Latest news with #BorntoBrawl
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Durham boxer O'Connor dies aged 25
Professional boxer Georgia O'Connor has died aged 25. The Durham native announced earlier this year she had been diagnosed with cancer after previously battling ulcerative colitis. O'Connor was a decorated amateur boxer at junior level, winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017. O'Connor signed with promoter Ben Shalom's Boxxer when she turned professional and was undefeated in three fights. "We are heartbroken by the passing of Georgia O'Connor. A true warrior inside and outside the ring, the boxing community has lost a talented, courageous and determined young woman far too soon," Boxxer said. "Georgia was loved, respected and admired by her friends here at Boxxer. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time." Two weeks ago, O'Connor posted on her social media that she had married her boyfriend and changed her last name to Cardinali. Tributes have poured in for her, including from fighters Claressa Shields, Jack Catterall, Jake Paul, Molly McCann and Francesca Hennessy. World champion Ellie Scotney was a long-time friend of O'Connor and said "she was the most beautiful human" she ever met. "I was so blessed with not just a friend for 10 years, but a sister for life," Scotney said. "Even when life was on a timer, you never let anything dim that light of yours. A smile that never ever fades, and a heart that will forever live on in so many ways. "There was nothing you couldn't do, the world at your very feet no matter what room you entered." England Boxing, highlighting her achievements, said: "A gifted boxer and beloved member of the amateur boxing community, she won medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Youth Worlds and European Championships." "It's hard to comprehend how cruel life can be, just 25 years old, she had so much ahead of her, but I know our boxing community will honour her memory," said 5 Live commentator and retired boxer Stacey Copeland. "We'll never forget you, we'll always be proud of you, and you'll continue to inspire us all from above." Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gallagher return cancelled as Jones misses weight
Tysie Gallagher's Commonwealth and British title fight against Ebonie Jones on Friday is off after the challenger failed to make weight. Gallagher, 26, was due to make her return to action three months after her mother-in-law was killed and the original fight with Jones was postponed as a result. Jones beat Gallagher twice in the amateurs and Friday's fight was scheduled for the undercard of Terri Harper's world title defence at Doncaster's Eco-Power Stadium. "We got a call late last night saying the fight is off due to Ebonie not making weight," Gallagher said on Instagram. "As professional athletes we have a job to make weight. Unfortunately Ebonie couldn't stick to her end of the bargain. "Absolutely gutted. Even if it's not a title fight, any fight, I think it's disgraceful if a fighter can't make weight." "I am just devastated," she added. "I put everything into this camp." The bout is not expected to be rescheduled as a catchweight nor is a new opponent possible for Gallagher at this late stage. Gallagher pulled out of her fight with Jones on 7 February when her mother-in-law was killed following what the police described as an "altercation" at her home. A 25-year-old man has since been charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. Gallagher and Jones have a long history together having fought twice in the amateurs. Jones, 27, won both those bouts and Gallagher was hoping to avenge that defeat while retaining her titles. Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Difficult mentally waiting for Jones fight
Tom Aspinall says it is "difficult mentally" waiting for a UFC undisputed heavyweight title bout with Jon Jones. Britain's Aspinall, 32, has been the interim champion since November 2023 and last fought in July, defending his belt against Curtis Blaydes. American Jones beat Stipe Miocic in November to defend his championship but a unification bout with Aspinall is yet to be scheduled by the UFC. Aspinall says the wait to fight Jones has been "trickier" than the year he spent out injured after seriously injuring his knee in 2023. "Now, I've been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from wait," Aspinall said on Demetrious' Johnson's podcast. "I constantly had little goals to work towards [during recovery from injury]. Whereas now it's just like: 'Just be ready and we'll just let you know.' "It's kind of difficult mentally, but this is the fight against Jon Jones. The fight is another thing, this is the tricky bit where I really have to stay switched on, stay motivated, and I'm trying my best. It's tough sometimes." Aspinall beat Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023 to become interim champion when Jones pulled out of his original bout with Miocic because of injury. But rather than pair Jones up with Aspinall when the American recovered, the promotion rebooked the fight with Miocic in November. UFC president Dana White has said previously he is confident of making the bout between Jones and Aspinall, which would be the "biggest heavyweight fight in the promotion's history". Aspinall has called for the fight to be set up on multiple occasions but Jones has been less forthcoming on the prospect. This week the 37-year-old, who is also a former