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[VIDEO] ‘I FEEL LIKE I’M THE BEST IN THIS DIVISION’: VERGIL ORTIZ READY FOR TERENCE CRAWFORD

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Terence Crawford Vergil Ortiz Jr

Vergil Ortiz Jr says his victory over Serhii Bohachuk has given him the belief that he is the best fighter in the super-welterweight division and that he welcomes the opportunity to fight Terence Crawford.

Ortiz (22-0-0 21 KO) defeated Bohachuk (24-2-0 23 KO) earlier this month in Las Vegas via a contentious split decision following a thrilling Fight of the Year contender. The win, which Ortiz secured despite two knockdowns, saw the Texan claim the Ukrainian’s WBC interim belt to put him in contention for his first world title shot.

It was also the first time Ortiz had been taken the distance, and by winning the championship rounds that proved vital to the result, the 26-year-old said he gained a huge amount of experience about his skill and endurance.

READ; Floyd Mayweather “Living a GTA Life” as the Boxing Legend Pulls up in Mexico with a ‘Bulletproof Tank’

“It really boosts my confidence because I know I can be in that type of fight,” Ortiz said in an interview with BoxingScene. “I’m not always going to be in that kind of fight … but this shows I’m always going to have it the energy to do what I need to do, and it can be there in the 12th round.

“I already knew I could go 12 rounds. Everyone else had those doubts in their mind: ‘What happens when he goes 12 rounds? Is he going to look great?’ I saw people saying I’d get stopped, that he was going to be too much for me, that I was going to gas out. It was almost fun in there for me because I went those 12 rounds very easily and I still had a lot of energy. I could’ve gone 12 more.”

Ortiz could now be set for the biggest fight of his career against pound-for-pound star and recently-crowned WBA champion Crawford. Saudi Arabian boxing boss Turki Alalshikh agreed on the live broadcast ahead of Ortiz’s fight with Bohachuk that he would make the Crawford fight if he won. Earlier this week, Alalshikh revealed an offer has gone out to Crawford, but believes the Nebraskan “only wants Canelo” Alvarez.

“I’m more than confident I can beat everyone in the division. I feel like I’m the best in this division,” Ortiz said. “I just need the fights to show that. I’m willing to fight anyone.

“I’ve never turned a fight down. The WBO president said I did. I never turned any fight down. If they want to bring the fight with Crawford now, I would love that fight. He’s arguably the world’s (best) pound-for-pound (fighter). That’s a great fight to make.”

 

The biggest obstacle standing in the way of the bout appears to be Crawford’s apparent interest in only fighting Canelo next. The wider fascination in the mega-fight has cooled since Crawford’s victory over Israil Madrimov on August 3, which might have made him a four-weight world champion but also demonstrated that his power has not fully carried to the 154lbs division.

Climbing higher to super-middleweight to challenge unified champion Canelo – known for his power and granite chin – therefore seems a step too far in the eyes of most observers.

“(Crawford) genuinely has that big super-fight in mind and I can’t say I’m bigger than Canelo Alvarez with a straight face, for sure,” Ortiz said. “I see why Crawford wants that fight. But a fight with me is more realistic.

“I really don’t know what to think. It’s a massive jump. He wants to test himself just like I do, but … Crawford just moved up from 147. And he wants to fight Canelo at 168 … I’m not saying Crawford doesn’t have the skills to do it, but as far as me wanting to challenge Crawford, (him) wanting to challenge Canelo is a bit more unrealistic.”

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“He Will Test Him”: Shocking Prediction For Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois

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Daniel Dubois Anthony Joshua

Newly-crowned IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois is set for a salivating acid test against Anthony Joshua next month, as he seeks to prove to both himself and the rest of the world that he is worthy of sitting upon the heavyweight throne.

Ahead of the bout, former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has offered his verdict on how the contest will play out and his prediction may surprise a few.

Dubois bounced back from a stoppage defeat to Oleksandr Usyk with a career-best final-round knockout win against Jarrell Miller – answering any doubts surrounding his grit and heart with a phenomenal response when it was needed most.

