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      How Cristiano Ronaldo helped broker Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou’s historic crossover fight

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO played an unlikely role in Francis Ngannou’s shock showdown with Tyson Fury coming to fruition.The former UFC heavyweight champion finalised a controversial crossover clash with the Gypsy King last week – six months after leaving mixed martial arts’ top promotion.
      Francis Ngannou will box Tyson Fury in a crossover clash on October 28Credit: ESPN
      The former UFC heavyweight champion’s boxing debut will take place in Saudi ArabiaCredit: GETTY
      Footie icon Cristiano Ronaldo convinced Ngannou that Saudi ‘is the future’ of sportsCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      Ngannou’s professional boxing debut will take place in Saudi Arabia and will earn him the biggest purse of his combat sports career.
      The Cameroonian clubber is no stranger to Saudi having visited in January and meeting footie star Ronaldo, who convinced him The Kingdom “is the future” of sports.
      Recalling their meeting during an appearance on The MMA Hour, The Predator said: “Yes, that’s where it started in that moment.”
      In a separate interview with TMZ, he said: “We had a good talk. He told me that Saudi [Arabia] is the future.
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      “A lot of people doesn’t understand now but they are changing really fast, it’s moving really fast.
      “And that’s even what I personally, that was my feeling when I get there.
      “It was my first time going to Saudi and I was literally like, I didn’t really know how to carry myself, how to behave myself.
      “But I get there and find out that everything is cool.
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      “It was just like normal life. It’s pretty cool, man.”
      Ngannou, 36, had a great interaction with Ronaldo – who shocked him with his knowledge of mixed martial arts.
      He said: “I’ve been following Cristiano for the past, maybe 17 years.
      “And then, you know, to get to meet him in person and find out that he is a huge fan of the sport.
      “That he knows a lot about the sport. He loves the sport. He’s watched us fight.
      “He knows a lot about me than what I was expecting. Very impressive.

      “You know, to get someone like Cristiano Ronaldo knowing the game, know you or what you are doing, is pretty cool. He’s pretty big.
      “He’s pretty huge. Listen, it’s like a huge support from him.”
      Fury, 34, is the overwhelming favourite to win the ten-rounder against the boxing Ngannou – who left the UFC as their lineal heavyweight champion.
      But he’s made sure he’ll get a second crack at the heavy hitter should the unthinkable happen.
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      Ngannou revealed: “There is a potential rematch clause.
      “I don’t know exactly how to explain that language, but yes, there is a rematch inside it.” More

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      Tyson Fury includes clause in Francis Ngannou fight contract in case he is KO’d by ex-UFC champ

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      TYSON FURY has placed a rematch clause in his contract with Francis Ngannou in case disaster strikes in the crossover clash.The Gypsy King faces the former UFC heavyweight champion in a multi-million-pound Saudi showdown on October 28.
      Tyson Fury will face former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in OctoberCredit: ESPN
      The WBC heavyweight champ’s title WON’T be up for grabs in the ten-rounderCredit: GETTY
      The Gypsy King has placed a rematch clause in his contract to face NgannouCredit: POLARIS
      Fury, 34, is the overwhelming favourite to win the ten-rounder against the boxing novice – but he’s made sure he’ll get a second crack at the Cameroonian clubber should the unthinkable happen.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Ngannou revealed: “There is a potential rematch clause.
      “I don’t know exactly how to explain that language, but yes, there is a rematch inside it.”
      When asked if that would guarantee a second fight with the WBC heavyweight champ, Ngannou added: “Oh, for that one, definitely.”
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      Ngannou, however, doesn’t know if he’ll be able to exercise the rematch clause should he come up short against the Brit.
      He said: “That’s what I don’t know. We will see how it goes.”
      Fury would have to wait at least SIX MONTHS to exact revenge on Ngannou as The Predator is set to make his Professional Fighters League debut early next year.
      The Wythenshawe warrior is also expected to re-enter negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk over a historic undisputed heavyweight title fight after his clash with Ngannou.
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      Ngannou bagged a monumental showdown with Fury a mere six months after the expiration of his UFC contract.
      And his purse for his professional boxing debut is set to dwarf his ENTIRE octagon earnings.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, his manager Marquel Martin said: “Let’s just say this: The bag is so big, he may actually just drop it on the way to the bank.
      “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 visualised, 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].” More

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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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      Jake Paul reveals Francis Ngannou’s ‘real’ earnings for Tyson Fury fight and fumes ‘get it right’ after $8million claims

