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      Eddie Hearn reveals Dana White ‘inspiration’ for dramatic 18-month body transformation and says ‘mate, give me the plan’

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      EDDIE HEARN has revealed UFC boss Dana White was the inspiration behind his body transformation.The boxing promoter, 43, who guides the careers of fighters such as Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor, has trimmed down his physique over the past 18 months.

      Dana White remains ripped despite being 53 years of ageCredit: Instagram
      He has lost 37 pounds across that period of time, dropping from 19st 11lbs to 17st 2lbs.
      And he has now spoken about how White, 53, gave him the motivation to improve his own physical wellbeing.
      The UFC chief went on a three-year body transformation after being told he had ten years to live.
      And speaking about how that galvanised him to get in shape, Hearn told Men’s Health: “Look at Dana White. I spoke to him two days ago. He’s been working with a guy called Gary Brecka, who has a company that tells you how long you have left to live.
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      Eddie Hearn admits he felt sluggish before losing the weight over the past 18 monthsCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Hearn has even squeezed in sessions with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram
      “Before he started working with him, he apparently had a life expectancy of 10.4 years. Now, they’ve completely changed around his insulin, his glucose, his cholesterol, everything.
      “I look at Dana now and physically as well as from a business point of view, he’s a bit of an inspiration for me.
      “His physique is my dream physique. I texted him about the pictures that he put out and I went ‘Mate, give me the plan.’
      “He said, he used to wake up coughing in the night and couldn’t tie his shoelaces in the morning.
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      “It wasn’t quite as bad as that for me, but when I used to put my trousers on in the morning, I’d feel s**t.”
      Hearn’s “sluggish” feeling was one of the reasons he decided to get in shape.
      He also insists the Conor Benn doping saga was another motivating factor behind his fitness frenzy as he attempted to deal with the intensity of the situation.
      He went on to add: “I knew I needed to make a change, but there’s this perception that men in their 40s who get fit and start to dress a bit younger or cooler, are having a midlife crisis.
      “The reality is, it’s not that at all, it’s just you’re realising you need to make a change because life’s passing you by. I’m not 28 anymore. I’m coming up to my 50s.
      “I want to live a great life, and the only way I’m going to do that, with all the pressure and the hate is to keep myself in shape.
      “Because when you’re in better shape and mentally in a better place, all the other stuff is a lot easier to deal with.”
      White, left, has been an inspiration to Hearn, right, with the pair seen here with Billy Joe SaundersCredit: Instagram More

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      Conor McGregor’s ex-sparring partner makes stunning prediction for fight between UFC icon and Jake Paul

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      PAULIE MALIGNAGGI has thrown another dig at Conor McGregor – by backing Jake Paul to knock him out. There is no love lost between Malignaggi and McGregor following their bitter sparring sessions in 2017.
      Pauli Malignaggi sparring Conor McGregorCredit: Twitter
      Jake Paul in training for his next fightCredit: @jakepaul
      And the former world champion boxer has shown no signs of letting his grudge go in the years since.
      It has led him to pick YouTuber-turned prizefighter Paul, 26, beating McGregor, 34, in the ring amid the prospect of a mega-fight.
      Malignaggi, 42, told Betway: “I think Jake Paul would knock Conor out.
      “Conor is too susceptible to those loopy shots and Jake hits hard enough that only needs to hit you with one or two of them.
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      “I think Conor has decent sharp shots but I don’t think Conor has the discipline to stay with those little sharp shots for a certain amount of rounds.
      “I think he would fall apart because he doesn’t have a lot of heart. Conor has no balls.
      “If you take Conor a few rounds he already has this very big discomfort and mistakes naturally create themselves. You don’t even have to create them anymore.
      “I think he would do OK for a couple of rounds, but if you didn’t get Jake out in a couple of rounds, I think Jake would knock him out, and he would probably knock out with a big shot.”
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      McGregor sparred Malignaggi twice before his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
      But following leaked images and footage of the session, Malignaggi stormed out of the Irishman’s camp.
      McGregor would go on to lose to Mayweather in ten rounds and despite teasing a return to the ring it remains his only boxing bout.
      And having shared the ring with the ex-UFC champion behind closed doors, Malignaggi claimed he knew the result was inevitable.
      He said: “Coming out of that spar I thought this has got to be the biggest money heist in the history of money.
      “This guy is so terrible and he’s going to fight Mayweather, probably the best boxer in the history of the sport.
      “Even though he’s retired, Mayweather is going to beat this guy with his eyes closed. And that’s basically how it went. He played with them.”
      Paulie Malignaggi sparred twice with Conor McGregor
      Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: Reuters More

