MMA News

Category: Boxing

Latest news covering the world of professional boxing.

  • Tyron Woodley: Dan Hardy Fight Doesn’t Excite Me

    Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley has suggested a potential boxing match against Dan Hardy isn’t an exciting prospect for him.

    Woodley has made an unlikely crossover into the world of celebrity boxing since his release from the UFC earlier this year. Following four consecutive losses against Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, Colby Covington, and Vicente Luque, “The Chosen One” found himself in search of a new venture in combat sports.

    That came in the surprising form of a journey into the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. To the disappointment of most in the MMA community, Woodley fell on the wrong side of a split decision and allowed Paul’s unbeaten boxing record to extend.

    Whilst Woodley immediately and publicly called for a rematch, even appearing to get the pre-agreed tattoo forfeit, Paul moved on and was set to face a professional boxer for the first time in the form of Tommy Fury. However, “TNT” pulled out earlier this month, leaving the door open for Woodley to snatch at an unlikely rematch. The pair will now run it back in Florida this weekend.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJZxbwrxTI/

    Woodley: Paul Rematch Is “More Exciting” Than Hardy Clash

    Woodley’s second match with Paul comes despite rumors that he was set to battle fellow former UFC welterweight Hardy inside the ring. The pair have been going back and forth on social media recently, and a report last month suggested the matchup was being targeted for a UK event next March.

    After Fury’s withdrawal and Woodley’s short-notice opportunity, Hardy discussed his own feud with “The Chosen One” on Submission Radio, suggesting the contract had been agreed to on his end for the March date. Even with the latest development, which has seen him surprisingly support Woodley, “The Outlaw” suggested their clash could still be made in time for 2022.

    However, that seems to be a largely one-sided intention. During his own appearance on Submission Radio, Woodley confirmed that he never signed the contract. The 39-year-old admitted he only wants fights against big names that excite him, boxes he doesn’t believe a Hardy matchup checks.

    “If I wanted just a little easy, walk-through fight, where I feel like just going in there and beating somebody up, maybe I entertain it. But I never signed the contract to fight him. Some people on Monday were talking to my management team about me fighting him, and I’ll listen, but I didn’t commit. At the end of the day I’m focused more on this (Jake Paul rematch). This is more exciting. More people care about this. Nobody even knows who he is (Hardy).

    “I’m not against anything in 2022. But when it comes down to boxing. If this trilogy with Jake goes the way I plan it… I need something that excites me. When you see Dan Hardy’s name on a piece of paper it don’t make me like, ‘Ah I gotta do this,’ you know what I mean? Avenging a loss, or fighting somebody big, or super-fights; anything like that at my point in my life right now, that gets me out the bed, gets me training. Dan Hardy, take a ticket, take a number.”

    While the claim that nobody knows who Hardy is can perhaps be disputed, the idea that Paul is a much bigger draw and will bag Woodley a much more handsome paycheck certainly isn’t up for debate. That’s especially true now that “The Problem Child” has offered Woodley a $500k bonus if he can knock him out on December 18.

    The first clash between Paul and Woodley, which took place in August this year, sold around 500,000 pay-per-view buys. It’s hard to imagine Woodley vs. Hardy coming even close to that figure. With those numbers in mind, it’s easy to understand why Woodley wanted to prioritize the rematch with Paul over a grudge match against Hardy.

    Would you like to see Tyron Woodley and Dan Hardy settle their differences inside the squared circle next year?

  • Tyron Woodley Won’t Be “As Patient” In Jake Paul Rematch

    Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley says that while he won’t get reckless in his rematch with Jake Paul, he won’t be “as patient” as he was in their August contest.

    After a four-fight losing skid saw Woodley fall from the 170-pound UFC mountaintop to being released from the promotion earlier this year, “The Chosen One” turned his attention to a new combat sports venture. In an effort to avenge his teammate Ben Askren’s first-round knockout loss to Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer, the 39-year-old entered the ring with the 24-year-old for what was his professional boxing debut.

    Despite his experience inside the Octagon, Woodley was unable to hand “The Problem Child” his first defeat, falling to a split decision loss on the scorecards. He immediately called for a rematch and hoped for a chance at redemption, but it appeared Paul had moved on and would not be looking back at the former UFC star.

    That all changed earlier this month when professional boxer Tommy Fury, originally scheduled to be Paul’s fifth opponent, pulled out, citing a broken rib and bacterial chest infection as the reasons for his withdrawal. On two weeks’ notice, Woodley stepped in to save the Showtime pay-per-view card, and secure his chance for revenge.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXTpH1YlGEE/

    Will Woodley Let His Hands Go?

    The major factor behind Woodley’s downfall in the UFC was his inability to let his hands go. Many believe that in a tight and competitive fight against Paul, in which Woodley never really looked hurt, the veteran’s struggle to let go played a major part in his defeat to the YouTube sensation.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Woodley echoed that sentiment. “The Chosen One” admitted he let Paul into the fight by not throwing enough, a mishap he’ll hope to avoid making when the pair run it back on December 18.

    “I wanna go out there and just let go. For me, it’s never really been about someone beating me because they’re better, because my time has passed, or because they have better coaching, it’s all just been about me, for some reason, not letting go, and when I let go, nobody can touch me. But I didn’t let go. I let people into the fights that never should have been in the fights with me.”

    Discussing what makes a fighter struggle to let go, Woodley clarified that his pursuit of “perfection” has left him far too cautious in recent appearances. Acknowledging the need to make fights “ugly” and tough, Woodley suggested he’ll approach the Paul rematch with a fresh approach.

    “Overthinking, overanalyzing. Sometimes you become so skilled and learn so many techniques and defenses and counters, you’re so cautious and you know what could come. You just really wanna be perfect. Perfection, sometimes, gets in the way of mastery, you wanna master it… Sometimes you’ve gotta get a little ugly and grimey, and get in there, maybe get hit a couple times, to put yourself in position to get that opening.”

    Tyron Woodley Jake Paul
    (via Amanda Wescott/Showtime)

    Addressing his August defeat to Paul, Woodley insisted he wasn’t fearful of the Cleveland native’s power or hesitant to walk him down. Instead, he tried to find the balance between aggression and defense, citing Askren and Paul’s second opponent Nate Robinson as two who didn’t do so. While he won’t be as patient this time, Woodley says he certainly won’t be abandoning his defense on December 18.