🚨 Tony Bellew makes emphatic Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois prediction

JUST IN: Mike Tyson vows to make Jake Paul ‘Run Like a Thief’ When They Face

Following that victory, a confident Dubois continued to impress when he upset the odds to halt heavyweight bogeyman Filip Hrgovic back in June, winning the IBF interim title in the process.

That belt was later upgraded to the full world title when Oleksandr Usyk vacated his IBF strap and ‘Triple D’ now finds himself involved in a salivating domestic dust-up with ‘AJ’, hoping to make a first defence of his world title.

In an interview with Instant Casino, Tony Bellew applauded the efforts and improvement of Dubois, crediting the decision to switch to train under Don Charles as a key reason for his recent success..

“There’s no way of dressing this up – he quit against Joe Joyce and he quit against Oleksandr Usyk as well. There’s no other way of getting around that but the fact that he’s been able to take them losses, take them Ls and come back, it speaks volumes.

“Going to Don Charles helped reset his mentality. So I give Don Charles all the credit in the world and I give Daniel Dubois all the credit in the world.”

However, Bellew was less complimentary when it came to analysing Dubois’ chances against Joshua, explaining why he thinks Joshua will get the job done inside two rounds.

“Daniel must think I don’t like him. I think he’s a lovely kid and I think he’s a vastly improved fighter. The only thing is that everything he’s good at, Anthony Joshua is better. I’ll be amazed if it gets to round three, I’ll be shocked if it gets past three rounds but if it does go past three then Daniel’s durability, endurance and fitness will really test Joshua. Make no mistake, Anthony Joshua is a better athlete, a better boxer, all that. In every department, he’s a little bit better.

“The only thing we are yet to see is, can he endure the punishment Daniel Dubois can? We haven’t seen that because no one’s been able to give that punishment out to Anthony Joshua without receiving something back. Daniel Dubois is going to be there in the firing line, he’s going to be there to be hit and I think Anthony Joshua will show him.”

Joshua-Dubois takes place on September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London, as ‘AJ’ bids to become just the fifth three-time heavyweight champion in the history of the division.

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Mike Tyson vows to make Jake Paul ‘Run Like a Thief’ When They Face

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Mike Tyson Jake Paul

In almost three months, Jake Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) will make the worst mistake of his life (once again) by facing the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ Mike Tyson (50-6-2, 44 KOs).

The duo was initially set to face each other on July 20, however, the fight had to be postponed after Tyson’s health scare. With the fight date quickly approaching (November 15), Tyson is confident that he would make Paul regret his decision to step inside the ring with him.

Tyson and Paul recently kicked off their rescheduled bout with a press conference in New York City. During the presser, Tyson was asked if he was fit to fight Paul despite the age difference. “Who else can do it but me? Let’s look at it: who else is he going to fight to make this happen? You just have to listen to the facts. We got a YouTuber fighting the greatest fighter that ever lived,” he responded.

Mike Tyson 'WAS a killer' - is in a 'joke fight' against 'fake tool bag' - World Boxing News

JUST IN: Floyd Mayweather “Living a GTA Life” as the Boxing Legend Pulls up in Mexico with a ‘Bulletproof Tank’

This, however, did not sit well with Paul, who stated that he was the reason the fight reached fruition. Moreover, he mentioned that other fighters have refused to look at him as anything other than a content creator. “I brought this deal to this old a– motherf—–. We signed the contract with Netflix, and I brought him the deal. So, you’re welcome, my son. I’m going to discipline you like a son. So shut the f— up,” he said.

Paul further went on to take digs at Tyson by calling him a “mitt warrior” and stating that Tyson is incapable of recreating the magic inside the ring anymore. Tyson, on the other hand, warned Paul that the reality of the fight is going to be a lot different than what he had in mind. “Listen, as soon as I catch this guy, he’s going to be running around. As soon as I catch this guy, it’s going to be totally over,” Tyson said. “He’s going to run like a thief.”

It sure looks like Paul’s comments at the press conference have not sat well with UFC legend Michael Bisping. Talking on his YouTube channel, Bisping mentioned that Paul’s statements have sent his public image on a downhill trajectory.

