Claressa Shields on Lauren Price: ‘We can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion!’ | Boxing News

Claressa Shields on Lauren Price: ‘We can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion!’ | Boxing News



Claressa Shields is a unique fighter. An undisputed champion, she is a multi-weight titlist who has also competed in MMA and who will go for a title in a fourth division later this month.

She will challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight championship in Detroit.

The Olympic middleweight gold medal has only been won by two women, Shields in 2012 and 2016, and most recently Wales’ Lauren Price, who triumphed at the Tokyo Games.

Price dropped down to welterweight after the Olympics and is only seven bouts into her professional career, but has won the inaugural women’s British title and the WBA world title already.

Lauren Price claimed the WBA world title after beating Jessica McCaskill on points and said it was the start of many more big nights in Cardiff

Shields does not rule out Price becoming one of her future rivals.

“It’s hard to put anything past Olympic champions. She won the Olympics 2021,” Shields told Sky Sports.

“I feel like when you’ve been all over the world and you’ve boxed and you’ve won World championships, it’s kind of destined for you to be great in the pros. I wish her the best of luck.”

They are not on a collision course in the immediate future. Price has plenty of ambitions to realise at welterweight and Shields is moving up in weight for the Lepage-Joanisse fight.

Lauren Price reflects on her victory over Jessica McCaskill to become Wales’ first female boxing world champion and discusses what’s next in her boxing career

But heavyweight is what the WBC calls its 12st 7lbs division, i.e. light-heavyweight (the WBO light-heavyweight title will also be on the line in their fight).

Shields has operated across several weight classes, super-welter and super-middle included, but is a natural middleweight.

Price’s greatest amateur successes were at middleweight, where she won World and European gold medals as well as the Olympic Games. Along the way, she also beat a light-heavyweight World champion at 75kgs.

Lauren Price received an incredible reception from fans after becoming Wales’ first female boxing world champion

Shields doesn’t think their current weight classes will necessarily keep them apart.

“She won the Olympics at 165lbs (75kgs) just as I did – two times – and if she ever wants to fight I would love to fight against her too,” Shields said.

“I believe anything is possible and I really want to fight anybody that wants to fight me. So if Lauren Price keeps winning and comes to 154lbs, 160, 168, we can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion.”

Lauren Price claims the WBA welterweight world title with a dominant win over Jessica McCaskill

Shields’ great rival is another Briton, Savannah Marshall. The American beat Marshall in their 2022 grudge match. But Marshall is now also competing in MMA as she pursues another clash with Shields.

“I beat her in the UK with 20,000 of her fans. She needs to come to America and fight me in front of 20,000 of my fans and let’s see if she can handle being booed and her national anthem being booed and people telling her she sucks!” Shields declared.

Savannah Marshall discusses the rematch with Claressa Shields and if we’ll see it in the boxing ring or the MMA cage

“I would love to fight her again and prove that I’m not just one time better than you, I’m two times better than you either inside the cage and definitely inside the ring. It really doesn’t matter which one.”

But first Shields has a more immediate task, winning yet another accolade against Lepage-Joanisse.

“I’m going for my fourth division,” she said. “It’s going to be big and it’s going to be history-making.”

ONE Fight Night 23: Scotland’s Nico Carillo targets bantamweight Muay Thai world title after resounding win | WWE News

ONE Fight Night 23: Scotland’s Nico Carillo targets bantamweight Muay Thai world title after resounding win | WWE News


Scotland’s Nico Carrillo reaffirmed his place at the top of the bantamweight Muay Thai rankings with an emphatic TKO win over former world title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex in the co-main event at ONE Fight Night 23 in Bangkok.

The ‘King of the North’ hunted Saemapetch from the opening bell and although the Thai star was a willing dance partner in the punching exchanges, he found himself in trouble late in the first round after a flurry of knees from Carrillo.

Things went from bad to worse in the second round, as Carrillo sent his foe crashing to the canvas after just 45 seconds.

The Scot then went straight on the attack and put Saemapetch back down with a thunderous left hook. The same punch did the damage once again shortly after, as Carrillo scored the third and decisive knockdown with another volley of heavy shots.

Image:
Carillo dropped Saemapetch three times in the second round

Carrillo’s win not only cemented his No 1 spot in the divisional rankings, but it also bagged him a US $50,000 (£39,035) performance bonus, courtesy of ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

Even more importantly, the victory could lead him to the winner of the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title fight between defending champion Jonathan Haggerty and long-time rival Superlek Kiatmuu9 at ONE 168: Denver in September.

“I’m next, I’m undeniable. Mr Chatri, give me the title shot next,” Carrillo told ONE commentator Mitch Chilson during his post-fight interview. “Whoever wins that title in Denver, don’t get too attached to the gold because it’s coming right off you.”

Bampara Kouyate produced a stunning uppercut finish to beat Muay Thai contender Luke Lessei late in their three-round battle

Black Panther produced a stunning head kick KO to hand Ali Saldoev the first loss of his professional career

Rasulov overcomes Ok as British star Barboza wins

In the night’s headline attraction, Alibeg Rasulov upset former ONE lightweight MMA world champion Ok Rae Yoon in a grueling five-round battle.

The unbeaten 31-year-old pushed a relentless pace throughout the 25-minute contest. Ultimately, his clinch game proved too much for Ok, who never stopped trying to create space and get his trademark punches off.

It was a resounding statement made by Rasulov in his promotional debut.

Although he was ineligible to take home the title due to only making the weight after the official weigh-in window closed, he has surely caught the attention of two-division ONE world champion Christian Lee.

Ellis Badr Barboza, ONEFight Night 23
Image:
British Muay Thai standout Ellis Badr Barboza triumphed in Bangkok

Also, British Muay Thai standout Ellis Badr Barboza captured a dramatic victory in a seesawing contest against Thai-Malaysian striker Aliff Sor Dechapan with a second-round knockdown enough to sway the judges’ scorecards.

Aliff started the catchweight contest brightly, largely controlling the opening round. Barboza, however, turned the tide in the second when he dropped his rival with a booming left hook.

In the final round, Aliff recognised he needed a knockdown of his own to wrest back the momentum, but Barboza hung tough in a back-and-forth finish to the match-up.

The knockdown proved decisive as the Birmingham native took the split-decision victory.

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Lewis Hamilton dismisses comparison between Max Verstappen-Lando Norris collision and 2021 title fight | F1 News

Lewis Hamilton dismisses comparison between Max Verstappen-Lando Norris collision and 2021 title fight | F1 News



Lewis Hamilton has disagreed with McLaren boss Andrea Stella’s suggestion that Max Verstappen’s driving in the controversial Austrian GP collision with Lando Norris was a consequence of the Dutchman not receiving more severe punishments during the 2021 title fight with him.

In an interview with Sky Sports F1 after the contentious finish to last Sunday’s race, when Verstappen and Norris’ duel for the race lead ended in a collision with seven laps to go, Stella, McLaren’s team principal, drew a parallel between the Turn Three incident and ones between Verstappen and Hamilton when the pair waged during an intense fight for the 2021 title.

“The problem behind it is that if you don’t address these things honestly, they will come back,” said Stella.

“They have come back today because they were not addressed properly in the past when there were some fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way.”

Sitting alongside Norris in Thursday’s Drivers’ Press Conference at Silverstone ahead of this weekend’s British GP, Hamilton was asked for his view on Stella’s comparison.

“I don’t agree with that, no,” said Hamilton.

Watch new angles of Verstappen and Norris’ collision

Asked if he could elaborate as to why, the Mercedes driver repeated: “I just don’t agree with it.”

Hamilton had earlier not been drawn in general about last Sunday’s Verstappen-Norris clash.

“Nothing really. I didn’t think anything of it,” said Hamilton, whose team-mate George Russell profited from the collision to claim Mercedes’ first win for over 18 months.

“I was more concerned about my race and enjoying the team’s win.”

Asked if he had any advice for Norris about racing Verstappen, Hamilton said: “Again, I don’t think I need to. They’ve raced each other for many years.

“That’s nothing to do with me.”

Norris says Verstappen does not need to apologise for their crash in Austria and believes it was a ‘pathetic’ incident that ended both their races

‘I’m sure Lewis would have agreed three years ago!’

Norris, who rowed back from some of his immediate post-race criticisms of Verstappen and the consequences the incident might have on their relationship, backed his team boss’ point of view.