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      Ebanie Bridges stuns in low cut dress as she gets up close and personal with Conor McGregor at Katie Taylor fight

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      EBANIE BRIDGES was a dazzling distraction for Conor McGregor as he watched pal Katie Taylor suffer world title agony.The Blonde Bomber sparkled in a low-cut dress as Chantelle Cameron inflicted Taylor’s first defeat following a thriller in Dublin.
      Aussie boxer Ebanie Bridges helped cheer Conor McGregor up on the night his Irish pal Katie Taylor lost for the first timeCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Ebanie sparkled when she met up with former UFC king McGregorCredit: INSTAGRAM More

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      See Conor McGregor’s heartbroken reaction as UFC star disputes result after Katie Taylor loss to Chantelle Cameron

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      CONOR MCGREGOR was spotted looking heartbroken ringside as Katie Taylor lost to Chantelle Cameron before calling for a rematch.It emerged over the past fortnight that The Notorious was part-sponsoring his fellow Irish star’s long-awaited homecoming in Dublin.
      Chantelle Cameron celebrates after defeating Katie Taylor at the 3ArenaCredit: PA
      Conor McGregor was spotted looking devastated as the judges’ verdict was announcedCredit: YouTube – TheMacLife
      And he was spotted enjoying the action alongside Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn from the front row throughout the night.
      But both he and the raucous home crowd were left deflated as Taylor fought on home soil for the first time in her professional career.
      And she did so in a scintillating affair with Cameron, which was end-to-end action from the bell.
      But after ten thrilling rounds, two judges scored in favour of Cameron, with one failing to separate the pair. 
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      It meant Taylor, who moved up to super-lightweight, tasted defeat for the first time in her career.  
      Footage has now emerged of McGregor reacting to the result and as the words “and still” were read out to confirm Cameron’s triumph, the UFC star was seen slumping and putting his hands on his head next to the ring.
      However, he soon regained his composure to go and console Taylor before then telling reporters: “Great fight, close fight, I had it a draw.”
      McGregor was then asked if he wanted to see the rematch at Croke Park, which he replied: “Yeah, yes I f***ing would.
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      “She went up in weight at the drop of a hat. She was scheduled for one different style of opponent at a specific weight and that fell through.
      “So last minute what does Katie do? The warrior that’s in her? She gave me something to aspire to!
      “She wanted to go up in weight and fight the champion in the heavier weight at the drop of a hat.
      “Give her a chance to do it at Croke Park, for sure Croke Park is on.
      “It was a close bout, the size was prevalent but Katie is a tactician, give Katie another bash at that.”
      And when asked what message he had for his compatriot, McGregor added: “Keep your head up, you’re the champion, you’re the Olympic champion and you’re the world champion still in your division.”
      He later composed himself to console Katie Taylor in the ring after her first defeatCredit: PA
      Conor McGregor sat alongside Eddie Hearn at ringside throughout the nightCredit: Reuters More

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      Conor McGregor challenges Tyson Fury to step into the cage after boxing superstar vow to fight Francis Ngannou

