Boxing Archives - Page 9 of 42

Anthony Joshua is treating his next fight as a world title opportunity.

Though no belts will officially be on the line when Joshua steps into the ring with Francis Ngannou this March, Joshua views the former UFC heavyweight champion as a chance to prove he’s still the best boxer in his division. Joshua has held multiple world titles in boxing, but he has been without gold around his waist since a pair of losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Should Joshua defeat Ngannou, it could set him up to challenge for boxing titles again, but for now, he’s preparing for Ngannou like he’s the man to knock off the top of the mountain.

“Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on that,” Joshua said on The MMA Hour when asked if he expects a title shot with a win over the PFL’s Ngannou.

“I’m going to take my mind, I have to draw it back that Ngannou is my undisputed title fight. That’s the mentality I have to have.

“Ngannou is my undisputed fight. Because you’re only as good as your last fight, and I respect him a lot. He ain’t easy money. He’s a hard night’s work. And you know what’s crazy? So am I. I’m a hard night’s work for anyone. So let’s go, it’s going to be fireworks.”

There is a vast gap between Joshua and Ngannou when it comes to boxing experience. Though Ngannou was a dominant force inside the octagon, in the ring it’s Joshua who has been one of the best in his sport for years. The Englishman is 27-3 in his career, with his only losses to Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr., the latter of which Joshua avenged in an immediate rematch.

Ahead of a fight with Otto Wallin this past December that Joshua dominated, it was expected the ex-champ would face Deontay Wilder sometime in 2024. The only problem was that Wilder lost to Joseph Parker in the co-main event of the Joshua-Wallin card, which put that matchup on the shelf for the meantime.

Joshua vs Ngannou takes place on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BOXING

Former Heavyweight Champion Outlines Jaron Ennis’ Path to Terence Crawford Fight

For the rematch against Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford will move up to 154 lbs. And given Crawford’s wish to become a three-time undisputed champion in the sport, it is likely that the 36-year-old will spend some time in the Super-Welterweight division. On that note, how will the current IBF Welterweight champion, Jaron Ennis find his way to ‘Bud’?

In his recent interaction with FightHype, former unified heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman explained how Ennis could potentially find his way to Terence Crawford. For Rahman, Jaron Ennis must establish himself as a household name and make the public push for ‘Boots’ vs. ‘Bud’.

Jaron Ennis needs to beat the top boxers at 147 and 154 lbs

In an interaction with YSM Sports Media, Jaron Ennis said he had to keep winning and keep making noise to receive a fight against ‘Bud’. Well, former unified Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman is in complete agreement with Ennis. According to Rahman, in order to land a fight with Crawf0rd, Jaron Ennis must first dominate the Welterweight division. “Let’s just say Jaron tears up the Welterweight division. If Ennis beats some people in the Welterweight division, top guys. Just beats somebody like tough. [Then] everybody feels like [he’s] the man,” said Rahman.

Additionally, he stated that once Jaron Ennis has established himself as the king at 147 lbs, he can then move up and defeat an elite boxer at 154 lbs. In Rahman’s opinion, a memorable victory against a tough opponent at 154 lbs will certainly lead Ennis to ‘Bud’. “Once he’s there and if the public demands it, I think Jaron will fight him [Terence Crawford],” Rahman added.

“I just think right now the risk-reward ain’t there for Jaron. I don’t think he would get the credit he deserves. Once you’re that household name and that guy, and it’s for money and credibility, I think Jaron will fight him,” Hasim said with conviction.

‘Boots’ challenged Terence Crawford to regain his lost belt

After the match with Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford was issued a mandatory challenge in Jaron Ennis by the IBF. However, since he had to rematch ‘The Truth’, Crawford could not negotiate with ‘Boots’ Ennis. As a result, ‘Boots’ received the IBF belt ‘Bud’ was stripped of. In this connection, looking for a fight with ‘Bud’, Ennis recently taunted Crawford.

BOXING

Bill Haney Calls Out “Scared” Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson’s Trainers While Making A Bold Claim

There is a lot of commotion amok in the lighter-weight classes at the moment. Who will fight whom? Well, that’s a valid question fighters have grappled with for a while now. However, a fresh dubiety has emerged. Who will not fight whom? In a fresh set of attacks, Bill Haney, father and trainer of Devin Haney, took digs at the fighter’s contemporaries, suggesting why they would not fight his son and each other.

