Latest news with #JohnnyNelson
The Sun
27-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Nobody will dare tell him' – Ex-world champ Johnny Nelson reveals biggest problem in Anthony Joshua's career
JOHNNY NELSON has revealed what he believes is the biggest problem in Anthony Joshua's career. AJ is one of the nation's biggest superstars but ex-cruiserweight world champion Nelson fears it could be at his detriment. 3 He told The Mirror, courtesy of "It's very hard to have people around you that'll tell you how it is. "You're going to have people around you that want to stay in your employment, stay in that circle. "So they're going to tell you stuff that you want to hear. "They're not going to tell you, 'You need to be doing this, you need to get a hand up, you're getting hit, you're getting beat up by this guy here. Why are you doing that? Why aren't you running this time? Why are you going to open that crisp packet when you should be in the gym?' "Nobody on his squad are going to dare tell him that with any conviction. "And so now all of a sudden the roles have changed, whereas when you're hungry, and you need it, they want to drag you up. "Now he's the boss. They work for him. And so that's where the problem is. "And I think that along with time, along with age, along with experience, along with appetite, once they get out of kilter [it's over]. AJ's in that position." Joshua, 35, has been out of the ring since September when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois, 27. He has since undergone elbow surgery and looks to be targeting a return before the end of the year. And Joshua has recently been in shock talks to fight YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul, 28 after being called out. 3
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Oleksandr Usyk is a tall mountain for Daniel Dubois to climb, but he CAN be beat and the Brit will NOT make the same mistakes Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury made, writes JOHNNY NELSON
and Oleksandr Usyk will go head-to-head at Wembley on Saturday night as the Brit looks to gain revenge for the defeat he suffered in Wroclaw just under two years ago. On that occasion, Usyk delivered a devastating ninth-round knockout blow to defend his heavyweight titles. Ahead of the pair's second face-off at Wembley, Mail Sport's Johnny Nelson gives his verdict on where the fight will be won and lost. STRENGTHS First and foremost Usyk brings to the ring an unbeaten record and the confidence that entails. Also he has a brilliant boxing brain. His intelligence is the real deal, it's a lifestyle choice he works hard at, not just something he tries in camp for six weeks. That's why a lot of his finishes come in the second half of the fight as he has been able to outhink his opponents under pressure. He thinks hard about what he does and that is why he has trodden a path of devastation through what British boxing has thrown in front of him. His movement is also quick. Not necessarily his footwork but his arm speed. He likes to tap, tap, bash, constantly stretching out to tap his opponent so that they have to work to his pace anticipating what he's going to throw. He's not a big heavyweight but he punches like one. Dubois is 27, 11 years younger than Usyk. Youth has to be an advantage. He has greater raw power, he's one of the most athletic heavyweights out there and is naturally very strong with a great punch. That means he always has a real puncher's chance. Also, without sounding unkind, Daniel Dubois' ignorance could work in his favour. When Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fought Usyk for the second time, they changed tactics, but overthought it and became hesitant executing their gameplan, fearing a repeat of their first bout. Dubois won't think as deeply about his approach. WEAKNESSES Usyk laughs off criticism about his ability to take shots to the body, he says they don't bother him, but Dubois knows from previous experience in their first encounter that they do. Usyk may not lose to a body shot but if he gets hit with the right shot at the right time, there's evidence from three or four occasions previously, that it hurts him. He says age is not an issue for him too but he has already discussed retiring and once you mention that word you are already edging a step out of the ring. You have to stay fully committed to stay at the top. Dubois' boxing intelligence is not as sharp as Usyk. He has durability but it's whether he has the mental strength. I always maintain Tony Bellew was beating Usyk in their encounter but ultimately ran out of steam. Dubois needs to be aware of Usyk baiting him to reach and punch out, subsequently using unnecessary energy and tiring out. TACTICS Dubois' tactics have to be to blow away Usyk with his power in the early rounds and make it a messy fight. Lean on Usyk, drag him around, utilise that natural strength. Usyk will have to weather a storm because Don Charles, Dubois' coach, is a great tactician. Charles will tell Dubois to sit on Usyk and not stand off him. We saw when Derek Chisora used roughouse tactics to good effect against Usyk, it unsettled him. Chisora said he had to be prepared beforehand to be 'more crazy' than Usyk and not go in half-hearted. Dubois has confidence from winning his last three fights