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The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘He's miles off' – Brit heavyweight ace tipped for stardom ‘shouldn't be in conversation' for world titles, says rival
RISING British boxing star Moses Itauma has been warned against taking on world titles fights at this stage of his career. Heavyweight rival Dave Allen reckons the 20-year-old has the talent, but lacks the necessary experience to challenge a world champion. 3 Moses Itauma has been tipped for stardom Credit: PA 3 Itauma won the WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight bout against Mike Balogun in May Credit: PA most recent in the WBO Inter-Continental bout in Glasgow. The Slovak-born Brit dropped his American opponent Bologun, 41, three times in two rounds, before ending it with a TKO. And WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Dave Allen has given his opinion on the breakthrough star. Allen told 'I think he's the real deal, but to go from the opposition he is facing to a Joseph Parker would be irresponsible matchmakin g. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS 'People are talking about Itauma boxing for a world title soon, he is miles off it right now." 'He can beat anyone in two or three rounds at the moment. But we haven't seen him go past that yet. 'I think he's an incredible prospect, but that's all he is still." The rising heavyweight star turned professional two years ago and already has 10 KOs on his record. Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Allen recognised Itauma's talent, but believes he should take a more calculated root to a shot at a world title. He added: 'We haven't even seen him box for a British title yet. Demsey McKean is British title level, he shouldn't be in that conversation for Joseph Parker yet. 'Back to the grind in a few days' - Anthony Joshua shows off results of elbow surgery as boxing star closes in on return 'Not for talent, offensively he is already one of the best heavyweights in the world. But he hasn't been hit back and hasn't been hit under pressure." Allen named Anthony Joshua's rival Jermaine Franklin as the perfect opponent to take him past the first rounds. The 33-year-old said: 'We need to see him in with someone who gives him a fight, I think someone like Jermaine Franklin. 'I think he can become world champion, but talk of titles right now is just too much, he's miles off." Itauma, who is Frank Warren's fighter, was initially tipped as the teenager to break Mike Tyson's youngest world champion record at the age of 20 years and four months. He will likely return on July 19 on the undercard of 3 Dave Allen said Itauma isn't ready for a chance at a world title Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘He's miles off' – Brit heavyweight ace tipped for stardom ‘shouldn't be in conversation' for world titles, says rival
RISING British boxing star Moses Itauma has been warned against taking on world titles fights at this stage of his career. Heavyweight rival Dave Allen reckons the 20-year-old has the talent, but lacks the necessary experience to challenge a world champion. 3 3 Itauma 's professional record stands at 12-0 with his most recent win against Mike Balogun in the WBO Inter-Continental bout in Glasgow. The Slovak-born Brit dropped his American opponent Bologun, 41, three times in two rounds, before ending it with a TKO. And WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Dave Allen has given his opinion on the breakthrough star. Allen told talkSPORT: 'I think he's the real deal, but to go from the opposition he is facing to a Joseph Parker would be irresponsible matchmaking. 'People are talking about Itauma boxing for a world title soon, he is miles off it right now." 'He can beat anyone in two or three rounds at the moment. But we haven't seen him go past that yet. 'I think he's an incredible prospect, but that's all he is still." The rising heavyweight star turned professional two years ago and already has 10 KOs on his record. Allen recognised Itauma's talent, but believes he should take a more calculated root to a shot at a world title. He added: 'We haven't even seen him box for a British title yet. Demsey McKean is British title level, he shouldn't be in that conversation for Joseph Parker yet. 'Not for talent, offensively he is already one of the best heavyweights in the world. But he hasn't been hit back and hasn't been hit under pressure." Allen named Anthony Joshua's rival Jermaine Franklin as the perfect opponent to take him past the first rounds. The 33-year-old said: 'We need to see him in with someone who gives him a fight, I think someone like Jermaine Franklin. 'I think he can become world champion, but talk of titles right now is just too much, he's miles off." Itauma, who is Frank Warren's fighter, was initially tipped as the teenager to break Mike Tyson's youngest world champion record at the age of 20 years and four months. He will likely return on July 19 on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk's rematch with Daniel Dubois. 3
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who are the ‘Bosh Soldiers' of the ‘Romford Bull Army' led by Big John, the viral supporters of Johnny Fisher?
