Latest news with #boxing
The Sun
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn rematch on brink of collapse with Eddie Hearn ready to negotiate alternative fight
CHRIS EUBANK JR'S rematch with Conor Benn is on the brink of collapse. Eubank beat Benn in their April second generation grudge match and a second bout was already signed as part of the original contract. 1 And Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh announced on social media that the rematch would take place on September 20 in London. That reveal came to the surprise of both camps - including Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn. Eubank spent two days in hospital due to severe dehydration as a result of making the 160lb middleweight limit. He and Benn were also restricted to rehydrating more than 10lb on the morning of the bout at Tottenham's stadium. After 12 gruelling rounds and the 48 hours spent in hospital - a five month turnaround for the rematch appeared quick. And after a period of radio silence from Eubank's camp, Hearn and Benn began openly discussing alternative options. Now Ring Magazine - owned by Alalshikh - announced the Saudi chief along with financial backers SELA have pulled their involvement in the rematch. That is the biggest indicator yet that the sequel is dead in the water.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
The awkward truth behind the biggest moment of Daniel Dubois' career
In many ways, Oleksandr Usyk 's rematch with Daniel Dubois this weekend is the natural next step through a heavyweight landscape that has been as scenic over the last two years as it has in decades. The simplest sell for this bout is that Usyk is the unified champion and Dubois is the IBF title holder; all of the belts, as ever, 'must' be unified (even though they never stay that way), with the winner at Wembley Stadium set to be crowned undisputed champion. Undisputed status eluded all heavyweights for 24 years until Usyk outpointed Tyson Fury 14 months ago, yet the unbeaten Ukrainian only held that status for a matter of weeks before he gave up the IBF belt; in honouring a rematch with Fury, Usyk allowed interim IBF champion Dubois to be elevated, and the young Briton retained the official version of the belt with a demolition of Anthony Joshua in September. These are the basic facts, which position Usyk, 38, and Dubois, 27, as opponents in London this weekend. There is also their history: a unified-title fight two years ago, when Usyk climbed off the canvas to stop Dubois in Poland, with the latter's camp swearing that the low blow against the southpaw had in fact been a legal body shot. But to dive deeper is to realise that Usyk vs Dubois 2 is actually a somewhat awkward match-up. Dubois is an evolved version of the competitor who arguably threatened Usyk in one major moment in their first fight – but otherwise struggled to put a dent in the former cruiserweight king – and a victory for the home fighter would perhaps be the 'better' outcome for the division. Usyk may well retire regardless of the result, but a win for Dubois would feel more like a changing of the guard and allow fresh match-ups, after four years in which Usyk's bouts have solely come against Fury, Joshua and Dubois, all of whom he will have boxed twice by the end of this week. Yet that recent history is also why a victory for Dubois might lack some weight. Joshua got two stabs at defeating Usyk, one in 2021 and one in 2022, and was beaten across the 12-round distance both times. Fury also had two goes and got closer than 'AJ' to accomplishing the goal, yet the 'Gypsy King' was still outpointed last May and in December. The decisions to make those rematches were understandable, and although the same applies this weekend, there is a feeling that is difficult to shake: that the British battalion will seemingly get chance after chance until one can finally beat Usyk. And if Dubois does at Wembley, what will it mean at this point? Of course a win against a man who doesn't know how to lose would be impressive, especially if Dubois can secure a stoppage, but Usyk's legacy as a two-weight undisputed champion and the greatest fighter of his generation is secure itself. And at 38, if the Olympic champion gets old overnight as fighters often do, won't that asterisk forever be pinned above a hypothetical Dubois win? There is also the matter that Dubois had the chance at a fresh match-up in February, only to withdraw from his planned title defence against Joseph Parker on two days' notice, citing illness. There was the opportunity to reschedule that bout after Parker crushed Martin Bakole, but attention conveniently turned to Usyk. Understandably so, of course, especially in a business like boxing. A shot at redemption, undisputed status, and the biggest payday of Dubois's career were always going to trump what was on offer in a title defence against Parker. That's just how this sport works. Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime. See Schedule ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. And an adjacent issue to all this, so to speak, is the knock-on effect that a Dubois win could have on Fury vs Joshua. Dubois could trump Fury and Joshua as the best heavyweight in Britain right now, if he does what the veteran pair could not. Some would argue that Dubois's present superiority over Joshua was confirmed with his performance against the former champion in September, but there would surely be no room for debate if Dubois were to leave Wembley victorious on Saturday. The issue here is that the lustre of Fury vs Joshua, which has already diminished over the last six years, would suffer again. Not that Dubois will care. And so here we are, on the cusp of an undisputed heavyweight title fight and rematch that makes all the sense in the world, yet which also carries an awkward edge. Still, Dubois has the power to smooth out that edge on Saturday. If he does, there will ironically be nothing smooth to the scene at all; it will be more destruction from 'Dynamite' at Wembley, and an image of Usyk that no one has seen before. Therein lies the true intrigue of Usyk vs Dubois 2.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Who is Daniel Dubois' trainer and corner team?