    “I can say I respected him too much or I can look at Nate Robinson that walked in there and ran into a punch and got smoked. My teammate Ben Askren kinda did the same thing, where his hands wasn’t in the proper position. If he got punching power, no matter who it is… I’m not saying that I was fearful, you saw me walking forward regardless, I got hit with it and I walked forward regardless… I wasn’t scared of getting punched. My training partners punch a lot harder and they’re more skilled than him. I just didn’t wanna be reckless. I think it’s a happy medium, I gotta find a line, you know, not crossing the line and just being reckless and not having my defense, but also not being as patient as I was.”

    A defeat to Paul was understandably damaging for Woodley. While he now has the chance to get that loss back, and potentially set up a lucrative trilogy fight, back-to-back setbacks against “The Problem Child” would be catastrophic for the 39-year-old’s standing in combat sports. There is certainly a lot riding on Woodley vs. Paul 2.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised on December 18, Tyron Woodley or Jake Paul?

  • Tyron Woodley Calls For A 2nd $500,000 Bonus From Jake Paul

    Despite being offered a $500,000 bonus if he can knock Jake Paul out in their December 18 rematch, Tyron Woodley is after more.

    Paul and Woodley met inside the squared circle earlier this year. In their August bout, the YouTuber-turned-boxer further legitimized his venture into the sport by adding Woodley’s name to his undefeated résumé. The former UFC welterweight champion joined former ONE and Bellator 170-pound titleholder Ben Askren as the second combat sports veteran to have failed to outbox Paul in 2021.

    While many still slated Paul for not facing a professional boxer, it looked like “The Problem Child” was set to eliminate that argument this month in a match against the younger half-brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. However, Tommy, who boasts an unblemished 7-0 record in the ring, pulled out just weeks out, citing a broken rib and bacterial chest infection as the reasons behind his withdrawal.

    With “TNT” out and the event potentially in jeopardy, Woodley has been granted the chance for redemption he’s called for ever since his split decision defeat to Paul. In a rematch billed as “Leave No Doubt,” the pair will collide in Florida next weekend.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJWGDjFTK6/

    Woodley Believes He Deserves More

    In recent weeks, talk over a potential clause in the contracts of Paul’s opponents that prevents them from knocking the Cleveland native out has become more prominent. In an effort to shut those rumors down, Paul has offered Woodley a lucrative $500,000 bonus if he’s able to secure a knockout win on December 18. But hunting an even bigger bag, “The Chosen One” wants more.

    In a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Woodley suggested he should be receiving a further half-a-million for stepping up on short notice to save the Showtime pay-per-view card.

    “We need a new bonus. ‘Keeping the hope alive and the card alive’ bonus. We need to add that too. Might as well say half-a-bag since that’s what we’re throwing out there. Like Dana White said, ‘Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, Performance of the Night’ – same thing. So I think we should throw another 500,000 just because all these people would’ve wasted their time, their training camp, their coaches, all these incidentals to train. Tommy Fury would’ve caused all of them not to fight. The venue, the ticket sales, the refunds, the sponsors. So yeah, let’s get another 500,000.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    While it seems like optimistic, who can blame Woodley for shooting his shot for some more cash, especially given the kind of numbers that seem to be prevalent in YouTuber and celebrity boxing matches.

    Either way, a knockout victory on December 18 would certainly see the former UFC champ leave the ring a whole lot richer. A loss, on the other hand, would add to the embarrassment of his original defeat to the internet personality.

    The stakes are as high and bizarre as you’d expect from tis matchup, although we haven’t heard any tattoos mentioned yet…

    Who do you think will have their hand raised on December 18, Tyron Woodley or Jake Paul?

  • Claressa Shields Threatens To Sue Jake Paul & Team For Defamation

    Claressa Shields is willing to take the fight to Jake Paul beyond the boxing gym and into the court of law.

    This Saturday, Jake Paul returns to pay-per-view when he meets Tyron Woodley in a rematch of their August clash. However, the YouTuber may have another fight on his hands if he and his representatives are not mindful.

    Last week, Jake Paul’s management team BAVAFA Sports made a shocking claim. They stated in a tweet that Claressa Shields requested to be placed on the undercard for Jake Paul events on multiple occasions. This was a curious revelation seeing as how adamantly Shields has refused to ever even consider doing such a thing in the past.

    In fact, it was her open dismissal of that very idea that sparked a feud between herself and Paul, which included the YouTuber mocking her after her first MMA loss and Shields later challenging Paul to a $100,000 sparring match.

    Once Shields saw the tweet from Paul’s management team, she issued a warning about making such claims.

    “Somebody bout to get sued for lying on my name. Can’t wait to call my lawyer tomorrow morning.”

    “Never have I ever. I’m bout Sue @jakepaul & his team for defamation and of character cause I ain’t never asked to be on no undercard of no YouTuber!”

    “@BAVAFASports y’all bout to get sued! Because Claressa Shields ain’t never asked to be on Jake Paul undercard. You sound crazy as hell! My lawyer will be reaching out though! Use my name for clout. I’ll use your name for a check losers”

    After a fan stated that Shields was continuously being disrespected, the Olympic gold medalist put an end to the discussion with some strong closing remarks.

    “They bout to have to write a check they ass gonna hate having to cash. Because you talk trash but lying on me is another story! I’m a BIG BOSS WITH A BIG LAWYER!”

    Claressa Shields will be competing again on January 29 against Ema Kozin in a boxing match. Her MMA return has not yet been set, though she plans to compete again in 2022 following her loss to Abigail Montes in October.

    Do you believe Claressa Shields has a potential legal case against Jake Paul and his representation for defamation of character?

  • Woodley: Paul ‘Put A Bag’ On His Own Head With $500,000 KO Bonus

    Tyron Woodley is willing and excited to take advantage of the knockout clause in his rematch with Jake Paul.

    On the back of losing a boxing match to Paul early this year, Woodley faced comments from people like Dillon Danis, who claimed that he had a clause stating that he was not allowed to knock out the YouTuber. This resulted in a different kind of clause ahead of their short notice rematch after the former UFC champion replaced Tommy Fury, this time with Paul offering a $500,000 bonus if T-Wood is able to knock him out.

    Speaking to media at a recent media scrum, Woodley was asked about this bonus, and whether or not it gave him added motivation for this December 18th pay-per-view main event. Here, he said that while he did not need the added reason to try scoring a knockout over Paul, having this half a million dollar potential tip attached is something he simply can not pass up.

    “At the end of the day, you put a bag on your own head, and shit, I’m completely all about taking that free money. So I had plans on doing that anyway, but if he wants to entice me a little bit more, you don’t offer a kid from Ferguson half a bag to go out there and do what he wanted to do anyway. So yeah, it does put motivation,” Woodley said.

    “You don’t put a bounty on your own fucking head and think I’m not going to take it. For sure, I’m motivated by money. I’m motivated by legacy. I’m motivated by greatness. I’m motivated by redemption. So when people say it’s not about the money for me, they’re fucking lying. Why would you be prizefighting if you didn’t want to get a prize?” Woodley added.

    “Definitely it’s additional motivation. You’ll see me walking away with another five hundred thousand.”

    Considering the fact that Tyron Woodley got a tattoo of Jake Paul’s name on his middle finger by following through with a bet stemming from their first fight, it is only fair that he has the potential for a positive addition in exchange for taking this short notice rematch. That said, considering that the former champ’s last knockout was when he won the UFC title in 2016, some might think it is a safe bet for Paul to make.

    Did Paul take an unnecessary risk by offering Woodley an extra $500,000 if he can knock him out?

  • John Fury: Tommy Broke His Rib Because Of ‘A Complete Idiot In The Gym’

    Tommy Fury’s father, John, revealed how Tommy sustained his broken ribs.

    Fury was supposed to box Jake Paul on December 18 in the main event of a Showtime boxing pay-per-view. Yet, recently it was revealed the Englishman was forced out of the bout due to an injury including a broken rib, which John says happened due to an idiot in the gym.

    “He’s had a bacterial chest infection for about six or seven weeks, but that didn’t bother us, we were going to battle through that,” John Fury said to Behind The Gloves (via Mirror). “But owing to a complete idiot in the gym, punched him in the ribs. A man of 16 or 17 stone with his bare-knuckle, punched him in the ribs and broke his ribs. At the end of the day, I was horrified, we were going to try and battle through it, because when we got him x-rayed they said, ‘No, it’s just bruised, it’s ligament damage’. And then, he was sparring and he couldn’t throw a punch, he couldn’t move.

    Tommy Fury
    Tommy Fury

    “He said, ‘Look, I’m in bad pain dad.’ He said to Tyson, ‘I’m in bad pain, I can’t move’. So, I took him to a specialist in Manchester, they x-rayed him properly and the finding was there. Broke ribs, what can you do? Chest infection, broke ribs, it’s unfortunate, it’s cost a lot of money, people have lost a lot of money, the disappointment is immense for Tommy and us. But, we’ll bounce back, we’re fighters, if you want to reschedule, that’s not a problem,” Fury continued.

    As John mentions, the injury is no doubt disappointing to Tommy Fury as this was supposed to be a massive fight for him. However, the hope for him is he can rebook the Jake Paul fight assuming he gets past Tyron Woodley again on December 18.

    Would you like to see Tommy Fury vs. Jake Paul be rebooked?

  • Jake Paul Says He Should Make Fury Fight To 25-0 For Same Payday

    Jake Paul is not giving any sympathy to Tommy Fury after their fight cancellation.

    The scheduled bout between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury has been canceled due to an injury suffered by Fury. Stepping in to take his spot is former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley. This fight between these two will be a rematch of last August’s bout. Paul is not happy with Fury or the way he handled himself throughout the fight preparation period.

    Paul was asked by MMA Junkie if Fury’s actions would affect Paul’s likelihood of fighting him again. Paul had this to say.

    “It does, it really does. He didn’t show up to the press conference and he pulled out of the fight. He’s done a terrible job at promoting the fight that we had,” he said. “He posted on social media like once every other week. He’s not as hype as everyone thought. I’m pissed off now.”

    Paul and his brother Logan are at the pinnacle of boxing fandom. They are making big money and a fight with them is very lucrative for their opponents. Paul is reluctant to offer this opportunity to Fury again after he pulled out two weeks before the fight. he names one condition he has to contemplate making the rescheduling of this fight.

    “I don’t like them, I don’t like anything to do with that family. I think they’re sketchy, I think they’re shady, I don’t see really a reason to come back next year and give him that big of an opportunity or that big of a payday,” he explained. “It would almost be more fun and more satisfying to leave him in the dust. Make him fight until he is 25-0 if he gets that far, to get the same payday that he was getting in his eighth fight.”

    Now that Woodley is back in the ring with Paul, he has the opportunity to make the big money. He mentioned in the leadup to their last fight that he was making more than he did in the UFC. Now, there is a clause that if he knocks out Paul he will receive an additional $500,000. Paul has not suffered a loss yet in his short professional career.

    Do you want to see Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury rescheduled at some point?

  • Chael Sonnen: Jake Paul Just Made The ‘Biggest Mistake’ Of His Career

    Jake Paul, who already beat Tyron Woodley four months ago, will be rematching him on just 12 days’ notice, which Chael Sonnen says was not a smart decision.

    Paul was supposed to box Tommy Fury in a highly-anticipated bout. Both men are undefeated in their young boxing careers and are massive social media stars, yet Fury was forced out of the scrap due to an injury. Shortly after the news broke that Fury was out of the fight, it was revealed Woodley will be stepping up on short notice and the rematch was set.

    Although Jake Paul controlled the first fight and won a decision, Woodley did have success and rocked the YouTuber badly. With that, Sonnen thinks this is a risky fight and possibly a bad idea for Paul.

    “This is the biggest mistake of Jake Paul’s short career,” Sonnen said in a YouTube video analyzing the newly-made fight (via The Mirror). “Absolutely, without question, this is the biggest risk he could possibly take. To fight Tyron Woodley – who by the way is training all the time – Jake is not getting a softball down the middle. He’s getting a very hard fight against his No. 1 rival who is completely motivated to fight and defeat him and Jake wasn’t even thinking about the guy.”

    Jake Paul
    (via Getty)

    Although Chael Sonnen believes this is a risky fight for Jake Paul, he does say this proves the social media star is a real fighter. That is due to the fact he is taking a short notice fight and letting the show go on, but it still is a risky fight.

    “Jake is willing to step in because he follows the golden rule of show business which is that the show must go on,” Sonnen added. “So when I tell you this is a huge mistake from Jake, I am right, but it’s because he is willing to make that mistake that you must accept him into the club. He doesn’t have to beat Tyron Woodley, he already did, what he does have to do is show up and show a respect to the rest of the card who is counting on that paycheque.

    “Their holidays are going to be very different if Jake is not there, Showtime [the event’s broadcaster] have taken all the risk, believed in him and set this thing up and he’s shown them respect,” Sonnen continued. “He absolutely did, and in a matter of fact he took this thing one step further and told Tyron Woodley that he’ll give him $500,000 if he can knock him out.”

    Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 goes down in Tampa on December 18 live on Showtime pay-per-view.

    Who do you think wins the rematch between Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley?

  • Tyron Woodley Makes A Vow After Prophesied Rematch Is Booked

    Tyron Woodley has made a vow to the world about his upcoming rematch against Jake Paul: nothing will stand in the way of a knockout this time around.

    After a roller coaster of tattoo bets, trash talk, and emotions, the door to a Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley rematch appeared to be closed. At least, that’s what Paul himself stated when Woodley failed to act on their tattoo bet agreement swiftly enough to his liking. Much to the chagrin of the Jake Paul-branded Woodley, his YouTuber nemesis had moved on to someone else, reality TV star and undefeated boxer, Tommy Fury.

    After Woodley lashed out at Paul for not granting him the rematch that was promised to him, he was blessed with an early Christmas gift. Fury withdrew from the bout with a chest infection and rib injury, and then the moment that Woodley prophesied came to pass.

    “I want to let you guys know I’m excited about this fight,” Woodley said on Instagram. “I also want to let you guys know that something told me – end of September, beginning of October I told my boxing coach, ‘My spirit ain’t sitting right. The fight that’s supposed to happen is me and Jake. This Tommy Fury fight doesn’t even make f*cking sense. Like, who gives a f*ck about that fight? Nobody do.’ …

    “I told my coach that and I didn’t just speak it and tell him that, I said, watch what I’m telling you. I told my strength and conditioning coach and my boxing coach, ‘This fight ain’t gonna happen. Let’s train as if we are fighting for this f*cking fight.’ I flew him in from Miami – my strength and conditioning coach is already in St. Louis – and I literally started training.”

    Paul vs Woodley 2 official for Dec 18, Fury withdraws, tickets on sale - Flipboard

    A Thankful Tyron Woodley Makes A Vow

    Woodley’s hastened training will be put to use one week from Saturday on December 18. Paul has been training for this fight for weeks, with the official announcement for his next bout coming down in October. Meanwhile, Woodley did not have anything lined up following his first fight against Paul in August.

    Nevertheless, “The Chosen One” maintains that he will be entering the ring as a ready and ravenous fighter.

    “One thing I know for sure, my spirit has never been f*cking wrong,” Woodley said. “My intuition, my alignment, so when I got the call it was kind of funny, because sometimes people call you and they think you out of shape. They think you fat and they think you greasy and they think you not ready. I was ready and I’m so thankful.”

    Much was said prior to Woodley’s first bout with Jake Paul on both ends. The outcome would turn out to be milder than what either man predicted, with the fight going to the scorecards. Woodley was particularly criticized for not being more aggressive during the fight, especially after he had sent the former Disney star down onto the ropes.

    Tyron Woodley Jake Paul
    (via Amanda Wescott/Showtime)

    This time, Woodley spoke with a strong emphasis in his assurance that things will be different and that the closure will be definitive and absolute.

    “No doubt, no controversy, no bullsh*t, no shenanigans,” Woodley said. “He’s going. To. F*cking. Sleep. I promise you that.”

    On December 18, we will see if Woodley’s second premonition also comes true. If it does, one thing is for certain: He will be leaving Tampa, Florida $500,000 richer.

    What do you think? Does Tyron Woodley knock out Jake Paul this time around?

  • Quote: Tommy Fury Pulled Out Due To Partying, Not Injury

    Tommy Fury’s former rival Anthony Taylor is accusing him of pulling out of the Jake Paul fight due to not being in boxing shape.

    Fury recently announced that he was forced to withdraw from the upcoming fight with Paul after suffering from a chest infection and an injured rib. Tyron Woodley will now face Paul in a rematch of their fight earlier this year.

    Despite Fury and his team stating that the reasoning for the withdrawal was strictly medical, Taylor alleges that he pulled out after recent partying escapades and not due to anything injury-related.

    Taylor made the claims during a recent interview with BetWay Insider.

    “It was big John Fury’s decision to pull Tommy out,” Taylor said of Fury. “Big John’s the head trainer and he decides whether Tommy fights or not. I can’t believe it. Big John should have told Tommy to suck it up.”

    “The real reason he’s out of this fight isn’t because of some injury, it’s because of his physical conditioning,” Taylor continued. “He was so busy partying with his brother after Tyson won that fight [over Deontay Wilder], that he’s now in no good condition to fight.”

    Tommy Fury Hopes To Reschedule The Jake Paul Fight

    Tommy is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, the boxing heavyweight champion who most recently knocked out Deontay Wilder in their trilogy.

    Fury has been criticized for his lower level of competition in his young boxing career. Entering his most recent bout with Taylor, his opponents held a combined record of 14-174-5.

    After announcing his withdrawal from the Paul fight, Fury made his intentions clear that he hopes to reschedule the bout for some time in 2022. As of now, Fury has yet to respond to Taylor’s claims.

    Fury and Taylor had quite the heated buildup to their fight on the recent Paul vs. Woodley card but seemed to walk out of the ring on respectful terms after Fury earned a decision win. That appears to have fizzled out as Taylor has made these scathing claims.

    What do you think was Tommy Fury’s reasoning for pulling out of the Jake Paul fight?

  • Hardy Roots For Rival Woodley To Beat Paul & Set Up A Trilogy

    Former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy is rooting for Tyron Woodley to exact revenge on Jake Paul in their upcoming rematch and set up a trilogy with “The Problem Child.”

    Paul, a YouTube star who’s made a crossover venture into the squared circle, has built an unbeaten 4-0 boxing record. Increasing his level of competition with each appearance, the 24-year-old has defeated fellow internet personality AnEsonGib, former NBA star Nate Robinson, former ONE and Bellator welterweight titleholder Ben Askren, and former 170-pound UFC champion Woodley.

    In his fifth match, Paul was slated to face undefeated professional boxer Tommy Fury on December 18. The bout would have represented the Cleveland native’s first matchup with a pro pugilist, and offered an opportunity for him to further legitimize his journey in the ring.

    But this week, news broke that Fury had pulled out due to a bacterial chest infection and a broken rib. In his place on short notice, Woodley has stepped in. Despite previously claiming he’d never face “The Chosen One” again, Paul’s hand has been forced by Fury’s withdrawal.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJZxbwrxTI/

    Woodley Has An Unlikely Supporter

    Following the revelation that Woodley will be getting an unlikely rematch with Paul, his fellow former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy gave his take on the development during an appearance on Submission Radio.

