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    Conor McGregor’s training partner says Jake Paul has to ‘try beat one of us first’ before getting a shot at ‘the king’

    CONOR McGREGOR’S training partner said Jake Paul has to ‘try beat one of us first’ before getting a shot at ‘the king’. The YouTuber-turned prizefighting star has long called out McGregor, building a one-sided feud.
    Cian Cowley pictured with Conor McGregor
    Jake Paul has continued to call out Conor McGregorCredit: © Matchroom Boxing
    And while the man himself has chosen to ignore the viral callouts, those around him have not.
    Cian Cowley, a 2-5 MMA welterweight and training partner of McGregor’s, told Paul he would have to earn a fight with The Notorious.
    Cowley wrote on Instagram: “Has to try beat one of us first before he gets a shot at the king.”
    Paul, 25, first called out McGregor in 2020 while only 2-0, beating online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37.
    But he has since improved to 5-0 with wins over former UFC pair Ben Askren, 37 and Tyron Woodley, 39.
    McGregor, 33, meanwhile is eyeing a UFC return this year, having not fought since July when he suffered a horror leg break against Dustin Poirier, 33.
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    But he had fans fearing for the worst following a few bizarre social media posts after nights out in his Black Forge pub.
    Paul took the chance to take a swipe at the ex-UFC champion while in London promoting the women’s super-fight between Katie Taylor, 35, and Amanda Serrano, 33.
    He said: “I don’t give a s*** about Conor.
    “I just want to fight him and smack him in the head – in that sense I hope that he can win some fights so that we can actually fight.
    “But the guy is a grown-ass man, he needs to figure out his life; it seems to be falling apart from what I can tell.
    “Obviously, everything’s through a lens, we don’t know what he’s going through actually.”
    Conor McGregor drinking in his pubCredit: Instagram
    Jake Paul knocked out Tyron Woodley in their rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Five next opponents for Logan Paul after Floyd Mayweather fight including rematch and taking on UFC icon Belfort

    LOGAN PAUL is back training ahead of a potential boxing return this year. Footage was shared of the YouTube star hitting a heavy bag in a signal he could be ready to accept a comeback fight.
    Logan Paul is open to a boxing return this yearCredit: Getty
    Paul in June took American legend Floyd Mayweather the distance in their eight-round exhibition bout.
    And it left his reputation in the ring as impressive as ever, adding to speculation he will fight once more.
    So here SunSport runs down five potential opponents for the 26-year-old social media influencer.
    Whindersson
    The Brazilian – full name real named Whindersson Nunes Batista – is an internet star with a massive online following.
    He recently drew against ex-world champion boxer Acelino Popo Freitas in an exhibition bout and called out Paul afterwards.
    And in an interview with TMZ, Paul said: “There’s this Brazilian guy, his name is Whindersson, who I’ve got my eyes on.”
    Brazilian YouTuber Whindersson called out Logan PaulCredit: @whindersson
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    Floyd Mayweather
    Paul has continued to accuse Mayweather of not paying him the full amount owed for their summer exhibition.
    He even rejected a rematch because of the pay row, but that is a clear indicator that talks of a second fight have at least taken place.
    On Mayweather rematches rumours, Paul said: “He wanted to, he reached out. But like, suck a d***. ”
    Logan Paul took Floyd Mayweathet the distanceCredit: AFP
    Tommy Fury
    The brother of heavyweight champion Tyson was due to face Paul’s younger sibling Jake in a grudge match in December.
    But Fury pulled out injured with a broken rib and has been told he blew his multimillion pound chance.
    Paul has before traded words with the 2019 Love Islander, and if Fury wants a shot at Jake, beating his older brother could be his pathway to it.
    Tommy Fury pulled out of fighting Jake Paul with a broken ribCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Tyron Woodley
    Woodley was twice beaten by Jake, firstly on points in August then brutally knocked out in their rematch four months later.
    The ex-UFC champ and Jake now have a new found respect for each other and that could lead to potential opportunities.
    Fighting Paul to continue the storyline cannot be ruled out and gives fans the chance to compare the polarising brothers.
    Tyron Woodley was knocked out by Jake Paul in their rematchCredit: Showtime
    Vitor Belfort
    Belfort in September shamefully beat up a 58-year-old Evander Holyfield and called out the Paul brothers afterwards.
    And while Jake appears completely uninterested, Paul may fancy his chances.
    The $30m winner-take-all offer Belfort claimed to have ready may also tempt Paul to the table.
    Vitor Belfort has called out the Paul brothers in the pastCredit: Getty More