light-heavyweight champion, jousted online with fans who were goading him about Aspinall. He added: "I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven't shared them with you guys yet." Aspinall has won eight of nine UFC bouts since his debut in 2020 and holds multiple records in the heavyweight division. Jones holds the record for the most title fight wins in the promotion's history, with 16 - and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Despite frustration at waiting on the sidelines, Aspinall says he can empathise with Jones' position. He added: "I get it. I get it. It's just about the title for me. "I just want the title, that's it. Nothing else really matters. So I get it completely, get his point of view, get what everybody's saying, completely understand. I just want to prove I'm the best, that's all." With the organisation's main events on their flagship numbered shows booked until UFC 319 on 16 August, the earliest Jones and Aspinall could realistically fight is at UFC 320 in Guadalajara, Mexico on 13 September. The UFC is yet to confirm its schedule of events for the remainder of the year. MMA schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Windsor Park unlikely to host Crocker-Donovan rematch
The rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan now looks unlikely to take place at Belfast's Windsor Park with the city's SSE Arena set to be the venue, promoter Eddie Hearn has said. Limerick fighter Donovan was ahead on the judges' scorecards in the IBF world welterweight title eliminator in March when he was disqualified for hitting Belfastman Crocker after the bell sounded for the end of the eighth round. Donovan's joint-managers Andy Lee and Keith Sullivan officially appealed for their fighter to be granted a rematch and the IBF upheld the request. Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn made clear his desire that the rematch would take place at the home of Northern Ireland's football team, which was officially renamed the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park earlier this month following the agreement of an eight-year sponsorship deal. However Hearn now accepts that the prospects of the contest taking place at the outdoor venue are fading, with the fighters set to duel once more at SSE Arena. "There's now a very good chance it won't be at Windsor. We will probably now do it at SSE Arena," he told The Ring. The promoter added that the return bout is likely to take place in "late August or maybe early September". Hearn said the fight would have to generate ticket sales in excess of 20,000 to make the outdoor option viable. "The issue with going outside is, with the costs and everything, you've got to be doing more than 20,000 tickets to make the delta positive of doing it in an arena with 9,000. That's a huge amount of tickets. "Would it do 15 or 16,000? Probably. And don't get me wrong, I love an outdoor show. But there's also a lot to be said about going into an absolutely packed out arena." Crocker's victory on 1 March maintained extend his career winning streak to an unblemished 21 victories as Donovan suffered his fight defeat in 15 fights. Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron and Marshall join Paul's Most Valuable Promotions
British duo Chantelle Cameron and Savannah Marshall have signed with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions. The United States-based promotion has been securing some of the world's best female boxers in recent months, signing the likes of Ellie Scotney, Ramla Ali and American Alycia Baumgardner. "MVP represents the most dominant roster of UK women's athletes in boxing," said Paul and his MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian after the latest signings. Both women are expected to make their promotional debuts on the undercard of Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano 3, on 11 July in New York. Cameron, 33, is a former undisputed champion at light-welterweight and is the only fighter who holds a win over Ireland's Katie Taylor in the professional ranks. The Northampton fighter swapped Matchroom for Queensberry last year, but has now decided to part ways with Frank Warren in favour of YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul. Marshall, 33, has not fought since 2023 when she became the then second undisputed boxing world champion from England, behind Cameron, by collecting all four super-middleweight world titles. The Hartlepool fighter has tried her hand at MMA with the PFL since then, and was previously with Ben Shalom's Boxxer. Cameron and Marshall join a growing stable of female pound-for-pound greats at MVP, with Denmark's two-weight world champion Dina Thorslund recruited this year and seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano leading the female faction. Serrano takes on Taylor in their trilogy fight at Madison Square Garden, topping an all-women card with Scotney and Baumgardner set to defend their world titles. Light-welterweight Cameron has spent the past year chasing a third fight with Taylor, and will be hopeful of fighting the winner of Taylor v Serrano 3 later this year. Paul is a divisive figure in boxing, but continues to be one of the biggest draws in the sport. The 28-year-old American has championed the female code through MVP, with Serrano and Taylor earning the biggest purse for female fighters in a bout which will be streamed on Netflix. Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
