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The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Timeframe: When Anderson Silva got booed in Abu Dhabi at first UFC event in the Middle East
UFC returns to Abu Dhabi for Fight Night on Saturday - 15 years ago after the Mixed Martial Arts promotion came to the Middle East for the first time. UFC 112 was held as an outdoor event at Ferrari World on Yas Island, with middleweight champion Anderson Silva headlining as he defended his title against Demian Maia after the original opponent, Vitor Belfort, withdrew because of an injury. Yet it was the other fights that got much more traction. BJ Penn, the celebrated lightweight champion, took on No 1-ranked challenger Frankie Edgar. It was quite the coup for Abu Dhabi as Silva and Penn were two of the strongest pound-for-pound MMA fighters at the time. The event was staged at the 12,000-seat outdoor concert arena at Ferrari World. In a rarity for the sport back then, UFC 112 would feature not one, but two title fights. 'Abu Dhabi is our first outdoor event and we are very happy we could deliver what fans around the world will recognise as a stacked card featuring the sport's biggest stars,' UFC chief executive Dana White said at the time. Down the card, Renzo Gracie, a renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer, made his UFC debut, going up against Matt Hughes, a former two-time welterweight champion. Excitement built throughout the week in the lead-up to fight night. Several activities along the Corniche climaxed with the official weigh-in at Marina Mall the day before the fighters took to the octagon. It drew a large turnout. As for the action itself, Mark Munoz's second-round victory against Kendall Grove – by technical knockout – won 'fight of the night' on the 10-bout card. DaMarques Johnson claimed 'knockout of the night' by dispatching Brad Blackburn brutally in the third. In the evening's fourth and final fight, Rafael dos Anjos earned 'submission of the night' as his armbar in the second round caused Terry Etim to submit. Each fighter took home $75,000 (Dh275,000) in bonuses. In the major bouts, Gracie succumbed to Hughes in the third, while Penn suffered a surprise loss to Edgar, relinquishing his lightweight belt on a unanimous decision. A tightly contested bout, it was Penn's first defeat in that division in eight years. Much to everyone's frustration, the headline act failed to live up to its billing. Undefeated in his previous 10 UFC outings, Silva ran out a unanimous winner on points, only the second time in 11 fights that he needed the judges' scorecards. However, Silva's performance left those in attendance frustrated. Seeking a UFC record of six title defences, he rarely engaged with Maia, taunting his opponent through the opening rounds. Soon, the Abu Dhabi crowd switched their support to the underdog. As Maia looked to take the fight to the ground, Silva's defence staved off his challenge, but did little to capture the fans' attention. At one point in the fifth, the referee ordered Silva to take the fight to Maia. Speaking afterwards in his native Portuguese, the victorious champion attempted to apologise above a crescendo of boos. 'I'm sorry,' Silva said. 'I wasn't as humble as I should have been. I will be better next time.' By that stage, White had already left. Disappointed with what he was witnessing, he departed the arena during the fourth round, foregoing his usual post-fight routine of presenting the champion their belt. In the press conference afterwards, White fumed: 'It was a disgrace. To end this night the way we did was embarrassing. I apologise to everyone who came to the fight.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jake Paul Beats Julio César Chávez Jr. by Unanimous Decision in 10-Round Fight, Tells Doubters to ‘Shut the F— Up' After Win
Jake Paul's anticipated return to the ring ended with a victorious win against Julio César Chávez Jr. after going 10 rounds. The fight took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday night. With a record of 11 wins and one loss, including seven knockout victories, this boxing match marks Paul's latest win following a seven-month hiatus from the sport. His most publicized fight was against Mike Tyson in November 2024, which ended with Paul handily defeating the 58-year-old boxing great. The event became one of the most-watched sporting events on Netflix, peaking at an estimated 65 million viewers globally. Advertisement More from Variety Outside of Tyson, Chávez Jr. has held a strong record with 54 wins, one draw and six losses, including 34 knockouts. From 2011 to 2012, he held the WBC middleweight title until losing to Sergio Martinez that same year. Since then, he has faced highs and lows throughout his career, including a previous defeat in 2021 against former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, whom Paul defeated in 2022. His father, the former three-division world champion Julio César Chávez, expressed his high hopes for his son before he entered the ring with Paul. 'All fights are difficult. Jake Paul is young and strong, but he's never faced a fighter like my son,' he said during a press conference in May. 'I would've given Mike Tyson a better fight. He didn't throw one punch the whole fight. This time is different.' Advertisement There were six other fights on the main card before Paul vs. Chávez Jr. The co-main event featured a battle between Gilberto Ramírez and Yuniel Dorticos, which ended in TK's victory. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul dominates Chavez and calls out big names