Johnny Fisher, 13-0 (11), returns to action this evening, facing fellow British heavyweight Dave Allen, 23-7-2 (18), in a rematch that is headlining a night of boxing at the Copper Box Arena. An unbeaten prospect with hopes of becoming a household name for his boxing skills, Fisher is better known for his relation to viral internet sensation, Big John. Big John will be in attendance, leading the Bosh soldiers of the Romford Bull Army. Confused by those terms? Let us explain. Who is Big John? Boxers often have their family in their corner, sometimes literally, and Fisher is no different. Formerly a boxer himself, albeit at an amateur level, John Fisher has travelled to the USA and Saudi Arabia in support of his son. Arguably more well-known than his son, Big John has carved out a niche on social media as an internet sensation. Across various accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, Big John has amassed over a million followers Big John has created a following based on his large appetite and trademark saying of 'bosh', leading to his fans being referred to as the 'Bosh Army'. A connoisseur of Chinese takeaways, Big John and Fisher have been spotted sharing some chicken balls to celebrate a win for the Romford Bull in the past. Big John picked up 'bosh' from his friend and fellow Romford personality Tom Skinner. His son has also utilised the term, referring to tonight's venue as the Copper 'Bosh' Arena. Who are the Romford Bull Army? Whilst Big John has his own Bosh Army, his son's supporters are named the 'Romford Bull Army'. There is overlap between the two, with members of the Romford Bull Army labelled 'Bosh Soldiers' by Big John, who has stylised himself as the group's leader. Fisher's supporters named themselves after their favourite fighter's nickname, a term given to the Essex-born heavyweight when he was sparring in Las Vegas. American trainers were impressed with his style, stating that he fought like a bull. Raised in Romford, Fisher added his hometown to the descriptor to create his new moniker. Partly thanks to their viral leader, Big John, the Romford Bull Army have a healthy presence on social media, with 15,000 followers on Instagram. Other famous members include Ethan Payne, a YouTuber better known as Behzinga, who is part of the Sidemen, a group of YouTubers with 22m followers. On their Instagram account, the Romford Bull Army shows plenty of support for their man, selling merchandise and organising watch parties for Fisher's fights. The Romford Bull Army travel well, having supported Fisher out in Las Vegas and Riyadh, but they will not have far to travel to east London this evening. Fisher's supporters were in full voice during Friday's press conference, indicating that he will have quite a few fans in attendance when he faces Dave Allen.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fisher-Allen II: Three other controversial matches that led to return bouts
This Saturday will see a rematch between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen when the pair meet at the Copper Box Arena in London. After first meeting at the end of last year in Riyadh, the pair went to a ten-round split decision that ended in a win for Fisher. Despite – or, maybe, because of – the victory, controversy rose around the scoring. While one judge thought that Fisher had lost by three points, the two others gave it to him by a single notch each. There was a good argument for Fisher having lost. He was knocked down in the fifth round, went toe-to-toe with Allen for much of the fight, and looked at the end as if every second in the bout had been an arduous one. And now, this weekend, the pair meet again. Judgement is a matter of shades. Controversy within boxing is not unusual. It is far more the rule than the exception, with many fights over the years generating such controversy first time around that a rematch has become immediately imminent. Corrales-Castillo When Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo met in 2005, few were excited by their lightweight unification. Corrales was 39-2 (32) and was coming in after tough fights against Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. Castillo, meanwhile, had also taken a split decision over Casamayor. He had beaten the decent Juan Lazcano, too, and stopped Julio Diaz in ten. But Castillo was most famous for pushing Floyd Mayweather Jr to a decision in 2002 in a bout that many thought he had won. Magic entered the building at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas that night when Corrales and Castillo met. They pair went toe-to-toe for ten rounds until Castillo put Corrales down, twice, on the floor. In pain, Corrales let his gumshield slip from his mouth during the first knockdown. He spat it out deliberately on the second