“Jake, I hate to point out the obvious; that makes you look pathetic. You just admitted that you’re going up against an old man, who is a legend, of course, but he’s not that guy anymore,” Bisping said. “Jake Paul, he’s just a total tool bag. I’m not going to lower myself and swear. Look at him. It’s nice to see that he’s finally getting booed and the kind of response that he deserves.”

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Floyd Mayweather “Living a GTA Life” as the Boxing Legend Pulls up in Mexico with a ‘Bulletproof Tank’

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Floyd Mayweather bulletproof vehicle

Floyd Mayweather‘s opulent lifestyle knows no bounds.

From private jets to his exquisite luxury car collection, he has it all. The richest boxer in the world has no qualms about brazenly displaying his wealth. Although retired from professional boxing, Mayweather’s “smart investments” have bolstered his net worth to $1.2 billion. On top of that, he is willing to lace up his boxing gloves for exhibition fights, only if the price is right.

Consequently, Mayweather will share the ring again with John Gotti III on August 24 in Mexico City. On that note, ‘TBE’ seems to have arranged the best security detail money can buy. Videos of him moving around Mexico City in a bulletproof vehicle could make you believe that he got on the wrong side of the drug cartel. Nevertheless, fans had a field day making fun of Mayweather for moving around with security that not even many heads of state can afford.

READ: ‘THE NERVES ON CANELO’ – FANS RIPS CANELO VS. BERLANGA PPV PRICE

DAZN Boxing took to Instagram to post videos of Mayweather moving around Mexico City in a jet-black bulletproof vehicle. He is in the city for his upcoming boxing match against John Gotti III, grandson of the former boss of the Gambino Crime Family, John Gotti. However, it seems like he is more concerned about his safety outside of the ring than trading punches inside the ring. The video shows Mayweather stepping into the vehicle to visit his favorite restaurant in Mexico, Chambao.

As he got out of his vehicle, he was surrounded by his security personnel as he made his way to the restaurant. There was a crowd of people waiting outside the restaurant just to catch a glimpse of him. ‘Pretty Boy’ seems to have a special relationship with Chambao as in 2021 too he was there with his friends feasting on super colossal Maine lobster, and enjoying some live music and acrobatic dancing at the plush restaurant.

On the other hand, fans couldn’t wait to dish out their opinions on Floyd’s Mexico excursions in a ‘bulletproof tank’.

One fan claimed that it was a desperate attempt on behalf of Floyd Mayweather to attract more attention towards him. Well, you can’t fault the fan as ‘TBE’ routinely posts videos of his expensive accessories. They commented, “Attention seeking grandpa.”

Meanwhile, another fan joked that ‘Pretty Boy’ looked like he was about to takedown Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former boss of the Sinaloa cartel. The comment read, “Bro thinks he fighting el Chapo.”

One fan joked that Mayweather was living a lifestyle that resembled that of the main character of an iconic video game. They commented, “He living a gta life.”

Another fan reiterated Mike Tyson’s earlier statement about Floyd being a “little scared man” who can’t “take his kids to school”. They commented, “Littleman can’t take his children to school.”

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Is Jake Paul a threat to Mike Tyson? Mike Tyson Reveals Why He Believes Jake Paul Is “Capable of Killing” Him

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Jake Paul Mike Tyson

Is Jake Paul a threat to Mike Tyson?

As far as the boxing community is concerned, people are split. While some believe ‘The Problem Child’ poses a real problem for ‘Iron’ Mike, others feel the upcoming November 15 fight would be a walk in the park for the former heavyweight champion. However, the question is, what does ‘The Baddest Man on the Plant’ think?

With over two months remaining in the cross-generational showdown at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Tyson appeared on Logan Paul‘s popular YouTube podcast, Impaulsive. During the episode, Tyson, now 58, discussed how, despite him taking Jake Paul seriously, most fans don’t share his opinion, all this while explaining why Paul is capable of killing him.

Mike Tyson Jake Paul

JUST IN: ‘THE NERVES ON CANELO’ – FANS RIPS CANELO VS. BERLANGA PPV PRICE

Speaking to the former world champion, known for his ferocity in the ring, Logan Paul claimed he was nervous for Mike Tyson, stating, “He’s a real killer, Mike.” He went on to reveal that Jake Paul wanted to be a “Navy Seal” before he started boxing, remarking, “he wanted to go kill people” for his country, trying to emphasize the threat Paul really poses.

Logan’s co-host Mike Majlak quickly jumped in to suggest the Problem Child—who has barely started his professional boxing career—posing a threat to Iron Mike might be a “tough pill to swallow” for Tyson’s fans who look up to him as one of the best ever. This prompted a response from Mike Tyson, who suggested that he was fearful of a lot of things and a lot of people, and Paul was no exception.

“I’m fearful of my 13-year-old son. This is what I learned through my 58 years of experience. Anyone’s capable of killing you,” Tyson confessed. He elaborated further, explaining that his life experiences had taught him that anyone could potentially “kill you,” implying that Jake Paul is no different from anyone else in that regard.

“That’s how I look at people. They’re all capable of killing you,” Tyson added. However, this doesn’t mean Mike Tyson has any intention of just letting Jake Paul steamroll through him like Paul has done to his other opponents in the past.

While Paul might be a “killer” as his brother suggests, Mike has been planning for Paul’s wake.

Back in June, Mike Tyson sent a chilling warning to Jake Paul following the postponement of their highly anticipated fight. Originally scheduled for July 20th, the bout was pushed to November 15th after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up during a cross-country flight. Despite the setback, Tyson made it clear that the delay wouldn’t change the outcome.

In a video posted on X captioned, “Jake’s new wake date. Nov. 15th,” the legendary boxer delivered a stark message to Paul, “Different date. Same fate. I’m going to knock out Jake Paul.” Tyson’s warning left no doubt about his intentions, as he vowed to resume training and prepare for the new date with the same ferocity. The bout will see Tyson return to the ring for the first time since his 2020 exhibition against Roy Jones Jr.

That said, while Mike Tyson is not taking Jake Paul lightly, his response suggests he will tackle ‘The Problem Child’ in the same way he has done in the past against much more formidable opponents.

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‘THE NERVES ON CANELO’ – FANS RIPS CANELO VS. BERLANGA PPV PRICE

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Canelo Alvarez Edgar Berlanga

Fans have slammed the PPV price for Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, which has been priced at $89.99

The fight takes place on September 14 during Mexican Independence Weekend. Canelo is the massive favorite as he defends his WBA, WBC and WBO belts against the 22-0 Berlanga. Alvarez enters the fight with wins over Jermell Charlo and Jamie Munguia. The fights received a mixed reaction, with fans unhappy that Canelo did not box David Benavidez. And yet, the PPV prices were still fairly high.

The Charlo fight was priced at $84.99. The Munguia fight went further at $89.99. This was more than Errol Spence Jr. vs Terence Crawford’s fight at $84.99 and the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia fight, which was also at $84.99. Those fights were bigger from a title perspective but also on a global scale. Canelo has been accused of taking easier fights for bigger paydays by avoiding the best.

Canelo-Alvarez Edgar-Berlanga

JUST IN: Vergil Ortiz Jr. Advised to “Stay Far Away” From Terence Crawford

“I know how he feels after losing to Bivol, so he’s been looking for easier fights ever since. Also, I’m not the one who’s afraid of fighting Benavidez or Crawford. Therefore, I knew he was wasting our time and making excuses with big amounts of money that can’t be paid. So I’m continuing my way to make big fights that serve the boxing world, and he’s on his way to making easy show-only fights,” Turki stated

The undercard for the event is also not helping the cause. Caleb Plant faces Trevor McCumby. Plant lost to David Benavidez last year and may not be the same fighter. His opponent is now well known despite his 28-0 record. Plant is his biggest test, meaning fans may not get a competitive fight. Rolando Romero also faces Trevor McCumby. Romero was stopped by Isaac Cruz in his last fight, showing that he had declined since his Gervonta Davis loss. Danny Garcia will also box Eridlandy Lara.

That is seen as a credible match up. However, Garcia has not boxed since 2022 when he beat Jose Benavidez Jr. As for Lara, he stopped Michael Zerafa in March, making him the favorite. Oscar De La Hoyahas previously said that fans will boycott Canelo fights because fans are not getting the best bouts. His Berlanga fight competes with the UFC 304 event at The Sphere, whereSean O’Malley headlines against Merab Dvalishvili. Since that is The Sphere’s first combat sports event, Canelo faces a tough task.

“The September 14th fight has been made – Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga. A fight that nobody asked for. Fans are now starting to boycott Canelo for continuing to duck you know who. Also, they’re going up against the UFC at The Sphere? Good luck with making a splash with that one,” De La Hoya stated 

Despite the criticism, Canelo’s last fight sold over 500,000 PPV buys. If Canelo can get something similar, he will take it. He will fancy his chances since the fight is against a Puerto Rican on Mexican Independence Weekend.

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Vergil Ortiz Jr. Advised to “Stay Far Away” From Terence Crawford

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Vergil Ortiz Jr. Terence Crawford

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Advised to “Stay Far Away” From Terence Crawford as Fans Throw in Next Opponent Suggestions Including Boots, Charlo

Early this year, Vergil Ortiz Jr. returned to the ring after a break of 17 months. He wasn’t going to settle for anything short of a triumphant comeback. The Grand Prairie-born boxer did just that by the third bout of the year. Serhii Bohachuk forced him to walk the whole distance. Nonetheless, Ortiz Jr. secured a victory that elevated him to world championship status. Now he could call out the opponents to make some great fights, both for fans and himself.

Despite a swollen face, he confirmed an interest in pursuing Terence Crawford. Just a week before his victory in Los Angeles, Crawford had won his fourth title against Israil Madrimov. He has been talking about a fight with Canelo Alvarez. Many even felt the move up a division might have been a step in that direction. Unfortunately, on the fight, a divergence of opinions surfaced between His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Canelo Alvarez. Thus the light welterweight division tentatively opened to new equations. Talks have been rife about a potential match between Ortiz Jr. and Crawford. Now WBC’s new interim light welterweight shared a message where he revealed the fights he would love to purse. It didn’t take much time before fans too joined, sharing their thoughts.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Terence Crawford

READ: Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez: Benavidez will ‘run Canelo over like a train’

While expressing his respect and admiration, Vergil Ortiz J. revealed that he wants to establish a legacy that will narrate a story—him taking on some of the best. Hence, the “Top 3 fighters who I would love the chance to run it against” included Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., and Sebastian Fundora.

In the lead-up to the Bohachuk clash, Oscar De La Hoya joined HE Alalshikh at the venue. The head of Riyadh Season said, “Ortiz, if he do the job today, we want to see him against Crawford.” De la Hoya soon added Tim Tszyu‘s name as one another alternate.

Earlier, while talking to a bunch of reporters, Vergil Ortiz Jr. himself stated how it had been one of his dreams to purse a fight against one of the big names, such as Errol Spence Jr., at the Cowboy Stadium. “I think the fight that makes that happen is the Spence fight. If he gets through Fundora and he’s healthy… we can run it at Cowboy Stadium,” he had opined.

Nevertheless, not all fans agreed with his list. A few added some names they felt would be better options for a matchup against Ortiz Jr. Let’s check what some of them had to say.

This fan had a word of caution for Ortiz Jr. Considering some of the fans and critics held that on the August 10 fight, it was Serhii Bohachuk who deserved the win, this fan suggested that Ortiz Jr. might not be ready to face a boxer of Terence Crawford’s caliber. “After losing to @SBohachuk, I advise you to stay far away from @terencecrawford Vergil,” said this fan.

Taking a step ahead, the next fan rather had all the outcomes of the suggested matchups laid out. So Ortiz Jr. would lose a tightly contested battle against ‘Bud’ Crawford. He might score a victory over Spence Jr., but over Fundora, he has an assured victory. “My prediction: 1. You lose a dog fight to Bud. 2. You beat Spence by decision 3. You annihilate Fundora.“

The next fan expressed excitement over the names Ortiz Jr. suggested. Nevertheless, they seem to wonder why he doesn’t show any interest in pursuing a fight with Tim Tszyu. An earlier planned fight between them eventually caved in. The fan said, “Love to see it! But also no appetite for Tszyu considering the fight was cancelled? That would be great.”