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      JAKE PAUL has revealed that Francis Ngannou will be earning far more for fighting Tyson Fury than the rumoured sum of $8million (£6.1m).It was confirmed this week that the former UFC heavyweight champion would be facing the Gypsy King in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
      Jake Paul has lifted the lid on Francis Ngannou’s true fight purseCredit: Getty
      Ngannou is set to fight Tyson Fury on October 28Credit: AP
      The pair will fight for ten rounds under Queensberry rules – with Fury’s heavyweight belts NOT on the line.
      Following the official announcement, it was rumoured that Ngannou would be earning $8m for the bout.
      But Paul has clarified that this figure is way off – and that is merely what he’d been offered by the UFC, before he ditched Dana White’s promotion.
      The Problem Child, like Ngannou, is signed to PFL’s Super Fight Division.
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      He has also fought in Saudi Arabia this year, losing to Tommy Fury in February.
      Addressing rumours surrounding Ngannou’s purse, Paul tweeted: “Francis got eight figures. Not $8million. Get it right.”
      The 26-year-old then added: “To all the Twitter geniuses: eight figures = $10,000,000+ and Francis deserves every bit of it.”
      White, 53, has called Ngannou vs Fury a “gimmick fight”.
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      Fury’s belts will NOT be on the line against NgannouCredit: PA
      After securing the biggest payday of his career, Ngannou cheekily set up his own company, calling it “GIMIK Fight Promotions”.
      Appearing on Sirius XM, the 36-year-old said: “For some reason, I always prove Dana White wrong – even when he’s on my side. I always prove him wrong, every single time. This is just our story.
      “They were ready to do Jon Jones and Tyson Fury in MMA – why couldn’t they do Ngannou and Fury in boxing? I don’t know. I think [he] did that to try to take the fight away from me, and Dana did send out a contract [for the Jones fight].
      “He sent out the contract, which I think was very embarrassing because that contract was rejected, and he signed mine for the GIMIK Fight Promotions.
      “It’s not a secret that so many people wanted me to fail. They don’t want me to succeed, it’s not a secret, it’s quite obvious, and you all know about it.” More

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      Jake Paul joined by Olivia Dunne, UFC boss Dana White and Arsenal chief in top 50 most influential figures in sport

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      JAKE PAUL was joined by some star-studded names in the top 50 most influential figures in sports. The YouTuber-turned boxer made the list compiled by Sports Illustrated.
      Jake Paul was named in the top 50 most influential figures in sportsCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi also made the listCredit: AFP
      UFC president Dana White was includedCredit: Getty
      His work as a pay-per-view prizefighter, promoter and boxing manager saw him named alongside some of sport’s biggest stars.
      Paul was the only fighter on the list, with Conor McGregor, Canelo Alvarez and Tyson Fury nowhere to be seen.
      He said: “I love the sport. It’s changed my life. It saved my life. And it can be so much better.”
      Footballers Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe made the cut due to their impact on and off the field.
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      Cristiano Ronaldo did not join them but the Saudi Investment Fund – which prised the superstar over to the Middle east – was recognised.
      PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi is also the chairman of Qatar-based sports network beIN and was named on the list.
      Other sports owners such as Arsenal, LA Rams and Denver Nuggets boss Stan Kroenke were also included and so too was UFC president Dana White.
      White helped the UFC’s owners Endeavor merge with the WWE in April to form a $21.4billion public company.
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      American legends such as basketball icon Lebron James and golfer Tiger Woods also made the cut.
      And newcomer Olivia Dunne featured due to the gymnast’s 7.5million followers on TikTok and 4.1million on Instagram. 
      Meanwhile, sports presenter Pat McAfee made the cut due to the popularity of his show, set for a move to ESPN this year.
      Gymnast Olivia Dunne was recognised in the listCredit: https://www.instagram.com/livvydunne/
      Olivia Dunne has millions of social media followersCredit: INSTAGRAM/LIVVYDUNNE
      Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke is a big influencerCredit: Getty More

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      Prince Naseem Hamed casts doubt over Anthony Joshua’s career as boxing legend says ‘we all have a sell-by date’

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      BOXING legend Prince Naseem Hamed has cast doubt over Anthony Joshua’s future after saying “we all have a sell-by date”.Joshua will fight Dillian Whyte on August 12 ahead of a heavily-rumoured showdown with Deontay Wilder in December.
      Prince Naseem Hamed doubts Anthony Joshua’s ability to return to the topCredit: Getty
      Hamed was unimpressed by Joshua’s performance against FranklinCredit: Getty
      But Hamed poured cold water on the idea of AJ reviving his career and returning to the top level of boxing.
      Joshua began his attempts to come back from back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk when he fought Jermaine Franklin in April this year.
      He entered the bout as heavy favourite but was forced to go 12 rounds with the American, in what many saw as an underwhelming performance.
      Speaking to talkSPORT boxing about whether AJ can get back to the top, Hamed said: “That’s a question AJ can only answer.
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      “For me personally, it’s gonna be hard, very, very hard for AJ.
      “I remember seeing him before his last fight [against Jermaine Franklin], I looked him in his eyes and I said, ‘This is the time where you’re gonna have to prove your heart, you’re gonna need to smash this guy around, show that you’re in charge.’
      “That didn’t happen.
      “What kind of level are we talking about [returning to]? Right at the very top? He had his time, we’ve all got sell-by dates.”
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      Prince Naseem also gave his views on the heavyweight boxing scene more generally, and criticised Tyson Fury’s decision to fight former UFC star Francis Ngannou.
      The two will face-off in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia in October.
      Reacting to the fight, Hamed said: “I think it’s a great business move,
      “Tyson’s proven that he’s an amazing champion.
      “But what can I say? For me personally, I really wanted to see him fight Oleksandr Usyk after what he did to Anthony Joshua.
      “His next fight, what does it really mean to us? He’s not even fighting a boxer.
      “It’s gonna probably be a big fight in Saudi Arabia, but does it really mean anything in the sport of boxing?
      “It is a money fight, it may be a good business decision from Tyson Fury.
      “But listen, Tyson Fury – people have not seen him get beat. He’s still number one, he’s still the man.
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      “So credit goes out to Fury, we like him.”
      The finer details of the fight purse between Ngannou and Fury have not been revealed but Ngannou’s manager Marquel Martin described the amount of money on offer as “life changing”. 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