FURY-JOSHUA HEADS TO NEW YORK AS WHITE AND HEARN CLASH PUBLICLY

 

Key points:

• Dana White gave his strongest signal yet that Fury vs Joshua lands at Madison Square Garden on November 20

• White launched a heated public attack on Eddie Hearn after being told Hearn still wants the fight in the UK

• Hearn has argued Joshua’s contract requires a UK venue and has discussed possible legal action

• Joshua’s approval is still technically required before the venue becomes official

The months-long tug-of-war over where Anthony Joshua finally fights Tyson Fury boiled into open conflict this week, with Dana White all but confirming a New York venue before turning his frustration directly on Eddie Hearn.

Told the fight had been agreed for Friday, November 20, White responded with a knowing “Interesting.” Pressed on Madison Square Garden specifically, he added, “If that’s what the word is, then that must be it.” White seemed less uncertain about the location than simply unwilling to make the formal announcement himself, growing irritated when a reporter questioned his role in the promotion. “You might want to ask the promoters of the fight,” he said. “I’m not going to play these games with these [expletive] guys.”

The real anger surfaced when White was told Hearn still wants the fight in Britain and had discussed legal action over TKO’s dealings with Madison Square Garden. “I have not. I stopped listening to Eddie Hearn about three months ago,” White said. “Is there anybody more full of [expletive] than this guy?” Hearn responded in kind, accusing White of exaggerating his own role in the venue negotiations.

What White’s outburst didn’t address is the contractual question underneath all of it: Joshua reportedly signed for a fight in Britain, and his approval is still required before Madison Square Garden becomes official. Madison Square Garden clearly suits Netflix, allowing a Friday night broadcast in American primetime away from college football and NFL competition, but it would leave British fans watching an overnight fight rather than the Wembley occasion many expected for years.

- BBN Editor

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS TYSON FURY ULTIMATUM ISSUED - "THERE WILL BE NO FIGHT"

Joshua and Fury are contracted to meet in the UK later this year but Netflix, and the fight's Saudi backers, want to host it at Madison Square Garden on November 20

Tyson Fury is due to fight Anthony Joshua(Image: Tyson Fury/Instagram)

Eddie Hearn insists he will pull the plug on Anthony Joshua's fight with Tyson Fury if New York is announced as the venue without a change of contract.

Joshua and Fury are contracted to meet in the UK later this year but Netflix, and the fight's Saudi backers, want to host it at Madison Square Garden on November 20. But Hearn insists he and Joshua want the fight to be held at Wembley and is refusing to back down in the row.

"Everybody wants to do the fight in New York, apart from Anthony Joshua and me," he told The Punch Podcast. "We're under a huge amount of pressure, and we're being told by Turki Alshikh and those guys - Netflix particularly - 'Look, we really want to do the fight in the US.' It's almost not a 'please Eddie,' but like, 'We're partners. We're paying a lot of money. Come on, you have to understand that we need to put the fight where we feel is commercially the best place.'

"I don't agree with their arguments, but I'm not the one paying the money. However, we wouldn't have signed the contract if the fight was in America, so we have to have a discussion around that. Then you've got Nick Khan phoning me up from TKO and Zuffa, saying, "Come on, can we be involved?" And I'm like, "What? Why? Why would I let you be involved?" "Well, we think we can make the fight bigger," and blah, blah, blah.

"Okay, if you tell me some reasons why I should let you be involved... Are you going to let me be involved in the next Conor McGregor fight in the UFC? No, of course not. So what? But I'm also not stubborn enough to just say no; I'll listen. The other day, though, they wrote to us and said, 'Just to let you know, we'd like to announce the fight for New York.' I said, 'No. You can't.'

"By the way, there might even be a situation where they go ahead and announce it anyway, and you'll probably see me come out quite quickly and say, 'No fight.' Because I promise you, if they announce that fight without an agreement in place to change the venue, there will be no fight, and we ain't bluffing.

"We feel really strongly that this fight should be in the UK. I've also said many times that I want it to work for everybody. Turki is spending a lot of money on this fight, if you really feel that commercially you're going to be so much better off doing it in America."

- Martin Domin

JARRELL MILLER DEFIES LOGIC WITH 1003 PUNCHES AT 305 POUNDS

Matchroom Boxing 

Jarrell Miller weighed 305 pounds on fight night — and then threw a staggering 1003 punches across twelve rounds in a unanimous decision victory over Lenier Pero in Las Vegas.

That number alone would stand out in any division. At heavyweight, and from a fighter carrying that kind of size, it borders on the absurd.

Miller’s relentless output helped him grind down the previously unbeaten Pero over twelve rounds at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, earning scorecards of 115-113, 117-111, and 117-111.

Miller overwhelms Pero

Lenier Pero entered the bout as a rising contender with a perfect record and a reputation for composure, but Miller’s approach quickly turned the fight into a test of endurance rather than control.

Throwing at a pace rarely seen from a heavyweight, Miller forced exchanges and maintained pressure throughout, refusing to allow Pero to settle into any sustained rhythm over the course of the contest.

The Cuban showed flashes of his ability in stretches as the pair traded leather continually, but the volume and consistency from Miller ultimately defined the outcome, particularly as the rounds began to add up.

By the final bell, the difference was clear enough on the cards, even if Pero remained competitive in patches despite Miller controlling the rounds.