“I’m sure Lewis would agree with it two years ago or three years ago, 100 per cent,” said a smiling Norris.

“There were definitely certain things, there were definitely a few moments especially.

“On the whole, I’m always going to stand up for what Andrea said. I think Andrea’s got a very good amount of sensibility with how he talks and things he talks about.

“So definitely I think certain parts are true and I do agree with Andrea as a note.”

The F1 paddock give their view on the controversial collision between Norris and Verstappen

Sky Sports F1’s live British GP schedule (all F1 sessions on Sky Showcase)

Thursday July 4
6pm: The F1 Show

Friday July 5
8.35am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: British GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
2.05pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: British GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)

Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the British Grand Prix

Saturday July 6
9.15am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: British GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: British GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: British GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 7
8:15am: F3 Feature Race
9:50am: F2 Feature Race
11:50am: Porsche Supercup
1:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – British GP build-up
3pm: The BRITISH GRAND PRIX
5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction
6pm: Ted’s Notebook

F1’s summer triple-header concludes with the big one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase, with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

Teofimo Lopez says he is a level above Devin Haney and would rather fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis | Boxing News

Teofimo Lopez says he is a level above Devin Haney and would rather fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis | Boxing News


WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez says he is a level above Devin Haney and does not need to fight him to prove it.

Lopez makes the second defence of his belt against Steve Claggett live on Sky Sports from 2am on Sunday, and a clash with Haney has been mooted should ‘The Takeover’ come through.

However, the New Yorker says a bout with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis would be a more “eye-candy” fight.

Haney is the WBC super-lightweight ‘champion in recess’ following his defeat to Ryan Garcia in April being rendered a no contest after his opponent tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Lopez returns to the ring this weekend as he defends his world title against Steve Claggett, live on Sky Sports

Lopez said of Haney: “He is nowhere near any picture.

“He has been helped a lot, in many ways. They wanted to make him seem like he is the greatest. I don’t hate the kid, I’m not knocking him down.

“When I lost to George Kambosos Jr, he and his father were jumping up and down celebrating.

“When he lost to Garcia, I didn’t jump up and down. I just said okay and wished him nothing but the best because I know what it feels like.

“I don’t believe Haney is the American dream, I don’t believe he is the next Mayweather or any narrative they want to put out there.

Image:
Devin Haney is the WBC ‘champion in recess’ after Ryan Garcia’s positive drug test

“I believe Haney is someone who reaches a certain level in life and is going to stay there forever.

“I have already proved [I am a level above Haney] without having to fight him, I don’t need to face this guy. He has just lost.”

‘I always pick the toughest fights – I aim for greatness’

Lopez (20-1) – who said he would love to fight in the UK one day – will not be taking Canadian Claggett (38-7-2) lightly, insisting he always looks for arduous fights as he “aims for greatness”.

The 26-year-old said: “I have got a tough competitor ahead of me, he is hungry. It is almost like a Rocky Balboa story for this guy. I can’t overlook nobody. He does not stop throwing punches.

“He has everything to gain, I have everything to lose. I always pick the toughest fights – my résumé speaks loudly.

“You can’t say you are arguably the best in the world without facing the best. You can’t say you are the Muhammad Ali of this generation without doing what Muhammad Ali has done.

I want to know more, I want to learn more. You never figure boxing out and just when you think you have figured it out, boom, here comes something else. That’s the reason I love my sport the most.

Teofimo Lopez

“You can’t say you are the throwback fighter without facing adversity and overcoming it. If I say all this stuff and don’t back it up, I am a hypocrite. Then it’s talking smack, not the truth.

“I am only getting better, I am not at my prime just yet but we are reaching it. I think that’s the best part. I aim for greatness and I always have.

“The tremendous amount of fighters I have faced already at a young age… because of those champions and their styles, I have only got better.

“You guys are going to see a whole new genre of Teofimo the next couple of years.”

Watch Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 2am on Sunday.

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Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney ‘would make a great fight’, says Top Rank promoter Bob Arum | Boxing News

Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney ‘would make a great fight’, says Top Rank promoter Bob Arum | Boxing News


Bob Arum has teased a possible blockbuster showdown between Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney if the WBO super-lightweight champion defends his title this weekend.

Lopez (20-1 (13)) makes his second defence of the belt against Steve Claggett (38-7-2 (26)) in Miami on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event from 2am, and promoter Arum already has his sights on what comes next for the American.

A clash with compatriot Haney (31-0 (15)), currently designated as ‘champion in recess’ by the WBC following his no-contest against Ryan Garcia in April, is among the potentially mouth-watering matches on the horizon if the 26-year-old defeats Canadian challenger Claggett.

Teofimo Lopez returns to the ring this weekend as he defends his world title against Steve Claggett

“There are a lot of 140lb champions who would make really good matches for Lopez,” Arum told Sky Sports.

“There’s Devin Haney – he and Haney would make a great fight.

“There is a lot of activity in those weight divisions and if Teofimo comes through, he has a lot of big fights in front of him.”

Meanwhile, Arum is hoping to see Shakur Stevenson put on a big display when he defends the WBC title against Artem Harutyunyan, live on Sky Sports Action on Sunday, July 7 from 1am.

Image:
Bob Arum wants an ‘exciting’ performance from Shakur Stevenson in next month’s title defence

WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and IBF title-holder Vasily Lomachenko are among the other names in the mix at the top of the 135lb division, but Arum is eager to see Stevenson (21-0 (10)) show what he is truly capable of with an eye-catching display against Harutyunyan (12-1 (7)).

“I want to see a real top performance from Shakur,” Arum said. “It’s an exciting fight.

“I know if he goes in and pecks away, he can beat anybody but that doesn’t entertain people and professional boxing is part entertainment, so I want him to engage in an entertaining fight.

“That lightweight division is loaded; Tank Davis just scored another knockout against Frank Martin in a very exciting fight…Lomachenko now has one of the lightweight titles, and he and Davis would be a massive, massive fight.

“There is a lot of activity in those divisions and those fighters seem ready and willing to fight each other.”

Watch Teofimo Lopez and Steve Claggett battle for the WBA super-lightweight title on Sunday morning from 2am, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event. Also stream boxing and more top sport contract-free with NOW.

Austrian GP: Red Bull and McLaren expecting tight fight at Red Bull Ring on Sprint weekend | F1 News

Austrian GP: Red Bull and McLaren expecting tight fight at Red Bull Ring on Sprint weekend | F1 News


Max Verstappen admits his team cannot afford “messy” weekends to continue winning in Formula 1, such are the tight margins between Red Bull and McLaren ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen and Lando Norris have fought for the win in four of the last five events as the field has closed up since the latter won the Miami Grand Prix in early May.

Ferrari and Mercedes were slightly off the pace last time out in Barcelona but the short lap time at the Red Bull Ring, which is the shortest of the year, should make things extremely competitive.

McLaren are the team with momentum though and it was this time 12 months ago when they put their first major upgrade on the car, which marked the start of their move towards the front of the pecking order.

“I think McLaren at the moment, they’re just very solid. They’re good everywhere, every single track,” said Verstappen, who leads the championship by 69 points from Norris.

“You could see in Barcelona, they were very good on their tyres. They could just push more on them compared to, I think, everyone else on the grid without actually degrading off that much at the end of stints.

“Even the last stint, my last few laps were quite a struggle, where Lando was definitely catching up a lot, so these are things that we have to do better. Plus, of course, our known issues with the kerbs and bumps, low speed, basically.”

Max Verstappen dismissed rumours he’d leave Red Bull anytime soon saying he’s focused on next year.

Important to be quick out of the blocks

Austria is a Sprint weekend, so there is just one practice session at 11.30am on Friday before going straight into Sprint Qualifying at 3.30pm – live on Sky Sports F1.

In Imola and Canada, Red Bull found themselves on the backfoot but spent hours in the simulator overnight to find a sweet spot and Verstappen was able to get onto the front row.

I would say Barcelona, we had just a normal weekend, we were just too slow,” said Verstappen on Red Bull’s inconsistent Fridays recently.

Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix.

“Then you try to keep on making adjustments and then luckily, I think in qualifying, it all felt a bit better. But that was probably just a normal progression that you have throughout the weekend.

“Before that, of course, we had some messy weekends. So we cannot afford that anymore, these kind of things. So of course, I just hope for a clean weekend, basically like we did in Barcelona, but hopefully a little bit more pace as well.”