Last year was monumental for ‘The Dream.’ After defeating Vasyl Lomachenko via a controversial unanimous decision in May, he went up the weight to challenge WBC super light titlist, Regis Prograis. In a stumping December showdown, the Las Vegas-based fighter snatched the title via another unanimous decision. In the wake of it, while most assumed that his route to his elite contemporaries like Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson would open up, the possibility of those fights dropped like cards. Still sour from those setbacks, the leader of his camp, his father, Bill spared no words in shading Davis and Stevenson. However, this time, he came up with something brazen.

Bill Haney and his Indirect-Direct Attacks

Senior Haney brewed some serious tea in his recent X post. Roping in the trainers of Davis, now, Abdul Wahid and ‘Sugar’ Stevenson, respectively, Bill Haney wrote, “Calvin Ford and Wally Moses are scared to death to fight Dev and they don’t want to fight each other either. Who them dummies think they fooling?.” It is interesting how until now most fans assumed that the animosity between these fighters was limited to only them. But now, with his claims, he has extended this hostility to his counterparts in the trainer leagues too.

Earlier, both Stevenson and Haney showed interest in fighting each other. However, reports later suggested that Stevenson pulled out of the confrontation, unhappy with the purse split ratios. Later, right after the Regis Prograis win, Haney called on ‘Tank’ for a fight in an instigating post on social media. While Davis did show interest in getting the bout rolling, promoter Eddie Hearn later revealed that the Baltimore-based fighter was not too keen on the fight.

Since then, another key player in his weight class, Ryan Garcia came forward to fight him. However, that too will not see the light of the day now. Why? Let’s find out.

Ryan Garcia’s fight falls through for The Dream

Right before 2023 ended, Garcia’s feeding promoter, Oscar De La Hoya was positive about getting the anticipated Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia fight happen. While both the fighters had assented to it, Garcia at a later stage pulled out. Instead of fighting ‘The Dream,’ the Californian chose Rolando Romero as his opponent. With that, Devin Haney lost another key opponent.

While the Haney clan continues to look for another opponent befitting of their star player’s potential, it becomes crucial to see where their search leads them. Haney stands at a juncture that could either take him to world domination or signal his plummet in the sport of boxing.

BOXING

Curmel Moton Clarifies Floyd Mayweather-Gervonta Davis Confusion in the Leaked Sparring Video

Imagine a sparring session from 2015 suddenly igniting today’s boxing talks. This is the story of a tweet, a video, and a mix-up. The video? Nine-year-old Curmel Moton and ten-year-old Robert Meriwether in a heated sparring duel. The tweet? A claim of Floyd Mayweather’s presence, watching over these young talents.

But wait, was it really Mayweather? Curmel Moton jumped into the ring of social media to set the record straight. What did he reveal? And why does it matter who was in the background?

9-year-old Curmel Moton was a force to reckon with!

The center of this digital ringside is a tweet that transported the boxing community back to a 2015 gym scene. A user posted, “9-year-old Curmel Moton sparring with 10-year-old Robert Meriwether back in 2015. With Floyd Mayweather in the other ring shadow boxing 🔥🔥🔥🔥.” This caption set the stage, suggesting the legendary Floyd Mayweather’s presence as a witness to the young talent’s early endeavors.

However, Curmel Moton, whose professional record now boasts 2 fights and 2 knockouts, swiftly entered the fray to correct this narrative. Demonstrating his attentiveness to details, both in and out of the ring, Moton tweeted in response, “That’s tank not Floyd.” This concise yet impactful correction shifted the focus from Mayweather to Gervonta Davis, another prominent figure in the boxing world and a key figure in Mayweather’s training camp.

Speed for speed

In a revealing recollection, Curmel Moton reflected on a defining sparring session with Gervonta Davis, a memory that stands out in his early boxing journey. “I was nervous at first,” Moton admitted, recalling the anticipation of facing Davis at just 15 years old. However, the encounter unfolded as a harmonious dance of agility rather than brute force. “But we was going like, he was using the speed on me. Like we was both going speed for speed,” Moton described the session.

Contrary to expectations, Davis didn’t unleash his full power. “He wasn’t really like trying to knock me out or nothing like that,” Moton shared, likening the experience to a “chess match” – a strategic and intellectual exchange that proved to be both fun and profoundly instructive for the young boxer.vcd

What other lessons and experiences from his formative years will shape his future in the ring? How will these early influences manifest in his upcoming matches?