Matchroom Boxing 

1003 punches at 305 pounds

Miller’s punch output became the story of the fight as the rounds progressed, with the American surpassing the 1000 mark across the championship distance despite tipping the scales at 305 pounds. He landed with 29% of those blows.

Heavyweights are not built to operate at that level of activity, especially not at that size, which made the numbers even more striking once they were confirmed.

It was not just about quantity either, as the sustained pressure forced Pero into a fight he could never fully dictate.

The numbers will also invite scrutiny, with Miller having previously served a near four-year suspension for performance-enhancing drug violations.

A Dangerous Jarrell Miller

Miller scaled 12 pounds lighter than his victory over Kingsley Ibeh, the infamous “toupee fight,” and was in the kind of shape he showed in his credible draw with former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.

Apart from some bumps in the road eighteen months after his return from a three-and-a-half-year absence, Miller has built a solid résumé and could yet capitalize with a belated world title shot.

His last attempt at a major belt sparked massive controversy when Miller tested positive for multiple banned substances, which saw his challenge against Anthony Joshua fall apart in the first half of 2019.

Since then, Miller has looked a danger to certain heavyweights without having the same explosive power he showed earlier in his career, but his output alone still makes “Big Baby” a handful for anyone in the division.

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes a fight with Deontay Wilder could excite fans, while the New Yorker also has Murat Gassiev in his sights for a shot at a secondary WBA title, which may prove to be his most realistic route back into world title contention.

At 305 pounds and throwing over 1000 punches, Miller isn’t supposed to work like this — which is exactly why he’s still a problem.

Miller vs Pero Undercard Results

Chaves delivers knockout moment

Matchroom Boxing 

Earlier on the card, Alan Chaves produced a knockout-of-the-year contender with a single shot finish of Miguel Madueno in the third round.

The bout ended at 1:26 of round three, with Chaves extending his unbeaten record to 21-0 in emphatic fashion on his Matchroom debut.

The sudden ending stood in complete contrast to the main event, providing the kind of moment that prompts his promoter Eddie Hearn to declare a new superstar in the making.

Damian Sosa defeated previously unbeaten Freudis Rojas via unanimous decision over ten rounds, with Rojas suffering a knockdown in the sixth.

Nishant Dev continued his rise with a second-round stoppage of Juan Carlos Guerra Jr, who was dropped before the finish.

Angel Barrientes earned an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Luis Espinoza, while Phillip Vella also secured a points win against Edwin Rodriguez.

- Phil Jay

'DEVASTATED' EDDIE HEARN HITS OUT AT CONNOR BENN AFTER BOXER DUMPED PROMOTER FOR DANA' WHITE'S FLEDGLING COMLANY - AND REVEALS STAR'S SHOCKING REACTION WHEN HE ASKED FOR A PHONE CALL MOMENTS BEFORE 'PAINFUL' SPLIT'

Eddie Hearn has revealed he is 'devastated' following Conor Benn's decision to sign with Dana White's outfit Zuffa Boxing - and admitted that he may have 'misjudged the character' of the boxer.

The 29-year-old, son of British legend Nigel Benn, sensationally announced on Thursday that he was ditching Hearn's promotion Matchroom Boxing after a decade-long relationship.

Benn, who has ambitions of winning the WBC welterweight title, thanked Hearn for standing by him during the tough periods of his career and said he was excited for a 'new chapter' aimed at securing 'legacy fights' on the biggest stages.

But Hearn, whose promotion guided the British boxing star from his 2016 debut to headlining cards and stuck by him through a series of failed drug tests, has hit out at the fighter.

Speaking to iFL TV after Benn's bombshell announcement, the 46-year-old promoter claimed he was informed of the decision by the boxer's lawyer before being refused a phone call with him.

Benn announced he was joining the promotion led by Dana White late on Friday evening

'Me personally, pretty devastated,' Hearn said of his reaction to the news. 'I have had a few days to digest what might happen. It is not often you get shocked. 

'I blame myself. I forgot it was boxing. I just felt the loyalty that we have shown would never ever put us in this position.'

Hearn added that he 'misjudged the character' of Benn by feeling the 'loyalty' he had shown him 'would be enough to talk it through or get close to a number'.

He continued: 'It feels a little bit of a wasted few years. I gave a lot... I believed him and I backed him and I never gave in when he was done, out. Loaned him hundreds of thousands of pounds, but yeah on we go.'

'I just think the way it was done was very very wrong,' he added. 'But everyone is different. Some people, loyalty really matters, other people maybe not so. 

'The way it played out to receive an email from the lawyer and then to ask for a call and not the willingness to have it, you just lose a bit of your soul to it.'

Benn, whose most recent fight was his rematch victory over Chris Eubank Jr in December, announced his decision late on Friday night and led his social media statements thanking Hearn and Matchroom 'for everything they've done'.

The 29-year-old beat Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch between the fighters last December

But Eubank Jr, who won the first fight last April, launched a scathing attack on his old foe on X.

'So Eddie Hearns (sic) #1 fighter has now left him,' the boxer's post read.

'Eddie stuck by Conor Benn through thick & thin, getting him off of drug charges & giving him money to live when he had nothing. 

'I guess this really shows just how much of a scumbag Hearn actually is… he saves his fighters life & career & Conor still doesn’t want to be involved with him. Or is Benn the scumbag for dumping the man that built him? (thinking emoji).

Hearn admitted that he may have 'misjudged the character' of British welterweight star Benn

'This really is a conundrum. Scumbag on scumbag violence at its finest… don’t say I didn’t tell you guys.'

Benn claimed Zuffa Boxing 'presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse' and said he hoped his old promoter could 'continue to be a part of my team'.

'I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing,' Benn's statement continued. 

'I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.'

The announcement came as a major shock in the sport, given Matchroom's decision to stick by Benn when he failed two drug tests in 2022. 

The promotion's continued backing throughout the episode was widely noted, and Benn eventually returned to boxing on home soil in late 2024.

Against that backdrop, Benn's move to Zuffa - founded by UFC chief executive White - appears motivated by both financial and strategic factors.

Benn has long pursued Ryan Garcia and speculation is abound that he could now face him

The deal is understood in boxing circles to be lucrative - reportedly a one-fight agreement worth eight figures - which would leave Benn a free agent again after his promotional debut with Zuffa.

The switch also places Benn at the centre of the new promoter's early ambitions to attract high-profile names and stage blockbuster events. Among the potential targets generating intrigue is American star Ryan Garcia, whom Benn has long pursued.

Garcia's own promotional situation remains uncertain amid conflicting claims involving Golden Boy Promotions and founder Oscar De La Hoya. Garcia has suggested his contract with Golden Boy is due to expire on Sunday, while De La Hoya maintains multiple bouts remain on the agreement.

The public back-and-forth, set against Benn's new deal with Zuffa, has intensified speculation that a Benn-Garcia showdown could materialise as one of the promotion's first marquee matchups if the contractual picture clears.

It is understood Zuffa is planning multiple London events throughout 2026, raising the prospect of Benn and Garcia headlining a blockbuster show after Benn previously claimed the pair could sell out a stadium.

Benn is also expected to be ringside for Garcia's forthcoming contest against Mario Barrios, raising the prospect of a face-off or promotional moment that could further stoke anticipation around a possible transatlantic showdown.

White called Benn's signing a 'huge addition' to his team.

'Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar,' he said in a statement. 

'He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out.

'He's ready for a world title next and I can't wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing.

'He's going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers.'

- CIARAN FOREMAN

A STAR IS BORN - DALTON SMITH SMASHES WORLD CHAMPION SUBRIEL MATIAS TO WIN WBC CROWN

 Thunder rumbles inn Brooklyn - Dalton Smith smashes world champion Subriel Matias to win WBC world title

Sheffield star shines bright in the States

Dalton Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) is the new WBC World Super-Lightweight champion after a spectacular stoppage win over the fearsome two-time world champion Subriel Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) in Brooklyn.

28-year-old Smith started brilliantly in the opening round of the fight at the Barclays Center, and was happy to trade with the fearsome Puerto Rican puncher as the fight caught fire early, but as the fifth round entered it’s final minute, Smith unleashed a devastating assault punctuated with three fearsome right hands that robbed the champion of his senses and sent him crashing to the canvas.

The defending champion was able to beat the count but was in no position to continue, and Britain had a new World champion in the most stunning circumstances.

It's the first time Matias has been stopped in 26 pro bouts, the pressure fighter boasts a 95% KO rate. Smith becomes Britain's first world champion on 2026.

“There are no words,” said Dalton. “A lifelong dream, hard work and sacrifice, it’s all for this moment. My Dad, my Granddad, all my family, we’ve all worked for this and I always believed. It’s a message to anyone that if you believe in yourself, you can go out and achieve your dreams.

“I heard some people say that Dalton Smith ain’t tough. I gave my Dad a bit of a heart attack in there as that wasn’t the game plan, but I took all his best shots and thought ‘you can’t hurt me.’ He was slowing down so I thought ‘persevere, persevere, and I’ll get you.’ We had plan A, B and C, and at World level you have to do it all.

“It’s not going to sink in for a long time but we always knew this would happen. We had everything against us for this fight. The build up, the testing and so on. But I knew that this was my moment and my opportunity, and that you could throw anything at me. I’ve got the best team around me, the best promoter in the world, and it’s a win for us all.

“Show me the money! Let me enjoy this moment now, I’m going to embrace it, and the future is bright.”

For promoter Eddie Hearn, Smith joins the likes of Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor as fighters he has guided to World title glory from debut, and the proud promoter put the Big Apple night right at the top of the magical away days that he’s enjoyed in the sport.

“You talk about Darren Barker against Daniel Geale, Kell Brook against Shawn Porter, honestly, that beats everything – that’s the greatest away win I’ve ever witnessed,” said Hearn. “Dalton is a hero. You have to box with Matias, you saw that from Liam Paro, but Matias was on tonight, he was red hot, and he didn’t allow Dalton to box.

“So Dalton decided to fight Matias at his own game, which is the worst idea you can have – he’s never been hurt, he’s never been down – and he battered him, put him down, in New York to become the latest British World champion. The kid is a hero and there’s a new superstar in the sport of boxing and his name is Dalton Smith.

"He boxed lovely in the first round and then all of a sudden he’s getting hurt, he’s cut, but he stayed trading with him. They were both getting tired, but Dalton hit him to the body about a minute before the stoppage and really hurt him, and then the right hands landed and that’s all she wrote – that is what dreams are made of.

“We knew Dalton was a star, but to do that on the World stage in New York and in that style. People were talking about this fight and that fight, Adam Azim and the like, Dalton Smith has gone out and accepted the boogeyman, met him head on in New York and stopped Subriel Matias to become the World champion – put some respect on his name.”

- Tim Rickson

ANTHONY JOSHUA CRASH: WHAT CAR HE WAS TRAVELLING IN AND CAUSE REVEALED

Two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was involved in a fatal crash on Monday 29 December that left him injured and tragically killed two of his friends and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have now detail what they've found in the preliminary investigation in relation to the cause of the crash.

Just days after he defeated Jake Paul in Miami, Joshua was enjoying some downtime in Nigeria – a country he is mightily proud of given his heritage – when he and his close pals Sinha Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, both of whom were pronounced dead at the scene, crashed.

After being rescued by witnesses from the wreckage of the vehicle, Joshua has been taken to a local Nigerian hospital to recover and get the treatment he needs. The families of the British boxer's associates, Ghami and Ayodele, who were killed in the crash, have been notified.

Full Statement From Federal Road Safety Corps After Joshua Crash

Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps took to X (formerly Twitter) to provide a detailed explanation into the incident that took the lives of Ayodele and Ghami. "Preliminary reports from the Ogun Sector Command indicate that the crash occurred at about 1200HRS and was promptly reported to the Corps," they wrote before going over their swift response to the call.

"FRSC operatives arrived at the scene within three (3) minutes of notification, enabling swift rescue operations, evacuation of victims, effective traffic control, and prevention of secondary crashes.

"Two persons sadly lost their lives, one sustained injuries, while two others escaped unhurt. Anthony Joshua was rescued alive and sustained minor injuries," the statement continued, before the vehicle was identified as a black Lexus Jeep, which crashed into a stationary red commercial Sinotruck.

"The injured victim was evacuated for medical attention, while the remains of the deceased were conveyed to Livewell Morgue, Ajaka, Sagamu. The Nigeria Police Motor Traffic Division (MTD) was duly notified for further investigation and necessary documentation."

Initial findings from local authorities have revealed that Joshua's Lexus Jeep was travelling over the 'legally prescribed' speed limit on the road, which links Lagos to northern, southern and eastern parts of the country. The vehicle then lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck well packed by the side of the road. The statement concluded:

"The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways."

Elsewhere, as reported by the BBC, Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi of Nigeria's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) said early investigations showed the Lexus "experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed" when travelling along the highway from Lagos to Sagamu when it "lost control".

Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul Voice Support for Joshua

Following the news of Joshua being involved in a car crash in Nigera, Matchroom Boxing figurehead and the 36-year-old's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has come out to offer support to his client and long-term friend, who is eyeing a fight with fellow heavyweight Tyson Fury.

"Matchroom Boxing and 258 BXG can confirm that Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment," he wrote before adding: "He is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation.

"Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected - and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time. No further comment will be made at this time."

Paul, Joshua's latest opponent inside the ring, also voiced his support. He wrote: "Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident." He later added: "RIP Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif / Latz” Ayodele. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends and AJ."

- Daniel Hepburn 

ANTHONY JOSHUA APOLOGISES TO JAKE PAUL'S MUM AFTER BRUTAL KNOCKOUT AS EDDIE HEARN CALLED OUT

Anthony Joshua proved to be the perfect gentleman following his brutal knockout of Jake Paul in Miami on Friday night

Anthony Joshua before his win over Jake Paul (Image: (Giorgio VIERA / AFP via Getty Images))

Anthony Joshua apologised to Jake Paul’s mum after his brutal knockout victory over the YouTuber-turned-boxer. Paul took on former heavyweight world champion Joshua in Miami on Friday night.

Joshua, who is reportedly close to agreeing to a long-awaited fight against Tyson Fury in Riyadh in 2026, was made to work far harder than he would have liked to extinguish the challenge of Paul. However, the fight was waved off in the sixth round after a barrage of shots from Joshua.

The American has since undergone surgery after his jaw was broken in two places by the final blow. And Paul's mother, Pam Stepnick, has praised Joshua for apologising to her personally after his victory.

"Even Anthony Joshua had some class and apologised to me, essentially," Stepnick said on the Impaulsive podcast. "He worked his way through the crowd and came up to me and said: 'Mom, just know it's just boxing. It's just the fight game'.

She was less forgiving towards promoter Eddie Hearn, though. "As a mom, my aggression comes out too," she said. "I wanted to get in that ring and punch Eddie Hearn, for instance... because I don't like his smug face.

"Jake's over there struggling and he's sitting over there smiling like the cat who swallowed the canary. Guess what? Did he f***ing get in the ring?

Before she added: "Jake chose to get into the ring with a humongous guy, that's on Jake. I believe that Jake really thought he could knock him (Joshua) out so it made me feel very confident and I knew God was in his corner.

“And he still was, because this could have turned out even worse than it did, so God really was on our shoulders. And to get through the process of getting into the ER, having surgery, out of the ER, discharged to home within 12 hours, thank you to the angels."

While Paul said: “Double broken jaw. Give me Canelo in 10 days. I’m feeling good, that was fun. I love this sport. I gave it my all… I had a blast.

“Anthony’s a great fighter, I got my ass beat but that’s what this sport’s about. I think my jaw is broke by the way… it’s definitely broke. A nice ass whooping from one of the best to ever do it.

Jake Paul after being knocked down by Anthony Joshua(Image: (Giorgio VIERA / AFP via Getty Images))

“We’re going to heal the broken jaw, fight someone my weight and go for the cruiserweight world title.”

Asked whether his 15-month spell out of the ring since losing to Daniel Dubois had played a part in him initially struggling, Joshua replied: “I need to give this guy a systematic breakdown.

“I said I’m going to take his soul, I said I’m going to see it leaving his body round after round. When the time comes, some people are there to get knocked out. I said it and that’s exactly what happened.

“I just took my time and I got the job done within the time limit of eight rounds. I refuse to get hurt, I refuse to acknowledge getting hurt.

“As soon as he hit me, I stood there and I tried to hit him back. At the end of the day there’s going to be one winner and it’s me tonight.”

- Connor O'Neill

EDDIE HEARN REACTS TO ANTHONY JOSHUA KO OF JAKE PAUL

 

JAKE PAUL CANCELS GERVONTA 'TANK' DAVIS FIGHT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST OPPONENT

Jake Paul has cancelled his fight with Gervonta Davis after the boxer was accused of battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Jake Paul has called off his fight with Gervonta Davis (Image: Getty Images)

Jake Paul has pulled out of his fight with Gervonta Davis after 'Tank' was accused of battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping by an ex-girlfriend. The pair were set to face off in an exhibition match in Miami on November 14, despite Davis being a lightweight and Paul a cruiserweight.

The bout wouldn't have counted towards their professional records, but a winner would have been declared either by stoppage or by two human judges and an AI official if the fight went the distance. However, Most Valuable Promotions have now decided to find a new opponent for Paul, with the YouTuber-turned-boxer branding Davis 'an actual walking human piece of garbage'.

Davis has yet to comment on the allegations, but his trainer Calvin Ford dismissed them as "nonsense". According to the lawsuit, Davis attacked ex-partner Courtney Rossel at her workplace on October 27 and had previously threatened to kill her.

Ms. Rossel also claims Davis "physically assaulted and choked" her on at least four other occasions. She is seeking damages of $50,000 and a jury trial.

Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, said in a statement: "Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate this situation responsibly. While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025.

"Details regarding a new date, location, Jake's opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalised."

Paul took to social media to vent his frustrations, stating: "Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, the showing up hours late to shoots. To the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits.

"If you support this man you support the most vile sin a man can commit... I'm so sorry to everyone involved."

Ryan Garcia was initially suggested as a potential replacement for Davis, but promoter Oscar De La Hoya has dismissed this idea. He explained: "Let me tell you why this fight is not going to happen.

"Ryan Garcia fights for DAZN and Jake Paul fights on Netflix. Golden Boy has a contract with DAZN. Ryan Garcia has a contract with Golden Boy."

In the meantime, Eddie Hearn hasn't ruled out a surprise match between Paul and Anthony Joshua. Speaking to iFL TV, he said: "Just let me know where."

Hearn's comments followed his earlier suggestion that it was unlikely Joshua would return to the ring before the end of the year.

He stated: "I don't want to confirm it because you never know but I think it's very unlikely. At the moment, we're all working towards our February date which is getting very close to being confirmed.

"Now, would there be a run out in 2025? Again, never say never. What I will say to you is he's four or five weeks deep into camp so he's on me to fight.

"Previously he hadn't been training in camp with intensity. He wasn't really looking to fight other than February but now he's almost ready to go so I think realistically as we move into November, February will be the return date but never say never."

- Martin Domin

FRANK WARREN AND EDDIE HEARN REACT TO NICK BALL KICK AGAINST TJ DOHENY

Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions

Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have given their thoughts on Nick Ball's kick against TJ Doheny on Saturday night. 

Taking place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, Ball successfully defended his WBA featherweight title with Doheny being pulled out of the fight at the end of the tenth round. 

One talking point that has come from the aftermath is whether Ball should have been disqualified or had a point deducted after kicking Doheny.

The incident took place at the end of round one with Doheny having Ball in a headlock. The Liverpudlian then decided to retaliate by kicking his opponent and fell to the canvas. 

Speaking to iFL TV after Ball's win, his promoter Frank Warren gave his thoughts on the kick. 

"TJ was hanging on to him, he wouldn’t let go of his neck, he retaliated," Warren said.

"It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think it had any bearing on the fight."

Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn was also asked about Ball's kick by iFL TV following Austin Williams' win over Patrice Volny and he gave the following response. 

"I haven’t really seen it in full, someone showed me it during the fight. 

"I don’t think it’s a disqualification; did they take a point? I mean it probably should have had a point deducted, but I don’t think you can really disqualify someone for that. 

"To be fair to Doheny he sort of had a roll around, like football style, and thought to himself ‘I can’t mug myself here, I’ve got to get up.' "

Ball's win extended his professional record to 22-0-1 (13 KOs) and is hoping to secure a unification clash or possible fight with Naoya Inoue later this year. 

- Matt Astbury

ANTHONY JOSHUA HAS SEVEN-MAN SHORTLIST FOR NEXT FIGHT AFTER TUSON FURY RETIREMENT

Anthony Joshua has no fight planned (Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Joshua has been left in limbo following Tyson Fury's shock retirement - but has a number of possible options for his next fight, according to Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn has insisted Anthony Joshua is not short of options for his next bout, even if Tyson Fury remains retired.

In a stunning turn of events on Monday, Fury announced he was stepping away from boxing. The 'Gypsy King' chose to retire following his defeat in the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk last month in Riyadh. "Hi everybody, I'm going to make this short and sweet," Fury declared. "I'd like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I've loved every single minute of it and I'm going to end with this; Dick Turpin wore a mask."

This move by Fury scuppers any hopes for a much-anticipated all-British clash with Joshua. Nonetheless, speaking to The Sun, Joshua's promoter assured fans that 'AJ' has a wealth of potential contenders for his forthcoming fight. Among the names mentioned are Martin Bakole, Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, Agit Kabayel, Daniel Dubois, and Joseph Parker. Joshua suffered a knockout at the hands of Dubois in their September showdown.Since then, 'Triple D' has expressed interest in a rematch with 'AJ', which seemed set for February. However, Hearn has indicated that Joshua isn't ready for the rematch just yet due to minor injuries sustained in their initial encounter.

Dubois is now set to clash with Parker in Riyadh on February 22 in a much-anticipated duel. This heavyweight encounter has the potential to pave the way for one of them to face Joshua next. Post their 2018 match-up, Parker would relish the chance to even the score with 'AJ' should he prevail against 'Triple D'. Meanwhile, Bakole issued a blistering challenge to Joshua and is now seen as a possible opponent for the Watford-born pugilist.

The two have sparred previously, and at 31, Bakole cements his top-contender status after defeating Jared Anderson. He taunted Joshua, saying: "Anthony Joshua, I called you out. I wanted to knock you out," and "Now you're talking s**** to say Ajagba is going to beat me. "Shame on you. How many times did I call you out? How many times did I ask you to fight in Africa? You should be ashamed of yourself. I want to fight you. I want to knock you out. Look at Daniel Dubois, I broke his nose twice. He knocked you out cold. If you fight me, I'll knock you out in the first round.

"You're talking about Ajagba. Ajagba is a baby. Wait till you see how I knock him out. I invite you to be there. You're talking s***. I want to fight you. Stop talking nonsense. Now you're saying you're Nigerian. You're not British anymore? I'll knock you out. I'm an African giant. I'm an African warrior. After knocking out Ajagba, I will knock you out as well."

A rematch with Whyte could be on the cards, as boxing enthusiasts believe it would be the ideal warm-up fight before taking on the division's top stars. A match with Wilder would be fascinating given their long-standing feud. 'The Bronze Bomber' is aiming for a comeback and one significant victory could enhance his chances of another high-profile bout. Both Zhang and Kabayel are set to face off next month for the WBC interim title - with the belt ensuring them a shot at Usyk's title or the opportunity to be promoted should the Ukrainian relinquish the gold strap.

- JAMES EVANS

BREAKING: TYSON FURY RETIRES FROM BOXING IN BITTER BLOW TO ANTHONY JOSHUA'S HOPES OF FIGHT

Tyson Fury recently lost to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the second time and after the fight the British boxer revealed that he'd need to consider his future in the sport.

Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing for the third time in a fresh bombshell statement.

Fury, 36, has been heavily tipped to fight fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua in 2025 but it appears that bout is no longer on the cards. The 'Gypsy King' lost his last fight in December to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, the second time he'd been defeated by the Ukrainian. 

Fury made the announcement in a short video which he posted on social media on Monday afternoon.

"Hi everybody, I'm going to make this short and sweet," he said to the camera. "I'd like to announce my retirement from boxing. It's been a blast, I've loved every single minute of it. I'm going to end with this. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side. Get up!"

Boxing fans have noted that Fury has retired from the sport twice in the past. The first came after his historic victory over Wladimir Klitschko and again after he beat Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium.

Fury said when asked about the prospect of retiring after losing to Usyk in Saudi Arabia last month: "You might see me fight again, you might not."

Yet a clash with Joshua has been hotly debated ever since. Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing Joshua's promoter, said following Fury's loss: "The reality is there's only one fight for Tyson Fury and that's Anthony Joshua. It's the biggest fight probably in the history of British boxing, everyone will always want to see it."

Tyson Fury recent lost to Oleksandr Usyk ( Image: PA)

Hearn also revealed on Sunday that he'd reserved Wembley for Fury and Joshua's fight to take place in 'May or June'. "Yes. We're looking to get back in the ring in May or June. If it ended up being July, it doesn't really matter,' Hearn told Sky Sports at the Ring Awards.

"I still think it rests on Tyson Fury. Until the water settles on the defeat and where he's at mentally and what he wants to do, that's where we're really going to find out. Because when he looks at the options, what else is he going to do and who else is he going to fight?"

Joshua, 35, also confirmed earlier this month that Fury was his next 'target'. He explained during a trip to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu: "2025, I am targeting Tyson Fury."

Fury and Joshua had been scheduled to fight in late 2022, with the Gypsy King the reigning WBC heavyweight champion at the time. Negotiations then collapsed, with Fury instead successfully defending his title against Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua's last fight, meanwhile, came in September. The Olympic gold medalist was stopped in the fifth round by Britain's Daniel Dubois for the IBF title.

- Nathan Ridley

ARTUR BETERBIEV VS DMITRY BIVOL JUDGES SCORECARD: EDDY HEARN SLAMS 'DISGUSTING' RESULTS

Artur Beterbiev defeated Dimitry Bivol (Image: Getty)

Artur Beterbiev secured victory over Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia, but the result has not gone down well with boxing fans.

The scoring of Artur Beterbiev’s victory over Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night has received a controversial response from boxing fans. The light-heavyweight clash lived up to its billing in Saudi Arabia, with Beterbiev and Bivol needing all 12 rounds to find a result.

And it was Beterbiev whose arm was lifted into the air by the referee in the aftermath, after the Russian-Canadian was crowned undisputed light-heavyweight champion via a split decision. The result of the closely-fought contest split opinion with those watching on though.

A large portion of boxing fans believe the result in favour of Beterbiev was unjust, opting to take to social media to vent their frustrations after the judges’ scorecard was revealed. Manuel Oliver Palamo scored the fight 114-114, but his two colleagues went in favour of the 39-year-old.

Glenn Feldman scored it 115-113 in favour of Beterbiev, whilst Pawel Kardyni’s result read 116-112, with the Russian-Canadian as the champion. Some boxing fans however were quick to disagree.

“Biggest robbery of the last ten years,” one tweeted, before a second went on to add: “Dude who gave it 116-112 needs checking. Could have gone either way, not grumbling at Beterbiev winning but 4 rounds [in his favour] is crazy.”

The complaints did not stop there, as a third fan posted: “Draw at best. No way Beterbiev won,” before a fourth went on to comment: “How can someone score this fight 116-112.”

Whilst those watching from the side were clearly unimpressed, Bivol showed his class by offering his congratulations to his rival. “I have to do everything perfect,” Bivol said post-fight. “And I don’t have any explanation because it could look like excuses. 

“I just... Congratulations to Artur and his team. He deserves it.” The fighter went on: “He’s powerful,” he says. “Very powerful. And you see, I have a bruise on my hand. [His punching] was so hard, even he reached my eye.”

Quizzed on whether he wanted a rematch, Bivol replied: “Why not? Of course. If I had this chance, yes. This is my dream to be undisputed.” One man who was less accepting of the result was his promoter Eddie Hearn,  who slammed the result in the aftermath.

"In one of the biggest fights of our generation and in the most important fight in Dmitry Bivol's life you give him Four rounds? It's absolutely disgusting,” Hearn claimed.

“I don't want to disrespect Artur Beterbiev but Dmitry Bivol should be the undisputed champion tonight and that judge should never work again. Four rounds in a fight of that magnitude is disgusting."

-  Joshua Lees

ZHILEI ZHANG FINISHES DEONTAY WILDER IN 5TH--ROUND TKO

Zhilei Zhang scored a fifth-round TKO win over Deontay Wilder, who said before the fight that a loss could mean "the final goodbye." Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

 Zhilei Zhang scored the biggest win of his career Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and might have effectively ended former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder's run in the process.

China's Zhang, 41, connected with a perfectly timed counter right hook that spun Wilder in a daze. With Wilder defenseless, Zhang (27-2-1, 21 KOs) sprinted in and smashed him with another right hand that planted the American hard on the canvas.

Wilder, 38, somehow was on his feet before the count of 10, but his legs were unsteady and the referee wisely waved off the fight at 1:51 of Round 5.

"I blocked a few punches, but hell yeah, he punches hard," Zhang, speaking through an interpreter, said of Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs), who is regarded as one of the most powerful punchers in heavyweight history.

"I give him a lot of respect. He's a heavy puncher. ... I successfully took his right hand away."

Wilder has lost four of his past five fights, including a decision defeat to Joseph Parker in December along with a pair of losses to Tyson Fury in their heavyweight championship trilogy. Wilder said before the fight that if he lost, "this could be the final goodbye, the farewell of Deontay Wilder."

Zhang, too, was reeling from a decision defeat to Parker, the former heavyweight titleholder. Zhang floored Parker twice in March but still lost on the cards.

Now, he is back on what he called the "road to the champion." That's currently Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Fury last month in Riyadh for the undisputed championship.

Zhang closed as the -150 favorite against Wilder, according to ESPN BET. He is ESPN's No. 6 heavyweight, and Wilder entered the ring at No. 7. Zhang won a silver medal as a super heavyweight at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing while Wilder claimed bronze in the heavyweight division.

They appeared to be in different weight classes Saturday, too, as Zhang outweighed Wilder by 68.2 pounds -- at 282.8 compared with Wilder's 214.6. There is no weight limit in boxing's heavyweight division.

Zhang used that size advantage to bully Wilder and smother him on the ropes. A southpaw, Zhang was able to connect with right hooks that scored time and again as Wilder cocked his vaunted right hand back but rarely let it go.

In Round 5, Zhang finally began to unload his best weapon. Wilder had just scored with a chopping right hand when he threw yet another right that was countered by Zhang for the finish.

The victory made it a clean sweep for Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions, which was squaring off with rival U.K. promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in a unique 5 vs. 5 team concept created by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority.

After Zhang's TKO win, Alalshikh presented Warren with a large check worth $3 million.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider

REJUVENATED JOSHUA STILL HAS SOMETHING TO FIGHT BEFORE FURY:

Anthony Joshua knocked down Francis Ngannou three times on his way to a second-round KO victory Friday night in Saudi Arabia. Richard Pelham/Getty Images

 Following Anthony Joshua's pulverizing second-round KO victory on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a picture-perfect right hand that flattened Francis Ngannou out cold on the canvas, promoter Eddie Hearn quickly deemed Joshua the world's best heavyweight.

