Boxing
ANTHONY JOSHUA CHARTS ROUTE TO UNIFYING WORLD TITLES NEXT YEAR
With Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua beating of Cameroonian French Boxer, Carlos Takam after 10 rounds to defend his WBA and IBF heavyweight titles in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday, attention is focused on how he can unify all the world titles to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion.
In the run-up to Saturday night’s bout, the Sagamu, Ogun State of Nigeria born boxer had spoken of his desire to unify all the heavyweight belts in 2018.
His eyes are therefore focused on the WBO and the WBC titles held by New Zealand’s Joseph Parker and American Deontay Wilder respectively. Saturday’s beating of Takam has enhanced Joshua’s growing boxing rating, bringing his tale of the tape to 20-0 in his professional career.
Who will he fight next to realize his dream? Eddie Hearn, the English boxing promoter and Group Managing Director of Matchroom Sport provides a clue.
He spoke of plans for Joshua to fight three times in 2018 after Saturday night’s bout, beginning with March or April, and also said that the money involved in fighting in America would only be greater than that in the UK if they “get things right”.
Amid his plans to make an offer to American WBC champion Deontay Wilder to fight Dillian Whyte at London’s O2 Arena on February 3, it is increasingly likely that Joshua’s next fight will be in the UK, and Hearn said: “Boxing in October will allow you to get one in March, April time.
“Look at the summer as well. We may have a mandatory (title defence) with the WBA, that’s a bit unclear. There’s (WBO champion) Joseph Parker, there’s Deontay Wilder. Takam’s very tough for someone who’s only had 20 fights.
“I’d like him to have an international fight in 2018, but it does seem a shame to leave all this behind. That’s the problem, because it’s incredible.
“At the moment (there’s more money) here, but if you get it right, America. He has a very long-term strategy.”
Joshua’s Route to unifying world titles
Joseph Parker, WBO champion.
Contest at the O2 Arena on February 3, or in the Middle East in March/April. Exciting fight, and one which Joshua will relish.
Deontay Wilder, WBC champion.
A blockbuster showdown with the American at Wembley Stadium, a Las Vegas casino, or in New York in June or July.
Tyson Fury.
If Joshua has unified the titles, and Fury has returned, a November contest could set up an all-British showdown between the two men who defeated Wladimir Klitschko late in his career, to decide the bona fide, undisputed world No 1.
Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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Former multi-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement this year for his first official fight in nearly a decade, his new promotion CSI Sports/Fight Sports said on Friday, though his opponent has yet to be decided.
Before his official return, Mayweather is set for an exhibition bout with fellow boxing great Mike Tyson, with the date and venue still to be announced.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather, 48, said in a statement on his new promotion’s website.
It will mark the American’s fourth comeback from retirement, following previous exits in 2007, 2015 and 2017 — the last after beating Conor McGregor to extend his record to 50-0. He has, however, fought several exhibitions since.
Across a three-decade career, Mayweather defeated many of his era’s top fighters and headlined the three highest‑grossing bouts in history, against Manny Pacquiao, McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.
-Reuters
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