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    Tyson Fury and Conor McGregor Twitter beef escalates as fight legends continue to take pot shots on social media

    TYSON Fury and Conor McGregor have ratcheted up the trash talking in their extraordinary Twitter feud.Boxing champ Fury earlier dismissed McGregor as a ‘bully’ after the MMA star branded him a ‘Versace t***’ in a spat over Billy Joe Saunders’ latest fight.
    Tyson Fury taunted Conor McGregor over his UFC record in an extraordinary Twitter rowCredit: Rex
    McGregor reacted with a furious outburst on social mediaCredit: Getty
    McGregor accused Fury of failing to help Saunders’ dad in a row with security at his son’s blockbuster battle with pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez.
    Tempers appeared to have cooled on Sunday evening until Fury returned to Twitter to fire off a taunt over The Notorious’ recent UFC record.
    He tweeted: “@TheNotoriousMMA has done more Tapping than MJ’s old dance shoes.”
    And that seems to have ignited McGregor’s famously short fuse, with the Irish hero letting fly with foul-mouthed salvo in Fury’s direction.
    He tweeted: “Wipe his a*** with your tongue bro U missed a spot hahahahah.
    “And I’m not talking Khabib u R** l***er, do what you’re told, I answer to no one.”
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    The 33-year-old former two-weight UFC champ appears to have been referencing Saunders, who Fury insisted was his pal in his earlier tweet dismissing McGregor as a bully.
    Cryptically, McGregor also deleted and then replaced the original tweet in which he labelled Fury a ‘Versace t***’.
    In its place he wrote another tweet along similar lines.
    It read: “Oh no people don’t like me what will I ever do hahahahaaha idiot. You are just a little r** l***er bro. Thats all.
    “You stood there while your friends father was being attacked and done nothing. That’s the be all end all bro. God luck, God bless.”

    But any suggestion the ‘god bless’ was an attempt draw a line under the angry exchange was swept away with yet another McGregor tweet half an hour later.
    In it he doubled down on the Versace accusations, tweeting a photo of Fury in a snazzy jacket at the Canelo vs Saunders event in Texas.
    McGregor captioned it: “Get that Versace off you, you done nothing.”
    Fury is set to return to the ring in an all-British bout with former sparring partner Dillian Whyte sometime in the spring.
    McGregor meanwhile is eyeing a return to action after recovering from a horror broken leg sustained last July in his loss to Dustin Poirier. More

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    Tyson Fury blasts ‘bully’ Conor McGregor who called him ‘Versace t***’ as rivals trade insults in row on Twitter

    TYSON FURY has blasted back at Connor McGregor in an extraordinary Twitter row between the two superstars.UFC legend Notorious took aim at the boxer earlier when he called him a ‘Versace T***’ for not helping Billy Joe Saunders’ dad in his row with security following his son’s defeat to Canelo Alvarez.
    Conor McGregor has blasted Tyson Fury for not helping Billy Joe Saunders’ dadCredit: Getty
    The Gypsy King was labelled a ‘Versace t***’ by the IrishmanCredit: PA
    The Brit’s fight against the Mexican icon was waved off last summer due to ‘Superb’ suffering a broken eye socket.
    The star’s worried father Tom decided he needed to check on his son, and leapt over the barrier.
    But Tom, wearing a blue cap, was shoved forcibly backwards by a security guard, before others joined in to help Saunders Sr.
    However, WBC heavyweight champion Fury decided to stay out of the brawl – something which his next opponent Dillian Whyte has already called him a ‘coward’ for.
    Wearing a Versace shirt, the 6ft 9in 19st-plus Gypsy King stayed behind the ringside barrier and appeared to be begging for calm.
    McGregor has joined in and said Fury ‘bottled it’ during the melee.
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    The Irishman appeared to be irked by a tweet from Fury that praised McGregor’s longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
    And in a reply to that, McGregor mocked Fury for not defending Saunders’ dad.
    He wrote: “Yup the Joyces. Big Joe! U bottled it with Billy joe Da, what were you doing there ? ULeft him, Versace t*** U.Done. Nothing.
    “Ya’s did it right ye right hahahahaaj. Even when I’m wrong i’m right. Who did it right ? The Mac daddy tonight, in house. Miami d12! Bahamas.”
    But Fury has wasted little time in a comeback by replying: “Come back when u win a fight mush, & the difference in me & you is i don’t get myself in trouble & people actually like me, your just a bully who hit old man, 😎 & yes Big up the hulk Joe, #morecambebay. in the house.”
    Saunders was contemplating hanging up his gloves after the crushing damage in his defeat to Canelo but recently admitted he misses boxing.
    Fury, a longtime friend of Saunders, had previously told him not to retire and claimed that it would ‘haunt him forever’ if he quit. More

