Latest news with #FrankWarren
The Sun
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Anthony Joshua pleads with Team GB OIympian Delicious Orie to make retirement U-turn as he quits after one fight
ANTHONY JOSHUA has pleaded with Olympian Delicious Orie to reconsider his decision to retire. Orie was eliminated in the first round of the 2024 Olympics but soon turned professional with Frank Warren - after snubbing an offer from the WWE. 2 The heavyweight won his debut against Milos Veletic in April - but laboured over the four rounds. Just a month later and the 27-year-old announced he was retiring from boxing after just one pro bout. But AJ - who used to spar Orie - spoke out to urge the Russian-born Brit not to walk away just yet. He wrote on Instagram: "History repeats itself. Many of us wanted to stop at some stage. "Some at the start, some in the middle and at some point all of us will have to stop. "I think you should take your time but keep training! You have skills & have talent." Joshua accompanied the message with an old interview with Michael Spinks - the 1976 Olympic gold medalist who later won world titles. Spinks told KO TV: "I heard boxing was not a pretty business for the boxers and also I was a little afraid of that. "I didn't know how I well I would fare in the industry. So I just wanted to get a good job after winning the gold medal and then let that be. "But things happened that pushed me into the pros and I just talking it one step at a time. I didn't know I would go as far as I did." Despite Spinks' concerns over turning pro, he would win world titles at light-heavyweight and heavyweight. He also famously lost to Mike Tyson in 1988 - his final bout before retiring. And like Orie - like Spinks - credited wanting to get a job outside the ring as a reason for not wanting to fight on any further. He posted: "After much reflection, I have decided to hang up my gloves and retire from boxing to follow up on my degree and enter the corporate world. "This sport has given me so much — incredible memories, unforgettable experiences travelling the world and many opportunities to represent my country at the biggest stages in the world. Forever grateful for the journey. "Over time, I've come to recognise that the same fire and love I once had for boxing has gradually faded. "As I've grown, I've come to value clarity and honesty with myself above all. "I hoped that turning professional would reignite the passion, but the truth has become clear: it hasn't. "Every fighter knows you need a deep love for the craft to reach the top — and without it, there's no path forward. "Out of respect for the sport and for myself, it's time to step away with honesty." 2
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
British heavyweight Moses Itauma admits it was 'naive' to target elusive Mike Tyson record in the boxing ring - after extending unbeaten record with BRUTAL knockout
Moses Itauma has admitted he was 'naive' to think that he could break Mike Tyson 's record for being the youngest heavyweight world champion in history. The 20-year-old, who had previously expressed his desire to beat Tyson's elusive record, made another big statement on Saturday as he extended his unbeaten record. The Chatham-based star took on former NFL player Mike Balogun, dominating him on the undercard of Josh Taylor 's clash with Ekow Essuman. It proved to be another successful night's work for the up-and-coming star, who moved to 12-0 in the professional game. However, Itauma has now passed the age - 20 years and four months old - that Tyson was when he became heavyweight champion and, upon reflection, Itauma admitted that it was an 'impossible' goal. Speaking to BBC 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast, Itauma said: 'When I turned professional it was about chasing that record. Now that record is off the books, I am just trying to take my time with it. 'In the first two months of me being professional, I realised that goal's impossible. I was naive when I said that. I said that before I turned professional. 'I didn't realise how much you can't control in this boxing game. You think since I turned professional, the world champions have been Daniel Dubois, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. 'There's no way in two years I would have put myself in a position to fight them.' It remains to be seen who the prodigy will face next, but Frank Warren has teased that he could earn a spot on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk 's bout with Daniel Dubois at Wembley on July 19. It was naturally a quick start from Itauma, who wasted no time imposing his dominance in the ring and getting the better of the earlier exchanges. Two left hands in the opening round gave him an early advantage, with Balogun hitting the deck but managing to beat the count. The fight was all but over by the bell, but still it continued, and a strong right hand scored the second knockout with seconds on the clock. It was then a left hook which caused the final blow, with Balogun left flat on his back and unable to get back to his feet, with the referee waving off the contest. The bout was as routine as it gets for Itauma, who could face off against Martin Bakole in the near future. 'He is a tough cookie,' Itauma said of his opponent after the fight. 'I was catching him clean. 'Even that second one, I turned round and he was trying to get up. Fair play to him. I knew that this was his big chance. I like to appreciate Mike Balogun for taking this opportunity, because not a lot of people would.' Itauma has already fought on two Tyson Fury undercards in Saudi Arabia, drawing praise from the Gypsy King, and has looked the real deal on both occasions.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Impossible to break Tyson record
Rising British star Moses Itauma says it was "impossible" for him to break Mike Tyson's record for the youngest heavyweight world was 20 years and four months old when he became world champion in 1986, and Itauma passed that age on Saturday."When I turned professional it was about chasing that record. Now that record is off the books, I am just trying to take my time with it," Itauma told the BBC's 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast. "In the first two months of me being professional, I realised that goal's impossible. I was naive when I said that. I said that before I turned professional."I didn't realise how much you can't control in this boxing game. You think since I turned professional, the world champions have been Daniel Dubois, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury."There's no way in two years I would have put myself in a position to fight them."Itauma's two-round destruction of Mike Balogun on Saturday extended his record to 12 wins and 10 was initially marketed as the teenager to break Tyson's record, but denied it was only ever a clever "marketing strategy" for his career. Itauma is expected to challenge for a world title in the next few years and has been linked with a number of big names, including Joe Bakole, Jermaine Franklin and Otto Wallin hve been mentioned as potential opponents and Itauma's promoter Frank Warren has said he will fight on the undercard of Dubois' world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk on 19 July at Wembley does not expect his next fight to be a big name and said his team want him to be in some "10-round fights" before moving up a level in opponents."There's guys that are tough cookies that ain't got a name. That's not ideal," he said."You want a tough guy with a good name and they aren't cheap."