BOXING

Anthony Joshua reveals why he snubbed three fighters to take on Francis Ngannou in his own ‘undisputed’ bout

ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed he rejected three other potential opponents to make the Francis Ngannou fight.

Joshua, 34, will face off against former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou, 37, in Saudi Arabia on March 8.

Prior to AJ’s win over Otto Wallin in December, he had signed to face American KO artist Deontay Wilder.

But The Bronze Bomber was comprehensively outboxed by Joseph Parker on the same bill as Joshua’s stoppage victory.

And Wilder’s defeat left many claiming a fight with AJ was dead in the water.

Yet Joshua has now insisted he still believed he could have faced the Alabama puncher next.

As well as Wilder, a clash with IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic was also discussed.

And a trilogy against Andy Ruiz Jr was also in the mix in what would have been a follow-up to their two fights in 2019.

But once the Brit was approached about the Ngannou bout, he urged them to make the fight.

Speaking on The MMA Hour, he said: “I thought it might be Wilder still, because the contracts were signed, and it’s still a big fight.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT

“It’s still an amazing fight, it’s a crossover between UK and USA, all that good stuff promotional-wise, it’s still a good fight.

“So no, I kind of let that one slide, and then it was the [Flip] Hrgovic situation, the [Andy] Ruiz situation.

“Then they put Francis there, and my team were like, ‘This is a good opportunity on this day in Saudi Arabia against this opponent. What are you saying?’

“I said, ‘Let’s roll. Let’s go.’”

Joshua is heading into the Ngannou fight off the back of three successive wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Wallin.

Ngannou is preparing for only his second pro boxing fight after narrowly losing by split decision to Tyson Fury in what almost became one of the sport’s all-time great upsets.

If Joshua wins, many will want him to take on the winner of the undisputed fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk – which is set for February 17.

AJ has already lost twice to Usyk, but a blockbuster all-British dust-up with Fury has never materialised.

However, when asked about the possibility of facing Fury or Usyk, he added: “Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on [facing the Fury-Usyk winner].

“I’m going to take my mind, I have to draw it back that Ngannou is my undisputed title fight. That’s the mentality I have to have.

“Ngannou is my undisputed fight. Because you’re only as good as your last fight, and I respect him a lot. He ain’t easy money. He’s a hard night’s work.

“And you know what’s crazy? So am I. I’m a hard night’s work for anyone. So let’s go, it’s going to be fireworks.”

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather flexes on everyone with briefcases of money for NBA YoungBoy

Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t develop “Money” as a middle/nick name out of randomness. The former boxer earned an incredible amount of money throughout his 50-fight career, and he continues to carve out profits any which way in retirement.

Mayweather has never been shy about flaunting his money in everyone’s faces, which he most definitely did in a video he shared on Saturday.

BOXING

I’m a boxing legend who fought Floyd Mayweather but rival champ was the hardest hitter… I can still feel the punches

MANNY PACQUIAO fought an opponent so strong he could still feel the punches years later.

The Filipino icon had one of the most legendary careers in boxing history, winning titles in EIGHT divisions.

And he fought fellow greats in Floyd Mayweather, Oscar de la Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez.

But he revealed none punched harder than Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto the night they did battle in 2009.

Pacquiao told The Ring in 2015: “I can still feel some of those punches he threw at me.

“Staying on the ropes is not the best place to be when you are fighting him. He’s also accurate. He’s incredible.”

Pacquiao jumped up to welterweight to challenge the much larger Cotto and the pair put on a thriller in Las Vegas.

PacMan eventually forced the stoppage in the 12th and final round.

Cotto would continue fighting on and a year later lost to Mayweather on points.

He also went onto face Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in 2015 before retiring in 2017.

Pacquiao also lost to Mayweather in 2015 but did not hang up his gloves until 2021.

But he is linked with a return aged 45 with a rematch against Mayweather still touted over a decade from his points defeat.

Pacquiao announced the two will rematch this year under the RIZIN MMA promotion in Japan – but Mayweather has not responded to the claim.

BOXING

Froch: Andre Ward Wouldn’t Have a F—— Chance With Joshua, I’d Enjoy AJ Knocking Him Out!

Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch erupted over some recent statements made by his career rival, Andre Ward.

During an interview, Ward explained that he felt Joe Calzaghe would have been a tougher opponent than former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

“The big, one shot would have been my concern with Anthony Joshua. He doesn’t have the style – he’s not like a big man, like George Foreman. George knows how to tie you up and walk you back and wear you down. [Joshua’s] trying to box and be cute as well. I can look out for that right hand a lot easier when you fight like that, so Joe Calzaghe would have been a tougher fight. A different style, and a different mentality,” Ward told Boxing News.

Ward, a former two division champion, retired from the sport in 2017 after retaining his unified crown at light heavyweight.

Before the retirement decision was ultimately made, there were rumors that Ward was willing to entertain the scenario of moving up to the heavyweight division to challenge then world champion Joshua.

Ward would confirm those rumors the following year.

Froch believes the much bigger Joshua would have wiped out Ward – although he does believe Ward would have beaten Calzaghe had they met in the ring.

“I think Andre Ward’s comments on Anthony Joshua and Joe Calzaghe are f—— ridiculous because Anthony Joshua is far too big for him. It would be a mismatch because of the size difference. I don’t get where he’s coming from. AJ is six feet six and 18 stone, Andre Ward wouldn’t have a f——- chance,” Froch said to Lord Ping.

“Boxing is a weight governed sport, Ward is talking nonsense. I think he gives Calzaghe a really tough fight though, that’s a tough night for Calzaghe, a great fight. But he’s talking bullsh!t about Anthony Joshua. AJ is too big and too strong for Andre Ward, I’d actually enjoy watching AJ knockout Andre Ward, I’d pay to see it.

“But Ward does beat Calzaghe, he doesn’t really have any chinks in his armor. Calzaghe deserved to lose against Robin Reid, Reid should have got the nod. He also struggled against an old Hopkins and an old Roy Jones, so you’ve got to pick Ward over Calzaghe.”

BOXING

‘What will he eat?’ – Terence Crawford’s Canelo plan should look crazy but Dmitry Bivol says if anyone can jump weight it’s him

Dmitry Bivol believes Terence Crawford has what it takes to climb up three weight classes amid speculation over a future fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Crawford, who is ranked as the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter by Ring Magazine, has warmed to the idea of a showdown with Canelo after the Mexican signed a three-fight deal with PBC (Premier Boxing Champions).

Bivol was named 2022 Fighter of the Year after his victory over Alvarez in May 2022 and after spending much of 2023 chasing a rematch, it appears that a clash with Crawford appears more likely, for now.

That would require 147-pound Crawford to climb three weight classes to go head-to-head with Alvarez.

Whilst the jump seems to be a steep one, WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol believes Crawford is well equipped to take on the challenge.

“When I stepped into a boxing gym, the first rule was to respect weight classes but I don’t know what [Crawford is] going to eat,” Bivol told Boxing Scene.

“He’s the best fighter. Everything that he’s planning, shouldn’t look like it’s crazy. If he’s thinking about it, if he’s talking about it, it means it’s possible.”

Bivol has been unable to capitalise on the momentum shift following his win over Alvarez.

The 33-year-old fought just once in 2023 – a unanimous win over Lyndon Arthur in Saudi Arabia last month.

Bivol is aiming to become undisputed light heavyweight champion with a bout against WBC, WBO, and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev in the works following his destruction of Callum Smith earlier this month.

BOXING

Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford – Teddy Atlas has his say on potential fight

Could Terence Crawford go to 168lbs?

Immediately after defeating Errol Spence in one of 2023’s biggest fights, Terence Crawford made it clear he had no issues with facing Canelo Alvarez.

The fight would require Crawford to take a huge jump in weight but the rewards for beating the Mexican icon would be grand and it would massively enhance Crawford’s legacy.

Since defeating Spence last summer, Crawford has been linked to a number of fights, but his next move is still unknown.

Canelo outclassed Jermell Charlo in September to retain his world titles at super-middleweight and his next contest is still unconfirmed. Teddy Atlas, one of boxing’s most respected voices, has had his say on the possible clash.

“Crawford has the ability to slow things down in the ring and to see things nobody else can see and that’s what makes his timing so special,” said Atlas when speaking to Fight Hub.

“Because of that, I cannot count him out of anything.”