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      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury could CLASH with Conor McGregor’s mega UFC trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’s blockbuster undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury could end up clashing with Conor McGregor’s latest venture to the octagon.The long-awaited Battle of Britain is in the works for the summer, with both parties working towards a June or July date.
      Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury could take place in July, according to Eddie HearnCredit: PA
      Conor McGregor’s UFC trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier is slated for July 10Credit: Reuters
      Matchroom boxing chief Eddie Hearn, however, recently claimed the fight could take place in the ‘first week’ or the ‘backend’ of July.
      That could end up being a cause for concern as McGregor’s trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier is currently targeted for the same month.
      The third instalment of McGregor vs Poirier is set to headline UFC 264 on July 10.
      The good news for Hearn, however, is the former featherweight rivals’ series decider has yet to be finalised.
      Staging the biggest fight in the history of British boxing in the same month as Poirier vs McGregor III could end up having a detrimental effect on pay-per-view buys for both fights.
      Fight fans in the USA will likely have to pay $89.95 – the price of the much-maligned Mayweather vs McGregor PPV in 2017 – to watch Joshua vs Fury and a further $69.99 to view UFC 264.
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      Those in the UK will have to stump up a minimum of £40 to watch both fights, that is if Joshua vs Fury isn’t priced more than the usual £19.95.
      But Hearn is confident Joshua and Fury’s long-overdue meeting will indeed take place in July.
      During an appearance on The AK and Barak show, he said: “In July.
      “The date depends on many different things. For one venue, it’s the backend of July, and for another venue, it’s the first week of July.
      “There’s been a bit of talk about Wembley, which is difficult, but we got 100,000 capacity, which the government is working towards.

      “Wembley is trying to initiate full capacity. So if we did have full capacity at the end of July, Wembley comes into the conversation.
      “In AJ’s head, this comes down to as much money as possible, but for AJ, I’m not saying he’s looking for the right deal, but he just wants to fight.
      “He wants this fight next more than anything. So if it’s 100,000 at Wembley, Anthony Joshua is 1 million percent signed and in for this fight.
      “Obviously, we have to do our job and go around the world and present all the offers to the fighters, but Anthony Joshua has told me categorically that if it’s Wembley and full up, ‘I’m in.’
      “But firstly, I have to deal with all these approaches for the fighters.”

      Despite the delay in finalising the bout – which was agreed last June – Joshua and Fury are both hard at work in the gym.
      Hearn, 41, said: “AJ is in 100 per cent full camp.
      “In his mind, this is the only fight that is going to happen next. Whoever comes up with the best opportunity, it’s on.
      “I hope that will come from the other side as well because everybody signed a contract, and they have to approve the site and the deal as far as the site offers.
      “But it’s going to be significant.”
      Eddie Hearn says that Wembley back on as venue for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fight More

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      Ryan Garcia, 22, plans to retire from boxing at just 26 to fight in UFC after ‘beating everybody as quick as I can’

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      RYAN GARCIA revealed he plans to retire at 26 to leave enough time to fight in the UFC. Garcia, 22, is touted as boxing’s next ‘Golden Boy’ – the name his promoter Oscar De La Hoya once went by.
      Ryan Garcia is planning a move into MMA after retiring from boxingCredit: Tom Hogan
      The lightweight sensation is unbeaten in 21 fights, and coming off a career best win in January, stopping Luke Campbell, 33, in round seven.
      So it came as a shock when Garcia announced plans to hang up the gloves in just four years time.
      But in conversation with retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren on his YouTube channel, he opened up on plans to make a move into MMA.
      Garcia said: “Hey, let me tell you something Ben; I’ve never said this on air, I’ve always said I’m going to retire at 26.
      “Everybody looks at me crazy, right? But I’m doing it to go into the MMA ring.
      “So, I’m going to need you to teach me some wrestling techniques before I even start trying to dive in there.
      “Some little wrestling, then we’ll go from there. So, I’ve never said that out loud in my life.
      “But yeah, I plan to beat everybody I want to beat in boxing as quick as I can, get out – of course I could dive back for big opportunities – but I want to show the world not only can I box, I feel I can become the best warrior in the world.”
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      UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 32, made his boxing debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather, 44, in a crossover spectacle.
      And recently two-weight undisputed women’s champion Claressa Shields announced she had signed for Professional Fighters League.
      Shields, 26, is set to make her MMA debut in June, having started training with UFC icon Jon Jones.
      But only James Toney has transitioned from boxing to the UFC, but did so in 2010, aged 42.
      Toney was beaten with ease in three minutes, taken down and submitted by Randy Couture.
      Garcia said: “Nobody has ever dominated boxing and then tried to dominate UFC.
      Boxing legend James Toney was beaten in the UFC in 2010Credit: Getty – Contributor
      UFC legend Jon Jones pictured with Claressa ShieldsCredit: @claressashields