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    Conor McGregor slams ‘Versace t***’ Tyson Fury for not helping Billy Joe Saunders’ dad in row after Canelo Alvarez loss

    CONOR MCGREGOR has blasted ‘Versace t***’ Tyson Fury for not helping Billy Joe Saunders’ dad after he was shoved by security following his son’s loss to Canelo Alvarez.The Brit’s fight against the Mexican icon was waved off last summer due to ‘Superb’ suffering a broken eye socket.
    Conor McGregor has blasted Tyson Fury for not helping Billy Joe Saunders’ dadCredit: Getty
    The Gypsy King was labelled a ‘Versace t***’ by the IrishmanCredit: PA
    The star’s worried father Tom decided he needed to check on his son, and leapt over the barrier.
    But Tom, wearing a blue cap, was shoved forcibly backwards by a security guard, before others joined in to help Saunders Sr.
    However, WBC heavyweight champion Fury decided to stay out of the brawl – something which his next opponent Dillian Whyte has already called him a ‘coward’ for.
    Wearing a Versace shirt, the 6ft 9in 19st-plus Gypsy King stayed behind the ringside barrier and appeared to be begging for calm.
    Now UFC legend McGregor has joined in and says Fury ‘bottled it’ during the melee.
    The Irishman appeared to be irked by a tweet from Fury that praised McGregor’s longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
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    And in a reply to that, McGregor mocked Fury for not defending Saunders’ dad.
    He wrote: “Yup the Joyces. Big Joe! U bottled it with Billy joe Da, what were you doing there ? ULeft him, Versace t*** U.Done. Nothing.
    “Ya’s did it right ye right hahahahaaj. Even when I’m wrong i’m right. Who did it right ? The Mac daddy tonight, in house. Miami d12! Bahamas.”
    Saunders was contemplating hanging up his gloves after the crushing damage in his defeat to Canelo but recently admitted he misses boxing.
    Fury, a longtime friend of Saunders, had previously told him not to retire and claimed that it would ‘haunt him forever’ if he quit. More

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    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov set to fight Max Holloway in first-ever 3D virtual reality Metaverse clash

    KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV is set to finally face Max Holloway this weekend… in the Metaverse.The pair were supposed to do battle at the infamous UFC 223.
    Khabib Nurmagomedov was supposed to fight Max Holloway in 2018Credit: Getty
    Khabib, 33, had been initially down to fight Tony Ferguson before El Cucuy had to pull out.
    Holloway then stepped up and the bout appeared set to go ahead.
    But Blessed wasn’t given medical clearance, leading to Raging Al Iaquinta stepping in at the final moment.
    The fightweek is best remembered for Conor McGregor’s infamous bus attack.
    Nurmagomedov and Holloway won’t actually be taking to an octagon, however, as their bout will instead take place via virtual reality in the Metaverse.
    The ’bout’ is part of Khabib’s partnership with gaming company Legionfarm and will go ahead at 8pm UK time this Saturday.
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    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Rather than a traditional ticket, fans will need to be the owner of a Legionfarm NFT to watch the ‘fight’.
    With more ‘events’ such as this one set to take place, the ‘quality’ of a fan’s NFT will determine what they have access to.
    The event will also feature commentary from Khabib’s team-mates Daniel Cormier and Islam Makhachev.
    Daniel Cormier is set to be involved in the ‘event’Credit: Getty More