DANIEL DUBOIS takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a HUGE rematch at Wembley Stadium this weekend! Dubois and Usyk will meet on July 19 - Usyk won the first clash between the pair in controversial fashion, after a body shot from Dubois was deemed a low-blow. Debates around whether or not the shot was legal have continued to rage on, and have been a talking point going into this clash. Two years on - and with three incredible wins under his belt - Dynamite now gets another shot at Usyk. Dubois has transformed into a different fighter since that bout in Poland, with stunning wins against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua. SunSport can reveal who is in Daniel Dubois' corner for the clash. 2 Who is Daniel Dubois' trainer? Daniel Dubois has been trained once again by Don Charles. He missed the previous clash between Dubois and Anthony Joshua, having become ill just days before the fight. Charles is a London-based boxing trainer, who has trained other names, such as Derek Chisora. The trainer got his break in boxing with Chisora, meeting him in a petrol station before agreeing to train him. Charles has been credited with transforming the career of Dubois - leading him to those sensational KO wins against Miller, Hrgovic and Joshua. His assistant coach is Kieran Farrell, a former pro that won 14 of 15 fights at lightweight. He was forced to retire in 2013 after suffering brain damage after a fight with Anthony Crolla. Dubois' larger than life father, Dave, could also be in his corner - or at the very least will be close by at ringside. Dave, a former Camden Market street trader, made a fortune selling posters in the 1990s. He played a pivotal role in the win over Miller after being seen speaking to Dubois late on in the fight. His cutman has not yet been revealed. When is Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2 and how can I watch it? Usyk vs Dubois 2 takes place on Saturday, July 19. Coverage starts at 5.30pm BST. The main event is expected to take place at approximately 9.45pm BST. The fight will be broadcast on DAZN PPV and will cost £24.99. The event can be watched on DAZN TV or live streamed via the website/app. Alternatively, SunSport will live blog action from every fight.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-boxer Tommy Coyle nominated for Hull's highest honour
A former boxer turned entrepreneur said he was "over the moon" to have been nominated for his home town's highest civic award. Tommy Coyle has been put forward to receive the Freedom of the City of Hull, along with solicitor Neil Hudgell. The 35-year-old became Commonwealth lightweight champion in 2018 and has since led a series of charitable initiatives including tackling child poverty and youth violence. He said: "I was blown away to be honest. At first I thought it was a joke and I was just really taken back. It's such a huge honour." The Freedom of the City is a way for Hull to acknowledge and celebrate those who have made a positive impact on the city and its Coyle said: "Regardless of the award, I'm still going to continue the things that I do and I still have my own mission that I want to achieve in Hull." The Coyle family fruit business has a stall in Hull City Centre. It has been running for more than 30 years and was originally set up by Chris Coyle, who passed away in said: "My dad would have deep down been really really proud of this and been down the market telling people our Thomas has been nominated for Freedom of the City. I think he'd have been happy." Mr Coyle set up a sporting foundation when he retired from boxing in 2019 and has led multiple initiatives for underprivileged children, including a mobile boxing gym and school uniform giveaways. Hull City Councillors Shane McMurray and Daren Hale nominated Mr Coyle and Mr Hudgell and said: "These nominations celebrate two individuals who represent the very best of Hull – commitment to community, achievement, and giving back."They described Mr Hudgell as "a leading solicitor, philanthropist, and lifelong champion for justice, sport, and regeneration in Hull."Mr Coyle said: "It feels great to be thought of in this nice way, I think to be recognised in the same sort of light as Neil Hudgell who I've looked up to for years." The nominations of Mr Coyle and Mr Hudgell will be discussed at a full meeting of Hull City Council later. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Manny Pacquiao pushing for Floyd Mayweather rematch after Mario Barrios: 'He's been ducking, avoiding me'
When Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. entered the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2, 2015, they did so taking part in the richest fight in boxing history. Five years of marination had led to a commercial bonanza, as 4.6 million Americans purchased the fight on pay-per-view, and the live gate — money from ticket sales — was a staggering $72 million. The event was gigantic, but ultimately the fight in the ring was a disappointment. Mayweather used his defensive prowess to box to a comfortable decision victory over Pacquiao to unify three welterweight belts. They say old habits die hard, and more than a decade later Pacquiao, 46, is back at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, fighting for a welterweight title against WBC champion Mario Barrios, with fresh talks of a Mayweather fight seemingly underway. "Of course [I'd be interested]," Pacquiao told Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show" on Wednesday about a potential second fight with Mayweather. "He's been ducking [the rematch]. "I don't want an exhibition with [Mayweather], I want a real fight." "It's been a long time [since the first fight]," Pacquiao added. "I want to give the fans a good fight between me and [Mayweather], but he's been ducking, avoiding me." First, Pacquiao has a stern test in front of him on Saturday in the form of Barrios. Barrios, 30, is a champion in his prime. "El Azteca" has been overlooked by opponents before, but each time he has proved his caliber. Barrios notably earned respect from the boxing community after a competitive fight with Gervonta "Tank" Davis in 2021. The welterweight champion followed that up with a loss to Keith Thurman, however he's since embarked on a three-fight win streak, including a victory over Yordenis Ugas — who sent Pacquiao into retirement in 2021. "The reason [I'm coming back] is that boxing is still my passion," Pacquiao said about ending his four-year absence from the ring. "I still have the ability to get a belt and win a world title fight. "The Ugas fight, I was distracted. There [were] so many distractions before the fight." Pacquiao was supposed to square off with Errol Spence Jr. in August 2021, but Spence Jr. was forced out with a torn retina just 10 days prior the event. After training and sparring for Spence, a southpaw, Pacquiao accepted the Cuban orthodox Ugas as a late replacement and was beaten on points. Despite having won titles in eight different weight classes and being a shoo-in for boxing's Hall of Fame, Pacquiao wasn't satisfied with his exit from the sport and wanted to return to his lifelong passion. "Two years [after I announced my retirement, I made the decision to come back]," Pacquiao revealed. "I really missed boxing. I really missed those days [in] training camp, promoting the fight, everything like that. I was consulting my family, my wife, and it just happened that my wife [gave me her blessing]." Pacquiao wasn't able to return to the ring straight away, though, as the Filipino boxer was still in the midst of his senate campaign. Earlier this year, however, Pacquiao finished 18th in the Philippine race for Senate, which meant he could finally shelve his political ambitions — at least temporarily — and focus on attempting to become the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history. "He's taller than me, and he's a champion," Pacquiao said of Barrios. "To become a champion, it's not that easy, so at least he's proven something: That he can fight." Pacquiao has also been linked to a boxing match with former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor in recent years. McGregor made his professional boxing debut in 2017, losing to Mayweather in the second-richest fight in boxing history, behind only Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. "[We] almost make that [fight] happen, but there's so many problems with his manager," Pacquiao said of negotiations for a McGregor fight. In 2020, Pacquiao signed a contract with Paradigm Sports — which represents McGregor — to organize a boxing match between the pair. However, no fight was made as McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier, and Pacquiao instead signed to fight Spence Jr. with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). Pacquiao and Paradigm Sports have been embroiled in a legal battle since the fight fell apart — a situation Pacquiao told Uncrowned is still ongoing and makes a potential fight between himself and McGregor difficult to organize for the time being.