    “The Outlaw,” who competed in the UFC between 2008 and 2012, admitted he was disappointed to see his countryman Fury drop out of the original match. However, he’s excited to see Woodley have the chance for redemption, and even suggested he’ll be rooting for the 39-year-old to secure a win and set up a trilogy with Paul.

    “I’m a bit disappointed because I was looking forward to the Tommy Fury/Jake Paul fight to be honest. But I’m glad that Tyron’s getting his rematch. It’s a second opportunity he may never have got otherwise.

    “I’m looking forward to seeing that. I hope he pulls the trigger this time. So, get one back, and then he can set up the trilogy fight… I think he’ll be a little bit more aggressive, certainly in the opening rounds. I think he’ll try and crack him with that shot, was it the fifth round he caught him and nearly put him through the ropes? If he’d have thrown a few more of those, then (with) those kind of shots, he might have got him out of there. I think that’s the smart way to go.”

    Hardy’s remarks come despite his ongoing rivalry with Woodley, which has developed over social media in recent months. The pair were even expected to settle their differences in the boxing ring next year before Woodley’s rematch with “The Problem Child” was announced.

    Nevertheless, Hardy played down the feud, claiming he has no issue with Woodley and is happy to see him getting paid, something he doesn’t believe his “rap game” was capable of doing.

    “I’m just indifferent. People misunderstand a lot of the time when they watch my breakdowns and stuff. I like to poke and prod people, especially when they’re reacting, but I don’t really care. Tyron can say what he likes about me. If he wants to fight, I’ll fight him. As long as he knows that’s the fact then I’m happy.

    “I have no issue with Tyron, I hope he gets one back. I hope he gets one back and then he gets the trilogy match because, hey, why not? That stuff is gonna pay the bills, certainly more than his rap game is, let’s be honest. You know, why not swim around this pool a little bit longer and catch a few paychecks.”

    Will you be supporting Tyron Woodley on December 18 like Dan Hardy?

  • Holly Holm Reacts To Boxing Hall Of Fame Induction: ‘I Am Truly Humbled’

    Holly Holm is going to be a part of the 2022 class in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion is known for her incredible striking ability that has led to her winning some of the biggest fights in the sport’s history. Because of this, it is easy for some fans to forget that prior to switching to MMA, Holm had incredible credentials in the world of boxing too. She was 33-2 overall, winning WBF, WBC, IBA, and WIBA belts during this time.

    However, the world of boxing has not forgotten about her accomplishments and has actually decided to induct her as part of the 2022 class for the Boxing Hall of Fame. She will be joining the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Miguel Cotto, Regina Halmich, and James Toney, among other non-boxer entires.

    This is a massive honor and something that Holm is proud to have. She took to her Instagram to react to the news, expressing how she was at a loss for words, being selected for induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXM4ashPG0D/

    “I’m sure I’ll have more to say going forward as I am a little lost for words. I am truly humbled and so honored to be acknowledged with the greats of boxing,” Holm wrote. “I couldn’t chase my dreams without such a strong support system. From my coaches, family, friends, management, teammates and fans. I am forever grateful and also even more motivated to achieve so much more in my life. I love combat sports as it will always be a part of who I am. It’s in my blood and I love it! From the bottom of my heart-Thank you!!!!”

    It is great to see that Holly Holm being recognized for her time within the sport of boxing. She is more than deserving of this induction, and it shows the impact that she had in the ring.

  • Tyson Fury Vs. Dillian Whyte In The Works After Mandatory Order

    WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury will make his next title defense against Dillian Whyte, and negotiations for the bout are underway.

    This after the WBC officially ordered Fury to get back in the ring to defend his title against Whyte next. The two sides are in a mandatory 30-day negotiation period to agree to a bout, or purse bids will be called.

    Fury was originally expected to face Oleksandar Usyk next, but Anthony Joshua put his rematch clause into action, and Usyk vs. Joshua 2 is in negotiations.

    Whyte earned the interim heavyweight title over Alexander Povetkin earlier this year after Fury began negotiations for his trilogy with Wilder. The win over Povetkin was a rematch after Whyte fell to him by TKO last August.

    Tyson Fury Is Coming Off His Deontay Wilder Trilogy Win

    Fury went on to defeat Wilder in the trilogy on Oct. 9, dominating the fight and eventually earning a late KO finish. This was after months of fight cancelations and postponements due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    Tyson had recently been busy helping to train his younger brother, Tommy get ready for a fight with Jake Paul, but Tommy pulled out of the fight due to injury. Paul will now face Tyron Woodley on Dec. 18 in a rematch.

    For now, it appears that fan-favorite matchups with Usyk and Joshua are now on the back burner for Fury. It’s unclear when the Whyte fight will take place, but it’s expected to happen in the first quarter of 2022.

    What is your early prediction for Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte?

  • Tommy Fury Shares X-ray Of Broken Rib That Forced Him Out Of Fight

    Tommy Fury has shared the x-ray of his broken rib that has forced him to pull out of his upcoming boxing match against Jake Paul.

    Fury had been vocal about the fact that he would be able to beat Paul with ease and his half-brother in the heavyweight champ of the world in Tyson Fury even said Tommy would win with broken ribs and a hand tied behind his back. With that, Paul was frustrated to hear the news that the Englishman was forced to pull out.

    “So originally, it was just like a chest infection that we had known of, and then the broken rib thing they threw in there last minute. So I really don’t know. The whole entire thing seems shady,” Paul said.

    Now, after all the questions of whether or not he really had an injury, Tommy Fury took to social media to show off his x-ray of the broken rib.

    Tommy Fury released an X-ray of his injury

    To no surprise, it did show a broken rib and the hope for him to rebook the fight sometime in the new year. However, on a media call on Monday, Jake Paul said he isn’t sure if he will sign up to fight Fury again.

    “I was throwing up from the pain , I was doubled over. I literally got my bag and went straight to the hospital for an MRI scan and got the results back the same day,” Fury said. “The results showed I had a clean break and I had multiple fractures. For the following week I still thought I could fight but then it took the doctor and my whole team to say you cant fight. Even now it hasn’t sunk in that I’m not fighting. My only focus is getting a new fight date set and recovering.”