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Frank Warren talks Anthony Cacace to face Shakur Stevenson
Promoter Frank Warren has hinted that he may pursue a fight between Anthony Cacace and Shakur Stevenson. The veteran head of Queensberry Promotions said that he would make the fight between Cacace, who defeated Leigh Wood in Nottingham last week, and Stevenson 'in a heartbeat'. Warren said: '[Cacace] would frighten the life out of him, I tell you.' The key to the Belfast fighter's recent successful run, said Warren, is that Cacace had chosen to knuckle down and work hard, rather than relying on his raw talent. Warren continued: 'Look at what he's done. He's met three former world champions and beaten them in style. He's a fabulous fighter. That was a sterling performance on Saturday in going into Leigh Wood's backyard.' He went on: 'It was a brilliant performance and he boxed so well. He should be proud of himself, because we certainly are at Queensberry.' Warren said that Cacace, 24-1 (9), would give Stevenson, 23-0 (11), 'a lot of problems', and that he thought the Belfast fighter would come through it. So confident in Cacace's abilities was Warren that he said he did not care whether a potential fight was held in the UK or US. Any fight between Cacace and Stevenson will have to remain on the backburner for now, however. The US-born fighter is currently scheduled to meet William Zepeda, 33-0 (27), at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, on 12 July. That event, which will feature a bout between Edgar Berlanga, 23-1 (18), and the UK-born Hamzah Sheeraz, 21-0-1 (17), will be shown live on DAZN. Stevenson last fought in February in Riyadh when he stopped Josh Padley in nine rounds. That followed a July match against Artem Harutyunyan in Newark, a match the US fighter won by unanimous decision. Warren was making his remarks at Portman Road football stadium, which will host the match between Fabio Wardley and Justis Huni on Saturday night in another event to be shown on DAZN. Warren said of Wardley: 'We believe in him. We believe in his ability. And he's a great ambassador for British boxing. He speaks very well, and he's very articulate. He's a good guy, and he comes across as a good guy. And, more importantly, he can fight.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Eddie Hearn 'quietly confident' of Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
Eddie Hearn has revealed in an interview that the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight is more likely to happen now than ever before. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been pitted against each other for nearly ten years, with rumoured agreements and social media deadlines punctuating this long rivalry between the two British heavyweight superstars. The Matchroom boss, speaking to Sky Sports Boxing, said Joshua is ready to make a fight with Fury after coming back from his elbow surgery and that the ball is in Fury's court. Hearn said: 'AJs got to have a little keyhole surgery on an elbow. He'll be back post September.' He continued: 'When we talk about big fights - this fight is the biggest fight - not just in British boxing, in world boxing by a mile. I just feel like it's time, this is the moment. We're reliant upon Tyson Fury, [but] we're ready to go.' With Fury teasing a return to the ring on social media twice already this year, Hearn believes that he will not be able to resist the temptation to come back and take on 'AJ'. He said of Fury: 'He's a competitive so and so, and I just know in his mind he'll want to dance with Anthony Joshua. So, dust those shoes off and let's make it happen.' The circumstances and relationships surrounding this fight have changed drastically since it was first proposed. Neither man holds a belt and Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have a recently reconciled relationship that has opened the door for many cross promotional matchups already. Joshua's promoter believes this will be the key to the fight being made as easily as 'one phone call'. Hearn said: 'Honestly, one phone call. Previously one had a belt, one was the challenger. One was unified, me and Frank Warren never spoke, me and Tyson Fury didn't get on. That ship's sailed now, and it really is one phone call just to say, Look, here are the terms, you're both not champions at the moment but you're both huge stars - let's just get on with it and make it happen.'' He concluded: 'So, fingers crossed, but I'm quietly confident.'