Yes, Joshua looks rejuvenated under the guidance of trainer Ben Davison, and compared with Tyson Fury's lackluster performance against Ngannou in October, the KO was even more impressive.

While it was one of the best highlight-reel knockouts you'll ever see -- Ngannou even needed oxygen administered after he regained his senses -- there's simply no basis to Hearn's claim.

The sport's best heavyweight will be decided May 18 in Riyadh, where Fury meets Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship. Fury is No. 1 in ESPN's heavyweight rankings and Usyk is No. 2. More importantly, Fury is the lineal champion and remains undefeated while Usyk already owns two clear decision wins over Joshua.

There's no shame in third place, of course, especially when the two others are all-time greats and both reside in ESPN's pound-for-pound top 10.

Regardless of who wins, Fury and Usyk are set for a rematch later this year, which means Joshua must wait for his shot to truly establish himself as the best heavyweight in the world.

"For some reason over the last five years there's always been some s--- that gets in the way of [me fighting Joshua]," Fury said. "And this time the s--- is the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. So that's on the backburner for now. Great performance from AJ. Fantastic.

"But unfortunately, I've got bigger fish to fry in Usyk on May 18. And we have a rematch in October. So, after that, if he's still available and I'm still available, let's get it on."

No matter what happens in the meantime, Joshua's performance Friday night couldn't have played out any better.

In the lead-up, there were many observers who backed Ngannou to knock off Joshua after the way he performed against Fury. Joshua showed a shaky chin and confidence to boot following his shocking defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and a pair of setbacks to Usyk.

So it was far from a foregone conclusion that Joshua would drill Ngannou in such explosive fashion. That he did builds hype for a matchup with Fury that appeared to simmer over the past few years.

But now, Joshua must wait and hope Fury comes out on top from his series of bouts with Usyk. If Fury does, a matchup with Joshua next year stands as the biggest boxing event in U.K. history and of the division's top fights, period.

"I had a s--- performance against Ngannou," Fury said. "It was no secret. I've never said any different. However, styles make fights, and I almost got it right. I predicted one round [for Joshua]. ... He lit him up with the right hand, which was perfect and knocked him out.

"That's what a boxer should have done to him. ... But if he fights me in the future after I've dealt with Usyk twice next year, then it'd be a different game."

Let's hope we find out. -- Mike Coppinger

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT AND UFC ICON SIGN DEAL FOR TEN-ROUND FIGHT IN SAUDI ARABIA

Anthony Joshua will face UFC legend Francis Ngannou in his next fight, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed.

Ngannou shocked the world on his professional boxing debut when he floored Tyson Fury last October, although the WBC heavyweight world champion ultimately won on points via split decision.

Ngannou impressed in his defeat to Fury and is now ready for Joshua

But Ngannou is back to take on another British heavyweight in Joshua, who won three times in 2023 as he rebuilds his career after losing his world titles and suffering successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

On Friday night news broke that both Joshua and Ngannou had signed a deal for the ten-round bout which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The showdown was confirmed by Joshua’s promoter Hearn, who said on X: "Tonight we confirm it’s a done deal! @anthonyjoshua v @francis_ngannou collide on a huge night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - press conference Jan 15 in London with full details dropping soon!"

EDDIE HEARN TALKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY MATCHROOM & WILDER SCHEDULE

'A TREACHEROUS BUSINESS ': JOSHUA AND HEARN LEFT TO REBUILD SHATTERED PLANS

After Deontay Wilder’s dire defeat by Joseph Parker, Anthony Joshua will have to navigate a different path to redemption

Anthony Joshua should have fought Deontay Wilder six years ago this month. In December 2017 Joshua held the IBF and WBA versions of the world heavyweight title and, after a remarkable victory over Wladimir Klitschko eight months earlier, his record was a flawless 19-0. He was 27 years old and at the peak of his profession. Wilder, with his 38-0 record including 37 victories by stoppage, was the WBC heavyweight champion and the most imposing knockout merchant on the planet.

There was considerable risk in a unification fight, for both men, but they were in their physical and psychological prime as heavyweight champions and they would almost certainly have produced a riveting contest. Of course promotional rivalries, sanctioning body shenanigans and the rampant egos of boxing’s powerbrokers meant that the fight never happened. It was only this month that contracts were apparently signed by both Joshua and Wilder for them to meet in March 2024 in Riyadh. Those delayed plans have now been consigned to the fight game’s overflowing dump of ruined dreams.

In the early hours of Sunday morning in Riyadh, Wilder was beaten by Joseph Parker in an embarrassingly one‑sided bout. One judge gave every round to Parker and the two other officials were accurate in their 118-111 and 118-110 scoring. Wilder, Joshua, their promoters and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which believes that bankrolling boxing might help to obscure its appalling human rights record, have all been left to rue the harsh reality of heavyweight boxing.

JOSHUA DELIVERS MASSIVE KO | WANTS WILDER NEXT

 

LONDON -- Anthony Joshua scored a spectacular seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius on Saturday at the O2 Arena, setting up a potential showdown next with fellow former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) produced a brilliant finish after a sluggish, tentative start in a performance that was more patient than explosive. The knockout came 1 minute, 27 seconds into Round 7.

Representatives from Saudi Arabia were in London this weekend to discuss a fight between Joshua and Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn for January.

EDDIE HEARN DETAILS HOW TO MAKE CANELO VS. BIVOL 2