As for McLaren, they appear to have a more well-rounded car that is easier to get into the optimal working window.

Oscar Piastri has struggled at the last two events but thinks McLaren’s car is able to be fast straight away on a race weekend.

“Barcelona aside, I have been comfortable with the car from the first lap in practice,” he said.

“I think we should be pretty confident we can hit the ground running. Last weekend was a reminder it’s not always easy to achieve that, but we should be confident we can be strong out of the blocks.”

Traffic to be an issue

The short lap time means traffic will be a major problem in Sprint Qualifying and Qualifying, especially in the first segment of each session.

Ideally, the drivers will want to be three seconds behind another car who is also on a flying lap to get a small benefit of the slipstream without being hindered by dirty air in the corners.

However, the drivers will also back up before starting their lap in the final two corners, which now features gravel close to the edge of the circuit.

It’s an area which Norris is highly aware of and he believes certain drivers tend to allegedly block more than others.

George Russell says it’s good to see Lando Norris at the top battling for wins but joked he hopes it won’t ‘last long’.

“It’s always crazy, especially on shorter circuits. There are common denominators of people who get in the way and stuff like that. It’s normally quite clear who does it,” said Norris.

“For us, getting out of the way of people is the highest priority of our communication and it doesn’t seem like that’s the case for other people. Nothing we can do about it.

“It’s always chaotic because you use it to try to get slipstreams at times but with a blind last two corners it’s sometimes hard to know because the speed difference between a slow lap and quick lap are pretty big. That’s the challenge of the circuit.

“It’s up to the drivers, if they don’t want to get a penalty, they should tell their engineer to give more information on where people are.”

Take a look at Lando Norris’ rollercoaster race in Spain as the McLaren driver came so close to his second Formula 1 win.

Close fight expected for rest of the season

Red Bull have a 60-point advantage over Ferrari and are 93 points in front of McLaren in the constructors’ championship.

Sergio Perez has scored just four points in the last three races, with Christian Horner admitting the Mexican must improve to help the team in the title race.

Whether Perez can consistently perform closely to Verstappen will dictate McLaren and Ferrari’s chances to reel Red Bull in.

“We are working flat out as a team to make every weekend better and more straightforward. I know there will be good weekends and bad weekends,” said Perez.

“Last weekend the margins were extremely tight and if you find a couple tenths it will make a massive difference. It’s important to be calm about it.”

Sergio Perez says he’s aiming for a positive weekend in Austria after suffering several ‘nightmare’ races this season.

Perez hasn’t beaten Verstappen when both drivers have seen the chequered flag for over a year and the close fight at the front has seen other teams get in between the Red Bull pair.

The 34-year-old says “it’s important to maximise form” and expects the close competition to continue all the way until the season-finale in Abu Dhabi.

“I think it will be like this for the rest of the year unless someone finds a magic bullet. But I don’t expect it.

“It’s getting harder and harder for people to find performance. There will be tracks where one team is very good at and vice versa.

“It will be down to the level of detail, level of precision and maximising weekends when you have the opportunity to win.”

Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule

Thursday June 27
12.30pm: Drivers’ Press Conference

Friday June 28
7.50am: F3 Practice
9am: F2 Practice
11am: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Austrian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)*

Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Saturday June 29
8.25am: F3 Sprint
10am: Austrian GP Sprint (race starts at 11am)*
12.25pm: F2 Sprint
2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday June 30
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

F1’s triple-header continues at the Austrian Grand Prix this coming week – with the Sprint format returning at the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s big race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

Anthony Joshua to fight Daniel Dubois for IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21 | Boxing News

Anthony Joshua to fight Daniel Dubois for IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21 | Boxing News



Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British heavyweight clash for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Oleksandr Usyk announced on Tuesday that he had vacated the IBF belt, which means Joshua can regain one of the world titles he previously held if he defeats Dubois, who has been upgraded from IBF interim title holder to the IBF champion.

Joshua has marched back up the heavyweight ranks after suffering two consecutive losses to Usyk, who went on to become the undisputed world champion with his stunning victory over Tyson Fury last month.

The 34-year-old Joshua was outpointed by Usyk in two fights that spanned 2021 and 2022.

Anthony Joshua was at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, just a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou!

He returned with a points win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, but then followed up with stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin later that year.