Jake Paul (right) won his 12th pro boxing fight and said he would target a world title shot [Getty Images] Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul outpointed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who looked lost and refused to fight back for most of the cruiserweight contest in California, before calling out some of the sport's biggest names. Chavez barely threw a punch in the early rounds. His father, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, looked deflated and irate at ringside. Advertisement Chavez Jr, the 39-year-old former middleweight world champion, became a sitting duck behind a high guard as Paul, 28, controlled the fight with jabs and hooks to the head and body. American Paul, who outpointed a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November, was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92. He cupped his ears as jeers rained down from the sold-out Honda Center in Anaheim. "All the boos are words, but actions speak louder than words," Paul said, telling the crowd to "shut up", with some expletives. "It was flawless. I think I only got hit 10 times," he added. "He's been in with [Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez] and all those guys, and I embarrassed him like that. Easy work." Advertisement The victory raises familiar questions about the level of Paul's opponents and his place in professional boxing. The Chavez who stepped into the ring was a far cry from the Mexican who won a world title over a decade ago. It was the same Chavez who lost in 2021 to 46-year-old former UFC star Anderson Silva, whom Paul defeated a year later. It was a Chavez who has struggled with discipline and motivation for large parts of his career. Paul, who rose to fame on social media, has now won 12 pro fights, with his sole loss coming to Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul said he is ready to challenge WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez or WBC belt-holder Badou Jack. While boxing purists view a title shot as the culmination of years of relentless hard work, dedication and climbing the ranks, it is not entirely far-fetched to imagine Paul landing one. Advertisement Both the WBA and WBC have hinted they could soon include him in their rankings, opening the door to a possible shot at a world title. After his seventh loss in 61 professional bouts, Chavez (left) said he plans to continue boxing [Getty Images] Paul dominates as Chavez shows little fight A tense Chavez took deep, steadying breaths before being serenaded to the ring by a mariachi band. Meanwhile, Paul danced with his brother Logan in the dressing room, carrying that energy into his ring walk. Chavez boxed on the back foot as Paul connected with body shots in the first round. He was already a shadow of the fighter who won a world title in 2011, stopped Irishman Andy Lee a decade ago and went the distance with superstar Alvarez in 2017. Advertisement Chavez's corner urged him to "let his hands go" but he stared vacantly into the distance. Plagued by weight struggles, substance abuse and a lack of motivation, he showed little fight. The boos grew louder as he did nothing to silence critics who claimed he was simply there for a payday. Chavez Sr looked distraught, throwing his hands in the air, desperately urging his son to find his fire. Paul has clearly improved since his loss to Fury, showing a crisper jab and higher work-rate. But when he selects aging fighters like Chavez and Tyson who refuse to fight back, it is easier to showcase those improvements. Advertisement Chavez's best moments came in the ninth round when he landed an uppercut and right hook. He walked back to his corner celebrating as if he had won the fight, hands raised. He took the final round with some power punches but seemed resigned to defeat at the bell. Paul was congratulated his opponent's father, three-weight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (right) [Getty Images] What's next for Paul? Paul said he wants "tougher fighters", but his callouts often ignore weight classes. He outrageously named former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and lightweight world champion Gervonta 'Tank' Davis as possible opponents. Earlier this week WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said Paul could be considered for a ranking if he beat Chavez. Under WBC rules, a fighter must be inside the top 15 to qualify for a world title shot. Advertisement For context, British champion Viddal Riley ranks 15th, while Team GB Olympian Cheavon Clarke is 19th. Should Ohio's Paul be ranked above them? Sporting logic says no. But in today's boxing landscape, it is not impossible. Paul has also suggested the WBA may rank him. The WBA considers fight history, activity and competition level when ranking fighters. To his credit, Paul has brought a new audience to boxing, supported women fighters through his Most Valuable Promotions and shown serious commitment to training. But that alone does not justify a world title shot. To earn genuine respect in boxing, he must move beyond faded names and former MMA stars. Wins over Chavez and Tyson may boost his brand but they do little for his credibility in the ring. Advertisement The problem for the self-proclaimed 'Problem Child', however, is that stepping in with an active, legitimately ranked fighter is when the wheels are likely to come off. More boxing from the BBC
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Paul dominates Chavez and calls out big names
Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul outpointed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who looked lost and refused to fight back for most of the cruiserweight contest in California, before calling out some of the sport's biggest barely threw a punch in the early rounds. His father, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, looked deflated and irate at Jr, the 39-year-old former middleweight world champion, became a sitting duck behind a high guard as Paul, 28, controlled the fight with jabs and hooks to the head and Paul, who outpointed a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November, was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92. He cupped his ears as jeers rained down from the sold-out Honda Center in Anaheim."All the boos are words, but actions speak louder than words," Paul said, telling the crowd to "shut up", with some expletives."It was flawless. I think I only got hit 10 times," he added. "He's been in with [Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez] and all those guys, and