      “They’ve done in later, later, later on in their career when they’re already done.
      “But never when they’re still fresh and they still have some juice left in them.”
      Garcia has flirted with a move into the cage, and called out McGregor as well as his training partner Dillon Danis.
      Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who retired in May, wanted to instead face the boxer in the ring.
      But talk has since died down, and Garcia is now open to working with Cejudo, 34, and Askren, 36, to gain grappling coaching.
      He said: “Let’s do it. I’m down to hang out with both of you guys and you guys just turn me into a monster. 
      “I’ve got Henry Cejudo and Ben Askren in my corner, that’s pretty devastating to me.”
      Ryan Garcia shows off explosive speed with blistering punch combo More

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      UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou warns Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury he WILL box after being inspired by Mike Tyson

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      NEW UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has sent out a warning to boxing stars Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury ahead of their £200m unification clash.Ngannou finally reached the UFC summit after knocking out Stipe Miocic in their rematch, having initially lost to the American in 2018.
      Francis Ngannou has vowed to eventually box after being inspired by Mike TysonCredit: Instagram / @hoboxingpodcast
      AJ is currently boxing’s WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight title holderCredit: Instagram
      The Gypsy King is the WBC heavyweight champion of the worldCredit: Instagram
      His attention swiftly turned to a fight with Jon Jones, who announced a move up to heavyweight last year.
      But Ngannou, 34, believes Bones, 33, does want to fight him as the American tries to solve a payment dispute with UFC’s Dana White.
      However, he has now followed on from the dethroned Miocic declaring his desire to face AJ or the Gypsy King in the ring by talking up a bumper big-money crossover of his own.
      And it stems from his first fighting hero Tyson – the legendary boxer he aimed to emulate after arriving in Paris from Africa before he even knew what MMA was.
      Speaking to ESPN, the Cameroonian said: “This is in the future, it’s somewhere, definitely. I’m going to box; I have to box in my career.
      “My main dream has always been the noble art and even though I deviated into MMA, which I love, I still have to fulfil something in boxing.”
      Ngannou also revealed he has no desire to sit waiting around and basking in his glory.
      Instead he wants two more fights before the end of 2021 – and he is happy to face anyone should Jones not climb into the cage with him.
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      He added: “I don’t know what’s happening between Jon Jones and the UFC but something seems wrong and I think maybe he’s handled it in the wrong way.
      “But that’s not my business, there are a lot of contenders ready to fight and there are a lot of fights here.
      “For the first time, I’m the man who is making the call, I don’t have to sit down and wait for people; they are waiting for me and I am ready.
      The Predator is desperate to face Jon Jones in the octagon nextCredit: Getty
      “I can choose to fight and I want to fight twice this year. I hope that fight happens, I would love that fight but if not I will move on. I am ready to fight in the summer, maybe August, so that I can also fight in December.”
      He added: “If it was up to me, Jon Jones is a good one. I’ve taken the best heavyweight of all time out so now to take the pound-for-pound No.1 guy out would be good; it would be good for the resume.
      “I think he wants a challenge but I think he is also at the stage in his career where he wants a big pay cheque, and I can’t argue with that.
      “He is the greatest and the pound-for-pound No.1 guy, you can’t deny anything in this sport to Jon Jones.”

      Francis Ngannou confirms he wants Jon Jones showdown next but is up for Stipe Miocic trilogy if needed More

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      Jake Paul claims he will call out Dustin Poirier if he beats Conor McGregor in trilogy UFC fight after $50m offer

