped the ex-world champion before losing a controversial decision. Ngannou then faced Anthony Joshua in March but was brutally knocked out in two rounds.He now returns to MMA to face Ferreira, 37, in his PFL debut as Paul emerged unscathed from their stare-down.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd Paul said: “I’m not going to lie, I wouldn’t have done anything if they started fighting. “I was trying to hold them back but it wasn’t doing anything. They’re very, very, very strong.” Paul is signed to the PFL to make his MMA debut but first returns to fight boxing icon Mike Tyson, 58, on November 15. Francis Ngannou open to Tyson Fury rematch after controversial loss despite huge MMA return to fight 6ft 8in rival More

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    From boxing champion to UFC stars and bitter rivals, Jake Paul’s five-man hit-list of opponents after Mike Tyson fight

    JAKE PAUL has a list of five star-studded names to fight after his controversial clash against Mike Tyson. The YouTuber-turned-boxer welcomes heavyweight boxing icon Tyson back to the ring on November 15 in Texas.They were initially scheduled to fight on July 20 but 58-year-old Iron Mike was forced out amid a health precaution. Paul, 27, instead stopped replacement opponent Mike Perry, 32, in six rounds after three knockdowns. It was the latest name ticked off the American’s hit-list but there remains a few more in his sights. Paul said on the Nelk Boys podcast: “[Alex] Pereira, [Conor] McGregor, Canelo, KSI, Tommy Fury.” READ MORE IN BOXINGUFC light-heavyweight champion Pereira, 37, was a shock name Paul called out after beating Perry. He is a former kickboxing champ and two-division title holder in the UFC who has teased a move into boxing before. McGregor, 36, has been a long-time target of Paul’s but the Irishman still has two bouts left on his current UFC contract. He was given special permission to face Floyd Mayweather, 47, in 2017 but the UFC deemed it a one-time exemption. Most read in SportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSCanelo, 34, meanwhile is boxing’s top pay-per-view attraction and has refused to rule out a fight with Paul in the past. Fury, 25, is the only man to beat Paul following their February 2023 grudge match in Saudi Arabia. Jake Paul announces shock plans to enter 2028 Olympics in LAAnd the defeated American has called for a rematch ever since. KSI, 31, is by far Paul’s greatest rival dating back to the British celebrity’s win over his older brother Logan, 29, in 2019. But a disagreement in weight has seen talks collapse in recent years. Paul’s last three fights have been at the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb while he prepares to move up to heavyweight to face Tyson. KSI on the other hand last boxed at 183lb the night he was controversially beaten by Fury. And Paul admitted: “It’s honestly the difficulty in figuring out the weight, the original deal was 185 but we’re both way over that. READ MORE SUN STORIES”He’s walking around at 205 and I’m at 212, the lowest I could go to now would be 195, and that would be difficult. “So, it’s about figuring that out. He can have anything he wants, the fight’s going to be in London, I just need him to compromise on the weight.” KSI and Jake Paul clashing in the ring in 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty More