Breaking
Tag

Tyson Fury

Browsing
BOXING

‘It showed him who’s boss’- Oleksandr Usyk planned for nine months to land one specific punch on Tyson Fury in fight win

By
Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk admits he had been working on stunning Tyson Fury from the very first bell.

Usyk and Fury did battle in an undisputed title clash in May, and the Ukrainian picked up a huge victory to make history and hand the Briton the first defeat of his career.

There had been several concerning moments for Fury including in the ninth round, where he was knocked down but managed to cling on and survive until the bell.

Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua takes drastic measures to prevent reputation being ruined

But Usyk feels he got the respect of Fury early on, after preparing to unleash a powerful shot which crushed through the guard of the Briton in the opening three minutes.

“It was a planned action that we had worked on for nine months,” Usyk told Mail Boxing when discussing a left hand he had rocked Fury with in the opening round.

“It was necessary as it showed him immediately in the ring who the boss is.

“I was in control the whole time, there were no worries. The process was ongoing.”

Usyk then went on to describe a moment in the sixth round, where he felt he would then go on to win the clash.

He added: “When I didn’t get knocked down by an uppercut in the sixth round.

“I felt such a force behind me that I understood that nearby there is my force which I pray to.

“Maybe it was even an angel, but I felt some kind of support for my back there was no one there (behind me) but the support was felt.”

The saga is not yet over though, as he is now set to face Fury again in an immediate rematch on December 21.

Usyk threatened to close the show in their maiden clash so will be hoping to go one better and win inside the distance in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the threatening shots, Fury was confident he had done enough when the judges’ scorecards were read out.

He has even since suggested he scored himself in the lead after rewatching the clash.

And the ‘Gypsy King’ has insisted that Usyk was at the level of an ‘amateur boxer’, and that he found the exchanges ‘easy’.

Fury said on his Furocity YouTube Channel: “I’ve watched the fight back lots of times and still got the same answer – I thought I won the fight.

“Usyk knows he didn’t beat me. I thought I boxed the head right off him for most of the rounds.

“It was actually a lot easier than I thought it’d be, the Usyk fight. People said he’s a hard man to hit, I was lighting him up with four-punch combinations and laughing at him.

“My problem in that fight was I probably had too much fun. It was probably too easy. It was like I was in there with a local amateur boxer.”

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

WATCH: Francis Ngannou alleges that sneaky ‘tricks’ were played on him before ‘unfair’ boxing fight with Anthony Joshua

By
Anthony Joshua Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA action has been confirmed by the PFL and in a fascinating interview this week, ‘The Predator’ explained what went wrong in his last fight against the boxing world champion.

Almost five months ago to the day, Anthony Joshua landed one of the most brutal knockouts of the year against former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou, on a PPV aptly named ‘Knockout Chaos’.

Well, it turns out that there was plenty of chaos in the days and hours leading up to that superstar spectacle, with ‘The Predator’ now making the accusation that some sneaky tactics were used to throw him off his game.

Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: Briton delivers devastating blow as he brutally knocks out UFC star in second round | CNN

JUST IN: CRAWFORD SAYS CANELO IS DUCKING; ALVAREZ RESPONDS – ‘I’M THE FACE OF BOXING’

Francis Ngannou appeared as a guest on ‘The Diary of a CEO’ podcast with Steve Bartlett; a full two-hour long conversation that is truly one of the most fascinating and moving pieces of combat sports media in recent memory.

Towards the end of the episode, the discussion shifted to Ngannou’s boxing fight against Anthony Joshua from March 2024, with the former UFC champion stating that he believes some suspicious ‘tricks’ played on him prior to the opening bell.

“Honestly, in that fight, there was a lot of unfairness… Unlike the Tyson Fury fight [where] everything was straight and everything was fair, no sneaky stuff – but the second one, it was so messy.

“A lot of tricks [were played], like they would get me everywhere that I was going in that [fight] week, but I [would] have to wait at least one hour, one hour and a half for Anthony Joshua to arrive. But they always send a car to pick me up like that amount of [spare] time, even on fight day.”

Ngannou claimed that even on the evening of the heavyweight showdown, he was told to arrive at the Kingdom Arena several hours before he needed to. And that he found it suspicious how after being told by a producer that there was going to be a meaningful delay, Joshua still arrived exactly on time.

“I stayed in the locker room for four hours and a half, they sent a car to pick me up at 10:30 because they told me I was supposed to fight around midnight to 1 AM… And I was like ‘Okay good, this is how it works’, but you get to the arena and there’s a producer like ‘Oh we are running behind on the broadcasting so we might be fighting at 1:45.’

“I’m like ‘Okay, that’s not that bad, I’ve been training to fight in that time frame around 1 AM’… Bro, we are sitting there and watching Anthony Joshua arriving to the arena at 1:30 – like how can you tell me that?

 

“You guys told me that I was going to fight around midnight, and [then] 1 o’clock or that it’s delayed and he’s now just arriving? Stuff like that they did a lot.”

When asked if he believes that someone was purposefully trying to make him frustrated and fatigued to put him at a critical disadvantage, Ngannou simply stated: “Yes, the whole week was like that.”

“I mean I think it’s a trick that I didn’t know before, but it’s a trick that they have in boxing, they have a lot of tricks, like during the week, my coach is a very calm person, but he was really mad and yelling about it.

“I didn’t know how deep the problem was until I get in the final set, then I’m like ‘Okay this is serious’ but then it was too late… I was sleeping, I was in the locker room warming up and falling asleep.”

Whilst Ngannou did acknowledge that Joshua was simply the better man on the night and that he holds no animosity towards the British boxing legend, he did note that the constant delays might have impacted the result.

“Personally, I take that loss, but I don’t put it in the context [of my career] … It could have been different – I still think that I could’ve beaten him, I don’t know.”

 

Speaking on Francis Ngannou’s fighting career; the iconic story continues as the PFL officially confirmed earlier this week that ‘The Predator’ will make his long-awaited return to MMA action on October 19.

His first MMA bout since a unanimous decision win over Ciryl Gane back in 2022, Ngannou’s return fight is certainly no easy task as he draws PFL king Renan ‘Problema’ Ferreira.

The Brazilian juggernaut is known as one of the most feared heavyweights in the world, standing at 6ft 8″ tall with a whopping 11 of his 13 wins ending via knockout; yet Ngannou has already compared Ferreira to the aforementioned Gane, both in terms of his stature and fighting style.

 

“In terms of style, I think he might be more like Ciryl Gane’s style,” he told Sky Sports Boxing.

“Moving fast and all that stuff, or even better [than Gane] because he has long range and he knows how to use it with very fast hands… He’s unique as an opponent.”

Francis Ngannou vs Renan Ferreira is scheduled for October 19, PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants and will be available to watch online via Pay-Per-View.

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

‘PEOPLE EXPECT A LOT’: JOSHUA AIMS TO DOMINATE DUBOIS

By
Anthony Joshua Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua hopes to put on a dominant performance when he boxes Daniel Dubois on September 21. 

The pair face off for the IBF Heavyweight Title as Joshua aims to become a three-time champion. AJ lost his belts when he suffered two consecutive losses against Oleksandr Usyk. Since then, Joshua has reinvented himself. He is with Ben Davidson, as the pair have worked together for Joshua’s last two fights. Joshua has stoppedOtto Wallin and Francis Ngnannou. While they are not the highest level of opposition he could have faced, Joshua was praised for bringing back his combination-style boxing.

Dubois has also reinvented himself since his Usyk loss. The Brit was stopped by the Ukrainian in round nine and failed to get up in time after the count. There was a perception that Dubois had developed a reputation for quitting. He took a knee in his defeat to Joe Joyce. But stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic have allowed him to make history. Dubois is the current IBF Champion after Usyk vacated and was elevated. With Joshua being the favorite, he recognized that there was an expectation to deliver.

Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: IBF champion tells AJ he is a 'king slayer' - BBC Sport

JUST IN: “;I’m a threat to his legacy”: Terence Crawford blasts Canelo Alvarez over ‘antics’ and ‘excuses’

“You can say so. Always developing, always learning. I do look back at my old fights as well. At the end of the day they were different types of opponents. I could have been beating a lot of lesser challenging opponents for many, many years.

“I could have been coming into my world title years now but I’ve done it early. So what I’m trying to say is that when I’m fighting guys, it’s hard to look unbelievable against someone that’s basically on the same level as you. World championship fights, they’re 50-50. But I get it. People, they expect a lot. They want to see dominance,” Joshua said

Joshua knows a win makes him mandatory for the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Uysk, giving him a shot at undisputed. But he cannot afford to make a mistake as he has done previously. Joshua faced Andy Ruiz Jr., knowing that a win would likely set up an undisputed fight with Deontay Wilder. Joshua made his American debut and almost stopped Ruiz.

But he paid the price for being too aggressive. Ruiz got on the inside and dropped Joshua. The Brit never looked the same, and he was later stopped. While Joshua won the rematch, the talk of a Wilder fight died down somewhat. The bout never got made as both men would lose their belts. Joshua recently confirmed that he aims to retire in the next two years, and it is now a critical period for his legacy. But Dubois is ready to cause an upset.

“I’m aiming to be the best. AJ has been the king for a long time but on the night I need to be the king slayer. I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100% ready to go, focussed and to train like a beast,” Dubois stated 

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

‘WE ARE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS’ – USYK WANTS $200 MILLION FOR THE JOSHUA TRILOGY

By
Oleksandr Usyk Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk would consider fighting Anthony Joshua in a trilogy for $200 million. 

That is according to Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk. The pair boxed each other twice, and Usyk emerged victorious on both occasions. The wins meant Usyk became the Unified Heavyweight Champion. Since then, both boxers have improved. Usyk defeated Tyson Fury as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, the first man since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Usyk will rematch Fury on December 21. However, it is not for undisputed after Usyk vacated.

Joshua has done well since teaming up with Ben Davidson. In their two fights together, Joshua has secured stoppage wins overOtto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. Joshua will now box Daniel Duboisfor the IBF Heavyweight Title. If Joshua beats Dubois, he could face Usyk again if the Ukrainian beats Fury. That sets up a massive undisputed fight. Usyk has now become a much bigger name than when he faced Joshua, giving the Ukrainian more leverage in negotiations. With no pressing need to face Joshua, it would take a massive offer for him to fight AJ.

Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk results: Usyk stuns Joshua to become unified heavyweight champion | Sporting News Canada

READ: Claressa Shields stops Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse to become four-weight champion

“He’s a great champ and he’s changed a lot since the two fights with Usyk. We’ve seen him going down and seen him rising up. It’s also a complicated fight to make. “I’ll tell you why, because now we are on different levels. In the first fight, Usyk was almost a no-name and Joshua was a massive star in the UK. After he beat him twice, Joshua still remains a massive star here no matter what. So this fight might be something that attracts the attention of the entire world. If we decide to earn money, then we can probably go for AJ for $200million,” Krassyuk said

Usyk’s team has said he may consider moving back down to cruiserweight after the Fury rematch. Usyk has already been undisputed at the weight class, showing he knows what it takes to dominate. However, he would have to drop a significant amount of weight, making it a tougher task at the tail end of his career.

Usyk could also take a crossover fight with an MMA fighter or in BKFC. His team has expressed interest in taking on Conor McGregor in bare-knuckle. McGregor has two fights left on his UFC contract. Since he is a part-owner of BKFC, he has said he wants to take some fights under the organization. Getting big names like Usyk would help propel BKFC’s brand.

The final option is to retire. Usyk is undefeated and has won everything from amateur to professional level. Taking further fights at this stage only risks Usyk’s legacy if he comes up short. Either way, Krassyuk simply wanted the best for his fighter.

“I’m not talking on anyone’s behalf. We are happy if our opponents are happy. If they receive some huge amounts that they are satisfied with, for us it makes us more happy. We don’t want to get in somebody else’s business. If we are happy with what we achieved, then everything else stays out of our sight,” Krassyuk added

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

“Hope You Learned Your Lesson”- Terence Crawford Sends a Message to Austin Theory After Knocking Him Out on WWE SmackDown

By
Terence Crawford Austin Theory WWE SmackDown

Whether it’s on the silver screen, teaching Michael B. Jordan the art of throwing a real punch in Creed III, or swaying the fans with his theatrics inside the ropes of the WWE ring, Terence Crawford never fails to make an everlasting impression.

He once again seized headlines in the combat sports world with his brutal knockout power, but this time, on the receiving end, was Austin Theory. This week’s WWE SmackDown had ‘Bud’ standing tall on the fallen body of the WWE star, after delivering a deadly one-punch blow. It seems that’s not the end.

The American boxer was in the audience at WWE SmackDown last week, as the WWE show made its way to Omaha, his native place. As a huge WWE fan, for Crawford, 36, the event unfolded drastically when he handed Cody Rhodes a steel chair and ended up helping the latter pull a win against ‘A-Town Down Under’. This week, it was time to answer for his deeds, and the welterweight champion exactly did that. But with his right fist. What’s more?

Professional Boxer Terence Crawford Knocks Out Austin Theory on WWE SmackDown

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Dubois could have had the ‘wake up call’ he needed to beat Joshua

The WWE uploaded the video of Crawford knocking out Austin Theory on its Instagram handle, and the 40-0 record holder turned to the comment section and left a message. The comment read, “all know how I get down hope you learned your lesson @austin_theory.”

Interestingly, in the same comment section, Grayson Waller hilariously lauded Austin Theory for taking a punch, first from Tyson Fury and now Crawford. For fans, Crawford’s appearances at WWE events sparked a debate about whether the Omaha native was gearing up for his WWE debut, following in the footsteps of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who once featured on WrestleMania 24.

Crawford is currently not sure whether he is up for the task. In a conversation with Ariel Helwani, he disclosed, “I don’t know. I haven’t gotten into it that far.” Talking about his experience attending the WWE event, the southpaw boxer added, “The experience was second to none. It was electrifying. I was nervous doing it. It was different. It was dope and a good feeling. Not only was it my hometown, but it was WWE, a big platform.”

What has seemed to affect Crawford’s call is the high risk of injuries in the WWE. In addition, he has an upcoming fight against Israil Madrimov for the WBA super welterweight title. This is to move up the divisions, cement his legacy, and maybe do enough to attract the attention of Canelo Alvarez. However, he hasn’t denied venturing into WWE after he is done with boxing.

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

‘I’M CLEAN, FURY IS LIKE A YETI’ – USYK DENIES USING PEDS TO BEAT FURY

By
Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

Oleksandr Usyk has denied rumors that he used PEDs during his fight with Tyson Fury. 

The Ukrainian beat Fury via a split decision as Usyk became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Usyk dominated the fight early on, while Fury returned in the middle rounds. However, Usyk almost knocked out Fury in round nine, only for the referee to give a standing-eight count. But during this period, Usyk was seen in his corner taking a big gulp of air. As he did so, his cornerman put something near the Ukrainian’s mouth.

This led to suggestions that Usyk had used an inhaler. Inhalers are banned in boxing. After this moment, Usyk turned up the pace, with some feeling he had gotten an unfair advantage. But when the footage was received, it clearly showed that Usyk had kissed his cross. Usyk is known for being heavily into his Christian faith, which ultimately helped him get over the line. He shut down those accusations of using PEDs.

JUST IN: ‘STILL BEATS MOST ACTIVE 147 FIGHTERS’ – MAYWEATHER SHOWS OFF INSANE HAND SPEED AT 47

“Stupid people. Listen, I never used any substance. Never. I’m clean. The cross, it’s my doping. My belief is my doping. Jesus, my family, my team, my country – this my doping,” Usyk said

That was not the only thing Usyk addressed. He also turned his attention to Fury, who suggested that he had won the fight. After Usyk’s win, Fury alleged that the Ukrainian was only given the decision due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Even after Fury watched the fight, he felt he had done enough to win, calling Usyk an amateur boxer.

“I’ve watched the fight back lots of times and still got the same answer – I thought I won the fight. Usyk knows he didn’t beat me. I thought I boxed the head right off him for most of the rounds. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it’d be, the Usyk fight. “My problem in that fight was I probably had too much fun. It was probably too easy. It was like I was in there with a local amateur,” Fury stated

Fury also alleged that he had broken Usyk’s jaw. While he did have some discomfort, Usyk denied suggestions his jaw was broken. He expects Fury to be a tough opponent in their December 21 rematch.

“Oh my God, no way! Okay, no problem. The next fight will be easy [for him too]. For me, my fight will be hard because Tyson Fury is big man, a good boxer, with a good boxing IQ. But if Tyson says for him it will be easy, okay, no problem. I see for Tyson Fury, I see for the eyes of Tyson Fury, it’s not easy. It will be hard, very, very hard.

“Tyson (looking directly into the camera) don’t be afraid – I will not leave you alone (blowing a kiss and laughing) No, not break my jaw. Yes, I have a little bit of a problem but I have problems with my fist, my back, my whole body because it’s a hard fight, 47 minutes. You see Tyson Fury, he’s like a yeti. It’s hard. But my face is good, beautiful,” Usyk stated

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

‘THEY DID STUFF THAT WASN’T FAIR’ – FRANCIS NGANNOU SAYS PROMOTERS OF USING DIRTY TACTICS TO HELP ANTHONY JOSHUA

By
Francis Ngannou Anthony Joshua

Francis Ngannou has slammed boxing promoters for giving Anthony Joshua an unfair advantage in their fight. 

Ngannou was knocked out in the second round in his second boxing bout, much to the disappointment of fans. He failed to follow up on his impressive showing against Tyson Fury. The Predator dropped Fury in the third round while managing to last the distance in an impressive debut. Despite losing a split decision, many felt Ngannou had done enough to win. But when it came to facing Joshua, Ngannou was unhappy with the scheduling.

He recalled how he was made to wait for the media obligations that ran beyond the scheduled times. Ngannou also referred to how the fight happened much later than planned. He had prepared to box Joshua for around 1 am, while the fight started much later at 3:30 am. Ngannou recalled feeling tired before he entered the boxing ring. Given that Matchroom and Queensbury were responsible for the scheduling, Ngannou was unhappy.

JUST IN: Floyd Mayweather Promises Two Lucky Fans a Trip to Mexico for John Gotti III Rematch, Find Out How to Participate

“Not to say Anthony Joshua couldn’t beat me. I think if there’s somebody that you can lose against, he’s the guy, he’s one of the best doing it. This is definitely not on him, because he wasn’t the guy that was sending all those emails, organizing. So I’m not blaming him for anything. But the organization, they did quite some stuff that wasn’t fair.

“His team was part of the organization because it was Queensbury (Promotions) and Matchroom (Boxing), those emails were coming to me from them. Those were the people that were sending the schedule, and every day they send everything, the pickup time, the program, the schedule,” Ngannou said

Nevertheless, Ngannou has earned enough money to set him up for the rest of his career. He is now in a position where he does not have to fight unless it is for the right bout. The Predator is the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, meaning he has beaten the best in the MMA world. He has also been appointed Chairman of PFL Africa, giving him a career outside of fighting.

The organization will hold its play-off season next year, as the best African talent faces off against each other. Ngannou is expected to make his PFL debut this year. However, the passing of his son did complicate matters. His 15-month-old son, Kobe, died, raising question marks over whether Ngannou would fight again. PFL Chairman Donn Davis first hoped that Ngannou would fight in the summer. While Ngannou still expects to fight, the timing has now been moved.

“It’s working pretty good, we have a good relationship. Perhaps, I will be fighting by the end of the year. I think Renan Ferreira is the guy [I will fight next]. He’s dangerous, I think [that fight will be in Saudi Arabia], that’s what the PFL is working on. [It will likely take place] in October. They’re working on October, it’s not finalized yet but they were talking about October 19th [as the date],” Ngannou stated 

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

Tyson Fury makes Oleksandr Usyk fight decision after John Fury jibes

By
Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury’s manager has confirmed that there’ll be no changes to the Brit’s corner during his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury, 35, tasted defeat for the first time in his professional career in May after a split-decision result. Although their rematch hasn’t been given an official date, the ‘Gypsy King’ is expected to have a second chance at downing the Ukrainian this coming December, with the winner likely to take on either Anthony Joshua or Daniel Dubois in March 2025.

During the loss, there was notable change in Fury’s corner. Traditionally, only one person speaks to a fighter between rounds, yet in Riyadh, Fury’s father John, SugarHill Steward and Andy Lee were all seen giving him advice.

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion

JUST IN : “I wanna see him fight the best in the division”: Terence Crawford Draws Out Plan for Shakur Stevenson to Sweep the Lightweight Division

Some of that was contradictory, leading to criticism of having too many voices. Nevertheless, manager Spencer Brown says that Fury won’t be changing tack.

“There’ll be changes, not in management or his team, there’ll be some other stuff that he’ll be looking at training-wise,” Brown told Sky Sports. “With the closeness of the fight last time, it could have gone either way. Some people will say Usyk was three rounds in front, some people won’t, it’s your opinion on boxing – that’s why we love it,” reports the Mirror.

Ex-heavyweight boxer and former sparring partner to both Usyk and Fury, Dave Allen, didn’t mince his words when criticising Fury’s corner. He told Boxing Social: “[There were] just too many voices in the corner really, I thought tactically through halfway was spot on case he boxed him and he had to box him because Usyk was so sharp, but you know you cut to the corners.”

Referring specifically to Fury’s trainer, SugarHill Steward, he added: “SugarHill in the corner, he’s the only voice for me but he’s getting advice from John as well, after the knockdown in round 10 get on your bike and have a rest but 11 and 12 you need to win them rounds, he was trying to steal it. They’re telling him if you win the last round you’ve won the fight no, by this point you need a knockdown you need to get him out of there.”

When it comes to Fury’s upcoming rematch with Usyk, the pressure is certainly on for the British heavyweight to bring home the victory. But Brown remains optimistic about his odds, stating: “Tyson Fury will be back. He’ll be firing and we’ll see a new, better, improved Tyson Fury.”

Concluding his thoughts, he remarked: “At his age, I don’t know how much you can improve but there was very, very little in the fight between them, so let’s back our British guy and I’m sure he will win and then we’re going to talk about the next stage.”

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

Tyson Fury has ‘No collision course’ with Anthony Joshua he defeat Oleksandr Usyk in rematch

By
Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury must win his December rematch with Oleksandr Usyk if he is to remain on course to fight the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois victor, Fury’s manager Spencer Brown says.

Tyson Fury, the former two-time world heavyweight champion, is expected to attend the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois fight on September 21.

Fury lost his WBC title to Oleksandr Usyk in a four-belt undisputed unification in May. But, with Fury and Usyk set for a rematch in December, the Ukrainian had to vacate his IBF championship.

Anthony Joshua accepts Tyson Fury fight after call-out from British rival - Mirror Online

JUST IN: ‘LET’S TALK’ – USYK READY TO FIGHT MCGREGOR IN BKFC

Dubois, previously an IBF interim titlist, was elevated to become the body’s full champion and now fights Joshua at Wembley Stadium.

Although Fury has a long-standing rivalry with Joshua, he might well be backing Dubois in that September 21 fight.

Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager, told Sky Sports: “I think he’s a good friend of Daniel Dubois and obviously he’s in that [same] promotional company. But I think Tyson just wants to see a good fight. Who will he back? Probably Daniel Dubois.”

The winner of Joshua vs Dubois would of course make for a hugely appealing all-British clash with Fury.

But Fury, 35, will not be plotting out a route to fighting the AJ-Dubois victor just yet. His focus is on the Usyk rematch.

Keep Reading
By
BOXING

‘LET’S TALK’ – USYK READY TO FIGHT MCGREGOR IN BKFC

By
Conor McGregor Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk has welcomed a bare-knuckle fight with Conor McGregor. 

The Ukrainian is coming off the best win of his career when he defeated Tyson Fury to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion via a split decision. Usyk followed in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis, who became the last man to win all the belts. The Ukrainian became undisputed in a second weight class with the win. Usyk will rematch Fury on December 21. However, it will not be undisputed after Usyk vacated his IBF belt.

Usyk’s team has hinted at several options should he beat Fury. He could move back down to cruiserweight and try to become undisputed again.  However, that is unlikely as he would have to lose significant weight, meaning he might not be the same. Another alternative is to pursue a crossover fight. Several names were mentioned, including McGregor and John Jones. Now, it appears McGregor is the leading Ukrainian name. Usyk’s trainer, Sergey Lapin, has said calls for talks to take place.

Oleksandr Usyk ready to accept Conor McGregor's bare-knuckle fight offer - Mirror Online

JUST IN: After dismantling Mike Perry, Jake Paul has a clear pathway to a WBA world boxing title

“He’s proven he’s the best of his generation and, once he’s retired Tyson Fury, he will consider his options. Maybe that’s dropping down in weight again, or maybe there’s a wildcard option on the table for him; be it in the boxing ring, the MMA cage or even Conor McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

“Hey bro, Conor McGregor. First Oleksandr Usyk has to retire Tyson Fury, but our team is ready to make something great together with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Let’s talk,” Lupin said 

It will be news for McGregor, who recently became a part-owner of BKFC. He has stated that he wants to fight in BKFC once his UFC contract expires. McGregor has two fights left on his UFC contract. He was scheduled to take on Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29. However, the Irishman pulled out with a broken toe. He expects to return in September with the aim of fighting by the end of the year.

During this period, McGregor has been talking up BKFC. At a presser for BKFC Spain, McGregor indicated that he wanted fighters to consider BKFC as an alternative. He promised fighters bigger paydays, expressing his intention to win a title in another promotion. McGregor has enough pulling power to do that. His fight with Chandler set a new UFC live gate record with over $20 million. McGregor hopes to replicate that in BKFC.

“For me, I’ve got a bit of business left with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left on my contract. But for sure we have three lightweights up here and I have my eye on all of this. I’m not here up here just as a knower, player-manager I’d title myself on this. That’s me. I am coming to the end of my contract. I have two fights left. This is a very, very exciting organization here. How could you not?

“How could you not look to become a two-sport world champion in something as wild as a bareknuckle fighting organization. We’ve got the money, too. We’ve got the dough. This is big payouts here, also – big pay, big shows, big news, and a coveted world title in a wild and dangerous game. For any real fighter out there, that’s all you want to hear. Money, power, respect – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has it all,” McGregor said

Keep Reading
By
Verified by MonsterInsights