and that punch. But, as Muhammad Ali once said: 'There's no point in being able to hit hard if there's nothing to hit.' Dubois' power is great, and there have been many heavy-handed fighters through the years, but it means nothing if you can't hit anything. You only get one chance to make a first impression so Usyk will have worked out how Dubois likes to fight from their first bout. Usually, when you see anybody who's boxed Usyk once, the second time it's even easier for him. He will have downloaded the blueprint, will keep to his good movement and try punching off his step out. Dubois has to take that movement, that hand pace, away from his opponent, so he has a target to hit. I may have a sneaky little flutter on Dubois to clip Usyk and produce a surprise. He will always have that puncher's chance.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hickey embraces 'honour' of Calzaghe comparison
Scottish boxing hope Sam Hickey is embracing the "great honour" of being compared to a young Joe Calzaghe, but intends to make "a name for myself" by building on his impressive start as a a glittering amateur career, including a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Dundonian middleweight has won all three of his fights since joining the senior ranks last has been his impact, former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson revealed Hickey reminds him of former undefeated world super-middleweight champion Calzaghe."He is like the best British fighter we have ever had," said Hickey, 25 of Calzaghe. "You have got maybe three fighters who really standout in British boxing - Calzaghe, Lennox Lewis and Carl Froch and to be compared to Calzaghe is crazy but that is a great honour."It gets eyes on you because people think, 'what is he talking about, Johnny Nelson?' I don't necessarily need the comparison because I am going to make a name for myself and do good things hopefully." 'Tannadice or Dens would be amazing' Hickey's most recent victory was against Harley Hodgetts at Barnsley's Oakwell Stadium last Saturday."It has really given me aspirations to want to do this in my home city or anywhere in Scotland in the future doing big arena shows," he said."I know years ago there was boxing at Dens Park, with 20,000 people watching. Tannadice or Dens would be amazing."Hickey is trained by Robert McCracken in Sheffield."Rob is a straight shooter and he doesn't blow any smoke or anything," Hickey explained. "He just keeps it straight, he is a really tough man to please so when I tell people that they say, 'that is good, that is what you want'."I want to be in big fights, world title fights and box at the highest level. Also, I want to make money and seal my future when I finish boxing because I have been doing this since I was nine years old and it is the toughest game."Another son of Dundee, Dick McTaggart, passed away earlier this year, aged 89, and Hickey described the 1956 Olympic lightweight gold medal winner as an "inspiration". McTaggart also earned a Commonwealth gold two years later."He did an article after the Commonwealth Games saying how proud he was and stuff like that that I had won the Commonwealths," said Hickey."It is great to be from the same city as probably the greatest amateur boxer Britain has ever had and emulating just a small bit of his success is great."
Arab News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Muslim Boxing Awards return to Birmingham this month to honor British Muslim fighters
LONDON: Top British Muslim boxers will be honored at an awards event on March 22 in Birmingham, which organizers describe as a celebration of fighters' careers and the values of fairness within the sport. The Muslim Boxing Awards 2025 will take place at the city's Grand Botanical Suite and be presented by Amir Khan, a former Olympian and two-time world champion, and Johnny Nelson, a former world cruiserweight champion. This year's awards ceremony follows the inaugural event in April last year. It is once again organized by Legal Blows, a pro bono legal organization that helps boxers deal with the complexities of business contracts, which said the evening will unite champions, rising stars and boxing legends for a memorable celebration. 'The event will honor the dedication, excellence and values that make Muslim athletes true role models, both inside and outside the ring,' it added. It will also include a fundraiser in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and a four-course Ramadan iftar. Legal Blows said the lineup it has assembled for the awards features some of Britain's top boxers and other leading lights in the sport, including: Shabaz Masoud, holder of the IBO super-bantamweight title; Hamza Uddin, a former Team GB fighter and eight-time national champion; Haseebah Abdullah, England's first hijab-wearing boxing coach; and Mehek Khalil, an amateur boxer and actress. The Muslim Boxing Awards is the brainchild of solicitor Adil Hussain, the founder of Legal Blows, in collaboration with renowned boxing figures, including Khan and other top-tier talent. 'Many athletes are unaware that they have the ability to negotiate contracts to obtain more favorable terms,' Hussain said of his work with boxers. 'My goal is to empower them with the tools to protect their interests and maximize their careers.'