I embarrassed him like that. Easy work."The victory raises familiar questions about the level of Paul's opponents and his place in professional boxing. The Chavez who stepped into the ring was a far cry from the Mexican who won a world title over a decade was the same Chavez who lost in 2021 to 46-year-old former UFC star Anderson Silva, whom Paul defeated a year later. It was a Chavez who has struggled with discipline and motivation for large parts of his who rose to fame on social media, has now won 12 pro fights, with his sole loss coming to Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul said he is ready to challenge WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez or WBC belt-holder Badou boxing purists view a title shot as the culmination of years of relentless hard work, dedication and climbing the ranks, it is not entirely far-fetched to imagine Paul landing the WBA and WBC have hinted they could soon include him in their rankings, opening the door to a possible shot at a world title. Paul dominates as Chavez shows little fight A tense Chavez took deep, steadying breaths before being serenaded to the ring by a mariachi band. Meanwhile, Paul danced with his brother Logan in the dressing room, carrying that energy into his ring boxed on the back foot as Paul connected with body shots in the first round. He was already a shadow of the fighter who won a world title in 2011, stopped Irishman Andy Lee a decade ago and went the distance with superstar Alvarez in corner urged him to "let his hands go" but he stared vacantly into the distance. Plagued by weight struggles, substance abuse and a lack of motivation, he showed little boos grew louder as he did nothing to silence critics who claimed he was simply there for a Sr looked distraught, throwing his hands in the air, desperately urging his son to find his has clearly improved since his loss to Fury, showing a crisper jab and higher work-rate. But when he selects aging fighters like Chavez and Tyson who refuse to fight back, it is easier to showcase those best moments came in the ninth round when he landed an uppercut and right hook. He walked back to his corner celebrating as if he had won the fight, hands took the final round with some power punches but seemed resigned to defeat at the bell. What's next for Paul? Paul said he wants "tougher fighters", but his callouts often ignore weight outrageously named former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and lightweight world champion Gervonta 'Tank' Davis as possible this week WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said Paul could be considered for a ranking if he beat Chavez. Under WBC rules, a fighter must be inside the top 15 to qualify for a world title context, British champion Viddal Riley ranks 15th, while Team GB Olympian Cheavon Clarke is Ohio's Paul be ranked above them? Sporting logic says no. But in today's boxing landscape, it is not has also suggested the WBA may rank him. The WBA considers fight history, activity and competition level when ranking his credit, Paul has brought a new audience to boxing, supported women fighters through his Most Valuable Promotions and shown serious commitment to training. But that alone does not justify a world title earn genuine respect in boxing, he must move beyond faded names and former MMA stars. Wins over Chavez and Tyson may boost his brand but they do little for his credibility in the problem for the self-proclaimed 'Problem Child', however, is that stepping in with an active, legitimately ranked fighter is when the wheels are likely to come off.
The Independent
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr live: Start time, undercard, fight updates and results
Tonight, Jake Paul returns to the boxing ring to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr – a former world champion and the son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Sr. Paul last fought in November, outpointing heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in a bout that was widely panned, with the YouTuber later admitting that he held back against the 58-year-old. Now, 28-year-old Paul takes on another former world champion in Chavez Jr, who held the WBC middleweight title from 2010 until 2012. Chavez Jr has pedigree, therefore, also factoring that his father is boxing royalty, yet the 39-year-old has not impressed in recent times. In 2021, he was outpointed by UFC icon Anderson Silva, who was 46 at the time, and his last outing was a decision win against another UFC alum, Uriah Hall. That fight took place last July, two-and-a-half years after his previous contest. Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr live YouTube star Jake Paul boxes Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Anaheim, California Paul aims to build on victory over 58-year-old Mike Tyson from November Paul, 28, faces an ex-world champion in Chavez Jr, 39, son of legend Julio Cesar Sr Zurdo Ramirez, Floyd Schofield and ex-UFC star Holly Holm among names on undercard Main card begins at 1am with Paul vs Chavez Jr ring walks expected at 4am BST Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr live: Welcome! Tonight, Jake Paul returns to the boxing ring to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr – a former world champion and the son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Sr. Paul last fought in November, outpointing heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in a bout that was widely panned, with the YouTuber later admitting that he held back against the 58-year-old. Now, 28-year-old Paul takes on another former world champion in Chavez Jr, who held the WBC middleweight title from 2010 until 2012. Chavez Jr has pedigree, therefore, also factoring that his father is boxing royalty, yet the 39-year-old has not impressed in recent times. In 2021, he was outpointed by UFC icon Anderson Silva, who was 46 at the time, and his last outing was a decision win against another UFC alum, Uriah Hall. That fight took place last July, two-and-a-half years after his previous contest. Alex Pattle28 June 2025 23:59
