RICKY HUTTON CAUSE OF DEATH: EX-WBA IBO, IBF, WINNER HITMAN DIES AT AGE 46, LIFELONG MANCHESTER CITY FAN WAS TO MAKE COMEBACK IN DUBAI THIS YEAR

Boxer Ricky Hatton. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Synopsis

Ricky Hatton had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again. Hatton's second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.

Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. One of the most popular fighters in the sport was 46. Nicknamed 'the Hitman', Hatton won the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship during his 15-year professional career before retiring in 2012. He had been due to make a comeback for an event in Dubai this year. Outside of the ring, Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester City. The club said there would be a minute of appreciation for Hatton at Sunday's derby against Manchester United.

Hatton had 45 wins in 48 bouts over his career but in the years after he retired he said he had tried to kill himself several times and had been open about his struggle with depression, drink and drugs. Hatton's best performance came in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.

He had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again. Hatton's second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.

- The Economic Times, Global Desk

USYK PREPARES FOR DUBOIS REMATCH WiTH ALL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES ON THE LINE

Oleksandr Usyk will face Daniel Dubois in a rematch. (Photo: instagram.com/usykaa)

Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk (23–0, 14 KOs), who currently holds the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBO heavyweight titles, is set to face off once again against IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois (22–2, 21 KOs) in a high-stakes rematch.

Usyk is actively training for the July 19 bout, which will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

A new video circulating online shows Usyk in top form, sharpening his punches and drilling speed and technique in preparation for the highly anticipated fight.

Their first clash took place on Aug. 26, 2023, in Wroclaw, Poland. In the fifth round, Dubois landed a controversial low blow that was ruled illegal. The referee paused the fight to give Usyk time to recover, and the Ukrainian boxer ultimately secured a technical knockout victory in the ninth round.

Dubois has since promised a “surprise” for the rematch, fueling speculation about his strategy going into what could be a career-defining fight.

- Demian Shevko

THE HISTORY OF BOXING 🥊 BELTS

 

Before shouting "world champion," first understand the history of the belts...

• WBA: since 1921, the oldest.

• The Ring Belt: created in 1922, symbol of the true "lineal champion."

• WBC: since 1963, the most prestigious in the eyes of many.

• IBF: founded in 1983, quickly gained credibility.

• WBO & IBO: 1988, the latest, not always recognized.

FURY VS USYK HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT POSTPONED AFTER FURY CUT IN SPARRING

Reuters 

 The undisputed heavyweight championship bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been postponed after Fury suffered a cut during sparring, promoters Queensbury Promotions said in a statement on Friday.

The bout, scheduled for Feb. 17 in Riyadh, was set to unify Fury's WBC heavyweight championship with Usyk's WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts, crowning the first unified heavyweight boxing champion since 1999.

USYK IN TRAINING FOR LIKELY FEBRUARY DATE WITH FURY

Oleksandr Usyk is hoping his undisputed heavyweight world title fight with Tyson Fury can take place in Saudi Arabia in February once the Briton has recovered from a bruising 10 rounds with boxing novice Francis Ngannou.

Contracts were signed in September but a proposed Dec 23 date in Riyadh looks sure to slide since WBC champion Fury's near-defeat to former UFC champion Ngannou in a non-title bout on Oct 28.

Ukrainian Usyk holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts and both he and Fury are unbeaten.

Speaking to Reuters from his training camp in Valencia, Spain, Usyk said the date should be decided next week.

FURY TO FIGHT USYK IN SAUDI FOR UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world at a date to be decided, organisers said on Friday after contracts were signed.

Britain's Fury is the WBC world champion while Ukrainian Usyk holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts. Both men have unbeaten records.

A long-awaited blockbuster unification fight between the two has failed to get over the line in the past, with a previous attempt to meet at London's Wembley Stadium breaking down amid recriminations on both sides.

Now, with the backing and financial muscle of Saudi Arabia, it appears to be on.

Organisers said it would be promoted by Queensbury Promotions, Bob Arum's Top Rank, K2 and Usyk17 at Riyadh's Kingdom Arena.

"You can't run rabbit run anymore Usyk, you're getting it," Fury, 35, wrote on Instagram.

Heavyweight boxing's last undisputed champion was Britain's Lennox Lewis in 1999, before the current four-belt era.

"This is the fight that everyone has wanted to see for some time and now it is finally happening," said Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, in a statement.

USYK TO DEFEND HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST DUBOIS

Routers 

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles when he takes on Britain's Daniel Dubois at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, on Aug. 26, the Ukrainian said on Thursday.

ONE MEGA DAY ON DAZN | GGG VS. MURATA | GARCIA VS. TAGOE

 

BOXING: GENADY GOLOVKIN GETTING READY FOR DANIEL JACOBS FOR AN INTERESTING BOUT ON SATURDAY AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin is set to face Daniel Jacobs inside Madison Square Garden in New York this coming Saturday...

BOXING: KLITSCHKO VS. JOSHUA CALLED OFF

Wladamir Klitschko's heavyweight fight with Anthony Joshua that was supposed to take place December 10 has been called off until 2017...

BOXING: CANELO TELLS CRITICS THAT NO ONE WILL PRESSURE HIM FIGHT GOLOVKIN

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez said he will not be forced by the constant badgering from Critics to fight Golovkin...Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs) is the WBC/WBA/IBO/IBF king of middleweight and Canelo's record is 47-1-1, 33 KOs...WBC named Golovkin as the mandatory challenger to Canelo for the WBC middleweight crown but it was on short notice and also Canelo was upset at WBC for the pressure so he vacated the title and later they named Golovkin the WBC title holder...

Golovkin is in the ring again defending his middleweight titles on September 10th agaist Kell Brook (36-0, 25 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London...Canelo and Golovkin have a verbal contract to fight in September 2017.

BOXING: CANELO ALVAREZ NDIYE HABARI YA DUNIA SASA YUKO TAYARI KWA GENADDY GOLOVKIN

Baada ya kumchapa mkongwe Miguel Cotto na kuchukua mkanda wa World Boxing Counsel kwa daraja la middleweight weekend hii iliyopita sasa Canelo Alvarez super star wa Mexico yuko tayari kumkabili Gennady Golovkin.