He’s boxed once this year already, taking out Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, but he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout.

See what Anthony Joshua said to Francis Ngannou in the ring after their fight.

Dubois, who previously held a version of the WBA title, has also rebuilt successfully from a loss to Usyk.

The 26-year-old challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland last August. Dubois put in a game effort, pressing the Ukrainian initially. Usyk had to rise from a low blow, a ruling which Dubois and his team still dispute, to halt Dubois in the ninth round.

Dubois though went on to grind down Jarrell Miller in December and at the start of this month pounded Filip Hrgovic to a halt to win the IBF Interim strap.

Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke and Dan Azeez analysed Joshua vs Dubois

Dubois: I need to become a king-slayer | AJ: We’re all a pack of lions

Dubois, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…

“I’m just aiming to be the best. To fight the best and beat the best. AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know it, so on the night I need to become a king-slayer.

“That’s my goal and that’s the mission at hand. I’m just ready to go.

“I’m definitely learning more about myself with every fight, as a fighter and as a person. Coming out of the darkness, going into the light and being a man of the future.

“I’ve improved all round as a fighter and an athlete. I’m really up for this and ready to go.

I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. I’m 100m per cent ready. I’m going to go to camp, focus and train like a beast. Bring it on.”

Dubois is confident he’ll have the beating of Anthony Joshua when they fight at Wembley in September, while AJ is just focused on making sure he’s in peak physical condition to perform on the night

Joshua and Dubois faced off for the first time at the launch press conference for their blockbuster battle at Wembley on 21 September for the IBF heavyweight world title

Joshua, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference…

“It’s the next man up. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while, and he’ll be on my mind for the next 12 weeks until I get my hand raised.

“I’m not silly either, I know the game. We’re all in the wild. We’re a pack of lions and hunters. I have to keep my eyes peeled, I can’t just focus on those two [Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder].

“The goal is just to get through a successful training camp, and then performing on the night. The shiny stuff comes at a later date.”

Anthony Joshua expected to fight Daniel Dubois for world title as Oleksandr Usyk vacates IBF belt | Boxing News

Anthony Joshua expected to fight Daniel Dubois for world title as Oleksandr Usyk vacates IBF belt | Boxing News


Anthony Joshua is expected to fight Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight belt after Oleksandr Usyk confirmed he was vacating the world title.

Usyk defeated Tyson Fury on points to become undisputed champion with the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles, but has now announced he will relinquish his IBF belt ahead of a planned fight between Joshua and Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.

The Ukrainian confirmed the news via his Instagram account.

Image:
Dubois holds an IBF interim belt and was the mandatory challenger for the world title

“Hey Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, the IBF Belt is my present for you for 21.09.2024. The world loves strong. Your friend, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Oleksandr Usyk,” he posted.

Dubois, who Usyk defeated last year, holds an IBF Interim belt and would have been the mandatory challenger for Usyk, who is contracted to rematch Fury, a bout which has been set for December of this year.

Highlights as Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a dramatic battle with Tyson Fury

Joshua, formerly a unified world champion himself, has previously lost twice to Usyk.

He returned with a points win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, but then followed up with two stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.

He has boxed once this year already, taking out Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, but he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout.

Dubois has also rebuilt successfully from a loss to Usyk.

Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Andy Scott, Andy Clarke, Lewis Richardson and Dan Azeez discuss the possibility of Joshua facing Dubois

The 26-year-old challenged Usyk for the WBO, WBA and IBF titles at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland last August. Dubois put in a game effort, pressing the Ukrainian initially. Usyk had to rise from a low blow, a ruling which Dubois and his team still dispute, to halt Dubois in the ninth round.

The Briton though went on to grind down Jarrell Miller in December and at the start of this month pounded Filip Hrgovic to a halt to win the IBF Interim strap.

“[Being world champion] is a dream. From challenging for the world title to getting the chance to win [it] outright, that’s what I want,” Dubois declared after that fight.

“I’ll demolish Joshua. I’ll get even better from here.”

Joshua was in attendance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, just a day after knocking out Francis Ngannou!

As he looks to reclaim his former position in the division, Joshua said: “I’ve got to pick them off one by one.

“It’s not going to be easy, but that’s my mentality. So come one, come all.