and lost a point. His coach, placing it back into his mouth, said, 'You better ****ing get inside on him now.' Corrales did. Fewer than thirty seconds later, he pitched Castillo against the ropes and punched him until the referee stopped it. The pair of them returned five months later, but Castillo missed the weight limit by 3.5lbs. The fight went ahead anyway, and a weight-drained Corrales was knocked out in the fourth. A third fight between the pair was set to end the controversy, but was cancelled after Castillo missed the weight again, that time by 4.5lbs. Huck-Arslan The pair first met in 2012 in Halle, Germany, where Huck, the WBO cruiserweight champion, won a unanimous decision over former WBA champion Arslan. Despite the wide scorecards, the decision was controversial and the pair rematched fourteen months later in Stuttgart. This time, Huck left no doubt by stopping Arslan in six rounds. Both men are still fighting many years later. Huck, now 40, last appeared in a boxing ring last June in Berlin. Arslan, now 54, last fought in a small show in his gym in Goeppingen, Germany, in October. But while they have not appeared against each other for a third time, they are often pictured together at shows, having seemingly become friends years after their two fights. Abraham-Smith When Liverpool fighter Paul Smith went to Kiel, Germany, in 2014, few expected him to be anything more than a foil for the German super-middleweight Arthur Abraham. Abraham had been fighting in Germany since 2003, only ever lost decisively to elite fighters when on foreign soil, and had been matched carefully by his promoters for years. Smith expected much different of himself. His family and friends spoke of how dedicated he had been in his training, and of how had left no stone unturned. It sounded like hyperbole, the words that all supporters say before a big fight. But then Smith outworked and outmanoeuvred Abraham over twelve, tightly contested rounds. The only thing Smith did not do was outpoint Abraham, losing a unanimous decision. Such was the controversy over the result that the pair met again, five months later in Berlin and in front of a much-bigger crowd. This time, though, Abraham seemed to be better prepared and he took another decision – this one now thought to be much fairer.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Johnny Fisher? Fight record, stats, next bout, and more
Johnny Fisher returns to the ring this weekend when he faces Dave Allen for a second time, but who is the man they call the 'Romford Bull'? The unbeaten heavyweight garnered notoriety at the end of 2024 for his controversial victory over Allen – and his internet sensation father 'Big John'. But 26-year-old Fisher is a fighter first-and-foremost, a heavyweight with big ambitions on the world stage. Who is Johnny Fisher? Born and raised in Romford, Essex, Fisher was a keen sportsman as he grew up. Not only did he start boxing in his early teens, but his physique and strength translated well to rugby. Fisher briefly drifted away from the sweet science, but returned to boxing whilst studying history at Exeter University. Whilst at uni, he sparred with Joe Joyce, partly reigniting his love for the sport. He turned professional in 2021, securing a first-round stoppage against Matt Gordon at Wembley Arena. Fisher currently trains under the watchful eye of Mark Tibbs at the Origin Gym in Essex. What is Johnny Fisher's record? Fisher remains unbeaten since starting his professional career in 2021, with 13 wins from 13 bouts. Impressively, Fisher has won 11 of those fights by way of knockout, including a run of seven straight stoppages until his split decision win over Dave Allen last time out. After his debut in February 2021, Fisher racked up experience. He fought a further three times in 2021, before settling into a rhythm of three fights a year in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Aside from his victory against Allen, Fisher had respectable wins over Dmytro Bezus and Alen Babic, who had respectively records of 10-1 and 12-1 at the time. Fisher's bout with Bezus was staged in Las Vegas, with the 'Romford Bull' fighting on the undercard of Conor Benn's victory against Peter Dobson alongside stablemates George Liddard and Jimmy Sains. When is Johnny Fisher's next fight? Johnny Fisher returns to action this weekend, when he headlines a card at the Copperbox Arena, London, live on DAZN. He faces fellow Brit Dave Allen in a rematch, following Fisher's somewhat controversial victory against the Yorkshireman in Saudi Arabia last year. Knocked down by Allen, Fisher did well to recover, but many fans felt that the Romford Bull was beaten by his opponent. The card takes place on Saturday, May 17, with the main event ringwalks set for approximately 10pm.