Likewise, the next fan wanted to know why Jermell Charlo‘s name wasn’t mentioned. According to the fan, the ‘Iron Man’ still lords over the 154-pound weight class. “Why no, @TwinCharlo, he still 👑 of 154 didn’t lose his belts in the ring??” Said the fan.

One fan wondered why Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis‘ name wasn’t mentioned: “Where’s Boots Ennis?” Then, according to another, Israil Madrimov also makes for a competent alternative: “If none of these guys are available, Madrimov would be a good substitute, champ 🫡🔥.”

Considering the fact that Spence Jr. is the number one ranked contender in the WBC rankings, a fight with Ortiz Jr. makes the most logical sense.

Undoubtedly, a fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Terry Crawford makes for a memorable blockbuster. However, on understandable grounds, the Nebraskan might be looking for that huge payday that he deserves as he progresses into the twilight years of his glorious career. Hence, in that scenario, a fight for Sebastian Fundora’s world title could be the next option. An attempt at title unification might put him on the crossroads against the heavy-hitting Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev. Nevertheless, if Ortiz Jr. dreams of the undisputed glory, then he will have to go through the Crawford wall.

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Mike Tyson explains why he’s taking Jake Paul ‘extremely seriously’

By
Jake Paul Mike Tyson

The boxing legend means business.

Looking at the list of opponents Jake Paul defeated, Mike Tyson knows he’s different and it’s not because he’s an accomplished boxing legend.

It’s because he doesn’t view Paul as a YouTuber at all ahead of their November 15 fight on Netflix. Tyson views Paul as a fighter and one who he is taking seriously.

Jake Paul Mike Tyson

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“Forget what everyone says ‘this guy’s a YouTuber,’” Tyson told Logan Paul on the IMPAULSIVE podcast. “This guy’s a fighter. I’ve been many things too but I’m a fighter. I’m an actor, I’m a salesman, I’m an entrepreneur but we’re fighters. That’s who we really are. Him, too.

“I’m apprehensive and scary so I’m totally different than them.”

It’s for that reason that Tyson is taking Paul seriously.

“I take him extremely seriously,” Tyson said. “These people don’t take him seriously.”

He added: “That’s how I look at people — they’re all capable of killing you. My objective is like that — they’re capable of killing me, I don’t sleep on them. I’m not overconfident with anybody in life.”

Tyson playfully pushed Paul during their New York City press conference Sunday but told Logan that he loves his brother and that their November 15 bout is strictly business.

“This is what’s going to happen to make everything short: Two men are going to fight, somebody’s going to win, they might fight again and then they go to their separate banks and life goes on,” Tyson said.

“This is beautiful, man. This is what the world really needs right now. I know it looks crazy, you

look at a YouTube guy, you look at me, but look at what we brought here (referencing the New York City press conference crowd), look at what we did. That’s not funny at all.”

Tyson is 58-years-old to Paul’s 27.

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Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Joshua ‘got to be on his A-game for this fight” – Noted Trainer warns

By
Anthony Joshua Daniel Dubois

AJ attempts to become a three-time heavyweight world champion September 21, live on DAZN.

Currently riding a four-fight win streak, Anthony Joshua will attempt to become a three-time heavyweight world champion September 21, when he challenges Daniel Dubois.

One noted trainer believes AJ will need to be at his best to have his hand raised against Dubois, adding that his experience will give him the edge.

“I think it’s highly important,” Peter Fury said of the experience factor of next month’s heavyweight bout while speaking with Seconds Out. “It’s that age, that maturity, it definitely plays a factor.

Anthony Joshua v Daniel Dubois

JUST IN: ‘Anthony Joshua beware’…‘He shook me to my core’ – Anthony Joshua sent alarming warning about Daniel Dubois

“There’s no heavyweight walking through punches,” he continued. “Not from heavyweights. Eventually, you’re going to get ironed out.”