“He [Dubois] has been in tougher fights 1719362248, so he becomes hardened. He has worked his way up the ladder, we’ll see what happens.

“I’ll turn up and do my job.”

Tyson Fury deserved decision in first fight with Oleksandr Usyk, and can win the rematch, says promoter Bob Arum | Boxing News

Tyson Fury deserved decision in first fight with Oleksandr Usyk, and can win the rematch, says promoter Bob Arum | Boxing News



Tyson Fury deserved to win his first fight with Oleksandr Usyk, maintains promoter Bob Arum, but will make changes for the December rematch.

Fury suffered the first defeat of his professional career decision in his undisputed heavyweight world championship clash with Usyk last month.

They are due to box a second time on December 21.

Sky Sports’ Johnny Nelson is not convinced that Oleksandr Usyk will drop back down to cruiserweight in the near future

Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who promotes the Briton, does expect something different from Fury going into that rematch.

“I’d assume there’d be certain changes but that’s up to Tyson and SugarHill [Steward] the trainer who I have great respect for, protege of the great Emanuel Steward,” Arum told Sky Sports.

“I expect certain changes but what they are and how significant they’ll be I don’t know.”

Arum does believe that will be enough for Fury to win the second fight.

Tyson Fury breaks his silence for the first time since his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk and vows that he is ready to win back his title

“We all felt over here [at Top Rank] and I was in Riyadh and I also felt it was going to be a very close fight,” Arum said.

“Because I’ve known Usyk since he turned pro and I knew what a good, determined fighter he was and I followed him in his career because he’s such a good friend of [Vasiliy] Lomachenko and they were always around together.”

He does though think that Fury deserved to win the decision in the first fight.

“I thought he won a close fight but I could see it going the other way which it did,” Arum explained.

Speaking on the Toe2Toe Podcast before the rematch was confirmed, George Groves and Ellie Scotney debate the possible outcome of a second clash between Fury and Usyk

“But Fury as he goes into training he’s got to fight 12 full rounds. Because I thought the first part of the fight, it was no contest. It was all Fury.

“Then in the eighth round Usyk came on and won eight through 11 and I had Tyson come back and win the 12th.

“If Tyson trains well and goes 12 meaningful rounds, he should be able to beat Usyk.”

Conor McGregor reveals toe injury ruled him out of Michael Chandler fight at UFC 303 | WWE News

Conor McGregor reveals toe injury ruled him out of Michael Chandler fight at UFC 303 | WWE News



Conor McGregor has revealed an injured toe forced him out of the upcoming UFC 303 event on June 29, which he was scheduled to headline against Michael Chandler.

McGregor was meant to fight sixth-ranked lightweight contender Chandler, but the first indication that bout was in trouble was when his news conference on June 3 in Dublin was abruptly cancelled, with no immediate explanation provided.

The fight was called off last week, with UFC’s light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira drafted in to face top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka on the Las Vegas bill.

Welterweight champion Leon Edwards says the chance to fight Conor McGregor in the future would add to his ‘greatness’

McGregor insisted he had been “super ready” for his fight but an accident happened.

In a social media post, he said: “It is absolutely gut wrenching.

“We had a lapse in concentration and engaged in a training session without wearing the full protective gear and I hit the toe off the elbow and broke the toe clean. It needs a few weeks – that’s it.”

He added: “I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again. That walk has been seen. This next walk has got to be, and it will be, 100 per cent Conor McGregor.

“The fans deserve it and we are getting close. A slight lapse in concentration and a nuisance of an injury was picked up. That’s it. Take the lesson and move forward. I will get this back.”

He maintains he will make a return to the octagon still, even if it doesn’t come against Michael Chandler.

“I’ve got two fights left on my contract,” he said. “I’m coming to shine. I got to just take my time.

“I’ll be back. See you soon. See you at the top. Chandler or not.”

Speaking on the MMA Club podcast, Jake Gyllenhaal reveals what it was like working with former UFC champion Conor McGregor on the set of their movie, Roadhouse

Losing McGregor, who has not competed inside the octagon in three years, marks a blow to the UFC. At 35, he is past his prime, but remains a strong attraction.

The UFC is at a crossroads, with stars such as McGregor, Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes either near the end of their careers or having already retired.

There is a group of younger fighters still building their fan bases that the UFC is counting on to lead the next generation.