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      CONOR McGREGOR has questioned whether Tyson Fury will ever follow up on his vow to fight in the cage. Fury has called out former UFC champion Francis Ngannou to a mixed-rules bout in the cage before.
      Ex-UFC star Darren Till with Tyson FuryCredit: Refer to Caption
      Conor McGregor questioned whether Tyson Fury will ever fight in the cage
      He proposed a stand-up bout, contested with the smaller 4oz MMA gloves but under boxing rules.
      But UFC legend McGregor has heard one too many of Fury’s broken promises to take the challenge too seriously.
      He said: “Is Tyson willing to step in the f****g cage or what? He’s saying he would, Tyson says a lot of things. 
      “I love him, he’s a mad, mad thing Tyson. And I’m excited to see him go.”
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      Fury, 34, is currently faced with forgoing a summer return fight with available opponents limited.
      It came after he saw talks to face Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout collapse.
      But boxing bosses in Saudi Arabia are looking to revive the historic fight as part of a series of tournament-style bouts.
      Eddie Hearn revealed there is a plan in place to have Fury fight Usyk on the same night as Anthony Joshua, 33, against Deontay Wilder, 37.
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      And McGregor probed the promoter at his Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin, just days out from Katie Taylor’s homecoming fight.
      He said: “What’s the old craic with the old Saudi, is that four real? With the four? I know you want the fight. Saudi want to do it? 
      “Interesting isn’t it the Saudis, do you reckon it will happen?” 
      Hearn: “It’s a lot of money. There’s three people that will do it. We’ll see what Tyson Fury thinks.” 
      McGregor lost his boxing debut in 2017 to unbeaten great Floyd Mayweather, 46, but fancies fighting Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez, 32.
      Although he joked Hearn would have to settle for a co-promotion such is the UFC icon’s superstardom.
      McGregor said: “You know the level I’m at, at best co-promote! At best co-promote.”
      Eddie Hearn with Conor McGregor More

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      Conor McGregor ready to fight Canelo Alvarez ‘no f****g problem’… but tells Eddie Hearn he will have to ‘co-promote’

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      CONOR McGREGOR said he would fight Canelo Alvarez “no f****g problem” – but Eddie Hearn has to settle for a co-promotion. McGregor made his professional boxing debut in 2017, losing to American legend Floyd Mayweather in ten rounds.
      Conor McGregor is open to fighting Canelo AlvarezCredit: Rex Features
      Canelo Alvarez is boxing’s biggest superstarCredit: AP
      And despite the UFC showing no signs of giving the Irishman another exemption to fight outside the promotion, he has teased a boxing return.
      Lefty McGregor has studied the losing efforts of southpaws Billy Joe Saunders, 33, and John Ryder, 34, both beaten by Canelo.
      And it leaves MMA’s greatest superstar leaving the door open to a bout with boxing’s biggest attraction.
      McGregor said: “I saw Ryder, I’m a southpaw, Ryder was a southpaw, Billy Joe was a southpaw, I’ve seen methods, I’ve seen things I’d do. 
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      “I know he’s waining, I’d fight Canelo no f****g problem. Out straight. No problem.” 
      Canelo, 32, has been promoted by Hearn for the last three years.
      But McGregor, 34, joked should he face the Mexican superstar the pie would have to be split down the middle.
      He said: “You know the level I’m at, at best co-promote! At best co-promote.”
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      McGregor has linked up with Hearn to promote Katie Taylor’s long anticipated homecoming fight.
      Taylor, 36, challenges Chantelle Cameron, 32, for the undisputed super-lightweight crown in Ireland’s first boxing event since 2014.
      McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout and Tidl recovery spray has sponsored the event and kickstarted a friendship with Hearn.
      Speaking at his Black Forge Inn pub, he said: “I love him, he’s clued in, he’s in tune and he’s committed to the fighters and the sport and he’s very, very passionate and you can tell all day. 
      “It’s great to do business with him, great to be partnered with him, great to be friends with him and that’s it. He’s a top man.” 
      Conor McGregor with boxing promoter Eddie HearnCredit: @eddiehearn More

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      Tyson Fury challenges Jon Jones to a fight after the UFC legend claimed talk of them meeting had ‘struck a nerve’