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      JAKE PAUL plans to call out Dustin Poirier if the UFC star wins his summer trilogy fight with Conor McGregor.Paul aggressively pursued a big-money boxing match with The Notorious after his viral KO of ex-NBA star Nate Robinson last November.
      A trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor is set to take place in the summerCredit: Reuters
      Jake Paul plans to call out Dustin Poirier if the American beats Conor McGregorCredit: Getty
      But the YouTuber seemingly ended his pursuit of a clash with the Irishman after seeing him lose his UFC 257 rematch with Poirier.
      And the 24-year-old plans to pivot to a showdown with Poirier should The Diamond be successful in his rubber match with the UFC’s poster boy, which is slated for July.
      He told ESPN: “I just think McGregor has that name where he will be big in this sport for a while.
      “But if he loses again to Poirier, I’ll be like ‘Yo, let me fight Poirier.’ Why not?
      “He has to win in his own sport first and then maybe we can figure something out.”
      Former Disney star Paul believes he’s the biggest fight available to McGregor following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement from mixed martial arts last October.
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      Jake Paul is cutting no corners with his diet
      He said: “I’m Conor’s money fight right now, as crazy as that sounds. Khabib retired, he’s all pissed off about it.
      “Jake Paul vs Conor is the money fight. It’s funny, what world are we living in where that even makes sense?”
      He added: “If I was Conor he should’ve tooken (sic) the $50million I offered him to take ‘the easier’ fight.
      “He got $10 million with a little bit of backend for the UFC event against Dustin but he lost. So why not take $50 million to fight a YouTuber?
      Jake Paul began aggressively pursuing a boxing match with Conor McGregor late last yearCredit: INSTAGRAL@JAKEPAUL
      “That’s what he should’ve done, quite frankly. Now he has to fight his way back. That’s the most embarrassing loss of his career.
      “He got knocked out, TKOed. He should’ve taken the Jake Paul fight. More money, more hype.”
      Before Paul can think about fighting Poirier or McGregor, he must first win his boxing match with former UFC star Ben Askren.
      The younger Paul brother will lock horns with the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion a fortnight on Saturday.

      Paul he reckons a win over Askren will show the world he’s a legitimate boxer, saying: “It will build a lot of credibility.
      “And if he can make it past a couple rounds it will truly show the boxing community, like, this kid can actually box and I think people will respect that.
      “I’ve been putting in the work, training with world champions and sparring with world champions and it’s gonna show.”
      Jake Paul taunts Ben Askren during press conference by FaceTiming Jorge Masvidal More

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      UFC legend Anderson Silva signs boxing contract to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr aged 45 after being axed by Dana White

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      UFC legend Anderson Silva has signed a contract to fight boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Silva, 45, will face former middleweight champion Chavez Jr on June 19, at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico.
      Anderson Silva has signed a contract to fight boxer Julio Cesar Chavez JrCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Canelo Alvarez pictured with Julio Cesar Chavez JrCredit: EPA
      He told TMZ Sports: “When I look back at my journey, I see that nothing has been in vain.
      “I am extremely happy for the opportunity to test my boxing skills with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
      “I train continuously, always striving for resilience and to overcome obstacles. Fighting is my everlasting breath.”
      Chavez Jr, 35, added: “I have rededicated myself to the sport that I love and I will be ready to face anyone in the light-heavyweight division starting with Silva.
      “I will be prepared to be victorious on June 19.”
      Silva was released by the UFC last year after defeat to Uriah Hall, the Brazilian’s third on the bounce.
      Afterwards, the middleweight legend vowed to continue fighting and his exit from the UFC allowed him to venture into boxing.
      He has twice boxed before, a loss in 1998 and a win in 2005, and was always linked with facing Roy Jones Jr.

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      Jones, 52, returned himself in November, drawing to heavyweight icon Mike Tyson, 54, who made a comeback 15 years after retiring.
      RJJ and Silva were in talks to finally fight, but the news comes out of left field that Chavez Jr will instead share the ring with the UFC icon.
      Headlining on the night will be Chavez Sr, 58, against Hector Camacho Jr, 42 in an exhibition bout.
      Camacho is the son of Hector Sr, who fought Chavez in 1992 but sadly passed away in 2012.
      UFC legend Anderson Silva trains after being called out by boxing icon Roy Jones Jr More

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      Dana White says ‘this s*** is getting silly’ amid Oscar De La Hoya comeback and rules out UFC star facing boxing legend

