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Category: Boxing

Latest news covering the world of professional boxing.

  • Jorge Masvidal Calls For Nate Diaz Trilogy In ‘Neutral’ Location After Claiming Crowd Influenced Judging In Boxing Defeat

    Jorge Masvidal Calls For Nate Diaz Trilogy In ‘Neutral’ Location After Claiming Crowd Influenced Judging In Boxing Defeat

    Jorge Masvidal appeared to out-land Nate Diaz in the statistics at the conclusion of their boxing match on July 6, but it was not enough to get the win. And “Gamebred” feels the hometown advantage his opponent had played a role in that.

    Diaz scored the win over Masvidal by majority decision in the main event of a card that took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

    The fight proved to be an exciting one that seemingly could have gone either way. The Stockton native had a notable volume-based attack and took over the fight as the former UFC BMF champion’s energy decreased during the middle portion of the fight. In the eyes of many, Masvidal landed the cleaner, more effective, and damaging strikes.

    But one judge scored the bout an even 95-95, while the other two scored the fight 97-93 and 98-92 in favor of Diaz.

    “I definitely know the judges were influenced by the crowd because a lot of those shots were landing in the corner,” Masvidal said at the post-fight press conference. “I was just getting my timing. He’d throw three or four shots that wouldn’t land, and then I’d throw a good power shot. I’d see that Iā€™d hurt him and I’d back him up or he would start goofing around. (I) hurt him to the body numerous times.”

    Jorge Masvidal Feels Nate Diaz’s Hometown Advantage Led To Lopsided Scorecards Against Him

    Masvidal felt he landed the better strikes in the fight, noting the number of times that he seemed to hurt Diaz. However, “Gamebred” claimed the roars of the crowd whenever his rival landed a shot proved to be his downfall and led to two judges scoring the contest in lopsided fashion for Diaz.

    Masvidal feels that if a potential trilogy bout is to go down, then that fight needs to take place in a location where neither man will be a hometown hero.

    “I think one or two of the judges only gave me two rounds. There’s just no way,” Masvidal insisted. “We were looking at the fight right now in the locker room, the meaningful shots, and a lot more of the meaningful shots were landed by me. I just feel that it didnā€™t go my way, but whatever. Weā€™re 1-1, we can run it back some place like Vegas. Make it a neutral place and letā€™s f*cking throw down.

    “From what I saw, I definitely hurt him more than he ever hurt me. I got way cleaner shots, especially to the body. He never even did anything to my body. I definitely hurt his body, and a couple times that I hurt him, he backed up,” Masvidal continued. “He put a lot of pressure and he was coming forward but he never hurt me. I donā€™t think he landed any meaningful punches. Eight rounds to two is f*cking nuts. Whatever, itā€™s California. I knew I had to get a knockout or some sh*t like this (would happen).”

    Masvidal expressed a desire for a third fight in the ring, too, prior to the press conference. The pair exchanged heated words during that time, needing to be separated.

    “Gamebred” previously scored the win in their first outing in the UFC five years ago, defeating Diaz via third-round doctor’s stoppage in the main event of UFC 244 to win the inaugural BMF championship.

  • Nate Diaz Targets Two Other Rematches After Boxing Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    Nate Diaz Targets Two Other Rematches After Boxing Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    Now that Nate Diaz has avenged his previous loss to Jorge Masvidal, he has other names in mind that he’d like to get wins back on.

    Diaz scored a majority decision win over Masvidal in the main event of a boxing card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, on July 6. This served as a rematch ā€” albeit in another sport ā€” five years from their first encounter at UFC 244. Masvidal won the initial fight by doctor’s stoppage, making him the first-ever BMF champion of the UFC.

    Diaz scored the win in the closely contested boxing match with a volume-based attack, despite Masvidal landing the harder and arguably cleaner strikes.

    Following the fight, despite Masvidal’s wishes for a trilogy bout and an exchanging of words, Diaz expressed a desire to get back in the ring with Jake Paul and to return to the UFC to face current welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

    Nate Diaz Calls Out Jake Paul & Leon Edwards After Avenging Jorge Masvidal Defeat

    Diaz doubled down on these thoughts at the post-fight press conference.

    “Just off the top of my head, I would like to whip (Paul’s) ass,” Diaz said. “I would like to get a win against Leon Edwards, whoā€™s the best fighter in the world right now at 170 (pounds). I think that’s something major who actually brings something that I can take and put in a credential box. That’s what Iā€™m going for. I’m not playing for no f*cking fun fights, because that sh*t ain’t fun.”

    Diaz made his professional boxing debut against Paul last year. “The Problem Child” dealt some big damage to Diaz in the opening rounds before going on to win a decision.

    Paul called Diaz out on social media after the fight, claiming that the Stockton native has been ducking him despite the callout. As he noted on X/Twitter this weekend, Paul has previously offered Diaz upwards of $15 million for a rematch in the PFL MMA cage, not in the boxing ring.

    In his second-to-last UFC fight, Diaz dropped a decision to Edwards at UFC 263.

  • ‘Not Opposed To Seeing A Third Fight’ – Fight Fans Left Mixed After Nate Diaz Scores Decision Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    ‘Not Opposed To Seeing A Third Fight’ – Fight Fans Left Mixed After Nate Diaz Scores Decision Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    After losing to him in the UFC in 2019, Nate Diaz has scored revenge in the boxing ring, defeating Jorge Masvidal via majority decision in the main event of a card on July 6 in Anaheim, California.

    Diaz and Masvidal both brought it from the opening bell. Diaz set the pace early, but Masvidal fired off solid shots of his own. Masvidal seemingly took control then, continuing to land the more effective and powerful blows. Masvidal continued this into the fourth round, but Diaz started to bring out the volume.

    Masvidal worked the body, but Diaz seemed to have more energy as the fight got to the halfway mark. That volume helped him bring forward pressure to Masvidal in the sixth round.

    The themes continued into the final few rounds, with Diaz landing noteworthy shots, but Masvidal landing the cleaner and more powerful punches, proving it to be anyone’s battle.

    Ultimately, it was Diaz who came out on top, winning on 97-93 and a 98-92 scorecards. The third scorecard was a 95-95 draw.

    Fight Fans React To Close, Controversial Decision Win For Nate Diaz Over Jorge Masvidal In Boxing Ring

    https://twitter.com/GoatBranding/status/1809833661904117931

    Diaz went on to call out Jake Paul and Leon Edwards after the fight, looking for revenge against Paul in his next outing before intending to return to the UFC and challenge the welterweight champion.

    Masvidal, meanwhile, will look for a trilogy bout with Diaz. His post-fight comments saw some tense words exchanged between the pair.

    Diaz and Masvidal first met five years ago in the UFC at UFC 244. At New York’s Madison Square Garden, Masvidal scored a controversial third-round doctor’s stoppage win over Diaz to become the first ‘BMF’ champion. Masvidal then lost his next four fights, retiring in 2023 following a loss to Gilbert Burns.

    Masvidal’s sole professional boxing match prior to tonight came in 2005, defeating Joseph Benjamin via majority decision.

    Diaz fought twice more in UFC after the loss, dropping a decision to Leon Edwards and scoring a submission of Tony Ferguson. Diaz made his professional boxing debut last year, losing to Paul.

    Read Also: ā€˜This Is Actually Insaneā€™ ā€“ Fans Left Fuming As Fanmio Stream Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

  • ‘This Is Actually Insane’ – Fans Left Fuming As Fanmio Stream Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

    ‘This Is Actually Insane’ – Fans Left Fuming As Fanmio Stream Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

    Professional wrestling fans know the story of the infamous WCW Halloween Havoc pay-per-view in 1998. After a disasterous Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior match, the WCW world title battle between Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page proved to be a classic — but people didn’t get to see it because the pay-per-view broadcast ran overtime.

    You would think in a world where we have streaming platforms aplenty and are used to the nature (for better or for worse) of combat sports pay-per-view pacing, we wouldn’t have such a mistake again. Unfortunately, we somehow did with Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal.

    After a grueling co-main event battle between Shane Mosley Jr. and Daniel Jacobs, and an undercard criticized for its pacing, the main event battle between Diaz and Masvidal kicked off at 1:18 am ET. But just as the fireworks in the ring were ready to start, those who were watching on the Fanmio pay-per-view service saw their feeds shockingly crash.

    Ultimately, the Fanmio broadcast never went back up. And from the moment the broadcast went down, the combat community on social media went full scorched earth on the service.

    Fight Fans Demand Refunds After Fanmio Broadcast Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

    https://twitter.com/annellawafer_/status/1809824226913972324

    As of publication time, Fanmio has yet to release a statement in response to the issues and fan outrage. It is unknown if refunds will be issued.

    Diaz scored a majority decision win over Masvidal, edging Masvidal out in a battle of volume from Diaz vs. power from Masvidal.

    Following the fight, Diaz announced intentions to get revenge on Jake Paul before returning to the UFC. Masvidal, meanwhile, hopes to have another battle in boxing, with the two trading words and needing to be separated.

    Read Also: Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Results & Highlights: Diaz Wins Slugfest

  • Conor McGregor Makes Prediction For Boxing Match Between ‘Little Play Around Dipsh*ts’ Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal

    Conor McGregor Makes Prediction For Boxing Match Between ‘Little Play Around Dipsh*ts’ Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal

    Conor McGregor has made his opinion known on tonight’s boxing battle between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal.

    As McGregor recovers from his toe injury that led to the postponement of his long-planned MMA return with Michael Chandler ā€” and as we wait for a new date to be announced for such a fight ā€” he has eyes turned toward a main event boxing showdown between two other names that have been UFC stars.

    McGregor is very familiar with Diaz as a fighter, and it’s that experience that partly makes him predict that the Stockton native will come out on top in this fight at Anaheim’s Honda Center on Saturday.

    In fact, McGregor took to social media to state that he has placed a major, $500,000 bet down on Diaz tonight.

    Conor McGregor Places $500K Bet That Nate Diaz Defeats Jorge Masvidal In Boxing

    “Range, form, experience, solely hands being used, I can’t see Masvidal causing any problems to Nate in a boxing ring whatsoever,” McGregor posted. They are both little play around dips**** in a fight, play around bollox, but I feel Nate does him in easy here for real.”

    McGregor and Diaz fought in two legendary battles at UFC 196 and UFC 202. Fighting on just over a week’s notice, the American fan favorite submitted his Irish counterpart in upset fashion at UFC 196.

    McGregor got his revenge in a closely contested encounter by a majority decision win at UFC 202, which at one point was the most bought pay-per-view in UFC history.

    Meanwhile, Masvidal and the former two-division champion never fought in the Octagon, with UFC CEO Dana White at one point noting that McGregor would look small fighting “Gamebred” at 170 pounds.

    Diaz and Masvidal faced off at UFC 244 in November 2019, with the Miami native winning via third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO to become the inaugural BMF champion.

  • Nate Diaz’s DisclosedĀ Pay Nearly Doubles That Of Jorge Masvidal For Upcoming Boxing Match

    Nate Diaz’s DisclosedĀ Pay Nearly Doubles That Of Jorge Masvidal For Upcoming Boxing Match

    Despite coming out on top in their UFC encounter five years ago, Jorge Masvidal is not one of the top-two earners of the boxing card that he and Nate Diaz will be headlining on July 6.

    The California State Athletic Commission revealed the purse salaries on fight day, with MMA Fighting being the first to report them.

    Diaz will have the most guaranteed money out of all participants on the night, walking away with a minimum of $500,000. Masvidal, meanwhile, will only make $300,000 guaranteed.

    Masvidal actually has just the third-most guaranteed money out of everyone on the card. Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who competes on the Diaz vs. Masvidal undercard, will earn $350,000 in guaranteed money.

    Other notable figures from the card include Chris Avila making $210,000, Shane Mosley Jr. making $160,000, and Daniel Jacobs making $100,000. Jacobs, however, missed weight for his fight, so half of his purse will go to Mosley Jr., his opponent.

    The full listed of guaranteed salaries is listed below.

    • Nate Diaz $500,000
    • Jorge Masvidal $300,000
    • Daniel Jacobs $100,000* (fined 20 percent of his purse)
    • Shane Mosley Jr. $160,000
    • Anthony Pettis $350,000
    • Chris Avila $210,000
    • Curmel Moton $40,000
    • Nikolai Buzolin $8,000* (fined 20 percent of his purse)
    • Amado Vargas $100,000
    • Sean Garcia $50,000* (fined 20 percent of his purse)
    • Devin Cushing $60,000
    • Manuel Correa $15,000
    • Luciano Ramos $5,000
    • Dan Hernandez $3,500
    • Alan Sanchez $55,000
    • Luis Lopes $22,500
    • Steve Dunn $500
    • Gabriel Costa $2,500
    • Jose Aguayo $40,000
    • Bryce Logan $6,000
    • Ken Lopez $18,000
    • Andres Martinez $600

    As previously mentioned, these salaries are just guaranteed money and do not include earnings of pay-per-view sales that certain fighters may receive. They also do not include locker room bonuses, sponsorship earnings, and other means of revenue.

    Diaz and Masvidal will meet in a 10-round light heavyweight bout in Saturday’s main event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

    The two first met at UFC 244 in November 2019, with Masvidal winning via third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO to become the inaugural BMF champion.

  • VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner

    VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner

    Darren Till may have scored a win in his return to combat sports action, but the ultimate result was a disaster inside the ring.

    Till took on Moh Mutie in the featured contest of Social Knockout 3 in Dubai, UAE. During the fight, Mutie turned his head, with the former UFC fighter landing a light strike to the back of the head.