    As he said, Tommy Fury will be healing up his broken rib and will no doubt be paying close attention to Paul-Woodley 2.

    Would you like to see Tommy Fury vs. Jake Paul be rebooked?

  • Jake Paul Unsure If He’ll Ever Fight ‘National Embarrassment’ Tommy Fury

    Jake Paul is very disappointed in Tommy Fury.

    The two were expected to throw down in a boxing match on December 18th before it was revealed that Fury had been forced out due to a broken rib and a chest infection. This resulted in a rematch being booked between Paul and the last man he beat, a freshly tattooed Tyron Woodley, after their first fight ended with a split decision in August.

    Speaking on The MMA Hour, Paul expressed his disappointment in hearing the news that Fury withdrew from their fight. He explained that he thinks the reason this happened is that the Englishman knew that the fight was going to end with him on the canvas.

    Jake Paul
    (via Getty)

    “I’m a little upset. I don’t get how grown men can be such bitches, pulling out of fights like this. I really wanted to knock the Brit out and make him the laughing stock of the internet. But I think he saw that coming, and he cracked under pressure, and I’m a little bit disappointed,” Paul said.

    As far as the reasoning for Fury pulling out of the fight, Paul is not buying his excuses, noting that he had fought with various injuries in his short career. He also stated that at first, he was just told about the chest infection and the fact that the broken rib was added on means that things are not as straightforward as Fury would like them to seem.

    “So originally, it was just like a chest infection that we had known of, and then the broken rib thing they threw in there last minute. So I really don’t know. The whole entire thing seems shady,” Paul said.

    “He lied about—the press conference in Las Vegas, he said his mom was sick so that he had to fly home, which wasn’t true at all. Tyson Fury has a history of pulling out of fights. He’s pulled out of five fights. The family is just sketchy. I feel like something else is going on over there that they don’t want to say, or they’re not as confident, or he wasn’t having a good camp, or whatever it was.”

    Jake Paul Questions The Future Of A Tommy Fury Fight

    Tommy Fury Jake Paul
    (via BT Sport Box Office)

    While it may have made sense for Jake Paul to fight Tyron Woodley again, considering the short notice nature of the fight and the fact that he already won their first fight, there was still an interest in seeing the Tommy Fury fight happen. However, the YouTuber turned boxer has his doubts that the fight will ever happen.

    Paul says that “Tommy Fumbles” has fumbled the bag once again, and that he does not necessarily want to give him the chance to do it again. He would hate to have the fight scheduled again, only for Fury to withdraw again.

    “I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about it. For me, I almost don’t want to give him the opportunity. And let’s say I do. Let’s say I get over the emotional part of it and I’m like, ‘OK, I’ll give him this opportunity.’ Who knows if he’s gonna back out or have some excuse then or have the chest infection or not show up at the press conference? So it’s looking bad for him. And part of me just wants to be cynical and not ever give him this payday or this opportunity ever again,” Paul said.

    “He’s just an embarrassment. You let your country down, you let your team down, and you let a lot of people who hate me down. And you missed out on the biggest opportunity of your life, I think, and I think you know that.”

    Time will tell if the fight with Tommy Fury happens again, but first things first, Jake Paul has to get past Tyron Woodley once again, on December 18th. It will be interesting to see what happens after that.

  • Tommy Fury Speaks Out On Jake Paul Fight Withdrawal

    Tommy Fury has issued a statement after withdrawing from his scheduled boxing match with Jake Paul due to injury.

    Fury and Paul had gone back and forth on social media for months and were expected to settle their beef in the ring in Tampa, FL. But just two weeks away from the bout, news broke that Fury had pulled out of the fight.

    Fury explained his reasoning for the withdrawal via a statement through his team and promoter Frank Warren.

    “I am absolutely heartbroken that I have been forced to withdraw from my fight with Jake Paul due to a bacterial chest infection and a broken rib,” Fury said. “The beginning of my camp was going so incredibly and I never expected anything to come in my way from a victory on December 18th. I can’t express how disappointed I am and I really do hope we can get this fight rescheduled in the new year. I want this fight to still happen more than anything.”

    “I’m now regretfully putting my focus on recovery and a further reschedule date.”

    After Tommy Fury Pulled Out, Paul Vs. Woodley 2 Will Happen

    While Fury pulling out of the highly anticipated fight is disappointing to most fans, the attention will now turn towards a rematch between Paul and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Paul confirmed that Woodley had agreed to step in on short notice and fight him in a rematch.

    The Fury vs. Paul fight was set despite Woodley agreeing to get the infamous “I Love Jake Paul” tattoo that was agreed upon following their fight earlier this year. Paul defeated Woodley via split decision in a back-and-forth war.

    For now, the Paul vs. Fury fight is on hold as the Paul/Woodley rivalry resurfaces.

    What are your thoughts on Tommy Fury pulling out of his fight with Jake Paul?

  • Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley 2 Set After Tommy Fury Pulls Out

    Tommy Fury has reportedly pulled out of his boxing match with YouTube sensation Jake Paul just over 10 days before the pair were scheduled to meet inside the squared circle.

    Fury and Paul have built quite the rivalry in recent weeks and months, one that was expected to come to a head at a Showtime pay-per-view on December 18. But after an initial report from YouTube personality Keemstar, sources confirmed to SunSport’s Chisanga Malata that the grudge match is off after the Englishman was forced to withdraw.

    Both men were heading into their contest unbeaten as professionals. Tommy, the younger half-brother of WBC and The Ring heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has built an unblemished 7-0 record since his debut in 2018.

    He was last in action on the undercard of Paul’s clash with former UFC welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley in August. In his first fight outside of the United Kingdom, Fury faced former Bellator MMA fighter Anthony Taylor. After four rounds of action, “TNT” took home a unanimous decision win.

    Paul, meanwhile, is yet to face a boxer. His 4-0 record is comprised of a victory over fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA star Nate Robinson, former ONE and Bellator 170-pound champ Ben Askren, and Woodley. While his ability with the gloves is hard to deny at this point, as many in the combat sports community have admitted, his place in the sport will likely not be legitimized until he faces and defeats a professional boxer.

    It appeared he’d have the chance to do just that on December 18, but with today’s news, the wait for that will seemingly go on. Given Paul’s pre-fight comments, which suggested he was skeptical about Fury showing up to fight, the reported withdrawal will likely begin another war of words between the pair.

    Woodley Steps In As Short-Notice Replacement

    MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has now revealed that Tyron Woodley will be stepping in on short notice to fight Jake Paul in a rematch of their August bout that saw Paul take home a decision victory.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUfpFdUFuHT/

    From his immediate callout in the ring to getting the previously agreed tattoo, “The Chosen One” has shown he’ll do whatever it takes to secure a chance for redemption. With Fury’s withdrawal, the former UFC champ now has the opportunity he’s been seeking.

    Despite Woodley adhering to the tattoo bet, Paul previously ruled out the possibility of fighting the veteran again. It now looks as though Paul has reneged on his renege.

    Would you like to see Tyron Woodley replace the injured Tommy Fury and rematch Jake Paul?

  • [ARCHIVES] Wilder Shares ‘Proof’ Tyson Fury Didn’t Beat 10 Count

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    Earlier this year, Tyson Fury closed the book on his trilogy against Deontay Wilder with a second stoppage. But on this day three years ago, there were still plenty of questions about their rivalry, including a little matter of a 10 count. The following article is presented in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 5, 2018, 11:10 AM]

    Over the weekend, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury put on a tremendous heavyweight contest. Wilder defended his WBC heavyweight title against “The Gypsy King” in a 12 round war. “The Bronze Bomber” was able to knock Fury down twice during the contest despite getting out-boxed by the Englishman for most of the fight. However, the second knockdown Wilder scored in the 12th round was a highly controversial one.

    Wilder obliterated Fury, who went down on his back to the canvas, seemingly unconscious. However, somehow, Fury mustered up the strength to get back to his feet and finish the fight. The result was a split draw decision on the judges’ scorecards. Recently, Wilder took to Twitter to make the case that he should’ve actually been declared the winner via knockout.

    He shared the following video of his knockdown of Fury, which included a 10-count timer. In the video, Fury doesn’t make it up in time to beat the count:

    “Keep the vids coming for The Sick MFs That hate I won, The Blind MFs that can’t face reality and the MFs that just don’t want to see US Succeed”

    Former mixed martial arts (MMA) referee Big Jon McCarthy took to Twitter to explain the situation:

    “Yes sir, I can explain it to you. You need to understand the mechanics for a knockdown which is as soon as the referee calls the fighter down the time keeper starts a count. The referee moves the standing fighter away towards a neutral corner and then picks up the count from the timekeeper at we will say somewhere around 3 or 4.

    “The referee then continues his count up to 10 if the fighter is still down. It is a “10” count not 10 seconds of time. The referee was perfect in this situation. Hope this helps. It was a great fight, wasn’t it”

    Do you think Fury beat the 10 count against Wilder?

  • [ARCHIVES] Dana White Confirms Verbal Agreement With Mayweather

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    Dana White and Floyd Mayweather apparently came to an agreement as covered in the following story from 2019. What the precise nature of the verbal agreement was, to this day, remains worthy of an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 5, 2019, 6:52 PM]

    Dana White has confirmed that he and Floyd Mayweather have reached a verbal agreement.

    Last month, Mayweather had the combat sports world buzzing when he teased that something was in the works with the UFC president. “Money” and White had a conversation during an NBA game. Mayweather followed that up by claiming he was coming out of retirement in 2020.

    White Claims Verbal Agreement In Place With Mayweather

    White appeared on The Jim Rome Show and revealed that he’s hoping to put pen to paper in March (via MMAWeekly).

    “It’s true. We sat at the Clippers game. We started talking and we literally got a deal done right there on the court. And if things play out the way things Floyd and I think they will, I will probably sit down with Al Haymon (Mayweather’s manager) in March and get a deal on paper.

    “If everything goes our way, Floyd and I would be doing something in October or November (of 2020).”

    Mayweather retired from professional boxing with a perfect 50-0 record. He wrapped up his career with a 10th-round TKO victory over former UFC “champ-champ” Conor McGregor. MMA News will keep you up to speed on further updates on the Dana White-Floyd Mayweather talks as they become available.

  • Gervanta Davis Willing To Fight In The UFC, Explains Why He’d Do Well

    Gervanta Davis has expressed a willingness to fight in the UFC—if the price is right.

    Undefeated and multiple-time boxing world champion Gervonta Davis says he is open to fighting in the UFC. He wouldn’t necessarily be looking to make a career out of it like Claressa Shields is attempting to do at the moment. However, he wouldn’t be opposed to a quick cash grab if the right offer comes across his table (h/t LowkickMMA).

    “I mean, if they pay me — I know they probably wouldn’t pay me like a boxer’s (purse) — like a boxing match, but if they paid me enough to where I’m comfortable with it, I’d fight an MMA fight,” Gervonta Davis said on the Full Send Podcast.

    The only male former champion boxer to attempt such a thing was James Toney. Toney fought Randy Couture at UFC 118 in 2010 and suffered a lopsided first-round defeat. Much like Toney, the aforementioned Claressa Shields struggled with grappling when she lost her second pro fight to Abigail Montes earlier this year.

    Davis does not see himself suffering this same fate because when it comes to wrestling, he’s got proper hood training.

    “I gotta fight somebody like in my weight class,” Gervonta Davis said. “I don’t think somebody could get me, like somebody at my weight, can get me down and pin me, I don’t see that. ‘Cause, like — I’m from the hood, we used to wrestle. That’s what we do. First thing we do, we swing, and then from the swing, we picking you up and slamming you. Like, let’s just say, I’m fighting right now, on the street, I’m not gonna just straight box you, I’m gonna swing and then pick you up — you going in the air.”

    Gervonta Davis last competed on June 26, defeating Mario Barrios by knockout. Davis’ next fight takes place this Sunday against Isaac Cruz in Los Angeles.

    How do you think Gervonta Davis would fare in the UFC?

  • Brandon Moreno Reveals Advice Compatriot Canelo Alvarez Gave Him

    UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has revealed the important advice his fellow Mexican titleholder Canelo Alvarez gave him.

    In one of the most heart-warming title wins of 2021, Moreno reached the 125-pound mountaintop at UFC 263 in June. It came just two years and six fights after he was released by the promotion following back-to-back losses against Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja.

    Having returned to MMA’s biggest stage and built a three-fight winning streak that included triumphs over Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval, Moreno earned a shot at Deiveson Figueiredo’s gold. At UFC 256 last December, the pair went to war in a Fight of the Year contender, which ended in a majority draw.

    As expected, the two elite flyweights collided once again exactly six months later. This time, in front of a sold-out Arizona crowd, “The Assassin Baby” dominated, finishing “Deus Da Guerra” with a third-round rear-naked choke.

    After injuries to Askar Askarov and Alexandre Pantoja prevented them from challenging for the title, Moreno will defend his belt for the first time in a trilogy fight against Figueiredo at UFC 270 on January 22.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVY_1xfPR4y/

    Moreno Learned A Thing Or Two From Boxing’s P4P King

    Moreno will certainly be looking to put in a similar display when he shares the Octagon with Figueiredo for the third time. And a meeting with fellow Mexican champion Canelo Alvarez would certainly have done no harm to that quest.

    A month out from his championship victory, Moreno joined boxing’s pound-for-pound best in the gym. Not only was it an opportunity for the flyweight champ to mingle with his nation’s top sportsman, but it was also a chance for him to learn from one of the greatest pugilists of all time.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Moreno discussed his first meeting with the 31-year-old, and dispelled a myth about the Guadalajara native’s character.

    “Yes, (it) was my first time (meeting Canelo). I just wanna say, that guy is amazing. He’s a really good guy because, a lot of people thing he’s a little bit like, I don’t know how you say in English, but a bad guy, not a good people, but the guy is serious, definitely is a little bit serious, but he’s very honest and he has a really good vibe. With him, and around him, all the people around him, it’s like, very professional, with really good vibes.”

    Canelo boasts a remarkable 57-1 record inside the squared circle. His only blemish came at the hands of the consensus greatest of all time Floyd Mayweather. Thanks to wins over the likes of Billy Joe Saunders, Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, and Sergey Kovalev, the Mexican became the first boxer in history to become an undisputed champion at super middleweight.

    Given Canelo’s incredible success and accomplishments in the ring, it stands to reason not many are more qualified to give lessons on dealing with fame and championship glory. With that in mind, Moreno said the boxing great reminded him to remain focused on his career, even with the “luxury” that will begin to surround him.

    “I talked a little bit with him, with Canelo. He give me some advice about, you know, about the success, about the glory, what happens when you have all this success, what happens with the people around you. (He said) ‘You need to be focused on the goal, and you need to be focused in your career with all the luxury around you.’ But man, now I know why the guy is the best in the world right now in boxing.”

    With Canelo’s advice under his belt, Moreno will push forward with his reign atop the flyweight throne. Given Figueiredo’s work with former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, it’ll seemingly be a battle of legends’ advice come January 22.

    What do you make of Canelo’s advice for Brandon Moreno?

  • Claressa Shields Makes 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 List

    Claressa Shields has made the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 list under the Sports category.

    Shields was the only boxer or mixed martial artist to make the list. The 26-year-old is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and is undefeated as a professional boxer at 11-0. This year, Shields went 2-0 in boxing, with victories over Marie-Eve Dicaire and Ivana Habazin, both via unanimous decision.

    How Claressa Shields Beat Marie-Eve Dicaire for the 154-Pound Championship - The New York Times
    Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire

    Shields also made her MMA debut with the Professional Fighters League. She was successful in her debut, pulling out a come-from-behind victory over Brittney Elkin. She would then lose her follow-up bout to Abigail Montes, however.

    Heading into her bout against Montes, Shields acknowledged that she’s learning as she goes, but expressed rocksteady confidence once her overall skillset matches her hands.

    “I’ve been learning on the job, and I’ve been just getting better and better,” Shields told The Albuquerque Journal. “… I’m being taught armbars and stuff, and I’m being taught how to get out of them. They’re showing me rear naked chokes, and I’m doing really good in wrestling and getting in great positions.

    “That’s stuff that used to confuse me. Now I actually feel good doing them, and that’s just giving me more confidence for the future.”

    Shields joins the ranks of NBA star Devin Booker, MLB’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott to make this year’s Forbes list, to name a few.

    Shields is currently scheduled to box Ema Kozin on January 29 and is expected to make her MMA return next year as well, though a hard date has not been set as of yet.

    Is there anybody else from MMA that you think would be a good addition to join Claressa Shields on the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 List?

  • Bisping Slams “Suspect” Jake Paul For Refusing Drug Tests For Fury Fight

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping has questioned Jake Paul’s decision not to allow drug testing to take place for his upcoming fight against Tommy Fury.

    Having maintained his unbeaten record in the squared circle, much to the dismay of many in the combat sports community, Paul looks set to continue his boxing venture for some time to come. The next man looking to stop that from happening will be the younger half-brother of world champion Tyson Fury.

    After defeating fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, retired basketball player Nate Robinson, retired former Bellator and ONE welterweight titleholder Ben Askren, and former 170-pound UFC champion Tyron Woodley, Paul is finally set to face his first professional pugilist. He’ll challenge “TNT” on December 18, with both men’s unblemished records on the line.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CW1CmlCt2aR/

    Bisping Criticizes Paul’s “Bizarre” Stance

    According to Fury’s camp, Paul has refused the implementation of drug testing ahead of their eight-round boxing match in Tampa. Despite it being unclear whether the YouTube sensation was tested against AnEsonGib or Askren, it was confirmed that he had been for his August victory over Woodley.

    In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping addressed the news that testing won’t be in place for Paul’s fifth outing in the ring. As a big advocate for clean fighting and stringent testing, “The Count” branded Paul’s reluctance to allow it as “bizarre” and “suspect.”

    “Just recently, we’ve seen the rise of Jake Paul. Jake Paul is doing great things in combat sports and he’s young in his career, but I just saw, just a moment ago, MMA Junkie just did an article, and they said that, MMA Junkie said that he’s refused a drug test for his latest fight. Well, not refused a drug test, he hasn’t allowed drug testing to happen for his latest fight against Tommy Fury, which is bizarre. He’s put in all kinds of stipulations about, ‘You gotta change your name to Tommy Fumbles’ and this and that.

    “There’s all kinds of things in there, all kinds of stipulations, lots of rules, lots of work for the lawyers to put in. But he refused, or said he didn’t want, to have VADA testing in there, which is, I don’t know, that’s a little suspect. If you’ve got nothing to hide, test the shit out of me, test the shit outta whoever.”

    While Paul has certainly been facing tougher opposition every time he enters the squared circle, and has gone some way to legitimizing himself thanks to wins over two MMA pros, a triumph over a boxer would certainly force everyone to take him seriously.

    However, should he find a path to victory having prevented drug testing from taking place, it’s arguable there’ll be a cloud hanging over the result.

    What do you make of Jake Paul’s desire to avoid drug testing for his fight against Tommy Fury?