He added: “That skill set, making mistakes, offsetting — all of this plays a vital role. He’s been around the block now. He’s a fully mature man now, Joshua, so that’s the reason I edge toward him.”

In 31 professional fights, Joshua owns a 28-3 record with 25 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) will be looking to extend his two-fight win streak.

“The other one’s a younger fighter, plenty of talent, he wants it as well,” Fury said of Dubois.

“He seems to have grown a lot from his failures. He’s come on a lot.”

Fury added: “Again, with all of these types of fights, Joshua’s got to be on his total A-game plus. It’s not a given. He’s got to be on his A-game for this fight. For sure, he will but just on the experience factor, I edge him as a favorite.”

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Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez: Benavidez will ‘run Canelo over like a train’

By
Canelo Alvarez David Benavidez

Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez is undoubtedly one of the most hotly anticipated fights in boxing right now.

Fans are clambering to see the pair square off for super-middleweight supremacy yet Canelo has shown little urgency in getting the fight over the line.

The Mexican superstar previously suggested he would require an extortionate purse of $200million (£158m) for him to duke it out with ‘The Monster’.

David Benavidez Canelo Alvarez

READ: ‘CANELO IS LOOKING FOR EASY PICKINGS’ – CANELO TOLD TO VACATE ALL HIS BELTS

Benavidez’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz insisted they did everything to make the fight happen in May, while his client was Canelo’s WBC mandatory at 168lbs.

But Canelo chose to face Jaime Munguia on Cinco de Mayo weekend instead.

After growing tired of waiting, Benavidez moved up to light-heavyweight and defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June for the WBC ‘interim’ trinket.

The victory made him mandatory for the winner of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol’s four-belt shootout on October 12.

A clash with Canelo now looks to be out of reach but many members of the boxing fraternity hold out hope.

Former IBF super-lightweight champion Paulie Malignaggi is not one of them though.

“I don’t care who Canelo fights if he would vacate the titles,” Malignaggi told talkSPORT’s talkBOXING podcast.

“Personally, I’ve been saying this for two years, I think David Benavidez runs him over like a train running over a car that’s stuck in the train tracks.

“I stick with that. His apprehension to fight the mandatory continuously only cements my opinion.

“I don’t think he’s gonna fight Benavidez, the only reason I wanna see him fight Benavidez is for the belts because I don’t even think it would be a good fight. I’m more excited about other things than I am about Canelo.”

For now, Canelo is set to take on Edgar Berlanga on September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Providing he comes through that unscathed a super fight with Terence Crawford remains a possibility.

However, Malignaggi is even less interested in that prospect.

“I’m not crazy about it [the Terence Crawford fight],” he added. “I think Canelo is looking for easy pickings. Easy pickings later in his career.

“The fact he’s been allowed to avoid his mandatory for three years is absolutely appalling. The sanctioning bodies should be ashamed of themselves, absolutely disgraceful.

“But I think he would possibly consider Crawford, but he wants a crazy amount of money. Because he sees the kind of money Turki Alalshikh pays, and I think he’s trying to take advantage of it which has rightfully offended Turki Alalshikh.

“I’m not crazy about the fight, I think weight classes exist for a reason. Crawford has been amazing, his talent has been something that has overcome the weight class deficit, but at a certain point, you’re gonna start to see that.

“The Crawford vs Israil Madrimov fight was right there. I don’t understand why there’s this talk about Crawford and Canelo. I think if anything that fight right there should tell you he’s not able to go up that many more weight classes.

“He really had to test himself in that fight. That fight came down to the last couple of rounds if you ask me.

“Madrimov is good, you have a 154lbs division that is very, very good. I can also see why Crawford would just want to take on Canelo because Canelo is like him, he’s made a lot of money already and it’s sort of like a Hollywood type of fight where big names and brands in boxing just fight each other.

“If you fight these young, hungry guys, you’re gonna end up being really tested against guys who the world is not gonna give you credit for beating, like Madrimov. That weight class is difficult.”

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