    While this would normally be considered an illegal strike, Till was declared the winner by TKO after Mutie was left apparently unable to continue, claiming to feel dizzy after the punch.

    But the action did not stop there, as the pair got into a brawl following the fight ending, with both teams getting involved.

    Darren Till Involved In Brawl After Defeating Moh Mutie In Combat Sports Return

    https://twitter.com/cutman_mase/status/1809657875683242458

    Till had been originally scheduled to return in a bout with Julio CƩsar ChƔvez Jr. on July 20 at the originally scheduled Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card before the main event was delayed.

    Till had been out of action since losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282 in December 2022. He exited the UFC last February after requesting his release to pursue other ventures.

    Till’s opponent, Mutie, is a Middle Eastern MMA fighter known as “The Palestinian Gorilla” with an MMA record of 2-2-1.

  • Mike Perry Wary Of Fan Backlash If He Angles For Mike Tyson Match: ‘The One Fight I Don’t Want To Have, Mike Perry vs. The Internet’

    Mike Perry Wary Of Fan Backlash If He Angles For Mike Tyson Match: ‘The One Fight I Don’t Want To Have, Mike Perry vs. The Internet’

    Mike Perry recently voiced his apprehension about inciting fan outrage if he were to pursue a future boxing match against the legendary, yet much older, Mike Tyson.

    Perry is currently slated to fight Jake Paul on July 20 in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    This matchup was announced after Paul’s planned fight against “Iron Mike” on the same date was pushed to November 15 due to the former undisputed heavyweight champion’s health scare.

    Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up during a flight in May, leaving him nauseous and in need of medical attention. Although his team initially claimed he had fully recovered, subsequent medical examinations revealed that the 58-year-old boxing legend was not fit to compete in July.

    The upcoming bout against Paul presents a tremendous opportunity for “Platinum” to elevate his profile on a grander stage. Already thriving as a bare-knuckle fighter, Perry is the biggest star in BKFC, boasting impressive victories over notable opponents like Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez.

    Despite securing the fight due to unexpected circumstances, Perry is eager to compete against Tyson if he secures a win against the YouTuber-turned-boxer on July 20.

    However, the former UFC welterweight fighter is cautious of potential public outcry, as many might disapprove of the matchup due to the significant age difference…

    Perry Eyes Tyson Fight But Hesitant About Public Reaction

    During a recent ESPN MMA interview, Perry was asked if he would consider fighting Tyson next, should he defeat “The Problem Child” and take his spotlight on November 15. “Platinum” eagerly affirmed his desire to face the boxing icon.

    “Yes, absolutely. Of course, man, I’m thinking about that. I would definitely do it.”

    However, the 32-year-old Michigan native acknowledged that facing Tyson would be the biggest matchup of his career, and he doesn’t want to provoke public backlash unnecessarily. For now, he is concentrating solely on his fight with Paul.

    “The comments can be negative already, anyway, so now they’re going to say, ‘Oh, now you’re gonna fight the old guy.’ The internet is undefeated. That’s the one fight I don’t want to have is Mike Perry vs. the internet because I could be the guy to beat the internet, bro. Fighting Mike Tyson would be obviously be cool but I’m just focused on July 20, man. I gotta have tunnel vision, this is my opportunity to show the world.”

    When Paul vs. Tyson was first announced, the MMA community raised alarm bells over the staggering 31-year age gap between the fighters, a difference that would set a new record in professional boxing history.

    “Iron Mike” hasn’t fought professionally since retiring during his bout against Kevin McBride in June 2005. However, Tyson made a comeback in November 2020, stepping into the squared circle for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., which ended in a draw.

  • Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Results: Three Fighters Miss Weight

    Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Results: Three Fighters Miss Weight

    Former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal weighed in today ahead of their rematch in the boxing ring this Saturday. MMA News has the results here!

    The rivalry between Diaz and Masvidal has returned to the surface this year. In 2019, they faced each other in the main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. UFC fans expected the matchup to be an action-packed fight, as both had an impressive win before the event. Unfortunately, it ended in anticlimactic fashion, with Masvidal winning by doctor’s stoppage.

    Both fighters will seek a more decisive victory in the boxing ring tomorrow. Ahead of the event, all fighters weighed in today to make it official.

    All fighters weighed in at the proper weight limit except for Daniel Jacobs, Nikolai Buzolin, and Sean Garcia. Their fights are expected to go on as planned.

    Fans of Diaz are hoping he is coming into his rematch against ā€œGamebredā€ more motivated than he has in past fights. In his most recent outing last August, he made his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul. Diaz showed spurts of competitiveness but was outmatched and knocked down in the contest, which Paul won by unanimous decision.

    This Saturday marks a big night for the California native as he tries to prove that he still has more left in his combat sports career.

    For Masvidal, he is no stranger to competing in a boxing ring. He has one win on his pro boxing record after defeating Joseph Benjamin by majority decision in 2005. Although he has fared better in the sport than Diaz, the former BMF champion’s win from 19 years ago was a four-round fight. Saturday’s matchup will be a 10-round affair, which some fans believe could benefit Diaz more than the Miami native.

    That said, Masvidal has shared in the lead-up to his showdown with his rival that he plans to get a knockout to settle their issues for good.

    Masvidal vs. Diaz will occur at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main card will start at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on Fanmio for $49.99. Fans looking to watch the card on DAZN must be subscribed and buy the pay-per-view.

    Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Results

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Nate Diaz (175.6lbs) vs. Jorge Masvidal (175.2lbs)
    • Super Middleweight: Daniel Jacobs (169.2lbs)* vs. Shane Mosley Jr. (167.6lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Anthony Pettis (175.3lbs) vs. Chris Avila (175.6lbs)
    • Lightweight: Curmel Moton (133.5lbs) vs. Nikolai Buzolin (137.7lbs)*
    • Lightweight: Amado Vargas (134.1lbs) vs. Sean Garcia (138.1lbs)*
    • Lightweight: Devin Cushing (131.9lbs) vs. Manuel Correa (131.2lbs)

    * Sean Garcia missed the lightweight limit by 3.1 pounds.

    * Nikolai Buzolin missed the lightweight limit by 2.7 pounds

    * Daniel Jacobs missed the super middleweight limit by 1.2 pounds.

  • Darren Till Predicts Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, Provides Update On Future: ‘We Always Push For War, Never Peace!’

    Darren Till Predicts Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, Provides Update On Future: ‘We Always Push For War, Never Peace!’

    Former UFC title challenger Darren Till is set to finally make his combat sports return this weekend after taking a late-notice fight at Social Knockout 3 in Dubai.

    Till was previously scheduled to make his long awaited boxing debut against Julio CĆ©sar ChĆ”vez Jr. on the undercard of Jake Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson. With that card being postponed until November, the fight was off, but the Brit hopes that he will still be a part of that event in some capacity when it takes place later this year.

    It has taken him a long time to get back in the mix, and after having this big fight collapse, he doesn’t want to lose out on the big opportunities that could have come with getting a win on July 20.

    Till is still targeting two of the biggest names that are out there for him in boxing as they’re set to meet on the originally planned date for Paul vs. Tyson.

    Darren Till Talks Wanting To Face Jake Paul & Mike Perry, Predicts Their Upcoming Fight

    In an interview with Fred Talks Fighting ahead of his return to competition, Till laid out his plans for the near future.

    Regardless of what happens on July 20, he is hoping to face either Mike Perry or Jake Paul, and there’s no denying that both fights would be big occasions for “The Gorilla.”

    “I think it’s either Jake Paul or Mike Perry at this point. Me and Mike Perry have got a lot of history. … It’s always beef, it’s always war with Mike. We always push for war, never peace.”

    Till also gave his prediction for the upcoming clash between Perry and Paul that was announced shortly after the postponement of the Tyson fight.

    The former UFC fighter finds it difficult to call a winner because of what both men bring to the table, but he is leaning ever so slightly toward “The Problem Child.”

    “I keep 50:50 on both, some days I say Jake ā€˜cause I know Jake’s the bigger man, but then I don’t think you can rule Perry out. Perry’s a tough man and he’s been beating all these veterans now. like, I think it’s a 50:50. I’m gonna sway towards Jake a little bit more.”

  • Tyson Fury’s Brother Admits Father John’s Advice In Oleksandr Usyk Fight Was Counter-Productive: ‘Them Instructions Is Sometimes Not What you need…’

    Tyson Fury’s Brother Admits Father John’s Advice In Oleksandr Usyk Fight Was Counter-Productive: ‘Them Instructions Is Sometimes Not What you need…’

    Following the first loss of his professional career, there was some criticism regarding the corner work that was done by Tyson Fury’s team in his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

    Fury appeared to be behind in the later stages of the fight after nearly being stopped in the ninth round. While some of his corner team looked to correct some mistakes that he had been making in the fight, his father John Fury was more focused on motivating his son.

    Fury could be heard in the corner saying that all “The Gypsy King” needed to do was get through the final stages of the fight in order to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion despite the fact that the scorecards had it in Usyk’s favor.

    Shane Fury Says His Father Was More Concerned With Protecting Tyson Fury Than Giving CFight Advice

    The brother of Tyson Fury, Shane Fury, is the latest to give his thoughts on whether or not the corner were partly to blame for the defeat in May.

    Tyson’s uncle Peter has been very critical in recent weeks with his words about how there was far too many voices all saying different things and talking over one another rather than delivering precise and clear information.

    He questioned the professionalism of the corner and how each man should have their specific job and stick to that rather than everyone trying to play head coach.

    Shane echoed this without being quite as critical, telling iFL TV that his father was trying to protect his son rather than giving him the right advice on how to win the fight.

    “My take is, deeply, truly, my honest opinion is my dad wants whatā€™s the best for his son, and the best for his son after heā€™s been put down and nearly out cold is to get him through the fight. F*** theĀ boxing, you can be KOā€™d and not wake up. Thatā€™s his mentality ’cause he wants the best for his sons, but sometimes when you want the best for someone, itā€™s maybe not the best instructions. Them instructions is sometimes not what you need.”

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Slams Influencer Who Disrespected Nate Diaz At Press Conference: ‘Homeboy, You’re Lucky He Doesn’t Jump Over The Tableā€¦’

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Slams Influencer Who Disrespected Nate Diaz At Press Conference: ‘Homeboy, You’re Lucky He Doesn’t Jump Over The Tableā€¦’

    A recent trend in combat sports sees influencers asking intentionally provoking questions to professional fighters in order to stir up social media.

    The latest example came during the press conference for Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal’s boxing match this Saturday where a streamer named “N3on” got hold of the mic.

    He proceeded to ask Diaz whether he was going to retire when he gets knocked out on Saturday night, which obviously did not go down well with the Stockton fighter.

    The streamer’s name may ring a bell for fight fans after he was prevented from attending UFC 296 in December last year following comments online about how he would confront Donald Trump at the event.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says N3on Is Lucky Nate Diaz Didn’t Go Right At Him After Insulting Question

    On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy gave his reaction to the clip of N3on attempting to antagonise Diaz at the press conference.

    Diaz did hold his own and repeatedly responded with expletives before his team appeared to pursue the streamer once the press conference had finished, as shown in the video below.

    McCarthy expressed his dislike of this trend that keeps coming back around, expressing that N3on should be lucky that Diaz didn’t just decide to jump off the stage and handle it right then and there.

    “Where is it that a guy that has never been in a fight in his life wants to be a smarta** with a guy who is a real fighter, he has to sit up there, he has to listen to your b******* and you want to sit there and say, ‘Are you gonna retire when you get knocked out this Saturday night?’

    “It’s like, do you think maybe, do you think just maybe that’s a f****** douchebag thing to say to a guy that’s been through wars throughout his career and you’ve never done a f****** thing?ā€

    McCarthy then continued, warning streamers like N3on who push their luck against real fighters that they may end up biting off more trouble than they can chew.

    “It’s always these guys that they’ll never f****** do anything and they’ll sit there and say something like, ‘You’re gonna get knocked out, you gonna retire when you do’. It’s like, homebody, you’re lucky he doesn’t jump over that table and just drop kick you into the f****** third row and let your teeth become f****** chicklets.”

  • Nate Diaz’s Boxing ‘Back To Where It Was’ Ahead Of Jorge Masvidal Fight: ‘I’ve Heard That Nate’s Been Actually Looking Goodā€¦’

    Nate Diaz’s Boxing ‘Back To Where It Was’ Ahead Of Jorge Masvidal Fight: ‘I’ve Heard That Nate’s Been Actually Looking Goodā€¦’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy believe that Nate Diaz could have the advantage over Jorge Masvidal in their upcoming boxing match, provided he maintains his aggressive pressure-fighting style.

    Diaz is set to square off against Masvidal this Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The highly anticipated rematch between the former UFC stars is scheduled for 10 rounds in the light heavyweight division.

    The pair first clashed in the Octagon at UFC 244 in November 2019, where ‘Gamebred’ emerged victorious over Diaz with a TKO in the fourth round, securing the inaugural BMF title. Masvidal dominated the initial three rounds with relentless strikes, causing a deep gash above Diaz’s eyes and leaving his face bloodied.

    Although both fighters were eager to continue, the Octagon-side doctor stopped the fight just after the third round due to the severity of Diaz’s injuries.

    While Masvidal is gearing up to make his professional debut in the squared circle, the upcoming match will be the Stockton native’s sophomore boxing fight. Last August, Diaz faced Jake Paul but lost by unanimous decision in a fairly one-sided bout.

    Diaz recently admitted to having minimal preparation before his fight with “The Problem Child.” However, according to Thomson and McCarthy, the former UFC lightweight title challenger has shown unwavering dedication this time around in preparation for his bout against Masvidal…

    Thomson & McCarthy Believe Diaz’s Aggressive Approach Key to Beating Masvidal

    During a recent episode of their WEIGHING IN podcast, Thomson and McCarthy analyzed the boxing rematch between Diaz and Masvidal. “The Punk,” who previously secured a TKO victory over Diaz in the Octagon, emphasized that the Californian must deliver early damage to Masvidal with his trademark forward pressure, which could prove decisive in the fight.

    “Nate Diaz is just being someone if once he gets the pressure going as he used to when he was younger,” Thomson said. “I think the reach is going to be a factor if he can like I said, get this thing going early… He’s gotta get started early if he wants to have a chance to win this fight.”

    The veteran MMA referee concurred with Thomson’s analysis and shared an insider scoop about Diaz’s training camp. He revealed that he heard Diaz is in excellent shape and has performed well in sparring sessions. In contrast, “Gamebred” has had limited training sessions due to the demands of promoting the bout, which might affect his performance.

    “I know Nate’s been training,” McCarthy said. “I’ve heard that Nate’s been actually looking good; his boxing is back to where it was at a certain point. I think it’s a pick’em fight.”

  • Francis Ngannou’s Teammate & PFL Star Sadibou Sy Honest About Him Taking Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou cut ties with the UFC in Jan. 2023 and went on to box Tyson Fury in October later that year. Contrary to popular belief, he survived the ten rounds and knocked down Fury in the third.

    After a remarkable boxing debut, Ngannou fought former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This time around, the MMA star suffered a crushing KO loss.

    “The Predator” is yet to return to boxing or fight for the PFL. The definitive loss to Joshua has compelled many to question Ngannou’s career choices, but here’s what his teammate Sadibou Sy thinks of it.

    Sadibou Sy Praises Francis Ngannou For Trying To Achieve Greatness By Fighting Anthony Joshua

    In an interview posted on the InsideFighting YouTube channel, Sy gave his two cents on Ngannou’s boxing career. He outright claimed that despite the loss, his teammate did the unthinkable and a loss doesn’t take away any of his greatbess.

    “So, for me, I would say this. Like, after the fact, when you have the results, saying, like, yeah he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that. Like, he did something unbelievable and something that’s never been done before. For me, just because he didn’t win against Anthony Joshua, doesn’t take that away.”

    Sy also pointed out that Ngannou earned the Joshua fight due to his impressive performance against Fury. He beat the reigning WBC heavyweight champion in the eyes of many and wasn’t a huge underdog going into his second boxing fight.

    “He, as a guy, coming in to martial arts and fighting in general, just being here for a couple of years, becoming a UFC champion. Fighting arguably, arguably the best heavyweight out there. In some guys’ opinion, winning that fight. That giving him the opportunity to now face Anthony Joshua. What is he supposed to do? No, I don’t want the big paycheck. No, I don’t want to, like, test myself.”

    Sy respects Ngannou for getting a huge paycheck and testing his mettle against the best fighters in another sport. He doesn’t think the Joshua fight was a mistake by any means and is proud of his teammate’s achievements.

    After making a fortune in boxing, Ngannou is expected to face Renan Ferreira in the PFL next.

  • ‘This Needs To Be The End’ – Boxing Fans React After Deontay Wilder Suffers Brutal KO Loss To Zhilei Zhang

    ‘This Needs To Be The End’ – Boxing Fans React After Deontay Wilder Suffers Brutal KO Loss To Zhilei Zhang

    Deontay Wilder suffered his second consecutive loss in Riyadh after he was stopped by Zhilei Zhang in the fifth round.

    “Big Bang” landed a huge right hand as Wilder looked to land one of his own, spinning “The Bronze Bomber” around before Zhang followed up with another shot that sent him to the canvas.

    The main event win for Zhang made it a clean sweep for Frank Warren and Team Queensbury in their 5 v 5 clash with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.

    It also means that Wilder has lost four of his last five, beating Robert Helenius in between his losses to Zhang and Joseph Parker and back-to-back defeats at the hands of Tyson Fury.

    Many have suggested that this could be the end for Wilder, who was undefeated at 42-0-1 until the rematch with Fury.

    Boxing Fans Call For Deontay Wilder To Retire Following KO Loss

    Wilder may only have four losses on his record but he looks a significantly different fighter in his last few performances following his consecutive defeats to “The Gypsy King”.

    After he was stopped for the third time in his career, the boxing world weighed in with their thoughts on the fight and what should be next for Wilder after another tough result.

    https://twitter.com/AbzTalks1/status/1797062364082123206

  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Postponed After Boxing Legend’s Recent Health Scare

    The planned boxing showdown between YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson won’t be going ahead this summer.

    Paul and Tyson were due to do battle at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 20, headlining the very first live combat sports event to be broadcast on the Netflix streaming platform. 

    The bout immediately drew controversy upon its announcement owing to the three-decade age disparity between the former Disney star and the boxing legend, who will be 58 by the time the originally planned fight date rolls around.

    And backlash to the professional contest increased recently when “Iron Mike” experienced a health scare while on a flight from Los Angeles to Miami, with images emerging of the veteran boxer in a wheelchair.

    That issue, revealed to be ulcer flare-ups, has now caused a postponement.

    Netflix took to social media to announce the news, noting that the matchup will be kept together and instead take place toward the end of the year. The venue is expected to remain the same.

    “Unfortunately Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will not face-off on July 20 as planned. Tysonā€™s recent ulcer flare up has limited his ability to train fully for the next few weeks. The fight will be rescheduled for a date later this year after Mikeā€™s able to resume training with no limitations and both fighters can have equal time to prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup! Stay tuned for the new fight date to be announced by the end of next week.”

    The postponement comes after the pair had already completed a brief media tour promoting the now-scrapped summer clash in “The Lone Star State.”

    Reacting to the news in a statement posted by his Most Valuable Promotions, Paul backed the decision to delay the match until Tyson is able to resume full training following his health issues.

    “I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night,” Paul said. “My fans know I don’t want to face ‘Iron Mike’ at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake – when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish. Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup.”

    It appears the cancellation will also lead to a delay for the undercard fights, including the planned co-headlining championship rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

  • Chael Sonnen Dismisses Concerns Surrounding Mike Tyson In A Wheelchair Ahead Of Jake Paul Fight

    Since the fight was announced, there have only been more concerns surrounding the current health condition of Mike Tyson.

    “Iron” Mike will be 58 years old by the time that he returns to the ring to face Jake Paul on July 20 and it would be hard to say that he’s treated his body well over the years.

    The latest cause for concern was from a health scare during a flight that was later cleared up with his team saying that he is fine despite becoming nauseous and dizzy before landing.

    Tyson echoed this on his own social media account but this recent occurrence doesn’t seem to be an entirely isolated incident or an unexplainable one-off with little significance.

    Chael Sonnen Says Mike Tyson Being In A Wheelchair Isn’t A Concern Ahead Of The Fight

    Back when the fight was made official, some people raised a red flag over him needing to use a wheelchair in recent times.

    Tyson explained that this was due to him suffering from sciatica, a nerve condition which can cause him to have pain in his legs, making this unrelated to the supposed ulcer flare-up that he suffered from this past weekend whilst heading to Los Angeles.

    Though the wheelchair images have resurfaced since this news broke, and surely will come back around before the fight, Chael Sonnen isn’t too worried about them.

    “The Bad Guy” is always looking to read between the lines when it comes to fight promotion and the narrative that people want to put out there.

    In a recent YouTube video, he spoke about how these old photos are crucial in telling people about this fight.

    “Or you could look at it the other way which is Mike Tyson and a mention of his fight with Jake Paul on Netflix would not have been on TMZ Sport today without that. It very much is a perspective of how you are going to handle it. I mean it would be a very very strange and insincere gesture, if you’re in the position of Jake Paul, to wish Mike well and Jake hasn’t done this but it would be a very strange gesture.”

    Sonnen went on to say that the main marketing piece for this fight is about how the one attribute Paul has over the boxing legend is his youth.

    Therefore by further emphasizing this, it makes the fight more interesting and compelling for potential viewers.

    “This is a massive courageous moment by Mike and now you’re just going to add one more level of courage that you, the average man, couldn’t do. Because when you say that Tyson shouldn’t be able to fight in a month, you’re not really talking about Mike cuz you’re not really like Mike. You wouldn’t have any ability to relate.”       

  • Date Revealed For Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s Rematch With Tyson Fury

    Date Revealed For Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk’s Rematch With Tyson Fury

    A second chapter will be added to the rivalry between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury later this year.

    Usyk was triumphant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier this month, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years by defeating the previously undefeated Fury. 

    The Ukrainian and British heavyweights collided in a thrilling 12-round affair in the Middle East, with a memorable flurry that included a knockdown in round nine aiding Usyk’s ultimately successful bid to add the WBC title to his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring belts.

    The highly anticipated fight was the topic of intense discussions in the aftermath, with some believing that “The Gypsy King” had done enough to be the one succeeding Lennox Lewis as heavyweight’s next undisputed king.

    Regardless, any unfinished business will be settled in a rematch, which now has a confirmed date attached to it…

    Usyk vs. Fury 2 Set For December 21 In Riyadh

    With a rematch clause revealed ahead of their meeting this month, it appeared only a matter of time until a second dance between Usyk and Fury was announced. And on Wednesday, Turki Alalshikh took to social media with news of it.

    Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority confirmed that the two heavyweight stars will do battle once again on December 21 during Riyadh Season.

    “The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season…The world will watch another historical fight again…Our commitment to boxing fans continues…We hope you enjoy it…”

    The bout appears unlikely to be for the undisputed crown, however, with talk of the IBF stripping Usyk in the coming weeks being fanned by Eddie Hearn.

    The Matchroom Boxing head suggested that plan remains in place to Boxing Social, meaning Anthony Joshua is likely to fight the Filip Hrgović vs. Daniel Dubois winner for the vacant belt at Wembley Stadium in London, England, this coming September.

  • Jake Paul Says Kamaru Usman’s Boxing Skills Are “Fake”

    Jake Paul isn’t a fan of UFC welterweight Kamaru Usman’s chances in the boxing ring should he get an opportunity against Canelo Alvarez.

    Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 for him in the boxing ring in which he earned three-straight wins to remain undefeated. He most recently knocked out former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in their short-notice rematch last December.

    Usman has flirted with the idea of challenging Alvarez for a crossover fight soon, with both sides expressing interest in promoting a potential bout. However, Paul thinks Usman may be making the wrong decision in targeting a matchup with Alvarez in boxing.

    Paul has proven to never be afraid to speak his mind, similar to Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. In a recent interview, Abdelaziz predicted that Usman would make quick work of Alvarez if they were to fight.

    Abdelaziz took a shot at Paul and other YouTuber-turned boxers by referring to them as “fake fighters from boxing”. This prompted quite the response from Paul on social media.

    “Mr. Informantā€¦ do us all a favor and shut your peanut head ass mouth,” Paul told Abdelaziz. “The only thing fake is your boy Usmanā€™s boxing skills. He won the belt from Tyron Woodley by decision. You seen what I did.”

    This isn’t the first time that Paul has taken a shot at Usman. In November, he claimed that the UFC’s pound-for-pound king is “past his prime” and wouldn’t be a difficult matchup for him.

    Abdelaziz has also had his own history with Paul after predicting that Usman would knock him out inside four rounds. While Usman has improved his striking considerably over his past few fights, he has yet to make a debut in the boxing ring.

    While the chances of a Usman vs. Alvarez boxing match remain unclear, this hasn’t stopped some like Paul downplaying the idea that Usman would stand much of a chance in the ring.

    Do you agree with Jake Paul’s take on Kamaru Usman’s boxing?

  • Fury Sends Encouraging Message To Aspinall Ahead Of UFC London

    Ahead of Tom Aspinall’s upcoming UFC London main event, boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has sent him a motivational message.

    This Saturday, Tom Aspinall faces Alexander Volkov at UFC London. Aspinall (11-2) possesses a strong record leading up to his match with the 6 foot 7 “Drago.” Additionally, none of his professional fights have gone to a decision.

    At just 28 years of age, the English fighter has racked up nothing but nasty early-round submissions and knockouts. Aspinall’s last seven, back-to-back victories mostly ended in TKOs, one including a leg injury when he fought with Cage Warriors.

    In his last dominant performance, he ended Sergey Spivak with a vicious combo of punches and elbows.

    Tom Aspinall and Sergey Spivak
    Tom Aspinall and Sergey Spivak at UFC Fight Night 191, Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Clearly, Aspinall is capable of destroying his opponents, but in case he needs some extra encouragement, WBC Champion Tyson Fury, who defends his title again next month, wished his friend good luck and clear instructions on how to deal with Volkov.

    “Hey Tyson Fury, here. I just want to wish my buddy Tom Aspinall all the best in his upcoming UFC heavyweight fight. Good luck, Tom. Do the business. Smash his face in. Get up there, my boy, all the way to the mother(beep) bank, man, do it.”

    Having “The Gypsy King” offer words of encouragement before a big fight carries some world champion weight to it. And it may be necessary as Aspinall faces an opponent with a very experienced career.

    Russian-born Alexander Volkov has accumulated 22 knockouts in his 34 wins. His most recent fight was a loss to the #1 heavyweight contender, Ciryl Gane.

    Both fighters enter their match with a win, but can Volkov end Aspinall’s devastating seven-fight win streak, or will Aspinall “smash his face in” and continue on his path of victory?

    What are your thoughts on Tyson Fury’s message to Tom Aspinall?

  • James Toney Calls Randy Couture A “Coward” For Retiring After Their MMA Bout

    According to James Toney, he and Randy Couture were supposed to battle it out in a boxing match following their MMA bout.

    Before and after his MMA debut, James Toney was an incredible boxing sensation. From 1988 to 2017, he competed in 92 professional boxing matches and gained a total of 77 wins.

    Toney fought in multiple weight classes and won championships in three of them. But in 2010, it was time for Toney to broaden his horizons and take a shot at another combat sport.

    UFC 118 saw Randy Couture and James Toney as the co-main event. Although “Lights Out” lost the match in round 1 via an arm-triangle choke, he still enjoyed the experience and showed appreciation for MMA and the fans.

    James Toney and Randy Couture
    James Toney and Randy Couture, Photo Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    He may not have remained in the sport like he originally planned, but had fun nonetheless.

    Fast forward to 2022 and Toney is not happy with the way things ended between him and Couture. In an interview with Murder Master Music Show, Toney recalls a boxing match agreement with Couture that was supposed to take place after their cage fight.

    ā€œI knew he was scared when the fight was made,ā€ Toney said. ā€œRandy is a great fighter in MMA. We had made a deal that we do one fight MMA and one fight boxing. But of course, after he beat me, he retires. What kind of shit is that? Thatā€™s a coward move, I lost a lot of respect for him. He retired a week later. The bad thing about it is I made more money than he did. I offered to pay him more money for the boxing than he made with the fight with me.ā€ (h/t MyMMANews)

    Unfortunately, boxing and MMA fans never saw the boxing match come to fruition.

    The year after their MMA fight, Couture had his final bout against Lyoto Machida and lost via kick to the head in round 2. Meanwhile, Toney continued to make strides in his boxing career until retiring in 2017.

    What are your thoughts on James Toney not getting a boxing match with Randy Couture?

  • Aspinall Says Ngannou Should Avoid Boxing Fury: “Just Don’t Do It”

    UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall has given his say on Francis Ngannou looking to box Tyson Fury.

    Aspinall has trained with the Fury family throughout his career and even sparred with ‘The Gyspy King’ in the lead up to Fury’s historic win over Wladimir Klitschko. The UFC heavyweight has even drawn up comparisons to the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion due to his lightning-fast hand speed.

    Ngannou came out following his successful title defence at UFC 270 saying that he wants to face Fury in a boxing fight. With some uncertainty laying around his future within the UFC, a heavyweight clash in boxing could certainly be on the cards for ‘The Predator’.

    Speaking with TheMacLife ahead of his UFC London main event fight against Alexander Volkov, Aspinall was asked what he thought of Ngannou looking to box Fury.

    “Just don’t do it. Don’t do it man,” said Aspinall. ” I think a lot of people like MMA fighters they think they can box. They can box well for MMA but when you’re fighting actual boxers, they need to seriously do some like hard sparring with world-level boxers. Then they’ll be like, oh actually, I need some serious work here.”

    Francis Ngannou
    Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

    The Englishman went on to draw comparisons between other contact sports that involve similar fundamentals but are completely different in their own right.

    “It’s like American football and rugby. They’re all contact sports, they both involve a ball where you are running at each other, but they’re completely different. There’s so much different like there’s a lot of aspects that are the same but them boxers, mate, they can really punch, they can seriously, seriously punch,” said Aspinall.

    Aspinall went on to say that if Fury was to enter the world of MMA that the scores would be completely different as Ngannou would school the boxing champion in one round. The Cameroonian is set to be out of fighting for the next eight months as he is set to undergo surgery on his knee after suffering a torn MCL and damaged ACL in the leadup to his fight at UFC 270.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou would stand a chance in a boxing fight against Tyson Fury?

  • Jake Paul Next Fight: Potential Opponents, Timeline

    Jake Paul’s next fight will see the social media influencer look to continue his undefeated streak in boxing.

    It’s unclear who The Problem Child’s next opponent will be. However, we can look at possible fighters who the Youtuber could compete against next.

    Paul Knocked Out Woodley In Their Rematch

    Jake Paul Tyron Woodley December
    (AP Photo)

    The combat sports community was stunned when Paul knocked out Tyron Woodley at the Amelie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 18, 2021.

    Paul defeated Woodley in their first fight by split decision on Aug. 29, 2021, at the Rocket Morgage Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. In the contest, the Youtube star outpaced the former UFC Welterweight Champion to improve his record to 4-0. Woodley admitted after the fight that he fought the undefeated boxer too patiently.

    Tyron Woodley also expressed that he wanted a rematch against Paul despite the loss. However, Paul responded that Woodley needed an “I love Jake Paul” tattoo to get the second fight. Paul decided to fight Tommy Fury next despite the former UFC champion getting the tattoo.

    Paul vs. Fury was scheduled for Dec. 18, 2021, but Fury pulled out of the fight due to an injury. Woodley accepted to be Paul’s opponent on twelve days’ notice on Dec. 6, 2021. Although Woodley gave Paul a challenging fight, it ended with a sixth-round knockout.

    Paul Focused On Being A Promoter

    Jake Paul
    (Getty Images)

    After his win against Woodley, Paul announced he’d be taking time off from fighting. He had fought three times in 2021, with two wins over Woodley and a TKO victory against Ben Askren at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Apr. 17, 2021.

    Paul wanted to focus on being a promoter with his brand Most Valuable Promotion and work with WBC and WBO Female Featherweight Champion Amanda Serrano. The boxer turned promoter helped set up an undisputed lightweight title fight between Serrano and Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden on Apr. 30.

    Although he’s taken time off from fighting, he plans to have another boxing or possibly an MMA fight.

    Jake Paul
    (Complex)

    Possible Opponents for Jake Paul’s Next Fight

    Jake Paul does not have his next opponent lined up yet.

    However, there are a few interesting candidates under consideration for Jake Paul’s next fight.

    Anderson Silva

    Jake Paul Anderson Silva
    MMA Fighting and Ā© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

    The former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva could be Paul’s next challenger. Since leaving the UFC, Silva has transitioned into boxing with success. He has a 3-1 boxing record. His most notable win is against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by split decision on Jun. 21, 2021.

    Paul has expressed interest in fighting Silva in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Unlike his past opponents, Silva has more boxing experience and is regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Despite his age, Silva also has the endurance and technique to give Paul problems.

    Having fought Paul, Askren shared he believes Anderson Silva has a solid chance to defeat the undefeated boxer.

    “I thought Tyron [Woodley] was going to. The first bout was obviously really competitive,ā€ Askren told MMA Island. ā€œAnderson Silva looked great in his one boxing match he did. It was against a guy who had a significant amount of boxing experience, so I would say yeah, I would think so. If Anderson canā€™t do it, then shit, Jake Paul is pretty damn good,” said Askren.

    A potential win against the former UFC Middleweight Champion would be the biggest accomplishment of Paul’s boxing career.

    Tommy Fury

    Jake Paul Tommy Fury
    (Mike Ehrmann/Jason Miller/Getty Images)

    After pulling out of their first fight, Tommy Fury could be Paul’s next opponent. It would also be Jake Paul’s chance to prove to doubters that he could beat a boxer. Fury is also undefeated with seven wins.

    Both Fury and Paul haven’t held back about how they don’t like each other. When Fury had to drop out of their fight, Paul shamed him and felt he would’ve knocked him out. Now healthy, Tommy Fury shared in an interview with Ariel Helwani that he wanted to silence Paul and the ball was in his court.

    “…Iā€™m trying my best to get this fight back on track,” said Fury. He continued, ā€œYou talk to anybody, this is the fight I want. Iā€™ll wait for him an amount of time, it comes off, great, if it doesnā€™t, I will resume my career and start winning some titles. Thatā€™s just the way life is.”

    While the situation could change, Paul thinks Fury should fight Woodley to fight him. It’s unclear how long Paul will be out of competition, so Fury may fight Woodley to get revenge against his rival.

    Scott Coker Jake Paul
    (Dave Kotinsky/Warren Little/Getty Images)

    Could Jake Paul Compete In MMA Next?

    Paul has expressed interest in having an MMA fight numerous times. While some fans didn’t take the boxing star seriously, Bellator President Scott Coker has shared that they are in talks.

    “If Paul is serious and wants to do it, weā€™re here. Weā€™re already talking about [it]. You know, when I say talking about it, heā€™s with Showtime boxing, and he did the fight with T-Wood [Tyron Woodley]. Thereā€™s dialogue. I think he wants to do ten boxing fights and then come over to MMA,ā€ Coker revealed(h/t Talksport’s Alex McCarthy)

    It’s unclear if Paul wants to pursue MMA for his next fight, but it’s something that could be possible in the future.

    When Is Jake Paul’s Next Fight?

    After promoting Serrano vs. Taylor on Apr. 30, Paul could begin looking for his next fight. He also seems healthy with inactivity from boxing, but he could need time to train before agreeing on his next fight. It’s possible the 5-0 boxer could fight sometime this summer.

    Conclusion

    Jake Paul

    Paul is looking to remain unbeaten in boxing, hoping to fight Canelo Alvarez in the future. However, who will be his next opponent is up in the air. Both boxers and MMA fighters want to challenge Paul, but he ultimately decides who gets the opportunity.

  • Archives: Roy Jones Responds To Vitor Belfort’s Boxing Challenge (2019)

    Vitor Belfort would go on to defeat a boxing legend two years after the following article was published. Indeed, Belfort beat 58-year-old Evander Holyfield via R1 TKO last September in an exhibition bout. But in 2019, Belfort wanted to box another former boxing champion, Roy Jones Jr.

    You can see how Roy Jones Jr. responded to this challenge in the following article published three years ago today.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 6, 2019, 12:19 PM]

    Vitor Belfort is now a member of the ONE Championship roster. “The Phenom” joins the likes of Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, and ā€œSuperā€ Sage Northcutt as former UFC stars who recently made the move. The 41-year-old spoke to media recently after the announcement of his signing with ONE.

    Belfort revealed that one fight he’d really like to make happen is a boxing fight with legend Roy Jones Jr.:

    ā€œOne fight that Iā€™d really like, I told Chatri [Sityodtong] Iā€™d really like to put on this fight, is me vs. Roy Jones Jr. So Roy, wherever you are, I want to come challenge you for a boxing match ā€” but with this condition. Iā€™m going to be able to dirty box with you.

    ā€œI wonā€™t be able to kick you, but I will be able to dirty box with you. Iā€™m going to be in your face the whole time so itā€™s going to be a different boxing match. So that would be a very fun thing to do.ā€

    Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, Jones got the chance to respond to Belfort’s challenge. Jones said he’s down to step into the squared circle with the mixed martial arts (MMA) legend (via Boxing Scene):

    “This is what I do for a living. Y’all must’ve forgot. That’s who I am. I love a battle. I love a challenge. So, if that’s what you want, that’s what you get. Ain’t like you gotta ask me twice,” Jones said.

    Jones then said he’d need at least six weeks of a training camp to “whoop” Belfort, but he’d need eight so he can showboat:

    “Well, I would like eight weeks, ’cause I like to get right. I need two extra weeks just to make sure I can showboat. But, six weeks, I can whip you,” Jones said.

    “I got nothing but the utmost respect for you. You were a helluva MMA fighter. You one of the best of all time. But, when it comes to boxing, this is what I do. I’m the ruler. I’m the king of this thing.

    “Ya understand me? Since Muhammad Ali is not on Earth anymore, I don’t think there’s nothing ever on this Earth as bad as I am with these hands.”

    What do you think about Jones accepting Belfort’s challenge to box?

  • Ɓlvarez Refuses To Rule Out Fighting Usman: “Maybe, Why Not?”

    Canelo Ɓlvarez seems open to the possibility of one day fighting UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.

    Both fighters are arguably the #1 pound-for-pound best in their respective sports and a potential crossover between the two could see them bring in colossal pay-per-view figures. Usman previously proposed the idea when discussing his boxing ability and wanting to showcase why he’s the best in the world.

    Now, it appears Canelo’s certainly interested in what the fight would look like one day, as he was asked on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani whether he would entertain the fight.

    “Payday,” joked Canelo. “That’s the payday I know. Maybe, why not, you never say no, right?”

    However, it appears for now at least that Canelo remains tunnel-visioned on cementing his legacy amongst the greatest to grace the sport of boxing ahead of his fight against Dmitry Bivol.

    “It’s not really on my mind. I want a really good legacy for my career then we can talk about other things right later.”

    The 31-year-old’s aiming to retire by 37, meaning there’s still plenty of time for a crossover to occur. It still remains possible that we may see him take on Usman before then should the proposal for the super fight come his way.

    With both fighters in the primes of their career, now would be the time to make it happen. Usman appears to be becoming less interested in defending his UFC welterweight title with every fight having previously spoken about his interest in fighting for the light heavyweight title.

    One roadblock in the way of making the super fight happen would be Dana White’s stance on his #1 pound-for-pound fighting Canelo. Back in November, Usman again spoke of his interest in the fight. In response, White said “He doesn’t want to fight Canelo,” with the UFC president indirectly hinting at the boxing ability of Canelo being superior.

    Would you be interested in seeing Usman taking on Canelo in a boxing match?