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      DANA WHITE said ‘this s*** is getting silly’ amid Oscar De La Hoya’s comeback and ruled out a UFC star facing the boxing legend. De La Hoya announced he will be returning to the ring on July 3, his first fight since 2008, where he was battered by Manny Pacquiao.
      Dana White said ‘this s*** is getting silly’ amid Oscar De La Hoya’s comebackCredit: Twitter
      Oscar De La Hoya announced he will be returning to the ring on July 3Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 48-year-old will make his return on a Triller pay-per-view, the social media platform who brought Mike Tyson, 54, out of retirement in November.
      And Triller’s Ryan Kavanaugh, told ESPN they want a ‘big name’ UFC fighter to welcome De La Hoya back.
      But UFC president White has no interest, and blasted the comeback.
      He said: “To box De La Hoya? Come on guys, this shit is getting silly. You guys just want to ask me silly questions.
      “You have got a 50-year-old guy fu**ing boxing, and you guys are actually talking about it and covering press conferences?
      “Come on, come on you guys.”
      White has had a long-running feud with De La Hoya, dating back to 2017 when the boxing promoter criticised Conor McGregor’s crossover bout with Floyd Mayweather.
      The UFC boss also publicly slammed Tyson’s comeback fight against Roy Jones Jr, 52, which ended in a draw after eight exhibition rounds.
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      But White, a personal friend of Iron Mike’s, later admitted he was wrong as he featured on the heavyweight icon’s podcast.
      He said: “Somebody asked me at a press conference about it and I said ‘I don’t like it, I don’t want them to do it, this and that…’
      “Then he called me and was like: ‘Listen man, we’ve been friends for a long time but I’m a grown ass man, if I wanna fight I’m gonna f***ing fight! Don’t be f***ing negative about my fight.’
      “And I said ‘you know what, you’re right. You won’t hear a f***ing peep out of me again.’
      “Then when I watched the fight I thought he looked really f***ing good.”
      Mike Tyson blasts UFC boss Dana White for telling him not to fight at 54 More

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      Ben Askren posts incredible Rocky 4 training montage and again goads Jake Paul for being ‘Logan Paul’s little brother’

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      BEN ASKREN posted an incredible Rocky 4 training montage and again goaded Jake Paul for being ‘Logan Paul’s little brother’. Retired UFC welterweight Askren faces Paul on April 17 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
      Ben Askren posted an incredible Rocky 4 training montage
      Ben Askren faces Jake Paul on April 17
      Ben Askren took inspiration from Rocky Balboa’s iconic training scene in the 1986 boxing classic
      And to prepare for the fight, Askren took inspiration from Rocky Balboa’s iconic training scene in the 1986 boxing classic.
      In the movie, Sylvester Stallone’s character is set to face Soviet boxer Ivan Drag in Russia.
      And he trains for the fight in bitter cold Russia, running in the snow, chopping wood and lifting logs.
      Askren, 36, paid homage to the film, as he posted a clip online channeling his inner Balboa.
      The former Olympic grappler jogs in the snow, chops at a tree and even pushes his two kids who are sitting in a rubber dinghy.
      All while he takes a swipe at opponent Paul, 24, the younger brother of fellow YouTuber Logan, 25.
      Askren posted: “When I got the call to fight Logan Paul’s little brother I had to go into Rocky Style training!”
      When the two came face to face at their first press conference, Paul appeared to lose his cool after being compared to Logan.

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      Askren said: “I’d heard of Jake Paul prior to accepting this fight, but I couldn’t have told you a lot about him or his brother.
      “I knew he kinda came up in his brother’s shadow, he was trying to follow his brother’s footsteps.
      “His brother’s a lot more talented, has a larger following.”
      Tensions later spilled over when Askren facepalmed Paul, causing the social media star to lash out.
      Askren goes into the pay-per-view headliner having never boxed before, instead renowned for his wrestling background.
      Meanwhile Paul has two knockouts in as many fights, but only against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson.
      Tensions spilled over between Jake Paul and Ben AskrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jake Paul and Ben Askren went face to faceCredit: Getty More

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      Jake Paul trolls Daniel Cormier with pic of him in tears after UFC legend tipped Ben Askren to win boxing fight

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      YOUTUBER Jake Paul has trolled UFC legend Daniel Cormier by tweeting a picture of him crying during a fight.The 24-year-old shared the image after Cormier tipped Ben Askren to win their upcoming bout.

      Paul, left, didn’t cover himself in glory during a recent press conference with AskrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Paul and Askren had an altercation at a recent press conference, with the latter gently facepalming the former.
      The YouTuber responded with a soft jab to Askren’s midriff and a slight push.
      Cormier was not impressed with Paul’s response, tweeting: “I just saw Jake Paul reaction to Ben Askren palming his face and I am now convinced that Ben wins.
      “He looked like he wanted to throw a punch and then settled on slapping his a**? Ben smashes this dude.”
      Paul was quick to respond to the former UFC star, tweeting the teary image.
      He faces retired UFC welterweight Askren on April 17, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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      Although Cormier doesn’t have much faith in Paul, recording artist Snoop Dogg does – making a $2million bet with UFC boss Dana White.
      Askren, 36, has enjoyed a long career in MMA and wrestling but will make his professional boxing debut against Paul.
      Paul, meanwhile, has won both his previous fights – defeating former NBA basketball star Nate Robinson in November.
      He could face Tommy Fury in his next fight, with Fury’s cousin backing the Love Island star to win.
      Watch Ben Askren facepalm Jake Paul before furious YouTuber slaps and shoves boxing rival in explosive face-off More