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      TYSON FURY has challenged Jon Jones to a boxing match after the UFC legend claimed talk of them fighting had “struck a nerve” with the Gypsy King.The 34-year-old WBC heavyweight champion initially took to his Instagram story to respond to a prediction made by controversial podcast host Joe Rogan.
      Tyson Fury has challenged Jon Jones to a boxing fightCredit: Instagram @tysonfury
      Joe Rogan said Jon Jones, above, would be the only one to walk out a room if they were locked inCredit: Alamy
      He had stated that MMA star Jones would be the one to walk out of a room if he and Fury were locked in one together.
      But the boxing icon soon hit back at those comments in X-rated fashion on social media and said: “I’m the baddest man on the planet.
      “I heard Joe Rogan say something about me, and I’ve been off all the social medias and didn’t reply to that little p****. Little f****** midget, bald-headed midget.
      “I heard him say that Jon Jones could f*** me up if we were in the room together. I don’t think so.
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      “Not a man born from a mother could f*** me up, in a room, on our own. Whatever happens in that room, I’d be walking out. Not a f****** problem.”
      That led to UFC heavyweight champ Jones, 35, then tweeting: “Hey Tyson, it seems like Joe may have struck a nerve.
      “I’ll admit there’s no one touching you in that ring right now, but let’s not let that confuse you with what would happen if you stepped foot in my cage.
      “If you ever want to put some of those questions you got going on to rest, give Dana a call. I’ll help you out.”
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      Now Fury has taken to social media again to post a video of himself saying: “I see Jon Jones has piped up, Jon you’re talking about me in the cage. I’m not a cage fighter mate I’m a boxer, the best boxer actually.
      “If you want to come into a boxing ring and fight me, be my guest and let me know. You don’t have to call anybody else, no dramas, nobody.
      “You call me because it’s a boxing fight and I’m the boss in this gym, me. You’re a great fighter Jon, but you’re no boxer that’s for sure. All the best and good luck.”
      Jones, who became UFC’s heavyweight champion in March after going up a weight division, has won 27 of his 28 UFC bouts, with his one loss coming via disqualification against Matt Hamill after 12-to-6 illegal elbows.
      Meanwhile, Fury has 33 wins and one draw from his 34 fights, including 24 KO wins.
      He is currently preparing for his next bout after failed talks with both Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr already this year, something he blames on the rest of the division.
      That means he has only fought once in the past 12 months, when he stopped old foe Derek Chisora in the tenth round at Tottenham Stadium in a one-sided fight in December, and has resulted in him dropping out of the top 50 highest-paid sports on the planet. More

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      Conor McGregor left me a bit shy when I met him but now he FaceTimes telling me to get some sleep, reveals Eddie Hearn

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      EDDIE HEARN admitted Conor McGregor left him a little shy when they first met… now they catch up over FaceTime. The UFC legend has thrown his support to Hearn, who is bringing Katie Taylor back to Ireland for the first time in her professional career.
      Conor McGregor with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn
      In February, the pair met up at McGregor’s Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin to discuss Taylor’s homecoming fight.
      And Hearn revealed he was left a little starstruck by the MMA superstar, who is now sponsoring this Saturday’s fight.
      But after going into business with each other, McGregor, 34, is checking in to make sure the promoter is getting his beauty sleep.
      Hearn told SunSport in Dublin: “We’re getting on very well.
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      “He FaceTimed me and it was almost like a brother phoning me up last night, or a dad going, ‘Alright? Good day today, I’ve seen it all.’ Good work, make sure you get some sleep, you need to go again tomorrow.’ 
      “I was like, ‘Alright, thanks a lot.’ We’re out pushing all his brands and looking forward to seeing him tonight.” 
      McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout and Tidl recovery spay are official sponsors of Taylor’s undisputed fight with Chantelle Cameron.
      But Hearn – who has raved about McGregor’s stout – seems to have got the ex-UFC champion’s unmatched promotional skills included in the deal.
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      He said: “He’s paying us but I think I’m overworking at the moment for Conor McGregor. 
      “But look, it works well together. I’m pushing his brands, he’s supporting Katie which is most important to him and he’s pushing the show. 
      “I love Conor McGregor, I think he’s amazing. I was a little bit, shy when I met him, don’t mind saying he’s a superstar. 
      “But, he obviously likes what we do, he knows we’re genuine, his support is genuine.
      “He’ll be here tonight and he’ll add that extra element to the fight.” 
      Taylor, 36, returns home for Ireland’s first boxing event since 2014.
      And she will move up to challenge super-lightweight champion Cameron, 32, after Amanda Serrano, 32, pulled out of their rematch injured.
      Hearn, who has promoted stadium fights in the UK, Mexico and America, believes the historic Irish return could top the lot.
      He said: “I can sort of tell you a dozen nights that I’ll remember forever that stand out for me, and this is well in there – and that’s before the fight. 
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      “So ask me the same question after Saturday night, it might me number one. It’s going to be that kind of night.” 
      Katie Taylor, Eddie Hearn and Chantelle CameronCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More