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    Conor Benn in talks to fight UFC star Conor McGregor’s ex-boxing sparring partner Chris van Heerden in April

    CONOR BENN is in talks to fight UFC star Conor McGregor’s ex-boxing sparring partner Chris van Heerden.The highly ranked unbeaten welterweight contender Benn is set to fight on April 16 against either Van Heerden OR Maurice Hooker.
    Benn is also eyeing a potential fight against Eubank JrCredit: NEWS GROUP
    Heerden has two career loses which come against Ennis and Spence JrCredit: GETTY IMAGES
    Van Heerden hasn’t fought since 2020 when his fight against Jaron Ennis was stopped in the first round due to a cut he suffered.
    And the South African has only fought two upper-tier fighters in Ennis and Errol Spence Jr in his 16-year professional career, both of which he lost.
    On a fight with Mcgregor’s ex-sparring partner, Benn told iFL TV: “The day is already pretty much been confirmed.
    “We got mid-April. The opponent should be pretty much confirmed. I’m hearing Van Heerden, I’m hearing Maurice Hooker.
    “Maurice Hooker turned down the fight three times. 
    “It’s funny he gets his level, and then they don’t want these risky fights, these former world champions.
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Boxing.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    “Those are the names that do want. April 16th, I’m hearing. I’ll just make sure  I’m ready.”
    Benn would also be open to fighting Chris Eubank Jr in a mega-money second-generation showdown.
    Fathers Nigel and Chris fought twice in the 90s with Eubank Sr coming away with a win and the rematch ending in a split draw.
    On a fight with Eubank Jr, 32, Benn said: “Any day of the week!
    “I am currently walking around at around super-middle (12st) but if I lift my top up I still have abs. People think I am chatting smoke but it is realistic.
    “I am walking around at super-middle so making 154lbs (11st) is no problem, I feel strong at 154lbs.
    “I spar middleweights in my gym and flew in a super-middle from France for my last fight.
    “I like fighting bigger guys, I fancy my chances, I have sparred cruiserweights before.
    “They come in the gym thinking they can impose their weight on you and then I let 2-3-4 punches go and they don’t want to know.” More

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    ‘I took the bait’ – UFC legend Michael Bisping claims Jake Paul ‘played me like a f***ing chess game’ over fight offer

    MICHAEL BISPING admitted he was ‘played’ by Jake Paul and ‘took the bait’ by publicly addressing their fight offer. The UFC legend was last year in talks to face Paul and was even sent a proposal by the YouTuber’s team.
    Michael Bisping admitted he was ‘played’ by Jake Paul
    Jake Paul was once in talks to fight Michael BispingCredit: Getty
    But Bisping believes it was all a ruse to make it seem as though the American really wanted to fight while creating hype.
    And he reckons Paul’s latest callout of ex-unbeaten UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, 32, is another example of this.
    Bisping, 42, said on his podcast: “Now he’s calling out Khabib. He did the same thing with me.
    “He actually made an official offer and I took the bait and I started talking about it.
    “What does that do? It just says to everybody, ‘ Jake Paul is looking for real fights’ but there was never a contract that came through.
    “There was an e-mail but there was never a contract – it was an email that came to my manager and I talked about it and then the dialogue stopped.
    “I was appalled at Jake Paul’s f***ing chess game… He played me.”
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Boxing.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
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    Paul, 25, had two wins to his name at the time, knockouts over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37.
    But after brief talks with Bisping collapsed, retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37, took the fight and was KO’d.
    Paul has since beaten ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, twice with the first coming on points in August.
    Then, when Tommy Fury, 22, pulled out in December Woodley signed as his replacement, only to be brutally KO’d in round six.
    Despite Paul’s unbeaten record, Bisping slammed his performances and backed 46-year-old Anderson Silva to beat the celebrity influencer.
    He said: “I’ve seen his fights. I’ve seen that he is a shower of s***. I’ve seen that he picks on small guys and from a different sport.
    “And I’ve also seen that he might be talking about going out after Anderson Silva.
    “Again, that’s his MO. Anderson Silva is about 90 now, even though I think Anderson can still beat him.”
    Michael Bisping backed Anderson Silva to beat Jake PaulCredit: Getty – Contributor More